Ben Simmons: Is This Finally His Year?

Ah, Ben Simmons. The No. 1 pick in 2016. A guy with more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. Ever since breaking a bone in his foot before his rookie season, Simmons has had NBA fans in a constant state of "Wait, is this the year he returns to full form?"

Every offseason, we get glimpses, a viral clip here, an inspiring quote there, that spark hope in our hearts. This year? No different.

Rumor has it that Ben is healthy and motivated, and yes... there are even whispers that he might start shooting threes. It’s become something of a running joke at this point, but hey, hope springs eternal, right?

Will we finally see Ben Simmons 2.0, or are we in for another season of mysterious injuries and cryptic Instagram posts? Stay tuned, because Ben might surprise us yet.

Get Ready for Netflix’s Starting 5

Ever wonder what life is really like for some of the NBA’s biggest stars? Well, Netflix is about to give us an all-access pass with their new series, Starting 5. Think of it as the basketball version of their NFL shows like Quarterback and Receiver.

Filmed during the 2023-24 NBA season, Starting 5 will follow the lives of LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, and Domantas Sabonis both on and off the court. We already get to see these guys light it up on game nights and share snippets of their lives on social media, but this show promises to go even deeper, giving us a front-row seat to the grind, the glory, and everything in between.

Boban Marjanovic Heads Back to EuroLeague

The NBA is saying goodbye to one of its most towering and lovable figures. Boban Marjanovic, the 7'4" Serbian center with a personality as big as his wingspan, is packing his bags and heading back to the EuroLeague after nine seasons in the NBA. At 36, Boban will join Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in what feels like a major homecoming.

His NBA journey was filled with fan-favorite moments, hilarious commercials, and the occasional game where he looked like he could dunk without even jumping. But now, he’s going back to Europe. Best of luck to Bobi, Europe is about to get a little more joyful!

Seattle’s NBA History Might Finally Return

The relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City back in 2008 still feels like one of the messiest breakups in sports history. But there’s a glimmer of hope for Seattle fans.

According to ESPN’s insiders, if the NBA decides to bring an expansion team back to Seattle, the Thunder would actually transfer the Sonics’ history, including their 1979 championship back to the Emerald City.

Yep, that means Seattle would get to reclaim its glorious past, like the Charlotte Hornets did when they switched from being the Bobcats. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has mentioned that expansion talks could happen this season, so maybe, just maybe, the Sonics are making their long-awaited comeback.

WNBA Playoff Race

As the 2024 WNBA season comes down to the wire, things are getting real interesting. While the Fever have punched their playoff ticket, the Chicago Sky are fighting tooth and nail to sneak back into the postseason. With just one game left for every team, we’re about to see how the final playoff picture shakes out.

Seven of the eight playoff spots are already locked in, with the Liberty, Sun, Lynx, Aces, Storm, Fever, and Mercury securing their places. But that last spot is up for grabs, and the Sky, Dream, and Mystics are locked in a battle royale to claim it.

New York Liberty Secure the No. 1 Seed

The New York Liberty have officially done it. With an 87-71 win over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night, the Liberty locked down the No. 1 seed for the WNBA Playoffs. It’s the cherry on top of a stellar regular season, where they’ve now tied their franchise record of 32 wins.

There’s still one more game on the schedule, a Thursday night showdown at home against the Atlanta Dream. But for the Liberty, that’s just a warm-up at this point. However, the game could decide the Dream’s postseason fate, so it’ll be an interesting one to watch.

A’ja Wilson Breaks Another Record

Another game, another record, A’ja is that player.. The Las Vegas Aces star seems to be on a mission to rewrite the WNBA history books in real-time. During Tuesday’s 85-72 win over the Seattle Storm, Wilson broke the WNBA’s single-season rebounding record. And this comes just days after setting the league’s single-season scoring record and becoming the first player to score over 1,000 points in a season. I mean, is there anything she can’t do?

Wilson, the clear frontrunner for MVP (again), needed just three rebounds to surpass Angel Reese's record of 446 boards in a season, and, of course, she grabbed six just to flex.  If anyone’s making a case for GOAT status in the WNBA, it’s A’ja Wilson. And honestly, who’s arguing?

Swoopes Questions Clark’s Dominance Despite Record-Breaking Rookie Season

Caitlin Clark’s rookie season has been nothing short of legendary, but not everyone thinks she’s dominating the league just yet. WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, a three-time MVP and four-time champ, weighed in on Gilbert Arenas' podcast, Gil’s Arena, and while she praised Clark’s performance, she stopped short of calling it domination.

Statistically, Clark has had one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in WNBA history, averaging 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game. She has broken the single-season record for assists, rookie scoring, and even became the first rookie to record a triple-double. Add to that the most double-doubles by a guard in a single season, and you’ve got a rookie year for the ages.

But according to Swoopes, Clark hasn’t reached domination level yet, though she’s certainly well on her way. Whether it’s personal bias or just a matter of perspective, there’s no denying Clark’s greatness, she has made history and is setting the bar sky-high for future rookies.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team