Category: Basketball

Let’s start this off by being completely honest about New York’s point guard history. For the better part of the last three decades, the position has been a total nightmare. The Knicks spent years wandering through a wasteland, hoping for someone competent enough to run a simple pick-and-roll or bring the ball up without causing a turnover against a press. As fans, we talked ourselves into the Emmanuel Mudiay reclamation project. We lived through the Alexey Shved era. We found ourselves debating Frank Ntilikina’s defensive metrics and trying to convince each other that Chris Duhon was a long-term answer.

However, when you trudge through the muck and zoom out a bit, a different story comes to life. When the Knicks actually have an elite floor general, the team does not just compete. They win championships. 

This Mt. Rushmore is not about empty box scores. It is not a mountain for guys who sold a lot of shoes and put up 20 points a night while the team zombie-walked to 50 losses. Yeah, I am looking at you, Stephon Marbury. It is not even about brief, two-week flashes of global phenomenon status, either. Jeremy Lin, we will always love you, but a fortnight does not make the mountain. Our Mt. Rushmore is reserved for impact on winning, setting the culture, and elevating the franchise when it mattered most. 

Two spots on the mountain are already set. Just look to 1970, 1973, and 2026. Today, we look to carve out the final two faces. Of course, we need to show some love to the undisputed point guard royalty in New York.

Walt “Clyde” Frazier

Walt “Clyde” Frazier may be known by most younger fans as the guy with the cool suits and rhymes for days. But before he blessed the MSG Network with his commentary, he served as the engine behind the Knicks’ only two championships of the 20th century. Without him, New York basketball history looks very different. 

For his era, Frazier’s numbers are insane. Thriving at both ends of the court, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game, while also making the All-Defensive First Team seven times. In a time dominated by the likes of Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, Clyde settled in as the premier two-way perimeter player. Consistently turning defense into transition offense, he possessed a top-notch ability to read passing lanes and cause turnovers.

The main reason Frazier’s face is the first one carved into our Mt. Rushmore of Knicks floor generals is Game 7 of the 1970 Finals. Yes, we all know the game because of the Willis Reed injury and the legendary tunnel walk. However, the only reason the Knicks actually won that game was that Walt completely carried the team. On the biggest stage imaginable, he recorded 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. To this day, his performance in that game remains one of the most clutch in NBA history.

Jalen Brunson

After Frazier, the next obvious point guard to make the mountain is Jalen Brunson. When Leon Rose signed Brunson away from Dallas, the national media had a field day dubbing the acquisition a massive overpay for an undersized secondary option. Boy were they all wrong. Instead, Brunson pulled the Knicks out of the dark ages and turned New York back into the basketball hotbed it’s supposed to be. 

Brunson’s footwork in the paint, his midrange mastery, and his unmatched will to win late in games transformed New York’s gritty, hard-working roster into an offensive powerhouse. He racked up All-NBA selections, typically kept his point total close to 28 points per game, and took on the heaviest offensive burden. 

Of course, his spot was cemented when he led the Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship. Breaking the curse that haunted this fanbase for generations, Brunson buried the 90s heartbreaks and 2000s embarrassments for good. There is no debate that his face is right next to Clyde’s on the giant rock.

The Final Two Spots

So who fills the rest of Mt. Rushmore? This is where the real debate begins. There are a few point guards who left their mark on the franchise, but only two can join Clyde and Brunson.

If we consider breathing life back into Madison Square Garden, Mark Jackson has a case. Drafted 18th overall in 1987 out of local St. John’s, Jackson immediately electrified his hometown team after the Knicks suffered through a rough few years in the mid-80s.

Averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 assists a game, Jackson won the 1988 Rookie of the Year. The next season, he made his way to the All-Star team. Flashy, tough, and elite at setting up his teammates, Jackson embodied a true New York point guard. He successfully orchestrated the offense, assisting in the rise of another Knicks legend, Patrick Ewing. Mastering the alley-oop and executing the teardrop floater, Jackson helped build a foundation of success that lasted a decade.

Sometimes, it serves us well to dive back into New York’s deep history, even if the highlights can be tricky to decipher.

Dick McGuire was the original point guard behind Knicks basketball. Another St. John’s product, “Tricky Dick” was a skillful and unselfish playmaker known for his behind-the-back passes. Leading the NBA in assists as a rookie in the 1949-1950 season, McGuire made five All-Star teams during his eight seasons in New York.

Of course, the real argument for including him is the sustained success the Knicks experienced with him at point guard. He led New York to three consecutive NBA Finals, garnering enough respect in the franchise to share in the retirement of his number 15, along with Earl Monroe. Though most of us were not around to watch McGuire strut his stuff, you don’t lead a team to three straight Finals and share the rafters with “The Pearl” for being a slouch.

We cannot have a serious conversation about the point guard position without showing a little love to Charlie Ward. Possessing all the traits of the ’90s Knicks, he was a true glue guy and a fan favorite.

A former Heisman Trophy winner, Ward successfully translated his football player mentality to the basketball court. Never the most athletic or fastest player, he earned his playing time through intelligence and toughness. Ward started 68 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season and ran the point for the eighth-seeded Knicks as they made a miraculous run to the NBA Finals. A complete pest defensively, he also served as a reliable 3-point shooter for his era.

Will we ever see an athlete like Charlie Ward again?

Long NBA Career
Heisman Trophy
Drafted TWICE in the MLB Draft

ABSOLUTLEY insane

pic.twitter.com/RtVtZh0pim

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 19, 2024

While it’s important to mention Ward, he does fall just short of making the mountain. An elite role player, he lacked the franchise-altering accolades of Jackson or McGuire.

After traveling through the eras, sifting through the stats, and considering the cultural significance and impact on winning, the final Mt. Rushmore for Knicks floor generals is set. At the end of the day, the mountain belongs to Walt Frazier, Jalen Brunson, Dick McGuire, and Mark Jackson. We have our two champions in Clyde and Brunson representing the highest moments in New York basketball. We have a pioneer responsible for building an early foundation and setting the standard in McGuire. Finally, there is the hometown kid who helped bring magic back to the Garden in Jackson.

So, where did I go wrong? Is it right to leave a member of the 1999 run off the mountain, or should Ward replace McGuire? DoesMarbury’ss raw talent warrant deeper consideration, or was it right to write him off completely? Make sure to share your thoughts and your point guard Mt. Rushmore below.

LJ Cryer's small offseason change could benefit him, Warriors in 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS — The best ability, in LJ Cryer’s case, really is availability. 

“The main thing for me is just getting my body healthy, because when I’m healthy, I’m able to help the team,” Cryer said to reporters at Chase Center during Warriors Summer League Media Day. “… With me being a younger guy, I just got to be more available. … The more healthy I get, the more I’ll be able to bring to the table.”

Aside from a right foot injury that sidelined him for a large chunk of his sophomore year at Baylor, Cryer was relatively healthy throughout his five-year college career. But the start to his Warriors career didn’t go as smoothly from a health perspective. 

Cryer dealt with a back injury off and on throughout December and January prior to him making his NBA debut with the Warriors on Jan. 19. He didn’t play a single game in February – not in the G League or NBA – because of a recurring hamstring issue. The same problem caused him to miss two games in March. 

An illness in April sidelined him for another two games, and then in the third-to-last game of the regular season on April 10, Cryer sprained his right ankle coming down from a shot when he landed on Jarred Vanderbilt’s left foot in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

LJ Cryer had to be helped off the court after injuring his ankle on this play pic.twitter.com/4mjP4cFKoj

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 10, 2026

All in all, Cryer played in 36 games throughout his rookie year. He appeared in 18 games for Golden State, and another 18 for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. That’s a strong number for someone who went undrafted. However, the inconsistency of Cryer’s availability was far from satisfactory in his own self-evaluation. 

So, Cryer got to work. He stayed back in the Bay and could be seen running on the Embarcadero after a long workout at Chase Center. Injuries can often be out of a player’s control. Bad luck, as the Warriors learned all last season, is as real as it gets. Preparation is what athletes can control. 

The change for Cryer started before the weight room. His focus has been how he serves his body, starting with how he fuels it. And he already can feel the results. 

“I changed my diet, that was the main thing,” Cryer said in Las Vegas after the Warriors’ summer league win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. “And then I’ve been tracking my sleep. Those are the two most important things.”

Cryer, 24, played for two prestigious college programs in Baylor and Houston. He comes from a family of athletes, following in the footsteps of his parents who met as collegiate athletes at Grambling State. His younger brother was a college football player at Florida State, and Cryer has a long family lineage of other college athletes as well. 

Discipline always has been a part of Cryer’s DNA. Stepping into the NBA also opened his eyes to a new understanding of what it takes, including the smallest details. 

“Oh, I cut out a lot of foods,” Cryer said. “Just understanding what to put in your body. Obviously I had an idea of what to do, but sitting down with the performance staff and getting the detailed plan has helped me.” 

What he eliminated is what we all could cut back on from time to time.

“Probably sweets, like candy. Stuff like that,” he says.

How did the change in diet and sleep translate to the court? The sharp-shooting point guard lit it up in summer league. 

LJ Cryer poured in 16 points in the second quarter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MrT4aJJ8Mj

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 10, 2026

Cryer’s comments about no longer eating junk food and improving his sleep actually came after his lowest-scoring game of the summer when he tallied eight points, yet led the Warriors in assists (five) without any turnovers and was a game-high plus-17. It was Cryer, not top draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who led the Warriors in scoring during their summer league championship run in Las Vegas. Cryer, in six games in Las Vegas, averaged 15 points per game and had a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Cryer’s summer league began with hot shooting at the California Classic on his home court, and it only continued for him in the desert. Cryer, in eight total games, averaged 14.0 points, second to Lendeborg’s 14.9. Each led the Warriors with 32 assists. Beyond the arc is where Cryer made his money, just like he can for Golden State. 

Cryer this summer took 7.9 threes per game and made them at a 41.3 percent clip. His 63 3-point attempts were 26 more than any of his teammates, and they accounted for 75 percent of his total shots. The role Cryer can have on the Warriors in Year 2 is clear, and he’s making sure to show the franchise he’s ready to step into bigger shoes.

The way he can shoot the ball from long distance stands out most, but Cryer feels like a much better overall player as he prepares for his second pro season. 

“Just all around,” Cryer said. “I think it’s due to me to working on my body this summer, just being more healthy. So I feel like I’ve taken a jump in every aspect of my game.”

The microwave scorer the Warriors still need might already be on their roster. Cryer, in his 18 games with the Warriors last season, averaged 5.2 3-point attempts and shot 39.4 percent. He made multiple threes in 11 games, which came after letting it fly in Santa Cruz. In his 18 G League games, Cryer shot 44.9 percent from 3-point range while taking 10.3 threes per game. 

Pat Spencer’s departure opens a spot for Cryer to be the Warriors’ third point guard as the roster is currently constructed, whether he’s on a two-way contract or the 15-man roster. Even if they add another ball-handler, there still needs to be a spot for Cryer, who already is the Warriors’ second-best 3-point shooter, behind only Steph Curry, the greatest of all time. 

Size isn’t on Cryer’s side. Generously listed at 6-foot, Cryer is a strong 202 pounds. Getting his body right and being available as much as possible for an older Warriors team is his ticket to next season and beyond. 

One small change can lead to big results for Cryer and the Warriors.

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Warriors' Steph Curry has matter-of-fact reaction to LeBron James choosing 76ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry is not surprised by LeBron James’ long-awaited decision.

Despite the former’s efforts to recruit the latter to join the Warriors in NBA free agency this offseason, James ultimately signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend after weeks of recruitment by a handful of prominent teams.

Curry, speaking exclusively to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson for a recent story, shared his reaction to James choosing Philadelphia over other teams, like Golden State.

“That’s why you don’t envision anything until it happens,” Curry told Thompson. “There’s a lot of moving parts.”

When James initially left the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this offseason, the Warriors were believed to be the most likely landing spot, but Golden State adding the 22-time All-Star became less and less likely in the weeks to follow.

James probably was the Warriors’ most realistic big-ticket addition this offseason, and after he chose to sign elsewhere, Golden State now must figure out where it goes from here and how it will improve and round out its roster for the 2026-27 NBA season with key players, like star forward Jimmy Butler and sixth-year wing Moses Moody, likely to miss significant time.

“The through line,” Curry shared with Thompson, “which is hard on anybody in this situation, especially with us keeping this thing together, is knowing that when Jimmy got hurt and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes. How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level? And then how that goes into this year. It’s the same deal. So I’m a realist on that.”

“You hope that they both come back healthy and we can play at a level that keeps us relevant and competitive and builds a foundation so that we can figure out what it looks like. But that is the situation. We don’t live in any alternative universe.”

Golden State still has multiple roster spots to fill, so additional moves are expected before the start of training camp in late September.

Who will those players be? That remains a mystery to Curry. And probably the Warriors, too.

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Former Blue Devil Wendell Moore has been in the NBA for four years now, and he hasn’t really established himself, and it looks like he’s going to go a different direction.

Moore is reportedly talking to several European teams, including Partizan Belgrade and Hapoel Tel Aviv. However, he may be more interested in BC Roma SPQR.

The ownership includes Donnie Nelson and Luka Doncic, and the team plays in Serie A, which is the highest level in Italy.

The thing about the NBA is that the margin of error is razor-thin. For most of us, Moore would be a stunning athlete, but on the NBA level, as it has turned out, he’s probably marginal.

In Europe though, he could have a long and lucrative career. It’s probably a smart move.

• Partizan reportedly close to deal with former NBA first-round pick Wendell Moore
• Detroit Pistons’ 24-Year-Old Free Agent Could Leave NBA

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Welcome to the start of the NBA’s second wave of player movement.

LeBron James’ prolonged free agency seemingly held up other moves around the league while he was making up his mind on where to play next season. Now that James has committed to the Philadelphia 76ers, the rest of the NBA is back open for business, and there’s likely another round of transactions coming. Restricted free agents like Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson will finally get some clarity on their futures in short order, and there are still plenty of possible trade candidates before rosters are finalized for the 2026-27 season.

Training camps around the league don’t open until the final days of September. Buzzer-beater trades have become a regular occurrence over the last few years, with blockbusters like Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Timberwolves trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, immediately coming to mind. With tanking dead and so many teams having dreams of contention in both the East and the West, the regular season could be set for active trade deadline, too. These are the big names who could be available on the trade market over the next year.

Kevin Durant, F, Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant’s first year in Houston checked every box: there was a weird, unresolved Twitter burner scandal, a first-round playoff loss to the Lakers without Luka Doncic, and another hyper-efficient scoring season with 26 points per game on 64.1% true shooting. Durant is about to turn 38 years old, and he’s under contract for this season and next season. The Rockets could be really good this season if everything goes according to plan. Fred VanVleet is back from injury, Amen Thompson again feels like he’s on the verge of a true breakout, and there are multiple other young players who could level up with Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason. Then again, the West is loaded, and if Houston doesn’t rise to the challenge, there’s bound to be a fall guy. It could be Sengun, or head coach Ime Udoka, but Durant has a history of wearing out his welcome pretty quickly in the latter stages of his career. KD has become the NBA’s ultimate mercenary, and no one should be surprised if he’s on the move again in the next year.

Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs could really use Kyrie Irving’s ball handling to take pressure off Cooper Flagg to begin this season. I just wonder how long that will last with Dallas projecting as a likely lottery team this year. The Mavs need to align everything around the 19-year-old Flagg, and unfortunately for them, they don’t control their own first-round pick until 2031 due to trades originally intended to build around Luka Doncic. I’d expect more changes in Dallas with Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz now running the front office, and Irving should have plenty of suitors if he looks good early as he returns from a torn ACL. At 34 years old, Irving doesn’t fit Flagg’s timeline, and I doubt the Mavs are good enough in a loaded West to reject trade interest when it comes. The Mavs need all the future assets they can get if they hope to build a contender around Flagg by the time he reaches his prime, and trading Kyrie, P.J. Washington, and others is the best way to start that process.

Anthony Davis, C/F, Washington Wizards

Davis is extension eligible on Aug. 6, and that puts the Wizards in a tough spot. You know agent Rich Paul is going to want a lucrative contract, but Davis hasn’t played a game for Washington yet, and his age (33) and lack of durability make him a risky bet into his mid-to-late 30s. The Wizards already gave Trae Young a nonsensical max extension, so maybe Davis will get what he wants. If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if the trade winds start blowing with AD aiming to land on a more competitive team. The Wizards could be pretty decent this year if everything comes together, but to me this is probably still a lottery team given the depth of the Eastern Conference. Washington can probably trade Davis for a lot more than they gave up for him if he starts the season strong. I have a hard time believing he’ll be in D.C. long term.

James Harden, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Harden is still a free agent at the time of writing, but everyone expects he’ll return to the Cavs on a multi-year deal. The veteran guard helped Cleveland reach the conference finals last season, but it’s hard to feel good about that after the rest of the East improved this summer while the Cavs swung-and-missed on a LeBron reunion. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, but the rest of this core shouldn’t be feeling too comfortable, and that’s especially true for Harden. On the brink of his 37th birthday, Harden is still a very good regular season player whose pull-up three-point shooting and playmaking brings value to any contender. If the Cavs take a step back this year, I’d imagine Cleveland tries to move off Harden before it finally listens to offers for Evan Mobley.

Tyler Herro, G, Milwaukee Bucks

Herro is entering the final year of his contract on a team that is just beginning what’s sure to be a long and painful rebuild. The Bucks have other guards who need opportunities with Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Herro feels likely to be on the trade regardless of whether he inks an extension. His next contract could be a bit dicey from a team perspective, but he’s still an excellent offensive player with true three-level scoring ability who can help juice any offense off the bounce. He’s firmly in his prime as he turns 27 years old in January, and he deserves to be spending these years with a team that is actually building toward something in the short-term. The Bucks would be wise to act quickly, let their young players get reps in a lost season, and help Herro get to his next destination before he hits free agency.

Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans

Williamson’s nearly $45 million contract isn’t guaranteed for the 2027-28 season, and that gives New Orleans plenty of options if this season goes off the rails. The main objective for the Pelicans this season should be figuring out if Williamson can play with last year’s lottery picks Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Queen and Williamson just feel like an odd match in the front court as two guys who need the ball in their hands and don’t play any defense. It would be nice to fully turn this team over to the young guns, and let Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Yves Missi surround them in supporting roles, but that can’t happen until they finally turn the page on the Zion era. New Orleans has some talent, but the West is so unforgiving, and it just feels like the injury bug always hits this team at the worst time. New head coach Jamahl Mosley is known for his demanding defensive principles, and it’s hard to see how Zion and Queen will fit into that. It sure seems like New Orleans’ front office likes Williamson quite a bit, but they fully have an out on his contract, and aren’t going to win many games. That usually signals a breakup is coming eventually.

Michael Porter Jr., F, Brooklyn Nets

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez helped Porter Jr. turn in the best season of his career at age-27, and it came at a good time with the wing now entering the final year of his contract. Will the Nets want to give MPJ an extension? His always treacherous health situation makes that a risky bet, and there will certainly be suitors for his off-ball scoring and floor spacing if he hits the trade market. If the Nets are scared to give Porter Jr. an extension, then they have to trade him because they can’t afford to lose him for nothing. Brooklyn is expected to be terrible this year, but there’s actually a decent foundation here with Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., and Day’Ron Sharpe. It feels like MPJ has been waiting his whole career to play for a coach like Fernandez, so I’d like to see both sides reach a deal. If it doesn’t happen, expect there to be substantial trade interest as a rental.

Sixers formally welcome LeBron James, ‘one of the greatest players to ever play the game'  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers formally welcomed their new No. 23 on Monday morning. 

The team announced the signing of LeBron James, who’s inked a two-year, $8 million deal.

The Sixers also released an image of James’ jersey, which will undoubtedly be a popular purchase in the Philadelphia area. The last Sixer to sport the No. 23 was Tyrese Martin during the 2025-26 season. 

“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said in the team’s press release. “I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey. He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor, and a tireless worker.

“But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him. We couldn’t be happier that he is officially here and are excited to welcome him, Savannah, and the James family into our 76ers family.” 

James’ near-infinite list of accomplishments includes four NBA championships, the last of which came on the 2019-20 Lakers. He’s aiming for a fifth in Philadelphia and the Sixers’ first since the 1982-83 season. 

“I am thrilled to welcome LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers,” Sixers managing partner Josh Harris said. “One of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the best athletes ever. … I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly. To LeBron and his family: we are grateful you chose the 76ers, and look forward to this next chapter of your legendary career. Welcome to the 76ers!” 

In a recent interview, retires basketball player Pau Gasol sat down and shared that working with Gregg Popovich was a factor in his decision to join the San Antonio Spurs later in his career.

Pau Gasol says one of the main reasons for signing with the Spurs was to be coached by Pop and experience the Spurs culture. On what he appreciated about Coach Pop beyond the Xs and Os:

“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform,… pic.twitter.com/OUnN1onvdO

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) July 23, 2026

“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform, that that was important to have perspective of what was going on. That basketball was kind of our job, but what’s truly important is family, what’s truly important is giving back and being aware and sensitive to social injustices, to what’s going on and how we can affect our communities. So I appreciated those messages more than the basketball itself.”

Gasol played with the Spurs over three seasons before a stress fracture limited his play in his third year. He won two titles with the Lakers. He’s been celebrated in the NBA as well as overseas. His career is adorned with multiple FIBA and Liga awards. Since retirement, Gasol has increased his involvement UNICEF, St. Jude’s, and his own Gasol Foundation.

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During his playing days, Jerry West was devastated nearly every year when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics. He briefly coached, but given his high-strung nature, that really didn’t suit him in his post-player career.

He worked as a scout until 1982, when he took over as GM.

The Lakers had a nice base with Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, and the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but things changed enormously when L.A. drafted Magic Johnson, and Showtime was born.

Johnson was a 6-9 point guard who could play any position on the court. He had immense charisma, and his teams tended to win.

Los Angeles started to run, and while the main focus was winning, the Lakers introduced a level of entertainment that the basketball world had never seen.

When West took over as GM, he truly found his second career. He drafted James Worthy, but he was part of the decision, and he traded Norm Nixon for Byron Scott.

Later, he would draft A.C. Green, who also did very well.

The Lakers became a globally iconic franchise during the Showtime era, and a measuring stick for every team outside of the Celtics, who had their own identity.

Showtime started to wind down when Jabbar retired in 1989, and when Johnson abruptly retired in 1991, after being diagnosed with HIV, it ended.

It’s been 35 years since Showtime officially ended, and the NBA has still not found anything quite as much fun.

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There was a lot of hullabaloo last week when LeBron finally made his free agency decision and chose the Philadelphia 76ers, which was a surprise. Most people expected him to pick either Miami or Cleveland; in fact, Miami had already prepared a social media announcement, which was accidentally posted prematurely.

But it’s Philly, because, as always with James, it’s where he thinks he’s most likely to win a title. Is that going to happen?

Well, maybe, but the odds are against it. Let’s look.

First, there’s James himself. He’s played for 23 seasons already, and give him full credit: he’s done an amazing job of keeping himself in great shape, and still, at 41, remains a tremendous player.

But he’s not the player he once was. Last year, we saw several occasions when he just didn’t react on defense. He’s not nearly as explosive as he once was, and the brutal reality is that he will never be better than he was last season. Time catches up to everyone, even King James.

This is also important: He played 82 regular season games in 2017-18, but since then?

• 2018-19: 55 games
• 2019-20: 67 games
• 2020-21: 45 games
• 2021-22: 56 games
• 2022-23: 55 games
• 2023-24: 71 games
• 2024-25: 70 games
• 2025-26: 60 games

He missed more than a quarter of last season, and he’s missed plenty over the last eight seasons, as noted. But he’s not the biggest problem.

That would be Joel Embiid, who, at 32, has had even more problems.

Over the same period, here’s how his availability has been:

• 2018-19: 64 games
• 2019-20: 51 games
• 2020-21: 51 games
• 2021-22: 68 games
• 2022-23: 66 games
• 2023-24: 39 games
• 2024-25: 19 games
• 2025-26: 38 games

Now, bear in mind that in 2019-20, the season was limited by Covid, and no one played more than 67 games, but still, that’s not a great track record. And don’t forget that Embiid lost his first two seasons to injuries.

On the bright side, the Sixers now have Jaylen Brown, who has been outstanding for his entire career, VJ Edgecombe, who will really benefit from James’s experience, and Tyrese Maxey, who has really proven himself. That’s a great perimeter, but there’s a lot riding on James and Embiid staying healthy.

And if they don’t, who do they have to step in?

There’s not much on the bench.

If you were betting on next year, you’d probably be wise to look to the Spurs. They crashed hard against the Knicks in the finals, but their core is young, talented, and just got socked in the nose. They learned a lot from New York, and our guess is they’ll be highly motivated for another shot.

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Turns out only one ex-Wildcat will get to be part of LeBron James’ latest NBA chapter.

Former Arizona wing Dalen Terry was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, two days after news broke the Sixers were signing James to a 2-year, $8 million contract.

The 24-year-old Terry appeared in 21 games for Philadelphia, technically his third team during the 2025-26 season after being traded from the Chicago Bulls to New Orleans in February and then waived by the Pelicans the next day. Philly signed Terry to a 2-way deal on Feb. 10, converting it standard deal on April 10 right before the regular season ended.

Terry averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.7 minutes during 14 regular season games with the Sixers, then in the NBA Playoffs had 13 points in 39 minutes over seven games.

Had Philly held onto him Terry would have been one of two ex-UA players on the Sixers in 2026-27, as they signed Caleb Love to a 2-way deal in early July.

Originally drafted by the Bulls with the 18^th overall pick in 2022, Terry played 3-plus seasons in Chicago and started seven games. He spent two years at the UA, starting 14 games as a freshman in Sean Miller’s final season and then all 37 games on Tommy Lloyd’s first Wildcat squad.

The business side threatens to interrupt all the good vibes around the Knicks.

They are able to almost fully run back their championship squad next year, with the only significant loss being Mitchell Robinson going to the Celtics.

But there are certainly questions about the future that will hover over the present.

The modern NBA, with its current CBA, pushes for league parity, making it difficult for champions to keep their cores intact for prolonged periods.

The Knicks have one more year before that might become their reality, but pivotal decisions for their future are already staring them in the face.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation is the key question this offseason and will likely remain so all year.

He is set to make around $57 million next year.

Then, for the 2027-28 season, he has a $61 million player option.

Towns is already eligible for an extension, with the max deal the Knicks can offer him being four years for $272 million — a staggering average annual value of $68 million.

If they do not reach a deal and Towns decides to decline his player option and test the open market in 2027, the standard veteran max would be a little less, at $266.6 million over four years.

If he plays on that player option, though, and hits free agency in ’28, that number would be higher.

Towns’ value should be well recognized after he helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years in Year 1, then helped them win their first championship in 53 years in Year 2.

The past two seasons have helped him shed some of his lingering reputation that dogged him for much of his career, instead turning into widespread praise and proven-wrong apologies from fans and media.

The Knicks transformed their offense in the postseason via a system that was heavily reliant on Towns and his playmaking ability.

He proved that he could unlock another level defensively, too.

His status as an elite big was cemented.

But that’s the type of salary that usually goes to a team’s best player, not the second best (or at times, maybe even third best).

Towns is currently the highest-paid Knick, but that is because of Jalen Brunson’s well-documented financial sacrifice of leaving roughly $113 million on the table.

Towns will turn 31 next season, meaning any extension would carry him into his mid-30s — at a position that usually sees players age less gracefully than smaller players.

Brunson will be extension eligible in the ’28 offseason and has already hinted at his contract desires, telling Vanity Fair that “obviously we’d love for [the Knicks] to do right by me. I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”

President Leon Rose and his front office have been clever at manipulating the cap and making things work, but it does not seem feasible — with OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges already locked into long-term contracts — to have both Brunson and Towns on such massive deals.

Josh Hart’s future is also up in the air — he is due to make just under $21 million next year, then has a roughly $22 million team option for the 2027-28 season.

The Knicks were already pinching pennies to stay under the second apron this offseason — there is no way all five starters can be brought back on new, much more expensive contracts.

Unless Towns believes it’s his turn to sacrifice, as Brunson did, he and the Knicks could reach an agreement on an extension below the max amount. But he might also view this championship as validation of the type of player — and most importantly, winner — he spent his whole career trying to prove he is.

Until there is clarity, it will be the new elephant in the room. 

Former NBA veteran and Slam Dunk Contest champion Isaiah Rider is back behind bars. 

Rider was taken into custody by authorities in Arizona after he failed to comply with a court order, TMZ reported on Sunday night. 

He was taken into custody Thursday night and booked into jail the next morning, according to the report. 

He will remain in custody until Tuesday over the misdemeanor that ended in a guilty finding.

Rider’s legal trouble is just the latest in a running list of issues he’s had to contend with since December. 

The ex-NBA player was jailed twice that month related to a protective order his estranged wife Vanessa had filed against him back in July. 

It’s unclear if the latest arrest is also related to the protective order. 

Rider had been arrested back on Dec. 4 in Gilbert, Ariz., for violating a court order and was charged with a count of interfering with judicial proceedings. 

He was arrested again Dec. 15 after he failed to show up for a court date that was set to determine whether a judge would extend Vanessa’s protective order against him. 

When Vanessa filed for the order of protection last summer, she alleged that Rider had been hostile toward her several times and had allegedly said, “You’re gonna get your ass slapped” to her and the couple’s 15-year-old son. 

“Shut the f–k up before I kick this door down and whoop you,” she also alleged he said at the time. 

The former basketball star denied the allegations and claimed that they were made due to their contentious divorce after he filed in November 2024. 

Rider spent nine seasons playing in the NBA from 1993 to 2002, logging time with the Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Hawks, Lakers and Nuggets.

He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2001, despite not being on the playoff roster that year, and the Slam Dunk Contest in 1994. 

The Utah Jazz announced they signed former UNC small forward, Harrison Ingram.

We have signed forward Harrison Ingram.

Details 📰👇#TakeNotehttps://t.co/MHTvE7hXC7

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 25, 2026

According to the Jazz, terms of the deal were not disclosed. From Utah Jazz PR:

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed forward Harrison Ingram. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In their release, the Jazz note that Ingram is 6’5” and played two seasons for the “spent the past two seasons (2024-26) with the San Antonio Spurs, appearing in 12 NBA games while also appearing in 88 contests with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate.”

Ingram was also a decorated collegiate player with Stanford and UNC. As I mentioned, the terms of this deal were not disclosed, so that means my favorite thing happens … assssummmmptiionnnns.

My guess is this is some sort of contract for training camp and preseason. Just like NFL teams, sometimes you need players to play on your “practice squad.”

But maybe it’s something more? Could this be a reaction to Summer League, and is Ingram a player who might be an upgrade to someone like Cody Williams? Maybe. It was not the most inspiring Las Vegas Summer League for the Jazz, and maybe this is to give someone a look that they like. Either way, it’s good to see the Jazz active. Having won the lottery and drafted a potential superstar in Darryn Peterson, who will join a solid core foundation, means the Jazz should be as active as possible trying to find depth pieces for the future. Perhaps Ingram is one of those.

I keep thinking about all the teams that don’t seem to have improved much if at all from last season. Detroit. Boston. Cleveland. Denver. Minnesota. What a weird Pangea of inertia.

Then again, some teams have actually made moves. Some are better for having made those moves. Here are the handful of biggest threats to the Knicks repeating as champions in June 2027, as of July 2026.

TORONTO/PHILADELPHIA

The Raptors and Sixers had essentially the same offseason, in that you can view them however you like and come up with completely polar opinions on both.

On the one hand, Toronto traded a hill of beans for one of the greatest players this century, who last year put up 28 points a game on 51/39/89 shooting. Worried about durability? Kawhi Leonard played over 2000 minutes last season, just the second time he’s done so since leaving Toronto for L.A. seven years ago, though that was the second in three years. And he fits a perfect position of need.

You might have missed it what with all the Mario Hezonja buzz of late, but for $8 million the 76ers signed the greatest player this century, who last year put up 21 points, six rebounds and seven dimes on 52% shooting. Worried about age? Last season LeBron James fell 11 minutes short of 2000, a mark he’s failed to reach only four times in 23 seasons. And he fits a perfect position of need.

On the one other hand, the last time Leonard and James were legit Larry O’Brien influencers, we’d never heard of COVID. The president being senile was a concern. It was a different world, a simpler time. And recent times don’t necessarily suggest better days ahead for either player’s new team.

Since leaving Canada for the Clippers, Leonard has played in one playoff series his team won, two they lost, two he missed parts of and three he missed altogether. Since leading the Lakers to the Bubble ‘chip, LeBron’s team won three of eight playoff series, beating a Memphis team led by two 23-year-olds, a Warriors side that started five 30-year-olds that series and a Houston team a year ago without Kevin Durant for five of the six games.

If there’s one NBA player with a seeming fix on who “is him” and who isn’t, it’s Scottie Barnes. And while Barnes is a great number of wonderful things on the 94×50, one thing he is not is “him.”

I figure he figured out pretty quick last year that Brandon Ingram is good enough at basketball to make the kind of money where his grandchildren will never buy store-brand ice cream sandwiches, but not good enough to be “him,” either. Whenever the NBA thinks enough time’s passed that we’ve forgotten the scandal finalizes the Aspiration investigation, assuming Leonard is a Raptor, he is most definitely a him-type. Kawhi would also make the Raptors a hydra-headed beast defensively. How many teams have the firepower to test Leonard and Barnes and Collin Murray-Bowles and Immanuel Quickley? With Jakob Poeltl the back line of defense?

But do the Raptors have enough 3-point shooting? Leonard is a better shooter than Ingram *when healthy*, which is sorta the rub. Ingram and Sandro Mamukelashvili were Toronto’s two best high-volume snipers from distance. Can third-year man Ja’Kobe Walter — 41% on moderate volume last year — level up his attempts without losing too much of his accuracy?

Do the Sixers have enough 3-point shooting? Lost amidst all the understandable elation of turning Paul George and Kelly Oubre into Lebron and Jaylen Brown is that while Philly is bigger and more athletic at the forward spots, they look to have taken a step back in their perimeter game. George and Oubre combined to make 186 of 494 3-point tries last year (37.6%); Brown and James were 217 of 647 (33.5%).

Both of these teams probably improved from last year to next. But neither feels like a realistic Finals threat.

HOUSTON

I have Houston here instead of Denver for one reason. And it isn’t Kevin Durant, who back in 2019 I thought was a foolish bet to continue his annual high level of play into his early 30s. All KD’s done since is carry it into his mid- and now late-30s.

It’s that the Rockets can reasonably hope that a year with instead of without Fred VanVleet, plus growth from any of Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, paired with the perpetual greatness machine that is Durant, means a higher ceiling in 2027, maybe even one that sends them soaring above the last two Western champs. Whereas the Nuggets can reasonably hope that the next time they win a title in 15-25 years, it’s under new ownership that actually feels up for a title defense.

Admittedly, I think Houston is more than a little behind the Spurs and Thunder. But there’s enough “if it all goes right” there to think that if it does, it might be enough to send them to their first Finals since 1995.

INDIANA

Like Charlie Brown lining up for the kick, so many seemingly can’t wait to overlook and underrate the Pacers yet again. What is wrong with you people?

It wasn’t all that long ago that Tyrese Haliburton and not Jalen Brunson was the Eastern guard living a charmed life while leading his team to one inspiring, improbable win after another. Obviously Knicks’ fans biggest fear last season was that Indiana would land a top lottery pick in their gap year, draft a stud and come back even more frightening than the group that knocked off the Knickerbockers in 2024 and 2025.

Instead, they gambled and lost that pick in the Ivica Zubac trade. Props to the Pacers for adding a sneaky-good center who’s an elite rebounder (which Myles Turner was not). I’m a bit confused by that center not now or ever being able to space and shoot as a five-out center (which Myles Turner was). I think Roy Hibbert must have been the last Indiana big I remember who couldn’t shoot. Knicks fans saw how much the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns’ as a shooter and spacer unlocked all kinds of options for their offense. Haliburton is a brilliant playmaker who’ll now have to negotiate what would figure to be less room with Zubac firmly inside the arc.

Still, Indy has Haliburton. And Zubac. And Pascal Siakam. And Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell and Obi. Oubre and Larry Nance Jr. are solid additions. It’s the Pacers. It’s the Knicks. You know.

OKLAHOMA CITY

This isn’t a huge deal. It’s a crack, is all. But sometimes a crack is enough. Just knowing a seemingly invincible foe is in fact vincible can create the kind of confidence that brings down mountains.

The Thunder are still awesome. Maybe still the title favorites, even. The Spurs barely snuck past them, even with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out hurt. OKC’s beaten New York six straight times and seven outta eight; last time the Knicks beat the Thunder RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and Jericho Sims suited up. Coming up short a year ago doesn’t mean Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren suddenly forget how to ball.

But OKC traded Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe for the Leon Rose Blue Plate Special — second-rounds picks in perpetuity. They’re still young. They’re still deep. They’re still awesome. Only not quite as young. Or deep. Or awesome. And after their destruction of the league in 2025 and into last year’s Western conference finals, there are now teams in both San Antonio and New York who see themselves as the title favorites.

The Thunder are still most of all the good things they were a year ago. Just not the defending champs, and not the consensus favorite. That either means nothing or something. We’ll know in ten months.

SAN ANTONIO

The Spurs have reason after reason after reason to see themselves as next in line to win the championship. You already know most of them. So I’m gonna pivot and point out the biggest reason to doubt the Spurs even make it back to the Finals. Pro’ly the biggest reason, if they never do win it all with this group, why they didn’t.

The Thunder. Duh.

These Spurs remind me of the Magic back in the day, when a young Shaq was anointed the heir apparent to His Airness. After leading Orlando to the Finals in only his second season, winning their first of several titles was unquestionably a matter of when and not if. But a funny thing happened on the way to immortality. That lot not only never won, they never made it back to the Finals. Know any other generational bigs who got to the Finals in year two, only to lose a heartbreaker at home early en route to getting gentlemanly swept? It wasn’t the team they lost to in the Finals that did them in; it was a conference rival they beat once and never again.

There’s a narrative forming about Victor Wembanyama’s work ethic and drive that could be true, but that also feels like marketing. I’m inclined to think Wemby works harder than Shaq did, even though I can’t possibly know that. There are stereotypes at play there. I must work to reject them.

The Spurs acted like Susan Lucci finally winning an Emmy when they beat a shorthanded Thunder squad in the WCF. Victor and the victors were entitled to that; there is no ugly crying when you win. But I have a feeling the Thunder haven’t forgotten. And that they watched the Finals and learned some things from the Knicks they’ll put their own wrinkle on in next year’s meetings with San Antonio.

This isn’t an Xs-and-Os argument for what OKC may have in store. I just think will is a helluva variable to try and plug into an equation. I suspect the Thunder are as driven to take down the Spurs as they are to lift themselves back up to the Association’s apex. I still think the Spurs are the biggest threat to the Knicks. But while New York are the defending champs, it’s the runners-up who may have the biggest target on their backs next year.