Joel Embiid had something to tell Tyrese Maxey after the Sixers walked off the Madison Square Garden floor victorious Tuesday night.
“I told Tyrese after the game, I was like, ‘We’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years, and tonight felt a lot different than in the past,’” Embiid said.
In one important way, it was.
The Sixers scored 24 fast-break points, their most against the Knicks since Feb. 4, 2011, when they scored 26. Only that 2011 total was higher across the 63 Sixers-Knicks meetings covered by Sportradar’s game logs dating to the start of the 2010-11 season.
Maxey accounted for half of the 24.
That production carried the Sixers through a difficult shooting night in their 106-100 season-opening win. Philadelphia shot 41.6 percent from the field and went 11 for 40 from three-point range. Embiid went 5 for 15. LeBron James went 5 for 13. Jaylen Brown missed 11 of his 18 shots.
The Sixers made up for it by forcing 14 turnovers and converting them into 22 points. Maxey scored nine of those points and finished with 12 on the fast break. He led Philadelphia with 28 points in a team-high 39 minutes and 34 seconds.
“He doesn’t seem like he gets tired,” James said.
Brown wants Maxey applying that pressure throughout those minutes.
“I want him to continue to do that for the whole game if he can,” Brown said.
“They’ve all been on me about being aggressive,” Maxey said. “Every last one of them.”
The Sixers spent the offseason talking about playing faster. Maxey was always going to be central to that plan. It took less than a minute for him to show why.
With 11:04 remaining in the first quarter, Maxey stole a Karl-Anthony Towns pass. Three seconds later, he pulled up from 26 feet and gave the Sixers a 6-0 lead.
The play showed why Maxey can be so damaging before a defense gets set. Rather than drive toward a retreating defender, he stopped behind the three-point line and took the open shot New York’s turnover created.
“Speed. Speed,” Brown said when asked what stood out about playing alongside Maxey. “His ability to just take off and put a defense in a tough spot, the pressure he puts on.”
Maxey’s impact in transition went beyond his 12 points.
With 7:15 remaining in the third quarter, he collected a Jalen Brunson miss and found James for a layup four seconds later. Early in the fourth, Embiid blocked an Andre Drummond dunk attempt and James grabbed the rebound. Five seconds after Embiid’s block, Maxey was finishing through contact at the other end.
The three-point play stretched Philadelphia’s lead to nine.
The Sixers’ best transition possessions did not all start with steals. Some began with rim protection or a defensive rebound, which made their second-half improvement on defense important to how they generated offense.
“If we can find spaces for him to get out and run, he’s going to create offense for everybody when he does that,” Brown said. “So just continue to use his speed, continue to use his skill to get downhill, and that’s going to be great for us.”
The Knicks felt every bit of that pressure.
“All throughout the game, it looked like we were running in mud,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said, according to the New York Post.
The Sixers scored seven fast-break points in the first half, then added 17 in the second.
“That’s where the game was won and lost, especially in the third quarter when our starters were out there,” Brown said.
The Sixers outscored New York 29-18 in the third, turning a four-point halftime deficit into a seven-point advantage. Their half-court offense remained uneven, but their defense kept creating chances to score before the Knicks could organize.
“Defense kept us afloat,” Embiid said. “We couldn’t make shots.”
Maxey has steadily become more productive in those situations.
Excluding his rookie season, when he made eight starts, his fast-break scoring average has increased every year. It rose from 3.3 points per game in 2021-22 to 3.9, 4.0, 4.7 and then 5.5 last season.
Maxey led the NBA with 382 total fast-break points in 2025-26 and tied for second in per-game production. The only player ahead of him was James at 5.7.
Now they are teammates.
Playing beside James, Brown and Embiid could reduce the number of possessions Maxey needs to create from a standstill. It could also produce more of the opportunities that suit him best.
James can grab a rebound and throw an outlet pass. Brown and VJ Edgecombe can force turnovers or fill a lane. Embiid can protect the rim and begin a possession before Maxey races in the opposite direction.
Tuesday was Maxey’s 23rd regular-season game with at least 10 fast-break points. Before the opener, he had averaged 3.9 fast-break points across 18 regular-season meetings with New York. His previous high against the Knicks was nine, a mark he had reached three times before scoring 12 Tuesday.
Philadelphia reached 24 fast-break points only nine times during the entire 2025-26 regular season. In those games, the Sixers averaged 21.9 points off turnovers. They landed almost exactly on that combination Tuesday.
Maxey’s final basket provided the clearest example.
With New York within four points, Maxey intercepted OG Anunoby’s pass and immediately accelerated in the opposite direction. Three seconds after the steal, he dunked and forced the Knicks to call timeout.
“Tyrese was keeping us afloat offensively while me, I didn’t have it going and some of the other guys,” Embiid said. “And then defensively, he’s taken a step being better.”
The Sixers still have considerable work ahead. Their spacing, timing and lineup combinations remain unfinished. Brown said the group is “not even at the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to building chemistry.
But their first game showed how they can survive when their shots are not falling. Their defense can create openings, and Maxey can turn those openings into points before the opposition gets settled.
James has played with hundreds of teammates over 24 seasons. When asked for a player whose speed resembled Maxey’s, he named Dennis Schröder, his teammate during two separate stints with the Lakers.
Otherwise, James struggled to find an equal.
“He’s one of the fastest guys in the league, if not the fastest, with or without the ball,” James said. “That’s just going to be key for our team, to continue to put pressure on the defense. Obviously, he consistently can do that.”
LeBron James is a four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer [Getty Images]
LeBron James scored 14 points on his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers as they defeated champions the New York Knicks on the NBA season's opening night.
The 41-year-old James, entering a record-extending 24th season in the league with his fourth team after his summer move from the LA Lakers, also racked up seven assists as his new side triumphed 106-100.
Tyrese Maxey top-scored with 28 points for the 76ers, while Jaylen Brown, who also made his debut after joining the 76ers from the Boston Celtics in a high profile trade for Paul George, scored 19 points with eight rebounds and six assists.
The Knicks enjoyed title celebrations prior to the match, raising their third title banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden in the presence of a crowd that included celebrity Knicks fans Ben Stiller and Spike Lee.
The Knicks ended a 53-year title drought with their victory over the San Antonio Spurs in last season's NBA Finals but were unable to open their season with a win as the 76ers held out after taking the lead in the third quarter.
Jalen Brunson led the scoring for the Knicks with 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns picked up 19 points with 12 rebounds.
"I could be a lot better," James told broadcaster NBC. "Still getting my rhythm, obviously just a little bit over two weeks with the new squad.
"But I like the way we played. I think we played exceptionally well, especially defensively."
In the opening match of the NBA's 81st season, the Detroit Pistons fought back in the second half to win 121-113 against the Boston Celtics.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren added 22 points each and Duncan Robinson scored 15 of his 21 in the fourth quarter as the home side secured their victory with a 23-0 scoring run.
Celtics debutant Paul George scored 38 points for his new side in a match between last season's top two regular-season teams.
In the night's final encounter, back-to-back NBA most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder as they completed a 116-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Stephon Castle top-scored for the Spurs with 24 points but his side were unable to match the form that saw them put out defending champions Thunder in last season's Western Conference finals.
Victor Wembanyama made just one basket in 13 attempts for the Spurs but contributed 13 rebounds and six blocked shots and scored 12 points largely thanks to 10 free throws.
"Obviously, this is the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"But for us, I think it was more like we're just happy to be back. It's a longer summer when you don't win and we felt that this summer."
The New York Knicks received their title rings from Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, a member of the franchise's previous title-winning teams in 1970 and 1973 [Getty Images]
SAN ANTONIO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their season with a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the team that ended their dreams of a title defense last season.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama had 12 points but was 1 for 13 from the field. It was his fewest field goals since going 2 for 5 against Minnesota on May 10. Wembanyama’s lone field goal came on an alley-oop pass from De’Aaron Fox as time expired in the third quarter.
Wembanyama missed his first 12 shots, including having an alley-oop attempt blocked by 7-foot-3 rookie Aday Mara.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 32 points, drives on Victor Wembanyama during the Thunder’s 116-104 win over the Spurs on Oct. 20, 2026 in San Antonio. Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Jared McCain added 20 points on 6-for-8 shooting on 3-pointers as Oklahoma City led for all but the opening five minutes of the game.
Nearly five months apart did not cool this heated rivalry.
Three minutes into the second quarter Fox received a Flagrant Foul 1 for tossing Chet Holmgren to the court after they became entangled in the paint.
The body slam led to a huge scrum with Wembanyama and Jaylin Williams having to be separated after pushing each other. Wembanyama, Williams, Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams each received a technical for the dust up.
Victor Wembanyam, who scored just 12 points, looks to make a move on Aday Mara during the Spurs’ loss to the Thunder. Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Oklahoma City went on a 9-0 run after the scuffle with Jalen and Kenrich Williams accounting for five points. Harrison Barnes’ 3-pointer ended the run, but the Thunder responded by scoring 13 straight capped by Cason Wallace’s 3-pointer for a 59-33 lead.
Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 31-16 in the second quarter in taking a 65-44 lead at the half.
The Spurs opened the second half on a 23-9 run to pull within single digits after trailing by 26 in the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain stepped up when San Antonio pulled close, combining for 25 points in the second half.
The Knicks were, as Mike Brown said, stuck in the mud on both ends of the floor in a loss to the Sixers.
They allowed too many points in transition (17 in the second half). They had too many costly turnovers (76ers had 22 points off Knick turnovers). And they didn’t get enough easy baskets on offense (New York’s starters combined for just five assists on 35 percent shooting in the first three quarters).
There will be plenty for New York to clean up ahead of Friday’s game at Boston — Jalen Brunson believes that some positives can come from the ugly opening night loss.
“I think it's good for us to, you know, kind of get knocked down off the mountain. Humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what's gonna happen,” the Knick captain said.
Brunson has said several times already that the Knicks will learn a lot about themselves in the first few weeks of the season. They will be hunted by new teams with fresh legs. Ten of their first 15 games are against playoff teams. And one of the non-playoff teams they face is an Indiana team with Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt.
“I’ve told you guys since Day One. Whatever happens this first couple weeks of the season, it’s going to show who we truly are. So, let's see.”
MELO BULLISH ON KNICKS
Carmelo Anthony knows more than anyone not to make too much of the first game of the season.
Regardless of what happened on Tuesday, Anthony sees the Knicks as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
“For me, it’s very simple. I think the Knicks are still in the driver’s seat. I think they have an opportunity to really get off to a good start,” Anthony said Monday night at an NBA Tip Off event for American Express. “Especially with the way they played at the end of the season… I think going through what they went through, how they won, will help them [at the start] of the season."
Anthony was at the Garden working Knicks-Sixers for NBC. It was his first time attending a game since New York’s Game 4 win in the Finals.
Anthony, like the rest of us, was in awe of the Knicks’ comeback and the OG Anunoby tip-in to seal it.
“That’s probably the greatest moment, to me, in sports, almost. When you really think about it, that moment, the way that the Knicks were down, the way they were losing. Down 20, the fans still in there, it was still a packed house. The way that they just rallied back. And it came down to that OG tipoff,” Anthony said Monday night. “It’s funny how, in Knicks history, you can go from the dark days of missing the tip in to making the tip-in. That’s how the universe works, 53 years later.”
Anthony spent last weekend at an American Express event near the NBA Store in Manhattan. The event took place in a bus that was transformed into a showroom of vintage NBA collectibles. Anthony was on hand to meet and greet cardholders and fans.
“It was nice to kind of get back to that environment with the fans, up close and personal at the NBA Store,” he said. “Brought me back to my playing days.”
It'll be the first time in eight years that James won't be suiting up at Crypto.com Arena to open the season (not counting the sciatica injury that delayed his 2025 debut). This is now unquestionably Luka Dončić's team. The roster has been re-shaped around him to show for it.
But are they better off?
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka wasted no time in overhauling the team with the roughly $52 million in cap space created by James' departure in free agency for the Philadelphia 76ers. The first priority was locking in Austin Reaves long-term. They got him on a four-year, $184.8 million contract. The next box to check was acquiring a franchise center; they traded for Walker Kessler.
The third item on the offseason agenda was to sign players who could dribble, pass and shoot. Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams and Jaden Hardy check all those boxes.
There's a depth to this Lakers squad that previous iterations of this team simply couldn't afford. They seem to be tight knit after the offseason trip to Slovenia helped kickstart their chemistry. There's a level excitement among the players and third-year head coach JJ Redick, who's changing the defensive scheme to feature Kessler in a similar fashion to how the Spurs used Victor Wembanyama in their Finals run a year ago.
"I think this is going to be a team that is really committed to each other," Redick told reporters on Tuesday. "And that can take you a long way."
Walker Kessler lays it in for his first Lakers preseason bucket 👏
The new core of Dončić, Reaves and Kessler played just 13 minutes together in the preseason. The Lakers also aren't entering Wednesday's season opener against the Golden State Warriors at their healthiest: Collin Sexton, who is expected to be their primary ballhandler off the bench and pair nicely with Mamu, is questionable with a right calf strain. Williams impressed in the preseason and could potentially crack the starting five, but he's had limited time on the floor as well with a foot injury that seems to be cleared up by now.
Adou Thiero is out with fluid buildup in his surgically repaired left knee, while rookie Cameron Carr is dealing with a right oblique strain.
USA TODAY Sports projected the Lakers to finish 48-34 this season, particularly because of how hard it is to predict this team with so many new faces. Redick and Dončić have emphasized that there will be a need for patience as this team adjusts to each other.
"I think the biggest unknown to me is how this team deals with adversity," said Redick, who re-inforced that predictions don't mean anything. "And that's different for every team, and that's different maybe how we deal with adversity in November versus how we deal with adversity in March. Hopefully there's growth throughout the season so that we can deal with adversity in the right way, and that ultimately will prepare us for a deep playoff run."
Whether or not they're better off without LeBron is a question that will have to be answered at a later date.
What a difference a summer — and getting healthy — makes. Oklahoma City believes that if it had been healthy in the Western Conference Finals — specifically Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — it would have had a chance to return to the NBA Finals and defend its title. Instead, they fell in 7 to the Spurs.
Game 1 of the 2026-27 season made the Thunder's point.
Behind an elite defense and 32 points from reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder comfortably beat the Spurs 116-104 in San Antonio.
While SGA looked like an MVP, Victor Wembanyama struggled offensively, missing 12 straight shots, shooting 1-of-13 from the floor, and finishing with 12 points. He grabbed 13 rebounds and had 6 blocks — he was brilliant defensively — but the Spurs needed more offense from him.
It's easy to forget that the Thunder had the best defense in the NBA last season — by a wide margin — and that showed for long stretches of this game. For the night, San Antonio shot just 38.7% from the floor, and were 10-of-37 (27%) from beyond the arc.
OKC took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 31-16, in part because the Thunder hit 5-of-8 from 3.
Jared McCain knocked down six 3-pointers and finished with 20.
Jared McCain tied his career high with his SIXTH triple in crunch time! NBA Tip-Off on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/Fr0NsfMNqV
Chet Holmgren was more aggressive on offense — to the point that De'Aaron Fox picked up a technical for throwing him to the ground — and finished with 14 points, while Jalen Williams had 12 points in his return but struggled with 5-of-16 shooting.
Stephon Castle had 24 points and Dylan Harper 18 for the Spurs.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 2026 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After spotting Oklahoma City a 21 point halftime lead, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper keyed a Spurs push spanning the third and fourth quarters that fell short under the glare of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s heady bucket getting combined with timely and accurate shooting from his supporting cast.
San Antonio failed to demonstrate what Gregg Popovich would describe as ‘appropriate fear’ over most of a disappionting first half in its season opening loss to Oklahoma City. The tale of the Spurs’ futile first half included 14-for-48 from the field (including 0-for-7 from Victor Wembanyama) and failing to stem the tide of the Thunder’s execution (10-for-14 from three) to go down as much as 26 before finding its footing on both ends in a better second half.
Wembanyama (12 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 blocks) suffered an 0-fer from the field through nearly three quarters, and San Antonio thus needed every bit of its production from Stephon Castle (24 points and 7 rebounds) and De’Aaron Fox (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) to keep pace. Keldon Johnson (10 points and 2 steals) provided some nasty off the bench. Dylan Harper (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) appeared to roll his ankle after scoring the team’s first basket of the fourth quarter, but returned to action moments later.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 points, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) led a (mostly) poised Thunder effort, while Chet Holmgren (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks) availed himself well after a disappointing conference finals. Jared McCain (20 points) and Alex Caruso (9 points and 7 rebounds) keyed Oklahoma City to its lead in the first period and beyond.
The teams battled with a frenzied pace early on that resembled their late May battles but with far fewer makes. Oklahoma City pieced together a 7-0 run to briefly leap ahead and kept that advantage over the final three periods. The Spurs shook off the rust and shared the ball better from the halfway point on, and seven Spurs scored over the first nine minutes. McCain and Caruso led a surprising three-point shooting barrage that portended future doom – pushing the Thunder out ahead 34-28.
After the fireworks of the first quarter, the teams combined for just three total in the first three minutes of the second. The residual bad blood between the teams came to a boil when Fox fouled Holmgren, and the teams had a baseball-style meeting on the mound in the Thunder frontcourt. San Antonio lost its composure from there and the Thunder took advantage of their mental lapses to soar ahead. While the Spurs saw many shots fail to find their target, the Thunder’s halfcourt and transition execution helped the lead balloon to as much as 26.
The highly-anticipated starting guard group of Fox, Harper, and Castle kickstarted a Spurs run to start the third. Any progress that San Antonio made seemed to be answered either by Jalen Williams or Gilgeous-Alexander. Fox repeatedly charted a path through the Thunder paint to score a handful of needed baskets. While the Spurs were able to close within single digits on several occasions, Gilgeous-Alexander converted some Kobe-like shots to keep distance between Oklahoma City and the Spurs. Wembanyama finally made his first field goal at the quarter-end buzzer, but San Antonio still was down 13.
Observations
The spotlight lighting on the court (darkened crowd) is wholly appropriate.
Enough of the national pundits’ predictions for this newborn season! Here are our esteemed PtR writers’ set of predictions! Given that tanking is being more sternly looked at, I see us going 56-26!
I’m so very happy that Lu Dort took his careening bull-in-a-china shop ways to the other conference.
Since it’s behind a subscriber paywall, San Antonio made it again to #1 on Zach Lowe’s League Pass Rankings and these nuggets are pretty cool to see: “The defending Western Conference champions offer so much beyond the all-court authority of Victor Wembanyama—starting with the electric, relentless young guard duo of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper,” “He is almost certainly their best perimeter defender, though Carter Bryant might have something to say about that soon. Being guarded by Castle seems like a nightmare. You can practically feel him through your screen, bumping his poor mark chest-to-chest full court, staying attached at the hip on screens, reaching for every dribble, rising in time with jump shooters,” “Devin Vassell sports one of the league’s silkiest jumpers,” and in conclusion ”The silver-and-black color scheme is unimpeachable, with occasional fiesta nights brightening the scene. The Coyote is a pants-optional riot, his green, coked-out eyes sometimes tilting 90 degrees so they droop vertically over his snout.“
Gilgeous-Alexander did not fall to the floor on THREE of his first quarter fadeaways. #PROGRESS
Carter Bryant – a big NOPE in the first period and unsurprisingly sat the rest of the game.
Sequence of the Game #1: On a first quarter drive, Harper, looking like he was in trouble deep in the paint, found a diving Kornet for a power dunk.
Sequence of the Game #2: Just like the above sequence, Keldon Johnson soon after rambled down the court before glimpsing Kornet in the paint for a lob dunk.
Game Rundown
With Wembanyama operating from the Dirk spot, he fed Vassell in the deep corner for the first bucket of the campaign. After two Castle bricks, Holmgren and Harper converted physical layups. Fox went to the bench for Champagnie four minutes in – making the Spurs’ lineup noticeably taller. Coach Johnson challenged an early foul whistled on Wembanyama, and it was overturned due to Hartenstein interfering with the action. Wembanyama drew Hartenstein’s second foul midway through the frame, which brought in Adey Mara – the rookie certainly didn’t embarrass himself in his 10+ minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander’s third field goal put the Thunder up two. Two McCain buckets put the Thunder up eight before Fox and the Spurs countered with their own 6-0 run. However, a pair of Caruso triples supplied Oklahoma City a comfortable six point cushion exiting the first.
Both teams found the scoring to be far more difficult in a roughshod and combative second period. Castle was laid out by a Jaylin Williams screen to cause a Thunder turnover. Fox committed a hard foul on Holmgren which caused a commotion between the teams which resulted in THREE different Williams’ confronting Fox and Wembanyama. Fox was assigned a Flagrant 1, while Wembanyama and the three Williams’ were assessed technicals – setting an unofficial NBA surname technical record. A Kenrich Williams three and deflating Jalen Williams breakaway layup put Oklahoma City 46-30. Harrison Barnes 100% made the Spurs’ first basket 4 1/2 minutes into the second. Wembanyama swatted away consecutive Holmgren attempts, but as San Antonio field goal percentage sank below 30%, back-to-back scores from Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder up 18. Harper’s rebound and putback trimmed the Spur deficit momentarily but were unable to make a run thereafter. Oklahoma City left the first half up 21.
San Antonio’s trio of starting guards – Fox, Harper, and Castle – pieced together an opening 9-0 run to start the second half. Vassell picked up three quick fouls checking Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. Castle’s second three brought the Spurs within ten and woke a muted Frost Bank crowd. Castle saw his third three go down to offset a pair of Jalen Williams’ lay-ins. An action-packed sequence saw Castle lose his shoe on a lay-up and Wembanyama swat away an OKC attempt at the other end and dove to the floor to wrest away a loose ball. Johnson’s and-1 again inched the Spurs within ten. Gilgeous-Alexander’s shotmaking prowess helped keep San Antonio at bay. A Johnson foul on Mara that coincided with a shot-clock violation was reiewed and overturned. Fox’s dribble-drive success made up for Wembanyama’s stunning ineffectiveness. After two missed Wembanyama free throws, Gilgeous-Alexander connected on an and-1 to put the Thunder up 13 after three.
For the Thunder fan’s perspective, please visit Daily Thunder.
San Antonio hosts Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets on Friday October 23 at 8;30 PM CDT on Prime Video.
The new-look 76ers were the ones celebrating by the end of the evening.
LeBron James, Jaylen Brown & Co. ruined the festivities, reminding the Knicks last year is now in the past with a 106-100 victory in front of a sold-out Garden crowd Tuesday night.
Jaylen Brown goes up for a shot in the third quarter of the Knicks’ 106-100 win over the 76ers on Oct. 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It’s good, what we wanted to do, be a little spoiler,” Brown said after scoring 19 points and adding eight rebounds and six assists in his 76ers debut. “The Knicks’ accomplishment is great, but it’s a new season, new year.”
The 76ers are expected to be one of the Knicks’ top threats in the Eastern Conference after adding James and Brown in the offseason to the core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Maxey torched the Knicks for 28 points and James added 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Philly took control with a 29-18 third quarter in which Brown scored 10 points.
In crunch time, the 76ers locked down Jalen Brunson, holding him to 1-for-5 shooting.
“I don’t think we sent a message. We’re just trying to win as many games as possible, stack days,” Brown said. “It’s still early for us. We’re still figuring out a lot of stuff. We still have a lot to learn and grow, but it’s good to learn and grow and win at the same time.”
LeBron James (left) and center Joel Embiid (21) stand on the court during the fourth quarter of the 76ers’ win. Jason Szenes for NY Post
“I told Tyrese after the game, I was like, ‘We’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years.’ And, tonight felt a little different,” Embiid said.
Had the Knicks not won it all last June, James and agent Rich Paul have said he would have joined them. But the title changed that. Knicks fans reminded James that the Knicks won a championship without him.
When he was at the free-throw line in the first half, they chanted: “We don’t want you.”
“It is a great night for New York fans, 50-plus years. I was a part of that at one point where we hadn’t won a major championship in Cleveland in over 50 years,” James said. “The fans will never forget this moment, and will never forget that championship run. We’re happy just to be able to come and play on such a historical night in a historical building and play the game we love.”
After a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on banner night at Madison Square Garden, Knicks head coach Mike Brown was clear about his disappointment in his team's poor attention to detail.
"There were some things that we could've done better," Brown began. "Our transition defense was not good with our starting group in the third quarter. All throughout the game, we looked like we were running in mud; whether it was in the front court or it was in transition, we were not good getting to our spots and putting pressure on Philadelphia the right way ... That's where the game was won and lost."
Facing their newly-revamped Eastern Conference rivals, who added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to their already-stacked roster in the offseason, was always going to be a challenge.
It didn't help, Brown said, that New York failed to execute in small ways up and down the court.
"If we're going to play like we did, it don't matter who it is. It's going to be a long night for us," Brown said. "We have to make sure we focus on the little things -- Are we sprinting to the corner? Are we touching the paint and trying to spray it? When we do spray it, are we relocating and spacing the floor the right way so our teammates can now drive the basketball? ... Those are the little things that don't necessarily add up in the stat sheet that I didn't think we were good at tonight offensively, and then just sprinting back defensively and making sure we build a wall."
"All throughout the game, we looked like we were running in mud." Mike Brown's opening statement after the Knicks' loss to the 76ers, which he says was a "tough ballgame to watch for me" https://t.co/4CBo2DPGfV
As a team, the Knicks shot just 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from the arc. They turned the ball over 15 times for 22 points, and they allowed 28 total fast-break points (19 in the second half alone).
No one played particularly well individually either: OG Anunoby went 3-for-12, Mikal Bridges was 2-for-8, Deuce McBride went 1-for-5. After a historic effort in which he became the first Knicks player to record a first-half double-double in the season opener, Andre Drummond finished 5-for-13. Even Jalen Brunson, whose 21 points led the team, went just 6-for-19 (though he did knock down all eight of his free throw attempts).
"We have to finish with authority or some form of aggression, or what we do, which is spray the basketball," Brown said. "We've got to do a better job of those things: hit the paint, play off of two [feet], finish strong, or spray it ... You can't shoot 42 percent for the game in the paint while you're turning the ball over, while you're getting beat in transition."
In the playoffs, the Knicks quickly became known for their dynamic fourth-quarter comebacks, often spearheaded by a series of heroic buckets from Brunson. The Finals MVP attempted to pull from the same bag of tricks in the final five minutes of Tuesday's game, but it wasn't enough to beat a team like Philadelphia. A missed three with 10 seconds to play sealed New York's fate for the evening.
Understandably, Brown said he never wants to rely on being a team that can rally late.
"If we would've played the right way, it wouldn't come down to [Brunson's three]. We put ourselves in the hole not doing the other little things, and sometimes it works at the end of the games, and sometimes it doesn't," he said. "We have to watch the film, regroup, and go see how we can put a stretch of 48 minutes together the right way to try to get a win."
Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished the night second on the team in points (19) and total rebounds (12) but led the team in turnovers (4), admitted that no team is capable of using that strategy this early in the season -- not even one like the Knicks, who retained all but one of their core players from the championship squad.
“I just thought that we put ourselves too much in a deficit,” Towns said. “We're not that Knick team yet from last year. We had that spark, we had that execution, we had that time to figure it out as everyone, and I just think too early in the season we're trying to rely on that playoff Knick team you saw last year."
Despite the messy outcome, Brunson said he isn't taking the loss to heart.
In fact, he said an early loss may even help his team battle through the 81 games still left in the regular season.
"I think it's good for us to kind of get knocked down off the mountain," he said. "Humble ourselves, put our egos in check, and see what's gonna happen. Whatever happens these first couple weeks of the season -- that's gonna show who we truly are."
"I think it's good for us to kind of get knocked down off the mountain, humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what's going to happen." Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks losing tonight and how it can help them improve: https://t.co/sDFWPHE4Lh
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks blocks the shot from Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
They certainly did, just as Muruju rightfully mentioned in the Postgame. It’s usually the only thing coaches can really be proud of in a season opener because not much else of your summer plans worked out. Rotations are still clunky, outside shots are still on vacation, chemistry doesn’t feel like chemistry. All of these were true for both the Philadelphia 76ers and your New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the guys from the “City of Brotherly Love” at least have the win to feel good about.
If you’re a historically accomplished but gigantically insecure four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer, that maybe seemed “special” to you, but overall the fact remains that season openers always get way too much talk and not nearly enough perspective. Some might quip, “Easy for you to say, fan of a losing team on Opening Night,” and rightfully so. But seriously, nothing happened on the shiny Madison Square Garden floor last night that should worry anyone who likes orange and blue more than red and blue. Nothing, nada, nichts! At least not for now.
New Knicks season, old problems
Mikal Bridges disappearing offensively was a problem last season, remember? KAT foul trouble? Yup, heard that one before. Inconsistent point of attack defense, lack of secondary creation, spotty free-throw shooting? Shut up, Captain Obvious! Most of the problems the Knicks had last night have been part of their DNA for quite some time now, and it doesn’t change the fact that this is still mostly the same team that earned this beautiful banner going up into the rafters of the World’s Most Famous Arena before the game. A team that can still look back on a historically dominant postseason run in which they didn’t just win a title but annihilated teams along the way.
That team, for the most part, also did a fairly decent job of showing up against Philly, considering how often champions struggle the first time back in serious game action. The Knicks didn’t play entitled, fought hard for loose balls, and matched the intensity of the Sixers, who clearly were out to prove all that talk about them being a superteam is real (shhh, I’d say it isn’t, but nevermind). The Knicks got dealt a tough hand with early foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns, but it didn’t even seem to matter as newly aquired Knick Andre Drummond channeled his inner Moses Malone. If the Knicks somehow had found a way to win, he would have been one of the biggest stories of the game. Unfortunately, he finished more like Jerome James later on, blowing close-range opportunity after close-range opportunity. Still, hats off to the big guy; the Knicks never thought that they would need him for 24 minutes.
How the Knicks and Sixers matched up
What they probably thought, though, was that Jalen Brunson would have a better time finishing in the lane. Philly’s seemingly antiquated remnants of an older NBA are still incredibly effective, but the reigning Finals MVP creates like nobody else in the league. The captain and newly crowned king of the city basically got all the little floaters and mid-rangers that he wanted. Yet last night Brunson’s offense was quite a bit off, even if he was getting to his spots. It might have to do with his wrist surgery in the summer, the banner night taking a lot out of him, or just some bad luck. Whatever it was, the Knicks should not be worried about it.
There are things from the opening night that the Knickerbockers have to take a look at and definitely things to work on. That’s especially true when you think of Philly as a potential matchup in the postseason. Tyrese Maxey is still the type of player who the Knicks can struggle with: a high-octane, immensly fast combo guard dynamo who loves to travel into the lane. With more weapons around him, it becomes a lot harder for the Knicks to collapse on him and shrink the court to their advantage. Yesterday it wasn’t even the three-point shooters that hurt Mike Brown’s squad most (Philly only shot 28 percent from downtown), but the Sixers constantly found guys in the dunker spot with drop-offs for easy buckets.
"I think it's good for us to kind of get knocked down off the mountain, humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what's going to happen."
Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks losing tonight and how it can help them improve: pic.twitter.com/sDFWPHE4Lh
Physically, Philadelphia is also a load to deal with, at least when healthy, and Joel Embiid is out there fit enough to complain his way through a game. He is still a massive post-up presence; LeBron is huge at any position he plays; and Jaylen Brown loves to venture inside, as well as punish smaller defenders. You could tell that Nick Nurse instructed his players to really seal off the mostly smaller New York wings not named Ogugua Anunoby Junior inside and then take advantage of said matchups. Brunson, Josh Hart, even Landry Shamet, and Deuce McBride constantly got caught underneath their own basket, and all that was left for them was fouling or taking the ball out of the basket.
Knicks know they got work to do
On the other end of the court, Philadelphia struggled to keep the Knicks out of the paint as well, but yesterday they made a strong adjustment with LeBron playing small-ball center and thus becoming one of the primary defenders for the top of the key screens on Towns as a passing hub. If that can remain a thing all season long—physically and mentally for a soon-to-be 42-year-old—remains anybody’s guess and will be dealt with down there in Pennsylvania. For one night, it certainly made the Knicks think a bit and led to some unfortunate turnovers. It also made Philadelphia move faster in transition, one thing that clearly upset Mike Brown after the game and has to be looked at on film.
In the end, the Knicks head man has been around long enough to know that most of these issues can be worked upon, and I bet that when he shed his old-school Vans kicks late last night on his couch, he was already thinking of how his team could do things differently next time around. It’s one of the hallmarks of the current Knicks nucleus; they usually find a way to adjust, a way to deal with adversity. And recent history would lead you to believe that this will continue now that they are the reigning champions of the basketball world. The biggest challenge for now is leaving that wonderful title run and all the accompanying hoopla behind and dealing with the task at hand.
The bad news: It won’t get any easier in Boston on Friday for the second game of the season. The good news: Another clunker there could also be explained away. The season is young. But make no mistake, there will come a time when “playing hard” won’t be enough.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets have not won an opening game since 2017.
That game came against the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant hit a shot that was correctly ruled just a beat too late, and Houston escaped with a 122-121 win. Houston is 0-8 in openers since then, and haven’t won a home opener since 2013, which came against the Charlotte…Bobcats.
Yeah, it’s been a minute.
Tonight, the Rockets welcome the Dallas Mavericks to town. These teams are of course quite familiar with each other since they’re fellow Southwest Division foes. The teams split the four contests last season with the home team winning each game. The Mavericks didn’t have Kyrie Irving last season, but Houston had more than enough trouble with Cooper Flagg and Max Christie. Oh, and of course Anthony Davis played in those games.
The Mavericks will feature three number one overall picks this year, as they added Zaccharie Risacher. Dereck Lively II only played in seven games last season before needing foot surgery. Combined with Irving’s return, the Mavs will need some time to gel and get into game shape. In the meantime, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Daniel Gafford will provide solid veteran play. Dallas’s exciting rookie is Morez Johnson Jr., who was drafted out of Michigan. Speaking of the Wolverines, Dallas poached Michigan’s head coach, Dusty May. So there’s a lot of interesting aspects to this squad that will take time to integrate.
The Rockets will also be integrating a few pieces. Fred VanVleet missed all of last season. Steven Adams played in 32 games total. Dorian Finney-Smith never got healthy so he’s gone. Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic are in.
It’s weird to say that an opening game is important, but with Houston heading to San Antonio after this one to start a road back-to-back, the Rockets could really use a 1-0 record for the first time in 9 years.
Philadelphia 76ers’ Jaylen Brown slams the ball in the third quarter against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It was most glaring with their transition defense, where the Knicks struggled to keep up with the 76ers’ speedy backcourt — particularly Tyrese Maxey, who finished with a game-high 28 points. And it was the starters who were most to blame.
“They had nine fast-break points in the first half [in how the Knicks track it],” Brown said. “And then in the second half, they had 19 fast-break points. That’s where the game was won and lost, especially in the third quarter when our starters were out there.”
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline in the third quarter. Jason Szenes for NY Post
But it also reared its head on the offensive end. The ball movement and off-ball cutting that defined their championship run last year were missing and the offense was instead stagnant.
The Knicks, ideally, want to get to 20 “sprays” — what Brown describes as drives into the paint leading to kickout 3-pointers — per game. They only had seven Tuesday.
It resulted in a rough shooting performance — they shot just 37.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, who are two of the biggest beneficiaries and two of the most dependent on that movement around them, were particularly off the mark, shooting a combined 5-for-20 from the field and 1-for-11 from deep.
“Part of us looking like we were running in mud was our spacing wasn’t great,” Brown said. “We were walking everywhere, which hurt our spacing.”
It is understandable that the Knicks weren’t their freshest immediately after an emotional banner and ring ceremony before the game. At times, they looked drained.
“Transition defense, yeah,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our offense, I think we were good in spurts. But it’s not good enough.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Head Coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets speak during a press conference during Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Six long months after the Brooklyn Nets closed out their third worst season in 59 years, they will return to the Barclays Center court Wednesday night vs. the Charlotte Hornets.
A lot has changed but the team is still at 24.31 years on average, the youngest team in the NBA just as they were last year. They have three rookies at this point, compared to the eight who played at various points last season. Of the 18 players on the expanded roster, six are new to the Nets, led by Julius Randle who with two All-NBA selections, three All-Star Games and a Most Improved Player award is the most decorated.
The big difference though is that for the first time in three years, Brooklyn is not tanking, not trying to get the best lottery odds. The rebuild may continue, but the tank is over. So, as we do every year, we gather our writers — nine total — for their take on the coming season. Sports books may peg them at 24.5 to 25 wins, but Fuggetaboutit! What do they know!
So what’s our consensus? Take the over on the number of wins. We nine have them at 33.5 wins with about half of us thinking (dreaming) of the play-in. In Jordi we trust! We love Egor and Mikel, maybe Egor a little more. Who goes MPJ or J-Ran (copywright pending)? MPJ.
Enjoy.
Who or what are you most excited for entering the season?
Net Income: The backcourt, of course. They don’t have a nickname yet but if they look as good together as they have in Summer League and preseason, the Nets rebuild will take a huge leap. Also, I have believed since the trade that brought Julius Randle (and Joshua Jefferson) to Brooklyn for Nic Claxton was a big deal.
Anthony Puccio: Excited to watch a team with direction that isn’t geared towards losing. The Nets have a good coach, cornerstone hopefuls in Mikel Brown Jr. & Egor Dëmin, and stars (or near-stars) like Julius Randle & Michael Porter Jr. That’s good enough for me.
Brian Fleurantin: I’m most excited to watch how Egor Dëmin plays in his second season. There was enough optimism and success last season and he’s had a good preseason this year. If he can put forth a good season, I think it’ll give the Nets another dose of confidence and give one more signal that this team is ready to move on to the next phase of the plan.
Professor B: Putting the shame of tanking in the rearview mirror. Every win will be a win!
Collin Helwig: It’s Mikel Brown Jr. Like many, I had some concerns about Brooklyn’s draft the year before, but not this time. I’ll buy the take that he’s going to be a very good, maybe even great basketball player. So, that whole thing getting started should be fun.
Connor Long: I’m most excited to see how Brooklyn’s young core develops with Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin at the forefront. Beyond development, I’m excited to see this team start playing meaningful basketball. The tanking era is over. Jordi Fernández is entering his third season, and the Nets need to start building a winning environment. At some point, all of the talent accumulation and tanking have to result in victories.
Chris Milhollin: Seeing the young core develop in a more competitive environment. I’m particularly excited to see what Dëmin, Traoré and Brown can become with established veterans around them.
Jordan Greene: I’m most excited for Julius Randle’s impact on the young guys this season. While Randle has been a polarizing player in the eyes of NBA fans, his playoff experience and veteran leadership can help the young guys navigate their journey towards winning basketball. Based on some of his interviews, and his energy through the preseason, Randle seems excited in his role of leadership, which speaks volumes to what we can expect this season.
Scott Mitchell: I’m most excited to see the sophomore season of the Flatbush 5. Who takes a step forward? Who improves? Who takes that next step to becoming a starting player on an NBA roster? Egor Demin specifically, since he got off to a great start last year and now that he’s back and healthy again, it’ll be interesting to see where he picks up and further develops in Year 2.
Who or what are you most concerned about entering the season?
NI: Health, particularly with Mikel Brown Jr. Not so much because he had back issues last season at Louisville, or rolled his ankle in Brooklyn, but because he will get pushed around. He is at this point in his career slight. And yes, rim protection, rim protection, rim protection.
AP: A slow start. Don’t think Nets fans are asking for too much this season, but if losses mount early then people might become more disinterested and/or start finding scapegoats for the problems. (That’s not including how it negatively impacts development if it snowballs.)
BF: The thing I’m most concerned about this year is how the defense plays. It projects to be poor and if that’s the case, I’m not sure if the offense can keep up, especially during the dog days of the season. Bad defense is a killer and if the Nets can’t get stops, it’s gonna be ugly.
PB: Donald Trump, oligarchy, and climate change. The Nets will be fine; the stakes could not be lower.
CH: I think Day’Ron Sharpe being the starting center is far and away the most “boom or bust” element of the team right now. I believe trading Nic Claxton and letting Day’Ron take over the reins was the right decision, because it’s about time we see if the “boom” scenario can happen via increased minutes for him. That said, I can’t pretend like the “bust” scenario isn’t possible, especially after seeing him pick up three fouls in about five minutes against Miami last week.
CL: Rim protection, without question. Losing Nic Claxton leaves the Nets without an established rim-protecting big entering the season, and I think that will be a major issue when facing top teams throughout the season. We saw some of those concerns get amplified in the preseason, particularly against the Heat. The Nets have some intruiging defensive pieces and offer positional size at both guard and forward spots, but I don’t think they have anyone who can consistently protect the paint.
CM: Whether any of the young players can separate themselves as a legitimate cornerstone. Brooklyn has invested heavily in the draft, but potential only gets you so far. At some point, we need to start seeing players emerge as foundational pieces rather than just promising prospects and Twitter favorites.
JG: I’m most concerned with the bench. We have good players, but there are question marks that still need to be answered for the season. Can Moritz Wagner stay healthy this season? Can Nolan Traore continue to show promise that he did last season? Can Drake Powell develop into the two way prospect that he was believed to be out of UNC?
SM: I’m most concerned about Ben Saraf. He has shown signs of being a solid player last season, but despite those signs, he has also shown he’s not yet an NBA-caliber starting player. I’m hoping he takes a big leap forward in his development this season and is able to grow into the player that we all hope he will be. That, and the Nets’ “big” issue. Since losing Nic Claxton, the Nets seem to lack that big presence in the paint. Here’s hoping that Day’Ron picks up where Clax left off.
What is the BEST case scenario for the Brooklyn Nets this season?
NI: Development takes a leap. Not just with the Flatbush 5 but with the two rookies as well. Nets have high hopes for Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson. If the Nets come out of this season with a backcourt of the future including a much improved Nolan Traore, they will have made a huge move in the rebuild. Everything else is gravy. It’s a long process.
AP: Playoffs would be a miracle but a play-in spot feels like it could be possible.
BF: Hmm, best case scenario for the Nets is competing for the last play-in spot. It would be a big step forward and a sign they’re getting closer to the postseason again. Take a step forward and it gives fans and players around the league confidence that the franchise will be competitive sooner rather than later.
PB: Preseason hot shooting holds up through the season, the defense is respectable, Sharpe grows in the starter’s role, and Minott or Johnson emerges as a long-term piece alongside Demin and Brown.
CH: Seven or Eight seed via the Play-In. You might’ve been able to convince me six wouldn’t be outrageous for them if the East didn’t get so much better this year.
CL: An eighth or ninth seed in the East. I don’t think that’s the most likely outcome, but it’s certainly plausible and, in my opinion, around the team’s ceiling. While the Nets improved this offseason drastically, so did many of the conference’s already high-level teams. The Nets don’t control their own first-round pick, so there is no incentive to bottom out. If they play a competitive 82 and play meaningful basketball in April, that would be a significant step forward compared to the last two seasons.
CM: Competing for a Play-In spot while seeing two or three young players establish themselves as legitimate long-term building blocks. Development matters more than wins right now.
JG: I think the best case scenario for the Nets will be a play in spot. If the youngest team in the league can show they have a chance to make the playoffs, then they will give confidence within their fans and show the league they have promise in the future.
SM: The best-case scenario for Brooklyn this season is to be a Play-In team. I would love to sit here and say that they will win the NBA Championship this season, but I just don’t see that being in the cards. However, if Brooklyn can be a competitive team to the very end, that would be a major positive sign for the development of Brooklyn’s young core. Also, Mikel Brown Jr. balling out in his rookie season as a point guard could make this team a lot of fun to watch.
Which of the eight players on rookie contracts do you have the highest expectations for this year? (Clowney, Flatbush 5, Brown Jr., Jefferson)
NI: I’ve already spoken about Demin, Brown Jr. and Traore. So I’m going with Clowney! His biggest issue, as he and Fernandez have said, has been consistency. There have been games when fans have thought they saw a jump forward, the seven 3-pointers in one game last year, the two games of seven and four blocks in a week the year before. Then, hopes come down to earth. He has the motivation, as noted, with restricted free agency staring him in the face next summer. There’s also opportunity. He may not start 60 games as he did last year, but he shoulda/coulda get minutes at all three front court positions.
I also think Jefferson will surprise … if he gets an opportunity.
AP: Egor Dëmin.
BF: I went with Egor for number one, so I’ll change up and say Mikel Brown Jr for this one. He looked good against Miami and as he works through his minutes restriction, he’ll be someone that will be someone to watch closely as the year progresses. I think he’ll take to the NBA really well once he’s past the restrictions and give fans a bit of excitement they haven’t seen in some time.
PB: Demin, by a lot, though Brown will show some brilliant flashes.
CL: Egor Dëmin, without a doubt. He addressed many of his “concerns” during his rookie campaign, particularly by establishing himself as a shooter after struggling in that area at BYU. Now, I want to see him become a more aggressive creator on offense, especially when attacking the rim. I think he certainly can establish himself as a long-term building block for the team this year.
CM: Egor Dëmin. We’ve seen flashes of his playmaking, size and shooting ability. I want to see him become more aggressive offensively and turn that potential into consistent production.
JG: I have the highest expectation for Mikel Brown Jr. . Yes I get that Egor had a huge offseason but I believe the Nets drafting MBJ is the centerpiece for how this franchise goes forward. He is our potential quarterback for the future, and with the intangibles he has, I expect him to be promising.
SM: Of the eight players on rookie contracts, the one I have the highest hopes for is Egor Demin. Egor has taken to New York City very easily, and he made that clear at the Nets Fest earlier this month in Brooklyn. Egor is someone that the fans want to get behind. We’ve seen glimpses of his greatness last season; with his potential, he could be the next real ‘Nets player.’ Someone who the fans rally behind and someone who changes the culture of Brooklyn.
Will MPJ and/or Julius Randle still be in Brooklyn post-deadline?
NI: Michael Porter Jr. – No. Julius Randle – Yes. It will all depend, as Sean Marks said on Media Day, the progress of the team and it’s kiddie korps as well as what’s available. That said, Porter Jr. is nearly four years younger than Randle so you’d think he’d be the higher priority to extend, but that may also make him a better target for contenders looking for the final piece. There were (disputed) reports that Golden State and Detroit were interested in MPJ last year. With the NBA, particularly the East, looking highly competitive, the market could be strong for final pieces. But what would the Nets want? More picks? They already have 32, including 13 firsts. How about a young player?
AP: Randle yes, MPJ no.
BF: I think Randle remains post-deadline while Porter Jr gets traded to a contender. I feel this time around, a team that believes that they’re one player away will pay the price to bring MPJ in. MPJ can give a contender the boost they need and should bring a lot back in return for the Nets.
PB: Both will play out the season. Porter will be signed-and-traded this summer, and Randle will be extended for a couple more seasons.
CH: I think Julius stays at least one more year under the assumption he’s picking up his player option. I’m not confident in this, but I think MPJ stays this year too. It’s a gamble, and Sean Marks has almost NEVER done this, but I think he lets Porter Jr. play out his contract and then re-signs him as a free agent this summer. The Nets will again be able to give him more money than anyone via their cap space, will give him a lead role in an offense, he gets to stay with a coach he seems to like, and live in NYC. Who’s gonna offer him a better deal than that? I’d bet on that being able to pull him back in to avoid bidding against yourself this season and possibly overpaying for him with an extension.
CL: I think Randle stays, while Porter gets moved. Porter’s expiring contract could make him an attractive trade target for contenders around the deadline. However, I wouldn’t move him just to move him. If there isn’t solid value in return, there’s no reason to force him off the roster, especially if the Nets are competent by the time those conversations spark.
CM: I think Randle stays and MPJ gets moved. Porter should attract interest from contenders, but Brooklyn shouldn’t trade him just for the sake of collecting another pick.
JG: I think Julius Randle will stay and MPJ will go to a contender at some point. Because of Porter’s contract, contenders will look for his skill set to complete their championship hopes. It also helps that I believe MPJ will take another leap career. Randle will continue to be the veteran the Nets need until further notice.
SM: Seems to be a common consensus amongst Nets fans, but I can absolutely see a world where Michael Porter Jr. gets traded to a contender by the NBA Trade Deadline. His talent speaks for itself, and any teams contending for the NBA Playoffs would LOVE a player like MPJ on their squad. As for Randle, I just don’t think he’ll get that same amount of love that MPJ will. So, I can see Randle staying post-deadline.
Are you generally happy or unhappy about the progress of the rebuild?
NI: Ask me that question at the end of the year! Maybe even at the deadline! This is the critical year, IMO. Should the Nets make a big jump, as they did in 2018-19, Brooklyn’s master plan will look prescient. They’ll have all those young players on rookie deals, all those draft picks, all that cash, New York! Development will have been proven! Jordi Fernandez will be a magnet not just for free agents but those players wanting to move! If on the other hand, the sportsbooks are right, where do we go from here? Who’s going to be in charge?
The plan is not simple: Build through the draft, develop picks into rotation pieces, may be stars, then make the big moves without having to worry (that much) about aprons, luxury taxes etc., Sustainable success! There is an outline of how it could work, but reality can rear its ugly head. Stay tuned.
You want a grade right now? I’ll go with a B.
AP: TBD. Egor and Mikel look good AND fun. You can tell they’re proud to be Nets and that’s genuinely nice to see. But I’m saying TBD because they have plenty of others on rookie contracts with a lot to prove. particularly from the 2025 Draft in which they took a historic five first round picks.
BF: I think I’m happy with the state of the rebuild. In a perfect world, they win the lottery or finish top 3 in each of the previous seasons, but it didn’t work out. But the Nets have put some good talent together and Brown Jr. + Dëmin is a good one-two punch and solid building blocks to help the team right the ship.
PB: Too slow for my taste—but then, I was not a fan of taking two steps backward in the first place. Demin and Brown will prove to be good picks, but not the foundation of a contending team.
CH: I wouldn’t say “happy” but if “content” works, I’ll settle for that. It’s clear they have something here with this group. However, it’s hard to get over the talent they missed at the top of the ’25 and ’26 drafts. It’s also not totally the Nets’ fault that the NBA lottery gods hate their stinking guts. So, I don’t know. It’s alright, I guess.
CL: I’m more happy than not, but it’s time to start seeing results. Sean Marks has done a good job of buying assets and maintaining flexibility. However, those “assets” need to eventually result in wins. I think this year, it’s fair to start expecting tangible progress in the standings, not just player development.
CM: Cautiously happy. Marks has done a good job rebuilding the asset base and maintaining flexibility, but collecting picks is the easy part. Now it’s about turning those assets into legitimate NBA talent.
JG: For what the Nets dealt with until this point, I can say that I’m happy with the rebuild. The Nets found what worked and what didn’t. Now, the Nets have a good young core they can build around, but this means results are needed. It’s time that the Nets use all of the work that they put in to finally start seeing progress, because the fan base deserves it.
SM: I’m more than happy with the current rebuild. I’m certainly higher on certain players than others. However, even if the Nets get two quality starters of the five players they drafted last season, I’d consider that a win. I think the jury is still out on a player like Ben Saraf; however, Egor Demin has the makings to be one of the best Brooklyn draft picks in recent memory. Also, seeing Mikel Brown Jr. come into the fray now is going to be super fun.
One bold prediction?
NI: Julius Randle is voted to the All-Star team for the fourth time. I’m big on J-Ran.
AP: Julius Randle makes the All-Star team.
BF: A bold prediction? Not sure if this fits the bill, but I think this is the year Porter Jr finally makes the All-Star team. After falling just short last year, I think he’ll have all the motivation in the world to make his case for being named an All-Star. I think he’ll get off to a terrific start and that will help drive the conversation around him in a positive fashion.
PB: The Nets will lead the league with 30 assists per game, building a fun, Pacers-style offensive identity.
CH: Mikel Brown Jr. wins Rookie of the Year. It’s going to take some luck, but I think the talent is there.
CL: The Nets finish with a top-10 offense in the East. Between Porter, Randle, Dëmin, and the first-year expectations for Brown, the Nets have the potential to be a dangerous team on offense this year. I still have concerns about defense, but I think the offense could really surprise people this season.
CM: Nolan Traoré establishes himself as one of Brooklyn’s three most valuable young players by season’s end. His speed and ability to attack the paint could make him the biggest surprise of the group.
JG: The Nets will make the playoffs after a successful play-in. Yes I know it sounds crazy, but out of all the bottom tier teams that will be in the East this year the Nets will be able to beat them. Nets fans, it might be a first around exit upon us, but we will be in the playoffs!
SM: Mikel Brown Jr. finishes among the very top of the NBA rookie of the year voting. It’s getting to be exciting times again to be a Brooklyn Nets fan. Behind the Flatbush 5, Mikel Brown Jr., and even guys like Joshua Jefferson, Tyler Bilodeau, or Grant Nelson, the potential on this team is endless. MBJ has all the makings to be a great NBA point guard. Also, another bold prediction for this season is that the Brooklyn Nets are a middle-of-the-pack team, and that’s in large part due to their fantastic point guard play from MBJ.
Final record
NI: 37-45. Nets will improve but so will the East.
AP: 32-50.
BF: 32-50.
PB: In the immortal, ungrammatical words of Doris Day, que sera, sera.
CH: 33-49
CL: 28-54. I think the Nets will be better than they were a year ago, though the bar wasn’t very high. The defensive concerns are too much for me to overlook; I also worry about where points will come from off the bench. I also expect some growing pains from such a young roster that is now looking to win. The Nets should be more competitive nightly, but I don’t think they are ready to make a playoff push yet.
CM: 29–53. More competitive than last season, but still too young and defensively limited to seriously contend for the postseason.
JG: 35-47
SM: 40-42. Call me crazy, but why not us?
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How’d we do last year and who among us did well? Not great, but Lucas Kaplan of sainted memory gets the coveted Netsradamus Award. Speaking of sainted memory, we welcome back Chris Milhollin. Things must be getting better if writers want to return! Right?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aside from potentially playing a role in a tiebreaker scenario at the end of the season, Tuesday night’s game was just one of 82 on the schedule. But it felt much bigger than that, what with the New York Knicks raising the banner, and the Philadelphia 76ers both looking to show that last spring’s playoff sweep wasn’t who they are anymore, both figuratively and literally with the number of new faces. Fans were treated to a playoff-like atmosphere in October, and it’s hard to come away with anything but optimism about the Sixers’ prospects after their 106-100 win over New York.
The defense looked much better than anticipated, stifling the Knicks into shooting just 37 percent from the field. Philadelphia’s unselfishness mantra held true offensively, with 28 assists on 37 made field goals. In addition to the big-name acquisitions, two of the new players down the roster contributed in the team-wide effort, with Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both finishing in double figures. It was a hard-nosed, gutsy performance from a bunch of guys who haven’t played a ton together yet against a Knicks group that has about as much continuity and recent success as anyone in the league. We saw a lot to like from these Sixers, so let’s talk our first Bell Ringer of the season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a layup during the third quarter of the game against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a game featuring the defending champions and teammates with all the accolades you can accrue in this sport, Tyrese Maxey looked to be the best player on the court to my eyes. He was the most consistent offensive engine for the Sixers all evening long, starting the scoring with a pair of threes, one off a nice read in the open court to pick off a pass. All game, whenever the Sixers needed something, it seemed to be Tyrese in transition, or using his elite acceleration to drive to the rim for a bucket or a foul. And remember when Maxey was a negative on defense? Those days are long gone. He’s learned to hone his speed and athleticism to perfectly time rejections at the rim or intercept passing lanes. His pick-six with around two minutes left in the game firmly put the Sixers in control for the remainder of the contest. In so many ways, this is Tyrese Maxey’s team now.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James, Philadelphia 76er, became an actual on-court reality on Tuesday night, and it was beautiful in so many ways. He brings so much connectivity to the team on both ends of the court. James helped shore up the defensive glass and was such a communicative piece on the defensive end; I guess it remains to be seen if he’ll be this locked in defensively on a non-nationally televised game against the Kings or whoever, but this game proved he still has that gear. Offensively, he made all the right reads we’ve come to expect over the years from LeBron James, basketball savant. I’m sure it will only get better as his chemistry with his new teammates increases. He also supercharges the transition game, both as an initiator and a finisher. LeBron James in the open court is still a freight train that can’t be derailed. This was a “quieter” game from LeBron on a night his shot wasn’t really falling, and he still had his fingerprints all over the win.
THE NEW GUYS IN TOWN 💪 Jaylen Brown lobs it to LeBron James for the alley-oop! pic.twitter.com/R7UcKg0vYe
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the third quarter of the game against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen’s Sixers debut went how you would have drawn it up to a tee. He played a lot of off ball when the starters were in the game, and then got his turn as a lead initiator when members of the second unit filtered into the game. Through it all, he never forced anything, picking his spots to score and doing a terrific job distributing to his teammates as well. Brown was the catalyst of the Sixers’ 11-0 run to close the third quarter and turn the tide of the game, knocking down a pair of threes and assisting another. His end-of-quarter buzzer beater was a fun first capsule highlight for his Philadelphia 76ers career. Defensively, he was brilliant, stifling Jalen Brunson during his stints guarding the reigning Finals MVP. I hope he enjoyed his debut in a Sixers win combined with Boston blowing a 22-point lead in the same day as much as we did.
JAYLEN BROWN IS A SIXER! Sinks the three as time expires in Q3 and Philadelphia leads by 7! pic.twitter.com/uMmHgdMsfC
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: Anfernee Simons #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We weren’t absolutely sure Simons would play in the opener after missing the preseason with a hamstring injury, but it’s a good thing he did. On a night a lot of folks were having trouble seeing their outside shot fall, Simons came in and knocked down three triples across a three-minute span in the third quarter. It helped ensure the Knicks didn’t start to pull away and the Sixers could remain within striking distance. Simons looks like a super microwave scorer option off the bench, and considering he joined the team with this viewed as a huge weakness, there wasn’t anything I saw defensively that gave me great pause. He’s going to see a ton of open looks this season, and Anfernee looks poised to drain his fair share.
The game, which was on Tuesday, Oct. 20 in San Antonio, featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to make history as a shooter and Victor Wembanyama struggling on offense, but showcasing his defensive prowess, reminding fans why he was last year's Defensive Player of the Year.
"Obviously, it's the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal, but for us, I think it was more we're just happy to be back," Gilgeous-Alexander said on the NBC broadcast after the game. "... One of 82. This doesn't prove anything. This doesn't mean anything besides the fact that we won tonight. We took a step in the right direction. We gotta do it 81 more times."
Wembanyama started 0-for-12 from the field and finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and six blocks.
San Antonio ousted the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a seven-game battle royale last season. Oklahoma City was riding high off Gilgeous-Alexander's second MVP season and their own NBA championship in 2025.
Both Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander are early favorites for this season's MVP as their young teams play hungry for more glory. In USA TODAY's preseason ranking of the top 100 players in the league, 22-year-old Wembanyama is No. 3 and Gilgeous-Alexander, 28, is No. 1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats in NBA season opener
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, six rebounds and four assists. He also was a strong defensive presence with three steals and three blocks.
It was his 141st straight game with 20-plus points, the longest streak in NBA history, per the NBC broadcast.
"This is the game I love. I work hard in the summertime. I come out here and trust my work," the MVP said after the game. "It's that simple."
Victor Wembanyama stats in NBA season opener
Victor Wembanyama had a lackluster night and started 0-for-12 from the field, the longest drought of his career. The only points off a field goal came via an alley-oop dunk at the end of the third quarter.
The French superstar finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. He shined on defense on top of the double digit boards with six blocks.
