Category: Basketball

If the early expert predictions are accurate, the 2027 NBA Draft doesn't have an obvious No. 1 pick like Cooper Flagg in 2025 or a rare collection of players who project as future All-Stars near the top of the class like the 2026 draft. There is, however, an emerging consensus forming that Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes is the player most likely to open the season atop draft boards.

Stokes will be a featured attraction for NBA scouts this season, but he's not an overwhelming favorite to go No. 1. Not yet, at least. And there appears to be even less clarity after that, with uncertainty created by lucrative NIL opportunities that have caused the basketball ecosystem to reconsider how it arrives at draft decisions.

To sort through the chaotic early days of 2027 mock drafts, USA TODAY Sports tasked Microsoft Copilot's AI chatbot with generating a ranking of the top 30 eligible prospects for the first round of this year's draft. The chatbot was prompted to base its selections on current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as the latest intel related to prospect analysis.

Here's a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI's 2027 NBA mock draft rankings, including an explanation of the chatbot's reasoning for why it ranked each player where it did:

CLIPPERS UPDATE: NBA disputes key details in ESPN report on Kawhi Leonard investigation

2027 NBA mock draft by USA TODAY Sports

You can compare AI's picks to the latest USA TODAY 2027 NBA mock draft by clicking here.

2027 NBA mock draft: AI ranks top prospects, picks

Note: AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot needed additional prompts after several players who were previously selected in the NBA Draft were inaccurately assigned rankings for the 2027 draft class.

1. F Tyran Stokes, Kansas, 19 years old

This 6-foot-8 downhill playmaker is the early consensus pick to be the top choice in 2027 ahead of what's expected to be a one-and-done campaign at Kansas. Microsoft Copilot cites his "elite physical tools, transition playmaking, defensive upside and improving shot creation." Stokes can cement his status atop draft boards by showing an improved outside shot and decision-making with the Jayhawks this season.

2. G Jordan Smith Jr., Arkansas, 18 years old

Considered "the most explosive guard in the class," according to AI, Smith could vault even higher if he's able to become more of a threat as an outside shooter. Whether the Washington D.C. native can consistently play point guard at the next level also lingers his freshman campaign, but Razorbacks coach John Calipari has a proven track record molding perimeter players into top NBA draft picks. Smith's defense and downhill pressure will have an immediate impact.

3. G Caleb Holt, Arizona, 18 years old

This athletic two-way wing is a rising prospect because he has added more shot-making and shot creation to his arsenal over the past year. Already armed with a sturdy 6-foot-5 frame and a long wingspan, his consistency and defensive tools will make him attractive in a draft class expects have deemed devoid of a surefire superstar prospect.

4. G/F Stefan Joksimovic, Slovenia, 17 years old

This 6-foot-7 ballhandler has drawn comparisons in style to fellow countryman Luka Doncic and he's the top international prospect after winning MVP honors at the 2025 Basketball Without Borders Europe camp last August. Joksimovic will play for Saski Baskonia in Spain this season.

5. F Bruce Branch III, BYU, 17 years old

Branch was the No. 1 player in the 2027 recruiting class before reclassifying last year in order to be eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft. He will attempt to succeed in the slot vacated by 2026 No. 1 pick A.J. Dybantsa at BYU, though Branch is billed as more of a shooter than slasher. "Scouts love the shooting touch and offensive upside," according to Microsoft Copilot. "A huge season under Kevin Young could launch him into No. 1 pick discussions."

6. F Thomas Haugh, Florida, 23 years old

"The best returning player in college basketball," according to AI, Haugh turned down the chance to be a lottery pick in 2026 to return to the Gators this season. The versatile forward could step in immediately as a high-level role player in the NBA and he can boost his stock this year by continuing to improve as a 3-point shooter.

7. G Amari Allen, Alabama, 20 years old

Allen was listed in some first-round mock drafts in 2026 before coming back to Alabama. "Dynamic scorer with NBA athleticism and significant upside if his playmaking continues to evolve," according to Microsoft Copilot.

8. G Braylon Mullins, UConn, 20 years old

Mullins returned for a sophomore season at UConn despite one-and-done hype and a first-round grade in 2026. Known as a dynamic outsider shooter coming out of high school, he shot just 33.5% from 3-point range last year. But the 6-foot-6 guard seems poised to fulfill his potential as the centerpiece of coach Dan Hurley's team after capping off last year with a buzzer beater to beat Duke and send UConn to the Final Four.

9. G Alijah Arenas, USC, 19 years old

There's significant upside for the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas if he performs well at USC after his stock fell following serious injuries suffered in a car accident in April 2025. His scoring instincts, 7-foot wingspan and intriguing background will be enticing if his game returns to form.

10. F Anthony Thompson, Ohio State, 18 years old

The 6-foot-9 freshman is a "consensus five-star recruit whose physical profile and two-way potential fit perfectly with NBA wing archetypes," according to Microsoft Copilot.

11. C Luigi Suigo, Villanova, 19 years old

The 7-foot-3 Italian center opted out of the 2026 NBA draft despite the potential to be a late first-round pick. Suigo has "surprising mobility and touch" and is considered "one of the highest-upside big men eligible for the draft," according to Microsoft Pilot. He played BC Mega Basket in the Adriatic League last season.

12. C Motiejus Krivas, Arizona, 21 years old

A rim-protecting center with soft touch around the basket, Krivas is another player who returned for a big NIL payday instead of being a potential late first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His physically imposing 7-foot-2 frame is NBA-ready.

13. F Flory Bidunga, Louisville, 21 years old

Bidunga was a first-team all-Big 12 selection and the Big 12 defensive player of the year at Kansas last season before transferring to Louisville this offseason. "NBA teams will value" his defensive capabilities, according to Microsoft Copilot, and it gives him a higher floor as a 6-foot-9 interior prospect.

14. C Patrick Ngongba II, Duke, 20 years old

Ngongba is a "physical center with growing offensive skill set and strong defensive projection," according to Microsoft Copilot. If his mobility catches up to his polished footwork and passing instincts, Ngongba's size and versatility will be intriguing for teams to consider.

15. G/F Billy Richmond III, Arkansas, 20 years old

This 6-foot-7 slasher is hard to contain on both ends of the floors thanks to his superior athleticism and motor. An improved jump shot this season at Arkansas might lock Richmond in as a lottery pick because his versatility is tailor-made for the NBA.

16. C Rueben Chinyelu, Florida, 22 years old

Chinyelu is "one of the safer frontcourt projections" in 2027, according to Microsoft Copilot, because his defense, rebounding and 7-foot-8 wingspan should easily translate to the next level. If he can make strides as a shooter and decision-maker with the Gators this season, he could push to be a lottery pick.

17. G/F Juke Harris, Tennessee, 21 years old

Harris was a coveted player in the transfer portal after being named the ACC's Most Improved Player at Wake Forest last season. He trailed only NBA first-round picks Ebuka Okorie and Cameron Boozer among ACC players in scoring (21.4 points)

18. G/F Tounde Yessoufou, St. John's, 20 years old

Yessoufou withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft after a solid freshman year at Baylor and then transferred to play for Rick Pitino this season. Flashing more comfort as a ballhandler and outside shooter, to pair with the physical gifts and explosiveness he has already shown at the college level, could boost his stock further.

19. C Malachi Moreno, Kentucky, 19 years old

A skilled big man known for his mobility and touch near the basket, Moreno returned to Kentucky after testing the draft waters in 2026. Improved strength and a more versatile offensive skillset will be areas to watch for Moreno if he's to maximize his 2027 draft stock.

20. G Matthew Able, North Carolina, 19 years old

Able transferred from rival North Carolina State to the Tar Heels this offseason and he's an "athletic scoring wing who falls into the 'if the jumper pops' category," according to Microsoft Copilot.

21. F/C Alex Condon, Florida, 22 years old

This versatile 7-footer from Australia could blossom into a lottery pick with the chance to showcase his ballhandling and outside shooting during another year in college. He's already viewed as a potential first-round pick based on his mobility and rebounding prowess.

22. G Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt, 20 years old

Tanner was one of the most accomplished players to return to college after becoming the only player in the nation to average more than 19 points, 5 assists and 2 steals per game as a freshman at Vanderbilt. He still must prove to NBA scouts his smaller stature (listed by Vanderbilt at 6-foot, 175 pounds) won't be a liability at the next level.

23. F Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky, 21 years old

The former Iowa State star transferred to Kentucky this offseason after withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft, but his 3-point shooting ability at 6-foot-9 will ensure he's a commodity for NBA teams outside the lottery in 2027. His lack of mobility, particularly defensively, likely limits his ceiling as a prospect.

24. F Cameron Williams, Duke, 18 years old

Perhaps the most intriguing prospect at Duke because of his combination of coordination and floor spacing at 6-foot-11. He's considered a raw prospect, despite being ranked No. 3 in the 2026 recruiting rankings, because of a developing feel for the game and a lack of overall strength.

25. F Miika Muurinen, Arkansas, 19 years old

Teammates have referred to Muurinen, a Finland native, as "Baby Dirk" because of his 6-foot-11 frame and offensive skillset on the perimeter. He played last season with Partizan KK of the Adriatic League and appeared on Finland's National Team at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Championship.

26. G Deron Rippey Jr., Duke, 19 years old

Rippey was considered the best point guard in the 2026 recruiting class with athleticism that should allow him to impact both sides of the court at Duke. An improving jump shot could elevate his stock as the college season progresses.

27. G Jamarion Batemon, Iowa State, 19 years old

A breakout candidate after the Cyclones lost most of their top players from last season's Sweet 16 team, Batemon shot 37% from 3-point range as a freshman.

28. G/F Nik Khamenia, UConn, 19 years old

The 6-foot-8 forward can score at all three levels and transferred to UConn after averaging less than 20 minutes per game as a freshman at Duke last season. How he holds up as a defender and shot creator in space with a bigger role on the Huskies will determine whether he's a first-round pick in 2027

29. F Baba Oladotun, Maryland, 17 years old

Once the No. 1 recruit in the 2027 recruiting class, Oladotun reclassified a year ago and then committed to stay near home at Maryland to begin his college career. His 6-foot-10 frame and multi-faceted offensive skillset make him the kind of high-upside wing prospect NBA teams covet, though he'll need to mature more physically before he can fulfill that potential.

30. G Taylen Kinney, Kansas, 18 years old

This 6-foot-3 point guard can score at a high level while also showing potential as a distributor. Playing alongside Stokes in the Jayhawks' backcourt will force Kinney to improve with the ball in his hands less than his prep career. He led USA Basketball's U18 team in assists when it secured a silver medal at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup this summer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2027 NBA mock draft: AI ranks the top 30 prospects

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse made an appearance in Brazilian soccer.

But if you thought it was Fla-Flu, Palmeiras vs. Corinthians, Grenal, Galo vs. Cruzeiro, or any other Série A derby, you were wrong!

LeBron James’ coach in the NBA went to Estádio dos Aflitos, in Recife, to watch the match between Náutico and Ceará in the 23rd round of Brazil’s Série B.

Connection to Brazil

At 59, the coach watched the match from the stands wearing a Náutico shirt.

After the game, he received a gift from the club from Pernambuco.

Reason for the trip

Nurse’s presence in the city is due to his family.

He has been married for 12 years to Roberta Nurse, a former volleyball player from Pernambuco, with whom he has two children: Noah and Leo.

History in the Northeast

This is not the first time the coach has been in the region. In 2022, he was in Recife to follow the FIBA AmeriCup at Geraldão arena and gave a sports clinic for local coaches.

In 2023, he traveled to Campina Grande, Paraíba, to give a lecture at a university.

NBA context

Nick Nurse is a major name in North American basketball, having won the NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.

In charge of the Philadelphia 76ers since 2023, he will now have the mission of coaching LeBron James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, who recently signed a two-season contract with the franchise.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Warriors fans and fans across the country.

The Golden State Warriors have gone with the “running it back” approach this offseason, as they’ve yet to sign or trade for a player outside of the organization … and training camp is, somehow, right around the corner.

Running it back has its positives and its negatives, and it certainly suggests that the team will continue trying to build their future around their small corps of young players. That, of course, includes Brandin Podziemski, who is extension eligible.

The Warriors and Podziemski have until the eve of the season to agree on an extension. Otherwise, he’ll play out his rookie deal this year, and enter next offseason as a restricted free agent. It seems likely that Podz and the Dubs will reach an agreement on an extension in the next two months, but for how much? Let’s hear your predictions!

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The Los Angeles Lakers’ interest in Jonathan Kuminga has been widely known for months, but there’s been little movement in a potential deal.

The Lakers initially pitched the idea of Kuminga starting alongside Luka Dončić, earning roughly $10 million annually.

For weeks, the idea of the Lakers landing Kuminga has hit a standstill because of the forward’s desire to earn more money in LA. The Lakers, who made several additions in free agency, can’t afford to bring Kuminga in on a $20 million deal, which is what the 23-year-old had wanted.

But Kuminga returning to the Atlanta Hawks on a minimum deal seems far-fetched after the team added Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort via trade. That opens the door for a potential sign-and-trade with the Lakers, but Kuminga reportedly is only willing to take a pay cut on a one-year deal.

A sign-and-trade deal is comprised of three seasons. Nevertheless, the domino will have to fall one way or another.

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, only the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lakers seem like legitimate options for Kuminga at this point in the offseason.

Though, the Los Angeles Clippers had initially also expressed interest in the free agent.

The ongoing drama surrounding the Lakers this summer — from LeBron James leaving to Mark Walter selling the team after owning the franchise for 10 months — has largely overshadowed the Lakers’ moves in free agency.

The Lakers are missing a versatile wing defender, especially after the departure of Rui Hachimura in free agency. As September quickly approaches, the team’s options are limited to bolster the roster.

But Kuminga remains on the market, which means general manager Rob Pelinka still has a chance to get creative and ink a deal.

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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

It’s an age-old debate between the generations, often that uncomfortable conversation at Thanksgiving that can divide a family more than politics or what you thought about The Odyssey.

In honor of History Month and the great in-depth work and storytelling that CelticsBloggers Rich Jensen and Mike Dynon have put in this August on the storied past of the franchise, we plainly ask, “who ya got?”

Is it the dynamic duo of Bill Russell and Bob Cousy who won six championships in seven years under Red Auerbach with teammates like Sam Jones, Tom Sanders, Tommy Heinsohn, Frank Ramsey, and Bill Sharman?

What about those spunky 70s squads with Dave Cowens and John Havlicek?

Who has the better Big 3: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish or Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen?

And where does the 2024’s Banner 18 and the Jays rank amongst the greats?

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Try to put recency bias aside or what you might think about how the game of basketball was played seventy, sixty, fifty, or forty years ago. Read up about just how dominant some of these teams were and how surprisingly close some of their series and games were in order to hang eighteen banners in The Garden. And in the end, just appreciate how lucky we are to be fans of the greatest team in the history of the sport.

This time, the scene unfolded 10 blocks north of the Garden, two months after OG Anunoby first took off from just inside the paint and tipped in a Jalen Brunson miss — with 1.2 seconds left in Game 4 of the NBA Finals — to form his forever Knicks moment.

This time, Anunoby was at Times Square — inside the mesh surrounding an Essentia-created court as part of the water company’s “Change the Equation” platform — taking shots as Gersh Park Basketball players cycled through a line, trying to flip Anunoby’s misses in.

A set of footprints on the court, with an “O” in one and “G” in the other, marked the approximate spot of Anunoby’s historic moment. Fans along the outside tried to capture his presence with their phones.

Less than three years ago, Anunoby was in Toronto, already with a championship ring but without much of a celebrity presence on the Raptors.

But now, two months removed from that iconic tip-in, Anunoby has become just that for the Knicks — a defining presence in the NYC sports lexicon and the main attraction of the takeover event in the tourist hub of the world.

OG Anunoby trying to recreate his iconic Game 4 tip-in but he can’t miss at Essentia’s Supercharged Court. pic.twitter.com/o5wqn8oOJh

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 18, 2026

“It’s been really fun,” Anunoby, near the end of his summer as a Knicks champion, told The Post.

The scene Tuesday, remembering the tip, was “really cool,” Anunoby said. He could “feel all the fans, all the excitement after the win, all together” on the Essentia court.

“OG, we’re going back-to-back,” one fan shouted as Anunoby posed for pictures.

The most stoic Knicks player even cracked smiles as the Gersh Park Basketball players kept trying to recreate his shot. Sometimes, they couldn’t tip it in. Other times, Anunoby made his attempts.

But unlike some of his other public appearances that followed the title — when he won Best Play at the ESPYs with his Knicks teammates in attendance, when his reaction on a “Good Morning America” appearance alongside other players went viral, when he attended a World Cup match next to Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride — this spotlight belonged to Anunoby.

The challenge for the Knicks and their $212.5 million star, though, has already shifted to sustaining that success. In just over two months, their quest to repeat will begin. The 76ers, their Opening Night opponent, added Jaylen Brown from the Celtics via trade and LeBron James in free agency. The Heat won the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. The Pacers will get Tyrese Haliburton back after he missed the entire 2025-26 campaign.

“Every year, there’s turnover, player movement,” Anunoby said of the shifting landscape in the East. “So just usual.”

So much went right for the Knicks to etch their place in NBA history. So much went right for Anunoby to become a featured piece of that, too, with his Game 4 moment. He averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during the regular season, and those numbers rose to 20.3 and 6.1, respectively, in the playoffs.

And along the way, Anunoby became more than just a complementary piece alongside Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Tuesday served as just the latest reminder of that.

Champagne problems make for interesting offseason conversations. Coming off an NBA Finals run, the San Antonio Spurs are returning a stacked roster with some minor additions. The signing of Tobias Harris gives the Spurs another option in their starting lineup, alongside De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama.

But Julian Champagnie was a starter for 68 games last season and started every single NBA Playoff game. He has some claim to keeping his spot to start the season. Then there is Dylan Harper, who became a 19-year-old star in the postseason, at times looking like the best player on the court across multiple series.

So between Harris, Harper, and Champagnie, who gets the fifth spot? We want your input. Vote in the poll below, and we will be back later in the week to go over the results.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Spurs fans and fans across the country.

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The Utah Jazz are going into the season with a pretty clear core of five players that Jazz fans are looking most forward to watching: Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ace Bailey, and Lauri Markkanen.

But winning teams can’t win only with their stars, they need role and bench players contributing as well. Utah has drafted a collection of interesting prospects who have each shown distinct elements of potential. Isaiah Collier has been impressive assisting the ball. Brice Sensabaugh has shown flashes of high-level scoring. Kyle Filipowski has shown a lot of skill for a 7-footer and Cody Williams has shown some nice two-way potential. But potential is all these players have shown, and potential doesn’t mean anything if they don’t eventually have a winning impact on the game.

That brings us to this week’s question. Of those players, who will have the biggest impact this upcoming season?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country.

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Between Mark Walter selling the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and the Buss family’s predictable in-fighting over whether to join them, there has been a constant stream of information and rumors that’s hard to stay on top of.

In lieu of multiple stories, here’s a roundup of the latest information and updates on Walter, the sale and the Buss family.

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Expected hiring freeze

More often than not, when a company is sold, there is a hiring freeze during the transition. That appears likely to be the case here as well.

On Tuesday, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported that the expectation around the league is that the Lakers are not going to make any front office hires until Iger and Kushner take over.

According to a pair of league sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the Lakers’ internal operations, there is a belief around the NBA that the team cannot complete the buildout of its basketball operations department until the ownership situation is resolved. After laying out a vision for a pair of assistant general managers, with one focused on analytics and one focused on player scouting, the team has yet to make any inroads in pro scouting. With preseason games set to start in a little more than a month, filling a staff and getting everyone accustomed to a system was already going to be difficult. Now it feels like a distant hope more than a reality.

The biggest impact will be the second assistant GM that was never hired. The team hired Rohan Ramadas as one of the assistant general managers with his role focusing on the stats and analytics aspect. The other general manager was supposed to focus on scouting and development.

One of the next questions, then, would be whether the team ever hires for that position. Those moves were made by Walter and likely with the insight from those in the Dodgers front office working with the Lakers.

Will Iger and Kushner have that same vision?

Walter fire sale?

Speaking of Walter, it looks like selling the Lakers was only the start.

Roughly around the time the news of the Buss family moving on came out, there was also a report from Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson and Matt Slater of The Athletic revealing that Walter looks set to sell his stake in English soccer team Chelsea.

Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are in talks to sell their shares in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital.

Buyout talks between the parties have been explored at various times in the two years since The Athletic detailed a breakdown in relations between Boehly and Clearlake, who partnered in the BlueCo consortium which purchased Chelsea for £2.3billion from the sanctioned Roman Abramovich in June 2022.

It sure seems like the federal investigation into Walter is finding legitimate issues because Walter is making the moves of someone trying to avoid legal issues.

What could be interesting here is that Walter has apparently made it clear he’s going to have his finances “fixed” by the end of the year. That will be largely dependent on the Lakers being sold. If Jeanie is still fighting her family and holding up the sale, then things could get really dicey.

Mark Walter has told regulators that his companies books will be fixed by the end of the year. So if Jeanie Buss decides to drag this out, delaying the transaction and therefore Walter’s liquidity event, things could get real ugly real fast.

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 17, 2026

Explaining Jeanie’s stance

While it might seem like she’s grasping at straws — and she probably is — Jeanie does have at least an argument for why she feels like she has the final say.

In an appearance on ESPN LA, Dave McMenamin broke down Jeanie’s stance and her siblings’ stance.

“The question is where will the legal precedent lie. In 2017, there was basically documentation that Ramona Shelburne has actually shared in the last couple hours on her Instagram account that, in order for there to be a sale, three of the six trustees have to agree — the three trustees, being Jeanie Buss, Janie Buss and Joey Buss. I believe I got that right.

Now, fast forward eight years later, though, when the team was sold to Mark Walter, all six siblings signed off on what’s referred to as a tag-along provision which would be, if the team is sold by Walter, we are going to have the ability to attach our shares to the sale to the new owner if the new owner is interested at that valuation.

Now, I’m sure everyone involved with that agreement back in 2025 in their wildest dreams didn’t think that Mark Walter would be selling the team 10 months. The siblings that voted yes on the sale — five out of six, everybody but Jeanie Buss, according to sources — they all believe that that should be the precedent that stands considering they all just agreed to it 10 months ago.“

It does feel like the siblings have the stronger case here, but I say that as someone with zero legal expertise who also didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night either.

The hope here is that this situation is handled quickly, whatever the conclusion may be. Ideally, that conclusion also involves being done with the Buss family and their constant drama.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

If you’re a Laker fan, go see your doctor. 

Your blood pressure is high. You have new crease lines on your forehead from shock. You have whiplash from shaking your head in disbelief. 

This offseason has been heart pounding. It has been eyebrow raising. It has been jarring. 

LeBron James stunned the world by leaving the Lakers in free agency after eight seasons. 

The Lakers left everyone crossing their fingers after mortgaging their future on Walker Kessler, whom they acquired in a sign-and-trade from Utah on a four-year, $130 million deal, sending out unprotected first round picks in 2031 and 2033 alongside pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. 

Then Mark Walter sent shockwaves through the sports universe by selling the Lakers to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner just 10 months after buying the team.

The encore came on Monday. 

Within a few-hour stretch, Laker fans had to digest the news that the Buss family was selling their 17.8% stake in the franchise to the team’s new owners after a 47-year reign, only to quickly learn that Jeanie Buss was waging war against her siblings to block the deal and remain the team’s governor. 

Check on your friends who are Laker fans. 

They’re not okay. 

Just ask Laker superfan Flea, the founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Flea, whose real name is Michael Peter Balzary, took to X on Monday to lament what has been one of the most wild offseasons in Laker history, if not the wildest. 

“Oh lakers, I just wanna get lost in the transcendent and telepathic communal cosmos of the orange bouncing ball why do you do [this] to me,” he wrote.

It’s a fair question.

This offseason has been so drama-filled that it’s almost comical. At this point, this isn’t sports. It’s satire.

And it’s far from over.

The board of governors still has to approve the sale from Walter to Iger and Kushner.

What’s going to happen with Jeanie Buss?

Meanwhile, the basketball side of things is at a standstill. These major pending pieces essentially stunt the franchise from taking care of much-needed offseason business, such as building out the front office and revamping the data and analytics department.

How about the players?

This is a lot of drama for Luka Doncic, who’s preparing for his inauguration as the sole torch bearer for Laker fans’ championship dreams. 

He’s hosting a four-day mini camp in Slovenia this week to try to build team chemistry, including paying for all of his teammates’ expenses during the trip. While Doncic and Austin Reaves will be lovingly teasing each other and trying to build rapport with their new teammates, there’s static blaring in the background. 

There’s so many unknowns. So much movement. So much chaos. 

Sure, Lakers players and fans are used to drama. The franchise is under the brightest spotlight of all 30 teams in the NBA. They’ve had some of the league’s biggest stars, including Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and James. They’ve won 17 championships. They’re always under the most powerful of microscopes. 

But this offseason is an aberration. 

Even for the Lakers, the drama has been eye popping. It has been relentless. It has been unnerving. 

Want to relax on the beach before the marathon 82-game season begins? Think again. Here’s some news that’s going to give you heart palpitations. 

Want to unwind before Doncic tries to lead the Lakers to their first championship since 2020? Joke’s on you! There’s more action in August than there could ever be in June. 

The Lakers have gone from being the darlings of the NBA to degenerating into tabloid fodder. They’re on the front page. Their makeup is smeared. They’re wide-eyed. They’re entrenched in scandal. 

It has been a doozy for Laker fans. 

The Lakers were supposed to turn a new page this summer. 

Instead, they blew up the script, leaving everyone reeling. 

The buzz around NBA2K27 is picking up ahead of its September 4th global release. In addition to early access, cover art, and first look images, they’ve finally released the top 100 player OVR ratings. 

If you’ve played the game, or follow the global conversation, every year there are huge surprises and disappointments. More than ever if you’re a Raptors fan. While they haven’t released the full roster yet and many of the player ratings won’t be available until closer to the early access release date of August 28th, there’s already more than enough to have opinions on just in the top 100.  

Some of the ratings were on par as expected. Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having the highest OVR of 97 is respectable. Right there with him are the other top finishers in voting, Wemby and Jokic. Jalen Brunson edging Lebron James out of the top 10 also feels warranted with his performance and championship. But the longer you look at the list, the more you start to realize some things that are… not really anything that can be rationalized. While we could take all day and point them out, there’s enough just amongst the Raptors to get worked up about. So let’s break down the three most shocking:

1. Scottie Barnes is an 88 OVR.

You would have to have seen this coming. A huge leap from his 51st rank to start last year in 2K26, he now sits 23rd. Positionally I’m okay with this. Until you start to compare him to other 88 OVR players. Deni Avdija, whose post season numbers were substantially worse than Scottie, who only played 66 games last year, and whose defense is considerably worse than Scottie sits at the same OVR. The exact same can be said about Austin Reaves who also sits at an 88. To add insult to injury, Anthony Davis who only managed to play 20 games last season is two points higher at 90. The only solace in this situation is finally both Paolo Banchero and Evan Mobley are ranked lower than him. 

My hot take: Scottie is an 89, and Jamal Murray and him should both be above Davis. 

2. The 19-position fall of RJ Barrett.

So last year, RJ started at an 82 OVR. This year, he is starting as an 82 OVR. Already, I have some questions. Statistically, he may not have been as electric, but if you actually watched the games he played better. He had to share the scoring load with more ball-handling players. He had less touches. Still, he was efficient, played better in the clutch, and in some games, felt like the only reliable scoring option. Apparently that means you stay the same OVR. Since there’s so many guys that sit at 82 though, this means he’s actually fallen from 68th to 87th, suggesting he’s gotten worse. Even if that was the case, compare that to players rated more highly: Ajay Mitchell (a talented player, but genuinely, what am I missing here?), Payton Pritchard (absolutely not), and Paul George (????). 

My hot take: If they’re all 82s fine, but there’s no way there’s 86 people in the league you’d rather have than RJ Barrett. Especially those three.

3. Kawhi Leonard erasure. 

It’s no secret that the investigation has complicated things for the Raptors, the trade still isn’t official, and Kawhi is listed in 2K27 as a Clippers player. But it already feels like he’s getting the Raptors treatment. Yes, he moved up and OVR point to 93 and from 15th to 11th, all great. But now, Cade Cunningham is above him, despite averaging 4 fewer points per game, fewer rebounds, a lower FG percentage, and his complete disappearance in game 7 against Cleveland. It feels like while previous years, 2K has valued the “grandfathered in” greats, giving guys like LeBron, Kawhi, KD, and Steph the edge, now they seem to be favouring the “younger talent” and the fresh faces in the League. Wemby being second after three years isn’t undeserved, just surprising. Cunningham being 8th this quickly also caught me by surprise. It seems like things are slowly changing. 

My hot take: I’d have Steph 8th, KD 9th, and Kawhi 10th if it’s them over Cunningham (although honestly I think Maxey, Tatum, and Mitchell could all make a case for 10th over Cunningham too). 

Let’s see how the rest of the Raptors OVRs stack up as more information is announced.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.

You ready for this week’s question? It’s a good one. With former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni recently being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame, it’s time to discuss who was the second-best coach in Rockets history?

I had the luxury of being a senior in high school when the Rockets won their first title and a college freshman for the second, so it’s clearly Rudy T for me in the top spot. But both D’Antoni and former Rockets coach Rick Adelman (RIP) have a legitimate case for the number two spot.

Adelman finished with 195-135 Rockets record (.588), while D’Antoni was 217-101 (.682). However, it’s important to note that the Rockets only had a true contending roster until about 2009 for Adelman, with the next several seasons being mired in mediocrity. Adelman was 108-56 in his first two seasons (.659) until Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady fell to pieces.

Adelman was 9-10 in the postseason, getting to the Western Conference Semis in 2009, where the Rockets had a legitmate shot at the NBA Title (Yao was playing out of his mind), until injuries did them in against the Los Angeles Lakers.

D’Antoni made it all the way to Western Conference Finals in 2018, where injuries also did him in against the Golden State Warriors. I think both of those teams wind up with hardware if they didn’t get hurt. But the history books show they both fell short. D’Antoni was 28-23 in the postseason for Houston.

D’Antoni did take home Coach of the Year honors in the 2018 season, and he was the architect of the best regular season Rockets record at 65-17, while Adelman peaked at 55-27, but was the man to turn a perennial first round out under Jeff Van Gundy to a legitmate title contender. He also won multiple NBA Coach of the Month awards, but never took home Coach of the Year trophy.

So what say you? On paper, it looks like D’Antoni has the edge. He also transformed James Harden into an offensive juggernaut. But Adelman brought the best out of that group in 2009 and had a coaching tour de force during 2008 and 2009, including the famous 22-game win streak.

So what say you, TDS?

Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.

It looks like both sides are digging in their heels ahead of a fight between Jeanie Buss and her siblings.

News of the Buss family agreeing to sell their nearly 18% stake in the Lakers was quickly followed by Jeanie’s opposition to the sale. On Tuesday, the family responded to Jeanie’s claims with a statement to Shams Charania of ESPN.

Statement from Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss after attorney of Jeanie Buss made clear she will battle her family members on selling their remaining 17.8% Lakers ownership stake:

The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the…

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2026

Here is the full statement:

The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives.

Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.

Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.

We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base. We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created.

Clearly, the family is focused on moving forward with the sale, which is to be expected since they were the ones who voted for it. Of the two sides, the non-Jeanie siblings are definitely winning the PR battle right now.

Both this statement and the one when the sale was initially reported were well-crafted and portray the family making the decision that’s best for the Lakers. Portraying it in that light is a great win in the court of public opinion.

On the other hand, Jeanie’s letter about her siblings’ decision didn’t have the same vibe. It felt much more aggressive and dismissive about their wishes with an attitude that she knows best. Because she was put on the back foot, it was always going to be hard for her to come off as anything other than defensive, but that’s how her letter came across.

Unfortunately, a public back-and-forth is likely how portions of this will play out. It doesn’t really serve anyone’s best interests in doing so, but given how the family has handled things throughout the last decade, it feels like it’s the path we’re heading down.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.