Latest news with #MostImproved
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Best bets for the second-half of the 2025 WNBA season
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. Unlike other sports, the WNBA's All-Star break actually comes at the season's midpoint. This is a great opportunity to assess the futures markets and uncover betting value. I think a solid wager exists for the Most Improved Player award. Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray has 15/1 odds at DraftKings, and I think she should instead be among the favorites. When analyzing awards, one must realize these unique markets and entail much more than a player's or team's performance. Those obviously matter but an award also involves votes by media members. While that variable can be tricky, it also means it is a circumstance beyond an oddsmaker's wheelhouse. Their normal routine requires assessing outcomes of games and an athlete's statistical output. Handicapping voters is a much different animal. Specifically, the requirements for this award are often left up to interpretation. There is no exact criteria, such as the Sixth Player of the Year mandating a maximum level of games started. Recent winners have included role players significantly increasing their stats or a fringe All-Star having an All-WNBA season. Gray would be categorized with the latter. She was recently selected as an All-Star starter for the first time and is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds and assists. Her Atlanta Dream are also having a solid season and she figures to produce more now that fellow All-Star Rhyne Howard will miss at least the rest of the month with a knee injury. Most importantly, ESPN just published an article with four reporters making their midseason selections and Gray earned three of the votes. She was also the consensus choice in June. Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream looks on during the game against the New York Liberty on July 13, 2025 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images Other candidates, including betting favorite Veronica Burton (+350 odds), also have decent cases. They have boosted their production by more than Gray has. However, they could cannibalize each other, especially since Burton and Kayla Thornton (+400 odds) are teammates on the Golden State Valkyries. Plus, receiving increased minutes on an expansion team could even diminish their candidacy. Additionally, others with shorter odds (Azura Stevens +550, Brittney Sykes +650, Erica Wheeler +700, Gabby Williams 10/1, Sami Whitcomb 12/1) don't really seem like a case that separates themselves from the others. Betting on the NBA? Previous winners Brionna Jones (2021) and Jackie Young (2022) remind me of Gray's season. They only slightly improved their stat lines but each did help their team finish with the league's best record. Atlanta will not have the top seed but Gray is clearly leading this team and that could be enough. Plus, voters view her in a special light and thus passes the smell test, so Gray could receive this award for both her play and career achievement. Why Trust New York Post Betting Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
Fox Sports
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Odds: Payton Pritchard Favored To Repeat
Fans are already diving into the odds for next season's NBA betting markets. The Thunder are the current favorites to win it all again, Cooper Flagg is the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year and there's a close race at the top of the board for Most Improved Player. And now bettors are starting to put some cash on players for Sixth Man of the Year. Payton Pritchard won the award at the end of the 2024 season, becoming the fourth Celtic to take home the honor. The 6-foot-1 point guard is the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year at the end of the 2025 season. Let's look at the early odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of July 15. NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025 Payton Pritchard, Celtics: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total) De'Andre Hunter, Cavaliers: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) Naz Reid, Timberwolves: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) Jordan Clarkson, Knicks: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) Gradey Dick, Raptors: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) Ty Jerome, Grizzlies: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) Jared McCain, 76ers: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Jabari Smith, Jr., Rockets: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Keldon Johnson, Spurs: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Caris LeVert, Pistons: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Obi Toppin, Pacers: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total) Donte DiVincenzo, Timberwolves: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Bobby Portis, Bucks: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Names Further Down the Board: Alex Caruso, Thunder: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total) Brook Lopez, Clippers: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Luke Kennard, Hawks: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Lonzo Ball, Cavaliers: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Boston's Payton Pritchard is at the top of the board at +550. He appeared in 80 games for the Celtics last season, averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Pritchard was the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year for virtually all of last season before officially taking home the award in April. Second on the board is Cleveland's De'Andre Hunter at +800. Hunter was drafted fourth in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Lakers but spent most of his career in Atlanta until being acquired by the Cavaliers in February 2025. He averaged 17 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2024 and received two first-place votes in last season's Sixth Man voting. A name further down the board that bettors might want to keep an eye on is Oklahoma's Alex Caruso at +8000. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard averaged 7.1 points off the bench but was an integral part of the Thunder's championship run, as he shot 44.6% from the field. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A Decision Has Been Made on Trading Lauri Markkanen
A Decision Has Been Made on Trading Lauri Markkanen originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Amid a busy offseason, the Utah Jazz have made a final decision regarding Lauri Markkanen's future with the team. The Finnish big man has been one of the best players on the roster since he joined the West team from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Advertisement Markkanen was named as a potential trade target for multiple contenders in recent seasons, including the Golden State Warriors before they traded for Jimmy Butler, the Los Angeles Lakers before they landed Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns before they completed a trade for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in a seven-team exchange. The market appears to be strong for the 2022-24 Most Improved Player of the Year, who averaged 19 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 42.3% from the field, 34.6% from deep and 87.6% from the free-throw line. The Jazz switched their approach and parted ways with several veterans, such as Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Colin Sexton, to open room for their young players. Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen© Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports on Tuesday that all those moves made people within the league wonder if the Jazz were willing to part with Markkanen, too. With Austin Ainge taking over as the primary decision-maker, some thought they could take advantage and pull off a move for the veteran. Advertisement "That is not Utah's intention, sources told ESPN," MacMahon wrote. "It would be too much to describe Markkanen as untouchable, but the Jazz still project the All-Star forward as a key player in their future core." During his eight-year NBA career, Markkanen became a one-time All-Star and a member of the 2017-18 All-Rookie Team. At 27, he's just entering his prime and if the pieces click for the Jazz, he could be ready to lead them to contend in a couple of years. Related: Jazz Coach Speaks Out on Benching Walter Clayton Jr. For Being 'Nonchalant' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Canada Standard
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada Standard
Liberty looking for consecutive wins with visit from Dream
(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images) The reigning champion New York Liberty have not won consecutive games since they started this season 9-0. Since that great start, they are just 4-6. The Liberty will get another shot at a winning streak on Sunday afternoon when they host the Atlanta Dream. New York is coming off an 87-78 win over visiting Las Vegas on Tuesday night. The Liberty got great performances from Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Leonie Fiebich. Ionescu had game highs in points (28) and assists (eight). Stewart had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. And Fiebich, who had 15 points, had game highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (three). Kennedy Burke added 10 points and a game-high six steals. 'We were really active (on defense),' Ionescu said. 'We upped the intensity.' The Liberty won despite having three players out with injuries: Jonquel Jones (ankle), Natasha Cloud (hip) and Isabelle Harrison (knee). For the season, Stewart is fourth in the league in scoring (19.6), and Ionescu ranks fifth (19.4). Ionescu also ranks second in made 3-pointers per game (2.6). New York and Atlanta have split two games against each other this season, with each team winning on its home court. The Dream, who finished 15-25 last season, are much improved so far this season at 12-8. Allisha Gray is a big reason for Atlanta's rise. The fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft, Gray was traded by Dallas to the Dream in January of 2023. Since that deal, Gray has become a three-time All-Star. This year, Gray is having her best season, averaging 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists while making 41.6 percent of her 3-pointers. She was named an All-Star Game starter -- the first Dream player to earn that honor since 2018. And recently named her the favorite to earn the WNBA's Most Improved Player award. Gray, though, was held to six points on Friday in a 99-82 loss at Indiana. 'They were staying attached to her, making her work,' Dream coach Karl Smesko said of the defense on Gray. 'They were double-teaming her.' A highly regarded offensive coach from his days at Florida Gulf Coast, Smesko has made a difference. Last year, the Dream were last in the league in scoring. This year, they are third. Rhyne Howard ranks second on the Dream with 16.5 points per game. Brionna Jones (13.6), Jordin Canada (10.5) and Brittney Griner (10.0) are also scoring in double figures. --Field Level Media
Canada News.Net
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Liberty looking for consecutive wins with visit from Dream
(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images) The reigning champion New York Liberty have not won consecutive games since they started this season 9-0. Since that great start, they are just 4-6. The Liberty will get another shot at a winning streak on Sunday afternoon when they host the Atlanta Dream. New York is coming off an 87-78 win over visiting Las Vegas on Tuesday night. The Liberty got great performances from Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Leonie Fiebich. Ionescu had game highs in points (28) and assists (eight). Stewart had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. And Fiebich, who had 15 points, had game highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (three). Kennedy Burke added 10 points and a game-high six steals. 'We were really active (on defense),' Ionescu said. 'We upped the intensity.' The Liberty won despite having three players out with injuries: Jonquel Jones (ankle), Natasha Cloud (hip) and Isabelle Harrison (knee). For the season, Stewart is fourth in the league in scoring (19.6), and Ionescu ranks fifth (19.4). Ionescu also ranks second in made 3-pointers per game (2.6). New York and Atlanta have split two games against each other this season, with each team winning on its home court. The Dream, who finished 15-25 last season, are much improved so far this season at 12-8. Allisha Gray is a big reason for Atlanta's rise. The fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft, Gray was traded by Dallas to the Dream in January of 2023. Since that deal, Gray has become a three-time All-Star. This year, Gray is having her best season, averaging 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists while making 41.6 percent of her 3-pointers. She was named an All-Star Game starter -- the first Dream player to earn that honor since 2018. And recently named her the favorite to earn the WNBA's Most Improved Player award. Gray, though, was held to six points on Friday in a 99-82 loss at Indiana. 'They were staying attached to her, making her work,' Dream coach Karl Smesko said of the defense on Gray. 'They were double-teaming her.' A highly regarded offensive coach from his days at Florida Gulf Coast, Smesko has made a difference. Last year, the Dream were last in the league in scoring. This year, they are third. Rhyne Howard ranks second on the Dream with 16.5 points per game. Brionna Jones (13.6), Jordin Canada (10.5) and Brittney Griner (10.0) are also scoring in double figures.
