Category: Basketball

Bronny James laughed at the comment, because he found it funny to have a reporter tell him he’s tied for the third-longest tenure with the Lakers.

He is entering his third season, tied with Dalton Knecht and right behind Austin Reaves (entering his sixth season) and Jarred Vanderbilt (going on four-plus).

James is a veteran now and is looking to find his role with the Lakers.

“Crazy, right? AR keeps calling me a vet,” James said, chuckling. “I’m like, ‘I guess.’”

James is a naturally reserved person. But as a point guard, he admits his job is to speak up more, to help organize the offense, to make sure some of his nine new teammates understand what Lakers coach JJ Redick expects.

For his first two years with the Lakers, James didn’t say much because his dad, LeBron James, was the leader and powerful voice on the team.

Read more:Lakers' early defensive prowess impresses Austin Reaves, JJ Redick

As a 21-year-old, Bronny James leads in his own way, just as Redick wants all his players to do.

“Definitely coming in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard,” James said. “Just taking those steps, encouraging my guys, getting them in the right spots and stuff like that. Making sure we’re organized.

“For sure, that’s what a point guard is. You’ve got to be talking to your guys, got to be helping people get to where they need to be. I take pride in that, for sure. If anyone goes out — God forbid anyone goes out — I’ve got to be the guy to step up and be the primary ballhandler, and get my guys in the right spots. So, yeah, I’ve definitely got to lock in on that.”

James played in 42 regular-season games last season, averaging 2.9 points and shooting 40.9% from the field.

Though he didn’t put up big numbers in the playoffs, James was solid in his role, especially on defense. He played in eight postseason games, averaging 1.5 points and shooting 50% from the field.

This current Lakers team has depth and talent throughout the lineup.

Read more:Lakers select Derrin Horton to be new public-address announcer

James knows it’s going to take a lot of work to find a role on the team.

“Continuing to come in the gym and stay after practice, just working, competing, playing, just trying to make my mark,” James said. “I think just building on defensive instinct, how I was in the playoffs, picking up full court. They’ve been emphasizing that so I’ve been one of the guys that is picking up full court every possession, every time we get a bucket, just picking up full court.

“And then just being a primary ballhandler for my team. We’re playing against Luka [Doncic] and AR today, so me, Q[uentin Grimes], or J[aden] Hardy, guys were on the team, being primary ballhandlers, giving us confidence.”

Being a top-notched defender is what James strives to be for the Lakers.

Every day during these training camp sessions, James gets tested when he has to defend Doncic and Reaves, two of the NBA’s most dynamic guards.

But that can only help James.

“For sure, it’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”

James has worked on his jump shot. He looks more defined, a sign that he has worked on his body as well.

“Just continuing to come in and work on it. The jumper, I’ve been in the gym all summer working on fluidity and the speed of my release, stuff like that, moving,” James said. “Tied into that, just running a lot. I’m the same weight, 215 or 220-ish, but still slim so I can move fast. Just getting in the gym every day and continuing to keep a routine.”

The Lakers have had four days of practice, all of them intense, all of them full of energy.

They will play their first preseason games Monday at Sacramento and then Tuesday at Golden State.

That will give James and the rest of his teammates a chance to carve out roles.

“I definitely think it’s still a process. It’s definitely going to take a few games to get everyone situated,” James said. “We’re trying to figure out our own roles and those things, but also just trying to experiment with lineups. I’ve been here for a minute now, so I know kind of what my role is, but definitely for the new guys.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele exited the Golden Bears' game against the UNLV Rebels just before the end of the first half after taking a hit that caused a collision to his head.

Sagapolutele was evaluated on the sideline after being taken down by UNLV linebacker Elias Rudolph just after getting a pass off. The Cal sophomore quarterback hit his head on the turf as he was wrestled to the ground.

He attempted to go back to the huddle for the next play, but teammate Ian Strong, a transfer wide receiver, waved in the medical staff, who provided immediate attention to Sagapolutele.

Sagapolutele had completed 19-of-27 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Jackson Brousseau ended the first half in his place. Cal trailed the Rebels, 24-7, at the time of the injury.

JKS injury update for Cal QB

Sagapolutele was seen on the sideline at the start of the second half with his helmet off. A sign that the Golden Bears' play caller will end his day. He was officially ruled out, according to On3 Sports.

Brousseau is under center. He's thrown 5-of-8 for 38 yards as the Golden Bears continue to trail with a 17-point deficit.

Cal entered the game with a 2-2 overall record, 1-1 during ACC play. Sagapolutele through four games compiled 985 yards, 7 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Sagapolutele, watching from the sideline, hopes to have a chance to make a difference in the game. The CBS broadcast gave an update, saying that he is "clearly frustrated" as he watches the game from the sideline.

Cal lose star defensive back Kingston Lopa

Cal saw its starting quarterback go down with an injury, but he wasn't the only star on the Golden Bears' football team to have gone out injured.

Star defensive back and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Kingston Lopa left the game against UNLV early with an upper body injury. He was evaluated on the sideline after walking off the field on his own merit.

He did not return to the game as he was seen on the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Lopa leads the nation with five interceptions in the 2026 season.

Earlier in the game Cal lost defensive back Cam Sidney who was ejected due to targeting.

How did Cal finish without their rising quarterback?

Brousseau got his feel for the game and delivered a short pass to Carson Perry-Smith, who took the ball the length of the field for a 53-yard touchdown with 4:40 left in the third quarter. It was his first collegiate touchdown in his career.

The Golden Bears converted a two-point conversion to cut the lead down, 24-15.

A turn of momentum happened for Cal. On the ensuing kickoff, UNLV returner Peyton Zachary fumbled and it was recovered by Cal freshman Niles Davis.

The Golden Bears offense turned it into three points, connecting on a 38-yard field goal from Towns McGough. Cal trailed 24-18, making it a one-possession game with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

Cal took a lead after their fourth-string running back Ashten Emory found the end zone on a seven-yard rush after a critical pass interference penalty backed UNLV at their own goal. Emory has 48 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.

Cal led 25-24 with 11:38 left in the game.

Cal lost another defensive back, this time, Daniel Harris after he was ejected from the game due to targeting.

UNLV responded with a scoring drive of their own after Rebels quarterback Jackson Arnold threw a 10-yard touchdown to Keyan Burnett. Arnold converted a two-point conversion, taking a quarterback sneak up the middle to give UNLV a 32-25 lead with 9:31 left in the game.

Another gritty possession from UNLV put them up late, 39-25. Cal answered with too little, too late. The Golden Bears produced an impressive 86-yard drive on 14 plays, ending in a 10-yard TD to Strong. It would not be enough, and Cal would fall, 39-31.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele injury update after scary hit

It was just a scrimmage. Sure, that’s all. Sorta in the same way that Ben Franklin was just a bald, fat guy with a kite.

Saturday afternoon’s proceedings represented the first public appearance of the Sixers as we now know them, the first time LeBron James and Jaylen Brown appeared alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

And sure, you couldn’t tell much, considering it was played at three-quarters speed, in an arena that was perhaps two-thirds full. Also considering the regular season is still over two weeks away, and the playoffs aren’t even a blip on the horizon.

It was, as James said afterward, a “great first step in the direction we want to go.”

So everything needs to be framed in that light. It was just a faint outline of what they hope to be, and what they can be. It was an unveiling, with much more yet to be revealed.

Here are some takeaways:

Happy Camper

As everyone has said throughout training camp, Embiid was moving well, seemingly unencumbered by the knee issues that have slowed him in recent years. He dunked early on, off a feed from Edgecombe, then nailed a three-pointer. Later he slammed with the left hand, not long after Ariel Hukporti had blocked his shot.

“He’s so much more healthy (than at the 2024 Olympics),” James said of Embiid, a teammate then and now. “He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in every drill.”

Embiid kinda/sorta acknowledged as much, and certainly his frame of mind seems good – something else his teammates have mentioned.

As an example, consider his thoughts on the lefty slam: “”(Hukporti) did block me the first time, so I was kinda pissed off about it.”

Then he joked that it was “probably the last dunk of my career.”

Hey, we’ve missed that guy. Nice to have him back.

Space Cadets

When the starters took the court to open the day, they played the five-out style that might be expected, which opens the court for slashing by Maxey and Edgecombe, mid-range magic from Brown and Embiid and James’ all-around excellence. There were back cuts and dribble handoffs. There was movement and energy.

Embiid said he has heard a great deal about sacrifice, but in his mind it’s not so much about that as “being the best version of yourself” or “being a star in your role.”

He also said that his Olympic experience with James does not have as big an impact on the two of them jelling as some have said. Rather, he said, they would have meshed no matter what, given their experience and basketball IQ.

There were some interesting wrinkles. When Brown was on the floor in the second quarter with Edgecombe, backups Dean Wade and Labaron Philon Jr. and roster longshot Dillon Jones, he really went to work, rattling off 12 points in a scalding stretch. So it certainly appears that everybody will be able to eat, that opportunities will present themselves in various ways.

Edgier Edgecombe

He is in his second year, and he is clearly more sure of himself, more apt to assert himself than he was during his promising rookie year. On one second-quarter possession he got a step on Embiid, then switched hands in midair as he attacked the rim, enabling him to lay the ball in and draw the foul.

Moments later he tried to dunk on Embiid. Embiid was called for the foul, though he argued the call in the moment and later said he had “all ball,” something the replay seemed to confirm.

But the point is, Edgecombe’s training wheels are completely off. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey mentioned before the scrimmage that the soph plays with “no fear,” and afterward James said Edgecombe is “not quiet, in a good way.” LBJ also called him “a very cerebral player, and always looking for ways to get better.”

That is readily apparent.

Backup Plan

Gansey was reluctant to say how many games the team hopes to get from Embiid, only that everyone wants to “stick to the plan.” But figure the veteran center plays no more than 60 in the regular season. That leaves ample opportunity for Adem Bona and Hukporti. And while Bona is out with a sprained foot, Hukporti showed Saturday he might have more to offer than was first thought.

Early on the former Knick knocked down three short jumpers, and later he deftly fed Philon and Edgecombe for backdoor buckets – all while continuing to ply his trade on the defensive end. Besides his block on Embiid, he also denied Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

One Last Thought

There has been an accent on defense in the early days of camp, and James declared that the Sixers “can be a top five defensive team if we compete every time.”

That, in fact, might really tell the tale of their season. They will put up points in bunches; that seems clear. But can they get stops when they really need them? That bears watching.

WASHINGTON — Will Riley didn’t play more than 20 minutes in a game until December of his rookie season. Then he played 32 minutes per contest across the final three months.

And he thrived.

Riley averaged 15.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists during that stretch. He scored in a myriad of ways — slithering to the bucket for contested layups, draining mid-range pull-ups and sinking a few triples.

He carried that momentum into an offseason of growth.

“[I feel] super comfortable,” Riley said. “Just coming in with confidence, knowing where my spots are, knowing how to get my shots off. Just being super physical and determined on defense.”

The 6-foot-10 wing experimented with some point guard reps toward the end of his rookie campaign and into Summer League. His size allows him to see over defenders and make reads most 20-year-olds wouldn’t process.

Who’s someone you’re excited to see in year 2?

Give me Will Riley. pic.twitter.com/ctsU7VSj9q

— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) October 1, 2026

Despite a slender build — Riley said he put on 15 pounds this offseason — he drove 5.8 times per game, which ranked in the top 30% of qualified players last season, according to Sportive World. His 19.6% usage rate ranked in the top 38%. For reference, Kyshawn George tallied a 22.8% usage rate, so similar figures for two wings trusted with offensive initiation.

Riley averaged 25 points and 2.5 assists at point guard during two 2026 Summer League games. Now, he gets to learn from Trae Young, one of the league’s best point guards.

“The way [Young] is able to read the floor, he always has eyes in every corner,” Riley said. “He just spaces the floor so well. He’s able to read the game. And just the way he talks off the court, you can tell he watches the game, he studies film. He’s just a super talented player.”

Champagnie talks winning basketball

The term “winning player” is defined as an athlete who prioritizes collective team success, efficiency, and high basketball IQ over empty individual statistics.

Justin Champagnie is a winning player. The 25-year-old forward’s 3.1 win shares led the Wizards last season. His next closest teammate, Marvin Bagley III, had only 2.1.

He’s everything you want in a winning player. Now that the Wizards are focused on winning, Champagnie’s excited to make those winning plays in meaningful games.

“I think y’all all know I love to win,” Champagnie said. “It’ll be dope to put that competitiveness and that dawg energy toward something [where] we can actually win.”

Pound-for-pound, Champagnie is arguably the team’s best rebounder.

He defends one-through-four. He hustles for loose balls. He knocks down threes. He’s everything a coach wants on a competitive team.

“Justin does winning things,” Keefe said. “We’ve seen that from the moment he came in our organization a few years ago. His ability to rebound on both ends, his ability to crash the offensive glass, off the ball cutting. Those are the valuable things he brings.”

An intense scrimmage

The Wizards scrimmaged on the Mystics’ court during Saturday’s practice at CareFirst Arena. They brought in NBA referees and announced scorers on the PA system to simulate real NBA action.

Keefe told The Athletic’s Josh Robbins that Alex Sarr (foot), Tristan Vukcevic (hip impingement) and Khris Middleton (general ramp up) didn’t participate in the scrimmage.

“The scrimmage was amazing,” Riley said. “We simulated a game-like scenario, brought refs in, did our warm-ups. It was good to get back into the groove and get up and down with the guys.”

The scrimmage was closed to the media, but I could overhear the PA announcer from the media work room. The call I heard the most: “D.C. three! Traeeee Young!” A close second: “Kyshawnnnnn George!”

Keefe praised the effort and energy during 5-on-5 action as his team readies for its preseason opener Thursday against the New York Knicks.

“Loved the energy, the competitiveness,” Keefe said. “Got to see us working on things we’ve done the first four days of practice and see if we got carry-over, which he did … I was just pleased with the collective effort and the teammate work they had.”

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Sixers show big-time talent, early chemistry building at Blue-White scrimmage  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2026-27 Sixers showed off their considerable collection of talent for the public on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The scoreboard didn’t matter at the team’s annual Blue-White scrimmage, but fans got a taste of what the star-laden Sixers have to offer. For the first time, public address announcer Matt Cord introduced LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as Sixers. 

Some Matt Cord introductions for Blue-White scrimmage, including the first for LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as Sixers: pic.twitter.com/K9ApuAOVw4

— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) October 3, 2026

There was a pop of noise for just about anything James did — his first touch of the ball, an alley-oop slam, a slick behind-the-back dish. 

“It was obviously fun to be able to play in front of some of our Philly faithful for the first time,” he said, “being able to take what we’ve done on the practice floor and bring it to a game floor situation around our fans. It was a great first step in the direction we’re trying to go.”

The Sixers’ Blue team began with a 14-5 spurt fueled by the starting five of James, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid. 

Though the action was mostly casual, everyone delivered highlights and explosive bursts. Embiid moved well and even threw down a powerful lefty dunk on the fast break.

“That’s probably the last dunk of my career,” Embiid joked. 

You should be able to log Sixers highlights on Letterboxd. 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/Okv4MfFDVw

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 3, 2026

As James noted Saturday, he and Embiid are not starting from scratch as teammates. They earned gold medals with Team USA two years ago at the Paris Olympics. 

“The reps have basically picked up from 2024 during the Olympics,” James said. “We have some chemistry. We played a lot of minutes (together); he started a lot of games for us that summer. 

“But the difference between ’24 and now is just he’s just so much more healthy. He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in everything that we’ve done pretty much. They’ve had to sit him out sometimes when he’s wanted to keep going. You saw (today) how much he played. It’s been good. Actually, it’s been great.”

Outside of his physical gifts, James made an impression at his first Sixers training camp.

Teammates were struck by everything from his early arrivals to his immediate vocal leadership to his deep basketball understanding. Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey on Saturday even commended the 22-time All-Star for “diving on the floor for loose balls.”

“I’m still just making my rounds, getting better and better each day,” James said. “As far as in the building, it’s been smooth. Everybody has been super welcoming. I’ve been able to implement some things with my voice and just my command of how I play the game, my experience playing the game. 

“I’m still getting more and more comfortable off the floor without my family, with travel and things of that nature. That’s going to be a little bit of a challenge, but everything has been good so far. Great first week.”

The Sixers have four preseason contests on deck, starting with the opener Monday night in Philadelphia vs. the Knicks.

After that, the scoreboard will be worth watching.

“Everybody has to be on the same page,” Embiid said. “Everybody keeps talking about sacrificing, but I don’t really see it as sacrificing. It’s just about being the best version of yourself. I think when you put great players together, there’s standards you should have for yourself … it’s being more efficient. 

“Obviously, you might get less touches, but you also might get more space. So what are you going to do with that space? … It’s just about being a star in your role and doing what you do best. I don’t think anybody should be in a box. You should just go out there and be yourself. Good shot, great shot, bad shot, we’ve all got each other’s back. We’ll move on and then we’ll go get a stop.” 

Rafael Castro, a 23-year-old big man who was recently signed to a two-way contract back in August, has officially parted company with the Houston Rockets after being waived.

After dismissing Tristen Newton to create a two-way space with Sean Pedulla and Quadir Copeland, Houston first targeted Castro. By taking a low-risk gamble on a developing big man, the front staff saw an opportunity to shift toward frontcourt depth.

It made logical sense to create a new dynamic at the time because all three of their two-way contracts were awarded to guards. I was really aback when I learned that Castro had been waived in part because of this.

It’s difficult to determine how much of a chance he was given considering his brief tenure on the team, and his departure brings an abrupt end to what appeared to be a promising growth player. He was not even able to play for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA G League Associate team.

Castro looked good throughout the NBA free agency and pre-draft. He was not selected on draft night despite being 6-foot-11, having a wingspan of more than seven feet, and having a 36.5-inch vertical leap at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. He was soon linked to a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to early reports. Although he played for Milwaukee in both the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League, a roster jam prevented that deal from being finalized, which allowed Houston to sign him as an unrestricted free agent.

Castro’s raw physical skills, paint finishing, and rim protection were his main selling points at the age of 23. These qualities would complement Ime Udoka’s teaching methods. However according to the Houston Chronicle’s Varun Shankar, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka explained why the franchise decided to cut Castro. Udoka also expressed that the team is considering multiple candidates to fill the open two-way roster spot.

“Our abundance of bigs in camp, having three and then Oscar [Tshiebwe] is here, playing really well.”

The Rockets have quietly put together a strong youth core this offseason, but Castro’s waiver has left their developmental center spot vacant once more. Who will receive the Rockets’ third and last two-way contract?

The Philadelphia 76ers’ annual Blue x White scrimmage was held at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon and the event did not disappoint. In addition to clearing the obvious “no one got hurt in a meaningless scrimmage” bar, we witnessed a ton to be excited about with this group heading into the season. Let’s touch on a couple key points:

• Joel Embiid looks healthy

Joel is noticeably trimmer this training camp and has spoken about the benefits of only needing to focus on his game this summer and not rehabbing some injury or coming off surgery. Other folks have reiterated he’s been at practice every day, out there doing everything with no need for load management, maintenance days, etc. We saw some of the benefits of the improved health during the scrimmage. Embiid was hard hedging on defense, something he almost never did last season. He looked spry in dunking down the lane and going up for a block attempt of VJ Edgecombe. Basically, he looked like a man able to let his talent do the talking without having to worry about injury limitations.

Joel Embiid with the left-handed dunk in transition pic.twitter.com/NVDoU6K52P

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

VJ Edgecombe goes for the poster on Joel Embiid, who fouls him on the rejection (a call Embiid disputed) 😂 pic.twitter.com/yaL4yxgcm7

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

• LeBron still looks like LeBron

This point is less discussed than Embiid’s health, but James is a guy turning 42 years old soon who missed time last season with sciatica in his back. It’s fair to be a little trepidatious about how he’ll hold up. But he still looks like LeBron (in a Sixers uniform which still feels surreal). No, not the LeBron of 10 years ago almost singlehandedly taking down the Death lineup Warriors, but the LeBron of the last few years who is still an All-NBA-caliber player. Great to see him out there filling lanes and throwing down dunks; the Sixers in transition are going to be a major problem for the opposition.

LeBron James hits a step-back three and gets up for the alley-oop at Sixers Blue x White scrimmage pic.twitter.com/mEGeFkFRDi

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

LeBron James with a long three and a dunk pic.twitter.com/XubgI1gMqc

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

• Labaron Philon might be a Day One guy

The rookie did not look the least bit out of place taking the floor with former MVPs and All-NBA players. He showed off smooth handles, defensive chops, and a nice-looking shot. Philon could be forcing his way into the rotation from day one.

2026 first round pick Labaron Philon showing off the handles at the Sixers scrimmage pic.twitter.com/GaQ0ViIoLe

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

Labaron Philon continues to look good this afternoon, sinking a corner triple here pic.twitter.com/Kz2duq4BxH

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

Labaron Philon with the block and Rayan Rupert takes it coast to coast pic.twitter.com/jj7tJ0vljA

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

• This starting five is awesome.

Sorry for the Captain Obvious statement, and I don’t really have a specific point, but seeing this starting group together was incredible. They were unselfish, working the ball around to find mismatches, and everyone seemed comfortable with each other and capable of working individual two-man games to find buckets. We’ve been talking about the group for a couple months now, but just seeing them on the court in reality is something else entirely. Barring something extremely Sixersy happening, this should be an extraordinarily fun season.

Here’s a full highlight reel of clips from the scrimmage for your enjoyment:

For those that missed the Sixers Blue x White Scrimmage, here is a highlight reel of clips from the afternoon (no audio). LeBron, Maxey, Embiid, Brown, VJ, Labaron Philon and more! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZdWGhpSBgU

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 3, 2026

With the Knicks ramping up their preparations to defend their NBA title during the coming season, head coach Mike Brown has pinpointed a player who he thinks has what it takes to earn a more significant role this go-around: Mo Diawara.

Diawara, still just 21 years old, returns to Knicks training camp following the "best summer of [his life]" back in his hometown of Paris, France.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 51st pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Diawara was traded to the Knicks ahead of a rookie season that ended with a ring on his finger, but included plenty of learning from the team's veteran core.

"Now I know the physicality I need for this league, how I need to prepare my body," he explained in a news conference on Saturday. "I still look a lot to those vets, just helping me with a routine to get ready for this new year."

"Now that I've been in the league a year, it is a little bit easier," Diawara declared.

Will the Knicks starters see the floor in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on the night of Oct. 5?

"Probably, but not much," Brown answered.

With that in mind, Diawara could be one of the players who is given the leash to show off what he's learned in that game.

Brown outlined what he's looking to see on the floor from his guys and how to set the tone ahead of the regular season. The Knicks host the 76ers in that game, too, at Madison Square Garden, which will include raising a banner to the rafters.

"You're going to make some mistakes, and I'm okay with that," Brown explained. "But when someone makes a mistake, how quickly do they try and make up for it?"

"I'm huge on next-play speed. Guys can't drop their heads or hesitate. Boom: right away, move on. It's the little things. Boxing out, competing for offensive rebounds, and sprinting to the corners in transition."

Diawara and Brown seem aligned on the key areas for the young swingman to focus on improving.

"Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there, because he didn't know what to do."

"His cadence is better, he has a better feel not only for what he should do, but what his teammates should be doing," Brown continued. "He's one of those players who needs to take a step forward."

"I'm shooting a lot of threes, working on that a lot to improve it going into my second year," Diawara added.

During the 2025-26 regular season, the 6'9" forward shot a respectable 36.9 percent from behind the arc on 1.9 attempts per game, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest, which included seven starts across 69 games played. However, his role off the bench shrank significantly during the team's title run, as he only played in six of the team's 19 playoff games.

That production led to Diawara signing a four-year contract worth slightly more than $11 million in total with the Knicks.

Keon Ellis is one week into his first Nets training camp, and Jordi Fernández is already seeing what he expected.

“He’s got the best hands in the NBA, and that’s hard to teach,” Jordi Fernández said at Friday’s practice. “At the same time, you want to be disciplined and follow the schemes, whatever the game plan is. I trust him. I know he’s very diligent with his work and everything, and I know he can perform at a high level. He’s going to help us a lot at the defensive end.”

The connection between Ellis and Fernández goes back to Sacramento, where the two were together from 2022-24 while Fernández worked under then-Kings head coach Mike Brown. That familiarity was part of what made Brooklyn an appealing destination for Ellis this offseason, when the Nets signed him to a two-year, $18 million contract with a full mutual option for the second season.

“You have a guy with many intangibles, is a super pro. He has probably the best hands in the NBA, can shoot the ball, can handle, is a good human,” the Nets coach said. “He’s coming here and is about business. It was a no-brainer.”

Ellis knows the mutual respect benefits both of them.

“In this game — and it is a business — having someone like Jordi being the head coach, someone you’re familiar with, [is big]. You know all the schemes, you know what he’s about, you know what they want to run,” Ellis said Friday after practice. “It’s a safe space right there. He’s familiar with my game, I’m familiar with how he rocks. That was the No. 1 thing.” 

He added, “He [Jordi] knows how I play, and I know how he wants his team to play. I know I can have a big impact in that way.”

Ellis enters Brooklyn coming off a season in which he averaged 6.7 points while splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland following a February trade. He also shot 36.3% from three last season after hitting on 42.9% over his first three NBA seasons.

“It’s not for me to say [how much of an impact he will make],” Fernandez said. “It’s for me to believe every time he guards he’s going to be good on that player, and every time he shoots the ball, I believe it’s going to go in.” 

Michael Porter Jr. has noticed it, too.

“Strong start. Keon has been hooping these first two days. He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid,” Porter said at Friday’s practice.

He’s also made an impression on Nets sophomore Drake Powell.

“Keon’s been great overall so far, not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Powell said at Media Day. “I think what I can take from him defensively is just how active he is with his hands and, you know, just being in the right spot. The ball will just naturally come to him defensively, get a steal and from there we’re just out and running.”

The Nets held their first scrimmage of training camp Friday, giving Ellis and the rest of the roster their first chance to compete in a game-like setting.

One week of training camp won’t tell us everything. For now, Ellis has already given Fernández and his teammates plenty to like.

---

• Keon Ellis finds Nets ‘safe space’ in Jordi Fernandez reunion – Zach Braziller – New York Post

Apparently, no one told Wizards guard Bub Carrington that the first rule of tanking is to never admit to tanking.

The former first-round pick said in an interview this week that the Wizards intentionally “held back” the team last season in order to maximize their odds of landing the No.1 overall pick, which they ultimately used to grab BYU forward AJ Dybantsa.

“We’ve all, in a way, been held back just because, like you said, we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret,” Carrington, the 14th overall pick in 2024 out of Pitt, told WUSA’s Marshall Kramsky. “But now, no one has handcuffs. Everyone’s shackles-free. So, that alone is already a conversation starter.

“But then you put that on top of the coaching, on top of the vets that we have. That’s a playoff team, and that’s gonna happen.”

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65, giving them a 14.0 percent chance to win the draft lottery and a 40.1 percent chance for a top-three selection.

The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a freshman last year at BYU.

During last season, the Wizards made two significant trades for injured All-Stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young, but they combined for just five appearances (all by Young) for Washington.

Bub Carrington said the quiet part out loud.

“We were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret.”

Carrington says the Wizards’ young core was “held back” last season — but now the “handcuffs” are off. pic.twitter.com/3DxaDeJsTq

— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) October 2, 2026

The NBA implemented strict rules and fined both the Jazz and the Pacers for alleged tanking violations last season, but The Athletic reported that the league is “not expected” to penalize Carrington or the Wizards.

Davis, a 10-time All-Star and Young, a four-time selection, are currently healthy and participating without limitations during Wizards training camp.

Carrington has appeared in all 82 games in each of his first two seasons, averaging 10.7 points and 4.6 assists in 27.7 minutes per game in 2025-26.

Cooper Flagg had a stellar rookie season, but one blemish on his campaign was his lackluster advanced numbers.

While Flagg had great counting stats, the advanced metrics suggest his impact was below average, but it can definitely be improved. One metric that Flagg can improve on is his lack of offensive rebounding, which Dusty May has already commented on.

“Getting him to take advantage of his offensive rebounding ability,” said May in his media availability after the first training camp practice. “ When we’re connected as a group where we’re playing off of each other, I think it will organically happen.”

Winning the possession battle has become incredibly important in the modern NBA, with offensive rebounds being specifically important. Teams like the Houston Rockets have had tremendous regular season success while being a medicore offense, in large part to winning the possession battle.

It’s simple math, if you shoot more shots than your opponent, it will often lead to more points.

Flagg was in the 38th percentile for his OREB%, a lackluster mark for a 6’9 forward with elite athleticism. Flagg getting on the glass would not only help the team win the possession battle, but also will help him get more easy rim attempts.

“But just playing better basketball, I think it will afford him more opportunities,” said May.

Flagg had to work tremendously hard for most of his scoring opportunities last year, whether it was the terrible spacing or lack of teammate-created buckets.

On the other hand, putback’s are one of the most efficient play types, with players average 1.14 points per-possession on average last season, according to Synergy.

This focus on more analytically-driven basketball is a major departure from the previous coaching staff, with the Mavericks consistently being behind the times.

Last season the Mavericks were towards the top of the league in mid-range attempts, and were towards the bottom in three-point attempts.

But while all Mavericks fans want more three-point attempts, there is nuance in this discussion.

“If we have an elite mid-range shooter, he’s going to shoot the right mid-range shots,” said May. “Obviously, we want as many quality threes as we can get, but if guys are incredibly efficient at something very specific, I’m definitely not going to look at a spreadsheet and overrule guys with what we call mastery shots.”

This approach to team-wide shot diets is the correct approach in the modern NBA.

Forcing all players into threes or rim-attempts can severely limit a star player and prevent them from feeling comfortable in an offense.

The Mavericks are also uniquely affected by this, as both Flagg and Irving are mid-range maestros.

All of this comes back to a simple math equation, if a player can average greater than 1 point-per-possession on any given shot type, they should shoot that shot

May’s approach throughout his career has been to maximize what his players do best, rather than forcing them into an uncomfortable role.

Last weekend without basketball, fellas, so here’s a quick summary of a bunch of stuff that popped up recently around the NBA before we get down to (yeah, I know, preseason, but still…) business.

• James Wiseman has emerged as the early favorite for the Knicks’ 14th and likely final standard roster spot, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. Nothing new considering we’ve been talking about New York prioritizing a third center for months on end. In Bondy’s eyes, Tony Bradley and Drew Eubanks are Wiseman’s primary competition up front, while Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji are also fighting for the last spot in the Knicks’ roster.
• Mike Brown, however, isn’t ready to declare Wiseman—or anybody else—the winner of that roster battle.

“I’m just going to let it unfold. I got no expectations. I’m not trying to forecast anything. I’m just taking this literally one practice at a time, one game at a time. And at the end of the day, when it comes time for us to figure out who’s going to be on the final roster, we’ll do it.”

• The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III identified whether the Knicks can maintain their edge after winning the championship as New York’s biggest question entering the new season.
• In another piece published over The Athletic, multiple reporters assembled three perspectives on the Knicks’ chances of repeating, and none were especially bullish.
• Anne Hathaway would sacrifice another Oscar for another Knicks championship.

Jimmy surprises Anne Hathaway with a signed @nyknicks jersey from OG Anunoby 🥹 #FallonTonightpic.twitter.com/knOnx45Dwe

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) October 1, 2026

• New court documents revealed additional allegations behind OAKAAK J.R. Smith’s arrest in Texas.
• The Pistons and Jalen Duren finally found common ground, with the big boy and postseason no-shower inking a five-year, $200 million deal… without a weight clause on it.
• Get ready for a whole lot of “Inside the NBA” this season, likely the last one with Charles Barkley on board.
• Victor Wembanyama hasn’t even won an NBA title, but he’s already thinking about running for President of France. Oh, là là!

🤔 Wembanyama : "Un rôle politique dans le futur ? Oui, j'en suis sûr"#NBAextrapic.twitter.com/szNeGmOBLf

— NBAextra (@NBAextra) October 2, 2026

• It looks like the Las Vegas Whatevers are a very real thing and will get a franchise approved before Seattle does, but that could come with the con of having to wait an extra year to enter NBA play, contrary to the SuperSonics 2.0 making their comeback in time for the 2028-29 campaign.
• JaVale McGee has joined the Shanghai Sharks, teaming up with D’Angelo Russell in China. Yes, that’s a real headline.
• LeBron stans are already aboard the #lbjmvp train. Meanwhile…

LeBron James putting up absolute BRICKS in open runs 😭 pic.twitter.com/2ZhYxfdzsK

— Yaxel LendeBeast (@GMZeroOG) September 22, 2026

In recent years, the Lakers have run into a problem.

They’ve taken a few successful inexpensive fliers, including Malik Monk and Dennis Schröder, but they’ve lacked the ability to retain those guys after they popped. That might not be the case next summer, which could bode especially well for the likes of Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle.

The NBA recently updated its salary-cap projection for the 2027-28, bumping it up from the initial $174 million to $176 million. The luxury-tax line and the aprons will also rise by roughly $2 million, which will give every team in the league extra financial wiggle room.

That’s particularly valuable for the Lakers, who structured their books to make one more big splash next offseason.

Austin Reaves took $5 million less than a max contract this summer to give the Lakers “more future flexibility.” He did so by taking roughly a 4% raise in 2027-28 rather than the full 8% raise that he was eligible to receive. The Lakers also structured Sandro Mamukelashvili’s contract in a unique fashion, making it dip by $650,000 in 2027-28 before going back up by $650,000 in each of its final two years.

In case you have Windhorst Face right now, the Lakers’ intentions aren’t exactly top-secret.

Reaves’ decision, sources told ESPN, will give LAL more financial flexibility moving forward – making it possible to pursue a player with the non-taxpayer midlevel exception next summer. https://t.co/7AHGDG2Pbu

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 13, 2026

The new cap projection could make it easier for them to maintain access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, too.

Could Ziaire or Matisse stick?

Since both Williams and Thybulle signed one-year deals this offseason, the Lakers will only have non-Bird rights on them next summer. That means they can’t offer them more than 120% of a minimum contract or their previous salary (whichever is greater) without dipping into another salary-cap exception.

If either one has a breakout season in L.A., the Lakers could use either some or all of their MLE to re-sign them next summer. If they do have access to the full non-taxpayer MLE, they could always look to split it between Williams and Thybulle, too. Teams don’t have to spend the full MLE on one player. The Philadelphia 76ers split theirs this past offseason between Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, for instance.

The Lakers should also have access to the bi-annual exception, which is currently projected to land at roughly $5.85 million. That alone might be enough to re-sign one of Williams or Thybulle, allowing them to preserve the MLE for another target.

However, using either the non-taxpayer MLE or the bi-annual exception will hard-cap the Lakers at the first apron, which is projected to land at roughly $222 million. They’d need to leave themselves with at least $22 million of wiggle room under the first apron to preserve access to both the non-taxpayer MLE and bi-annual exception next summer.

If Jarred Vanderbilt and Collin Sexton pick up their respective player options for 2027-28, the Lakers will already be up to $181.6 million in guaranteed salary. If they pick up their team options on Dalton Knecht ($6.45 million), Jaden Hardy ($6.0 million), Bronny James ($2.5 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.5 million), they’d be up to $199.1 million with 12 players under contract. That would leave them with just enough space under the first apron to spend both the non-tax MLE and the bi-annual exception if the current projections hold.

Granted, the Lakers could easily decline their team option on Hardy next summer if they decide that they need a few extra million dollars in breathing room. They have to decide on Knecht’s option by the end of October, but they have until June 29 to decide on Hardy, Bronny and Thiero.

The Lakers could also wipe out this flexibility with a midseason trade, of course. Just because they’re currently projected to have enough room for the non-taxpayer MLE next summer doesn’t mean that they’ll enter the offseason with the exact same roster.

Still, the way that they structured Reaves and Mamukelashvili’s contracts suggests that they’re eyeing next summer as their chance to make another medium-to-big splash. If that doesn’t pan out, they could at least have those cap exceptions to spend on either Thybulle or Williams if needed.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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