Category: Basketball

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is taking on a new project as a co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Iger and American businessman Josh Kushner reportedly bought the Lakers from Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter for a record-breaking price. ESPN was the first to report the deal.

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The sale has not been finalized by the NBA but is expected to be worth more than $12 billion. It would be the second time the Lakers have been sold in the past two years.

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Iger is no stranger to the sports world, overseeing ESPN, which is an entity under The Walt Disney Company, while serving as Disney’s CEO from 2005 to 2020, and then again from 2022 until March of this year.

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He helped launch ESPN's new direct-to-consumer platform in 2025. The company initially launched its ESPN+ streaming service in April 2018 during Iger’s first tenure as CEO.

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Iger also helped shepherd the Disney company through many of its multibillion-dollar acquisitions, from Pixar in 2006 and Marvel in 2009. He secured Lucasfilm in 2012 for more than $4 billion, sparking an ambitious relaunch of the "Star Wars" franchise across film and TV.

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In recent years, Iger helped expand "Star Wars" and Marvel into the Disney theme parks, and spearheaded the opening of Disneyland in Shanghai.

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Iger was the brainchild behind one of the company’s largest acquisitions, the purchase of 20th Century Fox, which includes properties such as Hulu, FX and National Geographic, in 2018 for $71 billion.

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Magic Johnson addressed Lakers fans on X, speaking highly of Iger.

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"Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years - he has always loved the Lakers and basketball, and he will bring championships back to LA."

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The Lakers last won an NBA championship in 2020.

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Johnson served as the star point guard for the Lakers during the late 1990s before later becoming the President of Basketball Operations from 2017-19.

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Lakers' current star, Luka Doncic, shared a statement regarding the news of the sale and its new owners.

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"Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA," Doncic said. "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."

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How much were Lakers sold for?

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The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold for a record $12.5 billion less than two years after Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter bought the team from the Buss Family. The deal was first reported by ESPN.

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The sale to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger would mark the highest amount ever paid for a North American sports franchise, surpassing the $10 billion that Walter paid for the Lakers. — Scooby Axson

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bob Iger's next act: Former Disney CEO becomes Lakers co-owner

The Los Angeles Lakers have two new owners, after Bob Iger and Josh Kushner purchased the franchise from Mark Walter for a jaw-dropping $12.5 billion sum.

It didn’t take long for Lakers superstar guard Luka Dončić to weigh in on the sale, as he made a social media post in the wake of the deal that read, “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,” he added.

This sentiment from Dončić earned the approval of Jeanie Buss, who is still the Lakers’ Team Governor after selling her majority stake to Walter for $10 billion in 2025.

Buss responded to Dončić’s X post and wrote, “Perfectly said ”.

Perfectly said https://t.co/f7GL4tbG8n

— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) August 12, 2026

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Follow the latest on the multibillion-dollar LA Lakers sale:

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes championship promise after historic Lakers sale
• Luka Dončić doesn’t mince words on historic $12.5 billion Lakers sale

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Buss assumed full leadership as the Lakers’ controlling owner back in 2017, following the death of her father, Dr. Jerry Buss.

The Buss family still had a 15% stake in the Lakers after the deal with Mark Walter.

Earlier Wednesday, Iger chatted with The California Post in an exclusive, where he detailed the plans for Buss’ role with the Lakers.

“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger said. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”

Barring anything unforeseen, it makes sense why she would be in a good mood.

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Russell Westbrook is calling it a career.

The former NBA MVP announced his retirement Wednesday with a farewell video on social media narrated by Michael B. Jordan, bringing an end to his 18-year NBA career.

“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” Westbrook wrote in the caption. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”

View this post on Instagram

The three-plus minute video served as Westbrook’s goodbye to basketball, with ESPN’s Shams Charania later reporting that the nine-time All-Star was retiring.

Earlier this week, rumors emerged that Westbrook could be leaving the NBA for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel, although insider Marc Stein reported that the possibility was “laughably false.” 

Westbrook’s retirement closes the book on one of the NBA’s most distinctive careers.

The 37-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with the Kings, averaging 15.2 points per game across 64 contests.

The longtime Thunder star won the 2016-17 NBA MVP award and two scoring titles, made nine All-Star teams and became the league’s all-time leader in triple-doubles during his surefire Hall of Fame career. 

Westbrook spent 11 seasons in Oklahoma City after being drafted No. 4 overall out of UCLA in the 2008 NBA Draft. 

He, Kevin Durant and James Harden led the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals as one of the youngest teams to ever make it to the championship round before falling to LeBron James and the Heat. 

Westbrook would bounce around the league after leaving OKC following the 2018-19 season, spending time with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets and Kings.

Russell Westbrook is calling it a career after 18 NBA seasons. 

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Westbrook announced his retirement from basketball in a video posted to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Aug. 12. 

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Westbrook finished his career as the all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209 in his storied career. 

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He entered the NBA after being selected out of UCLA with the No. 4 overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics, who shortly after became Oklahoma City Thunder. 

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Westbrook played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. 

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During his 18-year career, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game through 1,301 NBA games. 

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He became a league MVP, nine-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion on his way to a future Hall of Fame career. 

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View this post on Instagram

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NBA Key Dates 2026-27

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• Aug. 14-15: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Enshrinement Weekend
• Oct 9 & 11: NBA Preseason | NBA China Games 2026 | Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets | The Venetian Arena (Macao)
• Nov. 7: NBA Mexico City Game | Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers | Arena CDMX
• Jan. 14, 2027: NBA Paris Game | San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans | Accor Arena
• Jan. 17: NBA Manchester Game | San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans | Co-op Live
• Feb. 19-21: NBA All-Star 2027 | Phoenix, AZ

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA star Russell Westbrook retires, ending one of basketball's most unique careers

For Bob Iger, his and Josh Kushner’s purchase of the majority ownership of the Lakers from Mark Walter for a historic $12.5 billion valuation was still sinking in as of late Wednesday morning.

Because after the former Disney CEO and his business partner originally pursued ownership stakes in the NBA’s potential expansion in Las Vegas, it came to their attention last weekend that Walter could be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers that he purchased just over a year ago. 

Iger and Kushner immediately jumped at the opportunity, coming to an agreement to buy the Lakers within three business days.  

“We were involved in pursuing the new franchise in Vegas,” Iger said during an exclusive phone call with the California Post. “And while that happened, it was suggested to us that maybe Mark Walter would be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers. And we immediately decided that given the value of the franchise and the iconic nature of the team, that we would be really smart to pursue it. The deal came together in three days.

“It’s that simple.”

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Full coverage of historic Lakers sale

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes bold claim about Lakers after historic $12.5 billion sale
• New Lakers owner’s supermodel wife gushes about Los Angeles before historic sale

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When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family for a valuation of a then-record $10 billion, the league announced that former majority owner Jeanie Buss would remain the team’s Governor for a period of at least five years.

Iger told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement made between Walter and Buss. 

“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger said. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”

Iger shared that has yet to speak to Lakers star Luka Doncic, but mentioned that he spoke with Buss, as well as coach JJ Redick. The Lakers coach and Iger built a relationship while Redick played for the Clippers from 2013-17 – with Iger being a longtime Clippers season ticket holder. 

And now, he’ll be leading the Lakers. 

“Grateful, appreciative, excited to own something that’s as iconic as the LA Lakers,” Iger said of his feelings. “Josh and I are avid NBA fans. And [to] have an opportunity to own not just any NBA team, but the LA Lakers is…it’s extraordinary from a life experience perspective and business perspective. It’s still sinking in. We’re very excited.”

With the deal coming together so quickly, questions still remain about the vision that Iger and Kushner have for the Lakers. 

And what potential changes could come under their ownership.

Iger made it clear it’s too early to speculate what’s to come. 

“We’re fans,” Iger said. “We respect the value that’s been created, both on the court and off. Our intention is to build this great franchise from a position of strength in many respects as an organization. We’re smart enough to know what we know and what we don’t know. It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet. Again, we go into this with an appreciation of who the Lakers are. And we just want to build value from today on.”

Iger added: “This is very new.”

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After a decorated 18-year career, former Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on Wednesday.

Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end.

You had to be there. And now it’s over. pic.twitter.com/6YoOW8WyIV

— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) August 12, 2026

Westbrook, 37, spent one season in Washington after the team acquired him in a December 2020 trade that sent John Wall and picks to the Houston Rockets.

The standout guard averaged a triple-double — 22.2 points, 11.7 assists and 11.5 rebounds per game — during his lone season with the Wizards. Washington made the playoff as the No. 8 seed before losing in five games to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before stints with the Rockets, Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. His 27,176 career points ranks 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

His Hall of Fame resume is as follows:

• 9x All-Star

• 9x All-NBA

• 3x Assists leader

• 2x Scoring champion

• 2016-17 MVP

In 2017, the UCLA alum became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double across an entire seasons — a feat he accomplished four times in his career. He recorded his record-breaking 182nd triple-double in a Wizards uniform in a May 2021 game against the Atlanta Hawks and remains the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles leaders with 209.

Westbrook’s 38 triple-doubles during the 2020-21 season cleared everyone else on the Wizards’ all-time list. The next closest is Darrell Walker with 15, followed by John Wall’s seven.

Current Wizards guard Trae Young congratulated Westbrook with an X post saluting his career.

Damn Brodie… an absolute Legend! What a hell of a career!
🫡 @russwest44

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 12, 2026

This week’s announcement that the Sixers will be featured in the NBA’s Christmas schedule for the 2026-27 should come as no surprise. It was to be expected even before the acquisition of LeBron James as the Jaylen Brown trade was likely the second-biggest transaction in the NBA’s offseason behind only James signing in Philadelphia.

Not that getting selected to play on the biggest day on the league’s regular season calendar guarantees you anything, but we wanted to take this time to look back and remind fans of just how popular of a pick the Sixers have been for the Dec. 25 slate. Here are all the games Philadelphia has played in on Christmas Day since Joel Embiid was drafted in 2014:

2024 – Sixers @ Celtics

Final score: 118-114, Sixers

2023 – Sixers @ Heat

Final score: 119-113, Heat

2022 – Sixers @ Knicks

Final score: 119-112, Sixers

2019 – Bucks @ Sixers

Final score: 121-109, Sixers

2018 – Sixers @ Celtics

Final score: 121-114, Celtics (OT)

2017 – Sixers @ Knicks

Final score: 105-98, Sixers

Playing Boston twice and New York two times in this slew of six games over the last decade on Christmas should come as no surprise to Sixers fans. This season in Los Angeles against the Lakers, Philadelphia will play its first Christmas Day game against a Western Conference opponent since 2001. The opponent on Christmas Day a quarter century ago? Yeah, that was also the Lakers as the Sixers made the trip across the country for an NBA Finals rematch.

Of course, James joining the Sixers after playing for the Lakers for the last eight seasons is the driving force behind the matchup that will be in the marquee broadcast window for The Association on Christmas Day as well with tipoff set for 5 p.m. ET.

While this is not meant to relitigate “The Process” although that’s always fun, it is worth noting that after the 2001 Finals rematch in L.A., the Sixers did not start getting these Christmas Day games until Embiid was healthy and playing 50+ games per season which started in the 2017-18 campaign. Obviously the goal of “The Process” wasn’t to get scheduled on Christmas Day, but there is no doubt that Philadelphia has been a more desired team for the league to feature on such an important day in the regular season.

We all know by now that the NFL has decided to play on Christmas as well and the TV ratings blow the NBA’s ratings out of the water. Fortunately, for Philadelphia sports fans, the Eagles are the Christmas Eve game this season which gives the Sixers the full attention locally on Christmas Day. Regardless of what else there is to offer on Dec. 25, the NBA continues to prioritize the Sixers as one of the best teams they have to offer on a day they have no choice but to schedule its best teams and/or its biggest markets. Merry Christmas four months early, Sixers fans! 

When the agreement was made for Mark Walter to sell the majority ownership stake of the LA Lakers to businessman Josh Kushner and former The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger at a historic valuation of $12.5 billion, there were more questions than answers.

But one thing that became apparent in the immediate aftermath of the pending sale: Iger will be the one most actively involved with the Lakers once the sale becomes official, a source told The California Post.

Iger had told The Post he and Kushner were interested in ownership stakes in the NBA’s potential expansion in Las Vegas.

But they recently pivoted to aggressively pursue the majority ownership stake of the Lakers from Walter, who agreed to purchase the Lakers from the Buss family last June in a deal that became official in late October 2025 for a then-record valuation of around $10 billion.

It wasn’t clear as of Wednesday morning when the sale from Walter to Iger and Kushner would become official. 

The transaction has to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. The next board meeting is scheduled for September. 

“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” Iger and Kushner said in a joint statement.

“We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”

The latest sale of the Lakers came together came quickly.

Iger told The Post he and Kushner learned over the weekend that Walter could be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers that he purchased just over a year ago. 

And within three days, an agreement was made.

Walter, who is also the majority owner of the Dodgers, isn’t selling any of his other ownership stakes as part of the deal. 

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Follow the latest on the multibillion-dollar LA Lakers sale:

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes championship promise after historic Lakers sale
• Luka Dončić doesn’t mince words on historic $12.5 billion Lakers sale

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And the sale is solely for Walter’s shares in the Lakers.

Walter, the CEO of TWG Global and Guggenheim Partners, is also the controlling owner of the Sparks in addition to having financial interests in Chelsea FC, the Cadillac Formula 1 racing team, the Billie Jean Cup and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.   

Thrive Eternal will be the investing vehicle used in Iger’s and Kushner’s purchase of the Lakers.

Thrive Eternal is the permanent capital holding company launched by Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm Kushner founded. 

The capital holding company is focused on owning and stewarding a small number of franchises “that we can own and steward over many decades,” according to its official website. 

Thrive Eternal, which launched in April, acquired a minority ownership stake in the San Francisco Giants in the spring. 

Kushner isn’t a stranger to NBA ownership, interestingly.

He became a minority owner of the Grizzlies in 2019 before selling his share to purchase a stake in the Heat in May 2025.

Kushner will have to divest his stake in the Heat to take control of the Lakers.

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Two-time NBA All-Star and former Iowa State standout Tyrese Haliburton is set to return to his collegiate roots as the Indiana Pacers face the Minnesota Timberwolves in an exhibition game at Hilton Coliseum. Scheduled for Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., the contest marks the fourth time an NBA exhibition has been held at the venue and the first such event since 2018.

Haliburton, who is entering his seventh NBA season and fifth with the Pacers, has quickly ascended to the elite tier of professional guards. After finishing third in the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year voting, he earned All-NBA Third Team honors in both 2024 and 2025. During the 2023-24 campaign, he led the league with 10.9 assists per game, eventually guiding Indiana to the NBA Finals in 2025 for just the second time in franchise history.

“It’s special that I’m able to go back there and play for a preseason game,” Haliburton said during a press availability Wednesday. “I’m very appreciate to our organization for making that happen.”

His recent success extends to the international stage, where he became the first former Iowa State basketball player to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. While he is the eighth Cyclone overall to earn gold, his achievement remains a historic milestone for the university’s basketball program.

Before his professional rise, Haliburton was a dominant force for the Cyclones. During the 2019-20 season, he led the Big 12 in both assists (6.5) and steals (2.5) while averaging 15.2 points per game. Despite a season-ending injury after 22 games, he was named a Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award finalist and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection.

Previous exhibitions at Hilton have featured Cyclone legends such as Jeff Grayer, Jeff Hornacek and Fred Hoiberg.

Tickets for the Pacers-Timberwolves matchup will be available for purchase starting Sept. 9.

When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, there may be no one more in tune with the historic franchise than Magic Johnson.

As a player, Johnson led the franchise to five NBA championships, and he has also been a coach, executive, and minority owner with the franchise.

The Naismith Hall of Famer took to social media Aug. 12 to sign off on the sale of the team to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney chief executive Robert Iger. The reported price tag for the sale is a record $12.5 billion, the highest price paid for a North American sports franchise.

Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years - he has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 12, 2026

"I want to congratulate my good friend Bob Iger and Josh Kushner on their purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers!" Johnson said on X."

Johnson previously praised Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner who bought the Lakers from the Buss family for $10 billion and was only approved as an owner in October 2025. Walter's tenure as owner will last less than a year.

Johnson said he has known Iger for more than four decades and made a bold prediction about the new ownership group getting the Lakers back to the top of the league.

"Laker fans, you couldn't have two better owners. I've known Bob personally for over 40 years – he has always loved the Lakers and basketball and he will bring championships back to LA," Johnson said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Magic Johnson praises new Lakers ownership, predicts future titles

With the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to billionaire businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger for a reported $12.5 billion, the question remains about the status of team governor Jeanie Buss.

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As Lakers governor, Buss serves as the main decision-maker in all business matters and represents the team at the NBA's Board of Governors meetings. Team governors must maintain at least a 15% ownership of a franchise to continue in the governor's role.

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Buss remained a team governor despite the 2025 sale of the team to Mark Walter, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea soccer team owner, for $10 million.

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Buss, 64, has been governor of the team since 2013, when her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, died, leaving the franchise in the hands of his six children. Buss was then named controlling owner of the team in March 2017.

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Jeanie Buss status with Lakers

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According to the terms of the sale of the team to Walter, it stipulated that Buss would remain the team's governor for at least the next five years. This continues the family's involvement with the team since Dr. Buss first bought the team in 1979.

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How much were Lakers sold for?

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The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold for a record $12.5 billion less than two years after Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter bought the team from the Buss Family. The deal was first reported by ESPN.

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The sale to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger would mark the highest amount ever paid for a North American sports franchise, surpassing the $10 billion that Walter paid for the Lakers.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happens to Jeanie Buss after Lakers sale? Governor status explained

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be sold for the second time in less than two years.

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The organization is being sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record-breaking price that is expected to be over $12 billion, according to ESPN.

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The Buss family had provided a level of stability for just over four and a half decades before selling the team to Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter.

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Lakers star guard Luka Doncic has witnessed some changes in his short stint in L.A. He was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers in 2025 in a deal that also involved Anthony Davis.

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Doncic shared his thoughts regarding the sale with a statement on X.

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"Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA," Doncic said. "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."

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It was reported by The Athletic earlier this year that Doncic had been "impressed with the level of communication" with Walter.

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It remains unclear whether Doncic had any prior knowledge of the sale this week.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic shares reaction to news of Los Angeles Lakers' $12B sale

It’s schedule release week in the NBA, as the league is releasing bits and pieces of the schedule before revealing it in full on Thursday. Yesterday was the Christmas schedule. Today? The NBA Cup. The NBA has officially announced the dates for the Suns’ 2026 Emirates NBA Cup games.

The Suns open the cup on Friday, October 30, at home against the Denver Nuggets, followed by road games against the Jazz on November 20, the Rockets on November 25, and the Mavericks at home on November 27.

If you don’t give a damn, we don’t give a Cup pic.twitter.com/ImPYgXUhvw

— Suns JAM Session Podcast (@SunsJAM) August 12, 2026

Per the press release from the Suns:

The Quarterfinals (Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5) and Semifinals (Tuesday, Dec. 8 and/or Wednesday, Dec. 9) will take place in NBA team markets before the tournament concludes with the Championship on Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

On days during the Knockout Rounds when Emirates NBA Cup games are not scheduled (Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 10), the 22 teams that do not qualify for the Knockout Rounds will each play two regular-season games. The losing teams from the Quarterfinals in each conference will play each other in a regular-season game on Dec. 10.

Suns’ History in the NBA Cup

Last season, Phoenix made it to the knockout round after going 3-1 in group play, which included one of the team’s most memorable wins of the season after they rallied from down eight with 50 seconds left to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, in the first round of the knockout rounds, Phoenix suffered its worst loss in franchise history, falling 138-89 to the Oklahoma City Thunder without Devin Booker in the lineup.

In the three years of the Cup, Phoenix has a 9-5 record and has made the knockout round twice, but lost both times in the first round.

Unlike the first three seasons, if Phoenix advances to the championship, they’ll play in Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, instead of Las Vegas.

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The Knicks will open another one of their championship defenses against the 76ers.

The teams will square off in Philadelphia on Oct. 30 on Amazon Prime for the league’s first NBA Cup group-stage game.

The Knicks memorably won last year’s NBA Cup, defeating the Spurs in the final in Las Vegas in December — which served as a preview for the NBA Finals, where they again beat the Spurs.

That means the Knicks will begin their championship defense against LeBron James and the new-look 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Opening Night on Oct. 20, then will begin their Cup defense against the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena 10 days later for the first group-stage game.

The full NBA Cup group-stage schedule was released Wednesday.

The Knicks will play the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 13, will host the Cavaliers at MSG on Nov. 25 for a Thanksgiving Eve clash and host the Heat at MSG on Nov. 27 for a Black Friday showdown.

The games against the 76ers, Pacers and Heat will be nationally televised on Amazon Prime.

The NBA Cup final will be played at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11 — marking the first time it will be held outside of Las Vegas, which hosted the first three finals for the in-season tournament. The NBA announced that the semifinals will be played in team markets. Last year, the semis and the NBA Cup final were in Las Vegas.

Wednesday’s release means there are now seven known games on the Knicks schedule after a few marquee slots were announced Tuesday:

– vs. 76ers on Oct. 20 (Opening Night)

– at Celtics on Oct. 23

– at 76ers on Oct. 30 (NBA Cup tipoff)

– at Pacers on Nov. 13 (NBA Cup group stage)

– vs. Cavaliers on Nov. 25 (NBA Cup group stage/Thanksgiving Eve)

– vs. Heat on Nov. 27 (NBA Cup group stage/Black Friday)

– vs. Spurs on Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

The full schedules will be released Thursday.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob dismisses circulating Steph Curry rumor as ‘clickbait' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Joe Lacob has heard the speculation about Steph Curry’s future with the Warriors. The Warriors owner is not buying any of it.

Appearing on “The TK Show” with Tim Kawakami, Lacob was asked directly whether Curry will sign a contract extension once he becomes eligible on Aug. 29 — and more pointedly, whether the Warriors owner could ever imagine a scenario where Curry wanted out.

“It’s not the date yet — we’re not really at that point, but we’re getting close,” Lacob told Kawakami. “We’ll have that conversation. We’ll see what we do. But my guess is Steph — I wouldn’t worry about this too much. Steph loves it here, we love him here. I don’t want Steph to go anywhere. I really can’t imagine a scenario where he’s going anywhere.”

Pressed further on whether he could envision Curry ever raising the idea of leaving, Lacob’s answer sharpened considerably.

“No, no, no. I don’t think that is even a thing,” Lacob said. “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 speculation Lacob is dismissing traces back largely to the Warriors’ failed pursuit of LeBron James this summer, which prompted some to wonder whether a disappointing offseason might push Curry to reconsider his future. But unlike the broader criticism of the team’s roster construction, the reporting on Curry’s situation specifically has been remarkably consistent — ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania have both described “mutual interest” in an extension, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. echoed the same sentiment earlier this week.

“There’s two things I’m confident about with Steph,” Dunleavy said. “He really, really wants to win, and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior. I don’t think that changes tomorrow, August 29th, start of the season, middle of the season, end of next season.”

There is a more legitimate strategic debate happening around Curry’s extension — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has argued the 38-year-old superstar could benefit from delaying an extension to preserve cap flexibility for a future roster overhaul. But that conversation is about team-building strategy, not about Curry wanting to leave — a distinction Lacob’s frustration suggests has gotten lost in the noise.

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