Category: NBA

Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James (and his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Luka Dončić) had an attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to PlayVision Inc., a sports technology startup that owns the Bron AI sports betting app.

James, who has an exclusive endorsement deal with Polymarket, told the company to stop using his likeness without authorization after a Bron AI video advertisement that featured LeBron’s likeness went viral on social media Wednesday.

The likeness of James’ face isn’t shown in the advertisement. Instead, it’s just his back and his voice’s likeness.

Exclusive: LeBron James sent a cease and desist to the Bron AI sports betting app for this ad that evokes his name and uses his likeness without authorization.

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 6, 2026

But there’s no question that the resemblance is uncanny, aside from the jersey being word says “Bron” on the back as opposed to “James”.

James has a distinctive back structure and numerous tattoos on his arms that are visible. The Bron AI app video includes them all, or at least those which would be visible from this same angle.

And it would be easy to confuse the voice in the video with that of LeBron, given how similar the two sound.

But the way the video mimics LeBron’s walk at the end of the advertisement might be the eeriest moment of all, given how James’ distinct strut and swagger was recaptured.

The biggest difference between this AI-generated LeBron and the one in real life if the hair on AI LeBron’s head, compared to him now sporting a bald look.

Dončić’s likeness doesn’t appear in that same video, but he and his team clearly took issue with how it was portrayed somewhere else in the Bron AI app.

There was no way this likeness was ever going to be allowed to last longer than the few days it was before James’ team put an end to it.

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CHARLOTTE — Jordan Walsh isn’t thrilled with his start to the season. The 22-year-old has played double-digit minutes in every game and has been tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best players, as is customary.

But at Celtics shootaround Friday morning, Walsh said he was underwhelmed with his impact on the team so far.

“I think it’s been okay,” Walsh said. “I don’t think it’s been good or great or nothing like that. I think it’s been just okay. Haven’t been, like, the best version of myself, but the team’s winning, everybody’s happy, so it’s all good.”

Walsh started the first five games of the season but has come off the bench for the last three. He hasn’t shot particularly well — he’s shooting 38.2% from the field and 30% from three — but it’s all in a very small sample. So far, he’s averaging 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per night, both numbers slightly lower than last season.

“I haven’t been playing great — but the starting, not starting thing, it’s not about that,” Walsh said. “That’s just kind of like Joe’s thing, like he wants to try new things. Like, that’s fine. But I’m still playing the same amount of minutes. So, I still gotta produce in those minutes. Like, I gotta do that better.”

Walsh isn’t on the court to stuff the stat sheet; his defensive success sometimes shows up as steals or blocks, but more often, it’s more nuanced.

“For me, it’s more about the defensive impact, and a lot of the time that stuff doesn’t really show up in the box score,” Walsh said. “Like, it doesn’t show up how many times I negate a screen, or how many times the star player doesn’t get the ball that possession, just gives up. Like, it doesn’t track that kind of stuff. So it’s never really based off of that, anyway — that’s not where my value lies.”

Walsh’s minutes have been trending downwards as Hugo Gonzalez has slotted into the starting lineup. After playing 18 or more minutes in three of the Celtics’ first four games, he hasn’t played more than 12 minutes since October 27th.

While he knows his counting stats aren’t the priority, he said he wants to see a marked improvement in his defensive impact. It’s an imperfect stat, especially this early on, but he currently has the second-worst plus-minus on the team; the Celtics have been outscored by 10 points in his minutes so far this season (Mitchell Robinson has the worst total plus-minus on the team at -37).

“I still have a standard that I’ve set, and the organization has for me that I need to meet, even if it’s not scoring.”

New York’s G League affiliate opens its 2026-27 season tonight against the Maine Celtics in the Tip-Off Tournament. The roster features three players on two-way contracts, a returning fan favorite (hint: he’s great on toast), and a collection of prospects hoping to dribble their way up to an NBA court.

With the Knicks operating near the second apron, Westchester provides a way to develop young players without committing additional standard roster spots. Two-way players can spend most of the season in White Plains while remaining available for NBA duty, subject to a limit of up to 50 games on the active roster. The G League has also given players like Deuce McBride and Tyler Kolek opportunities to get more work. Here’s a peek at the players worth watching.

Dalton Knecht: A second chance in New York

Of everyone on Westchester’s roster, Dalton Knecht has the clearest path to helping the big club this season. The 2024 first-round pick (17th overall) arrived after the Lakers waived him, with New York releasing Kevin McCullar Jr. to make room for Knecht on a two-way contract. This low-risk move could pay off if the former Tennessee star rediscovers his shooting touch and improves his court awareness, which was a criticism raised in the comments section at Silver Screen and Roll.

The 25-year-old made a promising debut for the New York Knicks this week, scoring 10 points on efficient 4-of-6 shooting (including two threes) with seven boards, a dime, and a block in 16 minutes off the bench in a rout of the Bulls. Finding consistent playing time will be difficult, however. With Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Landry Shamet, Pacôme Dadiet, and Mohamed Diawara competing for minutes on the wings, Knecht will probably need an injury or another opening to receive an extended look. (TBH, he already looks ahead of Dadiet.)

Coach Mike Brown has said he’d rather see Knecht playing meaningful minutes in the G League than sitting on the NBA bench. Makes sense. Knecht needs opportunities to shoot, make decisions, and work through mistakes. He has shown he can score, but questions remain about his defense, shot selection, and ability to contribute consistently as a role player.

If Knecht performs well enough, the organization could eventually consider converting him to a standard NBA contract, which would require sufficient roster and financial room. For now, he should get plenty of opportunities to let it fly against G League competition.

Tyler Nickel: A sniper

Speaking of flamethrowers . . . Tyler “Silent K” Nickel might be the most straightforward fit for what the Knicks need. New York selected the Vanderbilt sharpshooter with the 47th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after an impressive senior season. He followed that with a promising Summer League showing and signed a two-way contract.

From what we’ve seen, Nickel moves well without the ball, finds open space, and punishes defenses for leaving him unattended. The big league Knicks have several players capable of creating offense, and a dependable perimeter shooter who doesn’t require many touches could fit nicely alongside them (see: Landry Shamet).

His defense will help determine how quickly the 23-year-old advances. He needs to prove he can handle quicker, stronger NBA bodies while maintaining his shooting efficiency against more aggressive closeouts. Westchester should give him plenty of reps to work on both.

Nickel doesn’t seem to have Knecht’s offensive versatility, but his shooting gives him a clearly defined role. If he can hold his own defensively, he could become a useful option for additional spacing. For the time being, Westchester might have its very own set of Splash Brothers to keep you entertained (at a reasonable price).

Jaden Akins: Defense and versatility

Jaden Akins took a less direct route to New York. Undrafted out of Michigan State in 2025, he spent last season with the Motor City Cruise after earning All-Big Ten third-team and All-Defensive recognition as a senior. His combination of scoring, secondary playmaking, and defense caught the Knicks’ attention. Westchester acquired his returning player rights in September, and he secured a two-way contract before the season.

Akins faces considerable competition at the one- and two-guard spots. His best chance of separating himself is to use his time at Westchester to polish his defense and his work off the ball. Can he defend multiple positions, run an offense for stretches, and make open shots? Can he contribute consistently without committing unnecessary fouls or turnovers? Those qualities will probably matter more to New York than his individual scoring averages.

Dink Pate: Back for another season

The fan favorite returns! Dink Pate returns to Westchester after a confusing offseason. The 6’8” wing, still only 20 years old, averaged approximately 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists across 50 games with the club last season. He subsequently attempted to play college basketball at Providence, but that plan fell through amid questions about his NCAA eligibility. The Knicks signed and waived him on an Exhibit 10 contract, and he returned to Westchester, which already held his G League rights.

Pate has length, can create his own offense, and contributes as a rebounder and passer. His combination of physical tools and professional experience makes him one of Westchester’s more interesting developmental players. Decision-making and efficiency are where he needs improvement.

Unlike Knecht, Nickel, and Akins, Pate doesn’t have a two-way contract. He would need an available two-way or standard roster spot and a new NBA contract to join the big club. Westchester’s rights also don’t prevent another NBA team from signing him. Thus, his time in White Plains is a prove-it run for a broader audience—so we expect to see some inspired hooping from him this season.

Frontcourt depth: Robbins, Dante, and Miličić

Westchester’s frontcourt includes several players who could provide useful depth. Liam Robbins, a seven-footer who went undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2023, is probably the most recognizable. He showed some encouraging work around the iron during Summer League with the Knicks, and Westchester subsequently acquired his G League rights.

Robbins brings size, rebounding, and shot-blocking ability. The big league club could use more reliable center depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, with James Wiseman slow to make an impression. Robbins could use his time in White Plains to convince the team he deserves a look—perhaps before the front office starts eyeing its surplus of guards as trade bait.

N’Faly Dante, the 6-foot-11 former Oregon center, is working his way back from an ACL injury. His size and athleticism lift our eyebrows, but getting healthy and regaining his previous form will be the immediate priorities.

Igor Miličić Jr., a 6-foot-10 forward out of Tennessee, brings international experience and positional versatility after spending time with the Delaware Blue Coats last season. Improving his outside shooting and defensive consistency would help him take the next step.

The wings: Jourdain, Okani, and company

Westchester also has several forwards competing for rotation minutes. Nick Jourdain returns after averaging roughly eight points and more than five rebounds last season. The former Memphis forward provides rebounding, energy, and defensive effort. His journey from local tryout to returning player is a nice story, even if an NBA opportunity remains a longer shot.

Toby Okani, the former West Virginia wing, brings length and athleticism after spending time with multiple G League organizations. David Dixon, an undrafted forward out of Duquesne, and Tahj-Malik Campbell are also trying to establish roles after joining the training camp group.

The guards: Shooting potential

Westchester’s backcourt includes several capable players. Mitchell Mascari is worth watching after arriving from the Stockton Kings. The 6’5” guard shot approximately 42% from downtown last season, giving Westchester another option to stretch the floor.

Paul Zilinskas returns as a scoring option at guard and on the wing, while Amir “Primo” Spears joins the club after being selected 25th in the 2026 G League Draft. Spears brings extensive college experience, including a productive stint at UTSA, and spent last season playing professionally in Mexico.

The road begins in Maine

The three two-way players will receive the most attention this season, although we’ll also keep an eye on Pate (‘cuz he’s kinda electric). The rest of the roster will compete for minutes and try to establish themselves as dependable professional players. Westchester opens its Tip-Off Tournament schedule tonight at 7 p.m. against the Maine Celtics at the Portland Expo, then faces the same opponent at the same venue Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Both games will air on MSG Network.

Go W-Knicks!

It’s still strange for Golden State Warriors fans to see Klay Thompson wearing another team’s jersey.

They had to do so once again on Thursday, when Thompson’s Miami Heat came to town.

At least Steph Curry (who had 29 points in the Warriors- 120-100 win) managed to make light of this at one point in the game, when he pointed at his former teammate and gave a thumbs-up during a brief pause in the action.

Steph having fun next to Klay

THUMBS UP for his former teammate! https://t.co/ucxJpfuFAmpic.twitter.com/Pq3fwE2ylH

— NBA (@NBA) November 6, 2026

A clip of Steph doing so went viral on social media, tallying over three million views since the NBA’s X account posted it on Thursday night.

Even though Thompson (who didn’t see what Curry did) didn’t look too enthused during the viral clip, comments he made about reuniting with Curry postgame show how heartwarming it was for him.

“It was fun. It was really fun. He’s still super crafty still to this day,” Thompson, who had 11 points in the loss but blocked one of Curry’s shots at one point, said.

“What Steph is doing, I got to see it every night and it became normal, but to see it as an opponent it was incredible, especially that he’s nearing 40 and he moves like a young athlete. It’s all the respect in the world for him. He deserves all the accolades and adulation and money. He’s just 1 of 1 and the game is going to miss him when he does hang it up,” he added, per Yahoo Sports.

Thompson wasn’t the only Splash Brother to allude to their respective careers reaching their twilight last night.

“It’s definitely surreal, but it’s also a blessing we’re still playing. Every time we play against him it’s one closer to the end. Just trying to appreciate it,” Curry said to NBA TV after the game.

It’s awesome for fans to see these two relishing what’s left of their time on the court together, even when they’re playing for different teams.

The Golden State Warriors have contacted the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks to gauge the organization’s interest in a potential trade for center Kristaps Porzingis (or really his contract), per a report by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. With Porzingis likely headed for retirement and accepting the Warriors withholding his salary, Siegel reports that he is expected to accept a significant buyout from his $20 million salary. The Dubs front office is trying to use his contract as a trade exception in the next month to solidify the team’s depth without limiting their options at the trade deadline.

“Among the many teams the Warriors have contacted since the start of the season, as reported earlier on Friday in our weekly newsletter, ClutchPoints has been able to confirm with league sources three teams in particular: the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and New Orleans Pelicans,” Siegel wrote.

The Warriors interest in Pelicans wings Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones has been reported on for years, and the Dubs reportedly called New Orleans about center Yves Missi earlier this season as well. However, the fact that the two sides have not previously agreed to a deal should leave fans skeptical that a deal will happen now (especially months before the trade deadline).

Siegel’s reporting suggests the Warriors and Bucks were not close to a deal for Myles Turner, with different evaluations of his contract’s value. As for the Bulls, Siegel highlighted center Jalen Smith.

“Going back to the topic of potential trade suitors for Porzingis, the Warriors showed interest in Bulls’ center Jalen Smith in a potential Porzingis-oriented deal with Chicago, but the Bulls have not shown a willingness to make such a move at this time, sources said,” Siegel said. “The Bulls are wanting to evaluate their roster and potential moves closer to the trade deadline unless draft compensation is included, despite opening the year as one of the worst teams in the NBA.”

Smith would be an excellent to the Warriors current front court depth. While he lacks the explosive ceiling that Golden State hoped to get from Porzingis, he is an incredibly well rounded role player who would give head coach Steve Kerr another center who can shoot threes other than 40-year old Al Horford.

The 10th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Smith never found his footing in Phoenix and was quickly viewed around the league as a bust before finding consistency with the Indiana Pacers. Over the past five seasons, split between Indiana and Chicago, Smith has averaged 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks on 50.1%/34.3%/74.9% shooting in 18.0 minutes per game (254 games, 76 starts).

Still only 26, Smith has been the primary starting center for the first time in his career this season. While he is posting career highs in minutes (22.5), points (11.0), rebounds (7.8), assists (1.8), and blocks (0.9) per game so far this season, the Bulls are 1-7 and have been among the worst teams in the league. Slated to be a free agent at the end of the season, Smith seems destined to be traded before the deadline for a package built around second-round picks. The question is, will the Warriors be able to convince the Bulls to make that move before the new year?

The Warriors only have two tradeable second round picks, one in 2030 and another in 2033. One added enticement they could add to a deal with the Bulls, who have notoriously cheap owner Jerry Reinsdorf, would be to take back either Buddy Hield or Zach Collins alongside Smith. The Warriors would likely waive either player, but would effectively be taking $18-$19 million off the Bulls books. Assuming the Bulls agreed to a buyout with Porzingis in the $6-8 million range that Siegel speculates, Bulls ownership could save around $10 million.

Sometimes all it takes is a spark, however small, to start a fire and change a team’s trajectory. Even if that spark comes against an opponent you wouldn’t necessarily consider quality.

The Phoenix Suns’ 117-104 victory over the Orlando Magic might be that spark, although with Houston and San Antonio staring them down on the schedule over the next few days, there’s a chance we won’t look back at this game as the moment that ignited some great blaze. But there were things we witnessed that can be deposited into the old adjustments bank, lessons that could serve as valuable reference points when trying to manufacture future victories.

One of those lessons, as obvious as it might seem, is that feeding Devin Booker early remains one of the best ways to give this team an opportunity to win basketball games.

Booker is the $57 million man, and constructing a roster that forces him to assume duplicative responsibilities within the starting lineup isn’t exactly ideal. Too often, we see Booker drift away from his natural role as a shooting guard and become the primary playmaker, tasked with creating opportunities for everyone else rather than focusing on what he does best.

Against Orlando, we saw something different. In the first half, Booker went 8-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 23 points while establishing himself as the focal point of the offense. 

Granted, this was the Orlando Magic. Quality opponents have demonstrated the ability to scheme Booker out of games, as we saw earlier this season against a shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder team. And that’s precisely why the argument for having a quality facilitator persists.

When you have somebody capable of assuming the responsibility of distributing the basketball, opposing defenses have another variable to account for. They have to dedicate attention to disrupting that player’s ability to initiate the offense, which can create more opportunities for Booker to operate as a scorer. And when Booker gets going early, it creates opportunities for everyone around him. As he begins to command the defensive gravity we know he possesses, teammates find themselves with more space and cleaner looks. The hope is that by the time an opposing defense figures out how to slow him down, Booker has already inflicted enough damage to force them into scrambling, opening up opportunities for the rest of the roster to capitalize.

Getting Devin Booker engaged early should be the North Star for this team. If opposing defenses are finding ways to take the ball out of his hands, then it’s the coaching staff’s responsibility to scheme ways to get it back into his hands in situations where he can be effective.

Here’s a fun stat for you. Throughout his career, Booker has attempted 13 or more field goals in the first half of a game 110 times. In those games, the Suns have a .582 winning percentage. And when Booker does what he did last night, shooting 60% or better from the field while attempting at least 13 shots in the first half, that winning percentage climbs to .727. What’s interesting is that since the acquisition of Bradley Beal prior to the 2023-24 season, Booker has attempted 13 or more field goals in the first half 30 times. The other 80 times occurred pre-Beal, with 46 occurring alongside Chris Paul.

Devin Booker went 8-of-13 in the first half against Orlando.

Fun stat:

When Booker attempts 13+ shots in the first half, the Suns are 64–46 (.582) in his career.

When he shoots 60% or better on 13+ first-half attempts? That winning percentage jumps to .727.

Feed Book early. pic.twitter.com/T4Hz0F22e0

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 6, 2026

I’m certainly not breaking any new ground by suggesting that your most skilled scorer should be looking to score early and often, especially when doing so creates opportunities for the players around him. But that’s exactly what we witnessed against Orlando. Booker scored only seven points in the second half, yet he added four assists as Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges began finding more opportunities to contribute offensively, benefiting from the defensive gravity Booker had established earlier in the game.

Perhaps this needs to become a point of emphasis for the coaching staff, along with a mental adjustment for Booker himself. Because when you look at the rosters he’s played alongside since Chris Paul left town, it’s difficult to argue that they’ve consistently been constructed to maximize his greatest strength, which can create a malaise and affinity for falling into distribution responsibilities rather than getting yours.

Playing alongside Bradley Beal, whose availability was frequently compromised by injuries, eventually led to stretches in which Eric Gordon or Tyus Jones ran the offense. Now Booker finds himself sharing the backcourt with Jalen Green, another player whose natural instincts lean toward scoring rather than facilitating. None of those combinations has been particularly conducive to allowing Booker to operate consistently in the role where he’s most dangerous.

While there are legitimate criticisms of Booker’s game, particularly his struggles executing in clutch situations and the difficulties he encounters when more physical defenders impose their will on him, those concerns shouldn’t prevent us from recognizing what he does well. When Booker establishes himself offensively early, forces defenses to react, and creates opportunities for his teammates to capitalize, that’s the version of Devin Booker this team needs. And when that approach contributes to a much-needed victory, it deserves recognition and applause.

The Suns aren’t going to solve every roster deficiency overnight, and the challenges of getting Booker quality looks against better competition aren’t going anywhere. But there’s something to be said for simplifying the approach and putting your best player in positions to succeed. Orlando provided a reminder of what happens when Booker dictates the offense rather than reacting to it. If Phoenix is searching for a spark that can become something sustainable, getting Booker going early seems like a pretty damn good place to start.

Since the Lakers acquired Walker Kessler over the summer, most of the conversation regarding his play, and subsequent impact, has been tied to the cost paid to land him.

The multiple years and millions of dollars, the draft picks and swaps, each have served as footnotes after every game thus far. 

While fair given what the Lakers need from him going forward, it has also put increased emphasis on his raw production rather than influence. If you’re into that kind of thing, Kessler’s per-game numbers are solid. His 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and four stocks nightly will play. However, it doesn’t capture the full spectrum of his impact. 

On offense, Kessler is still navigating life as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves’ screener. It’s an entirely new world compared to the barren guard groups he played next to with the Utah Jazz.

Things like timing, pick angles and court-mapping will take time. But the early results have been encouraging nevertheless.

After his dunk-centric eruption on opening night, defenses have already begun selling out in the paint to take away his lob and cut chances. 

Due to this, Kessler has not been able to duplicate his scoring outbursts, but it hasn’t lessened his value to the offense either. A direct result of teams loading up and tagging Kessler — often with multiple defenders — is that it has created open shots from the perimeter, as seen in the clips below. 

Walker Kessler scored just 2 points, but his roll gravity drew Utah’s defense and created wide-open threes. The Lakers went 20/47 (43%) from deep. pic.twitter.com/y7X8Ui6GAG

— Lakers24Eight (@lakers24ate) October 26, 2026

Kessler’s roll gravity also extends to his rebounding ability. As one of the league’s best second-chance creators, and simply being a massive person, Kessler often draws multiple players to him whenever a shot goes up. 

This fear is well warranted. The Lakers’ offensive rebound percentage jolts up nearly 10% when Kessler is on the floor compared to off. Like a black hole, this sucks up defenders from the corners and creates quality looks for shooters. The Lakers are currently shooting 43.9% from the corners this season, the second-best mark in the league.

Beyond the attention Kessler attracts on offense simply from existing, his omnipresence is probably best demonstrated with the impact he’s had on the Lakers’ defense. 

As the backbone and backline, Kessler’s presence in the paint has allowed the team’s wings to be extremely aggressive shocking the ball with the trust that the center will clean up any mistakes. This disruptive style has resulted in the Lakers being one of the best defenses in terms of forced turnovers. 

And when his teammates do get burned for gambling or getting blown by, Kessler has been iron-clad protecting the basket. 

Not only are opposing teams shooting just 26.9% of their shots at the rim when Kessler is on the floor — would rank fourth-best in the NBA — they are also missing once he meets them there. 

Among the 12 players who have defended at least 50 shots within six feet this season, Kessler ranks first in defended shooting percentage against (45.1%) while also contesting the second-most attempts behind only Victor Wembanyama, according to the league’s tracking data. 

Last night Walker Kessler contested 14 Warriors shots, they made 3 of them.
Some, were missed threes, but a lot were contests in the paint including five blocks. pic.twitter.com/9RThoBA0DI

— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) October 31, 2026

Kessler’s deterrence and effectiveness in shutting off the paint is not solely due to his size. 

His height and frightening wingspan do help, yes. But what drives his success is his impressive motor. With every second jump contest, race down the floor and closeout to a 3-point shooter, Kessler’s care factor is never in doubt. That goes a long way to actualizing his defensive upside. 

Despite how hard he ultimately tries, the Lakers are learning firsthand that Kessler can’t be everywhere at once. This is never more true than the defensive drop-off once he’s on the bench.

Through their first nine games, the Lakers have allowed a defensive rating of 110.1 with Kessler on the court compared to 117.2 when he’s been off. That’s a discrepancy that is the equivalent of the team performing like the eighth-best defense versus the 26th. 

While his individual numbers will likely fluctuate nightly, and even quarterly, as illustrated by his dominant final frame — 10 points, five rebounds, four blocks and a steal — against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Kessler has proven to be more than suited for the role bestowed upon him. 

He may not be the thundering force that Dončić is or as crafty as Reaves, but Kessler’s job as the Lakers’ silent protector has been as critical to the team’s strong start.

It won’t always look like he’s had a good game in the box score. But just watch how that opposing ball-handler goes wide-eyed and makes a U-turn when the giant in purple and gold makes his stand. 

More than any numbers can ever quantify, Kessler’s game is measured in fear. And the Lakers are benefiting from it so far.

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social

During a TikTok stream where the pair were playing NBA 2K, New York Knicks guards Tyler Kolek and Miles “Deuce” McBride were asked a question: who was the 'fakest' celebrity fan they encountered during the Knicks’ championship run? Kolek didn't hesitate to name a major celebrity.

Kolek promptly named pop superstar Taylor Swift, who made headlines for her courtside appearance at Game 4 of the Knicks’ series against the San Antonio Spurs on June 10, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. Swift was spotted in a custom blue-and-orange T-shirt with the pun “Stevie Knicks,” accompanied by her longtime friends Mariska Hargitay, Alana Haim, and Este Haim.

"I don't know if I've seen her at any other games… It's a little performative," Kolek said during the live stream.

McBride, laughing, agreed with Kolek's assessment but was quick to warn his teammate: "I would agree. The Swifties aren’t going to like that answer."

Saving himself from the potential backlash, Kolek quickly clarified his remarks. He suggested that her busy schedule might simply prevent her from attending more often.

McBride teased Kolek for trying to backtrack and from the wrath of Swift’s loyal fanbase.

More: Who is making a run at Doncic, Wembanyama? Latest NBA MVP rankings

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor Swift called the 'fakest' celebrity fan by Knicks player

The Golden State Warriors Kristaps Porzingis saga is expected to come to an end before the end of the year, according to a report by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Porzingis, who re-signed with the Dubs last season on a partially guaranteed two-year, $40 million deal, opted not to join the team for training camp and has accepted not receiving payments, seemingly deciding to retire. However, hoping to make the best out of an unexpected situation, the Warriors are hoping to use Porzingis’ salary essentially as a trade exception. While that was all known, Siegel’s reporting suggests the front office is expected to trade Porzingis by December 16th.

“For starters, Porzingis’ time with the Warriors is over,” Siegel wrote. “He will not be playing another game for this franchise, as ClutchPoints reported on Oct. 23 before the team’s first game of the season, and it’s almost a given he will be traded, likely within the next 30-40 days… Much like how the Warriors traded for Dennis Schroder in the middle of December during the 2024-25 season, only to re-aggregate him in a bigger deal for Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, league sources are anticipating a similar strategy this time around with Porzingis.”

Siegel notes that players who signed free agent contracts this offseason will all become trade-eligible on December 15th, which will also give teams more options on that day. Moreover, December 16th is the deadline for a player to be traded and still be eligible to be aggregated in a deal at the trade deadline in February. So while it’s definitely possible for a deal to be made sooner, that effectively becomes the deadline for the Warriors front office if they would like to make a smaller move with Porzingis that would leave them flexibility to still go looking for bigger fish at the deadline.

Siegel’s reporting does not even engage with a scenario where the Warriors do not trade Porzingis in December. It’s worth wondering if they would simply hold onto him until the trade deadline if they did not receive an offer that enticed them enough before. With the Warriors 6-3 and looking like a legit playoff team, though, the front office should be less inclined to slow play adding depth to the roster.

Retired NBA coach Doc Rivers is never afraid to speak the truth, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is on his mind these days.

Rivers explained on the “Bill Simmons Podcast” that Antetokounmpo is a “difficult guy” after having coached him for a season and a half before retiring in April 2026.

“He’s not easy,” Rivers said of coaching Antetokounmpo. “He plays at this crazy downhill pace. He’s really a difficult guy. He has this great passing ability, but he doesn’t have super IQ at the same time. He really has one way. Every play, he wants to force it.”

Antetokounmpo is an ultra-rare physical specimen, earning the nickname “The Greek Freak,” standing 6-foot-11 and weighing 250 pounds.

His time in Milwaukee is mostly considered a success, as he won an NBA title in 2021, but the end of his career with Rivers was frustrating. The Bucks had nearly no assets to acquire new players and Antetokounmpo himself was a constant source of trade conjecture. 

“I wished he learned how to execute better,” Rivers said. “The thing he needs to still learn is the value of execution. How important it is when you’re in practice and shoot around to lock in on execution. Now he has a coach who’s as good as there is in execution.”

The Bucks finally did trade him to the Miami Heat this past offseason and he’s hooked up with coach Erik Spoelstra, though early returns have not been good with a 3-6 record. 

“For the team to work, you have to learn how to execute,” Rivers said. 

Rivers has always been honest when talking about players he’s coaching, including when he’s still with the team. 

As the 76ers coach, Rivers had a blunt answer to a reporter after Ben Simmons passed up a wide-open layup in Game 7 of a playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks in 2021.

The reporter asked whether Rivers still believed in Simmons to be an elite point guard on a championship-winning team. 

“I don’t know that question or the answer to that right now,” Rivers replied after they lost to a clearly inferior Hawks team that went on to not be a contender in the years following. “So I don’t know the answer to that.”

Simmons refused to show up the following year and was eventually traded to the Nets for James Harden before falling out of the league in a detrimental chain of events for his career.

Simmons later said Rivers’ comments infuriated him.

“How did I feel? I was like, ‘What a piece of s—t,” Simmons said of Rivers’ blunt comments in a recent documentary “Ben Being Ben”. “When times get tough, people start panicking. People throw people under the bus, and that’s just what happened.”

Antetokounmpo and the Heat face the floundering Kings on Sunday after losing to the Warriors on Thursday.

The Toronto Raptors are looking to secure their first win in the Emirates NBA Cup this season as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, November 6.

The Raptors, who are currently 0-1 in the competition and are coming off of a 128-109 loss against the Denver Nuggets. Toronto has not been on great form, losing 3 of their last four and currently sit at 4-4.

For the Bucks, their start to the season has been poor as they enter this contest with a record of 1-7 and are on a four-game losing streak.

Both teams have work to do

The Raptors have had many issues to start their season off, mainly surrounding slow starts to games, while not being able to finish games. Perimeter defence has also been a problem.

There has also been massive vulnerability in the frontcourt and rebounding. While they’re strong on the offensive glass, their undersized or banged-up frontline has struggled to contain dominant opposing centres. With no true centre, the Raptors have struggled. They should be looking to make a trade for a well renowned centre to help them fix their issue there.

Not having Kawhi Leonard has also seemed to affect the Raptors, as there is now more pressure on Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett to carry the load.

For the Bucks, life without Giannis Antetokounmpo has been difficult. They are fielding a younger squad and are in a transitional period.

The core now features players acquired in recent moves, such as Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware from Miami, alongside veterans like Myles Turner and coach Doc Rivers (with assistant Darvin Ham) trying to install a new system.

General execution and youth consistency have also been issues early in the year, the young and reshaped rotation (including rookie Brayden Burries and Ryan Rollins) has struggled with late-game execution, shooting efficiency, and closing out tight contests.

Keys to the match

The key to this matchup lies in the battle for possession, where Toronto’s elite offensive rebounding and low turnover rates are heavily favoured to exploit Milwaukee’s 27th-ranked defence.

To stay competitive, the Bucks must rely on Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware to control the glass and prevent Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett from dominating the paint, while forcing Toronto into a perimeter shooting contest where they currently hit just 31.9 percent from deep.

Ultimately, if Milwaukee’s Tyler Herro and AJ Green can capitalize on high-efficiency looks from three-point range to offset Toronto’s relentless downhill physicality, the Bucks can mask their defensive deficiencies and stall the Raptors’ high-volume possession game.

This is a great time for the Bucks to win their second game of the year, as they face a Toronto side that has really struggled as of late.

For the Raptors, they poses as a great get back game as they try to get back on track this season and avoid falling under .500 for the first time.

It wasn’t long ago that Giannis Antetokounmpo was one of the NBA’s best defenders. He joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the third player ever to be named NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season during the 2019-2020 campaign, and he was consistently a major part of some great units in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo was always at his best as a ‘roamer’ who could run around and make plays next to Brook Lopez’s reliable rim protection in drop coverage.

Giannis is still roaming after his offseason trade to the Miami Heat, but he doesn’t look like the same defender he once was now that he’s on the brink of turning 32 years old. Antetokounmpo ranks outside of the top-100 in Dean Oliver’s Net-Points Defense stat, and he put some ugly flashes on tape Thursday night as the Golden State Warriors beat the Heat, 120-100.

Antetokounmpo went viral on Thursday for an ugly clip of chasing the ball defensively with absolutely zero purpose. Giannis looked like a big golden retriever out there following the ball wherever it went without actually positioning himself to help make a defensive stop. Watch the clip here:

Giannis is COMPLETELY lost on defense

Bro just running around out there 😭 pic.twitter.com/LKgx8DNWzj

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) November 6, 2026

Giannis looks tired as hell in this clip, and that’s understandable. He’s the only real offensive creator on the Heat right now, and he’s not working with the type of spacing he enjoyed during his heyday with the Bucks. He’s putting up a 32.8% usage rate right now, and it’s probably too much to ask to carry that level of offensive burden while also being a great defender.

Sharp observers have noticed Giannis’ defense starting to decline the last couple seasons. The Heat’s best pathway to success this season was being an elite defensive team, and I’m just not sure if they can get there. Miami fell to 3-6 after the loss to the Warriors, and they’re lucky to even be that good, because they needed an overtime buzzer-beater to defeat a terrible Los Angeles Clippers team in their previous game.

There’s a lot of basketball left to be played, but the Giannis trade feels like a lose-lose for Milwaukee and Miami so far.

When you’re the defending champions, there are not many holistic things to complain about.

Sure, the Knicks started 0-3 with a very unsettling offense, but all they needed was their medicine (the Nets and Bulls) to get back to .500?

Worried about losing to Philadelphia twice in October? Joel Embiid’s plantar fasciitis has already acted up; calm down.

Any “problems” this early in the season are either short-term, regarding the looming extension talks, or good problems, which are more conundrums than actual problems.

The biggest of those conundrums has to do with the Knicks’ rotation, specifically with their copious amounts of guard depth.

Jalen Brunson is the head of the snake, but after him? There are a lot of players with minutes who could fluctuate on any given night.

Tyler Kolek and Jose Alvarado duel over backup ball-handler minutes. Jordan Clarkson and Deuce McBride grapple over bench two-guard minutes. Landry Shamet’s strong play is actively pushing starters Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart over their minutes with the three entrenched parts of the team’s nucleus.

It does qualify as a good problem to have, as injuries will undoubtedly give each of these guys ample opportunity over the course of 82 games, but when they’re all healthy, like they are right now? It probably gives Mike Brown a bigger headache than watching Andre Drummond attempt layups.

All of these guys provide something that the Knicks could use more of, but have warts that can limit their playing time.

Kolek is the best true playmaker, but he’s a poor defender, and his jump shot has been consistent throughout his young NBA career. This basically also describes Alvarado, but the defense is better from the New York native.

McBride has stretches where he’s the team’s best rate shooter and is a tremendously pesky point-of-attack defender… but is that not what the team is getting out of a taller two-guard in Shamet?

Clarkson has been a sparkplug every game he’s played this year, but the 35-year-old showed his maddening inconsistency in his first year in New York.

It’s created an extremely volatile rotation, which isn’t surprising when you have a coach who opened the year saying only five players on this team have minutes that are secured.

Mike Brown took the Knicks' starting five aside, looked at his bench players today at practice and said:

"Everybody else in this gym, you're fighting – either to make the team or for minutes" pic.twitter.com/GweTAITsOT

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 7, 2026

Despite zero Knicks players averaging more than 33 minutes a game except Brunson (who’s at 34.1), only Shamet is averaging more than 18 minutes a game off the bench.

McBride is at 17.5, Kolek is at 12.2, Alvarado is at 11.3, and Clarkson is at 9.9, but even these are deceiving.

Kolek has played steady rotation minutes, but didn’t play at all in the first two games before Alvarado’s ankle injury. Alvarado played 16 and 11 minutes, got hurt, got benched after nine minutes on Monday, and was on track to be a DNP-CD against the Bulls on Wednesday.

Clarkson’s gone from playing three, five, or eight minutes to his spurts of 15 and 17 in the two games against the Bulls and his 11 to spark the incredible fourth quarter against Brooklyn.

McBride, who’s served as the Knicks’ sixth man for over two years now, has topped 17 minutes just twice. He played a season-low 11 minutes on Wednesday and hasn’t had a clear role.

To get these guys more minutes, it would mean cutting minutes from Hart or Bridges. While both have their warts, and the latter continues to look somehow less involved than he was during his lowest moments last season, some of the Knicks’ best lineups are coming with them on the court… just separated.

The Knicks most used lineups this season: pic.twitter.com/lVxDcEBps7

— Knicks Nation (@KnicksNation) November 5, 2026

We’ve seen Brown deploy line changes significantly more in the early going, opting to sub in three or four players at a time to deploy uniform units, but that’s not helping how erratic this all feels.

The depth is making players redundant on the court, especially with how unwise it is to run four-guard lineups in an NBA that’s prioritizing size and length more and more.

And with the Knicks’ extremely shallow forward and center depth? This glut might have to be sorted out at the trade deadline. As much as McBride has shown his tremendous value to the Knicks over the course of his contract, if he isn’t going to play more, is it even a net positive to keep him for the playoff run?

For now, it’s merely a conundrum that Coach Brown will be scratching his head over every game.

By the time we hit February? Things better be sorting themselves out.