SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Warriors will only go as far as their franchise leader Stephen Curry will take them.
That is partially why it was important for him to ink a deal to return to the Warriors for the next year or two. Now that the dust has settled and the ink is dry, an area of focus for Curry will be his availability.
Curry missed 39 games for the Warriors last year with knee issues. Entering his 18th season, he's not getting any younger. He spent the offseason nursing his knee through many rounds of golf during the summer, now he's ready for basketball.
"Knee is feeling great, ready to go. No issues at all. There is a management element of it for sure where you just have to be mindful of everything that you're doing in practice, games, preparation," Curry said. "We haven't talked about the game schedule yet or anything like that where I'm kind of getting too far ahead of myself, but for training camp and the preseason schedule and getting myself into shape and ready to go, there's no limitations at all."
Curry is more confident going into the year, he said, after becoming stronger and understanding that he doesn't have 18-year-old knees anymore, let alone 28-year-old ligaments.
"So I'm excited to get out there and hoop. I feel like I've built a really good foundation over the summer to be in a much better position up until, what, November last year, it wasn't really any kind of signs or symptoms, but I feel a lot stronger and more understanding of what I'm dealing with," he said. "That gives me a lot of confidence going into the year."
“That’s how bad it is? To (not) make the playoffs?”
* Walks off *
“DAMN!”
Steph Curry’s reaction after he was asked about people not expecting the Warriors to make the playoffs 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/PBJ5jitSXE
The biggest story of the Detroit Pistons’ summer now lingers into the start of training camp.
Jalen Duren remains unsigned.
Coming off the best season of his career, one that included his first All-Star appearance and an All-NBA Third Team selection, Duren and the Pistons have spent the summer negotiating a new contract without reaching an agreement.
That remained the case Monday at Pistons Media Day, which Duren did not attend.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Duren has declined a fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million offer from Detroit as the two sides remain at a stalemate.
Still, Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon made one thing clear Monday: Detroit still wants Duren back.
“We will be excited to have him in regardless of what decision he does make,” Langdon said. “He was a huge reason for our success the last two seasons, had a tremendous season individually last year as well, and we believe he will do the same thing this year.
“We’ll integrate him, and he’s going to have a fantastic season regardless of his decision. But we’re looking forward to getting him.”
Duren, 22, averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the field last season, establishing himself as one of the league’s top young centers and a major piece of Detroit’s rise.
But his long-term future with the franchise has remained unsettled throughout the offseason.
Langdon declined to discuss specifics of the negotiations Monday, but acknowledged that he has not personally spoken with Duren throughout the summer.
“I have not spoken to the young man all summer, so I don’t know how that is,” Langdon said. “For me, I’m not going to hold anything against him. Again, I would be very happy to have him back. I’ll be excited. He’s been a huge part of our success. I think he’ll continue to be a huge part of that going forward.”
Despite the lack of an agreement — and the lack of communication between Langdon and Duren — Detroit’s stance publicly has remained consistent.
The Pistons still view Duren as one of the pillars of a young core, alongside Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson.
“When he is back, it’s bringing him in, letting him know that he has a huge part, and putting him in situations where he can be the best version of himself and help us out to the best degree that he can,” Langdon said. “So, we’ll be excited to have him back and incorporate him into the team.”
While the situation is unfamiliar territory for a Pistons organization that has spent the last two seasons building continuity around its young core, Langdon has dealt with contract stalemates before during his time as an NBA executive.
His message Monday was that the organization would not allow the negotiations to change how it views or treats Duren once he returns.
“We’ll do everything we can to support him and get the best version of him, which is what we’ve done the past two years,” Langdon said. “That will not change. Those are things that we can control. His decision, it’s not one that we can control.”
Duren’s next major deadline comes Thursday, Oct. 1.
If he does not agree to a long-term contract, Duren has the option to accept Detroit’s one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer. Doing so would allow him to return to the Pistons this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Sacramento and Milwaukee have been among the teams reportedly interested in Duren, although Langdon declined Monday to discuss whether Detroit has explored potential sign-and-trade scenarios.
Whatever frustration may exist within the negotiations, however, it does not appear to have changed Duren’s relationship with his teammates or coaching staff.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Cunningham both said Monday that they remained in contact with Duren throughout the summer without attempting to influence his contract decision.
“He knows how I feel about him, and I continue to let him know how I feel about him,” Bickerstaff said. “And that’s really all that matters. I love JD.
“I know how JD feels about me, how he feels about being a member of the Pistons. It’s positive. He’s a huge part of what we do, and where we are right now, the steps that we’ve taken to get there. We look forward to having him back.”
The Pistons open training camp Tuesday without Duren, who remains unsigned and therefore is not currently part of the team’s training camp roster.
How long that remains the case is still unknown.
But after an entire summer of negotiations, Detroit enters training camp with the same major question hanging over the organization — and only days remaining before Duren must make his next decision.
The Clippers announced Monday, Sept. 28 at the team’s media day that Ingram was dealing with a partially torn left Achilles tendon, which was revealed during a May surgery to repair an issue with his heel. Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden disclosed the injury to reporters assembled on site.
The recovery for a partially torn Achilles is not as intensive as one for a full tear and should be around six months.
That timeline puts Ingram being available potentially around late October or November, should he not suffer any setbacks. Ingram will be reevaluated then and the team will make a determination at that time.
Ingram, 29, played 77 regular-season games last year for the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. But Ingram’s heel injury prevented him from being fully available during Toronto’s first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram played only 11:22 during Game 5 and then missed Games 6 and 7, when Cleveland clinched the series.
Although the trade for Ingram had been agreed to June 30, the investigation into Leonard and the Clippers about salary cap circumvention had not been finalized. The trade remained on hold for more than a month and was eventually executed Sept. 14.
The Clippers open their season Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings.
It's been a rough summer for the Clippers and their fans, and unfortunately, the start of training camp didn't mean a reprieve from bad news.
Brandon Ingram has undergone surgery to repair a partially torn Achilles in his foot and will miss the start of the season, Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden announced at the team's media day, via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. Redden added that surgery on Ingram's heel in May also addressed this issue, which is a partial tear, and the recovery time is about six months shorter than a more complete Achilles tear.
Still, Ingram is out for the start of the season and will be reevaluated around that time.
Ingram has battled injuries throughout his career but is coming off a mostly healthy season in which he was an All-Star with the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Ingram, along with Darius Garland at the point, are seen as floor raisers for this team.
Because it's the Clippers, there was other injury news as well. Bradley Beal has recovered from his hip surgery but is now dealing with knee inflammation and won't be ready for the first part of training camp. Big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser is progressing from a foot injury but will not be ready for the start of the season. That is on top of the previously announced surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff for Jordan Miller, which will sideline him until around the All-Star break.
On a positive note, Darius Garland said he was fully healthy and had recovered from injuries that had limited him for a couple of seasons (including to 45 games played last season).
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 03: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum on February 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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Myles Turner has spent the majority of his offseason building.
From making a $1 million commitment to help fight food insecurity and advocating for animals to traveling to Morocco with the NBA Players Association to broaden his worldview, the common denominator is the same: Turner doesn't want to just lead by example, he wants to build something that lasts.
While Turner has long been committed to making an impact beyond basketball, this particular season of growth follows a season of transition on the court.
While the first season didn't go as he hoped, it's no surprise that Turner's offseason pursuits mirror the mindset he's bringing into the season ahead.
"It's funny, I think people want to call it a rebuild, but I just call it building," Turner told NBC Sports' Mary Omatiga.
"We're building towards something, and I think we're all excited just to kind of roll the ball out and get going."
In the conversation below, the newly elected Vice President of the NBPA opens up about why community work is important to him and the example he wants to set both on and off the court. Turner also reflects on his first season in Milwaukee, his reaction to Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure, and more.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Mary Omatiga: Myles, congrats on your new role! Vice President of the NBPA Executive Committee. What does it mean to you to have been elected by your peers?
Myles Turner: First off, thank you so much. It means everything to me. Just to have the respect of my peers, and just being around as long as I have been, for them to put that trust and faith in me to be the voice for the 450 and PLYRS UNTD over the next three years is a huge honor for me and not something that I take lightly.
You’ve had quite a busy off-season. In June, I know you went to Morocco with PLYRS UNTD. What was that experience like?
Turner: It was formerly called One Court, and I had some experience with the NBA Players Association in the past. I joined them in Milan a couple of years ago, and that was my first time really just immersing myself in the Players Association.
I had been to a few of the meetings. I had listened in, but they offer so many things off the floor for us as players to really advance our careers. Obviously, what we do on the court is amazing. The money that we make in this league is unbelievable, but the opportunities that they present are real.
I wanted to join them in Africa this summer just to see what else I could take in, and I'm glad I did. We got to be a part of some investment summits. We did our own little version of like a Shark Tank out there, where we got to help people with their own startups, get their pitch off. With that, you kind of see what it takes to do it on your own.
The cultural experience was unreal. That was my first time really being in an Arab state, and it was actually really cool. They were super friendly. We had some of the best accommodation! Man, I can go on and on and on. But I definitely suggest it for our brothers in this league to take advantage of the PLYRS UNTD opportunities.
Courtesy of PLYRS UNTD
How did that experience change your perspective on life?
Turner: I think for me personally, it's funny how Africa gets depicted. I had been to Tanzania before in the past. I did some work with Malcolm Brogdon and his Clean Water Initiative, but there are so many different parts of the continent.
When I got there, I just think that culturally, even with the religion, it's so amazing just how dedicated they are. I feel like things move so fast here in the States, but they take time out of the day, every single day, to make sure that they pray, to make sure that they're with their families, and to make sure they're together.
What may seem so small and minuscule to some people, to me, left a big impression. Just the fact that the entire nation itself just kind of abides by a certain set of rules, it was really cool.
Courtesy of PLYRS UNTD
Courtesy of PLYRS UNTD
You’ve also been making an impact a little bit closer to home. Your foundation recently made a $1 million commitment to help fight food insecurity. Why now and why this cause?
Turner: The cause is called Empowering the Masses, and it was founded by Ms. Tammy Johnson. I have some ties to it back in the past. To make a long story short, a few years ago, I had a not-so-great game, and a fan had kind of trolled me on Twitter. He reached out to me and asked for, like $100 on Venmo.
I'm a little petty too, so you know I sent him a penny, and I said, "Here's a penny for your thoughts." He kind of took that and got salty about it. But then, after that, fans started Venmoing me pennies. The next person Venmoed me two cents, like, "Here's your two cents."
The two cents turned to $1, $1 turned to $10, and I basically said, "Any fan that Venmos me, I'm going to match it." At the time, Texas went through a very bad freeze back in 2021. It left a lot of people without resources. Because you know, down South, we're not really used to the cold weather.
I was able to raise close to $100,000, and I gave to Empowering the Masses back then. I just wanted to continue my relationship with them because I love the stuff they're doing. It is a million dollars, but it's also a long-term investment. It's a million dollars over the next 10 years. They create opportunities, and they're giving people tangible tools and resources within the South Dallas community.
Courtesy of Operation W.A.R.M
I feel like some people don't lack ambition; they just lack access and opportunity. So that's what this million dollars will be able to do — give to this food pantry.
They're more than just a food pantry. It'll also give opportunity to essential workers, and they have phlebotomy classes. They have volunteers come in and actually build up their resumes. I think it's about teaching people to fish, not just necessarily giving them a fish. So I just like that this is a long-term pledge as opposed to just a one-time donation.
You and your fiancée — congrats on the engagement, by the way — started the Casper Foundation to advocate for animals. What made you guys want to get involved in that?
Turner: My entire life, believe it or not, I've always been a cat guy. I'm essentially trying to give a voice to the voiceless when it comes to cats.
We are an animal foundation; I just shed a little more light on cats. You look at adoption numbers, and dogs are usually the ones that are taken first.
I have such a unique platform being in the NBA and having the social media reach that I have. I have an opportunity to get a lot of these shelters off the ground. They may be doing the work, but they may not always have the reach or the social media platform that they need to get these animals adopted. So that's essentially where we come in.
Courtesy of The Casper Foundation
Courtesy of The Casper Foundation
Last year we did a tunnel walk with our teams. We had dogs and cats that were up for adoption go down our tunnel like it was an NBA pre-game fit walk. We were also able to have our wives and girlfriends come out and have events at certain [local] shelters.
Today, we literally just got back, and I was able to get a partnership with Purina and Friskies. They donated a thousand pounds of food, so we're going to share that at about three different shelters in the Wisconsin area. Little things like that are important to me to give a platform to these animals that can't speak for themselves.
It seems like this off-season you really invested a lot of time into social impact and philanthropy. Why are these responsibilities important to you at this stage of your career?
Turner: One of the first things I did when I got in the league was create my 501(c)(3) nonprofit, called W.A.R.M. It stands for "Workers and Role Models, " and I essentially try to live out exactly what I'm trying to get communities to do.
I've been doing a lot of community work back when I was in Indiana. I was there for 10 years, and we did great impact work there because that's where I called home for so long. But I wanted to stretch that further than just my playing market. I wanted to give back to my hometown. I wanted to get back to my current market, and eventually take it nationwide.
The money I've been able to amass, it's amazing, but it's also about giving back to the people that helped you get that money in the first place. I never wanted to turn my back on the people that helped me [get here].
It's also about being a role model. These younger guys coming into the league, they're trying to get their things off the ground as well. I want to make sure I provide an example of what it's supposed to look like and how you're supposed to not just give dollar amounts, but you live by what you're doing.
That's what W.A.R.M. stands for — going out there being about the things you say you're about.
Courtesy of Operation W.A.R.M.
I was listening to a podcast where you talked about NBA players having face value. You guys aren’t under helmets or hats. People know you, and you can build off of that.
How do you want your face value to translate off the court?
Turner: When people actually see me in person, it's so different. You see us athletes play on TV as these "larger-than-life" people, but when you actually get to meet us, a lot of us are dope individuals, man. What I'm just trying to get out there is that the fact that, yeah, my job is cool, but at the same time, I'm a human being as well.I want people to realize that.
When I am out there, and people do see me in person, I think it's important just to have that human connection. We're not just always talking hoops. We're talking about life, our goals, our dreams, and how we build things. That's why I think the face value is important... it just speaks volumes to just watching us on the television screen.
NBA athletes, to your point, do have that advantage. We don't wear hats. We don't wear helmets. People get to see us for who we are at all times. That's amazing, not only for philanthropic things, but for branding or letting grandma see you back at home, you know, whatever it may be.
We’ve talked a lot about your growth in the offseason, but I know that this year was also a year of transition for you. What did your first season in Milwaukee teach you about yourself?
Turner: Resiliency. I think that no matter what happened last year, I was always a constant professional. I try to carry myself as such, win, lose, good day, bad day. I mean, there are no bad days in the league. It's all a matter of perspective. What we do is amazing, the money that we get to make, the child's game that we get to play every day.
I don't ever consider days as necessarily bad days, but [I'll say] down days. You work through everything, and I think that's what I was able to do. That's what I was most proud of, being able to kind of keep my head through what people would describe as dark times. But again, I think it's always just a matter of perspective.
There are people out here who are really suffering and if me suffering is losing a basketball game, then you know I'm living a pretty damn good life.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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You said others would describe it as "dark times". How would you sum up your first year?
Turner: You said it, just a year of transition. I wanted to embrace being uncomfortable. Imagine you're doing your job. You're in the same exact place for 10 years straight. You know what's going to happen every single year. I've had the same medical staff. I had the same strength coach. I've had the same front office. Everything was consistent.
Then, just to shake something up, out of nowhere, I mean, of course, there's going to be struggles that come with it. As tumultuous as it may have seemed, I enjoyed the mental growth that I was able to have going through it from a different side and perspective. It's always crazy making a decision to go to my division rival, but you get to see things from both perspectives.
I think there were a lot of things that I learned, but more than anything, I was just happy that I chose myself and I made a decision for myself.
A big reason for coming to the Bucks was because you wanted to remain competitive, and obviously, Giannis [Antetokuonmpo] was a big part of that.
Turner: It doesn't change my competitive mindset whatsoever. I think that, coming into the situation, obviously, the initial pairing was to be with Giannis, but this is a business. At the end of the day, that man has to take care of his family. That man has to do what's best for him. All I can worry about is the future, and that's exactly where we're at.
So you know, take things day by day, keep continuing to compete, and the best things happen after that.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on November 17, 2025 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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Where were you when you found out he got traded?
Turner: I was in Switzerland, actually. I was in Geneva, and it was funny. I guess it happened like late at night here, and it was only like 2 or 3 p.m. over there. Obviously, it set the internet on fire and whatnot. But yeah, I was [out of] the country.
You said it best: basketball is a business; people come and go, but the one thing that hasn’t changed for you is your desire to remain competitive.
You’ve talked about how getting to Game 7 and getting to that grand stage in the NBA Finals has really changed your perspective on basketball itself. Do you still think about the finals?
Turner: Oh yeah, there's not a day that goes by that I don't. To get that close to accomplishing your biggest goal and your biggest dreams and having it all crumble right before your very eyes, of course, it leaves a lasting impression on you. But at the same time, it also keeps that fire burning.
I feel like, you know, in that moment, when you do win a championship, at times people get complacent. They feel like they've done it all. They did everything they were supposed to do.
For me, getting that close and not being able to accomplish the ultimate goal just leaves the door open for me to get back.
I know I'll be back in the finals. It's one of those things that I manifest, and I speak out loud, and I just want to continue to work to get there. But it's not just going to be given to me; at the end of the day, there's going to be trials and tribulations to get there, and I'm ready for it all.
What moment specifically comes back to you from the Finals?
Turner: I don't know if it's a specific moment. Obviously, you know, when Tyrese [Haliburton] went down, that was the biggest moment for everybody. But for me personally, it was just going into halftime with the lead and having an actual chance to win the game. It's not like we were getting blown out. It's not like we were down and out. We had a real opportunity, and things just didn't go our way.
I think there's a combination of things that it takes to win the NBA Finals. Part of it, is that you have to get lucky. Unfortunately, we just got a little bit unlucky.
How is that experience still fueling you?
Turner: It's just that desire to get back. There's no greater stage in basketball than the NBA Finals. You're the only show on TV. Overseas hoops, for the most part, are done. Everybody's watching you, especially in a Game 7 [setting]. So, just to get back to that moment, to have that adrenaline rush, to be able to play in front of your friends and family, and a lot of people who may have been doubting you in the past — it's a beautiful moment. There's nothing more poetic about being in a moment like that.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 19: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball during the game against Jaylin Williams #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 19, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 19: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers dunks the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 19, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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After everything you’ve gone through over the last year, what does this upcoming season represent for you?
Turner: It's funny, I think people want to call it a rebuild, but I just call it building. I think that for me personally, you have a bunch of guys with a chip on their shoulder coming together, and everybody kind of feels like they have something to prove. You get a whole bunch of competitive guys under one roof, man, who knows what'll happen?
We're building towards something, and I think we're all excited just to kind of roll the ball out and get going. It's a beautiful thing when people are kind of counting you out. So when you actually go out there and start kicking ass, then you know, it's like, "Oh, where did this come from?"
Do you feel like you personally have anything to prove?
Turner: The only thing I have to prove is to just keep proving things to myself. I've made it this far in my career. I'm 30 years old, still in my prime, and I'm really just working on my leadership. I want to continue to keep proving that I can lead a group, lead a team, and hold myself high through any situation.
"I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure."
LeBron James sat down at media day in his Philadelphia jersey (still getting used to that) and talked a lot about process and fitting in with his new teammates, but at the end of his remarks, he made sure the bar is set high for this team — they are potential contenders. This team has not only LeBron but also Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid (who reporters said looked noticeably thinner), and a quality bench. The bar is set high.
When asked what drew him to Philly this summer, LeBron talked a lot about his close relationship with Tyrese Maxey — and he said agent Rich Paul's whiteboard (from Paul's podcast) was right.
"I had a list of five teams that I was interested in," LeBron said. "I think if you saw my agent [Rich Paul] in his podcast, you saw his whiteboard and whatever — I love him to death — but he had his whiteboard up there, and he had all his LeBron teams up there...
"I have a really, really good, I would say great relationship with Tyrese, and we talked a lot. I kind of picked his brain a lot on not only where he see his career going, how he see the franchise here, how much he believes in the franchise, and if I was to come here, how does he see me fitting in? Do we think it'd be a plus, or do we think it'd be a negative? Because I understand what my personality and what comes with me, sometimes it could be a negative...
"But I think our relationship, kind of, when I broke a lot of the teams down, I broke a lot of the franchises down that I could possibly play for. He was one of the main deciding factors."
Joel Embiid has a brief answer and a big grin when asked about recruiting LeBron James pic.twitter.com/WDpuQznaDL
LeBron also confirmed in a conversation with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he had "visions" of finishing his career with the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, but the team's title changed that.
Here are some other highlights from LeBron James' comments at media day.
What will be his role on the court on such a stacked roster? "Whatever the team needs for me to do. I think the luxury of my game is I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything."
On himself and everyone needing to sacrifice: "If we want to accomplish something that's really, really important, like if we say that we want to do something special, there will be a collective sacrificing — in a good way. Sometimes in sports, people hear sacrificing, you automatically people start thinking negative about it. It's not a negative thing. You can sacrifice one or two more shots, that gives you one or two more bursts of energy in the fourth quarter to slide over and take a charge... So it's not a negative when people say, "Okay, you have to make a sacrifice," or your role may change. If we're trying to do something special, which I believe we are, then that's a positive."
On what his experience brings: "I've seen everything that this league has to offer, on the floor and off the floor. So, I hope that every single day, with my approach to the game, approach to the work, that it can translate to every single guy, and even guys that's been able to win at the highest level. So, looking forward to that to that challenge."
Will LeBron play one year or two in Philly? Is this where he ends his career? "I don't want to speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself on just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career. So, me trying to focus on what the future looks like would be like, I wouldn't be giving myself grace. I'm more in the present now, understanding that I'm in year 24."
On the 76ers fans: "I'm super excited to get in front of these fans. They know sports, they know ball, and if you're not doing what you're supposed to do, they're gonna let you hear it — and I'm excited about that. That's holding people accountable... I'm excited to just be a part of this, to be a part of the feeling, be a part of the vibe, and to go out and play for something that's more than myself, more than the players in the locker room, but for the whole city."
On those fans needing to be patient while this comes together: "It's going to take time. It's going to take time. I think people, sometimes they don't really want to work, and everyone wants like instant oatmeal. You just put the oatmeal in the bowl, you put some water in it, throw it in the microwave, in a minute and a half, you got something... If you want to do something special, it takes time, and it takes every single day doing things that you may not want to do because it's like the same thing over and over and over and over and over... In order for us to be great, we have to do things that are just not comfortable. We have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. That is the best way to expedite being great. You have to fall in love with doing things that's uncomfortable, and if we can do that, then we can be a great team."
CAMDEN, NJ — Joel Embiid's health has been a major question mark for the Philadelphia 76ers in recent seasons, and with LeBron James now in the fold, it could ultimately determine whether the franchise can fulfill its championship aspirations.
As the 7-foot center enters his 13th overall season in Philadelphia, Embiid gave a health update to reporters at the team's media day.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Embiid said at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on Monday.
Embiid noted that there's a plan in place for him to try to keep healthy to "play as much as possible" and be at his "best" for the postseason.
"Going into the year, I want to play as much as possible," he said. "We got a plan. We're going to execute it to make sure I stay healthy and then be at my best when we get to that time. So whatever way we get there, we're going to execute it."
Embiid enters training camp looking noticeably leaner than he has in recent seasons. The work Embiid put in during the offseason has not gone unnoticed, including by James, the 76ers' marquee offseason addition.
"Joel is one of the most talented guys that we have in the world, and obviously we all know that for him it's just been about health. How can he stay healthy to be the best version of himself? Be the best version of himself to be the best version of us as a team?" James said on Monday.
"I've seen him put in a lot of work on his body, putting a lot of work in his game, a lot of work on his mental season. That is a big upside, not only for us as his teammates, but I guarantee it is for him. I don't want to speak for him. You guys have talked to him, but I guarantee that's a good feeling for him."
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has dropped a considerable amount of weight. pic.twitter.com/Of1rI0aZS6
Embiid has struggled to stay in the Sixers' lineup in recent seasons due to his health. He's combined to play 96 regular-season games over the last three seasons and has not played more than 40 games since his MVP season in 2022-23.
Last season, Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy on April 9 that kept him out for the Sixers' final two regular-season games, their play-in game against the Orlando Magic and the first three games of their first-round series against the Boston Celtics.
The Sixers center appeared in just 19 games during the 2024-25 season after the team deemed him medically unable to play because of persistent knee issues. Those problems stemmed from a torn meniscus in his left knee suffered the previous season, an injury that required surgery and sidelined him until late in the regular season.
TARRYTOWN, NY – The saying “to the victor go the spoils" certainly applied to the NBA Championships over the past four months, as any member of the New York Knicks who came into proximity to anything worth spoiling certainly took advantage.
From appearances on the jumbotron at the US Open to hosting duties on "Saturday Night Live," NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson has helped the Knicks enjoy an offseason befitting a team breaking the championship curse of this basketball-crazed city, following their five-game throttling of the San Antonio Spurs.
It wasn’t just the five-game victory that broke a 53-year-old curse, but the way it was accomplished. New York trailed by double digits in each game and cemented themselves in NBA lore with a Game 4 comeback for the ages, trailing by 29 points before a furious rally that culminated in OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.
During the team’s media session at their practice facility 30 minutes north of New York City, reality set in about what the Knicks need to do to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-18 to repeat as champions. The team will still get bombarded with the chant “Knicks in 5” from their rabid fanbase until someone dethrones them.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who was an assistant on those Warriors title teams, made it clear that although few changes were made, he is excited to move forward with his new group of players.
The roster was largely intact, with nine of last season's top 10 contributors returning for a chance to run it back. Mitchell Robinson, the team’s defensive stalwart, signed with the division rivals Boston Celtics on a three-year, $47.39 million contract, and the team signed veteran Andre Drummond to fill the void.
“It’s a new season and a new team, and we’re going to face new challenges and adversity throughout the course of the year. And upholding our commitment to our standard. It's not going to change. Our standard of sacrifice, being connected, having a competitive spirit, having a belief in each other in the process. That’s our primary focus going into this year,” Brown said.
“We can’t afford to have any slippage in our process. We can’t afford to decline with our focus and energy in our daily habits. We have to understand that the media and public scrutiny is going to come.”
Defending champion Knicks are not satisfied
First up, their championship defense will begin against the retooled Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, featuring newly signed LeBron James (who would have joined the Knicks had they not won the title) and Jaylen Brown, who was traded from the Celtics, along with mainstays Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
The Knicks know that winning another championship begins and ends with Brunson, who averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in the NBA Finals with 45 points to close out Game 5, while playing with a painful wrist injury.
Brunson, who admitted it was the "longest, shortest summer ever," says he feels good after offseason wrist surgery in July and is honored and grateful for the off-court opportunities, as he will also appear on an episode of “Law and Order: SVU” in November.
But Brunson reiterates that the goal and focus is on the court and winning another championship, while leaving last year where it is, turning the page, and moving on.
“Not being satisfied, I think, is the biggest takeaway moving forward. You still want to figure out how you can grow as a person and as a player. So I will use that experience. As a group, we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously. We need each other to be all on the same page."
"I have all the confidence in the world in my teammates. Not so sure about Josh Hart; we'll see how he acts," Brunson said jokingly.
“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we're all excited for the opportunity to do it again. We're not satisfied to just get one,” Hart added, while answering some of his questions in the dark as the lights went out at the Madison Square Garden Training Center.
Contract extension updates
While the championship glow is still shining, a few players with unsettled contract situations loom large for the team’s future. Brown said that the front office, including general manager Leon Rose, talks about everything concerning the roster, saying, “We don't want to leave elephants in the room. I have a lot of faith in them, the players and agents."
The 31-year-old Karl Anthony Towns has two more years on his contract, including a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $61 million, and said "there's no comfortability to be had” when discussing a possible extension. He is eligible for a four-year, $272 million contract.
"I've made it known I want to play here,” said Towns, who said he has dropped weight in his memorable offseason, which included getting married and honeymooning in Africa. “I've been a fan since I was young. I would like to get one done, of course. Get it done so I can step on the court and feel as comfortable as possible”
Hart has a team option in his deal for next season worth $22 million.
"You always want to get it done, kind of as soon as possible. You don't want that trickling into the season because whenever there's uncertainty, there's going to be a lot of questions,” he said. “There's going to be a lot of rumors, and at a human level, sometimes that can wear people down, and it can affect how you go out and handle business on a day-to-day basis, just some of that uncertainty.”
Tyrese Haliburton sat down for Indiana Pacers media day and made sure to every reporter in the room knew his latest injury update.
"Before you ask a question, I am healthy. I'm 100%. There will be no restrictions," Haliburton declared on Monday, Sept. 28. "That is not news. There's no source. I am the source. I'm good. I'm ready to go for the year."
That is most certainly good news for the Pacers, who enter the 2026-27 NBA season coming off a rough campaign in which Haliburton didn't play at all while rehabbing from the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton also endured a frustrating case of shingles that slowed his recovery.
During the 15 months he hasn't played, Haliburton kept tabs on all the doubts that formed about his ability to regain his All-Star form and the Pacers' viability as a contender. He already expressed shock last month upon learning his first game back from injury for Indiana's regular season opener won't be on national television.
"You guys know the type of person I am. You know that I search for any type of negativity at all times," Haliburton said on Monday. "My screenshots folder, my bookmarks folder on Twitter is pretty crazy. That's just who I am. That's always going to be who I am. The last 16 months have allowed for a lot, a lot of material for me and that's fun. That's going to make the year fun for us ... As a team, we have a lot of bulletin board material."
Haliburton said he expects Indiana to compete for an NBA title again with center Ivica Zubac joining the team's core at last year's trade deadline.
How Haliburton looks with him remains an unknown until it actually happens. The 26-year-old point guard has been playing 5-on-5 against team personnel and teammates in recent weeks and posted a video on social media completing a between-the-legs dunk to demonstrate his progress.
Haliburton mentioned having to "rebuild who I am" during this rehabilitation process and noted, "the first time that I fell and the gym didn't gasp, that's when I felt normal again."
"I feel great. I can only say it so many times," Haliburton said. "I'm looking forward to getting back on the floor and you guys being able to see it for yourself."
When the Jazz made the blockbuster trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. last February, a vision was put into place. A vision of a healthy Walker Kessler pairing up with JJJ to create the most daunting defensive rim presence in the NBA.
Everyone was on board. Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Will Hardy, Danny Ainge, Austin Ainge, the Jazz fanbase. Everybody bought in but Kessler, who apparently wanted to do everything in his power to not play in a purple mountain jersey ever again.
According to Marc Stein in his latest post of “The Stein Line” substack, Kessler’s camp told Jazz officials that he was “determined” to go the qualifying offer route this summer, and hit unrestricted free agency in 2027.
Kessler was set to leave Utah no matter what. Nothing could have convinced him to stay.
Walker Kessler's camp successfully convinced Jazz officials that he was absolutely determined to go the qualifying offer route this summer had he stayed in Utah and then proceed to unrestricted free agency next summer, per @TheSteinLine
This alleged sentiment contradicts an instagram post that Kessler made to Utah Jazz fans in the midst of free agency rumors in June.
“I’ve seen what’s being said, and I want it to be clear that I have always wanted to be here — I love this city, these fans, my teammates, my coaches — that’s real to me. You don’t grow roots where you don’t want to be,” Kessler wrote to Jazz fans via Instagram on June 17, 2026.
The entire Kessler-Utah saga is a perplexing one. Why did Kessler have so much reported animosity towards the idea of playing for the Jazz? Even before Utah acquired JJJ, Kessler and the Jazz could not agree to terms on his rookie extension, failing to come to an agreement before the September deadline last season.
Kessler only played five games before succumbing to a season-ending shoulder injury, and even then, the Jazz showed confidence in the big man. In a recent interview with team reporters Eric Spryopolous and JP Chunga, Austin Ainge claimed that he wanted to bring Kessler back for another season.
“ We really valued Walker. Walker’s a good player,” Austin Ainge said. “We were planning on keeping him. But that offer got high enough that we thought it was the right move to make for the Jazz for building a championship team.”
Austin Ainge on the Walker Kessler trade:
“ We really valued Walker. Walker's a good player. We were planning on keeping him. But that offer got high enough that we thought it was the right move to make for the Jazz for building a championship team." pic.twitter.com/6wTuRYeaGY
Austin Ainge was diplomatic in that interview, and while he was mostly truthful about the Kessler situation, what wasn’t mentioned was that Kessler ultimately did not want to play in Utah. Had Kessler been really committed to play for the Jazz, it looks like the Jazz would have happily had the fifth-year center back in 2026-27.
Kessler in L.A. hurts the Jazz for 2026-27. It is a noticeable falloff from Kessler as your starting center to Jusuf Nurkic — assuming that they are still trying to run a three-big lineup with Markkanen and Jackson at the three and four. But getting four first-round picks for a league-average center who has had an injury history already in his first four seasons in the NBA, is a fantastic deal.
It’s still weird to think about how the Kessler era in Utah ended. In his rookie season, it seemed that Utah had found its Rudy Gobert replacement for a fraction of the price. The Jazz were set to have another all-NBA defender for the next decade. He finished third behind Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams, both of whom are all stars now.
To think that he would only play four years for Utah after how great the marriage started is disappointing.
Expect some boos to rain down at the Delta Center when the Lakers visit Salt Lake City on Oct. 25.
James slightly deflected that question at media day on Monday at the 76ers training facility when asked about the structure of his two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, and whether he's looking at it as his last stop.
Instead, the four-time NBA champion said he is approaching his 24th season in the NBA, and his first back in the Eastern Conference in nearly a decade, by being in the "present."
"I'm just looking at it every single day on how I can be the best version of myself for this franchise while I'm here. I can't speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself, just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career," James said.
James chose the 76ers over the reported interest of the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The 76ers become the fourth franchise James will play for, marking the first time he will play in a new uniform since the start of the 2018-19 season.
In joining the 76ers, who were swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs last season, James will be teamed up with his close friend Tyrese Maxey, who served as a "major factor" in his decision to return to the East Coast.
After announcing his free-agent signing with the 76ers, James posted on social media that it was his "last decision" and that he wasn't "going for money."
The NBA All-Time Leading Scorer noted on Monday that while he'll not have a Year 24 season again next season, he will see "what happens" regarding a 25th season.
"Me trying to focus on what my future looks like, I wouldn’t be giving myself grace. I’m more in the present now, understanding that I’m in Year 24," James said. "... I just like being in the moment, and we’ll see what happens."
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks to media during the Toronto Raptors media day at Hotel X on September 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early during Kawhi Leonard’s highly anticipated 2026-27 Toronto Raptors Media Day availability, he fielded a question from The Toronto Star’s Doug Smith on what he learned about himself in the past year.
His response hit the Los Angeles Clippers fanbase like a wall more daunting than the one in their home arena:
“I need pressure or I need a winning situation.”
TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks to media during the Toronto Raptors media day at Hotel X on September 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During Leonard’s seven-year stint with the Clippers, they accumulated a 325-229 record (.586). His tenure had a promising start, with a second-round appearance and a trip to the Western Conference Finals in his first two seasons. Leonard then missed the 2021-22 season with an ACL injury and the Clippers never recovered. Los Angeles eventually added three first-round exits to their resume in the ensuing years.
During his lone campaign in Toronto, the team went 58-24 (.707) and ultimately captured the city’s first NBA championship.
“The city took a liking to me, even before we won the championship,” said Leonard. “People were thanking me for how well I was playing and leading the Raptors to a historic playoff run.”
In addition to highlighting the energy and the people, Leonard is excited for his son to experience Toronto.
“My son was born here, now he’s back home, and he seems happier,” added Leonard.
While any worries about his off-court life can be cast aside, it’ll undoubtedly be what happens on the court that determines whether or not Toronto ultimately provides Leonard with his ‘winning situation’. While there are many fascinating pieces on the team, no one is more important to determining this team’s ceiling than Scottie Barnes. As brilliant as Leonard is, he has often required dominant on-ball players next to him, specifically during his Clippers run.
In his final season with the Clippers, Leonard finished with a 33.4 usage rate, good for the third-highest in the league. He played with James Harden (until he was shipped off to the Cleveland Cavaliers) and Darius Garland, who finished with usage rates of 33.1 and 29.9. Both would have finished higher than anyone on the Raptors last season:
Brandon Ingram: 26.9
RJ Barrett: 25.7
Scottie Barnes: 23.4
Despite that, Leonard has seemingly bought into what Head Coach Darko Rajakovic has planned schematically.
“I can play off anybody…I can catch and shoot,” said Leonard. “I’ve played with limited shots before.”
While it’s admirable of Leonard to publicly concede touches, the Raptors desperately need him to be the type of bucket-getter that they had hoped Ingram would be, especially in the post-season. Still, as defences load up on Leonard, it’ll be important for Barnes to meet those on-ball expectations.
Barnes is excited for the responsibility:
“Just trying to work on my offensive game in those iso and late-game situations is where I can take that next level,” said Barnes.
Before the Q&A started, Leonard quickly set the tone. He wasn’t going to address the cap circumvention situation. Instead, he proceeded to show off a charm and charisma that previously eluded him. From joking about K’wine & Dine to addressing his viral laugh, Leonard seemed loose and willing to be vulnerable.
“I’m not going to stop laughing because people thought it was funny,” said Leonard.
The pressure and expectations won’t stop building in Toronto either, but it seems like this version of Leonard is built for it and more.
"Hey, everyone, thanks for coming," Leonard said Monday, Sept. 28. "I’m excited to be here. I know why some of you guys came – you want to hear about the investigation – but in talking with the NBA and (National Basketball Players Association), I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor."
Leonard, who had previously played one season for the Raptors in 2018-19 and helped deliver the franchise’s only NBA championship, agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
After his one season with the Raptors, Leonard became an unrestricted free agent and opted to sign with the Clippers, where he played six seasons.
"I don’t really go back and think too about it too much about it," Leonard said when asked to reflect on his departure from the Raptors. "Cause when you think, the next year was COVID, and I kind of made my decision to go to LA based off my family. I’m a big family guy, had a lot of older people in my family that I was able to spend time with that passed away.
"And just seeing babies be born and their cousins and nieces – that was all great for me, and I can’t take that back. Those times, cherished, and being able to see family and hug them before they passed, it doesn’t make me think about the basketball aspect of it too much."
The seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP will lead Toronto alongside forward Scottie Barnes and guard RJ Barrett. Although Leonard said he didn’t want to take questions about the Clippers and the investigation, he did say he felt the Clippers "weren’t too competitive last year," as they struggled to a 42-40 record. Los Angeles qualified for the play-in game but lost to the Warriors and missed out on the playoffs.
"I need pressure," Leonard said. "I need a winning situation. I want to try to win."
Toronto, which made the postseason last year without Leonard and was eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, should be competitive in a deep Eastern Conference.
"I already was a distraction for the past 70 days and wasn’t able to meet my teammates and do any of that minicamp stuff with them," Leonard said. "So moving forward, I just want to talk about the Toronto Raptors today. I did release a statement that you can go back to. So, yeah, like I said, I just want to focus on basketball and being a Toronto Raptor. Like I said, I’m excited to play and be in the city."
The four-time NBA champion made his first public appearance at the 76ers media day on Monday, Sept. 28 at the team's training facility in Camden, New Jersey. James reportedly had several other suitors interested in adding him to their respective rosters, including the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
He ultimately chose the Sixers and signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option. In Philadelphia, the NBA superstar will look to lead the franchise past the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in two decades alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, the latter whom the 76ers traded for in the offseason.
USA TODAY Sports is on-site and providing live coverage of James' first media day with the 76ers. Here are some of the notable quotes from the 76ers' media day:
LeBron makes joke at start of 76ers news conference
As LeBron took the podium for his news conference, the 22-time NBA All-Star began with a joke as he removed his name tag from the table.
Why did LeBron James choose the 76ers? Relationship with Tyrese Maxey
How did James settle on the Sixers? Here's his response:
"I had a list of five teams that I was interested in. I saw my agent on his podcast and saw his whiteboard. I love him to death. He had his whiteboard, and he had all his LeBron teams up there. So I had a group of teams that I was interested in. And I have a really, really good, great relationship with Tyrese (Maxey). We talked a lot, and I kind of picked his brain a lot, not only about where he sees his career going, how he sees the franchise here, and how much he believes in the franchise. And if I was to come here, how does he see me fitting in? Do we think it'd be a plus, or do we think it'd be a negative?
"Because I understand my personality and what comes with me. Sometimes it can be a negative. I understand some people maybe can't handle what I may bring to the table and I was just asking all the questions that I could ask him and it wasn't just one conversation. But I think our relationship (and) when I broke a lot of the teams down, when I broke a lot of the franchises down that I could possibly play for, he was one of the main deciding factors."
Here's what James said about playing alongside Embiid and helping him in Philadelphia:
"Got to get here first. Not even one day in being in the facility. I am just looking forward to obviously seeing what his process is as well. Joel is one of the most talented guys that we have in the world, and obviously we all know that for him it's just been about health. How can he stay healthy to be the best version of himself? Be the best version of himself to be the best version of us as a team?
"I've seen him put in a lot of work on his body, putting a lot of work in his game, a lot of work on his mental season. That is a big upside, not only for us as his teammates, but I guarantee it is for him. I don't want to speak for him. You guys have talked to him, but I guarantee that's a good feeling for him."
What LeBron James said about retirement
How many more years does James have left? He spoke on that and how his contract in Philadelphia is set up, where there's a player option for next season:
"I'm just looking at it every single day on how I can be the best version of myself for this franchise while I'm here. I can't speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself. Just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career. Me trying to focus on what the future looks like would be like, I wouldn't be giving myself grace. I'm more in the present now, understanding that I'm in Year 24. It won't be another Year-plus 24, you know what I'm saying? It's just like being in the moment and just seeing what happens."
What LeBron James said about role with 76ers
What will James' role be in Nick Nurse's system? His response:
"Whatever the team needs me to do. I think the luxury of my game is that I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything."
The Sixers haven't made it out of the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2001, when Allen Iverson led them to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. With a star-studded lineup that includes others such as Maxey, Embiid, Brown and VJ Edgecombe, how does James see expediting the chemistry with the group?
He noted that while it will "take time," the best ways to expedite it are times before practice, film sessions, bus and plane rides, and falling in love with "doing things that's uncomfortable."
That said, James made his expectations known: He wouldn't have come to Philadelphia if he didn't think the 76ers had championship expectations.
"I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round," James said.
James said he's excited to be a part of the "vibe" in Philadelphia as he gets acclimated with his new city. He mentioned that the Philadelphia sports fans know "ball" and that they'll hold players accountable "if you're not doing what you're supposed to do."
So, what's been his experience with 76ers fans in the past as a visitor, and how is he expecting his relationship to change now as a member of the City of Brotherly Love?
"It's been both," James said of his relationship in the past with Philadelphia fans. "It's been like, 'Okay, we respect the way you play the game because we know the game and we know the history of the game and we see so many players play, but we hate you. You're not with us, we hate you.' And I love that. I actually really love it. I really thrive under that circumstance.
"But yeah, it's always been mutual respect with myself and the Philly fans, and we'll be on the same side now guys. I need a little hate, so I hope we can just get some people that's not real Philly fans, and we just put them in the crowd so I can just get that attention. But it's been great. ... I actually came here in high school as well and played at The Palestra my senior year, and it was that same type of atmosphere."
James' first official game as a Sixer will come on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden when the Sixers open up the 2026-27 NBA season against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks. His first home game will be Thursday, Oct. 22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of James' former teams.
NEW YORK - JUNE 12: John Starks #3 of the New York Knicks prepares to make a move against Vernon Maxwell #11 of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the NBA Finals played on June 12, 1994 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1994 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another week closer to Knicks basketball, rejoice.
Welcome back to the 53-year retrospective series that we began last week with the aftermath of the Golden Era Knicks. In Part II today, we relive the 1990s, the closest that the Knicks ever came to raising another Larry O’Brien Trophy.
For fans of a certain age, it created wounds that never quite healed until this group got it done in June. By the time Patrick Ewing was out the door in 2001, the sheer size of the drought started to become something real and tangible. The doubt of “Are they ever going to win again?” starts to creep in.
It was overall a banner decade for Knicks basketball, and one that deserves remembering. Unfortunately, this series only covers the bad, but maybe you can remember the good amidst it. Let’s get into it:
Trading Rod Strickland For Maurice Cheeks (1990)
Oh, look, another one of the worst trades in Knicks history!
Strickland was a solid backup point guard in his first year and a half in the league, but was blocked by Mark Jackson, the 1988 Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 1989. The Knicks, who were now contending, were thinking about getting to the next level, so they traded a young guard who was blocked for a 33-year-old veteran who could fit the role better as one of the league’s best defensive guards.
Cheeks, an NBA champion in Philly in 1983 and again as an assistant on this year’s staff, played a total of 107 games as a Knick, averaging eight points and five assists while adequately raising his game in the postseason. He was shipped out prior to 1991-92 for a pick that became Charlie Ward before retiring a year later. The player they got was fine, but they definitely could’ve used Strickland.
Jackson had a ceiling as a Knick, one that he reached quite early and that led to his departure after 1991-92. Strickland, meanwhile, would become a great starting guard in San Antonio and Portland, eventually averaging 19 points and nine assists in his prime during the mid-to-late 90s.
I wonder if an offensively challenged Knicks team, one that relied on gritty defense without a true point guard and had to rely on John Starks to provide playmaking, could’ve used a guy like Strickland in their deep playoff runs to come.
Interesting inflection point: does this trade happen if Al Bianchi left the Knicks in 1989 instead of Rick Pitino?
The Disastrous 1990-91 Season
The 1991 Knicks were built around a 28-year-old Patrick Ewing, 27-year-old Charles Oakley, a 25-year-old Mark Jackson, a 27-year-old Gerald Wilkins, and veterans like Kiki Vandeweghe and Mo Cheeks. While they weren’t old by any means, they weren’t young enough to excuse a steep drop-off, but that’s what happened in 1991.
They won 52 games in the last year under Pitino, 45 in the first year under Stu Jackson, and went below .500 in 1990-91. Complete disaster.
Jackson lasted just 15 games into 90-91 before being replaced by John McLeod, who had 15 years of head coaching experience with Phoenix (who made the NBA Finals in 1976) and Dallas. He didn’t quite steady the ship, as the Knicks stumbled to as low as 22-31 in late February, but they did rebound to get to 39 wins and sneak into the playoffs.
Was making the playoffs worth it? Probably not, as Michael Jordan and the Bulls made quick work of the Knicks in the first round en route to their first title, but at least nobody’s career changed for the worst because of this season? About that…
After two terrific seasons under Pitino, Mark Jackson was never the same when he left. He started the next season out of shape; he didn’t fit the coaching style of Stu Jackson, and the flash he had on offense gave way to dreadful defense, causing the Garden crowd to turn on him. It wasn’t long until he was gone, shipped out for Doc Rivers and Charles Smith in September 1992.
Speaking of Charles Smith…
Charles Smith Can’t Buy A Layup (1993 ECF, Game 5)
The Knicks landed their white whale as head coach after that terrible 1991 season, bringing in a guy who would restore competence to the franchise: Pat Riley. After building the team back to 51 wins and a trip to the second round that ended in a seven-game defeat to Jordan, the Knicks were back on the right path.
In 1992-93, they went into hyperspeed. 60 wins for the first time since 1969-70. The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Home-court advantage until the NBA Finals. 20 years after the most recent championship, this had all the makings of a rebirth.
Ewing finished top five in both MVP and DPOY voting. Anthony Mason was the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. Both John Starks and Charles Oakley got downballot DPOY votes. They breezed past the Pacers and Hornets, going 7-2 in the first two series to advance to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1974.
Of course, they had to get through the back-to-back champion Bulls, the team that had eliminated them in three of the past four seasons.
But something felt different this time. Unlike in 1989, the Knicks took advantage of home court and won two close games at home to head to Chicago with a 2-0 lead. Now, they proceeded to lose both games at the United Center, but do the math. Just keep winning games at the World’s Most Famous Arena, and you’d be in the NBA Finals.
That takes us to Game 5, where both teams are stuck in a gritty, tightly contested battle. Ewing has 33 points; Jordan and Scottie Pippen have combined for 57. The Knicks led in the final 90 seconds, but faced a deficit after a BJ Armstrong corner three with 1:16 to go.
Charles Smith got a chance to tie the game at the line with 52.8 to go, but he split the foul shots. No biggie, though, as Ewing swatted Stacey King’s jumper to force a shot clock violation with 27 seconds left. One more chance, down by one.
Starks brought it up, gave it off to Ewing, who shoveled it into Smith with 14 seconds left, 10 on the shot clock. The 6’10” former All-Rookie forward was having a good game as part of a solid year where he averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. When he had the ball at the rim, it wasn’t automatic by any means, but he was able to score; this wasn’t a guy who couldn’t put the ball in the basket.
Yet, the powers that be didn’t let him score.
Fans in the Garden and around the world watched in agony over the next nine seconds as he missed four different layup attempts, with three being blocked. The weird hitch when he went up for a layup allowed the Bulls to swarm and consistently deflect it. The angles he attempted them from were odd, he kept trying to gather the ball at his hip instead of tapping it in. He never drew any contact.
This is something unimaginable to happen today, where forwards are explicitly taught to attack the offensive glass in traffic like a tip drill. Nobody told Smith this, and the Bulls found a way to win in baffling fashion. The Knicks, deflated after that inexplicable way to lose, lost by eight in Chicago two days later to once again be left as the Eastern Conference’s bridesmaid.
If only they could make Michael Jordan disappear…
John Starks Bombs The Biggest Game Of His Life (1994 NBA Finals, Game 7)
They made Michael Jordan disappear. Following his father’s death, Jordan retired to try out baseball, which opened the Eastern Conference back up to any team that had been stuck in their shadows.
What about the team they had eliminated four of the past five years?
Looking to grab the opportunity by the horns, the Knicks won 57 games in 1993-94, tying the Hawks for the East’s best record. Ewing was brilliant again along the way, getting another top-five MVP finish.
It wasn’t easy to get to where they wanted to be. After rolling past the Nets in the first round, they had to conquer their demons with the Pippen-led Bulls in the second round. They got deja vu with another one-point deficit in Game 5 of a 2-2 series at home, but a sign of shifting tides occurred.
While Smith couldn’t even draw a foul amidst being repeatedly smothered by Pippen in 1993, they won the game after Hubert Davis was fouled by Pippen on a jumper with two seconds left, with Davis making both free throws to take the lead and the win.
All that was in the way of ending this drought early was Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. When the Knicks took a 3-2 series lead back to Houston, they could smell it.
It was at the tip of their fingers in Game 6. Down 86-84 in the final seconds, the red-hot John Starks unleashed a three from the elbow at the buzzer, only for The Dream to get a finger on it to force a Game 7. That close to a Kris Jenkins-esque buzzer-beater to win it all.
Oh well, on to Game 7. As you might expect from the ‘94 Knicks, it was a low-scoring affair. As usual, they were effectively even into the fourth quarter, with the Rockets leading 63-60. It was still anybody’s game.
The one guy who’s game it wasn’t? Starks, who was a leading contender for NBA Finals MVP until his horrific night. One of the best shooters on the team and the all-time Knicks leader in three-pointers, he was ice cold all night long. Shot after shot refused to go in, and even worse, Riley kept him in there. This wasn’t like keeping Jalen Brunson in when he’s 4-for-17; there were actually alternatives to go to!
Houston slowly pulled away in the fourth, but the Knicks were still in range. Down six with 40 seconds left, Starks once again heaved up a desperation three, his ninth of the game, no good. After a jump ball was called on the fight for the rebound, the Knicks won the tip, and Ewing handed it off to Starks for another three: clank.
Otis Thorpe did miss two free throws on the other end, which still kept the Knicks theoretically alive, but you’ll never guess the play they ran with a six-point deficit and 31 seconds to go.
Yep, another Starks three. It was rushed at the top of the key and wasn’t even close. Airball. Rockets ball. Game over. Series over. Season over. Starks finished 2-for-18 from the field and 0-for-11 from three. In his entire career, he would never again make fewer than two 3s in a game in which he attempted 11.
In layman’s terms, the best shooter in franchise history picked the biggest game of his life and the biggest game in franchise history for a 50-year window to have the worst game of his life. If LolKnicks could be conceived anywhere, it’s here. If you dare, you can relive the harrowing final minute below:
Reggie Miller Puts His Name In Knicks Infamy (1995 ECSF, Game 1)
There was still no Michael Jordan to deal with (until the playoffs, that is), so the Knicks entered the 1994-95 season as definitive Eastern Conference favorites. They could smell it last year; there was no reason they couldn’t finish the job this year.
The Knicks once again won 55 games, but it was only good enough for the No. 2 seed this time behind the surging Orlando Magic. Because of that, they were stuck on the Pacers’ side of the bracket for the third consecutive year. After beating them in 1993 and 1994, this had become a defining Eastern Conference rivalry, but one that Indiana needed to finally win to make this feel less lopsided.
The Knicks got off on the right foot in 1994 with a 2-0 lead, and even after losing the next three (including Reggie Miller’s first Knicks antagonist moment), they rebounded to win the next two. This year, they seemed to be getting off to a solid start with a strong fourth quarter, taking a 105-99 lead into the final 20 seconds.
While Indiana certainly had the firepower to make it interesting, their leading scorer, Rik Smits, with 34, had fouled out. They still did have one guy: good ol’ Reggie.
Off the inbound, Miller banged a triple to cut it to 105-102 with 16 seconds to go. Off the inbound, Miller picked off an errant pass from Anthony Mason, stepped behind the line, and hit another three to tie the game. Six points in four seconds. Ouch.
Fortunately, the Pacers committed a terrible take foul to put Starks, a career 76% free throw shooter, at the line for the lead with 13 seconds left. They’d have to get a stop on the other end, but they were gift-wrapped the lead.
Starks missed both free throws. Ewing grabbed the board and missed a jumper in the paint. Miller grabbed the rebound and draw an accidental foul from Mason with eight seconds left. Absolute disaster.
Reggie hit both free throws, completing his memorable eight points in nine seconds. On the mad dash up the court, Greg Anthony stumbled on the wing and the buzzer sounded with him on the ground, shielding the ball from a Pacers’ defender.
As someone who didn’t watch this sequence but saw what happened 30 years later, this was 100% worse. These final 20 seconds were some of the most mind-bogglingly bad basketball I’ve seen a team of professionals play.
Patrick Ewing’s Missed Finger Roll (1995 ECSF, Game 7)
Game 1 was more than enough to haunt Knicks fans for decades, but there was one more moment in this series that forever went down in infamy.
The Knicks rebounded and won Game 2 convincingly behind 24 from Derek Harper. While we’re at it, let’s talk about Game 3, which was also really bad.
The Knicks led 87-77 with under five minutes to go. From there, Indiana took advantage of Ewing and Smith fouling out to pull within two in the final minute before Smits tied it with a jumper with 35 seconds left.
The game went to overtime, where the Knicks tried their best to undo Game 1 with an improbable late comeback of their own, but Charles Oakley missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer.
The Pacers won Game 4 by 14 to go up 3-1, but the reigning Eastern Conference champions didn’t know how to quit. Ewing nailed a game-winning shot at the rim to stave off elimination in Game 5 before putting up 25 and 15 to drag the Knicks to Game 7 with a thrilling win at Market Square Arena.
It set up Game 7 for the second straight year between the two rivals, with the winner going on to face Shaq and the Magic. The Pacers scored 34 in the first, but were dragged into the typical low-scoring bout that embodied 90s basketball. Still, they led by five with 45 seconds left and the ball.
A turnover, a three by Starks, and a miss on the other end gave the Knicks the ball, trailing by two with five seconds left. Every play in the book on the board.
Harper inbounded the ball to Ewing, standing at the top of the key and being double-teamed. As the team’s heart and soul, he was taking the last shot. No ifs, ands, or buts. He split his way through, dove down the lane, and rose up for a game-tying finger roll in the final two seconds in his home gym to force OT in Game 7.
It’s a shot he’s made hundreds or even thousands of times in his career. As a seven-foot big man, this is the shot he makes his money on. You don’t average 25 a game for your career and be the No. 1 option on a perennial contender if you can’t hit this shot. He won Game 5 like this, it’s no big deal… right?
An unimaginable miss. A career-defining miss. One of the several things that get replayed in fans’ heads when they wonder why he retired as one of the NBA’s best all-time ringless players.
Ewing would never have this good a chance to play for a championship again. He was almost 33 years old. By the time the Knicks made the Finals again, he was four years older and reduced to street clothes due to an Achilles tear.
It makes you feel so happy that he was around for the title in June, even if he won’t be there to celebrate on Ring Night as an assistant down in Washington. He deserved every minute of finally feeling like a champion after moments like these likely kept him up at night for decades.
Pat Riley Bolts For South Beach (1995)
It really felt like the Knicks had soiled their best chance at a championship by the time they finished licking their wounds from the ‘95 season. MJ was back and gearing up for another three-peat. They now had to deal with the rising stars in Indiana and Orlando. They were aging. The window wasn’t closed at all, but it was shrinking.
When things begin to look bleak, beware of people in the background trying to slip out the back door.
Four years into his tenure in New York, Pat Riley wanted to be compensated like the franchise-changing coach he was. He wanted organizational control, a significant pay raise, and a new title: President of Basketball Operations. He wanted to supersede Ernie Grunfeld, the architect of the roster.
MSG President Dave Checketts did offer Riley a five-year, $15 million extension, one that would double his salary and make him the league’s highest-paid coach, but he refused to give him that new title. He refused to even entertain a proposal for an ownership stake.
All this time, things were falling apart behind the scenes. The locker room was unraveling. Excerpts from the book Blood in the Gardenrevealed that Riley called longtime friend Dick Butera one hour after the Game 7 loss and said he was done in New York. That put the move to Miami in motion.
Now, if he really wanted to leave, he probably wouldn’t have demanded everything he did from Miami. 10 years and $50 million, the POBO role, a 10% ownership share that would eventually grow to 20%, homes in LA and NYC, limo service, etc. This was a full-on shakedown by an elite coach trying to take advantage of a new owner with a recent expansion franchise.
As we now know, he was successful. On June 15, just 25 days after the Knicks’ season ended and one day after the Rockets won the NBA Finals, Riley faxed in his resignation. For the second time in six years, a Knicks coach abruptly resigned after a difficult-to-stomach playoff loss.
By September, he was being introduced as the next coach of the Miami Heat, a team that would soon be just as big a thorn in the Knicks’ side as the Bulls or Pacers.
The Struggles Replacing Riley (1995-96)
It was a disaster trying to replace Pitino in 1989, and even with a new man in charge in 1995, it was equally rough when Riley left.
The first choice was Chuck Daly, the head coach of the Bad Boys Pistons and the 1992 Dream Team, who hadn’t coached since leaving the Nets in 1994. The Hall of Fame coach would’ve fit the team’s gritty identity to a T, but the two sides were financially apart, and Daly just wasn’t ready to coach again.
They couldn’t afford to dwell on it long, but in an odd twist, they elected to go in the complete opposite direction, hiring former Warriors offensive savant Don Nelson. There’s merit to thinking that a team with a defensive identity could use someone to give them an offensive jolt, but that would require obtaining more players to fit the scheme.
That just didn’t happen. It wasn’t going to happen with the aging Ewing. He and the rest of the roster never bought into his scheme, and the last straw seemed to be when he proposed trading Ewing to make a run at Shaq in free agency, who was ready to leave small-town Orlando for the bright lights of… somewhere. I don’t think New York would be more enticing than Tinseltown, but in another life, maybe Don Nelson’s plan worked.
The Knicks reversed course midseason and went back to the gritty, hard-nosed playstyle they were known for under longtime assistant Jeff Van Gundy, who was nearly poached by Riley back in September 1995, but got a chance to lead a franchise just six months later.
The Brawl That Ended the ‘97 Season (1997 ECSF, Game 5)
In a perfect world, the Knicks and Riley could’ve just gone their separate ways. Unfortunately, the arrival of Riley brought about the birth of a new powerhouse in South Florida, one that would be a pain in the ass for the Knicks during the home stretch of the Ewing era.
The 1996 season was doomed from the start and ended about as you’d expect: a five-game series defeat to MJ and the Bulls in the second round. With a full season of Van Gundy restoring a Riley-esque identity, the Knicks soared to 57 wins in the ‘97 season, but only managed the No. 3 seed in a stacked East.
They swept Charlotte in the first round, but it would be the 61-win Heat in the second round that they’d have to face in their first crack at Riley as an opponent. At least to start, it’d appear they’d have the first laugh.
27 points from Allan Houston allowed the Knicks to steal Game 1 in Miami, and while the Heat evened things up a few nights later, the Knicks would rebound to survive a 77-73 slog in Game 3 before a 13-point win in Game 4 put them on the verge with a 3-1 lead. At the time, only five teams had ever come back from that deficit, and there was no indication that the Heat would be No. 6.
Game 5 would go to Miami, but it would be the theatrics in the final two minutes that would go down in history. A spat between Alonzo Mourning and Charles Oakley would lead to the latter being ejected, but that was just the appetizer to the disaster that would soon unfold.
PJ Brown, loosely involved in the spat a few seconds earlier, would soon get into it with Charlie Ward, who instigated with an extremely hard and unnecessary boxout on a free throw attempt. Brown, significantly larger than the ex-Heisman winner, flipped him like a 10-year-old and started a full-on brawl in the camera area.
Those two getting suspended would be all well and good, but the Knicks made a critical error. Ever notice that coaches hold back players on the bench any time there’s pushing and shoving on the court? If a player leaves the bench, they are automatically suspended with no exceptions, even in a heated playoff series. Despite not contributing much to the violence, four of the Knicks’ best players left the bench.
It’d be bad enough if they weren’t available for Game 6 at MSG, but the NBA instead spread the suspensions out. They’d be without Ewing, Houston, and Ward in Game 6, which the Knicks would lose 95-90, and be without Larry Johnson and Starks in Game 7 back in Miami, which they’d lose 101-90.
In a nasty series between two teams that played in very similar fashion, the Knicks lost because their players left the bench and were suspended. While entirely self-inflicted, the fact that they mostly attempted to play peacemaker and didn’t add to the brawl made it unnecessary. They likely weren’t getting through the Bulls in the ECF, so maybe this just saved another humiliation ritual at the hands of Chicago, but it’s still a sore point for the 90s Knicks.
Drafting Frédéric Weis (1999)
If you ever scroll through the recent history of NBA drafts, you’ll see a bunch of second-round picks that never played in the NBA for a variety of reasons. Some are just throwaway Eurostashes, some just don’t work out due to the very clear flaws they had pre-draft, but no matter what, it never cripples a franchise.
First-round picks, no matter how much they end up sucking, always get to play at some point. Since 2000, only four first-round picks have never suited up in an NBA game, headlined by the 2005 No. 11 pick Fran Vazquez. He is the only top-20 pick of the bunch, so you might ask, who’s the second most recent?
With Ewing entering his age-37 season and recovering from an Achilles injury, the Knicks had to plan for the future. They still had aspirations to win with their increasingly dwindling window, but at some point, you have to acknowledge that it doesn’t last forever.
They had choices when the No. 15 pick came up in the 1999 draft after a very disappointing season. James Posey, Andrei Kirilenko, and Jeff Foster were all decade-long veterans on the board, but the real prize was the New York kid: Ron Artest. Born in Queensbridge and coming out of St. John’s, it was an easy pick to make.
So, of course, they decided to take a swing on a 7’2” giant from France, Frédéric Weis, instead. Worrying about positional need in the NBA is not good business, and they elected to pass on a hometown hero who would go on to be one of the league’s most defining personalities for a decade-plus, for a man who would never don the orange and blue.
This disaster was orchestrated by interim general manager Ed Tapscott, who reportedly vetoed the sentiment in the room of guys who wanted Artest. Hell, Van Gundy didn’t even want Weis! It was a mess from the start. Weis returned to France for 1999-2000 instead of signing a standard contract, and everything changed about his perception on September 25, 2000, when this happened at the Summer Olympics:
The Dunk of Death immortalized Vince Carter as a generation-defining star and Weis as a foreign clown. The Knicks, under new management after hiring a new full-time executive, Scott Layden, never expressed interest in getting Weis to come over from Europe.
He would play through 2011, during which he attempted suicide in 2008 and eventually had his “draft rights” traded for the man who he was picked to replace…’s son.
The Patrick Ewing Trade (2000)
The final years of the Ewing era were sad and drawn out.
In 1998, the Knicks fell to just 43 wins and lost in five games to the Pacers in the second round after getting revenge on Miami in Round 1. Things didn’t get much better in the lockout-shortened ‘99 season… until the playoffs.
The 1v8 upset against the Heat and a sweep over the Hawks launched another battle with the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the entire vibe of this team completely shifted when their star, Ewing, blew out his Achilles in Game 2. The underdog Knicks would rally to make the NBA Finals, but stood no chance against Tim Duncan and David Robinson with Ewing in street clothes.
At this point, it ceased being his team. Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston, both acquired in great trades late in the Grunfeld era, defined that memorable playoff run. 15 years into his tenure and nearing his 40th birthday, Ewing was being pushed aside. The Knicks were unceremoniously swept in the 2000 ECF rematch against the Pacers, after which came an inflection point.
There was one year left on the 38-year-old Ewing’s contract. He still wanted to play beyond that year, so he sought an extension. At this point, the Knicks began to truly understand the franchise’s mortality and their completely shut championship window. As much as it was important to ensure Ewing would never wear another uniform, they couldn’t pay him like the franchise legend he was.
Well, that was part of it. The other part was that Ewing himself was burnt out. The Knicks wanted to see things through for 2000-01, but Ewing also wanted out, demanding a trade. Reluctantly, Layden acquiesced. He was sent to Seattle in a massive, four-team swap that netted the Knicks two firsts, two seconds, and a really bad contract in Vin Baker.
This swap worked for nobody. The Knicks felt crummy after trading a legend and slumped to 48 wins and a first-round exit the following year. Ewing never got his extension and played one sad year with the SuperSonics before retiring on the Magic in 2002.
That 2001 season was the definitive end of an era. Jeff Van Gundy was canned 19 games into 2001-02 and the Knicks lost 52 games in their worst season since 1987, ending their long playoff streak. While Sprewell and Houston would stick around a bit longer, it was done.
Onto the next era of Knicks basketball, one that would really test the limits of patience among the fanbase as the drought surpassed 30 years.
