Chris Dodson Articles - Page 2

The Memphis Grizzlies enter the 2026 NBA Draft with an enviable war chest of two first-round picks and what could be the first selection of the second round. That all depends on the Indiana Pacers maintaining their tank lead over the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. However the standings get sorted over the last few […]

James Borrego is not interested in manufacturing a narrative around what the New Orleans Pelicans have done after the NBA All-Star break. The math on the playoff picture is what it is, but what’s brewing inside the Big Easy’s locker room, the coach insists, is very real. Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray might be playing […]

The Memphis Grizzlies needed a spark to halt an eight-game slide. They found it in the long-limbed defensive versatility of Taylor Hendricks. In a pivotal home victory over Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets, the 22-year-old shotswatter showcased exactly why the Grizzlies are betting on his former first-round pedigree. Hendricks turned in a stat line that defined “disruptive,” […]

As the Memphis Grizzlies navigate more absences than highlights, the same question is getting asked in countless ways. What does the future look like if Ja Morant is no longer the answer? Well, Ty Jerome is showing Tuomas Iisalo and the front office what a cost-effective solution looks like. While much of the league’s attention remains […]

The punchless Memphis Grizzlies have reached the point in a lost season where NBA Draft probabilities matter more than pride. With a 23-43 record and no realistic path to the postseason, the focus has shifted entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. Fortunately for the front office, the remaining schedule all but assures another dozen […]

There are many hierarchies in the NBA. Fans can argue about how players can flaunt contracts, marketing deals, and draft status forever. The only real ranking system that matters in a locker room is the talent component when all the chips are down. Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray have had their moments over the […]

After almost two full years of patience, the New Orleans Pelicans are finally getting an extended look at the version of Dejounte Murray that they thought former EVP David Griffin was acquiring. If the past several weeks are any indication, the foundation for the franchise’s future is being built on the 29-year-old’s shoulders. Joe Dumars […]

The development curve for a rookie is rarely linear, and that has certainly been the case this season in the FedEx Forum. Though Cedric Coward’s first run through the NBA’s 82-game gauntlet has been far from a smooth ride, the grumbling Memphis Grizzlies are still encouraged by what they’ve seen from their 2025 first-round pick. […]

Tuomas Iisalo has never been one to shy away from discussing the nuances of basketball, but his latest critique touches on a trend that has increasingly frustrated NBA coaches. The Memphis Grizzlies are currently getting hit the hardest, however, since they are effectively working without a frontcourt. Their small-ball lineups without Ja Morant available have […]

With playmaking guard Dejounte Murray sidelined for most of the season recovering from an Achilles injury and role players cycling in and out of the lineup, establishing a clear offensive chain of command has been almost impossible. Fortunately, the now fully healthy New Orleans Pelicans are making progress playing without pressure to close out the […]

After 13 grueling months rehabilitating a ruptured right Achilles tendon, Dejounte Murray’s return to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup has provided an unmistakable spark. The All-Star has injected new life into a locker room that had been searching for an identity throughout the season. James Borrego and Zion Williamson are two of many within the […]

All-NBA conversations usually belong to the well-established suspects, the brand-name stars who have occupied the discussion for the better part of two decades, even if those All-Stars are having a down year. LeBron James and James Harden still reside in that tier of talent. However, James Borrego’s new-look New Orleans Pelicans need to make a […]

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 […]