The 2024-25 NBA season is culminating as the finals are underway, but that doesn’t mean we are short on interesting hoops news. We got a good share, from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers’ intense Game 1 finish, to an WNBA expansion team decimating one of the league’s premier teams.

Let’s get into it.

LIKES

Arvin Tolentino signing with the Korean Basketball League

Northport Batang Pier standout and most recent Best Player of the Conference awardee Arvin Tolentino became the latest PBA/local Philippine basketball talent to jump ship as he just signed with the KBL’s Seoul SK Knights squad. He joins the ever-growing list that includes Kai Sotto, brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, and Dwight Ramos, among others – Thirdy is in Dubai while the other three are in Japan.

It’s tough to see local talent get poached again and again… or is it? The PBA has gotten less appealing by the day as teams lack financial flexibility and the league overall has parity issues.  A player in Tolentino’s caliber deserves better, from compensation, league structure, and competition to help him grow further.

The Game 1 finish of the 2025 NBA Finals

Casuals and longtime fans alike see the Thunder-Pacers matchup as a snoozefest: two small-market teams with no bonafide superstars. Most diehards know the intrigue, though: there’s chemistry, depth, the classic offense vs. defense clash, and either way, a young core will win its first NBA title.

Game 1 looked like a usual Thunder game as they bullied their way on both ends, holding a 15-point lead with 9:32 left in the game, and at that point, it was indeed a snoozefest. Luckily, that’s when it changed too. The Pacers steadily clawed their way back, getting second-chance points, hitting threes, working hard on defense, topped off by yet another clutch Tyrese Haliburton game-winner. Crazy, crazy game, and a heck of a finals opener.

The start of NBA Free Agency rumors

There’s no such thing as “too early” in NBA Free Agency rumors, especially since this year is predicted to have countless monumental moves. The Boston Celtics, for one, are expected to blow up the team due to salary cap issues.

The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, are itching to get themselves a big man–some even say they are willing to package the fan-beloved Austin Reaves–although they have to lock Luka Doncic into a new deal first, which is also part of the offseason drama.

Then, there’s the anticipated Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes that will most definitely put all front offices at a frenzy. Expect both to be rumored to the Celtics, Lakers, and other big-market teams, though note that this fresh rumor says KD may take his talents to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Golden State Valkyries blowing out the powerhouse Las Vegas Aces

As an expansion team, many see the Valkyries’ inaugural 2025 campaign in the WNBA as a learning process – wink wink Chot Reyes, if you know, you know – so any win could be a step forward. Their win Sunday (Manila time) is really big, though, the biggest one yet.

The Valks embarrassed the two-time WNBA champions Las Vegas Vegas Aces, 95-68, held them to just 35.5% shooting, and led from start to finish. Kayla Thornton scored a game-high 22 points with 11 rebounds for the Valks, while Caitlin Clark’s former University of Iowa teammate Kate Martin added 12 points off the bench. 

It’s always good to see a David rise above a Goliath, and it’ll be interesting to see how this massive upset can uplift this young group.

DISLIKES

The lack of NBA Finals branding

They don’t have to put decals on the floor if they think it’s dangerous, but with all the effort they put during the In-Season Tournament, why can’t they add a digital version, whether a new finals logo or Larry O’Brien trophy graphic? It’s baffling.

Charles Barkley whining

The team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal will go down as the best and most entertaining of its kind in ALL OF SPORTS – without question. It’s tough that Inside the NBA is not exclusive to TNT anymore and will be under ESPN’s wildly unpredictable ways of televising content.

That said, for what feels like months now, all we hear over and over is Chuck and Shaq whining, endlessly warning their new employers that they will rebel if there’s too many changes.

All of it is first-world problems, and just another long round of oldheads being Debbie Downers. First, they don’t like the current game and scoff at the players – now they don’t like their network and jobs too. Damn, what a treat – just the right energy you need from the guys that cover the sport you watch.