The 2026 NBA Draft is arguably the most exciting in recent memory and could eventually go down as one of the best draft classes in league history. This storyline does not come without a dull moment.

Since our last update, plenty of drama has surrounded the 2026 NBA Draft. First, on the professional side, the tanking crisis surrounding teams punting on the season for better draft odds looms large. Meanwhile, in college basketball, pundits continue to debate what exactly is going on with Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson.

With that in mind, as the college basketball regular season nears its end before conference tournaments and March Madness begins, let’s take a look at our latest mock draft.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

1. Sacramento Kings: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings have the worst offense in the Western Conference and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa. The forward currently leads the nation in unassisted points scored (548) this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star became the youngest player in NCAA history with a 30-point triple-double against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22. Highlighted by his 43-point performance against in-state rival Utah, he has averaged 29.7 points per game over his last 10 appearances. 

2. Washington Wizards: Darryn Peterson 

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Wizards would put the scoring guard in a strong position to begin his career alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis. It’s incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson while holding a usage rate as high as his has been this season.  

3. Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Boozer 

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

After the Nets took five bites at the apple in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft last season, they could fill in the rest of the puzzle of their roster by adding an incredibly tantalizing prospect with Duke freshman standout Cameron Boozer. He isn’t a human highlight reel but his statistical profile jumps off the page by virtually any metric and he is nothing short of a dominant paint scorer. Boozer offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set.

4. Indiana Pacers: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Based on projections from ESPN Analytics, the Pacers are projected to keep their pick rather than owe it to the Clippers. They could have a very complicated decision if it falls at No. 4 overall. Their backcourt is set with Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard and so is their frontcourt with Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. Even if the fit is clunky, though, the best player on the board here is North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson. Although he is currently recovering from a hand fracture, his two-way upside is too high to pass up.   

5. Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Jazz currently have the worst defensive rating in the league but could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The guard has multiple games when he has recorded at least five steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. While he scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24, he has since fallen into a bit of a slump, shooting less than 40.0 percent from the field over his last eight games. But with highs as high as his thus far, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.   

6. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr.

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 19

After trading away Trae Young, the Hawks could find their point guard of the future in Arkansas standout Darius Acuff Jr. using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. The freshman guard is excellently efficient at operating ball screens or in isolation, ranking third in the nation for points created (997) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He can score well from either side of the court and leads all freshmen in both alley-oop assists (15) and field goals made in transition (58) this season.  

7. Dallas Mavericks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Now led by Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks need to find players who can space the floor for him as they have the second-fewest 3-pointers made per game in the NBA and the third-lowest 3-point percentage in the West. They should have Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. He has deep shooting range and leads all freshmen in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown is also averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9 while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc.

8. Chicago Bulls: Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman is averaging 21.6 points per game over his last eleven appearances, shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers during that span. Although he has struggled to finish at the rim, he shoots fairly well off the dribble for someone with his height. He is also adept when shooting using off-ball screens. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament and given so much of what he brings to the table cannot be taught, it’s probably a team picking fairly early.     

9. Memphis Grizzlies: Keaton Wagler

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler shines when studying analytical models and advanced metrics. As the Grizzlies look to reload after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. and potentially even moving on from Ja Morant, they could find a solid contributor to add to their rotation. The 19-year-old guard scored 46 points while shooting 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against No. 12 Purdue on Jan. 24. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 42.0 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman this year. Wagler is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season. 

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Bucks could still use more reliable players in the backcourt and could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. The guard is now averaging 21.3 points per game and has improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 38.7 percent as a sophomore, also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process. He also has one of the most productive one-footed floaters in college basketball. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Brayden Burries

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January: He recorded 28 points with nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block against Kansas State on Jan. 7, and then he had 29 points with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks against BYU on Jan. 26. He then scored 24 points with five rebounds and four assists on efficient shooting in a game against Baylor on Feb. 24. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.   

12. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 23

If the Spurs are going to continue to contend with Victor Wembanyama, they can add the top win-now contributor available, Michigan senior Yaxel Lendeborg, to their core. His team has outscored opponents by 491 points with him on the court this season, per CBB Analytics, which is the most of any player in the nation. He is a versatile, do-it-all player who is older than many of his collegiate peers but is probably the best player in college basketball this season. 

13. Charlotte Hornets: Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance had a late start to his sophomore campaign and may not even return to the court again this season as he recovers from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. But the sophomore big man showed immediate flashes once he debuted for Kentucky. Despite it all, though, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to somehow add even more lottery talent in the 2026 NBA Draft. They could use it to potentially replace Isaiah Hartenstein by drafting a younger German big man: Hannes Steinbach. He is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, especially on the offensive glass. The big man is one of the more prolific pick and roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.

15. Golden State Warriors: Cameron Carr

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 21

One of the players who has improved his draft stock the most since the season began is Baylor junior Cameron Carr. He is able to dunk and shoot from beyond the arc at a high clip and, per Bart Torvik, is currently the only high-major player to reach 40 field goals that were dunks and 40 3-pointers so far this season. Baylor has outscored opponents by an additional 34.8 points per 100 possessions when he is on the floor relative to when he is not, via CBB Analytics, which is the second-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

16. Miami Heat: Koa Peat

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Forwrard
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to their organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. He just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. 

17. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, Iowa State do-it-all standout Joshua Jefferson is an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who meets many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. He is someone who looks destined to have a sustainable NBA career.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Karim López

• TEAM: International (Australia)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Thunder have drafted several players from Australia’s NBL, including Josh Giddey. They could dip into this well again by selecting Karim López with their pick from the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Mexican-born forward still needs some development, the physically gifted forward is widely seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. Even if he is a draft-and-stash player, that is ideal for a team with a rotation as crowded as the Thunder.

19. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns): Braylon Mullins

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Indiana
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald’s All-American, missed the start of the season due to an ankle injury. But he has returned to action for the Huskies and has shown what makes him such an appealing player. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. Mullins is already shooting over 40 percent on 3-pointers since moving into the starting lineup.

20. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors could use another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. Despite transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick and roll. He can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. Stirtz, however, occasionally struggled against highly ranked teams like Iowa State, Illinois and Michigan State. But the Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who is doing the same at Iowa.

21. Los Angeles Lakers: Patrick Ngongba II

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Lakers could use a big man like Patrick Ngongba II, who is an above-average passer for his position. His assist rate is the highest among underclassmen listed at 6-foot-11 or taller, per Bart Torvik, and he is at the top of his game when passing to a driving perimeter player. Ngongba is a big-bodied prospect who can carve out space as one of the most prolific cutters in college basketball. He is on an encouraging development track, displaying year-over-year improvement from his freshman to sophomore campaign.

22. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson 

• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 20

While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and could use more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who has the second-most unassisted 3-pointers (51) in the NCAA, per CBB Analytics. Now playing at point guard, Anderson is recording more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore now compared to when he was a freshman. 

23. Denver Nuggets: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best, most underrated two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson’s shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Tounde Yessoufou

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Benin
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Baylor freshman Tounde Yessoufou is a force of nature in transition and does not have that same polish in a half-court offense. Still raw but with a respected work ethic, there are a lot of traits to admire about what he might blossom into as he continues his development. Already, however, his athleticism and his defensive playmaking will at least intrigue teams looking to improve their wing depth like the 76ers.  

25. New York Knicks: Henri Veesaar

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Estonia
• HEIGHT: 7-0
• DRAFT AGE: 22

After transferring from Arizona to North Carolina, we have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. He is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes on an expedited timeline, like the Knicks, will have him high on their priority list.

26. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Thomas Haugh 

• TEAM: Florida
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Pennsylvania
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

After winning a national championship with Florida last season, Thomas Haugh was instantly regarded as one of the most interesting players who elected to return to college. Haugh has one of the top motors in the NCAA and he is an incredibly skilled basketball player. He does not need the ball in his hands very often to make a difference on the floor for his team, and he can serve as a glue guy for a team looking to compete sooner than later like the Hawks.

27. Boston Celtics: Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• DRAFT AGE: 21

As the Celtics continue to exceed expectations, they do have some holes to fill in their frontcourt after losing both Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford. After selecting Hugo González from Spain in the draft last season, they could potentially target his former FIBA U18 European Championship tournament teammate Aday Mara. The 7-foot-3 big man who transferred from UCLA is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempt 18.3 percent of their field goals at the rim when Mara is on the court, per CBB Analytics, the second-lowest among high-major players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition. 

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Amari Allen

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Wisconsin
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Alabama freshman Amari Allen is a 6-foot-7 freshman who averaged 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists with 1.9 ‘stocks’ (combined steals and blocks) per game for the Crimson Tide during SEC conference play. He also shot 38.3 percent on 3-pointers while attempting 4.0 shots per game beyond the arc. Allen is a good connective piece who plays hard and knows how to make the right play.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Allen Graves

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Perhaps the most enticing, under-the-radar prospect in all of college basketball is Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves. It was hard not to notice Graves after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State. All-in-one metrics are high on him, per CBB Analytics: He ranks 99th percentile in Win Shares per 40 minutes, Wins Above Replacement Player and Player Efficiency Rating. The only players under 21 years old who hold a higher box plus-minus are Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson, via Bart Torvik.  

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Dailyn Swain

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason, Dailyn Swain has become one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. He is versatile and contributes a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, particularly impressive scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. One element that is particularly compelling is that Swain is particularly efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. 

Cleveland Cavaliers star James Harden was one of the bigger acquisitions at this year’s NBA trade deadline. However, after just seven games with the team, Harden is already suffering some setbacks.

Harden suffered a broken right thumb during the team’s win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The injury was not discovered until after the game.

Harden, famously a left-handed shooter, could theoretically play through the injury. In fact, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Harden intends to do just that. However, that might be out of his control for now. Here’s what to know about James Harden’s latest injury.

Will James Harden play tonight?

Harden is currently listed as questionable for Wednesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. His status for future games is still up in the air, although, as stated earlier, Harden intends to play through it.

Will the injury require surgery?

No. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Harden has already been evaluated by a hand specialist who has determined that Harden will not require surgery.

Harden’s stats with Cleveland

In seven games with the Cavaliers, Harden is averaging 32.1 minutes played, 18.4 points, 8 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 49.4% shooting.

Following Wednesday night’s road matchup against Milwaukee, the Cavs will head to Detroit for a game against the Pistons on Friday, Feb. 27.

It’s not even a question.

On the same day IU football sold out season tickets in just hours, the men’s basketball team — once the school’s golden goose — lost to Northwestern for the sixth straight time, while Assembly Hall’s balcony seating remained empty.

Over the past 20 years, Indiana fans have banked far more core memories from football than basketball. An entire generation has grown up without tasting any sense of sustained hoops success — in a place that worships the sport like no other.

While Curt Cignetti flipped the campus’ priorities on its head the past two seasons, the basketball rot was well entrenched.

Since 2015:

• Indiana football has reached the postseason six times.
• Indiana basketball has reached NCAA tournament four times.

Keep in mind, before Indiana football won this year’s national championship, it entered this past season as the losingest program in FBS history. And even with that albatross around its neck, football has seen more success over the past decade than its basketball counterpart.

If the Hoosiers (17-11, 8-9) miss out on the 2026 NCAA tournament, which looks entirely possible, it would mark the eighth time in the past 10 years Indiana has sat out March Madness.

At Indiana. And in an era where it’s seemingly harder to miss the tournament than make it with the expanded field of 68.

It gets worse.

Indiana hasn’t reached an Elite Eight since 2002, when the Hoosiers upset top-ranked Duke in the Sweet 16 en route to a national championship game loss to Maryland.

Since that run, 60 teams (SIXTY!) have reached at least one Elite Eight, including the likes of St. Peter’s, Florida Atlantic, George Mason, Loyola Chicago, VCU, Dayton, St. Joseph’s and Davidson.

Already on its sixth full-time head coach since firing Bob Knight, Indiana has been chasing ghosts ever since. The Hoosiers’ five national titles still rank tied for fifth with Duke for most in NCAA history, but the last one was in 1987, and besides that outlier 2002 season under Mike Davis, Indiana hasn’t come anywhere close since.

Love him or hate him, Knight won. He had a .731 winning percentage and won 11 Big Ten titles and 659 games in his 28 seasons in Bloomington. His successors have won 493 games (.581) in 26 combined seasons with just three conference titles.

Tom Crean came closest to replicating Knight’s success. He inherited a program beset by sanctions caused by Kelvin Sampson, won the Big Ten twice and had Indiana ranked No. 1 for 10 weeks in the 2013 season, but was undone by a Syracuse zone in March. (Meanwhile, Sampson has turned Houston into a team no one wants to play.)

Archie Miller was supposed to be ‘a home-run hire.’ He wasn’t, and has a losing record over his four seasons at Rhode Island.

Indiana next looked to a ‘Bob Knight guy’ — something a large portion of the fan base had been screaming for. No one else was hiring Mike Woodson, but because his diploma said ‘Indiana’, he was their guy. IU fans ran him out of town after missing back-to-back NCAA tournaments.

Darian DeVries is the latest to try his hand at getting it right in Bloomington.

IndyStar IU Insider Zach Osterman had this to say after Tuesday’s latest setback versus Northwestern:

‘To the media, he unpacked, calmly, what led to that loss. In more private moments, DeVries might have considered in some way the wider lesson: Basketball, in this place and this time, has become harder — much harder — than it really ought to be. And restoring even some baseline measure of success here will require resetting a lot of once-sacred conventions that are now tired, worn, withered and perhaps even dead.

‘That is an almighty task.

‘Making too much of any one loss can be dangerous. No single night should act as a referendum on an entire program.

‘… It is justifiably difficult for a fan base so routinely let down by what once was its flagship program to stop itself from defaulting toward anger, frustration and blame. But impatience is a weed, not a flower. It will overrun and smother the garden long before anything blooms.

‘… At a certain point, benefit of the doubt runs thin. Impatience becomes ingrained. The sins of prior failures are passed down through coaching tenures.

‘DeVries carries that weight now. Few of these problems are of his own making. This program’s many ills and cultural difficulties predate his coming to Bloomington. These games cannot be referendums, but the relentless eroding of faith makes them so.’

Indiana basketball is as well-resourced as any program in the country. But with Hoosiers donors getting a taste of unimaginable football success, a lot of that money may be headed across the parking lot from Assembly Hall to Memorial Stadium.

The fans have already.

Much of the talk around NBA All-Star Weekend was about how to improve certain events, particularly the dunk contest.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard threw his bid in to improve the 3-point shootout by lobbying for Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, his Splash Brother and former teammate, Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker to compete in 2027.

The latest man to attempt to improve the NBA’s premier weekend is Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, who is ready to put some money up for All-Stars to compete in the highly-anticipated annual All-Star competitions.

Ishbia even said on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Wednesday, Feb. 25, that he is willing to offer $1 million to the 2027 NBA dunk contest and 3-point contest winners.

He said he wants ‘to get the best guys’ to participate during next year’s All-Star Weekend, which will be held in Phoenix.

McAfee proposed that Ishbia put up $2 million, one for the winner and another one for a local charity.

‘Done,’ Ishbia responded.

Ishbia told McAfee that he will have a say in how to improve All-Star Weekend.

‘Not the actual game part of it, like how they do East versus West, or World versus U.S., but I have a say in ‘how do we get great players in it?’ Ishbia said. ‘How do we make it a great event? How to make (the) fan experience phenomenal? We’re gonna make it an amazing event.’

McAfee challenged Ishbia to share the details, asking him to announce what he’s planning for the dunk contest, and offered a proposal. Ishbia was all ears.

‘You’re gonna put a million dollars up for the winner and then a million dollar donation to a charity,’ McAfee said.

Ishbia quickly responded in excitement, ‘done’ and added, ‘Let’s get the best guys in it. Let’s make it awesome.’

Will the NBA allow Mat Ishbia to pay players?

The idea proposed by McAfee and verbally agreed upon by Ishbia is illegal by NBA rules and regulations, according to ESPN.

Officials from the NBA league office and players’ union told ESPN that Ishbia’s generous donations would not ‘conform with the existing bonus structure.’

Additionally, Ishbia did not consult the league office before making the offer, according to ESPN.

Ishbia remains motivated to find a way to get more stars into the events.

Jack Hughes received a hero’s welcome Wednesday in a ceremony held before he took the ice for the New Jersey Devils again.

Hughes, the 24-year-old top pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, on Sunday scored the overtime winner to give the United States its first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. It’s been a whirlwind few days, which included a trip to Washington, D.C., and plenty of controversy, but all that melted away as he was feted at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The Devils honored all their players who participated in the Olympics, but a special spot was reserved for their American star. After taking a brief skate with Tage Thompson of the visiting Buffalo Sabres, who was also on Team USA, an emotional Hughes grabbed the mic and thanked the fans.

Watch full ceremony honoring Jack Hughes

Hughes, who was greeted by chants of ‘USA,’ gave brief remarks before the game.

‘I’m so proud and I’m so happy that the men’s and women’s USA hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States of America,’ Hughes said.

‘You guys are making me emotional,’ Hughes continued. ‘But, I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization. And I’m so, so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey. So proud.

‘From the bottom of my heart — all my teammates, USA teammates — we just want to thank you guys for all the love and the support. We feel it. Thank you.’

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