Category: NBA

The NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers reportedly reaches beyond the controversial Aspiration sponsorship deal that first triggered scrutiny nearly a year ago, with the uncertainty now putting Leonard’s planned trade to the Toronto Raptors on ice.

According to new reporting from The Athletic, the outside law firm conducting the inquiry has examined whether the Clippers paid expenses on Leonard’s behalf without receiving reimbursement. Investigators have also looked into whether Leonard held a previously undisclosed endorsement agreement with a second company.

“[The investigation] looked into whether the Clippers improperly covered expenses for Leonard but were not reimbursed for them, those sources said, wrote The Athletic. “And the firm has examined if Leonard had a previously unreported endorsement deal with another company, those sources said.”

Those two developments significantly broaden what was initially understood to be a narrow investigation centered on possible salary-cap circumvention.

The league hired Wachtell Lipton to determine whether the Clippers helped arrange Leonard’s lucrative agreement with Aspiration as a way to provide compensation outside his NBA contract. The environmental company agreed to pay Leonard $28 million, though he never appeared in a public advertising campaign before Aspiration’s financial collapse and eventual bankruptcy.

The Athletic reported that investigators are now following additional financial threads uncovered during the process. It remains unclear which expenses the Clippers allegedly covered, how much money was involved or what company was connected to the possible second endorsement deal.

No finding of wrongdoing has been announced.

The Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer have repeatedly denied using Aspiration to funnel money to Leonard. The organization maintains that it was among the investors and business partners defrauded by Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg, who pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges and was sentenced to prison.

“We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration,” the Clippers said in a recent statement, adding that the team expects the investigation to confirm it did not violate league rules.

The widening inquiry could shed light on why the case has continued into its 11th month despite NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously suggesting it was approaching a conclusion. Silver has said the league needs finality but also wants the outside investigators to complete a thorough review.

The delay has already complicated one of the offseason’s biggest potential moves.

Toronto paused its agreement to reacquire Leonard after the NBA informed the Raptors they would assume the risk of any discipline affecting him after the trade. The Raptors still intend to complete the deal but will wait until the investigation ends before taking on that uncertainty.

The NBA’s original question was whether Leonard’s Aspiration contract crossed the line between a legitimate endorsement and off-the-books compensation.

Now investigators appear to be asking something broader: whether the Aspiration arrangement was an isolated issue or part of a larger web of financial benefits surrounding the Clippers star.

Until the league answers that question, Leonard’s Toronto return—and the Clippers’ offseason—will remain frozen.

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LAS VEGAS — Robbie Avila has heard the chants.

He heard the fans inside of Thomas & Mack Center shouting “We Want Rob-bie!” during the second half of the Lakers’ summer league game on Friday against the Thunder.

The same scene repeated itself during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Mavericks, with fans booing anytime a Lakers player who wasn’t Avila subbed into the game. 

It got to the point where even the PA announcer for the Lakers-Mavericks game got in on the chants, saying “say it louder” while the fans made it clear they wanted to see the 2026 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year showcase his unique skillset on the court. 

“It’s pretty cool to hear the fans cheer my name,” Avila told the California Post. “It’s a little bit of motivation because right now I’m not on the court and so it’s gonna continue to make me strive to be better so that I am out there so I can give them what they want to see. But it’s awesome to hear them chant.”

Fans here for Lakers-Mavericks are chanting "We Want Robbie".

The PA announcer encourages the chants: "Say it louder." pic.twitter.com/PPKx57vS35

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) July 12, 2026

The Lakers played their third Las Vegas Summer League game, and sixth summer league game over the last 12 days, on Tuesday night against the Clippers.

And with two more summer league games left after Tuesday, Avila is hopeful he’ll get more playing opportunities than he had entering Tuesday. 

Avila played in just one of the Lakers’ five summer league games entering Tuesday.

He started in their win over the Spurs on July 6 during the California Classic, finishing with 2 points (1-of-6 shooting), 2 assists and 1 rebound in 14 minutes. 

“Just to continue to learn,” Avila told the Post on what he’s hoping for the rest of the week. “Hopefully [I’ll] be able to maybe get an opportunity to play. If not, then be the best teammate I can.”

Fans wanting to see Avila play isn’t surprising. 

Despite going undrafted, he was one of the more popular players in the 2026 class.

The fact fans know his name is more surprising considering the laundry list of nicknames he accumulated while in college.  

“I think some people don’t even know my real name at this point,” Avila told the Post. 

Avila’s most popular and widely-known nickname? 

Cream Abdul-Jabbar — a nickname popularized by Kentucky Sports radio host Matt Jones in 2024 while Avila, who wears protective goggles like NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was playing at Indiana State before he transferred to Saint Louis for his junior and senior seasons. 

“It’s one of the most unique nicknames I think I’ve ever seen,” Avila told the Post. 

But Avila’s personal favorite nickname is Rob Wave, which is a play on rapper Rod Wave, who is Avila’s favorite music artist. 

“They think it’s just funny,” Avila told the Post on what his family and friends think about his nicknames. “They think it’s awesome. Obviously whenever something new comes out or when somebody uses it in a video, they like to send it to me. And so that’s why I enjoy them too. Just to see everybody around me have fun with it.” 

Larry Nerd, a play off of NBA icon and Indiana State legend Larry Bird, is the nickname Avila doesn’t get enough love. 

“The Larry Nerd one’s kind of gone down a lot more not being at Indiana State anymore,” Avila told the Post. “But when that one came out, that was obviously one of the most creative ones as well.”

Avila discussed some of his nicknames with the California Post, including ranking them by tiers (S tier, A tier, B tier, C tier, D tier and F tier)

Cream Abdul-Jabbar

Avila: “I think out of creativity, you got to put that at the S tier. If I were to rank it myself, I’d put it at A.”

He added: “I wouldn’t say it’s my least favorite. Obviously, Cream’s been used [for] so long. It’s the most used one. I’m trying to get that away from that one. That’s why I’m pushing Rob Wave.”

Larry Nerd

Avila: “Larry Nerd is an A tier. That was a good one to tie in with Indiana State.” 

College Jokic

Avila: “That one obviously being tied to [Nikola] Jokic is just pretty cool. But as far as creativity, it’s not the highest, so I’d probably put it a B tier.”

Larry Blurr

Avila: “Larry Blurr I think is a B tier as well.” 

Rob Wave

Avila: “Rob Wave [is] S tier, no joke.”

Milk Chamberlain

Avila: “Milk Chamberlain I think is also an S tier one, the creativity with that as well.”

Steph Blurry

Avila: “Steph Blurry I think, let’s go C tier.”

Shaquille Oatmeal

Avila: “That one’s another creativity one, but me personally, we’ll put it at the C tier.”

SLU Alcindor

Avila: “SLU Alcindor, when I went to [Saint Louis] was pretty good. I’ll put that as an A tier one too.”

LeBron Frames

Avila: “That’s another good one. I put that at B.”

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Like clockwork, the final domino has fallen as it pertains to the Phoenix Suns’ offseason moves to this point.

After the Miles Bridges trade with the Charlotte Hornets became official yesterday, the necessary cap space was created for Phoenix to utilize its non-taxpayer mid-level exception. With that, the Suns have officially signed Luke Kennard, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

From deep to the desert, welcome Luke 👌 pic.twitter.com/mPYGjIWy4x

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 14, 2026

In a statement from the team:

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Luke Kennard to a multi-year contract.

“Luke’s work ethic and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in NBA history,” said Suns general manager Brian Gregory. “His floor spacing, high basketball IQ and connective playmaking bring another dimension to our offense. We’re excited to welcome Luke and his family to Phoenix.”

The move makes plenty of sense. Phoenix lost a significant amount of shooting when Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale were sent to Charlotte in the Bridges trade. The two combined to make 371 three pointers last season while shooting 38% from beyond the arc. Adding Kennard provides the organization with another much-needed perimeter threat.

The challenge isn’t efficiency. It’s volume. The three most three-point attempts Kennard has taken in a single season are 423, which came with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2021-22 campaign. He’s not going to replicate the combined volume Allen and O’Neale provided, but that’s not necessarily what the Suns are asking him to do.

With the number of options Phoenix now has on the wing, Kennard simply becomes another tool in Jordan Ott’s toolbox. He can be deployed based on specific matchups and lineup needs, giving the Suns another way to create spacing and maximize their offensive efficiency. That’s especially valuable when the player you’re adding is a career 44.2% three point shooter over nine NBA seasons.

As an aside, Kennard will wear No. 8, the jersey number previously worn by Grayson Allen. I nailed both of my predictions on the Bridges/Kennard jersey numbers, a first for me.

Kennard doesn’t replace Grayson Allen. He doesn’t replace Royce O’Neale either. That was never the assignment. He fills a different role on a roster that suddenly has far more lineup flexibility than it did a few months ago. Some nights, his shooting will be the answer. Other nights, it will be someone else’s defense, size, or athleticism. That’s the point. The Suns aren’t searching for one player to solve every problem anymore. They’re building a roster with multiple solutions, and Luke Kennard is another one of them.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

With anything that happens in Las Vegas, we’re all quick to temper our enthusiasm.

“It’s just Summer League.”

“It’s a small sample size.”

“Let’s remember that the guy was a second-round pick.”

“Just one more trip to the ATM and I’ll stop playing blackjack for the night.”

In just three games, what were relative unknowns have gone from peaked curiosity to uncontrollable excitement. With Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams, the sophomore duo has solidified their standing in their development timeline.

Gonzalez hasn’t had the best shooting performance in Sin City (6-of-26 from the field, 4-of-18 from 3), but he’s gone to the line a dozen times and filled the stat sheet, nearing a triple-double against the Raptors.

Williams has been an effective rim protector (6 blocks), a ferocious rebounder (6 offensive boards), and an effective playmaker above the break.

However, the biggest revelations might be in this year’s draft picks, Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell. In Monday’s game without Gonzalez and Williams, the rookies showed off some early chemistry. Here’s CelticsBlog Adam Taylor on their evolving synergy:

there was a play late in the third quarter where Cenac had blocked the shot, recovered his block and found Mitchell sprinting up the floor. When it comes to a foot face, at least at Summer League level, I’d be happy to bet on Mitchell winning those most of the time. So, no surprise that he outruns Atlanta’s defense to get the finish.

If you’re going to be watching the Maine Celtics a lot next season, I would assume the connection between these two will be something you come to look forward to. After all, Cenac might be signed to the primary roster, but he projects to spend a decent chunk of his time in the G League, while Mitchell will most likely land a two-way deal following his play over the last three games.

Expect a leap from Gonzalez next season. He was reportedly one of the sticky points in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and has looked solid after a stint with Spain in the FIBA qualifiers. For Williams, Cenac Jr., and Mitchell, their road to playing time appears to be longer runway, but paved with potential.

The only player you care about looking good while the rest of the team gets smoked is the quintessential Summer League experience.

The Summer Sixers were demolished 87-64 by the Houston Rockets. They are now 2-1 with their penultimate game coming Wednesday at 4 p.m against Orlando. Their final game has yet to be announced.

Labaron Philon Jr. was the only Sixer who could find the hoop for much of the night. He went for a team-high 17 points shooting 7-of-11 from the floor along with four assists and two steals. Johni Broome finished with just two points and three rebounds on 1-of-5 shooting.

Amani Lyles was the only Sixer to reach double-digits. He shot 4-of-7 from the floor to finish with 13 points and three rebounds. Isaiah Crawford, who spent last season with Houston on a two-way, led all scorers with 19.

There was a lid on the rim for both teams as they combined to start the game 1-of-12 from the field. Philon snaking in nicely for a midrange at the 6:20 mark was the Sixers’ first points of the game. Finding the hoop remained a struggle for them while Houston was able to get in a rhythm. At the end of the first quarter the Sixers had scored eight points, seven of them by Philon.

The 2026 first-round pick was the only Sixer playing well, and he was doing so despite the Rockets’ defense loading up to stop him. They threw aggressive double teams at him nearly every trip down the court. He passed out of them very well, showing an impressive feel for passing, his teammates just weren’t able to convert. Philon was at least able to throw one flashy assist, saving a broken play with a touch bounce pass down to Amani Lyles for an and-1.

Well, after Q1….
Labaron Philon: 7 PTS, 3/3 FG, 1/1 3PT
The rest of the Sixers: 1 PT, 0/15 FG, 0/6 3PT pic.twitter.com/Y78uGG4U2M

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) July 14, 2026

Broome did not have the same success. He missed both his first three field goal attempts of the game, and his first three free throw attempts, finally getting on the board three minutes into the second half. The Rockets were able to take away his post-ups fairly easily, getting the ball out of his hands in various ways.

Shooting 31% from the field, every field goal the Sixers were able to make felt noteworthy. They showed some life coming up with two consecutive steals after a Duke Miles three. Lyles picked up a lot of his production in this stretch doing the dirty work, but the 10-0 run they went on was the best they could do.

Isaac Johnson took a couple of charges, but has yet to replicate his shooting performance from his summer debut. His lone assist of the night was a nice high-low pass down to the block. Miles made a nice behind-the-back move to beat a defender, but was unable to finish the bucket. He ended up with five points shooting 2-of-9 on the night. He made some hustle plays to keep possessions alive, but his funky shot form makes it hard to believe in him in any serious setting.

Bell Ringer

Standings

• Isaac Johnson – 1
• Labaron Philon Jr. – 1

Candidates

• Labaron Philon Jr.
• Amani Lyles

Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic are no longer simply two talented guards sharing the Lakers’ backcourt. They have become the center of the franchise’s next chapter and close personal friends, as well.

With LeBron James moving on, Los Angeles has committed its future to Doncic and Reaves, who signed a four-year extension worth roughly $185 million earlier this summer. The deal confirmed what had become increasingly clear last season: Reaves is no longer an unexpected success story. He is one of the Lakers’ foundational players.

And his relationship with Doncic should only help the the next era coalesce.

“He’s one of my best friends on this planet,” Reaves said. “I talk to him almost every single day.”

Their conversations are not limited to basketball. Doncic regularly asks for golf advice, leaning on one of the NBA’s more accomplished golfers for help.

“I talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing & asks what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”

This glimpse into a friendship that has developed quickly since Doncic arrived from Dallas less than a year and a half ago. It also reflects the comfort the Lakers will need to translate onto the court as the pair assumes greater responsibility without James.

Reaves said on a recent episode of the Dan Patrick show that he, Doncic, coach JJ Redick and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka have remained in close contact while the organization reshapes the roster. He believes they share a similar competitive outlook and are trying to build something capable of lasting beyond a single season.

That vision begins with how naturally the two guards complement each other, on and off the court. Doncic controls games through strength, patience and elite playmaking, while Reaves can score with or without the ball, attack closeouts and create as a secondary facilitator.

Reaves has said Doncic’s ability to manipulate pace and generate advantages is almost impossible to copy.

“You can study it, but I don’t know if you can really do it the way that he does it,” Reaves said.

The early results were promising. Los Angeles went 30-11 last season when both players were available, although injuries prevented the partnership from getting a full postseason test.

Now the safety net is gone.

Doncic and Reaves are close friends, golf correspondents and the two players expected to determine whether the Lakers’ post-LeBron era becomes a quick reset or the beginning of another sustained run.

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LeBron James could be close to picking a new NBA team.

The league's all-time leading scorer has been pondering his options since announcing plans to leave the Los Angeles Lakers when NBA free agency opened last month.

James possesses leverage in terms of his timing because his agent, Rich Paul, indicated money won't drive their decision. But the latest reports suggest he is at least narrowing his options and might be on the verge of figuring out where he will play in his record 24th NBA season.

ESPN's Shams Charania said on the Tuesday, July 14 episode of NBA Today that James has "a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia," with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors also mentioned as contenders for James (through Paul) in recent days.

A report from Front Office Sports noted that multiple NBA front office executives also consider the Warriors a serious threat to sign James.

LAKERS AFTERMATH: Did they lose or win free agency? Grading massive roster overhaul.

Golden State stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have reportedly been able to contact James during this free agency process, unlike the owners and general managers in pursuit of him. James is scheduled to record a live episode of his "Mind the Game" podcast with Tyrese Haliburton and other special guests as part of two appearances at Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday, July 16.

Here's a breakdown of the latest potential NBA free agency landing spots for LeBron James based on current reports:

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have emerged as the favorites to land James, allowing him to compete for an NBA championship with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley and author a storybook ending with a third stint near his hometown of Akron, Ohio to close out a historic career.

Miami Heat

The prospect of teaming James with Giannis Antetokounmpo is so fascinating to consider that the lack of supporting cast around them (because of the Heat's salary cap situation this season) seems worth the risk.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers became a serious option for James when they traded for Jaylen Brown. James shares the same agent with Tyrese Maxey and won a gold medal with Joel Embiid at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also can make more history in Philadelphia. No NBA player has ever won a title with four different teams.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors were the focus of initial speculation surrounding James' next team, particularly once Green elected to opt out of his contract to give Golden State more flexibility to pursue James. Playing with Curry and Green would give James a compelling closing chapter with two of his former rivals, though it remains to be seen if that's enough for the Warriors to compete with the Spurs and Thunder in the West.

Minnesota Timberwolves

James would be a great fit on the court and in the locker room with the Timberwolves, who could use a versatile power forward to replace Julius Randle and Naz Reid in their lineup and a mature voice to help ensure Minnesota's bet on teaming LaMelo Ball with Anthony Edwards pays off. But the idea of James spending his final NBA season(s) in Minnesota is seen as the least likely of these possible destinations.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James landing spots: Which team has emerged star's top choice?

The Nets got a bit of a reality check on Saturday night, losing 83-76 to the Atlanta Hawks on a night where the main attractions — Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin — rested on the second night of a back-to-back. Fortunately, the young cornerstones are expected to return tonight against Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings.

Enjoy!

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📺 Watch

• Who: Brooklyn Nets vs. Sacramento Kings
• When: 6:00 PM ET
• Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
• TV/Stream: YES Network, Prime Video

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🏀 Game Preview

Of course, Stephen A. Smith screamed “BOX OFFICE!” at cameras the day after Brooklyn selected Mikel Brown Jr., and proceeded to mention how they should be the next team to be part of expansion. Darius Acuff Jr. could have a great career and we’d be thrilled! But the focus in Brooklyn is all on Brown Jr., no matter how much hype has been around this matchup.

It doesn’t need to be anything more or less than that. Keep an eye on how these two young floor generals attempt to set the tone early.

More here from Anthony Puccio.

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💬 Discussion

Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Washington Wizards rookie and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa is done for the remainder of NBA Summer League. The BYU product was shut down by his team on Tuesday, July 14. According to The Athletic, Wizards Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine informed Dybantsa that he will not play in the team's final two games.

This is a normal situation for highly-touted prospects. Many first-round picks are shut down after two Summer League games as a precaution to ensure no injuries are sustained before their rookie season.

Dybantsa has drawn a good amount of hype heading into the 2026-27 season, with even veteran teammates like Trae Young attending the team's Summer League games in Las Vegas for an early glimpse at the up-and-comer. And Dybantsa didn't disappoint.

In just two games, Dybantsa averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, helping lead the Wizards to wins over both the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.

More: The Wizards set the table nicely for AJ Dybantsa to thrive right away

Is Dybantsa the only player being shut down by Washington?

No. The Wizards are also shutting down Summer League standouts Will Riley and Tre Johnson. Riley averaged 25 points in his two Summer League appearances, while Johnson scored 26 in his only appearance.

How many more Summer League games do the Wizards have?

The Wizards have two games remaining in Las Vegas, with matchups against the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15, respectively.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Wizards shutting down No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa for rest of Summer League

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Yaxel Lendeborg excited to circle Cameron Boozer rematch after Warriors' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS – The start to Las Vegas NBA Summer League was a reunion of sorts for Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. 

Taken with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Lendeborg earned bragging rights with two straight wins over his former Michigan teammates Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 pick) and Aday Mara (No. 12 pick), beating the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. His third game in Las Vegas was a chance for revenge. 

Lendeborg squared off with No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer once last season when Michigan played Duke in a highly contested battle. Both college stars put on a show at the Edward Jones Capital Classic in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21. 

While Lendeborg outscored Boozer 21 to 18 in that game, Michigan fell 68-63 for only its second loss of the season. Lendeborg also had seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocked shots. Boozer added 10 rebounds, seven assists and also blocked two shots. 

Just about five months later, Boozer’s team again got the best of Lendeborg’s in the Warriors’ 106-85 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at Cox Pavilion on UNLV’s campus. And Lendeborg again outscored Boozer. 

Lendeborg scored a team-high 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go with a game-high nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. He was a minus-28 in barely under 29 minutes. Boozer was a game-high plus-35 in 26 minutes with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. They each were more aggressive in the second half after slow starts. 

“I liked this one a lot better than that Michigan vs. Duke one,” Lendeborg said after the loss. “I had a lot more chances to guard him in this one, and same with him guarding me. It was a lot more fun getting to go up against a talent like that. Sucks that we lost the matchup, but we’ll see him again in the regular season.” 

Coach Khalid Robinson certainly took note of the heavyweight bout, too. 

“It was two very talented players, two very physical guys,” Robinson said. “It was a fun matchup to watch and obviously something that’s going to go on for a long time in this league.” 

Watching Lendeborg and Boozer go against one another felt like a rivalry happening in real time. There wasn’t trash talk, but a look in their eyes of each proving who the better player is. They matched up against one another as much as possible and neither ducked any smoke. 

The highlight of the first half was Lendeborg going right at Boozer in transition. Lendeborg put his left shoulder into Boozer’s right, knocking him back to create separation. He gathered his dribble and finished the play with Boozer watching the ball go through the net from out of bounds. 

Look at the strength of Yaxel Lendeborg going right at Cam Boozer 👀 pic.twitter.com/tNJ9UVGGsW

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) July 14, 2026

He had a similar finish on Boozer in the second half, too. When the Warriors’ regular-season schedule is announced, Lendeborg admittedly will have his eyes on games against Boozer and the Grizzlies. 

“Yeah, absolutely. I’m always gonna circle that matchup,” Lendeborg said. “… I’m excited to see him again, and hopefully we can get on the winning side.” 

Between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Lendeborg’s 3-point shot has stood out as much as anything. In a game where he missed both of his 3-point attempts on Tuesday, Lendeborg’s physicality is what stood out most. 

Lendeborg consistently looked to get to the rack. He just didn’t always convert – at least not on his first try. 

Yax 💪

📺 @NBCSAuthenticpic.twitter.com/OYZdBcPYAW

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 15, 2026

There were multiple instances where he followed his own miss and converted a putback. Those kinds of energy plays are what the Warriors are looking for out of Lendeborg, knowing he has the natural strength to make an impact in handful of ways. 

“That’s what we’ve asked of him,” Robinson said. “He’s brought it, but you have to bring it consistently and that’s just the challenge of being a pro. He’s a really physical player, and for our team, we have to have that level of physicality to start every game and consistently throughout.”

Another look at the strength of Yaxel Lendeborg, but a slight limp after pic.twitter.com/MoUMMIMfrt

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) July 15, 2026

This is where Yaxel Lendeborg has been at his best this game

His shot isn’t falling, but his NBA-ready frame is so obvious pic.twitter.com/gnSLCIuUNx

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) July 15, 2026

A familiar-but-new face to Lendeborg was on the sidelines of Cox Pavilion. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was in attendance for his first summer league game this year. Kerr sat next to general manager Mike Dunleavy, as well as newly hired associate head coach Frank Vogel. Though Vogel hasn’t officially signed his contract with the Warriors, he was all smiles getting to know Golden State’s coaching staff. 

Seeing Kerr on the sidelines was a surprise to Lendeborg. When reminded of Kerr being there after the game, Lendeborg shook his head and said how frustrated he was that Kerr’s first look at him was a loss. He’d even change some of the words he knows Kerr heard him say right in front of him. 

“There was one play I was very frustrated and I yelled a couple curse words,” Lendeborg said. “I realized, ‘Oh my God I got to relax, he’s right there.’ He kind of heard the bad side of it, but I tried to keep my composure as much as I could.” 

The Warriors’ loss dropped them to 2-1 in Las Vegas and 4-2 overall this summer. Tuesday also was the first game Lendeborg has lost in a Warriors jersey. Their next game is Thursday against the New York Knicks at 4 p.m. PT.

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The NBA Summer League kicked off last Thursday, and several former Wisconsin Badgers have looked to make their names known as they battle to make their respective team’s rosters.

Last year, the Badgers had their first draft pick since 2022 when John Tonje was taken by the Utah Jazz in the second round. Tonje enjoyed a quality rookie season in the G League, averaging 18.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a game while splitting time with the Salt Lake City Stars (Utah’s G League affiliate) and the Maine Celtics (Boston Celtics G League affiliate) after being traded midseason.

Tonje is now playing for the Celtics Summer League team, and he’s been off to a fantastic start.

In Boston’s first game, Tonje had 20 points, hitting five threes, while having a clutch steal and dunk that helped seal a three-point overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors. In their next game against the Charlotte Hornets, Tonje had an efficient 17 points on 8 of 10 from the field, while hauling down five rebounds.

He did struggle a bit in Boston’s third game, scoring five points on 2 of 8 from the field in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Nick Boyd is also participating in this year’s Summer League after going undrafted last month in the 2026 NBA Draft. He signed a deal with the Golden State Warriors after the draft and is looking to compete for a roster spot or a G League spot there.

Playing on the Warriors Blue team during the California Classic, Boyd had a couple of solid games to kick off Summer League. He struggled in his first contest, scoring 11 points on 2 of 10 shooting in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. But Boyd followed that up with a double-double, dropping 11 points and 10 assists in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, while shooting 4 of 7 from the field.

In the final game of the California Classic, Boyd had 13 points and five assists, while shooting 5 of 13 from the field. He was the starting point guard for all three games on the Warriors’ second G League team.

Boyd has now played in one of the two games since the official G League start in Las Vegas. He did not suit up for Golden State’s first game, but had 14 points, two assists, and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench in the team’s most recent game, while shooting 5 of 6 from the field.

The other former Badger playing is center Steven Crowl, who signed a deal to play for the Detroit Pistons ahead of Summer League.

After being a DNP in Detroit’s first game, Crowl has seen some minutes off the bench for the Pistons in their last two contests. In their second game, an 11-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Crowl had two assists, a block, and an offensive rebound in eight minutes of action, while being a +5 in the box score.

He saw a bigger role in their third game, playing 19 minutes, while scoring five points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out two more assists. He was a +6 in his minutes.

Summer League continues on Tuesday and will go on for the next few days, as each of the three players will look to make the most of their minutes. But, there have been some positives from Tonje, Boyd, and Crowl in their early action so far.

Game Details

When: Tuesday, July 14, 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus, Prime Video
Follow: @LibertyBallers

The Washington Wizards are shutting down AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson and Will Riley for the remainder of Las Vegas Summer League, The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported Tuesday.

Dybantsa flashed his relentless rim pressure, elite athleticism and finishing ability through two contests. He scored 27 points — which tied Blake Griffin for the most by a No. 1 pick in their Las Vegas Summer League debut —in a 92-88 win over the Utah Jazz before tallying 23 points in Washington’s 104-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The Wizards’ No. 1 pick averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists across those two contests. He used his 6-foot-9 frame to tally 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as he flashed an impressive defensive motor.

One of the few blemishes on an otherwise impressive showing was Dybantsa’s shooting efficiency. The BYU product shot just 39.4% (13-33) from the field and 9.1% (1-11) from 3-point range.

In what served as his lone appearance, Johnson tallied 26 points on 11-20 FG. He scored from all three levels, knifing into the paint for contested layups, pulling up for mid-range jumpers and knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.

Riley shook off a shaky opener to dominate the Kings on Sunday. The second-year wing scored a game-high 32 points while making six of his eight 3-point attempts. He shot 70% from 3-point range on 10 attempts across two Summer League contests.

The Wizards return at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday against Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls before facing Keaton Wagler’s Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.