Category: NBA

This week’s Mavericks-centric poll was about the NBA Summer League, which kicked off last night with a Dallas loss to the Golden State Warriors. We asked what player Dallas fans would be following the most closely.

Nearly six in ten fans will be keeping the closest eye on point guard Sergio De Larrea. This surprised me a little but given how Dallas needs guards who can actualy play at an NBA level. If you read my review, you see he played okay at best, but I feel confident in his game. If you’re a true sicko like me and you’re watching all this Summer League mess, there are things you can bet on with our partner at FanDuel.

The national poll also had some fun questions and responses.

Jaylen Brown is an obvious answer since the Sixers, at least on paper, look really interesting. Giannis being second makes sense but I think the Miami Heat are going to be bleak.

The next question was about the NBA Finals.

The top two teams being the Western Conference Finals teams makes some sense, but I think the Spurs are not the gamble to repeat the path that this poll would suggest. Injury luck plays a big part in all this and they had it good this last time around.

The last two questions were LeBron James centric.

I wonder how people would define an “early playoff exit”? I suppose it depends which team he’s on.

Folks are over the LeBron James experience. It’s been going on for a very, very long time.

You hear weird rumors when you work in basketball. That seems to be especially true if you cover the Cleveland Cavaliers and the subject of those rumors is LeBron James.

Back in March, I had a friend tell me that LeBron was coming back because he heard from someone, who knows a dentist, and that dentist said the James family booked appointments for later that winter. That friend swears on the story, but there’s obviously no way to actually back that up.

I’ve also heard from someone that is supposedly four people removed from LeBron that he is returning to Cleveland, but is waiting until the end of the month for the right moon phase to announce it.

These rumors certainly aren’t ones to put any stock in. Yet, it’s the type of thing you hear repeated around Northeast Ohio. LeBron has just been in the community for too long to avoid things like this. Everyone seems to know someone who knows someone else who claims to know what’s actually happening. None of it is worth reporting or believing from serious basketball insiders. But maybe there is a kernel of truth in some of them.

Let’s get into some of what people on the streets are saying in this massive game of telephone.

First, we have the baker from Cleveland’s Little Italy who told everyone back in May that LeBron was coming back because Charles Oakley told him that’s what Maverick Carter told him.

WE HAVE FAN SOURCES SAYING LEBRON IS 95% COMING BACK!!!!

LET IT BEGIN! pic.twitter.com/Cib5ITAkX0

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 26, 2026

Then, we have the personal trainer turned artist Joshua Teplitz, who called LeBron’s return in 2014, saying he’s going to do so again.

Supposedly, LeBron IS coming back for a third and final stint with the Cavaliers. Here we go

— JOSHUA TEPLITZ (@josh_tep) June 25, 2026

The next one isn’t from Northeast Ohio. A New York Jets podcaster, Tony Vegas, said that his brother-in-law golfed with Bronny and told him LeBron was coming back to Cleveland. Vegas has since taken the tweets down due to being “yelled at.”

I got yelled at for tweeting that

— Tony Vegas (@tonypayments) July 9, 2026

Returning to Northeast Ohio, someone told Emmett Golden of ESPN Cleveland that James was coming back. This person also told Golden of LeBron’s broken hand in the 2018 Finals, so maybe they actually are connected.

🚨🚨🚨The streets are talking and they're telling @egoldie80 that LeBron and Bronny are coming home 👀👀👀

"Someone who reached out to me in the past and was right… reached out to me yesterday, late last night… Bron and Bronny back to Cleveland" 😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/7ZF0W3Dnlc

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 9, 2026

Then there was the infamous Cupcake Lady from 2014. Now they run Poke Fresh Ohio in Canton. They said LeBron was coming back, but with Bronny and Draymond Green as well. However, they then walked it back, saying they were just joking.

Say what now? pic.twitter.com/tTWYQNlXt6

— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) July 10, 2026

These aren’t the only ones that are floating around out there. I’ve heard stuff about local golf club pros confirming the return, rumblings from the local youth sports scene, and rumors from other local media members.

The main thread in these rumors is that they’re unreliable and probably shouldn’t be believed. Yet, here they are circulating and being published once again on the internet.

The lack of concrete noise, due to the tight operation LeBron and Rich Paul are running in free agency, has left a vacuum. Almost by design, fans are left to track Instagram photos, planes, and who’s playing golf with who. If the reporters aren’t able to get any actual updates, people are left to try to find out for themselves or create their own narratives.

We’ll find out soon enough what James is planning. All we can say now is either LeBron’s potential second return to Cleveland is the worst-kept secret in the world, or everyone is lying.

Forget about last year’s playoff exit. Forget about the New York Knicks winning the Finals. Forget about all the Jaylen Brown trade drama.

Boston Celtics basketball is almost back, baby!

The 2026 NBA Summer League is set to kickoff on Thursday, July 9, in Las Vegas, and the Celtics’ last two draft classes are expected to play under assistant coach Amile Jefferson. That includes 2025 draftees Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams, as well as rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.

While Summer League is never the most meaningful stage for young prospects, it gives rooks a chance to show their stuff for the first time on the professional level, recent draftees an opportunity to show growth, and fringe NBA players a shot at proving their worth to the league.

Sometimes Summer League performances clearly exemplify a young player’s potential on the NBA level. Think Damian Lillard in 2012. Over four games, Lillard displayed immediate signs of superstardom, as he posted 26.5 points per game on solid shooting efficiency while creating for himself and his team at a dominant level. He won the Las Vegas Summer League’s co-MVP award for his play.

Most of the time, the opposite is true. Going back to 2012, does anyone remember who the other co-MVP was? It was the Memphis Grizzlies’ second-round draft pick from the year before, Josh Selby. He put up 24.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game that summer. Selby ended up playing 38 total games in the NBA and averaged 2.2 points per game.

So, regardless of how the young Celtics play this summer, don’t put too much stock into anything, good or bad.

Nevertheless, what can we reasonably hope to see out of the young guns this summer?

Hugo Gonzalez: all-around excellence

Now you might be saying, Ryan, how can you ask what can we “reasonably” hope for, then say “all-around excellence” for Hugo Gonzalez?

Well, if you know, you know.

Despite averaging less than 15 minutes and 4 points per game over his rookie season, Gonzalez displayed starter-level potential for the Celtics last year and should be the best player on this year’s Summer League squad.

The 20-year-old, 6’6″ wing has an endless motor, the athleticism to match it, excellent defensive versatility, a solid understanding of the game, and a decent shot to top it all off.

While Gonzalez didn’t get a chance to shine in the playoffs, he should get plenty of opportunities in the Summer League. Last year, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists over four games, but shot about 30% from both the field and three-point range.

This year, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him average 15+ points per game as he assumes a larger role as a second-year player, all while maintaining his overwhelming, energetic presence on the defensive end. Gonzalez will likely be asked to serve as more of an offensive creator than ever, given his “veteran” role on the squad, so it will be interesting to see if that aspect of his game developed over his rookie season. Young players often struggle with maintaining efficiency in an expanded offensive role, but I think Gonzalez’s shooting numbers will land closer to last season’s (47.6% from the field and 36.2% from three) than last Summer League’s.

All in all, Gonzalez should be Boston’s best player on the court this summer, serve as a major contributor on offense and defense, and have a chance to show off more of the tantalizing potential he displayed as a rookie.

Amari Williams: recreate his G-League success

Williams, a 6’11” big drafted in the second round last year, didn’t get nearly as much run as Gonzalez in his rookie season. He played in only 22 games at the NBA level (compared to 74 for Gonzalez) and averaged 6.6 minutes per game when he did.

Nevertheless, Williams displayed promising upside during his time in Maine. Over 18 games played in the G-League, he averaged 17.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. With impressive size and length (including a freaky 7’6″ wingspan), as well as strong court vision and passing from the post, Williams could be the next solid big man to come out of Maine.

This summer, I want to see Williams bring some of that G-League production to Las Vegas. Last year, he averaged only 6.3 points, 5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, and was overshadowed by Charles Bassey. While he is likely to start alongside rookie big man Chris Cenac Jr., Williams will be in a prime position to play major minutes in Boston’s frontcourt and serve as an offensive lynchpin in the post due to his playmaking talent.

Williams will have a chance to show that he deserves a bigger role in the Celtics’ frontcourt in 2026-27 but, realistically, he may still be a year or two away from earning one — especially if the Celtics do acquire an additional big in the offseason. However, if he finishes Summer League averaging a double-double in points and rebounds while dishing out 3-4 assists per game, his growth as a player may be difficult for Coach Joe Mazzulla to ignore.

Chris Cenac Jr.: display elite athletic tools, offensive versatility

The Celtics’ latest first-round draft pick is a 19-year-old, 6’10” big man out of the University of Houston, where he averaged 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 1.3 stocks over 24.8 minutes per game.

Like Williams, Cenac is an athletic big who sports an impressive wingspan (7’5″) but, unlike the 24-year-old Williams, he slots in as more of a power forward than a center. That’s due to his ability to shoot from the perimeter (even though he only shot 33% on 3 attempts per game in college), blow by slower big men with a quick first step, and pull up for jumpers in the mid-range. At the same time, he’s a lob and putback threat who demands attention beneath the basket.

With that kind of offensive versatility, one of the most interesting things to keep track of this summer will be how Jefferson utilizes Cenac on the offensive end. Will he be seated in the dunker spot and asked to clean up offensive boards, or be stationed on the perimeter or at the elbow to stretch opposing defenses?

On defense, Cenac has the athletic tools to become a plus defender in the NBA despite an unimpressive 2.6% block percentage during his time in college. He’s got the length and bounciness to deter shots down low, as well as the lateral agility to stick with many perimeter players, resulting in exciting switchability. While he’s still got a ways to go in learning how to best utilize his athleticism defensively, the tools he displayed in college should translate well to the NBA.

Overall, Cenac is still very raw as a prospect, so I don’t expect him to excel in his first go at Summer League. But if he can show A) that he can operate outside of the dunker’s spot, and B) that his athletic tools remain high-quality even amongst NBA talent, I think that’d count as a successful showing.

Dillon Mitchell: cause CHAOS

Mitchell, the 40th overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, is an athletic wrecking ball of a 22-year-old.

The 6’7″ wing has absolutely zero shooting touch, as he shot only 6.7% on 0.4 attempts per game from three-point range and 49.4% on free throws during his time at St. Johns. Regardless, Mitchell is an explosive athlete with outstanding speed, strength, and leaping ability, which he leveraged to score 8.3 points per game on 55.9% shooting from the field, as well as tally an solid 7 rebounds per game as a wing.

The vast majority of his points at St. Johns came in the paint as a result of backdoor cuts and athletic slashes to the basket, as well as in transition. He also displayed a respectable passing game, averaging 3 assists during his final year in college, with many coming off of kickouts to perimeter players after breaking into the paint.

However, his athleticism is best displayed in his defense. Lauded by Celtics’ Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren as “one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball”, Mitchell should be able to make an immediate impact on the defensive end of the court in Summer League.

So, Mitchell’s numbers may not be pretty this summer, but if he can use his athleticism to cause chaos defensively and drive into the heart of opposing defenses to generate rim looks and kickouts on offense, he could be a positive contributor despite his lack of shooting.

The Knicks last played a game in mid-June. The Knicks are back in action later today. Well, at least part of them. In any case, you better be there. Here are today’s links and notes.

• T.J. Saint will coach the SummerKnicks in Las Vegas, starting on Friday at 6 p.m. EST, and the New York Post’s Jared Schwartz made the case that this could be a real gateway opportunity for the former Mercer University standout. Saint is entering his second season with the Knicks after joining under Mike Brown, specializes in offensive strategy, and is replacing Jordan Brink at the Summer League.
• Germany’s außergewöhnlich Jack Kayil is officially (h/t NYP’s Stefan Bondy) on the Knicks’ Summer League roster after a few days of paperwork weirdness. However, he’s still likely bound for his native country once the Sin City festivities are over. Kayil will wear No. 77 in Vegas.
• While researching Kayil’s situation, I found that Knicks legend Rokas Jokubaitis was such a Summer League addict that he wore two different numbers (No. 0 and No. 32) for the organization.
• Jeremy Sochan got a baby for winning the championship (h/t The Strickland)
• Jonas Valanciunas is officially out there after Denver waived him on Wednesday, and the Knicks are among the teams monitoring him, per SNY’s Ian Begley. Emphasis mine:

“NYK was interested in Jonas Valanciunas in ‘24 offseason. ‘We had a lot of talks with different teams. New York (was) one of them,’ (Valanciunas) said then. NYK will have solid depth at center if Valanciunas, a former client of Leon Rose, chooses Knicks in his current free agency. He is among centers on their radar.“

• If Valanciunas chooses another path, one of them goes through Lithuania.
• If the Knicks choose another player to fill one of their two open roster spots, perhaps Nick Richards is the man. A awful lot of y’all in the comments section have mentioned him, and Sports Illustrated’s Joseph Randazzo made a case for it yesterday.
• Josh Hart is all jokes and/but he is already over the Mitchell Robinson Celtics era.
• Mitch, meanwhile, responded in a way that I’m not sure if it’s a joke or not… but at least I’m glad he hasn’t lost the little Knick inside of him.

Mitchell Robinson and a Celtics fan interact on Instagram

Fan: "He better be great…"

Mitch: "That's cool still sent that ass home remember that"

😭😭

(via IG/celtics) pic.twitter.com/07Un3tmDom

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) July 9, 2026

• The Kawhi Leonard-to-Toronto trade is on hold until the NBA finishes investigating the Clippers’ alleged salary-cap circumvention tied to Aspiration. It’s gonna happen.
• Jaylen Brown is literally still “processing” being shipped to Philadelphia, telling IShowSpeed during yesterday’s World Cup watch that Boston “packed me up” and that there is “no loyalty” and “no love.”
• Charles Barkley joined Unfiltered on Wednesday and had a hilarious yet very real take on the Sixers-Celtics trade. He said Philadelphia. Part of it:

“I was like, ‘This can’t be a true story.’ There’s so much fake stuff on the internet now, I’m like, ‘Nah, they didn’t trade him to the Sixers,’” Barkley said. “Number one, you’re like ‘Wow.’ Secondly, you’re like, ‘Well, what’d they give up?’ They gave up Paul George and some draft picks. I says, ‘Man, the Sixers just got away with murder, man.’”

• Boston Sports Guy Bill Simmons wants you to believe he knows more than he actually does.
• In reality, nobody knows anything about what’s next for LeBron James. ESPN’s very own Shams Charania revealed that franchises in the race have only been allowed to send LBJ voice memos through Rich Paul.
• OAKAAK Landry Fields has joined Project B, not to be confused with Project X.
• Cam Reddish (yes, another member of the OAKAAK fraternity!) is back in Summer League with Orlando, seven years after being drafted No. 10 overall and hooping in Vegas at age 26.

AJ Dybantsa was foul baiting like CRAZY in his FIRST EVER NBA game 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/X6uETcV8Bz

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) July 10, 2026

Our in-season Grades coverage typically does not apply for Summer League games, but getting to see the Dallas Mavericks take on the Golden State Warriors in person alongside other members of the Mavs Moneyball staff makes for a special exception.

The vibe and atmosphere of Summer League games are definitely unique and special, and simply put, a lot of fun. Getting a glimpse of players that will certainly see playing time next season, as well as some potential diamond-in-the-rough members of the roster is a fun experience.

Grading someone like Ryan Nembhard with 60 games of NBA experience, against someone like Sergio De Larrea with zero games of NBA experience doesn’t quite jibe, so we’ll take a different approach this time around.

Let’s get to the grades!

Ryan Nembhard: Satisfactory

15 PTS / 3 REB / 11 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN

Nembhard did what you would expect from him after watching him play on the big stage last year. His shot was a little rusty with a 6-for-15 showing, pulled down largely by a 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. To his credit, he was the only Maverick to post a double-double and he managed to dish a team high (by far)11 assists for a team that only shot 43% overall.

Sergio De Larrea: Needs Improvement

9 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 29 MIN

This grade may seem a touch harsh for a young player who was in Spain about a week ago, who then came overseas to play with a team full of strangers. In other words, he put up a nice well-rounded stat line under what were surely stressful circumstances. The “Needs Improvement” was largely due to two factors. First, he was 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-9 from deep, with many misses looking especially bad – but so be it; first game a few days after arriving in the country. Second, his handle does not look NBA-ready. Again, this adjustment for him can’t be understated, but he definitely struggled in this department. The good news is he showed real flashes at different spots during the game.

Morez Johnson, Jr.: Exceptional

27 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 2 BLK – 26 MIN

Johnson was an absolute beast who put together an excellent game. He was arguably the best player on the floor for either team. At one point I turned to fellow Mavs Moneyball staffer, Matt Martinez, and commented that Johnson appeared to be on a slightly different level than most of the other players. You could tell he had a good court sense, positioned himself well, rotated well, and just simply appeared NBA-ready. The only knock on his game was seven fouls (in Summer League, each player is allowed more than six fouls), but even that spoke to his willingness to play defense and help on rotations. I fully expect he will clean that up. Johnson showed up in a big way and Mavs’ fans should be excited for what he can bring.

Tobi Lawal: Meets Expectations

5 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 14 MIN

The “Meets Expectations” grade here is a bit loaded, as those very expectations are subjective. He bricked two of the three three-point attempts he took, bringing his overall shooting to 2-for-6, but had a solid game in limited minutes. There is raw talent that can certainly be harnessed into a serviceable (or better?) NBA player. He showed some defensive chops and demonstrated some high-flying freakish athleticism. Whether his ceiling is a player like Moussa Cisse, Dereck Lively, or beyond, is yet to be determined, but there is definitely something there.

John Poulakidas: Satisfactory

14 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN

Poulakidas did what he does, and that is shoot. He didn’t do it especially well (5-for-15 overall; 4-for-12 from deep), but adjusting for Summer League and the squad of unfamiliars he was playing with, we can afford him the benefit of the doubt. There isn’t much to say about his game, but it was at the very least solid as he showed he remains the player he was last season.

Vsevolod Ishchenko: To Be Determined

7 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN

I simply can’t come up with a better grade for Ishchenko, as he was a bit of an enigma. Watching the game live, it felt like he had a much bigger impact than the box score would indicate. He seemed a little less bulky than he appeared to me in photos, and he was a bit timid – like De Larrea, to be expected under the circumstances of having arrived in a new country to play with strangers mere days ago. He definitely did not strike me as a player who is years away from seeing NBA minutes; it seems he will improve simply by way of adjusting to a lot of change, and that leaves me feeling hopeful.

Final Thoughts

This was day one of a squad of guys who have zero NBA minutes under their belt. With all things considered, it was a lot of fun and there were a lot of flashes of what many of these players could become. Where De Larrea may have felt a bit disappointing (again, I think we can afford him a good amount of grace), Johnson was spectacular. There is fun to be had with these guys and we’ll hopefully see more of it on Saturday night.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

LeBron James' next destination remains the biggest uncertainty ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season as he continues to explore free agency.

The 41-year-old, the best free agent still available, spent the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers but informed the team he would not be returning.

While some Lakers teammates, such as Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić, thanked James for the time they shared, other teams and players have begun making their pitch to James.

Several teams interested in signing James have been able to send a voice note to James, via his agent Rich Paul, making their pitch, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania.

The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers have all been considered suitors for the all-time leading scorer.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry was out at the American Century Championship golf event in Nevada on Thursday, July 9, when he was asked about potentially playing with James.

"The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, our competitiveness this year. There’s good golf in the Bay,” Curry said.

James has been seen on social media spending a lot of time on the golf course early this summer.

Steph Curry on the Warriors’ chances at LeBron James: “I don’t have a percentage. It’s kinda up to him.”

“The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, competitiveness...There’s good golf in the Bay.” pic.twitter.com/6R4pA28Hbj

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 9, 2026

Jaylen Brown of the 76ers also mentioned James while making an appearance on IShowSpeed's Twitch live stream while attending the World Cup game between France and Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Brown was seen telling Speed to pitch James: “You have to tell LeBron that he has to pull up.”

“LeBron, pull up to Philly,” Speed said. “Think about it. LeBron. Jaylen Brown.”

“LeBron, pull up to Philly,” Speed says next to Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/5idN0uWEEg

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 9, 2026

James is expected to continue to take his time before coming to a decision. He has spent part of his summer in Cleveland.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown share thoughts on possibility of playing with LeBron James

The Lakers will begin the second leg of their Summer League stint in Las Vegas against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. This will be the first game of a back-to-back as they take on the Dallas Mavericks the following day.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 7 p.m. PT, July 10

Where: Thomas & Mack Center

Watch: Prime Video

---

The Lakers will be challenged right away in their first game in Las Vegas against the Thunder. Assuming both teams field their complete rosters, Los Angeles will see OKC’s top pick, Aday Mara, as well as Bennett Stirtz, who was taken at No. 16 in this year’s NBA Draft.

While the Thunder remain stacked with talent, the Lakers have quality players as well. Lakers rookie Cameron Carr played very well at the California Classic. This is Carr’s time to shine, and if he plays well in Las Vegas, the entire NBA world will be discussing him this weekend.

LA will also feature other young players, such as Adou Thiero. He didn’t play in Summer League last year since he was recovering from knee surgery, but now he’s healthy and available.

He had an up-and-down California Classic, showing signs of brilliance but also some questionable performances.

Both Carr and Thiero left the California Classic with minor injuries. Thiero was dealing with a wrist injury, and Carr had problems with his toe, but Lakers coach Ty Abbott said both will be ready to go on Friday.

Cameron Carr said he is over the toe issue that limited him in the 3rd Cali Classic game. “It just looked a little weird.” Lakers coach Ty Abbott said that Carr and Adou Thiero (wrist) will play in Vegas Friday, but it hasn’t been determined how much they’ll play in LV overall. pic.twitter.com/bBM9uIjAK2

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 9, 2026

Beyond this duo, Lakers fans should be keeping an eye on how the two-way players Chris Mañon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder do.

In a competition like this, it’s not at the level of a typical NBA game. But it is a good test for young players.

Ideally, they all play well, no one gets hurt and the Lakers like what they see from their young core. The Thunder should provide a good test for them on Friday night. Here’s hoping they ace it in Las Vegas.

Notes and Updates

• There are no injuries to report at this time.
• The Lakers play back-to-back games this weekend and also have at least two other contests in Las Vegas.
• If they win their games and advance, they’ll be playing in the semifinals next weekend.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

The brief hiatus from basketball has ended, and it is time to put on your best basketball-watching attire and enjoy some Knicks Summer League play in Las Vegas.

After the wild ride that was the 2026 NBA Playoffs and the ultimate high of the Knicks bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to New York, it is important to reset the evaluators and remember what mid-July basketball means. These games are not about raw shooting percentages or final scores. Sloppy play and chaos become the norm when a roster is put together in a week. Instead, the focus should steer towards processing speed, offensive set execution, and general defensive awareness.

By leading the Knicks to a championship, Mike Brown has solidified his status as a top NBA coach. Earning a spot on Brown’s rotation involves defensive discipline, aggressive closeouts, and making intelligent extra passes.

Here is what to watch for as the Knicks take on their cross-town rivals.

With New York’s veteran core taking the summer to bask in championship glory, Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara should see massive usage. For the summer, this team is theirs. The goal here is clear. The coaching staff needs to see Dadiet’s ability to create his own separation and effectively initiate offense against set defenses. For Diawara, the focus is defense. Coaches will want to see if he can consistently disrupt passing lanes and quickly switch onto smaller guards.

Friday’s game also marks our first look at second-round selections, Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Kayil’s addition to the roster is a last-minute surprise, as many of us expected him to remain overseas. For Kayil, the intrigue lives in his physical and intellectual approach to the guard position. Keep an eye on how he uses his solid frame to handle pick-and-roll coverages. Possessing advanced playmaking instincts, the real test will be whether he can find consistency with his outside shot. The key aspects of Nickel’s game to keep an eye on are his off-ball movement, floor spacing, and defensive mechanics. His success shooting the basketball is well documented, but how is he with the other pieces that make a complete player?

Of course, one cannot ignore Tyler Kolek’s absence from the roster. This is a major statement by New York’s front office and coaching staff. Keeping Kolek away from the often-disorganized Summer League play suggests that the staff views him as a finished enough product to enjoy a little more vacation time.

The Nets are bringing a “loaded” young group to Vegas. They are set to feature the 2025 draft selections heavily: Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. The tactical challenge New York will face immediately is Egor Demin. Demonstrating a bounty of aggressiveness, Demin showcased his ability to attack the paint during the California Classic. If this continues, the Knicks’ interior defensive rotations will be tested right from the beginning. New York will face a different test on the perimeter. Brooklyn’s #6 overall pick, Mikel Brown Jr., should be the focal point of most of the Nets’ offensive sets. Brown should put the Knicks’ perimeter defenders to work early. The wings need to stay glued to him while also collapsing effectively when Demin drives into the paint. If New York can force Brooklyn’s role players to beat them, they are doing their jobs correctly.

Game Details

• Date: Friday, July 10
• Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
• Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
• How to Watch: Amazon Prime / Gotham

It’s on nights like these that I’m reminded of the ravine that divides the NBA from all other levels of basketball. This Summer League tilt was sloppy on both sides, and not many fringe players earned an NBA contract tonight, by the looks of it.

This matchup has always been about the number-one pick AJ Dybantsa and the number-two pick Darryn Peterson. Rivals since high school, these two are in an eternal struggle for the designation of being “number-one”. They wanted to be the best in their high school class. They wanted to be the first off the board in the NBA Draft. Rest assured, these two will be battling for Rookie of the Year honors by the season’s end.

Both stars were fully aware of the magnitude of this game, and both wanted to be the first to strike in the Thomas and Mack Center.

Dybantsa took his first touch all the way to the basket and forced up an off-kilter shot that missed everything.

Peterson took the ball the other way and forced up a top-of-the-key three-pointer that missed badly.

Dybantsa quickly picked up the slack, flipping an under-and-around lay-in and following that up with a good leading bounce pass through traffic to find a cutting teammate.

From there, the 1-2 combo settled in and let the game flow around them.

For the first time in a Utah Jazz uniform, Darryn Peterson walked among mortal men as a commoner. He had a very slow start in his Las Vegas debut, opening the night 0-for-3 from the floor and even whiffing on his first all-or-nothing foul shot. His steps were hurried, and he stood unstable before his first trip to the bench. Not quite so infallible outside of the mountain air in Salt Lake City.

AJ claimed the first quarter, dicing up the defense with fadeaways, dribble chains, and this vicious, inhumane slam that will dominate your social media feed for the next day or so.

AJ SO TOUGH 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/mCkX79J4b5

— ESPN (@espn) July 10, 2026

Washington set the tone for some — should we say physical — defense out on the perimeter, and the officials gave the Wizards liberty to reside in Peterson’s chest for the majority of the game. The number-two pick couldn’t get himself into a rhythm as he’d step out of bounds, dribble off his foot, and sputter under the heat of the Wizards’ aggressive double-team scheme.

They were incredibly handsy from end to end, frustrating Jazz ball handlers as the whistles piled up at the other end.

AJ Dybantsa lives at the foul stripe — that’s his superpower — and he has since his days at BYU, where he led the nation in foul shots taken per game. Perfectly within his idiom, Dybantsa was 6-of-7 from the foul stripe — keeping in mind the experimental do-or-die free throw rule. Considering how much more physical the Wizards played at the defensive end, it’s a mystery how the Wizards managed to reside in the comfort of the bonus for the entire first half.

Neither player was efficient from the floor, but Dybantsa won the first half of this marquee matchup.

Dybantsa finished the first half with 19 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

Peterson lagged behind with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and a pair of dimes.

that's 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, rook 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/tZfn1q29Y8

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 10, 2026

The lead shrank to single digits, and what appeared to be a blowout in the first half — Washington led by as much as 20 — rapidly drew tighter in the second half. It had become a two-possession game before the clock hit 0:00 in the third quarter.

Both stars lived up to the bill in this one, clearly displaying their individual talents despite their efficiency not leaping off the box score.

Peterson’s tendency to cough up possession has to get straightened out. He’ll be a target for his whole career, so learning to handle and exploit on-ball pressure will be critical to maximize his effectiveness and keep his teammates involved.

Cody Williams stole the show a bit for the Jazz, despite a rocky opening to the night. Though he struggled to stop Dybantsa on the defensive end, he notched 16 points on great efficiency (6-11, 2-3 3PT) plus 5 rebounds. He’s not a ball-handler, despite the Jazz’s wishes, but thrived on a newly added stepback mid-range jumper tonight.

Dybantsa had a strong night, finishing with 27 points on 7-for-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.

The Wizards ultimately won this game behind the strength of their NBA guys, Tre Johnson and Will Reily, who combined for 41 to pair with Dybantsa’s 27. They also strongly benefited from Jamir Watkins, Darryn Peterson’s assignment fouling a grand total of 9 times (not a typo).

Peterson likewise fouled 9 times in this one, an ugly blemish on what was an unsteady night for the rookie. He finished with 24 points on 6-18 shooting and 2-7 from three-point land (thanks to a bank-shot heave at the final horn). Dybantsa will be crowned the winner of this head-to-head with Peterson thanks to better highlights and the team win, but neither player dominated, despite what X will likely tell you.

Washington defeats Utah with a final score of 92-88.

---

Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.

AJ Dybantsa made his Wizards debut as Washington defeated the Utah Jazz 92-88 to open 2026 Las Vegas Summer League play.

The Wizards’ starting lineup — Will Riley, Tre Johnson, Dybantsa, Jamir Watkins and Felix Okpara — was comprised of all five of their selections from the previous two NBA Drafts.

Riley opened the game at point guard, while Dybantsa played on the wing and Okpara manned the paint. 

Johnson scored from all three levels for a quick nine points on 3-3 FG. He ended the half with 18 points on 7-11 FG and finished the game with 26 points.

Dybantsa’s first points came off a contested reverse layup. A minute later, he got to his spot and drilled an and-1 mid-range jumper. Then came the boom.

Washington’s No. 1 pick got into the lane and posterized a Jazz defender, flexing as the crowd inside Thomas & Mack Center rose to its feet.

NASTY 🤢 https://t.co/cMDL4Fd6tVpic.twitter.com/pYDoFcEClc

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 10, 2026

Dybantsa flashed his elite first step and relentless rim pressure while drawing contact at will. He ended the first half with 17 points on 4-12 FG.

Watkins assumed the Darryn Peterson assignment and defended him well. The second-year wing, who recently signed a two-way contract, held Peterson to just 6-for-18 FG, 2-for-7 3PT and eight turnovers. He committed 9 fouls (the Summer League foul limit is 10), but overall, his defense made Peterson work for every point.

Dybantsa shook off a quiet start to the third quarter with a pair of impressive finishes, the first a one-legged mid-range jumper as the shot clock expired. The next was an acrobatic, English-filled layup that came off a tough drive.

Another ridiculous finish from AJ through contact. He’s a relentless driver. pic.twitter.com/5YZxRaAHOP

— Wizards Film Room (@KevinFolliNBA) July 10, 2026

The BYU product missed all five of his 3-point field goals. And despite creating impressive separation on a few turnaround jumpers, he left most of those short as well.

But as far as Summer League debuts go, it appears Dybantsa’s couldn’t have gone much better. He finished with 27 points — tied for the most by a No. 1 pick in their Las Vegas Summer League debut — seven rebounds and two steals on 7-for-18 FG.

Dybantsa exited the game with one minute remaining with what he called “leg soreness,” but he said on the ESPN broadcast he is okay.

NBA Summer League’s new rule limits free-throw attempts to just one shot, no matter the type of shooting foul or bonus situation. Dybantsa shot 7-for-8 from the line, but if standard rules applied, he would’ve attempted a whopping 15 free throws.

Will Riley used a mean spin move and an and-1 finish to propel the Wizards to a narrow victory. He finished with 17 points on 5-for-12 FG.

Josh Hart is still upset over Mitchell Robinson’s departure. 

On Thursday night, the Knicks guard took to X to reply to the Celtics announcing Robinson as a key big man on their team, writing to Boston, “Yo admin delete this.”

Hart and Robinson played four years together in New York after the Knicks acquired Hart in a trade with the Trail Blazers in 2023.

Yo admin delete this. https://t.co/MtKphiexRU

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 10, 2026

Robinson and his former teammates have been interacting with each other through social media quite a lot since the center signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston. 

Robinson, who spent eight years with the Knicks, even said he didn’t want to leave New York when chatting online with NBA Finals hero OG Anunoby.

“I tried brother, I didn’t want this to happen,” Robinson replied to an Anunoby comment about his exit on Instagram.

“Hopefully the truth comes out at some point. I’m going to miss you big dawg!”

Robinson’s murky Knicks future was a big talking point immediately after the championship run, especially after owner James Dolan made it clear he had a reluctance to go into the second apron of the salary cap.

“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said in an appearance on WFAN’s “The Carton Show” last month before Robinson signed with the Celtics.

“I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.” 

The second apron is set around $222 million this season, with restrictions and other punishments imposed on teams that go over that. 

Robinson was drafted by the Knicks in 2018, averaging 7.5 points, eight rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.7 assists per game in his eight seasons. 

During the Knicks NBA Finals run, he averaged 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game. 

The Knicks have brought back Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara and Clarkson this offseason and replaced Robinson with veteran Andre Drummond. The deals cost the Knicks $17.5 million against the cap.

AJ Dybantsa made his NBA Summer League debut with the Washington Wizards on Thursday, July 9, in Las Vegas.

The Wizards selected Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick on June 23.

There was a level of interest in Dybantsa’s debut, especially playing against the Utah Jazz and the No. 2 overall pick, Darryn Peterson.

Dybantsa had a highlight dunk while going on to score 19 points and four rebounds in the first half. Peterson added 11 points and two assists in the half.

AJ DYBANTSA ROCKS THE RIM 🤯

He's got a game-high 27 and counting in his NBA Summer League debut on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/7FwWWJkP6G

— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2026

He had a brilliant game, but did sub out in the waning minutes of a close contest. ESPN's broadcast showed him grabbing at his leg and reported him saying "it hurts."

Dybantsa didn't seem concerned after the game, telling ESPN it was just "leg soreness."

"Nothing crazy. I'll be back," he said.

AJ Dybantsa on his leg: "It hurts"

AJ exited the game with 1 minute left 👀 pic.twitter.com/KVHTOhQIt7

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) July 10, 2026

Here's how Dybantsa finished out his debut against the Jazz.

AJ Dybantsa stats tonight vs. Utah Jazz

• Points: 27
• FG: 7-for-18 (0-for-5 from 3-point)
• Free Throws: 7-for-8
• Rebounds: 7
• Assists: 2
• Steals: 2
• Blocks: 1
• Turnovers: 1
• Fouls: 1
• Minutes: 26

Darryn Peterson stats tonight vs. Washington Wizards

• Points: 24
• FG: 6-for-18 (2-for-7 from 3-point)
• Free Throws: 6-for-8
• Rebounds: 3
• Assists: 3
• Steals: 0
• Blocks: 1
• Turnovers: 8
• Fouls: 9
• Minutes: 30

Wizards vs. Jazz highlights

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Dybantsa injury update, stats from Summer League showdown with Darryn Peterson, Jazz

Philadelphia is putting all hands on deck to get LeBron James to the City of Brotherly Love. 

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley made his pitch for James, who is currently a free agent, to join the 76ers next season. 

“If you want to go out with a bang, I feel like a great spot would be in Philly and bring a championship to Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters on Thursday. “You’ll be remembered forever.”

Barkley also said Philadelphia is one of the best sports towns in the world, and has praised the city’s fans since joining the Eagles in 2024. 

“They’re crazy, but in a different way,” Barkley said. “When you’re on the Giants’ side, oh these motherf—ers are insane. On this side, you see they just love it.”

Barkley has been a superstar since touching down in Philadelphia, putting up 3,145 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns in his two years with the Eagles, earning his first All-Pro honors for his 2024 season. 

The ex-Giant is one of many prominent figures across sports and entertainment trying to get James to play in their city for what could be his final season in the NBA. 

James, 41, is testing free agency after spending eight seasons with the Lakers. 

He reportedly is open to numerous teams, with the Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers being seen as the favorites, according to ESPN’s Shams Chariana.

James is entering his 24th season after being selected No. 1 by the Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. 

Well, the Bucks surprise us once again by re-signing Pete Nance to a new deal after they waived him just a week ago. Per Jake Fischer and Eric Nehm, the contract is for two years with a team option on the second year; it is also non-guaranteed, giving the team extra flexibility if they want to move off it early.

This brings the roster back to 16 players. It was down to 15 after the deal that sent Taurean Prince and Gary Harris to Detroit in exchange for Caris LeVert (and picks), but it is now a player over the limit. This either means that 1) there could be more fireworks to come in this crazy Bucks offseason, or 2) there will be some fierce training camp battles.

As for Nance, it’s good to have him back. Not only is he a good player, but he’s also a great person to have around the locker room to be a “veteran” for the younger guys (or even just guys who are up and down from the Herd to the Bucks, like he was). A solid shooter and fast decision-maker, Nance can play a role and help this team win games this season.