The best remedy when your top two scorers have uncharacteristically slow offensive nights? Forget about it and play smothering defense. Despite an off night from Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the Chicago Bulls joined forces to make life miserable for the Charlotte Hornets. LaVine gets in on the action by recording one of his two steals, while elsewhere an Alex Caruso pickpocket leads to points on the other end. The Bulls also earn a variety of rejections, as Nikola Vučević, Derrick Jones Jr. and Patrick Williams all pick up big interior blocks, while Javonte Green punctuates a 7-for-7 shooting night with a deflection that changes possession in his squad’s favor. All told, the Bulls blocked nine shots and swiped six steals while forcing 16 turnovers, forcing Charlotte into a .391 percent shooting night from the field — including an abysmal 7 for 32 downtown — in Chicago’s dominant 106-88 triumph on November 2, 2022.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls limit Hornets to 7 of 32 shooting from deep

The 2022-23 Milwaukee Bucks bring back the same Icon and Association jerseys in which they won their 2021 chip, and who can blame them? With a perfect blend of forest green, cream and bold lettering, it’s easy to see they have a winner. The sleek black Statement Edition jersey takes it one step further, featuring an aggressive antler silhouette running up the entire side of the fit. Milwaukee’s City Edition jersey is the organization’s latest uniform to lean boldly into the Great Lakes Blue they’ve featured in their color palette since 2015, while paying subtle tribute to the various shades of green long associated with the franchise. Lastly, while the club has moved away from the purple that used to feature so heavily in their branding, what’s old is new again. This year’s Classic Edition resurfaces the team’s late-90s look made popular by a criminally underrated Big 3 of yesterday.

Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks take palette to next level with 2022-23 jersey rotation

When it comes to 2022-23 jersey aesthetics, the Detroit Pistons pack serious range. Anchored by familiar Association and Icon threads that date back to the 2004 championship squad, the franchise has its tradition covered. It’s in the others that the organization gets creative. Peep the black-on-black Statement jersey with horizontal stripes harkening back to warmup shirts of the Bad Boys Era. The forest green City Edition fit designed by Big Sean serves as a love letter to an historic pickup run in the heart of the city. Last but far from least, the epitome of wild 90s style resurfacing in the form of the club’s teal Classic jersey. Always regarded as a shocking departure from the team’s conventional branding, the iconically polarizing look just needed to marinate long enough for nostalgia to kick in.

Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons reintroduce teal in 2022-23 jersey rotation

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James drives the lane and throws down a wicked one-handed slam against Western Conference rivals the Sacramento Kings on November 15, 2019.

LeBron James

LeBron James drops sledgehammer on Nemanja Bjelica charge attempt

Paolo Banchero began asserting his claim for Rookie of the Year immediately. In his professional debut on October 19, the Orlando Magic rookie forward posted 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists to become the first rookie since LeBron James in 2003 to record a 25-5-5 game in his first appearance. Banchero also joined James as the second teenager in league history to put up at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a game when he tallied 33 and 16 on November 5. He became the third Orlando player to win Rookie of the Year, and the first since 2001. Banchero led all first-year players in scoring with 20 points per game — one of just six rookies since 2000 to reach that threshold. He also averaged 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as the Magic won 34 games, a 12-game improvement from the previous season. Banchero was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month four times after logging 40 games of at least 20 points and 15 of 25 or more. He was the eighth No. 1 pick of the draft since 2000 to win Rookie of the Year and Banchero’s six games of at least 30 points as a rookie is the second-highest total in franchise history. 

Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero remix celebrates 2022-23 Rookie of the Year

Keegan Murray was the only All-Rookie First Team selection to make the postseason. Not only that, he played a major role in helping end the Sacramento Kings’ 17-year playoff drought as the fourth pick in the 2022 draft averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds on 41.1 3-point shooting across 78 starts. Among rookies, the versatile Murray impacted the game in a multitude of ways, ranking second in 3-point percentage, sixth in points per game, eighth in field-goal percentage, seventh in blocks and was tied for fourth in total steals. He became the 10th rookie in franchise history to be named to the All-Rookie First Team and his 206 3-pointers made were an all-time record for a first-year player, beating Donovan Mitchell’s previous record of 187. The 6-foot-8 forward became the fourth Kings rookie to earn Rookie of the Month honors in consecutive months and posted 11 games with five or more treys while making one in 32 straight games — the third-longest streak for a rookie in league history. Murray posted a career-high 29 points and 14 rebounds on January 20, one of seven rookies in 2022-23 to post a 25-10 game. His 976 points were the most for a Kings rookie since 2010-11. 

Keegan Murray

Keegan Murray remix celebrates 2022-23 All-Rookie season

There would be no runner-up finish for Joel Embiid this time around. After coming in second place in MVP voting in each of the two previous seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers center finally broke through to win the award for the first time after leading the league in scoring for the second straight year on a career-best 33.1 points per game. The six-time All-Star also posted 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 54.8 percent and logging 34.6 minutes per night — the most of his seven seasons. Embiid became the fifth player in franchise history to win MVP and first since 2001, leading the 76ers to 54 victories, also the franchise’s highest total since 2001. The 7-footer from Cameroon was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in both December and January and has now earned that honor six times in his career, the most for any player in franchise history. On November 13, Embiid posted a career-high 59 points while also mixing in 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocks to become the first player in NBA history with 50 points, 10 boards, five assists and five blocks in the same game. On April 4, Embiid torched the Boston Celtics for 52 points, 13 rebounds and six assists on 20 of 25 shooting, just the second player in league history to record a 50-10-5 game while shooting 80 percent or better. Embiid logged nine straight games of at least 30 points, most in franchise history. 

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid remix celebrates 2022-23's Most Valuable Player

How'd he do that? Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid flexes his point guard skills with a nifty through-the-legs dime to teammate Ben Simmons for the reverse layup against the Atlanta Hawks on October 28, 2019.

Joel Embiid pivots through defense, delivers dish through legs to Ben Simmons

As his sterling rookie season approached its end, Jalen Williams found himself mentioned alongside Oklahoma City Thunder royalty. The Thunder made Williams the 12th pick in the draft for occasions just like this as he found himself at the right place at the right time when he collected Josh Giddey’s miss and beat the buzzer with a game-winning putback layup. The thrilling conclusion was part of an enormous night for Williams, who tallied a game-high 27 points alongside eight rebounds and six assists to join Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the only rookies in franchise history to post a 25-5-5 game in a 107-106 victory on March 29, 2023. Williams averaged 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game to earn a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams beats the Pistons with game-winning putback

With the reverse! Derrick Rose of the Detroit Pistons drives hard to the hoop before finishing with an acrobatic reverse layup against the Phoenix Suns on February 28, 2020.

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose goes up-and-under defense for acrobatic layup

LeBron James has an innumerable amount of iconic plays across his legendary 20-year career, yet few resonate quite like “The Block.” The Golden State Warriors won a record 73 games during the regular season and held a 3-1 series lead over James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, but the league’s all-time leading scorer brought his hometown squad back from the brink. With the deciding Game 7 tied at 89 with under two minutes to play, the King kept it deadlocked as he thwarted a Warriors transition attack by chasing down Andre Iguodala and swatting his driving layup attempt with flawless anticipation. Kyrie Irving’s 3-pointer less than a minute later gave the Cavs the lead for good and James iced the game at the foul line with 10 seconds left to deliver the city its first basketball title in franchise history. Cleveland became the first NBA team to rally from a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals, and James’ third championship ended a 52-year pro sports title drought for the city. The 19-time All-Star posted 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and three blocks in the dramatic 93-89 victory on June 19, 2016 to win his third of four Finals MVP awards. 

LeBron James chases down Andre Iguodala for iconic block in 2016 Finals

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