The Los Angeles Lakers revamped the roster this offseason, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the primary focal points for the team.
The duo will help provide the offensive firepower necessary to win games during the regular season, but it's the questions on defense that could determine how the season will play out for the team.
Second-year coach JJ Redick and the Lakers finished the 2025-26 season with a 53-29 record and in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Lakers reached the Western Conference semifinals but were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The roster was plagued with injuries throughout the season, with LeBron James, Reaves and Doncic all missing portions of the year.
With new pieces around star players, there will still be an expectation that the season will be defined by whether or not the franchise wins its 18th championship.
Here are some of the key games that will help shape the Lakers’ season:
Lakers’ key games for 2026-27 season
Golden State Warriors at Lakers, Oct. 21 (Opening night)
The Lakers will host the Warriors at home to open the season. It will set an early tone for what a healthy roster could look like for the purple and yellow.
Lakers at San Antonio Spurs, Nov. 27
The Lakers visit Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs for their first true test of the season against a Western Conference contender.
Philadelphia 76ers at Lakers, Dec. 25 (Christmas)
LeBron James returns to Los Angeles, where he had spent the past eight seasons of his career. The 76ers are expected to be one of the top contenders in the East. It will be the first of two meetings between the teams.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Lakers, Jan. 1
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will present one of the toughest challenges for the Lakers this season. The series includes three games, but they won’t take place until the back half of the season.
Boston Celtics vs. Lakers, Jan. 7
The Lakers will host the rival Celtics in a featured game on Prime. It will be just the first of two games on the schedule between the two teams. The second game will happen in Boston.
I know you were upset about The Trade, but now you can decompress amid the stability of one of the greatest brands in sports. You’ve joined the darlings of the NBA. The 17-time champions. It’s all sunshine, sea breezes and engraved diamond rings from here on forward.
Or is it?
Eighteen months ago, Doncic had the rug pulled from under him after believing he would spend his entire career in Dallas. The last 14 months?
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Monday, March 23, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
Well, he went from tossing his phone across the room amid the betrayal and bewilderment of being perhaps the only top-four player in his mid-20s who was blindsided by a trade, to likely squinting with surprise while reading the stunning news (twice!) on his damaged screen about his new franchise.
Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension that includes a player option for the 2028-2029 season. That means he could leave after the 2027-2028 season if he wants. This much is for sure: His short-lived tenure with the Lakers hasn’t exactly been a model of stability.
The superstar acknowledged that much while reacting to Wednesday’s news.
“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA,” he wrote. “I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”
While players and ownership are typically pretty siloed, Doncic needs to know that the Lakers will be on a championship course. Iger is the former CEO of Disney. Kushner is a venture capitalist and the younger brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Are there going to be major changes to the front office? Are there going to be shifts in strategy? What the heck is going on?
Under Walter, the Lakers had a sense of direction. He helped guide the Dodgers to three World Series championships after buying the team in 2012. The Lakers had oversight from Dodgers’ brass. New front office positions were created. There was a marked shift towards data and analytics.
That must be destabilizing for Doncic, who deeply values continuity. He wanted to become one of the few NBA players who finished his career where it began. All of this change is dizzying.
Right now his focus is on making the Lakers a championship organization once again. LeBron James left in free agency. The Lakers are his.
It’s a responsibility he’s taking seriously.
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He’s hosting a four-day mini camp in Slovenia next week. He’s paying for his teammates’ travel expenses. He had significant influence over the Lakers’ roster moves this summer, including the blockbuster acquisition of Walker Kessler. He’s doing everything he can to build chemistry.
But there’s a lot of background noise.
After 47 years of ownership by the Buss family, the Lakers are once again undergoing a major shakeup. They’re front and center in the news. There are so many unknowns.
Dončić is at the center of the storm. He’s going to shoulder the blame if the Lakers fall short next season. Fingers are going to point at him.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts on the court during the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, Sunday, February 1, 2026. (JASON SZENES) JASON SZENES/ NY POST
He’s doing his part.
Doncic was the league’s leading scorer last season. He carried the Lakers on a 16-2 run last spring, averaging a stunning 37.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game over that stretch. If he hadn’t suffered a strained hamstring that sidelined him during the playoffs, who knows how far the Lakers could’ve gone.
The Lakers are doing their part, too. They immediately made Doncic their priority after acquiring him, even with James on the roster. They added the personnel Doncic wanted. He has seemed happy.
But he needs to be assured that he has the proper infrastructure around him.
And over the last two years, the only thing he has known for sure is that everything around him keeps crumbling.
Here’s to hoping Iger and Kushner put some solid ground underneath him.
Or else it’s fair to wonder if the Lakers might have to brace for yet another shakeup.
Fueled by their relentless depth and star power, the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the pack in early odds for the 2026 NBA Cup.
The path to the trophy won't be easy, however, with the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs looming as short-priced threats right behind them.
As summers inches closer to its end & we move towards the return of the NBA making its return, we take an early look at the latest Emirates NBA Cup odds for this upcoming season.
2026 NBA Cup odds
Team
Oklahoma City Thunder
40%
New York Knicks
28%
San Antonio Spurs
27%
Golden State Warriors
23%
Utah Jazz
23%
Dallas Mavericks
22%
Los Angeles Lakers
21%
Minnesota Timberwolves
21%
Indiana Pacers
20%
Philadelphia 76ers
17%
NBA Cup groups
The league's 30 teams will all compete in randomly drawn groups for the opening round, divided by conference, as listed below:
East Group A
East Group B
East Group C
DET (0-0)
NYK (0-0)
BOS (0-0)
TOR (0-0)
CLE (0-0)
ATL (0-0)
ORL (0-0)
PHI (0-0)
CHA (0-0)
MIL (0-0)
MIA (0-0)
CHI (0-0)
BKN (0-0)
IND (0-0)
WAS (0-0)
West Group A
West Group B
West Group C
DEN (0-0)
OKC (0-0)
SAS (0-0)
HOU (0-0)
MIN (0-0)
LAL (0-0)
PHO (0-0)
LAC (0-0)
POR (0-0)
DAL (0-0)
NOP (0-0)
GSW (0-0)
UTAH (0-0)
MEM (0-0)
SAC (0-0)
🥇: Group winner 🥈: Wild Card
NBA Cup explained
Group Play
Each team will begin the tournament in one of six groups, divided by conference and randomly drawn from tiers based on the previous season's record, to ensure relative competitive balance.
Within each group, all teams will play regular-season games against each other on designated Tournament Nights from October 31 to November 28: Every Friday and also Tuesday, November 25, and Wednesday, November 26.
The records in those games determine who advances to the Knockout Round.
Knockout Round
The Knockout Round is comprised of eight teams, which begins on December 9-10:
The winners of each of the six groups
A wild-card team from each conference (the second-place team with the best record)
The Knockout Round is a single-elimination bracket. Teams in each conference with the best record will get home-court advantage in these matchups.
The semifinals and finals take place in Las Vegas on December 13 and 16, with the winner of each conference facing off for the NBA Cup.
Teams that make the knockout round will be awarded portions of an as-of-yet undisclosed prize pool, increasing the further they make it. A Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team will also be awarded after play has concluded.
Sportsbooks will post odds for the NBA Cup during the prior offseason. These odds are adjusted throughout the season as players switch teams, show steady improvement, or are injured. Sportsbooks will also adjust the NBA odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.
NBA Cup odds will usually look like this:
Los Angeles Lakers +1,300
This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $1,300 if the Lakers win the tournament. If it's close to the end of the tournament and the NBA has a particularly dominant team, you might see a minus sign (-) ahead of its odds.
Denver Nuggets -180
This means you have to bet $180 to win $100 on a Nuggets tournament win.
Above we have listed the American odds. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool. And don't forget to check out our NBA forum if you're interested in chatting with other basketball bettors about NBA odds.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 25: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the New York Knicks during the first quarter of game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks and the rest of the NBA found out their entire regular season schedule today (save for the weeks surrounding the NBA Cup knockout bracket in early December).
Atlanta will open the season in Orlando to take on the Magic on Wednesday, October 21, head to Charlotte that Friday, then open their home schedule the following night against the Houston Rockets.
Other notes: the typical tipoff time for weekday home games will be 7 PM local time — a change from the 7:30 PM times it had been for a number of seasons. Good luck fighting Atlanta traffic for those, but that will be the tradeoff for earlier end times.
The Hawks will also have 10 national TV games between ESPN, Prime and NBC/Peacock. The rest will broadcast on local stations WANF (Atlanta News First) and Peachtree Sports Network (PSN) which can be found for free over the air. Radio broadcasts will continue on Sports Radio 92-9 The Game.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 27: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the national anthem before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today is the day. The date when the entire NBA schedule is finally released and the roadmap through the 2026-27 season is laid out in front of us. We’ve been receiving crumbs throughout the week, little morsels designed to keep us occupied. The Christmas Day schedule. Opening night. The NBA Cup schedule. A game here, a matchup there. But today we finally get the whole thing, all 82 games sitting there waiting to be dissected, analyzed, and inevitably complained about.
I will note that NBA schedule release day doesn’t carry quite the same juice as it does in the NFL. There’s simply more mystery involved with an NFL schedule. You aren’t playing everybody. Your opponents are determined by divisions, rotations, standings, and a handful of ancillary games that eventually create the 17-game slate. When that schedule drops, there’s some genuine discovery involved.
The NBA is much more predictable. You already know you’re playing every team from the opposing conference twice, once at your place and once at theirs, and the remainder of the schedule is filled with games against your division and conference. There are no shocking revelations when the curtain gets pulled back. Nobody is sitting there stunned to learn that the Phoenix Suns will, in fact, play the Sacramento Kings.
Which is why I love that the Suns apparently understand the assignment. Upon revealing their schedule, they leaned directly into the absurdity of schedule release season and made Dillon Brooks and his stare the centerpiece of the entire thing.
2026-27 Phoenix Suns Schedule Release ft. The Villain 😈
We can still take a look at the schedule in its entirety and start identifying trends, anomalies, how many total back-to-backs there are, which holidays the Suns are or aren’t playing on, along with the longest road trips, longest homestands, and most brutal stretches.
So that’s what we’ll do. First, your annual schedule graphic:
We’ll start with the longest homestand of the season, which comes near the front end of the schedule. The Suns will be home for seven straight games from November 4 through November 15, facing Portland, Orlando, Houston, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s a good way to start the season, and hopefully it’s a stretch that can help propel the Suns toward the top of the Western Conference standings or, at the very least, the top of the Pacific Division. Because they’re going to need it when the end of the season comes around, but we’ll get to that momentarily.
The longest road trip takes place from March 8 through March 17. Phoenix will fly to Miami, then head to Orlando, Chicago, Charlotte, and Memphis before finishing the trip on St. Patrick’s Day against the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s six games in 10 days.
As far as national exposure? 9 games for one of the grittiest teams in the NBA. That’s it.
The Suns have a total of 13 back-to-backs this season. That isn’t the most this year, thankfully, as 13 has them further down the list, as Brooklyn and New Orleans lead the league with 16. The Suns are actually tied with the fewest in the NBA this season.
NBA team total back-to-backs for the 2026-27 season:
Five of their back-to-backs are home-to-home, four are road-to-road, and four begin at home before heading out on the road. Interestingly enough, there isn’t a single instance in which the Suns play on the road and then return home the following night.
There are also four instances in which Phoenix plays the same opponent in consecutive games. Two of those come at the very end of the season, and that’s where things get brutal. The Suns will play Oklahoma City in consecutive games on back-to-back nights, both in Phoenix. Days later, they’ll play San Antonio twice on the road, with one day separating those games. That is an unbelievably difficult stretch to close the season against two teams projected to sit near the top of the Western Conference standings. Depending on where Phoenix finds itself at that point, playoff seeding could ultimately come down to those games.
Even after the Suns enjoy a beautiful six-game homestand in March, the closing stretch of the season is brutal. Phoenix becomes extremely road heavy late, with five of its final seven games away from home, including the season finale against the Lakers on April 11. March overall is an absolute monster. The Suns play 17 games in 31 days, easily making it the busiest month on the schedule.
The Suns have three different stretches in which they play five games in seven calendar days. The first comes from November 4 through November 10, the second from December 30 through January 5, and the third from March 23 through March 29. That final stretch includes both games against Oklahoma City and one against San Antonio.
There are a few other interesting nuggets buried throughout the schedule as well. The Suns have a back-to-back on December 30 and 31, meaning they’ll spend New Year’s Eve in New York after playing the Knicks. Their earliest start of the season comes on Super Bowl Sunday, when Phoenix plays the Cleveland Cavaliers at 11 AM Phoenix time on February 14 before heading to Washington to play the following night again.
Ultimately, the schedule allows Phoenix to establish itself early before demanding quite a bit from the team late. That seven-game November homestand could become important considering what awaits in March and April. There will be stretches to survive, back-to-backs to navigate, and plenty of nights when the standings add weight to the matchup.
We knew the opponents. Now we know the path. And by April, we’ll know whether the Suns were built to survive it.
A few quirks from the Suns’ 2026-27 schedule:
🏀Longest homestand: 7 games 🏀Longest road trip: 6 games 🏀13 guaranteed back-to-backs 🏀4 sets of consecutive games vs. the same opponent 🏀March is brutal: 17 games, including 6 straight road games followed by 6 straight at home https://t.co/vTfFzBD2hd
Jimmy Butler III R and Draymond Green of Golden State Warriors celebrate scoring during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season match between Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies in San Francisco, the United States, on Oct. 27, 2025. (Photo by Arthur Dong/Xinhua via Getty Images)
We don’t envy the social media departments for NBA teams. Not only do these underpaid peons have to edit videos, create graphics, and track players’ birthdays, anniversaries, and personal bests, but they also have to chase online trends, memorize acronyms, stockpile reactions gifs, and decide which players have “rizz” and occasionally type out the word “dunkmaxxing.”
So when the Golden State Warriors participate in the NBA’s extremely forced Schedule Release Day, they have a tough task. It has to be high-concept, inoffensive, and somehow make describing a basketball schedule interesting, even after the league leaks all the important dates days earlier. This year, the Warriors went with a Scooby-Doo theme.
It’s fine. Would we have had Jimmy Butler trip the Grim Reaper with a basketball and presumably tear his ACL, only to reveal the Reaper has the head of a Philadelphia 76ers logo and the body of cartoon Joel Embiid? Probably not. Is depicting the date of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ visit to the Chase Center as a line of ants, because of Anthony “Ant” Edwards lame? A little bit.
At least Draymond Green just shines a flashlight on a window with (OKC) Thunder in it while Butler and Steph Curry assault the disturbing logo-headed ghosts. But in a way, this video is a perfect introduction to the 2026-27 team. The construction isn’t all that creative, it centers on some old, slow dudes, and it relies on nostalgia for something that hasn’t been relevant for years.
And as befits this year’s schedule, the video just kind of peters out at the end. That’s just like the season, where the Warriors’s last nine games include a five-game cross-country road trip and back-to-back on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They’ll play their home opener Friday, Oct. 23 against the Memphis Grizzlies after opening on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s a gentle start to the season, with a six-game homestand early on and only two games outside their own time zone in three weeks.
January is the kindest schedule month, with 10 home games versus five on the road, though it ends with a home contest against the San Antonio Spurs Jan. 30 and an immediate rematch Feb. 1. That’s followed by their longest road trip of the season, where they’ll play six games in 11 nights and go from Los Angeles to Chicago to the East Coast.
The team has 15 back-to-backs next season, with six at home, five on the road, and four where the first game is at home and the second comes on the road. The Phoenix Suns will be the beneficiaries of two such contests, and will play three of their four games against the Warriors with Golden State on the second night of a back-to-back. That’s slightly above the NBA average of 14.2 back-to-backs, which will force Steve Kerr to choose his spots for Al Horford carefully, as well as Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody if/when they return.
The two toughest B2Bs are probably a road game against the Boston Celtics Feb. 10 after flying from Chicago and the aforementioned duel with the Thunder, who might at least have already clinched their playoff position by then and be ready to rest players.
OKC will be featured in one of the Warriors’ most high-profile contests, when NBC’s “Sunday Night Basketball” returns Jan. 24. They will be playing on NBC 11 times next season, which is the maximum allowed.
They’re on two prime-time Prime Video games during the NBA Cup, hosting the Lakers Oct, 30 and visiting the Spurs Nov. 13. The Warriors also get the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings in West Group C, which feels slightly easier than Groups A and B. You may not care about the Emirates NBA Cup, but it may be the Warriors’ best chance at a trophy this season.
Where is the NBA Cup title game happening? The league has left Las Vegas for glamorous Indianapolis, Indiana and Butler University’s Hinkle Fiedhouse, the place they filmed the final game in the movie “Hoosiers.” You know Steve Kerr is excited to finally have the Warriors run the picket fence play, now that Jonathan Kuminga won’t get caught watching the paint dry.
LeBron James will visit the Lakers for the first time as a Sixer on Christmas. Jaylen Brown won’t return to Boston in the regular season until the Sixers play the Celtics on Jan. 21.
Former Sixers big man Andre Drummond will head to Xfinity Mobile Arena with the defending champion Knicks on Oct. 30. Paul George and the Celtics’ first trip to Philadelphia is set for Nov. 10. Kelly Oubre Jr. will be back as a Pacer on Nov. 15.
Lighter back-to-back load
The Sixers played 16 back-to-backs last season. For what it’s worth, they fared very well in the second leg of back-to-backs, going 12-4. They’d been 2-13 the season prior.
The team has 13 back-to-backs on its 2026-27 schedule. With 41-year-old James and 32-year-old Joel Embiid on the roster, the Sixers surely won’t mind the reduction.
Plenty of the Pacers early
The Sixers saw the Celtics at a strangely high rate to start last year, facing Boston in three of their first 11 games. This season they’ll play the Celtics just once in their first 44.
The 2026-27 calendar includes three games against the Pacers in the first 20. The Sixers will also face the Pistons twice and the Bulls twice during that stretch.
Massive national audience
Many eyes outside of Philadelphia will be on the star-packed Sixers next season.
The Sixers “will reach the 34-game national television maximum for the first time in franchise history this season,” per a team press release. They’ll feature on opening night (Oct. 20 at the Knicks), Christmas (a 5 p.m. ET tip-off at the Lakers), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18 at the Hawks) and Presidents’ Day (Feb. 15 at the Mavericks).
The longest road trip for the Sixers is a five-game swing from Christmas through New Year’s Day.
The team’s longest homestand is four games. The Sixers play six of seven games at home between Jan. 4 and Jan. 16, although the one road game is international (Jan. 10 against the Raptors).
The Sixers’ four-game homestand appears to be nicely timed. It runs from Feb. 5 and Feb. 11, which is the day of the trade deadline. Regardless of how the front office handles the deadline, the Sixers won’t have to worry about any travel.
A sole mini-series with Magic
The lone opponent that the Sixers will play twice in a row is the Magic.
Late-season games tend to be tricky to be predict. Some teams are far out of contention, some are hampered by injuries, and others are pushing hard for seeding purposes.
Whatever the circumstances, it’s notable that the Sixers will play the defending Western Conference champions two times near the end of the year. They’re set to face the Spurs in San Antonio on March 11 and in Philadelphia on March 21. The Spurs won both late-season matchups over the Sixers in last year’s season series, including a 40-point road victory on March 3.
luka doncic lakers new owners bob iger josh kushner
The news of the majority ownership of the Lakers being sold again – this time from Mark Walter to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner just 14 months after Walter agreed to purchase the franchise and 10 months after Walter officially became the majority owner – sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.
He told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement made between Walter and Jeanie Buss that stated Buss would remain the team’s Governor for at least the next few years, but added that “if things change, they’ll change.”
Iger shared details about the timing of the deal and how quickly it came together.
But many more questions remain – including what comes next for the Lakers.
Disney chief executive Bob Iger arrives at the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon on Monday, February 12, 2024, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Invision) AP Photo/Jordan Strauss
Unanswered Questions
Some of those questions can be answered more immediately.
After the news of the sale was revealed, Doncic posted on social media: “Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the first half at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (Corey Sipkin) Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Iger told the Post he hadn’t spoken with Doncic as of Wednesday morning, but it appears that’ll soon change.
Doncic texted Iger and Kushner on Thursday morning and the three of them plan to meet “soon”, a source told the Post.
ESPN reported Thursday Doncic plans to have a video call with Iger and Kushner next week from Slovenia.
Beyond that, there’s still the matter of Iger and Kushner officially becoming the Lakers’ majority owners.
Lakers sale timeline pending
The transaction could take several weeks before the Board of Governors approves the deal, with the next board meeting scheduled for September in New York.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regularly has a news conference after Board of Governors meetings.
A league spokesperson didn’t respond to a text message from the Post before publication when asked what the exact date of the next Board of Governors meeting.
Any NBA ownership sale requires approval from at least three-quarters of the Board of Governors.
The Board of Governors approved the sale of the Lakers to Walter on Oct. 30, 2025 – 4 ½ months after Walter agreed to buy the franchise. The Board of Governors approved the Trail Blazers sale to an ownership group led by Tom Dundon on March 30 after Dundon agreed to buy the Trail Blazers in mid-August – 7 ½ months after the original agreement.
Joshua Kushner (left) and Bob Iger (center) are seen on Day 10 of the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (GC Images) GC Images
And it took five months for the Celtics’ sale to an ownership group led by Bill Chisholm to be approved by the Board of Governors.
It remains to be seen whether Kushner’s previous experience as an NBA owner could expedite the process.
Kushner became a minority owner of the Grizzlies in 2019 before selling his share to become a minority owner of the Heat in May 2025.
He’ll have to divest his stake in the Heat to take control of the Lakers.
Beyond that, as Iger put it, it’s “premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet.”
Too early to know what this means for the Lakers’ basketball and business operations.
Too early to know what this will mean for the Lakers’ long-term plans and futures.
The nature of the Lakers’ sale – from the timing and the valuation – is unprecented.
But what is known is that the franchise is on the precipise of another new era.
Stephen Curry has said he wants to play his entire career with one team. Golden State — from ownership through the entire front office — has said it wants Curry to retire a Warrior.
However, when the Warriors struck out on landing LeBron James this summer, or making any other significant roster upgrades, speculation started. Curry is entering the final year of his contract and hasn't signed an extension, could the Warriors trade him? Could Curry chase a ring elsewhere?
"No, no, no. I don't think that is even a thing. This is just a clickbait thing from all these people that do this kind of thing these days, and there seem to be a lot of them. I don't believe any of that is true. I'm very close with Steph -- he lives right near me, he's incredibly happy with the organization, with his life… I've never heard a word about that, and I can't imagine it. We certainly don't want him to go anywhere. I just think people are completely making a bunch of crap up."
The Warriors have tried to make big moves, including chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo and having talks with the Clippers about a Kawhi Leonard trade at the deadline last February. This summer they tried to chase LeBron. None of that came together, something Lacob discussed.
"We have to make a good trade, we have to make a trade that makes sense. If we thought we had a great trade in front of us, and by the way, without talking a little bit too much more than I should about secret dealings that went on in the offseason, we made at least two very big offers in the last six months, let's put it that way. Between the trade deadline and the summer, at least two... They didn't work out, the cost was too high to be justifiable or we weren't selected. These things happen. I've told all of our fans from day one, we're going to go after pretty much anybody who is a good player and check it out."
Lacob also doesn't get the pessimism around this team. Once Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return from injury during the season, Lacob believes the Warriors will be a threat.
"I'm actually excited about our team. I don't understand what all the negativity is about. There are those out there that are very critical, of course, about everything. Everyone has an opinion. They have the right to their opinion — at least we're being talked about."
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It will be here before you know it. The Cleveland Cavaliers have their full schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season, and you have a chance to mark your calendars and prepare for another year of Cavs basketball.
Let’s get a few notes out of the way.
Cleveland will have 17 national TV games. Six on ESPN, four on Peacock, four on NBC, and three on Prime.
The Cavs play on multiple holidays this year, including Halloween (against Milwaukee), New Year’s Eve (at home versus the LA Clippers), Martin Luther King Day (versus the Detroit Pistons), and Valentine’s Day against the Phoenix Suns.
Plan your V-Day celebrations accordingly if you want to watch Donovan Mitchell get into another fight with Dillon Brooks.
The season opens on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd. The Cavs play their home opener two days later, on October 24, against the Brooklyn Nets. Cleveland gets a three-game home stand here, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards next.
From there, the start of the season is pretty brutal.
Cleveland plays New York four times before Christmas. Then the 76ers and Thunder twice before Thanksgiving. The Cavs also play the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat twice each before the New Year. There will be no time for slouching in the ‘ber months.
The Cavs aren’t being viewed as the same juggernaut they were going into last season. There’s a general sentiment that the Eastern Conference has passed them by. From huge splashes from the 76ers, Heat, and Raptors to the return of Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers. The league isn’t considering Cleveland as much as they did before.
That should be used as motivation. Every game the Cavs play against an opponent who has ‘lapped’ them should be a chance to debunk the narrative. This tough stretch to open the season could be incredibly rewarding if Cleveland hits the ground running.
A few other dates to keep in mind.
Darius Garland makes his return to Cleveland on New Year’s Eve. LeBron James plays in Cleveland on November 6th and March 1st.
And, lest we forget, the Cavs’ first preseason game begins at home on October 8th against the Boston Celtics.
Cue the “Law & Order: SVU” theme music for Jalen Brunson.
During an appearance on the “Today” show on Thursday, the television show’s star and Knicks fan Mariska Hargitay revealed you could see the NBA Finals MVP on screen soon.
“Don’t tell anyone but see him on ‘SVU,'” she whispered to Savannah Guthrie on Thursday. “Don’t tell anyone but we got some things in the works.”
Actor Mariska Hargitay joins “Today” on Aug. 13, 2026. Hargitay discussed preparing to host the Primetime Emmy Awards and hinted at NBA champion Jalen Brunson making an appearance in the new season of “Law & Order: SVU.” The Today show/NBC
Guthrie knew quickly in her gut it must be true since Hargitay admitted she tells the host “a lot of secrets.”
“I like that! Well, you tell me then, it all comes true,” Guthrie said.
Following the Knicks first NBA championship since 1973, Brunson revealed his offseason plan involved getting on “Law & Order: SVU” alongside Hargitay.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but he’s a world champion, he can do whatever the hell he wants,” Meloni said.
Brunson and Hargitay have formed a strong friendship over the years.
Jalen Brunson and Mariska Hargitay attend the New York Knicks ticker-tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes on July 18, 2026 in New York City.
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Hargitay, 62, is a big Knicks fan and holds down courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.
The two hugged on the court and Hargitay was heard saying, “I love you so much, I’m so happy!”
Prior to that, she sprinted onto the court to embrace Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, who is an assistant under head coach Mike Brown and was a member of the ’99 Knicks squad that reached the Finals.
Hargitay was also on Brunson’s float for the championship parade in lower Manhattan along with her son, August.
Jalen Brunson supported Mariska Hargitay at her new Broadway show “Every Brilliant Thing” on June 26, 2026. Bruce Glikas/WireImage
He, along with his wife Ali, visited Hargitay backstage after the show and her husband, Peter Hermann, was also there for the meet-up.
It’s a special bond that even long-time Knicks fan and actor Ben Stiller envies.
“The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from you postgame is the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan. She gets a hug after a loss,” Stiller said on Brunson’s “Roommates” podcast with Josh Hart.
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 3: P.J Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks boxes out Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the game on November 3, 2025 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets and the rest of the NBA are deep into the 2026 offseason, with all the major roster moves and most of the major NBA stories (outside of Russell Westbrook’s recent retirement announcement) concluded at least before the start of the new season.
Players are taking part in their personal workouts, and organizations are preparing for another shot at a championship. That means it is pretty quiet in NBA circles, but that changed Thursday morning with the arrival of the 2026-27 schedule, as the Rockets and the rest of the NBA now know their opening-night matchup, last regular-season matchup, and everything in between.
Like every offseason ahead of the schedule, we know some of the early games. Unlike last season, the Rockets will not take part in the NBA’s opening-night games. Those two matchups will be Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks.
The Rockets do know a few of the games they will be playing, including an early-season game in Austin vs. the Western Conference Champions, the San Antonio Spurs. With Thursday’s schedule drop, we now know every regular-season opponent for the Rockets. Let’s take a look at some of the interesting games and break down the key details of the Rockets’ 2026-27 schedule.
What stands out about the Rockets’ 2026-27 schedule
When looking at the Rockets’ schedule for this upcoming season, a few things stand out. The Rockets were the darling of the NBA last offseason, and their 28 nationally televised games reflected that. However, after a disappointing end to their 2025-26 season, the Rockets saw their nationally televised games drop to 21 for the upcoming season.
The Rockets started on the road last season, playing opening night in Oklahoma City against the then-defending champions. This season, the Rockets open at home against the upstart Dallas Mavericks. They should be welcoming back Kyrie Irving as he plays his first regular-season game with Cooper Flagg.
The Rockets have 14 back-to-back games this season, with four of those at home, which is a huge advantage for any team. The Rockets also have a home-heavy schedule to start the season.
The Rockets have 15 of their first 25 games at home, pending the results of the NBA Cup tournament, which could add additional home games to their December schedule. In the Rockets’ first 10 games, they will play 7 against teams that made the playoffs last season.
One of the teams that didn’t make it, the Mavericks, is expected to be much better than last season, and the Rockets face them twice in the first 10 games.
When it comes to the road, the Rockets’ longest road trip of the season is five games, from January 18th to the 26th. The Rockets will also have a stretch of 20 of 32 games on the road from December 18th to the All-Star Break.
The Rockets are hoping that, with a fully healthy roster, they can finally advance past the first round, and that quest begins October 21st at home against the Dallas Mavericks.
After three days of gradual releases, the entire 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule was released on Thursday. That offers another resource for fantasy managers to consider when crafting their draft strategies for the fall. Below are a few takeaways from the schedule, beginning with the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.
Of course, it isn't just about how many rest days a team gets, but also about where they land on the calendar. The Spurs, who improved their depth this offseason with the signing of Tobias Harris and selection of Tarris Reed Jr. (Jayden Quaintance is coming off another knee surgery), will have 94 rest days during the 2026-27 regular season. That should help keep Victor Wembanyama relatively fresh after he needed a waiver to be eligible for postseason awards in 2025-26.
The 7-foot-4 phenom played in 64 regular-season games for the Spurs, finishing third in MVP voting and winning Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama is in the conversation to go first overall in fantasy drafts, along with Denver's Nikola Jokić, and those rest days may lead some to go with the younger talent when crafting their rosters. However, it's important to note that San Antonio will play two back-to-backs in its first five games of the season. Given the timing, that should not be a significant issue, but you never know.
The Knicks are tied for the fewest road back-to-back games with five.
Having to play the second game of a back-to-back on the road is never great, but it's a reality for all teams. New York will only have to do this five times, which should be good news for their key fantasy options. Head coach Mike Brown took the necessary steps to reduce the workload of his key players last season, and that approach contributed to the Knicks winning their first title in 53 years.
All five Knicks starters appeared in at least 66 regular-season games, and three (Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges) appeared in 74 or more. Those road back-to-backs may be most impactful for streaming options, whether it's guards Miles McBride or Jose Alvarado or second-year wing Mohamed Diawara. But it should not change anything regarding the Knicks who qualify as must-draft players.
The 76ers have the fewest stretches of three games in four nights.
Given the addition of LeBron James and Joel Embiid's injury history, this is good fortune for the 76ers and fantasy managers who wind up rostering their key players. While he has played 23 NBA regular seasons, James appeared in 60 or fewer games in five of his eight seasons with the Lakers. He played in 60 games last season, which made him ineligible for postseason awards. The good news for fantasy managers was that he missed just four games in March and April, the playoff time for most fantasy leagues.
Embiid's situation is more suspect, as he's appeared in 39, 19 and 38 games his last three seasons. He appeared in a total of five games in March and April last season, including Philadelphia's final three games of March. Having the fewest sets of three games in four nights could bode well for Embiid, and the 76ers need it to be, given the options currently behind him on the depth chart (Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti).
Denver won’t have its first back-to-back until November 29-30
The Nuggets were done a favor on two fronts regarding back-to-backs. First, they'll only have to navigate 12, which is tied for the fewest in the NBA. Also, the Nuggets won't play their first back-to-back until November 29-30. Jamal Murray (75 games) and Nikola Jokić (65) played enough to qualify for postseason honors in 2025-26, but there are other Nuggets who may benefit from the 2026-27 schedule.
Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson (who remains a restricted free agent) all played 54 games or fewer last season, negatively affecting the season-long fantasy values of each. If a lighter back-to-back workload can benefit them, that would be good news for fantasy managers.
The Lakers are one of three teams with three sets of five games in seven nights.
Those congested schedules in which teams are required to play four games in five nights or five in seven can be very demanding, and not just on the players. For some, that may require finding a capable streamer to cover for a player sitting out due to injury management. The Lakers are one of three teams that will have to play five games in seven days on three separate occasions this season.
Luka Dončić (64 games in 2025-26) and Austin Reaves (51) are coming off a season in which they missed extended periods due to injury, and offseason acquisition Walker Kessler only played five games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. While there may not be much margin for error in the middle of the Western Conference, there may be times when a Lakers star gets a night off, opening the door for someone else to step up as a potential streamer.
The Pelicans have two back-to-backs in their first five games.
The Spurs aren't the only team that will have to play two back-to-backs in its first five games. New Orleans is also on that list, and there may be greater concern for them given their injury history. Zion Williamson appeared in 62 games last season, a step in the right direction, but there will always be concerns about his availability. Trey Murphy and Herb Jones have dealt with injuries in the past, but the former did appear in 66 games in 2025-26. And Dejounte Murray did not return from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in January 2025 until after the All-Star break, appearing in 14 games before being shut down in early April.
In addition to those two back-to-backs to begin the season, New Orleans will play nine before the calendar flips to 2027, and they have the most instances of three games in four nights (27). Figuring out the direction the Pelicans are headed can be tricky, especially with the need to further incorporate Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Beyond the back-to-backs, this may be a team to keep an eye on at the trade deadline, given its mix of veterans and young players.
Boston, Dallas and New Orleans lead the league with 16 back-to-backs.
In recent years, the NBA has made strides in limiting the number of back-to-backs teams are asked to play. All 30 will play between 12 and 16 in 2026-27, with the Celtics, Mavericks and Pelicans leading the way. Dallas is a team to watch here due to Kyrie Irving missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, and centers Daniel Gafford (55 games played) and Dereck Lively II (seven games played) missing extended time due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Those back-to-backs may not give Irving much room for error regarding postseason honors, while the availability of the post players will impact rookie Morez Johnson Jr.'s fantasy ceiling.
As for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum appeared in 16 regular-season games upon returning from a ruptured Achilles, and Paul George totaled 78 games in two seasons with the 76ers. Of the two, Tatum is the one who will merit first-round consideration in drafts, especially with Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia. As for George, while the Celtics' offensive system could benefit him, the availability concerns may still knock him down most draft boards.
Draymond Green has never been shy about challenging the NBA’s power structure, and the Golden State Warriors veteran is now taking aim at one of the league’s foundational economic rules: the salary cap.
Nolan Traore of the Brooklyn Nets defends against Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers during the second quarter at The Barclays Center on Friday, January 9, 2026. (Charles Wenzelberg) Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“If the punishments aren’t steep, everybody should do it,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show.
“If it’s just gonna be a slap on the wrist, then everybody should do it, and every player should be trying to do it.”
Green went further, suggesting the controversy should reopen the entire debate over limiting player compensation.
“Let the punishment be getting rid of the salary cap,” he said.
There is a reasonable labor argument buried inside Green’s provocation. The NBA’s 2026-27 salary cap is $164.961 million, with a second apron at $221.686 million. Star players drive a huge portion of the league’s value, and the system places limits not only on team spending but, through maximum salaries, on what its best players can command.
But Green’s suggestion that everybody should exploit the same avenue if the punishment is weak is harder to defend.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green sits courtside during the fourth quarter of a game between the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto Tempo at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Kelley L Cox) Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
If the Leonard allegations are proven to involve prohibited compensation outside his NBA contract, that would not be a clever loophole. It would be circumvention of collectively bargained rules. There is a difference between finding an advantage inside the rulebook and deciding a rule is worth breaking because the penalty is manageable.
The latter could create an arms race in which the richest owners and teams with the most valuable outside relationships have the easiest time creating hidden compensation.
Eliminating the cap would remove that incentive, but it could create a different imbalance.
Kawhi Leonard attends the match between Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Naomi Osaka of Japan during the quarterfinals on day ten of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario. (2026 Getty Images) Getty Images
MLB set precedent
Major League Baseball provides the clearest American example. MLB has no salary cap, and the enormous spending disparity has become one of the central issues in baseball’s increasingly contentious labor fight.
That does not mean baseball is inherently uncompetitive. Small-market clubs still develop stars and contend, while research has challenged the assumption that salary caps automatically improve competitive balance. That study found more consistent evidence that revenue sharing, rather than a cap itself, helped address disparities between teams.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto receives his ring from Mark Walters at the World Series ring ceremony before game two of the series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. (2026 Carlin Stiehl) Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Still, basketball magnifies the risk of concentrated talent. One elite player can influence an NBA game far more than one baseball player can. Without meaningful spending restraints, a handful of high-revenue franchises could theoretically stack multiple superstars at prices smaller-market teams could not justify.
There could also be consequences for players below the superstar tier. An uncapped market might send even more money toward the very best players without guaranteeing owners become equally generous with role players. Removing the ceiling does not remove each franchise’s appetite for profit.
Golden State Warriors’ JaVale McGee, top left, Kevin Durant, top center, Stephen Curry, center right, and Draymond Green, top right, join the rest of their team as they pose with the trophy after their 129-115 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in San Antonio. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP
Green is on firmer ground when he questions why player earnings should be constrained while franchise valuations explode. That argument received another jolt this week when the Lakers were sold for a record $12.5 billion.
But the answer to a restrictive system is not necessarily no system at all.
The more serious conversation may be whether the NBA has the right one: stronger revenue sharing, different maximum-salary rules, less punitive apron restrictions or a larger share of basketball-related income for players.
And if the league concludes that someone crossed the line in the Leonard case, the solution is straightforward: make the punishment strong enough that breaking the rules is not simply another cost of doing business.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles past Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards finally have a team worth watching for more than whoever happens to be visiting Capital One Arena. With AJ Dybantsa beginning his NBA career in the nation’s capital, several home games stand out — especially when another top player comes to town.
Here is a very subjective top five home games to see in person this season now that the 2026-27 schedule is out.
1. Philadelphia 76ers — Wednesday, Mar. 18, 7 p.m. ET
This is the obvious No. 1: Dybantsa vs. LeBron James.
With James now in Philadelphia, this matchup adds to the relative regional rivalry between D.C. and the City of Brotherly Love. At 42, there also aren’t going to be many more chances to see James play in Washington.
While Philadelphia returns on April 2 at 7 p.m., it’s also possible that the 76ers (or the Wizards) could start taking “load management” measures before the postseason.
2. San Antonio Spurs — Thursday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET
Dybantsa vs. Victor Wembanyama on New Year’s Day.
That’s enough to make this one of the year’s best tickets. It’s San Antonio’s only trip to Washington, and the 5 p.m. holiday start makes it a great time to watch an NBA basketball game after celebrating New Year’s Day the night before.
3. Utah Jazz — Friday, Mar. 6, 7 p.m. ET
Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson were the two biggest names entering the 2026 NBA Draft, and now Washington gets its first Capital One Arena look at the two young stars against each other. This is also a matchup between Dybantsa’s current team against an NBA team in the state where he played college basketball last season at Brigham Young.
Utah only visits Washington once, making March 6 the date for anyone who wants to watch what could become one of Dybantsa’s intra-draft class rivalries.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder — Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m. ET
This is a measuring-stick game.
Rather than another rookie storyline, Dybantsa and the Wizards get to see how they stack up against one of the NBA’s elite teams and the 2024-25 NBA champions. Besides the fact that OKC is a Western Conference team, the Thunder are still a pretty young team, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s like this is the Wizards playing a potential future version of themselves.
5. Golden State Warriors — March 27, 7 p.m.
Stephen Curry is getting older, which means every remaining trip to Washington is worth appreciating. When this game is on a Friday night, and when Dybantsa faces off against Curry (though not directly), this is a good game to circle.
What about the Knicks?
I’ll be honest. The New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions. They’ll visit Washington twice: Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m. and Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m. If I had a sixth slot and really wanted to see the Wizards play the defending champions at home, the December game is the better bet.
That said, Washington will be an underdog to New York either way, and matchups against Western Conference teams are scarce. They just play in D.C. one time a year.
What keeps New York outside my top five is simply scarcity. You get two opportunities to see the Knicks. There is only one home game against Wembanyama, Peterson, Gilgeous-Alexnader and Curry. James on the other hand is the oldest player and still one of the best players in the league, so watch him while you still can.
Oklahoma City Thunder
New York Knicks
San Antonio Spurs
Golden State Warriors
Utah Jazz
Dallas Mavericks
Los Angeles Lakers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers
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TOR
CLE
ATL
ORL
CHA
MIL
MIA
CHI
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Kurt Helin
