Category: Sports News

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Nov. 3

Today in sports history

Today is Nov. 3. On this date in:

1899: Heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries defeated Tom Sharkey by decision after 25 punishing rounds at Coney Island, New York, in one of the era’s most celebrated title fights.

1962: Wilt Chamberlain scored 72 points for the San Francisco Warriors in a 127-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, producing the fourth-highest single-game total in NBA history at the time.

1968: Graham Hill won the season-ending Mexican Grand Prix and clinched his second Formula 1 world championship.

1974: Boston Bruins forward Johnny Bucyk collected two assists in a 10-1 victory over Minnesota and passed Bobby Hull as the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history.

1982: Randy Smith appeared in his 845th consecutive NBA game, surpassing Johnny “Red” Kerr’s league record; Smith ultimately extended the streak to 906 games.

1987: New York Rangers center Marcel Dionne became the second NHL player to reach 1,700 career points when he scored in a 5-3 loss to Calgary.

1989: Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Alexander Volkov became the first players from the Soviet Union to appear in NBA regular-season games.

1989: The expansion Minnesota Timberwolves played their first NBA game, losing 106-94 to the Seattle SuperSonics.

1995: The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies won their inaugural games, marking the regular-season debuts of the NBA’s first Canadian franchises since the Toronto Huskies folded in 1947.

1995: Kevin Garnett made his NBA debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a loss to Sacramento, beginning a Hall of Fame career.

1996: Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut at age 18, playing six minutes in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 91-85 victory over Minnesota.

2007: Hall of Fame coach Al Arbour returned from retirement for one game and recorded his 1,500th appearance behind the New York Islanders’ bench as they rallied past Pittsburgh 3-2.

2008: The Detroit Pistons traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson in a blockbuster exchange of All-Star guards.

2010: Paul Pierce scored his 20,000th career point on a late-overtime free throw and helped the Boston Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-102.

2011: Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne signed a seven-year, $49 million contract extension on his 29th birthday, then made 35 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Phoenix.

2018: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 34 saves in a 3-0 victory over Carolina and became the 29th goalie in NHL history to record 50 career shutouts.

2023: The NBA began group play in its inaugural In-Season Tournament, later renamed the NBA Cup, with seven games and specially designed tournament courts.

— USA TODAY Network

This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today in sports history, November 3

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Matisse Thybulle.

When Marcus Smart signed with the Houston Rockets over the summer, the Lakers lost more than just their best perimeter defender. They lost their defensive identity, spirit and chaos agent. 

Regardless of why Smart wasn’t retained, it was clear the Lakers had to find a way to replicate the tangible and intangible value he added. 

Walker Kessler being the interior anchor will go a long way, but to help shore up the perimeter, the Lakers will be betting on Matisse Thybulle being Smart’s proxy. As they did with Smart, the Lakers are adding Thybulle in hopes he stays healthy and rejuvenated while playing for a team with championship aspirations.  

The gamble, albeit mostly safe given Thybulle signed at the minimum, is one that could pay off huge, or one that forces the Lakers back on the market in search of help. 

What is his best-case scenario?

At the top of Thybulle’s priority list for a successful season is to be on the floor. 

Although his reputation of being injury-prone is probably overstated at this point, he has recently simply been unable to stay healthy. This is a major reason why he was even available at the price the Lakers paid. 

Thybulle has appeared in just a combined 45 games over the past two seasons. Fortunately, reports say he is fully healthy ahead of the new season. 

If that is the case and he can remain that way for the majority of the year, that could be a major development for the Lakers’ defensive upside. Because when he’s on the floor, there are few — if any — more disruptive players in the NBA.  

When comparing his activity to other wings, Thybulle has finished lower than the 98th percentile in steal percentage once, and never worse than the 92nd percentile in block percentage in his career.

Perhaps more important than Thybulle’s staggering disruption ability is the impact he has on his entire team’s defense. 

Last year, the Portland Trail Blazers were an incredible 11.1 points better defensively with him on the floor than off. They also forced teams to turn over the ball 6.4% more in those minutes as well (the best on/off differential in the league in that category). 

The other area Thybulle must prove proficient in if he hopes to bid for a major role is his 3-point shot. After early career struggles with his outside game, Thybulle has steadily improved. He has converted his chances at a 37% clip over the last three seasons. 

If he can keep defenses honest and help shore up the perimeter on the other end, a best-case outcome could see Thybulle have a Smart-type year that the Lakers need. 

What is his worst-case scenario?

If the key for a successful season for Thybulle is remaining healthy, the inverse is missing time again. 

Although early indications are that he’ll enter the year ready to go, history has shown there may be a higher likelihood of follow-up incidents occurring. If they do, and he misses significant time, Thybulle could end up being a wasted roster spot. 

Beyond health concerns, there is also a scenario where he experiences some defensive slippage after two years of lengthy absence. If his superpower is diminished at all, that could drastically impact his value. 

The same could be said about his aforementioned improved 3-point stroke. 

If he suffers any type of regression or is simply seen as a non-threat by the opposition, Thybulle could tumble down the depth chart. The prime example of this is Jarred Vanderbilt’s diminished role playing under JJ Redick. 

This could especially be the case with the number of wings who will all be vying for minutes already on the roster. All of whom are younger and may be hungrier to secure a future in Los Angeles than the 29-year-old. 

What is his most likely role on the team?

The safest outcome for Thybulle is likely somewhere in the middle. 

Even if there is some slippage or games missed baked into the contract, he still possesses the highest upside to be the 3-and-D answer the team needs to surround Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. 

If he doesn’t reach that ceiling, he still likely will be able to play a similar role as he did in Portland. Whether that’s him being the steady veteran who could mentor the young wings on and off the court or being trusted to defend the opposing team’s best backcourt players, Thybulle’s floor will be comfortably high as long as he can stay on it. 

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.

The official meteorological end of summer is approaching. I felt a crispness in the air this weekend as I stepped outside and sighed, “Ahh, yes, basketball season is coming!” We’re almost there, y’all!

Tradeback Tuesday

How a small trade led to a big star in Cleveland

Did you know that Mo Williams and Jamario Moon led to Donovan Mitchell starring for the Cleveland Cavaliers? It’s true.

Back in February 2011, the Cavs traded Williams and Moon to the Clippers for what was left of Baron Davis and a 2011 first-round pick. That pick turned out to be No. 1 in the lottery, and the Cavs landed Kyrie Irving.

Irving played for the Cavs for six seasons, helping lure LeBron James back to The Land and win the 2016 NBA championship. But Irving saw the writing on the wall. He seemed to know LeBron wasn’t going to stick around past his 2018 free agency, and he wanted to test out his newfound winning knowledge with his own team.

Before the 2017-18 season, the Cavs traded Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, a 2018 first-rounder and a 2020 second. Out of those three players, Zizic played the most for the Cavs, logging 113 games over three seasons.

Thomas was moved before the 2018 trade deadline with Channing Frye and a first for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.

Crowder was also moved in a massive 2018 deadline deal that moved Rodney Hood and George Hill to Cleveland.

The big part of that original haul for Kyrie was the 2018 first. It came from Brooklyn, via the Celtics. It was the eighth pick in the 2018 lottery, and the Cavs selected Collin Sexton. And that helped lead the Cavs to Mitchell:

It’s unreal that the Cavs acquired Lauri Markkanen in 2021 for Nance and a 2023 second-round pick. The Bulls received Derrick Jones Jr. and a first that became Dailyn Swan this year. The Blazers received Nance. The Cavs eventually flipped Sexton, Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three firsts and two pick swaps for Mitchell.

Funny enough, the trades of Thomas and Crowder helped the Cavs acquire players they eventually flipped to absorb Jarrett Allen’s contract in the infamous three-team James Harden trade to Brooklyn in 2021. So moving on from Williams and Moon tipped over the first domino, which led to 40 percent of Cleveland’s current starting lineup.

The moral of the story? No trade is too small

The last 24

🏀 On the agenda. The NBA’s Board of Governors is meeting in New York. Among the big-ticket items: expansion, NBA Europe and fallout from the Clippers punishment. 

🇨🇦 Canadian-bound. Speaking of the Clippers, the Kawhi-to-Toronto trade is officially official.Leonard is heading to the Raptors.

👕 Fashion forward. What are some of the best NBA uniforms that need to make a comeback?Here’s a team-by-team breakdown.

🏀 New role. Longtime Bulls forward Taj Gibson has retired — as a player, at least.He’s joining Chicago’s coaching staff.

Sole sisters

As I was watching the FIBA World Cup games last week, particularly Team USA, I was struck by the number of players wearing their own signature shoes. Captain Breanna Stewart and newcomers Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were wearing red-and-white versions of their Pumas, Nikes and Reeboks, respectively.

Clyde Frazier was the first NBA player with a signature shoe when the Puma Clyde was released in 1973. Sheryl Swoopes, the first woman with a signature shoe, released the Air Swoopes in October 1995, nearly a year and a half before the WNBA’s inaugural season.

For decades, even after Swoopes’ sneaker debut, men’s hoops shoes were most popular. Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand shoes are perhaps considered the gold standard of hoops shoes as casual fashion. Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant probably have two of the most socially popular men’s basketball shoes out right now.

But in the last five years or so, women’s basketball shoes have emerged right alongside the popularity of the WNBA. 

Players like A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Reese and Stewart have some of the most popular hoops shoes currently. I see them at games, and not just on the court fans are clamoring for as much women’s basketball player-related merchandise as possible and wearing whatever they can get their hands on. And, of course, Fever star Clark has a signature shoe on the way.

Sport crosses fashion on a daily basis, and sneaker culture is an extension of basketball culture. Players not only want to showcase their game, they want to do it in fly sneakers. It’s been really cool to see the women having a moment.

Stretch run

As the W returns after a two-week FIBA World Cup break, I got together with The Athletic’s women’s hoops expert, Annie Costabile, to look ahead at the playoffs and awards season. This is Part 1 of our Q&A; the second part, which will look at the future of the league beyond this season, will run soon.

The WNBA regular season concludes Sept. 24, and the playoffs begin Sept. 27.

Annie, with just a few games left, the playoff field is set. What playoff team is most intriguing to you? What about them stands out?

Annie: The Minnesota Lynx are the most intriguing team to me, which is maybe not the most exciting answer given that they’ve been the No. 1 team for most of the year. But the reason I’m dialed into this storyline is because of the history that’s on the table for the Lynx. They have a chance to become the first team in league history to win five WNBA titles. Doing so with Olivia Miles, who has captivated so many with her style of play but also her aura off the court, just feels special.

That being said, I think the Lynx and Miles looked more human heading into the FIBA World Cup break. So, it’s by no means going to be an easy road to the finals.

Speaking of potential Rookie of the Year Miles, a lot of people didn’t have her in their top three, and her talent seemed to catch quite a few fans by surprise. Could you have predicted that she would be the front-runner before the season began? 

Annie: From the beginning, I was saying she should be the No. 1 pick. The way coaches and GMs were describing her IQ and court vision, plus her scoring ability and pro demeanor, I just thought that all-encompassing skill set is so rare. However, I did NOT think she would be in the MVP conversation. I did not think she would have the Lynx atop the league standings without reigning MVP contender Napheesa Collier. She has exceeded all expectations.

We all know once the postseason begins, anything can happen. What player can be the sleeper/X factor on the playoff teams?

Annie: Hmm, good question. I think there are a lot of different names I could use to answer this question, but the one that’s immediately jumping out is Leonie Fiebich. The New York Liberty have had a lackluster season. They came into the year with title expectations and are instead tied for sixth in the league standings with just four games remaining in the regular season.

But when they’re at their best, Fiebich is at her best. We saw that in their game against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 22. I still think the Liberty can make a deep playoff run. Fiebich will have a big hand in it if they do.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has helped lead the franchise to its best year in more than a decade. Mitchell leads the Fever in scoring, averaging 25 points along with 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals. She signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax ahead of the 2026 season. Do you see Mitchell re-signing with the Fever or going somewhere else next year?

Annie: Kelsey has always been super forthcoming about the importance of playing close to family. Hers is Cincinnati, which is less than two hours from Indianapolis. But at the end of the day, money talks, and the Fever are going to have a lot to figure out with the accelerators to Clark’s contract under the WNBA’s new EPIC provision. Aliyah Boston is set to receive the supermax in 2027, tightening the Fever’s pockets even further.

I don’t say any of that to say the Fever can’t pay Mitchell; they’re just going to have to do some cap gymnastics to make it all work. 

All of that to say, it’s too early for me to speculate. My gut keeps flip-flopping between the Fever figuring it out and Mitchell leaving because they can’t.

Reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson withdrew from the Team USA World Cup squad just days ahead of the competition for rest. With the news came much conversation about Wilson and her value and contributions to both the national team and her own team, the Las Vegas Aces. What are the chances Wilson repeats for a history-making fifth MVP?

Annie: I think voter fatigue is a real thing, and this year there is a pool of candidates that have made the conversation all the more interesting. But none of them are as impactful on both ends of the floor as A’ja. In fact, the one player who makes the best argument for being the best all-around player is Stewart, and she’s largely faded from the conversation because of what players like Miles, Clark and Mitchell are doing on offense.

The last four games of the regular season stand to impact the final vote. As of now, my vote belongs to Wilson, but I’m not ready to say it’s final.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NBA, WNBA, The Bounce

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Chad Baker-Mazara via his representation.

Former Southern California men's basketball guard Chad Baker-Mazara has filed a lawsuit against USC and coach Eric Musselman regarding his abrupt and bizarre exit from the program.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Sept. 14 and first reported by the California Post, alleges Musselman removed Baker-Mazara from the team after the Trojans were eliminated from NCAA tournament contention to avoid paying the remainder of his NIL contract.

The complaint also alleges Musselman directed racially charged remarks at Baker-Mazara following a Feb. 28 loss to Nebraska, the fifth of eight straight losses to end the season.

REQUIRED READING: From USC’s leading scorer to gone overnight. Chad Baker-Mazara tells his side of story

Baker-Mazara is suing for breach of contract, conversion and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

"The decision to remove the student-athlete from the men's basketball roster was based on a number of considerations, none having to do with race. We look forward to defeating this action in court," a USC spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.

The lawsuit alleges USC has not paid the remainder of the promised NIL earnings. Baker-Mazara claims the Trojans terminated his NIL agreements with the program the day after he was removed from the roster, stating he had violated a "morals clause."

"I gave everything I had to USC. I played through injuries, showed up for my teammates every day, and honored my commitments. Filing this lawsuit was not an easy decision, but I believe it is important to stand up for what you were promised and what you are owed," Baker-Mazara said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports through a representative.

"I am proud of what I accomplished throughout my college career, and I remained focused on my professional basketball career, my family, and the opportunities ahead. I look forward to letting the fact speak for themselves through the legal process."

Baker-Mazara, who transferred from Auburn to USC before the 2025-26 season, sustained an injury while blocking a shot in the opening minutes of the second half against Nebraska on Feb. 28. That was his final play and game in a Trojans uniform: USC announced Baker-Mazara was no longer with the team the following day.

"My body was telling me, 'No, buddy. As bad as you want to play, it’s a no-go,'" Baker-Mazara told USA TODAY Sports' Andres Soto in June.

Per The Athletic, the lawsuit claims USC's NIL collective told Baker-Mazara’s representatives on Feb. 13 — two weeks before he was kicked off the team — that the originally missed February payment would be forthcoming. Then, on Feb. 24, before USC's crosstown rivalry game vs. UCLA, Baker-Mazara’s representatives were told the cutoff date to process the February NIL payment had passed and that it would be included with the March one.

Baker-Mazara went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. He averaged 18.5 points and shot 44.4% from the field in 26 games last season for the Trojans.

REQUIRED READING: Former Purdue basketball star Trey Kaufman-Renn can return to college for sixth season

The lawsuit also touches on a locker room incident after the Trojans' loss to the Cornhuskers in which Baker-Mazara claimed Musselman "lost his mind." It states that, after Baker-Mazara attempted to address his teammates in the locker room, Musselman erupted and said, "You shut the (expletive) up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!"

Per the California Post, Baker-Mazara asked Musselman if he wanted him to leave as he did not "understand this animosity." Musselman's response to that, according to the lawsuit, was: "Yes, leave! Go back to the (expletive) Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! (Expletive) you!"

"The words 'Go back to the (expletive) Dominican Republic' are generally understood by persons of color in the United States originating from the Dominican Republic — and were in fact taken by Baker-Mazara — to be racist and discriminatory, akin to telling an African-American to ‘go back to Africa,'" the lawsuit stated, per The California Post.

"Coach Musselman’s outburst was a direct attack on Baker-Mazara’s national origin and Dominican heritage, made from a position of authority and power by the head coach of the team, in front of all of Baker-Mazara’s teammates. The tirade was unprovoked, vicious, and discriminatory."

REQUIRED READING: Protect College Sports Act nears Senate vote. Why not everyone wants it passed

Speaking to USA TODAY Sports in that exclusive interview in June, Baker-Mazara said he was unable to comment on the specifics of the locker room discussion due to pending litigation. Former Trojans guard Ryan Cornish corroborated USC forward Terrance Williams II's retelling of events to USA TODAY Sports, saying "people's emotions flared up" but that it never went beyond the normal emotions that come with playing the game.

"It was all healthy though," Williams told USA TODAY Sports. "It wasn’t nothing negative."

Baker-Mazara told USA TODAY Sports he still has not heard from Musselman since the day he was removed from the team.

"It’s really hurtful. Because I thought I had a strong enough relationship that we could just sit down and talk about anything. At least that’s what it was throughout the whole year," Baker-Mazara told USA TODAY Sports. "... Me and him didn’t see eye to eye on everything, but at the end of the day, I feel like we had a strong enough relationship, or nothing bad enough happened, to where I should’ve been dismissed from the team."

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chad Baker-Mazara alleges Eric Musselman racist 'tirade,' unpaid NIL from USC in lawsuit

As you might have seen, a little while back, we put out a call for new writers. Well, we’re thrilled to finally be able to introduce you to them all. And what better way to do so than by giving them the mic, err, floor, err…

Enjoy their wordsmithery!

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Nate O.

Hey folks! I’m Nate, and we previously may have talked on here while I was “Knuckles”. Definitely excited to keep the conversations going with our corner of the Bucks and NBA fanbase here at Brew Hoop! I grew up in the Milwaukee area and have been an avid Bucks and Brewers fan my whole life. I can remember going to watch both teams with my dad and brother and family, and then eventually my friends and now my wife, whom I was able to convert to both fandoms. My love of the Bucks runs deep: the Ray Allen trade still stings, l blast out “FEAR THE DEER” texts like its 2010, (a bigger deal back when the family plan came with 100 texts per month) and like many of you steadily rode the highs of the last decade and are excited/anxious/intrigued to see what comes next. I will aim to cover the team with my love of Milwaukee sports in mind and really cannot wait to kick the season off! Excited to enjoy another season of Bucks basketball and have the opportunity to do so here at Brew Hoop with Jack, Zac, the new writers, and all of you!

Editor’s note: Technically, you’ve already been introduced to Nate—but you might’ve had your beer goggles on and need the “next day” reminder.

Aiden Fermaner

Hey Bucks fans! My name is Aiden, and I’m super excited to be joining the Brew Hoop team. Basketball has been my whole life for as long as I can remember, and the Bucks have been at the centre of it since 2014. I’m from Melbourne, Australia and recently started my own personal blog, bucksdownunder.com. I wanted to use my blog to connect with other Bucks fans around the world, and at the same time I also had the opportunity to join Brew Hoop. I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity and to be a part of this amazing community!

Owen Jury

What’s going on, Bucks fans! New to the staff over here at Brew Hoop, but in no way am I new to the Bucks fandom. I’ve been a Wisconsin sports fan for my entire life, and I attribute Brandon Knight of all people to sparking my love for basketball and the Bucks specifically. The first-ever sports game I went to happened to be one in which Knight hit a go-ahead shot at the end of regulation. Fast forward to today, and I have committed myself to covering and analyzing the sport of basketball. My roots lie within my personal Substack that I started to cover the NBA Draft, which helped land me a gig at a Mizzou (the school I attend) school newspaper covering men’s basketball. From there, I was able to make some connections and find my way onto the Sports Illustrated staff covering the Washington Wizards, which, as I’m sure you could imagine, was a riveting eight-month experience. Throughout that entire process, I stayed up to date covering the draft, which in turn landed me a gig at the Draftstack and eventually No Ceilings. Somewhere along the way, I found myself interviewing for Badger of Honor as well, covering all things Wisconsin sports—which has been nothing short of a great time. Now, as part of the crew over here, I can flash my fandom for my favorite team, hopefully providing some insight along the way. Super excited to get things moving!

Dax Ruplinger

What’s up, Bucks faithful! I’m beyond excited to be joining the Brew Hoop staff in covering our young but promising Bucks squad! Growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I was born into the Packer family. However, my Bucks fandom also began at a young age. At nine years old, I watched the Bucks select a young Blue Devil named Jabari Parker, and the rest was history. While Jabari didn’t become the future I’d dreamed of (there’s still time, I swear), I suppose the 2021 Finals did enough to keep me around. Jokes aside, I can’t wait to kick off my rookie season with Brew Hoop’s vets and new writers! Hopefully, Brayden Burries, Nate Ament and I can provide the future for the Bucks community that Jabari sadly couldn’t.

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Please join us in welcoming our new staff! We’re really looking forward to reading their work, which you’ll start seeing as part of the Ranking the Roster series. Stay tuned.

As this series has tackled, the Sixers did pretty well on the two-way market in the 2025 offseason. Jabari Walker, along with Dominick Barlow, was picked up and eventually given a standard contract by the Sixers. Last season Walker played 64 games and started six of them. He averaged 11 minutes a game and put up 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

He shot 45% from the field and 33% from three on 1.5 attempts per game. The highlight of his season was a 22-point outburst against the Utah Jazz in early March. Back under contract for another year in Philadelphia, Walker finds himself in a similar situation to last season and that is on the fringes of the rotation.

Nagging injuries to forwards like Paul George and Trendon Watford helped keep Walker steadily in the mix, even though he didn’t feel like he was the most trusted reserve by Nick Nurse. Walker’s best skill is one that’s been sorely needed on this team for several years now: defensive rebounding.

Walker has always posted a strong rebounding rate on that end of the floor and last year was no different as he posted a defensive rebounding rate at 32.5%. For as splashy of an offseason as the Sixers had, the only big they brought in, Ariel Hukporti, had a poor rebounding season in his limited time last year. It’s always good to have someone on the bench who can just grab a board.

That impact on the offensive glass isn’t felt quite as much, which is unfortunate, but Walker’s 3.3% offensive rebounding rate still puts him the 66th percentile across the league. He isn’t the fleetest of foot, which can make it tough to find the right spot defensively. At 6-foot-10, he can only challenge big centers so much vertically, and he can have trouble staying with certain forwards.

With that being said, Walker’s been a capable innings eater at times who is also now someone who can occasionally step out and hit an open three. Neither the volume or percentage are anything to write home about, but his big game against the Jazz, as well his 38.9% three-point percentage in his final season in Portland, show proof of concept. His shot is something the team does believe in and encourages him to keep shooting. He at least gives you the idea of a stretch-five in certain matchups, another look the Sixers haven’t had a ton of in the Joel Embiid era.

Walker will also again coming into this season motivated to keep his spot. On top the perpetual drive to earn the next contract, only $250,000 of Walker’s $2.5 million dollar salary is guaranteed before Jan. 15. The Sixers of course have an open roster spot, but have to wait until December to be able to use it while not going over the first apron.

If, for some reason, the Sixers really need to sign someone before then, Walker’s non-guaranteed deal is the only contract that could make that work. Knock on wood, but something would have to go really, really terrible for the Sixers to feel that desperate just to clear up another veteran’s minimum spot.

The Sixers have also already taken measures to be able to retain Walker while adding the veterans they did bring in this summer. The team attached a second-round draft pick to be able to trade Johni Broome away, allowing the Sixers to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That felt like a pretty clear message that the Sixers do value Walker for the time being.

These additions, especially now that Dean Wade will be coming off the bench, may have pushed Walker even further down on the depth chart. At the same time, there are just as many concerns about the playability of both true backup centers on the roster in Hukporti and Adem Bona. As rim-running pogo sticks, they are certainly a different look. Once again this season, Walker’s minutes may not come consistently, but he should get some chances to earn them.