Category: Basketball

The Centre Videotron in Quebec City finally was able to host its first NBA Canada Series game, a matchup between the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat. It didn’t go in the home team’s favour, as Toronto fell 129-105 to the heat. Regardless, it was a fun matchup that will prove to be great all season. 

RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes were the biggest contributors for the Raptors tonight with 15-3-1 and 11-2-2 respectively despite playing less than half of what they usually do. Collin Murray-Boyles also had a great night, seeing some challenging defensive matchups but staying engaged, and scoring 6-9-1. As expected, he had a tetrad of offensive rebounds as well. Unfortunately, Kawhi was noticeably absent as he adjusts back to being in game shape. Alongside him on the bench were Jamison Battle and rookie Allen Graves who are both nursing minor injuries. 

For Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo looked phenomenal in his new threads, finishing with a statline of 9-4-7 in only 14 minutes. Andrew Wiggins and Tim Hardaway Jr. feasted from the three point line as they were provided lots of space to shoot and sophomore Pelle Larson chipped in 13-2-2 from the bench. 

The flow of the game was almost entirely in Miami’s favour, indicative of the stage we are in at this point in the season. Plenty of mistakes may have plagued Toronto, but there’s a whole season ahead of them to work out the kinks.

Canadian RJ Barrett opened up scoring with a tough take to the rim. He had an excellent first quarter, showing his ability to operate in the paint through contact. Early on, Toronto picked up a couple of offensive fouls. There’s always little adjustments during the offseason, with push-offs seemingly a point of focus for referees. The extra possessions for Miami allowed them to build a lead. Toronto struggled a bit on the offensive end of the floor as well, watching shots rim out and despite second opportunities by Collin Murray-Boyles on the boards, they weren’t able to capitalize.

It’s early going, but 0/8 from long range to start,missing open shots and putbacks on the offensive end, and reckless defensive closeouts seem to be the trademark of preseason basketball that plagued the Raptors early on. 

After scoring 41 points in the opening frame, Miami continued with the gritty defence and drive-and-kick offense that will likely be their bread and butter this season. Toronto looked a little off-kilter still, turning the ball over, and struggling to find their shot. By comparison, the Raptors were far less polished, and as a result, held a 21-point advantage heading into the locker room. 

In the third quarter Toronto made a few efforts to recover the deficit, but still trailed by double digits. Some of the decision making offensively left a bit to be desired, having them come up empty on many occasions. As the frame progressed, the benches emptied, each team trying to get a look at who will see significant minutes and roster spots this year. 

Tyreke Key looked solid with 15 points and fairly efficient defence in the final quarter of the game. His decision making stood out in comparison to the other bench players he shared the floor with, especially in terms of making the right call. Chucky Hepburn also looked good, with his excellent defensive motor always on display and contributing 11 points. 

Maybe not the way Toronto would have wanted to start the preseason, but with plenty of time to figure things out and not even at full strength yet, we can just take a breath and celebrate that the Raptors are finally back.

Eventually, the Knicks will need one of them to break through.

Mohamed Diawara is the most likely.

It’s been a while — really, since Miles McBride — since a Knicks draft pick has developed into a consistent mainstay in the rotation.

A big part of that is due to the Knicks not having high picks and often trading out of the first round entirely. But in the apron era, finding value in young, cheap players is critical.

Pacôme Dadiet has done nothing to establish himself the past two years.

Tyler Kolek has shown flashes and become a fan favorite, but he continues to be buried in the pecking order and the Knicks clearly were not comfortable trusting him to be the primary backup point guard last year, trading for Jose Alvarado.

Kevin McCullar Jr. is hanging on with a two-way deal. Ariel Hukporti was used only in emergencies last year and departed for Philadelphia during the offseason.

Diawara, more than any of the others, had spells during his first NBA regular season in which he had a sustained spot in head coach Mike Brown’s rotation.

During the postseason, though, he was on the outside looking in as the rotation condensed.

“We have a great team with big players, so if I was in the rotation and I’m not in the rotation anymore, I think it’s just part of the game for the whole team,” Diawara said after practice Saturday. “I just gotta [play] my role, especially as a rookie, that was my first year. I wasn’t really thinking about that, I was just ready to take any opportunity. I wasn’t thinking about not playing and stuff.”

Diawara, when given playing time, showcased an offensive game that was a bit more polished than expected when the Knicks drafted him with the No. 51 overall pick in 2025.

At 6-foot-9 with long arms, he already is a strong defender with the type of frame that offers exciting potential.

“I think he has endless upside,” OG Anunoby said. “He’s very talented, can do a lot: shoot, defend, pass. He can do everything; a really versatile player. I’m excited to see him grow. I think he’s going to keep getting better and better, so I’m really excited for him.”

Diawara identified two areas in which he most needs to improve: physicality and 3-point shooting.

“Now that I know a little bit more the physicality that I need in the league, how I need to prepare my body,” Diawara said. “… I think now that I have a year in the league, it’s a little bit easier to see how I can prepare for the new season.”

There is clear belief in Diawara’s development, as the Knicks made it a priority to bring him back with a four-year, $11.2 million contract this past offseason.

He struggled in summer league, however, where he also suffered an injury to his left ring finger that required a minor procedure.

He’s fine now and already showing signs of growth.

A Year 2 breakout could cement Diawara as a Knicks mainstay.

“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there,” Brown said Saturday, “because he didn’t quite know what to do, and he knew when he did it, he just had to go hard. So a lot of times, he would just play at one speed. There’s a comfort level now, so his cadence is better, especially offensively. His ability to communicate on the floor is at a little bit of a higher level, because he has a better feel not just offensively, but defensively — not just what he should do, but what he should be telling his teammates to do, especially if he’s on the backside or bottom side of the defense, because he sees everything in front of him.

“He’s one of those players that needs to take a step forward.”

Given how much money the Knicks have invested in their starting lineup — and with extension decisions to make regarding Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and McBride — the bench is composed of budget options or veterans on minimum deals that the Knicks expect to perform above their pay grade, which they certainly did during their championship run last year.

It would be extremely helpful, with the Knicks operating under an edict from owner James Dolan to stay under the second apron, if Diawara becomes part of that group.

Bronny James laughed at the comment, because he found it funny to have a reporter tell him he’s tied for the third-longest tenure with the Lakers.

He is entering his third season, tied with Dalton Knecht and right behind Austin Reaves (entering his sixth season) and Jarred Vanderbilt (going on four-plus).

James is a veteran now and is looking to find his role with the Lakers.

“Crazy, right? AR keeps calling me a vet,” James said, chuckling. “I’m like, ‘I guess.’”

James is a naturally reserved person. But as a point guard, he admits his job is to speak up more, to help organize the offense, to make sure some of his nine new teammates understand what Lakers coach JJ Redick expects.

For his first two years with the Lakers, James didn’t say much because his dad, LeBron James, was the leader and powerful voice on the team.

Read more:Lakers' early defensive prowess impresses Austin Reaves, JJ Redick

As a 21-year-old, Bronny James leads in his own way, just as Redick wants all his players to do.

“Definitely coming in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard,” James said. “Just taking those steps, encouraging my guys, getting them in the right spots and stuff like that. Making sure we’re organized.

“For sure, that’s what a point guard is. You’ve got to be talking to your guys, got to be helping people get to where they need to be. I take pride in that, for sure. If anyone goes out — God forbid anyone goes out — I’ve got to be the guy to step up and be the primary ballhandler, and get my guys in the right spots. So, yeah, I’ve definitely got to lock in on that.”

James played in 42 regular-season games last season, averaging 2.9 points and shooting 40.9% from the field.

Though he didn’t put up big numbers in the playoffs, James was solid in his role, especially on defense. He played in eight postseason games, averaging 1.5 points and shooting 50% from the field.

This current Lakers team has depth and talent throughout the lineup.

Read more:Lakers select Derrin Horton to be new public-address announcer

James knows it’s going to take a lot of work to find a role on the team.

“Continuing to come in the gym and stay after practice, just working, competing, playing, just trying to make my mark,” James said. “I think just building on defensive instinct, how I was in the playoffs, picking up full court. They’ve been emphasizing that so I’ve been one of the guys that is picking up full court every possession, every time we get a bucket, just picking up full court.

“And then just being a primary ballhandler for my team. We’re playing against Luka [Doncic] and AR today, so me, Q[uentin Grimes], or J[aden] Hardy, guys were on the team, being primary ballhandlers, giving us confidence.”

Being a top-notched defender is what James strives to be for the Lakers.

Every day during these training camp sessions, James gets tested when he has to defend Doncic and Reaves, two of the NBA’s most dynamic guards.

But that can only help James.

“For sure, it’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”

James has worked on his jump shot. He looks more defined, a sign that he has worked on his body as well.

“Just continuing to come in and work on it. The jumper, I’ve been in the gym all summer working on fluidity and the speed of my release, stuff like that, moving,” James said. “Tied into that, just running a lot. I’m the same weight, 215 or 220-ish, but still slim so I can move fast. Just getting in the gym every day and continuing to keep a routine.”

The Lakers have had four days of practice, all of them intense, all of them full of energy.

They will play their first preseason games Monday at Sacramento and then Tuesday at Golden State.

That will give James and the rest of his teammates a chance to carve out roles.

“I definitely think it’s still a process. It’s definitely going to take a few games to get everyone situated,” James said. “We’re trying to figure out our own roles and those things, but also just trying to experiment with lineups. I’ve been here for a minute now, so I know kind of what my role is, but definitely for the new guys.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Lakers star guard Austin Reaves gave the team’s group of wings one of the best compliments they can hear.

“They all annoy the hell out of me,” Reaves said after the first few days of training camp. 

With Reaves referring to the rigor of defense he’s had to go up against during each of the Lakers’ practices, the praise couldn’t have been any higher. 

Adou Thiero’s combination of size and athleticism, with Reaves saying the second-year forward is already “one of the best athletes in the league”.  

Matisse Thybulle’s anticipation and active hands, having been one of the NBA’s most disruptive defenders since entering the league in 2019.

And that’s before addressing Jarred Vanderbilt and Quentin Grimes, the latter of whom the Lakers are expecting to get back to embracing the defensive side of the ball after standing out on that end early in his career with the Knicks.

Or Jake LaRavia, who’s improved significantly on that end of the floor since entering the NBA in 2022. 

These are the types of defensive challenges the Lakers stars have been going up against on a daily basis. 

“It’s going to be a healthy competition and it gets you better,” coach JJ Redick said Saturday. “It’s going to make Austin better when Ziaire is picking them up full court every possession and Matisse is in the passing lane trying to blow things up. Adou, with his physicality…those guys are getting better from practicing that way.”

But the challenge, and benefits, go both ways. 

Just like the Lakers wings are helping make the team’s stars better, Doncic and Reaves are also making the Lakers’ best perimeter defenders even better.

Ironing sharpening iron.

“I mean, you have to work so hard – they’re so talented,” Thybulle said Saturday. “For me it’s great because getting to play against two of the best offensive players in the NBA every day just primes you for – it primes all of us, but me specifically – just primes you for what to expect.

“It was a big thing when you’re growing up that practice should be harder than the games. And I think in the NBA it’s a little different because you just have to pace yourself for such a long season, but guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games.”

As a two-time All-Defensive team honoree in 2021 and ‘22, Thybulle has been one of the most impactful perimeter defenders for a while now. 

But he’s still learning. 

And going against Doncic and Reaves have helped provide lessons. 

“The importance of just being solid,” Thybulle responded when asked what he’s learned defensively during his career. “The best offensive players in the league, Luka being probably one of the best, changes pace so well. As I’m growing in this league, growing as a defender, learning when to change pace and go for steals vs. [sitting] back, [being] solid and [making] it more of a cat-and-mouse game as opposed to trying to be in every passing lane every single time.”

With the Lakers set to travel up north for preseason exhibitions against the Kings (Monday) and Warriors (Tuesday), players will soon be able to showcase how much it’s helped against each other over the last week. 

And with the Lakers hoping to have a significant defensive improvement from last season, Doncic and Reaves have been helping the team with the challenges they’ve brought offensively.

“It’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” Bronny James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”

48 hours. That’s all that stands between you, me, and Phoenix Suns basketball. Sure, preseason basketball doesn’t count toward the standings, but Monday afternoon will provide our first opportunity to see the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns in action as they take on the Detroit Pistons in the Motor City.

With every new season comes excitement. With every preseason comes curiosity. So what am I looking forward to this preseason?

Who survives the Suns’ center competition?

The battle at center will be at the heart of plenty of conversations. There will undoubtedly be some overanalysis of every performance from Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, and perhaps one of them will solidify his place in the starting five based on what we see throughout the five preseason games. But I’m also interested in what the minutes look like for CJ Huntley and Duop Reath.

Both are essentially fighting for an opportunity to remain with the organization during the regular season, with the ceiling perhaps being a two-way contract. I know who I’d prefer Phoenix to keep based on youth, long-term viability, and developmental upside. But ultimately, how they perform throughout training camp and the preseason could determine who remains on the roster.

Will the Suns let Koa Peat create?

Speaking of youth, this could be our first opportunity to see first-round pick Koa Peat in a Suns uniform. And seeing as it’s the preseason, especially during these first three games, we should see plenty of him.

I’m interested in what role he’ll ultimately be asked to play because Peat possesses the ability to handle the ball, even from the power forward position. Will the Suns allow him to explore that part of his game, or will they ask him to fulfill a specific role within their scheme that doesn’t necessarily complement everything he can do as a prospect?

Think about Ryan Dunn. Dunn showcased during Summer League that when he’s allowed to be more aggressive with the ball, he can get downhill and be effective. But that isn’t the role he’s asked to play with the Suns. He’s primarily a three-and-D player, somebody who spaces the floor, hits three-pointers, and isn’t asked to dribble very often. Peat is somewhat similar, although he hasn’t shown an affinity for shooting the three-ball, much like Dunn hadn’t coming out of Virginia.

So throughout the preseason, I’ll be interested to see what role the young rookie is given and how the Suns begin utilizing the different aspects of his skill set.

What does continuity actually look like?

The corporate buzzword this offseason, and rightfully so, has been “continuity”. If you look across a long enough timeline, however, this team hasn’t possessed much of it. The longest-tenured players outside of Devin Booker are Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, and Collin Gillespie, all entering their third seasons with Phoenix.

But there is continuity from last season, and as the preseason progresses into the fourth and fifth games, when rotations and minutes begin stabilizing in preparation for the regular season, it will be interesting to see what that continuity actually looks like on the court.

Connectivity and comfort should be natural byproducts of having players who spent last season together. Still, 20% of the starting lineup has changed with the addition of Miles Bridges, while another 20% is currently injured in Mark Williams. So continuity exists, but not necessarily within the confines of the roles and expectations these players will have this season.

With the influx of youth, that continuity will have to be directed from the top and become something tangible as the preseason progresses into the regular season.

The results won’t matter, but the clues will. We’ll begin learning who wins the center battle, how Peat fits into the developmental puzzle, whether Huntley or Reath can force their way into the organization’s plans, and what continuity actually looks like when roles begin changing. Five preseason games won’t answer every question. They shouldn’t. But after months of projecting what this team could become, we finally get to watch the answers begin revealing themselves.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers play basketball in just two days when they travel to Sacramento for their first preseason game on Monday. While the team has been hard at work through the first week of training camp, some of the two-way guys are starting to make an impression, most notably Chris Mañon.

“Particularly the first two days, I thought both [Arthur Kaluma and AK Okereke] were (a) really physical part of that wing group,” Redick said after practice on Saturday. “Chris on Thursday and Chris again today in live play — he’s gotten some exposure with the purple team because we wanted to have scoring balance on both sides — he’s been fantastic the last two days in live play and scrimmages.”

Redick added that he views Kaluma and Okereke as 3-and-D wings within the structure of the Lakers system and Mañon as a guard-wing hybrid.

“There’s a little bit of redundancy with our two-ways this year, which we view as a really good thing because, if we can develop Adou [Thiero] and develop Cam [Carr] and develop these guys into functional rotation NBA players over the next 12 to 24 months, it changes our ceiling,” Redick said.

More practice, more defined roles

The Lakers have five preseason games this season, which is down from six last year. While Redick doesn’t like a shortened preseason, he admits having one less game this year gives the team more time to practice and go into the regular season with a better pace.

“I want to say we had six real practices in preseason last year. This year we’ll have at least 12,” Redick said. “Generally, we could get a more productive preseason and training camp … we can actually space things out a little bit more, get these guys more live play, really take our time with teaching.”

On that note, more time gives the coaching staff and players more opportunity to define roles. It’s an interesting situation for someone like Bronny James, who, despite entering just his third season, is the third-longest tenured Laker on the team behind Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt. James is balancing fighting for a rotation spot while also stepping into a role where he’s viewed as a leader to many of the fresh faces in the locker room.

“Crazy, right? AR keeps calling me a vet. I’m like, ‘I guess,’” James said. “I come in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard. Just taking those steps and encouraging my guys and getting them in the right spot.”

Matisse Thybulle has been the source of much of the praise coming out of training camp for his defensive ability. He, too, is in the competition for the fifth starting spot as one of the team’s best point-of-attack defenders.

Before Los Angeles, he’s traveled around the league playing in varying roles either in the starting lineup or on the bench, but he’s maintained that, regardless of where he’s slotted, he’ll impact winning.

“I leave those decisions up to the coaches,” Thybulle said Saturday on whether he believes he should start. “For me, if my teammates are happy with how I’m playing, if the coaches are happy with how I’m playing, that’s a good sign to me that I’m doing a good job. But if that means I’m coming off the bench, if that means I’m starting, I trust that the coaches know how to use me best to create the most impact and go with that.”

Kessler from deep

Towards the end of practice on Saturday, we were able to see Walker Kessler work on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop drills. From what I saw — and brace yourselves, Lakers fans — his jump shot doesn’t look bad at all.

Kessler upped his 3-point attempts per game from 0.3 in his first three seasons to 1.6 in the five games he played last year before missing the rest of the year with a shoulder injury. He’s noted multiple times this offseason that spacing the floor has been a focus in his game.

Coming in as one of the best archetypes to play alongside Luka Dončić, an ability to space the floor only elevates Los Angeles’ offense.

Other Notes:

• JJ Redick still hasn’t revealed the availability of any player going into Monday’s preseason game. He says they are “still working stuff.”
• Bronny is still weighing 215-220 pounds, but attributes his slimmer frame to a better diet and more running.
• Thybulle says Cameron Carr has been really eager to learn and receptive to the coaches. He said that he thinks Carr can really improve as reps increase.

California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele exited the Golden Bears' game against the UNLV Rebels just before the end of the first half after taking a hit that caused a collision to his head.

Sagapolutele was evaluated on the sideline after being taken down by UNLV linebacker Elias Rudolph just after getting a pass off. The Cal sophomore quarterback hit his head on the turf as he was wrestled to the ground.

He attempted to go back to the huddle for the next play, but teammate Ian Strong, a transfer wide receiver, waved in the medical staff, who provided immediate attention to Sagapolutele.

Sagapolutele had completed 19-of-27 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Jackson Brousseau ended the first half in his place. Cal trailed the Rebels, 24-7, at the time of the injury.

JKS injury update for Cal QB

Sagapolutele was seen on the sideline at the start of the second half with his helmet off. A sign that the Golden Bears' play caller will end his day. He was officially ruled out, according to On3 Sports.

Brousseau is under center. He's thrown 5-of-8 for 38 yards as the Golden Bears continue to trail with a 17-point deficit.

Cal entered the game with a 2-2 overall record, 1-1 during ACC play. Sagapolutele through four games compiled 985 yards, 7 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Sagapolutele, watching from the sideline, hopes to have a chance to make a difference in the game. The CBS broadcast gave an update, saying that he is "clearly frustrated" as he watches the game from the sideline.

Cal lose star defensive back Kingston Lopa

Cal saw its starting quarterback go down with an injury, but he wasn't the only star on the Golden Bears' football team to have gone out injured.

Star defensive back and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Kingston Lopa left the game against UNLV early with an upper body injury. He was evaluated on the sideline after walking off the field on his own merit.

He did not return to the game as he was seen on the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Lopa leads the nation with five interceptions in the 2026 season.

Earlier in the game Cal lost defensive back Cam Sidney who was ejected due to targeting.

How did Cal finish without their rising quarterback?

Brousseau got his feel for the game and delivered a short pass to Carson Perry-Smith, who took the ball the length of the field for a 53-yard touchdown with 4:40 left in the third quarter. It was his first collegiate touchdown in his career.

The Golden Bears converted a two-point conversion to cut the lead down, 24-15.

A turn of momentum happened for Cal. On the ensuing kickoff, UNLV returner Peyton Zachary fumbled and it was recovered by Cal freshman Niles Davis.

The Golden Bears offense turned it into three points, connecting on a 38-yard field goal from Towns McGough. Cal trailed 24-18, making it a one-possession game with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

Cal took a lead after their fourth-string running back Ashten Emory found the end zone on a seven-yard rush after a critical pass interference penalty backed UNLV at their own goal. Emory has 48 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.

Cal led 25-24 with 11:38 left in the game.

Cal lost another defensive back, this time, Daniel Harris after he was ejected from the game due to targeting.

UNLV responded with a scoring drive of their own after Rebels quarterback Jackson Arnold threw a 10-yard touchdown to Keyan Burnett. Arnold converted a two-point conversion, taking a quarterback sneak up the middle to give UNLV a 32-25 lead with 9:31 left in the game.

Another gritty possession from UNLV put them up late, 39-25. Cal answered with too little, too late. The Golden Bears produced an impressive 86-yard drive on 14 plays, ending in a 10-yard TD to Strong. It would not be enough, and Cal would fall, 39-31.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele injury update after scary hit

It was just a scrimmage. Sure, that’s all. Sorta in the same way that Ben Franklin was just a bald, fat guy with a kite.

Saturday afternoon’s proceedings represented the first public appearance of the Sixers as we now know them, the first time LeBron James and Jaylen Brown appeared alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

And sure, you couldn’t tell much, considering it was played at three-quarters speed, in an arena that was perhaps two-thirds full. Also considering the regular season is still over two weeks away, and the playoffs aren’t even a blip on the horizon.

It was, as James said afterward, a “great first step in the direction we want to go.”

So everything needs to be framed in that light. It was just a faint outline of what they hope to be, and what they can be. It was an unveiling, with much more yet to be revealed.

Here are some takeaways:

Happy Camper

As everyone has said throughout training camp, Embiid was moving well, seemingly unencumbered by the knee issues that have slowed him in recent years. He dunked early on, off a feed from Edgecombe, then nailed a three-pointer. Later he slammed with the left hand, not long after Ariel Hukporti had blocked his shot.

“He’s so much more healthy (than at the 2024 Olympics),” James said of Embiid, a teammate then and now. “He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in every drill.”

Embiid kinda/sorta acknowledged as much, and certainly his frame of mind seems good – something else his teammates have mentioned.

As an example, consider his thoughts on the lefty slam: “”(Hukporti) did block me the first time, so I was kinda pissed off about it.”

Then he joked that it was “probably the last dunk of my career.”

Hey, we’ve missed that guy. Nice to have him back.

Space Cadets

When the starters took the court to open the day, they played the five-out style that might be expected, which opens the court for slashing by Maxey and Edgecombe, mid-range magic from Brown and Embiid and James’ all-around excellence. There were back cuts and dribble handoffs. There was movement and energy.

Embiid said he has heard a great deal about sacrifice, but in his mind it’s not so much about that as “being the best version of yourself” or “being a star in your role.”

He also said that his Olympic experience with James does not have as big an impact on the two of them jelling as some have said. Rather, he said, they would have meshed no matter what, given their experience and basketball IQ.

There were some interesting wrinkles. When Brown was on the floor in the second quarter with Edgecombe, backups Dean Wade and Labaron Philon Jr. and roster longshot Dillon Jones, he really went to work, rattling off 12 points in a scalding stretch. So it certainly appears that everybody will be able to eat, that opportunities will present themselves in various ways.

Edgier Edgecombe

He is in his second year, and he is clearly more sure of himself, more apt to assert himself than he was during his promising rookie year. On one second-quarter possession he got a step on Embiid, then switched hands in midair as he attacked the rim, enabling him to lay the ball in and draw the foul.

Moments later he tried to dunk on Embiid. Embiid was called for the foul, though he argued the call in the moment and later said he had “all ball,” something the replay seemed to confirm.

But the point is, Edgecombe’s training wheels are completely off. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey mentioned before the scrimmage that the soph plays with “no fear,” and afterward James said Edgecombe is “not quiet, in a good way.” LBJ also called him “a very cerebral player, and always looking for ways to get better.”

That is readily apparent.

Backup Plan

Gansey was reluctant to say how many games the team hopes to get from Embiid, only that everyone wants to “stick to the plan.” But figure the veteran center plays no more than 60 in the regular season. That leaves ample opportunity for Adem Bona and Hukporti. And while Bona is out with a sprained foot, Hukporti showed Saturday he might have more to offer than was first thought.

Early on the former Knick knocked down three short jumpers, and later he deftly fed Philon and Edgecombe for backdoor buckets – all while continuing to ply his trade on the defensive end. Besides his block on Embiid, he also denied Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

One Last Thought

There has been an accent on defense in the early days of camp, and James declared that the Sixers “can be a top five defensive team if we compete every time.”

That, in fact, might really tell the tale of their season. They will put up points in bunches; that seems clear. But can they get stops when they really need them? That bears watching.

WASHINGTON — Will Riley didn’t play more than 20 minutes in a game until December of his rookie season. Then he played 32 minutes per contest across the final three months.

And he thrived.

Riley averaged 15.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists during that stretch. He scored in a myriad of ways — slithering to the bucket for contested layups, draining mid-range pull-ups and sinking a few triples.

He carried that momentum into an offseason of growth.

“[I feel] super comfortable,” Riley said. “Just coming in with confidence, knowing where my spots are, knowing how to get my shots off. Just being super physical and determined on defense.”

The 6-foot-10 wing experimented with some point guard reps toward the end of his rookie campaign and into Summer League. His size allows him to see over defenders and make reads most 20-year-olds wouldn’t process.

Despite a slender build — Riley said he put on 15 pounds this offseason — he drove 5.8 times per game, which ranked in the top 30% of qualified players last season, according to Sportive World. His 19.6% usage rate ranked in the top 38%. For reference, Kyshawn George tallied a 22.8% usage rate, so similar figures for two wings trusted with offensive initiation.

Riley averaged 25 points and 2.5 assists at point guard during two 2026 Summer League games. Now, he gets to learn from Trae Young, one of the league’s best point guards.

“The way [Young] is able to read the floor, he always has eyes in every corner,” Riley said. “He just spaces the floor so well. He’s able to read the game. And just the way he talks off the court, you can tell he watches the game, he studies film. He’s just a super talented player.”

Champagnie talks winning basketball

The term “winning player” is defined as an athlete who prioritizes collective team success, efficiency, and high basketball IQ over empty individual statistics.

Justin Champagnie is a winning player. The 25-year-old forward’s 3.1 win shares led the Wizards last season. His next closest teammate, Marvin Bagley III, had only 2.1.

He’s everything you want in a winning player. Now that the Wizards are focused on winning, Champagnie’s excited to make those winning plays in meaningful games.

“I think y’all all know I love to win,” Champagnie said. “It’ll be dope to put that competitiveness and that dawg energy toward something [where] we can actually win.”

Pound-for-pound, Champagnie is arguably the team’s best rebounder.

He defends one-through-four. He hustles for loose balls. He knocks down threes. He’s everything a coach wants on a competitive team.

“Justin does winning things,” Keefe said. “We’ve seen that from the moment he came in our organization a few years ago. His ability to rebound on both ends, his ability to crash the offensive glass, off the ball cutting. Those are the valuable things he brings.”

An intense scrimmage

The Wizards scrimmaged on the Mystics’ court during Saturday’s practice at CareFirst Arena. They brought in NBA referees and announced scorers on the PA system to simulate real NBA action.

Keefe told The Athletic’s Josh Robbins that Alex Sarr (foot), Tristan Vukcevic (hip impingement) and Khris Middleton (general ramp up) didn’t participate in the scrimmage.

“The scrimmage was amazing,” Riley said. “We simulated a game-like scenario, brought refs in, did our warm-ups. It was good to get back into the groove and get up and down with the guys.”

The scrimmage was closed to the media, but I could overhear the PA announcer from the media work room. The call I heard the most: “D.C. three! Traeeee Young!” A close second: “Kyshawnnnnn George!”

Keefe praised the effort and energy during 5-on-5 action as his team readies for its preseason opener Thursday against the New York Knicks.

“Loved the energy, the competitiveness,” Keefe said. “Got to see us working on things we’ve done the first four days of practice and see if we got carry-over, which he did … I was just pleased with the collective effort and the teammate work they had.”

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Ziarie Williams has yet to play a single minute in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform but has already started to make memories he’ll never forget.

While Mars was playing his hit song, “Marry You,” during the second night of his five-night residency at SoFi Stadium, Williams went for a buzzer-beater shot and hit nothing but net.

With the confetti falling from the ceiling of the stadium, Williams picked the perfect moment to get down on one knee and propose to his then-girlfriend, now fiancée, Paris Timan.

The moment was shared across the jumbotron at the stadium, while the two were seen jumping up and down, screaming in excitement.

After the engagement happened, SoFi Stadium shared a video and tagged both of them, with the caption, “It really was a beautiful night .”

Timan who is known for her work as a fashion and commercial model, has been with Williams for at least a few years now.

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The newly engaged couple are about to embark on a new journey together, as Williams signed a one-year $15 million deal with the Lakers over the offseason.

Williams was once a Top 10 pick in the NBA out of Stanford, after he was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans and had his draft rights traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Williams spent three years in Memphis until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2024.

Last season, he only appeared in 13 games after missing most of the season due to a small back fracture and lower back contusion from a hard fall in October.

Sixers show big-time talent, early chemistry building at Blue-White scrimmage  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2026-27 Sixers showed off their considerable collection of talent for the public on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The scoreboard didn’t matter at the team’s annual Blue-White scrimmage, but fans got a taste of what the star-laden Sixers have to offer. For the first time, public address announcer Matt Cord introduced LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as Sixers. 

There was a pop of noise for just about anything James did — his first touch of the ball, an alley-oop slam, a slick behind-the-back dish. 

“It was obviously fun to be able to play in front of some of our Philly faithful for the first time,” he said, “being able to take what we’ve done on the practice floor and bring it to a game floor situation around our fans. It was a great first step in the direction we’re trying to go.”

The Sixers’ Blue team began with a 14-5 spurt fueled by the starting five of James, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid. 

Though the action was mostly casual, everyone delivered highlights and explosive bursts. Embiid moved well and even threw down a powerful lefty dunk on the fast break.

“That’s probably the last dunk of my career,” Embiid joked. 

As James noted Saturday, he and Embiid are not starting from scratch as teammates. They earned gold medals with Team USA two years ago at the Paris Olympics. 

“The reps have basically picked up from 2024 during the Olympics,” James said. “We have some chemistry. We played a lot of minutes (together); he started a lot of games for us that summer. 

“But the difference between ’24 and now is just he’s just so much more healthy. He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in everything that we’ve done pretty much. They’ve had to sit him out sometimes when he’s wanted to keep going. You saw (today) how much he played. It’s been good. Actually, it’s been great.”

Outside of his physical gifts, James made an impression at his first Sixers training camp.

Teammates were struck by everything from his early arrivals to his immediate vocal leadership to his deep basketball understanding. Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey on Saturday even commended the 22-time All-Star for “diving on the floor for loose balls.”

“I’m still just making my rounds, getting better and better each day,” James said. “As far as in the building, it’s been smooth. Everybody has been super welcoming. I’ve been able to implement some things with my voice and just my command of how I play the game, my experience playing the game. 

“I’m still getting more and more comfortable off the floor without my family, with travel and things of that nature. That’s going to be a little bit of a challenge, but everything has been good so far. Great first week.”

The Sixers have four preseason contests on deck, starting with the opener Monday night in Philadelphia vs. the Knicks.

After that, the scoreboard will be worth watching.

“Everybody has to be on the same page,” Embiid said. “Everybody keeps talking about sacrificing, but I don’t really see it as sacrificing. It’s just about being the best version of yourself. I think when you put great players together, there’s standards you should have for yourself … it’s being more efficient. 

“Obviously, you might get less touches, but you also might get more space. So what are you going to do with that space? … It’s just about being a star in your role and doing what you do best. I don’t think anybody should be in a box. You should just go out there and be yourself. Good shot, great shot, bad shot, we’ve all got each other’s back. We’ll move on and then we’ll go get a stop.” 

Rafael Castro, a 23-year-old big man who was recently signed to a two-way contract back in August, has officially parted company with the Houston Rockets after being waived.

After dismissing Tristen Newton to create a two-way space with Sean Pedulla and Quadir Copeland, Houston first targeted Castro. By taking a low-risk gamble on a developing big man, the front staff saw an opportunity to shift toward frontcourt depth.

It made logical sense to create a new dynamic at the time because all three of their two-way contracts were awarded to guards. I was really aback when I learned that Castro had been waived in part because of this.

It’s difficult to determine how much of a chance he was given considering his brief tenure on the team, and his departure brings an abrupt end to what appeared to be a promising growth player. He was not even able to play for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA G League Associate team.

Castro looked good throughout the NBA free agency and pre-draft. He was not selected on draft night despite being 6-foot-11, having a wingspan of more than seven feet, and having a 36.5-inch vertical leap at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. He was soon linked to a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to early reports. Although he played for Milwaukee in both the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League, a roster jam prevented that deal from being finalized, which allowed Houston to sign him as an unrestricted free agent.

Castro’s raw physical skills, paint finishing, and rim protection were his main selling points at the age of 23. These qualities would complement Ime Udoka’s teaching methods. However according to the Houston Chronicle’s Varun Shankar, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka explained why the franchise decided to cut Castro. Udoka also expressed that the team is considering multiple candidates to fill the open two-way roster spot.

“Our abundance of bigs in camp, having three and then Oscar [Tshiebwe] is here, playing really well.”

The Rockets have quietly put together a strong youth core this offseason, but Castro’s waiver has left their developmental center spot vacant once more. Who will receive the Rockets’ third and last two-way contract?

The Philadelphia 76ers’ annual Blue x White scrimmage was held at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon and the event did not disappoint. In addition to clearing the obvious “no one got hurt in a meaningless scrimmage” bar, we witnessed a ton to be excited about with this group heading into the season. Let’s touch on a couple key points:

• Joel Embiid looks healthy

Joel is noticeably trimmer this training camp and has spoken about the benefits of only needing to focus on his game this summer and not rehabbing some injury or coming off surgery. Other folks have reiterated he’s been at practice every day, out there doing everything with no need for load management, maintenance days, etc. We saw some of the benefits of the improved health during the scrimmage. Embiid was hard hedging on defense, something he almost never did last season. He looked spry in dunking down the lane and going up for a block attempt of VJ Edgecombe. Basically, he looked like a man able to let his talent do the talking without having to worry about injury limitations.

• LeBron still looks like LeBron

This point is less discussed than Embiid’s health, but James is a guy turning 42 years old soon who missed time last season with sciatica in his back. It’s fair to be a little trepidatious about how he’ll hold up. But he still looks like LeBron (in a Sixers uniform which still feels surreal). No, not the LeBron of 10 years ago almost singlehandedly taking down the Death lineup Warriors, but the LeBron of the last few years who is still an All-NBA-caliber player. Great to see him out there filling lanes and throwing down dunks; the Sixers in transition are going to be a major problem for the opposition.

• Labaron Philon might be a Day One guy

The rookie did not look the least bit out of place taking the floor with former MVPs and All-NBA players. He showed off smooth handles, defensive chops, and a nice-looking shot. Philon could be forcing his way into the rotation from day one.

• This starting five is awesome.

Sorry for the Captain Obvious statement, and I don’t really have a specific point, but seeing this starting group together was incredible. They were unselfish, working the ball around to find mismatches, and everyone seemed comfortable with each other and capable of working individual two-man games to find buckets. We’ve been talking about the group for a couple months now, but just seeing them on the court in reality is something else entirely. Barring something extremely Sixersy happening, this should be an extraordinarily fun season.

Here’s a full highlight reel of clips from the scrimmage for your enjoyment:

With the Knicks ramping up their preparations to defend their NBA title during the coming season, head coach Mike Brown has pinpointed a player who he thinks has what it takes to earn a more significant role this go-around: Mo Diawara.

Diawara, still just 21 years old, returns to Knicks training camp following the "best summer of [his life]" back in his hometown of Paris, France.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 51st pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Diawara was traded to the Knicks ahead of a rookie season that ended with a ring on his finger, but included plenty of learning from the team's veteran core.

"Now I know the physicality I need for this league, how I need to prepare my body," he explained in a news conference on Saturday. "I still look a lot to those vets, just helping me with a routine to get ready for this new year."

"Now that I've been in the league a year, it is a little bit easier," Diawara declared.

Will the Knicks starters see the floor in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on the night of Oct. 5?

"Probably, but not much," Brown answered.

With that in mind, Diawara could be one of the players who is given the leash to show off what he's learned in that game.

Brown outlined what he's looking to see on the floor from his guys and how to set the tone ahead of the regular season. The Knicks host the 76ers in that game, too, at Madison Square Garden, which will include raising a banner to the rafters.

"You're going to make some mistakes, and I'm okay with that," Brown explained. "But when someone makes a mistake, how quickly do they try and make up for it?"

"I'm huge on next-play speed. Guys can't drop their heads or hesitate. Boom: right away, move on. It's the little things. Boxing out, competing for offensive rebounds, and sprinting to the corners in transition."

Diawara and Brown seem aligned on the key areas for the young swingman to focus on improving.

"Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there, because he didn't know what to do."

"His cadence is better, he has a better feel not only for what he should do, but what his teammates should be doing," Brown continued. "He's one of those players who needs to take a step forward."

"I'm shooting a lot of threes, working on that a lot to improve it going into my second year," Diawara added.

During the 2025-26 regular season, the 6'9" forward shot a respectable 36.9 percent from behind the arc on 1.9 attempts per game, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest, which included seven starts across 69 games played. However, his role off the bench shrank significantly during the team's title run, as he only played in six of the team's 19 playoff games.

That production led to Diawara signing a four-year contract worth slightly more than $11 million in total with the Knicks.