CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 25: Labaron Philon Jr. #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during the Philadelphia 76ers press conference introducing Labaron Philon Jr. on June 25, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, NJ 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s time for some basketball!
Summer League 2026 is upon us, and the Philadelphia 76ers begin their seasonal run on Thursday evening with a 5:30 p.m. ET game against the Detroit Pistons. The game will be broadcast on NBC Philadelphia Sports+ as well as Prime Video.
While far from real deal NBA basketball, this is the first opportunity Sixers fans have to see a post-college Labaron Philon Jr. at work. The No. 22 overall pick out of Alabama is the biggest name on the Sixers’ Summer League roster, with the majority of the remaining roster being G Leaguers and unsigned players.
One other name to watch, for better or worse, is going to be Johni Broome. After being selected at the top of 2025’s second round, Broome barely saw NBA action as a rookie before missing time with an injury towards the end of the season. Summer League will be one of the first indications of whether Broome might have an NBA player in him or if he simply is not cut out for the big leagues.
The Sixers’ summer squad, led by coach T.J. Dileo, take the court for the first time Thursday evening.
Game Details
When: July 9, 5:30 p.m. ET Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia+, Prime Video Follow:@LibertyBallers
One of the biggest trades of the offseason — Kawhi Leonard headed back to Toronto — is on hold until the investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention through former Clippers team sponsor Aspiration is completed.
The Raptors explained the reasoning behind putting things on hold — any potential punishment of Leonard (a suspension, for example) would fall fully on them if the trade went through this summer. The Raptors don't want to take on that unknown risk, especially since the investigation should be ending soon (at least everyone hopes).
"Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi," Toronto said in a statement announcing the pause. "In light of this, we will wait until the league's investigation is complete. The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans."
"For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.
"On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors' ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi's contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation.
"The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion."
Last September, the NBA hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate Aspiration's ties to the Clippers. This came after an investigation by Pablo Torre and the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast. The allegation is that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer used the now-defunct former green bank Aspiration (a Clippers sponsor) to funnel extra money to Leonard — outside of the CBA and in addition to his salary — through a no-show endorsement contract where Leonard did nothing for his money.
Ballmer and the Clippers have denied any wrongdoing from Day 1 and reiterated that in their statement.
"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison."
When the investigation into the Clippers might conclude has been a cloud hanging over the team and the league all season. At his NBA Finals press conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sounded ready to have the investigation wrapped up and on his desk.
"My instruction to them is, you know, we can't be investigating forever, and at some point we have to wrap it up, but at the same time, I think the most important thing is we get it right," Silver said last month.
When that investigation ends, it will be up to Silver to decide potential punishments, although the Clippers could (and likely would) appeal any punishment to a "system arbitrator" — a person selected by the NBA and players' union — who would review the evidence and determine if Silver's punishments fit the offense. The buzz in league circles is that the investigation found enough that Silver will come down hard on Ballmer and the Clippers, but not nearly as much on Leonard. That is all just speculation at this point.
Expect the trade to go through later this summer.
That trade sends Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks (2030 and 2033).
It's a great trade for Leonard, who is already talking contract extension with Toronto, and it could vault the Raptors near the top of the East if Leonard stays healthy and everything comes together. For the Clippers, it's the first step in a retooling of the roster, and it's a lot of picks — ones that belong to other teams and the league can't take away in a punishment from the investigation.
Reaching the NBA is an incredibly rare and impressive feat. Playing for 16 seasons is even tougher. But, having two sons both reach the NBA and actually getting to play a season on the same team? That’s something extraordinary.
But that’s reality for Dell Curry. That’s because Seth Currysigned with the Warriors and joined his older brother Steph in Golden State for the 2025-26 season.
For the eldest Curry, seeing his two sons play on the same team was something, he told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, that hadn’t happened in almost two decades.
“I’m like, ‘Wow, they haven’t played together since high school,’” Curry said. “Unfortunate that they didn’t get to play a lot of games together but just the time that they spent together traveling, at meals. As an NBA team you spend more time with your teammates than your family over the course of the season. I’m sure they became closer. It was a chance for Seth to see Steph’s kids a little more, so it’s all good.”
Seth played just 10 games with Golden State, while Steph played 43 of his own last season — in total, the pair played just three games together.
As for the legacy the Curry brothers have left on the hardwood, Dell believes they’ve played the game the right way over the course of their careers.
“I think they haven’t cheated the game,” Curry told Poole. “They’ve really respected the game, played the game the right way. It’s something I tried to instill in them early. … They’re great teammates, they take their craft seriously. They’re constantly working on their bodies to get to this point and have the careers that they’ve had.
“It’s a grind — I know how hard it is to get to the NBA. …To stay in the league, if you don’t produce, you’re not going to stay in the league. So, the fact that they’re able to produce on the floor, be quality teammates and now at this point in their careers, they can be mentors in the locker room. All of that gives you an advantage of being an older player and what you can bring to the table for a team.”
Seth has played 13 years in the league, while Steph is entering year 18 with the Warriors this upcoming season.
The Curry family surely has a lifetime of basketball memories, and seeing the brothers play on an NBA floor together in the same team’s uniform is likely near the top.
Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard celebrates after the buzzer as the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 during Game 6 of basketballâs NBA Finals, Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Oakland,...
It is now tied directly to the NBA’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer, Aspiration and allegations of salary-cap circumvention that have hovered over the franchise for nearly a year.
The Clippers issued a lengthy statement after Shams Charania reported that Leonard’s planned trade to the Raptors has been delayed.
According to the Clippers, the deal was agreed to in principle on June 30, but cannot be finalized unless Toronto’s ownership group assumes the risk of any potential penalties connected to Leonard’s contract that could emerge from the NBA investigation.
Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Toronto is on hold as the Raptors wait for the NBA’s Clippers-Aspiration investigation to conclude. AP
At this time, Toronto is not willing to do that.
The Raptors wrote that the league office informed them that, because of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, they would assume the risk of any potential outcome affecting Leonard.
As a result, Toronto said it will wait until the investigation is complete before moving forward.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the team said.
That leaves Leonard in limbo, the Clippers’ blockbuster exit plan unfinished and the Raptors’ reunion with the 2019 Finals MVP on hold.
The Clippers, meanwhile, continue to strongly deny wrongdoing.
“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation,” the team said, noting that it has participated in dozens of interviews, provided tens of thousands of documents and allowed access to staff.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer celebrates after the Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets Getty Images
The organization also denied the central accusation in the case.
“We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration,” the Clippers said.
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At the center of the investigation is Aspiration, the now-defunct green banking company co-founded by Joe Sanberg.
Sanberg pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges tied to a scheme prosecutors said defrauded investors out of $248 million. The Clippers’ statement described Sanberg as the architect of a fraud and said Ballmer, like other investors and business partners, was one of the victims.
Joe Sanberg speaks at the press conference for first shipment of 3,000 L.A. produced face shields at LA County + USC Medical Center Getty Images for Emergency Supply Donor Group)
That has been Ballmer’s position throughout the fallout.
Ahead of Sanberg’s sentencing, Ballmer’s attorney submitted a victim impact statement saying the Clippers owner lost his entire $60 million investment in Aspiration and suffered “immeasurable” reputational harm. The letter also said the Clippers lost out on a $300 million sponsorship agreement with Aspiration, along with roughly $20 million tied to carbon offset purchases.
Ballmer’s attorney argued that Sanberg targeted Ballmer because of his interest in environmental sustainability and used the relationship to attract other investors. The letter also said Ballmer had met Sanberg only once and pushed back against a civil lawsuit that added Ballmer as a defendant, calling the allegations against him baseless.
Steve Ballmer, left, shakes hands with former NBA players Bill Russell, right, and “Downtown” Freddie Brown as Omar Lee looks on during an NCAA college basketball game AP
But the piece of the story that matters most to the NBA is Leonard’s reported $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration.
Players are allowed to have outside endorsement deals.
The question is whether the Clippers or Ballmer were involved in arranging a side deal that functioned as additional compensation to Leonard outside the salary cap. If the NBA determines that happened, it could classify the arrangement as cap circumvention, one of the league’s most serious violations.
Leonard has addressed the accusations publicly only once, denying wrongdoing and saying he understood the contract and services involved.
“I don’t deal with conspiracies or the click-bait analysts or journalism that’s going on,” Leonard said.
The NBA launched its investigation in September 2025 after reporting by Pablo Torre raised questions about Leonard’s Aspiration deal and whether it was connected to the Clippers’ relationship with the company.
The probe is being conducted by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, with attorney David Anders leading the review.
Kyle Lowry, right, speaks with Kawhi Leonard after a press conference in which Lowry signed a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor, in Toronto Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP
In a letter submitted before Sanberg’s sentencing, Anders said Sanberg had sat for two in-person interviews and provided documents and information relevant to the league’s investigation. Anders wrote that Sanberg’s cooperation helped investigators develop a more complete understanding of key events, while also stating that no promises were made in exchange for that cooperation.
That detail is important because it suggests the NBA investigation is not merely procedural. The league has reviewed documents, interviewed figures connected to the case and gathered information from Sanberg himself.
The potential consequences remain unclear.
The most infamous modern cap-circumvention case remains the Minnesota Timberwolves’ secret agreement with Joe Smith, which led the NBA to strip the franchise of first-round draft picks, fine the team and void Smith’s contract.
That happened more than two decades ago under David Stern, and Adam Silver’s approach may differ. Still, the precedent shows why the Raptors are hesitant to absorb any risk tied to Leonard’s contract before the investigation is complete.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Smith, right, is pressured by Los Angeles Lakers forward Robert Horry AP
For the Clippers, a fine would be survivable. Losing draft picks or facing restrictions that affect roster construction would be far more damaging, especially now that they are rebuilding after an era that never reached the heights the franchise imagined.
Leonard arrived in Los Angeles in 2019 after delivering Toronto its first NBA championship. The Clippers paired him with Paul George and appeared positioned to become a Western Conference power. Instead, injuries, playoff exits and instability defined the era. Now, even Leonard’s departure cannot be completed cleanly.
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, center, celebrates after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors AP
The proposed trade would send Leonard back to Toronto, where he remains a franchise legend, while the Clippers would receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, multiple first-round picks, a pick swap and second-round compensation.
But for now, the trade is frozen.
The Clippers say they expect it to be finalized once the investigation concludes. The Raptors say they still want Leonard back. The NBA has not announced its findings.
That means Leonard’s Los Angeles chapter is effectively over, but not officially closed.
And until the league delivers its ruling, the Clippers, Raptors and Leonard are all stuck waiting on the same thing: the final word on the Aspiration saga.
The California Classic was just the appetizer to Yaxel Lendeborg’s multi-course meal at NBA Summer League.
Lendeborg had to be frothing when he saw the Warriors’ summer league schedule for Las Vegas. First on his menu was a pair of Michigan teammates in Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara. Lendeborg and the Warriors got the best of Johnson and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in a 101-90 win at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV’s campus.
“Felt amazing. Felt good to go out here against Rez and win,” Lendeborg said to ESPN after the Warriors’ win. “Felt good to go out here and beat Rez for all the times he did me dirty in practice. This is what the Warriors saw in me – my versatility. I’m trying my best to showcase that and more. That’s what I’m going to try and do the rest of summer league and the rest of my career here.”
Yaxel Lendeborg says it felt "amazing" to beat his Michigan teammate Morez Johnson Jr. today 😅 pic.twitter.com/wxK4FiK0R5
Led by the trio of Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara, Michigan won the national championship last season. Their coach, Dusty May, then accepted the Mavericks’ head-coaching job shortly before the 2026 NBA Draft. The Mavs took Johnson No. 9, and Lendeborg (No. 11) and Mara (No. 12) followed him in near-consecutive order.
Known more for his defense, Johnson scored a game-high 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting to go with eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots. But Lendeborg wasn’t going to be outdone by his close friend.
The Warriors’ top draft pick continued to shine this summer, tallying a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double. Lendeborg also added six assists and was a game-high plus-26.
“I tried to big-boy him,” Lendeborg said to reporters when asked about facing Johnson. “It never worked in practice. I don’t know why I tried in a game, but it doesn’t hurt to try. I didn’t move him at all. Pretty much ran into a brick wall, but it was super fun playing against him.”
While Lendeborg praised Johnson, one of his best plays of the day came against him when he spun off the Big Ten All-Defensive recipient for a three-point play. Lendeborg let him know about it, too.
As Lendeborg mentioned, it’s his versatility that continues to stick out. His 3-point shot was a question mark going into the draft, and it looks like one of his best weapons after just three summer league games. In those three games, Lendeborg has gone 9 of 13 from deep (69.2 percent) as a multifaceted scorer. Passing has been another positive for Lendeborg, showing off his feel for the game and why he should be such an easy fit in coach Steve Kerr’s system operating off split-action.
Nothing about Lendeborg’s game looks like a timid rookie scared of the next level. He has been able to bully his way to the basket, and though it will be an adjustment, he has the frame to do so against NBA veterans as well.
“The NBA is all about physicality,” Lendeborg also said in his ESPN interview. “I still got to put on a little more pounds of muscle to learn how to use my strength a little more, but I definitely plan on playing even more physical than I have already.
The spotlight has been all over Lendeborg since the Warriors selected him. However, another one of his teammates also put on a show Monday against the Mavericks.
Summer league is a great opportunity for LJ Cryer to continue showing he belongs on the big squad. Cryer went undrafted last year out of Houston, turned heads in summer league and kept climbing the ladder for the Warriors. It was Cryer, not Lendeborg, who was the Warriors’ leading scorer to start their slate in Sin City.
Cryer scored a team-high 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting and went 5 of 8 behind the 3-point line. The 6-foot point guard also had six rebounds, four assists and was a plus-22.
After missing both of his shot attempts in the first quarter, Cryer exploded for 16 points in the second. Over a six-minute stretch, Cryer went 5 of 6 from the field and 4 of 5 from long distance to give the Warriors a 20-point lead at halftime.
“Obviously LJ’s shot making was great, but it was just his decision making,” Warriors summer league coach Khalid Robinson said to reporters. “He picked his spots really well – when to get to the rim, when to pull up, when to kick out to his teammates. He read the pictures really well, and then he had a good level of physicality defensively.
When the Mavs made it a three-point game with a little more than three minutes remaining, Cryer made sure a comeback wasn’t going to be completed.
Cryer was signed by the Warriors to a two-way contract on Dec. 2. He played 18 games for the Warriors and shot 39.4 percent on 5.2 3-point attempts per game. Cryer made multiple threes in 11 of the 18 games he played.
Look past his height. Cryer is the microwave scorer the Warriors desperately need. He just has to stay healthy and erase past problems with his hamstring and ankle.
The 24-year-old who will turn 25 ahead of the regular season should be back on a two-way contract at the least, with a real chance to compete for a spot on the 15-man roster.
Lendeborg, Cryer and the rest of the summer Warriors play again Sunday at 3 p.m. PT against Mara and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shared a strange “wrinkle” regarding the LeBron James free agency sweepstakes during a July 9 appearance on ESPN.
“All of the information has funneled through agent Rich Paul with LeBron James. So [interested teams] have been in the process of gathering information. One interesting wrinkle has occurred… some of the leading suitors for LeBron James… have been able to send a voice note to Lebron James, via Rich Paul,” Charania said.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania speaks during the 2026 NBA Draft. NBAE via Getty Images
Latest on the LeBron James free agency for NBA Today — including voice note pitches from some interested teams: pic.twitter.com/6FcEKTEasr
“Whether it’s an owner, a president, or a general manager, being able to record a voice note, I’m told, send it to Rich Paul, and that makes his way to Lebron James. That’s a part of LeBron James’ process,” he added.
Shams added that LeBron isn’t expected to make a decision any time soon, and noted that it’s “unclear” whether the Cleveland Cavaliers of the Miami Heat — who are seen as favorites to land LeBron at this point — are among those who’ve sent LeBron a voice note.
While the prospect of sending voice notes themselves isn’t inherently strange, the fact that NBA front office and executives must resort to that in order to communicate with LeBron — not directly, but instead through LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul — is enough to raise eyebrows.
LeBron James reacts to a call during a Los Angeles Lakers game. 2026 Richard RodriguezLeBron James look at his phone with his hand on his head. EPA
LeBron is clearly being tough to access on purpose, which is making the process to sign him more difficult than usual.
But these interested teams (which Shams mentioned were the Heat, the Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Philadelphia 76ers) will do whatever it takes to sign James — even if it risks coming off as a clingy or desperate.
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The trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers to the Raptors is on hold until an investigation into his endorsement deal with the now bankrupt Aspiration company is concluded. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors have put the brakes on acquiring Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers, announcing Thursday that the trade is on hold until the NBA investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules is complete.
“The NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the Raptors said. “In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.”
The trade sent Leonard to Toronto for forward Brandon Ingram, shooting guard Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks. Leonard has spent the last seven seasons with the Clippers after leading the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship.
The probe was triggered in September when the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast aired an episode detailing a contract Leonard received from Aspiration, a self-described “socially-conscious and sustainable banking services and investment products” firm. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $60 million in the now-defunct company that in turn agreed to pay Leonard $28 million for endorsements he never fulfilled.
The investigation is being conducted by Wachtell Lipton, a high-powered New York law firm the NBA has frequently used when attempting to determine off-the-court wrongdoing by team owners, players or referees. There is no timetable for its conclusion, and the league had no comment Thursday.
Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration in September 2021. A month later, the Clippers announced a $300-million sponsorship deal with the company. Ballmer nearly granted Aspiration naming rights to the team’s new $2-billion venue as well, but instead chose financial services firm Intuit.
Two years later when Aspiration was experiencing severe financial difficulties, Ballmer made an additional $10 million investment and Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong — Ballmer’s former college roommate — invested $1.99 million in Aspiration nine days before Leonard received a $1.75 million payment from the company. Leonard ultimately was paid $21 million of the $28 million agreed upon in his contract with Aspiration.
Leonard averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals over six seasons with the Clippers and was selected to four All-Star teams, four All-NBA teams and two All-Defensive teams while in L.A. Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points while playing 65 games last season.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the Raptors said.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 25: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after throwing the first pitch during the game between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros at Comerica Park on June 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the PretenDBA, Ebuka Okorie. The Detroit Pistons’ first-round pick will get his first official run as a professional basketball player as the Detroit Pistons face off against the Philadelphia 76ers on opening day of the Las Vegas Summer League. In an offseason that saw the Pistons add a lot of shooting (welcome, Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris (for now). What they didn’t address was their critical need for a ball handler, self-creator, and secondary playmaker. Those are some of Okorie’s signature skills, and he might be the second-best player on the team at all three. No pressure, Ebuka!
Game Vitals
When: 5:30 p.m. ET Where: Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada Watch: Prime Video
Analysis
All joking aside about just how important a rookie might be to a team coming off of 60 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Okorie should have all the tools to absolutely show out in Summer League. This is a league built for ball handlers and playmakers, and selfishness is often rewarded if not encouraged. Not that anybody is trying to be selfish, per se. It’s just that you can only expect so much of “the beautiful game” among a group of guys who have barely shared the floor together.
Also, there are tons of fouls in Summer League, and Okorie is an ace at drawing them. I would anticipate Okorie to score a decent amount of points via drives to the rim and trips to the free-throw line. If his outside shot is also falling, watch out.
There isn’t much else to write home about regarding the Pistons roster or the visiting Sixers. Chaz Lanier, a second-year guard and second-round pick is on the very periphery of the roster. If he doesn’t show he belongs, he might be in danger of losing his spot. The Pistons have 16 guaranteed contracts presuming everyone currently on the roster plus the return of Jalen Duren. That might come down to Lanier vs. veteran Gary Harris. That is very much in favor of Lanier right now, I would think, but we shall see.
Two-way guys Isaac Jones and second-round pick Ugonna Onyenso will be on the roster. The Pistons also just signed Elijah Harkless to its third and final two-way spot. He’s 26 and already played in the NBA for the past two years in Utah. No official word on whether they plan to add him to the roster.
But the Knicks' feel-good news stories amid that championship appear to be short-lived.
According to a Wired article, celebrities and other dignitaries who have attended home games at Madison Square Garden have been assigned "risk" scores. The database also tracked celebrities’ race, gender identity, and sexual orientation; even labeling nearly 100 people as “LGBTQIA." There are nearly 40,000 entries in the “talent” database, each with specific labeling designations.
Wired reported in April that security staff for Knicks owner Jim Dolan tracked a trans woman's movements using that surveillance and spying on her for the better part of two years. On June 12, ShinyHunters, a hacking group, said it would leak nearly 26 million records if MSG didn't fork over a ransom demand. Four days later, they released those records and are now facing three class-action lawsuits alleging the publishing of personal data, whicn was stolen from the World's Most Famous Arena.
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Dolan and Madison Square Garden for comment.
This newly reported database is hardly surprising, as it was reported years ago that the arena was using facial recognition technology on those entering the facility.
The database is part of a much larger trove of documents published last month by ShinyHunters, a criminal hacker collective.
Some celebrities who have a “DO NOT HOST” tag include hip-hop producer Pete Rock, actor Will Harrison, comedian Adam Pally, and actress Julia Fox.
The database lists rapper Lil Tjay, who got into a fight with security at The Theater during a boxing match in February 2025, as “BANNED FROM MSG."
Some of the "low risk" people on the list include actors Mariska Hargitay, Edie Falco, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, musicians Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, and Benson Boone, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.
The "medium risk" folks include actors Lily Allen, David Harbour, and country singer Morgan Wallen. A few hip-hop artists appear on the "high risk" side of the database, including Freddie Gibbs, Lil Jon, DaBaby, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
Steph Curry’s dad joined NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe, and the former NBA guard shared his perspective on Golden State’s pursuit of James in free agency.
“You’re still trying to win championships,” Dell Curry told Poole on “Dubs Talk” when asked what he thinks about the Warriors chasing James. “I think the the Warriors need a player like [James] to get over the hump, with also the young core that they have. But they’re trying to win right now. You know, Steph, he’s on the tail end. Draymond [Green], all those guys [at the] tail end of their careers like LeBron, and that tells me that they’re still trying to win another ring.”
Steph Curry has made it clear he’s not done playing yet, but entering his 18th NBA season at age 38, the clock is ticking on how much longer he has to win a fifth ring. The same goes for Green, 36, who recently opted out of his contract for the 2026-27 NBA season to allow Golden State the financial flexibility to pursue James. The team also eagerly awaits the return of Jimmy Butler, 36, from a torn ACL.
The Warriors’ top free-agency target has yet to make a decision, but it’s no secret James enjoyed winning a gold medal alongside Steph Curry at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Perhaps he’s envisioning himself reaching the NBA mountaintop alongside the Warriors star, too.
“We’ve obviously talked,” Steph Curry recently told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick about James. “He deserves all the patience and space to figure out what he wants to do as his career winds down. We all understand and appreciate that. I would love to play with him, and hopefully that will be a reality soon.”
The Warriors remain interested in James, along with teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, though ESPN’s Shams Charania stated Tuesday that he does not believe Golden State is among the top suitors for the 22-time NBA All-Star.
Regardless of whether or not James comes to the Bay, Dell Curry believes Steph and the Warriors still can make another run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy despite their aging core.
“Yeah, it’s all about managing those bodies of your core guys, your older guys, and then getting into the playoffs,” Dell Curry told Poole. “I think a team like that has to stay out of the [NBA play-in tournament] because the play-in requires so much energy and intensity to get to the playoffs, and then you’re facing one of the top teams in your conference. So, I think you have to be top 16 to get in, and then it’s about luck of the draw. It’s whoever you come up against, and how well you match up against that team.”
Could the Warriors be doomed to another play-in berth next season? Or, will another superstar join the fray and indeed help them get over that hump? Only time — which they don’t have much of — will tell.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 10, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thursday marks the day that previously agreed-upon trades in the NBA can be finalized with the start of the new league year, but one deal isn’t taking place — at least not for now. The the massive trade for Kawhi Leonard between the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors is on hold, and won’t be completed until the NBA has completed its 10-month investigation into the star and the Clippers for alleged cap circumvention.
That investigation began after bombshell reporting by Pablo Torres seemingly uncovered a scheme by the Clippers to pay Kawhi Leonard money in addition to his NBA contract through “Aspiration Partners,” a company the Clippers invested in. This company would pay Leonard as a no-show employee, which Torres said was a way for the Clippers to pay him above and beyond his max-level contract.
The Clippers continue to deny any wrongdoing, while remaining confident the trade will eventually go through, releasing a statement to ESPN:
For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.
On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues.
We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.
Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA League Office informed us that as a result of an ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation regarding Kawhi.
In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.
The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.
It appears as though Toronto has put the brakes on the deal for now until it knows exactly what it is getting itself into. The predominant risk for the Raptors would be to broker this massive trade, send away their players and draft capital — only to have the NBA then void the remaining years of Leonard’s contract, or suspend him for a significant time as a result of their investigation.
It’s expected the deal could be completed as early as Tuesday of next week, when the league is set to hold its Board of Governors meeting.
There has been a curious delay in the formal announcement of the Kawhi Leonard trade that is shipping him to the Toronto Raptors. Now, the teams involved are clarifying why.
Although the new NBA league year began Monday, July 6, neither the Raptors nor the Los Angeles Clippers, Leonard’s former team, have consummated the trade agreed to June 30 that is conveying Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-round picks back to Los Angeles.
On Thursday, July 9, the Clippers and Raptors each issued statements to disclose the delay, indicating the deal would not be completed until the ongoing NBA investigation into the Clippers is finalized.
“On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors,” the Clippers said in their statement. “We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.”
In their own statement, the Raptors acknowledged this assumption of risk and indicated that they will also wait until the league’s investigation is complete.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the Raptors said.
In spite of the optimism from both sides that the deal would be executed upon the conclusion of the investigation, which began in early September 2025, the language in Toronto’s statement suggests that it could change its mind if it deems any potential discipline stemming from the investigation to be too severe.
The Clippers have repeatedly maintained their innocence in the matter and have stressed that the executives running Aspiration were at fault.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration,” the Clippers continued. “We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.”
Leonard, 35, remains one of the elite two-way players in the NBA, when healthy. A seven-time All-Star, Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 65 games last season. He’s also a versatile defender whose length and instincts make him a problem, even for the more gifted offensive players in the NBA.
“We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues,” the Clippers concluded. “We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Tarris Reed Jr. #10 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball against the Miami Heat during the second half in the California Classic a NBA Summer League game at Chase Center on July 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
Summer League hit different less than a month after going to the Finals. It feels like just yesterday that the Knicks walked off with the trophy in the Frost Bank Arena, and personally, I’m still nursing my wounds a bit. I mean that I loved that the Spurs made it that far, but I’m not happy that they played so poorly in the Finals, meeting a much more poised and experienced team and learning some hard lessons along the way.
Now the Silver and Black is in Las Vegas, where the draft picks get to get a little bit of experience in the Spurs system and play something that almost looks like basketball for a couple of weeks. The Spurs have four games scheduled, and will play at least one more game once the teams who make it into the championship tournament are chosen. The winners of the semifinals will play an additional game for the Summer League championship, which comes with some nice swag and a little bit of money, which is kind of a big deal for the G-League players who form the bulk of most team’s Summer League rosters. Other than that, it’s kind of a hard watch for fans to see Summer League basketball, because these squads are mostly guys who aren’t quite good enough to make an NBA roster who have been playing together for a few days. Mostly you’ll want to watch the draft choices to see if they can impress and hope for an unknown to catch on and have a great week that impresses an NBA organization enough to give them a training camp invite or even a roster spot, like David Jones Garcia last summer.
The Spurs will play again on Saturday at 5:00PM against the Knicks, which would be a revenge game except for the fact that Carter Bryant will be the only player who saw any action in the Finals who might play for the Spurs. Additional games will be played on Sunday at 8:00PM against the Bucks and Wednesday at 8:30 against the Jazz. Also, there will be a consolation/playoff game next weekend. Frankly, if you watch all of the games, you’re probably a real sicko. Welcome sickos!
Game Prediction:
Carter Bryant scores 20 in the first half and leaves the arena to catch a plane back to San Antonio at halftime, because Corliss Williamson has seen enough.
San Antonio Spurs vs Atlanta Hawks (Las Vegas Summer League) July 9, 2026 | 3:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN TV: ESPN2 Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
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Kusturica, from Serbia, is 17 years old and will play college basketball for at least two years, as he's two years away from being eligible for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 forward is the youngest player to ever appear for FC Barcelona's senior team.
He chose the Bruins over Kentucky, Michigan and Gonzaga, according to reports.
“Nikola is an elite prospect with great size, skill and a competitive fire which is hard to find," Cronin said in UCLA's announcement. "As a 6-foot-9 guard, he can play all over the floor. He impacts the game as a scorer, playmaker and shot blocker. For a very young player, Nik has had a decorated career with the Serbian national team and his club team in Barcelona.
"UCLA appreciates the support of his international team and his club for their cooperation and development of Nikola."
Kusturica averaged 24.6 points with 6.9 rebounds in the FIBA Under-17 World Cup from June 27 to July 5 in Turkey. He also won Best Defensive Player after averaging 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, and scored 37 points against the United States in Serbia's gold-medal game loss.
Kusturica was also named MVP of the 2025 FIBA Under-16 Eurobasket tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia, after averaging 20 points with 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading Serbia to its first title at the tournament since 2007. He scored 18 points with 14 rebounds, eight assists and five steals in the championship game.
One of he youngest players in college basketball will likely play a huge role from the start for the Bruins, which has signed multiple European recruits in the past year. Cronin signed Mississippi State transfer Sergej Macura and Auburn transfer Filip Jovic in the transfer portal this offseason, and also announced Kusturica's signing with fellow incoming freshman Gunārs Grīnvalds from Latvia and Real Madrid.
Nikola Kusturica highlights
Here are Kusturica's highlights from his 37-point game against the United States in the FIBA Under-17 World Cup:
