LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers & Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors
LeBron James and Stephen Curry are both headed to New York this week, which means the NBA rumor mill is about to overheat.
Curry finished third at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe on Sunday, continuing his run as one of the best celebrity golfers in the field. The Warriors star then reportedly flew to New York to attend the 2026 ESPYs on July 15.
Steph Curry and LeBron James are both in New York this week as James gets ready to make his NBA-altering decision. NBAE via Getty Images
James, meanwhile, is also expected to be in New York for Fanatics Fest appearances.
That may mean nothing.
Stephen Curry and LeBron James are both in New York as Warriors recruiting rumors heat up around Curry and Draymond Green. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
It also may mean everything, because this is LeBron free agency and coincidence has no part in the conversation.
Golden State remains one of the teams chasing James, along with Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Cleveland is still widely viewed as the favorite, but the Warriors continue to hover because they have something most teams do not: direct access.
According to Brian Windhorst, James has been reaching out to players on interested teams as he weighs his decision.
“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams,” Windhorst said, explaining that those players then report back to their general managers or coaches that James called.
Curry and James have talked about teaming up together, but have never done so in the NBA except for an All-Star game. NBAE via Getty Images
That is where Golden State’s pitch gets interesting.
Anthony Slater reported that Warriors decision-makers have not expressed much optimism that they will ultimately land James, and they have viewed Cleveland as the most likely destination from the beginning. But Slater also noted the Warriors know they have an advantage because Curry and Draymond Green can reach James directly.
James and Green golfing at Bahia Beach Resort last week. Instagram/@jrsmith129
Curry has been involved, too. He has confirmed being in contact with James, and his pitch appears to center on the historic nature of the partnership: Year 18 for Curry, Year 24 for James, two old Finals rivals trying to squeeze one last championship run out of the era they helped define.
So yes, maybe Curry and James being in New York at the same time is just a scheduling happenstance.
Or maybe it is another little breadcrumb in a recruitment that has already included vacation pitches, voice notes, front-office calls and plenty of tee times.
The Warriors may still be chasing Cleveland.
But with Curry and Green able to call James directly, Golden State is not exactly waiting quietly.
Many celebrity personalities around the Bay have been excited and hopeful about the possibility of the Warriors signing LeBron James. Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini has a different initial feeling on the matter.
“It’d be weird,” Celebrini recently told ESPN. “It’d be weird just because of that rivalry with LeBron on the [Cleveland Cavaliers]. I feel like they’ve been going at it every step of the way. I’d be like if Ovi [Ovechkin] and Sid [Crosby] played together.”
Macklin Celebrini on LeBron James potentially joining the Warriors:
"It would be weird. It would be weird just because of that rivalry with [LeBron James] on the Cavs and I feel like they've been going at it every step of the way. So, it would be like if [Alex Ovechkin] and… pic.twitter.com/AmQLLiImZ0
Two of the greatest players of all time teaming up does feel a little strange, but something similar did happen in free agency 10 years ago. Kevin Durant signed with the Warriors in July 2016, and the league wasn’t ready for it.
“They never been a winning organization… Nobody liked Golden State… It felt like still an underdog to me… I'm looking at the totality of the franchise… Not what happened the last 5 years."
The central question is whether James joining Steph Curry and Draymond Green would deliver the same legendary results and success as previous acquisitions.
The Warriors were the second-oldest team in the NBA last season, only trailing the Los Angeles Clippers. Durability and health would be two hurdles to consider, especially when the star players in Golden State are in their late 30s.
Jimmy Butler is coming off a torn ACL, and there is no set timetable for his return at this point. Kristaps Porziņģis showed flashes of greatness last year, but could not stay on the court consistently.
On the other side of the coin, the basketball IQ of the Warriors would be through the roof. The years of championship experience would be plentiful. If the roster can stay healthy heading into the postseason, they’d be feared among most opponents in the Western Conference.
Celebrini’s point strengthens the main argument: after intense battles between Cleveland and Golden State, seeing LeBron join the Warriors would feel unprecedented and require an adjustment period.
James and the Warriors’ core of Green, Curry, and coach Steve Kerr would be uniting with one goal in mind: ring No. 5.
LAS VEGAS — In Tyler Herro's mind, he is entering a new chapter in his career — he's been traded from the only NBA team he knew, Miami, back to where he was born, Milwaukee, and that's what he wants to focus on.
He'd rather forget the altercation he had with former Heat teammate Bam Adebayo outside a Las Vegas casino and hotel this week, he told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
"Honestly, I'm just trying to move past all of it," Herro told ESPN. "I'm focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They obviously just traded the greatest player in their history, so we want to come in and help continue what they've been doing....
"I'm ready to come home and not prove everyone wrong," he said, "but just be able to represent the city and the state because I wanted to do that coming out of school as well."
Both the Heat and Bucks were asked by NBC Sports about the incident — coincidentally, they played each other in a Summer League game as news of the altercation broke — but both chose not to comment.
The incident reportedly occurred outside the Resorts World Casino, where the Miami Heat's Summer League team showed up to practice on a court that had been used not long before by Herro's AAU team (in town for an EYBL event). The altercation was reportedly over direct messages sent to someone from a secondary Instagram account linked to Herro (not his primary one, but apparently this second account was widely known to be Herro's). Those comments reportedly included "You should get paid 60 million to be a top tier defender on some nights?"
According to the latest ESPN report, Adebayo walked up to Herro, confronted him, and the altercation got physical but was quickly broken up, and Herro was not knocked to the ground.
Considering it happened in front of a casino and Herro's teenage AAU team, it's surprising that video of the incident has yet to be leaked. But for both sides, they likely want to move on... although it will be a subplot when Miami and Milwaukee face each other this season.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro says he wants to "move on" from his altercation with former Miami Heat teammate Bam Adebayo after it was reported that Adebayo hit him in the face.
According to multiple media reports, Herro was approached by Adebayo at the Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas on July 10.
Herro was at the hotel watching his AAU team practice when Adebayo confronted him about comments made on social media.
"Honestly, I'm just trying to move past all of it," Herro said to ESPN. "I'm focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They obviously just traded the greatest player in their history, so we want to come in and help continue what they've been doing."
"I'm ready to come home and not prove everyone wrong," he said, "but just be able to represent the city and the state because I wanted to do that coming out of school as well."
Adebayo and Herro spent seven seasons as teammates before Herro was traded to Milwaukee in a deal that sent two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers wait for a free throw during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 25, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the LeBron James saga plows forward like it’s an early 2010’s summer, the conclusion appears to be drawing near. And, like the early 2010’s, it’s ESPN’s Brian Windhorst leading the reporting.
On the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst said that James is contacting players on some of the interested teams. This, of course, then gets sent back to the respective team’s head coach and/or general manager.
“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams and they report back to their GM or coach.”
“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams and they report back to their GM or coach,” – @WindhorstESPN on the latest details around LeBron and what teams are hearing. pic.twitter.com/PTRl2hsZeP
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Windhorst did not indicate who these players were or even the exact teams that have been contacted, adding to the veiled maneuvering happening in the background.
The Cavs can also, in a way, corroborate this reporting from ESPN. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, while being interviewed at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, appeared to allude to Cleveland’s pursuit of James.
“You guys know there’s a little free agency thing on right now so…that could be our real jump and you know what I’m talking about,” Atkinson said during the Cavs’ Summer League matchup against the Detroit Pistons. “That’s exciting too.”
Then there is the Donovan Mitchell extension, which came a year sooner than many expected. Mitchell left a sizable amount of money on the table by signing this year as opposed to next summer, an act of good faith that may have been signed with the knowledge that something was coming to boost the Cavs’ championship outlook. Signing James would certainly be one of those achievable roster improvements.
The Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo beef had been brewing for some time.
The two former Miami Heat teammates had a solid relationship before things began to fall apart over the past year, as the team took a different offensive direction, according to a new report from ESPN, culminating in Friday’s fight at a court in Las Vegas in which Adebayo reportedly punched Herro.
“Honestly, I’m just trying to move past all of it,” Herro, who was dealt to the Bucks in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, told ESPN. “I’m focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They obviously just traded the greatest player in their history, so we want to come in and help continue what they’ve been doing.”
Tyler Herro was hit in the face by Bam Adebayo during NBA Summer League. NBAE via Getty Images
Adebayo reportedly confronted Herro over critical comments made on social media after the Heat-Bucks trade.
Adebayo then “took exception” to Herro’s verbal response and struck Herro near his chin, ESPN reported. Herro, who was not knocked to the ground, “was restrained by others in the gym from responding physically.”
Herro and Adebayo began to grow apart over the past year as Herro played in just 33 games last season due to various injuries, and even when he did play, he struggled to adjust to changes made by coach Erik Spoelstra.
It became clear that the offense would revolve around Adebayo as their primary scorer rather than a pick-and-roll-heavy approach from years past.
The Heat ran just 5.3 pick-and-roll ball-handler possessions per game and just 5.6 percent of the time, by far the least frequent in the NBA, with the Spurs coming in second at 12.2 percent of their plays.
This is a massive change from the season prior, when the Heat ran pick-and-roll on 16.2 percent of their plays, middle of the pack in the NBA.
Miami ran the pick and roll less than any NBA team since at least 2015, when the data began being tracked by the league.
When Herro returned to the offense from injury to make his season debut on Nov. 24, Adebayo made some interesting comments about their star guard’s return to an offense that had moved past his style.
Bam Adebayo became the focal point of the Heat’s offense. Getty Images
“As you see, it’s a fun offense to be a part of,” Adebayo said. “It’s not a lot of pick-and-rolls to be a part of, but we’re sharing the game. You like those types of games where everybody feels involved, and everybody gets a chance to be aggressive. Put pressure on the rim and we’re being successful off of it.”
Herro said he’s ready to prove people wrong; perhaps Adebayo is one of them.
“I’m ready to come home and not prove everyone wrong,” he said, “but just be able to represent the city and the state because I wanted to do that coming out of school as well.”
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 24, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ big move of the summer was pushing all their chips to the middle of the table to acquire Walker Kessler.
There are lots of boxes that Kessler checks as a rim-protecting center and a hard-screening lob threat. All that comes with the caveat of him being healthy.
Kessler played the first five games of the season before a torn labrum forced him to have surgery and abruptly ended his campaign. Given how early into the season the injury occurred, it’s not a surprise that he has been cleared to play.
On Monday, Kessler spoke to the media in Las Vegas for the first time since joining the purple and gold and revealed his injury is healed (h/t Dave McMenamin/ESPN).
“It’s been cleared,” Kessler said. “It feels strong. It feels mobile.
“I’m just excited to play again. Sitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective. The heart grows fond in absence. Falling in love with this game again, I just want to go play to win.”
Given how much chemistry the new-look Lakers are going to have to build, it’s great news that Kessler is healthy and ready to go. The team’s new signings met in Vegas to hang out and scrimmage to start building said chemistry with Kessler among them.
Kessler has largely been a durable player in his career. While he only played 58 games in the 2024-25 season, most of that was because the Jazz, one of the most notorious tanking teams in recent seasons, were doing funny things down the stretch with Kessler.
LA has placed a lot of faith in Kessler being the next center of the future. Fortunately, he’s going to be read to go from the jump this season to try to make good on that bet.
Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
It is no secret to the league that a reunion of LeBron James and the team that drafted all the way back in 2003 would be hard to pass on. The Cleveland Cavaliers, as reported by Marc Stein, are regarded by teams pursuing James as “the scenario to beat”.
Stein includes teams who view this as the case to be the teams most in pursuit of the King. This includes the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets. According to Stein, the situation is viewed as Cleveland being the scenario to beat; however, not necessarily unbeatable.
Golden State reportedly, while having “tangible concern that Cleveland is the closest thing to a frontrunner,” has not given up on their pursuit of the King. Stein goes on to say that this sentiment is shared by all suitors above. With Timberwolves coach Chris Finch saying as much on Stein and Jake Fisher’s Bleacher Report livestream: “I think they’ve made everybody feel like they genuinely have an opportunity.”
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In the same excerpt from Stein, he floats questions around LeBron’s upcoming appearances this week. James is scheduled to have live podcast appearances this Thursday and Friday in New York City at the Fanatics Fest event.
It has been rumored that LeBron’s decision should be coming sooner rather than later. So the LeBron sweepstakes being announced before or even during LeBron’s media appearances later this week would not surprise many in the least.
If the Cavaliers are truly viewed as the “scenario to beat,” then Cleveland will need to remain aggressive in whatever approach they are currently utilizing to entice James to this potential third reunion. A return of LeBron brings more with it than a simple storybook ending to an all-time career. They would have a chance to compete for a title, and would presumably pull out all of the stops to put themselves in the best position to do so if they can secure a commitment from James.
LAS VEGAS — Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. — the Nets’ lottery picks the past two years — are set to play Tuesday’s summer league tilt against Sacramento, giving Nets fans another glimpse at their potential backcourt of the future.
Both 20-year-olds were held out of Saturday’s loss to Atlanta, while Brown had missed the first two of three California Classic games. But fans will relish seeing them on the floor together against the Kings.
“That’s the goal,” Nets summer league coach Dutch Gaitley said. “The goal is a nice off-day … get some work in on Monday, and then we’re ready to play the Kings and, hopefully, avenge our first loss of summer league.”
Mikel Brown Jr. during the Nets’ summer league win over the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets picked Brown at No. 6 overall in last month’s draft — they chose him over Darius Acuff Jr., who went one spot later to Sacramento — and the rookie had 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting and 3-for-6 from deep in the rout of the Knicks.
Meanwhile, Acuff is averaging 19.5 points and 4.5 assists. He also has averaged 3.5 turnovers on just 26-for-82 shooting along with horrific defense.
Ben Saraf has shown his usual downhill game but still is struggling to hit shots. He’s hitting just 27.3 percent and 1-for-7 from deep in two summer league games.
Gaitley said the key for the second-year guard is his reads.
Egor Demin during summer league action. Getty Images
“Ben’s one of our highest paint-touch guys. It’s now that read of, ‘Is it time for me to be aggressive in score? Is it time for me to spray?’ ” Gaitley said. “Sometimes, he gets a little deep, and he’s like, ‘I’m going to score. I’m going to score,’ and then the read is to pass. And then other times, he’s like ‘All right, I’m going to pass; I’m going to pass,’ and the read is to score.
“So, helping him on that so he’s not predetermining and he’s just reading what the defense does. He does a great job getting into the paint. Now, it’s helping him get into those reads. The other thing is he gets caught in-between playing off two feet and playing off one foot. You play off two feet, you can pivot, allow your teammates to get in space. You play off one, you’re in the air; it leads to turnovers.”
Despite being used at forward this summer rather than center. Danny Wolf has added about 10 pounds of muscle in hopes bulk and better interior footwork help his finishing.
“It’s just my physicality and just playing a little bit bigger,” Wolf said of improved finishing. “Then within that, just as the game slows down, making better reads, being better with the ball, and then just playing simpler, and then just continuing to find consistency in the 3-point shot.”
Nolan Traore won’t play at all in summer league due to having his right knee scoped. But he joined the Nets here and got some stationary shots up at practice Monday. Grant Nelson also isn’t playing but was on hand getting work in at Monday’s practice as well.
With a half dozen NBA Summer League games tonight in Las Vegas, several NBA lottery picks are set to take the court, including Washington Wizards No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa, via Kalshi.
Dybantsa's matchup against Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls headlines our NBA Summer League picks for Tuesday, July 14.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 14
Pick
Kings moneyline
-117
Wizards moneyline
-194
Lakers moneyline
+138
💰 All three parlayed
+569
Today's Summer League picks
Kings moneyline (-117 at Kalshi)
One thing has been clear for the Sacramento Kings during NBA Summer League play: No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. has the green light.
With the Arkansas product leading the offense, the Kings went 3-0 in Salt Lake City Summer League play, including a win over the Brooklyn Nets, where he dropped 25 points.
The rookie guard combo of Acuff (78 points in 108 minutes) and Emanuel Sharp (59 points in 109 minutes), plus the interior presence of Maxime Raynaud (20 points in his first NBA Summer League game of the year on Saturday), will be difficult for the Nets' defense to slow.
Sacramento is 4-1 overall in the Summer League with a roster that's a good mix of young players and older rookies.
Wizards moneyline (-194 at Kalshi)
The Kings' one loss in NBA Summer League came at the hands of a Washington Wizards team led by No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa.
Dybantsa has looked like the real deal thus far, taking down both Acuff's Kings and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson's Utah Jazz. In those matchups, Dybantsa has combined for 50 points in 50 minutes.
It's not just him, though; second-year players Will Riley (50 points in 58 minutes) and Tre Johnson (26 points in 28 minutes) have created problems for defenses.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have looked like a mess, despite No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson showing superstar ability. Even with Wilson putting up 54 points in 62 minutes, Chicago is 0-2, which includes a 17-point loss to Utah last night.
Lakers moneyline (+138 at Kalshi)
After dropping their opening game of NBA Summer League in the California Classic, the Los Angeles Lakers have won four straight. That includes being 2-0 in Las Vegas.
The stars of the "Lake Show" have been rookie first-round pick Cameron Carr (68 points in 97 minutes) and little-known second-year player Arthur Kaluma (80 points in 92 minutes). Carr's shooting on the perimeter, paired with Kaluma's ability to bully inside, has given Los Angeles a scary offense.
The Los Angeles Clippers haven't been quite as consistent. They shot just 33% from the floor in their first NBA Summer League game, with top pick Keaton Wagler scoring just seven in 27 minutes.
While they did beat the Jazz in their second game, they allowed Utah to shoot 47% from 3-point range. Against Carr & Co., the Clippers' defense could be exposed.
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Tuesday’s NBA Summer League parlay
Kings moneyline
Wizards moneyline
Lakers moneyline
+569 at Kalshi
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
KUNMING, CHINA - MAY 01: A baby capybara and its parents meet the public at Yunnan Zoo on the first day of the May Day holiday on May 1, 2025 in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China. (Photo by Liu Rangyang/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
The SummerKnicks beat the SummerPistons 86-75 on Monday, improving to 1-2 in Vegas and briefly resembling a functional basketball team after they didn’t look like one to start their Summer League run.
Jack Kayil looked good, Dillon Jones looked useful, Liam Robbins blocked rocks, and Tyler Nickel kept doing the one thing everyone already knew he could do. Here are some notes in the absence of a proper and needless recap, along with a good deal of links from around the League.
German rookie Kayil led the Knicks with 19 points, four assists, and three steals in the win over Detroit, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 3-of-7 from deep. That follows a 12-point debut against San Antonio after missing the opener. Two games in and the 20-year-old already looks less like an automatic stash and more like somebody the Knicks may want around Westchester on a two-way deal.
Fellow true rookie Nickel made three more threes against Detroit and is now 13-of-29 from deep through three Summer League games, finishing Monday with a 9-6-2 stat line.
Back-to-back NBA champ Jones had plenty of praise for Kayil afterward, as well as finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists himself.
Big boy Robbins finally had himself a game, getting 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and four blocks. No rookie, this Robbins, at age 27 and very much a backup plan to your favorite backup plan’s backup plan.
The Knicks were without Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet against Detroit, with Diawara sidelined by a ring-finger injury and Dadiet out because of foot soreness. In fairness, they probably just sat because of veteranship reasons.
Dadiet understands he is running out of time, and acknowledged that from Las Vegas. The New York Post got the quotes, and you can read them all in today’s Knicks Bulletin. Didn’t feature this one, but oh my. Per the Post, one NBA GM joked that he “wouldn’t trade a croissant” for Dadiet. Sheesh…
Patrick Ewing did an exclusive interview with Stefan Bondy and discussed his last days with the Knicks and what’s next for him after taking over the Washington Wizards’ assistant coach job. Tons of interesting stuff from Coach Pat.
“I take my hat off to the Knicks. Both Leon [Rose] and World Wide Wes and Mr. [James] Dolan have done a great job in terms of what they’ve done in making all of us feel like we’re all a part of everything that’s going on.
“But their [assistant] bench was already stacked. So I think they have some great guys there. I enjoyed being around them, learning from them, picking their brains. So there was not an opportunity there for me. And one was here.”
Brunson was photographed (h/t Stefan Bondy) for the first time since surgery with his left hand and wrist wrapped and resting in a sling. No panic.
NYP turned Page Six: Landry Shamet may have picked up a second ring.
The Knicks still need a third center. Jonas Valanciunas seems to be this close to packing his bags for Europe. The lone viable alternative still in the free-agent market is a former Chicagoan, Sports Illustrated’s Joseph Randazzo pointed out.
“[The Knicks] figured something out. We pushed them to the limit”
CJ McCollum reflects on the Hawks’ series loss to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs with @termineradio, @jumpshot8, and Ryan McDonough.
Atlanta Hawks veteran and Knicks villain-for-a-day CJ McCollum said that he already told OG Anunoby during their first-round matchup that New York could win the championship.
Interesting read from Scoop B putting LBJ and HOV’s career side by side… and floating the upcoming Fanatics Fest (Thursday through Sunday) at the Javits Center in NYC as the perfect stage for the last (?) LeBron decision announcement. For what it’s worth, James is scheduled for a live recording of his “Mind the Game” podcast at 1:15 p.m. EST Thursday.
NBA Europe is getting more real but perhaps not any better, as the league hired former Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas as a consultant to put the field of teams and rulebook together. The planned launch is set for October 2027, and bids are ranging from $500 million to $1 billion across cities including London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Berlin, and Istanbul.
Two days after OAKAAK DaQuan Jeffries signed with Besiktas, Westchester Knicks and NBA Bubble legend T.J. Warren inked a deal with Paris Basketball.
Draymond Green and Udonis Haslem got into it nicely.
PJ Tucker doesn’t like Andy Vega’s Hoka shoes. I hope he likes mine.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #11 of the Miami Heat plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaime Jaquez Jr. isn’t your typical NBA player. Not in today’s league. He’s not a volume three-point shooter. He’s not a highlight-reel athlete. He’s not a lockdown defender. He’s not even a starter—at least, not yet. But he is a baller, in the purest sense of the word. And for that, the Bucks should count their lucky stars.
The path to now
Drafted 18th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jaquez had a strong rookie campaign, playing 75 games (20 starts) for the 46-36 Miami Heat, averaging 11.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.0 SPG in 28.2 MPG. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting behind Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Brandon Miller, and even garnered some consideration for Sixth Man of the Year (6MOY), finishing ninth. He carried that play over to the playoffs too, putting up 12.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.0 APG in 30.8 MPG, but did so as a starter before going down with a hip flexor injury in Game 4.
Following his outstanding rookie year, Jaquez suffered an apparent sophomore slump, largely due to a reduction in minutes. Though he averaged 22.2 MPG through February, that number dropped to just 16.5 MPG across March and April as the Heat turned to mid-season acquisition Andrew Wiggins in the frontcourt. And in the playoffs, he became ghost—just 19 minutes total across three games.
Yet, per 36 minutes, Jaquez’s sophomore campaign essentially mirrored his rookie one, and many of his advanced stats—free throw rate, offensive and defensive rebounding percentage, assist percentage, steal percentage, block percentage—actually increased (per Basketball-Reference). His net plus/minus, however, nosedived, going from +3.0 as a rookie to -9.0 as a sophomore and suddenly his game posed more questions than it did answers. Namely, is this guy for real?
Last season, Jaquez answered that with a resounding “Yes!”, finishing second in 6MOY voting behind San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson—first in this writer’s opinion—on the back of 15.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 4.7 APG on 51% shooting. No longer a bit starter, Jaquez embraced his role as leader of the bench brigade, increasing his usage to a career-high 22.3% and returning his net plus/minus to the positives (+1.6). But it wasn’t just role stability that enabled Jaquez to thrive.
Across his first two seasons, Jaquez played the majority of his game time at small forward (an estimated 51% and 56% of his minutes, respectively, per Basketball-Reference), while also spending considerable time at shooting guard (37% and 32%). For a player with limited long range prowess—he’s a career 32% three-point shooter on just 2.3 attempts per game—this was always going to be problematic. Last year, then, Heat coach Erick Spoelstra made the wise move to play him primarily at power forward, with 50% of his minutes coming at the four, 38% at the three, and just 12% at the two.
And this, Bucks fans, is who we’re getting—a ball-handling four.
Now what?
For a team that is overloaded at guard—even more so now with Gary Trent Jr.’s new deal—stocked on the wing, and set a centre, Jaquez is exactly what the doctor ordered, especially without Giannis. Despite playing just 36 games last season, Giannis (once again) led the Bucks with 176 shooting fouls drawn, 77 more than second-place Kyle Kuzma (per Basketball-Reference). For further reference, Myles Turner drew 83, Kevin Porter Jr. drew 74, and Ryan Rollins drew 61. No other player registered 40. Jaquez, meanwhile, drew 107—and he converted the resulting free throws at a 77% success rate, right on his career mark.
Outside of his penchant for drawing fouls, Jaquez’s offensive value lies in his midrange-and-below marksmanship and ability to create for others. Regarding the former, Jaquez lives in the paint, with 79% of his shots coming below the free throw line: 37% at the rim and 42% in the short mid, per Cleaning the Glass (CTG). He hits them too, converting 68% of his rim attempts (63rd percentile for forwards) and 46% of his short middies (79th percentile). But it’s more than just the numbers. Jaquez’s paintwork is the stuff of artists—and he will give it to you however you want it: reverse pivots, jump hooks, spins, pump fakes into up-and-unders, jump stops into floaters. Angles and craft and off-beat movement. Old-school basketball. And while you’d love to see him take and make more three-pointers, it’s not all doom and gloom there either—as long as you get him in the corners, where he’s a 45% marksman (82nd percentile).
As a playmaker, Jaquez leverages his downhill attacking to create open looks for shooters. But he also uses his off-beat savvy to free players flashing in the paint, and he’s more than adept at hitting cutters too. In all, Jaquez recorded a 24% assist percentage last season and a 1.02 assist to usage ratio, placing him on the 88th and 92nd percentiles, respectively (per CTG). For a Bucks team that struggled with shot creation last season, this is a blessing. Gone are the days of one-dimensional shooters, Milwaukee now has a legitimate group of at least six playmakers: Rollins, Porter, Jaquez, Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakučionis, and Brayden Burries. At a stretch, you could even throw in Ousmane Dieng, who was forced into a primary initiator role late last season. So, while the Bucks may lack a star player, they can offset that at least somewhat by keeping the defence guessing—it ain’t so easy to load up defensively when you don’t know where the action is coming from.
Defensively, Jaquez isn’t going to stand out. He’s not long or explosively athletic, so he’s not going to rack up a heap of steals or blocks, and at 6’6” he’s at a height disadvantage when playing at the four, so he’s not going to haul in rebounds either. But he is a stout 225 lbs, making him effective in the post, and his positional knowhow and spatial awareness enable him to guard multiple positions at least satisfactorily—so that “not standing out” descriptor is true in this way too; he’s certainly not someone opposing defences will hunt.
Looking ahead, Jaquez could fill a range of roles for Milwaukee. Should head coach Taylor Jenkins want size up front, Jaquez could easily slot into his customary sixth man role and continue to punish second units. On the other hand, should Jenkins want to lean into his historical tendencies and play with pace, Jaquez could step into an expanded role as the team’s starting power forward, go full “Juan Wick”, and explode for a career-year. Of course, with the Bucks roster currently sitting at 17 and trimming needed prior to opening night, there are any number of trade potentialities that could reshape the equation. Fortunately for the Bucks, Jaquez’s versatility and old-school game should translate regardless.
Starter or sixth man, how do you see Jaquez fitting in Milwaukee? Chop it up in the comments.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics celebrates scoring the game tying shoots a three point basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
#1 Tucker DeThrees
With Amari Williams and Hugo Gonzalez both out, Tucker DeVries and Chris Cenac Jr. got their first starts at Summer League. DeVries, who missed the opening games against the Toronto Raptors, looked every bit the sharpshooter he’s been made out to be, knocking down three of his eight attempts.
Unfortunately for Boston, two of those triples came in the opening minutes, at which point DeVries’ scoring impact vanished until he scored a putback with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter. His final triple came midway through the third, after which his impact was no longer felt in terms of scoring.
When he wasn’t scoring the rock, DeVries’ impact was limited; he only recorded one board and one dime in his nearly 21 minutes of playing time. Furthermore, his defensive impact was often negligible. He’ll need to round out some other areas of his game if he wants to make an NBA roster as more than just a single-skill sniper.
#2 Struggles at the point
What do John Tonje, Milos Uzan and Curtis Jones have in common?
They all struggled when playing one-on-one against the Atlanta Hawks. That quarter went 5-of-23 from the field, with a combined six assists, four of which came from Uzan (who now has 16 dimes in three games).
In a game where Boston’s two best players were out for the night, there were plenty of touches and shots to go around. Given the impact Tonje and Uzan had made over the previous two games, it was fair to assume one of those two would consume some of those additional reps. Yet, whether it was Atlanta’s defense or simply just a tough shooting night from the guard contingent, no one stepped up.
Unfortunately, that also means Jones, who had seen limited floor time before Monday, didn’t rise to the occasion. Instead, Jones struggled from start to finish, often running himself into traffic or holding onto the ball too long. His shot selection came against the flow of the game at times, too.
Milos Uzan has dished out 16 assists in three games for the Summer League Celtics, all coming from the bench.
He's put himself in a great spot to contend for a two-way contract. Will still need to prove himself at training camp.
Rough nights happen. Perhaps Isaiah Wong, Isaac McKneely and Zeke Mayo were bad matchups for them. Perhaps Tonje and Uzan were struggling on the second night of a back-to-back, and perhaps Jones struggled with a sudden boost in court time.
Whatever the reason, the Celtics guard rotation had a night it will soon want to forget, and so will we.
#3 Welcome to the NBA, well, kinda
Speaking of playing in a back-to-back, for most of the players on the Celtics roster, this was their first taste of two games in a 24-hour(ish) period. I would assume that for those who played heavy minutes on Sunday, the Hawks game was somewhat of a ‘welcome to the NBA’ moment.
Tired legs, sore bodies, and a fair sprinkling of fatigue are all to be expected. Sure, we’re talking about pro athletes, but when your body isn’t used to something, you feel it the next day, professional or not. I would hazard a guess that fatigue played some sort of role in the performance we saw yesterday, specifically in the second quarter.
I would assume the first 10 minutes were fine. Then, tiredness set in and everything felt more difficult than it should. From there, adrenaline and the halftime rest likely carried the squad through the final half of the game. Still, back-to-backs are part of the NBA game, so giving everyone a taste of what that’s like, both in terms of preparation and performance, is a good primer for if/when they take the next step.
Of course, they didn’t need to adjust to travel, but that can be a curveball in their rookie seasons.
#4 A future connection?
After Boston’s opening win against Toronto, I noted the two-man game on display from Amari Williams and Hugo Gonzalez. Yesterday, we saw signs of another potential two-man game with Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.
Rookie to Rookie connection for the Celtics here.
I'm dreaming a little here, but how many times will we see a sequence like this from Cenac and Mitchell over the next few years? pic.twitter.com/1y35E5ryMo
Both rookies are what I would classify as defensive event makers. They make stuff happen, either with their athleticism, size or energy when rotating over. Mitchell seems to love getting out on the break, making him the ideal outlet pass receiver whenever a shot gets swatted or a big board is pulled down.
As you can see from the above clip, there was a play late in the third quarter where Cenac had blocked the shot, recovered his block and found Mitchell sprinting up the floor. When it comes to a foot face, at least at Summer League level, I’d be happy to bet on Mitchell winning those most of the time. So, no surprise that he outruns Atlanta’s defense to get the finish.
If you’re going to be watching the Maine Celtics a lot next season, I would assume the connection between these two will be something you come to look forward to. After all, Cenac might be signed to the primary roster, but he projects to spend a decent chunk of his time in the G League, while Mitchell will most likely land a two-way deal following his play over the last three games.
The hope, of course, is that both Cenac and Mitchell eventually crack Joe Mazzulla’s rotation, at which point this type of defense-to-offense connection becomes commonplace for Celtics fans. It might be wishful thinking, and perhaps a touch of dreaming, but honestly, I would love to see these two build on that singular play from last night.
#5 Next up, the Sacramento Kings
Right now, the Celtics hold a 2-1 record in Summer League. If they want to end the tournament with a winning record, they’ll need to handle their business against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, July 15. However, the Kings’ roster will arguably be the strongest Amile Jefferson’s team has faced.
Sacramento has Alex Karaban, Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford and Darius Acuff Jr on its roster, among others. There’s a whole lot of young potential sprinkled with some NBA experience to round things out. Getting Gonzalez and Williams back will be key to the Celtics having a legitimate shot of ending the night with a 3-1 record to their name.
Furthermore, seeing Williams go against Raynaud will be a good litmus test for where Boston’s sophomore big man needs to improve, while Gonzalez will have another chance to continue working on his pick-and-roll game. Hopefully, both can have better shooting nights.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the Celtics and Kings match up, and will also be interested to see whether Uzan can get some minutes going against Acuff Jr, and who winds up coming out on top.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks to pass the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Monday’s NBA Summer League play, Cam Boozer continued to impress. He racked up 21 points in 29 minutes, and also had 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists. Passing is a part of his game that people will eventually just see as part of what he does, but he’s really, really good at it.
Look at the following video. On the second play, he falls with the ball and makes the perfect pass, then removes to make the folllow-up. On the third clip, he makes a brilliant outlet. And as Cedric Coward said, it’s hard to believe he’s just 18. There’s more, too. In particular, watch his footwork. The guy is years ahead of schedule.
Khaman Malauch continues to show sharp improvement for Phoenix: instead of making a macho play and blocking the shot out of bounds, thus giving it back to Dallas, he tips it to himself, essentially stealing the ball. This is how you block shots.
This is what you love to see from Khaman Maluach. Alert as the low man, makes the rotation, and stays vertical on the shot contest. Lastly, secures the board. pic.twitter.com/eqK013kaRY
It’s a fair question after watching him play for the Boston Celtics through three games at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Yes, it’s only the summer league, and we shouldn’t make grand proclamations after three games on the UNLV campus. But one thing is clear: Cenac has real potential and could play a role off the bench for head coach Joe Mazzulla’s club in Boston next season.
Cenac had 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the summer league opener against the Toronto Raptors last Friday. He also hit an overtime-forcing 3-pointer from the corner in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. In Sunday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets, Cenac had two points and five rebounds but only played 19 minutes.
He bounced back in a major way Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks with 16 points, five rebounds and four blocks. He was scoring in a variety of different ways — midrange jumpers, driving to the basket, dunks in close, turnaround shots, etc.
His defense also was fantastic, and it’s been on full display throughout summer league. Cenac had two blocks in one 20-second sequence during the third quarter versus the Hawks. He now has nine blocks in three summer league games. He had 18 blocks all of last season for the University of Houston.
Cenac is able to impact a lot of shots with his 6-foot-11 frame and 7-foot-5 wingspan.
The athleticism that Cenac shows on both ends of the floor is impressive, and it’s something the Celtics needed to add to their group in the offseason. Both of their 2026 draft picks, Cenac and second-rounder Dillon Mitchell, have played with great athleticism at summer league so far.
The Celtics have a deep team. Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta are going to play most of the minutes at center. Luka Garza proved to be a competent frontcourt player last season, too. It won’t be easy for Cenac to carve out a consistent role unless injuries hurt the team’s depth.
But there’s a lot to like about Cenac’s skill set. He has the tools to become a valuable part of the Celtics’ rotation in the not-too-distant future.
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