James slightly deflected that question at media day on Monday at the 76ers training facility when asked about the structure of his two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, and whether he's looking at it as his last stop.
Instead, the four-time NBA champion said he is approaching his 24th season in the NBA, and his first back in the Eastern Conference in nearly a decade, by being in the "present."
"I'm just looking at it every single day on how I can be the best version of myself for this franchise while I'm here. I can't speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself, just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career," James said.
James chose the 76ers over the reported interest of the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The 76ers become the fourth franchise James will play for, marking the first time he will play in a new uniform since the start of the 2018-19 season.
In joining the 76ers, who were swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs last season, James will be teamed up with his close friend Tyrese Maxey, who served as a "major factor" in his decision to return to the East Coast.
After announcing his free-agent signing with the 76ers, James posted on social media that it was his "last decision" and that he wasn't "going for money."
The NBA All-Time Leading Scorer noted on Monday that while he'll not have a Year 24 season again next season, he will see "what happens" regarding a 25th season.
"Me trying to focus on what my future looks like, I wouldn’t be giving myself grace. I’m more in the present now, understanding that I’m in Year 24," James said. "... I just like being in the moment, and we’ll see what happens."
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks to media during the Toronto Raptors media day at Hotel X on September 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early during Kawhi Leonard’s highly anticipated 2026-27 Toronto Raptors Media Day availability, he fielded a question from The Toronto Star’s Doug Smith on what he learned about himself in the past year.
His response hit the Los Angeles Clippers fanbase like a wall more daunting than the one in their home arena:
“I need pressure or I need a winning situation.”
TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks to media during the Toronto Raptors media day at Hotel X on September 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During Leonard’s seven-year stint with the Clippers, they accumulated a 325-229 record (.586). His tenure had a promising start, with a second-round appearance and a trip to the Western Conference Finals in his first two seasons. Leonard then missed the 2021-22 season with an ACL injury and the Clippers never recovered. Los Angeles eventually added three first-round exits to their resume in the ensuing years.
During his lone campaign in Toronto, the team went 58-24 (.707) and ultimately captured the city’s first NBA championship.
“The city took a liking to me, even before we won the championship,” said Leonard. “People were thanking me for how well I was playing and leading the Raptors to a historic playoff run.”
In addition to highlighting the energy and the people, Leonard is excited for his son to experience Toronto.
“My son was born here, now he’s back home, and he seems happier,” added Leonard.
While any worries about his off-court life can be cast aside, it’ll undoubtedly be what happens on the court that determines whether or not Toronto ultimately provides Leonard with his ‘winning situation’. While there are many fascinating pieces on the team, no one is more important to determining this team’s ceiling than Scottie Barnes. As brilliant as Leonard is, he has often required dominant on-ball players next to him, specifically during his Clippers run.
In his final season with the Clippers, Leonard finished with a 33.4 usage rate, good for the third-highest in the league. He played with James Harden (until he was shipped off to the Cleveland Cavaliers) and Darius Garland, who finished with usage rates of 33.1 and 29.9. Both would have finished higher than anyone on the Raptors last season:
Brandon Ingram: 26.9
RJ Barrett: 25.7
Scottie Barnes: 23.4
Despite that, Leonard has seemingly bought into what Head Coach Darko Rajakovic has planned schematically.
“I can play off anybody…I can catch and shoot,” said Leonard. “I’ve played with limited shots before.”
While it’s admirable of Leonard to publicly concede touches, the Raptors desperately need him to be the type of bucket-getter that they had hoped Ingram would be, especially in the post-season. Still, as defences load up on Leonard, it’ll be important for Barnes to meet those on-ball expectations.
Barnes is excited for the responsibility:
“Just trying to work on my offensive game in those iso and late-game situations is where I can take that next level,” said Barnes.
Before the Q&A started, Leonard quickly set the tone. He wasn’t going to address the cap circumvention situation. Instead, he proceeded to show off a charm and charisma that previously eluded him. From joking about K’wine & Dine to addressing his viral laugh, Leonard seemed loose and willing to be vulnerable.
“I’m not going to stop laughing because people thought it was funny,” said Leonard.
The pressure and expectations won’t stop building in Toronto either, but it seems like this version of Leonard is built for it and more.
"Hey, everyone, thanks for coming," Leonard said Monday, Sept. 28. "I’m excited to be here. I know why some of you guys came – you want to hear about the investigation – but in talking with the NBA and (National Basketball Players Association), I think the best decision is to move forward and focus on my time being a Toronto Raptor."
Leonard, who had previously played one season for the Raptors in 2018-19 and helped deliver the franchise’s only NBA championship, agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
After his one season with the Raptors, Leonard became an unrestricted free agent and opted to sign with the Clippers, where he played six seasons.
"I don’t really go back and think too about it too much about it," Leonard said when asked to reflect on his departure from the Raptors. "Cause when you think, the next year was COVID, and I kind of made my decision to go to LA based off my family. I’m a big family guy, had a lot of older people in my family that I was able to spend time with that passed away.
"And just seeing babies be born and their cousins and nieces – that was all great for me, and I can’t take that back. Those times, cherished, and being able to see family and hug them before they passed, it doesn’t make me think about the basketball aspect of it too much."
The seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP will lead Toronto alongside forward Scottie Barnes and guard RJ Barrett. Although Leonard said he didn’t want to take questions about the Clippers and the investigation, he did say he felt the Clippers "weren’t too competitive last year," as they struggled to a 42-40 record. Los Angeles qualified for the play-in game but lost to the Warriors and missed out on the playoffs.
"I need pressure," Leonard said. "I need a winning situation. I want to try to win."
Toronto, which made the postseason last year without Leonard and was eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, should be competitive in a deep Eastern Conference.
"I already was a distraction for the past 70 days and wasn’t able to meet my teammates and do any of that minicamp stuff with them," Leonard said. "So moving forward, I just want to talk about the Toronto Raptors today. I did release a statement that you can go back to. So, yeah, like I said, I just want to focus on basketball and being a Toronto Raptor. Like I said, I’m excited to play and be in the city."
The four-time NBA champion made his first public appearance at the 76ers media day on Monday, Sept. 28 at the team's training facility in Camden, New Jersey. James reportedly had several other suitors interested in adding him to their respective rosters, including the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
He ultimately chose the Sixers and signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option. In Philadelphia, the NBA superstar will look to lead the franchise past the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in two decades alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, the latter whom the 76ers traded for in the offseason.
USA TODAY Sports is on-site and providing live coverage of James' first media day with the 76ers. Here are some of the notable quotes from the 76ers' media day:
LeBron makes joke at start of 76ers news conference
As LeBron took the podium for his news conference, the 22-time NBA All-Star began with a joke as he removed his name tag from the table.
Why did LeBron James choose the 76ers? Relationship with Tyrese Maxey
How did James settle on the Sixers? Here's his response:
"I had a list of five teams that I was interested in. I saw my agent on his podcast and saw his whiteboard. I love him to death. He had his whiteboard, and he had all his LeBron teams up there. So I had a group of teams that I was interested in. And I have a really, really good, great relationship with Tyrese (Maxey). We talked a lot, and I kind of picked his brain a lot, not only about where he sees his career going, how he sees the franchise here, and how much he believes in the franchise. And if I was to come here, how does he see me fitting in? Do we think it'd be a plus, or do we think it'd be a negative?
"Because I understand my personality and what comes with me. Sometimes it can be a negative. I understand some people maybe can't handle what I may bring to the table and I was just asking all the questions that I could ask him and it wasn't just one conversation. But I think our relationship (and) when I broke a lot of the teams down, when I broke a lot of the franchises down that I could possibly play for, he was one of the main deciding factors."
Here's what James said about playing alongside Embiid and helping him in Philadelphia:
"Got to get here first. Not even one day in being in the facility. I am just looking forward to obviously seeing what his process is as well. Joel is one of the most talented guys that we have in the world, and obviously we all know that for him it's just been about health. How can he stay healthy to be the best version of himself? Be the best version of himself to be the best version of us as a team?
"I've seen him put in a lot of work on his body, putting a lot of work in his game, a lot of work on his mental season. That is a big upside, not only for us as his teammates, but I guarantee it is for him. I don't want to speak for him. You guys have talked to him, but I guarantee that's a good feeling for him."
What LeBron James said about retirement
How many more years does James have left? He spoke on that and how his contract in Philadelphia is set up, where there's a player option for next season:
"I'm just looking at it every single day on how I can be the best version of myself for this franchise while I'm here. I can't speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself. Just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career. Me trying to focus on what the future looks like would be like, I wouldn't be giving myself grace. I'm more in the present now, understanding that I'm in Year 24. It won't be another Year-plus 24, you know what I'm saying? It's just like being in the moment and just seeing what happens."
What LeBron James said about role with 76ers
What will James' role be in Nick Nurse's system? His response:
"Whatever the team needs me to do. I think the luxury of my game is that I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything."
The Sixers haven't made it out of the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2001, when Allen Iverson led them to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. With a star-studded lineup that includes others such as Maxey, Embiid, Brown and VJ Edgecombe, how does James see expediting the chemistry with the group?
He noted that while it will "take time," the best ways to expedite it are times before practice, film sessions, bus and plane rides, and falling in love with "doing things that's uncomfortable."
That said, James made his expectations known: He wouldn't have come to Philadelphia if he didn't think the 76ers had championship expectations.
"I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round," James said.
James said he's excited to be a part of the "vibe" in Philadelphia as he gets acclimated with his new city. He mentioned that the Philadelphia sports fans know "ball" and that they'll hold players accountable "if you're not doing what you're supposed to do."
So, what's been his experience with 76ers fans in the past as a visitor, and how is he expecting his relationship to change now as a member of the City of Brotherly Love?
"It's been both," James said of his relationship in the past with Philadelphia fans. "It's been like, 'Okay, we respect the way you play the game because we know the game and we know the history of the game and we see so many players play, but we hate you. You're not with us, we hate you.' And I love that. I actually really love it. I really thrive under that circumstance.
"But yeah, it's always been mutual respect with myself and the Philly fans, and we'll be on the same side now guys. I need a little hate, so I hope we can just get some people that's not real Philly fans, and we just put them in the crowd so I can just get that attention. But it's been great. ... I actually came here in high school as well and played at The Palestra my senior year, and it was that same type of atmosphere."
James' first official game as a Sixer will come on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden when the Sixers open up the 2026-27 NBA season against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks. His first home game will be Thursday, Oct. 22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of James' former teams.
NEW YORK - JUNE 12: John Starks #3 of the New York Knicks prepares to make a move against Vernon Maxwell #11 of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the NBA Finals played on June 12, 1994 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1994 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another week closer to Knicks basketball, rejoice.
Welcome back to the 53-year retrospective series that we began last week with the aftermath of the Golden Era Knicks. In Part II today, we relive the 1990s, the closest that the Knicks ever came to raising another Larry O’Brien Trophy.
For fans of a certain age, it created wounds that never quite healed until this group got it done in June. By the time Patrick Ewing was out the door in 2001, the sheer size of the drought started to become something real and tangible. The doubt of “Are they ever going to win again?” starts to creep in.
It was overall a banner decade for Knicks basketball, and one that deserves remembering. Unfortunately, this series only covers the bad, but maybe you can remember the good amidst it. Let’s get into it:
Trading Rod Strickland For Maurice Cheeks (1990)
Oh, look, another one of the worst trades in Knicks history!
Strickland was a solid backup point guard in his first year and a half in the league, but was blocked by Mark Jackson, the 1988 Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 1989. The Knicks, who were now contending, were thinking about getting to the next level, so they traded a young guard who was blocked for a 33-year-old veteran who could fit the role better as one of the league’s best defensive guards.
Cheeks, an NBA champion in Philly in 1983 and again as an assistant on this year’s staff, played a total of 107 games as a Knick, averaging eight points and five assists while adequately raising his game in the postseason. He was shipped out prior to 1991-92 for a pick that became Charlie Ward before retiring a year later. The player they got was fine, but they definitely could’ve used Strickland.
Jackson had a ceiling as a Knick, one that he reached quite early and that led to his departure after 1991-92. Strickland, meanwhile, would become a great starting guard in San Antonio and Portland, eventually averaging 19 points and nine assists in his prime during the mid-to-late 90s.
I wonder if an offensively challenged Knicks team, one that relied on gritty defense without a true point guard and had to rely on John Starks to provide playmaking, could’ve used a guy like Strickland in their deep playoff runs to come.
Interesting inflection point: does this trade happen if Al Bianchi left the Knicks in 1989 instead of Rick Pitino?
The Disastrous 1990-91 Season
The 1991 Knicks were built around a 28-year-old Patrick Ewing, 27-year-old Charles Oakley, a 25-year-old Mark Jackson, a 27-year-old Gerald Wilkins, and veterans like Kiki Vandeweghe and Mo Cheeks. While they weren’t old by any means, they weren’t young enough to excuse a steep drop-off, but that’s what happened in 1991.
They won 52 games in the last year under Pitino, 45 in the first year under Stu Jackson, and went below .500 in 1990-91. Complete disaster.
Jackson lasted just 15 games into 90-91 before being replaced by John McLeod, who had 15 years of head coaching experience with Phoenix (who made the NBA Finals in 1976) and Dallas. He didn’t quite steady the ship, as the Knicks stumbled to as low as 22-31 in late February, but they did rebound to get to 39 wins and sneak into the playoffs.
Was making the playoffs worth it? Probably not, as Michael Jordan and the Bulls made quick work of the Knicks in the first round en route to their first title, but at least nobody’s career changed for the worst because of this season? About that…
After two terrific seasons under Pitino, Mark Jackson was never the same when he left. He started the next season out of shape; he didn’t fit the coaching style of Stu Jackson, and the flash he had on offense gave way to dreadful defense, causing the Garden crowd to turn on him. It wasn’t long until he was gone, shipped out for Doc Rivers and Charles Smith in September 1992.
Speaking of Charles Smith…
Charles Smith Can’t Buy A Layup (1993 ECF, Game 5)
The Knicks landed their white whale as head coach after that terrible 1991 season, bringing in a guy who would restore competence to the franchise: Pat Riley. After building the team back to 51 wins and a trip to the second round that ended in a seven-game defeat to Jordan, the Knicks were back on the right path.
In 1992-93, they went into hyperspeed. 60 wins for the first time since 1969-70. The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Home-court advantage until the NBA Finals. 20 years after the most recent championship, this had all the makings of a rebirth.
Ewing finished top five in both MVP and DPOY voting. Anthony Mason was the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. Both John Starks and Charles Oakley got downballot DPOY votes. They breezed past the Pacers and Hornets, going 7-2 in the first two series to advance to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1974.
Of course, they had to get through the back-to-back champion Bulls, the team that had eliminated them in three of the past four seasons.
But something felt different this time. Unlike in 1989, the Knicks took advantage of home court and won two close games at home to head to Chicago with a 2-0 lead. Now, they proceeded to lose both games at the United Center, but do the math. Just keep winning games at the World’s Most Famous Arena, and you’d be in the NBA Finals.
That takes us to Game 5, where both teams are stuck in a gritty, tightly contested battle. Ewing has 33 points; Jordan and Scottie Pippen have combined for 57. The Knicks led in the final 90 seconds, but faced a deficit after a BJ Armstrong corner three with 1:16 to go.
Charles Smith got a chance to tie the game at the line with 52.8 to go, but he split the foul shots. No biggie, though, as Ewing swatted Stacey King’s jumper to force a shot clock violation with 27 seconds left. One more chance, down by one.
Starks brought it up, gave it off to Ewing, who shoveled it into Smith with 14 seconds left, 10 on the shot clock. The 6’10” former All-Rookie forward was having a good game as part of a solid year where he averaged 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. When he had the ball at the rim, it wasn’t automatic by any means, but he was able to score; this wasn’t a guy who couldn’t put the ball in the basket.
Yet, the powers that be didn’t let him score.
Fans in the Garden and around the world watched in agony over the next nine seconds as he missed four different layup attempts, with three being blocked. The weird hitch when he went up for a layup allowed the Bulls to swarm and consistently deflect it. The angles he attempted them from were odd, he kept trying to gather the ball at his hip instead of tapping it in. He never drew any contact.
This is something unimaginable to happen today, where forwards are explicitly taught to attack the offensive glass in traffic like a tip drill. Nobody told Smith this, and the Bulls found a way to win in baffling fashion. The Knicks, deflated after that inexplicable way to lose, lost by eight in Chicago two days later to once again be left as the Eastern Conference’s bridesmaid.
If only they could make Michael Jordan disappear…
John Starks Bombs The Biggest Game Of His Life (1994 NBA Finals, Game 7)
They made Michael Jordan disappear. Following his father’s death, Jordan retired to try out baseball, which opened the Eastern Conference back up to any team that had been stuck in their shadows.
What about the team they had eliminated four of the past five years?
Looking to grab the opportunity by the horns, the Knicks won 57 games in 1993-94, tying the Hawks for the East’s best record. Ewing was brilliant again along the way, getting another top-five MVP finish.
It wasn’t easy to get to where they wanted to be. After rolling past the Nets in the first round, they had to conquer their demons with the Pippen-led Bulls in the second round. They got deja vu with another one-point deficit in Game 5 of a 2-2 series at home, but a sign of shifting tides occurred.
While Smith couldn’t even draw a foul amidst being repeatedly smothered by Pippen in 1993, they won the game after Hubert Davis was fouled by Pippen on a jumper with two seconds left, with Davis making both free throws to take the lead and the win.
All that was in the way of ending this drought early was Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. When the Knicks took a 3-2 series lead back to Houston, they could smell it.
It was at the tip of their fingers in Game 6. Down 86-84 in the final seconds, the red-hot John Starks unleashed a three from the elbow at the buzzer, only for The Dream to get a finger on it to force a Game 7. That close to a Kris Jenkins-esque buzzer-beater to win it all.
Oh well, on to Game 7. As you might expect from the ‘94 Knicks, it was a low-scoring affair. As usual, they were effectively even into the fourth quarter, with the Rockets leading 63-60. It was still anybody’s game.
The one guy who’s game it wasn’t? Starks, who was a leading contender for NBA Finals MVP until his horrific night. One of the best shooters on the team and the all-time Knicks leader in three-pointers, he was ice cold all night long. Shot after shot refused to go in, and even worse, Riley kept him in there. This wasn’t like keeping Jalen Brunson in when he’s 4-for-17; there were actually alternatives to go to!
Houston slowly pulled away in the fourth, but the Knicks were still in range. Down six with 40 seconds left, Starks once again heaved up a desperation three, his ninth of the game, no good. After a jump ball was called on the fight for the rebound, the Knicks won the tip, and Ewing handed it off to Starks for another three: clank.
Otis Thorpe did miss two free throws on the other end, which still kept the Knicks theoretically alive, but you’ll never guess the play they ran with a six-point deficit and 31 seconds to go.
Yep, another Starks three. It was rushed at the top of the key and wasn’t even close. Airball. Rockets ball. Game over. Series over. Season over. Starks finished 2-for-18 from the field and 0-for-11 from three. In his entire career, he would never again make fewer than two 3s in a game in which he attempted 11.
In layman’s terms, the best shooter in franchise history picked the biggest game of his life and the biggest game in franchise history for a 50-year window to have the worst game of his life. If LolKnicks could be conceived anywhere, it’s here. If you dare, you can relive the harrowing final minute below:
Reggie Miller Puts His Name In Knicks Infamy (1995 ECSF, Game 1)
There was still no Michael Jordan to deal with (until the playoffs, that is), so the Knicks entered the 1994-95 season as definitive Eastern Conference favorites. They could smell it last year; there was no reason they couldn’t finish the job this year.
The Knicks once again won 55 games, but it was only good enough for the No. 2 seed this time behind the surging Orlando Magic. Because of that, they were stuck on the Pacers’ side of the bracket for the third consecutive year. After beating them in 1993 and 1994, this had become a defining Eastern Conference rivalry, but one that Indiana needed to finally win to make this feel less lopsided.
The Knicks got off on the right foot in 1994 with a 2-0 lead, and even after losing the next three (including Reggie Miller’s first Knicks antagonist moment), they rebounded to win the next two. This year, they seemed to be getting off to a solid start with a strong fourth quarter, taking a 105-99 lead into the final 20 seconds.
While Indiana certainly had the firepower to make it interesting, their leading scorer, Rik Smits, with 34, had fouled out. They still did have one guy: good ol’ Reggie.
Off the inbound, Miller banged a triple to cut it to 105-102 with 16 seconds to go. Off the inbound, Miller picked off an errant pass from Anthony Mason, stepped behind the line, and hit another three to tie the game. Six points in four seconds. Ouch.
Fortunately, the Pacers committed a terrible take foul to put Starks, a career 76% free throw shooter, at the line for the lead with 13 seconds left. They’d have to get a stop on the other end, but they were gift-wrapped the lead.
Starks missed both free throws. Ewing grabbed the board and missed a jumper in the paint. Miller grabbed the rebound and draw an accidental foul from Mason with eight seconds left. Absolute disaster.
Reggie hit both free throws, completing his memorable eight points in nine seconds. On the mad dash up the court, Greg Anthony stumbled on the wing and the buzzer sounded with him on the ground, shielding the ball from a Pacers’ defender.
As someone who didn’t watch this sequence but saw what happened 30 years later, this was 100% worse. These final 20 seconds were some of the most mind-bogglingly bad basketball I’ve seen a team of professionals play.
Patrick Ewing’s Missed Finger Roll (1995 ECSF, Game 7)
Game 1 was more than enough to haunt Knicks fans for decades, but there was one more moment in this series that forever went down in infamy.
The Knicks rebounded and won Game 2 convincingly behind 24 from Derek Harper. While we’re at it, let’s talk about Game 3, which was also really bad.
The Knicks led 87-77 with under five minutes to go. From there, Indiana took advantage of Ewing and Smith fouling out to pull within two in the final minute before Smits tied it with a jumper with 35 seconds left.
The game went to overtime, where the Knicks tried their best to undo Game 1 with an improbable late comeback of their own, but Charles Oakley missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer.
The Pacers won Game 4 by 14 to go up 3-1, but the reigning Eastern Conference champions didn’t know how to quit. Ewing nailed a game-winning shot at the rim to stave off elimination in Game 5 before putting up 25 and 15 to drag the Knicks to Game 7 with a thrilling win at Market Square Arena.
It set up Game 7 for the second straight year between the two rivals, with the winner going on to face Shaq and the Magic. The Pacers scored 34 in the first, but were dragged into the typical low-scoring bout that embodied 90s basketball. Still, they led by five with 45 seconds left and the ball.
A turnover, a three by Starks, and a miss on the other end gave the Knicks the ball, trailing by two with five seconds left. Every play in the book on the board.
Harper inbounded the ball to Ewing, standing at the top of the key and being double-teamed. As the team’s heart and soul, he was taking the last shot. No ifs, ands, or buts. He split his way through, dove down the lane, and rose up for a game-tying finger roll in the final two seconds in his home gym to force OT in Game 7.
It’s a shot he’s made hundreds or even thousands of times in his career. As a seven-foot big man, this is the shot he makes his money on. You don’t average 25 a game for your career and be the No. 1 option on a perennial contender if you can’t hit this shot. He won Game 5 like this, it’s no big deal… right?
An unimaginable miss. A career-defining miss. One of the several things that get replayed in fans’ heads when they wonder why he retired as one of the NBA’s best all-time ringless players.
Ewing would never have this good a chance to play for a championship again. He was almost 33 years old. By the time the Knicks made the Finals again, he was four years older and reduced to street clothes due to an Achilles tear.
It makes you feel so happy that he was around for the title in June, even if he won’t be there to celebrate on Ring Night as an assistant down in Washington. He deserved every minute of finally feeling like a champion after moments like these likely kept him up at night for decades.
Pat Riley Bolts For South Beach (1995)
It really felt like the Knicks had soiled their best chance at a championship by the time they finished licking their wounds from the ‘95 season. MJ was back and gearing up for another three-peat. They now had to deal with the rising stars in Indiana and Orlando. They were aging. The window wasn’t closed at all, but it was shrinking.
When things begin to look bleak, beware of people in the background trying to slip out the back door.
Four years into his tenure in New York, Pat Riley wanted to be compensated like the franchise-changing coach he was. He wanted organizational control, a significant pay raise, and a new title: President of Basketball Operations. He wanted to supersede Ernie Grunfeld, the architect of the roster.
MSG President Dave Checketts did offer Riley a five-year, $15 million extension, one that would double his salary and make him the league’s highest-paid coach, but he refused to give him that new title. He refused to even entertain a proposal for an ownership stake.
All this time, things were falling apart behind the scenes. The locker room was unraveling. Excerpts from the book Blood in the Gardenrevealed that Riley called longtime friend Dick Butera one hour after the Game 7 loss and said he was done in New York. That put the move to Miami in motion.
Now, if he really wanted to leave, he probably wouldn’t have demanded everything he did from Miami. 10 years and $50 million, the POBO role, a 10% ownership share that would eventually grow to 20%, homes in LA and NYC, limo service, etc. This was a full-on shakedown by an elite coach trying to take advantage of a new owner with a recent expansion franchise.
As we now know, he was successful. On June 15, just 25 days after the Knicks’ season ended and one day after the Rockets won the NBA Finals, Riley faxed in his resignation. For the second time in six years, a Knicks coach abruptly resigned after a difficult-to-stomach playoff loss.
By September, he was being introduced as the next coach of the Miami Heat, a team that would soon be just as big a thorn in the Knicks’ side as the Bulls or Pacers.
The Struggles Replacing Riley (1995-96)
It was a disaster trying to replace Pitino in 1989, and even with a new man in charge in 1995, it was equally rough when Riley left.
The first choice was Chuck Daly, the head coach of the Bad Boys Pistons and the 1992 Dream Team, who hadn’t coached since leaving the Nets in 1994. The Hall of Fame coach would’ve fit the team’s gritty identity to a T, but the two sides were financially apart, and Daly just wasn’t ready to coach again.
They couldn’t afford to dwell on it long, but in an odd twist, they elected to go in the complete opposite direction, hiring former Warriors offensive savant Don Nelson. There’s merit to thinking that a team with a defensive identity could use someone to give them an offensive jolt, but that would require obtaining more players to fit the scheme.
That just didn’t happen. It wasn’t going to happen with the aging Ewing. He and the rest of the roster never bought into his scheme, and the last straw seemed to be when he proposed trading Ewing to make a run at Shaq in free agency, who was ready to leave small-town Orlando for the bright lights of… somewhere. I don’t think New York would be more enticing than Tinseltown, but in another life, maybe Don Nelson’s plan worked.
The Knicks reversed course midseason and went back to the gritty, hard-nosed playstyle they were known for under longtime assistant Jeff Van Gundy, who was nearly poached by Riley back in September 1995, but got a chance to lead a franchise just six months later.
The Brawl That Ended the ‘97 Season (1997 ECSF, Game 5)
In a perfect world, the Knicks and Riley could’ve just gone their separate ways. Unfortunately, the arrival of Riley brought about the birth of a new powerhouse in South Florida, one that would be a pain in the ass for the Knicks during the home stretch of the Ewing era.
The 1996 season was doomed from the start and ended about as you’d expect: a five-game series defeat to MJ and the Bulls in the second round. With a full season of Van Gundy restoring a Riley-esque identity, the Knicks soared to 57 wins in the ‘97 season, but only managed the No. 3 seed in a stacked East.
They swept Charlotte in the first round, but it would be the 61-win Heat in the second round that they’d have to face in their first crack at Riley as an opponent. At least to start, it’d appear they’d have the first laugh.
27 points from Allan Houston allowed the Knicks to steal Game 1 in Miami, and while the Heat evened things up a few nights later, the Knicks would rebound to survive a 77-73 slog in Game 3 before a 13-point win in Game 4 put them on the verge with a 3-1 lead. At the time, only five teams had ever come back from that deficit, and there was no indication that the Heat would be No. 6.
Game 5 would go to Miami, but it would be the theatrics in the final two minutes that would go down in history. A spat between Alonzo Mourning and Charles Oakley would lead to the latter being ejected, but that was just the appetizer to the disaster that would soon unfold.
PJ Brown, loosely involved in the spat a few seconds earlier, would soon get into it with Charlie Ward, who instigated with an extremely hard and unnecessary boxout on a free throw attempt. Brown, significantly larger than the ex-Heisman winner, flipped him like a 10-year-old and started a full-on brawl in the camera area.
Those two getting suspended would be all well and good, but the Knicks made a critical error. Ever notice that coaches hold back players on the bench any time there’s pushing and shoving on the court? If a player leaves the bench, they are automatically suspended with no exceptions, even in a heated playoff series. Despite not contributing much to the violence, four of the Knicks’ best players left the bench.
It’d be bad enough if they weren’t available for Game 6 at MSG, but the NBA instead spread the suspensions out. They’d be without Ewing, Houston, and Ward in Game 6, which the Knicks would lose 95-90, and be without Larry Johnson and Starks in Game 7 back in Miami, which they’d lose 101-90.
In a nasty series between two teams that played in very similar fashion, the Knicks lost because their players left the bench and were suspended. While entirely self-inflicted, the fact that they mostly attempted to play peacemaker and didn’t add to the brawl made it unnecessary. They likely weren’t getting through the Bulls in the ECF, so maybe this just saved another humiliation ritual at the hands of Chicago, but it’s still a sore point for the 90s Knicks.
Drafting Frédéric Weis (1999)
If you ever scroll through the recent history of NBA drafts, you’ll see a bunch of second-round picks that never played in the NBA for a variety of reasons. Some are just throwaway Eurostashes, some just don’t work out due to the very clear flaws they had pre-draft, but no matter what, it never cripples a franchise.
First-round picks, no matter how much they end up sucking, always get to play at some point. Since 2000, only four first-round picks have never suited up in an NBA game, headlined by the 2005 No. 11 pick Fran Vazquez. He is the only top-20 pick of the bunch, so you might ask, who’s the second most recent?
With Ewing entering his age-37 season and recovering from an Achilles injury, the Knicks had to plan for the future. They still had aspirations to win with their increasingly dwindling window, but at some point, you have to acknowledge that it doesn’t last forever.
They had choices when the No. 15 pick came up in the 1999 draft after a very disappointing season. James Posey, Andrei Kirilenko, and Jeff Foster were all decade-long veterans on the board, but the real prize was the New York kid: Ron Artest. Born in Queensbridge and coming out of St. John’s, it was an easy pick to make.
So, of course, they decided to take a swing on a 7’2” giant from France, Frédéric Weis, instead. Worrying about positional need in the NBA is not good business, and they elected to pass on a hometown hero who would go on to be one of the league’s most defining personalities for a decade-plus, for a man who would never don the orange and blue.
This disaster was orchestrated by interim general manager Ed Tapscott, who reportedly vetoed the sentiment in the room of guys who wanted Artest. Hell, Van Gundy didn’t even want Weis! It was a mess from the start. Weis returned to France for 1999-2000 instead of signing a standard contract, and everything changed about his perception on September 25, 2000, when this happened at the Summer Olympics:
The Dunk of Death immortalized Vince Carter as a generation-defining star and Weis as a foreign clown. The Knicks, under new management after hiring a new full-time executive, Scott Layden, never expressed interest in getting Weis to come over from Europe.
He would play through 2011, during which he attempted suicide in 2008 and eventually had his “draft rights” traded for the man who he was picked to replace…’s son.
The Patrick Ewing Trade (2000)
The final years of the Ewing era were sad and drawn out.
In 1998, the Knicks fell to just 43 wins and lost in five games to the Pacers in the second round after getting revenge on Miami in Round 1. Things didn’t get much better in the lockout-shortened ‘99 season… until the playoffs.
The 1v8 upset against the Heat and a sweep over the Hawks launched another battle with the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the entire vibe of this team completely shifted when their star, Ewing, blew out his Achilles in Game 2. The underdog Knicks would rally to make the NBA Finals, but stood no chance against Tim Duncan and David Robinson with Ewing in street clothes.
At this point, it ceased being his team. Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston, both acquired in great trades late in the Grunfeld era, defined that memorable playoff run. 15 years into his tenure and nearing his 40th birthday, Ewing was being pushed aside. The Knicks were unceremoniously swept in the 2000 ECF rematch against the Pacers, after which came an inflection point.
There was one year left on the 38-year-old Ewing’s contract. He still wanted to play beyond that year, so he sought an extension. At this point, the Knicks began to truly understand the franchise’s mortality and their completely shut championship window. As much as it was important to ensure Ewing would never wear another uniform, they couldn’t pay him like the franchise legend he was.
Well, that was part of it. The other part was that Ewing himself was burnt out. The Knicks wanted to see things through for 2000-01, but Ewing also wanted out, demanding a trade. Reluctantly, Layden acquiesced. He was sent to Seattle in a massive, four-team swap that netted the Knicks two firsts, two seconds, and a really bad contract in Vin Baker.
This swap worked for nobody. The Knicks felt crummy after trading a legend and slumped to 48 wins and a first-round exit the following year. Ewing never got his extension and played one sad year with the SuperSonics before retiring on the Magic in 2002.
That 2001 season was the definitive end of an era. Jeff Van Gundy was canned 19 games into 2001-02 and the Knicks lost 52 games in their worst season since 1987, ending their long playoff streak. While Sprewell and Houston would stick around a bit longer, it was done.
Onto the next era of Knicks basketball, one that would really test the limits of patience among the fanbase as the drought surpassed 30 years.
Stephen Curry was realistic in a recent interview talking about the Warriors this season: "We have a veteran team. We need health on our side."
This is not a good way to start. Kristaps Porzingis, the 'Warriors' veteran center, is out indefinitely with what is being described as a "health issue" and will not accompany the team to Hawaii for training camp, the Warriors announced Monday.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said Porzingis had been working out with the team without issue and the organization was only informed of the health issue Sunday.
"Hopefully he'll be back soon..." Dunleavy said at Warriors media day, via Danny Emerman of the San Francisco Standard. Dunleavy added, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater: "I'm not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that. He's just not available this week."
While the Warriors provided no details of Porzingis' health concerns, he has been dealing with POTS — Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome — for a couple of seasons now. It's a condition where your heart rate races for a minute or more after standing up from sitting or lying down (as part of the disorder, more blood stays in your lower body even after a person stands, causing the heart rate to race as it tries to get blood flowing again). It's unclear whether Porzingis' current health issue is related.
The Warriors bet on Porzingis' health this summer, giving him a two-year, $40 million extension. He was traded to the Warriors from the Hawks at last February's deadline, but due to health concerns, he only played in 15 games. When he did, he averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
On a team where Steve Kerr has said he wants to play a lot of five-out basketball, Porzingis is key to making that work.
The Warriors also announced that both Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody have progressed to "light on-court activities" as they recover from their knee injuries. While both are expected to miss the start of the season, it's a positive sign for Golden State that both are progressing.
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors speaks to media during the Toronto Raptors media day at Hotel X on September 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Toronto Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajakovic wrapped up during the team’s 2026-27 Media Day, he jokingly gave the writers, content creators, and personnel a piece of tongue-in-cheek advice:
“You’re too serious…got to loosen up.”
It was met with laughter in the room, but Rajakovic was right. Kawhi Leonard’s return has seemingly elevated the entire Raptors’ ecosystem of expectations, media included, and there was a notable tension in the room. But like Leonard, Rajakovic’s own “Fun Guy” approach to coaching might be the perfect reminder why he’s the best person to help guide this team through the fascinating season ahead.
Here are four more takeaways from Rajakovic’s media availability:
Load management sequel
“We’re going to continue working hard, it doesn’t matter who’s on the floor.”
“We know what we’re walking into. We know how professional Kawhi is. We believe in our medical staff.”
After shouting out Vice President of Player Health and Performance Alex McKechnie, it was only a matter of time before Rajakovic addressed Leonard’s “load management”, a term and philosophy the Raptors revolutionized during the 2018-19 season. While Rajakovic sarcastically (mostly) expressed his desire for Leonard to play 82 games and average 48 minutes, it was all but confirmed that the Raptors would likely revert to their approach to managing their superstar’s health.
The best ability may be availability, but not all availability is created equal. Toronto is hoping that Leonard is there when it matters most.
Year two CMB
“He worked so hard this summer. We talked to him about getting into even better shape. He put in a tremendous amount of work and I think he’s ready to take the next step offensively and defensively.”
It now feels like eons ago that the collective groan of Raptors fans echoed through the city in response to the General Manager Bobby Webster selecting Collin Murray-Boyles in the 2025 NBA Draft. Since then, Murray-Boyles has consistently proven the front-office right and online pundits wrong.
So when Rajakovic beamed about the work Murray-Boyles put in this summer, it’s nearly impossible not to believe it.
Last year’s playoff run won’t be wasted
“For me, it was important to get into the playoffs so we can understand what it takes to compete in that part of the year.”
“That was a big takeaway from all the guys; we’ve got to put more work in, in order to be ready for what’s next.”
In addition to the relentless praise Murray-Boyles received, Rajakovic also spoke fondly of Ja’Kobe Walter’s development over the last few months, particularly how the guard added 10 pounds of muscle.
Rajakovic added that the entire team is in a better place with their conditioning, compared to this time last year. Due to unexpected injuries, the Raptors were forced to deploy players in situations they weren’t normally accustomed to. It feels like no detail is too small for Rajakovic and the coaching staff.
Building on the team’s identity
“The way we want to play on defence…Kawhi helps us there…He has a lot of wisdom and experience that he can pass down…”
Rajakovic’s emphasis on defence was consistently repeated by the players who took the stage afterwards. If there was a single undeniable takeaway, it was that the Raptors will continue to lean into their overt and uber-aggressive defence.
The Raptors Head Coach also challenged Scottie Barnes to finally secure that elusive All-Defensive First-Team spot.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 08: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 08, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This post will be updated throughout the day
WASHINGTON — Media days mark the unofficial start of the NBA season. For the Washington Wizards, the last three media days carried guarded optimism—excitement for the season ahead but pessimism entering another 60-plus-loss campaign.
The “guarded” label was lifted at Monday’s media day as the Wizards, brimming with young talent and experienced veterans, enter the season hopeful for more competitive basketball in The District.
Brian Keefe and 12 Wizards players spoke with the media at CareFirst Arena. Here’s one interesting thing each person said.
Keefe talks starters, rotation
This is the deepest roster Keefe has coached. That depth, while appreciated, has created several difficult rotational decisions.
Atop those dilemmas is the starting five. Namely, who starts alongside Trae Young, AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr? Keefe explained his approach to naming that fifth starter and deciding who makes his opening-night rotation.
“In today’s NBA, depth wins. There’s going to be competition, and I think that’s really healthy. We’re going to evaluate those things over the preseason to see who fits best together.”
Trae Young:
Trae Young, who in June signed a four-year, $212 million extension, praised the Wizards’ depth and said he’s glad he doesn’t have to decide who plays.
He joked that making that decision is “BK’s job” but said Washington’s trio of bigs will provide ample opportunity for him to throw some big-time lobs.
“There’s a lot of different ways that we can play. I think that’s a good problem to have … Having those bigs, I know I’m throwing some lobs … If they set the screen right.”
Anthony Davis:
On August 6 — the same day Davis became eligible to sign a four-year, $285 million max extension with the Wizards — The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported the sides had agreed to wait until the season to have extension talks.
Davis, who holds a $62 million player option for the 2027-28 season, said he will decide on his at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
“[I’ll] go through the season and try to do what I do at a high level, and then when it’s over, sit down and have a conversation again with my office.”
AJ Dybantsa:
Lofty expectations surround incoming No. 1 picks, especially those who averaged 25 points per game as college freshmen.
But AJ Dybantsa said he doesn’t feel any pressure. His reasoning: He enters the league with All-Star teammates who will teach him how to be successful.
“I’m just super blessed to be in the situation. I’m going to have to play the right way right away. [It’s great] having these guys that have won championships, that made All-Star teams, that are first-value players.”
Deandre Ayton:
The Wizards sent Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks to the Los Angeles Lakers in July for Deandre Ayton. The 7-footer will serve as Alex Sarr’s backup — a role he isn’t accustomed to.
Ayton last came off the bench during the Phoenix Suns’ magical run in the 2020 Orlando bubble. That’s 363 consecutive starts since he last entered as a reserve.
That will change on opening night. And the 28-year-old center is ready to embrace his new role.
“[I’ll play] wherever Coach BK wants me. The depth we have on this team is insane.”
Alex Sarr:
After undergoing surgery in June to repair his fractured right foot, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said Thursday that he anticipates Alex Sarr will be ready by opening night.
The third-year center said he’ll participate in every training camp drill except for live drills, but hopes to be a full participant next week.
Sarr said he could play both PF and C, which Brian Keefe will determine based on matchups.
“AD is very versatile. I’m very versatile.”
Tre Mann:
The Wizards acquired Tre Mann in August to bolster their guard depth. It reunited the shifty guard with Will Dawkins, who drafted him when he served as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s vice president of basketball operations.
Dawkins said Thursday that Mann is “dynamic with the ball” and praised his ability to also play off the ball. On Monday. Mann said Dawkins was the first person he called after the trade.
The shifty PG lauded his opportunity to compete for minutes on a talented roster.
“Wherever you go, you’re gonna have to compete. I’ve had that mindset coming in when I was leaving Charlotte. I’m super excited for the opportunity. It’s fun when you go out here and compete, especially against good guys on a team that’s up and coming.”
Kyshawn George:
Dawkins called Kyshawn George the leader of the “sleeping bag club” because of how much time he spends in the gym
George said he’s been in the gym since May 4 and has added at least eight pounds of lean muscle. Why? Because he wants his body to last throughout a lengthy playoff run.
“Just being able to have the durability to withstand a playoff-length season, guarding multiple positions. We saw how physical the playoffs are. I think having that weight could only help.“
Bilal Coulibaly:
Bilal Coulibaly has been in Washington since the start of the rebuild.
After a 50-196 record over those three rebuilding seasons, he said the team now has the tools and experience to win.
“We have a lot of guys with a lot of experience, guys that have been in the playoffs. Just having those guys now, we’re ready to win.”
Tre Johnson
Tre Johnson said his main goal this season is to become a better defender.
“I gotta be able to get [my defense] to the level of my offense, and then I’ll be closer to where I want to be as a player.“
When asked who’s won the shooting competitions between him and Trae Young, Johnson looked over at Wizards PR and asked: “Is it alright to talk about when a teammate loses.”
Khris Middleton:
Khris Middleton was first traded to the Wizards amid a 15-win season. He spent half of the next season on what became a 17-win team. Washington’s eyes were on the NBA Draft during both seasons.
Middleton returned to Washington in July after the Dallas Mavericks dealt him in a sign-and-trade that paid him $17.6 million over three seasons.
Things look different this time. Trae Young is here. So is Anthony Davis. More importantly, winning expectations surround this version of the Wizards.
“Growth. Just growth of the players, individual talent. It’s gotten stronger.”
Will Riley:
After a rookie season filled with incredible offensive plays, but one that also left room for growth on the defensive end, Will Riley said he put on 15 pounds this offseason to try to improve as a defender.
Bub Carrington:
After entering the league as an 18-year-old two years ago, Bub Carrington has proven himself as a consistent offensive contributor.
The No. 14 pick in the 2024 draft averaged 10.7 points and 4.6 assists as a sophomore. And his 40.8% clip from the 3-point range ranked first on the team and fourth among 2024 draftees.
But his defense lagged behind. His 125.6 defensive rating ranked dead last among qualified defenders. As did his -746 plus-minus rating.
Carrington said he’s just trying to learn from guys that are good defenders.
“Playing defense, that’s about effort. They can’t teach nothing about that … I’m trying to get better at guarding actions. Because of the team’s makeup, I feel like I will be guarding main scorers or guys that shoot a high volume, whether that’s them on the ball or off the ball, running around trying to stop them. So if I got hold guys to below their average, I got to be able to shut down some of those actions.”
SAN FRANCISCO ― Basketball season is just a month a way and the Golden State Warriors are starting the season banged up.
The team announced Monday, Sept. 28, that Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are both still out and won't be available for the season-opener as they rehab from their knee injuries they suffered last season.
Butler and Moody have performed some light work on the court but still they're not close to a return. Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out indefinitely with an specified health issue that was recently discovered. There has not been a timeline established for his return. He will miss the start of camp, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said.
"We're a little banged up to start, but you know we've got plenty of depth. We'll get through it. We feel good about the group we have: a nice mix of young guys, some old guys but everybody can play." Dunleavy told reporters Monday. "I know we're looking forward to taking on the challenge."
Porzingis won't travel to Hawaii for their training camp, however Butler and Moody will.
"I want to give you as much information as I can," Dunleavy said. "It's a health thing that we can't really comment on."
The clock is ticking for Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons to reach an agreement on a new contract and end the contentious negotiations that have consumed the team's offseason.
The 22-year-old center is coming off the best season of his NBA career, becoming an All-Star for the first time and earning third team all-NBA honors while the Pistons soared to the best record in the Eastern Conference. But Duren's playoff performance didn't match his regular-season production, creating an increasingly contentious contract standoff in recent months.
Here's the latest on the Pistons' contract situation with restricted free agent Jalen Duren:
Duren is eligible for a five-year, $287-million supermax extension based on his all-NBA selection last season. The Pistons' most recent reported offer was five years, $200 million and also included a weight clause. Duren turned it down, according to ESPN and The Athletic.
Since Duren is a restricted free agent, Detroit has the ability to match any contract offer an outside team makes. Those teams can also only offer Duren a four-year deal that's capped at $177.4 million.
Duren has until Thursday, Oct. 1, to sign a one-year qualifying offer worth $9.6 million that would make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 NBA season. If he doesn't sign the qualifying offer, he would remain a restricted free agent. The Pistons could also choose to extend the qualifying offer past the deadline, according to ESPN.
Why Pistons, Jalen Duren remain far apart on contract
There are several factors that have put the Pistons and Duren at this impasse, beginning with Duren's postseason performance.
After averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during his breakout regular season, Duren couldn't produce at that level during the Pistons' abbreviated playoff run. His struggles to replicate that in high-leverage playoff moments raised concerns about whether it was prudent to give him a supermax commitment.
The dichotomy in his play last season, combined with the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and the league's second apron, has put the two sides at odds for months.
The Pistons already have star Cade Cunningham signed to a supermax contract extension and recently gave guard Ausar Thompson a $155 million contract extension. Awarding Duren a supermax would limit the front office's future salary cap flexibility as it builds a contender around a core of Cunningham, Duren and Thompson.
Duren has not received an offer sheet from another team to this point and the Pistons have not yet been open to sign-and-trade opportunities, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
As a restricted free agent, Duren's only leverage is to make this uncomfortable for Detroit and eventually sign a one-year qualifying offer on Oct. 1. That path would allow him to reach unrestricted free agency after the 2026-27 season, but it would also expose both sides to significant risk.
The Pistons could potentially lose their star center for nothing because Duren could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. Any prospective trade option would either need to sign Duren to a new contract, or take him on as a rental, which could limit his value at the trade deadline.
It's even riskier for Duren as he could be forfeiting an enormous amount of money if he gets injured or can't match what he did in the 2025-26 regular season. The Philadelphia-area native could also continue his upward trajectory and earn the max extension he and his representatives sought this offseason.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Head Coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.
New coach. New team. New identity. With a malleable roster full of youth and potential, the Bucks could look any number of ways in the season ahead (and beyond). At points I’m sure they’ll look a number of different ways in a single game—or even quarter. But, overall, who should they become? More pertinently, who do you want them to become?
With 2021 feeling like a codeine dream and the Bucks playing the last few years as John Doe—or at least without an identity we could be proud of—this might be hard to determine. So, let’s revisit some of the more distinguishable identities of recent eras.
Run and Gun (think Seven Seconds or Less Suns)
Mike D’Antoni and Steve Nash revolutionised NBA basketball in the mid 2000s, eschewing conventional post play and double bigs for a run-and-gun philosophy that became the foundation of the modern game. The key, play fast. Always. While the Bucks don’t have Nash—or Amar’e Stoudemire—they do have a garage full of cars with low mileage and full tanks of gas.
Defend to Death (think Going to Work Pistons)
In juxtaposition to the Suns, the Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups-led Pistons ground games to a halt, holding teams to fewer than 70 points on the regular—and bringing them to celebratory fist pumps if they got there (even if they lost by 18). Built on toughness, grit, and good old-fashioned hard work, these Pistons weren’t reliant on individual brilliance but a collective hive mind that protected the nest. At all costs. Stylistically, this seems the most natural fit for Taylor Jenkins and these Bucks—and there’s actually a lot of archetypal overlap in the potential starting lineup (save Big Ben).
Poetry in Motion (think The Beautiful Game Spurs)
Have you ever seen a team change so much? The Twin Towers Spurs metamorphosed from a pound-the-paint defensive juggernaut to a team built on grace and fluidity. And they destroyed the league doing so. Equal parts ballet and jazz, these Spurs moved the ball so beautifully you’d marvel at the extra pass’ extra pass. Of course, these Bucks are nowhere near those Spurs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t begin to try.
Aerial Attack (think Lob City Clippers)
Rim-rockin’, gravity-defyin’, highlightin’, these Clips cut clips for clicks. But they were legitimately good too. The formula? The lob, the jam! Beyond that simplification, spam the pick and roll to attack the paint, vertically space, and deter help with shooters. Again, these Bucks have a ways to go individually—they certainly don’t have a point god—but the raw ingredients are there. For one, they have willing and capable lob throwers. Two, they have a pair of lethal dunkers ready to catch bodies—Kel’el Ware finished eighth in the league last year with 137 dunks, while Jericho Sims finished 26th with 95 (while leading the league in percentage of field goal attempts that were dunks at 57.8%, more than six percentage points higher than second best).
There you have it, four potential team identities the Bucks could embody. Which do you want? Cast your vote below and, as always, share your musings in the comments.
SAN FRANCISCO — Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with a “health issue” and won’t participate in Golden State Warriors training camp that begins Tuesday in Hawaii.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. dropped the unfortunately unsurprising news Monday morning at the team’s media day. He said that the 7-foot-4 center would be out “indefinitely” and would not board their flight Monday afternoon to Hawaii but couldn’t share more details.
“I’m not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that,” Dunleavy said. “He’s just not available this week. … Disappointed that he won’t be out there tomorrow, but it’s early, so don’t want to overreact to anything.”
Porzingis was limited to only 15 games last season after the Warriors acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks but ended the season healthy in Golden State’s play-in loss. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per contest, providing an interesting combination with Steph Curry.
Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Inglewood, California. Getty ImagesGolden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Dunelavy said that Porzingis was in the building, cleared medically and working out on the court as recently as last week. He said that he wasn’t informed of Porzingis’ issue until Sunday.
Coach Steve Kerr learned when Dunleavy called him Sunday night.
“It was surprising,” Kerr said. “This is all part of the season. The health of the team, things happen. So you just roll with it and keep moving forward. We don’t really know what it means. I don’t have a whole lot of information for you. We .. fully expect him to be with us at some point.”
Availability has been an ongoing issue for the 31-year-old Latvian. He has played 60 games just once since 2017 and has missed more games than he has played the past two seasons. He was diagnosed with a rare nervous system condition called POTS that has kept him off the court for stretches, though Dunleavy could not say if that’s what was bothering him now.
The Warriors have two other significant pieces recovering from injuries in Jimmy Butler III (ACL surgery) and Moses Moody (patellar tendon surgery). Both players have progressed to light on-court activities and will join the team for training camp but will not be ready to start the season.
“Forget one, but having two guys that aren’t going to be ready to start the season that are key rotation players, really good players,” Dunleavy said. “We’re in a bind in that regard, but I think we’ve done the best we could at improving the roster to a point where we have some depth and we could to hold down the fort until those guys come back.”
It's that time of the year again. With training camps set to open, fantasy basketball drafts will pick up. If you're experienced, an article like this won't do much for you. However, plenty of basketball fans may be getting into fantasy basketball for the first time. For those people, welcome. This article aims to introduce you to fantasy basketball in a way that hopefully makes your experience positive. Let's get into how to play fantasy basketball.
1. Decide who you want to play with.
For some, playing with people they know will be the best course of action. If there's an entry fee, it should (in theory) be easier to collect everyone's money before the league starts. For others, simply entering an online league with strangers that does not charge a fee will be the preferred entry into fantasy basketball. The good news is that fantasy managers have plenty of options.
Regarding the money, here's an important tip: only put up what you're willing and able to lose potentially. The good thing about season-long fantasy leagues is that the possibility of falling into the trap of chasing one's losses is off the table. Committing money that you can't afford to lose financially (or mentally) is a good way to make the fantasy experience a bad one.
2. What kind of league do you want to compete in?
If you're entering online leagues, you make this decision when sifting through available options. Do you want to compete in a category league or a points league? For the latter, point values are assigned to each category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers). For Yahoo! default points leagues, here are the values for those categories:
Points: 1
Rebounds: 1.2
Assists: 1.5
Steals: 3
Blocks: 3
Turnovers: -1
Understanding the scoring will impact how you approach your draft, especially in the later rounds. Also, do you want to compete in a head-to-head league, which offers weekly matchups with other managers, or a rotisserie league? In the latter, a slow start could be harder to rebound from. That also means managers may need to be more open to making a major trade earlier in the season.
Also, do you want to compete in a redraft league or a dynasty league? For redraft leagues, you'll pick your team every year. Dynasty leagues have a first-year draft, usually including players who are currently in college, and run for multiple years. If you don't want to commit to a league for multiple years, the redraft format is usually preferred.
3. What kind of draft do you want to have for your league?
Snake drafts are the most common, but the question is whether it includes a reversal every two rounds. That means the person with the final pick in the first round, for example, would have the first pick in the third round, and the order would alternate every two rounds. Another question for snake drafts: do you want to complete this in one sitting, as in-person drafts do, or hold an online slow draft? For slow drafts, managers will have more time to make their picks, and they usually run for multiple days.
Word of advice: set up email alerts for when you're either on deck or on the clock. Filling your queue with a few potential options is something else to consider doing, but most managers will prefer to look at the board before making a pick.
If you don't want to go with a snake draft, you can also do a salary draft. In this format, you're given a salary cap, $200 in default leagues, and can spend the money however you like. Want to spend $75 (or more) on Victor Wembanyama or Nikola Jokić? Go right ahead. Managers can either choose to splurge on a couple of stars and fill out the roster with low-cost options, or take a more balanced approach. From personal experience, salary drafts are far more efficient online than in person.
For in-person drafts, regardless of format, instituting some penalty for those who consistently try to select or nominate players already off the board would be a good idea.
4. Do your research before draft day.
Finding time to research players before draft day can be challenging. But the worst approach is to take a rankings sheet and go off that alone. We'll have preseason articles available throughout the coming weeks, and there are other good resources out there as well, whether in written or podcast form. The reason research matters: injuries, potential rotation battles, and coaching changes will all impact a player's value, and those discussions aren't included on a rankings sheet.
If you prefer the "cheat sheet" method, don't fret: we've got those for you, too.
5. Don’t be afraid to participate in a few mock drafts before your big day.
You can certainly do this before finalizing the kind of league you'll be competing in, but it makes more sense to do mock draft exercises afterward. Mocks aren't perfect, but they can help you get used to surprises that may come up in a draft. For example, if someone uses a first-round pick on a frequently injured player, here's how you can potentially pivot to take advantage.
Mock drafts are also helpful in salary leagues because they can show you how players are perceived price-wise. And it also allows you to figure out the approach that's best for you, as noted in the third point. Spend it all on a few stars, or spread your cap dollars more evenly? Testing this out in a mock draft or two ensures that you won't be flying blind on draft day.
️ 6. Once the season begins, set aside some time to set your lineups.
Life can get busy, making it easy to forget to set your lineup each day. Leagues can allow a new lineup every day, or you may have to set your lineup for the entire week before Monday's games start. Regarding daily lineups: does your league have a weekly games cap? If so, paying closer attention to matchups and how many games a player's team has scheduled becomes even more important.
The optimal approach for leagues that allow for daily lineups: one check in the morning, and a second in the afternoon/early evening to account for any potential absences due to injury or suspension.
7. If you have to shift your strategy, don’t be afraid to do so.
Panicking after one week of fantasy basketball wouldn't be wise, but there may come a point when you have to make major moves to salvage the season. As noted above, it can get "late" earlier in roto leagues than in category leagues. Is the change as simple as a few waiver-wire pickups? Or do you need to make a major trade?
If a trade is needed, please don't get into the habit of trying to get over on other managers. Trades should benefit both parties, and trying to fleece other managers is a good way to ensure no one wants to do business with you in the future. Also, if your league has a trade block, use it. Not just to list players you're willing to give up, but also to list categories that your team is either struggling or excelling in.
8. Last but not least: this is supposed to be fun. Don’t ruin the experience for others by sabotaging the league.
This is especially important if you're playing for money and sharing the league with people you know. Sure, "it's just fantasy basketball." But that's exactly why colluding and cheating should not happen. Real relationships shouldn't become strained or severed over fantasy sports. If you approach it the right way, a league can last for years, and strangers can become friends.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded out of the first round in this past year’s draft. At the time, there was frustration for a team that has very limited opportunities over the next five years to take first-round talent. With the 34th selection, the Cavaliers were able to take Meleek Thomas, whom draft experts had in the first round of their mock drafts.
The Cavaliers were immediately validated for their trade down and selection of Thomas in the Summer League. He set Las Vegas ablaze to the tune of 27.3 points per game. This not only led all players in the circuit but also earned Thomas a spot on the Summer League First Team. Thomas was the only non-lottery player to earn this selection.
It’s early, but the Cavaliers appear to have selected a player with a solid foundation.
The Cavaliers have shuffled their bench this offseason, leaving some question marks. When Summer League ended, the bench still consisted of Max Strus and Dennis Schröder. With both now residing on other teams, the bench has a lot of “mystery box” players. Mario Hezonja, Tyrese Proctor, Craig Porter Jr., Khalifa Diop, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are all interesting players; however, they are a far cry from what you would call “stable” or “safe” options.
This is where the Cavaliers will enter a conundrum early in Thomas’s career. It is more likely than not that one or more of the players listed above will not meet the expectations or needs the Cavaliers have for them in their role at the start of the season. If so, Thomas will be thrust into meaningful minutes.
Thomas has already shown a knack for putting the ball in the basket. In Summer League, Thomas accompanied his 27.3 points per game with sizzling .500/.438/1.000 shooting splits over four games. Thomas is a natural scorer, but don’t expect the level of efficiency and opportunity that was present in Summer League.
In Vegas, the Cavaliers had one true prospect to showcase, and that was Thomas. That wouldn’t be the case in the regular season. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, Thomas will need to be more complementary. At Arkansas, he did something similar with fellow NBA draftee Darius Acuff Jr.; however, the opposition now is much more formidable.
The worst-case scenario for Thomas is that the Cavaliers whiff on quite a few of their mystery-box role guys, and the pecking order on the bench needs major renovations. Thomas will get less of the Jaylon Tyson treatment from a few years ago — one where he got to develop and play in garbage time to get his feet under him — and instead be thrust out there to salvage poor decisions made by the front office in constructing the bench. That may not be best for his overall development.
Thomas is a natural scorer, which should help in the early returns of his first minutes in the NBA, and is his most likely role if he does get thrown into early minutes. However, it would be a disservice to Thomas to isolate his development to solely being a scorer. Koby Altman hinted at the draft presser that the Cavaliers want to allow him to develop his facilitating and offense-running capabilities. It will be nearly impossible with one of the two All-Star guards also on the floor. It will be interesting to see how the front office and coaching staff toggle Thomas between a project and a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency role.
The Cavaliers are in win-now mode, so they are more likely to sacrifice long-term upside for an opportunity to improve the roster now. Therefore, Thomas could be put in a position where he will need to sink or swim this season, even if it isn’t what’s most beneficial for his development.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: AJ Dybansta #4 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are hosting Media Day at CareFirst Arena starting at 11 a.m. ET. Greg Finberg is in Congress Heights for us. Monumental Sports Network will air the coverage and I’ll post an embed as soon as we can. Enjoy the first day of the NBA calendar!
Wizards Media Day is here!
We’ll speak with Brian Keefe at 11 a.m., followed by 12 Wizards players, including Trae Young, Anthony Davis and AJ Dybantsa.
