Veesaar suffered the injury during a workout on Sept. 15, and imaging revealed the diagnosis. The news is a blow for the versatile rookie center whom the Hawks hoped would secure a rotation spot behind starting center Onyeka Okongwu.
Veesaar is a 7-foot center who can protect the rim and stretch the floor. As a junior at North Carolina, he averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% on 3 3-point attempts per game.
Veesaar was projected as a late first- or early second-round selection in June’s NBA Draft, but dropped to No. 52 to the Hawks amid reports that his agency told teams he would not sign a two-way contract.
The Hawks didn’t announce a timeline for his recovery, but the injury puts his entire rookie season at risk. The Hawks are scheduled to open their regular season on Oct. 21 against the Orlando Magic.
Atlanta is coming off a season in which it finished sixth place in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champion New York Knicks.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 19: Jaden Bradley #8 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 19, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaden Bradley will enter his rookie season in the NBA with some significant job security.
The Toronto Raptors announced Monday that they have converted the former Arizona point guard’s two-way deal to a multiyear contract. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports the deal is a four-year contract worth $9.3 million.
The Toronto Raptors converted rookie two-way guard Jaden Bradley to a 4-year, $9.3 million deal, league sources told @hoopshype. This first year of the deal is guaranteed. Bradley was the 50th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft out of Arizona, where he was the Big 12 Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/2FV8dB6S7J
Bradley was selected 50th overall by Toronto in the NBA Draft. By extending a multiyear contract to Bradley ahead of the season, the Raptors are making it known that they plan to utilize the 6-foot guard as a significant role player this year and beyond.
One reason the Raptors opted to announce the deal now could be that they were waiting on the Kawhi Leonard trade to become official after the NBA halted the transaction while it investigated Leonard’s salary cap circumvention with the Los Angeles Raptors. The trade, which was finalized last week, sent Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to the Clippers in exchange for Leonard.
More than likely the Raptors had been planning to convert Bradley’s two-way deal for months but couldn’t fully go through with it until the Leonard deal had been completed.
Bradley will compete for minutes at the point guard spot, backing up starter Immanuel Quickley. Toronto also has former Houston guard Jamal Shead on its roster.
The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Isaac McKneely on Monday.
McKneely spent this offseason with Atlanta’s Summer League squad, appearing in seven games across two summer leagues, five as a starter. He averaged 6.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 18.9 minutes per game.
The 6-4 guard played four college seasons, starting at Virginia from 2022 to 2025 before transferring to Louisville for 2025-26. Across 133 games (101 starts), he posted averages of 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.2 minutes, shooting .422 from the field, .414 from three and .823 from the free-throw line.
During the 2025-26 season alone, McKneely made 96 three-pointers, the fourth-highest total in the ACC, while connecting at a .395 clip from beyond the arc, the fifth-best mark in the conference.
McKneely’s college career included 329 made threes, the seventh-most among all Division I players over that four-year span. Among players who hit at least 300 threes in that stretch, McKneely’s .414 3-point percentage ranked second-best.
A Poca, West Virginia, native, McKneely won West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year honors in both 2021 and 2022. He also led his high school to a state AA championship as a senior during the 2021-22 season.
Nicolas Batum announces retirement from NBA after 18 seasons
Longtime NBA forward Nicolas Batum announced his retirement from the league after 18 seasons in a video posted to social media.
The video begins with a quote from Batum saying, “After 21 years, it’s time for me to go home.” The 6-foot-7 forward then enters a gym with his son who asks if it’s true that his father is retiring from basketball.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Batum says. “I’m done playing basketball.”
The gym in Pont-l’Évêque, Normandy, had special meaning for Batum, being where he began his basketball career.
Batum, 37, was the Houston Rockets’ 2008 first-round draft pick (No. 25 overall) after he played two seasons for Le Mans Sarthe in his native France.
However, he was traded on draft night to the Portland Trail Blazers for whom he played seven seasons, averaging 19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Portland made it to the playoffs five times during his tenure, advancing to the second round once.
Following the 2014-15 season, Batum was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. He averaged 18.6 points and 8.5 boards with the Hornets, who made the playoffs only once during that span under head coaches Steve Clifford and James Borrego. Batum was limited to 22 games due to finger and hand injuries during the 2019-20 campaign.
Early in the 2020-21 season, Charlotte waived Batum and he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for the first of two stints with the team. Early in the 2023-24 campaign, Batum was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a seven-player, four-pick deal that moved James Harden to the Clippers.
After 57 games with the 76ers, Batum reportedly considered retirement but eventually re-signed with the Clippers on a two-year contract. He appeared in 152 games for the team during the past two seasons, averaging 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. He also averaged 42% shooting on 216 3-point attempts.
During his 18 NBA seasons, Batum scored 9.6 points per game with 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He was a career 37% 3-point shooter. He won silver medals with France at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Games, in addition to bronze medals at the 2014 and 2019 FIBA World Cups.
Ja’Marr Chase’s ridiculous toe-tap TD might be best NFL catch this season
Tracking the ball downfield is an essential skill for a wide receiver in the NFL.
While all receivers need this trait, the elite players can make the impossible … possible.
Like Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase was on the other end of a deep throw downfield from quarterback Joe Burrow in the first half of Sunday’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans. With the Bengals offense facing a 1st-and-10 at the Houston 32-yard line, Burrow dropped deep in the pocket and targeted Chase on a vertical route.
Somehow, the receiver was able to track the ball, make a tough adjustment — more on how tough in a moment — and then drag his feet inbounds to complete the play for an improbable touchdown:
Joe Burrow LAUNCHES it to Ja’Marr Chase for the TD 🔥
Just how tough was this play? First, look at this alternate angle, which highlights the adjustment and the toe drag along the sideline to complete the touchdowns:
But now, consider this angle, where you see Chase almost stumble to the turf before he begins to track the ball in flight. Instead of falling, however, Chase manages to stay upright, make the adjustment, and secure the throw for a touchdown:
I don’t know this Ja’Marr Chase catch is even physically possible
Minnesota coach Chris Finch talks LaMelo Ball in offense, Joan Beringer role
Minnesota is going to look very different this season with Julius Randle and Naz Reid gone and LaMelo Ball in.
Coach Chris Finch understands he has a lot of puzzle pieces to fit together, and he discussed that with Britt Robson of MinnPost. That starts with how LaMelo and Anthony Edwards fit together, and what that means for the team’s offensive identity.
“As I sit here now, I want to see how it plays out. Your identity is driven by your best players, for sure, and we still have them. I can see a lot of our offensive identity still flowing through Ant. It is just that I think we have a chance to play faster, be a better passing team, maybe people benefit from off-ball movement more. With Rudy, a lot of different things, so I can see everything kind of get a little polished, if you will. But ultimately a lot of our identity is still going to flow through Anthony a lot.”
Finch also talked about the Timberwolves needing another step forward from Jaden McDaniels, and how he wants to play faster and get more passing into the offense (Minnesota was 16th in the league in assists per game last season).
He also said they need 19-year-old big man Joan Beringer, who showed promise as a rookie, to step up into the backup center role behind Rudy Gobert.
“You have to realize, as with all young players, there is going to be inconsistency. The way I’m looking at it, is it self-imposed inconsistency or is it just young-player-growth inconsistency? I think with Joan you are certainly going to have the latter…. He’s got to figure out the balance of retaining the effort while regulating wanting to go after everything all the time…
“The fouls. He always ends up on the ground, you know? And oftentimes takes himself out of position by being overly aggressive. But learning to dial that back is better than the other way around, trying to ramp somebody up all the time.”
It’s a lot of questions, but it is what makes Minnesota one of the must-watch teams to start the season.
The Falcons TV schedule somehow has three straight primetime games coming up
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 20: Cooper Rush #13 of the Atlanta Falcons fumbles the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Falcons are off to a difficult start this season.
With both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa sidelined to start the season — with Tagovailoa suffering an injury in practice in the days leading up to the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers — Atlanta was forced to turn to veteran Cooper Rush under center to begin the year.
The results have not been pretty.
Rush completed just 12-of-22 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, along with a pair of interceptions, in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Atlanta losing by just a touchdown, in a 20-13 loss, the fact that the second interception was this Pick-Six was rather decisive:
It is also a tough look when the Pick-Six comes on a simple swing route to the running back out of the flat.
Things have not improved for Atlanta here in Week 2. While Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is not yet over, the visiting Panthers opened up a 20-3 lead at the halftime break.
And the Atlanta offense again struggled with Rush in the game, managing just 162 yards in the first half of play, and converting only 2-of-7 third-down chances.
As for Rush himself, he finished the first half having completed just 9-of-15 passes for 80 yards and this interception:
And yes, that came on the first play from scrimmage in this game.
Now for the really bad news.
You might be seeing a lot of this Falcons team over the next few weeks.
All three of Atlanta’s upcoming games are in primetime. The Falcons kick off Week 3 with a visit to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Then in Week 4 Atlanta heads to New Orleans to play the Saints on Monday Night Football.
Then in Week 5, the Sunday slate concludes with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Saints on Sunday Night Football.
Three games, all in primetime, for a national audience.
If there is any solace, Penix is reportedly “nearing his return” and “could” be back for Week 3, per this report.
Caleb Williams injury: Bears star carted off after collapsing on run
Caleb Williams looked like a potential MVP candidate during Week 1, as he led a Chicago Bears offense that hung 59 points on the board against the Carolina Panthers.
But the combination of weather in Chicago — and a Brian Flores-led Minnesota Vikings defense — has made for tougher sledding in Week 2.
And now the Bears quarterback could be dealing with a lower-body injury.
Williams had to be helped off the field after a short run midway through the fourth quarter, and the injury brought backup quarterback Tyson Bagent into the game.
You can see the moment here, as it appears Williams goes down with a non-contact injury:
The only sound you could hear after the play was Williams crying out in pain, as the Bears-heavy crowd at Soldier Field was stunned into silence. Williams as helped off the field, as Bagent entered the game.
Making matters worse, Chicago’s possession stalled and a potential game-tying field goal was blocked, just as Williams was being taken to the locker room on a cart:
Caleb Williams gives a thumbs up as he’s carted off the field.
NBA Scouting Report: An Anthony Edwards Prospect Retrospective
Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
Editor’s Note: It is our pleasure to introduce a second Leo to the Canis-verse. This is Leo Li’s first piece for CH, and he will be adding more insight into all things player development going forward. Please welcome him in the way only Canis commenters can!
Anthony Edwards’ development trajectory since entering the league in 2020 has been a topic of attention for several seasons now, and at first glance, it’s easy to see why. He was a 247Sports consensus 5-star recruit coming out of Holy Spirit Prep in Georgia, receiving comparisons to players like Dominique Wilkins and Dwyane Wade, among other all-stars and all-time greats.
However, after a one-and-done season for the Georgia Bulldogs marked by tantalizing highs and scoring explosions, as well as inconsistencies that exposed flaws in his game, serious concerns emerged about Ant’s decision-making, shooting, defense, and even his mentality and love for the game.
Heading into the 2020 draft (which was viewed as relatively weak), he wasn’t seen as a surefire star bet, and several mock drafts had him going behind future teammate LaMelo Ball, as well as the likes of James Wiseman and Killian Hayes (Kevin O’Connor, what were you thinking?), which seems absurd looking back.
As we all know, Ant would go on to be picked first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and soon bloomed into a bona fide superstar and one of the best players in the sport.
Many would claim that Ant has significantly exceeded expectations, even considering the high pre-draft praise and excitement about his ceiling. I wouldn’t argue too hard against that. Most would agree that he has left the “realistic” or “sweet spot” comparisons of Victor Oladipo, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine in the dust. Is there any way that the projections were misinformed or unjustified? The red flags were certainly there, but perhaps scouts and fans were too hasty in taking them at face value. Given all the information we had access to pre-draft, is there a way to explain his current success?
All this is to say that, although hindsight is 20/20, was Ant perhaps underrated by many as a prospect? That is what I will be making the case for. By taking a look at the scouting reports and draft profiles, we can see exactly where assessments fell short and use evidence and data to paint a different picture of Anthony Edwards, the prospect.
Ant’s physical profile was universally viewed as a remarkable combination of positional size, explosive power, and quick-twitch burst. Standing at 6’5 with a 6’9 wingspan and weighing a hefty 225 lb, while boasting a 41.5-inch vertical according to BleacherReports’ Jake Fischer, he was unequivocally an athletic specimen; an elite NBA guard’s frame with the power and mass of a running back is extraordinarily rare even among the best of the best, and it allowed him to rise for athletic finishes and dunks frequently (27 dunks in the 2020 season). However, even with respect to the athleticism, I feel some of the nuance regarding Ant was neglected in pre-draft discussions.
The prevailing sense was that he was vertically explosive, big, and fast, which helps him finish at the rim and in transition. However, scouts were still understandably concerned about his ability to score efficiently at the next level. After all, even given these extreme athletic traits, he posted a mere 51.7% true shooting percentage at Georgia, landing in the 13th percentile positionally. So how do you explain his massive improvements as a scorer? It’s easy to chalk it up to any number of factors, but the most important one is a part of his athleticism that tends to fly under the radar, even today.
Prior to the draft, the P3 Peak Performance Project measured Ant’s eccentric force production in the 98th percentile (FYI, eccentric force is the force produced by a muscle during the stretching/lengthening phase, used for deceleration movements). They note that, crucially, this is a trait shared by James Harden and Luka Dončić, players who excel at scoring using change-of-direction, stop-start moves – which is also something that Ant improved at by leaps and bounds, and was key to his ascension into one of the league’s premier scorers.
While Ant didn’t enter the league with Luka-level polish skill-wise or decision-making-wise, the athletic foundation for his current dynamic skillset was already there. Using repeated bursts and sharp brakes is a proven formula for efficient self-created volume scoring at the highest level, and Ant had brakes of the highest caliber on an extremely powerful engine.
While this was already observable during his explosive, fluid downhill forays and several of his off-the-dribble jumpers, most scouts and fans seemed more enamored with his north-south and vertical traits. Part of the reason for this is that the sheer level of shooter Ant has become is, by any stretch of the imagination, a surprise, and not many thought it likely that these qualities could become the basis of an elite, efficient pull-up 3-point shooting game, hence the comparisons to players like DeRozan and even optimistic ones like Wade, whose deceleration qualities are often overlooked.
Ant’s jump shot, which is arguably his most deadly weapon today and a focal point of his skill set, was a question mark going into the draft. His raw three-point percentage at Georgia was certainly uninspiring (29%, 10th percentile positionally), but scouts noted that the mechanics generally passed the eye test, and it was evident that he was able to shoot off the dribble with very little daylight off a bevy of moves.
A free throw percentage of 77% and 60% on non-dunk rim attempts also indicated some level of touch, which pointed towards eventual improvements in jump shot efficiency. Still, becoming a good 3-point shooter, let alone one of the very best in the world, was, nevertheless, a “maybe” even in an ideal situation.
However, it’s important to draw attention to the sheer volume of shot-creation load-bearing Ant pulled off, which is a quality that tends to get underrated. The 18-year-old managed to get up 13.5 3-point attempts per 100 possessions (92nd percentile, around 52% of which were unassisted), on a 45 offensive load (95th percentile).
His ability to shoulder a large offensive burden by generating self-created threes on demand was extremely high. In fact, it’s historically unique for a player of Ant’s level of slashing ability: Ant was the only freshman in Barttorvik’s entire database (which begins in 2008) to post more than 12 3-point attempts per 100 while also dunking 27 times over the course of the season. A special intersection of youth, 3-point creation, and athletic finishing – foreshadowing a similarly unique status in the NBA today.
At the time, his high volume of self-created, often contested jump shots was interpreted by scouts, such as Rafael Barlow for NBA Draft Junkies, as bad shot selection and poor decision-making. Prez of The Strickland believed that to translate to the next level he ought to “learn good shot from bad shot”.
Draft profiles suggested that he should shift more of his focus to attacking the rim and operating more off the ball, while toning down the volume of off-the-dribble jump shots, and that if he failed to do so, he would struggle to score efficiently. Such judgments were premature. Ant was a raw 18-year-old who was stuck on a suboptimal roster – it is only natural that these conditions would lead to several ugly looks.
In a vacuum, yes, Ant should have taken fewer contested jumpers at Georgia if you look at each decision on an individual level. However, self-created jump shot volume is an important indicator of superstar potential, as it speaks to scoring feel, stamina, confidence, and the ability to create offense when the structure of the play breaks down. It can’t be your only skill, but you certainly need it if you want to be among the best.
Far from being a detriment to his NBA career, his aggression in hunting jumpers has translated beautifully, becoming the crux of his impact on the court and a significant separator between him and several of his comps.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that all shots are good shots, and a superstar who can’t find the open man when the defense loads up on him will struggle in the NBA, where his scoring aggression can become a detriment to the team.
But despite popular takes, Ant showed promising flashes as a playmaker at Georgia, and most scouting reports acknowledge as much. He was particularly adept at interior passes, averaging three rim assists per 100 (88th percentile). It was quite conceivable that he could have refined his ability to capitalize on his scoring gravity. If anything, this is one area that he hasn’t quite outperformed expectations in thus far in the league.
Add up what’s been discussed, and what did the Wolves have on their hands in 2020? An extremely young super-athlete who could both dunk on the opposing team’s center and get up 10 threes in a single half, who was used to carrying large offensive loads, who had the stop-start foundation reminiscent of historically great NBA scorers, who showed high-level playmaking flashes, and who had solid touch indicators.
Seems a lot different than how the NBA’s media was making it seem.
This is not to say that scouts were wrong about all of Ant’s shortcomings (defense and some aspects of decision-making in particular), and certain analysts, credit to them, saw the bullish case for his shot creation. But the aversion to Ant’s “hero ball” style at Georgia was a blind spot for many, as it was that tendency to aggressively create jumpers at volume that laid the groundwork for who he is today.
The Wolves are better off today for believing in Ant’s traits, stats, and tape than in the beliefs of those outside the building.
3 reasons Adou Thiero could steal the fifth starter spot
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 18: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League semifinal game against the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Most fans seem to agree that second-year Lakers forward Adou Thiero isn’t quite ready to open the season in the starting lineup.
However, the 2025 second-round draft pick displayed three traits during his brief G League and Summer League stints that suggest he may be less “two years away from being two years away” and closer to being mere months away from permanently stealing LA’s fifth starting spot.
So, while he almost assuredly will not open the season in the starting lineup, it’s a long season, and Thiero is a young player who could develop fast. If he does, these are the most likely reasons he slides past the competition into that starting lineup.
Superhero athleticism and explosiveness
In Adou’s G League appearances, the bouncy youngster often spotted a driving angle and exploded past his defender with such force and speed that most hapless opponents just fouled him. If he didn’t, he ended up watching Adou swing from the rim.
This pattern repeated throughout the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League tournaments. Thiero’s combo of elite athleticism and strength also showed up on the backboards. In Vegas, the human pogo-stick often jumped so high to chase a board that it looked like he was using a trampoline, finishing the summer averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
Sure, the G League and Summer League aren’t the league. However, athletes with Adou’s size and strength are rare, even in the NBA.
When he steps onto the court, he is almost always the most athletic player. So, if Adou can keep focusing his elite athleticism on defense and rebounding while finding ways to use his explosiveness on offense, he may improve enough to literally and figuratively leap over the competition.
Speaking of improvement…
Rapid improvement
Thanks to an expanded media package, virtually every 2025-26 G League game appeared somewhere last season. Even so, fans didn’t see much of Adou.
The promising rookie only appeared in 10 games, averaging 22.5 minutes per contest. He also missed his whole rookie-year Summer League. As a result, it was initially hard to get a read on his game.
Sure, the explosiveness was always there. In fact, it sometimes seemed like rookie Adou would hammer down a dunk in the first few plays of every game he entered. He also looked like a viable 3-point shooter last year, completing 10 of his 20 attempts in those 10 appearances.
Still, he looked raw and several years of development away from harnessing his superhero frame and abilities.
Then the 2026 Summer League took place, and things suddenly changed.
While he started slowly, it was clear as far back as the California Classic that Adou hadn’t stopped working since the season ended. Sure, his 3-pointer looked rough all summer, with just one make in 10 attempts in Vegas. But several parts of his overall game looked significantly better.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 18: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the Semifinals on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tom O’Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For example, Thiero’s on-ball defense and disruption looked like they were already at a plus NBA-wing level, a trait that came and went in his South Bay stints. This summer, as soon as he entered games, his relentless pressure regularly forced turnovers or had opposing ball handlers running away from switches.
Adou also looked light on his feet for his size, making it hard for all but the quickest players to get past him. He finished Vegas averaging a healthy 1.8 steals per game.
Perhaps most striking was Adou’s improvement as the summer progressed. Shots blocked at the rim in San Francisco and early Vegas games started turning into timely head fakes and easy lay-ins in later contests.
Adou’s improvement also showed up in ball handling and driving. Early in the summer, the fleet-footed forward repeatedly beat his man with an explosive first step only to dribble the ball off his feet or throw it out of bounds. Too often, those early drives produced a flash of explosiveness, followed too quickly by an unforced turnover.
Surprisingly, within just a few games, we saw this trend begin to change.
Lastly, Adou’s passing reads showed signs of improvement. Turnovers became quick hitters to open corner shooters. It wasn’t flawless. But like other parts of his game, you could see it improve in real time. Adou finished Vegas averaging three assists a game.
Of course, steady improvement doesn’t come without hard work. And achieving true greatness, like earning a starting spot as a second-year player, requires another, almost intangible quality that Thiero may also already possess.
The Eye of the Tiger
At the top of John Wooden’s infamous Pyramid of Success, the winningest college coach of all time placed a seemingly immeasurable quality. Above skill, poise, confidence, and a whole host of other critical traits, Wooden placed something he called “competitive greatness.”
Kobe Bryant sometimes described this ephemeral quality as hating to lose more than loving to win. As fans, we turned that belief, Kobe’s infamous work ethic, and his on-court success into the Mamba Mentality. Even today, that mantra has become as much a part of his legacy as any specific title or season.
But my personal favorite comes from the 1980s cinematic classic, Rocky III. In that iconic sports film, star Rocky Balboa’s former foe and current trainer, Apollo Creed, called the desire to win over anything else, “The eye of the tiger.”
Maybe I’m reading too much into his stern, potent brow or sharp, piercing eyes. But when I look at Adou, I see the eye of the tiger.
It wasn’t there in his G-League games last year, which could’ve been due to extended injury rehab or simply being a rookie. But even when Adou made more mistakes than he should have in his opening Summer League shifts, his face looked completely different from the start.
He looked more than serious. He looked mad. To be honest, he kind of looked like Kobe.
Sure, Adou’s prospects of becoming a high-level NBA player may ultimately lie with his ability to hit open threes at a respectable rate and little else.
But his combination of superhuman physical tools and proven ability to improve quickly with reps gives him a real shot at carving out a long career as a viable rotation player.
And, if I’m reading his steely-eyed gaze and relentless effort correctly, Adou may also employ a little bit of Mamba Mentality, Eye of the Tiger, or good old-fashioned John Wooden-style competitive greatness that accelerates his progress in a shorter time frame than most predict and helps the young man steal the Lakers’ fifth starting spot this season.
Given those three qualities, I’m betting on Adou.
Christopher Plain has spent the last six years as Associate News Editor and Head Science Reporter at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his novels at plainfiction.com, or email him at christopher@thedebrief.org.
