Category: NBA

Take all the time you want, LeBron. It’s your life.

Yes, it’s annoying to have to hear about it every day, but it’s your decision when to tell us where you’re going to play your 24th season of pro ball.

So, go ahead, keep NBA schedule-makers on pins and needles. Savor having workers at my local Trader Joe’s discussing your future on a Monday in the middle of July. Enjoy your twilight limelight.

But don’t tell us, on podcasts and in public appearances, that the factors you’re prioritizing are A) whether a team is built to win now; B) the proximity to your home in L.A.; and C) not money, but overall happiness — and then signal it might be the Golden State Warriors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers? They check all the boxes. That’s “home” for real. And the Cavs are ready to win with a veteran difference-maker such as LeBron. Absolutely, it would be a happily-ever-after conclusion to the LeBron epic.

The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers? Nowhere close to home, but they check a box too: They’re both set up to win — and in the Eastern Conference, where they won’t have to go through the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder to reach an NBA Finals.

The Warriors, though?

Read more:LeBron James offers no hints about his next team during podcast recording fans attended

They check no boxes. Not a one. Not in 2026.

That would be a … choice. But let no one act like this would be LeBron leaving the Lakers for a more competitive situation. It wouldn’t be LeBron landing in a more desirable locale.

Line up Cleveland, Philadelphia, Miami and Golden State and it’s like seeing three diamonds and a square on “Sesame Street.” A 3-year-old could tell that one of those is not like the others. But that’s the third-most likely destination, as of Tuesday morning, according to the DraftKings Sportsbook.

Sure, once upon a time, a starting lineup of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis would have beaten almost anybody. But even those guys — besides 30-year-old Porzingis, they’re all in their late-30s or early 40s, with a ton of NBA mileage — aren’t beating Father Time.

Remember when the Lakers put together a roster awash in washed-up stars in 2021, and how disastrous that was? Turns out pairing Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, DeAndre Jordan and, yes, Russell Westbrook was a recipe for a truly awful 33-win team.

And the Warriors? They couldn’t get out of the play-in tournament last season, when Curry played only 43 games and Butler played only 38. Also, remember, for the first time in LeBron’s career, the now 41-year-old wasn’t available to start the season. He missed the first 14 games with sciatica.

Maybe Golden State could conjure up some magic in a playoff series — but over an 82-game regular-season marathon? No way, LBJ.

It could be that winning isn’t everything for LeBron. The man’s legacy is locked. He’s won four NBA titles, three Olympic gold medals, 1,229 NBA games and counting. And he’s winning this summer’s engagement game too.

Perhaps it’s come to a point that he just wants to play with his friends, and after earning $53 million with the Lakers last season, he’s willing to sign a deal with Golden State for between $3.9 and $6 million — which is what the Warriors could pay him, according to ESPN cap expert Bobby Marks — to do that.

That’s lovely, but it doesn’t change the fact that LeBron wouldn’t be happy losing.

And losing when he’s the addition to Steph’s team — and make no mistake, the Warriors are Steph’s team — really wouldn’t be fun.

The superstar wars that will be fought between both players’ infamously, uh, passionate fandoms wouldn’t be fun.

The daily drumbeat of criticism from talking heads who tuned into all of those televised games — not fun.

But the commute! It’s only 380 miles or so from Brentwood to Chase Center, and that’s much closer than Cleveland or Philly or Miami.

That makes sense — if you forget there are two NBA teams in the very city where LeBron’s family lives. And on paper, they’re both better than the Warriors. And his son plays for one of them!

But one of those teams is the Clippers and the other has moved on from LeBron.

Oh, the irony.

The Lakers, if they weren’t the ex-team, would check all the boxes. They’re going to be competitive. They’re a group LeBron enjoyed playing with. They are home. And LeBron would check a pretty big box for them too, if money really isn’t a deciding factor.

But the Lakers have replaced LeBron with Walker Kessler, the 24-year-old defensive center who is the perfect complement to Luka Doncic. They’ve put in place the pillars for their future, though they do still happen to have a LeBron-sized hole at forward that isn’t going to be filled by LeBron.

And that’s OK. The next chapter will start eventually, and likely it will be set in a location where LeBron can compete and have a good time, and that he and his family can feel good about.

Or in San Francisco.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Dallas Mavericks are taking a shot on a former Orlando Magic guard Jett Howard by signing him to a two-way contract.

Howard, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, failed to live up to expectations in his first three seasons with the Magic. In Howard’s defense, he joined the Magic as the fifth lottery pick in a three-year span, joining Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Dallas native Anthony Black in the team’s core. He couldn’t find his place in the rotation, which ultimately led Orlando to part ways with him this summer.

Howard came into the league after playing one season at Michigan, where he made nearly 37 percent of his shots from downtown. The Magic hoped he would be a three-point specialist in the NBA, but he has only made 32.6 percent of his shots from downtown throughout his career.

Given the fact that the Mavericks had a two-way slot available on the roster, it doesn’t hurt to take someone who was once highly regarded as a prospect. While he may not be the same player he was three years ago, the Mavs can see what they have in Howard as he splits time between the Mavericks and the Texas Legends.

This is a low-risk, high-reward move that could give Dallas an additional guard if he ends up getting back to the player he once was at Michigan.

Mavs Moneyball community, what do you make of the Howard signing? Let us know in the comments section below.

San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has a new shoe dropping on Thursday. The design was in partnership with Sharpie featuring hand-drawn, “Swipa”-inspired artwork.

De’Aaron Fox is dropping a new Sharpie x Under Armour Fox 2 collab on July 23 for $130 ✍️🔥 pic.twitter.com/YM9RzDVCru

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) July 21, 2026

“I love that this collection captures that feeling of being a kid, sketching in notebooks and letting your imagination lead the way,” Fox shared.

Under Armour launches the new kicks inspired by Fox’s journey celebrating the connection between basketball and sneaker culture.

“All of the Sharpie designs especially on the shoe hold a special meaning for me and represent different moments in my journey,” Fox continued. “Whether your passion is basketball, art or something completely different, I think the message with this sneaker and this collection is really don’t be afraid to express yourself and be bold in pursuing your passions.”

The limited-edition shoe sells for $130 and will be available exclusively at UnderArmour.com beginning July 23.

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Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark and Derrick Rose named cover athletes for NBA 2K27 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Three basketball stars are the newest NBA 2K cover athletes this year.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose were revealed as the faces of NBA 2K27 on Wednesday ahead of the video game’s Sept. 4 release.

Take a look at the covers here:

2K

Wembanyama is on the standard edition, Clark is on the deluxe edition and Rose is on the ultra edition.

Wembanyama is coming off a breakout season, leading the Spurs back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 before losing to the New York Knicks. The 22-year-old Wembanyama won his first Defensive Player of the Year award, along with a First Team All-NBA selection and Western Conference Finals MVP.

Clark, 24, is in the midst of her third WNBA season and has been named an All-Star each year. After an injury-plagued 2025 season limited her to just 13 games, Clark is averaging a career-high 20.7 points per game this season.

Rose is now on a 2K cover for the second time in his career, serving as the legend representation in 2026. His first time on the cover was for NBA 2K13, when he was featured alongside Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin. This past season marked 15 years since Rose won his only MVP award in 2011.

Being on the cover of NBA 2K is an honor often given to either legends of the sport or rising stars. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Angel Reese (2K26), Jayson Tatum, A’ja Wilson, Vince Carter (2K25), Sabrina Ionescu and Kobe Bryant (2K24) have been on the covers in the last three editions.

NBA 2K27 will be available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch 2. Players can get early access on Aug. 28 by pre-ordering, or wait until Sept. 4 for the global release.

The Heat might have screwed LeBron’s delusions of grandeur and I cannot be happier about it. Read on for more in today’s links and notes.

• Jalen Brunson talked to Variety and said people are “making assumptions” and pushed back on the idea that the Knicks have already decided to visit the White House. YG.
• Brunson also discussed his wrist injury and ongoing recovery. All good, fam.

“I was more in pain when I wasn’t in the game versus when we were actually playing. I feel like the adrenaline took over. But yeah, it was definitely an obstacle, but we found a way through, because it’s my tendon and my structure, my wrist is fine. There was soft tissue that was holding my tendon and it kept flipping and snapping over the bone every time I shot, every time I flicked my wrist, and so clearly it was causing pain, causing friction…

“I’ll be in this [cast] for about another six weeks, and then from that point on, it’s just my rehab after that. But I should be good.”

• The Knicks are still looking for a third center after missing out on Jonas Valanciunas and Moussa Cisse, and SI’s Jovan Alford has come up with a very unfamiliar and fresh name.
• That came before our own Michael Zeno chimed in on what’s next for the Knicks on the big-man front following the whiff on Cisse. Little tease, including an intriguing closing line:

“The Knicks should want to keep Jemison and McCullar around. It’s been total radio silence for both of them this offseason, but you can do a lot worse than having them on two-way deals. The Knicks are able to bring as many as 21 guys into training camp without damaging their second apron space, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we see Nickel, Jemison, McCullar, Jones, and another guy or two in camp to compete for those spots.

“Did Liam Robbins do enough in Summer League to get a tryout?”

• Draymond Green agrees with me and thinks Adam Silver (and Pat Berverley by extension) may have made LeBron James, who is operating as a true contrarian these days, mad. Too bad for them, it seems a 41-year-old man still holds all of the power.
• Anyway, the Heat just leaked James’ destination on YouTube. Here’s the full explanation and a bunch of excuses.

The Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel had LeBron’s introductory press conference scheduled for July 27 🤔

(h/t @WadexFlash / https://t.co/ngYXKtG4ps) pic.twitter.com/OCNZMkiiVO

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 22, 2026

• Like it or not, even if he’s a thousand years old, LeBron’s eventual destination carries consequences for the Knicks, and the New York Post’s Jared Schwartz ranked his potential destinations from biggest to smallest threat to the Knicks. Miami clocked in first. Bunch of teams in the middle. In last place, Golden State:

“Heat: This would be both the best supporting cast around James and the most familiarity with him.

[…]

“Warriors: Would a Warriors team with James make it out of the West over the Thunder, Spurs or others? Probably not, which would make them irrelevant to the Knicks.”

• A funny kid gave us a sad Victor Wembanyama moment. “Sorry.” Victor, you gotta do better.
• Back to Draymond, he argued that Kobe Bryant’s place in NBA history will always be affected by the era in which he played (MJ out, LBJ ascending), said Kobe was always “trying to find his way in the NBA,” and believes the lack of spotlight automatically rules him out of the GOAT debate as he never got to the heights of one or the other.

Jaylen Clark reveals every NBA player gets the SAME licensing check… and his was $385,000. 😳

Licensing check: money from NBA 2K, jersey sales, and trading cards.

"Instead of LeBron James making $30 million. All the players came together and said we're going to include… pic.twitter.com/p2sFR5KkTL

— Tsoj (@TsojBall) July 22, 2026

Mark Pope recently did an interview with UK Sports Network and was asked numerous questions about the team’s trip to Las Vegas earlier this month. Pope provided some clarity on why the team went, what they did, and what came from the trip.

When asked what went into the decision, Pope responded, “Well, during that week, Vegas is kind of the basketball capital of the world, and it’s a perfect fusion of Kentucky Basketball, and all the guys that we’re recruiting, and all the guys that have played here that are now playing in the NBA.

“So, you bring the high school and the college and the NBA ranks together, it was perfect for us.”

With the blend of that, Kentucky men’s basketball social media pages shared pictures showing the team with some Kentucky/NBA connections as well.

Cats everywhere in the @NBASummerLeague Vegas. pic.twitter.com/PhcN2O8WGg

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 11, 2026

pic.twitter.com/opF8O7eGZN

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 11, 2026

Pope was asked, “What is it like for you as a coach to give the guys this opportunity?” He responded, “Well, it was awesome. The guys were so excited to take the Otega Oweh big heads, even though he couldn’t play, and go celebrate that, and it meant a lot to Otega. Malachi Moreno, before he went on the trip, he didn’t care about anything else. He just wanted to see Amari (Williams) play.

“So, the guys got to see Amari, and got to see Drew, and Jaxson, and Koby. JQ came by. It was unbelievable. We practiced really hard in the mornings, and the gym was full of NBA personnel during our practice, so it was fun for our guys to get that exposure. Our guys took it on themselves to roll through all the AAU games and cheer on recruits. Got to do some stuff off the court. It was an unbelievable trip”.

Malachi Moreno and Braydon Hawthorne were captured on video holding the big head that Pope referred to for Oweh, and a big OO for Oweh as well.

Guess who we are here to see 🤖 pic.twitter.com/7cFKjnkDAk

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 11, 2026

Pope was then asked about getting away from Lexington to break up some of the offseason monotony.

“Well, first, nobody ever wants to leave Lexington; it’s the greatest place in the world to be, but on occasion, where the job takes us away, it was good for our guys. It was midway through our summer session, so it gave them a quick break. They were able to bond in a different way, be stuck in hotel rooms together, did some fun events in Vegas, just to be together.

“We did a debrief. The guys loved summer league. They loved the workouts in front of NBA scouts. They loved the chance to see future Kentucky players, and every guy said they just loved the condensed time together in a different environment. It was a win all the way around.”

Pope shared later in the interview what the guys did outside of basketball on the trip. He said that he was essentially basketball the entire time, but the guys got to do a lot. Saying the guys “went to the Sphere, they did some Topgolf, I think some guys did some shopping on the strip. So, I think they had a bunch of fun together.”

Ready for @TheOpen ⛳️

Had a fun day bonding as a team at Top Golf. pic.twitter.com/HLZNUMMIYE

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 11, 2026

📸 @SphereVegashttps://t.co/ixCLNMkCIGpic.twitter.com/lCgLsHOiIg

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 9, 2026

So much fun last night at the Sphere. Such an incredible venue. pic.twitter.com/KASLgsvLCI

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 9, 2026

It was nice to see the guys get away and enjoy some time together before things start to get ramped up and get closer to the 2026-27 season. Team bonding is always super impactful. It’s nice to see the guys continue to grow closer off the court so they become even better teammates on the court.

Steph Curry becomes first active NBA player with Basketball Hall of Fame exhibit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There is no doubt Warriors star Steph Curry changed the game of basketball.

From countless clutch moments to multiple NBA records and championships under his name, Curry has created a legacy that will be remembered for a very long time.

To honor the two-time NBA MVP’s contributions on and off the court, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced it will open an immersive, limited-time exhibit exploring Curry’s life as a player, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a family man.

He inspired a generation to dream bigger and shoot farther. Now, for the first time in its nearly 75-year history, the Hall of Fame will feature a dedicated experience honoring an active NBA player.

“Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc” – a limited time only exhibit opens Friday,… pic.twitter.com/7jbbhYc0x5

— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) July 21, 2026

With this new exhibit titled “Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc,” Curry will become the first active NBA player to be honored with a dedicated Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame experience. The exhibit is scheduled to open this Friday.

He changed the game for good. And now, he makes history yet again.

Beginning this Friday, Stephen Curry will become the first active player EVER to have an exhibit at the @Hoophall 👏 pic.twitter.com/pjKldCPc8J

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 21, 2026

Along with his NBA MVP awards, Curry has built a lengthy résumé as a four-time NBA champion, a 12-time NBA All-Star selection, a two-time scoring champion, an 11-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA All-Star MVP and an NBA Finals MVP.

The 37-year-old also has the NBA record for the most career 3-point field goals with 4,248 and counting.

In his 17-year NBA career so far, Curry is averaging 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and is shooting 42.2 percent from 3-point range and an all-time career record 91.2 percent from the free-throw line.

While Curry makes history once again, becoming the first active NBA player with a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame exhibit, there is no question Golden State’s franchise superstar will one day have his name inducted in Springfield, Massachusetts after he calls it a career.

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John Havlicek had an extraordinary career with the Boston Celtics. Drafted in 1962 with the seventh overall pick, he could have skipped basketball and played football instead, and in fact, almost became a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Celtics.

In his first year or two, Havlicek was sort of the backup to Frank Ramsey, who, along with Red Auerbach, invented the sixth man concept. As a rookie, Havlicek was primarily a defensive player, but early in his career, he significantly improved his shot and his ball handling, and when Ramsey retired in 1964, Havlicek was ready to step up.

He ultimately won 8 championships, including in 1974 and 1976.

Havlicek was great for many reasons, but not least of all because he had tremendous endurance and could run non-stop. In fact, his former teammate and coach Tom Heinsohn said that Mass General Hospital once studied him to understand why he was so much stronger later in games than anyone else.

In his later years, he became a tremendous offensive player, yet he never let up as a defender, as Julius Erving learned in the 1977 Eastern Conference Finals. As you’ll see here, Erving really struggled with Havlicek’s stifling D.

Keep in mind that in 1977, Havlicek was 37, but Dr. J was just 27, and entering into his prime.

Havlicek retired after the 1978 season, but later said that if he had known Larry Bird was coming along, he would have waited.

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Is there a case for Bradley Beal in Boston? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

We spent a whole bunch of time — maybe too much time — in the early 2020s pondering if the Boston Celtics might eventually make a run at acquiring Bradley Beal. And just when you thought that ship had long sailed, here we are again.

The Celtics and Heat are two potential landing spots for the now 33-year-old Beal, according to a report Tuesday from Bleacher Report. Beal is a three-time All-Star who hasn’t played more than 53 games in a season since his 2021 All-NBA nod with Washington.

At first blush, it’s easy to dismiss the possibility. While the Celtics do have an open roster spot, the team sits just below the luxury tax threshold and already added a veteran guard this offseason by signing 38-year-old Mike Conley. Beal appeared in just six games last season for the Clippers and hasn’t positively impacted a team’s on-court performance since departing Washington after the 2022-23 season.

The Celtics are well stocked on the perimeter. And, even if the team treads cautiously with minutes for veterans like Conley and Paul George, there is a stable of young wings headlined by Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. who need playing time to continue their own development.

Beal curiously declined a $5.6 million player option to hit the free-agent market. With nearly $343 million in career earnings, he can prioritize finding the best situation.

That’s probably in Miami, another team that was often linked to Beal pursuits through the years. The Heat, having churned much of their young talent to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, are better situated to roll the dice on an aging star than Boston is with its young depth.

Even at the veteran minimum, Beal’s presence would force the Celtics to make roster changes before the end of the season to ensure finishing below the luxury tax, something that would reset pesky repeater penalties and allow the team to spend more freely next summer.

The Celtics will invariably be linked to Beal because of his relationship with fellow St. Louis native Jayson Tatum. The pair grew up in the same neighborhood and Beal served as a veteran mentor to Tatum as he began his march to NBA stardom.

There is something to be said for teams prioritizing a superstar’s happiness. The Celtics made a bold decision to overhaul their core this season by trading away Jaylen Brown.

Ultimately, that alone might not be enough to warrant a pursuit. If injuries were to deplete Boston’s veteran depth and Beal was still available, maybe it becomes more of a conversation.

Beal once ranked among the league leaders in usage rate during his time in Washington, using as much as 35.2 percent of possessions during the 2019-20 season. He was still a fairly efficient scorer before injuries derailed his time in Phoenix. The healthy version of Beal who could still crack a defense off the dribble and create for teammates was undeniably intriguing.

Alas, the Suns were 7.1 points per 100 possessions worse with Beal on the court versus off during his last healthy season in 2024-25. Phoenix’s offensive efficiency dipped by 5.2 points per 100 possessions with Beal. His defensive intensity waned at times when he was a 30-point-per-game scorer, and his team’s defensive efficiency has dipped with him on the court in seven of his last eight seasons.

It was fun to daydream about Beal in Boston when the Celtics were hunting stars to aid their quest for Banner 18. The path to Banner 19 likely hinges on leaning into developing the younger players they’ve put around Tatum.

Heat post, then delete, link to LeBron James introductory press conference video originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Miami Heat posted — and later deleted — a YouTube link on Tuesday that triggered suspicions that LeBron James would be rejoining his old team.

The video in question was titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference | July 27, 2026,” which took fans to an offline live stream. The thumbnail image, though, was a graphic for Dwyane Wade’s statue unveiling ceremony.

So, did the Heat accidentally leak the news that fans have been waiting weeks for?

It doesn’t seem like it. The Miami Herald reported that there’s no validity to the video, citing a team spokesperson. ESPN’s Shams Charania added that the team’s social media department was “preparing for the possibility of James’ signing and mistakenly posted the link,” which was quickly deleted.

James, 41, is the NBA’s oldest active player as he prepares to enter his record-extending 24th season. His free agency decision has ground the NBA offseason to halt as players and teams await James’ decision.

Since the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in May, James has been linked to several teams. He announced June 30 that he wouldn’t return to the Lakers, but it has now been nearly a month of indecision.

The Heat, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors, have been discussed as potential suitors for James.

James started his career in Cleveland in 2003 and spent seven seasons with the Cavaliers before heading to Miami for four seasons — where he won his first two titles in 2012 and 2013. He then returned to Cleveland for four more seasons, winning another title in 2016, before leaving in 2018 for an eight-season run in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers might no longer have LeBron James Sr. on their roster, but they still have junior and seem to want to keep him.

There have been questions on what will happen with Bronny James since his dad decided to ditch Los Angeles and the Lakers for free agency.

Well, the Lakers, to the surprise of some, have gone all in on Bronny and keeping him in LA.

His contract with the Lakers became fully guaranteed for $2.3 million on June 30. The 21-year-old has a contract that will pay him that figure this year, while a team option to keep him for 2027-28 remains on his deal.

Bronny wouldn't be a free agent until 2028. There is belief that the Lakers value Bronny and would not move on from him unless a real offer came to surface.

During a radio appearance on the Brock and Alex Show on 97.1 The Fan LA, California Post reporter Khobi Price, who covers the Lakers, said during a discussion of who is the most likely Laker to be traded that "it would take something real" for the Lakers to want to trade Bronny.

"If LeBron chooses X team, what if X team is willing to send the Lakers, I don't know, a second round pick for Bronny James? That automatically puts Bronny James as the most likely player," Price said. "Now, what I want to make clear is that the Lakers are more than happy to keep Bronny James."

"They've drafted him in the second round two years ago. They developed him. They're a fan of him. He has a lot of people who like him within the building. So it's not going to be one of the situations where, oh yeah, they're just going to send Bronny to wherever LeBron goes. Like it would take something real for the Lakers to want to trade him," Price added.

In the 2025-26 campaign, his second NBA season, Bronny James averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals in 8.9 minutes per game. He shot 40.9% from the field, 38.6% on 3-point field goals and 85.7% from the free throw line.

He saw playoff minutes in the first round against the Houston Rockets. In a Game 3 win, Bronny scored his first career playoff points, putting up 5 points, in a back-to-back sequence netting a pull-up 3-pointer off of an on-ball screen by his dad, the team getting a defensive stop that led to a fastbreak where elder James threw a lob to junior who keyed in a reverse layup finish.

Bronny was the 55th overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, taken by the Lakers out of USC.

He made history becoming the first father-son duo to share an NBA court playing alongside LeBron.

And once his pops makes his anticipated decision, the two will make history again next season, this time becoming the first father-son duo to share an NBA court as opponents.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Lakers won't trade Bronny, 'more than happy' to keep James | Report

The Utah Jazz have mostly solidified their roster for the upcoming season post the Walker Kessler trade. They signed Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba to solidify the center position on the roster.

That doesn’t mean they couldn’t do more. It’s possible for the Jazz to make a trade to improve that position if they wanted to. For example, we know that Daniel Gafford is available if a team out there is interested.

From what I’ve seen in the community, it seems like there’s a mix of opinion on what the Jazz should do. So that makes for a good question for this week. What should the Jazz do at center? Should they stay put, or make a move?

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

The countdown can officially start for the first look at the newly assembled Lakers.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Lakers announced their preseason schedule. The team will play five games with only two of those at home.

Lock it in – Lakers Preseason schedule just dropped.@Delta 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/imZyw7vyXW

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 21, 2026

For those without Twitter/X, here’s a look at the schedule:

• Lakers at Kings, Oct. 5, Golden 1 Center
• Lakers at Warriors, Oct. 6, Chase Center
• Lakers vs. Kings, Oct. 8, Crypto.com Arena
• Lakers vs. Warriors, Oct. 13, T-Mobile Arena
• Lakers vs. Nuggets, Oct. 16, Crypto.com Arena

The particularly astute amongst us will notice that not only do the Lakers play a back-to-back, but also a stretch of three games in four nights. I guess that’s one way to get the team ready for the regular season.

The Lakers will also have their regular trip to Las Vegas during Summer League when they take on the Warriors. Sacramento is also a common foe in their exhibition slate. The new team in the mix this year is Denver. The team will also remain in the immediate vicinity of LA throughout the preseason, as is the case for most teams.

Given how his free agency has played out, it doesn’t seem like this will be when LeBron James makes his return to Los Angeles. At one point, it seemed like the Warriors were one of the favorites, but now it seems like Golden State got leveraged.

Join the club.

Anyway, we can begin the countdown of a little over two months until the Lakers take the court again. It can’t come soon enough.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Is LeBron James taking his talents back to South Beach?

What appears to be a mistake by one team might have spoiled the fun — or maybe not.

The Heat’s YouTube page published and then quickly deleted a video titled “LeBron James Introductory press conference” along with the date of July 27, 2026.

However, the Miami Herald reported that the team’s social media department accidentally published the video, which was being prepared in case he did sign with the Heat, not that the team had notice of James’ actual decision.

James, as of the early hours on Wednesday morning, has not yet officially made his highly anticipated choice in free agency.

The 41-year-old’s next move has been speculated on for weeks since it became clear he was not returning to the Lakers, and this inadvertent posting of a video to the web has only added fuel to the fire.

In the summer of 2010, James famously took part in “The Decision” that aired on ESPN, where he announced he would be leaving his hometown Cavaliers for the Heat.

James played four seasons with the Heat, winning two NBA Finals crowns and taking home his third and fourth league MVP awards.

The Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel had LeBron’s introductory press conference scheduled for July 27

(h/t @WadexFlash / https://t.co/ngYXKtG4ps) pic.twitter.com/OCNZMkiiVO

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 22, 2026

A return to Miami would make a lot of sense, particularly if he wants to win his fifth championship ring. The Heat made the blockbuster move of the offseason when they struck a deal with the Bucks to landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade.

James’ agent, Rich Paul, said on his “Game Over” podcast that the 22-time All-Star won’t be rushing into any choice, however.

“He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make,” Paul said. “We’re not going to sit here and decide or allow someone else to decide when he makes that decision, or choice. It’s a business choice he’s making.”

The Heat, Cavaliers, Warriors and 76ers are among the teams rumored to be in the running for James’ services.

Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation thinks maybe it’s time for an Egor Demin apology form. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic doesn’t go that far … just says Demin was the best second year player in Las Vegas. So does Ben Golliver of ESPN. Demin’s got Zach Lowe “excited” about the Brooklyn Nets!

Time to forget, to excuse all that bad analysis from just after the 2025 NBA Draft when the Brooklyn Nets reached for the 6’9.5” Russian, taking him at No. 8 when most draftniks thought he was late lottery at best. One mock even had him as a second rounder. Those who put that mock together will remain anonymous to protect them.

The analysis wasn’t limited to the media. Jeremy Woo of ESPN polled NBA executives back then and found Demin received the most votes for the biggest reach of the Draft. Demin got seven votes while the Trail Blazers received four votes for taking a Chinese 7-footer who spoke no English, Hansen Yang, at No. 16. Who can forget the laughter among the ESPN crowd on Draft Night?

So, it’s a good day to compile the apologies and analyses considering that Demin was named second team All-Summer League after putting up at least 20 points in each game he played in Las Vegas, just as he did in the California Classic in Sacramento earlier in the month.

The 2026 NBA Summer League Second Team!

Cedric Coward
Egor Dёmin
Khaman Maluach
Liam McNeeley
Zyon Pullin pic.twitter.com/AG5ABOSbiD

— NBA (@NBA) July 21, 2026

First, O’Donnell in his list of Way too good for Las Vegas Summer League 2026.

It’s time I fill out an apology form on Egor Demin. Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, I named Demin one of the most overrated prospects in the class, and gave the Nets a D for his selection at No. 8 overall in my instant grades. My main arguments against Demin were that I didn’t think he could score efficiently inside or outside the arc, and I didn’t think he had the frame to play through contact on either end. 

He looks improved attacking the basket off the bounce, and he’s showing he can hit the defensive glass, too. The Nets have done a really good job developing Demin’s frame, and it’s paying off on both ends. Demin deserves a lot of credit himself for putting in the work to improve his jumper. I’m happy to be wrong about this one because Demin is a cool player with a fun skill set who should be a nice piece in Brooklyn’s rebuild for a long time.

Golliver in his list of best and worst of the Summer League called Demin the best sophomore. He struck the same tone as O’Donnell, a modified, “who knew?”

Boy, has the switch flipped for Demin, who was a timid and largely ineffective rookie for the rebuilding Nets. The Russian guard failed to make the most of his 6-foot-8 size last season, hanging out behind the 3-point line and rarely scoring at the rim.

Demin, 20, looked like a completely different and much more complete player this summer: He attacked off the dribble with greater regularity, finished in traffic and made good, assertive decisions as a playmaker. The Nets desperately need some of their recent draft picks to emerge as difference-makers, and Demin took a nice step in that direction by averaging 21.0 points and 4.3 assists in three Las Vegas exhibitions.

Also, in the didn’t-see-it-coming category were Vecenie and Bryce Simons, also of the Athletic, on Vecenie’s Game Theory podcast recapping how second year players did in Las Vegas.

NBA media has not had many kind words for the Nets organization in the last year.

Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon were in the “don’t see it” category on Egor Dëmin.

But after summer league, both have good things to say about his upside and feel like the Nets “hit” on the 8th pick. pic.twitter.com/aMa60DSPlW

— Swamp Dragons (@Netswamp) July 20, 2026

“Egor was probably the guy who impressed me the most in Summer League among the returners,” Vecenie starts off. “Going from where he was at the end of last year before his injury to where he seemingly his now. Immediately from the first game, he looked way too good for the Summer League.

“The patience, the poise, the confidence displayed on the court was exactly what the Brooklyn Nets probably hoped to envision when they drafted him.”

Simons agreed, noting Demin did what he did without shooting well from three which last season was his calling card.

“To me, he was the most impressive non-rookie or the player that stood out to me the most,” Simons said. “To me, he just looked like an NBA player, the way he moved around the court smoothly and confidently. I had the exact same thought in a couple of games I watched. I thought he was trying to play with more physicality. I thought he did a lot of the things he needs to do to be successful.”

Lowe said simply, “I’m excited for the Nets,” when asked about Demin on The Zach Lowe Show Tuesday. He spoke glowingly about the fit between Demin and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. in the two Summer Leagues.

“The Nets best case scenario is the young guys looking good enough that someone (a free agent) looking around at them. I think they have a chance for the back court of the future – Egor and MBJ. That’s enough excitement for me.” he explained.

Rob Mahoney, also of the Ringer, joined Lowe. He said there’s anticipation about Demin and Brown Jr.

“Egor felt like one of the guys about to do something,” Lowe said. “Him and MBJ was one of my favorite combinations there. Egor may never get to the basket as much as others may like, I don’t know but as long as you put him with a dynamic slasher, I think it can really work – those two guys working together.”

Demin was of course one of the highest rookies from 2025 in Las Vegas. Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and V.J. Edgecombe, among others, were not on hand, but that said, what we saw from the No. 8 pick more than justified the Nets confidence in him early … and now pundits as well.