NBA 101

Kevin Durant has a FORTUNE in Bitcoin … but he lost the password

There’s no shame in losing a password. I’ve done it, you’ve done it — it’s just a factor of having dozens of different accounts on various services and being told you shouldn’t re-use the same password on different sites. That said, the worst this gets for most of us is missing out on a Jimmy John’s coupon locked behind the vault of a Yahoo Mail account you haven’s used in a decade. For Kevin Durant there’s an untold fortune locked behind a door he can’t open.

Durant was a guest at the Boardroom conference this week alongside his longtime business manager and agent Rick Kleiman, where we got one of the most hilarious anecdotes of the year.

The timeline goes a little something like this: Kleiman was at a birthday party for Kevin Durant circa 2016 and everyone was talking about Bitcoin. The next morning the pair invested money together to buy Bitcoin through Coinbase. Then they both forgot about it, lost the account info, and have been locked out for almost a decade now.

Easily the best part of this is Durant confidently saying “it’s in the cloud,” which I’m absolutely 100 percent sure he doesn’t know what that means and it’s also inaccurate.

Most crypto sites have extreme security on accounts because of the prevalence for theft and fraud, so it’s not as simple as clicking the “forgot password” button. Now the real question becomes: How much money is in this account?

One would have to assume that if a ton of money was invested, upwards of $1M, then the duo would have had safeguards in place. We’ll operate under the assumption that Durant invested $100,000 in Bitcoin at the time, which is a ton for most of us — but a small risk for someone like Durant.

Durant’s birthday is September 29 — so let’s assume they bought the $100,000 of Bitcoin on September 30, 2016. It closed the day at $609.73. This means that Durant could have bought 164 coins with the money. Now, I think if you’re tossing that kind of money around you want a nice, clean, round number. I think Durant actually bought 200 Bitcoin even at a cost of $121,946.

Fast-forward to today: 200 Bitcoin is now worth $23,579,632.

There is literally millions and millions of dollars in Bitcoin in an account that Durant can’t access. What a time to be alive.

Trae Young Defends Himself Over Leadership, Playoff Success

Trae Young responded to Patrick Beverley’s podcast criticism Thursday, defending his leadership while questioning Beverley’s own playoff achievements despite playing alongside elite teammates throughout his career.

The exchange began when Beverley criticized Young’s playoff resume and leadership qualities during a Wednesday podcast appearance. Beverley stated Young “had not won enough to even speak to me” and cited anonymous sources questioning Young’s teammate relationships.

Young countered by highlighting that both players reached one conference finals despite Beverley’s longer playoff history. He suggested Beverley’s comments were motivated by attention-seeking rather than genuine basketball analysis.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be in my position, you don’t know what it’s like to put my shoes on,” Young said during his response. “I promise you – there’s not a selfish bone in my body.”

Kevin Durant intervened Wednesday, calling Beverley’s comments “delusional” on social media. The Hawks organization also posted highlight clips of Young scoring against Beverley throughout their careers.

Beverley had claimed during his podcast that former Atlanta players expressed reluctance about playing alongside Young. He questioned Young’s leadership despite the guard’s statistical accomplishments.

“I’ve talked to people who played in Atlanta. They don’t wanna play there. Why? They don’t think he’s a good leader. They don’t think he’s a good teammate,” Beverley said.

The feud comes as Young faces a crucial contract year with Atlanta. Young can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, currently earning $46 million with a $48.9 million player option for 2026-27.

Quin Snyder praised Young for his development as a leader throughout last season.

Alanna Smith, Aja Wilson Named WNBA Co-Defensive Players Of The Year

Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces center Aja Wilson have been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, marking the first time in league history the award has been shared.

Smith and Wilson each received 29 votes from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters, the WNBA announced today. Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams finished second with nine votes, followed by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas with three votes and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier with two votes.

This represents Smith’s first Defensive Player of the Year award and Wilson’s third, having previously won in 2022 and 2023.

Smith started all 42 games for Minnesota in her seventh WNBA season, averaging 26.6 minutes per game. The 2024 All-Defensive Second Team selection helped lead the Lynx to the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs.

Minnesota posted a league-best 97.5 defensive rating with Smith anchoring their defense. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks with 135, ranked third in blocks per game at 1.9 and total blocks with 80, while adding 55 steals.

Smith, drafted eighth overall in 2019, has evolved into a defensive cornerstone for the Lynx. The team advanced to the semifinals following a 2-0 first-round victory against the Golden State Valkyries.

Wilson started all 40 games for Las Vegas while averaging 31.2 minutes per game in her eighth season. The three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree helped the Aces secure the No. 2 seed following a 16-game win streak to close the regular season.

Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game at 2.3, total rebounds with 407, defensive rebounds with 316, and combined steals and blocks with 156. She also ranked second in total blocks with 92 and rebounds per game at 10.2.

The dominant two-way player also led the league offensively in 2025, recording 937 total points, 23.4 points per game, 332 field goals made, and 248 free throws made.

WNBA announces Coach of the Year winner — and it’s no surprise

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has won the WNBA’s Coach of the Year, the WNBA announced on Wednesday. Nakase, a first-year head coach of the Valkyries, led the Valkyries to a 23-21 record and the 8th seed in the playoffs.

She earned 53 of 72 media votes for Coach of the Year, while Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko earned 15 votes. Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve each earned two votes.

I, senior WNBA writer at SB Nation, voted Nakase for Coach of the Year, as explained in this article:

No one expected the Golden State Valkyries to make the playoffs.

ESPN projected the Valkyries to be the worst team in the WNBA.

The Athletic projected they’d be the third-worst.

But those projections were way off. Instead, Golden State is on track to finish the season with the league’s 6th-best record, securing a playoff spot with a week to spare. It’s a better record than the Seattle Storm, who are headlined by veteran All-Stars like Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Gabby Williams. It’s a better record than the Kelsey Plum-led Los Angeles Sparks, and the Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah-Boston led Indiana Fever.

The success has come despite the fact that their only first-round 2025 draft pick, Juste Joyce, remained overseas this season.

It’s come despite the fact that their leading scorer, Kayla Thornton, suffered a season-ending injury midway through the year.

It’s come despite the fact that they mostly whiffed in free agency, securing only one big name (Tiffany Hayes).

And, though we’ll never be able to pinpoint exactly why Golden State has outplayed so many other teams this season, much of the credit has to go to their thoroughly prepared head coach, Natalie Nakase. It’s clear that Natalie Nakase has put together an incredible rookie coaching season.

As media members, it can be tough to evaluate coaching. We’re not in the locker room at halftime or in the film room at practice. And, we can’t always glean how much poor execution is due to the staff and how much is simply the players struggling to implement concepts that were effectively presented.

But oftentimes, it’s something you can feel – how players respond when a coach pulls them to the sidelines, the authenticity with which they gush about their coach to the press when given the opportunity.

On the Valkyries, Veronica Burton plays with a joy she’s never exhibited in the WNBA. She plays freely. Rookies Carla Leite and Janelle Salaün don’t often present as first-year players.

Nearly the entire Valkyries roster is overachieving. Burton won the Most Improved Player, having upped her average from 3.1 to 12 points per game. Cecilia Zandalasini has upped her average from 4.6 to 11.2 points per game. Leite and Salaün are adjusting to the WNBA beautifully.

And the Valkyries are winning. That’s the most important thing.

They’ve won more games than any expansion team in WNBA history, and everyone has taken notice.

In talking to people around the league, there’s a strong sentiment that a ton of Golden State’s success should be tied to their head coach.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve — one of the winningest coaches in WNBA history — recently praised what the Valkyries have been able to do under Nakase in a pregame press conference.

“When you combine a level of compete with talent and buy-in, that’s the most dangerous thing you can get,” Reeve said.

And in an interview with the Chicago Tribune last week, when Angel Reese sounded off about her own team’s level of compete, she used the Valkyries as a reference point.

“Watching Golden State — no offense, but I don’t think they’re more talented than us on paper,” Reese said. “But they play hard as hell.”

Kuminga contract clash continues for Golden State + Silver responds to Kawhi controversy

Subscribe to The Big Number

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine break down the latest in the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga restricted free agency standoff. Has Kumingа played his final game for the Warriors? If so, Tom & Dan weigh the pros and cons of the Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets and others as potential fits. Later, the duo reacts to Adam Silver’s shifting public stance on the Kawhi Leonard and LA Clippers salary cap circumvention allegations.

(1:51) The Big Number: Jonathan Kuminga contract stalemate

(19:02) Little Numbers: Chicago Bulls free throw attempt rate

(24:22) Little Numbers: Kuminga points scored rolling after setting a screen

(32:01) Little Numbers: Washington Wizards individual 20-point performances

(37:02) Little Numbers: Brooklyn Nets top-10 picks

(42:51) Adam Silver comments on Kawhi controversy

(Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Natalie Nakase Named WNBA Coach Of The Year

Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries has won the WNBA’s Coach of the Year award. The Valkyries had a 23-21 record, which was five times the number of games the last WNBA expansion team won.

Nakase received 53 of the 72 votes. Dream coach Karl Smesko got 15 votes, while the Las Vegas Aces’ Becky Hammon and Minnesota Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve each got two.

Nakase joined the Valkyries as head coach after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces. Nakase also had experience in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Wolves Sign Nojel Eastern

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Nojel Eastern.

Eastern, 6-5, has appeared in 68 games (38 starts) in two seasons with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Timberwolves, averaging 9.8 points on 50.4% shooting, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 27.0 minutes per game.

This past season, Eastern saw action in 29 games (23 starts) for Iowa, averaging career highs in points (12.9 ppg), shooting percentage (51.4%), including three-point shooting (41.9%) and assists (2.9 apg), to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 30.0 minutes per game.

Paige Bueckers Named WNBA Rookie Of The Year With 70 Of 72 First Place Votes

Paige Bueckers was named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year as she received 70 of 72 first place votes. Sonia Citron received the other two votes.

Bueckers, who was the No. 1 overall pick out of UConn by the Dallas Wings, averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.4% from the floor and 88.8% from the free throw line.

Bueckers joins Diana Taurasi (2004), Tina Charles (2010), Maya Moore (2011), Breanna Stewart (2016), Napheesa Collier (2019) and Crystal Dangerfield (2020) as UConn players who have earned this honor.

RealGM Radio: Keith Parish On The Southwest Division

The Southwest Division is STACKED with storylines heading into this NBA season. Wes Goldberg (RealGM Radio) and Keith Parish (Fastbreak Breakfast, Grits & Grinds) break down every team-Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Mavericks, and Grizzlies-and make predictions for how the division will shake out.

We cover Kevin Durant joining the Houston Rockets, Victor Wembanyama’s year three leap, Zion’s health, Cooper Flagg’s impact in Dallas, and Memphis’ tough decision to move Desmond Bane.

Time Stamps
00:00 – Intro & why the Southwest Division is fascinating
02:00 – NBA division realignment talk & rivalries
08:45 – Houston Rockets: Kevin Durant trade, roster fit & concerns
20:30 – San Antonio Spurs: Year 3 of Wemby, Fox pairing & depth chart questions
30:00 – New Orleans Pelicans: Confusing offseason, Point Zion & Jordan Poole fit
42:20 – Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg’s role, Kyrie injury & roster imbalance
49:30 – Memphis Grizzlies: Trading Desmond Bane, Ty Jerome & KCP additions, leadership void
59:45 – Predictions: Who wins the Southwest Division?

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via the RSS feed. Watch on YouTube.