The Los Angeles Lakers have come to a decision on their roster to open the season.
Dalton Knecht has been waived, the team announced Monday afternoon. The move puts the Lakers roster at 15 players, the limit under NBA rules.
The Lakers, who carried 16 players through the preseason, had a choice to make between Knecht and Bronny James. Both players were held out of practice ahead of Monday's 2 p.m. cut deadline, with head coach JJ Redick saying the two cut candidates were "under the weather." And despite rumors over the weekend of trade talks centered around Knecht, it appears president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka ultimately decided to make a clean break.
Lakers waive Dalton Knecht
The problem that comes with trading a player who won't make the roster comes down to value. Teams have no reason to give up any assets for a guy they know they can get for nothing a few days later. Pelinka has shown over the years that he's particular about return packages; he's more than willing to pass on a trade if he's not 100% sure it would improve the roster.
For Knecht, it became painfully clear over the last couple of weeks that he was the odd man out. His shooting -- the reason the Lakers drafted him with the 17th overall pick in 2024 in the first place -- was too streaky to be relied upon, and his subpar defense made him a liability most times he stepped on the court. That, and the addition of several wings with size who could shoot -- Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili when he's not playing the five -- during their roster overhaul this summer, suddenly made Knecht's skillset redundant.
Redick admitted as much to reporters ahead of Friday's preseason finale.
"I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed. I think he’s gotten better as a player the last two years. I think, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the injuries we had. I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings," Redick said at the time. "And he’s in a tough spot right now."
Knecht didn't check in until halfway through the fourth quarter of the Lakers' loss to the Denver Nuggets, the 12th man off the bench that night, and finished scoreless for the second game in a row. In his 7:30 minutes of playing time, he added one rebound and an assist.
The writing had been on the wall at UCLA Health Training Center for quite some time. Now, it's official.
After practice Monday, Knicks coach Mike Brown, as well as guards Jalen Brunsonand Landry Shamet, spoke about what it means to turn the page on their championship berth and enter a new campaign with largely the same group.
Turning the page on a title
The Knicks will kick off their 2026-27 campaign with one last celebration of their historic NBA title: a ring presentation and banner raising ceremony hosted at MSG ahead of their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night.
As fun as it's been to revel in their success the last few months, much of the team is already trying to move forward.
"Every year, it's a new year to attack something,"Brunsonsaid. "When people say we're defending the title — I mean, that's one way to look at it, but it's something we won. We've put in our past, and now we're just trying to attack another."
Shamet added that although fans across New York City are still riding the high of the championship, once the new season starts, everyone will be more focused what lies ahead.
"I think the fascinating part about sports is that starting tomorrow, no one cares [about the championship],"Shametadded. "After the ceremony's over, it's 0-0. We're a competitive bunch, and by no means is anybody expecting to just coast or anything like that. That's definitely not the tone of our group."
Between the ring presentation, the roar of the home crowd, and the excitement of a new season, having a ceremony immediately before the opener against Philly could be distracting. But Brown said he trusts his players to compartmentalize.
"It's hard, because they're human, and there's a part of you that wants to keep celebrating, but we've got to turn it off," he said. "The challenge is to try to get them enjoy the moment, but not fully. You have to try to supress all that early, before the ceremony, so that you can quickly get not just your body, but your mind and your emotions into the task in front of you."
The hard part, Shamet said, is to not get so wrapped up in what they've already accomplished that they become cocky or complacent.
"I think that's maybe some of the challenge that I've read about and seen in the past that championship teams have," Shamet added. "How do you take the high in the celebration at the beginning of the game, and still go out and perform, play the brand of basketball that you'd want to play?"
Jalen Brunson on Knicks fans seeing a new banner raised tomorrow night: "They deserve it. This is something that's been brewing for a long time...to share this moment with them is definitely going to be special." https://t.co/IlRiUGpGil
For the first time in his eight-year career, Shamet is spending a third-straight season with the same team.
After splitting his freshman season between the 76ers and the Clippers, he floated from the Nets, to the Suns, to the Wizards, until finally landing in the Knicks organization in 2024. He then dislocated his shoulder, got waived by the Knicks, spent a few months recovering, and worked his way from New York's' G-League affiliate back onto the major league bench.
Shamet ended up a crucial piece of the Knicks bench late in the playoffs, shooting 55.6 percent and 41.7 percent from the field in Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, respectively. In June, he inked a four-year deal with the team worth $24 million, marking Shamet's first long-term commitment with a team.
"It's not lost on me. I feel like I try and do a good job of not taking much for granted," Shamet said of his tenure with the Knicks. "[I've] never spent three consecutive training camps with the same organization, so feels really good ... to be here and have a familiar group and feel comfortable and confident with the people I'm around. I feel like they feel the same way about me, so I don't take that for granted at all."
He's one of several key players the Knicks were able to retain in the offseason — a fact that should give them a boost against many of their Eastern Conference rivals, whose rosters saw major shakeups over the summer: Boston got Paul George and former Knick Mitchell Robinson, Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Toronto welcomed Kawhi Leonard back after seven years away from the team, and Miami acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo after a lengthy trade battle with Boston.
While those teams spend the early months of the season working out the kinks that come with a roster rebrand, the Knicks are hoping to lean on their well-established system to get ahead early.
"[It's] very valuable," Brunson said of returning so many key players. "For us to come back, it's good to have our chemistry continue to grow, understanding that we've done it, but are we still hungry, are we still satisfied? Do we continue to get better every single day, or are we just content? That's our big question that's going to be answered within the first couple weeks of the season. However we answer it, we're going to attack it and get better every single day after that."
With direct access to Lakers memorabilia, the franchise’s global fan base and eBay’s live-commerce infrastructure, Goldin is drawing on decades of auction expertise to bring sports history to mainstream fans and established collectors alike.
Magic Johnson signed his name three times across a purple Los Angeles Lakers jersey before Ken Goldin brought it to auction.
The five-time NBA champion was among the Lakers legends participating in an invitation-only gathering at a private residence in West Hollywood on October 13. Public figures, private collectors, athletes, and industry figures, including Rob Veres of Burbank Sports Cards and members of the Trove Media team, gathered for an evening of live signings, historical memorabilia and auctions streamed through eBay Live.
Johnson’s signed jersey was auctioned, with proceeds benefiting the Magic Johnson Foundation. Lakers legends Kurt Rambis and Derek Fisher also participated in the evening, while Goldin presented an assortment of collectibles spanning generations of Lakers history.
Elsewhere in the residence, a Wilt Chamberlain jersey photo-matched to Game 3 of the 1972 NBA Finals stood alongside a Magic Johnson jersey worn during his 1989–90 MVP season. Kobe Bryant’s twice-signed Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 sneakers, worn during his 42-point playoff performance against the San Antonio Spurs in 2004, were also on display. Five championship rings belonging to longtime Lakers public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter represented the franchise’s championship runs from 2000 to 2002 and 2009 to 2010.
The evening marked the first major activation of Goldin’s multiyear partnership with the Lakers, announced in July, which named the eBay-owned company the franchise’s official auction house sponsor. Beginning October 28, Goldin will introduce weekly Wednesday auctions on eBay Live, bringing together historical memorabilia and equipment used during the current NBA season.
For Ken Goldin, the choice of partner was deliberate.
“Look, for me, I wanted to start at the top,” Goldin told Sam Goodman, Mantel contributor and founder of SOMOS Index, pointing to the Lakers’ championship history, international recognition and generations of culturally significant players.
The agreement represents more than an opportunity to sell memorabilia associated with one of basketball’s most recognizable franchises. It connects Goldin directly with the organization producing and preserving those objects, while opening access to the global audience that gives them cultural and commercial significance.
The Goldin Advantage
Auction houses have traditionally relied on private collectors, dealers and consignors to bring valuable memorabilia to market. A historically significant jersey might remain in a personal collection for decades before its owner decides to sell.
Goldin’s Lakers partnership introduces a different approach, establishing a direct relationship with the franchise rather than depending exclusively on owners bringing memorabilia to auction.
“How does working with professional sports organizations change your approach to sourcing inventory?” Goodman asked.
“For us, it gives us a guaranteed supply without competition,” Goldin responded.
The agreement gives Goldin access to selected memorabilia from the Lakers’ historical archives alongside contemporary game-used equipment, including jerseys, basketballs and nets. Rather than competing for those objects once they enter private collections, the auction house can source them through the organization itself.
That relationship is particularly important in a market where an object’s value depends not only on who used it, but also on the ability to establish its history.
“To us, provenance and authenticity is the number one thing,” Goldin explained. “Is it real? Is it authentic? We are getting it from the source.”
Acquiring memorabilia directly from the franchise provides a clearer chain of custody, connecting an item’s documented use to its eventual sale. For collectors, that provenance can be as important as the athlete or performance associated with it.
Direct sourcing also changes how quickly memorabilia can reach the market.
Goldin described how equipment associated with a significant performance could potentially reach auction as soon as the following day, rather than spending years circulating through private collections. The same relationship could allow collectors to pursue objects before their significance has even been established.
He outlined plans for a service allowing fans to arrange the purchase of game-worn memorabilia before an upcoming matchup. A collector, for example, could request an Austin Reaves jersey without knowing whether the player will deliver an ordinary performance or a career-defining night.
The distinction is significant. Historically, collectors have often pursued memorabilia after an athlete or moment has become important. Goldin’s approach could allow them to acquire objects tied to moments whose place in sports history has yet to be determined.
For an auction house built around bringing desirable collectibles to market, the Lakers relationship provides a closer connection to the athletes, games and organizations responsible for creating them.
The Power of the Purple and Gold
The Lakers offer Goldin something beyond a collection of historic jerseys and game-used equipment.
Few professional sports franchises have a cultural identity as recognizable as the Lakers. From Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant to LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the team’s history extends across generations of basketball, entertainment and popular culture.
That recognition also gives Goldin access to an audience far larger than the established sports memorabilia market.
“Part of our deal is that this is going to be promoted to the millions of fans that are in the Lakers database and maybe not in my auction database,” Goldin explained.
For an auction house accustomed to reaching customers through collectors, dealers and existing marketplace participants, the franchise relationship creates another path to potential buyers.
A lifelong Lakers fan may have attended games, purchased jerseys and followed the team’s biggest moments without ever participating in a memorabilia auction. Through the partnership, that same fan could encounter an opportunity to own an object directly connected to a favorite player or memorable performance.
Goldin has previously used entertainment to introduce collecting to audiences outside the traditional hobby.
Netflix’s King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch, which premiered in 2023, brought viewers inside the auction house, following the personalities, historic objects and competitive transactions that define its business.
The Lakers partnership approaches audience development from another direction.
Where Netflix introduced collecting through entertainment, the franchise relationship allows Goldin to reach potential customers through their existing attachment to a team and its players. Rather than asking viewers to become interested in collectibles generally, Goldin can introduce memorabilia connected to athletes and moments they already care about.
The inventory itself is intended to serve a broader range of buyers.
“We’re going to have something for everybody and we’re going to have something from every player,” Goldin said.
Alongside premium game-worn jerseys and historically significant artifacts, Goldin plans to offer more accessible collectibles and unusual objects connected to players throughout the roster. Potential offerings include media-day jerseys, game-used basketballs, locker-room nameplates and equipment associated with the franchise.
For established collectors, that creates another source of rare and historically significant memorabilia. For Lakers fans unfamiliar with auctions, it introduces collecting through a relationship they already have with the team.
Exposure to the Lakers’ global audience does not guarantee that those fans will become collectors. But it gives Goldin a direct channel to potential customers beyond the people who already participate in its auctions, expanding the audience for the memorabilia the partnership brings to market.
Beyond the Auction Block
Ken Goldin’s experience with live selling dates back decades. Long before the rise of livestream shopping, he sold sports memorabilia to television audiences through QVC and the Home Shopping Network.
In 2024, eBay acquired Goldin, connecting its established auction business with a global marketplace and digital commerce infrastructure.
The Lakers partnership brings those capabilities together with something traditional auction houses cannot always count on: a continuing source of memorabilia tied to a franchise whose history is still being written.
Beginning October 28, Goldin will introduce weekly Wednesday Lakers auctions through Goldin on eBay Live, offering historical collectibles alongside contemporary game-used equipment throughout the NBA season.
“We’re doing so much more than an auction; we’re creating a real show each week that is entertaining, fast-paced, and interactive,” Goldin said in the company’s October announcement.
For an auction business historically organized around consignments and scheduled sales, recurring programming introduces a different rhythm.
Rather than waiting for individual collections to become available, Goldin can organize regular auctions around memorabilia sourced through the franchise. The NBA season provides a natural calendar, with each game creating the possibility of another significant performance, while the Lakers’ archives offer decades of material beyond the current roster.
The October 13 activation offered an early example of how those elements could work together.
Magic Johnson’s live jersey signing placed one of basketball’s most recognizable figures directly into the presentation of an object associated with his career. Ken Goldin brought the jersey to auction, while eBay Live extended participation beyond the collectors and guests gathered in West Hollywood.
The athlete, the memorabilia and the transaction became part of the same event.
Goldin’s traditional auction platform will continue offering Lakers memorabilia alongside its eBay Live programming, allowing the partnership to serve established collectors while developing a recurring format for new audiences.
For Ken Goldin, whose career has spanned televised selling, high-end auctions and digital marketplaces, live commerce represents another way to connect collectors with the objects and stories that have long defined his business.
The difference now is that Goldin has a direct relationship with the franchise supplying those stories.
A League of Opportunities
The Lakers are not the only professional sports organization Goldin is pursuing.
The company has also announced a partnership with the Detroit Pistons, reflecting a broader effort to establish direct relationships with teams rather than relying solely on traditional consignment channels.
During his conversation with Mantel, Goldin discussed the possibility of expanding the model across major professional sports leagues. But he made clear that the company is not interested in accumulating partnerships simply for the sake of increasing their number.
Instead, Goldin described a selective approach focused on franchises with established histories, strong fan communities, recognizable identities and championship potential.
The Lakers provide a particularly compelling starting point. Their decades of championships, internationally recognized players and extensive historical archives offer valuable inventory, while the team’s global audience creates opportunities to reach collectors and fans well beyond the existing auction market.
Whether other franchise relationships can deliver similar results remains an open question.
For Goldin, the success of the Lakers partnership will depend on more than the number of objects brought to auction.
“I think success is going to not only be determined by sales,” he explained. “Success is going to be determined by selling prices. Are we getting good prices?”
The company is also looking at whether the partnership attracts new bidders, increases Goldin’s visibility and generates interest from other professional sports organizations.
“How much do we raise our profile? Did we gain X number of tens of thousands new bidders?”
Those measures offer a clearer picture of the company’s ambitions. Strong auction results would demonstrate demand for the memorabilia itself. New bidders would suggest that access to the Lakers’ fan base is translating into customers. Additional franchise relationships could indicate that the model has applications beyond one of basketball’s most recognizable teams.
None of those outcomes is guaranteed. But the partnership gives Goldin an opportunity to test how direct access to professional sports organizations can change both the supply of memorabilia and the audience participating in its sale.
Goldin has spent decades building a business around bringing pieces of sports history to auction. Its partnership with the Lakers creates an opportunity to connect that business more directly with history as it unfolds.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: CJHuntley #21 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Huntley originally joined Phoenix on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2025. In November of last year, the Suns terminated that contract, making him a free agent. He continued playing with the Valley Suns, however, and following the conversion of Jamaree Bouyea’s two-way contract to a standard NBA deal in March, Huntley was brought back on another two-way contract.
Hamstring issues prevented Huntley from participating in the Summer League, but he put together a productive season with the Valley Suns last year. In 42 appearances, the 6’11” big man averaged 15.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 27 minutes per game, shooting 63% from the field, 34% from beyond the arc, and 67% from the free throw line.
Despite that production, Phoenix has decided to move on from Huntley as it continues adjusting its roster ahead of the regular season. His departure, along with Brea’s, leaves the Suns with one open two-way contract spot and one standard roster spot.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 05: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics argues with referee Ben Taylor #46 against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in game three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 05, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Silver has done it again. The commissioner and the rest of his coroporate teammates at the NBA office continue to ensure the league’s viewers have the maximum amount of fun, thanks to the endless amount of jerseys each franchise wears.
That, of course, includes your Boston Celtics. Boston is one of eight franchises to have a “Specter” edition uniform bestowed upon them this season.
When I saw this, I almost spiked my phone. What a disgusting piece of moneygrabbing slop.
Now, I’m the defininition of a traditionalist, so there’s definitely some bias here. I think the home team should always wear white, and road teams can wear any of their more colorful uniforms.
With that being said, there’s simply no way that these should’ve seen the light of day. The Northern Lights-esque design doesn’t work. The small font that reads “Boston” (you might not even have noticed it on the chest of the jersey) looks ridiculous.
Who is this even for?
There are seven other fanbases who are likely asking themselves the same question.
The New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors will all feature a similar looking monstrosity in their respective wardrobes this season.
Ironically, the league picked its eight oldest franchises to force these disguting unis on as part of this Specter series.
“The new Specter Edition uniforms open a new chapter in how team identity for the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics — the teams tracing their history back to the earliest chapters of the NBA — appears on court,” the league wrote in an official release last month. “Bringing forward the same obsession with the game that defines the NBA Standard Issue collection, each uniform features details inspired by the franchises’ history, city heritage and fan culture.“
You know what would’ve been a great way to honor history?
Maybe whip up some cool throwback jerseys.
It’s possible. We’ve seen the Celtics run with throwbacks in the past, despite not having changed much about their uniforms over the course of 80 years.
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 10: Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after breaking the NBA All-time three point record against the Los Angeles Lakers during the game on February 10, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2011 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics blocks the shot of Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game at Staples Center December 30, 2007 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 2007 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Thankfully, every single post I’ve seen related to these jerseys has been a negative one. Having read through the full press release, it seems like the NBA is trying to capitalize on the hypebeast culture of wearing silly looking things just because they’re rare.
Featured several times throughout is the “1:1” tag.
More or less, the goal of the entire charade is to break into the fashion world by having players serve as models for this new line.
Does the league know that they can just release obscure merch without making the teams wear it?
There is some “good” news woven into this story, though. The Celtics will only put these things on three times this season. Three, by the way, is the bare minimum amount of games that teams are required to wear any special edition uniform.
In other words, the Celtics themselves know that these stink just as much as the rest of us do.
It’s tough because I was actually felling good about Nike heading into the season. They allowed teams to bring back their preferred City Edition uniform from the past decade, and Boston nailed their choice with the green and yellow unis from the 2018-19 season.
Jayson’s reaction is actually the opposite of mine when I heard this news.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the third quarter of the game to an officials call during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on December 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Besides the St. Patrick’s Day uniforms off the 2000’s, these are probably my favorite non-traditional Celtics uni. So, good job, Celtics.
Boston won’t actually wear these beauties until Jan. 20, 2027, though. They do, however, understand how fire they actually are since they’ll be wearing them 11 total times throughout the back half of the season.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: The sneakers worn by Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 14, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nets first-round pick Joshua Jefferson practiced full contact on Monday and will be available for the team's season opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Jefferson, the No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Iowa State, missed all of Brooklyn's preseason games due to back soreness and had not fully practiced yet.
In three Summer League games, the 22-year-old averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks across 21.3 minutes of action.
During his senior year of college, Jefferson was the Cyclones' second-leading scorer with 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per night over 35 games.
While Jefferson hopes to see the court on Wednesday night, fellow rookie Tyler Bilodeau will miss the first game of the year due to a shoulder injury, per the New York Post's Brian Lewis.
Bilodeau, the No. 43 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, scored five points in both of the preseason games he played.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Goodnight, sweet Dwight.
The Dallas Mavericks waived veteran forward/center Dwight Powell on Monday. The all-time glue guy ends his 12-year run with the team as by far the most tenured player on the roster in a move that signals the end of an era for the Mavericks under first-year team president Masai Ujiri.
“Dwight was the consummate professional throughout his 12 seasons with the Mavericks and embodies everything you want in someone representing your organization,” Ujiri said in a statement. “He’s a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and someone whose impact extends well beyond the basketball court and into the Dallas community. We are grateful for everything Dwight has contributed to this franchise. He will always be part of the Mavericks family, and Dallas will always be a home for him. We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter.”
Powell averaged 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.3 minutes per game in his 12 seasons with Dallas. Last season for the Mavericks, he scored 3.3 points, grabbed 4.1 rebounds and dished 1.1 assists in 14.3 minutes per game. He appeared in 63 games in 2025-26 and started 12.
He appeared in three of the Mavericks’ four preseason games in 2026, averaging 1.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 12.1 minutes.
MACAO, CHINA – OCTOBER 11: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks signs memorabilia for a fan before the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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
Powell (6-10, 260) ranks fourth among Mavericks’ all-time leaders in career field goal percentage (.606), fifth in games played (763), sixth in offensive rebounds (1,187), sixth in total rebounds (3,251) and 10th in blocks (330). He was the third-longest-tenured player (with the same team) in the NBA when the team waived him, behind only Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
His presence in the locker room and his fashion sense will be sorely missed — as will his innate ability to absorb blows to the face under the basket while battling for rebounds.
It’s rare you find someone ceaselessly willing to put others first and [self] last. Someone who exceeds their expectations regardless of their crescendo. You just don’t find those fall into your arms often. We found ours 12 Decembers ago. And boy, did we have a memorable embrace. Dwight Powell — you and your face enriched countless MFFL’s lives long before this account began in 2022, and will continue to do so as the next chapter begins. I really enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you did too. Dwight Powell — may you have a very enjoyable morning, eat a nice dinner later, and peacefully fall asleep in under 3 minutes tonight. Dwight Powell – go continue to be great. We’re all so excited to watch.
Thank you, Dwight.
The Dwight’s Face Community
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: It’s a funny thing. There is an immeasurable abundance of hearts one person can touch. Yet, there is no abundance of people who will maximize that capability. (cont.)🧵
— Did Dwight Powell get hit in the face tonight? (@DwightsFace) October 19, 2026
“He’ll really be missed. He gave a lot to the franchise. Just a consummate professional, good friend of mine, good friend of a bunch of us on the team, past and present. He represented a lot here in the city of Dallas, and he did a lot for us.”
And, for the record, Mavericks head coach Dusty May told DLLS that Powell joining the coaching staff “hasn’t been discussed at this point.”
MACAO, CHINA – OCTOBER 9: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks arrives to the arena before the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 9, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After waiving Powell, the Mavericks are down to 17 players on the roster, including the two two-way players. With 15 full-time NBA roster members, the team now carries the maximum number of players it can carry into the start of the regular season.
We would urge Powell, however, to stay in shape this season. If injuries hamper this team half as much as they have in the previous two years, he may be receiving a mid-season call-up from the couch.
The first game of the 2026-27 NBA regular season will officially tip off in the middle of the afternoon, and NBC hopes it can become an annual addition to the league's traditional opening night schedule.
The Detroit Pistons are set to host the Boston Celtics at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with "College Gameday-style activations," a "Blue Carpet" experience, a marching band rendition of "Roundball Rock" and other special festivities planned around Little Caesars Arena and downtown Detroit throughout the day, according to NBA league officials. The afternoon tip is an experiment conceived by the NBA and NBC entering Year 2 of their massive 11-year, $27-billion media rights partnership, with the goal of turning opening night into an all-day event.
"We kind of challenged the NBA," NBC Sports Executive Vice President Justin Byczek told USA TODAY Sports. "We think opening day should be expanded, and we'd love to be the network that gets behind it, and over the course of the next decade, let's try to understand where opening day can get to."
Why the NBA is playing an afternoon game on opening day
This will be the first time in 15 years that more than two games will be played on the first day of the NBA season, and it only happened in 2011 because of a lockout-shortened schedule. It will also be the first-ever NBA opening-day tripleheader broadcast nationally.
NBC's opening night coverage for the 2026-27 season features the ring ceremony and banner raising for the defending NBA champion New York Knicks, their first game against LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers and a Western Conference Finals rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
But the network saw an opportunity to generate excitement before the two primetime windows that have typically defined the NBA's regular season debut. NBC pointed to strong viewership for its 2026 Major League Baseball Opening Day doubleheader, which also began with an afternoon game.
NBC is confident putting Celtics vs. Pistons on a national broadcast network in the afternoon can add to the buzz leading into the Knicks' pregame title coronation, with coverage from Madison Square Garden on streaming platform Peacock bridging the gap between the first two games of the tripleheader.
"The benefit of a decade-long partnership is the ability to test and to try new things," said Byczek, who oversees programming and rights management for NBC Sports. "We pushed them pretty hard to kind of say we really believe this is going to be a good opportunity to add some excitement to opening day. They went out as a great partner and found the right combination of people and teams and partners and arenas and folks that wanted to raise their arm and get behind it."
NBA senior vice president for broadcast content Paul Benedict said it wasn't a hard sell. The league wanted to lean more into opening night's spot as a distinctive event on the sports calendar.
The NBA, through NBC's wide reach as a national broadcast network, sees a chance to create excitement throughout the day on platforms more likely to attract the casual fans that can grow the product moving forward. For NBC, this is another way to potentially enhance the value of its NBA package and create the tentpole events that attract more viewers.
The NBA gets an additional standalone national showcase game on a day and time in which it will face minimal competition from other major professional sports.
"The conversations with NBC have always been built around not even just a tripleheader, but the entirety of the day," Benedict told USA TODAY Sports. "The thinking being when you turn on 'The Today Show,' you're going to get some NBA flavor. That's pretty exciting for us, the opportunity to be on NBC and celebrate the start of the season."
How NBA and NBC picked Celtics vs Pistons for opening day game
Finding the right host was also crucial. Not every NBA fanbase and city wants a day game to start the season. It's not part of the sport's culture like MLB opening day or the first Sunday afternoon of NFL season.
Byczek compared the process to a "Jenga puzzle" in terms of figuring out what franchises were interested in hosting the game, and then identifying an opponent that would present the best possible matchup for a national audience. The NBA brought the idea of hosting an afternoon opener to "some teams," according to Benedict.
"Detroit raised their hand and was all-in from Day One," he said, "and to put a 60-win team on that's built such a great sports community, specifically around the downtown area where they can rally around it, was appealing. And then when you pair them with the Boston Celtics, that just fit the criteria of adding another elite matchup if you're going to turn this into a tripleheader. The Pistons have really bought into this."
Neither the league nor NBC committed to an afternoon game to start the NBA season beyond this year, with both sides emphasizing the results from Tuesday will dictate what happens next.
"We'll evaluate it and see whether this is something that is here to stay. Who knows? Maybe we expand it from here as well," Byczek said. "We don't ever want to remain status quo. We want to test new things, try new things, and this one ... hit us right between the eyes of let's try to do more on opening day."
What time is Celtics vs Pistons on NBA opening day?
The NBA opening day game between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Oct. 20, is set to tip off at 3 p.m. ET.
How to watch Celtics vs Pistons: TV channel, live streaming
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at 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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One more sleep to witness history.
The Knicks enter the NBA’s opening week as the reigning world champs and will see the banner(s) go up in front of the MSG faithful in around 24 hours.
On Bruce Brown’s toughness, versatility, and fit with the Knicks:
“Bruce, he’s a winner. He shows a level of toughness and versatility — not just defensively; he can guard one through four, but even offensively, he can initiate the offense. Our point guard’s not one that has to come down every play and break his guy down and make the game easier for everyone else. We have a system where we play out of concepts, and Bruce is good enough to initiate the offense, or he’s good enough to be off the ball. So he fits in with how we want to play on both ends, while giving us versatility on both ends. Having a chance to get to know him, he seems like a good guy. He seems like he knows a lot of our guys because he was in the same [draft] class as a few of them. So it was tough from that standpoint.”
On why the Knicks chose James Wiseman over Bruce Brown for the final roster spot:
“When you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman, because KAT’s not athletic like that and Andre was once that, he still has some of it. But to have that at 25 years old, especially with where we’re at as a group, you look for guys that coulda, shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda, shoulda. That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism.”
On the significance of facing LeBron James and the 76ers on opening night:
“The reality of it, in coach talk, you want to say every game is the same. That’s what you try to impress upon your guys is, ‘Hey, when we step on the floor, no matter who’s in front of us, you want to give the same focus, energy and effort to the next possession in front of you.’ But because of the talk, because of who he is — he is a large figure not just in life, but in the NBA.
“You also gotta look at the guys they have on the team and the guys they’ve added and the potential of that team and what we accomplished and what we’re trying to accomplish again — all those storylines, with the social media and all that other stuff, it’s pressed upon you, pressed upon you, pressed upon you, so it gets larger than life in general.”
On whether the Knicks and 76ers could develop a rivalry:
“As a coach, you hope it doesn’t, but at times yes, you have to take into account that yes, it can be something that guys think, ‘OK, this is a big game.’ It gives you a little bit more juice, a little bit more energy because of all the stuff around it. Is it gonna be a rivalry at the end of the day? I don’t know. I don’t know where we’re gonna be and where they’re gonna be. … Because of the storylines and all that other stuff with the social media, could it be right now? Yeah, it’s a fun story.”
Josh Hart on the sore ankle that caused him to miss the final preseason game: “Old age.”
On if he’ll play Tuesday: “We’ll see in two days.”
On whether he will be available for the Knicks’ season opener against Philadelphia:
“We’ll see in two days.”
On anticipating the opening-night matchup against LeBron James and the 76ers:
“Wherever LeBron [James] went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night [game]. That will be good for headlines and box office and those kinds of things.”
On the challenges facing the 76ers on opening night as they integrate their new stars:
“Obviously, we have the same team, but sometimes individuals’ expectations are different than what they were before. So it’s different. Especially a team like that, I’m sure they’re gonna have some bumpy times in the beginning of the year because they gotta get used to playing with each other. The media at that point [will say,] ‘They should blow it up and trade everybody’ and those kinds of things. That’s kind of the world we live in.”
On being tired of championship congratulations and wanting to focus on the new season:
“It’ll be cool. Obviously, getting a ring, hanging the banner will be dope. I think we’re excited about that, but also excited to kind of move on from it. You get tired of hearing the congrats. The stories are nice, at times, but we’ve gotta fully turn the page and realise that that’s not the team that we are now. We have to put the work into being a team that’s in a similar position next year.”
On the viral Halloween decoration recreating his game-winning tip-in in the NBA Finals:
“That was amazing. That was super cool. Very creative. It was really cool.”
Miles McBride
On the pressure of playing for the Knicks and the team’s championship expectations:
“Nobody wanted to be on a team that had this much potential. And (nobody wanted to) be the guy that quote unquote didn’t show up, didn’t do their job. … I think that New York pressure truthfully played a huge role. Everybody wants to play well, playing for that team. I wouldn’t even say pressure. I’d say confidence, in a sense.
“Like, you have the confidence that you’re playing in the greatest arena in sports, and you don’t want to be the person (who) isn’t locked in.”
Looks like Knicks are doing fatigue testing during practice, taking tiny blood samples from the ear
On the Knicks’ willingness to sacrifice individual roles to defend their championship:
“We want to win for each other. We’re willing to take on different roles and know that we’ve got each other’s back. If Jose’s got it going and my minutes are shortened, awesome, and vice versa.”
On the lack of ego among the Knicks’ backup guards:
“I’ve been … a broken record about it, but you don’t see that. From a backup guard position, that’s very rare, where no ego or ulterior motives get involved. That’s something special that you want to be a part of.”
Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek at a champagne & cognac tasting for Andre Drummond
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: Koby Brea #14 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns continue to fine-tune every aspect of their roster in preparation for the 2026–27 season. They’ve brought in Duop Reath on a two-way contract, waived Haywood Highsmith, extended Oso Ighodaro, and picked up the option on Ryan Dunn. And now? They’ve waived second-year sharpshooter Koby Brea, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Brea was selected 41st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, following an illustrious collegiate career in which he established himself as one of the best three-point shooters in the NCAA. Unfortunately, that shooting ability hasn’t consistently translated to the NBA level.
He appeared in 12 games for Phoenix last season, connecting on 13-of-30 attempts from beyond the arc, good for 43.3%. The hope was that he’d build upon that production through Summer League and the preseason, continuing his development as a reliable perimeter threat. But during Summer League, Brea shot 8-of-28 from deep, good for 28.6%. That was followed by a preseason in which he connected on 3-of-10 attempts, shooting 30% from beyond the arc.
When your primary translatable skill is shooting, and you’re struggling to consistently knock down shots, you become vulnerable. You become expendable. And for an organization that values flexibility throughout its roster, that’s a difficult position to find yourself in.
Unfortunately for Koby Brea, the Suns have opted to move on, leaving one two-way contract spot available as the team continues making its final roster adjustments ahead of the regular season.
The bigger picture here is roster flexibility. Brea showed that he could knock down shots in limited NBA opportunities, but his struggles in Summer League and the preseason put his greatest strength into question. With the regular season approaching, the Suns have decided to open that two-way spot rather than wait for his shooting to come around. It’s a tough business, particularly for a young player. But in Phoenix, every roster spot needs to serve a purpose.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Tacko Fall #99 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you had a nickel for every player 7-foot-6 or taller to suit up for the Sixers, you’d have two nickels.
But it’s still crazy it’s happened twice.
The 7-foot-7 Manute Bol and the 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley both played in parts of three seasons for the Sixers. Tacko Fall is hoping the third time is the charm.
The 7-foot-6 Senegalese big man is back in the NBA after signing a two-way contract this past weekend. When/if he does take the court for the Sixers, it will be his first NBA minutes since December of 2021.
While there’s been intrigue about Fall and his unique size dating back to his days at UCF, it also came with questions about his mobility and ability to deal with elite athletes. Those were doubts Fall let creep into his own mind at times.
His years overseas have put him in a better place.
“Physically and mentally,” Fall said about where he’s improved. “I feel like when you — I won’t even say seven-foot-plus — but when you reach a certain height, there’s a picture that most people have of you of, ‘OK, can he do this? Can he do that?’ Where mentally you might doubt [yourself], but for me, I feel like I was always capable of that, it’s just pushing myself to realize that and be consistent with it, and that also comes with being in great physical condition.”
Luckily for him, there are a couple familiar faces around to help him as he reacclimates to the NBA.
Fall and Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey overlapped in Cleveland in 2021-22. By that time, Gansey was transitioning from assistant general manager to general manager under Koby Altman. Fall was in his third season after two years with the Boston Celtics.
Fall doesn’t take that familiarity for granted.
“Great guy. Always positive,” Fall said of Gansey after practice Sunday. “We joke around. Like he would walk around the court every morning [in Cleveland]. I would see him walk around, and he’s doing the same thing [here], and he’s been like that for years. But I’m happy also. Like I got to come here and see another familiar face, which kind of helps with the comfort level.”
On the court is an even bigger connection. Newcomer Jaylen Brown was teammates with Fall for both of his seasons with the Celtics. The two became extremely close, with Fall naming Brown the godfather of his second daughter.
Even as Fall’s career took him far, far away from Boston, the two remained close.
Imagine telling either of them that they’d reunite in Philadelphia.
“Jaylen is my brother,” Fall said. “We built a great relationship throughout the years, even while I was away. He’s family. … Throughout the years, we built such a great relationship, and for me, I’m very happy that we get to play together.”
But this isn’t just a feel-good story. The Sixers need depth at the backup center position. Fall offers a unique option in several ways.
Once Ariel Hukporti went down with a season-ending Achilles injury, the Sixers had little recourse to make a move. They have 14 of 15 standard roster spots filled, but are hard-capped at the first apron, meaning they’re unable to sign a veteran center to a minimum deal. Their simplest path was adding a two-way player.
In Fall, they get a player with professional basketball experience, both in the NBA and overseas. The 30-year-old has been on a journey since going undrafted out of UCF in 2019. After two seasons in Boston and one in Cleveland, Fall has spent the bulk of his time in China, with a stint in Australia mixed in.
The most obvious strength for Fall is his size. At 7-foot-6 and 311 pounds, he will be the tallest active player in the NBA once he takes the court. It makes it obvious where Fall could fit in the Sixers’ center mix. With Joel Embiid’s health always a concern, those playing behind him are critical to team success.
Fall said going up against Embiid in practice has been “very motivating,” and called the former MVP “probably the best big in the NBA.” That’s what makes it critical to have depth behind Embiid.
With Adem Bona and Jabari Walker (and the currently banged-up Dean Wade and Dominick Barlow) being a little undersized, Fall is an ideal option for when the Sixers come across a bigger opponent — especially if it happens during a back-to-back.
Though he missed all of the preseason and most of camp, the team was intrigued by what they saw prior to his hip injury.
“I did get to see a good chunk of him prior to kind of the injury,” Nick Nurse said. “How I plan on using him, probably remains to be seen. But kind of was intrigued and liked what I saw in the fall. So we’ll see what happens.”
Fall spoke candidly about the scrutiny he’s faced because of his size and perceived lack of mobility. He bided his time overseas, building confidence in himself as a player and person.
Now, he’s just looking for an opportunity.
“I was a little speechless, to be honest,” Fall said about learning he’d been offered a two-way deal. “Like I said, I’ve had quite a few challenges since I left, and … after all these years and after all the hard work, I think it means a lot more.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers high fives fans before the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 16, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Among the Los Angeles Lakers’ reverence as a franchise, their storied history of big men and the substantial trade the Lakers made to acquire him this summer, Walker Kessler is, unfairly or otherwise, entering a pressurized situation. But according to his head coach, JJ Redick, the 25-year-old is ready for the challenges and incubated by plenty of people and resources to make the experience as easy as possible for him.
“I think he wants to embrace that. I think that’s why he wanted to be a Laker and why he wanted to be here was because of the fact that there are stakes every single night when you wear a Lakers uniform,” Redick told reporters postgame on Friday. “We’ve had a number of conversations. We had a long conversation the other day about it. I think the awareness is there. How you navigate that early on, how you navigate that in your first year, there’s no way to predict that because you’ve never dealt with it before.
“But he’s got great support around him. His agent, Aaron Mintz, has been a longtime friend of mine. I’m here to help him. We’re all here to support him. All these guys that haven’t gone through it, there’s nothing like it. I think they all want to embrace it. They all have a chip on their shoulder about it and they want to make Lakers fans proud and I know they will.”
Kessler clearly recognizes the positive environment being fostered and sounds as though he’s taking a healthy approach to all of it, excited for the chance he’s afforded to play for such a renowned organization.
“The support system around me, with my teammates, the coaching staff, front office, I mean, they’re fantastic,” Kessler said following Los Angeles’ preseason finale. “They’re very vocal about, obviously being a Lakers big, there’s a certain legacy with that, but not to look at it as pressure, more so as an opportunity. So that’s kind of the attitude I’m going in with it.”
After appearing in the Lakers’ final two preseason outings, Kessler will make his regular-season debut Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, where he’ll take his first genuine crack at proving himself on the court to the Lakers and their fanbase.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Dalton Knecht #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, Jake Fischer reported the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks “held exploratory trade discussions” around a deal that would send Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee and Jericho Sims to Los Angeles to solve Los Angeles’ roster crunch ahead of the regular season starting Tuesday.
Marc Stein reinforced that notion, indicating Sims is perhaps not the Lakers’ lone target as they seek front-court help and look to trim the roster from 16 players down to 15.
“The Lakers spent the weekend trying to find a workable trade to ship out Dalton Knecht and maybe even bring back a big man — such as Milwaukee’s Jericho Sims as Jake revealed in his Thursday piece — to shave their roster from 16 guaranteed contracts to 15,” Stein wrote. “If no trade can be found, they’ll have to waive Knecht (or someone else) by the cut-down buzzer.”
After delighting early in his rookie season, including a 37-point outburst against the Utah Jazz, and even starting a handful of games, Knecht saw his playing time dwindle as he ultimately fell out of the 2024-25 playoff rotation. Last season, he received another crack at rotation minutes but struggled mightily and became a non-factor by year’s end, logging just 107 minutes from February onward, including the playoffs.
Knecht’s primary allure out of college was his jumper but he’s been merely a good outside shooter in the NBA, converting 36.8% of his 3s through two seasons. His lack of strength and lateral mobility severely hinders his defense while he’s not a threat as a passer or off-the-dribble scorer. His rigid offensive skill-set and detrimental defense have understandably prevented him from carving out a consistent role with the Lakers. He’d have to be a truly elite shooter to mitigate his shortcomings elsewhere and that’s not been the case.
Knecht was not a second-round flier or late-first gamble. He was selected 17th overall in 2024. Him not panning out is a sharp indictment of the Lakers’ front office. Knecht joined Jalen Hood-Schifino as one of Los Angeles’s two top-20 selections since 2020 and neither has established themselves as legitimate contributors during their rookie contracts. Both picks represent team-building failures and reasons the Lakers haven’t been actual title contenders over that span.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 16: Tyler Herro #11of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against he Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 16, 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 (Photo by Andy Lyons/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 Bucks fans and fans across the country.
Well, now that all five Bucks preseason games are in the rearview—with the team going 2-3—we wanted to revisit fans’ optimism levels heading into the season proper. Look, I think we all know this year won’t be filled with sunshine and rainbows, and we need to adjust our expectations accordingly, but it’s still worth comparing how we felt before any games were played with how we feel now. There were certainly some bright spots, including:
Brayden Burries looking as advertised, and Nate Ament showing more than expected (before he was sidelined with an ankle injury)
Ryan Rollins appearing ready to take another step
Encouraging signs from Taylor Jenkins—both tactically and rhetorically—with clear directives bucking trends of the Doc Rivers teams
However, there were also some disappointing aspects, including:
The team, in general, looking bad in stretches (and not just because they were at a talent deficit)
Kel’el Ware, a prized return from the Giannis trade, having some concerning moments/games
A few other veterans looking pretty poor in spots (Trent, Kuzma, and even Turner occasionally)
So tell us, has your level of optimism changed after five preseason games?
