Category: Basketball

Jayden Quaintance and injuries have unfortunately gone hand in hand in recent years. Now, Quaintance is coming off a successful surgery to clean up his right knee, and is a little over a year removed from his ACL surgery.

The San Antonio Spurs announced the positive news on Wednesday.

Quaintance went through extensive rehab before, during, and after his commitment to Kentucky Basketball. Big Blue Nation knows all too well about the process to get him back last year, with the highly anticipated superstar going through a ton to get back.

Now, in the NBA, he is still going through some difficulties in getting back to game-ready. The Spurs drafted Quaintance No. 20 overall, and they knew that with that pick, another surgery would come in the near future. The Spurs, of anyone, could afford that, though. The Spurs are coming off a year in which they reached the NBA Finals, and have a super young team overall.

When Quaintance was drafted, Spurs fans who didn’t know him or his story were extremely excited about the selection after seeing the highlights. When Quaintance is healthy and honestly just playing on the court, he makes an unbelievable impact on the game.

Back in high school, Quaintance was a 5-star prospect and one of the best defensive prospects we had seen in recent years. Then, in college, his game translated right away. At Arizona State, he averaged 9.4 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game and 3.7 stocks (steals and blocks) per game. The end of his freshman season at Arizona State and his year at Kentucky have been riddled with injuries, setting him back.

Sadly, more rehab is in store for Quaintance, but as I mentioned before, there’s not a ton of weight on his shoulders of expectations for him to come in and save an organization or anything like that.

Best wishes to Quaintance as we hope for a speedy recovery.

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The world, and Northeast Ohio, in particular, is still waiting for LeBron James to decide which NBA team he wants to play for next season. Fans were hopeful that an announcement would come today during James’ live recording of his Mind the Game podcast.

But no such decision was made.

James almost immediately dispelled the idea that he’d be announcing the next chapter of his career. Telling Indiana Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton not to even ask.

Mind the Game previously announced they would be holding a live recording during the Fanatics festival in New York City. Some fans assumed that would come with a live stream of the show. They were wrong, as the episode is only being taped in front of a live audience and will be released on YouTube later.

We were all pump-faked not once, but twice.

Cavs fans aren’t alone in their wait. Patience has been key as numerous teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and even the Minnesota Timberwolves, cling to hope that the King will come to their city.

James is still talented enough to warrant this level of attention. He might be the oldest player in the league, but he was playing at an All-Star level last season and is more available than many of his younger peers. Teams naturally view James as someone who can put them over the top.

Still, we all wait for something concrete to be reported. We’ve followed his trips to various golf courses. We’ve listened to local bakers and hair salons. It’s all led nowhere. James is keeping the cards close to his chest — and we aren’t even entirely sure he has made a decision up to this point.

James is also scheduled for an appearance on CNBC later today. Rich Paul will be joining him. Perhaps we get our long-awaited decision during that broadcast? Only time will tell.

Reports emerged on July 10 that former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro got involved in a physical altercation at a gym inside the Resorts World Casino in Las Vegas.

After Herro, who was recently traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, allegedly sent some DMs criticizing Adebayo's play and salary. The DMs were leaked, and Adebayo was unhappy. Adebayo reportedly confronted Herro in front of Herro's AAU team and punched him.

Such an action would normally result in consequences. However, on Thursday, July 16, the NBA announced that it would not be taking action against Adebayo for the conflict.

NBA spokesperson on Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro incident: "After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league." https://t.co/S1xcPRvKWB

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2026

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, a league spokesperson said the league believes it best to simply "move on from this unfortunate circumstance."

The decision has some fans puzzled, considering other players have been hit with much harsher penalties for less. Here's what we know.

A fan pulled up next to Steve Kerr's black SUV at a stoplight on Wednesday. After a quick exchange of pleasantries, the fan had one question for the Golden State Warriors head coach:

"When you gonna get LeBron, man?"

Kerr didn't hesitate.

"Oh, we got him," he replied immediately. "Put that on Twitter."

The nine-time NBA champion looked back at the car next to him through his sunglasses and let out a big laugh with them before pulling off.

Now, it should be made clear here that Kerr was probably joking, or at the very least made the comment in good fun to a question that he's likely been getting a lot these days. The entire NBA world, from fans to players and coaches to front office executives, is waiting with bated breath to see where exactly LeBron James will be playing his historic 24th season. According to multiple reports, the league's all-time leading scorer has all the information he needs from the teams he's considering and is now weighing his options, so a decision appears to be inching closer.

Yall believe him? 🤣

Via https://t.co/vT0FatxWRspic.twitter.com/T46jlZk6Wm

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) July 15, 2026

Until then, however, all basketball discourse is stuck in a wash cycle.

The teams James has been linked to include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and of course, the Warriors, who have emerged alongside the Cavs as betting favorites to sign James in recent weeks. It's an intriguing pairing as it would unite the 41-year-old James with a 38-year-old Steph Curry, once his biggest on-court rival when the two battled in the NBA Finals for four straight summers from 2015-2018.

At the American Century Championship golf event in Nevada on July 9, Curry shot his shot.

"The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, our competitiveness this year," he said. "There’s good golf in the Bay.” 

Golden State wants to get Curry one last real push for a fifth ring and with limited options, James represents their best chance. It just so happens that James has the same goal.

Therefore, a partnership with Curry not only makes sense, but also represents a last stand of sorts for the NBA's old guard before they age out and make way for the next wave of talent.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We got him': Steve Kerr's viral roadside comment on LeBron James

The NBA is looking into the free agent deal signed by Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr., according to multiple media reports.

Trent Jr. signed a four-year, $64 million free agent deal to return to the Bucks. It is not known why the league is conducting the probe, but if it is looking into any signed contract, it is most likely due to issues related to salary cap circumvention. The league is currently looking into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for their alleged salary cap circumvention.

The last time the NBA punished a team for toying around with the cap was in 2000, when the Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million and forfeited five first-round draft picks after signing forward Joe Smith to a secret deal. Smith's Bird rights were stripped, making him a free agent, and the league suspended owner Glen Taylor.

The Lakers have added a wing to their team by reportedly signing Ziaire Williams, but they continue to look for more depth at the position.

Jonathan Kuminga has been linked to them for weeks now, but he remains a free agent. With the summer continuing and a need for more wings remaining, the Lakers are now also reportedly interested in Matisse Thybulle.

As a defensive-minded wing, Thybulle would be a good pickup for the Lakers. As currently constructed, LA’s perimeter defense appears to be a weakness, and Thybulle can help address it. He has made All-Defensive Second Team twice in his career and remains a solid defender.

Last year Thybulle put up modest numbers with the Blazers. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, so don’t expect massive production from him if he joins the purple and gold.

However, he is a pretty good outside shooter. Thybulle shot 39.8% from 3-point range last season. And on a Luka Dončić-led team, having a defensive wing who can knock down open threes is ideal.

It’s good that the Lakers aren’t just locked in on Kuminga. He’s likely the best wing option available, but he’s unrestricted and could end up elsewhere.

So, LA has to keep options open. The top priority has to be adding a player to the wing position. If that happens to be Thybulle, that would be a solid pickup. He is a good perimeter defender and can spread out the defense due to his threat as a shooter.

Whether it’s Thybulle, Kuminga, or another player, it seems pretty clear the Lakers are continuing to search for more wing options.

This deep into the offseason, things might move a bit slower in free agency. Certain big names are still out there and players looking at smaller deals don’t have to rush to sign.

So, don’t be surprised if it takes some time for the Lakers to add a wing. At this point, though, it seems most likely that they will add one to the main roster before training camp begins sometime in September.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Jack Kayil has impressed the Knicks with his play in Summer League. 

The rookie had 19 points, three steals and four assists earlier this week against the Pistons. Kayil added 12 points and three assists in his Summer League debut last week against San Antonio. 

Not bad for a 19-year-old taken with the 39th pick in the NBA Draft. 

If you’re watching these games, you may be surprised by Kayil’s play so far. But those who have followed him closely overseas are not.  

“With him, it’s always basketball. He has a conviction and commitment on trying to be the best possible player he can be,” said Himar Ojeda, the sporting director for Kayil’s team in Germany, Alba Berlin. “He put a lot of effort in trying to take care of himself physically, mentally – sometimes even too much for a young kid. …you know, he’s 19 and he acts like a veteran in certain routines. But that's why he's been successful.” 

The Knicks obviously thought highly enough of Kayil to select him in the second round of the draft. Both Kayil and fellow rookie Tyler Nickel have impressed team personnel in Las Vegas. 

If their early play in Vegas is an indication, both players could have a future with the Knicks. New York needs to find young players and sign them to team-friendly contracts in order to navigate the NBA’s second apron rules. It would be an organizational win if both Nickel and Kayil play their way on to New York’s NBA roster. 

It’s only Summer League, but it seems as if the Knicks have found two promising young players in Nickel and Kayil. Can they earn a spot on the 2026-27 roster?

New York is currently $3.3 million below the second apron with 13 players and with room for one more minimum. Owner James Dolan said in June that the team would not exceed the NBA’s second apron in team salary. 

New York still needs a third center. If the club signs a center to a veteran’s minimum contract, New York would not have enough room under the second apron to sign either Nickel or Kayil to a contract via the second round exception.

Entering free agency, the plan for Kayil was to spend next season with his overseas club. The Knicks can obviously alter those plans by offering him an NBA contract, but as noted above, they are limited by the second apron.

New York could offer Kayil or Nickel a two-way contract for next season. But in this scenario, New York would be prohibited from paying Kayil’s buyout from his German club. The buyout has to be executed between the player and his overseas team. The Knicks can offer Nickel a two-way contract without this limitation.

In the two-way scenario, the Knicks could convert either Kayil or Nickel to a standard contract once the pro-rated amount fits under the second apron.

Whatever happens from here, it’s safe to assume that both Nickel and Kayil will have an opportunity to play for the Knicks in the near future. For Kayil, the only question is whether he is with New York in 2026-27 or in a subsequent season.

Whenever Kayil gets his chance, the guard will come to New York with some qualities that are precursors to NBA success.

“He can play defense and he can shoot the ball. Normally, for a point guard, it limits you if you don’t have these capacities and he definitely has them,” Ojeda, who previously served as Director of International Scouting for the Atlanta Hawks, says. “He's also mature in the sense that he has been a clutch player for us this season (in Kayil’s first year in the Bundesliga, the most senior league in Germany). He’s the one that wants to have the ball in his hands and he's not afraid to take the last shot.”

Case in point: Kayil struggled early in the do-or-die Game 5 of Alba Berlin’s championship series against traditional powerhouse Bayern Munich. But he wasn’t scared to have the ball in his hands late – and he delivered. Kayil scored 10 crucial points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter as Alba Berlin came back from down 20 points at halftime to win.

Ojeda, who has known Kayil since he was "a little kid," was impressed by Kayil’s mentality late in games.

“I've known him since he's very, very young, but this is still something that surprises me. So yeah, this is Jack Kayil,” Ojeda says. “It shows that he’s a competitor and (has) a brave mentality.

“Here, every game counts. It’s not like you can try three, four times to take the last shot (and miss the shot while expecting another opportunity). No, no. We need to win the games. Of course, maybe (you miss a big shot) one time. But it’s not as if you can take that shot three times and miss.

“So when he came back and still wanted to redeem himself and he (played well in the fourth quarter of the decisive championship game), that was a big thing.”

Kayil’s mentality was probably one of the qualities that kept him on New York’s radar ahead of the draft. If things continue to go well, it will be one of the reasons Kayil earns a bigger opportunity with the Knicks.

The King is looking for a new home court.

Following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in June, LeBron James reportedly has all the information he needs from teams and is now weighing his options, according to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes.

A free agency decision now appears to be imminent. The favorites to land the 41-year-old's services include familiar names like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, but don't count out the possibility of James closing his career with a new team such as the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets.

As the NBA world waits for James to announce where he will write the closing chapter on his storybook career, here's the latest we're hearing on where things stand on The Decision 3.0:

New York City will be the host to this weekend's Fanatics Fest, which will bring some of the world's biggest names in sports and entertainment to the Big Apple.

Billed as the world's No. 1 fan festival, the Fanatics Fest will take place from Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in midtown Manhattan and will also feature the second annual Fanatics Games, in which 50 fans compete alongside celebrities for a share of a $2 million prize pool.

Most of the athletes appearing at the Fanatics Fest are already in town as the annual ESPY awards show took place at Lincoln Center on July 15. Other talent scheduled to appear include Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Jay-Z, Shaquille O'Neal and members of the NBA champion New York Knicks.

Boswell is starting to ball.

After three straight games coming off the bench, Kylan Boswell earned his first start in the NBA Summer League. The former Illini has continued to improve throughout the summer.

Boswell finished the game with 11 points on 4-7 shooting and went 3-5 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, despite being 6-foot-1. Boswell was the second-leading rebounder in the game.

After playing 14 minutes and not scoring in his first game, Boswell has been a reliable bench piece for the Hornets. In the next game, he had 8 points, 4 boards and 7 assists in 15 minutes, while shooting a perfect 3-3. The following game, Boswell had 4 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 11 minutes, making two of his three shots.

There’s one more scheduled game for the Hornets Summer League squad. Boswell will likely start the season with the G-League affiliate, as he’s on a two-way contract.

Players, especially when entering free agency, want to be wanted.

The Lakers made it clear how badly they wanted Walker Kessler this offseason by executing an all-in trade to acquire Kessler, sending out multiple first-round picks and giving him a four-year, $130 million deal.

In a piece by Khobi Price in the California Post, Kessler expressed his appreciation for the Lakers’ investment in him and his desire to play for the franchise.

“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said on Monday during his first media availability since joining the Lakers. “And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.”

Kessler has the backing not only of the Lakers but also of their franchise player, Luka Dončić. He reportedly wanted the Lakers to pursue Kessler and is happy with the offseason moves.

But how good the summer of optionality for the Lakers is viewed will largely depend on Kessler’s play. He is the marquee piece, so he’ll have the attention and pressure that comes with it.

Kessler’s “run through a brick wall” attitude should be music to Lakers fans’ ears. Pressure can create diamonds or bust pipes and Kessler seems ready to shine in LA. He is now healthy after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury, so he should be available and working alongside his new teammates once training camp begins.

He might’ve had an inkling the Lakers liked him, given the rumors linking him to the franchise, but now, Kessler knows unequivocally that the Lakers believe in him. They spent a ton of money and their most valuable assets to acquire him. Now it’s up to him to prove he was worth it.

So far, it sounds like he can’t wait to do that this fall.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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There's no shortage of NBA Summer League action today, with seven games in Las Vegas, but there might be a lack of competitive matchups due to depth advantages.

Three of the deepest teams in Sin City — including the Golden State Warriors — take the court today and headline our NBA Summer League picks for Thursday, July 16. 

NBA Summer League predictions for July 16

Pick
Warriors moneyline	-233
Hawks moneyline	-156
Raptors moneyline	-127
💰 All three parlayed	+319

Today's Summer League picks

Warriors moneyline (-233 at Kalshi)

Backing the Golden State Warriors tonight is as much about believing in their depth as it is about not believing in this New York Knicks NBA Summer League roster. 

The defending champions have been among the worst teams in Vegas, averaging just 66.7 PPG and shooting 32.4% from the floor. With a lineup that has few NBA-rosterable players, New York's lack of offense should continue against Golden State.

The Warriors are putting up 96.7 PPG and shooting 37.6% from behind the arc due in large part to a lineup that includes lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg (50 points in 81 minutes) and last year's undrafted breakout player, LJ Cryer (42 points in 74 minutes).

Golden State also has depth with players like Graham Ike, Will Richard, Lajae Jones, Chance McMillian, Lachlan Olbrich, and Nick Boyd. 

Hawks moneyline (-156 at Kalshi)

No team has been better than the Atlanta Hawks in Las Vegas. Atlanta is one of two undefeated teams and leads Summer League behind a lineup that includes a mix of rookie talent and players with NBA experience.

Rookie Kingston Flemings, the eighth overall pick, has been a strong facilitator for the offense, averaging the third-most APG (6.5) in Las Vegas and helping Atlanta average the most APG as a team (23.0).

It's not just Flemings, though, with Kobe Johnson (58 points in 61 minutes), Henri Veesaar (40 points in 59 minutes), Zuby Ejiofor (25 points in 51 minutes), and Asa Newell (19 points in 48 minutes) all shining as scorers. 

As for the Memphis Grizzlies, their defense has been iffy, allowing 92.3 PPG to opponents on 47.8% shooting. And it wouldn't be a surprise if Cameron Boozer sees only limited minutes tonight.

Raptors moneyline (-127 at Kalshi)

The Toronto Raptors have lost just once in Las Vegas, and it came in overtime to a strong Boston Celtics Summer League roster. Beyond that, they've looked like one of the best teams because of a deep, well-rounded lineup.

The Raptors are the only team in Summer League averaging at least 42 rebounds and 20 assists per game, and they're one of only five teams averaging at least seven steals and seven blocks per game.

Rookies Allen Graves (44 points, 21 rebounds, 10 combined steals and blocks) and Nate Bittle (26 points, 20 rebounds, eight blocks) have been forces on both ends, while veterans Seth Lundy (61 points in 81 minutes) and Tyreke Key (41 points in 54 minutes) have shot the lights out.

The Miami Heat don't have that same depth and lack rookie talent due in part to the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.

Thursday’s NBA Summer League parlay

Warriors moneyline

Hawks moneyline

Raptors moneyline

+319 at Kalshi

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

NBA champion Landry Shamet is having the summer of a lifetime.

The Knicks shooting guard and girlfriend Cameron Aimonetti, a real estate agent, announced their engagement with two joint posts on Instagram on Tuesday.

Shamet popped the question on a boat trip in Lake Como, Italy.

View this post on Instagram

The post revealing the engagement featured a carousel of photos of the happy couple drinking wine, swimming and getting cozy on the boat.

There is even a photo of Shamet looking behind him and pointing at Aimonetti’s ring while driving the boat.

The official announcement confirmed swirling rumors after The Post obtained photos of the couple in Italy where a diamond ring was visible on Aimonetti’s left ring finger.

The couple have been together since at least September 2024, and have been pictured together dating back to July 2019 at the ESPYs.

Several of Shamet’s Knicks teammates and their significant others congratulated the two on the engagement in the post’s comments, including Jordan Clarkson, Ali Brunson, Josh and Shannon Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns’s fiancé Jordyn Woods.

Aimonetti penned a tribute to her now-fiancé after he played a critical role in the Knicks’ first championship since 1973.

View this post on Instagram

“CHAMPION…Nothing (I truly mean nothing) was going to stop you from getting here and seeing this through. The mental strength and discipline it took to reach this moment is hard to put into words…You’ve earned every bit of this. World champion,” she wrote.

Shamet will call the Knicks home for the foreseeable future.

After becoming an NBA champion, Shamet was rewarde with a new four-year, $24 million contract, meaning one of the Knicks’ most reliable shooters off the bench will be back to defend the title.

Shamet’s biggest impact came during the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers, where he shot 11-of-12 from beyond the arc en route to a sweep.

His game-tying 3-pointer in Game 1 provided one of the team’s top postseason moments.