Category: NBA

The Washington Wizards will play the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow night in the NBA Summer League. Let’s preview this one.

Game info

When: Wednesday, July 14 at about 10:30 p.m. ET

Where: Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas

How to watch: ESPN, Monumental Sports Network

What to watch for

The Wizards are 2-1 in NBA Summer League action after losing to the Chicago Bulls just a few minutes ago. They will play against the Clippers, who will begin play the Los Angeles Lakers as of the time I’m writing this. LA is 1-1 before the Lakers game. Keaton Wagner is the No. 5 overall pick in the NBA draft but he won’t play against AJ Dybantsa, who is sitting out the rest of Summer League.

This game is effectively a chance for the reserve Summer League Wizards players to make a final impression before training camp contracts and potential Capital City Go-Go offers come out.

Still, I’d like to see the Wizards finish their first four games with a 3-1 record.

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Coming into Phoenix Suns Summer League, there were conversations about the potential concern that would exist if, by this time next year, we hadn’t seen meaningful progression from second-year lottery pick Khaman Maluach. After three games in Las Vegas, I don’t think there’s much reason to worry about a lack of progression anymore.

Yes, this is Summer League, and it’s easy to overreact. But if we’re looking at this simply through the lens of progression, evaluating whether a player is displaying better physical tools and a stronger mental understanding of where he needs to be on the court, how he should attack offensively, how he should defend, and how he can become more effective, it feels like Maluach has passed this segment of the test. If you have two eyes and a heartbeat, you can’t help but get excited about what we’ve seen thus far in Las Vegas. Maluach is averaging 18.3 points, 12 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Oh, and he’s shooting 40% from deep on five attempts per game.

And it’s not only the counting stats that look nice. It’s the manner in which he’s playing the game. He’s doing so with an energy and fervor that are palpable. He’s yelling at players after denying their shots at the cylinder. As a back-line defender, he’s communicating with his teammates, directing traffic and letting them know where they need to be.

When it’s all said and done, after playing a tough, gritty, physical game, Maluach remains insightful in his observations and thoughtful about where he stands relative to his progression.

“It’s really important, by taking care of every rep and not taking any rep for granted,” Khaman said after his performance in the Suns’ 95-88 win over the Bucks on Monday night. “It’s a process, my time eventually will come, and I just gotta be ready for the opportunity that I don’t have rather than having an opportunity, and I’m ready for it.”

He’s 19, man. Damn, that was eloquently put. Forgive me as I take a few moments to gameplan how I am going to repair the wall I just ran through.

To see this progression is heartwarming for multiple reasons. First, he’s the kind of player you root for. Ever since the Phoenix Suns drafted him 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, it was clear that he was an intelligent, insightful, interesting human being. He’s the kind of player you want to see succeed because you want to see the character he displays as a person rewarded on the basketball court.

Second, the Suns have a dire need for a big man. It’s been five years since we’ve seen any semblance of dominance on the interior, dating back to that stretch when Deandre Ayton displayed his potential, if only for a fleeting moment. Alas, the motor wasn’t there. Certainly not in the same capacity that Maluach has displayed thus far this summer. And when you see opposing Summer League teams gameplan specifically to stop him, you ponder when the last time we witnessed that. Shaq?

As we slowly begin looking toward the horizon and wondering who the cornerstones of this organization could be five years from now, having a dominant big man would sure be nice. That’s why this progression matters. If Maluach is ever going to reach cornerstone status, he has to start crossing lines of demarcation along the way. What he’s doing in Las Vegas thus far feels like one of them, and it aligns with the potential we’ve been waiting to see.

What the future holds remains to be seen, and one thing to be cognizant of is that the Suns are not a center-centric offense schematically. What Maluach is doing in Las Vegas should not be expected to immediately translate to the big league club. When opportunities arise next season, he’ll operate within a different role, one where his ability to rebound and defend will be more valuable than his ability to score. Perhaps that’s what has made this run in Las Vegas so enjoyable. We’re getting a glimpse of the offensive potential he possesses within a system that’s allowing him to flourish.

The Phoenix Suns coaching staff is certainly taking note of what he can do, and perhaps, when the time is appropriate, they’ll adjust aspects of the system to better accommodate Maluach’s abilities.

Watching him in the Summer League has been an absolute joy. Because of the way he plays. Because of how hard he plays. Because he’s putting up impressive counting stats, but more importantly, because you can see the impact he has on the court and on his teammates. He’s 19 years old and already appears to possess leadership qualities that are difficult to teach. As for any concerns relative to his progression? At this point, I have none.

Perhaps that’s an overreaction fueled by the excitement I’ve felt watching Maluach play in Summer League. But right now, he’s hitting the checkpoints I hoped to see, and he’s passing this segment of the test with flying colors.

The future appears bright in Phoenix based on the organization’s recent drafts. The real challenge begins when the regular season arrives and the Suns have to find minutes for these young players, giving them opportunities to continue their upward trajectories while balancing the need to remain competitive. That’s why Jordan Ott gets paid the big bucks. I simply write about what he does.

The entire basketball world is waiting on LeBron James to decide which team he’ll sign with in free agency before what will be his 24th NBA season.

However, James doesn’t appear to be in any rush. This was shown by a golf outing that he had on July 14, alongside Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green and world-class comedian Kevin Hart, both of whom are close friends with James.

Green and James were recently in Puerto Rico together, which is why it’s surprising to see them golfing so soon after that. There were reports that Green was using that vacation to recruit James to the Warriors, which, “have left [James] giving even stronger consideration to the idea [of joining the Warriors in free agency] than before,” according to a July 13 article from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

But there didn’t seem to be much recruiting happening during Tuesday’s golf outing. Instead, several Instagram Story posts from Steve Stoute (who was at the golf event with James, Hart, and Green) show that jokes were being cracked between the trio.

One post showed James and Hart sitting in a golf cart together. The 22-time NBA All-Star was joking about a poor shot Hart had made, with Hart claiming that it was too early to claim that he was having a bad day on the course.

There was some competition between James and Hart: At one point, James told Hart, “I’m up 3–0. I’m cooking you. You know how many teams came back from 3–0? None!”

“That’s not true. Didn’t you come back [from 3–0]?” Hart replied.

“3–1 bitch!” James said, referring to his legendary comeback with the Cleveland Cavaliers against Green’s Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.

It’s good to see that James is enjoying some leisure time before making his free agency decision.

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It took a few extra days, but we finally got our Mikel Brown Jr. vs Darius Acuff summer showdown. It was Nets as a unit, however, who delivered the box office production.

Brooklyn leapt out to a 22-6 advantage to the begin the game, forcing eight Sacramento turnovers in the contest’s first six minutes. Joshua Jefferson, who struggled in his first appearance as a Net over the weekend, got in on the action right after coming in off the bench.

Brown Jr. personally didn’t do any scoring to help to build that run, but facilitated on a few buckets. Despite having no points to match Acuff’s six in the first, he did come up with two assists.

His backcourt mate had him covered, however. Egor Dëmin led everyone with 16 first period points, shooting 3-3 from the field and 4-4 from the line. The sophomore, who’s starting to look a bit too good to be out there, had a near-perfect frame even outside of his shooting figures, pitching in three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and zero turnovers in 10 minutes.

Then, Brown Jr. started to get going. Acuff picked his pocket on the second period’s first possession, though Brown Jr. got back in time to block his subsequent shot in transition. MBJ walked the ball down the court right after, shook Acuff with a crossover, and dropped in a buttery midrange jumper. He finished with five points and two more assists in the period.

But while it was good to see Brown Jr. win round two, Drake Powell experienced a far larger and more cathartic redemptive arc. After beginning the summer 1-28 from the field between the California Classic and Vegas, he started the game 4-5 from three and a +11 at halftime.

Brooklyn eventually waltzed its way to a 56-34 lead at halftime, and it would’ve been even messier than that if not for Emanuel Sharp. The 45th overall pick out of Houston also went 4-5 from deep in the first half to lead his team with 14 points. Nobody else on Sacramento had more than eight at that point.

Dëmin, who put up a 20-piece last time out vs New York, had the same amount today by halftime while shooting 5-9 from the field. He continued to have Brown Jr.’s back all the way until the first half horn…

The dunking didn’t stop there, nor did the deposing of the Kings. The Nets continued to force Sacramento turnovers that led to easy points the other way. Brooklyn ended up earning 41 points off 28 Sacramento giveaways by the end of the night. About halfway there, Johnson, Dëmin, Brown Jr., and Wolf collaborated on what has to be the play of the summer so far for the team…

Helped by that sequence, Brooklyn went on a 13-0 run in the heart of the third to open up a 30+ point lead, and while that was enough to excuse Dëmin for all but one random possession in the fourth, Brown Jr., Powell, and a few others played on.

The former got a few points back on Acuff before sitting a few sequences later. Acuff still finished the game with the higher scoring total, although he had sacrifice his efficiency to get it. MBJ finished with 16/5/2, and four turnovers while shooting 6-11 from the field and 2-5 from deep. Acuff ended with 26 points, five assists, and five turnovers while shooting 9-18 from the field and 2-6 from deep.

The Nets did get a bit too rowdy in the that third period, picking up three technical fouls between the bench, Dëmin, and Powell, who got caught hanging on the rim for a tad too long after finishing off an alley-oop. Normally, you’d rather avoid seeing that. But hey, its summer. And again, you saw the Powell numbers before this one. He finished with 18 points, two steals, and a block after shooting 6-10 from the field and 4-7 from deep.

For the most part, the bench plus Johnson and Wolf took us the rest of the way. Sacramento never put any pressure on the lead as Ben Saraf’s methodical game and Johnson’s dominance on the glass kept the Kings on a leash anytime they tried to string together quick points. Saraf bounced back with 11 points, five assists, four steals, and zero turnovers on 3-4 shooting in 20 minutes played. Johnson, a game high +31, nabbed 13 points and nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal after shooting 5-7 from the field.

The Nets nabbed their second win in Las Vegas. The were five points shy of tying the league record for the most points scored in a Summer League game.

Final: Brooklyn Nets 115, Sacramento Kings 83

Sean Marks Speaks

Midway through the second period, Sean Marks also joined the broadcast for a brief interview where he touched on the the team’s young pool of talent., Julius Randle, and Jordi Fernández.

“Very excited about this group,” Marks said. “I mean, they’re young but they’re out there competing. They’re playing hard. They’re playing the right way. You see the ball moving around. These guys are competing — diving on the floor for loose balls. They want to compete for something, so that’s exciting.”

Marks later spoke specifically on Mikel Brown Jr., even giving us a bit of an idea of what he and the Nets look for in draft prospects.

“Obviously watching him, going back from from my days, watching him at the Hoop Summit, and then obviously Louisville, you see how he played there, and just how he approached his teammates,” Marks said. “I know he missed a few games, but then even in the games he was out, it was like, just watch him on the sidelines. Who’s interacting with? What do the coaches say about him? He’s a very cerebral player. He’s incredibly competitive, so that’s obviously going to translate to our level.”

It’s similar to what he said shortly after the Nets selected Brown Jr. last month.

“And what we’ve seen so far, not only in the California Classic Summer League, but in Vegas here, is just how he’s got those leadership characteristics, taken a lot of the guys under his wing, and spent time with them away from the court as well, which is really unique for a young man like that,” he added. Those things will translate to a really, really positive career.”

Marks also praised the borough of Brooklyn as a platform to raise up prospects like Brown Jr. He called it a “melting pot” before acknowledging its salt-of-the-earth reputation.

“It’s such a diverse borough that, to me, is exciting,” he said. “It’s a working-class borough. That’s that adds something to the culture of the locker room like we experienced with the Spurs. So, to me, that’s great. Everybody has their own story, and that’s it’s a worldly game now, which is what we’re just seeing right now on the on the court.”

He also shouted out Fernández and his coaching staff in that same regard.

“One of the things that’s really shined from Jordi and how he’s approached his first few years here has been just how honest he is with players,” Marks said. “Nobody ever questions, ‘Well, where do I stand? What are my expectations? What am I supposed to do?’ Jordy lets everybody know right off the get-go and and owns it. He’s honest with it, honest about himself, honest about the mistakes that he makes, and I think that takes a lot. That’s a special leader, and he’s been absolutely tremendous in these first couple years.“

Marks wrapped up things up soon after that, but not before sharing what he expects Julius Randle to bring to the Nets this season. Randle also shared his thoughts on coming to Brooklyn in a different Summer League game a few days before.

“I look at how enthusiastic Julius is about coming back here and you know being in New York again, and so forth. I think he’s he’s been on winning franchises. He understands what it takes. He’s a pro’s pro. He’s a powerful player — that’s something we’re looking for. We need a downhill player that can play in that position, which we didn’t have, so I think him being able to take some of these young guys under his wing, show what it means to be a real pro at this level, and lead flags out will be great. That’s exactly what we’re excited about with Julius.”

Erik Slater of ClutchPoints also caught up with Marks during the game to ask about a potential Michael Porter Jr. contract extension. He indicated there won’t be any news on that soon.

Next Up

Brooklyn will take a day off before playing in its final “regular season” Summer League game on Thursday afternoon vs the Houston Rockets. That’ll tip off at 4:30 p.m. EST. Depending on how the standings shake out, they’ll either move onto a four-team playoff or play one consolation game after that either on July 17, July 18 or July 19th.

• Box Score: Brooklyn Nets 115, Sacramento Kings 83 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 115, Sacramento Kings 83 (video) – NBA
• Nets showing off draft lottery combo they hope will be the future – Brain Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Julius Randle discusses adjusting to Brooklyn’s rebuild timeline – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – NetsWire

Now 41 years old, future Hall of Famer LeBron James has dominated free agency talk, with his decision on where to play next looming across the landscape. We haven’t heard too much about the Sixers’ pursuit, however, until now. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported the latest on Philly’s pursuit, which has involved all of their big name players.

McMenamin reported that the Sixers “have kept up their pursuit” of James, with their stars doing the recruiting themselves: “Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have all been in communication with James, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, with Maxey leading the charge.”

Maxey’s ties to James have been well documented. The two share the same representation, Klutch Sports, led by CEO Rich Paul. The latter two names, however, are somewhat of a development. Brown did go on stream and give a lighthearted recruiting pitch. Embiid, as many have recognized and discussed in the comments, has been quiet in the public eye and online. All three appear to be making a spirited effort to land James, who would slot right into the fifth starting spot alongside VJ Edgecombe and the trio.

Reports have stated that it’s “decision time” for James, and he will likely make his choice in the next few days. ESPN’s Shams Charania labeled the Sixers as a top-three suitor for James, along with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors have also been described as suitors to varying degrees.

We’ll likely know where James is headed soon, but this marks quite the trajectory change for the Sixers, who many held in a hopeless regard at the beginning of the summer. Even if James lands elsewhere, the message is clear: the best of the best recognize what the Sixers have in Maxey and this roster.

This summer, the Lakers underwent a massive roster overhaul, leaning towards youth and athleticism. While many players have left, including LeBron James, one who remains on the Lakers is his son, Bronny James.

Considering that the guard has developed well over the last few seasons and even had some strong shifts in the playoffs against the Rockets, it’s no surprise he remains part of this new Lakers roster.

Some people might still believe he will ultimately be traded to whatever team LeBron plays for, but according to a recent report by Dan Woike of The Athletic, that would be a foolish assumption.

While LeBron and Bronny playing together as teammates was one of the more incredible storylines following the 2024 NBA Draft, assumptions that the father and son staying linked going forward are false, according to league sources who were granted anonymity to discuss front-office strategies.

At every opportunity possible, the Lakers have spoken fondly of Bronny and supported his development. They’ve put in the time to get him to the level that he could be playable and effective in a playoff series. Not every player is capable of that, and hastily moving that guy would be unwise.

Bronny can help the Lakers and could be a great backup guard if he continues to improve. So far, he’s gotten better each year, so there is no reason to think he’s come even close to reaching his ceiling.

James was also in attendance at Las Vegas Summer League supporting the Lakers and, according to Woike’s reporting, is also participating in the team’s veteran minicamp.

That doesn’t sound like someone who is disengaged or a franchise that is ready to move on from a player.

Still, anything can happen, and it wouldn’t be a shock if Bronny is out of LA. But assuming he will be shouldn’t be people’s default thinking on this.

Bronny can play. The Lakers know it, and just because his father is gone doesn’t mean he can’t keep growing in Los Angeles.

So far, Bronny has been one of the few recent Lakers draft picks that’s worked out. They did well selecting him, and his contract for this upcoming season is guaranteed. Ideally, he stays with the Lakers and they can continue to benefit from his play while he’s on a modest deal.

With how strict the salary cap is, finding players like Bronny who can outplay their contract is very valuable, and keeping them is necessary for team success.

Bronny is related to LeBron and will always be connected to him, but he’s his own player. So, until we hear otherwise, fans should expect his career to continue with the purple and gold.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

LeBron James has clearly taken exception to a comment that Los Angeles-based sports media personality Chris Brockman made during a July 14 segment of the “Rich Eisen Show”.

“LeBron is gonna be a non-factor this season,” Brockman said, per an Instagram post from @nbaonespn. “Everyone needs to, like, ready themselves for that… He’s living in the past.

“Has LeBron been a factor in the playoffs in the last few seasons? If he goes to Miami, enjoy the play-in tournament,” Brockman added.

View this post on Instagram

LeBron then reposted the video clip of Brockman making these comments to his Instagram story on July 14. LeBron didn’t have any words, he just added, “”.

It’s clear that Brockman has some bias, presumably because of his affiliation with Los Angeles, since LeBron is leaving the Lakers. But suggesting that LeBron, who is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, will be a “non-factor” next season is an absurd take.

Brockman’s claim that LeBron hasn’t been a factor over the past several postseason for the Lakers is also ridiculous. Just this past playoff run, James averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. That’s objectively productive, and is enough of a reason for LeBron to laugh.

Perhaps Brockman is conflating LeBron’s individual performances with that of the Lakers more broadly, which still isn’t a fair thing to do.

Ultimately, these comments from Brockman are only going to give LeBron more motivation in advance of him signing with another team in free agency.

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LeBron James might be inching closer to a decision on where he'll play his 24th NBA season.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday, July 14 that " there's a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia," with the Cavaliers emerging as a top suitor for a potential third and final chapter to bookend James' storied career.

"My understanding is right now as we speak, LeBron James has the information that's needed to make a decision," Charania said on a segment of NBA Today. "It's decision time right now for LeBron James. Team presidents, GMs, they're all talking to Rich Paul here again this week; they've made all their pitches. LeBron James has listened to multiple voice notes delivered to him by Rich Paul from other owners and presidents from teams that are trying to give him their best pitch."

@ShamsCharania latest update on LeBron James' free agency 👑

“There's a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia." pic.twitter.com/0P3Cv0F93O

— ESPN (@espn) July 14, 2026

Other teams in the mix for James have included the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, with Front Office Sports reporting that several front office executives within the league expect James to sign with the Warriors over his hometown Cavs. The gambling industry has reflected that sentiment with the Warriors surging all the way up to odds-on favorites, according to BetMGM.

Charania also reported that the monetary value of the offers teams have made to James vary from mid-level exceptions to the league minimum.

"He's made it clear he wants to be a part of a team where he has a chance to compete for a championship," Charania said. "A new team environment and culture he can be a part of. … This is not a money driven decision."

With the LeBron James sweepstakes looking like it's down to two or three teams, here's the latest on the King's free agency odds:

Jon Horst might not be done wheeling and dealing, with reports that the Bucks are interested in restricted free agent Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets. According to The Stein Line, “the Bucks are joining the Clippers and Hawks on the list of teams trying to pry Watson away from the Nuggets via sign-and-trade.”

Watson, a 6’8” wing, is coming off a breakout season with the Nuggets in which he shouldered the heaviest offensive load of his young career, finishing the season averaging 14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 2.0 stocks (0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG) across 54 contests. He also had a career year from three-point range, converting 41% of his 3.6 attempts per game.

While Watson’s breakout was a blessing for the 2025-26 Nuggets, it has put them in a financial bind, as they look to avoid astronomical luxury tax penalties and navigate the restrictive second tax apron. This comes after they signed Christian Braun to a 5-year, $125m extension in October—a precedent Watson’s representatives are almost certain to cite in negotiations—only to see Braun regress during the season and then again in the playoffs.

Of course, the Nuggets won’t willingly let Watson go—he’s a restricted free agent after all—and are reportedly seeking significant compensation in any sign-and-trade scenario. According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, “sources maintain that the Nuggets are seeking compensation on par with what Utah received from the Lakers in their recent sign-and-trade swap that made Walker Kessler a Laker.” As a reminder, that trade saw the Lakers send unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, as well as first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, for Kessler.

While such a price suggests a move for Watson is unlikely for the Bucks, there are at least two interesting wrinkles that make it possible. One, Milwaukee has a massive $25.5m trade exception created in the Giannis trade, which also replenished their draft capital. Two—and much less grounded in reality—Watson is represented by none other than Klutch Sports, the same agency that helped secure Gary Trent Jr.’s lucrative new deal with the Bucks just a few days ago.

Yet, even with the trade exception, a deal would be difficult to execute. Denver is unlikely to take back salary in any deal and Milwaukee already has 17 players under contract. Still, Trader Jon has earned his nickname—and history tells us he likes an unexpected move.

What do you think, Bucks fans, should Horst pursue Watson? At nearly 24 years old, he aligns with Milwaukee’s youth movement, fits a positional need, and is yet to reach his prime. But is it worth the biscuit?

Wizards fans will have to wait until October to see the No. 1 pick in action again. 

After two games, Washington summer league coach  T.J. Sorrentine announced that AJ Dybantsa, the top pick in last month’s NBA draft, will be shut down for the rest of Summer League.

Dybantsa, 19, will miss the Wizards’ game Wednesday against the Clippers and any potential playoff games. 

Sorrentine’s decision isn’t surprising, as teams often shut down players after two Summer League games for precautionary reasons. Sophomores Tre Johnson and Will Riley were also shut down. 

In a 92-88 win over the Jazz and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson on Thursday, Dybantsa scored 27 points on 7-of-18 shooting while adding seven rebounds and two assists. 

On Sunday, he tallied 23 points in a win over the Kings despite shooting just 6-for-15 from the field and 1-for-6 from 3.

While he shot just 39 percent in two games, he displayed defensive potential by recording three blocks between the two contests. 

“It was just kind of testing grounds for me,” Dybantsa told ESPN after his final Summer League game Sunday. “Just trying to get used to the game speed, to the plays, to the players and my teammates and the physicality of the game.” 

Dybantsa was the first overall pick for good reason, as he led the NCAA in scoring in his lone year at BYU with 25.5 points per game. 

He had 40 points twice last year, and despite BYU’s season-ending loss to Texas in the NCAA Tournament, Dybantsa still racked up 35 points. 

Dybantsa joins a revamped Wizards squad looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. 

He will likely be a starter from Day 1 alongside veterans like Trae Young and Anthony Davis. 

Today is actually a doubleheader.

First, the Washington Mystics play the Toronto Tempo tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Watch on Monumental Sports Network. Then, the Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls in Summer League an hour later or so. Go DC!

Jazz guard Trey Alexander was stretchered off the court on Monday with a rib injury in a scary scene in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

The former Creighton player was driving to the basket in the fourth quarter against the Bulls when he made contact with 2026 No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson, tossing the ball toward the hoop with just over two minutes left.

Alexander, 23, quickly dropped to the floor behind the basket, clutching his side, visibly in a lot of pain.

He was tended to by medical trainers for multiple minutes before rolling off the court and onto a stretcher.

The Jazz, on Tuesday, said Alexander suffered a rib contusion.

Alexander signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $678,882, $91,000 of which was guaranteed, with the Jazz after spending the 2025-26 season with the Pelicans.

The guard played nine games in New Orleans, averaging 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 12.3 minutes per game.

His best game came in an April loss to the Timberwolves when he scored 16 points.

The 23-year-old went undrafted in 2024 after spending three seasons with Creighton, where he averaged 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists before joining the Nuggets’ G League team.

He was named G League Rookie of the Year for 2024-25 and also earned 24 appearances for the Nuggets that same year.