Here is what caught our editors' eyes last week:
Is the Warriors dynasty coming to an end?
The Golden State Warriors were trailing by double digits to the Phoenix Suns in a do-or-die game with only a few seconds left. Their fate was inevitable; the Suns were going to the playoffs after outlasting the Warriors in the play-in game, while Golden State’s season was ending in a heartbreaking loss.
With the game clock winding down, head coach Steve Kerr subbed out Steph Curry and Draymond Green. He spoke to them in a tight huddle before giving them a hug. "I don't know what's going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you."
The reality is starting to settle in the Bay. Kerr just completed his 12th season. He won the NBA title in his rookie campaign in 2015, adding three more championships in 2017, 2018, and 2022. He’s built one of the most powerful, memorable, and exciting dynasties the basketball world has ever seen.
At their peak, his teams were nearly unstoppable, torching opponents from beyond the arc and entertaining fans with an incredible offensive arsenal.
Teammates across the world dreamed about becoming the next Splash Brothers - imitating the iconic sharpshooting duo of Curry and Klay Thompson.
But those days are gone. Thompson signed with Dallas in 2024, and the Warriors’ core has aged. Curry has one more year left on his contract and has yet to discuss an extension.
Green has expressed a desire to stay with Golden State, but his name has appeared in trade rumours and ideas.
Kerr’s contract is expiring, and his future with the team is currently unknown.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Kerr said. "I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas."
There's a chance we’ll see the team back as we know it, but it is also possible that Curry will remain the only foundational stone on the roster next season. Is the dynasty over, and will we see a rebuild in the Bay? Only time will tell.
Michaela Gaislerová
Wembanyama makes history on playoff debut
The San Antonio Spurs were appearing in their first playoff game in seven years, and the fantastic atmosphere illustrated the magnitude of the occasion for the franchise.
It was also their first playoff game without Gregg Popovich as coach since 1999, with Mitch Johnson making his playoff debut, alongside players Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Despite all these firsts, the Spurs made a statement, breezing to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Wembanyama scored 35 points, setting a franchise record for most points on a playoff debut. He shot 13 of 21 from the field, including five three-pointers.
He is a true superstar of the league and has been named as one of the three finalists for the MVP award, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
This is a team that have a real chance of making it out of the West, and with a player like Wembanyama leading the charge, it will be hard for anyone to stop them.
Tolga Akdeniz
Lakers start strong as Kennard erupts, LeBron sets new milestone
Luke Kennard stole the spotlight in his postseason debut, dropping 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting and a perfect 5-of-5 from three.
Known primarily as a catch-and-shoot weapon - and a three-time NBA leader in three-point percentage - Kennard delivered one of the most efficient playoff debuts in franchise history.
His 27 points rank as the second-most ever in a Los Angeles Lakers postseason debut, just one basket shy of Nick Van Exel’s record.
There was history beyond the box score, too. LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to share the floor in an NBA playoff game.
In the Lakers' 107-98 Game 1 victory over the Houston Rockets, LeBron finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists, controlling the tempo and creating for others. Houston were without Kevin Durant, who missed the game after suffering a knee injury in practice.
LeBron also added to his legacy in the first quarter, recording eight assists - the most he’s ever had in a single playoff quarter across 293 playoff games.
Elsewhere, Luka Doncic’s season carried a quieter, more frustrating storyline. Despite being granted an exception by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association to remain eligible for end-of-season awards, Doncic ultimately didn’t receive the recognition.
He appeared in 64 qualifying games (20+ minutes) and missed two additional contests due to the birth of his child - yet still didn’t advance to the finalist stage in the MVP race.
Natálie Csurillová
Can Orlando pull off something ‘Magic’al?
Despite the Orlando Magic only shooting 29% from beyond the arc, the Detroit Pistons shooting a ridiculous 38 free throws and having more points off turnovers in Game 1, Orlando still finished with a stunning 112-101 win.
But it wasn’t just a stunning win - the Magic outright dominated them. They held the lead throughout the entirety of the game, with their largest lead being 13 at one point. Orlando were also 10 points away from doubling Detroit’s in the paint (54-34).
All this after coming off a play-in game against the Hornets, where they 30-pieced them (121-90). They were the only lower seed of the NBA playoffs so far to beat the higher seed in Game 1. And it showed through the team's cohesiveness.
While Cade Cunningham led the game in scoring with 39 points for Detroit, only one other player scored double-digits (Tobias Harris - 17). Meanwhile, every single starter for the Magic had at least 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists, with four of the five having at least a +10 (+/-).
Should the Magic actually pull a card out of their sleeve, they could become the second No. 8 seed to take down a No. 1 seed since 2012 - the other being the Miami Heat in 2023 when they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks.
Although teams who usually win the first game of their respective series go on to take it all almost 75% of the time, usually when a road team wins the first game, they win the series just slightly over 50% of the time. Meanwhile, if the home team wins, they win the series about 85% of the time.
But Orlando are proving to be a team to be looked at here following their statement win in Game 1. A team that move as they have recently aren't going to magically stop in Game 2.
Eric Himmelheber
Seven years on, the Los Angeles Clippers have lost it all
The Los Angeles Clippers’ season has been disappointing, and it ended on the same note: a 126-121 home defeat to the Warriors in the play-in, the consequence of finishing ninth in the regular season.
But above all, it was a crushing defeat, as they led for most of the game before succumbing to the onslaught of Curry and his teammates.
It was a defeat that raises many questions: it has been seven years since the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard and acquired Paul George via a trade already ranked among the worst in NBA history.
And it’s not quite over in terms of draft picks, as the Oklahoma City Thunder still hold this year’s pick and a potential swap for next year.
In terms of results, however, it’s already over. After just one conference final in seven years, and a string of disappointing seasons, is it time to move on?
Despite all his injuries, Kawhi remains one of the best players in the league. But he is 34 and is entering the final year of his contract. Is it time to turn the page for good?
It’s not that simple. It’s been two years since the Clippers moved into their new arena in Inglewood, in a bid to step out of the Lakers’ shadow for good. Starting a rebuild isn’t exactly good for business in one of the NBA’s biggest markets.
But there are hardly any assets, no exciting young players – Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin are the biggest names on the roster – and the current veterans contribute almost nothing.
Seven years ago, the Clippers took a huge risk, and that risk didn’t pay off. In today’s NBA, which favours teams built patiently and rationally, it’s hard to believe in a revival for a franchise that some describe as cursed, but which, like any major market, could quickly bounce back with a quality free agency.
And given the names available, they may have to be patient. A story to watch, then, but seven years after that incredible gamble, there’s almost nothing left...
Sébastien Gente