Category: NBA

The NBA is standing pat on the high-profile altercation between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

An NBA spokesperson said, “After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league.”

The response comes after ESPN reported a physical altercation between Adebayo and Herro in which Adebayo allegedly punched his former Heat teammate at the Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas, and Herro was later restrained from a physical response.

Adebayo reportedly confronted Herro over comments he made on social media following Herro’s trade to the Bucks this offseason in a package for Giannis Antetokoumnmpo.

“Honestly, I’m just trying to move past all of it,” Herro told ESPN on the incident.

“I’m focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They obviously just traded the greatest player in their history, so we want to come in and help continue what they’ve been doing.”

Heat sources told ESPN that Herro and Adebayo had generally gotten along during their seven years as teammates in Miami, but grew apart last season as Herro battled injuries and seemingly struggled to adjust to a new offensive scheme.

Several times last season, Adebayo made comments that implied Herro needed to be doing more to adjust, which reportedly impacted Herro as he was fighting ankle, toe and rib injuries, which caused him to appear in just 33 games last season.

Herro had also heard his name in Antetokounmpo trade discussions dating back to February.

He was ultimately a piece of the package going back to Milwaukee that also included Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and multiple picks, including three first-rounders.

The Heat also received Bobby Portis from the Bucks in the trade.

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green appears to be fed up with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s media tour since being taken with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Green conveyed this when speaking about Lendeborg’s recent recruiting pitch to LeBron James during a Thursday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show”.

“[Lendeborg] said, ‘I know you don’t like rookies that much, but I’m not the average rookie. If you’re looking to play with the greatest shooter of all time, and Draymond, we’ll be glad to have you.’ Is the pitch too weak, or too strong? I don’t know,” Green said during his podcast, paraphrasing the pitch Lendeborg made to LeBron during a June 12 appearance on Bleacher Report’s “B/R at Summer League” show.

“I think the pitch is pointless. You know? But it’s fine; training camp is coming soon enough, and, you know, got to reign the rookie in a little bit, teach him a few things,” Green added.

“Training camp’s coming soon enough… And I think you all know why I’m hitting at training camp. And yeah, it’ll get here soon enough, Yax. Enjoy all your media.”

Draymond Green on Yaxel Lendeborg pitch to LeBron James to join Golden State:

“Is the pitch too weak or too strong? I don’t know. I think the pitch is pointless, you know. But it’s fine. Training camp is coming soon enough and you know, got to rain the rookie in a little bit.… pic.twitter.com/aKLMt6b5EF

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 16, 2026

The four-time All-Star seems to be suggesting that he’ll be giving Lendeborg a tough time during training camp, perhaps as a way to remind him where his place on the Warriors’ totem pole is at this point in his career.

All the media attention the former Michigan Wolverine has received since being drafted has sparked several viral comments, including Lendeborg asserting that Green ghosted him after the NBA Draft.

Green is probably right in saying that Lendeborg’s pitch to LeBron is “pointless,” if only because LeBron isn’t going to weigh anything a rookie says about where he should sign to end his career.

Then again, Lendeborg’s harmless pitch was part of a show segment, so there’s really no reason to come down too harshly on him for it.

Maybe a bit of the vitriol between the new teammates stems from their natural rivalry. The veteran Green played college ball at Michigan State as a Spartan. Meanwhile, Lendeborg is coming off a national championship with the Wolverines.

But if there is one thing Green and Lendeborg can agree on, it’s that they want LeBron to choose the Warriors.

We’ve experienced plenty of emotion from the Phoenix Suns during Summer League.

Koa Peat is screaming into the ether after throwing down a savage dunk. Khaman Maluach is yelling toward general manager Brian Gregory after swatting an opponent’s shot into the multiverse. The passion and emotion on display in Las Vegas this summer could very well be a byproduct of the culture the organization has cultivated, bringing in players like Dillon Brooks, who spent all of last season alongside Maluach.

Then there’s Rasheer Fleming.

He simply goes about his business with a steady hand and a rhythmic heartbeat. He hasn’t been flashy. He hasn’t been loud. He’s simply been effective. That can make it difficult to fully appreciate what he’s doing, especially when he’s sharing the floor with two players whose emotional displays naturally command your attention. But despite his Kawhi Leonard approach to the game, Fleming has quietly put together an outstanding Summer League.

You might not immediately see it in the counting stats, but what Rasheer Fleming is doing defensively has been what truly caught my eye. That said, even the numbers are more than respectable for a second-year, second-round pick playing in his second Summer League. Fleming is averaging 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. From a statistical standpoint, there’s nothing underwhelming about that production.

He’s not demanding the basketball the way Koa Peat does, either as a scorer or facilitator. He’s not consistently finding touches as a rim runner the way Khaman Maluach is. Instead, he’s playing within the flow of the offense, and that’s exactly what makes his performance so encouraging. He’s setting high screens and back screens. He’s finding the corners. He’s rebounding the ball and going back up with it. He’s taking the open three when it comes his way. For a player whose long-term projection is as a three-and-D forward, Fleming is the Summer League player whose role most closely mirrors what he’ll actually be asked to do next season.

Fleming saved his best performance for the Suns’ final Summer League game, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, and knocking down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Some will look at that performance and wonder why he didn’t play that way throughout Summer League. I see it differently.

His role with the Suns is going to be as a three-and-D forward. That’s why I wasn’t focused solely on his scoring. Yes, I wanted to see how the three-point shot looked. But more than anything, I wanted to see the defense. That’s the side of the ball that rarely receives the appreciation it deserves. If the counting stats aren’t jumping off the page, it can be easy to overlook what a player is actually doing. Fleming was anything but underwhelming over four Summer League games.

What I have appreciated most was his awareness on defense. I think back to last Summer League, when he looked like he was all arms and legs, running around the court, losing his man, arriving late on closeouts, slipping under screens, and generally looking uncomfortable defensively during his limited minutes. He missed the first two games and averaged only 16.8 minutes. This year, in 26.7 minutes per game, there’s a confidence to the way he defends. More importantly, there’s execution.  Watch his feet as he glides with ball handlers and rotates between assignments. Watch his arms as they clog passing lanes and deter shots at the rim. That’s where the growth has been.

Yesterday against the Detroit Pistons was a perfect example. Ebuka Okorie, the 17th overall pick, had put together a solid Summer League for Detroit. He’s a twitchy point guard with the ability to beat defenders off the bounce with ease. Not yesterday. The Suns’ game plan was simple. Put Rasheer Fleming on him and make his life miserable. Mission accomplished. Okorie finished with 16 points, but it took him 17 shots to get there. Fleming’s work at the point of attack was outstanding, consistently disrupting Detroit’s offense and making every possession a challenge.

That’s one of those things that gives you butterflies in your stomach when you start thinking about the possibilities next season. If Fleming spends time at small forward, his defensive versatility becomes incredibly intriguing. He has the ability to guard one through five. On one possession, you can throw him at the point of attack. On the next, he can battle a power forward inside. When you combine that with the different lineup combinations the Suns can deploy, it becomes a fascinating chess piece for Jordan Ott to work with.

So he might not be loud. He might not be extroverted on the court. That doesn’t mean his Summer League has been underwhelming. 

When we talk about progression from the sophomore class, Fleming belongs in that conversation. Much like the Suns’ second-year players showed meaningful growth throughout last season, we’ve seen that progression continue in Las Vegas.

The challenge now becomes translating it to the regular season. For a player who appears destined to receive consistent rotational minutes, this was a meaningful step in the right direction. The three-and-D role he’ll be asked to fill aligns almost perfectly with what he’s shown throughout Summer League.

Sometimes, progression isn’t measured by who scores the most points. Sometimes it’s measured by how prepared a player looks for the role that’s waiting for him.

The NBA is looking into the free agent deal signed by Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr., according to multiple media reports.

Trent Jr. signed a four-year, $64 million free agent deal to return to the Bucks. It is not known why the league is conducting the probe, but if it is looking into any signed contract, it is most likely due to issues related to salary cap circumvention. The league is currently looking into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for their alleged salary cap circumvention.

The last time the NBA punished a team for toying around with the cap was in 2000, when the Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million and forfeited five first-round draft picks after signing forward Joe Smith to a secret deal. Smith's Bird rights were stripped, making him a free agent, and the league suspended owner Glen Taylor.

Trent Jr. signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal with Milwaukee in 2024, then inked a two-year, $7.58 million contract with a player option, which he declined, allowing him to sign the most recent lucrative deal. That deal allowed the Bucks to exceed the salary cap for their own free agents, provided they have spent two years with the team.

The 27-year-old Trent averaged 8.1 points on 38% shooting in 65 games last season, his lowest scoring average since his second year in the league in 2019-20 with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Trent has career averages of 13 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in eight NBA seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA probing Gary Trent Jr.'s $64 million free agent contract with Bucks

The NBA is “probing” the Bucks signing of Gray Trent Jr., according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Trent signed a four-year, $64-million deal with Milwaukee on Saturday, raising eyebrows across the league.

Last season, the guard averaged his fewest minutes per game since his rookie season, putting up an inefficient 8.1 points and shot just 38.7% from the floor.

Trent even fell out of the Bucks rotation entirely at times.

Despite that, the Bucks rewarded the shooting guard with a gargantuan raise and guaranteed salary for four years.

While some called it an offseason blunder, others claim it’s circumstantial evidence that the Bucks circumvented the salary cap to get the most out of the final years of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Coming off a $51.8 million contract with the Raptors in 2024, Trent signed for a league-minimum $2.6 million with the Bucks.

This was the only contract the Bucks could afford as they paid heavy prices on Antetokounmpo and Damien Lillard and were deep into the luxury tax apron.

Trent’s numbers dropped in Milwaukee, no longer starting as he did at times with the Raptors, but the Bucks re-signed him last offseason with the 20% Non-Bird raise.

The extreme drop-off followed by a jump in salary that doesn’t match on-court performance, could potentially hint at a handshake deal made that promised a certain salary in the future for a short-term pay cut.

Such deals are banned in Article XIII, Section 2 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

“At no time shall there be any agreements or transactions of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), between a player … and any Team … concerning any future Renegotiation, Extension, or other amendment of an existing Player Contract, or entry into a new Player Contract.”

The probing comes after just about everyone in the NBA world questioned the signing.

NBA salary cap expert Nate Duncan said on X that the contract “would fall under the provision that there is no possible explanation other than circumvention.”

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon chimed in saying the contract stunk.

“It smells awful,” he said on “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.”

Zaire Wade, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of domestic violence during a court appearance in Pasadena Thursday.

Wade showed up in court wearing a gray three-piece suit and pink tie for his arraignment stemming from an altercation last month involving a woman he was dating. 

He was warned by the judge to stay 100 yards away from the unidentified victim and told to sign a document saying he doesn’t have additional firearms in his name, after authorities removed a handgun from his home following the incident.

Wade responded “yes, your honor” when asked if he agreed to a Sept. 24 date for a preliminary hearing in the case.

His attorney, Kevin Moghtanei, told The California Post outside the courtroom that his client denies all the charges.

When asked if Wade had additional guns in his home, Moghtanei said he couldn’t comment.

On June 21, police responded to a Burbank home around 5:30 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing a woman screaming.

When officers arrived, they found Wade and a woman with lacerations to her face and body.

Paramedics evaluated the woman at the scene, but she was not taken to the hospital. Authorities also removed a handgun from the home after the arrest. 

Following the arrest, an emergency protective order was put in place. Wade posted a $50,000 bond and was released later that day.

Zaire Wade is the oldest child of Dwyane Wade, the first-ballot Basketball Hall of Famer whose decorated NBA career includes three NBA championships, 13 All-Star selections, the 2010 All-Star Game MVP award, eight All-NBA honors and the league scoring title in 2009. The elder Wade has not issued any public comment regarding his son’s arrest.

Years before his arrest, Zaire Wade and LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, played together during the 2019–2020 high school basketball season at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth. 

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The Lakers have added a wing to their team by reportedly signing Ziaire Williams, but they continue to look for more depth at the position.

Jonathan Kuminga has been linked to them for weeks now, but he remains a free agent. With the summer continuing and a need for more wings remaining, the Lakers are now also reportedly interested in Matisse Thybulle.

The Lakers have again broadened their search for perimeter defense, league sources say, registering interest this week in free agent Matisse Thybulle.

They have already added Ziaire Williams while also continuing to pursue Jonathan Kuminga.

More NBA: https://t.co/mNpuuR3uFhpic.twitter.com/8kIkm2jULS

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 16, 2026

As a defensive-minded wing, Thybulle would be a good pickup for the Lakers. As currently constructed, LA’s perimeter defense appears to be a weakness, and Thybulle can help address it. He has made All-Defensive Second Team twice in his career and remains a solid defender.

Last year Thybulle put up modest numbers with the Blazers. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, so don’t expect massive production from him if he joins the purple and gold.

However, he is a pretty good outside shooter. Thybulle shot 39.8% from 3-point range last season. And on a Luka Dončić-led team, having a defensive wing who can knock down open threes is ideal.

It’s good that the Lakers aren’t just locked in on Kuminga. He’s likely the best wing option available, but he’s unrestricted and could end up elsewhere.

So, LA has to keep options open. The top priority has to be adding a player to the wing position. If that happens to be Thybulle, that would be a solid pickup. He is a good perimeter defender and can spread out the defense due to his threat as a shooter.

Whether it’s Thybulle, Kuminga, or another player, it seems pretty clear the Lakers are continuing to search for more wing options.

This deep into the offseason, things might move a bit slower in free agency. Certain big names are still out there and players looking at smaller deals don’t have to rush to sign.

So, don’t be surprised if it takes some time for the Lakers to add a wing. At this point, though, it seems most likely that they will add one to the main roster before training camp begins sometime in September.

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

When Yaxel Lendeborg lays in bed at night imagining his future, there’s so much that excites him. 

He’s going to throw assists to Steph Curry, the greatest shooter of all time. He’ll be in a defensive stance alongside Draymond Green, who has made a Hall of Fame career out of bottling up opposing teams’ stars. 

When asked which scenario most often plays through his mind as he falls asleep, he didn’t hesitate. 

“I’d probably say lockdown defense next to Dray,” Lendeborg told The California Post. “I have a lot to learn. He’s such a great defender, such a versatile defender. That’s something I’ve always wanted to improve on. So being able to learn from him is something I’m very excited to do.”

For the Warriors, Lendeborg is the Swiss Army Knife they need. 

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward can play small-ball center, handle the ball and shoot 3s. He’s also a lauded defender who can guard positions 1 through 5. 

The 23-year-old Lendeborg, whom Golden State selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is expected to make an immediate impact for the Warriors, especially with Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL) and Moses Moody (torn left patellar tendon) out for the start of the season. 

As for Lendeborg, he was on pins and needles during draft night, hoping the Warriors would select him.   

“They showed me a lot of love,” Lendeborg told the Post, referring to a private, pre-draft workout he had with the team June 11. “They were pretty much giving me the game plan of how it was going to go. I was super happy the entire time. They made me feel wanted as soon as I stepped in. There was no place I wanted to be other than that.”

Lendeborg is at least 3 years older than all 10 players who were drafted ahead of him. That’s something that has historically given teams pause, considering the overwhelming value placed on youth and untapped potential. 

But for a Warriors team that’s in win-now mode trying to extend the 38-year-old Curry’s championship window, acquiring a player who could plug in immediately was of paramount importance. 

“We got the guy we were looking to get,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob said last month during an announcement for a new jersey patch.

Knows how to win

Lendeborg led Michigan to an NCAA championship last season, averaging 15.1 points on 52% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals. He was a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. 

For the Warriors, Lendeborg was their biggest offseason acquisition in what has otherwise been a very quiet period for a team that missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons. 

But that could change. 

The Warriors are still in the race to acquire LeBron James.

For an incoming rookie, sharing the court with arguably the greatest player of all time would be surreal. 

“That would be great,” Lendeborg told the Post. “Being able to learn from him. He plays the same position as me. We’re pretty much built kind of the same. He’s obviously a lot stronger. Being able to learn how he’s kept his body intact, the workouts he’s done, what he did to increase his game IQ. [That] is something I’m very excited to learn from [him]. Hopefully it all works out.”

Lendeborg has one concern, though. 

“Hopefully he doesn’t take away my minutes, either,” Lendeborg added, flashing a smile. “But I’d be very excited either way.”

No lack of confidence

Lendeborg is ready to make an impact.

He raised eyebrows during his post-draft interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, proclaiming, “I’m excited to start another Warriors dynasty.” 

The Warriors won four championships in eight years from 2015-2022, but they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since. Lendeborg believes he can help turn that around. If summer league is any indication, he may not be wrong. 

In the team’s first two games in Las Vegas, he averaged 17.5 points on 48.1% shooting from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

But he needs to improve his conditioning, something he quickly realized over the last few weeks. 

Luckily for him, he can study Curry, whose intense offseason workouts became NBA lore as he famously tortured defenders by never stopping moving.

“He’s the most conditioned player in NBA history,” Lendeborg told the Post. “Just learn those habits.”

Lendeborg has already had some fun back-and-forths with his new teammates. 

He told reporters on draft night that he “used to hate Steph Curry” because he was “a big Kyrie [Irving] guy.” Curry responded in an Instagram comment, writing,  “Let’s go! Welcome to the Bay! I’m going to work hard to be your new favorite player.”

Meanwhile, Green carved out time on his podcast to address Lendeborg’s claim that he hadn’t texted the rookie back. “You f–king liar,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show,” adding that he replied “the next minute.”

“We’re not really a team very big on rookie hazing,” Green said. “… But we can pick that back up.”

Lendeborg hopes that’s not the case.

“I’m kinda nervous thinking about it,” Lendeborg told the Post. “But I hope he takes it easy on me and gives me a nice warm welcome that doesn’t involve any hazing.”

Emotional night

Despite stirring the pot a bit, this much is for sure: Lendeborg is deeply grateful he’s going to share the court with Curry and Green, who turned the Warriors into the league’s modern-day dynasty. No team has won back-to-back titles for eight years since the Warriors won championships in 2017 and 2018.

“I’m very excited to play [with] those guys,” Lendeborg told the Post. “They’re all historically good players. They’re all going to be in the Hall of Fame. They’ve won at the highest level multiple times. There’s so much to learn and so much to be.”

That’s why he was so worried on draft night. 

The Warriors had their highest pick in five years. Several other players were rumored to be on their radar, including Brayden Burries, who was selected one spot ahead of Lendeborg at No. 10, as well as Aday Mara, whose name was called immediately after his at No. 12. 

“I was a little nervous the entire time because you obviously don’t know where you’re going, and it didn’t seem like I was going to have the opportunity to play there,” Lendeborg told the Post.  “But God brought me here, and I’m super happy to be here.”

After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed Lendeborg was heading to Golden State, his joy was palpable.

Emotions poured out of him as he hugged his mother, Yissel Raposo, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 appendix cancer when he played for the Wolverines last season.  

She used to call him every draft night. She wanted to make sure he was watching. She needed him to believe he could one day be on that stage.

Now she was wiping his tears as she choked back her own.

His dream had come true, which meant hers had, too.

“There’s nothing better than being able to give this gift to my mom,” he said. 

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Jack Kayil has impressed the Knicks with his play in Summer League. 

The rookie had 19 points, three steals and four assists earlier this week against the Pistons. Kayil added 12 points and three assists in his Summer League debut last week against San Antonio. 

Not bad for a 19-year-old taken with the 39th pick in the NBA Draft. 

If you’re watching these games, you may be surprised by Kayil’s play so far. But those who have followed him closely overseas are not.  

“With him, it’s always basketball. He has a conviction and commitment on trying to be the best possible player he can be,” said Himar Ojeda, the sporting director for Kayil’s team in Germany, Alba Berlin. “He put a lot of effort in trying to take care of himself physically, mentally – sometimes even too much for a young kid. …you know, he’s 19 and he acts like a veteran in certain routines. But that's why he's been successful.” 

The Knicks obviously thought highly enough of Kayil to select him in the second round of the draft. Both Kayil and fellow rookie Tyler Nickel have impressed team personnel in Las Vegas. 

If their early play in Vegas is an indication, both players could have a future with the Knicks. New York needs to find young players and sign them to team-friendly contracts in order to navigate the NBA’s second apron rules. It would be an organizational win if both Nickel and Kayil play their way on to New York’s NBA roster. 

It’s only Summer League, but it seems as if the Knicks have found two promising young players in Nickel and Kayil. Can they earn a spot on the 2026-27 roster?

New York is currently $3.3 million below the second apron with 13 players and with room for one more minimum. Owner James Dolan said in June that the team would not exceed the NBA’s second apron in team salary. 

New York still needs a third center. If the club signs a center to a veteran’s minimum contract, New York would not have enough room under the second apron to sign either Nickel or Kayil to a contract via the second round exception.

Entering free agency, the plan for Kayil was to spend next season with his overseas club. The Knicks can obviously alter those plans by offering him an NBA contract, but as noted above, they are limited by the second apron.

New York could offer Kayil or Nickel a two-way contract for next season. But in this scenario, New York would be prohibited from paying Kayil’s buyout from his German club. The buyout has to be executed between the player and his overseas team. The Knicks can offer Nickel a two-way contract without this limitation.

In the two-way scenario, the Knicks could convert either Kayil or Nickel to a standard contract once the pro-rated amount fits under the second apron.

Whatever happens from here, it’s safe to assume that both Nickel and Kayil will have an opportunity to play for the Knicks in the near future. For Kayil, the only question is whether he is with New York in 2026-27 or in a subsequent season.

Whenever Kayil gets his chance, the guard will come to New York with some qualities that are precursors to NBA success.

“He can play defense and he can shoot the ball. Normally, for a point guard, it limits you if you don’t have these capacities and he definitely has them,” Ojeda, who previously served as Director of International Scouting for the Atlanta Hawks, says. “He's also mature in the sense that he has been a clutch player for us this season (in Kayil’s first year in the Bundesliga, the most senior league in Germany). He’s the one that wants to have the ball in his hands and he's not afraid to take the last shot.”

Case in point: Kayil struggled early in the do-or-die Game 5 of Alba Berlin’s championship series against traditional powerhouse Bayern Munich. But he wasn’t scared to have the ball in his hands late – and he delivered. Kayil scored 10 crucial points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter as Alba Berlin came back from down 20 points at halftime to win.

Ojeda, who has known Kayil since he was "a little kid," was impressed by Kayil’s mentality late in games.

“I've known him since he's very, very young, but this is still something that surprises me. So yeah, this is Jack Kayil,” Ojeda says. “It shows that he’s a competitor and (has) a brave mentality.

“Here, every game counts. It’s not like you can try three, four times to take the last shot (and miss the shot while expecting another opportunity). No, no. We need to win the games. Of course, maybe (you miss a big shot) one time. But it’s not as if you can take that shot three times and miss.

“So when he came back and still wanted to redeem himself and he (played well in the fourth quarter of the decisive championship game), that was a big thing.”

Kayil’s mentality was probably one of the qualities that kept him on New York’s radar ahead of the draft. If things continue to go well, it will be one of the reasons Kayil earns a bigger opportunity with the Knicks.

Draymond Green reveals number he'd wear if LeBron James joins Warriors as No. 23 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One under-the-radar aspect of the Warriors’ chase for LeBron James is who would get custody of the No. 23.

James has switched between the Nos. 6 and 23 throughout his long NBA career, but he returned to the latter in 2023 after the NBA retired Bill Russell’s No. 6 league-wide.

On the other hand, Draymond Green has donned the No. 23 for the entirety of his 14-year Warriors career.

So, who would budge first? Well, apparently Green already has as part of his pitch for James to join Golden State.

On Thursday, Green received a reply on Threads asking what number he would switch to if James took No. 23 with the Warriors.

Green’s replacement plan was pretty simple: Add those two digits together, and you get No. 5.

Draymond Green says he’d switch his number to 5 if LeBron were to join Warriors and want No. 23 👀 pic.twitter.com/JN2oiXNyJR

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) July 16, 2026

Seems like Green already has put some thought into it. Does that mean he knows something we don’t about James’ next destination? It certainly is possible.

For those interested, the last Warriors player to wear No. 5 was big man Kevon Looney from 2017-25; Marreese Speights, Baron Davis, Tim Hardaway (just during his rookie season) and Guy Rodgers are other notable players to wear that number in franchise history.

Perhaps Green will join that list soon.

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The King is looking for a new home court.

Following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in June, LeBron James reportedly has all the information he needs from teams and is now weighing his options, according to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes.

A free agency decision now appears to be imminent. The favorites to land the 41-year-old's services include familiar names like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, but don't count out the possibility of James closing his career with a new team such as the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets.

As the NBA world waits for James to announce where he will write the closing chapter on his storybook career, here's the latest we're hearing on where things stand on The Decision 3.0:

LeBron James shouts out Lakers at Fanatics Fest

01:51 PM ET, July 16 2026

With his former head coach and "Mind the Game" co-host JJ Redick in attendance, LeBron took some time early in the live show to acknowledge the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Shout out my former team. I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers," he said. "… That was an unbelievable ride and I am looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey. It’s going to be fun wherever I land.”

LeBron James: “Shout out my former team. I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers … That was an unbelievable ride and I am looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey.

“It’s going to be fun wherever I land.”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

LeBron James comments on decision

01:45 PM ET, July 16 2026, Gabe Zaldivar

ESPN's Dave McMenamin is at the event and doused water on the thought we may get a decision soon. McMenamin writes the following on X.

Tyrese Haliburton attempted to ask LeBron James about his decision early on in the program and James did not bite, saying “didn’t we already talk about this in the back.” Haliburton acquiesced and said, “I’ll leave it alone.”

LeBron takes the stage

01:32 PM ET, July 16 2026, Gabe Zaldivar

LeBron James is now talking live at Fanatics Fest. We will have to wait to see if any news comes from the appearance.

LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton on stage at Fanatics Fest. pic.twitter.com/eBty6eIbFY

— SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) July 16, 2026

LeBron James makes public appearence for "Mind the Game" podcast

01:17 PM ET, July 16 2026, Gabe Zaldivar

LeBron James is set to take the stage for his "Mind the Game" podcast at Fanatics Fest in New York City, which he is co-hosting with Tyrese Haliburton. It remains to be seen if there is any substantial free agency news to come with the event.

The Miz makes impassioned plea to James on behalf of Cleveland

01:02 PM ET, July 16 2026

During the red carpet show ahead of tonight's ESPY Awards, WWE wrestler and Ohio native The Miz made his case for James to return to the Cavaliers to bookend his career with his hometown team.

"I don't think I need to sell him," he told ESPN's Monica McNutt. "I was at the American Century Championship playing with Charles Barkley. Barkley told me ... 'There's only one move. The only move is going home to Cleveland.' Why you ask? Well, anywhere else you're chasing Michael Jordan's championships. When you go home, it's a homecoming. It's like 2016 all over again.

"Bring Draymond, bring Kyrie, bring everyone to Cleveland and get your hometown a championship once again."

.@mikethemiz gives his pitch for LeBron to return to Cleveland 👑 pic.twitter.com/ibWRyXyuWz

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2026

Is LeBron James close choosing his next team? What we're hearing

12:46 PM ET, July 16 2026, Lorenzo Reyes

At this stage, James has all the information he needs from teams and is weighing his options, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the specifics of James’ thinking. As a result, a decision could be imminent.

James, 41, is a player who has unparalleled stature in the NBA. As such, he’s calculated and deliberate about his decision making and is able to decide his future on his own terms. James has earned that right, and he’s being intentional about his decision.

James, a 22-time All-Star and four-time champion, has played a record 23 seasons in the NBA and wants to compete for another championship.

LeBron James next team: Are Warriors favorites for the King?

12:34 PM ET, July 16 2026, Andrés Soto

Front Office Sports reported on Tuesday that several NBA front office executives expect LeBron to sign with the Warriors over the Cavs, citing the proximity to his family in Los Angeles and the on-court fit alongside Steph Curry compared to Cleveland, which has  James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

"I would be stunned if he picked a team that wasn’t Golden State or Cleveland," an anonymous Western Conference executive said in the report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James decision live updates, rumors on when star chooses next team

New York City will be the host to this weekend's Fanatics Fest, which will bring some of the world's biggest names in sports and entertainment to the Big Apple.

Billed as the world's No. 1 fan festival, the Fanatics Fest will take place from Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in midtown Manhattan and will also feature the second annual Fanatics Games, in which 50 fans compete alongside celebrities for a share of a $2 million prize pool.

Most of the athletes appearing at the Fanatics Fest are already in town as the annual ESPY awards show took place at Lincoln Center on July 15. Other talent scheduled to appear include Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Jay-Z, Shaquille O'Neal and members of the NBA champion New York Knicks.

The Fanatics Games will also be livestreamed on YouTube, featuring matchups such as Tom Brady vs. Novak Djokovic, CC Sabathia vs. David Ortiz, DJ Khaled vs. Karl-Anthony Towns, John Cena vs. Noah Lyles and Rhea Ripley vs. Rob Gronkowski. One athlete of note who will be making an appearance is NBA free agent LeBron James, who will be doing a podcast and a live taping of "The Show." It is not known whether James will announce where he will play for his 24th season during the Fanatics Fest, but inquiring minds will be tuning in case he does.

James's "Mind the Game" podcast featuring Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is set for 1:15 p.m. ET Thursday, July 16, and "The Shop" will commence shooting at noon on July 17. 

The schedule for the Fanatics Fest will feature programming across five different areas of the Javits Center, including panel discussions and podcasts.

For more on the programming schedule, click here.

Fanatics Games Schedule (July 16-19)  

• Thursday: 3:30 p.m. ET  
• Friday: 12 p.m. ET  
• Saturday: 1 p.m. ET   
• Sunday: 10 a.m. ET
• Closing ceremony: 12 p.m. ET  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: What is Fanatics Fest? 'World's No. 1 fan festival' comes to NYC

Boswell is starting to ball.

After three straight games coming off the bench, Kylan Boswell earned his first start in the NBA Summer League. The former Illini has continued to improve throughout the summer.

Boswell finished the game with 11 points on 4-7 shooting and went 3-5 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, despite being 6-foot-1. Boswell was the second-leading rebounder in the game.

After playing 14 minutes and not scoring in his first game, Boswell has been a reliable bench piece for the Hornets. In the next game, he had 8 points, 4 boards and 7 assists in 15 minutes, while shooting a perfect 3-3. The following game, Boswell had 4 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 11 minutes, making two of his three shots.

There’s one more scheduled game for the Hornets Summer League squad. Boswell will likely start the season with the G-League affiliate, as he’s on a two-way contract.