Darnell Mayberry

Chicago

Chicago Bulls Senior Writer at The Athletic

Articles

A tiebreaker cost the Bulls a shot at Cooper Flagg. What's next for Chicago?

2 days ago | nytimes.com | Darnell Mayberry

Long-suffering Chicago Bulls fans might have felt a gnawing feeling during the NBA Draft Lottery. While conspiracy theorists were busy concocting arguments for why the Dallas Mavericks, with only a 1.8 percent chance, landed the No. 1 pick and the opportunity to draft star Cooper Flagg, a different cloud hung over Chicago. The Mavericks won the lottery Monday night only after winning the draft-order tiebreaker over the Bulls last month.
Open wide - and your wallet too! A dentist bill you won’t believe: Money Talks

4 days ago | cleveland.com | Darnell Mayberry

A few weeks ago, I found myself back in that overly bright room, reclining in the dentist’s chair, silently bracing for the verdict on my flossing habits. Why do they even ask? It’s like a game at this point. After poking around inside your mouth, they already know! They’ve seen the plaque party happening in the back molars.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finds his groove as Thunder prove who they are against Nuggets

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Darnell Mayberry

OKLAHOMA CITY - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said Game 2 would be fun. He didn't know the Oklahoma City Thunder's 149-106 dismantling of the Denver Nuggets would be historic. On a night the MVP finalist labeled as one in which the Thunder would find out what they're made of, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a powerful reminder of who he is and why the Denver Nuggets can't get comfortable as this Western Conference semifinals series shifts to the Rockies tied 1-1.
Thunder expecting Chet Holmgren to 'move on' after frustrating Game 1 finish

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Darnell Mayberry

OKLAHOMA CITY - Mark Daigneault refused to crowd Chet Holmgren following his difficult finish to Game 1 Monday night against the Denver Nuggets. The next day, the Thunder coach had what he deemed a personal conversation with his second-year big man but declined to publicly reveal details. After Holmgren missed two critical free throws that would have put the Thunder ahead by three with 9.5 seconds remaining Monday, Daigneault delivered a resounding endorsement Tuesday.
Mark Daigneault On Fouling Up Three Strategy 'That's On Me'

1 week ago | basketball.realgm.com | Darnell Mayberry

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a set philosophy when it comes to protecting a three-point lead in the waning moments of the game. The Thunder are going to foul to prevent the opponent from attempting a game-tying three-point shot. Despite their Game 1 second round loss to the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City is unlikely to move away from this strategy. Instead, they prefer to think about executing it better.
Do the Thunder need to rethink their late-game fouling strategy after Game 1 loss?

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Darnell Mayberry

OKLAHOMA CITY - One small adjustment could have saved the Oklahoma City Thunder from coughing up Game 1 of their second-round series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Yet the Thunder were so committed to their season-long philosophy that in the heat of the moment, a possible game-saving audible didn't even cross the players' minds until the question was raised in the postgame news conference.
It’s dividend time! But maybe one basket isn’t so bad: Money Talks

1 week ago | cleveland.com | Darnell Mayberry

This one’s hard to write because it means admitting — publicly — that I was wrong. For more than 2 1/2 years, I put too much faith in my ability to pick winning stocks. It cost me time, energy and returns I now realize could have come more easily through a different approach. But I’m ready to course-correct. It’s time to own my mistake and move forward, wiser. And that means selling my babies.
The Athletic: Will the Thunder let another weeklong layoff slow them down? Don’t count on it

1 week ago | nba.com | Darnell Mayberry

Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. ***Among the many mantras the Oklahoma City Thunder can lean on, one in particular is guiding their approach to the second round of the playoffs. It’s a phrase that reflects the team’s mindset during the downtime between games — critical moments they believe can be just as important as the games themselves.
Will the Thunder let another weeklong layoff slow them down? Don't count on it

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Darnell Mayberry

Among the many mantras the Oklahoma City Thunder can lean on, one in particular is guiding their approach to the second round of the playoffs. It's a phrase that reflects the team's mindset during the downtime between games - critical moments they believe can be just as important as the games themselves. "We always say, 'The times in between the games are the days that you have to win in the playoffs,'" Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.
'The hardest thing you'll ever do in sports'

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Darnell Mayberry

When the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Alex Caruso via trade last summer, it was almost universally hailed as a coup for a franchise already set up for a bright future. Caruso's arrival only strengthened the Thunder's case as a championship contender. He's a relentless competitor, one of the league's most versatile defenders and a leader on the floor and in the locker room. He also carries championship experience from his role as a sixth man with the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers.