Napheesa Collier, Lynx cap all-time comeback. Plus, welcome to NBA Tankapalooza 2025!

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Michael Jordan memorabilia auctions are awesome, but when are we getting the Dennis Rodman estate sales?

WNBA Finals

Lynx storm back to take Game 1

I’ll admit it: When the Liberty hit a 3-pointer to go up 81-66 with 5:20 left in the fourth last night, I threw Game 1 of the WNBA Finals to the backburner (my iPad) and switched the TV to “Thursday Night Football.” Minnesota had already been down 18 in the first half before bringing it within two points in the third quarter. The team just appeared to be out of energy or momentum.

Then, the Lynx hit a couple 3-pointers to make it a single-digit game and completely shut off the Liberty’s water. Minnesota went on an 18-2 run, capped off by a four-point play by Courtney Williams to take an 84-83 lead with 5.1 seconds left.

Then, after a blown out-of-bounds call that should have given the Lynx possession, the Liberty eventually got the ball to Breanna Stewart, who got fouled with 0.8 seconds left. She split the free throws before Game 1 went to overtime. There was also a blown call that went the Lynx’s way when Williams was blocked and the ball went off of her, so the poor officiating at least evened out.

Napheesa Collier knocked down the go-ahead shot with 8.1 seconds left in overtime. Then, Stewart had the opportunity to tie the game and send it to a second overtime after being clamped up by Collier all game. But she hit nothing but backboard on a layup attempt as time expired, and the Lynx stole Game 1 with a 95-93 victory. Minnesota’s 18-point comeback ties the largest in WNBA Finals history.

Another look at Napheesa Collier’s game winner in #phantomcam 🎥

The @minnesotalynx take Game 1 against the Liberty 95-93#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/rjk9Pfsw4h

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024

Game 1 went like this ⬇️

The @minnesotalynx 18-PT comeback ties the largest comeback in WNBA finals history

They tied the Liberty, who came back against the Comets to win 68-67 in Game 2 of the 1999 finals#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/4855Eh5VWd

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024

What was the difference for the Lynx? It’s the defense. They got obliterated in the first quarter in almost every way. But when Minnesota needed to make a run, it got deflections, blocks and plenty of plays to frustrate New York.

What do the Liberty need to change for Game 2? They have to score inside the 3-point arc. New York managed just 36 points in the paint and made 36.8 percent of its two-point attempts.

Who needs to step up for the Liberty? Sabrina Ionescu. She hit some big shots but went just 8 of 26 from the field on her way to 19 points.

How should the Lynx adjust for Game 2? They have to end possessions on the defensive boards. The Liberty grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.

When is Game 2? Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Enjoy!

When it comes down to it, Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride are one cold duo 🤝

McBride: 22 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST
Collier: 21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 6 BLK #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/oPNMxWltvP

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024

Tanks A Lot!

Good 2025 draft class means tanking is back

It happens often: Teams that are down on their luck or just stuck in neutral see a prospect on the horizon and start putting out their worst possible product on the floor. They are willing to lose games if it means getting their next superstar. Several franchises just did it two seasons ago with Victor Wembanyama as the historic prize. Nobody really did it last season because … well … look at the draft class.

But as John Hollinger noted this week, the Year of the Tank is back. The 2025 class is loaded with potential stars, and you don’t have to do a lot of mental gymnastics to picture them as saviors of your franchise. This class is the real deal. Before we get into which teams should/could be tanking, these are the five players atop Sam Vecenie’s latest 2025 mock draft:

Cooper Flagg | Forward | 6’8 | Duke: You know about this guy. He’s currently the top prospect in the 2025 class. He balled out for the USA Basketball Select Team to get the Olympic squad ready for Paris. He is producing freak highlight after freak highlight. Flagg will be a great defender almost immediately.

Ace Bailey | Wing | 6’7 | Rutgers: This is the other guy more people will start talking about soon. He’s also in the running with Flagg as the top prospect in the class, and he might end up being outright better. Bailey is an elite shot creator but needs to channel that into higher-quality shots. He’s unreal, though.

Dylan Harper | Guard | 6’5 | Rutgers: He may be in the shadow of his Rutgers teammate (yep, Rutgers), but Harper is a fantastic point guard prospect. He isn’t a crazy athlete, but he’s extremely polished with his footwork and skills with the ball.

V.J. Edgecombe | Guard | 6’3 | Baylor: Edgecombe is an absurd athlete. His bounce is ridiculous, and he can put put you in a highlight in the blink of an eye. There is so much to harness there through development.

Nolan Traoré | Guard | 6’3 | France: Traoré is more of a project than the other four. However, his time playing professionally and at the national level in France should help him a lot. If he knocks down the jumper consistently, he’ll be a star.

We know the why — now we need to know who is or should be tanking. Maybe you think that isn’t very sportsmanlike to do so. In the family-friendly version of Marsellus Wallace’s poignant words, “That’s pride bleeping with you.” Here are my 2024-25 Tankapalooza candidates:

Washington Wizards: You do not have a franchise guy. Alex Sarr might be something. Bilal Coulibaly could be really good. You need a star, though.

Portland Trail Blazers: Even if you still believe in Scoot Henderson, he will need plenty of help. At least three of these guys should be better than Henderson, even if he reaches his potential.

Utah Jazz: You keep dipping your toes into the waters of tanking when the pool party is about to end. Dive in! You can’t keep missing out on guys because you want to win 30 games.

Chicago Bulls: You do not have close to a franchise guy, and history has proven you require destiny to fall directly into your hands. Or you will screw it up.

Toronto Raptors: You tanked last year and still didn’t end up with your first-round pick. Try it again.

Brooklyn Nets: Or maybe Ben Simmons is back to All-Star mode and you’re good?

Charlotte Hornets: I’m proud of your new regime and hopeful it knows what it’s doing. With that said, there is not nearly enough talent on this roster.

Detroit Pistons: Chances are you’re just going to end up with the fifth pick if you do. But hey, there are five guys in this draft! (I don’t mean burgers.)

Going Once …

Drop some cash on Michael Jordan memorabilia

Two items that caught my eye when reading about “Colossal: The Ultimate Jordan Collection” being auctioned off by Sotheby’s from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4. Neither of these items is likely to break the $10 million Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey brought in during a 2022 auction. But to me, they’re worth a lot more when you factor in their basketball lore.

The first item is the game-worn jersey from the 1996-97 season. It was used in 17 games, according to Sotheby’s.

We all have one moment from one of those games seared into our brains. That jersey was worn by MJ when then-rookie Allen Iverson crossed him over and buried the jump shot in his mug. Hearing Iverson talk about Jordan at the Hall of Fame ceremony is always a must-watch. Sotheby’s has this valued between $4 million and $6 million. To be honest, I love Mike, but I won’t bid more than $2.5 million for it.

The second item is the item to me: the American flag Jordan draped over his shoulders during the medal ceremony in Barcelona at the 1992 Olympics.

Why did Jordan drape that flag over himself? Patriotism? Celebration of winning the gold medal? The Team USA jackets were Reebok jackets, and we know MJ is forever a Nike guy, so he wasn’t about to let Reebok have some free Jordan advertising power. The flag was also signed by the Dream Team, but regardless, that pettiness and shrewdness when it comes to product placement has to be almost priceless.

I probably wouldn’t go into eight figures to secure that, but you never know. I once spent $78 on a Moochie Norris bobblehead after I’d only budgeted $30 to win the eBay auction.

Three other MJ items I’d love to see auctioned off at some point:

A Michael’s Secret Stuff bottle. Even though the movie “Space Jam” is truly atrocious when you rewatch it as an adult, that bottle would look awesome on my bookshelf.
His dunk contest gold chain. This man flew from the free-throw line with that gold chain flapping in the airstream.
His Chicago mansion. It’s apparently been sold after being listed in the $14.8 million to $29 million range. Had it gone to auction, I wouldn’t have gone over $11 million.