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BBNBA: Justin Edwards got in trouble with his mom while Malik Monk is having a career year

Zack Geogheganby: Zack Geoghegan9 hours agoZGeogheganKSR
Photos of Justin Edwards (left) and Malik Monk via Imagn Images
Photos of Justin Edwards (left) and Malik Monk via Imagn Images

Justin Edwards experienced a breakout rookie campaign in the second half of the 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. His role has shrunk in 2025-26 with more healthy teammates around him, but he finally popped off on Tuesday night in Philly’s 102-100 win over the Boston Celtics.

Edwards posted a season-high 22 points on 8-9 shooting (5-6 3PT) to go along with three rebounds and three assists. His three-pointer with under five minutes to go put the 76ers ahead 93-92. 13 of his points came in the fourth quarter.

He made sure to celebrate, too, but he may or may not have said something on the floor that his mom did not approve of. Edwards was asked about that during the postgame press conference (with his mom in attendance), which gave us this funny moment when a reporter asked him what he yelled after hitting that timely three in the fourth.

“I know what he said,” Edwards’ mom said from the back of the room. “He gonna get a beating.”

Hello there, Reed Sheppard

The start of Reed Sheepard‘s sophomore season with the Houston Rockets did not get off to a good start, but he’s quickly beginning to settle in. After dropping 16 points and six assists in a loss to the Spurs on Friday, he went for another 16 points and four steals in a win over the Bucks on Sunday night. He shot 4-6 from deep and is now up to 47.9 percent shooting from distance this season — that’s more like the Sheppard we know and love.

Through 11 contests this season, Sheppard is up to per-game averages of 11.2 points, 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 21.8 minutes. Kevin Durant is a BIG fan of his right now.

The Kings stink, but Malik Monk does not

Surprise, surprise — the Sacramento Kings are once again the laughing stock of the NBA. A nonsensical roster of similar style players has led to a predictable 3-8 start. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan didn’t work as partners in Chicago, and nothing has changed now that they’re in Sacramento. Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder serving as teammates was always going to be tough to work around.

But Malik Monk has been making the most of his minutes off the bench. Through nine games, the 27-year-old is averaging 14.2 points in 24.8 minutes per outing while shooting 50.5 percent from the field, 47.6 percent from deep (on 4.7 attempts), and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. Of the Kings’ top six rotational pieces, Monk is tops in three-point shooting and free throw shooting, and just barely behind LaVine’s 51.9 percent mark from the field. He’s playing the most efficient basketball of his life right now.

He’s also a realist, knowing that Kings fans deserve better than what’s happened this year (and in the decades prior). The boos are coming down, and Monk understands why, but he wants to keep fighting and give them something to cheer for. Even if the Kings continue to stink it up, Monk will once again be in consideration for a Sixth Man of the Year award if he keeps up his current play.

Shaedon Sharpe is hitting a groove

He who shall not be named is playing good basketball as of late. Shaedon Sharpe did not shoot the ball well at all for the Portland Trail Blazers to begin the season, but that’s changed over his last five games. He’s posting 21.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest on shooting splits of 49.5/35/74.1 during that span. Sharpe dropped a season-high on Monday night, going for 31 points on 12-18 shooting in a close loss to the Orlando Magic.

Sharpe isn’t ever going to pass the ball (14 assists to 30 turnovers on the season), but he sure can score the hell out of it. The Blazers have him starting so he can put the ball in the net, and that’s exactly what he’s been doing lately. That four-year, $90 million extension he signed in the offseason is looking better with each game for the franchise. Portland is also sitting on a 5-5 record despite head coach Chauncey Billups being removed from his post after game one as a result of the ongoing federal gambling investigation by the FBI.

Nico Harrison is a giant loser

And not just because he traded away Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal not fit for Doncic’s talent level. Harrison was fired as the Dallas Mavericks’ General Manager on Tuesday, following the team’s loss to the Bucks on Monday, which dropped their record to 3-8. That’s second-to-last in a brutal Western Conference. Hopes of making the playoffs might already be gone for the franchise. So far, Cooper Flagg has not looked like the number one pick everyone expected him to be. It was past time for Harrison to lose his job.

But wait, there’s more! The Athletic reported Wednesday that Harrison recently urged star forward Anthony Davis to return early from his calf injury. Davis sat out his sixth straight game against the Bucks and is expected to be sidelined on Wednesday against the Suns.

“Multiple league sources said Davis has tried to convince the Mavs to let him return to the court, and Harrison urged him to return, but the team’s medical staff forbade it, citing the potential for a torn Achilles if Davis returned too soon,” wrote The Athletic.

It’s understandable that Davis, who has appeared in just five games this season for Dallas, would want to get back on the floor as soon as possible. He’s a competitor. But for Harrison to do the same, knowing the potential risks, is borderline malpractice. The league is better off without him running a team.

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2025-11-12