Kings star Russell Westbrook bluntly addresses NBA retirement upon 18th season

Kings star Russell Westbrook bluntly addresses NBA retirement upon 18th season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 2025-26 NBA season will be new Kings guard Russell Westbrook’s first campaign in Sacramento and the star’s 18th overall in the league.

So, given that the Kings are Westbrook’s seventh different team and “The Brodie” is 36 years old, it’s fair to wonder if the coming season will be his last.

Westbrook was asked if that’d be the case on Sunday at Kings practice, and he bluntly shut it down.

“Yeah, right,” the former NBA MVP told reporters when asked if he’d retire upon the season’s end.

The idea of calling it quits isn’t in Westbrook’s DNA.

Instead, the 6-foot-4 guard, with career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists, intends to keep playing for the foreseeable future.

Westbrook followed his frank response by sharing what keeps him going.

“Family,” he said. “My family. My supporters. The ability to be grateful and blessed to be able to wake up and have limbs and things that work, and be able to use them. Using this platform to build other parts of my life and business. 

“You know, just the overall fun I have while playing and enjoying the game; I think it’s something I never ever take for granted, and I’m thankful to be able to do that again.”

The last few seasons have been rough for Westbrook. 

But the Kings are betting on the veteran to remain a productive player after he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists over a promising 75 games a season ago.

And it appears Westbrook is betting on the Kings to help him have fun, as he avoids talk of retirement.

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Warriors' starters for regular-season opener still unknown with Moses Moody out

Warriors' starters for regular-season opener still unknown with Moses Moody out originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Moses Moody officially is out for the Warriors’ regular season opener Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers while still rehabbing a strained calf, coach Steve Kerr announced Sunday. 

Moody did not practice Sunday. He went through individual work on the court and in the weight room, but has not scrimmaged since missing the Warriors’ final three preseason games. 

Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, both coming back from ankle issues, scrimmaged Sunday and everything went well for them physically. The two forwards will be listed as questionable for the season opener with the expectation being they’ll be able to play. 

Losing Moody for at least the first game of the season already throws a wrench in Kerr’s plans for his starting lineup and how he’ll use different combinations. Moody started both preseason games he played in and averaged 14.5 points on 52.4 percent shooting and was 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) on 3-pointers. The Jimmy Butler trade last season cemented Moody into a role of being a go-to on-ball defender who can hit open threes. 

Moody’s versatility as someone who can play up as a forward in smaller lineups or down as a shooting guard in bigger lineups proved key down the stretch last season. And it also has Kerr trying to fill a missing piece. 

“I honestly have not decided yet who’s going to start on Tuesday,” Kerr said. 

Which prompted the question: Do you know who will start on Tuesday? 

Sprinkling in some sarcasm, Kerr rattled off the obvious choices of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Butler, assuming he’s healthy enough. He then made it clear who at least the fourth person will be. 

“With Moses out, that’s kind of the question,” Kerr said. “[Brandin Podziemski] will be out there. BP will be out there.” 

Kerr mentioned veteran center Al Horford as an option, as well as Kuminga, but he could go a number of ways. The Warriors don’t want to play Horford, 39 years old, more than 20 to 25 minutes per game, making it tricky to decide if he’s better served as a starter or coming off the bench. If he starts and the Warriors want to close games, that means long lulls on the bench in between. 

“What we have to think about is, what does that do to the rotation and what does that mean coming off the bench,” Kerr said. “Honestly, we have not decided yet and we’ve got to talk to guys as well.” 

The player who will be most affected by the fifth spot is Green. Starting Horford would slot Green into his more natural position of power forward. But if Kerr opts to go smaller and start Kuminga, Green would continue rising above as a small-ball center. 

None of this is new to Green, who joked that if he has to play the five “I’m going to ask for a trade.” The 6-foot-6 defensive genius has probably played more center than Kerr would have liked over the years, but he’s also a main piece of the modern NBA’s revolution. The deciding factor going into Green’s 14th season is the same that it’s always been for someone so decorated. 

What’s best for the team? What is going to help the Warriors win? And what will put them on the path to contending for another championship? 

“I’ve teetered with it my whole career. Sometimes at the five, sometimes at the four,” Green said. “I think you all know me. Whatever helps this team, whatever puts us in the best position to win, that’s what I’m going to do. I train to prepare myself for whatever’s to come. Playing the five isn’t always about the size, it’s about the size of the heart and I think my heart is as big – if not bigger – than anyone’s in the league. I always trust in that. 

“I think my brain helps me get by quite a bit. I can outthink some guys. I just use the tools that I have. But I’m not putting no huge emphasis on whether I play the four or the five. In life we all have ideally what we would like. I have ideally what I think it would look like. But I also know that I play a team sport and in playing a team sport, what may be best for you personally or what you think is best, if that’s not best for the team then you’re being selfish. And I take pride in not being selfish. 

“So whatever that looks like, wherever I can help … if that’s like, ‘Oh man, you sliding to the five is going to help this lineup, that’s going to help this rotation,’ then great. If it’s sliding to the four, great. Ultimately, Steve proved in Year 1 that he knows how to do these things, so I’m not going to be the idiot to sit here and question him. I’ll move on in my life and get ready for whatever’s ahead.” 

Lakers head coach JJ Redick is expected to use Gabe Vincent, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton as his starting five against the Warriors. LeBron James remains out because of sciatica.

Who Kerr slots in next to Curry, Podziemski, Butler and Green is to be determined, and always, Draymond is ready for however the cards are shuffled. 

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Why ‘doubt' about Kings excites Russell Westbrook for new endeavor with team

Why ‘doubt' about Kings excites Russell Westbrook for new endeavor with team originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

An epic facial expression, a bit of trolling with a reporter in a back-and-forth exchange and laughter filled the Kings’ practice facility on Sunday morning.

Russell Westbrook has arrived.

“It feels great, truly,” Westbrook said when asked how it feels to be a member of the Kings. “I’m blessed to be able to have an opportunity to play and enjoy a place that wanted me to come here. So I’m grateful for that.”

Westbrook signed a one-year contract with Sacramento after a lengthy unrestricted free agency kept him teamless for roughly four months.

But alas, he found his new home.

“I don’t know how it all came together so quickly, but obviously I have a lot of friends and guys I’ve played with on this team before,” Westbrook said. “Not just that, but also an organization that [my agent] had been in contact with, trying to figure out ways to make it happen. With salary cap and all these different rules that I’ve come to learn, things you can and can’t do, and things just kind of meshed together that way. And I’m here now.”

Westbrook, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, widely is regarded as one of the most fiery players and personalities in the league.

You love him … or you don’t. Regardless, Westbrook won’t ever change who he is.

Now entering Year 18, symbolized by the No. 18 he’ll wear with the Kings, Westbrook is used to the criticism.

“To be honest, it’s really been like this my whole career,” he said. “It’s nothing new, unfortunately. I’m grateful and blessed for the doubt, the ‘if I can and will play.’ I know what I’m capable of when given the opportunity. So when the season starts, I’m going to do what I’ve always done and compete. There’s going to be people who love it. There’s going to be people who hate it. That’s life for me. I didn’t make it 18 years on accident.

“I’m grateful. The chip has always been on my shoulder, and it won’t go nowhere until I’m done playing.”

But Westbrook isn’t just motivated by the chip on his shoulder, as the external doubt and criticism of the Kings’ roster as a whole also lights a fire under him.

“The doubt that everybody has against us,” Westbrook said when asked what intrigues him about the team.

The triple-double king spent the last season with the Denver Nuggets, where in 75 games (36 starts), he averaged 13.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, with 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes.

He remains in great shape among point guards across the league, while doing the things coach Doug Christie is looking for, such as rebounding, play-making, providing high energy and getting after it defensively.

His high momentum and contagious energy are fitting for the arena he’ll now call home.

Westbrook can’t wait to finally be on the home side of the “loud” Golden 1 Center crowd after fans have “talked a lot of mess to me when I was here” as an opponent over the course of his career.

“Very excited. I think fans are one of the reasons why I love to play the game,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons why I continue to go out and give everything I have. Being on the road side, I know how great this fanbase can be. I’m grateful and excited to be able to get out there and have them on my side and feed off their energy.

“And yes, ultimately light the beam.”

Westbrook is a nine-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA member, former league MVP, two-time scoring champion and likely a future Hall of Famer.

Nearly two decades into this, accolades have become less and less important to him as much as being healthy and able to even step foot onto the hardwood. While he acknowledged winning a championship would be a great addition to his already illustrious NBA resume, he’s more focused on having a lasting impact on the things he does and the people he comes across.

That includes on and off the basketball court.

“I think since I’ve been in this league, leadership is not just something that you guys see on the floor,” he said. “My job, and I think one of my traits as a leader, is to be able to learn about guys’ journeys off the floor, how they got to this point, what inspires them, what pushes them. Being able to do that allows me to be a better teammate [and] a better brother to my teammates.

“To me, that’s what I look forward to most. Being able to impact and inspire someone daily is always my goal to run into somebody and maybe I can inspire them to do something they didn’t think they could do.”

It appears Christie and Westbrook already are on the same page when it comes to what the Kings are expecting out of the star point guard in his first season with the team.

“I want Russ to be Russ,” Christie said last week.

It sounds cliche. It sounds like propaganda. Even a great public relations answer. But Russell Westbrook might literally be incapable of being anyone other than himself.

And he hopes Kings fans can enjoy that player, and more importantly, the person in Sacramento.

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Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets reportedly agree to two-year, $90 million extension

How badly did Kevin Durant want to be back in Texas — the state where he played in college — and to be on a team with a legit title chance in the next couple of years? Here's the answer:

Durant took about $30 million less than his max in agreeing to a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, a deal first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. Durant is in the final year of his current contract at $54.7 million and now is locked in with the Rockets for two years beyond that — and is taking a nearly $10 million a year drop from that salary to be part of a contender in Houston.

Durant chose Houston as one of the destinations he wanted to be traded to out of Phoenix last summer and he is a hand-in-glove fit for the team's needs — shooting and half-court offensive creation.

Last season, in a rough season for the Suns, Durant, 37, still averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game while shooting 43% from 3-point range. He is still one of the best pure bucket getters in the game and exactly what the Rockets need to improve a stagnant half-court offense.

Analyzing the Atlantic Division heading into the 2025-26 NBA season

As the Knicks and Nets enter their 2025-26 seasons on entirely opposite trajectories, the conference around them has taken a major step back. Multiple stars hurt or departed, few clear contenders in sight, and Brooklyn doesn’t even have much tanking competition. 

Let’s dive into the Atlantic Division as a whole to see how they measure up to each other and a weakened Eastern Conference. 

New York Knicks

Projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson

Offseason additions: Mike Brown taking over as head coach for Tom Thibodeau, Jordan Clarkson, Geurschon Yabusele, 

Offseason departures:  Precious Achiuwa 

The Knicks face a depleted East after winning 51 games and finishing second last season, sporting a relatively unchanged on-court roster outside of some badly needed added depth. The big question for the regular season is how quickly and effectively the Knicks adopt their new system under their new head coach.

Philadelphia 76ers

Projected starters: Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Joel Embiid

Offseason additions: VJ Edgecombe, Trendon Watford

Offseason departures: Yabusele

Philly is this season’s ultimate anomaly, with possibilities ranging from the high lottery to the Finals. Step one, as always for this team, is health, as their big three of Maxey, George and Embiid only shared the court for 15 games and under 300 minutes last year. 

Just playing together and building chemistry would elevate them on talent alone above much of the East, but if they want to make real noise in the playoffs they’ll need a lot more to go right. Most expect bad luck or bad construction (no bigs, small wings) to derail this team long before that, but in a frail East, you can’t ignore this squad’s upside.

 

May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) walks off the court after losing to the New York Knicks in game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) walks off the court after losing to the New York Knicks in game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics

Projected starters: Anfernee Simons, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta

Offseason additions: Simons

Offseason departures: Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Luke Kornet 

What a difference a year makes. One season removed from a championship, the Celtics sold their team, lost to the Knicks, lost their star player for the year and blew the team up in a soft reset. 

It’s a skeleton crew compared to what they had, but don’t doubt the mettle and makeup of this team. Brown is still a high-level All-Star in his own right, Simons is a scoring marvel who finally gets a chance in a winning culture, and White and Payton Pritchard are still very much here.

They likely can’t compete too deep in the playoffs, but they’ll be a constant annoyance during the regular season and a “crap, really?” matchup in the Play-In and/or first round. However, one big question coming in is how quickly Brown can recover from a preseason hamstring injury.

Toronto Raptors

Projected starters: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl

Offseason additions: Collin-Murray Boyles

The team of everybody’s favorite ex-Knicks, New York’s partner in lawfare and colleague in the Andrea Bargnani trade, your Toronto Raptors. They may snatch Philly’s “anomaly” belt quickly, boasting a talented but odd-fitting group of hungry young players vying for the playoffs.

Their big splash came last season when they traded for an injured Ingram; now we get to see him in action alongside this core of prospects, for which this is a pivotal year. The oddsmakers and experts don’t expect much more than a hearty Play-In threat, with a much more variable floor.

Brooklyn Nets

Projected starters: Egor Demin, Cam Thomas, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton

Offseason additions: Haywood Highsmith, Kobe Bufkin, five first-round draft picks

Offseason departures: Cam Johnson

Has Sean Marks “Jordi-proofed” (as per The Ringer’s Zach Lowe) this team adequately enough? The ultimate goal clearly isn’t winning, and running an entire point guard rotation out of rookies is one way to keep from that, but put good coaching and good talent together, and you run some risk.

There’s much more at play here, of course. Thomas is in a contract year for an organization that doesn’t want him. Many of these veterans could be shipped via trade, and everybody wants to see one of these prospects blow up.

Any way you run it, don’t expect Brooklyn to threaten the division or conference.

 

Warriors' Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield amusingly debate who would win 1-on-1

Warriors' Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield amusingly debate who would win 1-on-1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors teammates Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield are back at it with their adored love-hate relationship.

Butler first was asked what the score would be if he and Hield played each other in a 1-on-1 game.

“1-on-1? Ah, man. Too many [points] to zero,” Butler confidently stated. “Buddy has no chance.”

Hield later was captured talking about the matchup, admitting he can’t guard the six-time NBA All-Star in a 1-on-1 battle but has a better shot during a live 5-on-5 rep.

“On a 1-on-1 setting? Yes, he could go by me,” Hield said. “5-on-5? He’s going to jump in the air [and pass it]. I’m a better 5-on-5 defender than 1-on-1 against him because he’s just trying to bully. There’s all this space.”

Butler, of course, disagreed with what Hield was saying, stating he only shoots jump shots when they play 1-on-1 together — something the two argued about in a back-and-forth exchange.

“Let’s watch the film,” Butler said. “Buddy has never beat me 1-on-1.”

“I haven’t,” Hield responded. “I will admit I haven’t.”

At least Hield is honest.

The humble response perhaps gave Butler a change of heart, as he thought maybe that day would be the day his sharpshooting teammate finally would beat him.

“Today, Buddy can beat me,” Butler said.

In just a matter of days, the frenemies will shift from going against each other to fighting alongside one another as the Warriors chase a deep playoff run during the 2025-26 NBA season, and ultimately, a championship.

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Warriors star Steph Curry shares candid assessment of NBA's new heave rule

Warriors star Steph Curry shares candid assessment of NBA's new heave rule originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry finally might get what he has wanted during the 2025-26 NBA season.

The league’s new “Heave Rule” takes effect this season, which states that any shot taken at least 36 feet away within the final three seconds of the first three quarters will count as a team shot attempt — not an individual one.

The goal is to encourage players to take more long-distance, end-of-quarter shots without negatively impacting their personal shooting percentages. Curry, who has taken plenty of those types of shots over his career, has been on board.

“I used to be like the grumpy old guy sitting on the porch yelling at people who didn’t take that shot because they were afraid of what it does to their shooting percentage,” Curry said (h/t The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami).

Curry has no shortage of unimaginable half-court buzzer-beater shots, and now with the new rule, he might have some competition.

The rule states the play must have started in the backcourt for it to apply.

While Curry is a fan of the half-court heaves, he acknowledged that the technicalities of the new rule are a bit too complex for his liking.

“That’s too much to think about,” he said. “Just play basketball.”

In 1,026 career games through 16 seasons with Golden State, Curry has averaged 24.7 points on 47.1-percent shooting from the field and 42.3 percent from 3-point range.

It’s safe to say his shooting percentages haven’t been damaged by his many, many long treys.

“I could care less,” Curry said. “I get, what? 10 extra field goals maybe throughout a whole season.”

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Kevin Durant agrees to 2-year extension, days before Rockets debut: Report

Kevin Durant agrees to 2-year extension, days before Rockets debut: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kevin Durant is fully committed to the Houston Rockets.

Just two days before the team’s regular-season opener on NBC, the 15-time All-Star reportedly agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Sunday morning.

Durant will have a player option for 2027-28, giving him the choice of reaching free agency in either 2027 or 2028. The deal comes in around $30 million under the maximum extension that he could have signed, saving the team $15 million per season.

The 37-year-old Durant, now with three years and $144.7 million total on his contract, now holds the record over LeBron James for the highest career earnings in NBA history ($598.2 million).

Extending Durant gives the Rockets some security after trading for the former Phoenix Suns forward over this past summer. He was set to hit free agency next summer, with no long-term assurance that he had to stay in Houston.

Durant’s scoring ability and veteran presence should elevate the young Rockets roster, which went 52-30 last season under head coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets then lost a grueling seven-game series to the Golden State Warriors in the first round after a four-year playoff drought.

Durant is a future Hall of Famer looking to add to his legacy, which already includes two championships, two Finals MVP awards, four scoring championships, an MVP, 11 All-NBA teams and more than 30,000 points scored (currently eighth all-time).

The Rockets’ 2025-26 season begins Tuesday, Oct. 21, against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on NBC and Peacock.

Kevin Durant agrees to 2-year extension, days before Rockets debut: Report

Kevin Durant agrees to 2-year extension, days before Rockets debut: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kevin Durant is fully committed to the Houston Rockets.

Just two days before the team’s regular-season opener on NBC, the 15-time All-Star reportedly agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Sunday morning.

Durant will have a player option for 2027-28, giving him the choice of reaching free agency in either 2027 or 2028. The deal comes in around $30 million under the maximum extension that he could have signed, saving the team $15 million per season.

The 37-year-old Durant, now with three years and $144.7 million total on his contract, now holds the record over LeBron James for the highest career earnings in NBA history ($598.2 million).

Extending Durant gives the Rockets some security after trading for the former Phoenix Suns forward over this past summer. He was set to hit free agency next summer, with no long-term assurance that he had to stay in Houston.

Durant’s scoring ability and veteran presence should elevate the young Rockets roster, which went 52-30 last season under head coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets then lost a grueling seven-game series to the Golden State Warriors in the first round after a four-year playoff drought.

Durant is a future Hall of Famer looking to add to his legacy, which already includes two championships, two Finals MVP awards, four scoring championships, an MVP, 11 All-NBA teams and more than 30,000 points scored (currently eighth all-time).

The Rockets’ 2025-26 season begins Tuesday, Oct. 21, against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on NBC and Peacock.

Fantasy basketball Week 1 schedule primer: How much will Joel Embiid play?

At last, the 2025-26 regular season is here. The Thunder will receive their championship rings on Tuesday and then look to remain on top in what's expected to be a loaded Western Conference. Which teams are best equipped to challenge Oklahoma City? Will Cleveland and New York live up to lofty expectations in the East? Are Detroit and Orlando ready to make the next step and establish themselves as true factors? In addition to those questions, there's a lot for fantasy managers to sift through in the days before Tuesday's opener. Here's a look at the Week 1 slate and some key storylines.

Week 1 Games Played

3 Games: ATL, BOS, BRK, CHA, CLE, DAL, DET, GSW, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHX, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR, WAS

2 Games: CHI, DEN, HOU, NOR, PHI, UTA

Week 1 Back-to-backs

Tuesday-Wednesday: None

Wednesday-Thursday: None

Thursday-Friday: GSW

Friday-Saturday: ATL, MEM, ORL, PHX

Saturday-Sunday: CHA, IND

Sunday-Monday (Week 2): BOS, BRK, CLE, DAL, DET, LAL, MIN, POR, SAS, TOR

Week 1 Storylines of Note

- Tuesday and Thursday are the light schedule days for the opening week.

As has become tradition, the NBA regular season opens with a Tuesday night doubleheader. Houston will visit Oklahoma City (6:30 PM Eastern, NBC and Peacock) in the opener as the Thunder, who could be without Jalen Williams, receive their championship rings, with the nightcap being Golden State's trip south to face the Lakers (10 PM Eastern, NBC and Peacock). The most notable injury for the four teams playing on Tuesday is LeBron James' absence due to sciatica. Gabe Vincent was part of the Lakers' starting lineup for Friday's preseason finale and will remain in that role for the foreseeable future. He's primarily an option for managers needing three-pointers. While those who have Luka Donĉić or Austin Reaves rostered should expect their usage numbers to increase.

Thursday's doubleheader opens with a rematch of the NBA Finals, as the Thunder visit the Pacers, followed by the Warriors hosting the Nuggets. Indiana's perimeter situation will grab the attention of many fantasy managers. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) is out for the year, and backup T.J. McConnell (hamstring) is unlikely to return to action until November. Andrew Nembhard rose up draft boards due to the injuries, as did Bennedict Mathurin, since he will fill the void left in the starting lineup by Haliburton's injury. Fantasy managers may also bet on Pascal Siakam being asked to do even more offensively.

The Pacers must also account for Myles Turner's exit, with Isaiah Jackson set to move into the starting center role. He's coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon, so offseason Jay Huff and power forward Obi Toppin will also be key in the Pacers' frontcourt. As for the other teams in action on Thursday, Denver added Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanĉiūnas and Bruce Brown during the offseason, with Johnson expected to be the most impactful of the four in fantasy basketball.

- Houston, New Orleans and Utah have the worst Week 1 schedules.

In addition to only playing two games, these teams will be done with their Week 1 slates on Friday. For those playing the new Yahoo! fantasy game High Score, these are the teams to avoid when scouring the waiver wire for potential difference-makers to end the week. This won't be an issue for key contributors like Houston's Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün or New Orleans' Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy. But, role players who have the potential to add value off the bench are better off being left on the waiver wire until Sunday evening in preparation for Week 2. All three teams will be active on that Monday as part of an 11-game slate.

- Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are the busiest days of Week 1.

Wednesday and Friday's schedules consist of 12 games, with nine games being played on Sunday to complete Week 1. Among the teams active on all three days are the Celtics, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Pistons, Clippers and Knicks, to name a few. Boston's roster looks far different than the one that began last season, with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out and multiple frontcourt contributors in new places. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White should lead the way, with Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard also representing solid fantasy value on the perimeter.

As for the frontcourt, is this the year Chris Boucher emerges as a consistent fantasy option? He'll have every opportunity to step up, as will Luka Garza, Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman Sr. What happens during Week 1 will dictate which Celtics frontcourt player(s) are viewed as reliable fantasy options; Queta (24 percent) and Garza (12 percent) have the highest rostered percentages of those four, and Josh Minott could also emerge.

- Who will be the Grizzlies' starting point guard?

The good news for Memphis is that Jaren Jackson Jr. (foot) made his preseason debut on Friday and looked good. However, the Grizzlies have been hit hard by injuries at point guard. Ja Morant (ankle) did not play during the preseason and is not a lock to be available for Wednesday's season opener against the Pelicans. Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) is out indefinitely as he needs to undergo surgery, and Ty Jerome (calf) was injured during the first quarter of Friday's win over the Heat.

The best-case scenario would be that Morant is cleared to play on Wednesday and Jerome's calf does not keep him on the sideline. The worst-case scenario would be that Morant and Jerome cannot play against New Orleans, likely resulting in rookie Javon Small being tabbed to fill the void. Small, who's rostered in less than one percent of Yahoo! leagues, did play well during the preseason. Depending on what the Grizzlies reveal on Monday and Tuesday regarding Morant and Jerome, there could be a mad dash to computers to add Small ahead of Wednesday's opener. Also, Memphis' three-game Week 1 includes a Friday/Saturday back-to-back; it isn't difficult to envision an injury management day for Morant (if available) due to the time missed and his overall injury history.

- The schedule breaks well for fantasy managers who have Joel Embiid rostered.

Yes, the 76ers only play two games during Week 1. However, that may be good for Embiid, who's returning from knee surgery and played 19 minutes in his first (and only) preseason action on Friday against the Timberwolves. He recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two three-pointers, a reminder that Embiid doesn't need too much time to go off. However, the 76ers will exercise caution in increasing the 2023 MVP's workload.

Hopefully, Embiid can play both Week 1 games, as the 76ers begin Week 2 with a Monday/Tuesday back-to-back. Adem Bona, who's rostered in eight percent of Yahoo! leagues and started alongside Embiid on Friday, would have the most to gain fantasy-wise if the 76ers were to limit their star center's workload or decide to rest him outright at some point.

- Ten teams, including the Celtics, Lakers and Spurs, end Week 1 with a Sunday/Monday back-to-back.

There should not be many concerns regarding player availability for back-to-backs at this point in the season. However, that isn't guaranteed. Boston's back-to-back appears to be the most intensive from a travel standpoint, as they'll play road games against the Pistons (Sunday) and Pelicans (Monday). The aforementioned Tillman may be the one to watch availability-wise, as he only appeared in 33 games last season due to injuries. His moments of fantasy relevance have been rare, and he's rostered in less than one percent of Yahoo! leagues.

- Will Phoenix have Mark Williams for Week 1, and how much will he play?

Williams, who did not play at all during the preseason as the Suns cautiously ramped up his workload, did participate in a controlled scrimmage on Saturday. His status for Week 1 will be determined after the Suns ramp things up in practices on Monday and Tuesday, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. Phoenix's three-game Week 1 slate concludes with a Friday/Saturday road back-to-back against the Clippers and Nuggets, two teams that pose significant challenges at the center position.

Oso Ighodaro (one percent rostered) was the starting center during the preseason, with Nick Richards (three percent) and Khaman Maluach (seven percent) coming off the bench. Even if Williams can play in Wednesday's opener against the Kings, this will likely be a two-game week for him at best.

- The Kings will be down two starters for Week 1.

Keegan Murray (thumb) won't be back until mid-November at the earliest, while Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) will miss at least the first two games. Add Malik Monk missing the end of the preseason due to illness, and head coach Doug Christie won't be working with a full deck when the regular season begins. Drew Eubanks (one percent rostered) started the preseason finale for Sabonis, but Murray's replacement is not as straightforward. Dario Ŝarić (less than one percent) started on Wednesday but came off the bench two nights later, with Isaac Jones (less than one percent) starting on Friday.

Keon Ellis (13 percent) may be the best option with Murray sidelined, especially when factoring in Monk's recent absence. For managers willing to roll the dice, especially in deep leagues, why not kick the tires on rookie Nique Clifford (two percent)? He doesn't offer the size Murray provides, but the first-round pick is a versatile player who can be used at all three perimeter positions. It may not click for Clifford immediately, but he's a rookie who may prove more valuable to fantasy managers as the season progresses.

Kevin Durant agrees to 2-year extension, days before Rockets debut: Report

Kevin Durant agrees to 2-year extension, days before Rockets debut: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kevin Durant is fully committed to the Houston Rockets.

Just two days before the team’s regular-season opener on NBC, the 15-time All-Star reportedly agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Sunday morning.

Durant will have a player option for 2027-28, giving him the choice of reaching free agency in either 2027 or 2028. The deal comes in around $30 million under the maximum extension that he could have signed, saving the team $15 million per season.

The 37-year-old Durant, now with three years and $144.7 million total on his contract, now holds the record over LeBron James for the highest career earnings in NBA history ($598.2 million).

Extending Durant gives the Rockets some security after trading for the former Phoenix Suns forward over this past summer. He was set to hit free agency next summer, with no long-term assurance that he had to stay in Houston.

Durant’s scoring ability and veteran presence should elevate the young Rockets roster, which went 52-30 last season under head coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets then lost a grueling seven-game series to the Golden State Warriors in the first round after a four-year playoff drought.

Durant is a future Hall of Famer looking to add to his legacy, which already includes two championships, two Finals MVP awards, four scoring championships, an MVP, 11 All-NBA teams and more than 30,000 points scored (currently eighth all-time).

The Rockets’ 2025-26 season begins Tuesday, Oct. 21, against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on NBC and Peacock.

Grizzlies' Scotty Pippen Jr. out at least three months following left big toe surgery

It's early in the season, but injuries are hitting the Grizzlies hard. Ja Morant is in question for the opener recovering from an ankle sprain, while centers Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke are both out as well due to injuries.

Now add Scotty Pippen Jr. to the mix, with the team announcing he will miss at least three months following surgery on his left big toe.

A Sesamoidectomy is the removal of a small, round bone — maybe the size of a pea or smaller — embedded within tendons around the big toe. Those bones help absorb pressure and facilitate movement, but can lead to pain when chronically stressed.

Ty Jerome will likely see an increase in minutes with Pippen out (as long as Jerome is healthy, he left the final Grizzlies preseason game with a calf issue). With Desmond Bane now in Orlando, more was going to fall on the plate of Pippen and now someone else needs to step up in those minutes.

Memphis has been hit hard by injuries in the past few seasons, an issue that began with Morant, who has played in just 59 games over those two seasons. The Grizzlies need a mostly healthy season to get a sense of just how good this team is and what needs to come next.

Landry Shamet gets Knicks' final roster spot as team waives three players

The Knicks make it official.

At Saturday's 5 p.m. deadline, New York announced they have waived Alex Len, Garrison Mathews and Matt Ryan, leaving Landry Shamet as the player to earn the final roster spot ahead of the 2025-26 regular season.

Shamet was the clear-cut favorite to get the final roster spot, especially after the sudden retirement of veteran Malcolm Brogdon earlier this week. 

The 28-year-old guard was a solid bench option for the Knicks last season. Shamet appeared in 50 games and averaged 5.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes of play. His usage was lower in the postseason, appearing in 11 games and averaging just 2.4 minutes in 7.5 minutes per game. He was huge in the Knicks' Game 3 win over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. In that game, Shamet posted just three points and dished two assists in his 11:23 minutes of play, but was a plus-12 when he was on the court as the Knicks avoided an 0-3 hole.

As for those waived, SNY's Ian Begley reported late Friday that the team was set to waive Mathews. Mathews spent the last two seasons with the Hawks while Ryan was on the Knicks a season ago, but only appeared in 19 games and logged just 68 minutes. 

Len spent parts of last season with both the Kings and Lakers. He appeared in 46 games combined and averaged 1.6 points per game.

With the roster set, the Knicks now prepare for the season to start next Wednesday, when they host the Cavaliers for an Eastern Conference showdown.

As expected, Warriors waive Seth Curry but will re-sign him in a month or two

This had always been the plan.

From the day the Warriors signed Seth Curry to play alongside his older brother Stephen Curry for the first time professionally, it was made clear that the Warriors were eventually going to cut and waive Curry, only to re-sign him a month or two later. That cut came on Saturday.

Team finances and the tax aprons drove this. The Warriors are hard-capped at the second apron (because they used the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Al Horford). After agreeing to a new contract with Jonathan Kuminga, then soon after deals for Horford and De'Anthony Melton, the Warriors were bumping up against that cap. One of Seth Curry or Gui Santos had to be waived to get under that hard cap to start the season, and Curry was always the guy going to get the time off (this was clearly communicated with everyone, including Stephen).

The Warriors can re-sign Seth Curry on Nov. 15, when they will have the space to sign a pro-rated minimum contract for the rest of the season. However, the Warriors may wait longer than that, maybe into December, just to give themselves more cushion against the tax apron line.

Seth, 35, shot 45.6% on 3-pointers last season on his way to averaging 6.5 points a game in Charlotte. His shooting and style of play mesh well with the Warriors once they re-sign him, in a month or two.

Doctor details Moses Moody's calf injury rehab, return timeline for Warriors

Doctor details Moses Moody's calf injury rehab, return timeline for Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With Warriors guard Moses Moody doubtful for Golden State’s 2025-26 NBA season opener due to a calf strain, when could the fifth-year pro make his debut?

Stanford Medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Abrams, MD, provided some expert analysis on what Dub Nation can expect from Moody’s injury — which Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the team isn’t “too concerned” about — as he works his way back to the court.

“If the team is describing it as a minor muscle strain, it’s probably … some microscopic tearing and minor partial tearing,” Abrams told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday. “The good news about that, obviously, it’s on the lesser severe end of the spectrum, and typical return-to-play timelines are a couple weeks or so for these more minor muscle grade strains.”

Kerr said this past Tuesday, Oct. 14, that Moody would be reevaluated in a week, with the Warriors set to open their new season against the Los Angeles Lakers this Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. A return timeline of a couple weeks, as noted by Abrams, hopefully would put Moody back in Kerr’s rotation by Golden State’s Oct. 28 game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center, their fifth contest of the season.

There are several hurdles Moody will have to clear before that happens, Abrams explained.

“Obviously, the Warriors are a great professional organization and they’ve got top notch medical personnel, so they’re going to run him through the professional protocol and things like that,” Abrams said. “In terms of returning to play, he basically has to be able to participate in full practices 100 percent, and before he even gets to that, he has to demonstrate he’s got strength, range of motion, flexibility of the muscle and be able to do the things that are required for an NBA athlete, of course, before they even throw him into full practices.

“And then, once he’s comfortable with full practices and jumping and running up and down the court, that’s when you start to think about getting back into games. Sometimes … there’s situations where they may limit minutes initially before throwing him back into full pre-injury participation. But that just depends on a variety of different circumstances.”

After entering the Warriors’ starting lineup late last season en route to the NBA playoffs, Moody missed Golden State’s final three preseason contests this month with his calf issue.

As long as the Warriors don’t rush Moody back, Abrams noted, there’s little chance that the calf strain impacts Moody’s play moving forward, and the chance of an Achilles tear, as has been seen in countless NBA stars recently, is minimal.

“Certainly re-injury is also sometimes a possibility, but that’s why you go through the protocol is really to reduce that risk and not put him out there before he’s ready, which I’m sure the staff will do,” Abrams said.

Moody has proven himself as a valuable member of the Warriors’ lineup, and Kerr certainly hopes to have the 23-year-old back sooner rather than later.

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