Lawrence Tanter, who served as the public address announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers for 43 years, has died, the team announced on social media on Sept. 23. He was 76 years old.
"Lawrence Tanter, forever in our hearts as a member of the Lakers family," the Lakers posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a purple heart emoji.
The post was accompanied by the following statement announcing Tanter's death: "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter. For 43 years, LT's voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family."
Tanter, who began working for the Lakers in 1982, announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season but planned to stick around the team as "Special Advisor for Game Presentation," the Lakers announced in June. Per ESPN, Tanter suffered a stroke in March 2026 and missed the Lakers' final six home games of the regular season and the playoffs.
NBA world reacts to Lawrence Tanter's death
Tanter was a beloved individual throughout the NBA landscape. Social media tributes poured in immediately once the news was made public.
NBA insider Marc Stein said Lakers games will never be the same in an X post.
Lakers home games will never sound the same again without Lawrence Tanter.An absolute honor to know and work alongside LT … but most of all just to listen to that signature voice.
Long Island Nets, DJ Rodman, Isaiah Wong, Ben Humrichous, Getty Images, NetsDaily Graphic
The Brooklyn Nets have filled out their NBA roster and are putting the final touches on training camp which begins next Tuesday, adding two new players Wednesday, both of whom could ultimately help their G League affiliate this season.
On Wednesday, Brooklyn signed 6’9” forwards Dain Dainja and Ben Humrichous, both of whom were with the squad in Summer League and according to team source, will be in Brooklyn’s training camp next week. NBA teams can carry up to 21 players on their camp roster.
Humrichous and Dainja are the latest signings announced by the team whose 18-man roster — 15 standard deals and three two-ways — appears set, making if difficult for Humrichous or Dainja to find a way into a Brooklyn uniform by October 19. That’s the final cutdown date for NBA rosters.
In the last week, Brooklyn also added 6’10” Nick Pringle who played at Alabama and Arkansas as well as signing and waiving 6’6” small forward D.J. Rodman, son of five-time NBA Champion Dennis Rodman, and 6’7” shooting guard Aaron Scott, who played with the Nets in Summer League. The first week of the month, Long Island traded for Dwight Murray, a 6’0” point guard who played for Rider University in New Jersey. All of them will most likely spend the year with Long Island.
G League teams can carry up to 10 players on standard contracts and three two-ways, which the organization has already locked up with second round pick Tyler Bilodeau, Chaney Johnson and Grant Nelson who played with Pringle at Alabama.
Long Island has nine of their 10 roster spots locked up, leaving just one to fill. Their nine rostered players include Humrichous, Dainja, Pringle, Rodman, Scott, Murray, international draft pick Tidjiane Dioumassi, and two 6’3” guards acquired in trades earlier in the month: Isaiah Wong, who played in Spain and Joey Calcaterra, a UConn product who was part of the Huskies 2023 NCAA championship squad.
Just like the NBA, though, the G League has a training camp. Unlike the NBA, however, there isn’t a precise hard cap on how many players can be carried into camp. That suggests there will likely be more than one addition for LI before training camp kicks off. Deon Brown, a 6’5” combo guard who played for the Nets in summer league and registered a triple double in one game, has been rumored as a potential camp invite as well although there’s been no confirmation
Overall, Nets’ Summer League alumni currently include Dainja, Humrichous, Murray, and Scott.
More on the summer league faces
Out of those four players, Dainja, 24, is the most intriguing. At 6’9” and 255 pounds with a ridiculous 7’7” wingspan, he is a very physical player who spent the 2025 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s G League affiliate. With the Skyforce, he averaged 13.1 points on 62.3% shooting, 5.9 rebounds, and one block across 36 appearances.
Throughout those 36 games, he logged an impressive eight double-doubles. In Summer League with Brooklyn, he consistently remained in the rotation despite being an invite player. Across five games in the Las Vegas portion, he averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Humrichous, the other 6’9” forward, is much more of a shooter. In Summer League action, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while hitting 35.3% of his threes in Vegas. His most memorable outing came in the California Classic, where he logged 15 points, eight rebounds, and five three-pointers in an 89-69 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Scott, 23, stands at 6’7” and weighs 190 pounds. He went undrafted in 2025 after playing at North Texas and St. John’s. While he struggled to find the floor much in Summer League, he averaged 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 40 games with the Maine Celtics last season.
Lastly, there is Murray. Standing at 6’0” and 181 pounds, Murray has appeared in 90 career G League games (51 starts) across two seasons with the Skyhawks. In the G League, the 26-year-old has averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. Similar to Scott, he didn’t receive many Summer League minutes.
Other new faces
While a large portion of the roster is occupied by Summer League players this year, there are also a handful of new faces.
Out of the new guys, Wong has the strongest resume. The 25-year-old averaged 14.6 points in Spain’s top league last season. In his most recent G League stint, he averaged 20.6 points across 14 games. Wong also had NBA experience, having spent 21 career games in the pros with the Indiana Pacers (1 in 2023-24) and the Charlotte Hornets (20 in 2024-25).
Brooklyn also signed and waived Rodman, indicating that he is most likely Long Island-bound. The 6’6” wing averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists with the Greensboro Swarm last season, the Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate.
Calcaterra was acquired in a three-team trade that sent Yuri Collins’ rights to the Memphis Hustle. Calcaterra has been an end of the bench player across several G League teams, averaging 2.8 points in 41 career games in the G.
Then there’s Dioumassi, the 6’4” French guard Long Island selected in July’s G League International Draft. At Western Carolina last season, the Paris native averaged 8.9 points, led the team with 78 assists and made 36.4% of his threes.
Roster math
In addition, NBA teams like Brooklyn can assign up to three players on NBA standard players. Of the 15 players on the Nets roster, the team’s eight picks in last two drafts would be eligible for tours in Long Island.
The sign-and-waive moves, often completed with hours, may seem odd, but they are part of how G League rosters are built. An Exhibit 10 deal can give a waived player a bonus of up to $91,000 if they join a G League affiliate and spend the 60 days there. Sources told ND that Brooklyn is one of a few teams that fully guarantees their Exhibit 10 deals. That’s on top of the $49,000 standard G League deal.
There is also a trade-off between two-way contracts and Exhibit 10’s. A two-way contract pays substantially more ($678,882 for the 2026-27 NBA season), but a player who clears waivers and joins Long Island on a G League deal remains an NBA free agent, unlike a two-way which ties them to the NBA club. Agents have told ND that, for some players, the chance to develop while staying available to all 30 teams can make the Exhibit 10 route more enticing compared to being trapped on a two-way deal.
Overall, LI has a lot of turnover this season. None of their standard players from last year are returning, and the only familiar faces are Nelson, who was an Exhibit 10 signing and is now on a two-way deal, and Johnson, who remains on a two-way deal. Both played in Brooklyn at the end of last season. Johnson played in the Summer League for Brooklyn. Nelson was also on the Summer League roster, but didn’t play following an off-season procedure to treat his patella tendinitis, which is also known as “jumper’s knee.”
Long Island will begin its season on November 6, with its home opener on Friday, November 13, at the Nassau Coliseum.
STATELINE, NEVADA - JULY 12: Stephen Curry plays his shot from the second tee box during the final round of the American Century Championship 2026 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 12, 2026 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He’s been eligible for a contract extension for nearly a month and has likely been discussing terms with the Golden State Warriors for longer than that. Still, Steph Curry says that the delay in his signing an extension in no way suggests he’s wavering on his “obvious goal” of playing with the Warriors for his entire career.
Steph Curry tells ESPN his unsettled extension will have no impact on his play or the team's vibe: "No drama. No talking points. This team should be competitive and go win."
If he waits, it's about future flexibility: "Information and patience is key."https://t.co/eOVt2jsc7g
There’s no reason to debate what Curry deserves after delivering four championships to the Warriors, who are worth roughly 25x what they were before he arrived. If he wants to take a max deal for two seasons, the Warriors are going to pay it, and we’ll get a big retirement tour, complete with a heartfelt, scrappy battle for a play-in spot. He’d also have the chance to get a rare no-trade clause, not that it seems likely the Warriors would trade him without his cooperation.
But it certainly sounds like Curry isn’t going to simply take as much money as possible, or he would have already done it. Speaking to ESPN, he made it clear he wants to resolve his contract situation before the season and have “No drama, no talking points.”
It’s an interesting conundrum, because while the Warriors have limited options for improving next season if Curry takes a max, which would lower their potential cap space from over $100M to around $45M, with the contracts of Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis all expiring. That’s a huge difference, but it comes with a lot of questions.
Do the Warriors have a plan to exploit all that cap space?
It’s all well and good to create cap space and options, and the Warriors have a mixed record in exploiting that. Clearing money in the summer of 2016 and landing Kevin Durant? A-plus. Amassing a collection of tradeable deals and trading for Jimmy Butler in 2025, after striking out on a Durant return? Solid B-plus. Getting Green to opt out of his deal and standing pat while waiting for LeBron James this year? D-minus.
2. Where do the Warriors spend that money?
The list of unrestricted free agents available next season is unexciting. The biggest prize would look to be 22-year-old All-NBA center Jalen Duren, but even with his contentious negotiations this summer, it’s hard to believe the Detroit Pistons would let a 22-year-old All-NBA center hit unrestricted free agency. As long as the Denver Nuggets don’t implode, Nikola Jokic is unlikely to be going anywhere, nor is Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Miami Heat emptied the chamber of picks and players to get him.
The best player who could be available is Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, who is quite good indeed! Towns is an underrated defender and perhaps the best-shooting center in NBA history, which allows his teams a lot of flexibility in who plays around him. Head coach Mike Brown and the Knicks offense unlocked a previously-unknown level of passing from Towns during their title run. Towns has a $61M player option for 2027-28 but extension talks with the Knicks have reportedly stalled.
Beyond Towns, the players who can opt out of their 2027-28 deals tend to be older: Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Julius Randle, Damian Lillard, and Rudy Gobert. On the younger side, Jalen Green of the Phoenix Suns has a player option, as does Bennedict Mathurin of the New Orleans Pelicans. And if the Warriors want to bang their head against the same wall, Durant and James can both become free agents.
3. How good could the Warriors be if Steph Curry played for the minimum?
$100M is really a lot of money, and opens up a lot of options for trades, signings, sign-and-trades. Should the team have extra money, they’ve got more to work with, in front of a roster that would have Curry, Al Horford, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, plus whoever they sign or trade for. And a lot of question marks beyond that.
4. What about Brandin Podziemski?
Going into his fourth year, Podziemski is eligible for a rookie extension. But as we’ve seen with Jonathan Kuminga, teams have far more leverage than players until they can hit unrestricted free agency, much less restricted status. The Warriors have very little motivation to lock up Podz early unless they get a discount. Even if he’s facing restricted free agency in the summer of 2027, the cap hold for Podziemski should be around $17M, which could be similar to what he’d get in a long-term deal. If he signed for less than that for 2027-28, it would mean even more cap savings.
5. How long do the Warriors and Curry have to decide?
Technically Curry can sign an extension at any time during the season, but his “no drama” comments indicate he’d like to wrap things up before the season begins. But at least for now, the idea of Curry leaving in free agency doesn’t seem to be something he’s considering. It’s up to the front office to convince him that if he gives up money, they’ll actually do something with the extra cap space.
Barth Budenholzer was once married to former San Antonio assistant and current Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, who was by Popovich’s side with the Spurs for nearly two decades from 1996 to 2013.
Gregg Popovich looks on during the first half of the Spurs’ loss to the Hawks at at State Farm Arena on Jan. 15, 2024. Getty ImagesSpurs head coach Gregg Popovich walks across the Spurs court with Mary Barth Budenholzer by his side. hispanosatx/Instagram
The duo won four titles together before Budenholzer left to coach the Hawks.
Mike and Mary Budenholzer divorced in 2016, according to TMZ, and share four children — sons William Vincent and John Brent and daughters Savoia Elizabeth and Hanna Louise.
Head coach Gregg Popovich (left) speaks with assistant coach Mike Budenholzer during the Spurs’ Game 4 loss to the Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals on June 13, 2013 at AT&T Center in San Antonio. NBAE via Getty Images
Popovich’s first wife, Erin, died in 2018 at the age of 67 after a prolonged illness. The couple were married for 41 years and had two children — Jill and Mickey.
It’s unclear when the 77-year-old Popovich and Barth Budenholzer’s relationship began, but Mike Budenholzer has moved on, too.
Phoenix head coach Mike Budenholzer reacts during the second half the Suns’ win over the Clippers at PHX Arena on March 4, 2025. Getty Images
Popovich, now the Spurs president of basketball operations, was forced to retire from coaching after 29 years with San Antonio in 2025 due to health issues after suffering a mild stroke before a game against the Timberwolves in November 2024.
He is the NBA all-time leader in coaching wins at 1,390.
Budenholzer, 57, also has had a successful career as a head coach with 520-363 overall record and two NBA Coach of the Year awards. He won the 2020-21 NBA championship with the Bucks.
Coach Pop got an ovation at the Austin Spurs G-League game
Will the Lakers’ roster changes around superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves, which included adding nine new players and saying goodbye to half of last season’s group, produce the desired results?
Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic will be surrounded with more complementary players in 2026-27. NBAE via Getty Images
Most of the bigger-picture questions will take months — if not years — to answer.
But the Lakers entered the offseason with clear objectives.
Add the type of rim-protecting, rim-running big man Doncic typically thrives alongside. Which they accomplished with the Kessler acquisition.
Have a second star on the roster who can play off Doncic, as well as lead the team when Doncic isn’t on the court. Keeping Reaves addressed this need.
Build out a roster that was not only more complementary of Doncic but also deeper. Which they also accomplished.
The final part may be challenging to believe in light of the talent the Lakers let walk during the offseason.
New Lakers guard Quentin Grimes is among the players who bring a skillset the team wanted. NBAE via Getty Images
But the Lakers’ 2026-27 roster as currently constructed is deeper than the one the team entered the offseason with.
With the departure of LeBron James, the league’s all-time leading scorer in addition to several other historic accolades, it goes without saying the Lakers lost a lot of talent and experience.
James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard were not only instrumental to the Lakers’ 53-win 2025-26 regular season but were also the backbone of the first-round playoff series victory over the Rockets despite the absences of Doncic and Reaves.
The depth of last season’s roster was underrated.
But the depth for this season’s team is better.
The Lakers losy significant players from last year’s team, including LeBron James, Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura. NBAE via Getty Images
For what the Lakers lost in sheer talent and experience, they’re making up for in complementary skills and options.
Coach JJ Redick mentioned the team needing to get better with dribbling, passing and shooting.
Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton help out in all of these areas, while Matisse Thybulle and Ziarie Williams help in at least one area while contributing to the improved collective perimeter defense.
And that’s before addressing Kessler being the backbone of what should be an improved Lakers defense.
The Lakers lost two of their best 3-point shooters in Hachimura and Kennard, but they still have plenty of shooting around Doncic and Reaves.
And they added shooting at the big men positions with Kessler and Mamukelashvili, which will help make it easier for non-shooting threats but athletic forwards, such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Adou Thiero, to stay on the floor.
The floor-spacing from Walker Kessler (pictured) and Sandro Mamukelashvili at the big man positions should open up playing time for Jarred Vanderbilt or Adou Thiero. Getty Images
Building out a more complementary roster will open options that weren’t as available last season.
The Lakers went from about 10 players who could be trusted with rotation minutes to at least 12 who could credibly be in the rotation on a given night.
Even without knowing the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine a world in which this season’s Lakers team could win a playoff series without Doncic or Reaves in the lineup for most of the series.
Let alone both.
The ceiling of the top-end talent behind Doncic and Reaves isn’t as high.
Their third-best player won’t produce in the ways James did in 2025-26.
But this season’s roster is deeper with the skills needed around Doncic and Reaves.
The sides have spent extensive time discussing a potential extension during the offseason, but there has been no movement lately in negotiations, sources said, as the Knicks stand to go for a repeat following their first NBA title in 53 years.
Towns is a championship center and now a New York legend, not to mention an All-Star and All-NBA big man at the peak of his game. He is extension eligible for up to four years and $276 million. Towns is under contract this season for $57 million and has a $61 million player option for 2027-28.
Towns wants an extension and the Knicks want to extend him, but reality is hitting New York hard: 2028-29 is when a Jalen Brunson extension would kick in — he took a discount last time but is eligible for and deserves a supermax deal now — plus a Josh Hart extension also would begin. That on top of an OG Anunoby extension that could, and likely would, begin that year. Remember, Knicks owner James Dolan said it would be "suicidal" for a team to be in the second apron and he didn't want to do it (and that echoes what other owners have said).
What New York wants is Towns to take less per year — maybe $55 million a season? Maybe less? — for more guaranteed money across multiple years. Towns may not be interested in that steep a discount, as much as he loves New York and wants to finish his career there.
This is what NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the owners want: Congratulations on winning a championship, now break up that team. He covets NFL-style parity over all. Silver proudly touts the fact that the league has had eight different champions in the past eight years and said of the second apron, "It's certainly not an unintended consequence" that teams are broken up. So we get Boston deciding it has to trade Jaylen Brown away — coming off a season when he was sixth in MVP voting — because they see it as the best path to building a contender around Jayson Tatum. We get Oklahoma City losing key role players — Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins — so they can keep the young stars they have together (with more cuts coming and key players lost the next couple of years). People around the league are already talking about how San Antonio will have to trade De'Aaron Fox at some point for financial reasons.
Fans hate seeing players like Brown, Dort and others that their team drafted and developed have to be traded (or, in the case of the Knicks, a team cleverly built through trades and free agency). Silver may think the system is working, but angering a generation of core fans for financial reasons is not a good business strategy. There is more of it to come, and it's going to hit the Knicks hard. The aprons are going to be a sticking point come the next CBA negotiations — the players and fans hate them.
But for now, the Knicks are stuck trying to extend Towns and keep a championship roster together.
After opting out of a two-year, $10.5 million deal he signed with the Lakers the year before, Smart told Varun Shanka of The Houston Chronicle, the offer he received over the offseason felt “disrespectful.”
“First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didn’t match the way that I played,” he said to the Houston Chronicle, “Especially when you see guys who played way worse than I did, the offers they’re getting. And then it wasn’t any security that we wanted that they were willing to do.”
Former Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Marcus Smart blasts the team’s free agency offer and calls it “disrespectful.” JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“They gave me an opportunity to be able to go out and try to get what I’ve earned,” Smart said to the Houston Chronicle, “And what I’ve been working my tail off to provide for my family is a decent-sized paycheck with obviously years on it, right? Or a big paycheck with less years, but to be able to have that option.”
Luka Doncic in an NBA game with the Los Angeles Lakers. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Kessler was the Lakers’ big offseason acquisition when they acquired him from a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz for $129.5 million for the next four years.
Marcus Smart in a Lakers uniform during an NBA game. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Aside from adding Kessler, the team also added Collin Sexton by committing $19.2 million towards him for the next two years, $60 million to Quentin Grimes for the next four years, and $52 million to Sandro Mamukelashvili. All three of them have player options included in their deals.
When Smart originally arrived in Los Angeles, he expected to be a solid depth piece that would come off the bench last season, but he quietly emerged as a defensive anchor who was in the team’s starting five during the playoffs.
Smart finished last season with a defensive rating of 116.9, averaging 2.2 defensive rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.
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That's how ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas remembers Chris Spatola.
Spatola, who died unexpectedly Sept. 21 at age 47, built a remarkable life that stretched far beyond the basketball court. He was an Army standout, a U.S. Army veteran, a respected broadcaster for ESPN and SiriusXM, and the son-in-law of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
News of his death has left the college basketball world reeling. Friends, colleagues and former teammates have flooded social media with stories of his generosity, humility and competitive spirit.
Bilas counts himself among them.
"Devastated and heartbroken," he said, mourning the loss of "a treasured friend."
"Chris was the most solid guy that you could ever meet," Bilas told USA TODAY Sports. "High character, thoughtful and he was selfless. He wasn't the first to speak, but when he spoke, it was always thoughtful and measured."
That's how Army basketball teammates remembered Spatola, too.
"You wouldn't hear him speak unless he had something really important to say,'' George Tatum recalled of his backcourt mate Spatola, three years his junior. "To see Chris come out of his shell and be such a great commentator and a star on TV, it really warmed my heart to see him finally coming into his own with that profession.''
Rick Schultz was the Army radio play-by-play announcer for two seasons, including Spatola's freshman year. Five years ago in Syracuse, the pair ran into one another at a hotel, and Schultz asked him: Did you ever imagine you would be on the broadcasting side? Spatola shook his head no and said, "I never had any idea."
"It's such a tragedy," said Pat Harris, who coached Spatola at West Point for four seasons but knew him years earlier as a Duke camper. "I still haven't wrapped my arms around the loss of Chris. It still hasn't set in. It's almost like you think it's a hoax."
Harris wasn't the coach who recruited Spatola, a product of Babylon, Long Island, to the U.S. Military Prep School for the 1997-98 season (it was previous coach Dino Gaudio) but he certainly benefited from the 6-1, gangly kid who led with determination and possessed a great shooting touch. He had a great feel for the game and a tremendous basketball IQ, noted former teammate Babe Kwasniak, also three years Spatola's elder.
Spatola started as a freshman, played 111 games and scored 1,543 points, ranking No. 5 all-time at the Academy. He was fast, a 90% free-throw shooter his final two seasons and a deft passer. "I can't really say that Chris ever truly took a bad shot," his coach said.
West Point remains a military academy where seniors can still look down on lowly freshmen — or plebes, as they are called — in the pecking order, but that dynamic changes when it comes to the "fields of friendly strife" and becoming teammates. Kwasniak recalled a young Spatola helping him clean his barracks room, and also presenting the Firstie (a senior) his first salute.
"I think when it came to (playing basketball), that was like breathing to him," Kwasniak said. "It just came very, very natural." That endeared him to his teammates, whether at West Point or on the All-U.S. Army team, when his squad didn't care about his 1,500 collegiate points or ties to Coach K.
Bilas had known Spatola since 2004, when Spatola married Krzyzewski's daughter, Jamie. Over the next two decades, their paths remained intertwined. Spatola served on Duke's staff from 2007 to 2012, connecting him to Bilas' alma mater, and later the two became colleagues at ESPN.
Yet for all the basketball ties that linked their careers, it was rarely the subject of their conversations.
Instead, Bilas said Spatola always focused on the people around him, whether it was the players and coaches he covered, the fans who followed the sport or, most importantly, his family. That selflessness only deepened Bilas' admiration for a man who had already accomplished so much, including serving in the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002 to 2007.
Despite an impressive résumé that included military service, coaching and broadcasting, Spatola never made himself the center of attention. That's one of the many qualities Bilas found remarkable.
"Chris was all-American in every way as a human being," Bilas said. "I would sit there and sort of see Chris and go, 'You realize he's done things tougher than we could ever imagine, right? Like, do you guys have any idea what he's accomplished?' And he would never tell you that.
"You would have to pry it out of him, all the accomplishments that he had as a vet, and and when he would talk about it, it would usually be something on Veterans Day when he was putting attention on others, not on himself. That was the kind of guy he was."
That's why Bilas will always remember him as "a selfless human being that was a total badass."
"Chris was a person that I loved, but also admired," he added. "He'll always be a part of of everyone that was fortunate enough to know him."
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after making a basket at the buzzer to end the second quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This week, ESPN released its list of the top 100 NBA players. The San Antonio Spurs had three players in the top 50: Dylan Harper (50), De’Aaron Fox (43), and Stephon Castle (38). It’s safe to assume that Victor Wembanyama will be in the top 1o, revealed later this week.
One player was notably missing from the rankings: Devin Vassell. Despite starting on an NBA Finals team, averaging 13.9 points while shooting 38.4% from three in the regular season, and making huge strides on the defensive end in the playoffs, Vassell was left completely off the list. Even Carter Bryant got a mention as a player who will probably be on the list next year.
Now ESPN is just one of many sites ranking NBA players, and is one of the only ones not to include Vassell (The Ringer has him at 65). Maybe this is an editorial oversight? If not, it’s one of the biggest snubs of this year.
Notable players who made the list over Vassell include: Lu Dort, rookie Caleb Wilson, Peyton Watson, Donovan Clingan, Coby White, and Fred VanVleet (who didn’t play a game last season). Dort is a particular head-scratcher, as he couldn’t stay on the court in the playoffs as his jump shot abandoned him and his defense failed to make a game-changing impact. Dort averaged 8.3 points while shooting 34.4% from three last season.
To validate upset Spurs fans about the snub on ESPN’s list: yes, Devin Vassell is undoubtedly a top-100 NBA player. He’s probably somewhere in the 70s to 80s. His combination of shooting, size, shot creation, and budding defense makes him one of the league’s more exciting glue guys.
Next year is a big season for Vassell, though. The Spurs will have a lot of attention on them after their Finals run last season. With players like Harper, Tobias Harris, Julian Champagnie, and Keldon Johnson all fighting for minutes, this will be one of the most competitive seasons San Antonio has experienced in quite some time, both externally and internally.
Vassell will be crucial to San Antonio making it back to the Finals in 2027. He’s one of the few players on the Spurs roster who can both shoot from deep and reliably put the ball on the deck and create his own shot. He’s the team’s best pull-up jump shooter. If he can maintain the level of defensive intensity he showed in the playoffs, this team could soar to new heights in the regular season.
One thing that could drive him to get there is the feeling of being underestimated. The Spurs need an edge this season after coming up short last year. Vassell playing with a chip on his shoulder is only going to make the team better. In the end, being left off the ESPN top 100 could be a good thing.
As part of a nearly five-minute long video the Clippers released, Gibson addressed multiple topics about the franchise, including briefly touching on the trade involving Leonard, the Clippers’ new leadership structure and moving forward.
After 2 ½ months of waiting, the Clippers officially traded Leonard to the Raptors on Sept. 14, nearly two weeks after the NBA punished the Clippers for circumventing the league’s salary cap by “initiating off-court income opportunities” for Leonard with four different companies that also did business with the team.
The Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors last week. Getty Images
The Clippers received Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round draft picks (2031 and 2033), one first-round draft pick swap (2027) and two second-round picks in the transaction.
The trade brought an end to what was a disappointing era for the Clippers.
Leonard led the franchise to just two playoff series victories during his seven seasons with the franchise.
The lone time the Clippers won multiple playoff series in the same postseason came in 2021, when the franchise advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history after Leonard tore the ACL in his right knee midway through the second round series against the Jazz.
“We thank Kawhi for his contributions on the court and wish him well,” Gibson said. “At the same time, we are excited to welcome Brandon Ingram along with offseason additions Gradey Dick, Rui Hachimura, and Max Strus. They join a talented core that includes Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez, Kobe Sanders, Isaiah Jackson and Keaton Wagler, whom we were thrilled to select in this year’s draft.”
Gibson also announced the official organizational changes after the league’s punishments left the Clippers with multiple holes.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was one of several key people with the franchise to face sanctions because of the Kawhi Leonard scandal. AP Photo/Ryan Sun
General manager Trent Redden will serve as the interim president of basketball operations, while assistant general manager Mark Hughes has been appointed as the interim general manager.
Clippers interim CEO/governor John Gibson reiterated the franchise’s confidence in head coach Tyronn Lue. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Ty has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity, unite teams, and inspire players to perform at their best,” Gibson said. “His leadership will be instrumental as we move forward.”
Gibson, a Los Angeles-based lawyer, was named the franchise’s interim governor and CEO on Monday in light of Ballmer’s suspension.
He’s a longtime Clippers season-ticket holder and was a “nationally recognized trial lawyer and litigation partner”, the Clippers stated, at DLA Piper in Los Angeles.
“For more than 20 years, I have proudly been a member of Clipper Nation,” Gibson said. “I have witnessed the growth of this franchise, the passion of our fans, and the resilience of the people who wear this logo every day. I appreciate how far we have come. I respect the work that built this organization and I’m excited about the future we will create together. As Steve said, the challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. And our resolve will be measured not by what we say, but what we do.
“You’ll see that resolve in action in three key areas. First, we will build bridges. We will engage openly with our players, staff, fans, sponsors, business partners, the NBA, fellow governors, the players association, and our communities. We want to hear your concerns. We want your ideas. We want your perspective. We will listen with humility. We will act with purpose. Second, we will build on our culture of compliance. Excellence requires accountability. We will continue working closely with the NBA to ensure strong compliance systems,effective oversight and the highest professional standards throughout our organization. Our goal is straightforward: Compete with integrity. Operate with professionalism. Earn and maintain the confidence of our fans, players, partners, and the league. Trust is not given. Trust is earned. We are committed to earning your trust every single day. Third, we will build on our team and our organization. We are conducting a thoughtful and comprehensive review of both basketball and business operations to ensure every decision supports a winning culture.”
The Warriors are no longer considered legitimate championship contenders, but they’re still one of the NBA’s most fun teams.
There are great storylines. There’s intrigue. There’s history. There’s suspense.
They won four championships in eight years, becoming the league’s modern-day dynasty. Steph Curry, Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr are still together.
Regardless of what happens, the Warriors are still one of the NBA’s most interesting teams. Here are five things to get excited about ahead of next season:
Stephen Curry plays against the Brooklyn Nets on April 23. AP
1. Steph Curry is still the most jaw-dropping player in the league
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is like a metronome because of his stunning consistency, regularly producing 30-point performances while locking down defenders.
The runner-up for the league’s most prestigious individual award, Victor Wembanyama, is rightfully called an alien because of how agilely he moves around the court with his 7-foot-4 frame, blocking shots, sinking jumpers and making his defenders look like junior high players.
But there’s something different about Steph.
When he gets going, there’s nothing like it. He goes unconscious. He makes shots from stunning distances with multiple hands in his face while falling down. The rim becomes ocean-sized. He transforms into a wizard.
Even though he’s turning 39 in March and dealt with a balky knee that sidelined him for 27 straight games last season, Steph is still Steph.
Last season he was the oldest point guard in NBA history to be named an All-Star starter. He averaged 26.6 points on 46.8% shooting from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc, 3.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
And on any given night, he was capable of the scoring explosions that make the NBA so fun to watch, including finishing with 35 points (27 in the second half) against the Clippers in their play-in game in April.
2. Draymond Green remains one of the league’s top defenders
Draymond’s magic lies in his ability to guard positions 1 through 5 on the court as well as excite his team.
He pours himself so deeply into what he does that it inspires everyone around him. He’s vocal. He’s intense. He’s long been the team’s spark plug.
Green went all in on trying to recruit LeBron James to the Warriors this summer, including declining his $27.7 million player option to free up money before James eventually chose the 76ers.
Green still has it. And he still deeply cares about winning.
3. Jimmy Butler is coming back
The Warriors were dealt a debilitating blow last season when Butler suffered a torn right ACL on Jan. 19.
That knocked them out of contention, dashing any hopes of competing in the very-crowded Western Conference.
Butler will miss the start of the season, but he’s expected to make his return around January or February.
Last season, the Warriors were inconsistent when Curry, Butler and Green shared the court. But back in 2025, after trading for Butler in February, they finished the season by going 23-7.
If they can tap back into that magic, they could be exciting.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
4. Steve Kerr is still at the helm
Kerr contemplated retiring as Warriors coach last season.
But he still felt the pull to be on the sideline alongside Curry and Green, and signed a two-year contract extension in May.
Kerr did a lot of soul searching before deciding to return. He acknowledged that the team and the coaching staff have a lot of areas in which they need to improve.
And he’s ready to help the team try to fight its way back to relevance.
5. Yaxel Lendeborg is intriguing
The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in June’s NBA draft, their highest pick in the last five years.
Part of the reason they chose the 23-year-old is because he’s ready to contribute immediately.
Lendeborg, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year and led Michigan to the 2026 men’s national championship, also delivered during the summer league in Las Vegas, leading the Warriors to a championship while being named tournament MVP.
The rookie, who’s considered a jack of all trades and is skilled at scoring and defense, could make an impact in the rotation.
If all goes well, he could infuse the team with some young blood while helping plug the roster’s holes. In other words, he could make things much easier for Curry, Green and Butler.
Ben Humrichous #12 of the Brooklyn Nets three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nets signed forwards Dain Dainja and Ben Humrichous, rounding out their 21-man training camp roster.
Dainja and Humrichous played for the Nets at Summer League.
Ben Humrichous #12 of the Brooklyn Nets 3-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
Both are likely on Exhibit 10 deals and headed to G-League Long Island after camp, where they would be eligible for bonuses up to $91,000 after 60 days.
The 6-foot-7, 222-pound Humrichous went undrafted in June after being a backup on the Illinois team that made the Final Four.
He averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes, shooting 36.1 percent from deep.
Dainja, 24, had gone undrafted a year earlier and spent last season with Miami’s G-League affiliate, so the Nets would need to acquire his returning rights from the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 2026 in Houston, 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Austin Reaves.
Last year was a bit of a convergence season for Austin Reaves and the Lakers, where his pursuit of a new contract, his ever-expanding role and his continued upward development were all on a collision course to determine what his future on the only franchise he’d ever known would be.
The fact that Reaves thrived when he was available to play and was ultimately rewarded handsomely with a lucrative new contract that pays him (essentially) his maximum allowable salary, should not be a surprise. The Lakers see Reaves as one of their true success stories: a player plucked from the world of undrafted free agents and developed into a high level contributor. There’s institutional value that comes from that beyond what he produces on the court.
But it is that tangible improvement he’s shown every season and is baked into the story of Reaves’ NBA life that the Lakers are also paying for. Reaves went from a converted two-way contract as a rookie who only saw the court because of his hustle, connective instincts and competitive nature on defense to, in every ensuing season, adding more responsibility and production offensively to the point that, this past year, he was slotted above LeBron James in the pecking order.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 19: Austin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speak during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That Reaves has done all this while never completely losing sight of his role-player roots is what makes him a cultural touchstone for head coach JJ Redick and a leader as the now longest tenured Laker on the roster. That his talent, particularly on offense, has placed him as the second banana to Luka Dončić is why he’s ultimately paid what he is. But it’s the complete picture of him as a player and presence off the court that made the Lakers decision to go all the way up in salary the way they did this past summer such an easy decision.
Make no mistake, though, the deal Reaves is on now is not just about the player he is, but the one the Lakers project him to be. Reaves just turned 28 and may be squarely in his prime, but the team is paying him to continue to improve, to continue to refine and smooth out the edges of his game and build on the foundation he laid down last season as someone who is able to scale up in usage and responsibility to increase his production while maintaining efficiency.
It may sound reductive, but at least part of Reaves’ job now is justifying the investment the Lakers made in him. If he does, the team will be better off and (very likely) win as a result. If he doesn’t, not only will the opposite be true, but Reaves will find himself in the crosshairs in a way that he never has been before.
That’s the reality of being on the contract he is now. The Lakers hope, though, it won’t come to that. And history says they have reason to be confident.
What is his best-case scenario?
In October and November of last season, Austin Reaves played in 16 of the Lakers’ 19 games and averaged 28.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 52.2% from the field, 36.1% from behind the arc and 87.9% from the foul line on 7.4 attempts per night.
Of the 16 games that Austin appeared in, Luka Dončić played in 13 of them while LeBron James played in only four. That said, the Lakers went 13-3 in those contests and Reaves looked like one of the better players in the entire NBA while being discussed as an early All-Star and All-NBA candidate.
If looking for a best-case outcome for what Reaves can be this upcoming season, one only look at this stretch of the year where, without LeBron for most of the games and without Luka for a few more, Austin was clearly the team’s second option and was part of a team where every other player on the roster was put in a position to support the strengths of him and Luka.
Said another way, this stretch was about as close to the role Reaves will be asked to fill this season. Yes, the supporting cast has changed and there’s been a bit of an uptick in the usage of some of the role players with Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton all capable of being on-ball creators who can absorb possessions when needed. But, the fact remains that Austin will still be clearly slotted into the second shot creator role and will not have a third star like last season who he will not only split duties with but, based on their history as partners, will sometimes defer to in ways that minimize his own role.
So, while I can go on and on about a projection of how Reaves’ game can translate to what he’ll be asked to do this season and project the highest end of what that can be, it’s much easier to go back and watch clips from when he was put into this exact situation and looked like one of the top shot creating guards in the league.
What is his worst-case scenario?
Any worst-case outcome for Reaves almost certainly involves his health not cooperating and him missing significant chunks of the season. Which, if we’re being honest, should be at least a slight concern for the Lakers.
Last season, I do not think it’s a coincidence that in the campaign when he was asked to carry the biggest shot-creation burden of his career, he suffered two soft tissue injuries, first a calf strain in December and then an oblique strain in April. Maybe it was just bad luck, but playing the style and minutes he did last season was simply a much heavier load on his body and I think it’s only fair to wonder, when projecting him into a similar workload this year, those same rigors could end up costing him time.
And if injuries did crop back in, it’s not just that Austin’s availability would be impacted, but it’s all the ways that an injury and missing time impact a player’s rhythm, with ramp-ups and getting back into game shape or the right physical condition shaving away at your overall effectiveness on any given night. Something that would only be exacerbated without that third high-level shot creator no longer there to lean on or burden share with.
Beyond the injuries, however, there’s a chance Austin’s growth and development stagnates or, in some ways, even goes backward. Or, if that feels too strong, where certain parts of his game just do not work to the same degree they did last season. Austin is a very talented player, of course, but because he’s not an overwhelming athlete, he often needs all facets of his game to be working in unison to give him access to all the counters and misdirection that can make his game truly sing.
There’s a world, then, where multiple small things combine to lessen his game in what end up being significant ways. Let’s say he doesn’t shoot the three ball as well, especially off the dribble. Or maybe he doesn’t get as favorable a whistle. Or that his mid-range jumper doesn’t fall to the same degree it has in the past. Or maybe he doesn’t find the right chemistry in the pick and roll with Walker Kessler and their timing doesn’t quite sync up in the same ways it has with other players in the past.
If even two of these things happen for any extended stretch during the year, maybe he has a harder time getting to the rim. And when he does get there, he draws fewer fouls and it all sort of cascades to turn him into a lower-volume scorer who isn’t as efficient as he typically is. Combine this with a bigger bullseye on him and more expectations and there’s a scenario where Reaves is suddenly looked at as not the player the Lakers believed him to be, but on a huge max-level deal that is underwater in the trade market.
Now, do I envision this being likely? No, I don’t. But I also don’t think any of these things are totally out of the realm of possibility either.
What is his most likely role on the team?
There’s no question that with LeBron now gone and a remade roster to begin this new era of Lakers basketball, Reaves will take his place as the second most important player behind Dončić, both as an on-court talent whose production is needed for the team to play at its best and as a leader within the organization whose steadiness, general competitiveness, and approach to the work will serve as a standard bearer within the organization.
Further, there’s a strong likelihood that for half his minutes this year (and maybe more), he’ll be the best Laker on the court and will carry a burden and responsibility of shot creation and stewardship of the team’s entire offense that mirrors what Luka provides whenever he’s in the game. And while Austin did some of that this past season, after that first stretch of the year and a few games in March, he always had LeBron there as a release valve and someone to burden share with when Luka was not in the game.
Whether Reaves is up for this sort of challenge, particularly in the playoffs, remains to be seen. But the Lakers are betting on him being ready — and betting big. And if Austin delivers, it will simply be more proof that he’s exactly the player who they’ve continued to give more and more responsibility to since he entered the league. And to be fair to both sides, he has not let them down yet.
The Houston Rockets kicked off their 2026-2027 NBA season on Tuesday with their annual Media Day. Every season, it gives NBA fans and media a chance to see what players have improved this summer, what they’ve rehabbed from injuries, and what they expect for the upcoming season.
For the Rockets, the top topic was Fred VanVleet’s health. VanVleet missed the entire 2025-2026 season, which played a major role in the Rockets’ struggles. SB Nation asked Ime Udoka about VanVleet’s health, and the coach said he doesn’t expect the veteran point guard to play back-to-backs but is making good progress.
Media Day also gave me a chance to speak with Rocket players from last season, like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, as well as the new additions, like Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Media day kicks off the new season and gives everyone a chance to see the players for the first time in several months, but the more important start is training camp.
Training camp kicked off a week earlier than normal for the Rockets, as they will start their season in China with two games against the Dallas Mavericks starting October 7, with the preseason on October 15th and the Rockets’ one home preseason game on October 15. The Rockets began their training camp Wednesday at their training facility in Houston. SB Nation was out at Wednesday practice as Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, and Marcus Smart all spoke to the media afterward.
Houston Rockets Training Camp Day 1
The Houston Rockets kicked off day one of training camp with a full workout with all players participating. That included the player most Rockets fans were looking forward to seeing on the court: Fred VanVleet. VanVleet spoke during media day on Tuesday and also after practice Wednesday.
VanVleet spoke about being back on the court, whether he thinks he will play back-to-backs, and what he saw from the bench last season. SB Nation asked VanVleet how both he and Kevin Durant, as veterans, will help them hit the ground running despite not playing together last season.
I asked Fred even though him and Kevin did not play together last season will both of them being vets will make it a lot easier to hit the ground running this season.
“Kevin is probably maybe the greatest plug and play guy y’all find He can play in any system any court any team… pic.twitter.com/5HXMXuAiup
VanVleet also said he doesn’t see each game as a “being back” moment, since it will remain a process all season. Udoka also spoke with the media after practice about the team’s day-one emphasis, what Marcus Smart brings to the Rockets, and how having VanVleet will change their offense.
SB Nation asked Udoka about the change in offense with their veteran point guard back on the court.
“Definitely want to move Kevin around. If teams are going to try and take him out, they can pretty much do that anywhere on the court, but you can put him in some better spots to take advantage of that and avoid some blitzes.”
I asked Ime Udoka with Fred back will we be seeing less Alperen and KD at the top of the key having to initiate the offense.
“Definitely want to move Kevin around if teams are going to try and take him out they can pretty much do that anywhere on the court but you can put him in… pic.twitter.com/rEe7Gn20xZ
Marcus Smart was the last Rocket to speak after day one of training camp, and he talked about working with VanVleet, what the culture is like for the Rockets, and how he fits into that culture.
Here Marcus Smart was asked what he has noticed about the Rockets culture since joining the team.
“Perfect fit it’s a perfect fit.”
BTW Marcus is going to be an interview all star this season In the first two days he has been great. pic.twitter.com/7UjOhUYEgE
The Rockets will practice Thursday again as they continue to ramp up in preparations for their preseason opener on October 9 in Macao, China, against the Dallas Mavericks.
The book features never-before-published artwork and photographs, along with original stories and essays from many members of the Lakers’ organization, past and present.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) reacts on the court during the third quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 10, 2025, at the Barclays Center. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“Somehow, now I have landed in Los Angeles. I’m a Laker now. I’m not sure that I ever could have imagined being here and wearing the purple and gold. It’s a wonderful surprise and it feels amazing and now I desperately want what all Lakers want: To win it all,” Dončić was quoted as saying, per an Instagram post from @jdeez.
“I won’t rest until we win more championships.”
He later added, “On one of my first days as part of this incredible club… Jeanie Buss welcomed me into her office and showed me all the trophies that sit next to her desk, overlooking the practice court. She told me that now I will have the chance to write my own story as a Laker. That is what I plan to do.”
Luka Dončić’s message in the “Lakers: An Official History of the Purple & Gold” book. (Instagram/@jdeez).
The emotional message concluded with Dončić saying. “I tend to let my game do most of the talking, but I want Lakers fans to know that I am ready, excited, and eager to deliver SO ready. This is a city that is used to winning and winning big. I am so honored and grateful that I get the chance now to write my own championship chapters.”
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring during the first half at Barclays Center, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Lakers fans are hoping everything Dončić has promised in this message will come true.
