Worldwide Sports News

What I’m most looking forward to …

Seeing all the fruits borne of an incredible summer of player movement. It feels like three years ago that Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Heat, because since then, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James went to the 76ers, and a ton of other deck chairs were reshuffled. This is the most intriguing NBA opening week in eons. Claire de Lune

Washington and Utah clawing their way out of the doldrums. Both have been in perpetual poverty for almost half a decade. Both now surround young cores of switchy, two-way wings with playoff-tested veterans like Anthony Davis and Jaren Jackson Jr. Lee Escobedo

The NBA’s great chemistry experiment. After a summer in which Antetokounmpo landed in Miami and LeBron and Brown somehow wound up together in Philadelphia, the league feels like someone hit the reset button. Whether any of these hastily assembled superteams can actually function together is another question entirely. I’m particularly interested in how quickly the novelty wears off and the finger-pointing begins. Bryan Armen Graham

Can I be a homer and pick da Bulls? It appears they have their own generational Caleb – Caleb Wilson – to match the dynamic Bears quarterback, and the North Carolina prospect has looked like a draft steal since falling to fourth overall. Mix in the free-agent signing of Norman Powell (a veteran tough guy who expands his offensive range each year) and the addition of Tiago Splitter (a Gregg Popovich disciple who spurred Portland to a surprising playoff campaign last year), and these young Bulls sure look ready to run again. Andrew Lawrence

A healthy Indiana Pacers team. I watched a lot of Pacers games last season, convinced they’d still be a playoff team as Tyrese Haliburton recovered from a torn Achilles – their magical run to the NBA finals in 2025 was very much a team effort – only to realize in dismay how Haliburton was not only the team’s beating heart, but the engine of their offense. Now Hali is back, Myles Turner is out, Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr are in, and I am glued to my couch with a big bucket of popcorn. Owen Lewis

LeBron’s time with the 76ers will be …

Irrelevant to his legacy. For all the hand-wringing and consternation about what will or won’t happen for LeBron and the 76ers in his tenure there, it’s ultimately a moot point. The (presumably) last stop of his storied career is a coda on what will likely go down as the greatest career in the history of the sport. Another ring would just be a cherry on top. CDL

Related: Kawhi Leonard: a hero’s complicated return to the Toronto Raptors

Not how he imagined. Joel Embiid had the unmitigated gall to announce he’s “against the concept of sacrificing”. This leaves five starters with All-Star appetites fighting over one ball. Recent champions won with a legible hierarchy, a pecking order that settles crunch time and dictates the counter when defenses load up. Tyrese Maxey, coming off a career-high 28.3 points a game, belongs atop the pile. He and VJ Edgecombe will pay most for its absence. LE

A magnificent circus. Philadelphia have spent more than four decades searching for the combination that will deliver another NBA championship, and now they’ve turned to a 41-year-old billionaire who would apparently rather be in New York. There will be spectacular nights, inevitable injuries, endless debates about load management and probably a few helicopter-related controversies. Whether any of it adds up to a championship is almost beside the point. The Sixers have become the most fascinating reality show in American sports. BAG

Eventful. It already has been with him choppering back and forth from New York and media and fans scrambling to trace leaks about Embiid’s perceived commitment back to his camp, reportedly keen to arrange a reunion with Davis. If the Sixers’ Monstar team don’t jump out to an early lead in the East – or worse, falter in Eagles-like fashion – the King risks courting the most intense scrutiny of his basketball career from a fanbase that’s already on his case before he’s even played. AL

Counting on the health of a 41-year-old LeBron and Embiid’s knees – to this point proven to have the durability of Cheez-Its – seems unwise. This team is bursting at the seams with star power, but it’d be easy for injuries and a clunky fit to yank them off the rails before they ever find their rhythm. Still, in the name of delusional optimism and LeBron’s career so far: thrilling and tumultuous. OL

Young player to make the superstar leap …

Dylan Harper was arguably San Antonio’s most consistent player in their finals run last season … as a rookie. The sky is the limit for this insanely talented NBA nepo baby, and I think we see him as an All-Star and maybe even a fringe All-NBA player this year. CDL

Alex Sarr’s field-goal percentage jumped from 39.4% as a rookie to 48.2% last season. He reads the short roll like a guard and attacks closeouts off the dribble. Trae Young should make him a premier lob threat for the Wizards. Remember Clint Capela shooting 64.6% off Young’s passes in 2020-21? The next frontier is individual defense beyond his two blocks a night, and he now apprentices himself to Davis, a five-time All-Defensive selection. LE

Amen Thompson. The athletic gifts have never been in question. What makes the Rockets star so tantalizing is the possibility that his offensive game catches up with the havoc he already wreaks defensively. Houston have enough talent around him that he won’t have to manufacture everything himself, but there’s a version of Thompson who becomes the Rockets’ most important player on both ends of the floor. That version may arrive sooner than anyone expects. BAG

One could argue that Cade Cunningham is already there after leading Detroit to the east’s top seed and otherwise filling out the box score like he did last year. This year, though, I think is when more fans recognize that the Oklahoma State product belongs in the same conversation with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić et al. And if all the work Cunningham put in during the offseason to improve his three-point accuracy bears fruit, the Pistons could have a serious MVP contender on their roster. AL

Cooper Flagg. The 19-year-old spent last season playing the point on an undermanned Mavericks squad, but nonetheless put up 51-, 49-, 45-, and 42-point nights. With Kyrie Irving back from a long layoff with a torn ACL, Flagg stands to excel even further with a talented second option beside him in his sophomore season. OL

This season’s villain arc will be supplied by…

Victor Wembanyama seems quite content to take on the role as villain. It was a cumbersome fit, at first: it’s hard to seem like the bad guy when you’re playing chess with fans in the park and bemoaning the trappings of sports betting. But fresh off a finals drubbing, Wembanyama enters this season on a mission: destroy everything in his path. CDL

The owners, an American oligarchy in miniature. Miriam Adelson bankrolled Donald Trump, who credited her family, from the Knesset rostrum, with shaping his Israel policy. Steve Ballmer is serving a yearlong suspension for cap circumvention. I traced Robert Pera’s Ubiquiti radios to Russia’s drone war on Ukraine. Josh Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law, agreed to buy the Lakers. My own team’s owner built a petty panopticon. LE

The NBA’s gambling partners. Forget Draymond Green. The league’s real villains are turning every possession into a speculative asset. With gambling scandals mounting, the NBA is already restricting certain bets while its partners flood broadcasts with advertising. The actual basketball seems to be becoming a sideshow. BAG

LeBron, see above. AL

Doesn’t James Dolan already have this title locked up? The Knicks got to enjoy their championship for all of five minutes before Dolan announced that they would not go into the second apron. Mitchell Robinson is now a Celtic. Karl-Anthony Towns is unhappy with extension talks. Dolan is renting out Madison Square Garden to raise money for a GOP candidate. Somebody find this man a competent PR manager, or a moral compass. OL

Most Valuable Player

Speaking of Victor Wembanyama, the MVP is his to lose. Barring a significant injury, I don’t see anyone swiping either this award or defensive player of the year from him. He’s fresh off a surprise finals berth, finished high in the MVP voting last year, and is rapidly making his case for the best player in the association. CDL

Victor Wembanyama is inevitable. I raised the alarm last year. The defensive player of the year adds MVP this season, a double nobody has managed since Giannis in 2020. No athlete since prime LeBron has bent physics like this. A man who thinks in myths and epics watched his own late turnover decide Game 2 of the finals, then watched the Knicks celebrate on his floor. He’ll spend 82 games proving he never chokes again. LE

Victor Wembanyama. This one feels overdue before it’s even happened. Jokić remains the best offensive player alive, Luka Dončić can bend entire defenses to his will and Gilgeous-Alexander has made ruthless efficiency his brand. But Wemby is becoming something none of them can match: a one-man defensive system who can also score 30 a night. Voter fatigue should take care of the rest. BAG

Giannis Antetokounmpo. Not only is he healthy, but he’s got a squad around him that fits his lunch-pail personality and an organization that is seriously committed to winning championships. With shooters around him and Bam Adebayo on the floor for shutdown defense and an offensive spark, there’s no telling how far Giannis can take the Heat – but any sort of rebound for this perennial play-in contender is likely to come down to his vintage brilliance. AL

Victor Wembanyama. It’s less that Jokić can’t win his fourth MVP or Dončić his first with especially potent offensive wizardry (voters are notoriously unlikely to give out three MVPs in a row, which rules out Gilgeous-Alexander) than that I think Wemby’s unparalleled and ever-improving two-way superpowers will prove impossible to ignore. OL

Eastern Conference playoff teams

Knicks, 76ers, Celtics, Heat, Pacers, Raptors, Pistons, Cavaliers. CDL

Knicks, Pacers, Hawks, Heat, 76ers, Pistons, Cavaliers, Raptors. LE

Knicks, Celtics, Cavaliers, 76ers, Pacers, Pistons, Hawks, Heat. BAG

Bulls, Pistons, Celtics, Cavaliers, Knicks, 76ers, Heat, Hawks. AL

Pistons, Knicks, Celtics, Pacers, Cavaliers, 76ers, Raptors, Hawks (sorry, Heat fans, I don’t trust Giannis’s health). OL

Western Conference playoff teams

Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Warriors. CDL

Spurs, Thunder, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Jazz (!). LE

Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets, Timberwolves, Warriors, Mavericks. BAG

Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Warriors, Mavericks. AL

Thunder, Spurs, Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Mavericks. OL

Eastern Conference finals

Knicks over 76ers. CDL

Knicks over Pacers LE

Celtics over Knicks. BAG

Knicks over 76ers. AL

Pacers over Knicks. OL

Western Conference finals

Spurs over Thunder. CDL

Timberwolves over Spurs LE

Thunder over Spurs. BAG

Spurs over Thunder. AL

Thunder over Spurs. OL

NBA finals

Spurs 4-3 Knicks. It’s been the better part of a decade since we got an NBA finals rematch, and we’re due. While the path out of the East will be tremendously more difficult this year, and the Spurs’ path out of the West won’t exactly be a picnic, either, the safe bet feels like a rematch of last year’s finals. However, I do suspect a different outcome: with a deep playoff run of experience under San Antonio’s belt, and Wemby fully embracing his villain arc (and the weightroom), I think this is the year he adds the first of several finals MVPs to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet. JF

Knicks 4-2 Timberwolves. New York had the best offensive rating and the best defensive rating of last postseason. The Knicks swept the conference semifinals and finals on the way to 13 straight wins, the second-longest run in a single postseason. Then they handed Wembanyama’s Spurs a gentleman’s sweep. Wipe away those tears and accept the defending champions. Minnesota spent the offseason building a deep, polymorphous roster around Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, and I respect it. All five Knicks starters return, though, and in this league, continuity is king. Remember, with Jalen Brunson, anything is possible. LE

Thunder 4-2 Celtics. The NBA’s fixation on parity has made picking a champion feel like throwing darts blindfolded, but Oklahoma City remain the closest thing the league has to a sustainable dynasty. Gilgeous-Alexander is still in his prime, the supporting cast is absurdly deep and last season’s disappointment should provide ample motivation. Boston’s experience carries them through the East, but the Thunder’s athleticism and defensive versatility ultimately prove too much. The league gets another champion from a small market – ending an unprecedented run of eight different champions in eight seasons – and the rest of the NBA gets another reminder that continuity might actually matter. BAG

Spurs 4-1 Knicks. The Spurs get revenge and beat the Knicks, kicking off a new championship rivalry for the era. But this time, instead of riding Wemby till he runs out of gas or deferring to De’Aaron Fox in the clutch, Mitch Johnson puts the onus on Harper – who makes the leap from supersub to superstar to finals MVP. He and Wemby emerge as the Shaq and Kobe of their day, with San Antonio fans holding their breath in hopes that their egos remain modest and keep this dynasty in the making from blowing up in Kawhi-like fashion. AL

Thunder 4-3 Pacers. Nobody repeats in the parity era, but the Thunder got close. With injuries to two vital offensive contributors, they still wrestled their biggest rival to a tight Game 7 in the Western Conference finals. I think they exact revenge over the Spurs this year. The retooled and revitalized Pacers will be the last team standing after a bloodbath in the East. In the finals, they’ll provide a sequel to their magnetic series from 2025, only Haliburton will be healthy for Game 7. We’ll just get the same result. OL

NBA Strat-O-Matic 2026-27 season simulation: Will there be a new champion? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A new NBA season is about to be underway.

The New York Knicks are aiming to repeat as champions after ending a 53-year title drought, but they will face tough competition to do so.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs figure to lead the conversation, while the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics were among the teams that retooled in order to go up a level.

So, who will come out on top? And what about other important parts to the season, such as the NBA Cup and MVP award? Strat-O-Matic broke it down with a simulation of the upcoming season:

Best regular-season record

The Thunder went 64-18 to own the league’s best regular-season record last year. The simulation has them repeating the same record, while the Spurs drop a few wins at 59-23.

NBA Cup winner

The three NBA Cups have been won by the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Knicks. The simulation does not include a new winner, as the Lakers are predicted to top the Celtics for their second NBA Cup triumph.

MVP and Rookie of the Year winners

Three players have three-peated the regular-season MVP award: Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. That could hit four players total, as Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is predicted to win the MVP award for the third year running.

The league is also seeing an exciting crop of youngsters joining the league. Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson is predicted to claim the Rookie of the Year award, with Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer and Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson among the finalists.

Scoring leader

The scoring title in the league belongs to the player who finished with the highest points-per-game mark in the regular season. Lakers star Luka Doncic is predicted to win his third scoring title with an average of 32.4 points per game, slightly above Gilgeous-Alexander’s predicted 32.2 figure.

NBA Finals winner and Finals MVP

Sorry, New York. The Knicks’ repeat bid is predicted to end in the conference finals, where they fall to the Celtics in five games. On the other side, the Spurs take down the Houston Rockets in six games, pitting San Antonio and Boston in the NBA Finals.

From there, the Spurs go on to win in Game 7, with Victor Wembanyama winning Finals MVP after averaging 26.4 points per game.

On the eve of the 2026-27 NBA season, ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped an unexpected piece of Timberwolves-related news.

It seems to be the theme of this offseason for Minnesota. They have consistently been in the news with rarely a long break between important roster moves. From sending off two-thirds of their frontcourt for LaMelo Ball, to the LeBron “White Board” Saga, to Jonathan Kuminga choosing the Wolves over the Lakers – it’s been an active offseason!

For fans wondering why McDaniels seemed to almost randomly sign this one-year extension, Charania further provided details in a follow-up post. This was likely all information shared by Jaden’s agent, Nima Namakian.

McDaniels strategically secures an additional $40 million guaranteed for an additional season while protecting his upside and creating the flexibility to negotiate another extension as early as 2028 at a starting salary of up to 140% of the new higher $40M salary — or enter free agency in 2030 with 10 years of NBA service.

The 26-year-old now has total of four years and $124M on his Wolves deal.

Former Canis Hoopus employee, Dane Moore, had hinted in a podcast episode four months ago that this could’ve been an option. Just as he did when hypothesizing the Julius Randle to Brooklyn Nets salary dump option, Moore was once again on top of this one. For those who are concerned about the dollar amount, he provided a bit of context that should ease concerns about if he’s worth it.

Jaden had a career season last year, averaging several highs in statistics like points per game, assists per game, and all three shooting percentages. He only further upped his game in the postseason, most notably embarrassing the Denver Nuggets in the first round the postseason.

It’s never a bad day to relive that performance.

Wolves President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, has rewarded the recently turned 26-year-old with a favorable extension. This may be a great time as well, considering the new role he’ll have as one of the leaders of the new-look Timberwolves. Yes, it’s just preseason, but he’s already proven that he’s ready for yet another breakout season.

Some of you have been arguing about his nickname in the comments section. Sith Lord. Seatbelt. Slim. McD. Whatever you want to call him, there’s one thing we can rest assured he will be called for the next four years.

A Minnesota Timberwolf.

After a nervous few days in which the Bucks waived Pete Nance from the non-guaranteed deal they signed him to in July to cut their official roster to 16—and then waived Kevin Porter Jr. yesterday to bring it to 15—the team announced that Nance has indeed signed another two-way contract to return to Milwaukee for a third season. This will be the 26-year-old’s final season of two-way eligibility.

Why was it a nervous few days? Well, as we wrote in the latest edition of Heard ‘em Say, by waiving Nance, the Bucks reportedly risked the very real possibility of another team snapping him up on a standard contract—something Milwaukee couldn’t realistically offer without taking a significant financial hit. Remember, the Bucks were already going to have to eat one standard contract—which ended up being KPJ’s $5.39m deal—and it seems clear they didn’t want to eat two. Cutting Nance was always going to be the “easy way out” because, as I mentioned, his standard contract was non-guaranteed; however, doing so carried risk, as Nance’s ability has clearly broken into the mainstream.

Make no mistake: while Nance will be on a two-way deal with the Bucks, Jenkins won’t treat him like a two-way player. I doubt he’ll even play much with the Wisconsin Herd this year; instead, I’d wager guys like Bogoljub Markovic and Nate Ament will spend more time in Oshkosh. Clearly, Horst and his team were shrewd enough to convince Nance to allow them to take advantage of the fact that he had a year of two-way eligibility remaining—which saves them having to sign him to a standard deal to keep him—but conversations were surely had about how that contract does not reflect the plans Horst and Co. have for him, both for this season and in the future. Just don’t be putting anything in writing, eh, Jon?

Nance is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 5.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 1.0 APG, shooting 42.0% from three, in a career-high 15.7 minutes per contest. All three of Milwaukee’s two-way contracts are now occupied.

Joshua Jefferson, the 6’9” 23-year-old point forward taken at No. 28 in the Draft, has been the forgotten man this summer. Because of NBA regs, he couldn’t join the Nets Summer League team until the first game in Las Vegas. No practice, just a review of the playbook and the results were as expected: some smart plays but with the caveat that things will take time. He also was recovering from an ankle injury sustained in his final days at Iowa State. In three games, he averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. 

Then, he couldn’t practice in training camp, couldn’t play in any of the four preseason games because of back stiffness. Just three days ago, he was seen running wind sprints, seemingly not near activation…

So it was a surprise when the head coach announced Monday that Jefferson had participated in practice and would be ready for Wednesday’s game vs. the Charlotte Hornets.

“[Joshua] will be available, yeah. He just practiced, contact practice, and did a great job. I’m happy to see him back. He’s had a buildup and today he played with the rest of the group,” Fernandez said. Whether he makes his debut in the opener remains Fernandez decision.

Jefferson has the Nets excited despite the long road and injuries. He fits the Nets requirements of positional size, versatility and quick thinking. He can play next to Egor Demin or step in for him.

Indeed, according to insiders, the Nets demanded the exchange of picks — the 28th Timberwolves pick for the Nets 33rd — that got him to Brooklyn as part of the multi-team Julius Randle deal. Those same insiders said Jefferson was always an organization target. Scouts believed that if he had been younger, he would have done higher. Jefferson, in fact is the Nets oldest first round pick since Mason Plumlee in 2013. He’s also the ninth oldest player on this year’s roster.

At Media Day, Jefferson talked about his NBA role and how it will likely change from what he played at Iowa State.

“I think [creating with the ball in my hands] is a big part of who I am as a player,” Jefferson said as Erik Slater reported. “Creating for others, making the job easier and getting open shots for my teammates. It’s going to change a little bit with the amount of weapons that we have.

“So just getting it off the glass and then pushing in transition and playing out of closeouts and stuff like that is how I’m going to continue to integrate my game. Just making quick decisions with the ball, given I probably won’t have the ball as much as I did in college. So just understand that I’ve got to be effective in the opportunities that I get.”

As of Monday, only one Nets player — second round pick Tyler Bilodeau — won’t be available. The two-way is out with a shoulder sprain.

• Nets first-round pick cleared for season-opener after missing preseason – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets’ Joshua Jefferson available for season opener vs. the Hornets – Shareef Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Waiting for a new season can be excruciating, tiresome, and hard. It can feel like an eternity. As a fan, you are usually left with questions: why did the past season go up in flames, and what needs to happen to finally, please, finally do better in the future? To somehow reach that goal that many franchises chase for decades. Or 53 years, to be exact, as the Knicks had.

Of course, our beloved ‘Bockers ended that wait, and everything felt a lot different this past offseason. It was the dream that we never wanted to stop dreaming, the summer we all never thought was possible. While others lived and died by some unknown rookie’s shooting form in Las Vegas, we were busy scheduling Late Night TV gigs, rewatching YouTube highlights 24/7, and emptying bank accounts for the next very special and definitely not limited championship edition of some sort. The Knicks, and we as fans, deservedly basked in the glory of the franchise’s third title, an event that will never be forgotten and will be cherished forever. And yet a new season is still knocking on the door.

A rarely up and mostly down preseason for the Knicks didn’t exactly worry anybody, but now the time of, “Ahh, we’ll get em next time” is over. The real games begin this week, and if New York is ready for the challenge yet is anybody’s guess. The Knicks have shown their mental fortitude plenty of times, especially during their magical playoff run that led them to the NBA’s promised land last June. But dialing up your focus on a night when a banner goes up in the rafters and the players get their championship rings is something entirely different. Imagine focusing on your daily tasks when your biggest life achievement is seemingly celebrated by everybody? Except, of course, by the guys who flew their helicopters down I-95 to derail the festivities.

Sixers hope to spoil Knicks’ big night

28.3, 26.9, 20.9, 28.7, and a meager 16—those are last year’s point averages for Philadelphia’s projected starters this upcoming season. To say that they got a bit of scoring potential would be an understatement. Somehow the 76ers found a way to turn one of the ugliest roster setups in the Association into a serious, realistic “All In” push for a championship. After the Boston Celtics basically gift-wrapped Jaylen Brown in a trade for them, they also got some good news from LeBron James, who decided that his last basketball stand should be in Philly.

Mike Gansey, Elton Brand and Jameer Nelson, the newly formed braintrust behind the Sixers’ surge, also managed to complement the headline-grabbing moves by making some smart additions along the edges of the roster. Dean Wade and his nagging defense arrived from Cleveland, the lazy but gifted Anfernee Simons signed for little money after an unremarkable stint in Chicago, and former NBA champ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be counted on to provide veteran leadership. On top of that, the Sixers found Labaron Philon Jr. in the Draft, a lanky, creative combo guard who won’t score the 22 points per contest he put up for Alabama but who will clearly add another dimension off Philly’s bench.

But even if the rest of the roster is more solid than usual for a freshly formed top-heavy superteam, in the end everything will come down to Philly’s big guns next season—for better or worse. Individually, they are maybe the most talented group in the entire league, and all their stars have big-time playmaking potential next to their obvious scoring punch. Nick Nurse will have the mammoth task of somehow cramping all these individuals into a collective game plan and already tried to do so in the preseason. What ultimately transpired, though, was less five guys pulling on one string and more turns of creating advantages in selected two man games. Which could already be quite a lot in Philly’s case.

Massive potential, question marks for 76ers

The new look Sixers have gigantic potential in the pick-and-roll and can utilize all sorts of different weapons. Imagine defending Tyrese Maxey’s drive around a Joel Embiid screen first and then also matching up with a LeBron James-Jaylen Brown two-man game on the weak side. As a cherry on top, you have VJ Edgecombe flying in along the baseline. Yeah, not really fun—at least not for most teams in the league that will already be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of talent Philly can roll out on any given night. How often they roll, of course, is one of the many questions surrounding this group.

Because for all their potential, the 76ers are rail-thin in the frontcourt after former Knick Ariel Hukporti ruptured his Achilles. Fate has it that this is exactly the spot where Philly has to count on Joel Embiid to at least be somewhat healthy, something he isn’t exactly known for, to say the least. The talkative center seemed to have shed a few pounds in the offseason and probably looked healthier than he did in a long time lately. Yet make no mistake, those banged up knees are still there and will be an enormous obstacle for any type of defense the Sixers will try to muster. Especially beside an aging LeBron James who needs his off nights more often these days, too.

Besides the daunting task of managing a roster crying for chemistry and load management, at the same time the new Philadelphia 76ers might present one of the more interesting social studies basketball has seen in years. A self-absorbed, in his eyes always underappreciated, streaming Aficionado mixing with an even more self-absorbed, aging superstar who needs the limelight like flies need you know what – lean back and watch some terror on the squad unfold. It surely can get interesting. For Philly, only as long as the 7-foot-1 floppy disc doesn’t want to be treated like a leftover and joins in on the fun, as well. Their promising young, exciting and likable backcourt, you ask? Well, there’s always the backseat. All jokes, opponent’s wishful thinking, and LeBronisms about happiness aside, this thing could fall apart before Embiid’s first scheduled night off.

A banner going up at the Garden

On Tuesday, you can bet that the Liberty Ballers will try to avenge some of their latest playoff losses at the hands of the Knicks. They have way more to prove than New York, and that motivation alone might be enough to offset some of the obvious Xs and Os challenges Philadelphia faces against Mike Brown’s guys. We all saw what Jalen Brunson and his friends did to Joel Embiid in the pick-and-roll last season, and there is no reason to believe they can’t do it again this year, too.

Opening Night often is about more than Xs and Os, though. It’s about managing emotions, shaking off rust, and getting accustomed to live game action again. It’s about dealing with new teammates, new expectations, and your body feeling different than it did half a year ago. For the Knicks, it will be a tightrope act of celebrating past accomplishments while caring about a contest dwarfed by those deeds. They wouldn’t be the first veteran-led title team that mismanages a night like that.

But even if things don’t go well on the court for the Knicks, do not despair, fans, as hard as it might be to watch LeBron and company prance around MSG like they won something meaningful. They won’t have, unlike what your Knicks did in June, which will be celebrated for one more night and for good reason. Many things (like players’ hairlines) aren’t forever; banners and titles are, though. Enjoy every minute of the celebrations and let the game unfold as it may. Let’s go Knicks!

Game Details

Who: Philadelphia 76ers (0-0) at New York Knicks (0-0)
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: NBC
Follow: @ptknicksblog

Injury Report

Backup center Adem Bona missed the preseason for Philly with a foot sprain but practiced again on Sunday unlike Domenick Barlow (back) and Dean Wade. Wade is a game time decision due to a bum ankle sustained in the preseason finale. Josh Hart is dealing with his own ankle injury for the Knicks but figures to be available.