Cooper Flagg anchors NBA 2K26’s rookie wave, landing an 82 overall to begin his Dallas Mavericks career as the top-rated newcomer. He sits 79th overall league-wide, ahead of notable rookies Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe, who come in at 78, 77 and 76 respectively. The game also features Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the Standard Edition cover star for OKC, Carmelo Anthony for the Superstar Edition, and Angel Reese for the WNBA Edition, underscoring the cross-era hype around this rookie class. Flagg’s path in Dallas will be watched closely, given his Duke-driven college dominance and Summer League showing where he posted strong scoring and versatility. The mix of high expectations for Flagg and the presence of established stars around him sets the stage for a high-variance, fantasy-friendly rookie season that could unlock immediate opportunistic value in deeper leagues while demanding patience in shallower formats. The 2K26 release window is set for Sept. 5, adding another layer of anticipation for fantasy managers mapping out early-season strategies.

The Denver Post’s All-Quarter Century Nuggets Team honors the franchise’s 25-year arc, pairing recent dominance with historic legends. First Team selections pull from peak and legacy: Chauncey Billups, Jamal Murray, Carmelo Anthony, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic. The blend captures playoff breakthroughs, game-changing performances, and Jokic’s evolving, transformative era. Murray’s rise as a closing-time playoff threat sits beside Jokic’s unrivaled impact, while Gordon’s versatility and Melo’s era-defining scoring anchor the lineup. The Second Team adds Ty Lawson, Allen Iverson, Michael Porter Jr., Nenê and Marcus Camby, with reserve vote-getters Andre Miller, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danilo Gallinari, Kenyon Martin and Antonio McDyess rounding out the quarter-century panorama. The piece tracks a franchise that has reached 17 playoff berths, nine 50-win seasons, 12 playoff series and a culture shift from bleak to banner moments, while noting a Hall-of-Fame lineage among its selections. It’s a celebration of Colorado basketball’s ascent, anchored by Jokic’s era-defining dominance and a roster that blends relentless guard play, elite scoring, and two-way versatility across generations.

Beyond the on-court milestones, the piece underscored the Nuggets’ unique identity: a championship in the modern era built around a player with rare vision and playmaking, a cast that rose to meet him, and a city that embraced every step of a storied, sometimes turbulent journey. The roster’s evolution—from Melo’s early promise to Jokic’s triple-doubles and clutch wins—embodies a franchise transformed. The piece ends by recognizing the collaborative nature of the voting panel and the enduring legacy of the Nuggets’ quarter-century run, a narrative that will continue to shape fantasy rosters and basketball discussions for years to come.

Carmelo Anthony is set for Basketball Hall of Fame induction this September, joining Dwight Howard in a class that also honors Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore from the women’s game. Anthony’s peak as a scorer, NCAA champion credentials, and three Olympic golds define a legendary career. He selected Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson as presenters, a move that sparked chatter because LeBron James, his 2003 draft classmate and long-time foe-turned-teammate, wasn’t named a presenter. James did publicly congratulate Anthony, underscoring a complex but respectful rivalry. As the ceremony approaches, the narrative centers on Melo’s impact, the era-defining battles with James, and the evolving memory of a player who redefined scoring in the league.

The omission of LeBron from Melo’s presenting lineup drew fan speculation on social media, but the two have long run parallel arcs—mutual respect, shared history, and occasional clashes that defined the early 2010s. Anthony and James faced off in high-stakes playoff clashes, including 2012 duels between the Heat and Knicks. Now, with Melo entering the Hall, the focus shifts to his enduring legacy, the influence of his era on today’s game, and how the 2003 Draft class reshaped expectations for star careers. The induction marks a milestone that seals Anthony’s place among the all-time greats while leaving room for ongoing dialogues about rivalries and respect.

As Anthony joins the Hall, the conversation weaves together dominance, longevity, and the evolving landscape of basketball stardom. The class with Bird, Fowles, Moore, and Howard frames a broader celebration of both the men’s and women’s game, highlighting transcendent talent across generations. While LeBron’s absence as presenter stirred debate, the public congratulations from James signals a mature, enduring connection between two of the era’s defining players. Melo’s legacy—scoring genius, championship pedigree, and Olympic glory—receives its own lasting chapter in September.

Carmelo Anthony will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September, part of a star-studded eight-person class that also includes Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Billy Donovan, Micky Arison and Danny Crawford. Anthony’s 19-year career produced 22.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists, with a career shooting line near 45/36. He earned 10 All-Star selections and a place on the NBA 75th anniversary team, cementing his status as one of the era’s defining scorers.

The ceremony will feature Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade as Anthony’s presenters, tying together a draft-class lineage that shaped the Nuggets and Heat in the mid-2000s. Anthony’s journey runs from Denver’s pick-three in 2003 to stints with New York and L.A., a path that resonates with fantasy managers who valued his scoring consistency over nearly two decades. The rest of the Hall class—Bird, Moore, Fowles, Donovan, Arison, and Crawford—highlights a cross-section of the game’s impact, from hardwood excellence to front-office and officiating contributions.

Eight inductees, a focus on legacy, and the closure of a quiet NBA offseason set the stage for a fresh season narrative. While Hall of Famers’ legacies seldom move current fantasy projections, the recognition reinforces the historical context that drives player branding and long-term marketability. For fantasy enthusiasts, the news underscores the enduring relevance of Melo’s era and the continued evolution of the league’s storylines heading into October.

Allen Iverson congratulates Carmelo Anthony on his impending Hall of Fame induction, posting an Instagram note that signals a historic welcome as Anthony will be inducted by Iverson and Dwyane Wade in 2025. The class also honors Dwight Howard, Billy Donovan, Mickey Arison, Sue Bird and Maya Moore, signaling a wide-reaching celebration of basketball greatness beyond the court. The moment ties Iverson’s Sixers legacy to Anthony’s Nuggets era, framing a bridge between generations as fans anticipate the ceremony. It’s a reminder that Hall of Fame weekends fuse reverence for career peaks with the enduring narratives of shared rings and rivalries, even as the sport evolves.