Locked On NBA Big Board is your daily deep dive into the exciting world of NBA draft prospects, player rankings and scouting reports. Hosted by NBA Draft Analyst Rafael Barlowe from NBA Draft Junkies, and author of the NBA Big Board newsletter, and joined by Richard Stayman, Sam Ferris, and Leif Thulin, Locked On NBA Big Board will break down the NBA Draft and give NBA fans a deep look as they review top prospects and uncover hidden gems. With great guests, mock drafts, expert insights, and ...
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In the latest Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek dive into the shifting landscape of college recruiting, exploring whether high-level prospects are increasingly bypassing traditional basketball powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina. They highlight A.J. Dybantsa, the projected 2026 top pick, choosin…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down Jeremiah Fears’ electrifying performance against Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational. Fears dropped a career-high 30 points, capped by a clutch, heavily contested three-pointer with 11.5 seconds remaining. Adding to the drama, Fears was fouled on the …
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Looking Ahead to 2026: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer Lead a Potentially Historic Draft
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and grassroots/NBA draft expert Krysten Peek dive into the 2026 NBA Draft class, a group they believe has the potential to surpass even the highly anticipated 2025 class. While the 2025 cycle is still in full swing, the duo takes an exciting look ahead at the future stars that s…
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Leif Thulin’s Top 10 NBA Prospects: Jeremiah Fears, Nolan Traore, Egor Demin & More (Part Two)
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In part two of Leif Thulin’s Top 10 NBA Prospects series on the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Leif and Rafael Barlowe dive into the next wave of top-tier talent for the 2025 NBA Draft. They kick things off with Jeremiah Fears and Nolan Traore, discussing the contrast between Fears' polished game and Traore’s recent struggles in Europe. The duo a…
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In part one of a two-part series on the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Leif Thulin breaks down his top 10 NBA prospects with Rafael Barlowe for the 2025 NBA Draft. Leif kicks things off with Cooper Flagg as his clear-cut number one pick, diving into why the versatile forward leads the pack. The conversation then pivots to Dylan Harper and whether…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe break down the standout performances from the weekend in college basketball. The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion of Dylan Harper, who delivered a game-winning shot against Seton Hall in another strong performance. In the second segment…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Richard Stayman joins host Rafael Barlowe to provide insights into his unpublished Big Board. Stayman highlights why he is higher than the consensus on Ben Saraf, Kam Jones, Jase Richardson, and Max Shulga, diving into their standout traits and potential as prospects. On the flip side, he expl…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dive into James’ top five lead ball handlers for the 2025 NBA Draft, while exploring what defines a lead ball handler in today’s game. The list features Dylan Harper, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jeremiah Fears, Egor Demin, and Boogie Fland, with James sharing h…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by Krysten Peek to discuss the top Tier 2 prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft. While Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and Egor Demin headline her Tier 1 rankings, Krysten dives deep into the next group of standout players. The duo breaks down the potential and perfo…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive into Leif’s top big-man prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft. The discussion kicks off with Maryland’s Derik Queen, who has been stellar this season and tops Leif’s list of bigs. They break down Queen’s dominance, skill set, and why he’s earned the top spot. The…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek dive into the surprising decision by AJ Dybantsa, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, to commit to BYU. Dybantsa, widely regarded as a generational talent, chose the Cougars over powerhouse programs like Alabama, Kansas, and North Carolina, a m…
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In this lively episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the ever-popular debate surrounding Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The focus? Reading and reacting to Twitter comments about who fans think is the best NBA comparison for the freshman phenom. Cooper Flagg’s rare ble…
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Weekend Takeaways: Is Ace Bailey Really Better Than Tre Johnson? + Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen & more..
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into their weekend observations and prospects that caught their attention. They kick things off with Texas freshman Tre Johnson, who showcased his elite shot-making ability in a strong performance against UConn despite the loss. This leads to a debate compar…
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In Part 2 of James Barlowe breaking down his Big Board 1.0 on the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James dive deeper into top prospects, offering detailed insights and analysis. James explains why he’s so high on Derik Queen and Noa Essengue, praising their skillsets and development trajectory. The discussion shifts to Boogie Fland…
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In part two of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin examine four prospects who Leif believes have seen their draft stock fall through the first month of the college basketball season. The episode starts with a breakdown of Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe’s struggles and Leif questions whether he’s still worthy of a…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin kick off part one of a two-part series highlighting the biggest risers and fallers among NBA draft prospects after the first month of the season. Thulin highlights the standout performances and draft stock boosts of several impressive freshmen, including Il…
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James’ Big Board 1.0: Rising Stars, Falling Stocks, and a Spirited Debate On the Race for No. 1
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe challenges James Barlowe on his recently released Big Board 1.0, sparking a spirited debate over the 2025 NBA Draft's potential number one pick. Rafael argues that the top spot remains a three-man race between Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey, while James contend…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe break down Dylan Harper’s electric performance against Alabama, where the high school phenom dropped 37 points, capping off a jaw-dropping 73 points in back-to-back games in Las Vegas against Notre Dame and Alabama. The hosts revisit their earlier d…
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Can Dylan Harper Pass Cooper Flagg? Thoughts on Harper, Flagg, and Ace Bailey's Tuesday Performances
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In the latest episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael and James Barlowe break down the projected top three prospects of the 2025 NBA Draft—Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey—following their Feast Week performances on Tuesday night. The episode kicks off with Rafael posing the question: could Dylan Harper surpass Cooper Flagg as the conse…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the weekend's top performances from NBA prospects. They start with Cooper Flagg's dominant outing against Arizona, highlighting his ability to exploit mismatches, his competitive fire, and his toughness at just 17 years old. The conversation shifts to K…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Ersin Demir dive into a fascinating discussion on under-the-radar sleeper NBA prospects. Ersin shares his carefully curated list of hidden gems, featuring Elijah Mahi, Finley Bizjack, Michael Ajayi, Johann Grunloh, and Joan Beringer. The episode highlights why these pl…
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On the latest Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin previewed some of the top games to watch over the weekend and the prospects to keep an eye on. They kicked things off with Friday night’s marquee matchup between Duke and Arizona, highlighting key players like Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, and what…
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On the latest LockedOn NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin broke down several notable performances from Thursday's games. They opened with Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, discussing his struggles against ranked opponents and debating whether it’s too early to worry about his draft stock, despite his defensive productivity and elite a…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Richard Stayman analyze the Alabama vs. Illinois game, focusing on standout performances from several high-level NBA prospects. The episode begins with a breakdown of Alabama freshman Labaron Philon, whose scoring instincts and creative offensive game stood out. Rafael offer…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dissected some of the most intriguing rookie performances. They kicked things off by breaking down Dalton Knecht's stunning 37-point explosion against the Utah Jazz, raising the question of how he fell to the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The brothers explo…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe broke down the performances of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper in their first regular-season game together. Harper, who had a few games under his belt, played alongside Bailey, returning from injury, and the duo's play was under the microscope. The hosts highlighted …
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In Rookie Watch Vol. 9 of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe broke down the weekend’s top rookie performances. The duo highlighted Jared McCain’s continued rise, showcasing his polished scoring and poise in extended minutes. They also dove into Dalton Knecht’s impressive showing against the Pelicans, where his offen…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and guest Alec Kichian delve into the tough decisions facing international prospects when choosing between staying in Europe or pursuing college basketball in the United States. They highlight Egor Demin, the Russian point guard who left Real Madrid to play for BYU, where h…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, James Barlowe unveils his first Rookie Power Rankings for the 2024 NBA Draft class, breaking down which first-year players are making an impact early in the 2024-25 season. With host Rafael Barlowe, James highlights the rookies who are quickly ascending, spotlighting standout performance…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin recap the highly anticipated Champions Classic, diving into standout performances from some of the top NBA prospects. They kick things off with Cooper Flagg, as Leif passionately discusses Flagg’s dominant 26-point, 12-rebound performance. The conversation then s…
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In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe dig into Cooper Flagg’s big-time performance against Kentucky, where the star prospect posted 26 points and 12 rebounds but stumbled with three key mistakes in crunch time. The hosts unpack Flagg’s game, exploring his long-term upside and positional…
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Champions Classic Preview: Key NBA Draft Questions for Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and Michigan State
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On this solo episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlow dives into his biggest questions for the 2024 Champions Classic, featuring tonight’s matchups between Kansas and Michigan State and Duke and Kentucky. Rafael opens by asking which Kansas transfer will step up, noting the team’s new additions and speculating on who might…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael and James Barlowe dive into early struggles from two top prospects, VJ Edgecombe and Nolan Traore, who entered the season with top-five potential. Edgecombe has had a tough start, averaging just 7.5 points per game on 21.7% shooting, though his two games have come against top-ranke…
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Rookie Watch Vol. 8: Jared McCain drops 27! Stephon Castle, Kyshawn George and Grizz rookies impress
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In Rookie Watch Volume 8 of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and his brother James Barlowe dive into a jam-packed episode analyzing standout rookie performances from the weekend. They start by breaking down Jared McCain’s breakout 27-point game against the Charlotte Hornets, highlighting McCain’s expanded role due to injurie…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into their Weekend Watchlist Part 2, breaking down key college matchups and prospects. They start by examining the talents of Tre Johnson and Collin Murray-Boyles, before moving on to the intriguing Michigan-Wake Forest game, featuring standout players Danny…
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Weekend Watchlist Part I: Can VJ Edgecombe Bounce Back vs Arkansas? BYU's Freshmen & UNC vs Kansas
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In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe launch the “Weekend Watch” series by diving into a lineup of top prospects and key matchups for the weekend. The Barlowe brothers start by discussing VJ Edgecombe and Baylor’s upcoming game against Arkansas, evaluating Edgecombe’s recent struggles against Gon…
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Early Impressions: Dylan Harper's Debut, Ryan Kalkbrenner drops 49 & Arkansas Under The Microscope
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Richard Stayman dive into early impressions on key prospects as the college season kicks off. They start with Dylan Harper’s debut at Rutgers, where Harper, a projected top-five pick, posted 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, though he played without fellow top prospect A…
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Rookie Watch Vol. 7: Risacher Explodes, Buzelis Shines, and Wells Continues to Makes His Case
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In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rookie Watch Volume 7 Rafael and James Barlowe dive into standout rookie performances from November 6th, starting with Zaccharie Risacher. The first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher showed glimpses of his potential with a breakout 33-point night, going 6-for-10 from three. The Barlowe brothers…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive into Egor Demin’s impressive debut performance for BYU, where he recorded 18 points, 11 assists, and 4 rebounds in the Cougars’ win over Central Arkansas. Barlowe and Thulin break down Demin’s playmaking and floor vision, discussing whether he showed the pot…
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In this episode of the Locked On Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, and Leif Thulin dive deep into Tre Johnson’s 29-point performance against Ohio State, delivering a lively mix of praise and critique. Rafael and James were particularly impressed, labeling Johnson a “Professional Scorer” thanks to his polished shot-making and v…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the standout performances from opening night of the 2024-25 college basketball season, focusing on some of the top freshmen. They kick things off with Cooper Flagg, who impressed with an 18-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist outing in Duke’s win over Maine. They also…
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Rookie Watch Vol. 6: Free Reed Sheppard and Why It’s Smart for Memphis to Start Jaylen Wells
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In Rookie Watch Volume 6 of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into recent performances from the league’s standout rookies. Kicking things off, they spotlight Alex Sarr’s impressive showing against the Miami Heat, where Sarr’s poise and defensive presence turned heads. They then shift focus to Jared McCain, who…
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In Rookie Watch Vol. 5 on the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dig into the early ups and downs of this season’s rookie class. They kick off with No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, dissecting his recent shooting woes after a tough 1-9 night against the Kings. Rafael points out that despite getting open looks courtesy of Trae Yo…
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Rookie Watch Vol 4: Dunn's 3-point surge. What if he did this in college? Wells & Filipowski impress
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In the latest episode of Locked On NBA Big Board - Rookie Watch Vol. 4, Rafael and James Barlowe dive deep into the recent developments among this season’s NBA rookies. The Barlowe brothers kick things off by spotlighting Ryan Dunn’s surprising emergence as a three-point threat. Rafael and James discuss Dunn’s reputation as a shaky shooter in colle…
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Ready or Not: Can Drake Powell & Ian Jackson Break Through for Big Minutes at North Carolina?
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive deep into the North Carolina Tar Heels’ roster, focusing on the highly anticipated freshmen, Drake Powell and Ian Jackson. Despite the buzz around them as NBA prospects, Barlowe and Thulin discuss how both Powell and Jackson may face limited roles this …
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Rookie Watch Vol 3. Wizards Rookies Take Center Stage, Risacher drops 17 & Bronny's First NBA Bucket
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In this episode of Locked on NBA Big Board, the Barlowe brothers, Rafael and James, analyze the latest rookie performances from the 2024 NBA Draft class. They start with a deep dive into the matchup between the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks, where French rookies Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr squared off. Sarr made his presence felt defens…
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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive deep into the new era of Kentucky basketball under head coach Mark Pope, who has replaced the legendary John Calipari. Known for his one-and-done talent pipeline to the NBA, Calipari helped shape Kentucky into a powerhouse that churned out 50 NBA draft…
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Rookie Watch Vol. 2: Risacher vs. Sarr’s Rough Night, Reed Sheppard’s Dwindling Minutes, and More…
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In Rookie Watch Vol. 2, Rafael and James Barlowe analyze Monday night’s rookie performances, opening with the highly anticipated but ultimately underwhelming matchup between top picks Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr. The French duo struggled, combining for just 4-19 shooting with nine fouls, raising questions about Sarr’s shot selection and his te…
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In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the early challenges facing the 2024 rookie class just a few games into the NBA season. Rafael kicks things off by testing James’s knowledge on which rookie currently leads the class in scoring through three games—setting the tone for a deep breakdown of the rookie lands…
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Rookie Debuts: Yves Missi Impresses, Edey's Foul Troubles and Rookies Fighting for Rotation Spots
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In this episode, of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the much-anticipated rookie debuts from the 2024 NBA Draft Class. The Barlowe Brothers break down the standout performance of Yves Missi, who shined for the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 12 points, pulling down 7 rebounds, and recording 3 blocks in an impress…
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