Ziaire Williams is out for the second consecutive game with a left foot injury, the team announced Friday, Oct. 30. He's considered day-to-day and was questionable after missing the 103-87 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Oct. 28 before having his status downgraded.
Head coach JJ Redick told reporters before that game that both Williams and Luka Dončić woke up sore after Tuesday's loss to the Portland Trailblazers and that the team preferred to be cautious on the second night of a back-to-back with a stretch of five games in the next seven days ahead of them.
Dončić is not on the injury report and is expected to play against Golden State Friday night.
Williams is hampered by the same foot injury that limited him throughout the preseason, though the 25-year-old wing has thrived in a starting role this year. He is averaging 11.3 points on 57.1% shooting and 46.7% from 3-point range, providing spacing and athleticism alongside the core of Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. Williams has also played well on defense in his four games this season with 1.5 steals per game, but his value on that end of the floor devives from things that don't show up in the stat sheet, like clogging up passing lanes with his length and diving for loose balls.
The Lakers signed Williams to a one-year, $2.8 million contract in July after he spent two years with the Brooklyn Nets and the previous four with the Memphis Grizzlies. He immediately made an impression on Redick and earned a spot in the starting five out of training camp despite the injury.
"(I) think everybody in our building that’s been around him for the last six to eight weeks just recognizes what a special human being he is and I really believe in him as a player," Redick told reporters earlier in October. "I think he has a lot of room to grow still, which is exciting for all of us."
Ja Morant will miss at least a month due to a left hamstring strain, the team announced Friday.
Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant sustained a left hamstring injury during last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Imaging revealed a grade two left hamstring strain.
While he will be re-evaluated in a month, he could well be back not long after Thanksgiving.
Ja Morant Injury Update: The Blazers say Ja has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. A G2 strain is also known as a partial or incomplete tear. Since 2005-06, the average time lost for an in-season G2 hamstring strain in the NBA is 34.7 days (~14 games).
Thursday night was Morant's return to Memphis, but it ended early when he asked out of the game in the fourth quarter and was grabbing the back of his leg. He returned to the bench before the game ended, but he had a huge wrap on his left leg.
Expect Jrue Holiday to move into the starting five. This puts more on the plate of Scoot Henderson, who started the season coming off the bench and hadn't looked sharp, averaging 7.5 points per game on 34.4% shooting. The Trail Blazers now need more out of him.
Morant looked good to start the season, as close to his vintage self as we have seen in a long time. He is averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 58.8% overall and 44.4% from beyond the arc. He had a more mature game, where he could still snake his way to the paint and get good shots, but relied more on floaters in the paint than just banking on his athleticism and driving into the teeth of larger defenders at the rim.
"I feel like a lot of people think like I'm just supposed to score 25 or score 30 every time, and I'm really a point guard. You know what I'm saying?" Morant said after the Trail Blazers beat the Lakers earlier this week. "So coming into it, I know I could make their jobs easier, release some pressure on them. Obviously, adding Dame back as well takes a lot of pressure from Deni having to handle a lot. We can get him, you know, way easier looks, and you know, vice versa. I don't have to handle. Dame don't have to handle. We still can get in a lot of stuff to get the job done."
It was working beautifully, but it is now on hold for at least a month.
"Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant sustained a left hamstring injury during last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Imaging revealed a grade two left hamstring strain. Morant will be re-evaluated in four weeks," the team said in a statement.
Morant, who was traded from the Grizzlies to the Trail Blazers in the offseason, was injured Thursday, Oct. 29 during the fourth quarter of Portland's 124-103 loss in his first game against his former team.
Other NBA players who are going to miss time after injuries include Anthony Edwards - knee, Jalen Williams - fractured fibula, Cason Wallace - torn labrum, Ben Simmons - torn Achilles, Ben Sheppard - torn meniscus, Jaren Jackson Jr - torn MCL, Ariel Hukporti - ruptured Achilles, Brandon Ingram - partial Achilles tear, Max Strus - partial plantar fascia tear, Paolo Banchero - high ankle sprain, and Jalen Duren - hamstring strain.
Morant spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the Grizzlies and had 14 points and three assists in 23 minutes before leaving the game.
The two-time All-Star has averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 assists in nearly 27 minutes a game in the first four games this season.
Until Kawhi Leonard returns, Ja’Kobe Walter is a player that can be streamed with confidence. Over the last two games as a starter, Walter has averaged 18.0 points, 1.5 steals and 4.0 triples per game. The most recent timeline update for Leonard has him returning in late November, which may be the best case scenario. Walter should start until then.
There is long-term value here, but this weekend is also a favorable one for him. Toronto plays Orlando on Friday and the Lakers on Sunday, and the Raptors are currently fourth in the NBA in pace. More possessions means more stats.
Walter struggled during his rookie season but showcased real growth in year two and seems to have taken another step forward this year, despite the small sample size. His floor-spacing ability is valuable to this team with how it’s currently constructed, so he should play a large reserve role, even when Leonard returns.
The 12 teams that play two games this weekend include the Celtics, Nets, Hornets, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Magic, 76ers and Raptors. If you’re looking to maximize your games played, prioritize picking up players from those teams.
Kon Knueppel (hamstring) is getting close to returning, so this could be the last weekend to stream Allen confidently. Allen has hit at least two three-pointers in every game this season, has scored at least 20 points twice and was even able to contribute two steals and two blocks in Charlotte’s last game. 49.5 percent of the Hornets’ field goal attempts this season have come from beyond the arc, which makes Allen a great fit. He’ll continue to be a reliable reserve for them all year, though when Knueppel returns, his minutes and shot attempts will likely be suppressed compared to his role now.
Keon Ellis, G, Brooklyn Nets
Egor Demin (leg) is set to miss a few games, which could allow Ellis to return to the starting lineup. In three starts this season, Ellis has averaged 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 triples per game. He’s not a high-volume scorer, though he has been able to get hot from deep in previous seasons. However, with how this roster is constructed, that won’t happen often. Ellis may have some streaming appeal at times this season, but Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. will be the priority when healthy, which will prevent Ellis from being a long-term play.
Terrence Shannon Jr., G/F, Minnesota Timberwolves
With Anthony Edwards (knee) set to miss north of two months, Ayo Dosunmu has replaced him in the starting unit, which has allowed Shannon to fill in as the team’s sixth man. Shannon has scored in double figures in every game this season and played a season-high 27 minutes in Minnesota’s last game, the first without Edwards. Shannon has also consistently knocked down shots from beyond the arc, averaging 2.2 triples per game this year. He should be a fringe option for a couple months until Edwards returns.
Tristan da Silva, F, Orlando Magic
He hasn’t been starting even with both Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) sidelined, but da Silva continues to be productive and play big minutes. He has averaged 19.5 points and 4.5 triples per game over Orlando’s last two, which lines up with when Banchero went down. He has been on fire this year, which extends back to the preseason. The short-term value over the next few weeks should be appealing, and Orlando has two games this weekend.
With Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) set to miss two weeks, the Pacers will be looking for everyone to step up on offense. Nesmith had 18 points in their last game and has scored in double figures in all but one game this year, which is when he had nine points in 20 minutes in the season opener. He played 27 minutes in their last game, which was a new season high for them. They had been careful with his minutes since he’s been managing his own hamstring injury, but he’s back to seeing a normal workload.
Tari Eason, F, Houston Rockets
Eason made his first start of the season on Wednesday with Alperen Sengun sidelined with a back injury. Sengun is questionable to play on Friday, but even if Eason doesn’t start, he’s been productive enough to be worth streaming in. He has averaged 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game this season, and if you don’t factor in the season-opener (since he was ejected after playing just three minutes), he has played 30.2 minutes per game. Could this be the Eason breakout we’ve been waiting for? It’s worth taking a chance on him, especially with two games on the docket this weekend.
Brook Lopez, C, LA Clippers
Outside of their last game, Lopez has been fantastic all season. Through the first three games of the year, Lopez averaged 18.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 2.0 triples per game. With two games scheduled this weekend, Lopez is worth taking a chance on, even if he continues to come off the bench. His production likely won’t be consistent enough to be worth keeping around all year, but he’s a high-upside option for short stretches.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, Los Angeles Lakers
It was a slow start to the year for Mamu, but he’s starting to get things going. It appears head coach J.J. Redick finally realized when he has in Mamu. Over the last two games, Mamu has averaged 15 points, six rebounds, one steal, one block and 1.5 triples per game. When he gets the opportunity, Mamu has been a fantasy stud in the past. Hopefully this trend will continue for him.
Jay Huff, C, Indiana Pacers
Huff has been the starting center with Ivica Zubac (ankle) sidelined, and while he hasn’t been great, the opportunity is too great to pass up. This is one of the riskier plays, but a starting center for two games with a history of productive fantasy lines, specifically as a shot blocker, is worth taking a chance on. As soon as Zubac is back, Huff should be dropped to the waiver wire.
Joshua Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital, during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, on Friday, July 10, 2026. The event brings together many of the biggest names in AI, media and technology. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images
When Josh Kushner and Bob Iger agreed in principle to buy the Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion, they still had a lot of work to do.
For starters, they, obviously, did not have $12.5 billion simply lying around ready to transfer over to Walter. As is common practice in the modern world of franchise ownership, Iger and Kushner — and mainly the latter — would need to go around and add minority investors to reach that $12.5 billion figure.
Naturally, that’s going to all go on behind the scenes. But notorious Celtics fan Bill Simmons seemed to have pulled the curtain back on some potential drama in his latest podcast episode on Friday when he encouraged people to aggregate that Kushner was struggling to find the money to buy the Lakers.
“The Lakers’ guy doesn’t have the money yet. That $12.5 billion he has to pay to Mark Walter? He’s still searching for five, six billion of it and doesn’t have it yet … Here’s the other thing. Guess who’s not putting in really any money. Bob Iger. He’s putting in the minimum. The minimum is like $63 million. That’s what he’s putting in. So Kushner has to find all this other money but this is a lot of money and the deadline is coming and I think they’re using the Buss family as scapegoats for why the deal’s dragging along. But he can’t find the other money. He needs to find like four, five billion-dollar guys that will come in and buy whatever percentage of the team.”
Well, it turns out that’s likely not true. Shocker.
While Simmons does still have sources around the league that are more often right than wrong, his green-tinted glasses got in the way on this one. Also on Friday, Ben Horney of Front Office Sports reported that Kushner are offering up stakes in the Lakers starting at $25o million and, more specifically, they’re not having any trouble finding takers.
The idea that Kushner is having trouble raising money for the deal is not true, one source tells FOS. There has been massive demand to get in on the Lakers deal, according to two sources, although it’s not clear who has expressed interest in buying in. The transaction could be completed within the next few months, one source says. Once the deal closes, Kushner will be majority owner, while Iger will be a minority owner and will oversee day-to-day operations of the team, the same source says.
And if you needed more reporting from a Lakers source, Dan Woike of The Athletic backed up Horney’s reporting that Kushner has plenty of interested parties.
There’s a note in here that I can confirm. According to multiple sources with knowledge, not authorized to speak publicly, there aren’t issues “finding money” for the $12.5 billion sale. https://t.co/ENaHFCLNlL
Who could have guessed that the most valuable and popular franchise in the NBA, and one of the most in the world, is not having any problems getting people to buy in.
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 23: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets blocks the shot of Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs on October 23, 2026 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’re now a week and a half into the NBA season. Most teams have played four to five games. One team, the Atlanta Hawks, has played six.
Only the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, both 5-0, remain undefeated. Only the Sacramento Kings (0-5) and Brooklyn Nets (0-4) are still winless. A wave of injuries — some short-term, some long-term — swept over the league to try and spoil some early-season excitement.
Here are a handful of the best stories from the past week as well as key news you may have missed.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: The shoes of Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on October 27, 2026 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers battles Baba Miller #18 of the LA Clippers for position during the second half of a game at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In advance of Wednesday night’s game against the Clippers, I openly told anyone who would listen, “if Jarred Vanderbilt doesn’t play tonight, he might not ever play this season.”
Not only were the Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back, but both Luka Dončić and Ziaire Williams were then held out as precautionary measures with minor nicks and bruises, to go along with Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr remaining out.
That’s four players, two of them starters and three of them forwards, who contribute defensively by defending up and down the lineup to best aid in whatever defensive approach head coach JJ Redick is trying to execute on that given night. Surely, if Vando were to ever find time in the rotation, this would be the night.
And, to my joy — I’ve been advocating that Vanderbilt get a serious look in the rotation since before training camp started — it was indeed the night. With 3:26 remaining in the first quarter, Vanderbilt subbed in for Walker Kessler, sliding into the front court next to Sandro Mamukelashvili and flanking a three-guard lineup of Austin Reaves, Colin Sexton, and Quentin Grimes.
When Vanderbilt entered the game, the Clippers had just taken a 19-14 lead and were in the midst of a 12-2 run. Over the remainder of the quarter, the Lakers stabilized and outscored their crosstown counterparts to carry a 25-22 margin into the second frame.
Over the remainder of his shift, Vanderbilt’s fingerprints were all over the place. On one of his first possessions, he helped create a particularly chaotic sequence, fighting for an offensive rebound that ultimately got tipped away, hustling into a scrum for the loose ball and then helping to punch the ball up so Austin could recover the ball. However, Austin then threw the ball away for a turnover, so Vando pressured up on the ball-handler to tip the ball out of bounds and allow the Lakers to set their defense.
Then, in the second quarter, he had several good sequences defending Brook Lopez, once fighting extremely hard to front the post and deny an entry pass, and later defending him in isolation and sticking with him on a drive to help force an airball and eventual turnover.
Later in the quarter he also showed good activity stepping up to contest a shot at the rim, helped drop down on the defensive glass and mostly executed his within the team’s defensive scheme to pressure when on the ball, show help when needed, and just play hard and be active.
After the game, Redick said that Vanderbilt “is always going to play hard” and noted that because of that he will impact the game with his energy. That’s both good to hear and not entirely satisfying considering his +22 was second-best on the team while the player he’d replaced in the rotation was consistently part of lineups that were being outscored by a point a minute in the team’s four previous games.
That said, before the game, when Redick was pressed on the possibility of Vanderbilt getting some minutes at center, he had a longer explanation that implied we could see it that night but might also speak to why his minutes were non-existent until now.
“My conversations with Vando last year were a lot about putting him in a position to succeed and wanting to play him less at the five,” Redick said. “We had to the second half of Luka’s first season with us post-trade just because we didn’t really have anyone outside of Jaxson who could really play it. He did that by necessity and I think he’s better suited, obviously, to be more of a wing, a forward, be out on the perimeter defensively. But there’s going to be moments where he’s going to, by necessity, have to play some five.”
As is often the case, Redick’s explanation is both reasonable and makes sense. Seeking out situations for every player to be successful is the job of the coach and Redick deserves some credit for correctly recognizing that Vando does his best work hounding primary shot creators on the perimeter and not necessarily playing center. That said, when Redick also says that there will be moments where, ‘by necessity, Vando will need to play some center,’ I think he also needs to recognize now is one of those times.
I’m not going to use this space to crap all over Kevon Looney or point out all the ways he’s struggled from training camp and the preseason into the regular season. Instead, I think it’s better to simply point out that Looney is not a great stylistic fit for this version of the Lakers. His lack of foot speed and general challenges playing with pace on either side of the ball stick out like a sore thumb in most every lineup he’s played in.
And while his strength-based game and general know-how can promote success as an isolation post-up defender, when setting screens, or when walling off and pinning in players when he goes to the offensive glass, those situations are too limited and siloed within the larger construct of the game to be impactful over the course of a full shift.
What’s happened, then, is Looney ends up playing a handful of minutes in the first half, which go poorly overall, and then he does not return in the second half.
And while it was only one game and a specific matchup that was favorable for him in a lot of ways, Vando’s experience was completely different and felt like night and day in comparison to what we’ve seen with Looney to this point.
Not only did the Lakers win the minutes he played, but because his speed and activity were effective against a Clippers team that was trying to turn up the pressure and play faster themselves, Vando settled in nicely and ended up playing multiple shifts in each half. By the time the game was over, I think it was fair to say that his pairing with Mamu proved a bigger positive than the Kessler-based minutes simply because Vando and Mamu’s collective speed and quickness were better for this matchup.
Moving forward, even if the stylistic symbiosis may not work as much in Vando’s favor, I actually don’t think that should matter nor really impact the decision to play him. Because, bigger picture, he’s simply a better fit for how the Lakers want to play than the current alternative on the roster.
Maybe that changes when Thiero is back healthy. But until then, or until the Lakers make a move for a different archetype of backup center than Looney, Vanderbilt is the best solution.
Ultimately, then, Vando should play. And if JJ is thinking about his past priors or clinging onto the quote I cited above about Vando’s best role not being at center, I think he should revisit something he said earlier in the preseason, but in reference to a different player — Dalton Knecht. When JJ was asked about Knecht falling out of the rotation and what led to him being so far removed from consideration for playing time to the point he would later be waived outright, Redick laid it out simply:
“I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. The needs changed. The fit changed.”
I would argue the same is true for Vando, but in a positive way.
This is no longer a team that just traded for Luka and needs him to play small-ball center while playing with lineups where there aren’t a lot of other defensive options on the wing. It’s also not last year, when not only did the team play a more methodical style and not nearly as fast, but with non-spacing bigs like Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes holding down the center minutes, there just wasn’t a lasting role for Vando that could endure against most matchups.
No, this group not only has a spacing and playmaking forward/center in Mamu who is the perfect sort of partner for him offensively, but it also has rangier and athletic defensive playmakers on the wing who pair with and supplement Vando’s game in ways where everyone can elevate each other. Again, this may not work as well every night as it did against the Clippers. And against some opponents, it might not work at all.
But a one-game proof of concept is already more than what the alternative has shown. And, if for no other reason, that means this option should continue to get chances.
We’re one step closer to getting Kam Williams back on the court for Kentucky Basketball.
With the regular season only four days away, Mark Pope spoke with the media and provided an overall positive update on the junior wing.
“For him, it’s day-to-day. We’re operating under such extreme caution that it’s going to be when he’s ready,” said Pope of Williams. “I don’t expect to see him touch the floor on Tuesday. That’s for sure. And then we’ll kind of go day by day.
“We’re in a little bit of terrain where anytime you have a Jones fracture, and you have a setback like you did, you just have to operate with extreme caution. That’s the space we’re operating in. So, we’re going to require every light to be green before we put him on the court for a game.”
Williams will bring an immediate impact once he hits the floor in the blue and white. Pope believes Williams will be a piece they can add to the team without adjustments and will bring a boost right away. “As this team grows, at some point Kam’s going to jump in and he’s going to give us another huge boost.”
We won’t see the 6-foot-7 forward in the season opener, but optimism continues to grow every day that we’ll get to see him pretty soon.
Following the Manhattan opener, Kentucky will host James Madison in Rupp Arena three days later; could that be Williams’ season debut? The game after that will be the following Tuesday, November 10, against the Kansas Jayhawks in Chicago, Illinois. That game under the bright lights would be quite the first game back, but it feels like one of those games may line up for Williams’ return to the hardwood.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to right the ship. This is not a sentence I ever thought I’d be typing after such a promising 3-0 start to the 2026-27 season.
Now sitting at 3-2, the Wolves welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to the Target Center for Minnesota’s second consecutive home game and Western Conference matchup of the season. Wednesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors did not go as planned, though there were some signs of life in the second half that will ideally give the team some hope in the early throes of Anthony Edwards’ absence.
This is, of course, not to say that there are not issues for the Wolves to clean up. The increasingly fraught temperament of the fanbase could use a decisive victory over a far-inferior team to boost morale after two consecutive close losses. The pressure of the much-esteemed NBA Cup aside, the Clippers could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Friday will be my first game in the Target Center this season. Here are a few things I’m going to be looking out for.
C’mon, Do Something (Rudy Gobert)
I can think of a few clips that summarize Rudy Gobert’s performance over the last few games, but none seem more apropos than Nathan Fielder’s line: “I hope you’re hungry…for nothing.”
While he’s not known for his offense, Gobert is routinely among the league’s leaders in field goal percentage. Just last season he led the league by shooting 68.2% from the floor. That makes his zero for 13 shooting over the last two games all the more appalling.
It’s not like Rudy has had close misses, either. He’s throwing up layups that don’t even hit the rim. He’s launching three-pointers like he’s Karl-Anthony Towns. I excused his game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because he contributed a whopping 20 rebounds, but on Wednesday against the Warriors, he was a complete nonfactor. It feels like Gobert is beginning to lose the plot, and he needs to turn it around quickly if the Timberwolves are going to have a chance to stay afloat.
The only proven rim protection that Los Angeles offers comes in the well-aged body of Brook Lopez. Gobert is no spring chicken himself, though if there were ever a game for him to assert himself offensively it would be this one.
I’d mentioned in my last recap following the Cavaliers that backup center Joan Beringer was making a case for more minutes and that they would likely come at the expense of Trey Lyles as the season drags on. If Gobert does not contribute positively, expect the noise surrounding his playing time to grow.
LaMelo needs to Ball
I write a lighthearted headline for this section, but I maintain a serious point: LaMelo Ball needs to be better.
Ball, like Gobert, started this season hot but has cooled off over the last two games. The highlight plays are less enchanting when they do not contribute to winning. While Ball is racking up close to his usual assist numbers (6.6 per game), he’s currently averaging a career high in turnovers (3.8, also in the 2023-24 season) and a career low in points (13.4).
I’ll stop short of saying the trade naysayers were right – there is a lot of season left. Ball was not brought to the Timberwolves to be the guy, but with the void of Edwards hovering over the roster like a Halloween spectre Ball has to be the guy. It’s not like Minnesota doesn’t have other guys that can put the ball in the hoop, but Ball is the orchestrator of this team. With Ant out, the team will go as he goes. This is his time to prove something.
If Ball wants to rewrite his career narrative of not being a winning player, he has the next two months to produce wins and helm a team culture that showcases itself as sustainable and positive. There can’t be more arguments with Gobert on the sideline. There cannot be more silly turnovers in clutch situations. Ball has to become a more efficient scorer and limit his turnovers; he has to play like the veteran he is.
Against the Clippers, former Wolves legend Kris Dunn is likely to give Ball fits. Dunn plays a physical and aggressive defensive game, and if Ball lets that pressure get to him he may be in for another poor performance. The onus will be on Ball to remain composure and take care of the basketball.
Freedom and flair are inherently woven into Ball’s playstyle. If he can find more of a balance between the qualities that make him great and ones that are more up-to-par with the professional game, he will lead the Wolves to success over the next two months.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Live Up to the Hype
Multiple things have been working against Minnesota over the last two games: Ball and Gobert have executed poorly, the free-throw shooting has been abysmal, and the team looks like it hasn’t been able to close out clutch games.
Perhaps lost in the discourse about the two game losing streak (Edwards injury news aside) is that the Timberwolves have already played a ton of games this year. After Wednesday night’s matchup against the Warriors concluded, the Wolves had played five games in just seven days. That’s a busy start to a fresh season that has seen plenty of injuries accrue league-wide. It is fair to speculate that fatigue may have been playing a role in the recent performances.
With still legitimate championship aspirations, Minnesota cannot afford to have sluggish and tired halves like the first half of the game against Golden State. Fatigue can be an explanation, though it cannot be an excuse. With as deep as the Wolves bench is supposed to be, Chris Finch needs to be more attentive to rotating guys through the lineup in order to keep players fresh. This two-game homestand will do wonders for the team’s rest, though the results need to be shown in the win column.
As previously mentioned, there were signs of life in the second half against the Warriors. Finch deployed Jaylen Clark to stop the nuclear performance of Stephen Curry to great success (+8 in just seven minutes of play). Beringer had another efficient game with seven points (three for three shooting) and 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. Bones Hyland had an efficient night scoring the basketball with 13 points (four for seven from the field, three for six 3P) in just 16 minutes of play. Hell, even Trey Lyles finished the game at a +7 across his 21 minutes. It’s not all doom and gloom.
For a Timberwolves team that is braggadocious about depth and roster flexibility, they have two months to prove that they can live up to this billing. They’ve gotten some tough losses out of the way.
As Calvin’s (from Calvin & Hobbes) dad would say, these losses build character. Now it’s time to put that character to work.
There hasn’t been a lot for Jordan Ott and the Phoenix Suns to hang their hat on after stumbling out of the gate in the 2026-27 season, and the Rebellion’s greatest warrior has been on a milk carton since the Suns’ forgettable series against the Thunder.
A young leader desperate to find a counter to the overpowering weaponry of the Western Conference sends out a desperate plea for points, shots, and leadership, and a little bit of give of shit. But Obi “1” goes by Obi “15” now, and after his performance against the undermanned Thunder team, we can probably just call him Ben. A veteran who has come through many battles, from opening skirmishes of the bubble, to the Suns in 4 offensive, to the ill-conceived Bay of Bradley Beal that set back 19 million dollars through the 29 season. Our boy is tested, but possibly tiring. Luckily, the Suns have on their roster a new hope who, with the right tutor, time, and developmental plan, has the potential to wield a power even greater than Ben’s.
To be upfront, I haven’t exactly been pushing the pom-poms for Jalen Green since his arrival in the Valley as a player Houston was trying to discard after drafting him with the second overall pick. In the offseason, I wrote about five possible trades for Jalen Green, and if pressed, I could probably find another ten.
His contract size, youth, and potential make for a lot of exciting possibilities for mock trades. I, like almost every Phoenix Suns fan I’ve interacted with, was devastated when the Suns were forced to trade Kevin Durant and when that trade went through Brooks was the player the Suns wanted, and Jalen Green is the player the Rockets forced the Suns to take but since his explosive defensive effort in the play in win against Golden State to his early improvements in efficiency on offense my heart is beginning to thaw towards Jalen Green. Now, everyone wants him gone or thinks he should come off the bench. I don’t see that for Jalen Green, but if I don’t like what the Suns see for Jalen Green.
Jalen Green needs to make better decisions when he’s driving to the hoop. Jalen Green doesn’t need to be turned into a point guard or become a facilitator. One of these goals is asking Jalen Green to be a better Jalen Green. It improves Jalen’s efficiency, reduces turnovers, and makes the Suns harder to defend. The other goal is asking Jalen Green to be a different Jalen Green. It increases his cognitive load, puts him in spaces where he feels uncertain, and limits his impact as a scorer.
Jalen Green is an Uber-athlete. Regardless of the sport, when a team has an elite athlete, they can only fully utilize that athlete’s athleticism when they play instinctively. The more the Suns ask Jalen Green to process, the less they are going to get out of his explosiveness. The Sun’s have rostered themselves into a corner where they are going to need to ask players to sacrifice and to take on different roles than the roles they’ve previously played but they really need to reflect on who they are asking to sacrifice, and what they are potentially losing.
Ben can’t fight this war alone. Even in the ancient battles, Obi “1” had heroes standing next to him. Elite warriors. All-stars. All-time greats. Those Suns are gone, chased into retirement, or traded away to the dark side, but the question remains. How can the Suns put a second all-star around Devin Booker?
He almost had one last year, and the Book and Brooks tandem provided a stellar Cinderella season when hope was non-existent. The Villain’s star is dimming and was never quite bright enough to guide the Suns to the promised land of postseason success. The Villain is great, but Jalen Green’s light burns brighter. It’s not particularly close.
Skim the Suns’ roster and tell me who the second all-star could be? All fingers have to land on Jalen Green, who has the burst to collapse even the best defenses and could be one of the premier advantage creators in the NBA if he could figure out what to do when he gets in the lane. Jalen needs to improve his decision-making if he wants to take a step towards an all-star bid, but the good news is that Jalen wants to learn. Jalen wants to get better. Jalen wants to be legendary, and he does it with a smile while the Twitterati knife him in the back like it’s March in Ancient Rome.
What has Jalen Green done to deserve the outrage of a desperate fanbase? Nothing short of being a great teammate, accepting a clearly miscast role as the primary facilitator, and seeking out a Suns legend to help him try and get there.
And get there, he might. If the Suns let him be the player he’s supposed to be. Now, let me clear up some misconceptions about Jalen Green and his role on this Suns team.
Devin Booker is the point guard, and Jalen Green is the shooting guard when they share the floor together. Devin Booker could best serve this team by taking on the CP3 to Green’s Young Booker. Cp3 had the ball all game, but he knew when to pick his spots to score. Booker is having trouble with top defenses like the Thunder camping out on his midrange spots, ready to swipe the ball out of his hands. Let the young legs of Jalen Green drive into the gauntlet. Allow Booker to utilize his basketball IQ and gravity to get the Suns into the right positions. Focus your developmental efforts on teaching Green how to read the defense better on drives. Cut down the turnovers, pump up the open shots. Then, when the ball gets kicked out, it’s a pass away from getting it to Devin Booker to attack a defense in rotation, rather than finding Bridges, Brooks, or Green for a contested step-back. Allow Jalen Green to be the engine of the offense, and Devin Booker to be the steering wheel.
The Suns don’t have the money to sign a bona fide all-star or the trade capital to acquire one if they want to keep Book, so if they want to win a playoff series, they are going to need to create one. That player on the team with an all-star ceiling Jalen Green. If the Suns are serious about making this roster work, Jalen Green needs to be their new SG1. There’s no other path.
The Sacramento Kings are off to a 0-5 start to the season, with a bottom-five offense and defense, and the second-worst net rating in the league (-15.7).
Does that mean coach Doug Christie is in trouble? Is his seat starting to get warm? No. Not even a little, according to reporting from Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Per the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because these matters aren't typically discussed publicly, there is an internal belief that Christie deserves a fair chance to be evaluated with a team that is much healthier than this current Kings lot.
On one hand, injuries certainly have hit the Kings. Maybe the most significant one, flying a little under the radar, is Keegan Murray being out with an ankle issue (the one he had operated on last May). There is also en Simmons (out for the season with a torn right Achilles, backup center Maxime Raynaud (knee) and Dylan Cardwell (calf).
On the other hand, Christie has now coached 138 Kings games across three seasons, at this point you know what you have in your coach. The other reality is that Christie reportedly has been a favorite of owner Vivek Ranadive and members of his family, who have influential positions in the organization.
The Kings were never going to win a lot of games this season with this roster, the question is whether Christie can develop young players like Darius Acuff Jr., who is putting up numbers, including 34 in a loss Thursday. He's just not been efficient doing it, shooting 37.4% on the season.
34 POINTS, 14 DIMES FOR DARIUS ACUFF JR. TONIGHT
▪️ Fourth teenager in NBA history to record 30/10, joining LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Stephon Marbury ▪️ First Kings rookie to record 30/10 since Kenny Smith (1988) ▪️ Ties Tyreke Evans (2010) for the Kings rookie scoring… pic.twitter.com/KAVDJqApW4
The other question: Is Christie building a culture that can maximize this team when they do add more talent and improve the roster? Has that happened yet?
Christie is going to get plenty of time to figure that out.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets smiles during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 24, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout Kevin Durant’s illustrious career, every team he’s been on has depended on him to win games. Durant is a former MVP, scoring champion, 18-time All-Star, and two-time NBA champion. With a resume like that, it is obvious he’s been, if not the best player on the team, then one of the top two wherever he’s played.
From entering the league with the Seattle Supersonics, who later moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, to the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and now the Houston Rockets, Durant has carried the weight of the NBA on his shoulders. Even though it didn’t always end with a championship, Durant has been one of, if not the most consistent, players every season.
In fact, Durant has shot 50-40-80 every season since the 2011-12 season with the Thunder. That level of excellence comes with a lot of pressure. Over his 19 previous seasons, Durant has finished each season taking 17 shots or more a game except for one: his first year with the Warriors, who, of course, had players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
What makes Durant special is that he never needed to take a lot of shots to impact a game. As mentioned earlier, when you are as efficient as Durant, you can have the same impact taking only 12 shots in a game as most players taking 20.
Of course, the more shots you take, the more energy you have to use to get open and get to your spot on the court. No matter how great a player you are, it takes a toll on you throughout a season, especially as you get closer to the end of your career.
When Durant first came to the Rockets as part of a blockbuster trade during the 2025 offseason, he expected he wouldn’t have to take on as much responsibility as he did with the Phoenix Suns. Those plans changed when the Rockets learned right before the season that their point guard, Fred VanVleet, had suffered a major injury before training camp.
That forced both Alperen Sengun and Durant to take on more playmaking responsibilities throughout the season. As the season went on, teams began to double, sometimes triple, Durant as soon as he crossed half-court and received the ball, which put a lot of pressure on him to create offense for the Rockets.
That also led to a stagnant offense at times, where defenses dared other players to beat them, and his teammates couldn’t take advantage of four-on-three situations after Durant gave up the ball. Since Durant had to be the main cog on the offensive end, he also played the second most minutes in the NBA last season, something Ime Udoka didn’t want to happen, but the lack of playmaking left him no choice. At times, Udoka could not hide his frustration.
“Take a 37 year old out the game for two minutes and you lose a 13 point lead an 11-0 run that’s what went wrong.” pic.twitter.com/qinjugXIDB
This season, however, that has not been the case; even though it has only been Kevin Durant taking a career low in field goal attempts, and that is perfect for the Rockets, in five games, Durant has not had to be the Rocket initiating the offense every play or scoring 30-plus points for them to secure a victory.
Kevin Durant is taking a career low in field goal attempts, and that is perfect for the Rockets
The Rockets are off to their best start in over a decade, and a big part of that is the balance this year’s team has across the board. Sengun is off to the best start of his career, Jabari Smith has continued to improve in his fifth season, Amen Thompson is playing at an All-Star level, and, most importantly, Fred VanVleet is back at point guard, letting everyone slide back into their natural positions on the court.
So far through five games, Durant is taking only 12.6 shots a game, which is by far a career low, but the Rockets are still 5-0 because his teammates have stepped up from the above-mentioned starters to the role players like Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, and Bogdan Boganovich.
That doesn’t even include Marcus Smart, the Rockets’ other offseason addition, who has played only one game so far this season and will provide another ball-handling guard who can initiate the offense. Fewer responsibilities affect several areas for Durant.
Durant is currently able to play fewer minutes; he is averaging 34.4 minutes, two fewer than last season. It also lets him focus more energy on the defensive end, where he has been the Rockets’ best shot blocker so far this season.
That’s not to say Durant won’t have games where he takes 25 shots or even over, but they don’t need that every night. Some may feel that Durant has to be the leading scorer or take the most shots because he is Kevin Durant, but Durant and the Rockets understand that if they want to bring the first NBA Championship back to Houston since 1995, they need everyone to raise their game so that Durant doesn’t always have to be “The Guy”.
It’s hard to get the internet sports community to agree on anything these days, but the Miami Heat’s statue of Dwyane Wade brought about a rare level of consensus opinion. The Heat unveiled their Wade statue about two years ago as they were beginning the 2024-25 season, and absolutely everyone agreed it was terrible. The statue was so bad that Wade himself struggled to defend it, saying the statue didn’t need to look like him to capture an artistic moment. That’s a nice spin from a company man, but it didn’t stop anyone from getting their jokes off.
The Heat heard the slander, and years later, and they’ve finally done something about it. Miami updated the Wade statue outside of the Kaseya Center to actually make it look like D-Wade. The face on the statue was redesigned over the offseason, and it’s a big upgrade. Here’s a before and after photo of the Wade statue, with the updated version on the left and the old version on the right.
Heat fans admitted they were unreasonably angry about the initial version of the statue, and it makes sense. Wade put the team on his back to lead them to the 2006 NBA championship early in his career, and then helped recruit LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach, which brought the franchise two more titles. The Heat did him dirty on the initial statue, but at least they cared enough to fix it.
Here are some more looks at the updated statue:
The Dwyane Wade statue in front of the Kaseya Center has officially had a revamping with a new head and face. The original sculptors worked with Wade’s approval over the last few months to make it look more like him. pic.twitter.com/OnOn0i2O6C
The Heat have had a rough start to the season, but it’s only been a few games. Miami finally got its first win of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era earlier this week, and fixing the statue feels like a good omen for the rest of the season. I wasn’t very high on the Heat coming into the season, but if they put the same care into their on-court product that they put into improving the Wade statue, they should be just fine.
Wade is the greatest player in Heat history, and I will accept no other argument. This man is the Miami Heat. He finally has a statue worthy of his ability as a player.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: The sneakers featuring former Knicks captain Willis Reed worn by director Spike Lee during the third quarter of the game between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playing with Brunson: "We played together last year stretches, great guy to play off…Obv 2 smaller guards so I have to compete on D but I'm willing to do anything"
Clutch: We're a veteran group…ECF, Finals…tight game, we're gonna get it done" pic.twitter.com/wBTDPKwbq2
On avoiding turnovers and making smarter decisions as the Knicks’ backup point guard:
“Not trying to make the home run play. Just trying to get us in the offense, get the best shot for our team. It’s about being more mature in my game. Trying to take care of the ball, that’s what the team needs. When I go in there, I can’t be turning it over, I can’t be throwing it all over the floor. Got to get us in the offense, got to get us good shots.”
On playing alongside Jalen Brunson and benefiting from the defensive attention he attracts:
“We played together last season for stretches. He’s a great guy to play off. They’re going to double-team him, you get open shots.”
On the defensive challenges of playing in a two-point-guard lineup and staying ready for opportunities:
“Obviously it’s two smaller guards, so I have to compete harder on defense.
“You guys have seen [the double point guard]. It’s been successful in stretches, with Jose in the playoffs. With me a little bit in the NBA Cup. And then a couple games sprinkled in. But when coach is searching, trying to find something, everybody on the bench has to be ready for any situation.”
Shams Charania
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ willingness to accept a discount:
“He will sign for less than his max contract. He’ll take a sizable discount. $70 plus million less, that’s something that he is not willing to do right now.”
Knicks 2018 lottery pick Kevin Knox—who has played for 6 NBA and 3 G League teams—now heads overseas
