Shane Young

Louisville, Phoenix

Technical Writer at Accenture

NBA Writer and Analyst for @ForbesSports. Credentialed Media covering the NBA. University of Louisville Alum. Contact Email: [email protected]

Featured in: Favicon

forbes.com Favicon

medium.com Favicon

si.com

clutchpoints.com Favicon

beamstart.com Favicon

accenture.com Favicon

forbesargentina.com Favicon

8points9seconds.com Favicon

forbes.com.ec Favicon

forbesuruguay.com

Articles

Kenny Atkinson Wins 2025 NBA Coach Of The Year

1 week ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

The Cleveland Cavaliers have another award to hand out with Kenny Atkinson officially being named the NBA’s Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season. The news comes just two weeks after franchise star Evan Mobley took home Defensive Player of the Year, as the trophy cases are filling up in The Land. In his first head coaching gig since 2020, Atkinson guided the Cavaliers to 64 wins and the second-best record in franchise history.
Gregg Popovich Steps Down As Spurs Head Coach, Will Remain Team President

1 week ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

The NBA’s longest-tenured coach is walking away from the sidelines. Gregg Popovich, who had graced the San Antonio Spurs for 29 seasons as head coach, is stepping down from the role he’s mastered since 1996. With the context of his last six months of health concerns, this decision shouldn’t come as a shock. Popovich, 76, suffered a mild stroke in early November just five games into the regular season.
The Boston Celtics Are Showing Stylistic Versatility To Begin Playoffs

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

There are many pleasant features of playoff basketball. Sure, not every game will be classified as ‘beautiful’ with the amount of physicality that’s allowed compared to the six-month regular season – by the way, are we sure that’s good for the sport if there’s no semblance of consistency there? That’s a larger conversation. One of the best parts of the postseason, though, is watching how many counters a team has when they are pressured.
Cleveland’s Lopsided NBA Playoff Win Exposes Issues With Play-In Tournament

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

At the time of its creation, there weren’t many drawbacks to the NBA’s play-in tournament, a system designed to increase competition during the dog days of the regular season and give franchises a sliver of hope. Devised by the NBA’s head of basketball strategy and analytics Evan Wasch, along with other lead executives, the play-in tournament was intended to stir up intrigue and provide more teams with a puncher’s chance.
Phoenix Suns Fire Head Coach Mike Budenholzer, Now Must Find Stability

1 month ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

For the third consecutive spring, the Phoenix Suns are making a coaching change. Phoenix made the decision Monday morning to fire head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season. Budenholzer had four years and $40 million remaining on his contract, which means Suns owner Mat Ishbia elected to eat the salary in efforts to land someone that could be a long-term fit.
Selecting The 2025 All-NBA Teams

1 month ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

With this weekend marking the conclusion of the season, it’s time to narrow down who deserves to headline the 2025 All-NBA Teams. It remains a thrilling excerise, albeit a tough one. This is the sixth annual version of this column and the injection of young NBA talent only makes it harder when there’s an abundance of superstars to pick from. The All-NBA Teams are positionless for the second straight year – a change that needs to be permanent.
Phoenix Suns Will Miss The Playoffs In A Totally Disastrous Season

1 month ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

Arguably the most disheartening Phoenix Suns season of all time is coming to a close. Based on the mood inside the building, through the halls, and in locker room Tuesday, the end couldn’t arrive fast enough. While the team has stuck together and there aren’t any rifts in the Suns’ camaraderie, everyone appears to be checked out. Rather, everyone knows there’s no point in looking through an optimistic lens right now, because the damage is already done.
Boston Celtics Break NBA Record For Most 3-Pointers In A Season

1 month ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

In what has become a record-setting year for various NBA title contenders, the Boston Celtics are joining the party. There are new perimeter kings in the building, taking that label away from the Bay Area. The Celtics have broken the NBA’s all-time record for most 3-pointers made in a season, surpassing the Golden State Warriors’ mark of 1,363 set during the 2022-23 campaign.
Derrick White Makes Boston Celtics History With Spectacular Shooting Season

1 month ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

You won’t find many professional athletes that embody the word ‘humility’ to a closer degree than Derrick White. Although NBA players have supreme confidence in their abilities, even he didn’t picture himself breaking franchise records. Certainly not in Boston, where legends dominate the leaderboards. After he broke the Boston Celtics’ all-time record for most three-pointers in a single season, he quickly pointed out the obvious.
Donovan Mitchell Takes Full Accountability For Cavaliers’ Losing Streak

1 month ago | forbes.com | Shane Young

Still wearing his jersey, Donovan Mitchell sat in front of his locker on Friday night, despondently peering into the distance while collecting his thoughts. The mood was warranted – and he also knew the problem. But it was hard to formulate the words to describe what’s affecting Cleveland right now. After all, it was the only modicum of adversity they’ve faced in six months.