Lloyd Pierce lands in Kigali to coach Basketball Without Borders as the NBA doubles down on Africa’s development pipeline. The staff includes Tamika Catchings and other veterans, underscoring the program’s punch to grow coaching know-how and access to basketball paths. Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin, BWB alumni now on the Pacers, personify the payoff of this long-game investment. African-born players feature on 2024-25 rosters at a record pace, signaling a broader fantasy upside as talent hits the mainstream.

The piece foregrounds infrastructure—courts, equipment, teaching, health—plus early-life pathways to college and pro basketball. Siakam’s Cameroon-born arc from camp to NBA Finals stardom illustrates the potential of these pipelines, a theme Pierce champions as Indiana braces for a season without Tyrese Haliburton while eyes stay fixed on development and opportunity.

Luguentz Dort celebrated his NBA title with a homecoming parade through Montreal North, cruising in a Lamborghini as hundreds of fans and a Haitian band trailed him. Dort greeted locals at Parc Pilon, where kids in OKC No. 5 shirts lined up to shoot hoops and chant his name, while signs proclaimed pride in the neighborhood. The moment followed Dort signing Montreal’s Livre d’Or at City Hall, a nod to his community work alongside his on-court feat. Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anchored OKC’s title run, with Montrealer Bennedict Mathurin starring for Indiana in the backdrop. Dort joins a short Montreal lineage of NBA champions and is lauded for his disruptive defense and playoff-level impact. His underdog arc—from a 2019 draft snub to champion—resonates with fans and fantasy players who prize two-way contributors with defensive ceilings.

Luguentz Dort returned home to Montreal North a champion, cruising through streets in a Lamborghini with the Larry O’Brien Trophy held high as hundreds cheered, Haitian bands and flags in the background. Dort, a hometown hero, told fans he wanted to share every bit of his success with his people, a reflection of his roots and culture. Before the parade, he retraced his path at Parc Saint-Laurent and Parc Pilon, where kids lined up to play pickup and shout his nickname, LuTheBeast. Parc Pilon overflowed with signs and chants of Lu, while Dort spoke to a crowd framed by Haitian and Quebec flags, underscoring the impact of the win back home. He highlighted his work through the Maizon Dort Foundation, which recently helped revamp local courts, and city officials honored his community efforts. Dort is the fourth Montrealer to win an NBA title, joining Wennington, Anthony, and Boucher, and he was celebrated as the Thunder’s defensive heartbeat after earning a spot on the All-NBA Defensive First Team with a solid 10 PPG in a stacked season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s presence alongside Dort highlighted OKC’s historic run, with Dort’s gritty two-way game described as the backbone of their title push. Bennedict Mathurin, another Montreal native, was noted as a Montreal North neighbor who made it all the way to the NBA final’s narrative as a Pacers’ rising talent. Dort’s path—undrafted in 2019, signing a two-way deal, and climbing to a $51 million career earnings benchmark—embodies the underdog spirit the city cherishes. The piece ties Dort’s championship to community pride, a reminder that for fantasy managers, leadership, defense, and role clarity at guard and wing positions can drive steady value beyond flashy scoring.

The Most Improved Player (MIP) award often reflects the evolving talent landscape in the NBA. Typically awarded to former lottery picks, the latest odds show Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija as a leading candidate heading into the 2025-26 season with impressive averages of 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Other top contenders include Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin, especially following Tyrese Haliburton's injury. The race is competitive, with former lottery selections dominating the early MIP discussions.