The headline on Brian Windhorst’s latest column for ESPN reads: “Why Cooper Flagg’s ascension is starting to feel inevitable.”

In it, Windhorst argues that the NBA media ecosystem has been a little slow in recognizing Flagg’s ascension, stopping just short of declaring the second-year stud ready to “take the NBA by storm.”

That he penned a column to that effect is notable, as Windy’s time is spent to a greater and greater degree behind a microphone or in front of a camera these days. He simply doesn’t write as many columns now, so Monday’s look is evidence that Windhorst thinks Flagg’s development and potential in year two is a particularly important story, league-wide.

It makes sense. A lot of the big-name star power in the NBA has been shipped out east. The Mavericks as a franchise, remain, shovel in hand, digging their way out of a mountain of their own make, and are not particularly attractive to a national television audience as currently constructed. All this leads to a downward pressure on Flagg’s media attention.

But Windy (and others, to be fair) stays beating the Cooper Flagg drum this preseason.

On Sept. 25, it was a segment on ESPN’s NBA Today, where Windy issued it glowingly and effusively:

“I feel like there’s not enough hype around Cooper Flagg,” he said. “I know it’s hard to say because he was tracked at Duke very closely, but because Victor Wembanyama took that giant step forward last year, and really took the league by the throat, and because there was so much attention to the tanking teams going for the 2026 Draft, and the Mavericks themselves became one of the tanking teams at the end, I don’t think people realized how breathtaking Cooper Flagg’s performance was last season. He absolutely reminded me, on an almost nightly basis, of LeBron as a rookie. All the way back to the fact that LeBron was forced to play point guard as a rookie, and that kind of took him out of his game a little bit like it did with Cooper last year. The ability for someone of his size to play multi positions, to grab a rebound and then to go down and start the offense, to guard up and down the lineup, I mean, and really, his shot is way better than I thought it’d be. I think it’s going to keep developing, and I couldn’t be higher on Cooper Flagg. I really believe that he’s going to enter the top-10 of the best players in the league sooner rather than later, and that his trajectory is really right there alongside Victor Wembanyama’s in terms of the future of the NBA.”

Brian Windhorst on Cooper Flagg:

"In all honesty, I feel like there's not enough hype around Cooper Flagg. I don't think people realized how breathtaking Cooper Flagg's performance was last season. He absolutely reminded me on an almost nightly basis of LeBron as a rookie.

I… pic.twitter.com/uf4cgqu3Sk

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) September 25, 2026

The direct parallels with James, whom Windhorst built the early part of his career reporting on, and his rookie year, are startling. To think that Mavs fans could be watching the next LeBron in his ascendency is a beautiful thought to think. Just don’t let those thoughts wander into morbid reflection about how ownership might screw this one up.

Then, on the team’s trip to Macau, China, Windy echoed his own sentiments, and if it’s even possible, amplified them in an interview with DLLS.

“I am extraordinarily bullish on his future and I am really excited about his present,” Windy said. “Because of the dynamics of the league, because LeBron is in Philadelphia, and Giannis is in Miami and the Knicks are the champions, and the Celtics are the Celtics, and Wembanyama’s Wembanyama, and Luka is now separate from LeBron, the Mavericks are not on national TV that much. It’s a good and a bad thing. Number one, it means Cooper is not getting the attention he deserves. … Grab onto Cooper. Get in early. Be there, because the league is overlooking him a little bit right now. Again, it’s not like they’re looking at him and going, ‘Ehh, he’s not that good.’ There is a set of circumstances that is depressing him a little bit. Mistake. And look, at ESPN, we’re going to put LeBron and Luka on, you know? We’re going to put Giannis and we’re going to put Victor on. We’re going to put Durant on. We’re going to put Ant Edwards on, but I’m telling you, if Cooper was a stock, I would buy it all. That’s how I feel about him.”

Brian Windhorst Says Cooper Flagg Is Being Overlooked pic.twitter.com/HE40B4yMwX

— DLLS Mavs (@DLLS_Mavs) October 8, 2026

Windhorst isn’t the only one who’s comparing Flagg to James at this early juncture in his career. Flagg’s teammate Kyrie Irving did the same in some of his postgame comments after the Mavs’ second preseason game in Macao.

“I give my respect to KD and Bron and they are on their own separate categories and trajectories and careers but I would say this, I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age,” Irving said. “He’s displaying in front of you guys what’s capable of and he’s only going to continue to get better.”

"I give my respect to KD and Bron and they are on their own separate categories and trajectories and careers but I would say this, I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age… he's displaying in front of you guys what's capable of… https://t.co/JMoXET2V3Spic.twitter.com/uoNDZKiTDw

— NBA (@NBA) October 11, 2026

It’s moments like these when I love being associated with this Little Fan Site That Could, because Windy, we outchea. We been here. We’ve been banging on the Cooper Flagg drum since jump. We made room for you, and we are here to declare that there is still room on the train for all of the lapsed Mavericks fans who had to take some time away from the team after the injustices suffered under the previous administration.

Glory awaits. The team is the laundry, not the financiers behind the building the team plays in. It’s become clear before his 20th birthday that Flagg is not only generational, but an all-time great in the making.

With a week to go before the Mavs’ first game of Flagg’s second year, it’s getting hard to contain the excitement surrounding the meteoric rise that this young man is about to embark on.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wizards fans and fans across the country.

Yesterday, I wrote about the Washington Wizards considering a rebrand. No, the Washington Bullets are NOT returning. Instead, the logo may change. The uniforms may change. The colors too. Monumental Sports & Entertainment received requests to do that, but I don’t find the Wizards’ jerseys or color scheme looking ugly, etc.

Then again, who knows?

So we have a poll for you to settle the matter. Should the rebrand happen? Vote below!

Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

Four of the five Knicks starters didn’t board a plane north of the border, the fifth one didn’t play basketball on Tuesday, and it all showed badly.

New York will host a preseason game for one final time on Thursday before dressing in gold for Tuesday’s banner night.

Here’s the latest from Mike, James, and Miles.

Reminder:

Not important Important pic.twitter.com/xGeVDRpjL0

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2026

Mike Brown

On the Knicks’ performance and defensive shortcomings in their 50-point preseason loss to Toronto:

“It’s not necessarily what’s on the scoreboard at that particular time. It is: are you doing the right things to be better and/or get better? And in the first half, what I was most disappointed in was we weren’t putting bodies on bodies. Fifteen second-chance points in one half is not good. Thirty fast-break points in one half is not good.

“And then the way they sped us up, and us not necessarily touching the paint and trying to spray it and/or making quick decisions is not good. So that’s what I was most disappointed in in the first half. I really didn’t care about the score, especially with the group we had on the floor.”

On how James Wiseman has developed since his time with the Warriors:

“Back then, obviously, he was talented but he was really raw in terms of his ability and feel on the court. It’s obviously a lot higher now, but he’s also been humbled a little bit with the challenges and the adversity he’s gone through in his career. He understands how hard it is. That obviously is different now than what it was back then.”

On Wiseman’s growth and understanding of how quickly NBA opportunities can disappear:

“Everything was new to him. He was a wide-eyed young puppy and now he’s a little bit more seasoned with the knowledge of, ‘This is not gonna be easy and opportunities can come and go like that.’”

James Wiseman gets preseason start:

18 points team high
7-8 FG
4-4 FT
10 rebounds
4 offensive pic.twitter.com/p9YaRNfPhm

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2026

James Wiseman

On appreciating his opportunity to compete for a roster spot with the Knicks:

“It’s a blessing to just be here. Really just being able to go out there, enjoy myself, have fun, just keep working. Stay diligent.”

On overcoming injuries and adversity throughout his NBA career:

“It’s been a lot. Really just putting God first. Staying down, grinding every single day and just taking one day at a time. That’s really all you can do, just really control what you can.”

On what he has learned about himself through his career struggles:

“Really just being able to stay resilient through the process and really just staying persistent as well.”

On how his athleticism can help him earn the Knicks’ final roster spot:

“Just being able to use my athleticism. Being able to put my head on the rim every single time, run the floor and really just being vocal.”

You drew up a plan without Drew?

Better drew another plan pic.twitter.com/N7b6cH1yh9

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2026

Miles McBride

On the Knicks’ 50-point preseason loss to the Raptors:

“You never want to lose in that way. But at the same time, we just gotta move on. Preseason is for those reasons. Missing eight of our guys, you just want to come out there and have a positive mindset. Go out there and play hard. There were things we could’ve definitely done better, but they’re a playoff team and you add a Hall of Famer with them.”

Yeah if the refs really about to start calling offensive fouls on pushoffs SGA is COOKED 😭 pic.twitter.com/pPPrtHJTTQ

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) October 14, 2026

BOSTON — Four years ago, Payton Pritchard wanted out of Boston. He had fallen out of the Celtics’ rotation and grew frustrated at his lack of playing time, eager to show what he was capable of as a pro.

But despite wanting out, he wasn’t traded at that midseason deadline.

And the rest is history.

The following season, the Celtics won their elusive 18th banner with Pritchard as their leading scorer off the bench. During that playoff run, he became a legend in Boston, immortalized by his litany of buzzer-beaters, capped by a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer in the decisive Game 5.

One year after that?

Pritchard won Sixth Man of the Year, a culmination of years of tireless work.

And now?

The 28-year-old guard who so many believed would be too small to make it as a pro has signed his biggest contract yet: a 2-year, $44.2 million extension that keeps him with the Celtics through the 2028-2029 season. The contract also includes a mutual option for the 2029-2030 season, meaning that either Pritchard or the Celtics can opt in for a third year if they so choose.

Due to a six-month trade restriction triggered by the extension, Pritchard can’t be traded at the deadline, giving one more year of complete assurance he’ll be in Boston.

It’s still wild to him that he’s the second-longest tenured player on the roster. And, as his seniority grows, he continues to examine how he’ll lead.

“Maybe I’m more vocal this year — maybe my presence is felt a little bit more in that area,” Pritchard said. “But for me, I feel like leadership isn’t just about [being] vocal. It’s how you approach every day, your competitive spirit, your work habits, all that stuff.”

His teammates have taken notice.

“P’s biggest strength, or one of them, is just his confidence and his ability and his work ethic,” said Jayson Tatum. “He is always looking at ways to get better, looking at ways to challenge himself. He’s a hell of a competitor. He just loves to hoop. For a six-foot white guard that has gotten to the point where he has in his career, it’s because he works his ass off, and he just competes at the highest level.”

Could Payton Pritchard take another leap in Year 7?

Payton Pritchard is likely to still come off the bench this season, at least to start, but Jaylen Brown’s absence could give him more opportunities.

Pritchard averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game in 69 games played alongside Brown last year; those numbers rose to 25.2 points, 7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in the 10 games in which Brown sat.

This year, Pritchard plans to continue to add to his game; one way he hopes to do that is by getting to the free-throw line more often.

“I feel like I put the defense at a disadvantage at times — like, I get them in the air, and I’ll go through a step through, but it’s just taking those moments to just take the easy route, get to the free-throw line, when their hands are all over me, learning how to, like, just go up into my shot and draw a foul, stuff like that,” Pritchard explained at training camp in Charleston.

He’s been picking Mike Conley’s brain about it, too; the veteran guard is his go-to workout partner and newfound mentor.

“I don’t want to be, like, a flopper, like I’m just falling on the ground,” Pritchard said. “I’m not really somebody who falls on the ground a lot, but, like, when you have an opportunity to take a foul, take it.”

Pritchard doesn’t know exactly how he’ll improve in Year 7.

But, on Media Day, he made clear that he would.

“Everybody always tries to put people in a box, and for every year of my career since I’ve been young, people put me in this box of like ‘This is the player you can be,’” he said. “And I just feel like those expectations, I blow them out of the water. I don’t know what I can be doing differently, but I will find something that will make me excel to another level, but I can’t tell you what that exactly could be. Maybe I get better at getting to the free-throw line more — that adds more points. Maybe I somehow figure out how to develop and add four more assists a game. And like, so I just don’t know what that will look like. But I will work to find it and become a better player for sure.”

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country.

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I have to be honest, I’ve not seen a single live game minute of NBA pre-season so far and that includes of the Dallas Mavericks. I have a good reason, I was in California with the family on vacation and the games started at 5am and 3am and I don’t think my hotel had NBA TV anyway.

Vote for who surprised you in those two games, surpassing your expectations from before the games started.

The Rockets have the sour taste of disappointment still lingering from last season’s playoff exit. They lost to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic, in a series where Kevin Durant played just one game. This, compounded by the fact that they lost Fred VanVleet before even playing a game, makes Houston hungry to play basketball and show the league what they should have been a season ago.

This is a veteran team complemented by young talent. But when you have two groups on different timelines, there is sometimes a conflict of interest when it comes to deciding what is best for winning. Alperen Sengun is making $35 million this season, but Steven Adams makes more sense at center. Reed Sheppard was the third overall pick in the draft, but has not panned out quite yet. There are tough decisions the Rockets have to make if they want to maximize the rest of Kevin Durant’s career. And those decisions could prove fatal if made incorrectly. 

Houston Rockets: Over/Under 48.5 wins (-110/-115)

To win the NBA Finals: +2700

Last Season: 52-30, lost W. Conference first round

Key Additions: Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovic

Key Losses: Dorian Finney-Smith

The Rockets’ lack of offense in the playoffs six months ago is what sunk them. Without Durant and VanVleet, they simply could not score enough points. Now that those guys are back, their offense should theoretically be better, but they are still going to force minutes on Sengun and Sheppard because of the capital they used on them. Ideally, the Rockets are able to trade one or both of those guys for a dynamic guard who provides shooting and move Adams into the permanent center spot. Kyrie Irving, for example, is a name that both makes sense and has been floated around. Until then, however, they are juggling too many things. Finding the right guys to play nightly without completely disregarding their younger pieces will be challenging. Houston is going to regress in the win column as they find their way forward. 

Prediction: Under 48.5 wins (-110)

LAS VEGAS — Lakers coach JJ Redick’s challenge for Walker Kessler is simple: Be “relentless”.

Relentless with his motor on both ends of the floor. With his running and changing ends in between possessions. With his screening and rolling towards the rim. With his rebounding.

The Lakers got that in abundance during their marquee acquisition’s preseason debut, which came in a 101-89 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in the team’s penultimate exhibition.

The 7-foot-2 center finished with 11 points, nine rebounds (two offensive boards), one block and one steal in 16 first-half minutes before sitting out of the second half. 

Kessler, who the Lakers acquired from the Jazz as part of a sign-and-trade with the Jazz that included a four-year, $130 million contract for the big man, missed the first three preseason games after injuring his left pinky finger.

“He’s a great fit for our team,” Redick said of Kessler. “He did a nice job of running the floor, crashing, had some terrific rebounds in traffic [and] protected the rim. Just [a] really good first half from him. 

“Overall really good for someone who didn’t play for, whatever it is, 10 days.”

Kessler’s impact on the Lakers was as massive as his 270-pound frame. 

The Lakers won the 16 minutes he was on the floor by 15 points in what was Kessler’s first NBA game in nearly a full calendar year after he played just five regular season games in 2025-26 because of a season-ending left shoulder surgery. 

“It was a lot of fun being out there again,” Kessler said. “It’s been so long. Before the game, I was actually pretty nervous, to be honest. But, getting out there and just playing with the guys, it was a blast.”

The No. 22 pick in the 2022 draft made his presence felt in the Lakers’ first possession without recording a statistic in the box score.

After Austin Reaves missed a pull-up 13-foot jumper out of the pick and roll with Kessler, the big man fought for the offensive rebound, with the ball bouncing off of Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s hands and going out of rebounds, resulting in a team offensive rebound for the Lakers.

“JJ and I talked, and that’s kind of what we came up with this year: ‘Relentless,’ ” Kessler said. “And for me, that means just crashing every time, trying to be a presence in the paint, inside, outside, play hard, don’t take plays off, on the offensive end and defensive end. That’s going to be my goal for this year.”

After the Lakers inbounded the ball, Reaves ran another pick and roll with his new starting center, with the big man out of Auburn rolling hard to the basket and bringing in the Warriors low man (Gui Santos) into the paint, leading to Reaves making the drive-and-kick pass to Quentin Grimes for an open corner 3-pointer.

The Lakers created several open looks from beyond the arc because of Kessler’s roll gravity. 

“He created probably four or five really good looks for us from 3 just rolling hard,” Reaves said. “Nobody’s gonna give him credit for it, but him putting pressure on the rim and roll opportunities gonna make the big guy sink, and we’re gonna get wide open 3s. We had quite a bit of them.”

With one more preseason game on Friday against the Nuggets in Los Angeles, and one week before the Lakers open the regular season against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena, Kessler is looking to build off Tuesday’s showing. 

“Just game feel, honestly,” he responded when asked what he’s looking to improve on. “That will come with time and just playing with the guys now that I’m cleared. Conditioning-wise, I actually felt good out there. First wind was a little tough, but after I got past that, my legs kind of got under me and I felt good.”

The Milwaukee Bucks are back home tonight to play the Chicago Bulls in game four of the preseason. The Bucks fell to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday in an all-around clunker. Almost as soon as Milwaukee’s starters began to sub out, it looked like the offense was playing in mud, highlighted by a stellar 0/8 performance by the man the Bucks are currently being investigated over: Gary Trent Jr. Milwaukee also lost the offensive rebound battle for the first time this preseason—an area they will need to emphasize if they hope to stay in games this year. The Bucks can chalk that up to growing pains and put it in the rearview mirror as they take on a Bulls team featuring this year’s fourth overall pick, Caleb Wilson.

The Task Ahead

The Chicago Bulls are entering this year with low expectations; many preseason predictions list them alongside the Bucks as a lock for a bottom-five finish. Much like the Bucks, the Bulls found themselves firmly in the bottom 5-10 of just about every team metric last season, and despite hovering around .500 until the All-Star Break, the Bulls saw their record bottom out in March as they ended the year with a 31-51 record, good for 12th in the East. Chicago had luck on their side, however, as the lottery balls bounced them to the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft, where they selected Caleb Wilson (who comes into the year with loads of hype). Wilson made waves immediately, with reports that he was taking between 2,000 and 2,500 shots a day during Summer League.

Long story short, Caleb Wilson represents a bright future for a fanbase that has endured mediocrity for too long. The Bulls have been searching for their next star since Derrick Rose was severely injured in Game 1 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Playoffs, and in Wilson, they might have found it. The Bulls also signed veterans Norman Powell and Nic Claxton to bring experience to what has suddenly become a very young group. To top it off, Chicago welcomed Tiago Splitter as their new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan. All in all, a very productive few months in the Windy City.

Injury Report

The Bulls held Zach Collins, Tobe Awaka, and Isaac Okoro out of practice yesterday, and none are expected to play against Milwaukee. They join Jaylin Sellers, who did not play Sunday against the Nuggets, and Nic Claxton, who sustained a hamstring injury and will be re-evaluated next week before the regular season tip-off.

The Bucks, meanwhile, announced that they would re-evaluate Nate Ament just before the season opener against Washington. There have been no other updates on anyone else.

Player to Watch

On Saturday, Milwaukee announced that Brayden Burries would not play against the Hornets; Taylor Jenkins told the media that the team was still trying different rotations and lineups. After watching Gary Trent Jr., Caris LeVert, and Kevin Porter Jr. build the Bucks a home—brick by brick—now is as good a time as any to let Burries feature more heavily off the bench. The 21-year-old uses his size to get downhill, and he’s shown he is not afraid to draw contact—exactly the brand of basketball many fans want to see. Against the Thunder, Burries led a late-game charge to secure the win, scoring 16 points and grabbing five rebounds and two steals. Expect Burries to impose his will against the Bulls.

Projected Starters

Bucks	Position	Thunder
Ryan Rollins	PG	Josh Giddey
Tyler Herro	SG	Norman Powell
Jaime Jaquez Jr.	SF	Matas Buzelis
Kyle Kuzma	PF	Caleb Wilson
Myles Turner	C	Jalen Smith

Game Details

Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) vs. Chicago Bulls (1-2)

When: 7:00 p.m. CDT

Where: Fiserv Forum—Milwaukee, WI

Watch: MY24

Listen: Check local listings

Prescient Prediction

Kasparas Jakucionis looked impressive against Oklahoma City, and I expect he’ll get even more run in against the Bulls—lock him in for seven+ assists.

I am truly excited to see you here.

If you clicked on this (on purpose or by accident), then you are officially a Wolves sicko (lupo-phile?), a basketball sicko, or at the very least: my tribe of people.

I scoff when I hear Timberwolves fans declare they are “diehard Wolves fans” and try to prove their ball knowledge by naming off players like Oleksiy Pecherov, Jeff Adrien, or Gundars Vētra. Please. If you’re really from the most engrossed ilk of Wolves fans, then you’d pull some names from their development team. Their summer league teams. Training camp rosters. Names that maybe never even donned a Wolves jersey, but they sure as hell tried.

Let’s begin by learning the Iowa Wolves history.

Well, you actually can’t know the Iowa Wolves history without first knowing the Iowa Energy history. The Energy were the affiliate for several other NBA teams during their inception, beginning with the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. It wasn’t until the midway through the ‘16-‘17 season where the Timberwolves purchased the exclusive rights to the Energy and rebranded them as the Iowa Wolves.

Timberwolves finalize purchase of NBA Development League Team Iowa Energy pic.twitter.com/wv5coYFHVH

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) May 3, 2017

Ipso facto, the Timberwolves technically own the history of the Energy, even if they weren’t always associated with Minnesota. Consider it the same as Los Angeles stealing five championships from Minneapolis. If they can enshrine George Mikan in bronze, then Iowa should be able to do the same for Curtis Stinson.

Speaking of legends, that brings us to why we’re here. I can understand why reading a 3,000+ word wall of text detailing the history of the Iowa Energy/Wolves may not be so palatable. So instead, I’ll throw readers a bone and instead give you an old school Bleacher Report style:

Top 5 Iowa Wolves Players: You won’t believe who’s number one!! 👀😱

There might be certain players you expect to see high on this list like Luka Garza, Nate Knight, or Craig Randall II (real ones know), but alas their stints with Iowa were but just a small handful of games, or less than two seasons. In the long Iowa Wolves history, they are but just brief sparkles in the franchise’s existence.

Let’s begin with the names!

---

Honorable Mentions

Michael Haynes | Stefhon Hannah | Shy Ely

	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK
Michael Haynes	39.4	21.0	6.7	2.7	2.0	1.0
Stefhon Hannah	35.8	18.3	6.7	6.0	2.3	0.0
Shy Ely	25.1	13.0	4.3	0.7	0.7	0.0

_{*2011 G League finals stats}

This trio, plus a player we’ll name later, formed the main supporting cast around league MVP Curtis Stinson during Iowa’s 2011 championship run. You would imagine he was flanked by former D-League MVPs in Othyus Jeffers and Courtney Sims, but both were not with the team during their magical postseason run.

Iowa has only ever achieved one G League title in their 19 season history. They did so in dramatic fashion, defeating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets affiliate) by a final series score of 2-1. The Energy, led by future NBA Coach of the Year Nick Nurse, were down nine points near the end of the third quarter in game three, but they used a huge 21-5 run early in the fourth to claim control of the game. They did so even without their captain and best player, Stinson, who suffered an injury in the first half.

That’s three MVPs they were missing while being down heading into the fourth quarter.

Starting point guard Stefhon Hannah and backup guard Shy Ely, both who made the team via open tryouts, combined for 48 points to help Iowa close out the series. Starting power forward, Michael Haynes, was also a consistent force on both ends of the court, notching 21 points and five stocks in the final game as well.

Without this trinity of fine gentlemen, it’s likely Iowa never hoists the championship trophy.

Damien Wilkins | Luka Garza | Leonard Miller

	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK
Damien Wilkins	50	20.2	5.7	3.6	1.4	0.6
Luka Garza	18	31.7	10.5	3.4	0.7	1.4
Leonard Miller	51	21.8	9.8	3.1	1.0	0.9

_{*Iowa G League stats}

These are three guys who all dominated in their short stints with Iowa, earning All-Star honors or recognitions as Player of the Month/Week along the way. They were so good that they all had opportunities with the Timberwolves main squad.

Damien Wilkins, the nephew of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, was actually the uncommon player who actually spent nine years playing on various NBA teams before eventually finding himself in the G League at age 34. He joined Iowa for just one season in ‘14-‘15, earning All-Star and All-League 3rd Team honors in the process. However, he’ll be most known for his game-winner in game one of the ‘09-‘10 season for the Wolves. Minnesota was on track for 82-0 thanks to Wilkins, who played 80 games for Minnesota, even starting in 31 of them!

Man, what a bad team that was.

We all remember Luka Garza fondly. Garza-illa dominated the G League like he did in garbage time throughout his career. His 31.7 point per game career average with Iowa is the highest in franchise history of any player that participated in at least 10 games. The current Boston Celtic has had to grind his way to an opportunity with the big clubs, but boy did he earn it. He mostly got mop up duty during his 97-game career with the Timberwolves, but he still had a few bright spots in real games as well. Garza having been a local Iowa hero also helped bring crowds to their games.

Meanwhile, our prodigal son Leonard Miller will hopefully have a more consistent opportunity with the Chicago Bulls this upcoming season. He was fairly dominant in his time with Iowa across two seasons, earning a Player of the Month and two Performer of the Week honors. Lenny averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds during his two seasons at Casey’s Center, quickly becoming fan favorite.

---

5. Cartier Martin

Seasons: 5
Games Played: 90
Iowa Statistics: 31.1 MIN | 16.5 PTS | 4.8 REB | 1.5 AST | 0.9 STL | 0.4 BLK | 44.8 FG% | 40.7 3P% | 79.6 FT%
Individual Accolades: 1x All-League 1st Team (2010), 1x All-League 3rd Team (2009), 2x All-Star (2009, 2010)

Cartier Martin kicks off our official list. The 6’7” forward spent four collegiate seasons at Kansas State, winning Big 12 Sixth Many of the Year, before declaring for the 2007 NBA draft (the Corey Brewer draft).

After all 30 teams passed on him, Martin went undrafted.

The Houston native found an opportunity overseas, like many undrafted players do. He spent his first professional season in the Turkish league, but quickly came back stateside. In the 2008 NBA D-League draft, the Iowa Energy picked him 15th overall, beginning his five season stint with the franchise. Martin was excellent right from the jump, averaging over 20 points per game for the Energy in his first season. He was named an All-Star and made the All-League 3rd team.

It’s likely that Cartier would’ve been higher on this list had he not gotten so many call-ups to NBA teams. Seven different teams signed him to 10-day contracts or better, limiting his ability to play full seasons in the G. In fact, he missed out on contributing to the aforementioned 2011 title run because he appeared in 52 games with the Washington Wizards. In total, he appeared in 240 NBA games compared to just 96 G League games.

Martin was almost an Iowa lifer though, had it not been for his brief six game stint with the Windy City Bulls to wrap up his time in the NBA/G League. Martin finished his career fourth all-time in both total points scored and free throws made, and third in three-pointers made in Iowa Wolves franchise history.

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4. Moses Ehambe

Seasons: 3
Games Played: 105
Iowa Statistics: 27.2 MIN | 13.9 PTS | 3.2 REB | 0.9 AST | 2.0 STL | 0.2 BLK | 44.3 FG% | 42.9 3P% | 83.7 FT%
Individual Accolades: 1x champion (2011), 1x All-Star (2012), 1x Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award (2012)

The player that I teased earlier when discussing the core of the 2011 Iowa Energy championship roster was none other than Moses Ehambe. Moses was the starting small forward for Iowa who averaged 14.8 points in the regular season that year, but bumped that up to an astounding 24.7 points (8.6 3PA) on .500/.500/.929 splits in the three-game finals series.

Why might Ehambe’s mug or name look familiar to you?

Moses spent three years with the Timberwolves in various roles from 2023-2025. He was an assistant coach focusing on player development. He always brought his positive attitude and laughter to those around him, so it’s no surprise he won the G League Sportsmanship Award in 2012.

Ehambe ranks number one in total three-pointers made in Iowa franchise history (293) and with the way the league functions now, it’s unlikely anyone will ever touch that record. He is integral to telling the organization’s history and is an awesome story about winning both on and off the court. Moses is third all-time in games played for the Energy.

Now enjoy this very 2014 coded video by the Iowa Energy, commemorating when Ehambe (once) became the league’s top three-point shooter!

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3. Courtney Sims

Seasons: 4
Games Played: 104
Iowa Statistics: 30.9 MIN | 17.8 PTS | 9.1 REB | 1.1 AST | 0.4 STL | 1.4 BLK | 58.3 FG% | 28.6 3P% | 74.1 FT%
Individual Accolades: 1x MVP (2009), 1x All-League 1st Team (2009), 2x All-Star (2009, 2011), 1x ASG MVP, 2x Player of the Month, 2x Performer of the Week

We’ve now arrived at the big three.

Checking in at number three on this list is Courtney Sims. The 6’11” undrafted center spent four years at University of Michigan, earning ‘03-‘04 Big Ten All-Freshman honors. Like Wilkins, Sims actually appeared in a real NBA game before ever joining the D-League. He played just a few garbage time games for the Indiana Pacers before ultimately landing with Iowa in their inaugural ‘07-‘08 roster.

Courtney was awesome right from the jump.

He averaged over 15 points in his rookie season, but really exploded in his sophomore year. Sims dominated the paint, beginning his next season with a 22/17/11 (blocks) triple-double. He had some cups of tea with the Suns and Knicks on 10-day contracts, but largely remained with Iowa where he played 32 games, averaging career-highs of 22.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He was named an All-Star, MVP of the All-Star Game, All-League 1st Team, and league MVP.

Courtney Sims is the ONLY CENTER in G League history to win MVP! 🏆

During the 2008-09 season, the 6’11” big man averaged 22.8 PPG & 11.0 RPG to lead the Iowa Energy to the No. 1 record in the Central Division. That year, he took home league MVP & All-Star Game MVP honors. pic.twitter.com/GZc5KFQm0Q

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) September 23, 2024

Unfortunately for Iowa, Sims played so well that New York called him up to wrap up the NBA season. Without their MVP and their defensive anchor, Iowa fell in the first round of the playoffs Dakota Wizards (now Santa Cruz Warriors). Speaking of guys, Dakota was led by classic Wolves summer league guy, Blake Ahearn.

Sims didn’t return back to Iowa until late January the following season, playing just a forgettable month before ending a short 14-game season with the Wolves. He bounced back in strong fashion during the ‘10-‘11 season for Iowa. Just like he did two seasons ago, he was terrific in the post, averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game on his way to another All-Star (and ASG MVP) year.

2011 was the season that Iowa won the D-League championship, but also similar to 2009, Sims was once again absent. This time, he terminated his contract early for an opportunity to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Dongguan Leopards. Maybe he has some restaurant recommendations he can share with D’Angelo Russell.

And that’s how it all ended for the big man in Iowa.

Courtney Sims finished four seasons with the Energy with the following ranks in franchise history:

• 4th games played
• 3rd total minutes
• 3rd total wins
• 3rd total points
• 3rd total rebounds
• 1st total blocks
• 2nd offensive win shares
• 3rd defensive win shares

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2. Othyus Jeffers

Seasons: 5
Games Played: 184
Iowa Statistics: 35.9 MIN | 19.1 PTS | 8.3 REB | 3.1 AST | 2.0 STL | 0.2 BLK | 50.2 FG% | 30.3 3P% | 72.8 FT%
Individual Accolades: 1x MVP (2014), 1x All-League 1st Team (2014), 1x All-League 2nd Team (2011), 2x All-Defensive 1st Team (2011, 2014), 1x All-Defensive 3rd Team (2013), 3x All-Star (2009, 2011, 2014), Rookie of the Year (2009), 1x Player of the Month, 3x Performer of the Week

Othyus Jeffers is on my list of all-time player names. The stalky wing plays like one of those nightmare local YMCA matchups that you’ve likely come across. Built like a football player and plays with the aggressiveness of a football player. He will not let you have fun.

Jeffers is another classic case of an unheralded college player who started in community college and eventually made his way into the NCAA and NAIA. He had an extremely tough childhood growing up, losing multiple family members due to gun violence in his hometown of Chicago. But Jeffers always kept his focus on his hoops. In his final season with Robert Morris University, he was named NAIA Player of the Year.

You may recognize Othyus’ name not just for its uniqueness, but because he played constantly vacillated between the G League and the NBA. As an undrafted player 2008, he signed multiple summer league, training camp, 10-day, and even multiple-year offers from teams like the Jazz, Spurs, Wizards, and the Wolves, totaling 37 games in the league.

But Iowa was always his basketball home.

He was drafted by the Energy in the third round of the 2008 D-League draft after his collegiate career, immediately producing 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Jeffers cruised to winning the D-League Rookie of the Year award. He was part of that division-leading ‘08-‘09 Iowa team, who lost Sims prior to the playoffs. Despite the single-game elimination loss, he still posted a wild stat line of 31 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks on 72.2% shooting from the floor for Iowa. Weirdly enough, this was Jeffers’ only playoff appearance for Iowa due to future call-ups to the NBA.

Othyus spent some time playing overseas in Italy the following year before once again rejoining Iowa later in the season. As mentioned earlier, he wasn’t able to join his fellow Energy teammates in the postseason due to an opportunity with the Jazz in March that lasted all the way through the following preseason. He ultimately missed their final ‘10-‘11 season roster cut.

Here’s a clip of him dunking of Wolves legend, Lou Amundson.

Despite the tough cut, Iowa was happy to welcome back Othyus with open arms.

“Wolverine,” as his teammates had called him growing up due to his ability to quickly bounce back from injuries, was on track for another stellar season in the D-League. He helped lead the Energy to the number one division seed for the third straight year. Once again, he received another call up just before the D-League playoffs, this time with the Wizards. As such, Jeffers missed out on Iowa’s 2011 title run, but looked to have a promising opportunity with Washington at seemingly the peak of his powers. He was on track to receive a regular season contract after playing well for the Wizards, but heartbreakingly torn his ACL over the summer during a workout.

Jeffers spent a year rehabbing before joining — you guessed it — the Iowa Energy.

Wolverine certainly lost a step after a major injury like that, but he was still potent enough to make the All-Defensive Third Team. In summer of 2013, the Timberwolves and Othyus finally crossed paths as he joined their Las Vegas Summer League team. Unfortunately, just like three years ago, he narrowly lost out the battle for the final roster spot to Robbie Hummel.

Unphased by the cut, Jeffers was a man on a mission. He posted incredible season averages of 20.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals. Before he was named one of the co-MVPs of the ‘13-’14 D-League season, the Timberwolves called up Othyus for the remainder of the NBA season. This would be Othyus’ final run in the NBA and the G League, as he ultimately found his way to the Philippine Basketball Association, finishing his pro career abroad.

Jeffers’ name will always be synonymous with the Energy. He’s a tale of grit, dedication, and an unwavering belief in himself. Here are Wolverine’s impressive final franchise marks:

• 2nd games played
• 2nd total minutes
• 2nd total wins
• 1st total points
• 1st total rebounds
• 2nd total assists
• 2nd total steals
• 1st total free throws made
• 1st offensive win shares
• 2nd defensive win shares

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1. Curtis Stinson

Seasons: 6
Games Played: 212
Iowa Statistics: 39.5 MIN | 15.1 PTS | 5.6 REB | 8.6 AST | 1.7 STL | 0.3 BLK | 46.2 FG% | 21.6 3P% | 76.9 FT%
Individual Accolades: 1x champion (2011), 1x MVP (2011), 2x All-League 1st Team (2010, 2011), 2x All-Star (2010, 2011), 2x Player of the Month, 4x Performer of the Week

Where do we begin with the man that has a name I’ve seen pop up as an auto-generated NBA2K NPC?

Curtis Stinson, a native of the Bronx, was a late bloomer to the game. He grew up in a time where his high school competition was future Wolves legend, Sebastian Telfair. While Telfair jumped straight to the league, Stinson instead found his opportunity playing for Iowa State University (I wonder if he was at that preseason game last week, booing Braden Smith?). A state that didn’t have any pro hoops there yet.

He was a standout right from the get-go.

Curtis was named Big 12 Rookie of the Year in 2004 and then enjoyed two more productive years with his best friend, Will Blalock. Both Stinson and Blalock led the Cyclones to the second round of the NCAA tournament, but bumped into the eventual champion North Carolina Tarheels in 2005. A year later, they both declared for the 2006 NBA draft.

Blalock was selected 60th overall by the Detroit Pistons.

Stinson went undrafted.

Just like the other names on this list, he spent his early pro years abroad. A quick walk in the park in Croatia. Then in Greece. His NBA career, despite having his D-League rights traded around before he even appeared in a single game, didn’t start until February 2008 with the Utah Flash (now Delaware Blue Coats). He spent just a month with Utah before getting cut, then signing for a month with the Austin Toros (now Austin Spurs), ultimately getting traded to the Iowa Energy by the end of the season.

Casey’s Center, the home of the Iowa Energy, was just 30 minutes away from where Curtis got an opportunity to play college ball.

Beginning in the ‘08-‘09 season, Stinson hit the gas. He appeared in all 50 games for the Energy before losing in the first round in the aforementioned Dakota Wizards game, without then MVP teammate Courtney Sims.

Stinson really turned on the afterburners in the ensuing season, averaging a 15.2 point, 10.9 assist double-double throughout an All-Star and All-League 1st Team campaign. He nearly averaged a triple-double in Iowa’s postseason run, pushing Iowa to the second round without future MVP Othyus Jeffers.

The stars finally aligned in the ‘10-‘11 season where he had a career year. Curtis boasted averages of 18.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.6 assists en route to winning league MVP. As spoiled above, Stinson was outrageous in the playoffs for Iowa. He was scoring 24.4 points per game on over 50% shooting without Sims nor Jeffers at his side.

Perhaps his candle burned too bright though.

Sadly, in the first half of the deciding game three finals against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the 27-year-old MVP went down with a hip injury at the start of the second quarter. He had just posted two straight triple-doubles in games one and two, but could hardly see the court in the ultimate game. He tried to power through the injury, managing 10 sporadic minutes the rest of the game, but couldn’t survive the final quarter as the game hung in the balance. His sacrifice was worthy, as he was still able celebrate the 2011 title thanks to his less-heralded teammates.

Till this day, that 2011 Iowa Energy title is the only championship that is associated with the Timberwolves organization, including summer league, In-Season Tournament, or NBA Finals.

As is commonplace in the G League, the Iowa team looked significantly different the next season. His recent play had earned him various opportunities around the world, but he also picked up a few injuries along the way. It wasn’t until January 2012 when he returned to Iowa. Without his star backcourt running mate Jeffers (injury) nor his head coach Nick Nurse, Stinson couldn’t hoist the Energy past the Los Angeles D-Fenders (now Coachella Valley Lakers) in the first round the the playoffs.

With 30 years of age on the horizon, Curtis would need to consider his shelf life in professional sports. He spent the ‘12-‘13 season away from Iowa, opting to go abroad for various leagues, but once again, all roads led back to Iowa for his final season in the NBA. He was longer in the tooth at this point, but still averaged 10.4 points and 7.1 assists for the Energy. They fell short in the postseason again, but Stinson once again showed up big to the tune of 23.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists averages. They poetically lost to the Vipers, headed by his former coach Nick Nurse, in the series 1-2.

Curtis never appeared in an official NBA regular season game despite appearing on six different summer league teams and three different G League teams. However, you can say his impact was far bigger than just trying to collect some garbage time in the NBA.

He is Mr. Iowa Energy.

“It is truly an honor to have my jersey retired by the Iowa Energy organization… I will never forget the amazing games, our great fans and of course the championship we brought to Des Moines in 2011.”

-Curtis Stinson

Curtis Stinson is the G League’s assists KING! 🐐

The 6’3” PG won the 2011 MVP, led the Iowa Energy to the 2011 title, and ranks first on the G’s all-time assists list. At the end of his career, he had his No. 10 jersey retired in Iowa. #NBAAssistWeekpic.twitter.com/UIN9XWTSFO

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) August 22, 2025

• 1st games played
• 1st total minutes
• 1st total wins
• 2nd total points
• 2nd total rebounds
• 1st total assists
• 1st total steals
• 1st total field goals made
• 2nd total free throws made
• 1st total triple-doubles
• 1st total double-doubles
• 3rd offensive win shares
• 1st defensive win shares

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There are a few other names I could shoutout, but we’ve exceeded 4,000 words here.

Marcus “Gorgeous” Georges-Hunt has the highest points per game average (34.0) despite appearing in just one game in 2018. Amile Jefferson was the first player in the “Iowa Wolves era” to win an end-of-the-season award that same year (All-League 2nd Team, All-Defensive 1st Team). Naz Reid is arguably the best player to have ever suited up for for Iowa in 2020. Current Iowa Wolf, Martez Brown, who was an open tryout player, has a chance to become the longest tenured “Iowa Wolves Era” player if he’s active for another full season.

Are there any names missing from this list?

I still have a few up my sleeve, but I’m curious to see if any of you true, nasty, sickos can guess who they are. Now go impress your significant others, friends, coworkers, random person at a sports bar with this new bag of knowledge.

Seeing Kawhi Leonard in a Raptors jersey again is naturally going to bring back memories of 2019. That season, there was no question who Toronto’s best player was. When a possession broke down or a playoff game tightened up, the answer was usually simple: get Kawhi the ball and let him figure it out.

Seven years later, Leonard is back, but Toronto shouldn’t be asking him to recreate 2019 every night. He’s 35 years old and coming off a career-high 27.9 points per game, so the ability to take over clearly hasn’t disappeared. The difference is that these Raptors already have players who need the opportunity to carry them through the regular season. If this reunion is going to work, Leonard doesn’t need to be Toronto’s best player in October, January or March. He needs to be that player when Toronto has nowhere else to turn.

Scottie still needs to be “the guy”

This has become Scottie Barnes’ team, and adding Leonard shouldn’t change that. Barnes averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season while Toronto won 46 games and pushed Cleveland to seven games in the first round. More importantly, he has spent the last few seasons growing into the responsibility that comes with being a franchise player. Taking that responsibility away now would make little sense.

Leonard actually gives Toronto a chance to keep pushing Barnes in the other direction. There will be nights Kawhi rests, nights when he doesn’t have it offensively and nights when Barnes simply has the better matchup. Toronto should want Scottie attacking those moments instead of immediately looking toward Leonard.

“I can play off anybody. I can catch and shoot. I’ve played with limited shots before,” Leonard said at Media Day when discussing playing alongside Barnes.

That might be one of the most important things Kawhi said all day. Barnes doesn’t have to step aside because Kawhi Leonard walked through the door. He gets to play alongside him, learn from him and continue figuring out how to be the guy Toronto leans on.

Kawhi makes everyone’s job easier

There is also a difference between being the best player every night and being the player every opponent is worried about most. Leonard doesn’t have to score 30 points to change how a defence approaches Toronto. His presence alone should create opportunities for Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.

That is what makes this version of the Raptors interesting. Toronto isn’t dropping Leonard onto a team with nothing around him. The Raptors won 46 games last season, defended at a high level and found ways to survive a playoff series long enough to force a Game 7. Now they’re adding a player who averaged 27.9 points while earning All-NBA Second Team honours last season.

Some nights Kawhi might lead the team in scoring. Other nights it could be Barnes, Barrett or Quickley. That shouldn’t be viewed as Kawhi doing less. It should be viewed as Toronto having the luxury of not asking a 35-year-old superstar to solve every problem.

Let Barnes grow. Let Quickley shoot. Let Barrett attack. Let the young guys carry some weight.

Be the best player when it matters

Of course, there is a reason Toronto brought Leonard back. Regular-season balance sounds great until a playoff defence takes away your first option, the game slows down and there are eight seconds left on the shot clock. That’s where Leonard changes the ceiling of this team.

Toronto already learned this lesson once. During the 2018-19 championship season, Leonard played 60 regular-season games and the Raptors still finished 58-24. They didn’t need the best version of him every night because the goal was having that version available in May and June.

The circumstances are different now, but the idea shouldn’t be.

Let the Raptors around Kawhi carry their share of the load throughout the season. Let Barnes continue becoming the face of the franchise. And when a playoff game gets ugly, the offense stalls and Toronto desperately needs one basket?

That’s when you ask Kawhi Leonard to be the best player on the floor.

Who: Phoenix Suns (1-2) @ San Antonio Spurs (0-3)

When: 5:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Frost Bank Center — San Antonio, Texas

Watch: Suns+, KTVK, KPHE, AZFS App

Listen: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM, SiriusXM

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We’re hitting the homestretch of the preseason, with the regular season set to tip off in one week. Their opponent on Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs, opens its season next Tuesday, October 20, against the Oklahoma City Thunder. So you have to wonder how much we’re actually going to see from San Antonio in this final stretch of preseason basketball. The Spurs last played on Monday, resting all of their starters while their young, exciting core took the floor and earned a 119–109 victory over the Utah Jazz.

From a Phoenix perspective, knowing their season tips off in Portland on October 21, you have to wonder how much we’re going to see from them as well. Miles Bridges tweaked his ankle in the second preseason game, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he receives some additional rest, along with several other players on the roster. So while I’ve included projected starting lineups below, understand that the likelihood of those projections being accurate is probably pretty low. Such is life in the preseason.

With an 82-game schedule ahead, one that is both arduous and physically demanding, teams aren’t particularly interested in wasting bullets during games that ultimately don’t count. And for a Suns team that possesses a fair amount of continuity, there’s already an understanding of who they are and how they want to play.

Of course, integrating Miles Bridges remains an integral part of the team’s success this upcoming season, as does the development of Jalen Green’s responsibilities as a facilitator and distributor. But the reality is that much of that chemistry and understanding will likely continue developing throughout the regular season rather than being completely ironed out during the preseason.

Tale of the Tape

All of the statistics listed below are from last season.

Probable Starters

You never know it in the preseason. So I’ll go with some guys who could start, but not likely.

Injury Report

Suns

• Miles Bridges — Game Time Decision (Ankle)
• Mark Williams — OUT (Torn Left Labrum)

Spurs

• None

What to Watch For

If this is a situation where we see very little playing time from the starters and the majority of the game is handled by the depth pieces, it actually becomes a pretty exciting opportunity for Suns fans. Of course, you’d like to see the starters continue building chemistry and developing an understanding of the geometry of how each other operate on the floor. But for a team that possesses plenty of youth and players still developing, rather than a roster filled with veterans trying to prove their worth in the NBA, these opportunities become increasingly interesting.

Players like Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat are where my eyes will gravitate tonight. I’m interested in seeing how they look on the court, how they’re moving, and how they respond to additional responsibilities that might not necessarily be part of their roles once the regular season begins. And that’s an important distinction to make when evaluating performances in games like this. Players are often asked to operate in roles they likely won’t occupy when the games begin to count. Peat probably won’t be part of the regular rotation to begin the season, and when he does receive opportunities, he’ll likely be playing off the ball, attacking the glass, and finding ways to contribute without having the offense run through him. That’s a different responsibility than being asked to handle the basketball and initiate offense during a preseason game.

The same applies to Fleming, whose eventual role will likely center around becoming an effective three-and-D player. When he’s part of the rotation, the expectation will be that he provides perimeter defense and knocks down open shots, rather than being somebody the Suns rely upon to generate offense.

So you have to evaluate these performances through that lens, understanding that the responsibilities we’re seeing tonight might not reflect what these players will ultimately be asked to do during the regular season. But that doesn’t make the opportunity any less valuable. It’s another chance to showcase their development, gain meaningful experience, and put together real minutes against a San Antonio organization that’s going to make them earn everything they get.

Key to a Suns Win

I was talking to one of my good buddies the other day, who happens to be a Spurs fan. Yes, I know. Nobody’s perfect. One of his observations from Phoenix’s win over San Antonio last Friday was that he actually had to turn the game off. Why? Because the Suns were playing with so much effort, and the Spurs simply weren’t matching it. And although it was only preseason basketball, that frustrated him as a fan. You always want to see your team competing, bringing energy, and putting forth the effort rather than simply going through the motions.

He also mentioned that one of his concerns heading into this season is that San Antonio’s success last year might have led the players to believe everything the talking heads are saying about them. That they’re going to win the Western Conference, or at least be right there competing for it. And when expectations begin to surround a team, there’s always the concern that players might start believing they’ve accomplished something before the work has actually been done.

But that effort my buddy was talking about? That’s how the Suns win tonight. That’s how the Suns are going to have to win every night. With effort, tenacity, and a willingness to make life miserable for whoever lines up across from them. That’s Phoenix Suns basketball, right? Be relentless. Be annoying. Be disruptive.

Prediction

Again, the final score doesn’t matter in this one. I actually think we’re going to see plenty of opportunities for the younger players, and that could translate into some sloppy basketball and poor shooting. How much weight you put into those performances is ultimately up to you, and if those struggles become a consistent theme, there’s certainly some reason for concern.

But I’m far more interested in the energy with which they play, the pressure they put on the opposition, and how they perform on the glass. Because for players like Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat, those are the areas where they’re ultimately going to make their impact when their numbers are called during the regular season.

Suns 104, Spurs 101

Kon Knueppel, as most of our readers probably know, comes from a serious basketball family. His mother and father played in college where both were their school’s all-time leading scorers, one uncle played briefly in the NBA, two uncles coach in college, all four brothers are promising prospects, and one cousin now plays for Illinois.

Early on, though, somewhat to the surprise of his family, the former Duke star, and current Charlotte Hornet, wasn’t all that interested in basketball. What changed his mind?

Getting a Wii.

Knueppel got obsessed with NBA 2K and NBA Jam, and from there, his love of the game turned into a passion.

It’s too bad the Wii was discontinued 13 years ago, because Nintendo could have run a heck of a campaign with Knueppel.

• Hornets’ Kon Knueppel Ranked 43rd-Best Player in NBA Entering Year 2
• Hornets Coach Gives Positive Update on Kon Knueppel, Grant Williams
• Charlotte Hornets star Kon Knueppel has established this goal regarding his injury
• Dell Curry praises Kon Knueppel for his maturity ahead of sophomore season

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

The Boston Celtics dominated the Philadelphia 76ers in their first of two preseason matchups, a 38-point rout. This was our first look at most of the Celtics’ top players, with Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser all making their pre-season debuts and what a debut it was.

Joe Mazzulla isn’t one to tip his hand, but it’s no secret that gaining extra possessions is a core tenant in his basketball philosophy. That’s going to come through two main sources: crashing the offensive glass and an active defense. The extra possessions were found in abundance during Saturday’s victory.

Paul George was responsible for a good chunk of them, a promising display of what he can bring to this new iteration of the Celtics. He came away with a team-high five steals, tied with Baylor Scheierman. From the jump, it was easy to see how locked in PG was defensively, especially for a preseason game.

George’s defense looked completely effortless. He wasn’t flying up and down the court or hounding defenders all 94 feet. He kept things nice and simple, relying on good positioning, and years of experience as one of the league’s premier defenders.

Three of PG’s steals came from reading the passing lanes with active hands. He led the team with six deflections, and the ones which resulted in Boston gaining possession all sparked fastbreaks, two of which the Celtics were able to convert to easy buckets.

Celtics basketball ☘️ pic.twitter.com/VwMrGe7fzY

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 11, 2026

An underrated aspect of Paul’s defense is, ironically enough, his offense. Being able to convert defensive stops into transition buckets by reading the floor and pushing the ball up the court will be an invaluable addition to a team that ranked dead-last in both fastbreak points and pace last season. Boston was also towards the bottom of the league (26^th) in turnovers forced per game at just 12.9, something they’ll be looking to remedy this year.

George wasn’t solely an off-ball specialist in Saturday’s game. He also had a Jrue Holiday-esque strip which led to a dunk of his own.

Two-way tenacity 💪 pic.twitter.com/WXDkWjo8Pp

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 11, 2026

Even when he wasn’t the one to come away with a steal, he heavily influenced the Celtics’ defensive possessions to wreak havoc. He was extremely connected with his teammates, and incredibly active as well. Whether a play results in a stop or not, his defensive tenacity will wear down opposing players, especially with his versatility, being able to shut down stars and role-players alike. Tatum went as far as to call George Boston’s “defensive playmaker” alongside Scheierman.

Everyone please come watch Paul George on this sequence

His defense has been crazy in this game already. His activity, defensive playmaking (3 steals), and on ball has been crazy

Celtics taking the ball away and getting more easy buckets is gonna be huge https://t.co/xXrQ1JsvI9pic.twitter.com/I8zgxhj1JG

— Nik Land | NikNBA🏀 (@NIKNBAYT) October 11, 2026

Keep in mind, we’re still just talking about a preseason game. I wouldn’t expect Paul to average 5 steals a night over the course of the year, but if he maintains this level of activity, Boston’s defense will be hard to beat.

That night, Mazzulla said George takes things to another level defensively. “Great instincts. Great technique. Great positioning. It’s something he takes pride in and I think is very contagious,” he added.

And before Tuesday’s practice, Joe gave some encouraging words about Paul’s health. “He’s had a tremendous training camp from a physical standpoint… He’s in great shape. He feels great from that standpoint.”

PG certainly showed us that he’s moving well and ready to work. Now, we’re just under a week away from Boston’s regular season opener. It won’t be long until we can stop dreaming about what this team can accomplish and start seeing the results speak for themselves.

Jett Howard probably wasn’t a name you had penciled in as a Maverick before the offseason began, but here we are. The Mavericks signed the former 11th overall pick in the 2023 draft to a two-way contract this summer after three seasons in Orlando. The 6-foot-8 wing never quite found his footing with the Magic, but his role grew last season, when he averaged a career-high 5.5 points in 12.6 minutes per game while shooting 37.2% from three and 94.9% from the free-throw line. Those aren’t numbers that pop off the page, especially for a lottery pick. But Orlando drafted him 11th for a reason, and Dallas brought him in for a pretty obvious one: The guy can shoot. On a Mavericks roster that needs players who can space the floor around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, that skill alone gives Howard a path to minutes. The question is whether he can do other things well enough to stay on the floor.

Big question

Can Jett Howard become more than a shooter? It’s that simple. The Mavericks don’t need him to come in and average 15 points a night. Dallas has plenty of players who will have the ball more than him. What they need is someone who can punish defenses when they decide to load up on Flagg, Irving, or another primary creator. Howard shot 37.2% from three last season on 2.6 attempts per game. Those numbers aren’t spectacular, but they’re respectable enough to force defenses to think about him.

Dallas doesn’t need him to be a star, but be a guy Dusty May can rely on to get a bucket when you need one. It also wouldn’t hurt to do other little things. Run around screens. Make the extra pass. Attack a hard closeout. Move without the ball. Compete defensively. If Howard can do those things consistently, a two-way contract will start looking like a pretty useful piece. If he can’t, he won’t log many minutes.

Best case scenario

Howard shoots the lights out and makes his way into the rotation. The Mavericks have several young, athletic players, but they also desperately need shooting. Dallas’ 2026-27 roster is packed with players 25 or younger, and Howard fits the team’s broader youth movement almost perfectly.

The best version of Howard isn’t a high-volume scorer. It’s a 6-foot-8 wing who can come into a game, immediately provide spacing, and knock down three or four shots without needing the offense designed around him. And there is something intriguing about putting a player like that next to Cooper Flagg. If Flagg develops into the offensive engine Dallas expects, defenses will collapse on him on plenty of possessions.

Howard’s job would be simple: find an open spot and make them pay. If he can also become a competent defender, things get really interesting. That’s the path to Howard playing 10 to 15 minutes a night instead of spending most of the season in the G-League. And considering he was the 11th pick just three years ago, I’m not ready to completely give up on the idea that there’s more here than what Orlando showed.

Worst case scenario

Howard becomes a shooting specialist who doesn’t shoot enough. A 37.2% three-point shooter sounds good until you remember that Howard only attempted 2.6 threes per game last season. His career three-point percentage is just 32.6%, so it’s fair to wonder whether last year’s improvement was a real step forward or simply a small sample.

And if the shot isn’t falling, what else is he giving you? He’s not a creator. He’s also not going to overwhelm opponents physically, even for his size. That leaves very little margin for error. The Mavericks already have plenty of players fighting for wing minutes. Max Christie, Zaccharie Risacher, Naji Marshall, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr., and others are ahead of Howard on the depth chart in some capacity. If Howard wants real minutes, he’ll have to separate himself from the rest of the pack with his shooting stroke. If he doesn’t, onto the G League he goes.

Season goal

Become too good for the two-way contract. Be the shooter you were last season, but with more volume when you’re in. I don’t expect him to become a regular part of the rotation immediately. But 10-15 games where Howard consistently looks like a rotation NBA player could make him a useful weapon. A simple stretch where he’s knocking down open threes, making smart cuts, and holding his own defensively should keep him on the floor. If he can do that, the Mavericks will have to figure out a way to keep him around. And honestly, that’s a pretty good season for a 23-year-old who is trying to revive his NBA career.

Overall

I like this gamble. Howard is exactly the type of player Dallas should be taking a chance on right now. He was once a lottery pick; he’s still only 23, and he has one skill that will always have value in the NBA: shooting. The Mavericks officially signed him to a two-way contract in July after his best statistical season in Orlando. Now he gets a fresh start. A little new scenery can go a long way.

He appeared in 133 games over three seasons, but only averaged 11 minutes per game for his career and never started a game. Dallas probably won’t hand him a ton of minutes either. But the opportunity is different. The Mavericks are trying to build around Cooper Flagg, and that means finding players who complement him.

Shooting matters. Size matters. And if Howard can put those things together, there’s a role for him. No one expects Howard to suddenly become the second coming of Klay Thompson, but there’s a reasonable chance Dallas gets more out of him than Orlando did. And if he can turn 37% three-point shooting into something closer to 40% while becoming a reliable team defender, the Mavericks may have found a very useful rotation piece hiding on a two-way contract. That’s worth taking a swing on.