JJ Redick foreshadowed a night like Wednesday evening.
Throughout preseason and the regular season, he stressed that every player on the Lakers’ roster would get an opportunity to play, even if they weren’t a regular part of the Day 1 rotation.
Jarred Vanderbilt finally got his shot in the Lakers’ rotation during Wednesday’s win over the Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
Injuries occur. Game plans change. The unpredictability of an 82-game regular season creates opportunities that can’t always be planned.
“Vando’s always going to play hard,” coach JJ Redick said of the veteran forward. “He’s always going to impact the game with just his effort, and I thought he did that.”
With 2026-27 being his ninth season in the NBA, the value Vanderbilt brings is known.
Jarred Vanderbilt immediately made an impact on the boards for the Lakers. Getty Images
Hustle.
Versatile defense, with his 6-foot-8, 214-pound frame helping him guard most positions.
A formidable rebounder.
All of which were on display against the Clippers.
He recorded 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 21 minutes.
While individual plus/minus can be a misleading statistic at times, the Lakers winning Vanderbilt’s minutes by 22 points reflected his impact.
And this came after he was a DNP-CD (did not play – coach’s decision) in the first four games of the season.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s been praised for his professionalism. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
“He’s a true professional,” Grimes said. “He’s the first one in the gym, stays after to get some extra shots, gets the extra conditioning in. He’s a great player. He’s been ready, I’ve seen it. Knowing since we were kids. I knew he’d be ready for a game like this, for sure.”
With Kevon Looney’s role in the rotation already diminishing, Vanderbilt could continue to get more playing time, especially as a frontcourt partner next to Sandro Mamukelashvili, who can complement Vanderbilt with his floor-spacing.
The Lakers know Vanderbilt will be ready if his number is called again soon.
“Vando is somebody that is always going to stay ready,” Collin Sexton said. “He was [at the practice facility Wednesday] morning when I came in. He was on the floor, full-out sweat, getting shots up, moving fast. And I felt like he’s always going to be ready for whenever his name is called, but that just shows a true professional. That just shows someone that, no matter the circumstances, they’re going to come each and every day to give what they got.
“And you never see any bad days for Vando, he’s always going to be a leader. He’s always going to come in and be that vet and be that good person. Whether he plays no minutes or he plays 48 minutes, he’s always going to be the same person. And I feel like that’s one of the things that helps in the locker room is we’re all for the team.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 21: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors & Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game on October 21, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In his NBA debut last week, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg did not shy away from locking horns with Luka Dončić as they exchanged some words during the Los Angeles Lakers’ rout of the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21. Dončić and Lendeborg will clash again Friday night when the Lakers roll into Chase Center for each team’s opening game of NBA Cup Group Play.
Following another sensational performance, which helped propel the Warriors past the Minnesota Timberwolves for a second consecutive win on Wednesday, Lendeborg made clear he’s excited for Friday’s rematch — the second of (at least) four installments between Los Angeles and Golden State this season.
“Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. Yes, I am,” Lendeborg giddily told reporters when asked if he’s looking forward to the game. “But you know, I’ll talk more about that on Friday.”
Is Yaxel Lendeborg looking forward to the Lakers game on Friday?
Though only five games into his rookie campaign, Lendeborg is off to a roaring start. He’s averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 55.1% on 2-pointers and 35.5% beyond the arc and getting to the free-throw line 7.0 times per game. Over the past three games, he’s been even better, averaging 27.7 points (58.8% on 2s, 37.5% from deep), 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 blocks.
The confidence that emboldened him to not shy away from Dončić is evident in his on-court approach. He’s fearless as an outside shooter and consistently leverages his strength to plow through defenders for finishes inside or free throws.
While Dončić sat out Wednesday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, he joins Lendeborg as the second half of this dueling partnership in excellent form to begin 2026-27. He dropped 52-10-8-2 in a victory Sunday over the Utah Jazz and backed that up with 41-9-5-1 in a loss Tuesday to the Portland Trail Blazers. Through four games, the Slovenian is averaging a league-leading 36.0 points, 8.3 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 60.5% on 2-pointers and 39.6% inside the arc.
Lendeborg oozes self-confidence. Dončić relishes any chance for some trash talk, especially if it prompts him to raise his game to another level. Both are playing excellent ball right now. Friday should be fun.
And mark my words: There will be consequences after he lit into Luka Doncic, saying he “lost all respect for him” after the Lakers hosted the Warriors in their season opener on Oct. 21.
When the teams meet Friday, there will be fireworks.
Doncic is leading the league in scoring with a blistering 36 points per game. He’s going to be well rested after not playing in the Lakers’ 103-87 win over the Clippers on Wednesday in the second leg of a back-to-back because of back tightness.
And he feeds off trash-talk, so much so that Austin Reaves recently told Sports Illustrated that he has “thought about paying people in the stands to just talk crazy to him.”
Lendeborg’s words have had over a week to gestate in Doncic’s mind. To taunt him. To electrify his competitive nerves which are already perpetually firing on overdrive.
The 24-year-old Lendeborg called out Doncic for “whining and complaining.” He hit Doncic where it hurts. Where shots are fired at him in the media. Where points are deducted from him on mental scoresheets for awards.
Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg hangs from the rim after dunking against the Denver Nuggets in Denver, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Lendeborg is holding the line, knowing he has fed Doncic a steady diet of his superfood.
While acknowledging that he “did kind of take it overboard in the media,” Lendeborg doubled down when prodded about his comments about Doncic. “I’m not afraid to talk to nobody, man,” he said Oct. 23. “He’s not Michael Jordan.”
This is going to be a blast.
Doncic is coming off back-to-back 41-point and 52-point performances for the Lakers (4-1).
Lendeborg is gaining momentum for winning Rookie of the Year after opening the season averaging 22.6 points on 47.5% shooting, 9.2 rebounds, four assists and one steal per game for the Warriors (2-3).
When the teams last met, Lendeborg actually did a good job guarding Doncic, holding him to 1-of-6 shooting as the primary defender, according to ESPN tracking stats.
The Warriors were helpless against Doncic. And Lendeborg can be blamed for sparking things.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
After they began jawing at one another, the Lakers went on a 13-4 run. Doncic scored 10 of those points.
The highlight of that stretch? Lendeborg was assessed a technical foul with 22.2 seconds left before halftime for chirping at Doncic. The Slovenian superstar responded by making a 49-foot shot with 1.4 seconds remaining and then approached Lendeborg, trash-talking him.
Doncic had 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 30 minutes, finishing with the highest plus-minus (+31) of anyone on the court in the Lakers’ 22-point blowout win over the Warriors. He had more than twice as many points as Lendeborg (12).
Doncic got the last laugh, as he usually does in these situations.
What started their so-called beef, you may be asking?
Said Lendeborg: “I was telling him he sucks. He can’t score on me. You talk and you can’t score on me. I said it the whole game. … I was letting him know because he was laughing and talking and all this because of that one call. His only bucket on me was a banker from half court.”
Added Doncic: “He was talking crazy. But I wasn’t trying to talk back. This season, I’m not trying to get techs.”
It could’ve started and ended there.
But Lendeborg took the drama off the court.
Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. NBAE via Getty Images
He called out Doncic from the podium. He took things to another level.
The Warriors loved it — but only so long as Lendeborg aces his next test Friday.
Said Steph Curry: “He set the table for himself to have to show up — and I like that.”
Added Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “I love it. I think the bravado, the not backing down, it’s great. But Steph had the perfect comment. He loved it, too, but he said now you’ve got to back it up, and that’s right. The way you back it up is to not getting lured into that [next time] when we play them again.”
Well, the stage is set.
We know Doncic will cast the bait.
And what happens next should be pure entertainment.
BROOKLYN, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Nolan Traore #88, Danny Wolf #2, Egor Demin #8, Drake Powell #4 and Ben Saraf #77 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 23, 2025 at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets officially locked in all five players from their 2025 draft class, exercising third-year team options on Egor Dëmin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf. The moves which were expected, were announced Thursday afternoon.
Brooklyn made NBA history in June 2025 by becoming the first franchise ever to select five players in the first round. It was a clear commitment to long-term talent development: Dëmin, Traore, and Saraf are currently 20 years old, Powell is 21, and Wolf is 22.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, securing homegrown talent on rookie scale contracts is crucial. Combined, all five options total roughly $21.72 million for 2027–28 — taking up a littel more than 12% of the projected $176 million salary cap for one-third of the active roster:
Egor Dëmin (No.8): $7.58M
Nolan Traore (No. 19): $4.19M
Drake Powell (No. 22): $3.71M
Ben Saraf (No. 26): $3.17M
Danny Wolf (No. 27): $3.08M
Speaking in August 2025, Nets GM Sean Marks emphasized why homegrown players are crucial in the current CBA landscape:
“I do think it is important to have guys under contract that you control the contracts, so to speak. You drafted them, you developed them, and they got to their second contract under your watch. It’s difficult when you’re trying to acquire max-level talent on max contracts. Those days are probably gone of going and getting 2-3 max free agents and so forth. Those are gonna be more difficult to do, but I think it’s important to have some value contracts on your roster.”
Egor Dëmin: The 8th overall pick out of BYU started 45 of 52 games in his debut year, averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while setting Nets rookie records for single-game three-pointers (7 vs. Golden State) and overall three-point percentage (38.5%). Dëmin is currently sidelined with a bone bruise and will be reevaluated next week.
Nolan Traore: The 19th pick out of France posted 8.9 points and a team-high 3.8 assists across 56 games as a rookie. The quick combo guard logged his first start of the 2026–27 campaign on Wednesday, dropping 15 points in a steady floor-general performance.
Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, & Danny Wolf: The three have appeared in one game this year, with Wolf logging the most minutes out of the three (15). Otherwise, they haven’t sniffed the big-league rotation much. They’re currently going back-and-forth between Long Island and Brooklyn — a familiar tactic the Nets have used with young players.
Of course, long-term potential only goes so far. We’ve seen promising flashes, but it’s still way too early to make a call on what this 2025 class is and becomes. Last year, four of the five picks were among the 20 youngest players in the NBA: Traore, 6th; Saraf 7th, Demin 11th and Powell 19th.
What we do know is that Brooklyn retains control over its 2025 core for 12% of the cap, keeping financial flexibility while they try to pull off improbable ways of winning and developing in one.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Ja'kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors will be without Kawhi Leonard for the next several weeks after the star forward experienced swelling in his left knee. An MRI revealed no acute injury, but Leonard will undergo treatment and rehabilitation before being re-evaluated in one week.
Leonard’s absence leaves a significant hole in Toronto’s lineup early in the 2026-27 season, as he has had a good start in his return with Toronto. With the Raptors looking to maintain their momentum, third-year guard Ja’Kobe Walter could be in line for an expanded role as the team looks for someone to step up in Leonard’s absence.
What does Walter offer?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against Ja'kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Walter enters his third NBA season looking to establish himself as a consistent contributor in Toronto’s rotation. The young guard has the ability to stretch the floor with his perimeter shooting, while his defensive instincts and quick hands give him the potential to make an impact away from the ball. He can also play alongside Toronto’s primary ball-handlers, allowing him to contribute without needing to dominate possession. However, consistency remains a key question, particularly as he looks to contribute beyond his shooting and prove he can handle increased responsibility against opposing starters.
Walter began the campaign in a reserve role, but Kawhi Leonard’s absence has created an opportunity for him to take on more responsibility. He made an immediate impression in Toronto’s season opener against the Chicago Bulls, recording 10 points and three steals. He followed that performance with seven points against the Washington Wizards before breaking out against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 25.
The third-year guard led Toronto with 22 points on seven-of-12 shooting, including five three-pointers, in 31 minutes against Minnesota. Although the Raptors fell 117-94, Walter’s performance offered an encouraging glimpse of what he could provide with an expanded role. The challenge now is turning that breakout performance into consistent production as Toronto navigates Leonard’s absence.
The opportunity ahead
Leonard’s absence presents Walter with a chance to show the coaching staff how his game can translate to a larger role. Beyond knocking down open shots, Walter will need to make quick decisions, attack defensive gaps and take advantage of opportunities in transition. Those areas could help him remain effective even when opposing defences limit his looks from the perimeter.
There is also a longer-term benefit to consider. With more minutes comes the opportunity to gain experience against tougher matchups and learn what it takes to contribute consistently at the NBA level. Walter may not be able to fill the void left by a player of Leonard’s calibre, but this stretch could offer a clearer picture of his ceiling and where he fits into Toronto’s plans moving forward.
My Thoughts
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: JaKobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors smiles before the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 21, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Personally, I’m very high on Walter and believe he has been a valuable contributor off the bench for the Raptors. This will undoubtedly be a big test for him, but I think he is well-positioned to handle the opportunity. Nobody expects him to replicate Leonard’s production, but with his skill set and the pieces Toronto already has in place, I believe the transition from the bench to the starting lineup could be smoother than some might expect.
This is a great opportunity for Walter to break out and establish himself as a consistent contributor for the Raptors moving forward. Just as importantly, I’d like to see him maintain that level of play if he returns to a bench role once Leonard is healthy. Developing that consistency would make him an even more valuable piece of Toronto’s rotation.
In my opinion, Walter is the Raptors’ best option to step into a larger role during Leonard’s absence. I’m excited to see what he can do with the opportunity, and this stretch could be an important step in his development as a young player in Toronto.
The Knicks are planning to decline former first-round pick Pacome Dadiet's fourth-year option, SNY's NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.
New York's move will make Dadiet an unrestricted free agent next June and create salary space heading into the 2027-28 season.
Dadiet, who was selected 25th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, has been unable to carve out playing time with the Knicks since he arrived. The French national appeared in 18 games his rookie season, where he averaged 1.7 points on 32 percent shooting. He averaged the same amount of points on 33 percent shooting across 29 games last season.
This season, the 21-year-old has appeared in one game, grabbing one board in his one minute on the court.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 28: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts to a call during the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Smoothie King Center on October 28, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Suns not off to a good start and reports from the locker room that frustration over a certain role has grown, things haven’t looked great for Phoenix so far. That said, it is still early in the year, and last season this team took early losses and still made the playoffs. Anything can happen, and this team could very well bounce back, but with the discourse so negative so early on, it does seem like an uphill battle.
Haynes Headlines: Growing frustration in Phoenix Suns’ locker room due to lack of point guard on roster to organize the offense, sources tell me. @NBATVpic.twitter.com/pM2mwCVqx5
It’s too early to talk about trades, but for some reason, this season, that discourse has already begun among multiple teams. For the Suns, it is not that they are looking to make a move, but they definitely feel the lack of playmaking on their roster and want a true point guard. For fans and the team, that seems like the best move. Even if Devin Booker likes to be the point guard and playmaker, he needs another creator and play initiator alongside him. This would ease the playmaking load and still let Booker hunt his shots and create off-ball for the team.
A big reason for Minnesota’s early success, and why everyone thought they could dominate (before the Ant injury), is how well LaMelo Ball fit alongside Anthony Edwards. That is what many Suns fans saw with Chris Paul, and it proves that having an all-caliber playmaker alongside a solid off-ball scorer makes offense 1000 times easier. So who could solve this issue? Well, it is someone I did write about earlier this offseason, and someone fans are gravitating toward as well with the latest news.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the trade candidate would be Dejounte Murray, known for his defensive identity in San Antonio before bouncing around to Atlanta and now New Orleans. Murray, unfortunately, hasn’t had it great since leaving SA. A backcourt that couldn’t work in Atlanta, plus injuries and a dysfunctional front office in NO, have left him stuck in the mud. With his value at its lowest ever, and him stuck on a bad team coming off injuries, this is the time for the Suns to strike.
REPORT: The belief around the league is that the Pelicans and Dejounte Murray are working together to find him a “better situation”, per @FearTheBrown. pic.twitter.com/Hg4TdjDZvL
The easiest and best way to make this deal is a one-for-one trade involving Jalen Green and Dejounte Murray. The swap would give both teams a path to the better solution they are looking for. For the Suns, it is easy: they get someone who can help playmake and be a solid defender in their scheme. The six-year age gap may make you worry the Suns are giving up on Green too early, but with that contract and an extension looming, this could be the get-out-of-jail-free card the Suns can capitalize on.
With Green making a bit more than Murray, you also save 6M in next year’s deal, and with both having a $30 million player option, you are forced to get it picked up regardless. At least with Murray, your extension can be more team-friendly, since Green is looking to maximize his next payday.
Green also makes sense for the Pelicans, as they are a young team just looking for talent. With no true number one option, Green could come in and try to take the shine as the dominant on-ball scorer he wants to be. Since high school, he’s been the top guy, and he was drafted in Houston as well. This “PG” movement and working with Steve Nash is never going to be his game, so let’s get him to a spot where he can be his best at what he does, not force him to be another player. We saw that with our last coach trying to make Bradley Beal the next Jrue Holiday, and look how that turned out.
Ultimately, I think this solves a major headache for both parties. In my eyes, the Pelicans are bad and have no chance of going anywhere in the near future in the West. So take a flyer on Green, who has potential and gives you more room in your guard rotation for Jeremiah Fears to take off, especially if you can salary dump Jordan Poole somewhere else (not Phoenix). For the Suns, this gives them a true secondary creator and someone who will make the smart, right play for Booker. Murray isn’t coming here to become Phoenix’s next-best player and get a payday; he is looking to be a complementary piece for a championship run, which is what this front office needs alongside Booker in this starting lineup.
There are other guards the Suns could look at, too, guys like Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, and Darius Garland, and ones they missed out on, like Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Trae Young, so maybe Dejounte Murray isn’t the end-all, be-all option. Though the sentiment is out there that they need a new playmaker and fast, does that mean the quick solution is to start Collin Gillespie and move Green to the bench? Or is that just a precursor to a bigger move? Only time will tell, but I trust the front office to reevaluate what went wrong and make an educated decision by the trade deadline.
LeBron James is essentially outlasting every elite athlete in the history of sports by playing his 24th season for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. James turns 42 years old in Dec., and if he fulfills the second year of his contract next season, he will have played 10 more seasons than Michael Jordan. James’ peak wasn’t as high as MJ’s by most models, but he’s trying to win the GOAT debate on longevity, and he’s certainly made it a worthwhile discussion.
Father Time doesn’t lose, and that’s even the case against a freak of nature like LeBron. James showed some signs of age on Wednesday night as his 76ers needed a big fourth quarter comeback just to get by the Indiana Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac. James was solid in the win with 13 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, and three stocks, but he was also on the wrong end of two highlight plays that the internet is still talking about a day later.
Early in the second quarter, James was speeding down the court for what should have been a fastbreak dunk. Instead, Indiana’s Jalen Slawson, who is only on a two-way contract, beat him to the rim for the chasedown block. He did a LeBron to LeBron! Watch the play here:
LeBron was never caught from behind for years and years and years. There’s only so much he can do before he turns 42, though, and this time another super athlete like Slawson got the best of him. Look at Slawson talk trash to LeBron at the end of that clip. Have some respect for your elders, young man! I say this as a big Slawson fan, he was on my ‘too good for Summer League’ list this year.
As if that wasn’t ba enough, LeBron got got even worse late in the fourth quarter. Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard squared up James and hit him with a dirty crossover that sent the 40-something tumbling. Nembhard missed the shot, so this clip isn’t as humiliating as it could have been.
The Sixers came back and won to improve to 4-1 on the year. That’s great. LeBron has stayed durable while so many other players have gone down with injuries early this season, and he’s poised to be a key piece of a team with championship aspirations come playoff time.
Everything LeBron is doing at this age is crazy, but he’s still showing plenty of signs of slowing down. The end is near, but LeBron is fighting for his athletic life unlike anyone we’ve ever seen before.
Ben Simmons won’t appear in a game for the Kings this NBA season, but he still managed to deliver some good-natured trash talk to one of their Western Conference rivals.
The Warriors were interested in Simmons’ services before the former No. 1 overall pick eventually inked a contract with Sacramento this offseason, Spears reported, citing a source, but apparently not interested enough to send a representative to Simmons’ August workout in Miami.
The 30-year-old Simmons last played for the Los Angeles Clippers, at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season, before going unsigned for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign due to lingering back injuries.
“I said something to Steve [Kerr],” Simmons told Spears regarding Golden State’s Oct. 10 preseason game against the Kings. “I said, ‘Y’all didn’t want me?’ That was in the first quarter. And [Kerr] said, ‘I didn’t know if you were healthy.’
“And I was like, ‘OK. That’s why you have people that do their job and go fly out and see.’ But it is what it is. That’s just me being competitive. It wasn’t personal.”
Simmons also relayed to Spears his brief interaction with Curry the same day.
The Kings bet on Simmons’ talent to provide veteran production this offseason, signing him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September after attending the August workout, the only NBA team to do so.
At first, the move looked brilliant. Simmons impressed in his two preseason games with the Kings and appeared as though he’d flawlessly fill the role Sacramento envisioned for him as a starter and captain.
Then came Oct. 18, and a season-ending torn right Achilles suffered in a practice drill. Now, rehabbing in Sacramento, Simmons says he is more determined than ever to step back on an NBA floor.
“My mentality is that I’ll be back,” Simmons told Spears from his home on Tuesday. “I’ll do everything in my power to get back, get healthy and be better than I was before. There is nothing but time and opportunity to do so. So, I’m going to attack it the way I am now.”
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers battles Baba Miller #18 of the LA Clippers for position during the second half of a game at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Across the first four games of the regular season, Jarred Vanderbilt found himself entirely outside of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation, with head coach JJ Redick opting for Sandro Mamukelashvili and Kevon Looney as his backup big men behind Walker Kessler. But Looney struggled mightily in those appearances. His insufficient scoring and passing were stunting the offense while his lack of size and declining mobility rendered him an issue defensively.
So, Redick gave Looney’s rotation spot to Vanderbilt against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night and the veteran forward, in his first minutes of the season, delivered. His motor, range and quickness defensively caused problems and the Lakers outscored the Clippers by 22 points during his 21 minutes. In particular, Redick cited Vanderbilt’s ability to front the post against Brook Lopez as a crucial contribution.
Following the victory, Collin Sexton — who previously spent half a season alongside Vanderbilt with the Utah Jazz in 2022-23 before Vanderbilt was dealt to Los Angeles — praised Vanderbilt’s even-keeled mentality while he rode the bench early on and how his approach benefits the whole team.
“Vando is somebody that is always going to stay ready … You never see any bad days for Vando. He’s always going to be a leader,” Sexton told reporters. “He’s always going to come in and be that vet and be that good person whether he plays no minutes or he plays 48 minutes. He’s always going to be the same person and I feel like that’s one of the things that helps in the locker room is we’re all for the team and tonight, he was definitely for the team. He came in and he brought that juice right away and I feel like he was a huge, huge impact in us winning.”
Given Vanderbilt’s impressive 2026-27 debut and Looney’s poor showing through four games, it seems pretty likely Vanderbilt will continue garnering rotation minutes for the time being. His next chance comes Friday on the road when the Lakers kick off their NBA Cup Group Play against the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 7: Trayce Jackson-Davis #32, Jakob Poeltl #19 and Head Coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors participates in an all access practice on March 7 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Yak is our starter. We’re number one defence in the league at this time, and he, Yak, has a lot to do with that.”
This is the stance of Raptors coach Darko Rajaković after the Toronto team’s first four games in the season. In them, Jakob Poeltl, that Raptors’ starting centre, has averaged three points, four and a half rebounds, and less than one block per game, in just under 20 minutes a game.
This is a far cry from Yak’s near 15-10 season back in ‘24-’25, and the injuries that have plagued Poeltl in the years since have contributed heavily to two seasons (thus far) of very limited production from the big man. Nevertheless, Rajaković refuses to publicly condemn his player.
“Yak does so many things on defensive end of the ball that it helps us tremendously,” the coach said at today’s presser. “And lot of those things, they will not show up in the box-score you know, and the way he’s presenting himself in the paint, the way he’s controlling screener, the way he rotates and helps our guys… Offensively, I think his rhythm is gonna come.”
While overreacting to a small sample size is unhelpful, it is clear as day that some type of issues are present. Whether lingering injuries remain a concern, or something else is keeping Poeltl at bay, something needs to change for the Raptors if they want to win games in the modern NBA. And, while Rajaković remains steadfast, standing by the Austrian big man, he has also insinuated that he is not burying his head in the sand, and may be choosing to address this issue from a rotational perspective at this juncture.
the raps can keep starting jak if they want to, i don't care too much about that. but the minutes distribution at centre is gonna have to change. soon.
Journalist Joe Wolfond seems to have cleanly summed up the direction the Raptors may be taking the team, as the coach indicated that the Raptors’ current arrangement of centre minutes was not set in stone.
“Everything is on the table, you know?” Rajaković said when asked about Trayce Jackson-Davis getting more minutes at the 5. “Obviously, I love to have as many players as possible to be ready to help us and to step on the floor. It’s just finding those right moments, right minutes and the right rotations to maximize that.”
While relatively non-committal, this statement suggests that Rajaković may be exploring what having the 6’9” centre play a bigger part in the Raps’ rotation could look like. And if last night is any indication, that looks good. In a game where both Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray Boyles got into f0ul trouble, Jackson-Davis stepped up to grab 11 rebounds, and looked like a ray of hope for the Raptors.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jackson-Davis is two inches taller than Collin Murray-Boyles, and the two of them off the bench may combine to give the Raptors that extra support at the 5 that is so necessary, but cannot be sustained at this juncture by Poeltl and Boyles alone.
With the Raptors facing off against the Orlando Magic again this Friday, the team will have another opportunity, both to give Jakob Poeltl time to demonstrate that he is a starting-calibre centre, and for Trayce Jackson-Davis to show both the organization and the fans that he needs more minutes.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: The shoes of Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on October 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Reaves acknowledged he didn’t even think they would become friends.
“I wasn’t joking,” Reaves told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “There were times when the trade first happened where we would walk by each other in the locker room and not say anything to each other because I didn’t know what to say to him. That was the first reaction: ‘What is this guy going to be like?'”
It’s hard to believe that was just a year and a half ago.
Nowadays they often spend their afternoons together on golf courses. They jokingly take shots at each other during interviews. And they have each other’s backs.
Their chemistry has translated onto the court, where they’re the NBA’s best offensive duo.
Dončić leads the league in scoring (36 points per game). Reaves is 16th (24.4 points per game). Dončić and Reaves are the highest-scoring duo in the league (60.4 points per game) by a landslide, averaging nine points more than Steph Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg (51.4 points per game) who are second.
They’re averaging more combined points per game than the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal duo ever did, including when they averaged a combined-high of 57.5 points in 2001-2002 en route to leading the Lakers to three straight championships.
Luka Doncic (77) and Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers high-five during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
When Dončić was dealt to the Lakers, he was shellshocked.
He was coming off a 2023-2024 campaign in which he led the Mavericks to the Finals and finished third in MVP voting before Dallas ripped the rug out from under him. Dončić had wanted to spend his entire career with the Mavericks. Instead he was left feeling betrayed and mortified as the only NBA superstar of his caliber to be jettisoned against his will in his prime in the modern era.
When he first arrived in Los Angeles, his head was spinning.
“For me, it’s hard to speak when I come to a new team, new people,” Dončić told The Post. “It’s kind of hard for me to speak. I had some people I knew from before, so I kind of hung out with them. But after that, in [next season’s] training camp, [Austin and I] got really close. That’s when it probably started.”
***
It was obvious everything had changed between Dončić and Reaves last season.
Their awkward silence had morphed into brotherly teasing.
Dončić joked that Reaves wanted to be his friend, but he’s “not allowing it.” Reaves pointed out that he had more dunks than Dončić. Dončić lovingly called Reaves “a hater.” Reaves tenderly called his teammate an “A-hole.”
Dončić was happy.
He needed the summer to wrap his mind around the trade. After having some space, his hurt transformed into determination. He realized he had an opportunity of a lifetime ahead of him: He was the face of the 17-time champion Lakers, a globally celebrated brand. As soon as Dončić fully bought in, his personality began to show.
Reaves saw who he really was.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Draymond Green are seen at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Golden State Warriors season opener at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. London Entertainment
“Once we came back for the next year, right off the bat we had similar interests,” Reaves told The Post. “We kind of act the same, which is kind of sad to say for me. But we both love joking around, having a good time.”
Reaves and Dončić are both funny. They’re understated. They’re humble. They prefer spending time with their loved ones over the LA scene. Golf is their meditation.
As soon as they developed a bond, their chemistry started bleeding onto the court.
When LeBron James was out at the top of last season because of sciatica, Dončić and Reaves led the Lakers to a 15-4 start. Then last March, when James was struggling with multiple ailments and sidelined for three games, the duo led the Lakers to wins over the Pacers, Knicks and Timberwolves, sparking a 15-2 run.
There was a synergistic dance between the guards. They reacted off one another as though they were musical instruments in an orchestra.
“Having him come out of his shell and just be himself is the best thing that can happen, not just for the organization, but for him, for us, for everybody,” Reaves told The Post.
***
Last season was challenging for both stars, who tried to support each other through their speedbumps.
Dončić was in a custody battle with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, over their two daughters who were living with her in Slovenia.
Reaves knew he was going to turn down his $14.9 million player option in June to become a free agent, and he hoped he could return to the Lakers.
In a bit of poetic cruelty, Dončić and Reaves both suffered injuries in a game against the Thunder on April 2 that derailed the Lakers’ playoff hopes.
Dončić suffered a strained hamstring that sidelined him the entire postseason. Reaves sustained a strained oblique, an injury that would keep him out the first four games of the team’s first-round series against the Rockets.
They were there for each other through everything.
“It’s very interesting how life works, and there’s certain things that happen in people’s life where you kind of create a bond over things,” Reaves told The Post. “We’re all around each other 95 percent of the time throughout the year, especially when [basketball is] in season. We might get an off-day every week or two weeks.
“But you travel together and you know the things people are going through. And you just want to be there for him. And there were a couple of things on both sides where we were both going through things and having each other’s company was the best thing that could’ve happened. And it’s grown into a real relationship after that.”
***
Dončić and Reaves banter like brothers, but they also have each other’s backs as though they were family.
Last summer, Dončić made it clear to Lakers brass that a few things were very important to him. He wanted a franchise center. And he wanted Reaves to remain his teammate.
The Lakers were Doncic’s team after James left in free agency for the 76ers in July, and the franchise’s top priority was to make its superstar happy.
In Reaves’ first public comments after agreeing to the deal, he let it be known how much Dončić meant to him.
“Luka,” Reaves said in Las Vegas in July, “I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
Austin Reaves, left, and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day on Monday, September 28, 2026, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves went from viewing Dončić as a shy enigma with whom he didn’t know if he could relate, to letting him into his inner circle.
And Dončić went from feeling devastated that he was traded to the Lakers, to wanting to spend his entire career in a purple-and-gold jersey — and wanting Reaves in one alongside him.
“Hopefully, yeah,” Doncic told The Post when asked if he wants to retire as a Laker.
Doncic and Reaves won each other over.
They have one of the most amusing bromances in the league, which has led to them becoming the NBA’s most potent offensive duo.
Just a year and a half ago, this seemed far-fetched.
The Sixers added Jaylen Brown to their injury report Thursday night ahead of a second matchup with the defending champion Knicks.
The team listed Brown as questionable with left knee soreness for Friday night’s contest at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The game will be the Sixers’ first of four in East Group B of the 2026 NBA Cup.
Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Jabari Walker (left knee patellar tendinopathy), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) were all still listed as out.
For the first leg of the Sixers’ back-to-back, neither Joel Embiid nor LeBron James appeared on the team’s injury report. The two stars had split injury management nights on the Sixers’ back-to-back last weekend. The Sixers will head to Charlotte on Saturday to play the Hornets.
The Sixers earned their first victory of the season by beating the Knicks on opening night. New York started 0-3 but has won its last two games, topping the Pistons and Bulls.
Charlotte Hornets forward Naz Reid talking with head coach Charles Lee during the second quarter of an eventual 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee said star forward Naz Reid was benched in the second half of a 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday because he “didn’t meet our standard” of play.
Reid is currently in the second season of a five-year, $125 million contract he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2025 before being traded to the Hornets in June.
“Unfortunately, Naz didn’t meet our standards in the first half and at halftime we made the decision that he wouldn’t play in the second half,” Lee said after the game. “But I look forward to him meeting those standards come next game.”
Charlotte Hornets’ Naz Reid shoots a free throw during an NBA game against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Hornets led 51-44 at the half, but were outscored 53-38 in the second half without Reid.
With less than five minutes in the first half, Reid looked confused when Lee appeared to communicate play signals.
Reid, who was talking with Hornets center Moussa Diabaté before Lee chimed in, seemed lost on the next possession.
He finished with seven points on 2-of-6 shooting in 13 minutes. Reid also had one block.
Naz Reid Benching: Watch the full clip below.
At 4:49 in the 2nd quarter, Naz appears to be explaining something to Moussa before Charles Lee steps in and shows Reid two different play signals. Was Naz explaining it incorrectly?
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee watches the game against the Washington Wizards on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. NBAE via Getty Images
In five games played for Charlotte, Reid is averaging 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year, was a part of the trade that sent NBA All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves.
Charlotte Hornets center Naz Reid drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in Detroit. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In addition to Reid, the Hornets received a 2033 unprotected first-round pick and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), as well as first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030.
