Kristaps Porziņģis’ time with the Warriors could soon be over.
The veteran center, whom Golden State acquired at the trade deadline in February and played in just 15 games last season before signing a two-year, $40 million contract with the team this offseason, has not practiced or played with the team this preseason, and might not at any point during the 2026-27 NBA season, which begins for the Warriors on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Porziņģis, who has no timetable for a return to the court as he continues to deal with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.
Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/w9fb2Tk4kb
As Charania mentioned, Porziņģis now is seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he continues to deal with the recurring symptoms from his autoimmune condition.
Porziņģis spent time in the Bay Area and at the Warriors’ facility throughout the offseason, and it appeared both he and the team were optimistic about his upcoming season, but shortly before Warriors media day started on Sept. 28, general manager Mike Dunleavy found out that Porziņģis would miss the start of training camp and remain away from the team because of the illness.
Then, on Oct. 13, Porziņģis returned to the Warriors’ facility for the first time since his absence, where he met with Dunleavy and director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini and his staff.
In the days since, neither Dunleavy nor coach Steve Kerr provided any additional update or any other information regarding Porziņģis’ situation, but the veteran center himself did address his absence in a post on social media and cleared up some online speculation.
I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I'm in the best hands. So everyone can relax now 😄🙏🏼 and I don’t have hiv or aids.
NEW YORK — Late in the night, there was a moment of honesty – vulnerability? – from Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers locker room had all but cleared out, and Embiid was the last player fielding questions from an atypically large horde of reporters. With a 106-100 victory, the Sixers had just wrecked the coronation of the New York Knicks, who raised a banner here in Madison Square Garden for the first time in 53 years and who, prior to tipoff, had wedged championship rings the size of golf balls onto their fingers.
There were plenty of reasons why the 76ers won their regular season opener Tuesday, Oct. 20. But it was a small, in-game proposal from Embiid that proves the experiment that is the 76ers might just work.
Late in the second quarter, Embiid had picked up his third foul, which came during a four-minute span late in the period. So, at some point over halftime, Embiid told the 76ers coaches that it should be the newly-acquired LeBron James to guard Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, a six-time All-Star.
This would free up Embiid to play unencumbered. And it shows how dangerous this team can be.
"It changes everything," Embiid said after the game. "I had three fouls. I suggested that to the guys, the coaching staff, cause I just felt like the way that they were coming, I wasn’t – I was just being honest – I wasn’t going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense having three fouls. I wanted to stay on the floor."
LeBron James was superb in his role
LeBron used his size and strength – James actually outweighs Towns by two pounds – to body Towns and jam up the timing and rhythm of New York’s pick-and-rolls. The move gave the 76ers tremendous defensive versatility and stifled the Knicks’ ability to scoop up offensive rebounds, which allowed Philadelphia’s transition offense to flourish.
Towns, in the third quarter, took just one field goal attempt and scored only four points; the Knicks shot 5-of-21 (23.8%) in the period.
This is not unfamiliar for James, who can play every position on the floor. It’s also a tactic Team USA employed during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when James guarded Serbian all-world center and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić.
Embiid was also a player on that gold medal squad, and it was Embiid’s foul trouble in the fourth quarter that prompted coach Steve Kerr to deploy the strategy.
"It was great," Embiid continued. "Another big body to guard the post. (Former 76er) P.J. Tucker was the last one we had where we could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post. Last year we had (Paul George), but you know PG, he did a great job, but he’s a little lighter. Having ‘Bron do that in the Olympics. We’ve done that in the past. That’s a good place to change (things) a little bit."
Vibes high in revamped 76ers' first impression
No team had a bigger offseason than Philadelphia, which also landed Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster deal with the Celtics. And the first impression of the revamped Sixers was mostly positive; the shot distribution was balanced, defensive intensity ramped up when it mattered most and the team committed just 10 turnovers, which had been an issue during the preseason.
But it was James who – as he has throughout his career – did a little bit of everything. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. He handled the ball and zipped passes to his teammates. He sprinted out in transition and got to the line. And he was instrumental in helping the 76ers retain their small lead throughout the fourth quarter.
It’s still so very early, and the 76ers didn’t play explicitly well; they hit just 27.5% of their 3-pointers and were outrebounded on the offensive glass by a margin of 14-6.
"I mean, it’s still going to take some time," James admitted. "It’s just one game, but obviously we can learn from the good things that we did, we can learn from the bad things we did tonight."
Though it was but one game, the vibes are high. And as far as first impressions go, these 76ers proved they should have lasting power in a loaded Eastern Conference.
It’s their versatility and adaptability that can make them a legitimate title contender.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots a contested jump shot during the third quarter of the game against Joel Embiid #21 and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While it may have been hard to predict just where the Sixers would shake out in a loaded Eastern Conference, it felt easy to forecast what their glaring strengths and weaknesses would be. They have an overwhelming amount of offensive talent, hopefully enough to overcome defensive issues that can come with relying on aging veterans with shaky injury histories.
You can imagine everyone’s surprise when their first win of the season was going into Madison Square Garden and defeating the defending champions in a grind-it-out slugfest on Banner Night. Both teams shot under 42% from the field and both of them went 33% on their three-point attempts.
It might not have been what the average viewer expected, but it’s the type of performance the Sixers will have to put together often to achieve the lofty goals they have for this roster.
“Defense is what kept us in the game,” said Jaylen Brown after the game. “Defense is what we’re gonna have to continue to hang our hats on. [If] we keep a team around 100, we’ll always have a chance to win, so it’s a non-negotiable — gotta play defense.”
Tyrese Maxey, who finished the game with three big steals as well as three blocks, thought the team was really good at communicating and switching assignments for their first game out there as a new unit.
“It felt pretty good,” Maxey said. “This is a very competitive group. We take pride in being able to switch and kind of guard the yard, and we’re gonna help each other as well.”
The big adjustment the Sixers made in the second half was taking Joel Embiid off of Karl-Anthony Towns and having LeBron James guard the big man. This put Embiid on a non-shooter in Josh Hart, allowing the center to become a roamer.
“It’s kind of common to put a four-man on KAT because there’s so many pick-and-rolls with him and [Jalen] Brunson,” head coach Nick Nurse explained after the game. “That gives you some versatility to play some other coverages.”
That’s a look the Sixers have tried to employ in the past against the Knicks since they’ve acquired Towns — they’ve just lacked the four strong enough to not get pushed around by Towns.
“P.J. Tucker was the last one that we had who could do that, that can switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post,” said Embiid of James’ performance guarding Towns.
Embiid made sure to point out the Sixers have had some good defensive fours since Tucker departed in 2023, they just weren’t quite right for the Towns matchup.
“Last year we had [Paul George], but PG, he did a great job, but he’s a little light,” Embiid said.
For as encouraging as the Sixers cohesiveness on defense was, the best sign of the night may very well be how Embiid was moving around to defend the paint, especially in the second half. After Andre Drummond had a bit of renaissance in the first half, Embiid shut that down in the second. He was navigating around the paint and deterring every Knick shot attempt in a way he hasn’t looked like since 2023.
Knicks are 12-31 in the paint with Joel on the floor tonight. Had a couple of big blocks on Drummond.
After the game, Embiid said he told Maxey, “we’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years, and tonight felt a little different.”
For as many additions as the Sixers made to this roster, what Embiid meant by that statement was how he felt physically. In those previous battles against the Knicks, especially their two playoff series in the past three seasons, Embiid was severely compromised due to varying health issues and it especially impacted his play on the defensive end of the court.
Since he’s come back from the injury caused by the Jonathan Kuminga fall, he just hasn’t been the same paint deterrent he was for his entire career to that point.
After a healthy offseason where he was able to trim down his figure quite a bit, Embiid is feeling great about where he is as a defender, going so far as to say he’ll be back to an All-Defensive Team-caliber player after the game. He hasn’t made an All-Defense team since 2020-21.
“I think a lot of it falls on me. I put it on me,” he said. “If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. So if I can play that way every single night, which I will, [it] changes everything.”
Another big theme from the Sixers after the game was that it is just one game and they still have a lot to build on. Getting through that building phase all in one piece will be one of the most important parts of it. If the Sixers keep getting that version of Embiid on defense on a regular basis, it gets easier to believe they can achieve all that they want to.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the Spurs lost the NBA Finals to Mariska Hargitay, Timothée Chalamet, and Anne Hathaway, my spiritual sports non-corporeal self went on a mental vacation, like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I filled my brain with movies directed by Michael Bay. It wasn’t the healthiest thing to do, wouldn’t you say?
But when the unchecked optimism of Opening Night went astray some time during the second quarter, a little humble pie might be exactly what I needed. Or just pie. I skipped dinner. But the Spurs. Our beloved Spurs. They just needed to shoot better. It’ll be fine (more on that later). It’s all good.
Stephon Castle led the team with 24 points, along with 7 rebounds while Dylan Harper contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Victor Wembanyama had a night to forget field goal percentage wise, but he continued his dominance on the defensive side.
Victor Wembanyama knows what he needs to do to bounce back from his 1/13 shooting performance vs. OKC on opening night. pic.twitter.com/UB1D4pN1Rf
There’s an old baseball adage that the first pitch of the season foreshadows how the entire season will unfold. I like to think the same applies to basketball. So in the highlight below, we have the Spurs offense set up in the half court, flowing through Victor Wembanyama, who then finds Devin Vassell wide friggin’ open for the corner three.
That’s it. That’s the season. Spurs shoot 100% from three the rest of the 81 games left and steamroll into the playoffs like this score says, winning in the scoreboard, and keeping their opponents to ZERO POINTS. Elite defense. So if you didn’t read the headline to this article, and you haven’t watched the game, you can stop reading. That’s all folks!
OK, I guess we’re all too smart to fall for the ol’ jump to conclusion (RIP Richard Riehle) without any prior evidence. Sure, the Spurs may have lost this game, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy some highlights amidst the dumpster fire that was the first half of this game, with the exception of this beautiful full-court pass from Dylan Harper to a streaking Stephon Castle.
I watched this entire game with the same energy as that couple calmly sitting outside a Paris cafe while the city behind them was aflame with social unrest. This is fine. It’s all fine.
Dylan Harper literally and metaphorically and poetically, AND metaphysically weaved his way through a field of arms and legs before he found a cutting Luke Kornet for the open jam. Harper picked up where he left off last postseason but is now running with the starters. The three-guard lineup may need some subtle adjustments or we may see Wembanyama running point, Devin Vassell posting up as center, Stephon Castle taking up power forward, and De’Aaron Fox slotting into small forward because what is positional basketball but a social construct.
Speaking of glorious mustaches, we can stop referring to Keldon Johnson as “The Mustang” but rather as “The Mustache” in honor of his new look. Did you know his middle name is “Wilder.” It’s like his parents knew they would have a son who plays basketball with complete reckless abandon, so much so that his celebratory punch sent a 7-foot, 1-inch Luke Kornet tumbling to the floor in the wake of his excitement.
I love Victor Wembanyama. You love Victor Wembanyama. We all love Victor Wembanyama. Let’s take a step back, ignore that our dude went 1-13 from the field, and instead just bask in the glory that he’ll return to sender any ball in his stratosphere, especially if that ball came off the fingertips of that special someone whose name rhymes with Dolph Lundgren.
Seriously, I think (North) Americans liked Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV more than Wembanyama likes Chet Holmgren. Even the Soviets won a round in that movie, so let’s chalk up tonight as a win for the Oklahoma City Soviets. No, I am not comparing the Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-party Eurasian state dominated by the Communist Party from 1922 to 1991. What I am saying is that the Supersonics should have never left Seattle.
What a pretty pirouette. Just a ravishing rebound. With a picturesque put-back. And such a handsome hustle of a play.
Is my brain still rattled from the fog of an NBA Finals loss followed by a disappointing loss on Opening Night? Nah, I just appreciate alliteration. Can’t a man have hobbies?
Thankfully, the second half Spurs stuffed the first half Spurs into the lockers and came out blazing to get the game more competitive. Also, don’t stuff people into lockers. Hide behind a keyboard like any modern day bully does.
Now is a good time as any to remind everyone that the Thunder are a very good team. Jalen Williams appears to be fully healthy this year, and they have a sniper in Jared McCain coming off the bench. Still a deep, talented team that remains a top title contender. So this second half push by the Spurs was impressive in of itself.
What? A sprinkle of optimism in the first game out of 82? How dare we.
De’Aaron Fox went a little craft beer with this hoppy and bouncy move to the basket, which was so sweet that it would make a bearded hipster blush through his beard and red flannel shirt.
For you, the day Victor Wembanyama went 1-13 from the field was the most important day of your life. But for him, it was Tuesday. Literally. That new Street Fighter movie doesn’t look half bad either.
If you missed the game because you were too busy looking for the old Street Fighter music video starring MC Hammer, Deion Sanders (yeah, I’m not kidding at all), and Jean-Claude Van Damme, here are the full-game highlights:
Aaand here is that aforementioned music video:
Next up, the Spurs take on the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, October 23, 2026 .
There was too much possibility and hope and potential for the Warriors to dismiss Kristaps Porziņģis, a 7-foot-3 center whose talents would add immense value to their roster. A healthy Porziņģis is an All-Star.
So, they weighed the substantial risk that would come with signing the 7-foot-3 center barely an hour into NBA free agency. They couldn’t wait. Didn’t want to wait. Neither did Porziņģis.
And now the Warriors are paying the steep price that always was conceivable.
“The Warriors have egg on their faces,” a Western Conference executive told NBC Sports Bay Area Wednesday morning.
Though the Warriors in recent days have privately questioned whether Porziņģis would return, they weren’t ready to give up on the possibility. His offensive skills – 3-point shooting, crafty passing, massive length – would have made him one of the lead characters in the revised offensive scheme under coach Steve Kerr.
Porziņģis, 31, would bring strong value to the defense, too. When associate head coach Frank Vogel, who will coordinate the defense, commented on KP’s potential impact Monday, there was so much trepidation that it felt he was crossing all his fingers.
“That’s obviously the big answer,” Vogel told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re still hopeful to have him back, but we’ll see. But that size? You can’t teach size, right? And I’ve always excelled at coaching bigs, working the angles and the commitment to rim protection and doing it without fouling. Doing it non-recklessly. I feel like I could do a lot with him in our defensive system if we’re able to get him back.”
Two days later, the Warriors are basically giving up on having Porziņģis, who might be giving up on his career.
The worst outcome, no KP at all, has landed at the feet of the Warriors. They are now exploring paths to shed the two-year, $40 million contract – $20 million this season, only $3 million guaranteed next season – he signed less than four months ago.
Before Porziņģis played one game, or participated in one practice.
This is a hit to the “five-out” offense that Kerr is committed to implementing. It’s a hit to the explosive partnership that would have been Curry-Porziņģis. It’s a hit to Green, who gets an automatic and not entirely embraced boost in minutes at center.
It’s a hit to, above all, the Warriors being the team they wanted to be this season.
Golden State’s health/performance chief, Dr. Rick Celebrini, was going to have his hands full trying to manage KP through the regular season in hopes of reaching the playoffs. It was a plus that Porziņģis in March expressed full confidence in Celebrini’s restorative powers.
All signs point to those powers being directed elsewhere on a roster that, frankly, will keep Celebrini plenty busy. The most delicate member of the team has one foot out the door. Retirement would surprise no one.
While there's a lot of uncertainty regarding what this season will look like for the Clippers, it raises the question: can the team salvage what is expected to be a nightmare season?
The organization appears to have fallen on hard times, having been a consistent playoff-contending team to one that likely will drop near the bottom of the Western Conference as a result of its offseason.
The league announced disciplinary action against the team in early September after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with league commissioner Adam Silver.
The Clippers were fined $30 million and were told to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s executives were also suspended.
The Clippers also used the offseason to create a younger roster. The team traded Kawhi Leonard and moved on from Nicolas Batum (37) in free agency, while adding players such as Brandon Ingram (29) and Gradey Dick (22). The Clippers were one of the oldest teams in the league, with an average age of 33.2 years last season.
Ingram will not be available for the season opener, leaving coach Tyronn Lue with the task of figuring out how to get the most out of this team.
“We put in a lot of stuff offensively to see what works for this team and see what will stick and we scrapped a lot of it already,” Lue said. "We are just trying to see what works with this team.
“We have some new players and guys in new positions, so we are just trying to see what works."
In the first game, Lue wants to get a better idea of what his team is good at and what he can still work on.
Figuring out what can work well could go a long way in determining how this season will play out.
The Clippers won’t have the manpower needed to put together a championship run. If the team struggles this season, it might not necessarily mean they have a favorable draft pick to look forward to either.
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintain favorable control over the Clippers' first-round pick as part of a previous trade.
Instead, the Clippers can look to produce a solid product in order to increase the trade value for some of its players while working some of its younger players into the rotation and gaining experience.
Predicting 2026-27 Clippers’ season
USA Today projects the Clippers will finish near the bottom of the Western Conference with a 31-51 record.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 14: Sergio de Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the second half of the preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans at American Airlines Center on October 14, 2026 in Dallas, 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. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spanish point guard out of Valencia averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, five assists and averaged 66.7 percent on three-pointers (on three shots per game) this preseason. Unsustainable, but nonetheless impressive for a rookie.
“I think he’s a player who also has to adapt to a pace that, so to speak, is different from what he’s used to with players who are very physical and probably have superior athletic ability. But his size and his understanding of the game also help him create many opportunities for his own team,” Mateo said.
The 6’6 rookie has surprised a lot of people with his passing during the preseason, making it look easy to create and connect with his teammates despite playing in a physically tougher NBA environment than where he comes from.
Revisiting the 4th quarter of today's game in Macao for THIS play…
Sergio de Larrea (4 AST) with the lookaway dime to Zaccharie Risacher (16 PTS) for the reverse slam 🔥
“He’s shooting well, but more with his feet on the ground,” Chus Mateo pointed out.
“I think that perhaps little by little he’ll manage to shoot more in the pick and roll after the dribble, which is perhaps one of the areas he can improve. He’s a genuinely intelligent player both on and off the court,” the Spanish coach said.
Mavs coach Dusty May has also praised De Larrea’s basketball IQ and most recently his unique ability to shine under pressure.
“He’s a gamer, especially when the lights are on. He has the ‘it’ factor. We’ve been very pleased with him,” May said after the first preseason games.
Spanish NBA reporter, Toni Canyameras, notes that he believes that Sergio De Larrea has a good chance of becoming the first option in the rotation after Kyrie Irving. This echoes what the Mavs have said previously in the season, and how they played him through Summer League, as well as the preseason.
“A knack and feel” for the game and that it’s “innate”, “something you can’t teach”, as Mavs Summer League head coach Joe Boylan described it back in July. Already back then, De Larrea’s ability to scan and pass before the defender can catch up left defenses scrambling. And Dallas excited.
Unfortunately, things look a little different for the other part of the Spanish Mavs connection, Santi Aldama.
The seven-footer and NBA veteran has been out with an injury, recovering from the knee arthroscopy that ended his season last March and has yet to play a minute for the Mavs. A return date has not yet been disclosed.
Aldama was traded to Dallas this season after five years with the Memphis Grizzlies. And Toni Canyameras is optimistic:
“This is a refreshing reset for him after being part of that project led by Ja Morant, which has been in steady decline over the years,” he says.
There will be a lot of competition for the power forward spot in Dallas, however. But the fact that Aldama also has the ability to play as a dynamic center is worth noting.
“His proven combination of size, shooting ability, and playmaking skills opens up a wide range of possibilities. The Grizzlies’ roster instability, plagued by injuries in recent years, has spurred Aldama’s versatility, allowing him to play in every position,” Canyameras notes.
As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to open the season this week with an almost completely different roster than last year, and a handful of newcomers, including in leadership, their Spanish rookie seems ready for his debut. Vision, IQ, and size will give him an advantage to start; improved pace and physicality will be points to improve.
But as the very best in the world, Sergio De Larrea has something worth paying attention to. He thrives under pressure. And that’s something you can’t teach.
Kings guard Malik Monk, speaking with NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan during the team’s Media Day, offered his own bold prediction.
“I feel like if we’re all healthy, we can sneak into the playoffs…” Monk stated. “…I think we’re all bought in right now — it looks like everybody has bought in. I think we can surprise a lot of people.”
It’s a surprising statement given the Kings finished last season at 22-60, tied with the Utah Jazz for the worst record in the Western Conference. But Monk pointing out health as a big factor is valid.
Domantas Sabonis played just 19 games last season due to a torn meniscus. Zach LaVine played just 39 games and Keegan Murray played in 23 games. That is 165 combined games missed between just three starters.
Murray points to chemistry as a key factor for the Kings; something that the team was not able to build last season due to injuries.
“Every team starts 0-and-0. And I mean, we have any chance like any other team…” Murray said. “So, everyone laces their shoes the same way, everyone in the NBA has talent. It’s just a matter if your chemistry can continue to grow.
“And if we can do that, we can be a pretty good team.”
Sabonis, similar to his teammates, dismissed the gloomy predictions.
“Eleven years in it, you have so many predictions, so many people are so wrong,” Sabonis said.
Despite those predictions being outlandish to Sabonis, he sees a potential benefit to them being made.
“If anything, it helps to find some kind of fire in there,” Sabonis explained. “I know it’s driving [Kings owner] Vivek [Ranadive] and [coach] Doug [Christie] crazy – which is good. It’s obviously driving us crazy.
“We want to go back to where we were in those ‘Beam Team’ years, and we’re excited.”
The upcoming season will be the fourth since the Kings broke the franchise’s 17-year NBA playoff drought. It feels like it’s been much longer.
But despite the departure of the coach and key role players who brought the franchise back into playoff contention, a part of that skeleton remains in Sacramento in the presence of Sabonis, Murray and Monk.
“Going what we went through last year, it’s just all the pieces,” Monk said. “Ben [Simmons] has been disrespected a lot. We are getting disrespected a lot. Scott [Perry] is getting disrespected a lot. Vivek gets disrespected a lot. Doug, you know what I’m saying?
“I got forgotten about, they forgot about Keegan, they forgot about Domas. So, I think we got a chip on our shoulder this year.”
It’s easy to forget about the players who helped light the beam so frequently in years past because of their missed time.
But, if Monk is right, the NBA world could be in for a reminder.
The Slovenian superstar leads a new-look Los Angeles Lakers squad in their season opener against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
All of that will continue to develop as the season progresses. But none of it will matter when the ball goes up tonight.
Here are the three biggest storylines the Lakers face entering 2026-27:
How long will it take the Lakers to gel?
The Lakers have an almost entirely new look shaped around Dončić and Austin Reaves. Kessler was the crown jewel of the offseason, arriving via trade from Utah in exchange for what essentially remained of L.A.'s tradeable draft capital.
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka filled out the rest of the roster with players who could shoot, dribble and pass: Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle and Jaden Hardy.
This is the deepest the Lakers have been in a while, but there are so many new faces that they're almost impossible to predict right now. It doesn't help that the new big three of Dončić, Reaves and Kessler only played 13 minutes together in the preseason.
JJ Redick abhors predictions, but did tell reporters on Tuesday that the biggest unknown with this team to him is how they'll handle adversity, and how that'll show up over an 82-game season.
"That's different for every team," he said. "And that's different maybe how we deal with adversity in November versus how we deal with adversity in March. Hopefully there's growth throughout the season so that we can deal with adversity in the right way, and that ultimately will prepare us for a deep playoff run."
Can Walker Kessler live up to the legacy of Lakers centers?
George Mikan. Wilt. Kareem. Shaq. Pau Gasol. Anthony Davis.
Kessler is walking (no pun intended) into a long line of Laker greats to have played the five, all of whom have hardware to show for it. Superstars have crumbled under the magnifying glass that comes with wearing the purple and gold. How is Kessler dealing with it all?
"The energy's great," he told reporters Tuesday. "I remember being in Utah. Every time we played the Lakers at L.A. I was there for Luka’s opening night, and ... it was insane. The fan base is unreal, their energy is great and playing for that, obviously … you can place on yourself a little bit of pressure. But for me, I just look at it as an opportunity to compete for a such a great franchise."
More than just a debut, Wednesday is also set to be the first time Kessler takes an NBA floor since last Halloween. He tore his left labrum after just five games and missed the remainder of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery.
He's been described as a "perfect fit" alongside Dončić and Reaves by both Redick and Pelinka. He's automatically the best rim protector the Lakers have had since trading away AD. There hasn't been much time to hit the ground running, but Kessler's relishing every moment of it.
What does Austin Reaves the leader look like?
With LeBron's departure, Reaves graduates from the Lakers' third option to Luka's right-hand man. That – and his shiny new $184.76 million contract – comes with more responsibility.
Dončić has seen it, telling reporters on media day that Reaves has become much more vocal with his teammates. Redick said he's "been the leader in the gym every day" since returning from the Slovenia trip. Reaves himself described his leadership style as less confrontational, he prefers pulling guys aside and having one-on-one conversations. He's not an in-your-face, admonish you in front of everybody kind of player.
"I'm not gonna lead the same Bron does, I'm not gonna lead the same way Luka does," Reaves told reporters at media day. "I like to do things a little different."
How to watch Lakers season opener vs Warriors on Wednesday
Here's everything you need to know about how to tune into Lakers vs Warriors, including start time, location, TV channel and streaming.
Old habits die hard, and for the Boston Celtics, that habit is letting go of the rope once they’ve built themselves a comfortable lead. Two runs from the Detroit Pistons, one in the third and another 23-0 in the fourth, slammed the door on the Celtics and left us scratching our heads.
The Wheels Fell Off
The Celtics went into halftime with a 13-point lead. They’d created gaps in the defense, hit their shots, and played solid defense. The ball was moving, cutters were cutting, and everything seemed right in the world. Well, everything except for Jayson Tatum’s shooting, but we could overlook that because the team was up double digits, and he was putting in work elsewhere on the floor.
Yet, in the second half, everything changed. Detroit made defensive adjustments, primarily in how their help defense operated, and suddenly Boston’s ability to penetrate off the dribble vanished. Separation became hard to create, and touches in the paint began to dry up. The addition of former Celtic Javonte Green also swung momentum for the Pistons, as he turned into a human torch from deep.
Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta didn’t pay off, either. Boston was outworked on both ends of the glass. When shots were falling and the offense was clicking, rebounding seemed like something you could figure out on the fly. However, as the Celtics began to crumble under Detroit’s momentum, you found yourself begging them to take control of the boards and dictate the tempo.
Save for Paul George, who had himself a night, it’s hard to look at any other Celtics and say they played a solid game. Derrick White probably comes closest. For me, the ball stuck to Payton Pritchard too often, and Sam Hauser struggled when closing out on defense. Jordan Walsh was a passenger for most of the game, barring some boards, and neither Hugo Gonzalez nor (to a far lesser extent) Baylor Scheierman made the most of their minutes.
Boston will need more across the board.
I’m chalking it up to an early start, coupled with it being the first game of the season and the fact that the Pistons are a really good team.
Tatum Will Be Better
There’s no denying that this was a brutal shooting night for Tatum. No matter how you look at it, he struggled from start to finish with his shooting. Unfortunately, Tatum needed to perform in this game. It was the first meaningful outing for the Celtics since shipping out Jaylen Brown, and rightly or wrongly, fans were going to judge him much more harshly.
I’m of the belief that trading Brown was the right call. Both for cap reasons and for building around one star. Tatum is the more complete player. If the front office has decided that one of the two needs to go, then Tatum was going to win that head-to-head. Would I have preferred to run it back with both? Of course. Still, it’s done, and we look forward.
However, for some fans, it’s not that cut-and-dry. So, when Tatum struggled, despite leading the team in shot attempts, it rubbed salt into a still-open wound.
The good news is, Tatum isn’t going to average 26.1% from the field. His shot will get better. He will grab more rebounds. Most importantly, though, he will grow into this new role.
None of that helped yesterday, when emotions were running high. We’ve watched Tatum long enough to know he grows into the season and slowly peaks around the All-Star break. Now, though, with Brown gone, Tatum has to step up earlier in the season. You can’t ask Paul George to shoulder so much of the offense all season.
Tatum will be better. Once he finds his footing, Boston’s offense should go to a totally different level. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait too long.
The Celtics Are Missing A Penetrator
When the Pistons shut down Boston’s offense for stretches of the second half, you could feel the shift. The Celtics are at their best when they’re getting into the paint, manipulating the defense and finding open shooters. Early in the game, the Celtics did this by manipulating the tagger before finding the open man — either on dribble-drive kickouts or swing passes.
Once the Pistons fixed their help scheme, the Celtics rarely got into the teeth of the defense. As such, Boston was trying to break Detroit down once they’d gotten set, and that led to some choppy possessions. Penetration made way for more perimeter screening actions, and they led to more contested jumpers. Shots that did come from two-point range were rarely at the rim hadn’t come via forcing rotations to the point where the Pistons had begun to bend.
After the game, I tweeted that we shouldn’t use Mike Conley. While I was serious about the idea that Conley could have settled the offense down in a short stretch, that wasn’t the tweet’s real aim. Instead, I wanted to point out that Boston didn’t add another guard they actually planned to include in the rotation, even though we all knew it was an area of concern heading into the summer.
Yesterday, the Celtics needed an extra player who could create off the bounce and get into the teeth of the defense. Someone who could penetrate and reliably make reads, be it scoring or playmaking. Both Pritchard and Tatum can fill that role, and they’ll likely thrive as the season progresses. Yet, when a defense is honing in, you need a wildcard. Right now, someone off the bench has to prove they can be that guy.
A Look To The Playbook
On a happier note, we did see some stuff from the Celtics offense that looks repeatable and impactful. One simple play that I was a fan of, was having Robinson slip out of a stagger screen to open up a lob pass for White.
What I liked about this play was that the setup was simple and the execution was repeatable.
The Celtics set up a stagger screen, with George as the first screener and Robinson as the second. As White came off Robinson’s screen, and John Collins looked to contain White should he turn the corner, Robinson rolled hard to the rim. With no one guarding the passing lane between White and Robinson, an easy lob pass ended in a quick two points.
Given the size Boston now has in the middle of the floor, I’m expecting to see a lot more of these quick-hitting, easy scoring plays as the season continues — especially when Tatum has found his rhythm.
It Wasn’t All Bad!
When your favorite team falls to defeat, despite holding such a sizeable lead, it’s easy to focus on the negatives. However, the Celtics also showed some good signs, especially early in the game. They’re much more active at forcing turnovers, which in turn is allowing them to get out in transition more. That high tempo will likely be sustained by what is hopefully a long, sustainable period of dominance on the glass, too.
If we’re talking about positive performances, we’ve also got to look at George. After a summer when Celtics fans were vocally dejected about his arrival, he quickly endeared himself. It’s unlikely what we saw from him last night will become the new normal, but knowing he’s got that in his locker will offer some comfort when you’re looking to someone for a quick bucket or two.
We’ve also got to credit the Celtics for how active their hands were in the passing lanes. They ended the night with 23 deflections. Also, it’s not like the team shot poorly all night. They walked away from the game having hit a steady 40.5% from deep on 17-of-42 shooting.
Once you factor in the spurts of solid defense and the way the Celtics looked on offense during the first half, there’s a lot to be excited about. They’ve just got to figure out how to keep hold of their leads, because while they might have a solid track record of eking out wins after being up double digits, too often they’re rolling the dice after letting things slip away.
Next up is the New York Knicks on Friday. It’s another tough test for the Celtics, and one that will undoubtedly highlight more areas the team needs to work on. That’s what the early part of the season is about. I’m not worried. I trust Mazzulla, the roster, and the rest of the coaching staff. Still, that doesn’t make losses like yesterday’s any easier to stomach.
Punches were allegedly seen too at Madison Square Garden, specifically in an incident involving Funkmaster “Funk” Flex, a DJ, rapper and long-running radio host on New York City’s Hot 97.
A video went viral on social media around the game, alleging Funk Flex was punched in the face in the Delta Club at the Garden.
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the 76ers in New York, Oct. 20, 2026. Instagram/alextodd
In the video, one man in a black outfit can be seen being pushed back by a security member while another in a blue jacket and gold chain is being talked to camly by seemingly other members of security.
However, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Funk Flex denied the punch and suggested there is more to the story than the video suggests.
“I THIS WHERE I GOT PUNCHED IN THE FACE? YEAH RIGHT! I DIDNT SEE THAT PART! ,” he wrote in an Instagram post, sharing the video.
“IS THAT RECORD COMPANY GUY UPSET? ISNT HE A GUY THAT PROMOTES RECORDS? YOU MAD AT ME? WHY YOU CHASE ME LIKE THAT SHADOW?. I DID NOT SAY I WAS GONNA SUE! WHY DID SHADOW SAY? “HIT ME FIRST SO I CAN SUE YOU?
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers in New York on Oct. 20, 2026. Instagram/alextodd
“WHY YOU SAY ‘IM A BROKE NI$$A’ YOU TRYING TO GET A MONEY GRAB OFF ME? YOU THREW A DRINK AT ME?”
He went on to guess he got “these label guys kinda angry” and added that they want to “sue when they don’t get they way.”
From Funk Flex’s point of view, it seems there was an altercation involved with others in the music industry and someone allegedly wanted the rapper to sue.
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026. Instagram/funkflexHot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the 76ers on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Instagram/funkflex
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Justin Champagnie #9 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Folks, tonight marks a landmark moment for the Milwaukee Bucks: their first official game—against the revamped Washington Wizards—without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster in 13 years. 13 years. It’s been one hell of a ride—culminating in a title, of course—but all good things must come to an end. And as that era ends, another begins, starting tonight in the nation’s capital.
Preseason has come and gone—with the Bucks going 2-3 in their five games—so we now have a (somewhat) clearer idea of what to expect. We know Taylor Jenkins emphasises defensive intensity and rebounding as his main pillars, but with the team so new, there is still a lot to learn—and that’s the exciting part. Obviously, it’s a very young squad, so there will be some great moments and some not-so-great ones, but overall, if the vibes are good and the intentions are right, most fans will be content.
As for tonight, I think it will be a great measuring-stick game. The Wizards are improved, yes (I mean, they have to be to some degree, since they are actually trying to win basketball games now), but they are not the Thunder or the Spurs; this is a new team trying to integrate many different players who may have many different motivations. If the Bucks play selfless basketball and stick to the game plan, they can win.
The Task Ahead
There’s something poetic about the Bucks—a team just entering a rebuild—opening their season against the Wizards—a team just exiting a rebuild. And yeah, the Wizards have lost a lot since Will Dawkins and Michael Winger took over and declared that Washington would no longer be riding the hamster wheel of mediocrity. Dawkins and Winger cut the dead wood, went into full development mode, and attacked the draft (which, yes, included a mandate to tank, and tank hard).
Over the past three seasons, the Wizards have a combined 50-196 record. Woof. But of course, teams tank to put themselves in a position to draft franchise cornerstones, and the Wizards—while they did draft at two in 2024, taking a solid player (Alex Sarr) in a middling class—still hadn’t found theirs heading into last season. This made last season’s tank, ahead of what most experts labelled an elite draft class, one of the most important years in Wizards history. They lost their way to the league’s worst record (17-65) and finally got some lottery luck in a loaded class, drafting the precocious AJ Dybantsa—who is out tonight with an ankle injury—as the final piece of their rebuild.
But of course, Dybantsa isn’t the only major addition the Wizards made. This team has quickly become filled with stars of yesteryear. Washington traded for Trae Young midway through last season and, as I’ll get to, subsequently inked him to a gargantuan deal that will probably age like milk in the sun. Anthony Davis, I’m assured, now also plays for the Wizards. Heck, even Deandre Ayton is here! And of course, I can’t forget Bucks legend Khris Middleton, who returned to Washington after the Wizards dealt him to the Mavs—as part of the Anthony Davis trade, funnily enough—at last season’s deadline. Jokes aside, although these guys no longer live up to their once-lofty reputations, they are still good players who should be nothing but additive to Washington’s talented young core.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Nate Ament: probable (ankle)
Wizards:
AJ Dybantsa: out (ankle)
Tristan Vukcevic: out (hip)
Jamir Watkins: out (knee)
Player to Watch
Trae Young. Once a heralded star in the league, Young is looking to prove he’s still that guy after his stock dropped precipitously over the last few years—so much so that Atlanta dealt him to Washington for a bag of chips before they had to pay him. The Wizards, on the other hand, clearly believe in the 28-year-old a lot more than the Hawks did, given that they extended him on a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth $212m. Yikes. Regardless, Young—someone who has given the Bucks fits going all the way back to their title run—still has the potential to be a gamebreaker. Milwaukee’s defence needs to make him play in crowds and keep him out of the paint; if he tries to score one-on-one, the defence has done its job. Neutralising Young will also go a long way toward neutralising Anthony Davis.
Some of us have been speculating (hoping) that Tyler Herro was taking it easy in the preseason and that he’d play with more vigour once the real thing started. Well, the real thing is here, and I’m going to stick my neck out and say he has a really good game. Maybe except for Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards don’t really have defenders who can bother Herro, so I think this matchup gives him a chance to feast a little and announce himself as a Buck. I’m talking 27 points, five assists, efficient shooting.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: David Robinson attends the game during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 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
On Monday, Spurs legend David Robinson joined Lauren Rosen and Sean Little on The Association. He spoke of the Spurs incredible 2025-2026 season, their return to the NBA Finals, and his experience watching the next generation of Spurs develop into championship contenders.
During the interview, The Admiral was asked about netting a historic quadruple-double. His 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks on February 17, 1994 was only the fourth recorded quadruple-double and the last time it occurred in the NBA. Over three decades later, Robinson feels that it is not a question of if Victor Wembanyama will join the list of players to tally the elusive statistic anomaly, but when.
There are also some great highlights of The Admiral in his heyday. You can never go wrong with the best of David Robinson.
I always love when Robinson speaks about the Spurs. He has such passion for the team and has really been through it all with the team. He is the foundation for so many wonderful aspects of the franchise, and the team’s ultimate ambassador.
Spurs dropped their first game, leaving them in dead last in the Western Conference with an 0-1 record. Hopefully just a humbling hot minute as the Spurs tweak the strategies that will best serve them over the long season.
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CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Kevin Durant #35 of Team LeBron gets ready in the locker room before the 2019 NBA All-Star Practice and Media Availability on February 16, 2019 at Bojangles Coliseum 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Almost two months ago, we announced the release of our new app, which you can find here or by searching SB Nation in your neighborhood app store. The app is available in North America, and we’re working on Europe and the rest of the world as we speak!
Quite a few of you have downloaded it over the past seven weeks and have been using it, but because we were at the quietest part of the NBA offseason, it’s also entirely possible a few of you missed it!
The goal with this app was to make it easier to join the community, and specifically comment, read the comments, and make your own posts, as well as keeping all the community posts – articles on the front page, Feed posts from you – front and center.
One of the most exciting new features is the game chat, which some of you may have already test-driven during the preseason. It makes it easier to follow along with the barrage of comments that come during games, and gets to the heart of why so many of you spend time in our community. Faster loading comments and notifications when someone replies to your comments and Feed posts are creating a more fun experience that you’re not going to find anywhere else.
We also wanted to elevate the community’s contributions by putting your Feed posts inside one stream alongside all the other articles from the site. To that end, more people have seen your posts and more people have commented on them. In fact, we’ve set single-day commenting records three different times in the last several weeks.
And if you prefer just reading our traditional front page articles, there’s an option at the top to do that.
So, thanks for making us part of your routine. If you haven’t checked it out, you can get the app for iOS or Android. And if you’re not an app user, that’s OK! We’re glad to have you following along in whatever way makes you most comfortable.
NBA fans, game day is better on the SB Nation app!
React to every crossover, alley-oop, and block alongside fellow basketball fans in real time.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 18: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors drives past Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on March 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After licking their wounds from the lost series against the Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors fans have had to wait through the agonizing months of the Kawhi Leonard trade saga, all for what comes later today. The start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Raptors have been granted an interesting matchup to start off the campaign, against the new-look Chicago Bulls. Chicago, a stagnant franchise since their time led by (Raptors legend) DeMar DeRozan, has rebuilt their roster after getting rid of General Manager Marc Eversley, and VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas.
Led by guard duo Josh Giddey and Norman Powell (another Raptors legend), the Bulls have a very well-rounded starting 5, highlighted by the arrival of rookie Caleb Wilson. Wilson, out of UNC, is considered one of the drafts’ highest-value prospects.
A 6’10” power forward who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 boards in college, Wilson looked like a stud in Summer League, averaging 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds on 50-40 shooting. Scary stuff. Ricky O’Donnell’s profile of Wilson in SB Nation highlighted a few things that will be worth keeping an eye on.
O’Donnell highlights comparisons to Kevin Garnett, and a more offensively focused-less defensively focused version of the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley. While there were then-concerns about Wilson’s ability to shoot, the forward averaged almost eight attempts from downtown, and made more than three of them nightly. However, Wilson weighs in at only 215 pounds, so someone like Scottie Barnes at 237 would have a meaningful advantage when guarding him.
Nic Claxton will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, per Tiago Splitter
The Raptors’ biggest leg up tonight is the absence of Nic Claxton, the Bulls’ starting centre. Having a weaker 5 means that Toronto’s biggest deficiency — lack of a high-impact big man — will be felt less on the defensive end, and give the Raptors opportunities for more good looks in the paint. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes could have big nights, as both drive-heavy swingmen could take advantage of less opposition at the rim, paving way for some high scoring nights from the pair. Even Jakob Poeltl could put up some big numbers on the boards, matching up against 6’8”, 215 Jalen Smith extremely well.
Seeing what Barnes will do against Wilson will be exciting, as the two forwards, built in very different physical archetypes, will have to Duke it out lest Chicago give most of the Raptors a potential matchup issue. However, one of the other defensive matchups worth keeping an eye on will be that between guards Jamal Shead and Norman Powell. The All-Star is a threat from anywhere on the court, and the former Raptor will likely be walking into the arena with putting on a show for his old crowd on his mind.
Keeping Josh Giddey’s passing under control will also be a must. The point guard’s size is frustrating, and his defensive assignment might fall to someone like Ja’Kobe Walter , as both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley could be hard pressed to keep up with the Australian.
Seeing what Kawhi Leonard looks like in the regular season will be interesting as well. Leonard is certainly capable of massive scoring outbursts, but whether or not he’ll put on a big show to start off the season, or take it easy and reserve energy, is not totally clear. Kawhi looking like a top-five offensive player tomorrow pushes the needle in the Raptors’ direction in a serious way, and this is a relatively low-pressure matchup with which to start off the season for him.
Keys to success for the Raptors will be managing both personnel and energy to maintain punishing defence on the Bulls, while getting as many shot attempts in the paint as possible. The Raptors can take this one if they defend wisely and don’t allow flamethrower Norm Powell to heat up.
This post is also where we’ll be running our game thread, a live chat to post about the game, chat, and socialize. We hope to see you there, either on the browser or in our app!
Game Information and Details
Game Time: 7:30 EDT
Watch On: Sportsnet
Injury Report
Raptors: Nate Bittle (Out – foot)
Bulls: Nic Claxton (Out – hamstring), Jordan Hawkins (Out – illness), Tobe Akawa (GTD – knee), Zach Collins (GTD – toe), Dailyn Swain (GTD – illness), Isaac Okoro (GTD – knee), Leonard Miller (GTD – right adductor strain)
