Category: Basketball

There isn’t a whole lot you can complain about the Pistons start to the season. They sit at an East-best 4-1 and got through the brutal start to their schedule with a 3-1 record. This is all despite missing Jalen Duren for half of the games and key rotation players like Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Joe for a couple.

The Brooklyn Nets are 0-4, but they have been sneakily competitive this season with their only blowout loss being a 27-point loss to the Indiana Pacers. They are coming off a buzzer beating loss to the Boston Celtics in overtime on Tuesday.

It is tough to make definitive judgments on a team early in the season, but I feel like Brooklyn could be one of those teams that doesn’t win a lot of games, but makes it tough on you every time you face them.

The Pistons have a good shot at winning their group in the NBA Cup, but I definitely wouldn’t call this game an “easy” win.

Game Vitals

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
When: Friday, October 30 at 7:30 pm EST
Watch: TV20 Detroit or DAZN (streaming)
Odds: Pistons (-7.5)

Analysis

An underrated factor to this game is that the Brooklyn Nets were able to fly home from Boston after their overtime heartbreaker on Tuesday and have been home since then while the Pistons had to fly from New York, back to Detroit for a home game against Charlotte, and then back to New York for this game. They at least have a day of rest for this game, which should help, but having to travel that much in a 3-day span is not great.

This is very much could be a trap game given the travel-related factors and the fact that the Nets have been a pretty feisty team this season despite their 0-4 record. The Nets have a pretty good mix of developing young players and veterans that make things easier for them, so I feel like they will be a tough out every night, even if their record is one of the worst in the league.

The two veterans that are the big threats are Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Both have kind of been sent to rot in Brooklyn by their former teams, but Porter put together an impressive season last year and continues to be one of the biggest off-ball shooting threats in the league. Randle’s game is what it is at this point, but he has the ability to take on a pretty heavy offensive burden and allow the younger guys to focus on taking the easy shots.

One of the young players we will miss out on seeing is last year’s highest of their many first round picks, Egor Demin, who suffered a leg injury in the overtime loss to the Celtics. The Nets still have other improving young players like 1st round pick Mikel Brown Jr. and Nolan Traore, who has shown some flashes in his 2nd season.

I have faith that the Pistons will be able to slow down the Brooklyn Nets on the defensive end, as they have only given up 98 points per game over the last three games. But, in those three games they have only averaged 100 points per game. Without their 2nd offensive threat in Jalen Duren as well as a drop off in shooting from Duncan Robinson and no Isaiah Joe, the free flowing offense that hit a lot of threes to start out the season is now temporarily missing in action (hopefully).

Luckily for the Pistons, there is a chance that Isaiah Joe returns tonight and their schedule over the next couple weeks while Jalen Duren is out is not as difficult as the gauntlet they started the season out with.

But, as long as the Pistons have Cade Cunningham, they have a chance in any game. Cade finally broke out of his quiet start to the season to the tune of 30 points against Charlotte on Wednesday. He hit multiple clutch shots along with Daniss Jenkins to seal the game. With how much the Pistons have struggled to create offense without Jalen Duren, I expect the Jenkins-Cade backcourt to get a few more looks since both players can handle the ball and create a bit for others.

That’s not to say that we haven’t gotten that look before, as JB Bickerstaff has employed it a few times this season, but Jenkins is a player that had his best moments last season when he got a lot of minutes, so it is worth riding the hot hand.

If there is one factor that is in Brooklyn’s favor in this game, it is their frontcourt size. Paul Reed has done a fantastic job filling in for Jalen Duren, but he is a bit undersized for a full-time starting center. Brooklyn has Day’Ron Sharpe, Julius Randle, and Michael Porter Jr. in their starting frontcourt and all three are 6’9” or above. The only one of those three that can be classified as a “good” defender is Sharpe, but all of them are good rebounders so I could see the Nets having an advantage on the glass.

At full health, it is difficult to see a world where the Pistons lose this game, but without Jalen Duren to provide a bit more offensive punch and possibly not having Isaiah Joe, this could end up being another ugly game for the Pistons that they have to win with their defense.

Lineups

Brooklyn Nets (0-4): Mikel Brown Jr, Nolan Traore, Michael Porter Jr, Julius Randle, Day’Ron Sharpe

Detroit Pistons (4-1): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren

Question of the Day

Do you think the Pistons continue to win ugly or do they finally break out of their offensive slump?

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Brunson is even winning awards behind enemy lines. 

He was named the Professional Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. The announcement came just hours before Brunson and the Knicks were set to play the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena Friday night, the second matchup between the two teams already this season after the Knicks dropped the season opener at Madison Square Garden. 

Brunson, a South Jersey native, played collegiately nearby at Villanova. He roots for Philly sports teams, especially the Eagles. 

But he is now the captain of one of Philly’s top rivals – a Knicks team that has tormented the 76ers in recent years, including a dominant sweep in the second round of the playoffs last year en route to a championship. It’s an honor that is sure to anger 76ers and Philly sports fans. 

“What Jalen Brunson accomplished this past year has been nothing short of remarkable,” PSWA president Mike Shute said in the announcement. “His skill, his leadership and his connection to the Philadelphia basketball community all make him a deserving recipient of this honor. 

“He plays his best basketball when the stakes are the highest and has led his teams to championships at every level.” 

There is no doubt Brunson is connected to the Philly basketball community. 

Currently, though, that connection comes at Philly’s expense. 

Someone really should approach Will Wade and LSU about starting a reality show. Look at what’s gone on there just this week:

First, the Reese Alston recruitment. Alston’s father, former NBA star Rafer, absolutely slammed Wade a few days ago for the recruitment of his son, saying this: “I’m disgusted by how this whole process has played out. Will Wade has operated in a disgusting manner. He is a sleazeball of an individual. I know there was a back alley deal involving PUMA, in which money was accepted without my authorization.”

Wade allegedly cut a deal with Reese’s mother, who presumably will be signing the grant-in-aid, given Rafer’s disgust with Wade.

Then there’s the RJ Luis situation, which, at this point, is pure comedy.

Wade, pushing the limits as always, recruited RJ Luis for a fifth season, despite Luis’s brief NBA dalliance, during which he signed more than one contract.

This was part of why the SEC got angry enough at LSU to threaten to kick them out of the conference.

Now, Luis’s attorney,  Tony Clayton Jr,. having won a temporary restraining order that will allow his client to play, and that also prevents the SEC from punishing LSU for now, are taking it a step further: if Wade doesn’t roster Luis and then play him, Clayton will take him to court and ask the judge to hold him in constructive contempt.

In Louisiana, the penalties for that are $1,000 dollars, which is trivial, and up to 6 months in jail, which is anything but.

Clayton said this about Wade: “I’m telling you we’re going to use the long arm of the law to force Will Wade to play him because I’m not going to allow these folks to play musical chairs. We would bring in Coach Wade and move to hold him in constructive contempt. I would not advise anyone to be in contempt of court. This judge is real.”

In case you missed it, Clayton is telling Wade he has to actually play Luis. So what happens if Wade puts him in for 30 seconds? Will that suffice? Or will Clayton demand a certain number of minutes? Is he now a functional member of the coaching staff?

Just as a side note, Clayton, who clearly has a bit of flair, compared SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to North Korean strong man Kim Jong Un.

Wade is now having to balance the SEC’s very real threats vs. potential jail time.

Not surprisingly, Wade is not sticking his neck out in public, and refused to comment on Luis’s eligibility.

At the end of the day, we wonder about a couple of things: first, what exactly happened between Wade and Reese Alston’s mother. When the transfer portal and paying players came to pass, we said that we didn’t know how, but that members of the Situational Ethics Conference would find new ways to cheat. It won’t surprise us in the slightest if Wade leads the way on that.

And second, what must the braintrust at NC State be thinking? They were angry when Wade abandoned Raleigh to return to LSU. At this point, though, they must be breathing a sigh of relief that the Music Man, predictably, skipped town and took his chaotic show to Baton Rouge.

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NBA and Take-Two’s Rookie Dinner series dropped their latest which happens to feature the story of the moment: Yaxel Lendeborg. Oakland’s own Drew Gooden and San Jose’s Aaron Gordon break bread with the new sensation at Berkeley’s Everett and Jones.

Yaxel talks about his mom’s cancer being a motivator for his involvement in donating and raising the profile of cancer fundraisers and research.

Among the bits of wisdom Gooden and Gordon impart:

• Rookies aren’t hazed the way they used to be
• It’s hard to replicate the one for all, all for one, sacrifice your numbers to win nature of college in the pros
• The pro game is a lot more zero sum
• “Don’t get bip’d… and don’t bap.”
• “Just stay with it. There are some freaks in this league. Real monsters in this league. This sh*t will humble you.”
• “The more you give out, the more that comes back around.”
• “You don’t want to take work home with you.” — meditation, reading… maybe go down to Half Moon Bay.

Yaxel’s most notable reactions:

• Hearing about how rookies used to be hazed
• Hearing about AAU
• Learning the definitions of “bip’d” and “bap’d.”
• Aaron Gordon praising his game.

Then, Mistah F.A.B. drops by to join the chorus, confirming the bip-bap lesson but also dapping up the rookie. He, Gordon, and Gooden were all impressed by his real work experience, too, and think that’s what’ll make him a success in the league.

Mistah F.A.B. also advised him on how to help out with the community: “Just be authentic. Don’t even come in with the cameras.” This is great advice. Then he calls Too $hort for some more advice. So, if you’re a $hort completist, check out this video, because it’s canon. So, Mistah F.A.B., Too $hort, Drew Gooden, Aaron Gordon: this is a group of people who’ve forgotten more about the Bay than a lot of Northern Californians learn in a lifetime.

Yaxel then poses a question: “How did you deal with your success and your fame? Stay humble, stay who you are and, like, still be able to remain the same to your friends and those around you?” Some of the advice he gets back:

• It’s very materialistic in the NBA in those early days. Just take care of your family.

• “A pure heart is all that matters… when you come from certain humble beginnings, man, only time I’m going back there is if I’m coming to help.”

The biggest thing I learned is that he grew up a baseball guy, which just goes to show why I like him so much. He also communicated how much he did not want to follow in his mom’s footsteps doing manual labor. He feels as genuine and down to earth here as he has in other public appearances.

But beyond this video, the podcast and online chatter, I’ve also learned that his popularity is spreading quickly IRL. Two nights ago, I was seated for a screening for the limited release of a restoration of the 1971 Ken Russell film The Devils and in the theater — there were maybe 25-30 people in attendance — somebody came in wearing a Lendeborg Warriors jersey. 376 miles away from Chase Center and he’s making an impression beyond talking trash about Luka Dončić.

They’ll face off again later tonight.

Jalen Brunson, NBA champ and, officially, actor.

The Knicks guard plays a detective in a new “Law & Order SVU” trailer that released on Friday.

Brunson appears opposite the show’s megastar, Mariska Hargitay, who plays Captain Olivia Benson in the long-running NBC police drama.

The pair are close friends and the actress is a diehard Knicks fan, as well as a staple on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden.

“Detective Madison,” Benson says in the trailer.

“Hey captain,” Madison, portrayed by Brunson, wearing a detective badge around his neck responds with a smile.

Episode 5 of Season 28 centers around an assault of a wedding guest at the reception.

“Benson and the squad uncover a secret that changes the course of the investigation; [DA Sonny] Carisi’s pursuit of justice becomes increasingly complicated when key witnesses refuse to cooperate,” the episode description reads.

Both Brunson and Hargitay teased his cameo on multiple occasions after the Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals to secure their first championship in 53 years.

Margitay first revealed their plan to have Brunson on “Law & Order SVU” during an appearance on the “Today Show” in August.

The Emmy-winning actress was a guest star on the “Roommates Show” live show — the weekly podcast hosted by Brunson and Knicks teammate Josh Hart — when the Knicks stars took the show experience to Randall’s Island Park in New York in September.

Hargitay was also on the Knicks’ championship bus during their victory parade in New York on June 18.

The “Law & Order SVU” episode with Brunson, entitled “Forsaken,” with Brunson will air on Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Doug Christie reportedly not on hot seat despite Kings' 0-5 start to the season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings fell to 0-5 to start the 2026-27 NBA season after a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and have found themselves in a deep hole. Despite the rough start, though, it appears that coach Doug Christie’s job is safe.

The winless start created rumblings that Christie is on the hot seat, but according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the franchise has no plans to make any changes, at least in the immediate future.

“Even before Thursday night’s game in New Orleans, a 132-120 loss against the previously 0-4 Pelicans that dropped the Kings to 0-5, there was a growing sense around the league that Christie might already be on the hot seat,” Amick wrote. “Especially if the Kings didn’t find a way to win on this four-game road trip that still includes games against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Yet according to a team source with knowledge of the Kings’ plans, that’s not the case.

“Per the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because these matters aren’t typically discussed publicly, there is an internal belief that Christie deserves a fair chance to be evaluated with a team that is much healthier than this current Kings lot. From Ben Simmons (torn right Achilles tendon, out for the season) to Keegan Murray (left ankle), Maxime Raynaud (right knee) and Dylan Cardwell (left calf), the Kings have been without several players who were expected to play pivotal parts in Christie’s rotation.”

Christie is in his second full season as the Kings’ coach and was tasked with overseeing a rebuild. The Kings have one playoff appearance over the last 20 seasons and came into this season with a young roster. Headlined by rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., second-year big man Maxime Raynaud and veteran big man Domantas Sabonis, the team is still trying to establish a consistent core.

It doesn’t help that the team is dealing with several injuries, with Raynaud sidelined due to a knee injury he sustained in the preseason and guard Ben Simmons out for the season with a torn Achilles. Christie’s leadership has been vital for player development, and the expectation is that when the team gets some guys back, they will find their footing.

Acuff Jr. in particular has shown promise, averaging 24 points, 6.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds through five games. He is coming off his best game of the season to date, scoring 34 points and registering 14 assists in the 132-120 loss to the Pelicans.

The Kings are desperate for a win and hope that their first one comes in their next game against the 5-0 Memphis Grizzlies. Traveling to Memphis, tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m.

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2026 has been the year of Jalen Brunson. Shooting Stars champions, Conference Finals MVP, championship, Finals MVP, multiple ESPYs, and numerous media appearances, including Saturday Night Live and an upcoming appearance on his favorite show, Law and Order. But he’s not done yet. On Friday morning, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that the point guard had been named the Professional Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. 

The press release released by the association, which consists of 17 members, highlights his incredible performance, ability to deliver in the clutch, and his leadership. 

“His skill, his leadership, and his connection to the Philadelphia basketball community all make him a deserving recipient of this honor. He plays his best when the stakes are the highest and has led his teams to championships at every level.” Mike Shute, president of the PSWA, said. “We are pleased to present him with this honor, as he joins a list of past winners such as Carl Lewis, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain and Mike Schmidt.”

Brunson, who famously played at Villanova, will be honored at the 122nd Annual PSWA Awards Banquet next year on January 11th at the University of Pennsylvania. Funnily enough, the announcement also comes just hours before the Knicks take on the 76ers to kick off the 2026 NBA Cup. 

After handily defeating a shorthanded Magic team, the Raptors are gearing up to square off for the second game of the season series, with more on the line than before.

After mutilating Orlando by 30 points, Toronto should feel confident with them as their first opponent of Group Play, which decides who’s able to enter the seeding of the tournament bracket. The Raptors made the Knockout Round last year, but were defeated in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions, the New York Knicks.

If the Raptors’ last game was any indication, getting back to the Knockout Round looks to be extremely likely this year, as their lineups of opponents will be the Orlando Magic, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons, and finally, the Brooklyn Nets.

The only team in the group that appears to be near the calibre of Toronto in this group is the Detroit Pistons, who have the potential to give the Raptors a lot of trouble with their centre play. Other than that, the Raptors should steamroll the other three matchiups, even without Kawhi Leonard.

Toronto has only two players missing tonight’s game, those being Leonard, and centre Nate Bittle. Bittle is a rookie who has not yet seen NBA playing time, and seeing how he’ll slot into the Raptors’ rotation will be interesting, as Rajaković has noted that “everything is on the table” for players at that position.

Orlando’s injury situation is quite another story. They’re without five players, a number of them starters, most notably Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. Jonathan Isaac is also sidelined, as well as forwards Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson.

While victory is never guaranteed, the Raptors should take this game as an opportunity to bolster their new lineup with Ja’Kobe Walter starting, giving the players more reps with the shooter now that he’s playing an even larger role on the team. As well, this game will hopefully be the one in which Jakob Poeltl is able to demonstrate his capabilities.

His coach has done a lot to stand beside Poeltl throughout a very difficult start to the season for the big man, whose offensive production has plummeted, in large part as a result of his attempting less than two field goals per game this season. Evidently, the team is sticking by their guy, but this means that whatever the reason for Poeltl not taking more shots — coaching schemes, anxiety, or otherwise — needs to be overcome.

Outside of the horrific zero-point showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Scottie Barnes has looked like an All-Star this season, averaging more than 20 points and already having notched his first double-double of the season against the Washington Wizards.

His massive 360 dunk last game has gone viral, with more than 300,000 views on the NBA’s Twitter page alone, and it’s brief moments like these that remind you that Barnes is 25, a two-time All-Star, and in year six of his NBA career. The Raptors have a *guy* that’s not named Kawhi Leonard, who is (excluding the Wolves game) putting together an impressive start to the season.

The Magic game tonight gives the Raptors the opportunity to tighten up their new lineup ahead of a three game road trip mostly in the Western Conference, where the Raps will get their first look at this year’s Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers. Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder made the show “The Rehearsal” before the film “You Can See Everything,” and much like him, the Toronto Raptors will have an opportunity to rehearse before they have to see everything California and Colorado has in store for them.

The Nets have no shortage of young players to develop this season.

Between the Flatbush 5, now in their second season, and their three rookies from June’s NBA draft, Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, and Tyler Bilodeau, the organization has drafted eight players over the past two years, including seven first-round picks.

Eight of their 15 players on standard NBA contracts remain on their rookie deal. Bilodeau, the second-round rookie, is on a two-way deal, while 2023 first-rounder Noah Clowney, in a prove-it season, is Brooklyn’s eighth NBA player on a rookie contract. (Clowney is younger than Jefferson, Bilodeau and Danny Wolf.)

For the second straight year, the Nets are the NBA’s youngest team with a median age of 24.3 years, and the only team younger than their current squad over the past 25 years was Brooklyn’s group last season.

That youth movement extends beyond the organization’s regular-season roster. About 25 miles east of the Barclays Center, the Nets have another group of young players on Long Island, looking to develop their games and eventually land a consistent role in the NBA.

Bilodeau is a part of that pod alongside fellow two-way player Grant Nelson, who returns for his second season with the organization after patellar tendinitis cut short his 2025-26 campaign. He didn’t even have the opportunity to fully prove his value, as he found himself on a minutes restriction even when he was on the floor.

At Long Island’s Media Day on Thursday ahead of their November 6 opener, both Bilodeau and Nelson spoke with NetsDaily about their development and what it will take to eventually establish themselves as contributors with Brooklyn. As two-way players, Nelson and Bilodeau can each play up to 50 NBA games.

Bilodeau told us that he’s already seen growth since Summer League, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

“I feel like I’ve improved so much since Summer League,” the second-round rookie said. “I think a big improvement of mine has been defensively, trusting myself a little more, and getting used to guarding the perimeter. I didn’t do much of that last year.”

That’s encouraging, because the biggest concern regarding Bilodeau’s game entering the draft was his defense. At 6’9” and 230 pounds, he certainly has the frame to be a serviceable option on that end of the floor, but as he alluded to, there wasn’t much of an emphasis on him guarding the perimeter during his final year at UCLA.

The shooting ability is there. During his final NCAA season with the Bruins, he shot a whopping 46.4% from deep, topping this year’s draft class and leading all Big 10 players. His defense, though, was the main reason he fell to Brooklyn with the No. 43 overall pick.

More importantly, though, the Nets already have enough young players who need the ball in their hands, and that’s not the best path for a second-rounder to find minutes, especially on Brooklyn’s current squad.

Much of his attention seems to be going towards improving as an all-around player.

“Really, I feel like just improving on all aspects of my game,” he said.

Bilodeau also acknowledged that the transition from college basketball to the professional level will come with some adjustments to his play style.

“It’s a different game,” the UCLA product said. “The NBA is a different game, so I think making that transition from college to this level means just working on all those things.

While he’s with Long Island, Bilodeau should have plenty of opportunites to work through those adjustments and become a more well-rounded player. Long Island and Brooklyn operate with an eerily similar system and terminology, making it much easier for players to transition from the NBA to the G League. That’s especially valuable for a young player like Bilodeau.

“We’re one group. We’re one organization. Jordi [Fernández] preaches it all the time. We’re a club. We have a club system here, basically,” Long Island’s first-year head coach Shawn Swords told ND on Thursday.

The same goes for Nelson. While he is in a different spot, having already spent a year with the organization, their goals remain the same: eventually prove their worth on the NBA floor.

While injuries hampered Nelson last year, he spent much of his rehabilitation working on his shooting mechanics, in particular, which he discussed at Brooklyn’s Media Day last month.

Speaking with ND at Long Island’s Media Day, the Alabama product explained why he emphasized growing that facet of his game.

“I think it’s extremely important with the direction that the game has been going in,” he said. “I mean, I think it’s just adding another part to my game, being versatile in that way. Most bigs can shoot now. So being able to do that, I think it will definitely help me out in my career.”

At 7’0”, Nelson is a fascinating player, largely because of his size and athleticism. Now, his shooting could become an asset, too.

Up in Brooklyn, the Nets lack an established rim protector and established interior defense. Nelson has an opportunity to make an impression in those areas, especially with his size and mobility. His mindset, though, remains to continue developing on Long Island. The goal, however, is NBA minutes.

“Obviously, I’m trying to do what I can here in Long Island to become the best player I can be. And hopefully get some minutes with Brooklyn,” The 24-year-old Nelson told ND.

Nelson still knows that there’s room for improvement. At the end of the day, he’s on a two-way deal for a reason: to keep growing and blossoming as a player.

“I’m not the player that I want to be yet,” he said.

That’s also the mentality Long Island’s general manager Matt MacDonald and the organization are looking for in their players, whether they’re on assignments, two-way guys, or standard G League players.

“We work hard here; we want good people,” he said on Thursday. “We want guys that are talented and have a chance to get to the next level.”

There’s plenty of basketball ahead for both Nelson and Bilodeau, but they also have plenty to prove. As the Nets continue building toward the future, discovering diamonds in the rough like these players highlights the true value of an organization’s development system, and Brooklyn has a strong reputation for theirs.

Long Island opens its season on November 6 in Greensboro before its home opener on the 13th vs. the College Paek Skyhawks.

Every time the Knicks take the floor in the 2026-27 season, they will do so as the hunted. They won just about every prize you could win last season, meaning they’ll never get a game without a bit of edge from an opponent.

Things won’t truly get real until the postseason for the real title defense, but the Knicks did hang a second banner to hang forever at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

That’s right. It’s time for the NBA Cup.

Last year, as an appetizer for June’s dramatics, the Knicks went 3-1 in group play, ultimately winning East Group C via head-to-head tiebreaker. They then took down the Raptors in Toronto, the Magic in Vegas, and came back from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take home the NBA Cup after consecutive years of losing in the quarterfinals.

This year, they’ll face by far their hardest path to getting out of group play for the fourth consecutive year. Adam Silver has stacked the deck with a ridiculously competitive Group B that will be a war to get through. Even the wild card, which the Knicks have used to advance in the past, will be tough with likely few opportunities to run up the point differential.

Still, the Knicks are champs until they aren’t, even in a midseason tournament. Let’s meet the contenders:

East Group B

Philadelphia 76ers (10/30, 7:30, Prime Video)

Tonight’s Cup opener in the City of Brotherly Love will be the Knicks’ second crack at the makeshift superteam that bested them on Opening Night in a back-and-forth affair.

The Sixers are one of those teams that I question how seriously they’re going to take the NBA Cup. Sure, there are some big measuring-stick games in this group, but with a lineup that they will be heavily load-managing throughout the season, one wonders if they’re going to take a condensed calendar that will require additional travel and even an extra game at the end of it. We saw how it burned out the Knicks last year.

To start the year, Philly is 4-1 with a very strange combination of a mediocre offense and… the best defense in basketball? What sense does that make? They’ve been healthy, only missing Joel Embiid and LeBron James for a single game on the dueling ends of a back-to-back. Despite playing Embiid for 39 minutes on Wednesday, he’s not on the injury report for Friday night.

While the Knicks might not care about the Cup anymore, it would behoove them to get revenge on Opening Night and not have to wait until February for another crack at these guys. We saw it with Detroit last year; the last thing we need is a year-long narrative of one team having our number.

Indiana Pacers (11/13, 7:00, Prime Video)

When the Knicks played the Pacers last season, it didn’t feel like the vibe of a rekindled rivalry between two teams that had played in consecutive postseasons. That was because Indiana was taking a voluntary gap year while Tyrese Haliburton rehabbed from an Achilles tear, managing injuries all season long and slipping to 19-63. Thankfully, it wasn’t rewarded in the lottery when they slipped to No. 5 and gave the pick to the Clippers.

That trade with the Clips did get them a certified big man that will swallow up boards in Ivica Zubac, someone who will be a tough cookie for Karl-Anthony Towns when these two teams finally face off in a heated atmosphere for the first time in almost two years.

The only problem? It doesn’t sound like Haliburton will be at the party.

He recently suffered a hamstring injury that will leave him out for at least two weeks. This game was just 16 days after that diagnosis, meaning the odds are slim that he’ll return based on what we know right now. That’ll diminish what we see, but we’re all aware of what Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell can do for this team.

Indiana’s started the year off to an uneven 2-3 start, but Nembhard and Pascal Siakam are more than capable of shouldering the load in the coming weeks. I doubt they’ll be as special offensively as we’ve been accustomed to seeing without Haliburton, but they won’t be a pushover.

Going undefeated in this group will be hard, so this might be the Knicks’ best chance to pad their point differential. But to do that, the Knicks will need a full 48 minutes.

Cleveland Cavaliers (11/25, 7:30, MSG)

There are plenty of playoff rematches in this group. One of them is this Eastern Conference rematch the day before Thanksgiving at MSG, the site of the soul-crushing Game 1 comeback that killed the Cavs.

They’re off to an interesting 3-2 start, one that involves getting out to big leads every game, only to choke them immediately. They blew a 29-point lead to Philly, nearly blew a 20-point lead to Brooklyn, and had to rally late to beat Washington. The vibes are low there, if not just because nobody trusts Kenny Atkinson and James Harden has been abhorrent to start the year.

It’s hard to get a read on this game because the regular-season Knicks and the playoff Knicks are entirely different. It’s a team you expect to win, but we’re far enough out that we need to see what the situations look like.

Miami Heat (11/27, 7:00, Prime Video)

The Knicks’ 0-3 start got heavily publicized, but the Heat’s 0-4 start somehow made bigger waves after the massive offseason trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The fit just looks clunky. He’s too similar to Bam Adebayo both offensively and defensively, which pushes Miami’s longest-tenured player to the periphery. That just can’t happen when your other scoring options are Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins. The defense will round into form (maybe?), but this is just a bleak offensive outlook.

That said, they could match up well against the Knicks, given their lack of size.

OG Anunoby and Towns are good, but they can’t play all game. Towns especially is extremely prone to getting in foul trouble, which is a disaster against Giannis. James Wiseman and/or Andre Drummond will be crucial to negating their paint advantage enough for the Knicks’ clear shooting advantage.

If this game is meaningful after good enough results in the first three games, it’s not a place I think the Knicks can get point differential out of. They’d need to just need a win. Beating Erik Spoelstra’s crew in Miami has always been hard for this crew.

The Rest of the East

Group A

Pistons
Raptors
Magic
Bucks
Nets

This could be a friskily fun group.

The Pistons are 4-1 with just that lone loss to the Knicks and feel like the favorite here. As we saw on Tuesday, things can get spooky outside of Cade Cunningham, and they’re without Jalen Duren for at least the first game, but Paul Reed has been more than capable in his absence.

The Raptors are also 4-1, but have a much bleaker outlook without Kawhi Leonard for the next few weeks. Their viability in this group will rely on Scottie Barnes’ offensive consistency. He’s gone from dropping 25 to dropping… zero at times. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley look good!

Orlando is 1-3 with their lone win over the Knicks, but they’re going to be without Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero for the foreseeable future. This will likely not be their year after a trip to the semifinals last year.

The same can be said for the Bucks, who are just very underwhelming with Kyle Kuzma-led hoops. The Nets will put up a big fight with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. capable of going off for 30 a night, but they’re not good enough defensively nor deep enough to have a real shot.

Group C

Celtics
Hawks
Hornets
Bulls
Wizards

The Celtics will be the definitive favorite to come out of the group, especially with Jayson Tatum looking like an early MVP candidate. Their three-point shooting is enough to carry them through a regular season, but can they figure out what’s up with Mitchell Robinson? He looks like a shell of himself.

Atlanta ran back most of the group that pushed the Knicks to six games last year, but added a bunch of defense in Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins. They’re healthy, play with enough grit, and have the talent to sneak their way into the knockout round.

The Hornets are… better off without LaMelo? Despite injuries knocking out Kon Knueppel and Coby White, they’ve looked impressive to start the year under a new nucleus of Naz Reid and Brandon Miller. With Knueppel due back for the bulk of NBA Cup play, could their dynamic offense get them back in the saddle?

As we saw in a scare on Wednesday night, the Bulls have the ability to be frisky. Caleb Wilson has shown signs of brilliance, Norm Powell can score 35 on any given night, and they’ve gotten some damn good shot quality even if they aren’t always falling. They probably won’t do much, but in a four-game sample, anything is possible.

The Wizards have their Big 3 healthy: AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis, but they haven’t played enough to tell if they’re a true threat. I lean no, as of now.

A Quick West Check

West Group A

Nuggets
Rockets
Suns
Mavericks
Jazz

There are a lot of good teams in this group, but the Rockets look by far the best to start the year. If they stay healthy, they should have no problem. Dallas can steal some games with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, but the outlook for the Suns and Jazz is bleaker. Utah’s injury bug is killing them, as Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss all of group play.

West Group B

Thunder
Timberwolves
Clippers
Pelicans
Grizzlies

Are… are the Grizzlies the favorite? They’re 5-0 entering group play, while the two contenders in this group will be without key pieces. Anthony Edwards is likely done until the New Year, as is Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams for OKC. The Clippers and Pelicans are two of the worst teams in basketball, so the unlikely underdog in Memphis might actually do this.

West Group C

Spurs
Lakers
Blazers
Warriors
Kings

There’s a clear hierarchy here. The Spurs are the favorites; the Lakers are a Luka Doncic explosion away from winning this whole damn thing; the Blazers are extremely frisky and could make noise, and both the Warriors and Kings are dead in the water. O/U 100 FGA for Darius Acuff Jr. in group play.

Predictions

East Group A: Give me the Pistons to win the group and the Raptors to come in second, but miss the wild card.

East Group B: The Knicks will not defend their cup title. There’s so much intensity with every game, not just in this group but league-wide, as the hunted. This feels like something that the regular-season merchants will succeed with, so congrats to the Cavs. This group will be cannibalized, so no wild card here

East Group C: Boston is the easy pick to win the group, but I see the Hornets somehow finding a way to steal the wild card. They’ll win a game against the Bulls by 40 and pad the point differential with that offense, especially with Knueppel back.

West Group A: The Rockets are a unit right now.

West Group B: I don’t know what way this is going to go with how diminished OKC is. Screw it, lt’s go with the Grizzlies.

West Group C: Spurs win the group, Blazers take the wild card via tiebreaker over the Lakers after a thrilling overtime win.

Quarterfinals: In the East, the No. 1 seed Pistons grind down the plucky Hornets at home, while the Cavs stun the Celtics in Boston due to three-point variance. In the West, the top-seeded Rockets blow out the Blazers in Houston, while the Spurs host and beat the Thunder.

Semifinals: The Pistons and Cavs fight hard in a big playoff rematch, but it goes the same way with the Cavs going to the finals. Meanwhile, the Rockets take down the Spurs at home.

Finals: At Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Cavs will be able to operate with an essential home game. Unfortunately, as usual, the lights will be too bright. The Rockets win the 2026 NBA Cup, with Fred VanVleet scoring NBA Cup MVP.

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These two chill surfers picked the right time to ride the Jalen Brunson wave.

Twin brothers Alex and Mike Faherty, who grew up in Spring Lake on the Jersey Shore, founded Faherty Brand in 2013 and have turned it into a $300 million success.

Things took a turn when they met Brunson through a mutual friend while at the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2022.

The pair and Brunson — who spent a portion of his childhood in South Jersey and has a home in Margate — hit it off and the company, which is inspired by the brothers’ coastal upbringing, signed the point guard as a brand ambassador not long after he inked his first deal with the Knicks in July 2022.

That came after Brunson spent his first four NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks primarily as Luka Doncic’s backup. Since coming to New York, Brunson has become one of the biggest stars in the league.

“I’m a huge lifetime Knick fan and when the Knicks signed Jalen, we knew that he was going to be such a difference maker to the team,” Alex, who is the CEO of Faherty Brand, said in an interview with The Post.

“[Before working with Brunson] we’d been thinking about and talking about… that it would be great to sort get our inroads into sport because my brother and I are lifetime athletes and Villanova fans.”

Brunson won two NCAA national championships with Villanova in 2016 and ’18 before heading to the NBA.

Alex played football at Yale and went on to work in private equity. Mike, a former Division III basketball player at Washington University, was a fashion designer for Ralph Lauren.

Their respective knowledge in finance and fashion was a solid foundation for the brand.

Alex explained that he and Mike, who is the brand and chief creative officer, bonded with Brunson over sports and their love of New York.

“[Brunson] knew the [Faherty] brand and liked the gear,” Alex said, adding that their families have also gotten along well. “For both of us, we wanted to get to know each other first.. where it’s not just this transactional thing, it’s also friendship. I think it was a great fit.

“… We’ve had some fun content shoots and Jalen and Mike have had a 3-point contest and obviously Jalen wins every time.”

Things quickly progressed into a successful business relationship across three NBA seasons.

During that time Brunson has become the king of New York after he helped the Knicks capture the NBA title for the first time in 53 years.

Brunson unanimously won the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after the Knicks won four of five against the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.

Faherty Brand made Knicks playoff gear throughout the team’s historic run — and decided before the NBA Finals to pull the trigger on championship gear, which quickly sold out.

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Entering their fourth year as partners, Alex explained that Brunson is involved in the details of his Faherty tunnel fits, among other pieces he gives approval for.

“[People don’t realize] how funny Jalen is,” Alex said. “He’s a fun guy to be around. We did a commercial with him where he was the employee of the month at a Faherty store and [Knicks alum] Larry Johnson was a part of it too. It came out great, we cut it right before playoffs.

“… He’s definitely become more fashionable and he’s giving his input on things he wants to wear in the tunnel. We’re one of the brands that he talks to for that. And we want to be making sure we design the right beanie for him every year, because that’s his go-to look.

“We do graphic tees and hoodies with his saying on it, and he approves all of it. He’s very hands on with making sure he likes it.”

Faherty Brand is a $300 million business with more than 95 stores throughout the country, including 14 brick-and-mortars in the New York-metro area, and one in France, as well as a robust online business.

“The Jalen collection that we do, the ‘Magic is in the Work’ collection, has been a huge hit,” Alex said. “… It was a way for us to take, you know, some of our more fashionable styles and incorporate vintage NBA into it. Obviously there’s so much team gear out there and a lot of it looks the same. So we really wanted to take our premium higher-end fabrics and styles and bring it into the NBA.”

Alex emphasized that the company had longevity because his family helped get it off the ground.

In the early stages of the business, Alex’s wife, Kerry, oversaw impact initiatives, and the twins’ mother, Ninie, designed the interiors of the brand’s stores.

“My mom’s retired now, and my wife is an advisor,” Alex said, adding that Mike designs their stores. “Mike and I kind of run it day to day.”

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The business has outgrown the brothers in a good way, and they now have employees across the country.

Faherty now has a full NBA license, due partly to the success of a strong relationship with Brunson.

The brand will be launching products featuring 16 other NBA teams this year after starting with just a local license with the Knicks four years ago.

Faherty recently obtained a Rangers license.

They also just launched a partnership with the Giants for an exclusive collection at MetLife Stadium on game days, and it’s available in tri-state Faherty stores.

Steve Kerr states Warriors were ‘caught off guard' by Kristaps Porziņģis absence originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are 2-3 and looking to pick up their third straight win when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Friday night. But the team is navigating the early part of the season without one of their key players, big man Kristaps Porziņģis.

Porziņģis missed all of training camp after it was revealed that he is dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that affects his heart. Golden State is getting by without him and moving forward. But when his absence was first announced, it caught the team off guard.

“We were definitely caught off guard by it in that we were in communication with him over the summer, and it seemed like everything was in a good place right up until training camp,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “And then obviously things went south. Since the start of camp, when he was not here and we had to move forward, I haven’t given it a whole lot of thought to be honest, because we’re just busy. We have to take every single day and get our team ready for the next game.

“The days are full, the schedule is full, and so I check in with Kristaps occasionally to see how he’s doing. But we’re moving forward, and that’s all we can do. I like our young bigs, Graham [Ike] and Charles [Bassey]. We’re excited about playing those guys, and the opportunity that they’re going to receive, but everything else is not my jurisdiction. That’s Mike’s [Dunleavy] and the front office’s, and I just come to practice and I look forward to coaching the guys every day. We’re competing and seeing what we can put together.”

Porziņģis’ basketball future is in doubt because of his condition, and despite signing a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the franchise this offseason, all options, including a trade, are on the table.

Porziņģis provides a big boost when healthy, though. In 15 games for the Warriors last season, he averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, giving the franchise a true big man, something they have lacked in recent seasons. He was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in February in exchange for guard Buddy Hield and forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Golden State is 2-3 so far this season without him, relying heavily on players like Yaxel Lendeborg to fill the void. Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft, is averaging over 22 points through five games and is climbing considerably in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds. If the Warriors can keep getting strong performances from players like him, they will be alright even if Porziņģis does not return.

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Why Kerr is building ‘big part' of Warriors' offense around Yaxel Lendeborg originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr often has come under fire for how he uses rookies in the Warriors’ system.

Trying to integrate themselves within a motion-based offense that revolves around Steph Curry, many of Golden State’s recent draft picks have failed to earn Kerr’s trust or make an immediate impact.

But Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is doing just that.

Through five games, Lendeborg leads the Warriors in minutes and rebounds, while ranking second in points per game behind only Curry with 22.6.

During an interview with 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Thursday, Kerr described how Lendeborg has already carved out a major role.

“That first preseason game, he only took a few shots in Hawaii against the [Los Angeles] Clippers, and we all kind of talked to him, Steph, [Draymond Green], coaches like, ‘Hey, you got to be aggressive for us,’ and then all of a sudden, a couple preseason games where you see him attacking and scoring what he’s capable of doing,” Kerr said. “It’s like, all right, this guy is a little different, and we are now in the point where we’re recognizing we got to build a big part of the offense around him.”

Kerr compared Lendeborg’s skill set to that of star Jimmy Butler, currently recovering from a torn ACL, explaining how his strengths complement the Warriors’ offense when Curry needs a break.

“I think the similarity is the brute strength and the ability to create a shot for himself or his teammates,” Kerr said. “That’s a unique skill set in the NBA. You pay top dollar for that skill set. Jimmy, when he arrived, changed our team… and we changed our style a little bit. We slowed things down. We isolated him. We got him into spots and worked on our spacing. And Yaxel is having a similar impact in that, when Steph’s not on the floor or is tired, we can go to Yaxel in isolation, and he can create stuff for us, so he’s a really a big weapon for us.”

Lendeborg has scored 25+ points in three straight games and taken 19 or more shots in each one, highlighting his aggressiveness behind Curry.

The 24-year-old is shooting 35.5 percent from distance and 64.3 percent at the rim, giving Golden State a well-rounded offensive weapon just five games into his NBA career.

Kerr praised Lendeborg’s mentality, mentioning that the rookie was “despondent” after Wednesday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he had 26 points and nine rebounds but also put up seven turnovers.

“We’re going to need him if we’re going to be really good,” Kerr said. “We’re going to need him to grow and mature more quickly than we would ask other rookies. But I think he’s capable of it because at 24… he’s just got a really mature game, and now it’s a matter of just figuring out the NBA.”

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Happy Birthday, Devin Booker! Friday marks his 30th trip around the Sun. For most of the last 12 years, the Suns have been rotating around him. Fans have shared the rise, endured frustrating times together, enjoyed unbelievable moments, and lived an NBA Finals run. That run was SO close, up 2 games to nil for a title.

Phoenicians have enjoyed him as a pillar in the community and a true face of the franchise. Nearly every true Suns fan at some point has closed their eyes and pictured him hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy with purple and orange confetti falling from the rafters. We want this for him. For us.

In recent years, frustration murmurs have grown louder, with playoff losses and stretches where his level of play disappoints. I’m unashamedly a superfan, wearing his shoes and other name-branded sportswear. Yet I found myself coming down hard in my game recap after the most recent game. Our relationship with sports stars, much like family or friends, can get complicated. In this article, I’ll focus mostly on what he’s accomplished in those 30 years, with a peek into his role now and in the years to come.

Devin Armani Booker was born October 30, 1996. With DNA and motivation from his dad, a former All-Big 8 player, he quickly ascended as a youth player. At 15, he attended (and got quite a bit of attention) at LeBron James’ youth camp.

From there, he became a freshman 6th man on a 38-1 University of Kentucky team that included nine future NBA players headlined by Karl Anthony Towns. Then Suns GM Ryan McDonough selected him 13th in the 2015 NBA draft. It didn’t take long for him to make a name in the NBA, scoring 13.8 points per game as an 18-year-old rookie. The roster was thin during those first few seasons, but kept developing and improving. As a 20-year-old, he dropped 70 on the Celtics.

Those first four seasons all included 58 or more losses. Devin infused hope with his scoring (by then up to over 26 points a night) and basketball skills. With the arrival of a veteran point guard (Rickey Rubio) and a motivational coach (Monty Williams), and several promising young players, the COVID season represented a turning of the tide with a run in “the bubble” epitomized by this iconic shot by Booker.

Booker was becoming a true star. With Chris Paul’s arrival, his game and the team’s took that leap. In 2020-21, he led a playoff run that included four 40-point games and a trip to the NBA Finals. The next year, Book averaged 27/5/5, and the team went 64-18! That may have been the high point on his stock. He was voted first-team All-NBA and finished fourth in the MVP voting. After an opening-round playoff series win, Phoenix was ousted via a blowout 123-90 by the Dallas Mavericks. While that loss was a team effort, Devin shot 3-14 and got his first significant round of criticism. 

He continued to contribute strong play at 27.8 points per game in 2022-23. In February of that season, Mat Ishbia took ownership of the team and immediately made the blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. From KD’s layup line injury in his first game until the end of that era, the vision was never fully realized, but there were moments. In a full season together, Booker put up a career-high 9.2 win shares in spite of missing 14 games. The two stars teamed up and played key roles on the 2024 USA Basketball Gold Medal team, with Booker famously offering the “I’ll do it” quote in reference to doing all the little things on that team.

In February of 2025, he became the Suns’ all-time leading scorer. The team unraveled under Mike Budenholzer in 2024-25 to finish 10 games under .500, leading to a massive trade that sent KD packing and brought us to much of the current roster construct, including starters Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and youth in Khaman Maluach/Rasheer Fleming. That core plus several excellent additions flourished early last season under new head coach Jordan Ott, and Booker continued his high-scoring ways at 26.1 points per game, drawing a career-high 8.1 free throws per game as well.

In spite of a drop in three-point percentage these past two years, Book has always been a high-level scorer. He’s also been an excellent playmaker, soon to rank third in Suns history in assists behind two legendary pure point guards (Steve Nash, Kevin Johnson). What a career for someone who is 30! Devin, you’ve been a source of great pride, avoiding off-court embarrassments, saying the right things, giving countless special moments, connecting with fans, and initiating his Starting Five Foundation in 2019 as a significant way to give back to the community.

Thus, the ghost of “Booker Past” shines a far brighter picture than what Scrooge saw in the Christmas classic.  What about “Booker Present”? The current roster is searching for its mojo. We’re only 3 games in, but there were troubling signs in the preseason. John Voita wrote about how the roster around Devin is not currently ideal:

Problems are magnified with two starting-level centers out with injury. Three games are indeed not a significant sample. There are troubling signs. Booker has played under 8 coaches and with well over 100 teammates — some good, some definitely not. Through all of that, he has consistently put up high-scoring seasons and good passing statistics. I believe that will continue in the balance of the 2026-27 season. He seems to play his best when the team has what is called, in technical jargon, “good vibes”.

Between teammates working on their weaknesses, adapting, and Coach Ott showing his abilities as a fixer and motivator, those good vibes are still attainable in the next 79 games. What we want to see (and we don’t see it all behind the scenes) is Devin asserting himself as a star and franchise icon to lead a change in those “vibes”.

Finally, what about “Future Booker”? The team awarded all of the accomplishments above with a contract that runs through this year plus three more (~$264 million in that span). The money is a certainty. It’s extremely unlikely the Suns will move him.  

DARKO is a model proven to be the most accurate single metric of player value per a HoopsHype GM survey. It also projects remaining longevity of a career and compares the trend for the 10 most similar players. Booker’s DARKO?

It suggests the break-even on longevity is 8 more seasons. In terms of value, Booker peaked through 2024 at roughly a +4 rating, is currently at a +2, and projects a +1 by the end of that contract. That means he’d still contribute 1 point per 100 possessions better than an average NBA player.

This aging progression has exceptions: Steve Nash actually improved in DARKO while 32-34 years old! If the trend holds for Devin, Phoenix has a limited window to capitalize on his star abilities. That means making this current roster work, or trying one more big move.

Either way, let’s celebrate Devin for all that he’s done and get the good mojo going for more magic in his thirties.

Welcome to the inaugural Fawning or Warning?, a new fortnightly feature where I muse on all things Milwaukee Bucks, however explicitly or tangentially related, and determine if they’re worth fawning over or if they’re a warning sign of something going awry.

KPJ, roster building

My initial reaction to Kevin Porter Jr.’s axing was a combination of surprise and frustration. In fact, I had pencilled in Jon Horst as the inaugural Winners & Sinners sinner, penning the following before deciding against it:

Jon Horst. Yes, the Bucks were in a (self-imposed) difficult roster crunch prior to the season. And, yes, Kevin Porter Jr. opting in to his contract earlier in the offseason might not have been part of their plans. But to let a guy who was arguably the best player on the team last year, who has immense talent—perhaps the most on the team, and who Bucks fans still saw as the seventh-most-important player on the team go for nothing stings. To do that when there were much more logical options—ones fans wanted—makes it all the worse. Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert, and their expiring contracts sure better bring something meaningful back at the trade deadline.

Since then, thanks in no small part to all of your commentary, I’ve come to rationalise the move—and now actually support it. For one, as a one-year, $5.4m deal, Porter’s contract was a relatively easy one to cut. From an ownership perspective, this is an easier pill to swallow than, say, LeVert’s $14.8m deal. From a GM perspective, despite Porter certainly being the better talent and more productive player at this stage in their respective careers, it also makes sense. Porter clearly wasn’t a desired commodity league-wide, otherwise he would’ve been traded (he also probably wouldn’t have exercised his player option in the offseason). Moreover, LeVert’s larger salary is the better trade chip, either paired with other assets—players or picks—in matching for a desirable player who could help the Bucks now, or in taking on a “bad” contract to bring in assets.

The on-court ramifications are also favourable. Because of his talent, retaining Porter would’ve all but demanded playing him and that wouldundoubtedly come at the expense of younger players who are more likely part of Milwaukee’s future core, namely Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakučionis. So, cutting him has afforded them meaningful developmental minutes. Moreover, it’s spared Taylor Jenkins from the difficult decision to play Burries and Jakučionis over Porter (or vice versa) altogether, instead enabling him to focus on cultivating the sort of relationships that are essential for a young team trying to instill a “Compete. Together. Get better” mantra. Of course, LeVert’s role in this part is also pivotal. As someone on the downside of his career, he can more easily be given—and accept—a back seat as an end-of-the-bench veteran to help guide these players. Kudos to him for that.

Bigger picture, does cutting Porter signal a philosophical shift within the franchise? Faults of yesteryear—heck, even (or especially) this year—aside, cutting Porter might suggest a renewed roster-building focus, one that prioritises internal growth and development from the ground up. For as talented as he is, it’s hard for someone like Porter to unlearn his ways (think ball-dominance, shot selection). At the same time, might it also signpost a return to the high-character ethos that was so prominent under Mike Budenholzer? After all, Jenkins was an assistant under Bud with the Atlanta Hawks for six years.

To be clear, this is by no means an attack on Porter, who by all accounts conducted himself admirably while with the Bucks—and who I “fell for” enough to write not one but two screenplays about. But stains linger for a reason, and with the Bucks beginning a new era without an obvious drawcard—and Porter already a divisive figure among fans—ownership and management have to seriously consider their brand and fan perception of it. Inherent within these considerations is who represents them and who they promote. At the least, this is something to monitor moving forward.

Verdict: Fawning.

Not all rebounders are created equal

We’ve heard about it all offseason—how Taylor Jenkins will have these Bucks attacking the glass in an attempt to win the possession game. In the preseason, things looked pretty good, especially on the offensive glass (just check the notes). So far, this has translated in the regular season too. After five games, the Bucks rank third in rebounds per game (49.8) and 10th in rebounding percentage (51.7%). They also rank sixth in defensive rebounding percentage (72.6%). These are all great signs of a philosophical buy-in.

But the overall numbers obscure a truth: for all their intentions, the Bucks still sit a mediocre 16th in offensive rebounding percentage (31.1%). Milwaukee’s problem? A lack of “go-get-it!” rebounders—you know, the sort of rebounders who go after it, grabbing boards outside their area. Who make opponents feel them and wear them down doing so. Think Moussa Diabaté. Tristan Thompson. Reggie Evans. Upon acquiring him in the Giannis trade, I envisioned Kel’el Ware as one of these players, but early signs are inconclusive, suggesting he more so collects rebounds as a by-product of his size and placement near the rim. Jericho Sims offers more in the “go-get-it!” regard, particularly on the offensive glass, but he’s not seeing action. Kyle Kuzma is seeing action—and full credit to him for getting his hands dirty—and Brayden Burries seems to have a nose for the ball off iron too. But they don’t fit the bill either, not really, especially for a team that starts Myles Turner and his career-worst 9.2% rebounding percentage (seventh best on the team) at centre. Horst, that leaves two options: target the “go-getters” or… Is Mike Dunleavy Jr. still calling?

Verdict: Warning (precautionary).

Must-have maestro

By all accounts, Kasparas Jakučionis was a must-have in the Giannis trade. But for all the hype, Jakučionis was satisfactory at best in Summer League play and preseason did nothing to up expectations heading into the regular season. In fact, after playing only three games and struggling to find nylon—37% overall shooting, 23% from three—it seemed Jakučionis would be an end-of-rotation player at best, a nice option to have but nothing to scare opponents. Turns out, this Kas ain’t so friendly.

Now, Jakučionis has emerged as the Bucks’ sixth man. And while his stats through five contests aren’t anything exceptional—9.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.2 APG—he’s shooting it better overall (50%), even if the long-range shot still hasn’t come around (23%), and mostly limiting turnovers (2.0 TOV). More importantly, he’s closing games. In the process, Jakučionis has been such a joy to watch. The highlight passing stands out, but dig deeper and you’ll notice the little things: how he’s in a perpetual state of motion (on and off ball), how he attacks the glass and then hustles back on D, how he gives the ball up early, knowing that he’ll get it back. How he uses his body and arms to draw fouls. How he knows when to take one to halt an opponent attack too. And, perhaps more than anything, how the game just looks so much smoother when he’s out there.

Verdict: Fawning.