Welcome back to The Hampton Show! In today’s episode, I’m diving into a game recap of Ja Morant’s impressive performance against the Milwaukee Bucks, and sharing an inside look at the Bucks' huddle, which raised some big questions about the Giannis trade rumors. We’ll also touch on this week’s NBA power rankings to see where Milwaukee and Memphis fall. So much to break down, so let’s get right into it.

Every Friday, we kick things off with our “Fill in the Blank” segment, where I give you my take on three key NBA headlines. Our first topic centers on Bronny James, who finally scored his first NBA points. For someone who’s followed the Bronny saga from the start, I can say it’s a relief to see him get that milestone behind him. Now, both he and his team can focus on the future without the added pressure of that debut moment.

The second big topic is the Giannis trade rumors. After watching the Bucks closely in their last game, I’m not convinced that a trade is in the near future. Sure, a top executive speculated that Giannis might seek a trade soon, but what I saw from Giannis on the bench told a different story. He looked fully engaged and was even stepping up as a vocal leader. If Giannis does decide to leave, I’d bet it happens next summer—not by this year’s deadline.

Next up, Joel Embiid’s imminent return is our last “Big Deal or No Deal” discussion. The NBA recently fined the 76ers for resting Embiid, and I believe that’s accelerating his comeback. With Philly sitting at 1-3, there’s added pressure on the team to get him back in the lineup sooner than they’d like. It’s a bold strategy by the NBA, but will it be enough to stop early season “load management”? Only time will tell.

Finally, we’re wrapping up with our weekly NBA power rankings! The Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder top the list with standout performances, while the Bucks and Grizzlies find themselves further down due to inconsistent starts. Tune in to see where each team lands and why. Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to subscribe for more NBA talk on The Hampton Show!