The 2025-26 NBA regular season doesn't get going until another few weeks, but that doesn't mean we have to wait that long to see some basketball action.
The Chicago Bulls will head to Rocket Arena to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers for a preseason game on Peacock tonight at 7 p.m. ET as both teams continue to get ready for another year with hopes of reaching the playoffs again. Read on for more information on the matchup and how to watch it live.
Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers team news, preview
The Cavaliers had a stellar 2024-25 campaign after finishing on top of the Eastern Conference during the regular season, logging 64 wins, having a top 10 defense and the best offense in the league. Led by First Team All-NBA star player Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs are looking to keep that momentum going even after losing in the playoffs to the eventual conference champs Indiana Pacers. Mitchell will be surrounded by Evan Mobley, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, and the addition of Lonzo Ball for Cleveland. It's unclear how many minutes each player will receive in the preseason, but keeping the band together gives head coach Kenny Atkinson an expensive foundation to lead an elite team in the NBA again.
As for the Bulls, the team is hoping to make several improvements this season. Chicago is coming off a 39-43 losing season and finishing in last place of the Central Division, but still secured a spot in the play-in tournament for the postseason. The re-signing of Josh Giddey to a new contract, keeping Coby White and Nikola Vucevic — disregarding any trade rumors — the Bulls should have enough talent to push for a playoff spot. White and Patrick Williams are reportedly dealing with injuries in the preseason, so it's unclear if either of the two will see the court in this Central Division tune-up game.
How to watch Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - TV/stream info
Fifty NBA games will stream exclusively on Peacock, including regular-season and postseason matchups.
How to watch the 2025-26 NBA Season on NBC/Peacock?
Fans can sign up for a paid Peacock subscription or log in to their TV provider on NBC to access 100 regular-season games that will be available to watch on Peacock and NBC, plus NBA playoff games, Conference Finals, and the NBA All-Star game. Fans can also watch Sunday Night Basketball on Peacock and NBC starting in January 2026, exclusive Monday games only on Peacock, and Tuesday night doubleheaders throughout the regular season.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
To draft Embiid, or not to draft Embiid. That's the question I found myself asking in the fifth round of this mock draft, and the question many fantasy managers will be asking themselves this season.
This 9-category mock draft took place Tuesday, featuring standard settings. Notably, that means 12 teams and a requirement to start two centers. The draft was comprised of eight fantasy basketball analysts and four enthusiasts who joined through a post on my Twitter/X (@BaruthaAlex).
This was a fun, competitive draft. It outlines how difficult it can be to build a perfect team, but also how much value can be had late to cover what you don't feel great about.
Pre-Draft Strategy
I didn't have a set gameplan going into the draft, but when I found out I had the sixth pick, I knew I'd probably be getting one of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham or Anthony Edwards. Whoever that turned out to be would determine what categories I'd be punting.
One thing I wanted to accomplish was constructing a team with some of fantasy's up-and-comers. How good can a team built primarily from young players with upside be? Will I feel like I left veteran stability on the table?
My Team
(6) Cade Cunningham (DET- PG, SG)
(19) Evan Mobley (CLE - PF, C)
(30) Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF, C)
(43) Ja Morant (MEM - PG)
(54) Coby White (CHI- PG, SG)
(67) Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG, SG)
(78) Donovan Clingan (POR - C)
(91) Nic Claxton (BKN - C)
(102) Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG, SF)
(115) Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG, SF)
(126) Keyonte George (UTA - PG, SG)
(139) Kyle Kuzma (MIL - SF, PF)
(150) T.J. McConnell (IND - PG)
How the Draft Unfolded
I ended up with Cade Cunningham with my first pick -- the most well-rounded option available. That left me open to decide on a punt build with Picks 2 and 3.
There were a lot of options open to me at Pick 2, including Amen Thompson, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey. Ultimately, I opted for Evan Mobley. I think he's an underrated breakout candidate, and it helps that he qualifies at both power forward and center.
That decision made my third-round selection easier. I was trending toward a team of versatile bigs, which allowed me to take Paolo Banchero without worrying about his lack of three-pointers or subpar free-throw percentage. Those now became my punt categories and help steer the remainder of my draft.
I don't think I reached for anyone, but two picks that probably stick out the most are Coby White (54) and Andrew Nembhard (67). I had the option to draft Joel Embiid and passed, although he'd fit my build. In hindsight, I probably should have taken him since I already had two center-eligible players (Mobley and Banchero) who could be my points of stability at the position. Nembhard typically goes a round or two later than I selected him, but his floor is incredibly high in the Pacers' offense as someone who can pass and rack up steals.
I'm excited about getting Keyonte George at pick 126 and T.J. McConnell at 150. I might be on an island with George, but I think he's Utah's clear No. 3 option. A little more efficiency would go a long way in his value. And McConnell is McConnell -- we know he's one of the best per-minute producers in the league. More minutes should be available this year.
If I'm worried about any position, it's small forward. I didn't draft one until the 9th round (Shaedon Sharpe), and then had to make sure I got some stable value with Andrew Wiggins. We'll see how the Kyle Kuzma experience ends up being in Milwaukee.
Final Team Assessment
I like my team. The punt 3s and FT% build has cohesion, without too many players breaking the mold. I typically don't prefer to punt, but game theory suggests you should in category leagues. So I'm happy I built something that makes sense.
My biggest point of concern, other than my weak SF position, is Ja Morant. He's not starting the year healthy and is injury prone. But it's also difficult to win in fantasy without taking at least one swing, and he's that guy for me. I think that when he's on the floor, he could produce career-best numbers.
Conclusion and Full Draft Results
The lesson here is don't be afraid to commit to a strategy once your first 2-3 picks reveal a direction. Half-punting rarely works outside of some exceptional value picks and health luck.
Also, in two-center leagues, the position gets thin fast—I saw a run from picks 35-55 that cleared out the reliable starters. If you're waiting on center, have a plan.
This season's young talent is deeper than ever, which makes mid-to-late round upside picks more valuable than usual.
On Tim Kawakami’s “The TK Show,” Kerr was asked if the young guard looked “edgy.”
“For sure. He’s a competitor. He loves the game. He has high aspirations for himself and I love that about him,” Kerr explained. “At the same time, I want him to find the edge without the emotional downswings, and that has been what is so encouraging so far.”
Kerr, in his first media availability last week, noted that there were many ups and downs for Podziemski. The Warriors coach noted that moving forward after “inevitable tough nights” would be important for Podziemski this season.
“BP has been, in camp so far, just lights-out,” Kerr said to Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show”. “He is just playing at a really high level.”
This is part of the ‘edge’ that Kerr wants to see. What he does not want to see from Podziemski, as he noted to media last week, was the guard’s propensity to complain to referees.
“We haven’t played a real game, but we had three NBA officials in our building… for our scrimmage. He didn’t stop and complain one time and I was thrilled with that,” Kerr noted. “I’m going to definitely stay on him about that because I think his emotion can lift our team and can also put us in a tough spot.”
Kerr notes that Podziemski’s edge can help fuel the team, but staying even-keeled will also help the young guard and the team alike weather the storm on the inevitable tougher nights.
“[Richard is] a great young guy,” Kerr told Kawakami. “Totally engaged. Got good size, can shoot it well and he’s just such a sponge. He’s so coachable. I think he has got a future.”
The 22-year-old, 6-foot-4 Richard brings plenty of collegiate experience with him into the professional ranks. He played his freshman season at Belmont University in Tennessee before transferring to the University of Florida, where he started 105 games over his final three seasons of college play.
His success with the Gators led the Memphis Grizzlies to select Richard in the second round of June’s NBA Draft. Memphis then traded Richard’s rights to the Warriors, where he will learn from veteran stalwarts like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford. And while the presence of those established stars will make it difficult for Richard to find playing time this upcoming season, Kerr is bullish on his long-term prospects.
“Usually, guys in their rookie years, it takes time,” Kerr told Kawakami. “So, I don’t anticipate Will playing any time soon. He’ll certainly see some time in Santa Cruz to get lots of playing time. He’s impressive and I think we really like him.”
It’s clear Richard already has endeared himself to his coach and one of his star teammates. Now, it’s up to the rookie to validate the organization’s excitement.
"Of course, yes [he considered whether to ask out of Milwaukee]. Guys, every summer there's truth to every report. The same thing I've been saying my whole career — I want to be on a team that allows me, gives me a chance to win a championship and wants to compete at a high level. I think it's a disservice to basketball, it's a disservice just to the game to not want to compete at a high level, to not want your season to end in April. So, it's pretty much the same. It's not the first time."
This summer may not have been the first time Giannis Antetokounmpo considered his future and asking for a trade — as he said at media day — but it may have been the most serious.
Antetokounmpo is now with the Bucks, having recovered from COVID, flown to Milwaukee from Greece, and joined his teammates at training camp. He may be all in with this team to open the season, but this summer he considered a move to New York, and the Bucks and Knicks had conversations about a potential Antetokounmpo trade, talks that never really gained traction, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN.
The Bucks picked up the Knicks' call on Antetokounmpo, and the sides engaged in conversations for a window of time in August, league sources said, but the teams never got traction on a deal.
The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo, but those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade, league sources said. It's unclear how the Bucks would have responded to an all-out chase by the Knicks ... New York, for its part, believes the Bucks never were serious about entertaining an Antetokounmpo trade, sources said.
Let's be clear, the Milwaukee Bucks do not want to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo and will only do so if he demands it. He is the greatest player in franchise history (with all due respect to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). He's the player who not only makes them a threat on the court but fills the building with fans and has sponsors wanting to do business with the Bucks. Antetokounmpo is both the face and the driving economic engine of this franchise. Milwaukee wants to keep him badly enough to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard (leaving $22.5 million in dead money on the books for each of the next five years) to free up the money to sign stretch five Myles Turner away from Indiana.
If ever forced to trade him, Milwaukee will ask for a boatload of players — ideally quality young players, plus veteran contracts they can flip in a trade — and a lot of draft picks, all of it to jump-start the inevitable rebuild. New York is not flush with young players and only has a few first-round picks to trade. This trade works on paper a couple of different ways — OG Anunoby and Josh Hart plus a couple of first-round picks to Milwaukee, or Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride plus picks (the Bucks would need to waive some players to make the roster numbers work in either deal) — but is either of those enough for Milwaukee? It's unknown if the Knicks ever got close to that offer or what was informally discussed.
New York is in the mix to win the East this season without Antetokounmpo, it is not desperate to make this trade. It's also fair to ask how Antetokounmpo and Jalen Brunson would work together (both are All-NBA players because of what they do with the ball in their hands, neither is as special working off the ball). As great as Antetokounmpo is, would the Knicks break up their best team in decades to chase him that hard?
If Antetokounmpo does get frustrated in Milwaukee this season, trading his $54.1 million salary at the deadline would be incredibly difficult in the tax apron era of the NBA. It's likely more of an offseason move.
There has been chatter surrounding a Giannis Antetokounmpo-Knicks union for years, as the star repeatedly refused to shut down the possibility of leaving the Bucks.
This summer, things got real.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Knicks and Bucks discussed a potential Antetokounmpo trade in August after the star singled out New York as "the only place" he wanted to play outside of Milwaukee.
The talks between the clubs were described to ESPN by a source as "an exclusive negotiating window."
A source confirmed to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley that the Knicks and Bucks had cursory talks about an Antetokounmpo deal in August. The talks did not reach an advanced level.
Begley reports that winning a title in New York appeals to Antetokounmpo, and would be one reason why he sees them as a destination.
Per Begley, the Knicks -- and many other teams -- have monitored Antetokounmpo's situation and will continue to do so.
The majority of the discussions this summer between the Knicks and Bucks took place after the Knicks and Mikal Bridges agreed to an extension, reports Begley. Due to the extension, Bridges was unable to be traded -- and can't be dealt until Feb. 1, 2026.
Begley notes that -- as was the case over the summer -- Antetokounmpo would need the Bucks to work with him on a trade destination in order to wind up in New York. Another route? The two-time MVP can make things uncomfortable by forcing his way out of Milwaukee. He could use his pending contract extension (he's eligible in October 2026) to dissuade other teams from trading for him.
The Knicks, who dealt a ton of their draft pick capital while trading for Bridges last year, might have to get creative if Antetokounmpo hits the market again during the season.
While the Bucks -- who finished 48-34 last season and were the No. 5 seed in the playoffs -- are still a viable threat in the Eastern Conference, it's the Knicks and Cavaliers who are viewed as the favorites to emerge this season in a conference where the Celtics (without Jayson Tatum) and Pacers (without Tyrese Haliburton) are severely weakened.
Now it’s time to see how the Celtics plan to build back up their frontcourt after all those offseason departures.
Can Neemias Queta build off his success from EuroBasket? Will Luka Garza blossom with more minutes than he saw in Minnesota? Can Xavier Tillman carve out a more consistent role after dealing with knee woes last season? Will the Celtics go double-big with veteran Chris Boucher at the forward spot, or lean more heavily into small ball lineups?
If you’re optimistic about the Celtics’ chances to compete this season, it likely hinges on the team’s obvious perimeter talent. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Sam Hauser give this team ample firepower. The “big” question is how quickly the new-look frontcourt gets settled and whether this group can bring the same sort of defensive impact that has become standard for this team.
Regardless of how the new season plays out, there’s one question that needs to be answered: Is the starting center of Boston’s next title contender is already on the roster? Will someone grasp the opportunity in front of them, or does center remain the biggest area of need as Brad Stevens and Co. determine how this team will look moving forward?
Four preseason games aren’t going to answer that question, but they’re a chance for all of the younger bigs on this new-look roster to make a first impression as they step into a harsher spotlight.
2. Fast and the furious
You may have heard the Celtics want to play faster. Outside of Tatum’s rehab, it’s been the most relentless storyline since Boston huddled last week for Media Day and the start of training camp. Brown went so far as to suggest recently that he doesn’t play for a basketball team, he plays for a track team given the way that Mazzulla has been running his team throughout camp practices.
Brown was quick to note how that’s not a bad thing. He wants to run. And the numbers back up his desire.
Brown was one of only six players to average five-plus transition possessions per game during the 2023-24 season. (The others: Giannis Antetokounmpo, De’Aaron Fox, RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and LeBron James.) Brown was one of the best high-volume transition finishers while averaging 1.25 points per play during the 2022-23 season.
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But the Celtics ranked 28th in transition plays finished last season, too often plodding into their offensive sets. That was down from 10th in transition opportunities during the 2024 title season.
Now, it’s time to shift back to a higher gear. And Brown could be the biggest beneficiary.
Talking after practice Monday at the Auerbach Center, Brown stressed that the Celtics need to play both fast and smart. The Celtics absolutely have to maximize possessions and limit turnovers, even while trying to make quick decisions.
Preseason play is usually sloppy out of the gates, and Boston’s new crank-the-tempo play style might accentuate any growing pains. But the Celtics clearly yearn to mask some of the talent drain that occurred this summer by playing faster and harder than their opponents.
3. Pull the cord on the Lawn Mower
After Brown held a state of the union on Boston’s new up-tempo ways, newcomer Josh Minott stood in front of reporters Monday and confidently declared himself the fastest player on the roster. Pull the cord on the man nicknamed the Lawn Mower, and let’s see just how fast he can go.
Minott has all the physical traits to thrive in Boston. His penchant for cleaning the glass could be important for the size-deprived Celtics, while his desire to run will be welcomed if the team leans heavily into the up-tempo ways.
Nearly half of Minott’s shot attempts came at the rim last season. One of his top highlights came on a dunk over Derrick White, who made a bit of a business decision in not trying to contest the high-flying Minott while scrambling with help defense.
Minott’s offensive development could be key to unlocking maximum playing time. Defensively, he has the ability to be a menace with his ability to block shots, create steals with his length, and be impactful on the glass.
Minott is still only 22 years old. There’s been a good amount of camp hype about his ability to impact Boston in a positive way. Let’s see if the Lawn Mower can win fans over this preseason.
4. Away we Hugo
There hasn’t been much playing time for rookies during the Mazzulla era, but we’re eager to see if rookie Hugo Gonzalez gets a chance to change that this season.
Maybe nothing emphasizes the way Gonzalez plays like the clip of him diving to save a ball in the Celtics’ Spike Ball tournament at camp this week. Gonzalez is going to bring energy and grit. HIs 3-point shot looks notably smooth in post-practice shooting.
Maybe he ends up spending most of the early season up in Maine getting extra reps. But the Celtics need to build a bench, and they need defensive energy in that second group.
We’re eager to see if Gonzalez can make an early impression and earn Mazzulla’s trust.
Coach Steve Kerr detailed his vision for Kuminga’s usage during an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk.”
“I think the role is right there for him,” Kerr told Burke. “We need JK’s size, athleticism on the wing, his ability to guard the big wing guys like Luka [Dončić], LeBron [James] and Kawhi Leonard. So, the role is right there for him. I know it hasn’t always been easy for him because he’s wanted more of a role, being more of a focal point in our offense.
“But right now, we have Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler — two of the best players in the league. So, JK has to do what every player on our roster has to do, which is embrace whatever role we ask and help us win. If he does that, I’m confident that his role will grow over the coming year.”
Kuminga certainly has the ideal size and physical traits to be a key focal point of the Warriors’ defense, with Golden State’s point-of-attack success poised to play a major role in determining its ceiling during the 2025-26 NBA season.
Kuminga’s agent recently said there was a bit of a miscommunication between his client and the Golden State braintrust, a notion that Kerr disagreed with.
Kerr explained that he understands Kuminga’s situation differs drastically from the other top picks from the 2021 NBA Draft, with the 22-year-old immediately joining a championship roster and not having the same room for error that other prospects in his class were afforded in their first few seasons.
The Warriors coach also urged Kuminga to be “patient,” and that there still is plenty of room for him to grow as a player entering his fifth NBA season.
“Our communication is fine. We have film sessions all the time,” Kerr said. “There’s no confusion about what his role is. What I understand is his desire for more of a role. I think his agent misspoke, frankly, when he talked about confusion. I’m really clear with all my players, exactly what I ask of them, what’s to be expected. I think the difficult part for JK is that everyone in his draft class around him were given big roles right away on bad teams, frankly, that were able to play through mistakes, play 35 minutes.
“JK came to a championship team. We won the whole thing his rookie year. This has not been easy for JK, and I recognize that. But I also think that he could be patient, recognize that he’s 22 and that there’s a lot of things he can improve upon and that we are asking him to do. That’s all a part of being on a team and being a part of a group. He’s a good, young guy. We have a great rapport. I know he’s frustrated, but we will get through it.”
Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 47 appearances during the 2024-25 season, showing tremendous promise before an ankle injury derailed his season. In his absence, the Warriors added Jimmy Butler into the mix, further complicating Kuminga’s fit as Golden State reeled off a notable run of success en route to the NBA playoffs.
On a positive note, Kuminga noted that his ability to share the floor with Butler during Golden State’s Western Conference semifinal series with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season allowed him to begin building crucial on-court chemistry with the six-time NBA All-Star.
Ideally, that chemistry and a clear line of communication between Kuminga, his teammates and coaches will allow the young forward to make the most efficient impact possible on an aging roster that is desperate for an impact from its younger pieces.
The Warriors are zigging while the rest of the NBA zags, but coach Steve Kerr remains confident Golden State’s foundation built on older superstars still is a recipe for success.
Kerr detailed why the duo of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler remains a lethal pairing during an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk.”
“Steph is our solar system. He’s the sun. Everything else revolves around the sun,” Kerr told Burke. “We have Steph Curry. He is one of the all-time great players. We thrive – and Steph thrives – when there’s spacing, ball movement, flow. This is why we have built our team around Steph, and then Jimmy arrived last year and gave Steph another threat next to him. Jimmy is the best isolation player in the league, analytically. When you give him the ball and you space the floor, you give him a good shot.”
Curry’s credentials need no introduction, with the two-time NBA MVP spending the last decade as one of the most feared offensive players in league history. While Curry’s gravitational pull is generational, the addition of Butler gives Golden State a different one-two punch than the Warriors had throughout their dynastic run.
The Warriors felt Butler’s immediate impact after acquiring him from the Miami Heat, posting a 23-7 record in the six-time All-Star’s 30 regular-season appearances with Golden State during the 2024-25 NBA season.
Kerr explained that Butler’s isolation value isn’t limited to just scoring, but also by creating opportunities for others, which creates a need for plus shooting on the floor around him.
“A lot of that, though, is [Butler] creating a shot for someone else, and so we need spacing,” Kerr said. “The combination of Steph and Jimmy last year, once those two guys were together, I think we went like 26-8. [We] beat Houston in the first round of the playoffs, the No. 2 seed. Our identity is built around those two guys, and we have a chance to be really good. Everyone else on the team has to see that, embrace it and find a role within that. That could be difficult at times for certain players, easy for others. But as a coaching staff, we just have to do whatever we think to win each game.”
While Butler’s instant integraton into the Warriors’ roster certainly was impressive, Kerr also highlighted the benefits of having the five-time All-NBA selection experiencing an entire training camp with Golden State.
“I think having Jimmy from the start will help with our chemistry, our continuity, just the guys getting used to one another,” Kerr said. “The good thing: it was an immediate fit last year, but we didn’t even put anything in. We just gave them the ball and it kind of cleared out. He was really good with that. I don’t think we’re going to do anything earth-shattering offensively, changing our attack a ton. But I do think Jimmy will get more and more comfortable with the stuff that we already do and with the teammates around him.”
Butler averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game with Golden State last season while also providing a boost with his leadership and high-IQ play that can’t be quantified in a traditional box score.
Based on the track record in a relatively small sample size, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic Curry and Butler can pick up right where they left off. The question remains: can the duo stay healthy and contribute at that level for a full season and the grind of postseason basketball?
If, and it’s a big if, they are able to, there’s no reason to think Golden State won’t be right in the thick of things among NBA title contenders this season.
"There's no contemplation of moving the All-Star Game," Silver said Monday, while at the NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, to discuss the network's return to broadcasting NBA games (including the All-Star Game). "Planning for the All-Star Game and the surrounding activities are operating completely independently of the ongoing investigation."
This shouldn't be a surprise. The NBA's All-Star Game is a massive production and undertaking that goes well beyond just the on-court games and showcases. Players and league sponsors plan events and parties, hotels and venues are booked, and fans plan trips to the host city around the All-Star events. To rip that up and move a game less than five months out would be an impossible task. The NBA did move the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte in reaction to the "bathroom law" in North Carolina; however, it made that move in the previous summer (the league returned to Charlotte with the game two years later, in 2019).
The league is investigating an alleged “no-show” endorsement contract Leonard had with a Clippers sponsor, a company called Aspiration, that team owner Steve Ballmer had invested in multiple times. Aspiration also became a team sponsor and the Clippers bought environmental credits from the company — that was Aspiration's "business" — for the Intuit Dome. The relationship between the Clippers and the sponsor fell apart in 2023 (although not before minority owner Dennis Wong made a $2 million investment in Aspiration, just before Leonard received one of his $1.75 million endorsement payments). Aspiration has since filed for bankruptcy, and its CEO pled guilty to defrauding investors.
At the heart of the allegations — first uncovered by the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast — is that Leonard did no work or marketing for Aspiration yet got a $48 million endorsement deal ($20 million in now-worthless stock). People with Aspiration told the podcast that this deal was about circumventing the salary cap. Both Leonard and the Clippers have maintained their innocence, saying they were duped and defrauded like other investors, and that they welcome the league's investigation.
There is no timeline for when that investigation will be complete, but it will not stop the All-Star Game from coming to the Intuit Dome.
Now add Ja Morant to the list of the injured. The All-Star guard is week-to-week after spraining his ankle Sunday at practice, the team announced. He will not play in the Grizzlies' season opener (Oct. 6). The team opens the season Oct. 22 against New Orleans.
Injuries and suspensions have slowed Morant in the past few seasons. Last season, he played in 50 games, averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. The season before that he played in just nine games. He has played in 65+ games just once, his rookie season.
Memphis can ill afford to get off to a slow start in a deep Western Conference where some good teams will be forced into the play-in, if not miss the postseason entirely. These injuries do not help that cause.
LeBron James has scored more points than any player in NBA history [Getty Images]
He is arguably basketball's greatest ever player.
But before his 23rd season in the NBA, LeBron James heightened speculation about his future with a cryptic post on his social media channels that teased a "Second Decision".
A video showed him sitting down across from another man on a basketball court, with the caption: "The decision of all decisions. October 7th. 12pm EST." By Tuesday it had amassed more than 1.3 million 'likes' on Instagram.
Was James about to retire?
It appears not - at 15:31 BST on Tuesday he shared with his 158 million Instagram followers a video revealing "the Second Decision" as a promotion for a drinks brand.
The teaser video shared on Monday had echoed what became known as "The Decision" in 2010 - when in a televised announcement, from a gym, James revealed he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat.
James turns 41 in December and has already made plenty of history in the game.
In April 2025 his influence beyond sport was shown when he became the first professional male athlete to be honoured as a Ken doll by Barbie makers Mattel.
In the NBA, no other player has made it to a 23rd season.
Since being drafted first overall by hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, switching to the Heat in 2010 and then joining the Lakers in 2018, James has won four league titles and broken a host of records.
One record came after his son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in 2024 and they became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game.
Last week the 6ft 9in superstar insisted he was "excited about the opportunity to be able to play the game that I love for another season".
"The thing still pushing me is the fact that my love for the game is still high," he added.
Some suspected "The Second Decision" would not be a retirement announcement.
With a string of investments and off-court ventures in tow, many of those engaging with the teaser on Instagram and X predicted James would be making a promotional announcement for one such vehicle.
The window on the Warriors’ dynasty certainly is nearing it’s end, but coach Steve Kerr is confident that the 2025-26 NBA season won’t be the swan song for Steph Curry and Golden State’s aging core.
Kerr was on the famous 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team that earned the “last dance” moniker as the final season in a storied dynasty led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson.
This iteration of the Warriors won’t be the same final chapter, as Kerr explained to The SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami on an episode of “The TK Show.”
“By no means am I looking at this as the last dance or my last dance,” Kerr told Kawakami. “I think this team, you know obviously Steph [Curry], Draymond [Green] and Jimmy [Butler] are signed for two more years. That Bulls team, everybody was a free agent. Michael [Jordan], Scottie [Pippen], Phil [Jackson] were all free agents. It was very clear cut and defined. We were also coming off back-to-back championships. Very unique situation.”
“This is different. This is more of a traditional NBA situation where you got some aging stars, you’re just trying to be good for as long as you can. You don’t know if it’s going to be this year or two more years or three more years. None of us have any idea. So, this definitely is not the last dance.”
Curry, Green and Kerr have led the Warriors to four NBA championships, solidifying Golden State’s place among the best dynasties in league history.
While Curry (37), Butler (36) and Green (35) make up one of the NBA’s older cores, but the hope is their combined experience and generational feel for the game can make up for the tremendous amount of wear and tear on the trios bodies from lengthy professional careers.
The relatively small sample size is encouraging, as Golden State posted a 23-7 record in the regular season after acquiring Butler before dispatching the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in the NBA playoffs.
Although the Warriors enter this season with high hopes, Golden State fans can rest easy knowing there still will be more Curry-led basketball on the horizon.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr already loves what new center Al Horford can do for his team.
In an interview with “The TK Show” host Tim Kawakami, Kerr described how Golden State’s free agent acquisition big man didn’t take long to impact the offense.
“Instantly, you see the spacing with Al as a 4 or a 5,” Kerr told Kawakami. “He’s out at the 3-point line, he catches it. He’s [six-foot-10] and he gets his shot off quickly. And so, it’s not just that he’s a good shooter, it’s that it is boom-boom, [the] shot is up there.”
Horford shot 39.2 percent from 3-point range over his last four seasons with the Boston Celtics, and the Warriors are counting on that proficiency to open things up for the team’s playmakers.
“If you space the floor with him, and you run the pick-and-roll with Draymond [Green], and you get downhill … that is a long way for the defense to go, to get to that shot,” Kerr told Kawakami.
But it isn’t just Horford’s proficiency from 3-point range that excites Kerr.
“Conversely, you put him in the post,” Kerr told Kawakami. “You give him the ball, space somebody else out [because] he’s a great passer. Our split game that we’ve been running for a decade—with Steph throwing the ball in and getting a screen from another guard—watching Al the first time we started doing that [in practice], instantly [he had] three assists, little back-door passes for lay-ups to guys, or hitting Steph on the perimeter.”
Horford’s presence figures to boost last season’s 17th-highest scoring offense, and before the first regular-season game has been played, he already has a big fan in his head coach.
“[Horford is] an all-around basketball player,” Kerr told Kawakami. “He’s seen everything at both ends of the floor. He’s a big-time player. We’re lucky to have him.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said last week that he’s “comfortable” coaching the 2025-26 NBA season on the last year of his contract with Golden State.
But on the same day, general manager Mike Dunleavy added that he “selfishly” wants Kerr back with the Warriors for a long time.
So, what’s the hold up? Kerr explained to Tim Kawakami on Monday’s episode of “The TK Show” why he’s in no rush to sign an extension despite the Warriors’ desire for him to return next season and beyond.
“I think Mike respects the fact that I’m just at the point in my career, and we are at the point organizationally, where I just want to make sure everything is feels right, and for them, too — not just for me, but for the players, for them,” Kerr told Kawakami. “I think one of the things that I’m aware of is in sports, and every sport, there’s kind of an expiration date on on coaching jobs, and if you feel as a coach that it’s not clicking anymore, then it’s time to go, and I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t believe that that’s where we are right now.
“I think I’m very comfortable with the players. I know they respect me. We have a great collaboration. Love working with Mike, love working with this whole organization. So if you had to ask me, I would guess that it’ll keep going. But I just, I don’t really feel like that’s the right call to make, because I just want to see where this all is. And maybe we’re at the All-Star break, and it’s like, ‘Hey, this is going to keep going. Let’s do it,’ you know, but for right now, let’s just kind of see where this all goes. And like I said, I’m perfectly comfortable with whatever happens, but I love what I do, and I would imagine I’ll keep doing this.”
Kerr signed his two-year, $35 million contract extension in February 2024. With two years left on Steph Curry’s contract, two left on Draymond Green’s with a player option in the final year and Jimmy Butler also signed through the 2026-27 NBA season, it only seems right that Kerr would stick around for at least one more year.
But there’s plenty that goes into that decision, Kerr explained, team aside.
“As I get older, I think a lot about what would drive me from the NBA, you know?” Kerr told Kawakami. “And what would that mean? I love being part of a team, being part of a group, collaborating. The travel, the length of the season does start to wear on you. A little bit of life enters the equation, family, all that stuff, grandkids. So this is really more about let’s just see where everything is at the end of the year, or midway through the year, whatever it is.
“But I didn’t really feel like addressing this stuff right now, because I want to see how I feel six months from now, and how the organization feels, too.”
No matter how — or when — Kerr’s Warriors tenure ends, many members of Dub Nation likely will feel the conclusion came prematurely.
