Ricky O'Donnell

Chicago

Sports Editor at SB Nation

Co-Host at Cash Considerations: A Chicago Bulls Pod

writer, editor, associate director of programming @SBNation

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Articles

The Spurs’ Giannis Antetokounmpo trade offer could look like this after NBA Draft lottery

1 day ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images The NBA’s competitive landscape hung in the balance during a potential lottery apocalypse on Monday night. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs found themselves as the last two teams standing for the rights to Cooper Flagg on the TV broadcast.
Mavs’ Cooper Flagg era should start with firing Nico Harrison and 2 other moves

1 day ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images Cooper Flagg is the rare NBA prospect who would be a great fit on any team. Flagg proved he can excel in a high-usage, on-ball role offensively during his one season at Duke, but he doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.
NBA mock draft 2025: Instant projection after Mavs win Cooper Flagg sweepstakes

2 days ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images The 2025 NBA Draft lottery was always going to be one of the most meaningful of the 21st century. Teams at the bottom of the standings wrestled for position all season to increase their odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick and the rights to Duke super freshman Cooper Flagg. We now know where Flagg will begin his NBA career. The Dallas Mavericks are the lucky winners of the NBA Draft lottery, cashing in on a 1.8 percent chance to earn the first pick.
Cooper Flagg’s 5 worst landing spots in the NBA Draft lottery, ranked

6 days ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by Lance King/Getty Images Identifying the best or worst Cooper Flagg landing spot in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery is mostly a matter of taste. The Duke freshmen phenom would be a great fit anywhere as a player capable of blending in on more competitive teams or taking on a starring role right away on a basement-dweller. We named the Washington Wizards as the best destination for Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery.
NBA Playoffs: Tyrese Haliburton ripped out Cavs’ heart with postseason’s amazing dagger

1 week ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

The Indiana Pacers trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by 20 at one point during Game 2 of their matchup in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The Cavs had already dropped Game 1 and were playing without injured stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley (as well as key reserve De’Andre Hunter). This was set to be a win that saved Cleveland’s season and maybe bought them a little time to get healthy.
Cooper Flagg’s 6 best landing spots in NBA Draft lottery, ranked

1 week ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Not all NBA Draft lotteries are created equal. A year ago, when the Atlanta Hawks jumped from up from No. 10 to win the lottery, there was no sure-fire No. 1 overall player sitting there as the obvious prize. That’s not the case this year: the teams entering the lottery are all praying for the rights to Cooper Flagg, the no-brainer top prospect and a potential franchise-changing player.
Thunder’s ‘foul up 3’ strategy backfired in epic fashion vs. Nuggets in NBA Playoffs

1 week ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post The Oklahoma City Thunder had the best defense in the NBA this season, but if the game was close late, the Thunder consistently opted not to trust it. Under head coach Mark Daigneault, OKC likes to foul when up three, refusing to yield a game-tying attempt to their opponent while betting on their free throw shooting to get them across the finish line.
NBA Playoffs’ final 8 teams ranked by their 2025 championship chances

1 week ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

The first-round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs proved the difference between the regular season and the postseason. The games were slower and more physical, with offensive rebounding and the turnover battle often being spotlighted as possessions came at a premium. Depth and youth also reigned supreme, with older and thinner rosters failing to keep up with the league’s new guard.
James Harden’s latest Game 7 stinker in NBA Playoffs continues his legendary struggles

1 week ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images James Harden appeared to conquer his eternal elimination game woes by turning in one of the best late-series playoff performances of his career to save the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets. Harden finished with 28 points, eight assists, and six rebounds to pace the Clippers to a blowout win that forced a Game 7 in the Denver in the best first round series of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Kentucky Derby 2025: Results and purse money for 151st ‘Run for the Roses’

1 week ago | sbnation.com | Ricky O'Donnell

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Sovereignty is the winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby after a thrilling finish over favorite Journalism to cap the first leg of the 2025 Triple Crown. Baeza finished third and Final Gambit finished fourth. Sovereignty came out post No. 18 after entering the race with 9-1 odds after opening the week with 5-1 morning line odds. Citizen Bull led until the final turn coming out of gate one.