Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss accused her siblings of running a "cloak and dagger" smear campaign against her through the media and voting to sell the family's remaining shares in the team in court documents filed earlier this week.
The filing, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, alleges that Jeanie Buss' five siblings -- Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse -- orchestrated a "manipulative plot" in response to her previous court filing in August to halt the proposed sale of the family's remaining 17.8% share in the team following the record $12.5 billion sale between Mark Walter and Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, "secretly pursued unlawful action behind Jeanie's back" and allegedly leaking their "petty grievances" to ESPN's Shams Charania.
"Respondents respond casting themselves as victims," the filing says. "When in reality, the entire episode is their own false flag operation."
The filing is the latest development in the ongoing Succession-esque drama that has ensued over the years since Dr. Jerry Buss' death in 2013 and escalated when Jeanie Buss' siblings voted 5-0 to sell their stake in the Lakers to Kushner, which would effectively remove her as governor. That led to an injunction from Adam F. Streisand, Jeanie Buss' attorney, that contested the sale violated a 2017 court order that established Jeanie Buss as the controlling owner and was null and void.
The five siblings filed a formal opposition on Oct. 7, claiming Jeanie Buss' petition "is legally and factually baseless." A hearing is scheduled in Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 8.
"Jeanie sought to address Respondents’ desire to cash out of the Buss/Lakers’ legacy," Streisand says in the filing. "However, Respondents refused to engage, because they not only want to cash out of that legacy but cannot abide that the team’s owners would still want Jeanie to be part of the Lakers’ future. Jeanie had no choice but to seek court intervention to enforce the clear terms of the Trust and this Court’s 2017 Order."
Per NBA rules, Jeanie Buss would need to hold at least a 15% ownership stake in the Lakers to continue serving as governor. The siblings have defended their sale as being within their rights by invoking a tag-along provision that was included in the original sale to Mark Walter that would allow the Buss family to sell their shares if he were to ever sell the team, but Jeanie Buss' attorneys responded in Wednesday's filing that the tag-along right is for less than all of the trust's shares.
The filing continues by alleging no notice of the tag-along right was given, nor was a notice of a "put right" that would have enabled the siblings to sell the family's entire stake in the team, and that there is no offer from Kushner and Iger to purchase the trust's shares.
"Consent to a hypothetical, partial sale is not the full and final sale required to trigger termination under Section 2.4(c)," the filing said. "Thus, the Purported Resolution is void on its face."
ESPN reported on Friday that Kushner and Walter agreed to final terms of the sale of the franchise and are expected to sign a formal agreement soon. The deal would then need to be reviewed by the NBA and approved by a majority vote of the league's 30 team owners.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 30: Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls and Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics battle for position during a free throw in the second half at the TD Garden on October 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Mitchell Robinson is on the injury report ahead of the Celtics’ Sunday afternoon game against the Orlando Magic. Robinson, who hasn’t missed a game this season, is listed as questionable with rest. Outside of Robinson, the only other Celtic on the injury report is Devin Carter, who continues to recover from illness but has rejoined the team.
Injury Report for tomorrow vs. Orlando:
Devin Carter – Illness – OUT Mitchell Robinson – Rest – QUESTIONABLE
The Celtics are on the front end of a back-to-back, so Robinson could miss Sunday’s game but lace up on Monday against the Houston Rockets. When the Celtics had their first back-to-back of the season — a Monday game against the Chicago Bulls and a Tuesday game against the Brooklyn Nets — everyone played in both games, though Joe Mazzulla noted that might not always be the case.
“It just depends,” he said. “We trust the sports science team that we have; we trust the competition of those guys. At the same time, our locker room has built on 1-15, 16, or 17 being able to impact winning. It’s just a combination of all those things. At the end of the day, we have to do what gives us the best chance to win. At the same time, keep those guys healthy and validate the whole locker room by putting guys in situations where they gotta win games for us.”
Mitchell Robinson has had a slow start to the Celtics season
So far this season, Robinson has averaged 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. He’s started all five games for the Celtics, but has played as many minutes as Neemias Queta, the team’s backup center. But Robinson’s rebounding is substantially down from last season, when he averaged 8.8 rebounds in similar minutes. In Robinson’s minutes so far, the team has been outscored by 26 points. Conversely, in Queta’s minutes, the Celtics have outscored opponents by 52 points, the second-best mark on the team.
Robinson was hard on himself after the season opener, a loss to the Detroit Pistons.
“I played like ass,” he said.
And though his play has improved from that opening game, he’s yet to have quite the impact he had on the New York Knicks. Whether he continues to acclimate and improve his play remains to be seen.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
October 31, 2026
Location: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas
Time: 7:30 PM CST
TV: NBA TV, Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable starting lineups
Rockets: Marcus Smart, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 25: Rhyne Howard #10 of the Atlanta Dream, Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks and Brody Malone pose for a photo during the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Atlanta Hawks on October 25, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This combined game thread is for all the marbles — at least for the Atlanta Dream.
The Atlanta Dream (3-3) and the Golden State Valkyries are knotted in the first ever WNBA finals to go seven games. A champion will be crowned tonight.
Just before that, however, the Hawks (3-3) travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans (1-4).
Hawks starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Dream starting lineup:
G Jordin Canada
G Allisha Gray
G Rhyne Howard
F Naz Hillmon
F Angel Reese
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Hawks info:
Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT
TV: Peachtree TV (WPCH), Atlanta News First (WANF)
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming:Amazon Prime, NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 31: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 31, 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz desperately needed a shining light in the pit of darkness they’d fallen into. Sure, they went toe to toe with LA, Memphis and San Antonio, but they couldn’t capitalise on early leads they had no business having in the first place.
But on these Halloween festivities, the only ‘trick’ is Jazz fans having the hope of the team turning things around in just one year—at least through the first six games this season. The Jazz were completely overwhelmed in the Delta Center in a troubling 112-90 finish.
It took 2:10 minutes for the Jazz to take the lid off the basket by the way of a Darryn Peterson triple. Blazers missed their first three shots; the Jazz missed their first two, with both teams collecting a turnover each. Shooting woes continued, which the Blazers took advantage of to take a 17-0 run. Toumani Camara was able to terrorize whichever Jazz player was bringing the ball up, contributing to six turnovers at the end of the first quarter. Though there was some silver lining in seeing the Jazz close with their own mini 11-4 run on 100% shooting. Between Keyonte and Peterson, there was always at least one starter on the floor.
Then the Blazers regained a 16-point cushion after the Jazz gave away yet another 16-8 run on 3-for-3 shooting. There was no synergy at all; players were taking low-percentage shots and couldn’t recover on the defensive end. The Jazz made no effort to fight back; they didn’t push back on half-court defense, and Portland got what it wanted inside. After Utah crept within 12, Deni Avdija burst with a late seven points to restore a 17-point lead at the half; 19 points in total. For the Jazz, DP led all players with an 11-point double-digit performance. Hardy seemed to believe in his performance, considering he also led all Jazz players with 17 first-half minutes.
The lead just kept extending in the second half. Holiday and Avdja both hit consecutive three-pointers to help build a 25-point lead for Portland. There were yet another eight turnovers in the third quarter for the Jazz, who also shot 35% from the field. The fourth quarter was all the indicator of a blowout loss as soon as Will Hardy waved the white flag.
Ultimately, this was a game that showed how much the Jazz need to improve if they want to hang with the teams at a Playoff level. The lack of synergy, bench talent or even decent roster construction has been this team’s shortcoming.
Obviously, having Jusuf Nurkic back would help, unlocking pathways in the offense that currently can’t be run with Hayes, nor Bamba. But there are a million other little tidbits I notice from this team every night that have me in a cold sweat of peril.
Darryn Peterson’s usage was a perfect dose
The rook was active on both ends of the floor. Peterson was zipping back and forth through all of Utah’s shortcomings tonight. He ended up finishing with 16 points on 6-15 shooting.
Without the hot hand from The Jazz’s top two scorers, the youngest player on the roster lived up to the occasion. We’re hoping that’s a mainstay moving forward
Old habits die hard
The turnover margin for this team is a handicap that will never allow this team to get in the win column, at least with the way they’re playing right now. That issue persisted, with 19 turnovers tonight, resulting in 20points for the Blazers.
You can make excuses, like how a Toumani-Camara-led defense that consistently pesters opposing ball handlers is bound to result in unforced errors, but the Jazz are already a bottom-10 team when it comes to taking care of the ball. Just completing the first month of the basketball season, there’s little leeway for this group to give in to habits when they were tanking.
The woes of the Finnisher
This is certainly one of the worst starts for Lauri Markkanen, at least that I can remember. Even before the wrist sprain, Markkanen was shooting 39/35/88 shooting splits, barely able to get over the 16 PPG hump. Tonight, he was only able to record 13 points on 3-for-15 shooting and 2-for-11 from downtown.
Up Next
Utah drops to 1-5 with this loss, and lines up their next matchup in San Antonio on Monday night.
On Saturday, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported that Jeanie Buss has accused her siblings of conspiring against her in a “cloak and dagger” campaign.
Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss sits in the stands before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Los Angeles, Friday, March 3, 2017. AP
Holmes wrote that in addition to this campaign waged through the media, Buss said her siblings “were jealous that their father picked her over them to govern the Los Angeles Lakers and asked a judge to block her siblings’ attempt to sell the family’s shares in the team, which would end her run as the Lakers’ governor.”
Dan Cohen, left, and Jeanie Buss attend a news conference announcing a distribution agreement at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Oct. 6, 2021. Getty Images
Jeanie Buss is still the Lakers’ governor and is trying to prevent her siblings from selling the family’s remaining 17.8% ownership stake in the franchise.
The Los Angeles Lakers logo is displayed outside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. Getty Images
NBA governorship requires at least a 15% ownership stake. Therefore, if the Buss family sold its 17.8% shares in the Lakers, it would mean Jeanie’s removal from that governor role.
These court filings on both sides will come to a head Dec. 8, when there will be a court hearing that can determine whether Jeanie will be able to block her siblings from selling their remaining Lakers shares and sustain her role in the iconic franchise.
Tyrese Maxey’s 38-point performance helped the Sixers pull out a Halloween win in Charlotte.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers earned a 109-104 victory over the Hornets.
Along with Maxey, the Sixers’ double-figure scorers were Anfernee Simons (19 points), Jaylen Brown (16 points), Jabari Walker (12) and VJ Edgecombe (10).
Grayson Allen scored 27 points for the Hornets and Brandon Miller added 24.
Next on the 6-1 Sixers’ schedule is a matchup with the Bulls on Monday night in Philadelphia. Here are observations on their win over the Hornets:
Maxey attacks early, keeps the points flowing
Adem Bona started for the first time this season, replacing Embiid. Brown and Dean Wade were the Sixers’ starting forwards with James out.
Edgecombe posted the game’s first points with a three that narrowly beat the shot clock. Maxey scored the Sixers’ next seven and put his team up 10-5 with a smooth step-back jumper.
He made his first four field goals and immediately hurt Charlotte in both the half court and transition. With all of his experience in undermanned situations over the years, Maxey has zero trouble tweaking his approach depending on who the Sixers have available. He was a tad more attack-minded than usual in the early going.
Maxey reached 15 points when he zoomed in for a layup late in the first quarter. He’s been ultra-consistent to start the season, recording at least 26 points in all seven of the Sixers’ games so far.
Rough start for Brown in return
Walker and Brown each came back from left knee injuries. Brown was well below his best out of the gates.
He started 0 for 5 from the floor and also missed his first free throw. The five-time All-Star managed minimal separation off the dribble and had multiple shots blocked in the first quarter.
Brown became the focal point of the Sixers’ offense when Maxey subbed out. The Hornets surged into the lead. Following an air-balled Brown three, Ryan Kalkbrenner slammed home a dunk. Charlotte took a 23-15 advantage with a 13-0 run.
The Hornets’ bench racked up 20 points in the first quarter. Allen was red-hot in the first half, shooting 5 for 6 from long distance.
On the Sixers’ side, the team concluded its back-to-back by using a 10-man rotation. Justin Edwards received meaningful minutes for the first time this regular season, getting a short run in the second quarter. Walker served as the Sixers’ main backup center behind Bona. Tacko Fall was available as additional big man depth but did not play.
The Sixers made a bright start to the second quarter and Walker played a key part, scoring twice inside. Labaron Philon Jr. also gave the Sixers a handy stint as an aggressive, shot-creating guard. The rookie knocked down a three and a tough bucket near the rim. The Sixers pushed back in front and took a 57-54 edge into halftime.
Simons helps Sixers bring it home
Brown’s second half was a bit better than his first.
The Sixers did again grow more deliberate when Maxey exited and Brown assumed the No. 1 option job. However, Brown focused more on hitting the paint and had greater success as a driver.
The Hornets’ defense was determined to slow Maxey and held him to four points on 1-for-4 shooting in the third quarter. Maxey air-balled a long three on the Sixers’ final possession of the third and his team entered the fourth facing a six-point deficit.
Playing alongside Bona at the start of the fourth quarter, Walker kept up his confident, productive, high-energy night. He converted a second-chance three and a put-back bucket early in the fourth quarter. A Maxey mid-range jumper brought the Hornets’ lead down to 89-86.
The Sixers then conceded a jumper to Allen on an after-timeout play. Bona missed a rare corner three attempt and picked up his fifth foul with 6:46 left. The Sixers want Bona to lean into his shot-blocking strength, but the 23-year-old’s foul trouble tends to be more damaging in Embiid-less games. He fouled excessively in his first two NBA seasons and hasn’t yet shown significant improvement in that area.
To their considerable credit, the Sixers hung around and didn’t view the night as a lost cause.
They tightened their defense, preventing the Hornets from a cruise to the final buzzer. Simons played a valuable role offensively, ensuring Maxey didn’t have to win it with a solo show. He’s been great the last three games, averaging 20 points off the bench and draining 16 of 27 threes (59.3 percent).
Simons canned a late jumper and made a fast-break layup. Two Maxey free throws gave the Sixers a 102-101 lead.
Yet again, Edgecombe was happy to fire a giant shot in the clutch. He nailed a step-back three over Allen with 35.4 seconds to go and the Sixers’ bench poured out on the floor in celebration. On the final night of October, the Sixers snagged their sixth win.
Luka Dončić doesn’t need any reminders about what Steph Curry did to win during Friday night’s game.
The Lakers star guard had his ankles broken by Curry at one point in the Warriors’ comeback 112-95 win. Curry drained the ensuing 3-pointer, adding further insult to what was already an embarrassing moment for Dončić.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers falls while guarding Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Getty Images
The Warriors included several slow-motion clips of Curry breaking Doncic’s ankles in an Instagram post after Friday’s night’s game, which was captioned, “Tonight’s Warriors win marks the largest margin of victory (17) by any NBA team after trailing by 25+ since 1997-98, when play-by-play was officially recorded.”
Ayesha Curry reposting a video of Steph Curry hyping up Golden State Warriors fans to her Instagram Story. (Instagram/@ayeshacurry).
To be fair, Ayesha didn’t repost the actual clip of Steph breaking Luka’s ankles, instead posting another video of Steph hyping up his home crowd.
But that is still enough to say Dončić caught another stray from the Curry family on Friday night.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers stands for the national anthem before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
These teams don’t play each other again until Jan. 27, which means Dončić has a lot of time to think about what Curry did to him before matching up again.
Stephen Curry, left, and Ayesha Curry watch Carlos Alcaraz play Jannik Sinner in the US Open men’s finals in Flushing, Queens, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. Larry Marano
Yesterday afternoon, Adam Spolane reported that the Houston Rockets had picked up Reed Sheppard’s fourth-year option. This means for the 2027-2028 season, Sheppard will be making just above $14 million before he is eligible for a rookie contract extension. It could be seen as an odd move for the Rockets, who had some questions about where Sheppard would fit into the rotation throughout this season, but it does seem like they want to keep him around for at least this year and next year before potentially extending him in free agency after the 2027 season.
Sheppard is the 10th first-round pick the Rockets have selected from 2021-24. He is the sixth of 10 players to have his fourth-year option picked up by the team. The previous five, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Amen Thompson, all inked contract extensions with Houston. After a rough debut year, Sheppard has become a fixture in the Rockets’ rotation. He moved into being Fred VanVleet’s backup at point guard from sliding completely out of the rotation. He also played three games for the Rockets’ G League team in Rio Grande Valley in January 2025 to get more playing time.
The Rockets feel Sheppard still can play point guard at an NBA level, but with VanVleet returning and Marcus Smart joining the team as a free agent, he’s been playing largely off the ball through four games this season.
“He’s a guy that has to get better at pick and roll,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka stated on media day. “He’s played off-ball his whole life, and you know he’s really good at it.
Numbers-wise, Sheppard does seem to have the ability to contribute as a scorer, playmaker and at times on the perimeter defensively, but he does need to figure out a way to be able to be a lot more efficient with his shooting from the field and from three.
Sheppard is definitely capable of improving his efficiency this year if he can play more off-ball and take advantage of playmakers like Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun, who can both set up Sheppard with great catch-and-shoot situations to create more separation from the defense when coming off screens and cuts. Sheppard might also develop as a shooter, just by acquiring more confidence over the season.
It should also be noted that Sheppard has had some injuries this season, including a left knee issue that helped him out against the San Antonio Spurs on October 23, and a back injury that kept him out of the lineup against the Dallas Mavericks.
The injuries Sheppard has suffered so far this year don’t appear to be severe, but they are crucial to keep in mind in case it is impacting his play on the court when he is available.
It is clear that the front office has belief in Reed Sheppard, and time will tell to see how he develops this season and beyond.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 26: The shoes of Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on October 26, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards reacts to a play against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of the NBA Cup game at Capital One Arena on October 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards won 95-79 last night against the Charlotte Hornets. AJ Dybantsa finally made his home debut in the regular season scoring 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting. While he didn’t shoot with the same efficiency as Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, yesterday’s performance was definitely a treat for all fans who were at Capital One Arena last night. Watch the highlights below!
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 30: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The season is young for the Phoenix Suns, and every game offers another chance to learn more about this team and whether it can execute its vision in a way that translates to winning. Thus far, it’s been rough. Phoenix is off to a 1-3 start, and if you take a look at the defensive rating, it certainly feels like Halloween. Because those numbers are downright spooky. Last in defensive rating at 125.8, last in opposing three-point percentage at 43.9%, last in opposing second-chance points at 22.3.
You don’t want to make rash decisions based on individual performances during the infancy of a season, but at some point you need to recognize that whatever this version of the Suns is isn’t working. At least not yet. Should patience be exercised? Perhaps, and we begrudgingly know it will. Until an internal threshold relative to either games or minutes has been crossed, this experiment in futility marches forward, with each night serving as a quiz to examine.
What did Friday’s night pop quiz teach us? It reinforces something we’ve known since we first started watching, playing, and consuming this glorious sport: teams function better when roles are clearly defined. “Positionless” basketball is a lazy term for those who support teams that do not possess defined roles. For teams with duplicative archetypes in the same starting lineup. “It’s gonna make sense,” one will say of the starting five. “Why?” a curious and befuddled onlooker will question. “Because the NBA is now ‘positionless’”.
I’m guilty. I’ve bought into the cheap trick and five-dollar fantasy that positionless basketball could equate to success. I purchased some stock in the belief that a Booker/Beal backcourt could be productive, and it’s why I’ve been cautious about the Booker/Green backcourt since its inception. Fool me once, shame on me n’ such. Sure, you can have a pair of combo guards in the backcourt, but they still need to have defined roles, defined areas of space in which they operate, and one better be pretty damn good at being the primary ball handler. Some call those roles “positions”.
Positionless basketball is something that has become a product of the AAU circuit, where young players are encouraged to pad their statistics because, ultimately, those numbers help them get noticed and create opportunities to make it big one day. With the NIL era upon us, getting noticed has become even more financially important. Somewhere along the way, traditional point guard play, facilitation, and distribution have become less of a priority. Those are the things that make everyone around you better, even if they don’t always show up in the box score.
Within the concept of positionless basketball, there still needs to be an understanding of roles and, more importantly, who is actually capable of executing them. What we witnessed Friday night, and quite frankly what we’ve seen throughout a season and a half, is another reminder that this offense simply functions better when Collin Gillespie is involved. He’s not a traditional point guard, but he excels in that role. That’s what the Suns need right now.
Why? Because Jalen Green was having an off night, something that has unfortunately plagued him throughout his career. Consistently, he’s been inconsistent. 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting against OKC, 2 points on 1-of-6 shooting against Denver. When you look at his career scoring trend, you see dots scattered about like duck shot on an outhouse.
I can’t blame the young lad. This team wants Jalen Green to be a facilitator, to essentially play point guard. And when you’re forced into an unfamiliar role, it takes time to adjust. Unfortunately, point guard is one of the most difficult positions to play in the NBA. It requires selflessness, court awareness, and the ability to process information at an incredibly high speed.
You can almost feel Jalen thinking out there early this season. He’s trying to read the defense, make the right decision, and execute what’s being asked of him. And the best flashes we’ve seen? They come when he stops thinking and starts reacting. That’s his superpower. His instincts, explosiveness, and ability to attack without hesitation are what make him dangerous.
It reminds me of Ryan Dunn, who’s being asked to become a true 3-and-D player despite that not necessarily being what his natural skill set lends itself to. Once again, the Suns find themselves asking a player to become something he isn’t, rather than maximizing what he already does well. And in the process, they’re diminishing the very qualities that make him valuable.
Green is better off the ball, operating as a piece of the offense rather than being the driving force behind it. Therein lies the roster construction conundrum we’ve been staring at for two seasons: 57% of your cap is tied up in duplicative players. Because the same could be said about Devin Booker. He excels when his role is not the offensive facilitating fulcrum. That, my fellow Suns’ citizens, is criticism I’ll save for another day…
We heard throughout the offseason that Green had spent time working with Steve Nash, with the goal of improving his ability to read opposing defenses and make quicker decisions. Early this season, it’s apparent that his processing is taking a split second too long. His assist percentage is 14.1% (33rd percentile), his assist-to-turnover ratio is 1.3 (14th percentile), and his assist points created is 6.0 per game (25th percentile).
In the NBA, where you’re facing elite athleticism and basketball IQ night after night, a split second can make all the difference in the trajectory of a career. Unfortunately, when you’re looking for someone to make high basketball IQ plays with split-second decision-making, Green typically isn’t the first player who comes to mind.
It’s a reminder that Jalen Green entered the NBA following his time with the developmental G League Ignite as a player whose greatest asset was his elite athleticism. He jumped off the high school screen with his explosiveness, his ability to finish around the basket, his shooting potential, and his impressive physical tools. He possessed the kind of raw talent that makes scouts salivate and front offices dream about what a player could eventually become.
His career thus far has been relatively average, with much of his scoring production coming through volume rather than efficiency. The physical gifts are undeniable. The challenge has been turning those gifts into consistently productive basketball.
Collin Gillespie took an entirely different path. He went from fighting for an opportunity on a two-way contract to earning a fully guaranteed deal and eventually a contract extension. And what keeps him on the floor? It certainly isn’t elite athleticism. It’s his defensive effort, his ability to read the floor offensively, his understanding of how to operate within a system, and his efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc.
So why am I bringing up the career paths of these two players? Because they represent two fundamentally different approaches to succeeding in the NBA. Green entered the league relying on extraordinary athleticism and the freedom to operate outside traditional positional responsibilities. Gillespie has built his career by understanding those responsibilities, embracing them, and executing within the structure around him. One was given opportunities because of what his physical gifts suggested he could become. The other earned his opportunities by consistently demonstrating that he understood exactly what his team needed him to be.
Collin Gillespie is more comfortable handling the ball, navigating his way through defenses, creating mismatches, and reading what the opposition is doing as those opportunities develop. Through four games this season, his assist percentage is 18.1% (38th percentile), his assist-to-turnover ratio is 3.3 (36th percentile), and his assist points created is 14.5 per game (64th percentile). Not gaudy numbers, but certainly improvements over what Green has provided in this small sample size to start the 2026-27 season.
Friday night was a reminder of this. Against Denver, during his first six minutes on the floor, Green and the Suns were a -3. Gillespie entered, and over the next nine minutes, Phoenix was a +7. That trend continued throughout the game. The team was chunky when Green was on the floor, fluid when Gillespie was present.
When Green entered, the offense tended to sputter. This isn’t solely his fault. The entire starting five was having trouble producing, as apparent from the rotations showcased above. When he and Devin Booker shared the court, roles were not defined, and the team had a -19.8 net rating.
When Booker was off the court and Green was tasked with the “bring the ball up the court” duties, the ball became sticky. The offense was less fluid. He’d dribble for a while, attack the basket, get blocked, and that was the possession. No movement, no opportunity for anyone else to get involved.
Green killed the Suns’ momentum on that possession. Dribbled into a crowded paint, never looked to kick it out, and forced a shot that got blocked. Murray answered with a three.
Green has to recognize when the defense collapses and move the ball. That’s a 5-point momentum swing.
Through four games, albeit with a small sample size, Green possesses a minus-28.3 net rating compared to Gillespie’s minus-2.3. And when you examine the on/off numbers, they speak for themselves.
The defensive side of the ball will always be the weaker part of this argument because Green has the opportunity to provide more defensively due to his size. For all the heart Gillespie has, he’ll never possess the physical tools to be an elite defender, yet he’s still third in the league with 3.0 steals per game.
When you look up and down the roster at the statistical output, particularly defensive rating, nobody on this team looks good. That’s what happens when you have the worst defense in the league. But there’s a significant difference between Jalen Green’s 133.3 defensive rating and Gillespie’s 120.7. So even on that end of the floor, Gillespie has been the better option.
I’ve hit you with a ton of advanced metrics and lineup data, but do we really need all of that? We know what our eyes are telling us, and at the end of the day, they’re telling us that there’s considerably more fluidity offensively and more intensity defensively when Gillespie is on the floor instead of Green.
This isn’t to suggest that the two players can’t coexist on the roster, because at this point in the season, they’re going to have to. The Suns will continue evaluating Green to determine whether he fits into what this team currently is and what it could eventually become. When you’re carrying a $36.3 million price tag, naturally, there’s going to be increased scrutiny surrounding your performance.
We need to see a larger sample size, right? But in reality, do we? Because we’re beginning to witness some of the same trends we saw last season with Green…
Remember the beginning of last year, when the Suns seemed to have a clear understanding of who they were? Green was injured for much of that stretch. When he returned, the team experienced some destabilization as it attempted to integrate him into the rotations and figure out how he fit.
What’s going to happen in the upcoming games? We might not know, but we saw a hint Friday night of what Jordan Ott is beginning to experiment with. Collin Gillespie closed the game while Jalen Green watched from the bench because Ott recognized that, within the confines of that particular matchup, it gave the Suns their best opportunity to win. How long until there’s a realization that, from an organizational standpoint, this might be the Suns’ best opportunity to win moving forward?
Not surprisingly, the team is standing with Green. “We’ve got a ton of confidence in JG,” Collin Gillespie said of his teammate following the loss to Denver. “We’re riding with JG 100 times out of 100.”
Moving Green to the bench is something I believe could benefit him. He’d be operating in a role much more conducive to his skill set, allowing him to focus on what he does best. But there’s also the potential for his ego to take a hit, and that’s the human element of this entire situation. It’s something we as fans have very little connectivity to when it comes to understanding the inner workings of the Phoenix Suns. There’s more to this than plugging and playing names into a roster. There are personalities involved, relationships to manage, and aspects of humility that need to be considered as well.
Again, we’ve now experienced this for 36 games if you go back to last season, and the results continue to be disjointed and disconnected on both ends of the floor. Green isn’t the sole reason for that, either. When Devin Booker scores three points in one game and then follows it up with another performance in which he doesn’t appear particularly aggressive, finishing with only 20 points, there are clearly greater issues at play. There’s one common concern running through all of it: your highest-paid players aren’t providing the effort and production you need from them consistently.
Maybe it’s too early to draw conclusions. My guess is that the franchise will give this another eight to ten games before seriously considering any drastic changes. Putting the human element aside for a moment, you eventually have to recognize who a player is, what he brings to the table, and whether his production matches the price you’re paying for it.
We’re only four games into the season, but Jalen Green is shooting 28.6% from beyond the arc, possesses an assist percentage of only 14.1%, and has a defensive rating that’s in the shitter. Those aren’t encouraging numbers for someone who’s supposed to be your starting “point guard”, especially when the offense continues to struggle with connectivity and the defense remains a significant concern. For context, Devin Booker isn’t exactly lighting things up defensively himself, carrying a defensive rating of 137.2.
At some point, the Suns have to decide whether they’re more committed to the idea of what Jalen Green could become or the reality of what Collin Gillespie already provides. Green can still be valuable, and finding a role that maximizes his strengths should remain a priority (although, at that price tag…yikes). But Phoenix needs someone who can organize the offense, make quick decisions, execute on the defensive end, and bring consistency to a lineup desperately searching for it. Gillespie has demonstrated that he can do those things. The question is how much longer Jordan Ott is willing to experiment before acknowledging what’s already working.
SAN FRANCISCO – The Friday-night sequence featuring Lakers star Luka Dončić crumpling to the floor trying to defend Stephen Curry went viral because nothing captivates NBA fans quite like three seconds of spectacle.
This was the latest Super Steph Moment, and he punctuated it by draining a triple that pushed the Warriors’ lead from nine to 12 midway through the third quarter.
Yet an earlier sequence was more crucial to the Warriors’ astonishing comeback win and, moreover, provided a glimpse of ferocity they’ll need to compete at the NBA’s highest level.
With the Warriors down 11 in the second quarter and Curry on the bench, backup big man Charles Bassey stifled a dunk attempt by Los Angeles center Walker Kessler. De’Anthony Melton grabbed the loose ball, triggering a fast break that was completed with his 30-foot lob to Yaxel Lendeborg, who slammed the ball through the net with 7:17 left in the quarter.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, the crowd’s roar ringing in his ears, immediately signaled for a timeout. It didn’t help. Five electrifying seconds sent pulses racing throughout Chase Center and among the Warriors.
“I thought that was play of the game for us,” coach Steve Kerr said Saturday.
The Lakers, over the rest of the quarter, shot 33.3 percent (4 of 12) from the field and committed four turnovers. They shot 37.8 percent in the second half while committing nine turnovers.
LA scored 42 points in the first 17 minutes, 53 over the last 31, which came after 6-foot-10 Bassey rejected 7-foot-2 Kessler – the guy who savaged the Warriors with 10 dunks in the season opener – at the rim.
“Not only is it huge for the energy of the game but I think it’s awesome as a team,” Georges Niang said. “Charles has been working his tail off. I was with Charles in Philadelphia, where he kind of had his first crack at the NBA.”
Bassey, who missed the first two games of the season with knee soreness, is a much more athletic but slightly less instinctive version of former Warrior Kevon Looney. He’s a smallish center who compensates with effort and fortitude.
And Bassey was the first leg of a pivotal sequence in Golden State’s 112-95 victory that evened its record at 3-3. Melton represented the second leg, rushing up the court and delivering a timely and accurate lob. Lendeborg was the final third, providing his lone highlight on a night when he stung himself with critiques.
“To have a guy that is battling injuries, fighting for his NBA life, and to go out there and impact the game like that,” Niang said, “and then finish it with an enormous dunk where Yaxel wasn’t clicking on all cylinders offensively – but he’s been awesome for us – just to have all that is the beauty of the game of basketball. It all connects.”
There will be many nights when the Warriors face a bigger, longer and younger team with the deeper pool of athleticism and talent. They’re in the process of figuring out what they must do to beat such teams. Their longtime No. 1 scorer is Curry, and they’ve identified Lendeborg as their No. 2. Draymond Green fills voids on both ends.
Golden State’s defense, however, is in its early stages – or at least they hope that is the case. Through six games, the Warriors are 22nd in defensive rating, with only four teams allowing more transition points and only two – the Suns and Kings – allowing a higher effective field-goal percentage.
Melton and Niang are becoming defensive forces. Bassey seems to enjoy defense, and Kerr made it clear that he deserves a bump in minutes. That alone could fill some of the gap that exists without Kristaps Porzingis while also making Draymond’s life a bit easier.
The defensive energy on display while limiting the potent LA offense to 57 points over the final three quarters is a start.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 15: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second time this week, the Wolves fly from Minnesota to take on a rested team on the tail end of a back-to-back. This is their fifth game in seven nights. They are down their A1 player in Anthony Edwards but have found a way to win without him. To add to their win total in San Antonio will take a full team effort with what they have left.
This is the first matchup between the Wolves and Spurs since their playoff bout this past May. The Spurs would continue past Minnesota on their march to the final round where they were summarily spanked by the New York Knicks (thanks Karl).
Karl-Anthony Towns L of New York Knicks vies with Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio Spurs during the final game 5 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 13, 2026. (Photo by Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly saw that the path through the Western Conference now curved through either Oklahoma City or San Antonio and their brand of swarming, hyper-athletic, in your jersey, perimeter defense. The Spurs being anchored by an All-Defense big man near the hoop.
As he did when building the Wolves to take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, he made a big trade that sent out precious draft capital and beloved players. The new vision was built around LaMelo Ball. An All-Star pass first point guard who can bend defenses in the half-court with either his passing or shooting.
In the past the Spurs tore up the hobbled Wolves by sending two defenders at Anthony Edwards who had little means of releasing the pressure in ways that punctured the defense. This left Victor Wembanyama clear to sit back and ward off the paint. The Wolves size that they had used to stifle the Nuggets was chop blocked.
Unfortunately we will not get to see Connelly’s full grand vision in action take on one of the very teams he built it for. As Edwards recovers from his successful arthroscopic surgery, the Wolves will instead have to contend with a team off to their own rocky start.
The Spurs are 3-2 with victories over the Dallas Mavericks without Cooper Flagg, the Sacramento Kings, and the Utah Jazz in overtime. At this writing they are middle of the league in shooting the basketball (tied at 18th in true shooting percentage at 56.2%), while boasting a top ten defense.
The Wolves have played well thus far against teams that lack consistent three point threats. Should the Spurs find some of their post-season form and hit from outside, it could get ugly fast.
Double Vision
San Antonio could employ the same defense they used in the playoffs against the Antless Wolves. Melo is a more capable ball handler and passer than Edwards and is better able to diagnose where to deliver the ball. What he is not, is someone who can handle a full night of physical bullying. Especially after playing a game 24 hours earlier.
Sending two players in any combination of Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, or Devin Vassell could rattle Ball’s cage enough to turn the Wolves over. I expect the Spurs will try to rough up Melo and frustrate him. If Rudy tries to screen him open, Wemby will hedge just enough to prevent the deep shot knowing he can catch up to anyone in the play diving to the rim.
The rest of the Wolves will need to move well off the ball and keep the Spurs guessing where and when Melo might look to release the defensive pressure.
Centre Bleu!
May 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first half of game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Combing the standing reach of Rudy Gobert (9’7”), Joan Beringer (9’3”), and Wemby (somewhere between 9’7”-9’10”) we could run nearly one third of court tip to toe with French center. Outside of Luke Kornet minutes, the entirety of this game figures to see two of those three on the court at all times protecting the rim.
Where Wemby has more outside game than either Rudy or Joan, all of them do their best work on offense closer to the basket. Thankfully Rudy got back in the scoring column against the Clippers. As the elder homme d’État, he’ll need to bide his time to score against Wemby, collecting offensive rebounds when Big Vic is pulled far enough away from the rim and slamming them home before the defense can recover.
As the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Wembanyama stalks around the basket like Jack Skellington on the hunt for a new holiday. What the Wolves, specifically Terrance Shannon Jr., discovered last year in the post-season, is that you have to go at the man in the middle. This will not always reap rewards, but if Minnesota can get past their perimeter defender they need to go at Victor and force him to make a play.
The more the Wolves can make Wemby exert himself on one end, the more he will lack on the other end by the fourth quarter. On the second night of a back-to-back, it is a big ask for Minnesota, but Wemby is at his worst in the fourth.
Wembanyama’s Fourth Quarters (2026-2027 season)
Games Played (GP): 4
Minutes Per Game (MPG): 5.3
Points Per Game (PPG): 1.5
Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 1.3
Assists Per Game (APG): 1.0
Blocks Per Game (BPG): 0.5
When Kornet is in, the Wolves need to redouble their efforts to get to the hoop. Serviceable last year, Kornet has yet to find a rhythm this season.
Sample size theatre but something to keep an eye on.
Spurs offensive and defensive net rating after 5 games with Vic on vs Vic off:
Victor On: 118.4 offensive rating per 100 possessions 98.6 defensive rating per 100 possessions +19.8 net rating
The Wolves who battled the Spurs last year will come out looking to prove something. Ball and Jonathan Kuminga will feed off that energy and look to help their teammates looking to steal back their pride. Minnesota’s outside shots fall and they take the lead weathering a few surges by the Spurs. It gets close in the third but by the fourth, Wemby is spent and the Wolves tuck San Antonio into bed early, leaving a night light on for fear of the big bad wolf.
Happy Howloween!
Our blogging buddies are over at Pounding the Rock! Be kind to our friends who cheer for the team on the river walk!
