New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III is emerging as a rising star in the league. This season, the former first-round pick is posting career-best numbers in points, rebounds, and assists, despite his team’s struggles. Alongside star forward Zion Williamson, Murphy III is seen as a key part of the Pelicans’ future.

While New Orleans remains focused on building a competitive roster, Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green is less optimistic about the current state of the NBA. During last weekend’s All-Star Game in San Francisco, the four-time champion openly criticized the modern game.

The former Defensive Player of the Year described today’s basketball as “boring,” arguing that it relies too heavily on three-point shooting. Murphy III, however, disagreed with Green’s take and shared his perspective on the Kevin O’Connor Show.

“I don’t agree with that,” Murphy III said. “I think the game’s fun. I still have fun watching basketball; I have fun playing basketball. The trade deadline made ratings go up a lot, so people are more intrigued and tuned in.”

“The last two weeks before All-Star might be a little boring — everybody’s just trying to make All-Star — but the NBA being boring in general? I don’t know about that for sure.”

One could argue that the Warriors dynasty played a pivotal role in the rise of three-point shooting in today’s NBA, with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson among the greatest shooters in history.

By his own account, Trey Murphy III is already among the league’s top three-point shooters.

Early in his career, he became one of just five players in Pelicans history to make over 200 three-pointers in a single season. Standing 6-foot-9, his combination of size and athleticism makes him a nightmare matchup for defenders. He also showcased his athleticism by finishing second in the Slam Dunk Contest a few years ago.

Before the season began, Murphy III secured his future with the Pelicans by signing a four-year contract extension.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has often been criticized for his reluctance to trust young players, particularly 2021 lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.

However, he has recently shown more faith in the Warriors’ young core, providing consistent playing time for Moody and Kuminga while also placing significant trust in rookie Brandin Podziemski from the start of his career.

Kerr has even taken it a step further by not only integrating 52nd overall pick Quinten Post into the rotation but also inserting him into the starting lineup as he looks to add more shooting—especially in the frontcourt, where several key Warriors lack perimeter respect.

Is Steve Kerr resuming his old ways when it comes to Quinten Post?

While Quinten Post had solidified his place in the Warriors’ rotation, his role has shifted in the final games before the All-Star break.

One might have expected Draymond Green’s return to create more opportunities for Post, given Green’s lack of floor spacing, but instead, it has pushed Steve Kerr back toward small-ball lineups.

Between January 31 and February 8, Post averaged 10.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 40.9% from deep in over 19 minutes per game.

However, in the three games leading into the break, he made just one start and saw his playing time drop to 11.4 minutes per game.

Despite still averaging 6.0 points on 44.4% 3-point shooting in that span, Kerr appeared to prioritize a more switchable defense and added versatility on the floor. While Post has worked to improve defensively, it remains a perceived weakness, limiting his minutes.

Many fans have expressed frustration over his reduced role, especially given his much-needed floor spacing for a Warriors team craving more shooting. The question now is whether Post will reclaim his starting role or if Kerr will stick to his tendency of deploying young players on a situational basis.

Warriors Forward Kevon Looney Proposes to His Girlfriend, Fitness Model Mariah Simone

Kevon Looney is officially engaged!

Following Valentine’s Day weekend, the 29-year-old Golden State Warriors star announced that he recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Mariah Simone.

“❤️💍 To Our Love, Always And Forever 💍❤️,” the NBA player captioned a joint Instagram carousel with the fitness influencer on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

The nine-photo upload showed off the couple’s romantic proposal, which appeared to be on a white sand beach with white roses and white candles leading the way to a neon sign that read, “Will you marry me?”

In the cover image, Simone beamed as Looney got down on one knee and presented her with a ring.

The soon-to-be newlyweds coordinated in elegant black formal attire.

After Simone said yes, she received an extravagant bouquet of flowers to celebrate the moment. The couple shared a kiss and posed for several photos to mark their engagement.

The final shot in the social media post showcased the stunning, oversized diamond on Simone’s ring finger.

“Happy Valentines Day to my Love @msfit.official CEO , runway model @mariahsmone ❤️💘💌 Keep pursuing your goals and setting the standard💰👸🏽,” the NBA star proudly said of his then-soon-to-be bride last week.

Looney and Simone consistently celebrate each other’s achievements in the public eye.

“Happy 29th Birthday my love, my best friend 🤍,” Simone began in the caption to her heartfelt post.

“Every single day I’m beyond grateful for your beautiful soul and the love you bring into my life,” she continued. “Here’s to another blessed year filled with even more love, laughter, joy, and unforgettable adventures!”

Simone concluded, “I love you @Looney ♾️❤️🎂.”

Torrey Craig wasted no time getting back on the court. Dressed in a warmup outfit, he asked media members where to find the TD Garden floor and sprinted out, eager to return from the ankle injury that sidelined him since early January.

He and Payton Pritchard had discussed how Denver’s old arena had a practice court, but in Boston, he warmed up in full view of fans, signing autographs and fueling anticipation for his Celtics debut.

Rather than using the All-Star break and returning practices for extra ramp-up time, Craig played in Wednesday’s first-half finale. With Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday out, he logged nine minutes, knocked down two threes, and played solid defense while getting sideline instructions from Joe Mazzulla.

Brad Stevens made Craig a priority after the Bulls waived him, signing the veteran last Thursday for roughly $800,000—a small tax hit compared to Jaden Springer but a worthwhile investment in experience.

“I was actually in better shape than I thought I was gonna be,” Craig said. “Just getting the rhythm, flow of the game back. That’ll come with more games being played, so I’ll take this time off to keep prepping my body and be ready to come back.”

Joe Mazzulla’s decision to trust Torrey Craig over Jordan Walsh, Xavier Tillman Sr., and others—and getting solid results—bodes well for the veteran’s role in Boston. While he’s still catching up on play calls and system details, Mazzulla emphasized that it’s not rocket science. The Celtics value Craig’s wealth of experience, spanning overseas leagues, multiple NBA teams, and deep playoff runs—including minutes in the 2021 Finals.

After signing with Boston, Craig initially sat out games in New York and Miami to recondition from his injury. But his presence was still felt—rocking flashy outfits, including a green top, black jean shorts, and diamonds in Miami. He remained engaged, standing beside Mazzulla during timeouts and breaking down plays. According to the head coach, Craig has been proactive in asking questions, showing his commitment to fitting into Boston’s system.

“He’s got an important role, just because of his versatility,” Mazzulla said. “So it’s gonna take time for him to understand the language and the things we do on both ends of the floor, and you can watch as much film and walk through it, but until he’s in the game, it’s just gonna continue to be a conversation of how we can utilize his versatility … he did some of that tonight … making those two shots.”

Mazzulla emphasized that, like the rest of the bench, Craig’s playing time will depend on matchups. With the expected learning curve, it’s uncertain how consistently he’ll see the floor, especially once Boston is fully healthy—a rarity this season. The team’s wing depth has been tested, particularly with Sam Hauser’s sporadic availability. Jordan Walsh’s early-season minutes have faded, and Baylor Scheierman’s recent opportunities didn’t yield much impact.

Craig’s shooting has steadily improved over the past three seasons in Phoenix and Chicago, where he shot 40% (177-for-443) from deep since the start of 2022-23. Spacing struggles have cost other Celtics rotation players under Mazzulla, making Craig’s shooting a valuable asset. Defensive versatility is also key, but Mazzulla appears willing to work through Craig’s adjustment period. After a brief first-quarter stint on Wednesday, Craig returned for five minutes in the second, knocking down both of his attempts.

“We just gotta get him up to speed,” Mazzulla said. “You gotta rely on his experience. He’s been around a long time, he’s played a lot of basketball … so I think it’s just simplifying it as much as we can … he’s done a lot of great things for good teams, and that’s why we have him. We want to take advantage of that … every team that you’re a part of, you play a different role … he’s been great at understanding that … everyone’s gonna make mistakes, even the guys that have been here in our system have made mistakes. To me, it goes back to the mistakes with effort versus the mistakes with non-effort. He’s been a player for a long time who’s played through mistakes and is a high energy, high physical guy.”