TORONTO, CANADA. - MAY 8: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Tempo on May 8, 2026 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 17: Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Sky on September 17, 2026 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game Info
When: Thursday, September 24th at 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Injury Report
Sky: DiJonai Carrington – Out (Foot), Skylar Diggins – Out (Knee), Rickea Jackson – Out (Knee), Azura Stevens – Out (Knee)
Mystics: No Injuries Reported
Pregame notes
And it comes down to this. The final game of the season is upon us, as the Mystics are looking to continue the momentum they have built since coming back from the FIBA Tournament. Winners of three straight games, the Mystics’ win over the Sun on Tuesday night marked the franchise mark for most wins in a season, at 27 wins. Don’t let that get in the way of what should be an interesting night in the “W”.
At stake for Thursday’s game is the potential to move up as far as the 5th playoff spot, and lock in a 1st round matchup against the Atlanta Dream, but the Mystics will need some help. A combination of beating the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx beating the Indiana Fever, will allow the Mystics to move up to the 5th playoff spot.
On the other side, Chicago has been dealing with a great deal of injuries. This game is an opportunity for their team to play spoiler and stop the Mystics’ momentum going into the playoffs.
Bottom line, the Mystics need to put the Sky away early and focus on resting their key players so that they can go into the playoffs, not only with momentum, but also with a healthy roster. This game will be at Capital One Arena, which has been undergoing significant renovation over the summer, so that should add a little more excitement to an already important game.
Extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns have stalled as Knicks training camp nears, but the sides haven’t given up on an agreement.
Towns has been eligible for an extension since early August and the Knicks, as The Post reported earlier this month, are asking him to take a discount from his max of four years, $272 million.
It’s part of the front office’s attempt to keep the championship core together amid James Dolan’s mandate of staying below the second apron. With Jalen Brunson eligible for a big extension next year (four years, $257 million), the Knicks are watching their spending now and Towns — a multi-time All-Star — is in the middle.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA championship during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York’s exact offer to Towns is unclear but ESPN reported Wednesday that “a deal before training camp is considered unlikely.” It’s relevant because the story will now hang over camp and beyond.
But the sides also have all season to negotiate.
“There’s been plenty of conversations with KAT, all cordial, all positive,” a league source told The Post. “We want KAT to be here for a long time.
“And just because a deal isn’t done now doesn’t mean it can’t get done.”
Towns was also eligible for an extension before last season and didn’t come close to an agreement. He expressed a desire to stay with the Knicks and was key to the championship run, transforming into a playmaking force at the elbow while elevating his defense in the playoffs.
Both Towns and the Knicks can feel they have leverage in these negotiations. With the Knicks, there’s time to assess since contract eligibility extends through the season. For Towns, who visibly dropped weight in the offseason, there’s the threat of leaving in free agency in 2027 while armed with the security of a player option. If Towns is injured this season or underwhelms, he can pick up the option and be paid $61 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
The Knicks already sacrificed one player to stay below the second apron, allowing Mitchell Robinson to leave in free agency this summer and sign with the Celtics. Towns, who was either the Knicks’ second or third best player during the playoffs, is obviously more important.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and his wife Jordyn Woods pose for a photo during a David Yurman event at the Willaim F. Passannante Ballfield on West Houston and MacDougal Street, Thursday, September 17, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions. Hart has a team option in his contract but McBride would become a free agent next summer with no deal.
The Knicks will host Media Day on Monday at their Tarrytown facility, where Towns will undoubtedly be asked about his extension negotiations. It’s worth noting that he has a longtime relationship with team president Leon Rose, who once served as Towns’ agent.
Last season, Towns was asked by The Post about not agreeing to an extension and said, “Hell yeah I want to stay here. Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”
OAKLAND – For more than two months last season, Stephen Curry only could watch as the Warriors spiraled downward without him. His ailing right knee forced him to miss 27 games, 18 of which ended in defeat.
Curry, whose workout routine is legendary among NBA players, acknowledged then that there would be a “new normal” because changes were required.
As Golden State prepares for NBA training camp next week in Hawaii, those changes have Curry brimming with optimism after he was diagnosed last February with patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly referred to as “runner’s knee,” and forced to the sideline.
“Feeling fantastic,” Curry said Wednesday at an appearance in east Oakland. “There was a very particular and kind of prescriptive plan over the course of the summer of what I could do on court (and) off court to build the foundation back but give my knee some rest. And then slowly build to where when I get to camp on Monday, I’ve got enough reps, enough pickup sessions and court time where I’m able to do everything like I normally do but not overdo it going into camp.”
Curry, 38, realizes he is nearing the end of a career that will earn him first-ballot Hall of Fame status. Always devoted to conditioning – the primary source of his success for 17 seasons – a first-time knee issue left him briefly unsettled.
Even now, the experience lives in the back of his mind.
“I think because I missed so many games last year that that’s going to be like top of mind, and obviously should be,” Curry said. “But anybody at this age and with the number of miles, you’re managing something. So, it’s kind of part of the longevity aspect of this, and I’m not afraid of it.”
Golden State’s medical and training staffs, led by Dr. Rick Celebrini, are considered among the best in the league. Curry will be monitored on a regular basis beginning with the first practice on Sept. 29 at BYU-Hawaii.
The Warriors are, according to league sources, somewhat concerned because Curry long has been the key to their fortunes and “runner’s knee,” which generally affects distance runners, can devolve into a chronic condition.
“It’s at that stage of my career . . . so all of this was just information to design a summer where you’re pacing yourself, getting your reps in, trying to improve the things that I set out to do skill-wise,” Curry said. “But I’m feeling strong and healthy, and I’m pretty sure I’m there.”
The Warriors surely hope so. Either way, this will be a season during which Curry will miss select games, mostly on back-to-back sets, for cautionary purposes.
There is a pretty simple question surrounding Collin Murray-Boyles entering his second NBA season: how high can his ceiling actually be?
Selected ninth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Murray-Boyles entered Toronto with plenty of intrigue. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, he is undersized for a traditional center, but his strength, physicality and instincts allow him to play much bigger than his frame suggests.
After an encouraging rookie season, the Raptors now have a better idea of what they have in their young forward.
What Did He Do Last Year?
Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in 57 games. He also averaged 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 21.9 minutes per game.
The numbers do not tell the whole story. Murray-Boyles quickly became one of Toronto’s more physical defenders and reliable rebounders, using his strength to battle bigger players and his instincts to make plays around the basket.
That impact became even more noticeable in the playoffs. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.
He had 15 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 against Cleveland before scoring 17 points in Game 6 to help Toronto force a deciding Game 7. For a rookie, it was an encouraging way to finish the season.
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) tries to get to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
What Should We Expect This Year?
The biggest change should simply be opportunity.
Murray-Boyles is no longer trying to figure out where he fits. He now has a full NBA season and playoff experience under his belt, and Toronto should give him more responsibility.
A reasonable expectation is for him to become a consistent rotation player and potentially start at times. He does not need to become a 20-point scorer. Instead, his development should focus on passing, cutting, screening and attacking mismatches.
The biggest question is his shooting. Murray-Boyles shot 34.0 percent from three as a rookie. If he can become a more reliable perimeter threat, his offensive fit becomes much easier to envision.
Can He Be the Raptors’ Long-Term Center?
This is where things get interesting.
Yes, but probably as a modern small-ball centre rather than a traditional one.
Murray-Boyles has already shown he can survive at centre because of his strength and mobility. He can switch onto smaller players, battle bigger forwards and provide help around the rim, giving Toronto defensive flexibility that a traditional big may not.
The obvious concern is size. There will be nights when a 6-foot-7 center struggles against a legitimate 7-footer, particularly on the glass or in the post.
That is why it is too early to declare him the long-term answer. But it is also too early to rule him out. Toronto still has Jakob Poeltl if it needs a traditional centre, allowing the Raptors to continue experimenting with Murray-Boyles without forcing him into a role he is not ready for.
What Needs to Improve?
Murray-Boyles’ three-point shooting is the biggest swing skill. Even becoming a high-30s shooter would change how defenses approach him.
His foul discipline also needs to improve. His physicality is a strength, but learning when to challenge and when to stay vertical will become increasingly important.
Finally, he needs to become more comfortable creating advantages offensively rather than simply finishing plays.
Apr 3, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) dunks during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Verdict
It is too early to call Collin Murray-Boyles the answer to the Raptors’ long-term needs at centre.
It is not too early to say he could become one.
His rookie season showed that his physicality, defensive versatility and instincts translate to the NBA. If his shooting and offensive game continue to develop, Toronto could eventually have a centre who does not look like a traditional centre at all.
Contract extension talks between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have been ongoing this offseason after Towns played a huge role in helping New York capture its first championship in 53 years.
According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, there's been plenty of dialogue between the two sides, and those conversations have been positive, with the Knicks making it known they think highly of the big man and want him in New York for a long time.
As far as numbers go, during negotiations the Knicks have discussed extensions starting between $45-$50 million a year. Obviously, no deal has come to fruition yet. ESPN reported earlier Wednesday that the Knicks and Towns had hit a snag in negotiations.
Towns will earn $57 million this season and has a player option worth $61 million next year. The Knicks have until June 30 to extend Towns. Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions.
Jalen Brunson will presumably be getting a new contract in the 2028 offseason. So if Hart and Towns extend, the Knicks' starting five will command a significant percentage of the salary cap.
New York will not spend beyond the NBA’s second apron ($221.6 million) in team salary this season, according to owner James Dolan. If the club takes that stance in future seasons, it will be challenging to extend Towns and Hart while also extending McBride. McBride is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Training camp for the defending champs opens next week.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Danny Wolf #2 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s the last week of September! That means we’re just a few days away from training camp and media day. Ladies and gentlemen — make no mistake about it — Brooklyn basketball will return to your lives soon.
Our own Jordan Greene is here to help us get PUMPED for it! We’ll talk through the season projections that recently came out, reflect on some of our goofier takes from last year, look at the upcoming ‘eras’ celebration, and more!
In Episode 46 of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Joel Embiid #21 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game on December 7, 2025 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With NBA training camps right around the corner, ESPN is rolling out the latest edition of its annual NBA Rank exercise, which ranks players “based on predicted contributions—quality and quantity—for the 2026-27 regular season.“
Unsurprisingly, the Sixers’ starting five was well-represented. Here’s where they checked in this year:
72. VJ Edgecombe (unranked last year)
41. Joel Embiid (47th last year)
18. LeBron James (eighth last year)
14. Jaylen Brown (19th last year)
11. Tyrese Maxey (28th last year)
No other Sixers players made the list.
Before getting too bent out of shape about where any of the Sixers landed here—Embiid in particular—it’s again worth emphasizing that ESPN’s panel factored in “quality and quantity” of predicted contributions this coming season when building these rankings. Vince Goodwill specifically brought that up in Embiid’s writeup.
“When Embiid plays, he’s productive and must be accounted for on every scouting report—a shoo-in for 27 points and eight boards and a matchup nightmare with his ability to score at all three levels,” Goodwill wrote. “But ‘when he plays’ is still an issue, the biggest question mark for whether this talent-laden 76ers experiment can lead to a run through May. Since winning MVP in 2023, he has played in a possible 96 of 246 games.”
For context, Embiid landed directly ahead of Rudy Gobert, De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young, Franz Wagner and Brandon Miller and right behind Anthony Davis (a fellow walking injury risk), Kyire Irving, Stephon Castle, Austin Reaves and Paolo Banchero.
No one in their right mind would argue that Banchero is a better player than Embiid at this stage of their respective careers, but it’s fair to bet on Banchero playing significantly more minutes than Embiid this season. The Sixers haven’t outright proclaimed that Embiid won’t be playing in back-to-backs this year like they did ahead of their ill-fated 2024-25 campaign, but it’s safe to assume that he’s going to miss 20-plus games.
What ESPN’s NBA Rank got wrong
If nothing else, this exercise makes you appreciate just how stacked the NBA is these days. Zion Williamson fell outside of the top 50, although much like Embiid, availability concerns largely fueled that. Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trey Murphy III were all in the 50s as well.
With that said, there’s a non-zero chance that Edgecombe’s spot at No. 72 will look laughably low in retrospect.
Perhaps he will get lost in the mix as the Sixers’ fifth option behind Embiid, Maxey, LeBron and Brown this season. Thanks to their offseason additions, the Sixers should be able to keep his playing time more in check this year after he averaged 35.0 minutes per game as a rookie. (That ranked 11th in the NBA. Canadian Thibs strikes again.)
Then again, with Embiid and James likely to miss 10-plus games during the regular season, there’s a chance that the Sixers wind up riding Edgecombe’s young legs yet again.
We’ve been fooled by Offseason Workout Video SZN one too many times in Philly, but Edgecombe appears to have vastly improved both his shooting stroke and handle. Thanks to the Sixers’ wealth of talent, he should also be able to conserve more energy on offense and devote more attention to being a defensive menace this season.
Putting Edgecombe behind post-Achilles-tear Damian Lillard (69th), the oft-injured Paul George (67th) and the-lights-were-too-bright Jarrett Allen (63rd) might be a major mistake.
ESPN is unveiling the top 10 of its rankings on Thursday, but for perspective, here’s what 11-20 looks like:
11. Tyrese Maxey 12. Stephen Curry 13. Kevin Durant 14. Jaylen Brown 15. Kawhi Leonard 16. Karl-Anthony Towns 17. Scottie Barnes 18. LeBron James 19. Tyrese Haliburton 20. Devin Booker
Indiana Pacers fans should feel rightfully aggrieved about Tyrese Haliburton’s place on that list, even though he’s somewhat of a mystery box after missing the entire 2025-26 season due to an Achilles injury. But having Maxey right above Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant? Brown above Kawhi Leonard? If anything, ESPN’s panel might have been overly aggressive with where some of the Sixers rank based on the “predicted contributions” criteria. After all, the Sixers have a lot of mouths to feed this season.
But after Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers bemoaned the Sixers’ lack of identity earlier this offseason, it’s now clear where their bread will be buttered. Their starting five should be an elite offensive unit.
This is LeBron’s first time ever falling outside of the top 10 in ESPN’s NBA Rank, but the man is turning 42 in December. His f–kery really won’t go on forever… right? After all, he played a career-low 33.2 minutes per game last season and tied his career low with only 20.9 points per game. Given the Sixers’ wealth of talent, they shouldn’t need him to average 25-plus points like he did throughout most of his Hall of Fame career.
Brown landing at 14th—one spot ahead of Kawhi Leonard—might raise some eyebrows, especially after all of the insufferable analytics discourse this offseason. However, ESPN’s voting panel is not suggesting that Brown is a better basketball player than Leonard. It weighed availability as part of its criteria as well. With that in mind, there’s a real case to be made that Brown will outproduce Leonard during the regular season.
Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Cade Cunningham and Jayson Tatum will comprise ESPN’s top 10 in some order. If you want to argue that Maxey belongs in there ahead of Mitchell, go right ahead. But again, the Sixers having so many mouths to feed could bring down all of their individual production.
If nothing else, at least ESPN’s panel didn’t leave Embiid out of the top 100 entirely… unlike some other ragebait platform did last year.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by Christian Koloko #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Boston Celtics during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
OAKLAND – Nearly a decade after Stephen Curry established himself as the best deep shooter in basketball history, he disclosed that such acclaim came despite eyesight that was profoundly imperfect.
That he had no idea his vision was impaired until former Warriors general manager Bob Myers reached out during the 2018-19 NBA season after catching a glimpse of Curry’s frequent squinting when TV cameras scanned the team’s bench.
“I knew I had blurry vision,” Curry said Wednesday during a philanthropic visit to Madison Park Academy in deep East Oakland. “Like it’s called ‘ghosting,’ where you kind of see shadows with light sensitivity headaches all that type of stuff. But you chalk that up to a lot of different things.”
Curry was unaware he was squinting, much less that he was trying to see clearly. There was no evidence of poor vision on the court, where he shot 91.6 percent from the line – slightly above his 91.2-percent career mark – and 43.7 percent from beyond the arc. His 354 3-pointers that season were, at the time, second only to his NBA-record 402 in the 2015-16 season.
It is obvious, in retrospect, that Curry was relying largely on the muscle memory that comes with having taken thousands upon thousands of shots since his teen years.
“It was just kind of adapting and adjusting and figuring out a way around it the whole time,” Curry said. “That could only last so long until you need to get it looked at.”
At Myers’ urging, Curry was examined by an optometrist, who diagnosed he was playing through keratoconus. That’s when the cornea, normally shaped like a dome, thins and begins to bulge more like a cone. Curry’s vision was both blurry and distorted. Keratoconus can have a negative effect on such routine activities as reading and driving.
But not splashing baskets – if you’re Curry.
Contact lenses were recommended, and Curry has worn them ever since.
“I know everybody who’s worn glasses or contacts or had prescriptions done, (there’s an) ‘Aha’ moment,” Curry said. “Like, oh this is what the world really looks like. That type of moment. It’s not unique to me at all, but that was a big part of it.”
In seven seasons after being diagnosed and treated, Curry is shooting 92.3 percent from the line and 40.3 percent from distance. His effective field-goal percentage of 58.2 is the same as his career average.
Curry, 38, is entering his 18th NBA season. He’s the second-oldest member of the Warriors, behind only 40-year-old Al Horford. Curry last season was diagnosed with “runner’s knee,” which sidelined him for nine weeks. Six days before Golden State’s first training-camp practice, he says the right knee feels “fantastic” and that he’s ready to go.
The keratoconus diagnosis, however, was significance to give him pause.
“Anything that’s sensitive to your vision, you’re kind of on a little bit of an alert, especially as an athlete,” Curry said. “That’s my way to play the game, and to see the court. Other than having biannual checkups to make sure I was keeping track of it, the treatment plan that worked for me. Healthcare providers can kind of guide you in the right direction for what’s right for you. Thankfully, it’s worked, so it kind of eased the anxiety after a while.
“But it is a new normal of stuff that you have to do to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.”
Dec 7, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) controls the ball against Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Yesterday, we learned that Dillon Brooks had made quite the jump in ESPN’s preseason player rankings, going from unranked a season ago to No. 76 overall. Today, ESPN released players 11 through 50, which means we finally learned where Devin Booker landed.
Booker is the only other member of the Phoenix Suns to crack ESPN’s top 100, and after entering last season ranked 16th overall, he has fallen four spots. His final ranking? 20th. I was so close, guessing he would land at 18th in the comment section yesterday.
Devin Booker enters the season ranked No. 20 in ESPN’s Top 100, down 4 spots from last year
Given the shooting struggles, late-game issues, & how much Phoenix asked him to carry, the drop isn’t shocking
What are ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill’s observations of Booker?
Booker is one of the most malleable stars as the Suns have assembled various teams around him in recent years and yet, he continues to thrive. From teaming with Chris Paul to playing alongside Kevin Durant to now, having Dillon Brooks as a running mate. Pencil him in for 26 points and 6 assists, the ability to play both guard positions and playing through nicks and bruises. His 11 years in the league have been in the Valley, and he’s signed through 2029-30 — a rare one-team star. — Goodwill
Signature stat: Booker was one of five players with at least 1,000 drives last season and was one of eight players to score 1,000 points when he drove (min. 500 drives), per Genius IQ tracking.
Fantasy projection: 26.5 PTS, 6.7 AST, 4.2 REB
There shouldn’t be anything overly surprising about the drop for anybody who watched Suns basketball last season. Booker is a player who has had plenty placed upon his shoulders throughout his career, and last season was another year in which much of that weight fell directly on him. He no longer had Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, or Chris Paul alongside him to shoulder some of the scoring or playmaking responsibilities. No, much of it fell upon Booker, and there were struggles along the way.
He shot 33% from beyond the arc, his worst three point shooting season since 2018–19. His 45.6% shooting from the field was his worst since 2017–18. And while he did make the All Star team, he struggled in late game and clutch situations down the stretch.
There wasn’t much of a release valve around him, and at times, Booker fell into those old patterns of struggling through double teams. Some of that was scheme. Some of it was execution. All of it serves as a reminder that, by all accounts, last season was an adjustment year for Booker.
That doesn’t mean it has to become a trend line. Last season was the adjustment. This season will be the adjustment to the adjustment. Hopefully, better health from Jalen Green and the addition of Miles Bridges will alleviate some of the pressure on Booker purely through the gravity they create.
Still, falling four spots in ESPN’s rankings is indicative of a season that was underwhelming in totality. There’s also some understandable movement around him. Tyrese Haliburton jumped ahead after not being ranked last year because of injury. LeBron James remains ahead of him. Scottie Barnes is where I scratch my head a little bit. Perhaps youth played a role in Barnes climbing this high after ranking 30th a season ago. Either way, Booker now finds himself sitting at No. 20.
Maybe that gives him a little extra fuel for the fire. Not that he’s likely paying much attention to ESPN rankings in September.
Mar 23, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald (left) and analyst Stu Lantz during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In some of the biggest news of the offseason for the Lakers, Stu Lantz will be returning to broadcasts for the 2026-27 Lakers’ season.
On Wednesdays, Spectrum SportsNet announced its team for games this season, including the return of Billy Macdonald and Stu Lantz. After missing the back end of last season, Lantz will return for his 41st season with the team to call home games.
Lantz has long become one of the mainstays of Lakers games and his absence was felt at the end of last season. The news of him returning this year should be met with pretty unanimous excitement across the fanbase.
Danny Green, who stepped in for multiple games last year, will call road games in Stu’s place. While clearly new to the role, Green was a good substitute last season and it’s nice to see him get the chance to call more games this season.
Mike Trudell will also return as the team’s sideline reporter and will share the duties with newcomer Roqui Theus.
Roqui Theus is the daughter of former NBA coach, All-Star and broadcaster Reggie Theus.
Roqui Theus played college hoops at UC Irvine before starting her broadcasting career. https://t.co/nDXnoNOwmW
In the studio, Sasha Vujacic will also be a new addition, joining the regulars of host Chris McGee and fellow analysts James Worthy, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher and Green. Mike Bresnahan and Allie Clifton will also contribute in-studio as well.
Backstage: Lakers will also return for its 15th season with the first episode premiering on Oct. 23 after the team’s second game of the season against the Clippers.
It sounds like fans will have to wait a while longer. But that doesn’t mean there should be concern that two sides will reach a deal.
“I don’t want there to be no drama. No talking points. This team should be competitive and go win,” Curry said about his unsettled contract extension situation, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Stephen Curry lights the Empire State Building in New York City. The event was held in honor of KPMG Leadership Development Day, in partnership with the Underrated Golf Tour presented by KPMG. Flint / SplashNews.com
Curry can sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension that would keep him with Golden State through the 2028-29 season. He’s slated to make $62.5 million this season, in what’s the final season of the 4-year, $215.35 million maximum veteran extension he signed in August 2021.
“It’s going to happen at the right time, once I have all the information I need to make the decision that is right,” Curry added of his contract. “The team’s been great having that conversation back and forth. If I don’t sign, it won’t affect me in terms of my play or carrying that weight. But I’ll make the decision when I’m ready.”
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry reacts on the court during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“We’re in a very interesting situation. All the different salary cap conditions of whether I sign for a max or less or whatever it is, I want to be on a competitive team. I want to have an opportunity to have some flexibility because we haven’t had that in years past, the recent past,” Curry added.
“This team should have flexibility to make necessary moves if things happen. Those are always just the considerations. For me, information and patience is key. It’s just a very unique situation all the way around based on where we’ve been the last four years, where I’m at in my career, what our team looks like this year and the absolute desperation to win. Trying to balance all that.”
Curry is making it very clear that he wants to play for a winner, and sounds like he’s willing to take less money to make that a reality.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post
It raised a few eyebrows when Lonzo Ball went on the Gilbert Arenas Tells All podcast this week and talked about his career in the past tense.
"I felt like I never shortchanged the game. Like I felt like I gave everything I had to hoop, and I felt everything I got in my life is because of hoop," the eldest Ball sibling said. "So I'm grateful to even make it to the league and even be able to play for nine years...
"You see where you're supposed to be, and then you physically can't get there. So it's just like, I don't know. You gotta be comfortable with yourself, to be honest with you, like that's how I am. I feel like, to be honest, I don't think I ever got to my peak."
That may sound like a guy who doesn't expect to play in the NBA again, which became a rumor that suddenly picked up a life of its own on social media, with some accounts saying Ball had retired. Ball quickly pushed back on that — he would love to play again.
I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long ♂️
Ball, 28, started last season with Cleveland and had the chance to step into a backup point guard role, and through 35 games averaged 4.6 points, 4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 27.2% from 3. With the Cavaliers trading for James Harden near last season's deadline, they traded him to the Utah Jazz, who waived him.
He has not been picked up on an NBA contract since. That doesn't mean he's not open to one.
Ball, the No. 2 pick of the Lakers in 2017, played a couple of seasons in Los Angeles before being traded to New Orleans as part of the Anthony Davis deal. He spent a couple of years with the Pelicans before a sign-and-trade to Chicago, where he looked like a great fit with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine on a team that started 24-10 — and then the knee injuries hit. It started with a torn meniscus, but that surgery didn't solve the problem and Ball missed all of the next two seasons undergoing a series of surgeries, and eventually underwent a cartilage transplant surgery in 2023 to help fix a "bone-on-bone" knee at that point.
Ball played for Chicago and last season with Cleveland after that major surgery, but he did not stick. He may not get another shot in the NBA, and he sounds good with where he is in life, but that doesn't mean he's giving up entirely.
As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to ramp up for the 2026-27 season, there’s a lot of excitement about star point guard Kyrie Irving’s return to the court after missing all of last season with an ACL tear. On paper, Irving figures to be a seamless fit next to second-year phenom Cooper Flagg, but the 15-year age gap between the two is making experts and executives around the NBA wonder if the Mavs might consider trading Irving in the near future.
On a recent ESPN “NBA Today” segment, Tim MacMahon said that the love between the Mavs and Irving is real, but that people are wondering just how long the relationship will last.
“Kyrie organized that little mini camp that they had. Really, he returns to the role that he had when Luka [Doncic] was in Dallas, and that is the co-star and the vocal leader of the team, the voice in the locker room, the veteran that all these guys look up to and want to listen to. But, I’ll tell you, the question that’s being asked around the league is, for how long?” MacMahon said.
“How long is this fit with Kyrie and the Mavericks? And it’s not because the Mavericks don’t love Kyrie, they do. It’s not because Kyrie doesn’t love Dallas and hasn’t enjoyed his experience there, by and large. He has. But, they’re building around a 19-year-old prodigy in Cooper Flagg. So, could there come a time when it makes sense for both sides to, you know, find a contender for Kyrie to uh to go to?
“These are the kind of things that people around the league will be monitoring leading up to the trade deadline.”
Although it’s a fair topic to discuss, it’s hard to see the Mavs trading Irving anytime soon. It’s also hard to see Irving wanting to leave anytime soon, unless Dallas is just so bad this season that it isn’t even in Play-In Tournament contention by the trade deadline.
Aside from Irving and Flagg, the Mavs also have a handful of other reasons to be excited about how this upcoming season could turn out. Dallas brought in Dusty May, who recently won an NCAA championship at Michigan, as its new head coach. There are several intriguing players to keep an eye on as well, including No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio De Larrea, Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, Zaccharie Risacher, Tarik Biberovic, and the return of big man Dereck Lively II, who has been dealing with foot injuries over the last few seasons.
All of that isn’t to say things can’t change in Dallas over the next several months, but for now, the idea of Irving leaving is a non-issue. Preseason is always the best time for optimism, and the last thing Irving and the Mavs are thinking about right now is when their relationship will end. They’re thinking about jumping back into playoff contention as soon as possible.
NBA veteran and former Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball appeared to announce his retirement from basketball on Wednesday.
It now appears his retirement isn’t so certain.
Ball, who the Lakers selected with the No. 2 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, seemed to allude to his career coming to an end during an episode of his “Ball in the Family Podcast” that aired on Tuesday.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball reacts after missing a pass from guard Isaiah Thomas during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, March 9, 2018, in Denver. AP
In the podcast, Ball spoke about the constant injuries he has dealt with, then reflected on how these injuries have derailed his career.
“To be honest, I don’t think I ever got to my peak. And damn, that sh** sucks, but at the same time there’s people that don’t have meals at night to eat. That’s how I look at the world,” Ball said.
Social media clipped this quote from Ball and took it to mean he had retired.
Several accounts ran with that on Wednesday morning.
But Ball refuted that notion with an X post, writing, “I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long ”.
Lonzo Ball speaking during an episode of his “Ball in the Family” podcast (YouTube).
Ball is currently an unrestricted free agent, and mentioned in the podcast that he was supposed to go play overseas in Dubai last week but decided against doing so.
Still, the 28-year-old’s comments convey that he isn’t retiring, as was initially reported.
Ball spent the first two seasons of his NBA career in Los Angeles before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Anthony Davis to the Lakers. He then spent two seasons in New Orleans before signing with the Chicago Bulls in free agency.
Despite signing a four-year deal, Ball played only one season then missed the next two because of injuries. His final season in Chicago was in 2024-25, then played last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ball’s younger brother, LaMelo, is a star guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball (2) watches his shot during the first quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Lonzo, has averaged 10.6 points and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 39.2% from the field in his career. These stats leave a lot to be desired, but Ball isn’t one of the NBA’s most polarizing figures for his hoops.
Lonzo’s basketball career is also polarizing. For one, the Lakers’ decision to take him with that No. 2 overall pick didn’t age well, given that the Boston Celtics selected Jayson Tatum — who went on to become one of the league’s best players — one pick later.
Lonzo can’t be faulted for Los Angeles’ draft decision. But that fact doesn’t change how many Lakers fans feel about him.
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