The ultimate father-son full-circle moment in NBA history. ❤️
After falling short in the 1999 NBA Finals as a player with the New York Knicks, Rick Brunson watches his son Jalen Brunson lead the same franchise to their first championship in 53 years — defeating the Spurs in the 2025-26 Finals.
This raw, emotional embrace says everything. From the sidelines to the celebration, the Brunson family are NBA Champions.
A story that reminds us why sports and family hit different. 😭
Hawks Face Worst Nightmare: Luka's Stunning Return
The Draft Day Decision That Haunts Atlanta
Setting the Stage for the Confrontation
The Anatomy of a Masterpiece: Deconstructing Luka's Stunning Return
More Than Just Scoring: The Complete Player on Display
The Ripple Effect: Post-Game Fallout for the Hawks
Luka vs. Trae: An Unavoidable, Unfair Comparison?
Hawks Face Worst Nightmare: Luka’s Stunning Return to Dominance
Luka’s stunning return to…
💰🏀 $200M contract, still 50/50. Michael Porter Jr. says he split rent with his girlfriend—on purpose. Boundaries > money. Fair or foul? 👇
#MichaelPorterJr #MPJ #NBA #BrooklynNets #DatingDebate #Relationships #Finance #Money
Lakers Acquire Isaac Bonga In 2018 Draft Deal with Philadelphia
On July 6th, 2018, the Philadelphia 76ers traded the draft rights of Isaac Bonga to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations and a 2019 second round draft pick (Bruno Fernando).
There aren’t many playmakers at the height of 6-foot-8. Those players always draw intrigue around the NBA. Isaac Bonga fit that profile as he entered the 2018 draft. The German-born Bonga played for the Skyliners Frankfurt of the Basketball Bundesliga during the 2017-18 season.
At 6-foot-8 with a seven-foot wingspan, Bonga had the ability to pass and handle the ball. The combination of skill and physical gifts made Bonga one of the more intriguing prospects. Still, he was a raw prospect with an iffy jumpshot and average athleticism.
After Lakers international scouts Antonio Maceiras and Can Pelister had notified Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and assistant general manager Jesse Buss about Bonga, Pelinka and Buss went overseas to scout Bonga. The Lakers made Bonga their top target in the second round, scheduling a private workout with the point forward at the Lakers’ El Segundo practice facility in late May.
Many teams had expected Bonga to be a draft and stash player, meaning that he would spend a couple of years overseas before playing in the NBA. The Lakers had different plans, acquiring him by dealing a valuable second rounder — originally from the Chicago Bulls — to the Philadelphia 76ers to take Bonga. In the deal, the Lakers also sent the 76ers $1.5 million in cash considerations.
Soon after acquiring Bonga, the Lakers signed the forward to a three-year, $4.08 million deal. Bonga played in 2018 Summer League with the Lakers in Las Vegas. He put up 2.1 PPG, 1.0 RPG and 0.6 APG in 9.0 MPG.
Bonga saw little time with the Lakers, spending much of the 2018-19 season with their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. In the G-League, Bonga showed flashes of his potential. He appeared in 31 games with South Bay and managed 11.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.2 SPG and 1.1 BPG in 28.0 MPG. Bonga played in 22 games for Los Angeles and posted 0.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG and 0.7 APG in 5.5 MPG.
The Lakers had a decent start in LeBron James’ first season with the team. Los Angeles began the year 18-11. A groin injury to James and chemistry issues created by constant trade rumors involving New Orleans Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis caused the Lakers to go 19-34 over the final 53 games and miss the playoffs.
Bonga, Jemerrio Jones and Wagner were dealt by the Lakers to the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade with the New Orleans Pelicans that also involved Brandon Ingram and Anthony Davis. Los Angeles had to get rid of the salaries of the three players to create more cap space to build around James and Davis.
The Sixers used the 2019 second rounder (34th overall) they acquired from the Lakers on center Bruno Fernando from Maryland. They subsequently dealt Fernando’s draft rights to the Atlanta Hawks for the draft rights to the 57th pick, Jordan Bone, and two future second round picks in 2020 and 2023.
Isaac Bonga on how Lakers president Magic Johnson wants him to play point guard (via The Athletic):
“He really wants me to play point guard. He knows how tough it is, especially for our size guys to just like survive in the game. Like trying to get a good role in the game, and trying to prove people sometimes wrong.”
On joining the Lakers:
“This organization, they have great (young players) like Kuz [Kyle Kuzma], Zo [Lonzo Ball], [Brandon] Ingram. All those guys would be here, I just think if I’m here I really can do something.”
How he was shocked when he was actually picked by the Lakers:
“We all watched then I was kind of speechless when they picked me.”
Philadelphia 76ers head coach and interim general manager Brett Brown on Isaac Bonga and how he can’t comment on the pending trade (via NBC Sports Philadelphia):
“You go to 39 and with Isaac, I can’t really comment on that until the end of the moratorium. You can read into that as you should.”
Lakers assistant general manager Jesse Buss on Bonga (via The Athletic):
“What really stood out was his size and length for his position. His agility and first step are pretty good for a guy that size. He’s also extremely smooth as an athlete. Those attributes combined with his age were really intriguing to us.”
Lakers assistant coach and summer league head coach Miles Simon on Bonga (via The Athletic):
“The first thing that stands out is just his overall size. Even more so than his length, he has these thick shoulders, he’s very strong, he’s obviously tall... You can tell defensively he can be very versatile going forward in his NBA career. Then the fact that he can handle the ball like a point guard and not lose it and have fluidity and get to the paint.”
Lakers first round pick and center Moritz Wagner on seeing Bonga for the first time (via The Athletic):
“I remember seeing him the first time live in L.A. working out and I thought it was a big man working out. Then I saw him up close and it was Isaac. Big guy for a point guard.”
