The Sixers have not gone past the group stage in the previous three years of the NBA Cup, which was first called the In-Season Tournament. They do have a former In-Season Tournament MVP on their team in LeBron James, who won the award as a Laker in 2023.
Eight teams will reach the Cup quarterfinals. Every group winner will advance along with the top second-place finisher from each conference. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, the semifinals for Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9. This year’s NBA Cup title game will take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11.
MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: A juvenile bald eagle flies over the Massapequa Preserve on April 14, 2026 in Massapequa, New York. The Long Island region provides a welcome habitat to a host of wildlife. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Extenuating day of work at P&T with so much NBA content around this time of the year. Would you believe it? Me neither. Links and notes below.
Jalen Brunson told the New York Post that winning the NBA championship has not changed how he views himself. Read the interview in full; it’s well worth it, and JB discusses plenty of things, not to mention his mother, Sandra, makes a cameo too!
“It will be the same. It’s something that I get to walk around with and think about when I’m — when I need to give myself a little confidence, or whatever, just in certain situations. But my approach and everything has to be the same. Just because I’ve reached the mountaintop of winning an NBA championship doesn’t mean that it’s over with. I feel like there’s still a lot more to do and a lot more that I can prove. It’s 100 percent always going to be in the mind, I’m just not going to let it define me.”
Brunson also touched on his recovery from wrist surgery in a separate NYP piece, saying it’s tested his patience but remains something he attacks every day. The original recovery timetable put it around six to eight weeks, so Brunson should be on track to be ready around training camp.
Regarding the ring-night matchup against the Sixers, Brunson expects “fireworks, for sure.”
If the Knicks want to repeat, they may need more production from Mohamed Diawara, Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet as their expensive veteran core becomes increasingly difficult to maintain, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III wrote. JE3 ranked those three players in a “most likely to contribute next season” ranking. Can you guess who’s No. 1?
Miles McBride is more than likely to enter the season without an extension, according to NYP’s Stefan Bondy. The reason? A “soft” (but very important) deadline has passed.
The Knicks explored trades for several reserve big men earlier this offseason, including Pelicans center/forward Karlo Matkovic, according to SNY’s Ian Begley. So far, we keep waiting for our next beloved third-string center.
The Knicks are expected to offer Karl-Anthony Towns an extension, but both JE3 and Begley believe a four-year, $272 million max is unlikely. That said, Begley predicted the sides will eventually reach an agreement unless New York’s offer is “insultingly low” and floated an extension beginning around $45 million.
Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also extension-eligible, but Begley believes Hart is more likely to reach a new deal. Check out the Bondy point above to learn more!
Jack Kayil’s decision to return to Alba Berlin on a new five-year deal could be a blessing for the Knicks, Kento Kato believes.
One speculative option for the Knicks’ final roster spot is Ben Simmons. Daily Knicks’ Mark Nilon suggested New York could try to land Ben after he reportedly rejected them last offseason. Yeah, right?
Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson died at 86. Nelson won five championships as a Celtics player, earned NBA Coach of the Year three times and briefly coached the Knicks during the 1995-96 season. Here’s what he said about that run, per NYP’s Mike Vaccaro.
“It does bother me that it didn’t work out when I coached the Knicks. Coaching that team is one of the platinum jobs in sports, and they entrusted me with a team that had come so close. I had ideas on how to get them closer. The players had other ideas.”
No, Russell Westbrook is not in advanced negotiations with Hapoel Tel Aviv. It was just a hoax, doofus.
Jeff Teague rejected Monta Ellis’ claim that Golden State could have achieved the same success with Ellis replacing Stephen Curry. Sadly, Teague doesn’t know Monta Ellis have it all.
Shaquille O’Neal revealed why, in his view, the NBA Dunk Contest has steadily declined. For context, O’Neal has launched DUNKMAN, a competition featuring professional dunkers with a $500,000 top prize. Nice!
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - MAY 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) warms up before playing the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Photo by Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
The NBA released its opening-week and Christmas Day schedules on Tuesday and will announce the full schedule on Thursday. The season will officially begin on Tuesday, October. 22, with three high-level games.
Brad Underwood has helped increase the presence of Illini in the NBA, with Illinois producing a first-round pick every year since 2024. Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Kasparus Jakucionis, Will Riley and Keaton Wagler should all see minutes at the NBA level next season.
No Illinois alumni will be playing on opening night, but Dosunmu and Shannon Jr. will take the court for the Timberwolves on the second night of the season. Minnesota will begin its season on Oct. 21 against the Miami Heat. The game will be the first of the night on ESPN, followed by Warriors vs. Lakers.
That will be it for the former Illinois basketball players during the opening week of the season that has already been announced by the NBA. However, the Timberwolves will also play on Christmas Day against the 2025 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder should once again be one of the best teams in the league, but the Timberwolves should also be in the mix to compete in the Western Conference.
The NBA’s Christmas Day schedule has been somewhat overshadowed by the NFL in recent years, but five matchups will run throughout the day, with the Timberwolves tipping off against the Thunder on ABC/ESPN at 7 p.m. It will be another great opportunity to watch Dosunmu with his new team and hopefully see Shannon Jr. receive an increased role.
Dosunmu was traded to the Timberwolves in February and excelled during his first 10 postseason games. He stepped into a bigger role during the Nuggets series due to injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Dosunmu scored 25 points in Game 3 and 43 points in Game 4, helping establish himself as an important piece of Minnesota’s rotation.
Dosunmu signed a five-year, $112 million extension with the Timberwolves this offseason. It was difficult to see him leave Chicago, but it will be great to see him competing for championships for years to come. Dosunmu will enter his sixth NBA season and his first full season with the Timberwolves.
Shannon Jr. will enter his third year in the NBA and with the Timberwolves. He played just 12.5 minutes per game last season but should receive an increased role after his impressive playoff performances. Shannon scored 21 points on 53.3% shooting in the Timberwolves’ final game of the season.
Jakucionis, Riley and Wagler were not included in the opening-week or Christmas Day schedules released by the NBA on Tuesday, but it will be fun to see where these young players land on the schedule early in the season. The full NBA schedule will be released on Thursday.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 12: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 12, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I originally saw this yesterday in a dozen cut up tweets (xs…what do we call these, Pounders?). Thank you to Karatestyle who shared the link with the entire interview. It was recorded last month during Summer League and released on YouTube Monday. It’s 34 minutes and 19 seconds long, so…see ya in a little while.
Bryant was introduced by host Allie Clifton as “one of the most genuine ambassadors for this league has for the deaf community.” The Road Trippin’s Show calls itself the “longest running athlete podcast.” Hosted by Clifton, Channing Frye, and Richard Jefferson, their YouTube Channel boasts over 2,000 videos.
Some general observations: Richard Jefferson is wearing sunglasses indoors. He seems a little toasty. When the episode kicks off his beer is already low. My guy @RealSpursnandez can be seen in the background sporting his Spurs belt. If you don;t follow him, get on it.
Another takeaway: For a young guy, Carter Bryant speaks with maturity, humility, and a fair level of self-deprecating humor. He doesn’t bluster, but more importantly, he doesn’t get led into negative tones.
Bryant speaks beautifully about his journey, in particular his first interaction with Devin Vassell which made him question if he even belonged in the NBA. While his appreciation for Gregg Popovich aligns with what others say about the greatest coach of all time, Bryant’s share feels like a friend telling you about a great teacher. It must be amazing to be comfortable in your skin at such a young age. It stands to reason, he’s consistently had familial love and support as he’s carved his path from school to college to the NBA and into the Finals in his first season.
Jefferson, Frye, and Bryant all attended Arizona and spoke at length about their experiences. Frye is cousins with Tobias Harris, who recently signed with the Spurs. Unfortunately, the interview took place before the signing.
The show wraps up with a heartfelt share about Bryant’s involvement with American Sign Language.
What takeaways did you grab from this interview?
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Jason Terry got a tattoo of the Larry O’Brien trophy the day before a Dallas Mavericks preseason game the year they won the NBA Finals. Everyone knows the story. It’s not just something people in Dallas talk about, it’s one of those NBA anecdotes that’ll be passed around for as long as the sport of basketball is relevant.
“When he first got the tattoo, I said he was crazy,” DeShawn Stevenson said at the time. “I didn’t say it to him. But I’ve never been to the [NBA Finals], and for him to have that now. Wow. And he got that tattoo in October, and it means a lot with what we’ve been through.”
Getting a tattoo of a championship trophy you haven’t won yet is bold. It’s brash. It’s Dallas.
In Through Painted Deserts, Donald Miller wrote “Dallas blew in on the wings of a Gulf coast hurricane and rained glass and steel onto a field of bluebonnets.” It’s a city that appears out of nowhere on the North Texas plains, gleaming skyscrapers beside a muddy river, sprawl in all directions built on swamps and farmland. In Dallas, all you need to be a star is the confidence that you can be a star.
Terry brought that type of bravado into the 2010-11 season when he got that tattoo, and even better, he backed it up during the Mavericks’ run to the championship. He averaged 17.5 points and 3.2 assists per game and shot 44 percent from deep during that postseason. Terry hit a ludicrous shot over LeBron James from 25 feet to seal Game 5 of the Finals, a shot he absolutely shouldn’t have taken, but only he had the courage to put up. It’s a legendary shot, one that should be talked about more when discussing the greatest shots in NBA history.
“Never the most talented, far from infallible, always a hero,” Andrew Tobolowsky wrote about Terry in 2013. The perfect way to describe someone who would take such a ridiculous shot—and make it.
Terry finally stepped up to be the costar that Dirk Nowitzki needed all those years. Nowitzki was the steady presence, the backbone of the team. Terry provided the fire, refusing to believe that anything but a championship was possible. That alone makes him one of the most important players in franchise history.
There’s the stats, of course. Terry is ranks eighth in franchise history with 619 games played. He’s third in 3-pointers with 1,140, and eighth in assists with 2,524. He’s fifth in steals with 735. Always a scorer, he’s seventh in points with 9,953.
The playoff numbers are even better. Terry is third in total playoff points for the Mavericks with 1,466 scored. He’s played the second-most playoff games in franchise history, suiting up for 87 postseason games. He leads the Mavericks in all-time playoff 3-pointers with 167.
But this isn’t about the stats. It’s about what he meant to the franchise. What he meant to Dallas. Terry was there through it all. The Finals collapse against Miami in 2006. The meltdown against Golden State in 2007. The lackluster playoff exits the next three years. Terry suffered through every obstacle, every setback. It was him and Dirk the whole time.
Even with all that on his back, he had the confidence to get that Larry O’Brien tattoo. He refused to let the losses in the past define the future. Instead, he bent the future to his will with pure belief and faith in a success he and his teammates hadn’t yet seen. What’s more Dallas than that?
The Mavericks made things right when they retired Mark Aguirre’s number last season. It’s time for them to do the same to one of the most important members of the franchise’s only championship team so far. Jason Terry deserves to have his number retired, and his name hanging in the rafters of the American Airlines Center.
Philadelphia, PA - April 26: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and guard Jaylen Brown high five in the third quarter. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 26, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Think about the best co-worker you’ve ever had.
They made your job easier. You trusted them when things got hectic, knew they would do their part, and probably got better at your own job because they pushed you. You celebrated the big wins together and complained to each other when you-know-what hit the fan.
Then five o’clock rolled around and you both went home.
Odds are, you weren’t grabbing dinner every Friday or planning vacations together. You worked well together, and that was enough.
For some reason, that standard has always felt insufficient when applied to NBA stars.
Last week, Jaylen Brown was asked during his introductory press conference in Philadelphia whether he had spoken to Jayson Tatum since the trade that ended one of the league’s longest-running star partnerships.
“Not really.”
Jaylen Brown, when asked if he has been able to talk to Jayson Tatum: "Not really"
"We won a championship together… Obviously there's ups and downs in any type of relationship. On my end, it's nothing but respect."
Two words were enough to reopen a conversation that followed Tatum and Brown for most of nine seasons. For some, Brown’s answer felt like confirmation. I’m sure plenty of people out there had a reaction in the vein of, “See, I told you they weren’t close!” For anyone who spent years questioning whether two ambitious stars could coexist, those two words probably tasted a lot like vindication.
The problem is that the basketball has always told us otherwise.
Boston spent years watching Tatum and Brown grow together, adjust to each other, endure playoff failures, survive roster turnover and eventually win a championship. Brown never publicly demanded his own team. Tatum never asked the Celtics to choose. Brown has since said he threw his phone across the room when he learned he had been traded, which is a pretty strange reaction for someone supposedly waiting nine years for his escape.
Brown’s latest comments tell us something about where their relationship stands now. How close they were throughout nine seasons together is harder to know.
That still leaves us with a much more interesting question: why did anyone need them to be?
In January 2022, with Boston sputtering through a frustrating season, Brown was asked directly about the idea that the Celtics might eventually need to choose between their two young stars.
“I disagree. I think we can play together,” he said. Brown acknowledged the team’s struggles, but his larger point was almost comically straightforward: they already had played well together for most of their careers.
He addressed the personal side, too.
“Me and J.T. talk,” Brown said. “As long as I’m on the same page with him and he’s on the same page with me, I think that’s what we’re most focused on.”
Sounds like a solid partnership, right? Still, the court of public opinion required further evidence.
Of course, there were real basketball issues worth discussing. Tatum and Brown occupied similar spaces on the floor, needed touches and were still learning how to create for one another instead of simply taking turns.
Even through all of that, the results were the results. Since Brown entered the league in 2016-17, no player has been part of more playoff wins than his 83. Tatum ranks second with 75. The partnership everyone kept trying to diagnose was quietly becoming one of the winningest duos of its era.
The legitimate basketball questions gradually got tangled up with speculation about what their relationship supposedly lacked. Body language became evidence. An offseason apart became suspicious. Any awkward quote could be stretched into another theory about whose team it really was or whether one of them would eventually demand something bigger for himself.
Then, Boston won the 2024 championship.
Brown took home Finals MVP and called Tatum his “partner in crime.” Tatum responded by saying, “We know we need each other.” Later that night, he explained that neither cared who received the individual trophy because the championship was what mattered.
Brown offered an even simpler summary afterward: “I trusted him. He trusted me.”
Maybe trust was always the more useful word with these two.
Chemistry doesn’t require friendship
The funny thing is, Tatum and Brown are hardly the first great teammates whose personal relationship was more complicated than the mythology surrounding them.
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen became the obvious shorthand for superstar partnership. They won six championships together, and for years both spoke glowingly about what the other meant to those teams. Jordan thanked Pippen during his Hall of Fame speech and made clear that Pippen was beside him for every title. Pippen later called Jordan the best teammate he ever had.
Then the mythology started peeling away.
Pippen eventually acknowledged that their friendship was never as close as viewers assumed from watching them play together. In a sit-down with GMA’s Michael Strahan in 2021, Pippen said, “It wasn’t what you saw on the court,” explaining that the respect remained even if the personal relationship people assumed was there had been overstated.
Their relationship has become considerably messier since then. Yet none of that changes what happened on the court.
Nobody watches the ’90s Bulls and wonders whether Jordan and Pippen were capable of coexisting. Six banners have a way of quieting those conversations.
Scottie Pippen says he and Michael Jordan were never friends off the court and haven’t spoken since 2020:
Pippen: “Great teammate, but we were just never great friends.”
Tatum and Brown never reached anything close to that level of historical dominance, but the distinction still matters. Personal closeness and basketball chemistry are related only as much as the players involved need them to be.
What actually mattered in Boston was whether that trust translated to the court, and their championship run offered a pretty useful demonstration. Tatum scored 36 in Games 1 and 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Brown answered with 40 in Game 2 and a team-high 29 in the clincher. There was no nightly referendum on whose team it was. Boston needed one of them to take over, and usually one of them did.
By the end, I think they had figured that out. Mostly.
There is no reason to romanticize the relationship beyond what we know. Nine years together in that kind of pressure cooker surely presented challenges, just as any long partnership does. What we can say with certainty is that whatever their relationship looked like away from the court, it never prevented them from functioning at a championship level.
Two people can frustrate each other and still be excellent colleagues. Anyone who has held a job for longer than six months should understand this concept.
At some point, though, we started asking NBA partnerships to satisfy a more public standard. Fans started craving evidence of closeness that had very little to do with basketball. Workout videos together? Encouraging. Vacation photos during the offseason? Even better. Riding a tandem banana boat in the Bahamas? Well, that’s reserved for LeBron and his banana boat brethren.
Tatum and Brown rarely provided that kind of public proof. Instead, they gave Boston what it ultimately craves: winning.
Boston made the choice
That context matters when looking at how the partnership actually ended.
Brown didn’t force his way to Philadelphia. There was no public trade request or summer-long campaign about needing his own franchise. His reaction to the deal sounded much more like someone caught off guard.
“When I first got traded, I just threw my phone across the room,” Brown said during his Philadelphia introduction.
He later described the Celtics as having “packed” him up and admitted he was still processing everything.
None of that proves he was thrilled with every part of his life in Boston, but it does complicate the assumption that Tatum and Brown were inevitably headed toward some dramatic breakup because one of them couldn’t tolerate sharing the stage.
For years, people wondered when one of the players would make the choice for Boston.
Boston eventually made it for them.
Brown’s “not really” answer now gives everyone room to revisit the past and search for clues that were supposedly there all along. We may learn more once Celtics-Sixers games turn every spectator in the building into a relationship counselor.
Even then, the ending shouldn’t be allowed to rewrite the middle.
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics pose for a photo in the locker room after winning Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tatum and Brown spent nine seasons together. They made repeated trips deep into the playoffs, recovered from some excruciating postseason losses and eventually won the title everyone said they needed to validate the experiment.
Whatever their friendship looked like, the partnership worked.
The partnership was enough
Maybe that’s the simplest way to understand Tatum and Brown.
We spent years looking for evidence that their relationship was warmer, closer or more obvious than what we could see from the outside. Maybe it was, or maybe it wasn’t. From where we sit, we can’t really know.
What we can judge is what happened when they shared a basketball court. There, they survived ugly seasons, brutal playoff exits, role changes and all the noise that followed them over nearly a decade. When the pressure was highest, they eventually figured out how to trust each other enough to deliver a championship.
Brown’s latest comments tell us something about how much they’ve communicated since the trade. How close they were throughout nine seasons together is harder to know. For nine seasons, Tatum and Brown kept answering the question that actually mattered. They trusted each other enough to grow together, lose together and eventually win together.
Personally, I’m taking Banner 18 over bestie behavior every day of the week.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been sold to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger in a major shakeup for the 17-time NBA champions.
An agreement was reached to purchase the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, ESPN reported.
“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” a statement read. “We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles,” the statement continued.
Walter purchased the Lakers from the Buss family last year for a then-record franchise valuation of approximately $10 billion. He still owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks and English Premiere League side Chelsea.
The deal requires the approval of the NBA’s board of governors. The panel is scheduled to meet in New York next month.
“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life,” Walter said. “It has been an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family. I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”
Kushner, 41, founded venture capital firm Thrive Capital. The brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, is a minority owner of the Miami Heat and previously had a stake in the Memphis Grizzlies.
Iger, 75, was Disney’s CEO before his term ended earlier this year. In 2024, he became the controlling owner of NWSL team Angel City FC in Los Angeles.
Word of the deal came as a surprise, given Walter’s purchase of the team just last year. Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, a former part-owner of the team and past president of basketball operations, referenced the fan base Wednesday in a social media post.
“I want to congratulate my good friend Bob Iger and Josh Kushner on their purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers!” Johnson wrote on X. “Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years — he has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA.”
Luka Doncic, who joined the Lakers in a surprise deal with Dallas, also shared his thoughts on social media.
“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA,” Doncic said. “I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting with Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together”
MILWAUKEE, WI - 1971: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game circa,1971 at the Milwaukee Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 1971 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had a legendary rivalry in the late 1950s and through the 1960s.
But Russell retired in 1969, and you’d think Chamberlain would have reigned unchallenged as the league’s top big man.
That didn’t happen.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then still known as Lew Alcindor, entered the league after winning three straight NCAA championships, and was an immediate sensation.
When he joined the NBA for the 1969-70 season, Jabbar finished second in the league in scoring with 28.8 ppg, and third in rebounding, with 14.5 per game. Naturally, he was Rookie of the Year, and won his first championship in his second season.
When he entered the league, Chamberlain was 33, and his career was starting to wind down. He had had a knee injury in 1969 that was still an issue, and the coltish Jabbar was just getting started.
Nonetheless, Chamberlain had immense pride, and while he acknowledged that Jabbar was his greatest challenge ever as an NBA center, he always had something extra for him when they met.
As you’ll see in this video, these guys didn’t like each other when they played, but they had immense mutual respect.
It was a relatively brief rivalry, but in some ways more intense than the Chamberlain-Russell epic.
NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
<p>Celtics’ owner Walter Brown helps Bill Russell with his new team jacket, after the center signed his rookie contract in 1956. Brown, who founded the franchise, passed away September 7, 1964. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)</p> | Getty Images
The 1964-65 season began on a somber note: Walter Brown, the team’s legendary founder and owner, suffered a heart attack and died a few weeks before opening night. Brown was just 59 years old.
Brown helped found the Basketball Association of America, which merged with the National Basketball League to form the NBA. He was also instrumental in founding the Ice Capades; managed the Boston Garden; owned the Boston Bruins; was president of the International Ice Hockey Federation; and president of the Boston Athletic Association, which operates the Boston Marathon. Brown also won championships as a hockey coach.
The Boston Celtics showed no signs of slowing down as they began pursuit of their seventh straight banner. They posted a 62-18 record, the best in league history, while no other team reached 50 wins. Boston won the first 11 games on the schedule, then added win streaks of seven and 16 games.
Russell won the Most Valuable Player award for the fifth time. He averaged 14.1 points per game and led the NBA in rebounding average at 24.1. Unfortunately, Russell played before blocked shots were tracked as an official statistic and also before the introduction of the Defensive Player of the Year award. His overall status as arguably the greatest player in NBA history is shortchanged as a result.
Sam Jones (see below for more about him), Tommy Heinsohn and Russell all played in the All-Star game. This would be Heinsohn’s last hurrah, retiring after nine seasons.
Among those new to the team were draft picks Mel Counts, taken in the first round with overall pick no. 9, and in the third round with pick 27, John Thompson. Counts would play 12 seasons in the NBA, win two rings with the Celtics, then be traded in a significant deal (stay tuned for more), and cross paths again with Boston in the 1969 Finals. Thompson played just two seasons as a backup big, but also won two rings. He made the Hall of Fame too, in the role he’s most known for, coach of the Georgetown Hoyas.
The first all-black starting five
The Celtics also made on-court history once again in the realm of civil rights.
In the 1964 installment of this series, we reviewed how coach Red Auerbach and the Celtics ignored the unwritten “quota rule” and put five black players on the court at the same time. On December 27, 1964, they took it to the next step. Tommy Heinsohn was injured and Willie Naulls replaced him in the starting lineup, along with regulars Bill Russell, Satch Sanders, Sam Jones and K.C. Jones. The first all-black starting five.
It was a major breakthrough in professional sports at a contentious time and bleak period in American history. And there was more to come from the Celtics on that front because, as Auerbach always stated, he simply wanted to win. And he knew what he was talking about. Together, that lineup won 12 games in a row – 10 of them on the road.
Sam Jones, the forgotten superstar
<p>Sam Jones dribbles the ball upcourt against the Philadelphia 76ers circa 1965. In the background is Wilt Chamberlain, whom Jones was known to trash talk after Chamberlain failed to block his shot. “Too late,” Jones would say. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> | Getty Images
Did you know that Sam Jones – no. 24 on the retired numbers banner – won 10 NBA championships, the second most behind Bill Russell? If not, then you probably are also unaware of his five All-Star game selections, three times voted to All-NBA, and induction into the Hall of Fame (inexplicably, he had to wait 15 years for the call).
Jones was, in today’s parlance, a bucket. His signature move was an outside bank shot off the dribble. His career high was 51 points for both regular season and postseason (at Madison Square Garden, winning a closeout game versus the Knicks). Most importantly, Jones was best known for being clutch. We’ve seen it already in this Banner Year series when he scored a series winner in 1962 and 47 points in a Game 7 in 1963.
Jones’ best season was this one, 1964-65, when he played all 80 games; averaged a career-high 25.9 points per game; scored 2,070 points, which at that time was a team record; earned All-NBA second team; and was fourth in MVP voting behind Russell, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.
It’s safe to say that most of today’s NBA fans know of those three megastars, even if they never saw them play. But no one talks about Sam Jones, the forgotten superstar.
Russell called Jones the most skilled teammate he’d ever had. He added that Jones was called upon to take a do-or-die shot in the playoffs six times, and made all six. That’s a real Mr. Clutch.
Fun fact about Sam Jones’ draft position: Jones was eligible for the 1956 Draft and was selected in the eighth round as the 59th overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers. However, Jones chose to return to North Carolina Central College to complete his degree following military service. By rule at that time, returning to school voided the Lakers’ exclusive claim to his player rights, leaving him available for a future draft. The next year, 1957, the Boston Celtics selected him in the first round with the eighth pick overall. If Jones had not returned to college, the Celtics would not have 18 banners, and you wouldn’t be reading this series right now.
Eastern playoffs
After their customary bye, the Celtics once again faced the dangerous Wilt Chamberlain, who’d gone west with the Warriors’ relocation to San Francisco, but was traded back to his hometown and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers were born when the Syracuse Nationals relocated, to fill the void in Philly after the Warriors departed.
As seemed to be their habit, the first six games were won by the home team, neither being able to separate from the other. Only Game 3 was particularly close, and Philly needed it to avoid a 3-1 deficit. The Sixers dominated the first and third quarters, while the Celtics took the second and fourth. Boston was ahead by two with one second remaining. Sixers guard Hal Greer took the inbounds pass and hit a 35-footer as the buzzer sounded (for two points as the three-point shot wasn’t in use yet). The Celtics protested that the shot was too late, but lacking replay there was nothing left but to play overtime. Philly escaped, 134-131.
Of course, everything came down to the final five seconds of Game 7. It had been a back-and-forth battle for the first 47 minutes, but the Celtics led 110-103, thanks to Sam Jones’ 37 points and 26 from Havlicek. Trying not to foul, Boston backed off on defense, unwisely allowing six quick points by Chamberlain. Then Russell made the worst mistake of his career, losing the ball with five seconds left and a one-point lead feeling extremely vulnerable. But Russell was bailed out by the most memorable play in Celtics history.
The Sixers gave Hondo the opening by not running any sort of action. Watch again: Everyone stood around, no one cutting or setting screens. The heady Havlicek took his position and only had to wait for the ball to come. It was a hallmark of the dynasty, the Celtics executing on the most crucial play to secure the win. Bonus: Johnny Most’s call of the play became legendary and made him famous.
NBA Finals
Survive and move forward, that’s the playoffs in a nutshell, and the Celtics did that. The Finals versus Los Angeles had lost some luster because Elgin Baylor was out after tearing knee ligaments. Boston was an overwhelming favorite and they won without any anxiety.
The matchup
Game 1 was a blowout, Boston leading by 20 after three quarters and finishing 142-110. The Lakers were never in it. Game 2 on the parquet was more typical playoff basketball, hard-fought and close. Jerry West poured in 45 and Dick Barnett added 26, but the Celtics had five men with 20 or more points, winning 129-123.
In LA, Sam Jones dropped 35 in Game 3, but West remained on fire with 43 points in a 21-point Lakers victory to stay alive. However, Game 4 was a different story.
Turning point
Boston trailed by six at halftime of Game 4, but the defense clamped down, enabling the visitors to dominate the second half, 57-38. West was held to 6 of 27 shooting and only 22 points. Final, 112-99, the Celtics taking a 3-1 lead.
The hero we needed
The entire Celtics squad was heroic in Game 5. They were already ahead by 16 when they began the fourth quarter with a barrage of 20 consecutive points. Again and again, the Celtics would get a defensive stop, throw an outlet pass and race the other way for an easy bucket. The Garden crowd was ecstatic. Radio announcer Johnny Most was so delirious he’s lucky he didn’t fall out of his perch in the balcony.
The final score was 129-96, a 33-point destruction. We wouldn’t see something like that again until 2008.
It wasn’t over until…
The series was practically over before it began. Without Baylor, LA was helpless.
Notable facts and stats
Seven Celtics scored between 10 and 22 points in Game 4.
Sam Jones led the team in scoring for the series with 27.8 points per game.
Russell pulled down 25 rebounds per game in the Finals.
Jerry West topped the Lakers by averaging 33.8 points, but he came up empty in the Finals for the third time versus Boston.
Tommy Heinsohn retired after this series, scoring 6 points with 8 rebounds in his final game. He won eight championships, was four times All-NBA and a six-time All-Star, as well as Rookie of the Year. We would hear from him again.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1965-66 season and the road to winning Banner #9.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question in the comments section here or on Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @RobbieBettelon. If you’re on BlueSky, you can also send to @RobbieBettelon.bksy.social.
Join us live on Friday with guests Harry Moroz and Mickey Jacobs from Order of the Blazing Horse. What questions do you have for the show?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 3: Alperen Sengun #28, Amen Thompson #1, Reed Sheppard #15, and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz on April 3, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
This week’s question is asking you to name the most important Houston Rockets player. Is it Kevin Durant, the Houston leading scorer who hates his teammates? Is it All-Start center Alperen Sengun? How about young guard Reed Sheppard and his shooting? Or Fred VanVleet, who the organization prizes? How about Amen Thompson, who is rumored to be the Rockets’ only untouchable player? Or Steven Adams, who leads the offensive rebounding charge that is a key part of Houston’s offense?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 9: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives against Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 9, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Sources: Several NBA teams have expressed interest to Simmons’ camp, including one West squad that offered a training camp invite. He is also open to signing a vet minimum contract. Simmons has dreams of playing for Australia during 2028 LA Olympics. Attending mini-camp aids hope
No, that’s not the son of Celtics superfan Bill Simmons. That’s the #1 pick of the 2016 NBA Draft Ben Simmons — and for what it’s worth, Jaylen Brown was selected by Boston at #3. Simmons was last seen with the Clippers after he was waived by the Nets in 2025. Now, here comes a series of big ifs: IF he’s truly healthy and IF he’s willing to play a role and IF everything goes well with his stint with the Australian national team, a Simmons comeback in the NBA could be possible.
It’s unknown if Brad Stevens and the front office are among those interested teams, but if he’s truly regained his athleticism — and maybe more importantly, his confidence — he might be worth a flyer with the team’s 15 roster spot still unfilled.
The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup will return for the 2026-27 NBA season, and if the Kings need any motivation to win it this year, look no further than the New York Knicks.
New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup last season, then six months later defeated the Spurs again in the NBA Finals to win their first championship in five decades.
Perhaps some extra fuel for teams?
Sacramento is a part of West Group C, and it will open group play on Nov. 6 against De’Aaron Fox and the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PT.
Next, the Kings will host Ja Morant and the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. PT before concluding group play on the road.
Their first stop will be in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Nov. 20 at Crypto.com Arena. Finally, group play action will come to a close against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 25 at Chase Center.
It shouldn’t take much for the Kings to fare better than their showing last season, given they had a 0-4 record in West Group A play and were eliminated from advancing before even completing group play.
The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup will return for the 2026-27 NBA season, and it’s starting with two thrilling matchups.
The Warriors will open up group play against Luka Dončić and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 30 at Chase Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PT, following the LeBron James-led Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup with the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.
Next, Golden State will face the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 13 at Frost Bank Center.
A NorCal rivalry will ensue on Nov. 25 when Golden State hosts the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. PT at Chase Center.
Finally, two days later, the Warriors will conclude group play against Ja Morant and the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 27 at Moda Center.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This season, the Jazz will be trying something they haven’t tried for four years: to make the playoffs. There is a real shot for them to make it, too. With the addition of Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies and Darryn Peterson from the draft, they’ve added some top-tier talent. Combine that with the leap that Keyonte George made last season, as well as the possibility of an improved Ace Bailey, and the Jazz are looking like one of the most interesting teams entering the season.
Not everything has been perfect for their chances of winning this season. Utah traded Walker Kessler to the Lakers for a treasure trove of picks when the negotiations didn’t go as planned. As impressive as the trade was for the Jazz and how much they received, it did mean losing depth at center.
All that said, how excited are you for the upcoming season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country.
