PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: CJHuntley #21 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Huntley originally joined Phoenix on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2025. In November of last year, the Suns terminated that contract, making him a free agent. He continued playing with the Valley Suns, however, and following the conversion of Jamaree Bouyea’s two-way contract to a standard NBA deal in March, Huntley was brought back on another two-way contract.
Hamstring issues prevented Huntley from participating in the Summer League, but he put together a productive season with the Valley Suns last year. In 42 appearances, the 6’11” big man averaged 15.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 27 minutes per game, shooting 63% from the field, 34% from beyond the arc, and 67% from the free throw line.
Despite that production, Phoenix has decided to move on from Huntley as it continues adjusting its roster ahead of the regular season. His departure, along with Brea’s, leaves the Suns with one open two-way contract spot and one standard roster spot.
Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons drives around San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during a 2026 preseason NBA game. (Eric Gay / Associated Press)
Ben Simmons’ comeback attempt with the Sacramento Kings generated more than one blip on the basketball radar during the preseason before it came to an abrupt end Sunday when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice.
Injuries had restricted the former No. 1 overall draft pick to appearing in only 107 games the last five seasons, but his return on a one-year $3.5-million, non-guaranteed contract had gone well enough that he was set to start in the regular-season opener Wednesday against the Clippers.
Simmons, considered the greatest player to come out of Australia, made news in August by taking part in the national team’s player-driven minicamp in Melbourne, a precursor to the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Simmons, 30, has never played in a major tournament for his home country.
He also became an unwitting part of an embarrassing episode three weeks ago at Kings media day when open microphones captured an off-air conversation between female reporters discussing the physical appearance and personalities of Simmons and teammates.
A woman’s voice said, “That’s what comes with being Ben Simmons. He is cringe, cringe,” and another woman added that he is “lucky he’s so fine.” The first media member agrees, saying, “He’s a good-looking dude. His skin is, like, so smooth, I was like, damn, no tattoos?” The media members have yet to be identified.
He refrained from commenting on the exchange except to back teammate Zach LaVine, whose personality also was criticized by the reporters. But Simmons will be in street clothes from now on. The Kings said he will undergo surgery to repair the tear, which normally requires a recovery period of six to 12 months.
“I’ve faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’ve found a way through every single one of them,” Simmons said in a statement posted to his Instagram Stories.
Being sidelined is nothing new for Simmons. He missed his entire first NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016-2017 with a foot injury, missed the entire 2021-2022 season with a back injury and the entire 2025-2026 season to focus on his physical recovery from back and leg issues as well as his mental well-being. He last played for the Clippers in the spring of 2025, averaging 16.4 minutes and 2.9 points over 18 games.
That production was a far cry from the promise he displayed coming out of Louisiana State, where in his one season was a consensus All-American after averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game. A 6-foot-10 point guard, Simmons was NBA rookie of the year in 2017-2018, joining Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only rookies to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. And Simmons was an All-Star the next three seasons before injuries began mounting.
His return this preseason was intentionally low-key, sliding onto the roster of the last-place Kings (22-60 last season) without much fanfare. Simmons was quietly repairing a reputation marred by his succession of injuries and the performance anxiety and emotional burnout he has openly discussed.
He also seemed keen on representing Australia for the first time. Simmons was forced to miss the 2024 Paris Olympics with a back injury after passing on the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Games even when relatively healthy. Now any sort of return is again in jeopardy.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 05: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics argues with referee Ben Taylor #46 against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in game three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 05, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Silver has done it again. The commissioner and the rest of his coroporate teammates at the NBA office continue to ensure the league’s viewers have the maximum amount of fun, thanks to the endless amount of jerseys each franchise wears.
That, of course, includes your Boston Celtics. Boston is one of eight franchises to have a “Specter” edition uniform bestowed upon them this season.
When I saw this, I almost spiked my phone. What a disgusting piece of moneygrabbing slop.
Now, I’m the defininition of a traditionalist, so there’s definitely some bias here. I think the home team should always wear white, and road teams can wear any of their more colorful uniforms.
With that being said, there’s simply no way that these should’ve seen the light of day. The Northern Lights-esque design doesn’t work. The small font that reads “Boston” (you might not even have noticed it on the chest of the jersey) looks ridiculous.
Who is this even for?
There are seven other fanbases who are likely asking themselves the same question.
The New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors will all feature a similar looking monstrosity in their respective wardrobes this season.
Ironically, the league picked its eight oldest franchises to force these disguting unis on as part of this Specter series.
“The new Specter Edition uniforms open a new chapter in how team identity for the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics — the teams tracing their history back to the earliest chapters of the NBA — appears on court,” the league wrote in an official release last month. “Bringing forward the same obsession with the game that defines the NBA Standard Issue collection, each uniform features details inspired by the franchises’ history, city heritage and fan culture.“
You know what would’ve been a great way to honor history?
Maybe whip up some cool throwback jerseys.
It’s possible. We’ve seen the Celtics run with throwbacks in the past, despite not having changed much about their uniforms over the course of 80 years.
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 10: Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after breaking the NBA All-time three point record against the Los Angeles Lakers during the game on February 10, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics blocks the shot of Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game at Staples Center December 30, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Thankfully, every single post I’ve seen related to these jerseys has been a negative one. Having read through the full press release, it seems like the NBA is trying to capitalize on the hypebeast culture of wearing silly looking things just because they’re rare.
Featured several times throughout is the “1:1” tag.
More or less, the goal of the entire charade is to break into the fashion world by having players serve as models for this new line.
Does the league know that they can just release obscure merch without making the teams wear it?
There is some “good” news woven into this story, though. The Celtics will only put these things on three times this season. Three, by the way, is the bare minimum amount of games that teams are required to wear any special edition uniform.
In other words, the Celtics themselves know that these stink just as much as the rest of us do.
It’s tough because I was actually felling good about Nike heading into the season. They allowed teams to bring back their preferred City Edition uniform from the past decade, and Boston nailed their choice with the green and yellow unis from the 2018-19 season.
Jayson’s reaction is actually the opposite of mine when I heard this news.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the third quarter of the game to an officials call during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on December 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Besides the St. Patrick’s Day uniforms off the 2000’s, these are probably my favorite non-traditional Celtics uni. So, good job, Celtics.
Boston won’t actually wear these beauties until Jan. 20, 2027, though. They do, however, understand how fire they actually are since they’ll be wearing them 11 total times throughout the back half of the season.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: The sneakers worn by Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 14, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers on Monday checked off the formality of exercising the third-year rookie scale option on VJ Edgecombe’s contract for the 2027-28 season.
The third overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Edgecombe stepped right into the Sixers’ starting lineup last year. The Baylor product averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
According to Spotrac, Edgecombe’s 2027-28 option is for approximately $12.2 million. He’s set to make $11.7 million this season.
The four players expected to start with Edgecombe on Tuesday night in the Sixers’ regular-season opener against the Knicks have all made multiple All-Star Games. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have joined Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
Even with their collection of stars, the Sixers want the 21-year-old Edgecombe to stay vocal and confident in his game. And they don’t expect him to take anything resembling a step back in Year 2.
“He’s around a lot of great players, great people to learn from,” Embiid said of Edgecombe on Oct. 3. “He’s doing a great job leading, whether it’s by example or with his voice. He’s been amazing.”
Nets first-round pick Joshua Jefferson practiced full contact on Monday and will be available for the team's season opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Jefferson, the No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Iowa State, missed all of Brooklyn's preseason games due to back soreness and had not fully practiced yet.
In three Summer League games, the 22-year-old averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks across 21.3 minutes of action.
During his senior year of college, Jefferson was the Cyclones' second-leading scorer with 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per night over 35 games.
While Jefferson hopes to see the court on Wednesday night, fellow rookie Tyler Bilodeau will miss the first game of the year due to a shoulder injury, per the New York Post's Brian Lewis.
Bilodeau, the No. 43 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, scored five points in both of the preseason games he played.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Goodnight, sweet Dwight.
The Dallas Mavericks waived veteran forward/center Dwight Powell on Monday. The all-time glue guy ends his 12-year run with the team as by far the most tenured player on the roster in a move that signals the end of an era for the Mavericks under first-year team president Masai Ujiri.
“Dwight was the consummate professional throughout his 12 seasons with the Mavericks and embodies everything you want in someone representing your organization,” Ujiri said in a statement. “He’s a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and someone whose impact extends well beyond the basketball court and into the Dallas community. We are grateful for everything Dwight has contributed to this franchise. He will always be part of the Mavericks family, and Dallas will always be a home for him. We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter.”
Powell averaged 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.3 minutes per game in his 12 seasons with Dallas. Last season for the Mavericks, he scored 3.3 points, grabbed 4.1 rebounds and dished 1.1 assists in 14.3 minutes per game. He appeared in 63 games in 2025-26 and started 12.
He appeared in three of the Mavericks’ four preseason games in 2026, averaging 1.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 12.1 minutes.
MACAO, CHINA – OCTOBER 11: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks signs memorabilia for a fan before the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Powell (6-10, 260) ranks fourth among Mavericks’ all-time leaders in career field goal percentage (.606), fifth in games played (763), sixth in offensive rebounds (1,187), sixth in total rebounds (3,251) and 10th in blocks (330). He was the third-longest-tenured player (with the same team) in the NBA when the team waived him, behind only Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
His presence in the locker room and his fashion sense will be sorely missed — as will his innate ability to absorb blows to the face under the basket while battling for rebounds.
It’s rare you find someone ceaselessly willing to put others first and [self] last. Someone who exceeds their expectations regardless of their crescendo. You just don’t find those fall into your arms often. We found ours 12 Decembers ago. And boy, did we have a memorable embrace. Dwight Powell — you and your face enriched countless MFFL’s lives long before this account began in 2022, and will continue to do so as the next chapter begins. I really enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you did too. Dwight Powell — may you have a very enjoyable morning, eat a nice dinner later, and peacefully fall asleep in under 3 minutes tonight. Dwight Powell – go continue to be great. We’re all so excited to watch.
Thank you, Dwight.
The Dwight’s Face Community
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: It’s a funny thing. There is an immeasurable abundance of hearts one person can touch. Yet, there is no abundance of people who will maximize that capability. (cont.)🧵
— Did Dwight Powell get hit in the face tonight? (@DwightsFace) October 19, 2026
“He’ll really be missed. He gave a lot to the franchise. Just a consummate professional, good friend of mine, good friend of a bunch of us on the team, past and present. He represented a lot here in the city of Dallas, and he did a lot for us.”
And, for the record, Mavericks head coach Dusty May told DLLS that Powell joining the coaching staff “hasn’t been discussed at this point.”
MACAO, CHINA – OCTOBER 9: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks arrives to the arena before the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 9, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After waiving Powell, the Mavericks are down to 17 players on the roster, including the two two-way players. With 15 full-time NBA roster members, the team now carries the maximum number of players it can carry into the start of the regular season.
We would urge Powell, however, to stay in shape this season. If injuries hamper this team half as much as they have in the previous two years, he may be receiving a mid-season call-up from the couch.
Dominick Barlow’s preseason back trouble has persisted.
The Sixers announced Monday that Barlow has “sufferd a lumbar spine bone stress response” and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. The 23-year-old forward missed the entire preseason.
“He just has some soreness that he’s dealing with,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse had said last Tuesday. ”Giving him some real decent time off to see if that will kind of progress it quickly. There’s no timeline. Just hoping it gets a little better, he feels a little better and he can get back out there fairly shortly.”
The Sixers will open their season Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Barlow started the Sixers’ opener last year and had an excellent season for a player who began on a two-way contract, averaging 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.8 minutes per game.
The team listed three players as questionable: Center Adem Bona (left foot sprain), forward Dean Wade (left ankle sprain) and guard Anfernee Simons (left hamstring soreness/tightness).
Wade did not practice Monday after hurting his ankle in the Sixers’ preseason finale, according to Nurse. Neither Simons nor Bona appeared in the preseason, but both have participated in recent practices.
“It’s going to come down to the coaches and the medical staff,” Bona said Sunday, “but I’m just day to day and I’m excited for (Tuesday) night.”
Simons was asked Monday whether he expects to play in the opener.
“I can’t confirm or deny that,” he said with a smile.
The first game of the 2026-27 NBA regular season will officially tip off in the middle of the afternoon, and NBC hopes it can become an annual addition to the league's traditional opening night schedule.
The Detroit Pistons are set to host the Boston Celtics at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with "College Gameday-style activations," a "Blue Carpet" experience, a marching band rendition of "Roundball Rock" and other special festivities planned around Little Caesars Arena and downtown Detroit throughout the day, according to NBA league officials. The afternoon tip is an experiment conceived by the NBA and NBC entering Year 2 of their massive 11-year, $27-billion media rights partnership, with the goal of turning opening night into an all-day event.
"We kind of challenged the NBA," NBC Sports Executive Vice President Justin Byczek told USA TODAY Sports. "We think opening day should be expanded, and we'd love to be the network that gets behind it, and over the course of the next decade, let's try to understand where opening day can get to."
Why the NBA is playing an afternoon game on opening day
This will be the first time in 15 years that more than two games will be played on the first day of the NBA season, and it only happened in 2011 because of a lockout-shortened schedule. It will also be the first-ever NBA opening-day tripleheader broadcast nationally.
NBC's opening night coverage for the 2026-27 season features the ring ceremony and banner raising for the defending NBA champion New York Knicks, their first game against LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers and a Western Conference Finals rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
But the network saw an opportunity to generate excitement before the two primetime windows that have typically defined the NBA's regular season debut. NBC pointed to strong viewership for its 2026 Major League Baseball Opening Day doubleheader, which also began with an afternoon game.
NBC is confident putting Celtics vs. Pistons on a national broadcast network in the afternoon can add to the buzz leading into the Knicks' pregame title coronation, with coverage from Madison Square Garden on streaming platform Peacock bridging the gap between the first two games of the tripleheader.
"The benefit of a decade-long partnership is the ability to test and to try new things," said Byczek, who oversees programming and rights management for NBC Sports. "We pushed them pretty hard to kind of say we really believe this is going to be a good opportunity to add some excitement to opening day. They went out as a great partner and found the right combination of people and teams and partners and arenas and folks that wanted to raise their arm and get behind it."
NBA senior vice president for broadcast content Paul Benedict said it wasn't a hard sell. The league wanted to lean more into opening night's spot as a distinctive event on the sports calendar.
The NBA, through NBC's wide reach as a national broadcast network, sees a chance to create excitement throughout the day on platforms more likely to attract the casual fans that can grow the product moving forward. For NBC, this is another way to potentially enhance the value of its NBA package and create the tentpole events that attract more viewers.
The NBA gets an additional standalone national showcase game on a day and time in which it will face minimal competition from other major professional sports.
"The conversations with NBC have always been built around not even just a tripleheader, but the entirety of the day," Benedict told USA TODAY Sports. "The thinking being when you turn on 'The Today Show,' you're going to get some NBA flavor. That's pretty exciting for us, the opportunity to be on NBC and celebrate the start of the season."
How NBA and NBC picked Celtics vs Pistons for opening day game
Finding the right host was also crucial. Not every NBA fanbase and city wants a day game to start the season. It's not part of the sport's culture like MLB opening day or the first Sunday afternoon of NFL season.
Byczek compared the process to a "Jenga puzzle" in terms of figuring out what franchises were interested in hosting the game, and then identifying an opponent that would present the best possible matchup for a national audience. The NBA brought the idea of hosting an afternoon opener to "some teams," according to Benedict.
"Detroit raised their hand and was all-in from Day One," he said, "and to put a 60-win team on that's built such a great sports community, specifically around the downtown area where they can rally around it, was appealing. And then when you pair them with the Boston Celtics, that just fit the criteria of adding another elite matchup if you're going to turn this into a tripleheader. The Pistons have really bought into this."
Neither the league nor NBC committed to an afternoon game to start the NBA season beyond this year, with both sides emphasizing the results from Tuesday will dictate what happens next.
"We'll evaluate it and see whether this is something that is here to stay. Who knows? Maybe we expand it from here as well," Byczek said. "We don't ever want to remain status quo. We want to test new things, try new things, and this one ... hit us right between the eyes of let's try to do more on opening day."
What time is Celtics vs Pistons on NBA opening day?
The NBA opening day game between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Oct. 20, is set to tip off at 3 p.m. ET.
How to watch Celtics vs Pistons: TV channel, live streaming
Yaxel Lendeborg carries the highest expectations for a Warriors rookie in a long time.
Even with the high expectations for the 2026 NBA Draft’s No. 11 overall pick, general manager Mike Dunleavy told the SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” that Lendeborg already is exceeding expectations ahead of the regular season.
“I’ll say he’s been better in some areas that, maybe, we did not expect him to be so good in early,” Dunleavy explained. “But, it makes sense that he’s performing well in those areas. So yeah, we are really pleased.
“I think because of the nature of having [Kristaps Porziņģis] and Jimmy [Butler] and Moses [Moody] out – he’s gotten more opportunity and he will get more opportunity, just so far in summer league and preseason he’s shown why he’s going to be one of our better players.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters that he is “leaning towards” including Lendeborg in the starting lineup. No Warriors rookie has started their first NBA game since James Wiseman in the 2020-21 season.
Lendeborg has scored at least 17 points in all but one of his preseason games played. His excellent preseason was highlighted by a 23-point performance in just 24 minutes played against the Sacramento Kings.
His shooting has impressed everybody, but Dunleavy is taking notice of the rest of his game.
“I think what’s impressed us more is the ability to handle, to pass, to make all the right plays, just his simple passing,” Dunleavy explained. “This is the type of player we’ve been looking for since [losing] Iguodala and Wiggins, and guys like that. Guys that have positional size on the perimeter that can shoot, pass and dribble are just so unique.
“I think we’re fortunate at the 11th pick to get a player like this.”
After a low-scoring performance in the first preseason game, Kerr, along with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, implored the rookie to be more aggressive as a scorer. Nevertheless, Lendeborg’s ability to keep the ball moving and make the right play in an offense that revolves around Curry will be highly important, and Dunleavy is impressed in his ability to do so already.
And with the uncertainty surrounding Porziņģis’s health looming large, the Warriors will have to fill in the gaps at the center position. Kawakami posed an interesting question to Dunleavy: Could Lendeborg be a potential option at the 5?
Dunleavy didn’t completely rule out the option.
“Given his size, his length, his ability to rebound; he’s super versatile. I think the guy can play one through five, which is pretty impressive,” Dunleavy explained. “I’d say probably the biggest adjustment for him would be defensively.”
The Warriors have played a relatively positionless offense in recent years. Centers like Porziņģis and Al Horford can find themselves on the perimeter, and guards like Gary Payton II can sit in the low post waiting for dump-off passes and lobs.
But the biggest potential issue would be on the defensive side.
“If you’re playing center in the NBA defensively, there’s a level of rim protection and just awareness that you have to have on the backside,” Dunleavy noted. ” And can him and Draymond pull that off together? I think they can.
“It may take him some time to pick up some things, but it’s a pretty unique thing to think about.”
Getting minutes at the center position would be unique for the rookie. But if there’s any team that will go outside of the box, Kerr’s team is a good pick to do so.
No matter his positioning, Dunleavy’s impression so far is that Lendeborg will be able to be one of the best Warriors this season.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One more sleep to witness history.
The Knicks enter the NBA’s opening week as the reigning world champs and will see the banner(s) go up in front of the MSG faithful in around 24 hours.
On Bruce Brown’s toughness, versatility, and fit with the Knicks:
“Bruce, he’s a winner. He shows a level of toughness and versatility — not just defensively; he can guard one through four, but even offensively, he can initiate the offense. Our point guard’s not one that has to come down every play and break his guy down and make the game easier for everyone else. We have a system where we play out of concepts, and Bruce is good enough to initiate the offense, or he’s good enough to be off the ball. So he fits in with how we want to play on both ends, while giving us versatility on both ends. Having a chance to get to know him, he seems like a good guy. He seems like he knows a lot of our guys because he was in the same [draft] class as a few of them. So it was tough from that standpoint.”
On why the Knicks chose James Wiseman over Bruce Brown for the final roster spot:
“When you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman, because KAT’s not athletic like that and Andre was once that, he still has some of it. But to have that at 25 years old, especially with where we’re at as a group, you look for guys that coulda, shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda, shoulda. That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism.”
On the significance of facing LeBron James and the 76ers on opening night:
“The reality of it, in coach talk, you want to say every game is the same. That’s what you try to impress upon your guys is, ‘Hey, when we step on the floor, no matter who’s in front of us, you want to give the same focus, energy and effort to the next possession in front of you.’ But because of the talk, because of who he is — he is a large figure not just in life, but in the NBA.
“You also gotta look at the guys they have on the team and the guys they’ve added and the potential of that team and what we accomplished and what we’re trying to accomplish again — all those storylines, with the social media and all that other stuff, it’s pressed upon you, pressed upon you, pressed upon you, so it gets larger than life in general.”
On whether the Knicks and 76ers could develop a rivalry:
“As a coach, you hope it doesn’t, but at times yes, you have to take into account that yes, it can be something that guys think, ‘OK, this is a big game.’ It gives you a little bit more juice, a little bit more energy because of all the stuff around it. Is it gonna be a rivalry at the end of the day? I don’t know. I don’t know where we’re gonna be and where they’re gonna be. … Because of the storylines and all that other stuff with the social media, could it be right now? Yeah, it’s a fun story.”
Josh Hart on the sore ankle that caused him to miss the final preseason game: “Old age.”
On if he’ll play Tuesday: “We’ll see in two days.”
On whether he will be available for the Knicks’ season opener against Philadelphia:
“We’ll see in two days.”
On anticipating the opening-night matchup against LeBron James and the 76ers:
“Wherever LeBron [James] went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night [game]. That will be good for headlines and box office and those kinds of things.”
On the challenges facing the 76ers on opening night as they integrate their new stars:
“Obviously, we have the same team, but sometimes individuals’ expectations are different than what they were before. So it’s different. Especially a team like that, I’m sure they’re gonna have some bumpy times in the beginning of the year because they gotta get used to playing with each other. The media at that point [will say,] ‘They should blow it up and trade everybody’ and those kinds of things. That’s kind of the world we live in.”
On being tired of championship congratulations and wanting to focus on the new season:
“It’ll be cool. Obviously, getting a ring, hanging the banner will be dope. I think we’re excited about that, but also excited to kind of move on from it. You get tired of hearing the congrats. The stories are nice, at times, but we’ve gotta fully turn the page and realise that that’s not the team that we are now. We have to put the work into being a team that’s in a similar position next year.”
On the viral Halloween decoration recreating his game-winning tip-in in the NBA Finals:
“That was amazing. That was super cool. Very creative. It was really cool.”
Miles McBride
On the pressure of playing for the Knicks and the team’s championship expectations:
“Nobody wanted to be on a team that had this much potential. And (nobody wanted to) be the guy that quote unquote didn’t show up, didn’t do their job. … I think that New York pressure truthfully played a huge role. Everybody wants to play well, playing for that team. I wouldn’t even say pressure. I’d say confidence, in a sense.
“Like, you have the confidence that you’re playing in the greatest arena in sports, and you don’t want to be the person (who) isn’t locked in.”
Looks like Knicks are doing fatigue testing during practice, taking tiny blood samples from the ear
On the Knicks’ willingness to sacrifice individual roles to defend their championship:
“We want to win for each other. We’re willing to take on different roles and know that we’ve got each other’s back. If Jose’s got it going and my minutes are shortened, awesome, and vice versa.”
On the lack of ego among the Knicks’ backup guards:
“I’ve been … a broken record about it, but you don’t see that. From a backup guard position, that’s very rare, where no ego or ulterior motives get involved. That’s something special that you want to be a part of.”
Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek at a champagne & cognac tasting for Andre Drummond
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: Koby Brea #14 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns continue to fine-tune every aspect of their roster in preparation for the 2026–27 season. They’ve brought in Duop Reath on a two-way contract, waived Haywood Highsmith, extended Oso Ighodaro, and picked up the option on Ryan Dunn. And now? They’ve waived second-year sharpshooter Koby Brea, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Brea was selected 41st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, following an illustrious collegiate career in which he established himself as one of the best three-point shooters in the NCAA. Unfortunately, that shooting ability hasn’t consistently translated to the NBA level.
He appeared in 12 games for Phoenix last season, connecting on 13-of-30 attempts from beyond the arc, good for 43.3%. The hope was that he’d build upon that production through Summer League and the preseason, continuing his development as a reliable perimeter threat. But during Summer League, Brea shot 8-of-28 from deep, good for 28.6%. That was followed by a preseason in which he connected on 3-of-10 attempts, shooting 30% from beyond the arc.
When your primary translatable skill is shooting, and you’re struggling to consistently knock down shots, you become vulnerable. You become expendable. And for an organization that values flexibility throughout its roster, that’s a difficult position to find yourself in.
Unfortunately for Koby Brea, the Suns have opted to move on, leaving one two-way contract spot available as the team continues making its final roster adjustments ahead of the regular season.
The bigger picture here is roster flexibility. Brea showed that he could knock down shots in limited NBA opportunities, but his struggles in Summer League and the preseason put his greatest strength into question. With the regular season approaching, the Suns have decided to open that two-way spot rather than wait for his shooting to come around. It’s a tough business, particularly for a young player. But in Phoenix, every roster spot needs to serve a purpose.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Tacko Fall #99 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you had a nickel for every player 7-foot-6 or taller to suit up for the Sixers, you’d have two nickels.
But it’s still crazy it’s happened twice.
The 7-foot-7 Manute Bol and the 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley both played in parts of three seasons for the Sixers. Tacko Fall is hoping the third time is the charm.
The 7-foot-6 Senegalese big man is back in the NBA after signing a two-way contract this past weekend. When/if he does take the court for the Sixers, it will be his first NBA minutes since December of 2021.
While there’s been intrigue about Fall and his unique size dating back to his days at UCF, it also came with questions about his mobility and ability to deal with elite athletes. Those were doubts Fall let creep into his own mind at times.
His years overseas have put him in a better place.
“Physically and mentally,” Fall said about where he’s improved. “I feel like when you — I won’t even say seven-foot-plus — but when you reach a certain height, there’s a picture that most people have of you of, ‘OK, can he do this? Can he do that?’ Where mentally you might doubt [yourself], but for me, I feel like I was always capable of that, it’s just pushing myself to realize that and be consistent with it, and that also comes with being in great physical condition.”
Luckily for him, there are a couple familiar faces around to help him as he reacclimates to the NBA.
Fall and Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey overlapped in Cleveland in 2021-22. By that time, Gansey was transitioning from assistant general manager to general manager under Koby Altman. Fall was in his third season after two years with the Boston Celtics.
Fall doesn’t take that familiarity for granted.
“Great guy. Always positive,” Fall said of Gansey after practice Sunday. “We joke around. Like he would walk around the court every morning [in Cleveland]. I would see him walk around, and he’s doing the same thing [here], and he’s been like that for years. But I’m happy also. Like I got to come here and see another familiar face, which kind of helps with the comfort level.”
On the court is an even bigger connection. Newcomer Jaylen Brown was teammates with Fall for both of his seasons with the Celtics. The two became extremely close, with Fall naming Brown the godfather of his second daughter.
Even as Fall’s career took him far, far away from Boston, the two remained close.
Imagine telling either of them that they’d reunite in Philadelphia.
“Jaylen is my brother,” Fall said. “We built a great relationship throughout the years, even while I was away. He’s family. … Throughout the years, we built such a great relationship, and for me, I’m very happy that we get to play together.”
But this isn’t just a feel-good story. The Sixers need depth at the backup center position. Fall offers a unique option in several ways.
Once Ariel Hukporti went down with a season-ending Achilles injury, the Sixers had little recourse to make a move. They have 14 of 15 standard roster spots filled, but are hard-capped at the first apron, meaning they’re unable to sign a veteran center to a minimum deal. Their simplest path was adding a two-way player.
In Fall, they get a player with professional basketball experience, both in the NBA and overseas. The 30-year-old has been on a journey since going undrafted out of UCF in 2019. After two seasons in Boston and one in Cleveland, Fall has spent the bulk of his time in China, with a stint in Australia mixed in.
The most obvious strength for Fall is his size. At 7-foot-6 and 311 pounds, he will be the tallest active player in the NBA once he takes the court. It makes it obvious where Fall could fit in the Sixers’ center mix. With Joel Embiid’s health always a concern, those playing behind him are critical to team success.
Fall said going up against Embiid in practice has been “very motivating,” and called the former MVP “probably the best big in the NBA.” That’s what makes it critical to have depth behind Embiid.
With Adem Bona and Jabari Walker (and the currently banged-up Dean Wade and Dominick Barlow) being a little undersized, Fall is an ideal option for when the Sixers come across a bigger opponent — especially if it happens during a back-to-back.
Though he missed all of the preseason and most of camp, the team was intrigued by what they saw prior to his hip injury.
“I did get to see a good chunk of him prior to kind of the injury,” Nick Nurse said. “How I plan on using him, probably remains to be seen. But kind of was intrigued and liked what I saw in the fall. So we’ll see what happens.”
Fall spoke candidly about the scrutiny he’s faced because of his size and perceived lack of mobility. He bided his time overseas, building confidence in himself as a player and person.
Now, he’s just looking for an opportunity.
“I was a little speechless, to be honest,” Fall said about learning he’d been offered a two-way deal. “Like I said, I’ve had quite a few challenges since I left, and … after all these years and after all the hard work, I think it means a lot more.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers high fives fans before the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 16, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Among the Los Angeles Lakers’ reverence as a franchise, their storied history of big men and the substantial trade the Lakers made to acquire him this summer, Walker Kessler is, unfairly or otherwise, entering a pressurized situation. But according to his head coach, JJ Redick, the 25-year-old is ready for the challenges and incubated by plenty of people and resources to make the experience as easy as possible for him.
“I think he wants to embrace that. I think that’s why he wanted to be a Laker and why he wanted to be here was because of the fact that there are stakes every single night when you wear a Lakers uniform,” Redick told reporters postgame on Friday. “We’ve had a number of conversations. We had a long conversation the other day about it. I think the awareness is there. How you navigate that early on, how you navigate that in your first year, there’s no way to predict that because you’ve never dealt with it before.
“But he’s got great support around him. His agent, Aaron Mintz, has been a longtime friend of mine. I’m here to help him. We’re all here to support him. All these guys that haven’t gone through it, there’s nothing like it. I think they all want to embrace it. They all have a chip on their shoulder about it and they want to make Lakers fans proud and I know they will.”
Kessler clearly recognizes the positive environment being fostered and sounds as though he’s taking a healthy approach to all of it, excited for the chance he’s afforded to play for such a renowned organization.
“The support system around me, with my teammates, the coaching staff, front office, I mean, they’re fantastic,” Kessler said following Los Angeles’ preseason finale. “They’re very vocal about, obviously being a Lakers big, there’s a certain legacy with that, but not to look at it as pressure, more so as an opportunity. So that’s kind of the attitude I’m going in with it.”
After appearing in the Lakers’ final two preseason outings, Kessler will make his regular-season debut Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, where he’ll take his first genuine crack at proving himself on the court to the Lakers and their fanbase.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Dalton Knecht #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, Jake Fischer reported the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks “held exploratory trade discussions” around a deal that would send Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee and Jericho Sims to Los Angeles to solve Los Angeles’ roster crunch ahead of the regular season starting Tuesday.
Marc Stein reinforced that notion, indicating Sims is perhaps not the Lakers’ lone target as they seek front-court help and look to trim the roster from 16 players down to 15.
“The Lakers spent the weekend trying to find a workable trade to ship out Dalton Knecht and maybe even bring back a big man — such as Milwaukee’s Jericho Sims as Jake revealed in his Thursday piece — to shave their roster from 16 guaranteed contracts to 15,” Stein wrote. “If no trade can be found, they’ll have to waive Knecht (or someone else) by the cut-down buzzer.”
After delighting early in his rookie season, including a 37-point outburst against the Utah Jazz, and even starting a handful of games, Knecht saw his playing time dwindle as he ultimately fell out of the 2024-25 playoff rotation. Last season, he received another crack at rotation minutes but struggled mightily and became a non-factor by year’s end, logging just 107 minutes from February onward, including the playoffs.
Knecht’s primary allure out of college was his jumper but he’s been merely a good outside shooter in the NBA, converting 36.8% of his 3s through two seasons. His lack of strength and lateral mobility severely hinders his defense while he’s not a threat as a passer or off-the-dribble scorer. His rigid offensive skill-set and detrimental defense have understandably prevented him from carving out a consistent role with the Lakers. He’d have to be a truly elite shooter to mitigate his shortcomings elsewhere and that’s not been the case.
Knecht was not a second-round flier or late-first gamble. He was selected 17th overall in 2024. Him not panning out is a sharp indictment of the Lakers’ front office. Knecht joined Jalen Hood-Schifino as one of Los Angeles’s two top-20 selections since 2020 and neither has established themselves as legitimate contributors during their rookie contracts. Both picks represent team-building failures and reasons the Lakers haven’t been actual title contenders over that span.
