Category: NBA

While eight teams have already begun their summer action by playing in Salt Lake City and San Francisco, the entire NBA does not get together until the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas, which begins on July 10. While many tend to focus on the incoming rookie class, which is expected, these are also critical games for returning players.

Some players may be working to prove they deserve a more significant role once the regular season begins, while others are in a position where they need to show they belong. With this in mind, below is a returning player from each team (with a few exceptions sprinkled in) worth tracking in Las Vegas.

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin

Obviously, the starting point guard job is spoken for in Atlanta, with Trae Young leading a team that improved its roster significantly this summer. And with Nickeil Alexander-Walker among the newcomers, Bufkin won't find playing time easy to come by next season. That said, the former first-round pick is heading into his third NBA season and has yet to make an impact. At a minimum, he needs to perform well enough in Las Vegas to give Quin Snyder and the coaching staff something to consider in the months leading up to training camp.

Boston Celtics: Baylor Scheierman

With Jayson Tatum sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon and multiple rotation players exiting via trade or free agency, Boston's rotation will have a different look next season. As a result, Scheierman, the 30th overall pick in last summer's draft, may have an opportunity to earn more minutes. Limited to 31 games as a rookie, he'll look to use the summer as a springboard into the 2025-26 season. Jordan Walsh, whose contract does not become fully guaranteed until opening night, is another player on the Celtics' summer league roster who needs to impress.

Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin

The Nets surprised many by using all five first-round picks on draft night, beginning with Demin at eighth overall. The former BYU standout is one of three rookies on the team's Summer League roster who could potentially spend time on the ball, with Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf being the others. Demin is the selection here since he was the first selected in last month's draft, but these games in Las Vegas could serve as an early separator before training camp begins in the fall.

Charlotte Hornets: Ryan Kalkbrenner

We've got another exception to the rule that this list will consist of returnees, and with good reason. With Charlotte trading Mark Williams to Phoenix, Kalkbrenner is well-positioned to compete for the starting center job, even with the return of Moussa Diabate and the offseason signing of Mason Plumlee. The rookie out of Creighton joined Patrick Ewing as the only players in Big East history to win Defensive Player of the Year honors four times, and he made strides offensively throughout his college career.

Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis

Considering the number of starts he made last season,
Buzelis is the most experienced player on this list. He made 80 appearances for the Bulls last season, 31 of which were starts, and the rookie was a fixture in the starting five from February 5 onward. What will be interesting to watch in Vegas is how Buzelis and 2025 first-round pick Noa Essengue mesh, as they have similar body types. They may become Chicago's forward tandem of the future, especially when considering Patrick Williams' struggles.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Craig Porter Jr.

While the Cavaliers did lose valued reserve Ty Jerome in free agency, they added another point guard to the mix by acquiring Lonzo Ball from the Bulls. If he's healthy, Ball will handle the backup point guard responsibilities. However, health has been an issue for the veteran guard in recent seasons, which means the Cavaliers need Porter to remain the reliable option he's been when pressed into duty in the past. Hopefully, he will use Las Vegas to show he can be more than an emergency fill-in.

Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland II

Holland was part of the Pistons' rotation as a rookie, appearing in 81 regular-season games and averaging 15.6 minutes per contest. However, he fell out of the rotation during the team's first-round series against the Knicks, so motivation should not be an issue. Holland will need to show progress in perimeter shooting, as he made 23.8 percent of his 1.4 three-point attempts per game as a rookie. With the Pistons losing Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and the current controversy surrounding Malik Beasley, they'll need more consistency from Holland, even with the acquisition of Duncan Robinson.

Indiana Pacers: Johnny Furphy

Furphy's playing time was limited last season, as he averaged 7.6 minutes per game in 50 regular-season appearances. While he did not share a position with Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner, the former's absence and the latter's departure mean Indiana will have a far different look next season. Even in a crowded wing rotation, can Furphy do enough to earn consistent playing time next season? Playing well in Las Vegas would undoubtedly make a positive impression on the Pacers' decision-makers.

Miami Heat: Kel'el Ware

Having played well in Miami's games at the California Classic, Ware may not see much time in Las Vegas. He's coming off an All-Rookie season in which he started 36 of the 64 games he played, proving to be a solid frontcourt partner for Bam Adebayo. If anything, Las Vegas may be of greater importance to Pelle Larsson, who played in 55 games as a rookie, since Ware is the more proven player from an NBA standpoint.

Milwaukee Bucks: Andre Jackson Jr.

Keita Bates-Diop and two-way contract player Jamaree Bouyea have more NBA seasons under their respective belts. Still, neither is on a guaranteed standard contract for next season, going into summer league. However, Jackson is, and he could use a quality showing in Las Vegas after providing little statistical value in either of his first two seasons. The former second-round pick made 43 starts last season but only averaged 14.6 minutes per game and fell out of Doc Rivers' rotation after the All-Star break.

New York Knicks: Tyler Kolek

With Cameron Payne and Delon Wright still being unrestricted free agents, Kolek may have the opportunity to earn the backup point guard role. While Miles McBride and free agent signing Jordan Clarkson can be used on the ball, that does not automatically mean there won't be any room for Kolek in new head coach Mike Brown's rotation. Him, 2024 first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet and 2024 second-round picks Ariel Hukporti and Kevin McCullar are all on the Knicks' summer league roster, and all could potentially benefit from the change at the top if it means they'll receive more chances to prove themselves.

Orlando Magic: Tristan da Silva

Due to injuries that sidelined Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero for extended periods, the Magic were forced to rely on da Silva more than they may have expected before the 2024-25 season began. He started 38 of the 74 games he played as a rookie, averaging 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22.0 minutes. Da Silva's minutes may not change much next season with Wagner and Banchero being healthy, but he can use this summer as a springboard into his second year in Orlando.

Philadelphia 76ers: Adem Bona

Due to the 76ers' struggles with injuries, Bona and fellow rookie Justin Edwards played far more than expected last season. A healthy roster may result in fewer opportunities for both, but Bona's chances of earning consistent rotation minutes may be greater. Joel Embiid's injury history cannot be ignored, and Andre Drummond is back after a subpar 2024-25 season. With the 76ers losing Guerschon Yabusele in free agency, Bona is worth tracking during the summer and preseason, especially if Embiid is not fully cleared when training camp begins.

Toronto Raptors: Ja'Kobe Walter

Injuries limited Walter to 52 games as a rookie, but he made 18 starts due to the absences of players ahead of him in the Raptors' pecking order. Adding Brandon Ingram will make it more difficult for Walter to crack a crowded perimeter rotation. However, Ingram's struggled with injuries in recent seasons, as have RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick. It would take a lot for Walter to become a player worth targeting in fantasy leagues, but playing well in Las Vegas would help his case.

Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr

The Wizards are taking a measured approach to their rebuild, with Sarr being one of the focal points by virtue of being the second overall pick in the 2024 draft. After the All-Star break, he averaged 15.6 points per game, an improvement of four points compared to his pre-break average. Efficiency was an issue for Sarr throughout his rookie season; exploding in Las Vegas with solid percentages would go a long way toward solidifying his spot as a key building block for Washington moving forward. Something else to watch will be the chemistry between Bub Carrington and lottery pick Tre Johnson, as they could be the Wizards' backcourt of the future.

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg

The Mavericks' summer roster only has two players with prior NBA experience, so we'll focus on Flagg. The top overall pick in last month's draft projects to be a scorer, and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said during Flagg's introductory press conference that he wants the rookie to play some point guard. With Kyrie Irving (ACL) set to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, opportunities will be available. And if Flagg is comfortable with the role, it would raise his already-high fantasy ceiling.

Denver Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II

Holmes is not an official returnee since he did not appear in a game last season. However, he's worth tracking coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon for multiple reasons. As Denver's first-round pick in 2024, Holmes won't lack opportunities to show what he can do. And with the Jonas Valančiūnas situation, the rookie forward may have added importance to the Nuggets next season. It's worth noting that Denver will reportedly hold Valančiūnas to his contract, meaning most of Holmes' minutes will likely come at the four.

Golden State Warriors: Will Richard

We've already seen Richard in action this summer thanks to the California Classic. How much room there may be for the former Florida guard within the Warriors' rotation next season depends on what happens with Jonathan Kuminga, who remains a restricted free agent. As one of three Warriors summer league players to play in April's national title game (LJ Cryer and Ja'Vier Francis played for Houston that night), Richard may be better equipped to help a team with contending ambitions than a less-experienced prospect.

Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard

Houston's work in free agency has grabbed the attention of the masses, and with good reason. However, another question for the franchise to answer this summer is how prepared Sheppard is to take on consistent rotation minutes. The 2024 lottery pick appeared in 52 games as a rookie, providing minimal production. Fred VanVleet remains the starting point guard and Aaron Holiday was re-signed, but Sheppard proving capable of taking on a slightly larger role would be good news for the Rockets.

Los Angeles Clippers: Kobe Brown

In his first two NBA seasons, Brown has been unable to establish himself as a consistent figure within the Clippers' rotation. To say that needs to change in 2025-26 would be an understatement. In 84 appearances, Brown has averaged 7.9 minutes per game. The path to fantasy relevance may not exist, especially with the Clippers adding John Collins via trade. Still, the Clippers would benefit if Brown could show that he's ready to offer greater competition for minutes at the power forward position.

Los Angeles Lakers: Dalton Knecht

Like a few players on this list, we've seen Knecht already this summer due to the Lakers competing in the California Classic. His rookie season was a roller coaster, beginning with a run in November in which he scored 14 points or more in five of seven games, including a 37-point effort against the Jazz. However, Knecht's inconsistent production and defensive struggles meant he could not offer much to fantasy managers, and there was also the failed trade in February that would have sent him to Charlotte. If you're the Lakers, you probably hope Knecht plays so well in their early Las Vegas games that they can sit him for the final games.

Memphis Grizzlies: Jaylen Wells

A second-round pick, Wells was one of the best rookies in the NBA last season as he earned a place in the Grizzlies' starting lineup. While Memphis added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope via trade, the veteran guard lacks Desmond Bane's offensive capabilities. That change may open some things up for Wells offensively, especially with Jaren Jackson Jr. (toe) not guaranteed to be available when training camp begins. Add in Ja Morant's injury history, and Wells is well-positioned to provide greater fantasy value than he did as a rookie.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.

The Timberwolves re-signed Julius Randle and Naz Reid, but the money spent on those deals meant there wasn't enough money available to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Shannon, who only appeared in 32 games as a rookie due to injury and not being a consistent member of the Timberwolves' rotation, has the tools on both ends of the floor to help account for Alexander-Walker's exit. While Rob Dillingham is also worth tracking in Las Vegas, Shannon's path to consistent minutes appears clearer once the regular season begins.

New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi

Missi was a starter for most of his rookie season, starting 67 of the 73 games he played. While that role may not change, the additions of Derik Queen and Kevon Looney add competition for the former Baylor center. While a good showing in Las Vegas would strengthen Missi's case to remain the starter, he's playing for a new front office, which may be a factor in what happens once training camp opens.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Nikola Topić

Technically speaking, Topić is not a returnee as recovery from a torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season. However, he was around the Thunder as the franchise won its first NBA title, and the rookie guard may be the player best equipped to log significant rotation minutes next season, with apologies to Ajay Mitchell. Topić struggled with his shot and turnovers during Oklahoma City's three games in Salt Lake City. Still, the role he'll be asked to take on during the regular season stands to be far different due to Oklahoma City's depth. At a minimum, Topić is worth watching for those starting new dynasty leagues in the fall.

Phoenix Suns: Ryan Dunn

Kevin Durant's exit means Dunn should have even more opportunities to establish himself on the wing, even though the Suns received Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in that trade. As a rookie, the former Virginia forward made 44 starts, averaging 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers per game. While Dunn faces significant competition for minutes once training camp begins, Las Vegas will be an opportunity to show more of his offensive skill set.

Portland Trail Blazers: Rayan Rupert

Most eyes will be on first-round pick Yang Hansen in Las Vegas regarding the Trail Blazers. However, this will also be a pivotal time for Rupert, who has yet to carve out a consistent role for himself. He played in 52 games last season but only averaged 8.8 minutes per appearance. Unless Rupert explodes offensively, what he does in Las Vegas is unlikely to impact his fantasy value in 2025-26, especially given Portland's depth on the wings. But, performing well would make a positive impression on head coach Chauncey Billups and the front office.

Sacramento Kings: Devin Carter

Carter, the Kings' first-round pick in the 2024 draft, did not get to play in Las Vegas last summer due to shoulder surgery. While the starting point guard job is spoken for following the addition of Dennis Schröder, there will be opportunities for Carter to contribute off the bench. He averaged 11.0 minutes per game in 36 appearances as a rookie, so Carter clearly needs to show during summer league that he's ready to compete for more playing time.

San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper

Due to a groin injury, Harper did not play in San Antonio's three games at the California Classic. There aren't any great options among the returnees on the Spurs' summer roster, so the second overall pick is the choice here. The good news for fantasy managers, especially those in dynasty leagues, is that San Antonio cleared out some of the guard rotation by moving Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley to Washington via trade. If Harper cannot go in Las Vegas, the attention will shift to fellow first-round pick Carter Bryant, who has the size, athleticism and defensive ability to be a factor next season.

Utah Jazz: Cody Williams

Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier played well in Utah's three games in Salt Lake City, a positive sign for the rebuilding franchise. While many will continue to focus on rookie Ace Bailey, Williams should also draw attention as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing rookie season. While capable of offering value when his shot isn't falling, Williams could not do that last season. He doesn't need to torch opposing defenses in Las Vegas, but it would likely calm some nerves among the Jazz fanbase if Williams were to play well on both ends of the floor.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon judge on Wednesday sentenced former NBA player Ben McLemore to over eight years in prison, a week after a jury found him guilty of raping a woman at a 2021 party at the home of a then-teammate.

The ex-Portland Trail Blazer was sentenced to 100 months in prison by Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Michael Wetzel, Portland TV station KGW reported. The jury last week found the 32-year-old guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse.

The charges involved a 21-year-old woman and stemmed from a party at a home owned by then-teammate Robert Covington in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego.

During the trial, Clackamas County prosecutors described the sexual encounter as rape. The defense argued it was consensual sex.

The woman testified that she was incapacitated due to alcohol, and was unable to consent, KGW reported. McLemore said he had also been drinking but testified that it was consensual.

McLemore, who played college at Kansas, was the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He also played for Memphis, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers before his last NBA season with Portland in 2021-2022.

Since then, he has played professionally overseas in Europe, China and Turkey.

The NBA Summer League has arrived. The appetizers took place in Salt Lake City and California's Bay Area, with the main course starting Thursday, July 10, in Las Vegas. That's where all 30 NBA teams descend on the city with their rosters of young players trying to get a foothold in the league. It's an NBA event like any other, where fans can get closer to players (more like MLB spring training) than they usually can.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Summer League.

Where is the NBA Summer League 2025?

Las Vegas. That's the short answer.

The more detailed answer is that there are actually three Summer Leagues. First, there are a couple of appetizers — the Salt Lake City Summer League (hosted by the Jazz) and the California Classic (played at the Warriors' Chase Center in San Francisco). This summer, those featured the first games for No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe of the 76ers and No. 5 pick Ace Bailey of the Jazz.

Then comes the main course — the Las Vegas Summer League. Sin City has been the primary home of the NBA Summer League since 2004, although that first year had just six teams. Now, all 30 teams come to the desert in July, and the games are played in one of two connected arenas on the UNLV campus. Every game is broadcast nationally, and the NBA Summer League has become a convention for the league and a bucket-list item for big NBA fans. Here's what you need to know about the 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League.

What is the NBA Summer League schedule?

All 30 teams play at least four games in the Las Vegas Summer League. To see the full schedule of group-play games, just follow this link.

What is the point of the NBA Summer League?

While the NBA has turned Summer League into a profit center (low-wage players, packed arenas, broadcast rights), it remains an important part of a team's offseason development — and it can be critical for some players, especially those trying to get noticed and/or earn a roster spot.

The point of Summer League depends on the player and their situation.

• Rookies with NBA contracts: For the first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, as well as second-rounders who signed an NBA deal, Summer League is a measuring stick. Teams bring in their young players, work them out in their system, and put them in a professional game to see where things stand. While there is a strong temptation among fans and media to draw broad conclusions — and certainly strengths and weaknesses are on full display — what matters is improvement. For example, Utah's No. 5 pick Ace Bailey struggled in his Utah Summer League debut but looked much better in his second game. That growth is what matters to teams. Also, how a player looks this summer is a baseline, teams want to see how much better they look at Summer League a year from now.

For the biggest names — Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, etc. — teams don't want to risk an injury, so they traditionally only play a couple of games and are shut down.

• Second-year players: If the first year at Summer League sets a baseline for a rookie, the second year becomes a chance to measure how far that player has progressed. Something to watch: Players who received regular NBA run as rookies and then return to Summer League should dominate the game, they should have risen beyond this level. If they don't, it's a red flag.

Also, for some second-year players, it's a chance to try out a new role their team couldn't give them during the regular season. For example, the Lakers put the ball in Dalton Knecht's hands at the California Classic and asked him to run the offense and be a shot creator, something they could not do during the regular season with Doncic and LeBron on the court.

• Undrafted players/guys without a contract for next season. The best stories of Summer League are the unexpected standouts nobody saw coming. Maybe the most classic example of this was everyone showing up to watch No. 1 pick John Wall at Summer League and walking away saying, "Who is this Jeremy Lin kid?" Or watching a player such as Austin Reaves stand out enough with the Lakers that he played his way into a two-way contract with the team (and eventually became a key part of their rotation).

These players without contracts after the summer make up the vast majority of players in Las Vegas. These are the guys diving after loose balls and hustling at every step because they are playing for their next contract (that can also lead to some questionable shot selection and decisions as guys try to do too much). Some of those contracts will be in the G League, and many of them will be playing overseas next season. That is part of the quiet business going on at Summer League, there are a lot of international scouts looking at players not quite ready to make an NBA roster who would be the standout star of a mid-sized European club.

When is Cooper Flagg’s NBA Summer League debut?

No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg is scheduled to make his debut Thursday night, July. 10, at 8 ET when the Dallas Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Lakers (the game will be broadcast on ESPN).

Flagg's second game is scheduled for Saturday at 4 ET (ESPN), when he and the Mavericks take on No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs. Often stars such as Flagg are shut down by the team after a game or two of Summer League, but if he plays (or, if he doesn't) the rest of the Dallas schedule is July 14 vs. Charlotte (6:30 ET, NBATV) and July 16 vs. Philadelphia at 8 ET (ESPN).

Is Bronny James playing in the NBA Summer League?

Yes — in fact, he's already played a couple of games. Bronny scored 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting (2-of-7 from beyond the arc) in two games in the California Classic. He also did this:

In Las Vegas, his first game will be a highly anticipated matchup against Flagg and the Mavericks on Thursday night, July 10, at 8 ET (broadcast on ESPN).

It's unclear how many more games Bronny will play after that. The rest of the Lakers' Las Vegas schedule is as follows: Saturday, July 12, vs. New Orleans (8:30 ET on ESPN2), July 14 vs. the Clippers at 10:30 ET (NBATV), and July 17 vs. Boston (9:00 ET, ESPN).

Cooper Flagg vs Bronny James preview

This social media dream matchup is the most anticipated game of the 2025 NBA Summer League – the 17,923-seat Thomas & Mack Center is already sold out. According to TickPick, the current "get-in" price for a Thursday Summer League ticket is $83, which jumps to $643 for the lower bowl in the Thomas & Mack, and courtside tickets are going for $2,519.

Bronny and Flagg will not be directly matched up much (Bronny is a guard, Flagg a forward), but both are defense-first players who thrive when playing in transition — this could be an entertaining, up-and-down contest.

With Bronny, remember that what matters is improvement — how much better is he now than a year ago? He's not there yet, but is he making strides toward being an NBA rotation player? That's what the Lakers want to see.

One other thing to remember, this is Flagg's and Dallas' first Summer League game, they will be trying to shake things out, while this is the Lakers' fourth game, and they have developed a rhythm. That could lead to a rough opening night for Flagg. If it happens, don't read too much into it — Victor Wembanyama had a rough first outing at Summer League (Kai Jones dunked all over him, we all blamed his flirtation with Brittney Spears for throwing his game off). Wemby turned out to be okay.

How much do NBA Summer League players get paid?

Not much, although like NBA regular season salaries, it depends on who we're talking about. For players under NBA contracts — such as No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and other high draft picks, or returning players like Bronny James— playing in Summer League is part of their contract and is generally covered by the CBA.

The NBA does have "summer contracts" that are essentially make-good contracts — play well enough, and this can become an Exhibit 10 (a training camp contract plus a bonus for signing with the team's G-League franchise when waived) or an Exhibit 9 (a training camp invite). Keep playing well, keep impressing the coach and front office, and these make good contracts could eventually see the player on an NBA roster. Most of the players on a Summer League roster eventually sign in the G-League or to play overseas.

The players also receive a $125 per day per diem for food or any other expenses they choose to incur.

NBA Summer League champions, MVPs by year

Winning it all isn't the primary goal for teams heading into Summer League, but these are competitive people, and when a prize is put in front of them, they go all out for it. Here is a list of past Las Vegas Summer League winners:

2024 Miami Heat
2023 Cleveland Cavaliers
2022 Portland Trail Blazers
2021 Sacramento Kings
2020 Cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2019 Memphis Grizzlies
2018 Portland Trail Blazers
2017 Los Angeles Lakers
2016 Chicago Bulls
2015 San Antonio Spurs
2014 Sacramento Kings
2013 Golden State Warriors

Here's a list of former Las Vegas Summer League MVPs:

2024 Jalen Wilson (Brooklyn Nets)
2023 Cam Whitmore (Houston Rockets)
2022 Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings)
2021 Co-MVPs Davion Mitchell (Sacramento Kings), Cameron Thomas (Brooklyn Nets)
2020 Cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2019 Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies)
2018 Josh Hart (Los Angeles Lakers)
2017 Lonzo Ball (Los Angeles Lakers)
2016 Tyus Jones (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2015 Kyle Anderson (San Antonio Spurs)
2014 Glen Rice Jr. (Washington Wizards)
2013 Jonas Valančiūnas (Toronto Raptors)
2012 C0-MVPs, Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies)

Expectations are sky-high around the Knicks — the team just fired the coach who led it to its first Eastern Conference Finals in a quarter century. That sets the bar at finals-or-bust high for his replacement.

Mike Brown leaned into that at his introductory press conference.

"Nobody has bigger expectations, first of all, than I do," Brown said at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. "My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. I talked about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it. I'm looking forward to it."

There are reasons Brown won out on a long and winding coaching search. First and foremost, he's a good coach. Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year who led the LeBron-era Cleveland Cavaliers to the Finals, and he was the coach who broke Sacramento's 16-year playoff drought. Second, he has coached stars before, including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. However, reports out of New York suggest that what was the real selling point was Brown's collaborative nature, working with the front office and his assistant coaches. That was not the Thibodeau way, and it wore on Leon Rose and the Knicks' front office.

"I had great conversations with [Knicks' owner James] Dolan and, obviously, Leon and his group," Brown said. "My whole thing is that I want to form a partnership with (Leon). I want to do this together. It's impossible to do it on your own."

Brown takes over a roster that won 51 games and finished as the No. 3 seed in the East a season ago. Those Knicks had the fifth-best offense in the NBA behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, but were also 14th in the league in defense. Brown is known as a defense-first coach, but then again, so was the fired Thibodeau — a coach can only do so much with the talent on hand, and the Knicks front office has not built a defensive juggernaut.

The question with the Knicks is less tactical — although Brown will want less isolation and more ball-and-player movement, remember he was Steve Kerr's lead assistant with the Warriors for a couple of titles — and more whether having a different voice in the locker room is the key. Do the Knicks just need a change?

"I thought what this group did this past year in the playoffs, it just shows their potential, not just defensively but offensively, too," Brown said at his press conference. "I'm looking forward to putting a plan in place and working with those guys on both ends of the floor... Implementing my vision is very exciting for me and, hopefully, it is for everyone else. I think the ceiling is high on both ends for the group."

Brown and the Celtics need to reach that ceiling — the expectations he walks into are that high.

After helping the Oklahoma City Thunder to its first title, the team's core is being rewarded. First, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was rewarded with the largest contract in NBA history (four years, $285 million).

Now it's Chet Holmgren's turn. The Thunder and Holmgren have agreed to a max rookie contract extension, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The report says the contract can be worth up to $250 million over five years, while ESPN's Bobby Marks notes that, as constructed, this would be 25% of the NBA salary cap (which is at $165 million). This appears to be a straight five, with no team or player options. Holmgren will play one more season on his rookie contract ($13.7 million) before this new deal kicks in.

Holmgren demonstrated his value during the Thunder's run to the NBA title, averaging 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game during the playoffs. Last regular season, Holmgren averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a game but played in just 32 games due to a pelvic fracture.

That is the risk for the Thunder in this — the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren did not play his first year after being selected due to a foot injury. He played 82 games the following season and was second in Rookie of the Year voting, but then was limited again this season. The Thunder need him to stay healthy.

With Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren locked up, all eyes turn to Jalen Williams, who was also part of the 2022 draft class and is extension-eligible this summer. Williams will also get a max extension coming off an All-NBA season for him. In a couple of years (2026-27), when all these extensions kick in, the Thunder will have some hard choices to make in order to keep their payroll out of the second apron. The NBA's luxury tax system is coming for the Thunder, but not for a year.