![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/05/USATSI_20278760-e1683573210453.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
Welcome to Layup Lines, our basketball newsletter where we’ll prep you for the tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, the No. 31 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, had a very strong debut season in the NBA.
Nembhard finished with the second-most assists and third-most steals among all rookies in 2022-23. He also ranked top-10 in points scored and 3-pointers made.
Despite the impressive campaign, however, Nembhard failed to receive All-Rookie honors. He finished with 46 total points, trailing Houston’s Tari Eason (47) by one single point.
The complete voting results for the 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Rookie Team: pic.twitter.com/zfSjo4c2i5
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 8, 2023
Nembhard (46) actually appeared on more total ballots than Eason (45) did for All-Rookie. Eason, however, received two votes to make First-Team All-Rookie, and those votes are weighted for double the points.
If he had made the list, Nembhard would have been the only non-first-round pick to receive the nod.
Instead, he will now head into his second professional campaign with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove to those who left him off their ballot.
The Tip-Off
![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/05/Bronny.jpeg)
NBA content from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
LeBron James delivered a heartfelt reflection about Bronny’s commitment to the USC Trojans: LeBron said:
“First of all, congratulations to my son on his next journey and picking a great university in USC. I’m proud of him. This is an incredible thing. I think I told Mike after the game unless it was one of my great-grandmothers or great-grandfathers or something like that, to my knowledge this is the first one out of the James gang to go to college. … So it’s very, very, very exciting, very humbling. And a great moment for our family. It’s just super cool. He’s a great kid. USC is getting a great kid. Obviously, he’s there to play basketball, but they’re going to be super surprised at how great of a kid he is even though they’ve been recruiting him for quite a while.”
One to Watch
![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/05/USATSI_20597882.jpg)
(All odds via Tipico.)
Lakers (-2.5, -145) vs. Warriors (+2.5, +125), O/U 227.5, 10:00 PM ET
We’re watching two of the best players of all time (LeBron James and Stephen Curry) battle it out in a best-of-seven series. But it seems the most impressive player on the court is Anthony Davis. If he controls the game, the Lakers are a tough team to beat.
Shootaround
![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/05/Your-paragraph-text-3.png)
— Shaq issued the hilarious ‘I wasn’t familiar with your game’ apology meme to Devin Booker
— James Harden shared a touching postgame moment with Michigan State shooting survivor John Hao
— NBA fans were livid with the officiating down the stretch of the Sixers’ Game 4 win against the Celtics
— NBA fans roasted Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia for embellishing Nikola Jokic’s shove