archiveDallas Hoops Journal

DHJ Quick Take: The Dallas Double The Challenge: Shortly after the NBA announcement, Paige Bueckers—the reigning 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year—sent a Gatorade voice message to Cooper Flagg. Highlighting their status as the city's newest cornerstones, she challenged the Mavericks star: "Let's see who gets that ring for Dallas...

DHJ Quick Take: Cooper Flagg Wins Rookie of the Year Elite Company: Cooper Flagg is the first rookie since Michael Jordan (1984-85) to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, he joins a list of just four players in NBA...

DHJ Quick Take: The First Pitch Tradition Passing the Torch: Azzi Fudd follows the footsteps of Paige Bueckers, who threw the ceremonial first pitch at Globe Life Field on June 18, 2025. While Bueckers' toss famously fell short of the plate, the appearance solidified the Wings' presence in the Arlington...

DHJ Quick Take: The 2026 Outlook The Blueprint: General Manager Curt Miller and Head Coach Jose Fernandez will outline the vision for a roster that now features the last two No. 1 overall picks. Overseas Absences: While the excitement is centered in Arlington, the team is still awaiting the arrival...

DHJ Quick Take: The Aziaha James Leap The Unrivaled Foundation: After spending her rookie season in a developmental role, Aziaha James arrived at camp in "tip-top shape" following her stint with Phantom BC in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league. Coach Jose Fernandez noted that her conditioning and pace have set her...

DHJ Quick Take: Saturday's Takeaways Aziaha James’ Year-Two Leap: Following a confidence-building offseason at Unrivaled, guard Aziaha James has been a clear standout in camp. Her focus on point-of-attack defense—paired with a scoring burst that saw her net three consecutive buckets on Saturday—positions her to be an impactful player. The...

DHJ Quick Take: The Veteran Crossroads The Timeline Clash: When Klay Thompson signed a 3-year, $50 million contract with Dallas in 2024, it was to play alongside Luka Dončić. Following the blockbuster Anthony Davis-Dončić swap, Dallas has shifted focus to Cooper Flagg. At 37, Thompson’s efficiency (38.3% from 3) is...

DHJ Quick Take: The Optimized Dynasty The Curry-Giannis Fit: This is the ultimate inside-outside pairing. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the league’s most dominant interior force, while Steph Curry’s gravity creates the spacing Giannis has never fully had in Milwaukee. In a 2026 Western Conference dominated by the Thunder and Spurs, this...

DHJ Quick Take: The Rookie Showdown The Flagg Volume: Cooper Flagg (21.0 PPG) led all rookies in scoring, punctuated by his 51-point masterpiece against the Orlando Magic. As the youngest player in the NBA, his late-season surge (29 PPG in the final month) proved he could carry an elite offensive...

DHJ Quick Take: The Star-Hunting Strategy The Pick Leverage: Daryl Morey’s acquisition of Clippers’ draft capital—including the 2028 First-Round Pick—is the ultimate chess move. As Los Angeles hovers around the 9th seed in the West, those picks gain value daily. Returning a pick to the Clippers allows them to officially...