Kon Knueppel will miss all of training camp and, very likely, the start of the season after injuring his left hamstring, the Charlotte Hornets announced. He will be reevaluated the first week of the season (the week of Oct. 19).
OFFICIAL: Kon Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury and Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury during offseason on-court activity. Both players will miss our preseason games and be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season.
Knueppel's teammate Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury and also will be out for the entire preseason, to be reevaluated the first week of the season.
Knueppel finished a close second in Rookie of the Year voting last season to his former college teammate Cooper Flagg. Knueppel, 21, averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, shooting 42.5% from 3-point range, and was the first rookie in league history to lead the NBA in total 3-pointers made (273, an average of 3.4 per game). Knueppel showed last season he was more than just a shooter, he'll have more responsibilities in the Hornets' offense, but he won't get as many easy-look 3-pointers as he did last season without Ball's passing.
Williams didn't start playing last season until January as he recovered from a torn ACL, but during the Hornets' strong close to the season he was a regular part of the rotation. Williams averaged 7 points per game and shot 38.8% from 3-point range, which mattered because 73% of his shot attempts came from beyond the arc.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 03: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the national anthem prior to Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs assistant coach at Rocket Arena on May 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite all the disappointment years ago when the Toronto faithful were so convinced the Raptors got it wrong at number 4, Scottie Barnes has done nothing but exceed expectations and lead the Toronto Raptors through an, at times, awkward rebuilding stage. Now, after a disappointing game seven exit, Toronto has swung for the fences in an effort to construct a team that will prove lightning can strike twice.
In order for that to happen, Scottie will have to continue improving again this year. First, let’s dish out expectations of Scottie. Then, talk about how he will meet them.
The Ceiling
Regardless of who he’s sharing the floor with, Scottie will need to spend at least part of the season as “the guy”. At his best, Kawhi might play 65 games and at his worst that could be closer to 50. When it comes to the playoffs, matchups and homecourt advantage are everything. This past year proved that. Making sure that easily winnable games are in the bag and they’re able to compete with teams above 0.500 when Kawhi is resting will be imperative. Scottie will have to be the key to that. Expecting numbers closer to 20-8-8 would be an adequate ceiling.
The Floor
We would need a Pascal Siakam version of Scottie. Now that might sound like an insult to PSkills, but the year the Raptors won the chip, he was only averaging 17-7-3 shooting 55% from the field and 37% from three. Compare that to Scottie last year, 18-8-6 shooting career highs of 51% and 30% from three. Fairly similar, with Siakam having the edge in efficiency but Scottie in overall numbers. Scottie also boasts better defence, so this feels like an easily manageable statline for him, especially when sharing the floor with Kawhi who will pull defenders aware from Barnes.
Of course, that range doesn’t allow much wiggle room for a rough start or dips statistically. Make no mistake, the expectations are extremely high. He has a habit of doing the expected though.
Scottie the scorer
Two seasons ago, approximately 58% of the points Scottie scored were on two-point makes. The following year that ballooned to 67% and in the most recent season was 80%. This drastic increase shows how Scottie is developing his game. His size and physicality make him a dominant force in and around the paint, something we have undoubtedly enjoyed watching.
Plays like that one prove his ability to overpower opponents, something that he wasn’t this confident doing at the beginning of his career, but now make him someone defenses have to be extremely worried about.
Becoming a human highlight reel with poster dunks like this is one thing, but Scottie has also consistently been developing a midrange over the last couple seasons. Two years ago 7% of his scoring came from the midrange, this past season that figure is now 12%. Now, when defences collapse on him in an effort to block paths to the basket, he has another option.
This low key feels like the Scottie Barnes "I need to get this midrange shot going" era. pic.twitter.com/4zC3Gob9av
His long range shooting is still a work in progress. The percentage of his points that come from beyond the three-point line is steadily decreasing from 25% two years ago to a mere 14%. In some ways, that’s not a bad thing as he’s taking more of the shots that he is more efficient at, but does hurt in the way of spacing.
His next stage as a scorer will hopefully be to continue to improve that shot. This past season was his career best at 30.4%, but if he could eventually improve that number closer to 33 or 35 that would be far more impactful, especially in minutes shared with Poeltl who has no long range either.
Having the gravity he does on the floor also opens up his teammates. Scottie has proven time and again to have a high basketball IQ and find the open man when he has drawn a second defender. This fits perfectly into the brand of basketball that Toronto has been playing the last two seasons under Darko.
Scottie the Facilitator
Last season, Scottie had a 2.26 assist to turnover ratio on almost 6 assists per game. Solid numbers for someone who isn’t even playing the point, but showing his skill and smart decision making as a facilitator nonetheless.
Some of them are plays almost no one would be able to see, like Ja’Kobe Walter sprinting the floor for a wide-open dunk:
With the face-paced ball-movement oriented system that is developing in Toronto, Scottie is the perfect prototype of what the Raptors need. Unselfish, smart basketball. If he can score, he does. If there’s a better shot available, he’ll pass. He makes things easier for everyone who shares the floor with him.
All of that before even mentioning his impact on the other end of the floor.
Scottie the defender
Last season, a lot of people (including me) felt like he was being snubbed from DPOY conversations. Not to say that Wemby didn’t deserve it, but to be left out of discussion entirely felt a little bit insulting. Then to be delegated to the Defensive Second Team was adding insult to injury.
He ranks 15th in the League for defensive win shares, but is one of only five on that list that played more than 60 games. He ranked ninth in the league for total steals, sixth for total blocks, and helped Toronto become the fifth-best defence in the League.
He leads the team in defensive rebounding, steals, and blocks per game. It’s unsurprising that you can find mixtapes just of his defense all over the internet proving his prowess at that end of the floor.
His timing, fearlessness, and effort make him able to guard virtually anyone. Including guys taller and longer than him:
This was enough of a case for First-Team last year, but hopefully if he’s able to put together another year like this he will finally get that nod.
Despite additions and changes to the roster, Toronto will undeniably have to rely on Scottie to continue to do what he is capable of. His role as a defender, facilitator, and scorer means that he is a critical piece of this roster as they seek their second title. If he is “the guy” or if he is the “Pascal” to Kawhi, either way Toronto won’t have another title this year without him.
INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 23: Bogdan Bogdanovic #10 of the LA Clippers plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 23, 2025 at Intuit Dome 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Flawed analogy: An NBA team is like a video game build.
Each team has attributes, and each team has to choose which attributes to prioritize. Although that’s where the flaws in the analogy begin. In most video games, the limitations on attribute distribution are stricter. It’s typically smart to punt on strength entirely if your build is charisma-focused. The NBA is less capped: Ideally, you’d max out in everything.
Yet, there’s still something of a cap. There are only so many good players. It can be sensible to triple down. That’s what the Houston Rockets have mostly done. They’ve sunk most of their attribute points into defense and rebounding:
Bogdan Bogdanovic is the exception.
Bogdanovic brings much-needed skills to Rockets
Historically, Bogdanovic has been a knockdown shooter who can also handle the ball and make plays for teammates. He’s not a great defender. We’ll get into that, but first, let’s address the elephant in the room:
Bogdanovic may not be good anymore.
We all know it. Last year, Bogdanovic appeared in just 23 games. He averaged 7.4 points with a 52.5 True Shooting % (TS%), and per DataBallr, the Clippers were -5.1 when he was on the floor.
If we’re being charitable, Bogdanovic was playing hurt. He got injured in EuroLeague over the summer. If we’re being less charitable, some injuries don’t really heal, and at 34, it’s possible that Bogdanovic’s goose is irrevocably cooked.
With that ugliness out of the way…
In 2024-25, the Bogey Man had a strange season. He struggled for 24 games with the Hawks, got traded to the Clippers, and started lighting it up, averaging 11.4 points per game while hitting 42.7% of his 4.8 threes per game in 30 games with the Los Angeles Aspiration*.
*Shout out to Pablo Torres.
Is it so inconceivable that we’re getting that Bogdanovic? Thirty-four is old, but it’s not old old. It’s possible that Bogdanovic is healthy again and ready to give the Rockets an injection of floor spacing and secondary ball-handling.
If Ime Udoka is even willing to play him.
Bogdanovic may not fit Rockets’ vision
Even at his best, Bogdanovic has never been much for defense.
The Rockets also signed Marcus Smart this summer. He’s not as dynamic as (the best version of) Bogdanovic offensively, but the gap is wider on defense, and Ime Udoka being who he is…
Time will tell how often Bogdanovic even sees the floor.
If anything, the Bogdanovic signing signals that Rafael Stone has (at least some) understanding of what this team needs. That’s a positive. Otherwise, Bogdanovic may need to wait for an opportunity, and all we can do is hope that he’s ready for it:
You don’t get infinite lives in the National Basketball Association.
The Knicks finally broke a 53-year drought that haunted generations of their city with one of the most dominant runs in recent playoff history this past June. At the center of that cathartic, magical few months was Karl-Anthony Towns.
When Leon Rose swung the blockbuster trade to bring KAT in, skeptics questioned whether he could withstand the crucible of the New York expectations and the defensive requirements of a championship run. The 2025-26 season proved them wrong, as Towns put on a two-way show for 16 wins, making history.
Yet in the modern NBA, celebrations immediately yield to balance sheets, as the Knicks experienced first hand this summer when they lost Mitchell Robinson to their rival Celtics. They now face three open extensions in Miles McBride, Josh Hart, and Towns, with Jalen Brunson’s overdue raise and the second apron restrictions looming.
ESPN reported a stall in Town’s extension talks, perhaps signaling a gap in valuation, but this isn’t the time for the front office to be pinching pennies -- there’s no championship without Towns, and there’s no contending in the years to come without him either.
The meltdown in the 2025 East Conference Finals made fans forget, but Towns has been championship caliber since his arrival. He was an All-Star and All-NBA Third Team member in his first year with the Knicks, averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from two and 42 percent from three, despite a late arrival to training camp.
That playoffs, he put up 21-and-12, bailing the Knicks out with clutch shooting in the first round against the Pistons, and displaying defensive versatility against the Celtics in round two. After New York replaced head coach Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown, it took Towns some time to adjust to a new offensive scheme.
He still finished the 2026 regular season with an efficient 20 points and 12 rebounds a game, but his year really took off after the Knicks fell down 2-1 to the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. In Game 4, Brown finally found the right formula for Towns as an offensive hub, which contributed mightily to their ensuing 14-1 march to the chip.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Not only was Towns one of the best shooting bigs in the league, he became a primary facilitator and reliable defender, finishing the playoffs with 15.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 59.2 percent from two and 45.6 percent from three. He outperformed Joel Embiid, Jarrett Allen, and Victor Wembanyama on this path, cementing his place among the best centers in the game.
This run has quickly dispelled the tropes that have surrounded Towns for years. In fact, pundits from ESPN’s NBA Rank and HoopsHype.com, among others, now categorically rank him as the third-best center in the league behind Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic.
That level of player, already in full sync with your lead star and your surrounding weapons, is not easily replaceable. Towns and Brunson formed a formidable cohesion, in large part thanks to KAT’s ability to space, pass, drive, finish and adapt to what the coaching staff asked of him.
Look around the league for somebody else that can fit that bill and you’ll be disappointed. Elite centers don’t grow on trees and teams are paying out hand over first for eligible fives.
New York lost Robinson because of his price tag, the Lakers committed multiple picks and major salary to Walker Kessler who played five games last season and Isaiah Hartenstein re-upped for another near-$30 million annual deal. That the Knicks would risk losing this rare blend of talent and chemistry, the one that brought them the championship that eluded them for decades, over a financial reality they can avoid is confounding.
There are other means of avoiding the second apron if push came to shove. Once Brunson gets his max extension, if Towns is re-signed at $55 million annually, they’ll still have over 30 percent of the cap to fill out the roster and other large salaries to move that aren’t as central to the team as Towns.
Championship windows have not been common for the Knicks, so prematurely closing one that finally appears would be sending fans back to the dark ages after they enjoyed the briefest glimmer of sunshine. Finding that alignment of talent, timing and health is so rare, your only choice is to maximize how many years you can hold that together.
Towns came to New York, answered every critique, adapted his game, locked in defensively, and helped deliver a Larry O'Brien trophy to Madison Square Garden. Leaving him open to a potential departure instead of giving him years to fight for more would cost the franchise more in opportunity than they’d ever earn in apron savings.
The Celtics and their fans have to be pleased with the way last season went. It was supposed to be a reset year in the absence of Jayson Tatum, but instead turned into a surprise playoff run as the two-seed. They lost in seven games to Philadelphia, but the confirmation that they had a rock-solid group around their superstar was enough to feel good about an otherwise lost year.
Trade rumors started circulating as soon as the Celtics walked off the floor after game seven. These eventually led to the biggest trade of the last few seasons, sending Jaylen Brown, the Finals MVP just three seasons ago, to the 76ers for Paul George. It was cited as a financially driven move, but with Jayson Tatum in his prime, there is still pressure to compete for championships every season. With a revamped roster, Boston is seeking their sixth straight 50-win season, and they’re looking to do it without the guy who carried them to 56 wins last year.
Boston Celtics: Over/Under 50.5 wins (-115/-110)
Last Season: 56-26, lost E. Conf first round
Key Additions: Paul George, Mike Conley, Mitchell Robinson
Key Losses: Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons
Championship Odds: +1500
If you ask 100 NBA fans who won the swap of Jaylen Brown and Paul George, 90 or more are going to tell you the 76ers. Sometimes, when the crowd is so resolved in an opinion like that, the opposite is true. That is how I feel about Boston’s outlook this year. Getting rid of Brown certainly has some addition by subtraction, allowing Jayson Tatum to once again be the alpha lead for this squad. But people are writing George off as some old bag of bones that is going to play five games a month. George averaged over 17 points a game over 37 minutes while shooting almost 50 percent from the floor against this very Celtics team in the playoffs five months ago. He is still a good player, and arguably a better fit with what the Celtics want to do.
The most important thing for Boston is that Jayson Tatum is going to be fully healthy again. He is one of the best players in the league, and they still have a core around him similar to the one that won the NBA Finals in 2024. With Joe Mazzulla at the helm and plenty of talent to go around, this team can be penciled in for 51 wins at the very least every year.
CHARLOTTE, USA - APRIL 3: Kon Knueppel from the Charlotte Hornets against Kobe Brown from Indiana Pacers during the NBA game at the Spectrum arena in Charlotte NC, United States, on April 03, 2026. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Last year, former Duke star Kon Knueppel missed a game and remarked that it was the first time he had ever missed a game. The guy is nothing if not durable.
Unfortunately, he’s going to miss a few games now, as the second-year Charlotte Hornets star has suffered a hamstring injury. It may keep him out for all of the preseason, and possibly some of the regular season as well.
It’s a tough break for Knueppel, obviously, but it’s not the worst timing for the Hornets. They’ll get a chance to look more closely at Christian Anderson (get ready for a lot of puns about his hands – Hands Christian Anderson, get it?), and how players like Grayson Allen, Liam McNeely, and the newly acquired Buddy Hield could fit in.
When Knueppel gets back, the Hornets could be better for the experience.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: This Monday is Media Day. What are the top 3 questions you would ask IF you were guaranteed to get 100% honest answers to them?
zenzino: Oooh! 100% honesty? Who shot JR? Where’s the beef? The mind boggles. (Yeah, I’m an 80s kid)
This is actually pretty tough. 100% honesty doesn’t help if they honestly don’t know the answer. You can’t ask about how players will work out. Most things they’ll just try and see.
Here’s my try at it:
Jordan Ott: What are the key things you learned from your first season as a head coach, and what are you changing this season based on that?
Mark Williams: Why do you keep breaking? Jordan Ott: Do you think Maluach and Fleming are ready to make significant contributions this season? If not, what do they need to show you, and what is the projected timeline?
Devin Booker: You’ve been dedicated to the Valley your whole career, and Mat Ishbia says he is ride or die with you. Is there any reasonable situation where you would consider asking to be traded?
Ashton: To start, I hope it is live-streamed on YouTube, as the comment section can be hilarious and stupid at the same time. Also, I hope that BSotS is well represented in this one and can get a question in or two. But Monday is going to be softball week for questions with long Mat Ishbia dialogues. I like the fact that this question asks for 100% honest answers and that could make me as ruthless as a reporter with a hypodermic syringe full of CIA-grade truth serum under the bright media lights. Ah, who am kidding? I would just need a bucket of water and a towel.
But I would not do that (I think), but I am sure the commentators might. Let’s get the softballs out of the way.
Coach Ott: Do you see a scenario where your starting line-up includes Collin Gillespie?
Coach Ott (again): Now that we know that Mark Williams will miss most of the season, what is the strategy for the front court? Will there be smaller lineups?
Devin Booker: The modern NBA has shifted to more of a three-point shooting offense. Where do you see yourself in this offense? As a 3pt shooter or a ball-moving facilitator?
The entire room: I actually want this one answered with a pre-and-post truth serum injection. You get the softball answer, and then after the truth serum, you give your real answer. Let’s include media in this as well.
How many games do you honestly expect the Suns to win this season?
BSoT writers, I hoped it helped, but you should just pull a Dave King-like article asking the board for questions.
Rod: First off, I’d like to state that I wouldn’t waste one of these questions on Mat Ishbia. A lot of the things he says sound like pure hype, but I’m not at all certain that he doesn’t actually believe them himself and, as with anyone, what people actually believe is true isn’t always factual. I believe Jordan Ott’s views of this team would be the most realistic.
To Ott: What do you see as the most realistic goal for the Suns this season?
Also to Ott: Do you think a Jalen Green/Devin Booker backcourt has a real chance of actually working out well?
To Book: How does this team compare to the 2020-21 Suns team that went to the NBA Finals?
Q2: Preseason games start in just over a week. What are you most looking forward to seeing in the first game?
zenzino: SUNS BASKETBALL!! Next question.
Between NBA and NFL, I think preseason is getting increasingly pointless, with starters often being mostly or even completely held out. I would like the new-look starting lineup to get some minutes together in preseason rather than start to work it out as the season begins.
What I hope I see is the Suns play at least the first half of each preseason game as it matters. I’d like to see an old-school preseason so the Suns can hit the ground running when the regular season starts. I don’t think they (or any team in the West) can afford a slow start while they figure things out.
That being said, I’m looking forward to seeing the young guys getting minutes with full NBA players to see if they can continue what we saw in Summer League.
Oh, and no injuries!
I’m looking forward to seeing the new-look starting lineup and how they mesh together. And Oso making some free throws.
It would be interesting to see if he can take that year-two leap into being a starting center.
Ashton: After Mark Williams’ injury, my attention completely pivoted to the C position. I normally would have inserted Miles Bridges into the starters here (my Fantable peers will cover me), but now I am looking at the Big Men in Oso and KM. I would not mind a two-fer as an answer to this question with split minutes between them both, but I will take Khaman Mulauch as the one to watch.
It would be interesting to see if he can take that year-two leap into being a starting center.
Rod: I want to see how well Book. Green, Brooks, and Bridges mesh in the starting unit. Obviously, we still have no idea whether Oso or Khaman will be the 5th starter yet, and whichever one does start will have an impact on how well the starting unit plays together, but due to injuries, we never really got a good look at how well a Booker/Green backcourt would work together, and the addition of Bridges adds yet another new wrinkle.
And while the starting unit is weak in three-point shooting, I wouldn’t call it “bad”…but it is something to be concerned about. Seeing how they play as such will be something I’ll keep an eye on. They’ve got some guys who can get hot from three in the starting unit, but will they rely on the uncertainty of that happening and fire away from three or concentrate on getting to the basket more?
Q3: To keep Doup Reath on the regular season roster, the Suns would have to waive Bouyea or Highsmith OR one of the two-way contract players (Brea, Huntley & Spencer). If they decide to keep Reath, who would you waive to create a roster spot for him?
zenzino: This would be super easy to name a knee-jerk person.
It seems like most people think Bouyea would be the obvious choice. But I say, “Not so fast!” Bouyea got his chance on a roster loaded with guards because of injuries. The Suns are still loaded with guards, but not as much as it appears. We lost GA and gained Kennard. While the 3-point bump was improved, the rest of what GA brought will be mostly missing. I don’t see Kennard bringing the versatility GA brought.
Granted, Kennard filled in admirably for the Lakers in the playoffs, but that is a small sample size against a team missing their best facilitator and best scorer. And, as soon as they put Thompson on him, he was shut down.
While many are high on Spencer (I also think it was a good signing), I still think Bouyea is a proven asset within this system and with these players. Especially if we get the pre-concussion version.
Unless health is an issue, I am not swapping Highsmith for Reath. Nope. A healthy Highsmith is the 3-and-D this team needs off the bench.
That leaves the two-way spots. I’m sure we’ll see some Spencer in pre-season. I’m not sure about Brea and Huntley. Brea was so good shooting in college; I would love to see him find the range in the NBA. Especially since the Suns offloaded almost half of their 3-point shot-making and replaced them with one shooter who barely shoots 4 a game. I suspect there will be more than a few games this season where the Suns die by the 3.
Because of Huntly’s injury, we didn’t get to see him in SL. I have no idea where he’s at with his development or how much runway he’s going to get.
To sum up: No for Bouyea and Highsmith. If Reath does really well in camp (and preseason?), I’d like to see him on a 2-way. I’ll let the coaches decide whose spot he gets.
Ashton: I am really not sold on any of the names given and wouldn’t lose sleep if any of them were waived. I would say keep Highsmith for size, and Bouyea is just a fan favorite all around. I have not seen enough of Spencer to have any type of judgment, and maybe I should have made him the focus of Q2 as the Suns will need 3pt shooting, badly.
When it is all said and done, I guess Huntley is the odd-man out, as I hold out hope the Brea’s long-range shooting percentages increase.
Rod: Since Mark Williams will likely return about the time a two-way player’s eligibility would run out, I’d prefer that the Suns waive one of the two-way players and sign Reath to a two-way contract. If it was done that way, I’d waive Brea to open up a spot for him. Out of all the possibilities, Brea has just impressed me the least and would likely not be missed…even by the Valley Suns. It’s also possible that they could bring Brea back on a G League contract to play for the Valley Suns as they did with Huntley last season.
If they want to get him on a standard NBA contract, the decision becomes a little harder. I think Highsmith might be the more valuable player overall, but I’d hate to lose the PG depth by waiving Bouyea…but then the Suns also have Spencer on a two-way contract, so the need to hang on to Bouyea might not be as great as some might think. All things considered, I suppose I’d go with waiving Bouyea, unless Highsmith’s still not back to 100%.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On September 27, 1972, Al McCoy called his first game for the Phoenix Suns, a 128-102 preseason win at the ABA’s Utah Stars to move to 3-0 following 2 wins vs NBA teams in Puerto Rico. The game was played under ABA rules, which included the three-point line __ years before the NBA adopted it. Utah was 0-10 from 3 with the Suns not even attempting a shot from downtown.
On September 27, 1983, the Suns signed Paul Westphal as a free agent to a 2-year contract. Three years earlier, Westphal had been traded by Phoenix to Seattle for Dennis Johnson. He would play only one more season with the Suns before being waived and subsequently retiring.
On September 28, 1993, Phoenix signed 30-year-old power forward A.C. Green as an unrestricted free agent. Green, who played his first 8 seasons for the Lakers, played 3.5 seasons for the Suns and averaged 10.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg while starting 162 of 273 games played.
On October 1, 1991, the Suns traded Xavier McDaniel to the New York Knicks for Jerrod Mustaf, Trent Tucker, a 1992 2nd-round draft pick, and a 1994 2nd-round draft pick. McDaniel had been acquired by Phoenix the previous season from the Seattle SuperSonics for Eddie Johnson, a 1991 1st round draft pick, and a 1994 1st round draft pick.
On October 1, 1997, as part of a 3-team trade, the Phoenix Suns traded a 1998 1st round draft pick, a 1999 1st round draft pick, a 2000 2nd round draft pick, a 2001 1st round draft pick and a 2002 2nd round draft pick to the Denver Nuggets and then sent Tony Dumas and Wesley Person to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers sent back a 2005 1st-round draft pick, and the Nuggets sent Antonio McDyess to Phoenix.
Important Future Dates
Sept. 28 – Media Day Sept. 29 – Training Camp opens Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM (ESPN2) Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft Oct. 26-Nov. 5 – NBA G League Training Camp Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on December 14, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA is a league defined by legacy. Who has a ring, and who doesn’t. Who beat who in what finals, and what makes them the real G-O-A-T. Fans don’t just care who the best player was at any given time, but rather, what they represented, what they meant to a city, and whether or not they stuck around for the long haul. If a player is lucky, the team invites them back when they’re old and grey to sit courtside and pose for photos, as younger men play in the colours they wore in decades past. If they’re luckier, when they go back to the stadium they sweat and bled in throughout their twenties and thirties, they’ll be able to look up and see a banner with their jersey number on it, maybe even the year they hoisted the Larry O’Brien for their team.
And if they’re the luckiest, then maybe, just maybe, their likeness will be immortalized in stone and granite in front of the arena, a monument to their greatness like they’re some kind of god of basketball. Or, if they’re really unlucky, they hire a sculptor who screws up their face, and people squint in the Miami sunlight trying to see if that really is them. Sorry D Wade.
TORONTO, CANADA – NOVEMBER 2 : Vince Carter speaks to media during a press conference before NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on November 2, 2024. The Toronto Raptors will retire the No. 15 jersey of eight-time All-Star Vince Carter on November 2. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Toronto has never really had a player get to a point where that was a concern. Vince Carter was a young love who left the franchise too early for it to count. His jersey number hangs in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena, but there’s a threshold of meaning to the organization that he never quite crossed. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry never got it done together, and while in time, they will both go on to receive those same honours, the Compton-Philly tandem did not immortalize themselves in the annals of basketball history. And then, there was Kawhi Leonard… Kawhi, who had the greatest single season with the greatest single team in franchise history, who brought the franchise its first championship before leaving for sunny California, and home. A few months ago, Kawhi Leonard’s legacy in Toronto would have been a confusing mess for the next generations of fans to parse out, before ultimately deciding that he was simply the one who got away, a “what if” who was no good dwelling on.
Obviously, things are different now.
Shams Charania has indicated that Kawhi Leonard believes he has reached the final destination of his NBA career. In other words? The Klaw will retire a Toronto Raptor.
“Mercenary” was a term thrown around to describe Leonard, selling his talents to the highest bidder (and in the case of the Aspiration accusations, perhaps taking the latter sentiment a little too literally). But, by coming home to Toronto, Kawhi is not merely ring chasing with an established core, but attempting to establish an undisputed legacy of service to a singular team. Toronto is a place of family ties for Leonard: his son was born here, and he has a Scarborough basketball court dedicated to him. And, the cheers of fans proved that the people of Toronto wants Kawhi in town just as much, if not more, than he does. Leonard, who left both San Antonio and Los Angeles under messy circumstances, might get to write an ending to his story where things don’t go up in flames. And Toronto might finally have a superstar that they didn’t draft or trade for, but rather, who chose them.
The story between Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors can be best understood as a burning romance a-la The Notebook. There are moments of passion, and long periods of distance, and people hurt, and are hurt in turn. But ultimately, the storybook ending for Leonard’s career could only really happen in Toronto, where he won his most important championship. And the Raptors, while they certainly could have ascended to the heights of the National Basketball Association without him, are both advantaged by Leonard’s return, and might very well have some psychological scars from 2019 finally healed. Leonard gets a real legacy rooted in a single place, and Toronto (maybe) gets a championship, but certainly gets the gratification of knowing they were chosen by the player who seemed like he never would.
Can Anthony Davis stay healthy long enough to help the Wizards this season? | Getty Images
The big things that came to mind when I sat down to analyze Anthony Davis were negatives: he misses a lot of games, and he’s aging — he’ll turn 34 in March.
As Southern Utah University sports economist and author of Wages of Wins David Berri has written, NBA players age like milk.
A few other things stand out about Davis, though — mainly how frigging terrific he is when he does play. For example, Davis has six seasons with a PPA of 200 or higher. That’s six more than the Washington Wizards/Bullets franchise has posted since 1977-78.
Can Anthony Davis stay healthy long enough to help the Wizards this season? | Getty Images
Reminder: PPA is my all-around statistical production metric, which accounts for rule, pace, and defense. In PPA, average is 100 and higher is better. A score of 200+ for a full season in PPA would typically merit All-NBA honors and make the individual an MVP candidate. Davis, by the way, is five-time All-NBA, five-time All-Defense, and likely would have another of each if he’d been healthier in his final season with New Orleans.
Has Davis been great? You bet. Will he continue to be? That’s a tougher question. Athletes at Davis’ age tend to do two things reliably: get worse and get hurt. Davis got the jump on the whole “getting hurt” thing. And, he has been getting worse too — his last 200+ PPA season was 2019-20, though he did get close in 2022-23 (195) and 2023-24 (188).
Last season, his PPA was 157, which is very good. He managed just 20 games and 626 minutes, though he likely would have returned to the court if he’d been with a team that had any inclination to attempt winning. Which was not the Wizards, of course.
The Wizards want to compete this season, and their hope is that Davis will be able to show The Way to Alex Sarr. And it might work if Davis is healthy and motivated enough to practice, play in most of the games, and travel with the team regularly.
When I ran Davis’ 2025-26 season through the Statistical Doppelganger Machine, I confess that I hoped to get a few throwbacks. I wanted Robert Parish, who posted a 170 PPA at age 39 and didn’t play fewer than 72 games in a season until his age 43 season, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (184 PPA at age 38), but neither showed up high on Davis’ similar list. I do really like some of the comps Davis did get from The Machine.
Here’s the top five:
Pau Gasol | 2013-14 | Los Angeles Lakers | Age: 33 — At this point in his career, it looked like Gasol — who was a great and criminally underrated player — was in the age-related decline portion of his career. He posted a 205 PPA at age 30, a 171 at 31, and then followed it with injury-riddled years — 126 (and just 49 games) at 32 and a 138 in this comp season (only 60 games). And then, 189, 179, 166, and 165 from ages 34-37. Not bad at all.
LaMarcus Aldridge | 2018-19 | San Antonio Spurs | Age: 33 — This was effectively the end of the road for Aldridge, who’d been very good throughout his career (though a bit overrated, in my opinion). His health and production fell off a cliff after this season.
Derrick Coleman | 1999-00 | Charlotte Hornets | Age: 32 — Talented power forward who had questionable attitude and commitment and never really achieved his full potential. This was one of his better seasons (151 PPA). His best had been 6-7 years previous when he was with the New Jersey Nets. He had a couple more better than average (though not by a lot) seasons at ages 34 and 35.
Tim Duncan | 2009-10 | San Antonio Spurs | Age: 33 — I LOVE this comp for Davis, in part because Davis can have a similar defensive impact, and in part because what Duncan was able to do in his mid-to-late 30s. Duncan posted a 219 PPA in this season, which is one of five 200+ PPA seasons past 30 years old. He also posted a 199 PPA at age 32, at 197 at 34, and a 191 at 35. His last 200+ season was at 38. In full, Duncan produced 10 200+ PPA seasons, plus another six of 190 or better. He had three seasons below 190 — rookie year (187), age 37 (186), and age 39 (161). Davis isn’t of that stature, but he isn’t that far off.
Kevin McHale | 1989-90 | Boston Celtics | Age: 32 — Well, I wanted a 1980s era throwback. For the kids out there, look for some highlights on YouTube. McHale was a postup wizard — he had exquisite footwork, superb moves, counters to what defenders would typically do, and then counters to the counters. He was also a great shot maker with a killer jump hook. He even exhibited some three-point shooting later in his career. McHale was a seven-time All-Star, six-time All-Defense, two-time Sixth Man of the Year winner, and joined Davis on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. This season was also near the end of the line for McHale — he posted a 158 PPA at 32 (playing in all 82 games), a 140 in 68 games the following season, and then a 106 and a 72 to round out his career.
The honorable mentions are a similar mix of good-to-great players at various stages of their age-related decline, and include 0ver-age-30 seasons from Al Jefferson, David West, Rik Smits, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph, and Kevin Garnett.
Media reports indicate the Wizards will wait to engage Davis in contract extension talks. That’s smart. Smarter would be to showcase a healthy Davis for half a season and trade him for player assets with a future rather than awarding him a major contract. His injury history suggests the next contract will be painful for the team. Plus, the Wizards have a young Davis type already on the roster (Sarr) who may be able to benefit from the example and then thrive in the role.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 12: Stephon Castle #5, Carter Bryant #11 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stand for the National Anthem before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Stephon Castle was asked in an NBA2K interview about which teammate he’d rate a “99” for various skills and personality traits. When asked who the best scorer on the team is, Castle immediately named Julian Champagnie agreeing that he should have made the NBA’s list of best three-point shooters.
He stated the biggest on court trash-talker was Dylan Harper adding that “he gets into a lot of altercations.” As for off-court trash-talking, Castle pointed to Kelly Olynyk.
The 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year also praised Carter Bryant for his music diversity as well as for his sense of humor naming him the class clown on the Spurs roster.
The Silver & Black Scrimmage is just eight days away. The Gregg Popovich Coach the Coaches Clinic taking place earlier that days still has some available spaces for those who want to study with Spurs staff member. Registration is available HERE.
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Jayson Tatum dribbles the ball during a playoff game against the 76ers. | NBAE via Getty Images
When ESPN released its annual “NBA Rank” top 10 list Thursday morning, many of us in Celtics-centric circles immediately looked for Jayson Tatum.
OK, Nikola Jokic is No. 1. I’d go with Victor Wembanyama, but Jokic is certainly special. Then comes Wemby, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That’s pretty clearly the top three until further notice, at least from my perspective.
ESPN has Jayson Tatum ranked as the 9th best player in the NBA entering the season.
1. Nikola Jokic 2. Victor Wembanyama 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4. Luka Doncic 5. Giannis Antetokounmpo 6. Jalen Brunson 7. Anthony Edwards 8. Cade Cunningham 9. Jayson Tatum 10.… pic.twitter.com/934e104DSc
Tatum should be next, or at least close to it, right? Wait a minute, Luka Doncic is fourth with that kind of defense? Giannis Antetokounmpo is ahead of Tatum without a jump shot? Jalen Brunson had a magical run and is elite, but give me Tatum any day. Anthony Edwards can score in bunches, but seventh feels like a stretch. Cade Cunningham, at No. 8, is a bright star but still has room to grow.
Then comes Tatum, sitting at No. 9, right before Donovan Mitchell. Seriously? I know lists like this are designed to stir the pot and spark debate, but I genuinely disagree with putting Tatum that low.
My top 10 would personally look like this:
Victor Wembanyama
Nikola Jokic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jayson Tatum
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jalen Brunson
Luka Doncic
Anthony Edwards
Steph Curry
Baylor Scheierman
Just seeing if you’re paying attention. Cunningham gets the final spot, barely ahead of Mitchell and Kawhi Leonard.
To be clear, this is subjective, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just happen to disagree with the opinion of those polled.
Here’s why: Out of every player in the top nine, Tatum is the second-most versatile behind Wemby. How many guys here have Tatum’s jump shot? Wembanyama, Jokic, SGA, Doncic, Brunson, Curry (way better, obviously) and Edwards. That’s a lot, and it’s probably why he’s No. 9.
But, how many guys in that group of nine can rebound at Tatum’s level? Wemby, Jokic and Giannis.
How many guys can pass at his level? Jokic, Doncic, Brunson, Curry and Cunningham.
How many guys can defend at his level? Wembanyama (better), Antetokounmpo (but he’s not getting any younger), then arguably Edwards and Cunningham but I’d put them a notch below.
The only guys who legitimately fit in all four of those categories, in my opinion, are Wemby and Tatum.
Four Celtics players cracked ESPN's new NBA Rank top 100:
9. Jayson Tatum 47. Derrick White 67. Paul George 70. Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta was one of 10 honorable mentions to watch for 2027. Jaylen Brown placed 14th.
I’m not saying Tatum is at Wemby’s level, but he’s the only other guy who truly excels in every facet. In a weird way, Tatum’s superpower is that he doesn’t have a superpower – outside of being super and powerful, of course. He’s just an excellent all-around player who shapes the game in every way and maximizes the talents of those around him. Guys like Doncic and Edwards are tremendously skilled, but they don’t affect the action all over the floor like Tatum does.
ESPN even bolsters my case in its own article:
Signature stat: Tatum is one of three players to average at least 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game across the past two seasons, joining Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Pretty good, huh? Real ones who watch the Celtics regularly know just how incredible this guy is and what a treat it is to see him go to work every night.
I like to look at these lists through the lens of: “Which player would I pick in a draft to build a team to win a championship this year?” Not next year, not last year, not to build a dynasty. Right now.
There are three guys I’d take over Tatum, and that’s it. This is assuming he’ll be at full strength and look completely like himself, which I believe will be the case. If not, it’s obviously a different argument.
Jayson Tatum ranked 6th in regular-season DREB% just 9 months after returning from an Achilles tear (small sample size, don't care)
He averaged 10.0 rebounds in the regular season and 10.7 in the playoffs
OK, so I’ve done my best to convince you guys that Tatum should be fourth. I hope it worked. But, what about the green-teamers out there who think he should be even higher? I’m sorry, but I can’t put him above Jokic or SGA.
Jokic is quite slow, and is a liability on defense at times, but his passing and triple-double wizardry is just bonkers. While SGA’s style of play can be a bit of an eyesore, and the flopping is frustrating aesthetically, he is basically a walking bucket. He just gets to his spots and scores at will. It’s close, but I would pick SGA third if I were drafting a team.
Tatum comes next. That’s my take, at least.
What’s your top 10? Feel free to comment below. It’s a fun topic to debate.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: Drew Timme #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 10, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Drew Timme, one of the greatest Gonzaga Bulldogs to ever come through the program, is up for the challenge to try and make a loaded Minnesota Timberwolves roster this fall. The undersized, yet extremely skilled 6-9 post man has signed a training camp deal with the franchise, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Drew Timme have agreed to a deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Timme will compete for a spot in training camp. The former Gonzaga star has averaged 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in two NBA seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/XuL0IMRGXw
This addition of Timme gives Minnesota more depth in the frontcourt, adding competition at the three-through-five positions during the preseason. Two other forwards were signed to compete in training camp along with the legendary Zag, 6-6 KJ Martin and 6-7 Norchad Omier.
Martin, the son of Kenyon Martin, was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and most recently competed with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Ningbo Rockets. Omier, the first Nicaraguan player to ever play in the NBA, was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers this past season. The Timberwolves currently have 13 guaranteed standard contracts on the books for a 15-man roster, plus all three two-way spots filled.
Throughout his three-year professional tenure since leaving college basketball back in 2023, Timme has mostly been viewed as a G League journeyman. During his big club stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers organizations over the last two seasons, he has averaged 5.6 points on a shooting split of 49.4 field goal percentage/33.3 three-point percentage/60.0 free throw percentage, to go alongside 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 13.6 minutes per 36 appearances.
Timme spent the 2025-26 campaign with Los Angeles on a two-way deal before ultimately being passed over by guard Nick Smith Jr. for the team’s final 2026 NBA Playoff roster spot. Smith Jr. was then converted to a two-year standard contract to make him playoff-eligible.
If Timme were to be listed on the upcoming opening day roster with Minnesota, that would add up to a total of 13 Gonzaga alums in the NBA at the start of the 2026-27 season. If Timme is waived, he will probably join the Timberwolves’ G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
LeBron James isn’t underrating how valuable VJ Edgecombe can be for the new-look Sixers this season.
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On the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, James detailed his confidence in the second-year guard after his All-Rookie First Team season in 2025-26.
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“He’s a flat-out player, man,” James told Nash.
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James noted that all the reports he’s heard out of the Sixers organization have been complimentary of Edgecombe. He specifically mentioned how Edgecombe is “beyond his years,” and was impressed by the fact that he often acted as a leader of the team as a rookie.
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“They say he speaks with an intelligent, [natural] confidence and works extremely hard.”
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Given the number of ball dominant players on this Sixers team, reasonable questions regarding Edgecombe’s usage have come up. What will his role look like on a team with four players who finished top-50 league-wide in usage rate last season?
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James rejected the premise that Edgecombe should have to wait his turn even with so much star power surrounding him. The most immediate area of impact he has in mind for Edgecombe?
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The defensive side of the ball.
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“There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to, if he really wants to be, contending for an All-Defensive team this year with his athleticism, with his length, with his speed,” James said.
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“I think [Jaylen Brown] gonna set the tone with his ability to guard,” he added. “But I think VJ should be right there, just taking all the keys from JB, learning all the nuances, because he has all the tools.”
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The No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft was a disruptive defender as a rookie. He was 17th in the NBA in steals per game (1.3) and 18th among guards in blocks per game (0.5).
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VJ Edgecombe's defense on Jalen Brunson on Friday was quite possibly the most impressive feat of his NBA career so far.
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Brunson attempted 10 field goals against Edgecombe. He made the first one. Then he missed the last nine.
He was also 43rd league-wide in transition points per game (4.3), an element of the game where the Sixers should thrive in 2026-27.
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In fact, Tyrese Maxey (7.2), James (7.1) and Brown (6.7) were second, third and fourth in the NBA in transition points per game last year. James sees Edgecombe and Maxey as a two-headed monster that can create transition.
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“If we can get stops or create turnovers, then it’s gonna benefit VJ and Tyrese more than anybody on the team,” he said. “Those guys are so fast and so athletic. You’re not going to be able to catch up to ‘em.”
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James also noted his excitement to play in Nick Nurse’s defensive scheme given the opportunities it could create for the athletic Sixers starting lineup. He pointed to the 2019 NBA champion Raptors as a defense that he wants to emulate.
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“They got up into you. They got into the passing lane. If you got around one guy, there’s another guy helping you,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing if we can translate a little bit of that as well because we have the speed, we have the athleticism.”
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The Sixers have struggled defensively the past two seasons, finishing 19th in scoring defense in 2025-26 and 21st in 2024-25. The advanced numbers haven’t been better – they were 17th in defensive rating last year and 26th the season before.
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Brown joining the fold gives Nurse a bonafide wing defender in the starting lineup. Dean Wade is a versatile, plus defensive piece. James, although no longer the generational athlete he was in his prime, is one of the smartest basketball players to ever play the game who adds size and length. Those new pieces alongside Edgecombe’s continued maturation into a backcourt stopper should give the Sixers a higher defensive floor in 2026-27.
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“It’s a pride thing,” James said regarding their defensive mentality. “I’m not going to allow my guy to continue to exploit me or beat me or whatever the case may be. There has to be some type of pride in the sense of it.”
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James and the Sixers will hope to embrace that mindset next week with training camp kicking off on Tuesday after Monday’s media day.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Franchise icon and undisputed greatest Golden State Warrior of all time Stephen Curry looks to have decided to become a Warrior for life.
The Warriors and Curry have finalized a two-year, $116 million contract extension that keeps the legendary guard in the Bay Area through the 2028-29 season, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
BREAKING: Golden State’s Stephen Curry has agreed on a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the franchise, with a player option in 2028-29, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KSdyNDCsRx
The deal, which includes a player option for the final year, reflects a modest discount from the $136.7 million maximum Curry was eligible to command. This financial flexibility aids Golden State’s front office as they work to balance a competitive roster alongside fellow veterans.
By extending through his 20th campaign, Curry further solidifies his intention to complete his entire professional career with the franchise that drafted him in 2009. A four-time NBA champion, two-time league MVP, and the league’s all-time leader in three-point makes, the 38-year-old superstar remains the centerpiece of the Warriors’ identity. The landmark extension ensures Golden State’s defining era continues with its foundational star at the helm.
Stephen Curry has consistently said he doesn't want to play for any other franchise than the Golden State Warriors. Friday night he signed on the bottom line to make that happen.
The extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season and includes a player option in the second year. If he plays both years of the contract, it will take Curry through his 20th season in the NBA and age 41.
Curry also gave the Warriors a financial break as it is $20 million below the max he could have signed for — and the Warriors would have given him. Curry is still the guy who packs the building, brings in sponsors, sells jerseys, and gets the Warriors on national television. A lot. That discount is in part to help the Warriors build a contender around him, something he talked about today on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio channel.
"You could ask me, you could ask Steve Kerr, you could ask Draymond (Green), we still believe that we can be that team. I think our challenge now is to reimagine what that looks like. And, you know, we have a veteran team. We need health on our side."
Curry only played 43 games last season himself, and him staying on the court is going to be key to any hope the Warriors make a run — he still shoots and plays at a high level.
Curry also talked in that interview about understanding he is in the final stretch of his career.
"Oh, I'm close to it. Look, Father Time is undefeated. We know that. And there's an idea of how far can I push this high level of play that I got, what expectations I have for myself."
When the end of his career comes, it's going to be in Golden State. As it should be.
