Category: Basketball

Basketball News

Posted on

Remaining restricted free agents and their fantasy basketball value heading into next season

This portion of the calendar is usually the quietest from an NBA transaction standpoint. Summer leagues have already been played, introducing the league's newest talents, and free agency has largely run its course. However, this summer brings about an interesting situation, with four prominent restricted free agents still on the market.

Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, Jonathan Kuminga and Cam Thomas have yet to agree to deals with their current teams, and there aren't many squads out there with the cap space required to produce an offer sheet that would be challenging to match. These situations impact roster construction, which impacts fantasy basketball. Let's look at each player's situation and how it will impact fantasy basketball for the 2025-26 season.

PG/SG Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

After struggling down the stretch for the Thunder in 2023-24, Giddey was traded to the Bulls ahead of his contract year. While he did boast a higher scoring average in 2022-23, this past season was the guard's best regarding overall production. In 70 games, Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 78.1 percent from the foul line. He finished with career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals, three-pointers and three-point percentage, meshing well with fellow guard Cboy White.

However, Giddey's 2024-25 season wasn't enough to get Chicago to commit to an extension on par with the deal Orlando gave Jalen Suggs (AAV: $30.1 million). A top-50 player in eight-cat formats, the Bulls guard was ranked just inside the top-60 in nine-cat, according to Basketball Monster. Remaining with the Bulls would ensure Giddey's fantasy value holds, if not improves slightly, since this will also be the team's first full season since trading Zach LaVine at the February trade deadline. Giddey entered last season with a Yahoo! ADP of 69, and that would likely represent his draft floor this fall.

SG/SF Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

Grimes is an interesting case, as the 76ers acquired him and a second-round pick (which would become Johni Broome) from the Mavericks at the February deadline for Caleb Martin. As the 76ers were playing out the string, Grimes went off, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game in 28 appearances. It must be mentioned that Philadelphia would finish the season without Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, which freed up additional offensive opportunities for Grimes and others. Few expect Grimes to be the top-50 player (eight-cat formats) he was from February 7 onward, but he'll be a fantasy-relevant player in Philadelphia next season.

While Maxey will be ready for training camp, the same can't be guaranteed for Embiid or George. George's status is more impactful to Grimes, depending on the starting lineup. They both can start, but it would require one of them (or Kelly Oubre Jr.) to defend power forwards. Grimes was not on many fantasy radars before last season began, but that won't be the case this fall. Should he be selected with a top-100 pick? George's availability to start the season will undoubtedly impact where Grimes lands in fantasy drafts if he returns to Philadelphia.

SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are the one team that has not made a signing in free agency this summer, and Kuminga's status has been a factor. Until this situation is resolved, Golden State really can't do much, even with the reports of Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton potentially joining the ranks. Does Kuminga receive a new deal that is on par with his expectations? Or would it be a team-friendly deal that he's reportedly turned down? Or, does Kuminga sign the qualifying offer and play on that before heading into unrestricted free agency next summer? Phoenix and Sacramento have reportedly expressed interest in adding Kuminga, but both would need a willing partner in the Warriors to execute a sign-and-trade.

Injuries limited Kuminga to 47 games last season, and already-poor fantasy value dipped even more after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler. From February 7 onward, JK averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 20.8 minutes, making 15 appearances. That production placed Kuminga outside the top-350 in nine-cat formats. Given how his career has gone thus far, his Yahoo! ADP will likely be far below where it was entering last season (91) if he were to remain with the Warriors. At best, Kuminga would be a player worth taking a late-round flier.

SG Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

Thomas may have finished last season with a gaudy point average, but injuries limited him to 25 games. In those appearances, he averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 three-pointers in 31.2 minutes, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 88.1 percent from the foul line. A top-100 player in eight-cat formats, Thomas was ranked just outside that threshold in nine-cat formats. However, the lackluster availability meant fantasy managers missed out on the full benefits, especially with Thomas playing two games from November 27 to February 26, and his final appearance of the season coming on March 13.

The Nets are clearly in rebuilding mode, as evidenced by the team using all five of its first-round picks and trading Cam Johnson to the Nuggets in a deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. Thomas can certainly provide scoring in this lineup, as there's a clear need for a secondary option next to Porter. However, would he be given free rein, or would MPJ and the young guard added via the draft be the team's priority? Thomas' Yahoo! ADP is unlikely to approach what it was last fall (69), but returning to Brooklyn would make him worthy of a top-100 pick, at worst.

Posted on

Celtics' Jaylen Brown discusses dealing with anxiety, depression: 'I’ve been to some very dark places'

Jaylen Brown will be in a different kind of spotlight heading into a new season — but when given the chance this week he turned that spotlight on an issue a lot of people are dealing with, mental health struggles.

In an honest and candid interview with the School of Hard Knocks and posted on Instagram, Brown opened up about his struggles with mental health.

"I've dealt with anxiety, even depression. I've been to some very dark places. But I feel like those dark places have allowed my light to shine."

Brown joins a growing list of current and former players who have talked about their struggles with mental health as players. That includes DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love, who have been at the forefront of the discussion. Brown was asked for his advice for people who feel like they are at rock bottom.

"I would say it's okay. Never let anyone break your spirit. Everybody is going to deal with adversity at some point... Even plants struggle to get sunlight."

Brown also credited his faith in helping him deal with issues.

Brown's role with the Celtics will change this year. He is a four-time All-Star and NBA Finals MVP who was critical in helping the Celtics hang banner No. 18. However, with Jayson Tatum out for most or all of next season with a torn Achilles, Brown becomes the No. 1 option and the guy at the top of the scouting report, and that will be different. The Celtics, as currently constructed, will not be a contender next season, as management prioritizes saving money against the luxury tax with plans to retool and come back strong when Tatum returns at full strength in the 2026-27 season.

Posted on

Donte DiVincenzo will not play for Italy at EuroBasket as turf toe issue flares up

Donte DiVincenzo missed 18 games in the middle of last season due to a turf toe condition, but returned to play in February, and he came off the bench for 25 critical minutes a game during the Timberwolves' run to the Western Conference Finals last postseason.

This summer, DiVincenzo was granted Italian citizenship, just in time for him to lace them up for the Italian national team at EuroBasket. However, when he began practicing for the tournament, the toe issue flared up again, forcing him to announce he would be unable to play for the team in this summer's event.

"Unfortunately, I'm sorry I will not be able to join the national team this summer due to a physical issue that over the last few days forced me to make this difficult, difficult decision. But my goal remains the same. It remains with the journey of Italian basketball going forward, you know, World Cup and the Olympics, and for a very long time. So I just wanted to show my commitment, send my best of luck to the team, and see you all soon."

The Timberwolves see this as more precautionary and expect DiVincenzo to be ready for the next NBA season, reports Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic.

DiVincenzo averaged 11.7 points in almost 26 minutes a game off the bench for the Timberwolves last season. He shot 39.7% on 3-pointers and was a plus defender for the team, his versatility fitting into a variety of lineups.

EuroBasket will feature a number of NBA players, including stars such as Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece). EuroBasket will run from Aug. 27 through Sept. 14, and will be co-hosted by Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia.

Posted on

LeBron James and Maverick Carter meet with Nikola Jokic's agent about starting a new league

Nikola Jokic (L) of Serbia and LeBron James of United States compete during the Paris 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, France.
Nikola Jokic, left, of Serbia and LeBron James of the United States compete during the Paris 2024 Olympics Games at Bercy Arena on Aug. 8, 2024. (Manu Reino / Getty Images)

A proposed international league described as the F1 of basketball gained attention over the weekend when Misko Raznatovic, the agent for Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, posted a photo on Instagram of him meeting in shorts and bare feet with LeBron James and the Lakers star's business partner Maverick Carter on a yacht off the coast of the French Riviera.

Raznatovic accompanied the photo with an intriguing comment: "The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026! @kingjames@mavcarter

The post triggered speculation that perhaps James and Jokic could team up on either the Lakers or Nuggets, but more likely it suggests James has more than a peripheral interest in the new league.

Front Office Sports reported in January that Carter was advising a group of investors trying to raise $5 billion to jump-start the league but that James wasn't involved. That may have changed.

Read more:Luka Doncic takes a jab at Mavericks while showing off his revenge body

So what's the league about?

Early discussions are of a touring model with six men’s and six women’s teams playing in eight cities, none of which is likely to be in the United States. Investors include the Singapore government, SC Holdings, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, a Macau casino operator, UBS, Skype founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, according to the Financial Times. Reports have linked VC firm Quiet Capital, tech investor Byron Deeter and Hong Kong-based Galaxy Entertainment to the effort.

Investors are leaning toward not allowing players in the league unless they cut ties with the NBA, making the model somewhat like LIV Golf — the professional circuit funded by (PIF). A better comparison in terms of format and scale might be Formula 1 Racing, which holds 24 races a year across five continents.

Raznatovic's involvement would be key. His Belgrade, Serbia, agency BeoBasket has a partnership with Excel Sports Management and represents dozens of top European players, including Clippers center Ivica Zubac.

Read more:NBA's Marcus Morris Sr. out of jail after 2 days without bail. 'Money paid back and lesson learned'

The EuroLeague is currently recognized as the world's second-best basketball circuit, but can't come close to paying players NBA-level salaries.

If Raznatovic's social media post is an indication, the new league could launch as soon as the fall of 2026. Until then, fans wanting an alternative to the NBA can check out Ice Cube's tour-based Big3 basketball league, which makes its single stop in Los Angeles on Aug. 9.

The LA Riot, coached by Nick Young and starring Dwight Howard and Jordan Crawford, will play the Boston Ball Hogs at the Intuit Dome at 1 p.m. PDT.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Knicks Mailbag: How many games will NY win this season under Mike Brown?

It's another edition of Knicks' Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the Knicks. Let's get started.

Is Ben Simmons a realistic option for the final Veteran spot? — @2lowtech

Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his decision.

He’s garnered interest from several teams around the league. The Knicks also have maintained interest in Landry Shamet for that final roster spot.

New York’s team salary cannot exceed the second apron ($207.8 million). They have enough money to sign a rookie free agent (it seems to me that Kevin McCullar is the best candidate for that spot) and a veteran to a minimum deal.

They would need to make a trade in order to add a third player on a traditional NBA deal. All of New York’s two-way spots are open as well. 

Hey Ian, my questions are why is there a delay on the Knicks filling the remaining vet min contract spot? Is the team holding out in case other players may be released? Are they waiting for a player to except an offer, if one was indeed made? — @Btruetolife

Hey, what’s up, Brutus? I’m not sure of the reasons behind the timing here. I know people in the organization have interest in Simmons and other people in the organization have interest in Shamet. I can only assume that they are weighing their options internally with respect to positional need.

Hey Ian Begley, just wanted to know if new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have somewhat of a say on who should get the final vet minimum roster spot. — @CarlSanddude32

Yes, new Knicks head coach Mike Brown will have a say in the final veteran signing here. The Knicks and Brown emphasized that there will be collaboration between the head coach and the front office. That means Brown will certainly have a voice when it comes to personnel matters. Tom Thibodeau also had influence on personnel moves during his tenure in New York. Thibodeau didn’t get every player he wanted, but his opinion was definitely taken into account ahead of personnel moves.

Have you heard any rumblings about Malcolm Brogdon? — @KnicksRants

This comes down to positional preference. Do the Knicks want a wing for that final spot or do they want a ball-handler? Unless they make a trade, they have to choose between one of those positions. Any team that is in the market for a ball-handler would have to at least be considering Malcolm Brodgon. A few years ago, the Knicks did not have strong interest in trading for Brodgon in the middle of the season. But this is a different team with different circumstances. I’m sure Brogdon will at least be under consideration until they figure things out with the final roster spot.

Has Diawara shown enough to earn a 2 way contact? — @2lowtech

I think he has. He had some really strong stretches in Summer League. A two-way deal would give Diawara a great opportunity to spend some time with the big club while getting game reps in Westchester.

Who are some assistant coaches that the Knicks could hire, now that James Borrego is staying in NOLA? — @JayKnicky

Hey Jay, the name that I know of at the moment is Brendan O’Connor from the Clippers. Sorry I don’t have anything new there. As noted last week, Pablo Prigioni decided to stay in Minnesota after talking to the Knicks. O’Connor has a strong defensive acumen and has worked for the Clippers  under both Ty Lue and Doc Rivers. The Knicks will presumably continue to look for an assistant to help on offense even if they add O’Connor to help guide the defense.

In your own person opinion, do you think this front office has made any missteps either this offseason or over the past few years? — @wieder_jason

In my opinion? Absolutely. This front office has done really well. But even the best front offices make mistakes. The one I look at is Obi Toppin. Toppin never had a clear path to significant minutes because he was behind an All-NBA player in Julius Randle. The Knicks then traded Toppin for a minimal return and he developed into an important rotation player for the Eastern Conference champion Pacers. Again, all front offices make mistakes. But this Knicks front office, along with former head coach Thibodeau, has helped the team win consistently for the first time since the turn of the century. They have done very well in a big picture sense. The next big decision for the group is on Mikal Bridges’ extension. The Bridges trade was a big swing by the front office. Obviously, it’s too early to know if it was the right move. 

Can you ball park a win total for Mike Brown’s first year as head coach? — @Knickanator_

Hmmm I’ll go with 49, Knickinator. I’ll go with that number based on the assumption that Brown plays his starters fewer minutes than they played last season. I’ll also go with that number based on the assumption that the Knicks and Brown endure some growing pains over the course of the regular season.

Posted on

Daryl Morey says LeBron's, Lakers' bubble title 'will forever be marked by an asterisk'

It's been five years since the NBA went into a bubble on the Disney campus in Orlando to keep COVID out while crowning an NBA champion.

In a look back at the bubble at The Athletic, NBA executive Daryl Morey — at the time with Houston, now the head of basketball operations with Philadelphia — said that the title LeBron James and the Lakers won in the bubble should come with an asterisk.

"Had the Rockets won the title, I absolutely would have celebrated it as legitimate, knowing the immense effort and resilience required. Yet, everyone I speak to around the league privately agrees that it doesn't truly hold up as a genuine championship. Perhaps the lasting legacy of the NBA bubble is that the NBA should be proud of its leadership at both the beginning and end of the pandemic, even though the champion will forever be marked by an asterisk."

That feels like some revisionist history by Morey. Then Lakers' assistant Phil Handy felt that way and fired back at Morey.

One big takeaway at the time — and discussed at the time — was that this was the highest level of playoff basketball anyone could remember. That was due to a few reasons: the COVID-forced mid-season time off to rest players' bodies, the lack of travel to wear people down, and the lack of distractions and focus on basketball. The challenge was more mental, as players were stuck in the bubble and away from their families, missing the feeling of "normal" life. LeBron's Lakers and Jimmy Butler's Heat handled that mental part best, which is why they played for a ring.

The bubble was its own thing, certainly different from every other NBA title — but that doesn't make it lesser. Everyone was playing by the same rules, the challenges were simply unique to that season and the bubble. That hasn't stopped LeBron's critics (or at least those trying to knock down his GOAT argument) from jumping at the chance to say this title wasn't legit. They miss the point, they miss how much LeBron's mental toughness carried the Lakers to a title. That matters.

While it is different, the bubble should not have an asterisk.

Posted on

Gilbert Arenas arrested for allegedly running high-stakes illegal poker games out of his home

Three-time All-NBA player Gilbert Arenas has been arrested, along with five other defendants – "including a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group" – for allegedly running illegal high-stakes poker games out of a Los Angeles home owned by Arenas.

Arenas is set to be arraigned on Wednesday, charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California.

Arenas could serve up to five years in prison for each count for which he is convicted.

From the U.S. Attorney's Office:

"According to the indictment returned on July 15 and unsealed today, from September 2021 to July 2022, [suspected organized crime figure from Israel Yevgeni] Gershman, Arenas, and the other defendants operated an illegal gambling business. Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games. At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf."

The crew allegedly ran illegal "Pot Limit Omaha" poker games, among other illegal games, according to the indictment. Young women were hired and "served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to the poker players" in exchange for tips (the women were charged a "tax" on their earnings paid to the organizers. There also were armed security guards, chefs, valets parking cars for the games and more, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The ongoing investigation was a coordinated effort of the Homeland Security Investigations' Northridge Office, the Los Angeles Police Department's Major Crimes Division — Transnational Organized Crime Section, and the IRS Criminal Investigation.

Posted on

FC Barcelona honors Kobe Bryant with 'Mamba Mentality'-inspired road uniforms

Kobe Bryant will always be remembered as a Lakers legend and one of basketball's all-time greats.

But in February 2009 — in the middle of his 13th NBA season — Bryant appeared on the cover of ESPN the Magazine wearing another team's uniform and playing an entirely different sport.

The cover shot showed Bryant in full FC Barcelona gear and performing some pretty fancy footwork with a soccer ball.

Kobe Bryant and FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho wearing shorts and shirts chart in front of a group of men dressed like Ronaldhino
Lakers' Kobe Bryant and FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho take part in an event Aug. 5, 2006, in Hollywood. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

In a video for ESPN the Magazine, Bryant explained that he was a longtime soccer fan who had become "captivated" by superstar Ronaldinho, who played for Barca from 2003-2008.

"That’s how I started following the team," Bryant said, "and from that point forward I just stuck with them.”

Now, more than 16 years later, Barcelona players will be wearing Bryant-inspired uniforms. Revealed Tuesday by Nike and Barca, the team's 2025-26 away kits will feature a number of nods toward the late NBA legend and his famous Mamba Mentality.

The colors are variations of the Lakers' purple and gold. A snakeskin pattern is featured on the shorts and portions of the jersey. Bryant's "Kobe Sheath" logo appears prominently, including on the upper right section of the jersey where the Nike Swoosh would normally be placed.

"Born from a shared obsession with relentless self-improvement, the partnership brings the Kobe Sheath to professional football for the first time through a collection that captures the dedication and values central to Kobe’s legacy and Barça’s DNA," Nike said in a press release.

Read more:Dodgers unveil Kobe Bryant bobblehead to be given away Aug. 8 at Chavez Ravine

"The collaboration celebrates Kobe’s lifelong love for football and admiration for FC Barcelona’s joyful style of play and philosophy. In return, Barça recognizes Kobe as a driving force in global sport who lived by the discipline and drive for greatness that defines the club."

Barcelona wasn't shy in promoting the new look on Instagram.

"Two icons, one shared story," the team wrote in one post. "A collaboration born from mutual admiration and the values that unite us: talent, commitment, and passion."

Barca added in another post: "The Mamba Mentality is in us."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

What Kings' latest reported Jonathan Kuminga trade offer to Warriors included

What Kings' latest reported Jonathan Kuminga trade offer to Warriors included originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears the Kings have enhanced their initial sign-and-trade offer to the Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga.

Sacramento has offered a first-round draft pick and a potential rotation player to Golden State, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday on “NBA Today.” However, the Warriors are being particular with the type of first-round pick.

The Kings have offered a conditional first-round pick, but the Warriors are asking for a fully unprotected first-round pick, Charania reported, citing sources.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns, who in addition to Sacramento have been the most aggressive in their pursuit of Kuminga, don’t have a first-round pick to trade, so their offer likely would include one or two rotation players and second-round compensation.

Golden State also doesn’t want to take on a bad salary in return, Charania added, and the Warriors don’t want a player they don’t feel has the value moving forward that Kuminga could have.

Sacramento previously offered second-year guard Devin Carter, big man Dario Šarić and two second-round picks to the Warriors, sources told NBC Sports California. But even after the Kings revised their offer, it appears the Warriors still aren’t moved by Sacramento’s offer or any other proposed to them thus far.

“Clearly their asking price has not been met in these potential offers,” Charania said, “and there’s still about a month in a half to two months left before Jonathan Kuminga has a real decision to make with that Oct. 1 qualifying offer.”

The waiting game continues.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Jonathan Kuminga reportedly turned down two-year, $45 million offer from Warriors

The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga have picked up the pace around talks, but that doesn't mean a deal is done — or even that close.

Kuminga has rejected the Warriors' two-year, $45 million contract offer in large part because Golden State insists on a team option for the second season that he waive the built-in no-trade clause, reports Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN. Both of those requests would make Kuminga easier to trade, but giving up those things — particularly the no-trade clause, which he would get automatically because he could lose his Bird rights in the deal — would mean Kuminga would have no control over what would happen to him. He could be traded to a team just looking to waive him and clear cap space.

Kuminga's agent, BJ Armstrong, reportedly offered a three-year, $82 million contract to the Warriors instead. That seems more than the market appears willing to pay for him.

While the sides have looked for a sign-and-trade deal, there does not appear to be one available. For example, Kuminga spoke with the Kings and Armstrong had longer talks with them as well. The problem is this: The Kings will not put Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis in a trade offer, but the Warriors are not interested in taking back DeMar DeRozan, Dario Saric or Devin Carter, reports Jason Alexander at the Sacramento Bee. So things are stuck.

The Warriors are thinking of ending the sign-and-trade talks, and their current position is that Kuminga can take their two-year offer or sign the $7.5 million qualifying offer, ESPN reports. The qualifying offer would mean Kuminga is a member of the Warriors this season with a no-trade clause, then he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, for Kuminga, that's a lot of money to leave on the table to buy his freedom.

Kuminga, 22, averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 47 games last season (he missed time with an ankle injury). The concern is that he shot 30.5% on 3-pointers and is not a threat from deep, which makes it hard for Steve Kerr to play him and Draymond Green together (both are best at the fours), especially with Jimmy Butler. However, if the Warriors are going to bring back Kuminga with the hopes of trading him at the deadline, Kerr will need to showcase him.

Posted on

Luca Doncic takes a jab at Mavericks while showing off his revenge body

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 28: Luka Doni greets Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, July 28, 2025 in New York, New York.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, greets slugger Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees before a game at Yankee Stadium on July 28. (Kyrease Desseau / Getty Images)

Guy spends his summer transforming his body from flab to fighting trim. He wants to share the results with the world. Where is his first stop?

New York, New York, would suffice.

So there Luka Doncic stood, newly toned and beaming, posing for a photo opp at Yankee Stadium with none other than 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger Aaron Judge, as legit a symbol of freakish physique gifts as exists on today's sports landscape.

Both men have been featured in Men's Health magazine, including a cover story on Doncic published Monday that detailed his commitment to redistributing weight through intense workouts and a better diet.

The 6-6, 230-pound Doncic didn't wither in Judge's presence, exhibiting muscle tone unseen during his 28-game Lakers debut after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a truly shocking Feb. 1 trade for center Anthony Davis.

Doncic also chatted with the Yankees' broadcast team, and play-by-play announcer Michael Kay suggested Doncic do what any self-respecting New Yorker would in this situation: Make sure the Mavericks are aware of his physical transformation.

"After that deal was made, the Mavericks got a lot of criticism regarding it," Kay said. "Then they start to leak out stuff — 'Oh, we don't know if he's ever going to be in shape.' You should mail them a copy of that Men's Health magazine."

Behind a sly grin, Doncic replied, "They probably saw it. I don't have to worry about that."

New York is one of three destinations on Doncic's summer sojourn, a one-day stop in Chicago next followed by an intriguingly timed visit to Los Angeles on Saturday. That happens to be the first day Doncic, 26, can sign a contract extension with the Lakers.

The five-time All-NBA guard can sign a four-year deal for $224 million or a three-year deal for $161 million with a player option in 2028, which would allow Doncic to sign a max contract in 2028 that would give him 35% of the salary cap for that season.

Read more:Luka Doncic says 'whole body looks better' after summer of change: 'This is just the start'

Any lingering doubts that the Lakers might have had before dropping that kind of money in Doncic's lap likely were assuaged by his apparent commitment to superior physical conditioning.

Even with a bit of a belly and rounded jowls, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists a game last season — a mere tick lower than his career totals. Now he could be poised to assume the mantle of best player in the world, handed off from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James, Lakers both.

Doncic's summer at his Croatia home includes two 90-minute workouts a day, according to Men's Health. He also has adopted a gluten-free, low-sugar and high-protein diet that includes intermittent fasting.

The unveiling of his new physique included Judge giving him a game-used bat and a pair of his Air Jordan 1 Low cleats. In the interview with Kay, Doncic was asked if he could put the gifts to use. Has he played baseball?

“A lot, on the Wii console," he replied with the same wry humor he displayed shading the Mavericks. "Yeah, on Wii, I was great. Here? Probably not.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

NBA headed to Berlin, Paris, London and Manchester to play six games in the next three years

The NBA is heading to Europe for at least six games in the next three years, the league announced on Wednesday.

That starts with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic playing in Berlin on Jan. 15 and then in London on Jan. 18 in this coming season. That game in Berlin will be the NBA's first regular season game in Germany, and it will feature German-born brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner.

"To have the Orlando Magic and the NBA play a regular-season game in our hometown of Berlin means everything to us," the brothers said in a statement. "Growing up here, we dreamed of moments like this. It's a huge honor to represent Berlin and Germany and show how much the city and country love basketball. We hope we can inspire kids the way we were inspired watching games from afar."'

In 2026-27, the NBA will play games in Manchester, England, and Paris, then in the 2027-28 season it will be Berlin and Paris. The games will be played at Berlin's Uber Arena, London's The O2, Manchester's Co-op Live and Paris' Accor Arena.

" Announcing the next three season's regular-season games in Europe reflects the incredible momentum and appetite for NBA basketball in France, Germany, the UK, and across the region," George Aivazoglou, the NBA's managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming the Grizzlies and the Magic to Berlin and London and to engaging fans, players and the local communities through the games and the surrounding events."

The NBA is banking on that appetite, as these games come while the association is working toward launching an NBA-branded league in Europe, something NBA owners seem more eager to do in the next handful of years than expanding the league to cities such as Seattle or Las Vegas. The form of this European league is still being decided — it likely would be a mix of existing teams and some new, expansion ones — and would be direct competition with the existing EuroLeague.

Whatever happens with the new league, the NBA will continue to play games on the continent and will try to grow its brand and presence there.

Posted on

Kings reportedly won't include two players in Jonathan Kuminga Warriors deal

Kings reportedly won't include two players in Jonathan Kuminga Warriors deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings and Warriors haven’t budged regarding a potential sign-and-trade deal that would send Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga to Sacramento — a deal would’ve been done by now.

And the Kings appear to be standing even taller as of Wednesday.

Sacramento is telling Golden State that forward Keegan Murray and guard Keon Ellis, both fan favorites in California’s capital city, are off limits in trade discussions, the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson reported Wednesday, citing a league source.

“The Sacramento Kings have not given up in their pursuit of a sign-and-trade deal for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga,” Anderson prefaced.

“The Warriors would probably be quick to pull the trigger on a deal involving Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis. However, a source with knowledge of trade conversations told The Sacramento Bee that Murray and Ellis have not been discussed, and both are considered off limits in talks for Kuminga.”

It makes sense for the Kings to be cautious.

Kuminga will bring an element of surprise to whatever team he ends up with during the 2025-26 NBA season. At 22, Kuminga’s potential is undoubtedly high, and he enters his fifth campaign having averaged 15.3 points on 45.4-percent shooting with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 47 regular-season games in 2024-25. 

But his career 33.2-percent clip on 3-point shots is a major concern to any team prioritizing floor spacing.

“Kuminga wants a fresh start with a new team, and the Warriors have given him reason to question their commitment to him,” Anderson wrote. “He likes the opportunity the Kings have presented, but the Warriors seem unwilling to accept a package featuring Devin Carter, Dario Saric and draft compensation, which could be a protected first-round pick or multiple second-round picks.”

Sacramento knows what it has with Murray and Ellis; the former is a promising, well-rounded forward himself, and the latter arguably the anchor of the Kings’ defense.

As Anderson wrote, first-year general manager Scott Perry and the Kings aren’t giving up on attempting to bring Kuminga north. It is, though, unknown which franchise benefits from the saga dragging out.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

Warriors reportedly ‘shutting down' Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade discussions

Warriors reportedly ‘shutting down' Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade discussions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It doesn’t appear the Warriors love their current Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade options.

Golden State currently isn’t interested in proposed trade packages from interested teams like the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported Wednesday.

“The Warriors, as of right now, have shunned all sign-and-trade offers,” Charania said on “SportsCenter” with Slater and Malika Andrews. “Right now, what we see is a stalemate between both sides, as both sides are at a crossroads for a player that clearly believes he has not been given the full amount of opportunity in Golden State. 

“He has a high level of self-belief right now.”

Golden State reportedly has been offered several mixes of draft picks and role players, but nothing has moved the needle thus far. Kuminga and his camp aren’t in any rush to stay in the Bay or find a new home, either.

The 22-year-old forward averaged 15.3 points on 45.4-percent shooting with a concerning 30.5-percent clip from three-point range during the 2024-25 NBA season.

Like Charania, Slater believes the Warriors would prefer for Kuminga to sign a short-term contract with trade flexibility, but understands that the franchise can’t continue to drag its feet with its young forward.

“They’ve been pretty firm in the last few days, saying there’s a reason why it’s called ‘restricted free agency ‘and not ‘unrestricted free agency,’” Slater said. “They kind of hold the leverage on his future. Their preferred path clearly is the offer they put on the table; it’s short-term, it’s tradeable, that’s how they pitched it to Kuminga …” 

“Regardless, they say right now they’re shutting down sign-and-trade talks; they found nothing appealing there. And they believe he is going to be on the roster. Their stance is that he will be on the roster to start next season.”

Kuminga took to social media on Wednesday, emphasizing that he is betting on himself this offseason.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast