Thunder
For a moment, the Thunder were flirting with history.
Entering Saturday, Oklahoma City was tied with the 2015-16 Warriors for the best 25-game start in NBA history, a team that went on to win 73 games before falling short in the Finals. As ESPN’s Tim MacMahon wrote on Friday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged that surpassing that mark would “absolutely” mean something, but only if it came naturally.
The reigning MVP struck a similar tone after Saturday’s loss, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.
“Seventy-three and nine?” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “What are we, 24-2? My goal is to get better.”
Gilgeous-Alexander dismissed long-range milestones, saying they lose meaning if the daily work slips.
“If we stack nights like we did tonight, we won’t even come close to it,” he said.
The message was consistent. Records are nice. Repeating as champions is the priority.
Knicks
Guerschon Yabusele’s first season in New York has not unfolded as planned.
Signed to a two-year, $11.25 million deal over the summer, the veteran big man was expected to be a steady rotation piece after a productive year in Philadelphia. Instead, his role has shrunk dramatically.
Yabusele is averaging just 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in limited minutes, with more than half of his shot attempts coming from beyond the arc.
Ahead of Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal, Yabusele acknowledged his frustration in a French interview with AFP and Basket USA.
“I don’t want to lie to you, it’s very difficult,” he said. “I’m a competitor first. It’s not a situation I thought I would be in coming here.”
Now nearing his 30th birthday, Yabusele said he remains focused on staying ready and credited the Knicks’ locker room for its support.
“I try to be ready whenever my name is called,” he said.
Spurs
The Austin Spurs have acquired the G League rights to Christian Koloko, San Antonio’s affiliate announced, effectively claiming the big man from the available player pool.
Koloko, the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 draft, showed promise as a rookie in Toronto before missing the entire 2023-24 season due to a blood clot issue. He was medically cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel earlier this fall and spent last season with the Lakers on a two-way contract before being waived in November.
In 97 NBA games, Koloko has averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in limited minutes.
Despite the move to Austin, Koloko remains an unrestricted NBA free agent, leaving the door open for another opportunity if his play warrants it.
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