Category: NBA

NBA News

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Sixers' VJ Edgecombe showing off hops against Knicks in Abu Dhabi

We saw it at Baylor. We saw the stats out of the NBA Draft Combine. We saw it at Summer League.

Now, the fans in Abu Dhabi are seeing it as the NBA has taken the preseason to the United Arab Emirates, with the Knicks and 76ers facing off. That means No. 3 overall pick from last June, VJ Edgecombe, is there and putting on a show. Like this dunk.

Or this block.

Edgecombe is showing more to his game in the preseason than just pure athleticism, he has knocked down 3s and is showing off some passing skills as well.

It's going to be an interesting season in Philly and part of that is watching what Edgecombe can do.

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Jimmy Butler questionable for Warriors-Lakers preseason opener with ankle injury

Jimmy Butler questionable for Warriors-Lakers preseason opener with ankle injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Jimmy Butler is going through his first training camp with the Warriors after being acquired from the Miami Heat at last February’s trade deadline, but his preseason debut with the team might have to wait. 

Butler rolled his ankle Thursday and did not practice Friday or Saturday. Coach Steve Kerr is calling Butler’s status a “question mark” for Sunday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. 

“That’ll be a training staff decision,” Kerr said. 

The Warriors and director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini will be extremely cautious with the health of players throughout preseason, especially veterans like Butler, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford. Curry, Green and Horford are expected to play Sunday.

Center Trayce Jackson-Davis also is considered questionable for the Warriors. Jackson-Davis when speaking Saturday at the podium had his right thumb taped up. 

He says it isn’t anything to worry about. 

“Thumb’s good,” Jackson-Davis said. “Just a little precaution.” 

Guard De’Anthony Melton continues to rehab from left ACL surgery he underwent in December. Melton will miss all of the 2025-26 NBA preseason, as well as the start of the regular season. He has been able to go through individual work as the rest of Warriors practice and scrimmage in training camp. 

The Warriors on Wednesday announced Melton will be re-evaluated in four weeks. 

Rookie Alex Toohey also will not be healthy enough to play Sunday, delaying his NBA preseason debut. Toohey has been dealing with an ankle injury that has hampered him in training camp and prior to that as well. 

With their first of two second-round draft picks, the Warriors selected Toohey No. 52 overall in June. Toohey, a 6-foot-8 forward from Australia, played six summer league games and averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. 

The Lakers on Friday played their first preseason game, losing 103-81 against the Phoenix Suns. LeBron James and Luka Dončić both didn’t play in the loss.

Kerr plans to use a deep rotation Sunday without any one player tiring himself out.

“I don’t think anybody will play much more than 15, 18 minutes,” Kerr said. “Maybe a couple young guys get into the 20s. First game, I love to give everybody time. I want to give every player who’s on the active list some minutes.”

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3 observations after Sixers finish Abu Dhabi Games with another defeat to Knicks

3 observations after Sixers finish Abu Dhabi Games with another defeat to Knicks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers are halfway done their preseason schedule and ready to head home.

The team wrapped up its Abu Dhabi action against the Knicks on Saturday with a second straight loss, falling to a 112-104 defeat. 

Tyrese Maxey scored 16 first-half points and sat out the second.

The Sixers’ third of four preseason games is scheduled for next Friday, Oct. 10 vs. the Magic. Here are observations on their loss Saturday:

Edgecombe jumps out 

The Sixers rolled out the same starting lineup as in their preseason opener: Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona. They remained without Joel Embiid (left knee), Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring). 

Edgecombe was the star of the first few minutes Saturday, scoring or assisting on all of the Sixers’ first 10 points.

On the game’s first possession, Edgecombe got fouled on a three-point attempt by Jalen Brunson and made all of his free throws. He recorded the Sixers’ next two points in eye-popping style with a swift drive from the wing followed by a rim-shaking slam. The rookie showed zero concern about OG Anunoby’s presence in the paint. 

Edgecombe assisted a Barlow corner three and an Oubre long two in the early going. He had a confident, attacking approach without being reckless in his decision-making. 

The Baylor product also knocked down a catch-and-shoot triple later in the first quarter. He hasn’t been hesitant to put up jumpers, but that was a relatively weak area of his game in Abu Dhabi. Edgecombe air balled a couple of three-point tries Saturday.

Offense needs to sharpen ahead of opener 

For the Sixers’ regulars, shooting was not a bright spot in either of their first two contests.

For the most part, the Sixers’ offensive issues can be chalked up to collective preseason rustiness as jump shooters (and the absences of Embiid, George, McCain and Watford). Installing new aspects of their offense is another notable factor, although the Sixers seemed to keep things simple in Abu Dhabi, leaning on basic drive-and-kick principles in the half court. 

The Sixers’ Maxey-led offense did begin to look crisper, faster and better overall around the midpoint of the second quarter. They’ll expect continued improvement over the weeks leading into the regular-season opener on Oct. 22 against the Celtics. 

A chance for Chandler to show his game

The Sixers’ second unit had a decent day.

Jabari Walker started the second half in Barlow’s place and Kennedy Chandler took over for Maxey at point guard.

Chandler faces clear challenges at under 6 feet tall, but he’s a speedy, aggressive player and had plenty of nice moments Saturday. He created a defensive highlight in the first quarter when he swiped a scrappy backcourt steal against Miles McBride. Chandler found a scoring groove in the second half, too.

Two-way contract player Hunter Sallis and veteran guards Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry did not play Saturday. Chandler, Walker, Andre Drummond, Justin Edwards, Johni Broome, Malcolm Hill and Saint Thomas appeared off of the Sixers’ bench.

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3 observations after Sixers finish Abu Dhabi games with another defeat to Knicks

3 observations after Sixers finish Abu Dhabi games with another defeat to Knicks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers are halfway done their preseason schedule and ready to head home.

The team wrapped up its Abu Dhabi action against the Knicks on Saturday with a second straight loss, falling to a 112-104 defeat. 

Tyrese Maxey scored 16 first-half points and sat out the second.

The Sixers’ third of four preseason games is scheduled for next Friday, Oct. 10 vs. the Magic. Here are observations on their loss Saturday:

Edgecombe jumps out 

The Sixers rolled out the same starting lineup as in their preseason opener: Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona. They remained without Joel Embiid (left knee), Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring). 

Edgecombe was the star of the first few minutes Saturday, scoring or assisting on all of the Sixers’ first 10 points.

On the game’s first possession, Edgecombe got fouled on a three-point attempt by Jalen Brunson and made all of his free throws. He recorded the Sixers’ next two points in eye-popping style with a swift drive from the wing followed by a rim-shaking slam. The rookie showed zero concern about OG Anunoby’s presence in the paint. 

Edgecombe assisted a Barlow corner three and an Oubre long two in the early going. He had a confident, attacking approach without being reckless in his decision-making. 

The Baylor product also knocked down a catch-and-shoot triple later in the first quarter. He hasn’t been hesitant to put up jumpers, but that was a relatively weak area of his game in Abu Dhabi. Edgecombe air balled a couple of three-point tries Saturday.

Offense needs to sharpen ahead of opener 

For the Sixers’ regulars, shooting was not a bright spot in either of their first two contests.

For the most part, the Sixers’ offensive issues can be chalked up to collective preseason rustiness as jump shooters (and the absences of Embiid, George, McCain and Watford). Installing new aspects of their offense is another notable factor, although the Sixers seemed to keep things simple in Abu Dhabi, leaning on basic drive-and-kick principles in the half court. 

The Sixers’ Maxey-led offense did begin to look crisper, faster and better overall around the midpoint of the second quarter. They’ll expect continued improvement over the weeks leading into the regular-season opener on Oct. 22 against the Celtics. 

A chance for Chandler to show his game

The Sixers’ second unit had a decent day.

Jabari Walker started the second half in Barlow’s place and Kennedy Chandler took over for Maxey at point guard.

Chandler faces clear challenges at under 6 feet tall, but he’s a speedy, aggressive player and had plenty of nice moments Saturday. He created a defensive highlight in the first quarter when he swiped a scrappy backcourt steal against Miles McBride. Chandler found a scoring groove in the second half, too.

Two-way contract player Hunter Sallis and veteran guards Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry did not play Saturday. Chandler, Walker, Andre Drummond, Justin Edwards, Johni Broome, Malcolm Hill and Saint Thomas appeared off of the Sixers’ bench.

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How report out of players-only meeting changed vibes of last season's 76ers

By all accounts, the vibes are good heading into this season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Sure, there are questions — Joel Embiid and Paul George remain out with uncertain timelines after offseason surgeries, and Jered McCain is out for a few more weeks with a torn thumb ligament — but the feeling around a team without high external expectations is good.

That's very different than last season.

In a story discussing how the vibes went south so fast in Philly last season, Yaron Weitzman of The Ringer says that there were frustrations with Joel Embiid and his vague injury timetables — players and coaches were unsure whether the star would play night-to-night, and he only played 19 games — but things got much worse after details of a player's only meeting in November went public.

"The organization was built around one guy who doesn't trust anyone and mostly keeps to himself," one former Sixers staffer said. When Embiid appeared in just 19 games last season, that isolation created organizational chaos ...

Tension escalated after a November players-only meeting was leaked to ESPN's Shams Charania, with grievances directed at Embiid becoming public. The breach damaged locker room trust and appeared to affect Embiid most significantly.

"People left that night feeling like they had turned a corner. Everyone promised to keep the details in-house. And then they wake up and all the details are out," a person close to a player said.

"It all created an environment of dysfunction," said an associate of a Sixers player.

Maybe a player talked to Charania. Maybe a player detailed the meeting to his agent, who spoke to Charania. However it happened, nobody seems to be disputing the details of the report, but rather that it got out. It led to even more distrust with Embiid and his camp.

Philadelphia is looking to put that behind them, get the vibes right and their stars on the court with a young and promising backcourt — Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, McCain and Quentin Grimes — and make a playoff push in a down Eastern Conference. It's training camp, but so far the vibes are still good.

We'll see how those vibes hold up when the inevitable struggles that come to every team hit the Sixers this season. Hopefully it goes better than last season.

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Knicks Notes: Miles McBride's future as bench option, Mitchell Robinson's potential as starter

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley dissects the latest Knicks news ahead of their 2025-26 season opener and answers a reader's question on the team...

 

Deuces Wild

Miles McBride looks like he’s ready for the regular season. He scored a team-high 12 points on seven shots in 21 minutes during the Knicks' preseason win over the Sixers in Abu Dhabi. He was active on both ends of the floor, finishing with three steals and five rebounds (two offensive).

McBride hit two of his four three-point attempts and looked comfortable and confident with the ball in his hands. Obviously, you shouldn’t make too much of what you see in preseason. But his play is worth watching because of the roster decisions ahead for the Knicks.
If the Knicks want to keep both Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon on the roster, they would have to trade a player. The trade is necessary because they need to create enough room under the second apron to keep both players.

Trades involving McBride, Pacome Dadiet or Tyler Kolek are the most direct paths to shedding that salary (though if the Knicks traded Kolek, kept both veterans and made no other trades, they would not be able to sign another veteran during the season).

I’d still expect the Knicks to let things play out during camp/preseason before they make a move to keep both Brogdon and Shamet. But if I’m placing a bet at the start of the preseason, I’m still betting that both Brodgon and Shamet – if healthy- are on the regular season roster. This Knicks team has a great opportunity to be playing into June. That’s why I think they’ll ultimately go with veteran depth, in Brogdon and Shamet.

So, who would they trade to make room for the vets? Moving McBride would get the job done, but I’d be surprised if New York chose to move him amid the roster crunch. The Knicks really value McBride and key stakeholders believe that they need the fifth-year guard on the roster in order to reach their goals.

Opposing teams are actually hoping that the Knicks make McBride available. The 25-year-old is in the second year of a three-year, $13 million extension. He’s valued highly by multiple teams around the league. His production, age and contract situation are all attractive. The Knicks also value him highly and have not been entertaining offers to trade at this point, per people familiar with the matter.

Starting Mitch

Knicks head coach Mike Brown started Robinson at center in the preseason opener and he looked good. He disrupted things on defense and finished with five offensive rebounds in 18 minutes. He had 16 rebounds overall (though it should be noted that the Sixers shot below 34 percent from the field in the first half).

Still, it had to be encouraging for the Knicks to see Robinson on the floor and productive in the preseason. He missed most of the regular season last year while recovering from offseason surgery. When healthy, Robinson has a clear impact on the game. If the Knicks start Robinson alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the regular season, it will be a significant change from last season.

Last year, the Knicks stuck with a starting five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Towns for most of the season. They inserted Robinson into the starting lineup midway through their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Pacers.

Robinson is also in the final year of his current contract. If healthy, he will get significant offers in free agency next summer. The Knicks can sign him to an extension during the season. The last time he was extension eligible, Robinson entered free agency and was ultimately re-signed by the Knicks.

I don’t think the lack of an extension indicates that the Knicks don’t value Robinson. The club sent at least one member of their coaching staff to work with Robinson on-site in the offseason.

Do u have concerns Brown may be trying to a put a square peg in a round hole. They may not be athletic enough to succeed w/that tempo. Don Nelson tried something similar in 97 & it ended quickly & badly. Remember? Got to have the right personnel for that style? - @JeffGlotzer

This is an interesting point and it’s something that an opposing front office brought up recently. They wondered if the Knicks had the personnel to play fast. Obviously, Brown wants to push the pace. It will be interesting to see if this team is actually equipped to play fast or if Brown needs to adjust his expectations on pace of play.

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Why Steve Kerr's excited about Al Horford-Jonathan Kuminga Warriors combination

Why Steve Kerr's excited about Al Horford-Jonathan Kuminga Warriors combination originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The addition of center Al Horford figures to pay dividends for the Warriors in several ways during the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.

As coach Steve Kerr sees it, one of those ways could be helping a 22-year-old budding star break out.

“Maybe Al and JK [Jonathan Kuminga],” Kerr answered Friday when reporters asked which Horford combination excites him most. “You know, I think that’s a two-man combo that could make some sense.”

Kerr and the Warriors have long searched for a way to get more consistent production from Kuminga, who has flashed immense potential but also experienced bouts of ineffectiveness throughout his career.

Per Kerr, Horford could be the key to finally stabilizing Kuminga and turning his lineups into winning combos.

“With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball,” Kerr said. “Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”

Horford enters his 19th NBA season as the Warriors’ biggest offseason addition. A veteran center who can space the floor and play quality defense, the 39-year-old could give Golden State a dimension they’ve lacked in recent years under Kerr.

“The defensive wherewithal that Al has, just the accumulation of so much knowledge and experience in his career, is definitely going to help him and help us,” Kerr said. “Another big, athletic rim protector can only help.”

Plus, Kerr added, Kuminga won’t be the only direct beneficiary of Horford’s presence.

“Al, with anybody, is going to be good,” the Warriors’ head coach said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Draymond [Green], Jimmy [Butler]…he could even play with Trayce [Jackson-Davis] or QP [Quinten Post]. So, the beauty of Al is the versatility he gives us from a lineup standpoint.”

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Luka Doncic will not play this weekend in Lakers' preseason games

El Segunda, CA, Monday, September 29, 2025 - Luka Doncic poses for photos at Lakers media day at UCLA Health Training Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Luka Doncic, shown during a photo shoot at media day, will not play in preseason games against the Suns and Warriors this weekend. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Lakers star Luka Doncic will not play in the team’s two preseason games this weekend, the team announced after its shoot-around Friday.

Doncic will sit out against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert and against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.

The Lakers said it was a collaborative decision made with L.A.’s performance team because of his time playing for the Slovenian national team in the EuroBasket tournament this summer.

The Lakers said the plan is to be smart with Doncic in the long term as he ramps up for the regular season that opens Oct. 21 against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.

LeBron James, Marcus Smart (achilles tendinopathy), Maxi Kleber (quad) and rookie Aduo Thiero (knee) also won’t play against the Suns.

Doncic played in his last game with Slovenia about a month ago, a game in which he scored 39 points but his squad was eliminated by Germany in the EuroBasket quarterfinals.

Read more:Jake LaRavia, at only 23, fits right into Lakers' future plans

After practice Thursday, Doncic talked about easing his way into training camp while getting ready for the regular season after playing at peak level for Slovenia.

“Yeah, obviously probably take it a little bit slower than the usual,” Doncic said. “ I had a busy summer. I think month, month-and-a-half I was with national team. So, it was kind of a lot. But that got me ready for the preseason and obviously regular season. So, for me, I think it really helps.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Jonathan Kuminga details growing on-court chemistry with Jimmy Butler

Jonathan Kuminga details growing on-court chemistry with Jimmy Butler originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Now that he’s officially back in the fold, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is ready to build off his promising end to the 2024-25 NBA season.

Specifically, the 22-year-old hopes to refine the chemistry he cultivated with veteran star Jimmy Butler. Speaking to reporters during his media session on Thursday, Kuminga acknowledged the crucial experience he gained playing with Butler in Golden State’s Western Conference semifinal loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.

“I think it’s very important that we’re here now, early, trying to figure each other out,” Kuminga said. “And I feel like we actually did [figure each other out] going through that series.”

When Stephen Curry suffered an injury in Game 1 that ultimately ended his season, the Warriors called on Kuminga to help plug the gaping hole left in their offense. The Timberwolves prevailed in five games, but Kuminga led Golden State in series scoring and shot over 54 percent from the field, while Butler led the team in assists.

That duo figures to play a huge role in the Warriors’ upcoming 2025-26 season, and Kuminga wants to do his part in helping his connection with Butler flourish even more.

“It’s very easy and simple to play with Jimmy,” Kuminga said. “And we actually get to sit down more now. I get to go ask him certain questions. How does he like to play? What does he like? I feel like us having a lot of time together, me being healthy, him being healthy, him being here from day one training camp-wise…it’s going to help us figuring out certain things about each other going forward.”

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How Dennis Schröder could strengthen Keegan Murray's defensive development

How Dennis Schröder could strengthen Keegan Murray's defensive development  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings are counting on Dennis Schröder’s on-ball defense to lighten Keegan Murray’s workload. With the veteran guard joining the starting unit, Murray said he expects to spend less time guarding opposing point guards — a shift that could free him up for other matchups.

“I think with Dennis, obviously it helps,” Murray said. “I won’t guard as many point guards as I did. Obviously, they’ll be versatile in where I guard, obviously, the best player on the court. But, obviously, Dennis is able to do that too. So, it’ll be interesting to see once we get into the season.”

Schröder, entering his 12th NBA season, has built a reputation as a relentless defender. The 32-year-old German guard averages 0.8 steals and 2.9 rebounds per game across his career.

That skill set could be crucial for a Sacramento team that finished last season with a 115.68 defensive rating, a number that often undercut the Kings’ high-powered offense.

With Schröder applying pressure on the perimeter, the Kings hope Murray can focus on defending bigger wings and conserving energy for his expanding offensive role.

“Obviously, with Dennis, it helps me a lot in the starting unit to pick up four court, disrupt the ball handling and things like that,” Murray added. “We’ve seen improvement. At this point, it’s just going out against someone else and going out against the opponent, not obviously making that happen in the game. So, you can’t really just do it in practice and not do it in the game.”

Murray averaged 12.4 points and 6/7 rebounds last season while shooting .343 percent from three.

The Kings will find out soon enough if Schröder’s defensive edge can help Murray — and the team — strike a better balance.

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NBA season 2025-26 preview: What now for Pacers, Celtics?

It was hard to watch. First Boston's Jayson Tatum, then, on the NBA's biggest stage, Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana.

The last two Eastern Conference champions head into this season without their All-NBA stars and anchors of their team's offense. Tatum tore his Achilles in the second round against the Knicks, and Haliburton famously tore his Achilles early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Both are expected to miss this season (although Tatum is leaving the door open to a late-season return).

In the wake of those absences, the preseason focus has been about the East being "wide open," with discussions about who can step into the void. But what about Indiana and Boston this season? Can this be more than a gap year for them? Let's break it down.

Boston Celtics

Changes were coming to the Celtics' roster before Tatum took a wrong step against the Knicks. The dreaded second apron and repeater tax were already coming for them, but the injury opened the door for management to be aggressive in trimming salary: Jrue Holiday is in Portland, Kristaps Porzingis is in Atlanta, Al Horford is in Golden State, and Luke Kornet is in San Antonio. The result is the Celtics' payroll is below $200 million (but still about $4 million over the first luxury tax apron).

Boston still has plenty of talent: Finals MVP and All-Star Jaylen Brown will become the head of the snake on offense, and they still have Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. White, in particular, is going to have a much larger role and be asked to do more than at any point since he was Mr. Everything for the Colorado Buffaloes. He is going to get a lot of the pick-and-roll opportunities that Tatum has usually absorbed.

The hard questions are in the frontcourt, where the starters are likely to be Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta (who had a great EuroBasket), with Chris Boucher behind them.

Joe Mazzulla is going to have these Celtics playing faster and still launching a historic amount of 3-pointers, and that is going to get them wins. This is not a bad team — Vegas projects a team around .500 — but not a contender. Certainly a step back from where Boston was, as should be expected.

The spin out of Boston will be that this is a year for players to grow and evolve in new roles, and then, when Tatum returns — whether late this season or next — they will be better for the experience. That's a nice talking point, but the guys getting experience are role players, not stars. New owner Bill Chisholm said he would do what it takes, spend what it takes for this team to win. That test starts next summer when Boston needs to restock the roster to contend.

For now, Boston looks like a play-in team in the East.

Indiana Pacers

Not only is Haliburton out for the season, but ownership decided to try to get Myles Turner to take a discount on his next deal, and now he is in Milwaukee. That's two of the top three players — including the critical engine that made the Pacers' up-tempo style work in Haliburton — out for the season.

Anyone who watched the Pacers in their limited time without Haliburton last season grasps what's coming: Good players, well coached, but not great defensively and without the offensive spark needed to win consistently in the NBA.

Pascal Siakam becomes the focal point of the offense, and he should put up numbers. He is surrounded by guys who were good role players a season ago but will be asked to do a lot more now: Andrew Nembhard at the point, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff and more.

Some guys will step up, and if you told me Nembhard wins Most Improved Player, I wouldn't be shocked (he looked good as the backup point guard last season). However, it's a lot to ask across the board. This looks more like a team struggling to make the back end of the play-in — even in this East — more than a nightly threat.

A year from now, when Haliburton returns, the show returns and things get interesting. For now, it's a season about growth for role players.

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Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: LeBron James, Paolo Banchero among players to avoid in drafts

Part of the process of crafting a fantasy basketball team, whether it's in a snake draft or a salary draft, is finding positive value. Can you unearth a potential "diamond in the rough," or pay a lower cost for an elite talent than expected? Doing so can make all the difference between winning a league and finishing out of the money.

However, in addition to seeking those players, fantasy managers need to identify players who should probably be left alone based on their average draft positions. Below is a list of ten players who should not be drafted at their current ADPs, beginning with a player who's led the NBA in rebounding three straight years.

ADP data credit: Hashtag Basketball

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1. C Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Yahoo! ADP (as of October 2): 10.9

Sabonis' production isn't up for debate. However, his ADP as of October 2 was a bit too high. Last season, he appeared in 70 games, averaging 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 three-pointers. While Sabonis' rebounding and scoring output held steady compared to his 2023-24 production, the assists decreased by more than two per game. The Kings added DeMar DeRozan last offseason, but that wasn't the most problematic roster change.

Sacramento traded point guard De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio just before the February deadline, adding Zach LaVine as part of the multi-team deal. From February 6 onward, Sabonis averaged 16.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 three-pointers per game. It's possible that the Kings addressing the point guard position by adding Dennis Schröder helps, but he's another playmaker who needs to have the ball in his hands. That may negatively impact Sabonis' assist value and scoring opportunities.

2. PF/C Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Yahoo! ADP: 16.9

Many expect Banchero to be a breakout player this season after recording career-highs in points, rebounds and three-pointers in 46 games played in 2024-25. However, expecting second-round value from the Magic forward may be a bit ambitious, given Banchero's fantasy history. He's yet to produce a top-100 season in either per-game value or totals, and the same can be said of his per-36 fantasy numbers according to Basketball Monster. Can Banchero produce a top-100 season? Given his talent and the changes made to the Magic roster, absolutely. However, expecting a top-20 season, which is what his current ADP implies, is a bit much.

3. SF/PF LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Yahoo! ADP: 18.3

There's no denying James' greatness, and for him to be as effective as he was last season was nothing short of remarkable. That said, he'll turn 41 in December, which may result in more injury management measures being taken despite the Western Conference being loaded. James has played at least 70 games each of the last two seasons, the first time he's done this since his final three seasons in Cleveland. In 2018-19, James was limited to 55 games played. LeBron did finish last season as a top-20 player, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP of 24.5. Expecting similar production, especially with the Lakers entering their "Luka Dončić era," may prove to be unrealistic.

4. PG/SG De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

Yahoo! ADP: 26.8

Fox's first full season in San Antonio has already gotten off to an inauspicious start, as he'll likely miss the beginning of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Also of concern is the potential production, especially with a healthy Victor Wembanyama set to command touches after missing the post-All-Star break portion of last season due to injury. In 17 games for the Spurs last season, Fox averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers. While the rebounds took a slight hit and the assists increased compared to his pre-trade numbers in Sacramento, Fox's scoring decreased by more than five points per game. To approach top-25 value as some expect him to, Fox will need to boost those numbers as part of a lineup that will be more talented (and healthier) than it was last season.

5. SG/SF Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Yahoo! ADP: 30.5

Brown's preseason fantasy value has been boosted by Jayson Tatum being sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon and the Celtics losing multiple rotation players by trade or free agency. The roster changes set Brown up to be a more productive player, but this also means opposing defenses will pay even more attention to him defensively. Brown, who underwent knee surgery during the offseason, has just two top-50 fantasy seasons to his credit. And the early ADP does not take into account the possibility of the occasional rest day, especially if the Celtics aren't a factor in the East.

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6. C Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers

Yahoo! ADP: 36.2

Zubac enjoyed the best season of his NBA career in 2024-25, posting career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals. However, expecting the 7-footer to approach top-30 value for a second straight season is a bit much, especially with the additions the Clippers made during the offseason. The two most impactful moves concerning Zubac were the signings of John Collins, who will likely start at the four, and Brook Lopez to fill the backup center role. Zubac played 32.8 minutes per game, the first time his average as surpassed 30 minutes. It would be unsurprising if his playing time dipped under 30 in 2025-26, thus lowering Zubac's fantasy ceiling.

7. SG/SF Josh Hart, New York Knicks

Yahoo! ADP: 49.8

Hart was likely a league-winning player for many managers who selected him in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season, as he was nearly a top-25 player in per-game value and nearly top-10 in totals. However, that was under Tom Thibodeau, who was more than willing to have his best players log heavy minutes. Hart moving to the bench during the Eastern Conference Finals may have been a harbinger of what's to come, especially with Mitchell Robinson being healthy. Add in a new head coach in Mike Brown, and Hart's fantasy ceiling may be lower than many managers believe it to be. Also, he underwent surgery on his right index finger in July and aggravated the injury during an offseason workout. Hopefully, that won't be a serious issue during the regular season, but the finger injury is something else for fantasy managers to consider when evaluating Hart.

8. SG/SF RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

Yahoo! ADP: 77.4

Based on his early ADP numbers, there's no shortage of managers who believe Barrett may have a top-75 season in him. Based on Toronto's roster and Barrett's fantasy history, those expectations are unrealistic. Barrett has yet to finish a season ranked inside the top-150 in per-game value, and he has one such season in roto (2020-21). As for the roster, the Raptors also have Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes healthy, not to mention Brandon Ingram, who's fully recovered from the ankle injury that limited him to 18 games last season (all with the Pelicans). Given the number of players who will command touches within the Raptors system, Barrett's ADP is too high at this point in the preseason.

9. C Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat

Yahoo! ADP: 83.7

Ware had a productive rookie campaign, finishing sixth in Rookie of the Year voting and averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game. After moving into the starting lineup in January, he averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks in 27.8 minutes while shooting 54.4 percent from the field. However, Ware will have to earn the right to remain in the starting lineup, and Miami's lack of proven bigs behind Bam Adebayo could result in the Heat staggering Ware and Adebayo's minutes more than they did down the stretch last season. Is a top-100 season possible? Absolutely. But betting on Ware to finish safely within that threshold is a serious roll of the dice.

10. PG/SG Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

Yahoo! ADP: 113.0

George recorded improved averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers last season, which was his second in the NBA. However, he was moved to the bench in favor of then-rookie Isaiah Collier, who offered more as a distributor and defender, in late January. Collier may not have done enough to claim the starting point guard job as his own, as evidenced by Utah's decision to use one of its first-round picks on former Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. Unless he's somehow out of the rotation completely, which should not happen, Expecting George to approach top-100 value with Utah's current logjam at the point guard position is overly optimistic.

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Why Warriors' defensive ceiling will be determined by point-of-attack success

Why Warriors' defensive ceiling will be determined by point-of-attack success originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Somewhere beneath the frequent chatter related to the Warriors’ relatively elderly core, there is a quieter concern about their roster.

They’re still small by NBA standards. They don’t have a classic rim protector in the mold of ex-Warrior Andrew Bogut or, in today’s game, Victor Wembanyama or Walker Kessler. All three stand at least 7 feet.

Golden State must find a way to offset that deficiency, and the logical start is by strengthening its point-of-attack defense. If your defense lacks a natural deterrent, closing the freeway to the rim becomes imperative.

That message is being delivered to all the guards and wings on the roster, particularly those not named Stephen Curry. It’s on the minds of Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga and rookie Will Richard. Same applies to De’Anthony Melton, who won’t be active until November at the soonest. There is depth within the team’s backcourt defenders.

Moody, who at times last season filled that role, seems energized by the prospect of expanding his opportunities.

“It really let me know how fun it is,” he said Friday, referring to last season’s trial. “I really enjoyed picking up high, bothering the ball, reaching when I can. There’s just a feeling to it. As a kid I used to love to wrestle . . .  it just kind of feels like that when I’m chasing guys around, grabbing trying to get the ball. It just kind of takes me back there, and I like it. It’s fun.”

At 6-foot-5, with a 7-foot wingspan, Moody is well built to match up with the likes of such dangerous ballhandling scorers as Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and James Harden of the LA Clippers.

Payton, 32, concedes that his athleticism has diminished a bit over the years, but realizes on-ball defense is the greatest asset he can brings to the Warriors.

“I probably wouldn’t be here without it,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday. “It wasn’t so I’m pretty sure I got to keep that ‘on lock’ and just cause havoc. I know I’m not same athletic guy I used to be a few years ago. But when it gets down to the crunch time, gets down to April and beyond, I can still do it. They can look to me to guard that guy.”

There were numerous games last season when the Warriors built substantial leads, only to get cooked down the stretch, with opposing guards doing most of the torching. There also were games when the Warriors simply couldn’t compete with teams that bullied them at the rim.

In the Warriors’ final game of the season, Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals at Minnesota, they gave up a whopping 72 point the paint. Golden State was minus-22 in the paint.

It’s conceivable that whoever starts the season sharing the backcourt with Stephen Curry will be the primary point-of-attack defender. With Melton out of action, coach Steve Kerr could follow a game-by-game matchup plan until someone seizes the role. Could be Moody or Payton. Podziemski, who makes up for what he lacks in athleticism with persistence, is another potential option.

He was prone to fouls last season – too much reaching – and his plaintive complaints to officials often led to lapses in focus. This was pointed out by Kerr as an issue the third-year guard must control to continue his development.

“The big thing to show another leap would be emotional maturity,” Podziemski said this week. “Talking to the refs is included in that. But, just keeping a composure about myself so that my teammates see that.”

The Warriors will have defenders on the back line. Al Horford, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler III in the starting lineup, with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quentin Post coming off the bench. Post is 7-feet but lacks the instincts and athleticism to be a consistently effective rim protector.

Golden State’s defense will rise and fall with the ability of its point-of-attack defenders to limit penetration. Kerr has several candidates, mostly young and spirited, and he might have to use them all.

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Jonathan Kuminga says all the right things in first day at Warriors' camp, 'I'm happy, glad to be back'

In the end, Kuminga and his agent settled. They had very publicly stated for months that they would consider the qualifying offer if the Warriors didn't increase their two-year offer, or make it a player option for the second year. Then, with the Oct. 1 deadline looming, Kuminga and his agent took what the Warriors had on the table: Two years, $46.8 million with a team option in the second year. A contract that makes Kuminga a trade target (who has no control over where he lands).

In Warriors training camp on Thursday, Kuminga played it right down the middle and said all the right things about wanting to win and be with the Warriors long term. Here are some quotes, courtesy of NBC Sports Bay Area, starting with the question of whether Golden State is where he wanted to be (after spending part of the summer searching for a sign-and-trade).

"I'm here now. "That's everybody's goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know your future ... It's a business. At the end of the day all that matters is we got it done and I'm excited to be here ...

"Helping us win. Finding a way to help us win on both ends. Defense, offense, find a way to be a piece that's going to help us win games and hopefully a championship."

Kuminga likely will be Steve Kerr's sixth man this season, because Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler have to start and they take Kuminga's position on the court (plus that's too many non-shooters to play together in the modern NBA). That said, if the Warriors are going to shop Kuminga and look to trade him at next February's deadline — and they are — then Steve Kerr has to showcase Kuminga at points in the first part of the season. The challenge is that Kuminga is a ball-in-his-hands, head-down, drive-to-the-paint style player in a Warriors system that emphasizes ball movement, quick decisions, and moving off the ball. Kuminga is not a natural fit for how Kerr wants to play, which has led to the much-discussed tension between the two.

It may not have been what he wanted, but Kuminga taking the two-year, $46.8 million offer was the right move. Kuminga and his agent did what they were supposed to do — everything they could to get a better offer, publicly and privately — but in the end, accepting an offer paying him $22.5 million this year rather than the $8 million qualifying offer is just smart for a player who has never made more than $7.6 million in a season. This year's salary alone nearly doubles Kuminga's career earnings, it would have been a mistake to leave that money on the table.

If Kuminga wants to land in a better spot where he will be a more featured player, he's going to have to show out to start this season. At least to start, he is saying all the right things.

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Steve Kerr reveals Steph Curry's minutes plan for Warriors' preseason opener

Steve Kerr reveals Steph Curry's minutes plan for Warriors' preseason opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dub Nation, the greatest shooter in NBA history will take the floor in the Warriors’ 2025-2026 NBA preseason opener. 

Speaking to reporters on Friday, coach Steve Kerr revealed star guard Steph Curry’s minutes strategy during Golden State’s opener on Oct. 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. 

To no surprise, Kerr and Co. will restrict Curry’s minutes, but the Chef will play, nonetheless.

“I talked to Steph today and Rick (Cellebrini). [Steph] is going to play 15 minutes probably,” Kerr told reporters on Friday. 

Last season, Curry, with a massive scoring responsibility on his shoulders, recorded his 14th season with more than 32 minutes of average playing time.

Kerr also added that stars Jimmy Butler, who co-carried a substantial scoring load since being traded to the Warriors in February, and Draymond Green will also have their minutes limited. 

“And the same plan will be there for Draymond and Jimmy, pending how they are feeling on Sunday,” Kerr added.

“We are going to scrimmage tomorrow as well. We will have to talk to the guys before the game Sunday, but 15 minutes sounds about right for that group, if they are playing.” 

With a key issue for the Warriors being surviving non-Curry minutes, it appears the best strategy is managing the Chef’s workload from the get-go.

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