SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Warriors will only go as far as their franchise leader Stephen Curry will take them.
That is partially why it was important for him to ink a deal to return to the Warriors for the next year or two. Now that the dust has settled and the ink is dry, an area of focus for Curry will be his availability.
Curry missed 39 games for the Warriors last year with knee issues. Entering his 18th season, he's not getting any younger. He spent the offseason nursing his knee through many rounds of golf during the summer, now he's ready for basketball.
"Knee is feeling great, ready to go. No issues at all. There is a management element of it for sure where you just have to be mindful of everything that you're doing in practice, games, preparation," Curry said. "We haven't talked about the game schedule yet or anything like that where I'm kind of getting too far ahead of myself, but for training camp and the preseason schedule and getting myself into shape and ready to go, there's no limitations at all."
Curry is more confident going into the year, he said, after becoming stronger and understanding that he doesn't have 18-year-old knees anymore, let alone 28-year-old ligaments.
"So I'm excited to get out there and hoop. I feel like I've built a really good foundation over the summer to be in a much better position up until, what, November last year, it wasn't really any kind of signs or symptoms, but I feel a lot stronger and more understanding of what I'm dealing with," he said. "That gives me a lot of confidence going into the year."
“That’s how bad it is? To (not) make the playoffs?”
* Walks off *
“DAMN!”
Steph Curry’s reaction after he was asked about people not expecting the Warriors to make the playoffs 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/PBJ5jitSXE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla answers questions during a press conference during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla understands what’s ahead for Boston.
In fact, he’s anticipating it more than anything else. Mazzulla made that clear when he took the podium Monday during the team’s media day at the Auerbach Center.
“The most thing I’m excited about is the unknown,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I always get excited about that because there’s risk to the unknown, but there’s also opportunity to the unknown.”
For the second consecutive postseason, the Celtics have failed to make it beyond the second round. It hasn’t been since the team was led by Isaiah Thomas (in 2015-16) that Boston has gone back-to-back years without securing a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Last time the Celtics took the floor, they fumbled a 3-1 series lead over the 76ers for the first time in franchise history — in front of their home crowd in a disappointing Game 7.
For Mazzulla, entering his fifth season at the helm, that does two things: it mounts pressure and keeps him fueled in the most Mazzulla way imaginable.
“I know the stories I tell myself to keep myself internally motivated,” Mazzulla shared, “which are healthy and unhealthy at the same time.”
Mazzulla has seen it all since replacing Ime Udoka four years ago, shortly before the team’s training camp in 2022. From coaching the team through a 3-1 series deficit to fight for a Game 7 to going 16-3 en route to raising Banner 18, Mazzulla has undergone more than he’d be willing to admit.
Last season, without Jayson Tatum for most of the regular season, and with a talent-depleted roster, Mazzulla coached the C’s to 56 wins. He was even named the NBA’s Coach of the Year, becoming the youngest recipient at 37 years old in over 50 years (since Phil Johnson in 1974–75).
By maximizing last offseason’s group, most notably Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, then-rookie Hugo González and Jordan Walsh, Mazzulla changed the discourse surrounding the Celtics. Rather than linking the team to a justified tanking-for-draft-capital case throughout the regular season, the Celtics were being talked about as legitimate championship contenders to make it out of the East.
When it all came to a crashing end in Game 7 of the first round, Mazzulla took time and reflected.
“The first couple of weeks of a end of a season, even when you win, is kind of a debrief of the type of person and coach you became,” Mazzulla explained, “based on everything you went through. And then you take the rest of that summer of like, ‘OK, with all that information, who do I wanna become? And what do I wanna get better at?”
That’s been a constant obsession for Mazzulla.
Even with a championship ring and a COTY trophy to his name, Mazzulla hasn’t abandoned his student-of-the-game approach. He’s willing to accept the discomfort of blowing a 3-1 lead to Philadelphia and extract something of value to apply moving forward. To him, there’s value in both the highs and lows of an NBA season.
Everything the Celtics, including Mazzulla, went through last season shaped them through experience and perspective.
“I’m different,” Mazzulla continued. “I’m a product of the experiences that you go through. So you wanna get better at those, and the great thing about the NBA season is it’s gonna put you in more situations that you’re gonna become a product of. And you work to use those to your advantage to grow as a coach, as a person and as a team.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 28: Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla answers questions during a press conference during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just as the Celtics faced what looked to be a colossal challenge in starting the season without Tatum nearly a year ago, the team took their circumstances in stride. Mazzulla treated the season as any other, regardless of what Boston had to work with, and made the absolute most despite suffering a historic tumble to close it out.
This time, it’ll be Round 2 as Mazzulla undergoes his next test.
Boston moved on from Jaylen Brown this offseason and replaced him with Paul George, who’s only a year younger than Mazzulla. The demand for support guys like Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Queta and González remains high, as is the standard to make a deep playoff run this go-around.
That hasn’t gone anywhere.
“I don’t know that it’s necessarily the phrase ‘without Jaylen,’” Mazzulla said. “It’s really every year that it gets answered. Every year you’re getting new players, old players, the same players you have coming back to expand their games, and they look differently. So it’s not as much of what does it look like without one person or the other as much as what’s our roster? How can we take advantage of the strength and the talent that we have? How can we take advantage of the offseason and the work that the guys have put in? And turn that into an offense and a defensive philosophy.”
Subtracting Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and over 70 percent of Tatum’s ninth season put Mazzulla’s clipboard to the ultimate test. He’s been there, faced it, and found ways to work around it.
This upcoming season will be no different in that regard.
There’s an emotional rupture still within the fanbase mourning Brown’s departure. There’s the thrust of Tatum back to the forefront as Boston’s alpha, coming off his career-threatening Achilles tear in 2025. There’s the need for guys to deliver, maneuver and buy into what Mazzulla and the coaching staff deem the formula.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - SEPTEMBER 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs speaks during San Antonio Spurs Media Day at Victory Capital Performance Center on September 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s finally that time! After a shorter offseason than any other this decade but still a long 3 1/2 month wait, it’s finally Media Day for the 2026-27 Spurs. There was definitely a different vibe than recent years with the team fresh off a trip to the Finals but with a chip on their shoulder from the loss and still plenty of room to learn and grow. Here are the biggest takeaways.
Staff additions and promotions
Before things got started, the Spurs did a press release with all staff hires and promotions, including Billy Donovan as new assistant coach as well as his son, Billy Donovan III (who was an Austin Spurs assistant back in 2017) in player development.
Spurs welcome Billy Donovan as new assistant coach and announce several new promotions and additions to the Basketball Ops crew. pic.twitter.com/uAJDRKyTTV
With this being the first time most of these Spurs enter a new season fresh off a playoff appearance, let a lone a Finals ones, a new factor to deal with this season are greater expectations and having a target on their back. Here is what head coach Mitch Johnson, who in just two years of coaching has been on both ends of the expectation spectrum, had to say about meeting the moment:
“I understand that’s what comes with the field we’re in and the positions that we hold in our jobs, but it really doesn’t mean anything. There’s things we want to improve upon and things we felt like we did a good job of that we want to continue to grow in. The expectations are kind of like big games, right? There’s added enthusiasm, excitement, criticism, opinions. And I guess I’d say I’ve been on both sides of it now in this league one way or another, and I’ll take the (high) expectations.”
Speaking of higher expectations, Victor Wembanyama not only enters the season as the potential favorite for MVP, but he also managed to establish himself as a villain during the playoffs with his play, antics and emotions. As far has he’s concerned, that’s a sign of respect.
Victor Wembanyama shared his perspective on being vilified at times during the playoff run: “It feels like going through something of great magnitude and feels like destiny of anybody — We're fighting for the top spot of the mountain. We're going to have to move people in our… pic.twitter.com/deumzMvtWC
Everyone remembers what happened in the Finals and are using it has motivation. Wemby acknowledged that the losses kept him up at times but he learned to accept that it is part of the growing curve.
Wemby on sitting with the emotions of the Finals loss: “It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.” pic.twitter.com/Yhh1CJOtCn
De’Aaron Fox also addressed falling short of expectation in the Finals while playing on a bad ankle, while also having to get past that mental hurdle and move on.
"Injuries happen. I was able to play through it, so I played. I wish I played better, but I didn't. I have a gift of being able to move on. I move on, and I reflect. But it's a new season. It's a new day." pic.twitter.com/kAfmfi4X9I
At the same time, folks should watch out, because another factor in the loss was Wemby’s lack of stamina in the Finals, which he has addressed, to the point where he has surprised even himself.
"My [conditioning] baseline has increased. I'm in better shape than I could've expected, just from experience and growing. It doesn't mean I pushed myself less this summer." pic.twitter.com/bkyDsfOUxv
As the main offseason addition, Harris said all the things we’re used to hearing from player who join the Spurs, whom after 15 years in the league, he has admired from afar.
"Excited to be here. Since I came into the league, this organization has truly epitomized excellence. When the opportunity was presented, I was really excited. [To] strive for something I haven't achieved yet. I'm blessed to be a part of it." pic.twitter.com/EffaR946p0
Finally, he said he’s willing to except any role, with his only goal being to win. That will be a good thing, because there is a lot of talent on this team and more than five players capable of being starters anywhere else in the NBA.
Questions have and will continue to persist about the Spurs’ dynamic guard trio of Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. Johnson addressed it head on, saying they plan on playing all three together more this season but couldn’t say how much.
Mitch Johnson's full answer on the three-guard rotation of Fox, Castle, and Harper. pic.twitter.com/OEvgTAErl9
All three guards also said all the right things when asked about it, saying they expect/hope to play more together, but there won’t be any tension over who’s starting or coming off the bench.
"I think we had some success when us three were on the court. It didn't happen a lot, but I definitely expect to see it more, and for us to continue to grow both offensively and defensively." https://t.co/baU5TV783kpic.twitter.com/U3ev3W8gQv
"Everyone has a competitive edge to them. The biggest thing for me is whatever I can do to help the team win, whatever position all the coaches think is best for me to be in — that's the position I have to go in. Whatever happens this year, I'm always going to stay positive." pic.twitter.com/PzRBDoGz7i
Castle appeared to be the butt of jokes today. First, Devin Vassell and Carter Bryant crashed his press conference, with Vassell asking if Castle or Carter had more bounce. Castle scoffed and said himself, but honestly, considering they’re the two reigning Dunk Context runners-up, it’s hard to say. Maybe we need a dunk off?
Devin Vassell and Carter Bryant crash Stephon Castle’s Media Day interview 🤣
Vassell: “Who got more bounce, you or Carter and why is it Carter?”
Castle: “You know the answer to that bro. You know Carter doesn’t have more bounce than me.”
Carter also harassed Castle about his “killer” little dog. (Don’t laugh! I had a miniature dachshund I had to hold or put in another room when strangers came to the house; she once grabbed a worker’s jeans and he freaked out!)
Spurs’ Carter Bryant asks Stephon Castle when he’s going to unleash his dog, Steph Says his dog is a killer and he’s gonna unleash him when he’s ready:@spurfectblog#PorVidapic.twitter.com/qxRuMP7pEi
These are just the main points, but there was plenty more, including from Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie, so be sure to watch the whole thing when you have the chance.
Training camp starts tomorrow and preseason next week. Are you ready, Pounders?
The biggest story of the Detroit Pistons’ summer now lingers into the start of training camp.
Jalen Duren remains unsigned.
Coming off the best season of his career, one that included his first All-Star appearance and an All-NBA Third Team selection, Duren and the Pistons have spent the summer negotiating a new contract without reaching an agreement.
That remained the case Monday at Pistons Media Day, which Duren did not attend.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Duren has declined a fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million offer from Detroit as the two sides remain at a stalemate.
Still, Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon made one thing clear Monday: Detroit still wants Duren back.
“We will be excited to have him in regardless of what decision he does make,” Langdon said. “He was a huge reason for our success the last two seasons, had a tremendous season individually last year as well, and we believe he will do the same thing this year.
“We’ll integrate him, and he’s going to have a fantastic season regardless of his decision. But we’re looking forward to getting him.”
Duren, 22, averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the field last season, establishing himself as one of the league’s top young centers and a major piece of Detroit’s rise.
But his long-term future with the franchise has remained unsettled throughout the offseason.
Langdon declined to discuss specifics of the negotiations Monday, but acknowledged that he has not personally spoken with Duren throughout the summer.
“I have not spoken to the young man all summer, so I don’t know how that is,” Langdon said. “For me, I’m not going to hold anything against him. Again, I would be very happy to have him back. I’ll be excited. He’s been a huge part of our success. I think he’ll continue to be a huge part of that going forward.”
Despite the lack of an agreement — and the lack of communication between Langdon and Duren — Detroit’s stance publicly has remained consistent.
The Pistons still view Duren as one of the pillars of a young core, alongside Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson.
“When he is back, it’s bringing him in, letting him know that he has a huge part, and putting him in situations where he can be the best version of himself and help us out to the best degree that he can,” Langdon said. “So, we’ll be excited to have him back and incorporate him into the team.”
While the situation is unfamiliar territory for a Pistons organization that has spent the last two seasons building continuity around its young core, Langdon has dealt with contract stalemates before during his time as an NBA executive.
His message Monday was that the organization would not allow the negotiations to change how it views or treats Duren once he returns.
“We’ll do everything we can to support him and get the best version of him, which is what we’ve done the past two years,” Langdon said. “That will not change. Those are things that we can control. His decision, it’s not one that we can control.”
Duren’s next major deadline comes Thursday, Oct. 1.
If he does not agree to a long-term contract, Duren has the option to accept Detroit’s one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer. Doing so would allow him to return to the Pistons this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Sacramento and Milwaukee have been among the teams reportedly interested in Duren, although Langdon declined Monday to discuss whether Detroit has explored potential sign-and-trade scenarios.
Whatever frustration may exist within the negotiations, however, it does not appear to have changed Duren’s relationship with his teammates or coaching staff.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Cunningham both said Monday that they remained in contact with Duren throughout the summer without attempting to influence his contract decision.
“He knows how I feel about him, and I continue to let him know how I feel about him,” Bickerstaff said. “And that’s really all that matters. I love JD.
“I know how JD feels about me, how he feels about being a member of the Pistons. It’s positive. He’s a huge part of what we do, and where we are right now, the steps that we’ve taken to get there. We look forward to having him back.”
The Pistons open training camp Tuesday without Duren, who remains unsigned and therefore is not currently part of the team’s training camp roster.
How long that remains the case is still unknown.
But after an entire summer of negotiations, Detroit enters training camp with the same major question hanging over the organization — and only days remaining before Duren must make his next decision.
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “One of the best places I’ve ever played.
“I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”
Philadelphia 76ers’ LeBron James reacts as he goes between stations during the NBA basketball team’s media day in Camden, N.J., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
Following the Knicks’ championship in June, the 41-year-old only considered his current team along with the Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors and Timberwolves for his free agency decision this offseason. James felt he would be taking a lot of heat from Knicks fans and the media if he jumped on the team after a historic season.
“Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all,” he said, referring to the media. “But much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable. But, yeah, I’m happy where I’m at, and I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’s difficult. The last thing you want to do is mess up something like that,” Paul said. “The Knicks have a good thing. … If the Knicks hadn’t have won [the title], there would be no board [of teams]. He’d be going to the Knicks.”
From left, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers’ LeBron James and VJ Edgecombe get ready for a group photo during the NBA basketball team’s media day, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Camden, N.J. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
James, who plans to spend time between residences in Philadelphia and New York, went on to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, but the 22-time All-Star continuously emphasized it was never about the money for him.
Rather, James wants to have an impact and bring a championship home to a new city at what is the twilight point of his career.
The four-time NBA champ even bluntly stated: “I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round” on Monday.
The Knicks swept the 76ers swiftly in the second-round of the playoffs in May. Philly has not been to the NBA Finals since losing in the 2000-01 season to the Lakers in five games.
Alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and young star VJ Edgecombe, James will start his Sixers era on Oct. 20 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Amid a busy offseason full of signings, trades and departures, the Los Angeles Lakers’ most notable addition was center Walker Kessler, whom they acquired via sign-and-trade from the Utah Jazz. Ideally, Kessler will serve as the long-term answer at center during the Luka Dončić era, a position which has eluded the Lakers since trading away Anthony Davis to acquire Dončić in February 2025.
Luka Doncic, when asked about why/how he identified Walker Kessler as a player he wanted on the Lakers, says Walker was always tough to play against. Added that Walker will be an "amazing fit for us" and "he’s going to help us a lot.”
Between his generational passing and defensive inconsistencies, Dončić has long paired well with defensive-minded, play-finishing centers, so his desire to land Kessler is no surprise. When the Dallas Mavericks made the 2024 NBA Finals, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford played some of the best basketball of their careers alongside Dončić. Last season, Deandre Ayton’s true shooting percentage was 5.4 points higher (69.6 vs. 64.2) with Dončić on the floor, according to Databallr.
Since entering the league, Kessler’s converted 74.7% (716-of-959) of his shots around the rim and posted a block rate no lower than the 95th percentile (excluding last year’s five-game sample), per Cleaning the Glass. He is both a reliable interior scorer and high-level rim protector who will benefit from Dončić‘s offensive splendor while helping cover for his struggles defending in space.
Most interestingly is the lengths to which head coach JJ Redick deploys Kessler as a screening and playmaking hub. He’s developed in both areas over the past four years and could be a short-roll outlet when Dončić is doubled or help create easier scoring chances for Dončić and Austin Reaves off the ball. The finishing and interior defense are bankable. It’s the scope of his offensive capabilities that could further validate Dončić‘s belief Kessler is “an amazing fit.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by T.J. Bickerstaff #49 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BRIGHTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 15: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during a press conference on September 15, 2026 at The Auerbach Center in Brighton, 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 — As he embarks on his Year 17 NBA season, Paul George has heard it all.
He knows he’s been counted out by most of the basketball world after several injury-riddled campaigns that saw him perform well below his previous All-Star levels. He knows how his four-year, $211.58 million maximum contract, signed two summers ago, is widely perceived (spoiler alert: it hasn’t been viewed as a steal).
But on Celtics Media Day, George made clear that he’s confident that he has plenty left in the tank. He might not be in his physical prime — he might not be Indiana Pacers Paul George, or Oklahoma City MVP candidate Paul George — but he’s still really darn good.
(For reference, George averaged 17.4 points per game while shooting 48.9% from the field in 7 playoff games against the Celtics last Spring, and taking turns guarding Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum).
On Monday afternoon, donning a Celtics jersey for the first time, George attributed some of his more underwhelming stretches in recent years to injuries that he tried to persevere through. And this year, fresh off his first fully-healthy offseason in years, he’s ready to show the world what he’s capable of.
“I think the most frustrating thing about it is when a player is not healthy — but he tries everything to put it all on the line, tries to be available for his team, knowing that he’s not fully 100%, and then people are saying ‘Oh, he’s not this, he’s not that,’” he said. “Like, the fact of the matter was I wasn’t healthy; I was trying to play through injuries and be available and give everything that I had to the team, when I maybe — I probably — should have took a little more time off to let my body fully heal. And so, to hear that he’s not capable of this or he’s ‘washed’, it’s frustrating just because it’s like, I’m still capable of doing those things when healthy and I feel like my body is is back healthy. I feel I’m capable of doing those things again.’”
Asked Paul George how motivated he is to show people what he’s capable of when healthy:
“I think the most frustrating thing about it is when a player is not healthy, but he tries everything to put it all on the line, tries to be available for his team, knowing that he's not… pic.twitter.com/KEO4imykBz
For his career, George averaged 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. From 2015 to 2024, he never averaged below 21 points per game. But in his last two seasons in Philadelphia, his numbers declined across the board; he averaged 16.2 in 2024-2025 and 17.3 points in 2025-2026 while playing 78 games across both seasons.
When he was formally introduced earlier in September, George said he felt reborn.
“This summer really was a chance to continue to work: strengthen my body, strengthen my knee,” he said. “It’s almost like a kind of rebirth, or reborn again — to be in a system, to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good. To be able to work, to be able to train again in the summers — my summers the last couple of years were dedicated to rehab.”
Still, his biggest motivation won’t be motivating the naysayers and critics, it’s showing himself what he’s capable of.
It’s reminding himself that the physical limitations he faced over the past couple of years were a result of injuries and surgeries that have since healed.
“It’s more so from a personal standpoint,” George said. “It’s not about going out and trying to drop 30 every night. I think it’s more so about being available, being efficient, being consistent, and I think, again, for myself, just proving that, when healthy, I’m able to do what I’ve done in my career, and I don’t judge it off of what I’ve done while being injured. It’s two different tales, I think, and so I’m erring on the side of what can I do when I’m healthy.’”
Paul George looks forward to excelling alongside Jayson Tatum
George’s mindset on Media Day was consistent with what he expressed in his introductory press conference two weeks ago: he’s not trying to turn back the clock to his prime, when he was often his teams’ leading scorer. But he does want to excel in a complementary role to Jayson Tatum.
“I’m here to help JT. He’s the guy,” George said then. “I’ve played alongside another superstar wing, and we coexisted beautifully. I see this with myself, with JT, being able to play off him.”
Fittingly, George walked into his Media Day press conference as Tatum was mid-answer to a question about George’s impact on him as a young basketball player.
“I’m around that generation of kids that kind of grew up watching him play, especially when I was in middle school and high school,” Tatum said.
Jayson Tatum was talking about how growing up he looked up to Paul George, without realizing PG was in the back of the room waiting for his media availability
LeBron James has spent over two decades rewriting the NBA record books. James holds over 40 different major official records, including the league’s all-time leading scorer.
Now, in what he has called his “last decision” of his legendary career, he has one final opportunity to add a few more chapters to the record books, as well as extend many of those major records he already holds.
“I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round,” James said during Sixers Media Day on Tuesday.
James with his new 76er teammates Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
At 41 years old, the numbers say he’s already the most accomplished statistical player in history. The scary part? He’s not finished yet.
The moment James steps onto the floor for Philadelphia in the season opener, he’ll extend his own record by appearing in his 24th NBA season. It’s a record that feels increasingly more untouchable in an era defined by load management and shorter careers.
James will also extend his records for all-time points and regular season minutes, pushing him further beyond Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in both categories. If he’s able to average at least 20 points per game with Philadelphia, something he’s done every season of his career since he entered the league in 2003, he’ll stretch that unprecedented record to 24 consecutive seasons.
Even the records that sound almost routine for James have become monuments to his longevity. James already owns the most 30-point games in NBA history, having passed Michael Jordan a long time ago. He also owns the record for the oldest player to ever score 40 points in a game, record a triple-double, and many other milestones that prove he’s winning the annual battle against Father Time.
LeBron James making his debut in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform at the team’s media day in Camden, NJ on Sept. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
But the Sixers didn’t court James to chase records, they brought him to the City of Brotherly Love to chase rings.
Philadelphia currently has a 43-year championship drought with their last title coming in 1983 over James’ former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. If James can help end that drought and lift the Larry O’Brien trophy for a fifth time, he would become the first player in NBA history to win a championship with four different franchises. If he wins Finals MVP, he’d stand alone as the only player in NBA history to capture Finals MVP with four different teams. He’d also become the oldest player to ever win Finals MVP.
Here’s 10 NBA records LeBron James can either break or extend in this upcoming season with the Philadelphia 76ers:
Most seasons played (24th) — His 23rd season last year already broke Vince Carter’s record of 22. No active player is within five seasons of him.
Most regular-season minutes (57,000+) — He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career mark of 57,446 in December 2024 and keeps climbing.
LeBron James. Instagram/@sixers
Most seasons averaging 20+ points (23) — He has never averaged under 20 in a season, rookie year to age 40. A 20-point average in Philadelphia stretches it to 24 straight, alone at the top.
Most 30-point games (672) — Ahead of Michael Jordan (671) and Wilt Chamberlain (557). Every 30-point game widens the gap.
Oldest player to score 40 in a game (40 years, 38 days) — He took it from Michael Jordan (40 years, 4 days) with a 42-point night in February 2025. They are the only two players to score 40 after turning 40.
Oldest player to record a triple-double (41 years, 44 days) — He broke Karl Malone’s 22-year-old record (40 years, 127 days) in February 2026 with a 28-12-10 against Dallas.
Most missed field goals (14,482) — The quirky one. He passed Kobe Bryant’s 14,481 in October 2024, the cost of scoring more points than anyone in league history.
Records within reach if Philadelphia wins the NBA Championship:
First player to win a title with four different franchises — No one has done it. James, Robert Horry, John Salley and Danny Green are tied at three. A Sixers title also ends Philadelphia’s championship drought dating back to Moses Malone and Julius Erving in 1983.
First player to win Finals MVP with four franchises — He is already the only player to win it with three (Miami, Cleveland, LA).
Oldest Finals MVP in history — Kareem set it at 38 years, 54 days in 1985. James would be 42.
LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers. Instagram/@sixers
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The Clippers announced Monday, Sept. 28 at the team’s media day that Ingram was dealing with a partially torn left Achilles tendon, which was revealed during a May surgery to repair an issue with his heel. Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden disclosed the injury to reporters assembled on site.
The recovery for a partially torn Achilles is not as intensive as one for a full tear and should be around six months.
That timeline puts Ingram being available potentially around late October or November, should he not suffer any setbacks. Ingram will be reevaluated then and the team will make a determination at that time.
Ingram, 29, played 77 regular-season games last year for the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. But Ingram’s heel injury prevented him from being fully available during Toronto’s first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram played only 11:22 during Game 5 and then missed Games 6 and 7, when Cleveland clinched the series.
Although the trade for Ingram had been agreed to June 30, the investigation into Leonard and the Clippers about salary cap circumvention had not been finalized. The trade remained on hold for more than a month and was eventually executed Sept. 14.
The Clippers open their season Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings.
The four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and man of many nicknames settled in Monday morning for his opening Sixers press conference. He picked up the customary name card at the podium and removed it.
“You guys know who I am, right?” LeBron James asked with a smile.
Indeed, no one in the room had any confusion about James’ identity and illustrious résumé.
The more interesting matter was his new reality as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. James signed a minimum-salary deal this summer because he believes the Sixers can contend for a title.
“We all want to put the work in,” he said. “That’s the most important. Guys can go around talking and saying these things should happen, but nothing will happen unless you actually put the work in. We’re all speaking the same language. It’s going to start every single day, just getting one percent better every single day starting tomorrow (at training camp). Everyone’s excited to be here and that’s exciting to be a part of.”
Even for Tyrese Maxey, who’s worked out with James for years, grown close with the 22-time All-Star and pitched the Sixers in free agency, the shock hasn’t fully dissipated.
“I think now it’s just really, really weird,” Maxey said. “I see him in the summertime every year, but to see him here in Camden, New Jersey at the facility with a Sixers jersey on, it’s cool. It’s a cool experience.”
Tongue in cheek, Joel Embiid downplayed his role in James’ decision.
“As far as Bron, I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t recruit him,” Embiid said.
He eventually cracked and let out a laugh.
James described Embiid as “one of the most talented guys that we have in the world.” There’s no doubt he sees plenty of championship ingredients in Philadelphia.
He also has no expectation that wins will appear with a snap of the fingers. James was the first of many Sixers to stress sacrifice.
“Sometimes in sports, people hear ‘sacrifice’ and automatically, people start thinking (negatively) about it,” he said. “It’s not a negative thing. You can sacrifice one or two more shots that gives you one or two more bursts of energy in the fourth quarter to slide over and take a charge. Or it gives you one or two more bursts of energy to get an offensive rebound. … Or an extra two bursts of energy to run back on defense and get a chase-down block. Some things that don’t show up in the box scores. So it’s not a negative when people say, ‘OK, you have to make a sacrifice or your role may change.’
“If we’re trying to do something special, which I believe we are, then it’s a positive. So many guys that have been in our league over the course of my career have never made a sacrifice … and they average 20 points, 22 points a game. And they’ve had one or two postseason appearances and zero postseason wins. If that’s the way you want your career to be, then that’s fine. Everyone has different goals. But I don’t think anybody in the locker room has that feeling and wants their career to be like that, or we wouldn’t be here.”
To James, big names alone are insufficient.
“I think the best way to expedite it is obviously the floor, the practice court,” he said. “That helps. The film sessions help. The bus rides, the plane rides, the camaraderie, those things help. It’s going to take time. I think people, sometimes they don’t really want to work and everyone wants instant oatmeal. You just put the oatmeal in the bowl, you put the water in, you throw it in the microwave, and in a minute and a half, you’ve got something to eat. You’re ready to go.
“If you want to do something special, it takes time and it takes every single day doing things that you may not want to do. It’s the same thing over and over and over. … You have to fall in love with doing things that are uncomfortable. And if we can do that, then we can be a great team.
“If we don’t do that, then we’ll be like, ‘Oh man, that was a great team on paper and we had a lot of great talent … and we lost in the second round.’ I don’t want to do that. I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure. So work needs to be done and I’m ready to put the work in.”
It's been a rough summer for the Clippers and their fans, and unfortunately, the start of training camp didn't mean a reprieve from bad news.
Brandon Ingram has undergone surgery to repair a partially torn Achilles in his foot and will miss the start of the season, Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden announced at the team's media day, via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. Redden added that surgery on Ingram's heel in May also addressed this issue, which is a partial tear, and the recovery time is about six months shorter than a more complete Achilles tear.
Still, Ingram is out for the start of the season and will be reevaluated around that time.
Ingram has battled injuries throughout his career but is coming off a mostly healthy season in which he was an All-Star with the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Ingram, along with Darius Garland at the point, are seen as floor raisers for this team.
Because it's the Clippers, there was other injury news as well. Bradley Beal has recovered from his hip surgery but is now dealing with knee inflammation and won't be ready for the first part of training camp. Big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser is progressing from a foot injury but will not be ready for the start of the season. That is on top of the previously announced surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff for Jordan Miller, which will sideline him until around the All-Star break.
On a positive note, Darius Garland said he was fully healthy and had recovered from injuries that had limited him for a couple of seasons (including to 45 games played last season).
“I think his performance was fine. I don’t think he has a future in acting,” Hart said with a bit of a smirk, which drew laughs within the press conference room.
Brunson, the NBA Finals MVP, became the first Knick to ever host the historic sketch comedy show on Saturday to kick off the show’s 52nd season. Hart was in attendence for Brunson’s big moment alongside fellow Knicks starters Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
During Brunson’s monologue, each of the Knicks had their own shining moment.
The three-time All-Star called on each of his teammates for a question. Hart used his camera time to comment that he is a fan of Brunson’s podcast, “The Roommates Show,” which the two co-host together and he asked if his captain took a $113 million pay cut in July 2024.
“Is that money still up for grabs?” Hart asked.
The two went on to throw jabs at each other, including Hart’s viral goosing of Brunson during the team’s NBA Cup triumph.
From left, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, host Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart of the Knicks appear during the monologue on “Saturday Night Live,” Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Will Heath/NBC via Getty ImagesHost Jalen Brunson is pictured during the monologue on “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Hart and his wife Shannon were later seen on their way to the “SNL” after-party at the Crane Club in New York.
Brunson also invited up Stephen A. Smith played by Kenan Thompson up to the stage, showcasing him as one of his doubters on his way to an NBA title.
The Knicks beat the Spurs in five games to soldifiy their first NBA title in 53 years. The hysteria over the feat took over New York in June and has continued through the offseason, prompting a hosting gig for Brunson.
The Knicks are set to return to the Garden on Oct. 20 to tip off the 2026-27 season against the 76ers.
BRIGHTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 15: General Manager Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during a press conference on September 15, 2026 at The Auerbach Center in Brighton, 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
During a question for Brad Stevens to open up the Celtics’ 2026-27 media day, the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn was searching for a specific word.
It’s a term Stevens used often during the first press conference following the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade, quickly becoming a buzzword moving forward that you may or may not be sick of hearing.
Optionality.
Washburn called it a “Brad Word.”
“That’s a Brad word. Sweet,” Stevens said with a smile and a hint of sarcasm.
New 'Brad Word' unlocked😂@GwashburnGlobe asks Brad Stevens about balancing 'optionality' between winning now vs. planning for the future:
Now, it’s a word to describe the Celtics entering the new season, who have spent the summer creating financial flexibility while adding piece after piece to build a team that can both sustain success through an entire regular season and win at the highest levels of the postseason.
For the 2026-27 Celtics, depth is king.
“The balance right now is that you do have to have that depth piece to be good,” Stevens said. “The way that the game is played, how much ground you have to cover, how versatile you have to be up and down your roster is really important.”
Stevens related the need for a deep team to his days coaching at Butler, where a roster’s talent at the top could make up for a lack of depth on the back end.
“I think most coaches would tell you, especially when I was in college, it’d be like, I’m good with seven or eight guys, and we can figure out how to navigate it with the rest, but that’s just not the way you can win in this league, so I’m really interested to see how the depth is utilized as an advantage,” Stevens said.
The 82-game endurance test underscores a need for playable talent outside of the core rotation. Just 18 of 582 players contributed in all 82 games last season, making iron men, especially star-caliber iron men, a rarity.
The teams that can adjust on the fly and put together a productive rotation regardless of that night’s injury report are the ones that’ll see the most positive results in the conference standings. The Celtics, who last year had 10 five-man regular season lineups generate 50+ minutes, are well accustomed to molding into a new look on a night-to-night basis.
“The one thing I know about Joe, and one thing I know about our players, is that they all know that their opportunities will be plentiful, and if they’re not coming today, they’re coming down the road just because that’s the way this works,” Stevens said.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, Joe Mazzulla showed no fear changing up his starting five, right down to the last game of the season, when he inserted Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza into their Game 7 lineup against the 76ers after Jayson Tatum was announced as inactive.
Speaking on the changes to the team’s philosophy since their roster shakeup, Mazzulla doesn’t have an answer yet as to how things will look. It’s a constantly evolving answer that will take time to figure out.
“How can we take advantage of the strengths and the talent that we have? How can we take advantage of the offseason and the work that the guys have put in to become better players, and turn that into an offensive and defensive philosophy? I don’t know that I have that answer on day one. I think your team naturally grows, and you’re always learning about your team,” Mazzulla said.
One question posed to Jayson Tatum asked if he considered it “his team” this year. It’s not a simple question to answer, according to Tatum, who will undoubtedly be the central figure on the floor tasked with handling the acclaim and scrutiny that comes with a six-month regular season.
Joe Mazzulla on the leadership role Jayson Tatum is going to have this season:
If you take a 30,000 foot view on just his career he's accomplished a lot he's been through a lot of experiences you know you know that phase of his career you know being coached by Brad and coming in… pic.twitter.com/GAI05S5H4r
“We don’t have the same roles, we all bring something different on a daily basis to make the group better,” Tatum said. “It’s not just saying it’s my team, I’ve got 14 other teammates that I’m going to lean on, and we all need each other to be better every single day.”
Whether it’s a new face from the draft or free agency, a player working on a two-way contract, or a Boston mainstay you’ve seen countless times before, the Celtics will have up to 18 players in green on opening night. It’s best to be prepared for any one of them to check in with a chance to make a difference.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 30: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during a game at State Farm Arena on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since the Boston Celtics added Paul George to the roster, there have been concerns about his ability to stay healthy. After all, this is a player who suited up for 78 regular-season games over two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. We’re all basketball fans here, so let me put that in percentages: in George’s two seasons with the Sixers, he played in 47.6% of their regular-season games.
Fortunately for the Celtics, wing depth is not an area of need. In fact, it’s the one area where Joe Mazzulla has an abundance of talent to call upon. So, should George be forced to miss time, either due to injury or minutes management, there’ll be numerous young wings waiting to make the most of any additional opportunity.
Hugo Gonzalez will likely be at the front of that line. Heading into his sophomore NBA season, Gonzalez will undoubtedly look to continue his development, earning a larger share of the rotation minutes as a result. As we saw in Summer League, the Celtics clearly have a plan for the young forward, and that plan will likely involve him improving as both an on-ball creator and perimeter threat.
There’s no doubt that Gonzalez can improve away from the spotlight of the NBA floor. Yet the best path forward is usually the one that involves honing your talents against other NBA-level players. Gonzalez clearly understands this concept, as he’s spent all summer working toward playing 30 minutes per night at the highest level, even though he knows that such a significant role is unlikely in the upcoming season.
“I just think that you just need to be prepared,” Gonzalez said when speaking at the Celtics Media Day on Monday, Sept. 28. “Like, if you’re gonna play 30 minutes every night, even though you might not, you need to be prepared for it. So, the night that it comes, you’re just ready for it.”
Gonzalez isn’t the only wing in Mazzulla’s rotation who will look to take advantage of any additional minutes that become available on an ad hoc basis. He is, however, the highest-ceiling talent who can slot into multiple wing positions. Therefore, it’s logical that he’s preparing for such a high-minutes event. Still, that doesn’t mean he’s hoping to benefit from someone else’s struggles.
“I hope PG is available for 82 games,” Gonzalez noted. “We’re trying to build something as a team, not thinking about who’s going to play and when … you just need to be prepared for it so the night that it comes, you’re ready for it.”
The truth is, if George is out of the rotation — for whatever reason — Gonzalez is the most logical stand-in. His defense and effort will ensure Boston’s rearguard doesn’t nosedive, while his (albeit under-construction) tertiary playmaking/shot creation can be serviceable in the right matchups.
George isn’t the only wing Gonzalez could stand in for, though. Jayson Tatum could find himself having his minutes managed at points in the season. There’s a legitimate chance Boston splits back-to-backs, with George sitting one side and Tatum the other. On those nights, Gonzalez — and likely others — would see their minutes naturally increase.
Brad Stevens is constructing a roster full of workaholics. There are a number of high-motor, high-effort young players on the roster this season. Should George, Tatum, or any other veteran need to miss time, there will be someone waiting to get on the court and seize a chance to prove themselves, and honestly? When you have a team with multiple injury concerns, there’s no better way of hedging your bets.
: NBC/SNL 
