Category: NBA

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.

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.

• Join the live game chat
• Spend less time looking at ads
• Jump seamlessly between communities
• Comment and post faster

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.

Luka Dončić enters his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers as the unquestioned star and leader.

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.

All three players ranked ahead of Dončić in USA Today's top 100 player rankings.

Where do other Lakers rank among top 100?

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.

The Lakers made a trade for Walker Kessler and re-signed Austin Reaves to a $185-million contract to help create a foundation alongside Dončić this offseason.

Reaves ranked No. 32 on USA Today's top 100 player rankings. Kessler was ranked No. 76.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Lakers' unquestioned star Luka Dončić step up to be face of NBA?

Sixers gear up for ‘pretty tough test' out of the gates at Knicks' banner night  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The star-packed Sixers won’t exactly have a casual start to their season. 

The team has made the trip to New York for its regular-season opener at Madison Square Garden. Before the action tips off at 7 p.m. ET, the Knicks will raise their new championship banner and receive their rings. 

The scene for tonight’s Sixers-Knicks season opener at MSG: pic.twitter.com/zxSsXBB9Sl

— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) October 20, 2026

“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.”

Rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. likes the sound of a matchup with the defending champions. 

“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.”

Philon wasn’t part of the Sixers team swept out of the 2026 playoffs in a lopsided second-round series with the Knicks. Maxey’s had some great moments over the years at the Garden, but he obviously does not have fond memories from that series.

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).

It’s about three times as expensive as the next priciest ticket — New York’s Christmas Day NBA Finals rematch against the San Antonio Spurs has a get-in price of $487.

The median get-in price league-wide is $43.

The NBA’s most expensive home tickets

Buy New York Knicks Tickets

As mentioned above, the Knicks have the priciest home ticket, with a median get-in price of $226.

The Lakers are the only other team in triple digits — and are still only half the cost of the Knicks’ get-in price at $113.

The Boston Celtics are third, edging out the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a $93 median.

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). 

Two of those games have unique circumstances: the Heat’s game at the Bucks will be Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first return to Milwaukee since being traded this past summer, while the Timberwolves will be retiring Kevin Garnett’s jersey on Feb. 28 following its game against Boston.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These NBA teams have the most expensive tickets — and it's not close

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.

Warriors' Brandin Podziemski cites ‘patience' as biggest lesson in NBA career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

The 2026-27 National Basketball Association (NBA) season starts Tuesday, 20 Octoberwith the Boston Celtics heading to the Detroit Pistons.

The regular season, as well as the in-season NBA Cup, takes place between October and April.

After that, the play-offs take place to determine the NBA champions, who are crowned in June.

What is the format?

All 30 teams are evenly split into two conferences of 15 - creating the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.

Each team plays 82 regular season matches between October and April, with the top six teams from each conference qualifying directly into the NBA play-offs.

The teams between seventh and 10th enter the play-in tournament, where two more play-offs spots from each conference are up for grabs.

There are also three divisions in each conference, with teams playing every other team in their division four times in the regular season.

Teams will then play six of the other sides in their conference four times, while taking on the remaining four franchises three times. They will then face all 15 teams in their opposing conference twice.

While the regular season sees teams play against opposition in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, the play-offs are conference-specific. All rounds of the play-offs are played in a best of seven-match series.

The winner of the Eastern Conference will face the winner of the Western Conference in the NBA finals in June, with the winner being crowned NBA champions.

List of NBA teams

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic Division

• Brooklyn Nets
• Boston Celtics
• New York Knicks
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Toronto Raptors

Central Division

• Chicago Bulls
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Detroit Pistons
• Indiana Pacers
• Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast Division

• Atlanta Hawks
• Charlotte Hornets
• Miami Heat
• Orlando Magic
• Washington Wizards

Western Conference:

Northwest Division

• Denver Nuggets
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Utah Jazz

Pacific Division

• Golden State Warriors
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Phoenix Suns
• Sacramento Kings

Southwest Division

• Dallas Mavericks
• Houston Rockets
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Orleans Pelicans
• San Antonio Spurs

What is the NBA Cup and when does it start?

The NBA Cup is an in-season competition where teams compete for a trophy, but some results also count towards the overall season standings.

The event starts on Friday, October 30, with the final taking place on Friday, December 11.

Teams face four teams from their conference and the group winners, as well as the best runner-up from each conference, advance into the quarter-finals.

Like the play-offs, teams only play against opposition in the same conference in the quarter-final and semi-final. Matches are also one-off knockouts, rather than a series.

The winners of each conference will meet in the championship game to determine the NBA Cup winner.

The Knicks are the defending NBA Cup champions, while the first edition in 2023 was won by the Lakers.

Which British players are in the NBA?

Three British players will start the 2026-27 season on active NBA rosters.

Forward OG Anunoby is part of the Knicks side that won the NBA Championship and NBA Cup last season.

Power forward Tobi Lawal was picked up in this year's draft by the Dallas Mavericks, while centre Amari Williams was signed in the 2025 draft by the Boston Celtics.

In the cases of Lawal and Williams, both have been listed on two-way contracts, meaning they will rotate between their respective teams' NBA sides and G League franchises.

Jeremy Sochan, who plays internationally for Poland, is officially recognised by the NBA as a British player having spent part of his upbringing in England. Sochan was part of the Knicks' side at the end of last season and despite joining the Portland Trail Blazers in the summer, he was released earlier this week and will start the season as a free agent.

Tosan Evbuomwan, who spent the last three seasons in the NBA and featured for the Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, now plays for Spanish side Barcelona.

When are the NBA international games?

For the second year running, the United Kingdom will host a regular season NBA match.

It will be the first time Manchester has hosted a game, as part of a European double header.

In January 2027, the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs will face each other at Manchester's Co-op Live, three days after facing each other in Paris.

The Denver Nuggets will also face the Indiana Pacers in Mexico City in November.

NBA's 2026-27 international games:

• November 7, 2026: Denver Nuggets v Indiana Pacers – Mexico City Arena, Mexico City, Mexico
• January 14, 2027: New Orleans Pelicans v San Antonio Spurs – Accor Arena, Paris, France
• January 17, 2027: San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans – Co-op Live, Manchester Great Britain

Who has won the NBA in recent years?

All eight NBA campaigns since the 2018-19 season have been won by different teams.

Prior to that, the Golden State Warriors were the most successful franchise in recent years, winning four NBA titles since the 2014-15 term.

The Boston Celtics, who were 2023-24 champions, are the most successful franchise in NBA history, with 18 title wins.

Last seven NBA-winning sides:

• 2025-26: New York Knicks
• 2024-25: Oklahoma City Thunder
• 2023-24: Boston Celtics
• 2022-23: Denver Nuggets
• 2021-22: Golden State Warriors
• 2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks
• 2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers
• 2018-19: Toronto Raptors

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

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The Cleveland Browns are 4-2, and the bandwagon has room for a lot more to jump on or return to the orange and brown of their youth. While the Browns four wins have not been pretty, with all of them (and the loss to the New York Jets) potentially going the other way, learning to win is an important skill for a very young team to learn.

Can Cleveland sustain this? Are the Browns the biggest frauds in the NFL?

Who cares? At least for now, Cleveland fans have something to be excited about, including Jason Kelce.

Growing up Browns fans, Jason’s brother Travis begged the team to draft him when he was coming out of the University of Cincinnati. Travis has also been a regular at many other Cleveland teams’ games and bought a ownership stake in the Cleveland Guardians.

Jason has been a little less Cleveland-forward in his presentation, until Monday Night Football when he started using the term “we” and a lot of excitement to describe the Browns start to the season:

Cleveland native @JasonKelce had a lot to get off his chest after the Browns' 4-2 start 😭 pic.twitter.com/UNHxQDUcT1

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 19, 2026

Given the Browns positive start, it is possible that the team could get their scheduled flexed in the near future, but probably not to Kelce’s Monday Night Football just yet.

No matter what, a fun thing for Cleveland natives and fans is that the Browns are 4-2 and at the top of the AFC North. It is a big deal to see the elder Kelce join his brother in embracing the “we” that is their Cleveland upbringing. That moniker used to only be used by Jason for the Philadelphia Eagles.

---

How do you feel about Kelce and others jumping on or back on the Browns bandwagon?

The NBA is back, and this time opening night has a twist … it’s actually opening day.

The 2026-27 regular season tips off with the first-ever NBA opening-day tripleheader broadcast nationally, beginning with an afternoon tilt in the Motor City as the Detroit Pistons host the Boston Celtics. The evening brings two more marquee matchups with a championship celebration at Madison Square Garden when the New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers and a Western Conference finals rematch when the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The matinee in Detroit will feature “College Gameday-style activations," a "Blue Carpet" experience, a marching band rendition of "Roundball Rock" and other special festivities planned around Little Caesars Arena and downtown Detroit throughout the day. The afternoon game is an experiment conceived by the NBA and NBC entering Year 2 of their massive 11-year, $27-billion media rights partnership, with the goal of turning opening night into an all-day event.

And, while the pre-game excitement should spur plenty of interest, the matchup itself features two of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference as Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and the Pistons face off against Jayson Tatum, Paul George and the Celtics.

New York, of course, never lacks for excitement but the buzz in Midtown will be even larger than usual as the Knicks raise their championship banner and receive their championship rings before taking the court for one of the most highly anticipated season openers in recent memory – which could also serve as a preview of a possible Eastern Conference final.

The Knicks return nearly all of the players that were part of that title-winning team, including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, and they’ll face an immediate test against the new-look 76ers, who added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a roster that already featured Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Stream NBA opening-day games on Peacock

And despite all that, the best basketball game of the night could be the last one as the Spurs and Thunder renew their rivalry just months after a thrilling seven-game Western Conference final that saw San Antonio outduel the 2025 champs.

The Thunder and the Spurs might be the two most complete teams in the NBA and each features an MVP favorite: two-time winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Oklahoma City placed a whopping seven players in our rankings of the Top 100 players for the 2026-27 season, and San Antonio wasn't far behind with five in the top 100.

Here is all the information you need to get ready for the opening day triple-header, including some key questions and how to watch each contest:

Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons: Start time, TV channel, key question

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit)
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, Fubo

■ Key question: Will Celtics regret trading Jaylen Brown and replacing him with Paul George? 

George, who will turn 37 in May, struggled to find efficiency in the preseason, hitting just 5-of-20 shots (25%), including just 3-of-14 attempts from beyond the arc (21.4%). Granted, it’s just preseason, so this shouldn’t be extrapolated into some final judgment, but Boston’s early-season success should hint to how this team will operate without Jaylen Brown and with Jayson Tatum as the face of the franchise.

Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks: Start time, TV channel, key questions

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, Fubo

■ Key question: Will Knicks have a title hangover? 

For the first time in 53 years, the Knicks are raising a banner. It was a historic run, and New York City celebrated this team in lavish fashion. But contract negotiations between the team and starters Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart have stalled and will be pushed to the end of the season. Could this impact the locker room? Could an emotional season that required massive mental and physical energy prompt the Knicks to start slow? No team has had more continuity than the Knicks. They’ll need to lean on that early in the season. 

■ Key question: How quickly with the new-look 76ers gel? 

It might seem like a paradox, but adding massive stars can also be a burden. And with the acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, each of Philadelphia’s starting five players will need to tweak their games – to a certain degree. Based on preseason action, efficiency might take some time. The Sixers turned the ball over a significant amount when all starters were on the floor, and it appears clear there will be a sussing out period where players figure out how to space the floor and get the most out of each other. And there’s no better barometer than a primetime game against the defending champs.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs: Start time, TV channel, key questions

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local)
• Location: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, Fubo

■ Key question: The game’s best rivalry will be renewed. Do the Spurs still have the edge over the Thunder? 

These two teams played 12 times last season, and San Antonio dominated, winning eight times. It created a very physical and entertaining seven-game Western Conference finals. And both these teams, by and large, are the overwhelming favorites to win the 2027 NBA Finals. The Thunder lost some key role players like Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, and the young Spurs will need to show they’ve matured after last season’s letdown in the Finals. These are among the more entertaining matchups in the entire NBA. Make sure you’re tuned in.

Contributing: Mark Giannotto

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA opens with historic triple-header: Key insights, how to watch games

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On the eve of Opening Night (Matinee?) and the 81st season of the Boston Celtics, it’s hard not to be thankful for everything that the franchise has accomplished and given to us fans.

“The people that came before you. The city. The fans. The expectation of winning. The players. The coaches,” head coach Mazzulla said when asked what makes the Celtics special.

“We only have a chance and it’s only special to have the job because of those that came before you that set the stage, set the tone, what the expectation is, what the responsibility is. I’m just really grateful to be a part of that.”

The eighteen banners that hang at TD Garden are a testament to the consistent excellence that Boston has maintained since the NBA was formed, but as Mazzulla said, it also just sets the stage for what we expect from them year in and year out: to win.

Over the offseason and now training camp, the front office and coaching staff is trying to maximize this roster by winning in the margins. That has meant trading Jaylen Brown for Paul George who called his first few months with the team a “beautiful challenge” in redefining himself in Year 17 of his decorated career. With the depth of the rotation being a major strength in this new CBA era, the team is also stressing the importance of possession maxxing by hitting the offensive glass and creating turnovers.

“We’ve done a lot of great things here in camp, things that we can continue to build on throughout the year,” Derrick White said before their final practice before playing the Pistons today to kick off the 2026-2027 season.

“Everybody is really excited right now, especially going into their first game. It’s just going to be a test for us to see if we can continue to grow, continue to get better.”

For us at CelticsBlog, I can’t tell you enough how much the staff is looking forward to this year. If our Slack channel had an AUX out, you could probably hear us from North Station to the Portland Expo in Maine. Already, this feels like a special year in the making. Here’s CelticsBlog on what we’re excited to see:

Nirav Barman: I’m excited to see Mazzulla Ball in its purest form. I’m fully bought in to the concept, Mitch and PG were perfect additions, we have healthy Tatum back, and the young wings have shown me that they are willing to outwork anyone and everyone, while also making huge strides in their own development.

Trevor Hass: I’m excited to see the Celtics carry themselves with a collective swagger, hunger and cohesiveness that never disappears throughout the season. This feels like a no drama, no excuses and no let up kind of group, and I think it will be an easy team for fans to get behind. We’ll see where it puts them in the standings and how far they ultimately go, but the 2026-27 season will be a joyous one regardless.

Grant Burfeind: I’m excited to see Jayson Tatum win Comeback Player of the Year and MVP, Payton Pritchard repeat as Sixth Man, Neemias Queta take Most Improved, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr. and Jordan Walsh win Best New Boy Band at the Grammys, and the Celtics hang Banner 19. The season hasn’t started, so I see no reason to be realistic yet.

Gio Rivera: I’m excited to see Boston’s big men trio — yes, trio — flourish. Obviously, Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson will log most of the minutes, whether starting interchangeably or paired together in a double-big combination, but Luka Garza can’t be overlooked. As Queta emerged as a first-time starter last season, Garza carved out a role for himself as the best 3-point-shooting center on the Celtics’ depth chart, bringing an inspiring, hustle-first mentality that leaves him sweating like he’s just finished running the Boston Marathon every time he returns to the bench for a breather. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has plenty of flexibility with the Queta-Robinson-Garza trio. They each bring a different skill set but share a similar brand of hard-nosed, unselfish basketball, giving Boston’s frontcourt intriguing potential this season.

Jake Issenberg: I’m excited to see Hugo Gonzalez take the leap. The Spanish wing turned in a historically impactful rookie season. He followed that up with a strong summer league performance, and a near perfect preseason. Swarming defense, isolation scoring, elite catch and shoot three-point shooting, Gonzalez flashed it all in his four preseason games. I’m excited to see more.

Ian Inangelo: I’m excited to see the young guys take another step. I think Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh are in store for big seasons. I think Scheierman has the chance to be the best this season and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up being a starter by the end of the year. Gonzalez going into Year 2 just came off an impressive preseason and I think is going to be a huge piece off the Celtics bench with not only his effort and defense but also some improved shooting. Finally, Walsh looks to have started taking another step forward with his aggression on offense and I think his ability to cut and play elite wing defense will make him another guy who could be a big piece for Boston.

Nate Moskowitz: I’m excited to see a more forceful Celtics defense. They finished as the 4th best defense last season, but they were near the bottom of the league in forced turnovers. A lot of their process was about controlling where teams shots were coming from, and defending without fouling. With some of the personnel changes and the early signs from preseason, they seem destined to generate more turnovers. I’m looking forward to them taking more risks and being a defense that’s very frustrating to play against.

Mike Dynon: I’m excited to see how the Paul George experience plays out with the Celtics. He knows he’s here because of an unpopular trade, yet he’s completely bought in to what has been called Celtics Pride. “This locker room, the culture here, the front office, the city, the organization, the tradition, all of that is something that I’ve never been a part of,” George told the Boston Globe. “Where everything is high quality. For me, it’s refreshing. Hopefully, I can remain healthy. I think I became a journeyman along the way [of my career]. At this point, I would love to be able to call Boston home.” Fans love that sort of commitment. Moreover, George has demonstrated that he plays defense and can impact winning, qualities that will further endear him to Celtics Nation. When the trade deadline comes, will he be the next Anfernee Simons, the guy who won us over and we regret when he’s traded away? Or will he be another Kristaps Porzingis, to use one example, who will sit out some games but be a key contributor to a memorable run of success?

Jack Quantrill:

I’m excited to see a bounce back season from Derrick White this year. According to a whole host of advanced metrics White was a top 30 impact player last year; shooting slump be damned. I think with this roster White slots back into a comfier role for his supreme talents and provides all that impact whilst posting sexy box score and efficiency stats. Tatum is a better facilitator of flow offence than JB, Paul George provides a great supplementary skills, plus shooting, playmaking capability and I expect to see Pritchard usurp White in the usage rankings this year leaving White to do what he does best. The out of this world role player stuff. I’ll welcome a healthier diet of assisted three’s, less pick and roll responsibility and far more second chance threes coming off of Mitch’s mighty mitts.

Noa Dalzell: I’m excited to see how Payton Pritchard improves his game this season – he has the long-term extension locked up, he’s the presumed No. 2 option, and he really thrived when he wasn’t sharing the floor with Jaylen Brown last year. Could another leap be in the works?

Bill Sy: I’m excited to see what Phil Pressey and the developmental coaching staff can do with rookies and two-way players.  Big Fella University alumni Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta have become more than serviceable centers in the league and the rise of Boston’s four-headed wing rotation of Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Ron Harper Jr. are going to be relied on as supporting role players.  Those success stories will now be the blueprint for players like Devin Carter, Dillon Mitchell, Chris Cenac Jr., and Amari Williams.

Rich Jensen: I’m excited for the playoffs. Yep. I’ve seen enough of the team from last year and the preseason this year, to feel very comfortable with the quality of play we can expect in the regular season. The regular season is going to be fun, I think, but the big question is whether this team has what it takes to make some serious noise once the games really start to matter.

We have arrived. The beginning of the most highly anticipated Sixers season of our lifetimes is upon us. A starting five of stars past, present, and future has been assembled to take Philadelphia to the promised land known as “beyond the second round of the playoffs”.

It all still feels a bit surreal. The Jaylen Brown trade came out of nowhere, after we had all but resigned ourselves to a purgatory riding out the contracts of Paul George and Joel Embiid. Now every conversation about the team seems like a harpist is playing while a personal chef prepares our dinner. The possibility of LeBron James signing with the Sixers was certainly discussed. But surely he would return to a past home in Cleveland or Miami. It was nice just to be thrown into the mix. Now the always a bridesmaid is being rushed to the altar in a helicopter from New York.

The actual basketball game tonight feels so much bigger than one regular season contest. The New York Knicks are raising their championship banner at the Garden prior to tip. Facing them feels like a true measuring stick moment for this group in which we’ve only seen the starting five together for one half of basketball during the preseason. Never mind that it’s just one of 82 regular season games and nobody cares about anything but the postseason anyway. They didn’t have a parade for the 2014-15 Hawks winning the conference and having all five starters in the All-Star game. Or maybe they did, I haven’t been to Atlanta in a while. The point is tonight’s result is largely inconsequential in the big picture, but it will still feel enormous in the moment.

We know we’re going to see the starting five together for their first extended run, but what about everyone else? Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (hip) are out. Adem Bona and Anfernee Simons are both listed as questionable, but were coy when asked about a return to action for the opener and appear like they will play. Dean Wade truly questionable with an ankle injury after not practicing with the team yesterday. Meanwhile, the Knicks have a clean injury report; Josh Hart sat out the preseason finale with an ankle injury but will play tonight.

Knicks fans are understandably riding high. Winning their first championship in over 50 years will do that. They should soak up every second. But it has become increasingly difficult to have a repeat champion. James Dolan is treating the second apron like the apocalypse. Mitchell Robinson was a cap casualty and as great a guy as Andre Drummond was during his team here, that’s a downgrade as a replacement. The organization has tabled extension talks with key figures like Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart. There’s only one way to go when you’ve reached the top, but the starting group is still together for New York for now, and they’ll certainly be highly motivated after seeing their grand accomplishment rise to the rafters.

Spoiling tonight for the Knicks would feel so sweet. It wouldn’t make up for having to watch New York sweep the Sixers in the playoffs, with Knicks fans taking over the arena in Philadelphia, and then seeing them make their title run, but it would sure be a nice start. More than anything, though, we want to see the coalescence of this new era of Sixers basketball. For the unselfishness and togetherness and offensive brilliance we caught glimpses of during the brief preseason to blossom on the larger stage. For the vision of this dynamite roster on paper to begin to translate into an on-court product. Mike Gansey has constructed a dream for us. Now let’s watch the players make it a reality.

Game Details

When: Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Watch: NBC, Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow:@LibertyBallers

Another NBA regular season is set to begin, and the preseason player rankings have already been rolled out. While debates over the league's top stars never end, the exercise also offers a revealing snapshot of where each franchise stands entering the 2026-27 season.

USA TODAY's top 100 player rankings highlight the biggest names expected to lead championship contenders, excel for rebuilding teams and shape the league's future. There is widespread agreement that two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama sit atop the NBA entering the season, with only their order up for debate.

But a team-by-team breakdown of each franchise's highest-ranked player revealed several surprises, including Tyrese Maxey's standing among his new, more accomplished 76ers' teammates and the one team that didn't have a player ranked among the top 100 heading into the season.

Here's what stood out while determining the highest-ranked player on each of the NBA's 30 teams entering the 2026-27 season:

ARE THUNDER STILL TOP THREAT? NBA record projections for all 30 teams

Tyrese Maxey is top Sixers player over LeBron, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid

Tyrese Maxey might not be the most well-known player on the Philadelphia 76ers, surrounded by two former MVPs and an NBA Finals MVP this season. But he is the highest-ranked Sixers' player in USA TODAY's rankings, checking in at No. 14 and above Jaylen Brown (15), LeBron James (19) and Joel Embiid (41). Maxey had a tremendous sixth season in the NBA last year, setting career highs in nearly every statistical category and emerging as a bona fide franchise player Philadelphia can build around for years to come. But his current ranking also reinforces just how important Maxey's shot creation and durability will be if the Sixers are to win a championship with the veteran core around him.

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are NBA anomalies

Of the 30 players identified as the best on their respective teams in USA TODAY's rankings, 10 are 25 or younger and the median age is 27. The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and the Houston Rockets' Kevin Durant, meanwhile, are both 38. In fact, only one other player considered the top player on his team entering the season is older than 31.

Their continued excellence is a rarity in today's NBA. While most of their contemporaries have either seen their production decline significantly or left the league altogether, Curry and Durant remain franchise centerpieces and among the sport's elite talents. More than a decade after establishing themselves as superstars, Durant is still carrying championship expectations for the Rockets, and Curry remains the Warriors' standard-bearer.

Memphis Grizzlies are only NBA team without top 100 player

The ommission of any Grizzlies players in USA TODAY's top 100 rankings is a reflection of both the youth of their roster and the uncertainty surrounding the franchise's long-term outlook. Rookie Cameron Boozer received consideration on some ballots but ultimately fell short of making the final list. Based on the early returns, he could move up the rankings quickly. But this designation demonstrates how much change the Grizzlies have gone through while offloading top 100 players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in recent years.

Best player on each NBA team for 2026-27 season

Teams listed in alphabetical order; number in parentheses is where each player landed in our Top 100 player rankings ahead of this season:

• Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson (25)
• Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum (9)
• Brooklyn Nets: Julius Randle (55)
• Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel (51)
• Chicago Bulls: Josh Giddey (66)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell (13)
• Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (31)
• Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić (2)
• Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham (8)
• Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (11)
• Houston Rockets: Kevin Durant (12)
• Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (18)
• Los Angeles Clippers: Darius Garland (53)
• Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Dončić (4)
• Memphis Grizzlies: None
• Miami Heat: Giannis Antetokounmpo (5)
• Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Herro (70)
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (7)
• New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (50)
• New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson (6)
• Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1)
• Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero (34)
• Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey (14)
• Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (17)
• Portland Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija (38)
• Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis (59)
• San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (3)
• Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard (10)
• Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen (43)
• Washington Wizards: Trae Young (45)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: We ranked the best player on every NBA team. 76ers among biggest surprise

Every season the NBA Referees’ Association makes some changes regarding how rules will be enforced in the upcoming season. This is usually in response to the abuse of a rule, or an interpretation of a rule, that has lead to actions, and abuses by the players that are contrary to the intent of the rule as written, interpreted, or enforced by NBA referees. In theory these are usually good changes, if they are consistently enforced. The problem comes when we see a ton of enforcement of the newest points of emphasis for about 3 weeks, and then not nearly as much.

It could be the behavior has been checked by the effort from the referees, as we see in some rule changes, or that they just slip back into old habits. For example, once a rule, and enforcement effort, meant to curtail transition take fouls went into place, transition take fouls all but disappeared. Once the reward of the activity is removed, the activity generally stops, or falls off tremendously. I think we’ve seen both “this fixed the problem” and “the refs stopped calling this a foul after three or four weeks”. How will this season’s changes fare?

Change One: Offensive Player Off Arm Contact

If you’ve been paying attention to certain players recently (cough SGA) you might have seen a weird circumstance where the offensive player engages in a shove worthy of an NFL running back’s stiff arm. This is often not called correctly as an offensive foul. In the case of SGA, it’s often called as a foul on the defender, that is, the player being shoved.

The new enforcement seeks to limit off arm offensive player behavior to “firming up” and “feeling for the defender”. (Don’t look at me, that’s Monty McCutchen’s language.). What I think this means is the offensive player has a right not to have their space for dribbling or shooting completely invaded by a defender. So “firming up” or defending that space, or “feeling for the defender” in order to keep the defender out of the space by “firming up” is allowed. What’s not allowed is a straight up arm bar, shove, stiff arm, and God willing, grab, by the offensive player. A preseason crowd erupted with joy when such was called as an offensive foul against SGA.

Effect On Rockets: Probably improves defense, could cause some issues for Sengun, or Durant on offense, but is not the basis of their attack, unlike some players. Even if all the offensive fouls aren’t called, not calling defensive fouls for a defender getting stiff armed, or shoved, will most likely help the Rockets.

Change Two: Freedom of Movement – Screens

We saw this one called during the games in China.

The point here is to eliminate what looks to be the same as a “hand shiver” or “chuck” in football. No double, or single arm shove or push when setting, leaving, or holding a screen. This is a real specialty of GSW on screens that never actually get set, just a shove in the back from an offensive player who looks to be setting a screen, but never does, he only does the push.

Rockets Effect: I don’t think this screen’n’shove is a particularly notable part of the Rockets screening. They are more often called for movement, or extending a leg or knee, on a screen.

Change Three: Freedom of Movement – Perimeter and Post

Much rejoicing! If you remember Durant being grabbed on offense approximately sixty thousand times last season, you’ll be pleased to know your instincts were correct. It IS against the rules. Who knew? Apparently not every single team that played the Rockets. In the post, apparently, again, who knew, it’s illegal to punch a guy in the kidneys, or grab him while he’s trying to establish position. Once again, Alpie is used as an example of when this should be called.

Rockets Effect: The Rockets, particularly Kevin Durant, got grabbed a lot last season. Maybe they were grabby too, but I’ll take my chances with the grabbing and shoving going away, if it does.

Change Four: FoM – Straight Line Path

So apparently it isn’t actually great defense to jump in front of an offensive player that’s gained an advantage on a drive and bash into him or shove him on the way to the basket. I’m a little unsure of this one, as I added the “gained advantage” language myself. That’s what this appears to be – defender gets beat straight line, moves to when offensive player will end up, and bashes him off his trajectory. Minimal contact, and I’d think shot contests are fine, but shoving the offensive player out of the way isn’t.

Rockets Effect: I don’t know. Maybe good for the likes of Amen. Do the Rockets do this a lot on defense? I can’t honestly recall.

Starts at 3:00 minutes.

Change Five: Flopping

Hey, it’s a video about flopping with Alperen Sengun, and HE’S NOT DOING THE FLOPPING! Great stuff. And THEN they show Curry flopping! This is crazy stuff. We also learn that if a player just fall down, but don’t act like you’ve been shot out of a cannon, or by a cannon, it’s not a technical foul. A head snap, by itself (repeat, by itself) isn’t a flop in and of itself. Sadly there is nothing regarding “fouling with your face, and then acting like you’ve lost an eye if the opponent’s hair touches you” Maybe next season.

Effect on Rockets: Only good. The Rockets are pure, noble and stalwart and have never, ever, flopped. Not even when James Harden played for them. All those other nasty floppers out there will pay, though.

Change Six: Shot Closeouts– Flagrant vs Common Foul

This starts with 1:23 left in the video above. It features Marcus Smart both being fouled, and making sure he gets that call. This seems to be pretty simple stuff, but they make the distinction between a flagrant foul (not allowing landing space, reckless closeout) and a regular defensive foul (allows landing space, no reckless closeout, but makes contact). This could be a welcome change from “all fouls on 3pt shooters are flagrant fouls” which is how the rule has seemingly been enforced lately.

Rockets Effect: I don’t think this actually helps Tari Eason at all.

What I’m most looking forward to …

Seeing all the fruits borne of an incredible summer of player movement. It feels like three years ago that Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Heat, because since then, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James went to the 76ers, and a ton of other deck chairs were reshuffled. This is the most intriguing NBA opening week in eons. Claire de Lune

Washington and Utah clawing their way out of the doldrums. Both have been in perpetual poverty for almost half a decade. Both now surround young cores of switchy, two-way wings with playoff-tested veterans like Anthony Davis and Jaren Jackson Jr. Lee Escobedo

The NBA’s great chemistry experiment. After a summer in which Antetokounmpo landed in Miami and LeBron and Brown somehow wound up together in Philadelphia, the league feels like someone hit the reset button. Whether any of these hastily assembled superteams can actually function together is another question entirely. I’m particularly interested in how quickly the novelty wears off and the finger-pointing begins. Bryan Armen Graham

Can I be a homer and pick da Bulls? It appears they have their own generational Caleb – Caleb Wilson – to match the dynamic Bears quarterback, and the North Carolina prospect has looked like a draft steal since falling to fourth overall. Mix in the free-agent signing of Norman Powell (a veteran tough guy who expands his offensive range each year) and the addition of Tiago Splitter (a Gregg Popovich disciple who spurred Portland to a surprising playoff campaign last year), and these young Bulls sure look ready to run again. Andrew Lawrence

A healthy Indiana Pacers team. I watched a lot of Pacers games last season, convinced they’d still be a playoff team as Tyrese Haliburton recovered from a torn Achilles – their magical run to the NBA finals in 2025 was very much a team effort – only to realize in dismay how Haliburton was not only the team’s beating heart, but the engine of their offense. Now Hali is back, Myles Turner is out, Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr are in, and I am glued to my couch with a big bucket of popcorn. Owen Lewis

LeBron’s time with the 76ers will be …

Irrelevant to his legacy. For all the hand-wringing and consternation about what will or won’t happen for LeBron and the 76ers in his tenure there, it’s ultimately a moot point. The (presumably) last stop of his storied career is a coda on what will likely go down as the greatest career in the history of the sport. Another ring would just be a cherry on top. CDL

Related: Kawhi Leonard: a hero’s complicated return to the Toronto Raptors

Not how he imagined. Joel Embiid had the unmitigated gall to announce he’s “against the concept of sacrificing”. This leaves five starters with All-Star appetites fighting over one ball. Recent champions won with a legible hierarchy, a pecking order that settles crunch time and dictates the counter when defenses load up. Tyrese Maxey, coming off a career-high 28.3 points a game, belongs atop the pile. He and VJ Edgecombe will pay most for its absence. LE

A magnificent circus. Philadelphia have spent more than four decades searching for the combination that will deliver another NBA championship, and now they’ve turned to a 41-year-old billionaire who would apparently rather be in New York. There will be spectacular nights, inevitable injuries, endless debates about load management and probably a few helicopter-related controversies. Whether any of it adds up to a championship is almost beside the point. The Sixers have become the most fascinating reality show in American sports. BAG

Eventful. It already has been with him choppering back and forth from New York and media and fans scrambling to trace leaks about Embiid’s perceived commitment back to his camp, reportedly keen to arrange a reunion with Davis. If the Sixers’ Monstar team don’t jump out to an early lead in the East – or worse, falter in Eagles-like fashion – the King risks courting the most intense scrutiny of his basketball career from a fanbase that’s already on his case before he’s even played. AL

Counting on the health of a 41-year-old LeBron and Embiid’s knees – to this point proven to have the durability of Cheez-Its – seems unwise. This team is bursting at the seams with star power, but it’d be easy for injuries and a clunky fit to yank them off the rails before they ever find their rhythm. Still, in the name of delusional optimism and LeBron’s career so far: thrilling and tumultuous. OL

Young player to make the superstar leap …

Dylan Harper was arguably San Antonio’s most consistent player in their finals run last season … as a rookie. The sky is the limit for this insanely talented NBA nepo baby, and I think we see him as an All-Star and maybe even a fringe All-NBA player this year. CDL

Alex Sarr’s field-goal percentage jumped from 39.4% as a rookie to 48.2% last season. He reads the short roll like a guard and attacks closeouts off the dribble. Trae Young should make him a premier lob threat for the Wizards. Remember Clint Capela shooting 64.6% off Young’s passes in 2020-21? The next frontier is individual defense beyond his two blocks a night, and he now apprentices himself to Davis, a five-time All-Defensive selection. LE

Amen Thompson. The athletic gifts have never been in question. What makes the Rockets star so tantalizing is the possibility that his offensive game catches up with the havoc he already wreaks defensively. Houston have enough talent around him that he won’t have to manufacture everything himself, but there’s a version of Thompson who becomes the Rockets’ most important player on both ends of the floor. That version may arrive sooner than anyone expects. BAG

One could argue that Cade Cunningham is already there after leading Detroit to the east’s top seed and otherwise filling out the box score like he did last year. This year, though, I think is when more fans recognize that the Oklahoma State product belongs in the same conversation with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić et al. And if all the work Cunningham put in during the offseason to improve his three-point accuracy bears fruit, the Pistons could have a serious MVP contender on their roster. AL

Cooper Flagg. The 19-year-old spent last season playing the point on an undermanned Mavericks squad, but nonetheless put up 51-, 49-, 45-, and 42-point nights. With Kyrie Irving back from a long layoff with a torn ACL, Flagg stands to excel even further with a talented second option beside him in his sophomore season. OL

This season’s villain arc will be supplied by…

Victor Wembanyama seems quite content to take on the role as villain. It was a cumbersome fit, at first: it’s hard to seem like the bad guy when you’re playing chess with fans in the park and bemoaning the trappings of sports betting. But fresh off a finals drubbing, Wembanyama enters this season on a mission: destroy everything in his path. CDL

The owners, an American oligarchy in miniature. Miriam Adelson bankrolled Donald Trump, who credited her family, from the Knesset rostrum, with shaping his Israel policy. Steve Ballmer is serving a yearlong suspension for cap circumvention. I traced Robert Pera’s Ubiquiti radios to Russia’s drone war on Ukraine. Josh Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law, agreed to buy the Lakers. My own team’s owner built a petty panopticon. LE

The NBA’s gambling partners. Forget Draymond Green. The league’s real villains are turning every possession into a speculative asset. With gambling scandals mounting, the NBA is already restricting certain bets while its partners flood broadcasts with advertising. The actual basketball seems to be becoming a sideshow. BAG

LeBron, see above. AL

Doesn’t James Dolan already have this title locked up? The Knicks got to enjoy their championship for all of five minutes before Dolan announced that they would not go into the second apron. Mitchell Robinson is now a Celtic. Karl-Anthony Towns is unhappy with extension talks. Dolan is renting out Madison Square Garden to raise money for a GOP candidate. Somebody find this man a competent PR manager, or a moral compass. OL

Most Valuable Player

Speaking of Victor Wembanyama, the MVP is his to lose. Barring a significant injury, I don’t see anyone swiping either this award or defensive player of the year from him. He’s fresh off a surprise finals berth, finished high in the MVP voting last year, and is rapidly making his case for the best player in the association. CDL

Victor Wembanyama is inevitable. I raised the alarm last year. The defensive player of the year adds MVP this season, a double nobody has managed since Giannis in 2020. No athlete since prime LeBron has bent physics like this. A man who thinks in myths and epics watched his own late turnover decide Game 2 of the finals, then watched the Knicks celebrate on his floor. He’ll spend 82 games proving he never chokes again. LE

Victor Wembanyama. This one feels overdue before it’s even happened. Jokić remains the best offensive player alive, Luka Dončić can bend entire defenses to his will and Gilgeous-Alexander has made ruthless efficiency his brand. But Wemby is becoming something none of them can match: a one-man defensive system who can also score 30 a night. Voter fatigue should take care of the rest. BAG

Giannis Antetokounmpo. Not only is he healthy, but he’s got a squad around him that fits his lunch-pail personality and an organization that is seriously committed to winning championships. With shooters around him and Bam Adebayo on the floor for shutdown defense and an offensive spark, there’s no telling how far Giannis can take the Heat – but any sort of rebound for this perennial play-in contender is likely to come down to his vintage brilliance. AL

Victor Wembanyama. It’s less that Jokić can’t win his fourth MVP or Dončić his first with especially potent offensive wizardry (voters are notoriously unlikely to give out three MVPs in a row, which rules out Gilgeous-Alexander) than that I think Wemby’s unparalleled and ever-improving two-way superpowers will prove impossible to ignore. OL

Eastern Conference playoff teams

Knicks, 76ers, Celtics, Heat, Pacers, Raptors, Pistons, Cavaliers. CDL

Knicks, Pacers, Hawks, Heat, 76ers, Pistons, Cavaliers, Raptors. LE

Knicks, Celtics, Cavaliers, 76ers, Pacers, Pistons, Hawks, Heat. BAG

Bulls, Pistons, Celtics, Cavaliers, Knicks, 76ers, Heat, Hawks. AL

Pistons, Knicks, Celtics, Pacers, Cavaliers, 76ers, Raptors, Hawks (sorry, Heat fans, I don’t trust Giannis’s health). OL

Western Conference playoff teams

Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Warriors. CDL

Spurs, Thunder, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Jazz (!). LE

Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets, Timberwolves, Warriors, Mavericks. BAG

Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Warriors, Mavericks. AL

Thunder, Spurs, Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Mavericks. OL

Eastern Conference finals

Knicks over 76ers. CDL

Knicks over Pacers LE

Celtics over Knicks. BAG

Knicks over 76ers. AL

Pacers over Knicks. OL

Western Conference finals

Spurs over Thunder. CDL

Timberwolves over Spurs LE

Thunder over Spurs. BAG

Spurs over Thunder. AL

Thunder over Spurs. OL

NBA finals

Spurs 4-3 Knicks. It’s been the better part of a decade since we got an NBA finals rematch, and we’re due. While the path out of the East will be tremendously more difficult this year, and the Spurs’ path out of the West won’t exactly be a picnic, either, the safe bet feels like a rematch of last year’s finals. However, I do suspect a different outcome: with a deep playoff run of experience under San Antonio’s belt, and Wemby fully embracing his villain arc (and the weightroom), I think this is the year he adds the first of several finals MVPs to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet. JF

Knicks 4-2 Timberwolves. New York had the best offensive rating and the best defensive rating of last postseason. The Knicks swept the conference semifinals and finals on the way to 13 straight wins, the second-longest run in a single postseason. Then they handed Wembanyama’s Spurs a gentleman’s sweep. Wipe away those tears and accept the defending champions. Minnesota spent the offseason building a deep, polymorphous roster around Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, and I respect it. All five Knicks starters return, though, and in this league, continuity is king. Remember, with Jalen Brunson, anything is possible. LE

Thunder 4-2 Celtics. The NBA’s fixation on parity has made picking a champion feel like throwing darts blindfolded, but Oklahoma City remain the closest thing the league has to a sustainable dynasty. Gilgeous-Alexander is still in his prime, the supporting cast is absurdly deep and last season’s disappointment should provide ample motivation. Boston’s experience carries them through the East, but the Thunder’s athleticism and defensive versatility ultimately prove too much. The league gets another champion from a small market – ending an unprecedented run of eight different champions in eight seasons – and the rest of the NBA gets another reminder that continuity might actually matter. BAG

Spurs 4-1 Knicks. The Spurs get revenge and beat the Knicks, kicking off a new championship rivalry for the era. But this time, instead of riding Wemby till he runs out of gas or deferring to De’Aaron Fox in the clutch, Mitch Johnson puts the onus on Harper – who makes the leap from supersub to superstar to finals MVP. He and Wemby emerge as the Shaq and Kobe of their day, with San Antonio fans holding their breath in hopes that their egos remain modest and keep this dynasty in the making from blowing up in Kawhi-like fashion. AL

Thunder 4-3 Pacers. Nobody repeats in the parity era, but the Thunder got close. With injuries to two vital offensive contributors, they still wrestled their biggest rival to a tight Game 7 in the Western Conference finals. I think they exact revenge over the Spurs this year. The retooled and revitalized Pacers will be the last team standing after a bloodbath in the East. In the finals, they’ll provide a sequel to their magnetic series from 2025, only Haliburton will be healthy for Game 7. We’ll just get the same result. OL