It's just two games, but LeBron James looks comfortable in a Philadelphia uniform. He's playing a facilitator role and has averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and six assists a game, and the team is 2-0, having beaten each of last season's Eastern Conference Finalists.
The second of those wins, a 29-point comeback to knock off Cleveland, pitted LeBron and the 76ers against a team many around the league expected him to choose this summer, the Cavaliers. LeBron said he seriously considered it, as Tony Jones at The Athletic reported.
"The nature of the meeting, I probably won't discuss much," James said on Thursday night. "But it was in consideration for sure. I mean, obviously, as a team trying to build towards a championship and things of that nature, I was trying to decide where I wanted to go with the rest of my career, to finish my career, or the next step. So, they had a lot of consideration for sure."
LeBron's choice stung a little in Cleveland, something Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson laid out before the teams met, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
"We were anticipating and excited [to land James] and then you have that [news]," Atkinson said pregame when asked about James going to Philadelphia. "Having gone through free agency a lot, when you're expecting something to happen and it doesn't happen, that first day or two, you're just like, you're depressed, quite honestly. That's the emotions of it."
Whether he thought the 76ers were closer to contention, wanted to live in New York (part-time, and commute by helicopter), or for some other reason, LeBron chose Philadelphia and isn't looking back now.
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DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball past Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 09, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Knicks (0-1) at Boston Celtics (0-1) Friday, October 23, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #2 Home Game #1 TV: Prime Video Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics home opener brings the reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks to the TD Garden. This is the first of 4 games between these division rivals this season. They will play at Boston once again on January 13 and then two times at New York on March 14 and April 4. The Celtics were 1-3 against the Knicks last season, winning one game at home. They are 309-193 overall all time and 167-69 all time in games played in Boston.
The biggest story of the Knicks roster is that Mitchell Robinson, who was a key member of last year’s championship team, was signed as a free agent by the Celtics. They also lost Jeremy Sochan to Portland and Ariel Hukporti to Philadelphia. They signed Andre Drummond to replace Robinson as a back up center. They also drafted Tyler Nickel with the 49th pick in the draft.
The swap of Jaylen Brown for Paul George makes the Celtics a very different team from last season. They have Jayson Tatum back after missing most of last season with the torn Achilles. They added Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley as free agents. And they drafted Chris Cenac, Jr and Dillon Mitchell and signed Devin Carter as a 2-Way player.
The Celtics went 4-0 in the preseason, winning with both starters in 2 games and reserves and Exhibit 10 players in 2 others. They beat Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia twice. The Knicks went 0-4 in the preseason, losing to Philadelphia, Washington, Minnesota, and Toronto. Both teams lost their opening night game and are looking for their first win of the season.
After this game, the Celtics will play home games against Chicago, Brooklyn and Chicago again. They will then play at Orlando and Houston and then home against Milwaukee before a road tripp takes them through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington.
The Knicks will host Orlando and Detroit before playing at Chicago and Philadelphia. They then play at home against Brooklyn and Chicago before a game at Cleveland and then back home to host Milwaukee and Cleveland. Then they have a 4 game road trip through Indiana, 2 games at Toronto, and Minnesota. They finish the month with a 5 game home stand against Portland, Indiana, Cleveland, Miami and Atlanta.
The Celtics started White, Walsh, George, Tatum and Mitchell against the Pistons. I have listed the same starters for this game, but I could see Joe switching things up for this game and possibly starting Hauser, Scheierman or Queta in this one. For the Knicks, I expect the Knicks to start Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, and Towns once again.
Both teams are mostly healthy for their second regular season game. The Celtics have only Devin Carter listed as out with an illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. Mitchell Robinson turned his ankle in Tuesday’s game but is expected to be ok to play in this one. The Knicks have no one listed on their injury report.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesJalen Brunson | Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs Mikal Bridges
Jordan Walsh | Getty ImagesMikal Bridges | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs OG Anunoby
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesOG Anunoby | Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesJosh Hart | NBAE via Getty Images
C Mitchell Robinson vs Karl-Anthony Towns
Mitchell Robinson | NBAE via Getty ImagesKarl-Anthony Towns | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Baylor Scheierman Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Knicks Reserves Jose Alvarado Jordan Clarkson Pacome Dadiet Mohamed Diawara Andre Drummond Tyler Kolek Miles McBride Landry Shamet James Wiseman
Key Matchups Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart Hart finished Tuesday’s game with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. He shot 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The Celtics will need to defend him well. On the other side, Hart is a good defender and will look to make it harder for Tatum to score. Tatum needs to have a good game while not forcing things as he looks to come back from a poor showing against the Pistons.
Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson Brunson is key for the Knicks. He finished the first game against the 76ere with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 31.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him especially well because he is capable of having a big game both scoring and distributing. Against the Pistons, Derrick White shot the ball well and hopefully that continues.
Honorable Mention Mitchell Robinson vs Karl-Anthony Towns Assuming that Robinson starts once again, he will likely want to have a big game against his former team. Towns will do his best to keep him from doing so. Against the 76ers, Towns finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks and 1 steal. The Celtics will need to keep him off the boards and out of the paint.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game. In the preseason, the Celtics were tops in the league with a defensive rating of 98.6. In the second half of Tuesday’s game the Celtics allowed the Pistons to score 78 points. The biggest problem in the Celtics collapse against the Pistons was their failure on the defensive end. The Celtics must make defense their priority and the offense will feed off of that.
Rebound – As with defense, rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound. In the preseason, the Celtics were 1st with 55 rebounds per game and 3rd with 16.8 offensive rebounds per game. The Knicks were 25th with 42.4 rebounds per game. Against the Pistons, the Celtics had just 39 rebounds while the Knicks had 53 rebounds against the 76ers. Robinson and Queta are 2 of the best rebounders in the league but they struggled in the first game. They need to get back to what they do best and win the rebounding battle against the Knicks. Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In the first half against the Pistons, the Celtics played hard and stayed focused, taking care of the ball and taking and making good shots. In the second half, the Pistons were the team that played harder and the Celtics lost focus on both ends of the court. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball to get the best shots. The Celtics are much better when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. hopefully this season we will see much less iso ball than in the past. But, they have to be careful with the ball and avoid turnovers. They turned the ball over 14 times against the Pistons. They need to make the extra pass to find the best shot but they also need to stay focused and make careful passes.
X-Factors Home Opener – The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them. The Knicks will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge. If the Knicks had one crack in their armor last season, it was playing on the road. They were just 22-19 on the road last season. The Celtics need to play hard and with focus and take advantage of playing at home.
Mitchell Robinson Revenge Game – After 8 years with the Knicks and helping them win a championship, they allowed him to walk in free agency in order to stay under the tax. Robinson is going to want to show them that they made a mistake and will want to beat his old team. The Knicks, on the other hand, will want to show him that they are fine without him. Hopefully Mitch will play well and not try to do too much.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. Paul George was already fined for a flop in the first game.
The conversation surrounding the NBA, perhaps more than any other North American professional sports league, is usually driven as much by transactions as the games themselves. Trade rumors, contract negotiations and free agency decisions can alter championship races and reshape the landscape of the entire league.
From superstars weighing extensions worth hundreds of millions of dollars to veterans trying to secure one final payday, these seven contract situations could play a major role in determining where some of the NBA's most impactful players play next and how the 2026-27 season unfolds.
It's easy to assume Antetokounmpo's long-term future is settled after the blockbuster trade that sent him from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Heat this offseason. But Antetokounmpo only became contract extension-eligible on Oct. 1, and the size of his contract remains unresolved. He could make significantly more by waiting to come to terms on a new deal with the Heat.
Antetokounmpo, who has a $62.8-million player option for the 2027-28 season on his contract, is currently able to sign a three-year, $194-million extension. That figure jumps to four years, $276-million on Jan. 6, according to ESPN, and five years, $357 million next offseason. Antetokounmpo told reporters last month at Heat media day that he wasn't taking extension questions because "it's too early." There's an expectation throughout the league that the two sides will eventually agree on a long-term extension, but Antetokounmpo had an intriguing response while discussing his future and the move to Miami.
"I want when this chapter is over, if I'm only going to be here a year or two, whatever it's going to be, I want to leave my mark," Antetokounmpo said.
Negotiations between Towns and the Knicks grew increasingly contentious this offseason, and the team paused talks earlier this month after Towns publicly expressed frustration with the process. Whether they can settle those differences carries major implications for how long the Knicks can keep their championship core together after last year's title. Towns is set to make $57 million this season and holds a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. He is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension, though ESPN reported the Knicks' most recent offer was closer to $200 million.
The gap is especially notable since Towns says he's willing to accept less than a max deal to help preserve the roster moving forward. But neither side has been able to agree on a number, and the dispute continues to linger over the franchise.
After arriving in Houston last season, Kevin Durant enters his 20th NBA campaign facing one of the more intriguing contract decisions in the league. The Rockets can offer Durant an extension, but both sides may benefit from waiting to see whether Houston emerges as a legitimate championship contender this season.
Durant has a $46-million player option for the 2027-28 season after a rockier-than-expected first year with the Rockets. But Durant remains an offensive force who averaged 26 points on 52% shooting and earned second team all-NBA honors last season. If this season goes well, an extension could make Houston the city in which Durant retires. If this season falls short of expectations, contenders around the league would undoubtedly monitor Durant's availability.
Jokic erased any lingering doubt about his future in Denver when he told reporters (and assured Nuggets fans) during media day last month that he will sign a new long-term contract with the team next summer. Jokic will make $59 million this season and has a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $62.8-million in his current deal. He'll be eligible for a five-year supermax contract that could exceed $350 million depending on the NBA's future salary cap projections next summer. Jokic appears set on minimizing any unnecessary drama and distraction related to the situation.
Anthony Davis enters his first games with the Washington Wizards facing a pivotal stretch that could shape the remainder of his career. While Davis remains one of the NBA's best two-way big men when healthy, questions about his durability could dictate whether the Wizards, or another team, are willing to commit substantial cap space to him beyond his current contract.
Davis will make $58.4 million this season and holds a $62-million player option for the 2027-28 season. But given the 33-year-old's extensive injury history, his availability will be just as important as his production in determining value. Washington has been non-committal about its plans with Davis beyond this current deal, which could make Davis a player mentioned frequently around the NBA's trade deadline in February if another contender is willing to give him contract security. The first few months of this season will be an audition of sorts for Davis to prove he's durable enough to be a difference maker again rather than a high-risk gamble.
After missing all of last season while recovering from the knee injury that also cut short his 2024-25 campaign, Irving enters the season faced with a prove-it year. Irving is extension-eligible and set to make nearly $39.5 million this season. His contract also includes a $42.4 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
At 34 years old, Irving must demonstrate to the Mavericks and the rest of the league he remains an elite player in order to merit another multi-year contract. Though his pairing with Cooper Flagg could be dynamic, their partnership also raises questions about the franchise's long-term direction. With Flagg expected to be the centerpiece, Irving's performance alongside him this season could help determine if Dallas sees him as part of that future or a veteran asset to be dealt elsewhere.
Porter is playing on an expiring deal this season, which makes him one of the NBA's most fascinating contract situations. The 28-year-old could emerge as a coveted player around the trade deadline if the Nets determine they can't agree on an extension. Porter is eligible to sign a four-year contract worth as much as $243 million with Brooklyn and said at media day last month his preference would be to remain with the Nets.
Porter averaged a career-best 24.2 points per game as the lead option for a struggling team last season and his size, shooting and championship pedigree on the wing would be valuable to a contender. Brooklyn's decision may ultimately hinge on how competitive the team proves to be after adding veteran forward Julius Randle this offseason. If Porter can replicate last season's production and help push the Nets into the Eastern Conference playoff race, he could significantly strengthen his case for another lucrative long-term deal.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026-27 NBA season is here.
The Boston Celtics blew a big lead Tuesday afternoon to open the year 0-1. The Philadelphia 76ers have knocked off last year’s Eastern Conference champs and runner-ups in three days. Tyrese Haliburton dropped 23 points and 12 assists in his return to action. And the Lakers opened the season by blowing out the Warriors and helping make Yaxel Lendeborg’s rookie debut a memorable one.
Here are some of the best stories of the opening week of the season as well as key news you may have missed.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 16: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 16, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns’ 2026-27 season kicked off Wednesday evening with a 124-83 pasting by the Portland Trail Blazers. Booker finished the humiliating night with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting. It is the beginning of the age-30 season for Suns legend Devin Booker, who reaches that mark on October 30th. Booker will continue his assault on the franchise career leaders this season and likely take the top spot in areas such as career minutes played, field goals, and free throw attempts.
If Booker ends up staying with the Suns throughout his career, he will essentially end up owning that record book.
Records aside, what kind of season can Suns fans expect from the player that undeniably must perform to his fullest capabilities if the Suns want to dream about more than a first-round playoff exit?
Here is a list of other active players during their age-30 seasons. I didn’t include players that had won an MVP (Harden, Westbrook) or that played PF or C. There are wings and guards represented here.
There aren’t a lot of close comparisons to go off. On the list above, Lowry (6), Butler (6), and George (9) have more All-Star appearances than Booker (5). Players like McCollum and White aren’t in that All-Star category but have been solid players throughout their careers. Those players cumulatively averaged 3.8 points, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 rebounds, higher than their career averages in their age-30 season. Every player on that list was above his career scoring average.
Booker’s career averages are 24.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. If he averages those numbers vs. his career totals, he would be at 28.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game. Those numbers would be a career-high scoring average, the 4th-highest assist average, and tied for the highest rebounding average.
That season would also give him the Suns’ season single-scoring record. Tom Chambers currently holds the record at 27.2 ppg, while Booker averaged 27.1 in his best season. My guess is Booker would be happy to get that one in his portfolio. Tom Chambers set the single-season scoring record in…his age-30 season.
There aren’t really any recent examples from the Suns to use for comparison. For the guards, Kevin Johnson was an All-Star (non-MVP) who spent his age-30 season with the Suns. He averaged 20.1 points, 9.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds that year. Definitely a good season, but not the best for a player who averaged 20/10 three times in his career. Walter Davis was 40 years ago, and he was injured and barely played in his age 30 season. Steve Nash won the MVP in his 30th season, but I didn’t include MVPs in the table above. It would be less likely than a case of lightning striking twice for Booker to pull off the same feat. Charles Barkley won his MVP in Phoenix in his 29th season, but still made the 2nd team All-NBA the next year.
Other great guards that played for the Suns didn’t have their age-30 season in Phoenix. Players like Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Stephon Marbury, Connie Hawkins, Jeff Hornacek, Dan Majerle, etc., weren’t Suns at that age. It’s a common theme that the Suns don’t seem to keep players into their 30s. Booker becomes an exception.
Going back to the table and looking at BPM, three of the seven players (Lowry, Holiday, and McCollum) had the highest box plus/minus of their career. White’s was the second highest.
Booker has reached the age where athleticism begins to wane, and experience has to make up the difference. The age 30 season gains importance because the clock begins to tick cacophonously. After the age of 30, only Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Steve Nash, and Wilt Chamberlain have won MVPs. It has been 21 years since Nash achieved the feat.
That would be a bar set too high, but there isn’t any reason to think Booker can’t make a push for the franchise single-season scoring record, return to All-NBA form, and be the leader for a team that is very dangerous come playoff time.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: LeBron James #23 celebrates with Jaylen Brown #7 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the first half of their home opener on Thursday night, the Sixers were being serenaded by boos. And they deserved it, as LeBron James later admitted.
After Tyrese Maxey tied the game at 11 early on, the Cleveland Cavaliers rattled off a 24-7 run to finish off the first quarter. The Sixers fell into a 29-point deficit in the second quarter and headed into the locker room down 69-45 at halftime.
At that point, the Sixers had two choices. They could have gone through the motions in the second half and decided it just wasn’t their night, particularly if the Cavs started the third quarter off strong. As Joel Embiid said after the game, past Sixers teams “would have just laid down and tried to move on to the next one.”
Instead, the Sixers opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run and got right back into the game. The end result? The biggest comeback win in LeBron’s career, the Sixers’ biggest comeback win in the past 30 years, and what Embiid first called a “top-five night for me since I’ve been in Philadelphia.” (He later amended that to top-three before admitting that he “just kind of made it up.”)
After the game, reporters naturally asked everyone on the team about the mood in the locker room at halftime. To a man, they responded that they viewed the halftime deficit as an early-season litmus test.
Nick Nurse: “There’s some veteran guys in there, and the voices at halftime were like, ‘It’s still a game. Settle down, and let’s start playing our game.’ They were pissed. They were down and pissed both. Getting over what just happened, realizing, ‘Oh my God, we’ve gotta snap out of it.’ And then getting ready to go to work.”
VJ Edgecombe: “We know that we’re gonna face a lot of adversity this year. That was one of them. It’s all about how we respond. That was the main thing when we went in the locker room. How are we gonna respond to being down 30 points, 29 points? How are we gonna respond?”
Tyrese Maxey: “My only message that I had, I said, ‘Well, it’s time to see what we’re made of.’ We gonna be some frontrunners and give in and only be happy when stuff is good? Or when stuff is bad, are we gonna fight and be resilient? We did that.”
Jaylen Brown: “I think I said it’s a great opportunity for us to respond to adversity. There’s gonna be ups and downs all year long. How we respond is gonna be 80 percent of the battle. It’s a good sign that we came out, being down 30, we could have been pointing fingers. We got after it, so I like that.”
LeBron James: “It was basically just saying, ‘Let’s see what we’re made of at this point of the season.’ I don’t think we’ve got a locker room full of lay-down guys, there’s a lot of game to be played. We answered the call.”
They did indeed.
After turning the ball over 14 times in the first half—which led to a 22-3 Cleveland advantage in points off turnovers—the Sixers had only two giveaways in the second half. They completely flipped the script on the Cavs by scoring 19 points off turnovers in the second half compared to zero for Cleveland.
That ball security also allowed the Sixers to get their half-court defense set more often. With Maxey ramping up the ball pressure and hounding James Harden, the Cavaliers’ free-flowing offense from the first half was nowhere to be found in the third quarter. The Sixers trimmed 16 points off their 24-point deficit in that quarter alone, getting the Xfinity Mobile Arena crowd back into the game after their dismal first half.
From there, the Sixers started hunting mismatches.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Embiid went on a personal 7-0 run to put the Sixers ahead for good. Brown then took over with a 6-0 run of his own, as it looked like he took it as a personal slight that the Cavaliers dared to have Sam Merrill try to defend him. (Perhaps he took cues from Luka Dončić’s response to Yaxel Lendeborg on Wednesday?)
As Steve Jones of Yahoo Sports noted after the game, the Sixers figured to show that type of problem-solving in the playoffs, when it’s easier to create opponent-specific game plans. Their ability to figure it out on the fly only two games into the regular season is eye-opening.
For the second straight game, one major adjustment was sticking Embiid on a non-shooting wing on defense and having LeBron and Brown able to guard up. Once Dean Wade is back in the fold, he’ll likely get a crack at those types of assignments as well. That defensive versatility is a tool that few other teams can match.
The Sixers still have plenty to figure out, as they all readily admit. They’re still developing chemistry with one another, still figuring out where everyone should be on offense and still learning how to pick and choose their respective spots. But their refusal to lay down and quit against Cleveland spoke volumes about this team.
“It’s great to know that deep down, we’re not gonna have that quit mentality,” LeBron said after the game. “You never want to feel like that. You never want to look around and be like, ‘OK, guys gave up.’ It’s great to know that we’ve got that. But you don’t want to put yourself in too many of those situations.”
Dating back to media day, they all preached about needing to develop championship habits from day one. As the New York Knicks proved during the 2026 NBA Finals, the ability to stay resilient amidst that type of adversity is the very definition of a championship habit. After all, the Knicks would have headed back to San Antonio tied 2-2 had they not overcome a 29-point deficit in Game 4.
The Sixers once again had a dismal night from long range (7-of-28), but the three-point shot is the great equalizer in the modern NBA. We’ve seen time and again throughout the league that almost no lead is safe. Teams have to run hard through the tape or they risk coughing up leads that once seemed insurmountable.
After Game 4 of the Finals last year, Brunson explained the secret behind the Knicks’ never-quit mentality.
“We just keep fighting,” he told reporters. “And now we’re going to continue giving it everything we got. Regardless, even if we don’t win Game 4, I feel like the habits that got us back into the game could have carried over into Game 5.”
On Thursday, the Sixers showed that exact type of resilience against the Cavaliers. Although they’d be far better off not falling into a nearly 30-point hole in the first half, their ability to battle back from that and emerge victorious bodes well for this group moving forward.
Jent, Brunson and O’Connor will get their real rings “shortly,” said a league source, who added that the distribution of 275 championship rings was always the plan. All the Knicks assistant coaches will eventually receive championship rings, league sources said.
The NBA Championship Trophy along with the Knicks Championship rings on the court before the ring ceremony. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“The company is gifting more than 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches, employees and other members of the Knicks family, worth more than $3.7 million, in recognition of their contributions and celebrating this achievement,” an MSG spokesman told The Post.
The Garden also acknowledged an error involving a mass email sent to MSG corporate staffers several weeks before the ceremony. The email asked the staffers to click on a link to be fitted for a championship ring, sources confirmed. However, the link led to a mandatory cybersecurity class – a tactic the Garden deployed as response to a hacking incident.
Jalen Brunson #11 receives his ring from Knicks alumni Walt “Clyde” Frazier in a pregame ceremony. Carlos Toro for NY Post
An MSG spokesman called the use of rings an error.
“The company had previously sent out an email to its corporate team as a simulation of a phishing attack designed to strengthen our security against hackers,” an MSG spokesman told The Post. “MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack. Using the rings as a lure to gain employees attention was an unfortunate mistake.”
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) smiles after receiving his championship ring before an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
All current Knicks players received championship rings before Tuesday’s home opener against the Sixers, as did former Knick center Ariel Hukporti, who was at the arena with his new Philadelphia teammates. Team executives Leon Rose and William Wesley also got their rings Tuesday.
All things considered, the Sixers’ injury report was not a lengthy one Friday night ahead of the team’s first back-to-back this season.
LeBron James was listed as questionable for Saturday’s game vs. the Bucks with an official designation of “low back/sciatica management.” The Sixers plan to be cognizant of the 41-year-old James’ load during the regular season with the playoffs in mind.
Dean Wade was also questionable with a left ankle sprain. Wade worked out on the Xfinity Mobile Arena floor Thursday prior to the 2-0 Sixers’ comeback win over the Cavaliers, but he ultimately did not make his regular-season Sixers debut. The 29-year-old forward injured his ankle a week ago in the team’s preseason finale.
Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendor tear) remained out.
As of Friday night, Joel Embiid was absent from the Sixers’ injury report. Speaking late Thursday evening, Embiid’s expectation was that he’d sit against either the Bucks or the Pistons on Sunday. He logged 34 minutes vs. Cleveland and posted 24 points on 8-for-16 shooting and seven rebounds.
“I’m not playing both games,” Embiid said. “I’m playing one of them. I don’t know. They’re going to tell me. But I feel good. Whatever they tell me, I’ll do it.
“I might not agree with it, I might fight it, but I might not win. I kind of give them the freedom to do whatever they want.”
Dalton Knecht, waived by the Lakers just before the start of the season, will sign a two-way contract with the New York Knicks, his agents told Shams Charania of ESPN.
New York was mentioned among the teams interested in the 25-year-old former No. 17 pick, along with Minnesota and others. The Knicks will waive Kevin McCullar Jr. to make room for Knecht, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Expect Knecht to play a lot for the Westchester Knicks of the G-League, but he can play up to 50 games for the big club on a two-way deal.
Knecht, 25, was a sensation with the Lakers and their fans for the first couple of months of 2024, thriving as a shooter on the LeBron James and Anthony Davis Lakers. In his first 19 games, Knecht averaged 12.2 points per game, shooting 43.9% from 3-point range, and he already had started seven games. But the vibes changed after the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic midseason, because what the Lakers needed from their wings changed.
Knecht is not a good defender and struggled with his shot, and with that kept falling deeper and deeper out of JJ Redick's rotation. Last season, in 54 games, he averaged 4.2 points a night and he shot 34.2% from beyond the arc. Facing a roster crunch to get down to 15 players before the start of the season, the Lakers waived Knecht on Monday. The Lakers chose to keep Bronny James and Jaden Hardy. One of the roster-building challenges the Lakers have had in recent years is that they had the No. 17 pick in back-to-back years, 2023 and 2024, and selected Jalen Hood-Schifino and then Knecht, both of whom are not with the team (and neither is even on a standard NBA contract).
Knecht deserved a chance somewhere, and he got one in New York.
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 21: Kobe Sanders #4 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 21, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While we are 10 days away from the start of the 2026-27 college basketball season, the new NBA season also tipped off this week.
In past iterations of Mountain West in the NBA, we have detailed several different alums representing current Mountain West programs. However, as we continue to be reminded, the cupboard is fairly empty this year with conference realignment, with only a handful of representatives.
So, who will be those faces in the NBA from current MW programs? Let’s examine!
Nevada:
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks:
Skinny: Entering his age-31 season, Martin appears to be entering the tail-end of his NBA career. He appeared in just 58 games (12 starts) with the Dallas Mavericks last year, averaging 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 45.0 percent shooting and 35.1 percent from 3-point range. The Mavericks don’t have aspirations of competing, but Martin, who has battled several lower-body injuries over the last three seasons, is a far cry from where he was during the Miami Heat’s miraculous NBA Finals run in 2022-23.
Kobe Sanders, Los Angeles Clippers:
Skinny: Sanders, who was the Clippers’ No. 50 overall draft pick in 2025, carved out a role in the Clippers’ rotation upon signing a two-way contract as a rookie. Sanders eventually parlayed that two-way contract — which paid him roughly $636K into a two-year minimum salary, essentially doubling his average annual value. Though the Clippers re-upped Sanders once again this summer to a four-year, $11.2 million contract.
After how he played for an up-and-down Clippers squad, he deserved it. Sanders, 24, averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 46.6 percent shooting from the floor and 40.8 percent from 3-point range on 2.9 triple tries. He also has way more juice defensively than he showed at Nevada, in part because his role on-ball is minimized compared to what it was in college.
UNLV:
Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers:
Skinny: Jones has long been one of the more respected wing defenders across the NBA. Last year, the 6-foot-6 forward averaged 0.9 steals and one block, in addition tying a career high in points (10.1) on 49.9 percent shooting and a career-best 35.9 percent from 3-point range. Jones, in his age-29 season, is already off to a good start to begin 2026-27, scoring eight points with six rebounds and five assists in the Clippers’ blowout win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
Elijah Harkless, Detroit Pistons:
Skinny: After spending his first two years with the Utah Jazz, Harkless, 26, signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons this offseason. In 36 career games (9 starts), Harkless has averaged 5.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals on 33.2/24.8/74.3 shooting splits. He has torn up the nylon in the G-League, however, scoring 18.5 points across 26 minutes on 46.1 percent shooting and 38.6 percent from deep.
Wyoming:
Larry Nance Jr., Indiana Pacers:
Skinny: Nance has bounced around the NBA, now playing for his sixth organization in 12 seasons. Last year with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Nnance averaged just 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds on 41.9 percent shooting. Nance, 33, has carved out a very strong career, but his days of making a legitimate impact in an NBA realm are pretty much over, unfortunately. He is a very good vet to have in the locker room, though.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 04: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks embrace after the game at American Airlines Center on November 04, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an equal parts defeating yet somewhat inspiring 128-110 loss to the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks (0-1) remain on the road as they are set to square off against the Indiana Pacers (1-0). The Mavs found themselves down by as many as 37 points against Houston on Wednesday, before somewhat reeling Houston back in throughout the second half.
Indiana, for their part, snagged a road win to start the year in New Orleans against the Pelicans. Tyrese Haliburton made his return from the torn achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and picked up right where he left off. This Pacers team, now with Ivica Zubac in the fold at center, figures to be right back where they were two seasons ago. It will be a tall task for Dallas to get this one home.
Total: Over/Under is set at 239.5 points (-110/-110)
Game plays
Indiana -7.5 (-110)
Ivica Zubac over 27.5 points + rebounds (-110)
Obi Toppin under 12.5 points (-118)
Zaccharie Risacher over 8.5 points (-132)
This is an awful spot for the Mavericks to walk into. This is the Pacers home opener, and it will be a very charged up atmosphere with Tyrese Haliburton playing his first home game since Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals. I just don’t know how Dallas finds a way here, especially given Rick Carlisle’s voodoo magic he holds over the Mavs. Ivica Zubac has a wonderful matchup here against Daniel Gafford, who simply doesn’t rebound the ball at all. I also would like to fade Obi Toppin, who scored 20 off the bench against the Pelicans on great shooting. Finally, maybe in that second half of the Houston game, Risacher found something. I’ll go over the point total here.
The Pelicans weren’t able to start the season off with a victory, but Yves Missi was productive as the team’s starting center. He played 30 minutes to Derik Queen’s 18 and finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks. Missi likely won’t replicate this level of production consistently, especially when it comes to the assists, but he should be considered a must-roster player at this point. Missi isn’t a flawless fit next to Zion Williamson, but he does fit better than Queen does.
Missi should continue to start moving forward, and they have a back-to-back coming up against the Jazz and Nuggets on Friday and Saturday. Nikola Jokić obviously isn’t an ideal matchup, but the other game is a matchup with Jaxson Hayes (who is another player you should consider streaming this weekend.
The Celtics, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Thunder, Suns and Trail Blazers only play one game this weekend, so avoid streaming in players from those teams, unless you’re in a high score or lock-in league and want to take a chance. Aside from Missi, here are nine other players to consider streaming this weekend.
With Coby White (calf) sidelined, Schröder got the start for Charlotte in the season opener. He had 19 points, four rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes in the win over the Nets. They shot 48 three-pointers on Wednesday. Last season, Golden State led the league with 44.1 three-point attempts per game. Charlotte is going to get up the triples, and having a point guard like Schroder that can push the pace will help tremendously until White returns. Schröder is a short-term option, though there isn’t much clarity as to when White will make his season debut.
Grayson Allen, G/F, Charlotte Hornets
Allen didn’t start in place of Kon Knueppel (hamstring), with Sion James taking the spot. However, Allen was fantastic off the bench, finishing with 21 points, three rebounds, four assists and five triples. As previously mentioned, the Hornets are going to shoot a ton of threes this season, which means plenty of shots for Allen, at least until Knueppel debuts. Much like Schröder, Allen should be worth streaming until Knueppel is healthy. They take on the Hawks and Heat this weekend.
Kris Dunn, G, LA Clippers
The Clippers turned to Dunn for playmaking in the season opener, which is a good thing for his value. He finished with seven points, five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, two blocks and two triples in the season opener against the Kings. The scoring won’t ever be there, but the defensive stats should be pretty reliable. If he is able to dish out the dimes consistently, he’ll be a valuable piece in fantasy basketball this season. For now, we’ll consider him a short-term streaming option, with matchups against the Lakers and Jazz this weekend.
Duncan Robinson, G/F, Detroit Pistons
Robinson went off in the season opener against Boston, scoring 21 points and knocking down five three-pointers. No, he’s not going to do that every night, and he isn’t going to contribute much else consistently. However, he’s starting and is important to Detroit’s offense. They play the Heat and 76ers this weekend, and Miami allowed Minnesota to hit 21 triples in their opener. Philly has defended the three better so far this year, but Robinson is still going to get his shots up. He can typically be relied on to stream in triples on the weekend, but his season-long appeal isn’t there.
Santos should be a starter for the foreseeable future in Golden State. In the season opener, he logged 25 minutes and finished with 12 points, five rebounds and a steal. This was a weird game, with Yaxel Lendeborg being the only Warrior to exceed 25 minutes, and he only played 29. The rotation should be normalized this weekend against the Grizzlies and Suns, which should allow Santos to be more productive, as he was for long stretches of last season. The opportunity is ripe this weekend, though he may have to prove it a little before I consider him as more than a streamer.
Bilal Coulibaly, G/F, Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa missed the season opener with an ankle injury and has already been ruled out for their game on Friday. At this point, it’s unclear when he’ll make his debut. Coulibaly started in place of Dybantsa and finished with 11 points, four steals and two blocks in a win over the Bucks on Wednesday. Washington takes on the Raptors and Bulls this weekend, which means at least one more start for Coulibaly, though likely two more.
Jaxson Hayes, C, Utah Jazz
With Jusuf Nurkić (toe) set to be sidelined until at least November, Hayes should get some more starts at center for Utah. He logged 26 minutes in the season opener and contributed six points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and six blocks. With matchups against the Pelicans and Lakers this weekend, Hayes is an intriguing streamer, mostly for his shot-blocking ability. He should be worth rostering until Nurkić returns, but he doesn’t hold much fantasy appeal beyond that.
Jalen Smith, C, Chicago Bulls
Not much went right for Chicago in their blowout loss to Toronto on Wednesday, but Smith was productive in his 19 minutes as a starter, contributing 15 points, eight rebounds and one block. Caleb Wilson was the only starter that played more than 25 minutes, which makes sense for a rookie in his first game. Smith split the minutes at center with rookie Tobe Awaka (14 minutes) Zach Collins (nine minutes), though Awaka played the final 14 minutes of the blowout. Leonard Miller also spent time at center in lineups that featured Wilson and Matas Buzelis. The point of all that is that Smith should play more minutes against the Bucks and Wizards this weekend and should be a safe player to roster until Nic Claxton (hamstring) is healthy enough to suit up.
Brook Lopez, C, LA Clippers
In their first game since the Kawhi Leonard fiasco was resolved, the Clippers were able to get a big win over the Kings. Down low, Isaiah Jackson got the start at center, but he only played 15 minutes to Lopez’s 27, and Lopez was far more productive. Early foul trouble for Jackson was a factor in the minutes being so lopsided in favor of Lopez, but Lopez contributed 17 points, 11 rebounds, one steal, one block and one three-pointer during his time on the floor. Jackson was solid too, with 13 points and five boards, and he could hold some intrigue, so don’t drop him. However, Lopez should be the better choice right now. The Clippers take on the Lakers and Thunder this weekend, so the matchups aren’t ideal, but he should still be worth streaming.
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 21: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Charlotte Hornets plays defense open Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets eon October 21, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets lead the league in future draft picks with 32, and their cache of future firsts — 13 — is second only to the Oklahoma City Thunder who have two more. But of OKC’s 15 firsts over the next seven years, only one is their own. So you can argue, if you wish, that the Nets have the better quality.
That said, the Nets need to make good picks … and after Wednesday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, their most recent efforts have to be called into question. In 2025, said to be a generational draft, Brooklyn had five firsts, at Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26 and 27, a record. But a look at the boxscore Wednesday might lead to concern.
Of the five, only the No. 8 (Egor Demin) and No. 19 (Nolan Traore) played and even by their own estimates, they played poorly. The two combined for only seven points on 2-of-14 shooting. Demin and Traore, both playing the points, had only two assists (both Demin) and three turnovers in a combined total of 42 minutes. Forty divided by five is not exactly what fans and the organization had to be thinking would be the optimum for the first game of the Flatbush 5’s second year.
What may have been a more telling piece of data was that of the record five firsts in 2025, they were the only two who actually stepped on the court. The No. 22 (Drake Powell,) No. 26 (Ben Saraf) and No. 27 (Danny Wolf) didn’t touch the court. It was among the several demoralizing aspects of the Opening Night loss. If you’re building through the draft, you better succeed.
“I’m confident that, especially these two kids, we’re going to have no problem with their playmaking, their scoring and their willingness to get better every day,” Fernández said.
Dëmin said after the game he was aware of his subpar play.
“I’m not very happy with how I ended up playing the game,’’ Dëmin said. “I started with two [made] buckets but then kind of just got slower from a standpoint of my intensity, and I’ve definitely got to bring the energy, higher energy.’
“Opportunities are there, everything is given to me, and I just got to be able to execute on the level that I want to be at,” he said.
Traore too.
I think I didn’t play my best. That wasn’t the best game I did, for sure,“ said Demin’s fellow 20-year-old. I think I have to bring more pace to the game. That’s my strength so I got to use it more. But, it’ll be all right.”
Yes, it’s only one game and yes, four of the five (other than Wolf) were among the 20 youngest players in the NBA last season with Traore and Saraf among the 10 youngers and yes, getting a rotational player at the end of the Draft is unlikely. Still, the very core idea of the Nets rebuild — building through the draft — has to be questioned if this continues. Fernandez professes he is not worried.
“I think their intentions were great and can clean up a lot of different things, turnovers, setup, calling plays, all those things,’’ Fernández said. “But we’ll watch film with them, and we’ll make them better… One day you don’t make them, another day they go in, and you’ve just got to stay ready for the next game.”
And of course, the Nets’ highest pick in the last 16 years — Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6 in 2026 — looked promising, indeed very good — in his limited minutes (19:48) following his left ankle injury. (The No. 28 pick in 2026, Joshua Jefferson, was cleared for action after some back soreness in training camp but was not activated.)
The organization’s confidence in their 2025 picks doesn’t appear to be faltering, but Sean Marks & co. have to decide by November 2 whether to extend all five beyond this season. Of course, we could see change Saturday in Cleveland vs. the Cavaliers.
