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

The NBA season tips off in less than a week, and if you haven't finalized your fantasy basketball draft strategy, the clock is ticking! Finding hidden fantasy gems or high-upside late-round sleepers is the key to winning your league. While many managers focus on the top 100 players, true value often lies beyond that.

Fear not, because this in-depth fantasy basketball guide uncovers a number of players with an Average Draft Position (ADP) outside the top 100 who are poised to deliver sustainable fantasy value and become league-winning draft picks this season. Get ready to find your secret weapons and dominate your category leagues with these expert picks for fantasy basketball 2025-2026.

Fantasy Basketball Late-Round Sleepers

Zach Edey, Grizzlies (ADP: 118)

The obvious concern when it comes to Edey is the fact that he underwent offseason surgery, likely costing him at least the first few weeks of the season. While this drags his ADP down, it does not make him someone you need to avoid altogether. After a strong finish to his rookie season, it appears as though he is locked in as the starting center and, perhaps more importantly, will play closer to starter's minutes than he did for much of last season. If he can get to 28 minutes per night, his elite blocks upside, coupled with efficient scoring and strong rebounding numbers, could see him flirt with top-50 value on a per-game basis.

Dereck Lively, Mavericks (ADP: 110.6)

Despite the continued presence of Daniel Gafford, Lively is clearly the center the Mavericks want to prioritize alongside Anthony Davis. While he is coming off surgery himself, Lively has little competition for minutes at the moment, with Gafford sidelined due to an ankle injury. A lack of offensive versatility does limit his overall upside, as does the fact that he will be sharing the floor with multiple rebounding options, namely Davis, Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington. However, if he can stay healthy and continue to develop, playing 26 minutes per night is not out of the question, putting him firmly in the discussion to be a top 80 player when all is said and done.

Tari Eason, Rockets (ADP: 116.2)

It's much easier to make a case for Eason, given his proven per-minute upside. He finished the 2024-25 season as the 65th-ranked player in category leagues, in just 24.9 minutes per game. While the Rockets have increased the top-end talent, bringing in Kevin Durant, Eason should still feature prominently on a nightly basis. Fred VanVleet is likely to miss the entire season due to an ACL injury, meaning everyone on the roster will be doing a little more. Factoring in a slight increase in playing time for Eason, simple math would tell us that he could once again be a solid top-70 asset, typically available in the 10th round of many drafts.

Reed Sheppard, Rockets (ADP: 117)

Another beneficiary of the injury to VanVleet, it appears as though Sheppard will be the starting point guard come Opening Night. It will be a massive step up for the sophomore after averaging just 12.6 minutes per game during his rookie season, suiting up on 52 occasions. With such a small sample size, it's hard to get a good read on what he might be able to do in starter's minutes. With that said, he is a noted defender who has demonstrated the ability to run an offense. At this point in any category league draft, the reward typically outweighs the risk. Conservatively, Sheppard should be viewed as a potential top-80 player this season, with the upside to finish even higher, should his skill set translate better than expected.

Cason Wallace, Thunder (ADP: 124.9)

Wallace ended his second season in the NBA as a top-100 player in category leagues, albeit only just. He closed as the 99th-ranked player, thanks largely to the fact that he averaged 1.8 steals per game. Had it not been for the historic season laid down by Dyson Daniels, Wallace would likely have received more attention for his defensive exploits. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and we have a situation where the lack of media attention could work in the favor of fantasy managers. The Thunder roster remains basically unchanged this season, running it back after a memorable 2024-25 campaign. With that said, Wallace is probably the one player who could see an uptick in playing time, which can only help his overall appeal. Even with just two extra minutes, he could hypothetically flirt with top-70 value, making him a somewhat safe target outside the top 100.

Kyshawn George, Wizards (ADP: 140.1)

There is certainly an element of risk when it comes to considering George, if not only for the fact that he plays for the Wizards. Coming off a solid rookie season, George looks set to be handed a starting role this season, at least until Bilal Coulibaly returns to the court. He followed up his rookie campaign with a strong showing in the recent Summer League, as well as a promising preseason. Offense remains a big question mark, one that could make or break his season. He has the defensive chops to play a key role, but if he can't develop his scoring, his opportunities could remain limited. With that said, at pick 143, there is almost no risk involved, making him one of my favorite late-round targets.

Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz (ADP: 138.5)

Sensabaugh is another player who comes with risk, with Utah running one of the more unpredictable rotations in the league. Now in his third season, Sensabaugh has yet to establish himself as a key piece for the Jazz. In 20.2 minutes per game last season, he averaged 10.9 points and 2.2 three-pointers per game. However, through six preseason games, he has shown far more aggression, averaging 22.0 points, 1.0 steals and 3.7 three-pointers in 24.3 minutes per game. Given the lack of peripheral stats, it's going to be a fine line when it comes to Sensabaugh as a sustainable fantasy asset. But once again, taking someone this late in drafts eliminates all the risk.

How Warriors star Steph Curry could make NBA history with third MVP award originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Somewhere behind the puff of Michael Jordan’s cigar smoke, he’s still seething about an NBA MVP from a season he didn’t even play in.

Karl Malone winning the 1997 MVP by 11 more first-place votes and 29 more points won than Jordan was a big enough insult to him that he beat Malone’s Utah Jazz over six games in the NBA Finals, won the award the next season and then famously stole the ball from him with 20 seconds left before hitting the winning shot for his sixth ring in what was Jordan’s final game in a Chicago Bulls jersey. Watching the 1998-99 season while retired for the second but not last time must have irked Michael more. 

History says Malone won his second MVP in 1999 – his first with Jordan out of the league. But that also was a lockout year in which the season was condensed to 50 games. Malone played 49, easily the least amount for an MVP. 

The shortened season also helped Malone become the oldest MVP in NBA history at 35 years old. Enjoy the stogie, MJ. We’re rewriting history and giving the honor back to Jordan when he won the award at 34 in that ‘Last Dance’ Bulls season the year prior. 

That still makes Jordan, as the new oldest MVP ever, three years younger than the age of 37-year-old Warriors superstar Steph Curry entering the 2025-26 season. Curry will be 38 in March and is going into his 17th season. Malone was in his 14th season when he was named MVP in 1999, and Jordan was in his 13th when he won the award in 1998. 

Everything Curry does goes against historical norms. So would winning his third MVP. Just like every time the ball comes off his fingertips, there’s always a chance. 

And a few league-wide changes to this upcoming season will already help him. 

Steve Kerr and others within the Warriors have expressed their anger watching Curry’s shooting hand get smacked on his follow-through without a whistle being blown. The NBA this season, in collaboration with the Coaches Association, is implementing the high-five rule. Curry already was a beneficiary in the Warriors’ second preseason game, converting a four-point play against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Steph already benefitting from the new "high-five" rule change 4⃣ pic.twitter.com/M5qJ43fBYT

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 9, 2025

The Warriors’ first points in their fourth game of the preseason came from three free throws by Curry on a night where he was 12 of 13 at the line in three quarters.

Defenders also won’t be able to attack a shooter’s wrist after the completion of his follow-through. Curry frequently was the recipient of both defensive strategies last season while nursing a sprained thumb. 

“I think it’ll help Steph every game because of the relaxed rules on that the last few years, everybody’s out there just trying to hammer him on the arm,” Kerr said on Oct. 2. “It’s a good change for him, it’s a good change for everybody.”

Curry shot below 40 percent on 3-pointers last year for only the second time in a full season, finishing at a paltry (sarcasm) 39.7 percent. That rule alone would have put Curry back above the 40-percent threshold with fewer misses. Another new one could also help.

The honest hooper inside of Curry refuses to let grenades at the end of quarters scare him from taking a shot. Now others will be incentivized to join him. 

Starting this season, missed shots taken at least 36 feet with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, no longer hurting an individual player’s field goal percentage. While others such as Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have shied away from the shot, Curry has taken 111 heaves for his career and has made six. This might not have as big of an effect on Curry’s stats as the other rule changes, but every little detail helps in chasing history.

The MVP for Curry and the Warriors as a whole will be H-E-A-L-T-H. Warriors fans ought to chant those six letters before every game. 

Curry is the best-conditioned player in the NBA. His season also ended five and a half months ago from a hamstring injury, a soft tissue issue he had never previously dealt with. It also began back in the summer when Curry had to save Team USA at the Paris Summer Olympics to win gold. 

Though Curry has averaged 72 games the last two years, ideally he’d play closer to 65 this season, the minimum for awards. The perfect sweet spot in recent history would be somewhere between the 66 games Joel Embiid played in his 2023 MVP season, and the 72 Nikola Jokic played in his 2021 MVP season. 

Winning matters, too. The Nuggets won 47 games in Jokic’s first MVP season and were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. When Embiid took it from him, the 76ers won 54 games and were the No. 3 seed in the East. The latter number would be more than enough from the Warriors for Curry to be in the MVP conversation. Not 47. 

That many wins would have been the reward of the No. 9 seed in the West last season. The magic number of wins the Warriors should be aiming for is 50, the same amount the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the West just were. 

Not even a glimpse of the finish line is in Curry’s sights, and yet, the upcoming season is the 10-year anniversary since he won his second straight MVP and became the first unanimous winner. His everyday why a decade later is in 20/20 vision. 

“The work you put in, love of the game, being around great people in this organization. Still keeping winning as the priority,” Curry said at Warriors Media Day, talking about his evolution since then. “And blessed to still hopefully be in that situation for a couple more years.” 

If Curry plays enough games, the Warriors win enough games and he resembles the player jolted to life by the powers of Jimmy Butler, he’ll be on the ballots. Curry’s stats to end the season with Robin at his side were comparable to or better than his first MVP season. Over his final 28 games, where the Warriors went 22-6, Curry averaged 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3 percent overall, 40.8 percent from three and 92.4 percent on free throws. The bright lights were on and Curry was at center stage, where he thrives most.

Curry knew he had a chance to compete for another title soon after feeling Butler’s fit, and he has the same feeling again. Only on a better, but possibly more brittle, team.

History books are used to making room for Curry etching his name on its pages by now. The odds are more against him than ever, and the road he’s about to turn on has never been traveled. Curry has the keys in his hands and the show’s about to begin. 

Enjoy the ride.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Source: Kings agree to free-agent contract with former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings are bringing a former NBA MVP on board.

Sacramento and veteran point guard Russell Westbrook have agreed to a free-agent contract, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that the contract is one year, worth $3.6 million.

Can confirm the Sacramento Kings have agreed to a deal with former MVP Russell Westbrook, per source. @ShamsCharania first.

As it's been well-reported, the two have been in communication all offseason. Kings players were informed earlier this week about the impending signing.

— Tristi Rodriguez (@tristi_r14) October 15, 2025

It was important for Westbrook, a Los Angeles County native, to stay close to home. He played in Los Angeles, with both the Lakers and Clippers, from 2021 to 2024 before spending last season with the Denver Nuggets.

Since Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox last season, the team has been searching to fill the void at point guard. The Kings signed Dennis Schroder this offseason, but they clearly want to secure as much depth as possible.

Westbrook declined his $3.4 million option with the Nuggets and became a free agent after one season in Denver, where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games. The single-season triple-double NBA record holder still has it, too, after recording the ninth-most in the league last season with four.

It remains to be seen what kind of role Westbrook will play with the Kings, especially after the signing of fellow veteran point guard Schroder, but the nine-time NBA All-Star certainly gives them valuable experience as they seek a playoff return.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

From Luka Doncic to Cooper Flagg, here are 10 NBA players to watch this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

A pressure-packed NBA season is on the horizon.

From players in new situations to those needing to prove themselves, there’s no shortage of storylines as basketball season tips off.

With the NBA returning to NBC and Peacock for opening night on Oct. 21 and Prime Video added as a new partner, the league will have a different look in 2025-26.

Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:

Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?

Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.

Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.

Jonathan Kuminga's ‘fire' vs. Trail Blazers trends toward rotation stability originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If the Warriors are to become a force in the Western Conference, they’re going to need Jonathan Kuminga. For at least as long as he’s on the roster.

Coach Steve Kerr, whose relationship with Kuminga has been a topic of debate for at least two years, has accepted that. The Warriors, the second-oldest team in the NBA, need Kuminga’s athleticism, his youthful vitality and his ability to create offense in isolation. The more he shines, the more they shine.

That’s how, in three months, we’ve gone from the Warriors and Kuminga each exploring outside options toward a divorce to Kerr raving about the 23-year-old forward and even approving of the explosive conduct that led to Kuminga’s ejection Tuesday night in a 118-111 preseason victory over the Trail Blazers.

“I love the way he played,” Kerr told reporters at Moda Center in Portland. “I love the fire, the passion.  I don’t mind the objection at all; I kind of liked it, actually. 

“I thought JK was terrific tonight.”

Prior to being ejected with .9 seconds left in the first half for belligerence in the face of referee Rodney Mott, Kuminga was doing a nice job of following the script the Warriors handed him as a rookie. He was running with velocity, rebounding with force, making smart and timely passes and generally providing the kind of offense no one else on the roster can deliver.

And while Kuminga has adventured into some missteps through four preseason games – with two starts, including Tuesday – there has been enough constructive hoops to encourage the Warriors and a fan base semi-divided over his merits.

He’s shooting 11-of-21 from the field, 3-of-9 from deep. Small sample size, but respectable enough. Where Kuminga is showing considerable advancement is with rebounding and passing. His 17 rebounds rank second on the team, behind only Trayce Jackson-Davis, and his 16 assists rank second on the team, behind only Brandin Podziemski.

To put a finer point on it, JK is flipping dimes at a slightly higher rate than Draymond Green and a much higher rate than Stephen Curry. His 17 rebounds have come in 74 minutes. Quinten Post, a 7-foot center, has 14 rebounds in 79 minutes.

Numbers like that might persuade Kerr to shrug off the brief tantrum that prompted the ejection.

“He kind of got right in Rodney’s face,” Kerr said. “You can’t do that. They’re going to eject you if you do that.

“But, like I said, I like the fire, and I like the energy that he played with. The emotion. I think JK’s having an excellent camp and I’m excited about how he looks.”

That’s the JK the Warriors have been seeking. The JK who inspires concern in opponents They can live with some of the ill-conceived turnovers if the other parts of his game are flourishing. Their roster is light on athleticism, and he’s the most athletic player. Their roster is heavy on high-IQ vets with tremendous aptitude for the game. He’s still on the learning curve but can offer lightning-bolt activity they can’t.

It’s profoundly evident that Kerr and his staff are trying to find the right balance of experience and youth to succeed. With four players – Jimmy Butler III, Al Horford, Curry and Green – age 35 or older, there will be considerable load management in the 82-game regular season. It’s essential that the veterans be competently supported by the 25-and-under group. That means, above all, Brandin Podziemski (22), Moses Moody (23) and Kuminga.

Kerr believes in Podziemski, so he’s assured to get meaningful minutes. Putting Moody in the starting lineup late last season yielded positive results and could happen again. 

Kuminga, however, has been the wild card. In the lineup some nights, in and out of the rotation on a regular basis.

“He got fouled,” Kerr said, again referring to the ejection. “It was a frustration play. I have no problem with it. He deserved the foul (being called). He was getting fouled quite a bit. It was a physical game.

“But the way he ran on that play, the activity that he played with, the rebounding – he had six boards in one half, 17 minutes – that’s the JK who can really help our team.”

Kuminga is trending toward stability. Toward trustworthiness. The Warriors could use that, as could a few other teams. Whether they trade him before the Feb. 5 deadline for someone who is a “better fit” or consider him too valuable to move, they win.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

It was an interesting offseason for Dawn Staley.

The three-time national champion head coach of South Carolina was a candidate for the New York Knicks coaching job after Tom Thibodeau was fired in early June. She interviewed with the Knicks front office this summer, but New York decided to hire longtime NBA coach Mike Brown.

At SEC media days Tuesday, Staley was asked whether she expected a woman to be hired as an NBA head coach in her lifetime. She isn’t optimistic.

“I don’t,” Staley said. “And I hope I’m wrong.”

When interviewing for the Knicks position, Staley was appreciative that president Leon Rose and executive vice president William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley acknowledged the complications of hiring a female coach for the position. Unlike a traditional candidate, there would be heightened scrutiny for Staley and other women who find themselves in that position. An organization looking to make this type of hire needs to look at the process differently.

“It’s not just hiring the first female coach,” Staley said. “Because one, if I’m the Knicks coach and you have a five-game losing streak, it’s not going to be about the losing streak. It’s going to be about being a female coach. So you as an organization and a franchise, you have to be prepared about that and strong enough to endure those types of instances when you’re a female coach.”

Staley was also asked about her individual desire to be a trailblazer as a female head coach in men’s basketball spaces.

“Not really a whole lot,” Staley said. “I did the Knicks interview because I’ve known Leon Rose for 30 years. I have a connection to him and Worldwide Wes. I’ve known them all my life. It was a real interview, and I like to see what they’re talking about.”

In her response, Staley urged her colleagues to seek her advice when pursuing coaching opportunities in the NBA and men’s college basketball.

“If there’s somebody that’s interested in knowing and being the first female NBA coach, I got all the information,” Staley said. “Come see me because I’ll get you prepared for the interview. If there are NBA franchises that are interested in hiring a female, I’m here too because you have to be ready to take on that and all the things that come with it.”

Staley now turns her attention to her 18th season at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll behind defending champion UConn. The program announced this week that All-America honorable mention Chloe Kitts will miss the entire season with a torn ACL.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

New York Knicks, South Carolina Gamecocks, NBA, WNBA, Sports Business, Women's College Basketball, women's college basketball

2025 The Athletic Media Company

Sixers pick up MarJon Beauchamp on Exhibit 10 contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers announced Tuesday night that they signed MarJon Beauchamp and waived Emoni Bates. 

Beauchamp’s contract is an Exhibit 10 deal, a team source confirmed. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey first reported that news. Exhibit 10 signings are minimum-salary, non-guaranteed deals that can be converted into two-way or standard contracts before the regular season begins. 

Beauchamp, 25, was last with the Blazers on an Exhibit 10 contract. He’s a 6-foot-7 wing with 135 career NBA appearances. In 10.9 minutes per game, Beauchamp has averaged 4.1 points and 1.9 rebounds. 

After an unusual path to the NBA that included stints at Yakima Valley Community College and G League Ignite, Beauchamp went 24th overall to the Bucks in the 2022 draft. He had obvious defensive potential and appeared to have some decent role player traits — cutting, rebounding, effort on both ends — but has yet to translate that to much NBA success. 

The other Sixers currently on Exhibit 10 contracts are Kennedy Chandler, Malcolm Hill and Saint Thomas. The Sixers’ preseason finale is Friday vs. the Timberwolves and their regular-season opener is next Wednesday against the Celtics. 

What we learned as Steph Curry, Will Richard shine in Warriors' preseason win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

Just two days after suffering their first preseason loss in two years, the Warriors bounced back for a 118-111 win Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.

The Warriors made twice as many threes as the Blazers, 18 to nine, but gave up 20 more points in the paint than they scored and had the same number of turnovers (26) as assists.

Steph Curry, to no surprise, was the best player on the floor, scoring a game-high 28 points in three quarters of work. He was a plus-13 with four 3-pointers, six rebounds and five assists. He brought plenty of showmanship to the Pacific Northwest one week before the real games begins.

Steph relocates to the corner and connects 💰 pic.twitter.com/JvoCF4zB4S

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 15, 2025

The biggest surprise of the night was rookie Will Richard joining Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga and Al Horford in the starting lineup. Richard continued to impress, too, scoring 13 points with six rebounds as a plus-12 in 29 minutes. He went 4 of 7 from the field and 3 of 5 on threes.

Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Seth Curry and Gui Santos all were ruled out for the Warriors, as well as De’Anthony Melton and Alex Toohey.

Here are three takeaways from a Warriors win that moves them to 3-1 in the preseason.

Welcome To The Starting Five, Rook

Rest, injuries, and the desire to experiment have led coach Steve Kerr to use a different starting lineup in each of the Warriors’ first four preseason games. The biggest change Tuesday night in Portland was the addition of the Warriors’ rookie second-round draft pick. 

“I feel like it’s a good night to have Will out there for ball handling, decision making and it’s a good night for him to have to guard different guys and play against a really athletic team,” Kerr told reporters in his pregame press conference. “It’ll give us a good look at him, and it gives him a chance to play with Steph and BP and Al and JK. It’ll be a good challenge for him, but a good opportunity too.”

The Warriors’ first two points of the game that weren’t from three Curry free throws came from a cutting Richard. Kuminga was backing down his defender when Richard darted into the paint and caught a pass for two points.

JK dishes to Richard for the easy layup 🤝pic.twitter.com/SmZioAYrBn

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 15, 2025

Richard’s first made outside jumper was with a little more than three minutes remaining in the second quarter. Standing wide-open on the left wing as Curry got into the paint, Richard didn’t hesitate when hit in the chest with a pass from the defense collapsing. Swish. Defense is Richard’s first trait, but that kind of confidence offensively will help him find minutes as a rookie.

He was easily the Warriors’ second-best player in the first half behind Curry, going into halftime with eight points, made both of his threes and was a plus-10, which tied him with Curry as the team leader. Richard then, in the second half, scored another five points and had four more rebounds.

Kuminga Ejected

In the final seconds of the first half, Kuminga was on the wrong end of the rare one-tech ejection. Kuminga went through contact for a layup down the middle of the paint and missed hard off the glass. As he crashed into the stanchion, Kuminga threw his hands up in frustration, looking for a foul call.

Though it wasn’t shown on the broadcast, Blazers commentators claimed Kuminga made contact with a referee’s face as he argued the no-call. Kuminga then immediately was ejected in a bizarre scene. He might have been playing his best half of the preseason, too. 

Kuminga played 18 minutes and stuffed the stat sheet. He scored seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and made his only free throw, and also had six rebounds and four assists, both of which were team highs at the time. His impact was even better than his stats. 

Throughout the preseason, Kuminga consistently has been setting up his teammates for easy looks. That trend continued Tuesday night, even when they didn’t convert. Kuminga now has four or more assists in three of the Warriors’ four preseason games.

JK dishes to Richard for the easy layup 🤝pic.twitter.com/SmZioAYrBn

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 15, 2025

Last season, Kuminga only registered four or more assists in eight games.

Steph’s Ready 

After Deni Avdija made a three at the 8:19 mark of the third quarter to give the Blazers a 10-point lead, neither team scored until Curry went to the free-throw line with 6:56 left in the quarter. He split his free throws, but that was the start to a 13-0 run by the Warriors. Curry scored five points in that span, putting the Warriors up by three points. 

The Blazers and Warriors then traded four straight threes, with the fourth being a 27-footer from Curry that again gave his team a three-point lead. About a minute and a half later, his night was over but Curry had already made a statement. 

Curry’s 28 points in 26 minutes led both teams. The demon from long distance made three 3-pointers all within inches of each other on the right wing, and another from the left corner. His six rebounds were a team high when he took a seat, as were Curry’s five assists. 

How Curry continuously went to the free-throw line stood out most. Curry only once attempted 13 or more free throws last season. He was 12 of 13 in three quarters Tuesday night.

Steph goes behind the back AND finishes through contact 💪pic.twitter.com/SA9x4Jh9qk

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 15, 2025

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Tyrese Haliburton was once a Milwaukee Brewers fan.

Now he's possibly their biggest troll.

On Saturday, the injured Indiana Pacers star sat on his team's bench during a preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder wearing a Chicago Cubs jersey. It just so happened that the Cubs were playing the Brewers that day in Game 5 of their National League Division Series.

Two days later, Haliburton arrived at the Pacers' preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs rocking a Dodgers jersey (reportedly that of L.A. superstar Shohei Ohtani). Again, certainly by pure coincidence, the two-time NBA All-Star was representing a team that was facing the Brewers in a high-stakes postseason game, this time Game 1 of the NL Championship Series.

The Brewers are playing for only the second World Series berth in team history, and a high-profile athlete who grew up less than two hours from Milwaukee in Oshkosh, Wis., is actively rooting against them.

Read more:Dodgers vs. Brewers Game 2: Live updates, how to watch, start time and odds

The reason, it seems, is because of an alleged snub that took place in the summer of 2024. During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" in April, Haliburton said he had been scheduled to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before a Brewers game last summer ... until he and the Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks during the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

"I was a Brewers fan," he said, "and then I was supposed to throw the first pitch last summer, and they X'ed that after the playoff series. So I said, 'You know what? I'm no longer a Brewers fan.'"

After that, Haliburton said, he became a "free agent" as a baseball fan.

Haliburton must have been thrilled with the result of Game 1 of the NLCS, a 2-1 Dodgers win, but he might want to track down jerseys for the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays just in case — the Brewers are still just four wins away from facing one of those teams in the World Series.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Marcus Smart estimated he’ll be limited to about 20 to 25 minutes in his Lakers preseason debut Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns as he returns from Achilles tendinopathy.

Speaking after the team’s shootaround Tuesday, the 31-year-old guard said the rash of Achilles injuries suffered by NBA stars recently — including three during the playoffs last season — made his initial diagnosis frightening, but he took a cautious approach with the Lakers staff to ensure he was ready for the season.

“It wasn't scary in the fact of understanding that tendinopathy, we all kind of have it playing over the time,” said Smart, who is entering his 12th NBA season. “Just making sure you do everything you need to do, to make sure that you can get back out here, or to be able to say, ‘No, I can't.’ So you got to test it, unfortunately, and you got to see where you’re at. So we've done all the tests on the court, off the court and we're feeling fast, feeling good so we want to give it a shot.”

Guard Luka Doncic is also expected to make his preseason debut after he was on a modified training schedule following a busy summer spent with the Slovenian national team. Coach JJ Redick said Monday after practice that Doncic and the team’s training staff had yet to determine a minutes restriction on Doncic, but expects that the five-time All-Star will see an increased workload by the time he suits up again for his second preseason game.

The Lakers will follow Tuesday’s game in Phoenix with a game against Doncic’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Because of the back-to-back schedule, it’s likely Doncic will play again Friday at Crypto.com Arena against the Sacramento Kings.

Since they are playing four games in six days, the Lakers ruled out guard Gabe Vincent, forwards Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt and center Jaxson Hayes for Tuesday’s preseason game.

Rookie guard Adou Thiero [knee] has progressed to on-court activities, the team announced Tuesday, after the second-round draft pick was battling swelling in a knee. He will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Warriors star Steph Curry set to join exclusive club in NBA history this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Another year, another career milestone for Stephen Curry.

When the Warriors tip off the 2025-26 NBA season next Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, Curry will become the 10th player in league history to play at least 17 seasons with one team, joining an esteemed list of fellow franchise icons.

Stephen Curry is set to become the 10th player ever to play 17 or more seasons with one team.

Of the other nine players, six played their entire NBA career with only one team:

▪️ Dirk Nowitzki (21 seasons, DAL)
▪️ Kobe Bryant (20 seasons, LAL)
▪️ Udonis Haslem (20 seasons,… pic.twitter.com/ssMyjrOOr4

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 14, 2025

For Curry, it has been a long but ultimately glorious road. Golden State selected the Davidson guard with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft in hopes that he could help turn a struggling organization around.

Curry, of course, has accomplished much more than that. He turned the Warriors into must-see television while winning two Most Valuable Player awards and delivering four NBA championships to a team that had not won one since 1975. As his 17th season begins, Curry is arguably the most popular figure in Bay Area sports history and is integral to Golden State’s status as the most valuable NBA franchise.

Even in an era when team mainstays are largely a thing of the past, perhaps it shouldn’t shock us that Curry and the Warriors have chosen to stick by each other’s side.

It doesn’t appear as though that will change anytime soon, either. Curry is signed through an 18th season in 2026-27 and has publicly acknowledged in the past his desire to remain with Golden State for the entirety of his career.

If things transpire the way Curry, the organization and its fans hope they do, the Warriors’ leader will join an even more exclusive club. Of the nine other players to tally 17 years with one franchise, only six did it while spending their entire career in one jersey.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Mike Brown on Monday said the Knicks are facing an ‘extremely tough’ decision at the end of their roster. They have three veteran contributors vying for one open roster spot.

Here are few things to know about the extremely tough decision facing the Knicks:

VETS BATTLE

Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews are currently battling for one available roster spot. The Knicks have *14 players on standard deals. They can carry a maximum of 15 players on standard contracts. So they have enough room on the roster to keep one of the three veterans.  

Also, due to CBA rules, the Knicks’ team salary cannot exceed $207.8 million. The Knicks only have enough money to keep one of Shamet, Brogdon or Matthews.

In order to keep two of the three veterans, the Knicks would need to trade one of their players currently signed to a traditional contract.

WHAT ABOUT THE TRADE

If the Knicks want to keep two of those three, trades involving Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet, or Tyler Kolek are the most direct paths to do so.

If the Knicks traded one of those three players to a team with cap space (Utah, Brooklyn), the club would have enough room under the second apron to keep two of Shamet, Brogdon, and Mathews.

Before these players agreed to join the Knicks, the club told agents that there would be a true competition for the one open roster spot.

“That’s what they said,” Mathews said on Monday night. “It’s a tough roster; let’s see what happens.”

The Knicks also want to compete for an NBA championship this season. So every roster spot – and the decisions made around those spots – is crucial. Does New York value veterans over one of their young players like Dadiet (drafted with the 25^th pick in 2024 NBA Draft) or Kolek (selected with the 34^th overall pick in 2024)?  If so, they will probably trade one of them to make room for two of Shamet, Brogdon or Mathews.

As noted Monday, the Knicks have had dialogue with opposing teams as this decision approaches.

New York would obviously need an incredibly high return to even consider moving McBride. McBride is one of their most important rotation players. He is also eligible for an extension at the end of the calendar year (Between Mitchell Robinson’s pending free agency and McBride’s pending extension, the Knicks will have to commit significant money to keep both players in the coming seasons).

Trading Kolek to a team with cap space would give the Knicks enough space to keep two veterans. But the Knicks would not have enough space to add a veteran during the season. Last season, they added PJ Tucker midseason, fitting the veteran just under the second apron. They would like the flexibility to do the same thing (adding a veteran during the season) in 2025-26.

WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT?

You will know what the Knicks decide by 5pm on Saturday. That is the deadline to waive a player on a nonguaranteed deal without taking on any salary. So the Knicks will need to make a decision on Shamet, Brogdon, and Mathews by Saturday evening.

Regular season rosters then need to be set by Oct. 20.

The Knicks can choose to waive all three veterans and enter the season with 14 players on the roster. Teams can dip under the 14-player minimum for two consecutive weeks and 28 days in total.

But that seems unlikely. The Knicks, again, communicated that these veterans were competing for a spot. So the Knicks will probably keep at least one of the veteran players.

BROWN GIVING ASSISTANTS OPPORUNITY TO GROW

During timeouts, Brown has allowed multiple assistants to address the Knicks huddle. You’d expect Brendan O’Connor and Chris Jent to address the group. They are the defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively, for New York this season. But other coaches have had the chance to address the team in a huddle during the preseason. Brown sees it as an opportunity for his coaches to grow.

“I’ve done it quite a bit. Did it with Sacramento. Actually, I got it from Steve (Kerr). When I was with Steve in Golden State, I led the huddle multiple times in multiple games. Throughout the course of a game probably almost 90 percent of the time — I didn’t even tell him what I was about to tell the guys defensively. He had that much trust in me. And it helped me grow,” Brown said Monday. “It helped save (Kerr’s) voice and gave the players another voice to hear. So I did it in Sacramento. I liked it. I’m going to try it here. Our offensive coordinator is Chris Jent. Our defensive coordinator is Brendan O’Connor, BOC. All those guys as well as everybody else, they’ve done a fantastic job coaching, so to give them an opportunity during games is something that I’ll do.”