Category: NBA

I will miss watching the greatest maestro and savant in the history of basketball, LeBron James. He is to basketball what Van Gogh was to painting, Coltrane to music, Hemingway to literature. He came from poverty and rose to a global hero and gave back. His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous. To all his detractors and haters? Eat your hearts out, he is a happy man.

Dell Franklin
Cayucos

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I have always been in awe of LeBron’s athleticism and basketball IQ. And I greatly admire his dedication to maintaining his physical abilities throughout the years and his philanthropic pursuits.

But, as a lifelong Lakers fan, I will not miss LeBron. He was never a true Laker. He made it clear when he announced that he was taking his talents to South Beach that he cared only about LeBron, not the team.

So, as he closes out his career elsewhere, I will enjoy watching his superior playing prowess from afar. But I will be grateful that I can now cheer for my Lakers without the drama LeBron brings to every team he’s been on.

Linda Salzman
Rancho Palos Verdes

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I agree that it was probably time to move on from LeBron simply in the interest to pursue a long-term player versus one more year from the King. But Bill Plaschke’s argument that he was tired of the mind games LeBron supposedly was playing is a terrible take. Losing 27-7-7 is not replaceable overnight, if ever.

George Metalsky
Redondo Beach

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While acknowledging LeBron James as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, it never really felt as if he was selflessly committed to the Purple and Gold team concept like so many of the legendary players that preceded him.

During his eight years as a Laker there seemed to be countless occasions when Lakers brass capitulated to his “demands.” Year after year we endured a mishmash roster with his hand-picked players, just to appease LeBron.

During the Lakers’ dynasty we had championship teams. With LeBron we had a king shaping his fiefdom to first and foremost best serve him.

He’s a great player but a horrible GM. The Lakers will be a better team without him.

David Griffin
Westwood

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I only have one question regarding LeBron James: What happens to Bronny now?

David Waldowski
Laguna Woods

Cheers for Roberts

Great article “Deep into Dodgers career, he’s batting close to 1,000” by Maddie Lee. Dave Roberts has a tough job. When he substitutes a pitcher or a hitter and it works out, Dave is a hero, and when it doesn’t work out, Dave is a bum. Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families. Maybe one day Dave will have 2,000 wins as a Dodger, and he will be closing in on Walter Alston.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood

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I have never thought much of Dave Roberts’ managerial abilities when it comes to handling pitchers but I’ve seen improvements in that area, particularly in last year’s playoffs. He has been blessed with terrific talent but clearly has melded that talent to win games and keep the clubhouse on the same page. Congrats on hitting the 1,000-win milestone, Dave, let’s go for 2,000!

Ken Blake
Brea

Leonard far from the worst

Kawhi Leonard has played terrifically the last couple of years. Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams. The Clippers aren’t the minor leagues.

E.R. Samulon
Los Angeles

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Bill Plaschke claims Kawhi Leonard is the worst free-agent signing in L.A. sports history. Not a chance. That dubious honor belongs to the Angels (of course!) for signing Anthony Rendon.

With the Clippers, Kawhi has been a three-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA selection, and finished high in the MVP voting multiple times. He averaged nearly 28 points per game in 65 games last season. The Clippers had a couple of decent playoff runs during his tenure.

What did the Angels get for their $245-million investment in Rendon? Setting aside the shortened 2020 season, Rendon averaged just 51 games per season from 2021 through 2024. He then didn’t play at all in 2025 or 2026. Over the last six seasons, he hit a total of 13 home runs, and his batting average never exceeded .240. The Angels never made the playoffs during his tenure. Rendon’s attitude and performance became so disappointing that the Angels effectively told him to stay away in 2026 and restructured the final year of his contract.

Rendon wins the title of worst free-agent signing in L.A. sports history by a landslide.

Dave Ring
Manhattan Beach

Getting defensive

A number of years ago, the Lakers had a coach by the name of Mike D’Antoni. The joke then was that his name should be Mike Antoni, as there is no “D” to be found in his coaching. There is no “D” in Sparks coach Lynne Roberts either. If the Sparks want to seriously ride the wave of WNBA and women’s sports popularity, and take advantage of great players like Kelsey Plum, they need to quickly make a change in the direction of this franchise.

Arnold Anisgarten
Los Angeles

Fantastic flops

I thought NBA players were bad with respect to yelling at the referee to call a foul every time they hit the floor. Soccer players, however, are in a league of their own. They fall to the ground after barely being touched, writhing in fake pain and yelling at the ref to call a foul. Luka Doncic played soccer when he was a kid. Now I know where he learned it from.

Doug Vikser
Manhattan Beach

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Please save us from these boring British futbol announcers that only inspire narcolepsy. There needs to be the excitement and energy that matches the game. Install hockey play-by-play announcers who emphasize the rising action, then scream “goal!” Otherwise, we will keep watching the games in Spanish.

Billy Gonzalez
Redondo Beach

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The Athletic reported on Friday that an internal debate over Jaylen Brown’s value, anticipated issues with Brown returning to his former role after Jayson Tatum’s return, fallout from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga and concerns over Brown’s playing off-script in the Philadelphia series led to this weeks stunning trade to the 76ers.

Brad Stevens, long a fan of Brown, finally relented and moved Brown for Paul George, two future first-rounders and a pair of seconds — a seismic trade he and the franchise will now wear while facing an uncertain path forward.

Downplaying any financial motivations for a deal, the story by The Athletic’s Jay King and Sam Amick focused on Brown’s analytical profile that left much to be desired from both Boston and suitors around the league. It also highlighted Brown’s numerous statements stemming back to March that stressed his pride proving himself as a top option on a team and leader, commentary he continued after the trade this week. Speculation over how much Brown wanted to maintain that status in Boston proved true, King said on CLNS’ latest Celtics Daily episode, and the Celtics wanted to get ahead of any potential conflict over his role. Amick and King also referenced Tatum trainer Drew Hanlen’s regular references to the team’s success when Tatum garners a higher usage.

“Still, the Celtics began to have questions about whether he would remain fully bought in moving forward, according to league sources. Internally, they wondered whether they could keep everyone on the same page basketball-wise, as they had always managed to do in the past.“

Brown shared a hinted frustration earlier this week on his Twitch stream, stemming from what he perceived as deeper motivations for the trade that the team didn’t make clear to him — and an overall lack of respect.

Celtics president Brad Stevens and governor Bill Chisholm will address the trade with reporters on Monday afternoon when it becomes official. Tatum posted an Instagram story wishing his former teammate the best, assistant coach Sam Cassell expressed optimism after the trade while others in the organization posted their appreciation for Brown in the aftermath. Brown said younger players like Neemias Queta and Luka Garza reached out to him directly. The Celtics reportedly liked what they received for Brown, George returning to his prior form in a more complementary role as the Sixers defeated Boston in the first round. Two picks they received could become valuable given new flat lottery odds, or drive a follow-up move.

That won’t happen this offseason, for now. King reported that the Celtics will keep George who is owed $114.3 million over the next two seasons, despite speculation over the veteran’s goodbye post to Philadelphia that did not reference Boston. The Celtics’ status as a hard-capped team at the first apron, which they’re $5 million short of, makes utilizing their trade exception or acquiring a contributor with those picks difficult until next summer.

Still, the Celtics’ front office will continue receiving enormous scrutiny following a trade that left many confused over its urgency. George’s sparse availability across recent seasons, age, his salary that equals Brown’s this season, overall declining productivity and a 25-game suspension last season for violating the league’s anti-drug policy gave him negative trade value. Should Philadelphia have needed to trade a first simply to move on from his contract, that effectively left the Celtics with one first of value in return for Brown, albeit while shedding the final $65-million year on his deal in 2028-29. That will make George an expiring contract next summer.

There’s a world where George’s contract, as many as five tradable future firsts and Brown’s decline could make the trade look better in one year, but that’s forecasting numerous uncertain outcomes far from likely to occur. Boston seemingly misjudged Brown’s market and went too far down the road of assessing it that they couldn’t turn back. A source cited in the Athletic story said the Celtics worked at a disadvantage having not actively shopped Brown previously. For what it’s worth, those assessments by executives and scouts around the league led to a maddening month of reporting around the trade saga, one revelation often refuted by the next.

Since the Brown trade, it became clear that Boston’s thwarted Antetokounmpo pursuit both fell much shorter of acquiring him than simply adding Hugo González and another pick, and wasn’t hindered by money. Antetokounmpo’s agent drove a push to land with Miami. Also, the Trail Blazers, reportedly a leading suitor at one time, did not actively pursue Brown, according to The Athletic. Numerous other teams expected to have interest in Brown never got involved, and others floated their assessments of him falling far below his achievements and counting statistics. One general manager said that his team did not consider Brown a top-50 player.

Brown’s long-running criticism of those assessments have continued into this summer, going back-and-forth with ESPN’s Bobby Marks after he shared an even more hyperbolic anecdote of a source in analytics whose numbers saw Brown as seventh-best on a team. Anonymous critiques turned personal, returning old tropes about Brown’s intelligence that he artfully played off on his stream. Brown lamented his character becoming targeted throughout the process, though King stressed that the Celtics’ trade did not stem from personal issues they had with him.

Many will continue to wonder why, if that wasn’t the case, the Celtics couldn’t wait. Brown had certainly shared a number of gripes between the late stages of the Philadelphia series, Boston’s shot attempts playing into the Sixers’ hands, a desire to have played the style they did in Game 7 earlier and his own critiques of the Celtics’ three-point heavy approach, which he believed the league had moved past. Tracy McGrady relayed Brown’s deep frustrations with the organization, comments he later walked back, while multiple reports noted that Brown never asked out of Boston. In fact, following the wave of criticism over his favorite season comments, Brown said that if it was up to him, he’d play the next 10 years with Boston.

Instead, he’ll suit up for the 76ers now, another layer to the brazenness of Boston’s move, sending him to a direct competitor, 300 miles away, who plays the Celtics four times per year and just defeated Boston in the playoffs. Brown joins Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. LeBron James will consider joining the Sixers, too. And for Boston, uncertainty awaits about how they’ll construct the next contender around Tatum and before that, how they’ll explain a difficult transaction to a saddened and confused fan base. Brown sounded at peace with the result late this week, calling his new teammates and looking forward to his new role in Philadelphia.

“The process of how we got there, the work ethic, the guys buying in, the guys growing and allowing me to lead them, getting it done night-to-night, it was an honor,” Brown said on his stream. “It was an honor, because we could’ve rolled over. I probably would’ve reached this result, personally, either way it goes. It I would’ve not gave any effort, let it be a throwaway year, it probably would’ve gotten to the same result. Me showing up, leading us to the two seed, it would’ve probably the same result. So it was, I think, it was inevitable either way. Their mind was already made up. So it’s all good. We move forward.”

If you’ve followed the Celtics closely over some portion of the last 40 years, there’s a strong chance a specific series sticks in your mind as the one that slipped away.

For those in their 50s or 60s, it’s likely 1987. For those in their teens or 20s, it’s likely 2022. For those who are my age, in their early 30s or a bit older, it’s almost certainly the 2010 NBA Finals.

That loss was absolutely devastating as a high-schooler who watched every game religiously. I hated Kobe Bryant (rest in peace to a legend). I hated Pau Gasol. I hated Derek Fisher. Don’t get me started on Sasha Vujačić.

While the loss itself was crushing, it was even more heartbreaking because it felt like the Big Three’s best opportunity to secure another title. Watching Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen go to war every night was a wonderful way to spend a childhood, and I’m forever grateful for those memories. At the same time, the era left me craving more. 

That group had the talent to win a second. While the era will always be celebrated, it also carries the caveat that, no, they couldn’t do it again. It was ultimately a success, but it wasn’t a roaring success.

From my perspective, the Jays era should be viewed through a similar prism. Should Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum be praised and appreciated for their efforts side-by-side and officially enter the pantheon of Celtics greats? Absolutely.

At the same time, you can’t help but wonder if this era was truly maximized. That 2022 Warriors series was there for the taking. They were almost ready, but they weren’t quite ready. 

The Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum duo is no more 💔

The end of an era in Boston 🍀 pic.twitter.com/S0XwF90D0H

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 1, 2026

Of course, there are some differences. The Jays were fully homegrown, whereas the Big Three was two-thirds acquired. The Big Three and Co. let one slip away after the title they won, while the Jays and Co. did so beforehand. And yes, Tatum is still the star of the franchise and may end up getting another at some point.

But it won’t be with Brown. It’s just “the Jay” now.

That’s a tough reality to accept. These two gave everything they had together. They accomplished their mission, but it still felt like it wasn’t enough. In a weird way, they actually raised the bar so high for themselves that anything less than multiple championships felt like a disappointment.

It’s extremely difficult to win a second title in today’s NBA. The league is structured to produce parity, and it’s not a coincidence that there have been eight consecutive different champions.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton couldn’t win a second in Milwaukee. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray haven’t gotten a second in Denver. It won’t be easy for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams to capture a second in Oklahoma City.

That’s all true, but you can’t help but wonder if Brown and Tatum reached their full potential as a duo. Tatum’s Achilles injury deprived them of finishing one season in their primes together and starting another. It created more friction and prevented them from thriving as the elder statesmen of a team.

It felt like if they had the right pieces around them, they could still contend for the foreseeable future and maybe, just maybe, get over the hump again.

Now, it’s over. 

As human beings, we grow accustomed to following certain patterns without consciously thinking about what we’re doing. We go to the gym, to work and to the supermarket. We eat dinner, talk about our day, then we sit down together and watch the Jays hoop.

There's so much to say. But the one at the top of everyone's mind has to be: it's unbelievable this is how Brown-Tatum era ends.

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) July 1, 2026

It’s a real bummer that’s no longer part of our routine. While Brown was ultimately viewed in a largely positive light here, it felt like he was under-appreciated throughout his Celtics career.

In a franchise full of all-time greats, he’s one of them. He deserved more respect than he got, as an elite two-way player, a voice of reason and a fixture in the community who molded hundreds of young lives.

Now that he’s gone, I hope fans appreciate just how much heart, guts and 7uice he poured into the city. This was his city. It became his home. We became his people. 

Suddenly, after one Shams Charania tweet, it’s time for change. We don’t like change. We like stability, structure and familiarity, and Brown provided exactly that for a decade.

No one can take 2024 away, but it felt like there was more unfinished business to tend to. We’ll never know what would have happened, but we’ll always have the memories.

Anonymous rival NBA executive believes LeBron ultimately will sign with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On the 10th anniversary of Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Warriors, it doesn’t appear as if LeBron James is ready to do the same.

But that doesn’t mean James won’t eventually pick the Warriors as his next team.

An anonymous rival NBA executive told Forbes writer Mark Medina that he believes James will ultimately sign with the Warriors for “various reasons.”

Medina cited the Warriors’ ability to pay James the $15 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, his close bond with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and the proximity between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, which would allow the 41-year-old to get to his Southern California home relatively quickly.

James’ agent, Rich Paul, made waves on Friday when he debuted his whiteboard featuring 10 teams he believes have the best chance to sign James in NBA free agency.

The Warriors are one of those 10 teams, but they will have stiff competition from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, among others.

But ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday that the Warriors aren’t at the top of James’ destination list.

Paul spoke to Medina and made it clear that James could take a while to pick a new team.

“I don’t think this happens anytime soon,” Paul told Medina. “I don’t think it’ll be the next few days.”

While the Warriors wait for James’ decision, they have re-signed Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford.

If James spurns them for another team, the Warriors might not have much choice but to run it back with a majority of last season’s roster, plus lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who looked impressive in his California Classic debut.

But if James comes to San Francisco, the vibe around the roster will be completely different.

So, the Warriors are hoping the anonymous rival NBA executive is right.

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Can you believe it? After what has been the most successful lottery and draft in Utah Jazz history, Jazz fans will get to watch prized prospect Darryn Peterson take the floor for the first time.

Peterson was the talk of draft night, with questions about whether he would actually be the #1 pick. After a month of speculation, the Washington Wizards ultimately went with AJ Dybantsa. Utah came away with the player they wanted all along, and now we get to see just how good Peterson is going to be. Yes, you have to take the summer league with a grain of salt. If a player plays great, you can’t take too much from it. If a player plays badly, it’s time to be concerned. But would argue it’s time to ignore that because it’s hard to exaggerate how good Peterson can be, and it’s just as hard to see him not playing well in his first summer league. This is a new era of Jazz basketball, and this first summer league with Peterson is a prologue to what should be the most successful chapter in Jazz basketball history.

The best part of all of this is I hardly feel any pressure or anxiety, I’m just excited to watch this new prospect be unleashed. There have been prospects in Jazz history whose futures you didn’t quite know. With Peterson, the question is just how good he’s going to be. Tomorrow we find out, and I personally can’t wait.

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How to watch the Salt Lake City Summer League?

Who: Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks

When: Saturday, July 4, 2026 | 3:00 MT

Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT

How to watch: Prime Video, ESPNU, League Pass, KJZZ, Jazz+

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Players to watch

Darryn Peterson

This goes without saying. The most important thing in this game is to see how healthy Peterson looks. Does he have his burst back? How does the playmaking work? How well does he score the ball? Basically, all eyes will be on Darryn Peterson and how he looks in his debut. From the moment the Jazz run onto the floor and warm up to the time the game starts, you can bet that his every move will be the prime attraction.

Ace Bailey

Just like last season, Bailey will be another player to watch in this summer league. He showed fantastic signs this season, and this summer league is an opportunity to show his improvement. Bailey scored and rebounded last summer league without a single play run for him. Now that he understands the offense much better, he should have a nice game.

The other interesting element will be how he plays with Peterson. What does the chemistry look like? They’ve only been together for a short amount of time, but we’ll see if they are playing well together starting in Game 1.

SAN FRANCISCO ― If there's one thing the Golden State Warriors learned on Friday, it's that their No. 11 draft pick, Yaxel Lendeborg, will be fine in the NBA.

Although it may just only be summer league, the California Classic provided a sample of how the Warriors rookie's game will translate to the big leagues.

Lendeborg had a tremendous debut performance in the California Classic game against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 19 points in 22 minutes July 3 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

What's even more impressive? He didn't miss. Insert that Snoop Dogg clip.

Lendeborg carved up the Lakers from beginning to end, on 6-for-6 shooting, including 4-for-4 from 3-point distance.

"I thought that Yax will play with a really high level of force and physicality, like that was a point emphasis for us all week, just force and physicality and everything that we do," Warriors coach Khalid Robinson told reporters. "He showed a little bit of everything in his game, obviously shot the ball well, started the game. He had some really good passes, play-making defensively."

HAVE A NIGHT, @Yaxel_Lendeborg!

🏀 19 PTS
🏀 5 REB
🏀 6 AST
🏀 4-4 3PM
🏀 6-6 FGM

Warriors defeat the Lakers in California Classic action! pic.twitter.com/Uslt9XVfHq

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

Lendeborg is physically-able. He showcased an ability to knock down the long ball. And he was everywhere on the floor, doing everything out there, adding five rebounds, a steal and a block.

What often goes overlooked is Lendeborg's play-making ability.

"Yeah, I'd say definitely my passing is a little underrated. I feel like I've always had a good assist-to-turnover ratio," the Warriors rookie told USA TODAY Sports. "Today doesn't really do it much justice, but I mean, I've definitely done a good job."

He added: "When I first started playing basketball, I was strictly a passionate rebounder. So those have always been kind of my strength, but I turned more into a scorer these last two, three years. So, I mean, everything's been changing, but I try to be as versatile as possible."

The young fella is honest about his game. It wasn't as perfect as the box score entails. But it's his humility that allows his game to develop. He wants it.

"I gave up a lot of rebounds today. I need to go back and watch the film. I wasn't physical enough. I mean, I got to get used to physicality here, for sure. So, I mean, I feel like I could have had at least four to five more rebounds today."

As Lendeborg exited the court at Chase Center, he was swarmed by fans who were cheering for him all game long. They waited near the exit tunnels after the game to greet, congratulate and praise the rookie's debut performance. It's a feeling that resonates with Lendeborg deeply as he gets acclimated to the Bay Area.

"It was lovely. I really appreciated them," Lendeborg told USA TODAY Sports. "The entire game I heard people scream my name and just saying, like, 'good job', and, like, 'we're happy to have you.' So, I tried to try to get everybody, at least acknowledge everybody. It was a little tough to, but I could definitely see how this crowd has been so good over the years. Like, these guys really, really appreciate the Warriors basketball, and I really appreciate them already."

He added: "Like, it was the first game, but it definitely felt like I belong, like these guys really love me. So I'm definitely excited for (the) rest of the season. I'm gonna try to get as many kids or as many fans as I can, 'til security gets me out every time."

Lendeborg and the Warriors will be in action again on Sunday, July 5 when the California Classic continues at Chase Center in San Francisco.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg does it all in perfect NBA summer league debut

It’s been a week. I’m sure we’re all a little emotionally worn out after the team sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. When we posted this poll earlier in the week, JB was still a Celtic and 11% of our readers were still looking forward to seeing how he and Brad Stevens would interact in Las Vegas next weekend.

Alas, Brown is a 76er and after a few days of handwringing and tributes, in his words, it’s time to #throwtheballup and move on and that first step will be the league’s yearly sojourn to Sin City for Summer League.

Hugo Gonzalez has already showed out in Spain’s FIBA qualifier on Thursday with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists. His three-point shot looks true (4-7 from behind the arc) and his passing was strong on a number of drive-and-kicks. He’ll reportedly play in Vegas as well despite his responsibilities with his national team.

He’ll draw a good amount of the attention on The Strip, but our readers are really excited to see the 27th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Chris Cenac Jr. Here’s CelticsBlog’s Rich Jensen on the incoming rookie:

Cenac was projected as a top lottery pick before the season started at Houston—but his draft stock fell based on game-time performance. He was overshadowed by teammate Kingston Flemings who went to the Hawks with the eighth pick. His own stats were a rather pedestrian 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Cenac contextualized those numbers during his Ball Is Life podcast appearance, noting that Sampson had a system, and that his primary focus as a player was defense. Asked what had improved the most during his season with Houston, Cenac said it was his basketball IQ and his ability to play the “grit” part of the game.

Cenac pointed out that his game changed significantly from high school to college, before adding that he was “fitting into a role” in college. Cenac said that his goal was to help his team win “however they need me to.”

These words ought to be music to the ears of anyone who favors the green and white.

Gonzalez and Cenac will be joined by Amari Williams who signed another two-way deal to return to another year sharpening his tools in Maine with the occasional call-up to the big club. The 40th pick, Dillon Mitchell, will also be in tow.

The loss of Brown is a big hit, but newly acquired Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley Jr. will help fill his absence and eventually, players like Gonzalez and Cenac Jr. will hopefully be important rotation pieces on a championship contender.

Speaking of the Larry O’Brien,our friends at FanDuel still have the Celtics as +800 to raise Banner 19, just behind the Knicks at +550 and ahead of the Pistons, Raptors, and yes, the 76ers at +1200.

SAN FRANCISCO ― The Los Angeles Lakers might have lost their opening California Classic summer league game against the Golden State Warriors, but they proved that NBA draft night was a win.

Cameron Carr, the No. 24 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Baylor, showed that he belongs on an NBA floor.

In a head-to-head matchup with Warriors No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg, Carr held his own. The Lakers were defeated 104-72, but Carr was the lead man for LA, scoring 19 points on 7-for-15 field goal shooting, including 5-for-11 from 3-point land. He added a blocked shot, assist and a couple of rebounds in the Lakers' loss.

"I think it was a great moment. It was exciting, a blessing," Carr told reporters. "Like I've been saying, I've been preaching it: just the opportunity to get to step on the court with these dudes, and just learn the way, how they play and how we're coming together. And so it's taking it step by step and just enjoying the moment."

Cameron Carr was FEELIN' IT in his California Classic debut 👌

The 24th overall pick dropped 19 PTS to go along with 5 3PM! 🌴 pic.twitter.com/1qwPOMkZAg

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

He added: "If I said I wasn't nervous, I'd be lying. I was probably nervous, excited. I just was ready, just for the first opportunity for the ball to go up in the air, and I just get to compete with these guys."

Carr was initially drafted by the New York Knicks with the 24th overall pick, but the Lakers traded the 25th overall pick and cash considerations to the Knicks to get Carr.

Carr plays guard and forward, standing 6-foot-5, 185 pounds. Last season at Baylor, Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

He was highly touted as an athletic, sharpshooting threat.

"I feel like the first possession is usually how you settle in," Carr said. "Just doing something like that can kind of take the anxiousness away. But just try to be in a moment, be where my feet are at: enjoy it, enjoy the moments like these."

USA TODAY Sports gave the Lakers' draft selection of Carr a "B+" grade. Senior basketball reporter Lorenzo Reyes wrote that Carr "should be an excellent fit for a Lakers team that could always use another scoring threat to pair alongside Luka Dončić."

Carr spent the first two years of his college career with the Tennessee Volunteers, playing in 18 games. He transferred to the Baylor Bears as a junior and was named a third-team All-Big 12 player. He is the son of former NBA player Chris Carr, who played for six different teams in six seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Lakers rookie Cameron Carr looks NBA-ready, despite summer league loss

He needed one shot to warm up. Then almost nothing could stop Cameron Carr.

In his unofficial NBA debut, the first-round draft pick flashed the type of three-point shooting that could turn him into a valuable player for the Lakers, scoring 19 points on seven-for-15 shooting in their 104-72 summer league loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

Ten days after walking across the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as the 24th pick in the NBA draft, Carr still could barely wrap his mind around his new job. The 21-year-old was nervous and excited putting on the Lakers’ gold jersey Friday at Chase Center. His nerves didn’t settle until the ball was in the air for the opening tip, he said.

Naturally, the ball landed in his hands.

Read more:Lakers trading Deandre Ayton to the Wizards for Jaden Hardy, draft picks

Carr knocked down a three on an offensive rebound for the Lakers’ first summer league points. He dished an assist to second-year forward Adou Thiero on the next possession, then knocked down his next shot, another three-pointer. He held his thumb and forefinger in a circle over his eye in celebration.

“It was a great moment,” Carr said of his summer league debut. “It was exciting, a blessing, like I’ve been saying. I’ve been preaching it: just the opportunity to get to step on the court with these dudes, and just learn the way and how they play and how we’re coming together.”

The Lakers spent the first days of free agency addressing their shooting deficiencies. While Luke Kennard signed a two-year contract with Phoenix, the Lakers reloaded with guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton and versatile power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili. The three free-agent additions came in a flurry Wednesday after the Lakers pulled off an aggressive trade for center Walker Kessler.

The moves were meant to reshape the roster to maximize superstar Luka Doncic, who will take the reins with the departure of LeBron James.

After leading the offense at Baylor, Carr knows his assignment supporting Doncic with the Lakers will be simpler: cut, run and dunk, he said at his introductory news conference.

And, for the guard who shot 37.4% from three-point range at Baylor last season, his job is also to knock down shots.

“If you can shoot the ball,” Carr said with a slight smile in New York the day before the draft, “you’re wanted by a lot of people.”

The Lakers wanted the 6-foot-5 guard so badly that they executed a draft-day pick swap with the New York Knicks. Carr was projected to be a mid-first-round pick but slipped in what many considered to be the deepest draft in a generation.

Any of the consensus top three picks — AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Carlos Boozer — could have been No. 1, analysts predicted. Eleven guards were taken before Carr, who was named third-team All-Big 12 last season after averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists with 45 blocks.

ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla estimated that Carr could be the best athlete out of the entire draft class.

His 7-foot wingspan was the best among guards at the NBA combine, and his 38-inch standing vertical and 10.46-second lane agility test ranked first for his position.

The length and athleticism make Carr the type of rookie who could make an immediate impact on defense, Lakers summer league coach Ty Abbott said.

“He’s got an ability to read the game,” Abbott said. “He’s not out there and completely lost. He kind of understands, and if he does make a mistake, he recognizes it pretty early. ... So for him, it’ll just be about probably adding some strength, maybe some weight, and then just getting the reps. ... You just got to go out there and do it. There’s no better way to learn how to guard good players than to guard good players.”

Carr said his top objective is to put on weight. Weighing 184 pounds at the combine, Carr would have been the third-lightest 6-5 player in the league last year, ahead of only Sacramento’s Nique Clifford (175 pounds) and Dallas’ AJ Johnson (160 pounds). Carr may be joining the Lakers at the exact right moment as the team — with the investment and guidance from big brother organization the Dodgers — will expand weight room, treatment and sports science resources in its facility. Carr plans to make the weight room his new home.

Building up his strength to handle the NBA will be critical for Carr as he hopes to show “that I’m the best defender here,” he told reporters last week. Adding another defender became even more important after guard Marcus Smart signed with Western Conference rival Houston.

The Lakers, after agreeing to trade center Deandre Ayton to Washington for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks on Friday, could look for a backup center and wing defender to round out their roster, which stands at 13.

“I’ll be honest,” Carr said with a bashful smile. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

Lakers re-sign Chris Mañon

The Lakers re-signed guard Chris Mañon to a two-way contract. The second-year guard appeared in nine games for them last season and also played 33 G League games for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. With a team-high 1.9 steals per game, Mañon was named to the G League all-defensive team and finished second in defensive player of the year voting.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Lakers struggled in their first game of the California Classic, losing 104-72 to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. 

LA’s newest rookie, Cameron Carr, was off to a hot start for the team, scoring six points off two 3-pointers. Los Angeles’ other notable name, Adou Thiero, was 1-2 from the field, but looked solid and was moving very well. Golden State’s rookie Yaxel Lendeborg also had six points off two triples.

The Lakers were down by five at the end of the first. Carr ended the quarter with eight points. Arthur Kaluma had five points off the bench.

Pull up curl off the HORNS action. Sticks out how fluid of an athlete he is.

8 points in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/JRq28Az4Yn

— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) July 4, 2026

Carr’s excellent play continued into the second period as he knocked down another 3-pointer, giving him 11 for the night so far. Lendeborg was 4-4 from behind the arc for the Warriors and had 14 points. 

Will Richard and Lendeborg combined for 32 points in the half and were also a combined 8-9 from behind the arc. Carr drained another triple for LA, giving him 14 points. Los Angeles was down 24 at the half.

A couple more threes by Cameron Carr, and it’ll be time to start designing the statue.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) July 4, 2026

Chris Mañon started the offense off for LA in the third period. Carr missed four shots before draining his fifth triple of the night. Adou finally put some more points on the board, converting on a three-point play.

Golden State, though, had built a big lead that the Lakers just couldn’t cut into. They were shooting 65% from the field.

LA was shooting 37% from the field. Their shot selection was rough and messy. At the end of the third,  the purple and gold were down by 34. 

I don’t want to make mountains out of molehills, but it’d be nice to see some positive Adou Thiero minutes during this game.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) July 4, 2026

The Lakers started the final frame on a positive note, scoring nine points in a row. Graham Ike put a stop to the run with a layup. The rest of the quarter was essentially garbage time as teams just exchanged baskets until the buzzer sounded.

Key Player Stats

Carr finished with 19 points and two rebounds. Thiero ended with nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kaluma had 12 points and six rebounds. Anton Watson scored nine points with three rebounds.

Mañon logged eight points with three rebounds. Zhaire Smith and AK Okereke combined for 11 points off the bench. 

The next California Classic game will be against the Miami Heat on Sunday at 1:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

The blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers has understandably sparked an emotional rollercoaster in Boston.

Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell offered a reminder that even franchise greats are not saved from the business side of pro basketball.

In an interview with WBZTV, Cassell discussed Brown’s exit from Boston to Philadelphia.

“Well, we won a championship with Jaylen Brown in Boston,” Cassell said. “Jaylen has done everything possible for this city… He’ll be missed, but it is the NBA. Wilt Chamberlain got traded after he averaged 50 points one year. So it happens.

“Trades happen in this league. I wish nothing but the best for Jaylen Brown. He’s a hell of a basketball player, a great person, and life goes on,” added the longtime NBA assistant, who has been with the Celtics for the past three seasons.

Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell on the Jaylen Brown trade:

“Jaylen has done everything possible for this city. He’ll be missed. But it’s the NBA. Wilt Chamberlain got traded after he averaged 50 points one year…I wish nothing but the best for Jaylen. He’s a hell of a… pic.twitter.com/9WmTEXc5om

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) July 3, 2026

Cassell’s perspective carries weight given both his playing and coaching careers, which have a combined four championships.

Brown’s departure closes one of the most successful chapters in recent Celtics history.

Drafted third overall in 2016, he spent a decade in Boston and developed from a raw prospect into one of the NBA’s elite two-way wings.

During his tenure, Brown earned five All-Star selections, two All-NBA honors and helped lead Boston to multiple NBA Finals appearances while capturing Finals MVP in the 2024 Championship run.

After Jayson Tatum suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in May of 2025, Brown assumed an even larger offensive burden, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists while helping Boston secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Now, Brown is headed to Philly.

The trade has generated mixed reactions across the league, and as especially polarizing in Boston.

“We’ll be fine,” Cassell assured. “Yeah, we’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. We’ll figure it out. The game’s played on the basketball court. We’ll figure that part out.”

The Lakers need to find defensive-minded players wherever possible, and they just ensured that one who is already familiar with the franchise will remain in Los Angeles.

On Friday night, the Lakers made the re-signing of Chris Mañon official, bringing the guard back on a two-way deal.

Lakers announce they've re-signed Chris Mañon to a two way contract. pic.twitter.com/V93WI2JNR0

— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) July 4, 2026

This move was expected, as the Lakers had reportedly tendered a qualifying offer to Mañon. Clearly, the Lakers liked what they saw from Mañon when he was on a two-way contract last season.

Mañon didn’t play much as a two-way player, appearing in just nine regular season games for the Lakers. However, he played a lot more with the team’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.

With South Bay, he played in 33 regular season games and started in 26 contests. He averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in the G League.

His defensive play is what really stood out. Mañon is a great on-ball defender. He’s able to disrupt opponents and force turnovers. He registered 1.9 steals with South Bay, which was a team-high.

Thanks to his defensive play, Mañon was named to the 2025-26 NBA G League All-Defensive Team. He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

With Mañon anchoring the perimeter defense, South Bay had a great year and was the top overall seed in the Western Conference with a 26-10 regular season record.They made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the Stockton Kings.

With Mañon back, he can continue splitting up his duties between South Bay and the main team, providing some backcourt help for the purple and gold.

The Lakers have had a ton of success with their two-way players. Jordan Goodwin and Scotty Pippen Jr. were both on two-way deals with the Lakers, and now each is on standard contracts with other NBA teams.

With Mañon returning and AK Okereke and Peter Suder reportedly on two-way deals, the Lakers will have filled all three spots once they make the other additions official.

Mañon is currently participating in Summer League action with the Lakers, and so are Okereke and Suder.

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

Jalen Brunson reflected on his time with the Mavericks during a sit-down with Sports Illustrated this week.

Brunson was going through different images that took him through various points of his career, and stopped on one where he was photographed with star Luka Doncic from the 2018 Draft, where both guards were selected together by Dallas.

Of course, former general manager Nico Harrison — who put together the 2023-24 Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals, along with the organization — managed to squander a Doncic- Brunson pairing, which began blossoming during the 2021-22 season.

Brunson, of course, left in free agency to the Knicks that summer for four years and $104 million after initially showing a willingness to sign for four years and $55 million with Dallas before his breakout 2021-22 season.

“I love him to death.”@jalenbrunson1 speaks on his relationship with @lukadoncicpic.twitter.com/TWLZiVQ7Lt

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 2, 2026

SI noted that it saw people online saying Dallas and Nico Harrison “fumbled the two of you,” which prompted a smile from Brunson.

“Well,” Brunson said with a pause. “They made decisions and I’ll leave it at that. They made their decisions.”

The situation, of course, became even more painful for Dallas after Harrison orchestrated the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.

The move stunned the basketball world and ultimately contributed to Harrison’s dismissal later that year.

Brunson, meanwhile, has enjoyed a dramatic rise in New York.

After developing into an All-Star and All-NBA performer with the Knicks, he completed the most successful season of his career by leading the franchise to its first NBA championship since 1973.

Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP after leading New York past the Spurs in five games last month, cementing himself as one of the greatest Knicks of all time.

Before leaving Dallas, Brunson and Doncic had already demonstrated what they could accomplish together.

During the 2022 postseason, they powered the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals.

Unsurprisingly, Brunson chose not to criticize Harrison directly during the interview, instead letting the results speak for themselves.

The Knicks are coming off a championship season, while the Mavericks have undergone sweeping organizational changes after losing both Brunson and Doncic in separate transactions.

Although Doncic — now a Laker — will be on a new-look team heading into next season after the additions of Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton.

SAN FRANCISCO ― Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft, took the floor and provided his first look in a Golden State Warriors uniform during the California Classic at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Warriors selected Lendeborg out of Michigan, where he helped the Wolverines win the 2026 NCAA championship. Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. He shot 51.5% from the field and 37.2% on 3-point shots.

Lendeborg was the main attraction that headlined the Warriors' California Classic summer league team. He helped to lead the team to a 104-72 win with a 19-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers and their No. 24 draft pick, Cameron Carr.

Lendeborg was joined on the roster by No. 56 pick Lajae Jones and returning players Malevy Leons, Will Richard and LJ Cryer.

Here's everything you need to know about how the California Classic summer league game played out:

More: Warriors draft grade: How Golden State addressed needs in draft

Final: Warriors 104, Lakers 72

The Warriors won their game against the Lakers by a final score 104-72 during the California Classic at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on July 3.

The leading scorer for the Warriors was rookie Yaxel Lendeborg with 19. Sophomore guard Will Richard scored 16 points. LJ Cryer and Chance McMillian both scored 12 each, as both Malevy Leons and Graham Ike both scored 11.

Cameron Carr was the lead man for the Lakers with 19 points. No other Lakers scored in double-figures.

Adou Thiero with the slam

Adou Theiro is known for having crazy athleticism. He gave a taste of those hops in a highlight reel, breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter.

Cameron Carr throwdown

Lakers rookie forward Cameron Carr showed off his hops with a two-hand flush on the Warriors in the fourth quarter.

3rd Quarter highlights

That's toughhhhh, Yaxel 💪 pic.twitter.com/6350j4vjv6

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 4, 2026

LaJae Jones connects from downtown 😤

It's the rookie's first bucket in the California Classic! pic.twitter.com/nhibWS1vF1

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

End of 3Q: Warriors 86, Lakers 52

The Warriors maintained their double-digit lead, extending the deficit to 34 after the first three periods. Golden State has been surging from the field, while the Lakers can't find the hole. LA has shot 36.5% through three quarters.

Yaxel Lendeborg has led the Warriors with 19 points. Second-year guard Will Richard has 16. Rookie Lajae Jones scored his first points in the third.

Well-rounded Warriors too much for Lakers summer league

The Warriors have outmatched the Lakers in the California Classic summer league game on July 3. The Lakers struggled to get things going with the exception of Cameron Carr, who is the high-man for LA with 17 points. No other Laker has scored in double-figures. Arthur Kaluma and Anton Watson each scored seven.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Will Richard and Chance McMillian scored at least 10 points in the game.

1st half highlights

Check out these highlights from the first half between the Warriors and Lakers.

Yaxel Lendeborg leads all scorers with 14!

He's 4-4 from downtown and 5-5 from the floor for the @warriors 😮

Watch the California Classic on Prime, ESPNU, and NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/lxkEmZiw7o

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

Will Richard (16 PTS, 6-8 FGM) for an 11-0 GSW run🔥

Warriors ahead in the 2Q, watch the California Classic on Prime, ESPNU, and NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/j237e8FiE5

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

CAMERON CARR AGAIN 😤

The rookie has 8 points in 6 minutes for the @Lakers! https://t.co/BmChRg9Uk6pic.twitter.com/DX6cRaeSjt

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

Half: Warriors 57, Lakers 33

The Warriors summer league squad looked ready to compete. Golden State was led by second-year guard Will Richard who scored 16 first half points. However, all eyes were on the rookies in the contest who were drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

For the Warriors, Yaxel Lendeborg scored 16 points in the first half. He hasn't missed a shot, shooting 5-for-5 from the field, 4-for-4 from 3-point distance and 1-for-1 from the free throw line. Lendeborg has done a little of everything. Not just score.

He's added three rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Cameron Carr led the way for LA. He's the only player to score in double-figures with 14. Carr is shooting 55% from the field and 50% from 3-point territory. He also recorded a blocked shot. Otherwise, it's been all Golden State, all game, through 20 minutes of play.

Cameron Carr gives Lakers offensive burst

The Lakers selected Cameron Carr with the idea they found a player who's extremely athletic but can also shoot the ball, lights out. Carr has delivered so far in the California Classic game against the Warriors. Carr scored 11 points in 9 minutes, shooting 4-for-7, including 3-for-6 from 3-point distance.

Yaxel Lendeborg impresses fans at Chase Center

Yaxel Lendeborg went to the bench with 6:45 remaining in the second quarter to rest. He put on a sharp-shooting display, scoring 14 points in 11 minutes, and garnered a round of applause from the crowd at Chase Center. He's also added three rebounds and four assists.

1st Quarter highlights

Cameron Carr's first points of the California Classic 👌

Watch the 24th pick in action on Prime, ESPNU, and NBA TV now! pic.twitter.com/LkH1OJlJs9

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

Yaxel Lendeborg is on the board!

It's his first points of the California Classic 🎯 pic.twitter.com/WOdNBke4Id

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

End of 1Q: Warriors 28, Lakers 23

It was a first quarter duel between the 2026 first round draft selections Yaxel Lendeborg and Cameron Carr.

Lendeborg paced the Warriors with 11 points in the first quarter where he shot 100%, going 4-for-4, including three 3-pointers made in 7 minutes and 42 seconds.

Carr answered the call for a rookie showdown. He led the Lakers in first quarter scoring with 8 points in 7 minutes. The pair of first round selections have been the stars of the game through the first period.

Warriors starting lineup vs Lakers

Here's the Golden State Warriors' starting lineup during the California Classic on July 3.

• LJ Cryer, guard
• Will Richard, guard
• Malevy Leons, forward
• Yaxel Lendeborg, forward
• Graham Ike, center

Lakers starting lineup vs Warriors

Here's the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup vs. the Warriors during the California Classic on July 3.

• Jon Elmore, guard
• Chris Manon, guard
• Cameron Carr, forward
• Adou Thiero, forward
• William Kyle III, center

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg makes NBA debut vs Lakers in California Classic

The Miami Heat downed the San Antonio Spurs 88-87 in the first game of the California Classic Friday. R.J. Davis had a chance to win it at the end for the Spurs, but his top-of-the-key trey was off-target.

The Summer Spurs started their three active draft picks (Terris Reed, Jr., Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Maliq Brown), returning two-way player Emanuel Miller, and former Mavs two-way player Miles Kelly. Kelly led the Spurs with 16 points.

Observations

• Reed’s 6-11, 265-pound frame was hard to miss on the perimeter. He was an active screener, both for players on the bounce and for cutters looking for passes at the top of the key. And these weren’t touch screens, either; he set solid picks even when he was looking to roll. In a pre-draft interview with No Ceilings, Reed talked about he’d intentionally flirt with the line between legal and illegal screens in college to make refs call the foul. He wasn’t whistled for a screening foul on Friday night.
• In that same No Ceilings interview, Reed noted Isaiah Hartenstein’s success on floaters in the Western Conference Finals, but the rookie from UConn never really found his offensive stroke Friday. He scored his first basket about three minutes into the second period and finished with just 10 points (plus seven boards). Near the end of the first half, he had a nice face-up spin move into a baby hook that came up a bit short. Another highlight came early in the fourth quarter when he looked to be stuck down low, but stayed with it to finish with a tough layup in traffic.
• Gillespie struggled mightily from the field (3 of 17 shooting; 2 of 8 from beyond the arc), but did have 10 points to go with his 8 assists and just one turnover. He flashed toward the end of the first half with a great challenge on a fast-break layup, followed by a hustle board and assist on the ensuing offensive possession. He also had a nifty floater and assist to Brown for a lob dunk midway through the fourth quarter.
• Brown had a solid second half with 10 points and a couple of 3’s. He looked a bit like the Thunder’s Jaylin Williams on the floor given his long hair and build. They’re the same height (6-9), but Williams has 15 pounds on the rookie from Duke.
• Davis made an early bid for this year’s “David Jones Garcia Award” with his 15 points and 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. If only that last-second 3 had gone down …
• The post matchup between Reed and Heat two-way player Vladislav Goldin carried some college transfer portal history. After Reed moved from Michigan to UConn in 2024, Goldin succeeded him as the Wolverines’ starting center. Goldin followed new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May from FAU to Michigan that offseason.
• Corliss Williamson mentioned last week that the stars had never aligned for him to coach in the Summer League prior to helming the Summer Spurs this month. It’s interesting to note that he also never got the chance to play summer league ball. Sacramento played in the old Rocky Mountain Revue back in the 90s, but the NBA lockout cancelled the event in 1995 after the Kings drafted Williamson with the 13^th overall pick out of Arkansas.

The Spurs are back at it Sunday at 6:00 pm CST against the host Golden State Warriors and No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg. We’re off and running!