The New Twenty Four

Expansion brought NBA basketball to new markets throughout North America. But establishing a franchise and sustaining one proved to be two entirely different challenges.

In Part Two of The 32nd Team, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger examine the period where relocation began to reshape the league's landscape, raising multiple questions surrounding when moving a franchise becomes necessary. While also discussing how much responsibility falls upon ownership, the market and the NBA itself in times when professional basketball fails to survive in a city.

The conversation begins north of the border with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as...

Thirty teams currently make up the NBA today. Soon, there could be thirty-two.

As the league prepares for what could become its next era of expansion, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger turn back the clock on The 32nd Team, an exclusive series from The New Twenty Four chronicling the history of NBA expansion, the decisions that shaped the league's map and the markets that could ultimately become part of its future.

In Part One, Gavriel and Torrence examine the state of the NBA entering the 1980s and why the decade created the perfect environment for...

Before the injuries began to take their toll, there was a time when few frontcourt players in basketball were more explosive than Amar'e Stoudemire.

With Stoudemire preparing to take his rightful place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger turn back the clock on Second Chance Points to reflect on the 14-year NBA career of the man known simply as STAT.

From his emergence as one of the NBA's brightest young stars in Phoenix to becoming a key centerpiece of the revolutionary Seven Seconds or Less Suns, the two discuss...

After six episodes, dozens of candidates and debates spanning every position on the floor, the time has finally come to put it all together.

In the sixth and final installment of Passing The Torch, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger turn their attention to the centers competing for an opportunity to anchor Team USA at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. From two-time Olympic gold medalist Bam Adebayo to Evan Mobley and Jalen Duren, the duo examines which big men possess the combination of rim protection, rebounding, defensive versatility and offensive skill necessary to thrive on the international...

As the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles continues, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger turn their attention to the players who will anchor Team USA's frontcourt.

In Part Five of Passing The Torch, the duo examines the evolution of the modern power forward before discussing one of the biggest questions surrounding the next Olympic cycle: Should Kevin Durant be viewed as a virtual lock to pursue an unprecedented fifth Olympic gold medal, or is Team USA preparing to pass the torch to the next generation?

From Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zion Williamson...

The Passing The Torch series rolls on as Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger examine one of the most valuable positions in today's game: The Wing.

From Scottie Pippen and Grant Hill to LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, Team USA has long relied upon versatile two-way forwards capable of impacting every facet of the game. As the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles continues, who will look to carry on that tradition next?

In Part 4, Gavriel and Torrence discuss how small forwards have truly become the backbone of modern basketball before evaluating...

As Team USA's roster continues taking shape, one of the deepest position battles begins.

In Part Three of Passing The Torch, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger shift their attention to the shooting guards competing for a place on the United States' 12-man roster for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The duo examines why Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker remain among the game's premier talents at the two spot, while going on to debate the cases for Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams and Tyrese Maxey making the cut. While also discussing several intriguing names...

Who should run the offense for Team USA at the 2028 Olympic Games?

In Part Two of Passing The Torch, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger shift their attention to converse on one of the deepest positions in American basketball as they evaluate the point guards competing for a place on Team USA's 12-man roster.

From established stars such as Jalen Brunson, De'Aaron Fox and Trae Young to rising All-Stars Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Haliburton, the duo examines each player's case to represent the red, white and blue in Los Angeles.

They also discuss the...

The road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles begins now.

In the premiere episode of Passing The Torch, an exclusive six-part series from The New Twenty Four, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger begin constructing the 12-man roster they believe will ultimately represent Team USA on home soil at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The duo opens things up with a discussion on USA Basketball's decision to name two-time NBA champion Erik Spoelstra as head coach of the men's national team, examining why the longest-tenured tactician in the league was chosen to succeed Steve Kerr, the philosophies...

From scoring 61 points in honor of his late grandfather as a high school phenom to becoming one of the greatest point guards the NBA has ever seen, Chris Paul built a résumé few players in league history can match.

On this edition of Second Chance Points, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger reflect on the remarkable 21-year career of the 12-time NBA All-Star, examining his rise at Wake Forest, his Rookie of the Year campaign with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets during the 2005-06 season. Including his spectacular 2007-2008 campaign & more, alongside the rise and fall of...

After another unforgettable season, the NBA offseason has officially arrived and the league wasted little time delivering one of the wildest opening weeks of free agency in recent memory. In the Season 2 finale of The New Twenty Four, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return to break down the biggest headlines from around the association after seeing several superstar players, championship hopefuls and front offices begin reshaping the NBA landscape for years to come.

The guys begin by reacting to the stunning news that LeBron James will return for a 24th NBA season but will not do so...

The 2026 NBA offseason is officially underway and the league wasted little time reminding everyone that the calendar never truly stops.

In Episode 70 of The New Twenty Four, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return to break down one of the busiest weeks of the NBA calendar as free agency, coaching moves alongside of blockbuster trades and the NBA Draft all collide.

The guys begin by discussing several of the early moves around The Association, from CJ McCollum's decision to return to Atlanta, All-Star guard Trae Young agreeing to re-sign out in Washington on a max extension...

The 2025-26 NBA season has officially come to a close and after a year full of twists, turns and unforgettable moments, it was the New York Knicks who ultimately climbed to the top of the basketball world.

In Episode 69 of The New Twenty Four, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return to break down the conclusion of the NBA Finals after Jalen Brunson poured in 45 points to lead the Knicks past the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, securing the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973 while earning Finals MVP honors in the process.

The guys reflect on...

The largest comeback in NBA Finals history belongs to the New York Knicks.

Facing a 29-point deficit in the early duration of the third quarter, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks managed to storm all the way back to defeat Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. With the victory, New York now stands just one win away from capturing its first NBA championship since 1973.

On this edition of Second Chance Points, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger break down how the Spurs built a commanding lead, what...

The first three games of the 2026 NBA Finals are officially in the books, as Gavriel and Torrence make their way back behind the mic to provide their respective thoughts on the championship round and more in Episode 68 of The New Twenty Four.

Where the duo opens up this week's discussion by sharing their immediate reactions to the latest news from around the league, ranging from the Toronto Raptors signing Bobby Webster to a multiyear extension and promoting him to Executive Vice President, to the Atlanta Hawks agreeing to a multiyear contract extension with head coach Quin Snyder...

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return in Episode 67 of The New Twenty Four to break down all the latest happenings from around the league on the eve of the championship round getting underway.

As the dynamic duo tips off this week's show sharing their final key takeaways & assessments from the unforgettable Spurs-Thunder series, discussing the rise of Victor Wembanyama in his first postseason run, the growth of San Antonio's young core and what's impressed them most about the Spurs' journey to the NBA Finals.

Before discussing the road that lies ahead for Thunder after their...

With the 2026 NBA Finals just one week away and the New York Knicks officially punching their ticket to the championship round for the first time since 1999, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return in Episode 66 of The New Twenty Four to break down all the latest happenings around the league and the NBA Playoffs.

The guys open this week’s show by reacting to Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks mutually agreeing to part ways after five seasons, discussing where the Hall of Fame point guard may end up next as the franchise prepares to build around their re...

With the Conference Finals officially underway, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return in Episode 65 of The New Twenty Four to break down all the latest happenings around the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The guys open by reflecting on the seasons of a pair of teams whose playoff runs came to an end in the conference semifinal round beginning with the Minnesota Timberwolves, discussing what went wrong, the development of several key pieces and what moves may be necessary for the franchise to finally get over the hump in the Western Conference.

Before pivoting over to talk on...

After a week that saw the New York Knicks and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder punch their tickets to the conference finals with second-round sweeps, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return in Episode 64 of The New Twenty Four to break down all the latest happenings around the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Starting things off by reflecting on the seasons of a pair of franchises whose postseason runs came to an end in Round 2 beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers, as the two talk about the emergence of the “VJMaxx” duo featuring Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, looming financial questions surrounding the...

After a chaotic opening round full of Game 7s, a pair of 3-1 comebacks and several marquee performances across the postseason, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return to break down everything unfolding in Episode 63 of The New Twenty Four as the 2026 NBA Playoffs officially moves into the conference semifinal round.

The dynamic duo open by reflecting back on the seasons of several teams whose postseason runs came to an end in Round 1, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics — discussing the year that was for each sq...

With the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs in full swing, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return to break down a pivotal stretch of postseason action as several series begin to take shape and others inch closer to the brink on the latest installment of The New Twenty Four.

The guys start off by taking a look back at the season that was for the Phoenix Suns following their opening round exit at the hands of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder —discussing where the franchise by the desert goes from here after a year they managed to...

The 2026 NBA Playoffs officially underway and Gavriel Wilkins & Torrence Stagger are back to break down everything that’s unfolded across the league following an intense opening stretch of postseason action in Episode 61 of The New Twenty Four.

The duo opens up discussing the latest news out of their hometown of the Windy City, as Billy Donovan steps away from his role as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after six years — leaving the franchise in search of new leadership within the front office and sidelines.

Prior to take a moment to reflect back on the resp...

As the road to the postseason officially begins, The New Twenty Four returns with Episode 60 to set the stage for what promises to be a wide-open 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger open the show by breaking down the latest news out of Milwaukee, as Doc Rivers steps down following a disappointing season that saw the Bucks miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade — raising questions about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the direction of the franchise moving forward as the two friends share their thoughts on all that is currently br...

Episode 59 of The New Twenty Four centers around the final days and hours of the 2025-26 NBA regular season as it winds down with several key storylines taking full shape just ten days out from the start of the postseason.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger begin with the latest developments surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, as injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves raise significant questions about the team’s outlook moving forward and their ability to compete in the playoffs.

Before taking an extensive period of time to share their thoughts on their hometown Ch...

Episode 58 of The New Twenty Four arrives with major news shaping the future of the NBA and the playoff picture continuing to take form across the league.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger open the show sharing their thoughts on the NBA Board of Governors recently approving a vote to explore expansion in both Seattle and Las Vegas — a move that could bring two new franchises to The Association as early as the 2028-29 regular season. Discussing what this means for the league, which market is the most ready for a team right now between the two and wh...

Episode 57 of The New Twenty Four arrives with the NBA regular season entering its final stretch — and the stakes continuing to rise higher than ever across the league.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger share their given reactions to the latest news surrounding Detroit Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, who is expected to miss extended time after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung — and how it could impact Detroit’s quest to finish the year atop the Eastern Conference including his eligibility for awards ranging from MVP to All-NBA among all other individual honors & more.

Before pivoti...

Episode 56 of The New Twenty Four arrives with the NBA stretch run in full swing and only weeks remaining in the regular season, as Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger break down the biggest stories shaping the picture around The Association as the playoff picture continues to crystallize across both conferences.

Opening things up by shining a light on the Atlanta Hawks, who have reeled in ten straight wins and counting with the help of their All-Star forward Jalen Johnson and Most Improved Player candidate Nickeil Alexander-Walker's stellar play in the month of March. Prior to shifting the...

With the 2025-26 NBA season entering its final stretch and the playoffs less than 40 days away, the conversations around the league continue to intensify.

On Episode 55 of The New Twenty Four, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger react to one of the most shocking performances in NBA history as Bam Adebayo erupts for an astonishing 83 points to lead the Miami Heat to a win over the Washington Wizards. The guys break down the magnitude of Bam’s historic night and where it stands among the more memorable scoring performances the league has ever seen.

From there, th...

March is here — and the NBA season is entering the stretch where narratives shift and pressure mounts.

On Episode 54 of The New Twenty Four, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger open up things by addressing the on-court evolution of LaMelo Ball and the surging Charlotte Hornets. Once heavily criticized for style over substance, LaMelo has quietly been one of the league’s most impactful guards since the calendar flipped to 2026 — leading the NBA in made threes during that span while guiding Charlotte back into the thick of the Eastern Conference play-in race. Is the conversation finally catching up to his...

The NBA is beginning to separate contenders from pretenders as the league pushes deeper into the second half of the season and Episode 53 of The New Twenty Four breaks down the biggest storylines shaping the playoff picture.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger open things up touching on the surging San Antonio Spurs, who have won nine straight games behind the assistance of their All-Star center Victor Wembanyama and now sit within striking distance of the top seed in the Western Conference. With the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder battling key injuries, is the door officially open for...

With the 2026 NBA All-Star break in full swing, a brand new episode of The New Twenty Four dives into the biggest questions shaping the league as the regular season enters its decisive stretch.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger react to the recent happenings to take shape during NBA All-Star Weekend, from assessing the standout performances from Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard & more, including the debut of the new USA vs. World format before shifting focus to what lies ahead across the league.

Prior to taking a mailbag-like approach to several of the NBA’s mo...

With the NBA only a couple of days away from the All-Star break — and fresh off a record-setting trade deadline that saw 73 players moved — Episode 51 of The New Twenty Four dives into the all the latest news shaping the league as we approach the unofficial midpoint of the regular season.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger open up by examining the recent resurgence of All-Star forward Zion Williamson out in New Orleans, after appearing in a career-best 29 consecutive games and putting together sustained, dominant performances, as the duo speaks about what this stretch means for the former No. 1 over...

The dust has officially settled on the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline and Second Chance Points is here to break it all down.

In this special edition, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger react to the league-altering moves that reshaped rosters, shifted championship odds, and signaled clear directions for franchises across the NBA. From Cleveland going all-in by pairing James Harden with Donovan Mitchell, to the Dallas Mavericks officially closing the door on the short-lived Anthony Davis chapter with a blockbuster deal that sent him to Washington, as no major move goes untouched.

As the two friends also...

Episode 50 of The New Twenty Four arrives at a pivotal moment in the NBA calendar, just days before the trade deadline and with speculation swirling across the league. Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger break down all the biggest storylines shaping the present and future of the game in this milestone edition of the show.

The episode opens with a deep dive into a highly anticipated collegiate showdown between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson — a matchup many believe offered a preview of the top two selections in this year’s NBA Draft. The guys discuss what stood out, who...

While the NBA currently navigates through a chaotic stretch shaped by a historic winter storm that has shifted schedules combined with major moments along the way, Episode 49 of The New Twenty Four arrives at a pivotal point in the season — just several days away from the trade deadline.

As Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger break down the growing uncertainty surrounding the Golden State Warriors as injuries, internal tension, and future questions continue to mount for a franchise once defined by stability. From there, the conversation shifts to Los Angeles, where recent reporting sheds new light on the La...

On the eve of Derrick Rose becoming just the fifth player in Chicago Bulls history to have his jersey retired, Second Chance Points returns with a special episode honoring one of the most impactful and complex careers the game has ever seen.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger take a deep dive into the rise, fall, and redemption of the youngest MVP in NBA history — from Rose’s South Side roots to his meteoric ascent with the Bulls, to the injuries that altered his prime, the scrutiny that followed, and his perseverance that would ultimately come to define his...

The New Twenty Four is back at the midpoint of the NBA season as Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger break down a packed week around the league, blending on-court action with the biggest storylines to surface over the past several days.

The show opens with reactions to the newly announced 2026 NBA All-Star starters in both conferences, debates over potential snubs and thoughts on the league’s new All-Star Game format set for Los Angeles. From there, the duo quickly reflects on the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies splitting a pair of international matchups in Berlin and London, hi...

The New Twenty Four is back with Episode 47 as Gavriel and Torrence break down a busy week around the NBA, as the guys react to the blockbuster deal that sent four-time All-Star Trae Young from Atlanta to Washington and what it means for both franchises. Prior to going on to unpack Kendrick Perkins’ recent remarks on American-born players, the rise of international stars and how certain narratives generated by the media have come to shape the perception around today’s league for better or worse.

Before shifting over to discuss Kawhi Leonard and the surging LA Clippers, who’...

In episode 46 of The New Twenty Four, Gave and Torrence spend the opening days of the new year discussing the recent play of All-Star big man Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers who enter the first full week of 2026 sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference standings after closing out their recent five-game road trip in dominant fashion. While also taking a moment to share their personal sentiments as to whether or not the team in The City of Brotherly Love is a true contender before moving along to talk about the latest shortcomings of the Memphis Grizzlies under first-year...

Gavriel and Torrence take some time prior in the final days and hours left in 2025 on The New Twenty Four to deliberate over the Boston Celtics stellar stretch in December, on top of sharing their early opinions as to whether the storied franchise led behind the play of All-Star forward Jaylen Brown and his supporting cast under head coach Joe Mazzulla can make another run towards the NBA Finals should Jayson Tatum return from his torn Achilles before season's end.

In addition to examining the state of affairs out in Salt Lake City involving the Utah Jazz...