{"id":1961582,"date":"2026-05-29T10:15:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T07:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1961582"},"modified":"2026-05-29T10:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T07:15:17","slug":"the-nbas-top-moments-of-the-2025-26-season-records-rookies-and-rivalries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1961582","title":{"rendered":"The NBA\u2019s top moments of the 2025-26 season: Records, rookies and rivalries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Broken records, viral moments, rivalries, scandals and great returns. All a part of the magic of the 2025-26 NBA season.<\/p>\n

Including the playoffs, there are more than 1,200 games in a season, giving NBA fans no shortage of memorable moments to choose from. Debates are part of the fun in being a hoops fan, so we anticipate your list won\u2019t look exactly like ours. Whether you\u2019re a longtime fan or someone just catching up on the season\u2019s biggest storylines while we\u2019re awaiting the NBA Finals matchup, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look back at 10 of the most noteworthy stories from this season (so far!):<\/p>\n

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\n Bam Adebayo didn\u2019t score 100 points like Wilt Chamberlain, but his 83 against the Washington Wizards was enough to warrant his own photo opportunity. (Issac Baldizon \/ NBAE via Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Bam scores 83, passes Kobe\u2019s 81 for second in most points<\/h2>\n

Bam Adebayo is a three-time All-Star, has won two Olympic gold medals and has played in two NBA Finals. He\u2019s only averaged 20 points or more twice in his nine NBA seasons with a career high of 41 points prior to this season.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what made March 10 in Miami so unexpected.<\/p>\n

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Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Adebayo scored 83 points in a win over the woeful Washington Wizards. It\u2019s the second-most points scored in a game in NBA history, passing Kobe Bryant\u2019s 81 in 2006 and trailing only Wilt Chamberlain\u2019s 100 points in 1962.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Adebayo was praised by some<\/a>, but the method \u2014 intentional fouling by Miami to get more possessions \u2014 was also criticized<\/a>. Nevertheless, it\u2019s still Wilt, Bam and Kobe in the single-game scoring ranks.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Catch Up On The Story<\/div>\n
\n \"Heat\u2019s<\/p>\n
\n
\n Heat\u2019s Bam Adebayo drops 83 points, second-highest scoring game in NBA history\n <\/div>\n
\n \u201cI don\u2019t even know how to put this night into words, man,\u201d the Heat big man said of his monster performance Tuesday.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

SGA breaks Wilt\u2019s consecutive 20-point-game record<\/h2>\n

Whether it was his midrange game, getting to the basket or piling up free throws, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did enough all season to surpass Chamberlain\u2019s record of consecutive 20-point regular season games.<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and tied Chamberlain\u2019s record of 126 consecutive games<\/a> on March 9 in a win against the Denver Nuggets. Three days later, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points \u2014 including 14 in the fourth quarter and two pull-up jumpers in the final minute \u2014 to beat the Boston Celtics and break Chamberlain\u2019s record.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander ended the regular season with his streak at 140 games. He remains a central point in the \u201cethical\u201d basketball discussion<\/a>, as some feel he\u2019s acted and flopped his way to this mark<\/a>. But this kind of consistency isn\u2019t an accident or a matter of foul baiting. It\u2019s a player who has produced at a high level, no matter how \u201cunethical\u201d it looks.<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander will look to continue the regular-season streak next season after being held below 20 points three times during this postseason.<\/p>\n

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What You Should Read Next<\/div>\n
\n \"Shai<\/p>\n
\n
\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander breaks Wilt Chamberlain\u2019s record for consecutive 20-point games\n <\/div>\n
\n The Oklahoma City Thunder star has now notched at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games, finishing with 35 against Boston.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
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\n Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, college teammates and roommates at Duke, were the frontrunners of one of the NBA\u2019s closest Rookie of the Year races in years. (Sam Hodde \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Cooper vs. Kon, Jan. 29: A showcase of rookies<\/h2>\n

One Duke product (Flagg) was supposed to be the Dallas Mavericks\u2019 next big thing. The other (Knueppel) surprisingly put himself into the Rookie of the Year race with his long-distance shooting, making a rookie-record regular-season 273 3s, leading the NBA in the category and helping the Charlotte Hornets push for a postseason spot.<\/p>\n

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Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The former college teammates and roommates faced off Jan. 29 in a record-setting game in which Knueppel hit game-winning free throws in a 123-121 victory for the Hornets. Knueppel, 20, finished with 34 points and a franchise-record eight 3s. The 19-year-old Flagg had 49 points for the Mavericks, an NBA record for a teenager. It also was the first time the former Blue Devils played against each other in the NBA.<\/p>\n

The 83 combined points were the most by two rookies since Tiny Archibald and Pete Maravich collectively tallied 91 in 1971.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, showed the makings of a superstar and won Rookie of the Year. He averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists and posted stats by a teenager that haven\u2019t been seen since LeBron James. He\u2019s the youngest player to score at least 50 points and is second-youngest Rookie of the Year, behind James.<\/p>\n

Knueppel, the fourth pick in the draft, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting by only 26 points (he had 44 first-place votes to Flagg\u2019s 56). Knueppel averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Hornets while shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range.<\/p>\n

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How Did We Get Here?<\/div>\n
\n \"Cooper<\/p>\n
\n
\n Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel set career highs in duel of star rookies\n <\/div>\n
\n The Mavericks star scored 49 points, but the Hornets guard got the final two, plus the win.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Tatum returns ahead of schedule for Boston<\/h2>\n

It was an emotional return for Boston Celtics star and franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum when made his season debut<\/a> at TD Garden on March 6 against the Mavericks \u2014 almost 10 months after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon.<\/p>\n

Tatum had been sidelined for 298 days recovering the injury that happened during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2025. In his return, he accounted for 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes of play.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

In 16 regular-season games and six playoff games this season, Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists and shot 42.8 percent from the field. The Celtics hopes for a championship were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers, but Tatum\u2019s return was remarkable.<\/p>\n

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Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt was cool, man,\u201d Celtics teammate Sam Hauser said after the game. \u201cNo one in here knows what he was going through, just based off experience. But I can only imagine how hard it was in certain times. He probably felt isolated and lonely, but the fact that he was on every trip with us, he was in film sessions, he was at practices, I think it helped him still feel part of the team. And we did our best to keep him included as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Read Our Exclusive Details<\/div>\n
\n \"With<\/p>\n
\n
\n With Jayson Tatum back, the Celtics have defied the NBA\u2019s laws of physics\n <\/div>\n
\n Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear was supposed to break the Celtics franchise. His return 10 months later showed it has only strengthened it.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The Clippers, Aspiration and a Pulitzer<\/h2>\n

An investigation by the \u201cPablo Torre Finds Out\u201d podcast<\/a>\u00a0revealed that California-based environmental company Aspiration agreed to pay LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard $28 million in a sponsorship deal that resulted in Leonard doing no visible work for the company. Torre\u2019s team, and later The Athletic<\/em>, dug into the connections between Aspiration and Clippers\u2019 billionaire owner Steve Ballmer, who had invested $60 million in the company, and the NBA announced an investigation to determine whether Ballmer and the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

What You Should Read Next<\/div>\n
\n \"Aspiration<\/p>\n
\n
\n Aspiration paid Kawhi Leonard days after investment by Clippers\u2019 minority owner: Report\n <\/div>\n
\n A climate company was struggling to pay Kawhi Leonard. Then, a Clippers minority owner invested $2 million, according to a new report.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The league has yet to announce the results of the investigation. Leonard had an All-Star season, but the Clippers traded James Harden and missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Torre podcast won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting<\/a> for their efforts.<\/p>\n

\n

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@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
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\/\/ Remove all onclicks on imgs for apps to prevent image zoom on click
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<\/p>\n

Catch Up On The Story<\/div>\n
\n \"Timeline<\/p>\n
\n
\n Timeline of Kawhi Leonard, Clippers and Steve Ballmer events that led to NBA investigation\n <\/div>\n
\n What led up to this latest controversy?\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Never forget the couple in Indiana<\/h2>\n

You never know when you might get caught by the camera while attending a game. Two Indiana Pacers fans, identified as Grace and Michael, were caught on camera having a heated discussion<\/a> in which Grace looked annoyed.<\/p>\n

Her \u201cWhat the f\u2014 are you talking about?\u201d response during the exchange went viral on social media with many wondering what they were talking about, with some finding the moment completely relatable. It turned out to not be an argument but more of a conversation about liberal arts education.<\/p>\n

The couple was the talk of social media for days, as people found them far more interesting than the game between the Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. Grace and Michael even ended up with an appearance on \u201cInside the NBA.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

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<\/p>\n

What Our Experts Are Saying<\/div>\n
\n \"What\u2019s<\/p>\n
\n
\n What\u2019s an Indiana Pacers couple to do when viral moment goes off the rails?\n <\/div>\n
\n Social media found its fix. The “Inside” crew had its fun. Now, we can all move on, until the next moment breaks through our boredom.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n Tempers flared in February between Charlotte\u2019s Moussa Diabate and Detroit\u2019s Jalen Duren. Four players were ejected as a result. (David Jensen \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Those times when things got heated<\/h2>\n

What\u2019s an NBA season without a little beef?<\/p>\n

We saw a few rivalries \u2014 some acknowledged, some not \u2014 that really brought the energy. One was the highly physical matchup between Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Joki\u0107 and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Luguentz Dort in February when one play put fire in the eyes of Joki\u0107<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The fourth-quarter altercation, which also included the Thunder\u2019s Jaylin Williams, resulted in Dort being ejected and Joki\u0107 and Williams receiving technical fouls. The ultimate result was Dort admitting that he \u201cwent over the limit.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

In February, fans watched a dustup between the Detroit Pistons and the Charlotte Hornets. Four players were ejected<\/a> after Detroit\u2019s Jalen Duren and Charlotte\u2019s Moussa Diabat\u00e9 were involved in a fracas.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s the Chet Holmgren-Victor Wembanyama rivalry on the court, which is being played out in the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. It\u2019s been brewing for a while<\/a> \u2014 though neither player will directly address it as such.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think about that. At least from a basketball standpoint, there\u2019s no comparison (between us),\u201d Wemby said in December<\/a> after the Spurs\u2019 victory over the Thunder on Dec 23.<\/p>\n

That type of energy is what some people yearn for.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n Damian Lillard didn\u2019t play in an NBA game this season, but he managed to recover enough from an Achilles injury to compete in the NBA 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend and won his third title. (Kirby Lee \/ Imagn Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Dame Time: An All-Star spectacle<\/h2>\n

Nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard received a raucous applause when he returned to the court for the NBA 3-Point Contest during the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, Calif., where he won his third title.<\/p>\n

Lillard hadn\u2019t played the entire season, as he\u2019s been rehabbing a torn left Achilles sustained in Game 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 first-round series against the Indiana Pacers last season. But the nine-time All-Star made news after the NBA announced Lillard would be a participant<\/a> six days before the contest.<\/p>\n

This year included an eight-player field of Lillard, Knueppel, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Norman Powell, Bobby Portis, Tyrese Maxey and Devin Booker. Lillard scored 27 points in the first round \u2014 tying him for second with Knueppel behind Booker\u2019s 30 \u2014 and 29 in the championship round. He joined Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time champions.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cEvery day, I\u2019m up early in the morning warming up and shooting the ball, off the dribble, catch-and-shoot, every style of shot you can shoot. I\u2019m shooting them every day, hundreds of \u2019em,\u201d Lillard said. \u201cI knew that this would not be an issue for me. I can\u2019t say I knew that I would win, \u2019cause you just never know. But I knew I would be able to be strong out there and have a chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came in confident.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

How Did We Get Here?<\/div>\n
\n \"Damian<\/p>\n
\n
\n Damian Lillard edges Devin Booker, wins 3-point contest while still rehabbing torn Achilles\n <\/div>\n
\n The Blazers superstar won the event for the third time, triumphing despite not fully recovering from last season’s torn Achilles.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Knicks taking it back to 1999<\/h2>\n

Mike Brown\u2019s coaching once was being questioned after his New York Knicks trailed the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.\u00a0The Knicks nearly overcame an 18-point deficit in Game 3 but lost 109-108 on April 23.<\/p>\n

That was the last time the Knicks have been defeated this postseason.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

New York has won 11 straight and now has championship aspirations after winning the Eastern Conference and earning its first NBA Finals berth since 1999<\/a>. That New York is in the NBA Finals isn\u2019t as surprising as the relative ease in which it\u2019s happened.<\/p>\n

The Knicks\u2019 average margin of victory in series-clinching games is 39.3 points. They handed the Hawks a 51-point loss in Game 6. They swept Philadelphia and won Game 4 by 30. From there, New York advanced to the finals via sweep and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers by 37 points in Game 4.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Jalen Brunson\u2019s popularity continues to grow in New York, Mikal Bridges has stepped up and the team has become an offensive force, unlike previous seasons. The Knicks are locked in, scoring at least 120 points in six of their 14 playoff games. Defensively, the Knicks may be even scarier, holding their postseason opponents to less than 100 points seven out of 14 times.<\/p>\n

The Knicks haven\u2019t won an NBA championship since 1973 and are expected to be underdogs in the finals, but their turnaround in the playoffs and fun personalities might make them a fan favorite.<\/p>\n

\n

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\/\/ Remove all onclicks on imgs for apps to prevent image zoom on click
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<\/p>\n

Catch Up On The Story<\/div>\n
\n \"Is<\/p>\n
\n
\n Is this the greatest playoff run in Knicks history? That\u2019s what Jeff Van Gundy believes\n <\/div>\n
\n Van Gundy coached the Knicks to the Finals in 1999, but even he admits “there’s never been a Knicks team this dominant.”\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n San Antonio\u2019s Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City\u2019s Chet Holmgren are among the centerpieces of a budding rivalry between two Western Conference titans. (Alonzo Adams \/ Imagn Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Western Conference rivalry in the making<\/h2>\n

For all the chatter about the Thunder and Spurs being rivals, there were some important things to remember.<\/p>\n

The Thunder won the 2025 NBA championship. This version of the Spurs had yet to make the playoffs. The franchises hadn\u2019t met since 2016 in the postseason, where rivalries are often born to intensify. The Spurs had success against the Thunder in the regular season, but repeating that in the playoffs would not be as simple.<\/p>\n

San Antonio beat the Thunder, 122-115, in double overtime at Paycom Center in a contest that featured comebacks by both teams late and a legendary stat line from Victor Wembanyama (41 points, 24 rebounds, three blocks and a deep 3-pointer to tie the game<\/a> in the first OT). It also featured Alex Caruso providing an unexpected 31 points for the Thunder, including eight made 3s.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

By the time the game ended, there was already discussion as to whether it was the best Game 1 of a conference finals ever. The game was a perfect preview of what a future rivalry could look like, one that will be fun to watch for all NBA fans.<\/p>\n

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\n line-height: 13.8px;
\n letter-spacing: 1.1px;
\n text-transform: uppercase;
\n }<\/p>\n

.showcase-link-image {
\n border-radius: 8px;
\n object-fit: cover;
\n width: 200px;
\n height: 150px;
\n margin: 0px;
\n @media (max-width: 600px) {
\n width: 120px;
\n height: 120px;
\n }
\n }<\/p>\n

.showcase-link-inner-content {
\n display: flex;
\n flex-direction: row;
\n gap: 16px;
\n width: 100%;
\n }<\/p>\n

.showcase-link-text-content {
\n display: flex;
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\n gap: 20px;
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\n @media (max-width: 600px) {
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.showcase-link-title {
\n font-family: nyt-cheltenham;
\n font-size: 24px;
\n font-style: normal;
\n font-weight: 500;
\n line-height: 120%; \/* 24px *\/
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\n text-overflow: ellipsis;
\n overflow: hidden;
\n display: -webkit-box;
\n -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
\n -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
\n @media (max-width: 600px) {
\n font-size: 16px;
\n }
\n }<\/p>\n

.showcase-link-excerpt {
\n font-family: nyt-imperial;
\n font-size: 16px;
\n font-style: normal;
\n font-weight: 400;
\n line-height: 139%; \/* 19.46px *\/
\n color: #323232;
\n text-overflow: ellipsis;
\n overflow: hidden;
\n display: -webkit-box;
\n -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
\n -webkit-line-clamp: 4;
\n @media (max-width: 600px) {
\n font-size: 12px;
\n line-height: 121%;
\n }
\n }
\n}<\/p>\n

.showcase-link-inputs {
\n .showcase-link-input {
\n width: 100%;
\n font-size: 1rem;
\n background-color: white;
\n margin-bottom: 12px;
\n }<\/p>\n

.showcase-link-indent {
\n margin-left: 25px;
\n }<\/p>\n

option {
\n width: 100%;
\n }
\n}<\/p>\n

@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
\n .native-mobile a.showcase-link-container {
\n background-color: #121212;
\n color: #f0f0ee;
\n .showcase-link-excerpt {
\n color: #c4c4c0;
\n }
\n }
\n}<\/p>\n

\/\/ Remove all onclicks on imgs for apps to prevent image zoom on click
\n document.querySelectorAll(‘.showcase-link-image’).forEach((img) => img.removeAttribute(‘onclick’));<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Our Experts Are Saying<\/div>\n
\n \"Thunder<\/p>\n
\n
\n Thunder vs. Spurs looks set to be this generation\u2019s Lakers vs. Celtics\n <\/div>\n
\n Nothing is ever guaranteed in the NBA, but these two teams are set up for the future as well as any contenders we’ve seen in a long time.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Broken records, viral moments, rivalries, scandals and great returns. All a part of the magic of the 2025-26 NBA season. Including the playoffs, there are more than 1,200 games in a season, giving NBA fans no shortage of memorable moments to choose from. Debates are part of the fun in being a hoops fan, so […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,241],"class_list":["post-1961582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nytimes-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1961582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961582\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1961582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1961582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1961582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}