Hi so im a 14 girl, 15 in February. Im 6’1 but iv never played basketball before. I have recently been watching more wnba and im really interested. I have no plays for my future so im kinda hoping about this. My dad is 6’8 and he had an offer to play in china for volleyball, he was also super good at basketball if that matters? I live in Australia if that matters. I probably won’t be able to get on a team till next year but I can practice through the summer. Is there a chance I could play professionally or in college in America ?Be honest please!🙏

I spent nearly 20 years coaching college basketball, including serving as a head coach at the NCAA Division II level and an assistant at the Division I level. Before coaching, I was a nationally ranked high school recruit and played Division I basketball myself.

Throughout my career, I've evaluated and recruited hundreds of players, and one thing I've consistently noticed is how confusing the recruiting process can be for players and their families.

There's often a significant difference between how parents, high school coaches, trainers, AAU coaches evaluate a player's college potential and how college coaches actually evaluate prospects.

I've seen talented players struggle to find opportunities simply because they didn't understand the process. I've also seen families spend thousands of dollars on exposure events and recruiting services without really knowing what they were getting in return.

Now that I've stepped away from college coaching, I thought it might be worthwhile to share some of what I've learned.

If you're a parent or high school player trying to navigate college basketball recruiting, feel free to ask questions.

Whether it's understanding what level of college basketball is realistic, what coaches look for on film, how to contact programs, the value of AAU, or anything else related to recruiting, I'm happy to offer my perspective.

I'm not here to promise scholarships or tell anyone what they want to hear. Just hoping to provide some insight from someone who's spent a lot of time on the other side of the recruiting process.

What's been the most confusing or frustrating part of recruiting for you?

I’m normally around a 40% 3 point shooter when spotting up but there’s some days where I feel my hands mess my shot up and my shot isn’t as consistent as the day before

It feels like I don’t have as much of a grip or shooters touch and it leads to shots either being short or left or right of the rim

Any tips?

A year ago, the NBA TV landscape shifted dramatically — longtime broadcast partner TNT was out (though its crown jewel “Inside the NBA” studio show moved to ESPN), streaming giant Amazon Prime Video was in. Nostalgia-maxxing NBC returned as a partner, this time touting its own streaming offshoot, Peacock.

Fans started the season adjusting to a new normal, which included “wait, how do I watch?” and, of course, new costs to watch nationally televised games.

As the new NBA season tips off, here is an accounting of what it will cost you to watch:

1. The NBA’s nationally televised games
   
2. Your local team’s games
   
3. All the other local games outside your home area (optional)

The networks for nationally televised games include ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock (available through NBC Sports Network) and Amazon Prime Video.

Read the rest here for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7707684/2026/10/21/nba-espn-nbc-peacock-prime-league-pass-cost/?unlocked_article_code=1.KVE.lLoq.L6ncXAcAa88m&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

Might be a stupid question lol but by this definition, I mean creators like iso.maddy (wagtalk) or Molly Morrison from Bleacher Report.

This is a career path I want to take in the future, but I am also very vocal about the players and teams I dislike.

I just wanted to know if they have tweeted/posted anything that even hints their opinions on the players they do not like? Or do they have to be professional at all times?

NBA regular season basketball returns tomorrow, and I could not be happier about it.

I don’t have to deal with STUPID ASS FOOTBALL GAMES!

No longer do I have to deal with the horrible officiating of College Football.

No longer do I have to witness the NFL’s injury crisis that’s slowly ruining the sport as we know.

I have an actually enjoyable sport to watch.

Can you shoot at the rim from half court with .01 on the shot clock. The game clock is still running after right? To end the game?

Looking for a few players to join a basketball league in Glendora! I'm Looking for guys who are competitive, play hard, and want to be part of a solid team. If you’re interested send me a DM!

Read the rest here for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7684127/2026/10/20/knicks-thunder-wemby-sixers-24-big-questions-2026-27-nba-season/?unlocked_article_code=1.KFE.sn-R.HXBh1qYXAL16&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

5. Tyrese Haliburton, Fred VanVleet or Kyrie Irving: Which one will have the biggest impact after returning from major injury this season?

I’m thrilled Haliburton’s back. He’s an electric talent. And, it’s good for the league when Indiana, Detroit, Cleveland and other Rust Belt teams are doing well. As I’ve said and written dozens of times over the years, it gets damn cold in the Midwest in the winter. You have to give people a reason to put on their coats and gloves and take their kids out in 25-degree weather to spend a few hundred dollars watching the local squad. And, Kyrie could have a monster season alongside Cooper Flagg in Dallas.

But give me FVV. The Rockets’ contending window with this core group is open, but they need VanVleet’s scoring and defense to return to its pre-ACL tear levels for them to be able to truly challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in a playoff series. I don’t doubt that Fred will be locked in from jump. As long as he doesn’t have to play killer minutes right away, Houston’s going to be a top-four team in the West.

6. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson: Who’ll be Rookie of the Year?

All due respect to Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr. and James Evans Jr. (Made you look!) But the top of this class is as promising as any that I can recall in the last decade. There’s no one with Wembanyama’s stuff, and you can argue that Flagg is better than each of these guys. But no top four has been this compelling at least since the Cade Cunningham-Jalen Green-Evan Mobley-Scottie Barnes superfecta in 2021.

I’m going with Peterson. Wilson may have more jaw-dropping highlights, and Boozer could lead Memphis to more wins, but Peterson’s overall numbers will likely be greater — and Utah should dramatically improve its record from last season, too. The Wizards will ultimately clear the decks for Dybantsa to be their apex predator on offense in the next couple of years. But as a rookie, he’ll likely be third on Washington’s offensive eating chart behind Anthony Davis and Trae Young.7. Bullish or bearish on the new-look Wolves?

I didn’t love their offseason. But Chris Finch’s comments last week about the Minnesota Timberwolves trading “moodiness for giddiness” this offseason in dealing Julius Randle to Brooklyn and bringing in LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a four-team deal that sent Naz Reid to the Hornets have stuck with me.

I don’t think Finch was talking about the Wizard of Naz, a local treasure, so I can only assume he was referencing removing Randle from the locker room and inserting Ball. I’m still not sold on Ball being a dependable two-way player on a team that has been all in on competing in the West the last several seasons. But there is something to be said for joy and good mojo being reintroduced into a locker room that apparently didn’t have enough last year. If Ball is indeed a kindred spirit with Anthony Edwards, and if he can help the other Wolves get easier shots, sure, count me in.

8. OK, you’ve seen the Wizards, for some reason, forever. Is this thing finally turning around?

I’m pretty secure in saying that no one — no one — has covered more Wizards games than I have in the last 39 years (shudder). So I can say with some confidence that, other than the arrival of Chris Webber and Juwan Howard in 1994, there’s never been buzz around this team like there is going into this season, with Dybantsa being the main reason.

Looking for people to play basketball with in Saitama Japan (around Saitama/Toda city). It's nothing serious, and I'm down to play with anyone. Anybody interested?

Whether it's pick-up or a league where there's no jersey requirement. How come it's acceptable for some players to play shirtless?

Yet with softball, if you did that, it's a near-automatic ejection from the umpire. Even in pickup games, if you're shirtless, they'd ask you to wear a shirt or you're not welcome.

Have you guys here felt bored while doing agility drills? If so, why do you feel bored?

Looking for a few players to join a basketball league in Glendora! I'm Looking for guys who are competitive, play hard, and want to be part of a solid team. If you’re interested send me a DM!

Tier 1: Top Contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last ranking: third
2025-26 season results: 64-18, first in West, lost West finals
2027 playoff prediction: First in West, lose NBA Finals vs Knicks

The NBA announced points of emphasis for referees this season, including off-arm contact, flopping and freedom of movement. If you missed the videos sent out by the league, you can find them repurposed throughout the season by trolls upset at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s guile throughout the season! Two-time MVP, arguably the highest floor on-ball performer in the league, and has the midrange game eye test old heads swear is missing from the game they love — and yet, Gilgeous-Alexander has highlight compilations of getting controversial calls on his way to 30 points. This should be another powerful Thunder season, and perhaps Oklahoma City can keep all three of Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams healthy all year.

2. New York Knicks

Last ranking: first
2025-26 season results: 53-29, third in East, won NBA Finals
2027 playoff prediction: First in East, win NBA Finals in seven

Everyone is better than Jalen Brunson until it’s time to be better than Jalen Brunson. I think Tyrese Haliburton said that once. Or twice. I can’t remember. With Haliburton out last year, even Flaw Murray had the Knicks in the NBA Finals last year at this time! The Knicks had themselves a Linsanity run in the playoffs against East teams many of you never believed in at any point of the year, then they beat a Spurs team in the finals that thought beating the defending champs meant you already won the title. None of that is New York’s problem, but it’s about to get much harder. The Knicks have to avoid the disease of more. New York still hasn’t won 55 games in the 21st century, let alone 60. Brunson is getting 2016 Stephen Curry treatment even though he has never been a First Team All-NBA selection. And the league should simply be better. I do expect the Knicks to accept the challenge to be better than they were last year. The only rotation player gone is Mitchell Robinson, and they shouldn’t miss him too much. Enjoy it, New York, because this year is as good as it will ever get for this

3. Detroit Pistons

Last ranking: sixth
2025-26 season results: 60-22, first in East, lost East semifinals
2027 playoff prediction: Second in East, lose East finals vs Knicks

Do I think the Pistons will regress from last season? Yes — I don’t see another 60-win regular season. But Detroit avoided disaster and retained Jalen Duren. This is still going to be an outrageously physical team that has one of the best on-ball players in the league in Cade Cunningham, who can’t possibly turn the ball over more than he did last season. How J.B. Bickerstaff takes pressure off the lone American First Team All-NBA selection will dictate how much better the Pistons can be in the playoffs, and Ausar Thompson probably is the swing factor. In the meantime, we know the Pistons will defend and that they’re going to be way better than you in the paint. The next step is still available to them.

4. Toronto Raptors

Last ranking: 12th
2025-26 season results: 46-36, fifth in East, lost in East quarterfinals
2027 playoff prediction: Third in East, lose East semifinals vs Pistons

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With Kawhi Leonard officially in Toronto, I’m comfortable with the idea of the Raptors being a real threat in the East. Leonard has wanted to play with a forward like Scottie Barnes since leaving Pascal Siakam all those years ago, and my Coach of the Year pick Darko Rajaković has spent his entire tenure building an identity of ball movement and body movement. They’ve got Leonard wearing matching accessories now, so I am prepared for him to fit right into Toronto’s ascent. Just keep an eye on RJ Barrett, who is in a contract year. The Raptors need Barrett to be much more available with Leonard here, and if the Raptors need to balance the roster more, then Barrett might be a major trade candidate to get that done.

5. San Antonio Spurs

Last ranking: second
2025-26 season results: 62-20, second in West, lost NBA Finals
2027 playoff prediction: Second in West, lose West finals vs Thunder

It’s shocking how much better the Spurs got month by month last season. It’s even more shocking how they collapsed in the finals. Less shocking is everyone’s rush to anoint. Victor Wembanyama is already the best player in the league to many despite an inconsistent late-game repertoire. On the flip side, De’Aaron Fox is being seen as the pariah holding back Dylan Harper. Tobias Harris is here now, sort of. All of this makes head coach Mitch Johnson’s role very interesting. Johnson is going to start all three of Fox, Harper and Stephon Castle, despite those three-man lineups being underwhelming. Harris’ calf injury is another factor that may require an adjustment period, and he hasn’t come off the bench in any game in nearly a decade. I trust that the Spurs will be fine, but don’t be surprised if they don’t get off to a hot start.

1.So i saw this video of Kyrie Irving and the comment section was divided and it got me so confused.So he was in the air while in motion receiving the ball he then planted his pivot foot took a step with non pivot foot lifted his pivot and only then he took a dribble.And the comments confused me, others say he was in motion , others say pivot foot rule doesn't apply if you're on a move.So my question is if he didn't lift his pivot before dribbling it wouldn't be considered travel?Or its a travel either way.Or i have to realease the ball before I take a step with non pivot foot even if I didn't lift my pivot.

2.The other rule i recently saw some guy explaining.So if I am moving receiving the ball and catch the ball with one hand on top of the ball it means I don't have control of the ball and I can do like a stutter steps beacause it counts as a live dribble or the moment i catch the ball with one hand even if its spining or on top of the ball it means i have a full control.

3.Completly different rule this is even more confusin some guys told me in the nba i can stop dribbling on like two feet then take two steps i can't remember the exact situation but its something like that.

I am asking for both NBA and FIBA rules , I hope someone explains it to me beacause I am in a complete void.

My friend is the best player in my team and the best defender gets put on him. I was in this small basketball tournament and defender was really faceguarding him, so I tried to set screens to help him get open but the defender would literally just run me over. Not go over or anything but just go into me and I would be stumbling back. Is that a foul of some kind? Do I just need to get bigger? Any tips would be appreciated

Some player simply just shoot the ball and Go to the hoop so easily, and when i try to get further i have to use more power and arms in my shoot

I am fairly new to basketball so they do a spin bounce pass around defenders to a player rather than overhead pass or drive and pass?

I was trying out this myself so i was wondering if it was impractical and useless