Last year’s Toronto Raptors exceeded expectations, as the young and athletic squad racked up 46 wins, their most since the 2021-22 season, and finished fifth in the Eastern Conference before pushing the fourth-seed Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink in the first round of the playoffs.

The Cavs’ second-half surge in Game 7 highlighted the importance of homecourt advantage (and experience) in the postseason. With the addition of former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, growth from the teams’ young core, and the scars of playoff battles, can the Raps win enough games to finish in the top four in a brutal Eastern Conference?

Can the Raptors take the next step?

Last year’s team was a pain for opponents to play against, especially in front of raucous Scotiabank Arena crowds. Toronto had a top-five defence that refused to let opponents get comfortable in their offensive sets, thanks to intense ball pressure from bulldogs like Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead, but their offence was squarely in the middle of the pack (15th in offensive efficiency) and struggled to generate clean looks in the fourth quarters of tight games. Adding a two-way superstar like Kawhi should only bolster an already-strong defence, while adding a proven late-game scorer who can help get them unstuck in late-game situations. Still, though, a few question marks remain.

The ‘25-’26 Raptors were a below-average three-point shooting team, which restricted the spacing that Barnes, a slasher who thrives in transition, needs to dominate, and they were in the bottom half of the league in both offensive and defensive rebounding. Their ability to address those two weaknesses will go a long way toward helping them shoot further up the standings.

The current squad is replete with quality guards and wings, but few are plus shooters. Leonard’s an excellent three-point shooter (38.7% last season and above 41% each of the three seasons before that), but he’s a medium-volume guy from deep. The big question isn’t so much whether or not he can space the floor for Scottie (he can), but how the spacing will look for Kawhi when he’s doing work in the midrange, which could be tricky given that neither of the team’s top two bigs (Jacob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles) are threats from outside.

They may go to some lineups late in games with no traditional big on the floor, perhaps with Barnes as the nominal centres, but they suffer on the glass when Poeltl is on the bench, given that CMB is on the smaller side and only averaged 4.4 defensive boards per 36 minutes last year. That might not hurt them against the league’s smaller teams, but giants like Karl Anthony-Towns and Joel Embiid, both in the Raptors’ division, can take advantage.

On the plus side, better health from Immanuel Quickley and a potential mini-leap from Ja’Kobe Walter (40.9% from three last year), could offset their shooting deficiency and they have plenty of assets to pursue another big man should they feel they need one.

Who else is in the race?

The race for a top-four spot will be hotly contested, but the Raptors should be considered among the strong favorites. Kawhi has a long injury history, but suited up 65 times last season, and something similar should be plenty for a team that has plenty of depth on the wings, with Barnes and RJ Barrett both capable of scoring around 20 a night for a season. The East’s other contenders all have star-studded units but some concerns heading into the season.

The Philadelphia 76ers vaulted themselves into the NBA title race with the acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but even with those two and Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the starting lineup, Embiid is absolutely central to what they do, and he’s only averaging a paltry 32 games played over the last three campaigns. And on top of that, their backup centre, former Knick Ariel Hukporti tore his Achilles in the preseason opener, leaving them dangerously thin in the frontcourt. The Sixers may still be dangerous when the postseason comes around, but you should expect a fair amount of missed games from Bron and Embiid. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them outside of the top four when the season ends.

Detroit felt like they overachieved with 60 wins last year, but John Collins could do a lot to help raise their offensive ceiling, especially if Cade Cunningham can help him look like he did back in Atlanta, where he scored 21.6 points per game on 58-40-80 shooting splits at just 22 years old. Few are as skilled at setting the table as Trae Young, but Cunningham draws a ton of defensive attention and there should be opportunities for him to feast. They might also get another year of improvement from an allegedly very disgruntled Jalen Duren.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a strong regular season team as of late, and Peyton Watson is a nice addition, especially if he maintains his improvement as a shooter, but they’re asking for a lot out of a lead ballhandler who was born in the 80s, even if he was super efficient after landing in Cleveland last season. James Harden’s been healthy and available consistently, their all-offence backcourt could wear down as the season progresses.

It feels like you can pencil in the Boston Celtics to win 50-plus games every season. Just as they managed to win 56 last year with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season, swapping Jaylen Brown for the older (but better-shooting) Paul George will likely do little to slow them down….if he can stay on the court. George hasn’t played 82 games in the last two years combined and rostering him instead of the consistently healthy Brown might be what drops them below 50 this season, but great depth and good coaching could keep them near the top regardless.

The Knicks smacked their Eastern Conference foes en route to a historic NBA championship, but they were mostly fine in the regular season, looking discombobulated at points during a 53-win campaign. Star player Jalen Brunson is coming off of a surgery and head coach Mike Brown is unafraid to experiment with both the playbook and the rotation during the regular season, even if it costs them some regular season wins. Despite their playoff dominance, it’s unlikely they’ll go full throttle to chase the one-seed. Finishing somewhere around third again sounds about right for them, especially if some of their contract disputes lead to a shakeup, or even a distraction.

Orlando has plenty of talent, but the Magic will be adjusting to a new head coach, while still dealing with a somewhat misshapen roster that has crashed and burned in the playoffs amidst a lack of shooting and creation. They should be in the playoff hunt again thanks to their defence, but likely not in the upper tier. Meanwhile, the Hawks (tied with the Raptors at 46 wins last year) added to their fearsome wing defence, but still lack a true offensive engine, despite strong production from Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Charlotte is in a similar space without a true star, reorienting themselves after the departure of LaMelo Ball, and the Heat added major star power in Giannis Antetokounmpo but lack any real depth outside of him and 83-point scorer Bam Adebayo. As for the Washington Wizards, they are the Washington Wizards until proven otherwise.

Prediction

I think ultimately, the East will shake out something like this:

1. Detroit
2. Boston
3. New York
4. Toronto
5. Cleveland
6. Philly
7. Atlanta
8. Orlando
9. Miami
10. Charlotte

Many people expected both the Pistons and Timberwolves’ rosters to look drastically different after ending their season at the same point in the Playoffs. Both teams are led by young stars in Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards that are still looking to break through to the NBA Finals.

For the Pistons, the clock isn’t ticking as much with their young core locked in an Cunningham seemingly in support of everything going on. For the Timberwolves, rumblings have started about the possibility of Anthony Edwards trying to find a new team to play for, which means that the Timberwolves had to try to do something bold.

They did just that with the acquisition of LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. We now get our first look at the new-look Timberwolves even if we may not see their usual rotation for long since this is a preseason game.

Game Vitals

Where: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
When: Wednesday, October 14 at 8 pm EST
Watch: My TV 20 (Scripps Sports Network)
Odds: Timberwolves (-2.5)

Analysis

It is difficult to analyze a preseason basketball game given all the uncertainty around who will and won’t play and how long regular rotation players will play. There is also the whole other issue of players trying out new things they may not necessarily do in the regular season.

The biggest point of intrigue for the Pistons is whether or not Jalen Duren will play. He sat out the first two preseason games as he gets reacclimated with the team after sitting out most of Training Camp over his contract negotiation. He is not necessarily in need of preseason given his status with the team, but it would probably be beneficial to at least play a few minutes in the preseason.

Cade Cunningham sat last game, so he is another player that has uncertainty around whether or not they play. I would assume the Pistons want to get him on the court at least one more time, but could wait to do that until the final preseason game on Friday against the Raptors.

If Jalen Duren and Cunningham do not play, I once again expect Daniss Jenkins and Paul Reed to get the start with a heavy dose of Ebuka Okorie and Tolu Smith off the bench. Both players had their moments in the overtime loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Tolu Smith had a team-high 13 rebounds and Okorie led the Pistons in scoring with 14 points.

Okorie has impressed with his ability to run the offense and although he may not get many opportunities to play early-on in the season, if he keeps up how he has been playing, it may force JB Bickerstaff’s hand to give him more minutes.

For the Timberwolves, it appears we will at least get a short look at Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball together, as they have played in 3 of the 4 games for the Timberwolves during the preseason. However, the Timberwolves do have one more preseason game on Friday against the Bulls, so maybe they rest tonight and get in one final game on Friday.

It is very strange that the Wolves will play 6 preseason games while the Pistons only have 4, but I guess the team does have some say in it and they may have wanted a few more to integrate some of the new additions.

Hopefully this game doesn’t go to overtime for the Pistons. It took a last-second shot by Ebuka Okorie to seal the win against the Phoenix Suns in the first preseason game and prevent overtime and then the Pistons had the aforementioned overtime loss against the Wizards on Saturday. We shouldn’t have to be subjected to close games during the preseason.

Whoever plays tonight, let’s hope for no injuries and hopefully no scuffle like the Pistons have had in both preseason games. Given some of the history between these two teams, I am not getting my hopes up.

Lineups

I am going to put down what I would expect the starting lineups to be if this were a regular season game, since there is no way to know who will or won’t play or what kind of experimenting either coach will do.

DetroitPistons(1-1): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren

Minnesota Timberwolves (3-1): LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert

Question of the Day

Do you think we will see Jalen Duren play during the preseason?

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The road to the repeat begins now.

On Oct. 20, Jalen Brunson and the defending NBA champion New York Knicks kick off their 2026-27 season at Madison Square Garden against LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid’s new-look Philadelphia 76ers.

After that momentous occasion — that will include a pre-game ceremony where a championship banner is lifted to the rafters — Brunson, KAT, Mikal, OG and Hart of the City have a number of huge games scheduled on their home court.

Just a few of the most notable contests on the calendar include showdowns with Donovan Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers (Nov. 11), Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers (Nov. 22), a Finals rematch with Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs (Dec. 25), Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors (Feb. 13, 2027) and former Knick Mitchell Robinson’s Boston Celtics (March 14, 2027).

Plus, don’t forget Julius Randle and the Brooklyn Nets drop in on Sunday, Dec. 27.

If you’d like to catch these games or any others, tickets are officially available for all 41 Knicks 2026-27 home games at MSG (as well as a few NBA Cup battles).

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one regular season home game was $169 including fees on Vivid Seats (that’s for the Oct. 25 game against Paolo Banchero’s Magic).

Other hardwood battles at the Garden have tickets starting anywhere from $182 to $1,149 including fees.

And, they’ll need you there.

According to The Post, Reggie Miller said the Knicks have a “great chance of repeating” but warned that the Eastern Conference has gotten better and the Knicks have a bullseye on their back.

“It won’t be easy for the Knicks to reclaim home court advantage [in the playoffs], but they have the players (and coaching staff) to make it happen in an uber-competitive East,” Daily Knicks wrote. “It’ll be key to their chances of defending the 2026 NBA Championship.”

Don’t sleep on the team and take the season for granted- help make “Knicks in 5” happen all over again this year.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in 2026-27 below.

How can I get tickets to see the New York Knicks play at MSG in 2026-27?

A complete calendar including all home game dates, opponents, start times and links to buy tickets are listed here:

October 2026 preseason games at MSG

Knicks October 2026 preseason games	Ticket prices start at
Toronto Raptors vs. Knicks Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m.	$85(including fees)

October 2026 regular season games at MSG

Knicks October 2026 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Knicks Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.	$1,149(including fees)
Orlando Magic vs. KnicksSunday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.	$169(including fees)
Detroit Pistons vs. Knicks Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.	$193(including fees)

November 2026 regular season games at MSG

Knicks November 2026 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Brooklyn Nets vs. Knicks Monday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m.	$194(including fees)
Chicago Bulls vs. KnicksWednesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.	$199(including fees)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Knicks Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.	$165(including fees)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. KnicksWednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.	$234(including fees)
Portland Trail Blazers vs. KnicksSaturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.	$239(including fees)
Indiana Pacers vs. KnicksSunday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.	$190(including fees)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Knicks NBA Cup Game Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m.	$290(including fees)
Miami Heat vs. KnicksNBA Cup Game Friday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.	$365(including fees)
Atlanta Hawks vs. KnicksSunday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.	$197(including fees)

*Games listed as “NBA Cup Game” are part of the NBA in-season tournament.

December 2026 regular season games at MSG

Knicks December 2026 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Utah Jazz vs. KnicksWednesday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m.	$280(including fees)
San Antonio Spurs vs. KnicksFriday, Dec. 25 at 12 p.m.	$519(including fees)
Brooklyn Nets vs. KnicksSunday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.	$346(including fees)

January 2027 regular season games at MSG

Knicks January 2027 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Denver Nuggets vs. KnicksMonday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m.	$204(including fees)
Miami Heat vs. KnicksThursday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.	$259(including fees)
Dallas Mavericks vs. KnicksSaturday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m.	$272(including fees)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. KnicksMonday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m.	$208(including fees)
Toronto Raptors vs. KnicksWednesday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.	$199(including fees)
LA Clippers vs. KnicksSunday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.	$205(including fees)
Phoenix Suns vs. KnicksTuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.	$182(including fees)
Atlanta Hawks vs. KnicksThursday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.	$188(including fees)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. KnicksSaturday, Jan. 30 at 8:30 p.m.	$385(including fees)

February 2027 regular season games at MSG

Knicks February 2027 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Toronto Raptors vs. KnicksThursday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.	$216(including fees)
Charlotte Hornets vs. KnicksTuesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.	$202(including fees)
Golden State Warriors vs. KnicksSaturday, Feb. 13 at 8:30 p.m.	$343(including fees)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. KnicksThursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.	$297(including fees)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. KnicksSaturday, Feb. 27 at 8:30 p.m.	$392(including fees)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. KnicksSunday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.	$199(including fees)

March 2027 regular season games at MSG

Knicks March 2027 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Memphis Grizzlies vs. KnicksTuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.	$188(including fees)
Boston Celtics vs. KnicksSunday, March 14 at 12 p.m.	$331(including fees)
Sacramento Kings vs. KnicksWednesday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m.	$199(including fees)
Washington Wizards vs. KnicksSaturday, March 20 at 1 p.m.	$297(including fees)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. KnicksTuesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.	$193(including fees)
Houston Rockets vs. KnicksWednesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m.	$209(including fees)

April 2027 regular season games at MSG

Knicks April 2027 regular season games	Ticket prices start at
Charlotte Hornets vs. KnicksThursday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m.	$193(including fees)
Boston Celtics vs. KnicksSunday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.	$298(including fees)
Detroit Pistons vs. KnicksFriday, April 9 at 7 p.m.	$237(including fees)
Indiana Pacers vs. KnicksSunday, April 11 at 6 p.m.	$230(including fees)

Where are the Knicks playing on the road in 2026-27?

Here’s where you can find Brunson, Towns and the team when they’re not at MSG from October 2026 through April 2027.

How can I watch the Knicks on TV in 2026-27?

There are a number of options for fans who prefer to watch games from the comfort of their own home.

MSG Network, ABC, ESPN, NBC, Amazon Prime Video and NBA TV are likely your best bets.

For cord cutters, we recommend looking into Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling or YouTube TV.

Just make sure to check local listings before tuning in.

Huge shows at MSG in 2026-27

Want to catch a show at the Big Apple’s one-of-a-kind entertainment epicenter?

Here are just five of the biggest acts headed to the Garden these next few months.

• Dave Chappelle (Nov. 6-7)

• Dave Matthews Band (Nov. 12-13)

• Stevie Wonder (Nov. 19)

• Doja Cat with Latto (Dec. 1)

• Andrea Bocelli (Dec. 16-17)

Who else is headed to the Garden? Take a look at this list of all the biggest events at MSG these next few months to find the show or game for you.

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Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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New Warriors addition Brandon Williams addresses his viral meme with Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

New Warriors addition Brandon Williams spent last year trying to get under Steph Curry’s skin. Now he spends his days trying to learn from him.

The two share a strange history built almost entirely on viral moments. In a February 2025 Dallas Mavericks win over the Warriors, Williams shrugged on an imaginary backpack and flexed his muscles directly at Curry near the free-throw line — timed perfectly so Curry’s back was turned the entire time. A separate graphic comparing their career three-point totals made the rounds too, showing Williams with one made three in his career against Curry’s more than 3,000 — a gap wide enough to become a running joke of its own.

They are now teammates 😂 https://t.co/sIq1Kcg728pic.twitter.com/0DZTO7D35B

— LoonMuse (@KevonLooneyMuse) August 25, 2026

Speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke, Williams was asked what stands out to him now that he has actually studied Curry as a teammate rather than an opponent.

“Besides the bizarre threes and everything like that, I think it’s how he comes into work every day,” Williams said. “His preparation is very detailed — he knows exactly what he’s getting out of it. I’m a sponge, so I take anything I can. If it’s Steph, if it’s the last guy, it doesn’t matter who it is. I try to learn something from everybody.”

Williams said the part of Curry’s game that impresses him most is not even the shooting itself.

“It’s obvious when he has the ball he’s dangerous, but I think even more when he doesn’t — he’s just flying around without the ball,” Williams said. “You have to be so alert and aware of where he is at all times.”

Reflecting on the shift from rival to teammate, Williams did not shy away from the moments that made him briefly infamous around the league.

“It’s crazy, it’s crazy. Me and Steph have had our run-ins, especially last year,” Williams said. “They made a funny little graphic when I hit my first career three. It was good meme stuff, but it’s good to be compared to him in terms of threes.”

The player who once flexed on Curry from behind now studies him from the next locker over — proof that even a viral grudge can turn into one of the better basketball educations in the league.

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The headline on Brian Windhorst’s latest column for ESPN reads: “Why Cooper Flagg’s ascension is starting to feel inevitable.”

In it, Windhorst argues that the NBA media ecosystem has been a little slow in recognizing Flagg’s ascension, stopping just short of declaring the second-year stud ready to “take the NBA by storm.”

That he penned a column to that effect is notable, as Windy’s time is spent to a greater and greater degree behind a microphone or in front of a camera these days. He simply doesn’t write as many columns now, so Monday’s look is evidence that Windhorst thinks Flagg’s development and potential in year two is a particularly important story, league-wide.

It makes sense. A lot of the big-name star power in the NBA has been shipped out east. The Mavericks as a franchise, remain, shovel in hand, digging their way out of a mountain of their own make, and are not particularly attractive to a national television audience as currently constructed. All this leads to a downward pressure on Flagg’s media attention.

But Windy (and others, to be fair) stays beating the Cooper Flagg drum this preseason.

On Sept. 25, it was a segment on ESPN’s NBA Today, where Windy issued it glowingly and effusively:

“I feel like there’s not enough hype around Cooper Flagg,” he said. “I know it’s hard to say because he was tracked at Duke very closely, but because Victor Wembanyama took that giant step forward last year, and really took the league by the throat, and because there was so much attention to the tanking teams going for the 2026 Draft, and the Mavericks themselves became one of the tanking teams at the end, I don’t think people realized how breathtaking Cooper Flagg’s performance was last season. He absolutely reminded me, on an almost nightly basis, of LeBron as a rookie. All the way back to the fact that LeBron was forced to play point guard as a rookie, and that kind of took him out of his game a little bit like it did with Cooper last year. The ability for someone of his size to play multi positions, to grab a rebound and then to go down and start the offense, to guard up and down the lineup, I mean, and really, his shot is way better than I thought it’d be. I think it’s going to keep developing, and I couldn’t be higher on Cooper Flagg. I really believe that he’s going to enter the top-10 of the best players in the league sooner rather than later, and that his trajectory is really right there alongside Victor Wembanyama’s in terms of the future of the NBA.”

Brian Windhorst on Cooper Flagg:

"In all honesty, I feel like there's not enough hype around Cooper Flagg. I don't think people realized how breathtaking Cooper Flagg's performance was last season. He absolutely reminded me on an almost nightly basis of LeBron as a rookie.

I… pic.twitter.com/uf4cgqu3Sk

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) September 25, 2026

The direct parallels with James, whom Windhorst built the early part of his career reporting on, and his rookie year, are startling. To think that Mavs fans could be watching the next LeBron in his ascendency is a beautiful thought to think. Just don’t let those thoughts wander into morbid reflection about how ownership might screw this one up.

Then, on the team’s trip to Macau, China, Windy echoed his own sentiments, and if it’s even possible, amplified them in an interview with DLLS.

“I am extraordinarily bullish on his future and I am really excited about his present,” Windy said. “Because of the dynamics of the league, because LeBron is in Philadelphia, and Giannis is in Miami and the Knicks are the champions, and the Celtics are the Celtics, and Wembanyama’s Wembanyama, and Luka is now separate from LeBron, the Mavericks are not on national TV that much. It’s a good and a bad thing. Number one, it means Cooper is not getting the attention he deserves. … Grab onto Cooper. Get in early. Be there, because the league is overlooking him a little bit right now. Again, it’s not like they’re looking at him and going, ‘Ehh, he’s not that good.’ There is a set of circumstances that is depressing him a little bit. Mistake. And look, at ESPN, we’re going to put LeBron and Luka on, you know? We’re going to put Giannis and we’re going to put Victor on. We’re going to put Durant on. We’re going to put Ant Edwards on, but I’m telling you, if Cooper was a stock, I would buy it all. That’s how I feel about him.”

Brian Windhorst Says Cooper Flagg Is Being Overlooked pic.twitter.com/HE40B4yMwX

— DLLS Mavs (@DLLS_Mavs) October 8, 2026

Windhorst isn’t the only one who’s comparing Flagg to James at this early juncture in his career. Flagg’s teammate Kyrie Irving did the same in some of his postgame comments after the Mavs’ second preseason game in Macao.

“I give my respect to KD and Bron and they are on their own separate categories and trajectories and careers but I would say this, I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age,” Irving said. “He’s displaying in front of you guys what’s capable of and he’s only going to continue to get better.”

"I give my respect to KD and Bron and they are on their own separate categories and trajectories and careers but I would say this, I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age… he's displaying in front of you guys what's capable of… https://t.co/JMoXET2V3Spic.twitter.com/uoNDZKiTDw

— NBA (@NBA) October 11, 2026

It’s moments like these when I love being associated with this Little Fan Site That Could, because Windy, we outchea. We been here. We’ve been banging on the Cooper Flagg drum since jump. We made room for you, and we are here to declare that there is still room on the train for all of the lapsed Mavericks fans who had to take some time away from the team after the injustices suffered under the previous administration.

Glory awaits. The team is the laundry, not the financiers behind the building the team plays in. It’s become clear before his 20th birthday that Flagg is not only generational, but an all-time great in the making.

With a week to go before the Mavs’ first game of Flagg’s second year, it’s getting hard to contain the excitement surrounding the meteoric rise that this young man is about to embark on.

While Luka Dončić didn’t play in the Los Angeles lakers’ preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, that didn’t stop his fans from being active.

This was shown in the second quarter, when the game’s broadcast cameras focused in on one Lakers fan wearing a Dončić jersey dancing to “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC during a timeout.

After several seconds of the fan dancing (which was getting an animated reaction from other fans), the camera panned to Dončić, who looked to be watching the fan as well.

“Oh s***. He’s good!” Doncic said with a shrug after looking away from the fan.

Luka’s reaction has gone viral on social media, as fans are noting that he looks a lot more entertained by the dancing fan than by the game he was watching.

And that would be fair, given that Tuesday night’s game didn’t count and the Lakers didn’t exactly produce an entertaining on-court product in the 101-89 loss.

“He’s good” – Luka reacts to fan dancing to *NSYNC pic.twitter.com/ObEz5JVdGd

— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) October 14, 2026

Dončić was held out of Tuesday’s game for rest purposes and isn’t injured. The Lakers will need to monitor his activity throughout the season, given that he’ll need to carry this year if they’re to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs.

Pablo Torre is on the case.

During Front Office Sports’ “Tune In” summit in New York on Tuesday, the award-winning investigative journalist admitted he is planning to look into LeBron James’ use of a Fanatics helicopter while playing for the 76ers this season, a situation that has raised eyebrows to some in the NBA.

“It’s something that I also have been watching,” said Torre, who broke the bombshell story about Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers contract and the team’s ties to Aspiration that led to a massive punishment for the franchise.

“Of course, I know that Fanatics logo. I saw that. I was also a little mad that I didn’t get to get that one first. On that story specifically, I will say that we’re very interested and we are, of course, looking into all of the ways that is both a good story as well as something of interest to the league. And by the way, it may not be the latter, but it does appear to be the former as a business story.”

Pablo Torre says NBA owners have contacted him about LeBron James flying in a Fanatics helicopter and he is "looking into" it. pic.twitter.com/8hdtkvFtzZ

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 13, 2026

James, who signed a two-year $8 million contract with the 76ers in July, has moved to New York with his family since leaving Los Angeles in what was a booming free agency move.

He has since opted not to drive to and from Philadelphia but rather fly in a Fanatics-branded helicopter, and James has been doing it throughout the offseason for practice and preseason games.

“The deal we signed with Fanatics almost three years ago includes access to their corporate aviation,” a James spokesperson told Front Office Sports, which reported that James is allowed access to Fanatics Aviation as part of his contract with Rubin’s company.

“It’s a feature in many of their deals with their largest athletes and we appreciate their partnership as LeBron splits his time between New York and Philadelphia.”

Torre also revealed that he and his podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” have been receiving tips from NBA owners about the situation.

“[The NBA owners] are like sending me your story and being like ‘What is this?’ because now I’m the guy who seems to be a lever on something like accountability even among billionaires, which is a fun plot twist,” he said.

The helicopter commute is about 45 minutes, cutting down the travel time from what would usually be a 90-minute to two-hour drive.

The 41-year-old was spotted after his commute earlier this month following the 76ers’ first scrimmage Oct. 3.

The four-time MVP took to the sky and returned to New York, landing at the VIP Heliport on West 30th Street.

He could rack up roughly 67 round-trips between the 76ers’ 41 home games and roughly 26 home practices, the Philly Voice reported.

James previously stated he plans to spend time between the two cities and would have “multiple residences.”

The 76ers open the season against the Knicks on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wizards fans and fans across the country.

Yesterday, I wrote about the Washington Wizards considering a rebrand. No, the Washington Bullets are NOT returning. Instead, the logo may change. The uniforms may change. The colors too. Monumental Sports & Entertainment received requests to do that, but I don’t find the Wizards’ jerseys or color scheme looking ugly, etc.

Then again, who knows?

So we have a poll for you to settle the matter. Should the rebrand happen? Vote below!

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Kristaps Porziņģis addresses ‘frustrating' health issue after Warriors meeting originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kristaps Porziņģis returned to the Warriors’ practice facility Tuesday, but his status remains the same.

Porziņģis, who is dealing with an unspecified health issue and will miss all six of Golden State’s preseason games, met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and vice president of player health & performance Dr. Rick Celebrini on Tuesday, the Warriors shared in a statement Wednesday. The details of that meeting will be kept private.

Porziņģis hadn’t been around the team for weeks, and while he finally met with team staff Tuesday and intends to stay around the team, he will remain out indefinitely due to the same health-related matter.

Warriors statement on Kristaps Porzingis: pic.twitter.com/Pdj4aM1Kes

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) October 14, 2026

Porziņģis wasted no time addressing the matter, sharing to X that he is working with doctors and experts to figure out how to get fully healthy and return to the court.

“Honestly, I’m getting better and better,” he wrote, in part. “I just have to stay patient, and I believe I’ll be feeling great again soon.”

He also took a subtle shot at the “internet doctors” who seemingly have diagnosed his health issue.

I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I'm in the best hands. So everyone can relax now 😄🙏🏼 and I don’t have hiv or aids.

— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) October 14, 2026

Porziņģis’ absence came as a surprise when Dunleavy announced it at media day, just before the team packed their bags for training camp in Hawaii. The 7-footer was seen working out at Chase Center before training camp, so Dunleavy’s announcement was a shock.

The Warriors acquired Porziņģis from the Atlanta Hawks at last year’s NBA trade deadline for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

He averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks through 23.7 minutes in 15 games (11 starts) with Golden State, proving he can be an impact player for the Warriors when healthy.

The Warriors already will be short-handed to start their upcoming campaign, with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody both recovering from long-term knee injuries. Now, Porziņģis’ uncertain status surely doesn’t make things any easier for Steve Kerr and Co.

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Four of the five Knicks starters didn’t board a plane north of the border, the fifth one didn’t play basketball on Tuesday, and it all showed badly.

New York will host a preseason game for one final time on Thursday before dressing in gold for Tuesday’s banner night.

Here’s the latest from Mike, James, and Miles.

Reminder:

Not important Important pic.twitter.com/xGeVDRpjL0

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2026

Mike Brown

On the Knicks’ performance and defensive shortcomings in their 50-point preseason loss to Toronto:

“It’s not necessarily what’s on the scoreboard at that particular time. It is: are you doing the right things to be better and/or get better? And in the first half, what I was most disappointed in was we weren’t putting bodies on bodies. Fifteen second-chance points in one half is not good. Thirty fast-break points in one half is not good.

“And then the way they sped us up, and us not necessarily touching the paint and trying to spray it and/or making quick decisions is not good. So that’s what I was most disappointed in in the first half. I really didn’t care about the score, especially with the group we had on the floor.”

On how James Wiseman has developed since his time with the Warriors:

“Back then, obviously, he was talented but he was really raw in terms of his ability and feel on the court. It’s obviously a lot higher now, but he’s also been humbled a little bit with the challenges and the adversity he’s gone through in his career. He understands how hard it is. That obviously is different now than what it was back then.”

On Wiseman’s growth and understanding of how quickly NBA opportunities can disappear:

“Everything was new to him. He was a wide-eyed young puppy and now he’s a little bit more seasoned with the knowledge of, ‘This is not gonna be easy and opportunities can come and go like that.’”

James Wiseman gets preseason start:

18 points team high
7-8 FG
4-4 FT
10 rebounds
4 offensive pic.twitter.com/p9YaRNfPhm

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2026

James Wiseman

On appreciating his opportunity to compete for a roster spot with the Knicks:

“It’s a blessing to just be here. Really just being able to go out there, enjoy myself, have fun, just keep working. Stay diligent.”

On overcoming injuries and adversity throughout his NBA career:

“It’s been a lot. Really just putting God first. Staying down, grinding every single day and just taking one day at a time. That’s really all you can do, just really control what you can.”

On what he has learned about himself through his career struggles:

“Really just being able to stay resilient through the process and really just staying persistent as well.”

On how his athleticism can help him earn the Knicks’ final roster spot:

“Just being able to use my athleticism. Being able to put my head on the rim every single time, run the floor and really just being vocal.”

You drew up a plan without Drew?

Better drew another plan pic.twitter.com/N7b6cH1yh9

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2026

Miles McBride

On the Knicks’ 50-point preseason loss to the Raptors:

“You never want to lose in that way. But at the same time, we just gotta move on. Preseason is for those reasons. Missing eight of our guys, you just want to come out there and have a positive mindset. Go out there and play hard. There were things we could’ve definitely done better, but they’re a playoff team and you add a Hall of Famer with them.”

Yeah if the refs really about to start calling offensive fouls on pushoffs SGA is COOKED 😭 pic.twitter.com/pPPrtHJTTQ

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) October 14, 2026

BOSTON — Four years ago, Payton Pritchard wanted out of Boston. He had fallen out of the Celtics’ rotation and grew frustrated at his lack of playing time, eager to show what he was capable of as a pro.

But despite wanting out, he wasn’t traded at that midseason deadline.

And the rest is history.

The following season, the Celtics won their elusive 18th banner with Pritchard as their leading scorer off the bench. During that playoff run, he became a legend in Boston, immortalized by his litany of buzzer-beaters, capped by a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer in the decisive Game 5.

One year after that?

Pritchard won Sixth Man of the Year, a culmination of years of tireless work.

And now?

The 28-year-old guard who so many believed would be too small to make it as a pro has signed his biggest contract yet: a 2-year, $44.2 million extension that keeps him with the Celtics through the 2028-2029 season. The contract also includes a mutual option for the 2029-2030 season, meaning that either Pritchard or the Celtics can opt in for a third year if they so choose.

Due to a six-month trade restriction triggered by the extension, Pritchard can’t be traded at the deadline, giving one more year of complete assurance he’ll be in Boston.

It’s still wild to him that he’s the second-longest tenured player on the roster. And, as his seniority grows, he continues to examine how he’ll lead.

“Maybe I’m more vocal this year — maybe my presence is felt a little bit more in that area,” Pritchard said. “But for me, I feel like leadership isn’t just about [being] vocal. It’s how you approach every day, your competitive spirit, your work habits, all that stuff.”

His teammates have taken notice.

“P’s biggest strength, or one of them, is just his confidence and his ability and his work ethic,” said Jayson Tatum. “He is always looking at ways to get better, looking at ways to challenge himself. He’s a hell of a competitor. He just loves to hoop. For a six-foot white guard that has gotten to the point where he has in his career, it’s because he works his ass off, and he just competes at the highest level.”

Could Payton Pritchard take another leap in Year 7?

Payton Pritchard is likely to still come off the bench this season, at least to start, but Jaylen Brown’s absence could give him more opportunities.

Pritchard averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game in 69 games played alongside Brown last year; those numbers rose to 25.2 points, 7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in the 10 games in which Brown sat.

This year, Pritchard plans to continue to add to his game; one way he hopes to do that is by getting to the free-throw line more often.

“I feel like I put the defense at a disadvantage at times — like, I get them in the air, and I’ll go through a step through, but it’s just taking those moments to just take the easy route, get to the free-throw line, when their hands are all over me, learning how to, like, just go up into my shot and draw a foul, stuff like that,” Pritchard explained at training camp in Charleston.

He’s been picking Mike Conley’s brain about it, too; the veteran guard is his go-to workout partner and newfound mentor.

“I don’t want to be, like, a flopper, like I’m just falling on the ground,” Pritchard said. “I’m not really somebody who falls on the ground a lot, but, like, when you have an opportunity to take a foul, take it.”

Pritchard doesn’t know exactly how he’ll improve in Year 7.

But, on Media Day, he made clear that he would.

“Everybody always tries to put people in a box, and for every year of my career since I’ve been young, people put me in this box of like ‘This is the player you can be,’” he said. “And I just feel like those expectations, I blow them out of the water. I don’t know what I can be doing differently, but I will find something that will make me excel to another level, but I can’t tell you what that exactly could be. Maybe I get better at getting to the free-throw line more — that adds more points. Maybe I somehow figure out how to develop and add four more assists a game. And like, so I just don’t know what that will look like. But I will work to find it and become a better player for sure.”

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country.

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I have to be honest, I’ve not seen a single live game minute of NBA pre-season so far and that includes of the Dallas Mavericks. I have a good reason, I was in California with the family on vacation and the games started at 5am and 3am and I don’t think my hotel had NBA TV anyway.

Vote for who surprised you in those two games, surpassing your expectations from before the games started.

The Rockets have the sour taste of disappointment still lingering from last season’s playoff exit. They lost to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic, in a series where Kevin Durant played just one game. This, compounded by the fact that they lost Fred VanVleet before even playing a game, makes Houston hungry to play basketball and show the league what they should have been a season ago.

This is a veteran team complemented by young talent. But when you have two groups on different timelines, there is sometimes a conflict of interest when it comes to deciding what is best for winning. Alperen Sengun is making $35 million this season, but Steven Adams makes more sense at center. Reed Sheppard was the third overall pick in the draft, but has not panned out quite yet. There are tough decisions the Rockets have to make if they want to maximize the rest of Kevin Durant’s career. And those decisions could prove fatal if made incorrectly. 

Houston Rockets: Over/Under 48.5 wins (-110/-115)

To win the NBA Finals: +2700

Last Season: 52-30, lost W. Conference first round

Key Additions: Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovic

Key Losses: Dorian Finney-Smith

The Rockets’ lack of offense in the playoffs six months ago is what sunk them. Without Durant and VanVleet, they simply could not score enough points. Now that those guys are back, their offense should theoretically be better, but they are still going to force minutes on Sengun and Sheppard because of the capital they used on them. Ideally, the Rockets are able to trade one or both of those guys for a dynamic guard who provides shooting and move Adams into the permanent center spot. Kyrie Irving, for example, is a name that both makes sense and has been floated around. Until then, however, they are juggling too many things. Finding the right guys to play nightly without completely disregarding their younger pieces will be challenging. Houston is going to regress in the win column as they find their way forward. 

Prediction: Under 48.5 wins (-110)

LAS VEGAS — Lakers coach JJ Redick’s challenge for Walker Kessler is simple: Be “relentless”.

Relentless with his motor on both ends of the floor. With his running and changing ends in between possessions. With his screening and rolling towards the rim. With his rebounding.

The Lakers got that in abundance during their marquee acquisition’s preseason debut, which came in a 101-89 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in the team’s penultimate exhibition.

The 7-foot-2 center finished with 11 points, nine rebounds (two offensive boards), one block and one steal in 16 first-half minutes before sitting out of the second half. 

Kessler, who the Lakers acquired from the Jazz as part of a sign-and-trade with the Jazz that included a four-year, $130 million contract for the big man, missed the first three preseason games after injuring his left pinky finger.

“He’s a great fit for our team,” Redick said of Kessler. “He did a nice job of running the floor, crashing, had some terrific rebounds in traffic [and] protected the rim. Just [a] really good first half from him. 

“Overall really good for someone who didn’t play for, whatever it is, 10 days.”

Kessler’s impact on the Lakers was as massive as his 270-pound frame. 

The Lakers won the 16 minutes he was on the floor by 15 points in what was Kessler’s first NBA game in nearly a full calendar year after he played just five regular season games in 2025-26 because of a season-ending left shoulder surgery. 

“It was a lot of fun being out there again,” Kessler said. “It’s been so long. Before the game, I was actually pretty nervous, to be honest. But, getting out there and just playing with the guys, it was a blast.”

The No. 22 pick in the 2022 draft made his presence felt in the Lakers’ first possession without recording a statistic in the box score.

After Austin Reaves missed a pull-up 13-foot jumper out of the pick and roll with Kessler, the big man fought for the offensive rebound, with the ball bouncing off of Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s hands and going out of rebounds, resulting in a team offensive rebound for the Lakers.

“JJ and I talked, and that’s kind of what we came up with this year: ‘Relentless,’ ” Kessler said. “And for me, that means just crashing every time, trying to be a presence in the paint, inside, outside, play hard, don’t take plays off, on the offensive end and defensive end. That’s going to be my goal for this year.”

After the Lakers inbounded the ball, Reaves ran another pick and roll with his new starting center, with the big man out of Auburn rolling hard to the basket and bringing in the Warriors low man (Gui Santos) into the paint, leading to Reaves making the drive-and-kick pass to Quentin Grimes for an open corner 3-pointer.

The Lakers created several open looks from beyond the arc because of Kessler’s roll gravity. 

“He created probably four or five really good looks for us from 3 just rolling hard,” Reaves said. “Nobody’s gonna give him credit for it, but him putting pressure on the rim and roll opportunities gonna make the big guy sink, and we’re gonna get wide open 3s. We had quite a bit of them.”

With one more preseason game on Friday against the Nuggets in Los Angeles, and one week before the Lakers open the regular season against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena, Kessler is looking to build off Tuesday’s showing. 

“Just game feel, honestly,” he responded when asked what he’s looking to improve on. “That will come with time and just playing with the guys now that I’m cleared. Conditioning-wise, I actually felt good out there. First wind was a little tough, but after I got past that, my legs kind of got under me and I felt good.”

Adem Bona’s possible outlook for the 2026-27 season has changed before we’ve even reached the start of the regular season. Just days after the Sixers held their media day and hype for the new year really started to ramp up, one of their few centers, Ariel Hukporti, was ruled out for the season with an Achilles tear.

Yet again, the Sixers find themselves with shallow depth at center. What’s new?

There isn’t an easy way to replace Hukporti, as our Bryan Toporek has already explained. The Sixers already didn’t have much in the way of traditional center size or skillset off the bench behind Joel Embiid, and now that’s even more apparent. Getting experimental and downsizing more often is one option to help. There’s clearly merit to using someone like Dominick Barlow (if healthy) in spells at the 5, to give the team a boost of athleticism and defensive switchability. Jabari Walker is another smaller option, who’s off to a strong start in preseason play so far. LeBron James could find himself spending a little time at center. Even Dean Wade could be an option right now, Nick Nurse has said.

But apart from how the Sixers can experiment and potentially bring in someone using their open two-way spot, one player that you have to immediately look to is the other big man who, at least in theory, could tick several of the boxes you need from a typical backup center: Adem Bona.

Lately, Bona has been getting over an injury himself. He suffered a foot sprain last month while playing for Türkiye in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. As Bona said himself at media day, recovery and treatment has been going very well. He’s got back to some work on the court. The Sixers set themselves a timeline to get Bona back in action by two weeks into training camp, and that’s still what they’re on track for.

Bona clearly has his strengths, and has looked like a legit NBA backup in his finest games. He has a great motor, stellar speed and agility at 6-foot-10, the lateral quickness to switch onto smaller players, solid offensive rebounding, explosive play finishing and dunking at times, and clear shot-blocking talent. His 1.2 blocks in only 17.4 minutes per game last season (and a ranking of ninth in the NBA in blocks per 100 possessions at 3.2) is impressive. But the flaws have remained obvious. He doesn’t have great hands when operating in the paint on offense (despite being a thunderous finisher when he’s at his best), bizarrely struggles as a defensive rebounder, and he still makes some blatant errors from positioning to his high rate of silly fouls.

Now, the challenge for Bona in his third NBA season is to prove he can be consistent. And the Sixers sure could use it now with Hukporti sidelined.

When speaking to reporters at media day, Bona talked about how his FIBA experience helped this summer. He’s keen to build on what he’s been learning through playing with different teammates and embracing different styles of play:

“Playing all summer helps with staying in shape, staying in game-ready shape. Also, sharing the floor with guys like [Alperen] Sengun, Furkan [Korkmaz], it just gives you a different perspective of the game. We get to play a different style of game being coached by coach [Ergin] Ataman. It’s just different, you get a different perspective, play a different style, and it just keeps giving you an understanding and you get to learn to play a different style.”

Bona also touched on what he worked on this summer in his own training:

“For me, just getting better as a basketball player all around. There’s been a couple of focuses, though, on like helping the team spread the floor, even in the post, in the dunker, around the rim, and extending outside of there. Always being a presence defensively, and yeah, just those two little things: being around the rim and spreading the floor.”

Clearly Bona won’t suddenly become a shooter and floor spacer. But if he can actually improve his hands, touch, and offering on offense to be any more than just a dunker — like showing a little more as a roll man and finisher in the paint, and making basic passes reliably — that would go a long way to earning him more minutes.

Now with Hukporti out of the picture, Bona should have more opportunities to get onto the floor and prove whether he can be the Sixers’ backup center option with real size and rim protection. They could clearly use a player with Bona’s build, athleticism and ideal skillset even more now. If he can cut down on mistakes and fouls and stay on the floor longer, he’ll have more easy opportunities to score as a play-finisher than ever before, too. Playing off LeBron’s passing and the gravity of so many talented offensive players will open up more lanes for Bona to run the floor and dive to the basket.

Can Bona actually improve on those weaknesses that have held him back in the NBA so far, though? That’s the question. Once he returns and Nurse starts experimenting with different lineups and center options, we’ll see if Bona can put this summer of training and FIBA experience into practice and rise to the occasion.