NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 23: General overview of center court prior to the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets on November 23, 2012 at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As noted in the first iteration of this poll, aesthetics mean a lot to Brooklyn Nets fans. The team has moved and rebranded each time — from Long Island to New Jersey to Brooklyn. They turned from the elites of the ABA to laughingstock of the NBA, but don’t get it mistaken: the Nets and Dr. J (Julius Erving) are often credited with the red, white, blue vintage look of the ABA. Look no further than the Orlando Magic schedule release for the Nets.
With all of this being said, the Nets play a bigger part in the culture of the game than most probably realize. Their uniforms, court designs, etc. have been at the center of a lot of conversations. It’s fun. And yes, it does matter — to the fans!
As noted, the Nets moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the team needed a distinct identity. They introduced the NBA’s first herringbone court — a fresh visual design that quickly became synonymous with ‘Brooklyn Grit.’
“We wanted a court that was identifiable and different, so that when fans turn on the TV at home they’ll realize they are in Brooklyn,” said then-Nets CEO Brett Yormark.
Fast forward to 2019: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving just joined the team. The Brooklyn Nets were/are trying to attract Gen Z and young audiences — this was their opportunity to shift to a trendy “millennial gray” type of vibe. The current court still has herringbone designs, though they aren’t quite as clear as the original court. Furthermore, the New York Liberty’s seafoam is an absolute beaut during summer hoops in Brooklyn.
The idea was probably correct, and Sean Marks emphasized a desire to make Barclays Center “brighter without using super bright colors.” Unless the Nets are shuffling a throwback court, Coogi trims, KAWS themes — anything without color seem to fall flat on TV.
Simply put: An overwhelming amount of Nets fans (on NetsDaily) want the original herringbone court back.
The Verdict on the Nets Court Design
We turned the floor over to you to settle a long-standing debate: should the Brooklyn Nets return to their inaugural herringbone hardwood, or stick with the current “industrial” grayscale aesthetic introduced in 2019? Out of 92 voters, 85% favor the original design, and fans are calling for a return to the roots of the Barclays Center identity.
Here is how the NetsDaily community feels about the state of the court.
The Duke of Earl: “I’m a Sean Marks fan boy. A big fan. I believe he’s done a fantastic job here in Brooklyn. However he made a mistake on this one. I like and understand the concept of the gray court representing the city game of street basketball(playground basketball)that was started here in Brooklyn in fact. That makes a lot of sense. However he had a really good and unique thing going with the beautiful herringbone. It was becoming Brooklyn very much like the parquat in Boston. Not to compare the respective franchises mind you. In retrospect the herringbone had become much more identifiable and attractive than the gray court will ever be. All the fans hate it. That should be enough quite frankly. Admit a miscalculation. Correct it and bring back the herringbone.”
NetsInSwish: “The Herringbone created a Brooklyn identity…the Grayscale is just another boring version of Millennial Grey for the sake of current thematics with my generation lol”
BKtoDuval: “The herringbone had the chance to be iconic, if this team ever got good. I liked it better. Also love the Coogi court”
The Case for Grayscale
CaryNC: “Grey for sure! It looks better with the logo too.”
jrichter8: “The current court IS herringbone, it’s just been stained a greige (grey-beige) color which goes better with the black and white uniforms.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 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. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Saturday, Amar’e Stoudemire, Doc Rivers and Mike D’Antoni will be among the latest inductees to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
LeBron James is an absolute lock to join them in the next few years. Players now have to be only two years removed from their retirement to become eligible for enshrinement, and James will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer as soon as he’s eligible.
He might not be the only member of the 2026-27 Sixers who finds himself in the Hall of Fame one day, either. Joel Embiid is already putting together a convincing resume, although he still may have work to do before he becomes a lock.
Basketball Reference’s Hall of Fame probability model—which is based on height, NBA championships, peak win shares, All-Star selections and appearances on statistical leaderboards—currently gives Embiid roughly a 66 percent chance of becoming a Hall of Famer one day. LeBron, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokić, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are all viewed as locks, while Karl-Anthony Towns, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson are among the active players ahead of Embiid in the model.
So, would Embiid already be a Hall of Famer if he retired tomorrow? If not, what else does he need to accomplish to become a lock?
Is Embiid already a Hall of Famer?
Every eligible NBA player who won at least one Most Valuable Player award is already in the Hall of Fame. Derrick Rose may eventually put that to the test, but based on that alone, Embiid should be in.
Rose got off to a meteoric start in the NBA. He won Rookie of the Year, was named an All-Star in his second season and became the youngest MVP in NBA history in his third year. But an ACL tear during the 2012 playoffs upended the trajectory of his career. He never received another All-Star nod upon his return, although he did emerge as a Sixth Man of the Year contender late in his career.
Injuries have also plagued Embiid throughout his career, but he’s sustained his greatness far longer than Rose did. He finished as the MVP runner-up in back-to-back years before finally outdueling Nikola Jokić in 2022-23, and he already has seven All-Star nods and five All-NBA selections to his name. He also led the league in scoring in back-to-back years and has yet to average fewer than 20 points per game across any of his 10 active seasons.
Only four players in NBA history have at least seven All-Star nods without making it into the Hall of Fame: Chris Paul, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joe Johnson and Larry Foust. CP3 just announced his retirement in February and is a Hall of Fame lock as soon as he becomes eligible for enshrinement, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Aldridge and/or Johnson eventually wind up in the Hall as well.
Embiid’s lack of playoff success is the major knock against his Hall of Fame candidacy, but luckily for him, it’s the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, not just the NBA Hall of Fame. Players’ college and international accomplishments get considered as well, and Embiid helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Embiid’s NBA peak alone might be enough to earn his ticket to Springfield one day. His Olympics exploits should only be the icing on the cake.
Does he still have work to do?
If Embiid isn’t already a Hall of Fame lock, two main things will be holding him back: injuries and a lack of playoff success.
Embiid missed his first two seasons due to injuries and has played in only 490 of a possible 801 games since he made his debut. He combined to play only 96 games over the past three seasons combined.
Embiid went into this past season thinking he “was done” because of the knee injury that submarined his 2024-25 campaign. However, at the end of the year, he was optimistic that he and the team “found something” that should have his knee in better shape next season. (His new svelte look can’t hurt, either.)
With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown now in the fold, Embiid isn’t likely to average 30-plus points per game again anytime soon. The Sixers don’t need him to do that anymore, and reducing the wear and tear on his body during the regular season should be one of their top priorities. But even if his per-game averages dip, staying healthy could go a long way toward addressing the other major knock on his resume.
Embiid has yet to drag the Sixers past the Eastern Conference semifinals, although he’s had plenty of heartbreak and near-misses along the way. While the East looks loaded this year, the talent around him makes this arguably his best-ever chance to go on a deep playoff run.
If the Sixers make it to the conference finals or beyond before Embiid retires, his Hall of Fame case will be that much more iron-clad. If Embiid ever helps the Sixers win a championship, the Hall might as well start working on his plaque right then and there.
But if injuries rear their ugly head again and Embiid never makes it past the conference semifinals, the “what if?” aspect of his career might be the only thing that could hold him out of the Hall.
As if the Sixers needed any extra motivation heading into this all-in season, a championship would go a long way toward cementing Embiid’s Hall of Fame candidacy—and Brown’s as well, for that matter.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - APRIL 2026 Kevin Garnett acknowledges the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand. Garnett, who had a falling out with previous owner Glen Taylor after his career was over, reached an agreement last year with the team to serve as an ambassador. His No. 21 jersey will be retired at a later date. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans, final regular season game. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
On Friday morning, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced the day that Kevin Garnett’s jersey is finally going up in the rafters.
This will be just the second game after the All-Star break on a Sunday evening. The Wolves will play host to the team that first retired KG’s number (#5), and where he finally won a well-deserved championship, the Boston Celtics. He hasn’t been shy about how much the Celtics have meant to him, so one will have to wonder which team he’ll be rooting for that night. Is it possible he sits courtside dawning an abomination of a jersey like this?
I am not going to share the link to where to find this jersey.
All jokes aside, this jersey retirement is 10 years overdue. Had it not been for his long standing feud with former Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, number 21 would have been up at Target Center right between the late Malik Sealy’s #2 and the Flip Saunders banner. The energy will surely be electric that night. You better believe that once single-game tickets go on sale, they’ll be scooped up immediately.
For those of you who were asleep for the last year, it was formally announced in December 2025 that new Timberwolves owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez were bringing Garnett back into the organizational fold. He would be coming aboard in a role on the business, community, and content side of the team. KG would also soon return to Target Center for a Timberwolves game for the first time in eight years, walking into the arena to a raucous standing ovation alongside his daughters.
KG’s jersey retirement ceremony will surely be filled with lots of emotions and special guests, but surely not many dry eyes.
Until then, I leave you with one of my favorite videos on YouTube. It’s a carefully curated 11-minute long pictorial video created by garnetttribute, detailing his career (until that point) backwards. It starts hitting me in my feels around the 7:55 mark. So many memories resurface in my head not just of KG, but my life around that time.
There always is something to look forward to coming off a 22-win season — assuming things won’t be worse than they were before.
That is the hope for the Kings, as they brace for a 2026-27 NBA campaign after a forgettable 2025-26 season in which they lost 60 games and were tied for the worst record in the entire Western Conference.
With a promising draft by general manager Scott Perry and his front office staff, which included adding No. 7 overall pick and the hopeful future face of the franchise Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban (No. 29) and Emanuel Sharpe (No. 45) to a rebuilding squad in Sacramento, the future is bright in California’s capital.
But execution is everything. False promises and hope bring eye rolls to desperate and die-hard Kings fans, who have experienced just one playoff series in 20 years. While they might not necessarily be expecting a championship parade down J St. next summer, there is a sense that the rookies and young players will, at the very least, bring some new excitement to the city over the course of an 82-game season.
Here are seven games to look forward to:
at Los Angeles Clippers, Oct. 21
Season openers bring enough excitement on their own.
But this particular game could bring an extra batch of eyes to it with the Acuff Jr. vs. Keaton Wagler matchup.
Wagler was selected No. 5 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, two spots ahead of Acuff Jr.
The 2026 draft class was regarded as one of the best in years, and specifically with the flurry of point guard talent around where Wagler and Acuff Jr. were selected, the comparisons have poured in and will continue to do so throughout their respective rookie seasons and NBA careers.
The comparisons already drew in during NBA Summer League. But it’s a different story during the regular season.
vs. Trail Blazers, Oct. 23
There is nothing quite like a Golden 1 Center homecoming.
Despite the team’s lack of consistent success, Kings fans celebrate their favorite team every game like it’s the playoffs.
While a Trail Blazers vs. Kings regular-season game doesn’t necessarily scream box office, the first game at home for any team is special. Plus, Portland’s squad will look a bit different than Sacramento’s last run-in with it, with Ja Morant now on the team and Damian Lillard‘s return after missing the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn left Achilles.
The home opener also sets the tone. Sacramento won just 15 games at home last season. Doug Christie is trying to change that.
That begins Oct. 23.
vs. Spurs, Nov. 6
OK, OK. Now let’s really get into it.
Fans can say they’re over the De’Aaron Fox drama, but it might never not feel weird to see Fox walk onto the Golden 1 Center court wearing anything other than a Kings jersey.
The former Kings point guard, who spent the first eight seasons of his career as the face of the franchise in Sacramento, received a mixed bag of reactions during his return to G1C last season, although the positive applause slightly outweighed the gentle boos and groans.
All eyes were on Fox, and that also will be the case during his return to the 916 in early November. Every move he makes, such as which Kings players he shakes hands with postgame — and more so which ones he doesn’t — will be amplified and become a storyline.
I’m not sure when this will stop being a storyline, but that time is not now.
Plus, the Spurs are the defending Western Conference champions led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Once a generational talent like Wembanyama walks into the building, it’s always a must-watch game.
vs. 76ers, Dec. 29
I don’t know the last time a 76ers-Kings matchup was as enticing as this upcoming one.
That is the power of the King.
LeBron James decided to end his NBA career with Philadelphia, meaning when his Sixers come into town just after Christmas, it could be the last time James plays an NBA basketball game in Sacramento.
It is quite the full-circle moment for James, who began his NBA career in Sacramento when he entered the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers and faced the Kings in his first regular-season NBA game in 2003.
In that game, he finished with 25 points on 60-percent shooting, with six rebounds, nine assists and four steals in 43 minutes.
The rest, of course, is history.
But that history is still being written for at least one more season, and it will be special.
vs. Nets, Dec. 31
Similar to the season opener against the Clippers, this late December Nets-Kings matchup will bring two promising rookies face-to-face.
Acuff Jr. and the Kings will host Mikel Brown Jr., who was selected No. 6 overall, and the Nets, who are coached by former Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez.
Similar to the Kings, the Nets have been in what feels like a forever-rebuilding stage. But each team’s young players give their fans something to look forward to for the future.
vs. Knicks, Jan. 8, 2027
If Mike Brown were a petty king, his return to Sacramento could look very different next January.
But the former Kings coach, who was fired by the organization during the 2024-25 season, continuously has taken the high road when speaking about his former employer.
Even while on his path toward making history with the New York Knicks by winning their first championship in five long decades, he repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé for giving him an opportunity.
When Brown returned to Golden 1 Center last season, he, rightfully so, was greeted with a warm welcome by fans.
That likely won’t change anytime soon.
vs. Warriors, March 10, 2027
It is kind of wild to think that the Warriors won’t come into town until five months into the season.
With their arenas about 90 miles away from one another, there is never a shortage of Warriors fans who swarm into Golden 1 Center to watch Steph Curry play.
The close proximity, plus recent intense battles, have heightened this NorCal rivalry over the past couple of years.
While some could argue that this isn’t a true rivalry such as Lakers-Celtics, there is no denying that Warriors and Kings players turn it up a notch when facing each other.
Whether they want to admit it or not.
Unfortunately, fans in Sacramento will have to wait a while to watch it.
Fortunately, it almost certainly will be worth the wait.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Ziaire Williams attends a 2026 NBA Summer League game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2026 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. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After making their big swings this offseason, the Lakers made some low-risk, high-reward signings.
Both came on the wing with one being Matisse Thybulle, a talented defensive player with injury questions and the other being Ziaire Williams.
Trapped on the Brooklyn Nets for the last two seasons, Williams has shown signs of improvement, but also largely stagnated. This offseason, Brooklyn cut him free and the Lakers pounced, bringing in the former Sierra Canyon product on a minimum contract.
In continuing our series, we reached out to Anthony Puccio, site manager for Nets Daily, to ask him about Williams, where he succeeds and struggles and how he might fit with the Lakers.
What are his strengths?
He’s a high-energy player with defensive versatility. He’s long and thrives covering wings, but he’s laterally quick enough to stick with guards. His active hands force some turnovers, too.
What are his weaknesses?
His 3-point shooting hasn’t improved beyond a career-best 34% from three last season, and his physical frame isn’t that of a frontcourt anchor. So he’s in no-man’s land for someone whose biggest asset is their size/interchangeability.
Combine that with limited playmaking ability, and he’s a 3-and-D guy at best…assuming the three ball is going down.
From an outsider’s perspective, how do you see him fitting with the Lakers?
He should thrive in a system where he can float and do all the high-energy things nobody else wants to do. It was applauded in Brooklyn, but a curse because his weaknesses were exposed on a bad team. With Luka Dončić and more weapons around him, he should be able to carve out a consistent role in the league.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after making a three pointer during the third quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 19, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns schedule officially released, we now have some insight into the cadence of next season. We now know how many back-to-backs exist, how long the road trips are, and when the NBA’s joke of a “rivalry week” will occur.
One of the more interesting aspects, though, is how often the Suns will appear on a national stage. That number is usually a good barometer of how the league views a team’s relevance. You want your most marketable teams and players in front of a national audience as often as possible to maximize profits. If there’s anything we know about the NBA, and quite honestly just about anywhere you look these days, it’s that maximizing profits tends to drive the conversation. Quality be damned.
That brings us to the Suns. Phoenix was an unexpected success story last season. Granted, they faded late, lost a Play-In game, finished as the eighth seed, and were ultimately swept out of the playoffs. Still, they were entertaining. They had their own storylines, an aggressive identity, and a gritty style of play that gave people a reason to watch.
So what is their reward for all of that? Nine nationally televised games. Nine opportunities to showcase what Phoenix Suns basketball looks like in front of a national audience.
How Phoenix Suns stack up with rest of NBA on national TV games for 2026-27 season.
You could take that personally if you’re the Suns. You could look at it as the league not respecting what you do or how you do it. Quite honestly, though, this is exactly where I’d rather be as someone who watches Suns basketball.
It wasn’t that long ago when Phoenix had more than 30 nationally televised games and routinely embarrassed itself on the national stage. It was torture watching those KD/Booker/Beal teams drag us through uninspired moments of basketball, and it was exacerbated by the fact that it was under the bright lights.
Yes, this is a much different team. Thankfully. But the lack of national exposure also reinforces where expectations currently sit. The Suns are projected to win 38.5 games. The league and the sportsbooks don’t appear to believe Phoenix will be anywhere close to relevant. And that’s right where I like them. I’d much rather be overlooked than overhyped. I’d rather be underappreciated than overexalted.
There’s also another benefit to having 73 games that aren’t nationally televised. You know exactly where you’re going to watch them. The nationally televised games will be spread across NBC, Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon Prime. Everything else will be available on Arizona’s Family and the Suns Live app. As a consumer, I find that finding Suns games is much easier and far more predictable. Call me old school, but hopping between five different streamers is cumbersome. We don’t have to navigate the confusion the league has created as it tries to squeeze every profitable dollar possible out of each broadcast deal. From that perspective, I’ll take it as a win.
If the Suns want more national exposure, there’s a pretty simple way to get it. Earn it. Make the postseason and stick around for a while, because those games are all nationally televised.
So the Suns are only on national television nine times this season. Who cares? The team can use it as motivation, we know where to find the games, and the ones that ultimately matter most will be played in the postseason. Don’t let it get you down. Although I’m sure it didn’t.
Oceanside, CA - OCTOBER 9: Deonte Burton #4 of the Guangzhou Loong Lions and James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers look on during the game on October 9, 2025 at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California. 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 Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images)
Former Iowa State men’s basketball player Deonte Burton, who played for the Cyclones from 2015 to 2017, will play for NLEX Road Warriors when the PBA season 50 Governors’ Cup resumes in October.
The team made the announcement Friday, following a 112-110 loss to Converge FiberXers.
Road Warriors head coach Jimmy Alapag is “very excited” to have Burton suit up for the team as Alapag coached the Milwaukee native during his time in the Sacramento Kings organization.
Jimmy Alapag is glad that his former player with Stockton and Sacramento, Deonte Burton, will be NLEX’s import when the #PBA50 Governors’ Cup resumes#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/ZmfveYDGyc
In addition to stints with the Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder, Burton has also played for: the Maine Celtics, South Korean teams Wonju DB Promy, Busan KCC Egis and Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters, Mets de Guaynabo and Osos de Manatí in Puerto Rico and Guangzhou Loong Lions in China.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Ariel Hukporti #55 of the New York Knicks and Justin Edwards #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes after a loose ball during the game during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fresh off a massive offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have nearly rebuilt their roster with new additions including LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The spotlight is now on this team as never before, with media scrutiny intensifying. The Liberty Ballers crew weighs in on key questions in this three-part series.
For Part 3, we’re focusing on team construction and depth. From navigating Embiid’s role in a pace-and-space offense to addressing potential weak spots, here’s our crew’s take:
Joel Embiid is still skilled but doesn’t move as quickly as he used to. The rest of the starting five leads the league in transition baskets. How do you expect the group to mesh with this mismatch?
Bryan Toporek: I’m genuinely curious about this, because other than Embiid, the rest of the roster is designed to fly up and down the court. They’ll presumably look to push the pace off any missed basket, but if they can’t score in transition, they’ll slow it down and work Embiid into some half-court actions. Embiid needs to get himself into tip-top shape heading into this season, though.
Sean Kennedy: I think it will work just fine. Joel will concentrate on boxing out and then throwing kick-ahead passes to the other guys in transition. They will streak ahead and if an opportunity doesn’t develop organically, Embiid will saunter into position around the nail or top of the key to run a pick-and-roll or dribble handoff with 16-to-18 seconds still left on the shot clock.
Josh Grieb: I’m not concerned about this at all really. After drafting VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers made it a point to play fast and get out in transition as much as possible last season as well. With the speed in the backcourt and the amount of turnovers they created, they were able to get the ball and run down the floor without Embiid really ever having to.
The only time this pace got disrupted was during Embiid’s prolonged stretches of availability, and the offense would slow down because he was scoring like his old self again, which was just as viable a path to winning games. The Sixers’ backcourt will likely be hunting a lot of turnovers again, and Embiid will likely miss a good chunk of games again. Even when he’s on the floor, I don’t think the Sixers will have much of a problem getting transition baskets.
Drew Peltzman: I believe we will be seeing Embiid at the half-court line for transition buckets, which is fine as long as he is the defensive anchor and rebounder the team will need him to be. If that is not the case, then big man better start running because it will be a track meet around him, and fans will quickly notice if he is literally too slow for this new roster. This may not become prevalent until the playoffs where the attrition sets in, but shooting more trail threes from all over the arc at a good clip could be the biggest change to ingratiate himself in the new offense. Late-career Embiid should embrace becoming a souped up Brook Lopez V2, it is exactly what the team needs.
Harrison Grimm: This is a very real question, but I do think people are overthinking it a bit. Embiid’s been playing in the trailer position pretty much all of his career, and that’s exactly what he’ll do here. Rebounding will be the biggest area to watch. On one hand, he’ll need to protect himself and his body accordingly, but on the other, he’ll need to grab boards and find one of several ball handlers to kick out to and run. I think it can not only work, but work well. Embiid’s favorite spot to shoot from the perimeter is a straight-on three, and he can walk into those with drives and kicks from any of the big name players.
If you divided the starting five into two hypothetical units, which lineup combinations would you want to see featured?
BT: This is an impossible question. Well done!
It’s impossible because there are so many different combinations that could work well together. My initial instinct would be to stagger Maxey and LeBron so the Sixers have a high-level playmaker on the floor at all times, but Maxey and LeBron should also be a deadly pairing together (not to mention the chemistry they’ve already established as offseason workout partners). I would at least keep Maxey and Embiid paired due to Maxey’s shooting ability.
If the Sixers do run out lineups without Maxey, Embiid and LeBron, that means Edgecombe and Brown would have a chance to run the offense on their own for a bit. I’d want Anfernee Simons with that duo to add some shooting, but I do want to see Point VJ at times this year given the playmaking chops he showed as a rookie.
SK: I like the idea of the vet duo of LeBron and Embiid building off their Team USA chemistry and running pick-and-rolls with spot-up shooters off the bench like Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade. I’m sure James could find Joel with some really sweet pocket passes. Then, the other group of Maxey, VJ and Jaylen could be assigned to hound opposing teams on the perimeter and run, run, run as much as possible.
JG: My initial temptation is to group Maxey, Embiid and LeBron together with Brown and Edgecombe as certified dawgs leading the second unit. My concern with that is it shifts nearly all of the passing ability to the first unit.
I think the pairing that might work best is LeBron, Maxey and Edgecombe with Embiid and Brown leading the other group. The two guards can be cutting and screening all over the floor while LeBron runs the show. The other group can pound teams to death with an Embiid/Brown pick-and-roll. Availability will surely determine how Nick Nurse staggers this bunch, but in a perfect world, I think that’s how I’d do it.
DP: I believe you can rotate three different combinations of the starting five throughout the whole game. This would be my ideal playoff rotation: Maxey/VJ/Brown as the remaining starters when the bench comes on. Likely Wade and Bona/Hukporti as the forward and center subs first to get the old guys off the floor. You could run all day and have strong interior defense and rebounding against the opponents bench unit. This would be the time for Edgecombe to eat, and help take the load off Maxey and Brown if necessary.
Then, those three starters exit for LeBron/Embiid/Simons/KCP, Wade stays on with this group. This is a slow and steady group but provides Embiid and LeBron the opportunity to cook with more space and proven role players in Simons, Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Then you bring Brown on for Wade, let him cook with LeBron’s playmaking and Embiid’s gravity helping to distract the defense. Then you bring back Maxey and VJ for a long stretch, and repeat this again in the second half. I would try to avoid LeBron playing with the backup centers as much as possible, if possible.
HG: This isn’t an easy question to answer, which speaks volumes to the talent the Sixers have at their disposal. There’s going to be no shortage of staggering, but if we’re honing in on two specific groups, I’d like to see the first group be something like Maxey, KCP, LeBron, Wade and one of Bona or Hukporti. I think this group could play fast and have no shortage of shooting without sacrificing anything defensively. A big part of surviving when Embiid is off the floor is making do with Hukporti and/or Bona, and to do that, the bulk of their minutes should come alongside LeBron, who can spoon-feed them at the rim.
The other group would be something like Anfernee Simons, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, Barlow and Embiid. This would allow VJ to have plenty of on-ball reps, and this is a good group to compensate for Simons’ defensive problems. You could run plenty of pick-and-rolls with VJ and Brown with Embiid, and Embiid did a good job dishing to Barlow when posted up under the basket. Shooting could potentially be a problem with this group, but you could always swap out Barlow for Wade to provide that floor spacing.
The backup center spot has long been a topic of discussion, and it remains one this season. Are Bona and Hukporti enough to get by if Embiid misses time?
BT: This is easily my biggest area of concern heading into the season.
Can Bona and Hukporti fill in as spot starters at times? Probably. But if Embiid misses significant time, color me skeptical.
The Sixers can always try small-ball units with Barlow or even LeBron at the 5, but they’d be sacrificing a ton of rebounding and rim protection. Those lineups are fine as curveballs, not as something to be routinely relied upon.
I’m guessing that they’ll fill their last two-way spot with another big man just to give themselves more depth at that spot, and their final open roster spot is likely earmarked for a big man in-season as well.
SK: I think those two are enough in the sense that the team has enough talent elsewhere to get by with one position of weakness if and when Joel is out of the lineup for a few games here and there. You’re obviously not going to get a playoff-caliber center option on a minimum deal, so you have to hope the ability to load manage Embiid and take more off his plate with the massive infusion of roster talent can keep him on track to be relatively healthy come the postseason. I would like some sort of stretch-shooting big just to give Nick Nurse another lineup alternative – Kevin Love as a midseason signing, anyone?
JG: This is my second biggest concern, because as it stands, I don’t believe they’re enough to get by a substantial amount of time, especially to win a playoff game or two. Bona’s sophomore season was very up-and-down, and he looked woefully unplayable for large stretches of both playoff series for the Sixers last season.
Hukporti has gotten less opportunity. There’s perhaps a little more hope for development, but a lack of experience isn’t going to help him cut down on fouling immediately. Should Embiid miss a playoff game, I’d be very concerned about the other team being able to use all 12 of Bona and Hukporti’s fouls.
They won’t be able to do anything until halfway through the season, but I will be monitoring the veteran’s minimum and buyout big market closely.
DP: I strongly doubt it will be enough, but I am excited to see what Hukporti can bring to the table. If there’s any trade deadline targets the Sixers go after, I’d imagine it would be a center.
HG: I haven’t sold off my Bona stock yet, but I’m going to need to see much more of him this season. I think Bona and Hukporti are extremely similar in the sense that you want them doing less to provide more. These guys are big frames who play seriously hard, and when you overextend them, things can get wild and they can rack up fouls quick. You want them filling in the gaps, not doing the heavy lifting. I might be in the minority on this one, but those two might be enough if LeBron is mostly available. I do think you can run into problems quickly, however, if LeBron misses a chunk of time or you need to lean on both of them to soak up 48 minutes at the center spot in the event of an Embiid injury.
Knicks fans are feeling new emotions entering a new season this year, coming off the franchise's first championship in 53 years with a solid case for repeating in 2026-27.
Euphoria is at an all-time high, the expectations are less burdened but still there, and the excitement is at a peak after a wild offseason of rival teams chasing New York’s preeminence.
We’re still two months away from tip-off, but the hype kicked off with the season’s schedule release on Thursday.
Let’s dive into all 82 games to take an early glimpse at what the Knicks should expect in defense of their throne this year.
Key Dates
Sept. 29: NBA Training Camps open
Oct. 20: Start of NBA regular season
Dec. 4-5: Emirates NBA Cup 2026 | Knockout Rounds | Quarterfinals
Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9: Emirates NBA Cup 2026 | Knockout Rounds | Semifinals
Dec. 11: Emirates NBA Cup 2026 | Championship | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Feb. 11: NBA Trade Deadline
Feb. 19-21: NBA All-Star 2027 | Phoenix
Feb. 19-24: NBA All-Star break
Top Matchups
Oct. 20 vs Phi.
Opening night has never been more special, as the Knicks receive their 2026 championship rings, before suiting up to play the rebuilt 76ers. This is not the team they eliminated from two of the last three postseasons, after acquiring Jaylen Brown via trade and LeBron James in free agency.
NBA Cup Games
Oct. 30 @ Philadelphia 76ers
Nov. 13 @ Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles tear as the Knicks test themselves against the one teams they failed to overcome in their hunt for a chip.
Nov. 2 vs Brooklyn Nets
Julius Randle dons a Nets jersey at MSG for the first time, returning to the city that made him a perennial All-Star.
Nov. 25 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
New York has had Cleveland’s number, but the Cavs won’t go quietly after an embarrassing Conference Finals sweep.
Nov. 27 vs Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo pays a visit to Madison Square Garden for the first time in his new Heat uniform, as the Knicks face a potential new contender in the East.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots the ball past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the first half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center / Geoff Burke - Imagn Images
Dec. 25 vs San Antonio Spurs
A Christmas Day NBA Finals rematch, what more could fans ask for? Victor Wembanyama and co. will be out to prove they’ve ascended beyond last June’s performance.
Feb. 13 vs Golden State Warriors
We don’t have many more chances to watch Stephen Curry play at Madison Square Garden, so fans of the quixotic shooter will have this date circled on their calendars.
Easiest stretches
New York doesn’t boast any especially easy stretches playing in a packed division and conference with their longest home stand coming in at five games. They do open the season with seven of their first 11 games at home, though, with two against Chicago, plus Brooklyn and Milwaukee on the docket letting them start the year with a little victory lap.
From Jan. 11 through the end of the month, the Knicks play nine of 11 games at home with only one back-to-back -- this stretch includes a number of visiting West teams, but few pushovers.
Late March provides them another reprieve, with five of six games at home and the one road game just a stone’s throw away in Washington D.C. They play the Wizards twice plus the Pelicans and Kings in this stretch, giving them a potential nice boost to playoff seeding down the stretch.
Toughest stretches
New York was given a brutal holiday schedule, kicking off in December with two road games before pivoting into the NBA Cup tournament action. From there, they play five more road games before finally returning home in time for games every other day through the end of the month, including their Christmas matinee.
And it doesn’t stop there, as the Knicks go back on the road on Dec. 30 to launch a six-game West Coast trip with a though back-to-back. In all, they play 13 of 16 games away from home for a month and a week, not including Cup games.
This part of the schedule will definitely test this team, which had a similar stretch last year in which they won the NBA Cup and went on a killer winning streak, before completely flaming out for the next 11 games.
With all of the trophies they were able to secure last season, perhaps they will be able to find a way to carry through this intense stretch with less of a boom-and-bust approach.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 18: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks looks on during the New York Knicks 2026 Championship Parade and Ceremony on June 18, 2026 in New York City, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I was vacationing in Bar Harbor, Maine, with my father and youngest son when a bizarre email crossed my phone. A marketing company was offering me ten minutes with OG Anunoby. The Knicks’ star forward had partnered with the water brand Essentia and would be making the promotional rounds in two days. Would I be available to chat?
There are circumstances in which you decline an interview while on vacation—especially one spent introducing your father to an aunt he’d never met—but passing up ten minutes with OG would be a criminal dereliction of duty. Also, full disclosure: Anunoby is my favorite Knick, and the 12-year-old fanboy in me was short circuiting a little bit. Ten minutes isn’t much time, though, and my head filled with all the questions I might squeeze in.
Ogugua “OG” Anunoby was born in London in 1997 to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent. His mother, Grace, a national-level track and field athlete in Nigeria, died of cancer when he was one. At four, OG moved with his father, a university professor, and six siblings to Jefferson City, Missouri. His older brother Chigbo later played in the NFL. OG gave up football for basketball around age eight, starred at Jefferson City High School, and went on to Indiana University. Despite a major knee injury, the Toronto Raptors selected him 23rd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. On December 30, 2023, the Raptors traded Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick.
Unlike some athletes and celebrities who divulge everything about themselves for attention, OG remains an enigma. Little is known about his life off the court and on it, he carries himself like a Zen master. He rarely displays his passions during games. When he tipped in Jalen Brunson’s miss to complete a 29-point comeback and seal Game Four of this year’s Finals, the play was instantly minted as iconic. Anunoby, who scored 33 points that night, simply smiled while his teammates and the Garden exploded in ecstasy.
In nine seasons, Anunoby has received just nine technical fouls. Consider the following exchange with Desmond Bane, which is about as riled up as OG gets. The musclebound Magic guard wound up and rifled the basketball at a defenseless OG, who responded with a mild shove and a perplexed, “What was that?” Moments later, they were smiling and joking, and the game resumed as if nothing had happened.
He operates the same in interviews. Given a question, he provides a concise reply that satisfies the basic requirements of answering it without betraying any of his inner mechanisms. The dude takes open-ended queries and slams them shut like a book—and I suspect he draws some secret amusement from it. Maybe in a longer sit-down, the two-time All-Defensive player and future Hall of Famer might reveal another layer of the onion. With ten minutes, I was handcuffed. Perhaps another time I can ask something meaty, like how the death of his father in September 2018 affected him during that championship season, or what lessons he learned from Kawhi Leonard. For now, I loaded up some softballs and hit the field.
In typical OG fashion, he appeared in my Zoom window with the hood of his tan sweatshirt pulled up.
Russell: How’s your day going?
OG: Good. How about you?
[Self-consciously noticing that his voice is higher than usual] It’s been a long day. But Essentia is the reason we’re talking today. What made the partnership a good fit for you?
It’s my favorite thing to drink. It’s my go-to drink. It keeps me hydrated the best.
Can you tell me about the Supercharged Court in Times Square? What interested you about being part of that project?
It seemed like a good thing to do for the fans, to give back to the community.
You’re clearly invested in growing basketball in England, from your camp to the court project near King’s Cross. What do you think the NBA can do to grow its European audience—more afternoon games, overseas games, or something else?
More afternoon games, overseas games, sure. I think once NBA Europe starts in two years, the interest will grow.
Editor’s note: The NBA and FIBA are working toward launching a new European league, potentially as soon as the 2027–28 season.
Do you prefer matinee or night games?
Hmm. I like day games, but it depends on a number of things. Travel, if it’s a back-to-back. Those sorts of things.
The Knicks were healthier during this championship run than they had been in previous seasons. Was there anything you did differently to prepare, recover, or manage the grind of the season?
Just put in the time to take care of myself.
Everyone talks about your unflappable composure. Where does that come from? Is that just your temperament, or is it something you’ve worked at?
I’ve always been pretty calm, even as a kid. It’s just who I am.
Like anyone, you must experience highs and lows in life. Is it difficult to compartmentalize your personal life when you’re in the spotlight and trying to focus on being a professional athlete?
Everyone goes through things that you don’t know about. But it’s no different than anyone else going to work. You just do your job and try to stay focused.
What do you do to maintain those personal and professional boundaries?
[Shrug] Yeah, I dunno. Try to stay focused.
[Experiencing flop-sweat] I won’t ask about the tip-in, because I’m sure you’ve talked that to death.
Mmm.
[Anxiously checks time] The schedule just dropped. Are there any games you are specifically looking forward to? The Spurs rematch?
Not really. I do look for the Toronto games, so I know when I can connect with my people there.
Are you working on any specific part of your game that you want to improve this offseason?
Every part of my game. All of it.
Everything?
I’m working on everything, to be the best teammate I can be and help us continue to win.
Can you recall your first reaction when you found out you were going to the Knicks?
I was shocked. I had no idea that I would be traded. It came out of nowhere.
There was no hint of that happening ahead of time?
None. It was a surprise, really.
You won a championship in Toronto. What was different about winning one in New York?
Both franchises had gone a long time without winning—I think Toronto had never won, and the Knicks had gone 53 years. So, it felt great to be able to end those streaks. And with New York, I was able to play more.
Right, weren’t you out with an injury during the 2019 playoffs?
[Directly into the camera] Not really. I just didn’t get to play.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Russell gets confused here because his notes say that OG Anunoby missed the entire 2019 championship run due to an emergency appendectomy performed just days before the playoffs started. Although he eventually dressed for the NBA Finals, he did not appear in any games.
Does defending a title feel different from chasing one?
Well, we’re still chasing it, you know?
Right. When you retire from playing basketball, what hobbies or career do you think you might pursue?
That’s a good question. I haven’t really thought about that, actually. I’m having so much fun playing basketball that I haven’t given any thought to what I would do next.
You wouldn’t train to become a professional ukulele player?
Not ukulele. I’ll have to think about this.
Do you play any instruments?
No, no. I used to play the violin for . . . hmm. Six years?
Maybe you could play the national anthem before a game?
[Shrug]
[Embarrassing nervous chuckle as the moderator gives a ‘hook’ sign] Last question. What is something nobody ever asks but you would love to talk about?
[Suddenly growing animated] There’s nothing I haven’t been asked. I’ve been asked everything! I’ve literally been asked everything! There is nothing I haven’t been asked.
And with that, our time was up. Just when it felt like I’d hit a vein, too. It was foolish to hope OG would reveal some newsworthy morsel in ten pressurized minutes. Still, I learned that he played the violin for six years, checks the schedule for trips to Toronto, was genuinely blindsided by the trade to New York, and has given almost no thought to life after basketball because he’s having too much fun playing it. For a man who can unravel the best of interviewers, that felt like a decent haul.
Thanks again for giving us your time, OG. And drink Essentia, Knicks fans.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after making a basket at the buzzer to end the second quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2025-26 player reviews! The series will look at the players who finished the season with the San Antonio Spurs on guaranteed contracts and who played consequential minutes and/or a vital role (so no two-way players because we hardly saw them this year, no players who were traded away, and none of the deep bench centers, since they were both irrelevant and are now all gone).
At first glance, these numbers may look low for Devin Vassell. It’s the fewest points per game he’s scored since his second season in the league and a seemingly big drop after averaging 18 ppg over the last three seasons. However, not only has his role changed, but it’s also worth taking a moment to remember back to a year ago, when questions loomed about his offensive consistency (especially in a non-dominant role), tendency to disappear for long stretches, and untapped defensive potential.
Fast-forward to today, and not only did Vassell put all those concerns to rest this season, but he did it despite moving from second, sometimes third to fourth option in the starting unit. Part of it could be that the “lesser” role lowered expectations, or his flashier teammates made us forget about him at times, but the fact remains that he filled the exact role the Spurs needed him to on both ends of the court, and he did it on a consistent basis.
Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle may have been ahead of him in the pecking order, but Vassell was the perfect relief valve for when the defense over-committed to them or the offense broke down, in part because he possesses something much of the roster lacks: a solid midrange and pull-up game. He was the best player in the main rotation shooting 50% from from 10-16 ft, he doesn’t have to get to the hoop or be open from three to score, and he can create his own shot in a pinch. Even so, the majority of his shots came from three, where defenders often forget about him, and he made them pay a very respectable rate.
On defense, he was consistent and didn’t fall asleep on assignments while finally putting that 6’10” wingspan to good use. Players had to work to get around him, just to be met by the best shot blocker in the league when they did, and while Vassell is not a blocking machine himself (not many wings are), he had many impressive ones, especially in the playoffs when the Spurs needed him the most. (The Jaylen Williams and Chet Holgren ones immediately come to mind.) Speaking of which, he was also one of the few players who was consistent throughout the playoffs and especially the Finals, scoring efficiently in double digits in all but two postseason games.
There’s really nothing to criticize about Vassell’s season. He was quietly confident in his role and didn’t complain about it, but instead did all the little things that don’t always show up in the box score but make all the difference, such as setting screens, keep moving and contest shots. This is the solid, consistent version of him we’ve all been waiting for, and he was rewarded by being a starter on a team that went to the Finals.
Looking ahead
When Vassell first signed his rookie extension of 5 years, $146 million, there was sticker shock over its value since it made him the highest-paid Spur ever at the time. Of course, it was an overreaction when remembering the cap explosion that has taken place under Adam Silver and that the same money simply wasn’t available in Tim Duncan’s time, but Vassell still proved his worth this year on a contract that, by today’s standards, matches his status as a Top 50-75 player. (For reference, had Wemby accepted the supermax, it would have been worth more than double Vassell’s contract.)
Like Keldon Johnson, Vassell is the only other “gap era” Spur remaining on the roster and part of the shrinking “middle class” of the NBA (what I consider players who are signed for more than the midlevel exception but decently less than the max). As more young Spurs come up for rookie extensions, Vassell will continue to be tied to trade rumors, but the Spurs’ hope is likely to retain him because he is the exact type of role player a contender needs: an all-around player who doesn’t need the ball much but can do anything once he has it. (If I had to guess, when/if the Spurs eventually do need to dump salary, Fox would go before Vassell due to positional overlap, but that’s just my own hunch.)
In the meantime, Vassell needs to keep doing what he did this season and show that he is not superfluous with the rest of the roster. He managed to separate himself from the guard trio by showing he could play as a wing on both ends of the floor, creating his own niche on team. He doesn’t have to put up flashy numbers, but just fill the role that is asked of him and do it consistently, and this season, he showed he could do just that.
(One more thing: can someone please tell opposing and national announcers it’s pronounced “VUH-sell”? The amount of times I heard him called “Vastle” was ridiculous, especially considering he’s been in the league for six years now.)
Top Performance
Nov. 28 at Denver Nuggets: 35 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 7-9 from three
Not that anyone cares that much about the NBA Cup — maybe it’s cool when you advance, like the Spurs did — but the game that clinched their spot in the quarterfinals was one of their most thrilling of the season and by far Vassell’s best. Down Wemby and Castle, he led the way against a generally full-strength Nuggets club (which he’s has a knack for over the years, they must consider him a Nuggets killer by now) in another early-season sign that these Spurs were for real.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks in action during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on April 03, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can a new situation improve performance?
According to Lukas Nicot, a French journalist who’s followed Zaccharie Risacher since he was a teenager in the French club ASVEL, he is in a much better position with the Dallas Mavericks than he was during his first two years in Atlanta.
“In Dallas, I think he’ll feel much more comfortable. The team is much better structured,” Nicot said.
“I think that in Atlanta, his relationship with Trae Young was good, but the team lacked a real structure. Since the beginning of his career, whether at ASVEL or Bourg-en-Bresse, he has always played within a framework, with clearly defined roles.”
MONACO, MONACO – FEBRUARY 10: Donta Hall, #45 of AS Monaco and Zaccharie Risacher, #10 of LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne in action during the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 24 game between AS Monaco and LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne at Salle Gaston Medecin on February 10, 2023 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
The situation in Atlanta was not ideal for Risacher, and it’s become pretty clear that we have not seen his full NBA potential yet. Being drafted with the number one pick did not really set him up for success either, Nicot points out.
“I don’t think being the number one pick in the draft helped him. He’s a player who needs to set goals for himself and work toward them step by step. Being drafted that high comes with expectations and the pressure to live up to them right away, which can be difficult — even more so for a player who isn’t American.”
In Dallas, Lukas Nicot notes, Risacher isn’t coming in to transform everything, but rather to add something to the team. That could help him to perform much better.
“He won’t be the only young, high-potential player anymore. Having [Cooper] Flagg in the locker room will be good for him.”
The 6’8, 200 lbs small forward had a disappointing start to his NBA career in Atlanta. After being drafted with the number one pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2024, he failed to earn the trust of head coach Quin Snyder and fell out of the rotation at times. He never really lived up to expectations, which had fans and media asking whether he wasn’t actually as good as advertised.
Last month, the 21-year-old Frenchman from Lyon was traded to Dallas in a three-team trade, sending Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and Risacher to Dallas.
And Risacher – or Zacch as he is affectionately called by his countrymen – is a high-level defender, a talent very much needed by the Mavs right now. In France, they hope that Risacher can develop to be the type of player that can take over from Nicolas Batum on the French French national team. A strong defender and a reliable three-point shooter.
KATOWICE, POLAND – AUGUST 31: Zaccharie Risacher of France goes up for a shot during the Group D FIBA Eurobasket 2025 game between Israel v France at Spodek Arena on August 31, 2025 in Katowice, Poland. (Photo by Dragana Stjepanovic/FIBA via Getty Images) | FIBA via Getty Images
“He’s a hard worker,” Lukas Nicot says, “he has good shooting ability and athletic qualities that his father Stéphane didn’t have.”
Risacher’s dad, Stéphane Risacher, was a pro basketball player in Europe and a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney with France.
But Risacher is also a very smart basketball player with a high basketball IQ, something that runs in the family. His whole family is involved in basketball: His dad, his sister Ainhoa, who plays professionally for ASVEL, and his mom, who works in the media.
According to Lukas Nicot, Risacher really has everything you need to succeed in the NBA. But as with almost all young players, the mental aspect is the next step in his development.
“The mental side will be the key to his success in the NBA and with the French national team. If he can take that next step mentally, he could become a very good second-in-command player, alongside a franchise player,” Nicot says.
A very promising player assessment for a team that has maybe the best veteran mentor in the business – Kyrie Irving – who’s incredibly strong mentally, and has been known to help players develop that specific skill.
Maybe the question isn’t so much whether a new situation can help improve performance. Maybe the question is rather whether a second chance, trust and fit can help a player feel comfortable enough to embrace the moment.
Improving a situation for a player can transform an NBA career. With less pressure, more mentorship, being next to a franchise star and a coach who might put him in a better position, we all may be in for a surprise here.
Zaccharie Risacher has a lot to prove and Dallas could just be the place for him to take that next step and show why he was a number one pick to begin with.
Oct 14, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fans during a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Cleveland won 34-24. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The recent history of the Cleveland Browns has been full of sadness upon sadness upon embarrassment. Even despite the Browns two playoff appearances under former HC Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland once again embarks on a new coaching staff, hoping to find that elusive winning formula that can last into the next decade and into the new domed stadium.
Browns fans have been a lot like the make believe Richmond soccer team from “Ted Lasso,” in that hope is not found and any time they’ve had it, the hope has killed them:
That uncertainty is reflected in expectations for the season. Nearly two-thirds of Browns fans (65%) predict their team will finish with just four to six wins, while 19% expect seven to nine wins and 15% believe they’ll manage just three wins or fewer.
Of note, only the Baltimore Ravens are found in the Top 10 of hopeful fanbases with the other three AFC North teams ranked 18th or below.
What do you think of these “hope” rankings? Pretty fitting given the talent on the teams near the bottom?
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: Head Coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Serbian tactician fits seamlessly with Toronto’s developmental direction and its win-now aspiration
When Darko Rajakovic took the helm in the summer of 2023, most viewed his hiring as an indication of redirection, given the imminent and eventual departures of franchise favourites, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby. Three years later, the Raptors just made their win-now move and acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers, albeit amid the ongoing investigation. Pairing Scottie Barnes with a generational superstar like Leonard suddenly opened a contention window for Toronto, and it is not one they will be wasting.
Given the immense expectations surrounding this squad’s success, head coach Rajakovic will be subject to as much scrutiny as anyone on this team. History has shown us that tacticians with no prior track record will always incur skepticism from fans and media alike, especially for a team of this calibre. Take Nick Nurse as an example. He was a long-time assistant coach of the Raptors before getting a promotion, but his achievement was overshadowed by the sentiments shared regarding the firing of that year’s Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey – some dismayed, others frustrated.
Nurse’s tactics were unconventional, to say the least, going to the extent of implementing high-school defensive schemes, like the Box-and-One, in an NBA Finals game, which actually paid dividends. Nurse’s hard-nosed, no-nonsense coaching style worked for that Raptors’ iteration, which was composed mostly of seasoned players who were receptive and thick-skinned enough to endure his criticisms.
The Raptors, however, are not constructed the way they used to be anymore, and they needed a new voice to command them. Nurse was let go because of a strained relationship with management and the seemingly unadaptable style that he infused within the young group.
Rajakovic is a well-renowned developmental coach who most notably groomed the newly dispersed Memphis Grizzlies core, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane being two of them. With an aging Leonard, surrounded by one of the NBA’s youngest rosters, there is no better coach to handle this team than Rajakovic. He is not new when it comes to refining raw talent that’ll fit seamlessly around Leonard, in hopes of winning another championship for Toronto.
Rajakovic’s Committee Approach
The main concern with the impending acquisition of Leonard has been what it has always been since his first stint almost eight years ago, and during his run with the Clippers — his load management. Assuming the trade pushes through, Leonard, now 35, will look to preserve his physical condition for the postseason, given his history with injuries. This creates a perfect scenario wherein Leonard can offload the pressure of playing heavy minutes night-in, night-out, at the same time build familiarity with Rajakovic’s system and chemistry with his teammates.
Rajakovic’s brand of coaching extends beyond his knack of unlocking players’ potential; however, the foundation of his philosophy remains in every facet of commanding a basketball team. From utilizing a deep 10-man rotation to reverting from Nurse’s effective but high-risk defensive tactics, one thing sits at its core — his preference for a committee approach.
The Raptors dished the third most assists, on average, at 29.2 per game, as Rajakovic hammered on making quick decisions with the ball, earning itself the nickname of “0.5 Offence.” Anchored in this philosophy, his players adapted instinctive cutting and constant off-the-ball movement to generate open looks, as this offence prefers high-percentage shots.
Where Nurse went all out, Darko went conservative. While Nurse was known to deploy aggressive defensive schemes, which required well-coordinated on-ball pressure, Rajakovic required only one on-ball defender across the half-court before settling to play half-court defence. It might not generate as many live-ball turnovers as Nurse did, but it also mitigates risks like leaving the corner open and allowing wide-open layups.
Due to availability concerns and player movement, Nurse made use of a traditional nine/ten-man rotation for the regular season, but narrowed it down to a condensed eight-man pool, with the starting five logging heavy minutes for every contest during their 2019 title run. On the contrary, Rajakovic kept a constant nine-man rotation in the postseason to allow himself personnel flexibility on matchups, given the injuries to Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram.
Assuming Kawhi becomes a Raptor, Rajakovic’s committee approach constructs a competitive roster that’ll accompany him in his quest for a second title, given its current state. Unlike seven years ago, this Raptors’ squad is one of the NBA’s youngest, but is also one of its most promising and emerging groups among the bunch. The inclusion of highly touted young talents like Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles meant that a reunion with Kawhi seemed more imminent than not.
Leonard was not who he was when he first got here, so is the team. With the right group of guys, a driving force like Leonard, and a coach to weave the pieces together, the Raptors might just be able to figure out a way to make it work and win the championship a second time.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks over his dry erase board during a timeout during a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How do you eat a whale? Well, in this case, the 82-game gauntlet of an NBA season. The old adage is to approach the NBA season game-by-game, but it’s always helpful to look at it in chunks, just like the team’s equipment manager might when planning road trips and homestands. In that spirit, let’s try and predict the Celtics record.
at Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls: The Celtics kick off the entire NBA season with an opener in Motor City on Tuesday, October 20th with an odd 3 pm EST tip-off. Maybe that’s for an international audience. Regardless, that’s the #1 and #2 seed from last year ushering in the new year of hoops. Boston is then rewarded with a four-game homestand that includes a visit from the defending champs and a 4-1 start to get 2026-2027 rolling.
at Orlando Magic, at Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, at Charlotte Hornets, at Milwaukee Bucks, at Philadelphia 76ers, at Toronto Raptors: If you take a 30,000-foot view of the schedule, it’s a lot of long homestands and road trips. Thankfully, the Celtics rank 20th in miles travelled for the entire year. This roadie includes Boston’s first look at Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and the 76ers — after facing them twice in the preseason — and some of the upstarts in the East with Orlando and Toronto on the docket. Going above-.500 would put Boston at around 8-4.
Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, at Denver Nuggets, at Sacramento Kings, at Golden State Warriors, at Washington Wizards: Boston has 16 back-to-backs next season, tied for most in the league with the Nets and Pelicans. Two of them are part of this five-games-in-eight-nights stretch with the team making their first foray into California. 12-6 with nearly a quarter of the season under their belt.
On the flip side, some positives:
👍Lots of holiday games: Black Friday, Xmas, NYD, MLK Day, Valentine's Day, Easter 👍Scheduled to be on road for only 5 days of December 👍2x homestands of 6+ games 👍4 of first 5 are at home 👍C's will be home for Thanksgiving & Xmas!
Atlanta Hawks, at San Antonio Spurs, at Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets: Hosting the Hawks wraps up the Celtics’ NBA Cup four-game regular season. It’s a group of up-and-comers that also includes the Hornets, Bulls, and Wizards. Boston should rep Group C in the playoff round with a 3-1 record in group play and an overall 15-7.
*Let’s go out on a limb and say the Celtics raise Banner 18.5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and get to 17-7, too.
at Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers: A seven-game homestand that includes waking up in their own bed for Christmas is such a treat for NBA players. It also has the only home-and-home on the schedule with hometown hero A.J. Dybantsa visiting TD Garden with the Wizards. A strong showing pushes Boston to 24-8 before the new year.
From Dec. 14 until Jan. 29, the Celtics will play:
– Seven straight home games – Then six straight road games – Then nine of their next 10 at home https://t.co/rNRBAA3mgn
at Chicago Bulls, at Utah Jazz, at Portland Trail Blazers, at Phoenix Suns, at Los Angeles Lakers, at Los Angeles Clippers: This marks the Odyssey portion of the schedule. This six-game road trip marks the longest of the year with CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell ranking it the most difficult:
The Celtics haven’t had a 6-game road trip since March of 2025, when they became the first team in franchise history to go a perfect 6-0 in one road trip. They’ll look to replicate that success this winter when they face three Western Conference playoff teams from last year, and a Jazz squad that could be much-improved. The Bulls and Clippers should be easier outs, but there’s no telling how competitive this road trip will end up being.
There are some tough outs, but really, their biggest opponent might just be fatigue and monotony as the NBA gauntlet nears the halfway point. A split gets the Celtics to 27-11.
Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, at Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns: Home sweet home with nine of the next ten games at the Garden. Next year, the NBA trade deadline is on February 11th. The Celtics and their front office will have a long runway in January to see just how good this team is and what holes need to be plugged. There’s just one back-to-back that includes Brown’s homecoming on the 21st. 34-14.
at Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, at Charlotte Hornets, at Atlanta Hawks, at Philadelphia 76ers: Boston won’t leave the Eastern Standard Time zone for this road trip, but I’ll predict a bit of a mid-year stumble to drop them to 36-17.
Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, at Oklahoma City, at Memphis Grizzlies: Another homestand, a few battles against the West’s elite before the All-Star break, and the aforementioned trade deadline.
If the Celtics are 39-20 at this point, it’s most likely that President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens doesn’t make a big move that might disrupt the chemistry of the team…or he’s made a big trade to push them over the top. Let’s operate the rest of the way as if a deal was made on the edges, but nothing big with the team relatively healthy. Fingers crossed.
Celtics will have 27 nationally televised games this season:
Cleveland Cavaliers, at Minnesota Timberwolves, at Indiana Pacers, at Detroit Pistons: The Celtics have their first three-game losing streak of the season. 40-23 has them in the hunt to host a first round series in April.
Philadelphia 76ers, at Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, at New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, New Orleans Pelicans, at Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs: This might be the most consequential stretch of the year with games against title contenders and bottom feeders. The Celtics will have to at least split games against the 76ers, Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs and take care of business with the Grizzlies, Kings, Pelicans, and Nets to really be considered one of the elites. 47-26.
at Miami Heat, at New Orleans Pelicans, at Indiana Pacers, at Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, at New York Knicks, at Orlando Magic, at Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks: Last season, the Celtics finished with 56 wins to clinch the 2nd seed. Their final kick this year will include seven of their last nine games on the road with visits to Miami, Indiana, Cleveland, New York, Orlando, and Atlanta — all teams predicted to be in the playoff mix. Optimistically, 52-30 would be a strong season for this team which would have made them #4 last year.
