Let's be honest with ourselves: Part of the concern basketball fans have with LeBron James' helicopter commute to Philadelphia games and practices is a shared PTSD from the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. Those emotional scars remain.
While fans in Philadelphia and beyond have made a big deal of LeBron commuting from a home in New York to Philadelphia via helicopter, his comments downplayed it, via Tony Jones at The Athletic.
"Yeah, I've done it before," James said. "Just another, just another way of transportation. That's all."
LeBron has been using a helicopter — provided by the sports apparel company Fanatics, according to Pablo Torre Finds Out — to commute from New York to the 76ers practice facility in Camden, N.J.
As the Dan LeBatard show pointed out, LeBron chose the 76ers, not Philadelphia. For Philly fans, that's not much of a distinction, but it is one. LeBron isn't the first person to do this commute, as noted by Jones former 76ers guard and current Lakers coach JJ Redick used to live in New York, although he hired a car service to do it. That drive is around two hours (more on bad traffic days), by helicopter, it's more like half an hour.
LeBron isn't changing his plans, and he is unconcerned about the discourse around his commute.
Check out LeBron's official debut as a 76er on Tuesday when he makes a shorter commute to Madison Square Garden with his teammates for the season opener, trying to spoil ring night for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, a game you can watch on NBC and Peacock. It's the anchor game of a triple-header — Celtics at Pistons at 3 p.m. Eastern, and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — with all the games shown on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has not committed to his starting five for the season opener on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, particularly at power forward. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
After five preseason games, the Lakers open their regular season Wednesday at home against the Golden State Warriors. The preseason offered some promising moments, other confounding connections between new teammates and a strong foundation for the new-look team hoping to keep growing through an 82-game season.
“You’re always trying to get better,” coach JJ Redick said Friday after the Lakers lost their final preseason game to the Denver Nuggets. “And even later in the season, you tweak plays, you tweak the offense and you tweak coverages. It’s constantly evolving. There’s no, like, ‘oh, we’re done. Now we’re going to go play.’ But we’re ready to go.”
Here are five things we learned during the Lakers’ training camp and five preseason games:
Ziaire Williams makes his case
Lakers forward Ziaire Williams, left, tries to prevent Kings guard Emanuel Sharp from scoring in the lane during a preseason game earlier this month. (Sara Nevis / Associated Press)
Ziaire Williams played in only two of the five preseason games, but the 6-foot-9 forward emerged as one of the biggest winners of training camp. The Sierra Canyon High alumnus might go from veteran minimum contract to first-day starter. He was a perfect five-for-five shooting from three-point range during two preseason appearances — both starts — and averaged 13.5 points while taking on a prominent defensive role.
During his first two years as the Lakers coach, Redick admired Williams’ intent on the defensive end from afar and commended the forward’s willingness to defend other teams’ star players. And somehow, Williams, then playing for Brooklyn, always seemed to hit shots when he played against the Lakers.
Now seeing Williams every day, Redick has come away even more impressed by the 25-year-old’s character and leadership qualities.
“Everybody in our building that has been around him for the last, you know, six to eight weeks just recognizes what a special human being he is,” Redick said. “I really believe in him as a player, and I think he’s got a lot of room to grow still, which is exciting for all of us.”
While Williams might be the first choice to start at power forward, several contenders had strong preseasons at the position. Jake LaRavia is playing and shooting with confidence again. Sandro Mamukelashvili awed with his versatile offensive game. Adou Thiero showed significant growth from his injury-plagued rookie season. The position remains one of the team’s biggest unknowns, but the preseason could offer some confidence that the Lakers have options.
Mamu was breakout star of the preseason
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, left, and Sandro Mamukelashvili try to stop the Kings' Jonathan Mogbo from scoring in a preseason game earlier this month. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
It won’t be long before chants of “Ma-muuuuuuuu” fill Crypto.com Arena. The Georgian forward will quickly become a fan favorite if he continues to provide the all-around offensive game he flashed during the preseason.
Mamukelashvili averaged 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 55.6% (25 for 45) from the field and 54.2% (13 for 24) from three-point range. Late during the third quarter against Denver, Mamukelashvili dazzled with a three-pointer, a cutting dunk and a defensive rebound that led to an assist to Quentin Grimes for a three-pointer — all in 99 seconds.
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said before the season that he and Redick wanted to intentionally build a cast of role players who could pass, dribble and shoot. Mamukelashvili checks all the boxes.
“Anytime he gets a rebound, we’re encouraging him to push the pace,” guard Austin Reaves said. “He’s a good basketball player, so we’re very excited for what he brings to the team.”
How long will rebounding woes linger?
Lakers center Walker Kessler, left, powering his way to the basket against two Nuggets defenders, will be the anchor to the team's defense, which will look to improve their rebounding deficiencies. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Williams scanned the box score in front of him after the Lakers’ preseason finale Friday. He was looking for reassurance about how the Lakers ended the 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
“We did get outrebounded a little bit,” he said, glancing at the Lakers’ 49-44 rebounding deficit. “But not as bad.”
The Lakers’ 39.4 rebounds per game ranked second-to-last during the preseason. Defensive rebounds could be a weak point this season for a team still trying to solidify its backup center behind Walker Kessler. Three preseason games without Kessler reinforced to Redick that the Lakers needed to keep two big wings — any combination of Williams, LaRavia, Thiero, Matisse Thybulle or even Doncic, who is a strong rebounder for a guard — on the court to keep pace on the glass.
“We can’t just rely on Walker to get 30 rebounds a game,” Williams said of how the team has to approach rebounding. “It’s just not how the game works. So just every person just contributing to it and wanting it more than the other team.”
Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up. He had 15 rebounds in two games, including 11 defensive boards. The Lakers were outrebounded by one in the two games with Kessler compared with a minus-23 rebounding differential during the first three preseason games.
Even the offense needs time
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, pulls up in the lane for a shot against the Nuggets in the final preseason game Friday. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Doncic, Reaves and Kessler only played one half together, and Doncic and Reaves only played in the same game twice. During one Laker fastbreak in the first quarter against Denver, while Reaves was taking a steal coast-to-coast for an easy layup, Doncic kept Kessler back on defense and pointed out tactics while they stood in the paint.
“There’s going to be some growing pain, just lack of reps together so far,” Reaves said of the chemistry between the team’s new “big three.” “... More than likely going to pick up on it sooner than later. So we’ll continue to grow that over the next couple days and be ready for opening night.”
The Lakers averaged 23 turnovers per game during the preseason. Guard Collin Sexton’s absence because of a lower leg injury showed up in the Lakers’ turnover struggles. Even two of the premier guards in the league won’t be enough to handle all of the Lakers’ ball-handling, especially if Bronny James continues to struggle as he did during the preseason.
James, after working into the injury-laden postseason rotation last year, averaged just 16.4 minutes per preseason game with 2.2 points per game on one-for-eight shooting from three. He had 12 rebounds, 14 assists and 12 turnovers during the five games.
The roster isn’t done changing
The Lakers have to cut their roster to 15 by the opener. Pelinka mentioned the possibility of consolidation trades to reach the maximum number, but no transactions have materialized, especially with the Lakers trying to cling to their limited draft assets. They don’t control their own first-round pick until 2032 and don’t have a second-round selection until 2031.
If the Lakers can’t pull off a deal, forward Dalton Knecht could be at risk of being waived. Since getting traded as a rookie and returning when the transaction was rescinded, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft has never carved out a steady role with the Lakers. Early, he looked like he could be the steal of the draft when he averaged 18.9 points per game during a nine-game stretch in November 2024, including a two-game, 64-point heater in which he hit 14 of 24 three-pointers. He scored more points in his 19 NBA games (231) than he did all of last season (228).
“I think the biggest thing is the team changed,” Redick said before Friday’s game of Knecht’s career arc. “The team changed. The needs changed, the fit changed. I think he got better as a player over the last two years. I think each guy has, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the amount of injuries we had. So I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings and he’s in a tough spot right now.”
Forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who has about $25 million left on his contract over the next two seasons, did not suit up for Friday’s preseason finale.
After joining the team through a trade from Washington this offseason, guard Jaden Hardy understood that roster moves would continue through training camp. On the fringe of the rotation, he said he didn’t let it bother him.
“I just came in [with a] clear head, clear mind, new situation, new opportunity,” said Hardy, who has a $6-million salary this season and a team option for next year. “I feel like it’s a blessing to be here and I’m just coming in here every day working, taking care of my business.”
He stated his case for a roster spot with 13 points in 14 minutes Friday.
Wembanyama had 14 points, eight rebounds and a couple of blocked shots in his 17 minutes of work in the Spurs' final preseason game.
Wemby and the Spurs tip off the season with what feels like Game 8 of last season's epic Western Conference Finals, hosting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, starting at 9:30 p.m. ET, a game you can watch on NBC or stream on Peacock. That game is the final game of the night, part of a star-studded triple-header featuring Boston at Detroit (3 p.m. Eastern), then LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers trying to spoil ring night for Jalen Brunson and the champion New York Knicks, a game that tips off at 7 p.m. Eastern. Watch all of that triple-header on NBC or stream on Peacock.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Devin Carter #99 celebrates with Mike Conley #45 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 124-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Devin Carter’s lone preseason appearance was enough to impress the Celtics, apparently. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Carter’s Exhibit 10 training camp deal is being converted to a two-way contract.
The Boston Celtics are converting Devin Carter to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes during 38 games for the Sacramento Kings last season. pic.twitter.com/CZJQfZb4F6
The former Providence College standout wasted no time making an impression last Thursday in Clevleand in the preseason opener. He gave the Cavs the work. Carter poured in 17 points, ripped down five rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in 25 minutes off the bench.
This wasn’t just the typical “guy who’s been in the league a few years feasts on inexperienced players in the preseason” type of statlines, either. Carter balled out against the Cavaliers’ regular rotation, and did it in a way where it’s not hard to imagine him making an impact for Boston somewhere down the line.
He pushed the pace in transition, did a great job of getting himself to the rim, and used his gratiutous six-foot-nine-inch wingspan to create chaos on defense.
Many fans were left wanting more, but unfortunately didn’t get it. Carter missed the final three games of Boston’s preseason slate with an illness, and was never heard from again.
His future with the team felt murky after the rest of the Celtics’ Exhibit 10 players got the start in Friday’s preseason finale against the Phildelphia 76ers and held their own against Philly’s regular starters (minus VJ Edgecombe).
Murky no more.
The former 13th overall pick spent his first two NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings. He appeared in 74 total games where he averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 40.1% from the field and 27.4% from deep.
Sacramento traded Carter along with a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks this summer, officially finalizing their stamp of disapproval — which we’ve all learned is actually a good thing (thanks for Neemi). The Hawks waived Carter shortly after, then he found his way to Boston.
The Celtics now have all three of their two-way spots filled as Carter joins Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams in the G-League swing crew. This doesn’t necessarily mean all three players will remain on two-ways for the entire season. Boston can waive any of them at any time free up a slot.
By converting Carter to a two-way, rather than a standard contract, Boston avoids creeping any closer to the luxury tax threshold. They remain $1.7 million below the tax line.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks to pass the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 13, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA 2K27 celebrated its Season 2 drop with the arrival of‘GOAT builds and a particular Toronto Raptors superstar is at the centre of it.
The game’s latest update (Oct. 16) added 18 unique player builds for use in the MyCareer game mode. Kawhi Leonard – in a Raptors jersey – is one of the archetypes gamers can choose from. Here’s the full list of Hall of Famers and all-time greats that he’s grouped up with in 2K27:
Point Guards
Magic Johnson
Derrick Rose
Gilbert Arenas
Penny Hardaway
Shooting Guard
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Ray Allen
Anthony Edwards
Klay Thompson
Small Forward
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Andrei Kirilenko
Power Forward
Dirk Nowitzki
Anthony Davis
Centre
Wilt Chamberlain
Hakeem Olajuwon
Dwight Howard
Leonard’s build is described as an “Elite two-way titan. Pairs lockdown wing defence with unstoppable three-level scoring.” Under the hood, this build has everything for both casuals and competitive players. It starts with the one-of-a-kind combination of ratings Leonard provides.
Ratings
The traits that immediately pop are his measurables. Leonard’s GOAT build is 6’7 with a seven-foot-three wingspan. For those who spend countless hours experimenting with 2K’s MyPlayer builder at the beginning of every game’s cycle, they’ll know why this is special.
In NBA 2K27, it’s impossible to make a small forward with that exact combination. The longest wing span available in the game for players listed at 6’7 is seven-foot-one. That extra length makes it easier to hawk passing lanes and force contests (especially in a game that doesn’t have the best contest system).
For fans who favour a defensive build to use in The Rec or The Park, or competitive players who like to build a lockdown every year, it often means sacrificing offensive attributes.
With the Leonard GOAT build, players unlock access to 91 mid-range and 83 three-point ratings. Under normal circumstances, a 6’7 archetype with maximum wing span can only reach 87 mid-range and 81 three-point ratings. Leonard can also reach an unbelievable 95 agility. For regular builds, players max out at 86 agility.
Despite its greatness, there are notable weak points. The most glaring ones are the low block rating (50) and the speed (77). Defenders need a higher block rating this year since it affects how much of a contest a player gets when defending on the perimeter. A 77 speed is also too slow to consistently keep up with shifty guards.
Fortunately, players can add cap breakers they can unlock throughout the year to bump those ratings up.
Unless it gets patched, increasing Leonard’s dunk from 80 (to anything higher) will help in a meta that currently rewards 99 dunk.
Badges
The badges are interesting because they feel like a mixed bag on the surface, at least before gamers grind their Leonard build. The finishing badges are better on a traditional lockdown build, but the Leonard GOAT build has the Limitless Range badge. When the badge works properly, it helps quite a bit.
Leonard has superior rebounding badges, which will significantly help in 3v3 park games. The elite passing badges are useful when playing with friends. It’ll be fascinating to see how the heightened Strong Handles badge helps sweaty lockdown players out of the corner during ranked or private match games.
By the time the game reaches its final seasons, when the most cap breakers are available, this Leonard GOAT build should have everything a 2K fan wants and more.
“Just look at him and see what happens,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said on Sept. 30. “He’d be in the same category as five or six of the other guys. We still have a two-way spot that’s open. There’s some guys fighting for that possibly, right? He’d be one of those guys.”
The 30-year-old Fall was unable to play in the preseason because of a left hip injury. He’s made 37 NBA appearances, averaging 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 6.2 minutes per contest. His last game in the league was on Dec. 30 of 2021.
Center Ariel Hukporti suffered a right Achilles tendon tear in the Sixers’ preseason opener. Big man Adem Bona (left foot sprain) has recently returned to practicing in full, but it’s unsurprising that the Sixers opted to use their third two-way slot on a center ahead of their regular-season opener Tuesday night against the Knicks.
Jabari Walker and Dean Wade both got preseason minutes at the five behind Joel Embiid. Nurse has also said he considers LeBron James “another candidate” to play center on occasion. Dominick Barlow would be in that mix as well when healthy, but he’s been sidelined by a back injury.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The question that’s stuck on everyone’s lips like a remnant of American cheese after a gluttonous stop at the drive-thru, “How will the Milwaukee Bucks trim their roster to 15 by opening night?”, continues to bemuddle Bucks fans. We mostly agree on removing the dead wood, but there’s reason to keep that around too. We don’t want to take the easy way out and cut Pete Nance—he’s such a good guy!—but will if we have to. And we definitely don’t want to bite the bullet on youth (or do we?). So, a combination it is.
Combo meal, please
Yes, with 34% of the vote, it appears Bucks fans are more inclined on some veteran/youth/path-of-least-resistance combination to sort out the roster crunch—but just what that desired combination looks like isn’t the same for everyone:
naveed2000s: I voted combo. I think it’d be easiest for it to be Nance and Bogo, but not having a guard be one of the cuts just seems wrong… We have a lot of fat that needs to be trimmed in the next year. So start trimming.
Jo Ma: Sadly Trent is untouchable. LeVert is the obvious candidate to be waived, Nance can get a two way, so he is around for another year.
Gerald Knox-van de Camp: I’d pay Caris LeVert what the Bucks owe him, and gratulate him upon his retirement. I bet he’d probably take it, too. This young Bogo is just not going to make it this side of the Atlantic.
This promotion has expired
Outside of combo meals, 34% of fans think it’s time a certain long-in-the-tooth promotion expired. Kuz, that’s you:
MKE: At this point I don’t care if Kuzma could be traded. I don’t want to watch a minute of him playing on the Bucks. Dump him.
Theshackman: It is possible that Kuzma is included in a trade given his expiring deal, but I still think he gets bought out at the deadline and signs for the minimum with a desperate, old, underperforming playoff team… whatever team most resembles the Bucks of the last few years. Then he might be done in the NBA.
retired janitor: However, if it was me. LeVert and Kuzma are given the opportunity to find new homes sooner rather than later. In fact, I think the organization would be doing each guy a solid. Kuzma contract has some strange unlikely incentives attacked to it, that makes it harder to trade to teams near the apron. Thus the odds of him being traded in the other team looking for cost cutting is greatly reduced.
Then again, maybe that’s more wishful thinking than anything else:
Gerald Knox-van de Camp: If some wannabe playoff contender seriously considers the player here in question to be the acquisition which will help them achieve their hopes, I would suggest as being much more helpful a quick and lasting visit at their local Alcoholics Anonymous Chapter.
Secret menu saviours?
While roster cuts seem the only solution at this point, some fans think there’s still time to customise their boxed meals. That is, make a trade:
toasterrebound: Kuzma and Herro for Michael Porter Jr. Nance a 2 way.
BUCKWILD: Trade 1, Memphis get Kuz expiring, LeVert expiring and AJ Green. Brooklyn gets Jerimi Grant, JJJ and a 1st from Memphis ( most favorable between Clev, Utah and Minn) for getting 2 expiring contracts and we taking on 2 yrs of Grant. Milwaukee gets MPJ and GG Jackson.
Trade 2, Orlando gets Herro expiring ( they need more shooting)and Jordan Poole expiring. New Orleans gets Turner, Suggs and future 1st from Orlando (for getting a better shooter and moving a bloated Suggs contract. Milwaukee gets Trey Murphy and Wendall Carter.
While these may seem optimistic, you never know. What you doknow is that Horst isn’t leaving any line uncalled.
There you have it, Brew Hoopers, the full buffet of roster-trimming items, as voted by you. With just days until rosters have to be finalised—they must be set by 4:00 p.m. CT October 19—we don’t have long to find out who will be cut from the menu.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 16: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 16, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And that’s all she wrote on the 2026 Phoenix Suns preseason.
The dress rehearsal that took place Friday night against the Utah Jazz was one you walk away from feeling pretty good about. The starters played three quarters, and Phoenix held a 95–90 lead heading into the fourth. That’s an encouraging sign, especially considering how many people around the league believe the Jazz are poised to leapfrog the Suns in the standings this season, with years of tanking and accumulating young prospects finally putting Utah in a position to make some noise.
Against a Jazz team that possesses an unbelievably large front line, the Suns did a spectacular job attacking the glass, forcing the issue on the interior, and executing in the manner we’ve come to expect from this version of Phoenix Suns basketball. It certainly didn’t hurt that they shot 13-of-28 from beyond the arc through three quarters, good for 46.4%. If Phoenix can shoot anywhere near that effectively on a consistent basis, this team is going to be dangerous.
But what stood out was the collective effort across the board. Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points, as did Jalen Green, while Devin Booker added 16. Khaman Maluach earned the start and contributed seven points and 12 rebounds, while also getting Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 17 points, into foul trouble.
Is there still plenty of work to do? Absolutely. There’s work to be done every day, especially for a team like the Phoenix Suns, one that will have to fight for everything it earns throughout the upcoming season. But if Friday night showed us anything, it’s that this is a team willing to fight.
Bright Side Baller Standings
Ryan Dunn won in a landslide for his performance against the Spurs.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Preseason Game 5 against the Jazz. Here are your nominees:
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Luguentz Dort #0 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during media day at PC&E Atlanta on September 28, 2026 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks made several additions to their team during the offseason, but there was none bigger than acquiring Lu Dort. After lacking consistent depth in the wing department last season, the Hawks made an effort to improve that area, and Dort ended up being a big key in improving the roster.
Coming from a championship team, Dort will bring a lot to the Hawks as they look to continue setting their eyes on building a contender. Not only will Dort bring his defense, but he has the experience that most of the young guys on the team will need.
Defense is Dort’s calling card, and that’s where he’ll help the Hawks in a major way. A former All-Defensive player, Dort can take on about any matchup on the floor, and that’s going to make Dyson Daniels’ job even easier. When Dort, Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are on the floor, teams may have a hard time getting an easy bucket on the perimeter.
Dort’s versatility on defense can also allow Quin Snyder to go into some smaller lineups if he wants to, especially since he can stretch the floor.
On offense, Dort doesn’t have the biggest variety of skills, such as shot creation, but his IQ is going to put the Hawks in some good positions on the floor. On the Thunder, Dort was able to get most of his 3-point shots from the gravity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can get those same shots with the Hawks. Outside of that, Dort knows how to make the right play on the court, and that’s only going to make the team better.
The one thing that many people have wondered is whether Dort will be inserted into the starting lineup, since that was his role with the Thunder. As much as that could be a valid question, it’s more important who finishes games instead of starting them. There could be a lot of scenarios where Dort could finish games with the Hawks, especially if they need 3-point shooting. In that case, it may be better to have him in the games rather than Daniels.
The Hawks’ starting five already has a lot of chemistry, and it doesn’t look like there are any plans to switch things up as the season approaches. That also probably isn’t a problem for Dort, who seems to be willing to do whatever he can for the betterment of the team.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dort was the first player off the bench for the Hawks, and he can be slotted in for any player Snyder would want to take off the court at that moment. That’s how much of an impact he could have on the team this season, and there’s no doubt he makes the Hawks a better team.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs after the NBA Cup game on NOVEMBER 15, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
San Antonio Spurs former vice president for strategic research Kirk Goldsberry recently posted this graphic.
“It’s a young man’s game, and increasingly so. Over 80% of the NBA is now 29 or younger. This hasn’t always been the case but the combination of pace and space basketball with the lack of durability we associate with older players has resulted in the NBA getting younger and younger. Pretty soon it’s just gonna be 50 year-old LeBron and 500 23 year-olds!”
Goldsberry is an expert of the modern game, differentiating how the game has evolved. In addition to his time with the Spurs, he wrote for Grantland, the ESPN blog brainchild of Bill Simmons, from 2012-2015. Other notable writings include The Kobe Assist, The Evolution of King James, and DataBall. His 2019 book SprawlBall: A Visual Tour of the New Era of the NBA commented on the inefficiency of shots taken from the restricted area to the three-point line.
While the game has skewed younger, Goldsberry doesn’t delve into the rationale for the shift. Is it the pace of the game wearing players out at an earlier age? It’s commonly accepted that load management and modern healthcare allows for players to have longer careers. So why are they not?
Perhaps the propensity to draft and sign younger players feeds into the “win now” mentality that franchises have established. It pairs with the hiring and firing of coaches without allowing time for a team to fully develop.
Whatever the reason, players are entering the league younger — the “one and done” collegiate effect — and exiting the league sooner. Think of former Spurs shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV. At age 27, he’s played on four teams over seven seasons. Now, at age 27, it looks as if his time in the NBA is over. He can still have a long and prosperous career overseas (in fact, he just signed with Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi two days ago).
Seven years seems to a fair amount of time to analyze a player’s NBA career. But is it his age relevant to his ability to play in the NBA, or is he being assessed solely on talent?
A look at many players could yield a clearer picture. For now, it’s important to note that players do not have the time to develop that they did a quarter century ago.
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Oct 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Headshot of Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Isaiah Evans (33) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Laughlin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Two former Blue Devils and current NBA rookies had big nights Friday.
Cameron Boozer had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies past the Charlotte Hornets.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans showed his potential for the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 21 points on 6-13/5-10 from the floor, in a 133-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
People have come to expect big things from Boozer already, but Evans still has to prove himself at the NBA level. As Duke fans know, he knows how to shoot, and every team can use a good sniper. He made a solid argument for himself Friday night. Now he needs to build on it.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Zaccharie Risacher might be the most interesting player on the Mavericks this season because I genuinely have no idea what he’ll become.
Two years ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in a draft class that was widely viewed as weak at the top. No one saw an obvious generational prospect, a consensus superstar, or a player anyone felt great about taking first. Atlanta eventually settled on Risacher because of what he could become: a 6-foot-9 wing with shooting touch, defensive versatility, and enough feel to fit next to better players. Even NBA.com’s scouting at the time framed him more as a high-level complementary piece than a future heliocentric star.
His rookie year was encouraging. Risacher averaged 12.6 points, shot 35.5 percent from three and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Then everything went backward. Last season, his scoring dropped to 9.6 points per game, his minutes fell, he lost his starting job in March, and Atlanta took off once they pushed him further down the rotation. Over the Hawks’ final 15 games, Risacher averaged just 16.3 minutes per night and even got a DNP-CD.
That’s where Dallas enters the story.
The Mavericks acquired Risacher this summer in a three-team deal that sent Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and cost Dallas a second-round pick. At the same time, Dallas also received a protected second-rounder back. It was a classic buy-low swing on a former No. 1 pick whose value had completely cratered.
Now the expectations are different.
Dallas does not need Risacher to justify being drafted first overall. It just needs him to become a good NBA player.
Biggest question
What is Zaccharie Risacher actually good at?
That sounds harsh, but I think it is the entire point of this season. For the Mavericks to make this experiment work, they have to figure out where Risacher helps them win. Is he a spot-up shooter? Can he be a connective passer? Can he defend well enough to close games? Is he a wing, a big guard, or something in between? Does he need the ball at all, or is he better spacing the floor and playing off Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving? The theoretical version of Risacher fits Dallas almost perfectly. The Mavericks need size on the perimeter, shooting next to Flagg and Kyrie, plus another defender who can take on difficult wing assignments. Risacher was supposed to be exactly that kind of player coming into the league. Ht has actually got to become that player.
Dallas has started him in both preseason games so far, and although the results have been mixed, that at least tells us Dusty May is willing to give him a real chance. He had nine points and eight rebounds in the preseason opener, then showed a little more life in the second game with two made threes and some hustle plays.
Best case scenario
The best-case scenario is not Risacher suddenly turning into a 25-point-per-game star. It is much simpler than that. He becomes a dependable two-way starter.
If Risacher can shoot somewhere around 37 to 38 percent from three, defend at a legitimate NBA level, and make quick decisions without needing the offense built around him, he suddenly makes a ton of sense next to Flagg and Kyrie. He does not need to dominate the ball. He does not even need to be the third option every night. He needs to become the kind of player who makes lineups work. That is probably the most encouraging part of his situation in Dallas. The pressure is gone.
No one is asking him to save the franchise or carry an offense because he was drafted first overall. Flagg is the centerpiece. Kyrie is the veteran star. Dallas has P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama, Naji Marshall, and others who can take on bigger offensive roles when needed.
Worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario is that Atlanta was simply right. Maybe Risacher is not good enough to consistently help a winning team. That is the uncomfortable possibility Dallas has to be prepared for.
He was not just struggling last season. At times, he actively hurt Atlanta when he was on the floor. His role shrank as the Hawks improved, and that is never a great sign for a young player whose value is supposed to come from being easy to fit around others. If the jumper is inconsistent, the defense is average, and he cannot create anything off the bounce, then there is not much left.
That version of Risacher gets pushed out of the starting lineup pretty quickly. Dallas has too many forwards and wings fighting for minutes to let him play simply because of where he was drafted two years ago. If that happens, he becomes another developmental project instead of a real part of the core.
Season goal
Become boring. That is honestly what I want from Risacher this year. No more massive expectations. No more conversation about whether he lived up to being the No. 1 pick. No more trying to figure out whether he is secretly a future star. Just become reliable. Hit open shots. Defend. Move the ball. Run the floor. Make the right read. Stay on the court. If Risacher can become a player Dusty May trusts for 25 to 30 minutes every night and does not have to think twice about closing with, that would be a huge success.
Overall
Risacher is probably one of the biggest swing players on the entire roster. The Mavericks do not need him to become what Atlanta hoped it was drafting in 2024. They need him to become the kind of player Dallas thought it was buying low on this summer—a big wing who can shoot, defend, and fit around better players. On paper, that player makes perfect sense next to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. The problem is we have spent two years waiting to see if that player actually exists.
(Original Caption) 4/18/62 -BOSTON,MA.- : HAPPY CHAMPS...The victorious Boston Celtics, NBA basketball champions for the fourth consecutive year, whoop it up in the dressing room, flanking their coach Red Auerbach {white shirt} Gov. John Volpe of Mass., {rear,L} and Celtics owner Walter Brown {front,L}. The Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, Boston Garden{4/18}.
There have been a lot of great coaches in basketball. In high school, we saw Bob Hurley Sr. of St. Anthony’s and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha.
In college, we’ve seen Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, and John Wooden.
And in the pros, we’ve seen Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and perhaps most of all, Red Auerbach.
What he built in Boston is still astonishing. The Celtics were good, and when he saw that he had a chance to get the final piece, Bill Russell, he swung a trade that made it happen.
Russell won the last game of every season he played in the NBA except for two: 1958, when he was injured, and 1967, when the Philadelphia 76ers had a truly great team.
After Russell retired, Auerbach rebuilt around an undersized Dave Cowens and John Havlicek, and then again around Larry Bird.
But it wasn’t just about talent. It was about how he dealt with people. Auerbach had many talents, and was an intense competitor, but his greatest talent may have been his insights into people. He knew how to deal with Russell, which wasn’t easy. He knew just how far he could push Bob Cousy.
He knew how to deal with every player on his team as a coach or under his supervision as GM or team president.
This video gets into a lot of what made Auerbach one of, at a minimum, the two or three best coaches in the history of basketball. He was unbelievably good at what he did.
NBA referee Bill Kennedy is known for his sideline theatrics, and he’s used to being the star of the show when announcing whether a coach’s challenge has succeeded or failed.
Enter Steph Curry.
The Warriors star took the opportunity to practice his golf swing during a review on Friday night at Chase Center, and Kennedy couldn’t help but notice his big reveal was being upstaged.
Curry is an avid golfer and gets his practice swing in wherever he can — which often includes the basketball court during timeouts, in pregame warmups and even as a celebration. But Golden State’s point guard should have known Kennedy was bound to call him out, even if it was through a simple, yet hilarious, side-eye and point of his thumb.
Get a load of this guy, Kennedy appeared to gesture.
The longtime NBA official has a knack for turning replay rulings into viral moments and is widely respected. He also is the league’s second openly gay official and was announced as an inductee into the 2026 LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame class in January of this year.
Kennedy’s rulings alone are pure comedy, but adding Curry’s nonchalant stardom into the mix made for an all-timer on Friday night.
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