Month: March 2021

Attacks on Asian-Americans and Pacific-Islanders (AAPI) have been highlighted by advocacy groups since early in the pandemic, but it took nearly a year for the incidents to start receiving the broad media coverage they deserve. Despite stunning statistics in the rise in anti-Asian sentiment, discrimination, and violence, it’s taken vicious attacks on Asian-American elders and a horrific shooting spree of Asian-American women to get the nation’s full attention.

A killing spree at three spas in the Atlanta area left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent, last night. Details are still emerging, but we know that the shooter was a white man who loved guns and who purposely and premeditatedly targeted these businesses, driving dozens of miles between shootings at three different spas. We know that Asian-Americans make up around 3% of the population of Georgia and 75% of the victims of this shooting. We know that the killer blamed a sex addiction and targeted massage parlors (which are largely staffed by Asian women) because they represented “a temptation.”

And we know that these shootings add another frightening layer to skyrocketing attacks on people of Asian descent in the U.S.

In February, the death of an 84-year-old Thai man who was violently tackled in his driveway shone a spotlight on the issue in the Bay Area, where a spate of attacks has erupted in recent months. A video of a 91-year-old man being violently shoved to the ground in Oakland prompted actors Daniel Dae Kim and Daniel Wu to offer a reward of $25,000 to anyone who could help identify the attacker. (It turned out police already had him in custody as a suspect for other similar attacks.) A 64-year-old Vietnamese grandmother was assaulted and robbed of $1000 while walking to her car in San Jose as well, and Chinatown businesses have been hit by an alarming increase in robberies.

Amanda Nguyễn, CEO and founder of the civil rights organization Rise, shared a plea on Instagram for people to raise awareness about the increase in anti-AAPI violence last month.

Other kinds of attacks have also made headlines in recent weeks. Mike Nguyen, who owns an Asian restaurant in San Antonio, went on CNN last week to speak out against Texas governor Greg Abbott lifting the state’s mask mandate. Four days later, the front of his restaurant was graffitied with the phrases like “No Mask,” “Kung Flu,” “Commie,” “Hope U Die” and “Ramen Noodle Flu.” Nguyen, whose background is Vietnamese and French, was also greeted with the words “Go Back 2 China” spray-painted on a bench outside the restaurant.

According to NYPD data reported in the Queens Chronicle in September, anti-Asian hate crimes had already increased 1900% from 2019 to 2020 before fall even hit. (In the same time period, anti-Jewish and anti-Black hate crimes in New York had decreased, so it’s not a matter of overall hate crimes increasing.) The Anti-Defamation League reported in June that there had been a “significant” number of reports of harassment and attacks against people in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and the United Nations stated in October that hate crimes against Asian-Americans were happening at “alarming levels,” citing 1800 incidents in just two months, from March to May of 2020.

Reading people’s individual stories, it’s clear that the vast majority of incidents include references to the COVID-19 pandemic. People blame Asian-Americans for the coronavirus—a xenophobic idea that has been inflamed by politicians who insist on calling it the “China virus” or “Kung flu.” (That’s not merely conjecture; Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council said that their data showed that the increase in racist and xenophobic attacks was “catalyzed by rhetoric from the president and other government leadership.”)

The AAPI community needs every American of goodwill to step up, speak up, and act to put an end to these attacks. Here are some things everyone can do to help:

– Personally: If you see or hear someone using anti-AAPI language, say something. Don’t let phrases like “China virus” or “Kung Flu” or comments blaming Asian people for the pandemic go unchallenged. Commit to not being a passive bystander, but rather an active disrupter, of harassment when you see it. If you witness an incident, report it at stopaapihate.org.

– Socially: Get to know AAPI members of your community and listen to their concerns. Raise awareness by following and sharing the hashtag #StopAAPIHate on social media. Speak out about Anti-Asian hate crimes and share positive stories about people from the AAPI community as well.

– Educationally: Seek out information about the kinds of discrimination people in the AAPI community face. Click on the links from this article or simply Google terms like “Anti-Asian” and “AAPI hate crimes.” If you’re a parent, teach your kids how to recognize when their peers are engaging in anti-Asian jokes or behavior and how to be an ally.

– Organizationally: Make sure your workplace and organizations you’re a part of are committed to protecting AAPI members of your community from harassment. This PDF from the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance put together has specific action items employers and organizations can use as a guide.

– Monetarily: Buy from AAPI-owned businesses, many of which have suffered during the pandemic both from economic loss and discriminatory attacks. Support AAPI advocacy and anti-discrimination organizations such as iHollaback! (an anti-harassment organization that provides free bystander intervention training) or the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (a coalition of more than 100 organizations advocating for AAPI communities). Keep an eye out for crowdfunding efforts for individual victims of hate crimes.

– Democratically: Reach out to your local, state, and national government representatives to voice your support for the AAPI community and ask them to denounce xenophobic rhetoric in politics. Learn about the president’s plan for the AAPI community and push him to take action on those commitments. Elevate the voices of elected officials from the AAPI community and those who speak up against anti-AAPI discrimination.

You can also check out more anti-Asian violence resources here.

Let’s all commit to creating a society in which everyone is uplifted and where all people can feel safe no matter who we are or where we come from.

Good news, California Disney nerds! Beginning April 30th, 2021 Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure theme park will finally reopen for the first time in over a year. Both parks will severely limit park attendance in accordance with state requirements and will make some changes to the usual Disney experience in order to continue to promote safe social distancing. There will also be a new theme park reservation system, which requires guests to seek a park reservation before they can purchase a valid admission ticket.

That’s not all that’s changing, either. Here’s what you can expect if you want to go to Disneyland this spring:

Reservations

As of the reopening date, both theme parks will only be open to residents of California, so if you’re out of state and itching to go to Disneyland, you’re still going to have to wait.

Beginning April 30th, Disneyland and the California Adventure park will be operating at a reduced 15% capacity, which sounds like heaven if you’ve ever been to Disneyland and had your shoes repeatedly run-over by insane Disney parents shuttling their children to the next photo opportunity. Those hoping to enter the park will have to obtain a reservation in advance of their arrival.

All guests 3 years old and up (ruthless) will need to present both a park reservation and an admission ticket showing the same date in order to be let into the park. As of now, details about the reservation system are scarce, and ticket sales are currently paused to resume at a later undisclosed date.

Those experiencing fevers, a cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, sore throats, loss of taste or smell, or experiencing congestion or a runny nose are not welcome in the park.

Face Masks/Temperature Checks

All guests, cast members, and employees will be required to bring and wear face coverings for the entire duration of their trips, unless drinking or eating. This means, yes, you need to wear your mask on the rides, even Space Mountain. Those drinking and eating anything will have to remain stationary until their food is finished in order to ensure social distancing.

Face masks must be made of two layers of breathable material, neck gaiters, open-chin bandanas, and masks with valves, mesh material, or holes are unacceptable. All guests and employees entering the park must undergo a temperature screening, anyone reading at or above 100.4F will not be allowed to enter.

Increased Sanitation

Disneyland and California Adventure park will up their cleanliness procedures, paying extra attention to elevators, escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, and restrooms, and hand-washing and sanitation stations will be spread throughout the park.

Because park capacity has been greatly reduced, ride lines will feature ground markings to facilitate social distancing and physical barriers have been added throughout the park in areas where social distancing is particularly difficult.

The Disneyland App & Misc. Info

Guests are advised to be ready to use the Disneyland app in order to facilitate a hands-free experience in the park, which will include cashless transactions. Attractions throughout the parks that draw large gatherings — like the electric light parade or fireworks show — will be temporarily suspended. Character meet-and-greets will also be unavailable.

Disneyland will continue to update reopening guidelines as we get closer to April 30th. Follow the news here.

Just a few days ago, Brittany Howard took home a Grammy for Best Rock Song for her track “Stay High” off her debut solo album Jaime. Now, the singer continues to share music from her acclaimed album by appearing on Tuesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform a soulful rendition of her track “Short And Sweet.”

Howard gave the moving performance in Nashville’s The Sanctuary, a church-turned-studio featuring wooden pews and stained glass windows. The studio version of the song puts her vocals at the forefront of the track, assisting them with subdued melodies from a guitar. Howard performs the song in a similar manner, joined by only an acoustic guitar and her powerhouse vocals.

Ahead of appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Howard teamed up with Coldplay’s Chris Martin to share a captivating rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” a cover of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein song, at the Grammys. The performance was a way for both the musicians to celebrate their Grammy nominations. Though Howard took home the Best Rock Song trophy, she was also nominated for four other awards including Best Rock Performance, Best Engineered Album Non-Classical, Best American Roots Performance, and Best R&B Performance. Martin, on the other hand, was up for Album Of The Year for Coldplay’s Everyday Life, but the award ended up going to Taylor Swift.

Watch Howard perform “Short And Sweet” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! above.

Jaime is out now via ATO. Get it here.

Coldplay is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

If “Dinner Party” isn’t the most uncomfortable episode of The Office, it’s in second place after “Scott’s Tots.” But that discomfort is what makes it arguably the funniest and best episode of the show. In the latest episode of the Office Ladies podcast, co-hosts Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela) discussed “Dinner Party,” including the one scene that they had a hard time shooting because they were laughing so hard.

“Dinner Party,” written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky and directed by Paul Feig, first aired on April 10, 2008. I can still remember howling when Michael proudly shows his dinky plasma TV to Jim and Pam. “I actually hung this on the wall myself.” So good. So sad. Fischer had a hard time keeping it together, too, as she explained on the podcast.

“There are two times when I laughed so hard on our show that I thought I wasn’t going to ever recover. This was one of them,” she said (via Mashable). “Tears [were] streaming down our face.” I need to know what the other scene was. It probably wasn’t when Creed briefly filled in as regional manager, but it should have been.

John Krasinski (Jim) also recalled what it was like filming “Dinner Party”:

“When we got to the moment with the television, I think there was an energy in the room that was overwhelming. I was already quaking with laughter. It wouldn’t have taken much for me to laugh, and then throw in maybe one of my favorite jokes in the entire show. I remember at the table read laughing. But then to see Steve again with that beaming face of pride just turn to us and say, ‘You won’t believe what what I have. And also look what it can do.’”

You can listen to the entire Office Ladies episode below.

(Via Mashable)

In a historic first for Marvel Comics, a new gay Captain America will debut during Pride Month as the comics giant expands its increasingly diverse roster of characters. Known as the “Captain America of the Railways,” Aaron Fischer will make his first appearance in The United States of Captain America #1, a new series that will explore “everyday people from all walks of life who’ve taken up the mantle of Captain America to defend their communities.” In the young Fischer’s case, the LGBTQ+ hero does his best to protect runaways and homeless teens even though he doesn’t possess the powers of Steve Rogers’ super-soldier serum.

Via Entertainment Weekly:

“Aaron is inspired by heroes of the queer community: activists, leaders, and everyday folks pushing for a better life,” [Aaron Fischer creator Aaron] Trujillo said in a statement. “He stands for the oppressed, and the forgotten. I hope his debut story resonates with readers, and helps inspire the next generation of heroes.”

Considering the new comic series follows Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson (The Falcon), and John Walker (U.S. Agent) taking a road trip to find Cap’s missing shield, it sounds like Aaron Fischer will get a chance to meet his inspiration when the first issue hits in June.

You can see artwork of the Captain America of the Railways below:

The announcement of Aaron Fischer arrives just as the Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting ready to go big on a diverse change to Captain America. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will focus on Anthony Mackie’s Falcon as he questions whether he’s willing to wield Cap’s shield following the events of Avengers: Endgame, and more importantly, whether America is ready to accept a Black Captain America if he does rise to the challenge.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

Earlier this week, Rhye’s Mike Milosh faced some serious allegations from his ex-wife, actress Alexa Nikolas, who in a lengthy series of Instagram posts accused him of sexual assault, physical abuse, grooming, and financial manipulation. Now, a few days later, Milosh has offered a response.

Milosh shared a statement with Spin, which begins, “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always strongly supported women and their right to speak out and be heard. That is why the false claims made by my former wife had been so hurtful and shocking to me.” He went on to claim that Nikolas decided to speak out about him after he stopped supporting her financially: “I have always wished her nothing but the best and continued to support her financially even after I was no longer required to under our divorce agreement. Eventually, I stopped paying [and] in response, Alexa has resorted to character assassination.”

He also called Nikolas’ posts about him “a piece of revisionist fiction” and continued, “These are absurd and outrageous false claims about me that a media outlet has published and repeated falsehoods are beyond irresponsible — it’s defamatory.”

Milosh concluded his statement, “I reiterate that these accusations are outrageously false and the manipulated stories provably untrue. I’m fully prepared to cooperate with any independent investigation into these false claims and look forward to being cleared of all the shameless mirrors.”

After her initial set of posts, Nikolas shared a follow-up post yesterday. In it, she shares some stories from other women who claim to have also had negative experiences with Milosh. She wrote, “3 days after releasing my open letter I have received countless private messages about patterns of abuse and sexual violence inflicted by Milosh. It is extremely disheartening and disgusting. I am currently in the process of consoling and speaking to these individuals. I am not surprised that his cruel behavior was exhibited before, during, and after our marriage. […] This is serious. All of these women deserve justice.”

Read Milosh’s full statement below.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always strongly supported women and their right to speak out and be heard.

That is why the false claims made by my former wife had been so hurtful and shocking to me. Alexa and I were married for nearly seven years. Like all marriages we had our difficulties and [sic] tempted to weather them together as best we could. Ultimately, despite our best efforts, we agreed to divorce. I loved her very much and we shared many special years before our marriage ended. I have always wished her nothing but the best and continued to support her financially even after I was no longer required to under our divorce agreement. Eventually, I stopped paying [sic] in response, Alexa has resorted to character assassination.

However, regarding my ex-wife’s recent Instagram post and its listed as serious and demonstratable untrue accusations, it’s simply a piece of revisionist fiction. These are absurd and outrageous false claims about me that a media outlet has published and repeated falsehoods are beyond irresponsible — it’s defamatory.

I can only stay the unvarnished truth. Alexa came to Berlin several months after her 18th birthday and we spent a week hanging out enjoying the city taking photographs that she eventually used as her IMDb listing headshot and modeling photos. We fell in love. I visited the following fall and she lived with me in Berlin the following summer but ultimately said she couldn’t live in Germany as her career and life were based in Los Angeles so I moved to Los Angeles for love, for her, for us. This is a story that has been documented extensively around the release of my first record.

Our art photography collaborations continued before and during our marriage, we had a Gallery exhibition of the photos I took of Alexa and she was proudly featured on the cover of my album.

I’ve done many interviews about my songs the lyrics and what inspired them many about love relationships and sensuality.

My life is a touring musician and the pressures of travel and life on the road ultimately took its toll on our marriage and I’m sorry she came to feel my professional life has had a negative impact on her and our life together. Alexa had her own demons and I did my best to be a good husband in trying to overcome them. In the end, we could not help each other.

We were married for nearly seven years before the divorce decree was finalized.

We filed for divorce using a mediator who arrived at a fair settlement and processes the documents. Neither of us engaged individual divorce attorneys and there is no courtroom drama. Even after all of my alimony obligations, I continued to send money when she said she needed it for car repairs, moving deposits, back taxes, creative projects at her many requests.

I’ve tried to be supportive and help out when repeatedly asked but at a certain point, I was not able to provide any additional financial support things seemed to have taken an abrupt change thereafter. Now I am being hit with horrific and spiteful lies.

I reiterate that these accusations are outrageously false and the manipulated stories provably untrue. I’m fully prepared to cooperate with any independent investigation into these false claims and look forward to being cleared of all the shameless mirrors.”

With anticipation for his new album Justice reaching its peak, Justin Bieber delivers a stripped-down, at-home Tiny Desk Concert to preview one of the most eagerly anticipated songs from the upcoming album. Although Daniel Caesar and Giveon were unable to appear, fans get to hear a version of “Peaches” featuring Justin on keys and some light scratching from his DJ, Jay James. The performance also opens with a Chance The Rapper-less version of “Holy” and features “Hold On” and “Anyone,” also from Justice.

Justin previously revealed the latter two songs during the months-long rollout for his new album, debuting “Anyone” in a livestream concert for Spotify and releasing a neo-noir-styled music video for “Hold On.” He also later released a video for “Anyone,” harkening to classic boxing dramas in a narrative video that required three hours of makeup to hide his tattoos. “Holy” is, of course, the best-known track he performs here, after Justin used the new song and its cinematic music video to usher in a “new era” back in September of 2020. He also performed the song during his October appearance on Saturday Night Live and offered an acoustic remix with an accompanying, bare-bones video. Now, the wait is nearly at its end; Justice drops 3/19 via Def Jam.

Watch Justin Bieber’s Tiny Desk Concert above.

As the NBA trade deadline approaches, Golden State is thought to be among the more aggressive buyers in the league, sitting ninth in the Western Conference and having struggled to put together a consistent stretch of high-level basketball all season.

A new report from Wes Goldberg at The Mercury News indicates that while we should expect Golden State to survey the trade market extensively, the team is not expected to include rookie James Wiseman in any deal unless it yields a “perennial All-Star” in return. The team, Goldberg reports, is “committed to Wiseman.” This also applies for their most valuable bit of draft capital: The Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round pick that is top-3 protected in 2021 and unprotected in 2022.

Wiseman is scoring nearly 12 points per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and grabbing six rebounds per contest, in addition to the exciting bursts of athleticism and three-point shooting we’ve seen from time to time. Down the line, the Warriors will likely want him to get to the free throw line more and continue to develop within their strict offensive and defensive schemes, but Wiseman has impressed without a doubt.

As Goldberg notes in the piece, there aren’t many players expected to be available this year who fit the “perennial All-Star” mold. There’s Nikola Vucevic, who is a questionable fit in Golden State, and then longshots like Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal.

Of course, with Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. on the roster, the Warriors have the salary flexibility to pull off a trade for a high-priced star, but it seems fairly unlikely that any of those three All-Stars actually moves at the deadline, whether the Warriors would include Wiseman or not.

While St. Patrick’s Day is a great day to get reacquainted with bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and pot-still distilled Irish whiskey, it’s really best known for beer. And while dry Irish stouts like Guinness lead the charge, Irish (and Irish-style) beers are more than simply rich, robust, dark, espresso and chocolate malt bombs.

There are also delicious red ales, lagers, and more. Have you tried an Irish Cream Ale? Today might be the day.

To find the best beer options for St. Paddy’s, we asked the professionals behind the bar what they’ll be tipping back today. Their picks are wide-ranging, along with the usual suspects getting plenty of love.

Porterhouse Red Ale

Dennis Shea, beverage director at Fish & Fire Food Group in Washington, DC

I love Irish Red Ales. So I would suggest The Porterhouse Brewing Company’s Red Ale if you can find it. It’s fruity with a bit of malty caramel, which makes it a truly unique choice.

Average Price: $5 for a 12-ounce bottle

Smithwick’s Irish Red

Eoghain Clavin, brewery ambassador for Guinness

Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale. The quintessential Irish ale, Smithwick’s has a distinctive ruby red color and a malty sweetness without the hop bitterness that is so prevalent with many beers on the market today. Teaming up Smithwick’s and BBQ dishes may be one of the greatest food pairings I’ve ever had.

Average Price: $8.99 for a six-pack

Murphy’s Irish Stout

Tom Garvin, beverage manager at Tribeca’s Kitchen in New York City

Outside of Guinness, I really enjoy Murphy’s Irish Stout when I walk into a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s similar in body style but is a little less bitter coffee than Guinness and a little more toffee and vanilla flavored.

Average Price: $6.99 for a 4-pack

Horse and Dragon Fire Captain

Emily Wang, bartender, and co-owner of Fermly in Denver

Horse and Dragon Brewing Company’s Fire Captain Irish Red Ale is a brilliant malty beer for a great cause. A classically crafted beer with malt-forward sweetness with the perfect balance of hops to smooth it all out.

A portion of the proceeds goes to the Firefighter Community Compassion Fund, which is used to provide immediate assistance to families in need during emergencies.

Average Price: $10.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

Beamish Irish Stout

Austin Zimmer, bartender at Le Privé in New York City

The Beamish Irish Stout. This beer got a great combination of comforting flavors of dark chocolate and coffee. Even if It has been around for a long time, the Beamish stout is still one of my traditional favorites.

Average Price: $8 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

Guinness Stout

Francisco Fonseca, bartender in Puerto Rico

I enjoy a cold Guinness literally any day (especially St. Patrick’s Day), which is a must for some of us. It has a malty sweetness and a hoppy bitterness, with notes of coffee and chocolate. Its palate is smooth, creamy, and balanced.

Average Price: $8 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

Kilkenny Cream Ale

Joseph Fredrickson, bartender at Society Lounge in Cleveland

Kilkenny Irish Cream ale. This is a nitrogen Irish cream ale. It gives that creamy texture and cascade that Guinness is known for, but with more of a caramel crisp tone that I find goes way better with a serving of bangers and mash than a traditional stout.

Average Price: $15 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

O’Hara’s Irish Stout

Evan Charest, bartender and director of operations at Mercantile Hospitality in Los Angeles

Oh, how hard life must be to be an Irish beer not named Guinness. Don’t get me wrong, I love Guinness — but I also love O’Hara’s. Full-bodied, creamy with a robust coffee flavor. Still made in Ireland and stays true to traditional stouts.

Average Price: $8 for a 4-pack

Guinness Extra Stout

Johnny Swet, bartender at owner of Jimmy at the James Hotel in New York City

When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day beers, most people immediately go for Guinness draught. But I prefer Guinness Extra Stout. Subtly bitter with a chocolate and coffee finish. Nice foam, too.

Average Price: $8.49 for a six-pack

Lough Gill Round the Clock

Frederic Yarm, USBG bartender in Boston

Lough Gill’s Round the Clock is an amazing coffee stout with a lot more richness and complexity than Guinness or Murphy’s stouts. Besides the chocolate and coffee flavors that you would expect from the style, dried fruits, earthy, caramel, and anise notes make for an intriguing sip.

Average Price: Currently Sold Out

Writer’s Picks:

Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale

This 6.3% ale is perfectly suited to be paired with all of your favorite St. Patrick’s Day fare. Its caramel sweetness and rich malty flavor work well with salty, savory, rich foods like bangers or corned beef.

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

Harp Lager

If stouts aren’t your thing, a great option for St. Patrick’s Day drinking is Harp Lager. This sessionable lager is your best choice if you’re planning to drink a few beers on March 17th. It’s crisp, subtly creamy, and has a nice, citrus hop presence.

Average Price: $8.99 for a six-pack

After the seemingly endless cycle of the 2020 NBA Draft, it almost feels as if the 2021 class may be short-changed. After all, the 2021 NBA Draft is at least expected to take place over the summer (albeit at a still undetermined point on the calendar), and the college basketball season featured fewer games than a typical campaign would. However, the top of the 2021 Draft is widely seen as superior to its predecessor, including a top-five that seems to be separating from the pack.

Only three members of that quintet will be taking part in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, with Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga skipping college in favor of a mini-season with the G League Ignite. Still, many more casual observers will spend extended time watching college basketball in the next few weeks, and it is a great time to dive into the prospect world as a result.

Here is a look at the 2021 class in mock draft form, knowing full well that movement, both in the team order and for the prospects themselves, is likely in the coming days.

Note: Draft order determined by FiveThirtyEight projections as of March 15.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves – Cade Cunningham (G/F, Oklahoma State)

Cunningham entered the season as the No. 1 prospect and that hasn’t changed. As often, it was popular to anoint contenders for the crown along the way but, with his stretch run in Stillwater, Cunningham left no doubt, at least in my mind. Minnesota may not end up in the top spot but, if they do, he’s the choice.

2. Houston Rockets – Jalen Green (G, G League Ignite)

This is where things get tricky. From a big board standpoint, Evan Mobley is a comfortable No. 2 for me at the moment, but the Rockets have exactly one major investment on the roster and it is Christian Wood. I don’t think Mobley is a cross-off for Houston because Wood is there, but they have to at least think about it. Green has pros and cons, but his upside is sky-high as a lead scorer, and many were impressed by his performance in the G League bubble. It also has to be said that the gap between 1 and 2 may be larger than the gap between 2 and 5, so this could go a number of ways.

3. Detroit Pistons – Evan Mobley (C/F, USC)

Mobley is very, very good. He’s a statistical monster, with the projection as a potential game-changer on the defensive end. There are real questions about his rebounding, but as a modern rim protector, there is a lot to love. That was the preseason pitch as well but, for me, Mobley was even better than expected on the offensive end. Is he going to be a No. 1 scorer in the NBA? Maybe not, but he won’t need to be with everything else he can do.

4. Orlando Magic – Jalen Suggs (G, Gonzaga)

Gonzaga was the absolute perfect situation for Suggs, making this a slightly more difficult evaluation, but he’s been tremendous. His feel is fantastic, his skill level is sky-high, and he should defend at a high level. There are at least mild concerns about him as a primary scorer/initiator, but Suggs is going to be a quality NBA guard that can do a lot of things well, with plenty of upside beyond that. He also has the chance to really shine on the biggest stage if Gonzaga makes the deep NCAA Tournament run many expect.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jonathan Kuminga (F, G League Ignite)

The G League Ignite had two top-five prospects, and Kuminga made the stronger impression at the outset. As things progressed, though, Green came on and Kuminga faded a bit, largely due to questions about his jump shot. He can (and will) be a very productive NBA player even if he can’t shoot at a high level, and it helps that Kuminga has fantastic physical traits. It’s hard to be that confident about the shooting, however, and that pushes him down a bit for now.

6. Washington Wizards – Keon Johnson (G, Tennessee)

Well, here is the second start of the Draft. While that is an overstatement on some level, there is a consensus top five. If that holds, the No. 6 spot is very difficult to evaluate and project. In this case, the Wizards swing for upside. Johnson hasn’t been consistent at Tennessee, but he’s a nuclear athlete with every theoretical skill you would want.

7. Sacramento Kings – Moses Moody (G/F, Arkansas)

Moody is tremendous. He is enjoying a bit of a late-season offensive breakout, pouring water on some of the fears about his upside, and he already makes shots and defends. This feels like a sweet spot for him, and I could see him going as high as No. 6.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jalen Johnson (F, Duke)

After his now-infamous exit from Duke, there was a narrative that Johnson could tumble, but that doesn’t seem to be playing out in the scouting community. There are concerns about the way it ended in Durham, and Johnson still can’t shoot, but he is big, physically gifted, and skilled with the ball in a way that is appealing. His range may be pretty wide, but I don’t think he’ll fall too far. The Thunder also love to take swings and this would be one.

9. Chicago Bulls – Sharife Cooper (G, Auburn)

Cooper is one of the more difficult players to peg in this class, simply because there is no consensus right now. Some absolutely love his upside as a premium passer and creator with quickness and upside. Others are terrified of his size, shooting questions, and defensive issues. The Bulls are in need of an elite passer to make others better, and Coby White could be heading for a sixth man role as a result.

10. New Orleans Pelicans – Scottie Barnes (F, Florida State)

There are a bunch of fascinating prospects in this class, and Barnes is one of them. He plays with fantastic feel on both ends and projects to be a high-end, versatile defender. He’s also an excellent ball mover for his size, but he can’t shoot. Like, at all. The last part wouldn’t be great in New Orleans, but everything else would be.

11. New York Knicks – James Bouknight (G, UConn)

This could be near Bouknight’s floor after the way scouts and observers have been discussing him. He had a multi-week injury absence that coincided with UConn’s team-wide downturn, but Bouknight has been awesome since returning. He’s certainly more of a scorer than anything else right now, but there is polish and athleticism to go along with his skill package.

12. Charlotte Hornets – Corey Kispert (G/F, Gonzaga)

There is buzz that Kispert could be taken before this, and I understand it. He’s been incredible this season and, beyond the top-five, it’s not totally unreasonable. He is quite old at 22, though, and he more or less is what he is as a player. Kispert can shoot the heck out of the ball and he’s big enough and athletic enough to hold up on defense. It is not hard to see someone falling in love and taking him before this.

13. Memphis Grizzlies – Ziaire Williams (G/F, Stanford)

Williams was pretty bad this season in the Pac-12, and that has to be acknowledged. It was a weird campaign, though, and his pre-college sample should be a big factor. At this point in the late lottery, it is worth the risk for a 6’8 wing with a lofty ceiling, and the Grizzlies seem like a team that would be willing to fire away on his traits.

14. San Antonio Spurs – Kai Jones (C/F, Texas)

There is a split on Jones’ evaluation that tracks with many players in this class. He is incredibly toolsy and, when it looks good, it looks very, very good. In contrast, Jones is a two-year college player that looks very raw a lot of the time, and if you catch him on the wrong night, the word overmatched may come to mind. The Spurs would be a good developmental spot for him, and San Antonio could look to bolster its frontcourt with this pick.

15. Indiana Pacers – Franz Wagner (F, Michigan)

Wagner’s defense turned a lot of heads this season, and he has the opportunity to keep raising his profile in March on a good Michigan team. As a legitimate 6’9 forward that can check a lot of boxes, he would fit almost anywhere. Obviously, the Pacers could use a two-way forward with some tangible upside, a good jumper, and few warts.

16. Atlanta Hawks – Jaden Springer (G, Tennessee)

It was an up and down season for Springer at Tennessee, and that makes more sense when you realize he won’t turn 19 until September. Springer and Keon Johnson also came into a veteran team with weird expectations for what they should contribute. Admittedly, Springer is a divisive prospect, but his supporters would tell you he is a top-10 consideration. The Hawks are potentially in the market for another perimeter option, and Springer brings lottery upside at a reasonable price.

17. Golden State Warriors – Jared Butler (G, Baylor)

This is a little bit high for Butler, and he makes more sense with the Warriors than other teams in this range. He is more of a combo guard, but Butler can really shoot and he will hold up defensively. Moreover, he should be able to contribute relatively quickly, and the Warriors are in a win-now mode that most teams in the mid-first round aren’t in.

18. Toronto Raptors – Isaiah Jackson (C/F, Kentucky)

Jackson is a big-time athlete with good traits and a high-end motor. It is tough, at least for me, to see lottery upside, but there are some even more bullish than this. Toronto still doesn’t have a big man of the future, and this would be a solid buy point on Jackson.

19. Houston Rockets (via Portland) – Greg Brown (F, Texas)

The Rockets are a blank canvas, and Brown is an intriguing upside play at this point in the draft. He has some flaws, including an exceptionally poor assist-to-turnover ratio and some skill-based questions, but he is a remarkable athlete at the power forward position. Some view him as a lottery pick because of the tools.

20. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami) – Josh Christopher (G, Arizona State)

Candidly, Christopher wasn’t very good this season. That does matter on some level, but he has pretty spectacular tools as a scorer if he can improve his perimeter shooting. It seems like a team will see what he can do, rather than what he can’t, and pounce in the first round.

21. Boston Celtics – Usman Garuba (F/C, Real Madrid)

There isn’t much to worry about with Garuba’s defense, and he might be a tremendously impactful player on that end of the floor. Trying to figure out what Boston will do in the frontcourt long-term is probably a fool’s errand, but if a team can figure out what to do with Garuba on offense, he’s a definite first-rounder. His defense is that good.

22. New York Knicks (via Dallas) – Bennedict Mathurin (G/F, Arizona)

It would’ve been wild to see Mathurin in a first-round mock a few months ago, but he’s a fast-rising prospect. The biggest appeals with Mathurin are shooting (41.8 percent from three) and age (18), but he’s definitely more of a long-term play. He may return to school but, if he enters the Draft, there’s plenty of potential here.

23. Los Angeles Lakers – Cam Thomas (G, LSU)

Thomas is an interesting evaluation, because he can clearly score. He is putting up almost 23 points per game in a power conference, and you can’t really fake that. As such, evaluators that value bucket-getting are going to love him. I’m not sure what else he can do, but at this point in the Draft, finding a score-first third guard wouldn’t be a bad result.

24. Denver Nuggets – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (F, Villanova)

This is probably a bit high for Robinson-Earl, but I’m predisposed to liking his game. I think he profiles quite well as a supporting piece at the NBA level, with the ability to shoot enough, defend and check a lot of boxes on both ends. He’d be a snug fit in Denver, particularly if they end up losing Paul Millsap and/or JaMychal Green after this season.

25. L.A. Clippers – Rokas Jokubaitis (G, Zalgiris)

Jokubaitis isn’t on the radar for most people, but some scouts see him as a potential first-rounder. He was in the 2020 mix for a long time as well, and there is a lot to like in his craft. The Clippers are a perfect team to potentially try to stash someone, and Jokubaitis could also come over and potentially contribute in short order.

26. Milwaukee Bucks – Ayo Dosunmu (G, Illinois)

If you buy Dosunmu’s perimeter shooting, you probably think he’s a first-rounder. I’m less confident, but he has been steadily rising during a fantastic college season. The Bucks also use another offensive creator that can get their own shot, and Dosunmu can do that.

27. Philadelphia 76ers – BJ Boston (G/F, Kentucky)

It’s been a harsh fall for Boston, who was widely projected as a top-five pick before the season. He didn’t do much well at Kentucky and, honestly, he could fall into the second round. Still, there is room for him to find a soft landing spot, particularly if you put more weight on pre-college sample. The 76ers like to take swings, and they can afford the mild gamble here.

28. Phoenix Suns – Josh Giddey (G/F, Adelaide 36ers)

Giddey may not be a point guard in the NBA, but he basically plays the position in the NBL and functions at a high level. For an 18-year-old that stands at 6’8, what he is doing is impressive and his feel is intriguing. Perhaps the Suns would be a good landing spot, especially because it may take him a while to find his level in the NBA.

29. Brooklyn Nets – Alperen Sengun (F/C, Besiktas)

Sengun has some fans in league circles, and he’s been very good as a young age in Turkey. Finding a landing spot for what is likely a stash can be difficult this far in advance, but Brooklyn is, quite obviously, in win-now mode. Perhaps they’d find the idea of a long-term choice appealing, especially if it didn’t add to their luxury tax bill.

30. Utah Jazz – Chris Duarte (G/F, Oregon)

The knock on Duarte is age, and 23-year-olds have a mixed track record in the recent history of the Draft. He also seems to be an awesome role player prospect, with a 40+ percent three-point shooting clip and the ability to defend at a solid-or-better rate. Utah needs long-term wing help, and he may even be able to help them right away as a rookie.