One of the main talking points regarding LeBron James’ signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24 was his salary cut. King James signed a two-year deal that will pay him $3.9 million next season.
It's nearly a $50 million pay cut. It's below his rookie salary of around $4 million. It’s the largest pay cut in NBA history.
But it isn’t how James makes the bulk of his cash.
USA TODAY analyzed James’ annual salary and estimated endorsement earnings over the course of his career and found that he’s earned roughly 65% of his career earnings from endorsements — a figure that represents nearly two-thirds of his overall pay.
In total, James has earned over $1.5 billion (not inflation-adjusted) across his 23-season NBA career, with over $1 billion coming from endorsements. Per Sportico, he’s the fourth-highest paid athlete of all time behind Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods.
This means that while James’ salary for the 2026-27 season is around 92% less than his final Los Angeles Lakers salary, he’ll still be making a hefty paycheck from endorsement deals.
Using James’ trend in endorsement earnings since 2021, USA TODAY calculates that his endorsement figure for 2026-27 would sit at around $91 million.
When combined with his salary number, James looks set to earn around $95 million for the upcoming season. And that's not even factoring in James' other business ventures, such as his minority partnership stake in Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club and other sports and media holdings.
The pay cut will likely drop him down from No. 4 on Forbes’ highest paid athletes list, but a $95 million haul would still place him tied for No. 12 on the 2026 list, which was published in May. He’d be tied with soccer star Kylian Mbappe, one of the leading stars at the 2026 World Cup.
Of course, that’s just a trends-based estimate — it’s certainly plausible that James could earn even more from endorsements in the upcoming season.
So, James is taking a big pay cut ― one that enables the 76ers to maintain a stacked roster that also includes Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown ― his overall cash hit isn’t as harsh as it initially seems.
Methodology: Salary data from Spotrac’s year-by-year cash earnings table. Endorsement data through 2025-26 from Forbes. USA TODAY estimated the 2026-27 endorsement figure based on recent trends.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With teams like the Thunder and Spurs possessing dominant frontcourt players, it was clear obtaining a center was a high priority for Los Angeles.
They accomplished that goal by trading for Walker Kessler, who the Lakers reportedly feel will pair very well with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves in this new era. While they got the blockbuster deal done, it was far from a foregone conclusion. Kessler was a restricted free agent, so the Jazz could’ve paid whatever it cost to keep him or simply refused to send him to the Lakers.
Considering how important it was to obtain a big, the Lakers had to have backup plans. In a recent article by Dan Woike in The Athletic, Mitchell Robinson may have been viewed by the team as Plan B.
Had it not been Kessler, the Lakers, according to team and league sources, would’ve likely tried to sign free agent center Mitchell Robinson, who left the New York Knicks to sign a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston.
While Robinson is a fine player, he is definitely not at Kessler’s level. Last year, Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He’s a solid defender and an efficient scorer, shooting 72.3% from the field last season.
However, Kessler has far better production. During the 2024-25 season, Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka had to have backup plans in place in case the top option wasn’t acquirable. Luckily for them, things worked out.
The Lakers got Kessler, and Robinson ended up signing a three-year $47.4 million deal with the Celtics.
This was an interesting Plan B. Hopefully, Plan A works out even better.
LeBron James is planning to produce a documentary to chronicle the final seasons of his NBA career and his move to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to multiple reports. But one of his closest associates is pushing back on speculation that the NBA's all-time leading scorer intends to produce a project similar to "The Last Dance" featuring Michael Jordan.
ESPN is close to reaching an agreement related to a documentary featuring James, The Athletic reported on Tuesday, July 30, though potential financial terms and and a tentative release date were still unknown. It's expected that James will have a camera crew following him throughout the 2026-27 season with the 76ers, in addition to the documentary featuring new behind-the-scenes footage from previous seasons.
James has not yet announced any official plans to produce a documentary and Maverick Carter, the CEO and co-founder of James' production company denied that they're planning anything similar to "The Last Dance."
"We are NOT doing anything like the “last dance” LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is," Carter wrote on social media.
James subsequently reposted the statement on his official X account. ESPN officials did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY Sports request for comment on the situation.
James, 41, will attempt to become the first player in NBA history to win a championship with four different teams when he plays for the 76ers. He chose to sign with Philadelphia on a two-year, $8-million contract and indicated it would be his "last decision." The Sixers will be a top Eastern Conference contender with James joining Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
"The Last Dance" featured behind-the-scenes access from the final NBA championship run Michael Jordan made with the Chicago Bulls, and the 10-part documentary also included never-before-seen footage and interviews from throughout Jordan's career. It premiered to great acclaim and fanfare in the spring of 2020 when there were no sports events taking place due to the COVID-19 pandemic and won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding documentary or nonfiction series.
NBA reporter Marc Stein noted Andy Thompson, an executive producer and videographer on "The Last Dance," has been a frequent presence at James' games in recent seasons.
With Summer League play in the rearview mirror and most major transactions completed, now is a good time to look back at some players whose fantasy values have been affected by the changes. After looking at the players whose fantasy outlooks have improved earlier this week, we look at some whose values may have taken a hit, some through no fault of their own. Kicking things off are two players in Philadelphia who are well-positioned to contend for an NBA title, at the expense of their respective fantasy outlooks.
G VJ Edgecombe and G/F Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
Obviously, no front office worth its salt would ever consider fantasy value when making moves that could improve the roster. Between the acquisition of Brown and the recent signing of LeBron James, the 76ers are well-positioned to contend for an NBA title next season. However, a stronger starting lineup also means that some individual sacrifices will need to be made.
As the least experienced player in the 76ers' starting five, Edgecombe may be the one who's asked to sacrifice the most offensively when everyone is healthy. The athletic guard is coming off an excellent rookie season in which he provided sixth-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats, as well as points leagues. Edgecombe's usage (20.1) wasn't too high, but that number may decrease with Brown and James on board, especially with both proving to be more durable than Paul George was.
As for Brown, he's coming off the most productive individual season of his NBA career. With Boston not having Jayson Tatum for most of the season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Brown's usage was a career-high 36.2. With the trade to Philadelphia, that number was already going to take a hit. Add in LeBron, and that is something else for fantasy managers to consider. Hopefully, Brown will be able to clean up the turnovers (3.6 per game), which factored into him finishing outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats.
G/F Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Avdija is coming off the best season of his NBA career to date, having earned his first All-Star Game appearance. He posted career-high averages in points, assists and three-pointers while offering third-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. However, between the departure of head coach Tiago Splitter, the return of Damian Lillard and the acquisition of Ja Morant, Avdija's usage (29.3 last season) is bound to decrease. He can still offer reliable fantasy value, especially if the three-point accuracy improves and the turnovers decrease. However, Avdija's ceiling took a significant hit this offseason.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While he did enter last season with a top-100 ADP, few expected Rollins to be as productive as he was for the injury-riddled Bucks. He recorded career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from three and 79.6 percent from the foul line. The Bucks' chances of being a factor in the East took a significant hit with Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to Miami. Still, there are even more perimeter options for new head coach Taylor Jenkins to sift through.
In addition to Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. return, with the latter having signed a deal that shocked many (four years, $64 million). Among the players Milwaukee received from Miami were guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis, and lottery pick Brayden Burries was one of the best performers at the Vegas Summer League. While he won't fall off the face of the earth, the increased number of guards on the roster may not do Rollins' fantasy value any favors.
F Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat
Speaking of the Antetokounmpo trade, his arrival in Miami may mean that Wiggins' usage takes a hit. Despite Herro and Norman Powell (who's now in Chicago) missing extended periods of time due to injury, Wiggins still averaged just 15.4 points per game last season, a decrease of more than three points when compared to his 2024-25 average (19.0). The positive is that Wiggins shot a career-high 41.4 percent from three on 4.9 attempts per game; if he can maintain that accuracy, it would help preserve some of his category-league value.
C Alex Sarr and G/F Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
After years of stockpiling young talent, the Wizards began to shift the franchise's approach with the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season. Add in AJ Dybantsa, who was selected with the first overall pick in June's draft, and some of the other young Wizards stand to take hits to their fantasy values in 2026-27. Sarr may be better equipped to preserve his fantasy value, especially if Washington decides to start him alongside Davis.
And in that scenario, players like George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Will Riley would lose their luster as fantasy options. Of those four, George's overall profile gives him the highest category-league ceiling, but it would be challenging to expect a top-100 season out of him.
F/C Santi Aldama, Dallas Mavericks
While he finished last season with career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists (tie), steals and blocks, injuries limited Aldama to 43 games for the Grizzlies. The move from Memphis to Dallas puts Aldama on a team headlined by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and there's a surplus of bodies in the post as well. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford remain on the roster, as does Moussa Cissé after the Mavericks matched the offer sheet he signed with the Knicks. Add in lottery pick Morez Johnson Jr., and Aldama's fantasy value stands to take a hit unless someone is traded.
Rookies
G Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
After finishing the Salt Lake City portion of Utah's summer league run on a positive note, Peterson played three games in Las Vegas. In those appearances, the second overall pick in June's draft averaged 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers. However, the efficiency was lacking, with Peterson shooting 30.8 percent from the field while averaging 4.7 turnovers.
Long-term, Peterson should be fine; there is too much talent for the Jazz to work with in the former Kansas guard. Short-term, does he start alongside Keyonte George or come off the bench? George, who is extension eligible this summer, is coming off the best season of his NBA career and appears to be Utah's answer at point guard. There's also Ace Bailey to consider, as he made 61 starts as a rookie. Peterson should still be one of the first rookies taken in drafts, but managers may need to temper their expectations early on.
G Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
Similar to Peterson, Acuff put up good averages this summer, but the efficiency was an issue. In three games in Las Vegas, the seventh-overall pick averaged 19.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers while shooting 36.8 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from three and 64.3 percent from the foul line. Between the 4.7 turnovers per game and limited defensive value, Acuff has some areas to clean up going into his rookie campaign. The good news is that managers who can withstand the efficiency concerns should be fine, as Acuff should be the Kings' starting point guard on Opening Night.
F Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks
Ament did not play in the California Classic, but he did appear in all five of Milwaukee's games in Las Vegas. In those appearances, the former Tennessee forward averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers per game. Ament posted solid percentages, but his overall impact was somewhat muted. Once training camp opens, he will face significant competition for minutes. Miami added Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware via the Giannis trade while also re-signing Ousmane Dieng. Add in returnee Kyle Kuzma, and Ament's rookie year fantasy outlook may not be great.
F Dailyn Swain, Chicago Bulls
While fellow first-round pick Caleb Wilson was one of the standouts in Las Vegas, Swain struggled. In four games, he averaged 4.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.8 steals, shooting just 12.9 percent from the field. While Summer League is nowhere near the level of play Swain and the other rookies will face in the fall/winter, the inability to get things done offensively in his first NBA experience is a concern.
F Alex Karaban, Sacramento Kings
Karaban's summer got off to a rough start, as a sprained ankle sidelined him for the entirety of the California Classic. That injury likely factored into his slow start in Las Vegas, with the former UConn standout averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game in four appearances. Karaban shot just 38.1 percent from the field, and there's no guarantee that the quality of looks he gets will improve once the regular season begins, with the Kings likely starting fellow rookie Darius Acuff Jr. at the point.
Both franchises still intend to complete the deal, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, despite uncertainty over when the league will conclude its investigation into allegations that the Clippers circumvented salary-cap rules to compensate Leonard.
The nearly year-long probe centers on a four-year, $28 million endorsement agreement Leonard received from Aspiration, a now-bankrupt company that previously held a major sponsorship deal with the Clippers.
The Raptors and Clippers still plan to complete Kawhi Leonard’s trade despite an NBA investigation that could extend into 2027. Getty ImagesSteve Ballmer looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles owner Steve Ballmer has acknowledged introducing Leonard to Aspiration but denied arranging or knowing about the endorsement agreement. The Clippers and Leonard have consistently denied wrongdoing.
The league is examining whether the endorsement was legitimate or an improper method of funneling additional money to Leonard outside his NBA contract.
Holmes reported that the investigation could extend into next year if the league, Clippers, Leonard and National Basketball Players Association cannot agree on the findings or any proposed punishment.
The union would reportedly be prepared to take the case to arbitration if it believed the NBA attempted to discipline Leonard without sufficient evidence. That process could add months to an investigation that has already complicated one of the offseason’s biggest moves.
Toronto Raptors NBA basketball team president Masai Ujiri speaks about acquiring Kawhi Leonard in a trade AP
Toronto and Los Angeles reportedly agreed to the trade on June 30. Leonard would return to the franchise he led to the 2019 championship, while the Clippers would receive a package headlined by Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and multiple draft picks.
The transaction was placed on hold after the NBA informed Toronto that it would assume the risk of any punishment affecting Leonard once the trade became official.
Potential discipline could include fines, lost draft picks, suspensions for team personnel or even the voiding of Leonard’s contract. Exactly how any penalty would affect a completed trade remains unclear.
That uncertainty explains Toronto’s reluctance to finalize the deal before the league reaches a decision. It has not, however, changed the Raptors’ desire to reunite with Leonard.
Shortly after the trade, Raptors team president Masai Ujiri expressed confidence in Leonard’s mindset.
“He is determined and seems in the right frame of mind,” Ujiri said. “You will be hearing from him shortly. I think there is a fire inside of him and we are all excited about that.”
The 35-year-old is coming off a career-best scoring season, averaging 27.9 points across 65 appearances.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently expressed hope that the investigation would conclude before the regular season, but no formal deadline has been announced.
The Raptors and Clippers are therefore preparing to move forward while waiting for a process they cannot control.
Leonard’s return to Toronto still appears to be the expected outcome. The only question is whether it happens before training camp, before the regular season—or after the investigation becomes a problem that follows both teams into 2027.
James and ESPN are reportedly nearing an agreement on a documentary series that would follow his time with the Philadelphia 76ers while revisiting the defining moments of his career, according to The Athletic.
Negotiations are said to be at the “one-yard line,” although financial terms and a potential release date remain unknown. ESPN and a representative for James declined to comment on the report.
LeBron James and ESPN are reportedly close to a ‘Last Dance’-style documentary chronicling his final NBA chapter with the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images
Should the deal be finalized, cameras would follow James throughout his first season in Philadelphia, where he will begin a record-extending 24th NBA campaign. The series would also pull from an extensive archive of footage collected since James emerged as a national phenomenon at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
That could provide viewers with previously unseen material from a career that has stretched across Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles and now Philadelphia.
The obvious comparison is Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance,” the 10-part ESPN documentary centered on the Chicago Bulls’ 1997-98 championship season. Cameras received extraordinary access to Jordan and the Bulls during their final title run, although the series was not released until 2020.
A James project would only intensify the debate that has followed both superstars for years. Jordan’s documentary revisited the end of a dynasty. James’ version could capture the conclusion of the other career most commonly mentioned in basketball’s greatest-player conversation.
Michael Jordan and Ron Harper are all smiles as a playoff game in 1998 winds down. Phil Velasquez/TNS via ZUMA Wire / Shutterstock
The biggest unanswered question is whether this is actually James’ final season.
The 41-year-old called joining Philadelphia his “last decision,” but he signed a two-year contract and reportedly holds a player option after the 2026-27 campaign. His agent, Rich Paul, has also left open the possibility that James could play beyond the next two seasons.
That uncertainty could affect when the series reaches television. A documentary chronicling James’ arrival in Philadelphia would already carry enormous interest, but its impact would be greater if the footage ultimately captured his final games.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on court against the Cleveland Cavaliers Getty Images
James chose the 76ers after ending an eight-season run with the Lakers, whom he helped lead to the 2020 championship. He now joins a star-heavy Philadelphia roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown.
The move was made with a fifth championship in mind. If the 76ers can deliver one while cameras document the season, James could produce the Hollywood ending Jordan enjoyed with Chicago.
Unlike “The Last Dance,” however, nobody yet knows when James will take his final bow.
Good morning New York! So you broke a championship curse that spanned five decades. Fifty-three years since the last banner went up, and now there’s a new one. Welcome to the club nobody tells you the rules of until you’re already a member. You are the curse breaker, the uplifter of community, the beacon of hope. You’re also the biggest target alive.
Welcome to being the 2015 Warriors after the parade.
Minnesota traded Towns cause he was "washed"…
Dallas refused to pay Brunson cause "he's not that good"…
Nets traded Bridges cause he "has no future"…
Raptors got rid of OG to "save on the cap"
Blazers got rid of Josh Hart cause he's "too emotional"…
I say that with love, because as an Oakland kid who watched his longsuffering franchise FINALLY make good, I lived it. That team walked into the next season with the same core, the same coach, the same swagger, and it still didn’t repeat. Golden State went 73 wins deep the year after and still watched someone else hoist the trophy. Talent wasn’t the problem and neither was continuity wasn’t the problem. The problem is that winning a title doesn’t freeze the league in place around you. Rather, it wakes the whole league up. Every single franchise has to look at itself and say “whoa if that box of misfit toys can win, why can’t we?”. And right now, the whole league is very much awake.
I distinctly recall the Warriors having to battle a myriad of “lucky” allegations that drove the team into a psychopathic competitive zone. The Knicks are gonna have to find some of that juice to make the new climb.
Let’s start with what New York already knows is coming. Mitchell Robinson is gone to the rival Celtics. Miami paired Giannis Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo. Philadelphia is running out Jaylen Brown next to LeBron James. Both the Celtics and 76ers are in their division! And every night, the Knicks are gonna get everyone’s best punch. Every opponent will be hyped to face the champs and embarrass them.
Teams that “concern” me as a Knicks fan
1.) Pacers- teams having another teams number(any sport) is real and I don’t like that…Haliburton is a problem
2.) Celtics- their floor is like 48 wins and Jayson Tatum is a problem adding Mitch is a problem
I know the counterargument, because it’s the same one Warriors fans told themselves in 2015. Continuity is an edge. The Knicks added Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges and needed real time to figure out how those pieces fit, and now they get to run it back with that learning already paid for while half the league starts from zero. That’s real.
But then there’s the part nobody wants to say out loud, the championship hangover. It’s not a myth. Winning a championship changes what every day feels like, and the teams that repeat are the ones who fight that change instead of pretending it isn’t happening. Jalen Brunson, Mike Brown, OG Anunoby, they’ve got the reputation for grinding through adversity. But adversity from an opponent and adversity that comes with finally getting everything you wanted are two very different monsters, and only one of them shows up on tape.
Here’s what should actually worry Knicks fans more than any of that. This team has made a habit of getting knocked down before it gets back up. Down 2-9 to start the year. Down 2-1 to Atlanta. Down 22 to Cleveland in the fourth quarter. Down 29 to San Antonio at the half. Every single time, they answered, and that resilience is real and it’s earned. But resilience like that usually gets built by being an underdog, by being counted out, by having something to prove. Nobody counts out the defending champs. The Knicks are about to spend an entire season being the hunted instead of the hunter for the first time in this era, and we genuinely don’t know yet if that changes how they play when adversity hits, because they’ve never had to find out.
So no, I’m not telling you it’s impossible. Nobody’s won back to back since 2018, and someone has to be first again eventually. But history is cruel because winning it once and winning it twice require two completely different versions of hunger, and only one team in the last decade has figured out how to hold both at the same time.
Do you know who that team was? Here’s a hint: they ran LeBron out of Cleveland.
Even while new allegations swirl around it, nearly everyone in league circles — and particularly the LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors — want the alleged salary cap circumvention case about Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers to wrap up fast. However, if Leonard or the Clippers decide to fight any potential punishments, this saga likely would drag out into the season and maybe into 2027, according to a new report.
That's because the NBA's collective bargaining agreement says any cap-circumvention case — and potential punishments out of it — must go before a neutral arbitrator and, potentially, an appeals process. While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver can suggest punishments, the arbitrator would determine if the case has been made and if those punishments are appropriate to the offense.
Those appeals could drag out the process, reports Baxter Holmes of ESPN, who discussed a timeline that could run into next year.
Sources close to the National Basketball Players Association with knowledge of the investigation said the union wouldn't hesitate to take the matter to arbitration if the NBA sought penalties without sufficient evidence proving the claim that the Clippers have denied since the league's inquiry began nearly 10 months ago.
On July 9, NBPA executive director David Kelly told reporters in Las Vegas that he didn't believe there was a "there, there" regarding whether the Clippers compensated Leonard through a $28 million endorsement deal that he signed in 2022 with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration, which also had a 23-year, $300 million endorsement deal with the Clippers.
There are a lot of competing interests here. If the investigation finds sufficient proof that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer intended to circumvent the cap, Silver would have to come down hard on the team and its owner — but Ballmer has repeatedly professed his innocence and, by nature, is a fighter. He might not let this go. Then there is the players' union, and potentially Leonard himself, appealing things depending upon the punishment.
The best-case scenario for the league might be a "plea bargain" deal where the Clippers and league agree to whatever potential punishments would be handed down. Whether that kind of agreement could be reached is another question.
The Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed to a trade that would send Leonard back to Toronto — where he won a title in 2019 — for a package centered around Brandon Ingram. However, that trade is on hold because the Raptors, understandably, don't want to trade for Leonard with the threat of a potential suspension hanging over him.
In Las Vegas for Summer League, Silver said that the entire case "needs to be wrapped up before the beginning of next season," but even when he said it that timeline raised eyebrows around the league. Now that timeline seems optimistic at best, which leads to questions about the future of the Leonard trade to Toronto.
Leonard’s secret soccer team
One of the reasons Silver's timeline seemed optimistic were reports that the investigation had widened beyond just the Aspiration endorsement — and may include a Rhode Island soccer team.
Leonard and his associates became involved around the same time that [Rhode Island FC founder Brett] Johnson was struggling to secure enough private financing to move ahead with construction of Rhode Island FC's new 10,000-seat stadium in Pawtucket, which cost more than $130 million to build. The previously undisclosed role of Leonard underscores how little has been known about who was backing the stadium deal, even with tens of millions in taxpayer funds on the line. Rhode Island FC has never publicly disclosed the identities of its full ownership group.
Leonard's quiet involvement here raises questions on a couple of fronts. One is simply publicity — when star athletes in other sports invest in the USL, the league and teams publicize it, as happened with Russell Westbrook, for example. It also happened when former Celtics big man Daniel Theis joined Rhode Island's ownership group three years ago.
Potentially more interesting was something else reported by Torre: During 2019, when "uncle" Dennis reportedly was making extravagant and improper demands from teams recruiting a free agent Leonard — such as giving him a home, access to a private plane and, most concerningly, a no-show endorsement deal — one of them was to make him part owner of a professional sports team.
That is not proof that Leonard's investment in the team isn't legitimate or doesn't come from his own pocket, it just is another question. RIFC founder Johnson said this to WPRI about Leonard and associates' investment.
"They're particularly interested in real estate, finding ways to invest in housing, particularly in low-income areas," Johnson said.
The building of the stadium was supposed to come with other developments, such as a hotel and about 400 housing units. That housing has yet to be built, despite having received local approvals and some tax deals. The company has applied for more taxpayer subsidies.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Keon Ellis #14, Michael Porter Jr. #17, Terance Mann #14 and Noah Clowney #21 of the Brooklyn Nets attend the game between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Draft is over. The Summer League is over and it would appear that free agency, if not over, is basically done as well. Now comes the long Summer. From the end of Summer League on July 19 till the first preseason game on October 6, it will be all highlights and speculation along with Moe Wagner’s expected signing. Maybe there’ll be a surprise or two, but for the most part it’s about expectations.
—July 30 – August 4: Day’Ron Sharpe and Kenyon Martin tour China with stops in Shanghai and Huangzhou.
—August 2: 3:00 p.m. ET. WNBA trade deadline.
—August 5: Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks. Not applicable to the Nets. Tyler Bilodeau signed a two-way deal shortly after the Draft.
—August 31 – September 16: FIBA World Cup break for WNBA players, coaches.
—September 24: Last day of WNBA regular season.
—September 27: WNBA Playoffs begin.
—September 28: Brooklyn Nets Media Day at HSS Training Center.
—September 29: Nets Training Camp opens at HSS Training Center.
—October 1: Terance Mann eligible for three-year, $72.6 million extension starting in 2027-28. Again, highly unlikely.
—October 6: Brooklyn Nets open preseason vs. Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte. 7:00 p.m. ET.
—October 8: Brooklyn Nets host the Philadelphia 76ers and perhaps LeBron James at Barclays Center. 7:30 p.m. ET.
—October 12: Brooklyn Nets travel to Washington, D.C. to face the Washington Wizards at the Capital Center, 7:00 p.m. ET.
—October 14: Nets play fourth and final preseason game vs. Heat at Kaseya Center, Miami. 7:30 p.m. ET.
—October 19: Roster cut down day. Teams must get down to 15 standard deals and three two-ways.
—October 20: Opening Night, 2026-27 NBA season. Limited number of games.
—October 21: Likely opening night for Brooklyn Nets
—October 30: Emirates NBA Cup 2026 | Group Play tips off on Prime Video. Brooklyn Nets will play in East Group A alongside the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, and Milwaukee Bucks.
—October 31: Nets must extend each of the Flatbush 5 for a third season.
—November 13: Opening Night, Long Island Nets’ 2026-27 G League season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics
It’s not even been a week since we found out LeBron James is now a Philadelphia 76er, and the impact of his arrival is already starting to go beyond what he’ll be doing on the basketball court — just as you’d expect. There’s also how he plans to tell the story of the final stage of his career, and it sounds like he has something very exciting lined up.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand has reported that LeBron and ESPN are closing in on an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary in a similar style to Michael Jordan’s 2020 ‘The Last Dance’ series, which was co-produced by ESPN and Netflix.
Marchand confirmed that the talks to finalize the deal are close, and initial plans for filming during his time with the Sixers:
One of the sources described the talks as being at the “1-yard line,” with the expectation that James, 41, will have a camera crew documenting his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, who James signed with this month. The 76ers are expected to be the final home of his legendary career.
The documentary is expected to also use footage from earlier in James’ career, as NBA crews have filmed him since he was a rookie, including some never-before-seen footage.
As of now, there’s reportedly no set date of when the documentary would be completed and aired.
Maverick Carter has weighed in on the documentary to say they “are not doing anything like” ‘The Last Dance’. So even though we may see a documentary similar in style, with cameras following LeBron in Philly, his camp at least don’t want to give the impression this is definitively his last season.
We are NOT doing anything like the “last dance” LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is
If you’ve somehow never seen it, ‘The Last Dance’ told the story of Jordan’s career with a main focus on the Bulls’ 1997-98 season as they made their run to secure a second three-peat. There were quality interviews and unseen footage galore, with excellent editing and production throughout. Hopefully we’ll be getting more of the same from this new story of LeBron’s career and his shot at a title with the Sixers.
Of course, Jordan’s documentary had the advantage of uncovering more details and stories from a time when the constant coverage of social media and smart phones didn’t exist. More happened out of the public eye. It also released during the COVID pandemic, at a time when we were all at home desperate for new entertainment, which probably added a heightened level of excitement when each new episode dropped.
If this LeBron documentary goes ahead and is anywhere near as good as ‘The Last Dance’, though, it promises to be a brilliant series.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics
Give LeBron James credit: He wasn’t bluffing.
During an episode of his Mind the Game podcast in late May, he said: “I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we’ll start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like.”
James didn’t decide to sign a two-year, veteran-minimum contract with the Sixers until July 24. The Lakers had long moved on by then, as expected.
Shortly before free agency began, LeBron informed the Lakers that they could “move on without him because he will play elsewhere.” They proceeded to splurge on Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton within the first 24 hours of free agency.
Now that most of the free-agency dust has settled — Jonathan Kuminga notwithstanding — it’s hard not to circle back to one question: If LeBron was willing to play on a minimum contract, why didn’t he just re-sign with the Lakers? He wouldn’t have to uproot his family and he’d get to finish out his career alongside Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Kessler.
His decision to join with the Sixers instead is fairly telling.
The Thunder and Spurs loom large
In his announcement, James said he still wanted to “compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.” He added that he believed he could help make the Sixers “a championship team.”
It’s fair to wonder how all five of LeBron, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid will fit together, although it’s not hard to see the upside if everything breaks right for them. Having that many star teammates will reduce the burden on each of them during the regular season, which should help keep them fresher for the playoffs.
“A source familiar with James’ thinking” told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that his choice “hinged on the pursuit of the fifth championship. After weighing his options, he landed on Philadelphia as the best situation for that.”
Left unsaid: He chose the Sixers over the Lakers in that regard.
While the Lakers now have one too many players signed to standard contracts after adding Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Kevon Looney to minimum deals, one would think the Lakers gladly would have sacrificed any of them to re-sign LeBron on a min. Perhaps California’s state income tax worked against the Lakers when the salaries being offered were otherwise the same, but it doesn’t seem as though LeBron even entertained re-signing with them. Why is that?
The presence of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West had to play a factor.
After this offseason, one could make the case that the East is deeper than the West, particularly assuming that the Kawhi Leonard trade eventually goes through. However, the West has the top two title favorites by far.
Could LeBron and the new-look Lakers have been in the race for a top-four seed in the West? They’d have to beat at least two of the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves for it, but that wouldn’t have been impossible. Potentially having to topple both the Thunder and Spurs in the playoffs, though? Just to get to the NBA Finals?
Again, it’s not like LeBron and the Sixers will have a cakewalk in the East. The reigning champion New York Knicks reside in the same division as the Sixers, as do the 2024 champion Boston Celtics (albeit sans Brown, the Finals MVP that year). The Miami Heat added Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. The Indiana Pacers are getting back a healthy Tyrese Haliburton. The Toronto Raptors are (theoretically) reuniting with Leonard. The Sixers’ 25-year conference finals drought isn’t guaranteed to end.
But they don’t have to worry about the Thunder or Spurs until the NBA Finals, and they wouldn’t have to beat both of them in the playoffs. That’s a huge selling point for any team in the East right now.
One other factor might have helped drive LeBron out of L.A. as well, though.
The fan factor
LeBron has played for three teams in his NBA career thus far, and he’s won at least one championship with each of them. But no matter what he did in L.A., he would never replace Kobe Bryant in the minds of Lakers fans.
The Sixers have had plenty of all-time greats over the years, including Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson. But they don’t have a Kobe-esque shadow looming over them.
“One of the things that was compelling about the Sixers was how passionate the fanbase is and how long it’s been since they’ve won a championship,” the source said.
The Sixers’ proximity to championship contention was undoubtedly their main selling point. LeBron didn’t leave the Lakers because of Kobe stans. But that sentiment popping up a few different times is telling, particularly since McMenamin reported a few months ago that LeBron felt the Lakers took him for granted at times.
LeBron’s beef is likely more with President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka than Lakers fans. But the lack of appreciation that he felt in LA compared to how Philadelphia has already received him might only further justify his decision to leave.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a controversy-free offseason for the Spurs so far (at least outside the broadcast booth), but if there was anything that raised a few eyebrows, it was the unverified rumor that guard Dylan Harper was unhappy in a bench role during his rookie season and would demand a starting role going forward. Despite the rumor coming from a parody X account and Ron Harper, Sr. pointing out that it was fake, it never completely went away, leading to speculation over if the Spurs either needed to start looking at the trade market for De’Aaron Fox or consider a three-guard starting line-up, featuring those two alongside Stephon Castle.
However, Dylan has now spoken up himself in an interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG.org. When asked about his goals for next season, he noted that his only goal (besides individual improvement) is the same as the entire team’s: to learn from what went wrong in the Finals and make up for it next year. When specifically asked to confirm if that that means he’s fine in any role — starter or bench — he reassured that he’s just grateful to be playing and the logistics don’t matter. (In other words, yes, he’s fine with a bench role.)
Q: Your second season’s coming up here. There are high expectations. Do you have any concrete objectives in your mind? Whether that’s statistical, whether that’s on the court as far as where you want to improve?
Harper: Nah, man. I feel like the biggest thing for me in every year is really just getting better every day, learning from the people around me and learning from my own experiences and just trying not to make the same mistakes over and over again. But for me, it’s not really just anything personal. I feel like we all have that one team goal that we felt like that we should have had last year. I feel like that’s really the only thing on that. That’s the only thing that’s on everyone’s mind.
Q: So simply put, it’s team-based over any sort of individual objectives. That’s what’s on your mind.
Harper: Yes, sir.
Q: And it doesn’t matter to you, you were coming off the bench your first season, your rookie season. It doesn’t matter to you whether you’re a starter or whether you’re a bench player, right?
Harper: No, I feel like regardless, I’m in the NBA. There’s only like 450 people in the NBA, and I get a chance to go on the court and play with the best of the best. I feel like those kinds of things and those logistics at the end of the day, in the big scheme of things, it’s not going to affect me and how I approach every day.
Speaking of the Finals, he discussed what the team learned from the experience (the answer is pretty obvious) and how he feels about the team going forward.
Q: What was the biggest thing that you learned from that experience? Obviously, you guys led for a great duration of that series. You came up a little short, but what can you take from that series moving forward?
Harper: I think the biggest thing is probably closing out games, and I think just knowing exactly what we’re gonna do in certain times, I think the biggest thing for us is we got a year under our belt. I think this year for us, the first year we’re all together as a team, and I feel like the sky’s the limit for us.
Finally, he discussed what it’s like playing with Wemby, his leadership style, and what it meant seeing him take a discount for the team.
Q: I want to talk to you about Wemby. Obviously, a heck of a player, man. It shows how much he cares about the team that he took less money than the max on his extension. Talk about what that means, and talk about what type of player and leader he is behind the scenes — maybe that fans don’t know about.
Harper: I feel like for a 22-year-old, he’s probably one of the best leaders I’ve been around, just the way he carries himself, his maturity, from top to bottom, whether it’s basketball treatment, in the weight room, personal life. I feel like he’s kind of structured his life in a way that has worked for him, and I think he’s the most genuine person ever. When that came out, I feel like yes, it was a surprise to everyone. But I mean, that’s just the type of person he is.
There were other topics of discussion in the interview, so be sure to check out the entire thing, but it’s good to know that the Spurs may not be facing as many line-up decisions as some wanted to believe heading into next season. Harper’s time as a starter will surely come, but it’s reassuring to know he is ready and willing to take on whatever role as asked of him for the betterment of the team, and in an unselfish and professional manner, like any true Spur would.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Tobi Lawal #33, Morez Johnson Jr. #14, and Sergio De Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts to a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Sydney Bezelik/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Offseason isn’t over but this week we decided to grade what the Dallas Mavericks have done so far.
Michael: I’m giving the team an A-. That may be hard for some to fathom when a team like the 76ers landed Jaylen Brown and LeBron James (what could their grade possibly be if ours is an A-?) – but I think a grade like this has to be measured on an appropriate scale and realistic expectations.
This offseason, the Mavericks have hired President Masai Ujiri, a front office professional calling the shots, the likes of which Dallas has not had in many, many years. They hired a proper GM in Mike Schmitz to pair with Ujiri to properly rebuild around Cooper Flagg. They hired a head coach that virtually everyone thought was untouchable and who ought to be perfect for a young, budding core. Then they constructed that young core, getting a player like Santi Aldama through clever use of a trade exception which they kept intact by clever use of signing-and-trading Khris Middleton. They moved up in the draft to get a promising guard in Sergio De Larrea, after using their higher pick to land Morez Johnson. They made a couple other slick moves in the second round for even more youth, and traded for a former #1 overall pick. All of this was done with a dearth of draft capital and an inherited pile of bad will. It was also done while keeping all of the obvious tradable player assets.
Will every one of these moves pan out to greatness? Probably not. But rebuilding a youthful, athletic, affordable roster while maintaining what precious few assets they had was nothing short of a masterclass of how to make something out of virtually nothing. For where the Mavs were three months ago, this was an excellent outcome.
David: I would say they have operated around a B. As of writing, their roster makes no sense, but they have made moves for good players. Morez Johnson was certainly a surprising draft pick, but maybe he is far past what any one of us mortals saw. He has the body to work perfectly next to Cooper Flagg. Masai Ujiri’s lust for big wings has been evident, but I am not too concerned about their success on the court this season. As of now, they have made mostly the “right” moves and have set themselves up for more to come. It hasn’t been a home run, but they’re definitely on base and in scoring position.
Ben: I give them a B+. The new front office is having to clean up one of the worst messes in NBA history due to one of the worst trades in NBA history. This was always going to be a long-haul project and they’re operating that way so far. They’ve added a bunch of interesting players who could work out, who might not, but they’re taking some chances. If they’re able to move some of the vets before the season starts, I’d even get close to an A-.
Matt: A very solid B+. The new regime has done the impossible and made Dallas an interesting team to watch again. There are several storylines going into this season with the potential to develop into something genuinely beneficial to the team’s longterm outlook. They’ve gotten creative in how to put new talent around Cooper Flagg with guys who are on his timeline, and are taking many, many bites at the apples in hopes that one of their developmental players pans out. It’s a roster-building exercise in the law of large numbers. The only thing they haven’t done is re-stock the barren shelves with some draft picks, but there’s still time and guys like Gafford, Washington and Marshall should be of interest to SOME team with an aim to contend this season – even if it’s not a huge haul.
Jack: I would give the Mavericks a B- for the offseason they have had so far. I honestly like all the additions they have made, starting with drafting Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea, to acquiring high-upside young talent for relatively cheap value. They have also done an amazing job of adding shooting to the roster, which will certainly help Cooper Flagg’s development. The way they have attacked the margins is very exciting, as with a lack of draft assets they will have to find unique ways to acquire talent. What holds back my grade is the dramatic roster imbalance that still plagues the team. They have too many forwards and not enough ball-handlers, simply not having the minutes to give. This holds back the opportunity for a player like Zaccharie Risacher, who needs time on the court to hopefully develop his skills. The lack of creation also lessens the impact of the new shooting, as most of these new players need their shots created for them. If the Mavericks can trade P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford for good value, then my grade would jump into the A’s, but since no trade is seemingly on the horizon, I’m settling on a B- for now.
Tyler: I’m going to give them an old school, college-level incomplete grade for the offseason. I can’t grade the work they’ve done through today because, well, this can’t be all the work they’re doing. The moves themselves are fine: I was indifferent at best on the Morez Johnson pick, but I do like Sergio De Larrea. I also think they’ve done decent work with the Sasser and Aldama acquisitions. I have questions about the Risacher addition, but it’s a fine “shot in the dark” as long as they don’t commit long-term money there until they see proof of the vision they surely imagine. But the roster is still incredibly unbalanced, and they don’t have much in the way of future assets they’ve gotten. Until the dust settles, it’s probably best to settle with an incomplete. I can’t imagine this is the roster they roll into the season with.
Bryan: Easy A- with potential for an A+ pending a frontcourt trade or two for reasonable value. The top 8 of the draft lottery fell exactly as we hoped that it wouldn’t, but M&M still left the draft with a great coaching hire, two players that figure to factor in the rotation battle this season, and two big upside swings in the 2nd round. On top of that, we’ve acquired a ton of shooting, length, and athleticism that lends itself to insulating Kyrie, Flagg, Sasser, Sergio, and another shot creator to be named later defensively. We did all this at the paltry cost of portions of our exceptions (trade exception and Mid-level) and three 2nd rounders. We’ve barely touched the few assets we have and remade the team completely from last season. This offseason has been a measured rundown of the checklist for a proper rebuild and a welcome, if foreign, sight for Mavs fans’ eyes.
Joe: The Dallas Mavericks deserve a C+ for their offseason so far. Given the difficult roster and asset situation Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz inherited, Dallas did a respectable job adding useful players on manageable contracts without sacrificing anything essential to Cooper Flagg’s future.Moves for Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, Morez Johnson Jr. and Zaccharie Risacher were all defensible individually. Dallas added shooting, size, youth and upside while preserving several movable contracts. Even the Risacher gamble came at a relatively low price. The Mavericks did not panic, overpay for a short-term solution or surrender another major first-round asset. That is what keeps the grade from falling lower.
The problem is that Dallas chose to work around the margins instead of truly reforming the roster. The Mavericks still have too many overlapping forwards, not enough reliable ball-handling and several veterans who do not clearly fit Flagg’s timeline. Other young teams have been more aggressive in defining their direction, whether by collecting draft assets, clearing veterans or building a cleaner developmental roster. The individual moves mostly make sense, but they do not yet form a coherent plan. The “plus” comes from hiring Dusty May, one of basketball’s biggest rising coaching names. Pairing him with Ujiri and Schmitz gives the Mavericks a leadership structure worth believing in. Dallas improved its flexibility and talent base. It still has not made the larger, uncomfortable decisions required to properly build around Flagg. For now, that makes this a C+.
Isaac: i’m willing to give Masai and crew an A for this offseason. While not all needs were met, it’s a good step in the right direction and the offseason’s not over yet. They’ve made serviceable trades and taken shots on young guys that could help the team without committing long-term money to them.
It’s hard for fans, myself included, to handle the whiplash of being in the Finals just two years to being where we are now, but it’s the reality we live in. Offseasons for teams like the Mavericks aren’t about contending this season or next; they’re about taking chances to build a core around their young star. I think they’ve done a great job at that this offseason, and I’m fascinated by what they can get for the players on our team that have value (PJ, Gafford, Klay).
Matt M.: B-. This roster configuration may not make a ton of sense, but it doesn’t have to this season. It’s maddening that some of the vets who are still here are still here. But I have at least some level of middling trust in the long-term plan of Masai & Co. The guards on this roster don’t please me greatly but there is at least a glimmer of hope for this team putting an interesting product on the floor in 2026-27. Progress, I guess?
Kirk: A- for me. Look, I am broadly a pessimist when it comes to team sports. There’s only one champ every year, you know? So when I think about where Dallas was last February and see where they are 18 months later, this is about the best possible outcome I could have hoped for. Nico Harrison leveraged the future then traded away the centerpiece, so that Dallas has Cooper, everything else is more straightforward. Dallas made mistakes in tanking (or not tanking, really) but Morez Johnson is a nice pick. Sergio De Larrea has something! They’ve made two fun trades that could pan out well. They still have a lot of roster imbalance, but there’s hope for the future.
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on February 23, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We are officially into the doldrums of the offseason – Summer League is behind us, free agency is all but over, and we still have months until we first see our new team take the floor. It is in these doldrums that one begins to ponder the real questions of the soul: am I leading my life correctly? should I be spending all this time on basketball? is Mario Hezonja worth all the hype given to his free agency decision? And, most importantly, who will be the Jazz’s backup shooting guard?
It seems to me that there are four options for the two backup wing positions: Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailiuk, John Konchar, and the titular Josh Okogie. All four deserve to play minutes somewhere – each have started legitimate amounts of games in their careers, and two may be out of the rotation next year.
Choosing which of these four worthy candidates have my vote to earn playing time is already difficult, and is made even more difficult due to the fact that I am no expert on the newest Jazzman of the group, Josh Okogie. Sure, I have a passing knowledge of the guy – I follow the NBA, he’s made his way around the block a few times, so I generally understand his game. He defends, he’s kinda stocky, he got that one block on James Harden’s step back in his rookie year…he’s Josh Okogie! But that cursory, surface-level understanding won’t cut it if I am to make the hugely important decision of who should be Darryn Peterson’s backup (and then complain when the Jazz coaching staff makes a different choice than me). I need to become a Josh Okogie scholar.
I took this self-assigned responsibility seriously – I would not go halfway for one of the newest Jazzmen. So, to shore up the holes in my Okogie expertise, I took to NBA.com’s video database to watch every Josh Okogie field goal, assist, steal, and block from the 2025-2026 season. If Josh Okogie did just about anything with the ball last year, I watched it. I won’t pretend this was the most interesting exercise I’ve ever (for reasons that will be explained later), so instead of everyone else having to go through the same study process, I will report on what I learned, his strengths and weaknesses, and his fit on the Jazz. Hopefully, no one will have any remaining Josh Okogie questions after this article.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 29: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets shoots a three point basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Josh Okogie is a very simple offensive player, for better and for worse (at the very least, it made for a dull viewing experience). While you can rest assured that he will not hijack the offense with complicated, on-ball hijinks, sometimes the simple, barebones nature of his offensive game leaves a bit to be desired. He has figured out his role perfectly during his 8 years in the NBA, and will not dare stray from it.
The majority of Okogie’s shot attempts this past season came from behind the arc (54.8% of his attempts, to be exact), and nearly all of them looked exactly the same. He never shot from off the dribble (100% of his three pointers this past season were assisted), he rarely shot off of movement, and he mainly shot from the corners. His three point percentages have steadily ticked up over his career, peaking this season at 38.5%, but I don’t think he’s gotten more versatile with his shot; he needs to be set, and he needs to be facing minimal pressure. After having watched 161 of his three point attempts in very quick succession, I think I uncovered the reason for this – Okogie’s form simply isn’t built for anything beyond a catch-and-shoot attempt. He doesn’t get much elevation on his shot, and it isn’t particularly quick, which when combined with the fact that he’s only 6’4, creates a player who needs a separation from a defender to get his shot off cleanly. Additionally, his footwork behind the arc isn’t always the cleanest, making movement off-ball and around screens disadvantageous to his style of jump shot. He can make these shots while open (see the video below for some examples), but his 38% from three isn’t providing the same spacing that Anfernee Simon’s 38% is.
Josh Okogie made 3 of his 4 threes and finished with his 2nd highest scoring night as a Rocket yesterday:
An interesting statistical tidbit – while Okogie attempted most of three pointers from the corners (67% of his attempts came from both corners combined), they were far from his most efficient spot on the court – he drained around 30% from those zones, and 52% from the two wings. Now, I understand that, all things considered, this is a pretty small sample size to determine Okogie’s strengths and weaknesses as a shooter, but similar general trends occur throughout his past few seasons; consistently, his strongest area as a shooter is either the right or left wing, with his percentages from the corners being more pedestrian. The Jazz attempted some of the fewest corner threes per game in the NBA this past season – hopefully this can lead to Okogie’s shooting leap to continue into 2026-2027.
Inside of the three point line, Okogie, once again, is nothing to really write home about. Even though Okogie is a good athlete, he isn’t too impressive as a vertical high-flyer; this can lead to ugly misses at the rim. He missed more dunks than I would’ve expected, and I’m sure the Rockets never felt great about Okogie driving headfirst into a set rim protector. Luckily, he tended to know his role in this regard as well – he never attempted to do too much to achieve rim attempts (which is good, considering his stiff, uncreative handle), and mostly found himself shooting in that range off of quick cuts or in transition. He isn’t the most active cutter in the world, sometimes being a bit too sedimentary behind the arc, but is proficient enough when he does decide to streak to open space near the rim.
To continue the tradition of unspectacular but serviceable offensive skills, his passing is just enough to keep the offense flowing but not much more than that. There were a few really impressive interior passes sprinkled throughout the clips of his assists, but for the most part his passes were simple, connective throws to teammates finding open space around the perimeter. I only recall a few pick-and-roll passes, which were unremarkable – while I’m sure he’s capable of hitting a roll-man, I don’t think he’s capable enough for it to be an aspect of his offense a coach can reliably call upon.
However, even with all of these middle-of-the-road offensive skills, the Rockets were still better offensively with Okogie on the court. How can this be? I believe this is explained by two factors. First, Okogie demands very little on the offensive end. Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant were two Rockets players from this past season who were best operating with the ball in their hands, and Okogie’s completely unselfish offensive game could, if his shot was falling, act as an amplifier for a ball-dominant star. There’s a limit on how much good he could do offensively without a more dynamic offensive game, but a player who is perfectly content with hitting open threes and nothing else is still valuable.
The second factor, though, is a bit more interesting to me. One of Josh Okogie’s hidden superpowers is his activity on the offensive glass. In a down year, Okogie still grabbed 2.2 offensive rebounds per game per 36 minutes, and that impact was felt by his team – when he was on the court, the Rockets were nearly 2 percentage points better at snagging offensive rebounds. While watching, it almost felt like Okogie was conserving energy while stationed in the corner, with the expectation that he would exert it all the moment the ball left the shooters hands. With his linebacker frame, Okogie torpedoed towards the ball, and had a real nose for it – his anticipation for where the ball would bounce was really impressive. So, even without providing much value with the ball in his hands or even as a shooter, Okogie boosted his team’s offense by helping them win the possession battle – while he was out there, Durant and Sengun could count on more attempts because they could count on Okogie.
Synopsis: A simple offensive player who likes to station himself in the corners. Can shoot off the catch and not much else. Not strong with the ball in his hands. Great offensive rebounder for his position.
Defense
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 29: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets plays defense during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 29, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While this side of the court is his calling card, I do feel like there is less to be said regarding Okogie’s defense compared to his offense – whatever you think you know about his defense, you’re probably right.
All of his physical tools are best used on the defensive end of the court. His +8 wingspan is put to good use both on and off the ball. It allows him to guard up and down the lineup (his long arms make up for a small deficit in speed against point guards and a deficit in height against wings), and allows him to take up more space and muck things up even when he’s not guarding the point-of-attack. Additionally, Okogie offers a pretty unique combination of length and strength from the guard spot – it helps him to be able to take space AND keep it.
He’s quite adept when he gets switched down to a bigger player in the post. He’s really stocky, with a low center of gravity, and has constant energy when he’s working to deny the entry pass to his assignment down low. Combine that with killer hand-eye coordination, and you have a player who consistently got steals off errant passes to the post.
I think his best defensive skill is beating offensive players to passes. He has some great burst to quickly attack the floating ball, using his long arms and quick hands to get there first, and then uses his strength to muscle his opponent off of the path towards the loose ball so he can grab it and finish the transition opportunity. His consistently revving motor and active hands allowed him to be one of the more disruptive players in the league, deflecting more balls than any Jazzman in 2025-2026 not named John Konchar. Below is an example of this type of play against Victor Wembanyama, and there were quite a few more similar plays throughout the season.
As a defender, Okogie isn’t perfect. He isn’t the best defender against the quickest, shiftiest opposing guards – his strength and stocky frame does come at the expense of elite foot speed. Additionally, this past year was a downturn in regards to his shot-blocking. That doesn’t seem like the biggest deal when talking about a 6’4 guard, but one of his most impressive skills to me in the past was how he mirrored perimeter offensive players to such an extent that he was consistently blocking their jump-shots (the play below is my personal favorite) – hopefully he’s able to return to form as both a perimeter shot-blocker and rim presence this next season, especially considering he may be sharing substantial minutes with Kyle Filipowski at center, noted non-elite rim protector.
However, even if Okogie has his flaws as a defender, this is the side of the ball that has kept him in the league for over a decade, even during the years where he wasn’t shooting the 38.5% from behind the arc that he did in Houston. Even when his shot isn’t dropping, he provides a solid base level of value because his defense is just so high level. While he’s best guarding more traditional shooting guards, he can defend up the lineup with his stocky frame and long arms. Additionally, his motor is a skill itself – Okogie is a LOUD defender who shifts the tone of the game the moment he subs in. This is the type of stuff fan-favorites are made of, and I expect Okogie to get loud cheers in the Delta Center for these very skills.
Synopsis: This is where Okogie makes his money. Great activity, quick hands, and a special combination of length and strength. Can guard up or down the lineup, although quick point guards can best him. Hopefully his shot-blocking makes a return.
Conclusion/How It All Fits
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailiuk, Isaiah Collier, Josh Okogie, and Mo Bamba of the Utah Jazz attend the game between the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz need someone like Josh Okogie, but I’m not sure if they can fit in someone like Josh Okogie. It has been no secret that the Jazz defense has been awful ever since they’ve traded away Rudy Gobert, and while the fix won’t be made in a day, picking up Okogie could spark a very necessary culture shift on the defensive end. Perhaps Ace Bailey or Darryn Peterson one day take a big defensive leap (both have the potential to do so), but until then, the team needs someone to clap their hands and slap the floor and take the most difficult matchup night after night. After my deep dive, I’m confident in saying Josh Okogie has the defensive capabilities to be that stopgap as the young guys mature.
However, while Okogie could be an answer to the Jazz’s defensive issues, he may compound some of the struggles the team projects to have on offense. I worry that the Jazz built a roster with too many strong off-ball players – Lauri Markkanen, Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Jaren Jackson Jr. are all best being set up by a creator – so adding another player without strong ball handling or passing worries me. While he’s clearly the best defender out of the four options for the backup wing positions, he is just as clearly the most limited as an offensive player. Additionally, if the shot improvements aren’t maintained, he would be a third player on a hypothetical bench lineup with limited-to-no shooting gravity (him, Collier, and Filipowski or Hayes) – that may be an offensive situation that even Will Hardy can’t scheme his way out of.
At the end of the day, I doubt that Okogie intentionally signed in Utah to simply not play, so I bet he takes one of the two available slots. I also think that, even if Okogie hurts the offense, the total tonal shift he can provide on defense is probably worth it. This signing was a low-stakes swing on a player who, if the shot improvements are legitimate, may end up playing real minutes in the most important games of the year. For that alone, I think giving Okogie minutes in the regular season to build shooting flow and comprehension of Hardy’s system is the smart move. My deep dive taught me that he isn’t the best shooter, and he isn’t the best passer, and he isn’t the best dribbler, but it also taught me that Josh Okogie changes games. So, after this perhaps unnecessary exercise, I cam away with two things. First, a desire to no longer watch a compilation of wide-open threes, and second…an excitement for games to be changed in the Delta Center in 2027.
Raphielle Johnson
