TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 28: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After handily defeating a shorthanded Magic team, the Raptors are gearing up to square off for the second game of the season series, with more on the line than before.
After mutilating Orlando by 30 points, Toronto should feel confident with them as their first opponent of Group Play, which decides who’s able to enter the seeding of the tournament bracket. The Raptors made the Knockout Round last year, but were defeated in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions, the New York Knicks.
If the Raptors’ last game was any indication, getting back to the Knockout Round looks to be extremely likely this year, as their lineups of opponents will be the Orlando Magic, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons, and finally, the Brooklyn Nets.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 16: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons goes up for a dunk against Alijah Martin #55 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on October 16, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The only team in the group that appears to be near the calibre of Toronto in this group is the Detroit Pistons, who have the potential to give the Raptors a lot of trouble with their centre play. Other than that, the Raptors should steamroll the other three matchiups, even without Kawhi Leonard.
Toronto has only two players missing tonight’s game, those being Leonard, and centre Nate Bittle. Bittle is a rookie who has not yet seen NBA playing time, and seeing how he’ll slot into the Raptors’ rotation will be interesting, as Rajaković has noted that “everything is on the table” for players at that position.
Orlando’s injury situation is quite another story. They’re without five players, a number of them starters, most notably Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. Jonathan Isaac is also sidelined, as well as forwards Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson.
While victory is never guaranteed, the Raptors should take this game as an opportunity to bolster their new lineup with Ja’Kobe Walter starting, giving the players more reps with the shooter now that he’s playing an even larger role on the team. As well, this game will hopefully be the one in which Jakob Poeltl is able to demonstrate his capabilities.
His coach has done a lot to stand beside Poeltl throughout a very difficult start to the season for the big man, whose offensive production has plummeted, in large part as a result of his attempting less than two field goals per game this season. Evidently, the team is sticking by their guy, but this means that whatever the reason for Poeltl not taking more shots — coaching schemes, anxiety, or otherwise — needs to be overcome.
Outside of the horrific zero-point showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Scottie Barnes has looked like an All-Star this season, averaging more than 20 points and already having notched his first double-double of the season against the Washington Wizards.
His massive 360 dunk last game has gone viral, with more than 300,000 views on the NBA’s Twitter page alone, and it’s brief moments like these that remind you that Barnes is 25, a two-time All-Star, and in year six of his NBA career. The Raptors have a *guy* that’s not named Kawhi Leonard, who is (excluding the Wolves game) putting together an impressive start to the season.
The Magic game tonight gives the Raptors the opportunity to tighten up their new lineup ahead of a three game road trip mostly in the Western Conference, where the Raps will get their first look at this year’s Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers. Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder made the show “The Rehearsal” before the film “You Can See Everything,” and much like him, the Toronto Raptors will have an opportunity to rehearse before they have to see everything California and Colorado has in store for them.
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 6: Grant Nelson #16 and Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 6, 2026 at Spectrum Center 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets have no shortage of young players to develop this season.
Between the Flatbush 5, now in their second season, and their three rookies from June’s NBA draft, Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, and Tyler Bilodeau, the organization has drafted eight players over the past two years, including seven first-round picks.
Eight of their 15 players on standard NBA contracts remain on their rookie deal. Bilodeau, the second-round rookie, is on a two-way deal, while 2023 first-rounder Noah Clowney, in a prove-it season, is Brooklyn’s eighth NBA player on a rookie contract. (Clowney is younger than Jefferson, Bilodeau and Danny Wolf.)
For the second straight year, the Nets are the NBA’s youngest team with a median age of 24.3 years, and the only team younger than their current squad over the past 25 years was Brooklyn’s group last season.
That youth movement extends beyond the organization’s regular-season roster. About 25 miles east of the Barclays Center, the Nets have another group of young players on Long Island, looking to develop their games and eventually land a consistent role in the NBA.
Bilodeau is a part of that pod alongside fellow two-way player Grant Nelson, who returns for his second season with the organization after patellar tendinitis cut short his 2025-26 campaign. He didn’t even have the opportunity to fully prove his value, as he found himself on a minutes restriction even when he was on the floor.
At Long Island’s Media Day on Thursday ahead of their November 6 opener, both Bilodeau and Nelson spoke with NetsDaily about their development and what it will take to eventually establish themselves as contributors with Brooklyn. As two-way players, Nelson and Bilodeau can each play up to 50 NBA games.
Bilodeau told us that he’s already seen growth since Summer League, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
“I feel like I’ve improved so much since Summer League,” the second-round rookie said. “I think a big improvement of mine has been defensively, trusting myself a little more, and getting used to guarding the perimeter. I didn’t do much of that last year.”
That’s encouraging, because the biggest concern regarding Bilodeau’s game entering the draft was his defense. At 6’9” and 230 pounds, he certainly has the frame to be a serviceable option on that end of the floor, but as he alluded to, there wasn’t much of an emphasis on him guarding the perimeter during his final year at UCLA.
The shooting ability is there. During his final NCAA season with the Bruins, he shot a whopping 46.4% from deep, topping this year’s draft class and leading all Big 10 players. His defense, though, was the main reason he fell to Brooklyn with the No. 43 overall pick.
More importantly, though, the Nets already have enough young players who need the ball in their hands, and that’s not the best path for a second-rounder to find minutes, especially on Brooklyn’s current squad.
Much of his attention seems to be going towards improving as an all-around player.
“Really, I feel like just improving on all aspects of my game,” he said.
Bilodeau also acknowledged that the transition from college basketball to the professional level will come with some adjustments to his play style.
“It’s a different game,” the UCLA product said. “The NBA is a different game, so I think making that transition from college to this level means just working on all those things.
While he’s with Long Island, Bilodeau should have plenty of opportunites to work through those adjustments and become a more well-rounded player. Long Island and Brooklyn operate with an eerily similar system and terminology, making it much easier for players to transition from the NBA to the G League. That’s especially valuable for a young player like Bilodeau.
“We’re one group. We’re one organization. Jordi [Fernández] preaches it all the time. We’re a club. We have a club system here, basically,” Long Island’s first-year head coach Shawn Swords told ND on Thursday.
The same goes for Nelson. While he is in a different spot, having already spent a year with the organization, their goals remain the same: eventually prove their worth on the NBA floor.
While injuries hampered Nelson last year, he spent much of his rehabilitation working on his shooting mechanics, in particular, which he discussed at Brooklyn’s Media Day last month.
Speaking with ND at Long Island’s Media Day, the Alabama product explained why he emphasized growing that facet of his game.
“I think it’s extremely important with the direction that the game has been going in,” he said. “I mean, I think it’s just adding another part to my game, being versatile in that way. Most bigs can shoot now. So being able to do that, I think it will definitely help me out in my career.”
At 7’0”, Nelson is a fascinating player, largely because of his size and athleticism. Now, his shooting could become an asset, too.
Up in Brooklyn, the Nets lack an established rim protector and established interior defense. Nelson has an opportunity to make an impression in those areas, especially with his size and mobility. His mindset, though, remains to continue developing on Long Island. The goal, however, is NBA minutes.
“Obviously, I’m trying to do what I can here in Long Island to become the best player I can be. And hopefully get some minutes with Brooklyn,” The 24-year-old Nelson told ND.
Nelson still knows that there’s room for improvement. At the end of the day, he’s on a two-way deal for a reason: to keep growing and blossoming as a player.
“I’m not the player that I want to be yet,” he said.
That’s also the mentality Long Island’s general manager Matt MacDonald and the organization are looking for in their players, whether they’re on assignments, two-way guys, or standard G League players.
“We work hard here; we want good people,” he said on Thursday. “We want guys that are talented and have a chance to get to the next level.”
There’s plenty of basketball ahead for both Nelson and Bilodeau, but they also have plenty to prove. As the Nets continue building toward the future, discovering diamonds in the rough like these players highlights the true value of an organization’s development system, and Brooklyn has a strong reputation for theirs.
Long Island opens its season on November 6 in Greensboro before its home opener on the 13th vs. the College Paek Skyhawks.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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
Every time the Knicks take the floor in the 2026-27 season, they will do so as the hunted. They won just about every prize you could win last season, meaning they’ll never get a game without a bit of edge from an opponent.
Things won’t truly get real until the postseason for the real title defense, but the Knicks did hang a second banner to hang forever at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
That’s right. It’s time for the NBA Cup.
Last year, as an appetizer for June’s dramatics, the Knicks went 3-1 in group play, ultimately winning East Group C via head-to-head tiebreaker. They then took down the Raptors in Toronto, the Magic in Vegas, and came back from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take home the NBA Cup after consecutive years of losing in the quarterfinals.
This year, they’ll face by far their hardest path to getting out of group play for the fourth consecutive year. Adam Silver has stacked the deck with a ridiculously competitive Group B that will be a war to get through. Even the wild card, which the Knicks have used to advance in the past, will be tough with likely few opportunities to run up the point differential.
Still, the Knicks are champs until they aren’t, even in a midseason tournament. Let’s meet the contenders:
East Group B
Philadelphia 76ers (10/30, 7:30, Prime Video)
Tonight’s Cup opener in the City of Brotherly Love will be the Knicks’ second crack at the makeshift superteam that bested them on Opening Night in a back-and-forth affair.
The Sixers are one of those teams that I question how seriously they’re going to take the NBA Cup. Sure, there are some big measuring-stick games in this group, but with a lineup that they will be heavily load-managing throughout the season, one wonders if they’re going to take a condensed calendar that will require additional travel and even an extra game at the end of it. We saw how it burned out the Knicks last year.
To start the year, Philly is 4-1 with a very strange combination of a mediocre offense and… the best defense in basketball? What sense does that make? They’ve been healthy, only missing Joel Embiid and LeBron James for a single game on the dueling ends of a back-to-back. Despite playing Embiid for 39 minutes on Wednesday, he’s not on the injury report for Friday night.
While the Knicks might not care about the Cup anymore, it would behoove them to get revenge on Opening Night and not have to wait until February for another crack at these guys. We saw it with Detroit last year; the last thing we need is a year-long narrative of one team having our number.
Indiana Pacers (11/13, 7:00, Prime Video)
When the Knicks played the Pacers last season, it didn’t feel like the vibe of a rekindled rivalry between two teams that had played in consecutive postseasons. That was because Indiana was taking a voluntary gap year while Tyrese Haliburton rehabbed from an Achilles tear, managing injuries all season long and slipping to 19-63. Thankfully, it wasn’t rewarded in the lottery when they slipped to No. 5 and gave the pick to the Clippers.
That trade with the Clips did get them a certified big man that will swallow up boards in Ivica Zubac, someone who will be a tough cookie for Karl-Anthony Towns when these two teams finally face off in a heated atmosphere for the first time in almost two years.
The only problem? It doesn’t sound like Haliburton will be at the party.
He recently suffered a hamstring injury that will leave him out for at least two weeks. This game was just 16 days after that diagnosis, meaning the odds are slim that he’ll return based on what we know right now. That’ll diminish what we see, but we’re all aware of what Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell can do for this team.
Indiana’s started the year off to an uneven 2-3 start, but Nembhard and Pascal Siakam are more than capable of shouldering the load in the coming weeks. I doubt they’ll be as special offensively as we’ve been accustomed to seeing without Haliburton, but they won’t be a pushover.
Going undefeated in this group will be hard, so this might be the Knicks’ best chance to pad their point differential. But to do that, the Knicks will need a full 48 minutes.
Cleveland Cavaliers (11/25, 7:30, MSG)
There are plenty of playoff rematches in this group. One of them is this Eastern Conference rematch the day before Thanksgiving at MSG, the site of the soul-crushing Game 1 comeback that killed the Cavs.
They’re off to an interesting 3-2 start, one that involves getting out to big leads every game, only to choke them immediately. They blew a 29-point lead to Philly, nearly blew a 20-point lead to Brooklyn, and had to rally late to beat Washington. The vibes are low there, if not just because nobody trusts Kenny Atkinson and James Harden has been abhorrent to start the year.
It’s hard to get a read on this game because the regular-season Knicks and the playoff Knicks are entirely different. It’s a team you expect to win, but we’re far enough out that we need to see what the situations look like.
Miami Heat (11/27, 7:00, Prime Video)
The Knicks’ 0-3 start got heavily publicized, but the Heat’s 0-4 start somehow made bigger waves after the massive offseason trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The fit just looks clunky. He’s too similar to Bam Adebayo both offensively and defensively, which pushes Miami’s longest-tenured player to the periphery. That just can’t happen when your other scoring options are Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins. The defense will round into form (maybe?), but this is just a bleak offensive outlook.
That said, they could match up well against the Knicks, given their lack of size.
OG Anunoby and Towns are good, but they can’t play all game. Towns especially is extremely prone to getting in foul trouble, which is a disaster against Giannis. James Wiseman and/or Andre Drummond will be crucial to negating their paint advantage enough for the Knicks’ clear shooting advantage.
If this game is meaningful after good enough results in the first three games, it’s not a place I think the Knicks can get point differential out of. They’d need to just need a win. Beating Erik Spoelstra’s crew in Miami has always been hard for this crew.
The Rest of the East
Group A
Pistons Raptors Magic Bucks Nets
This could be a friskily fun group.
The Pistons are 4-1 with just that lone loss to the Knicks and feel like the favorite here. As we saw on Tuesday, things can get spooky outside of Cade Cunningham, and they’re without Jalen Duren for at least the first game, but Paul Reed has been more than capable in his absence.
The Raptors are also 4-1, but have a much bleaker outlook without Kawhi Leonard for the next few weeks. Their viability in this group will rely on Scottie Barnes’ offensive consistency. He’s gone from dropping 25 to dropping… zero at times. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley look good!
Orlando is 1-3 with their lone win over the Knicks, but they’re going to be without Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero for the foreseeable future. This will likely not be their year after a trip to the semifinals last year.
The same can be said for the Bucks, who are just very underwhelming with Kyle Kuzma-led hoops. The Nets will put up a big fight with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. capable of going off for 30 a night, but they’re not good enough defensively nor deep enough to have a real shot.
Group C
Celtics Hawks Hornets Bulls Wizards
The Celtics will be the definitive favorite to come out of the group, especially with Jayson Tatum looking like an early MVP candidate. Their three-point shooting is enough to carry them through a regular season, but can they figure out what’s up with Mitchell Robinson? He looks like a shell of himself.
Atlanta ran back most of the group that pushed the Knicks to six games last year, but added a bunch of defense in Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins. They’re healthy, play with enough grit, and have the talent to sneak their way into the knockout round.
The Hornets are… better off without LaMelo? Despite injuries knocking out Kon Knueppel and Coby White, they’ve looked impressive to start the year under a new nucleus of Naz Reid and Brandon Miller. With Knueppel due back for the bulk of NBA Cup play, could their dynamic offense get them back in the saddle?
As we saw in a scare on Wednesday night, the Bulls have the ability to be frisky. Caleb Wilson has shown signs of brilliance, Norm Powell can score 35 on any given night, and they’ve gotten some damn good shot quality even if they aren’t always falling. They probably won’t do much, but in a four-game sample, anything is possible.
The Wizards have their Big 3 healthy: AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis, but they haven’t played enough to tell if they’re a true threat. I lean no, as of now.
A Quick West Check
West Group A
Nuggets Rockets Suns Mavericks Jazz
There are a lot of good teams in this group, but the Rockets look by far the best to start the year. If they stay healthy, they should have no problem. Dallas can steal some games with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, but the outlook for the Suns and Jazz is bleaker. Utah’s injury bug is killing them, as Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss all of group play.
West Group B
Thunder Timberwolves Clippers Pelicans Grizzlies
Are… are the Grizzlies the favorite? They’re 5-0 entering group play, while the two contenders in this group will be without key pieces. Anthony Edwards is likely done until the New Year, as is Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams for OKC. The Clippers and Pelicans are two of the worst teams in basketball, so the unlikely underdog in Memphis might actually do this.
West Group C
Spurs Lakers Blazers Warriors Kings
There’s a clear hierarchy here. The Spurs are the favorites; the Lakers are a Luka Doncic explosion away from winning this whole damn thing; the Blazers are extremely frisky and could make noise, and both the Warriors and Kings are dead in the water. O/U 100 FGA for Darius Acuff Jr. in group play.
Predictions
East Group A: Give me the Pistons to win the group and the Raptors to come in second, but miss the wild card.
East Group B: The Knicks will not defend their cup title. There’s so much intensity with every game, not just in this group but league-wide, as the hunted. This feels like something that the regular-season merchants will succeed with, so congrats to the Cavs. This group will be cannibalized, so no wild card here
East Group C: Boston is the easy pick to win the group, but I see the Hornets somehow finding a way to steal the wild card. They’ll win a game against the Bulls by 40 and pad the point differential with that offense, especially with Knueppel back.
West Group A: The Rockets are a unit right now.
West Group B: I don’t know what way this is going to go with how diminished OKC is. Screw it, lt’s go with the Grizzlies.
West Group C: Spurs win the group, Blazers take the wild card via tiebreaker over the Lakers after a thrilling overtime win.
Quarterfinals: In the East, the No. 1 seed Pistons grind down the plucky Hornets at home, while the Cavs stun the Celtics in Boston due to three-point variance. In the West, the top-seeded Rockets blow out the Blazers in Houston, while the Spurs host and beat the Thunder.
Semifinals: The Pistons and Cavs fight hard in a big playoff rematch, but it goes the same way with the Cavs going to the finals. Meanwhile, the Rockets take down the Spurs at home.
Finals: At Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Cavs will be able to operate with an essential home game. Unfortunately, as usual, the lights will be too bright. The Rockets win the 2026 NBA Cup, with Fred VanVleet scoring NBA Cup MVP.
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Two chill surfers unknowingly struck gold when they met Knicks star Jalen Brunson through a mutual friend while on the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2022.
These two chill surfers picked the right time to ride the Jalen Brunson wave.
Twin brothers Alex and Mike Faherty, who grew up in Spring Lake on the Jersey Shore, founded Faherty Brand in 2013 and have turned it into a $300 million success.
Things took a turn when they met Brunson through a mutual friend while at the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2022.
Mike Faherty, Jalen Brunson and Alex Faherty wearing the Brunson x The Magic in the Work collection. Faherty Brand
The pair and Brunson — who spent a portion of his childhood in South Jersey and has a home in Margate — hit it off and the company, which is inspired by the brothers’ coastal upbringing, signed the point guard as a brand ambassador not long after he inked his first deal with the Knicks in July 2022.
That came after Brunson spent his first four NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks primarily as Luka Doncic’s backup. Since coming to New York, Brunson has become one of the biggest stars in the league.
“I’m a huge lifetime Knick fan and when the Knicks signed Jalen, we knew that he was going to be such a difference maker to the team,” Alex, who is the CEO of Faherty Brand, said in an interview with The Post.
“[Before working with Brunson] we’d been thinking about and talking about… that it would be great to sort get our inroads into sport because my brother and I are lifetime athletes and Villanova fans.”
Brunson won two NCAA national championships with Villanova in 2016 and ’18 before heading to the NBA.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
Alex played football at Yale and went on to work in private equity. Mike, a former Division III basketball player at Washington University, was a fashion designer for Ralph Lauren.
Their respective knowledge in finance and fashion was a solid foundation for the brand.
Alex explained that he and Mike, who is the brand and chief creative officer, bonded with Brunson over sports and their love of New York.
“[Brunson] knew the [Faherty] brand and liked the gear,” Alex said, adding that their families have also gotten along well. “For both of us, we wanted to get to know each other first.. where it’s not just this transactional thing, it’s also friendship. I think it was a great fit.
Larry Johnson, Alex Faherty and Jalen Brunson on the set of a commercial for Faherty Brand. Faherty Brand
“… We’ve had some fun content shoots and Jalen and Mike have had a 3-point contest and obviously Jalen wins every time.”
Things quickly progressed into a successful business relationship across three NBA seasons.
During that time Brunson has become the king of New York after he helped the Knicks capture the NBA title for the first time in 53 years.
Brunson unanimously won the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after the Knicks won four of five against the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Faherty Brand made Knicks playoff gear throughout the team’s historic run — and decided before the NBA Finals to pull the trigger on championship gear, which quickly sold out.
Entering their fourth year as partners, Alex explained that Brunson is involved in the details of his Faherty tunnel fits, among other pieces he gives approval for.
“[People don’t realize] how funny Jalen is,” Alex said. “He’s a fun guy to be around. We did a commercial with him where he was the employee of the month at a Faherty store and [Knicks alum] Larry Johnson was a part of it too. It came out great, we cut it right before playoffs.
“… He’s definitely become more fashionable and he’s giving his input on things he wants to wear in the tunnel. We’re one of the brands that he talks to for that. And we want to be making sure we design the right beanie for him every year, because that’s his go-to look.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NBAE via Getty Images
“We do graphic tees and hoodies with his saying on it, and he approves all of it. He’s very hands on with making sure he likes it.”
Faherty Brand is a $300 million business with more than 95 stores throughout the country, including 14 brick-and-mortars in the New York-metro area, and one in France, as well as a robust online business.
“The Jalen collection that we do, the ‘Magic is in the Work’ collection, has been a huge hit,” Alex said. “… It was a way for us to take, you know, some of our more fashionable styles and incorporate vintage NBA into it. Obviously there’s so much team gear out there and a lot of it looks the same. So we really wanted to take our premium higher-end fabrics and styles and bring it into the NBA.”
Alex emphasized that the company had longevity because his family helped get it off the ground.
In the early stages of the business, Alex’s wife, Kerry, oversaw impact initiatives, and the twins’ mother, Ninie, designed the interiors of the brand’s stores.
“My mom’s retired now, and my wife is an advisor,” Alex said, adding that Mike designs their stores. “Mike and I kind of run it day to day.”
The business has outgrown the brothers in a good way, and they now have employees across the country.
Faherty now has a full NBA license, due partly to the success of a strong relationship with Brunson.
The brand will be launching products featuring 16 other NBA teams this year after starting with just a local license with the Knicks four years ago.
Faherty recently obtained a Rangers license.
They also just launched a partnership with the Giants for an exclusive collection at MetLife Stadium on game days, and it’s available in tri-state Faherty stores.
The Warriors are 2-3 and looking to pick up their third straight win when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Friday night. But the team is navigating the early part of the season without one of their key players, big man Kristaps Porziņģis.
Porziņģis missed all of training camp after it was revealed that he is dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that affects his heart. Golden State is getting by without him and moving forward. But when his absence was first announced, it caught the team off guard.
“We were definitely caught off guard by it in that we were in communication with him over the summer, and it seemed like everything was in a good place right up until training camp,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “And then obviously things went south. Since the start of camp, when he was not here and we had to move forward, I haven’t given it a whole lot of thought to be honest, because we’re just busy. We have to take every single day and get our team ready for the next game.
“The days are full, the schedule is full, and so I check in with Kristaps occasionally to see how he’s doing. But we’re moving forward, and that’s all we can do. I like our young bigs, Graham [Ike] and Charles [Bassey]. We’re excited about playing those guys, and the opportunity that they’re going to receive, but everything else is not my jurisdiction. That’s Mike’s [Dunleavy] and the front office’s, and I just come to practice and I look forward to coaching the guys every day. We’re competing and seeing what we can put together.”
"We have to take every single day and get our team ready for the next game. I check in with Kristaps occasionally to see how he's doing but we're moving forward and that's all we can do."
Porziņģis provides a big boost when healthy, though. In 15 games for the Warriors last season, he averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, giving the franchise a true big man, something they have lacked in recent seasons. He was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in February in exchange for guard Buddy Hield and forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Golden State is 2-3 so far this season without him, relying heavily on players like Yaxel Lendeborg to fill the void. Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft, is averaging over 22 points through five games and is climbing considerably in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds. If the Warriors can keep getting strong performances from players like him, they will be alright even if Porziņģis does not return.
Steve Kerr often has come under fire for how he uses rookies in the Warriors’ system.
Trying to integrate themselves within a motion-based offense that revolves around Steph Curry, many of Golden State’s recent draft picks have failed to earn Kerr’s trust or make an immediate impact.
Through five games, Lendeborg leads the Warriors in minutes and rebounds, while ranking second in points per game behind only Curry with 22.6.
During an interview with 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Thursday, Kerr described how Lendeborg has already carved out a major role.
“That first preseason game, he only took a few shots in Hawaii against the [Los Angeles] Clippers, and we all kind of talked to him, Steph, [Draymond Green], coaches like, ‘Hey, you got to be aggressive for us,’ and then all of a sudden, a couple preseason games where you see him attacking and scoring what he’s capable of doing,” Kerr said. “It’s like, all right, this guy is a little different, and we are now in the point where we’re recognizing we got to build a big part of the offense around him.”
“And then all of a sudden, a couple of preseason games where you see him attacking and scoring and what he’s capable of doing, and it’s like, alright, this guy’s a little different. We are now at the point where we recognize it. We gotta build a big part of the offense around… pic.twitter.com/qRV8XR02oR
Kerr compared Lendeborg’s skill set to that of star Jimmy Butler, currently recovering from a torn ACL, explaining how his strengths complement the Warriors’ offense when Curry needs a break.
“I think the similarity is the brute strength and the ability to create a shot for himself or his teammates,” Kerr said. “That’s a unique skill set in the NBA. You pay top dollar for that skill set. Jimmy, when he arrived, changed our team… and we changed our style a little bit. We slowed things down. We isolated him. We got him into spots and worked on our spacing. And Yaxel is having a similar impact in that, when Steph’s not on the floor or is tired, we can go to Yaxel in isolation, and he can create stuff for us, so he’s a really a big weapon for us.”
The 24-year-old is shooting 35.5 percent from distance and 64.3 percent at the rim, giving Golden State a well-rounded offensive weapon just five games into his NBA career.
Kerr praised Lendeborg’s mentality, mentioning that the rookie was “despondent” after Wednesday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he had 26 points and nine rebounds but also put up seven turnovers.
“We’re going to need him if we’re going to be really good,” Kerr said. “We’re going to need him to grow and mature more quickly than we would ask other rookies. But I think he’s capable of it because at 24… he’s just got a really mature game, and now it’s a matter of just figuring out the NBA.”
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 25: Devin Booker meets with Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the First Round of the 2015 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Birthday, Devin Booker! Friday marks his 30th trip around the Sun. For most of the last 12 years, the Suns have been rotating around him. Fans have shared the rise, endured frustrating times together, enjoyed unbelievable moments, and lived an NBA Finals run. That run was SO close, up 2 games to nil for a title.
Phoenicians have enjoyed him as a pillar in the community and a true face of the franchise. Nearly every true Suns fan at some point has closed their eyes and pictured him hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy with purple and orange confetti falling from the rafters. We want this for him. For us.
In recent years, frustration murmurs have grown louder, with playoff losses and stretches where his level of play disappoints. I’m unashamedly a superfan, wearing his shoes and other name-branded sportswear. Yet I found myself coming down hard in my game recap after the most recent game. Our relationship with sports stars, much like family or friends, can get complicated. In this article, I’ll focus mostly on what he’s accomplished in those 30 years, with a peek into his role now and in the years to come.
Devin Armani Booker was born October 30, 1996. With DNA and motivation from his dad, a former All-Big 8 player, he quickly ascended as a youth player. At 15, he attended (and got quite a bit of attention) at LeBron James’ youth camp.
From there, he became a freshman 6th man on a 38-1 University of Kentucky team that included nine future NBA players headlined by Karl Anthony Towns. Then Suns GM Ryan McDonough selected him 13th in the 2015 NBA draft. It didn’t take long for him to make a name in the NBA, scoring 13.8 points per game as an 18-year-old rookie. The roster was thin during those first few seasons, but kept developing and improving. As a 20-year-old, he dropped 70 on the Celtics.
Those first four seasons all included 58 or more losses. Devin infused hope with his scoring (by then up to over 26 points a night) and basketball skills. With the arrival of a veteran point guard (Rickey Rubio) and a motivational coach (Monty Williams), and several promising young players, the COVID season represented a turning of the tide with a run in “the bubble” epitomized by this iconic shot by Booker.
Booker was becoming a true star. With Chris Paul’s arrival, his game and the team’s took that leap. In 2020-21, he led a playoff run that included four 40-point games and a trip to the NBA Finals. The next year, Book averaged 27/5/5, and the team went 64-18! That may have been the high point on his stock. He was voted first-team All-NBA and finished fourth in the MVP voting. After an opening-round playoff series win, Phoenix was ousted via a blowout 123-90 by the Dallas Mavericks. While that loss was a team effort, Devin shot 3-14 and got his first significant round of criticism.
He continued to contribute strong play at 27.8 points per game in 2022-23. In February of that season, Mat Ishbia took ownership of the team and immediately made the blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. From KD’s layup line injury in his first game until the end of that era, the vision was never fully realized, but there were moments. In a full season together, Booker put up a career-high 9.2 win shares in spite of missing 14 games. The two stars teamed up and played key roles on the 2024 USA Basketball Gold Medal team, with Booker famously offering the “I’ll do it” quote in reference to doing all the little things on that team.
In February of 2025, he became the Suns’ all-time leading scorer. The team unraveled under Mike Budenholzer in 2024-25 to finish 10 games under .500, leading to a massive trade that sent KD packing and brought us to much of the current roster construct, including starters Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and youth in Khaman Maluach/Rasheer Fleming. That core plus several excellent additions flourished early last season under new head coach Jordan Ott, and Booker continued his high-scoring ways at 26.1 points per game, drawing a career-high 8.1 free throws per game as well.
In spite of a drop in three-point percentage these past two years, Book has always been a high-level scorer. He’s also been an excellent playmaker, soon to rank third in Suns history in assists behind two legendary pure point guards (Steve Nash, Kevin Johnson). What a career for someone who is 30! Devin, you’ve been a source of great pride, avoiding off-court embarrassments, saying the right things, giving countless special moments, connecting with fans, and initiating his Starting Five Foundation in 2019 as a significant way to give back to the community.
Thus, the ghost of “Booker Past” shines a far brighter picture than what Scrooge saw in the Christmas classic. What about “Booker Present”? The current roster is searching for its mojo. We’re only 3 games in, but there were troubling signs in the preseason. John Voita wrote about how the roster around Devin is not currently ideal:
Problems are magnified with two starting-level centers out with injury. Three games are indeed not a significant sample. There are troubling signs. Booker has played under 8 coaches and with well over 100 teammates — some good, some definitely not. Through all of that, he has consistently put up high-scoring seasons and good passing statistics. I believe that will continue in the balance of the 2026-27 season. He seems to play his best when the team has what is called, in technical jargon, “good vibes”.
Between teammates working on their weaknesses, adapting, and Coach Ott showing his abilities as a fixer and motivator, those good vibes are still attainable in the next 79 games. What we want to see (and we don’t see it all behind the scenes) is Devin asserting himself as a star and franchise icon to lead a change in those “vibes”.
Finally, what about “Future Booker”? The team awarded all of the accomplishments above with a contract that runs through this year plus three more (~$264 million in that span). The money is a certainty. It’s extremely unlikely the Suns will move him.
DARKO is a model proven to be the most accurate single metric of player value per a HoopsHype GM survey. It also projects remaining longevity of a career and compares the trend for the 10 most similar players. Booker’s DARKO?
It suggests the break-even on longevity is 8 more seasons. In terms of value, Booker peaked through 2024 at roughly a +4 rating, is currently at a +2, and projects a +1 by the end of that contract. That means he’d still contribute 1 point per 100 possessions better than an average NBA player.
This aging progression has exceptions: Steve Nash actually improved in DARKO while 32-34 years old! If the trend holds for Devin, Phoenix has a limited window to capitalize on his star abilities. That means making this current roster work, or trying one more big move.
Either way, let’s celebrate Devin for all that he’s done and get the good mojo going for more magic in his thirties.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 14: Kasparas Jakucionis #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks in action against the Chicago Bulls during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 14, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the inaugural Fawning or Warning?, a new fortnightly feature where I muse on all things Milwaukee Bucks, however explicitly or tangentially related, and determine if they’re worth fawning over or if they’re a warning sign of something going awry.
KPJ, roster building
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 05: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Milwaukee Bucks talks with Kevin Porter Jr. #7 in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My initial reaction to Kevin Porter Jr.’s axing was a combination of surprise and frustration. In fact, I had pencilled in Jon Horst as the inaugural Winners & Sinners sinner, penning the following before deciding against it:
Jon Horst. Yes, the Bucks were in a (self-imposed) difficult roster crunch prior to the season. And, yes, Kevin Porter Jr. opting in to his contract earlier in the offseason might not have been part of their plans. But to let a guy who was arguably the best player on the team last year, who has immense talent—perhaps the most on the team, and who Bucks fans still saw as the seventh-most-important player on the team go for nothing stings. To do that when there were much more logical options—ones fans wanted—makes it all the worse. Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert, and their expiring contracts sure better bring something meaningful back at the trade deadline.
Since then, thanks in no small part to all of your commentary, I’ve come to rationalise the move—and now actually support it. For one, as a one-year, $5.4m deal, Porter’s contract was a relatively easy one to cut. From an ownership perspective, this is an easier pill to swallow than, say, LeVert’s $14.8m deal. From a GM perspective, despite Porter certainly being the better talent and more productive player at this stage in their respective careers, it also makes sense. Porter clearly wasn’t a desired commodity league-wide, otherwise he would’ve been traded (he also probably wouldn’t have exercised his player option in the offseason). Moreover, LeVert’s larger salary is the better trade chip, either paired with other assets—players or picks—in matching for a desirable player who could help the Bucks now, or in taking on a “bad” contract to bring in assets.
The on-court ramifications are also favourable. Because of his talent, retaining Porter would’ve all but demanded playing him and that wouldundoubtedly come at the expense of younger players who are more likely part of Milwaukee’s future core, namely Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakučionis. So, cutting him has afforded them meaningful developmental minutes. Moreover, it’s spared Taylor Jenkins from the difficult decision to play Burries and Jakučionis over Porter (or vice versa) altogether, instead enabling him to focus on cultivating the sort of relationships that are essential for a young team trying to instill a “Compete. Together. Get better” mantra. Of course, LeVert’s role in this part is also pivotal. As someone on the downside of his career, he can more easily be given—and accept—a back seat as an end-of-the-bench veteran to help guide these players. Kudos to him for that.
Bigger picture, does cutting Porter signal a philosophical shift within the franchise? Faults of yesteryear—heck, even (or especially) this year—aside, cutting Porter might suggest a renewed roster-building focus, one that prioritises internal growth and development from the ground up. For as talented as he is, it’s hard for someone like Porter to unlearn his ways (think ball-dominance, shot selection). At the same time, might it also signpost a return to the high-character ethos that was so prominent under Mike Budenholzer? After all, Jenkins was an assistant under Bud with the Atlanta Hawks for six years.
To be clear, this is by no means an attack on Porter, who by all accounts conducted himself admirably while with the Bucks—and who I “fell for” enough to write not one but two screenplays about. But stains linger for a reason, and with the Bucks beginning a new era without an obvious drawcard—and Porter already a divisive figure among fans—ownership and management have to seriously consider their brand and fan perception of it. Inherent within these considerations is who represents them and who they promote. At the least, this is something to monitor moving forward.
Verdict: Fawning.
Not all rebounders are created equal
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 7: Kel'el Ware #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks grabs the rebound during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve heard about it all offseason—how Taylor Jenkins will have these Bucks attacking the glass in an attempt to win the possession game. In the preseason, things looked pretty good, especially on the offensive glass (just check the notes). So far, this has translated in the regular season too. After five games, the Bucks rank third in rebounds per game (49.8) and 10th in rebounding percentage (51.7%). They also rank sixth in defensive rebounding percentage (72.6%). These are all great signs of a philosophical buy-in.
But the overall numbers obscure a truth: for all their intentions, the Bucks still sit a mediocre 16th in offensive rebounding percentage (31.1%). Milwaukee’s problem? A lack of “go-get-it!” rebounders—you know, the sort of rebounders who go after it, grabbing boards outside their area. Who make opponents feel them and wear them down doing so. Think Moussa Diabaté. Tristan Thompson. Reggie Evans. Upon acquiring him in the Giannis trade, I envisioned Kel’el Ware as one of these players, but early signs are inconclusive, suggesting he more so collects rebounds as a by-product of his size and placement near the rim. Jericho Sims offers more in the “go-get-it!” regard, particularly on the offensive glass, but he’s not seeing action. Kyle Kuzma is seeing action—and full credit to him for getting his hands dirty—and Brayden Burries seems to have a nose for the ball off iron too. But they don’t fit the bill either, not really, especially for a team that starts Myles Turner and his career-worst 9.2% rebounding percentage (seventh best on the team) at centre. Horst, that leaves two options: target the “go-getters” or… Is Mike Dunleavy Jr. still calling?
Verdict: Warning (precautionary).
Must-have maestro
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 26: Kasparas Jakučionis #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks passes the ball past Kelly Oubre Jr. #10 of the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
By all accounts, Kasparas Jakučionis was a must-have in the Giannis trade. But for all the hype, Jakučionis was satisfactory at best in Summer League play and preseason did nothing to up expectations heading into the regular season. In fact, after playing only three games and struggling to find nylon—37% overall shooting, 23% from three—it seemed Jakučionis would be an end-of-rotation player at best, a nice option to have but nothing to scare opponents. Turns out, this Kas ain’t so friendly.
Now, Jakučionis has emerged as the Bucks’ sixth man. And while his stats through five contests aren’t anything exceptional—9.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.2 APG—he’s shooting it better overall (50%), even if the long-range shot still hasn’t come around (23%), and mostly limiting turnovers (2.0 TOV). More importantly, he’s closing games. In the process, Jakučionis has been such a joy to watch. The highlight passing stands out, but dig deeper and you’ll notice the little things: how he’s in a perpetual state of motion (on and off ball), how he attacks the glass and then hustles back on D, how he gives the ball up early, knowing that he’ll get it back. How he uses his body and arms to draw fouls. How he knows when to take one to halt an opponent attack too. And, perhaps more than anything, how the game just looks so much smoother when he’s out there.
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 11: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during a preseason game on October 11, 2026 at Spectrum Center 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Here’s some good news for Duke and Charlotte Hornets fans: Kon Knueppel, who has been out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, is almost back.
The Hornets announced Thursday that they were going to send him down to their G League for a practice, which means he’s basically tuning up before returning to the Hornets.
He had a sensational rookie season, nearly stealing the Rookie of the Year award from his former Duke roommate Cooper Flagg, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He also utterly smashed the previous rookie three-point record of 206, set by Keegan Murray, hitting 273.
Thanks partly to Knueppel, the Hornets had a surprisingly good season last year, but made major changes nonetheless. LaMelo Ball is now a Minnesota Timberwolf. Former Blue Devil Grayson Allen is now a Hornet, as are Naz Reid, Royce O’Neale, Dennis Schröder, and rookies Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson (at some point this season, we really hope the Charlotte announcers can say “Hannes to Christian Anderson for a fairy-tale play!”)
No doubt the Hornets are eager to get Knueppel back so they can sort out their rotation and see where things stand, and it won’t be long now.
Sep 30, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) talks with reporters during media day at Spurs Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs played the Utah Jazz in Salt lake City. While walking into the arena, Victor Wembanyama was seen donning a Tim Duncan t-shirt.
It was all over social media, but during Spurs Live on DAZN (the network has included the Spurs pregame show to their streaming) Sean Elliott made his obligatory teasing comment of the GOAT power forward stating he thought the shirt was Lord of the Rings until he saw Duncan’s number.
The t-shirt homage was not the only Duncan sighting this week.
The two-time league MVP does not typically attend games in the same way fellow big man David Robinson does and is rarely seen in public. But the five-time NBA champion was spotted with his partner Vanessa Macias waiting in line to participate in early voting early in Northside Independent School District.
“Tim Duncan showin up to vote?! Just casual San Antonio things,” stated Ashly Shinde, the fan who posted the photo on Threads.
Early voting wraps up tomorrow with election day set for November 3rd.
No word on which Spurs legend’s t-shirt Wemby will wear next.
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are 4-1, coming off a solid win against the shorthanded Indiana Pacers. They’ll kick off a back-to-back against two strong teams in the deep Eastern Conference, hosting the New York Knicks before traveling to Charlotte for the second half of their back-to-back.
This will be the second time in the young regular season that they face off against the Knicks, the team that swept them in the NBA playoffs. The Sixers won the season-opening matchup against the reigning champs, 106-100. Since their last matchup, the Knicks have had a semi-turbulent start to the season. They started the year 0-3, with several subplots worth monitoring. Extension talks have stalled with two of their key players, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns, resulting in the Knicks “tabling” extension talks via a PR statement. Mikal Bridges has also struggled mightily, averaging 5.0 points per game on 27% shooting on the year. Their star, Jalen Brunson, has begun finding his groove, but he’s had to carry a heavy load amid their struggles and the off-the-court noise.
The Sixers, on the other hand, have mostly been good. Their only loss came against the Detroit Pistons, who, albeit shorthanded, are a capable team with a legit star. Much like the Indiana game, the subplot to watch with the Sixers has been their offense. It’s come and gone in spurts. The Sixers have had decent success in the half court, but they’ll need to lean on their defense yet again to generate some easy transition baskets.
Despite the flashes, the Sixers’ offense is best labeled as a work in progress. LeBron James has yet to really light it up in the scoring category. Their stars are still figuring out when to be aggressive and when to defer, but there have been glimpses of hope. Jaylen Brown is averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists on good efficiency. He, in particular, is important in this Knicks matchup, as they have no shortage of wings to throw at him and James.
This matchup will also be another iteration of Towns vs. Embiid, the latter of whom is coming off two strong showings that saw him record a double-double and a triple-double. Heading into this game, Brown is listed as questionable with knee soreness. Jabari Walker, Tacko Fall and Dominick Barlow remain out.
Despite it not being November, this game does have some extra juice behind it, and no, I’m not talking about the Cup tournament with the ugly court. If the Sixers were to win this game, they’d guarantee no worse than a season-series tie against their division rivals, which means any potential tiebreaker could come down to division standing at the end of the year. We’re months away from hawk-watching the standings and playoff seeding, but this matchup could prove important when we get to that point.
And for those who don’t mind the highlighter courts and/or the NBA Cup, there is that, although the Sixers’ group for the NBA Cup is best described as a gauntlet: New York, Cleveland, Indiana and Miami. Miami’s struggles aside, that’s a tough group to go up against regardless of the raised stakes.
There’s very little margin for error with the NBA Cup, so we’ll soon know whether the Sixers are serious about it or if we experience more of the same from prior years: fizzling out. Let’s see what happens in what’s slated to be an intriguing late-October matchup.
Game Details
When: Friday, October 30, 7:30 pm ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: Prime Video Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
The Warriors get another crack at defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, hosting their rivals to begin their NBA Cup campaign. All eyes will be on the Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Luka Dončić matchup.
Golden State faced the Lakers on opening night, losing 127-105. Lendeborg guarded Dončić and held his own, but dealt with the challenges of facing a superstar right out of the gate. Lendeborg spoke with reporters after the game and called out Dončić, sparking anticipation for the next matchup.
Coach Steve Kerr spoke on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs,” and when asked about Lendeborg’s second opportunity to face the Lakers, he stated that he’s excited to see how he handles the rematch.
“Nope,” Kerr told Dan Dibley on if he wants Lendeborg to take a different approach. “I think what happened last week was great. He said what he said, put himself out there, and now he’s got to guard Luka [Dončić] again. And hopefully, he will have learned from the first game. And he was astonished after that game at the way the game was played and the tricks that Luka was playing on him and the officiating and everything else, and I told him it’s a completely different game than the college game, and you have to get used to all those tricks.
“He’s got five games under his belt, but one against Luka. So we’ll see how he handles it [tonight] because you have to be really crafty to avoid the reach-in fouls, jumping at pump fakes, that comes off when you play against Luka.”
"What happened last week was great. We'll see how he handles it tomorrow because you have to be really crafty when you play against Luka."
Lendeborg needed to adapt quickly in his first game against Dončić and showed promise. Scoring 12 points in 29 minutes, he was one of five Warriors players to score double digits and put his physicality on full display. Opening night gave him a good foundation to build on, and he followed that up with an 18-point performance in Golden State’s second game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft, is an older rookie at 24 years old and joins a team that urgently needs him to perform. Luckily, Lendeborg steadily has improved each and every game, coming off a 26-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists through five games, he has surged in NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
The Warriors are decimated by injuries, with players such as Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņġis all unavailable, but are still hungry to contend for one last title with the main core of Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Lendeborg’s early-season success has given the team new life while simultaneously giving Curry the perfect sidekick.
The NBA regular season just started, but it’s not too early to look ahead to the league’s most significant individual award.
It’s clear the field for Most Valuable Player is going to be a crowded one, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s run of two consecutive awards may be in peril. It’s also clear that injuries are going to take their toll on the race for the prize.
▶Stats: 22.6 points, 5.6 rebound, 7.8 assists in 5 games
Though other players may have better numbers, Cunningham is the driving force behind Detroit’s offense and the kindling for its success. No team began the season with a more difficult schedule than the Pistons, who opened with the Celtics, Heat, 76ers and Knicks. Detroit won all but the one against New York. Cunningham handles the ball, scores, creates for his teammates, rebounds and is a willing defender. And he’s doing all this without fellow All-Star Jalen Duren (hamstring).
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
▶ Stats: 26.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists in 5 games
Gilgeous-Alexander, in short order, should move up this list. The Thunder have already been hit with a massive rash of injuries, with three starters missing The Oct. 28 loss against the Mavericks. Jalen Williams (ankle) may miss the entire season, and Cason Wallace (torn labrum), Chet Holmgren (knee tendinitis) and Alex Caruso (ankle) appear likely to miss extended time. That will likely make Gilgeous-Alexander’s life more difficult as teams devote more defensive attention to stop him. But if he continues his statistical consistency, it also makes his MVP case stronger because the Thunder will be so shorthanded.
▶ Stats: 27.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists in 5 games
Miami’s start to the season was not very pretty. Bam Adebayo and the Heat’s role players have struggled to find cohesion and rhythm as Miami continues to incorporate Antetokounmpo. Yet, in the Heat’s first win of the season, Oct. 28 against the Hawks, Miami reverted to a pick-and-roll offense, which suits Antetokounmpo. The result was noteworthy; he dropped 24 points but was dominant on the glass, scooping 18 rebounds. It will take some time for this team to reach its potential, but the one evident truth early on has been Antetokounmpo’s dominance. Miami now has a game-changing threat who can attack the rim at will. He already leads the league with an absurd 19.2 points in the paint per game. Miami will need to win more games, however, for Antetokounmpo to be taken more seriously for this award.
▶ Stats: 25.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 5 games
So far, his numbers, as they have been the past couple of seasons, are superb. But the thing about quantifying Wembanyama’s impact is that you need to account for the intangible. He remains the most singularly effective defensive presence in the world. Sure, he leads the league in blocks (3.8 per game), but Wembanyama forces players to rethink abandon attacks into the paint. The Spurs did start slowly with two losses to open the season but have since won three in a row. If San Antonio continues to be a primary threat out West – especially if Oklahoma City slips with all of its injuries – Wembanyama’s case will be undeniable.
▶ Stats: 36.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists in 4 games
The back tightness bears watching, but no player has singlehandedly mattered more thus far to his team’s productivity and success than Dončić, who leads the NBA in scoring. In fact, Dončić has accounted for 28.1% of Los Angeles’ points in the games he has played; and with assists, his offensive impact is even more pronounced. With LeBron James back in the East with the 76ers, Dončić is the anchor and offensive catalyst. His defense remains a massive liability, but no player thus far has been more in control and playing at his pace and structure than Dončić.
Also under consideration: Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets; Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks; Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The Emirates NBA Cup is the league's annual in-season tournament, which was started in 2023 to help drive interest in the early season schedule. The competition features group play and knockout rounds with players and teams competing for a prize pool of money that increases based on how far a team advances.
When does the NBA Cup start?
The first games of the 2026 NBA Cup will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, when group play begins. Subsequent games are scheduled every Friday through Nov. 27. There will also be NBA Cup games on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
How does the NBA Cup work?
The league's 30 teams were separated into six groups featuring five teams in August. The NBA determined the groups using a draw system that placed each team in a pod based on their record during the 2025-26 season. The draw placed one team from each pot into each of the three groups in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Teams will play one game against every other opponent in their group, with two games at home and two games on the road.
Eight teams advance to the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup. It will feature the six group winners and one wild-card team from each conference. The wild cards will be the teams with the best record in group play that finished second in its group standings. If multiple teams are tied for a wild-card spot, the NBA uses a series of tiebreakers, including point differential, to determine which team advances.
The knockout rounds are single-elimination games, beginning with the quarterfinals on Dec. 4-5.
Do NBA Cup games count toward the regular-season standings?
Yes. All NBA Cup group-play games, as well as the quarterfinals and semifinals, count toward a team's regular-season record. Each team that doesn't qualify for the knockout rounds will play two regular-season games from Dec. 9-15 that are to be determined.
Does the NBA Cup championship game count toward the regular season standings?
No. The NBA Cup championship game is the only game during the league's in-season tournament that does not count toward the regular-season standings.
Where is the NBA Cup championship game played?
The 2026 NBA Cup championship game will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, Dec. 11. It had previously been held in Las Vegas.
What does the NBA Cup winner get?
The winner of the NBA Cup receives the NBA Cup trophy and the players from the winning team receive the largest allocation from the NBA Cup prize money pool.
How much prize money do NBA Cup players receive?
The NBA has a prize pool allocated for players that qualify for the knockout rounds as part of its collective bargaining agreement, with the amount of money doled out increasing depending on how far a player's team makes it in the tournament.
Each member of the winning team earned $500,000 when the NBA Cup began in 2023 and that figure had risen to $530,933 last year, according to multiple reports. Each player from the runner-up team in 2025 earned $212,373.
Most NBA Cup games, including the knockout rounds and championship game, will stream exclusively on Prime Video. Select group-play games on Nov. 24-25 will also air nationally on NBC and ESPN, with live streaming available on Peacock, ESPN Unlimited and Fubo.
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BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the New York Knicks on October 23, 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
BOSTON — Jordan Walsh got annoyed last season when the Celtics introduced him as Josh Minott before his first start at TD Garden. He used the snub as fuel and leaned into his defensive abilities to help the Celtics win 15-of-20. Ascending to the role shocked him, and as he later recounted, Joe Mazzulla quipped that Walsh’s career was dead not long before that.
Walsh had one thought after that wore off. How do I maintain it for as long as possible? What did I do to get here? How do I keep it?
While he maintained a role for the rest of last season, and earned a three-year, $15 million extension over the summer, Walsh didn’t stay in the starting lineup. Baylor Scheierman received an opportunity ahead of Jayson Tatum’s return, then Sam Hauser joined Tatum and Jaylen Brown into the playoffs. But Mazzulla didn’t forget the defensive impact Walsh produced for that quarter of the season, and tried to recreate it in the preseason by starting him again. Since then, Walsh and offseason addition Mitchell Robinson have started all four regular season games.
Walsh assumed the role with a different perspective this time, despite finding out the same way. Arriving in the locker room in Detroit and seeing his name in the pre-game notes.
“I think we have a lot of really good guys,” Walsh told CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on Monday. “A lot of guys who can step in and play that starter role, so it’s more about having the the next guy ready and supporting him through that and passing on whatever knowledge you can in the moment, because we’re all trying to get to one goal which is to win a championship. So whether I’m playing or Hugo (Gonzalez)’s playing, Baylor, Ron (Harper Jr.), whoever’s playing in that position in those minutes, we want the best for him and so everybody has a group like that, who can step in and handle those minutes. Luka (Garza), Neemy (Queta) and Mitch are all interchangeable, so I think we’re just full of a lot of talented guys who want to play as hard as possible and try to win and so plugging in different pieces, it’s just gonna help us.”
The Celtics plan to deploy a variety of lineups this year and Mazzulla stressed that starting lineups don’t mean much before the opener in Detroit. Yet Derrick White, Paul George, Walsh, Tatum and Robinson stand as Boston’s most-used combination through 36 minutes where they’ve outscored opponents by 17.6 points per 100 possessions. Their 118.9 offensive rating would rank fourth among teams and their 101.3 defensive mark would place second. And Walsh hasn’t been a passenger, ranking fourth among point of attack defenders in BBall Index’ defensive talent metric.
Jalen Brunson shot 2-for-7 against Walsh last week across nearly six minutes and Cade Cunningham finished 1-for-4 on opening night before Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle poured in 5-of-8 with Walsh in their shirts. Mazzulla saw Walsh’s on-ball defense as a tone-setter, but the Celtics also had larger schematic ambitions in starting him. They want to force more turnovers, and Walsh’s presence has allowed them to maximize Paul George’s off-ball defensive abilities.
“Defensively, I think we’re really good. PG being able to be an off-ball playmaker,” Walsh said. “Obviously he’s a really good on ball defender, but being able to be an off-ball playmaker and not worry about having to guard the best guy, I think that takes a load off of him, and he gets to play more free, he gets to play however he likes, and I think that’s my job is open that up for them and everybody else, so trying to do that to the best ability I can.”
Walsh also hoped to expand his offensive games this season and become more of a threat, with a long-term goal of becoming a player who can’t be removed from the game in any matchup or situation. So far, he’s shown mixed results, shooting 9-for-20 (45%) from the field and 4-for-10 (40%) from three with 6.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game (11.5/8.4/2.3 per 36 mins.). He did most of that work on Tuesday against Brooklyn, when he scored 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting.
His renewed skill set flashed immediately in the preseason with a stop-and-start move, and he revealed that he tried to contact Paul George right away after the Celtics acquired him to begin working out. On the court, George showed him ways to use his physicality while the off-court mentality of thinking more like a player, instinctually, rather than running around energetically helped Walsh most. That’ll flash when rest nights and injuries inevitably allow the team’s younger players to step into larger roles.
For now, Walsh knows he’s filling and role and wants to maximize his productivity in it.
“I mean, (offense is) obviously a focus that I want,” Walsh said. “I think at the end of the day, I’m on the court with, J.T., D. White, P.G. and Mitch a lot of the time, so my job isn’t to go score the ball, necessarily. That’s not my role, so all that extra stuff is just icing on the cake. What I’m there for and what I’m trying to provide to the team is being the best defender, being a guy that keeps us out of rotations, keeps the stress off of our other guys so that they can focus on the bigger picture, taking a stress off of them in that sense and so the offense, I want it to be better, everybody probably wants it to be better, but the main thing is always gonna be the main thing.”
