Illinois forward David Mirkovic, one of the best true freshmen in men's college basketball last season, is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on his left foot, the program announced Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Mirkovic is expected to make a full recovery, according to the announcement. The injury occurred during a team practice on July 31.
Mirkovic averaged 13.3 points with eight rebounds and 2.6 rebounds per game last season, and was expected to take on an even bigger role in 2026-27 following leading scorer Keaton Wagler's departure to the NBA. Illinois didn't release a timetable for the potential All-American's return.
The Niksic, Montenegro, native helped lead Illinois to the Final Four last season, scoring a career-high 29 points in Illinois' first-round NCAA Tournament win over Penn. He also scored 14 points with 10 rebounds in the Fighting Illini's Sweet 16 win over Houston.
Illinois returns star guard Andrej Stojakovic and standout center Tomislav Ivisic, while adding highly sought-after guard Stefan Vaaks from Providence in the transfer portal. The Fighting Illini don't have an obvious forward replacement for Mirkovic, but could potentially move to a double-big lineup with Zvonomir Ivisic, Tomislav Ivisic's brother.
David Mirkovic stats
Here are Mirkovic's full stats from the 2025-26 season:
2025-26: 13.3 points with 8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 48.4% shooting (37.5% from 3-point range)
Feb 28, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph C. Tsai reacts during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Liberty won again Monday night at Barclays Center. Former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady Hillary Clinton sat courtside with Clara Wu Tsai, getting a standing ovation at one point from the 15,312 fans. It was the first appearance by either Joe or Clara Wu Tsai since last week’s news that the power couple who control the Liberty, New York Nets and Barclays Center were divorcing.
But the game, not the impending split, was the news. It was the Libs fifth win in six games, their best stretch since early in the season … and that’s just fine with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. BSE and no doubt the Tsais would prefer it that way: the game is the the thing … with no one bothering to mention news of the dissolution of the couple’s 30-year marriage. As their original statement to the New York Post’s Page Six claimed,
“Joe will remain Chairman and Clara will remain Vice Chair of Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment. Joe will remain Governor of the Brooklyn Nets and Clara will remain Governor of the New York Liberty. They will continue to own and be stewards of the teams with professional management in place as they always have.
“In the long run, they also plan to involve their children.”
A team insider said it more bluntly in talking with ND, “We are not splitting our basketball operation … The Nets and Liberty will work even more closely together in fandom, analytics, performance.”
And why not? While some fans think they see the news of the split as a prelude to a sale, there is no evidence to suggest that but plenty to support the idea that the Brooklyn assets are, as the insider noted, the “family business.” It’s a great business to be in, in some ways even more so than their other corporate holdings whether in Alibaba, the giant Chinese e-commerce, AI and cloud computing business; or their minority investments in everything from SpaceX to Fanatics to ByteDance, developers of TikTok, even the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Brooklyn is generational and all three of the Tsai children have played competitive sports at a high level.
Indeed, a deep dive into the financial structure of the NBA shows that this would be precisely the wrong time for any kind of fire sale of an NBA or WNBA team. The leagues aren’t just booming. They’re exploding. Valuations and profits are about to take off like a rocket once again, putting the league on a trajectory that may never reach the stratosphere of the NFL, but narrow the gap between the two sports.
Currently, Sportico estimates the Nets along with Barclays Center are worth $6.22 billion. That’s around double what the Tsais paid for those assets — $3.3 billion — back in 2019. The Liberty’s value has jumped even more. Earlier in 2019, they paid $12-to-14 million to James Dolan for the then-moribund W team, mostly in debt relief. Sportico put the Liberty value at $600 million. In those ensuing seven years, there’s also been significant investment in the properties. Barclays is midway through a four year, $140 million upgrade and the Liberty’s new $80 million practice facility is underway in Greenpoint.
In the next couple of years, most analysts believe, things will get even more lucrative for the owners of NBA franchises. The league has announced it will add two new teams with Seattle and Las Vegas the leading candidates. In recent weeks, the rumored price tag for each of the two has jumped from early estimates in the $5 billion range to as much as $7 to $8 billion. The fees that new investors pay to get in will be shared among the 30 current owners. Assuming the total price tag is $15 billion, each current owner could wind up with a $500 million windfall.
Expansion would also mean the valuations of all NBA teams will rise. If teams in Seattle and Las Vegas are going to be worth $7 to $8 billion on arrival, what valuation would financial analysts pin on the Nets playing in New York in an established arena? Does $10 billion maybe more sound reasonable? (There’s a reason James Dolan, even before his team won the NBA championship, was talking about spinning off the Knicks from the Rangers, and separately suggesting he could sell off a piece to passive investors, perhaps a sovereign wealth fund in the Middle East, reaping a huge billion dollar profit.)
Then, there’s the league’s international expansion. The NBA is finalizing plans to create a 12-team European league which by some estimates could result in another $20 billion for current owners. It won’t end there. The NBA already owns and operates the Basketball Africa League and last October cemented new arrangements with NBA China after a seven-year hiatus.
Ratings under the new NBA TV contract in North America are setting records and the NBA’s popularity worldwide is on the rise. No, it didn’t hurt that a team in the biggest market was in the Finals.
Beyond the league’s overall popularity, the Nets and Liberty have their own advantages that add to a distinct value. To start with, there are few owners better suited for taking advantage of international expansion than the Tsais.
The Nets are the third most popular team in China, the league’s second biggest market, by most measures. Its pages on Weibo, the Chinese combination of Facebook and X.com, are the third most popular in the league, behind only the Warriors and Lakers. They have a five-person team that examines Chinese business opportunities. It was not a coincidence that the Nets hosted the NBA China Games last October in Macao. There are simple things as well. The Nets created a version of the Brooklynettes that tour China called “Cheer Nets,” a dance team that performs around the PRC, pushing the brand. Just this week, they were in Shanghai and Huangzhou along with Day’Ron Sharpe, Kenyon Martin and assistant coach Juwan Howard, a tour sponsored by the team.
Beyond China, the league put out numbers three years ago showing Brooklyn’s team had more than 10 million fans outside North America and estimated they were the third most popular team in France as well as China. As we’ve noted, the Long Island Nets have played 10 “home games” at Place Bell in suburban Montreal over the last two years, hoping to build a fan base in French-speaking Canada. So far, so good, each of the games was a sell-out with sales of “Les Nets” gear to match.
Sure, the Nets, the centerpiece of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, has “issues,” following their two-year tank and the Liberty have had some “growing pains” under new head coach Chris DeMarco. And, of course, the team across the East River just won it all but the Tsais show no indication they’re giving up. That’s from a performance aspect. From a financial aspect, BSE was an attractive enough asset that members of the Koch family invested nearly $700 million for a 15% stake. Nor did Jack Ma, one of China’s richest men, blanch when he bought an approximate 10% stake in the Liberty along with a number of American sportswomen.
Nor are they abandoning generational fandom, getting fans while they’re young. In fact, they are making more use of their latest investment, the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center for the city’s youth, employing it for the first time as a venue for a press conference last month when introducing their draft picks. And their program to offer free basketball clinics to New York school children now encompasses 50,000 kids, up from 44,000, last year.
Division of assets in any divorce proceeding can be a slow, grueling process, but for the Tsais, the big decision appears to have been made: they’re not going anywhere.
During a 2022 appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, Shaq went viral for admitting regret about his role in his divorce, and added, “I was lost. 76,000 square foot house by yourself, lost. No kids, go to the gym, nobody playing in the gym. We go to their room, nobody’s there. You start to feel it.”
Shaquille O’Neal looks at the camera at a Fanatics event. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Another comment Shaq made about his deteriorated family life during a conversation with his son, Shareef, on a recent episode of his “Post Moves” Netflix show is raising eyebrows on Tuesday.
Shaq was speaking to Shareef about the sacrifices it takes to play professional basketball, especially when it comes to building and sustaining a family.
“Are you ready to live that life? If you want to be great, my man, you gotta sacrifice everything. I’ve lost a family trying to be great,” O’Neal added.
“Are you ready to live that life? If you want to be great, my man, you gotta sacrifice everything. I’ve lost a family trying to be great.”@SHAQ having an honest conversation with his son Shareef O'Neal about pursuing an NBA career.
Shaq’s claim that he lost a family “trying to be great” has gone viral, as fans are raising their eyebrows about how he’s seemingly using his pursuit of greatness as an excuse for the detrimental decisions he made in his personal life.
This is especially true because it appears to contradict the accountability Shaq has shown in the past. He previously admitted that his own ego-fueled decisions and mistakes has led to his present situation.
O’Neal and his ex-wife of nine years, Shaunie Henderson, finalized their divorce in 2011.
Shaquille O’Neal poses with his ex-wife and four of their children. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“I wasn’t protecting [Shaunie] and protecting those vows,” he said about his marriage with Henderson. “Sometimes you live that double life and you get caught up in it.”
Regardless of his reasoning, it’s clear that Shaq has a lot of regret for his current family situation. But at least he’s getting to spend time with one of his six children—even if it is for the cameras.
The training camp would include working out, playing pick-up games, golfing, and exploring Ljubljana, Slovenia’ capital city. This is Doncic’s attempt to help build chemistry and camaraderie, both on and off the court, for a roster that looks a lot different than it did last season.
Luka Doncic dribbles during a Los Angeles Lakers game. NBAE via Getty Images
On Tuesday, it came out that not only is Luka hosting his Lakers teammates in Slovenia; He’s also paying the full bill to fly out every Lakers player who’s able to attend the camp.
This includes 16 of 17 players on Los Angeles’ current roster. But there’s one notable player who’s being left behind from the trip.
Rookie Cameron Carr won’t be able to attend because it conflicts with a mandatory NBA rookie orientation, which NBA insider Marc Stein reported in his Substack newsletter “The Stein Line” on Tuesday.
Luka Doncic smiles during a Los Angeles Lakers game. NBAE via Getty ImagesLos Angeles Lakers rookie Cameron Carr during an NBA Summer League game. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s unfortunate that Carr will have to miss what’s sure to be a memorable trip, where he’d have the chance to build relationships with his teammates. But he should have plenty of time to build those relationships once his teammates are back in Los Angeles.
It will be fun for Lakers fans to follow the team’s time in Slovenia, as there are sure to be great moments both on and off the court.
Things have slowed down around the NBA as we wait for a few big shoes to drop — Peyton Watson lands somewhere, James Harden re-signs in Cleveland, Jalen Durant's standoff with Detroit — but for the most part the rumor mill has slowed down. That said, here are some of the rumors flying around the last 24 hours.
Kings eye Westbrook, Oladipo
The Sacramento Kings want to add a veteran guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. to both back him on the court and be a bit of a mentor.
Might their best option be reuniting with Russell Westbrook? NBA insider Jake Fischer says it's on the table.
Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo rank as two of several veteran guard options Sacramento will continue weighing for a late-summer back court addition, sources say. The Kings were among several teams that observed Oladipo workout in Las Vegas during Summer League. https://t.co/bPV3tl480h
Last season in Sacramento, Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, although he is more of a volume scorer and not terribly efficient, a player with great highs but ugly lows. Sometimes in the same game. Oladipo, 34, hasn't played in the NBA in three seasons.
There is no reason for Sacramento to rush this decision, it is one that can be made closer to the start of training camp, or during it.
Portland not waiving Holiday, not pursuing DeRozan
While all the attention in Portland of late has been off the court and owner Tom Dundon rattling the relocation saber, there are rumors about the roster as well.
While there was online speculation about the Trail Blazers having interest in DeMar DeRozan, that's not real, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line. He also confirms something reported previously, that Portland has no plans to buy out Jrue Holiday and make him a free agent. That never made sense, even if there is a roster crunch at the point guard spot in Portland (Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson and Holiday), because he has two years and $72 million guaranteed still on his deal. Does anyone really think the frugal Dundon is just going to pay that so Holiday can walk to a contender?
Other trade rumors
• Luka Doncic and the rest of the Lakers roster are not being terribly subtle about how they are all going to Slovenia to bond and work out together. It's a good thing. They are also not the only team doing this, a number of teams are. For example, a lot of the Spurs are in France working out with Victor Wembanyama.
• Stein confirms the report that Sacramento has no plans to buy out Zach LaVine, either. The sides are going to go into the season together, see what transpires, try to find a trade at the deadline and, if nothing happens, maybe revisit the buyout talk. But not now.
• In Golden State, Moses Moody, recovering from a torn left patellar tendon, hopes to be running and doing on-court work in September, reports Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. He will return to the Warriors at some point during the upcoming season (just because he is back on the court in September doesn't mean he is close to a return). Jimmy Butler also is recovering and is expected to return during the season, but closer to the middle or end of the campaign.
• Several teams around the league have their eye on Dallas power forward P.J. Washington as a potential target, but current Mavericks president Masai Ujiri is "said to be a fan," reports Marc Stein. Sure. Washington has a lot of fans. Being a fan and being willing to trade a guy who plays the position you ultimately want your young star to play, and who is owed four years and $88.8 million on his contract, are two different things. This sounds like the kind of thing that gets leaked to drive up the price.
The Lakers' Luka Doncic reacts against Oklahoma City during an NBA playoff game at Crypto.com Arena on May 11. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
Luka Doncic‘s former fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, requested Monday that the petition for child support she filed in March in Los Angeles Superior Court be dismissed, according to court documents obtained by The Times.
“I am withdrawing my Petition for Child Support with the specific intention of resolving this matter amicably and by a mutual agreement which is in the best interests of our children,” Goltes wrote in the filing.
The Lakers superstar proposed to Goltes, a fashion and fitness model, three years ago. They met as children in their native Slovenia and started dating as teenagers in 2016. Their daughters — Gabriela, 2, and Olivia, seven months — live with Goltes in Slovenia.
Doncic has spent the offseason in Slovenia and will host a four-day minicamp for the entire Lakers team later this month in his hometown of Ljubljana, which will include workouts, golf and sightseeing ahead of training camp. The guard — who led the NBA in scoring with an average of 33.5 points a game last season — even offered to pay the team’s travel costs.
Goltes, 28, sought child support and attorney fees from Doncic, 27, following an incident that occurred shortly after Olivia was born at Kranj Maternity Hospital on Dec. 6, 2025, in Slovenia. Doncic missed games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics to be present at the birth.
Goltes objected to Doncic’s desire to bring Gabriela back to the United States with him when he joined the Lakers in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on Dec. 7. Goltes called the police, but officers “did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor,” according to a report viewed by ESPN.
The couple broke off their engagement shortly thereafter. Goltes deleted photos of her and Doncic from her Instagram account and Doncic acknowledged that they had separated. He filed an injunction with a Slovenian court in February seeking immediate contact with his daughters, ESPN reported.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,” Doncic said in March. “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness, and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”
Doncic posted a photo on social media of Olivia wearing a pink sweater with a heart emoji covering her face. In his first game back, he inscribed a G and O with a heart on his shoes.
“I got to see my daughter again, my newborn,” he said upon his return. “Coming back, it was kind of hard to leave them behind. But it’s a job, so I got to do it.”
“Chat, if y’all know somebody or y’all got somebody for me, y’all let me know,” Brown said, per People. “If y’all got some people in y’all mind, put em in the comments.”
“Coco and Donovan, man, they touched me. It was great to see. It was an amazing event. Two beautiful people coming together, man.”
Brown, 29, was one of many NBA faces to attend the wedding of the Cavaliers star and Grammy-winning singer in Connecticut over the weekend.
Bam Adebayo, James Harden, Dwyane Wade, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson were also guests — the latter of which Brown had a funny dance floor moment with at the reception.
Brunson stared down Brown, who was taking a video of the Knicks star and 2026 NBA Finals MVP, while swaying to the music on the dance floor with a sly smile on his face before calling to Hart.
The moment went viral on social media with fans saying 76ers-Knicks tension has already started this offseason.
Coco Jones and Donovan Mitchell at their wedding over the weekend. Instagram @gabunion
The former Celtic and five-time All-Star’s last known girlfriend was former-WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.
The two confirmed their relationship in Aug. 2024 when Gondrezick posted a photo dump on Instagram that featured Brown and even a photo of a piece of cake with his face on it.
The couple was also seen out together at the Celtics NBA championship parade and ESPY Awards that same year.
Brown and Gondrezick reportedly split in early 2025.
Jaylen Brown and Kysre Gondrezick attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images
Last month, Philadelphia acquired Brown for Paul George and two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Since joining the 76ers, LeBron James has claimed Philly as his new team after agreeing to a two-year, $8 million deal.
James and Brown, who is coming off his best season in the NBA with an average of 28.7 points per game, will link up with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe to try to push the 76ers towards a title.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Luka Dončić is taking charge of the Lakers this season, and that begins with him organizing the entire roster to attend a mini-camp in Slovenia.
Well, almost everyone.
While the trip has made it out of the group chat and will be happening this August, one notable player will be absent: rookie Cameron Carr. On Monday, Marc Stein reported in his newsletter, “The Stein Line,” that Carr will be missing the event due to his NBA-mandated rookie orientation.
The aforementioned Dončić has chartered a plane and is paying the full bill to fly and host every single Lakers teammate in his native Slovenia later this month. I’m told that 16 of the 17 players on the Lakers’ roster not named Dončić — from Austin Reaves to Walker Kessler to Bronny James to two-way signees Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon and AK Okereke –have all committed to attend.
League sources say it would have been 17 of 17 if just drafted swingman Cameron Carr wasn’t required to participate in an official NBA rookie orientation that conflicts with what Dončić is calling a “team bonding trip.”
It’s a bummer that Carr will be the only Laker to miss this event. This is the first opportunity for the entire team to be together and begin bonding.
However, he’s also a rookie, and the NBA has this orientation in place for a reason. Rashad Grove wrote a piece for BET last year about the NBA’s Rookie Transition Program, which included the Executive Vice President of Operations of the National Basketball Players Association, Morgan Cato, explaining the importance of this orientation.
Following the Summer League, the rookies will gather for part two of the program in August to expand upon everything they’ve learned during Summer League. According to Cato, the RTP is an alignment with the Player’s Association’s mission, which is “to protect and advance the rights of our players. They are the game.”
“In late August, all of the players will go a bit deeper into everything from media training and engagement to financial literacy to officiating,” Cato said. “It’s more of an intense exposure where they get to work on team building and communication,” Cato said. “By the time they’re ready for training camp, they know exactly what to expect.”
As good as it’d be for Carr to be in Slovenia with the Lakers, he can’t miss this event. Perhaps he can still remain in touch with his peers and talk with them about what’s going on during his downtime.
But it’s a bummer his first months in the NBA won’t include a trip to Europe.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 17: Damiris Dantas #12 of the Indiana Fever reaches for the ball against Jordan Horston #23 of the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 17, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Indiana Fever center Damiris Dantas is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. Dantas, who signed a two-year contract with the Fever in the offseason, has seen inconsistent minutes over the past few months but was nonetheless one of Indiana’s backup frontcourt options.
Now, Indiana will have a more short-handed frontcourt rotation.
The Fever lose one of their most veteran players in Damiris Dantas
Damiris Dantas has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another backup big option at her disposal. Now, an already-limited campaign has been cut short.
Because she was already playing a more limited role than expected, the absence won’t impact Indiana’s day-to-day rotation as much.
Nonetheless, Dantas is one of the most veteran players on the roster; the 33-year-old holds career averages of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 272 career games in 12 seasons. She’s played for the Fever since 2024, but previously suited up for the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, and was someone who Stephanie White could turn to in a pinch.
Now, with Dantas out for the season, the burden will continue to fall on Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.
Aliyah Boston continues to hold down the fort in the frontcourt
The good news for Indiana is that they have one of the best bigs in the league anchoring the frontcourt: Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Boston has averaged 26.8 minutes per game, and Timpson has played the majority of her backup minutes.
The Fever may look to sign an additional big to bolster the rotation in the wake of Dantas’s absence. While Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant roles, Indiana may want to sign another center to a rest-of-season contract.
The Fever are 19-11 and coming off a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Next up, they’ll face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, August 6th.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: The sneakers worn by Basheer Jihad #48 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Draymond Green #23, Kevin Durant #35, and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors look on in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When LeBron James made his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, it quickly made them one of the NBA’s newest superteams. The revamped roster now features James alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, giving Philadelphia one of the most star-studded lineups in the league.
Of course, whenever high-profile team-ups occur, fans naturally point back to when Kevin Durant “broke the NBA” by joining a Golden State Warriors team in 2016 featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala all in their Warriors primes.
So, when Durant took the conversation to Instagram, his comments about James’ new-look 76ers being more talented on paper than the Warriors team he joined quickly went viral and attracted attention from both of his former Golden State teammates, Thompson and Green.
Klay Thompson responds after KD said he was "never an MVP candidate in nothing" 👀 pic.twitter.com/yy4XEtI3zk
Draymond reacts to KD's comments on LeBron joining the Sixers
"You have to understand the way KD view basketball, the way KD view basketball is very Uncle Drew-ish, this game will and always will be about buckets… so he's going to mention the 25-point scorers… He also said… pic.twitter.com/YC3yru9gEG
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) August 4, 2026
While the exchange appeared to be all in good fun, it serves as another reminder of the legacy of Golden State’s dynasty. Nearly a decade later, the Durant-era Warriors remain the benchmark for every NBA superteam, and any comparison to that historic roster is almost guaranteed to spark some debate.
Kevin Durant argued the current 76ers roster is 'more dominant on paper' than the 2017-18 Warriors 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4DO7SKxU30
“Ain’t close,” Durant wrote in reply to an Instagram comment comparing the talent level of the newly formed 76ers with the 2016-17 Warriors team he left Oklahoma City to join. “Joel [Embiid] MVP, recently. Jaylen Brown, recent Finals MVP, Tyrese Maxey, All-Star in the last 3 years. We all know what Bron does.
“Klay Thompson never an MVP candidate in nothing, 22 (points per game).”
It is the latest example of Durant seemingly using James’ decision to form a superteam in Philadelphia in pursuit of another championship to validate his own much-criticized move to the 73-win Warriors after Golden State eliminated his Thunder in the previous Western Conference finals.
“This was a great opportunity for me to find my voice on the team,” Richard told reporters. “That’s not just talking and all that but leading by example. Making sure I’m coming here doing the right things and being a voice where the coaches can connect to the players.”
Instead of going outside of himself throughout summer league, Richard expanded on his role and jumped into bigger shoes after a year of learning from all-time greats. His services will be needed even more in Year 2, and the Warriors should be able to rely on him even more with confidence in his game and his communication.
Bosh is cautioning Wembanyama not to take his health and quick return for granted. In February, Bosh had a clotting emergency that nearly killed him.
“Yeah, I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead, pretty much, and came back to life. I’m not joking. I had another pulmonary embolism,” he told HoopsHype.com. “You just got to deal with it for the rest of your life. I thought I was past it. I am not.”
Already 33, limited, and with an extensive injury history, Payton only further solidifies Golden State’s attempt to run it back with the 37-win 2025-26 roster. A perplexing approach given the team’s struggles and age. Nevertheless, Payton is a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr and face of the franchise Steph Curry.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Miami Heat of their 2026 California Classic Summer League game at Chase Center on July 05, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country.
While youth is ideal, as it means players are closer to their prime and better able to withstand the grueling NBA season, it also comes with drawbacks. Plenty of Lakers are unproven, especially on the back end of the roster.
The four names that come to mind are Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr, Zaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. The upside for LA is that all are low-risk and high-reward.
Realistically, none are currently being counted on to play major minutes, and the player with the biggest contract from this quartet is Carr, who is making $3.3 million this year. If any of them can outpace their deals, then LA could not only gain a rotation player but have one at a bargain.
So, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we ask, which player is most likely to outperform their contract?
As a member of Carr Island before he was even on the Lakers, I feel like he has to be the top choice. He’s a three-level scorer and displayed that throughout at Baylor, averaging 18.9 points while shooting 49.4% from the field, 37.4% from deep and 80.1% from the free throw line.
While he hasn’t played in an NBA game yet, he was elite in the Las Vegas Summer League. Carr looked too good for that level of competition, averaging 18 points per game. While Summer League isn’t the best indicator of how one will play at the next level, how he scored mattered.
Carr showed that he can handle the ball a bit and create. He scored off-ball from the wing as well, which is likely the role he’ll play with the main team. His defensive play was equally encouraging. Carr has good size and used it well, averaging 0.8 blocks per game.
While Carr has no NBA experience yet, that also makes him a huge x-factor. No one knows how good he’ll be. So far, he’s played well in the moments he’s gotten this summer and has said all the right things.
If what little we’ve seen from Carr translates well, then he can absolutely find himself having a role in the rotation as a rookie. With how difficult it is to build rosters under the apron restrictions, having players like that is huge for teams.
But Thiero, Williams and Thybulle will also get their chances to step up. So, if you think they are more likely to outperform their deals, cast your vote that way. And as always, feel free to explain your rationale in the comment section below.
The Kings used their No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on who they hope will be their point guard of the future in Darius Acuff Jr. The question, however, has been what kind of players Sacramento will place around the rookie.
The Kings waived 36-year-old DeMar DeRozan with one year left on his contract, which made it seem like the team was embracing the youth movement.
However, Sacramento is “weighing the prospect” of bringing back Russell Westbrook or signing Victor Oladipo as a veteran point guard to mentor Acuff, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Monday, citing a league source.
Westbrook reveled in a leadership role for the Kings during the 2025-26 NBA season. After signing a one-year contract and expected to be the team’s backup, the 37-year-old eventually turned into Sacramento’s starting point guard.
The 18-year veteran played 64 games with Sacramento (58 starts) and averaged 15.2 points on 42.7-percent shooting, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in 29.0 minutes per game.
At his end-of-season press conference, Westbrook said he wouldn’t mind rejoining Sacramento if the opportunity presented itself.
As for Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft hasn’t played a game in the pros since the 2022-23 season and hasn’t played more than 42 games in a season since 2017-18, when he was a member of the Indiana Pacers.
Whether the Kings decide to bring Westbrook back or add Oladipo, it seems the team is focused on not only putting Acuff in position to lead the team, but also to receive some knowledge from veteran guards along the way.
Power Moves 
