Michael Pina
@michaelvpina.bsky.social
Senior staff writer, The Ringer
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Michael Pina
@michaelvpina.bsky.social
· Mar 11
The NBA Is Desperately Missing a Voice Like Bill Russell’s
While history repeats itself in this country, modern NBA stars have stayed silent. Maybe it’s unfair to ask so much of athletes, but it wasn’t too much for the greatest champion in NBA history, who do...
www.theringer.com
After watching the second episode of Celtics City, I bought and read a copy of Bill Russell’s first memoir and wrote this piece on how the absence of anything resembling his voice is felt in today’s NBA, and throughout the country: www.theringer.com/2025/03/11/n...
setting the over/under on "minutes this loser sobs hysterically during his own criminal sentencing" at 9
MILLER: The US is using its military to secure our interests unapologetically in our hemisphere. We're a superpower. It's absurd we'd allow a nation in our backyard to become a supplier of resources to our adversaries
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
January 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM
setting the over/under on "minutes this loser sobs hysterically during his own criminal sentencing" at 9
"i prefer rings" says fan of team that hasn't employed someone as good as trae young since the beginning of his career
I'm a sports fan. I understand impatience with perennial losing and irrelevance. I remember when the Wizards beat the Bucks to send them into an existential crisis
So I get the desire for gaslighting ourselves with delusions of relevance and "fun" that come with being a 37 win team. I prefer rings
So I get the desire for gaslighting ourselves with delusions of relevance and "fun" that come with being a 37 win team. I prefer rings
i kinda love the wizards embracing trae young with an intriguing young core, no obvious franchise cornerstone, bunch of picks, and flexibility
trae, george, sarr, tre, whoever they get in this year's draft. fun!
cj mccollum, corey kispert, and the first okc owes them in the 2026 draft. call it in!
trae, george, sarr, tre, whoever they get in this year's draft. fun!
cj mccollum, corey kispert, and the first okc owes them in the 2026 draft. call it in!
January 5, 2026 at 11:38 PM
"i prefer rings" says fan of team that hasn't employed someone as good as trae young since the beginning of his career
i kinda love the wizards embracing trae young with an intriguing young core, no obvious franchise cornerstone, bunch of picks, and flexibility
trae, george, sarr, tre, whoever they get in this year's draft. fun!
cj mccollum, corey kispert, and the first okc owes them in the 2026 draft. call it in!
trae, george, sarr, tre, whoever they get in this year's draft. fun!
cj mccollum, corey kispert, and the first okc owes them in the 2026 draft. call it in!
January 5, 2026 at 10:18 PM
i kinda love the wizards embracing trae young with an intriguing young core, no obvious franchise cornerstone, bunch of picks, and flexibility
trae, george, sarr, tre, whoever they get in this year's draft. fun!
cj mccollum, corey kispert, and the first okc owes them in the 2026 draft. call it in!
trae, george, sarr, tre, whoever they get in this year's draft. fun!
cj mccollum, corey kispert, and the first okc owes them in the 2026 draft. call it in!
Reposted by Michael Pina
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
Eight NBA Players Who Are Taking a Leap This Season
From stars breaking out to role players leveling up, these are the most significant glow-ups in the league
www.theringer.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:31 PM
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
Reposted by Michael Pina
Ryan Rollins and Deni Avdija are a good argument that a worthwhile strategy is giving a shot to young players the Wizards give up on to see what they can do in a functional environment.
Not foolproof, but worth a try.
Not foolproof, but worth a try.
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
Eight NBA Players Who Are Taking a Leap This Season
From stars breaking out to role players leveling up, these are the most significant glow-ups in the league
www.theringer.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Ryan Rollins and Deni Avdija are a good argument that a worthwhile strategy is giving a shot to young players the Wizards give up on to see what they can do in a functional environment.
Not foolproof, but worth a try.
Not foolproof, but worth a try.
Reposted by Michael Pina
I appreciate not putting a Celtic in the promo image because it keeps up the mystery of which of the three options will make the list
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
Eight NBA Players Who Are Taking a Leap This Season
From stars breaking out to role players leveling up, these are the most significant glow-ups in the league
www.theringer.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:41 PM
I appreciate not putting a Celtic in the promo image because it keeps up the mystery of which of the three options will make the list
Reposted by Michael Pina
Watching the entirety of Duren's career so far, I'm blown away by how much just his general awareness on offense and defense has improved even since last season, let alone since his rookie season. He used to get lost so often, and as Michael correctly states, that growth is "franchise-altering."
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
Eight NBA Players Who Are Taking a Leap This Season
From stars breaking out to role players leveling up, these are the most significant glow-ups in the league
www.theringer.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Watching the entirety of Duren's career so far, I'm blown away by how much just his general awareness on offense and defense has improved even since last season, let alone since his rookie season. He used to get lost so often, and as Michael correctly states, that growth is "franchise-altering."
they watched the first half of denver's last game against cleveland
The Brooklyn Nets defense was working against Jamal Murray. Switches, activity on ball, help to try and take away driving lanes.
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
they watched the first half of denver's last game against cleveland
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
Eight NBA Players Who Are Taking a Leap This Season
From stars breaking out to role players leveling up, these are the most significant glow-ups in the league
www.theringer.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:31 PM
i wrote about 8 players who've taken some kind of a leap this season: www.theringer.com/2026/01/05/n...
bronny james over jordan goodwin was such an incredible decision.
January 5, 2026 at 12:08 PM
bronny james over jordan goodwin was such an incredible decision.
so...yes
WELKER: Mr. Secretary, are you running Venezuela right now?
MARCO RUBIO: Yeah. People are fixating on that. Here's the bottom line -- we expect to see changes in Venezuela
MARCO RUBIO: Yeah. People are fixating on that. Here's the bottom line -- we expect to see changes in Venezuela
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 PM
so...yes
jaylen brown was on my mvp straw poll a couple weeks ago. it's very easy to see a world where he finishes somewhere on my actual ballot. it's been an absolutely incredible season for someone who also deserves plenty of votes for most improved player
January 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
jaylen brown was on my mvp straw poll a couple weeks ago. it's very easy to see a world where he finishes somewhere on my actual ballot. it's been an absolutely incredible season for someone who also deserves plenty of votes for most improved player
solid win for milwaukee. any team that barely beats the charlotte hornets at home should absolutely see themselves as a buyer at the trade deadline
January 3, 2026 at 3:35 AM
solid win for milwaukee. any team that barely beats the charlotte hornets at home should absolutely see themselves as a buyer at the trade deadline
doc rivers really cooked with that one
January 3, 2026 at 3:33 AM
doc rivers really cooked with that one
incredible back screen by lamelo ball on giannis
January 3, 2026 at 3:30 AM
incredible back screen by lamelo ball on giannis
that was *a lot* of peyton watson down the stretch. really curious why the cavaliers waited until the second half to put two on murray. a win is a win but don't think that was particularly encouraging for cleveland
January 3, 2026 at 2:58 AM
that was *a lot* of peyton watson down the stretch. really curious why the cavaliers waited until the second half to put two on murray. a win is a win but don't think that was particularly encouraging for cleveland
in last night’s win against the jazz: 45 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks.
the clippers have won six in a row
the clippers have won six in a row
kawhi leonard: the best two-way player in the nba?
January 2, 2026 at 12:04 PM
in last night’s win against the jazz: 45 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks.
the clippers have won six in a row
the clippers have won six in a row
the bucks can't beat the wizards. clear buyers heading into the trade deadline
January 1, 2026 at 3:25 AM
the bucks can't beat the wizards. clear buyers heading into the trade deadline
pretty much all the nba games tonight have been ridiculous. cj!
January 1, 2026 at 3:22 AM
pretty much all the nba games tonight have been ridiculous. cj!
i'm a big alex sarr fan, but whenever chris miller reads his all-star promo during wizards games it sounds like a ransom note
January 1, 2026 at 3:18 AM
i'm a big alex sarr fan, but whenever chris miller reads his all-star promo during wizards games it sounds like a ransom note
omg brandon ingram. the basketball is good
January 1, 2026 at 3:08 AM
omg brandon ingram. the basketball is good
you know what's really interesting about this hawks game is trae young is not playing in it
December 31, 2025 at 9:38 PM
you know what's really interesting about this hawks game is trae young is not playing in it
i simply can't find anything i want anymore
I don't have enough words to say how much I hate that any search only results in articles & blogs on AI slop websites.
December 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
i simply can't find anything i want anymore
if your response to this has anything to do with injuries you either aren't watching the clippers or don't like basketball
kawhi leonard: the best two-way player in the nba?
December 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
if your response to this has anything to do with injuries you either aren't watching the clippers or don't like basketball
kawhi leonard: the best two-way player in the nba?
December 31, 2025 at 11:06 AM
kawhi leonard: the best two-way player in the nba?