Doncic limped back to the locker room but has avoided serious injury, reports Dan Woike of The Athletic. Doncic did not return to the game, however, he did return to the bench to watch the end of the exhibition against Latvia. We'll see what the diagnosis is once the doctors do more tests (LCL sprain?).
Doncic impressed in the first half, scoring 26 points with five assists and five boards.
Lakers fans will be watching the rest of EuroBasket with concern... just like Bucks fans are watching the Greek side with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nuggets fans with Serbia and Nikola Jokic, and the list goes on and on.
With Jrue Holiday traded away to Portland, a starting guard spot opens up in Boston next to Derrick White.
Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard is going to be handed that starting spot, which means Anfernee Simons would come off the bench as the sixth man, reports Grant Afseth at FastbreakJournal.com.
The Celtics believe Pritchard has earned the starting job through years of steady development. His familiarity with the system and readiness to handle expanded responsibilities have made him the preferred option to open games at point guard.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, although Pritchard is going to have to solidify this in training camp (Simons may fit better with the other starters, such as Jaylen Brown). Pritchard averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game while shooting 40.7% from beyond the arc last season, but in the three games he started those numbers jumped up to 21.7 points and 7.3 assists per game.
Simons should thrive in a sixth-man role where he is asked to come in and just get buckets. He averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists a game last season in Portland, shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc. This is a contract year for Simons (he's on an expiring contract at $27.7 million), and he'll be looking to put up numbers and raise his value for that next contract.
Could Simons make it back-to-back Sixth Men of the Year in Boston? It's something to watch in what could be a crowded field this year.
We’re still over two months away from the NBA’s 2025-26 regular season tipping off, but the hype train’s left the station with the release of the schedule. Let’s dive into all 82 games and give fans a glimpse of what’s to come for their Brooklyn Nets…
Key dates
Sept. 29: NBA Training Camp opens for the Brooklyn Nets
Oct. 10 & 12: 2025 Preseason: NBA China Games | Nets vs. Suns | The Venetian Arena in Macao
Oct. 21: Start of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season – Opening Night
Dec. 9-10: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Knockout Rounds (Quarterfinals)
Dec. 13: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Semifinals (Las Vegas, NV)
Dec. 16: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Championship (Las Vegas, NV)
Feb. 5: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)
Feb. 13-15: 2026 NBA All-Star in Los Angeles, CA
April 12: Regular season ends
Top matchups
Fri. Oct. 10 and Sun. Oct. 12 against the Phoenix Suns - NBA China Games
The borough continues to go global as Brooklyn kicks off its preseason as one of the NBA’s two representatives in their China Games, taking place over two nights in Macao. Just one and a half seasons after their massive blockbuster trade, these two teams meet without the major players they swapped, but with refreshed and intriguing rosters ready to hit the court.
Wed. Oct. 22 @ Charlotte Hornets
The 2025-26 Nets regular season opens on the road as they take on LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and the upstart Hornets. This should be a winnable and exciting game for Brooklyn against another rebuilding team in the conference.
Fri. Oct. 24 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Their home opener takes place a couple days later against a much stronger foe, as the reigning top-seeded Cavs led by Donovan Mitchell (and former Net Jarrett Allen) come to town.
Mon. Oct. 27 @ Houston Rockets
The Nets face Kevin Durant in his (latest) new uniform for the first time when they travel south to Houston early in the season.
Mon. Dec. 29 vs Golden State Warriors
When Stephen Curry visits, you know you’re going to get a show.
Sun. Jan. 4 vs Denver Nuggets
It’s always special to watch one of the best NBA players of his era come to Barclays to perform, and Nikola Jokic is as generational as they come. The Nets faithful also get to see Cameron Johnson return for the first time in a Denver uniform.
Tue. Feb. 3 v Los Angeles Lakers
In what could be one of his final visits to Barclays, LeBron James comes to Brooklyn alongside star Luka Doncic.
Tue. Feb. 24 vs Dallas Mavericks
Number one overall pick Cooper Flagg makes his professional Barclays Center debut, alongside former Net Kyrie Irving, making his second return to Brooklyn.
NBA Cup games
Fri. Nov. 7 vs Detroit Pistons
Fri. Nov. 14 @ Orlando Magic
Fri. Nov. 21 @ Boston Celtics
Fri. Nov. 28 vs Philadelphia 76ers
Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Easiest stretches
Brooklyn has a pretty soft December, opening it up against Charlotte at home, Chicago on the road, Utah at home and New Orleans at home. They then take off for the NBA Cup Tournament or a mid-season reprieve, to come back and face the Heat and Raptors at home.
The Nets’ best stretch of games comes down the stretch of their season, timely if they’re in the Play-In hunt. Beginning Sun. Mar. 29, they get a six-game home stint featuring Sacramento, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, Milwaukee and Indiana.
Toughest stretches
Brooklyn has to suffer through a pretty brutal winter, beginning Dec. 23 when they take on Philly then Minny on the road before going home to play Golden State.
They then have a back-to-back beginning on New Year’s day against the Rockets and at the Wizards, before playing the Nuggets, Magic and Clippers at home and hitting another back-to-back in Memphis and Dallas.
Not two weeks later, the Nets embark on their longest road trip of the season, visiting the Clippers, Suns, Nuggets and Jazz on a back-to-back before flying out to Detroit. They return home to be greeted by LeBron and the Lakers before taking off to play the Magic in Orlando.
Playoff seeding
If the Nets can find themselves in the Play-In race come the home stretch of the season, their last eight games provide them a decent run at making a play. They have to survive a four-game west coast swing against the Kings, Blazers, Warriors and Lakers first.
Then they go into their late-season home stand mentioned above before closing the year with road games against the Bucks and Raptors.
We’re still over two months away from the NBA’s 2025-26 regular season tipping off, but the hype train’s left the station with the release of the schedule. Let’s dive into all 82 games and give fans a glimpse of what’s to come for their New York Knicks…
Key dates
Sept. 24: Training Camp opens for the New York Knicks
Oct. 2 & 4: 2025 Preseason: NBA Abu Dhabi Games | Knicks vs. 76ers | Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi
Oct. 21: Start of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season – Opening Night
Dec. 9-10: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Knockout Rounds (Quarterfinals)
Dec. 13: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Semifinals (Las Vegas, NV)
Dec. 16: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Championship (Las Vegas, NV)
Thu. Oct 2 and Sat. Oct. 4 against Philadelphia 76ers (Abu Dhabi Games)
It’s been a minute since Knicks fans got to see their team before any others took the court, and this year they’ll have that chance with the team participating in the NBA’s Global Games in Abu Dhabi.
Not only is it a chance to see the team early, but in a neutral ground site for some fun mid-day action -- unfortunately the hiring of Mike Brown might mean more development time for the deep bench and less overexposure of the starters, for those who want to see the stars.
Wed. Oct. 22 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Opening night at Madison Square Garden against your (most healthy) top rival in the East, what could be better? The Knicks get a true test right out of the gates in what will be a raucous, can’t-miss environment to kick off the highest expectation-laden season in decades.
Thu. Dec. 25 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Tired of chain snatching Donovan Mitchell? Better be ready to do it twice on a national stage before the New Year’s, as New York gets Cleveland again for their Christmas Day game.
Mon. Jan. 19 vs Dallas Mavericks
The highly-anticipated number one overall pick of this year’s NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, comes to town in a MLK Day matinee that should make for an awesome matchup.
Sun. Feb. 1 vs Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James in the Garden - maybe for the final time?
Wed. Feb. 4 vs Denver Nuggets
The Knicks have played one of the NBA’s perennial contenders and best players well over the past few seasons, setting the stage for hopefully another strong outing vs. Nikola Jokic and his new-look Nuggets.
Wed. Mar. 4 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Unfortunately the Knicks don’t get to test themselves against the reigning NBA champions until late in the season, with their second matchup coming just before April, when load management takes over the locked-in seeds.
Sun. Mar 15 vs Golden State Warriors
Whenever Stephen Curry comes to the Garden you know it’s going to be a show, and this game adds some real sizzle to the dog days of the season.
NBA Cup games
Fri. Oct. 31 @ Chicago Bulls
Fri. Nov. 14 vs Miami Heat
Wed. Nov. 26 @ Charlotte Hornets
Fri. Nov. 38 vs Milwaukee Bucks
May 29, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks against Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) in the fourth quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Easiest stretches
The Knicks' schedule doesn’t pull many punches, perhaps because there’s some front-loading or partially due to the West having a total of one true pushover team. They have a seven-game homestand from November 2 to November 14, and even that includes two back-to-backs.
They face a mix of lottery teams in Chicago, Washington and Brooklyn and tougher teams in Minnesota, Memphis, Orlando and Miami. They don’t have a home stand longer than three games for the rest of the season, with some big West coast trips in between.
There’s one stretch loaded with middling opponents, once again coming in the early part of the season however. From November 24 to December 5, New York plays Brooklyn, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston, Charlotte and Utah.
Toughest stretches
Talk about your brutal holiday travel plans, the Knicks kick off a back-to-back on December 18-19 before playing every other night through New Year’s Eve, which include two road trips and the Christmas Day game. After an NYE bout in San Antonio, they fly back for another back-to-back beginning on January 2, wrapping up 10 games and six cities and in 17 days.
They only have a couple larger West Coach swings, but one falls in a bruising stretch.
They fly from Toronto back home to face Oklahoma City for a back-to-back on March 3-4, before embarking on a five-game, eight-night road trip against Denver, both LA teams, Utah and Indiana, all to play Golden State at home after a day of rest.
Playoff seeding
If the Knicks haven’t locked in a top two seed before the final weeks of the season, something went terribly wrong or the East showed much greater strength than advertised. In the case of either scenario, the home stretch of their season doesn’t look too bad.
New York plays @ Brooklyn on March 20, followed by vs Washington, vs New Orleans, @ Charlotte, @ Oklahoma City, @ Houston, vs Chicago, @ Atlanta, vs Boston, vs Toronto and vs Charlotte. Those are mostly beatable teams with a couple high-level contenders that could be resting up.
Haywood Highsmith has been traded to the Brooklyn Nets in what essentially is a salary dump for the Miami Heat.
Haysmith and the Heat's 2032 second-round pick go to the Nets in exchange for Brooklyn's 2026 second-round pick, top-55 protected. Both the Nets and Heat have confirmed the trade.
OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a protected 2026 second round pick.
Highsmith is on an expiring $5.6 million contract that Brooklyn can absorb into its cap space.
For Miami, this is about getting out of the luxury tax. The Heat entered the day $1.4 million over the luxury tax line. With this trade, they are now more than $4 million under that mark, giving them some flexibility at the trade deadline, if needed.
Highsmith can fit into the Nets' rotation (and could get traded again at the deadline). Last season in Miami he played in 72 games (starting 42) and averaged 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds a night, plus shot 38.2% from beyond the arc.
It appears that one of Jonathan Kuminga’s top priorities regarding a potential return to the Warriors is security.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Friday on “NBA Today” that the fifth-year NBA veteran forward will not be returning to Golden State if he doesn’t believe he is in the organization’s long-term plans.
“Kuminga wants more of a player-friendly deal — more of a signal that he’s a building block and not just a trade asset; the word I’ve heard from the Kuminga side is ‘pawn,’” Slater said. “He doesn’t want to sign this two-year, $45 million deal with a team option where he is clearly just being used to be traded mid-season.
The Bay has been just that for the 22-year-old, since the Warriors selected Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. But Golden State and Kuminga have yet to strike a deal.
Slater explained what aspects could change Kuminga’s mind.
“Now, if you’re talking about a three-year deal (or) something with a player option that shows him a little bit more commitment, that’s something he’d be interested in,” Slater said.
Time is running out for the Warriors to extend the hypothetical player-friendly deal to Kuminga. In the same breath, the forward must not love what offers he has seen from other teams, considering the restricted free agent is yet to agree to an offer.
Slater concluded by saying that neither side — Kuminga and the Warriors — has budged this summer.
“As of now, the Warriors have been hesitant to do that,” Slater said. “Kuminga is signaling to those around him that he’s very willing and prefers the qualifying offer over the two-year, $45 million deal, and that’s dangerous for the Warriors.
“They could try to call his bluff, but right now, it seems to be trending toward the qualifying offer.”
Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors have reestablished contract negotiations.
Golden State’s front office has remained at an impasse with the 22-year-old restricted free agent this offseason over a new deal, though both sides are trying to work through their issues.
“Well, there’s been renewed conversations between the two sides,” NBA insider Anthony Slater said Friday on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “There’s dialogue, but as you all know, talking doesn’t necessarily equal movement. They’ve shared contract concepts and opinions about the whole thing between each other this last week, dating back to last weekend.
“Kuminga wants more of a player-friendly deal, more of a signal that he’s a building block, not a trade asset.”
After trading for Jimmy Butler last season, Kuminga fell out of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s regular rotation. The lack of meaningful playing time, coupled with his free agency status, has led to both sides looking into trade possibilities. While a potential trade framework was in place with the Sacramento Kings, nothing materialized.
Both sides appear willing to work out a deal to keep Kuminga in Golden State, but the 22-year-old still is not sold on being what amounts to a backup for games when Butler and Steph Curry can’t carry the offensive load.
Kuminga was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, with Golden State expecting the raw but talented forward to develop into an All-Star caliber player. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, it hasn’t been enough to win a spot in the starting rotation with Butler in the fold.
The 22-year-old has few other options given the lack of interest from other teams and his restricted free agent status.
Hopefully, both sides can work through their differences and figure out a resolution before the start of official team training camp next month.
Now let's dive into the details of the schedule and talk about who has the advantage and disadvantage in back-to-backs, nationally televised games and more — including the most bobblehead nights.
Which teams have the most nationally televised games?
Four teams are maxed out at 34 games on national television:
• Lakers • Warriors • Knicks • Thunder
The Timberwolves and Rockets follow those four with 28 each. Rounding out the top 10 are the Nuggets (26), Celtics (25), Cavaliers (24) and Mavericks (23).
Every team has at least two nationally televised games.
With the addition of Peacock NBA Mondays and many NBA Cup games being broadcast on Amazon Prime exclusively, the number of national broadcast games jumped this season to 244, up from 172 a season ago. Once the NFL season nears its end, the NBA will ramp up with nationally televised games nightly.
Where to watch NBA action this season ⬇️
Season-long national games: ▪️ Mon: Peacock ▪️ Tue: NBC/Peacock ▪️ Wed: ESPN ▪️ Fri: Prime Video
Additional weekly national games starting midseason: ▪️ Thu: Prime Video ▪️ Sat: ABC | ESPN | Prime Video ▪️ Sun: ABC | ESPN | NBC/Peacock pic.twitter.com/eZgo8viuEX
If you remove the games exclusively on streaming platforms from the national broadcast game list, only counting the games on NBC, ABC and ESPN, the teams with the most games are: Knicks (21), Lakers (20), Thunder (20), Warriors (19) and Nuggets (18). Worth noting that both the Rockets and Timberwolves will have 17 of those games. It's also worth noting that all those games on over-the-air broadcasts also will be available on streaming services such as Peacock for the NBC games as well.
Which teams have the most back-to-backs?
Every team has between 13 and 16 back-to-backs, with the average being 14.4 (down slightly from 14.9 a season ago). The five teams with the most (16) are:
• Hornets • Nuggets • 76ers • Suns • Wizards
Just as interesting is the number of times a team faces an opponent on a back-to-back. At the top of the list, the 76ers face 18 teams on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Nuggets are at the low end of that scale with 12.
Utah, Philadelphia, and Sacramento each have 14 rest advantage games, tied for the most in the league, according to Positive Residual.
There are no four games in five nights in the schedule.
Other schedule notes
• Getting rest before big games. The NBA noted that teams do not play the day before these games:
*All opening-week national TV games *All Emirates NBA Cup games *All Christmas Day games *The four-game Peacock/NBC schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day *The 10-game ABC Saturday schedule and eight-game ABC Sunday schedule *The 11-game NBC Sunday schedule
• Pelicans have toughest NBA schedule. Remember when the Pelicans traded their 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta so they could move up and draft Derik Queen in this year's draft? Keep that in mind as you check out Positive Residual's projections for the most difficult schedule in the NBA this season:
Note that an older team in the Warriors is fourth on that list, with the Mavericks fifth.
• Impact of Clippers' new arena. Interesting note from The Athletic's Law Murray:
• Clippers lead the league in bobblehead nights. Clippers fans love bobbleheads?
LA Clippers have six different bobblehead nights this upcoming season for home games.
Jan. 12: Kris Dunn Bobblehead Feb. 2: Chris Paul Bobblehead Feb. 22: James Harden Bobblehead Mar. 4: Bradley Beal Bobblehead Mar. 16: Nicolas Batum Bobblehead Mar. 25: Kawhi Leonard Bobblehead
Steph Curry still has “it,” in case you were wondering.
The Warriors sharpshooter showed off his long-range prowess at his annual “Curry Camp” on Friday, nailing a shot from well beyond the half-court line. Such performances have almost become routine for Curry, who has cemented himself as the greatest shooter in the history of professional basketball.
Curry’s camp hosted 26 local boys and girls high school basketball players in Menlo Park for an intensive experience with world-class instruction. This year is an important one for the Curry brand as the camp has expanded into Asia, with stops in Japan, China and Hong Kong, culminating in the first-annual CurryCon.
The 37-year-old has been hard at work this offseason, with a focus on improving his footwork and getting his body in tip-top condition for his 17th NBA season this fall.
Curry wasn’t the only member of his family to show off their basketball skills, as his 7-year-old son, Canon, demonstrated that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Before Curry’s emergence in the NBA, the 3-point shot was regarded as more of a novelty than a legitimate offensive strategy. Once Golden State’s dynastic run was in full swing, it became apparent that the long-range game was here to stay. Now, opponents have to guard Curry from the second he possesses the ball until he takes a shot, which has forced the 37-year-old to make a few tweaks to his game.
With Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Curry all back on board for the Warriors, the franchise is hopeful that the trio can take them back to the NBA Finals.
Kevin Durant is entering the final season of his current contract, paying him $54.7 million, and part of what he was looking for in a landing spot was a team willing to pay him a healthy extension off that contract. The Houston Rockets are willing to do that.
However, there is no urgency on either side to get this extension done, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said earlier this week on NBA Today.
"There's not a sense of urgency to get it done right now. The Rockets have other business that they need to handle this summer. … I think you're going to see both sides take a patient approach. They will work together. I don't think this is an urgent situation, and even if they get to camp, even if they get to the start of the season. If it's not done, I don't think you're going to see panic from either side. They want to work together, they want to position themselves to win a championship."
The deal is going to get done, the only question is money. MacMahon echoed what we have written about previously: This is not going to be a contract for the two-year, $122 million max, and the question is what number will it be? $100 million? Less? (No team can offer Durant more than two years on a contract due to the over-38 rule.)
Whatever that number ends up being, we're a long way from any serious drama about an extension being reached. Both sides want to get a deal done, and technically they have until June 30, 2026, to work it out. Until we get to around the All-Star break, there's not much to stress over.
Could Jayson Tatum actually play meaningful games for the Boston Celtics in 2025-26?
That question has picked up steam recently as the superstar forward continues to attack his rehab from a ruptured Achilles in mid-May. And there’s plenty working in Tatum’s favor: He underwent surgery immediately after his injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he’s just 27 years old, and he’s an incredibly hard worker, all of which could accelerate his recovery process.
But even if Tatum’s Achilles fully heals in, say, nine or 10 months, should the Celtics put him back on the court in February or March, especially if they’re fighting for a spot in the playoffs? While that sounds tempting in theory — a fully-healthy Tatum would make the C’s a serious postseason threat — former Celtic and NBC Sports Boston color analyst Brian Scalabrine would like to offer a word of caution.
“There’s a reason (the NBA season) is 82 games,” Scalabrine told co-host Drew Carter on a new Celtics Talk Podcast. “Just watch a playoff game and watch a preseason game: There’s so many levels in between. Getting thrown back into the middle of a race where you’re trying to get out of the play-in (tournament) and you’re playing these meaningful, high-level games, that is not ideal — not (just) for your Achilles, but for your body. There needs to be some build-up.”
Scalabrine clarified that he’s not putting any limitations on Tatum, adding that the superstar forward is a “top-five well-trained athlete in basketball” who takes incredible care of his body and will do everything he can to return to action as soon as possible.
But practically speaking, Scalabrine believes a late-season return would be difficult for the Celtics to manage, especially for a player of Tatum’s stature who would be expected to be his superstar self whenever he’s on the court.
“It’s easy to do it if you’re me: I sub in, it’s the second quarter, I sub out like five minutes later, and those are my minutes,” Scalabrine said. “So, is Jayson Tatum gonna start? Is he gonna end the game? There’s moments where the game is less talented. Is he gonna play in those moments?
“… How do you build up? How do you get your legs without doing it at the highest level? Is he gonna play 10 minutes a game for a month? So, that’s what I’m asking. Star players, they get thrown in there, they’re required to do everything. I don’t know if that demand on your body is too much.”
The Celtics have avoided placing any timelines on Tatum, which also means they haven’t ruled him out for the 2025-26 season. And if Tatum feels he’s healthy enough to play in February, March or even April, you know he’ll be pushing hard to make a comeback.
As Scalabrine warns, however, such a comeback might be easier said than done.
“I don’t know anything, I’m not a doctor or anything like that. I just know this: NBA basketball in October does not look like NBA basketball in April,” Scalabrine added.
“… October and April are not the same. We think (they are) because we’re there every single day and we see this natural build-up. But if you watch in October and then all of a sudden you watch playoff game, you’re gonna be like ‘Whoa, this is way different.'”
Also in this episode:
Celtics start the season with divisional matchups against the Sixers and Knicks.
When do former Celtics players make their returns to TD Garden?
Cooper Flagg’s debut in Boston could be the toughest ticket of the season.
Warriors superstar Steph Curry widely is regarded as one of the greatest NBA point guards of all time, and it appears his talents already are being passed down to his 7-year-old son, Canon.
The younger Curry was spotted at his dad’s annual basketball camp showing off his handles.
Canon first faked his defender to get them on the floor before showcasing multiple spin moves and then topping it off with two layups.
And just like his dad, he did it with unmatched swagger, of course.
The Curry Camp now has been around for a decade, as it continues to provide mentoring for youth athletes to empower them on their journey and what it means to be part of a team, per the Under Armour Next website.
Curry has had several now-NBA and WNBA players pass through his camp, including Trae Young, Anthony Edwards, Amen and Ausar Thompson, Jalen Green, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Cameron Brink.
It might not be long until Canon is the next Curry Camp attendee that makes it pro.
Boston had a bit of a two-way logjam after an Aug. 5 trade that sent Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz and brought back two-way guard RJ Luis Jr. Teams can carry up to three two-way players on their roster, and the Celtics had all three slots filled with Luis, 2025 second-round pick Max Shulga and Miles Norris, which left no room for Williams at the time.
The C’s waived Norris on Sunday, however, which freed up a two-way spot for the team to add Williams.
While Norris had an intriguing skill set as a rangy sharpshooter, Boston’s decision to keep Williams isn’t surprising. The Celtics invested the 46th overall pick in Williams, and the 6-foot-11 big man showcased impressive court vision during NBA Summer League.
Boston also lacks depth in the frontcourt — Neemias Queta, Chris Boucher and Luka Garza project as the team’s top three big men — so if Williams can give the Celtics meaningful minutes at some point this season, that would be a very positive development.
After Williams’ reported signing, the Celtics have all of their two-way slots and 14 of their 15 roster spots filled. The open roster spot gives president of basketball operations Brad Stevens the flexibility to make additional moves before the season begins, with recently-acquired guard Anfernee Simons a potential trade chip as the C’s look to shed more salary.
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Superstar Warriors guard Steph Curry teased a major event to come during his Curry Brand tour in China when talking to reporters Thursday at his Curry Camp in Menlo Park.
In addition to taking his Curry Camp to China for the first time, the four-time NBA champion said fans will be able to participate in an interactive convention dedicated to Curry’s basketball career.
“We’re taking Curry Camp to China; we’re doing something called ‘CurryCon,’ which is kind of wild to think about — an interactive experience based on my journey,” Curry said. “I’m excited about it.”
Curry added he’ll be promoting his new Under Armor shoes at the convention, and that his brother and fellow NBA sharpshooter, Seth Curry, will be abroad with him.
Under Armor shared more details about the convention in its initial press release from July.
“This dynamic 3-day fest in Chongqing, open to all fans across Asia, will serve as a hub for innovation and fan engagement, fostering a vibrant community around the brand,” Under Armor wrote.
“Attendees will have the chance to explore interactive exhibits, discover the latest product innovations, engage in sports sessions with athletes, and delve deep into the brand’s rich history, core values, and forward-thinking vision for the future of sport.”
China holds a special place in Curry’s heart. He has been touring the nation and promoting Curry Brand there since 2014 and has established a connection with his massive Chinese fanbase over his 17-year Warriors career.
“We’ve been going (to China) since 2014 as well,” Curry said. “The reaction, the reception, the fan (and) the energy (are) special. So, I’m looking forward to it.”
No one should be surprised if “CurryCon” is a major hit and turns into an annual exhibition.
Steph Curry’s offseason program has undergone many changes.
On the eve of his 17th season in the NBA, the Warriors superstar explained how his summer regimen has shifted over the years.
“It has evolved drastically [over the past decade] from when I started this camp to now in terms of building out the schedule of on-and-off-court stuff and how to pace yourself through an offseason,” Curry told reporters Thursday after the first day of his annual Curry Camp. “I don’t spend as much time on the court as I did back in the day, but it’s much more intentional and much more purposeful. I’m nerding out on heart rate stuff, foot contacts, checking all of the boxes of movement and skill that’s relevant to my game.
“So, it’s a lot more informed. The work feels harder, which is fun because you kind of have to meet that level and know that as you get older, you’re still trying to play at a high level.”
The 37-year-old’s attention to detail is required at his age to sustain his prolific shooting ability, which relies on precise footwork and rapid-fire movements to get the ball out of his hands and into the hoop.
Even though conventional wisdom says that NBA players slow down in their late 30s, Curry has beaten back Father Time again and again. While he sustained a strained hamstring during the playoffs last season, the two-time NBA MVP still is playing at an elite level after 16 years in the league.
With a new-look Golden State squad that will be more integrated with Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are looking to defy the prognosticators and make another deep playoff run.
Curry has spent his entire career with the Warriors, where he developed into the greatest shooter the NBA has ever seen. With another offseason of diligent preparation and painstaking attention to detail, look for Curry to rain down three-pointers from midcourt.
