Category: Basketball

It’s pretty difficult to imagine that it was just 15 short months ago when the Indiana Pacers had the OKC Thunder in a dangerous place in the 2025 NBA Finals. Everything that happened to this franchise from that moment through the end of the 2026 season felt disastrous. Heck, even this offseason the luck was not in their favor, as they lost a statistical coin flip in the NBA Draft Lottery, which saw them forfeit the fifth overall pick to the LA Clippers.

However, the bad vibes can’t overshadow what this team could look like when healthy. The Ivica Zubac trade, even with the draft loss, should net out to be a big win for the team. Tyrese Haliburton will be back from his achillies tear, and as the year progresses, he should look more and more like the player he was just a season ago. The depth of this team remains solid with guys who got extended burn last year during the injury-doomed year. And lastly, the coaching staff, led by Rick Carlisle, remains one of the best in the league.

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Indiana Pacers: Over/Under 43.5 wins (-120/-105)

Last season: 19-63, 14^th in the Eastern Conference:

Key additions: Ivica Zubac (trade with LA Clippers), Tyrese Haliburton (achillies)

Key losses: None

It seems like this team is primed for a bounce back, even if the Eastern Conference is much harder than it was when they won it in 2025. The starting lineup should be one of the ten best in the league, in my opinion. Zubac should fit nicely with Haliburton, as their two-man game should develop into a real weapon over the course of the season. Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin return off the Finals team as well.

I really like the depth of this group, especially in the backcourt. TJ McConnell is one of the better backup guards in the league. Ben Sheppard and Aaron Nesmith got to show off what they can do last year, and I expect the team at large to benefit from the growth they showed last year. The addition of Jay Huff last year could return dividends this season, as well. Plus, maybe Jarace Walker can continue to build off of last year’s growth.

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The Pacers didn’t get a real chance to defend their crown last year, and naturally the rival Knicks took home the title in their absence. Redemption will be on Indiana’s mind this entire season, and I think that helps them return to their winning ways.

Prediction: Over 43.5 wins (-120)

Bob Iger and Josh Kushner look to have big plans for the Lakers as an investment opportunity, but what does that mean for the fans?

In August, Bob Iger and Josh Kushner agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for a record-breaking $12.5 billion — a number they reportedly anticipate “to nearly triple” over the next decade, according to Jessica Toonkel and Mark Maurer of The Wall Street Journal.

“That is one of several aggressive financial projections included in an investor presentation being circulated by Thrive Capital,” Toonkel and Maurer wrote. “… In the presentation, the buyers laid out plans to expand the storied National Basketball Association franchise, including through international growth and new opportunities in local media rights.

“Those moves would help boost the Lakers’ valuation to at least $30 billion in a decade, the buyer group said, assuming that TV and streaming rights double in value. More favorable assumptions for the same period would place the long-term valuation at $62 billion.”

Iger and Kushner believe they will simply be propelling an already prosperous franchise. According to Iger and Kushner’s investment group, Thrive Capital, the Lakers are tracking to produce $681 million in revenue this year — led by ticketing and media rights — with projections to hit $1.6 billion by 2037.

“Profits are expected to zoom up as well, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization set to more than triple from an estimated $129 million to more than $589 million over that span, according to the presentation,” Toonkel and Maurer wrote.

The key point with all of this news is what actually means for the fans and the on-court product. Fans do not care about billionaires bolstering their pocket books. If the Lakers are going to generate more revenue and explode in value as a franchise, ownership better invest a significant chunk (or all of it, really) back into the team or the fan experience.

Good owners spend, whether that’s enhancing TV production and in-arena pageantry, paying staffers a proper wage or ensuring finances aren’t an impediment for the Lakers’ team-building. Iger and Kushner seem confident and outspoken about their ownership tenure elevating Los Angeles to new heights monetarily. That won’t matter if such a development does nothing to benefit the Lakers’ on-court success or enjoyment for the fans.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

BREAKING NEWS — Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn just uncovered a new diary from Paul McCartney, suggesting the original lyrics to the 1968 hit “Hey Jude” were much different. Just as “Yesterday” originally came to Macca in a dream as a song about scrambled eggs, contemporaneous notes reveal that the seven minute epic was initially about future Minnesota Timberwolf Julius Randle’s troubled history with the franchise.

Canis Hoopus is proud to share an exclusive look at the original lyrics (sung to the tune of Hey Jude)

Hey Ju—lius Randle
You were decent, but not immaculate
Remember when you took it to Draymond
and backed him down under the basket?

Hey Ju, you got done wrong
by several members of the Buss family
You outplayed Zion and Ingram
and we get why you feel angry

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Ju, refrain,
Don’t treat your coach a little colder
The second apron is so cruel, hey Ju, you’ll do,
The turnaround you neeeeed is over your shoulder

Hey Ju—lius Randle
Take a bad shot and make it wetter
You’ll probably get numbers with the dumb Nets
But Karl-Anthony Towns is way, way better
Better better better better better better, oh!

Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Ju… (repeat until George Harrison walks out on a rehearsal)

Hey folks, some real talk here. I know I just spent the last few paragraphs LARPing as Weird Al Yankovic, but deep down I’m just a Wolves fan with a big ol’ heart. I saw a lot of negative outbursts aimed at Julius Randle in the comments last playoffs and wanted to provide a nuanced assessment of his fun-but-flawed tenure in tree-stripes.

October, 2024 – Julius Randle’s wife allegedly says she prefers Twin Cities suburbs to New York City: I got hyped when someone on Reddit shared this rumor right after a clearly shocked Randle said he “just wants to be wanted” when he got traded on the eve of the ‘24 season. Maybe she’s on to something–the Plymouth K.U.B.E. indoor playground is a dope place to bring the fam.

November 17, 2024 –  Ant hugs Julius after buzzer-beater. Unintentional hilarity ensued after Anthony Edwards gave Julius a jubilant hug to celebrate Randle’s game-winning three against the Phoenix Suns, a la Magic Johnson on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Julius reacted with saucer eyes, acting as if he had never been appreciated by a teammate before in his life. I guess Larry Nance Jr. isn’t a hugger.

Nov 27, 2024 – Julius struggles to find his footing in a depressing loss to the Sacramento Kings. Early on Julius struggled to fit into the offense. He didn’t have the court vision to facilitate from the elbow like KAT, wasn’t shooting great from three, and just couldn’t find a rhythm. It didn’t help that stonehands Rudy Gobert dropped every pass Randle sent his way.

JR’s stat line looked fine on the outside (21 points and nine rebounds), but he hit one of his five shots from three and chucked up some momentum-stopping head slappers. The Wolves were under .500 and stuck in a four-game losing streak. Nothing blares “it’s not working” like a loss to the Kings.  

Dec 7, 2024 – Julius wears great sweater. Say what you will about his on-court achievements, the man performed wonders as cozy-sweater sommelier. 

March 30, 2025 – Julius gets 25 points and 8 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons. Somewhere in the final quarter of the ‘24-25 season, Julius really started to settle into his role. This was the game I thought he finally figured it out. Down 16 early, Julius stayed calm and bullied his way to the line over and over. Thanks to Julius, the Wolves clawed back and celebrated a routine win in the midst of a  9-2 hot streak to end the season. 

April 30, 2025 – Julius outplays LeBron James. While Jaden McDaniels was the real second option this series (backing an awesome Ant performance), Julius Randle played his part to perfection.

Randle used his strength to wear out Bronny James’ aging dad and saved his best for Game 5. Ruby Gobert got the headlines for this win, but I’ll always respect Julius for putting the team first against the Los Angeles Lakers and balling within the space Chris Finch carved out for him.

May 12, 2025 – Julius is better than Jonathan Kuminga. After dropping the first game to a veteran Golden State Warriors team, the Wolves ran the Dubs off the court for the next four games. Julius’ performance in Game 4 epitomized his dominance in the series, posting 31 points and contributing mightily to Kuminga’s minus-13 in the game.

May 22, 2025 – Oklahoma City slaps the ball out of Randle’s hands. Ooof. Aside from mood swings, Randle’s biggest weakness is losing the ball when pestered by smaller guards. OKC swarmed Julius, and turnovers fell from his fingers like cherry blossoms in an anime fight scene. Julius had six points in Game 2 of the series.

Dec 14, 2025 – Julius keeps the Wolves afloat. The rudderless Wolves got off to a frustrating start to the 2025 season, in no small part due to roster limitations forcing Finch to ask shooting guards to run the offense. Julius played great in December, frequently leading the team in scoring and bailing out the offense when plays broke down. His December 14th performance against Sacramento showed the value of having an 18-point, 9-rebound metronome on a team that struggled to run a play.  

Jan 26, 2026 – Julius seems kinda bummed out by ICE shootings. In January 2026, the President paid 4chan moderators to execute a Veterans Affairs nurse. Shortly after this tragedy, the Target Center hosted a bizarre, tear-gas-stained matinee against the Golden State Warriors. Many Wolves fans were disappointed that Steph Curry and Steve Kerr seemed to be more empathetic to Minnesotans than members of our own team.

Julius Randle gave one of the better quotes, clearing a low bar by saying, “Regardless of politics, there’s a human aspect to it. For me, I have kids, I have family; for me, the job as a man is to be the protector of the house. You see things like that, and obviously, it’s tough. It’s hard to stomach things like that… regardless of whatever’s going on, when somebody loses their life, you never want to see that.”

These words aren’t the strongest condemnation, but to Julius’ credit, his demeanor was somber when reflecting on the moment. He honestly seemed saddened by the events, and my take was that he did not want to get death threats for saying the wrong thing.

Feb 6, 2026 – Giannis Antetokounmpo’s viral marketing stunt causes Julius’ self-esteem to crater.  I feel for Julius on this one. After saying his only desire was to “feel wanted,” the 2026 trade deadline revealed that he was not wanted by two different teams. The Timberwolves tried to trade him for Giannis, but the Milwaukee Bucks also rejected Julius.

Randle went into a funk, pondering the ephemeral nature of love with each ill-conceived 18-footer.  After the trade deadline, Giannis revealed he had an advertising contract with prediction market Kalshi, and it sure seemed like the Greek Freak engineered an effective insider trading campaign by manipulating trade rumors.

I guess that was legal??? Martha Stewart has to be so pissed about this. 

May 15, 2026 – Julius scores three points as San Antonio Spurs eliminate Timbies in the second round. Randle was not the only big who floundered against Victor Wembanyama last postseason (pray for Chet Holmgren), but man, did he struuuuuugle. Wemby’s length erased Julius’ bread-and-butter foul-line turnaround/drive to the rim. By the end of the series, it seemed like Randle just wanted to go home. 

July 10, 2026 – Julius traded to the third-saddest NYC team. At least it’s not the Jets or Mets, right? Looking back, I will always include Julius in the same category as Carlos Boozer and LaMarcus Aldridge: talented back-to-the-basket bruisers who could support a run to the conference finals, but who ultimately were just below the efficiency bar required for a true second banana on a title team.

No shame in that, Julius! You’re an all-star. I enjoyed your time on the Wolves and wish you the best in Brooklyn–I hear now’s a great time to catch Victoryland at Elsewhere.

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Quentin Grimes.

If it wasn’t clear already, the Lakers’ moves this offseason made it clear that they were heading in a new direction. 

This iteration of the team, both in the present and future, will be built around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And the moves made in the summer reflected that. 

Outside of Walker Kessler, perhaps the most notable and important addition the Lakers made in the offseason was Quentin Grimes. 

The 26-year-old quickly signed a 4-year, $60 million deal with Los Angeles at the start of free agency, signaling the team’s interest in the guard now and later. 

Although all but confirmed, Grimes will likely slot into a critical spot next to Dončić and Reaves in the starting lineup. That designation matters and, given the results, could have ramifications for years to come. 

What is his best-case scenario?

After already bouncing around the league during his young career, Grimes’ best-case scenario is playing well enough to call Los Angeles his long-term home. 

In order to do that, he will have to continue to do what has made him a tantalizing talent as well has fine-tuning his game within his new ecosystem. 

There is no debating that Grimes can score. Capable of filling it up at all three levels, he has the tools to capitalize on compromised defenses that load up on Dončić and Reaves in exciting ways. 

That will have to begin, however, with embracing and succeeding in a more streamlined role. 

While his usage, attempts and touch time may all go down, they will hopefully do so in favor of improved efficiency and shot quality. 

For example, Grimes shot a pedestrian 34% from three last season when removing garbage time, heaves, etc. 

On the surface, this may appear like a potential fit issue. Yet, when zooming in, there may be alterations the Lakers are uniquely suited to make that could unlock better results. 

When categorizing his 3-point attempts, Grimes converted 36.6% of his catch and shoot chances compared to just 28.8% of his pull-ups last season according to NBA tracking data.

Couple this with the fact that he actually took more tightly contested threes (115) than wide-open ones (98) with the Sixers. That shouldn’t be the case with the Lakers.

If his short experience playing with Dončić in the past is any indication, improvements are a safe assumption. 

When Grimes shared the floor with Dončić in Dallas, his corner 3-ball rate went up 6% (notable because he has shot over 41% from the corners four times in his five seasons as a professional) and had his best shooting year overall (41%) from deep before both were ultimately traded. 

Grimes proving he can complement Dončić and Reaves will go a long way for current and future success. 

One doesn’t have to squint to see how much firepower the offense can have if the talents involved click. But their ceiling may be dependent on Grimes finding the right balance of when to cook and when to let others set his plate. 

What is his worst-case scenario?

While there is an outcome that sees Grimes struggle to fit into a tertiary or even fourth option role, the offensive results should be the side of the floor with more optimism.

Because the worst-case scenario for Grimes’ season with the Lakers may be due to his inability to be the type of defender the team needs.

If Kessler has the most important defensive responsibility, then Grimes may be second in that pecking order. 

Sidled between the likes of Dončić and Reaves in the starting lineup, it likely will fall on Grimes’ shoulders to take on the opposing team’s best perimeter player on a nightly basis. 

Even if Grimes has shown flashes of being a capable individual defender in the past, that’s a tall task for a player who has mostly graded out as an average to slightly above defender at best in his career. 

That of course could change in Los Angeles. But until he proves otherwise, his defensive acumen could be what ultimately holds him back from being the long-term answer in the starting lineup. 

Beyond the defense, there should also simply be skepticism about how he performs in what will be his biggest role yet. 

He’s never been a standout in terms of impact data as there has only been one season in his career where his team has performed better when he was on the floor compared to off. 

Context matters for any catch all stat. But it is worth questioning why he hasn’t stuck anywhere despite his unquestionable talent. 

If that trend continues with the Lakers, then that could send them back to the drawing board in search of another piece to add to their core. 

What is his most likely role on the team?

Given the expectations needed from him on both sides of the ball, it’s probably unfair for to think Grimes to check every box. And that ultimately may be okay.

His contract, which averages out to essentially mid-level money, could still turn out to be fair value even if his role fluctuates from decent starter to good bench player. 

Grimes won’t likely be the caliber of defender the team needs, but there is genuine upside to offensive impact if he can check channel his erraticism into more organized and selective aggression. 

He may not be the long-term answer, but he could still be a long-term piece. And for a team still developing their new identity, that is a more than acceptable outcome.

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.

Doc Rivers joins NBC Sports' NBA coverage as game analyst for 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Doc Rivers is trading in his whistle for a headset.

The NBA champion head coach, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, is joining NBC Sports as a game analyst for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Rivers previously worked for NBC as a studio analyst at the 2012 London Olympics, so this is a reunion between the former coach and the broadcast network.

“I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it, and I’ve always loved talking about it,” Rivers said in a press release Monday. “I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”

Rivers most recently coached the Milwaukee Bucks this past season, which was his 27th as a head coach. He has coached the Orlando Magic (1999-04), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23) and Bucks (2023-26) over the past three decades.

Over his coaching career, Rivers went 1,194-866 (the sixth-most wins in NBA history) with an NBA Finals victory in 2008 for Boston. His 114 playoff wins rank fourth all-time behind Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and Gregg Popovich. In 2024, Rivers was named one of the Top 15 coaches in NBA history.

Beyond coaching, Rivers has plenty of experience on television. He called games for TNT in the 1990s after he retired as a playoff before eventually transitioning to coaching. Rivers then had two stints working for ESPN/ABC, first in 2004 and then in 2023 while in between coaching jobs.

Rivers also has ties to several NBC game analysts, previously coaching Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine, Jamal Crawford and his son Austin Rivers.

The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 20, on NBC and Peacock with a tripleheader. Rivers’ exact broadcasting partners and schedule is yet to be announced.

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a splash late in the offseason by signing former Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year deal worth $12.4 million. Kuminga has a player option for the 2027-28 season and is expected to be the team’s starting power forward going into the year.

The Wolves needed a power forward after trading Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the offseason. That glaring need for a power forward lasted nearly two months, but Anthony Edwards wanted to ensure that the position was covered. According to reports, he was instrumental in the recruitment process to get Kuminga to the Twin Cities.

“Anthony was really instrumental in recruiting him to come here,” Wolves general manager Matt Lloyd said in an interview with the StribSports Daily Delivery podcast. “We had had several conversations with him, his representatives, from [head coach] Chris Finch, to [president of basketball operations] Tim Connelly, to [basketball operations assistant] Alonzo Gee… everything just kind of came together.”

Edwards’ involvement in getting Kuminga to the Wolves is a strong sign of his leadership for the team. With Randle and Mike Conley Jr. gone, and Rudy Gobert taking a step back, this is undoubtedly Edwards’ team, and he is certainly taking on that role. This type of leadership is needed if Minnesota wants to take the next step as a franchise.

Edwards has earned the right to be able to recruit players to the organization and pick who will work best around him. The goal is for him, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga, and LaMelo Ball to be part of the nucleus that gets the Wolves to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Canis Hoopus community, how do you feel about Kuminga joining the Wolves? Let us know in the comments section below.

Last regular season was a step backwards for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They struggled through injuries and lacked much of the cohesion that made them a 64-win juggernauts the year before.

It’d be easy to blame Kenny Atkinson for last regular season being a disappointment. Many of the things that worked the previous year simply didn’t this time. The Cavs never established an identity, the offense struggled to find flow, and key players like Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter couldn’t find their place within the offense early on. All of those things reflect poorly on the coaching staff.

Despite that, I would argue that Atkinson did a better job last season than he did when he won Coach of the Year.

Atkinson made the best of a bad situation. The Cavs had plenty of chances to throw in the towel but didn’t, thanks in part to Atkinson. They kept their heads above water until a trade came through to save their season.

Acquiring James Harden at the deadline for Darius Garland changed everything. Bringing in a talented and healthy point guard in Harden raised the Cavs’ floor and ceiling, making a deep postseason run possible. It also meant that they had to completely overhaul how they played just two months before the start of the playoffs.

Atkinson’s willingness to cede control of the offense to Harden’s heliocentric style allowed them to hit the ground running. Atkinson’s preferred motion-based offense that worked the year before was thrown out in favor of more traditional high pick-and-rolls.

This change allowed the Cavs to go from having the ninth-best offense in the league before the Harden trade (117.4 offensive rating) to registering the fourth-best (121.5 offensive rating) afterward.

Schematics and in-game adjustments aren’t the most important skills for NBA coaches; establishing trust with your players and getting them to buy into your vision is. Atkinson did that by putting his personal preferences aside to do what was best for the players actually on his team.

“He’s the ultimate player’s coach, he gets it, he understands his team,” Harden said at the close of last postseason. “I think he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible.”

Donovan Mitchell echoed that sentiment. “I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny, and ultimately that’s all that matters.”

This all added to the Cavs’ most successful postseason run with this group as they advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018. Yet, their inability to go further could be due to the fact that there wasn’t an identity to this team besides just Harden-centric basketball.

When things got difficult late in postseason games, the Cavs repeatedly just went to high pick-and-rolls without any alternatives. That worked late in Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons. It didn’t in the Game 1 collapse to the New York Knicks.

You could justify the team sticking to the basics given how chaotic last season was. You can’t anymore.

Atkinson has had a full summer with this backcourt. That’s more than enough time to figure out how he wants this offense to function — and more importantly — get both guards on board with executing that vision.

On top of that, Atkinson needs to figure out how to get Jarrett Allen and Mobley more involved on a consistent basis. We saw repeatedly in the playoffs that the Cavs were at their best when they were focal pieces of the attack and not just bystanders. Yet, getting them and the guards to realize this and make this a priority every game has been an overall losing battle. Changing that and getting the bigs into the flow of the game more consistently would do wonders for the Cavs on both ends of the floor.

The Cavs have been successful with Atkinson over the last two seasons; however, that might not be enough to shield him from being the fall guy if things go sideways this year. This team is all in on a two- to three-year window after trading away another first-round pick this summer and giving a 37-year-old $97 million guaranteed. If things go wrong, it’ll be much easier to change the coach than it would be to drastically overhaul the roster again.

This could be a make-or-break year for the Cavs. It almost certainly will be for Atkinson. He’s answered the call the last two seasons, putting this team in the best position to win. We’ll see if he can do so again in what will inevitably be a very different test than either of the previous two campaigns.

Much of the conversation around the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason has revolved around the star-studded projected starting five, with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining the incumbent trio of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe.

However, depth is vital over the course of a long NBA campaign. Mike Gansey addressed that issue in part with the free agent signings of Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Ariel Hukporti. With Wade and Simons in particular, those veterans bring known elements to the table that should prove valuable for the Sixers. Something that is more of an exciting unknown, though, is what role Labaron Philon will fill for this group with championship aspirations.

Taken with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Philon’s selection was well-graded by draft pundits. Some saw him as a projected lottery pick after an All-America Third Team sophomore season at Alabama that saw him average 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals. While evaluations formed in Vegas should largely stay in Vegas, Philon looked the part of an NBA player in averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists across four appearances in Summer League.

While Philon was the main attraction for the Sixers in the desert, he’s extremely far down in the pecking order back east. He’s the clear fourth option at guard behind Maxey, Edgecombe and Simons, with James and Brown also assuming a ton of ball-handling responsibilities. On the one hand, it’s a positive that Philon won’t be thrown into the deep end right away to sink or swim. Conversely, there likely won’t be very many opportunities for the rookie to spread his wings and experiment with different parts of his game at the NBA level. (I’m recalling rookie Tyrese Maxey scoring 39 points in his first NBA start when the Sixers only had seven players available due to a COVID-19 outbreak.)

Part of me knows Philon isn’t of legal drinking age until November so there’s no harm in bringing him along slowly. However, I also have some scar tissue from Doc Rivers burying rookie Maxey on the bench far too often, and Nick Nurse not trusting Jared McCain to the extent that Daryl Morey felt compelled to trade him to recoup value (ironically now bringing Philon into the fold as a result). On the flip side, Nurse did give rookie VJ Edgecombe an obscene amount of minutes last season.

When it’s all said and done, the Sixers’ season isn’t going to be judged by the progression of Labaron Philon in his rookie season. If he proves ahead of schedule and can serve as a valuable rotation piece, all the better. Maybe Gansey can then use Simons as a trade chip at the deadline to shore up another area of need. More than likely, though, he’ll see spot minutes here and there, maybe even the occasional DNP-CD if everyone is healthy and available for a big game. Come next summer, we’ll hopefully have a couple key moments to look back upon as signs of bigger things to come and Philon can ascend to a third guard role next season.

Gary Payton II embraces Warriors being counted out during 2026-27 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Expectations for the Warriors entering the 2026-27 NBA season are as low as they’ve been in years. That’s the way Gary Payton II likes it, too. 

“It’s funny,” Payton said Sunday to NBC Sports Bay Area on the ninth floor of Chase Center. “It kind of gives, in a sense, a ‘22 feeling. We’re not expected to do anything, but we still got a pretty good veteran core, and we got some talented young guys. 

“The goal this year, the motto for me, is stay healthy and have fun.” 

Nobody saw a championship parade coming down Market Street going into the 2021-22 NBA season. They saw a Warriors team that didn’t have Kevin Durant anymore, still was without Klay Thompson recovering from an Achilles injury, questionable youth and a group of veteran castoffs. Payton sees the similarities five years later. 

The Warriors’ last championship team was coming off a 39-win season that fell short of the playoffs. This season’s group is coming off a year of 37 wins and no date with the playoffs. 

Steph Curry’s co-star, Jimmy Butler, is rehabbing from injury like Thompson was. But this team also has to deal with another major loss to injury in Moses Moody’s rehab. 

When it comes to youth, the Warriors can hope Brandin Podziemski in Year 4 can take the kind of offensive leap Jordan Poole did in Year 3. Yaxel Lendeborg should be much more ready to contribute as a rookie than Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman or Moody ever were. 

It actually might be Brandon Williams who reminds fans of Poole the most with the way he’s able to beat a defender off the dribble and get to the basket. 

Payton, who will be 34 in December, just played 73 games last season, which was a new career high and his most since playing 71 in the Warriors’ championship season – the year he found the perfect team to keep his career alive as a fan favorite. Other role players surrounding Payton five seasons ago included Damion Lee, Kevon Looney, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr. 

Now, it’s more or less a group of veterans like De’Anthony Melton, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Georges Niang. 

Williams will be 27 in November, Charles Bassey will be 26 at the end of October, Lendeborg will be 24 at the end of September, as will Will Richard at the end of December, and Gui Santos is 24 all season. As Podziemski enters his fourth year as a pro, he still remains the youngest Warrior, turning 24 in late February. 

“Down the line, young guys are gonna win some games for us and give our vet guys some time to rest and chill,” Payton said. “And when it’s time, when it matters, I think you know we’re always going to show up. We got 30 [Curry], we got [Draymond Green]. When we get Jimmy and we get Moses back, you never know. 

“We just got to play the right ball until the right time and see what happens.” 

The Warriors’ comeback win against the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in tournament didn’t bring them another title. It didn’t even bring them an appearance in the playoffs after losing to the Phoenix Suns two days later. But it did bring them the taste of glory for one more game. 

Curry scoring 35 points in a do-or-die situation, including 27 in the second half, was a reminder around the league and to themselves. As was Green’s incredible defense down the stretch, locking up Kawhi Leonard to seal the win. So were Porziņģis’ 20 points and monster putback dunk, Horford’s four threes in the fourth quarter, massive contributions from Podziemski (17 points) and Santos (20 points), and Payton’s two steals as a plus-8 to lead the bench. 

Can they maintain that kind of performance for long stretches instead of a single game? Soon enough, we’ll find out. In the meantime, Payton and the rest of the Warriors are embracing the challenge of being completely counted out. 

“It really doesn’t matter. If we get there, we got Wardell, we got Dray, we get a healthy Jimmy back and we got Al and KP,” Payton said. “You got problems if we’re all healthy when the time comes. 

“It doesn’t matter if we’re eighth or we’re first, you got problems.”

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Former Villanova 5-star forward/wing — and Big East Freshman of the Year — Cam Whitmore is getting another shot in the NBA, this time with the Denver Nuggets. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported the news on Friday:

The Denver Nuggets are signing 2023 first-round pick Cam Whitmore on a two-way NBA deal, sources tell ESPN. Whitmore enters his fourth NBA season after averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds over 119 career games — and has already joined the Nuggets for workouts in Denver. pic.twitter.com/WBhDfTIhOQ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 18, 2026

Denver signed Whitmore to a one-year, two-way contract after the 22-year-old was traded from Washington to Cleveland in a five-team deal (which ironically involved the Nuggets) and was subsequently waived by the Cavaliers almost immediately.

Technically, Denver i Whitmore’s fourth NBA team in four years. Realistically, it’s his third stop. He never played for Cleveland, so I’m not counting that one as legitimate.

Either way, the former Villanova five-star has reached an interesting point in his young, once-promising career.

Whitmore’s career hasn’t exactly gone according to plan after being taken 20th overall by the Rockets in the 2023 Draft, but his production hasn’t been terrible either. He averaged 10.5 points in 17.3 minutes across 119 games with Houston and Washington. Per 36 minutes, his counting stats jump to 21.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. Not terrible.

The question in Denver will ultimately become whether he’s the type of player a good team with championship aspirations trusts with regular minutes or not.

Whitmore has a respectable 34.9% from three over his career that dipped to 28.6% during an injury-shortened season in Washington last year. He also only has 97 career assists (0.8 per game), which feeds the “tunnel vision” criticisms the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder hasn’t been able to shake thus far. He needs to show he can contribute elsewhere on the court, either through cutting/driving/slashing and using his brute strength and athleticism or by leaning into being a secondary playmaker.

But playing with superstar center Nikola Jokic could also be exactly what Whitmore needs to finally take off.

Whitmore still has all the good that made him a first-round pick in 2023. He shot 54% from inside the arc last season and remains a dangerous finisher around the basket. In Denver, he won’t need to create everything himself. Cut, run the floor, knock down open threes and don’t stop the offense when the ball finds him.

Then there’s defense. Whitmore doesn’t need to suddenly become the defensive player Peyton Watson was for the Nuggets, but becoming more serviceable on that end would make it considerably easier for Denver to find minutes for him.

His talent has never really been the issue. Whitmore now needs to show he can complement other talented players instead of simply being one himself. If he does, Denver could finally be where his NBA career gets back on track. Nova Nation will be rooting for him.

The Dallas Mavericks are less than a week away from kicking off training camp in advance of Cooper Flagg’s second season in the NBA. Flagg’s personal trainer, Matt MacKenzie, sat down with RG.org to discuss what Flagg has been up to this offseason and what we can expect from his pairing with Kyrie Irving in year two. The discussion was a deep dive worth reading in its entirety, however a few key points stuck out and all of them should make Mavs’ fans excited for what is to come.

The offseason regimen

MacKenzie indicated that Flagg has been going hard all off season. In so doing, Flagg managed to go coast-to-coast throughout the summer, with time spent in California, Texas and Maine, amongst other locales. Of particular note is Flagg’s time spent in Dallas where he developed some familiarity with his new teammates and coaching staff.

“He spent a lot of time in Dallas with getting acclimated to the new coaching staff and some of his future teammates. He’s learning a little bit about what they’re all about. So it’s been a really good offseason.”

A young player having the wherewithal to do this is a great sign. Putting aside the sheer magnitude and duration of work, Flagg was smart to spend some of that time in Dallas. Plenty of players have their own plans for the offseason, both personal and professional, and there is nothing wrong with that. Training camp is a great way to get to know new faces and new systems. Getting a leg up on that as Flagg has done will surely pay dividends, making training camp less of an introduction and more of a continuation.

Refining his game

Virtually every NBA player that has enjoyed sustained success in the league has done so by way of adding to their game every offseason. Mavericks’ fans are intimately familiar with this concept after 21 years of Dirk Nowitzki. It appears that in his first chance, Flagg is proving to be cut from the same cloth. In what MacKenzie describes as a well thought out, collaborative and thorough process, Flagg is adding to his game in a variety of ways. Most intriguing of those is the three-point shot.

“He’s taking not only 3s off the catch, but also 3s off the dribble. He’s using a variety of different screens and actions to get him into different shots.”

Flagg had an outstanding rookie season, good for Rookie of the Year honors. He arguably outperformed even the more ambitious expectations that came with being the #1 pick, but one area of his game clearly needed work. Flagg shot only 29.5% from beyond the arc in his first season. The long ball was an area of some concern for the Mavericks as a whole, with the team only shooting 34.4% against a league average 36%. Flagg was excellent at driving and had a solid mid-range game, so adding a deep threat could be the first steps toward becoming nearly unstoppable, to say nothing for what it will do for the team’s offensive schemes.

The dynamic duo

One of the most exciting things about this upcoming season is the return of Kyrie Irving. To this point, we’ve only been able to imagine how the two players would come together, but now we’re only weeks away from seeing them in game action. There remains some concern here, too. This is clearly Flagg’s team, but Irving is an established veteran player and a star in his own right. He’s proven before that he can share the spotlight and even defer and it’s looking like that will be the case again.

“I know that Kyrie has a ton of respect for the player that Cooper is. Just like Coach May, he wants to continue to help Cooper take that next step in his career… They’ve had a chance to spend some time together on the court and in workouts when they’ve played pickup a little bit. I think they really enjoyed playing with each other.”

Many wanted to see Irving traded in the offseason, but this shows one of the key reasons Masai Ujiri was wise to keep him around. Irving brings plenty to the court and nearly (perhaps more) as much off the court in mentorship. The last thing the team needs is to stymie Flagg’s growth or limit his opportunities on the court in his second year. With Irving as his cohort, that should not be a problem. Irving is a natural leader and a great co-lead that will surely take pressure off Flagg as his game continues to develop. The fact the two are already spending some time together and gelling nicely is an excellent sign of things to come.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Sixers pre-camp questions: How many young players will earn minutes?  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ new era is on deck.

With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on board and training camp set to begin in late September, we’re taking a look at key questions for the 2026-27 Sixers. 

We’ve asked: 

• Just how dramatic of an impact will James make?
• What role will Brown play on his new team?
• Will the Sixers be healthy when it matters most? 
• Who will the Sixers run their late-game offense through?
• Can the Sixers’ retooled second unit get the job done in the playoffs?
• How will the Sixers’ backup center situation shake out?
• What’s the next step for VJ Edgecombe?

Next up: How many young players will earn minutes? 

Let’s start with the numbers.

The Sixers have eight players 25 years old or younger on their standard roster. That goes up to 10 if you include two-way contract players Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert. On the other side, five Sixers will be at least 30 years old by the end of the season. James is easily the oldest of the bunch at 41. 

Here’s the full list of the Sixers’ youngsters, with ages as of mid-September: 

• Labaron Philon Jr. — 20 
• VJ Edgecombe — 21  
• Justin Edwards — 22 
• Rayan Rupert — 22 
• Dominick Barlow — 23 
• Adem Bona — 23 
• Jabari Walker — 24 
• Ariel Hukporti — 24 
• Caleb Love — 24 
• Tyrese Maxey — 25 

Deep discussion isn’t required for Maxey and Edgecombe, the Sixers’ expected starting backcourt. What about Philon, the No. 22 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft?

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse’s initial read was that Philon has the tools to play as a rookie. The Alabama product tallied 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game his sophomore season. His ball handling shiftiness shined in summer league, too.

“He’s a really talented scorer,” Nurse said on draft night. “He’s really fast and explosive and can really get it in the bucket. And I think with a lot of guys that can score, there’s the mentality. The swagger or confidence or something that he has is obviously one of his traits that has served him well. He played in a system at Alabama that is very pro-style. … And I think he’s certainly got two-way capability. I think he can guard.” 

Philon’s defense will likely play a large role in whether or not he snags a spot in the Sixers’ rotation. As a rookie who weighed 176 pounds at the draft combine, Philon won’t be anywhere near mistake-free defensively. Nurse will care about focus, effort and attention to detail. And he’ll expect Philon to watch and learn from fellow guards Maxey, Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The blueprint for Edwards securing a rotation place appears simple. If he sinks a fair share of three-pointers, plays sturdy defense on the wing and rebounds at a decent rate, that may very well do the trick.

Edwards averaged 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season in 15.3 minutes per game. He shot 37.2 percent beyond the arc in the regular season and 22.2 percent in the playoffs, although that postseason number is perhaps a bit harsh because of some garbage-time misses. 

Nurse has admired many of the nuances in Edwards’ game over the Philadelphia native’s first two NBA seasons, including his knack for finding open space.

“I think I’m just always in the right spot. … I always put myself in the right position,” Edwards said in April.

If Edwards is playing valuable basketball without posting eye-catching stats, Nurse will recognize it. 

Hukporti and Bona look like they’ll compete for center minutes behind Joel Embiid. Bona has a left foot sprain and will be re-evaluated at the start of camp. 

Both Barlow and Walker can also play at center, but each served primarily as a power forward last season. As things stand, Barlow has a far higher chance of receiving steady minutes. Only Maxey and Edgecombe started more regular-season games for the Sixers last year than Barlow. He got 59 starts and averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.8 minutes per game.

His role diminished in the playoffs, however, and new Sixers forward Dean Wade is a proven veteran who’s historically offered much more as a shooter. Barlow should still have plenty of viable routes to substantial playing time. He showed last year that he’s a smart cutter next to Embiid, a useful short-roll passer, and a hustling player who habitually chips in offensive rebounds, steals and blocks.

Barlow’s 2025-26 season is also a reminder that two-way contract players shouldn’t be automatically excluded when considering an NBA team’s rotation picture. He started on opening night and was excellent in the Sixers’ win over the Celtics. By February, it was obvious to everyone that Barlow deserved his conversion to a standard NBA contract.

The Sixers currently have two of their three two-way slots filled with Love and Rupert.

Love is a 6-foot-3 guard who played 49 NBA games last season as a Trail Blazers rookie. He posted 10.4 points and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three-point range. Rupert is a 6-7 wing with a 7-2 wingspan who’s played 155 times in the NBA over the past three seasons and averaged 4.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.5 steals in 14.0 minutes per contest. 

It would be quite surprising to see either Love or Rupert jump over more established players to seize regular NBA minutes. Of course, injuries always pop up and preseason projections are never perfect. 

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.

Now that Giannis is gone, the question of who leads the team in trade value is pretty interesting. As you’ll see in my personal trade value rankings (dropping on Wednesday), I happen to believe there is a clear top three: Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, and Kel’el Ware, with the first two in a tier of their own. That said, you could certainly make a credible argument for a few others.

I can almost guarantee that inside the Bucks’ four walls, they would be doing similar exercises as the team transitions out of the state of flux it’s currently in. How much do you weigh raw ability, age, contract size, contract status (where they are in their contract), and a slew of other factors? These are complex, nuanced considerations. I don’t want to spoil all my thoughts on the matter, but tell us yours!

Athleticism is not a blanket term when it comes to its application in NBA games. There are a thousand different ways athleticism can manifest itself on a basketball court beyond slamming home an alley-oop. These days, it feels like NBA teams are looking less at how a player tests on their max vertical leap, and more at their balance, deceleration, and body control. I realize the incoming exercise is a bit silly for this reason, but I’m going to do it anyway.

A year ago at this time, we previewed the best shooters in the NBA. While that list doesn’t feel like it’s changed much over the last 12 months, any look at the sport’s best athletes has significantly more fluidity. Zion Williamson, Aaron Gordon, and Zach LaVine would have been a lock a few years ago, but they aren’t on this list today. It might seem obvious that someone like Ace Bailey should have been on this list a year from now, but he was one of the final cuts this year.

With the start of the 2026-27 NBA season just around the corner, here’s our list of the best athletes in the NBA. The focus here was mostly on explosiveness. Who did I overlook? Leave your snubs in the comment section below.

Amen Thompson, G, Houston Rockets

Thompson was one of two players to dunk 200+ times last season despite being only 6’7 and lacking a jump shot that defenses have to respect. The 23-year-old should be a staple on All-Defensive teams moving forward, and his ridiculous explosion gives him a strong foundation to continue to develop his skill level offensively. I predicted Thompson would be the most athletic player in the league from day one when he was entering the 2023 NBA Draft, and I think I nailed it.

Ausar Thompson, G, Detroit Pistons

AUSAR THOMPSON CHASEDOWN BLOCK

OH MY GOODNESS. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/0nVxvoCktw

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 6, 2026

Ausar Thompson might be a tenth of a step below his twin brother in terms of burst, but he’s still an overwhelming athlete on the wing for the Detroit Pistons. He could be the scariest on-ball defender in the league going forward while also being excellent as a defensive playmaker away from the ball.

VJ Edgecombe, G, Philadelphia 76ers

It was easy to see Edgecombe was going to be a freak athlete during his one year at Baylor, and he’s already making game-breaking plays in the NBA after one year in the league. It’s going to be fascinating to see how he’s deployed as the Sixers’ fifth option this season.

Shaedon Sharpe, G, Portland Trail Blazers

Sharpe is the best dunker and most explosive leaper in the NBA when he gets a runway. Unfortunately, he’s already out with a meniscus tear entering the season.

Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves

I remember speaking to Edwards in his high school classroom for a story about how he’d become the NBA’s next thing. That was a rare good call by your boy. I’ll never stop thinking about his dunk on John Collins.

Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls

Wilson dunked 67 times in 24 games as a freshman at North Carolina, and some of his best highlights came on the defensive end. His combination of extreme explosiveness, self-awareness, and a hard-charging work ethic gives him a chance to become the star player the Bulls have been desperate for.

Cooper Flagg, F, Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, sheesh pic.twitter.com/6ZJnYRosfU

— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) December 19, 2025

Flagg’s shot-blocking looked like it might make him Gen-Z Shawn Marion or Andrei Kirilenko entering Duke. His coaches have understandably tried to turn him more into the second coming of Jayson Tatum in the time since. He’s one of the more explosive young players in the league, and it feels like he’ll only continue to get scarier as his frame develops.

Dyson Daniels, G, Atlanta Hawks

Daniels is perhaps the NBA’s best thief on the defensive end, setting several age-based steals records during his first season in Atlanta in 2024-25. He can’t shoot at all, but his athleticism still makes him a pretty decent offensive player with his ability to hit the glass and fly in transition.

Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat

Adebayo is a wrecking ball defensively in the middle of the Miami defense with rare mobility for a player who is so strong with such a low center of gravity. His intersection of size, strength, quickness, and explosiveness allows him to play so much bigger than his size, and serves as the foundation for one of the NBA’s best overall defenders.

Joan Beringer, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Joan Beringer driving dunk replay pic.twitter.com/kktTi9liuV

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) April 8, 2026

Beringer basically got redshirted by the Wolves as a rookie last season, but he has some ridiculously fluid highlights for an NBA center whenever he steps on the floor. Minnesota will be counting him on him to backup Rudy Gobert this season, and I bet he’ll produce some spectacular moments.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Miami Heat

Giannis is the oldest guy on this list at age-31. He still has incredibly rare movement ability for his size. It will be fascinating to see how he ages into his mid-30s with a game so dependent on being the biggest athletic freak around.

Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors

Barnes has become one of the best forwards in the league, and he could be primed for an All-NBA season next to Kawhi Leonard this year in Toronto. He’s so long and strong and mobile, and plays with a ferocity on the glass, all of which should make him an annual contender for an All-Defense spot. I can’t wait to see Barnes, Leonard, and Collin Murray-Boyles defend together.

Kel’el Ware, C, Milwaukee Bucks

Ware is a great lob threat with a huge catch radius and crazy bounce for a 7-footer. Helping Ware put it all together will be one of the top objectives of new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins after the Giannis trade.

Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

I wouldn’t keep Wemby off this list. Guys who are 7’5+ are usually statues, but Wembanyama is ridiculously flexible and fast. There’s never been anyone like him before, and his overall athleticism is a huge part of the appeal.

AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards

Dybantsa is truly a quick-twitch athlete at 6’9, 220 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan. His wicked first step and explosion around the rim is going to make him an elite scorer before long.

Ron Holland, G, Detroit Pistons

Holland hasn’t really established himself yet as he enters this third season, but his crazy explosiveness makes him one of the league’s better per-minute wing defenders and a great transition scorer. He may have too much overlap with Thompson as non-shooters to make it in Detroit, but if the Pistons move on, some team should be willing to take a chance on him as a “second draft” type. Read my feature on Holland’s journey to the NBA here.

Josh Minott, F, Brooklyn Nets

Josh Minott THROWS DOWN! 💪

Watch #NETSonYES live on YES & The @gothamsports App: https://t.co/sWMqNZ0hcipic.twitter.com/MEpbyyZ9hQ

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 28, 2026

Minott has been a super disruptive defender who flies in the open floor and can jump out of the gym when he gets the chance. He’s improved his shooting and handle enough to get a real chance this season in Brooklyn.

Jonathan Kuminga, F, Minnesota Timberwolves

Will Kuminga’s production finally match his press clippings as he moves to Minnesota this year? We’ll see! He’s the third Timberpup on this list. I guess that makes them the most athletic team in the league.

Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs

Castle looks like a linebacker playing basketball, only there’s never been a linebacker who could detonate one of the greatest tomahawk dunks of all-time in the NBA Finals. Like many of the players on this list, he’s another great defender and poor shooter. The Spurs should hope he can cut down on the turnovers as much as improve as a shooter.

Peyton Watson, F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Watson is the platonic ideal of a toolsy wing who needed to grow into his body and his game. He took some strides over a small sample last year with the Nuggets, and now the Cavs are betting big on him to help take their team to the next level.

Ja Morant, G, Portland Trail Blazers

I was on the fence about putting Morant on this list, but ultimately still believe he’s one of the league’s most explosive guards. I kind of hate the fit next to Damian Lillard in Portland this year, but at the same time Morant still feels like a good bounce-back candidate after a couple disappointing seasons.

Matas Buzelis, F, Chicago Bulls

MATAS. BUZELIS. 🤯

What a HUGE one-handed throwdown!

ORL/CHI is tied at 59 at the break… tap to watch the 2H: https://t.co/KJXQbFKdBIpic.twitter.com/kfcEPtxTk0

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026

Buzelis finished No. 7 in total blocks last year while also crushing 79 dunks in 77 games. Him and Wembanyama were the only players in the NBA with such a lofty intersection of dunks, blocks, and made threes.

Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons

Duren looks like he was cut out of stone as a 250-pound big with a 7’5 wingspan and rare explosiveness. He crushed 189 dunks last year, fourth most in the league, but his athleticism often shows up in more impressive ways when he’s attacking off the dribble.

OG Anunoby, F, New York Knicks

Anunoby still deserves a spot on this list at age-29. He plays with great balance on both ends for someone with such a strong frame. His tip-in to win Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals will be replayed for as long as the NBA exists.

Derrick Jones Jr., F, Los Angeles Clippers

Jones felt like the most explosive guy in the league in his young days, and he’s still a freak at age-29. He won the 2020 dunk contest, and not just because Dwyane Wade rigged it.