NBA 101

How will Brad Underwood balance minutes for a loaded Illinois roster?

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Head coach Brad Underwood’s Illini went hunting for promising additions this offseason, and succeeded at doing so, landing multiple elite freshmen and a proven transfer. But with a chunk of Illinois’ veteran core returning to Champaign, Underwood will have to figure out how to carve minutes out for the new faces without disrupting the chemistry of the established vets. 

Quentin Coleman & Stefan Vaaks: 26-30 minutes

Illini fans assume five-star freshman Quentin Coleman will step right into the starting lineup, filling the point guard role that Keaton Wagler left. Alongside him, Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, coming off an Estonian League Championship and Big East All-Freshman Team selection, will likely step into the shooting guard role after averaging 15.8 points per game while shooting 35% from 3-point range with the Friars last season. 26-30 minutes per game is a realistic expectation for both of the newcomers in the starting five. 

David Mirkovic & Andrej Stojakovic: 28-30 minutes

After his standout freshman campaign in orange and blue last season, David Mirkovic has virtually locked down his spot in Underwood’s ideal starting lineup. Mirkovic started 35 out of Illinois’ 36 games last season.

Stojakovic though, sat on the bench for 11 games behind Jake Davis during the back end of last season after returning from injury. There’s a question mark as to whether Underwood will replicate that rotation, but given Stojakovic’s scoring production as Illinois’ second-leading scorer last season, it still would be somewhat of a surprise to see him start the season on the bench if he’s fully healthy. Jake Davis earned that spot through rebounding and defensive grit, high IQ spacing and consistent 3-point shooting. But if Stojakovic used this offseason to develop his rebounding and defensive abilities, his ceiling is much higher. 28-30 minutes per game for Stojakovic is a realistic prediction.

Jake Davis: 18-20 minutes

Additionally, Vaaks’ entrance in the starting lineup changes the lineup dynamic. Vaaks and Davis offer spot-up shooting, but a lineup with Vaaks and Stojakovic gives the Illini a late-clock creating option. Davis looks like Illinois’ ideal sixth man this season if he doesn’t start. Keeping him around for at least 18-20 minutes per game will preserve Illinois’ perimeter spacing and defensive discipline. 

Tomislav: 22 minutes; Zvonimir: 18 minutes

Although Tomislav Ivisic likely has his spot in the starting lineup locked down, having started two seasons at the center position for the Illini, Underwood may be a little more generous to Zvonimir than he was last season regarding minutes. Tomislav’s pick-and-pop spacing, 3-point threat, low-block scoring and playmaking abilities should grant him around 22 minutes per game. That leaves an 18-minute window for Zvonimir to utilize his elite rim protection, vertical rim running and stretch-five threat from the wing to offer a completely different playstyle. Zvonimir averaged 17 minutes per game last season, and it’d be a shock to see those numbers decrease. 

Lincoln Williams & Lucas Morillo: 10-12 minutes

A problem Underwood might face is deciding how to balance minutes for the first seven with minutes for the rest of the incoming freshmen. There’s been quite a good bit of hype around wings like Lincoln Williams and Lucas Morillo, but will Illinois fans get to appreciate them on the court this season? Or will they have to wait until the returning core departs? What gives them both a chance to get rotational minutes is the fact that they can both fill in at guard and wing. Williams offers explosive vertical ability and transition scoring, while Morillo offers patient ball-handling and playmaking. If both of them can offer disciplined defense and rebounding, they may be able to carve out 10-12 minutes per game if they maximize their opportunities. 

It won’t be easy for Underwood to dish out 200 minutes for a roster this deep, but it’s a good problem to have. TCR readers, what are your minutes per game predictions?

3 myths surrounding the Clippers investigation 357 days after it began

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Tom Haberstroh welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Amin Elhassan to break down the NBA’s ongoing investigation into Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers. From the $28 million no-show endorsement deal with Aspiration and the latest trade hold between the Clippers and Raptors, Tom and Amin lay out what’s real and what’s myth in one of the league’s most consequential off-court stories.

(1:17) The Big Number: days since the investigation began

(22:25) Are Amin & Pablo out to get Kawhi?

(28:51) Is LeBron’s $300 million loan circumventing the cap?

(41:22) Are the Raptors hoping LA gets a slap on the wrist?

Scott Varley

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out all episodes of The Big Number and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

NFL Rivalry jerseys ranked for every new team from worst to best

The NFL has fully adopted the NBA model of having special uniforms for rivalry matchups, with the AFC South and NFC North being added to the list. Some of these really hit the mark and feel iconic, while others … exist.

Nothing is truly ugly this year, but some of the uniforms are meant to evoke their cities yet end up feeling like hollow knockoffs of other teams. Let’s dive in and rank the eight new uniforms from worst to best, as well as note when they’ll be wearing them.

No. 8: Chicago Bears

Will be worn Week 16 vs. Packers

Maybe there’s an outside chance this looks better on a human, but I really doubt it. The piping is supposed to evoke the original Bears uniforms, which isn’t lost on me — but it’s too subtle. The numbering is bad, and the whole uniform looks like a much worse version of their normal uniform. It’s the worst of this year’s slate, which is a shame for a team that should be exciting in 2026.

No. 7: Detroit Lions

Will be worn Week 8 vs. Vikings

There’s nothing wrong with the jersey, except for the fact it looks like the Lions just stole the Carolina Panthers’ homework. Other than the shade of blue, this is a dead ringer for the Panthers’ white unis. The carbon fiber number is a little too on the nose, and it would have been much better and felt more like the team if they went for a grey variant.

No. 6: Indianapolis Colts

Will be worn Week 3 vs. Texans

The glossy black is too much, and makes the jersey look like it was designed at a mall pop-up that does iron-on transfers. The shoulder design is very abrupt, and feels less like something that evokes the Colts and Indianapolis, and more like something you’d put on a Steelers rivalry jersey with rivets. Not really sure the connection, and the dark look just doesn’t evoke the Colts at all.

No. 5: Minnesota Vikings

Will be worn Week 15 vs. Lions

The arm bands really carry this design, because they have to. I like the Norse knot and the gold a lot — but the rest of the uniform looks far too much like a Baltimore Ravens alternate. It’s a rare case where the uniform is too subtle for its own good, which holds this back from really feeling special.

No. 4: Houston Texans

Will be worn Week 11 vs. Colts

This is so close, but botched at the final stage. It’s clear the Texans are evoking the past of the Houston Oilers, which I’m absolutely for and believe the franchise should really have claim to the history — but too many details make this look like a bootleg being sold out of someone’s trunk. The numbering is off, the arm bands are a mess, and I strongly dislike white being the predominant color in the alternate Texans logo.

No. 3: Tennessee Titans

Will be worn Week 10 vs. Jaguars

I’ll give this one a lot of props for simply not trying to rip off the history of the Houston Oilers, as the Titans so often do. I think this should be the future direction of the franchise as a whole, leaning into a variety of blue tones to do something nobody else in the NFL is doing. I dig the “Music City” branding, I like the numbering which evokes a neon bar sign. This is a very solid uniform from top to bottom.

No. 2: Jacksonville Jaguars

Will be worn Week 8 vs. Colts

I really, really love these. If the Jaguars were a part of last year’s release they would probably have the top look, but are slightly edged out in 2026 by one uniform. The way this rivalry release evokes the history of the Jaguars’ franchise is perfect, and it really gives the 1995 vibes they were looking for. It’s clean, understated, and honestly might be better than their normal unis.

No. 1: Green Bay Packers

Will be worn Week 5 vs. Bears

I think this is one of the best alternate NFL uniforms ever created. It’s a 10/10, no-notes situation. The colorway, the larger number, the font, the armbands — everything comes together to evoke both the history of the Packers, and modernizing the jersey to feel fresh. I honestly cannot wait to see these on game day, because they just look fantastic.

LeBron James Borrowed Nearly $300M From Insurers Tied To Guggenheim In 2018

An LLC controlled by LeBron James borrowed nearly $300 million from two Midwestern life insurers advised by an arm of Guggenheim Partners months before he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, according to insurance industry records reviewed by Bloomberg. The previously unreported bonds are structured against future revenue from James’ endorsement deals, including a lifetime Nike sponsorship, and are not due until 2049.

The lending arrangement began while James was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers, ahead of his 2018 free agency decision to join the Lakers. North American Company for Life and Health Insurance and Midland National Life Insurance Co., both owned by Sammons Financial Group, purchased the initial bonds issued by James’ LLC, King James Funding, carrying a 4.8 percent interest rate.

The two insurers held approximately $245 million in bonds tied to James’ LLC by the end of last year, after some debt was paid down and additional bonds were issued. A separate transaction in 2022 saw the same insurers provide roughly $60 million in additional financing around the time James signed a $97 million contract extension with the Lakers.

A spokesperson for James described the arrangement as a standard financial structure for high-earning individuals.

“Transactions were a securitization done by Mr. James with his personal, non-NBA salary, assets and income which is a very common financial structure for an individual with this level of earnings and assets,” the spokesperson said, adding that the 2022 transaction received third-party credit rating and full NBA approval.

Guggenheim, led by Mark Walter, also appeared as an investor in James’ media venture SpringHill Co. alongside business partner Maverick Carter in 2020.

The financing arrangement adds context to Walter’s broader use of insurance company assets to fund sports and private investments. Walter’s insurers face ongoing scrutiny from the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission over more than $20 billion in loans tied to affiliated businesses that were reportedly not properly disclosed. Sammons Financial Group indicated during a recent investor call that it has been reducing its financial ties to Guggenheim.

Walter’s sale of the Lakers comes as he continues restructuring his business empire amid the federal investigation.

James left the Lakers to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason.

Warriors Remain Interested In Signing Georges Niang

The Golden State Warriors remain interested in signing Georges Niang with their open roster spot.

Jiang appeared in 79 games last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.5 minutes. Jiang shot 40.6 percent on three-pointers.

Niang will be playing in his age-33 season and briefly played for the Santa Cruz Warriors early in his career.

The Warriors also signed Brandon Williams to a contract this week as they round out their roster.