ATLANTA, GA MARCH 01: North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts reacts following the conclusion of the college basketball game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on March1st, 2025 at Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We still have to wait just a little over a month before UNC plays their first meaningful basketball game in the Dean Smith Center, but the anticipation is agonizing. With a brand new squad, a brand new coach, and brand new overall energy in the building, it is hard to keep focus on everything else going on in Chapel Hill. Now that the Heels have had their official practice of the season, there have been some sources that have given first impressions of what they saw or have heard, but there was one guy that I did not expect to hear from, and that is former NC State head coach Kevin Keatts.
Many readers likely know this already, but Keatts hung up his whistle in favor of a gig with ESPN. He ended up creating a practice report from the first UNC practice, and here is what he had to say:
Got a first look at Coach Malone's first team in Chapel Hill. Fast, deep, and they can protect the rim. @UNC_Basketball is built to play uptempo and it shows. pic.twitter.com/sBBCLV32tq
“Mike Malone’s first team at UNC will feature speed, playmakers, and rim protection. Really like the play and leadership of Utah transfer Terrence Brown. Neo Avdalas and Jarin Stevenson have ACC experience and great size at both forward positions. Remember the name Sayon Keita, an elite shot blocker. UNC is built to play uptempo this season.”
Everything that Keatts has had to say tracks with other things that we’ve been hearing this week. It sounds like Michael Malone plans to play with a lot of tempo, which is not shocking given his NBA pedigree. It’s also interesting that Keatts highlighted Sayon Keita, because there has been a lot of talk about how raw the former international player is. That isn’t to say that he isn’t raw — he is certainly a work in progress, and the team is hoping to have Cameron Fens’ eligibility issue cleared up so that he can potentially start — but saying “elite shot blocker” for a raw player is intriguing. It’s hard not to get excited knowing that there may be a Caleb Wilson supplement on the team, because it will be hard to achieve what they want to achieve without some reliable rim protection.
Another interesting note from Keatts was his appreciation for the play and leadership of Utah transfer, Terrence Brown. It really seems like Brown had to play a certain role with the Utes that made him seem like more of a ball-dominant guard rather than a playmaker, but he mentioned on the Carolina Insider podcast that he wants to prove himself as a playmaker this year. It’s still unclear as to who will be the lead facilitator for this team between him and Neo Avdalas, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the two split duties in some manner.
I appreciate Kevin Keatts giving his thoughts about the team, even if he stopped short of giving his prediction for the season. What do you think of Keatts’ assessment, and also, what do you think of all the other intel that has been shared over the last few days from other outlets? Let us know in the comments below.
Is it a bit much to say Sixers fans were confident heading into this Game 7? Maybe it is given Philadelphia’s reputation as postseason choke artists that was built up in the Embiid era. However, the Sixers had all the momentum in their opening round series against Boston this past spring heading into the decisive game. They had already won twice at TD Garden, including Game 2 in convincing fashion without Embiid. Their victory in Game 6 was a dominant performance that left no doubt they could win the series, a stunning turn of events from a Game 4 blowout loss that saw them go down 3-1 in the series.
Then, Jayson Tatum was ruled out for the Celtics just before tipoff. Things were building towards a seminal moment for both Embiid and the entire organization. Everyone knew this was more than just a first-round playoff series given the opponent and the deficit the Sixers were looking to overcome. Once the game started, it looked like Game 6 had never ended. The Sixers led 32-19 after one quarter and unsurprisingly, Embiid dominated the first 12 minutes. The big man had 10 of his 34 points in the first period and it was clear that he was making a concerted effort to score in the paint where Boston didn’t have an answer for him.
After playing all 12 minutes of the first quarter, Embiid did take a brief rest in the second quarter, but the Sixers still led by five points at halftime, an outcome they certainly would have signed up for at the beginning of the game. The second quarter also featured a signature defensive play for Embiid who had his lone block just prior to halftime on Jaylen Brown.
He only played about half of the third quarter, but Embiid was very efficient coming out of the locker room going 3-of-4 from the field in the quarter and getting five of his 12 rebounds in the seven minutes of action he got in the third.
Of course, his scoring efforts were consistent, but it was the rebounding and passing in this one that really made it feel special for Embiid. He was involving his teammates, denying the Celtics of lots of second chances and the rest of the team was rallying behind him. The game was also remembered for the horrendous shooting of the Celtics as Boston went a pitiful 13-of-49 from the three-point line.
In typical Sixers fashion, the team found a way to quickly wash away the rally from 3-1 down against Boston by getting swept out of the second round against the Knicks in the following series. However, with a highly-anticipated 2026-27 starting soon, now feels like a good time to remember the best moment of the 2025-26 season, Embiid’s finest thus far as a Sixer.
Stanford outlasted Georgia Tech Saturday, Sept. 26, in an offensive shootout at Stanford Stadium that could prove to be momentum-building for the Cardinal as they get their first ACC win of the season.
The Cardinal completely flipped the switch in the second half against Georgia Tech, showing up as a different team from their last two outings against Miami and Duke when they were outscored by a combined score of 80-13.
Stanford was headed in a similar direction after the first half. They faced a 20-10 deficit after allowing a field goal and touchdown on consecutive possessions in the opening quarter. The Cardinal defense had trouble early with Georgia Tech's offense led by Alberto Mendoza, the younger brother Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft Pick. But Stanford (2-2, 1-2 ACC) outscored Georgia Tech (1-3, 0-1) 17-0 in the third quarter.
"The big message to our team this week was improve, was be the best at getting better, and we were really focused in practice of just having a phenomenal week of practice and doing our best to make sure that showed up in the game because I felt like the two weeks before Duke we practiced well, and that obviously didn't translate to the field like we wanted it to, and I thought this week it did more," coach Tavita Pritchard told reporters.
The Cardinal won 34-27 to get back to .500 on the season under their first-year head coach. Here's what we learned in Stanford vs. Georgia Tech:
Winners
Bounce back for Stanford QB Davis Warren
Cardinal quarterback Davis Warren finished with a career-high 396 passing yards on 22-of-36 passes and three touchdowns.
It was the bounce-back game that he needed. He threw for more yards against Georgia Tech Saturday than his previous two weeks against Duke and Miami. Warren looked poised practically all game and he didn't commit any turnovers.
It was the type of game he needed for his confidence moving forward as he leads Stanford in the tough ACC that includes Wake Forest and No. 3-ranked Notre Dame in the next two weeks.
Stanford get defensive in third quarter
Stanford clamped down as soon as the third quarter began. Whatever Pritchard said in the locker room at halftime work magically. For that 15 minutes period, the Cardinal looked like a completely different team. They forced turnovers, created pressure in the backfield and limited the Yellow Jackets' time of possession.
"You think about the second half, and a week ago we were down seven. We came out. We know how that game finished, but this week we came out and we were down 10, and that ended up being a 24-0 run, you know, to start the second half," Pritchard said. "I was really proud of the way our guys our guys came out with a concerted effort to start that half well. Defense got stops, offense finished and capitalized opportunities that we had to go punch it in the end zone. And yeah, again, was proud of the way our guys strained and finished."
When they go back over film and discuss the right way to do things, the third quarter of that game will likely have many appearances.
"I think we can finish finish the game a little bit better," he added. "But again, that's on me to make sure that we are coaching all those points down to every situation to make sure we can put the game away when it's there for us."
They continued to play lock-down defense into the fourth, but Georgia Tech had life at the end until a game-sealing interception from junior cornerback Brandon Nicholson.
Tavita Pritchard gets first ACC win
Pritchard was searching for his first ACC win after getting trounced by Miami and Duke in back-to-back weeks. It was a short honeymoon after his first-win as a head coach. That's why this is a positive takeaway for the first-year coach. There were adjustments made from week-to-week and it showed as the Cardinal offense looked alive.
"We still had some spots, and we have some spots that we can get better, that we can improve. But was proud of the way, especially that our guys finished the game," Pritchard said.
LOSERS
Georgia Tech QB Alberto Mendoza
Quarterback Alberto Mendoza started his first collegiate game against Stanford. Although his Yellow Jackets couldn't come up with the win, there were bright spots for Mendoza. He showed signs of accuracy and athleticism, however he made one too many attempts to keep the play alive, resulting in worse outcomes for Georgia Tech: once for a penalty, another for a turnover. To make matters worse, it was late in the game.
Overall, Mendoza finished with 26-of-39 for 268 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He'll have plenty more opportunities to be better.
Late-game Stanford injury
Georgia Tech just finished a 22-yard run gain and were gaining momentum until Stanford cornerback Brandon Nicholson put the nail in the coffin. The next play after the big gain, Nicholson read a pass from Mendoza, intercepting the first-time starter to practically seal the deal.
Unfortunately, Nicholson was injured while making the turnover play. He was checked on by Stanford athletic trainers, coach Pritchard and general manager Andrew Luck as he was helped off the turf and was carted off the field.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Desmond Bane #3 of the Orlando Magic drives past Max Christie #00 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of an NBA game at American Airlines Center on April 03, 2026 in Dallas, 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 Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orlando Magic are good.
That is what makes their offseason so interesting.
They won 45 games last year despite missing Franz Wagner for most of the season, then took a 3-1 lead on Detroit in the first round before losing three straight games and getting eliminated in Game 7. Instead of responding by changing the roster, Orlando mostly chose continuity.
The biggest personnel addition was Nikola Vučević.
The biggest actual change was on the bench.
Orlando Magic: Over/Under 43.5 wins
Over: -125 Under: -105 To win NBA Championship: +4000 To win Eastern Conference: +1500 To win Southeast Division: +220
Last season: 45-37, eighth in the East, lost in the first round
Key additions: Nikola Vučević, Izaiyah Nelson Key losses: Moritz Wagner, Jett Howard Coaching change: Sean Sweeney replaces Jamahl Mosley
The case for the under
My concern with Orlando isn’t that I dislike the roster.
It is that almost everyone around them became more aggressive.
Miami added Giannis. Atlanta got significantly deeper. Philadelphia added an absurd amount of talent. New York is coming off a championship. Detroit won 60 games last season. Boston, Cleveland, Toronto, and Indiana all still expect to compete. Even within Orlando’s own division, Miami and Atlanta both made bigger moves.
Orlando basically brought back the same team.
That can work if the answer is health and internal development, but it also puts a lot of pressure on those things actually happening.
The offense is still my biggest question.
Banchero and Wagner are both very good players, but Orlando can get bogged down in possessions where one of them has to create everything from scratch. Bane helps with shooting and secondary creation, but the Magic still do not have the kind of high-level point guard who consistently organizes the offense and creates easy looks for everyone else.
Vučević helps, but he does not really fix that problem.
He is another big who can score and facilitate a little, and there will probably be nights when his offense saves the second unit. But Orlando’s issue last season was not a lack of centers. It was finding enough shooting, creation, and easy offense to complement an elite defense.
There is also the coaching transition.
I like the Sweeney hire, but first-year head coaches don’t always fix everything immediately. Orlando is learning a new system while trying to win in what should be a much deeper conference.
And the number b3.5 is important.
The Magic do not need to fall apart for the under to cash completely. They could finish 42-40, make the Play-In again, and still be a respectable basketball team.
That feels possible in this version of the East.
I think Orlando is talented enough to beat anyone on the right night, and what they did against Detroit in the playoffs showed that. But over 82 games, I am not sure simply getting healthier is enough to offset how much the conference improved around them.
Prediction: Under 43.5 wins (-105)
The interesting thing with Orlando is that the over case is basically health plus continuity, while the under case is stagnation plus a much stronger East. They are one of the cleaner teams in this project where I can genuinely see both sides without having to force either argument.
The Lakers paid a steep price to acquire Walker Kessler. Wally Skalij for CA Post
Yes, Kessler has statistically been one of the NBA’s best rim protectors since entering the league in 2022.
And yes, he’s also been elite with his efficiency as a scorer around the rim (albeit on easier shots).
But Kessler hadn’t played many games with true consequences since being selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, not playing in a single postseason game after four tanking-filled seasons in Utah.
He lacked individual professional accolades, not being named to a single All-NBA, All-Star or All-Defensive team since entering the league (he played on the 2023 Team USA World Cup team that finished in fourth place).
This is before even mentioning the fact he only played in five regular-season games in 2025-26, with a torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery and ended his season early.
And yet, the Lakers not only signed Kessler to a four-year, $130 million contract but they also sent the Jazz unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, trading most of their draft capital.
The Lakers’ rationale for investing as much as they did to get Kessler was simple.
Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, left, and head coach JJ Redick had straightforward reasonings for why the franchise made a significant investment in Walker Kessler. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Walker’s a perfect fit for Luka [Doncic] and [Austin Reaves],” coach JJ Redick said during his joint preseason media availability with president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka.
Redick added: “If you canvassed the league and looked at age groups, even the ability to acquire someone, he’s just the perfect fit for those guys and building out the next phase of the Lakers.”
Pelinka echoed Redick.
“Twenty-five-year-old, two-way centers that are retrofitted perfectly for our two max guys in Luka and Austin just don’t exist,” Pelinka said. “There’s a scarcity of supply. It’s…There just is. And if you look at what you could potentially get in the draft or what is potentially going to come in free agency, those centers just don’t exist. So, when the opportunity comes and you have a superstar like Luka in your building, you have to seize it.”
Pelinka added. “Walker Kessler makes Luka better. He makes Austin better — and vice versa. So it’s just a perfect fit, and we didn’t see any opportunity like that coming down the pike anytime soon.”
The Lakers are excited about how Walker Kessler will complement Luka Doncic (left) and Austin Reaves (right). Getty Images
Why Kessler is a perfect fit alongside the Lakers star guard starts on the defensive end.
He’s been one of the league’s best rim protectors since entering the league out of Auburn in 2022, ranking in the top seven of defensive field-goal percentage difference allowed within 6 feet of the rim in each of his first three seasons. This includes No. 3 as a rookie and No. 3 as a second-year player.
Redick pointed out his team’s rim protection struggles last season, lacking the traditional defensive “anchor” that’s typically guiding the league’s top defenses.
The Lakers were the league’s second-worst rim-protecting team in the league in 2025-26, finishing No. 18 in overall defensive rating.
Now, Redick has a player in Kessler he can build the Lakers’ defense around.
While he didn’t get too specific, Redick alluded to the 2026-27 Lakers not having to switch as much defensively compared to the last couple of seasons because of Kessler’s presence on the interior.
Even though Kessler is versatile enough defensively that Redick can use him in multiple ways and gives the Lakers more options for their defensive schemes, drop coverage has been the best way for Kessler to operate.
The Lakers will build their defense around Walker Kessler’s rim protection. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
That should be the case for the Lakers, too.
“Not to get into details, but you guys obviously watched the playoffs, you probably have a basic idea of how San Antonio used [Victor Wembanyama] and kept him low, kept him by the basket,” Redick said. “And then the addition of guys like Ziaire [Williams] and Matisse [Thybulle]. Adou [Thiero] has had an unbelievable last two months of development — it’s the first stretch he’s had since we drafted him where he’s had uninterrupted time in the gym. His body’s been in great shape, and he’s just gotten better.
“Our development of Cam Carr is crucial to that. Quentin Grimes … We have the guys that can pick up full court and guard and be disruptive, and then we have Walker back there. The combination of Walker’s ability to protect the rim and the wing defenders we have, we’re really excited about that.”
Kessler’s addition was one of the Lakers’ “three fundamental pillars” of the offseason, as Pelinka described it, which also included retaining Reaves (four-year, $180 million contract) and putting together a roster of “JJ Redick dribble-pass-shoot players” that were younger and add depth to the group.
Accomplishing those goals came at a cost, which included losing LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard and other key players from the 2025-26 team that led the Lakers to their first playoff series victory since 2023.
But whether it was for Kessler specifically, or the roster as a whole, it was a price the Lakers were willing to pay.
“One of the things we really wanted to lean into was a team that lined up in age with Luka and AR,” Pelinka said. “We want this team to grow together. We were very intentional to get younger and deeper. If you look at our roster, that thesis was consistent throughout.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Jalen Green
Guard, 6’4”, 186 pounds, 24 years old, 6th season
There are make-or-break seasons, and then there is what Jalen Green is facing with the Phoenix Suns this upcoming year. He has reached an inflection point in his career, one where the 24-year-old must prove why he is compensated as the second-highest-paid player on the team.
He possesses so many intangibles as a player. He exudes athleticism and possesses a quick-twitch explosiveness that is difficult to replicate. He’s bubbly, energetic, and appears to be a stellar teammate with an infectious energy. Yet in the world of price versus value paid, there is plenty left to be desired. And when you factor in that his skill set ultimately duplicates some of what the Suns already have in their highest-paid player, Devin Booker, you begin to wonder how Green’s existence in Phoenix can truly become productive enough to match the value of his contract.
Because it isn’t simply that he’s making $36.3 million this season. It’s that the role he’s being asked to play doesn’t necessarily align with what this team needs from a player making that much money, especially on a roster already carrying dead cap. Green was brought to Phoenix to make the math work in the Kevin Durant trade. And while there are plenty of positive characteristics surrounding him as both a player and a person, consistency continues to elude him. Efficiency continues to be a challenge.
This season? Evaluation becomes the word synonymous with Jalen Green. His financial future with the Suns will be directly linked to what he does while under that microscope. Can he live up to the contract? Can he fit next to Devin Booker in a way that allows both players to thrive on both ends of the floor?
Because if he can’t, the organization will need to make subsequent decisions. And those decisions, in and of themselves, are complex.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
32
25.9
17.8
3.6
2.8
1.1
42.2%
31.3%
74.7%
114.2
113.5
+33
What can you really say about Jalen Green’s first season in Phoenix? We entered the year excited about the potential he brought, but a hamstring injury derailed his season and delayed our opportunity to truly experience what he could be with the Suns.
Green made his debut in Phoenix’s ninth game of the season in early November and immediately showed us why there was so much excitement, scoring 29 points while going 6-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Two nights later, he injured his hamstring. We wouldn’t see him again until late January.
From there, his season became a story of inconsistency. In his first 13 games back, Green shot 24.4% from beyond the arc and 35.1% from the field. Those numbers eventually stabilized, and he delivered some game-saving performances in the Play-In, scoring 26 points and making 8 three-pointers against the Warriors, but ultimately, last season felt like a lost year for Jalen Green. He started too late and had a difficult time catching up to a team that was already in midseason form.
Green appeared in 32 games, with the Suns going 17–15 in those games. So, a season in which Phoenix hoped to evaluate what he could become alongside Devin Booker in the backcourt ultimately didn’t answer many, if any, of the questions we had before the season began.
Contract and Roster Context
Green has two years remaining on his deal, and he’ll make $36.3 million this upcoming season, with a $36 million player option waiting for him next year. That makes him the second-highest-paid player on the Suns and, per Salary Swish, he is the 52nd highest-paid player in the NBA. He also becomes extension-eligible on October 1, meaning we are only days away from the window opening for Phoenix to potentially extend him.
The assumption is that it won’t happen immediately. Instead, the Suns will use this season to evaluate Green and determine whether his contributions align with both their short-term goals and the franchise’s long-term direction.
What He Brings
Upside, right? That’s what we’re all holding onto and what we’re hoping will eventually come to fruition. I’m sure someone out there still has his PSA-graded Panini prizm autographed rookie card displayed on their desk, hoping that it will jump in value.
Green possesses elite athleticism and a unique ability to blow by defenders and get to the rim at will, finishing with either hand. He puts pressure on the rim and can make an offense significantly more dynamic when he gets on a heater. He led the team with 17.0 drives per game during the brief postseason last April, and was second behind Devin Booker with 13.6 during his muted regular season. Amongst all guards last season, Green was in the 83rd percentile in drives, the highest of his career.
That is his superpower. And when you consider that his explosiveness was compromised for much of last season as he dealt with hamstring issues, it’s rather impressive that he still managed to put as much pressure on opposing defenses as he did. He could’ve returned from injury and opted to take it easy, avoiding explosive plays and limiting his attacks on the basket. Instead, he attacked the rim more frequently than at any other point in his career.
At Media Day last year, Jalen Green noted that he had been working on his midrange “in between game a lot more”. And while we had a relatively small sample size due to the number of games he played, that work certainly appeared to pay off, as his midrange game became one of his strengths. After grading out with a D- in midrange shot-making efficiency during the 2024–25 season, according to B-Ball Index, Green improved to an A- in 2025–26.
Sure, he might not be the greatest defender or the most consistent shooter, but there’s no doubt that he cares. You can see it in real time. Green wears his emotions on his sleeve, whether a possession goes wrong, he misses a shot, or he blows a defensive assignment. His frustration is visible because he holds himself accountable.
You want players like that on your team. Players who care about their performance and recognize when they’ve made mistakes. Of course, you’d also like those players to reach a point where they don’t have to be visibly upset so often because they’ve developed the consistency and awareness to prevent those mistakes from happening in the first place.
What Needs to Improve
Efficiency and consistency remain the two biggest challenges in Jalen Green’s game. While he possesses a plethora of ways to put the ball in the basket, we’ve yet to see him do so efficiently or consistently throughout his career.
He’s a career 33.9% shooter from beyond the arc on 7.4 attempts per game. That’s a clear area of opportunity, and one that should theoretically present itself this season. With Booker and Green by his side, he should see his fair share of open three-point opportunities. But he needs to improve upon the 30.1% he shot when wide open last season (on 2.3 attempts per game), with defenders 6 or more feet away. He needs the chart below to start trending upward rather than downward.
He can get downhill with incredible quickness and get to the rim almost at will. The problem is what happens once he gets there. He isn’t always consistent finishing around the basket. He is a career 53.9% shooter inside 8 feet. For context, all guards in the NBA combined last season for 57.7% inside 8 feet. Green shot 54.3%.
In this season of evaluation, Green needs to demonstrate improvement in both areas for the Suns to feel comfortable either offering him an extension or keeping him rather than shopping him next offseason in hopes of getting something of value in return. Because if neither of those improvements occurs, how much value will he realistically have on the trade market?
And if neither happens, we’ll spend the entire season talking about it. We’ll ponder options at the trade deadline, explore the possibility of using his contract as a catalyst to make moves, and if nothing materializes, we’ll pick the conversation right back up when the season ends. That creates additional noise around a player who is already trying to establish the consistency and efficiency his game desperately needs. And that noise could ultimately affect the very things the Suns are evaluating.
The last thing you want is a $36 million player getting inside his own head, but given the circumstances, it’s a realistic possibility.
Prediction
I believe the Suns organization is going to give Green an opportunity to play more on ball, doing what it can to determine whether he fits next to Devin Booker in a traditional distributor capacity. They’ll hand him the reins of facilitation more frequently because that’s an aspect of his game he needs to improve if Phoenix wants to maximize this roster and solidify the rotations around Booker. And ultimately? I don’t think it’s going to work.
I think we’ll see a shift throughout the season toward Booker playing more on the ball and assuming the primary facilitation responsibilities. We’ll be told it’s a fluid situation, and to some extent, it will be. Booker will never be a traditional point guard who operates with the ball in his hands 100% of the time. But I believe we’ll gradually notice that the responsibility of setting up his teammates falls more frequently on Booker than Green.
In a perfect world, that’s exactly where Green could serve his purpose. He crosses the timeline with the ball in his hands and initiates the offense. And I’m not talking about making one pass and heading to the corner. I’m talking about reading the defense, identifying the best way to generate a quality possession, and making it happen. That cerebral aspect of the game that a facilitator and distributor needs to possess.
I think Green is going to have a solid offensive season when it comes to counting stats with numbers that, at first glance, people will use to defend his value to the team. But when you dig a little deeper and consistently watch the games, I believe we’ll find that much of that production was achieved inefficiently. And as a result, I expect the rumblings to continue, with the fan base spending plenty of time firing up the trade machine throughout the season.
I hope I’m wrong, because it would be so much easier if Green became the player who lived up to the upside that warranted the contract he received. It would be amazing if the Suns had a functional backcourt in Green and Booker that didn’t require constant handholding or overanalysis. They simply went out, got the job done, and allowed the organization to focus more of its attention on developing the players coming up behind them.
Because ultimately, I like the idea of Jalen Green. I’d love to have a player on this team who can operate the way he does with his athleticism. It’s a unique skill set that adds complexity to the offense, giving opposing defenses another element they have to account for and ultimately opening things up for everybody else. Add to that the fact that I like the personality Green brings to the team. You can tell he’s a hard worker, somebody who cares about his craft and genuinely wants to get better.
But as he enters a season in which he’ll turn 25 years old, upside remains his greatest strength, and we’re approaching the point where upside alone will no longer be acceptable. Because eventually, you become who you are as a player. And there’s a very real possibility that Green becomes a D’Angelo Russell type of player. Somebody who entered the league with tremendous promise, was given plenty of opportunities to fulfill that potential, and ultimately became a player capable of exploding for 30 points on any given night, although rarely with the efficiency you’d like to see. That’s the outcome I’m hoping Green can avoid.
Devin Carter is a second-generation NBA player. His father, Anthony Carter, was a basketball journeyman who put together a thirteen-year career in the NBA playing for six different teams. Anthony got into coaching right after retirement, moving through the G-League, with stops in Austin, Sacramento and finally Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where his work as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat-affiliated Skyforce got him a promotion to the parent organization as a player development coach. He’s now with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Devin grew up on the move along with his family, starting his high school career in Greenwood Village, Colorado on the outskirts of Denver, before transferring to Doral Academy Prep in Doral Florida, when his family relocated to Florida following his father’s hiring as a player development coach with the Heat.
Doral Prep is located in the Miami-Dade metro, and is publicly funded. It is not, contrary to what its name may suggest, a private basketball factory. In fact, Devin Carter is the school’s only notable basketball alum. Carter joined the team the year after they won a state basketball championship, and was an early contributor.
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 3: Assistant Coach Anthony Carter of the Memphis Grizzlies and Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings look on prior to the game on January 3, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As a 16-year-old junior, he made a mark at the A-Rod Classic in December 2018, when Doral Academy won the tournament by beating The Rock 46-45, with Carter scoring a whopping 32 of the team’s 46 points. He was also named the tournament MVP. A week later, he led Doral with 37 of the team’s 60 points in a 60-48 win over Miami Springs. In February he scored 30 of 49 for Doral as they beat Belen in the state tournament for their 52nd consecutive win. His stats that year, 25.7 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game, led to him receiving honors as Florida’s Player of the Year for his school’s classification.
Carter had been recruited by the University of South Carolina, whose coach was good friends with Jorge Fernandez, the boys’ basketball coach at Doral Prep, but he had drawn little interest from other major programs, and had not signed a letter of intent during the early signing period of his senior year. Devin was, nonetheless, enjoying a stellar season when he suffered a shoulder injury in February of 2020. Carter’s scoring average had jumped from 25.7 points per game to 28.8 in his senior campaign to go along with 8.7 rebounds per game.
In an effort to build his skills and draw interest on the college front, Carter opted to take a post-graduate year at the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The Brewster Academy is a small school located in rural New Hampshire near Lake Winnipesaukee and the Maine border, about a hundred miles north of Boston. The academy dates back to 1820 and offers instruction to students from grades nine through 12, as well as offering post-graduate instruction, typically for individuals looking to raise their athletic profile.
Tuition along with room and board for a year of post-graduate instruction at Brewster is an eye-watering $80,800. In exchange for that, students get access to a 50,000 square foot athletic facility with a 200-meter indoor track. Its most notable basketball alum is Donovan Mitchell.
Coming out of Brewster, Carter had jumped into the top-100 recruit lists at ESPN, Rivals.com, and 247Sports.com.
Ultimately, Carter enrolled at South Carolina, the school that had shown the earliest interest in his game. He was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team in 2021-22. He played in 30 of the team’s 32 games, drawing seven starts and averaging 9 points and 3.8 rebounds. When Frank Martin, who had recruited Carter, was fired after his freshman season, Devin entered the transfer portal and landed at Providence.
ASHEVILLE, NC – NOVEMBER 14: South Carolina Gamecocks guard Devin Carter (23) draws contact from Western Kentucky Hilltoppers guard Josh Anderson (4)while driving to the lane during the South Carolina Gamecocks versus the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers game in the Asheville Championship on November 14, 2021 at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the Friars, Carter leaped into a starting role. Over the next two seasons he started all 66 of the Friars’ games. As a sophomore, he was an All-Big East honorable mention, and was named All-District 1 by the USBWA. He averaged 13 points per game and 4.9 rebounds. He also averaged 1.8 steals per game, and 1.1 blocks per game as the Friars drew an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, losing to Kentucky in the first round.
At the end of his sophomore season, Carter’s coach at Providence, Ed Cooley, jumped ship for a job at Georgetown, meaning that Carter would enter his junior year playing for his third coach in as many years.
As a junior, his scoring average jumped to 19.7 points per game, and rebounds jumped to 8.7 per game. His defensive game blossomed, as he was named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist, as well as being named the Big East’s Player of the Year, and making the AP’s All-Big East First Team, the Big East’s All-Tournament Team, and the NABC All-District 5 First Team.
Mar 2, 2024; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence Friars guard Devin Carter (22) shoots during the first half against the Villanova Wildcats at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
After collecting these awards, Carter declared for the draft, where he projected to be a low-mid lottery pick.
Despite being relatively old at age 22, Carter’s athleticism and defense were praised. One mock draft called him “Marcus Smart Lite.” Former CelticsBlogger Kevin O’Connor ranked him the #5 prospect in the draft, with a “shades of Jrue Holiday” remark.
An article on NBA.com projected him as going to the Jazz with the number 10 pick with a few drafts placing him in the 11th spot and going to the Chicago Bulls.
Ultimately, Carter went to the Kings with the 13th pick.
SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 10: Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The move was a somewhat baffling one, as the Kings were well-stocked with backcourt players, and, indeed, despite being considered ready to contribute based on his age and college experience, Carter appeared in just 36 games for the Kings, averaging 11 minutes per game, and generally failing to find a place with the team.
Carter appeared in 38 games in his second year with Sacramento, while drawing 12 spot starts. His minutes per game jumped to 18.4, and his two-point shooting percentage jumped to 51.1%, although his three-point shooting dipped to 26.3%. He had a couple stand-out games as a second-year player, notching 24 points in a victory over the rather hapless Pacers, and then 29 points and 9 rebounds against a Golden State team that was actually trying to win games last season.
In an indication of his poor fit with Sacramento, or perhaps the team’s inability to figure out what to do with him, his third-year option was picked up by the team before the start of his second year, but at the conclusion of that year, he was traded to Atlanta in exchange for the draft rights to Alpha Kaba. Less than two months after being acquired by the Hawks, he was waived by the team.
Despite a relatively unimpressive showing with Sacramento, he may be a good fit with a much better Boston team.
For starters, he seems to be in sync with Joe Mazzulla when it comes to expectations from young players. Joe has said that his primary focus for players with little pro experience are “can you play defense, can you execute a defensive system, and can you rebound?”
At the NBA draft combine, Carter prioritized one thing: “defense — it’s going to get you on the court.” He said that his priority is defense, adding, “I especially don’t like my man to score.” Devin also made rebounding a point of emphasis in his final season in college. “My sophomore year my coaches were telling me I could rebound, my freshman year my coaches were telling me I could rebound, my junior year, I actually committed to crashing the rebound every shot.” The result was a 3.8 rebound per game jump.
After being drafted, Carter told reporters, “I’m going to dive on the floor, take charges, anything we need to do to win.” He also emphasized his willingness to do “all the dirty work” needed to win. At his introductory press conference, he hit the right notes again, saying, he was going to bring “toughness, grittiness, and a will to win” to the court.
“If you’re not scoring,” he said at the press conference, “if you’re not doing anything else, you can at least guard and take that personally.”
“You want to give the coach a reason to play you, and every coach wants somebody who plays defense.”
Carter seems to be one of those players that needs the right situation and the right coaches to thrive. In two partial seasons with the Kings, his VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) was -.1 both years, and as the ‘replacement player’ in VORP is not a league-average player, his raw and advanced numbers suggest that he’s a bust.
But remember that Neemias Queta’s VORP at Sacramento was -.1 and 0 during his two years there, and that jumped to a 2.4 VORP with Boston last season. Queta’s BPM (Box Score Plus/Minus), which uses a league average player as a baseline, was -4.8 at Sacramento, as compared to a -2.8 BPM for Carter.
Given that the Carter prides himself on his defense, and that the Celtics have a top-notch player development staff and, apparently, far more patience than the Kings, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to project Devin as a potentially valuable contributor down the road.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Onyeka Okongwu #17 and Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks high five during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 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
Just before the season, there’s always something that seems to ragebait NBA fans, and it’s ESPN’s annual Top 100 list. Over the years, there have been some questionable decisions made on the list that people (including players) have had to say something about when they don’t see their names. There will always be some argument when it comes to any list, and some are valid. Others might need a little more convincing.
The Atlanta Hawks had four players to make the list this upcoming season, as Lu Dort came in at 100, CJ McCollum at 87, Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 41 and Jalen Johnson at 22. People can debate on if those players are ranked correctly, but that’s not the biggest problem here.
The problem is that the players who actually should’ve made the list didn’t. Those players would be Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu.
Okongwu has seemed to be one of the more underrated players at his position, which is interesting due to all of things he can do on the court. He had a career-year last season, averaging 15.2 points per game and shooting 37.6 percent from the 3-point line. Among centers, he had one of the best 3-point percentages, and he took over five a game.
Defensively, Okongwu once again showed the ability to guard multiple positions if need be, which helped elevate the Hawks’ defense. The argument that he’s too small to play center continues to come up anytime he faces an actual 7-footer, but nobody talks about how the Hawks are a better rebounding team when he’s on the floor.
ESPN might not take this into account either, but Okongwu was the one constant in the Hawks’ rotation last season. Through all the injuries and trades that they had at the center position, he remained consistent, and that led him to play the most minutes of his career at 31.0. Okongwu should’ve been somewhere on the Top 1o0, and it may be safe to say he got snubbed.
If not seeing Okongwu on the list was disappointing, then not seeing Dyson Daniels may have caused an uproar for some.
There were a lot of interesting takes about Daniels’ last season, and it always started with his 3-point shooting. 18% is not good for a guard, and it’s obvious that part of his game was a lowlight of the season, especially after he shot 34 percent the previous season. The good news for the Hawks is that everyone else around him could shoot, and he basically served as the team’s center.
Despite the 3-point shooting, Daniels was basically efficient in everything else he did on the court. Similar to how Okongwu had a career year, the same could be said for Daniels after he averaged a career-high in rebounds and assists. He techincally served as the point guard for the Hawks, and he played that role well, getting other involved while not turning the ball over at a high rate.
Daniels was still one of the best defenders in the league, and though he didn’t break any crazy records last season, he still averaged 2.0 steals per game, which was tied for the best in the league.
Of course, people are going to look at the 3-point shooting and stop the conversation there, but he was more valuable to the Hawks last season than people think.
There’s no telling what more Okongwu and Daniels would’ve had to do to make the Top 100 list, but fans will be excited to see if they take their games to another level once again this season.
For those of you who have been involved with the Open Thread over the years might recall that from time to time I moonlight as a musician. Last night I had a gig at this great spot in Leon Springs and I saw this flier posted:
Pierre Parker, younger brother of Spurs legend Tony Parker, is hosting a basketball camp at Voss Middle School in Boerne, Texas, located 30 miles northwest of San Antonio.
The younger Parker is currently an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs, but he has been involved with the Spurs since 2023, previously serving as a coaching assistant and video room coordinator. His camp advertises “a one-day clinic to polish your basketball techniques and skills” for 2nd-8th grade students.
The camp is schedule from 1-5pm on Saturday, October 17 .
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Guard Luka Doncic is now the face of the Lakers franchise after the departure this offseason of LeBron James. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
More than half of the Lakers roster is new. Two starting spots are still up for grabs. The Lakers have a lot to evaluate in the next month.
After one of the busiest offseasons in the NBA, the Lakers begin their Luka Doncic-led era this week. Here are five storylines for the Lakers as they begin training camp this week:
What does Luka Doncic’s team look like?
The crown has been passed.
After sharing the spotlight with LeBron James, Doncic now takes center stage for the Lakers. The two-time scoring champion is coming off 33.5 points per game last season and was the focal point for the franchise’s offseason of change.
“Luka is the world’s greatest offensive player,” general manager Rob Pelinka said at his preseason news conference on Thursday. “For us to be able to have an opportunity as a franchise to have that player in our building every night ... is special. And it requires us to do special things to build the team around him.”
The Lakers brought in eight players through free agency or trade to remake their roster. For the first time in JJ Redick’s three-year tenure, “I feel like the pieces actually fit together,” the head coach said. Doncic and returning guard Austin Reaves are the glue that holds the puzzle together.
“This team is their team,” Redick said of the star guards.
Redick praised how Doncic planned a team minicamp in Slovenia where players and some assistant coaches participated in basketball practices while enjoying team-bonding activities such as golfing, rowing and sightseeing in Doncic’s hometown of Ljubljana. Players were so appreciative of Doncic’s hosting efforts that they all presented him with handwritten thank-you notes after, Pelinka said.
In a 30-minute vlog sharing highlights of the trip, Doncic was asked what matters to him now that didn’t five years ago. During that time, Doncic has become a father to two daughters and changed teams in one of the league’s most shocking trades ever. His basketball priorities have shifted.
“Five years ago, I was third year in the league,” Doncic said in the video. “I wasn’t the leader I was supposed to [be], so I think the leadership is an important part of my case now.”
What can Walker Kessler do?
Redick said he plans to use Kessler similarly to how the San Antonio Spurs deploy defensive player of the year Victor Wembanyama: low and near the basket. Kessler’s elite rim protection — 2.4 blocks per game in his NBA career — can open a new defensive style for the Lakers, who can afford to be more aggressive on the perimeter knowing Kessler can hold down the post.
New Lakers center Walker Kessler reacts after throwing out the first pitch before a Dodgers game earlier this month. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“I know we have switched a lot one through five over the years; that has been by necessity,” Redick said. “We look at him as someone we want close to the basket, protecting the rim. He’s been an excellent rebounder throughout his career, both offensively and defensively.”
Despite costing four first-round picks, Kessler is still unproven in the NBA. He showed flashes of brilliance, but is coming off a season in which he played only five games because of a shoulder injury. Pelinka said after a “deep dive” into Kessler’s medical history, the organization is not concerned the injury will linger.
The 25-year-old center’s age aligns well with Doncic, 27, and Reaves, 28, creating a potent trio that could define the franchise’s new era.
“If you canvassed the league and looked at age groups, even the ability to acquire someone, [Kessler] is just the perfect fit for those guys and building out the next phase of the Lakers,” Redick said.
How will Austin Reaves handle the jump to being a max player?
Before completing their new “Big Three” with Kessler, the Lakers needed to bring Reaves back. The former undrafted free agent was one of the highest-profile free agents this summer, but told reporters in July that his “heart was in L.A. the whole time.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves runs onto the court before a playoff Game 3 against the Thunder. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Reaves is coming off 23.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, both career highs. He scored 51 points in a game against Sacramento and provided one of the highlights of the regular season with a perfect missed free throw and offensive rebound that helped the Lakers survive with a thrilling overtime win over the Denver Nuggets.
But Reaves also played in a career-low 51 regular-season games, missing significant time because of injuries. He missed the beginning of the playoffs because of an oblique injury, and despite returning sooner than expected from the Grade 2 strain, Reaves struggled to get back to form consistently in the postseason.
No longer just the feel-good story, Reaves is now the second-highest paid player on the Lakers after signing a four-year, $185-million contract this summer. He is living up to his superstar status already in the offseason, being “a leader in the gym every single day,” Redick said.
Who will survive the training camp cut down?
The Lakers have 16 players on guaranteed contracts entering training camp and must get that number down to the league maximum 15 by the season opener on Oct. 21. While the Lakers figure out the two open starting roles alongside Doncic, Reaves and Kessler, the next month will also feature competition for the final roster spots.
Pelinka mentioned a consolidation trade that ships two players out for one as a possible solution to the overcrowded roster. The Lakers have wing depth, but could bolster their center options beyond Kessler and backup Kevon Looney, and are unsettled at power forward.
Lakers' Jake LaRavia, right, attempting to strip the ball from Warriors forward Charles Bassey, is one of several forwards who will vie for playing time this season. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)
Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jarred Vanderbilt are among the logjam of options at forward, along with wings Adou Thiero and Matisse Thybulle. Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, the embattled third-year guard who has never found a solid role with the team after he was traded and returned in 2025, could be trade pieces.
“Building a championship roster is an evergreen process,” Pelinka said. “You’re never done with the work.”
What’s up with the ownership situation?
For the second consecutive season, the Lakers have an ownership change hanging over the organization.
Mark Walter’s sale of his controlling stake of the team is still pending, with Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner prepared to step in after purchasing the majority stakes at a $12.5-billion valuation.
While unable to comment fully on the ownership change because the sale hasn’t been approved, Pelinka said he has had “preliminary discussions” with Iger and Kushner that have been “really, really positive.”
Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, left, speaks to reporters as coach JJ Redick watches on during a news conference Thursday. Pelinka said that the new ownership group has had preliminary discussion with him about moving forward. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“In terms of day-to-day, nothing’s changed,” Pelinka continued. “We’re operating with Lakers excellence.”
During his short tenure, Walter worked to overhaul the front office and business operations. The changes did not stop with Walter’s ownership now in limbo.
The Lakers have added more than 15 people in the front office, Pelinka said, including Rohan Ramadas and Eric Amsler in new assistant general manager positions. Pelinka said the organization “rebuilt our entire player experience and player development arm,” led by the promotion of Zach Guthrie, the former G League affiliate head coach, to the head of player development. The team has added new equipment for recovery and treatment and hopes to bring in more scouts.
“The goal, as the Lakers brand, is not just to be at the same level as all the other 29 teams in those areas,” Pelinka said, “but to be the leader.”
TUZLA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - AUGUST 28: Luka Garza of Bosnia and Herzegovina rises for a shot against Italy defenders during the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers Group J game between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Mejdan Arena on August 28, 2026 in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Massimo Ceretti/FIBA via Getty Images) | FIBA via Getty Images
Joe Mazzulla spanned the globe this summer to spend time with his players, arriving in Spain, Portugal, Dallas and Omaha. His most remote happened 20 minutes south of Des Moines, Iowa.
“It was one of the biggest things that’s happened in Indianola in a long time, I’ll tell you that,” Frank Garza, Luka’s father, told CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on the Celtics Daily Podcast last week.
While Mazzulla provided words of wisdom and moral support at one of Garza’s two basketball camps in Iowa, Celtics assistant D.J. MacLeay visited Garza in his native Washington D.C. for defensive work with Boston’s big man.
Neemias Queta ascending to the starting center role last season and Mitchell Robinson’s arrival in free agency leaves Garza in a depth role entering 2026-27. However, he proved himself as a reliable NBA reserve last season. He averaged 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assist while shooting 57.7% from the field and 43.3% from three in 16.2 minutes per game during the regular season.
Like with Queta and Nikola Vučević playing in front of him, foul trouble doomed Garza in the playoffs against Philadelphia, committing 8.5 per 36 minutes compared to 5.2 during the year. That’s why Garza, his father and MacLeay largely focused on that side of the ball in their offseason work.
“(Luka) worked incredibly hard on defense,” Frank said. “We’re talking 90 possessions on defense where he’s either doing drop coverage or screen-and-roll … for a center particularly, 90% of the game you don’t have the ball, thus, you should be practicing 90% without the ball … you’re gonna be boxing out, you’re gonna be defending … that’s how his practices were mimicked … a lot of defensive positions, a lot of handwork, a lot of foot drill work, just to improve upon the things that he needs to continue to do.”
The Garzas also focused on improving Luka’s defensive rebounding after a standout season on the defensive glass. At Iowa and to begin his NBA career, he often boxed-out to allow other players to grab rebounds, which will continue with Jayson Tatum’s return for a full season. They want Garza to have the ability to fight for loose balls defensively more often, with Queta’s 22.7 DREB% finishing far ahead of Garza’s 12.0 DREB%. Robinson posted a 26.1 DREB% as arguably the league’s best rebounder in 2026.
Garza began 2025-26 as Boston’s backup big man before his defensive struggles and the Celtics’ immense issues on the defensive glass led Mazzulla and the coaching staff to lean into rebounding wings like Josh Minott over Garza early in the schedule. They always planned to return to him, but he needed a breather and time to acclimate to the system. Meanwhile, Mazzulla searched nightly for maximum effort from Boston’s bench players while trying to establish a culture.
“You just don’t know when you’re gonna get in, and when you get in, the treadmill’s going 100 miles-per-hour, and you better get in there and … box out every time, you better go and get a rebound every time,” Frank said. “You better do all these things. There’s zero tolerance for any lack of effort. It wasn’t that he was doing a lack of effort, he was slowly getting in the flow of the game and that’s just not acceptable. You have to be ready before you get in the game and that was the big adjustment.”
Despite returning to the rotation in late-December with 9.2 PPG and 5.0 RPG while shooting 46.7% from three in winning minutes across 18 straight appearances, the Celtics ultimately added Nikola Vučević at the trade deadline. Garza initially struggled with the demotion before buying into the bigger picture and awaiting another opportunity that came when Vučević broke his right ring finger in March. Garza scored 10 points that night in a win over Dallas, closed the season averaging 10.7 PPG and poured in the game-winning three starting alongside Boston’s bench players in Game 82 against the Magic starters. He finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Frank said they had practiced that shot-fake shot.
Following his surprise spot start in Game 7 against the Sixers two weeks later, where Garza missed both three-point attempts and fouled three times, he continued working on his shot with a greater attention to doing so in game speed and movements. Garza put up perhaps the highest number of practice shots in the league to becoming a reliable threat from deep. Yet he’ll need to draw defenders out more consistently to continue his offensive growth and fit in an as occasional power forward, which Boston briefly tried unsuccessfully after the Vučević trade.
Even if he’s strictly playing the five, opportunities will emerge for Garza. Robinson’s healthiest season saw him play 72 games in 2022, and he averaged 42 in four years since (22.9 MPG). Neither Queta nor Robinson have shot threes in the NBA, and the latter struggles immensely at the free throw line.
Garza received an opportunity to showcase his improvements already with the Bosnian national team after sorting out passport issues that prevented him from participating in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament. He backed-up Jusuf Nurkić, averaged 16.8 PPG and 7.3 RPG, highlighted by 27 points in a win over Türkiye and a 16-point showing against Nikola Jokić and Serbia. Participating in the World Cup qualifiers marked a life-long dream for Garza, as he continues working toward his larger one of carving out a successful NBA career.
For that, he has Mazzulla in his corner.
“He can keep it very simple about what needs to be done,” Frank recalled from meeting the head coach in Iowa. “The game’s so complex, but he can break it down into bite-size, powerful gold nuggets about player development … and then the fact that you don’t just need to have hard work … you gotta have more than just hard work … you have to add something else, you have to add this intangible, how do you treat your teammates? How do you show it? The reason you talk on defense isn’t just to make noise, it’s to make sure your teammate knows what’s going on.”
Entering Year 2, despite added depth in the center room, expect to hear a lot more from Luka Garza.
Elgin Baylor (#22) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives toward the basket as Jerry Lucas of the Cincinnati Royals defends in a 1967 game.
Depending on your reference point, the NBA either started in 1946 as the BAA, or in 1949, when the BAA merged with the NBL to make the NBA.
However, the league at that point was pretty stale. It began to change in the late 1950s, with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. It would change a great deal with the addition of Elgin Baylor in 1958.
Baylor entered the league after a terrific career at Seattle, and was an immediate success for the Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 24.9 ppg, 15.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.
He became the prototype of a highly athletic wing, a role that would evolve with players like Connie Hawkins, Julius Erving, and Michael Jordan. This video underscores how he revolutionized the NBA.
He also helped lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals, where they would lose to Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, starting the foundational rivalry of the NBA.
In 1960, the Lakers would move to Los Angeles and also draft Jerry West, thus setting up one of the most iconic duos in NBA history.
Baylor and the Lakers would lose to Boston in the Finals seven times before he retired early in the 1971-72 season.
Ironically, after he retired, Los Angeles would go on an epic 33-game win streak, and then would win the title for the first time since 1954.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics in action against the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season, Luka Garza became a very important piece for the Celtics.
His three-point shooting and effort were noticed by Joe Mazzulla as Garza became an important piece for Boston. As a matter of fact, not only were the 1,118 minutes the most of any season Garza played in his career, he played 145 more minutes last season than he had in his entire career entering the season (973).
Despite that, the team signed Mitchell Robinson as a free agent this summer. It was a necessary move for the Celtics as they proved to not have enough at the 5 last season. Robinson is a great offensive rebounder, pick-and-roll man and defender who will help improve Boston a lot.
There will still be a role on this team for Garza. Mitchell Robinson played a whole season last year and participated in just 60 games and played 1,175 minutes. He is going to miss games, so Garza can fill in on those nights.
I also think Joe Mazzulla will try double big looks of Garza with Queta or Robinson. However, I don’t think he should do it much because the Celtics scored 114.5 points per 100 possessions with Garza and Queta last season, down 6.6 points from the 121.1 points they scored per 100 possessions for the season. I thought it was a bad look for Boston and don’t think they should use it much this year.
Garza’s three-point shooting is also a skill that neither Robinson nor Queta possesses. Queta and Robinson have similar skill sets, which is good because it won’t change the way Boston is playing. The Celtics want to play a certain style this year and those guys fit that style.
That’s not to say that Garza doesn’t fit the style Mazzulla and the rest of his staff want Boston to play. He is a good screener and good offensive rebounder. He can make threes so if Mazzulla wants to go 5 out with a big, Garza will be the guy he turns to.
Queta and Robinson are better players than Garza — that is why Garza is falling out of the rotation. In Garza’s lone playoff start in Game 7, he played 8:38 seconds and was a -15 in a game Boston lost by 9. Their defense was a disaster with him on the court. The Celtics gave up a defensive rating of 120 with Garza on the floor that night.
In the 32:33 Queta played, the Celtics were +9 with a defensive rating of 111.5. However bad you think Garza was that night, it was worse.
Robinson should be a massive upgrade to Garza defensively and that will show this season.
Luka Garza showed that he is an NBA caliber big man who can eat minutes in the regular season. However, the playoffs proved that he isn’t ready for the brightest lights and until he shows that, he will be out of the Celtics and any other good team’s 8 or 9 best players.
After the Nets traded a second-round pick in 2018, it got moved in three different deals before coming back to Brooklyn in the form of this sweet-shooting forward from UCLA. The two-way’s defense has to prove up to NBA levels.
Mikel Brown Jr., 20, G, 6-5, 190
The No. 6 pick from Louisville is the Nets’ highest since 2010 and foundation of their rebuild. Rookie point guards have growing pains, and Brown must bulk up and cut turnovers, but he will get every chance to play right out of the gate.
Noah Clowney, 22, F, 6-10, 210
After starting 60 games last season, he likely will come off the bench. But entering his fourth season — despite being younger than Danny Wolf — Clowney has to show growth, particularly as a shooter, rim protector and rebounder.
Dain Dainja, 24, F, 6-9, 255
Spent last season with Miami’s G-League squad after going undrafted as a rookie. The Nets saw his aggressiveness, 7-foot-7 wingspan and motor, and brought him to Summer League. Another likely Long Island Net after camp.
The acquisition of Julius Randle is a sign that the Nets aren’t tanking this season. J.C. Rice for NY Post
Egor Dëmin, 20, G, 6-8, 200
After doubts about his shooting, Dëmin showed a 3-point shot as a rookie. Now the young Russian has bulked up and must build on the improved downhill game he flashed in Summer League. If that’s real, he’s a legitimate building block.
Keon Ellis, 26, G, 6-4, 175
Brooklyn has desperately lacked point-of-attack defense. That’s why they signed Ellis, who played in Sacramento while coach Jordi Fernandez was the lead assistant and can provide valuable 3-and-D minutes off the bench.
Ben Humrichous, 24, F, 6-9, 224
Went undrafted after being a backup up Illinois’ Final Four team last season. Signed to an Exhibit 10, went to Summer League with Brooklyn and could end up with G-League Long Island after training camp.
Egor Dëmin will be looking to build on the improved downhill game he flashed in Summer League. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Joshua Jefferson, 22, F, 6-9, 240
Taken with the first-round pick that came attached to salary-dumped Julius Randle. Jefferson was a versatile do-it-all forward at Iowa State, but comes into a crowded backup forward group that includes Noah Clowney, Danny Wolf and Josh Minott.
Chaney Johnson, 24, F, 6-7, 220
Got brought up last season and averaged 8.2 points on pure athleticism and hustle despite being undersized. The Nets used Johnson at center in Summer League despite the presence of Danny Wolf, and he showed enough to earn a two-way.
Terance Mann, 29, G/F, 6-6, 215
In an odd spot as a heady (and pricey) veteran stuck on a young team nowhere near ready to compete and determined to develop their youngsters. Does Mann steal late game minutes in nailbiters, or get moved to a contender?
Josh Minott, 23, F, 6-8, 205
An analytics darling, Minott has the potential to be a legitimate 3-and-D threat. Injuries, Boston’s wing depth and finally Brooklyn’s tanking efforts have conspired to limit his minutes. Now he finally will get his chance, and has to take it.
Grant Nelson, 24, F, 7-0, 215
Injuries curtailed Nelson’s last season and kept him out of Summer League altogether, both Sacramento and Las Vegas. But he got a two-way deal, and another shot at the third-strong job.
Michael Porter Jr., 28, F, 6-10, 218
Coming off a career season, Porter can build on that with more talent around him like Brown and Randle. The forward is set to make $40.8 million and be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Will he get extended, traded, or both?
Michael Porter Jr. is set to make $40.8 million and be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
Drake Powell, 21, G/F, 6-5, 195
A plus athlete and gifted defender. But Powell is raw offensively and looked horrible shooting the ball over the summer. Can he hone his jumper and get his athleticism to translate to production?
Julius Randle, 31, F/C, 6-9, 250
Brookyn’s only All-Star, Randle has averaged 21.7 points and 8.9 rebounds over the past eight years. He’s a floor-raiser who will help, but for how long? At 31 and able to opt out next summer, he hardly fits the Nets’ timeline.
Ben Saraf, 20, G, 6-6, 200
Another 2025 first-round guard, Saraf has a solid frame, physicality and nose for getting downhill. But the young Israeli shot just 21.1 percent from 3-point range as a rookie, a figure that needs to improve.
Ben Saraf looks to improve his shooting in his upcoming second season with the Nets. Noah K. Murray / New York Post
Day’Ron Sharpe, 24, C, 6-10, 265
After years of backing up Nic Claxton, Sharpe finally gets his chance as the starter center. A great rebounder per 100 possessions, he has never averaged more than 18.7 minutes. Can his production handle scaled up playing time?
Nolan Traore, 20, G, 6-3, 185
The young Frenchman is quick and gets to the rim, but of every player who attempted at least 100 layups, his 44.4 percent was dead last. Will the former first-rounder’s added muscle help him finish?
Moritz Wagner, 29, F/C, 6-11, 245
With Claxton gone and Sharpe the starter, Wagner signed in free agency as Brooklyn’s only other proven center. He’s going to play — a lot — but can the floor spacing he provides compensate for a lack of rim protection?
Danny Wolf, 22, F/C, 6-11, 250
Despite the size, Wolf is far more of a jumbo wing than a backup center. He can dribble and pass, but with his ground-bound game, the 22-year-old is going to have to work on improving his finishing or jumper. It’s a recurring theme.
After leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years, Jalen Brunson had the honor of hosting the 52nd season premiere of "Saturday Night Live."
The Finals MVP received a warm welcome from the home crowd at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, joked about his cold-blooded demeanor, his "pretty good summer," and said he hopes his hosting duties will go like a Knicks' game -- "God awful" for the first three quarters and "amazing" for the final sketch like a fourth-quarter comeback win.
Brunson discussed his "pretty good summer" and then held a "news conference" with the audience, where he was pestered by silly questions from Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart.
Anunoby got the biggest laugh by asking the point guard about missing the last-second shot in Game 4 of the NBA Finals -- which Anunoby famously tipped-in with 1.2 seconds left to pull off the miraculous 29-point comeback.
Brunson was even nice enough to bring the group on stage to close out his monologue, which you can check out here:
