NBA

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren’s off-court bond powers Pistons’ rise

Cade Cunningham
December 2025

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have powered Detroit’s rise in the East behind career-best starts, built on a deep off-court friendship that includes shared summer trips and daily work, turning the Pistons’ core guard-big partnership into one of the league’s most effective engines. From off-the-grid training in Colorado to two weeks exploring Rome and workouts in Dallas, their time together has sharpened communication and pick-and-roll reads, reflected in elite efficiency numbers, shared assist totals and a dominant two-man net rating driving Detroit’s resurgence.

Cavaliers hit with $250,000 fine for Darius Garland rest decision on national TV window

Cleveland Cavaliers
December 2025

The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy after determining that Darius Garland, classified as a star under the rules, should have been available for a nationally televised game against the Toronto Raptors but instead played only in the previous night’s non national contest. League investigators found Garland was capable of appearing in either game, yet the Cavaliers chose to rest him for the broadcast fixture, breaching the requirement to prioritise star availability in national TV windows, with the sizeable fine reflecting the NBA’s intent to strictly enforce its new participation standards.

Giannis Antetokounmpo facing 2 to 4 week layoff after right calf strain

Giannis Antetokounmpo
December 2025


What: Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his right calf early in the Bucks’ win over the Pistons, leaving the game after slipping in the paint, and is now expected to miss between two and four weeks, dealing another major fitness setback in a season already interrupted by a left adductor issue. Doc Rivers said Achilles damage has been ruled out but confirmed Giannis will undergo further monitoring, as Milwaukee prepare to lean on defense and depth after already going winless without him during a previous absence, while Antetokounmpo encouraged teammates in the group chat following their comeback victory.

Bulls rookie Noa Essengue out for season after shoulder surgery call

Noa Essengue
December 2025

Chicago Bulls rookie forward Noa Essengue, the twelfth overall pick, will undergo left shoulder surgery and miss the rest of the season, having managed only brief NBA minutes while delivering impressive scoring and rebounding numbers in four G League outings for Windy City. Coach Billy Donovan said medical staff recommended immediate repair to prevent recurring problems, adding Essengue to a long Bulls injury list that already includes Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Jalen Smith, Isaac Okoro and Tre Jones, leaving Chicago even thinner in the frontcourt and across the rotation.

Giannis Antetokounmpo strains right calf in early exit against Pistons

Giannis Antetokounmpo
December 2025

Giannis Antetokounmpo left Milwaukee’s game against Detroit after straining his right calf, collapsing in the paint shortly after assisting a basket and walking gingerly to the locker room, with the team ruling him out for the rest of the contest and scheduling an MRI. Doc Rivers believes contact on a baseline drive triggered the slip and confirmed Achilles damage is not suspected, as the two time MVP deals with another setback after a recent left adductor strain, forcing the Bucks to lean on defense and depth while Giannis encouraged teammates in the group chat after their comeback win.

Elden Campbell, Clemson legend and long time NBA big man, dies at 57

Elden Campbell
December 2025

Former Clemson star and 15 year NBA veteran Elden Campbell has died at 57, leaving behind a legacy as his college’s all time leading scorer and a steady interior presence for multiple franchises, most notably the Lakers and the championship winning 2004 Detroit Pistons. The 6 foot 11 center, remembered as Easy E for his calm demeanour, powered Clemson to their only ACC regular season title, logged more than 1,000 NBA games with averages of 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds, won a title in Detroit, and was recently honoured in the Southern California Basketball Hall of Fame, prompting tributes from former teammates and coaches.

76ers hit with $100k fine for misleading Joel Embiid injury report

Philadelphia 76ers
December 2025

The NBA fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for misreporting Joel Embiid’s status before their game against Atlanta, after listing the star center as out on the official injury report and then playing him, breaching league rules on accurate availability disclosure. The sanction factors in previous offences by the franchise under the same policy and underscores the league’s push for transparency in medical reporting, particularly in an era of load management and gambling partnerships, with the Sixers now on notice that repeat violations will be punished more severely.

Danilo Gallinari retires as Italy’s all-time NBA scorer

Danilo Gallinari
December 2025

Danilo Gallinari announced his retirement from the NBA, ending a 14 season career in which the Italian forward scored 11,607 points, the most ever by an Italian player, while averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists as a floor spacing offensive specialist. Drafted sixth overall by the New York Knicks in 2008, Gallinari evolved into a stretch four with 38.1 percent three point shooting, played 777 regular season and 51 playoff games, and thanked fans in a farewell statement for a journey he had always dreamed of.

Zion Williamson sidelined indefinitely with hip adductor strain

Zion Williamson
December 2025

The New Orleans Pelicans ruled out Zion Williamson indefinitely with a grade 2 right hip adductor strain after fresh imaging, another major setback for the former No 1 pick who had already missed significant time this season with a hamstring problem. Coach James Borrego said the team learned of the issue on Tuesday and are taking his recovery day by day, stressing that nobody wants to play more th

Shai’s “quiet” dominance pushes Thunder toward historic season

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
December 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly assembling one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history, leading reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a 20-1 start while building on last year’s MVP, Finals MVP and scoring-title haul with even better production across virtually every category. Gilgeous-Alexander is posting career highs in efficiency, playmaking and clutch scoring, with elite shooting from two and three, microscopic turnovers and suffocating defense that anchor the league’s top rated unit, prompting advanced metrics to project a campaign rivaling prime Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan.