DENVER, CO - JULY 1: Tommy Balcetis and Daron Holmes II of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait on July 1, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Philadelphia made a huge change to the front office this offseason, parting ways with Daryl Morey and hiring Mike Gansey as the new President of Basketball Operations. So far, so very good on that front, as Gansey’s tenure has begun with the trade for Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining the organization on a veteran’s minimum contract in free agency.
Don’t expect this next bit of news to make quite the same immediate impact, but the Sixers are reportedly bringing another new face into the front office. Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Philadelphia is hiring Tommy Balcetis as the new Head of Basketball Intelligence, Analytics and Innovation.
The Philadelphia 76ers have hired Tommy Balcetis as Head of Basketball Intelligence, Analytics and Innovation, league sources told @hoopshype. Previously, Balcetis was an assistant general manager for the Denver Nuggets. He spent 12 years in total with Denver in several roles. pic.twitter.com/pb39fvnRp8
Balcetis was previously a member of the Denver Nuggets’ executive team, working there from 2013 through 2025, eventually as an assistant general manager. Lithuanian-born, Balcetis moved to New Hampshire as a teenager and later attended Harvard for college. He had his first NBA-related position in the NBA’s London office in 2012, which led to him meeting Tim Connelly during a Basketball Without Borders event in Moscow. Balcetis was contacted by Connelly a year later to build out the Nuggets’ analytics department when the latter moved from New Orleans to the top job in Denver.
During his time with Denver, Balcetis is most notably credited with an analysis that identified Aaron Gordon as one of the league’s top defenders against opposing alphas. Denver ended up trading with Orlando for Gordon, who in a supercharged role player position was an instrumental piece in the Nuggets’ 2023 championship. Since leaving the Nuggets when his contract expired in 2025, Balcetis had been working for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania in a similar head of innovations role.
The Sixers have a championship-caliber core in place with Brown, James, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe. The front office’s challenge will be to find the right pieces on the outskirts of the roster that could serve as a small missing piece to supplement the team’s starting five. With Philadelphia now approaching the first apron, possible moves could include a veteran signing at a prorated salary in December, or some sort of two-way player acquisition. Hopefully Balcetis’ experience and expertise will assist Gansey and the organization in making the right moves down the road in their pursuit of the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The New York Knicks star and Jordyn Woods reportedly got married over the weekend in Malibu, California.
On Sunday, Aug. 16, the New York Post shared photos and details of the wedding. The outdoor ceremony was held under a flowered arch overlooking the ocean. Woods wore a strapless ball gown with a neck scarf and Towns opted for a black suit and bow tie. All of the guests wore black attire.
The publication reported that Towns' Knicks teammates Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Jose Alvarado and Miles McBride attended the wedding along with New York superfans Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet. The "Marty Supreme" actor's girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, is a good friend of Woods and was also a guest. Other members of Woods' close circle shared in the joyous occasion, including Suni Lee and Hailey and Justin Bieber.
Woods' family friend and business partner, Adam Weitsman, posted a photo to his Instagram stories of himself and Woods' mother, Elizabeth, at the wedding with the Malibu geolocation tag.
"Came to California to celebrate and attend the wedding of the best couple I know @karltowns and @jordynwoods," he wrote.
"COVID came and kind of brought its challenges," Towns said, "and it kind of forced us to either pick where our relationship was going to go as friends or something more. And we chose the latter."
The couple shared the news of their engagement via an Instagram post on Christmas Day with the caption "Marry Christmas."
luka doncic lakers 2026 2027 schedule steph curry warriors
The Lakers now know their 2026-27 regular schedule – the longest road trips (the annual Grammy swing in late January/early February), the long homestands (three separate five-game stretches in December, March and April) and the competitive breaks.
Here are several big games the Lakers and Doncic should have circled in 2026-27:
Oct. 21: vs. Warriors in Los Angeles
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors takes a shot against Kris Dunn and Darius Garland of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, California. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
By the time October rolls around, Doncic would’ve already been with the Lakers for 20 months.
This won’t be his first season opener in the Purple and Gold, but it will be the Lakers’ first season opener without former superstar LeBron James on the roster since 2017, marking a pivotal moment in the franchise’s Doncic-led era.
Oct. 25: at Jazz in Salt Lake City
This matchup is less about Doncic and the Lakers, and more about their marquee offseason acquisition, center Walker Kessler, playing his former team for the first time after the Jazz sent Kessler to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade.
Kessler, the No. 22 pick in the 2022 draft, spent the first four seasons of his NBA career in Utah before restricted free agency led him to Los Angeles.
Nov. 27: at Spurs in San Antonio
This will be the first of three matchups between the Lakers and the defending Western Conference champions.
It’ll also be the first matchup between two players in Doncic and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who finished in the top-four in MVP voting in 2025-26.
Dec. 16 and Dec. 18: at Timberwolves in Minnesota
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves works against Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
This is the first of a pair of two-game series between the Lakers and Timberwolves – the two Western Conference playoff teams who underwent the most change this offseason.
The Timberwolves will have plenty of starpower on their end, led by All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards, four-time DPOY Rudy Gobert and recently-acquired All-Star guard LaMelo Ball.
This will be a good test for both teams to see where they stand in the conference.
Add in this being James’ first game against the Lakers in Los Angeles since leaving the franchise, and the anticipation will be even higher.
It’ll be interesting to see how the crowd inside Crypto.com Arena reacts to James’ return after LeBron left behind a complicated Lakers’ legacy despite delivering them their lone NBA title over the last 15 years.
Jan. 7: vs. Celtics in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after scoring a basket during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Imagn Images) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Even during a season the Celtics may take a step back after trading Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, Lakers-Celtics remains one of the league’s marquee games because of the historic rivalry between the franchises.
Doncic is still looking for his first win against the Celtics since joining the Lakers. If he wants to ever make a name for himself in Purple and Gold, beating the Celtics is a must.
Jan. 26: vs. Thunder in Los Angeles
The 2025 NBA champions, led by two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, beat the Lakers in all four 2025-26 regular-season matchups by an averaged margin of victory over 29.5 points before sweeping the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs.
This should be a true measuring stick game for Doncic and the Lakers in the second half of the season.
Jan. 30: at Knicks in New York
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic breaks away from New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during the first quarter on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (JASON SZENES) JASON SZENES/ NY POST
For several years, Lakers at Knicks offered the one annual opportunity to witness James play on the NBA’s biggest stage at Madison Square Garden.
Now, Doncic will be in the spotlight against the defending NBA champions.
Feb. 28: at Mavericks in Dallas
Matchups against the Mavericks in Dallas should become less emotional for Doncic as more time passes – especially compared to his first time playing against his former team at American Airlines Center in April 2025 after shockingly being traded to the Lakers two months prior.
But this will still be just Doncic’s third game in Dallas since the trade.
Doncic, and fellow star guard Austin Reaves, sat out of the second visit to Dallas last April because of their season-ending lower body injuries.
James spent time with Austin Reaves at a golf course Sunday along with his son, Bronny James. The trio were filmed having a meal together with Bobby Fairways, Joey Coldcuts, Fat Perez, and Binny the Jet from the Bob Does Sports YouTube channel.
Austin Reaves and LeBron James were spending some time at the golf course together earlier today
Both James and Reaves have had quite the offseason.
James was the top free agent of the NBA summer, spending a month-long saga weighing where his next and final destination would be before retirement. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer chose to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeBron James and Austin Reaves hung out at a golf course only days after the Lakers were sold for $12.5 billion. NBAE via Getty Images
The instability comes at a unique time for the storied franchise as the 2026-27 season will be Luka Doncic’s first season without James, arguably the biggest face of the league. Now, the Lakers are fully Doncic’s team and their performance this season will be on his shoulders.
The Lakers were sold by Mark Walter only 18 months after he purchased the team from the Buss family. Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there was one certainty about the Lakers’ offseason, it was that change was coming. But no one could have expected change to this degree.
With several players going out — namely team cornerstone LeBron James — and several coming in, the roster looks drastically different from what it did this time last year. Even with the known probability that a makeover was looming, what was startling was that it was a teardown, not a renovation.
After only a little over a year since taking over the team from the Buss family (who previously controlled it for the past 46 years), Mark Walter sold the Lakers to former CEO of Disney Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner.
Understandably, the news sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. It also raised serious questions. The suspicious timing of the sale amidst Walter’s ongoing FBI investigation was one thing, but seeing the league’s crown jewel flipped like a piece of real estate was another.
Before the sale, the Lakers seemed to have a fresh direction. They had clarity. With Walter and the ongoing Dodgerfication of the organization, the team seemed on track to finally catch up to the rest of the league in terms of modernization. The roster changes also supported this, with a clear emphasis on building directly around the new face of the franchise, Luka Dončić.
What was meant to be the first chapter of a new book suddenly was scrapped just months before it was set to hit shelves. And with new authors now in charge of the rewrite, the team’s fans are once again left uncertain about what comes next.
Natural questions such as: How invested will Iger and Kushner be in day-to-day operations? Is this just another business coup for a new set of wealthy investors? How deep actually are their wallets? What happens to the changes Walter began to implement? And perhaps most important for the fanbase, what impact will the new ownership have on the on-court product?
The Lakers were already heading into the year at a continuity deficit before all the changes at the top. With likely three new starters, a revamped bench, and a younger-leaning group overall, the team will have to find stability on the court in the face of all of the changes off of it.
While easier said than done, there may be optimism they will be able to expedite the chemistry process faster than a typical team of new players.
For one, the team’s new star duo remains intact with Dončić and Austin Reaves. Losing James obviously hurts, but he already began to take on a smaller role compared to his younger peers as the season progressed. Also returning are head coach JJ Redick and the rest of his staff, who have already shown an impressive ability to generate buy-in from new players previously.
Speaking of the new set of Lakers, it’s worth noting how many of them will arrive with some degree of built-in chemistry. Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton spent three seasons together in Utah. Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy both played with Dončić. And when looking further down the bench, Ziaire Williams and Bronny James were high school teammates at Sierra Canyon.
The importance of building chemistry right away seems to be a point of emphasis as Dončić is organizing a team-wide mini-camp in Slovenia this month. While not an uncommon occurrence in the offseason, it is an encouraging step towards bringing the group together, especially given how many of the new players signed multi-year deals.
For better or for worse, this is the core going forward. And if successful, it will be the backbone of bringing stability back to a franchise currently in limbo.
Ultimately, the fastest way to build cohesion and block the outside noise will be getting onto the court and, hopefully, winning.
There is no understating the sheer magnitude of the ripple effects that this summer will have for years to come. Time will reveal more details, and time will reveal the results. Yet for this group of Lakers players and their fans, shifting the focus back onto basketball itself will help make things feel less slimy than they currently do.
Owners, while important, should not be the beginning of a basketball conversation. The sooner we can get back to talking about the intricacies of a Dončić and Kessler pick-and-roll or the impact of Sexton’s driving ability instead of yet another rich person’s ROI the better.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 20: Dwight Murray Jr. #19 of the Atlanta Hawks wears Converse shoes against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League Championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Celtics defeated the Hawks 101-80. 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 Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 08: (L-R) Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks, head coach Mike D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh address the media during a press conference on July 8, 2010 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni and his longtime big man with Phoenix and the New York Knicks, Amar’e Stoudemire, are two of the nine inductees entering the Naismith Hall of Fame this weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts.
But as Stoudemire and D’Antoni become forever enshrined in basketball history, it was their willingness to be different that helped them forge legendary careers. After years of coaching in the NBA and Italy, D’Antoni implemented the “7 seconds or less” offense once Steve Nash came back to Phoenix. The system is considered the catalyst for the fast, three-point-heavy offense that many NBA teams run today, and Stoudemire was the All-NBA big man who manned the paint for it.
Going 31-4 to start the 2004-05 season, winning 54 or more games in four straight seasons and making the Western Conference Finals in two straight seasons, Phoenix separated itself from the competition through its willingness to play unconventionally. The “7 seconds or less” offense was designed to give players ample opportunities to score and make plays, which is why D’Antoni thinks players bought in.
“We went where everybody can eat. Instead of that guy posting up this guy all the time, or going to a specific spot with the ball every time, we let everybody feed, and boy, they just bought in and went with it,” D’Antoni said. “It’s easy also to put the team first when your stats are strong because everybody wants to earn money, and you got to earn money by having stats in a career year.”
Someone eager to play in the new offense? Stoudemire. Despite being one of the youngest players on the team and going from playing power forward to center, he wanted to set the tone for his teammates by accepting the change without any qualms.
“I wanted to be a team player. Obviously, I had goals and wanted to be the best and dominate and show the world how good I am, but I also was willing to be a team player, and I think for me as a leader, you want your teammates to be leaders also,” Stoudemire said.
That leadership, he credits not just to D’Antoni but also to his “throwbacks,” as he called them: teammate Scott Williams, Suns broadcaster Eddie Johnson and team security guard Kevin Tucker. In his early days, when he was too young to go out to bars and clubs, he would hang around them because they provided him with “positive leadership,” which he feels put him on the right path. That leadership helped make the first year of “7 seconds or less” a memorable one during Stoudemire’s NBA tenure.
In the 2004-05 season, Stoudemire arguably had the best season of his career, making the All-Star team, averaging a career-high 26 points per game and receiving All-NBA Second Team honors while helping the Suns secure the best record in the NBA. Stoudemire, Nash, who won league MVP, and Shawn Marion were the first trio of teammates in NBA history at the time to earn All-NBA honors. Stoudemire and the team’s open-minded approach to D’Antoni’s new offense helped the system gel early and often. He says that everything came naturally in training camp.
“We all were in top shape, ready to go. And from training camp, we saw something special. We saw the style of play and the speed we were playing with,” Stoudemire said. “I was at my athleticism peak, and we had Shawn Marion, who was a brilliant floor runner and Swiss Army knife type of player, and Nash was the pass-first guy who could get the ball to whoever was hot.”
Along with Nash and this year’s two inductees, Grant Hill and Shaquille O’Neal were also members of the Suns during the 2000s who are in the Hall of Fame. D’Antoni coached only Hill, but Stoudemire played with both of them.
While they didn’t win a championship and break the franchise’s title drought, their impact on the game hasn’t been forgotten by people who covered the team, including Suns broadcaster Tom Leander.
Even once D’Antoni left the Suns to coach the Knicks, his impact on the organization remained strong. When Alvin Gentry took over as head coach in 2009 after the team fired Terry Porter, he tried to keep the offense the same.
“I just remember that when I took over, the one thing that I was gonna do was we were gonna go back to what I call ‘Phoenix Suns basketball,’ the ‘7 seconds or less’ days,” Gentry said.
Playing D’Antoni’s style of offense, the team scored 140 points in each of Gentry’s first three games as coach.
D’Antoni doesn’t give himself the credit other people do, but he feels the offense he ran in Phoenix was validated by how the Golden State Warriors have run their offense for so many years and won four championships.
“They’re playing the way that we played because we did it kind of without analytics, and we didn’t have that knowledge yet, and so now they do it with analytics telling them that’s the way to go, and so it’s obviously satisfying,” he said.
D’Antoni never won an NBA championship, but as the NBA becomes more and more three-point-centric (teams shot 13 more threes per game this year than they did 10 seasons ago) and with his teams consistently leading the league in three-point attempts throughout his career, his name will be one to remember when telling the story of the three-point revolution. Players like Stoudemire, who were willing to play a role in spacing the floor for their teammates, will be a part of it.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg isn’t afraid to say what he thinks.
Lendeborg was asked if he was excited for the upcoming matchup with Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns. The No. 11 overall pick wasn’t coy in his response.
“I’m finna give Dillon Brooks belt,” Lendeborg said on a Kick stream.
Yaxel Lendeborg has never been afraid to make candid comments since he was drafted. Getty Images
“I’m finna give Dillon Brooks belt.”
Yaxel Lendeborg speaks on whether he is excited for the matchup against Dillon Brooks
Brooks has built a reputation for being one of the least-liked players in the league. His alleged dirty antics and constant chirping has warranted that notion. But that’s not the only player Lendeborg at one time had some disdain for.
Warriors Yaxel Lendeborg threw massive shade at Suns star Dillon Brooks. Getty Images
“It’s a full-circle moment for me. I’ve been saying this every time I get asked this question. In 2016, I’m a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry,” Lendeborg said. “So now that I’m actually going to be on the same team as him, play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot.”
The Brooks comments appears to be the former Wolverine’s latest candid comments.
But the rookie will have to prove that he can indeed keep up with a pesky defender like Brooks once Golden State faces the Suns in their first matchup of the season on Oct. 24.
Lendeborg has already made a good first impression on head coach Steve Kerr after leading the G-League team to an NBA summer league championship. He finished the title matchup with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Yaxel Lendeborg was selected with the No. 11 overall pick by the Warriors in the 2026 NBA Draft. NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors have entered the final years of Curry’s career and many feel as though the organization may be squandering their closing campaigns with the 38-year-old. Golden State was involved in the LeBron James sweepstakes, but hasn’t made a notable free agent signing this summer.
However, Lendeborg is expected to be a key addition for Curry and the Warriors this season.
Photo via Kobe Bryant/Twitter | Photo via Kobe Bryant/Twitter
There aren’t many great memories of the Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard era.
What was supposed to be another title window opening for Bryant ended up being a season referred to as the Dwightmare. There was tension between Kobe and Dwight, players couldn’t stay healthy and it ended with a torn Achilles and a first-round sweep.
Time hasn’t really made that season look any better, but there was a kernel of joy in the midst of a downtime for the Lakers.
With the chatter about infighting between Kobe and Dwight almost reaching the levels of the Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal feud, the team decided to have some fun.
Then Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni was caught in the middle of Kobe and Dwight, jokingly looking like he was trying to stop the madness while also crying out for help.
This past weekend, D’Antoni joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He sat down for a Q&A with Dave McMenamin of ESPN and this iconic picture came up.
How did it happen?
There were rumors that they had really gotten into it and they hated each other, and this was not going to work.
I was on the training table rehabbing my knee and Kobe was there, and Dwight and I go, “Can you believe this?” I don’t know how, but we just started talking and all of a sudden [the photo was shot].
In the moment, this image certainly cooled down the temperature in LA. There was still time to get things right, and with everyone clearly playing around, the reaction to this picture was positive.
Later in the story, D’Antoni revealed that Bryant made the picture happen.
Was it Kobe’s idea? Because obviously he posted it.
I think it was. I think it was Kobe. But it wasn’t an idea that, “Oh, let’s pose for a picture and get this out.” But it was more of a joke. And I guess maybe the trainer [Gary Vitti] had a phone camera or something.
Gary might have said something like, “You guys stand there and look like you’re fighting, which everybody thinks you’re doing every day, anyway.” Something like that. It was off the cuff. It wasn’t planned.
It was more or less just us responding with, “It’s not as bad as people say it is.”
As we look back on life, we sometimes feel nostalgia for moments that came even during bad times. This is one of those times.
Now that this is a story from well over a decade ago, we can all just laugh and shake our heads. In the end, this team couldn’t win, but the picture will live in infamy.
Parker was a two-time NCAA national champion at Tennessee, was drafted No. 1 in 2008, and became the only player in WNBA history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She went on to be a three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP (2008, 2013). Parker also is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012).
In her induction speech, Parker talked about how her journey started with her father.
The man that planted the seed
Candace Parker shares the story on how her dad positioned her at point guard, forever changing the game.
Parker also gave a big shout-out to Allen Iverson.
"In '97, my brother got drafted and traded on Draft night to the Sixers."
-throws basketball to Allen Iverson-
"And this guy right here became his teammate... the dominance and the impact he has is still felt today... I am sorry I am blown away by you having a suit that has… pic.twitter.com/5PiLZ2t03K
She also talked about being part of the fabric of the game — learning lessons from Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie and passing them on to future Hall of Famer A'Ja Wilson.
Whether Candace was a rookie or a vet, the momentum was always there
Candace Parker speaks on the impact of the early days with Lisa Leslie, and passing the torch to A'ja Wilson.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 15: Catcher Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres waits for the throw as Angel Genao #17 of the Cleveland Guardians scores during the second inning at Progressive Field on August 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (66-58) at Cleveland Guardians (60-64), August 16, 2026, 10:40 a.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our thread
If one name raised eyebrows with some fans when the class of 2026 to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was announced, it was Doc Rivers.
His critics focus on his (at times spectacular) failures, but his overall resume earned the call to the Hall. Rivers is fifth all-time in wins by a coach, ahead of Hall of Famers like Phil Jackson, George Karl and Larry Brown. He has a championship ring as a coach, with the 2008 Boston Celtics. Rivers was an NBA head coach for 27 consecutive seasons, starting in Orlando, then moving to Boston, the LA Clippers, Philadelphia and Milwaukee. He has a career regular-season record of 1,191-861 (58%) and has coached in 226 playoff games. That all came after Rivers played more than 10 seasons in the NBA, and he was an All-Star in 1988.
To be fair, Rivers has had some spectacular playoff flameouts — his teams have blown 3-1 series leads three times — and had some rough exits from a couple of his stops. The voters for the Hall of Fame looked past that, and it was not a discussion for Rivers when he took to the podium Saturday night.
Rivers spoke from the podium in his trademark raspy voice, but said that was what 27 years of NBA coaching will do.
“My voice is already raspy... I want you guys to know a couple quick things. This isn’t my real voice. Coaching stole it from me... I swear I used to have a high voice and use to be able to really sing, can't do that anymore."
Rivers did talk about winning a championship in 2008 in Boston.
Doc Rivers reflects on coaching Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce and the @celtics’ 2008 NBA championship during his @Hoophall enshrinement speech! pic.twitter.com/vY44KOq9vk
After being primarily owned by the Buss family – first Dr. Jerry Buss and then his children, led by Jeanie Buss – for 46 years, which was the longest majority ownership tenure in the NBA, the Lakers were entering a dawn of a new era.
The Lakers, the league’s glamour franchises, were going from a mom-and-pop operation to a more traditional, corporate infrastructure under Walter.
And Lakers fans didn’t need to look far to see the success that could be accomplished with Walter leading the franchise.
Mark Walter, chairman and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, acknowledges a fan prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in Chicago. AP Photo/Melissa TamezMark Walter sits courtside during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 118-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs on November 5, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Getty Images
The Dodgers, who Walter has been the majority owner of since 2012, have been one of the most successful MLB franchises in the last 14 years: Thirteen consecutive playoff appearances; 12 of the last 13 NL West division titles; five World Series appearances in the last nine years; three World Series titles in the last six years, including being the reigning back-to-back champs.
Even with the understanding that Walter’s deep pockets wouldn’t impact the Lakers’ payroll for players in the same way it did for the Dodgers, there was optimism that modernizing and restructuring the Lakers in other ways – such as building out the franchise’s front office and investments in the infrastructure – would pay divendends.
Mark Walter and Jeanie Buss talk as the Lakers play the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on March 12, 2026. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Lakers made the type of expected progress in those areas over the last year.
The succession plan for Walter to own the Lakers was essentially put in place when he became a minority owner in 2021, when he received a right of first refusal on the majority share of the team.
Why Walter chose to sell the Lakers now, just 14 months after agreeing to purchase the Lakers and 10 months since he officially became the majority owner, isn’t clear.
The Lakers logo is displayed outside Crypto.com Arena. Getty ImagesLeBron James reacts to a call during the second half against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 26, 2026. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Walter hasn’t publicly commented on the sale outside of this statement: “Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family. I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”
Regardless of why Walter ultimately decided to sell now, his short tenure as the Lakers majority owner, whenever it officially ends, will be remembered as a disappointment.
In fairness, Walter didn’t have the time to make the impact on the Lakers like he has the Dodgers.
It took the Dodgers five years into Walter’s ownership to make a World Series appearance, and eight to win the title.
The Lakers didn’t even have a full year under the 66-year-old’s guidance.
But in that year, very few remarkable things happened.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, attends the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*” at Dolby Theatre on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Hollywood. Getty Images for Disney
Maybe Walter’s legacy as the Lakers’ owner will be remembered for how he set up the Kushner-Iger era.
Josh Kushner leaving for the Time 100 Gala Christopher Peterson/Splash News
The Lakers were revamping their basketball operations under Walter, and already started making more investments into their practice facility, which included medical equipment.
There’s little-to-no evidence of what a Kushner-Iger-led NBA operation looks like.
But the valuation they paid for the Lakers, including their combined net worth, suggests they’ll be able to pick up where Walter left off with modernizing the franchise.
But so much more was hoped for under Walter, whose tenure with the Lakers will be remembered for much less than expected.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 celebrates with Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter of a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The people have spoken.
When posed the question of adding veterans to fill out the roster, the majority of voters (59%) felt it wasn’t necessary. This offseason has seen the loss of Mike Conley (Boston), Kyle Anderson (Toronto), and Joe Ingles (Australia) already, thus leaving Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, and newly added Trey Lyles as the lone 30-year-olds on the roster.
Since Anthony Edwards joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020-2021 season, there have been various “key locker room voices” that have helped guide the young star.
2026: Joe Ingles (38), Mike Conley (38), Kyle Anderson (32)
2025: Joe Ingles (37), Mike Conley (37)
2024: Mike Conley (36), Kyle Anderson (30)
2023: Mike Conley (35), Kyle Anderson (29), Taurean Prince (28)
2022: Patrick Beverley (33), Taurean Prince (27)
2021: Ricky Rubio (30), Ed Davis (31)
The community believes that it’s time for Anthony Edwards himself to be the “veteran voice” now. The 25-year-old is now entering his seventh season in the league and has demonstrated some of his offseason leadership. He has been as vocal as he’s ever been about building team chemistry over the summer, and he’s put his words into action. He spearheaded a trip to visit Rudy Gobert, who’s six years his elder, for team bonding excursion.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 24: Kon Knueppel #7 celebrates with LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets in the second half against the Washington Wizards during their game at Spectrum Center on January 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It should also be of note that LaMelo Ball, despite some of the negative perceptions of him, was known to be an outstanding locker room presence for the Charlotte Hornets as well. Many current players still on the Hornets have recently lamented his loss, saying that he was a great connector of people on and off the court. A bottle of optimistic energy that was a welcome presence on the team.
If the Timberwolves don’t fill out their roster with new “vets,” then who will be the final players that make the team? In the comments section, names such as Kevin Love, Ben Simmons, and Willie Cauley-Stein popped up. Even some of our own brave community members volunteered as tribute.
If you’re into sports betting and all that stuff, the Wolves odds currently sit at +1500 to win the Western Conference according to FanDuel, but that could change very quickly if CatalinaWineMixer (and his multiple aliases) makes the team.
Who ultimately rounds out the Wolves roster now becomes the final question as we barrel towards training camp next month.
SPRINGFIELD,MA - AUGUST 15: Mike D'Antoni speaks to the audience during the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on August 15, 2026 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Rudy Tomjanovich is the best coach in Houston Rockets history, but there’s a pretty good chance that the best skipper you ever saw run the team was Mike D’Antoni.
He’s the best coach I’ve watched lead the Rockets, and I’m 39. Although, fun fact, that is the exact average age of a human being in North America. So, using infallible math, we can deduce that 50.0% of you are older than me, and likely saw Rudy T in action.
Otherwise, D’Antoni is the guy. Now, he’s a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. Jeff VanGundy is unlikely to earn that distinction as a head coach. Rick Adleman (rest in peace) already has, and rightly so – but not for his work with the Rockets. Kevin McHale is the best player to ever coach the Rockets, which is meaningless. Oh, half a season of J.B. Bickerstaff.
Stephen Silas…exists. Ime Udoka is thus far a divisive figure, but he’s not in D’Antoni territory. There’s a brief, complete history of Houston Rockets head coaches after Don Chaney:
And D’Antoni stands above the rest.
Former Rockets head coach earns Hall of Fame nod
D’Antoni’s offense was like the best Lil Wayne punchlines (e.g.: “I’m colder than B-R, add another three Rs”): It was less “how did he think of that?”, and more “how has nobody else thought of that”?
D’Antoni’s revelation, reductively, was that a lead guard’s usage could be higher if they were good enough. It still sounds insane if you’re old enough, but he decided that you don’t really need plays beyond pick-and-roll and/or isolation if your ball-handler is Steve Nash or James Harden (or Jeremy Lin for a month), your big man can catch lobs, and your wings can hit threes.
And he was right.
In Phoenix with Nash, it was seven seconds or less. In time, with Harden, it became something closer to 17 seconds or more. It was a full-on metamorphosis. D’Antoni initially realized that there were more points per possession (PPP) to be found early in the clock, only to realize that when James Harden was in isolation, the points could come at any time.
So, the offense was built around Harden in isolation in unrivaled volume. In 2018-19, Harden recorded 1, 280 isolation possessions. The next leader in iso volume was Russell Westbrook, at 353.
There’s a story that I always liked about Kanye West (before the antisemitism) and Rick Rubin. When West was working on Yeezus, he was said to have brought Rubin into the studio to collaborate. He told Rubin not to add anything, but instead to take away anything he thought was gratuitous.
That’s basically what D’Antoni’s offense was. A dribble hand-off? Why, so we can get the ball into Harden’s hands? Why not just put it there in the first place? Why employ some marginal table-setting floor general type to get the ball to Harden, only to burn precious seconds off the clock when Harden could have had it anyway?
Now, those philosophies are widespread. Nobody keeps a Derek Fisher or Mario Chalmers in their starting lineup. Those are reserves.
D’Antoni was not perfect. Rockets fans can’t see the number 27 in print without having heart palpitations. When Chris Paul got hurt in the 2017-18 postseason, D’Antoni did not adjust. He ran pure Harden ball, which had not won before, and would not win then.
Although…
The second-best player on that Warriors team was either Kevin Durant or Steph Curry. In Paul’s absence, the second-best Rocket on the floor was one of P.J. Tucker, Clint Capela, or Eric Gordon. None of them would have been the third-best player on the Warriors (one of Draymond Green or Klay Thompson). Would any of them have been the fourth (Andre Iguodala)?
Run that simulation 100 times, and the Paul-less Rockets lose to the Warriors in 90+ outcomes. They just don’t miss 27 consecutive threes. Still, it is fair to say that D’Antoni refused to adjust, and that might have cost the Rockets the best possible chance to win the series.
But that’s what D’Antoni did – refuse to adjust. That stubbornness got him pretty far in his coaching career.
