The 8 Most Dramatic Moments of the NBA Season So Far

Jan 30, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) watches from the bench during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy’s under the boards. Jimmy’s in the open. Jimmy wants new teammates.

Before Timberwolves training camp started, Jimmy Butler requested a trade. Looking for a new supporting cast, perhaps one a bit more grizzled. En route to his new squad in Philly, it was a TWolves practice that “lit the fire” according to Butler’s account on The JJ Redick Podcast.

While Butler and the Minnesota brass were at a stalemate, he took his frustrations to the court. According to Butler, he shot the ball only once, setting up teammates and giving it to the first stringers. He was feeling himself and he let GM Scott Layden know about it. “You fucking need me, Scott. You can’t win without me,” Butler yelled, according to sources close to the team.

And with that, he got his wish after playing 10 games for the TWolves on the season. Six weeks later, it was the end of his coach, Tom Thibodeau’s days in Minneapolis.

Jimmy makes the shot. Hey Minnesota...Jimmy will see you around.

LeBron’s first game in Los Angeles was supposed to be one of great fanfare and celebration. One with a throng of media and A-listers on hand to witness the first showing of Showtime 2.0 at Staples Center. However, in their early season contest against the Rockets, that script was basically thrown out the window. Enter Rajon Rondo stage right to steal the scene.

Late in the fourth quarter, a frustrated Brandon Ingram shoved James Harden on a layup attempt. Rondo and Chris Paul wound up toe-to-toe as an NBA “fight” ensued. Arms were swinging (Ingram attempted a haymaker), pushing and shoved took place, but in a unique twist, Rondo appeared to spit in Paul’s face. Was it intentional? Were his salivary glands over productive in the heat of the moment? Whatever the case, Ingram was suspended four games, Rondo three and Paul two. The NBA is the best.

Following one underwhelming season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, ending in a first round playoff exit from the Utah Jazz, Carmelo Anthony joined the Houston Rockets in pursuit of another title quest. Despite joining up with fellow All-Stars, Russell Westbrook and Paul George, it was a pace and space issue in OKC. Combining talents with the iso wizard, James Harden and the supreme distributor Chris Paul, Melo would find opportunity playing off them. Despite the starpower, Anthony failed to find his groove, posting career lows in field goal percentage, attempts, minutes and points. After just ten games it was over. Houston held him out for nearly two months, before training the ten-time all-star to the Bulls. A week later Anthony was waived and is looking to show what he still has left in the tank.

Few MVPs fell off as far as Derrick Rose did following a devastating knee injury in 2012. Following four knee surgeries in nine seasons, Rose was shell of his All-NBA self in the second half of his run in Chicago. In New York, Rose hoped for a fresh start, but lack of burst and another injury had many thinking it was over. After a stint in Cleveland last season, Rose showed flashes, but he was traded to Utah and released two days later.

When his old Bulls coach, Tom Thibodeau, gave him a shot in Minnesota, it looked like the last chance for D-Rose. In the years between the injuries and reduced roles, Rose found himself again. Reinventing his game, he relied on his trademark ability to change direction and finish brilliantly around the rim. It all came together in a game against the Jazz, as Rose put up 50. With the crowd on its feet, recognizing just how far he’d come, an emotional Rose was brought to tears.

In the closing seconds of regulation in game against the Clippers, Draymond Green grabbed a rebound, took the ball up and turned it over without a shot attempt. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant looked for the ball from Green to close things out himself. Before overtime, Green and Durant got into a shouting match in the huddle. According to sources, Green let Durant have it for allowing his pending free agency to hang over the team.

For those looking for the Warriors to stumble, they had their moment. Others know dust ups are part of any locker room, and for a team looking to three-peat for the first time since the ‘02 Lakers, these are the type of first class problems winning squads have. Time will tell if KD stays in Durant, but these are the type of challenges that help fuel title runs. The Warriors went 30-13 since the incident and all seems right in the Bay.

If Kristaps Porzingis didn’t injure his knee would he still be a Knick? That is a question we will never know. What we do know is that there were rumblings that boos on draft night were not forgiven. Skipping an exit interview was evidence of an unhappy camper in Kristaps. We also know that a generational talent at 23 years old is something to build around. For the Knicks, the grass is apparently on the free agency side. By jettonsing Porzingis to Dallas, they’re making moves to have cap space for two max contracts, one of which is not for him, and that just might be the best move for the Knicks long term.

The rumors of an Anthony Davis trade from New Orleans may have been greatly exaggerated. Did he have a preferred list of teams? Turns out every team is on his list. Is LA the only destination? It’s probably his preferred. Is his dad right about Boston? Maybe not since he gave Boston a shoutout during All-Star Weekend.

We’ll have to wait and see where he ends up. What we do know Davis demanded a trade over signing an extension in New Orleans. The Pelicans failed to move him at the trade deadline. The Lakers put everyone (expect LeBron, obviously) on the table, but GM Dell Demps had no interest in anything the had to offer. Now Demps is out, Davis and the Pelicans are stuck in limbo, waiting until the summer for other teams (see Boston) to make another play at the best player in Pelicans history.

It’s no secret that star NBA players like playing with star players. It’s also no secret that they make no secret of talking to each other about it. If it happens at All-Star weekend, the Olympics, or on banana boats, they’re going to talk. With money in the bank and championships at stake, it only makes sense. Despite not playing college ball, apparently LeBron James has his recruitment pitch down. Lakers president Magic Johnson loves to heap praise on great players like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Paul George. When it happens on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the league tends to notice.

Over the summer it seems that every player shot their shot to bring LeBron to their team. Once in season, efforts were focused on Davis, as LeBron and Giannis joined the courtship Danny Ainge has been crafting for years in Boston. Throughout the All-Star Weekend festivities, all eyes were on the side conversations among players. Kyrie was chatting up KD, Davis showed love for Boston and Bradley Beal was blanketing Charlotte in efforts to fill in for his injured running mate.

It happens. It’s going to happen. Competitors look for advantages and the league will have to keep up. Still, for the sake of fairness, there have to be rules written down somewhere. Every now and then they have to remind their players and execs what they are. May the best team win.