As far as NBA altercations go, this certainly wasn’t the most intense. But Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid drew a technical foul for it, either way.
Embiid and Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith engaged in a brief dustup late in the first half of a Wednesday, Nov. 4 game between the two teams.
The play happened with 1:25 left to go in the second quarter, when the 76ers had the ball. Sixers forward Jaylen Brown was driving to the basket when Smith was jostling with Embiid for positioning below the basket. Smith shoved Embiid, who took exception to the move after the play was blown dead.
Embiid then gave Smith a little shove with his right elbow. The contact was minor, but it led to a quick back and forth between the two. It escalated with light shoving, and players eventually had to step in to separate Embiid and Smith, who were shouting and trying to square off.
Eventually, officials reviewed the sequence and levied a technical foul against Embiid for being the one to initiate the action with the elbow.
The Pistons crowd at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit immediately booed Embiid. Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham converted the technical free throw. Embiid was seen encouraging the boos.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to get back into the win column as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this week.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 Emirates NBA Cup game on October 30, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are looking to keep the good times rolling against the Philadelphia 76ers. Detroit and Philly are the two best teams in the East, and the Pistons have already notched one win against the Sixers this season. In fact, the 106-93 win in October was Detroit’s sixth consecutive victory against Philly. Tonight, they go for lucky No. 7. That loss against the Pistons also happens to be Philadelphia’s lone blemish on the season. In that matchup, the Pistons were without the services of Jalen Duren. It worked out because they were able to rely on the all-around goodness of Paul Reed. It also didn’t hurt that Joel Embiid missed that first matchup to rest.
Tonight, the Pistons will have no such luck. They are still missing All-Star big man Duren, and tonight the Sixers will employ the services of their former MVP in Embiid. While Detroit has been playing amazing basketball, they have been vulnerable down low, and Embiid will be the best interior big man they’ve faced since they lost Duren to a hamstring injury.
One benefit in Detroit’s favor is that this is a nationally televised game on ESPN, and it seems like Cade Cunningham loves to come up big when the lights are brightest for national television. Cunningham is also coming off of perhaps his most dominant performance of the season, scoring 33 points in just 26 minutes of action. If the game against the Hornets was close instead of a 30-point blowout late, if seems like Cunningham could have gone for 45 points.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons -2.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (6-1)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed
Philadelphia 76ers (7-1)
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 26, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards can match their best start in five seasons with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at Capital One Arena.
Washington has won two straight games behind stout defense, especially in the second half, and impressive offensive showings from Anthony Davis, Trae Young and Kyshawn George.
A bulk of that scoring has come at the rim behind a revamped frontcourt and slashing wings. Look for Washington to attack the rim against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked interior defense that allows 53.8 paint points per game.
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Amen Thompson #1 and Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets talk during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 2, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
November 4, 2026
Location: Toyota Center —Houston, Texas
Time: 7:30 PM CST
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable starting lineups
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Dec 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The San Antonio Spurs’ “Pounding the Rock” culture is having a moment.
In the recent 60 Minutes profile, Victor Wembanyama praised Gregg Popovich as “the greatest coach of all-time” and called the Spurs “a winner’s franchise.”
NBA star Victor Wembanyama says he learned a lesson in humility from former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whom he calls the greatest coach of all time.
“He often said something when we were in film, ‘After a win, you're rarely as good as you thought you were, and after… pic.twitter.com/fQf8IHSjgo
The reasons for Wemby’s celebratory fist pump during the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery are rooted in the Spurs’ culture. And the hits just keep on coming this week …
The latest episode of the Run It Back podcast featured Stan Van Gundy talking about the quiet strength and character of the Spurs’ culture during a conversation about the Miami Heat’s early season struggles.
Former all-star guard Mike Bibby also drew a contrast between the Spurs and his old Sacramento Kings team on a new episode of the Straight Game Podcast. At the tail end of his career, Bibby wasn’t allowed around the Kings team and facility without jumping through hoops and getting approvals.
The Spurs, meanwhile, welcomed Bibby and his friends with open arms – even offering a free ride on the team plane. Co-host Kyle Draper chimed in by describing the inclusive “family” nature of Spurs’ team dinners while Ty Ellis said “that word travels” around the league.
This week also saw a clip of Steve Kerr discussing Popovich’s direct, but compassionate, way of delivering bad news. Kerr said he’s tried to model that example in his successful coaching career.
Steve Kerr says Gregg Popovich was so good at delivering bad news that he could bench you and somehow make you feel good about it
“Gregg Popovich was the best I’ve ever seen at delivering a bad message in a really good way. He took me out of the rotation as a player one time,… pic.twitter.com/MU13nWwtqk
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 23: Head Coach Will Hardy and Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 23, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in what looks like a must-win game for the Jazz, who are in the midst of a 5-game losing streak. The Jazz started the season with expectations of competitiveness, but more than that, wins. That’s not what happened. Utah sits at 1-6 for the season and looked especially bad in their last game against the Spurs in a blowout loss. The Jazz’s sole victory this season was a close win against the Pelicans and they’re surely hoping to get another win against the Pelicans who now sit at 3-4 on the season.
To get the win, Utah will have to overcome the injury to Jaren Jackson Jr. who is now out for an extended amount of time. Utah needs to get some big games from their core players, but especially Keyonte George who has struggled the last two games after a hot start to the season. If George can get back to the form he was in at the beginning of the season, we likely see the Jazz get a win tonight. If not, the season starts looking really rough.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 11: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics fights for a loose ball with Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Fiserv Forum on December 11, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee Bucks (1-6) at Boston Celtics (5-2) Wednesday, November 4, 2026 7:30 PM ET TV: NBCSB, My24 Bucks+, League Pass Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WTMJ 103.3 FM, Sirius XM Regular Season Game #8, Home Game #6 TD Garden
The Celtics go for their 5th straight home win as they return home to host the Milwaukee Bucks. This is the first of 3 games between these two teams this season. They will play in Milwaukee on November 8 and again in Boston on April 11. The Celtics won the series last year 3-1, losing one game in Milwaukee. The Celtics are 124-113 overall, all time against the Bucks and they are 77-40 in games played in Boston.
The Celtics are 3rd in the East with only Philadelphia (7-1) and Detroit (6-1) ahead of them in the standings. The Bucks are 14th in the East with only Brooklyn behind them. The Celtics are 4-0 at home and 1-2 on the road. The Bucks only win this season was a home win against the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics have won the last 3 games against the Bucks.
The Bucks have overhauled their roster since last season. They made the big trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, Jr, and Kasparas Jakucionis. They also traded for Caris LeVert from Detroit and signed Pete Nance and Kam Jones to two way contracts. They signed Bogoljub Markovic as a free agent. They also drafted Braydon Burries with the 10th pick and Nate Ament with the 13th pick. They lost Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson, Kevin Porter along with Giannis and Porter. They also hired Taylor Jenkins as their head coach, replacing Doc Rivers.
After this game, the Celtics will head out on a road trip that will take them through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. They then play one game at home against Atlanta before playing at San Antonio and Dallas. Then it’s home against Charlotte before a game at Brooklyn.
After this game, the Bucks will return home to host Toronto and Boston before playing at New York and Orlando. They then host Atlanta and play at Miami and host Portland. Then they play Philadelphia and Toronto on the road before hosting Brooklyn. Then it’s one game at Detroit before a 3 game home stand against Oklahoma City, San Antonio and New York.
The Celtics have been changing their starting lineup with Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta getting starts along with Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson. Against the Rockets, White, Scheierman, Gonzalez, Tatum and Queta got the start. The starting lineup is a work in progress for the Celtics and so it’s hard to predict who Joe will go with from game to game.
I’m just guessing that White, Gonzalez, George, Walsh and Queta will start in this one. Since Tatum is out, it’s possible that Scheierman once again starts but I’m guessing that Walsh will get the start. For the Bucks, they have started Burries, Herro, Jaquez, Kuzma and Turner in all 7 games so far and I’m going to guess that the same lineup starts this game.
The Celtics still have Devin Carter on the injury report due to illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. After playing both games in 2 back to back sets, Jayson Tatum is listed as out for rest. Payton Pritchard is also listed as questionable with a right shoulder contusion. Milwaukee has just Kam Jones (ankle) as questionable on their injury report at this time.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Brayden Burries
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesBrayden Burries | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Hugo Gonzalez vs Tyler Herro
Hugo Gonzalez | NBAE via Getty ImagesTyler Herro | Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs Jaime Jaquez, Jr
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesJaime Jaquez, Jr | Getty Images
PF: Jordan Walsh vs Kyle Kuzma
Jordan Walsh | NBAE via Getty ImagesKyle Kuzma | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Jordan Walsh Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman
Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out Jayson Tatum (rest) out Payton Pritchard (shoulder) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Bucks Reserves Nate Ament Ousmane Dieng AJ Green Kasparas Jakucionis Caris LeVert Bogoljub Markovic Ryan Rollins Jericho Sims Gary Trent, Jr Kel’el Ware
Two-Way Players Kam Jones Pete Nance Corman Ryan Injured/Out Kam Jones (ankle) questionable
Head Coach Taylor Jenkins
Key Matchups Hugo Gonzalez vs Tyler Herro Herro is in his first season in Milwaukee after being traded from Miami. He is averaging 21.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He is shooting 45.9% from the field and 43.1% from beyond the arc. He is a very good shooter and so the Celtics need to defend him well wherever he is on the court. I’m guessing that Hugo gets the start here again, but with Joe playing mad scientist with the lineups, you never know.
Paul George vs Jaime Jaquez, Jr As with Herro, Jaquez is in his first season with the Bucks. He is averaging 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He is shooting 50.6% from the field and 44.0% from beyond the arc. He is a good shooter and so, as with Herro, the Celtics need to stay with him and defend him well. Honorable Mention Jordan Walsh vs Kyle Kuzma Kuzma is averaging 10.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He is shooting 43.9% from the field and 29.0% from beyond the arc. Although he is struggling from the perimeter, he is very capable of hitting 3’s if left open. Tatum is out so the Celtics may start Hauser, or Scheierman or Walsh or any one of several other players here if Tatum doesn’t play.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the biggest key to winning. Defense really does win championships. The Celtics are 11th with a defensive rating of 109.3. The Bucks are 26th with a defensive rating of 118.6. The Celtics must work hard on defense and keep their focus on the defensive end so as not to allow any easy baskets for the Bucks. They especially need to defend the perimeter as the Bucks are 3rd in the league attempting 43.7 three pointers per game.
Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is always a big key to winning. The key to rebounding is effort and focus. The Bucks are 3rd with 49.6 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 20th with 42.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics especially need to fight for offensive rebounds as the Bucks are 2nd with 15 offensive rebounds per game while the Celtics are 13th with 12.6 offensive boards per game. The Celtics have to fight as a team to try to grab every rebound to avoid the Bucks getting 2nd chance points. The Bucks are 3rd, getting 19.0 second chance points per game.
Don’t Underestimate the Bucks – The Bucks have not been playing well so far this season, going just 1-6 in their first 7 games. However, the Bucks are still a rival in the Eastern Conference that can play hard, which makes up for a lot of problems. The Celtics have to give max effort on the boards and on defense and they have to give that effort for the entire game and not just 1 or 2 quarters.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics are 8th in the league, averaging 40.6 three pointers per game. They are shooting 34.5% as a team from beyond the arc. The Bucks are 3rd, averaging 43.7 threes a game and 20th in the league shooting 33.3% on threes as a team. Against the Rockets, no one on the Celtics could hit their 3’s. If the Celtics’ 3’s aren’t falling in this game, they need to take the ball inside.
X-Factors Home Game – The Celtics are home once again after a 2 game road trip. They have the home crowd behind them to give them extra motivation. The Bucks are on the road for the 2nd straight game and have the distractions of travel and a hostile crowd. The Celtics need to take advantage of playing at home and play with energy and effort. The Celtics have not lost at home this season and the Bucks have not won on the road. They need to keep it that way.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. They have been especially calling flops and push offs and so the Celtics need to especially avoid doing both.
NEW YORK CITY - SEPTEMBER 15: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media following the Board of Governors meetings on September 15, 2026 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026-27 NBA season has started, and we’re already excited to see the Washington Wizards usher in a new era. But apparently, while the AJ Dybantsa Age is just starting, there’s a new report that at some point in the future, you may not be spending as much time at Capital One Arena to watch a game like in the past.
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver would like to see games shorten to 40 minutes.
Adam Silver reportedly likes the idea of cutting NBA games to 40 minutes, per @SIChrisMannix 👀
Lowered risk of injury to players. Presumably, if players, especially starters, appear for fewer minutes a game, they will have fresher legs toward the end of the game.
Fewer minutes, but not necessarily fewer games: NBA fans of the future can compare to the current era and the 1990s more easily when it comes to team records.
The NBA will meet the FIBA standard length: FIBA games played in Europe, Asia, Africa and elsewhere in the Americas are 40 minutes long with 10 miunte quarters. The WNBA also plays games based on this standard length.
TV time: When you watch a Washington Mystics game where Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin beat the Indiana Fever and their ballyhooed roster, the game fits a bit more neatly in a two-hour window including timeouts. A Washington Wizards game where Dybantsa, Anthony Davis and Trae Young beat the Indiana Pacers is more like 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 48 minute game length. If they play two hours with a 40 minute game, perhaps the Big Three will be at a collective lower risk of injury. If TV timeouts were more tightly controlled like an international tournament (AmeriCup, the World Cup or Olympics), games can regularly be a bit under 2 hours each.
And here are some cons:
Potentially less time for bench players. If there are 82 games at 40 minutes each without overtimes, there would be 656 minutes left than an NBA regular season with 82 games at 48 minutes each. That’s the equivalent of 13.67 games at 48 minutes a game and 656 fewer minutes, not including overtime, to give to players, especially bench players. Also, superstars and starters who are averaging over 30 minutes in games with 12-minute quarters may not see much of a drop-off in playing time if games suddenly had 10 minute quarters.
Career statistical marks will be harder to achieve by younger and future NBA players. Certain records, like the career scoring record with LeBron James holds (and it’s still increasing) will be even more difficult to reach.
Would you like to see NBA games align with the 40 minute FIBA standard? Or do you think the time limit should stay at 48 minutes? Let us know in the comments below.
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 2: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Houston Rockets on November 2, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Amber Rose and former NBA player Christian Wood leave Matsuhisa restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, Nov. 3, 2026. BACKGRID
Rose is 43 years old, which means there is a 12-year age gap between these two.
Wood has not been in the NBA since the 2023-24 season, when he made 50 appearances with the Lakers and averaged 6.9 points over 17.4 minutes per game. He was waived when Los Angeles signed Alex Len in February 2025.
Rose has dated numerous high-profile celebrities, including Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa (with whom she was married to for over a year and has a son), Machine Gun Kelly, 21 Savage and NBA player Terrence Ross.
Amber Rose speaks during Day 1 of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monday, July 15, 2024. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post
It’s hard to imagine that Wood can make his way back into the NBA at this point, given how he has been out of the league for several years.
Christian Wood (35) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 13, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
But perhaps this relationship with Rose can help him remain relevant.
Oct 12, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) in the second half against the Utah Jazz at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
When the Spurs first drafted Jeremy Sochan out of Baylor with the 9th overall pick in 2022, I remember probably being more thrilled with the pick than warranted. I hardly knew anything about him, but I did know he had size and was not a guard, and that’s all I wanted. If you ignore 2019 (when the Spurs drafted a bust power forward in Luka Samanic and a truly “small” forward in Keldon Johnson) and 2015 (when they drafted and stashed center Nikola Milutinov), you otherwise had to go all the way back to 2014 and Kyle Anderson to find the last time they drafted a player who was not a guard or small wing in the first round. (And even then, Anderson was more of a guard in a forward’s body.)
As good as some of those picks were — steals with Dejounte Murray and Derrick White late in the first round, Devin Vassell as their first lottery pick since Tim Duncan — others were merely okay or even complete busts that failed to address what was constantly an area of weakness during the post-Kawhi Leonard era: size at the forward positions. They finally changed up their drafting pattern when they took Sochan, and he seemed like a great fit with the club, both by filling a position of need and bringing a sense of humor during a couple of rough “tanking” seasons.
He had a good rookie season with the Spurs, making the All-Rookie 2nd Team and proving to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. He also had a knack for defending the rim and grabbing rebounds despite being slightly undersized when playing center. Across his first three seasons, he averaged a consistent 11+ points and 6+ rebounds on solid shooting numbers — inside the arc. A good comparison for him would be Malik Rose (the Spurs’ undersized backup big man from their first two championship teams) but therein lies the problem. Rose was ideal for that role in the 2000’s, but a power forward/undersized center without a three-point shot just doesn’t fit today’s game, and that’s where Sochan found himself.
After winning the lottery and drafting Victor Wembanyama in 2023, experimentation began to figure out how to best utilize them together. There was the ghastly Point Sochan experiment in his second season (Wemby’s first), and he lost his starting spot and eventually fell out of the rotation while dealing with various injuries during his third season. Finally, by last season, it was clear he wasn’t part of Mitch Johnson’s future plans despite having good chemistry with Wemby. He requested a trade and was eventually waived and signed with the New York Knicks, where he didn’t play a role but at least won a championship against his former team.
That would be the last bright moment in his NBA career that started promising but dimmed with time. He signed a training camp deal with the Portland Trail Blazers this summer, but despite a solid preseason, he was waved before the start of the regular season. He was then drafted 1st overall by the Texas Legends in the G League Draft (the Dallas Mavericks’ affiliate), marking a stark fall from just a year ago.
At his introductory press conference, he was humble and respectful. When asked about the roller coaster of the last 10+ months, had the following to say:
Jeremy Sochan with the most humble and thoughtful response to his last 10 months or so, from NBA Champion (Knicks) to a standard G-League contract (Texas Legends).
– Drafted 9th overall by the Spurs in 2022, Sochan was a focal point of their early rebuild. – 2025–26 season,… pic.twitter.com/n1ZUt3fkTI
“I think the way I grew up, my family, my parents; it’s always been like that. I could look at it negatively (the Portland situation). But when I look back at that situation, I think the two months I was there, I grew a lot. I was healthy throughout the whole training camp, preseason and open gym. So I think that was a blessing. When we got into preseason games, the minutes I got I think I used them to the best of my ability. I had good games. So what would be the point of being negative and angry for getting waived? Of course, you can look at it as that’s the NBA and I have a contract. But at the same time I have good momentum. So, why would I hold weight on something that I can’t control? And instead, be in this moment and do what I can do and keep that momentum going.”
He also discussed having to let go of the past and focus on what he’s learned so he can move forward.
Jeremy Sochan speaks on the highs and lows of his NBA career and how he’s trying to remain present while embracing this opportunity with the G-League.
For context, the Portland Trail Blazers signed Sochan to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal in August 2026. Sochan played in… pic.twitter.com/QaNIwM1rHA
“I think the biggest lesson for me is just being as present as possible. I keep going with this ‘presence’ because there’s a lot of things that you can’t control — in life and in basketball. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been a victim of the past where I’ve kinda held onto that, instead of acknowledging that and the just keep going. I think that’s the biggest lesson, for sure.”
It has certainly been tough to watch how far the former fan favorite has fallen. Even if it was for the better, I was personally sad to see Sochan leave San Antonio (enough so that I didn’t begrudge him for getting a ring with the Knicks). He mentions being a victim of the past, and while I’m not sure what his own context is, he is certainly a prime example of a player who would have been much better off in a bygone era of basketball than he is today.
Hopefully this isn’t the end of his NBA journey. While it’s odd to see a former NBA lottery pick with four years of experience enter into the G League draft, there are no experience limits, and he fit the requirement of having recently been waived from a training camp roster. Choosing the G League — as opposed to going overseas — shows that he is still very much interested in making it back to the NBA and is not ready to settle for anything less.
Hopefully his signature competitive drive and determination keeps him going, and he eventually makes it back someday. He was a fan favorite for a reason, and even if the parting was mutual, I think we can all agree that we want Sochan to get another chance in the NBA, even if it’s not with the Spurs.
Patrick and Sivan Dumont have formally become the controlling owners of the Dallas Mavericks after purchasing Miriam Adelson's shares of the franchise last month, a story broken by Tim MacMahon of ESPN. The Dumonts now own 69% of the Mavericks.
While this is a change at the top, it should have little day-to-day impact, as Patrick Dumont has served as team governor and been the acting owner on the ground since the day Mark Cuban sold the team to the Dumonts and Adelsons. Here is what Dumont told ESPN:
"It's really about long-term investment in the city of Dallas," Dumont told ESPN on Tuesday. "The Dumont family is really committed to building what we hope is the best arena in the NBA, a really significant investment in the city that will help create the new 40-year home for the Dallas Mavericks, a great experience for our fans and inspire our team to win championships. That's really what we're focused on. We had the opportunity, and we're really excited about it."
As Cuban said when he sold his majority share of the team, the NBA has become a real estate business, and what Dumont is looking to build is not just a new arena but the anchor of a much larger development. That is the trend with professional sports franchises in general, including the Dallas Cowboys.
Dumont, the Las Vegas Sands Co. CEO, has experience with building and development. He didn't have experience as an NBA owner when he took over the team, and that position comes with a learning curve (a longer one for some than others). Dumont became a villain early in his ownership of the Mavericks when he approved the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers, which led to severe backlash from fans in Dallas. Dumont told ESPN’s MacMahon he learned from those experiences.
"The most important thing every day is just trying to work harder to get better," Dumont said. "It's something that really applies in life, but it's something that really applies to here. It's been an experience as a new owner in the league. Dallas is a great sports city. I think we have the best fans in the NBA, very passionate, and it's my job to make sure that we win and that we support our fans. I'm really focused on that. I've learned that there are a lot of things you can do -- sometimes they work, sometimes they don't -- but you've got to keep pushing, got to keep going."
Dumont made changes in the front office, bringing in Masai Ujiri to run the show, then Ujiri fired coach Jason Kidd to bring in Dusty May. Dumont spent millions to upgrade the team's practice facilities. All of this with the idea of trying to maximize the team around Cooper Flagg, who in his second NBA season is looking elite and like an All-NBA player already. The new arena will ultimately be remembered as the one Cooper built.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 30: Labaron Philon Jr. #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup game against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers are 7-1 after Monday night’s 126-107 victory against Chicago. Three of their next four games are against fellow Eastern Conference contenders in Detroit, Cleveland and Boston. Perhaps for that reason, Nick Nurse might not make drastic changes to a rotation that keeps winning. After all, the Sixers haven’t opened a playoff round at home since 2023 so locking up wins against other teams in the Eastern Conference now can only help for seeding later. However, there’s one glaring mistake with Nurse’s rotation that he needs to address.
When it comes to the bench, Nurse is playing Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope regularly. These are veterans who figure to factor into the playoff rotation as well come the spring. However, whether Labaron Philon sees the court in April and beyond or not, the rookie out of Alabama should be seeing more than the eight minutes per game he’s currently averaging. Even in a 19-point win against the Bulls, Philon played just two minutes.
While Philon was drafted towards the end of the first round this past summer, now’s the time to find out what kind of player he could become. Of course, he can always grow into a bigger role next season and beyond, but should the Sixers set him on a path that’s essentially burning a year of his rookie contract? Maybe that’s a harsh way of phrasing things after only eight games, but it’s the realest way of saying Philon isn’t playing nearly enough.
For context, Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st overall in 2020 which is just one spot earlier than Philon’s 22nd overall in 2026. In the 2020-21 season, Maxey’s rookie year, Maxey played 15 minutes per game and started eight games. That’s a considerable uptick from the amount of minutes Philon is currently playing. Additionally, under Nick Nurse in 2024-25, Jared McCain played 25.7 minutes per game as a rookie in an injury-shortened season that saw him still start eight games. Neither of these comparisons is perfect as McCain was nearly a lottery pick having been selected 15th overall in 2024 and Maxey would have probably been a lottery pick under non-COVID circumstances in his draft eligible season in college.
Part of the reason we’re saying the Sixers have a backup center problem yet again is because they whiffed on the Johni Broome pick recently and Adem Bona doesn’t seem to have any offensive skillset. Granted, those two players were recent second-rounders by Philadelphia, but the point stands. You want to get your draft picks on the court in their rookie seasons in the regular season when your rotation should be deeper. It’s cheap production if they’re good right away, gives you more clarity on what they could develop into down the line, and would also make it easier to move off of them in trades while they still have some trade value if the early returns aren’t to your liking.
In the short term, don’t we all agree Maxey could use more of a breather than what he’s currently getting? Maxey is averaging a whopping 37.4 minutes per game which is currently second in the NBA to only Denver’s Jamal Murray. Maxey’s injury history is nowhere near as lengthy as Joel Embiid’s, but that doesn’t mean Maxey wouldn’t benefit from seeing his minutes scaled back a bit. Maxey’s also doesn’t seem like the kind of player that would be concerned about various individual accolades that might not come his way if his playing time decreased. More importantly, everyone can agree Maxey needs to be healthy and full go come playoff time for Philadelphia to make a deep run.
In the long term, wouldn’t it be great if Philon developed into a sixth man at the very least for this team? Remember how awful Philly’s bench was in the playoffs last year? Philon represents a long-term solution to what’s been a long-term problem for the Sixers even if it’s hard to see him ever getting on the court with long-term building blocks in Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown all at the same time.
Make no mistake, winning is fun and the Sixers are doing a lot of it right now. But the best teams in every sport can fuse the present with the future and win in the current season and in seasons of tomorrow. I get it Sixers fans, the current season is probably all that’s on your mind and I can’t blame you as the Sixers have as good a chance as any other team does to win the NBA championship in 2026-27. But there’s going to be basketball played in 2027 and beyond and Labaron Philon was drafted to be a part of that basketball for Philly so this season should also be about finding out what role Philon can have within this organization’s long-term plans.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 1: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets against Aaron Nesmith #23 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nets rebuild can probably be traced back to June 25, 2024 when Brooklyn made two trades within minutes of each other that signals half steps were over. One sent Mikal Bridges to New York for five first rounders, a first round swap and a second rounder; the other an exchange of firsts with the Rockets that brought back a first rounder and a first round swap they had originally sent Houston in the first James Harden trade.
The second step was the two-year-long tank that helped the Nets get two high — although not as high as they had hoped — firsts in Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. as well as five other late firsts. The hope, at least among fans, was that the losing or at least the deliberate losing would be over. Not yet, apparently, as Brooklyn is off to a 1-6 start and the two rookies have shared the court for only a few minutes. For the second straight year, the Nets are also the youngest team in the league, not a recipe for contention.
Now, into the fan caldron of disappointment, Jake Fischer seemingly dropped some knowledge that would seemingly ensure a longer rebuild. Speaking to Yahoo! Sports, the writer suggested that the next step could be trying to move veterans Michael Porter Jr and/or Julius Randle presumably at the February trade deadline, presumably to a contender, for more assets, presumably more picks or maybe other assets. Scoring, already an issue, and wins would be sacrificed.
“Brooklyn, I would still categorize as a team that is in more of a sell situation. I believe that Brooklyn will hope that a Julius Randle, a Michael Porter Jr. could still potentially draw some real returns,” Fischer said.
“The Nets, they don’t have their draft pick this year and they’re looking to be better and compete in the Eastern Conference, take some strides forward in the East.
“I don’t think they’re going to be a full sell job right now, but I do think that they are still in a position to solicit trade offers for their veterans to get draft capital, potentially young pieces back in return.”
Reading carefully, rather than scanning aggregators’ headlines, reveals that Fischer isn’t making predictions that the Nets will push hard to move both. He talks about “a Julius Randle,” “a Michael Porter Jr.” not both. Nor does he specifically mention the trade deadline. Nor does he gauge interest levels on the other side.
Adding to the Nets’ cache of assets, of course, does make sense from a number of aspects. If, as Sean Marks has said, the ultimate goal is a player or players who will “automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of the franchise.” then the accumulation of assets makes sense, particularly in an era where trades, not free agency, is the route to acquiring stars and superstars. Look at all the stars who moved this summer. Only LeBron James signed as a free agent and that of course was an oddity.
Either of the two players would seem to be the ideal final piece for teams hoping to make a final run at a title. Randle and MPJ can put up big numbers and have. Porter Jr. also has a ring. Yeah sure, both have baggage, but their ability to get buckets is undisputed. As Basket News noted,
Porter Jr. is averaging 20.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 steals, shooting 38.1% from the three-point line.
In the meantime, Randle holds the averages of 20.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
Their contracts also militate for moves unless the Nets see them as part of their future. MPJ will be an unrestricted free agent come July. If the Nets don’t plan on extending him — and there’s no indication at this point that they do, then trading him for assets in the interim would be imperative. Similarly, Randle has a player option at the end of this season and he too can leave in July if Sean Marks & co. decide not to make him an offer or an offer he believes fair. (MPJ earns $40.8 million, Randle $33.3 million with an option of $35.8 million.)
Of the two, Porter Jr. would seem to be the more likely to return assets. He’s nearly four years younger than Randle, although Randle is closer to iron man status, having averaged 68 games a year over the last eight. He also has proven that he can be a leader during his time at Flatbush and Atlantic.
It should also be noted that any trade is unlikely to produce the automatic and absolute game-changer Marks has spoken about. More likely, it’d be the big trade before the bigger trade which might happen in the summer of 2027.
One of the most intriguing but also less than concrete suggestions in Fischer’s comment is that the Nets might move away from accumulating draft picks to seeking “potentially young pieces” — that is, undervalued players on rookie deals. After all, they do have 13 firsts and 19 seconds over the next seven years. That strategy has been a key element in a number of recent rebuilds, most notably OKC’s acquisition of a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in the trade of Paul George to the Clippers back in June 2019. That one trade got Sam Presti one building block after another from SGA to Aday Mara. We should be so lucky.
Of course the trade deadline — 3:00 p.m. ET on February 11 — is three months away and there are few trades in the first couple of months of any season. The unofficial start of trade season is December 15 for two reasons. It’s roughly 20 games into the season when teams understand what their needs are going forward as well as the first day that players signed or resigned during the off-season can be dealt. That expands the pool of players who are available by dozens. That’s especially relevant putting together complicated, multi-team deals. Perhaps the spate of early season injuries will move things up, but it’s unlikely.
