Chris Dodson Articles - Page 2

Necessity may be the mother of invention, sure. A 6-foot-3 rookie guard was never supposed to wind up playing power forward in the NBA. However, though Jahmai Mashack definitely does not fit the traditional big man mold,  the Tennessee alum has made the unnatural look routine over the last few weeks. Tuomas Iisalo’s rotations may […]

The finally fully healthy New Orleans Pelicans are keeping things interesting to close out an otherwise underwhelming season. Fights with Stephen A. Smith and the officials aside, Zion Williamson’s workmanlike efforts have been worth defending lately. With Dejounte Murray back in the rotation, James Borrego’s last big push for the full-time job should keep the […]

After an ankle-related one-game hiatus, Zion Williamson wasted little time reminding everyone what the pushy New Orleans Pelicans look like at full strength. Williamson finished with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding four rebounds and drawing six fouls in 33 minutes in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.  Despite the loss, it was a […]

One game back from a knee injury, Tuomas Iisalo explained why the education of Cedric Coward is entering its most demanding semester. Beale Street’s busted up Memphis Grizzlies are over 60 games into a relatively underwhelming year, yet their NBA All-Rookie candidate’s trial by fire is far from over.  Forget about hitting any proverbial walls […]

With EVP Zack Kleiman’s Memphis Grizzlies expected to usher in a new era by trading Ja Morant this offseason, the franchise’s direction has never been more in doubt. Jaren Jackson Jr. has a new home, and Zach Edey’s recurring surgeries already created cracks in the new frontcourt foundation. At least the Desmond Bane deal appears […]

When the wildly optimistic Zion Williamson limped off the court in Utah with yet another ankle injury, the familiar dread that has shadowed his career resurfaced. Another setback leading to lost games. Another storyline about availability, another reason to worry for the New Orleans Pelicans. Fortunately, Kris Chrisp, Williamson’s personal trainer, moved quickly to assure […]

For a rookie point guard, the speed of the NBA game is often the biggest shock to the system. For the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans and phenomenal first-round pick Jeremiah Fears, the revelation has been learning when to hit the brakes. As the regular season winds down, the 19-year-old says the most important knowledge he […]

The transition from starter to reserve can be a difficult adjustment for anyone, especially a rookie point guard on a rebuilding 19-43 team. Unfortunately for Jeremiah Fears, James Borrego is juggling a crowded backcourt while building a case to keep the full-time job. Thankfully, Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole have helped the Oklahoma alum find […]

They are really playing the blues before basketball games down on Beale Street. A procedure to address ongoing discomfort and talar bone stress has soured another Zach Edey season, leaving fans to wonder what will happen in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies are still invested in the 7-foot-4 Canadian as part of the […]

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Major League Soccer is serving as a primary launchpad for almost two dozen stars set to shine on the world’s biggest stage. Everyone knows LAFC’s Son Heung-Min, with the South Korean star now settled in the States following a move from Spurs. Same for Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, […]

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 action begins on March 10, and for the first time in recent memory, three American players find themselves on legitimate contenders with a real shot at reaching the Budapest-based final. For Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman, and Yunus Musah, the next few weeks represent more than just a shot at […]

The Memphis Grizzlies have a track record of finding diamonds in the second round. One of their latest discoveries is quickly making a case that his value extends far beyond the current wages. With an All-Rookie year on the resume and another productive season underway, Jaylen Wells should strongly consider pushing for a contract extension worth […]

The United States men’s national team has home-field advantage and the world’s eyes on it for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s attention will be in Europe during March as Group D looks for its last participant. The USMNT, Australia, and Paraguay will play either Slovakia, Kosovo, Kenan Yildiz’s Türkiye, or Romania […]

Zion Williamson and James Borrego’s fate are not the only two big decisions facing the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason. Saddiq Bey will be extension-eligible in July, but the rules limit the starting salary of a veteran extension to roughly 140% of the Estimated Average Player Salary, projected to be about $21 million annually. That […]

The best cliches span sports for a reason, especially those about defense. Unique comparisons and analogies follow closely behind. With the NFL Combine coming up soon, James Borrego brought up some Hall of Fame legends when talking about how Herb Jones and Draymond Green control a game. Zion Williamson got a mention to explain how […]

The math says Zion Williamson’s walking-wounded New Orleans Pelicans have virtually no chance of reaching the NBA Play-In Tournament. Dejounte Murray says otherwise. After missing 13 months recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Murray made his season debut Tuesday and promptly took to social media with some bold declarations. There will be no quit in […]

Losses are piling up while Ja Morant watches from the sidelines. Sure, the team’s 2026 NBA Draft lottery odds are improving, but it would be easy for the FedEx Forum’smost loyal fans to mentally check out for the rest of the season. They should not, for the same reasons Tuomas Iisalo cannot. The Memphis Grizzlies […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are navigating a franchise reset, but one 21-year-old forward is making the transition to a post-Ja Morant era look far less daunting than expected. GG Jackson has quietly emerged as one of the most intriguing young pieces in the NBA, and Tuomas Iisalo isn’t shy about what makes the former second-round pick […]

As the NBA considers expansion ideas, the conversation in Seattle has naturally turned to which players will eventually wear the green and gold. While the league has yet to formally approve new franchises, the groundwork is being laid near the Space Needle. When the Supersonics do eventually return, they’ll need cornerstone pieces, and one former […]

After 13 months of Achilles rehab, Dejounte Murray finally made his season debut for the New Orleans Pelicans. However, in a moment that could have been all about his own return, the veteran made sure the spotlight shifted to the rookies. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen played a big part in the win over the […]

Winning cures all ills, or so goes the cliche. However, beating the Golden State Warriors did not stop Dejounte Murray from cursing out the regrouping New Orleans Pelicans after the former All-Star’s season debut. The 29-year-old was less polite about something James Borrego has been harping on since last August. Instead, the veteran guard shared […]

The plan is complete, the wait is over. Everyone around the training facility and the family room can breathe a sigh of relief. More than 13 months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon, Dejounte Murray made his long-awaited season debut for the under-the-microscope New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 13 points, dishing out three assists, and grabbing […]

With fewer than two dozen games remaining before the NBA postseason slate is set, the Atlanta Hawks are soldiering on despite a young roster logging heavy on-court miles. Quin Snyder is sticking with what he knows, though, hoping Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker do not run out of steam before the NBA Play-In […]

As the busted-up Memphis Grizzlies play out the final weeks of a lost season that could deliver a premium pick in the NBA Draft, Tuomas Iisalo is focused on incremental gains. That progress will be built on sound, fundamental basketball that every high school hooper should know. However, fans can feel the tension given the […]

With six weeks remaining in the regular season, James Borrego is making a final case to remove the interim tag. For better or worse, as the rookie-led New Orleans Pelicans embark on a critical post-All-Star Game stretch, the acting head coach knows exactly where the front office’s magnifying glass will be focused. Any shortcomings mean […]

With the NBA regularly staging regular-season games in cities like Paris, London, Mexico City, and Berlin now, the conversation around a potential European league or internationally-based expansion franchise is gaining momentum. Specifically, the NBA’s ongoing push to bring regular-season basketball to international arenas can count on Dyson Daniels and the Atlanta Hawks for support. The […]

The beat-up New Orleans Pelicans have a decision to make down the stretch of what has been a chaotic, transitional season. Fortunately for the fans looking for silver linings, interim head coach James Borrego may have already tipped the franchise’s hand. While the wins have been hard to come by, everyone in the Crescent City […]

The Atlanta Hawks are still figuring out exactly what they are after reshaping their roster, but early returns since acquiring CJ McCollum suggest Quin Snyder’s evolving offensive hierarchy is beginning to produce results. The Jalen Johnson-led squad has won two of its first three games after the NBA All-Star break and is navigating a relatively […]

With the NBA Playoffs long out of reach and NBA Draft lottery odds the only scoreboard that matters, Will Hardy has shifted his message to a young Utah Jazz roster. Forget rigid scripts. Think for yourselves. The Jazz want their players to become decision-makers, independent thinkers capable of directing their own careers. Speaking after the […]

When Zion Williamson’s overly optimistic New Orleans Pelicans opened the season, Karlo Matkovic was not penciled in as a key rotational piece. However, through sheer effort, physicality, and an infectious team-first mentality, the young big man has forced James Borrego into a welcome dilemma. Matkovic’s steady rise from a fringe option to a trusted contributor […]

As Quin Snyder’s upstart Atlanta Hawks navigate the post-Trae Young era and jockey for position in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Play-In tournament, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has emerged as an unexpected offensive catalyst. The former Virginia Tech standout has also rewritten his career narrative. No longer just a rotational piece, Alexander-Walker is posting eye-popping numbers that would […]

The grind of an NBA rookie season can wear down even the most prepared first-year players. For New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, however, the physical demands have been matched by a growing appreciation for the All-Rookie opportunity in front of him, even when it leads to a sudden jolt in the middle of the […]

Pregame routine logistics like shooting groups, meals, and training table times are pretty set in stone at this point in the season. The NBA Trade Deadline has passed, rosters are pretty much set, and young players on lottery-bound teams have found their way around each arena. Cody Williams is starting to settle in as one […]

As the internationally-infused Atlanta Hawks emerge from the All-Star break clinging to the final Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, Dyson Daniels remains laser-focused on making noise in the NBA postseason. The one day at a time cliche is truly this locker room’s mantra, though the time zones for their calls home vary wildly. […]

When the NBA scheduled midseason games in Europe this year, some veterans grumbled about the extra miles and the toll on their bodies during a grueling campaign. Tuomas Iisalo’s unsorted Memphis Grizzlies can be forgiven for being one of the loudest, given their sacrifice to be the first team to land in Berlin. The schedule […]

Wander into any opposing locker room lately, and Cam Spencer’s name is highlighted on the board. No one on Beale Street should be particularly shocked by the news. Zach Kleiman’s retooling Memphis Grizzlies expected this rise to come eventually. The respect the former UConn champion commands from opponents now represents the culmination of countless early […]

The Memphis Grizzlies have built their identity on grit, grind, and finding value through thorough scouting. EVP/GM Zach Kleiman’s quick rebuild depends on that culture being clutch over the next 18 months. With Zach Edey and Cedric Coward leading the way, Taylor Hendricks is on the periphery of a youth infusion. However, the former lottery […]

The rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies have lived at both ends of the contender spectrum in a short window. They pushed the Golden State Warriors a few years ago. Last spring, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. again looked built for a deep run after spending much of the season jockeying for the top seed, only to […]

The Memphis Grizzlies did not straddle the fence at the NBA trade deadline. They chose a direction, and EVP/GM Zach Kleiman signaled a belief that a return to the NBA Playoffs can happen sooner than later. Still, trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. while keeping Ja Morant marked a definitive pivot. For a front office often […]