MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 31: Kel'el Ware #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks boxes out during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 31, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks will exercise their rookie-scale options on offseason acquisitions Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
The Milwaukee Bucks will exercise their rookie scale team options on Kel'el Ware ($7.14 million) and Kasparas Jakucionis ($4.02 million) for the 2027-28 season, league sources told @hoopshype. pic.twitter.com/IeTqRBJXDb
Ware, a 22-year-old seven-footer acquired in the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, has played solely in a reserve role for the Bucks to begin the season, averaging a career-high 13.8 PPG to go along with 8.7 RPG and 1.5 stocks (steals plus blocks). But for all his talent and flashes of brilliance, Ware has continued to show the motor and decision-making issues that marred his first two years in the league, leading to career lows in shooting (46.8% overall, 26.1% from three) and minutes (19.7 MPG), despite Myles Turner’s struggles and the Bucks’ lack of size in the frontcourt.
Jakučionis, also acquired in the Giannis trade—and by all accounts a must-have component of it—has arguably been one of Milwaukee’s brightest spots to start the season. Quickly emerging as a Taylor Jenkins favourite, the 6’5” Lithuanian point guard has become the team’s sixth man and earned enough trust to feature in many of the team’s closing lineups too. So far, the 20-year-old is averaging career highs across the board, including points (8.3 PPG), rebounds (2.8 RPG), assists (4.0 APG), and minutes (22.5 MPG). However, like many of his teammates, he’s struggled shooting from distance, hitting just 23.5% of his three-point attempts, down from 42.3% last season.
On-court production aside, Ware and Jakučionis figure to be key parts of the Bucks’ present and future, so seeing their rookie-scale options picked up is a positive sign. As per Scotto’s reporting, Ware’s option for the 2027-28 season comes in at $7.14m while Jakučionis’ is for $4.02m.
Here’s hoping the pair continue to grow as the season progresses.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: The sneakers worn by Noa Essengue #2 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Boston Celtics during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama didn't sugarcoat his feelings after San Antonio's loss to the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama didn’t sugarcoat his feelings about San Antonio’s loss to the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals.
The 7-foot-4 center recalled Game 4 specifically — in which his side blew a 29-point lead in a 107-106 loss at Madison Square Garden on June 10 — during an interview with “60 Minutes” on Sunday.
“I think there’s two. I think… there’s three,” Wembanyama said. “I would say Game 1 [of the Western Conference Finals] in OKC, Game 7 [WCF] in OKC, and Game 4 in New York.”
"It's the most intense heartbreak moment in my career."
Wemby says the Spurs blowing a 29-point lead vs. the Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals is something he replays the most from last year's postseason run.
Despite being favored in the Finals, the Spurs lost in five games to the Knicks, culminating in a 94-90 Game 5 loss in San Antonio in which the Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts to a call during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
“Because I’m not paying attention to this during the Finals. And I don’t think any player on either team really is,” he said.
“It showed my limits more than anything else going out there, you need to play basketball. You don’t need to be beating the s–t out of people, if you want to win at least.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama shoots as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns defends in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostNew York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday, June 5, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Wembanyama was candid on a number of emotional topics, including his 2025 blood clot diagnosis in his shoulder, which shut down his second NBA season.
“It had a huge impact on this,” Wembanyama said regarding him being less afraid to say what he thinks. “After that, life is so short, I don’t even want to waste it being somebody else. Simple as that.”
Wembanyama added that he should win the NBA MVP this year.
In six games for the Spurs this season, he is averaging 28.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 4.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on October 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Nets 125-124 in overtime. 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
Jayson Tatum is collecting hardware again, and we’re only two weeks into the NBA season.
The NBA announced Monday that Tatum has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2026-27 season, recognizing a four-game stretch in which he averaged 30.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists while leading the Celtics to a perfect 4-0 record.
It marks the 14th Player of the Week honor of Tatum’s career, bringing him within one of Larry Bird’s 15 for second-most in Celtics franchise history. Paul Pierce holds the record with 17. Pretty good company to keep before your 29th birthday.
San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 2 of the 2026-27 season (Oct. 26 – Nov. 1). pic.twitter.com/hN3A1bOuQe
Victor Wembanyama took home Western Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 36.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks while leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 3-0 record.
Tatum’s award-winning week included a pair of blowouts, a dramatic overtime buzzer-beater against Brooklyn and plenty of evidence that his slow start from three hasn’t done much to limit his effectiveness.
Boston opened the week by demolishing Chicago 134-99 on October 26. Tatum finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists in just 28 minutes, getting to enjoy most of the fourth quarter from the bench.
The following night against Brooklyn was a very different experience.
Tatum erupted for 40 points, five rebounds and eight assists in Boston’s 125-124 overtime victory over the Nets, capped by his game-winning 17-foot jumper at the buzzer. He also went 18-for-22 from the free-throw line, played 42 minutes and helped the Celtics survive a game that looked like it might end in heartbreak more than once.
He also finished with zero turnovers, an impressive feat considering how much of Boston’s offense ran through him. Between his scoring and playmaking, Tatum managed to carry a heavy offensive workload without giving Brooklyn a single extra possession.
Against Chicago in Friday’s NBA Cup opener, Tatum added 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Celtics built a lead as large as 32 before eventually winning 125-111.
He capped the week Sunday in Orlando, finishing with 32 points, four rebounds and seven assists in a 108-97 win over the Magic. Boston has now won five straight games since dropping its season opener in Detroit.
Jayson Tatum joined Celtics royalty last night!
☘️ 32 PTS ☘️ 7 AST ☘️ 2 BLK@jaytatum0 became the 3rd player in franchise history (Larry Bird, 1987-88 and John Havlicek, 1970-71) to average 28+ PTS & 7+ AST through the first six games of a season! pic.twitter.com/EUZHoRSKNu
Beyond his scoring, Tatum’s playmaking has been a standout part of his early-season performance. He’s consistently found teammates cutting toward the basket and drawn additional defensive attention to create open looks elsewhere. His developing chemistry with Paul George has also given Boston another reliable way to initiate offense, with both players comfortable creating opportunities for each other and everyone else.
Tatum has been effective despite struggling with his outside shot, connecting on just 24.4 percent of his three-point attempts through six games. He’s compensated by attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line, where he made 46 of 55 attempts during his four award-winning games. That included 22 attempts against Brooklyn and another 17 against Orlando.
The strong start is particularly encouraging given Tatum’s recovery from the Achilles injury he suffered in 2025. After returning to the court last season, he’s quickly reestablished himself as Boston’s offensive centerpiece while continuing to develop his blossoming partnership with George.
In short, Jayson Tatum looks like Jayson Tatum again. And he’s apparently still getting warmed up.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the second half of a game against the LA Clippers 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
After bouncing around the league for a few seasons and struggling to truly break out, Sandro Mamukelashvili made a name for himself last year with the Toronto Raptors. He played in 80 games, finished 10th in Sixth Man of the Year voting and averaged career highs in points (11.2), rebounds (4.9) and assists (1.9) per game while shooting 38.9% from deep and 64.2% inside the arc. Over the summer. the Los Angeles Lakers took note of that stellar campaign and inked him to a four-year, $52 million deal.
Although Mamukelashvili hasn’t been as efficient beyond the arc as last year yet (7-of-21, 33.3%), his versatile offensive game — rich with driving, passing and spacing abilities — is helping lather up the Lakers’ attack. According to databallr, their offensive rating is 4.4 points better with him on the floor thus far (122.0 points vs. 117.6 points per 100), whatever you deem that worth in a small sample through seven games.
“He’s a really rare offensive player because he’s an advantage creator in some ways. So if he’s guarded by a five and he can pick and pop into space, that’s an advantage creation,” head coach JJ Redick told reporters before Sunday’s win over the Raptors. “He’s really good at follows and touch rolls, roller behind, so that’s an advantage creation. So he’s an advantage creator and then his 0.5 [second] decision-making and his shooting ability and finishing ability, he’s an advantage finisher. And then on top of that, he’s also a connector. There’s very few offensive players that are all three of those things and he is.”
Mamukelashvili’s malleable skill-set enables the Lakers to deploy him in an array of beneficial ways. He can space or screen off of the ball. He can attack closeouts when Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves compromise defenses. He can operate as a playmaking hub to ease Dončić and Reaves’ creation responsibilities. There’s plenty to like and that’s been on display to begin the year.
His next chance to showcase all that he provides is Monday night at 7 p.m. against the Miami Heat.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 26: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at TD Garden on October 26, 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
The Celtics will be without Paul George when they face the Houston Rockets on Monday night. George will miss his first game of the season as he rests on the second night of a back-to-back. Mitchell Robinson sat out his first game of the season on Sunday night, the first night of a back-to-back against the Orlando Magic.
Injury Report for tonight at Houston:
Devin Carter – Illness – OUT Paul George – Rest – OUT
George is averaging 20.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 46.2% from the field, and he played in both nights of the Celtics’ back-to-back against the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets last week.
George has routinely said he’s felt healthy this season, and so far, he’s averaged 31 minutes per game.
“This summer really was a chance to continue to work: strengthen my body, strengthen my knee,” he said on Media Day. “It’s almost like a kind of rebirth, or reborn again — to be in a system, to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good. To be able to work, to be able to train again in the summers — my summers the last couple of years were dedicated to rehab.”
The Rockets will be without Steven Adams (right soleus strain) and Clint Capela (right ankle sprain). Reed Sheppard, who is dealing with a low back strain, is questionable.
Jordan Walsh, Sam Hauser, and Baylor Scheierman could all start in place of George
The Celtics started Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta on Sunday night. With George sidelined, Jordan Walsh — who started the first five games of the season — could start in his place.
It remains to be seen whether Robinson will return to the starting lineup after missing Sunday’s game. Queta recorded 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 27 minutes in his first start of the season on Sunday.
Walsh came off the bench for the first time all year in the Celtics’ 108-97 win over the Magic.
Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser haven’t started this season, but both started games at times last year and could replace George in the lineup. Scheierman averages 4.5 points and 3 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, while Hauser averages 8 points and 3.2 rebounds.
James Harden demanded a max contract and wouldn't budge, so Oklahoma City traded him to Houston. Kevin Durant left to form a super team in Golden State.
Russell Westbrook stayed, collected triple-doubles at a historic rate, won an MVP, and forever became a hero to fans in Oklahoma City. Fittingly, the Thunder are going to retire his jersey on Feb. 7, a Sunday night game against the Knicks, a ceremony and a game you will be able to watch on NBC and stream on Peacock, part of Sunday Night Basketball.
❝Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy.❞
"Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy. Russell Westbrook's legacy was built both on the court and in the community," Thunder Executive Vice President Sam Presti said in a statement announcing the honor. "His mindset was relentless, his commitment deep. For all those reasons, Oklahomans consider him one of their own and his number will be raised to the rafters, in Oklahoma City forever."
It was considered a bit of a reach, and a bet on his athleticism, when Presti drafted Westbrook No. 4 out of UCLA — a bet that paid off handsomely. Westbrook played 11 seasons in Oklahoma City and was key to the Thunder reaching their first NBA Finals in 2012. In those 11 seasons, the Thunder made the playoffs nine times and reached the Western Conference Finals four times.
Westbrook's greatest season in Oklahoma City was the 2016-17, when he racked up 42 triple-doubles on his way to averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists — plus making a host of clutch plays for the team — and going on to win Most Valuable Player. Westbrook finished his career with 209 triple-doubles, the most in league history.
Westbrook is a lock future Hall of Famer: An MVP and member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, a nine-time All-NBA and All-Star, and a two-time scoring champion.
"We are incredibly proud to retire Russell's number. Russell made a lasting mark on the city and state during his time with the team, and his involvement in the community has endured long after," Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for his genuine care for the people of Oklahoma, and he will always be considered a member of the Oklahoma City community."
That community will rally to celebrate him on Feb. 7.
The Dallas Mavericks’ three-game homestand concludes with a matchup against the winless Sacramento Kings on Monday night. Dallas has won their last three, and looked fantastic in those games. Cooper Flagg will be without his running mate, Kyrie Irving, so it will be interesting to see how the offense looks sans the former All-Star guard. The Kings are second-to-last in the league in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions), while the Mavericks rank 12th in offense, so the matchup certainly favors Dallas. The key will be limiting the scoring output from Sacramento’s guards. However, they’re going to need something from the limited amount of guards that they have available themselves to avoid handing the Kings their first victory.
Game intangibles
Dallas Mavericks (4-2) vs Sacramento Kings (0-6)
Tipoff: 7:10p CT at the American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX.
How to watch: The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29, or streaming on MavsTV+ for anyone in the Mavericks media market. For those outside of the viewing area, the game will be on NBA League Pass.
Odds via the Fanduel Sportsbook as of 2:00PM CST
Spread: Dallas -8.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 232.5 (-105/-115)
Moneyline: Dallas -335
Player props
Domantas Sabonis to get 14+ rebounds (-106)
Zaccharie Risacher to get 6+ rebounds (-128)
We are going to see bricks galore tonight. Dallas has the guys to defend Sacramento’s perimeter players, and the Mavericks’ offense may look stagnant at times without Kyrie Irving. Sabonis should kill Daniel Gafford on the offensive glass, and Risacher should grab a lot of the Kings’ misses.
Game sides
Sacramento +8.5 (-110)
Under 232.5 points (-115)
This game will be low-scoring and close. As previously stated, this is a trap spot for Dallas. No Irving, coming off a huge win, with two days’ rest, and being favored for the first time this season. The Kings are desperate and have matchup advantages against Dallas’ big men. I still think Dallas wins, but expect the score to be something like 109-104.
During the past 20 seasons, the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA has failed to qualify for the playoffs just three times. No team since the 1998-99 Seattle Supersonics has started a season with at least six wins in a row and not made it to the NBA's postseason.
So how have the Grizzlies pulled off this early season surprise? Here are three reasons why Memphis is the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA before games played on Monday, Nov. 2:
Yaxel Lendeborg is suddenly the trendy pick to be the NBA's rookie of the year thanks to a batch of big early season performances, but Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer is the only rookie with a game-winner and a triple-double so far. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has quickly become a hub for the Memphis offense, distributing the ball on offense and forming a fearsome pairing inside with Edey.
Though his overall shooting numbers are lagging and he won't wow you with athletic feats, Boozer is still shooting nearly 37% from 3-point range and looks to be a potential cornerstone in the mold of Tim Duncan with his diverse skill set. Perhaps more importantly, his promising production in the first six games have helped shift the narrative after an offseason of uncertainty about the changing roster.
The Grizzlies might not have a star with the commercial crossover potential Morant once had, but the roster was in much better shape than many NBA prognosticators expected after the team traded away Morant, Jackson, Bane and Santi Aldama in various deals. Memphis currently has 13 players averaging at least 12 minutes per game as coach Tuomas Iisalo often uses an 11-man rotation.
Jerome, who missed most of last season after being signed by the Grizzlies, was the league's leading scorer during the first week of the season. Coward and Jaylen Wells have shown growth as 3-point shooters and Edey, despite being on a minutes restriction, has been a dominating rebounder and defensive anchor based on advanced metrics. Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart, acquired in trades this past offseason, have provided a veteran presence off a bench that seems to come in waves.
That approach might not work in the postseason, and it caused issues when Morant clashed with Iisalo last year. But it's proving effective during the first month of an NBA season that's been defined by the number of injuries impact players have already suffered.
Grizzlies' schedule has been soft
Memphis has shown undeniable signs that it was overlooked heading into the 2026-27 season and swept a four-game road trip as part of this hot start. But it also hasn't beaten a team expected to contend for either conference title.
The Grizzlies have beaten the NBA's only winless team twice (Sacramento Kings) and have two wins over a team with a 1-5 record heading into Monday (Utah Jazz). They'll be favored against the struggling Pelicans.
But Memphis also orchestrated a comeback over the Golden State Warriors and handed the Portland Trail Blazers their first loss of the season. Morant played against his former team for the first time in Portland and left with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least a month.
Six games don't validate a rebuild, and the schedule toughens in the coming weeks. But as Morant faces another extended absence and the Grizzlies keep piling up wins, the franchise's decision to dismantle the roster built around him looks less like a gamble and more like foresight.
The chance to score 40 points in an NBA game does not come around very often, but Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg earned that opportunity just seven games into his career.
With veterans Steph Curry and Draymond Green resting for the first leg of a back-to-back on Sunday, Lendeborg was the star of the show as the Warriors won their fourth consecutive game, 124-112, against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center.
The rookie led both teams with 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the field, including six made 3-pointers, which tied his output against the Phoenix Suns earlier this season.
Lendeborg returned to the game with 10:12 left in the fourth quarter with 29 points, and proceeded to score his final eight points over the next four minutes. Only three points away from his first 40-point game, Lendeborg told reporters after the game that his teammates urged him to reach that mark.
“I think [Brandin Podziemski] was shooting a free throw, and then [De’Anthony] Melton, it’s all Melton’s fault, guys, by the way,” Lendeborg said. “De’Anthony Melton went up to me and said, ‘Hey, man, you need to get 40. You’re three points away.’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, man, it’s all good.” And then he just peer pressured me into doing it.
“He said he’s going to give me the ball, and he literally was holding it just to give me the ball. And I’m like, ‘Fine, I’ll shoot it,’ and I missed but I try to tell him ‘No, no, no.’ And then now Will [Richard] came over here. ‘You got to do it. You got to do it.’ So everybody was egging me on, and I kind of just fell into it. But I know next time I’m just playing the flow of the game because they came at me like four threes in a row. We almost lost the game because of that. So next time I’m never doing that again.”
Lendeborg took three shots in his final four minutes on the court, missing all of his attempts, but Golden State was able to close out the Clippers before coach Steve Kerr eventually emptied the bench.
When asked if he was aware of how close he was to scoring 40, Lendeborg showcased his team-first mentality.
“I’ve never been a stat chaser in my life,” Lendeborg said. “Falling into peer pressure like I did just now was pretty bad on my part. I’m a guy that loves ethical hoops. I’m a guy that loves efficient basketball, and I didn’t do that for the last two or three minutes. So it’s bad on my part. But I’ll know next time, I definitely won’t do that again. If it comes to me, it does. If I don’t get it, then I wasn’t meant to get it that day.”
The 24-year-old added six assists and four rebounds to his monstrous performance, displaying why he has been one of the most impressive rookies in the NBA this season.
Luka Doncic is creating the offensive advanatges the Lakers want. NBAE via Getty Images
Dončić has reached another level of offensive rhythm to start the season, averaging a league-best 37.7 points on 48.2% shooting (43.2% on 3-pointers) to go with 8.2 rebounds and 7.3 assists in his first six games after the Lakers’ win over the Raptors on Sunday.
With the roll he’s been on, defenses have been aggressive with blitzing, trapping and generally sending two defenders at the Slovenian guard when they can – creating 4-on-3 offensive opportunities.
While Dončić is doing “a really good job of making plays” when two defenders are on, as Redick put it, the team results haven’t been there.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is tired of his team not take advantage of the easier offensive opportunities Luka Dončić creates, NBAE via Getty Images
And Redick sees that as an issue with the decision-making after the superstar guard passes out of the double team, mentioning there were multiple opportunities during Sunday’s win over the Raptors in which the Lakers passed up good shots.
“I know in the second half I can think of four times that we turned down wide open threes, like I’ll take these guys out,” Redick said. “Like you gotta shoot the ball when you’re open.”
While Redick didn’t call out any player by name, he sees the indecision as a result of having so many new players not accustomed to what the Lakers want to do when those advantages are created.
While JJ Redick didn’t call out specific players, Quentin Grimes has been one of the biggest culprits of passing up open shots. NBAE via Getty Images
“And again it’s the new group thing,” Redick said. “These guys gotta understand what the purpose is of what we’re trying to do. And when you get an advantage, you gotta keep the advantage and shoot it.”
There’s also the factor of players not wanting to make mistakes early on with their new team, leading to overthinking.
“Because I lived this as a player, it’s like, ‘Ahhh, I want to shoot well. I want the Lakers fans to like me. I want to score. I want to do this,’” Redick said. “You’re thinking too much. Just go play basketball and do our stuff and I promise you there’s going to be opportunities to score.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center on October 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’ve been locked in for the Dallas Mavericks’ first six games of the 2026-27 season, you already know. The proof is in the dominance-flavored pudding.
And ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon has been. So he knows.
That’s why MacMahon had no reservations when he declared flatly on Monday’s episode of the Hoop Collective podcast that Cooper Flagg has already arrived. He’s not going to be one of the best in the league. He is one of the best in the league. Right now. Today.
This is no longer something opposing teams can put off until some future point in Flagg’s development. He will wreck your shit tomorrow. The Houston Rockets found out about it in Friday’s first and fourth quarter s of the Mavericks’ 116-111 win at the AAC to improve their record to 4-2.
“This is going to get aggregated, and I’m okay with it,” MacMahon said while discussing the Mavericks with podcast host Brian Windhorst, who himself banged a loud drum for Flagg before the start of the season. “I would not trade Cooper Flagg for Luka [Doncic], just considering age, contract, all that kind of stuff. Cooper Flagg I believe right now is a top-10 player.”
Then he said it once more, with vigor.
“I think he’s a top-10 player. … There’s only one guy in the league I’d trade him for.”
I don’t know why there’s a need to commingle this discussion with who one would or wouldn’t trade for Flagg, because the Mavericks ain’t trading Flagg, just as much as the San Antonio Spurs ain’t trading Victor Wembanyama any time soon. Irrelevant.
What’s relevant is that Flagg’s development has curved toward the exponential in the tail end of what are still his teen years, which should be a horrifying proposition for the rest of the league, and the Mavericks’ roster is showing signs that the same may be true of the team surrounding the young superstar.
Flagg and Kyrie Irving went off for 35 and 33, respectively, in Friday’s upset of the Rockets, who were admittedly playing without Alperen Sengun. MacMahon also stressed on the podcast that it is becoming less and less likely that the team trades Irving this season as the team’s fortunes seem to be turning this year.
“Cooper being this good at bringing the ball up and initiating the offense takes a lot of pressure off him and takes a lot of strain off him. Kyrie, I think, is very, very happy and comfortable with his situation in Dallas,” MacMahon said. “My educated guess is that this is probably a situation that plays out this summer, but we’ll see.”
Irving has a player option for 2027-28 at just north of $42 million before he becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Irving and Flagg work well on the court for the same reason that Irving and Doncic worked, and for the same reason that Irving and LeBron James worked during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship season in 2015-16. Having a running partner who can also bring the ball up and initiate offense gives Irving the freedom to play both on and off the ball, maximizing his ability to play-make and get into advantageous matchups for isos.
Flagg comes into Monday’s game against the Sacramento Kings averaging 26.8 points per game, which is seventh in the NBA, through six games. He’s also fifth in steals (2.6 per game) and 21st in blocked shots (1.2), making him perhaps the most dominant force on both sides of the ball this side of Wembanyama.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 31: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks over Trey Lyles #41 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Frost Bank Center on October 31: 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 1: It wasn’t the ideal start to the season for the defending Western Conference Finals champions. With Victor Wembanyama not looking like himself (among other issues), they got throttled at home by a fleetingly healthy Thunder squad and lost a heartbreaker in Austin to the Rockets before finally getting their first win of the season against a depleted Mavs team in Dallas.
There may be no better team to “get right” against than the Kings, and the Spurs made quick work of the annual cellar dwellers (which was a good thing considering it was the first night of a back-to-back). Wemby began his bounce-back by dominating the paint on his way to 29 points, and Julian Champagnie tied his franchise record for three-pointers in a half with 8 in the first.
The Spurs looked lethargic the next night against a shorthanded Jazz team, although they had the excuse of a rest disadvantage and not having time to acclimate to the elevation change. Regardless, after enduring another big game from noted Spurs killer Keyonte George, they woke up and dominated in overtime, with Devin Vassell hitting several key shots down the stretch and Wemby dominating his way to 36 points, including finally hitting some threes.
Not to be outdone, Geralt if Rivia Wemby took it another step further on Halloween night with 43 points and 6 blocks against a Timberwolves squad that was missing Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert (not that the latter has proven to a Wemby stopper). As with all four wins so far, the Spurs left a little something to be desired on the consistency front and weren’t as dominant has they could have been considering the opponents/injuries, but you accept the baby steps (for now).
The Spurs handled their business in three spots where they should have handled their business: a woeful Kings team, a short-handed Utah team and a short-handed Timberwolves team traveling on zero days’ rest. Still, San Antonio got impressive performances from Victor Wembanyama, culminating in a career-high 34 field goal attempts against the Timberwolves. The Spurs will look much deeper whenever Tobias Harris can get back.
San Antonio has found its footing somewhat after a slow start, and now boasts a top-10 offense and defense. And it has done that without the Spurs big off-season acquisition, Tobias Harris, who is nearing a return but there is no official timetable. The Spurs have stretches where they look like the best team in the league: Defending with ferocity, moving the ball, and getting easy buckets around the rim. Then the next quarter they fall in love with isolation basketball and things go cold, which happened too much against Minnesota on Halloween, but they got bailed out by 43 points from Victor “The Witcher” Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama was not about to let the San Antonio Spurs be below .500 for too long. Following a 0-2 start to the season, the Spurs have rattled off four straight wins and look like the team they were several months ago en route to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Over their last four games, the Spurs have averaged 122.5 points per game, led by Wembanyama, who has averaged 32.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game during this win streak. Wemby says he is aiming for the MVP award, and these are definitely MVP-like numbers.
One of the more underappreciated players on this roster has been Julian Champagnie, who has shot 16-of-31, or 51.6 percent, from 3-point range in this span. He is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range on the season and proving to be one of the most impactful forwards off the bench in the entire NBA.
Coming up
Mon. 11/2 vs. Utah Jazz (7:30 PM CT)
Wed. 11/4 vs. Dallas Mavericks (8:30 PM CT)
Fri. 11/6 at Sacramento Kings (Emirates Cup, 9:00 PM CT)
Sat. 11/7 at Portland Trail Blazers (9:00 PM CT)
Prediction: 3-1 — I really want to go 4-0, but we need to see more consistency from the Spurs first. The Mavs with Cooper Flagg and noted Spurs killer Kyrie Irving, who both missed the first match-up, are a different animal, and strange things always happen in Portland, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. I believe the Spurs will ultimately split those games, but I’m more than ready to be proven wrong.
Bonus content
Not really Spurs related, but there has been so much drama in the NBA in the first two weeks alone — from injuries, to current and former teammate arguments, and scuffles — that it makes you appreciate the drama-free Spurs (outside of the first two games, of course). Here is a quick summary of all the craziness, in case you need catching up.
Last year, this defense was the whole identity of the team. We watched a roster nobody believed in become a problem every night because they chased, they swiped, they dove on the floor, and they made you earn every bucket. Four games into this season, that team is gone.
The Suns are 1-3 and have allowed 122 points or more in all four games.
Dillon Brooks stood at the podium and called it what it is: “We’re 30th in defense, so that’s not great. That’s terrible.” Then they spent three days drilling it in practice, came home, and let Denver rain threes in their own building.
The fanbase is past the “small sample size” stage. We are watching the same breakdowns repeat.
This stat from Cody Hunt on X/Twitter blew my mind. How much is it bad luck? How much is it real? I believe it’s a bit of both, personally. And small sample sizes can blow stats like this out of proportion. But it is clear that this is a massive issue that needs correcting, ASAP.
Through 4 games, Suns opponents are shooting 43.9% from 3, which is the highest opponent 3P% in the NBA. 2nd place is at 40.5%, and league average 3P% is 34.6%.
How much of that is bad defense vs. just bad luck?
Murray and Braun combined for 14 threes, and Brooks and others kept rotating or closing out too late on kick-outs to Braun. Ott pointed out that Braun was “a guy that’s made five all year.” Credit to Braun, but when you leave a shooter wide open, he gets hot.
The switching scheme leaves too few defenders on the back side.
About a dozen times, the aggressive switching and double-teams on Jokic left one help defender covering two Nuggets on the perimeter. That scheme only works with perfect timing, and right now nobody is in sync. And we saw it snowball.
Off-ball attention in the corners.
Brooks and Bridges are often stationed in the corner, where they tend to doze off, whether that means losing a backdoor cutter, reacting late, or failing to rebound. Booker’s league-worst 137.2 individual defensive rating gets the headlines, but the leaks are coming from every spot on the floor.
Again, the problem I have with all of this is that they had a full three days to talk about this and work on it. And while they looked much sharper offensively (outside of Jalen Green), the defense stuck out like a sore thumb yet again.
Team huddle.
Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Ott and Suns assistants Brian Randle and John Little talking after Wednesday's practice.
This roster was built to be long and nasty, and the length is not showing up where it matters. At 27.7 defensive rebounds per game, only Golden State has been worse at ending opponent possessions. With Mark Williams out and Oso Ighodaro missing a couple of games, the frontcourt has been thin and young, and Khaman Maluach is taking on a big role early.
Ott explained the trade-off himself: the team is “so concerned on the glass” that players retreat to rebound instead of pressuring the ball, and without stops they end up inbounding after made baskets. Last year the athleticism produced steals and transition buckets. This year it is being spent cleaning up misses that should have been contested in the first place.
The defense was the engine for everything else. The Suns ranked third in steals last season, and that pressure is what made the chaos offense work. Without it, this is a half-court team with spacing problems. The front line defense is vital not only for containing penetration that leads to clean looks, but also for stopping guys like Jamal Murray from going supernova and dropping 39 with ease, which I talked about in my latest episode of Suns Hit.
The lineup questions are already here. Jalen Green’s defensive rating sits at 130.7, while Collin Gillespie’s is 120.3, and Ott went with Gillespie next to Booker down the stretch instead of Green.
They will need the defense to step up against a Warriors team that can shoot the basketball well from deep. They hunt three-point looks. And have some guy named Stephen Curry who is pretty good at shooting the basketball. Golden State drilled 22 threes on 45% shooting in a win over the Clippers on Sunday night, and have won 4 straight games since their loss to the Suns.
That decision (starters) is going to get louder every week the defense stays at the bottom of the league. The lone cure to that is winning, and even that may be a band-aid if they can’t figure out how to make this group work long-term.
Closing Thought
The talk is already done. The film is there.
Close out on shooters. Box out the man in your area. Defense should be the priority. If the Booker-Green-Brooks-Bridges core can’t defend together, Ott has to stop forcing it and play the lineups that get stops.
Last year’s top-10 defense came from effort and execution, and right now this team has neither.
For the 10th time in their first 15 quarters this season, the Phoenix Suns have surrendered 30+ points. That’s 67% of the quarters they’ve played.
At some point, this stops being an occasional defensive breakdown and starts becoming your defensive identity. https://t.co/SIp046iqDu
Luka Dončić couldn’t help but chuckle after a reporter asked him an unexpected question Sunday evening.
Would you rather win the MVP Award or Defensive Player of the Year?
Dončić’s reputation is no secret.
Offensive savant.
Defensive pole.
But this season, the latter has increasingly felt like a misnomer, especially if you watched his brilliant two-way performance against the Raptors in the Lakers’ 131-125 win on Sunday.
Dončić finished with 45 points (12-for-23 from the field, 8-for-12 from 3), 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals, one blocked shot and three drawn charges.
Dončić is the first player with five steals and three drawn charges in the same game since player tracking began in 2013-2014, per ESPN.
Said Lakers coach JJ Redick: “He’s been awesome on defense.”
Added Walker Kessler: “Five steals and three charges. Incredible. You know, incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense.”
When Doncic was told about the high praise he received, he didn’t hesitate in his response.
“Oh, finally,” he said, cracking a smile.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass against the Toronto Raptors during an NBA game on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
He’s leading the league in scoring with 37.7 points per game, the fifth-most points in NBA history through six games and the most since Michael Jordan in 1986-87. He’s averaging more points than any Laker player ever through six games, surpassing his record from last season (37).
But defensive praise?
That’s new. That’s exciting. That could change the equation.
“Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year I really took a step forward,” Doncic said. “Obviously people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. But I know, and my team knows, that I’m better this year.”
On Sunday, Doncic was sneaking behind players and knocking the ball out of their hands. He was deflecting passes in the lane. He was hammering the ball away from guys as they posted up against him in the paint. He was leaping into the air to deflect errant passes.
He was everywhere, doing everything.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Defense has long been considered Doncic’s weakness. When the Mavericks shockingly traded him to the Lakers in February 2025, his detractors unanimously pointed their finger at his production on the less glamorous side of the court. He’s still regularly dragged through the mud for it.
But the thing is, Doncic can play defense. And when he so chooses, it changes the Lakers’ ceiling.
Just look at what he did against the Jazz in his 52-point, eight-rebound, 10-assist and two-steal performance in the Lakers’ 132-123 win on Oct. 25.
With 3:55 left and the score knotted at 116-116, he took a charge from Keyonte George as the Jazz’s point guard drove into the paint. It sparked a 16-7 run for the Lakers.
On Sunday, Doncic repeatedly put himself in harm’s way.
“I think taking a charge in general is just a form of leadership, right?” Redick said. “You’re putting your body on the line for the team.”
Added Doncic: “Before last season, I don’t think I had maybe five charges in seven years, or six years. So, that gets everybody fired up. …I just wanted to get better at that and three charges is not bad for one game”
Doncic’s buy-in on the defensive end changes things for the Lakers. He should be leading the MVP race right now regardless of what he’s doing on defense. But the way he’s playing on both ends of the court muzzles his detractors.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic doesn’t need to be great on defense. If he can be good, the Lakers can be great. And he can have a gold-paved path to the MVP Award while competing against two-way stars Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
We all know what he’s doing on offense is jaw-dropping, so much so that Redick waxed poetic while trying to put it into words.
“It feels like a supernova but it also feels normal,” he said. “We live on a spaceship and we’re going at the speed of light at all times when he’s on the court. When he has it going, you know, …it’s like pick your poison because he can just make any shot.”
As for defense?
Doncic has recently gone from being a punchline to being a threat.
