If it feels like the LeBron James free agency saga has dragged on and on, it's because it has. Free agency officially opened more than three weeks ago (June 30), and you can be sure LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, had conversations with other teams before that (the NBA is a tampering league).
"We're not going to be rushed. We're not going to be rushed. It's his choice to make, and when he makes the choice, he'll make it...
"I don't know when his choice is going to be made, but it could be 48 seconds. It could be 48 minutes. I don't know. Again, you can't make somebody know something that they don't know."
Paul also pushed back on the idea that LeBron was in no hurry because he enjoys this spotlight and having the NBA waiting on his decision. Again. He said people trying to predict when the announcement will come down have no inside info, this is a process LeBron is still going through.
"I think it's important for people to understand: We're not making this about attention and a spectacle. It's not about a 'Decision' or anything like that. He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make... It's a business choice that he's making. And I think as an athlete, why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice?"
When asked if there's a frontrunner for LeBron's services next year, Paul said he had nothing he could say about that.
Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia are the teams most discussed (Golden State and Minnesota are also in the mix), with league sources continuing to tell NBC Sports they believe he will return to the Cavaliers. But nobody really knows. It's all just speculation until LeBron announces his decision.
And that will come whenever it comes. LeBron will not be rushed.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls dunks in the second half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakersat the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2026 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. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Summer League has officially concluded after the Golden State Warriors took down the Memphis Grizzlies to win the Summer League title. Less than 24 hours after the final game ended, outlets began dropping their mild to hot takes from what they saw over the last few weeks, and naturally Caleb Wilson has come up a bit. But it’s ESPN’s take on the dynamic Tar Heel that has been perhaps the most interesting so far.
Ben Golliver wrote a piece discussing who he thought was the best player during Summer League play, and while he decided that Cameron Boozer was the Summer League MVP, he dubbed Wilson as the most electric rookie. Here is what he had to say about Wilson’s impressive four-game performance:
Wilson, 20, performed like an athlete forced to bottle up his energy and competitive juices for the past five months. In between monster two-handed slams, he blocked shots at the rim, pushed the ball in transition, threaded 40-foot bounce passes on the run and showed off his improved three-point shot. While the 6-foot-9 Wilson seems like a natural fit at power forward, it’s possible that he’s quick and versatile enough to also function as an oversize wing.“
Golliver went on to discuss Wilson’s impressive athleticism and overall performance compared to the other members of the big four (AJ Dybantsa, Boozer, and Darryn Peterson). He also discussed some of the things that didn’t go quite as well during Summer League play — mainly the turnover issue — but wrapped things up by saying that Wilson looks like the most exciting Bull since Derrick Rose, which is music to Bulls’ fans ears.
While Golliver had some good thoughts about Wilson’s four-game stretch, it has to be pointed out that Wilson did not have good pieces around him. Fellow rookie Dailyn Swain had an awful showing, sophomore forward Noa Essengue looked rough around the edges outside of his defense, and it really wasn’t until Wilson sat during the final game that anybody else stepped up in a notable way offensively — Donovan Atwell went off for 22 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wilson will have much better pieces around him during the Bulls regular season, and with that I’d expect fewer turnovers and forced situations.
Overall, the Bulls front office has to be excited about Wilson, as do Bulls fans around the world. What do you think about Wilson’s Summer League performance? Do you plan to watch/follow him during his rookie season? Let us know in the comments below.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the TIME100 Sports Gala at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME) | Getty Images for TIME
While reports continue to suggest that LeBron James is favoring a return to the Eastern Conference, the Golden State Warriors continue to be mentioned with an outside shot of landing King James. As James allows his free agency saga to continue deeper and deeper into the offseason, in his quintessential melodramatic fashion, fanbases around the league are dealing with a Schrödinger’s roster, one with and without James at once. A recent poll of Dub Nation from SB Nation Reacts asked Warriors fans how they would feel about signing James, given the team’s prolonged rivalry with the former Cavs, Heat, and Lakers star.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for those around the fanbase, the majority of fans who responded to the poll “like” or “love” the idea of adding James (60%). While the Warriors have obviously had some contested moments with him over the years, they have not faced off in the postseason since 2023. Moreover, neither James nor the Warriors have come close to the NBA Finals in recent seasons. It’s far easier to put that history aside with Dub Nation desperate to see Steph Curry contend for a championship once again.
Over the past few days, several players from the Brooklyn Nets’ 2025-26 squad have found new homes, specifically forwards Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams, two-way guard Tyson Etienne, and Trevon Scott, a forward who had two 10-day contracts with the team to close out the year.
It is of course not unusual for a team in the rebuild phase following a season where the team won 20 games and had an overhaul that included three new draft picks, a big trade and a couple of free agent signings.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Wilson is the latest. He is signing a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks for the 2026-27 season after his team option was declined by Brooklyn earlier this offseason.
The Atlanta Hawks and Jalen Wilson have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Wilson averaged 7.4 points per game in three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/2VHOBcMhRQ
Wilson, 25, was selected by the Nets with the 51st overall selection in the 2023 NBA draft, after Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney were selected with back-to-back picks (Nos. 21 and 22 overall).
Throughout his three seasons with the Nets, he played a significant amount of minutes in the NBA for a second-round selection and even led the team in minutes during the 2024-25 season.
Overall, he appeared in 176 NBA games for Brooklyn (27 starts) while averaging 7.4 points, 1.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 40.1% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc.
His primary limitation is his lack of athleticism. Standing at 6’6”, he has not logged a single dunk in his NBA career. For someone his size, that’s unacceptable.
Ultimately, the Kansas product gets another NBA opportunity on a two-way contract with Atlanta.
Williams, who like Wilson, is 24, wasn’t renewed by the Nets at the end of June. He had a $6.3 million team option that the Nets declined to exercise. A native of Southern California and a Stanford produce, the signing with the Lakers is a homecoming.
Free agent forward Ziaire Williams has agreed on a one-year, $3 million deal to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/peHUxlls6d
Williams was acquired by Brooklyn in July 2024, a couple of weeks after they had traded Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for five firsts but also Bojan Bogdanovic and the non-guaranteed contract of Mamadi Diakite. The Nets used that contract in a salary dump that brought them Williams and a future second rounder from the Grizzlies.
The former No. 10 pick had been a disappointment in Memphis but to a large extent rehabilitated his reputation during his two years in Brooklyn, finishing with a career high 10.2 points and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes last season. In his two years, Williams played 119 games for the Nets, 58 of that starts. Although he had flashes, particulary on defense, he had issues with inconsistency and early last season it led to him getting a DNP for a game.
Williams is one of a number of short-term signings for Lakers this off-season. After losing LeBron James, they’re currently building around Luka Doncic and newly re-signed Austin Reaves.
Unlike Wilson and Williams, Etienne and Scott are packing their bags and heading overseas.
Etienne, 26, has signed with Paris Basketball in France, his agency first announced, while Scott is going to Germany to play for the Bamberg Baskets as we first reported.
As we reported, the Nets didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Etienne in June, losing his restricted free agency rights at the time.
He has spent the past two years in Brooklyn’s organization, appearing in 31 games while also becoming the Long Island Nets’ all-time leading scorer (their G-League affiliate).
Throughout 24 NBA games last year (two starts), Etienne knocked down 39.8% of his 3-point tries while averaging 7.9 points, 1.7 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes.
Both Etienne and Wilson had been praised for their leadership and high character, something the Nets’ organization deeply values in its players.
As for Scott, who’s entering his age-30 season, going overseas makes the most sense. It was highly unlikely that he would earn an NBA contract or a two-way this season, and the money overseas is largely better than the sub-$50,000 standard G-League players make per year.
In six games with the Nets last year (four starts), he averaged eight points, 2.0 stocks, 1.7 assists and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 38% from the field and 31.6% from 3-point range.
All three now begin the next chapter of their basketball career, albeit on very different paths.
Previously, E.J. Liddell, who had a short stint as a Nets two-way, had agreed to sign with Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek Basketball League. Of the Nets end-of-season roster, only Malachi Smith, waived earlier this month, and Ochai Agbaji, whose contract was not renewed, have yet to find a home,
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Rich Paul talks with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on January 04, 2026 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. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday morning, Patrick Beverly made (minor) waves across the internet, stating that “rumor has it Bron makes his decision today”. While that raised a few eyebrows, it’s nothing new. We have been told enough over the last three weeks that a LeBron James free agency decision was imminent from someone supposedly in the know, only for it not to come through. Bottom line, we all still don’t know.
On The Ringer’s “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast, Paul (LeBron’s agent) took some time to address the decision timeline and highlighted Beverly as an example.
“Pat’s (Beverly) not doing that (breaking news), and neither is anyone else…we do not need other people to perceive what’s going on.” Paul went on to say bluntly, “None of these people know anything, nobody knows nothing. I say this respectfully because we (presumably LeBron and Paul) haven’t made it to where anybody knows anything”.
“I’ll say it again, none of these people know anything. Nobody knows nothing, and I say that respectfully because we haven’t made it to where anyone knows anything,” – Rich Paul on LeBron’s free agency.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Paul went on to send a direct message not only to the media at large making these claims, but also it seemed to fans and their expectations of when to expect a resolution to the LeBron decision 4.0.
“We’re not making this about attention and a spectacle. It is not about a decision or anything like that. He (LeBron) has a choice to make; he has a business choice to make. We’re not going to sit here and decide or allow someone to decide when he makes that decision or that choice. It is a business choice that he is making, and I think as an athlete why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice.”
Paul went on to say that LeBron’s resume entitles him to have this lengthy decision-making window. While it is fair for James to have his allotment of time, contrary to Paul’s claims, this is very much feeling like LeBron is wanting to own the moment. If you read between the tea leaves, all major sporting events have come and gone: World Cup, Summer League, NBA Draft, MLB All-Star Game, etc. There is nothing left to take away from all the eyes on LeBron.
Now, teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and fans alike sit and wonder when LeBron and his camp decide on his presumed final destination. There is nothing left to steal his spotlight, and truthfully, against Paul’s words above, that is probably exactly what LeBron wants when he adds another chapter and presumably the final one to his legacy.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 9, 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After defeating the Phoenix Suns 86-81 on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs tied a bow on a nice Summer League. After going winless in Sacramento, the Spurs bounced back in Las Vegas, going 4-1, just narrowly missing the playoffs.
Unlike years prior, the Spurs didn’t have a hyped top-10 draftee to carry fans’ attention throughout the Summer League. They did have several players who could factor into San Antonio’s long-term plans. For the most part, they played well. Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the ugly from the 2026 summer Spurs.
The Good
Rotation players
Carter Bryant and Tarris Reed Jr. were the players most Spurs fans were excited to watch this summer. Bryant played a minor role on an NBA Finals team in his rookie season, and Reed was a first-round pick who is likely to factor into next year’s team as a third-string center. The last thing you want is for players who are likely to factor into the regular season rotation looking bad in the Summer League. San Antonio did not have that problem.
Bryant had to shake off some rust in his first game in Vegas, but quickly bounced back, averaging 15.5 points in his two games. The Spurs asked Bryant to play on the ball offensively in his first game, where he struggled (more on that later). In game two, he slotted into an off-ball wing role where he thrived on straight-line drives and catch-and-shoot attempts. Bryant looked strong compared to the competition, and showed a couple of nice mid-range jumpers, clearing space with that strength. Getting those on-ball reps now will pay off come October.
Reed had a more consistent summer experience. He averaged 7.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game. Summer League is a guard-oriented game, so Reed didn’t get a lot of chances to dominate offensively, which is fine because he likely won’t have that opportunity in the NBA. Instead, Reed showed what will make him a serviceable NBA player in his rookie season. He sets hard, physical screens that open up a lot of space for his teammates. He has great size that allows him to clear out the paint and grab boards on both ends (8.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes is crazy), and has good touch to score inside. His defensive foot speed could use some work, as he found himself out of place on that end on multiple occasions. He looked like a player who can provide San Antonio with spot minutes, or fill in if Victor Wembanyama or Luke Kornet need to miss games.
Second-round fliers
San Antonio also has two second-round picks on two-way contracts. Contenders rarely need their two-way player to contribute much, but if the Spurs do, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown look up to the task.
Brown shined as a versatile defender with elite hands. He averaged 2.8 steals this summer, swiping the ball away under the basket or using his length to get into the passing lanes. He showed glimpses of being able to play small-ball center with his wingspan and excellent instincts as a help defender. He needs to put on a bit more muscle to play the five in the NBA, but there is potential for him to be an interesting depth piece as a 4/5 man. It’s also worth noting that Brown hit a couple of three-pointers this summer. Developing a shot would take his game to another level.
Gillespie started the summer on an ice-cold shooting stretch, but bounced back, finishing the summer averaging 16 points a game on 40% shooting from the field and 30.8% from three. He always seemed to be moving with and without the ball to get into a position to score or to find a teammate for a good look. The shots didn’t always fall, but he was able to create separation against NBA talent and get to his spots. Despite his smaller stature, Gillespie looked the part defensively, snatching 2 steals per game this summer, applying a lot of pressure on the ball. Gillespie should be solid for the Austin Spurs this season, and could factor in as a break-in-case-of-emergency ball-handler for the NBA team.
Hyunjung Lee
Lee was the surprise player that got Spurs fans talking this summer. He’s a 6-foot-7 wing with a smooth jump shot from three. He’s not an incredible athlete, but he plays hard and can knock down shots. That was no more apparent than when he had 22 points on 4/7 shooting from deep against Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz. Lee likely won’t get a two-way contract with the Spurs this summer, but he’s certainly worth keeping in Austin to monitor his development.
The Bad
Carter Bryant on the ball
Bryant did not look good in his on-ball reps. He doesn’t have a sharp handle, and he’s not great at creating separation against even G League defenders right now. That’s the bad news. The good news is the Spurs don’t need him to break guys down off the dribble. They have Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to do that. Bryant will shine on the defensive end. San Antonio needs him to be an off-ball player who can play aggressively with his athleticism and knock down open jumpers offensively. He should thrive long term as the 4th or 5th option while guarding the toughest wing on the opposing team. Getting these on-ball reps in the Summer League will go a long way to developing his skills so he can step up and create shots in more limited offensive lineups.
Passing to the bigs
One thing that drives me crazy about Summer League ball is how the guards don’t look at the big men inside. There were many occasions this summer where Reed would have a player pinned on a seal after a pick-and-roll and a guard would chuck up a bad shot. The guard-dominant style of the Summer League made it hard to watch and enjoy games this summer. Which brings me to…
The Ugly
Summer League basketball
I have been accustomed to watching a lot of bad basketball in my life. I enjoy watching college and high school basketball to learn about which players will be in the league in the near future. Watching players develop is one of my favorite things about the NBA. So Summer League, in most seasons, is a fun time of year for a fan like me. But I think the 2025-26 Spurs broke me. It’s not like they were the Beautiful Game Spurs from a decade ago, but they moved the ball well and guarded their tails off. Going from that level of basketball to the Summer League this year was STARK. It was hard to watch guys chuck bad shots, turn the ball over, and drive into traffic with no plan. It was some of the ugliest basketball I’ve watched in a while, and I’m glad that the next time we see the Silver and Black play, it will be with mostly the entire NBA team.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Kam Jones #39 and Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks high five during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The post-Giannis era has just left its first impression. Following a nail-biting win against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks have wrapped up their part in this year’s Las Vegas Summer League. The Bucks finished their campaign with a respectable 2-3 record, winning their final two outings after a trio of losses to start.
More important than the wins, Bucks fans can now breathe a sigh of relief after both of their first-round draft picks—Brayden Burries and Nate Ament—showed their stuff. Burries, in particular, looked a step above the competition and figures to be at least a rotational piece for the real Bucks from day one, while Ament, after a rather passive first three games, finished strongly to suggest that he might just be on the right path too.
But it wasn’t just the Bucks’ prized first-rounders who demanded our attention. Kasparas Jakučionis, Bogoljub Markovic, Pete Nance, and Kam Jones all had moments too. So, with Summer League now in the books, it’s time to hand out their report cards.
Note: Only players who have reported contracts with the Bucks—standard or two-way—have been graded.
Talk about a high floor—you need stairs just to get up to this one! Burries came into Summer League largely as an afterthought, certainly in comparison to his fellow top ten draftees and arguably in comparison to his new Bucks teammates too (at least if the Brew Hoop comment section is anything to go by). At one point before Summer League, I considered penning a “Brayden Burries Boredom” piece; there was that little talk about him. The way he played, he just might’ve felt the oversight too.
Put simply, Burries was the best player on the court regardless of who he played against (or with). The numbers show that—volume scoring, peripheral contributions as a rebounder and passer, unfathomable efficiency. But it’s the way he got them that stood out. Burries was a true three-level scorer, bodying defenders to get to the paint and to the line, drilling pull-up middies, and splashing “Did you see that!?” treys, including some truly amazing step backs. And he did it all like he’d been there before.
He’ll go by “Buzzer Beater Burries” from here on out (thanks, Mitchell).
Ament made no real positive impact in the first three games, but I also wouldn’t say he had a negative impact either. While his defence was certainly not all that additive, it wasn’t as if he was shot-chucking or turning the ball over a tonne; he was kind of just… out there. Some of that is context-dependent: for example, I don’t think it was a coincidence that Ament looked much more engaged when he got more chances to handle the ball.
His fourth game was by far his best, dropping 23 points on 7/13 shooting. Then, in the final game, he had nine points in the first quarter, only to score three for the rest of the game, missing a bunch of bunnies in the second half. All in all, Ament ended Summer League looking like a different player from the seemingly timid guy he was at the start. And don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of work to do, but that mindset to push through adversity was really great to see.
Jakučionis played only in the first two of Milwaukee’s Vegas matchups—losses to his former Miami Heat and also the San Antonio Spurs. In those, he showed flashes of the court vision and passing that enable you to envision him as a starting-caliber offensive maestro, tying with Kam Jones for the Bucks leader in assists per game despite playing fewer minutes. He had some really nice dump-off dimes in the paint after drawing help from opposing bigs, while also showing skills as an inbounder, setting up cutters for rim finishes. Beyond his passing, Kas shot it well from distance, going an efficient 3/6, and used his quick hands to generate steals.
However, Jakučionis struggled mightily finishing anything inside the arc (2/13) and also with ball pressure, most noticeably against the Spurs, where he coughed up five turnovers. In all, it was a somewhat underwhelming performance given his potential and the anticipation that comes with a new, young prospect. But really, Jakučionis simply showed us who he is and why there’s still work to do.
Bogi demonstrated marked improvement offensively compared to last year’s Summer League. While his overall shooting percentage did drop, he took considerably more shots (42 to 29), and his three-point stroke looked much smoother. He also had some moments distributing the ball, with several really nice feeds throughout the five games, and looked comfortable with the ball in his hands.
Markovic’s best game by far came against the Phoenix Suns, where he scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and even had a block. There was a lot to like, and clearly his season overseas helped hone his skills on that end of the floor. It’s a shame his Summer League ended with a stinker against the Philadelphia 76ers—a 1/9 performance—otherwise, it was a good offensive summer for Markovic.
Defensively, it was another story. While Markovic did get himself a block a game, he still seemed slow and had a hard time staying in front of guys. He’s going to need to make more strides in this facet of his game, and I’m not sure that can happen with some of his physical limitations. Overall, the arrow is pointing up for Markovic heading into the offseason, but he’ll need to keep building if he hopes to earn a roster spot by the time opening night rolls around.
I mean, Pete Nance was Pete Nance: a reliable, no-nonsense hooper who plays his role and makes his teammates better. Nance has turned his three-ball into a legit threat and found his niche as a pick-and-pop big, which is huge for his long-term future in the NBA. Before, he was something of a jack-of-all-trades without a definable NBA skill, and he has clearly worked his behind off to turn that three-point shot into his fastball. He also flashed some nice passing ability as the Bucks used him more as a hub than I can remember them doing in the past.
Lewis was basically a non-factor across both the California Classic and Vegas Summer League. He did not look like an NBA player, that’s for sure. His three-point shooting was fine (for the small number of attempts he got up), but any time he was forced to put the ball on the floor, things got ugly. Granted, minutes were scarce for Lewis, and he didn’t really get a chance to redeem himself in Vegas.
I will note that, having seen this guy play for two years at the NBL, the context of Summer League is not advantageous for him. Lewis is a three-and-D specialist, and that’s it; rarely, if ever, was he asked to create off the bounce in Australia, and naturally, players are forced into roles they’re not meant for in the Summer League environment.
We didn’t really learn a whole lot about the 27-year-old Cormac Ryan through Summer League, and to be honest, I’m not too sure what the point was for playing him at all. We know what Ryan is (a secondary creator and spot-up shooter) and what he is not (a primary creator). Throughout the Vegas Summer League, Ryan was forced more into that latter category, which led to inefficient shooting nights that cut into the rookies’ reps. I’m not even necessarily blaming this on him either—maybe the coaches gave him that role—but the whole campaign really seemed like a waste of time, evidenced by him getting shut down after three games.
I really liked Jones’ impact on this Summer League team. He didn’t get to play much until the back end of Vegas because he was behind some guys, but I actually liked his minutes more than the guys who were playing over him initially. Jones was a willing playmaker for others, but was also aggressive in picking his spots when it was his turn. He was a true floor general and brought a calming presence to the team when things got shaky or sped up. I still wonder about Jones’ long-term NBA viability because of his lack of size and explosion, but he was great in the Summer League setting.
Not much to see here, folks. Castro looked like a legitimate defensive menace at times in the California Classic, racking up steals—seven across two games—and altering shots, but he didn’t get much of an opportunity in Vegas. He sure is athletic, but has a ways to go on the offensive end, especially catching the ball. The fact he played just 8.8 MPG in only three games makes you wonder whether his reported signing with Milwaukee on a two-way deal will actually come to fruition.
Milwaukee has one more two-way spot to hand out (Cormac Ryan and Kam Jones occupy the other two), and of all the non-contracted players on the SL squad, Zack Austin looked like the strongest candidate to fill that opening. The counting stats don’t reflect it, but he radiated “NBA-caliber wing” vibes throughout the California Classic and the Vegas games. His motor and athleticism are central to his appeal. Most guys of his size don’t dunk and block shots like him. He can also shoot it really well off the catch—don’t let his poor splits from these exhibitions fool you; he was a 40.4% sniper on volume in the G League last season. All in all, the Bucks can’t let Austin leave their system, even if he begins next year with the Herd.
Grade:A-
What do you think, Brew Hoop family—are our assessments fair or do you need to speak with the principal? Hand out your grades below and add your thoughts in the comments.
On July 13, the Miles Bridges trade became official. Brian Gregory had this to say about the Suns’ new power forward.
“His elite athleticism, strength and versatility allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He embodies the grit, competitiveness and work ethic that fit our identity, and we’re excited to welcome him to Phoenix.”
High praise. Or maybe bold praise, considering Bridges’ six-year NBA career with the Hornets.
Coming out of Michigan-lite, Bridges was projected to be the type of player that Gregory is describing. A potential two-way star, with the athleticism to be a menace on the defensive end and a problem with the ball in his hands.
Tom Izzo had this to say to the New York Post about Miles Bridges in advance of the 2018 draft.
“I see a guy who can play a lot of positions and defend them with his strength and rebounding,’’ Izzo said. “What I’d like to see him get better at? Continually improving getting shots off the dribble. He’s a phenomenal 85 percent free-throw shooter. I’d like to see him get to the line more. He’ll get better because he’s a gym rat — in there at 6:30 a.m., in there at night. How many guys love the game, how many guys like the game.”
Chris Dempsey wrote this about Bridges’ potential to impact the defensive end in the NBA.
Miles Bridges’ ideal fit is with a team looking to add toughness and defense to its rotation without sacrificing offense. Bridges can score – Michigan State ran many plays for him – but his immediate impact will be on defense, where he projects to be a very good defender. Bridges is also a good rebounder, and can play right away for a team with scoring and playmaking around him that is in need of some hustle, solid spot-up shooting, and intangibles.
Sounds like one of “Gregory’s Grinders,” and if that’s the Miles Bridges the Suns get it’s a strong step toward building a contender, but that’s not the Miles Bridges the Hornets got over his six years in Charlotte.
The front office is rolling the dice that Charlotte was the problem, and given Charlotte’s record during Miles Bridges’ tenure, it’s a reasonable assumption, even if the numbers signal risk. Will Miles Bridges be who Miles Bridges has been? Or can the Suns’ newly installed culture, and a group of young forwards nipping at his heels, push Miles Bridges to be the explosive two-way player scouts thought he had the potential to be coming out of college?
The Suns clearly believe Bridges can grow as a defender, but Miles Bridges isn’t a prospect anymore.
Over his career, Miles Bridges has a defensive rating of 115.0, which is hovering around average for power forwards.
To put it in context, last season, his future partner at forward, Dillon Brooks, had a defensive rating of 116.5, and the forward he’s replacing, Royce O’Neale, had a defensive rating of 113.9. Those stats being what they are, I’m expecting Miles Bridges to be a clear upgrade defensively in most areas compared to Royce, except for one notable exception. Steals.
The Suns got busy in the passing lanes this season and finished the year fourth in the league with 9.5 steals per contest. Royce O’Neale was responsible for 1.1 of them. Last year for the Hornets, Miles Bridges averaged 0.6 steals per game. The expectations will be different under Jordan Ott, who has attached his defensive philosophy to creating extra possessions by forcing turnovers. If the Suns are going to put out the kind of Thunder-esque defense Ott has envisioned, 0.6 steals from their starting power forward isn’t going to cut it.
For comparison, last season Goodie led the Suns with 1.5 steals a game. Devin Booker averaged 0.8, Jalen Green averaged 1.1, Dillon Brooks averaged 1.0, and Mark Williams contributed 0.9 a game. In addition to the Suns losing Royce’s 1.1 steals, Grayson is taking his 1.4 steals per game with him as well. There is reason to be concerned that, if Miles Bridges can’t find a way to be more disruptive, an area of advantage could regress toward league averages.
Standing at 6’7” with a 6′ 10” wingspan, Miles Bridges is a plus athlete who lacks length. Yet there are reasons to believe that Bridges could create more steals this upcoming season with the Suns. Mark Williams set a career high in steals per game in his first year in Phoenix. Defense is often a mentality as much as an ability, and the Suns were locked in on the defensive end last year. Bridges may thrive in this type of environment, which stands to be starkly different from the culture he’ll be leaving behind in Charlotte.
If not, there is no shortage of young forwards behind him, bringing the athleticism along with the length Bridges lacks. The progress of Rasheer Fleming, Ryan Dunn, and Koa Peat may impact the Suns’ willingness to commit to a Miles Bridges extension. If Bridges wants to make Phoenix a long-term stay, he will need to find the defensive intensity that he never tapped into in Charlotte.
One area Bridges could hang his hat on, as he carves out his role in the Suns’ defense, is the impact he could make on the defensive glass. The stop isn’t complete until the defense secures the rebound, and the Suns struggled to secure the rebound last year.
The Suns were 29th in the league in defensive rebounding last season. Royce was the second leading defensive rebounder on the team with 4.0 per game, and while the Suns’ rebounding issues go beyond the power forward position, the 4.9 rebounds Miles Bridges averaged for Charlotte in 25/26 would have tied Mark Williams for 1st on the Suns. Over his career, he’s averaged 5.1 defensive rebounds per contest. It’s no secret the Suns struggled to compete against size last year, and Miles Bridges, while an undersized four, is going to give the Suns some much-needed “oomph” on the glass.
If Miles Bridges does buy into the team culture, the Suns are adding a much-needed high-end athlete as they look to take their defense from a defense that out-hustles teams in October and November to a defense that wreaks havoc against the NBA’s best in the playoffs. While the Suns excelled in forcing turnovers in the regular season, the advantage disappeared in the playoffs against the NBA’s best.
Suns fans got a first-hand look at the defense that the Ishbia, Gregory, and Ott are trying to bring to Phoenix when the Suns ran into the Thunder in the playoffs. The difference between taking advantage of regular season lapses to forcing your will on a team whose best efforts aren’t enough. That’s what the top defenses do. Athletes like Miles Bridges make fielding a defense like that possible.
The Suns FO has said they want veterans to have career years. Could Miles Bridges average 1.0 steals and 8 rebounds a game next year on the Suns? In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 0.7 steals and 7.5 rebounds for a 19-win Hornets team, so it’s not insane to think he could. If that’s the case, the Suns might be a lot better than I thought they would be in the immediate aftermath of the trade.
There’s still a risk, and a lengthy history to suggest that the transformation to defensive demon won’t happen, and Bridges will continue to be pedestrian on that end of the floor. Could Charlotte’s losing culture be to blame for Miles Bridges not living up to his defensive potential, or could part of the reason Charlotte had a losing culture be that they had guys like Miles Bridges on the team? Talented but distracted players.
The Suns have time to figure out if it works before committing long-term to Bridges if they are willing to let him hit unrestricted free agency. So far this offseason, they’ve been quick to wrap these deals up, but they still have to figure out what they want to do with Brooks contract extension and with a rookie like Koa Peat looking ready to push the rotation. Is it smart to put Miles Bridges in front of him for the next four years?
Miles Bridges could be the win-now move the Suns needed, even if he’s not the win-now move the fans wanted. (JAYLEN BROWN!!!!) It all depends on Miles Bridges’ commitment to being a better defensive player than he’s been over his six-year career.
Brian Gregory thinks, “[Bridges] elite athleticism, strength, and versatility allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor.”
He hasn’t been that type of player at the NBA level, but I’m not going to tell anyone what they can or can’t do. Only Miles Bridges can decide that.
A Brahminy kite eagle is pictured at KL Bird Park in Kuala Lumpur on December 27, 2023. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP) (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Don’t start reading this with high hopes. It’s July 21, so as much as I try, it’s not that I can gather a lot of links and put together tons of notes. Bad times ahead for a workaholic like myself.
Karl-Anthony Towns opened up about the emotional aftermath of winning the NBA championship during his appearance on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast, how the achievement passed far quicker than he ever imagined, and admitted he struggled with suddenly having no basketball left to play after the Finals.
Kris Pursiainen of Daily Knicks only sees one LeBron James destination that could help the Knicks, or at least not hurt them too much.
Speaking of James, no decision arrived on Monday, only to shut Pat Bev’s mouth.
The Knicks, meanwhile, keep searching for a third-string center after Dallas matched their offer sheet for Moussa Cisse. Could SummerKnick Liam Robbins get the nod? Daily Knicks’ Kenny Kluska thinks so.
Josh Hart shared his pregame meal (not Mikes and Ikes). Could you guess it? Answer here.
Yes, it’s a slow day. What did you expect?
Trae Young says Zaccharie Risacher is finally free from the Hawks 👀
INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Brent Barry looks on during the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I found this posted by the aptly named “Crazy Stats.”
Brent Barry is the only player in @NBA history to lead the league in two-point percentage (58.8% in 2001-02) and in three-point percentage (47.6% in 2000-01). pic.twitter.com/E6mc4rLGV4
“Brent Barry is the only player in @NBA history to lead the league in two-point percentage (58.8% in 2001-02) and in three-point percentage (47.6% in 2000-01).“
In back-to-back years Barry notched the best three-point shooting percentage followed by the best two-point shooting percentage while playing with the Seattle SuperSonics.
Add the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest and you’ve got some interesting trivia.
Barry, along with his father Rick Barry, were the second father-son duos to independently win NBA titles. The younger Barry earned his rings with San Antonio in 2005 and again in 2007.
Barry rejoined the Spurs from 2018-2024 in the front office as their vice president of basketball operations.
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Multiple reports have concluded that there are truly three teams in contention between the Cavs, Sixers and Heat.
The Warriors feel like a pipe dream but also remain a team to look out for that could really shift the narrative. James and his camp have all the information they need, according to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes. Now, he just weighs out all of his options.
As James continues to breakdown those options and select his team, rumors are still flying. Speculation is rampant.
Here's the latest news, updates and whispers about the LeBron James Decision 4.0:
Rich Paul: LeBron James won't be rushed
06:44 AM ET, July 21 2026, Marcus D. Smith
After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his desire for LeBron James to make his decision so the league can finish its schedule for the regular-season, it fell on deaf ears.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, James' agent. told Max Kellerman during their Game Over podcast that James won't "be rushed" into making a free agency decision.
"I saw Adam in New York and we discussed it," Paul said. "If (LeBron) doesn’t know – you can’t rush it … we’re not going to be rushed. It’s his choice to make.
"There’s been several people who called and said ‘hey Rich is there anymore that we should be doing?’ And my answer is no. We don’t need you to go above and beyond."
Rich Paul says they’re not letting Adam Silver rush LeBron James decision:
“I saw Adam in NY and we discussed it…if he (Bron) doesn’t know — you can’t rush it…we’re not going to be rushed…it’s his choice to make…just like Pat (Riley) said…there’s been several people who… pic.twitter.com/sBt5iuyQcK
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Morez Johnson Jr. #14 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dallas Mavericks rookie Morez Johnson Jr. is leaving the Las Vegas Summer League with a mixed bag of tape to look over until the start of training camp.
Johnson started off hot in Las Vegas but eventually cooled down, which isn’t what Mavericks fans want to see. ESPN analyst Ben Golliver listed Johnson as the most inconsistent rookie at the Las Vegas Summer League.
“Johnson’s debut was a sight to behold: 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks against the Golden State Warriors. As that line suggests, the No. 9 pick was a wrecking ball on both sides of the court. To top off an excellent showing filled with above-the-rim highlights on both ends, the 6-foot-9 forward even stepped out to hit a 3-pointer. This was everything Dallas could have wanted to see: physicality, energy, versatility and a stretch element on offense,” Golliver wrote.
“Unfortunately, Johnson looked like a completely different player in the Mavericks’ next game, a loss to the Lakers. He committed seven fouls in 28 minutes, looked a step slow to react to the action in the paint and finished with just 10 points and five rebounds as the Mavericks were outscored by 22 points in his 28 minutes.”
Johnson will get opportunities to compete for minutes in his rookie season, especially with his former Michigan head coach Dusty May now leading the Mavs. There won’t be as much breathing room in Dallas as there was in Ann Arbor. There are other players who bring a lot to the table that could challenge Johnson for minutes, including the team’s newest trade acquisition, Zaccharie Risacher, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
Johnson showed the best of what he can bring, along with the worst. He is coming into the league as a rookie, and that will come with its fair share of growing pains, but he needs to learn how to move on from those quickly.
Johnson’s role likely won’t feature him as much offensively as he played against Golden State, which means he has to learn how to fit in alongside Cooper Flagg as a role player. If he can find his lane, he’ll be just fine, but he needs to figure out how to complement his teammates while using the elite energy and physicality that made him a top-10 pick to begin with.
BOSTON - 1990: Isiah Thomas #11 of the Detroit Pistons passes against Larry Bird #33 and Dennis Johnson #3 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1990 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1990 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve talked a lot about Larry Bird in this space, largely because Bird had a genius for basketball that is exceedingly rare. A lot of people think that Bird was too slow and couldn’t jump, and that he wouldn’t be able to play today.
People like JJ Redick, for one, who really should know better (Redick said that he didn’t think Bird was a top-five all-time three-point shooter).
Redick was born in 1984, so he was too young to see Bird in his prime, and may not have watched him much in his later years either to understand why he was such a feared shooter. That’s hard to know. However, the idea that Bird would struggle in today’s game is ludicrous, and this video partially demonstrates why.
You’ll see several things repeated here. For one, Bird on several occasions is on the floor and nonetheless still delivers pinpoint, lethal passes.
You’ll also see him make several passes to players behind him that he cannot possibly see. Nonetheless, he knows where they will be and delivers perfect passes for easy baskets, sometimes with 2-3 defenders in the way.
You’ll also see plays where he just touches the ball long enough to direct it to a teammate. It’s not exactly a pass; it’s more like a redirection.
As the narrator notes, Bird has superb situational awareness, and perhaps the best hand-eye coordination in the history of the game. But he also played as hard as anyone, and with an amazing amount of self-confidence.
This is a guy who said that he knew, on his third day of practice as a rookie, that he would dominate the NBA.
There are Larry Bird trash talking videos out there on the YouTubes, where he told his defenders exactly what he was going to do, and then did it.
And then there’s this: Bird played in an era when guys sometimes tackled each other in the open court and pulled each other down like they were in WrestleMania, not the NBA.
In this era, where you can’t defend physically as you could in the 1980’s, no one could have stopped Bird. He might have averaged 40 points in the modern NBA.
Yaxel Lendeborg helped the Warriors to the Summer League Final. Photograph: John Locher/AP
1) The top four are as good as advertised
The hype heading into this year’s draft was tremendous, and through the small sample size of 10 or so days in the Las Vegas summer heat, this year’s class has lived up to its billing.
AJ Dybantsa, now a Washington Wizard, looked every bit the No 1 overall pick in his Summer League debut, where he bested the player drafted directly behind him, Darryn Peterson. This was notable, as Peterson had won the pair’s previous head to head matchups, and the noise was starting to swell that perhaps the Wizards had made the wrong selection with the No 1 pick. But Dybantsa showed his high ceiling, looking every bit the crafty and athletic offensive engine he has been touted as. Peterson, to his credit, also had a solid Summer League outing, especially in the California Classic (the mini version of the league that takes place before the big shebang in Las Vegas), showcasing his excellent shot creation skills.
The third overall pick, Cameron Boozer, who many trendy media folks picked to go first, showed exactly why he’s attracted so many fans while leading his team to the NBA Summer League Final: he’s not particularly flashy or exciting, rather more of a high level metronome. Boozer is a super smart, strong, and mature offensive hub who may not put butts in seats, but he really understands how to play basketball at an NBA level.
And Caleb Wilson, drafted fourth by the Chicago Bulls, may have seen his stock rise the most of the four during his time in Vegas. He scored a scintillating 35 points (with seven threes) in his Vegas debut, and if that shooting can hold up in the NBA, his athleticism, shot creation and swagger make him a bona fide franchise cornerstone, the kind of guy who can finally poster dunk the Bulls out of mediocrity.
2) Yaxel Lendeborg is NBA ready
Before Lendeborg was an NBA Summer League champion and Summer League Finals MVP with the Golden State Warriors, who drafted him with the 11th overall pick this year, he was winning an NCAA championship with the Michigan Wolverines. Simply put, the guy is a winner. With his size (6ft 9in, with a 7ft 4in wingspan), skillset (a swiss army knife with a high basketball IQ) and personality (not afraid of the big moment, swagger for days), he most likely would have gone even higher had he not been 23 years old at the time of the draft in June. In some ways, though, his age is an asset; especially for a team as win-now (or, rather, win-yesterday) as the Warriors. Lendeborg is ready for the NBA fresh out of the box, he’s smart and savvy and the epitome of plug and play. On top of all of this, he’s a walking pull-quote: he told ESPN’s Ben Golliver of the Grizzlies’ blown lead in the championship game: “Man, their butts got tight. They puckered up, you know what I mean? Some of us are built for the moment and some aren’t.”
3) The Lakers may have in-house solutions
The most glaring roster hole after an aggressive summer of moves for the Los Angeles Lakers (all five starters from game one of their first round series against the Houston Rockets this playoffs are gone) is at the wing/forward. While rumors are still aflutter in regards to players like the Hawks’ Jonathan Kuminga and Dallas’s PJ Washington, the Lakers’ time in Las Vegas showed heartening signs that they may have rotation-caliber wings at home. To start with, Cameron Carr, who fell to Los Angeles all the way down at No 24 in this year’s draft, looks like he may be a steal who should have gone in the lottery. He showed athleticism and shooting that the Lakers have lacked, and seemed right at home in pseudo NBA level competition. Adou Thiero, the freak athlete 2025 draft pick who spent most of his rookie campaign recovering from injury, also seemed to be making substantial strides.
But the surprise of the week was Arthur Kaluma, who spent last season with the Lakers’ G-League affiliate. He had a 34-point game against the Mavericks, and generally seemed prime to emerge as the 3 & D wing the Lakers are looking to shore up their rotation with. While the team fell short of making the Summer League Final, they have to be feeling pretty good about what they have in-house. They went 4-1 in Vegas, only losing to the ultimate champion Warriors in the semi-finals.
4) The Bucks reset is off to a good start
Milwaukee have had a rough go of things in recent years, to say the least. Their fence-swing for Damian Lillard went about as poorly as it could have, culminating in an achilles tear and the decision to waive and stretch his contract. Then came the somewhat inexplicable decision to throw the bag at center Myles Turner. Another year of Giannis Antetokounmpo injuries later, and it was finally time to face the music: the Bucks traded the Greek star to the Miami Heat, who had long courted him. As much as it hurt to break up with their multi-time MVP sweetheart, it was for the best for all parties. Hope that there are sunnier days ahead came in the form of guard Brayden Burries, who the Bucks selected No 10 overall in this year’s draft. He was one of the standouts in Vegas, averaging 23.5 points (with 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists), and putting a cherry on top of his outing with a game-winning bucket in his final game. Burries looks like he could end up being the best of what was a crowded guard class in the mid lottery, scoring efficiently and showing poise in his time in the desert.
5) Meleek Thomas may have been the steal of the draft
At the time of writing, the jury is still out on whether or not one LeBron James, the best thing to ever happen to sports in the Cleveland metro area, will be back for a third rodeo in a Cavaliers uniform. But regardless of that outcome, there are silver linings to be found for Cavs fans this July. Thomas, a guard out of Arkansas, was the surprise standout of the week, averaging just over 27 points (!) at 50% (!) from the field. He may struggle to find substantial rotation minutes on the Cavs next year, as they just gave Donovan Mitchell a tremendous amount of money and are allegedly planning to bring back James Harden on a more team-friendly contract, but Thomas was the best player on the floor in several of his contests in Vegas, and for the 34th overall pick, that’s pretty damned remarkable. Thomas didn’t look out of place among his higher drafted peers; if anything, he was often the most confident among them. We may well look back on the 2026 draft and wonder how Cleveland snagged such a gem in the second round.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after Boston's 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On June 7, 1998, Brigadier-General Ansumane Mané attempted to oust João Bernardo Vieira, the president of Guinea-Bissau, a small African nation of about two million people about half as large as Massachusetts. Vieira had served as president of the nation since 1984, and was not especially popular.
Mané had been suspended earlier that year for dereliction of duty. Weapons belonging to the Guinea-Bissau military had been found in the possession of separatists that were waging a campaign for independence in neighboring Senegal. For his part, Mané claimed innocence and accused other members of the defense ministry of trafficking in arms with the Casamance separatists.
The day after his official dismissal on June 6th, Mané and his allies within the Guinea-Bissau armed forces seized control of critical infrastructure and demanded the ouster of Vieira, to be followed by free elections in July.
Guinea-Bissau had been a Portuguese colony, and in response to the fighting that broke out, they dispatched a detachment of marines to enforce a cease-fire and to protect Portuguese nationals as well as helping them repatriate.
The rebels eventually ended up controlling 99% of the country, at which point in time, an end to hostilities was negotiated.
As it turned out, Mané was exonerated from accusations of trafficking in arms with the Casamance separatists, while Vieira’s presidential guard were heavily involved in the trade.
The truce allowed Vieira to remain in power, but when he apparently refused to allow his personal guard to be disarmed in May of 1999 another coup took place and Vieira surrendered unconditionally, bringing an end to a civil war that had displaced about four hundred thousand residents at various times.
Refugees from the Guinea-Bissau civil war ended up in a variety of places. According to the UN high council on refugees (UNHCR), about four thousand ended up in camps in neighboring African states. Over four thousand also ended up in Portugal.
Two of those refugees were Mica and Djaneuba Queta. They fled first to Cape Verde, an island archipelago off the coast of Africa, and from there to Portugal. The two had a son around a year after the civil war started.
Neemias Queta was born in Portugal on July 13, 1999.
He was raised in Vale da Amoreira, a small town across the Tagus River from Lisbon that is a haven for African refugees and immigrants.
When he was ten years old, his older sister was invited to try out for what was, essentially, her high school basketball team, the Sports Group of the Secondary School of Santo André. Neemias tagged along and caught the attention of one of the coaches of the local club, Barrierense.
Like many European basketball clubs, as opposed to American professional teams, Barrierense does not just field a team that plays in the first division of the Portuguese basketball league; they also sponsor youth teams, and at age ten, Neemias was invited to join one of those teams.
He would play for the Barrierense youth teams right up until he began his college career.
But before he started college, he put on a clinic at the FIBA U20 tournament in Europe. He averaged a double-double for the tournament, and recorded a near triple-double against the Netherlands, a game in which he tallied twenty points, fourteen rebounds and nine blocks.
Utah State was looking overseas for talent in 2018, and Eric Peterson, an assistant to head coach Craig Smith, was put in charge of the task. Peterson asked some of the guys he knew overseas for tips on who to recruit. According to Eric, “there was one name on every single text message and it was Neemias.”
Fortunately for Peterson, the Aggies already had a Portuguese player on the roster, Diogo Brito, who knew Queta. Brito helped recruit Queta from Portugal to Logan, Utah, a medium sized city between the Bear Range and the Wasatch Mountains near the Idaho border.
Peterson has nothing but praise for Queta’s work ethic. “Neemi made himself a pro. It takes a lot to show up every single day. Some kids you coach, you have to say, ‘Hey, let’s get in the gym’ or ‘hey, do you want to get in the gym today?’ Nemi was just constantly, ‘Coach, you got film for me?’ ‘Coach, can we shoot this morning at 7am?’”
After a single standout season in the Mountain West Conference, Neemi participated in the NBA draft combine, but did not hire an agent, which at the time, was an irrevocable step that would terminate college eligibility.
Queta was not ready for the pro game. Peterson, who accompanied Neemias to the workouts, relates that his first challenge was going up against future Celtic legend Tacko Fall. According to Peterson, Queta got his “butt kicked,” and knew that he needed to continue to work on his game.
Mar 19, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Utah State Aggies center Neemias Queta (23) controls the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Marcus Santos-Silva (14) during the first half in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
After two more seasons of accumulated accolades, including a school record for most blocks and a Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year award, Queta was ready for the NBA Draft.
He officially declared in 2021, and was taken by Sacramento as a second round pick, the 39th overall. He thus became the first Portuguese player selected by an NBA team.
Sacramento has been bad for a very long time; this has resulted in a succession of high picks that they have principally used on overrated players, or on players that they have failed to develop. Queta fits into the second category.
Queta spent a lot of time playing for the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate, but appeared in 15 games for the parent squad his rookie year. That number dropped to five in his sophomore season. Neemias played these seasons on two-way contracts, which, unlike standard NBA contracts, allow players to be assigned to the G League for an extended period of time.
In August of 2023, the Kings signed Queta to a standard contract, and then promptly waived him a month later on September 12.
The Celtics snapped him up a week after he was cut, signing him to a two-way contract, and making him an NBA champion when the Celtics secured Banner 18 the following summer.
That summer the Celtics signed Queta to an NBA contract, and unlike the Kings, they did not waive him a month later. Instead, Queta saw his role increase during the 2024/25 season. After appearing in just 28 games in the previous campaign, Neemias saw action in 62 contests.
With the departure of veteran Celtics bigs during the summer of 2025, Neemias ended up being the Celtics’ starting center going into a season where everyone but the team itself seemed to have low expectations.
Queta made a solid case for the league’s Most Improved Player, starting 75 of 82 games while averaging 1.3 blocks per game, to go with 10.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, in a surprising 56 win campaign that saw the Celtics finish with the second best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.
He was rewarded with a four year, $56 million contract.
His progress would not surprise Eric Peterson, who recruited him to Utah State because he fit the type of player they were looking for. “We want guys that are not done getting better, that have their best basketball ahead of them.”
