The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers' efforts to secure "no-show" endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard, the New York Times reports. This investigation is being run out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, the office that has traditionally looked into issues with professional sports leagues.
The investigation is in its earliest stages, and it's unclear what, if any, federal charges could come out of it, according to the report.
The Justice Department investigation comes in addition to the Securities and Exchange Commission looking into Daktronics' role in the scandal, as it had an endorsement deal with Leonard despite never having had a celebrity endorser before and there being no evidence Leonard did anything for the company. Daktronics is publicly traded, and the SEC is tasked with protecting shareholders.
The NBA oversaw a year-long investigation of its own into the Clippers working to circumvent the salary cap with Leonard and last month came down with the harshest penalties ever imposed on a team:
• The Clippers surrender five first-round draft picks (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033).
• The Clippers are fined $30 million.
• Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from anything to do with the team or the league for one year.
• Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended for one year, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended for six months.
• Kawhi Leonard must pay a $700,000 fine, and his already-fired business manager, Dennis Robertson (better known as "Uncle Dennis"), is banned from conducting NBA business for five years.'
Ballmer and the Clippers have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and released this statement after the NBA released its findings and punishments.
"We vehemently reject the NBA's findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence. What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner [Adam] Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure its fairness and accuracy."
The Clippers attorney also sent a letter to the league, but the franchise's only recourse now is the courts, and legal experts have suggested that is a serious uphill fight for Ballmer and the Clippers.
Now, that might not even be the worst of their legal troubles.
DALLAS - NOVEMBER 18: Owner Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 18, 2009 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 99-94. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs Villain Tournament started with many strong contenders in the Haters, Killers, Former Players, and Dirty Players categories. For the most part, the favorites have advanced. Now things get even more interesting as the heavyweights of each region face each other.
The higher seeds dominated, for the most part, with only a couple of surprises so far. The favorites are clear, but there’s room for upsets as the tournament continues. The Elite 8 round should be a good test of whether the juggernauts that everyone expects to see in the finals will get there without much opposition.
To spice things up, I’ll be playing Devil’s Advocate in the matchup descriptions, trying to make the case for the lower seeds to pull off the upset, but ultimately the choice is yours. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the participants that have made it this far, and don’t forget to vote!
Spurs Killers Finals 1. Derek Fisher vs. 2. Ray Allen
There were no upsets in the Spurs Killers region, with the top two seeds advancing. Two heartbreaking shots, two potential championships snatched away. Derek Fisher robbed the Spurs of a potential repeat. So did Ray Allen, though, if you think about it.
San Antonio was the best team in both 2013 and 2014. Everyone knows that they were ready to roll out the trophy in Game 6, as the Spurs seemed to have it in the bag, before the Allen shot. In 2014, the Spurs got even better, and while the loss is often credited with motivating them, the talent for a repeat was there. It’s not crazy to think the Silver and Black could have won two in a row had Allen missed, getting Tim Duncan the one achievement he couldn’t secure and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili five titles.
As for Fisher, while other incidents contribute to his title of Spurs villain, 0.4 stands out most, and it was in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Pistons absolutely destroyed that Lakers team in the 2024 Finals. Are we sure San Antonio would have prevailed had they advanced? The context of the Fisher shot (the Big Three’s prime, the rivalry with Los Angeles, the concrete chance of a repeat, the rule change afterwards) all make it seem like the more painful shot. But Allen’s is at least comparable.
Dirty Players Finals: 1. Zaza Pachulia vs. 2. Karl Malone
Pachulia is often credited with ending the longest stretch of success in modern professional sports by taking out Kawhi Leonard in Game 1 of the Conference Finals. For the Spurs, beating the Warriors that year was unlikely but not impossible, and the post-Duncan future was looking bright. Nothing was the same after Leonard’s injury.
What’s often ignored is that it wasn’t Leonard’s ankle that sidelined him to start the next season and, knowing what we know now, it’s possible that Kawhi would have forced his way out anyway. Even back then, there were loud rumors that Leonard’s ultimate goal was always to go back to Los Angeles. While undoubtedly dirty, by sliding under Leonard, Pachulia probably only cost the Spurs a couple of wins against the Warriors in that series.
Without the Kawhi leaving factor, the dirtiness of the Pachulia play pales in comparison to Karl Malone, a notoriously terrible human, knocking David Robinson out with an elbow to the back of the head. Sure, Malone apologized, but the sheer recklessness of the move is shocking, even today. Does being dirtier, doing more damage, and taking down one of the most beloved Spurs of all time make Malone a bigger villain than Zaza? Up for you to decide.
Former Spurs Finals: 1. Kawhi Leonard vs. 2. Stephen Jackson
The unquestionable favorite to win it all advanced with ease to the finals of his region. Kawhi Leonard left the Spurs in the worst possible way, leading to a period of mediocrity the fanbase was not used to. To make things worse, he went on to win a title with the Raptors. His bona fides as a villain can’t be argued.
The one positive thing that can be said for Kawhi, however, is that once he got out, he seemed to completely move on from the Spurs. He didn’t talk much about them, in part because he simply doesn’t talk much about anything, and seemingly maintained a good relationship with Gregg Popovich, who (unsuccessfully) tried to shield him from the boos of the crowd in one of his visits. While he clearly subjected the franchise and the fans to a horrendous year of rumors and had a messy exit, he did his damage once and then went on with his career.
Jackson’s case is the opposite. He simply couldn’t hurt the franchise as much as a superstar could in just one instance, but he had two different stints that ended poorly and has a media career that often involves trashing the franchise or his former teammates. He first left in 2003 after winning a title, weakening a team that would attempt to repeat. He was looking for his first big payday, so that one is forgivable. Jack letting his ego potentially disrupt the locker room in 2014 to the point of having to be waived close to the playoffs in his second stint, however, is harder to stomach. And then there are the many, many times he has badmouthed the Spurs.
Is that enough to beat Kawhi? Probably not, but had Leonard left in more amicable circumstances, Jack would have a case to win the region.
Spurs Haters: 4. Uncle Dennis Robertson vs. 3. Mark Cuban
The Spurs Haters side of the bracket had the big upsets. Top seeds Phil Jackson and David Stern are nowhere to be found, in part because their villainy feels like old news now and in part because there were a lot of strong contenders in their region, like our two finalists, Uncle Dennis and Mark Cuban.
Robertson frankly looks unstoppable. He’s a newer villain, and his name is fresh in everyone’s mind after the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention scandal that was recently resolved, resulting in a five-year ban for Uncle Dennis. The way he handled Kawhi’s exit from San Antonio was terrible, and he was happy to talk once things were going well for his nephew in Toronto. It’s hard to make a case for Cuban, who has said a lot of negative things about the Spurs over the years but couldn’t really seriously hurt them, over someone who did direct damage to the franchise.
But is that how we should look at Uncle Dennis? Kawhi Leonard was 26 years old when he forced his way out, hardly a kid. It was easier then to villainize Robertson because Kawhi was quiet and beloved before his heel turn, and to be fair, Uncle Dennis has not helped his reputation at all since then, but the reality is, he was acting on Kawhi’s behalf. And if Robertson is the actual villain, the man who orchestrated everything in the shadows, unbeknownst to his nephew, then why is Leonard also in this bracket? Something to consider before voting.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The acquisition of Miles Bridges will undoubtedly change the geometry of the Suns’ offense. He replaces Royce O’Neale in the starting lineup, a player whose primary offensive function was to catch the ball and shoot it. O’Neale averaged 2.63 seconds per touch last season, the fourth-lowest mark on the team among players who appeared in more than 50 games.
Miles Bridges will add a much-needed layer of downhill attacking, rim pressure, and versatility to the Suns’ offense. Yes, Phoenix is going to sacrifice some three-point shooting from the starting five to get there. But as we hypothesize about what this offense will ultimately look like, I can’t help but wonder what that means for Dillon Brooks.
Brooks is coming off a career-high 20.2 points per game while taking 17.1 shots a night. A lot of that was circumstance. The Suns were consistently dealing with injuries to Jalen Green, Devin Booker, or both, and somebody had to step up and take those shots. Brooks willingly did so, and I applaud him for it. The confidence he displayed, combined with his surprising ability to consistently put up 20 points, became one of the biggest surprises of last season and even pushed him into the All-Star conversation.
The challenge with Brooks offensively is that when he gets the ball, he tends to keep it. He likes to work in isolation, using the moves he practices to create his own shot in one-on-one situations. And to his credit, he succeeded. Brooks averaged 0.98 points per possession while using 12.4% of his possessions in isolation.
What worked for Brooks last season could become something that jams up the Suns’ offense this year if it’s used too frequently.
That’s where Miles Bridges changes the equation. His ability to attack downhill gives Phoenix another way to create shots for everyone else. Penetration forces defenses to collapse, and once that happens, the floor opens up. A kickout can create a clean look from three, and if the defense recovers, the next player can attack the closeout and get downhill again. That puts defenses on skates. It forces them into scramble mode, creates rotation after rotation, and generates opportunities both from beyond the arc and at the rim as defenders try to recover.
The expectation is that we’ll see plenty of penetration and kickouts with the addition of Bridges, and if that’s the case, that isn’t exactly a strength of Dillon Brooks. Brooks averaged 20.1 passes per game last season. More importantly, he received 37.3 passes per game, creating a 17.2-pass differential that ranked second-highest on the team. Only Devin Booker received more passes than he dished out.
Holding the ball and dribbling the air out of it probably isn’t the preferred method of attack for this offense anymore. Adjustments will need to happen, both philosophically and in execution, and Brooks may be the player asked to sacrifice the most. Jalen Green and Devin Booker both possess the ability to get downhill in different ways. Green brings elite athleticism and the ability to blow by defenders. Booker relies more on craft and technique to get to his spots.
That likely pushes Brooks into the fourth option offensively. And honestly, that’s a great thing for the Suns. Brooks has already shown that he has the confidence and ability to score when called upon. If Phoenix stays healthy, he shouldn’t need to do it with the same frequency he did last season. But when the offense needs him to step forward, he can still provide that production.
I’d much rather have Dillon Brooks as my fourth option than some of the fourth options that exist around the Western Conference. Would you rather have Jake LaRavia? Or Max Christie? How about the career 21.9% three-point shooting of Amen Thompson? Brooks is more offensively equipped to be productive as a fourth option.
So, as we prepare for the season to begin, it becomes an interesting question to ponder. What does Dillon Brooks look like in this version of the Suns’ offense? He doesn’t need to become a different player. He needs to become a more selective version of the player he already is. If Bridges, Booker, and Green are creating more of the initial action, then Brooks can attack advantages rather than manufacture them. And attack them he will, like a well-trained Kung Fu disciple.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus 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 Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Opening night — October 21 vs. the Charlotte Hornets — is still six weeks away and the internet is filled with hope, tempered by widespread predictions of calamity and doom, but one thing is certain and is likely to be throughout the season — Mikal Brown Jr. along with Egor Demin are the focus of the organization, whether it be basketball operations or marketing.
Julius Randle may be a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection. Michael Porter Jr. may be coming off his best season in his seven-year career and their only player with a ring. But for better or worse, they are viewed as mercenaries, short-termers. The kids, leaders of a band of nine players 23 or younger, are the franchise future, promoted by the organization across social media and by fans as well.
We don’t know the source of this piece of art but it’s typical.
Sounds risky to the fan psyche so when someone from the outside says Nets fans should be “really, really, really excited” and compares his mindset to a future Hall of Famer, it’s time to take notice. Brian Lewis did just that this week when quoting Donovan Mitchell’s comments to Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter on their Cousins podcast.
A fellow Louisville product, Mitchell talked about Brown Jr.’s curiosity even in high school and how it shows in his basketball IQ . Here’s his full take.
“What I love about Mikel is there are not many high school kids that pay attention to the details,” Mitchell said. “I’m having a conversation with him like I’m talking to James Harden. I’m sitting here like, ‘Bro, how old are you?’ He’s like, ‘I’m 16, 17.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ He’s asking about the low man, he’s asking about strong-side help, he’s asking about the gap help, he’s asking about pickups. … That’s one thing I really respected about him. He was like, ‘Man, I want to work. I just want to work.’
“And even when he got to Louisville — and he obviously got paid a lot of money and all — the process mentally, the phone calls never changed. It was always like, ‘I want to be the best I can possibly be.’ And obviously a phenomenal kid, phenomenal family. But that’s where our relationship grew, because we had a game in Miami, I flew to watch him play against Kentucky — we beat them by the way, badly — and I’m sitting on the sideline and he’s looking at me so I can give him things in-game.
“That’s something I would do when Dwyane Wade was sitting courtside in Utah, so it was crazy to be able to do that. And I’m not saying I’m the reason he’s having success. He’s phenomenal, and he’s going to do amazing things in Brooklyn. Nets fans should be really, really, really excited, because they got one in him.”
Three “reallys” is a lot of excitement, but what might be even more exciting is Mitchell’s comparison to Harden’s mentality. Put aside his time with the Nets and ugly departure (which he now reportedly regrets), Harden has always had a reputation as a “basketball savant,” as one Nets insider described him to ND during his time in Brooklyn. His knowledge of the game from draft prospects to ancient NBA history is seen as second-to-none.
Mitchell isn’t alone, either as Lewis wrote. Rajon Rondo is another. The two-time NBA champion and Kentucky product would host Brown Jr. at his Louisville home where they would watch game film and play chess. Rondo, said Brown Jr., was a trio of former NBA point guards he modeled, the others being Steve Nash and Chris Paul.
“You don’t need to overcomplicate it. You’re extremely talented. Just keep it simple,” Rondo told him, according to Brown Jr., per another recent story by Josh Sloan of Roundtable Sports.
Brown Jr. himself talked recently about how his relationship with Mitchell evolved and continues to thrive.
“[Mitchell] first saw me at OTE,” Brown said of the Overtime Elite team he played for. “I got to speak to him in a little interview in a podcast, and we exchanged numbers. And ever since then, we’ve been very, very close. Obviously, I went to the same school, Louisville. So, yeah, we definitely have a really close relationship.
“He gives me tips, and I ask him questions on how it is to play at the highest level and how do you deal with adversity. I think that’s really been the biggest thing for me coming up to this point, is how you deal with it, because it’s going to come at some point. It’s inevitable. So he’s been really great with that. And also, I can’t wait to compete against him.”
Sean Marks sees Brown Jr. not just as his point guard of the future, but a team leader, saying what Nets scouts saw and heard about him helped cement their choice at No. 6.
“When you’re talking to the staff at Louisville and, honestly, everywhere he’s been,” said Marks. How he wanted to take care of his teammates and those stories that he likes breaking bread with teammates and taking ’em out and spending time socializing with them, that goes a long way when we’re trying to build a team culture, trying to build a connected group. … It’s important to bring guys in there that actually want to facilitate that.”
The Nets are heavily promoting Brown Jr. and Demin in their marketing, both with longer form episodes of The Bridge and Nets Generation which can be seen on the Nets YouTube channel and social media, particularly their official Twitter account.
But on the court, Brown Jr. says his sponge
“It’s gonna also help because I get to learn from them,” Brown said. “You want to soak up as much knowledge as possible as a young player coming into this league. To be able to ask them and pick their brain on a lot of things, and to be able to play alongside them, it’s going to mean the world to me. And you know we’re gonna try to bring a chip.”
Like we said, in seven weeks we will know more, but at the moment, it’s good to be hopeful.
It's another edition of Knicks Mailbag, with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the team. Let's get started...
What’s your read on McBride's future with Knicks? Is he a likely trade piece for a big? Love him but feels hard to see him extended - @SBart_89
**This one is tricky because Miles McBride has definitely earned a raise. He’s outplayed his contract (3 years, $13 million) by a significant amount. The problem here is that the Knicks are up against the NBA’s second apron. According to owner James Dolan, the Knicks will not exceed the second apron in team salary ($221 million) this season. Let’s assume Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and – eventually – Jalen Brunson sign extensions. With those extensions on the books, the Knicks will have significant money committed to the starting five.
Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado are also under contract for multiple seasons. So there isn’t much financial wiggle room for a McBride extension.
Things can change, of course. Maybe the Knicks move off of future salary in a trade and open up some money. Maybe Dolan and the Knicks decide to increase future spending without regard for the second apron. It's worth noting that the Knicks and McBride’s representatives have been in regular contact ahead of the season. In a perfect world, those conversations would produce a multi-year extension for McBride.
The longest-tenured Knick, McBride loves New York, loves his teammates; he was an integral part of this team’s rise. The fact that he’ll likely have to play this coming season with contract uncertainty is a shame.
Yes, McBride on an expiring contract is one of the most valuable trade chips in the league. He would garner significant interest if New York made him available via trade – either in-season or in the offseason. We’re certainly not there yet. But logic tells you that’s where things could be headed.
Feb 5, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) dunks during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Do you think any of the second-year Nets guys are poised for a breakout season? - @Jayis2serious
Have to go with their highest 2025 first-rounder, Egor Demin. He showed the most promise as a rookie and, according to friend of The Putback, Albert Ghim, organizationally, at least one of the Nets’ five first-rounders needs to take a jump this season. If that happens – and lottery pick Markel Brown Jr. shows promise – the Nets will be building a nice foundation amid the rubble of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden era.
We all know the starting five and the two or three first guys off the bench, but is there someone you can see on this roster outside of those guys turning into a big-time contributor? - @tbrucato
Just looking at the roster, there is no direct path to minutes for any of the young guys. But last year’s club relied on strong stretches from multiple non-rotation players. Mike Brown didn’t hesitate to go with younger players if a rotation player got hurt or struggled. That said, it’s hard to see any of the young non-rotation players making consistent, significant contributions this season. The top of that rotation seems to be set. One other note on free agent signings ahead of training camp: veteran center Tony Bradley has also been a player on the Knicks' radar. The Knicks do not currently have a third center, but there is a strong degree of confidence internally in the Karl-Anthony Towns-Andre Drummond duo at the position.
** I answered a question from @AndrewA59778512 last week, but I cited @sbart_89 as the reader. My apologies for the mix-up. My opinion on @sbart_89’s background photo remains the same as it was last week. I love it.
“I wanted to go to a winning culture,” Kuminga said after he was asked about his priority, despite having opportunities to sign with other teams for money.
Kuminga said that leading into his decision, he spoke to players and members of front offices of the teams that were interested in him, but felt that the Timberwolves had “the type of vibe I was looking for.”
“I asked God to guide me and give me the best decision, and I think this was the best decision for me,” Kuminga said. “… I think this was one of the best winning cultures I could actually have of all the options.”
Los Angeles Lakers catch stray during Jonathan Kuminga introdcutory press conference. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Through his five-year career, Kuminga has primarily served as a sixth man, coming off the bench.
Turner noted that with this opportunity, and if Kuminga elects to enforce his player option next season, he will have more leverage for a higher contract next offseason.
Kuminga’s former teammate, Draymond Green, said his decision to spurn the Lakers could get dicey in the future, as he could find himself going back to his role, coming off the bench, if the Warriors start losing games.
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Former Boston Celtics star, now Philadelphia 76ers player Jaylen Brown decided to get in the squared circle with absolutely no preparation in Nigeria.
Brown took part in a boxing match earlier this week, a little over a month before the start of his first season in his new city. Footage of the boxing match was shown on Brown’s clips page on Instagram.
Brown commented on the post saying he ‘had 0 prep for this,” although he does have some boxing in his blood with his father being former WBU champ Quenton Marselles Brown. The match appeared to call extra attention to Brown’s 7uice Foundation, which, according to social media, “partners with leaders and institutions to bridge opportunity gaps and empower youth through education and innovation.”
In July, Brown was traded by the Celtics to the 76ers for Paul George and a pair of future second-round draft picks. Brown and the Celtics won the NBA title in 2024 after destroying the Mavericks in five games, where Brown was named Finals MVP.
Alex Toohey, the forward from Canberra, Australia, originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors before being waived is coming back for training camp, according to multiple reports.
Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors arrives at the arena before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NBAE via Getty Images
Toohey was Golden State’s top selection in the 2025 draft, at No. 52 overall, but has yet to appear in an NBA game and played only two games for G League Santa Cruz because of a knee injury. He was waived in December so that the Warriors could sign Malevy Leons.
Toohey and Leons will be among the crop of players competing for the Warriors’ pair of two-way slots when they open training camp later this month in Hawaii. Also expected to be in the mix are sharpshooter LJ Cryer, rookie guard Lajae Jones and Deivon Smith and Graham Ike, who like Toohey both inked Exhibit 10 deals for training camp.
Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2025 NBA Summer League on July 15, 2025, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
The signing brings the Warriors’ roster to 20 players, one shy of the offseason maximum. After a quiet summer, they’ve rounded out their 15-man roster in recent weeks with veterans Georges Niang and Brandon Williams on minimum contracts.
Dalen Terry, the former Bulls first-round pick, will also be in training camp but must earn a spot on the full-time roster; the 6-foot-6 wing is ineligible for a two-way contract.
The Warriors report Sept. 29 for training camp, which runs through Oct. 3 on the campus of BYU-Hawaii, before opening their preseason slate against the Clippers on Oct. 4 in Honolulu.
From bobbleheads celebrating current stars to ones honoring key figures of the past, to Hello Kitty – yes, Hello Kitty – the Lakers are slated to have a well-rounded promotional nights schedule for 2026-27.
The team announced Thursday their full slate of promotional nights and special recognitions for the upcoming season.
The Lakers are having bobblehead giveaways of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves during the 2026-27 season. Getty Images
They’ll celebrate superstar guard Luka Dončić as the NBA’s 2025-26 scoring champion with a bobblehead giveaway during the Nov. 1 home game against the Raptors.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves will also have his own bobblehead giveaway night during the Dec. 27 home game against the Grizzlies.
The franchise will also honor legends through its new “League of Stars” program, which will include throwback bobbleheads of two-time All-Star and NBA champion Norm Nixon (Dec. 14 vs. Pelicans), NBA champion coach Paul Westhead (Jan. 14 vs. Magic) and four-time NBA champion Kurt Rambis (March 17 vs. Suns).
Keeping up with celebrating their past, the Lakers will have a 2020 Championship ring replica giveaway on Jan. 24, when they’re slated to host Anthony Davis and the Wizards.
The Lakers are hosting their first “Hello Kitty” night during the 2026-27 season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A few other promotional nights include a Lakers x Dodgers baseball-style jersey giveaway on Nov. 18 vs. the Jazz, the franchise’s first Hello Kitty night on March 7 vs. the Nets, in addition to giveaways during Opening Night against the Warriors on Oct. 21 and the 76ers on Christmas Day.
Lakers’ 2026-27 promotional nights
Oct. 8: LGBTQ+ Pride Night with Pride t-shirt
Oct. 21: Opening Night vs. Warriors
Nov. 1: Luka Dončić scoring champion bobblehead
Nov. 17: Veterans Appreciation Night
Nov. 18: Lakers x Dodgers baseball-style jersey giveaway
Dec. 1: League of Stars honors Norm Nixon with bobblehead
Phil Jackson is one of several Lakers legends who’ll be honored with a bobblehead during 2026-27. REUTERS
Dec. 25: Christmas Day vs. 76ers
Dec. 27: Austin Reaves bobblehead night
Jan. 14: League of Stars honors Paul Westhead bobblehead
Jan. 24: Lakers 2020 Championship ring replica giveaway
Feb. 10: Mental Health Awareness Night
March 7: Hello Kitty Night
March 17: League of Stars honors Kurt Rambis with bobblehead
April 9: Phil Jackson statue unveiling and Phil Jackson bobblehead
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Malik Williams #37 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Walker Kessler: The big man the Lakers coveted for years and were finally able to make their marquee addition via a sign-and-trade with the Jazz, and inking Kessler to a four-year, $130 contract.
Quentin Grimes: The versatile, two-way guard the Lakers signed to a four-year, $60 million deal, and is expected to be a Day 1 starter after bouncing around the NBA (the Lakers are his fourth team in 2 ½ years) over the last couple of years.
The Lakers signed Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year, $52 million contract. Getty Images
Austin Reaves: The Lakers’ homegrown star whose story from undrafted–to-All-Star caliber player over the last five years has been well-documented, earning him a four-year, $180 million deal.
And Sandro Mamukelashvili: The four-year, $52 million signee who’ll be the biggest swing factor for whether the Lakers’ offseason moves were a success.
Mamukelashvili, who’s entering his sixth season in the league aftr being the No. 54 pick out of Seton Hall in the 2021 draft, was relatively unproven through his first few seasons in the league.
The combination of his size (6-foot-9, 240 pounds) and skillset (versatile offensive connector) has made him an intriguing player.
But playing time opportunities didn’t come by easily, with Mamukelashvili averaging fewer than 16 minutes per game in each of his first four seasons in the league with the Bucks and Spurs.
Mamukelashvili’s final 18 games of the 2024-25 season with the Spurs, in which he averaged 10.4 points (49.3% shooting, 37.2% on 3-pointers), 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.4 minutes per game, opened up a sixth man role opportunity for him with the Raptors.
He seized the opportunity, putting together a career year that led to his long-term, lucrative deal with the Lakers: Mamukelashvili’s scoring average (11.2 points), rebounding (4.9 rebounds), assists (1.9), field goal percentage (52.3%) and minutes per game (21.9) with Toronto in 2025-26 were all career-best marks.
Mamukelashvili is expected to bring size, physicality and an ability to stretch the floor, which should pair well with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Getty Images
Mamukelashvili finally showcased the skills and offensive versatility that every team in the NBA covets from a frontcourt role player:
Shooting.
Passing.
Keeping the play moving.
Being able to play off of primary and secondary ball handlers as a connector within the offense.
It all may sound simple, but those were the type of skills the Lakers were coveting entering the offseason.
“We gotta be better [at] being able to dribble, pass and shoot,” Coach JJ Redick said in May. “That sounds simple, but that’s just the reality.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili will provide a boost to the Lakers’ transition offense. NBAE via Getty Images
The reality is that Mamukelashvili will help in each of those areas in a more well-rounded way compared to former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, or even other options who were available in free agency.
And because he’s a credible center option in small-ball lineups, Mamukelashvili opens up opportunities for the Lakers to play bigger forwards who aren’t shooting threats (Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero) but can help cover for him on the less glamorous end of the floor.
Does Mamukelashvili come with defensive concerns? Absolutely. He isn’t a strong perimeter or interior defender.
But he can also change the rhythm of the Lakers’ offense, especially in transition or when Luka Doncic isn’t on the floor.
And with the Lakers committing less than 8% of their cap space to Mamukelashvili over the next three years, his upside is worth taking a gamble on.
Jonathan Kuminga turned down more guaranteed money from the Lakers — nearly twice as much per year — and elsewhere to come to Minnesota on a two-year, $13 million contract that could have him back on the free agent market next summer. Kuminga is betting on himself. Again.
"Just looking back, I think I'll say it's one of the best decisions I made," Kuminga said of coming to Minnesota. "Just looking at the roster, looking at the young group of guys they have, and just seeing what they've done in the past and things that they're trying to accomplish going forward."
Kuminga also said all the right things about fitting into a role with this team, where he often won't have the ball in his hands because that role falls more to Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Fitting into a role has not been Kuminga's strength (just ask Steve Kerr), but he sees a fit.
"I think my game, my mentality, pretty much everything fit well with the group. It don't matter what it is," Kuminga said. "They could put me wherever: running the floor, screen, defend, play fast, whatever it is. I feel like I could come in, be one of the best defenders."
Kuminga talked about how Edwards called him nearly every single day to recruit him. He also talked about his excitement of playing with LaMelo.
"I was watching him work out yesterday. I was watching him doing certain things, and just the way he passed the ball — it's incredible," Kuminga said. "I mean, I play with so many point guards in my career, but I never played with somebody that could pass as good as LaMelo, so I think I'm looking forward to it."
Kuminga talked a lot about defense — Edwards' focus on that was one of the draws for Kuminga, according to reports — and specifically the freedom he will have knowing Rudy Gobert is behind him.
"I could be myself on defense, I will be more aggressive because I know I have a shot blocker, and he's done it so many times," Kuminga said.
Tim Connelly and the Minnesota decision makers took a big gamble this offseason, moving on from Julius Randle, Naz Reid and a style of play that had been successful — but seemed to run into a wall — to bring in LaMelo, Kuminga, and to radically reshape the style of play. It's going to take coach Chris Finch a little time to find the rotations and systems that work, but by the holidays we should have a better sense of just how good this team will be.
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 24: Chris Paul #3 and Bradley Beal #0 of the LA Clippers high five during the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 24, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The last 10 days for the Los Angeles Clippers have been tumultuous, to say the least. Last Wednesday, the NBA dropped the hammer on them for salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard, which resulted in the league taking away five future first-round picks and suspending several key personnel, including owner Steve Ballmer and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. And if you didn’t think there was enough drama going on in Clipperland, tensions involving arguably the franchise’s greatest player and one of the most influential figures in recent Phoenix Suns history continue to brew.
After returning to the franchise he helped lead to a franchise-best 57-win season and earning numerous All-Star and All-NBA selections for the final season of his career, Chris Paul was sent home by the Clippers in the middle of the night less than two months into the season. The move was an attempt by the team to shake up the locker room amid a poor start to the season, and it ultimately ended his career prematurely.
Now, more than nine months after his release, as if the Clippers hadn’t done enough damage to their relationship with potentially the most iconic player in franchise history, it seems there’s a new wrinkle, and it involves another former Phoenix Sun.
With Paul retired and no longer on the Clippers, Bradley Beal is switching his number from zero to three, according to NBA numerologist Etienne Catalan and the Clippers’ team website. Paul wore No. 3 for the entirety of his career, and it was the number he was told the organization would retire.
Chris Paul details convos with Kawhi, Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank ahead of his abrupt exit from the Clippers 👀 pic.twitter.com/fG3ojh2YE4
Coincidentally, Beal took Paul’s No. 3 when he was traded for him after the Suns acquired Beal from the Wizards. But even though Paul helped break a decade-plus playoff drought and led the team to its first Finals in nearly 30 years, he played just three seasons in Phoenix, compared with seven for the Clippers, and there have been no reports from Paul or the team about plans to retire his jersey.
Beal taking Paul’s number in Phoenix didn’t ruffle any feathers, but Paul’s history with the Clippers runs much deeper, and people are disappointed with how the franchise is acknowledging it, or lack thereof.
With all the backlash directed at the Clippers, Beal stepped in and appeared to defend his former Clippers teammate with a recent post on Twitter, singing his praises and saying that Paul’s legacy is intact.
He’s a legend!
The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!
The NBA has a checkered history with alternate uniforms, to put it lightly. While throwbacks and retro-inspired designs often strike the right chord between nostalgia and innovation, many of the recent designs aimed at pushing on-court fashion forward feel like a miss. It feels like an absolute shame that the greatest moment of LeBron James’ career happened in sleeved jerseys back when Adidas had the NBA contract. Nike took over as the league’s official jersey maker two years later, and it’s hard to say it’s been any kind of improvement.
There have been some good Nike City Edition NBA jerseys through the years, but lately it feels like there are more and more misses. It’s hard to maintain optimism for the future of the league’s alternate uniforms after Nike’s latest release leaked this week. Eight teams are getting new looks for the 2026-27 season with Nike’s Specter Edition uniforms, which “reimagine team identity for the league’s oldest franchises through their history, culture and the energy of today’s game.”
It’s a good idea in theory, but the execution is currently getting panned all over the internet. Here’s the leak of the new uniforms for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings.
🚨BREAKING 🚨@Nike & @NBA are unveiling new Specter Edition unis!!
Nike’s new NBA Specter Edition uniforms, created for the teams who trace their roots back to the earliest chapters of the league.
Nike says these looks are “inspired by the next generation of hoopers,” and there are plenty of young people in the press photos. I’m not going to tell a teenager what’s cool and what isn’t because I’m twice their age. All I know is that from the reaction I’ve seen online so far, justabouteveryonehatesthese.
these look like the kind of thing you'd wear in middle school basketball. hard to think of any worse jerseys ever worn in the league. https://t.co/WPC5CgKU9l
Pick out the good ones, and stick with them for a few years. Radical idea, I know.
It really feels like the public has fully turned against Nike’s NBA uniforms. After years of complaining about Adidas’ sleeved jerseys, these feel just as poorly thought out. Making new NBA uniforms doesn’t have to be so hard. Maybe take a few years off and get back to the drawing board.
We are less than two weeks away from some teams opening NBA training camps (teams leaving the country for NBA overseas preseason games), and 18 days from training camps opening across the league. This tends to be a slow time for NBA news, but things are happening, including new rumors about Jalen Duren's situation.
Jalen Duren’s qualifying offer
The situation remains the same. Jalen Duren wants to get paid like the All-NBA player he is — 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season while playing elite defense. He wants at least a $40 million-a-year average salary (five years, $200 million). Pistons management also saw the playoffs, where Duren struggled — 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, with a negative plus/minus — and are offering more like $35 million a season (five years, $175 million). The sides have been stuck here for a while, and the fact that the Pistons are about $36.5 million below the luxury tax line factors in here.
Duren's nuclear option: He could play this season for the $9.6 million qualifying offer, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He is leaning more towards that, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack missive.
One source briefed on the process says Duren is increasingly prepared to play out the coming season on his $9.6 million qualifying offer — with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer — if no deal with Detroit materializes by the end of September.
Take that with a grain of salt. Remember, that is the threat Duren and his agent want out there as leverage (the only real leverage they have as a restricted free agent). Taking the qualifying offer would be a massive risk for Duren, leaving generational wealth on the table (even at the Pistons' offer), he could get injured or have a down season that hurts his market. From 30,000 feet, there is an obvious compromise here — $37.5 million a year average, five years, $187.5 million — but that's easy to say from a distance. This has been a rough negotiation that will leave scars no matter the outcome.
Other NBA news:
• Bradley Beal is switching from No. 0 to 3, which is only a big deal with the Clippers because that was Chris Paul's number, and they are likely to retire his number in the coming years. I doubt this bothers Paul himself, and Beal paid tribute to Paul. The number will be retired at some point.
He’s a legend!
The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!
• Ben Simmons' one-year contract with the Kings is non-guaranteed — the team can cut him in training camp with no penalty. Consider that insurance because of Simmons' injury history, but the Kings envision him on the roster as both a backup point guard with Darius Acuff and as a secondary shot creator who can play with him. If Simmons makes the opening-night roster, he has a $1 million guarantee.
• Always be mindful of the spin from agents — passed along by news breakers — when it comes to contracts. Case in point, the announcement that Lonnie Walker IV returned from a year playing in the EuroLeague to sign a one-year, $3.3 million minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets. Turns out, what he signed is a non-guaranteed training camp deal, as reported by Sportac’s Keith Smith. If Walker makes the roster his deal becomes that minimum contract, but the fact he got a training camp deal suggests that is a bit of a long shot.
• The NBA and Nike announced new warmup, practice and travel gear that all 30 teams will use during the 2026-27 season. These will officially drop in two launches, Sept. 15 and Oct. 12.
Today, the @NBA and @Nike unveiled the NBA Standard Issue Collection, a new leaguewide look for all 30 teams.
The collection is designed to connect what players wear on and around the court with how fans express their passion for the game.
