Basketball – Worldwide Sports News

Madison Square Garden Corp. (MSG), the parent company of the Knicks, said Thursday, Sept. 17 it made a mistake in its pricing structure when individual game tickets for the 2026-27 NBA seasn went on sale the day prior, resulting in face value seats for the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers being listed in excess of $1,000.

And those were the prices for tickets in the upper deck of Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks, who in June won their first NBA championship in 53 seasons, had toiled in mediocrity for years during the 2010s, leading to several loyal fans voicing their indignation.

“A multibillion-dollar franchise pricing its own non-wealthy fans out of the Garden on a night the fanbase has been dreaming about for 50 years,” one fan wrote on social media. “Shameful.”

In some cases, the ticket prices represented increases of 400% from last season. As a result, the company has decided to pause sales so that it can correct the issue.

“We are pausing Knicks individual ticket sales due to a mistake in our pricing,” MSG said Thursday, Sept. 17 in a statement. “We are rolling back to last year’s prices plus an average increase of 12%. We will restart sales with new prices shortly, and anyone who already purchased individual tickets will be refunded for the difference. Our intention was never to overcharge our loyal fans, and we thank everyone for their support of the Knicks and their patience as we get this right.”

The Knicks have increased prices in the past, particularly as they have had recent success, making the postseason five of the last six seasons.

The regular-season opener against Philadelphia is scheduled for Oct. 20, when the team will raise the banner to commemorate New York’s championship.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MSG vows to fix 'mistake in our pricing' after Knicks fans condemn ticket costs

September 17, 2026

Mike Sweetney, one of Georgetown basketball's greatest players, dies at 43

Michael Sweetney, an All-American big man for the Georgetown men’s basketball team who went on to be a top-10 NBA draft pick, has died, his wife, India, announced on social media on Thursday, Sept. 17.

He was 43 years old. No cause of death was specified.

“No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family,” India Murray Sweetney wrote in a message on Facebook. “His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.”

Sweetney made his greatest on-court mark in the college game, where the 6-foot-8, 275-pound forward averaged 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game over three seasons at Georgetown. As a junior during the 2002-03 season, he averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for the Hoyas. His production that season earned him All-American distinction from the Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and The Sporting News.

Despite playing only three seasons at Georgetown, he remains ninth on the program’s all-time scoring list and fifth on its all-time rebounding list.

Prayers to the family of Georgetown men’s basketball alum Michael Sweetney.

He will be missed - forever a Hoya.#HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/LgStmOw5Q5
— Georgetown Hoops (@GeorgetownHoops) September 17, 2026

His size and college accolades made him a prized NBA prospect, with the New York Knicks selecting him with the No. 9 overall pick in the famed 2003 NBA Draft that also included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. In four NBA seasons — two with the Knicks and two with the Chicago Bulls — he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

He played professionally, primarily in South America and the Caribbean, until 2017.

Heading into his first season with the Knicks, Sweetney struggled with depression, maintaining his playing weight and suicidal thoughts after his father suffered a fatal heart attack in 2003, about a month after Sweetney was drafted.

“I was going through depression,” he said to the New York Post in 2019. “I honestly thought I would never get out of it,” Sweetney said. “When I share the story, as I’m talking, it’s still amazing to me this was going on. As an athlete, pride got in the way. I was fighting myself. I didn’t speak up. I kept it hidden and it became a snowball effect.

“Before my father(’s death), life was great. He came to every game. He was always there. I buried my father like two days before training camp. There was no time to digest it at all. Losing him, then coming to a basketball situation that wasn’t going the way I wanted, I’d never dealt with adversity.”

He remained in basketball after his playing days, serving as an assistant coach at Yeshiva University, a Division III school in Manhattan. With Sweetney on staff, the Maccabees won two conference championships and racked up a 50-game win streak from 2019-21.

“It’s not just about X’s and O’s,” Sweetney said to the Post in 2019. “Sometimes you need to see if a guy is going through something and pick them up. It’s been a great experience. I’m happy here. I’m comfortable here. I’m treated well here. It’s been amazing. To be happy and be at peace, I would’ve been shocked. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Sweetney, one of Georgetown basketball's greatest players, dies at 43

September 17, 2026

How James Harden facilitated Cleveland’s biggest offseason splash

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on March 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tense start to the summer.

They spent weeks waiting for LeBron James to make a decision, only for the King to choose Philly over returning home. This put Cleveland’s offseason on the brink of disaster. They needed a wing — and with the free agency pool drained, the Cavs had almost nothing to show for it.

James Harden not only paused his contract extension to allow them to keep searching, but also played an active role in recruiting their biggest splash of the summer, Peyton Watson.

“Getting a call or text from [Harden] throughout my process to let me know the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested,” said Watson during his introductory press conference.

“ That matters a lot because obviously he has one of the great basketball minds we’ve ever seen. Being embraced by him immediately was something that was very flattering to me.”

Watson was one of the hottest sign-and-trade candidates on the market this summer. The 6’8” wing had a career-best season shooting the ball and fit the mold of what the Cavs have been missing.

Meanwhile, Harden waited until September to sign an extension that he could have signed in July. This gave Cleveland the financial flexibility to go big game hunting.

More importantly, Harden used his reputation as one of the game’s greatest playmakers to reel in an organizational assist.

“I was super, super blessed to hear from him, and it made me more excited about what my role could be on the team,” said Watson. “It was early on when he had first talked to me… when I got that call and was informed that I was gonna be a Cleveland Cavalier, it just made it mean that much more to me because I knew I was being embraced day one by the team and front office. That just matters.”

Vibes matter. Enthusiasm is what leads to chemistry. Watson is excited about being in Cleveland and building a relationship with Harden. That’s some of the best news that you can hear leading into training camp.

Harden can’t pick up the phone and make the trade himself. But he did everything else in his power to facilitate this deal.

September 17, 2026

The Suns create competition with Duop Reath signing

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 11: Duop Reath #26 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 11, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No sooner did I publish an article saying the Phoenix Suns didn’t need an immediate solution to their center depth following the injury to Mark Williams than the team went out and acquired Duop Reath. Timing, am I right?

On the surface, the addition of Reath appears to provide a stopgap at center while Williams works his way back from his torn labrum. Ultimately, however, that might not be what this is. According to Suns insider Duane Rankin, Reath will join the Suns on a non-guaranteed contract as a training camp invite. So while Phoenix has added another center to the mix, his roster spot is far from guaranteed.

Still on vacation. Still working.

Sources inform @azcentral Duop Reath is a training camp invite for Phoenix Suns, who begin camp Sept. 29.

Mark Williams has shoulder injury that'll sideline him for months.

Haywood Highsmith signing put Suns at 15 players for standard roster.…
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 17, 2026

I think that makes this a great move by the Suns because it invites healthy competition into the third-string center role. Phoenix already has CJ Huntley on a two-way contract, and he could fill that role if needed. The expectation isn’t for the third center to play 23 minutes a night, after all. It’s to provide depth when necessary, especially when foul trouble presents itself.

Rather than simply hand that role to Huntley, the Suns are bringing in competition. Huntley still has plenty of development ahead of him after missing Summer League with hamstring issues. Reath, meanwhile, is 30 years old and preparing for his fourth NBA season. And that fourth season matters. Reath is still eligible for a two-way contract. So if the Suns like what they see in him but don’t believe he’s done enough to earn a guaranteed roster spot, there is another path available.

A guaranteed spot would likely require Phoenix to move off Jamaree Bouyea, whose contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 10. The Suns still value Bouyea and would like to keep him within the organization, so there’s no reason to force that decision right now. Phoenix also already has all three two-way spots occupied by Koby Brea, Pat Spencer, and CJ Huntley, which puts more pressure on those players to perform as well.

That’s what I like about this acquisition. It creates competition at the back end of the roster. It allows iron to sharpen iron and reinforces the idea that the best man wins. It’s a shrewd move and another example of Brian Gregory thinking ahead rather than waiting until he absolutely has to make a decision.

And while I wrote previously that the Suns didn’t need to make an immediate move at center, I still believe that. They haven’t really made a decision yet. They’ve created competition. Training camp will determine what happens next, and from there, the organization can decide how it wants to move forward.

September 17, 2026

Adam Silver says league found ‘no red flags’ with Mark Walter in purchase of Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: Jeanie Buss (L) and Mark Walter attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 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 Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Earlier this summer, it was announced that Mark Walter, who agreed to buy majority control of the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2025, was under investigation for “allegedly using billions of dollars in policyholder funds from insurance companies he controls to buy sports teams without proper disclosure.” Shortly after that news came to light, Walter agreed to sell the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion.

At the recent Board of Governors meeting, NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters no issues came up when Walter, who already held a minority stake in the Lakers before the June 2025 sale, was vetted as he took over majority ownership of the franchise.

“We went through the full process we all do. We spoke to governmental agencies. We spoke to, in the case of Mark Walter, in the heavily regulated insurance industry,” Silver said. “We spoke to other leagues in which he has investments and we found no red flags. Again, even to this day, these are, call them allegations, there are issues that are now being looked into. But independent of Mark Walter choosing to sell his team right now, he was not being investigated by our league.”

Silver also addressed a question from Pablo Torre about whether billionaires are buying into NBA ownership stakes with an aim to raise their public credibility and standing, given the NBA’s increasingly global popularity. Silver used the inquiry as an opportunity to touch on the league’s vetting process, which he said is taken “very seriously,” and specifically touched on Walter’s case.

Adam Silver, asked by @PabloTorre about concerns that (shady) sponsors and billionaires use the NBA to buy credibility, admits:

“Reporters can do things that traditional investigators can’t. … Even Mark Walter, as we sit here today, I know no more about him than I did when we… pic.twitter.com/wNGQ43OCtu
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 15, 2026

“A lot of what we do is intensive database searching,” Silver said. “We also take to as many people as we can find and who have knowledge about these people and we do interviews. But beyond that, I will say, we’re always reassessing to see if we can do more.”

Since news of the federal investigation broke, Walter remains an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, it was announced Wednesday that Clearlake Capital acquired his ownership interest in Chelsea, an English Premier League football club.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

September 17, 2026

Anthony Edwards roasts LeBron James, LaMelo Ball in new Adidas ad

Anthony Edwards used the commercial debut for his latest Adidas signature shoe to take playful shots at fellow NBA stars in a hilarious roast for some of his rivals.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star cracked jokes at the expense of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and even new teammate LaMelo Ball as part of a commercial released on social media on Thursday, Sept. 17. Edwards morphed into the host of a TV show called, "Minnatlantasota," with a DJ behind him, a laugh track for his punch lines and a warning delivered over a smile on his face.

"We old school," Edwards said. "We ain't going to play it safe."

Welcome to Minnatlantasota. The Cold Blooded Anthony Edwards 3 drops tomorrow.

Believe That. pic.twitter.com/dBntrumfSa
— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) September 17, 2026

Anthony Edwards jokes about LeBron James, LaMelo Ball in Adidas ad

The 25-year-old took his most direct shots at James, his 2024 Paris Olympics teammate who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason. The Timberwolves were reported to be one of the teams James considered. Edwards also appeared to reference new 76ers acquisition Jaylen Brown when he teased James about his receding hairline.

"You see where big dog ended up?" Edwards said of James. "He was gonna join me in Minnesota, but I guess his knees couldn't handle the cold weather. It's cool, though. We know why he really made that decision. Philly got some of the best barbers in the world. Between him and ol' boy from Boston, they gonna have a whole lot of enhancements going on in the locker room. I'm just playing, ya'll. No pun intended."

The full ad announcing the arrival of the Anthony Edwards 3 shoe in stores as of Sept. 18 runs more than two minutes. It also features Edwards welcoming Ball as his new backcourt mate while joking about his well-documented driving mishaps.

Ball was involved in a car accident in Charlotte in February before being traded to Minnesota in July.

"I'm excited about my road dog. They brought my twin to the Twin Cities," Edwards said of Ball. "We've been working out together and doing all type of things. But one thing we ain't doing is carpooling if he driving. I ain't riding with him ya'all."

What other NBA players did Anthony Edwards mention?

Edwards included a "shoutout to my boy for winning the chip," a comment that appeared to be in reference to former Timberwolves teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. Edwards set career highs in points per game (28.8) and shot a career best 48.9% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range last season and promised viewers in the ad, "I'm gonna be there soon, ya'll. Just wait on it."

"Everybody and they mama been asking me, 'Ant, what's the mindset this season?' It's simple, ya'll. The cage is open, and the dog is unleashed," Edwards said before displaying the Anthony Edwards 3 shoe to the audience.

He then appeared to make a joke about New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson and his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

"We ain't playing fair this year," Edwards said. "If you on the court against me, anybody could get it. Even your daddy. I don't care if he your assistant coach."

The commercial concludes with one more bit of intrigue that appeared to be a vehicle to fuel the Anthony Edwards 3 ad campaign moving forward once the 2026-27 NBA season begins in October.

"When I lace these up, it's over for all ya'll. Especially you know who," Edwards said as the camera did a close-up on his face.

The commercial closes without revealing who Edwards was talking about, and fans in the social media replies have already started to speculate about the mystery target.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Edwards roasts LeBron James, LaMelo Ball in new Adidas ad

September 17, 2026

In latest predictions, a little less doom

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Julius Randle signs memorabilia for a fans during the Brooklyn Nets Back To School clinic on September 12, 2026 at The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Avery J. Munroe/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

As we’ve written recently, we don’t put a lot of stock in off-season rankings and ratings, particularly those posted so close to Opening Night. After all, the real measure of a team’s off-season moves — wins and losses — are so close at hand. We’ll know soon enough exactly where things stand and said rankings and ratings will be forgotten.

Still, there have been some predictions of late that while not changing the overall belief that the Nets will be bad, they represent a bit of pundit pull-back, particularly in ESPN’s latest rankings of team futures. It was only a few weeks ago that the worldwide leader predicted 18 wins, which would be two less than last season’s tankathon and the third worst in the franchise’s history.

On Wednesday, an ESPN insiders’ panel released its rankings of NBA futures … where each team will be in three years time. The Nets ranked 24th, up from 27th last year. Progress?

The bottom line, written by Zach Kram, described the Nets outlook this way:

[T]he Nets rank near the top of both the draft and money categories. But beyond the frontcourt pairing of Michael Porter Jr. and new Net Julius Randle, this is still a roster devoid of win-now talent, as Brooklyn is still primarily focused on the development of a half-dozen recent first-round picks. That timeline means it’s hard to expect too many wins from this team in the near term.

Dean Oliver, an ESPN consultant, suggested that history is not on the Nets side.

The Nets are top five in both money and draft for the third straight season but bottom five in players. Usually, teams in that situation are two years away from being about average or better. But given Brooklyn’s low win predictions for this season, the franchise might have actually been two years away from being two years away back in 2024.

The big long term prediction by Oliver also stings:

Nets will get bored of rebuilding and make an all-in play for a superstar during one of the next two summers. This is just the natural life cycle for Brooklyn, which sold the farm for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in 2013 and landed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019.

The rankings take into account teams’ current roster, management, draft, money and market. (Oddly and without much explanation, the panel dropped Brooklyn as a market from No. 7 to No. 11. A function of the Knicks’ championship?)

Moving from the future to the present is where the insiders offer a bit of hope in a report headlined “Brooklyn Nets off-season recap and early 2026-27 season preview.” No ranking just a review but the generalized doom and gloom is somewhat leavened.

A great deal of the season preview focuses on the acquisition of Randle in what is generally seen as a salary dump. Kram sees the arrival of Randle as a short-term positive but nothing more.

Their largest outlay came from trading Claxton in a deal that brought back former All-NBA forward Randle, which should improve the team next season — because of Randle’s availability and floor-raising talent — but doesn’t do much to aid the Nets’ murky longer-term outlook.

Golliver offers a similar take.

Although Brooklyn acquired Randle in a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 31-year-old forward isn’t talented enough to carry a contender or young enough to shepherd the Nets’ next era. Randle should help Brooklyn make progress in the standings, but plugging him in as a stopgap doesn’t qualify as a long-term plan.

However, Oliver raises some flags even for this season, citing analytics, his specialty.

Randle’s decline in the second half of last season was plain to see. He posted plus-2.2 net points per 100 possessions in the first half of the season, just 0.0 in the second half, along with 10 negative games out of 13 in the playoffs. Such a sudden drop-off was probably either due to injury or the situation in Minnesota demotivating him. However, he should be solid and make the Nets a bit more competitive this season.

Injury? Randle did play 79 games.

Surprisingly, there’s little in the season preview about either Egor Demin or Mikel Brown Jr. which considering their age (20) and likely big role is a bit mystifying. Meanwhile, over at the mother ship, SB Nation, Ricky O’Donnell offers positives about both lottery picks and the man who will coach them, Jordi Fernandez

He ranks the Nets 13th out of 15 Eastern Conference teams, but thinks the naysayers have taken things too far (and like the ESPN panel, thinks the signing of Day’Ron Sharpe was an underrated move by Sean Marks & co.)

His assessment is in large part based on confidence in Fernandez.

I trust the Nets to beat their very low expectations coming into the season … provided they don’t trade Michael Porter Jr. before opening night. Porter enjoyed a career-year under Jordi Fernandez in Brooklyn last season one year after Cam Johnson enjoyed similar success.
Fernandez is one of the best young coaches in the game, and he has a little more talent to work with this season with the arrival of Julius Randle. Add in a potential sophomore leap from Egor Demin, a possible center upgrade with Day’ron Sharpe taking over for Nic Claxton, and the arrival of rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr., and I like Brooklyn more than the early prognostications. Fernandez will get the most out of this group as long as it doesn’t sell off parts.

Again, we will know in a little more than a month how the pundits’ views turn out. Not to mention the players own views. Ben Saraf is on the record as saying he and his teammates expect to make the playoffs and Porter Jr. thinks 50 is good round number.

September 17, 2026

Anthony Edwards trolls LeBron James in new Adidas commercial: ‘his knees couldn’t handle the cold weather’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows LeBron James holding a microphone at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026, Image 2 shows Anthony Edwards, Image 3 shows Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is letting LeBron James hear it.

James spent a month-long free agency saga weighing several teams, including the Timberwolves. The 41-year-old ultimately chose to sign with the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal.

LeBron James speaks onstage during the Mind the Game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026. Getty Images for Fanatics

Edwards hasn’t forgotten about the Minnesota snub and went all in on roasting James in a new Adidas commercial promoting his third signature sneaker.

“Speaking of old school, you see where big dog ended up? He was gon’ join me in Minnesota. But I guess his knees couldn’t handle the cold weather,” Edwards said.

“It’s cool though. We know why he really made that decision.

“Philly got some of the best barbers in the world. Between him and ol’ boy from Boston, they gonna have a whole lotta enhancements going on in the locker room.”

Welcome to Minnatlantasota. The Cold Blooded Anthony Edwards 3 drops tomorrow.

Believe That. pic.twitter.com/dBntrumfSa
— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) September 17, 2026

The biggest news of the NBA offseason was where James would finish his career. Miami and Cleveland appeared to make the most sense on the outside looking in.

But teams like the Timberwolves and 76ers presented a new opportunity for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. One thing was clear, James would not don the purple and gold for the 2026-27 season.

The veteran informed the Lakers he would not return for a ninth consecutive season at the end of June, kickstarting the free agency saga of the summer. While James didn’t end up teaming up with Edwards, it appears the two have kept things lighthearted ahead of the upcoming season.

Anthony Edwards roasts multiple NBA players in his latest Adidas commercial. Adidas Hoops

Anthony Edwards’ third signature sneaker with Adidas is set to be released. Adidas Hoops

September 17, 2026

Sixers' Adem Bona suffers left foot sprain

Sixers' Adem Bona suffers left foot sprain originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Center Adem Bona has picked up an injury late in the offseason, the Sixers announced Thursday.

An MRI confirmed that Bona has “suffered a left foot sprain,” the team said in a statement. He’s “expected to be re-evaluated at the start of training camp.”

The Sixers are set to hold their media day on Sept. 28 and then practice at training camp from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. Their four-game preseason will begin on Oct. 5 and their regular-season opener is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET against the Knicks.

We’ll see whether Bona’s injury winds up affecting the Sixers’ early-season outlook at backup center. The team has the 23-year-old Bona and 24-year-old Ariel Hukporti as traditional center options behind star big man Joel Embiid. Veteran Andre Drummond signed with the Knicks this summer.

Bona made 71 regular-season appearances last year in his second NBA season and averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game.

The 2024 second-round draft pick played for Turkey this offseason, helping the nation qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Bona averaged 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over four games.

September 17, 2026

Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors reportedly nearing deal on contract extension

While the Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto will forever be linked to the Clippers salary cap circumvention findings and punishments, the motivations for it were never fully — or even mostly — about that. The Clippers already were pivoting away from the Leonard/Paul George era before everything hit the fan, and they had no intention of giving Leonard the massive extension he wanted. He then wanted to go to a team that would pay him.

Enter the Toronto Raptors.

Leonard and the Raptors "have held advanced discussions and are nearing an agreement on a contract extension," reports NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Those talks were always expected but, like the trade to Toronto itself, were put on hold as the Raptors waited for the NBA investigation to play itself out.

To answer the first question: Leonard has a different agent handling these negotiations, Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports. "Uncle" Dennis Robertson has been banned from doing any business in the league for five years, not that he had any clients outside Leonard.

The bigger question here is money. Leonard will make $50.3 million this season in the final year of his current contract, and is eligible for a max extension of two years, $126 million. The Raptors are likely looking for something below the $100 million mark for two years, because paying big money to a 35-year-old with a lengthy injury history is a massive risk.

When healthy, Leonard is still elite: Last season in 65 games, he averaged 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, shot 38.7% from 3 and played high-level defense. Having him and Scottie Barnes at forward gives the Raptors two All-NBA-level players who can lift them into the top four and make them a threat in the East.

The risk is Leonard being on the court enough to have that impact. Both the Raptors organization and its fans understand the need to prioritize recovery and give him days off during the season to maximize his chances of playing 65 games again (and being good to go for the playoffs).

Whatever the final number, look for Leonard to sign a two-year extension, which will take him to age 38. He says he wants Toronto to be the last stop in his career.

September 17, 2026

Knicks suspend ticket sales after ‘mistake’ led to eye-popping prices, with refunds coming

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows The Knicks and their fans celebrate their Game 4 win over the Spurs at MSG

The Knicks committed a ticketing turnover and are working to get back possession of more affordable prices.

After their individual game tickets were listed Wednesday with eye-popping prices — including a $1,000-plus minimum for the season opener against the Sixers — the Knicks suspended sales because of an internal mistake, The Post has learned.

The team plans to restart sales early next week with more modest prices. The new markups will be roughly 12% above last season’s prices, which is the same hike for season-ticket holders.

The Knicks and their fans celebrate their Game 4 win over the Spurs at MSG. NBAE via Getty Images

Fans who already purchased individual tickets will be refunded the difference to the roughly 12% increase.

“We are pausing Knicks individual ticket sales due to a mistake in our pricing,” an MSG spokesperson told The Post. “We are rolling back to last year’s prices plus an average increase of 12%.

“We will restart sales with new prices shortly, and anyone who already purchased individual tickets will be refunded the difference. Our intention was never to overcharge our loyal fans, and we thank everyone for their support of the Knicks and their patience as we get this right.”

In other words, the prices will drop dramatically from the $2,500 average initially released for opening night.

Fans cheer during the second quarter of Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

A source close to the situation said the pricing error was a first-time mistake for MSG and it was never the intent to price gouge fans after a championship season.

Under owner James Dolan, the Garden’s policy was to not raise prices if the team failed to qualify for the postseason. But upticks have become commonplace since Jalen Brunson’s arrival, with the Knicks advancing to the playoffs in four straight years – including last season’s title run.

The result is expensive tickets at MSG for Knicks games — just not as expensive as the prices mistakenly listed Wednesday.

MSG and the Knicks have tried to counter price gouging with their Fan First program, which is intended to weed out the marauding brokers.

September 17, 2026

Can Collin Sexton prove to be more than a luxury for the Lakers?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 05: Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Collin Sexton.

If we’re being honest, when the flurry of reports that the Lakers were acquiring Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton came in rapid succession, the signing that had people almost instantly second-guessing was the deal for Sexton.

Sure, people could quibble with the dollar amounts or the player options in the contracts for Grimes and Mamu, and there was certainly some debating about the price paid in draft capital for Kessler, but the basketball fit for all of those players seemed straightforward and easily explainable.

For Sexton, though, the nitpicking and questioning were nearly immediate.

Not because Sexton is a bad player. In fact, I think it’s universally understood that the former Cavalier, Jazz, and Bull is a good player who, in a vacuum, could even be looked at as a value contract on the terms the Lakers got him at.

But, on a team that already had Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, using the team’s room exception on a small, shot-creating guard like Sexton instead of going after a big wing who could help fill the void in the frontcourt was certainly a choice.

And now, over two months later, with the team’s offseason functionally over, training camp just weeks away, and the hole at the forward spot vacated by LeBron James still without a clear candidate universally believed capable of filling it currently on the roster, the Sexton signing remains top of mind for those looking to be critical of the choices President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka made when trying to build out this team.

So, though he might actually be the most established player the Lakers signed when it comes to production and ability to fill the job he’ll be asked to on opening night, it feels as though Sexton might actually have the most to prove. The reason is as simple as to show he can be more than a luxury as the team’s backup point guard, and more of a necessary rotation piece who allows head coach JJ Redick to establish the sort of offensive dominance he’s not yet been able to get to in his two seasons as Lakers head coach.

What is his best-case scenario?

Much of Sexton’s career has been spent playing on bad teams whose lethargic pursuit of wins, combined with the broader offensive limitations of those rosters, has put too much responsibility on his shoulders to be a main shot creator and offensive fulcrum. This has led to Sexton having some strong individual seasons as a scorer, but in the macro sense, too many campaigns where his overall efficiency and shot creation for others have come into question.

The hope for Sexton on these Lakers is that this sort of paradigm shift allows for him to take a meaningful step forward in ways that impact winning. Said another way, this season’s Lakers should have a particularly dynamic offense that makes Sexton’s life easier to a degree in which he can not only thrive as a scorer, but his efficiency and playmaking increase simply because the decisions and scenarios he’s put into will be so favorable.

Whether playing next to Luka or Austin, Sexton will have more opportunities to be a second-side creator who gets the ball in more advantageous situations where he can either take open catch-and-shoot threes or attack closeouts that lead to easier scoring chances. And when Sexton starts possessions with the ball, the attention Dončić and Reaves require should free him up to be the best on-ball version of himself too.

Further, coming off the bench should allow Sexton to play in the parts of games where the flow is looser and the general level of competition is not the same as when both teams’ starters are in. This should also allow him a bit more freedom overall, and offer more chances to succeed and thrive.

What is his worst-case scenario?

Sexton has never averaged fewer than 14.3 points and has only shot under 45% from the field once, all the way back in his rookie season. In other words, as a scoring guard coming off the bench, a baseline level of production has historically been baked into Sexton’s minutes.

So, rather than viewing what would be considered an outright bad season through a lens of box score stats, what would constitute a worst-case is much more likely tied to his role or fit within this roster not coming to fruition in ways where he’s positively impacting the team.

In other words, there’s a scenario in which Sexton ends up not getting as many opportunities to impact the game offensively and instead becomes more of a watcher and low-volume spot-up shooter who never quite finds his rhythm or flow. And while he still might find ways to get his numbers, those come mostly by playing on island when Luka or Austin is resting/taking possessions off or in transition rather than being a cog in a machine that keeps the defense on tilt.

And then, in this scenario, his lack of clean fit on offense exacerbates the challenges he has on defense, ultimately leading to even more inconsistency with his minutes and playing time. This, then, only reinforces the original critiques of his signing, leading to more second-guessing and questioning of him as a player and his fit, which impacts chemistry and generally brings the vibe of the team down, to say nothing of creating challenges for Redick to find and play the best lineups more often.

What is his most likely role on the team?

Sexton was signed to be the backup point guard who can serve as a spot starter should Luka or Austin miss time. I see very little in either his makeup as a player or his history of production to dissuade me from believing he can and will be able to fill this role well — maybe even to the point where he distinguishes himself as one of the better backups in the league.

Beyond that, I think his presence on the team and the discussions it fosters will be more fodder for the talking heads than it will actually matter negatively for the Lakers. I understand there were some inherent tradeoffs of signing him vs. chasing a different archetype of player, but I also believe he’ll be well worth his salary and that he’ll be truly helpful to the team.

Does that mean the Lakers couldn’t use another type of player too? Of course not, but multiple things can be true at once. Fact is, it was always going to be difficult — if not impossible — for the Lakers to fill every need in a single offseason on a roster they purposefully stripped down.

And if they didn’t have Sexton, they’d likely be relying on Bronny or a minimum-level player to fill that role while plugging their starting forward slot with a player of similar or lesser quality to Sexton.

That they went this route could be viewed as the wrong choice, but my gut says Sexton will be good enough in his role to justify his spot on the team even though it won’t erase the needs the roster has in other spots.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

September 17, 2026

Spurs Villain Tournament: The Final!

The Golden State Warriors' Zaza Pachulia (27) reacts after he was called a foul against him on San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard in the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by RAY CHAVEZ/MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

In the strangest Family Feud episode ever, Uncle Dennis has usurped his nephew as the biggest Spurs villain in their family.

It was a tightly contested match, with UD (representing “Spurs Haters”) just narrowly beating Kawhi (representing “Former Spurs”) 53-47. I mean, how could you choose? Should you vote for Kawhi, the actual player and face of all this scrutiny, or Uncle Dennis, the mastermind behind it all? I would’ve bet my entire life savings on Kawhi dominating the tournament, but after the recent events surrounding the Aspiration scandal, I think the voters got it right.

On the other side of the bracket, Zaza from the “Dirty Players” quadrant edged out Derek Fisher, who led the “Spurs Killers” section. I find it hilarious how both finalists are directly related to Kawhi, yet neither is the Nephew himself. He still lives rent-free in the heads of Spurs fans, and given what’s gone down the past year, that also applies to the NBA as a whole.

The Finals

1. Zaza Pachulia vs. 4. Uncle Dennis Robertson

Zaza coming out of his side of the bracket makes sense. He was the sole reason why we didn’t get to see a more competitive Western Conference Finals in 2017 against the greatest team ever assembled, with the Spurs up 20 when he conveniently slid into Kawhi’s landing zone. Not only was the result a sweep for the Spurs, but Zaza also had the honor of being made an example of with a new rule created that summer.

On the other side, I think the fans got it right by voting for Uncle Dennis, even if the result surprised me. From what we now know, the signs point to him being the puppet master who created all this chaos. That doesn’t mean Kawhi isn’t also complicit (whoever thinks he didn’t know about the Clippers’ side deals is lying to themselves), but Dennis seems to be the one whispering sweet lullabies in Kawhi’s ear and persuading him to go through with all the shady business.

Recency bias also helps both sides. I doubt Uncle Dennis would’ve gotten the support (hate?) he did throughout the tournament if the suspension and reporting dropped later, and Zaza being one of the most recent players in his section helped his case too. With both finalists being connected to the same player, my mind starts to come up with what-if scenarios had neither impacted Kawhi.

Zaza’s case is simple. With Kawhi still playing in the 2017 West Finals, the Spurs would’ve won game 1 and made it a more competitive series before likely still bowing out to the juggernaut Warriors. I know many fans like to believe that San Antonio would’ve beaten Golden State with a healthy Kawhi, but let’s not kid ourselves: that was the greatest team ever assembled, and the series would’ve gone 6 games max.

The Uncle Dennis implications are far more interesting. Without him casting spells on Kawhi, does that mean the latter would’ve remained a lifelong Spur? Personally, I doubt it. It seems like Kawhi always had his eyes set on LA and would’ve made his way there eventually, although the exit wouldn’t have been as messy, and he could’ve waited until 2019 to leave as a free agent.

If that scenario played out, the Spurs would’ve potentially had two more seasons to compete as a legitimate contender. Kawhi would still have dealt with his quad injury heading into the 2017-18 campaign, but perhaps he could’ve healed and come back 100% that season had he listened to San Antonio’s medical staff instead of scheming his way out of town.

Chris Paul was also rumoured to have been interested in joining the Spurs in the summer of 2017, and the Kawhi uncertainty definitely didn’t improve the Spurs’ chances of landing the Point God. The chances of acquiring him were slim to begin with, but can you imagine the 2018 version of CP3 playing alongside a prime Kawhi? In that alternate universe, the Spurs would be the ones taking Golden State to game 7 of the West Finals (and potentially beating them), and not the Rockets.

Alright, enough with the hypotheticals — it’s time to vote for the ultimate Spurs villain! Will it be the man who ended the Spurs’ exhilarating playoff run in 2017, or the infamous uncle who will (hopefully) never be heard from again? Let us know with your final vote!

September 17, 2026

Report: Wizards sign Trevor Keels to Exhibit-10 deal

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: Trevor Keels #8 of the Miami Heat in action against the Los Angeles Lakers during their 2026 California Classic Summer League game at Chase Center on July 05, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Thien-An Truong/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards have signed Trevor Keels to an Exhibit-10 contract, per Spotrac’s Keith Smith.

Trevor Keels and the Washington Wizards have agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, a league source told @spotrac.

The Capital City Go-Go recently acquired Keels' G League rights.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 17, 2026

Keels, 23, will spend training camp with the Wizards and likely join the Capital City Go-Go following the preseason. It’s a homecoming for the Duke product, who is from Clinton, Maryland, and played high school basketball at Paul VI Catholic.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 15.6 PPG on 40.4% 3PT in the G League last year. His best showing was a 46-point outburst in which he made all 12 of his 3-point attempts with the Sioux Falls Skyforce — the Miami Heat’s G-League affiliate.

The E-10 contract allows the Wizards to retain Keels’ G-League rights. They can offer Keels a $91,000 bonus if he signs with the Go-Go and stays on the roster for at least 60 days, which provides some incentive for him to sign with them.