Category: NBA

Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.

Koa Peat

Forward, 6’7”, 245lb, 19 years old, Rookie

The Suns took a big swing when they traded up and drafted Koa Peat with the 30th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Peat has obvious strengths and obvious weaknesses. His strengths made him a projected lottery-level talent in high school. However, his weaknesses in college and during the draft process caused him to almost fall out of the first round.

Peat has an incredible resume. He is a four-time Arizona High School state champion, he led the University of Arizona to its first Final Four in 25 years, and comes from a family full of professional athletes. He has all the intangibles and high character traits that will make him a fan favorite right away if he can get playing time on a deep Suns roster. Which is the biggest question mark for Peat going into this season.

Where does Peat get minutes this season in a crowded rotation at forward with Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Rasheer Fleming, and Ryan Dunn all vying for minutes? And how quickly can Peat earn the trust of Jordan Ott and his teammates?

If Peat can get his now antiquated old-school style game to translate over to the new-school NBA, it will be a huge win for a Suns team that needs Peat to pan out for the future of the franchise.

Last Season

Last season at Arizona, Peat was one of the best players in the Big 12 and the entire country. He earned Third Team All-Big 12 honors despite missing three games with an injury/illness during conference play. He excelled in the biggest moments of the season, when he scored 30 points against Florida’s humongous front line in the first game of the season and later in the postseason.

He averaged a team-leading 17.1 points in the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four and elevated his all-around play when his team needed him the most. The in-state hero broke Sean Miller’s curse and got his team to the Final Four before losing to the eventual National Champion Michigan Wolverines.

What made Peat so effective with the Wildcats was how integrated himself within their offensive and defensive schemes. His basketball intelligence allowed him to still score and create for others despite the spacing limitations on the Arizona roster. He was effective playing off the Wildcats’ excellent guards Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries while also finding his spots at the elbows and midpost areas with Arizona’s two big centers Tobe Awake and Motiejus Krivas. Even with two of the best rebounding centers in the nation, Peat still grabbed almost six rebounds a game, making Arizona the second-best rebounding team in the country. Defensively, he was a capable on-ball defender and knew how to use his thick body to keep opposing players out of the lane.

But the reason Peat was available for Phoenix late in the draft was his 3-point shooting, or lack of 3-point shooting. At Arizona, Peat shot 35% from the 3-point line on just 20 attempts the entire season. He did not make a single 3 during Summer League and struggled during the NBA Combine’s shooting workouts. His mechanics are a work in progress and have already changed considerably since his time in college, but not necessarily for the better. Although Peat does not have to be a knockdown 3-point shooter in his NBA career to be effective, the Suns will have to be creative in how they deploy Peat early in his career because of those limitations.

Contract and Roster Context

Koa Peat signed a 4-year, $15,031,531 rookie scale contract with the Phoenix Suns this summer and will be extension-eligible in 2029 and will enter 2030 as a restricted free agent. He joins Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming as the Phoenix Suns’ young wings competing for playing time at the back end of the Suns’ rotation.

What He Brings

Koa Peat has a very unique style of play for the modern NBA game. Put Peat back in an era that was less three-point prolific, and he might have been a high lottery pick.

Peat has a unique blend of size and athleticism that makes him effective as a mid-post player and finishing around the basket both above and below the rim. Where Peat is elite is his footwork, whether he’s finishing off one or two feet. During his brief stint in Summer League, he showed an ability to take and make difficult shots on the block, at the elbows, and anywhere in between. Because of how physical he plays, Peat should be effective at getting to the free-throw line, where he shot 62% at Arizona.

Peat’s fluidity and touch make him an extremely difficult-to-stop locomotive in transition and attacking off of cuts. He can get his shot off in almost any situation and at unique angles. Even if the shot looks off balance, Peat has had incredible body control and soft touch to finish over and around taller defenders that should translate to the NBA.

Not only is Peat effective off the ball and in the midpost, but he can play on the ball as well. He handles the ball comfortably on the perimeter and was the Suns’ primary ball handler during Summer League outside of the point guards. He sees the floor well and is a good passer, especially dumping the ball off to his centers after penetrating to the basket.

Peat fills many needs for this Suns roster long term because he has the potential to be a good to elite isolation scorer that can attack mismatches with his versatility. He is another athletic body that the Suns can utilize to be a tough, gritty team that plays defense and rebounds at an elite level. Outside of his scoring and rebounding ability, he might be the best passing forward on this Suns roster right now. With Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale gone, the Suns need to replace their shooting first and foremost, but also their undervalued secondary playmaking, and that is a void Peat can fill immediately.

What Needs to Improve

The main weakness for Peat is easy to diagnose but difficult to fix. He is not a three-point shooter, and to survive in the NBA without a consistent jump shot, he has to be elite at another skill, whether that’s defensively, playmaking, and/or rim pressure. The Suns already do not have many shooters on the roster, so Peat only adds to that problem.

Long term, if Peat adds a consistent three-point shot, the sky is the limit for what he could be. If all he ever becomes is a very consistent midrange jump shooter, he will still be an effective player because of everything else he brings; it will just take that organization prioritizing players that fit with Peat, which is not what this Suns roster has right now.

The other area where Peat has to grow if he is going to play minutes this season is his motor and conditioning. This especially stood out during Summer League, where he was often the last guy getting back on defense because he did not sprint or was the final player in the frontcourt on offense. With Peat’s spot on the roster right now, it will be his effort and skill set doing the little things that could make the difference between him playing for the Suns or the Valley Suns this season.

Prediction

While most NBA teams usually give their exciting young players the runway at the NBA level to develop, the Suns have taken a different approach by making their players earn their opportunity before it is given. While it was frustrating to see Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach “waste away” on the bench last season, it could be beneficial for both of them long-term for their development. My prediction is that the Suns will bring Peat along slowly this year, just like last year’s rookies.

Here is why this is a good thing: it will give Peat a chance to work on his shooting mechanics and hopefully develop a passable NBA three-point jumper and work on refining his body. The Suns can work on completely overhauling his mechanics if needed and building them back from the ground up without having to stress him in NBA games, which can be detrimental during the process of reworking someone’s jump shot. As for his body, he already has the strength, but can he tap into even more athleticism if he cuts 10 pounds and adds it back in explosive muscle?

While this is my prediction, it would not surprise me if Peat is an immediate impact player as a rookie because of his unique skillset as a scorer and playmaker. If both Ryan Dunn and Rasheer prove not to be efficient enough 3-point shooters, there are so many other things Peat brings to the table that could vault him above the other young.

Stat Prediction: 40 games, 4.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 45/30/70 shooting

Final Word

While we all want to see Koa Peat play for the Suns this season, and we all want to talk ourselves into the hometown hero being the next young star to lead our franchise into the future, there is a reason 29(ish) NBA teams decided not to draft Peat. The Suns are swinging for the fences, hoping that Peat turns into a star, but they could easily strike out. It is going to take Peat time to develop into the fully formed version of himself, but what gives me the confidence Peat is going to be a great Phoenix Sun is because:

Koa Peat is a winner.

He won championships in high school, he won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships, and he delivered Arizona its first Final Four appearance in 25 seasons. The Suns likely won’t win a championship in the near future, but Peat has proven that he can win anywhere, and he has an unbelievable opportunity to win at home.

Editor’s Note: It’s with great pride we introduce Kaden Cho as one of our guest contributors! He’s going to bring some of his fresh perspectives here, and you can follow him at @kady1735.

LaMelo Ball is the Timberwolves’ premier addition this offseason, and with that label, discussions have inevitably started about how impactful he really is. The 25-year-old is coming off his first healthy season in years, finally surpassing the 50 game barrier, and leading the best starting lineup in the league in terms of net rating.

This has rightfully garnered Ball praise as one of the best offensive engines in the world, and while some still harbor grievances about his injury struggles, there remains a camp that believes he is simply not good at all. To them, he’s “reckless,” “inefficient,” and the biggest of his detractors will even call him “stupid”.

This narrative is generally associated with turnover issues, but the Wolves’ new point guard was actually in the 71st percentile among his positional group in creation-adjusted turnover percentage this season. This stat reflects that Ball suppressed turnovers relative to his 94th percentile on-ball load.

Rather, much of the talk about Ball’s playstyle hinges on our perception of his playmaking process, rather than the results of that creation. He is often degraded as being “made for TikTok”, in a way that connotes the idea that he is exclusively a highlight player. The one-legged threes and no-look passes certainly feed into that view, but we must take more than one look at any player that we evaluate.

Why brand LaMelo as “reckless” rather than “innovative”? Ball’s way of playing basketball is groundbreaking and deserving of praise.

Perhaps the way that we talk about him is informed by his off-court shenanigans, with him being brought up as one of the first major social media stars in basketball, which has only continued through his irresponsible driving.

It’s understandable why many use this mental shortcut. The Julian Newmans of the world, who came up around LaMelo’s time, definitely aren’t doing as well, and clips have spread that have only further propagated this idea. LaMelo’s most recognizable highlight from his childhood is his pull-up from half-court, and it’s easy to look at that kid and say he’s an arrogant showboater.

Even in the pre-draft process, LaMelo stood out like a sore thumb. He bounced around internationally, even having a short stint with a start-up league created by his father, LaVar Ball. His interviews were even wackier: He said he wanted to be the President of the United States after he was finished with basketball.

This narrative has also been given life by the numerous clips of LaVar that have gone viral over the years.

It’s easy to look at this and say that LaMelo is not the most put-together person, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree; I don’t know him personally. But I do find it to be an issue when these categorizations are applied to basketball.

Is it not our job as analysts to separate these issues from his actual play on the court? Why has the collective NBA community dumbed down LaMelo’s ability as a passer?

Basketball has long used terms like “low-IQ” to describe its own aesthetic bias, and it has routinely dipped into anti-blackness. Allen Iverson, Russell Westbrook, Magic Johnson, and so many other extraordinary passers have been demeaned for the same things that Ball faces now.

Magic, who is now widely considered to be the greatest passer to ever step foot on an NBA court, or really any court for that matter, was seen as too careless when he was drafted. Jerry West infamously tried to force him into the post as a power forward instead of as a point guard. And yet, he redefined the game by stretching its boundaries.

These words are usually used as a descriptor for a genuine evaluation of a player, but it’s important to remember that our biases are never fully isolated from stereotypes embedded in our society. There are ways that LaMelo’s shot diet could be more efficient, yes: he was a 58th-percentile point guard in rim attempts per 75 possessions last season, which is very low for his creation duties.

In the same way, LaMelo’s pull-up shooting and passing are indeed unorthodox, but it has lead to historic levels of offense, and even if there are valid criticisms of his game, we must watch what connotations our language has.

Anthony Edwards hasn’t played with a real passing point guard – at least not one who is in their prime – throughout his entire career, and the Timberwolves just went out and got one of the best in the league. Furthermore, it’s a very clear shift by the front office to counter the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder by leaning very heavily on pull-up shot creation.

Sometimes you have to zag when the league zigs, and that’s what Tim Connelly is known for. It is in moving away from the orthodox that we get some of the biggest Wolves moments of the decade. Coming off Rudy Gobert’s transformative defense and important part in several impressive playoff runs, you’ll never believe that trading for him was largely criticized as mortgaging their future.

Players shouldn’t be assigned personal qualities based on the different decisions they make on the court. Luka Dončić, whose eccentric playmaking style leads to incredible plays but also exasperating turnovers, has been called a playmaking savant, a passing genius, and a true innovator for the sport. But LaMelo “makes bad decisions,” and his passing process is “impaired”.

And even if you think LaMelo is reckless based on the driving, don’t apply it to the game, and vice versa.

These labels have stuck to LaMelo, but in the end, they don’t define who he is as a player. One of the best passers in the NBA is heading to the Timberwolves, and the fans should be excited for what is to come, as their franchise player is.

Sixers pre-camp questions: How will backup center situation shake out? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ new era is on deck.

With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on board and training camp set to begin in late September, we’re taking a look at key questions for the 2026-27 Sixers. 

We’ve asked: 

• Just how dramatic of an impact will James make?
• What role will Brown play on his new team?
• Will the Sixers be healthy when it matters most? 
• Who will the Sixers run their late-game offense through?
• Can the Sixers’ retooled second unit get the job done in the playoffs?

Next up: How will the Sixers’ backup center situation shake out? 

Given Joel Embiid’s history of injury woes, the Sixers’ backup center picture has long been worthy of considerable scrutiny. Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti are the two main figures entering the 2026-27 season.

Most Sixers fans are more familiar with Bona, the 41st overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He was one of the few bright spots in the Sixers’ injury-destroyed, 24-win season in 2024-25 and split the backup center job with Andre Drummond last year. Bona played 71 regular-season games and averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per contest. 

At the 2024 draft combine, Bona’s 35-inch standing vertical leap tied for first. His big-time bounce has translated well to NBA shot blocking. The 23-year-old had a 3.3 block percentage last season, which ranked in the 88th percentile for big men according to Cleaning the Glass. He continued to struggle with excessive fouling — that problem popped up regularly in the playoffs — but Bona showed that his rookie shot blocking wasn’t just a byproduct of playing on an egregiously shorthanded team.

The essence of Bona’s game likely won’t change dramatically, but he’s aiming to be a steadier, more well-rounded player in Year 3. 

“I think just staying consistent, trying to get better at everything,” he told reporters at his exit interview in May. “The most important thing for me is rebounding, (being) able to impact the team defensively, and offensively, being versatile and bringing so many things to the team besides just doing one thing. I think that’s my goal and that’s what I’m trying to improve.”

Hukporti seems set for an internal competition with Bona. After winning a championship as a member of the Knicks, he signed a one-year, $3.4 million contract to come to Philadelphia this summer.

The 24-year-old lefty said he noticed the Sixers had a “great connection with the team.”

“I feel like it’s still a young team,” Hukporti said in a July virtual press conference. “They have young players and they have vets there as well, and I feel like they have a great balance between the two. I feel like it’s pretty similar to where I was before. … I was just looking at the young guys personally and seeing how connected they are. That made me want to be here.”

On a basic level, there’s plenty of shared traits between Hukporti and Bona. Both have:

• Two years of NBA experience 
• Strong shot blocking numbers (Hukporti had a 3.1 block percentage last season)
• High foul rates 
• Limited offensive production so far in the NBA, including hardly any three-pointers 

Hukporti’s role was smaller on the Knicks, since he was behind both Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. He made 54 regular-season appearances and averaged 2.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 9.2 minutes per game. 

Hukporti has hinted at future offensive expansion a tad more than Bona. He shot three-pointers for the Westchester Knicks last year in the G League and went 8 for 25 (32 percent). The German center also took threes with Nevėžis Kėdainiai back in the 2020-21 season in Lithuania and shot 13 for 47 (27.7 percent). 

“We’re going to see, we’re going to see,” Hukporti said in July when asked about his jump shooting. “It’s going to be a little surprise. I’m definitely working on it.” 

For now, it’s hard to give a definitive prediction on which backup center Sixers head coach Nick Nurse will ultimately prefer. Perhaps Bona has an initial edge because Nurse knows him and, even if he didn’t cleanly beat out Drummond, at least thought he earned a playoff role last season. 

In terms of the postseason, James, Dominick Barlow and Dean Wade are also names to note.

Barlow played 10 percent of his minutes at center last year, per Cleaning the Glass. He had a largely positive stint there in the Sixers’ narrow Round 2, Game 2 playoff loss to the Knicks without Embiid. Wade got nine percent of his playing time at center, James four percent.

The bottom line is the Sixers currently have two young big men backing up Embiid, but Barlow, Wade and James are all meaningful alternatives for Nurse.

Per a Spurs press release:

“The Rock at La Cantera announced the second annual “Holidays at The Rock,” running from Saturday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 3. This festive celebration of the winter season is returning for its second year with free holiday movie nights, shopping at holiday markets, an expanded skating rink, a New Year’s Eve bash and many more festive activities. The campus will transform into a winter wonderland for the entirety of holiday season, lit by over 40,000 holiday lights. Entry for daily programming is free, with select activations including a cost.“

Tree lighting, an ice skate rink, holiday movies, a holiday market, pet activities and a New Year’s Eve party are all on the calendar. Ice Ice Dady on Frost Plaza becomes “Santa’s Shack,” and introduces festive drinks, snacks, s’mores, and premium hot cocoa.

Duane Randall, general manager of The Rock at La Cantera shared,

“Holidays at The Rock is a gift that brings our community together through festive traditions, memorable experiences and plenty of holiday cheer. With free programming for guests of all ages, The Rock offers a welcoming place for families, friends and fans to celebrate this special season together.”

 Visit TheRockAtLaCantera.com for more details, dates, times, and up-to-date information.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

Ramp to Camp: What do you want to see from Paul George? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

No one in our Ramp to Camp panel seems particularly worried about what Paul George can bring to the court entering his age 36 season. The question is simply how often the Celtics will have him there.

For Day 7 of our preseason series tackling the top questions surrounding the Celtics on the march to the 2026-27 season, we asked our panel for the No. 1 thing they want to see from George this season. The overwhelming response: Health and availability.

The encouraging news is that George arrived at his Boston introduction on Tuesday sounding refreshed and expressed optimism about his health. He noted how he “feels amazing … I haven’t felt like this in a long time.”

Later, in a sit-down interview with NBC Sports Boston, George took it one step further and expressed hope that his games played total would climb this season.

“Obviously, it’s been unacceptable for me, from a personal level, to not be able to play at least 50 games, 60 games in a season,” said George. “And so that’s kind of a benchmark, obviously, I want for myself is to be on the upper end of games played.”

The Celtics have done an elite job managing the workload for some of their more veteran players, most notably Al Horford throughout his second stint with Boston. Despite sometimes stubborn knees, Horford averaged 64 games over four years through his age 38 season.

George said he’s had initial conversations with the Celtics about managing his workload but wasn’t certain how that will look when the games start. He admitted that playing his best basketball in the postseason had to be a priority — and the Celtics know too well how good he can be on the playoff stage when his body is feeling right.

Even while navigating health woes in his age 35 season with Philadelphia last year, George still averaged 17.3 points per game while shooting 39.2 percent beyond the 3-point arc. He averaged 17.4 points over 37.1 minutes per game in Round 1 against Boston in last year’s playoffs, which included shooting a sizzling 55 percent beyond the 3-point arc in the series.

George remains an excellent defender. His 2.7 steals per 100 possessions ranked in the 97th percentile among wings last season. He should allow Boston to be even more aggressive on the defensive end this season.

The reality is that George isn’t just replacing one of the most impactful two-way players in the NBA in Jaylen Brown, but one of the most available players in the league. Brown navigated minor ailments but averaged 67.4 games per season over the past five seasons.

George can help fill some of what was lost in Brown’s departure, and his willingness to accept a secondary role at this stage of his career might also allow new teammates like Tatum, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White to thrive.

But there is no denying the obvious: He has to stay on the floor.

Nick Goss: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Play 65+ games. Durability is the primary concern with Paul George at 36 years old. He’s missed a ton of games over the last few seasons. He’s still a very good player, but how often is he going to be on the court? George has played 60-plus games in a single season only once since 2019.

Josh Canu: Editor

Availability. PG is a gifted player and we saw firsthand in the playoffs the impact he can have as an important role player. But he misses a ton of games and, if he isn’t available, he isn’t helping.

Michael Hurley: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Signs of life? Is that rude? It is. I know. I’m just in the group of folks that wasn’t overly excited to see a franchise cornerstone traded for Paul George at this stage of his career. I guess the most realistic area you’d want him to thrive is hitting his 3s, because we know Joe Mazzulla will be encouraging them. He hit 39.2 percent of them last year but then hit almost half of them (49.3 percent) in 11 playoff games. He shot 55 percent from beyond the arc against the Celtics, so he owes them at least better than 40 percent from three this upcoming season.

Kevin Miller: Vice President, Content Creation and Strategy

38% 3FG, 65 games played, strong defense.

Justin Leger: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Consistency. Jaylen Brown had his off nights, like everyone else, but for the most part, you knew what to expect from him on a nightly basis. Paul George is no Jaylen Brown at this stage of his career but the Celtics need to be able to lean on him when Jayson Tatum is struggling. If he performs at the level he did when he returned from his suspension in March, that’ll go a long way toward getting this C’s team back on top in the East.

Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations

Availability.

Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy

We saw positive veteran impacts from Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis when the Celtics claimed Banner 18. I want to see positive veteran impacts. Won’t be specific — but you’ll know it when you see it.

Max Lederman, Content Producer

I’m sure this will be a popular answer but health is really the most crucial thing I’d like to see from Paul George. He can be an impact player for this team if he’s healthy, but that’s been rare over the last chunk of his career.

Good morning, BBN!

One common theme across all of Coach Pope’s teams has been injuries.

According to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim, junior wing Trent Noah has re-aggravated the hamstring injury that bothered him earlier this summer.

Noah originally tweaked the hamstring in July, with Mark Pope calling it “a nothing” at the time, but he later missed UK’s final open practice of the summer.

Now, the latest setback is expected to keep Noah out during the preseason and could potentially linger into Kentucky’s exhibition schedule.

It’s another injury concern for a Wildcats roster that has already dealt with several this offseason and far too many under Pope.

Kam Williams missed summer practices after undergoing a second procedure on the foot he broke last season, though Pope has expressed confidence he’ll be available for the season.

Franck Kepnang was also limited for much of the summer as Kentucky carefully managed his return from previous leg injuries.

More recently, star transfer Milan Momcilovic suffered a jammed index finger on his shooting hand. While initial reports feared a break, further testing brought better news, and he is expected back around the start of fall practice, though he’s currently sidelined.

Kentucky still has time before the games count, but staying healthy is quickly becoming a recurring storyline in Lexington.

Tweet of the Day

This would be big time.

Headlines

Stein, Cats Must ‘Turn the Page’ – UK Athletics

100%

Ann Lemirisho Named SEC Women’s Runner of the Week – UK Athletics

Love to see it!

Protect College Sports Act moves closer to final Senate vote – ESPN

Rules are getting closer.

Clemson vs. UNC is shell of what should be marquee ACC showdown amid Dabo Swinney, Bill Belichick turmoil – CBS Sports

Sad to see two of the best coaches of all time like this.

PFT’s Week 2 2026 NFL power rankings – NBC Sports

Awesome Week 1.

Amid Kiffin buzz, Ole Miss stays ‘focused on the game plan’ – ESPN

Can’t wait for this game.

Adam Silver discusses Clippers punishment, NBA expansion, why Blazers leaving Portland would be ‘failure’ – CBS Sports

I think the NBA is finally ready for expansion.

Giants-Cowboys delivers 25.7 million viewers – NBC Sports

NFL is still king.

Day: Ohio State ‘to make some hard decisions’ after Texas collapse – ESPN

You just can’t blow a lead like that.

Chad Baker-Mazara files lawsuit against USC alleging missed NIL payments, Eric Musselman racist tirade – CBS Sports

Wild story.

Wes Unseld is somewhat overlooked today, and that’s a shame. 

The Louisville native had a tremendous career at his hometown school, averaging 20.6 ppg and 18.9 rpg for his varsity career (freshmen were not eligible at the time) Drafted in 1968, he was brilliant in the NBA as well. 

In the NBA, despite being just 6-7, Unseld played center. With his immense strength, he managed to limit much taller players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

He was also one of the greatest outlet passers of all time. In our opinion, that list includes Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Unseld’s godson Kevin Love, and probably Nikola Jokic (Maurice Stokes gets a special mention here). 

But when you get down to it, Unseld, who won both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in 1969, something only Wilt Chamberlain has ever done, succeeded largely through sheer strength and will. 

He was able to use his massively powerful body to push bigger men around, and nobody wanted to run into him as a screener, because Unseld left bruises. 

He was a highly unusual player, and someone who is not acknowledged nearly enough today as one of the greats of the game. 

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When the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown this offseason, the move left many questioning the rationale behind such a significant and unexpected decision.  

The possibility of the Boston staple moving became increasingly apparent in my eyes after the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes ended with the former Bucks star landing in Miami. Still, I could never have imagined that the team Brad Stevens ultimately chose to pull the trigger with would be the Celtics’ longtime rival, the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Boston ultimately received two future first-round picks and 36-year-old Paul George in the deal. The immediate concerns among the fanbase centered largely on what many perceived as a lack of adequate compensation for a Finals MVP coming off the best statistical season of his career. Other following questions may have included George’s hefty contract and what would he have left in the tank for his next campaign after an impressive playoff run.  

Those concerns were understandable, particularly given George’s age and injury history. However, his performance last season offered reason to believe that he can still provide real value, especially defensively.  

While he may no longer be the All-Defensive caliber defender he was earlier in his career, George showed that he still possesses the length, instincts and versatility to make an impact against some of the league’s best offensive players. His playoff series against Boston provided perhaps the clearest evidence of that, making it worth taking a closer look at how George showed he can still be a reliable defender heading into next season and why Boston wanted to add him.  

Defensive Playmaking  

Whether you believe this current roster is closer to contention than last year’s group or not, one thing is difficult to dispute: there is a clear philosophical alignment behind the moves Boston made. Mazzulla Ball is predicated on creating two-on-ones, and at times, three-on-twos, and capitalizing on those advantages. But another critical component of Boston’s identity is its emphasis on winning the possession battle. That means controlling the shot margin in several key areas, most notably by creating and suppressing turnovers and consistently controlling the glass on both ends of the floor.  

The green team’s biggest signing this offseason was Mitchell Robinson, who specializes in getting extra possessions and closing them as a rebounder while also being an underrated defender.  

Last season Paul George specialized in taking the ball away from the other team. 

He ranked in the 98^th percentile in both steals (2.7) and deflections (6.5) per 100 possessions illustrating just how disruptive he remained as a perimeter defender. 

George’s anticipation, instincts, and ability to read the floor allowed him to create turnovers in a variety of ways, many of which were the product of subtle defensive reads rather than simply gambling for steals. A closer look at the film illustrates just how effective George remained at creating those opportunities. 

When watching George’s steals, every attribute mentioned above comes into play. But when you pair his anticipation and instincts with an exceptionally quick trigger to the ball and a 6-foot-11 wingspan, you get a defender who can seemingly appear out of nowhere to make a play on the ball. At times, George looks less like a basketball player and more like a defensive back playing center field, reading the quarterback, anticipating the throw, and using his length to close on the ball before the intended receiver ever has a chance. 

He also possesses exceptional reflexes, which, when combined with his wingspan, allow him to seemingly throw a hand into passing lanes at the last possible moment and still come away with a steal or deflection.  

His timing as a help defender stood out to me as well. Whether he is serving as the tagger in a pick-and-roll, rotating over as the next defender, or simply sitting in the gap to cut off a driving lane, George consistently demonstrates an understanding of when to commit and when to stay home. His wisdom and other tools allow him to recognize an opening and help and emerge in an instant to help a teammate.  

During one of Jaylen Brown’s Twitch streams, he was joined by Celtics wing Jordan Walsh, and while the two were watching highlights, Brown gave the audience a glimpse into one of Boston’s defensive principles. 

George should fit neatly into this element Boston emphasized last season. You can see how he attacks the ball as soon as the handler isn’t facing him.  

And of course, a prerequisite for most guys wearing green: you have to be willing to be the first to the floor.

While Boston will certainly need George’s off-ball prowess, that is only part of what he brings defensively. On the ball, his overall coverage aggression can smother ball handlers, while his still-impressively quick feet allow him to stay attached and in position to utilize his active hands and exceptional wingspan. 

On ball defense  

George’s ability to generate steals holds immense value, but it doesn’t provide the full context of him still being a great defender. His ability to stay attached, absorb drives, and contest without conceding easy advantages allows him to consistently make an impact at the point of attack. 

When looking at George strictly as an on-ball defender, two areas in particular stand out: his ability to navigate screens and his knack for blowing up actions through ball denial. His combination of footwork, strength, and length allows him to fight through screens while staying attached to his assignment, while his instincts and physical tools make him particularly effective at denying the ball and pushing offensive players well beyond their intended catch points. 

First, let’s just enjoy some good defense. 

One conclusion I came to while rewatching George’s playoff defense last season is that, when all the components of his on-ball defense are working in concert, he can really influence a player’s shot quality. This helped him post really good shot defense numbers when matched up against some of the best scorers in the Eastern Conference.  

As far as screen navigation goes, the common denominator across most of these clips is George’s ability to stay attached. More often than not, he gets into the offensive player’s chest before the screen arrives, putting himself in an ideal position to get skinny and work his way through the screen without losing contact with his assignment. You’ll also regularly see him keep a hand or forearm on his man as he navigates, giving him a constant feel for where the offensive player is and helping him maintain that connection as he continues to work. This also helps him get back in front of his matchup if he ends up getting behind.  

When blowing up actions and pushing catch points out through ball denial, George applies that same aggression and stay-attached mentality to make receiving the ball as difficult as possible for the offensive player. This is really good when disrupting handoff actions like Zoom or Miami, but he also can top-lock players looking to use pin down screens and keep them away from other off ball screens.  

George’s defensive strengths fit naturally into the way Boston wants to play. His ability to generate turnovers can create the extra possessions the Celtics covet, while his screen navigation, ball pressure, and denial can make opposing offenses work harder simply to get into their actions. At his best, George doesn’t just defend individual players; he can alter the quality and timing of the shots an entire possession produces. 

That doesn’t mean the concerns surrounding his age, health, or contract should be dismissed. But if George can stay healthy and consistently tap into the defensive tools, he displayed last season, Boston may have acquired more than an aging star with something left in the tank. They may have added a veteran wing capable of making a meaningful impact on one of the fundamental principles of their defensive identity: making every possession harder to win. 

More in-depth breakdown of Paul George’s defense in video form can be found below.

I want the answer to be no.

Full transparency: Thompson is my favorite player in the NBA. I’ve not kept that a secret.

Yet, as a writer, I am tethered to reality. Thompson is not the best player in the NBA. He’s not even in that ballpark – at least*, not by any publicly available metric.

*Em dash usage does not denote AI usage.

It seems the Rockets’ proprietary metrics have unearthed a secret. HoopsCollective’s Tim MacMahon is reporting that the Rockets’ own data has Thompson as one of the ten most valuable players in the NBA.

Is that remotely possible?

Rockets’ Thompson has sneaky impact

DataBallr does not share the Rockets’ conviction.

Their Daily Plus/Minus (DPM) metric, which aims to “estimate player impact on expected team scoring differential per 100 possessions, with teammate/opponent effects controlled”, has Thompson at +1.2.

That’s good. It’s in the 92nd percentile. It’s also not even in the same zip code as the top-10. It’s not in the top-30. It’s so far down that I stopped counting, and you’ll have to either do it for yourself or just live with the 92nd percentile.

Dunks and Threes Estimated Plus/Minus (EPM) paints a similar picture. Thompson’s +2.7 is in, again, the 92nd percentile.

It’s sure starting to feel like Thompson is roughly in the 92nd percentile in impact!

Is it possible that, while the publicly available stuff has Thompson in (to reiterate) the 92nd percentile, the Rockets’ internal metrics have him closer to the 98th? You’d have to ask a statistician, but it feels unlikely.

So what’s going on here?

Rockets right to regard Thompson highly

Now, if the Rockets’ actual internal view is that Thompson is one, say, of the last ten NBA players who should be traded, that feels more viable.

Thompson compared favourably to his peers in EPM in 2025-26. Among his draft mates, only Victor Wembanyama (99th) and Brandon Miller (95th) are in higher percentiles. The latter benefited from an elite playmaker in LaMelo Ball, and the former is Victor Wembanyama.

Moreover, that was an especially strong class. Thompson is in the same percentile as notable young guys like Scottie Barnes and Franz Wagner, and he’s ahead of Evan “The Rockets should have picked me” Mobley (89th percentile).

Thompson is also arguably a different type of young player. He was a “project” coming into the league. When it comes to athleticism, Thompson is 100th percentile. His skill development was always the question mark.

How has he fared? It’s complicated. Let’s shift away from fancy acronyms and towards eye-test-based basketball talk.

To my eye, the handle has improved. Thompson can get to the rim from the perimeter with the rock now. It doesn’t look pretty – it’s a bludgeoning style of basketball – but during his first couple of seasons, it looked like cutting without the ball was his only route from A to B.

Here comes the inevitable.

The shot. It was bad; it’s still bad; it’s more likely than not always going to be bad. The midrange efficiency has waxed and waned; the three-ball has fluctuated between “awful” and “Dear God, won’t somebody think of the children?”

It can improve. Chip Engelland seems like the best shot doctor in the league, so that’s nice. Still, even getting Thompson’s shot to a normal level of bad would qualify as an accomplishment.

As long as the jumper is broken, defenses can deploy funky strategies against the Rockets. Some of those strategies would be less effective if the Rockets’ second-best offensive player wasn’t a low-post big, but in equal measure, it will always be a problem if Thompson won’t shoot.

Arguably, it’s too substantial a problem to include him in any reasonable top-10.

I’m not naive. The Rockets likely leaked this information to MacMahon for the sake of postering. It’s also likely true that the organization has no interest in trading Thompson at market value, nor should they.

So…the point? The point…hmmm…

If the Rockets want to “control the message”, they might want to leak more realistic reports.

Even I don’t believe they have Thompson as a top-10 player in the NBA.

Paul George had zero control over his destiny this offseason.

It wasn’t until the Celtics began shopping Jaylen Brown on the trade market that wheels began to turn, ultimately leading to George’s unforeseen move from Philadelphia to Boston. Once the Celtics and Sixers shook hands and agreed to their Brown-George blockbuster on July 1, the 36-year-old’s situation changed dramatically.

He even admitted it was “a bit surprising” when he heard the news.

But George isn’t bothered by the change.

“I understand the circumstances,” George told reporters Tuesday at the Auerbach Center, per NBC Sports Boston.

“I didn’t take it personal, to be honest. They should have a relationship, emotionally, to that trade. But my job here is to come into a great opportunity for me.”

Instead of playing behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia, George carries the burden left by Brown’s exit, which now awaits him at his TD Garden locker in Boston. He isn’t playing third fiddle. As the second-highest-paid Celtic (earning $54.1 million), George is under immense pressure to begin harkening back to the impactful presence he once was, this time as Jayson Tatum’s new running mate.

“Again, no personal feelings towards the initial — how it [was] received here in Boston. To be honest, it’s fair. One foot in front of the other. Hopefully, with how we start this year, they understand this is a new team and something they can be proud of.”

George spent the greater bulk of last season battling a left knee hyperextension which required surgery and sidelined him for 41 games. He rejoined the Sixers just in time to square off against the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, and delivered a performance that factored significantly into Boston squandering its 3-1 series lead.

During his postseason revival series versus the Celtics, George averaged 17.4 points, four rebounds and three assists while converting 55 percent of his 3-point attempts.

“It just felt like I was able to do things and, quite frankly, it might’ve caught Boston off guard,” George said with a smile while looking toward a stone-faced Mazzulla, “from an expectation that I could no longer move.”

George’s showing last postseason offers an avenue for optimism as Boston approaches a season that’ll need all the positivity it can collect.

The reality is the bright green-colored glasses Boston’s front office handed its fans three offseasons ago have turned dull. George is cognizant of the city-wide reception the Celtics triggered through trading Brown away in a decision that lead governor Bill Chisholm described as a decision “all about trying to win.”

That’s the bar Chisholm set alongside president of basketball operations Brad Stevens during their damage control presser back in July, and a standard George welcomes with open arms.

“I think we’ve got an unbelievable roster, an unbelievable coach, obviously, front office,” George said. “I’ve always admired everything Boston has done and stood for. So I think coming in with that attitude and that mindset to win, I’m all on. I’m happy to pull akong and do my part to try to lead this group back to where everybody here feels and wants.”

Stevens signed veteran guard Mike Conley and center Mitchell Robinson to help keep Boston in the running next season.

But all eyes will be drawn to George.

This upcoming season, much of Boston’s ability to compete in the long run will ride on George — his ability to perform like a No. 2 and stay healthy throughout an 82-game regular season and playoffs. The Celtics are counting on him to take the version of himself that had a hand in ending their season four months ago and maintain it.

“It’s fair to live with that emotion, given what JB stood for and what he brought, and the history,” George said. “He was a part of raising a banner and winning a championship here. That’s gonna forever stick.”

Coming into a situation with increased responsibility in the toughest market the NBA has to offer, George brings the level-headed mindset of a soon-to-be 17-year veteran.

“They’re getting someone that’s ready to not fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think, from a personal standpoint, can still keep us in contention and give us a chance to win,” George added.

The message from Chisholm and Stevens is that the goalpost hasn’t shifted with Brown gone. George, who’s reached the conference finals just three times in his career, has already bought in.

He'll call it a comeback: 76ers announcer Matt Cord to return for final season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Your Philadelphia 76ers will have a familiar voice booming inside Xfinity Mobile Arena this year, even though he planned to retire after last season.

That’s because, on Wednesday, the team announced that longtime Sixers announcer Matt Cord has decided to return for one more season.

THE VOICE IS BACK. pic.twitter.com/0NqwiabE9a

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 16, 2026

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to the mic as PA announcer for 76ers for one more season,” Cord said in a statement announcing his return from a — very brief — retirement. “Serving in this role for the past 28 years has been a dream come true, and I have been fortunate to witness so many memorable moments from the best seat in the house. This is going to be a special year, and I can’t wait to be back at Xfinity Mobile Arena with you all. Let’s go, 76ers!”

Perhaps the additions of Jaylen Brown and NBA superstar LeBron James to the Sixers starting rotation helped prompt Cord’s return?

He didn’t say.

But, Cord did note that he still plans to retire from the team — once again — at the end of this upcoming season.

And, before then, he will work with the team to find his replacement through a tryout process that is expected to begin this winter.

Mike Conley and Payton Pritchard have made a connection this summer. Conley revealed at his introductory press conference on Tuesday that they have begun working out together, playing a lot of five-on-five and one-on-one.

“Me and Payton [Pritchard] work a lot,” Conley said. “One-on-one with our workouts. Before practice or before five-on-five, we play [or] hoop or whatever, and we’re talking the game all the time. Like, ‘I should shoot a floater, you should shoot a mid-range shot.’”

Mike Conley might be key in a potential breakout season for Payton Pritchard 👀

(footage: @CelticsCLNS) pic.twitter.com/CIWE4xApgZ

— How 'Bout Them Celtics (@HowBoutThemCs) September 15, 2026

Conley was a free agent signing this summer by the Celtics after previously spending his 19-year career with the Grizzlies, the Jazz and, most recently, the Timberwolves. He is going to provide the Celtics veteran leadership and guard depth this season.

Conley also noted that he and Pritchard do different things on the court and it impacts on how he gives some tips to Pritchard.

“Different things that compliment his game, might not compliment mine,” he said. “I recognize that and you just gotta know who you’re talking to and their personality.”

Conley has one of the most effective floaters the NBA has seen. Conley, a lefty, has primarily used his right hand to shoot the floater.

I present to you

every single Mike Conley floater and push shot thus far, all with the right hand pic.twitter.com/xUT1kfLVdt

— Jonah (@Huncho_Jman) March 14, 2023

Last season for the Timberwolves, Conley averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists per game in 54 games. He is going to have a role on the Celtics, even with the addition of Devin Carter, because Boston is a bit shorthanded at guard and will need Conley to play at certain points in the season.

Conley had his moments in the playoffs last season. His averages were relatively the same as they were in the regular season, but Minnesota lost a lot of their guards as the playoffs went on and they needed to insert Conley back into the starting lineup. He had 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in Minnesota’s close-out Game 6 win against the Denver Nuggets.

Playing with Pritchard should also help Conley. Payton is a really good player who is ultra-quick. That will help get Conley ready for the season when he has to go against fast guard on either side of the court. They can also learn how to play off one another for when they share the court this season.

The possibility of the NBA adding two more expansion teams continues to gain steam, and it’s expected to happen at record numbers.

According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the league is advancing into further stages that would grant Las Vegas and Seattle two expansion teams, at deals over $7 billion and $10 billion.

“The NBA and Adam Silver are in deeper and deeper stages of the expansion conversation, and I’m told specifically for Las Vegas, the next round of bids for an expansion team in Las Vegas are due on Thursday, and final bids expected to be some point shortly thereafter,” Charania said. “My understanding is proposals for that Vegas team is reaching and potentially exceeding $10 billion.”

Charania went on to say that the Vegas process has moved on with more pace than the Seattle, but still believes they will land the other team, that will cost future owners around $7 billion.

“Those Seattle conversations are continuing as well,” Charania said. “Remember, the league has been targeting as soon as the 2028-2029 season for the start of these expansion teams.”

Despite the potential Las Vegas expansion team having yet to play in an NBA game, the estimated cost to purchase it falls just $2.5 billion shy of what it cost Josh Kushner and Bob Iger to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter.

The last time the NBA expanded happened in 2004, when the league introduced the Charlotte Bobcats, which costed previous owner Robert L. Johnson $300 million in expansion fees to create.

With the NBA potentially adding two more teams, Charania said the NBA expects Las Vegas and Seattle to be in the top-10 in future revenue share.

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“Now Adam Silver is going to continue the bids process, and it’s unclear when a final vote will be,” Charania said. “I think over the next couple of months we’re going to get clarity on the final offers. …A potential vote to finalize the expansion to 32 teams.”

The possibility of Las Vegas and Seattle being awarded an NBA team should come as no surprise, as the league already has ties to both cities.

From 1967-2008, Seattle was home to the Super Sonics, who won three Western Conference Titles and one NBA championship in 1979.

The team went on and relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder after the team was bought by its current owner, Clay Bennett, for $350 million.

Las Vegas’ ties to the NBA date back to 2004, when the league started hosting its annual Summer League there.

LeBron James appears to be enjoying his “Taco Tuesday.”

Seven years after James was denied in his attempt to trademark the term “Taco Tuesday,” he posted a video of himself scarfing down at least three plates of tacos.

The video began with James saying, “Hey, y’all I’m just chilling here, relaxing. And you know, I’m not really having a good day,” only to immediately respond by shouting the words “Sike!”

“You know what today is. It’s Taco Tuesday.”

View this post on Instagram

James followed up his excitement by sharing a scream that echoed across Mike’s Red Taco — a San Diego Taco establishment that is gearing up to open it’s upcoming location in Pasadena.

The reason why James was denied in his trademark attempt was due to the term being considered “a commonplace term.”

According to ESPN, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said: “The applied-for mark is a commonplace term, message, or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment message.”

USPTO went on to inform James’ trademark company that “Taco Tuesday” is a “widely used message used by various parties to express enthusiasm for tacos by promoting and celebrating them on a dedicated weekday.”

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, his application to trademark the term was to ensure he couldn’t be sued for any use of “Taco Tuesday.”

In the past, James used to share videos of himself and his family eating tacos on social media accounts.

“I love tacos, and I especially love how they bring people together to create traditions and share great moments around the table with family and friends,” James said in a statement released by Fox 5 in San Diego. “In addition to having an incredible taco, Mike’s Red Tacos bring those same values to life in a fresh, new way for consumers.”

While James has been enjoying his time on a fun trip down memory lane, it comes before new beginnings, as he is just two weeks away from joining his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers, for NBA training camp, after he signed with them this past July on a two-year, $8 million deal that includes a player option.

James spent the last eight years of his career with the Lakers, where he averaged 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.7 rebounds during his Los Angeles tenure.

During the 2019-2020 NBA season, James led the Lakers to their 17th title in franchise history, where he was crowned Finals MVP after averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists.

Paul George is hoping to have the luck of the Irish.

The NBA veteran was introduced as a member of the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Sept. 15 in a press conference with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, head coach Joe Mazzulla and Mike Conley Jr., who also joined the team this offseason. Mitchell Robinson was supposed to be a part of the press conference, but had to tend to a "personal matter."

George was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers and broke the heart of the Celtics faithful. Brown was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024 when Boston won its 18th championship.

"Listen, I understand the circumstances," George told the media. "I understand how huge JB was, not only for the organization, but here in the city. So I didn't take it personal. To be honest, they should have a relationship emotionally to that trade."

George, a nine-time All-Star, has been hindered by knee injuries the past two seasons with the Celtics' Atlantic Division rival. The 36-year-old said he feels "great" while reiterating that he has no hard feelings toward fans who aren't giving him a usual hero's welcome after the stunning trade even he admitted was "a bit surprising."

"I feel like I've turned that corner of dealing with injuries and now kinda reestablishing myself from a physical standpoint again and with that, I can carry it over to the court," he said. "So, again, no personal feelings ... just one foot in front of the other. Hopefully with how we start this year, they understand this is a new team and something that they can be proud of."