First overall pick AJ Dybantsa scored 27 points in his NBA Summer League debut. | Getty Images
The results weren’t even close on this one. And they should have been. We’re biased as Washington Wizards fans, right?
In our SB Nation Reacts survey this week we found that 72% of respondents believe AJ Dybantsa will have the best NBA career, well ahead of Caleb Wilson (12%), Darryn Peterson (8%), and Cam Boozer (8%).
It’s easy to see why. Dybantsa is widely viewed as a franchise-changing talent, and Wizards fans clearly hope he’s the player who leads Washington’s rebuild into the future. The other players will also have great careers, don’t get me wrong. But we are certainly behind our guy, AJ Dybantsa!
Even if the FanDuel odds of the Wizards beating the Hawks tomorrow aren’t great (and they are underdogs), I can’t wait to cover this team toward what I hope will be multiple playoff runs in the not-too-distant future.
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek thinks having Celebrity Row mainstay Timothée Chalamet play him on the big screen would be a slam dunk.
“That would be amazing,” he told The Post from the ESPYs red carpet at the Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center on Wednesday. “We’ll see if he agrees to that.”
Tyler Kolek told The Post it would be “amazing” to have Timothée Chalamet play him on-screen. NBAE via Getty Images
During Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Kolek drained a clutch three-pointer during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ historic win over the San Antonio Spurs — and Chalamet went viral for jumping out of his Madison Square Garden courtside seat and shouting, “White boys!”
Knicks fans online quickly began pointing out the uncanny resemblance between the two.
So when Kolek posted a photo of himself holding the championship trophy on Instagram, a follower said, “Timmy gon play you in the Knicks documentary.”
“And he’ll play Timmy,” another joked.
Kolek has been having a ball since the team took home their first NBA title in 53 years.
“It’s been amazing. I mean, the city has been on fire,” the former Marquette star said.
“I got out of the city a little bit, just to kind of get some grounding, get back to reality, take a little deep breath.
“But coming to the ESPYs, going to Fanatics Fest this week, the World Cup Final, it’ll be good to be back.”
The Rhode Island native, who signed with the Knicks in 2024, also revealed why he believes the team won the title.
Kolek spoke to The Post from the red carpet at the ESPYs, where the Knicks took home the Best Team award. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P
“I think it’s the way that we play together, the way we care for each other. That’s the most important thing. You see a lot of people worried about their individual stats,” he said.
“And I feel like our team just came together as one and accomplished the goal that we set our minds to.”
Kolek, whose girlfriend, Alexi Sousa, was by his side at the ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes, said he is planning to keep his championship merch for his future children.
“I gotta keep it … maybe frame a jersey. I got a ball from the Finals too,” he said.
“Just keep that stuff for my kids, you know, for me later in life.”
The 6′ 2” reserve guard, who boasts 265,000 Instagram followers, said one of the most iconic moments during the Finals run was watching the videos of people cheering outside of Madison Square Garden.
“All the videos outside that I saw of people rioting in the streets, going crazy,” he said, “those have definitely been my favorite.”
I do think the Cavaliers are a stronger pull as far as storylines go; Akron, Ohio is James’ home and Cleveland is the team that selected him first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. But, on a basketball level, I don’t love the fit. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are both ball-dominant guards who do best when they’re initiating. James, at this stage of his career, is a better facilitator than he is a pure scorer. Cleveland, in my estimation, forces James to sacrifice parts of his game.
In Miami, he can be far more of a creator, as the Heat currently lack a pure distributor. And when paired with Giannis Antetokoumpo, this would give Miami two of the elite transition players – if not the two best fastbreak players of all time. The Heat would still need to add some shooting, but Miami would instantly improve their standing as a competitor in the East. I also have a hard time seeing James, in his 24th season, playing for a new franchise.
If LeBron James wants to realistically compete for a championship, he needs to return home and go to Cleveland. It would be a great story whether the Cavaliers end up dethroning the New York Knicks or not. The Cavaliers are younger and more athletic than the other teams vying for his services, and he doesn’t necessarily have to come in and average 20 points a night for them to win games.
He certainly is a defensive liability at this point in his career, but the Cavaliers have more than enough frontcourt and rim protectors to make up any deficiencies there.
I know folks are complaining about how long this decision is taking but, in LeBron’s defense, he did prepare us for a drawn-out process in May. As far as where he goes, I’m absolutely clueless. Miami makes the most sense for all the reasons previously mentioned. Cleveland has its heartfelt reasons, it's a hell of a storyline and ending to a legendary career, whether it concludes with a championship or not.
However, based on James’ statements about what’s important to him at this point in his career, I’d have to lean on him choosing the Golden State Warriors to finally team with Stephen Curry. James has shared his desire to remain close to family, and the Bay Area allows him to do that as he stays in California, less than two hours from Los Angeles – by flight. James also loves golf and throughout the Bay Area there are a number of great courses.
For a long time, James has entertained the idea of playing alongside Curry, and more or less his friend Draymond Green. We saw a sample size during the 2024 Olympic games and it was magical. To top it off, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was the coach of the U.S. men's national basketball team that year when they won the gold medal.
Mark Giannotto: Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James finishing his record-setting career where it started feels too good to pass up for someone as image-conscience as him. The Cavaliers were also the closest to winning an NBA title last season among the teams reported to be James' top suitors.
James H. Williams: Cleveland Cavaliers
James could create a full-circle moment for himself with a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, especially if he is planning to retire after the upcoming season.
Depending on how long he is willing to play, he could potentially win two more NBA titles and tie Michael Jordan. While it may be too much to ask of James to turn a franchise around on his own at this stage of his career, he could help elevate the Cavs to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
Regardless, a third stint in Cleveland would be meaningful and impactful for the city. He would be welcomed back with open arms and would again be a boon for downtown spending. James has also clearly made an effort to remain close to his roots, spending the early part of this summer in his hometown of Akron, Ohio like he does every year.
Victoria Hernandez: Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James got to live the superstar life in his career, winning two titles basking in South Beach with Miami and then spending the last eight seasons in Hollywood with the Lakers. It’s understandable that James would want to join his buddy Stephen Curry along with Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and let’s not forget about the gem that is Al Horford, for a bit of an ole boys club with Golden State. But wrapping his legacy up in his home state in a return to the Cavaliers would be the full circle moment that the King knows tugs at heartstrings in a way that’s bigger than basketball.
December 25, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game on Christmas against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 89-83. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The NBA is ready to roll out their schedule featuring 25 national TV broadcasts throughout the season including opening week and the ever popular Christmas matchups. If the basketball gods are pumping on all cylinders, the yuletide will showcase Miami facing off against Milwaukee, the 76ers playing the Celtics, and the Spurs returning to Madison Square Garden.
There’s just one problem. LeBron James has yet to announce where he will play next season.
The NBA's $76 billion TV deal is currently on hold because one 41-year-old won't say where he wants to work.
Adam Silver, the commissioner, admitted it today: the league cannot finish the 2026-27 schedule until LeBron James picks a team. Teams are calling. Networks are calling.… https://t.co/fgWI3etdi1
“I would like him to make his announcement already, so he can finish the schedule. Because as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc.”
It sounds strange that the oldest player is the hold up until one hears that player is LeBron. If/when he does sign with a team, James enters his twenty-fourth season. Truth be told, it wouldn’t be Christmas without King James. He’s played a record 20 Christmases, and currently 19 seasons straight.
That said, one option is for the league plan as if LeBron was retiring. It isn’t befitting of of one of the greatest to ever play the game, but then again, is it appropriate for the league to hold up for one player?
Make no mistake, his signing is a major event for the league, but perhaps James is milking it a little too long. He has to have an idea of where he wants to go, and any team is prepared to graciously roll out the red carpet. While understanding that this is most likely his laster hurrah, he could be more expedient with his plans.
What do you think, Pounders? Share in the comments below.
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You would think Darius Acuff Jr. hurt a puppy the way people were talking about him after his NBA summer league showing.
The expectations are higher as the No. 7 overall pick, sure, but some feedback has been extremely exaggerated regarding the young Kings point guard.
Before Acuff even put a Kings jersey on, several critics scrutinized his defense and lack of effort on that end of the floor. So it seemed like every defensive mistake he would make from there on was magnified and blasted on social media.
The clips went viral and, while they didn’t make Acuff’s case look great, they didn’t paint the whole picture.
Acuff did have a lot of bad defensive lapses, but he also had some pretty impressive plays on that side of the ball. Of course, those didn’t go viral.
Acuff isn’t and likely won’t ever be a lockdown defender, but that’s not why the Kings drafted him. In that same breath, yes, he does have areas to improve defensively, but it’s not anything he doesn’t already know.
He is his own biggest critic, and those around him, including his teammates, Scott Perry, and even his father, believe he’s fully capable of making a leap defensively.
Now let’s dive into the things that don’t matter and won’t show up anywhere in the future: his summer league stats. Acuff played five of the eight games, averaging 20.8 points on 35-percent shooting from the field and 27.8 percent from 3-point range, with 1.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.8 turnovers.
Now let’s compare them to those players taken before him in the 2026 NBA Draft: AJ Dybantsa (No. 1), Darryn Peterson (No. 2), Cameron Boozer (No. 3), Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Keaton Wagler (No. 5) and Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6).
Dybantsa showcased his top-pick talent in just two games, including one against the Kings, averaging 25 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. If there was something to nitpick at, it’s that he shot just 39.4 percent from the field and made just one of his 11 3-point attempts.
The former BYU star also demonstrated potential on defense, recording three blocks in his two summer league appearances.
Peterson has made the Wizards contemplate their decision, but the Utah Jazz surely are grateful. Peterson has shone, from the Salt Lake City Summer League to NBA Summer League in Vegas, the Kansas standout has looked like the best player in the draft.
He had an efficient 28-point performance in his Jazz debut, followed by dropping 25, 24, 23 and 15 in the games following, respectively. Excluding one game, Peterson has shot very efficiently.
Boozer had a standout showing for the Grizzlies, leading his team to the Las Vegas Semifinals and posting averages of 18.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting around 58 percent from the field and 38 percent from distance.
The conversation around his game has been that he has the most translatable NBA skillset that should instantly help Memphis.
Wagler slightly struggled to begin summer league, but he capped off his Vegas run with a game-high 26 points in an overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers guard averaged 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game but struggled with efficiency, shooting 34.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range.
In his matchup against the Kings, Wagler couldn’t get much going offensively through 27 minutes, finishing with seven points on 1-of-7 shooting and 1 of 5 from 3-point range but making three of his four free-throw attempts. He also had two rebounds, one assist and one turnover, and was a minus-23 in plus/minus rating.
Acuff’s showing was much more promising after taking 13 more shot attempts than Wagler. Acuff finished with 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field and 3 of 9 from long range, with three rebounds, seven assists, two steals, one block and four turnovers in 28 minutes.
Finally, Brown Jr. had a highly impressive summer league debut with the Nets. Across his Las Vegas Summer League appearances, he averaged 18 points, 4.7 assists, and stellar shooting splits, shooting nearly 52.2 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range.
Does any of this matter? Probably not.
But it still is fun to dissect, as this draft class was viewed as one of the best in recent NBA history.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 23: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks interact after the game at Target Center on December 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Knicks 115-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s official. No more Knicks basketball till October.
As that tune says, wake me up when September ends.
Here’s (likely, but who knows) the last Bulletin of the season.
Jalen Brunson is in the house for Dodgers vs. Yankees
“Wait, wait, I am not signing that. That’s against my religion. Are you gonna make me sign a Giants helmet? Can I write ‘Go Birds’ on it? I’m gonna write ‘Go Birds’ on it.”
On signing a discount extension rather than waiting for a max deal:
“Everyone looks at it as leaving money on the table. And to a certain degree, it is, the most I could sign for at the time was like $156 million. If I had waited a year, it would’ve been about $100 million more… But the average NBA career is about four years. Having that uncertainty of betting on yourself, you don’t really know.
“So just having that in my back pocket, knowing I’m good, my family’s good, I can just play free. I don’t have to worry about anything. It definitely had to do with my decision.”
On his spending habits and preserving his wealth:
“But no matter what, my lifestyle wouldn’t change. Like, it wasn’t like I bought a bunch of things. Everything that I, even to this day I know it’s crazy. Like, if I feel like I’m making a big purchase, I’m going to call my parents. I’m going to call, like, ‘What do you think about this?’ And they’re like, ‘You’re a grown-a– man. You can do what you want.’
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I just want to make sure I’m doing the right [thing].’ I still, like, give myself like those checks to make sure I’m doing everything right [thing], because it’s just it’s important for me to have this [wealth] for obviously as long as I can and for my future generations.”
“It’s been amazing, because it’s about more than just a shoe. It’s about family, community, and being part of a basketball legacy that I grew up on! And also… I’m rocking a custom AND1 fit for the ESPYs.”
On when AND1 first approached him about a sneaker deal:
“Dex Gordon approached me while I was still with the Pelicans. The interest was there, but the timing wasn’t quite right.”
On his favorite AND1 sneakers:
“I love the Attack 4 Lo that I’ve been rocking and, of course, the Tai Chi….but the Mad Game Pros are my favorite!”
On future AND1 sneakers he may wear:
“I’ve been working closely with the design team, so I have to be careful not to give away too much. But there will be more colorways of the Mad Games and Attack 4s coming…”
On his goals for the AND1 partnership:
“I want to see everybody wearing AND1s, both on and off the court. And I want a chance to update basketball courts in the communities where kids who look like me play every day. That’s just part of AND1’s DNA.”
On the athletes or celebrities he wants to see wearing his shoes:
“Fat Joe, J.Lo— and Wemby!”
On his favorite AND1 Mixtape Tour players:
“I have to say Steph Marbury AND Rafer ‘Skip to My Lou’ Alston.”
Anthony Edwards revealed he and Karl-Anthony Towns spoke before every game in the NBA Finals. He gave KAT tips on guarding the Spurs in the Finals. pic.twitter.com/HVAWwwnbl6
On Jalen Brunson deserving consideration as the face of the NBA:
“The face of the league comes with a lot of responsibilities, and I think one of those is winning the championship. And I haven’t did that yet so, maybe Jalen Brunson or one of those guys.”
On speaking with Karl-Anthony Towns during the NBA Finals:
“I was turned up. It may have been like 3 in the morning when he FaceTimed me after the game.
“But yeah, I was talking to him before every game because we played San Antonio. So just, you know, give him the little tips and stuff on which players like to go which way and, you know, stuff about Wemby.”
On helping Towns prepare for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs:
“So yeah, I gave a little cheat code, and he passed the test. So shout out KAT.”
Fred VanVleet
On drawing inspiration from the Knicks’ championship run:
“The lead up to the moment doesn’t matter. We just watched the Knicks do it. Nobody thought they would win. Then they got there, dominated, and they were the best team ever. It’s just how the outside narrative works. But we got a lot of work to do.”
John Calipari reveals the 'quit flopping' advice he gave Karl-Anthony Towns during championship runhttps://t.co/IDqjCl4y0W
“He was a pro through everything. I would get mad and if I talked to him, he’d be like, ‘Hey, it is what it is.’”
On advising Towns to stop trying to draw fouls:
“Karl was taking some heat and I was so mad. He didn’t deserve that. But the only thing I did tell him — ‘They’re not calling fouls so quit flopping.’
“If you’re going to shoot it, they’re going to foul you. And they’re not calling it. I’m watching the Spurs and OKC beat the s–t out of each other [in the Western Conference finals]. No calls. And I said, ‘Look man, go for and-ones, and if they don’t foul you, at least you’ll make the basket. Flopping ain’t helping.’”
On the benefits of running the Knicks’ offense through Towns:
“Playing through Karl did two things — it opened the court for all those other guys. So now they were all All-Stars. It did not take away from what Jalen [Brunson] is going to do at the end of games. He’s maybe the best ever [in the clutch]. I want to say the best ever but you have Michael [Jordan]. But in this era, late in the game, when you need a basket [he’s the best].
“But you can’t play that way 48 minutes. So playing through Karl earlier in the games, it’s spacing the court, he’s helluva passer, can make a couple 3s. And you know what else it got him to do? He started defending better because he was engaged.
“Think about if it’s you, you’re down there bumping and grinding, and you’re touching the ball every seventh trip down. Now you’re touching it way more. You’re gonna try harder on defense.”
On how the Knicks can continue improving:
“They have to get a little bit better. That’s all. All of them get a little bit better.
“And what they have is a rhythm now and how they play and each guy can be a star in what he does. Josh [Hart] is a star at what he does. [Mikal] Bridges is a star at what he does. OG [Anunoby]? Star at what he does. And they all have different roles. Jalen is that centerpiece. Karl is the guy you play through. And when the s–t is on the line, Jalen shoots the ball. It is what it is.”
On NBA stars accepting less money to help their teams:
“People are getting pissed. But there is a second apron for a reason — to discourage that from happening.
“But it makes me feel good — what’s the difference between $400 million and $502 million? I don’t begrudge somebody saying, ‘No, I earned it.’ I don’t begrudge. But I’m saying it’s kinda neat. Because I’m about team. And that means — I care about myself and my family, but I also care about this team. What’s the common ground? What’s the middle ground? I got to give up a little bit.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the Summer League winding down, allow yourself to dream a little bit. We’re heading into a stretch of the summer where actual basketball is few and far between. We’ll get glimpses of offseason workouts, maybe a Pro-Am here and there, but for the most part, sneaker-squealing and rock-pounding will be mirages in this basketball desert from late-July to mid-September.
But after a relatively successful stint out in Sin City, we’ve got enough actual tape to do some prognosticating with our young players. Sure, the Summer Cs didn’t make the Summer League playoffs, but we can dream a little and maybe, just maybe, project a more meaningful championship in their future.
In addition to Hugo Gonzalez’s strong showing in three games, it’s been rookie Chris Cenac Jr.’s game that has really opened the eyes of Celtics fans. The numbers don’t exactly jump off the page — 10.5 points and 8 rebounds per game — but you can see how given a little more time to develop, his physical skills and talent will translate quickly to the NBA game.
Already, he’s an excellent rim protector (2.8 blocks per game) and he’s tried to catch a body on several dunk attempts over the last week. He feels like a mix of Chris Bosh, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Shawn Kemp. What will make him a consistent contributor in the modern NBA is moving his mid-range game past the three-point line and being able to defend quicker players on the switch.
If you want to catch Cenac Jr. and our boys of summer in their last game on The Strip, our friends at FanDuel have the Celtics as +1.5 underdogs against the Orlando Magic later today at 4:30 pm EST.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Bez Mbeng #21 of the Utah Jazz passes the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 17, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz won their final summer league game against the Portland Trail Blazers 83-79. It was a fun game that came down to the wire, with a few Jazz players showing promise that could help the team.
The player who surprisingly didn’t help as much as you’d hope was Blake Hinson, who shot just 1/9 from three. Hinson was a sharpshooter for the Jazz last season, and it’s too bad that he couldn’t show that shooting stroke in the summer league. It’s likely not a big deal, but it would have been nice to see that shooting continue in the summer league. It does make you wonder why all the players who played for Utah last season, or will be getting regular minutes next year, didn’t shoot well in Las Vegas. Is that a trend? Or is it just a coincidence? It makes you wonder if the Jazz have been running hard practices, or if the players are tired from enjoying their time in Las Vegas? There’s no way to really know, but it’s interesting.
Utah’s strongest performer, in terms of plus-minus, was Bez Mbeng. He was a team-leading +14 and, even though he didn’t shoot the ball well either, his defense and intensity really shows on the floor. In this one, Mbeng had 4 steals and handled the ball for a lot of the game. He was also one of the top players in minutes with 20 in this one. I personally really like Mbeng and I’m rooting for him to make the team. I do think he can be a defensive-focused do-it-all player who could really contribute if he keeps improving.
Justin Harmon scored the ball well, leading the team in scoring with a team-leading 21 points. He had 6 free throws in this one and was a positive contributor overall. Harmon could be a nice addition to the training camp roster and, if he can show out, maybe he can earn himself a roster spot. He’s worth watching going forward at the very least.
And with that, the summer league is now over, and we now enter a long summer that will lead into one of the most exciting eras of Jazz basketball I can remember. It will be led by the best prospect in Jazz history to actually suit up for the Utah Jazz, and I can’t wait to see him develop into a superstar wearing the purple and blue.
Jalen Brunson was an attendee at the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Dodgers in The Bronx on Friday night and made sure everyone remembered the Knicks’ playoff battle cry.
The all-world floor general, who led the Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973, was taking in the baseball game while showing off a customized Yankee hat that actually read “KNICKS IN 5” on the side.
Jalen Brunson is in the Bronx with a custom Yankees hat with “Knicks in 5” on the side pic.twitter.com/rdKu75BfR0
Earlier in the day, Brunson attended Fanatics Fest, where, as a lifelong Eagles fan, he refused to sign a Giants helmet before writing “Go Birds.”
This continues yet another honor-filled week for Brunson, who won three individual ESPYs at the Lincoln Center-hosted event on Wednesday, commemorating the best in sports for the previous calendar year.
Brunson took home honors for Best Championship Performance, Best Male Athlete and Best NBA Player.
The Knicks also secured two other awards, with the squad winning the award for Best Team and OG Anunoby locking down the honor for Best Play for his legendary Game 4 tip-in, which put New York up 3-1 in the NBA Finals and capped off a historic 29-point comeback.
Jalen Brunson holds the NBA Title trophy during the Knicks Championship ticker tape parade. Getty Images
Brunson, a huge WWE fan, is also expected to join World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns as part of Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 18.
Following the playoffs, Brunson elected to get wrist surgery on his shooting (left) hand, revealing earlier this week that he felt the pain during the playoffs.
Brunson is expected to be fully recovered by the time training camp begins in late September.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With two games to play, the Lakers (4-0) are now in the semifinals, where they will compete against the Golden State Warriors (3-1) on Saturday. Los Angeles looks to stay undefeated in Las Vegas en route to the finals.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
When: 5:30 p.m. PT, July 18
Where: Thomas & Mack Center
Watch: Prime Video
The Lakers’ undefeated record will be tested on Saturday against, ironically, the only team that has defeated them this summer in the Warriors.
Yes, the same Golden State team that dominated them in their first California Classic game this summer. Since then, much has changed for the purple and gold and it’s going to be interesting to see whether or not they can avenge their only loss this summer.
The fourth-seeded Warriors will be led by their 11th overall pick in Yaxel Lendeborg, who has been fantastic all summer. The rookie from Michigan is averaging 16 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals across five games. This matchup will be headlined by Lendeborg and Cameron Carr.
Speaking of Carr, he’s been nothing but excellent and consistent for the Lakers. The best part about this is that he’s been garnering a ton of help from his teammates, specifically from the likes of Adou Thiero, Arthur Kaluma and Chris Mañon. The Lakers’ biggest advantage in this game will be their depth and collectivity.
The Warriors are a very good shooting team, so slowing down their perimeter production will be key. Besides Lendeborg, Los Angeles has to contain LJ Cryer, who is coming off a strong performance versus the New York Knicks. That should be manageable given how superb and physical the Lakers’ defense has been under coach Ty Abbott.
As long as the Lakers continue creating quality looks on offense while getting balanced production from their key contributors, they’ll have a strong chance of punching their ticket to the Summer League Finals. Expect this one to be a competitive game between Pacific Division rivals and whoever wins will certainly have bragging rights.
Let’s hope it’s the Lakers as they aim to stay undefeated on Saturday.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Blake Hinson #25 of the Utah Jazz grabs the rebound during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in their last game of the Las Vegas Summer League. They will also be doing it without their three most prominent summer league players: Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Cody Williams.
Darryn Peterson and Cody Williams will not play tonight as the Utah Jazz close out Vegas Summer League.#TakeNote | @kslsports
It’s been a very up-and-down summer league for Utah for multiple players. Darryn Peterson started the Salt Lake City Summer League and was easily the best player of anyone in Salt Lake or Las Vegas. After two electric games, he came to Las Vegas, and his shooting numbers slumped. Outside of the shooting, Peterson showed great defense, moved the ball well, and showed an elite ability to get to the line. Overall, it’s been a solid showing for the #2 pick and foreshadows the start of a great career.
Cody Williams had a much better showing in Salt Lake than in Las Vegas. He showed some nice things in Salt Lake but looked pretty dreadful in Las Vegas. It’s not clear why he struggled so much, but it was certainly disheartening. We’ll see if that’s a trend for both players or if it means something more. Needless to say, it would be nice to see some improvement from Williams come training camp and preseason.
Finally, what little we did see of Ace Bailey was great. He has played very little because of back spasms, but the small time we did see him, he showed fantastic defensive potential, and his offense looked good. There’s not much else to say about Bailey other than that he still has some sky-high potential.
How to watch
Who: Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers
When: 8:30 PM MT | July 17, 2026
Where: Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV
How to watch Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers: Prime Video
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 17: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers derives against Jaylin Sellers #2 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up Summer League with a 100-91 win over the Chicago Bulls, led by 24 points from Meleek Thomas.
The Summer League environment rewards score-first guards. The limited practice time, mismatched rosters, and the overall lack of interior defensive talent make it easier for someone in Thomas’s archetype to excel in this setting. Yet, it’s difficult not to be impressed with what we’ve seen in four games.
This wasn’t Thomas’s best scoring outburst in Las Vegas. He missed his first four shots before catching a rhythm. And when he did, the points started to pile up as he converted 10 of his final 16 attempts.
Thomas’s ability to create space off the dribble has been impressive. He’s been able to get to and finish at the rim more efficiently than he did in college in a more spaced-out style of play. Thomas did that again, going 5-5 in the restricted area on Friday. That — combined with his lethal outside shot — has led to impressive scoring performances.
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Natural scorers have a way of getting where they want to on the court. Thomas has looked like one in Las Vegas. Nothing about his offensive game feels forced. He reads the defense and then gets the shot he wants from there. We saw that repeatedly on display in the 24-point performance.
There are understandable questions about how this looks when he’s forced into a more off-ball role, as he will be at the start of his NBA career. The skills that allow him to be effective with the ball in his hands should still show through. How exactly that looks is an open question.
Thomas isn’t a complete offensive player, at least not yet. Running an offense as the point guard and intentionally looking to set up teammates doesn’t seem to come naturally to him. Based on what Koby Altman said right after they drafted him, this is something the team wants him to work on.
Despite those concerns, there’s a compete level with Thomas that you want to see. He plays with intensity, but doesn’t let that overcome other parts of his game. There’s a purpose behind his actions, which is what you want to see, and is something you can’t really teach.
Thomas wasn’t the only Cavalier who had a strong showing.
Riley Minix had a nice bounce back after struggling throughout the first four games in Las Vegas. He put up 12 points on 5-9 shooting.
Malaki Branham concluded a strong Summer League with 13 points and five assists. Tre’Von Spillers added 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
The Bulls decided to rest the fourth overall pick, Caleb Wilson. They were led by 22 points from Donovan Atwell.
The Cavs completed their trip to Vegas with three straight wins and a 3-2 record overall.
The next time we’ll see someone on the court in the wine & gold will be when the preseason tips off in early October.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on July 15, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons play the Miami Heat in the Summer League finale. It’s not until 9 pm. It will be on ESPN, which means maybe so more people will be able to watch. No clue who will actually suit up for the Pistons. Play ball.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There was a big hullabaloo about the Bucks acquiring Kasparas Jakucionis and the 13th overall pick in the draft (which became Nate Ament) from Miami. At the time, certainly, those were seen as two of the prime assets that Jon Horst was able to wrench out of the Heat’s hands. Accordingly, Bucks fans were hyped to watch both in action at Summer League.
Unfortunately, both players experienced a good amount of struggles (along with some positive moments too, to be fair) in Vegas. Jakucionis was something of a human turnover machine, while Ament looked out of place for the first three games just on a physical basis.
Therefore, for this week’s Reacts survey, we wanted to do a temperature check on how fans viewed the Giannis trade package after watching these players’ aforementioned Summer League struggles. Had they changed their tune from how they viewed the deal before they saw these two young Bucks play? Well, while the majority of fans had not (59%), a solid chunk (41%) had.
Milwaukee’s final game in Vegas is now locked in for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. CDT against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.
It appears the LeBron James free agency drama will drag into next week as he made a couple of appearances at Fanatics Fest in New York and said nothing new. As LeBron again enjoys basking in the spotlight, here are the latest rumors on the biggest story in the NBA.
"Multiple sources familiar with his thinking told me in the last 24 hours that he is truly getting much closer to a decision."
One of the hot rumors about LeBron during the Las Vegas Summer League was that he wanted to wait until after the World Cup to make the announcement, and whether that is his intent or not, that seems to be how things are playing out. ESPN's Shams Charania said on Friday he thought an announcement could come next week. For now, we're all feeling like Miami’s Pat Riley.
"Right now, I think we're like everybody else, we're just waiting to see what he does," Riley said this week.
Antetokounmpo makes his pitch
Miami is one of the "finalists" in the LeBron sweepstakes, and Giannis Antetokounmpo talked about the opportunity to play with him during an appearance on ESPN with Ohm Youngmisuk on Thursday.
"If there was a scenario for that to happen, I'd be very, very excited. He's one of the best players to ever play this game, if not the best. [I'd] be able to learn so much from him. Obviously, brings such a championship experience to the team right from day one. I think he's still one of the best players in the [game today], if not top 25 [at 41 years old]. You don't see signs of him slowing down at all. You saw in the playoffs how effective and good he was for the Lakers.
"But I'm just like everybody else, we don't have all the information. All the information is in LeBron James' hand and his family's hands, and he's going to make the best decision for him. The history has shown that he's always made good decisions for his career. And I hope if he thinks that the Miami Heat is a good decision for him. I would love for him to be here."
A lot of pundits have Cleveland and Miami — two former LeBron teams — as the frontrunners for his services (NBC Sports continues to hear Cleveland, but nobody really knows).
Did LeBron drop 76ers hint?
For the second day in a row, LeBron appeared at Fanatics Fest, this time for a live recording of his show "The Shop." Philadelphia fans are running with this quote as a hint that he is coming to the City of Brotherly Love. Quote via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
"What's most important is I want to compete, I want to compete at a high level. I want to join a franchise that kind of shares the same motto as myself, and that's, like, practicing championship happens every day. But trusting the process more than anything."
The process? Philly fans at the event cheered, but LeBron quickly shot that down with his next comment.
"I've been saying 'to trust the process' since I was drafted in like 2003. I don't even know if Embiid was even born yet."
At this point, we could parse LeBron's comments over the past few months and have it point just about anywhere. Read into it if you want, all anybody else really wants is him just to make a decision.
