Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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Fantasy Basketball Week 8 Schedule Primer: On to the NBA Cup knockout rounds

After seven weeks in which there were light game nights in short supply, NBA teams should be able to get ample rest during Week 8. With the Emirates NBA Cup moving into the quarterfinal stage with games on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday and the championship game on Tuesday, December 16, the 22 teams that did not advance were assigned two games each to fill out their 82-game schedules. While some fantasy leagues have combined weeks 8 and 9 due to the light schedules, others have not. Let's look at the Week 8 schedule and some of its key storylines.

Week 8 Games Played

3 Games: IND, MIN, PHX, DAC, SAS

2 Games: ATL, BKN, CHA, CLE, GSW, LAL, MIA, MIL, NOR, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, TOR, WAS

1 Game: BOS, CHI, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, LAC, MEM, UTA

Week 8 Back-to-backs

Sunday (Week 7)-Monday: None

Monday-Tuesday: None

Tuesday-Wednesday: None

Wednesday-Thursday: None

Thursday-Friday: None

Friday-Saturday: None

Saturday-Sunday: None

Sunday-Monday (Week 9): None

NBA: Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
NBA Minutes Report: How injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry impact playing time
We dig into shifting rotations, uncovering which players deserve more attention or are falling out of favor.

Week 8 Storylines of Note

- Three of the six teams playing on Monday are guaranteed to have three games on their Week 8 schedules.

For those competing in leagues that separate Weeks 8 and 9, this is an important fact. The Pacers, Timberwolves and Kings are guaranteed to play three games during Week 8, which makes their less-heralded fantasy options a bit more valuable. While most of the Pacers have underwhelmed in fantasy basketball this season, does someone like Jay Huff (25 percent rostered, Yahoo!) or T.J. McConnell (15 percent) hold greater value since they'll play three games?

The same can be asked of Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud (14 percent), who made his first career start on Saturday and did nothing to suggest that he should not retain that role for the foreseeable future. As for the Timberwolves, Jaden McDaniels (46 percent) and Donte DiVincenzo (44 percent) are still available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Seeking out those players on league waiver wires before Monday's game would be a good idea.

- Phoenix and San Antonio could have three games during Week 8, but that's still to be determined.

Whether five teams are playing three games in Week 8 depends on the Suns and Spurs. Both will play NBA Cup quarterfinal games on Wednesday, with the former visiting the Thunder and the latter visiting the Lakers. If Phoenix and San Antonio lose, their next regular-season game could be scheduled for December 11, 12, 14 or 15. December 11 can probably be ruled out, as asking teams to play a back-to-back under those circumstances feels unlikely. If their second game falls on either the 12th or 14th, that would make for three games in Week 8 for both teams. The best way for this to become a non-issue would be for the Suns and Spurs to advance to the semifinals scheduled for Saturday, December 13.

- The four NBA Cup quarterfinal losers will play their second game on December 11, 12, 14 or 15.

While the West quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, the East will play its quarterfinals the night prior. Orlando hosts Miami, followed by the Raptors hosting the Knicks. Regardless of what happens in those matchups, all four Eastern Conference teams will play two games in Week 8. That's good news for Orlando's Paolo Banchero and New York's OG Anunoby, as they returned from groin and hamstring injuries on Friday. Not having to deal with a jam-packed schedule immediately upon returning should benefit both fantasy managers and those players, and it should also mean fantasy managers can rely on those players to be active in each of their respective teams' Week 8 contests.

- Will Memphis get Ja Morant back during Week 8?

Morant, who has not appeared in a game since November 15, is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers. That status represents an upgrade for the point guard, so does it mean anything for Week 8? The Grizzlies only play once in Week 8, hosting the Jazz on Friday. One game of Morant is better than none, and this could be a good time for the Grizzlies to work him back into the lineup. His availability affects Vince Williams Jr. and Cam Spencer the most, with the former having filled the starting point guard role in Morant's absence. However, Spencer has provided superior fantasy value despite coming off the bench, due mainly to Williams' poor percentages and turnovers.

- Will the Warriors have Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III at all?

While the Warriors play twice during Week 8, their first game isn't until that Friday against the Timberwolves. Golden State plays its second game of the week two nights later in Portland. How does that schedule affect the availability of the team's two best offensive players? After suffering a quad contusion, Curry missed the Warriors' final home game before their three-game road trip and did not travel. Sunday's game against the Bulls will be the fifth that he's missed.

As for Butler, Saturday's win over the Cavaliers was the second he has missed due to a sore knee. Add in Draymond Green's midfoot sprain, and the Warriors have been without their three most important veterans. Could all three return to action during Week 8? If so, Curry and Butler would be especially impactful with the Warriors playing twice over the final three days.

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'It's an honour' – Harden into NBA top 10 scorers

James Harden
James Harden made his NBA debut in 2009 with the Oklahoma City Thunder [Getty Images]

James Harden became the 10th highest scorer in NBA history as the LA Clippers were beaten 109-106 by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Starting the night 11th on the all-time list, Harden passed Carmelo Anthony's total of 28,289 points in the third quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Harden finished with 34 points, taking his career total to 28,303 - 293 behind Shaquille O'Neal in ninth.

"It's a blessing - a testament to the work I've put in," said 36-year-old Harden.

"It's an honour, especially with somebody like Carmelo, who's done so much greatness for this league."

Naz Reid scored a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to give the Timberwolves a fifth straight win and condemn the Clippers to a seventh defeat in eight games.

Julius Randle scored 24 points and Reid 19 off the bench for the Timberwolves, who are sixth in the Western Conference. The Clippers are second bottom.

Warriors upset Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 99-94 home defeat by the Golden State Warriors.

Without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford, the Warriors gave Pat Spencer his NBA debut at Rocket Arena.

The 29-year-old, who came through the development league four years ago, scored 19 points and landed a three-pointer with 72 seconds remaining to open up a five-point lead.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said: "It's fun to watch a guy who has had to fight for everything finally get his moment and not only seize it but grab it by the neck. This guy is a competitor."

The Warriors are eighth in the Western Conference and the Cavaliers eighth in the West.

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Michael Porter Jr.'s 35 points, Nic Claxton's triple-double lead Nets over Pelicans, 119-101

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 35 points, Nic Claxton had his second triple-double and the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-101 on Saturday.

Porter matched his career best by reaching 30 for a third straight game, having also done it last Feb. 3-6 during his final season with Denver. He made five 3-pointers and had nine rebounds after sitting out Thursday to rest his back in the second night of a back-to-back.

Claxton finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s the first Nets player with multiple triple-doubles in a season since James Harden (nine) and Kevin Durant (four) in 2021-22, and the second Nets center with multiple career triple-doubles. Shawn Bradley had five from 1995-97.

Day’Ron Sharpe added 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting as Brooklyn won for the third time in four games to improve to 6-17.

Trey Murphy III scored 23 points for the Pelicans, who lost their sixth straight game and fell to 3-21. Saddiq Bey added 18 points and Bryce McGowens had 16.

The Nets shot 63.6 percent and had 13 assists on their 14 baskets in the first quarter, taking a 35-24 lead. Porter scored 13 points in the second quarter on 5-for-6 shooting as Brooklyn made it 62-44 at halftime.

The Nets led by 28 points in the second half.

Up next

Pelicans: Host San Antonio on Monday night.

Nets: At Dallas on Friday night.

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Lakers star Luka Doncic might play Sunday after birth of second child

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28, 2025: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) sits on the bench after warmups before the game against the Mavericks on November 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers guard Luka Doncic announced the birth of his second child, daughter Olivia, on social media Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Luka Doncic was removed from the team’s status report entering Sunday’s game at Philadelphia after the Lakers superstar and his fiancee announced the birth of their second child Saturday.

Doncic missed the last two games, but before Friday’s game against Boston, coach JJ Redick was open to the possibility of him rejoining the team in time for Sunday’s road trip finale. The Lakers (16-6) went 1-1 to begin the trip with a thrilling, three-point win in Toronto on Thursday before getting blown out in Boston.

LeBron James, who also missed Friday’s game because of sciatica and joint arthritis in his left foot, is questionable to return Sunday. The 40-year-old has played in only six of the Lakers’ 22 games.

Guard Marcus Smart will miss a sixth consecutive game because of a left lumbar muscle strain.

Doncic, who shared a photo of his new daughter, Olivia, on social media, leads the NBA with 35.3 points per game. If he returns against the 76ers (13-9), the game will feature three of the league’s top five scorers.

Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey ranks third with 31.6 points per game and Lakers guard Austin Reaves is fifth with 29.3 points. Reaves’ career season has helped the Lakers go 4-2 in games without Doncic, as Reaves is averaging 40 points per game without Doncic in the lineup.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Zach LaVine helps Kings exhale after majestic road performance against Heat

Zach LaVine helps Kings exhale after majestic road performance against Heat originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings went to South Beach and played their best game of the 2025-26 NBA season, coasting to a 127-111 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday at Kaseya Center. 

Yes, you read that correctly: Sacramento, in the midst of a losing skid and on the road, put together four impressive quarters against one of the league’s best defensive teams in a city notoriously known for distracting its visitors.

To many teams in the league, it could’ve been any other victory. For the Kings, especially at this juncture of the season, it’s a moment to exhale – and release some built-up tension.

“The preparation has been the same,” Zach LaVine told Kyle Draper, Morgan Ragan and Deuce Mason on “Kings Postgame Live.” “We’ve been fighting through it. Everyone in this locker room is a competitor. I’m a competitor. No one is quitting. No one wants to lose. 

“We are fighting through a little bit of adversity from top to bottom with the whole team. We’re just trying to figure out how to make it happen. Everybody in this locker room is going to stick with it regardless of what people say on the outside. We don’t care about that. We’re going to keep doing what we have to do.” 

Sure, among the Heats’ inactives were guards Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell, but the Kings, propelled by a season-high 42 points from LaVine, left coach Doug Christie – and Sacramento fans – with plenty to be proud of.

“We work on the defense when get practice days, and when these guys are locked in, we’ve seen them play some really good defense,” Christie told reporters.

“Now, they have some guys out, so you got to understand that. At the same time, they played on a back to back, so there are some things there. But still, their style of basketball plays to everyone on their team. I know with [Heat coach Erik Spoelstra], it’s the next man up. There are no excuses, and for us to come out and play that way mightily impressive.”

LaVine, who also tallied eight 3-pointers, was supported by a pair of King rookies. 

After gaining Christie’s confidence through several strong performances, rookie Maxime Raynaud made his first career start tonight. 

The Stanford product finished with a double-double, registering 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. 

Meanwhile, first-round pick Nique Clifford, coming off the bench, demonstrated his best performance of the season, adding 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting.  

Before returning home, the Kings will make a stop in Indiana to face the Pacers on Monday. 

In the meantime, they’ve earned every right to take in some of the Miami experience.

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Warriors follow unlikely superhero Pat Spencer to encouraging win vs. Cavaliers

Warriors follow unlikely superhero Pat Spencer to encouraging win vs. Cavaliers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors wobbled into Cleveland on Saturday and, for the first time this season, summoned the kind of performance that delivers a warm cup of encouragement to everyone on the payroll.

Coming off a distasteful loss Thursday night in Philadelphia, they vanquished a quality opponent, on the road, without the services of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler III and Al Horford.

The Warriors’ 99-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers was accomplished behind the horsepower of a patchwork starting lineup, their 12th of the season, and a rotation that mostly made sense even if at times it looked as if the names were drawn from a hat.

No one was more vital to this stunning triumph than Pat Spencer, the Bay Area’s latest unlikely superhero. The two-way guard, making his first NBA start, submitted something of a movie trailer for his own Linsanity moment.

Spencer this week has moved from reliable part-time energizer to critical component of the Warriors. He is vastly outplaying his two-way contract.

“We’ve seen the competitiveness,” Kerr told reporters at Rocket Arena. “We’ve seen what a good player he is over the past couple years. But he’s really improved his jump shot. That’s the big thing. Last year, he would turn down a lot of threes, drive in, shoot a lot of floaters. He’s never going to be Steph, but he’s a threat out there. That’s what it takes. You have to be a threat from the line to pull the defense out. I just think now the shot quality we’re getting with him on the floor is way better than it was the last couple years.

“And the other thing is that his coach realizes that Pat is that motherf–ker. That became clear.”

Spencer scored a team- and career-high 19 points, on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3 of 4 from distance. He recorded a game-high seven assists, while committing only one turnover, and was plus-nine in 29 minutes.

He was at his best in the fourth quarter, when the moment grew in magnitude and the Cavs intensified their defense, trimming a 13-point deficit with 5:17 remaining to two with 20.9 seconds left. Spencer scored 12 of Golden State’s 27 points in the quarter and assisted on two more buckets.

“It took a collective effort,” Spencer said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Warriors Postgame Live.” “We had 10 guys, but we had 10 pretty young guys today. And [the Cavaliers] were coming off a back-to-back [set]. We knew if we played with pace, got up and down, we’d find some shots that were beneficial for us.”

All 10 available Warriors provided something that helped the carve out the victory. Buddy Hield finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Quinten Post produced 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks while battling NBA All-Star big man Even Mobley to a virtual standoff. Jonathan Kuminga, making his first start since Nov. 11, scored four only points on 1-of-10 shooting but yanked seven rebounds.

The bench came through with enough solid play at both ends to ensure there would be no significant drop-off from the starters. Golden State generated leads as high as 14 points. Gui Santos gave the Warriors 14 points and three assists, with two crucial free throws with 11.3 seconds remaining. Brandin Podziemski, struggling of late, delivered 10 points, three rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes.

The Warriors pestered the Cavaliers into 34.6-percent shooting from the field, including 23.8 beyond the arc. Stars Donovan Mitchall, Darius Garland and Mobley combined to shoot 25 of 60 from the field.

“We were on a string,” Kerr said. “We were connected. We did a pretty good job taking care of transition, which was our No. 1 key. They are so fast in transition, one of the best teams in the league at scoring in the first eight seconds of the clock. They get the ball down the floor. I thought we took that away.”

There is no doubt, though, that the high-velocity spirit of Spencer was contagious enough to push the entire squad to levels that must be as dynamic as they can reach without the team’s best players.

When Spencer went the line to shoot two free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining and the Warriors up 97-94, he followed his first make by waving goodbye to the crowd. He then dropped in the second for the final score.

“We’ll take any win we can get right now,” Spencer said. “Great energy in the locker room, just competing our butts off tonight. We’re trying to weather the storm until we get healthy. But yeah, we’re fired up.”

As well they should be. Who could have imagined the Warriors getting a quality road win with Curry, Green and Butler inactive? Who could have dreamed Spencer would be the driving force?

To be sure, this victory doesn’t mean Golden State’s failed two-timeline plan has been revived – goodness, no. But it’s proof that the supporting cast is hearing the pleas the veterans have been urging for a few weeks.

Given the turbulent play so far this season, there is legitimate value in that.

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Steve Kerr epically quotes Pat Spencer in NSFW podium quip after Warriors' win

Steve Kerr epically quotes Pat Spencer in NSFW podium quip after Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If you’re not familiar with Pat Spencer by this point, then you probably should be.

After his defiant declaration on Thursday in Philadelphia, Spencer backed it up in the Warriors’ 99-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at Rocket Arena. The 29-year-old point guard — in his first career NBA start — scored a career-high 19 points to go with seven assists and four rebounds.

Steve Kerr offered a priceless moment in his postgame presser, repeating Spencer’s audacious quote that could end up being iconic in Warriors lore.

“I think the other thing is that his coach realized that Pat is that motherf–ker,” Kerr told reporters. “I think that became clear.”

Was Kerr previously aware of that quality Spencer possesses? That was the next question for Golden State’s coach.

“No, I was getting the inkling, you know,” Kerr replied. “It was starting to creep in, but I didn’t realize it until he told the world, and tonight it was very clear.”

Minutes later, Gui Santos similarly agreed with Spencer’s assertion.

“A huge compliment for Pat, that guy,” Santos explained to reporters, before asking if he could swear. “Pat is that motherf–ker, you know. He’s great. It’s great to have a guy like that on the team.”

Pat Spencer: not the hero the Warriors deserve, but the hero they needed. Just as we all predicted.

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Bulls' rookie Noa Essengue is out for remainder of season following shoulder surgery.

Bulls rookie Noa Essengue will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.

On Saturday, the Bulls made official what coach Billy Donovan had said a few days earlier: surgery was required, and the usual recovery time is six to seven months. Essengue injured his shoulder in a G-League game and, while the team first said it was a contusion, it turned out to be more than that.

Essengue was the No. 12 pick in last June's draft and at Summer League showed his fluid athleticism and potential, but also was raw (as expected). He was mainly remembered for being on the wrong end of a meme during his first trip to Las Vegas. The Bulls wanted to deal with this injury now so that Essengue will have next summer to work on his game (whether he will play in Summer League remains to be seen).

This season, Essengue played just six total minutes for the Bulls. In four G-League games, Essengue averaged 23 points a game on 50.8% from the floor, plus grabbing 8.5 rebounds a game.

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What we learned as Pat Spencer fuels depleted Warriors' upset win vs. Cavaliers

What we learned as Pat Spencer fuels depleted Warriors' upset win vs. Cavaliers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Remember all those games where the Warriors played a team without multiple stars yet still found themselves on the losing side? Saturday night in Cleveland finally was the opposite for Golden State.

The Warriors, without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, continued to show their competitive spirit. They only had 10 healthy players on the first night of a back-to-back while the Cleveland Cavaliers had their Big Three and the majority of their most important players. As the Warriors have learned time and time again, the game isn’t played on paper but on the hardwood. 

Behind the all-powerful Pat Spencer and a spunky bunch of role players, the Warriors pulled off a wild 99-94 upset win against the Cavs at Rocket Arena.

Spencer earned his first career start and continued to dazzle. The 29-year-old on a two-way contract scored a new career-high 19 points and was a plus-9 in 29 minutes. Spencer also had a team-high seven assists.

Scoring came up and down the Warriors’ roster. Gui Santos’ 14 points were second to Spencer, and five players scored in double figures.

Here are three takeaways from a huge Warriors win on the road.

Pat Spencer, Starting Point Guard

A major change was seen in the Warriors’ starting lineup with so many injuries. But the move wasn’t made solely because of a lack of players. Spencer on Saturday was rewarded with his first career NBA start after providing a needed spark with perhaps the two best performances of his career in back-to-back games.

Spencer on Tuesday tied his career-high of 17 points with three rebounds, six assists and one steal. He then followed that up with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. So, what did he do in his first start? 

The first quarter wasn’t easy because of two early fouls. But then Spencer got the Warriors going in the second quarter, pushing the pace, getting into the paint and assisting on three 3-pointers. That made Spencer a team-high plus-10 through the first half with four points, two rebounds and three assists as the Warriors led by nine points.

Winning time is Spencer time. He scored six fourth-quarter points against OKC, 12 in Philadelphia and another 12 in Cleveland with multiple clutch shots made. Spencer in the second half scored 15 points with two rebounds and four assists.

How JK, Podz Responded

During Steve Kerr’s pregame press conference, the Warriors coach laid out the best paths to success for Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, two former first-round NBA draft picks who have struggled as of late. 

“Well, JK, it’s always run the floor, take care of the ball – the turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr told reporters. “So I’m really urging him to get up the floor instead of, you know, holding back in the backcourt and asking for the ball. I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last.”

Kuminga was in the starting five after coming off the bench his past four games. He began by dribbling, dribbling, dribbling and missing between a couple fadeaways inside the arc, a missed three and a blocked layup. Kuminga missed his first seven shots and was the lone Warrior held scoreless in the first half, but he did have three rebounds and three assists. 

The game became easier for Kuminga in the third quarter, cutting to the hoop for easy points or getting to the free-throw line. Kuminga only played two and a half minutes in the fourth quarter. Though he did grab seven rebounds, Kuminga was just 1 of 10 from the field for four points.

“With Brandin, he’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr continued. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own, instead of doing what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.”

Unlike Kuminga, Podziemski did not get the starting nod. All 10 healthy Warriors played in the first half, and Podziemski was the only one whose plus/minus wasn’t in the positive. Podziemski was a minus-1 going into halftime with five points, two rebounds and two assists.

Podziemski made a huge step-through layup with a minute and a half left and closed the game after not playing the entire fourth quarter Thursday night. The third-year guard ended as a minus-5, scoring 10 points and adding three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

Defensive Clinic

Great defense leads to offense, and that was the story for the Warriors in Cleveland. The Warriors’ defense was connected on a string and frustrated the Cavs for all four quarters. 

The Cavs came into Saturday night averaging 119.6 points per game, good for seventh in the NBA. They scored 36 in the first half and finished with 94. They average 15.3 made threes per game, good for fifth in the NBA. Their 10 threes made were five below their season average. None of this was by mistake. 

Donovan Mitchell averages 30 points per game and scored 29, but needed 26 shots. Nobody else scored 20 points for the Cavs. Evan Mobley (18 points) and Darius Garland (17 points) barely missed the mark. They also were a combined 14-of-34 shooting (41.2 percent). 

The Cavs’ 94 points was a season low. The Warriors quietly have cracked the top five in defensive rating and for the second straight game held their opponent to under 100 points.

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Chris Paul: 'I'm still scared by it all. Still processing everything. But I'm staying ready.'

What's next for Chris Paul?

He has been sent away from the Clippers (something handled sloppily), but what comes next? NBA insider Chris Haynes texted with Paul and got this response:

"I'm just staying ready. I'm hooping right now. I don't know what's next. I'm still scarred by it all. Still processing everything. But I'm staying ready."

Haynes also got CP3's thought process behind his cryptic Instagram story of the definition of "leeway."

The reality of what is next for Chris Paul is a little more complex.

While he is away from the team, the Clippers have not released him and reportedly are working with him on a potential trade. However, league sources told NBC Sports that teams with interest in Paul are going to sit back and wait for him to be released, then sign him as a free agent rather than giving up anything in a deal. The Clippers are up against their first-apron hard cap and can't release Paul and replace him with another veteran minimum contract. LA can't afford that until January (they could release him and promote two-way player Kobe Sanders to a regular contract, staying below that line). Beyond that, Paul signed in Los Angeles to be close to his family, he's not likely to want to go far away to end his career (there is one other team in Los Angeles, but it also is up against a first apron hard cap and is not in a position to bring anyone in for a while, and when they do an older backup guard is not likely the need). It will be interesting to see which teams step up to try to sign him once they can.

Paul may need to be hooping and staying ready on his own for a while.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo: 'I want to run through the wall, and make things work'

Before NBA training camp opened, rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo pushing the Bucks to have trade talks with the Knicks were everywhere. That's when, at media day, Antetokounmpo tried to quash all that saying he was all in on this team now, and in six or seven months maybe he would change his mind.

Then the Bucks stumbled out of the gate, and this week the rumor mill cranked up into high gear this week when a report came out that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with the Milwaukee front office to discuss his future with the franchise. Antetokounmpo hasn't spoken to the media since all this started (he is currently out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain), but he did talk with NBA insider Chris Haynes, who discussed that conversation on Amazon Prime's NBA coverage Friday, with Antetokounmpo reportedly echoing what he said before the season started.

"I want to run through the wall and make things work." As a reminder, here is what Antetokounmpo said at media day that was along the same lines:

"I've said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I'm here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it's definitely going to be hard. We're going to take it day by day, but I'm here. So, all the other extra stuff does not matter... Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that's human too, you're allowed to make any decision you want, but I'm locked in. I'm locked in to this team. I'm locked in to these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself."

There should be no doubt that Antetokounmpo wants to make things work in Milwaukee and that he will make every effort to do so. He is not going to be a disruptive force. It's also possible to play hard and try to make things work while understanding the bigger picture about the Bucks' competitiveness and what that might mean in the long term.

Milwaukee is only going to trade Antetokounmpo if he pushes for it — it's the only reason for the conversations with New York in August (after the Knicks had extended Mikal Bridges and couldn't really make a decent trade offer). There are a lot of questions that flow if and when that request is made — starting with if the Bucks would help get Antetokounmpo to his preferred destination, or if they are taking the offer on the table that's best for them — but it all has to start with Antetokounmpo willing to forcefully push his way out.

Antetokounmpo being traded still feels more like something that will happen in the offseason, when roster size limits are expanded and the concerns of the luxury tax aprons are less pressing. However, if the Bucks stumble further down in the East while Antetokounmpo is out injured, that dynamic could change.

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Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better' amid early struggles with Warriors

Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better' amid early struggles with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors veteran center Al Horford recognizes he has fallen short since his arrival to the Bay Area. 

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, the 39-year-old big man reflected on his first two months as a part of Golden State, which he joined in late September on a multi-year contract.

The 19-year NBA veteran’s self-assessment? Harsh yet honest and accurate. 

“I’m not where I want to be,” Horford told Friedell on Thursday. “I would say I haven’t been very good. I understand that there’s a lot of work ahead of me, there’s more that I need to do, and I need to be better, and I feel like I will. But right now, I’m not where I want to be.”

To say that Horford’s adjustment to the Warriors has been less than ideal is an understatement. 

The former All-Star and NBA champion, who won’t play back-to-back games this season, only has featured in 13 games for Golden State, averaging career-lows of 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. 

On Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers, Horford returned after missing two weeks due to sciatica.

“It’s not so much frustrating,” Horford told Friedell. “It’s just that there are a lot of different circumstances going on. Whether it’s injury, missing time away from the team, there’s a lot of factors, and there’s no excuses, but I take all of this first part with a hint of salt, and I know that I will be better. So I know that I will be better.”

Outside of adjusting to a new system, injuries and playing for a team based west of the Great Plains, Horford and his wife, Amelia, recently welcomed their sixth child. 

It has been a whirlwind, but Horford knows exactly what parts of his game he has to improve on. 

“For me, it’s continuing to figure everything out defensively,” Horford added to Friedell. “So being more of a support on the defensive end. And then on offense, getting more comfortable in spots so I can impact the team. 

“Being able to get to the right spots to shoot the three, and just giving the team more on the offensive end. Whether it’s setting screens, getting guys open, things like that. That’s always something that I’m going to continue to try to be better at.”

Horford made his first start of the season in the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the 76ers. 

And although his performance wasn’t the most convincing, it’s a step in the right direction for the veteran, especially during a time in which an injury-riddled Warriors could benefit from the brand of basketball that has kept Horford in the league for nearly two decades.

“That’s always been my mindset,” Horford told Friedell. “And I understand it, but right now the team needs me. We need to be a little better, and this is a part of it; it’s a part of the journey. But in my mind, I know where I need to be when that time comes.”

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Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski

Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On the first night of a Midwest back-to-back, the Warriors will be down several key contributors — namely stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Without those steady veterans, coach Steve Kerr needs a big night from Golden State’s second timeline, particularly two players who have struggled lately: Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. Before Saturday’s matchup in Cleveland, Kerr detailed some areas he needs to see improvement from that young duo.

“Well, JK, it’s always run the floor, take care of the ball — the turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr told reporters. “So I’m really urging him to get up the floor instead of, you know, holding back in the backcourt and asking for the ball. I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last. And I think that’s been an issue the last few games. I don’t think he’s running the floor that well.”

Kuminga had a strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season but hasn’t looked quite like himself since returning from a seven-game absence due to bilateral knee tendinitis.

Podziemski, on the other hand, has been thrust into a larger role while Curry is out with a quad contusion. But in Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Podziemski was a team-worst minus-20 in just under 20 minutes, while third-string point guard Pat Spencer was a team-best plus-17 in 24 minutes.

“And then with Brandin, he’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr continued. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own, instead of doing what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.

“That’s why Pat has closed these last couple of games and played most of the fourth quarters, if not all, because he’s doing that. So Brandin needs to get back to just focusing on the things he does best.”

With Golden State missing practically all of their veterans on Saturday, Kerr needs Kuminga and Podziemski to return to form to have any chance at taking down a talented Cavaliers squad on the road.

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Why Russell Westbrook is ‘GOAT' point guard to Kings rookie Nique Clifford

Why Russell Westbrook is ‘GOAT' point guard to Kings rookie Nique Clifford originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: Watch the full “Conversations with Deuce & Mo” interview with Nique Clifford, debuting at 4 p.m. PT Saturday on NBC Sports California

Nique Clifford, as a rookie, already is playing with one of his favorite NBA players of all time.

After Kings point guard Russell Westbrook racked up his 204th career triple-double in Sacramento’s win over the Golden State Warriors earlier this month, Clifford joined NBC Sports California’s “Kings Postgame Live” and revealed that Westbrook is his top-three point guard in NBA history.

But in speaking to NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan on a recent “Conversations with Deuce & Mo,” Clifford clarified his stance on that ranking.

“It’s debatable. You can put Magic [Johnson] and Steph [Curry] in there, of course,” Clifford said. “But honestly, Westbrook has always been my G.O.A.T. for point guard my whole life. It’s just the way he impacts the game from all levels. He plays hard, his passion. He’s always been my No. 1 point guard. But you can argue Steph and Magic, of course.”

Clifford has stated on multiple occasions that Westbrook has been one of his “favorite players” growing up.

Now, Clifford gets to spend his rookie season — and Year 18 for Westbrook — being teammates with one of his idols.

The young rookie shared what has surprised him most since playing alongside the former league MVP.

“The fact that he’s still doing what he’s doing. Like how old is he? He’s been doing it so long and he’s still got that burst to him,” Clifford said. “He still has that same passionate energy and competitiveness. That’s been super impressive. Just as a teammate, he’s been a great dude to learn from. Seeing how he approaches it every day. Real professional.

“And always has the same energy and smile that you see when he’s playing. That’s who he is off the court, too. It’s been real cool to be a part of that and play with one of my favorite players of all time.”

The Kings traded a protected 2027 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder to move up in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft and secure Clifford at No. 24 overall.

Clifford has shown flashes of his potential in a small sample size thus far, averaging 4.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19 minutes through 10 games this season.

Playing alongside several established veterans, including Westbrook, Clifford is in good hands in Year 1.

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Granderson: At last, the players themselves are the voice of the NBA

STATELINE, NV - JULY 11: Former NBA player Chandler Parson during the second practice round at the ACC Celebrity Golf Championship presented by American Century Investments at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 11, 2024 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by David Calvert/Getty Images for American Century Investments)
Former NBA player Chandler Parsons is now co-host of the podcast "Run It Back." (David Calvert / Getty Images for American Century Investments)

Three words perfectly summed up what LeBron James has been trying to tell us most of his life.

His pass to Rui Hachimura in the closing seconds of Thursday’s game led to the game-winning basket. With that pass, James sacrificed a chance to score at least 10 points in an NBA-record 1,298 consecutive games. When the game is on the line, the sports industry wants stars like him to take the last shot because that’s how the industry traditionally defines greatness.

People say: “Jordan would’ve shot it. Kobe would’ve shot it.” And ever since Sports Illustrated put James on the cover in 2002 — next to the words “chosen one” — he has been trying to tell us he defines greatness differently.

He reiterated that after the game against Toronto, when asked what feelings he had toward his scoring streak ending.

“None. We won.”

The sports industry, the machine, will discuss whether to feel the same way.

But we can’t pretend he hasn’t been telling us the same thing for more than 20 years: All he cares about is making the right play for the team. He’s been saying that since the S.I. cover. And that has been particularly true since creating his own media company, Uninterrupted, back in 2014.

He and Yankees great Derek Jeter, who started the Players Tribune that same year, are pioneers when it comes to modern athletes telling their own stories. And in the decade since, it’s been captivating watching athletes move beyond the gatekeeping of traditional media and the limitations of social media to create podcasts and produce documentaries (or at least try) — all to tell their own stories.

That’s not to say every time a group of former or active players steps in front of a mic, brilliance is heard. In fact, a lot of what we hear is just retelling stories we’ve heard a thousand times, only with less structure. Oftentimes there are ego-driven attempts to rewrite history under the guise of “setting the record straight.” As if we don’t have Google and can’t see the record for ourselves. But it is in their own words, which adds something to the discussion. And because there’s more of it, I’m finding some of the best stuff out there isn’t from the gods of the game like James, but the near-mortals.

Take “Run It Back” on FanDuel TV. The sports media machine is driven by stars, but the league is mostly made of voices like the ones on that show. The players who didn’t lead teams to heights and whose faces never made it to the cover of a magazine. And until recently, most of the insight from most of the players was just lost because we didn’t hear their voices. But now — particularly this season, with networks investing heavily in athlete-driven NBA content — more sources are bringing more texture. People like “Run It Back” co-host Chandler Parsons.

“I like the inside info, and I like the takes from the other guys,” Parsons said about hearing from the non-superstars. “I like hearing from Draymond Green and hearing what he has to say through his eyes and not through a third party…. As an athlete who has been in my shoes and played the game at the highest level, I respect their takes and I respect their opinion.”

In the early days of Monday Night Football, Howard Cosell, the original sports media provocateur, often griped about former NFL players leaving the field and walking into the booth. He would say sports media was the only profession where someone with no experience could be handed a big check to do the job at the highest level. That was back in the 1970s, when TV networks were few and media-savvy athletes like the great Muhammad Ali were even fewer.

Parsons graduated from the University of Florida with a journalism degree, so perhaps he avoids the scorn of Cosell’s ghost. Still, without the explosion of streaming networks and podcasting, there’s a good chance we wouldn’t have heard much from him and others like him, just because they weren’t household names. It was his appearance on another athlete-driven podcast, “All the Smoke,” that elevated him as a viable NBA analyst.

“I had no idea I wanted to do this,” Parsons said.

Same for Matt Barnes, who along with Stephen Jackson, started their podcast “All the Smoke” after careers in the NBA and stints with traditional media. To understand how popular it is today: Since joining YouTube in 2019, the show has amassed more than half a billion views, has landed interviews with Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Michelle Obama and Gov. Gavin Newsom and has grown into a full-fledged production company.

Barnes, who is the CEO of All the Smoke Productions, told me that because of the increase in NBA content in the so-called manosphere, there can be pressure to give takes for clicks. (I told him that sounded familiar.)

“There are some athletes in this space who say some of the craziest s—,” Barnes said. “I feel like if I put the work in and have deep, meaningful conversations, I’ll go viral for something that’s an interesting story.”

Case in point: “Smoke” was among the first media outlets to have NBA legend Dwyane Wade on to talk about his transgender daughter. It was a powerful episode that a decade ago would never have been initiated by former athletes. That’s not just a reflection of the times changing. It embodies how players now see themselves, and speak for themselves, in these changing times.

Players and former players are the new voice of the NBA. They’ve always been there. They just needed to be heard.

YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.