Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Getty Images
Max Kellerman did not mince words about this during a recent episode of his “Game Over Podcast” with Rich Paul.
“Do you know why Luka Dončić complains to the refs on every offensive possession? It’s very obvious: Because if you’re complaining to the refs, you don’t have to run back down the floor on defense! And that’s the No. 1 reason he’s a bad defensive player. It’s No. 1,” Kellerman said.
Max Kellerman speaks during the announcement for the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight at The British Airways Arc in London, England, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Getty Images for Netflix
“Beyond not moving his feet, and everything. It’s 5-on-4 on the other end of the floor because he thinks he’s being slick, complaining as though everyone can’t see!” Kellerman, who was wearing a Knicks jersey while making these comments, continued.
“No, you’re just being lazy! Get up and run your a– back on defense,” he added.
And while the Slovenian superstar often has a fair case, his gripe often bleeding into playing defense does Los Angeles harm.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Perhaps Dončić can prove Kellerman wrong when the Lakers take on the Warriors on Friday night.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: The shoes of Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on October 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers battles Baba Miller #18 of the LA Clippers for position during the second half of a game at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In advance of Wednesday night’s game against the Clippers, I openly told anyone who would listen, “if Jarred Vanderbilt doesn’t play tonight, he might not ever play this season.”
Not only were the Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back, but both Luka Dončić and Ziaire Williams were then held out as precautionary measures with minor nicks and bruises, to go along with Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr remaining out.
That’s four players, two of them starters and three of them forwards, who contribute defensively by defending up and down the lineup to best aid in whatever defensive approach head coach JJ Redick is trying to execute on that given night. Surely, if Vando were to ever find time in the rotation, this would be the night.
And, to my joy — I’ve been advocating that Vanderbilt get a serious look in the rotation since before training camp started — it was indeed the night. With 3:26 remaining in the first quarter, Vanderbilt subbed in for Walker Kessler, sliding into the front court next to Sandro Mamukelashvili and flanking a three-guard lineup of Austin Reaves, Colin Sexton, and Quentin Grimes.
When Vanderbilt entered the game, the Clippers had just taken a 19-14 lead and were in the midst of a 12-2 run. Over the remainder of the quarter, the Lakers stabilized and outscored their crosstown counterparts to carry a 25-22 margin into the second frame.
Over the remainder of his shift, Vanderbilt’s fingerprints were all over the place. On one of his first possessions, he helped create a particularly chaotic sequence, fighting for an offensive rebound that ultimately got tipped away, hustling into a scrum for the loose ball and then helping to punch the ball up so Austin could recover the ball. However, Austin then threw the ball away for a turnover, so Vando pressured up on the ball-handler to tip the ball out of bounds and allow the Lakers to set their defense.
Then, in the second quarter, he had several good sequences defending Brook Lopez, once fighting extremely hard to front the post and deny an entry pass, and later defending him in isolation and sticking with him on a drive to help force an airball and eventual turnover.
Later in the quarter he also showed good activity stepping up to contest a shot at the rim, helped drop down on the defensive glass and mostly executed his within the team’s defensive scheme to pressure when on the ball, show help when needed, and just play hard and be active.
After the game, Redick said that Vanderbilt “is always going to play hard” and noted that because of that he will impact the game with his energy. That’s both good to hear and not entirely satisfying considering his +22 was second-best on the team while the player he’d replaced in the rotation was consistently part of lineups that were being outscored by a point a minute in the team’s four previous games.
That said, before the game, when Redick was pressed on the possibility of Vanderbilt getting some minutes at center, he had a longer explanation that implied we could see it that night but might also speak to why his minutes were non-existent until now.
“My conversations with Vando last year were a lot about putting him in a position to succeed and wanting to play him less at the five,” Redick said. “We had to the second half of Luka’s first season with us post-trade just because we didn’t really have anyone outside of Jaxson who could really play it. He did that by necessity and I think he’s better suited, obviously, to be more of a wing, a forward, be out on the perimeter defensively. But there’s going to be moments where he’s going to, by necessity, have to play some five.”
As is often the case, Redick’s explanation is both reasonable and makes sense. Seeking out situations for every player to be successful is the job of the coach and Redick deserves some credit for correctly recognizing that Vando does his best work hounding primary shot creators on the perimeter and not necessarily playing center. That said, when Redick also says that there will be moments where, ‘by necessity, Vando will need to play some center,’ I think he also needs to recognize now is one of those times.
I’m not going to use this space to crap all over Kevon Looney or point out all the ways he’s struggled from training camp and the preseason into the regular season. Instead, I think it’s better to simply point out that Looney is not a great stylistic fit for this version of the Lakers. His lack of foot speed and general challenges playing with pace on either side of the ball stick out like a sore thumb in most every lineup he’s played in.
And while his strength-based game and general know-how can promote success as an isolation post-up defender, when setting screens, or when walling off and pinning in players when he goes to the offensive glass, those situations are too limited and siloed within the larger construct of the game to be impactful over the course of a full shift.
What’s happened, then, is Looney ends up playing a handful of minutes in the first half, which go poorly overall, and then he does not return in the second half.
And while it was only one game and a specific matchup that was favorable for him in a lot of ways, Vando’s experience was completely different and felt like night and day in comparison to what we’ve seen with Looney to this point.
Not only did the Lakers win the minutes he played, but because his speed and activity were effective against a Clippers team that was trying to turn up the pressure and play faster themselves, Vando settled in nicely and ended up playing multiple shifts in each half. By the time the game was over, I think it was fair to say that his pairing with Mamu proved a bigger positive than the Kessler-based minutes simply because Vando and Mamu’s collective speed and quickness were better for this matchup.
Moving forward, even if the stylistic symbiosis may not work as much in Vando’s favor, I actually don’t think that should matter nor really impact the decision to play him. Because, bigger picture, he’s simply a better fit for how the Lakers want to play than the current alternative on the roster.
Maybe that changes when Thiero is back healthy. But until then, or until the Lakers make a move for a different archetype of backup center than Looney, Vanderbilt is the best solution.
Ultimately, then, Vando should play. And if JJ is thinking about his past priors or clinging onto the quote I cited above about Vando’s best role not being at center, I think he should revisit something he said earlier in the preseason, but in reference to a different player — Dalton Knecht. When JJ was asked about Knecht falling out of the rotation and what led to him being so far removed from consideration for playing time to the point he would later be waived outright, Redick laid it out simply:
“I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. The needs changed. The fit changed.”
I would argue the same is true for Vando, but in a positive way.
This is no longer a team that just traded for Luka and needs him to play small-ball center while playing with lineups where there aren’t a lot of other defensive options on the wing. It’s also not last year, when not only did the team play a more methodical style and not nearly as fast, but with non-spacing bigs like Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes holding down the center minutes, there just wasn’t a lasting role for Vando that could endure against most matchups.
No, this group not only has a spacing and playmaking forward/center in Mamu who is the perfect sort of partner for him offensively, but it also has rangier and athletic defensive playmakers on the wing who pair with and supplement Vando’s game in ways where everyone can elevate each other. Again, this may not work as well every night as it did against the Clippers. And against some opponents, it might not work at all.
But a one-game proof of concept is already more than what the alternative has shown. And, if for no other reason, that means this option should continue to get chances.
It’s especially unfortunate when the person getting duped does so on a public forum and for something that was best left said in private.
This is what happened to five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
An AI-generated UCLA volleyball player responding to a question about her favorite position. (X/@itslolamelone).
The father of Spurs star Dylan Harper and Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. fell victim to an AI-generated video of a woman appearing to be a UCLA volleyball player.
In the video, the AI woman, who goes by Lola Melone, was asked, “What’s your favorite position?”
Former Chicago Bulls player Ron Harper points from his seat during a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 13, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Reverse cowgirl,” the AI woman responded, before being told that the question was about volleyball positions, not sex positions.
The clip went viral and caught Harper’s attention, who responded, “You said it…”.
Despite numerous comments telling Harper that he fell for an AI video, his comment (which now has over 820,000 views) is still up on X nearly 16 hours later.
Harper won three of his five championships with the Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, then won his final two with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001.
Ron Harper falls for an AI-generated video of a volleyball player on Twitter/X. pic.twitter.com/qIB5fgvoct
We’re one step closer to getting Kam Williams back on the court for Kentucky Basketball.
With the regular season only four days away, Mark Pope spoke with the media and provided an overall positive update on the junior wing.
“For him, it’s day-to-day. We’re operating under such extreme caution that it’s going to be when he’s ready,” said Pope of Williams. “I don’t expect to see him touch the floor on Tuesday. That’s for sure. And then we’ll kind of go day by day.
“We’re in a little bit of terrain where anytime you have a Jones fracture, and you have a setback like you did, you just have to operate with extreme caution. That’s the space we’re operating in. So, we’re going to require every light to be green before we put him on the court for a game.”
Williams will bring an immediate impact once he hits the floor in the blue and white. Pope believes Williams will be a piece they can add to the team without adjustments and will bring a boost right away. “As this team grows, at some point Kam’s going to jump in and he’s going to give us another huge boost.”
We won’t see the 6-foot-7 forward in the season opener, but optimism continues to grow every day that we’ll get to see him pretty soon.
Following the Manhattan opener, Kentucky will host James Madison in Rupp Arena three days later; could that be Williams’ season debut? The game after that will be the following Tuesday, November 10, against the Kansas Jayhawks in Chicago, Illinois. That game under the bright lights would be quite the first game back, but it feels like one of those games may line up for Williams’ return to the hardwood.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to right the ship. This is not a sentence I ever thought I’d be typing after such a promising 3-0 start to the 2026-27 season.
Now sitting at 3-2, the Wolves welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to the Target Center for Minnesota’s second consecutive home game and Western Conference matchup of the season. Wednesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors did not go as planned, though there were some signs of life in the second half that will ideally give the team some hope in the early throes of Anthony Edwards’ absence.
This is, of course, not to say that there are not issues for the Wolves to clean up. The increasingly fraught temperament of the fanbase could use a decisive victory over a far-inferior team to boost morale after two consecutive close losses. The pressure of the much-esteemed NBA Cup aside, the Clippers could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Friday will be my first game in the Target Center this season. Here are a few things I’m going to be looking out for.
C’mon, Do Something (Rudy Gobert)
I can think of a few clips that summarize Rudy Gobert’s performance over the last few games, but none seem more apropos than Nathan Fielder’s line: “I hope you’re hungry…for nothing.”
While he’s not known for his offense, Gobert is routinely among the league’s leaders in field goal percentage. Just last season he led the league by shooting 68.2% from the floor. That makes his zero for 13 shooting over the last two games all the more appalling.
It’s not like Rudy has had close misses, either. He’s throwing up layups that don’t even hit the rim. He’s launching three-pointers like he’s Karl-Anthony Towns. I excused his game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because he contributed a whopping 20 rebounds, but on Wednesday against the Warriors, he was a complete nonfactor. It feels like Gobert is beginning to lose the plot, and he needs to turn it around quickly if the Timberwolves are going to have a chance to stay afloat.
The only proven rim protection that Los Angeles offers comes in the well-aged body of Brook Lopez. Gobert is no spring chicken himself, though if there were ever a game for him to assert himself offensively it would be this one.
I’d mentioned in my last recap following the Cavaliers that backup center Joan Beringer was making a case for more minutes and that they would likely come at the expense of Trey Lyles as the season drags on. If Gobert does not contribute positively, expect the noise surrounding his playing time to grow.
LaMelo needs to Ball
I write a lighthearted headline for this section, but I maintain a serious point: LaMelo Ball needs to be better.
Ball, like Gobert, started this season hot but has cooled off over the last two games. The highlight plays are less enchanting when they do not contribute to winning. While Ball is racking up close to his usual assist numbers (6.6 per game), he’s currently averaging a career high in turnovers (3.8, also in the 2023-24 season) and a career low in points (13.4).
I’ll stop short of saying the trade naysayers were right – there is a lot of season left. Ball was not brought to the Timberwolves to be the guy, but with the void of Edwards hovering over the roster like a Halloween spectre Ball has to be the guy. It’s not like Minnesota doesn’t have other guys that can put the ball in the hoop, but Ball is the orchestrator of this team. With Ant out, the team will go as he goes. This is his time to prove something.
If Ball wants to rewrite his career narrative of not being a winning player, he has the next two months to produce wins and helm a team culture that showcases itself as sustainable and positive. There can’t be more arguments with Gobert on the sideline. There cannot be more silly turnovers in clutch situations. Ball has to become a more efficient scorer and limit his turnovers; he has to play like the veteran he is.
Against the Clippers, former Wolves legend Kris Dunn is likely to give Ball fits. Dunn plays a physical and aggressive defensive game, and if Ball lets that pressure get to him he may be in for another poor performance. The onus will be on Ball to remain composure and take care of the basketball.
Freedom and flair are inherently woven into Ball’s playstyle. If he can find more of a balance between the qualities that make him great and ones that are more up-to-par with the professional game, he will lead the Wolves to success over the next two months.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Live Up to the Hype
Multiple things have been working against Minnesota over the last two games: Ball and Gobert have executed poorly, the free-throw shooting has been abysmal, and the team looks like it hasn’t been able to close out clutch games.
Perhaps lost in the discourse about the two game losing streak (Edwards injury news aside) is that the Timberwolves have already played a ton of games this year. After Wednesday night’s matchup against the Warriors concluded, the Wolves had played five games in just seven days. That’s a busy start to a fresh season that has seen plenty of injuries accrue league-wide. It is fair to speculate that fatigue may have been playing a role in the recent performances.
With still legitimate championship aspirations, Minnesota cannot afford to have sluggish and tired halves like the first half of the game against Golden State. Fatigue can be an explanation, though it cannot be an excuse. With as deep as the Wolves bench is supposed to be, Chris Finch needs to be more attentive to rotating guys through the lineup in order to keep players fresh. This two-game homestand will do wonders for the team’s rest, though the results need to be shown in the win column.
As previously mentioned, there were signs of life in the second half against the Warriors. Finch deployed Jaylen Clark to stop the nuclear performance of Stephen Curry to great success (+8 in just seven minutes of play). Beringer had another efficient game with seven points (three for three shooting) and 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. Bones Hyland had an efficient night scoring the basketball with 13 points (four for seven from the field, three for six 3P) in just 16 minutes of play. Hell, even Trey Lyles finished the game at a +7 across his 21 minutes. It’s not all doom and gloom.
For a Timberwolves team that is braggadocious about depth and roster flexibility, they have two months to prove that they can live up to this billing. They’ve gotten some tough losses out of the way.
As Calvin’s (from Calvin & Hobbes) dad would say, these losses build character. Now it’s time to put that character to work.
There hasn’t been a lot for Jordan Ott and the Phoenix Suns to hang their hat on after stumbling out of the gate in the 2026-27 season, and the Rebellion’s greatest warrior has been on a milk carton since the Suns’ forgettable series against the Thunder.
A young leader desperate to find a counter to the overpowering weaponry of the Western Conference sends out a desperate plea for points, shots, and leadership, and a little bit of give of shit. But Obi “1” goes by Obi “15” now, and after his performance against the undermanned Thunder team, we can probably just call him Ben. A veteran who has come through many battles, from opening skirmishes of the bubble, to the Suns in 4 offensive, to the ill-conceived Bay of Bradley Beal that set back 19 million dollars through the 29 season. Our boy is tested, but possibly tiring. Luckily, the Suns have on their roster a new hope who, with the right tutor, time, and developmental plan, has the potential to wield a power even greater than Ben’s.
To be upfront, I haven’t exactly been pushing the pom-poms for Jalen Green since his arrival in the Valley as a player Houston was trying to discard after drafting him with the second overall pick. In the offseason, I wrote about five possible trades for Jalen Green, and if pressed, I could probably find another ten.
His contract size, youth, and potential make for a lot of exciting possibilities for mock trades. I, like almost every Phoenix Suns fan I’ve interacted with, was devastated when the Suns were forced to trade Kevin Durant and when that trade went through Brooks was the player the Suns wanted, and Jalen Green is the player the Rockets forced the Suns to take but since his explosive defensive effort in the play in win against Golden State to his early improvements in efficiency on offense my heart is beginning to thaw towards Jalen Green. Now, everyone wants him gone or thinks he should come off the bench. I don’t see that for Jalen Green, but if I don’t like what the Suns see for Jalen Green.
Jalen Green needs to make better decisions when he’s driving to the hoop. Jalen Green doesn’t need to be turned into a point guard or become a facilitator. One of these goals is asking Jalen Green to be a better Jalen Green. It improves Jalen’s efficiency, reduces turnovers, and makes the Suns harder to defend. The other goal is asking Jalen Green to be a different Jalen Green. It increases his cognitive load, puts him in spaces where he feels uncertain, and limits his impact as a scorer.
Jalen Green is an Uber-athlete. Regardless of the sport, when a team has an elite athlete, they can only fully utilize that athlete’s athleticism when they play instinctively. The more the Suns ask Jalen Green to process, the less they are going to get out of his explosiveness. The Sun’s have rostered themselves into a corner where they are going to need to ask players to sacrifice and to take on different roles than the roles they’ve previously played but they really need to reflect on who they are asking to sacrifice, and what they are potentially losing.
Ben can’t fight this war alone. Even in the ancient battles, Obi “1” had heroes standing next to him. Elite warriors. All-stars. All-time greats. Those Suns are gone, chased into retirement, or traded away to the dark side, but the question remains. How can the Suns put a second all-star around Devin Booker?
He almost had one last year, and the Book and Brooks tandem provided a stellar Cinderella season when hope was non-existent. The Villain’s star is dimming and was never quite bright enough to guide the Suns to the promised land of postseason success. The Villain is great, but Jalen Green’s light burns brighter. It’s not particularly close.
Skim the Suns’ roster and tell me who the second all-star could be? All fingers have to land on Jalen Green, who has the burst to collapse even the best defenses and could be one of the premier advantage creators in the NBA if he could figure out what to do when he gets in the lane. Jalen needs to improve his decision-making if he wants to take a step towards an all-star bid, but the good news is that Jalen wants to learn. Jalen wants to get better. Jalen wants to be legendary, and he does it with a smile while the Twitterati knife him in the back like it’s March in Ancient Rome.
What has Jalen Green done to deserve the outrage of a desperate fanbase? Nothing short of being a great teammate, accepting a clearly miscast role as the primary facilitator, and seeking out a Suns legend to help him try and get there.
And get there, he might. If the Suns let him be the player he’s supposed to be. Now, let me clear up some misconceptions about Jalen Green and his role on this Suns team.
Devin Booker is the point guard, and Jalen Green is the shooting guard when they share the floor together. Devin Booker could best serve this team by taking on the CP3 to Green’s Young Booker. Cp3 had the ball all game, but he knew when to pick his spots to score. Booker is having trouble with top defenses like the Thunder camping out on his midrange spots, ready to swipe the ball out of his hands. Let the young legs of Jalen Green drive into the gauntlet. Allow Booker to utilize his basketball IQ and gravity to get the Suns into the right positions. Focus your developmental efforts on teaching Green how to read the defense better on drives. Cut down the turnovers, pump up the open shots. Then, when the ball gets kicked out, it’s a pass away from getting it to Devin Booker to attack a defense in rotation, rather than finding Bridges, Brooks, or Green for a contested step-back. Allow Jalen Green to be the engine of the offense, and Devin Booker to be the steering wheel.
The Suns don’t have the money to sign a bona fide all-star or the trade capital to acquire one if they want to keep Book, so if they want to win a playoff series, they are going to need to create one. That player on the team with an all-star ceiling Jalen Green. If the Suns are serious about making this roster work, Jalen Green needs to be their new SG1. There’s no other path.
The Sacramento Kings are off to a 0-5 start to the season, with a bottom-five offense and defense, and the second-worst net rating in the league (-15.7).
Does that mean coach Doug Christie is in trouble? Is his seat starting to get warm? No. Not even a little, according to reporting from Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Per the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because these matters aren't typically discussed publicly, there is an internal belief that Christie deserves a fair chance to be evaluated with a team that is much healthier than this current Kings lot.
On one hand, injuries certainly have hit the Kings. Maybe the most significant one, flying a little under the radar, is Keegan Murray being out with an ankle issue (the one he had operated on last May). There is also en Simmons (out for the season with a torn right Achilles, backup center Maxime Raynaud (knee) and Dylan Cardwell (calf).
On the other hand, Christie has now coached 138 Kings games across three seasons, at this point you know what you have in your coach. The other reality is that Christie reportedly has been a favorite of owner Vivek Ranadive and members of his family, who have influential positions in the organization.
The Kings were never going to win a lot of games this season with this roster, the question is whether Christie can develop young players like Darius Acuff Jr., who is putting up numbers, including 34 in a loss Thursday. He's just not been efficient doing it, shooting 37.4% on the season.
34 POINTS, 14 DIMES FOR DARIUS ACUFF JR. TONIGHT
▪️ Fourth teenager in NBA history to record 30/10, joining LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Stephon Marbury ▪️ First Kings rookie to record 30/10 since Kenny Smith (1988) ▪️ Ties Tyreke Evans (2010) for the Kings rookie scoring… pic.twitter.com/KAVDJqApW4
The other question: Is Christie building a culture that can maximize this team when they do add more talent and improve the roster? Has that happened yet?
Christie is going to get plenty of time to figure that out.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets smiles during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 24, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout Kevin Durant’s illustrious career, every team he’s been on has depended on him to win games. Durant is a former MVP, scoring champion, 18-time All-Star, and two-time NBA champion. With a resume like that, it is obvious he’s been, if not the best player on the team, then one of the top two wherever he’s played.
From entering the league with the Seattle Supersonics, who later moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, to the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and now the Houston Rockets, Durant has carried the weight of the NBA on his shoulders. Even though it didn’t always end with a championship, Durant has been one of, if not the most consistent, players every season.
In fact, Durant has shot 50-40-80 every season since the 2011-12 season with the Thunder. That level of excellence comes with a lot of pressure. Over his 19 previous seasons, Durant has finished each season taking 17 shots or more a game except for one: his first year with the Warriors, who, of course, had players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
What makes Durant special is that he never needed to take a lot of shots to impact a game. As mentioned earlier, when you are as efficient as Durant, you can have the same impact taking only 12 shots in a game as most players taking 20.
Of course, the more shots you take, the more energy you have to use to get open and get to your spot on the court. No matter how great a player you are, it takes a toll on you throughout a season, especially as you get closer to the end of your career.
When Durant first came to the Rockets as part of a blockbuster trade during the 2025 offseason, he expected he wouldn’t have to take on as much responsibility as he did with the Phoenix Suns. Those plans changed when the Rockets learned right before the season that their point guard, Fred VanVleet, had suffered a major injury before training camp.
That forced both Alperen Sengun and Durant to take on more playmaking responsibilities throughout the season. As the season went on, teams began to double, sometimes triple, Durant as soon as he crossed half-court and received the ball, which put a lot of pressure on him to create offense for the Rockets.
That also led to a stagnant offense at times, where defenses dared other players to beat them, and his teammates couldn’t take advantage of four-on-three situations after Durant gave up the ball. Since Durant had to be the main cog on the offensive end, he also played the second most minutes in the NBA last season, something Ime Udoka didn’t want to happen, but the lack of playmaking left him no choice. At times, Udoka could not hide his frustration.
“Take a 37 year old out the game for two minutes and you lose a 13 point lead an 11-0 run that’s what went wrong.” pic.twitter.com/qinjugXIDB
This season, however, that has not been the case; even though it has only been Kevin Durant taking a career low in field goal attempts, and that is perfect for the Rockets, in five games, Durant has not had to be the Rocket initiating the offense every play or scoring 30-plus points for them to secure a victory.
Kevin Durant is taking a career low in field goal attempts, and that is perfect for the Rockets
The Rockets are off to their best start in over a decade, and a big part of that is the balance this year’s team has across the board. Sengun is off to the best start of his career, Jabari Smith has continued to improve in his fifth season, Amen Thompson is playing at an All-Star level, and, most importantly, Fred VanVleet is back at point guard, letting everyone slide back into their natural positions on the court.
So far through five games, Durant is taking only 12.6 shots a game, which is by far a career low, but the Rockets are still 5-0 because his teammates have stepped up from the above-mentioned starters to the role players like Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, and Bogdan Boganovich.
That doesn’t even include Marcus Smart, the Rockets’ other offseason addition, who has played only one game so far this season and will provide another ball-handling guard who can initiate the offense. Fewer responsibilities affect several areas for Durant.
Durant is currently able to play fewer minutes; he is averaging 34.4 minutes, two fewer than last season. It also lets him focus more energy on the defensive end, where he has been the Rockets’ best shot blocker so far this season.
That’s not to say Durant won’t have games where he takes 25 shots or even over, but they don’t need that every night. Some may feel that Durant has to be the leading scorer or take the most shots because he is Kevin Durant, but Durant and the Rockets understand that if they want to bring the first NBA Championship back to Houston since 1995, they need everyone to raise their game so that Durant doesn’t always have to be “The Guy”.
It’s hard to get the internet sports community to agree on anything these days, but the Miami Heat’s statue of Dwyane Wade brought about a rare level of consensus opinion. The Heat unveiled their Wade statue about two years ago as they were beginning the 2024-25 season, and absolutely everyone agreed it was terrible. The statue was so bad that Wade himself struggled to defend it, saying the statue didn’t need to look like him to capture an artistic moment. That’s a nice spin from a company man, but it didn’t stop anyone from getting their jokes off.
The Heat heard the slander, and years later, and they’ve finally done something about it. Miami updated the Wade statue outside of the Kaseya Center to actually make it look like D-Wade. The face on the statue was redesigned over the offseason, and it’s a big upgrade. Here’s a before and after photo of the Wade statue, with the updated version on the left and the old version on the right.
Heat fans admitted they were unreasonably angry about the initial version of the statue, and it makes sense. Wade put the team on his back to lead them to the 2006 NBA championship early in his career, and then helped recruit LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach, which brought the franchise two more titles. The Heat did him dirty on the initial statue, but at least they cared enough to fix it.
Here are some more looks at the updated statue:
The Dwyane Wade statue in front of the Kaseya Center has officially had a revamping with a new head and face. The original sculptors worked with Wade’s approval over the last few months to make it look more like him. pic.twitter.com/OnOn0i2O6C
The Heat have had a rough start to the season, but it’s only been a few games. Miami finally got its first win of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era earlier this week, and fixing the statue feels like a good omen for the rest of the season. I wasn’t very high on the Heat coming into the season, but if they put the same care into their on-court product that they put into improving the Wade statue, they should be just fine.
Wade is the greatest player in Heat history, and I will accept no other argument. This man is the Miami Heat. He finally has a statue worthy of his ability as a player.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: The sneakers featuring former Knicks captain Willis Reed worn by director Spike Lee during the third quarter of the game between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playing with Brunson: "We played together last year stretches, great guy to play off…Obv 2 smaller guards so I have to compete on D but I'm willing to do anything"
Clutch: We're a veteran group…ECF, Finals…tight game, we're gonna get it done" pic.twitter.com/wBTDPKwbq2
On avoiding turnovers and making smarter decisions as the Knicks’ backup point guard:
“Not trying to make the home run play. Just trying to get us in the offense, get the best shot for our team. It’s about being more mature in my game. Trying to take care of the ball, that’s what the team needs. When I go in there, I can’t be turning it over, I can’t be throwing it all over the floor. Got to get us in the offense, got to get us good shots.”
On playing alongside Jalen Brunson and benefiting from the defensive attention he attracts:
“We played together last season for stretches. He’s a great guy to play off. They’re going to double-team him, you get open shots.”
On the defensive challenges of playing in a two-point-guard lineup and staying ready for opportunities:
“Obviously it’s two smaller guards, so I have to compete harder on defense.
“You guys have seen [the double point guard]. It’s been successful in stretches, with Jose in the playoffs. With me a little bit in the NBA Cup. And then a couple games sprinkled in. But when coach is searching, trying to find something, everybody on the bench has to be ready for any situation.”
Shams Charania
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ willingness to accept a discount:
“He will sign for less than his max contract. He’ll take a sizable discount. $70 plus million less, that’s something that he is not willing to do right now.”
Knicks 2018 lottery pick Kevin Knox—who has played for 6 NBA and 3 G League teams—now heads overseas
There isn’t a whole lot you can complain about the Pistons start to the season. They sit at an East-best 4-1 and got through the brutal start to their schedule with a 3-1 record. This is all despite missing Jalen Duren for half of the games and key rotation players like Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Joe for a couple.
The Brooklyn Nets are 0-4, but they have been sneakily competitive this season with their only blowout loss being a 27-point loss to the Indiana Pacers. They are coming off a buzzer beating loss to the Boston Celtics in overtime on Tuesday.
It is tough to make definitive judgments on a team early in the season, but I feel like Brooklyn could be one of those teams that doesn’t win a lot of games, but makes it tough on you every time you face them.
The Pistons have a good shot at winning their group in the NBA Cup, but I definitely wouldn’t call this game an “easy” win.
Game Vitals
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY When: Friday, October 30 at 7:30 pm EST Watch: TV20 Detroit or DAZN (streaming) Odds: Pistons (-7.5)
Analysis
An underrated factor to this game is that the Brooklyn Nets were able to fly home from Boston after their overtime heartbreaker on Tuesday and have been home since then while the Pistons had to fly from New York, back to Detroit for a home game against Charlotte, and then back to New York for this game. They at least have a day of rest for this game, which should help, but having to travel that much in a 3-day span is not great.
This is very much could be a trap game given the travel-related factors and the fact that the Nets have been a pretty feisty team this season despite their 0-4 record. The Nets have a pretty good mix of developing young players and veterans that make things easier for them, so I feel like they will be a tough out every night, even if their record is one of the worst in the league.
The two veterans that are the big threats are Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Both have kind of been sent to rot in Brooklyn by their former teams, but Porter put together an impressive season last year and continues to be one of the biggest off-ball shooting threats in the league. Randle’s game is what it is at this point, but he has the ability to take on a pretty heavy offensive burden and allow the younger guys to focus on taking the easy shots.
One of the young players we will miss out on seeing is last year’s highest of their many first round picks, Egor Demin, who suffered a leg injury in the overtime loss to the Celtics. The Nets still have other improving young players like 1st round pick Mikel Brown Jr. and Nolan Traore, who has shown some flashes in his 2nd season.
I have faith that the Pistons will be able to slow down the Brooklyn Nets on the defensive end, as they have only given up 98 points per game over the last three games. But, in those three games they have only averaged 100 points per game. Without their 2nd offensive threat in Jalen Duren as well as a drop off in shooting from Duncan Robinson and no Isaiah Joe, the free flowing offense that hit a lot of threes to start out the season is now temporarily missing in action (hopefully).
Luckily for the Pistons, there is a chance that Isaiah Joe returns tonight and their schedule over the next couple weeks while Jalen Duren is out is not as difficult as the gauntlet they started the season out with.
But, as long as the Pistons have Cade Cunningham, they have a chance in any game. Cade finally broke out of his quiet start to the season to the tune of 30 points against Charlotte on Wednesday. He hit multiple clutch shots along with Daniss Jenkins to seal the game. With how much the Pistons have struggled to create offense without Jalen Duren, I expect the Jenkins-Cade backcourt to get a few more looks since both players can handle the ball and create a bit for others.
That’s not to say that we haven’t gotten that look before, as JB Bickerstaff has employed it a few times this season, but Jenkins is a player that had his best moments last season when he got a lot of minutes, so it is worth riding the hot hand.
If there is one factor that is in Brooklyn’s favor in this game, it is their frontcourt size. Paul Reed has done a fantastic job filling in for Jalen Duren, but he is a bit undersized for a full-time starting center. Brooklyn has Day’Ron Sharpe, Julius Randle, and Michael Porter Jr. in their starting frontcourt and all three are 6’9” or above. The only one of those three that can be classified as a “good” defender is Sharpe, but all of them are good rebounders so I could see the Nets having an advantage on the glass.
At full health, it is difficult to see a world where the Pistons lose this game, but without Jalen Duren to provide a bit more offensive punch and possibly not having Isaiah Joe, this could end up being another ugly game for the Pistons that they have to win with their defense.
Lineups
Brooklyn Nets (0-4): Mikel Brown Jr, Nolan Traore, Michael Porter Jr, Julius Randle, Day’Ron Sharpe
Detroit Pistons (4-1): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren
Question of the Day
Do you think the Pistons continue to win ugly or do they finally break out of their offensive slump?
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 drives to the basket as 76ers Joel Embiid defends.
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Brunson is even winning awards behind enemy lines.
He was named the Professional Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. The announcement came just hours before Brunson and the Knicks were set to play the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena Friday night, the second matchup between the two teams already this season after the Knicks dropped the season opener at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 drives to the basket as 76ers Joel Embiid defends. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But he is now the captain of one of Philly’s top rivals – a Knicks team that has tormented the 76ers in recent years, including a dominant sweep in the second round of the playoffs last year en route to a championship. It’s an honor that is sure to anger 76ers and Philly sports fans.
“What Jalen Brunson accomplished this past year has been nothing short of remarkable,” PSWA president Mike Shute said in the announcement. “His skill, his leadership and his connection to the Philadelphia basketball community all make him a deserving recipient of this honor.
“He plays his best basketball when the stakes are the highest and has led his teams to championships at every level.”
There is no doubt Brunson is connected to the Philly basketball community.
Currently, though, that connection comes at Philly’s expense.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 14: Will Wade head coach of the LSU Tigers reacts a an exhibition game against the UCF Knights at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on October 14, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Someone really should approach Will Wade and LSU about starting a reality show. Look at what’s gone on there just this week:
First, the Reese Alston recruitment. Alston’s father, former NBA star Rafer, absolutely slammed Wade a few days ago for the recruitment of his son, saying this: “I’m disgusted by how this whole process has played out. Will Wade has operated in a disgusting manner. He is a sleazeball of an individual. I know there was a back alley deal involving PUMA, in which money was accepted without my authorization.”
Wade allegedly cut a deal with Reese’s mother, who presumably will be signing the grant-in-aid, given Rafer’s disgust with Wade.
Then there’s the RJ Luis situation, which, at this point, is pure comedy.
Wade, pushing the limits as always, recruited RJ Luis for a fifth season, despite Luis’s brief NBA dalliance, during which he signed more than one contract.
This was part of why the SEC got angry enough at LSU to threaten to kick them out of the conference.
Now, Luis’s attorney, Tony Clayton Jr,. having won a temporary restraining order that will allow his client to play, and that also prevents the SEC from punishing LSU for now, are taking it a step further: if Wade doesn’t roster Luis and then play him, Clayton will take him to court and ask the judge to hold him in constructive contempt.
In Louisiana, the penalties for that are $1,000 dollars, which is trivial, and up to 6 months in jail, which is anything but.
Clayton said this about Wade: “I’m telling you we’re going to use the long arm of the law to force Will Wade to play him because I’m not going to allow these folks to play musical chairs. We would bring in Coach Wade and move to hold him in constructive contempt. I would not advise anyone to be in contempt of court. This judge is real.”
In case you missed it, Clayton is telling Wade he has to actually play Luis. So what happens if Wade puts him in for 30 seconds? Will that suffice? Or will Clayton demand a certain number of minutes? Is he now a functional member of the coaching staff?
Just as a side note, Clayton, who clearly has a bit of flair, compared SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to North Korean strong man Kim Jong Un.
Wade is now having to balance the SEC’s very real threats vs. potential jail time.
Not surprisingly, Wade is not sticking his neck out in public, and refused to comment on Luis’s eligibility.
At the end of the day, we wonder about a couple of things: first, what exactly happened between Wade and Reese Alston’s mother. When the transfer portal and paying players came to pass, we said that we didn’t know how, but that members of the Situational Ethics Conference would find new ways to cheat. It won’t surprise us in the slightest if Wade leads the way on that.
And second, what must the braintrust at NC State be thinking? They were angry when Wade abandoned Raleigh to return to LSU. At this point, though, they must be breathing a sigh of relief that the Music Man, predictably, skipped town and took his chaotic show to Baton Rouge.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors arrives to the arena before the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 24, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA and Take-Two’s Rookie Dinner series dropped their latest which happens to feature the story of the moment: Yaxel Lendeborg. Oakland’s own Drew Gooden and San Jose’s Aaron Gordon break bread with the new sensation at Berkeley’s Everett and Jones.
Yaxel talks about his mom’s cancer being a motivator for his involvement in donating and raising the profile of cancer fundraisers and research.
Among the bits of wisdom Gooden and Gordon impart:
Rookies aren’t hazed the way they used to be
It’s hard to replicate the one for all, all for one, sacrifice your numbers to win nature of college in the pros
The pro game is a lot more zero sum
“Don’t get bip’d… and don’t bap.”
“Just stay with it. There are some freaks in this league. Real monsters in this league. This sh*t will humble you.”
“The more you give out, the more that comes back around.”
“You don’t want to take work home with you.” — meditation, reading… maybe go down to Half Moon Bay.
Yaxel’s most notable reactions:
Hearing about how rookies used to be hazed
Hearing about AAU
Learning the definitions of “bip’d” and “bap’d.”
Aaron Gordon praising his game.
Then, Mistah F.A.B. drops by to join the chorus, confirming the bip-bap lesson but also dapping up the rookie. He, Gordon, and Gooden were all impressed by his real work experience, too, and think that’s what’ll make him a success in the league.
Mistah F.A.B. also advised him on how to help out with the community: “Just be authentic. Don’t even come in with the cameras.” This is great advice. Then he calls Too $hort for some more advice. So, if you’re a $hort completist, check out this video, because it’s canon. So, Mistah F.A.B., Too $hort, Drew Gooden, Aaron Gordon: this is a group of people who’ve forgotten more about the Bay than a lot of Northern Californians learn in a lifetime.
Yaxel then poses a question: “How did you deal with your success and your fame? Stay humble, stay who you are and, like, still be able to remain the same to your friends and those around you?” Some of the advice he gets back:
It’s very materialistic in the NBA in those early days. Just take care of your family.
“A pure heart is all that matters… when you come from certain humble beginnings, man, only time I’m going back there is if I’m coming to help.”
The biggest thing I learned is that he grew up a baseball guy, which just goes to show why I like him so much. He also communicated how much he did not want to follow in his mom’s footsteps doing manual labor. He feels as genuine and down to earth here as he has in other public appearances.
But beyond this video, the podcast and online chatter, I’ve also learned that his popularity is spreading quickly IRL. Two nights ago, I was seated for a screening for the limited release of a restoration of the 1971 Ken Russell film The Devils and in the theater — there were maybe 25-30 people in attendance — somebody came in wearing a Lendeborg Warriors jersey. 376 miles away from Chase Center and he’s making an impression beyond talking trash about Luka Dončić.
