DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were one of the better stories in the East last season. They won 46 games, finished sixth, and finally started to look like a team with a clear direction.
The case for Atlanta is difficult because I genuinely like what the Hawks did this offseason.
This is not a team I think is bad. I don’t even expect them to take a step backward.
The argument is simply that 44 wins in this version of the Eastern Conference might require more things to go right than people realize.
Atlanta Hawks: Over/Under 44.5
Last Season: 46-36
Over: -105 Under: -125 To Win NBA Championship: +4000 To Win Eastern Conference: +2200 To Win Southeast Division: +250
Losses: Zaccharie Risacher, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield
Atlanta has almost everything I want in a modern roster.
Flemings gives them a young backcourt piece with real upside. Johnson and Alexander-Walker already give them a strong foundation. Dort, Finney-Smith, Daniels, and Wiggins give them wing depth rivaling almost anyone in the league.
The problem is that I still do not fully trust what is happening at center.
Okongwu is talented, but at his size, asking him to anchor the position all season is a lot. Against bigger, more physical teams, Atlanta could run into real problems on the glass and around the rim. Ejiofor is intriguing, but he is still a rookie, and Veesaar’s injury removes another option they hoped to develop.
That weakness matters even more because the East is crowded.
Philadelphia loaded up. New York is still elite. Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando, Boston, and Miami all have legitimate reasons to believe they can win a lot of games. There will be very few easy nights at the top of the conference.
The Hawks can be really good and still finish around 42 or 43 wins simply because the margin for error is small.
If Okongwu holds up and the young bigs develop faster than expected, I think Atlanta clears this number. If the center spot becomes a real issue, the under becomes very live.
Cooper Flagg one-of-one Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card on display Aug. 11 at the Baseball Cards of Rhode Island. (Erica Denhoff / Associated Press)
A Friday morning rush hour of intense bidding sent the one-of-one Cooper Flagg Topps Rookie Debut Patch Card skyrocketing at auction, selling for a record-setting $8.04 million. The price more than doubled during the feverish close of the auction presented by Fanatics Collect.
The card of the Dallas Mavericks star forward became the third-most expensive NBA card ever, trailing only the dual Kobe Bryant–Michael Jordan and Jordan–LeBron James cards that each sold for more than $10 million last year.
It also ranks as the fifth highest sports card sale, according to Card Ladder. A Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps card sold for $12.6 million at a Heritage auction in 2022, and an ungraded Shohei Ohtani 2026 Topps Chrome Gold Logoman patch autograph card fetched $11 million July 30 in a private sale.
Flagg, the first pick in the 2025 NBA draft out of Duke, was Rookie of the Year at age 19 and set an NBA record for teenagers by scoring 40 or more points four times, breaking the record of three set by James in the 2003-2004 season.
At a Fanatics Fest in New York in July, Flagg signed the Rookie Debut Patch Autographed (RDPA) card then took the stage with ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi.
“I was a little nervous,” Flagg told Negandhi. “I’ve signed a lot of cards, but that one was a little nerve-wracking.”
Why? The card features a patch that Flagg wore on his Mavericks jersey during his first NBA game. Pairing the game-used memorabilia with a rookie’s signature has almost overnight made the RPDA cards the most sought after by collectors on the market.
The previous high paid for a Flagg card was $366,000 — a mere 4.55 percent of $8.04 million.
Two RPDA cards besides Flagg’s also sold for millions at Friday’s auction: San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper‘s card went for $2.88 million, and Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel’s card fetched $2.34 million.
RPDA cards are the latest brainstorm from Fanatics, which acquired the Topps sports and entertainment trading cards and collectibles business for approximately $500 million in January 2022.
The company leveraged partnerships with the NBA, MLB, NFL and Union of European Football Associations by announcing in 2023 that MLB rookies would wear a Debut Patch on their jersey sleeve during their first game. The patch is removed, authenticated and packaged with a trading card autographed by the player.
The existence of the Debut Patch cards spurred immediate excitement from the NBA when Topps resumed printing licensed cards for the NBA in October 2025 for the first time since 2010. Introducing Debut Patches to rookies and producing RPDA cards was a no-brainer.
“You know it’s such a simple idea, but fits perfectly into sort of like the ethos of the trading card world,” Matt Holt, NBA vice president of merchandising partnerships Matt Holt told the Athletic.
Rather than risking damage to the cards, a redemption card bearing a code serves as a placeholder in the pack. The result is that the Flagg card was graded a PSA Gem Mint 10 with a 10 autograph grade — as close to perfect as possible.
The Flagg card was randomly inserted in a pack of Topps 2026 Chrome Basketball Update Series and placed on the market Aug. 6. Jason Williams, 50, of Clover, S.C., acquired the card after spending $515 to land a spot on RhodyBreakers, a retail shop affiliate that opens boxes of trading cards on a livestream.
Williams was watching the stream on a television as his wife and son were getting ready for bed when a life-changing fortune became theirs.
“They slid that card over, and I just slid to the floor crying,” Williams told ESPN. “It took me about five seconds to realize what I was looking at on that screen.”
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the last several weeks, we wrote columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions about every player on the Lakers. Today, we wrap up with JJ Redick.
It’s been a while since the Lakers employed a coach who has stayed with them for more than three seasons. A coach the organization genuinely believes in and doesn’t constantly put on the hot seat. JJ Redick has been everything the Lakers hoped for since they hired him in June 2024, as he has become the franchise’s best coach since Phil Jackson departed in 2011.
Redick has led the Lakers to 50 wins each season. The 29th head coach in franchise history is a big reason why Los Angeles hasn’t been in play-in territory over the last two years — a sight they saw a little too often before Redick’s arrival.
What has made Redick’s tenure with the Lakers so productive is the way his strengths have consistently shone through. He may have his flaws — we’ll get to what he has to improve later — but it’s no coincidence the Lakers have had a high-powered offense since the proud Duke University alumnus took over.
Redick’s attention to detail has also stood out based on the structure the team abides by and the way they run their sets. He’s a great communicator who can connect with his players, which is why he often has the group’s buy-in. He’s competitive and has shown he can respond to adversity. These are the foundational qualities of a championship coach.
That said, the incoming third-year coach still has a lot to prove. This year, he no longer has his former podcast co-host and captain LeBron James on his side. He’s also won just one playoff series since becoming the Lakers coach and the team’s defense has been below average over the last two years.
While Redick may not be in the hot seat, there’s always pressure on him to be better and deliver at a high level.
What is his best-case scenario?
The best-case scenario for Redick is to lead the Lakers to a championship. This expectation may be extremely high, but it’s also what happens when you have arguably the toughest coaching job in the league.
In order to achieve that, Redick needs to coach the team to at least a top-five finish in the Western Conference, which is achievable provided they stay healthy. In the playoffs, he has to show that he can indeed hang with the best coaches in the NBA right now.
The best-case scenario for Redick is also that he figures out how to fill the void LeBron left and bring the best out of this new roster, consisting of nine new faces following a major offseason roster overhaul. The good news is that this challenge isn’t new.
If Redick can continue to keep Lakers’ offense at an elite level while at the same time improving their defense to above average, then that’ll be extremely good for his success. In terms of in-game management, Redick has faced criticism for overplaying Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves last regular season, hence the soft tissue injuries to both that lasted until the playoffs. How he manages his two superstars as well as everyone else’s minutes will be a point of emphasis this season.
Every season brings its share of twists and challenges. For Redick, navigating those moments and guiding the Lakers through them into contention will be key to his success this year.
What is his worst-case scenario?
The worst-case scenario is JJ underperforms to the point that it affects the team’s overall performance. That would mean the Lakers finishing below the top five in the Western Conference and barely being competitive in the playoffs. A lot would have gone wrong if that’s the case come April.
Another horrible scenario is if the team doesn’t buy into Redick’s system and principles or in short, if he loses the locker room. That’s what happened to the Lakers’ previous two coaches and it led to their jobs being taken away from them.
Lastly, it would be unfortunate if Redick’s relationship with his superstars turn sour because that’s the most integral one for his success on this team.
What is his most likely role on the team?
As the head coach, Redick is both the leader and the connector of the team. He is responsible for establishing the system, principles and core beliefs that give the Lakers the foundation to compete for a championship. He also serves as the bridge between the front office and the players, while remaining the face of the team through the highs and lows that come with an NBA season.
Redick has shown he can handle the responsibilities that come with the job. Now, the challenge is taking the Lakers from a team with championship aspirations to one competing for it.
A championship isn’t stopping bulletin-board material coming in for Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.
ESPN’s analytics guru Dean Oliver, widely considered the godfather of basketball analytics as a pioneering statistician and data scientist, rated Jalen Brunson “around the No. 25 range” among NBAers.
Brunson’s standing has entered the spotlight after ESPN revealed its top-100 rankings as voted on by seven panelists, although Oliver did not have a vote.
Jalen Brunson isn’t a top 20 player according to ESPN’s analytics guru. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
That panel ranked Brunson No. 6 overall, behind only No. 1 Nikola Jokic, No. 2 Victor Wembanyama, No. 3 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, No. 4 Luka Doncic and No. 5 Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Ben Golliver, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, Dave McMenamin, André Snellings and Matt “Stats” Williams composed the group of voters.
To Oliver, the key cog in inflating the NBA Finals MVP’s overall ranking is the “New York media bias.”
Oliver, who has published two basketball analytics books and was an assistant coach for analytics on the Wizards before returning to ESPN in 2024, adds that Brunson’s size limits his upside and defensive metrics.
However, that did not stop Brunson from winning the NBA Finals MVP in leading the Knicks over the Spurs in five games.
Oliver did not list anything specific that explains the disparity between Brunson’s rating in his models and the general consensus.
Jalen Brunson won NBA Finals MVP. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson has averaged at least 26 points per game in each of his last three seasons with the Knicks, while shooting at least 46.7 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from 3.
Oliver does list multiple advanced metrics and player rating systems that he says “provide a useful counter perspective to the humans, with their good eyes but occasional biases.”
Oliver, who received an engineering PHD from the University of North Carolina, also listed Jaylen Brown far below the consensus pollsters.
Brown ranked between No. 9 and No. 23 according for the panelists, though he says his model placed him around No. 60.
Dean Oliver’s picture in his ESPN bio. ESPN
Most NBA teams probably agreed on that one, since many didn’t want to trade for Brown and his big contract this offseason.
Brown was traded between rivals as the Celtics moved him to Philadelphia in exchange for a first-round pick and Paul George.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 17: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates a 110-108 win over the LA Clippers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 17, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s exciting to think what’s in store for Tyrese Maxey next season. Fresh off making an All-NBA team for the first time, and recording career-highs in points (28.3), rebounds (4.1), assists (6.6), steals (1.9) and blocks (0.8) per game, he found ways to level up yet again. Just as he has every year.
Now, it’s time to see how Maxey can improve his game even more. Because while his basic production will inevitably drop as the Sixers welcome new stars to Philadelphia, it’s easy to picture him being more effective than ever.
Maxey led the league in minutes last season with a massive 38.0 per game, and had the second-highest usage rate of his career at 29.4 percent. It’s only a pinch below his career-high of 29.8 from 2024-25, when he frequently carried the team as Joel Embiid played just 19 games and Paul George missed half the season. To make life even harder for Maxey in 2024-25, hewas assisted on by far the lowest percentage of his two-pointers (30.7) and three-point attempts of his career (49.1 — way under the second-lowest mark of his career last season at 59.5). Unsurprisingly, it was the least efficient season he’s had apart from his rookie year, finishing with a 56.2 true shooting percentage.
Maxey didn’t have to do quite so much by himself last season. Embiid’s games increased a bit and VJ Edgecombe arrived, but Maxey’s usage was still higher than ideal. While he’s continually evolved his on-ball creation to be able to do so much when leading an offense, he’s still always been at his best when he’s able to thrive as one of the NBA’s top off-ball scorers.
Maxey has always been a menace when attacking off the catch and driving past scrambling defenses. His off-ball shooting has only become more impressive throughout his career. Apart from an off year from three in 2024-25 when his usage soared, Maxey has routinely been an elite three-point shooter on catch-and-shoot attempts: 45.5 percent on 3.5 attempts per game in 2022-23, 44.4 percent on 3.1 attempts in 2023-24, and 41.7 percent on 3.4 attempts per game in 2025-26.
Spot-ups from way beyond the arc, trailing into long threes in transition, shooting off screens, catching at speed and shooting off whatever awkward angles a defense will give him — Maxey can do it all at this point. He just hasn’t always had as much opportunity to show it the last two seasons.
Now, Maxey can lean into that skill.
Even if Embiid struggles to stay healthy yet again, the Sixers have a new near 30-point-per-game level scorer in Jaylen Brown, who’s also highly durable. They have the one and only LeBron James (that still doesn’t feel real to type), who can orchestrate the team with his passing on a level way above what they’re used to. Anfernee Simons shouldn’t be overlooked either. He’ll bring much-needed creation and high-volume three-point gunning to the second unit. Edgecombe will undoubtedly improve, too. The new array of talent can lighten the load for Maxey, allow him to adjust his usage and enhance what he does best off the ball.
LeBron is at the heart of this. As I wrote in early August, LeBron’s arrival can help Maxey be better than ever.
I won’t repeat all of that article, so you can give it a read for more on LeBron, but here’s the gist of the thinking with how he in particular is good for Maxey:
James can operate anywhere. He can lead pick-and-rolls, be a passing hub from the top of the floor in slower possessions, still run out and orchestrate transition play alongside the speed of the Sixers’ guards, play from the post and elbows, be a screener and short roller. LeBron’s a brilliant passer in all these situations. He can manipulate defenses in any scenario, and Maxey will be there to take advantage. Whether he’s attacking off the catch, flying off pin-downs and flare screens, or simply darting around as a cutter or relocating for threes, LeBron will be able to find him at just the right time, with just the right pass placement. …
Last season, LeBron calmly averaged 7.2 assists per game alongside Luka Dončić and assisted on 34.1 percent of the Lakers’ made field goals when was on the floor. He’s even the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point assists, with 23 years of perfecting the craft of setting up others for easier looks at the arc.
LeBron still scored 11.1 points per game in the paint last season, ranking him 20th in the league, and can force his way inside to break down a defense and pick apart the gaps as a passer at a level we’ve rarely seen. Then there’s Brown, who ranked second in the NBA in drives per game last season at 19.1. With Maxey being able to capitalize off LeBron’s passing and the interior gravity of his new teammates, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to shoot around 45 percent on catch-and-shoot threes. And even if he doesn’t quite surpass his overall career-high of 43.4 percent from three in 2022-23 (on a lower 6.2 attempts), his balance of volume and efficiency could easily be better than ever.
It would be fair to expect growth from Maxey as is. He’s always been a tireless worker, seeking new ways to get 1% better every day. He’ll benefit from any offseason of work. But on top of that, he has the new co-stars to lighten his usage to a level that suits him, and someone in LeBron that is perfect for creating easier opportunities for him. Watching how they build on their existing Klutch relationship and gel as teammates should be one of the best storylines to follow with these Sixers.
Even if Maxey’s scoring drops to the low to mid 20s per game, he should be set to be more efficient than ever and thrive with the kind of usage and shot diet that suits him best. Not everything needs to be about big point totals on a team this stacked. And of course, when he needs to, he’ll be able to dial things up as a bonafide No. 1 option. Just as we saw last season.
With Maxey, being able to focus more on where he thrives as an off-ball scorer should do nothing but scare opponents as they try to tackle these new-look Sixers.
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - AUGUST 13: Turkish national basketball player Tarik Biberovic, who recently transferred to NBA franchise the Dallas Mavericks, during an exclusive interview with Anadolu in Istanbul, Turkiye, on August 13, 2026. Biberovic discussed his move to the NBA, his career with Fenerbahce, future career goals, and his role in the national team. (Photo by Agit Erdi Ulukaya/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
We are finally inching back towards NBA basketball. Today’s Media Day and I should’ve published this earlier but my life is chaos at the moment.
There will finally be things to talk about past speculation and wishcasting. Dallas players and coaches will be talking to media regularly, thus giving us things to actually talk about.
As usual if you need me, I’m not too hard to find. Thanks for spending your time here and don’t argue with the mods! 🙂
The World Champion Knicks begin training camp on Monday.
Here are three things to keep an eye on while the team prepares to defend its title...
EXTENSION TENSION?
Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Miles McBride are all eligible for extensions.
As noted earlier this week, Towns’ side and the Knicks have been in regular contact throughout the offseason about the extension. Per a league source familiar with the matter, the talks have been positive. And the Knicks have made it known that they want Towns in New York for a long time.
Towns has also previously said that he wants to be a Knick for a long time, yet no deal has come to fruition.
ESPN reports that negotiations have become stagnant and an agreement ahead of camp is unlikely. I’m not refuting that reporting, but I’d be surprised if the situation hung over the team like a cloud during camp, as ESPN suggested.
Towns, per SNY sources familiar with the matter, has been at the Knicks facility ahead of the start of camp.
Based on recent history, I think any issue like this will generate much more noise outside of the Knick locker room than inside of it. The team is just coming off of a timeless championship run. Towns and the Knicks have until June 30 to come to an agreement, but it’s also worth pointing out Towns’ negotiations may impact extension talks for Hart and McBride.
Towns is making $57 million this season, he has a $61 million player option for next year, and is eligible for a four-year extension worth as much as $276 million.
At one point in offseason discussions, the Knicks made offers to Towns that started between $45 million and $50 million per season, per league sources. The length of those offers is unknown. Clearly, those offers were rejected. If Towns and the Knicks don’t find common ground on an extension, he won’t opt out of his $61 million player option for 2027-28.
Towns opting out would give the Knicks much more flexibility under the second apron to extend Hart, and possibly, McBride. But if he opts in for 2027-28, the Knicks will have much less financial flexibility under the second apron for other extensions.
To get more perspective on potential extensions for Towns, Hart, and McBride, I reached out to my friend and salary cap guru Yossi Gozlan, founder of The Third Apron.
For our hypothetical, Gozlan uses $75 million as a combined annual salary for the first year of Towns and Hart extensions. With this number, the Knicks would have roughly $13-$14 million in second apron space to offer McBride.
Feb 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) is greeted by guard Josh Hart (3) during a timeout in the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Let’s say the first year of Towns and Hart extensions are a combined $65 million (**not realistic, in my view but we'll use it for purposes of the exercise). The Knicks in this scenario would have roughly $23 million in space under the second apron. This, as Gozlan notes, should be enough to sign McBride and a good backup big man.
The Knicks have to project these extensions out further than next season, obviously. And when you look ahead to 2028-29, the numbers look a bit different, since Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are eligible for extensions during the 2027 offseason.
Let’s say Brunson signs a max extension. If you take Brunson’s deal and combine it with a total $75-$80 million in extensions for Towns and Hart, the Knicks would have around $10 million under the second apron for either McBride or another player. In this example, Anunoby does not sign an extension. That $10 million is certainly below McBride’s market value. So that’s where the situation gets tricky.
A couple of things can change here -- the salary cap numbers for future seasons can come in higher than current projections, which would give the Knicks more room under the second apron. Or the Knicks could change course and decide to spend above the second apron in team salary, but owner James Dolan has said that the organization will not spend above the second apron this season.
If the cap projections are accurate and the Knicks want to stay below the second apron, it will be difficult to extend Towns, Hart, and McBride under current configurations.
In that case, it will be interesting to see how the organization approaches McBride’s future. There are pathways to retain McBride via extension or via free agency -- but each pathway requires additional decisions/moves. I assume teams have -- and will continue to -- ask the Knicks about the possibility of trading for McBride.
CAMP CONFRONTATIONS?
As of Friday morning, the Knicks have 18 players under contract -- teams can have a maximum of 21 players under contract during training camp. I expect that rookie Tyler Nickel will take up one of the remaining spots, and I expect versatile third-year wing Kevin McCullar will eventually have a roster spot, as well.
Will the Knicks add another veteran ahead of camp?
Earlier this month, they signed veterans Bruce Brown Jr., John Konchar, and Ochai Agbaji to compete for a wing position. They also signed big men Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman to compete for a center position.
Mar 20, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ochai Agbaji (30) runs up court after a basket against the New York Knicks during the first half at Barclays Center. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It will be interesting to watch those veterans during training camp and preseason games (you can expect Knicks regulars to play fewer minutes this preseason, so the team will have a chance to get an extended look at other players).
If the Knicks decide that they need a veteran center and wing on the roster, they will need to make a trade to shed salary.
As things currently stand, the Knicks only have room for one veteran minimum contract if they want to remain under the second apron in team salary. So, for example, if they wanted to keep Eubanks and Konchar, they would need to shed salary via trade.
They were in this situation last year with Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews.
They only had room to keep one of those veterans, but were considering keeping two of them. Brogdon decided to retire (at the time of his retirement, there was no guarantee he was going to make the roster, despite reports to the contrary). So the Knicks kept Shamet and the veteran responded with a great season, making pivotal plays throughout the title run.
ROTATION ALTERATION?
Speaking of Shamet, I’ll be interested to see how Mike Brown deploys his bench this season -- maybe we get some clues about his bench approach during preseason games.
The defending champs (it still feels a bit foreign to type that phrase) have a deep bench with Shamet, McBride, Jose Alvarado, and Andre Drummond. They also have a pair of young players in Tyler Kolek and Mohamed Diawara who showed that they can contribute last season.
The Knicks showed their commitment to Shamet (four years, $24 million), Alvarado (three years, $14.3 million), Diawara (four years, $11.2 million) and Clarkson (one year, $3.8 million) by re-signing them in the offseason. Kolek is under contact this season with a team option for next season (deadline to decide is June 29, 2027).
But Brown last season made it clear that he doesn’t play favorites/politics with his rotation minutes. He’s not going to play someone who isn’t producing just because they have a strong financial commitment from the Knicks.
He benched Clarkson early in the 2025-26 season and went back to him later in the year and in the postseason. Same goes for Alvarado. He benched free agent signee Guerschon Yabusele early in the 2025-26 season, as well. So the players who start the season in Brown’s rotation will not necessarily be the players who finish the season in it.
On this date 25 years ago, a 38-year-old Michael Jordan announced his return as a player with the Wizards. “I’m doing it for the love of the game,” he said at the time. “Nothing else. For the love of the game.” The Wizards sold out every home game in his two seasons there but never made the playoffs.
I asked a few of my colleagues to share some thoughts about Jordan’s final un-retirement.
Sam Amick: As a kid who was a maniacal MJ fan despite growing up in the San Francisco Bay during the Warriors’ Run TMC era, his choice to put that Wizards jersey on hurt almost as bad as those Golden State years before Timmy, Mitch and Mully arrived. He had some good moments, but you just knew that nothing would compare to the (last) Bulls chapter that should have been his swan song.
Mirin Fader: I can’t get over that he was still a pretty productive player. That was truly remarkable, all things considered. But him in that blue jersey just looked wrong to me.
Jason Jones: I’m glad he eventually had his farewell tour, even as a Wizard. Things ended so abruptly in 1998 for someone of his stature; it was good the NBA could thank Jordan properly.
Law Murray: I still have mixed feelings about this comeback. I’m focusing on how it started, not how it ended. I know, hindsight is 50-50. But it is certainly one of the greatest flexes ever by a GOAT candidate. The man was the part owner and basketball president and decided to wear THAT uniform, for the love of the game!
Marcus Thompson II: All I even remember about the Michael Jordan era with the Wizards was Mariah Carey’s Wizards dress at the All-Star Game.
Joe Vardon: It was April 8, 2003. I was a young reporter covering Cleveland sports. The now-Guardians had their home opener during the day, and MJ and the Wizards were in town that night. I was late to the basketball game. I walked through the tunnel and behind the hoop close to the Wizards’ basket, on my way to my media seat.
There was a stoppage in play. Michael was at the elbow, with his hands on his shorts. He glanced up and looked right at me, right into my eyes, and held his gaze for a few seconds. It felt like an eternity. It was the only time I ever saw Michael play in person. He scored 26 points that night, and the Wizards won.
It was one of the few times in my career I was actually star-struck — the greatest player ever stared directly into my soul.
The last 24
📈 Upside. Which teams will exceed their projected win totals this season? John Hollinger has his picks — including the rebuilt Bucks.
⏰ Dame Time again? Damian Lillard is back for the Trail Blazers this season after sitting out with a torn Achilles tendon. Early reports are that he’s looking like his old self.
Mariah Carey’s famous jersey dress was actually more of a jersey gown, and man, was it glorious!
Carey wore the floor-length, fitted, blue Wizards jersey to honor Jordan at his final All-Star Game in Atlanta in 2003.The diva’s dress — OK, maybe it was her performance — made the GOAT emotional; Jordan looked like he was holding back tears.
But Carey’s isn’t the only iconic jersey dress. Singer Mya actually wore a powder blue North Carolina Tar Heels jersey dress (No. 23, of course!) in her video for “Best of Me, Part 2” with Jay-Z three years earlier, and it is the earliest instance of the dresses that I remember. Stylist June Ambrose tailored the dress, and it remains one of the style’s greatest moments. (The video was also considered really fly for that era.)
Here’s a little history: Jersey dresses were the result of one of the (in hindsight!) funniest eras of fashion. During the early 2000s, the trend for men was to wear oversized clothing. And I mean, extremely oversized. People were buying the largest sizes possible!
According to the New York Times in 2003, the dress style was created when Mitchell & Ness, the sporting goods brand, decided to use smaller jerseys that were sitting in the warehouse and turn them into dresses. And of course, due to its lack of sleeves and lower neckline, the basketball jersey is the best option of all sports for something like this.
So while Joe Vardon may have a moment where Michael Jordan looked into his eyes to remember the early 2000s, I’ve got the jersey dress.
WNBA playoffs
The field is set
It’s one of the best times of the sports calendar! (Yes, I will say this multiple times a year, and I am always right.)
The WNBA playoffs start Sunday, and I’ve got to be honest, y’all: I’m pretty pumped. This season has been so interesting, and the games have been good. There’s something for everyone. You’ve got young players — generational talents! — helping turn organizations into winners. A former soccer player turned basketball player putting on a show. (They don’t call her The Spectacle for nothing.) A team and an M’VP trying to repeat. A really tough expansion team (Golden State) in the playoffs for the second time in just their second season. Two bona fide MVP candidates who can give you 30 apiece on a good night, and 20-plus on a normal one. I couldn’t hit everybody, but this is all really riveting stuff!
And yet, everybody can’t win.
The first round starts Monday. Here are the matchups:
The spots are locked and the teams are ready to go 🚨
Check out the official bracket for the 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by @madebygoogle.
The best-of-five semifinals begin Oct. 4, and the best-of-seven WNBA finals start on Oct. 17.
The same way fans have been arguing incessantly online about end-of- season awards, I think there’s a case for so many teams.
And finally, Sunset: Last night’s game between Connecticut and the Toronto Tempo was the final game for the Sun franchise. The team was sold to Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta in May for $300 million and will relocate to Houston. The Sun beat the Tempo 95-81 before a sellout crowd of 8,911.
Thanks for following along as I filled in for Zach. He’ll be back Monday — when The Bounce returns to five days a week.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 9: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles against the Miami Heat during the second half in their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on April 9, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors have high expectations. Immanuel Quickley could be the most important player in their quest to make a deep playoff run. Here are three reasons why:
Explosive Three-point Shooter
Among the litany of reasons why the 2018-19 roster was perfectly crafted to optimize Kawhi Leonard, none was arguably more important than the spacing he was provided on the offensive end. The Raptors finished with the sixth-best three-point percentage (36.6) and made the seventh-most three-pointers (1,015) that season.
Leonard was surrounded by capable shooters in Kyle Lowry (34.7 per cent), Danny Green (45.5 per cent), Pascal Siakam (36.9 per cent), and Marc Gasol (44.2 per cent). Norman Powell (40.0 per cent) and Fred VanVleet (37.8 per cent) were also blistering options off the bench.
Last season, Toronto finished 21st in three-point percentage. Quickley was undoubtedly the most prolific marksman in the starting lineup (37.4 percent) and the best volume shooter on the roster (2.5 threes made on 6.8 attempts).
With RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl expected to join Quickley and Leonard as projected starters, it’s paramount that Quickley becomes the elite knockdown shooter that he’s capable of being.
New Role, Better Fit
Quickley’s two full seasons in Toronto have differed in terms of on-ball responsibilities. In 2024-25, the point guard nearly matched the career-high in usage he set during his rookie year with the New York Knicks. But last year, playing alongside Brandon Ingram, the evolving Barnes, and the bulldozing Barrett, Quickley recorded a usage rate of 21.1, his lowest since 2022-23.
With Leonard incoming, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Quickley’s recent usage remain the status quo. During two of his best seasons as a pro with the Knicks, Quickley was assisted on 73 per cent of his made threes. He’s always been an electric catch-and-shoot player with dangerous range.
Quickley has undoubtedly grown as a pick-and-roll threat, and that part of his game will still be relied on. Lowry and VanVleet were often asked to run off the offence in extended spurts during the championship run. But if Quickley can consistently make teams pay off-ball, it’ll go a long way in supporting Leonard.
The right side of the ball
While Pat Beverley was telling a story about Leonard on a podcast, he offered some insight into the champion’s mindset. In response to the coaching staff asking him to switch on defence for a specific sequence, Beverley recalled Leonard saying: “If he can’t guard, then why is he in the game?”
The 2019 roster was arguably one of the greatest defensive teams of all-time. While this year’s roster has a few elite (yet growing) defensive minds, it also houses a few question marks. During the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers relentlessly attempted to hunt Barrett on switches. Teams are expected to try that with Quickley. To his credit, Quickley has been solid on the defensive side, particularly with his effort level and fight through screens. If Quickley can hold his own on a nightly basis, it’ll be a huge win for Toronto.
For the first time, the Sixers are set to host the team’s annual Blue-White scrimmage at their NBA home.
The Sixers announced Friday that they’ll hold their 2026 Blue-White scrimmage at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. ET.
The Sixers will require a $10 donation to the Sixers Youth Foundation for admission to the scrimmage. The team “will also donate 5,000 tickets to Sixers Youth Foundation grantees and local youth organizations and community partners.”
According to the Sixers’ press release, “a limited number of seats will be available to Society 76 Members via a special presale starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, with the balance of available ticket inventory reserved for the general public on-sale. Tickets will be available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 3 p.m. here on Monday, Sept. 28.”
The scrimmage had been at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware in recent years. The venue hosts the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. It’s a much smaller, more intimate setting than Xfinity Mobile Arena. The scrimmage has generally been a rather casual event under head coach Nick Nurse, though Joel Embiid’s on-court action was a notable aspect last year as he worked his way back from left knee surgery.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the game after scoring the game winning basket against the Denver Nuggets on March 17, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Can basketball make you happier?
There’s only a few times in life, maybe a handful if you’re lucky, where the elation of the moment transforms into pure joy. The birth of a child. The time you won the national championship as a teenager. That time when you hiked Mount Shasta and felt the euphoria of life rushing through you.
For some of us, that includes the wonderful spring of 2024 when Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks all the way through the playoffs to the Finals.
Before the playoffs that year, people said the Mavs weren’t good enough. They said Kyrie was washed, that he was a locker room cancer. They said Luka was too fat, too injured, too bad on defense. They said the roster couldn’t compete with the best. But we proved them all wrong. We went almost all the way. All we needed was another year.
The beautiful thing about fandom and sports is that we get to belong somewhere, to something bigger than us. We made it, we proved them wrong. We just needed another year.
DALLAS, TX – MAY 26: Kyrie Irving #11 embraces Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, none of us touched that court, none of us made a basket, none of us led the league in scoring. But we played our part, we all tell ourselves and smile, because we know that a fanbase can affect the energy of a team. And the energy of a team can affect winning directly.
Kyrie Irving felt that energy. Do you think he would have stuck around and settled in Dallas the way he has if he didn’t feel welcomed and appreciated? From staff and leadership to the players and all the way to the fanbase. Do you think Kyrie Irving would have stayed when the past regime traded a guy he called his brother, if he was unsure about the support he had?
Do you think he would have stayed through injury if he didn’t know the fanbase had his back and already considered him a legend for what he had done for the Dallas Mavericks franchise?
In order to thrive as a player, in order to perform up to your very best and stick to it through adversity, you need to feel safe. And to get there, you need a little something called trust. A word we throw around way too much, claiming this team has trust, this team needs it, we have a focus on trust on our team.
But real trust comes from consistency. From not leaving when things are hard and from the energy you approach a situation or a team with.
Kyrie Irving has settled in a way in Dallas that he never has before in his career. Sure, he’s won a Championship and was already a legend before even stepping foot on the Mavs.
But in Dallas, he found something we’ve never really seen him achieve to this degree. Peace. It’s been talked about a lot since his first season here, but that doesn’t make it any less relevant.
BROOKLYN, NY – FEBRUARY 24: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks smiles during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Dallas, Kyrie Irving has come into himself. He has become the man and the role model he seemed to work towards becoming, but the trust and sense of safety and belonging that he found in Dallas enabled him to move beyond the drama that had followed him up until then.
Much to the credit of both the local media, which approached him without the bias he was used to, and especially the fanbase.
The Dallas Mavericks fanbase loved Kyrie from day one. The energy from the fans, the support and the embrace he received was beautiful to watch.
In the beginning, the Luka fans-Kyrie Fans feud was a little weird to witness, but soon most realized that the two of them were not competitors, they were each other’s biggest fans. And so Kyrie settled down in Dallas, safe in the knowledge that he was supported even through mistakes. That’s how you create trust, by the way. And a winning culture.
And as Kyrie is looking almost better than ever to start this season, the infectious energy surrounding him reminds us of the good old days.
By sticking around through the bad and the ugly the last few seasons, Kyrie is reciprocating a gift to the fanbase.
Every time we see him, he reminds us of the joy we used to feel before those bad days. It is the gift of excitement. The gift of belief. The gift of being allowed to reminisce.
The gift Kyrie received from the fanbase when he arrived in Dallas, the gift of trust and support, that’s the gift he is giving back in kind right now.
Because the joy we lost is slowly returning. And once again, it is Kyrie Irving, who is the catalyst. Can basketball make you happier? Kyrie Irving can.
24 September 2022, Tanzania, Arusha: A warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) kneels on the ground in the Ngorongoro Crater and searches for food with its trunk. The cauldron of the Ngorongoro Crater covers about 260 square kilometers. Like the other giant craters, Ngorongoro is not part of the Serengeti, but was carved out as a protected area in 1956 and declared a Conservation Area because of its habitat for the Masai. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1971 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa (Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)
You know things are gearing up when you cook a fresh list of links and notes spanning just three days’ worth of news, and it already goes up to nearly 1K words. We’re so close to basketball, folks!
Jalen Brunson is hella ready. “I am…” he said, “fully cleared.”
Karl-Anthony Towns’ extension talks with the Knicks have stalled with training camp approaching, and I have you covered here.
Don’t forget that, while the Towns negotiations take center stage, Josh Hart and Miles McBride remain extension-eligible too. McBride’s situation is particularly serious because he can become an unrestricted free agent next summer (Mitchell Robinson situation, anyone?), while Hart has a team option baked into his deal.
Jalen Brunson will officially make his Law & Order: SVU debut this fall. Brunson is scheduled to guest star in Season 28’s fifth episode on Nov. 5, reuniting him with Knicks superfan Mariska Hargitay after his recent Emmys cameo. His role remains under wraps.
OG Anunoby received a major hometown honor this week at Jefferson City High School.
In an interview with GQ Philippines, Jordan Clarkson discussed his up-and-down season with the Knicks, going from featured to end-of-the-bench fodder to postseason performer.
“I didn’t play for like a month, but me just being a pro, I had to stay locked in. I love this game, so I’m always ready. I stayed involved with the coaches, and with the young guys playing every day. My skill never wavered.
“The thing I learned being here this long is that everybody believes they’re the best player. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t. So being able to put your ego to the side is important. It’s about coming together as a team, helping each other win without getting jealous, and having no ill intent towards any of your teammates.
“The whole season was a story on its own. Getting through adversity early in the playoffs, and not questioning ourselves. We had guys giving up a lot for this.”
Clarkson also wants another run with the Philippines at next year’s FIBA World Cup.
“Another World Cup is coming up, and I want to be there. There haven’t been so many Filipino Americans in the [NBA] league, and Filipinos, period. So knowing that I get to represent that and kind of change the narrative in any way that I can, that’s what I’m trying to do. Hopefully, we can see those dudes [Jalen Green and Dylan Harper] in a Gilas jersey at some point.”
Mitchell Robinson had strong praising words for Jalen Brunson’s leadership after leaving the Knicks for Boston, saying “Jalen is so dialed in.”
The Knicks have hired Ed Flynn as Mike Brown’s new replay and challenge specialist. Flynn spent the previous three seasons as a video coordinator with the Pelicans and replaces Jordan Brink.
The final Knicks roster spot remains a genuine training-camp competition between James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks, Bruce Brown, John Konchar and Ochai Agbaji. The NYP’s Stefan Bondy outlined one possible wrinkle to that roster battle: moving Pacome Dadiet could allow the Knicks to retain two camp invitees instead of one. A larger trade remains another possibility if neither Wiseman nor Eubanks convinces the Knicks they have enough at center, with Bondy identifying Miles McBride as New York’s most valuable expendable trade piece. Go read it all!
The Ringer placed the defending champion Knicks second in its preseason NBA power rankings, behind only San Antonio and ahead of Oklahoma City.
The Knicks have a relatively favorable travel calendar overall, with only 13 back-to-backs and roughly 35,181 road miles, the second-fewest in the NBA.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is not interested in paying championship-inflated MSG prices to attend Opening Night at MSG. “Brother, I do not have $2,000 ready for that ticket.”
Q: "Will Knicks repeat?"
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani: (crosses fingers) “Come on…"
Q: "Will you be there when they raise the banner?"
OAKAAK RJ Barrett admitted there was a little bitterness watching his former team win the championship, but ultimately was happy for his old teammates.
“At first, definitely feel a little salty, but if anybody else were to win it, I’m happy they won it. I still have friends over there.” He added that he hopes to bring some of that success to Toronto.
Jalen Duren and Detroit continue to have one of the stranger contract negotiations of the offseason, with the Pistons offering him a five-year, $200 million offer… that includes weight-based incentives requiring Duren to check his weight monthly.
Steven Adams believes Grand Theft Auto VI could tank pro sports.
Steven Adams has jokes at media day:
"I will say: you guys should anticipate November. The performance of the league, league-wide. GTA is dropping."pic.twitter.com/OIBnRbDFeL
OAKAAK Kevin Knox is getting another NBA opportunity, signing an Exhibit 10 deal with Orlando for training camp.
NBA expansion is getting closer, with Las Vegas appearing further along than Seattle. The league has already held multiple bidding deadlines for Las Vegas and could reportedly identify a winning group there before settling on its Seattle plans.
Shaquille O’Neal makes around $15 million annually in sports media, Charles Barkley about $21 million, Pat McAfee roughly $30 million, and Tom Brady $37.5 million. Stephen A. Smith tops the list reported by The New York Post, at around $40 million per year across his media deals. Sheesh…
Gregg Popovich married Mary Barth Budenholzer, the former wife of longtime Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, on Sept. 16 in Texas.
HBD Ricky Davis aka Get Buckets! The only NBA player who would attempt a between the legs dunk in a game, miss it, get his rebound and do a windmill!! pic.twitter.com/YQdBBMxqpT
“First of all, my relationship with Tyrese Maxey goes beyond the court,” James began an extended response to Nash’s question about his free agency decision.
“I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey, man,” James said. “Every day you get the same person, and that is very rare in sports and it’s obviously super rare in life. I’ve always talked about how great of a person he is. And we obviously know what he brings to the basketball court.
“When I became a free agent and we decided to let the Lakers know that I wouldn’t be returning, he was one of the first people that was on my line. ‘Yo, what are we doing? What’s up, OG? What’s up, old head? Come on down here, man. We could use you down here.’ … There’s a lot of times that I don’t answer the phone for some phone calls, because I don’t even want to be swayed one way or I already know what you’re calling about. But he’s such a great person. I cannot not talk to him.”
James recalled first meeting Maxey ahead of the 2020 NBA draft.
“He’s been the same person since the moment I met him, before he was drafted into the NBA,” he said. “The same exact person. He came to my house and at that point in time he was 19 years old, so he was actually hanging with (my sons) Bronny and Bryce. They were playing video games inside the house. So I met him and said what’s up to him when he was going into the draft. But he was closer to Bronny and Bryce than he was to me, so he was hanging with them.
“He came in and he was super respectful to me, super respectful to my wife, super respectful to everyone in the house. Bright smile and just super down to earth. From the moment he’s gotten drafted to the perennial All-Star, superstar that he’s becoming, nothing has changed. Nothing has changed in his demeanor.
“And we all know how people can be the humble kid coming in, and then some success happens and they’re totally different. The kid has been the same person, man. It’s hard sometimes, too. I’m not faulting anyone for having some change. … But this kid — this young man now — is beyond his years for sure.”
Maxey and the Sixers’ pitch ultimately yielded a 22-time All-Star.
According to James, he wasn’t always sure whether he’d be suiting up for another NBA season after the Lakers’ second-round playoff exit.
“There were a lot of moments,” he said, “once we lost to OKC, of, ‘Is this the end?’”
James still felt driven to play.
“I think the only thing that I’d continue to say to myself was, if you still have an opportunity to do what you love, then why just say I’m done? Do you have a real reason? … I think that’s what it came down to,” he said. “And I’m not going to cheat it. I’m not just going to show up to practice, no stretch, no workout, no weight room, no recovery, no nothing — just go on the court and play.
“There’s no way I could do that and be successful in this game. … Once the curtain is closed, the curtain is closed. And if you still have an opportunity to play at a high level and compete at a high level, then why not?”
“One of the most important (parts), to be honest, is the big fella,” James said. “He’s done everything in our league and the only thing he has not done is win a championship. I want to try to help him get that first one. He’s been the MVP of our league, he has a gold medal, All-Stars, signature shoes, bunch of money, beautiful family. He has everything. He has the city on his back.
“It’s been The Process for 10 years, 12 years, however long he’s been there. But I think it’s time now that we dig even deeper into the Process, and I hope I can be that final little piece that can help him get over the hump and help him see it maybe a little bit differently than he’s seen it in his career as far as the day-to-day process, the day-to-day of what it takes to get there.”
It’s almost time for James to get formally rolling as a Sixer.
The team’s media day is set for Monday morning and training camp will start Tuesday.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles as he prepares to shoot before an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Kevin Terrell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Parsing through the NBA’s over/under win totals is a meaningful way to establish expectations for every team entering the new season even if you have no interest in gambling. At this point, it would be easy to look back on the San Antonio Spurs and believe their ascent atop the Western Conference was all but preordained last season with Victor Wembanyama, but in reality expectations were pretty meager. The Spurs’ win total was only 44.5 games before they roared to 62 wins and a trip to the 2026 NBA Finals.
The sportsbooks are really good at setting these lines. I went 4-3 on NBA my over/under picks last season, but it ended up being 3-4 for the lines in my story because the New York Knicks’ win total was one game higher at time of publish. That’s how thin the margins often are.
This season is particularly difficult to project because of the NBA’s new anti-tanking rules. There were a lot of free wins on the schedule last year against teams trying to prioritize ping pong balls in the lottery. Teams can’t game the system anymore with the lottery odds now almost completely randomized, especially when the league’s three worst teams actually have worse odds at the No. 1 pick. With the 2026-2027 season just around the corner, here are my best bets for the NBA over/under win total lines. All lines are via FanDuel.
Chicago Bulls under 29.5 wins
There’s finally some optimism around the Bulls with the arrival of a potential star rookie in Caleb Wilson and a new front office led by Bryson Graham. Graham signed Norm Powell, traded for Nic Claxton, and drafted Dailyn Swain with his second first-round pick, but there’s still a lot more work to be done. It’s hard to see many Eastern Conference teams worse than the Bulls this year. Chicago projects as a below-average team in rebuilding, three-point shooting volume, and defensive turnover creation, and that’s a tough way to win when you don’t have a true star player to fall back on. It’s likely that Powell is traded in Feb., and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few more veterans follow him out the door as Graham looks to put his stamp on the team. The Bulls could be fun-bad with Wilson and Matas Buzelis both among the league’s most explosive athletes, but this line still seems too high unless Wilson is an impact two-way player right away.
Houston Rockets over 46.5 wins
The Rockets won 52 games last year without Fred VanVleet for the whole season and without Steven Adams after January. Adams will be an injury risk every year, but he’s healthy to start this season, and that gives Houston its greatest strength back on the offensive glass. I’m buying improvement from both Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson this year, and even if that doesn’t happen, any of Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard could also take a leap. Kevin Durant will suffer age-related decline eventually, but he was pretty damn good last year and I wouldn’t expect him to fall off too much yet. The Rockets will turn every game into a rock fight. It won’t be pretty, but I do think it can be effective.
Los Angeles Lakers over 44.5 wins
The Lakers won 53 games last year with Austin Reaves being limited to 51 appearances and Luka Doncic limited to 64. This year’s team won’t have LeBron James to fall back on when Doncic and/or Reaves are out, but they majorly upgraded the center position while fortifying the rotation with players who should be more effective in the regular season than the playoffs. Walker Kessler will be there to protect the rim every time Doncic and Reaves get burned, and it won’t be hard for him to be more effective than Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes were last year. Sandro Mamukelashvili was an excellent offensive weapon in Toronto last season, and I like his pairing with Luka whether he’s at the four or the five. Matisse Thybulle also feels like a good buy-low candidate whose shortcoming won’t be exposed until the playoffs. Even if Doncic plays a similar number of games to last year, I think the Lakers have the star-power and the coaching to clear this win total with relative ease.
Memphis Grizzlies over 29.5 wins
The Grizzlies were shamelessly tanking to end last season, but it worked out wonderfully for them by moving up to the third pick to draft Cameron Boozer. I didn’t just call Boozer the best prospect in the draft, I also said he’ll be the next American-born player to win MVP! No pressure, man. Boozer will be the youngest player in the NBA this season, but I think he’s ready to rock from the jump. Zach Edey feels like the real swing factor in Grizzlies’ optimism. He’s consistently battled injuries during his short NBA career, but he’s super effective when he’s healthy and should be a great fit next to Boozer in the front court. I’m pretty high on Memphis’ collection of guards with Ty Jerome — one of the league’s most underrated players — leading the charge, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Cam Spencer makes a big leap this year too. Cedric Coward is another breakout candidate. Memphis is expected to be among the worst teams in the West this season, and while I get it, I think they’re going to be a lot better than that.
Golden State Warriors under 38.5 wins
I was really high on the Warriors last year at this time, but they were basically dead-on-arrival after Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in January. Butler will spend the first part of this season continuing his rehab, and it’s hard to believe the Warriors will hit the ground running without him. Stephen Curry remains spectacular, but can the Warriors really count on him for a full season at age-38? Draymond Green is still awesome on defense, but his offense gets worse every year and pretty close to unplayable. Kristaps Porzingis is really good when he’s healthy, but he’s never healthy. I really like Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Brandin Podziemski, and I can talk myself into a De’Anthony Melton comeback. The Warriors could make me look stupid if Curry plays 70+ games — he’s done it two of the last three seasons — but this line is still a little too rich for my blood.
Toronto Raptors over 46.5
The Raptors turned Brandon Ingram into Kawhi Leonard this summer, and I’d bet that’s enough to win one more game than last year to clear this line. Leonard was a top-5 player in the league last year, and he’s a huge upgrade over Ingram if he can stay on the floor. Obviously that’s always a big if when it comes to Kawhi, but I’d like to think he has motivation to show fans he can still ball out after his reputation took a hit from the Clippers’ cap circumvention scandal. Scottie Barnes suddenly looks like one of the best second bananas in the league, Collin Murray-Boyles should be in for a sophomore leap, and the Raptors’ bench has an intriguing mix of defensive bulldogs (Jamal Shead) and floor spacers (Ja’Kobe Walter). I’m worried about the center and point guard play, but still think this team should be very good if Leonard can get to around the 65-game mark.
Wizards under 33.5 wins
Okay, I have the Wizards at under 35.5 wins at my local sportsbook, and I much prefer that line. I’m still willing to fade this team even after bringing in Anthony Davis and Trae Young. Davis could still be one of the better players in the NBA if he’s healthy and motivated, but I just don’t see how he’s happy in Washington even if this team meets their meager expectations. Young was very good a few years ago, but his margin for error was always slim given his lack of size, and it feels like he’s endured enough injuries to slip just enough athletically to cut his peak short. A.J. Dybantsa should be awesome as the No. 1 overall pick, but I’m skeptical of the fit between him and Young. I like all the young guys here, from Kyshawn George to Tre Johnson to Alex Sarr to Will Riley, but I’m not sure they’re ready to impact winning. I also can’t believe head coach Brian Keefe is back. The defense is probably going to be terrible barring a vintage AD season, and there’s not a lot of floor spacing on offense. I’ll pound the under on the Wizards wherever the line is.
Jazz to make playoffs (+120)
FanDuel has the Jazz over/under at 37.5 wins, and I think I like taking them to make the playoffs as the better bet because the odds are more favorable. It’s hard to imagine the Jazz can crack the top-6 of the West this year, which means they will have to make it in via the play-in tournament. That’s always a scary proposition, but I like Utah’s combination of top-end talent and coaching better than some of their rivals for the last two West playoff spots like the Suns, Blazers, and Warriors. This is a big bet on Will Hardy, but after years of tanking, he should be ready to show world that he’s one of the league’s best head coaches. I’m a bit worried about the lack of playmaking on this team, and they will need Jusuf Nurkic to stay healthy if they want to compete on the glass, but there’s a lot of offensive firepower here, and it should be enough to sneak into the playoffs.
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 17: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets passes the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Miles Bridges
Power forward, 6’7”, 225 pounds, 28 years old, 8th season
The Phoenix Suns are a team with numerous decisions to make during the upcoming season and subsequent offseason. And when it comes to the decisions that could have a long-term financial impact, much of the focus will be on two former lottery picks. One is entering his second season with the Suns, Jalen Green. The other? Newly acquired Miles Bridges, who comes to Phoenix with athleticism, ferocity, and plenty of off-court baggage.
Bridges has an opportunity in a new city and with a new organization to reset his path as an NBA player. He has an opportunity to showcase his basketball talents under the scrutinizing eyes of a fan base that has every reason to question the decision to bring him here.
There may not be another player on the Phoenix Suns facing more pressure this season than Miles Bridges. Every time he performs poorly, those who opposed his addition to the roster will beat that drum loudly. If he plays well, the Suns could become a viable threat in the Western Conference. If he struggles, his presence will remain a divisive talking point throughout the fan base.
Now that’s pressure.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
77
31.0
17.1
5.8
3.2
0.6
46.0%
33.3%
82.2%
118.3
114.8
+147
[Recap the previous season in roughly 3–5 paragraphs.]
Cover the important parts of the player’s previous year without turning this into a game log.
Include:
Games played and starts
Basic statistical production
Role and minutes
Injuries or availability
Major stretches, developments, or setbacks
How the season ended for them
Contract and Roster Context
[1Miles Bridges is entering the final year of his contract and is owed $22.9 million this season with the Phoenix Suns. Next summer, he will become an unrestricted free agent, although the Suns will hold his Bird rights.
What makes his contract situation interesting is that there are essentially two paths Phoenix can go down.
If the Suns opt to extend Bridges within the first six months after acquiring him, the maximum they can offer starts at 120% of his current salary with 5% raises in each additional season, with no more than four total seasons, including the current year. So if Phoenix extends Bridges prior to January 14, 2027, the maximum offer would be three years and $86.3 million.
If the Suns wait until after January 14, the equation changes. At that point, Phoenix could offer Bridges a standard veteran extension, which can begin at up to 140% of the final year of his current contract with 8% annual raises. That would allow the Suns to offer him as much as four years and $143.2 million.
Granted, the Suns have done a stellar job recently of getting what you could define as bargain deals, whether it was Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams, and Jordan Goodwin in free agency or the extension they reached with Dillon Brooks. So the maximum numbers don’t necessarily mean that’s what Bridges will ultimately command.
What He Brings
As I watch Bridges play, there’s one thing I know for sure. You’re going to notice him on the court. He isn’t somebody who consistently fades into the corner and lives there, holding his hands open and waiting for a ball that may never come. He inserts himself into possessions, whether that means bringing the ball up the floor, getting into the paint, or attacking when the ball finds his hands. And when he does get it, he can become electric in an instant.
His ability to throw down highlight reel dunks is what immediately catches your eye, but when you start examining the rest of his offensive game, you see a multifaceted player.
Yes, he’s joining a Suns team that doesn’t particularly shoot the three-ball well, and Bridges isn’t necessarily going to solve that problem. He’s a career 33.8% shooter from beyond the arc and shot 33.3% last season with Charlotte. But he also made 148 of them. So it’s not like he’s a complete zero from deep who defenses can completely ignore on the perimeter.
What stands out to me more is his ability to finish with either hand. Whether it’s dunks or floaters, once he enters the paint, it can be difficult to tell whether he’s right or left-handed. You remember he’s a lefty once he starts shooting the three-ball. That versatility around the basket is going to add another layer to the Suns’ offense that they simply didn’t have last season.
One of the more interesting things about Miles Bridges last season was that he spent much of his time in essentially the Dillon Brooks role, guarding the opposing team’s best offensive threat. Bridges ranked in the 88th percentile in matchup difficulty, which measures the quality of the offensive players a defender is asked to guard while factoring in their offensive impact and usage. He graded out as an A minus.
That gives Phoenix another highly switchable perimeter defender who can take on difficult assignments and fortify different aspects of the Suns’ defense. And within the starting five, that should be an absolute upgrade over Royce O’Neale, who was a liability in this area.
What Needs to Improve
As the shooting chart above showcases, Bridges isn’t much of a midrange player. For his career, he has shot 32.2% between eight and 16 feet from the basket, although only 7.5% of his total attempts have come from that area. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That’s the space Devin Booker owns, while Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks like to operate there as well. You don’t need too many chefs in the kitchen, and we saw that a couple of years ago when Bradley Beal (cough…cough…when healthy) and Kevin Durant occupied many of the same areas of the floor. Bridges is better served either behind the arc, getting downhill, or operating from the dunker spot.
For somebody who attacks the paint as frequently as he does, however, he doesn’t get to the free-throw line very often. For his career, 48.7% of his shots have come from inside eight feet, yet he averages only 2.7 free-throw attempts per game. Perhaps some of that is a product of playing for Charlotte, a team that ranked in the bottom third of the league in free-throw attempts last season. But if the Suns want to attack the basket more frequently this season, with Green serving as the tip of the spear in that effort, those attacks need to produce something. Either make the basket or get to the line.
Another area where Bridges has room for improvement is his overall shot quality. BBall Index graded him as a D last season, placing him in the 27th percentile. The metric captures the quality of a player’s shots by factoring in distance, openness, and other variables. You would think that in Charlotte, with LaMelo Ball helping set the table for him, Bridges’ shot quality would have graded better than a D.
Prediction
There will be an initial adjustment period as all of the starters get comfortable with their roles. Bridges is going to eat into a chunk of the offensive production that belonged to other players a season ago. But once that comfortability sets in, I believe he’s going to thrive in his inaugural season with the Suns.
When you have Devin Booker as a scoring threat, Jalen Green attacking and penetrating, and Bridges potentially operating from the dunker spot, it should open up different aspects of the Suns’ offense. And I believe Bridges will be one of the primary beneficiaries.
There’s one thing you notice whenever you watch him play. He has a motor. That might be the part of his game that meshes most naturally with this Suns team. The motor. The desire. The competitiveness. You’ll see it on both ends of the floor. The Suns established that tenacity last season, and now they’ll look to fine-tune it with the addition of Bridges.
The longer the summer has gone on, the more I’ve bought into the idea that Miles Bridges is going to be a productive player for Phoenix. Perhaps it’s the long wait. The overanalysis. The hopium that starts setting in after an entire summer spent contemplating what this new offense could look like. Perhaps there’s some bias generated by watching hours of highlights. They are highlights, after all. They’re not lowlights.
Yes, there is plenty to be said about what has occurred off the court. But on it, you generally knew what you were getting from him. There were inconsistencies with the three-point shot, but the attitude and effort were there. And ultimately, that’s what this Suns team is being built to be. Hard-nosed. Competitive. The kind of team you don’t want to see sitting there on your schedule.
