The Knicks see the same thing everyone else sees when they look at the new Sixers — extraordinary talent and plenty still to figure out.
Philadelphia will unveil LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and its new starting five Tuesday night against a defending champion returning nearly its entire rotation.
From the Knicks’ perspective, that contrast between star power and continuity could shape the season opener after their championship banner reaches the Madison Square Garden rafters.
WHAT THE KNICKS ARE SAYING
Josh Hart anticipated this matchup as soon as James joined an Eastern Conference team.
“Wherever LeBron went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night,” Hart told the New York Post.
Hart knows the Sixers’ talent will attract plenty of attention. He also expects their newness to show at times.
“I’m sure they’re gonna have some bumpy times in the beginning of the year because they gotta get used to playing with each other,” Hart said.
The Knicks do not have that concern. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns are back after starting throughout New York’s championship run.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown acknowledged that the attention surrounding James and Philadelphia’s revamped roster makes the opener feel bigger than an ordinary October game. Brown, who coached James for five seasons in Cleveland, said everything involving him tends to become “larger than life.”
Brown also believes the teams have the ingredients to develop a rivalry. They are separated by less than 100 miles, will meet four times on national television and already share recent playoff history.
Brunson has also been complimentary of Philadelphia. During an August appearance on NBC’s “Today,” the reigning Finals MVP said the Sixers had “reloaded” and would present a difficult opening test.
New York’s immediate priority, however, is moving past its championship celebration.
Landry Shamet was more direct about what happens after the rings are distributed and the banner is raised.
“After the ceremony’s over, it’s 0-0,” Shamet said.
Anunoby is the only current Knick who had previously participated in an NBA ring ceremony. He received his first championship ring with the Raptors before their 2019 opener.
“You celebrate with the ring, take pictures, then the game started. It was kind of weird,” Anunoby told the New York Post.
Anunoby said the unusual feeling faded as that game progressed. The Knicks will try to make the same transition Tuesday.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Andre Drummond spent last season backing up Joel Embiid. He now fills that role behind Towns after Mitchell Robinson left New York for Boston.
Drummond averaged 8.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game for the Sixers. His greatest opportunity Tuesday could come when Embiid leaves the floor.
The Sixers enter the opener with questions behind their starting center. Ariel Hukporti, who backed up Towns and Robinson over the past two seasons, is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, while Adem Bona and Dean Wade were listed as questionable on the initial injury report.
Brown said the Knicks are not asking Drummond to duplicate Robinson.
The Sixers’ ability to keep Drummond from controlling the glass during Embiid’s rest could quietly become one of the game’s most important variables.
WHAT VEGAS THINKS
The betting market is siding with New York’s continuity and home court.
The Knicks were favored by approximately 4.5 points as of midday Tuesday, with the total set around 231.5. Some sportsbooks had moved the line to New York by 5.5.
Philadelphia did win both of its regular-season games at Madison Square Garden last season. New York responded by sweeping the Sixers out of the playoffs.
The Sixers now return to the Garden with a considerably different team and an opportunity to make a much better first impression.
The opener tips off at 7 p.m. on NBC10 and Peacock.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their preseason game at Spectrum Center on October 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There will be competition this season for the proverbial “face of the franchise in Brooklyn, N.Y. There’s the most accomplished player on the roster: Julius Randle, he of the three All-Star appearances and two All-NBA selections; Mikel Brown Jr., the top draft pick since the team moved from Newark to Brooklyn; and when he’s not stirring controversy on Curious Mike, the prodigal Michael Porter Jr.
All that said, there’s a strong argument to be made for Egor Demin, the 6’9” point guard/point forward Egor Demin. Still only 20, Demin may most easily reprsent the franchise, carrying all the requsite responsibilities: the high character player of promise who can articulate where the team is in three languages: his native Russian, Spanish and English. He may not have all the accolades Randle posseses, may not be the shiny new object like Brown Jr. or have the big numbers MPJ put up last year. He is, however, the player whose combination of talent, leadership and confidence brings it all together.
And he knows what is expected of him and accepts it.
“I said it to the coaches the other day in the player development meeting; I want to win and I want to learn how to affect the game, whatever it takes for me to be able to win,” Demin told the media after Monday’s practice.
“As I always say, I want to be everywhere I can help. Whether it’s me on the ball, off the ball, whatever it is. I want to learn everything,” Demin added. “For me, I don’t put any expectations on myself because I know where I’m at and I know what I’m going to be trying to do. Obviously, I have my own goals and that’s what I’m trying to focus on if it’s not about the team. If we’re talking about me personally, I’m just trying to be better every single day.”
The eighth pick in the 2o25 Draft played well enough last season, averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.9% overall and 38.5% from beyond the arc. He also set an NBA rookie record for most consecutive games with a 3-pointer at 34 and was the second fastest NBA player to reach 100 3-pointers behind only Kon Knueppel of the Hornets (who won’t play in Wednesday’s opener at Barclays.)
And just as he proved to critics that he not only can shoot but at a high level, he showed in Summer League and preseason that he is not just a 3-point shooter. He surprised many by adding strength and a willingness to rush the lane and finish. He knew what he needed to do in the off-season and did it. averaging 21.3 points and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the floor.
Demin’s new found strength is hard to quantify, as his head coach quipped at practice Monday.
“Maybe ask the performance team about his weight and how much bigger his biceps is. Maybe that’s a way to quantify,” Fernández said. “I’m very happy with the way he’s played. …He sees the floor very well, and he’s done a great job getting into the [paint].”
Demin agreed.
“That’s true. There was a growth, a significant growth, in what dumbbells I’m picking up on the arm day, yeah,” Dëmin laughed.
While part of his growth is natural for someone going from age 19 to 2o, But the added strength is also part of a development process with improvement all around his game.
“Yeah, play off two feet and look for the spray or keep your options open. But don’t go in there without a plan,” Fernández said. “He’s done a great job. He’s worked at it, and shown he’s way more comfortable now getting there.
“When you’re 18, 19, the game goes so fast. Now it slows down, because you’re more confident, you’re stronger. We’ve seen it in preseason — he’s just got to continue to do it in the regular season.”
What will we see from the young man starting Wednesday night. He doesn’t talk numbers milestones, but certainly he has goals, starting with showing everyone that strength and its implications wasn’t just a summer fling.
“I haven’t done that for a while, getting to the rim like that actively, and sometimes when I get there it’s hard to believe, where I’m like, ‘I’m actually here,’ and I almost expect something to happen,” Dëmin admitted. “So for me, realize that I’m actually a big body, so… it’s harder to defend for people, especially now. So just having a state of mind that nobody can stop me, and just having that idea of getting there aggressively and finishing with quality and not just to show that I got to the paint.”
There are, of course, issues as there are with any young player. He missed 30 games last year and didn’t play after an early March bout with plantar fasciitis but he and the team say that’s in in the past. Bottom line though is he wants to be great and that matters.
Monday morning, the Dallas Mavericks announced they were waiving veteran center Dwight Powell. It was a strange, emotional moment for Mavericks fans: with nearly 12 full seasons in Dallas, the Canadian big man was the team’s longest-tenured player, a stabilizing force that was present for the end of Dirk Nowitzki’s reign, the entirety of the Luka Dončić era, and the beginning of Cooper Flagg’s emergence.
Powell ends his time in Dallas averaging 7/4 in 17 minutes, and with no shortage of franchise accolades—top 10 in rebounds, top 5 in bench scoring, and even top 5 in games played. His departure, though, represents much more than the loss of a steady on-court contributor. It also means the loss of one of the NBA’s only known poets.
“Poetry and self-expression through the written word for me was around before the ball,” Powell said in a 2024 interview with WFAA. “It’s a great place for me to speak to myself and to learn about myself, and although I may be writing about different things, and exploring different ideas, and talking about different experiences—at the end of the day, it all comes back to me… it’s a place where I can find peace.”
Literature and the arts have seen renewed interest in the NBA in recent years. In 2022, Shareef O’Neal told The Ringer that Scoot Henderson “reads all the time.” Three years later, Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes made headlines with their science-fiction book club.
But Powell’s love of poetry is a bit more personal. More than just a hobby or passing interest, the Canadian big man has identified an important link between the words he writes and the points he scores.
“Poetry, art, basketball—I honestly don’t see any separation,” said Powell in 2024. “Any time you have love for something, and you’re passionate about something, you’ll find a way to express yourself through it, and you’ll find yourself in it. So, through the written word, through poetry, and through my expression of myself through basketball—they’re all different translations of the same message. To me, they’re one and the same.”
Powell’s love of literature and the arts has previously informed his philanthropy and outreach in the Dallas area. In 2022, the veteran big man hosted the Mavs Reading Challenge at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, reading from Barbara Barber’s Allie’s Basketball Dream.
“One of the coolest parts about reading for me is that you can teleport yourself to a different place, to be a different person and view the world in a different way,” Powell said at the event. “You can go on all sorts of adventures without ever leaving your house. So as a child, that was a way for me to really explore with my mind. With every turn of the page, I knew something super exciting awaited.”
Now, poetry may light the way as Powell’s time with the Mavericks comes to a close. At a 2024 Poetry in the Square event hosted by the Thanks-Giving Foundation, the veteran big man reminded listeners that artistic expression is proof that “you can be literally anything—you can be all things.”
“No matter what your profession is, no matter what circumstances you’re in… the routine of life can kind of get you out of rhythm at times,” said Powell, before reading his work on the virtue of wisdom. “For me to be able to sit down and write, I step away from some of the responsibilities, and step away from some of the stress. I’m able to check in with myself, which I think is super important.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Former New York Knicks player Walt Frazier poses prior to Game Three between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you were to look up the words cool, stylish, flair, and all-time great in the dictionary, you would find four distinct definitions, each describing a quality that few individuals can truly embody.
Cool: Very fashionable, impressive, or appealing in a way that is universally admired.
Stylish: Possessing a high degree of quality in appearance, design, or behavior.
Flair: A natural talent or ability to do things in an original, stylish, and captivating manner.
All-Time Great: An individual regarded among the very best to ever perform in a particular field, sport, or profession.
What’s missing alongside each of these definitions in the dictionary is a picture of Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Throughout the storied history of the NBA, countless legends have left their mark on the game, but few, if any, have embodied all four qualities quite like Frazier. From his legendary playing days with the New York Knicks in the 1970s to his continued presence as one of the most recognizable personalities in basketball more than five decades later, Frazier remains in a class of his own, both on and off the court.
A man whose legendary style extends far beyond his flamboyant wardrobe, Frazier helped define an era of New York basketball, captivating fans with his effortless cool, unparalleled court vision, tenacious defense, and undeniable flair.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in New York Knicks franchise history, Frazier’s place among basketball royalty is unquestionable. A two-time NBA champion, seven-time NBA All-Star, and member of both the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, his legacy is as timeless as the city he helped bring to basketball prominence.
Simply put, there has never been another Walt “Clyde” Frazier. And chances are, there never will be.
Let’s start with his style. Clyde’s style was unlike anybody else’s in the NBA during the ‘70s, and to this day, there still hasn’t been a close second. As a young man in his twenties, Frazier became just as recognizable for driving around New York City in his custom Rolls-Royce while sporting a full-length mink coat and fedora as he was for his play on the court. Today, his fashion sense remains as distinctive as ever. Throughout a broadcasting career spanning nearly 40 years, including almost 30 as a television commentator for MSG and the Knicks, his wardrobe has remained unmistakable, from tiger-print suits to custom blazers reminiscent of Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat. There arguably hasn’t been a more fashionable icon in the NBA’s nearly 80-year history.
(Original Caption) NEW YORK: Apparently determined to match his flashy drives on the basketball court with some equally flashy driving, New York Knicks' star guard Walt Frazier gets set for a spin in his sleek Rolls Royce. For the fourth straight year, Frazier was named Jan. 9 as a starter on the East team in the NBA all-star game to be played in Chicago Jan. 23.
Frazier was a trendsetter, one of the first NBA players to truly express his personality through his wardrobe, at a time when players were largely known for what they did on the court rather than what they wore off it. His style became a part of his identity, both during his playing days and throughout his broadcasting career, setting him apart from his contemporaries and the generations of NBA stars who followed.
So, just how did Walt Frazier become Clyde?
“Coming to the Mecca. New York City. Fashion, passion,” Frazier explains. “When we played, we wore suits and ties to the game. We were always trying to outdress each other. Our idols were The Temptations, The Four Tops. So we emulated the way these guys performed.”
As Frazier recalls, the influence of Motown played a significant role in shaping his style, much like hip-hop has influenced today’s NBA players.
“Today you see the guys dressed like the rappers… our style was created from Motown. And I took it to another level with the Clyde. One day I bought this wide-brimmed hat and I wore it to the game and everybody go, hey, look at Clyde. And I used to steal the ball on the court.”
But the nickname would eventually become much more than just a reflection of his wardrobe.
“Then I was blessed enough to be the first guy to endorse a sneaker, the Puma Clyde in 1973. So that was the evolution of the mink coat, the Rolls Royce. So it was just my being around New York and observing people watching the Clyde persona personified.”
On the court, Clyde helped lead the Knicks to their first two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973, with the greatest performance of his career coming in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. With the championship on the line, Frazier delivered one of the most memorable performances in NBA Finals history, scoring 36 points, dishing out a Game 7-record 19 assists, grabbing seven rebounds, and sinking all 12 of his free throws to help secure the Knicks’ first NBA title.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04, 1970: Walt Frazier #10 of the New York Knicks drives against Jerry West #44 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Five of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 1970 in New York, New York. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Clyde’s performance in Game 7 ultimately helped lead the Knicks to their first-ever NBA championship, Clyde and his teammates also received some unexpected motivation from their captain, Willis Reed, who, despite battling a severe leg injury, famously limped onto the court just before tipoff.
“People thought it was premeditated, but we did not know he was coming. So when we came on the court, we were just as flabbergasted as everybody else when we saw him.”
Frazier recalls how Reed’s unexpected appearance immediately changed the team’s confidence.
“By seeing him, it gave us so much confidence. And obviously, he started the game. He made his first two shots. And I thought the Lakers were psyched out from that point, and I would have the game of my life.”
With two NBA championships, seven All-Star appearances, four All-NBA First Team selections, and numerous other accolades to his name, Frazier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. His No. 10 jersey also hangs in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, making him one of just eight Knicks players to have their numbers retired by the franchise.
But while Frazier’s playing days eventually came to an end, his connection to the Knicks and Madison Square Garden was far from over. In 1987, Clyde began a new chapter with the organization, trading his sneakers for a microphone as he transitioned into broadcasting, where his unmistakable personality and signature style would once again make him a fixture in New York basketball.
Clyde became famous for his iconic on-air rhymes, including “razzlin’ and dazzlin’” and “posting and toasting,” the latter of which inspired the name of our very own website. Frazier explained that his signature rhymes developed naturally as he gained experience in broadcasting and began to understand the nuances of being a color commentator.
“The play-by-play guy does most of the talking on radio. So in order to get into sometimes what I had to say, I had to use rhymes and, you know, that’s how I started doing it.”
With our website’s name paying tribute to one of Clyde’s most recognizable catchphrases, it was only fitting to ask him what he thought about Posting and Toasting.
“Yeah, I read you all the time. I enjoy it, man. It’s very good.”
With the Knicks winning their first championship since 1973, when Clyde hoisted his second trophy, Frazier reflected on the similarities between his championship teams and the current roster.
“It’s an uncanny comparison, man. We personify a team. You can’t mention Frazier without Bradley, without Reed, without Barnett. Same thing with this team. You can’t mention Brunson without Hart, without Bridges, without KAT, without OG. So they personify a team. They’re very unselfish. They like each other. And it’s manifested in the way they play the game.”
And when asked which player from the Knicks’ 2026 championship roster would have fit in best alongside his former teammates, Clyde didn’t hesitate to name the Heart of the City, Josh Hart, pointing to his versatility and physical style of play.
“(Hart) rebounds, he defends, he scores, he plays with reckless abandon. So he would be that type of guy that would fit in our era, which was more physical. You know, we could hand check, push guys around the court. So I think Hart would be perfect for that era.”
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 6: Josh Hart #3 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks congratulate Walt Frazier and Mike Breen on 25 years of broadcasting before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 6, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the 2026-27 NBA season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, with the players receiving their championship rings and the Knicks raising their third championship banner to the Madison Square Garden rafters, Clyde is teaming up with Spike Lee and AT&T for a special celebration with Knicks fans. As part of AT&T’s Connectivity Partnership, the two New York icons will travel across Manhattan in a taxi, making surprise appearances and giving fans opportunities to win exclusive NBA merchandise, signed memorabilia, and tickets to opening night.
“I’m teaming up with Spike Lee, and we’re going to be going to different stores, giving out prizes for AT&T, commemorating the next championship season, and rewarding the fans as well. So I can’t believe that. It seems like we’re still in it, man. You know, everybody’s still excited about the team winning and perhaps maybe repeating, you know, running it back, which hasn’t been done in about eight years. We’ll be coming, celebrating this season throughout the season, the Knicks accomplishment. And after 53 years, the Knicks are finally back on top. Fans can walk in peace and celebrate a championship.”
And while the excitement surrounding the Knicks’ championship continues into the new season, perhaps no moment captured the city’s celebration quite like the championship parade itself. As the players celebrated atop their floats and Mitchell Robinson made his way through the streets in his truck, it was only fitting that Clyde, who helped bring New York its first two championships, would lead the celebration through the Canyon of Heroes.
But it wasn’t just Clyde’s presence that made the moment special. It was the car he was riding in.
Frazier led the parade in the very same 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton that carried the Apollo 11 astronauts through the streets of Manhattan following their historic moon landing in 1969. Now that’s cool!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 18: Walt "Clyde" Frazier celebrates during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, 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. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Covering the Knicks is difficult. MSG is a fortress with stingy gatekeepers who deny access to earnest bloggers. For a short period, a P&T staff writer used her legitimate newspaper credentials to access the media room and report back for us. When MSG learned of this, they barred her from future pressers.
My recent media day experience felt similar. In previous years, media day was live-streamed, and I blogged about it in real time. This year, a stream was unavailable. Hence, I scoured social media for updates and wrote a shameful amount of “Stef Bondy reports…” based on tweets that were already stiffening by the time I found them.
Making matters worse, everything—the clips from the mic and the interstitials in which the players answer trivia questions or name their top-5 whatever—seemed kind of . . . phony. Staged. The answers to questions about health, expectations, etcetera, all sounded as though read from cards.
This has sat funny with me. And when a friend asked about a recent news item, my opinion surprised him. Allow me to don my tin-foil hat and brace yourself: I believe KAT’s comments about not getting a contract extension, and the subsequent negotiating freeze, are all bogus.
With billions of dollars involved, nothing in the Knickerbocker world is random. Everything that comes out of MSG is managed. Shortly before my interviews with OG and Jose, which were arranged by PR firms and not the Knicks, I received a list of off-limit topics (religion, politics, injuries (his or anyone else’s), etc.). Similarly, most questions at team pressers seem obvious or prompted. Little is spoken into the mic without prior approval from the agent, front office, or coaching staff.
KAT is many things, including a terrible actor:
After the Knicks announced that contract negotiations would be suspended to focus on the impending season, Karl’s response smacked of mock-WWE surprise: “It was news to me. Very disappointed to say the least. Let’s state the obvious. It’s business, but there is business on the court for us to handle.”
Really? Caught completely off guard? Are we to believe that the front office is jerking around a blue-chip asset, the second (and occasionally first) most important player on a championship club? Leon’s crew, which attempts to orchestrate its machinations with shrewd precision, is surrendering to “Guess we’ll see what happens, champ?”
I suspect the freeze is a ruse. Decisions have been made already—contract extensions, trade partners have been engaged—but there’s reason to delay. Possibilities:
A trade partner must clear salary space or convince their owner.
NY expects better offers at the midseason deadline.
NY wants to see which young players take a leap for potential trade partners and loop them into the package.
NY needs time to convince us that a trade is good for the team despite just winning the championship.
Maybe that’s too much Ancient Aliens-type conspiracy conjecturing for you. Would you allow that there must be, at minimum, a document containing “If X, Then Y” scenarios? Those could be:
If KAT doesn’t piss off Jalen by December and plays well, offer more.
If KAT DOES piss off Jalen by December and plays well, execute Chicago trade.
If KAT gets injured, offer less.
If KAT underperforms, fake injury report and trade to Atlanta.
It can be true that James Dolan wants to avoid the second apron, and that crossing that dreaded threshold brings about punitive consequences to the team.
Also true? That it was STRANGE for the owner who famously lights money on fire (metaphorically, possibly literally) to go on talk radio RIGHT AFTER WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP and declare the second apron to be an unbreachable line. And ODD for a front office that has worked hand in glove with King Dolan, and seems to have total impunity of decision-making, to be allegedly caught off guard by his statements. Flummoxed, even!
News to any of them? Probably not.
The league is ripe with phony-baloney antics. Scott Foster refs a Game Four and even the media calls him ‘The Extender.’ LeBron James dangles his talents from coast to coast for weeks before officially joining a team he’d surely chosen long before. Has the league ever formally apologized to the Kings for 2002? That Luka Dončić trade sure was weird, but at least the Mavs got Cooper Flagg. Beyond being shameful, the apparent fixes are so transparent that they’re embarrassing. There’s even some scuttlebutt about a frozen envelope. Can you imagine?
OK, you got me. Karl-Anthony did not know that negotiations would be suspended. Gotcha—Leon Rose has no idea what he will do with the champion All-Star, but his fingers are crossed that they can iron out a deal before KAT declines his player option and hops a Brinks truck to Atlanta. As with any conspiracy, once the endgame is revealed, we can say, “Yes, that was the plan all along. Knew it!” Really, we don’t know what will happen. We can’t. My hunch, though, is that the great reboundin’ Towns is bound out of town, and before his contract expires. The season is about to begin. I suggest savoring all the time you get with the man, fans.
MACAU, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Cooper Flagg #32 of Dallas Mavericks dunks during NBA China Games 2026 between Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena on the Cotai Strip on October 11, 2026 in Macau, China. 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 Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are ready to start the 2026-2027 season on Wednesday October 21, 2026 when they head southeast to Houston to take on the Rockets. The 82-game slate ends on Sunday April 11, 2027 at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.
In between those two dates, the Mavericks will have at least 21 nationally televised games. This is the NBA schedule, however, so nothing is quite that simple. As per usual, some of the nationally televised games will also air on KFAA. We can also expect some flex, which could result in Dallas having nationally televised games either added to the docket, or removed. Barring any speculation for a moment, here is what we currently know.
21 games: The number of nationally televised games.
8 games: Televised on NBC.
6 games: Televised on ESPN.
4 games: Televised on Prime.
2 games: Televised on Peacock
1 game: Televised on ABC.
Aside from the above, KFAA will be your go-to for all other games (with five such games simulcast on WFAA, and more yet to be announced). If you are a non-local Mavs’ fan, NBA League Pass is going to be your access point to the majority of games throughout the year. MavsTV+ will also carry all games that are not nationally televised. 10 total games are exclusively nationally televised, with at least one such game falling under each of the above named stations. That means if you intend to watch all 82 Mavs’ games, you’ll need at least two streaming services (Prime and Peacock) to get the job done.
If you find yourself driving during game time, 105.3 FM The Fan is your way to listen, with 99.1 FM Zona MX featuring your Spanish broadcast.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks forward and former Duke standout steps into the shoes of a Foot Locker employee as the star of the company's "Hoops Lives Here" campaign. The ad debuts on Tuesday, Oct. 20 ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season tipoff. It shows Flagg wearing New Balance gear and hanging out playing video games in the backroom of a Foot Locker store. He assists an employee in reaching tall shelves, among other comedic moments.
“For me, basketball is everywhere in my life. Whether I’m playing, training, watching games or just spending time with people who love the sport, I’m always connected to it in some way," Flagg said in a statement of how the campaign concept resonates with him, noting, "It celebrates all the different ways basketball is part of our everyday lives and brings together those who share a passion for the game.”
Flagg's ad follows the debut of Foot Locker's "Hoops Lives Here" campaign in May. In the original spot, Payton Pritchard lounges while eating Chinese takeout, Paolo Banchero makes a smoothie, Chet Holmgren gets ready in a mirror and Jewell Loyd prepares to go to sleep all inside a Foot Locker store.
This fall, Foot Locker became the official athletic footwear retailer of the New York Knicks and will help celebrate last year's championship, the team's first title in 53 years. Besides activations and promotions throughout the season, the company will host a one-day Rings ‘N’ Things pop-up with exclusive merchandise to commemorate the NBA Finals victory.
The new "Hoops Lives Here" ad also shows the growth of the popularity of New Balance. Besides Flagg, the athletic company has Shohei Ohtani, Jamal Murray, Coco Gauff and Bukayo Saka on its roster of athletes.
"It took me a while to get used to New Balance because New Balance used to be, you cut grass in New Balance," he said as the crowd erupted in laughter.
(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The 2026-27 NBA season is ready to destroy everything you think you know about basketball. It’s so hard to make preseason predictions in this era of the league when parity is at an all-time high and the pace-and-space nature of play puts every athlete in danger of injury. It sure feels like the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York Knicks are the top-3 teams coming into the season, but the NBA has taught us to expect the unexpected for this generation of hoops.
With the new season finally here, I thought it would be fun to say one nice thing about every team. Let’s get into it.
Atlanta Hawks
Kingston Flemings will go down as a draft steal: The Hawks were wise to bring back CJ McCollum on a one-year deal while getting an awesome young understudy to one day take over for him in Flemings. I like Flemings for his ability to maximize assist-to-turnover ratio and play bigger than his size defensively. His three-ball might need some time to develop, but the Hawks made a smart pick at No. 8 overall.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have the best front office in the NBA: Trust Brad Stevens, Mike Zarren, and Dave Lewin. It’s better to make a big move a year too early than a year too late, and Boston’s leadership continues to be on the cutting edge of team-building. They will be right in their evaluations more times than not.
Brooklyn Nets
Jordi Fernandez is an elite head coach who will get this team to overachieve: Everyone expects the Nets to be doormats this season, but it’s not going to happen if they hang on to Michael Porter Jr. all season. Fernandez has more talent to work with this year with Julius Randle and Mikel Brown Jr. arriving, Day’Ron Sharpe joining the starting lineup, and Egor Demin ready to make a year two leap. Brooklyn will be feisty.
Charlotte Hornets
Charles Lee’s system is built to win regular season games: The Hornets just know how to win the margins under Charles Lee, which is no surprise given that he came from Boston’s staff. Charlotte is going to crush the offensive glass, jack tons of threes, and get their hands in the passing lanes to their best of their abilities. I think they will miss LaMelo Ball, but this team is too well coached to completely fall apart.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have a sneaky-good bench: Chicago’s bench is going to keep them in games. Leonard Miller is fully on breakout watch after an excellent preseason, Tre Jones is almost as good as Josh Giddey at backup point guard, Isaac Okoro is the team’s best perimeter defender, and Jalen Smith is a legit stretch five with monstrous per-minute production if he returns to a bench role after Nic Claxton gets healthy. That’s not even mentioning Buddy Hield or a pair of recent mid-first round picks in Noa Essengue and Dailyn Swain.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley can still take another step forward: Don’t write off Mobley from taking another jump just because he’s 25 now. He still has some low-hanging fruit to clean up in his game, and he certainly has the natural talent to improve as a driver, outside shooter, offensive rebounder, and defensive playmaker in terms of steals and deflections. The best is still yet to come.
Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving are going to be awesome together: Flagg is ridiculously good for a 19-year-old, and Kyrie Irving’s creation ability and pull-up shooting is going to make his life so much easier this year. I want to see Flagg get back to being the highly impactful defender he was supposed to be coming out.
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon just win basketball games together: Gordon is quietly one of the most important injury risks in the league. If he stays healthy, the Nuggets are going to be very, very good.
Detroit Pistons
Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson are still getting better: Both of Cade Cunningham’s co-stars are already really good, and I think they will look even better a year from now. Duren can improve his defense, while Thompson’s offensive impact can keep getting greater even without three-point shooting improvement. Detroit’s young core is in great hands.
The Rockets still have so many breakout guys: I would pick Amen Thompson to level up this year, but it could also be Reed Sheppard or Alperen Sengun or Jabari Smith Jr. or Tari Eason. If several of these guys take a leap, Houston will be a Western Conference contender.
Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac will make magic together: The Pacers are losing some spacing with Zubac replacing Myles Turner from the 2025 NBA Finals team, but Haliburton will figure it out. Zubac’s superior physicality will make a big difference for a Pacers team that could use it.
Los Angeles Clippers
Ty Lue will put Keaton Wagler in position to succeed: Lue is still an elite coach, and he’ll find the right ways to develop the No. 5 overall pick even in tough circumstances.
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic + JJ Redick = lots of wins: The Lakers have won 50+ games in both seasons with JJ Redick as head coach, and I expect that to continue this year. Redick will make the most out of the defense, and Luka will handle the creation burden as only he can. The Lakers should have homecourt advantage to start the West playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey will be a phenomenal pairing: Boozer’s shooting, passing, and driving paired with Edey Hulk Smash’ing everything at the rim make the Grizzlies the easiest pick to exceed their preseason win total.
Miami Heat
I’m already terrified I was way too low on Miami: The Heat are the team I’m most worried I’m wrong about after having them No. 9 in my East predictions. Giannis should be on a mission, Erik Spoelstra is still the best coach in the league for my money, and you know some player (Pelle Larsson?) is going to have a career year. Miami will be a problem come playoff time.
Milwaukee Bucks
Ryan Rollins might be the most underrated guard in the league: He’s not a household name yet, but he will be soon.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves have the juice to upset the Thunder or Spurs in the playoffs: LaMelo and Ant’s pull-up shooting is a problem without a solution for opposing defenses … as long as they can get hot in a short series.
New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears will create some of the NBA’s best highlights: Elite speed + elite ball handling ability is a rare combination. If Fears can improve his shot at all, he’s going to be a really great offensive guard.
New York Knicks
Their playoff run last season was no fluke: This team is loaded again even without Mitchell Robinson, and it’s going to count as an upset if any other team comes out of the East.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder’s rookies add new flair to the rotation: How did the league let Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz both fall to OKC? Sam Presti can’t keep getting away with it.
Orlando Magic
The Magic will the surprise team in the East: They have to get positive injury luck eventually, right? If it happens, new head coach Sean Sweeney can push the right buttons to get this team to the top half of the East playoff picture.
Philadelphia 76ers
The offense is going to be absolutely electric: I don’t give out gambling advice, but if I did, I would bet the over on every Sixers game to start the season. They are going to be capable of some ridiculous runs when everyone is locked in.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns will be a huge pain in the ass to deal with every night: Phoenix crushes the offensive glass and maximizes every ounce of its defensive potential. I’ll just say I like them more with Collin Gillespie in the starting lineup than Jalen Green.
Portland Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson is finally going to breakout: It’s painfully obvious that the Blazers should bring either Damian Lillard or Ja Morant off the bench to start Scoot. I hope it happens.
Sacramento Kings
They will be better than expected because they can’t possibly be as injured as last year: There are some good players on this team, and I don’t believe they’re destined to be the worst in the league like everyone thinks.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are winning the championship this year: This team is too big, too fast, too strong, and too good.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have another Cinderella run to the NBA Finals in them: If Kawhi Leonard can last through the playoffs, I see Toronto as the Knicks’ biggest challenger in the East, and they could be uniquely positioned to slow down New York’s powerful offense.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz will have a top-10 offense: Utah was No. 22 in offense last year. That’s going to change with Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all getting buckets.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards have the most breakout player candidates in the league: Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Alex Sarr … that’s just the start of it. If Washington’s two veteran stars can hold up their end of the bargain, the rebuild will finally be over.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 16: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 16, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With training camp and all five preseason games in the books, we have learned a lot about the Bucks as they embark on year one of the rebuild-but-don’t-call-it-a-rebuild. But what one person sees isn’t always the same as what the next person does. So, we thought we’d share pages of our notebooks, highlighting our main observations as Milwaukee heads into the regular season. Obviously, there are storylines galore we haven’t touched on—Brayden Burries’ emergence, for one. But that will come when he truly arrives; in Burries we trust. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Trending: How the Bucks have popped (and flopped)
Preseason had me hyped, but the Kyle Kuzma/Jaime Jaquez Jr. frontcourt soon had me wincing—as did Gary Trent Jr.’s shooting. Kel’el Ware starting at the four reinvigorated my enthusiasm, then his “motor” issue reared its head and I found myself questioning everything. But I’m choosing optimism. Thankfully, then, Taylor Jenkins chose Brayden Burries and Ousmane Dieng as his first and second substitutions against the Indiana Pacers, leaving me hopeful for the regular season—that Jenkins has quickly learned these guys need to play and that they’ve already shown the growth to leapfrog more established players. But I digress; I’m here to talk trends.
By the eye test, the Bucks demonstrated the traits many thought (hoped) they’d have under Jenkins’ tutelage. Mainly, they hit the glass. Hard. The numbers back it up too:
2025-26 Regular Season
Category
2026-27 Preseason
48.2% (26th)
Rebounding Percentage
51.1% (10th)
26.3% (30th)
Offensive Rebounding Percentage
35.9% (5th)
69.5% (15th)
Defensive Rebounding Percentage
68.7% (13th)
This additional emphasis on the possession game—especially via the offensive glass—contributed to the Bucks generating more looks at the basket. With 94.2 field goal attempts per game, Milwaukee ranked third in the league, up from their 27th-placed 85.5 attempts last year. They also finished third in three-point attempts per game, hoisting up an average of 46.4 a night (up from 39.1 last year). Signs of Jenkins’ coaching philosophy didn’t stop there. The Bucks finished 10th in pace (104.5), comparing favourably to last year’s 23rd-place finish (98.3) and an indication that this team is going to lean into its youth and athleticism (as it should). Defensively, Milwaukee proved strong at shot-blocking, averaging 5.4 BPG, good for 10th in the league and better than their 4.0 BPG average and 27th placing last season.
Of course, it’s not all roses. Overall, the Bucks finished 28th in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating. And there are plenty of individual areas to work on too: shooting accuracy (30th)—which undoubtedly contributed to all those O-boards—fast break defence (29th), and generating steals (27th), among others. But, as I wrote in our staff thread, we can ignore all that—the sample size is too small.
—Zac
Drinking the Kel-Aid or War(e)y of the behaviours?
Kel’el Ware has become a bit of an elephant in the room, I must say. Many fans wanted Ware to start at power forward, and rightfully so—he was a key piece of the Giannis trade and, whatever else you want to say about him, he is as talented as they come. I think we were all drinking the “Kel-Aid” to some degree. But as the saying goes, “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Can we really say that Ware has been working at even an above-average level this preseason? I mean, forget going as hard as you possibly can—like guys such as Cormac Ryan have been doing—Ware rarely looked interested in getting out of second gear. He won’t be starting because he hasn’t earned it, period.
There’s no sugarcoating it: the 22-year-old has disappointed throughout the preseason—both in performance and, seemingly, in attitude—validating all the concerns Heat fans warned us about (and, frankly, his entire career has). It’s not like there’s a laundry list of concerns at this point, but a few things have certainly stood out. For one, Jenkins has stressed repeatedly that this team will play for each other and that no individual agendas will be tolerated. But Ware’s shot selection all preseason calls into question whether he is truly playing for his teammates or for his own numbers.
Sure, Ware has blocked shots and gobbled up rebounds (when they’re in his area)—and he deserves some level of credit for that, to be sure—but he’s also shown a lacklustre willingness to move his feet on the perimeter, letting drivers zip right by him on their way to the rim. Also, I’m trying to separate what’s immediately within the 22-year-old’s control from skill development stuff, but man, it wouldn’t hurt to move a bit faster on some of these post moves against guys he should be able to score easily on. That’s an overarching theme I’ve noticed: he’s a lot slower than I expected.
But then you see Ware cram a massive dunk on the fast break in a way I’ve rarely seen a Buck—other than Giannis—do, and you get a window into the player he could become. You see Ware make one of those ill-advised threes with a full shot clock and a defender right in his grill, and you take note of what a refined understanding of “good shot” and “bad shot” could mean for him. You see how Ware can vacuum up rebounds and scrape the sky for blocks, and you wonder what impact he could have on defence. Still just 22, I’m not off the bus yet. Not even close. But the kid should know by now that talent will only get him so far. Damnit, he needs to want this.
—Jack
Kasparas Jakucionis: The crown jewel?
The very same day that the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line shed some light on the linchpin that may have kept Giannis out of Boston:
Kasparas Jakucionis was Miami's version of Boston's Hugo Gonzalez hang-up. Had been hearing all day the Heat did not want to part with the Illinois product on top of their Herro-Ware-Jacquez-No. 13 structure. That's an All-Star guard, three recent first-round picks still on…
As trade talks dragged on, Miami was weighing whether to include Kasparas Jakucionis in a trade package for Giannis. Admittedly, this detail may have been easy to miss with so much to process after the trade, but it is worth looking at why Pat Riley almost let the 20-year-old Lithuanian decide the trade’s fate.
For starters, Jakucionis presents like an ideal modern point guard: 6’5”, 200 pounds, with a 6’8” wingspan. He arrived at Illinos with a lot of national hype, and early returns had him going as high as 5th overall in certain mock drafts. College basketball fans may recall that Jakucionis started the year averaging 16.1 PPG and 5.6 APG on 42% from deep, but as the season went on, he struggled with turnovers and did not have the speed to beat defenders off the dribble. As a result, the 20-year-old fell to the 20th overall pick and became something of an afterthought in the draft.
So, if Jakucionis is the potential “crown jewel,” then where was the hype over his rookie season? In Miami, he was asked to fill a more two-dimensional role as a spot-up shooter and secondary creator, and was effective in both areas: Jakucionis averaged 6.2 PPG while shooting 42% from deep and averaging 2.6 APG to just 0.9 turnovers—all of this on a 13.7% usage rate. This team-first mindset and willingness to work hard earned praise from head coach Erik Spoelstra, and if Spo’s concerns about Ware’s motor have given you pause, let this praise for KJ serve as a reliable stamp of approval.
Despite the well-documented logjam in the backcourt, Jakucionis showed incredible promise in the preseason. In the final 13 minutes against Indiana, he wasted no time setting the table and getting the engine running, finishing with six assists. In the previous game against Chicago, he finished with 18 points and six assists (plus one sweet shot) even after getting into foul trouble early. These are early returns, but Jakucionis has already shown flashes of what made him, at one point, a highly-touted prospect. While much remains to be determined this season, KJ’s emergence as a true point guard would be a welcome sight for Bucks fans. If he’s ahead of schedule, it could drastically change how the front office approaches the trade deadline and offseason. While the Bucks face a lot of uncertainty, one thing already seems certain: we’ll see many more electric performances from the Lithuanian Lightning Rod! (Still workshopping the nickname).
—Nate
Editor’s note: Forget the trade deadline and next offseason, Jon Horst clearly thinks he already is ahead of schedule.
Accountability is Taylor-made for Milwaukee
After three seasons with Doc Rivers and his snarky, defensive attitude, it’s extremely refreshing to have a coach like Taylor Jenkins who champions accountability in everything he preaches. That was clear in the first postgame press conference after the Timberwolves lashed the Bucks; Jenkins pulled no punches about his team’s willingness to knuckle down defensively, saying they were far from where they need to be.
“Our defence was really lacking for 48 minutes,” Jenkins said. “We had spurts of it. We had some good possessions, but too often we had no pressure on the ball and no shift help. Definitely not the competitive edge that we ought to have.
“I know it’s the first preseason game, but that’s not going to be an excuse at all. We’ve got to embrace the defensive side of the ball way better going forward.”
You can see why Jon Horst—along with ownership—wanted Jenkins so badly. He oozes accountability and authenticity, and I’ve found myself tuning into his pressers much more than I ever did with past coaches (granted, the bar was low: Doc was annoying, and Bud never gave you anything). In any event, Jenkins is the main variable that gives me hope that this rebuild will turn out OK. It won’t be quick or easy, but I trust Jenkins to steer this ship and get this franchise back to where it belongs—and that is a comforting feeling.
—Jack
What have we missed, Brew Hoop fam? And what notes did you scribble down? Let us know in the comments.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 16: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half of the preseason NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 16, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The calm before the storm. That’s right, the clouds are starting to roll in, and we know the epicness of the NBA season lies just over the horizon. With anticipation building, the Bright Side writing crew has been putting together its final thoughts ahead of the season, making predictions and trying to make sense of what lies before us.
On Sunday, we discussed reasons for optimism and concern. Today, we’re turning our attention to where we might be wrong, asking ourselves a simple question:
What would make you look back and say, “We should have seen that coming”?
It’s interesting when I sit around listening to podcasts featuring national media voices and hear their takes on the Phoenix Suns. Take Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe, for example, as they go through their over/under predictions for every team in the NBA. I understand that their analysis will be relatively surface-level because they’re nowhere near as glued to this team as we are. When Bill Simmons can’t get Khaman Maluach’s name right and says he didn’t look particularly good last season, it’s pretty clear he wasn’t watching much Suns basketball. Because Maluach looked good last year in his limited time, and he looked even better during Summer League and the early stages of the preseason. He’s given us legitimate reasons for hope.
It’s a reminder that the national guys simply don’t have the time to watch the Suns with the same level of attention that we do. And when they take the under on 38.5 wins, we interpret it as a personal slight. We become offended. How dare you? What do you know?! After all, the oddsmakers have been wrong about the Phoenix Suns for three consecutive seasons. They thought the Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker trio would produce a better team than it ultimately proved to be. Then they thought Phoenix would be horrible last season, and the Suns exceeded those expectations.
Which brings me to what we should’ve seen coming.
After spending an entire summer talking about how the Suns are going to smash the over, perhaps what we should see coming is that they simply won’t. Maybe they finish with 37 wins. That’s not my final prediction, but if it happens, I’m going to look back and say, “Duh.” Because isn’t that how it always seems to go? Whenever you feel that little tinge of excitement in sports, something comes along and takes it away. The joy never seems to last. The expectations never quite materialize.
Perhaps I’m in a particularly sour mood as I sit here writing this after watching Notre Dame lose to BYU on a last-second play that was clearly pass interference, with one second still remaining on the clock. I feel like the team was robbed. They should’ve had the ball at the 1-yard line, pounded it into the end zone, and won the game. All those narratives would’ve gone right out the window. But such is sports. Sometimes it feels like they’re designed to disappoint us rather than provide elation. I don’t know why we continue doing this to ourselves, investing so much emotionally in teams that will never care about us the way we care about them.
In that same breath, doesn’t this Suns season feel like we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment? We believe this team will progress, but much of that belief hinges on youth and development. And what have youth and development taught us time and time again? That it’s unreliable. That it isn’t something you can automatically count on. Part of development is failure. That’s how young players improve. They make mistakes, learn from them, and, hopefully, become better players as a result. But those mistakes have to happen first, and they’re going to come at a cost.
Doesn’t that feel like exactly where we’re headed this season?
These prospects that are fortifying our depth need time to develop, and in a league where 30 of our games will come against a tougher Eastern Conference, and with teams near the bottom of both conferences expected to compete harder, there could be more opportunities for failure than we’re willing to acknowledge. And when the season is over, perhaps we’ll look at each other and say, “Yep. Should’ve seen that coming.” We were too optimistic. We placed too much faith in the belief that youth and development would automatically translate into success.
What did the rest of the Bright Side writing crew have to say? Here you go.
Brandon Duenas: Don’t be surprised if the Mark Williams injury ends up being a blessing in disguise when we look back on it in March. This has more to do with how high I am on Khaman than anything. I believe he would’ve rotted away on the bench again if Williams were healthy, stunting his growth and ability to get valuable reps early in the season. When he (Williams) returns, they’re going to have a “problem” many teams would envy.
Holden Sherman: Jalen Green would be better off as a sixth man. Devin Booker is at his best when he’s being set up to score. Alongside Gillespie, Booker can be set up more. When he’s playing alongside Green, he has to not only set himself up to score, but also the rest of the offense.
Bruce Veliz: The way that Collin Gillespie can take control over a game. So far in the preseason, he has looked to improve on his role from last season, and this could prove he was worth way more than what he was paid this offseason.
Tom Mildenberger: I think you could argue that the thing we should have seen coming has already happened with the Mark Williams injury.
Since that’s already happened, I have another. Dillon Brooks will be the second-leading scorer on the Suns, and this year he will make the All-Star team. Early in the preseason, he has not only picked up where he left off but also seems to have improved his decision-making. This roster is the perfect setup for Dillon to thrive on the back side of the play with space to work. There are also the intangibles of hunger and desire. Dillon wants to be a star, and that’s nothing. I’m expecting a big year from the Villain.
CJ Navage: We should have seen comingthe inability of Oso to hang with the starting center spot. So many posters, videos, and fans point to things like ‘basketball IQ’ and ‘sees the floor well’ when describing his game, which is really damning with faint praise for a player who lacks some very necessary common basketball skills, e.g., shooting of any kind other than at the rim.
Mark Bowser: Like it or not, we just won’t be seeing DBook playing the majority of his time off the ball. Jalen Green may be taking baby steps to pace himself and make some plays for teammates, but is by no means a point guard offensively. Even for those clamoring for Collin Gillespie as the starting point guard, he’s not a pure distributor. While it would take some wear and tear off and further increase scoring ability, I think off-ball Book with this roster is a pipe dream.
Kevin Humpherys: I will go out on a limb and say I think Jalen Green takes a huge step forward this season. He looks more explosive during the preseason than he did all of last season, and his confidence shooting the ball is just as high. Green worked out with Steve Nash this summer, and as great as that is, I think his main area of growth will be simply getting a full season to figure things out with Booker and Brooks in Ott’s system.
The ball is still going to get sticky at times, but I think he will improve as the season progresses. With all the attention Devin Booker is going to get at the end of games, look for Green to be the one taking and making big shots for the Suns in crunch time this season.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 9: Detroit Pistons players Andre Drummond and Bruce Brown spent time with special needs children during a Jr. Pistons basketball clinic at Cass Tech High School October 9, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Almost two months ago, we announced the release of our new app, which you can find here or by searching SB Nation in your neighborhood app store. The app is available in North America, and we’re working on Europe and the rest of the world as we speak!
Quite a few of you have downloaded it over the past seven weeks and have been using it, but because we were at the quietest part of the NBA offseason, it’s also entirely possible a few of you missed it!
The goal with this app was to make it easier to join the community, and specifically comment, read the comments, and make your own posts, as well as keeping all the community posts – articles on the front page, Feed posts from you – front and center.
One of the most exciting new features is the game chat, which some of you may have already test-driven during the preseason. It makes it easier to follow along with the barrage of comments that come during games, and gets to the heart of why so many of you spend time in our community. Faster loading comments and notifications when someone replies to your comments and Feed posts are creating a more fun experience that you’re not going to find anywhere else.
We also wanted to elevate the community’s contributions by putting your Feed posts inside one stream alongside all the other articles from the site. To that end, more people have seen your posts and more people have commented on them. In fact, we’ve set single-day commenting records three different times in the last several weeks.
And if you prefer just reading our traditional front page articles, there’s an option at the top to do that.
So, thanks for making us part of your routine. If you haven’t checked it out, you can get the app for iOS or Android. And if you’re not an app user, that’s OK! We’re glad to have you following along in whatever way makes you most comfortable.
NBA fans, game day is better on the SB Nation app!
React to every crossover, alley-oop, and block alongside fellow basketball fans in real time.
He will take on a bigger role after LeBron James, the most recent star to bring a championship to the franchise and the longtime face of the NBA, left for the Philadelphia 76ers.
"It feels great," Dončić said about his role for the upcoming season. "Obviously it’s a new challenge. I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it’s not new to me. But I feel great. I feel excited. I’m ready to go. It’s been a long time since I played basketball, so I’m ready."
Dončić closed out the 2025-26 season as the scoring champion after averaging 33.5 points per game. It was his second career scoring title. Dončić stacked his resume as a six-time All-NBA Player, six-time All-Star and the 2018-2019 Rookie of the Year.
Dončić's accomplishments and achievements are why he was ranked No. 4 on USA Today's top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The guard still has a lot to play for and has the opportunity to become the face of the NBA.
How can Luka Dončić become the face of the NBA?
Dončić still has several attainable milestones to achieve during his career.
The most notable is winning an NBA championship.
Dončić has proven he has what it takes to be a franchise star that leads a team to the NBA Finals. He took the Dallas Mavericks to the title series to end the 2023-24 season. The Boston Celtics went on to beat the Mavericks 4-1.
He could also win his first regular-season MVP award.
Dončić's highest career finish in MVP voting came at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
He nearly averaged a triple-double but finished third behind Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Dončić averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds per game. He was traded to Los Angeles the following season. He finished fourth in the voting last season behind Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.
With Dončić serving as the focal point of the Lakers' roster for the upcoming season, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and the front office used the offseason to build around him.
“Take it every minute, every moment,” Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said before the Sixers’ Tuesday morning shootaround, surrounded by a considerable scrum of reporters. “You’ve got to try to just relax, stay comfortable, play with confidence.
“For us, we’re on the road, so we’ve got to be together, stay together. We’re all we’ve got all year. We’ve just got to come out and be ready. Stay focused.”
The Sixers went 1-3 in the preseason, although those results merit little attention.
Their starters shared the court twice, in losses to the Nets and Celtics. The offensive firepower was tantalizing at times. LeBron James showed his passing wizardry, Jaylen Brown scored efficiently in isolation, and the Sixers looked fearsome as a team in transition. There were also heaps of sloppy possessions and missed jumpers.
“It’s hard to know until we get there tomorrow,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Monday. “Other than some minutes and some conditioning, you don’t get much of a read on anything in the preseason. I feel good about the work that we’ve put in, the focus the guys have had. I feel great. Joel (Embiid) is ready to go. … So there’s a lot of things to be positive about.
“I think it’s a pretty tough test to start with for the group, but I’m certainly looking forward to it. I’m interested to see where we are and I’m interested to see our compete level and our fight in a tough environment tomorrow.”
“They’re getting their rings,” Philon said. “I feel like that’s exciting for our group to see that and be on the other side of it. I would say you can’t get better motivation than seeing that, then stepping on the floor and playing against them. I feel like it’s going to wake some our guys up to want to play at that level as well.
“Definitely for a rookie, I’ll be motivated to give it my all and do everything we need to get to that level that those guys were at last year.”
The two-time All-Star has never minded a spotlight.
“I think if you prepare, that takes the pressure away,” Maxey said last week. “My dad used to tell me, ‘Proper preparation prevents poor performance.’ We’re trying to prepare the right way so when we get out there to perform, we execute what we’ve got to execute.”
Whatever happens Tuesday night, the Sixers will have 81 games left on their schedule. It’s still a big, intriguing occasion.
“For us, (showing) the chemistry that’s been built over training camp,” Caldwell-Pope said. “Just trying to stay together. We’ve got the talent and we’ll see if we can just put it together.”
The Philadelphia 76ers' game at the New York Knicks, one of three games opening the NBA season on Oct. 20, is the league's most expensive regular-season ticket for 2026-27, with a get-in price of $1,474.
Based on ticketing data for 1,194 regular season and NBA Cup games USA TODAY obtained from TicketData on Oct. 19, the premium for that game is far from shocking.
As the defending champions, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks are the priciest home team in the league, with a median get-in price of $226 at Madison Square Garden. That’s double the next highest median, held by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and the 76ers command the biggest road premium. Games featuring the 76ers carry a median ticket-price premium of 242% compared to the typical price for the rest of a team’s home slate.
As such, when you put the Knicks and the 76ers together, it produces a pricey match-up (plus, New York will be raising its first NBA championship banner in more than 50 years).
On the opposite side, the cheapest median ticket falls to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Charlotte Hornets with their $19.50 get-in prices. The get-in price in New York is more than 11 times as expensive.
Also around $20 are the New Orleans Pelicans ($21 get-in price) and the Utah Jazz ($21.50).
The NBA’s hottest traveling tickets
On the road, James and the 76ers are priced well above most host teams’ other games. Philadelphia’s road games cost a median premium of 242% compared to the typical get-in price for other games at that arena.
In fact, the 76ers are the most expensive (or tied for the most expensive) visiting ticket in 25 out of the 29 NBA arenas they'll visit. The matchups that beat Philadelphia are New York at Brooklyn ($192 get-in price), Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago ($159), Miami at Milwaukee ($110), and Boston at Minnesota ($302).
The Spurs, who lost to the Knicks in last season's NBA Finals, are the 76ers' priciest visiting opponent, with a $223 get-in price for their March 21 game. That's just $1 more than the $222 get-in price for New York's Feb. 11 visit to Philadelphia.
San Antonio itself has a tie between the 76ers and the Knicks — both teams' games in San Antonio have a get-in price of $181.
Philadelphia’s premium is far and away the biggest across the league.
The next trio are all quite close together, though — road games with the Warriors and Spurs are 93% higher than the typical ticket at a given arena, while the Knicks provide a 91% bump.
On the flip side are the Brooklyn Nets. Games involving the Nets are 25% cheaper than other games at their road arenas. That discount beats the Sacramento Kings (a 24% drop) and the Atlanta Hawks (a 20% savings).
Most expensive NBA tickets for 2026-27
Here’s a look at the top 10 most expensive regular season games for the upcoming season, based on the get-in price as of Oct. 19 on TicketData. Nine out of the 10 are at Madison Square Garden, while three of the top five involve the 76ers:
76ers at Knicks: Oct. 20 — $1,474
Spurs at Knicks: Dec. 25 — $487
Celtics at Knicks: March 14 — $398
76ers at Knicks: Feb. 27 — $394
76ers at Raptors: Jan. 10 — $378
Heat at Knicks: Nov. 27 — $370
Lakers at Knicks: Jan. 30 — $362
Warriors at Knicks: Feb. 13 — $352
Nets at Knicks: Dec. 27 — $350
Celtics at Knicks: April 4 — $338
Methodology: USA TODAY analyzed advertised get-in ticket prices for the 2026–27 NBA season from TicketData, collected Oct. 19. Home prices reflect each team's median get-in price, while road premiums measure the median percentage difference between a visiting team's ticket prices and other games at the same arenas. Conditional NBA Cup games were excluded.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
It might be hard to believe Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is entering his fourth NBA season at just 23 years old.
Speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill and Dalton Johnson on “Dubs Talk,” Podziemski detailed the importance of taking his time as he grows within a championship-level organization.
“Obviously, it’s well known I want to be great, and I want to accomplish things individually and as a team,” Podziemski said. “But it requires patience, learning, actually going through those situations being guarded by the number one, number two guys. That all takes time, and you think you can just skip that step, but everything is a step the same way it was for Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson) when they were younger.”
Since being selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Podziemski has been a mainstay in the Warriors’ rotation.
Podziemski has spent more time as a Warrior than the majority of the roster, despite being five months younger than rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, earning coach Steve Kerr’s trust over the years.
The Santa Clara graduate finished top-five in minutes per game in each of his three seasons in the NBA, culminating in a five-year, $110 million contract extension signed earlier this month.
Podziemski also understands how lucky he is to inherit a situation with Kerr and Curry as his veteran mentors.
“I try to express gratitude and really look back at things for myself, and I’m in a position that no other young guy has really been in for a long time since Steph and Klay,” Podziemski added. “So I’m grateful for that.”
Of the guards Golden State has drafted since Curry in 2009 and Thompson in 2011, Jordan Poole is the only player to average more points per game during their Warriors tenure than Podziemski.
With the 38-year-old Curry being managed more than ever by Kerr, and stars Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņģis currently dealing with injury woes, Podziemski might finally see his patience pay off in a larger offensive role this season.
