SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 6: George Hill #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks signs autographs prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 6, 2020 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Spurs guard George Hill was once called Gregg Popovich’s favorite player. Trading the 2008 draft pick was a difficult decision for Pop and the Spurs, but it has yielded continued dividends.
For starters, it landed the Spurs Kawhi Leonard, Dāvis Bertāns, and draft rights to Erazem Lorbek. Leonard helped bring the Spurs fifth NBA championship, picking up Finals MVP honors. The eventual trading of Kawhi Leonard started a domino effect that resulted in the Spurs drafting Keldon Johnson as well as multiple moves for which they still future draft picks.
Since moving on from the Spurs, Hill has maintained ties to the region. Most notably, the IUPUI standout has a 850-acre ranch outside San Antonio.
“Former NBA player George Hill @indianageorge3 reportedly owns a 850 acre ranch in Texas, home to more than 1,000 animals!“
According to Wikipedia, “He employs 16 ranch workers to tend to the big herbivores he houses on his ranch. There are dozens of species on the ranch such as fallow deer, sables, kangaroos, wildebeests, donkeys, elk, antelope, scimitar oryx, Arabian oryx, red lechwes, New Zealand red stags, kudus, ostriches, and zebras among others.”
Pretty impressive for a child from Indiana whose neighborhood growing up was smaller than the estate he currently owns.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 16: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics in the third quarter during the preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 125-120 in overtime. 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 preseason is over for the Celtics so here are ten things that we learned about the 2026-27 Celtics in the preseason.
1. Jayson Tatum is all the way back
The return of Jayson Tatum was a success. The end was disappointing but for him to look as good as he did that early off of the torn Achilles was a big deal for him and the Celtics.
This year is about getting back to peak Jayson Tatum and the preseason was an awesome start.
Tatum averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game on 48% from the field and 39% from three in 28 minutes per game in the two games he played in.
His two man game with Mitchell Robinson was one of the things that jumped off the page to me.
Tatum was also scoring in all his typical ways, he has gotten really good at splitting the defense on pick and rolls and getting to the rim for a layup or dunk. His three point shot was very good, his defense was top notch, he was rebounding the ball, he was passing it well. He was doing all the things that he does when he is at his best,
Jayson Tatum is rounding into form and looks like he is ready to get back to All-NBA first team Jayson Tatum again and that is one of the reasons the Celtics ceiling could be really high.
One note I do have is that J.T. does need to get to the line more, one free throw over two games isn’t nearly enough. He can very easily increase his scoring by just getting fouled more.
2. Offensive rebounding is going to be a massive advantage
In their 4 preseason games, the Celtics had an offensive rebounding rate of 38.2%, which was the best in the preseason.
Dominating the margins is something that Joe Mazzulla talks a lot about and one of those margins is the offensive glass as he wants to create extra possessions.
Mitchell Robinson will play a big part in this. His is the best offensive rebounder in the NBA and on a team that is already really good at that, Robinson will fit right in. He was 2nd on the team for offensive rebounding in the preseason, Luka Garza lead Boston in that category.
3. Boston’s defense is so good and will force more turnovers
I also wrote about this but the Celtics are going go as far as their defense takes them. Boston is set up to have a defense on the level of the Thunder and Spurs. That is why I think this team has a high playoff ceiling.
The preseason only confirmed these beliefs.
In the 2 preseason games Boston played its starters, the Hornets had an offensive rating of 89.4 and the 76ers had an offensive rating of 95.5. It is the preseason and both Philly and Charolette were without some starters but the Celtics defense has looked very good.
One thing Boston has struggled with defensively in recent years is forcing turnovers. Last season, the Celtics ranked 23rd in opponent turnover percentage at 13.1%. In the two preseason games the starters played, the Sixers turnover percentage was 20.9% and the Hornets was 28.8% (they had 29 turnovers in the game).
Paul George is going to be a big part of the Celtics forcing more turnovers. In the game against the Sixers, George had 5 steals.
Forcing turnovers matters, it creates a fast break opportunity to get an easy shot on offense and it is a possession where a team doesn’t get a shot up.
Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla know the Celtics need to create more turnovers and I expect them to do just that this season.
4. Payton Pritchard needs to start
Enough is enough, it is time for Joe Mazzulla to insert Payton Pritchard to the starting lineup.
I don’t know how much it really matters but starting the game with your 2nd best offensive player on the bench is just not something I think the Celtics should be doing. Pritchard is plain and simply too good to not start.
He had 25 points and 6 assists in his first preseason game and 19 points and 11 assists in his 2nd preseason game.
Let’s not over think this, teams should start their best players in the NBA and Pritchard is one of the Celtics best players. He is ready to be the starting point guard so let him be the starting point guard.
With that said, he probably won’t start and I will be annoyed on Twitter (I don’t like calling it X) every game he doesn’t.
For the preseason, Gonzalez shot 63% from the field and 55% from three in the four games.
He plays with such hustle, is a really good defender and is usually always in the right spot. Every national TV color analyst is going to talk about how much they love Hugo all season.
In fact, Stan Van Gundy already said as much on the Zach Lowe Show this week.
(You need to watch past the part of them talking about how to say Sandro Mamukelashvili’s name to get to the Hugo love.)
Gonzalez is just really good. He makes a big impact on the game on both sides and is very quick in everything he does. His foot speed and decision making and chief among those.
I think there may be a world where Hugo gets Sixth Man of the Year love at the end of the season.
6. The Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta lineups are something I am interested in
In the Hornets game, Mazzulla unleashed a new look that had Robinson and Queta share the floor for a few minutes in the Hornets game.
Unfortunately I could not find what their plus minus or net rating was with them on the court but the eye test said it could work.
Now, it won’t be a thing in the playoffs but in the regular season, I would like to see Joe try it out and see what it looks like. Both guys are good defenders and Robinson’s ability to move his feet and guard on the perimeter helps that a lot.
The spacing could be clunky but there are ways to work around it.
Give me a heavy dose of Mitch and Neem in real games. With Tatum that’s dunk city. Can’t play off either of them or you can flow into a pick and roll or DHO, OREBs for days, mobility on defense + 2rim protectors.
7. Neemias Queta threes might be a thing and I am not sure they should be
I remember the days when Luke Kornet stopped shooting threes and everyone wanted him to let them fly again. There was no need for Luke Kornet to shoot threes on those teams and I don’t think there is a need for Neemias Queta to shoot threes on this team.
Queta went 0/4 in the preseason however he did make the one with his toe on the line in the corner.
His TOENAIL was on the line 😅 https://t.co/ZXHlFuNycU
Let’s call him 1/5, which is 20%. If Neemy is going to be shooting 20% on threes, I don’t think he should be taking them. Now, it was pointed out several times in the broadcasts that Queta does take threes when he plays for Portugal in FIBA but he was 0/2 in quailfiers this year and 2/7 in Euros last year.
In a small sample size, it has not proven to be a good shot. As a result, I will remain a skeptic on Neemias Queta three point shots.
8. Dillon Mitchell jumps off the screen
My favorite moment of the preseason is when Dillon Mitchell sank a clutch pull up three in overtime of the Sixers game on Friday night.
DILLON MITCHELL CLUTCH RIP AND RUN PULL UP 3 WE LIVE https://t.co/V0CGZTQ6OA
Mitchell was a bad three point shooter in college and if he can find that in the league, the Celtics could have a useful player. Everything else he does jumps off the screen when you are watching him.
He is a one of one athlete. How high he jumps and how fast he gets off the ground are two things that have stood out. He is also fast and has really long arms that make an impact on the defensive side of the court.
The three point shot is not promised to come but if it ever did, even if he just was consistently just above 30%, the Celtics could have a very good player on their hands.
Also, Sam Cassell used him as a small ball 5 in overtime on Friday, which is something make me raise my eyebrow.
9. Devin Carter was the right choice for the last two-way spot
Carter only played in one of the four preseason games but he was still able to secure the last two-way spot, according to Michael Scotto.
The Boston Celtics are converting Devin Carter to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes during 38 games for the Sacramento Kings last season. https://t.co/CZJQfZb4F6
Carter was a first round pick for the Sacramento Kings in 2024 and had an impressive debut for the Celtics in the win over the Cavaliers with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. He flashed the potential that many thought he could show when he was the Big East Player of the Year for the Providence Friars in 2024.
He was all over the court in the game against Cleveland and he will have a chance to make a real impact on the Celtics this year.
He missed the last three preseason games due to an illness.
10. Preseason Champions!
The Celtics went 4-0 in the preseason and that means they are the preseason champions (please note: I don’t know if anyone else went undefeated in the preseason).
The last time the Celtics went undefeated in the preseason was 2019.
UNITED STATES - MAY 08: N.Y. Knicks Willis Reed [19] lets fly with shot against Wilt Chamberlain and the Los Anges Lakers in Game 7 of the 1969-70 NBA Finals. Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-99. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
There have been some incredibly iconic moments in NBA history. Consider Julius Erving’s under-the-basket layup. Consider Michael Jordan pumping his fist after eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers, or Jerry West hitting a 60-foot shot to put a Finals game vs. the Knicks into overtime…or Magic Johnson hitting that hook shot against the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
Reed had torn his right quadricep, and that would be brutal for the average person walking around the house. In his case, he had to play professional basketball, and not only did he have to do that, his opposite number was Wilt Chamberlain, perhaps the most powerful athlete in American history.
Up until game time, it wasn’t at all clear that Reed would be able to go. However, he got 200 ccs of Cortisol just before tip-off, and when he came out of the tunnel, the Knicks and their fans were electrified.
Reed took the first two shots of the game, made both, and the game was effectively over. It was that powerful.
It remains the definitive example of courage on a basketball court.
The Memphis Grizzlies are in full rebuild mode. Their young duo of the last seven years is completely gone. Ja Morant was shipped to Portland, Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to Utah, and Memphis now has its eyes set on the draft picks they made over the last few seasons. Cameron Boozer from Duke and Cedric Coward highlight their exciting new core, but guys like Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey have shown promise as well. Memphis has just four players on its roster with over three years of NBA experience.
Having direction in the NBA is a good thing. There are some teams stuck on their sunk costs. Memphis is not one of those teams. 2027 will be a learning year for both their young players and their inexperienced coach, Tuomas Iisalo. Expectations for the Grizzlies are low, but their talent could surprise a lot of people.
Key Additions: Cameron Boozer, Quentin Post, Jerami Grant. Isaiah Stewart
Key Losses: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kyle Anderson, Santi Aldama
Mavericks fans should be very familiar with this Memphis team. They beat the Mavericks three times last season, all by double digits. Cedric Coward, Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey all had good games against Dallas and now return a year better. Boozer looks to be one of the most ready and NBA-conditioned skill sets out of this draft and will contribute right away. They have a high-energy, young group that will get after it on defense and move the ball on offense. Jerami Grant is a seasoned veteran who has won a lot of meaningless games in his career. Isaiah Stewart will give this team a percentage of the edge that the old grit-and-grind Grizzlies used to play with. I don’t see this scrappy team as a bottom-feeder in the West. Getting to 35 wins is not out of the question.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 5: James Wiseman #35 of the New York Knicks in action against the Philadelphia 76ers during a preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Knicks 120-97. 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
James Wiseman almost gave up on the NBA. Now he’s on the opening night roster for the defending champs.
The Knicks invited a number of veterans to compete for the last spot on their roster, an approach that worked well last season when Landry Shamet emerged from a crowded field to become one of the team’s most important bench players. Wiseman beat out John “Jitty” Konchar, Ochai Agbaji, Tony Bradley and Bruce Brown, while his competition at center, Drew Eubanks, tore a pectoral muscle and got waived.
Now Wiseman steps in as the third center for the Knicks, behind Karl-Anthony Towns and rebounder supreme Andre Drummond. He’s in a very different position than he was when the Warriors selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, having had his career derailed by injuries.
Wiseman wasn’t a good fit as a raw rookie who played just three games in college before turning pro, trying to find his place on a veteran team that had championship aspirations. His pandemic-shortened rookie season had virtually no training camp, then he suffered a meniscus tear that cost him the end of the year and all of his sophomore season. Golden State eventually traded him to the Detroit Pistons in 2023, more to ditch his salary than anything else.
The Pistons had a glut of young centers and Wiseman again had trouble getting playing time. It looked like he had found a home with the Indiana Pacers in 2024, only to tear his Achilles in the first game of the season.
Why is he getting another chance in New York? The answer is head coach Mike Brown, who had experience coaching Wiseman with the Warriors and called him a “fantastic human being.” Wiseman is still just 25 years old, younger than both Quinten Post and Charles Bassey and only a year-and-a-half older than Yaxel Lendeborg. He has a fantastic chance to rebuild his career, especially if he can win over Tracy Morgan, Timothee Chalamet, and Spike Lee.
Wiseman’s NBA future may depend on him turning into a solid shot-blocker and rebounder, who can be a reasonable threat as a perimeter shooter. He should get chances to prove himself, as Towns is going to play a lot of minutes at power forward, and the 33-year-old Drummond is no longer the iron man he used to be. The limited, specific role the Knicks need from Wiseman might just be what he needs to establish himself as a reliable backup big.
It’s a tiny role on an extremely famous team, and one that could showcase Wiseman, not necessarily as a future star, but as a competent NBA center, After all, Wiseman has played only 152 games in a six-year NBA career, which is only five more than Gui Santos. And while he hasn’t found success on the court, Wiseman has never been a jerk — he just keeps getting hurt.
For the Knicks, it’s a calculated gamble for a team with very little financial wiggle room. While Wiseman is officially the third center, the potential upside of Wiseman, especially when playing with someone like Jalen Brunson, is quite intriguing. The Knicks only need Wiseman to be an adequate backup center. If he provides more than that, it’s a huge bonus for the defending champions.
Three years ago, would you have believed that James Wiseman was closer to winning an NBA title than Steph Curry? This is the world we’re living in.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -SEPTEMBER 28: Stephon Castle #5, De'Aaron Fox 34 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs pose for photos during San Antonio Spurs Media Day at Victory Capital Performance Center on September 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the start of October, I had high hopes for a fan’s Triple Crown for 2026-27. My main team, the Spurs, are co-favorites to win it all this season. My two local teams were also favorites – the Dodgers were already into the NLCS looking for a three-peat, and the Rams were everyone’s favorite to win the Super Bowl. While nothing has changed for the Spurs, a lot has changed for the Dodgers and Rams. The Dodgers, two-time defending World Series champs, were just swept 4 – 0 by the Milwaukee Brewers. Preseason favorite Rams are 2 – 3, and about to fall three games behind the 49ers, who are now Vegas favorites. At least the Rams have better chances than the Dodgers, who have none.
To make it worse, I just realized that if we look backwards, each of my teams lost in the “final four” for each of their leagues. The Rams lost to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, the Spurs in the NBA Finals, and the Dodgers lost to the Brewers. Just like the Spurs against the Knicks, the Dodgers led in every game. I don’t know what you would call the opposite of my hoped-for Triple Crown, but it would not be very nice.
But let’s look forward instead of back. The Spurs remain co-favorites with OKC to win it all this season. Indeed, league GMs picked the Spurs ahead of OKC to prevail, with 77% predicting that Victor Wembayama will be the MVP. 2,000% of the GMs also predicted that Victor would repeat as Defensive Player of the Year, though I might have that percentage slightly off.
Closer to the main point of this post, Dylan Harper was voted the player most likely to have a break-out year, ahead of Cooper Flagg (27% to 7%). That vote may reflect that Flagg is starting at a much higher baseline, as he averaged 21 points, 6.7 boards and 4.5 assists last season. It is a bit harder to “break out” from numbers like that.
But I do want to address the “three guard” debate going on in the Spurs universe. I addressed this point several times last season, pointing out that having three excellent guards is a good thing and not a “problem”. For instance, even before training camp opened in 2025, I wrote this:
“The basketball universe unanimously approved the Spurs’ selection on Dylan Harper as the clear second best player in the 2025 NBA draft. The only concern I have heard is that Harper’s skills overlap with those of the anticipated starting backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
Having coached a bit, I know that having three good guards for the two backcourt spots is a good thing, not a bad one. The reason is simple — players don’t play all 48 minutes. Indeed, the Spurs’ best player last year (you know his name) averaged just 33 minutes per game. In 17 games with the Spurs, Fox averaged 34 minutes while Castle averaged 27. If Fox and Castle play the same amount this season, they will play a total of 61 minutes out of the 96 minutes available. That leaves 35 minutes for Harper or others — for instance. if Devin Vassell splits his time between the 2 and the 3. Harper will be not be 20 years old until March 2026 — and 20 is probably about the right number of minutes for such a young player in his rookie season.”
This prediction was remarkably accurate – in the regular season, Fox averaged 31 minutes, Castle 30 and Harper 22. In the playoffs, those numbers ticked up to 33, 33 and 27. Interestingly, Devin Vassel led the team in playoff minutes with 34.8 per game, slightly more than Victor. Of course, Victor was ejected early in a T’Wolves game, pushing his average minutes per game down a bit.
But back to the three guards issue. Fox, Castle and Harper’s playoff minutes totaled 93 minutes per game, very close to the 96 minutes available for the two guard spots. Which meant that the Spurs had two of their excellent guards on the floor virtually all the time – just the way you want it. If the Spurs play all three of them at the same time for portions of each game, and try to keep the per player minutes close to 32 per game, that will necessarily mean that for portions of each game, only one of them will be on the floor. If the goal is to maximize the number of lead ball-handlers on the floor, last season’s system seems preferable. (Side note – the Spurs won 62 games last season and made it to the NBA Finals. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.). I am certainly OK with increasing Harper’s minutes from the 22 he played in the regular season, and the 27 in the playoffs, but that can be done with the 2026-27 season model instead of forcing a three guard line-up.
Indeed, no one on the Spurs averaged more than 32 minutes per game in the regular season – a Spurs tradition that keeps the players fresh and their careers long. This also allows the non-starters to get real minutes and stay sharp. So long as Harper is getting his minutes, no one should care who is starting. Something Manu Ginobili can certainly attest to.
This is especially true because while the Spurs do not have a logjam at guard, they do in the frontcourt. Assuming Victor, Luke Kornet and the rookie soak up all 48 of the center minutes, that leaves 96 minutes for the two frontcourt spots. And the Spurs have a bunch of good players vying for those minutes. Vassel, Julian Champagnie, Tobias Harris, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Harrison Barnes. That is six legitimate NBA players.
Last season, the two starters, Vassel and Champaigne, combined for 58 of the 96 minutes. Harris averaged 28 minutes in Detroit, and should play about the same this year. We are up to 86 minutes, leaving only 10 minutes for 6th Man of the Year Johnson, potential star Bryant and whatever minutes Barnes gets. If the Spurs use the three guard line-up for even ten minutes per game, that leaves ZERO minutes for Johnson, Bryant and Barnes. And I am pretty sure the Spurs don’t want to significantly cut the minutes of either Vassel or Champagnie. Fun fact: those two had the second and third best plus-minus on the team. You can guess who had the best.
If I had a vote, which I don’t, I would vote for minimizing the three-guard line-up.
POSTSCRIPT:
I wrote most of this before the Spurs’ Friday night preseason game against the Suns. The Spurs started the game with the three-guard line-up, plus Vassel and Victor. When the Spurs made their first substitution (Champagnie for Fox) at the 6:34 mark of the first quarter, they were already up by 16 points, 24 – 8. Mitch Johnson said that they will start the three guards against OKC in the season opener on Tuesday. Maybe that is why I don’t have a vote.
When the Detroit Pistons traded Jaden Ivey at the deadline last season for Kevin Heurter, I was a bit underwhelmed. I hadn’t spent a ton of time watching Heurter play throughout his career and pretty much just viewed him as a shooter whose shot had been failing him the last couple seasons.
Say what you want about Jaden Ivey and where things have gone for him since that trade, but getting that value out of somebody you spent the 5th pick on just a few years earlier could be viewed as selling low. Especially since that player had seemingly lost the one skill that he had banked on throughout their career, and Ivey was in the midst of a breakout season before suffering his season-ending injury the prior season and was still hypothetically getting his legs back when dealt.
When Heurter arrived, the shooting was mostly still dormant, but what stood out was all of the little things on the court he was able to do. His finishing around the basket is fantastic, and he can defend well in a team setting. I wouldn’t call him a shot-creator, but he does have some ability to put the ball on the floor and create a little offense for himself and others, especially when playing off of another ball handler, a skillset the Pistons badly need.
All of these things are why he was given a three-year, $27 million deal to return to the team in the offseason. Those are the things that still have value for a bench player, even if his shot never gets back to where it was early in his career. But as the Pistons look to keep their reign at the top of the Eastern Conference, they will need bench players who can provide skills their main rotation players do not, and one of those skills is outside shooting.
If Kevin Heurter hopes to carve out a consistent role in the Pistons’ regular-season rotation, getting his shot back is going to make or break his season.
The Shooting
Kevin Huerter is a 36.8% three point shooter for his career. But that is skewed heavily by four of his first five seasons in which he shot over 38% from beyond the arc, which is also where he got his reputation as a shooter. After hitting a career-high 40.2% of his outside shots as a key member of the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings that ended the season as the 2-seed, his shooting has fallen off a cliff.
He shot 36.1% during the 2023-24 season, still a solid number. However, he only shot 33.8% from beyond the arc in 2024-25 with both the Kings and Bulls. Then, he shot 30.8% last year with both the Bulls and Pistons, but only 29.4% with the Pistons.
It was a small sample size, and he was trending up a bit towards the end of the season before a hip injury kept Heurter out for most of the playoffs. Heurter actually got minutes in game 1 of the playoffs and appeared like he was going to be a part of JB Bickerstaff’s playoff rotation, so the timing of his injury was unfortunate.
Heurter reportedly underwent a procedure to clean up this injury, which had been bothering him for most of last season, so maybe being fully healthy will help get his shooting back on track.
The reason why Huerter has stuck around in team’s rotations the last couple seasons despite the drop-off in shooting are the things I listed above, like his finishing ability and his ability to do the tertiary things that may not show up on a box score. Huerter has shot 75% or above from 0-3 feet since the 2022-23 season with the Kings. He has actually been above 80% from that range the last couple of seasons. That is a very solid number for any player, but especially one who has the reputation as a one-dimensional shooter.
However, over 50% of his shots still come from beyond the arc, which is why recapturing his early-career shooting ability is so crucial.
The Pistons spent the offseason acquiring more players who can put the ball in the basket from beyond the arc. With their young core of Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren locked in, the Pistons are positioned well to be a very good regular-season team for the foreseeable future. But, two of those three are not outside shooters, so surrounding them with guys that can shoot is almost as important as getting a secondary offensive option that can take some creation pressure off of Cade Cunningham.
You know that guys like Isaiah Joe, Duncan Robinson, and even John Collins are going to shoot in the high-30s and low-40s from beyond the arc, as that is something they have done for at least the last 3 or 4 years. In the case of Kevin Heurter, you don’t have that same level of trust because of how much the shooting has fallen off over the last couple of seasons.
You also still have players getting rotation minutes beyond the “Big Three,” like Ron Holland, who are still a work in progress from beyond the arc.
So, having a player like Kevin Heurter come off the bench and return to being the 38%+ shooter he was early in his career could be a boon to the Pistons’ rotation. It would also make the contract he signed in the offseason very good value since he does do other things on the basketball court well.
The Pistons don’t need another one-dimensional offensive player who can score inside and play a little defense. They need guys that can hit shots from outside, so Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren can attack the basket and dominate games inside like they did all last year. Kevin Heurter, at his peak, can provide exactly that while also being able to put the ball on the floor a bit, finish inside, and not get played off the floor defensively.
The Verdict
JB Bickerstaff seems to trust Kevin Heurter regardless of whether or not he is hitting outside shots. That is evidenced by the fact that he was in the playoff rotation last season before his injury. But, the Pistons did add some more backcourt players in the offseason that will fight for minutes like Ebuka Okorie and Isaiah Joe. Heurter has a size advantage over those two and has the positional versatility to play minutes at the three.
The Pistons also have a few players who will see minutes at the three like Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, and Javonte Green. Heurter probably can’t reach the level of defense of a Holland or Green or the level of shooting of Duncan Robinson, but some of his complementary skills can be very useful if he is able to get back to form from beyond the arc. He can be somebody who puts some of the skills of both groups of players into one body and can kind of split the difference between all of these likely rotation mainstays.
I don’t see a season quite as good from beyond the arc as he was at his peak, but even getting back to that 2023-2024 season shooting of 36.1% from beyond the arc will be a huge help to the Pistons and give a reason for JB Bickerstaff to continue giving minutes to Heurter.
Mat Ishbia is confident about the Phoenix Suns escaping the first round of this year’s playoffs. Is this fake-it-till-you-make-it internet bluster or are the Phoenix Suns built for playoff success?
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia predicts team will win opening round playoff series — and the NBA season hasn't even started https://t.co/tzmxG6mttK
It wouldn’t be the first time Ishbia expressed his confidence in the potential of the Phoenix Suns. To open the 2025-26 season, The Ringer predicted the Suns’ defense to finish at the bottom of the league, an assertion that Ishbia vehemently rejected. The Suns stamped his words with an exclamation point, finishing in the top 10 in defensive rating. Can the Suns do it a second time and deliver Phoenix its first playoff series win after three years of disappointment?
The answer to that may depend on who they play.
The following are my predictions of how the Suns might fare against the presumptive top 6 teams in the Western Conference in a seven-game playoff series.
Suns 0 – Thunder 4
The Thunder are the team that the Phoenix Suns are building to be. It was very clear in last year’s playoff matchups that the Thunder consistently turned aggressive defensive pressure on the perimeter and active hands into turnovers that sparked eight- to twelve-point runs. That’s exactly what the Suns have described this iteration of the roster to become over the course of the remaining years of Booker’s contract. I don’t think they get there this season. If the Suns want to avoid another first-round exit, they must avoid the play-in and the Thunder.
Suns 2 – Spurs 4
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – APRIL 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with teammates after the victory against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on April 28, 2026 in San Antonio, 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If there’s anything the preseason has shown us, it’s that the Suns have the Spurs number. Despite this, I think handling Wemby, in the manner in which the Suns have been able to contain him, takes its toll, and the supporting cast of Castle, Harper, Fox, and the refs are going to prove to be too much for the Suns to take down. However, I don’t think they go quietly into the night in this scenario and score at least two wins in a six-game scuffle.
*In the event of a Wemby-less Spurs. Suns 4, Spurs 1. Last year, Victor Wembanyama played a total of 1,866 minutes in the regular season. He went on to play an additional 750 minutes in the Spurs’ Finals run, totaling 2,616. In his rookie year, he totaled 71 games played and 2,106 minutes. He followed up with 1,527 minutes and 46 games played his sophomore season. If Wemby struggles to stay on the court, expect a very different playoff experience from the Spurs this season.
Suns 1 – Rockets 4
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena 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
Houston is a team the Suns don’t match up well against. They have athletic defenders on the perimeter, size inside, and elite scorers that can close out games in the clutch. The Suns struggled in their regular season matchups against the Rockets last season, losing all four. The Rockets are in a similar position to the Suns, where they are leaning on a second year of continuity and improved injury luck to improve off last season’s disappointing finish. While I don’t think Houston is necessarily better than teams that I’ll discuss as possible series wins for the Suns, I do think they are one of the worst postseason matchups the Suns could face.
Suns 4 – Nuggets 3
Nikola Jokic has done his time with the Nuggets, and it shows. By this time next year or the year after, he will be teaming up with Luka on the Lakers and the Nuggets will sink back into the depths of the Western Conference.
Until then, I think the Suns, like every team in the league, will have their hands full with Jokic. This year with Maluach and possibly a healthy Mark Williams, the Suns will have the length and strength to at least make things difficult for the two-time MVP. Denver is, at the end of the day, a finesse team, and the Suns’ new physical defense could give Denver’s potent offense problems they haven’t been able to give them in past matchups.
Still, I think the Suns will need to run the total up when Jokic hits the bench, and the role players will have to deliver an outsized performance for that to happen. Add to that the altitude, and this is a series that screams out for the Suns to secure a 3-4 seed if they want to advance against the Nuggets.
Suns 4 – Lakers 3
The Lakers are retooling for life after Bron, but by the time the playoffs roll around, they should have most of the kinks worked out. There are questions about the defensive acumen of the Lakers’ starting guards, and the Booker/Green backcourt may prove too much for even the best defensive efforts of Luka and Reeves.
Answers to Luka Doncic on offense are hard to come by, and as the Suns saw in ‘22, home-court advantage doesn’t guarantee anything, but if the Suns sneak into a 5 or 6 seed, I like their chances against the Lakers better than a potential matchup against the Rockets or Nuggets.
Suns 4 – Timberwolves 1
Close your eyes and repeat after me. Suns first-round matchup against the Timberwolves. Now say this seven times in the mirror every morning until the playoffs start. This is the clearest path to backing up Ishbia’s bold claim. They moved off of the size that made Minnesota a difficult matchup in hopes of Lamelo being something he hasn’t proven to be in the NBA: a winner. If the Timberwolves make it through the regular season without completely unraveling, the Suns will mop them up in the first round.
There are still a lot of questions to be answered about who each of these teams are going to be by the time the playoffs roll around. There may be some young upstart teams, such as the Jazz or Trail Blazers, that sneak into the top 6. But it seems to me significant that Ishbia and the Suns organization feel optimistic internally. He didn’t set any expectations for the 45-win Suns team to win a playoff series last season. Mat Ishbia is always confident, but never full of expletive. If he says it will happen. I give it a 60 percent chance that it will. That’s a number.
To me, it all depends on who we play, but others might think differently. Let me know in the chat what teams you think give the Suns the best chance to advance, or which teams you think the Suns need to avoid at all costs.
“No doubt, he would love to get that,” Bartelstein said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “But at the end of the day, you work for the Knicks and it takes two sides to get a deal done. And if the Knicks aren’t ready to do extensions right now, then we just gotta buckle up and go have a great season. He’ll be a free agent this summer, but we’ll see. We’ve got a great relationship with [president] Leon [Rose] and the front office. We’ll see: there may be opportunities during the season, maybe in the near future. Who knows where we’ll be able to have those conversations.”
McBride is set to make just under $4 million in the final year of his contract this season and will be in line for a dramatic raise if he hits free agency next summer.
Miles McBride claps his hands during the Knicks’ preseason win over the Raptors on Oct. 15, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Operating under owner James Dolan’s demand to stay under the second apron, it will be extremely difficult for the Knicks to have all five starters on big contracts and still have space left over to give a significant contract to a bench player.
That makes McBride the most likely trade candidate on the roster before the Knicks potentially lose him for nothing in the summer.
And he is someone, as a proven bench contributor currently on a cheap deal, who would actually bring back a strong return.
McBride has not been as pointed as Karl-Anthony Towns about the negotiations, but he did make it clear that he felt he deserved an extension before the Knicks shut down talks.
“We’ve spoken to the Knicks throughout the summer,” Bartelstein said. “Miles, like any player in his position, would love to get an extension. I think he’s earned it. He’s been a huge part of where that organization has gone over the last three or four years. He’s been their sixth man. A lot of people don’t realize how hurt he played last year in the playoffs. He had abdominal surgery that caused him to miss a couple of months. He came back and he wasn’t really right yet, but he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be there for his teammates.”
Dink Pate’s wild basketball journey has landed him back with the Knicks.
The team signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract Saturday and quickly waived him — a housekeeping procedure to get him to their G-League team.
Since Exhibit 10 deals are basically just training camp deals, they expire at the start of the regular season. But as long as he clears waivers as expected, it means the Knicks will keep his G League rights.
Pate, 20, spent last year with the Westchester Knicks. Then, as part of college sports’ increasingly Wild West-like system, he tried to play in college this year at Providence.
He didn’t have previous college experience, having instead opted to play for the G League Ignite before entering the draft last year, where he went undrafted and signed with the Knicks.
But the NCAA recently denied Pate’s amateur status and ruled him ineligible. So with his college hopes dashed, he’s likely headed back to the G League.
Pate, a 6-foot-8 guard, averaged 16.0 points and 3.7 assists with the Westchester Knicks during the G League regular season last year.
Joel Embiid isn’t planning on taking in the Knicks’ championship festivities before their season opener Tuesday night against the 76ers and Madison Square Garden.
“I don’t really feel like watching that whole ceremony,” Embiid said. “I guess I’ll be in the locker room.”
Jaylen Brown, though, had a different sentiment.
“It’s an honor,” Brown said. “Opening night, it’s primetime, the former champions, I think it’s serendipitous.”
MACAU, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Cooper Flagg of Dallas Mavericks during the NBA China Games 2026 between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena on the Cotai Strip on October 11, 2026 in Macau, China. 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 Clicks Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks wrapped up their preseason schedule with a loss to the Atlanta Hawks Friday night. Despite a relatively mundane record (1-3), the preseason allowed Kyrie Irving a chance to prove he’s returning to form and showed how Zaccharie Risacher can contribute when he’s playing at his best (which in fairness, took until the final game).
With the preseason behind them and the regular season just days away, Dallas continues to handle some roster business. This is the time of year when moves around the edges are made and players on the cusp are either retained or let free. In the case of the Mavericks, they made two moves involving familiar names – one, the face of the franchise and the other a rotation piece at the end of last season.
John Poulakidas
The Mavericks gave Poulakidas a two-way contract on March 2, 2026. This was after Dallas traded Anthony Davis and unequivocally ushed in the Cooper Flagg era. With Dallas’ season effectively over by early March, it made sense to take a few flyers and Poulakidas was one of them. For a team that shot below league average from beyond the arc, Poulakidas was a welcome sight and seemingly would have a chance on a Mavs’ team that struggled from deep.
In 13 games with the Mavericks, Poulakidas averaged just shy of 20 minutes per game, and offered up 8.8 points and 2.3 assists per game across those outings. He was everything the team needed as a shooter, having connected on 57.1% of his shots inside the arc and 40.3% from deep. Despite that, Poulakidas’ time as a Maverick has come to an end as of Saturday afternoon. As part of their effort to get to the proper number of roster spots, Poulakidas was waived.
If you’re wondering whether or not this move was in direct correlation to keeping Dwight Powell, it seems to be only part of the story. Even with the departure of Poulakidas, Dallas has to eliminate another standard contract to be in compliance with the 15-man maximum, which means Powell himself could be dropped, is someone else isn’t moved out in order to retain him.
Cooper Flagg
In the least surprising news of the offseason, the Mavericks opted to pick up Flagg’s third year option. A player like Flagg – one who signed their rookie deal last year and who hold a year of NBA tenure – puts his team in position to pick up (or not) their third-year option. This is generally a no-brainer for most teams, given the relative affordability of a rookie-scale deal, but it was of course the most elementary thing imaginable for a player of Flagg’s caliber. The move locks in Flagg for 2027-2028 at just north of $15 million. Next year, Dallas will all but certainly do it all again, to lock Flagg in for 2028-2029.
Adjacent to this news is the curious lack of similar news for Risacher. He too is in position to either get his next year locked up, or not. Having started all four preseason games doesn’t necessarily indicate what will happen. On the surface, his starts suggest he will be a big part of the rotation, possibly even a day-one starter. Perhaps it was more of an effort to give him the necessary burn for the Mavericks front office to make the most informed decision. Dallas still has time to announce his news, so it’s not time to read into anything, but it is something to monitor as we near the November 2 deadline to lock him in.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 16: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 16, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ roster is set for opening night, the team announced.
There are no big surprises. As expected, San Antonio will carry 14 standard contracts into the regular season, with those going to De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr., Luke Kornet, and Victor Wembanyama.
The three two-way deals will go to the returning David Jones-Garcia and 2026 Draft second-rounders Maliq Brown and Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
The decision to leave one standard roster spot open is likely tied to the franchise’s cap situation. The Spurs could have only signed a player with no NBA experience to a minimum contract if they wanted to avoid the luxury tax line. Anyone with experience would have pushed them over it. With so much depth and youth already in place, it made sense to keep the slot available in case of a trade or signing opportunity during the season.
Similarly, there was not a lot of suspense about the two-way deals. The Spurs selected Gillespie and Brown with the 42nd and 44th overall picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, so they clearly were enticed by their talent. Jones-Garcia was a standout during Summer League last year, and while he suffered a season-ending injury last season and didn’t shine in preseason, the soon-to-be 25-year-old scorer could become a contributor at the NBA level.
It’s not easy to come up with a depth chart for this year’s iteration, in part because they are set to start three lead guards and a wing at power forward, but there’s clearly enough depth at every position to think another successful season is ahead. Expectations are high, as the Spurs won 62 regular-season games and reached the NBA Finals last year, but the talent for another deep run is clearly in place.
The Spurs will start their season by hosting last year’s Conference Finals opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Oct. 20th. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 12: Tony Bradley #13 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 12, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz signed former Jazzman, Tony Bradley off free agency waivers.
The Utah Jazz have claimed center Tony Bradley off free agency waivers, sources tell ESPN. Bradley was the Jazz's No. 28 pick in 2017 and now returns where he spent his first 3 NBA seasons.
With Jusuf Nurkic injured and Mo Bamba’s play less than impactful, the Jazz bring in Bradley, who can provide serviceable minutes while they wait for Nurkic’s return.
Like Charania mentioned, Bradley was picked in the first round by Utah and spent his first three seasons in Utah. Though he hasn’t been a dominant big, he’s proven he can be at the end of a rotation for an NBA team, and that’s valuable for the Jazz, who need some depth at center.
It’s not clear if Utah will play more minutes with Jaren Jackson Jr. at center, or if they’re going to continue avoiding Jackson minutes at the 5, but this allows them the option to do either. In their final game against the Suns, Utah dealt with foul trouble for both Jackson and Jaxson Hayes. Having Bradley would have been helpful for Utah to preserve players in foul trouble.
Also, this is a fun story. Bringing Bradley back to Utah is great for fans and allows them to root for a player from a previous era.
According to Keith Smith, the Utah Jazz converted forward Harrison Ingram to a two-way contract.
The Utah Jazz have converted forward Harrison Ingram to a two-way contract, a league source told @spotrac.
Ingram brings some decent size on the wing and is worth investing time in to see if he can develop into a rotation player. There’s not much data on Ingram to reference, so we’ll see how he grows in the Jazz system.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 2: Behind the scenes photo of Mat Ishbia and Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during the 2023-24 NBA Media Day on October 2, 2023 at the Footprint 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In episode 4579 of Kevin Durant engaging in discourse with anyone who mentions his name, he pushes back against a poorly aggregated quote from Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s interview with CNBC sports reporter Alex Sherman on Friday, in which Ishbia was talking about the realities of building a championship team in the 2020s and the mistakes he made in establishing a culture with his first moves as team governor.
After an NBA media aggregation account on X known for leaving important context out of interviews posted a quote from Ishbia during the interview that sounded like he was taking a shot at Durant, the post came across the former Phoenix Suns player’s social media timeline. Durant quickly responded with his first post on X in over two months that wasn’t him shouting out his media company, Boardroom, or his NFL and college football picks and parlays with FanDuel.
For the past few months, Durant has mostly been commenting on social media threads, something he referred to at the end of his post, presumably because he feels there is less criticism of him or negative basketball commentary.
#blameKD even though KD stayed on top of his game at 36 and got u back this “culture” you love so much. Aye, Matthew acts like I got arrested for a DUI or sumn. Back to threads 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/oy6PZrBC2n
While Durant may have felt that Ishbia was taking a jab at him and the team’s underwhelming seasons while he was a member of the Suns, the Suns owner didn’t feel he was doing so and went online to respond to Durant’s backlash, accusing Durant of not watching the entire clip from which the quote was aggregated.
You obviously didn’t watch the clip. 😂 Didn’t blame you @Kdtrey5, but am happy with the culture we are building here in Phoenix. We got the right guys and right focus now and are excited for this season.
What was being discussed when Ishbia said that bringing in a player like Kevin Durant doesn’t necessarily lead to championships was that, in his early days as owner, he didn’t do a good job of defining the type of culture he wanted the team and organization to have. While being complimentary and highlighting the greatness of the two-time NBA champion, he admitted that he did not build the right culture to help his stars succeed. He very memorably approved a trade for Durant on his second day as team owner.
But even after being called out by Ishbia for not taking a closer look at the quote, Durant doubled down, appearing to take a shot at the Suns for how they had to get rid of Bradley Beal, someone whom Durant reportedly wanted the team to trade for when he was in Phoenix. The team bought out Beal’s max contract last summer with two years remaining after not finding a team to trade him to. He’s still on their books for the next four seasons at a large number.
U should be giving Thanks every chance u get. You don’t have to pay me an absurd amount of money to play for another team. https://t.co/LpARNK5LWr
Along with responding to Ishbia, he also replied to a post praising him for his time on the team from an account with 124 followers and no connection to him or the Suns’ social media accounts, as well as to an account run by a New York Knicks fan speaking on the matter. Durant is known for responding to accounts with small and large follower counts that mention his name, and today was no different.
This is not This isn’t the first time Durant has taken shots at the Suns since he was traded to the Houston Rockets. He did it after hitting a game-winning three to beat the team back in January after he felt the team had disrespected him in his final season. However, Durant’s reactions to the poorly contextualized quote appear to be misaligned with what Ishbia was actually saying in the interview.
You be the judge.
Ishbia’s full interview with CNBC is below, with the part about Durant starting around the 17:20 mark of the video.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: James Wiseman #35 of the New York Knicks in action against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks made their final roster move of the preseason on Saturday, waiving veteran guard Bruce Brown as they finalized their group for the 2026-27 season.
Obviously, the decision clears the way for former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman to remain on the regular-season roster before the campaign gets going on Tuesday.
The New York Knicks are waiving Bruce Brown, sources tell ESPN. James Wiseman is set to make the Knicks regular season roster as a reserve center.
Wiseman averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds across four preseason appearances after joining New York on an Exhibit 9 training camp deal. The Knicks are now expected to convert that agreement into a league-minimum contract.
New York needed additional frontcourt depth after Mitchell Robinson left in free agency for the Boston Celtics and Ariel Hukporti departed to join the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks added Andre Drummond as their primary backup center behind Karl-Anthony Towns, and Wiseman is now positioned to provide another option as the third-string center.
Wiseman, however, has played only five NBA games over the past two seasons with Indiana. His last extended run came with Detroit in 2023-24, when he averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds across 63 appearances.
It’s fair to say the former Golden State Warriors lottery pick did enough during preseason to secure a spot as New York’s reserve center depth and convince Mike Brown he deserved the final roster spot.
Brown, meanwhile, will become a free agent after spending last season with the Denver Nuggets, where he appeared in all 82 games and averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists… only to fail to get a guaranteed deal this summer.
Good luck, Bruce, and welcome to New York (now for good), James!
Coach Steve Kerr hasn’t hidden the fact that championship expectations are pretty much out the door for the first time under his watch. Instead, he said, success will be judged on process.
One of Kerr’s best qualities is his transparency, and he dropped another truth bomb this week.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, and guard Stephen Curry talk during a break against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I would just come out and tell the fans out there to be mindful when you’re buying the tickets of the schedule,” Kerr told reporters after practice Thursday. “Take a look.”
Kerr’s warning was ostensibly an attempt to get ahead of the curve on a problem that has plagued the Warriors — or, well, really well-meaning ticket buyers — for years now. Fans drop big money to catch the Warriors when they come to town, and all they get to see is Curry’s fashion sensibility on the bench.
Even an athlete of Curry’s caliber isn’t capable of keeping up with the NBA’s 82-game schedule at age 38, entering his 18th season. It’s in the Warriors’ best interests to keep him fresh for the long haul. They play 15 sets of back-to-backs this season, tied for the second most in the league.
It’s not just smart money to bet Curry won’t play both legs in many, if possibly any.
It’s just smart basketball.
“We’ve got not just Steph but multiple vets we are going to try and manage,” Kerr said. “Because it’s the only way we can do this.”
Last season, the Warriors were in a similar pickle. They had an old roster full of veterans who would need to be managed to make it through the season. Three games in, Kerr had a decision to make: Play the long game and rest his vets on their first back-to-back of the season or chase a win against the Trail Blazers in Portland after beating the Nuggets in overtime the night before.
He went for the win, and the Warriors lost by 20.
Golden State faces an almost-identical schedule this season, only with the second half of the back-to-back coming in Phoenix, rather than Portland. If Kerr has learned his lesson, then, well, sorry Suns fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Curry, you can’t say he didn’t warn you.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts during a break against the Portland Trailblazers in the fourth quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Heeding Kerr’s advice and looking further down the road, fans in Dallas or Memphis (Nov. 18-19), Los Angeles (Dec. 23), Phoenix (Dec. 28), Portland or Utah (Jan. 27-28), Chicago or Boston (Feb. 9-10), Houston or Dallas (March 1-2) and Oklahoma City (April 8-9) seem likely to get the short end of the stick in terms of who will actually be in the black-and-gold uniforms they paid to see.
The Warriors typically try to avoid sitting their stars at home, but some tickets are riskier than others (Nov. 1-2; Dec. 22, 27; Jan. 6-7, 12-13, 21-22; March 9, 16-17, 24-25).
All told, that makes up more than one-third of the schedule with games fans can’t go to the box office with confidence in who’s going to be on the court. That’s a larger issue for the NBA, and Kerr has repeatedly pushed for shortening the regular season to 72 games.
But his attempt at managing fans’ expectations only served to underscore the realities the Warriors are facing this season. There’s a reason why nobody, not even the perennially positive Curry, was preaching championship or bust before their first preseason practice.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks to Draymond Green (23) and Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. Getty Images
At the end of last season, Kerr said the Warriors couldn’t do the same thing again. Al Horford appeared in only 45 games. Kristaps Porzingis missed more games than he played in after being acquired in February. Curry’s knee flared up and caused him to miss two months.
And yet, here they are again. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said his options over the summer came down to availability or fit, and he leaned toward the latter.
Porzingis is out indefinitely. The only active player older than Horford is LeBron James, and he won’t play back-to-backs again this season. There will need to be built-in rest days for Draymond Green, 36, as well as Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody when they return from knee surgeries.
Curry will also be handled differently this season than ever before in an attempt to keep his runner’s knee from barking. Part of that adjustment has meant a slower ramp-up than normal in the preseason. He only played 25 minutes for the first time in their final exhibition.
With only a few days to go until Opening Night, Kerr couched expectations one more time.
“He’s not yet where he wants to be,” he said of Curry. “But he’s on track.”
