After yet another double-digit loss on Wednesday night, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers (again), the Phoenix Suns find themselves at 1-5. They are a team desperately searching for an identity. Players are trying to establish defined roles, while the coaching staff continues experimenting with combinations in hopes of finding something that can ultimately translate into success.

When you take a step back and look at the bigger picture as it pertains to the Suns’ future, things begin to look rather grim. Between the significant amount of dead cap money on the books and the fact that Phoenix has surrendered control of its draft assets for the next several seasons, there was one thing we understood entering this year that could help keep the franchise competitive: development.

After all, continuity and development were the two pillars this organization leaned on throughout the summer. The belief was that returning so many familiar faces would provide a foundation for improvement, while the younger players would take meaningful steps forward in their progression. That was the formula. That was the plan. Yet through six games, the continuity has been noticeably absent, and the opportunities for development have been puzzling.

Yes, the organization was forced to adjust its developmental timeline when Mark Williams suffered a shoulder injury in September that required surgery on his left shoulder. Suddenly, the buffer that would have allowed Khaman Maluach to develop behind Williams and Oso Ighodaro in the rotation was gone. The second-year big man out of Duke was now positioned to receive considerably more playing time than the organization likely anticipated entering the season.

While that certainly wasn’t the original plan, there was a potential silver lining. Reluctance to play Maluach could no longer serve as an excuse for limiting his opportunities. The Suns were going to need him out of sheer necessity, and that necessity could provide the very developmental experience this organization had spent the summer emphasizing.

Those opportunities have certainly presented themselves early on this season. Through the first six games of the season, Khaman Maluach has started all six, averaging 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 19.4 minutes per game.

The opportunity to develop has been there, but I’ve noticed a troubling trend recently that has me asking one simple question: What are we doing here? Because winning basketball games certainly isn’t what we’re doing right now, and of the many reasons why that’s the case, the minutes being given to Khaman Maluach aren’t anywhere near my top 10.

In fact, his absence becomes increasingly noticeable on a team that desperately lacks size and has been horrific at consistently securing rebounds. Phoenix ranks 29th in the NBA in rebounds per game at 39.5 and dead last in rebound percentage at 45.3%. Yet despite those struggles, the Suns continue to limit the playing time of one of the few players on the roster capable of providing a legitimate interior presence.

And that brings me to the trend that’s becoming increasingly difficult to understand. In each of the last three games, Khaman Maluach hasn’t played a single minute in the fourth quarter. Against both Denver and Golden State, he was pulled with 7:04 remaining in the third. Against Portland on Wednesday night, his final appearance ended with 6:09 left in the third. Why?

Last night against the Trail Blazers, Jordan Ott followed the same substitution pattern we’ve grown accustomed to seeing early this season. Maluach starts the game before exiting midway through the first quarter. He returns midway through the second, plays roughly five minutes, and then starts the second half. But somewhere around the midway point of the third quarter, Ott pulls him from the game, never to be seen again.

We’ve now witnessed that exact pattern in four of the Suns’ first six games, and for a team supposedly committed to development, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to understand why. So let’s try to figure it out.

Without Khaman Maluach, the Suns are left relying on either small-ball lineups or Oso Ighodaro at the five. And while neither option is inherently problematic, the results have been inconsistent, particularly on the boards.

Last night against Portland, Phoenix was actually holding its own on the glass. Yes, the Suns were trailing by 13 points when Maluach exited with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter, but they were winning the rebounding battle 27-25. Over the final 18:09, however, Portland outrebounded Phoenix by 10 and won the offensive rebounding battle 10-5. By the final buzzer, the Trail Blazers had secured a 47-39 advantage on the glass.

When Khaman Maluach checked out for the final time with 6:09 left in the 3rd, the Suns held a 27–25 rebounding advantage.

Over the final 18:09? Portland outrebounded Phoenix 22–12, including a 10–5 edge on the offensive glass.

A 12-rebound swing. That's brutal. pic.twitter.com/Qt10KdRLaE

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 5, 2026

It’s important to note that these numbers reflect the team’s performance before and after Maluach’s final substitution, rather than exclusively when he was on or off the court.

The data tells a slightly different story against Golden State. Through the first 28:56, Phoenix had been outrebounded 28-20. But over the final 19:04, after Maluach exited for the final time, the Suns actually outrebounded the Warriors 17-16. Against Denver, Phoenix held a 22-19 rebounding advantage before Maluach’s final substitution, then was outrebounded 21-20 the rest of the way.

So what gives? Why is Maluach being banned from the chat after the two-and-a-half quarters of play? Across these three games, Phoenix was outrebounded 72-69 before Maluach’s final departures and 59-49 afterward. That’s a three-rebound deficit becoming a 10-rebound deficit, despite the latter periods being considerably shorter.

Welp, we’re done here. It’s clear Ott doesn’t know what he’s doing. But wait. As Rafiki once wisely said, “Look harder…”

Rather than evaluating the rebounding numbers based on the point at which Maluach permanently exits the game, let’s examine how Phoenix actually performs on the glass when he’s on the court compared with when he’s sitting on the bench.

Against Portland, Maluach played 15:51, during which the Suns were outrebounded 16-12, with the Trail Blazers collecting three offensive rebounds. During the 32:09 he spent on the bench, Portland still held the advantage, though the margin was considerably smaller, 31-27. Phoenix secured 42.9% of the recorded rebounds with Maluach playing, compared with 46.6% when he was off the floor.

Maluach Status	Team	OREB	DREB	Total
On (15:51)	PHX	1	11	12
	POR	3	13	16
Off (32:09)	PHX	13	14	27
	POR	13	18	31

Against Golden State, the disparity was even more noticeable. Phoenix was down seven rebounds in the rebounding battle with Maluach on the court and even when he was on the bench. The Suns secured only 36.0% of available rebounds during his minutes, compared with 50.0% when he wasn’t playing.

Maluach Status	Team	OREB	DREB	Total
On (13:18)	PHX	1	8	9
	GSW	5	11	16
Off (34:42)	PHX	8	20	28
	GSW	7	21	28

And against Denver? Phoenix was even on the glass with Maluach playing and +2 with him on the bench. The Suns collected 50.0% of recorded rebounds when he was on the court and 51.7% when he was off.

Maluach Status	Team	OREB	DREB	Total
On (17:14)	PHX	5	7	12
	DEN	5	7	12
Off (30:46)	PHX	10	20	30
	DEN	7	21	28

Looking at the three games in which Malauch was pulled early, cumulatively, you find that when Malauch was on the court for 46:23, the team was outbounded by 11. Off the court for 97:37? The team was -2.

Maluach Status	PHX REB	OPP REB	Differential
On Court	33	44	-11
Off Court	85	87	-2

There’s one variable in all of this that we simply don’t have an answer to. We don’t know how Maluach would perform in these fourth quarters if he were actually given the opportunity. We can evaluate what happens during his minutes and compare those numbers with what occurs when he’s on the bench.

The numbers certainly complicate the argument that Maluach’s absence is directly responsible for Phoenix’s rebounding struggles. In these three games, the Suns actually rebounded at a higher percentage when he wasn’t on the floor, although the degree of that advantage varied considerably from game to game. That’s an interesting finding, especially given the eye test against Portland, where the Suns appeared to struggle considerably after his final departure. The full on/off data paints a more nuanced picture.

This is where the conversation becomes particularly interesting, because at what point do you prioritize development over rebounding percentages when a player is on or off the court? Maluach hasn’t looked great to start the season, but he’s certainly been serviceable. And for a team that desperately lacks size, he’s somebody who should probably be seeing a little more playing time at this point.

But in the grand scheme of things, when you’re looking at a three-game sample in which the rebounding differential is minus-nine, I don’t believe that’s enough to justify limiting the opportunities and potential growth of a young center who needs experience to develop. Especially when you consider that Maluach has consistently demonstrated a desire to compete and remain engaged. This isn’t somebody whose struggles stem from a poor attitude or a lack of effort.

He’s a young player learning how to navigate the NBA, and perhaps we’re overanalyzing a handful of fleeting moments rather than allowing him to work through those experiences.

You have to eventually take the training wheels off and let the kid learn, right? Is it too soon? Apparently, the coaching staff believes so.

But at some point, the Suns have to decide what they’re actually trying to accomplish this season. If winning is the priority, the results suggest their current approach isn’t working. And if development is supposed to be the foundation for the future, Maluach needs opportunities to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow. Those objectives don’t have to be mutually exclusive. But keeping the training wheels on while the team continues losing accomplishes very little. Especially when the kid is never given a chance to finish the ride.

It’s like déjà vu all over again: Luka Dončić scored at least 40 points and the Los Angeles Lakers rode a vibrant offensive attack to victory.

For the fifth time in six games, Dončić eclipsed the 40-point barrier during Los Angeles’ 116-103 win over the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night. The one “hiccup” amid this stretch was a 37-point outing against the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Over that span, the Slovenian is averaging 42.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 63.3% on 2-pointers, 44.9% beyond the arc (14.8 attempts per game!) and 89.7% at the charity stripe.

He’ll rainbow home deep stepback triples, massage his way into crafty, feathery touch shots, draw tons of fouls and still prime teammates for easy shots with one-of-a-kind passing. Every Lakers game is a spectacle hosted by Dončić — and the supporting cast knows it.

“You can call it a wave, you can call it a tsunami, you can call it whatever you want,” Walker Kessler told reporters on Wednesday following the Lakers’ third straight win. “He’s scoring the ball. If you want to call it a wave, we’re surfing the wave a little bit when he’s making those shots. I mean he’s incredible.”

With 308 points through eight games, Dončić became the first player since Michael Jordan (303 points) in 1988 to tally 300-plus in the first eight games of the season, according to NBA Stats. He also recorded his sixth straight game with at least 35 points, five rebounds and five assists to pass Damian Lillard for the longest such streak in league history.

Each night, he seizes control of the action like few others can. In fact, nobody else around the Association can do it like him right now. He is otherworldly dominant and continues etching his name into more rarified company.

“You felt it like in that second quarter,” head coach JJ Redick said postgame Wednesday. “I thought, again, we were generating good looks and then he comes down and he makes like three shots in a row that there’s five guys in the NBA can make and all of a sudden the tie ball game is a nine-, 10-point lead. The team feeds off that, too, when he has it going like that.”

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

The Nets cried Wolf. This time, he was telling the truth.

Despite selecting a historic slew of first-round picks in 2025, the Nets had seen just two of those rookies, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, crack Jordi Fernández’s rotation through the first seven games.

Injuries mounted alongside Brooklyn’s losses. Entering Wednesday night with a 1-6 record and coming off a deflating loss to the rival Knicks across the river, they were still winless on their home floor. Urgency kicked in.

Noah Clowney suffered a knee injury in the first half and was ruled out for the remainder of the night, joining Demin, Joshua Jefferson, Ben Saraf, and Drake Powell on the inactive list — five rookie-contract players forced to watch from the sidelines (or Long Island).

Enter Danny Wolf.

Before Wednesday, the former 27th pick had logged minutes in just two games. His 27 minutes on the court was less than two-way’s Grant Nelson’s 35.

But by the second half, he anchored a unit that turned a tight game into an uncontested 114–104 victory, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 4-of-6 shooting — including two 3-pointers and a game-high +17 in just under 19 minutes.

“Obviously in the NBA, there’s going to be times especially early in your career that you might not be in the rotation, and that was the case for me starting the year,” Wolf admitted postgame. “Everyone emphasizes and preaches ‘you got to be ready’ and you hear it over and over… When coach called my name in the second half, I was ready.”

It’s a small sample size, but when Wolf knocks down shots and makes plays as a secondary facilitator, he gives Brooklyn a distinct way to generate offense in transition. That dynamic starts on the glass: the more defensive stops the Nets string together, the more opportunities Wolf has to snag a rebound and push the pace before opposing defenses can set up.

General manager Sean Marks has long shown an appreciation for frontcourt players who can rebound and push — from Trevor Booker to Ben Simmons to Julius Randle. Wolf fits that modern “grab-and-go” archetype, but adds a legit 3-point stroke to the equation.

“The biggest staple of our team, especially our offensive identity, is supposed to be playing fast,” Wolf explained postgame. “We use the terminology ‘pace and space’ and I feel like there’s times with my play style that I can really help us push the ball up the floor, make simple passes, start the break. Momentum is what helps win you a basketball game.”

The evolution of big men has been fun to watch

Just look at Danny Wolf, who stands at 6’10” but has the fluidity and movement of a guard pic.twitter.com/KbEa6sJlPx

— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) November 5, 2026

The sequence that swung Wednesday night’s game highlighted that approach. Moments after checking in during the third quarter, Wolf snagged a defensive rebound, pushed the pace, and initiated a transition drive that resulted in a Julius Randle AND-1 layup. On the next possession, he trailed the play, spotted up behind the arc, and hit a 24-foot triple to give Brooklyn its first lead of the second half at 61–59, forcing a Charlotte timeout.

Big shot from Danny Wolf 🐺 pic.twitter.com/BoS7ZD2ykn

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 5, 2026

To make it work, Fernández sat three-time All-Star Julius Randle down the stretch in favor of the rookie. Crucially, Fernández didn’t deploy Wolf as a standalone center.

Wolf played every single minute alongside a traditional interior anchor — logging 15 minutes and 37 seconds next to Day’Ron Sharpe and 2 minutes and 59 seconds alongside Moritz Wagner. 

Protecting Wolf from heavy low-post drop coverage and rim-protection duties allowed him to roam freely and make decisions in the open floor. During Wolf’s 15:37 alongside Sharpe, the Nets outscored Charlotte 46-32 (+14), with Wolf racking up 10 of his 13 points, all five of his rebounds, and two of his three assists.

The framework for utilizing a player with Wolf’s skillset is familiar to Fernández from his time under Michael Malone in Denver.

“I think that you have to be creative with players that are uncommon,” Fernández said in Oct. 2025. “I was very fortunate to work with Nikola [Jokic], and we had to let him show us what he was able to do. Otherwise, if you see him as a traditional player, then you could fail… Nikola showed certain things that were so different for his position and a seven-footer, and that’s why he makes all these plays and plays in situations where no other big man plays.”

It isn’t about becoming the next Jokic, though. Wolf finding his footing in the NBA has required him adjusting from his heavy-usage roles at Yale and Michigan, where his playmaking came from high volume.

“I think that the coaches [at Michigan] didn’t even know what my role was going to be,” Wolf also said in Oct. 2025. “At Yale, I was more of a traditional 5, and then at Michigan, I don’t even know what you would call my position or how I played… In the NBA, it’s about continuing to get better within the confines of the roles your coach wants you to play.”

On Wednesday, that work in progress delivered real results.

Wolf opened the fourth quarter by hitting a 25-foot transition jumper off a pass from Terance Mann. Operating out of the high-post, he delivered a crisp pass to Traore for a driving floater before driving into the lane himself for an And-1 layup. When Charlotte made a late push, Wolf secured a key offensive rebound, drew the foul, and sank both free throws to seal the victory.

Michael Porter Jr. echoed that praise in the locker room.

“I ain’t gonna lie, the difference tonight was Terance Mann and Danny Wolf. They haven’t been in rotation much, they came in ready to play… Danny coming in and contributing right away like that, that takes a lot of readiness and a lot of discipline to not play for so many games, come in the second half, and contribute the way he did. I always thought Danny was a special player, and I’ve said that since he got here.”

During his first Summer League in August 2025, Wolf said he’s a “work in progress.” Now, some of the progress is tangible and helping lead to wins.

For 24 minutes on Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks looked like a team with more questions than answers. For the next 24 minutes, though, they looked like a team that had found a winning formula against the reigning Western Conference champs. Despite rallying back from being down 19 points in the second half to take a late three-point lead, the Mavs ultimately came up short in a 112-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on the road.

The second consecutive loss dropped Dallas to 4-4 on the season. It’s also the Mavs’ second loss to San Antonio in less than two weeks, after the Spurs rolled to a 122-106 win in Dallas on Oct. 24 with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving both sidelined.

This one had a different feel, though. Despite Victor Wembanyama going off for 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks, the Mavs still had an opportunity to win the game at the end, but Irving’s last-second shot just wouldn’t drop. As encouraging as it was to see the Mavs not give up and fight back to make it a close game, nobody seemed happy to come away with any moral victories on Wednesday night.

“I feel like it’s a bad thing,” Naji Marshall said when asked what it meant to come back from 19 down. “I feel like we’re kind of telling ourselves and showing ourselves personally what we’re doing wrong. I feel like we’re letting ourselves down. Just practice what we preach. Go out there from the jump and play like [how we did in the second half]. Who knows how the game will turn out?”

Irving also spoke about the Mavs’ uninspiring first half. San Antonio put up 32 points in the first quarter and 36 more in the second, and Dallas spent most of that stretch, in his words, “playing on our heels.”

“We just got back to the identity that we’re trying to build for ourselves, which is, you know, it’s not so much desperation basketball, but it’s just playing to be the hunters,” Irving said. “… They were getting a lot of offensive rebounds, a lot of second chances. … The second half, I feel like we hit them and they had to respond, and that’s what got us back in the game.”

Instead of driving into Wembanyama at the rim, the Mavericks made a big adjustment and started kicking the ball out, re-spacing and letting it fly. Dallas ended up shooting 14-of-37 (37.8 percent) from deep.

“We stopped challenging Wemby at the rim, and started making better decisions with the basketball,” Mavs head coach Dusty May said.

This isn’t the first time the Mavericks have had to dig out of an early hole this season, and they know that’s a problem that needs to be addressed if they want to potentially be a playoff contender this year.

“To start off the game and, you know, give two quarters up, 32 and 36, that’s not where we want to be,” Irving said. “And when you’re giving up that amount of points in the first half, teams are going to be very comfortable and you got to work your way back. … I think we have to start trending in a direction where we’re going into halftime with a lead.”

The good news, though, is that the Mavericks now have proof of what that version of themselves looks like. May and the rest of the guys will now just have to figure out how to make it show up from the opening tip more consistently. Dallas will be in action again on Friday at American Airlines Center against the 1-7 Utah Jazz. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. CT. It will be the Mavs’ second NBA Cup game of the season. They won their first NBA Cup game against the Houston Rockets last week, improving to 1-0 in Group Play.

The Houston Rockets are off to their best start since their franchise record-setting 2017-18 season. That season, of course, featured Chris Paul and the Rockets’ second-best player in franchise history, James Harden. The Rockets won a franchise-best 65 games that season, and it was also the last time they made the Western Conference Finals.

The Rockets have gone through a complete overhaul since then and were hoping they could get back to that level or beyond with the hiring of Ime Udoka in 2023. The Rockets have made progress, going from a rebuilding lottery team after Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 to a playoff team the last two seasons.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, they have plateaued over the last two seasons, bowing out in the first round in both seasons. There were legitimate reasons for that, as the Rockets made the playoffs for the first time in four seasons in 2024, and last season they were without not only Fred VanVleet, who was out all season, but also Kevin Durant, who missed all but one playoff game.

Heading into this season, the Rockets plan to have a full roster for the first time in the Kevin Durant era. VanVleet was ready to start the season, along with Steven Adams, who missed the last four months with a lower-body injury. Those plans lasted one game into the regular season, as Adams went on the injury report with a right soleus (calf) injury. Udoka stated that Adams is not day-to-day but week-to-week.

Clint Capela is the Rockets’ third-string center and filled in for Adams last season after he went down in January, and he filled that role again at the start of this season. Capela is now a two-time Rocket who started his career with the team and played during the Harden era; he had some good games filling in for Adams this season, but the 32-year-old is now also out with an ankle injury.

Even after their loss Wednesday night to the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves, the Rockets are still 7-2 and are one of the early favorites to go deep into the playoffs. They have their most versatile team since that 2017-18 team and improved their bench this past offseason. However, the backup center position is the one position the Rockets may need to improve before the trade deadline, and with their assets, they are in a great position to do so.

The Rockets may need to upgrade their backup center position

First off, Adams, when healthy, is one of the best, if not the best, backup centers in the NBA. Since he arrived in Houston, he has catapulted them into the league’s best rebounding team every season he’s been on the roster. When Adams went out with his injury in January of last season, the Rockets’ rebounding dropped noticeably for the rest of the season.

The issue is that Adams’ availability isn’t guaranteed, as he missed several months last season and has played only one game this season. Even before coming to the Rockets, Adams missed the entire 2023-24 season, including the second half with the Rockets after being traded before the deadline.

As mentioned earlier, Capela is a serviceable third center, but he is entering his 14th season and is no longer the lob threat he once was. The Rockets do have another center, Oscar Tshiebwe, who has been good in limited minutes but doesn’t offer what the Rockets lack: an athletic lob threat at center.

The Rockets have the most assets in the 2027 draft, as they can swap picks with the Nets and also have the Phoenix Suns’ first-round pick. Both teams are off to slow starts this season: the Suns are 1-5, and the Nets are 2-6. One quick note: in past seasons, teams that finished in the bottom three in wins had the best odds at a top pick; that is not the case now, as finishing with the worst record gives you only two ping-pong balls, and finishing 4-10 actually gives you better odds.

The Rockets having those two picks is a big deal, and they may use them as part of a bigger trade, but if they continue their current trajectory, they may feel they dont have to swing for the fences and may go for a smaller move, like upgrading their backup center.

As mentioned earlier, the Rockets need a center who is reliable and, more importantly, can run the floor, block shots, and play above the rim or, at the very least, stretch the court. The best move is to hold onto Adams, since he is still the best backup big when he is on the court, and bringing in another center can help the Rockets slowly bring him back.

Some realistic names to consider, even though each comes with its own drawbacks.

• Robert Willams
• Jalen Smith
• Dary’Ron Sharpe

A Quick Synopsis of Each Player’s Pros and Cons

Robert Williams has long been on the trade block. The 6’9 “center is one of the most athletic centers in the league. He would provide the Rockets with a rim-running big who can play above the rim. However, he also suffers from the same injury issues as Adams.

Williams has played only 85 games in the previous three seasons and is the most expensive player on this list at $14 million a year. That would mean you’d likely have to trade Adams, and the best-case scenario would be if you can hold on to him, as he can still have a positive impact, especially in the playoffs.

Jalen Smith, who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls, is more of a stretch big and a good shot blocker. Smith tied his career-high from the 3-point range, shooting .373. The Rockets haven’t had a center who can stretch the floor in a long time, and Smith could provide exactly that off the bench. Smith is also only making nine millon a season, which is a more manageable trade contract.

The drawback is that Smith is in the last year of his contract. Which means he could walk after this season, especially if he is looking for a starting role next season, which he wouldn’t have in Houston.

Day’Ron Sharpe is another center who could be on the trade block as the Nets continue to rebuild. Sharpe is the youngest of the three. Sharpe is an offensive rebounding machine who can run the floor and has increased his outside shooting. Sharpe would give the Rockets a young, mobile backup center they haven’t had in many years. Sharpe contract is also manageable at only 10 millon a season for the next two seasons.

Sharpe doesn’t provide Smith’s outside shooting, but he can crash the boards with the best in the NBA and gives you a version of Adams when he is on the court. He’s also under contract for two seasons instead of one like Smith.

As mentioned above, the Rockets may hold onto the picks and see what happens next offseason, or use them for a blockbuster move before the deadline. If they do decide to go one of those routes, backup center is still a position they should look to upgrade this season.

Kon Knueppel is right back on the shelf after lasting just six minutes in his season debut.

The promising 21-year-old Hornets wing, who finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting last season, missed the first eight games of the season with a left hamstring injury, and he appeared to aggravate that issue during a loss to the Nets on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, Charlotte’s fifth straight defeat.

The Hornets (3-6) attributed Knueppel’s exit to “soreness in his left leg” and head coach Charles Lee did not have an update after the game.

The Charlotte Hornets say Kon Knueppel will not return to tonight's game due to "soreness in his left leg," likely the same injury that kept him out for the first 8 games of the season. pic.twitter.com/c2yMZ01DpO

— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) November 5, 2026

He finished with three points, all coming on free throws, and two turnovers.

If Knueppel is going to miss more time, it’s a tough blow for a Hornets team that was one of the biggest surprises last season, going 44-38 a year after finishing 19-63.

Charlotte selected Knueppel No. 4 overall out of Duke in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he finished his rookie season with averages of 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field, including an impressive 42.5 percent from 3-point range on 7.9 attempts per game.

The Hornets decided to shift course despite their strong 2025-26 campaign, sending LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves as part of a four-team trade that saw Charlotte acquire big man Naz Reid (a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year), along with an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.

Reid has been off to a strong start, averaging 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but the Hornets have hit a five-game skid after starting the season 3-1.

Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick out of Alabama in 2023, is leading the Hornets in scoring at 22 points per game after averaging 20.2 points in 65 games last season.

But without Knueppel, the Hornets will have a hard time snapping their decade-long playoff drought.

The loaded 2026 NBA Draft class is more than two weeks into its first season and early returns suggest there may be even more top-end talent than anticipated. Top picks AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson have all flashed star potential during encouraging starts, but perhaps the biggest revelation in the NBA thus far is Yaxel Lendeborg's rapid emergence for the Golden State Warriors.

The No. 11 overall pick, who helped Michigan win a national title last season, has quickly provided the franchise hope it can extend its window as a championship contender during the final years of Steph Curry's career. Lendeborg is one of six rookies currently averaging more than 30 minutes per game. There are 17 rookies overall playing at least 15 minutes per appearance, including three second-round picks and one player signed to a two-way contract.

The race to be named rookie of the year and earn a spot on one the league's all-rookie teams is going to be fierce if this many first-year players continue to play significant roles.

USA TODAY Sports is tracking the NBA's rookies throughout the 2026-27 season. Here's how the top first-year players stack up after the opening two weeks:

NBA POWER RANKINGS: Rockets and Sixers shoot to top, Knicks drop

NBA Rookie Rankings, Vol. 1

Stats as of games played on Wednesday, Nov. 4

5. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards

▶Stats: 16.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

The No. 1 overall pick missed the first four games of the season with an injury but has looked the part since making his NBA debut. Dybantsa shot 50% from the floor across his first three appearances while providing an immediate scoring punch on the wing for a Washington team that appears ready to push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He entered Nov. 4 with the best NET rating among all rookies.

4. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

▶Stats: 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists

The Bulls have been more than five points per 100 possessions better with Wilson on the floor so far this season, one of several early signs he's ready to embrace a leading role in the franchise's rebuild. Wilson's better-than-expected 3-point shooting and defensive activity have expanded an already intriguing skill set. The No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has a 30-point, 14-rebound performance to his credit and recently put together his first three-game streak of 20-plus points, in addition to leading all rookies in steals.

3. Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings

▶Stats: 25.6 points, 7 assists, 3.8 rebounds

Acuff's shot selection and chemistry with Sacramento's veteran roster remain works in progress, but no rookie has been more productive offensively through the season's first two weeks. The No. 7 pick leads the class in scoring, assists and minutes played while posting at least 19 points in seven straight games, including back-to-back outbursts of 34 and 38 points.

2. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

▶Stats: 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists

Boozer has quickly become a focal point of the Grizzlies' rebuild, and his diverse skill set has been a major factor in the team's strong start. He is the only rookie with a triple-double this season and leads all first-year players in plus/minus, rebounding and double-doubles while ranking second in assists per game. Few rookies are being asked to shoulder as much responsibility, and none have handled a larger all-around workload more effectively.

1. Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

▶Stats: 21.5 points, 7 rebounds, 3.9 assists

Steve Kerr, Steph Curry and Draymond Green have all gushed over Lendeborg's ascension as a potential star on the wing and he's carried the team to a couple wins in recent weeks, including a 37-point explosion on Nov. 1 when Curry and Green weren't in the lineup. Those performances, and Lendeborg's fun-loving interactions with reporters afterwards, have turned him into the talk of the league at times. He's the only rookie who ranks among the top five in his class in scoring, assists, rebounds and field goal percentage and nobody in his class has a better player efficiency rating as of Nov. 4.

Also under consideration: Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz; Trevon Brazile, Denver Nuggets; Meleek Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers; Keaton Wagler, Los Angeles Clippers; Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA rookie rankings: Yaxel Lendeborg leads loaded 2026 draft class

Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony and actress La La Anthony reached a settlement five years after she filed for divorce in 2021, citing irreconcilable differences, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

The pair, who broke up in 2017 after seven years of marriage, reportedly informed the court this week of the agreement.

The terms of their settlement are confidential and a judge has yet to sign off on it.

La La, 44, and Carmelo, 42, have remained close friends and co-parent their 19-year-old son Kiyan, a sophomore guard at Syracuse.

The elder Anthony became a star in one season at Syracuse in 2002-03, leading the Orange to a national championship.

Both La La and Carmelo have not been in serious relationships since their split.

During an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in October 2022, La La said the marriage started falling apart after Carmelo was traded from the Nuggets to the Knicks in 2011.

“When we lived here [in New York] under all of that [attention], that’s when things became complicated. I think that was kind of the start, now that I look back, that was kind of the start of the demise of the marriage,” La La said at the time.

“It is the hardest with the scrutiny and the media and the press, just everything. It is really hard. That’s not the only reason things didn’t work out, but things got tough with New York … just constantly being under the spotlight and people watching every little thing.”

The former Knicks forward stirred buzz when Racquel Smith — the widow of Will Smith, a former Saints All-Pro defensive end — shared Instagram photos and videos of them together in Saint Tropez in June.

Smith was shot to death in 2016 during a road rage incident.

La La is believed to be single.

Carmelo, who last played with the Lakers in the 2021 season, announced his retirement at age 38 in 2023 following 19 NBA seasons.

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2025 in his first year on the ballot.

The Sixers avenged their only loss of the young season with a 112-106 win over the Pistons in Detroit Wednesday.

It was essentially a wire-to-wire win, though it did get a bit dicey at the end. Still, the Sixers’ resiliency in closing out close games remains impressive. They now have the best record in the NBA at 8-1.

Though Jalen Duren remained out for the Pistons, it was another good win for the Sixers, who remain undefeated on the road. Here are some takeaways from the victory.

Jaylen Brown = Winner

Jaylen Brown was a two-way monster in this one. He was on the attack early, dropping 10 points in the first quarter and 13 in the second. He scored at all three levels, going for a coast-to-coast dunk finish over Paul Reed, operating plenty in his office in the midrange and nailing a deep three at the buzzer to close the first. He was 11-of-19 from the field and 3-of-5 from deep, finishing with a game-high 30 points.

JB spinning through pic.twitter.com/PZUGv6652t

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 5, 2026

Though VJ Edgecombe was the primary defender most of the night, Cade Cunningham saw plenty of Brown as well. They held the All-Star guard to 26 points on 9-of-22 from the field. Not a perfect night, but Cunningham had to work for everything he got.

Brown was great all night, but his biggest contribution came when it mattered most. With 38 seconds left and the Sixers clinging to a 106-102 lead, Cunningham saw an opportunity in transition to fire a triple and make it a one-point game. It was a clean look … until it wasn’t. Brown recovered and came away with a massive block. From there, the Sixers put the game away at the free throw line.

THANK YOU Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/cz6We26KJ1

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 5, 2026

Sure, there are advanced analytics that can measure a guy making “winning plays,” but it’s a difficult thing to quantify. It just shows up on the stat sheet as a block, but it was a game-sealing play — the kind you need to see on the court, not a spreadsheet.

This defense

As of this posting, the Sixers are second in the NBA in defensive rating. While I do think the national narrative about their defense heading into the season was slightly overblown, I wasn’t expecting it to be elite right out of the gate.

The obvious locks were Brown and Edgecombe. Brown has proven to be an elite on-ball defender, while Edgecombe has all the makings of one. LeBron James has seen slippage in recent years on that end, but has been mostly excellent this season. Tyrese Maxey’s defensive growth has continued as he’s developed from a liability to a legitimately impactful defender.

But the biggest reason the Sixers’ defense has flourished is Joel Embiid. He’s moving better than he has in over two years. Though he’s not quite at the level of rim protection he was during his All-Defensive Team days, he’s affecting more shots at the rim. He’s also looked comfortable on the perimeter — hedging, blitzing and even switching onto quicker players.

And we all know rebounding has been a massive issue here in recent seasons. Under Nick Nurse, the Sixers have finished in the bottom five in defensive rebounding percentage the last three years. As of now, the Sixers are ninth in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage (I know, I had to double-check that one myself). Ending possessions has been huge for their defense. Embiid pulled down 15 boards Wednesday. The last time he pulled down 15 or more rebounds in regulation of a regular-season game was Jan. 22, 2024, the night he dropped 70 on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

Will this keep up? A lot of that is going to depend on health, but if they continue to play defense like this, just wait until the offense catches up.

This feels real

You just get a feeling about teams early on sometimes. This group at 8-1 — playing defense, making hustle plays, closing out close games, getting along and having fun — feels special. I know, most teams that LeBron plays on feel special, but there’s this focus and drive that I’ve never seen in any Sixers team I’ve covered.

They’re going to hit adversity. An injury or two is sure to pop up. The offense is still in the bottom third of the league. The backup center situation is murky at best.

But man, this feels like a team worth getting excited about.

Not great. Some people would pick less euphemistic words, but I’m trying to be nice. I’ll admit I didn’t envision this happening. I never expected the Suns to be world beaters, but I also didn’t expect them to be a punching bag as they stumbled out of the gate.

The most glaring deficiency with the Suns through the first six games is defense. The Suns are second to last in points per game allowed, behind only the Chicago Bulls, at 124.3 points per game. After a bleak 1-4 start, they surrendered a season-high 132 points last night when they knew this was a critical match to right the ship. The Suns are dead last in Defensive Rating, allowing 125.6 points per 100 possessions.

The Suns need to find a lineup that can get stops. That should be the main priority in practices. Switch people around and try to get something to click. Switch people around in the games if they aren’t giving maximum effort. I’m fine with anybody sitting down and watching what effort looks like.

Sometimes it appears the Suns struggle with fundamentals like switching or fighting over screens. Effort, strategy, and execution. One hand needs to know what the other is doing.

Someone I went to the game with last night, who isn’t a basketball aficionado, said it just seemed like Portland was scoring so fast and easily. I guess you don’t have to be a basketball genius to see the Suns suck at defense right now. She said the Suns also missed a lot of threes. The Suns could have been better. They shot 10-of-36 from deep for a 27.8% clip. Maybe if another two or three of those went in when the Suns were trying to close the gap, things could have turned out a little differently.

I told her that, the way I look at it, three-point shooting is mostly something that improves with practice. It’s not like defense, where if a player gives maximum effort, their performance can improve in real time. Effort doesn’t affect shooting in the same way it does defense. A lot of defense is effort, and the Suns aren’t meeting the standard they set last season.

I have always considered defensive rebounding as part of defense. That word in front of rebounding is the hint. A defensive rebound ends an offensive possession, and ending the opponent’s possession is important. Portland snatched 16 offensive rebounds against the Suns, who are relinquishing the third-most offensive boards in the league at 14.5 per game. Boxing out might help. I hope they realize that because they are not doing it.

The Suns need to rebound by committee. Khaman Maluach is leading the team in rebounds per 36 minutes with 11.2, but other holes in his game prevent him from being a true anchor at this early stage.

Last season, Mark Williams was second on the team in rebounds per 36 minutes, and Jordan Goodwin was sixth. Goodwin was also second in defensive rating. Getting these guys back could definitely have a positive effect, but for the Suns to turn this around, they will need to ramp up effort. This isn’t just a scheme issue.

Where is the continuity, chemistry, and…. joy?

The Suns have 10 players averaging over 10 minutes a game this season. Of those 10, eight were teammates on the Suns last season. Only Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard are being incorporated into whatever system the Suns are attempting to run. This year the Suns don’t look like they dislike each other, but they don’t have the same energy.

One possible cause of the perceived chemistry issues is that Jalen Green is being asked to play a different role, more as a distributor. Unfortunately, through six games, he is averaging just 3.3 assists, which is exactly his career average. The Suns are now 18-20 in regular-season games when Green plays. 18-24, counting the bloodbath at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns might be trying to shift from Point Book to Point Green, but right now it looks like an experiment with less-than-impressive results.

Sometimes I think it might just be easier for the Suns to get a real point guard. Then other players would be freed up to exploit their strengths. This happened when Chris Paul played with Devin Booker, and they had a decent run, but that isn’t this roster.

Ott needs to determine who is best equipped for this role, since there isn’t a perfect fit. If it is Green, then Jalen needs to figure this out fast. The clock is ticking. If it isn’t Green, then Ott needs to figure this out fast. The clock is ticking.

The Suns have a problem in the middle.

I may have softened a little in the midsection as I’ve gotten older, but the Suns’ underbelly is softer than an armadillo’s. The problem is the Suns don’t have a protective shell. They are just kind of soft overall right now.

Maluach looks like the game is entirely too fast for him at this stage. By the time he sees where he needs to be, the play has already evolved past the point for him to get involved. Maluach has obvious talent, but his positioning needs a lot of work and… he has hands of stone. Oso Ighodaro is averaging 4.3 assists per game and has demonstrated the ability as a playmaker to find cutting teammates for easy baskets, but he lacks the size of a true big man and will be at a disadvantage almost nightly.

The Suns need to rebound as a team. Last season Mark Williams was second on the team in rebounds per 36 minutes, and Jordan Goodwin was second. Goodwin was also second in defensive rating. Getting these guys back could definitely have an effect, but for the Suns to turn this around, they will need to ramp up effort. This isn’t just a scheme issue.

Can the Suns fix this from within? I don’t know. The optics have not been encouraging.

There are things that we should at least hope to see.

1. Find a lineup that clicks defensively. Practice overall schemes and implement changes specific to the opponent. Players need to give maximum effort or keep the bench warm for someone who will. Maybe Jordan Goodwin’s return will help, but this needs to happen immediately. This should be attainable. Since the team is essentially worst in the league they could still be “terrible”, as Dillon Brooks described… and improve.

2. Figure out the rotations and how this offense actually needs to flow. The numbers here aren’t as pitiful as the defensive side, but the Suns are 26th in the league in pace, averaging only 97.3 points per 100 possessions. They are slow and constantly look disjointed. I can watch a losing team play basketball, but bad, boring basketball is a big ask.

3. Get Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin back. The Suns’ injuries are exposing their weaknesses. Defense and rebounding are the biggest culprits for this start, and those are the main things those two bring to the table. Right now nobody is eating at that table. The Suns are better equipped to suffer an injury at other positions. The Green/Brooks/Booker combo should actually give good insurance with some overlapping skills. Those two wouldn’t make this team 5-1 right now, but anything would help.

4. Find a way for Booker to be a better version of himself. If Booker just plays like a good player, and not an elite All-NBA type of player, this team probably won’t make the playoffs. Steve Nash won MVP in Phoenix at 30, but Booker is not passing the eye test at the same age.

5. Try harder. Please make the fans think the players want to win as bad as the fans do.

6. Prayer. If any of you are religious or spiritual, it couldn’t hurt.

7. Jordan Ott’s honeymoon is over. Time for the part of marriage that takes a lot of work. Hopefully Ott and the players are ready to commit. Hopefully Ott is up to the challenge. He has an imperfect roster and he has to get players in their best roles to succeed…. even if he hurts someone’s feelings.

If these things don’t happen, it might be a long season… or potentially short for the people who can’t stomach it.

---

For the second straight game, head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s defensive performance following a sluggish start. In the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat on Monday, Redick complimented their second-half showing, when they limited Miami to 45 points and a 95.7 defensive rating.

On Wednesday, he was pleased with how they responded after the Sacramento Kings raced out to 16 points in the opening 4.5 minutes. Ultimately, the Lakers bounced back for a comfortable 116-103 victory and moved to 7-2 on the young season.

“I think when the game started, we were a little flat. I called an early timeout. They had 16 points. They scored 87 for the last 43:27 seconds or whatever it was [after] I called that timeout,” Redick said postgame. “The promising thing on that side of the ball is the effort and the intent to execute, I think, is really high. Second efforts were really good. We had a number of veer switches and peel switches and scrambles, had a number of late shot clock possessions for them, some shot clock violations. We did a lot on that end. I think the activity overall was really good, save for the first four minutes or whatever it was.”

Against the Kings, Los Angeles posted a 105.1 defensive rating, per Cleaning the Glass, which marked its third-stingiest effort of the season behind an Oct. 28 win over the Los Angeles Clippers (90.9 defensive rating) and an opening night romp of the Golden State Warriors (96.5).

The Lakers’ defensive anchor, Walker Kessler, is pleased with certain aspects of their play but still sees areas to refine as the year progresses, particularly in the open floor.

“We got to clean up some stuff on the defensive end,” Kessler said Wednesday. “Our half-court defense, once we get set, is pretty good. Got to do better in transition as a collective.”

While the Lakers allow the seventh-fewest points per 100 transition possessions (113.2), they allow the sixth-highest transition frequency (16.9%). Thus far, that inability to slow teams is really bogging them down. Despite being seventh in transition defense and eighth in half-court defense (91.3 points per 100), they’re just 16th in overall defensive rating, per Cleaning the Glass.

Despite Ja Morant’s absence, they’ll face a stiff test in their rematch Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, which own the league’s top-ranked offense and sit top five in both half-court and transition efficiency. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Crypto.com Arena.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

Observations after Sixers earn strong road win over Pistons, Brown scores 30  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers remain the Eastern Conference’s sole leader. 

They earned a 112-106 road win over the Pistons on Wednesday night to move to 8-1 on the season and stay at the top of the standings. Detroit fell to 6-2. 

The Sixers last started 8-1 in the 2023-24 season, which was Nick Nurse’s first as the team’s head coach. 

Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 30 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Joel Embiid had 26 points and a season-best 15 rebounds. LeBron James posted 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Tyrese Maxey added 19 points and seven assists.

The Pistons’ leading scorers were Duncan Robinson with 27 points and Cade Cunningham with 26.

The Sixers were down Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear). The Pistons’ injured players included Jalen Duren (right hamstring strain) and Isaiah Joe (right hip contusion).

Nurse told reporters in Detroit he thinks “it’ll be another 10 to 12 days before they kind of clear (Barlow) for getting on the court to see where he is,” according to Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin. 

The Sixers will visit the Cavaliers on Friday night. Here are observations on their victory over Detroit: 

Little bit of everything from Embiid in 1st half 

Embiid assisted the Sixers’ first basket with a sharp pass out of a double team. He saw Brown’s cut along the baseline and dished to him for a layup. 

Detroit ran several double drag screen actions early, forcing Embiid to defend on the perimeter. The Pistons started 7 for 11 from the floor and took a 17-11 edge on a Robinson three-pointer. 

The Sixers then made a 10-0 run and Embiid was right in the middle of it. He converted a put-back layup after a pretty high-low feed from James. Embiid hit two foul shots to give the Sixers the lead. The team raised its defensive level and Detroit’s offense grew frigid.

Embiid was very good on the glass in the first half, grabbing eight rebounds. The Sixers had an excellent rebounding game as a team, limiting the Pistons to four offensive boards over 48 minutes.

Embiid didn’t break out of his early-season three-point shooting slump, going 0 for 3. He’s 3 for 26 (11.5 percent) on the season and hasn’t made a three since the Sixers’ second game.

Late in the second quarter, Embiid got into a dead-ball dust-up with Tolu Smith. After an officials’ review, Embiid was assessed a technical foul for “initiating” the altercation. 

Brown steps up 

Playing on his 26th birthday, Maxey missed his first four field goals and was scoreless until he hit a floater with 31.5 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Brown picked up the scoring slack, tallying 10 points in the first on 4-for-6 shooting and hitting a deep, buzzer-beating three to put the Sixers up 29-21. He produced at all three levels, chose smart spots to attack and looked comfortable in the rhythm of the Sixers’ offense. 

Meanwhile, James did his usuall stellar work as a passer. He assisted two Adem Bona slams in the second quarter and constantly spotted open teammates. Nurse rewarded Bona’s strong opening stint, playing him for a lengthy stretch. 

Brown swished a corner triple to extend the Sixers’ lead to 48-31. With a 3-for-5 night, Brown is at 45.7 percent from long distance so far this season. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if Brown’s three-point shooting improved from last season’s 34.7 percent clip. With such an abundance of star power, the Sixers’ hope will be that everyone gets regular open looks beyond the arc throughout the year.

As for Maxey, he sat with 3:26 left in the second quarter after being whistled for his third foul. Even with a mere two points from Maxey, the Sixers entered halftime holding a 14-point advantage. 

Sixers stay perfect away from home

The Pistons played better basketball to begin the third quarter.

Following a John Collins alley-oop jam, Nurse called timeout with his team’s lead down to single digits. The Pistons’ offense sustained some success, but the Sixers prevented a sustained run.

Embiid played an especially physical, aggressive third quarter. He tipped in his own miss and Maxey then sunk a three to make the Sixers’ lead 84-68. They were up as many as 17 points in the third.

Embiid sat out the fourth quarter Monday night for the Sixers’ win over the Bulls and said he was on a minutes restriction (25) because of his right foot plantar fasciitis. He played the fourth period against the Pistons and logged 33 minutes. Bona went back to the locker room early in the fourth. Nurse told reporters postgame that Bona had “neck soreness.” 

Detroit did not let the Sixers coast to victory.

Robinson drained a three. Cunningham made a pair of free throws and drove in for a layup that cut the Pistons’ deficit to 106-102.

The Sixers halted the Pistons’ run before anything disastrous was on the table. Brown blocked a Cunningham three-point try, Embiid knocked down two foul shots, and the East’s No. 1 early-season team improved to 4-0 on the road.

New York was so good on Wednesday that the Knicks made me hate them for effectively finishing my 2-hour night plan in 20 minutes.

I’m cool with the 4-1 in the last five, but let’s make it a bit more competitive for entertainment’s sake, please and thank you (I know I’m in the minority here. Alas)

Here’s everything said before and after yesterday’s bullfighting.

Mike Brown was asked if it crossed his mind to keep Jalen Brunson in after his 22-point first quarter

"He's about as durable as anybody I've been around. Can he play 12 straight minutes? Yes. Can he play 36-38? Yes. At the end of the day, it's gonna impact him come playoff time" pic.twitter.com/gkwLGr5OGm

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) November 5, 2026

Mike Brown

On the entire Knicks roster contributing to the victory over Chicago:

“I take my hat off to everybody on the roster, because everybody contributed in some way, shape or form.”

On the Knicks delivering their most complete performance of the season against Chicago:

“That was as close to a 48-minute game as our group has had yet.”

On the Knicks’ franchise-record-tying 84-point first half:

“It was a really good half, in terms of doing what we believe, what we should be doing offensively as our staples. Everybody was really good in those areas.”

On the Knicks’ spacing, ball movement and offensive execution against Chicago:

“I really liked how we started out. Spacing the floor well, touching the paint, and then re-spacing too. Our re-spacing was really quick and really decisive. We had some great, great looks early on. And everybody played well offensively. Our pace was pretty good, it’s something we’ve been talking about. Our offensive rebounding, for shooting a high percentage, was pretty good. Just a lot of good things.”

On Brunson finally making the shots he had been missing earlier in the season:

“He’s obviously missed some shots but he took the same shots tonight that he’s been taking. And, we felt we’ve gotten some good shots in previous games that just haven’t gone down. But the good part about it is, they went down tonight, and we defended. A great game by him as well as everybody else.”

On Jalen Brunson’s unusual endurance and how the Knicks track player fatigue:

“Our analytics guys [chart] how guys play in two-minute increments. Some guys, after six minutes, their three-point field-goal percentage drops. They also can track their movement — how quickly they’re still moving out on the floor, if that slows down or not. Jalen’s just seems to go up every two minutes.”

On Brunson’s toughness and why he must avoid overworking him before the playoffs:

“He’s about as durable as anybody I’ve been around. He’s mentally tough, physically tough, and he can push himself to go… But at the end of the day, it’s going to impact him, in my opinion, come playoff time, so I have to be conscious of not going to the well too much, especially at this point in the season.”

On why he did not let Brunson continue playing after his 22-point first quarter:

“No, because he played 12 straight minutes.”

On Brunson’s ability to maintain his production over extended playing time:

“Jalen’s numbers just seem to go up every two minutes and there’s really no time when it’s down. So, can he play 12 straight minutes? Yes. Can he play 36-38 minutes? Yes. But, at the end of the day, it’s going to impact him, in my opinion, come playoff time. I have to be conscious not to go to the well too much, especially at this point in the season.”

On Landry Shamet earning playing time through his performances:

“The tough part about it is I don’t remember when that happened last year, but it’s more so the reality [that] Landry is playing well. Landry, he played well in the last game. As you guys can see I’ll try to go with who I think is playing well. I’ll try to find minutes for them . . . Sometimes the other guys are playing good and that’s who you rock with to try to get the win at times.”

On Tyler Kolek replacing Jose Alvarado as the Knicks’ backup point guard:

“I said this before, every position coming off the bench is a competition, all the time. Nobody’s minutes are set in stone. … Jose had the first opportunity in our last game. And then I gave Tyler an opportunity in the second half [against the Nets] and Tyler played well. So I’m gonna go with Tyler. And if I think I need to make a change because Tyler’s not getting it done in my eyes, then I’ll go back to Jose.”

On limiting the Knicks’ starters’ minutes during the first games of the season:

“I don’t want to kill these guys because they played more games — if you’re talking about last season — than most of them had in their career. And the offseason was a lot shorter than what it’s usually been. And it takes a toll. Playing (19) playoff games, it’s a lot different than playing (19) regular-season games. It might be a game-and-a-half just because of how physical the games are and the mental stress that goes into it, the attention to detail in each individual possession.”

On the physical and mental toll of the Knicks’ championship season and balancing rest with winning:

“It can be a mental and physical toll that can impact everybody differently. I have to be careful of not overreacting and trying to lay the hammer, especially early, on every little thing. I got to let our guys breathe a little bit and get their feet underneath them, not just from a physical standpoint, but a mental standpoint as well, because we played a lot of basketball last year and we’re right back to it. I also need to be careful in making sure that I’m not overextending all of our guys early. I wanted to use a 10-man rotation. There were a couple of games I think I went to nine.

“I hate saying this — I want to win, I’m going to try to win, but I’m not going to do that to the detriment of our group later on. So, I’ve got to find the balance of how to use my bench a little better to give these guys some more needed rest during the course in games, so they’re not at 35, 36, 37 minutes right now. I thought that helped us out a lot last year. We’ll up their minutes as the year goes along. I haven’t been too good with that so far this year.”

On adjusting the rotation after the Knicks’ slow start:

“We experimented with different stuff and our players not getting it done caused us to start off a little slow. So, to get us on track, we’re going to hold the fort down with a veteran group of guys.”

On managing the Knicks’ practices and playing time:

“I have to be conscious of how we practice. And I have to try to be conscious of guys’ minutes.”

On calling out his players for losing track of the game at times:

“We hit a three, we celebrated the three and they got a layup on the other end… that’s one of the little things that we talk about embracing playing with next play speed, playing the right way no matter what the score is… (by not doing that), that’s how you build bad habits.”

On Dalton Knecht’s offensive versatility and defensive development:

“He’s a scorer. He’s not just a shooter. A lot of people think he’s a shooter because he’s white. I said it for you, I hope I don’t get in trouble. He can go get it. He can shoot from range, he’s got a medium game, he can get to the rim, and he can pass. He’s got to work defensively and I thought tonight, he tried to play within himself and contributed the best way he could.

“There were a couple things defensively that he can do a little better and that’s what he really has to concentrate on but I thought he gave us a nice little lift, especially offensively when he played towards the end of the first half.”

On the Knicks’ improvement despite their early-season inconsistency:

“You want it, but you can’t live and die by trying to have everything be great and-or perfect in a matter of a week or two weeks. We know we can play better. The crazy part about it is we’re 3-1 in our last four. Knowing that we’re hungry for more, and that strive for perfection is going to help us out when it really counts at the end of the day.

“So we just can’t let go of the rope, we have to keep trying to get better on both sides of the ball and make sure that we’re embracing the little things so that we can hit a groove so we’ll be where we want to be at the end of the season — but knowing that we’re going to go through ups and downs throughout the course of the year.”

On giving starters more opportunities to overcome their struggles than bench players:

“Our starters are going to get a lot more rope than the guy’s coming off the bench, you know? And that’s kind of how I look at it. Again, this is a process and I have to always be careful of not trying to want [perfection]. You want it, but you can’t live and die by trying to have everything be great and/or perfect in a matter of a week or two weeks.”

Jalen Brunson on his 22-point first quarter:

"When you have it going, it feels good. Just trying to play off that and use your gravity to make plays" pic.twitter.com/B2y4wTO1aj

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) November 5, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On finding his rhythm and creating offense through defense:

“Obviously, making 3s, but I think making our two-pointers are really important as well. When you have it going, it feels good. Just trying to play off that and use your gravity to make plays. I feel like it really started on the defensive side of the ball, we were able to get stops and get out in transition.”

On using his scoring gravity to get teammates involved:

“When you have it going, it feels good. And then just trying to play off that and using my gravity to get teammates involved.”

On whether he would ask Mike Brown to leave him in a game to pursue an exceptional scoring performance:

“Possibly, but it has to be the right moment, right time. I don’t want to say no because you never know when you’re in this situation, but I just want to respect the game as much as possible.”

On the Knicks’ defensive effort setting up their offensive breakout against Chicago:

“I feel like it started on the defensive side of the ball. We were able to get stops and get out in transition, create a comfortable lead, and I think we played well with the lead for the most part.”

"Just a lot of communication. We have great coaches. Erm (Darren Erman) and BOC (Brendan O'Connor). They do a great job communicating what we've got to do. Then just us going on the court & executing"

– OG Anunoby on Knicks defense which allows 2nd fewest points (105.1) in NBA pic.twitter.com/1JyUblm20O

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 5, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the Knicks’ familiarity with their Eastern Conference rivals and the advantage of roster continuity:

“I think everyone in the East knows each other. This is our third year now with each other, so you know, it’s rare. That’s one of our advantages.”

On comparing the current Knicks to LeBron James and the Miami Heat’s Big Three era:

“At the end of the day, people knew, when LeBron and the Big Three were there, you had to go out there and beat them. Everyone brings their best against the New York Knicks. You’ve got to protect the jersey, the city at all costs.”

On handling the distractions and pressure of playing in New York:

“I mean, we did it all last year. You’re in New York, you’ve got to play through distractions; that’s what comes with playing here. There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of noise.”

On the Knicks’ ability to accomplish something special by staying united:

“But as long as this locker room, which has shown it can do, stays together and continues to just believe and fall into each other when things get tough, we can do something special.”

On how the Knicks grew closer during their difficult stretch after winning the NBA Cup:

“We didn’t look our best version, and we heard about it. This team continued to fall into each other instead of splitting away and … separating. We got closer and closer.”

Mike Brown says he's "not concerned" with Josh Hart's sore ankle pic.twitter.com/y9XsV6nTIU

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) November 4, 2026

Josh Hart

On the pressure of playing in New York and how quickly fans’ expectations can change:

“I guarantee you, I’m going to be sitting here rock bottom. I don’t think I’m ever going to be on my high horse, either. We’re in New York. Everything rides on the next game. We go on a 10-game winning streak and the next game we lose, they’re ready to burn the place down. We know what it is. It’s the tough part of being in New York.”

On the Knicks’ short offseason and the physical toll of the championship celebrations:

“We gotta go out there and win games. And we gotta get those championship habits back, because we were away from it for I don’t know how many months. I think it’s a tough spot. It’s kinda like a little conundrum, because obviously we played into mid-June. Then in the summer obviously you’re working out, you’re doing that, but you also are enjoying the fruits of the labor of winning in terms of going to brands, going to appearances. Off the court, it’s kind of booming for you. So, you’re doing all of that, so that takes a little bit of a wear on you. And then you get into it. So sometimes, the body has to kinda catch up.”

Miles McBride

On the Knicks’ open communication and willingness to have difficult conversations:

“It’s open. Anybody can step up, whether it’s the [bench] guys or starters. That’s the thing about this team, our chemistry is so good and we have a lot of trust because we see each other putting forth a lot of work.”

Jordan Clarkson

On accepting a reduced role and contributing energy even when he isn’t playing:

“[Brown] knows I’m always ready. My teammates know that I’m always ready and am going to try to bring the energy. If that’s not on the stat sheet or paper, just trying to do the little things, that’s something that I’ve grown in since I’ve been here. That really took priority for me.”

Dalton Knecht was asked if he was surprised to play tonight vs. the Bulls

"No, I wasn't surprised. I just came in ready to go. The coaches said 'you're active' – that just means be ready" pic.twitter.com/mzQm7hSO3J

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) November 5, 2026

Dalton Knecht

On being ready when the Knicks activated him for his debut against Chicago:

“I wasn’t surprised, I just came in ready to go. The coaches said you’re active so that just means be ready.”

On his first Knicks points coming on a putback dunk and making his debut:

“It was great. Honestly I didn’t hear much just because I’m so locked in, but it was good. Pretty much my first play was a putback dunk so it’s cool, it’s great.”

On wanting to contribute as a scorer and defender:

“I think I just go out there and impact the game on all three levels. And I just wanna show on the other side of the ball, getting the ball pressure and stuff like that and going in and grabbing defensive rebounds.”

On staying prepared for opportunities and learning from teammates on the bench:

“Be ready so you don’t have to get ready. Just watching on the bench and talking to my teammates is really helpful and it was easy to get in there and play confident. All the guys out there gave me a good look.”

BAM ADEBAYO GAME WINNER 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/JuLWUqUXsf

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) November 5, 2026