LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Detroit Pistons rookie Ebuka Okorie showed you just about everything you’d hope to see from him during his first Summer League game. Now, he looks to keep the momentum going in game two against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Okorie scored 20 points and had four assists in his first game as a member of the Pistons. He was able to showcase a reliable 3-point jumper (2-of-4) and his special mix of speed, body control, and spatial awareness to get by his defender and find lanes at the rim. While he still obviously has a long way to go, you could tell that even at the NBA level that burst, coordination, and intelligence is going to be a difference-maker. It needs to be, too, because it’s tough being an impactful guard when you’re only 6-foot-1 without shoes on.
Game Vitals
When: 4 p.m. Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Watch: Prime Video
Analysis
It’s a good thing Okorie showed up like he did because otherwise the Pistons lineup was pretty dreadful. Bigs were having trouble catching the ball, rebounding, defending, and finishing. The perimeter talent was mostly non-descript.
Isaac Jones, a Pistons two-way player, led the team with 22 points, and did at least do plenty of good things, but he also really struggled on defense. Second-year player Chaz Lanier, Detroit’s second-round pick last season, didn’t really show out like he needed to in a league where he should be far more advanced than the competition. As a catch-and-shoot guy, maybe his game isn’t conducive to taking over in Summer League, but at this stage, you can’t afford to be invisible. Lanier was largely invisible.
Roddy Gayle Jr., an undrafted rookie out of Michigan, mostly acquitted himself quite well, and Drake Allen, undrafted out of Utah State, showed himself to be an NBA (or at least G League)-level defender, if not NBA-level in other areas of the game. Otherwise, it was a bunch of forgettable guys delivering forgettable performances.
The Cavs were in their first Summer League game (a loss to the Pacers), with third-year player Nae-Quan Tomlin and rookie Meleek Thomas with 20 points apiece.
All I want to see tonight is an Okorie that is more aggressive in looking for his own shot and in creating his own offtense. It seemed clear he was looking to be more of a willing passer in Game 1, and it is important to show he can run an offense if he’s fighting to be a primary backup guard for the Pistons. But a lot of those passes went to bigs who could do nothing with them. It also meant the explosive Okorie, who averaged more than seven free throws per game in college, only got to the free-throw line one time. I want more of everything from Okorie, and a little less of everything else from Not Okorie.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 7: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Steph Curry appreciates the assist from longtime Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green, but the basketball superstar won’t be trading sports anytime soon. But he will surely take Green’s help in lobbying superstar free agent LeBron James to join their team.
Draymond Green says Steph Curry could make the PGA Tour in 3 years
“Bro, I went to golf with Steph one time. He incredible. He could real deal possibly be a professional golfer. He can definitely be a golf pro, no question”
Curry laughed off the idea in an NBC Sports interview during Saturday’s second round.
“I love Draymond; that's why he's such a great teammate,” Curry said. “He's hyping me up. I do have so much respect for how hard this game is and what you all do on the Tour week in, week out. There's no even realistic shot that I'm going after a Tour card. But to see how good I can get when basketball is done, I kind of want to slowly and maybe without that shot say that I had a chance.
"Draymond, I appreciate you, and I love you, and I know you think I'm a great golfer, but there are levels to this! There are levels.”
Curry is playing in the tournament with his father, Dell, and his brother, Seth. All three played in the NBA, and Dell passed on the passion for golf to his sons. The trio have their own competition (with a handicap system) during five years of playing in the ACC tourney, and each has won family bragging rights at least once.
“I love seeing Pops play well,” Steph Curry said. “He's 62 years old, still doing it. We call him 'The Originator,' and he's showing it right now.”
“I was blessed to pick up the game,” he said. ”My dad got me into it, my brother into it, when I was 10 years old. And just what golf brings, this camaraderie, allows you to travel the world. But there's not a lot of access for everybody to get into the game. And so that's what I've been trying to attack through golf at Howard University and our Underrated Tour that we do for kids 13 to 18.
"I'm just trying to create more opportunity, equity, and access in the game. Meanwhile, still competing and having fun myself because I think it puts golf on a cool platform for somebody from another sport coming in and having fun.”
While he’s enjoying the links during the NBA offseason, there’s some serious business afoot as the NBA awaits James to choose his next landing spot after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. Green and James are on vacation and golfing together in Puerto Rico, and Green reportedly has admitted to making the hard sell to James on the Warriors.
Though Curry downplayed speculation on where James might play (a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers also is an option), he said it would be intriguing to play against his longtime rival. The Cavs and Warriors met in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-18 with Curry triumphing three times over James.
"Up until probably two, three years ago, that was like a pipe-dream question or even a thought," Curry said during an ACC media availability Thursday about the possibility playing with James, according to ESPN.com. "But that's part of the allure. Him going into his 24th season, me going into my 18th, the battles we've had, that would be such a unique story in NBA history, in sports history. But a little premature right now to talk about it."
Though he said the decision ultimately would be up to James, Curry also noted “there’s good golf in the Bay. We're an organization that's been there. He knows that. That's really self-explanatory. It's a matter of where he sees himself fitting. At the end of the day, that's up to him."
Curry, who was paired with former MLB stars John Smoltz and Derek Lowe for Sunday’s final round, seemed hopeful after surviving “a very adventurous, eventful round” Saturday. The top three are Mardy Fish, Joe Pavelski and Annika Sorenstam.
“They always say golf is pure when it's fairways and greens,” Curry said. “I've done everything other than that, but still trying to stay within earshot of Joe and Marty, and I know Anika's playing well, so still having fun.”
Steph Curry appreciates the assist from longtime Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green, but the basketball superstar won’t be trading sports anytime soon. But he will surely take Green’s help in lobbying superstar free agent LeBron James to join their team.
Draymond Green says Steph Curry could make the PGA Tour in 3 years
“Bro, I went to golf with Steph one time. He incredible. He could real deal possibly be a professional golfer. He can definitely be a golf pro, no question”
Curry laughed off the idea in an NBC Sports interview during Saturday’s second round.
“I love Draymond; that's why he's such a great teammate,” Curry said. “He's hyping me up. I do have so much respect for how hard this game is and what you all do on the Tour week in, week out. There's no even realistic shot that I'm going after a Tour card. But to see how good I can get when basketball is done, I kind of want to slowly and maybe without that shot say that I had a chance.
"Draymond, I appreciate you, and I love you, and I know you think I'm a great golfer, but there are levels to this! There are levels.”
Curry is playing in the tournament with his father, Dell, and his brother, Seth. All three played in the NBA, and Dell passed on the passion for golf to his sons. The trio have their own competition (with a handicap system) during five years of playing in the ACC tourney, and each has won family bragging rights at least once.
“I love seeing Pops play well,” Steph Curry said. “He's 62 years old, still doing it. We call him 'The Originator,' and he's showing it right now.”
“I was blessed to pick up the game,” he said. ”My dad got me into it, my brother into it, when I was 10 years old. And just what golf brings, this camaraderie, allows you to travel the world. But there's not a lot of access for everybody to get into the game. And so that's what I've been trying to attack through golf at Howard University and our Underrated Tour that we do for kids 13 to 18.
"I'm just trying to create more opportunity, equity, and access in the game. Meanwhile, still competing and having fun myself because I think it puts golf on a cool platform for somebody from another sport coming in and having fun.”
While he’s enjoying the links during the NBA offseason, there’s some serious business afoot as the NBA awaits James to choose his next landing spot after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. Green and James are on vacation and golfing together in Puerto Rico, and Green reportedly has admitted to making the hard sell to James on the Warriors.
Though Curry downplayed speculation on where James might play (a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers also is an option), he said it would be intriguing to play against his longtime rival. The Cavs and Warriors met in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-18 with Curry triumphing three times over James.
"Up until probably two, three years ago, that was like a pipe-dream question or even a thought," Curry said during an ACC media availability Thursday about the possibility playing with James, according to ESPN.com. "But that's part of the allure. Him going into his 24th season, me going into my 18th, the battles we've had, that would be such a unique story in NBA history, in sports history. But a little premature right now to talk about it."
Though he said the decision ultimately would be up to James, Curry also noted “there’s good golf in the Bay. We're an organization that's been there. He knows that. That's really self-explanatory. It's a matter of where he sees himself fitting. At the end of the day, that's up to him."
Curry, who was paired with former MLB stars John Smoltz and Derek Lowe for Sunday’s final round, seemed hopeful after surviving “a very adventurous, eventful round” Saturday. The top three are Mardy Fish, Joe Pavelski and Annika Sorenstam.
“They always say golf is pure when it's fairways and greens,” Curry said. “I've done everything other than that, but still trying to stay within earshot of Joe and Marty, and I know Anika's playing well, so still having fun.”
LAS VEGAS – Once again, Yaxel Lendeborg got the best of a former Michigan teammate in his second game during the Las Vegas NBA Summer League.
After beating Morez Johnson and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, Lendeborg got bragging rights with the Warriors’ 104-79 win over Aday Mara and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV’s campus.
Lendeborg scored a game-high 14 points, and also had two rebounds, four assists and three steals as a plus-14. Mara scored 10 points and added nine rebounds as a minus-8.
The Warriors improved to 2-0 in Las Vegas and 4-1 overall this summer. Sunday’s win was far from beautiful basketball, though.
On paper, the Warriors won in nearly every category. They shot 44.2 percent from the field, just better than the Thunder’s 44.1 percent while taking nine more shots than OKC and making four more. The Warriors went 15 of 41 from 3-point range (36.6 percent), which was much better than the Thunder going 8 of 30 (26.7 percent).
The Warriors also tallied 19 more rebounds than the Thunder (45 to 26), six more assists (23 to 17) and seven more steals (10 to 3), plus three fewer turnovers (13 to 10).
“Everyone that came in the game executed the game plan pretty well,” Warriors coach Khalid Robinson said.
Lendeborg started the game slowly in the first quarter before finding his shot during a nine-point second quarter, where he drained three 3-pointers, including one over Mara.
His celebration alone shows what kind of fun personality Lendeborg brings to the court. Lendeborg’s favorite moment of the game might have come in the third quarter when he beat Mara on a jump ball. When it landed in the Warriors’ hands, Lendeborg gave a fist bump and yelled “yes!” with a giant grin across his face.
Offensively, Lendeborg was 5 of 14 from the field and 4 of 8 beyond the arc. His hot 3-point shooting continued. An array of skills with the ball in his hands continues to shine, too.
Defensively, however, Lendeborg continues to be a mixed bag. Yes, he came away with three steals, but that doesn’t show his lapses. Lendeborg has been drifting and spectating on defense. Once he’s playing strictly against NBA players, those bad habits will have to leave him.
“It’s an area where you got to continue to grow,” Robinson said. “We talk about just being locked in at all times defensively, on and off the ball. It’s a level of awareness that you have to have as a defender at this level and he’s going to continue to grow at that.”
Lendeborg himself has admitted he isn’t in the best shape right after trying to be off his feet as much as he could following Michigan’s national championship run. He dealt with a sprained MCL and a rolled ankle but continued to play through pain.
Every rep and every game is a learning lesson for Lendeborg and the rest of his Warriors teammates. The spotlight is brightest on him as the Warriors’ top draft pick. The positives continue to be eye-opening. The negatives are issues the Warriors aren’t worried about at all in the long run.
The Warriors play next on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies at 4 p.m. PT.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Summer League offers the first look at rookies. A draft heralded as one of the best in years may also include a Laker selection when it’s all said and done.
In a trade with the New York Knicks, LA moved up to the 24th pick to select Cameron Carr. In a short amount of time, Carr showed a full repertoire of NBA-ready skills and a tantalizing athletic profile, quickly stealing the hearts of Laker fans.
On a roster clearly lacking wing talent, Carr projects as a two-way producer with a real opportunity to earn a spot in head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
His offensive game revolves around a unique ability to shoot the basketball from any spot on the floor. He combines textbook shot mechanics with detailed footwork to cleanly square up and fulfill his versatile shot profile.
LA’s Summer League roster is bereft of top-level ballhandlers, leaving a lot of work for Carr to create his own. In the clip below against the Thunder, Carr receives a step-up screen with the opposing defender in deep drop coverage. Operating as the ballhandler, he pulls up and punishes the space given by the scheme.
He’s shown a nice handle, the skill to maneuver in ball screens and the ability to get to his spot and athletically rise up. Watch below as the Baylor product runs a pick and roll with teammate Adou Theiro, a duo that’s gained nice synergy so far, and gets to the free throw line extended area on the floor.
A veteran pump fake freezes the defender and Carr rises to hit a patented mid-range pull-up, showcasing the untouchable 7-foot wingspan.
Joining a team with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as the lead backcourt, along with Collin Sexton as the backup guard, leaves Carr without many on-ball responsibilities or opportunities.
Carr’s real compelling case for minutes on the team lies in his being a potentially elite off-ball wing. He’s a hand-in-glove fit for Redick, who’s consistently stressed the value of having a movement shooter in the lineup.
LA ran him off numerous actions throughout Summer League to get him open as a shooter. One of the main screens used to free him was a pindown, allowing Carr to curl into position to receive the entry pass, as shown below.
With the defender in a lock-and-trail position, he tightly curls off the screen to catch and fire in one motion.
In the next action, he comes off a wide pin down. He uses his athletic profile and handle to take advantage of the defender out of position. A quick triple threat fake gets him a step and he finishes above the rim.
In four Summer League contests, Carr is averaging 17 points per game and shooting 37% on 3-point attempts, including a five-point performance in which he did not play the second half in California.
The other side of the ball is where there’s just as much untapped potential. The wingspan and athletic ability enable electrifying perimeter blocks. In actions where most players would be at the mercy of the offensive player, Carr’s ability to quickly recover makes for a high ceiling.
So far, he’s averaged a block per night in four games. Watch below in the out-of-bounds play as he gets screened twice by the big man and yet still manages to recover to block the 3-point attempt.
The mix of block shots and threes is a unique combination, even more so for a perimeter-based wing. Carr was the only D-1 player with over 70 3-point field goals made and over 40 blocks last season.
There’s still a ton of room to grow for the Lakers’ most recent draft selection. Passing reads need tightening, off-ball defense can be cleaned up with more focus and he’s admitted a need to add muscle in the weight room.
With that being said, while it’s early and Summer League isn’t a perfect predictor by any means, it appears the Lakers got a steal in the draft and a player that could potentially contribute immediately.
It was the timing that surprised fans: Charlotte had gone 33-16 from Jan.1 through the end of the season, with the top-ranked offense and fifth-ranked defense in the NBA in that stretch — the Hornets were fun and good. They won 44 games, the most in a decade. So why break things up? Why trade All-Star point guard and fan favorite LaMelo Ball to Minnesota rather than build on that finish?
Jeff Peterson, the Hornets' president of basketball operations, explained his thinking to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. As a reminder, Peterson and the Hornets got a haul in that trade: Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.
"These decisions are challenging at times, but when you look at the totality of the season and everything of where we were, it's important to take an honest look in the mirror of where you guys are as a team. And that's what I had to do at the end of the season. And it just felt like the goal is never to compete for a play-in spot. The goal isn't to get to the play-in or even the playoffs for one year.
"I've said it plenty of times since I've been here in Charlotte: The goal is to get to the playoffs and stay there for a long time. And eventually contend to compete for championships. Getting Naz Reid when you can get a player of his caliber. And of course, the draft capital and the flexibility just felt like it was something that was able to achieve multiple goals in one transaction."
After years of watching the team struggle, Hornets fans were rightfully excited about how the season ended. Peterson saw a bigger picture: There were a lot of inflated records at the end of last season due to all the tanking teams, and in the play-in his team needed overtime to beat an uninspiring Miami squad, then got run out of the building in the last play-in game by the Magic (who were shorthanded and lost in the first round of the playoffs). Was Charlotte really that good?
We had Charlotte as a winner in this trade. Peterson sold high on Ball and is restructuring a team around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, with Reid now at the four. They also have Coby White at the point and Moussa Diabate at the five. It's a good team with a lot of shooting and spacing, and now a lot more flexibility to build around them.
The Hornets likely take a small step back on the court this season — the East is a lot deeper and better — but, in Peterson's view, they are better positioned to build something sustainable and long-term. It's a big bet, but if he nails the picks and other moves, this will be looked back on as a turning point for the franchise.
There was logic to the move, even if some fans didn't like it.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Koa Peat #18 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The first game from the summer league Suns was a sloppy but exciting game highlighted by the offseason development of Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming. Can those two, plus Koa Peat, continue to build our excitement for the long-term future of Planet Orange?
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics celebrates scoring the game tying shoots a three point basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (1-0) vs Charlotte Hornets (1-1) Sunday, July 12, 2026 5:00 PM ET Summer League Game #2 TV: NBCSB, ESPN2 Cox Pavilion
The Hornets are the defending Summer League champs. Their first game in Summer League was against the Orlando Magic who eliminated them in a Play In game this season. They beat the Magic 86-74 in that game. They played a second game on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, which they lost 95-91. The Celtics had a day off while the Hornets are playing in back to back games.
Even though their #4 draft pick from last season, Kon Knueppel, isn’t playing in this year’s Summer League, they still have plenty of experience on their team. They have 5 players with 1 year of experience. They have 1 player, Tidjane Salaun, with 2 years experience. And, they have i player, Terrell Brown, Jr, who has 4 years experience in the G-League. They also have 8 Rookies listed. The Celtics have 13 rookies listed with 2 players with 1 year NBA experience and 1 player, Alondes Williams, with 3 years experience with Brooklyn, Miami, Detroit and Washington.
The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.
Blaine Mueller is the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets Summer League team. Mueller has prior experience coaching in the G League with the Maine Celtics. He was an assistant at Middletown HS from 2013-2016. He was an assistant at Lindenwood University from 2016-2018. He was an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2018-2023. He coached the Maine Celtics for the 2023-24 season. He has been an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets from 2024-present.
Celtics Summer League Roster Mohammad Amini #54 R Chris Cenac, Jr #12 R Tucker DeVries #41 R Hugo Gonzalez #28 1 Caleb Grill #37 R Curtis Jones #26 R Kyle Mangas #43 R Dillon Mitchell #20 R Hank Morgan #51 R Nick Pringle #40 R Day Day Thomas #38 R John Tonje #8 R Milos Uzan #29 R Chauncey Wiggins #50 R Alondes Williams #46 3 Amari Williams #77 1
Head Coach Amile Jefferson
Starters vs Toronto Curtis Jones John Tonje Hugo Gonzalez Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
The Celtics struggled on offense for much of the game, shooting just 15.6% from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc. rallied in the 2nd half, shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.2% from beyond the arc. The Raptors weren’t much better, shooting 33% from the field and 20.9% from beyond the arc for the game and much of that is due to the Celtics defense.
The Celtics held their own on the boards with 51 rebounds to 52 for the Raptors. 10 different players saw action in this game for the Celtics, with Hugo (37), Amari (30), Milos Uzan (30), Chris Cenac (29), Dillon Mitchell (26) and John Tonje (26) getting the most minutes. Amini, DeVries, Grill, Pringle, Thomas, and Wiggins all received DNP’s. My guess is that we will see the same starters with possibly a change at PG but that the players who sat out that game will play in this game.
Celtics Players to Watch
Hugo Gonzalez | NBAE via Getty Images
Hugo Gonzalez – Celtics fans will be watching for a big Summer League showing from Gonzalez. Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft. In last year’s Summer League, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season. His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes. Against the Raptors, he finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal. He shot just 18.8% from the field and 11.1% from beyond the arc but he showed off the motor and athleticism that have made him a Celtics fan favorite.
Chris Cenac, Jr – Cenac was the 27th pick in this year’s draft. He is 19 years old and was a highly recruited center going into his one season at Houston. He averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in college, while shooting 48% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc and 62% from the line. He has a combination of size and athleticism that makes him a very intriguing player. He finished Friday’s game with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 blocks while shooting 38.5% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
John Tonje – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline. At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract. His option wasn’t picked up this season but the Celtics have two 2-way spots and a spot on the parent team to fill. On Friday, he finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 42.9% from the field anf 55.6% from beyond the arc. When most of his teammates were struggling on offense, Tonje kept them in the game with some key threes. Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft. He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season. He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season. He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season. He was great against the Raptors, finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 77.8% from the field with no 3’s. Charlotte Hornets Roster Sion James #4 1 year Christian Anderson #5 R Michael Ajayi #10 R Ryan Kalkbrenner #11 1 year Terrell Brown, Jr #12 4 years Wyatt Fricks #17 R Kylan Boswell #18 R Max Mackinnon #20 R Hannes Steinbach #22 R Cameron Matthews #25 1 year Tidjane Salaun 31 2 years Liam McNeeley #33 1 year Latrell Wrightsell, Jr #35 R Josiah Allick #53 1 year Head Coach Blaine Mueller
The Hornets are already playing their 3rd game in Summer League. They beat the Orlando Magic 86-74 on opening night on Thursday.. They then lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 95-91 on Saturday. They are playing in the second of back to back games in this one. They started the same 5 of Christian Anderson, Sion James, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun, and Ryan Kalkbrenner in both games so far. The Hornets 4th pick from last season, Kon Kneuppel, isn’t playing in Summer League.
Hornets Players to Watch
Liam McNeeley | NBAE via Getty Images
Liam McNeeley – McNeeley, a UConn standout, made a strong Summer League debut showing scoring, rebounding, and playmaking skills. He was the 29th pick in last year’s draft. He averaged 4.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game in his first season with the Hornets. He averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1 steal per game over the Hornets’ first 2 Summer League games.
Tidjane Salaun – Salaun was the 6th pick in the 2024 draft and has played 2 years for the Hornets. Last season, he averaged 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 43.4% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 Summer League games he averaged 10.5 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal per game. Hannes Steinbach – Steinbach was the 14th pick in this year’s draft. He is a German basketball player who played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. In his year at Washington he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 57.7% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. In his first 2 Summer League games, he averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.5 blocks per game.
Ryan Kalkbrenner – Kalkbrenner was the 34th pick in last year’s draft. In his first season with the Hornets, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 75.3% from the field. In his first 2 games in Summer League, he averaged 8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the Lakers’ big weaknesses last year was their bench production.
During the regular season, LA’s reserves scored just 29.3 points per game, the second-worst mark in the NBA. Things didn’t get much better in the playoffs. The backups scored 21.6 points per game, which was bottom-four in the postseason.
It should be no surprise, then, that the Lakers moved quickly to bring in Collin Sexton, who was officially announced on Sunday, to bolster their bench this season.
Last season, Sexton averaged 15.4 points and shot 48.5% from the field and 40.1% from the 3-point line. He did that as a backup for both the Hornets and Bulls and the hope is that he can replicate that with the Lakers.
Sexton’s first-step burst is what separates him from the pack. He can drive on anyone and, thanks to his agility, he can contort his body near the basket to score in the paint even against the most physical defenders.
In a league that’s increasingly becoming about being able to catch and shoot, Sexton is a great balance of new and old-school.
Sexton had 183 catch-and-shoot attempts and converted on 43.7%. For context, these numbers would’ve made Sexton fourth-highest on the Lakers in catch-and-shoot attempts. His shooting percentage on these attempts would’ve been second-best on the roster for those who took at least 150 shots.
At the rim, he had a whopping 204 attempts and made 64.7% of his baskets. The only guard on the Lakers who took more attempts at the rim last year was Luka Dončić at 255. And on the bench, no backcourt player was able to get to the rim better than Sexton. Luke Kennard had just 59 shots at the rim, and Marcus Smart took 61.
He also took 232 field-goal attempts with zero dribbles, but he also attempted 194 shots on 3-6 dribbles and a whopping 150 with seven-plus dribbles.
Sexton was most efficient when he took 3-6 dribbles, making 50.5% of those shots.
His comfort with the ball makes him a great option to run the offense behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And on the nights one of them is unavailable, he can be slotted in the starting lineup.
Sexton isn’t just a scorer. He can also distribute the ball well. Last year, he averaged 3.3 assists per game. If he replicates his scoring and assist numbers from last year, he’d be the best backup guard they’ve had since Dennis Schröder.
Right now, though, the Lakers just need him to replace Kennard, which is still a tall order.
Kennard was an elite 3-point shooter for the Lakers during the regular season. In the opening round against the Rockets, he had some great performances. He scored 27 points in the team’s Game 1 win and 23 points in Game 2’s victory. Without his play, an argument can be made that the Lakers wouldn’t have beaten the Rockets.
Sexton has demonstrated he can shoot near Kennard’s level. He’s a career 38.9% 3-point shooter and has three seasons where he converted over 40% from deep, including last season.
The Lakers weren’t looking for a like-for-like replacement for Kennard. Instead, they brought in a player in Sexton who can do just enough of the things that made Kennard a great addition to the team midseason while also providing other elements to the bench that, hopefully, see the team take a step forward.
This is an opportunity for Sexton to flourish. Now on a winning team with title aspirations, he can show what he can really do and produce at a higher level.
The Lakers are banking on it, and if he accomplishes that, the bench can become a strength rather than a weakness.
Well, probably not the one that Golden State fans were hoping for, at least not yet. As the NBA world sits and waits for 21-time All-NBA selection LeBron James to decide where he will play next season, Steve Kerr and the Warriors reportedly added his former head coach to the staff.
Former Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel is set to join the Golden State staff as an associate head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, citing sources.
Longtime NBA coach Frank Vogel has agreed to become the associate head coach for the Golden State Warriors under head coach Steve Kerr, sources tell ESPN.
While Vogel is as well-traveled as any coach in the NBA, he is best known as the head coach of the 2019-20 Lakers, who won the NBA Finals. However, even coaching the team to a title wasn’t enough to prevent his eventual firing two seasons later.
Across his 12 seasons as a head coach, Vogel has compiled a 480-422 record. He spent this past NBA season as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks on Jason Kidd’s staff.
Although he brings another coach with experience, the big question surrounding this hiring is whether or not this helps or hurts the Warriors’ chances of landing James.
Gonzaga basketball suffered an unexpected loss from its starting lineup ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Starting point guard Mario Saint-Supéry officially signed with Valencia, a Spanish club in EuroLeague, on Saturday, July 11. The move leaves the Bulldogs without an established point guard next season, and they can't get an experienced replacement with the transfer portal closed.
The All-WCC freshman team honoree averaged 8.6 points with 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season on 41% shooting as a true freshman, starting 17 of Gonzaga's 35 games. He's reportedly signing a four-year deal with the club.
"Zag nation, thanks for everything," he wrote on Instagram.
It's the second tough break for the program this offseason, as fellow European guard Jack Kayil was drafted in the second round by the Houston Rockets and subsequently traded to the New York Knicks after initially committing to Gonzaga.
👑 El principito hará del @RoigArena su nuevo palacio 😎🧡
— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) July 11, 2026
It's unclear why Saint-Supéry is leaving, although it's a return home for the former Liga ACB guard. He previously played for Málaga, a Liga ACB club like Valencia, his new team.
Gonzaga returns 6-foot-10 forward Braden Huff, who averaged 17.8 points with 5.6 rebounds per game this season, and replaced leading scorer Graham Ike with highly touted Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop. It'll have to rely on projected backups in its backcourt, though, which could change the dynamic for a team expected to be in the national conversation next season.
For Portland, trading for Ja Morant was a high-upside play. The Trail Blazers land a former All-Star point guard at a minimal cost (Jerami Grant, Kris Murphy), and if it works out, it's a home run. If not, no big setback. Think of it like Portland owner Tom Dundon: They bought a distressed asset and are trying to turn it around.
For Ja Morant, it's a chance to change the narrative and prove he's still that All-Star player and a more mature one off the court. He was honest about that speaking to reporters at NBA Summer League (quotes via Ben Golliver of ESPN).
"What would I like cleared up? I think you know the answer to that. My image. [That] I'm a bad guy. I'm Ja. I've done what I've done in the past, but it's been addressed and handled already. I don't see why, years later, that's still the topic when nothing's happened since. If I was that guy, y'all wouldn't be talking to me now. I wouldn't be here...
"New home. New team. New organization. I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja. It's like starting all over again. ... Over the years, I've grown a lot and learned a lot. My mindset changed. I go into things differently now. I feel more mature, and I'm ready to work."
Morant is going to get his chance, playing in a backcourt with trusted veterans in Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. There is athleticism on the wing around him and a center in Donovan Clingan who sets a big screen. He's working under an offensively-minded coach in Micah Nori.
This is a great opportunity for Morant. What he does with it, what level of athleticism remains, and how much the craft of his game has grown are what we will find out next season. Can he seize the opportunity?
In Las Vegas, Morant was saying all the right things, he was hanging out with his new teammates on the sideline of Trail Blazers Summer League games. It's a promising start and there is reason for optimism in the Pacific Northwest. This is going to be an interesting season for the Trail Blazers.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It looks like the Knicks are so good that they have the worst Summerteam.
Conversely, the Spurs are doomed as they reached the Finals but then beat the SummerKnicks by 21 in Las Vegas. Not good news for San Antonio.
Anyway, here’s the latest to cap the weekend from Sin City.
On Tyler Nickel’s shooting, defense and preparation:
“He’s been shooting all right. His defense has actually been impressive in the camp. When we were in the airport the other day, I went over to talk to him, and he was studying our playbook, so I already like where he’s at, getting ahead of the game.”
On his first impressions of Jack Kayil:
“Really liked him. Started watching him on film after the draft. Thought he could get in the paint. Thought he had a quick burst.”
“My goal is to play in the NBA. That’s why I went into the draft.”
On whether he will remain with the Knicks or return to Europe:
“It’s not my decision, so I’m just trying to show myself in the best way, and it is what it is. I’m super happy I also got drafted, and we’ll see what happens in the next days, weeks, whatever.”
On the reported contractual issues with Alba Berlin delaying his Summer League debut:
“There were things going on that I don’t want to get into.”
On adjusting from basketball in Germany to the NBA Summer League:
“It’s difficult to say [what the differences are from the German league]. It’s only one game. For me, it still feels like basketball, and [I] try to play the right way. And everywhere, it’s kind of the same. It’s obviously different players to play against and a different kind of speed and everything. But I’m used to different systems, so it wasn’t difficult to adapt to that. So for me, it wasn’t that big of a difference.”
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 11, 2026
Jose Alvarado
On looking up to his father:
“I just looked up to my dad… I saw somebody that I really love struggle and still work hard every day and continue to grind it out.”
Jose Alvarado Sr.
On the championship gear his son gave him:
“He gave me his whole uniform, his jersey, shorts, sneakers, headband, the champion shirt… He said, ‘Pa, hold this. It’s wet, but put it on.’”
On watching his son win a championship with the Knicks:
“He’s from New York and to win in New York with his team, it was just amazing.”
On keeping his son away from trouble while growing up:
“Williamsburg now, it’s not the same, but when I was growing up, it was drug-infested, gang-infested, a lot of killing. So I was trying to keep him out of the streets.”
On traveling from Brooklyn to Staten Island for his son’s football games:
“I came out of work at 1:30 p.m., got home at 3, got on the bus to the R train, and then back on a bus to go over the bridge, and then walk from Hylan Boulevard.”
On getting his son into Christ the King’s basketball camp:
“I said, ‘Yeah, how much is it?’ He goes, ‘It’s about $225 a week.’ I said, ‘Alright, I’ll take a week.’ When I went to pick him up for the last day, Coach Joe Arbitello came to me and was like, ‘Can we keep him here for another two weeks?’ I said, ‘As long as it’s free.’ He said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’”
On taking his son to Knicks games at Madison Square Garden:
“When I had enough money to take him to the games [at MSG] … we were sitting all the way on top … And I remember him saying, ‘I can’t wait to be one of these players,’ and I said, ‘You just got to work hard.’”
On the sacrifices required to support his son’s AAU career:
“I used to hope at times they lost. I was like, ‘I gotta go to work tomorrow. I can’t drive at 12 o’clock at night and get to work at 4 in the morning.’ The first person that came to me was Georgetown. And then, after that, it just started flooding. Then, one day, Coach Pastner [of Georgia Tech] came by and rang my bell.”
On supporting his son during his career at Georgia Tech:
“So I supported him through the TV. I texted him before the game, after. I was his hype man.”
On his son’s reaction to being traded from New Orleans to New York:
“He had mixed emotions, because he loved the Pelicans; he’s a loyal kid.”
On why he believed the Knicks would win Game 5:
“He got traded on the fifth. His daughter’s birthday is on the fifth. He’s representing the five boroughs. We live on the fifth floor.”
On his son’s new contract with the Knicks:
“He can take care of his family forever now.”
On Patrick Ewing joking with him:
“He sits right next to me, and he looks at me and goes, ‘Who you with?’ I said, ‘With Alvarado.’ He goes, ‘Who?’ I said, ‘GTA 5, the small guy on the team.’ He goes, ‘I’m only messing with you man, I love that kid.’”
On seeing children react to his son at the championship parade:
“They were like, ‘Don’t touch my hat, he signed it!’ That’s when I was like, ‘This kid could change people’s lives.’ It was beautiful.”
On the Knicks’ chemistry and selflessness leading them to the title:
“They care for one another. They play for one another.”
On Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges:
“I got to know some of those guys when I played with the USA team—with Mikal, Josh and JB. Great dudes. You couldn’t ask for better humans. I think that shows on the basketball court. They care for one another. They play for one another. And that’s, like you said, something you want to build.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Summer Celtics don’t have a traditional point guard on the roster, a position usually relied upon to generate a little upheaval on opposing offenses.
The blueprint of the re-built Celtics is a series of concentric circles. In the middle are the offensive engines of Boston’s offense with Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Paul George, and Derrick White being the most likely leading scorers in that order. The next level outside that core is your margin-control support staff. Think Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta — players tasked to not make mistakes and accentuate the best players.
The larger circle represents your ceiling raisers, a group of hellraisers that could swing games all season. That’s Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Mitchell Robinson. For a team focused on limiting turnovers and controlling the boards, that trio of banshees flip the script on opponents, trying to force turnovers and generate extra possessions with offensive rebounds.
And out in Las Vegas for the next week, the Celtics are developing their next group of game changers and energy shifters.
When you’re picking on the backend of the draft, the available pool can be a bit of an island of misfit toys. There are those more polished players like Scheierman and to some extent, Amari Williams. Those 4-5 years in college have rounded out their games. But there are also those diamonds in the rough, one-and-dones and transfer portal frequenters that never found their place that may have some glaring flaws, but also show some clear portable NBA skills.
Rookies Chris Cenac and Dillon Mitchell having a film session with Director of Player Development Craig Luschenat pic.twitter.com/gcnNYwOLLW
In the 2026 NBA Draft, the Celtics front office identified two players that could potentially be part of that outer circle crew, Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.
“He can just do so many things on the court. You saw him put the ball on the floor. You saw him shoot the three. You saw him screen. His rebounding is incredible, and so for us, I think he can have an immediate impact.”
The #27 pick finished with a strong double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds, with four blocks and the game-tying three in regulation.
Mitchell didn’t fill up the box score like his fellow rookie, but his four stocks (two steals and two blocks) are indicative of what his contributions could look like early in his Celtics career.
Celtics Summer League head coach Amile Jefferson talking about Dillon Mitchell
Said he is the loudest voice on the team rn and I love the shout from coach saying the speed of the game is something he has already grasped. Able to play slow on both ends as a rookie
“He’s probably the loudest voice we have right now. He talks nonstop — on defense, on offense, in huddles — and that’s huge for a young guy,” Jefferson told Celtics.com’s Marc D’Amico.
“The speed of the game… he already gets it. He’s able to slow things down on both ends, which is rare for a rookie. Everyone sees the athleticism, but his mind is what really stands out. That’s what’s going to let him impact the offense even when he’s not shooting.”
At one point in the win over the Raptors, Cenac Jr. attempted a putback over Mitchell that ended with a missed dunk and both players splayed across the Cox Pavillion floor. It was an insane display of athleticism and reckless abandon. Pure chaos.
Back in 2007 when Danny Ainge put together the Big Three, Boston was able to retain some of their core in Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and Kendrick Perkins. All were late first round picks in the 20’s and all contributed to raising Banner 17. Maybe this is a bit of getting drunk on small sample Summer League showings and a fever dream of what could be by training camp in September then a two-week run in the December dog days of the NBA season then a spark off the bench in June and July, but what might have been a mirage on draft night is quickly crystalizing as a real vision for the two rookies.
Kurt Helin
Kurt Helin
