Traditionally, the point guard has one job: make everyone better.

Few guards have embraced that role more than James Harden. He’s brought his masterful blend of scoring and playmaking to an 18th season, making it easier for all of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ moving parts to fall into place.

“You don’t have to worry about who is out there with [Harden],” said head coach Kenny Atkinson. “He makes the game look so easy… he makes everyone better, that’s the biggest compliment you can give someone.”

The Cavs look very different than they did a year ago.

In addition to seismic changes at the previous trade deadline, they also added a new member to their starting lineup (Peyton Watson) while pivoting to rely on a handful of unproven role players to fortify their bench. All of this means Atkinson is trying to push the right buttons with different lineup configurations to see what sticks.

“I don’t know if I call it experimenting, but just seeing what stuff looks like,” Atkinson said of his mix-matched rotations during the preseason.

Harden makes that process seamless. Whether it’s building chemistry with new teammates or polishing his relationship with the others. He can do it all.

“He’s one of those players for me; it’s kind of easy to play off him,” said Jaylon Tyson. “Just because [Harden] can make every pass in the book and, obviously, his scoring ability. Everyone is so worried about him offensively that a player like me, catch-and-shoot, just playing off the cut, it makes it so much easier when he’s on the court.”

Having a generational talent, even at 37 years old, is something that unlocks new possibilities for an offense.

Harden, paired with Donovan Mitchell, gives the Cavs two crowned jewels to play off of. Their creativity breeds innovation within an offense that can be hard for defenses to contain.

“Unpredictable,” answered Peyton Watson on how Cleveland’s offense differs from Denver. “In this offense, it’s all about instincts and knowing how to play the game around two elite offensive players — whereas with [Nikola Jokic], I knew every time down he was gonna have the ball… and the play would be for me to do this or that… here, there are more possibilities and things that I can do.”

Finding where you fit is easier when you have a leader like Harden. That’s one aspect of his game that his teammates say goes unnoticed.

“When you’re his teammate, it brings it to a whole new level,” said Donovan Mitchell. “Seeing his influence on the group, seeing his passion and intention behind what he does, it really puts into perspective how BS a lot of the narratives [about Harden] are.”

This past Saturday, the shorthanded Sixers got blown out by the Boston Celtics’ regulars in a preseason game. It was the first of two preseason meetings between the two teams as Philadelphia will host the Celtics this coming Friday in the preseason finale. 

By now, it’s well known by sports fans everywhere that the Sixers and Celtics made the biggest trade of the NBA’s offseason this past summer in a move that saw Jaylen Brown go from Boston to Philadelphia and Paul George go the other way. Fans are understandably excited about what Brown can do as a Sixer, but we wanted to take a moment to think about George and how fans feel about him.

The former Sixer was the team’s marquee offseason acquisition just two years ago in the summer of 2024. By almost every objective measure, his two years in Philadelphia were a failure and Sixers fans united in their jubilation not only to bring in Brown, but to wash their hands of the final two years of George’s massive contract. But, in case you missed it after Saturday’s preseason game and got caught up in more losing from the Eagles and Flyers on Sunday, George had this to say about his time in Philadelphia. 

Paul George on the #Sixers: “I love those guys…Jo, Tyrese, VJ, JE. I think these long-lasting relationships that you build along the way of this journey here. VJ calls me almost every other week.” pic.twitter.com/nDwpZrPCYd

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) October 11, 2026

It did make me wonder, how is George going to be received when he plays a regular season game in Philadelphia in 2026-27 in front of a capacity crowd? Was George merely the biggest source of frustration for fans when it came to the job former President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey was doing or did fans truly dislike George? It certainly seems like George left Philadelphia on good terms with lots of the players in the organization.

Most fans knew Morey was rolling the dice when he unloaded the cap space that had been vacated by the expiration of the Tobias Harris contract and used it all on an aging George. Availability had been a concern for George before he arrived in Philadelphia, so the fact that he wasn’t always in the lineup shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Granted, his performance certainly dipped as well, but George did likely rebuild some of his trade value with a strong postseason this past spring.

As we prepare for the start of another season, George is gone and more importantly in the eyes of many Sixers fans, so is Morey. We’ll see if the Celtics can contend at a high level in 2026-27, but it feels like most Sixers fans have shifted their attention to the Knicks as the team’s biggest rival with both teams likely vying for the Eastern Conference championship this season. 

Make no mistake, any Sixers fan that boos George this season when the Celtics come to town would certainly have every right to do so. George’s first season in Philadelphia was a disaster and his second season wasn’t much better until the playoffs. There was a lot more bad than good. But time heals all wounds and with what’s transpired over the last 5-6 months, dating back to some of those good playoff performances from George while he was still in a Sixers uniform, George’s lasting memory in Philadelphia was something we were thinking about.

He’s certainly not going to get any kind of standing ovation this season and we’re not suggesting that either. But Sixers fans, is this someone you’re going to boo vociferously this season or is he just another former Sixer whose tenure in Philadelphia maybe wasn’t as good as you had hoped it would be?

Last week I chose roles and a grading curriculum for the Minnesota starting group. Today, it’s the bench’s turn. Before diving into the individual players, I want to introduce one other stat that will be part of this season-long project: Estimated Plus/Minus (EPM).

You can read about the nitty gritty of EPM here, but I’d offer this big picture overview: EPM is a statistical calculation that looks at a player’s past, their current performance, and most importantly, the context of their plus/minus (game situation, players they shared the court with, etc…) in an attempt navigate all the variables that go into a +10 or -10 night on a basketball court.

As the season goes along, I’ll be tracking the trends of different players in each of the three main EPM categories: Offensive Estimated Plus/Minus, Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus and Total Estimated Plus/Minus. Here are where the numbers stand as we enter the season:

A few standout points:

1. Holy LaMelo. He is an EPM darling with the 3rd best offensive EPM in the league and 7th best overall EPM behind:
   1. Victory Wembanyama: 7.8
   2. Nikola Jokić: 7.3
   3. Kawhi Leonard: 7.3
   4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 7.0
   5. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 6.7
   6. Luka Dončić: 6.4
2. It’s easy to forget how good Donte DiVincenzo was last season and how much of a boon his return will be. 
3. Edwards had a pretty precipitous dropoff from previous seasons where he was the top EPM player on the team. With this roster being built more for him, I’d expect his number to climb back up above 3.0.
4. Kuminga’s defensive EPM really skyrocketed during his Atlanta stint and enters the season as the third-ranked defensive player in the group. His offense… well, safe to say there is a lot of room for improvement!
5. The bench minutes distribution will be fascinating to watch with Ayo Dosunmu’s role being the only one that feels set in stone – EPM numbers are making a strong argument for Bones.

That’s it for now with EPM, let’s get to the bench unit’s report card preview! 

A reminder about how the grades work:

1. These grades are roles-based, so the stats I’m looking at for each player are different and meant to highlight their team role. 

2. Roles on the team can change as the roster and playing time changes—I will alter or add statistical categories throughout the season as needed. Especially in a preseason article, the expectation is that some of these initial stats will change as we get to know the team better.

3. The grade ranges and their correlation to stats are educated speculation based on previous career averages, team role, and minutes expectation. Like the categories themselves, if there is a range that is clearly missing the eye test, expect some tweaks as the season goes along.

4. The season is divided into four quarters; twenty to twenty-one game increments. There will be a mid quarter update (10ish games), quarter, semester and final grades throughout the regular season and series grades in the playoffs.

Ayo Dosunmo: The “As You Wish” Bench Superstar

The Stats: Player Impact Estimate, Points Per Shot Attempt, Overall Estimated Plus/Minus

The Why Behind Them: “Hey Ayo, the offense started a little sluggish, could you come in and help us push it in transition and get some easy buckets?”

“As you wish.”

“Hey Ayo, Jaden is in foul trouble, could you come in and spend the rest of the first half as the primary matchup for the opponent’s best perimeter player?”

“As you wish.”

“Hey Ayo, the other team has a much bigger lineup than us and we could really use help boxing out and rebounding from our perimeter guys – could you focus on that?”

“As you wish.”

The role for Ayo Dosunmo really cemented in my mind during Monday’s preseason game when the backup unit was struggling to rebound, leading to Coach Chris Finch calling a timeout. Out of the timeout, everyone’s box-out effort increased, but the player who was noticeably around/going after every missed shot was Ayo Dosunmo.

Ayo’s expansive skillset as a ready short- or long-term sub for any of the Wolves’ starters (sans Rudy Gobert) is going to be invaluable to this team this season. Foul trouble, rest nights, and injuries will impact this franchise so much less because of Dosunmo’s ability to come in and fill the need for the night.

It is this ability that makes choosing stats to track a little bit more difficult. I’ve settled on Player Impact Estimate (PIE), Points Per Shot Attempt and Overall Estimated Plus/Minus.

Last season, Dosunmo ranked 4th on the team in PIE, behind Edwards, Gobert and Randle. In the playoffs, despite a San Antonio series that really hurt everyone’s numbers, Dosunmo was the best player on the team for guys that played in both series (Donte DiVincenzo was #1 overall but didn’t get hit with the San Antonio blowout tax).

Ayo has always been an efficient scorer, but it wasn’t until I looked closing at his Points Per Shot Attempt (PSA) that I realized how good his last season was: In 45 games with Chicago, he was a 96th percentile efficient scorer (128.6), and in Minnesota, he was in the 91st percentile (124.5). This is a player who knows what parts of his game he excels at and finds ways to lean into them while he’s on the court.

The last stat was probably his least encouraging number: Estimated Plus/Minus. His overall EPM last season was that of a middle of the road player, but that feels like a number that’s been pretty damaged due to seasons playing on some bad Chicago teams. I expect this season to be a bit of a market correction for Dosunmo as that number better reflects the quality of player that he is.

Joan Beringer: “Schrödinger’s Prospect”

The Stats: Minutes Per Game, Offensive Rebounds Per 36, Blocks Per 36

The Why Behind Them: Since Joan Beringer was drafted, all us fans have heard are tantalizing nuggets of information about how much the team loves him, his work ethic, and the flashes they see of a future player he could become. To this point, we’ve seen enough glimpses that make us feel very similarly to an accursed bog witch. But the problem is that it all has been short glimpses, theoretical growth, and projected roles. 

It is finally time to set all of that aside, lift open the lid of the box, and finally discover what kind of prospect this franchise has.

There is a reason Beringer is second on this list: After Ayo Donsunmo, he has the most clearly defined role. The Timberwolves will be employing a Frenchman tandem on the center position, and pending foul trouble, (a fair concern) their ideal plan is for their two Eiffel Towers to handle all of the minutes at the center position.

The first and most important stat for Beringer? Minutes per game. I’m choosing this over a fouling statistic because it will prove two things: His fouling isn’t prohibitive to his playing time (cause he will foul!) and his production matches that of an NBA rotation player on a contending team.

The other two are zooming in on two skills that have already flashed in limited playing time: Offensive rebounds and blocks per 36 minutes. For players that played in at least 40 games last season (Beringer’s number), he finished 5th in the league in blocks per 36 and 13th in offensive rebounds. These are the tantalizing glimpses that we’ve seen in limited playing time that if proven to be correct, we’ll have opened the box to find the prospect was alive and thriving all the time.

Terrance Shannon Jr.: The “Left-Handed Falcon Punch”

The Stats: Free Throws Per 36, Field Goat Percentage Under 5ft, Defensive EPM

The Why Behind Them: My Super Smash playing days peaked in 1999 when I was an unstoppable flying force flying through the air with Pikachu, using a spinning quick attack in tandem with a thunderbolt. But you want to know the player that was always my nemesis? Captain Friggin Falcon.

My far superior (and honestly, more noble) strategy didn’t matter since all Falcon had to do was just spam that “B” button over and over again, inducing his fiery punch of instant death. Cue all my best laid plans laid to waste with the words that still echo in my nightmares: “Falcon PUUUUNCH!!”

In the offseason, Canis’ Thilo Widder wrote a great piece about TJ Shannon’s role and biggest value potentially being as a trade piece. Whether he’s here longterm or is being showcased for trade value, his path to success is clear: Spam that “B” button superpower.

From a defensive standpoint, there would be nothing more frustrating than game planning for LaMelo-Ant pick and rolls, lob threats to the bigs and wings, and just when you think you can take a deep breath, here comes the fiery stick-of-dynamite-like attack of the wing from Illinois, not letting your defenders catch their breath for a moment.

So that’s where I’m starting with Shannon Jr. His first two stats are all about relentless aggression on offense. In the post-season, he averaged 2.7 free throws attempted (FTA) per game in a twenty-two minute per game role – a decent chunk of that coming during Edwards’ injury stretch. Last season he took 1.7 FTAs during the regular season, so the number finds itself in the middle with the context of a healthy Anthony Edwards and a coaching staff that has zeroed in on his ideal role.

The second stat is based on this little known quirk about TJ Shannon’s offensive game: He likes to finish at the basket with his left hand. No, I’m serious. Hours of film study has revefaled this heretofore unknown part of his game… and shockingly, only using one hand around the basket led him to having the 2nd worst FG% around the basket on the team, ahead of only 100-year old Mike Conley (miss you Bite Bite!). He just has to be better and the 60% mark would be a big step up from his 52.9% last season.

The final stat I’ll be tracking is about season-long defensive effectiveness and his “A” range falls in the range of a 60th percentile defender, up a decent step from where he finished last year at -1.1 (22nd percentile defender). The advanced regular season stats were not kind to TJ last year – here’s hoping a narrowed offensive role that involves the repeated use of his greatest strength allows him to thrive off the bench this season.

*Additional note after Wednesday’s preseason game: The problem with “B” button spamming is that good coaches will help to prepare their team to be ready for it. Even in a preseason game, it was clear that Indiana defenders knew what Shannon Jr. most wanted to do and were prepared for it which made it a tougher night for the wing from Illinois. This strategy will work against a decent amount of NBA teams, but the best defenses? There is reason to be skeptical.

Bones Hyland: The Vibes Guy

The Stats: Pace and Skelly Cellys

The Why Behind Them: You’ll notice a change in tracked stats for the final stretch of guys here, and that is because the next three players are projected to be more of spot-rotation guys. If I’m wrong and they carve out regular rotation roles, I’ll excitedly add another stat for any of them to reflect the increase. But my guess now is that while these three will see the court, it will be done more based on matchups, foul trouble, or injuries.

To call Bones a vibes guy isn’t meant to diminish his basketball acumen; he had real moments of brilliance in both the regular season and the playoffs. He will have real moments this season as well. However, when the team is fully healthy and clicking on all-cylinders, he’ll have more of a deeper bench role. But when there’s an injury, foul trouble or an “off” energy night, that is going to be his time to thrive.

Stat number one is all about the turbo button. The doldrums of an NBA season are inescapable. Having a deeper rotation player that can offer some of the same things that makes LaMelo’s game so special can make the difference on any given night. Check into a game with the sleepy starting crew, inject some pace, make a logo three and turn to the crown and do your signature celebration. Speaking of…

The last stat is a first for me: A hand-counted celebration/vibe stat. A reminder that those numbers represented are per quarter, but another caveat to add: A “Skelly Celly” stat also carried over to another play hitting and shot and turning to Bones on the bench and throwing the celebration. ALSO a camera shot of Bones on the bench celebrating.

As the only member of the Skelly Celly analytics department, the number that I end up with will be final and ultimate.

Trey Lyles: The Celery

The Stats: 3-Point Percentage and Defensive Rating

The Why Behind Them: The celery role (and another very timely mid-90s reference) isn’t meant to be a dig at Lyles. I mean, Cory Matthews married Topanga afterall! And celery is good for you. It’s full of nutrients, contains lots of water, and can help lower your blood pressure. It’s just… not all that exciting.

Before the Jonathan Kuminga signing, I was ready to make a case for Trey Lyles as a starter and his excellent skillset fit between Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. His 3-point shooting is a real NBA skill and is theoretically better than every other big on the Wolves roster. 

The problem is, that may be the only good-to-great NBA skill that Lyles has to offer outside of experience. He deserves time to get his NBA-feet back underneath him, but to go from Europe to a rotation player on an NBA contender is a large ask. He’s got to prove that he can still do it on the defensive end which includes being an effective player at boxing out and ending possessions.

If Lyles can show some improved defensive acumen and physicality on the glass, he has a chance to prove he’s more than just celery: He’s ants on a log.

Jaylen Clark: The Relief Pitcher

The Stats: Steals Per 36 Minutes and Offensive EPM

The Why Behind Them: Confession: There is still a Nickiel Alexander-Walker sized hole in my heart that my gut tells me Jaylen Clark is the most likely candidate to fill. Defensive effort and will is a skill that he has in bunches and one that I will always place a bet on for a long-term prospect. His ideal role on a contending squad is to act like a middle innings reliever – come in for the starter (McDaniels), “pitch” an inning or two guarding the other team’s best player, and sub out with a readiness to come in whenever game situation allows.

His struggles defensively have most to do with seasoning. Knowing when to go off-script and chase a splash play (a block or a steal), and when to calmly move your feet, use your physicality, and stay within the scope of a defensive gameplan. He chases big defensive plays a lot which is fun to watch, but also seems to get him some early hooks to the bench if it leads to being out of position and giving up an easy bucket.

On offense, Clark just needs to be better. Of all the players that saw significant time for the Wolves last season, his -1.8 offensive EPM would rank last on the team and would make him a 22nd percentile offensive player in the league. His cutting is a real skill that should be better utilized with better passers around him, but his longevity on the squad is going to come down to hitting open 3-point shots.

Donte DiVincenzo: The Return of the King

The Stat: Games Played

The Why Behind It: The only expectation that is being placed on our Ginger King is the hope that we get to see him play meaningful basketball. Should he return and prove to be healthy? Well, we’ll start planning for some impactful stats for a playoff run.

Cody Williams: Role Loading…

The Stats: Pending

The Why Behind It: Cody Williams has flashed enough in the first two preseason games that he is a late addition to the projected rotation. These flashes have been a bit of a warning shot to Jaylen Clark believers like myself because if he can come close to matching Clark’s defensive potential, Williams clearly has a much larger offensive bag that includes bits of ball handling and playmaking. The committee is keeping a close eye on the newest young wolf.

---

And there it is. The report cards are set for the 2026-2027 Timberwolves. I’ll be back after 10 games to offer an update on where these numbers are falling, explain any alterations or tweaks based on early season performance, and have a ton of fun overreacting to small sample size numbers. Happy Wolves season everyone!

It hard, almost impossible to have a real, encouraging win in the NBA preseason…but the Brooklyn Nets just got one! The Nets defeated LeBron and the Super Sixers on Thursday night. That means we’re also now halfway through the preseason. In this episode of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we discuss takeaways from those first two games, recap Nets Fest and look at what’s coming on NetsDaily. Let’s talk some ball!

In Episode 48 of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:

• Mikel Brown Jr. injury concern level
• Why the preseason win over Philly matters
• Why we’re betting on Keon Ellis being a great Net

You can also check out the episode for free on Spotify and Apple Music. Make sure to follow us on X, Instagram, and TikTok as well.

ESPN is sleeping on the Nets. Shocker!

(w/ @connor_long15) pic.twitter.com/4c0leSAPfX

— The Brooklyn (@thebrooklynpod) September 5, 2026

We also recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers on YouTube. Thank you to everyone who has supported us thus far!

The Knicks are back in action today, hosting the Wolves at MSG this evening.

By chance, have you heard anything about contract issues and pending extensions? Yeah, me neither.

Here’s the latest from Coach, KAT, and a couple folks in the know.

the work continues pic.twitter.com/3eZdLbwtD4

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 11, 2026

Mike Brown

On discussing mindfulness and personal struggles with his players:

“As a coach, it’s not all about X’s and O’s every single day. Any time you can try to enlighten guys in different areas of life, not just about the basketball court, you try to do that. This is something I thought about doing because I discussed it with a few of my coaches maybe a week and a half, two weeks ago. It was just speaking on being mindful or having mindfulness when it comes to your teammates.”

On holding players accountable while recognizing their personal struggles:

“We have to hold each other accountable, but we also have to be mindful that you may have some s–t going on in your life that may not be good. So we can’t keep trying to beat you up to be better at your job. Sometimes, it’s trying to figure out how to do that while uplifting you because I don’t know what you’re going through at home in your private life.”

To put a bow on this, for now, Karl-Anthony Towns' public response to the Knicks' public statement regarding the front office tabling extension talks until later in the season:

"It was news to me. Very disappointed to say the least. Let's state the obvious. It's business, but…

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) October 11, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On learning that the Knicks had paused contract extension negotiations:

“It was news to me. Very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s state the obvious: It’s a business, but there is business on the court for us to handle.”

On his disappointment with the Knicks’ decision and his commitment to defending the championship:

“Obviously very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s be honest here. But even though there was no business done, there’s still business to be handled. After 53 years, we found a way to bring this trophy back to New York, and we intend for it to stay in New York.”

On whether he has considered declining his player option:

“I wouldn’t say I’ve thought about it, because I never thought it would get to this point. But I think right now what’s best for our team is we just focus on the basketball.”

On maintaining his focus on winning another championship despite contract uncertainty:

“We’re all humans, but what I do say is true: My only philosophy since we won and the only thing I’ve had in my mind is how do we win another one. For me, the same focus I came in this season with is the same focus I’ll go into Game 1 with: How do we keep the trophy in New York past just this one summer?”

On Mike Brown addressing the players’ personal struggles and bringing the team closer together:

“It was really cool to have Coach talk to us about being human, about the struggles in life. Us being together and us understanding where everyone is in life and the situations they deal with will allow us to be even more connected and allow us to be an even better team.

“I want to make sure I say that. I have to give flowers to Mike. That was an amazing job by him as our leader to approach the elephant in the room and to allow us, the players and the coaches, the ones who were on that court in Game 4, Game 5, who really found a way to get this title back to New York, to be human. I think that’s an amazing thing.”

"League sources tell The Stein Line that Karl-Anthony Towns was the only (extension-eligible Knick) whose camp had been seriously engaged by the Knicks" before Knicks shut down talks Friday…

More Stein Knicks & NBA updates ⬇️ https://t.co/jKn6Rmi6Oopic.twitter.com/9n7oMGBgw9

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 12, 2026

Marc Stein & Jake Fischer

On the Knicks prioritizing contract negotiations with Karl-Anthony Towns:

“Towns was the only member of that foursome (Josh Hart, Deuce McBride, Tyler Kolek) whose camp had been seriously engaged by the Knicks at the time of Friday’s statement. (They’ve) prioritized talks with Towns over Hart to this point.”

On Miles McBride potentially becoming a trade candidate:

“A likely trade candidate as the season unfolds given the uncertainty surrounding his own Knicks future.”

The Commanders can't get the play off in time and this game ends in a tie pic.twitter.com/WmPp6q5hU0

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026

Fifteen years ago, Josh Harris, David Blitzer and Co. bought the Sixers for a reported $280 million. In the ensuing decade-and-a-half, the Sixers’ value has jumped up to an estimated $7.15 billion, according to the latest estimates from Sportico released Friday.

The Sixers currently clock in as the NBA’s ninth-most-valuable franchise, just behind the Brooklyn Nets. They’re nowhere close to the Golden State Warriors ($14.5 billion), New York Knicks ($12.8 billion) or Los Angeles Lakers ($12.5 billion), but they aren’t far off from the Los Angeles Clippers ($8.21 billion), Chicago Bulls ($8.13 billion), Miami Heat ($8.05 billion) or Boston Celtics ($8.0 billion).

Their value may only continue to skyrocket, too.

For one, their estimated valuation jumped by 27 percent just within the past year, which was the fifth-biggest jump in the NBA, per Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen. If the NBA does expand to Las Vegas and Seattle—and the price of the Vegas franchise and new arena does top $12 billion, as expected—that should help push up every existing team’s valuation as well.

The Sixers also had kind of a big summer, in case you hadn’t heard. Not only did they pry Jaylen Brown away from the Celtics, but they also signed some guy named LeBron James to a two-year, veteran-minimum contract.

According to Badenhausen, 15,000 people “put down deposits on season tickets within the first 72 hours” after the Sixers signed LeBron. The Sixers “limited those to half-season and partial plans to allow more people into the building and also boost the revenue yield,” Badenhausen added. (Of course they did.) He estimated regular-season ticket revenue will increase by 50 percent this season.

They’ve also been active on the business side of the organization, as Badenhauser reported:

“Interest on the sponsorship side has been just as active, with revenue projected to grow at least 50% this season. Last month, the team signed a new jersey patch deal with Bloom Energy that is the second-biggest jersey deal in the NBA after the Warriors, according to two people familiar with the details. The 76ers are not doing any sponsor deals less than three years after signing LeBron. That will provide a bridge ahead of the new arena, which will provide further revenue opportunities.”

The Sixers will also be opening a new arena in 2030 in partnership with Comcast Spectacor. That’s a departure from their current setup, which is a lease agreement with Comcast Spectacor that came up as a sticking point when the Sixers were exploring the potential of creating their own separate arena in Market East.

Even though HBSE won’t have full control of the new arena, being 50-50 partners instead of long-term tenants should further increase the valuation of the Sixers, much like the Chase Center did for the Warriors. Adding a WNBA team to the portfolio in 2030 won’t hurt, either. Until then, having LeBron on the roster should help business keep booming in the short term.

But you know what would really help? Winning. If the Sixers make good on their potential this season and keep LeBron in the fold in 2027-28, it wouldn’t be surprising if they jumped a few spots on next year’s franchise-valuation list.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

The thing about exceeding expectations in professional sports is that it either buys time or raises expectations. Under normal circumstances, Collin Murray-Boyles’ rookie season purchased an entire season of leniency and patience. Met with confusion and indifference on his draft night, Murray-Boyles blocked out the noise and responded with one of the more tantalizing rookie campaigns in Toronto Raptors history.

But for Murray-Boyles’ sophomore season, the Raptors find themselves dealing with an extraordinary circumstance in the form of Kawhi Leonard’s return.

With Leonard turning 35 this past June (and having signed a two-year extension that keeps him in a Raptors jersey until 2029), Murray-Boyles (21 years old) might be required to expedite at least part of his offensive development.

If Murray-Boyles doesn’t make significant progression this year, the Scottie Barnes-era Raptors can still push into uncharted territory, but a noticeable leap raises the team’s ceiling to Eastern Conference (and maybe even the NBA Finals).

After two pre-season contests, Murray-Boyles is averaging 9.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 block in 20.5 minutes. He’s also shooting 38.8 per cent from the field (0/2 from three) and 62.5 per cent from the free-throw line.

Here are a few thoughts about the small sample size we have at our disposal:

Off-ball is still a strength

0:00 – Some of Murray-Boyles’ best offensive moments last season came off-ball, particularly when Head Coach Darko Rajakovic got him moving downhill. He’s a big body that consistently sets effective screens, and this often forces defences to respect the chaos with a switch, subsequently resulting in meaningful mismatches. It’s easy to see how this would look with Barnes in Kyle Anderson’s spot, Immanuel Quickley instead of Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter and Leonard as the spot-up shooters

0:09 – We’ve seen how effective Barnes is in the DHO anchor role. Murray-Boyles is just as savvy in this position, especially with his processing speed. The key to enhancing this action will be discussed later!

0:22 – Regardless of who he’s playing with (Jakob Poeltl, Barnes, or Anderson), Murray-Boyles will continue to thrive as an offensive-rebounder from the dunker’s spot

0:32 – Speaking of the dunker spot, how many times did we see this beautiful floater during the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers? With Barnes, Leonard and Barrett applying rim pressure, expect Murray-Boyles to continue to thrive here

On-ball needs more reps

0:00 – I think Raptors fans would like to see more of this from Murray-Boyles, especially during pre-season and contests against weaker opponents. We’ve seen him try this move from the left block before. He’s left-handed, so it makes sense he’s comfortable going away from potential help defenders.

0:10 – Regarding the DHO anchor role in the earlier video, this is the aspect of that action that Murray-Boyles can improve. It’s not a catch-and-shoot three, nor is it an off-the-dribble jumper, but having this type of range as a counter if defences take away the pass or drive would be monumental.

0:19 – This is a pseudo-face-up type of sequence, which we occasionally see from Murray-Boyles. It’s no surprise that even when he tries a finesse move, he ends up relying on his physicality. This will be one of the more fun aspects of Murray-Boyles’ development

0:29 – The obvious highlight is the pass, but that’s a known variable in Murray-Boyles’ game. It’s cool watching him attack the defence off the bounce, particularly with his right hand. The spin in traffic is also a welcome sight.

Pushing for more

It’s normal for Murray-Boyles to look unnatural or uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that once he unlocks those layers of his game (whatever that might look like), we’ll all look back and say, ‘Of course that happened.“

It begins with Murray-Boyles occasionally moving away from that short corner or dunker spot area, and instead spotting up in the corner. He averaged less than one three-point attempt per game in his rookie season.

Barnes has noticeably been forcing reps during pre-season, and for good reason; he’ll be relied on in the post-season to create his own shots. Even if Murray-Boyles won’t be called on to consistently generate his own offence, the same philosophy should apply to him too. The Raptors need to raise their ceiling with Leonard in town and Murray-Boyles can lead that movement.

CLEVELAND — Mario Hezonja’s first preseason outing with the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t go as seamlessly as he likely would’ve preferred. Going from being the star player in Europe to trying to slot into a supporting role in a vastly different league will be an adjustment — both in terms of what he’ll be asked to do on the court and in adjusting to a completely different style of play.

“Last game (against the Boston Celtics), I didn’t do too much out of the scheme,” Hezonja said. “The lenghth. I just got to finish it maybe higher on the rim because…there’s so much space, but the length is substantial compared to Europe.”

Hezonja has NBA experience, but the game looks much different than it did six years ago when he returned to Europe.

“We’re much more quick,” Atkinson said before Sunday’s preseason game when asked about the differences between the NBA and European basketball. “We’re a quick hitter league. We play in transition. You watch a FIBA game or European game, and they’re running the whole 24 seconds.”

There’s no easy way to adjust to a style of play that is vastly different than what you’ve been used to. The way Atkinson believes the Cavs can help Hezonja in this process is by narrowing down what he needs to do on the court.

“He’s just a good all-around basketball player, so I think it’s just defining how [he’s] going to fit with this team,” Atkinson said.

Hezonja’s second outing showed how he is a good all-around player as he put up 13 points on 5-0f-9 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Going against a bigger and more physical team in the Orlando Magic likely helped as well.

Atkinson wants to leverage Hezonja’s well-rounded in two key ways, both of which were areas we saw on Sunday.

First, he wants to see him get in transition more since he’s “like a diesel train getting downhill.” They also think they can use size to create mismatches and deep post seals when he gets mismatches in transition. He did this on Sunday, as he got two easy baskets in transition. Someone of his size is difficult to stop when he gets a head of steam.

Additionally, Atkinson wants to see Hezonja as an impactful rebounder, especially on the offensive end. “We’d love to get him into the habit of that with that size and aggressiveness.”

Hezonja demonstrated that he could be impactful there as he cleaned up an offensive rebound and turned it into an and-one basket.

It takes an incredible amount of courage to leave somewhere that is familiar where you’ve had success. It would’ve been much easier for Hezonja to stay in Europe where he could dominate and be a superstar. Instead, he decided to come over here, adapt to a much different game, and play against competition you can’t physically overpower.

He’s accepting and embracing a challenge that he chose to undertake.

“As a challenge, literally, because it’s a lot different,” Hezonja said after Sunday’s game. “Different basketball, different I can go on and go on. There’s so many different things.

“But as I said since the first day that I arrived here, I know how to play, I know basketball, I know the sport. I might be away from the NBA, but I was never away from the game. So, I know what to do, what not to do, especially what type of team we are, what type of help they need. So just trying to fit the role. Thank God I’m super versatile, so I can fit many, many roles on a team and literally whatever they need. I just want to be an impactful winning player for them and help them as much as I can.”

The only time of the year when wins hold as much weight as a loss, the Phoenix Suns are taking advantage of the low-stakes games, getting their entire roster for regular-season play, with 14 players registering playing time in Saturday’s 102-98 win against the Spurs.

Now three games into the preseason, here are the three main questions we want your thoughts on:

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Is there a new Grayson Allen in town?

With Devin Booker and Miles Bridges out, Luke Kennard took control of the team’s offensive responsibilities in the Suns’ win over the Spurs, scoring 20 points on 15 shots, including 10 attempts from three. In the first two preseason games, he took just 4 threes, but he, along with the team, adjusted without having a few of their primary scorers for their first win of the preseason.

Similarly, last season, when Devin Booker and other primary scorers would be out, Grayson Allen would take more of a prominent offensive role, highlighted by his 28-point performance in a late February comeback win against the Los Angeles Lakers when Booker and Dillon Brooks were out.

Because of his shooting abilities and experience playing alongside LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Kawhi Leonard, Kennard has experience taking both a front and backseat when his team needs him to, just like Allen did for the Suns before he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Does Saturday’s performance give you confidence that Kennard can provide the production that Allen did for the Suns?

The starting center battle continues

The Suns are giving equal opportunities to Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach to win the starting center job. Oso started the first two games, while Maluach started the third. Through three games, neither has taken a commanding lead, with Oso’s passing (5 assists against the Spurs) and Maluach’s rebounding (15 boards against the Spurs) standing out.

Giving both of them starting opportunities in the preseason signals that the team has not made a decision yet on who will replace Mark Williams in the starting lineup, and if they have, at the very least they don’t want people to know that they have.

With two preseason games left, who do you think is in the lead, and who do you want to win the competition?

Thoughts on the rest of the West?

Through nine days of preseason games, are there any Western Conference teams that have made statements to you that could cause the Suns some trouble in the regular season?

Golden State Warriors’ rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had a 23-10-6 game, Fred VanVleet with a five-three game in his first contest in nearly 18 months after tearing his ACL, and Kyrie Irving has gotten his first NBA action since tearing his ACL in March of 2025.

Who is on your radar?

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On the Suns’ Plate This Week

The Suns will play their last two preseason games before they begin the regular season. They’ll play the Spurs again on Wednesday, but this time in San Antonio at 5 PM AZ time, and then their fifth and final game of the preseason will be on Friday at home against the Utah Jazz at 7 PM AZ time.

With another NBA season set to tip off, we asked our experts at USA TODAY Sports and For The Win to rank the top 100 players who will take the court in 2026-27 – regardless of position, regardless of experience and regardless of usage.

While we can’t know yet how rookies will adapt to professional basketball, how veterans will integrate with new teammates and how coaches will choose to employ individual players for the betterment of their teams, we can judge talent and skill.

From superstars and former NBA champions like LeBron James and Steph Curry to current champs Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, from former No. 1 draft picks Anthony Edwardsand Victor Wembanyama to current No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, we considered them all. Seven NBA reporters submitted their individual rankings, and a points system was used to determine the final results.

Here, we present the players we ranked from No. 100 to No. 51 ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.

(Our ranking of the top 50 players will be released Tuesday, Oct. 13, so check back here for a link or go to usatoday.com/nba).

No. 100 Myles Turner

• Team: Milwaukee Bucks
• Position: Center
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg

The Bucks are likely going to have a rotten season without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster. But that means that some of the players remaining will step up, and Turner, who helped the Pacers make a run to the NBA Finals in 2025, is absolutely one of those guys. He is a rare archetype of floor-spacing rim protectors and one of just two players in league history to ever record 1,500 blocks and 900 field goals on 3-pointers during his NBA career, per Stathead.

No. 99 Jalen Green

• Team: Phoenix Suns
• Position: Guard
• Age: 24
• 2025-26 stats: 17.8 ppg, 42.2% FG, 1.1 spg

Green is looking to find a home in Phoenix playing alongside Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. Green adds another volume scorer to the Suns depth. He’s an exciting player who can score in bunches and also put defenders on the highlight reel with high-flying dunks. Can he be a guy that Phoenix looks to for points? He surely has the potential to be a No. 2-option next to Booker.

No. 98 Darryn Peterson

• Team: Utah Jazz
• Position: Guard
• Age: 19
• 2025-26 stats: Rookie

While it’s tricky putting any rookie on a list like this, Peterson’s talent is undeniable, and his skill set should make him a problem in the pros from Day One. Peterson, who averaged 20.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.6 apg in his lone season at Kansas, can create offense, handle the ball, finish at the rim and hit his jumpers. If not for AJ Dybantsa, the former Jayhawk probably goes No. 1 to the Wizards. This was a deep draft class. Peterson has a legitimate claim to eventually be the best player of the lot.

No. 97 Donovan Clingan

• Team:Portland Trail Blazers
• Position: Center
• Age: 22
• 2025-26 stats: 12.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.1 apg

Clingan had a reassuring 2025-26 season, averaging a double-double while leading the league in both total and offensive rebounds and playing in 77 games. The 7-foot-2 center also averaged 1.7 blocks and showed encouraging progress as a 3-point shooter. If he can expand his offensive repertoire in the paint and develop chemistry with new teammate Ja Morant in the pick-and-roll, Clingan could climb these rankings in a hurry.

No. 96 Peyton Watson

• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 24
• 2025-26 stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.1 apg

There was a stretch where Watson looked like an absolute two-way stud for the Denver Nuggets last season, and while it eventually led to a sign-and-trade to the Cavaliers during his restricted free agency, new scenery and a change of pace could reignite some of the flashes we have already seen from the wing who only recently just turned 24 years old. Watson is a sincere breakout candidate to far exceed where he ranks on this list.

No. 95 Coby White

• Team: Charlotte Hornets
• Position: Guard
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 17.4 ppg, 4.0 apg, 36.2% 3PT

White has developed into a solid NBA player, and now he has a chance to take the next step in Charlotte. The Hornets bid farewell to franchise player LaMelo Ball, so now White will likely be the starting point guard, next to Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Naz Reid. A quick, savvy guard, White can penetrate and get to his spot or get hot from deep.

No. 94 Devin Vassell

• Team: San Antonio Spurs
• Position: Guard 
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 13.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 apg

At his best, Vassell is an almost ruthless 3-point shooter who plays perfectly off all the drives to the paint the Spurs make as a function of their offense. He’s a defender who sticks into the back pocket of a ball-handler and refuses to leave. He was one of the Spurs’ brightest spots during their 2026 NBA Finals run. If he can keep that momentum going, he’ll earn an ironclad reputation as one of the league’s most dependable impact players for the foreseeable future. 

No. 93 CJ McCollum

• Team: Atlanta Hawks
• Position: Guard
• Age: 35
• 2025-26 stats: 18.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.9 apg

Initially an afterthought in the trade that sent him to Atlanta (and Trae Young to the Washington Wizards), McCollum was the best closer on the Hawks late in the season. He single-handedly became a villain at Madison Square Garden for his fourth quarter shooting and proved he still has plenty of veteran leadership and scoring left in his game.

No. 92 Shaedon Sharpe

• Team: Portland Trail Blazers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 20.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg

Sharpe will start the season on the injured list after tearing his right meniscus in an offseason workout, a major blow to an up-and-coming Portland team that added Ja Morant. Once healthy, expect Sharpe to continue posterizing defenders and to increase his usage rate as the Trail Blazers try to make a dent in the tough Western Conference.

No. 91 Ajay Mitchell

• Team:Oklahoma City Thunder
• Position: Guard
• Age: 24
• 2025-26 stats: 13.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.6 apg

Mitchell blossomed when thrust into a larger role after Jalen Williams' injury last season, and he's a strong candidate to become a full-time starter following Lu Dort's departure. The left-hander adds another layer of playmaking and shot creation to Oklahoma City's backcourt, helping ease some of the offensive burden on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With a bigger opportunity now available, Mitchell appears well positioned to take another step forward and post the best numbers of his young career.

No. 90 Ayo Dosunmu

• Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Position: Guard
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg

Dosunmu was an important pickup at the deadline for Minnesota after he was traded from the Chicago Bulls and an even bigger piece in the playoffs for the Timberwolves. Dosunmu averaged 15.6 points with 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 42.5 percent on his 3-pointers, stepping up as the team was hit with injuries. Those are genuinely impressive splits for someone who predominantly came off the bench, and now secured with a long-term deal to stay in Minnesota, fans can expect another solid campaign.

No. 89 Zach LaVine

• Team: Sacramento Kings
• Position: Guard
• Age: 31
• 2025-26 stats: 19.2 ppg, 47.9% FG, 39.0% 3PT

LaVine can still score with the best of them. He’s a walking bucket who can score 20 to 25 points in his sleep easily. In fact in his last 3ight seasons, LaVine has averaged at least 19 points per game. Now, in his second season with the Kings and 13th overall in the NBA, LaVine is expected to be someone who will continue to be an offensive threat and help Sacramento take the next step in a tough Western conference.

No. 88 Jrue Holiday

• Team: Portland Trail Blazers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 36
• 2025-26 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.1 apg

It’s somewhat unclear what exactly the Trail Blazers will expect of Holiday with both Damian Lillard and Ja Morant joining their backcourt this season. Whatever his responsibilities are, though, they’re likely to have a positive impact on winning as that is something that’s simply followed Holiday at every stop in his career. The two-time NBA All-Star is starting to get up there at 36 years old, but he’s still someone every team in the league could use.

No. 87 Cason Wallace

• Team: Oklahoma City Thunder  
• Position: Guard 
• Age: 22
• 2025-26 stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg

As the departed Lu Dort wilted in last season’s Western Conference Finals, the upstart Wallace rose to the occasion. He irritated San Antonio’s top-notch guard trio like a pesky bee that just won’t quit buzzing around your ears and nailed big-time 3-point shots on the other end of the floor. Talk about rising to the occasion. The Thunder would be ecstatic if this is the sort of play they’ll get on a nightly basis as he moves into the starting lineup full time.

No. 86 Draymond Green

• Team: Golden State Warriors
• Position: Forward
• Age: 36
• 2025-26 stats: 8.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 apg

The brilliance of Green’s game will go unrecognized when he doesn’t have other great players around him, which was the case most of last year after Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler went down. When the team is healthy, however, Green is still the hub of Golden State’s offense and the anchor of its defense. If the Warriors exceed expectations, Green will play a big part in that.

No. 85 Isaiah Hartenstein

• Team: Oklahoma City Thunder  
• Position: Center
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 9.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.5 apg

Like many Thunder players, Hartenstein sacrifices eye-popping offensive numbers for the greater good of the team. He’s a smart, physical presence who anchors the Oklahoma City defense with savvy positional defense and rebounding. He’s the sort of big who can guard Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić. If it isn’t immediately clear, those are two extremely different and extremely challenging defensive assignments that he does well with. 

No. 84 Dyson Daniels

• Team: Atlanta Hawks 
• Position: Guard 
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.9 apg

Daniels’ defensive prowess, at this point, is undeniable. There’s a reason he’s been a member of an All-Defensive Team in each of the last two years. The problem for the young player is his alarming tendency to be an offensive zero, especially in a playoff setting. So far in his career, Daniels has been the kind of woeful 3-point shooter who opposing teams leave open to focus more on actual threats. If Daniels doesn’t fix this glaring flaw, his elite defense will continue being canceled out.

No. 83 Andrew Nembhard

• Team: Indiana Pacers 
• Position: Guard 
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 16.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 7.7 apg

Maybe everyone forgot about the Pacers while Tyrese Haliburton was recovering from his torn Achilles tendon. But averaging career-highs of 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game last season while in the starting lineup, it was obvious that Nembhard is undoubtedly actually a very good player. He was also integral to their success during Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals in 2025.

No. 82 AJ Dybantsa

• Team: Washington Wizards
• Position: Forward
• Age: 19
• 2025-26 stats: Rookie

In his lone season at BYU, Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points on 51 percent from the field, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Bottomline, he’s a dynamic young player. With Washington, the No. 1 overall pick also finds himself in one of the best situations a top rookie could hope for. The presence of all-stars Trae Young and Antony Davis should open the floor for Dybansta to get easy looks, operate in space and learn on the fly.

No. 81 Paul George

• Team: Boston Celtics
• Position: Forward
• Age: 36
• 2025-26 stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg

Now in his 17th NBA season, George begins his tenure with the Celtics, his fifth team, after looking rejuvenated following his return from a suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. He averaged more than 17 points per game while shooting nearly 49% from the field and 39% from 3-point range, then played a pivotal role in Philadelphia's playoff run, including a series victory over Boston. The biggest question remains his durability, as George has averaged fewer than 50 games per season over the past seven years.

No. 80 Naz Reid

• Team: Charlotte Hornets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 27
• 2025-26 stats: 13.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg

One of the NBA’s best long-range shooting big men, Reid is now on a team where that skill can really shine. The Hornets attempted the NBA’s second-most threes per game last season. He should also have a chance to expand his game in other areas in what’s expected to be his first season as a starter.

No. 79 VJ Edgecombe

• Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg

Edgecombe made a strong first impression in Philadelphia, averaging more minutes per game than any rookie in the league last season. His role, however, could look much different after the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. With opposing defenses focused on the Sixers' star-studded core, Edgecombe's development as a playmaker and spot-up shooter could unlock bigger lineups and help turn him into one of the league's most valuable X-factors.

No. 78 Dillon Brooks

• Team: Phoenix Suns
• Position: Guard
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.8 apg

He was known as a villain, but Brooks had a breakout offensive campaign last season, his first with the Suns. His career-high scoring average jumped 6.2 points per game over the previous season. He still is that pest that easily goads opponents into emotional mistakes – already Pistons forward John Collins grabbed Brooks by the throat just minutes into their preseason opener – but now there’s more offense behind that persona.

No. 77 Alex Caruso

• Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
• Position: Guard 
• Age: 32
• 2025-26 stats: 6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg

Caruso’s impact and value cannot be measured by what he does in the regular season alone. He is the sort of defender who can single-handedly break an offense with his capacity for controlled chaos, and the sort of offensive player unafraid of taking the big shot at the most important time. He’s one of the NBA’s best lead-by-example guys and the definition of a 16-game player. 

No. 76 Walker Kessler

• Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Position: Center
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 14.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg

Walker Kessler could be ranked higher but after only appearing in five games last season with a torn labrum, we're being cautious here. Nevertheless, do not sleep on Kessler's talent. The 7-foot-2 now plays alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, which should open his game more. He’s the last line of defense that the Lakers will lean on as a career 2.4 blocks per game, type of guy.

No. 75 Ja Morant

• Team: Portland Trail Blazers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 27
• 2025-26 stats: 19.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 8.1 apg

Morant is getting a fresh start in Portland after emerging as one of the NBA's most electrifying young stars in Memphis, and his playmaking should add a new dimension to the Trail Blazers' crunch-time lineups late in games. But he's also joining a crowded backcourt and must prove he can stay healthy and available. Morant has played just 79 of a possible 246 regular-season games over the past three years. If he can stay on the court, Morant still has the talent to be an offensive force in the league.

No. 74 Josh Hart

• Team: New York Knicks
• Position: Guard
• Age: 31
• 2025-26 stats: 12.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.8 apg

In order to secure an NBA championship, a team needs a versatile player who is able to contribute to winning in a variety of ways. That’s exactly what Josh Hart is on the court, helping with utility like a Swiss Army Knife. His game isn’t the flashiest and won’t show up in as many of the highlight reels, but simply put, New York wouldn’t have a banner or rings without Hart. A big concern for Hart is his injured right finger and lack of contract extension with the Knicks, but the 31-year-old should still make his impact known next season.

No. 73 Brandon Ingram

• Team:Los Angeles Clippers
• Position: Forward
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 21.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.7 apg

Ingram is back in Los Angeles, this time playing for the other LA team. Ingram has a certain smoothness to his game. He controls the ball at his own pace and plays to his own tempo as he gets to his go-to spots on the floor. However, the Clippers will be without him to start the season as he recovers from right foot surgery.

No. 72 Norman Powell

• Team: Chicago Bulls
• Position: Guard
• Age: 33
• 2025-26 stats: 21.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg

Both with the Los Angeles Clippers and then Miami Heat, veteran shooter Norman Powell averaged at least 21.0 points per game. Now with the Chicago Bulls, this ranking is actually surprisingly low for someone who was named a 2026 NBA All-Star. Powell has shot just a notch below 40.0 percent during his 11-year career in the pros, and he should provide some firepower as an elite offensive player to a roster that needs it desperately.

No. 71 Ivica Zubac

• Team: Indiana Pacers
• Position: Center
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 14.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg

Zubac was a defensive stalwart, earning a spot on the Second-team All-Defense largely for his work with the Clippers before a midseason trade. He will be a big help to a Pacers team that gave up 120 points per game, allowed nearly 49% shooting, and ranked near the bottom of the league in rebounding.

No. 70 Tyler Herro

• Team: Milwaukee Bucks
• Position: Guard
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 20.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.1 apg

Herro is playing for his hometown team after being dealt from Miami to Milwaukee as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo mega trade. Now, he gets to be the man, the No. 1 option on a team built around him. It’s scary hours. Herro only appeared in 33 games last season, so expect him to be energized and ready to prove himself after the breakup with the Heat.

No. 69 Damian Lillard

• Team: Portland Trail Blazers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 36
• 2025-26 stats: Did not play

At his best, Lillard is a sharpshooter whose long-range ability forces defenses up, opening the lane for him to also get tough buckets at the rim. That’s why I feel good about his ability to bounce back from Achilles surgery. Less dependent on youthful athleticism as some of the other guards of his era, Lillard’s gifted shooting is still there, as he’s displayed all offseason.

No. 68 Jimmy Butler

• Team: Golden State Warriors
• Position: Forward
• Age: 37
• 2025-26 stats: 20.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg

When Butler is right, he’s a top-25 player in the NBA and the sidekick Golden State desperately needs for Steph Curry. Through 38 games last season, he averaged those 20 points on 52/37/86 splits and also gave them 1.4 steals per game. The only question is when he’ll return and how much he’ll have left coming off an ACL injury at his age.

No. 67 Keyonte George

• Team: Utah Jazz
• Position: Guard
• Age: 22
• 2025-26 stats: 23.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.1 apg

George broke out in a big way last season, setting career highs in nearly every major offensive category despite another difficult year for the Jazz. Utah is banking on him to be a foundational piece as the franchise looks to emerge from its rebuild and contend in the Western Conference for the first time in five years. It rewarded George with a new five-year, $157.5 million contract this offseason, and his blend of shot-making, playmaking and swagger has him positioned to become the face of the Jazz's resurgence.

No. 66 Josh Giddey

• Team: Chicago Bulls
• Position: Guard
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 17.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 9.1 apg

For some reason, perhaps because the Bulls have struggled to contend, Giddey doesn’t get the publicity he deserves. He’s an offensive engine who is comfortable orchestrating offense for his teammates, made evident by his career-high assist average. His 13 triple-doubles last season were tied with Hawks forward Jalen Johnson for second best in the NBA. Giddey, though, played just 54 games last season.

No. 65 Nickeil Alexander-Walker

• Team: Atlanta Hawks 
• Position: Guard 
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 20.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.7 apg

Alexander-Walker was something of a revelation in his first season in Atlanta. On a Hawks team still figuring out its identity, Alexander-Walker garnered a well-earned Most Improved Player Award as the rare, somewhat older player to do so. As it stands, he’s a dynamite 3-and-D, high-IQ player who is indispensable to the winning formula for any serious team. 

No. 64 Ausar Thompson

• Team: Detroit Pistons 
• Position: Forward 
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 9.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 apg

After helping lead the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, Thompson finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The advanced analytics loved his impact, too. Thompson ranked behind only Victor Wembanyama in the all-in-one metric defensive estimated plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com. He fell this far in the rankings because his offensive game is not there yet, though at just 23 years, there is plenty of time for that development.

No. 63 Payton Pritchard

• Team: Boston Celtics
• Position: Guard
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.2 apg

Pritchard was allowed to spread his wings in his first season as a starter last year, and results for the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year were better than anyone could have expected. If everything the analytics people say about Jaylen Brown not maximizing his teammates is true, Pritchard should be even better with Brown out and Jayson Tatum stepping in as the lead man.

No. 62 Jarrett Allen

• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Position: Center
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 15.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 apg

Allen continued to be a key piece of Cleveland's success last season, thriving alongside James Harden after the Cavaliers acquired the former MVP. Allen averaged 18.5 points and 9.6 rebounds after the trade deadline and delivered several big performances during Cleveland's run to the Eastern Conference finals. His contributions often fly under the radar, but the Cavaliers have consistently been at their best with the veteran center anchoring the paint.

No. 61 Aaron Gordon

• Team: Denver Nuggets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 31
• 2025-26 stats: 16.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 apg

When he’s healthy, the do-it-all Gordon remains the skeleton key who unlocks the Nuggets as a bona fide championship contender. That’s the issue. Soft-tissue injuries have limited Gordon to just 75 total regular-season games over the last two years and have ended his postseasons, too. If the Nuggets can better manage Gordon’s workload moving forward, they’ll finally have one of the league’s premier role players available more often to set their table.

No. 60 Michael Porter Jr.

• Team: Brooklyn Nets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 24.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.4 3PM

Michael Porter Jr. is a stat sheet stuffer and one of the best pure scorers in the league. His offensive talent overwhelmingly makes up for defensive deficiencies. He plays with confidence that can’t be taught. He stands at 6-foot-10, has a high vertical on his jump shot and releases at a high arc, making it almost impossible to defend his shot.

No. 59 Domantas Sabonis

• Team: Sacramento Kings
• Position: Forward
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 15.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.1 apg

Sabonis only played in 19 games last season. But when he played 70 games in 2024, he was the same triple-double threat you remember, and he shot the three at a career-high 41.7 percent. With better health, there’s no reason to believe he can’t still be that same player.

No. 58 Mikal Bridges

• Team: New York Knicks
• Position: Forward
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 14.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.7 apg

Though he did go through a slump late in the season, Bridges absolutely erupted for the Knicks in the playoffs and, at one point, seemingly could not miss. His offensive game is measured, and he plays a secondary role there, but he’s a force on defense, particularly in high-leverage situations, when his length can be a big problem. The other thing about Bridges: he’s always on the floor. Bridges has never missed a game in his pro career, playing in 638 consecutive contests, which is eighth-most all-time.

No. 57 Brandon Miller

• Team: Charlotte Hornets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg

Now that LaMelo Ball is gone, Miller figures to have a far bigger workload coming up this season. The one thing preventing him from really ascending up this list is inconsistency and spurts of inefficient shooting; across his 65 games last season, five of those saw him score 7 points or fewer. Yet, in a four-game stretch to close out January, he averaged 26.3 points per game.

No. 56 Jaden McDaniels

• Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Position: Forward
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 14.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.7 apg

He averaged career-highs in points and assists, but it wasn’t until the playoffs, when Minnesota had to face stretches without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, that McDaniels showed out. He averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in the postseason and blossomed into a more consistent offensive threat. As always, his defense has been stellar, but it was his jump in efficiency from 3-point range – from 33% in 2025-26 to a career-high 41.2% last season – that has him on the verge of cracking the Top 50.

No. 55 Julius Randle 

• Team: Brooklyn Nets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 31
• 2025-26 stats: 21.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.0 apg

Randle has been underappreciated at every stop of his career, so far. The Lakers never let him spread his wings. The Pelicans gave up on him after a single season. The Knicks thought he was a ball-stopping black hole. The Timberwolves thought trading him was a necessary evil to level up. Let’s make this clear. Randle has been one of the NBA’s best true bully-ball power forwards for a long time, and that won’t change in Brooklyn.

No. 54 Desmond Bane

• Team: Orlando Magic
• Position: Guard
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.1 apg

Bane was one of only two players on this Top 100 list to play in all 82 games last season. After a slow start following the trade from Memphis, Bane settled into his usual form, averaging more than 20 points per game while shooting better than 39% from 3-point range. He’s one of the league’s most reliable high-volume perimeter shooters at this point and should be more effective as he enters his second season alongside the Magic's core.

No. 53 Darius Garland

• Team: Los Angeles Clippers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 18.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 6.7 apg

The Clippers don’t have nearly as much talent on their roster this year compared to what they had last season. But they also don’t have an incentive to tank with their pick already owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. So with every incentive to win, expect them to play through their most experienced and talented player on the roster: Darius Garland. Maybe he isn’t going to play the most meaningful minutes of his career for a contender like he did with the Cavaliers, but with his responsibilities and offensive load on the Clippers, he’ll make the most of it.

No. 52 Trey Murphy III

• Team: New Orleans Pelicans
• Position: Forward
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 21.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 3PM

Murphy has quietly emerged as one of the go-to options for the Pelicans. He’s proved to be a player who can shoot the 3-ball with consistency. His wingspan, length and use of hands give him an advantage defensively as he averaged 1.5 steals per game last season.

No. 51 Kon Knueppel

• Team: Charlotte Hornets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 21
• 2025-26 stats: 18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg

After finishing second in the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year voting behind his collegiate teammate Cooper Flagg, it became increasingly obvious that Knueppel has a long professional career in front of him. Last season, he set the NBA record for the most 3-pointers made for a first-year player. He also led the league in 3-pointers. This season, Knueppel could step into an even bigger role in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball now on the Timberwolves. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA top 100 players for 2026-27 season: Our rankings from 100 to 51

The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets took their Texas rivalry on the road to Asia for some preseason games, and one of the highlights was the return of Kyrie Irving.

Irving missed 586 days after blowing out the ACL in his left knee, and he’s now 34, which means that his playing days are mostly behind him.

He’s got a fair amount left in the tank, though, and watching Irving and Flagg team up with Dereck Lively, as soon as he’s good to go, will be a lot of fun.

In Irving’s return Sunday, the former Duke star scored 17 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and shelled out 3 assists. For his part, Flagg finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.

To borrow from Casablanca, this could be the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

• Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving Speaks After Preseason Return From Injury
• Kyrie Irving on why major injuries no longer end careers: “They’re not seen the same anymore”
• Kyrie Irving Reveals Bigger Purpose Behind His Mavericks Return
• “Kyrie Irving Is Back. Spread the Word”: Fans Elated as Mavs Superstar Lights Up China In First Game Back From ACL Injury
• Kyrie Irving Refuses to Compare Cooper Flagg to Kevin Durant and LeBron James but Highlights One Key Similarity
• Kyrie Irving Opens Up About Pressure Facing Cooper Flagg
• Kyrie Irving Gets Candid About His NBA Retirement Plans And How He Wants To End His Career
• Mavs’ Kyrie Irving electrifies Macao with emotional return, glimpse at Cooper Flagg connection
• Irving Compares Rookie Flagg to LeBron James
• Cooper Flagg discusses representing Team USA in 2027 FIBA World Cup

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Being a coach means understanding how to get the most out of your players. For Kenny Atkinson and the Cleveland Cavaliers, no player’s development has been more important than Evan Mobley’s.

Drafted in 2021, Mobley was a lottery ticket for the future. Five seasons later, his development has largely come secondary to prioritizing Donovan Mitchell’s prime. The Cavs have tried to blend both timelines, bringing Mobley along while staying all-in on Mitchell’s timeline.

This has further complicated an already challenging question: How do you get the most out of a player?

What’s the balance between pushing someone outside of their comfort zone without losing the big picture of who they are at their core? And how does that fit into the broader team system?

Cleveland has been trying to figure that out for years — and Atkinson thinks he might have solved it.

“Threading the needle,” Kenny Atkinson said. “We’ve been on different planes of that scale with Mobley, you know, we’ve pushed it, we’ve pulled it back… I feel like he’s in a good place now; I have a much better grip on how he can be successful on both ends of the floor for us.”

Most players in Mobley’s position spend the first few years of their career racking up usage on uncompetitive teams. You can learn a lot by throwing someone into the fire. But Mobley and his coaching staff haven’t had that opportunity while trying to compete in the playoffs.

Everyone is learning on the fly.

Sometimes Mobley is bringing the ball up the floor and running inverted pick-and-rolls. Other times, he’s isolated in the corner as a proto-floor spacer. In his most refined role, he sits in the dunker spot and waits for someone to throw him a lob.

Mobley has tried on all of these hats to varying success. He’s a great play-finisher, but a sketchy three-point shooter. He can create advantages when using screens, but Mobley isn’t a skilled one-on-one creator. All of this has been slowly uncovered by Atkinson’s experiments.

“We’ve dialed back to [Mobley] getting it in the flow [of the offense],” said Atkinson. “Lean into the creativity a little bit more, especially the inverted pick-and-rolls; he’s going to get iso moments… but that’s not the main menu right now.

A bit of usage here. An adjustment there. Atkinson feels he has the temperature just right entering the season, with a vision for how Mobley can continue to develop.

“One of our assistants talked about how Kevin Garnett got his offense,” said Atkinson. “He could get to a spot and just run, raise up and shoot over guys. I like that prototype…, but as I said, [Mobley’s] 24 years old, I’m continuing to find a full package.”

This past Thursday and Saturday, the Spurs played in their first preseason games of the 2026-2027 season. In addition to their fourteen rostered players and three two-contracts, the Spurs hosted five invitees to training camp. The eldest to join in is Jon Elmore. This week, Elmore got the first NBA minutes of his career. Normally, this sort of event does not warrant a mention. But in Elmore’s case, the opportunity to hit the NBA hardwood has been a long time coming. Jon Elmore is thirty-years-old, making him the fourth oldest player on the roster behind Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, and Luke Kornet.

The addition of Elmore to the Spurs roster is considerable progress on a career that has seen the 6’3” guard spend time in Europe as well as the G-League. In 2025, he won a G-League Championship with the Stockton Kings.

The Charleston, West Virginia native made waves as a high school player clinching 2014’s West Virginia Mr. Basketball. He attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia where he led the Thundering Herd to their first Conference USA tournament championship where he was named MVP of the tournament. The following year, he scored his 2,000th point. Later that season, he became the first player in NCAA Division I history to have over 2,500 points and over 750 assists.

After going undrafted in 2019, Elmore joined the Boston Celtics in Summer League before signing on to play in Italy. He then spent three years moving around overseas before returning to the states. He started his G-League career with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the affiliate of the Miami Heat. After four seasons on three different teams and a brief stint in Canada, Elmore landed in San Antonio for a taste of big league preseason.

Elmore, along with the other camp invites, have had little opportunity to showcase their talent, mostly relegated to the final moments of the fourth quarters thus far. That said, any exposure could enhance his visibility throughout the league and help him find a home before the regular season tips off.

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