Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (l.) with his son Stephen (r.) in the team's war room during the 2025 NFL Draft.
The older Jerry Jones gets, the more eyes turn to his son Stephen, Jerry’s right-hand man.
And while Stephen is expected to take control of the franchise at some point, Jerry sounds like he wants to keep going until his body gives out.
“I don’t have a succession plan, I don’t,” Jerry, 83, told The Athletic. “One day I just won’t be here to toss my two cents in.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (l.) with his son Stephen (r.) in the team’s war room during the 2025 NFL Draft. Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag
The Jones patriarch bought the Cowboys 37 years ago for $140 million and within a few years restored the franchise to glory, winning three Super Bowls across four seasons.
The Cowboys are now worth an estimated $15.5 billion, according to Sportico, but their championship drought has reached 30 years — they haven’t even made a conference championship game since their last Super Bowl victory in 1995.
Jones has perhaps made more headlines than he has victories during that time, with some fans worried he’s more concerned about being the center of attention than winning.
That’s not how things will look if and when the 62-year-old Stephen grabs the reins.
“I’m not pushing Jerry out by any means, but when that day comes, it’s gonna feel a lot different,” Troy Aikman, the legendary quarterback of those three ’90s Super Bowl teams, told The Athletic.
Aikman’s teammate, Darren Woodson, told the outlet that Stephen has “a little bit more motherf–ker in him.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (r.) and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (l.) at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday, August 7, 2026, in Canton, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Woodson has taken issue with the Cowboys making “emotional decisions” under Jones, whom Woodson says keeps guys because of personal feelings.
“I don’t think that leash will be as long with Stephen,” Woodson said.
Stephen doesn’t have as big of an ego as his father, according to Aikman, something the Hall of Famer believes will “serve (Stephen) well.”
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones (left) and owner Jerry Jones attend a training camp opening press conference at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Stephen himself outlined how he and his father differ in contract negotiations.
“With agents these days, you give them an inch and they’ll take a mile,” he told The Athletic. “He doesn’t like giving an inch, never has. “If a deal’s within striking distance, Jerry will lose this point and this point and this point and if it gets done, he’ll live with it. It’ll eat at me a little more.”
Jerry admitted that his son has helped keep him in check over the years.
“He’s about as good as anybody I’ve ever been around in giving deference when he should. Now, don’t confuse that with lack of intensity,” he said. “He’ll bite back real hard when he has to. Real hard. He just does it with more grace than I do.”
One thing father and son seem to agree on is they want to keep the team in the family and avoid the temptation to cash out.
“We certainly don’t wanna think about that,” Stephen said of the Joneses not owning the Cowboys. “We don’t want it to be that way.”
It's the most fitting possible date. Toronto had to retire the number of its greatest player when it faced the team from the city where he was born and raised, and where he's also adored.
The Raptors announced that Lowry's No. 7 will be retired on Jan. 10 against the Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Nick Nurse, who led Toronto to its 2019 title. That will come after a series of events in September honoring the player they are calling the GROAT (Greatest Raptor of All Time).
"I've been looking forward to this moment for years. I always said that Toronto is home, and that I'd retire a Raptor, and to see my No. 7 go up in that building is going to mean everything to me," Lowry said in a release announcing the news. "We built something special here — my teammates, the organization, the city and the fans, and all of Canada. We became champions together, and to be able to share this night with all of them, and with my family, is going to mean a lot to me."
Lowry was born in Philly and played high school ball in the city, then spent two seasons at Villanova in the years that helped establish the Wildcats as an NCAA powerhouse.
He was drafted No. 24 in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies and played two and a half seasons there before going on to Houston and spending another three.
Then he came to Toronto and changed that franchise.
In nine seasons in Toronto, he led them to the greatest stretch of Raptors basketball: Seven playoff appearances, five consecutive seasons of 50+ wins, two Eastern Conference Finals and the franchise's lone championship in 2019. With Toronto, Lowry was a six-time All-Star who averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while hitting 37.7% of his shots from 3-point range. Lowry remains the Raptors' all-time leader in assists, steals, and 3-point field goals.
Lowry will join Vince Carter as the only other player with his number retired by the Raptors.
Red Bull New York locked up its biggest star to a new contract.
Julian Hall, the extraordinary 18-year-old striker who has become a household name for soccer fans this season, signed a four-year MLS contract through the 2029-30 season, occupying a U-22 initiative spot on the Red Bulls’ roster. Hall is now the youngest player in MLS history to sign a U-22 initiative deal at 18 years, 156 days old.
The Manhattan native’s deal with the Red Bulls had been set to expire next winter, The Athletic reported, and the new one puts in place a mechanism for the MLS club to be in a good position when the highly touted player eventually moves on to the next stage of his career.
Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall (16) kicks the ball against Orlando City SC during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“This club has been a huge part of my development, and I’m grateful for everyone who has believed in me and helped me get to this point,” Hall said in a statement released through the Red Bulls. “I feel like I’m continuing to grow as a player, and I’m excited to keep working, keep improving and help this team achieve our goals.”
Hall has been nothing short of impressive this season, recording 12 goals and five assists across all competitions and becoming the youngest player to record a hat trick in MLS history when he did so in a May 13 win over the Crew.
The impressive campaign has drawn the attention of a number of European clubs that are showing interest in bringing the teen overseas.
Marseille of France’s Ligue 1, Newcastle United of England’s Premier League, Atletico Madrid of Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Red Bull Leipzig — owned by Red Bull New York’s parent company Red Bull GmbH — and Premier League side Hull City are all said to be interested in Hall, amNewYork reported.
The new deal with the Red Bulls will keep Hall from leaving the club for free as he would have if he departed after his current contract expired.
In an interview with ESPN, Hall said that “as a kid it’s always been a dream to go to Europe,” but his focus right now is to “help the team and progress forward.”
Julian Hall has signed a four-year contract extension with the Red Bulls. ISI Photos via Getty Images
Hall’s international services are still up in the air, with Poland having attempted to recruit him to play for its national team, which he is eligible to play for through his heritage. Hall came up through the U.S. youth national team program.
In a conversation with The Post earlier this month, head of Sport Julian de Guzman said that he “would not be surprised if Julian gets called up to a senior men’s national team before the end of this year.”
That group includes his dad — longtime Lakers star Mychal Thompson. The elder Thompson made that clear during an appearance on the “Locked On Heat” podcast on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers icon Mychal Thompson looks on from the sidelines. NBAE via Getty Images
When speaking about Klay’s fit with the Heat and the Lakers, Mychal said, “Very similar fit; it have been perfect on either [team]. He fit perfectly here with Luka [Dončić], and Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, and the outside shooting the Lakers need, the outside shooting that Luka Dončić loves to have around him. But it’s the exact same of perfect fit in Miami too.”
Klay ended his 13-season tenure with the Warriors after joining the Dallas Mavericks via free agency in 2024.
The Lakers reportedly offered Thompson a huge contract at the time, but Klay signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks instead, largely because he thought the team had a clearer path to winning a championship.
Klay Thompson of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on August 25, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images) Getty Images
“I wanted him to be [on the] Lakers; I thought the Lakers would be perfect for him the last three years, especially when he became a free agent a few years ago, when the Lakers are pursuing him heavily,” Mychal said. “I thought he’d be perfect at the time to team up with LeBron and Anthony Davis to provide that outside shooting, along with Austin Reaves, that we needed.”
Mychal, who has worked as a Lakers radio color commentator for over 20 years, was then asked what the problem with his Lakers pitches to Klay.
“The only thing I could figure out is, since I work for the Lakers, and I travel with the Lakers, I guess he just don’t want to be on the road with me, in [the] hotel,” Mychal said somewhat jokingly.
“He don’t want me knocking on his door to be checking on curfew, make sure he’s there. So I guess that’s why [he] figured, ‘I’m not going there to have my dad follow me on the road!'”
Klay will instead joining a retooled Heat team after it acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Bucks this offseason.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 24: Gabby Williams #1 and Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrate the win against the Minnesota Lynx after the game at Target Center on August 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Valkyries defeated the Lynx 80-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 24: Gabby Williams #1 and Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrate the win against the Minnesota Lynx after the game at Target Center on August 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Valkyries defeated the Lynx 80-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Liberty are back in the win column following a 109-102 victory over the Indiana Fever. Leonie Fiebich came up big with 20 points, helping the Liberty hold off a stellar Indiana backcourt led by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
On Thursday, the Liberty will face one of their toughest remaining tests before the WNBA’s FIBA World Cup break. New York enters the matchup at 23-15 and clinched a playoff berth on Sunday after a Fire loss.
On the other side, the Golden State Valkyries are 27-11 and have won both matchups this season.
Game Info & Broadcast Details
Matchup: New York Liberty (23-15) vs. Golden State Valkyries (27-11)
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Tip-off Time: 8 PM ET/5 PM PST
Venue: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
TV Channel: Prime Video
Livestream: Prime Video
Head to Head: Liberty vs. Valkyries
Golden State leads the season series 2-0.
The Valkyries won the first matchup 87-70 at Barclays Center on May 21, then defeated New York 76-67 in San Francisco on June 28. That makes Thursday’s game the final regular-season meeting between the two teams — and potentially a preview of a playoff matchup.
The Liberty are hoping to put another good outing together against a playoff team. After struggling to generate consistent offense in both meetings, Thursday provides New York with one final regular-season opportunity to solve Golden State before the FIBA break.
“It’ll be a really good test for us,” Sabrina Ionescu said, “especially toward the end of the season at seeing where we’re at, what we need to improve on, what we need to work on, but also knowing our strengths and what we do offensively and really trusting in that. Not letting their defense … make us tentative or soft.”
The Liberty have the size advantage — it’s crucial they create looks for Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart. Golden State is tops in the WNBA in opponent field goal attempts inside the restricted area and opponent’s field goal percentage.
Getting into and finishing in the paint against this team is incredibly challenging and will take a lot of determination if the Liberty want to get into the paint. The Liberty are second on offense in field goal percentage inside the restricted area — they should find quality scoring opportunities on each possession.
New York has the rest advantage as well. This is New York’s first game since Saturday night while this is Golden State’s third game this week. To make matters worse for the Valkyries, they’ve been on the road all week with one more game to go… all the way in Portland. Oof.
The key tonight will be three point shooting. The Valkyries lead the WNBA in three pointers attempted per game at 30, but are seventh in percentage at 34.6 percent. How will that look on tired legs? We’re about to find out.
Note: The World Cup break is drawing closer, and players will be making their way to Berlin soon. Golden State’s Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini are among those expected to depart following this game, while New York will soon lose Breanna Stewart, Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier and Leonie Fiebich to their national teams.
Liberty vs. Valkyries Injury Report
Liberty: Satou Sabally – Not with team (head)
Valkyries: No players listed on the injury report
Player to Watch: Janelle Salaun
Janelle Salaün has emerged as one of Golden State’s most important offensive weapons, particularly when the Valkyries need someone to create a shot.
Salaün is second on the team in scoring and leads the Valkyries in both three-point attempts and three-point percentage. She comes off the bench and it’s no wonder why she’s the leading candidate for Sixth Player of the Year.
Salaün can get buckets from anywhere on the court, and when games slow down and scoring becomes more arduous, her ability to create her own shot will become even more valuable. Salaün only played 18 minutes last night, so we’ll see how Natalie Nakase manages her rotations tonight.
Leonie Fiebich Returns: What to Watch in Her Second Game Back
BROOKLYN, NY – AUGUST 22: Leonie Fiebich #13 of the New York Liberty is introduced before the game against the Indiana Fever on August 22, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Leonie Fiebich back in the saddle, the Liberty can start thinking of what a potential playoff rotation will be. Fiebich allows Chris DeMarco to experiment with more lineup combinations, keep two starters on the court in non-garbage time minutes at all times, and make life easier for everyone on the team. Fiebich does a lot of things at a high level, and that versatility allows the Liberty to look like their true selves. Leo’s not on a minutes restriction, so she’ll be out there for as long as she needs to be.
The resurgent Boston Red Sox are headed to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees in their biggest series of the 2026 regular season.
Things were much different the last time these clubs faced off in late June at Fenway Park. Boston entered that four-game series seemingly at rock bottom with a 32-46 record, while New York sat pretty atop the American League East standings at 48-31.
The Red Sox pulled off a stunning sweep of their storied rival, marking the start of a historic run that included a franchise-record-tying 15-game win streak. Since the start of that series on June 25, Boston has been the best team in baseball with a 41-14 record.
That remarkable turnaround has placed the Red Sox in the second AL Wild Card spot with one month left in the campaign. This weekend’s series is a likely playoff preview, as New York would host Boston in the AL Wild Card Series if the season ended today. If the Sox take at least three of four at Yankee Stadium, they will overtake the Yankees for the top spot in the Wild Card standings.
Suffice to say, there’s plenty at stake heading into Friday’s series opener. Here are the top storylines for the weekend:
“They can say whatever they want… but they’re not really in a position to be talking, considering how the standings are,” he said of Sox fans trolling him. “Whatever they want to say, it’s just kind of useless. It just goes in one ear and out the other.”
The Red Sox were seven games behind the Yankees when Schlitter made those comments. Now, they’re 2.5 games back with a chance to overtake their archrival for the top AL Wild Card spot and second place in the AL East.
Boston owns a 41-14 record since June 25, when it started its four-game sweep of New York. The Yankees have gone a modest 27-26 in that span.
Postseason implications
If the Red Sox win at least three of their four games in the Bronx, they will overtake the Yankees and move into position to host the Wild Card Series at Fenway Park as the No. 1 AL Wild Card.
Last year, New York hosted Boston in the Wild Card Series and won in three games.
Reinforcements coming?
Outfielder/designated hitter Roman Anthony, shortstop Trevor Story, and utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa are currently rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester. All three are in Worcester’s lineup for Thursday night, but there’s a chance at least one of them will join the big-league club in New York this weekend.
The question is, who gets sent down? Role players like Nick Sogard, Mickey Gasper, Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, and Jahmai Jones have stepped up during Boston’s remarkable turnaround.
Inserting Anthony back into the lineup should be relatively simple, but Story and Kiner-Falefa will shake up the infield mix, and it’s far from a guarantee that either will be impactful. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has some difficult decisions to make.
Who’s hot
Red Sox
Mickey Gasper: .417/.576/1.167, 5 HR, 12 RBI in nine games since call-up on Aug. 17.
Jarren Duran: .321/.345/.643, 2 HR, 5 RBI over last eight games (game-winning extra-innings grand slam on Tuesday).
Erik Miller: 0.00 ERA, 18 K, 3 BB in 10 appearances since joining Boston at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline (10.1 IP).
Yankees
Luis Garcia Jr.: .306/.354/.569, 5 HR, 11 RBI in 19 games since joining New York at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: .435/.519/.739, 1 HR, 5 RBI over last seven games.
Cam Schlittler: 1-0, 1.47 ERA, 22 K, 6 BB over last three starts (18.1 IP).
Who’s not
Red Sox
Wilyer Abreu: .048/.130/.095, 0 HR, 1 RBI over last five games.
Jake Bennett: .5.73 ERA, 21 K, 7 BB over last four starts (22 IP).
Patrick Sandoval: 5.66 ERA, 21 K, 12 BB over last four starts (20.2 IP).
Yankees
Heliot Ramos: .113/.230/.189, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 16 games since joining New York at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
Trent Grisham: .162/.326/.324, 2 HR, 5 RBI over last 10 games.
Jose Caballero: .100/.222/.100, 0 HR, 3 RBI over last 13 games.
Paige Lorenze got real about the WAG life and why she's "obsessed" with her viral moment at the Queen's Club Championships in 2024 with husband, American tennis star, Tommy Paul.
Paige Lorenze got real about the WAG life and why she’s “obsessed” with her viral moment at the Queen’s Club Championships in 2024 with husband, American tennis star Tommy Paul.
At the time, fans called out Lorenze for repeatedly grabbing and “clawing” at Paul’s neck in a PDA moment while the pair posed with the winning trophy.
“I’m obsessed with that [picture of us with the trophy] … by the way, whenever something happens like this that is sort of like talked about a lot, I am making more jokes than anyone,” Lorenze, 28, said during an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast.
Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze posing with the trophy after he edged out Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to win the 2024 Queen’s Club Championships in London on June 23, 2024. Getty Images
“That whole week after I was clawing the f–k out of his neck. We were making so many jokes about it … It’s also not that f–king serious. What are we talking about?
“Tommy won Queens … and in the [United Kingdom], the reporters are very intense and the paparazzi are very vocal, [saying] ‘Paige, kiss him! Hold onto him!’
“And I was very overstimulated. By the way, I would’ve done this overstimulated or not. I’ll claw the f–k out of that man. That’s my f–king man — would do it all again. [I] can’t wait for him to win another tournament because I’m going to do it again. I’m gonna double down.”
Paige Lorenze during an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. YouTube/Not Skinny But Not Fat
Lorenze joked that she has zero regrets over “her death grip” on Paul’s neck.
“The last few rounds of photos there was this really awkward moment where I was grabbing onto his neck and posing, and there was this really funny photo that that went viral and everyone was like, ‘Holy s–t she’s clawing the f–k out of his neck [and] making a whole thing about her death grip,'” Lorenze recalled.
“And I’m like, ‘Yeah, have you seen how hot Tommy is? Babe, you’re lucky I wasn’t choking him out.'”
The Dairy Boy founder added that she’s currently going through the process to change her last name legally to Paul.
“It’s an honor to me to have his last name … I want to share my last name with my children and I just love him so much,” she said.
“I’m traditional in that way. I think marriage is so beautiful and it was never a question (to change my name).”
Tommy Paul and Paige Paul, formerly Paige Lorenze, at their wedding at Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island, New York, on July 14, 2026. Instagram/@lutes_bartlett
Lorenze brought up her future kids a few times and explained that she wants a big family.
“Tommy wanted to have kids before we even got married,” she said. “He wants to be a dad so bad.
“… We’ll have kids soon … I’m so excited. I want a lot of kids, like five or six. I just love big families.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 15: A general view of the Houston Rockets logo on court prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on January 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the calendar about to switch over to September, the NBA inches closer and closer to a new season. The Houston Rockets and the rest of the NBA won’t officially be back on the court until the end of the month, when teams start training camp, but the Rockets are still filling out the end of their bench as the season approaches.
The Rockets’ likely main rotation of their five starters plus reserves, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, Marcus Smart, and Bogdan Bogdanović, is set in stone to start the season. Players like Clint Capela and Jae’Sean Tate will play sparingly depending on other players resting and injuries. Other players on the roster, such as rookie Bruce Thornton, will spend most of their time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The Rockets did make another move Wednesday as they fill out their last two-way deal.
Who is Rafael Castro?
Rafael Castro is a 6-10 center out of George Washington. Castro played all four seasons in college, spending three of them at Providence before transferring to George Washington. Castro is a defensive-minded center but also showed some offensive skills.
In his junior and senior years, he averaged 15.6 points and shot 64.4 percent from the field. However, it was on defense that he made his name, as he was a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team selection and a finalist for the 2025-26 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Award. Castro averaged 1.52 blocks and 1.48 steals in his final two seasons in college. Castro played three games for Milwaukee in this year’s Summer League, where he averaged 2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 13.3 minutes a game
Castro will spend most of his time with the Vipers as he continues to develop his skills, since playing in the G League will give him the minutes he needs to round out his game. Chances are slim that he will play at all for the Rockets this season, with the team already having three centers, but as in every season, you never know how it will play out.
In a related move, the Rockets released guard Tristen Newton, who played mainly for the Vipers last season. The Rockets also released another guard, JD Davison, a few weeks ago, as the backcourt rotation was already set with Fred VanVleet’s return and Smart as his backup.
News broke on Wednesday that Kuminga signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This came after months of Kuminga being linked to the Lakers. And Lakers fans will surely feel frustrated with the news after learning what appears to be a bizarre bargain price.
Shortly after Kuminga’s free agency decision was known, Shams Charania reported the Lakers’ sign-and-trade offer would have been in excess of three years for at least $12 million per year.
Jonathan Kuminga of the Atlanta Hawks in action during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 28, 2026. The Knicks won 126-97. (Getty Images) Getty Images
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas articulated how many Lakers fans must be feeling right now with a social media post on Wednesday afternoon.
“Bro, you just signed a podcast deal. All this is crazy—how does your get contracts keep getting worse? You was just balling in Atlanta! You did all this waiting, we over here fighting for you, for you to sign a Costco member’s deal? Two years, $13 [million]?” Arenas said.
Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas yells to the crowd as he walks off the court after an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, in Philadelphia. Washington won 104-97. (AP) AP
“Lakers, we got 15 people on our contract making more than this. If we know you was selling a** this low, one of them 1980 contracts, 10 years, $10 million, you would’ve been signed a long time ago! Who is your agent?” he continued.
This man Just signed a podcast Deal Johnathan Kuminga i can make you a better offer (Dont sign) and u do GilsArena with me (Kuminga Arena) #soundsaboutright@playmaker Meet me at his house and bring the check book pic.twitter.com/s8e3ZZsFlz
Kuminga has been extremely consistent since entering the league in 2021, which is why this team-friendly contract is confusing for many basketball fans.
The Lakers’ front office is also likely scratching their heads right now, knowing they potentially could have landed Kuminga at this cheap deal.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA basketball is approaching closer than it might seem. As the final holdouts from free agency have agreed to deals, we’re only about a month out from Media Day and the start of training camp. With the full 82-game schedule plus NBA Cup groupings having been released, now’s a good a time as any to break it down into segments and evaluate each part of the Sixers’ upcoming journey.
These segments have been broken down into approximately 20 games to look at the season quarter-by-quarter. It’s important to remember that 82 games is a slog, with stretches of it that are more often defined by how the team itself is doing rather than their opponents — especially one with as many new moving parts as this Sixers roster.
Still, it’s time to go through section by section of the Sixers season and see what they’re up against. The first portion will be broken down to the first 21 games of the season, taking us right up to Thanksgiving, mainly because games 20 and 21 are a back-to-back.
The Sixers will play the minimum 14 back-to-backs this season and will have four of them in this first quarter of the season. The other thing that jumps out about the first quarter of the season is how Eastern Conference-heavy it is. Only two of the Sixers’ first 21 opponents play in the West: the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.
The schedule will probably always lean that heavy with NBA Cup group games taking place in this part of the season. The Sixers will kick off group play this year on Oct. 30 at home against the New York Knicks, their second game against the reigning champions in the first 10 days of the season.
They’ll obviously start the season taking on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden before hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers for the home opener. Their first weekend of the season brings their first back-to-back, hosting the Milwaukee Bucks then the Detroit Pistons. Assuming health, it will be interesting to see how the Sixers attack back-to-backs with their older stars. One would imagine Joel Embiid and LeBron James won’t be playing both legs of them, and the Bucks-Pistons combo will be a first look at if the Sixers stagger guys between nights, or just go for it all on one night.
That back-to-back is conveniently two home games, but the other three in this early part of the schedule will require travel. After the Sixers host the Knicks they’ll shoot down to Charlotte to take on the Hornets. After the Indiana Pacers come to town on Nov. 15 the Sixers will take a train or bus up to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on the 16th. After their final game of Cup group play on Nov. 27, the Sixers will head to Houston for the 28th as they’ll finally start to face some Western Conference opponents.
A theme you might have noticed is that the Sixers won’t just be playing a lot of Eastern Conference teams early, but they’ll be seeing some of them multiple times early in the season. This was the case last year as well as they played the Celtics three times within the first month of the season. This year, they’ll see the Pacers three times before the month of December, while having played the Knicks, Cavs, Pistons and Bulls twice.
Three of those teams — the Cavs, Knicks and Pacers — are in the Sixers Cup group as well as the Miami Heat. That’s a strong group that doesn’t present any obvious weak link. It’s very possible that a team that just added Giannis Antetokounmpo or won the East 14 months ago is the worst team in this group. The Sixers haven’t had any NBA Cup success in its short history and this will be a tough year for their new-look group to break that trend.
Two more games to keep an eye on this early in the year will be Nov, 10 and 12 against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors. While it’s a home game, this will be Jaylen Brown’s first game against his old team and, unsurprisingly, will be nationally televised. The interest in that second game is still pending a league investigation, but the Raptors could be an interestingly scary team.
This first stretch of the season will be a good litmus test for how much better and deeper this Eastern Conference is. Only six of their opponents in this stretch didn’t make the playoffs last year, and at least two of them in the Heat and Pacers will be trying to change that this season.
It’s one of the Sixers’ lightest stretches of the season in terms of travel with Houston and Chicago as the two furthest opponents, but the four back-to-backs are the tied for the most in any quarter segment of the season. To start the season the Sixers will find out just how good their conference is.
10/20: @Knicks 10/22: vs. Cavs 10/24: vs. Bucks 10/25: vs. Pistons (B2B) 10/28: @Pacers 10/30: vs. Knicks (Cup) 10/31: @Hornets (B2B) 11/2: vs. Bulls 11/4: @Pistons 11/6: @Cavs (Cup) 11/8: @Bulls 11/10: vs. Celtics 11/12: vs. Raptors 11/15: vs. Pacers 11/16: @Nets (B2B) 11/18: @Magic 11/21: vs. Bucks 11/23: vs. Trail Blazers 11/25: vs. Heat (Cup) 11/27: @Pacers (Cup) 11/28: @Rockets (B2B)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Myles Turner #3 and Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Kia Center on February 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Volume V of our “Choose Your Own Adventure” starter series, where we explore the Milwaukee Bucks’ options at each position. Read along, make your choice, and share your pick in the comments—if you dare!
The centre rotation is nowhere near as jammed up as the guard rotation with three viable options at the five: Myles Turner, Kel’el Ware, and Jericho Sims. With Giannis gone, suddenly each of these players—less so for Sims—will have a license to explore the studio space just that little bit more. The “shooting bigs” will also have the chance to roll, while Sims will have more opportunities in general because he no longer has to be separated from a non-shooting power forward in GA.
Go on to OPTION 1.
1. The turn-around trade bait: Myles Turner
As the “elder statesman” of the team, Turner is an obvious choice to start—and majority of fans agree—if only to revive his trade value. I feel like last year’s fit with Turner and Giannis was good in theory, but it did lead to Turner standing stationary on the three-point line a lot of the time as Giannis bulldozed, when he has way more to offer than that. Like, Doc really wasn’t creative at all with how he utilised Turner, and now that Giannis is gone, he will surely be more involved. Get him screening more, rolling, popping, setting flare screens—all the stuff that made him so valuable with the Pacers. I don’t know about you guys, but I think MT is in for a big season (for however much of it that he’s wearing a Bucks uniform).
If you’re willing to give second chances, choose Turner. If not, turn to OPTION 2.
2. The Kryptonian: Kel’el Ware
By starting Ware at centre—and thus probably moving Turner to the bench—you are making the decision to go all-in on the future. Feed Ware all the reps that he didn’t get in Miami, and see what you’ve got: give him more back-to-the-basket opportunities and try to expand his game at the rim. After all, if there was one player the Bucks got back in the Miami trade—excluding Nate Ament—who you could say has a chance to be that “blue chip prospect” that everyone said the Bucks didn’t get, it would be Ware. Frankly, he’s one of the more unique players I’ve seen. At 7’0”, he’s explosive at the rim, has real touch in the paint, can block shots, and make threes at a 40% clip. There just aren’t many players who can do all of those things. As I’ll deep dive in an upcoming article, there have been major questions about Ware’s motor, but if he can sort that out—and it’s a huge if—he could be special. Look, I don’t hate the idea of starting Ware at centre from the jump, but I do get nervous about him being the full-time defensive anchor at this stage. Maybe those concerns are misguided, though—let me know in the comments.
If you’re ready for a new flame, choose Ware. If not, turn to OPTION 3.
3. The fleet-footed finisher: Jericho Sims
I feel like Sims is somewhat polarising, but my dirty little secret is that (whispers)… I thought he was straight-up better than Myles Turner for a good portion of last season. Yes, you aren’t getting much offensive versatility with Sims, but his ability to switch on defence is mind-boggling. Like, the number of times a guard would “try him” last season, only to back away and make the next pass because they simply couldn’t shake him was amazing. I truly believe the league missed by not offering him more than the minimum; his defensive ability is special. As long as there’s shooting at the other four spots, I think Sims could do a great job in a starting role. Now do I think that’s actually going to happen? No way. For various reasons, Turner and Ware need to play a lot, but I truly believe the Bucks must keep investing in Sims long term. His foot speed on defence is an outlier skill at the centre spot, and it’s only a matter of time until the league figures that out.
QUICK! Make a decision, you’re near the end. Choose Sims if you like your centre to rebound, set screens, and throw it down hard. Otherwise, pull a rabbit out of your hat and tell us who it is in the comments.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question in the comments section here or on Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @RobbieBettelon. If you’re on BlueSky, you can also send to @RobbieBettelon.bksy.social.
Join us live on Thursday night as Wes and Robbie discuss Pistons news late into August. What questions would you like to add to the show?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 16: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot as he is defended by Jalen Johnson #1 and Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on March 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re roughly a month away from training camp starting around the NBA, as teams will be getting back into the flow of things as they begin a new journey this season. For now, fans are still trying to enjoy what’s left of the offseason, and the schedule release a few weeks ago gave them some excitement.
The Atlanta Hawks have some interesting matchups that fans should look out for this season, and here are a few that could be enticing to mark on the calendar.
Oct. 21 vs. Orlando Magic
Not only is this the season opener, but this is against a team that has basically rivaled the Hawks over the past two seasons. It all started two years ago when the Magic injured Vit Krejci and Larry Nance Jr. in the same game, and from there, the mayhem began. The Magic defeated the Hawks in the play-in tournament that year, but last season, they got their revenge.
The Hawks swept the Magic last season, but they also injured another key player on the team, Jock Landale, who ultimately missed the remainder of the season and the playoffs because of it. There’s no doubt there’s still some hate brewing between these two teams.
Nov. 6 vs. Washington Wizards
The Hawks would have played the Wizards a few days before this, but this one holds more weight. First, it’s the start of the NBA Cup games, which means these matchups mean a little more. Second, this will be the official return of Trae Young playing against his former team. Young already received his video tribute last season after he was traded, but he wasn’t playing due to injury.
The Wizards should be coming into this season fully healthy, and Young is going to want to put on a show against the team that drafted him in 2018.
Nov. 18 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
This will be a return for Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins after they were traded from the Thunder this offseason. They helped the Thunder win their championship two seasons ago and there’s a good chance they’ll be getting their video tributes in this game.
This is also a game where the Hawks match up against one of the better teams in the Western Conference. They’ve played them close on the road for two straight seasons but haven’t been able to get the win in the end, and it would be big if they could walk out with a victory this time.
Nov. 29 @ New York Knicks
The first time the Hawks see the Knicks since the first round of the playoffs should be special, and it comes two days after Thanksgiving. The Knicks didn’t make many changes to their roster over the offseason, so the Hawks should know this team pretty well after seeing them several times the past season.
Dec. 27 @ San Antonio Spurs
This is also another game where the Hawks have come close on the road the past two seasons but haven’t been able to walk out with the win. The Spurs should once again be a top team in the Western Conference this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were better this year.
This game comes at the end of the calendar year, and it would be big for the Hawks to close out 2026 strong against a really good team.
Jan. 4 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
This will be the second time in the season when the Hawks will face the 76ers, and the one and only time at home. It’ll be interesting to see how the 76ers look by this point, but it will also be interesting to see how the Hawks have fared throughout the first few months of the season.
This game will be the second to start the year 2027, and just like the Hawks should want to end 2026 strong against the Spurs, they should want to do the same against the 76ers when the calendar flips.
Feb. 8 vs. Miami Heat
This game comes days before the trade deadline, and there’s no telling what has already happened by this time. Depending on where the Hawks stand, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see if they had made a move or two to improve the team. At the same time, there is a chance they wait until the actual deadline day to make a deal, and a win or loss around this moment could change a lot.
Feb. 26 @ Toronto Raptors
This could be a random game near the end of February, but it could also mean a lot to the Hawks. It was no secret that they struggled against the Raptors last season, and it could be big if they could turn that tide this season.
Mar. 29 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
This game could absolutely have no importance for the Hawks internally, but fans are always excited when the Timberwolves come into town, and it’s because of Anthony Edwards. The hometown player will be coming toward the end of the season, and it’ll be interesting to see how they’ve done over the course of the season after the moves they made this offseason.
As for some Hawks fans, they’re still holding out hope that Edwards finds his way on the Hawks soon.
Apr. 11 @ Cleveland Cavaliers
The last game of the season always comes with some sort of playoff implications, and with how deep the Eastern Conference is supposed to be this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise that a lot of things were determined on this day. To make things even better, the Hawks will playing a team that is supposed to be in the Eastern Conference gauntlet, and this game could mean a lot too them as well.
Either these two teams are fighting for positioning by this time, or they’re resting their starters.
Kevin Durant On LeBron’s 76ers Move, the Knicks Ring, Westbrook Retiring, & His NBA Future
In a special episode of Boardroom Talks, Durant sat down with Speedy Morman for one of the most candid conversations of his career.
Kevin Durant has been one of the most scrutinized, analyzed, and debated athletes of his generation. So when Speedy Morman sat down with the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer at KD's home for the latest episode of Boardroom Talks, the conversation that unfolded wasn't the one you might expect. It was looser, funnier, and more revealing than any press conference or postgame media scrum has ever managed to produce.
It started, as so many KD conversations do these days, with something that went viral for the wrong reasons. The Nobu bush photo -- Durant's beanie barely visible over a hedgerow, an image the internet immediately ran with as proof that the greatest scorer alive was hiding from paparazzi -- got addressed quickly and dispatched just as fast. He wasn't hiding: "Why would I hide behind the bush? Why do I need to hide? I wouldn't have went to Nobu then because Nobu is the paparazzi capital." He admitted the photo was funny and then they moved on. Which is exactly what KD did with the whole thing once the AI video of him jumping over the bush started circulating; some jokes you just have to let run their course.
From there, the conversation moved through KD's childhood in the DMV, the 2007 NBA Draft, NIL, the New York Knicks' championship run, Russell Westbrook's retirement, and LeBron James heading to Philadelphia. Durant's verdict on the Sixers was unambiguous. "That's going to be a juggernaut," he said, pointing to the championship-caliber front office and coaching staff around James, Embiid, Brown, and Maxey. "I think it's not no ifs, ands, or buts about it."
When Morman brought up Jalen Brunson's famous decision to leave $113 million on the table, Durant didn't pretend he would've done the same. "I don't think I would be advised to do that," he said. "I probably would've been like, 'All right, I'm cool with it.' And then I'd have sat down and talked to all my people — Rich, all my friends — and been like, 'What? You serious? Why do you need to take that risk when this dude's a billionaire?'" He paused. "But for him to make that decision and it come out the way it did, kudos to him."
Some of the most illuminating moments came when Durant talked about the parts of his life that rarely make headlines. His best teammates, for instance, aren't the names you'd expect — alongside James Harden and Nick Collison, he listed Nasi Muhammad and Daniel Marshall, guys whose families he knows, players he's stayed close with long after the locker room days ended. And then there are the friends he made playing video games, people he's now known for almost a decade, invited to his home, trusted completely. "I can call right now," he said of one of them. "He going to pick the phone."
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The CeraVe deal came up, the one that turned his legendarily ashy legs into one of the most memorable brand campaigns in recent memory. Durant's explanation for why he refuses to lotion before games was delivered with complete seriousness: The ball gets slippery, the sweat mixes with the lotion, and suddenly you're fumbling passes at the worst moments. The ashiness was simply an occupational hazard. "He knew what he was doing," Durant said of the original photo that launched the whole thing, then laughed.
Near the end, Morman asked KD what comes next. The answer was characteristically direct and unexpectedly revealing: He wants to keep making content, build relationships, and see what falls from them. But one goal stood above the rest. "One of my main goals is to be the GM of the Team USA," he said. "One of these Olympics, one of these years. I want to do that job one time."
He's got time. He's still, by his own account, got buckets left in him.
The Golden State Warriors' Zaza Pachulia (27) reacts after he was called a foul against him on San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard in the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by RAY CHAVEZ/MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Over the past 80 years, the NBA had evolved. From the addition of a three-point line to the 14-second clock resetting with an offensive rebound, the league implements rules to make the game more challenging, fair, and interesting.
The post below listed a few of the changes that were specific to players. Even early on, the league has adapted everything from the design of the court to the durability of the rim to the way fouls are called. Check out how these players changed the game.
The first two mentioned involved enlarging the lane. The first time was a response to George Mikan, the second was due to Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Three of the biggest names from those early years. No wonder their talent shaped the game.
Dunkers have influenced the rim as durability has been tested time and again. Darryl Dawkins found that if he pulled down hard enough when dunking, the backboard shattered. Shaq called Dawkins “the father of power dunking” and referred to himself as “his best son.” He wasn’t wrong, as the league later reinforced basket supports to handle his powerful slams as well.
How about timing, you ask? Well the five second rule was designed because Charles Barkley and Mark Jackson dominated shot clocks backing guys into the paint. And the 0.3 second rule on getting a shot off is attributed to Trent Tucker.
And then there are the custom alterations to fouls. Kevin Durant’s rip through, Reggie Miller’s leg kick out, and James Harden swing through have all been changed to honor integrity of the game, not the foul-baiting aspect that many players utilize. The rip through is no longer a shooting foul, a crazy leg kick out may result in an offensive foul, and Harden’s methodology is now checked. Most of what he does counts as common fouls and no longer instigates free throws.
Shaq makes another appearance in the namesake rule that is probably the best known on the list. The Hack-A-Shaq is an away-from-the-play foul meant to send a not-so-great shooter to the free throw line, ultimately stealing an offensive opportunity away from their opponent. While the practice still exists, it garners a free throw and possession in the last two minutes, allowing dominant big men with limited free throw range to stay on the court when the game is at its apex.
Of course, the most famous Hack-A-Shaq in Spurs history:
And of course every Spurs fan has knowledge of “The Zaza Rule.” On May 14, 2017, during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Golden State Warriors big man Zaza Pachulia slid his foot into the landing spot of Kawhi Leonard, reaggravating an injury. The Spurs commanding lead withered without Leonard and the Warriors stole the game. Leonard was out for the remainder of the series and the Spurs were swept by the Warriors. Now, the exact tactics used by Pachulia to not allow a safe landing are reviewed by officials and can be upgraded to flagrant fouls.
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Johnathan Kuminga i can make you a better offer (Dont sign) and u do GilsArena with me (Kuminga Arena) 
