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joshrobbins.bsky.social
Senior Writer for The Athletic. I cover the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and the NBA.
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I still think the value of late-first-round picks in the NBA tends to be overstated by fans and "the media." But the final 10 picks in 2020 totally contradict my opinion. Five of those players were: Tyrese Maxey 21st Immanuel Quickley 25th Payton Pritchard 26th Jaden McDaniels 28th Desmond Bane 30th

Here's @theathletic.bsky.social's news story on the blockbuster trade between the Magic and the Grizzlies, which the Magic hope will help propel themselves into the top four of the East: www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

I've seen some Wizards fans express concerns about the Orlando-Memphis deal. That's understandable given how complicated the 2026 pick swap is. Bottom line: The Wizards will keep their 2026 first-round pick if it slots in the top eight of the draft, and the Wizards intend to pick in the top eight.

A closer look at the Orlando Magic's new jerseys.

The Orlando Magic are releasing their long-awaited rebrand today. A new logo and three new jerseys include “the star” symbol that was prominent in the team’s ’90s and early 2000s designs. The franchise’s colors remain its traditional blue, black and silver. Thoughts, anyone?

The 2025 NBA Finals will be a matchup of small-market teams: Indiana vs. Oklahoma City. Small-market teams can compete if they're constructed correctly. As has been written many times, this may be remembered as the age of parity.

Evan Mobley, Dyson Daniels and Lu Dort headline the 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive First Team. Story in @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

Alex Sarr has made the 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the league announced just now. Bub Carrington was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team. As with other league awards, voting was conducted by 100 writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Speaking at the 2025 Gaithersburg Book Festival, the great David Aldridge is discussing The Basketball 100, a collection of profiles of the greatest players in NBA history, written and edited by The Athletic's NBA staff. @theathletic.bsky.social

In this video, Michigan State guard Jase Richardson describes what his interview today with the Washington Wizards was like and what his experience at the combine has been like:

Michigan State guard Jase Richardson said he had interviews today with the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. He added he has an interview scheduled later this week with the Chicago Bulls. The NBA schedules prospects' interviews with teams at the combine.

Texas guard Tre Johnson said he’s met with the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors at the NBA Draft Combine. He said he thinks the Washington Wizards are on his schedule for tomorrow. Prospect-team interviews here are scheduled by the league.

Baltimore native and former University of Maryland star Derik Queen when asked about Wizards guard and fellow Baltimore native Bub Carrington:

Video of University of Oklahoma point guard Jeremiah Fears draining three-pointers:

It's on-court testing day today at the NBA Draft Combine here in Chicago:

It's on-court testing day today at the NBA Draft Combine here in Chicago:

This wasn't a night for gumdrops and rainbows. The lottery was a disaster for the Washington Wizards. My piece from Chicago for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

The Wizards have received the sixth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft Lottery studio, where the results will be announced:

Lottery day! Something the broadcast struggles to convey is the level of anticipation coursing through the room where the results are announced live on TV. After a low ebb last year, tonight will be one of those high-adrenaline nights, for sure.

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery will be held approximately 24 hours from now. The Wizards could receive anywhere from the first pick through the sixth pick. @davidaldridgedc.bsky.social and I run through every scenario and evaluate what the team would do at each spot: www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

The Washington Wizards can exit Monday's lottery with anything from the first through sixth picks. Here are their odds to receive each pick: First pick: 14.0% Second pick: 13.4% Third pick: 12.7% Fourth pick: 12.0% Fifth pick: 27.8% Sixth pick: 20.0%

Monday's draft lottery will be one of the most important nights in Wizards history. @davidaldridgedc.bsky.social and I evaluate all six lottery scenarios the Wizards could face and the prospects who would be considered at each draft slot. For @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

That was a remarkable comeback by the Pacers — and also a remarkable collapse by the Cavaliers. Both things can be true at once.

The Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets have similar promise — and similar problems. The Athletic's @johnhollinger.bsky.social examines the pathways for both teams to improve this offseason, in this piece for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

The Cavaliers looked like they had taken over all of the momentum during their third-quarter run tonight in Game 1. But credit to the Pacers: What a response by them in a loud road environment against a top-level opponent.

Why was the Magic's 3-point shooting so far below the league average? Does the team need a shooting coach? Given the CBA's aprons, how will the team improve its offense? I posed those questions and more to Jeff Weltman in this interview for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

"Nothing's off the table." That's what Magic executive Jeff Weltman said about the offseason ahead. But what does that mean? And how will he try to improve the offense? I caught up with Weltman for a wide-ranging interview for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Jamahl Mosley speaking today here in Orlando during the team's exit-day interviews with media: "We're not chasing mediocrity. We're not. We're chasing something bigger."

I asked Jalen Suggs today whether his recent knee surgery will prompt him to be less physical defensively when he returns for the 25-26 season. His answer: “I ain’t changing a damn thing. I ain’t going to lie. I ain’t changing nothing. That’s what all this (rehab) work is for.”

Jeff Weltman just now to reporters here in Orlando: "Proven offensive help is what we're going to be looking for."

Former Washington Wizards wing Deni Avdija, now with the Portland Trail Blazers, finished eighth in the 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player award voting.

'The goal was to win': The Magic played the defending champs toe to toe for 4 1/2 games of their five-game series. So, what conclusions should the team draw? Here's my piece for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

The playoffs showed that the Orlando Magic are on the right track — and that they need more to take another step. My piece from Boston for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

(1/2) Jamahl Mosley on Paolo Banchero's fifth foul: "It definitely swung the game. I have no idea what the explanation was. He came into his path. All I saw was Paolo getting an elbow to the face, or backed into the face, and he got the foul. ...

Paolo Banchero about his three fouls early in the third quarter: "I've never in my career -- NBA or before -- picked up three fouls that quickly. So, I told the refs that. I told them how I felt. I told them that two of the three weren't fouls. But they saw it a different way."

Here is the pool report in which crew chief Tony Brothers answers questions about the fifth foul called against Paolo Banchero:

I don't know what's more surprising: that the Celtics didn't make a three-pointer during the first half or that they only attempted six three-pointers during the first half.

Paolo Banchero in this playoff series: 32.0 points per game 8.3 rebounds per game 3.8 assists per game 44.0% on FGAs 43.5% on 3PAs 41.8 minutes per game

Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards finished fourth in the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year voting, announced a short while ago. Results here from the NBA:

The video of these corner 3s by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a few seconds ago is a close-up view of what an NBA player's early pregame warm-up looks like. You can get a sense of how Magic staff members try to simulate the shot contests that KCP will face tonight.

(1/2)Coach Jamahl Mosley, answering a question a few minutes ago about the Magic playing a road elimination game tonight: "The small margins within this game are going to be huge. We know the energy that they're going to bring. We know what the crowd is going to bring. ...

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have help. Can the Orlando Magic get some for their young stars? My piece for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

(1/2) Magic coach Jamahl Mosley when asked about tonight's free-throw discrepancy: “We were attacking the basket the exact same way (as Boston did). Now we’ve got to knock ’em down when we get there, and that’s a big portion of it. ...

A look inside Kia Center in downtown Orlando, where the Magic will host the Celtics in Game 4 of their series tonight: