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All-Star reserves will be unveiled tonight, so we’re headed to Snub City.
We Turned 1!
The one-year anniversary of the Bounce
The Bounce turned 1 year old this week! Personally, I’ve had so much fun writing this newsletter almost every day in the past year and have been truly honored that so many people make this newsletter part of their daily basketball consumption. You get Shams Charania’s incredibly insightful reporting and my insightful buffoonery in your mailbox every morning. What could be better?
Actually, don’t answer that. But you did answer our questionnaire we recently put out asking how it changed your life (tongue-in-cheek). A lot of you had really nice compliments about the work and people at The Athletic. Here are my favorite answers about the Bounce:
“I’m as smart as my sons now when it comes to the NBA. And a lot smarter than my 55-year-old+ friends who think the league was better in the 1970s 80s and 90s.”
The league is better now! I’m with you, friend.
“Disappointing. I still can’t dunk.”
Have you tried tightening your core when you go to jump?
“I am a better person for it. My friends and family will actually be seen in public with me; though still slightly embarrassed. But I have more random bball facts now.”
Look at us bringing families together!
“I read it every day, especially in my classes, it is one of my main sources on trade possibilities, hot takes, and hilarious twitter posts (not calling it X)”
Never call it X!
“Before subscribing to The Bounce I was 4’10” and couldn’t jump or shoot. Now, I run my weekly pickup games as a 6’6″ wing finishing alley oops and draining 3s from half court.”
This is actually a real side effect of the newsletter.
“It has been so enlightening, I consider myself a Bouncist.”
We need Bouncist merch!
“I was on the bus, chuckled at the opening line. The woman sitting next to me asked what I was reading and blah blah blah we got married 6 weeks later.”
Congrats on the s— … matrimony!
“I’ve lost 20 pounds, gained four inches in my vertical, increased my true shooting percentage by 10% and became a lockdown defender.”
Take this new glory and make sure you play at least 65 games!
We’ll find a way to get many more of your responses sprinkled in because I truly enjoyed reading all of the answers. Thank you for subscribing and spreading the word! Don’t forget to share with your friends, so they can experience the Bounce too.
The Latest From Shams
Rockets’ rebuild accelerates
The Rockets are on the hunt for stars.
In case you missed it, Kelly Iko, Sam Amick and I examined the shift that’s been going on in Houston in recent weeks ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline: There’s been an acceleration of the Rockets’ rebuild and an insistence on making the postseason, sources say, led by first-year coach Ime Udoka in tandem with Houston’s front office.
The Rockets are 22-25 (11th in the West) after starting the season 13-9. Are there any moves to be made to get them firmly into the playoff picture? Time will tell. As our story notes, Houston has the means to make things happen should it choose.
let’s keep up the intensity 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Qel0SGcWUZ
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 31, 2024
• In Brooklyn, after being out since Nov. 6, Ben Simmons returned to the court Monday for the Nets but missed last night’s game against Phoenix due to a left knee contusion. I’m told Simmons developed swelling in his knee after taking a hit in Monday’s game against Utah, but tests showed no further issue. The Nets’ next game is Saturday in Philadelphia. We’ll see if Simmons is on the court then.
About Last Night
Dame loses in Portland return
I’m not sure how much closure Blazers fans needed from this game. While the end of the Damian Lillard-Trail Blazers relationship was a little contentious due to trade negotiations and preferred destinations, we didn’t see the hurt and vitriol from LeBron James leaving Cleveland (the first time) or Kevin Durant leaving OKC. For the most part, Blazers fans seem to handle this pretty maturely and without animosity.
And here is the second Damian Lillard tribute video: pic.twitter.com/nH05hi7VeC
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 1, 2024
For Portland, I bet it still felt good for the city to watch Dame come back in the last couple days and show him how much it appreciates him before watching the current 15-33 Blazers (14th in West) take down the 32-16 Bucks (second in East) 119-116 last night. Lillard finished with 25 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four turnovers. He shot poorly (9-of-23 from the field, 3-of-13 from deep) by his standards and had a chance to bury his former team.
Instead, he deferred when the defense swarmed, so the Blazers came out on top. Anfernee Simons, his one-time mentee, continued his great play this season by making massive plays down the stretch. Scoot Henderson, Dame’s successor, had 15 points and four assists off the bench. And we had a fun reminder that post-trade reunions don’t have to be filled with hatred. It was a night of good vibes and moving on.
Steph Chambers / Getty Images
More from last night:
Suns 136, Nets 120: Durant returned to Brooklyn for the first time since being traded last deadline, received a tribute video and then helped the Suns (28-20, sixth in West) use a 42-26 third quarter to control the Nets (19-28, 11th in East). KD finished with 33 points.
Thunder 105, Nuggets 100: No Nikola Jokić in this one, but the Thunder (33-15, second in West) still needed clutch plays by Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to take the season series 3-1 from the Nuggets (33-16, fourth in West).
Heat 115, Kings 106: The longest losing streak (seven) in Erik Spoelstra’s 16-year tenure is finally over. Jimmy Butler had 31 points, and Josh Richardson dropped 24 off the bench. Miami (25-23, seventh in East) is two games behind sixth. Sacramento (27-19, fifth in West) is a game ahead of seventh.
Wolves 121, Mavs 87: No Luka, no Kyrie, no chance. The West-leading Wolves (34-14) used a 38-17 fourth quarter to put this one to bed. Dallas (26-22) is two games behind sixth.
Pelicans 110, Rockets 99: Jalen Green (31 points) continued his good play, but he couldn’t overcome Brandon Ingram (24 points) and Jonas Valančiūnas (25 points). The Pelicans (27-21, seventh in West) are a game out of playoff territory. Houston (22-25, 11th in West) is just 9-16 since Dec. 17.
Cavs 128, Pistons 121: The Pistons (6-41, last in East) are sort of competitive again! Also, Donovan Mitchell’s season-high 45 points dropped Detroit to 2-20 on the road. Cleveland (29-16, fourth in East) has gone 11-2 since Jan. 1, trailing only No. 3 New York (14-2 this month, 31-17 overall) for the NBA’s best record since then.
Bulls 117, Hornets 110: Coby White had 35 points in his quest for Most Improved honors, and Charlotte (10-36, 13th in East) managed its 12th single-digit loss of the season. The Bulls (23-26, ninth in East) are 2.5 games behind seventh.
Clippers 125, Wizards 109: The Clippers (31-15, third in West) used a 40-19 third quarter to put themselves over .500 on the road. The Wizards (9-38, 14th in East) are 3-19 when hosting and have a worst home win percentage than the Pistons (4-21).
Magic 108, Spurs 98: Wemby Watch ended with 21 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. Paolo (Banchero) Patrol provided 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Orlando (25-23, eighth in East) is two games behind playoff territory.
Happy Wembsday
Guess who has the fourth-highest selling jersey
The league unveiled its top-selling jerseys and team merchandise for the first half of the 2023-24 season. And, if you’re sick of all of the Victor Wembanyama hype the Spurs rookie is receiving, this is going to upset you.
Wemby has come out of the gates slinging Spurs jerseys. According to NBA.com, he’s already fourth in jersey sales, beating out players like Dončić, Durant, Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker and Joel Embiid for the fourth spot. That’s incredible for the NBA’s new superstar.
The NBA’s top-selling jerseys list… based on sales from the first half of the 2023-24 season! pic.twitter.com/nLcKSqpxjk
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2024
Vic’s headed to Indy ✈️
Congrats @wemby on being selected to the 2024 #PaniniRisingStars Game! pic.twitter.com/GOsQA72dNF
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 30, 2024
It’s also a pleasant surprise to see Tyrese Maxey clear his teammate Embiid, Lillard, Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball to reach ninth in jersey sales up to this point. De’Aaron Fox also snuck in at No. 15, which was previously held by Jordan Poole at the end of last season.
According to the NBA, Wemby’s placement is the highest for a rookie since Kristaps Porziņģis was there in the 2015-16 season while with the Knicks. Wemby also helped the Spurs crack the top 10 in merchandise sales (ninth) for the first time since 2017-18.
Bounce Passes
Wait, did John Hollinger keep Steph Curry off his All-Star reserves? 😱
The Wizards could be everybody’s best friend at the trade deadline.
Sign Tony Snell so he can get his pension.
Screen Game (All times Eastern)
- Main Screen: Lakers–Celtics (7:30 p.m. TNT). Is this rivalry still a thing? Or will we watch the East-leading Celtics (37-11) win by 50? The Lakers (24-25, ninth in West) are 7-17 on the road.
- Second Screen: Cavs-Grizzlies (8 p.m.). Cleveland is getting healthy, but the Grizzlies (18-29, 13th in West) have been very scrappy.
- League Pass Game of the Night: Pacers-Knicks (7:30 p.m.). Indiana (27-21, sixth in East) was the hot team of the first quarter of the season. The Knicks are the hot team now. Full schedule here.
(Top photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)