Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly 2-8 start to the season to find its footing in NBA Cup games and went on a run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. He lifted them to the Cup Finals against Oklahoma City, where Antetokounmpo had a 26-point triple-double, completely controlling the game on both ends of the court.

The NBA Cup field is set for the December one-week slate to crown an in-season tournament champion. Past winners have seen LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks winning the titles in the first two years of this NBA effort.

Sept. 23: Earliest date for Media days for teams traveling outside of North America for 2025 Preseason: Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers (Sept 26th), New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns (Sept. 24th)

Eric Samulski and Kurt Helin discuss the players that have stood out to them the most at the start of the NBA season

Players, including Tyrese Haliburton, dislike the rule; the Indiana Pacers star called the threshold “stupid” after a Pacers practice in January 2024. A person familiar with the National Basketball Players Association’s (NBPA) plans will push to reduce the threshold in the next CBA, which will come after the 2029-30 season.

All-NBA swingman Jalen Wiliams returns after recovering from offseason wrist surgery, making his season debut in the Emirates NBA Cup.

Shaquille O’Neal is widely considered one of the best players in NBA history. O’Neal won four NBA championships during his time in the league, alongside some of the best players to play the game, such as Kobe Bryant. While O’Neal is known for his time on the court, he’s also a major star outside the lines.

It isn’t easy for an NBA superstar to accept that their career is coming to an end. As a competitor, that drive to be great doesn’t waver, even if their body begins to fail them.

The Rockets star has been putting in the work needed to prepare for a run at the NBA title.