A Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office spokesperson confirmed on Friday, Aug. 7 to USA TODAY Sports that King died June 7 of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which is a complication of long-term high blood pressure. Obesity was also cited as a contributing factor.
King died in his home in River Forest, Illinois. He was 59.
After his death, tributes poured in from all corners of the basketball world.
In the Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, which is northwest of downtown, a mural was painted to honor him.
The mural depicts a close-up of King’s face against a black background. To his right, a silhouette of the Bulls logo wears a crown, in homage to King’s last name.
One of King’s broadcast catchphrases – “Too big, too strong, too fast, too good” – is captioned to the left of the mural.
King played eight seasons in the NBA from 1989-97, five of which came with the Bulls. The sixth pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 draft, King was a 6-foot-11 big man who won three NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his first five seasons in Chicago.
He later played stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
King averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists across his 438 career games.
After his playing career ended, he joined the team’s broadcast crew in 2006 and became its color commentator. He was the voice that a generation of Bulls fans grew up hearing, even the reason some tuned in at all during a lot of lean years.
"Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said June 7 in a statement. "His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans."
A source told Torre, "It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap" and that the Clippers "were technically kind of funding it." Daktronics does not have a history of celebrity endorsements, and it's unclear what, if anything, Leonard may have done for the company, but it doesn't even do traditional consumer-facing advertising. The company's PR firm told Torre, "Daktronics doesn't have a deal with Kawhi right now." It said the league had contacted it about its ongoing investigation.
Through all of this, the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer have denied any wrongdoing and say they have nothing to hide. While they have yet to comment on this specific new allegation, here is part of the statement the Clippers gave to NBC Sports last month when the Leonard trade to Toronto was put on hold pending the conclusion of the investigation:
"For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff."
The Daktronics angle is a second offshoot of the league's investigation into Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration, a former Clippers sponsor. Aspiration was a green bank company that has since gone bankrupt, and its founder, Joe Sanberg, has been convicted of defrauding investors and is spending 14 months in prison for his crimes. The law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is conducting the investigation.
Clippers owner Ballmer was one of the investors in Aspiration. As previously pointed out on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and not long after, Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement deal with the company (he also signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers). Ballmer and the Clippers have said they introduced Leonard to Aspiration, but that was the extent of their involvement.
The initial focus of the investigation was on that $28 million endorsement deal (which later grew to include now-worthless stock options). Multiple former Aspiration employees told Torre this was a "no-show" endorsement designed to funnel more money to Leonard and circumvent the NBA salary cap. There is no evidence Leonard did any promotional work for the company (while photos of Leonard for a marketing campaign were found, there is no evidence those were used, nor did he make any public appearances or post anything on social media about Aspiration). It's worth noting that this kind of no-work endorsement was something that Leonard's adviser, business partner and uncle, Dennis Robertson, reportedly had requested of the Raptors and other teams during Leonard's 2019 free agency.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied all of this. From their statement to NBC Sports last month:
"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison."
There is no word from the league on when the investigation will conclude, but once it does, the NBA's CBA with the players union requires it — and any potential punishments — to be reviewed by an independent arbitrator, who will have a say over whether the punishments proposed by the league match the evidence. The arbitrator's ruling can be appealed.
Which is to say, there is a long way to go in this process (unless the Clippers and league reach a kind of plea bargain deal).
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Mike Gansey speaks as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce him as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A new executive always generates buzz. During his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mike Gansey was part of a front office that made notable additions like Dean Wade (now with the Sixers), Craig Porter and Jaylon Tyson. But you don’t truly know if an executive is the real deal until they’re in the driver’s seat.
Well, it turns out Gansey might be exactly that — the real deal. His first free agency oversaw one of the wildest offseasons in recent NBA memory: trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James to a minimum contract. And that’s just the headliners. Between the draft, trades and free agency, the Sixers brought in seven new faces.
Now that free agency has settled, how did Gansey perform in his debut? We’ll break down every new free agent addition, from the two-way contract players to LeBron himself, analyzing each one, and assigning proper grades based off of team and marketplace context.
Rayan Rupert (two-way)
Starting things off with the first two-way contract is Rupert. For those unfamiliar with him, he was the 43rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Rupert spent his first three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers where he saw very little use and playing time. He joined the Memphis Grizzlies via 10-day contract, eventually earning a two-way contract last season. There he saw an uptick in playing time. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.8 percent shooting from three in 16 games (30.9 minutes per game). Solid production, albeit on a small sample size.
Rupert’s game, to this point, is mostly a hypothetical due to the low sample size and young age. But what can you actually expect when he does play? Rupert boasts a tremendous frame at 6-foot-7 with a 7-3 wingspan to pair with it. Not only does he have true wing size, but he also has a stellar motor and legitimate basketball IQ. He’s the type of player you can throw out in the regular season at the end of the quarter to get a stop. If you believe in his Memphis tape, you have the makings of a coveted two-way player if the offense can catch up.
Now, he’ll take his talents to Philly. He’ll look to join the pipeline of two-way players who get extended run and earn his way onto a fulltime contract. Despite being in the NBA for multiple seasons, Rupert is still quite young at 22 years old.
Grade: B-
You simply cannot have enough defense and length alongside Tyrese Maxey and friends, and that’s exactly what Rupert is now. Two-way contracts are as low risk as it can be. There’s evidence to suggest Rupert’s best days are ahead of him. Some of the stuff he brings now can help this team too, even for a fringe signing. We’ll wait and see if the offensive skills can develop, but this is a solid, low-risk bet.
Caleb Love (two-way)
Moving onto their next two-way is one of the bigger names currently on a two-way contract in Love. For those who don’t know Love, he was a a notable draft prospect not that long ago in the 2024 draft. He had an extensive NCAA career, playing three years at North Carolina, later transferring to Arizona. Despite one of the more decorated NCAA careers, Love went undrafted in 2024, later joining the Portland Trail Blazers via two-way contract.
Unlike most undrafted, two-way contract first year players, Love put together a stellar rookie campaign that saw some heavy usuage. The Blazers used up all of his two-way elibility, heavily featuring him in the rotation. In 49 games, including one start, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 38.8 percent shooting and 31.8 percent from three.
At 6-foot-3 (without shoes) with a near 6-foot-9 wingspan, Love has good size for a guard. He’s capable of pulling up from anywhere on the court and scoring in bunches. What’ll make or break his career (and tenure here) will primarily be tied to his efficiency. The base numbers leave a lot to be desired, but if he can pull those numbers up there will be no shortage of teams that could use his floor spacing and scoring ability. The Sixers included.
Grade: A
There’s a legitimate argument Love is now the best player on a two-way contract. And if he isn’t the best, he’s for sure in the conversation. He brings a lot of skills that rookie Labaron Philon and Anfernee Simons also provide, but having a reserve guard in your back, back pocket to space the floor and provide volume shooting is fantastic work on the margins.
Ariel Hukporti
Hukporti’s arguably the most controversial add of the offseason, which says a lot about the offseason Gansey had rather than Hukporti himself. The Sixers inked him to a one-year deal relatively early in the free agency period. The controversial part wasn’t necessarily Hukporti, but rather the way they signed him. After corresponding moves, the Sixers chose to dip into their bi-annual exception to ink him to a $3.4 million deal. This exception, as the name suggests, is granted every two years after it’s used, meaning the Sixers won’t have access to it next offseason. Albeit a small exception, the Sixers used most of it on Hukporti.
Hukporti, a late second-round draft pick, has had an extensive career overseas, eventually signing with the New York Knicks and filling their third-string center role behind Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Hukporti wasn’t utilized much — in fact he played less than 500 minutes total last regular season. As expected, there were mixed results. Hukporti was efficient, rebounded at a high rate (per-36 numbers show 11.5 rebounds per game) and played within his role. However, he racked up quite a few fouls despite playing in limited time. Some of that comes from the role (teams don’t care about backup backup bigs fouling when need be), but it is a legitimate area to watch as the Sixers, presumably, deploy him into a larger role here.
The risk side of this is relatively low, but factoring in the context of the BAE is important. If this signing doesn’t pan out, the Sixers will have burned one of their limited financial resources on a signing that didn’t help. However, you can make the argument that this is exactly the type of bet they should be taking: a low number, short-term deal with a player under the age of 25. We also have to factor in the Sixers’ scouting success of the past in identifying talent in other situations. Gansey has shown he has an eye for finding diamonds in the rough, and Hukporti might not be an exception.
The back-up big market was surprisingly competitive, with several players widely considered reserve bigs inking some massive deals. There’s plenty of fluctuation in length, non/partial guarantees, etc., so I’ll keep things simple here by comparing AAV (average annual value) with Hukporti and a few names to come below:
Jusuf Nurkic: 2 years, $22 million ($11M AAV)
Day’Ron Sharpe: 2 years, $20 million ($10M AAV)
Moe Wagner: 2 years, $19 million ($9.5M AAV, mutual option in year 2)
Al Horford: 2 years, $13.9 million (~$7M AAV)
Jaxson Hayes: 2 years, $12 million ($6M AAV)
In particular, I’m a fan of Sharpe’s deal the most out of this group. While all of these players are established NBA talent, if you told me Hukporti could have a better season than a lot of these names, I don’t think it would be crazy. Nurkic and Horford are aging, and Wagner is coming off a pretty serious knee injury. Hayes has been a nightmare off the court.
Grade: C+
For now, Hukporti remains unproven, and Gansey is banking on increased opportunity and development to justify this signing. It’s a fine marginal gamble. The addition of LeBron James should help neutralize most of Hukporti’s weaknesses, allowing him to settle into a defensive-first, low-usage lob threat role. This will be an interesting one to revisit mid-season.
Dean Wade
The first and largest signing of the Sixers’ free agency period was a familiar name for Gansey: Wade, one of the players he helped grow into a surefire NBA player. Wade inked a four-year deal worth $39 million — $30 million of that is guaranteed, with most of the final year in 2029-2030 not guaranteed ($1.6 million of it is guaranteed). The average salary for this deal is just a hair under $9.7 million.
Wade, for those who aren’t familiar with him, has made a career out of embracing the “dirty work” of basketball. He frequently took the hardest perimeter assignment on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the base rebounding numbers looking low, I’d argue he’s an above average rebounder, and those numbers should trend up here in Philadelphia as he’ll play a lot more of the “power forward” position (unlike Cleveland, where he was used more as a “small forward”).
Defense is where Wade has made his calling card, but he’s also very capable offensively. He shoots well from the perimeter and makes smart reads. In particular, his assist-to-turnover ratio is stellar, albeit on small usage. The stats show Wade is a capable rotation player who should be able to hang on both ends of the floor.
Wade will bring defense, length, and good decision making behind the Sixers’ plethora of offensive options. In a vacuum, it’s a good signing from a fit perspective. But how does it stack up against some of the other bigger contracts handed out to forwards in this free agency class? There’s no shortage of names to compare:
John Collins: 3 years, $51M ($17M AAV — two of his three years have guarantee triggers)
Tobias Harris: 2 years, $31M ($15.5M AAV)
Rui Hachimura: 2 years, $28M ($14M AAV)
Sandro Mamukelashvili: 4 years, $52M ($13M AAV)
While all of those players differ from Wade in a variety of what they bring and offer to a team, it sure makes Wade’s contract look good in comparison. And you can make the argument that Wade is the best defender out of that group. Factoring in the top of the talent pool, the Sixers got the best fitting forward on the lowest number — which makes this signing look very strong on paper from a production standpoint.
Grade: A-
Wade might not be as talented as the players mentioned above, but the fit is undeniable. With an abundance of top-end talent, you need guys like him who embrace the dirty work, play defense, and fill the gaps. Evidence suggests Wade should scale up nicely, and he’ll get that opportunity in Philly. Four years is a long commitment for a player like Wade, but it effectively functions as a three-year deal. So even if it doesn’t work out, the Sixers converted a good chunk of their MLE into a legitimate need. The contract is also tradeable if necessary. That said, Wade could end up playing more rotation minutes than most expect. The Sixers will need his defense and corner-three shooting ability on a nightly basis.
Anfernee Simons
Wade was one of the easier signings to predict, so we’ll take things over to Simons who was one of the bigger surprises they’ve added this offseason. Using the rest of the mid-level exception, they inked Simons to a two-year, $12.2M deal. The second year is a player option that is worth $6M.
Simons had one of the more under-the-radar seasons last year. Some of that might’ve been because of how it actually went down. Simons started the season on the Boston Celtics and played well there, averaging 14.2 points while shooting 44% from the field and 39.5% from three on high volume in 49 games for the Celtics. He was a big reason behind their early season success playing in a supercharged sixth man role. So, what happened?
Simons, on an expiring deal, was shipped out at the trade deadline for two reasons. The first of which was to get under the luxury tax. The second of which was to bulk up their center position ahead of the postseason. So the Celtics sent Simons to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic. Simons would play out the rest of the season on the rebuilding Bulls, who to that point had a true glut of guards post-deadline. He would play a handful of games before being shut down, after re-aggrativiating a wrist injury he suffered in training camp with the Celtics. In a way, his season was forgotten cause he didn’t finish the year with a Celtics team that exceeded expectations. Make no mistake though, he was a big part of their early season success.
Simons is an intriguing add, strictly for offensive needs. He’s a gifted scorer and shooter — in fact, he’s one of the better floor spacers and high volume shooters in the NBA. His gravity metrics test strongly, and for a team that was in the basement on three point makes he’ll fill a clear need.
Anfernee Simons' top 10 stats showcase his 1v1 play, 3-point shooting, and the attention he's drawing from defenses this season.
Ranks and percentiles are among 2025-26 rotation players.
Defensively, I wouldn’t expect much, if anything, from Simons. His defensive numbers are some of the worst in the league. That said, he shouldn’t be asked to do too much defending here. And during his time in Boston, he did try on that end, which does count for something. It wasn’t for a lack of effort.
Comparable reserve guards who received contracts this offseason include the following:
Gary Trent Jr.: 4 years, $64 million ($16M AAV) – nothing to see here, NBA!
Quentin Grimes: 4 years, $60 million ($15M AAV)
Collin Sexton: 2 years, $19 million ($9.5M AAV)
Marcus Smart: 2 years, $13 million ($6.5M AAV)
Jose Alvarado: 3 years, $14 million ($4.7M AAV)
Some of those sure stick out… but let’s not get off track.
For a hair over $6M per season, I think the Sixers did well here. The rest of the market backs that up. In particular, it matches well with what Smart got in Houston. He’s a different player, obviously. Smart is more of a defensive minded guard than anything, and Simons is the opposite of that. But both of these guys are skilled on one end of the floor, and ended up getting almost the same amount of money. There’s an argument to make that Simons is the best player on this list, yet he’s missing an extra zero.
Grade: A-
The only thing holding me back from giving this a straight up ‘A’ would be the questionable fit alongside rookie Philon. Both fill a similar need, and have similar strengths and weaknesses. That could make this addition redundant. However, for the price point, the Sixers locked up a proven high volume shooter. He should also ease any early growing pains with the Sixers’ rookie.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a top theoretical Sixer for as long as I can remember, ranging from the days of balloon contract debates involving JJ Redick and himself, all the way through a few summers ago when the Sixers had an abundance of cap space. Now, KCP will actually join the Sixers, coming off a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. While Memphis might be paying him almost $20 million, the Sixers will only be paying him the minimum this season on a one-year deal.
So what can Sixer fans expect? KCP has built a long, successful career as a coveted 3-and-D player. The base numbers aren’t glamorous, but you’re getting a guy who knows exactly what his role is and plays within it.
After several productive years in Denver, recent memory hasn’t been kind to KCP. He signed a three-year deal with Orlando, which yielded mixed results. He underwhelmed and was shipped to Memphis the following summer in the deal that brought Desmond Bane to Orlando. With the rebuilding Grizzlies, his numbers have continued to decline. He went from 40.6 percent from three in Denver, to 34.2 percent in Orlando, to 31.6 percent in Memphis over the span of the last three seasons.
Some of that decline can be attributed to age, but I also think both environments were just offensively limited. Orlando hasn’t ranked in the top 10 offensively in years, and Memphis rarely had a consistent star or offensive gravity during KCP’s time there. The Sixers have no shortage of talent, and that gravity should open up cleaner looks for him off the catch.
It’s hard to quantify defense with any advanced metrics, but I reviewed some of his defensive film in Memphis, and the eye test looks better than I expected. That team wasn’t playing for anything apart from draft positioning, but I think KCP can still hold his own defensively and won’t get completely embarrassed on the tougher assignments the Sixers will throw his way. I don’t think he’s completely washed in that regard.
Grade: B
KCP’s best days very well might be behind him, but this is a good bet for the Sixers to take at minimum salary. He has proven success with LeBron and has been a quality player alongside elite talent elsewhere. Similar to Wade, the Sixers need low-usage defensive guys, and if KCP can hit shots at the rate we’ve seen before, it’ll be hard to keep him off the court.
LeBron James
The Sixers signing King James has marked one of the worst days of my life…
…is what I’d say if I needed more clicks on this.
In all seriousness, the Sixers made what could be the biggest free agent signing in all of our lives, signing LeBron to a veteran’s minimum contract in a 1+1 structure, with a player option and 15% trade kicker.
Despite being 41 years old, LeBron is still a very good NBA player and should fit well with this group. In particular, he should help Maxey considerably by getting him off ball much more and into catch-and-shoot situations, which statistically should elevate his averages. LeBron also fits well with the starters: Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown, all of whom ranked towards the top in transition points. The Sixers should get plenty of run-out opportunities and have no shortage of options when running. He’ll also alleviate plenty of pressure off Embiid.
There will be an adjustment period for sure, but LeBron will come here to operate in a point guard role offensively. He will make life considerably easier for Maxey and Edgecombe. There are some fit and defensive concerns with this group as a whole, but betting on talent and the Sixers’ newfound depth to fill the gaps is a good bet.
Grade: A+
There’s a case that every single contract LeBron has taken has been an underpay in terms of production, name brand, and championship pedigree. So if that’s an underpay, what does it make LeBron on a minimum contract?
This signing took the Sixers from an already great team on paper and made them surefire contenders for the upcoming NBA season. This group has to put it together, and there will be growing pains from time to time. But if LeBron wants to sign with your NBA team, let alone for a minimum contract, you do it and don’t think twice. Anything less than an A+ for this would be frankly outrageous.
The final report card
For the most part, this is the type of report card you’d want to bring home to your parents. Gansey’s additions are mostly A’s and B’s, with Hukporti representing the lone C+ you can justify.
I didn’t have high expectations for Gansey in his first year as an executive. I wanted this team to get younger and look toward the future. In a way, they did that, adding Philon through the draft, along with Hukporti, Love and Rupert, all under 25. The Sixers worked with limited resources, primarily the mid-level exception, which they converted into two proven rotation plays in Wade and Simons. Then they added LeBron James, which speaks for itself.
This was one of the strongest debut seasons we’ve seen from an NBA executive. Most front offices evaluate whether their team got better, stayed the same, or got worse. For the Sixers, the answer is unquestionably yes. They got significantly better with Brown and LeBron, but Gansey did excellent work on the margins — an area I’ve been wanting to see addressed for a long time.
The team has to execute and things have to translate on the court, but it’s clear: Gansey’s first free agency was a massive success.
Kawhi Leonard attends a news conference July 7 when former teammate Kyle Lowry signed a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press via AP)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had a second lucrative undisclosed sponsorship agreement with a company doing business with the team, Pablo Torre reported Thursday night on his podcast.
Scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, which built the $100-million video board at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome, hired Leonard to a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal, according to Torre. The podcast host found no evidence that the All-NBA forward did any work for the company.
The details are similar to the $2- million endorsement deal Leonard had with Aspiration, a now-defunct environmental banking company that had a 23-year, $300-million sponsorship deal with the Clippers. Steve Ballmer, the team’s owner, invested $60 million into Aspiration, triggering allegations that the payment to Leonard circumvented the NBA salary cap.
That deal is at the center off an ongoing, almost year-long NBA investigation. Requests Friday for comment from Leonard’s agent and the Clippers were not immediately answered.
The salary cap limits what teams can spend on player payroll to ensure parity and prevent the wealthiest teams from outspending smaller-market teams to acquire the best players. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has called attempts to circumvent it a “cardinal sin.”
The topic was raised on Torre’s podcast by a person identified as an “anonymous high-level source under contract for Intuit Dome.” The person alleged in an interview that the sponsorship deal was “1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap. It was funneling money from the Clippers through Daktronics back to Kawhi.”
The investigation into the Aspiration allegations has grown in scope, the Athletic reported three weeks ago. In addition to attempting to determine whether Aspiration’s payment to Leonard violated NBA salary-cap rules, the probe conducted by high-powered New York law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is examining Leonard’s deal with Daktronics.
If the NBA determines that a salary-cap violation occurred, the Clippers could be fined and stripped of first-round picks. Ballmer also could be penalized and Leonard’s contract could be voided. He has one year and $50.3 million left on a three-year, $149.5-million deal he signed before the 2024-25 season.
The endorsement deal with Daktronics raised suspicion because the company doesn’t do business with the general public and doesn’t need prominent athletes or celebrities to pitch its products.
“Daktronics was conservative to a fault for the 20-plus years I was there,” a former employee told Torre. “I remember asking early on why we didn’t do more traditional advertising and promotion to increase brand recognition. I was told that since it’s B2B and not a consumer product, it didn’t make sense to advertise that way.”
Asked whether Leonard had an endorsement deal, Daktronics pointed Torre to a crisis management firm whose spokesman told Hunterbrook Media, “My understanding is Daktronics doesn’t have a deal with Kawhi right now.” Asked for clarification, the spokesman said, “I don’t know what the company wants to say, or can say, given the Wachtell investigation and all that.”
Daktronics is a leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing digital LED display technology and audio systems. Nearly 600 clients are listed on the company website, including numerous NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL teams. Other clients include several airports, and Daktronics built the LAX Time Tower, a 72-foot, four-sided interactive digital media structure located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a slew of draft picks, but the teams put the deal on hold pending the outcome of the investigation.
Leonard would not talk about the allegations during the 2025-26 NBA season because the investigation was ongoing. He brushed it off during media day last September.
“None of us did … wrongdoing and, yeah, that’s it,” he said. “We invite the investigation.”
Almost a year later, the investigation continues. Silver has expressed a desire for a resolution, saying in June that it “needs to be wrapped up before next season.” The NBA regular season will begin in October.
Salary-cap circumvention first surfaced with Leonard during his free agency in 2019 after he led the Raptors to the NBA championship. Negotiations with the Lakers ceased when Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, requested a house, the use of private aircraft, guaranteed off-court earnings and an ownership stake in the team, according to Dan Woike of the Athletic. The Lakers informed Leonard’s representatives that those requests violated the NBA collective bargaining agreement and Leonard eventually signed with the Clippers, where he played the last seven seasons.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Love #42 of the Utah Jazz talk before the game on November 18, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The free agency dust is finally starting to settle in Sixers land after a blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and the signing of LeBron James. Thus far, the Sixers have signaled they’re heading into the season with their current group at 14 roster spots. Now, we’re getting an idea of what’s to come, with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and other insiders reporting on the league’s top remaining free agents.
Per McMenamin, the Sixers “have been in contact” with Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, since signing James. He also shared that Love has interest in pairing with James, but has also maintained a strong relationship with Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy, with whom he played last season. As things stand currently, the Jazz roster is full.
The Sixers could bring Love aboard, albeit at a later date. They lack the cap space below the first apron to fill their 15th and final roster spot as currently constructed. However, they can sign Love to a prorated contract in mid-December without any roster turnover if they choose.
This isn’t the first time Love has had interest in joining the Sixers. In February of 2023, the Sixers were among the final two teams he decided between fresh off a buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Love would go on to sign with the Miami Heat. He spent two and a half years there before being traded to Utah in 2025 in a multi-team deal that brought Norman Powell to Miami. Love spent all of last season with the rebuilding Utah Jazz, averaging 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 39.7 percent shooting and 37.3 percent from three in 16.6 minutes across 37 games. He started five games.
At age 37, Love’s best years are certainly behind him. However, you could argue that the Sixers could do worse with their final roster spot. Love can still shoot the three and is an effective rebounder (his per-36 rate was 12.6 rebounds per game). With the backup center spot occupied by Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti, he’d bring a different skillset to the mix if the Sixers wanted floor spacing over rim protection and athleticism. By all accounts, he’s also a good presence in the locker room, beyond his relationship with James.
For now, it appears unlikely Love will join the Sixers due to roster and salary cap implications. However, there’s a chance we could see this move come to fruition mid-season as a straight-up signing or if the Sixers make another transaction within the next few months if Love remains unsigned.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 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
For the final roundtable, I asked the staff to come up with a wins prediction. We will all forget about this in the Fall, but as of today this is where we stand.
Ian Inangelo
Even without Brown, I think this Celtics team will have similar success to the team last season. This team is built to have success around Jayson Tatum who could put up a MVP level season next year. The depth around him is still the same minus Paul George who could see new life in a different situation and in a system that suits his skill sets better. We could also potentially see a leap from Pritchard and a bounce back from White which will make the offense even better. My final conclusion: 52 Wins.
Trevor Hass
The Celtics have eclipsed 50 wins each of the last five seasons, and that trend will continue this season. There’s no reason to think the number will increase or decrease significantly. I say they go down slightly from last year’s 56 and end up 53-29 to earn the No. 4 seed. If Paul George stays healthy and plays at a high level, I could see that number going up slightly.
Steve Hooper
The Eastern conference has leveled up in a big way. That means I don’t believe we will get near that 56 win mark again. I think 49 wins is about where I land right now.
Jake Issenberg
The Celtics have been a regular season wins machine under Joe Mazzulla. Never falling below 56 wins. I will say it again for those in the back. Last season the Celtics ranked second in the entire league in offense, while also ranking fifth in defense. The Celtics followed this up by addressing their glaring hole at back up big man by adding Mitchell Robinson, they get Jayson Tatum back, a guy who was selected to four straight 1st Team All NBA teams, and added Paul George who is still really good at basketball. To win in today’s league you need depth, defense, shooting, and top end talent. The Celtics tick every box. In last year’s Eastern Conference this team would have cracked 60 wins comfortably. Given the improved depth of the conference, I’m pegging this team for 57 wins.
Nate Moskowitz
I’m predicting 58 wins. That feels slightly high as I type it, but I believe in the system to always stack wins in the regular season. Tatum is back with a healthy offseason. Robinson improves the big rotation. Hopefully you can get enough games out of Paul George, and when he’s out, internal development should help to improve on their record from last season.
Jeff Clark
I don’t think you can do a simple math problem using last year as a starting point and reducing wins for Brown and adding them for Tatum and Mitchell Robinson or whatever. The whole calculus has changed around the league has a lot less incentive to tank. I think wins will be a lot harder to come by. On the other hand, the Celtics and Joe Mazzulla’s system are very good at cranking out regular season wins. Tatum will have something to prove. The young guys will all be looking to level up and will simply out-work a lot of opponents. So I think I’ll go with a conservative but healthy 53 wins. (I may talk myself into a higher number by training camp, but ultimately the season will be measured on the playoffs.)
Grant Burfeind
I’ll go with 55 wins. This roster is obviously going to look different, but I still think there’s a lot working in Boston’s favor. Joe Mazzulla has established an identity with this team, and everyone walking through the door knows exactly what’s expected. Tatum gets the offense to himself, Paul George gives them another proven shot creator and defender, Mike Conley feels like the perfect steady veteran to help keep everything organized over an 82-game season. I could keep going but it’s a long offseason so need to save some words for later.
I also think this team is going to defend at a ridiculously high level. White, Robinson, George, Tatum, the young kids…that’s a lot of length, rim protection and defensive IQ. They may not score quite as effortlessly as last year’s group, but I don’t think they’ll need to. Fifty-five wins feels about right. And if that comes with Banner 19 instead of 56 regular-season wins (last year’s total)? Sign me up.Robby Fletcher [4:08 PM] Boston surprised everyone (myself included) with their 56 wins last year. This season, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see them pass 50 wins again.
The East is more competitive this time around, and Boston has new additions that need to prove they can stay available for the majority of the season, but they have depth, balanced scoring and a central star in Jayson Tatum that will have the ball in his hands more than he ever has in his NBA career. This is a good team. I’m going with 53 wins, a slight tick down from last year but a result that should get them in the top-4 of the standings.
And if you’re wondering, yes, these guys will hit on the 40-20 rule.
Mike Dynon
56 wins. Keeping it simple. They did that with only one Jay (mostly), why can’t they do it again with the other Jay? There’s also room for improvement with Tatum (being 100% healed), Hauser/White shooting (return to normal), growth of all the young guys, and Mitchell Robinson improving an already strong defense. I hope to be pleasantly surprised by Paul George.
Rich Jensen
I’ll go with 57 wins; While it’s true the rest of the East hasn’t sat still, the C’s haven’t either. They have a relatively inexperienced roster that is still on a path of year-over-year improvement.
Bobby Manning
I’ll come in lower at 52 wins, still in line for a top-four seed and maybe even higher if there’s greater competition throughout the conference. That’s taking into account the extraordinary health the Celtics had on their way to 56 last year, the tanking that undoubtedly aided it as well alongside the expected absence of Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and even Jayson Tatum at times for load management. This team still has the depth to dive deep into the 50s, but lessons learned from last season will probably lead the team to taking a longer outlook toward April rather than shooting for the highest seed possible.
Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker front drives past Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic during the 2024-2025 NBA regular season match between Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns in Los Angeles, the United States, March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ringo Chiu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
We are a week away from the NBA schedule release, according to recent reporting from NBA insider Marc Stein. Which means it’s time to look ahead to the most anticipated Phoenix Suns matchups. Sure, we don’t know the schedule, but we know who the opponents are, so let’s take a crack at projecting the spiciest matchups based on last season’s games and Phoenix’s history against other franchises.
Building off some exciting games in the Luka Doncic Lakers era
Playing five times last year, the Phoenix Suns faced only the Thunder more often than the Lakers last season (if you include the postseason, 9 times against OKC last season). In five matchups, the Suns took the season series 3-2, with two of the five games coming down to the final possession.
With LeBron James on the Sixers, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic become the matchup’s headliners, just as they were when Doncic was on the Mavericks and the two built a rivalry after Dallas beat the Suns in a dramatic second-round series in 2022.
Divisional rivals, the franchises have met 13 times in the postseason, with the most recent matchup coming in 2021, when Phoenix won in six games. After a second straight 50-win season, Los Angeles revamped its roster around Dončić and Austin Reaves, signing Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.
Against Booker, Doncic consistently brings his best, averaging three points per game more than his career average. Booker also scores more than his career average when he plays against Luka.
Can the Suns have more success against the champs?
The Suns swept their season series against the Knicks last season. While Finals MVP Jalen Brunson didn’t play in the second matchup, when he suited up for the first contest, strong play from Devin Booker late and a 20-point first half from Dillon Brooks catapulted the team to victory over the eventual NBA champions.
Phoenix went 7-11 against the top three seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences during the regular season and was swept by the West’s top-seeded Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks were the only one of those six teams against which the Suns had a winning record.
Despite big man Mitchell Robinson leaving to join the Celtics, New York’s roster remains mostly unchanged, with the team retaining key free agents Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson. The team’s performance against the defending champions could potentially be used as an indicator of its ceiling during the 2026-27 campaign.
Looking for revenge against Portland
For nearly the entirety of the regular season, the Suns sat as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, but they didn’t finish seventh despite having the West’s seventh-best record. Phoenix has Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers to thank for that.
In the West’s 7/8 Play-In game back in April, the Blazers stormed back from a double-digit deficit to capture the seventh seed from Phoenix in one of the most memorable Play-In games ever. All-Star Deni Avdija scored 41 points for Portland, outdueled Booker, and forced Phoenix to play a second Play-In game to secure its playoff spot.
Along with getting revenge on Portland for snatching the seventh seed and extra rest from Phoenix before the playoffs started, the Suns will have another reason to seek revenge: newly acquired Ja Morant hit a game-winner against them last year as a member of the Grizzlies. Victories against Portland next season would be get-back opportunities against a squad and key players who were responsible for heartbreaking losses.
Of course, every season produces a handful of games that nobody circles in August, but everyone remembers by April. That’s the beauty of an 82-game schedule. Storylines emerge where you least expect them. Still, these are the matchups that immediately stand out. Rivalries, revenge, measuring sticks, and familiar faces in new places. The schedule release will give us the dates, but the intrigue is already there. Now it’s simply a matter of seeing which of these games helps define the Suns’ next chapter.
Jack Kayil drives to the rim during the Knicks-Mavericks Summer League game on July 17, 2026.
Jack Kayil is officially a draft-and-stash prospect.
The Knicks’ second-round pick (No. 39) is heading back to Europe.
He signed a new five-year contract with Alba Berlin, the German team he played with last year.
“Last season was super successful and I enjoyed a lot — that’s why I’m all the more excited to stay in Berlin,” Kayil said in a statement, originally posted in German. “Can’t wait to pick up where we left off. The NBA is and remains a big dream of mine — and ALBA is the right place for me to continue that path. The club has already helped me take the decisive steps in this direction. I’m just happy and grateful to be back in this incredible environment.”
Jack Kayil drives to the rim during the Knicks-Mavericks Summer League game on July 17, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks will retain Kayil’s draft rights.
The 20-year-old Kayil was with the Knicks at Summer League, where he expressed his desire to stay with the team rather than be stashed overseas.
“My goal is to play in the NBA,” Kayil said. “That’s why I went into the draft. …It’s not my decision, so I’m just trying to show myself in the best way, and it is what it is. I’m super happy I also got drafted, and we’ll see what happens in the next days, weeks, whatever.”
Jack Kayil signed a new contract with Alba Berlin. Getty Images
The Knicks seemingly didn’t feel like he was ready to contribute next year, though.
Kayil likely would have had to sign a two-way deal and spend time developing in the G League.
He averaged 8.8 points — on 34.2 percent shooting from the field and 22.7 percent shooting from 3-point range — along with 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in the four Summer League games he played in Las Vegas.
A playmaking point guard, Kayil helped Alba Berlin win the Bundesliga championship last year — recording 10 points, three rebounds and a steal in the title game against Bayern Munich.
“Skillwise, he’s still a work in progress, but his athleticism and toughness give him a chance someday soon to be an NBA player,” Fran Fraschilla, ESPN’s college and overseas basketball analyst, previously told The Post of Kayil. “I’m guessing that the Knicks think he needs a little bit more seasoning. I would be surprised if he was on the roster, but he wouldn’t embarrass himself. But he’s not ready to be a contributor on an NBA championship team.
“He’s improving. He’s headed toward being an NBA player. I don’t know that he’s there yet, but he certainly made a big step this year, winning a championship. He was a focal point as a 20-year-old on a team with men, grown-ups.”
The Knicks still have all three of their two-way contract slots available.
Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers are still under investigation for an alleged “no-show” agreement with a now defunct company, Aspiration, to funnel extra compensation to the player in a deal viewed as salary cap circumvention.
But another company may have had similar, previously undisclosed dealings with Leonard, according to a report by the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out.”
Daktronics, the company that designed the Clippers' video board inside the Intuit Dome where they play home games, reportedly had an agreement and partnership with Leonard.
Torre's podcast cites multiple anonymous sources inside the Clippers and Intuit Dome project. A person who was previously under contract with the Intuit Dome project alleged the sponsorship "was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap. It was funneling money from the Clippers through Daktronics back to Kawhi."
USA TODAY reached out to the Clippers for comment on Thursday evening.
The podcast asked Daktronics to confirm if Leonard had an endorsement deal, but the company directed them to a spokesperson for a crisis management firm who said, “My understanding is Daktronics doesn’t have a deal with Kawhi right now.”
Asked for clarification, the spokesman said “I don’t know what the company wants to say, or can say, given the Wachtell investigation and all that,” referencing the investigation into the alleged Aspiration deal.
Leonard’s seven-year tenure with the Clippers appeared to be over this summer as he was going to be traded to the Toronto Raptors on June 30.
That trade has since been halted because of the investigation that involves Leonard, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Leonard's uncle/advisor Dennis Robertson. The Clippers would’ve received forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap in the trade.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously told reporters in mid-July that his timeline for the investigation to conclude would be by the end of the summer.
“As I've said previously, we all have an interest in wrapping this up,” Silver said. “... I am hopeful it will wrap up this summer and that will continue to be the goal here."
The investigation is being run by an external law firm but the findings will be presented to Silver, who will then decide on any potential discipline.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, provided some of the last public comments from the organization regarding the investigation on June 23.
“I can’t comment on the specifics of the investigation, but what I can say is we did not do what we are accused of doing,” Frank said. “The investigation has had no impact on how we go about our business. We just continue to go about our business as normal.”
Knicks second-round pick Jack Kayil announced on Friday that he will play this coming season overseas rather than sign an NBA contract to join New York.
"The NBA remains my big dream – and Alba is just the right place for me to continue on this path," said Kayil, selected 39th overall by the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The 20-year-old guard showed promise during the NBA Summer League. But it was always going to be difficult for New York to sign Kayil to a standard NBA contract while also remaining under the second apron in team salary. Kayil was eligible for a two-way contract, but he would have had to pay the buyout of his contract with Alba Berlin and also would have had to accept a significant pay cut to sign the two-way contract.
The plan heading into free agency was that Kayil would remain overseas this season to develop his game. The benefit of a large playing role overseas – and the Knicks’ financial limitations – outweighed the opportunity to be in the NBA this season.
With Kayil heading overseas, the Knicks have just 13 players under contract. They also have three spots for two-way players.
New York’s other second round pick – Tyler Nickel – also remains unsigned. There are reports that Nickel is considering going back to college, but league sources say he is all in on starting his pro career. Nickel is eligible to return to college in 2026-27 thanks to a recent ruling allowing players in Nickel’s class to return to school.
Nickel could presumably make much more money in NIL deals than he would make on a two-way contract. The Knicks could sign Nickel to a standard NBA deal via the second-round exception, but if they did that, they would not have enough money to sign a third center on a veteran’s minimum contract.
The Knicks targeted Mavs center Moussa Cisse for this role, but the Mavs matched New York’s offer to Cisse in restricted free agency. Prior to signing Cisse to an offer sheet, New York pursued multiple trades for centers.
In recent weeks, the Knicks have also been in touch with several free agent centers who could fill the third center role. Logic tells you that if they wanted to sign one of these centers on a guaranteed one-year deal, the Knicks would have done so already.
The Knicks have enough room to add eight players on training camp contracts. If they don’t trade for a third center or sign a center who gets unexpectedly waived due to a roster crunch, you can expect the Knicks to bring in multiple veteran centers to compete for the third center spot.
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 10: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball off against Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on February 10, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a big part of me that dreaded LeBron James’ return to the Eastern Conference. The years of LeBronto, and the idea of James in his twilight years snuffing out the Raptors’ playoff hopes in infancy was almost more than I could bear.
Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Embiid. Lord have mercy.
But then, Shams Charania made something clear: LeBron James would not just be playing power-forward for the Sixers. Rather, he’ll be slotting in at the point guard for at least a significant amount of time. This means that the 76ers’ lineup may actually be James, Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, and Embiid. This is a game changer. And not just for the 76ers, but for the Raptors as well.
Shams Charania on LeBron James’ role in Philadelphia:
“I do expect him to play a significant time as that initiator, the game manager, the point guard of this team that sets the table for Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe” pic.twitter.com/ZDl78YqJ4X
People deemed successors to LeBron have frequently fallen short in some way. Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson both haven’t quite developed into the archetype of unstoppable point forward, but I would argue that Scottie Barnes is closer to what LeBron is archetypically — a do-it-all forward who rebounds and passes as well as scores — than any of these score-first bigs that usually get compared to LeBron.
Since the end of the regular season, I’ve been an advocate of giving Scottie Barnes official point guard status; in a short sample size at the end of the year, Barnes showed that he was more than capable of dishing out assists as needed when Immanuel Quickley was out. In his Instagram bio, Scottie still proclaims himself to be a “6’9 PG”, and I wonder why this hasn’t been made explicit yet?
As Scottie is breaking out as a developing scorer and as one of the league’s premier defenders, I feel like his ability to facilitate an offence shouldn’t be thought of as an afterthought, lumping him into the “point forward” group. LeBron James, who famously played every position at least once in his career, saw one of his highest highs playing PG for the LA Lakers in 2020, leading the league in assists with 10.2 per game, and coming second in MVP voting. That was, in my view, one of his finest seasons in a very storied career. Am I saying that slotting Scottie in at the one is going to be what finally turns him into a superstar?
Yes. I think it just might.
Scottie Barnes is not LeBron James — and really, no one is — but allowing Barnes to focus on parts of the game that feel most natural to him could allow him to develop even more effectively than having him try to straddle multiple roles. The Raptors already understand that part of the key to unlocking Barnes is to remove some of the scoring load from his shoulders, but signs are pointing to a further shift of responsibilities being the thing that could change the trajectory of this team for the better.
The forward at point guard experiment doesn’t always work, and there is a need for true facilitators. But Scottie Barnes is not just any forward. With the Sixers paving the way, will success with LeBron as floor general make the Raptors reconsider how they’ve been using Barnes?
Despite a bummer of an ending, it was obviously a wonderful year for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama morphed into arguably the best player in the world, and proved that he could drive winning at the highest levels by leading his team to an upset victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama turns 23 years old in the middle of next season, and he’ll be the presumptive favorite to win his first MVP. Only the Thunder are ahead of the Spurs in our way-too-early power rankings for the 2026-27 campaign.
The scariest thing about Wembanyama is he still has so much room to get better. To me, the biggest thing that would help him level up again is figuring out a signature shot in the mid-range that he can always lean on when he doesn’t want to chuck a three and can’t get all the way to the rim. In the playoffs, Wemby took a decent amount of mid-range shots, with 28% of his field goal attempts coming on non-rim two-pointers. The problem is he only made 35% of those shots. Wemby obviously has good touch — he’s an 82% career free throw shooter, and 34% career three-point shooter — so I tend to think he can get a lot more accurate from the mid-range in time.
A video circulated from the Spurs’ offseason workouts, and it should terrify the rest of the NBA. Wembanyama might be figuring out his mid-range game in the most unstoppable possible style: by mastering Dirk Nowitzki’s go-to fadeaway.
Victor Wembanyama busting out the "Dirk Fade" in practice 🔥
There’s a world where that shot could be as unstoppable as a skyhook for Wembanyama. It’s going to be impossible to contest, and it gives him enough room to square his shoulders to the basket for a shot. The fact that Wemby is now strong enough to win the positioning battle on the ground against his man only makes this even more enticing. If Wembanyama can hit this with any consistency, it’s going to give him even more scoring versatility for when the game slows down in the playoffs.
Wemby could still be a few years away from his offensive peak. Right now, it feels like he’s about as dominant defensively as anyone has ever been. It’s easy to imagine Wembanyama and Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle reaching the NBA Finals year after year, but the reality is that the NBA hasn’t even had a repeat conference champ since the 2019 Golden State Warriors. Everyone thought LeBron James would be in the Finals every year after he made it for the first time in 2007. It turns out James had to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat before he made his next trip in 2011 … where he lost to Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks.
Wembanyama should be adding to his offensive arsenal every offseason. Beginning to integrate a Dirk fade into his game would be the best possible start.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: David Robinson attends the game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Thursday, Spurs legend David Robinson turned 61. That’s also 39 years since he moved to San Antonio. Nearly four decades in The Alamo City. Robinson was originally drafted in 1987 as the first overall pick, but because of his active-duty commitment to the United States Navy, he did not suit up until the 1989-1990 season.
Over his illustrious career, The Admiral accrued many awards starting in 1990 with the NBA Rookie of the Year. He was the league’s rebounding leader (1991), blocks leader (1992), and scoring champion (1994) on his way to picking up the 1995 NBA Most Valuable Player award. He also picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1992, just one of five players to all-time to receive MVP and DPOY during his career.
Robinson is one of nine players to ever score more than 70 points. His 71-point game came on April 24, 1994.
Robinson is also one of four players in recorded NBA history to capture the elusive quadruple-double, tallying 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks on February 17, 1994.
The Admiral displayed the greatest humility in 1997 as he relinquished his leadership of the San Antonio Spurs to Tim Duncan. Together they brought in the Spurs first championship in 1999. Robinson continued to hand the baton until 2003, when the Spurs next generation was poised to take over.
Robinson had the rare distinction of going out on top. In 2003, he played his final NBA game. It was Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and the Spurs won their second title. The game took place on Father’s Day, June 15, and he walked off the court for the last time with a trophy by his side.
In addition to his NBA accolades, Robinson was a member of the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team” and won two gold medals, the second coming in 1996.
Since retiring, Robinson has continued to make San Antonio his home. He’s been an ambassador, a philanthropist, and a leader in educational pursuits. He can be seen dining at local restaurants, hosting events, and making appearances throughout the city. He remains a fixture at Spurs games. He’s had seats in the second row for years, but during the 2026 postseason, he moved around and sat with other former members of the Spurs as they made their first Finals run in a dozen years.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 19: David Robinson and Tim Duncan attends a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Robinson help set the tone for Spurs Culture. He brought a grandness and composure to the team, the city, and the sport. And he is the ever present reminder that the Spurs stand tall and have class.
Happy belated birthday, Big Dave.
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Out of all the players participating in Cleveland Browns training camp this offseason, Denzel Boston has certainly received the most excitement from both local and national media members. Between his physical tools and playmaking abilities, expectations are soaring for him going into the 2026 season. But is the conversation surrounding him warranted?
Already in camp, he has shown he excels at winning contested catches and creating mismatches against the defensive backs. Media members who have watched him every day at training camp have been astonished by how hard it has been for the defense to cover him.
A quick smattering of the hype surrounding Boston, via social media:
Friend at Browns practice today said watching Denzel Boston was a religious experience
🔸Denzel Boston 🔸Rookie WR Denzel Boston 🔸Browns’ second-round draft pick Denzel Boston 🔸No. 12 for the Browns, the wideout 🔸Boston, the kid from Washington 🔸that big rookie receiver, Boston 🔸Denzel Boston
As exciting as it is to see a young player with such promise so early on in training camp, solid reps in camp are not the same as production in an actual game. It’s important to manage expectations because his impact as a receiver will depend on how a number of factors play out during the season. The uncertainty at quarterback and with the offensive line will have a significant impact on the offense as a whole, including the level of production Boston is ultimately able to generate. For now, cautious optimism is the most reasonable approach.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Has Denzel Boston earned all the hype, or is it being exaggerated?
This article was their idea. Perhaps the best idea I’ve had during my time with The Dream Shake was to solicit the comments section for article ideas. I’ll be using a few of your suggestions.
Stros (can I call you Stros?) suggested a piece on how badly the Rockets might miss Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. This is a modified version of that idea. Why? Because this Dream Shaker doesn’t really miss Green:
But he badly misses Brooks.
Rockets (may have?) missed Brooks last year
It’s a bit difficult to make the statistical argument that the Rockets missed Brooks last year.
In 2024-25, they had a 110.3 Defensive Rating, which was fifth in the NBA. Last season, they were 112.1, which was sixth.
That’s not an entirely inconsequential differential, but it’s not a gulf either. Besides, it’s hard to make the causal link directly to Brooks. His absence was likely a variable (more on that later), but who can say for sure?
Per CleaningTheGlass, each of the Rockets’ top-5 lineups in 2024-25 featured Brooks. That could be something – except four of them featured Jalen Green as well (although, for what it’s worth, the best one did not).
Per databalllr, the Rockets were +4.2 when Brooks was on, and +7.6 when he was off. That’s no help.
Are we sure Brooks even made the Rockets better?
Brooks’ impact was intangible
Brooks is your prototypical “the stats don’t capture his impact” guy.
It’s an issue when you’re routinely tasked with guarding the other team’s best player. The numbers will say you’re not a good defender, because the league’s best players can’t be defended. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 40 on Brooks, he would have dropped 48 on a lesser man on the same night, and nobody cares.
Which may explain why Amen Thompson’s Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) dropped from 2.6 in 2024-25 to 1.0 last season. In Brooks’ absence, he was responsible for guarding star players far more often:
What, you thought Kevin Durant would do it?
When Thompson is guarding the SGAs of the world, he’s less available to play passing lanes and hunt weakside blocks. He’s at his best when he can operate as a free safety. Hopefully, the addition of Marcus Smart will lessen some of his on-ball defensive burden in 2026-27.
That’s just one way that Brooks was an adhesive for this team. After years of watching P.J. Tucker and Trevor Ariza camp out in the corner like they were waiting for Wrestlemania tickets, it was almost jarring to watch Brooks’ forray into shot creation. Yet, that multiplicity of skills was part of his value. Brooks’ ability to function as a “break in case of emergency” bucket getter had extra value when he was such a strong three-and-D wing otherwise.
Finally, there’s the “je ne sais quoi”. In 2024-25, Brooks, Ime Udoka, and Fred VanVleet were a three-headed monster. VanVleet actualized Udoka’s vision of low-risk, low-reward offense that only works (?) if you defend harder and play meaner than everyone else. Brooks actualized the defending harder and playing meaner part.
Again, there’s hope that Smart can fill that void. It should be noted that Brooks has changed since leaving Houston. During his last season with the Rockets, he averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 39.7% from three-point land. Last year with the Suns, he hit a career-high 20.2 points per game, but the shooting slipped to 34.4%. He just signed an extension with a $24.3 million Average Annual Value (AAV), which is probably too much money for Dillon Brooks.
The Rockets miss the old Dillon Brooks, straight from the go Dillon Brooks, etc.
Unless you think he’s a viable 20-a-night guy. From this vantage point, that looks like something a team whose first-round picks it would be nice to own in 2027 and 2029. Perhaps Brooks is still helping the Rockets, along with Green.
But as a 14-point scorer, three-and-D, occasional creator, spiritual leader? Brooks was worth his weight in gold:
