CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 27: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Indiana Pacers on October 27, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
J.R. Smith was arrested for assault in Texas on Tuesday. The former NBA veteran played five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and contributed to their 2016 championship.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Former NBA champion J.R. Smith arrested for assault in Texas.
TMZ reports that Smith was arrested by Hunt County police for family violence. He was booked on a charge of assault involving family bodily injury.
No bond has been set as of reporting on Tuesday.
Smith, 41, played 16 years in the NBA. He won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2013 and officially retired in 2020, following the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship run in the bubble.
After basketball, Smith completed his education at North Caroline A&T University. He graduated in May of 2026.
This story will be updated as more information is reported.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Jayson Tatum #0 and Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics pose for photos during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Laughter reverberated across the Auerbach Center as the Celtics opened training camp on Tuesday morning.
For the first time since May, when the Celtics’ season abruptly ended at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, beat reporters returned to the parquet to film the players’ on-court work and ask a litany of questions.
But though Tuesday marked the first official day of camp, it quickly became clear it was far from the players’ first day working together, as evidenced by Baylor Scheierman playfully shoving Mike Conley as if they were longtime teammates.
Jayson Tatum invited the team to come out to Los Angeles, where he spends a portion of his offseason, for offseason workouts, and a critical mass took up the offer, including Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Mike Conley, and rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell, among others.
“JT hit the group chat, invited us all out, and most of us were able to make it work with our schedule,” Hauser said. “So it was cool to get a bunch of guys out there earlier and get acclimated and get used to being around each other.”
Jayson Tatum shared a peek into some Celtics offseason workouts.
First one had at least Tatum, Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh and Mike Conley in attendance.
While in LA, players spent time together both on and off the floor.
“We did a lot of work on the court, played some golf, had some dinners,” Hauser said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Walsh, fresh off his fourth summer as a Celtic — and the signing of a 3-year extension — said the intensity of this summer’s workouts stood out.
“It’s been really, really competitive,” Walsh said. “I would say it’s one of our better summers for sure. There’s a lot of guys that came to compete every day.”
Scrimmaging took center stage: “We played 7-game series in a day, or 8-game series, 9, whatever it is, in a day. So every guy [was] showing up for every single game and playing as hard as you can, and really respecting the game in a way, and I think that kind of is a statement to the staff as well.”
Joe Mazzulla takes a backseat during offseason training
Joe Mazzulla prioritized spending time with almost every player on the roster in their hometowns, visiting Mitchell Robinson in Nashville, Luka Garza in Iowa, Hugo Gonzalez in Spain, Neemias Queta in Portugal, Jordan Walsh in Texas, and Baylor Scheierman in Nebraska, among others.
But Mazzulla is not actually responsible for spearheading offseason workouts — that’s his coaching staff’s job. Most of the offseason training is orchestrated by head of player development Craig Luschenat, along with the rest of the Celtics player development staff, which includes DaSean Butler, God Shammgod Jr., Steve Tchiegang, and Nana Foulland, among others.
This year, Amile Jefferson also took on significant responsibilities as the team’s Summer League head coach in Las Vegas. The coaching staff is the same as last season’s.
“We have one of the best staffs in the league, so I’m really as hands-off as possible, allowing them to do everything,” Mazzulla said. “Craig, our head of player development, and our PD guys do a great job. The Summer League head coach does a great job of setting that tone. So, I try to stay out of it as much as I can, and just give the guys the empowerment and the responsibility to grow.”
Players have increasingly spent their offseasons in Boston
The fact that some Celtics have made Boston their year-round home makes it even easier to facilitate offseason workouts. Payton Pritchard, now the team’s second-longest-tenured player, lives in Massachusetts year-round.
“I stay in Boston for the summer,” Pritchard said. “It’s kind of home now, so when the first guys, the young ones, come into the gym in mid-August, I’m in there playing with them… I’ve been in here scrimmaging, working out, trying to set the tone.”
Ron Harper Jr., who signed a 4-year extension this offseason, similarly spent most of the summer in Boston.
“Y’all know I’m from Jersey, so going home is nothing but a car ride to me,” Harper Jr. said. “So I can always just hop in the car and go over there. But I tried to stay around here in the summer, with my PD [player development coach] DaSean Butler, and just keep continuing to work on my game.”
Walsh explained that everything is optional, but that you’d never know: “You don’t gotta be here until Media Day if you don’t want to be. It’s just the standard that everybody set for themselves.”
Luka Garza smiled when asked who participated in offseason workouts.
“Everybody,” Garza said. “Everybody was here at some point.”
As the summer progressed, more and more players arrived in Boston, and consequently, the intensity only increased.
“The last few weeks have been great,” Harper Jr. said. “We’ve been to the gym, playing pickup, working out, lifting together, just getting to know each other; you get to learn somebody best through competition. So the pickup sessions have been great. They’ve been really competitive. They’ve been really fun, and we’re gonna have a great year. And we’re all looking forward to getting on there and sharing the court together, as opposed to playing against each other.”
For Paul George, who has 16 years of NBA experience, the energy has felt different.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s one of those things where, man, I wish I was here a lot sooner,” George said. ”Not to discredit anywhere I’ve been, but since I’ve been here, it’s just been nothing but happiness, greatness. It’s just a great energy in this building, in this facility.“
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7, Joel Embiid #21, LeBron James #23, Tyrese Maxey #0, and VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for a portrait on NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Media Day is behind us for the Philadelphia 76ers, and it was a more eventful one than usual given the new high-profile names arriving on the roster. Now it’s time to put the work in to get 1 percent better every day, as Tyrese Maxey (and now LeBron James) says.
Training camp begins today for the Sixers, running through this Friday. Philadelphia 76ers Public Relations released an announcement, which is basically a bunch of names we already knew.
“ The Philadelphia 76ers announced today their training camp roster for the 2026-27 season.
Training camp will be held at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey, beginning today, September 29, through Friday, October 2.
Philadelphia’s full training roster is below”:
Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert are the two-way contracts taking the floor this week. Philadelphia still has one two-way slot available to utilize. Tacko Fall, Dillon Jones, Duke Miles, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Saint Thomas are all on Exhibit 10 deals with the clubs, so we’ll likely see them all in Delaware Blue Coats uniforms soon.
Establishing chemistry with so many new faces will be one of the challenges facing this squad. This week is where that process begins in earnest.
I’m sure clips will come out and we’ll all get googly eyes over LeBron throwing an alley-oop to VJ Edgecombe or Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid running a dribble handoff. In reality, this week is vital for the pieces to start to fall into place, as the Sixers open up preseason play less than a week from now, next Monday against the Knicks.
The regular-season opener is exactly three weeks away. Just in time to make us all forget about the Phillies and Eagles.
"Clearly, new team, new players, and that's what we're going to talk about today," was the tone Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' head of basketball operations, tried to set for the franchise in a press conference last week. "We just, as an organization, are so grateful for the run that we had with [LeBron James] here... it was a great era, and we're grateful for it. So I just think it's important to say that at the onset as we turn into a new chapter."
The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to move on from the LeBron James era — an eight-season run that brought them a title and made them a perennial playoff team — to what comes next, a team better built to maximize Luka Doncic. Yet the ghost of LeBron still seemed to haunt Lakers media day despite the fact that he was 2,400 miles away in a different uniform.
"It was kind of sad. Playing with LeBron was amazing. There's a lot of things I learned from him... We all know who LeBron James is."
Doncic, for his part, spent much of the day trying to spin things forward, this was part of his ESPN interviews.
"I'm really excited about this team. I think we have a lot of underrated guys. There are some guys that came in that are not talked about a lot, but I really enjoy them and I really like what I see."
Nobody faced more of that than Bronny James, LeBron James' son, who remains in Los Angeles for his third season and should see more regular minutes this season, potentially even cracking the regular rotation.
"You guys know me as Bronny. My real name is LeBron," Bronny said from the podium. "I've been doing this for however long, so I think it's a motivating factor for me just getting up every day and trying to prove myself as Bronny instead of LeBron...
"That's my dad. I spent 22 years almost with him, so, just another experience that I'm going to be a part of. I'm excited for how it's going to feel during the season, too. Looking forward to it."
One void to fill without LeBron is leadership — he commanded the locker room and was the team's unquestioned leader. Now, Doncic and the newly signed Austin Reaves will fill that role together. Lakers forward Jake LaRavia said from the podium it would be no problem for Doncic and Reaves to share the role.
"They get along so well that it's kind of easy for them to co-lead this team. I think sometimes Luka leads by example and we watch him and we watch how he goes about himself. AR can sometimes be a bit more vocal. But I think they both do a great job at what they are good at it when it comes to being leaders for this team."
As long as Doncic stays healthy, the Lakers are going to be good. How good depends on how Walker Kessler steps up into the role of starting center on the Lakers, plus how well role players like Quentin Grimes, LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams and others can deliver on both ends of the court.
If they do, the questions about LeBron will stop. Or, at least, slow down.
Two-time retired NBA champion J.R. Smith was arrested in Hunt County (Texas) on a family violence charge, according to booking records.
The Hunt County Sherriff’s Office arrested Smith Tuesday, Sept. 29 and brought a charge of assault causing bodily injury, with no bond set. Smith, 41, remains in custody at the Hunt County Detention Center as of early Tuesday afternoon.
No other details were provided.
Hunt County is located just northeast of Dallas.
Smith played 16 seasons in the NBA from 2004-20 for the New Orleans Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. The 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year, Smith averaged 12.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists throughout his career.
After retiring from the NBA, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T in 2021 to play on the University’s golf team. He graduated in May with a liberal studies degree.
Smith served 24 days in jail in 2007, stemming from a car crash in June of that year that killed his friend and passenger, Andre Bell. Smith pled guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Later, in October 2017, Smith pled not guilty to allegations of reckless driving and excessive speeding in Bay Village, Ohio.
Dylan Harper is heading into his sophomore season with one thing on his mind — earning a spot in the San Antonio starting lineup.
During a recent GQ interview with his teammate and friend Stephon Castle, Harper spoke candidly, making his stance with the Spurs clear.
When asked whether he expected to return to his sixth-man role next season, Harper said “I ain’t coming off no bench.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) goes up for a shot during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
During his rookie campaign, the former No. 2 overall pick averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 22 minutes per game.
The 19-year-old stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 14.1 points while shooting 51 percent from the field—all while starting just two games for the Spurs.
Yet, Harper’s limited number of starts frustrated him, and his teammates took notice.
“He was upset with playing time and different roles that he was in,” Devin Vassell said after Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a loss to the Knicks that clinched the series.
Harper’s goal of winning Sixth Man of the Year also offers a glimpse into how he views his current role with the Spurs.
San Antonio is loaded with guards, with Devin Vassell, De’Aaron Fox and last season’s Sixth Man winner, Keldon Johnson, rounding out the backcourt.
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper participates in a media interview during the team’s NBA basketball media day event Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in San Antonio. AP Photo/Darren Abate
Throughout the playoffs, Fox started at point guard for the Spurs despite struggling during the Finals.
He averaged 15.6 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range in 33.1 minutes per game.
As Harper continued to show he could score, conversations began to emerge about moving him into the starting lineup.
Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs pose for photos during San Antonio Spurs Media Day at the Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Texas, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Getty Images
Fox is set to make $53 million next season, the second year of his four-year, $229 million contract extension with the Spurs.
Castle sought to reassure the young star, telling him he knew where he would be come October.
“Bro, all you got to know is you going to be in the starting lineup,” Castle said. “Be ready to hoop.”
Harper’s presence will make lineup decisions an interesting challenge for head coach Mitch Johnson this season as the Spurs look to get over the championship hump with Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs open the 2026-27 NBA season at home against the Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence on Tuesday in Texas, according to Hunt County jail records.
J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence on Monday in Texas, according to Hunt County jail records.
Smith, two-time NBA champion guard with the Cavaliers and Lakers, was arrested on one charge of assault causing bodily injury family violence.
He remains in the Hunt County Detention Center, per TMZ, and jail records show no bond has been set.
J.R. Smith was arrested on a charge of family violence on Tuesday in Texas, according to Hunt County jail records. Hunt County Sheriff
Smith was arrested while pulled over for a traffic stop in Texas — during which police checked his license plate and discovered Earl Joseph Smith III (his real name) had an active warrant out of the Southlake Police Department for a charge of family violence assault causing bodily injury, Royse City Police Department said in a statement to The Post.
Police confirmed the warrant and Smith was taken into custody and as transported to the Hunt County Detention Center.
Smith’s brother was with him at the time of the arrest and the vehicle was released to him.
Knicks alum JR Smith is seen on celebrity row during Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The polie statement did not include his brother’s name.
Smith, who played 16 seasons in the NBA, was named the Sixth Man of the Year with the Knicks in 2013, and won his first championship with the Cavaliers alongside LeBron James in the 2015-16 season.
Game 3 of that Finals between the Lakers and Heat on Oct. 4, 2020 was the last time Smith played in an NBA game.
Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) drives to the basket as Wizards guard Glen Rice Jr. (14) defends during the second quarter of a game in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2014. Anthony J. Causi for NY Post
He has yet to formally announce his NBA retirement.
Smith — who went straight from high school the pros — graduated in May with a Liberal Arts degree from North Carolina A&T, where he was a walk-on for the men’s golf team.
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks speaks to the media during New York Knicks Media Day at the Knicks Training Facility on September 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s the second Bulletin covering Media Day with everything else that I couldn’t find yesterday.
Apologies in advance for any repeated quotes, but hey, y’all can’t have it all.
Here’s the latest before training camp gets going today, with the first preseason game less than a week away.
On playing through his left wrist injury during the playoffs:
“It was painful. I played through it. I did what I had to do to make sure I was right. I didn’t think I needed surgery. If I had known, I maybe would have got it done sooner.”
On not being satisfied after winning the championship:
“Not being satisfied, I think, is the biggest takeaway moving forward. You still want to figure out how you can grow as a person and as a player. So I will use that experience. As a group, we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously. We need each other to be all on the same page.”
On his confidence in his teammates, with a joke about Josh Hart:
“I have all the confidence in the world in my teammates. Not so sure about Josh Hart; we’ll see how he acts.”
On the confidence and danger that come with being defending champions:
“I think we have the confidence knowing that we did do it. That’s going to help us, but that can also hurt us. So it’s all about how we go into training camp and how we go into these first few weeks to see where we are as a team, and then we’ll be able to adjust or continue to grow.”
On the opening weeks revealing the new Knicks’ identity:
“The first couple of weeks or whatever of the season is going to show us who we are and where we are.”
KAT: "In the offseason I always lose a lot of the weight"
“I made it known I want to play here. I’ve been a fan since I was young. I would like to get one done, of course. Obviously I would like to get it done so I can feel as comfortable as possible.”
On what it will take for the Knicks to repeat as champions:
“To repeat is gonna take an even higher sense of discipline and execution. And we’re gonna have to be even better than what we showed in the playoffs. All of us are aware that we’re gonna have to bring a whole other level to the table if we expect to have a chance to repeat.”
On the lack of progress on a contract extension and wanting to remain a Knick:
“Are things going to get done? There hasn’t really been much movement or conversation with that, so I don’t think it will get done. But I would love for it to get done. Once the season starts, I’ll probably have that mentality of ‘I don’t really wanna deal with this, I want to try and focus on playing the season.’ I’m sure there will probably be a little extra weight to the jersey. You don’t know the certainty of your situation and obviously it affects home life. There are certain things that you might want to do, but you’re like ‘I can’t, because I have no idea what the situation will be in two months, three months, four months, in a year, if I’m gonna be here or not.’ You don’t know. But hopefully, like I said, I’m a Knick, I’d love to be a Knick and I love the city.”
On the human impact of unresolved contract situations:
“I would hope that that stuff gets done. At the end of the day, we’re humans and I think what sometimes gets lost is that we are people, that we all have lives and things that we have to deal with and fix. I wish I could sit there and say it wouldn’t have any weight or any bearing, but you never know. Some people can handle it great and some people can really struggle with it and that can kill their performance. I hope it gets done, but we’ll see.”
On Jalen Brunson’s “Saturday Night Live” performance:
“I think his performance was fine. I don’t think he has a future in acting.”
On whether Brunson’s $113 million pay cut is still available:
“Is that money still up for grabs?”
On returning to work after the championship summer:
“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. We’re not satisfied to just get one.”
On the Knicks’ shot at breaking the no-back-to-back champion trend in the NBA:
“We write our own history.”
On the significance of the CBA and second apron in the league’s lack of repeat champions:
“Obviously, it probably shows the significance of the [collective bargaining agreement], the second apron, all those kinds of things. At the end of the day, that’s the past. It has no precedent on what the future is going to hold. For us, we’re not really worried about it. We’re worried about etching our own stories and our own legacies.”
On the Knicks’ hunger to repeat:
“I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. I think you guys will see that with how we conduct ourselves, with how we play, that we’re not satisfied with getting one and that hungriness that we’re gonna have.”
Q "Do you ever think about the fact that you did something iconic that will be remembered forever?"
OG "I mean, yeah, I don't think really about it that much. But I know it was a big play. Makes me happy that I brought joy to everyone. Hopefully do something like that again" pic.twitter.com/3HuUh7UVcF
“We’ll be hunted, but we’re going to be hunting other teams as well.”
Wemby on sitting with the emotions of the Finals loss: “It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.” pic.twitter.com/Yhh1CJOtCn
On struggling to sleep after losing the NBA Finals to the Knicks:
“I’ve had a few sleepless nights. It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions. But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.”
Lebron on almost signing with the Knicks:
"I had visions of definitely playing in the Garden, finishing my career in the Garden. One of the best places I've ever played. I think it's the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San… pic.twitter.com/vWcx9WTYTm
On envisioning finishing his career at Madison Square Garden till the Knicks win it all:
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden. One of the best places I’ve ever played.
“I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”
On the Knicks and Jalen Brunson:
“Much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable.”
Celtics TV: "What else is in the bag? Are they asking you to expand?"
Mitchell Robinson: "Yeah…they have me kind of far away from the basket, I'm like 'OK maybe I can show a little something here & there,' so that's what we've been working on––touches, shots, all kind of stuff" pic.twitter.com/SGfrSUsBZ2
Stephon Castle apparently wasn’t feeling the heat in Madison Square Garden.
Castle, who shot 37.7 percent from the field in the Knicks’ five-game NBA Finals series win, said he was unfazed by the Knicks in Games 3 and 4.
“It was underwhelming in that first game,” Castle said of the MSG crowd. “They made it seem like it was going to be way crazier in there.”
Castle did have his best game of the NBA Finals in Game 3, shooting 8-for-14 (57.1 percent), scoring 23 points and adding five rebounds and five assists in a 115-111 victory for the Spurs.
Knicks fans were rabid during a wild NBA playoff run. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
“OKC was way louder than MSG,” added Castle, in reference to the Spurs’ prior Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Though, that was the Thunder’s only victory in the series, as Oklahoma City blew both games at home and were down 0-2 going into Game 3.
The comments are at least a little surprising, though, as the Thunder appeared to be seriously rattled by the environment at MSG as they blew a 29-point second half lead, as the score was 81-52 with 9:40 left in the third quarter before the roof caved in on Mitch Johnson’s group.
After the Game 4 collapse, Spurs players were left stunned looking for answers, with even star player Victor Wembanyama admitting that the team lost its hunger after taking a big lead.
Stephon Castle admitted that the Madison Square Garden faithful were not loud. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
“It was painful, of course. It feels like we worked too hard and give up our leads. It’s as simple as that. It just hurts.” Wembanyama said at the time. “We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half… I can’t really explain it right now. I don’t know. I think it’s just execution, greediness of some sort. Stopped moving the ball. Stopped executing.”
The Spurs were among the youngest teams in the NBA last year and head into the new season with a still young cast but more battle-tested than in years past having eliminated the Thunder in the playoffs and leading in every NBA Finals game.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case inside the organization, at least for the players.
“That hurt,” Karl-Anthony Towns said during the team’s Media Day on Monday. “I was very surprised. I was very surprised that Mitch wasn’t gonna be back here with us. I think all of us were, so it was a surprise to everybody. I thought something would get done there.”
Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson talks to reporters during media day at the Auerbach Center in Boston on Monday, September 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks, operating under owner James Dolan’s edict to remain below the second apron and avoid its financial penalties, were not able to make a competitive offer to Robinson, the only significant departure from their championship-winning team.
“I was heartbroken with that one. That’s one of my guys,” Josh Hart said. “I love him. Obviously, he was drafted here, gave his heart to the city. That’s why people haven’t repeated [as champions] for the last eight years because of that second apron and that CBA. Obviously, extremely gutted when he left, but I wish him well all but the four times that we play them. But I got love for him. He helped us win a championship, and he should always be loved and shown love in the city and in the arena.”
The Knicks pivoted to budget option Andre Drummond, signing him to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. He is set to serve as the team’s backup center behind Towns.
“Definitely tough,” Jalen Brunson said. “That’s my guy, and it just — I think, no matter what, I feel I’m happy for him. Obviously, it’s another opportunity. He got paid, as well. It’s definitely difficult, but you love to see someone advance their generational wealth, so it’s cool to see from that aspect. And just getting Andre, we’re excited. I think he could be a big key to this team. I’ve known him from afar, but getting to know him now, it’s gonna be great.”
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I don’t think he has a future in acting,” Hart said.
Knicks guard Josh Hart speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Towns felt love from Knicks fans on the other side of the planet.
He got married to Jordyn Woods this offseason, and the two honeymooned in Africa.
“We went to Nairobi. We went to Kenya. We went to Tanzania,” Towns said. “And it was crazy just seeing — we’d be out in the Serengeti, and there were people in the open cars, in the wild going, ‘Knicks in five!’ That’s pretty crazy, actually.”
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 5: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 5, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have long searched for a true backup center to complement Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Tristan Thompson and Robin Lopez were given chances in the past. Neither adequately filled that role. Thomas Bryant has been the latest person to try to do so.
Bryant was far from a consistent presence. While he provided energy on the floor, he also looked as erratic as prior holders of the backup center role at times. Bryant impacted games the most when his threes were falling. When they weren’t, he would just create poor spacing alongside Allen and Mobley.
As the Cavaliers decided to bring back Bryant for a second run, it felt like a cost measure and a locker room move rather than one based entirely on his play on the court. Bryant posted 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Cavs last season. The three-point shot would come and go from game to game, but it never felt as impactful as one would have hoped.
If you are looking for reasons for optimism, you can look at the games in which Bryant saw more consistent playing time. Bryant played over 20 minutes in the regular season five times, in which he put up a respectable 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. While these are not stats that would have you clamoring for more, Bryant can still be serviceable when called on.
With Larry Nance Jr. off the roster and Khalifa Diop getting his legs under him, the roadmap is there for Bryant to get more run this season. Bryant had shown previously, especially in his postseason run with the Indiana Pacers in 2024-25, that he can provide impactful minutes. Obviously, that was two years ago. However, Bryant is not some washed-up veteran; at 29, it is more than fair to expect that he can get back to an impactful role.
With another year in Cleveland’s system, the coaching staff might have better ideas on how to utilize Bryant without creating spacing issues for the accompanying big going forward. For now, it appears that the realistic expectation is that Bryant will replicate the same production as last season. While not the most exciting option in the world, the Cavaliers have seen far less capable bigs assume the backup center role.
Brooklyn Nets’ Egor Demin speaks to members of the media during Media Day at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Internally, it’s going to be on how the [young Nets] develop, right?” Marks said. “Whether it’s Egor [Dëmin], whether it’s Nolan [Traore] … it runs the gamut, across the whole lot of them. Who can take that next step? And we’ll get a good feel for, ‘OK, he’s playing above where expectations were,’ or, ‘He’s developed earlier than we may have thought.’ But it’s also a combination of what becomes available.
“So you keep your flexibility. … We’re always listening. I’m not sure we’re going to be any more active than we’ve been in the past, but it doesn’t mean we’re not listening. It doesn’t mean we’re not shaking trees and seeing what’s out there, for sure. So a lot will be predicated first and foremost on what this roster looks like, and we’ll get a good feel for that pretty good.”
Brooklyn Nets’ Danny Wolf, left, and Nolan Traore speak to members of the media during Media Day at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Of those aforementioned youngsters, rookie Mikel Brown Jr. rolled his left ankle last week but is recovering and back out on the court on a limited basis.
“Yeah, I’m doing everything possible to get back on the floor,” Brown said. “I’m back on the floor shooting and moving around a little bit. It’s coming along well. I’ve progressed very fast. We’re just attacking it. We’re attacking the rehab and taking it a day at a time.”
Traore and Grant Nelson are both cleared to start camp after they missed Summer League, the former fully recovered from a right knee procedure and the latter back from a postseason knee procedure and early leg woes.
“Physically, those guys are ready for camp,” Marks said. “Nolan will be ramped up a little bit, but at this time I don’t see him missing any days. Grant, same way. Grant is full-go now, which is great to see.”
Traore looked visibly more muscular from last season.
After the arrival of All-Star Julius Randle, Noah Clowney — who started 60 games last season — is going to lose shots and minutes. But he knows the path to preserving what playing time he can.
“To be honest, be a better defender,” Clowney said. “You bring in more people who are going to have the ball on the offensive end… so you want to get the minutes, [I’ll get less shots], that’s the reality. So guarding, making the shots when they come, not forcing, keeping the offense flowing, simple stuff.
Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks speaks to members of the media during Media Day at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Roles are going to change — that’s a given. I’m probably not going to shoot as many shots as I shot last year. We all know that. But shoot better shots, keep the offense going. When your opportunity comes, make the most of it.”
Josh Minott said he understood his role will change, running less offense but being a disruptor.
“Everything starts defensively,” Minott said. “If you don’t have that, you really don’t have anything.”
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks poses for a portrait during the Milwaukee Bucks 2026 Media Day at Froedtert & MCW Sports Science Center on September 28, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And now we get to the player takeaways from Media Day. If you didn’t catch my first article detailing the responses from Wes Edens, Jon Horst, and Taylor Jenkins, go check that out. Now, obviously it’s not practical to cover every player on the team, but I did my best to cover the most notable players, quotes, and tidbits, so here they are!
Myles Turner
Myles Turner was the first player to front the media. Turner’s opening question was about why he decided to organise a team minicamp in his home state of Texas.
“With having so many new players, I wanted to get everybody together and wanted everybody to have some fun,” Turner said. “A lot of guys had never been to Austin before. I’m Texas through and through; I just wanted to show off the city a bit.
“The camaraderie was great, and everybody showed up, so that’s one thing that I was really proud of. It just gave us a little extra time to get to know each other.”
Changing the topic, Turner was then asked how he defines himself as a leader on this young team. The 11-year vet emphasised that he understands the position he’s in and wants to set the right example for the younger players.
“I know guys will follow suit with the things that I do, the way that I carry myself… It goes so much more than your play… It’s the way that you carry yourself and the respect you command.”
Myles Turner
Regarding media expectations, Turner wasn’t interested in outside narratives, saying, “The only expectations are the ones we put on ourselves.”
“Just like everybody else, we want to win. But it’s one thing to want to win; it’s another thing to do the things that are required to win, and I think that’s more where our attention goes this year.”
Tyler Herro
Understandably, Herro had the longest presser out of all the players, but he answered each question with a lot of respect and grace, I thought. His first question centred around what’s changed about Milwaukee for him since he was drafted.
“When I grew up here, I spent a lot of time in the suburbs, not really downtown, and so I’ve obviously seen how much the city has grown since I’ve been gone for the last eight or nine years,” Herro said. “It’s a beautiful city; I love being here, and I’m excited to start a new era of basketball. The organisation is amazing… Just how they’ve welcomed me with open arms—I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Herro was asked whether the Heat players getting traded for Giannis meant they viewed themselves as “replacing” him, a notion he flatly dismissed.
“I don’t think we’re replacing Giannis. Obviously, he’s the greatest Buck that’s played for the organisation, but we’re not replacing him. It’s a new era… Building as a team, building as an organisation, and trying to get back to the mountaintop.”
Tyler Herro
Herro on what he feels his role will be on a new team, and whether there’s any trepidation:
“I feel like we’re all new. Taylor’s new; he’s got a brand-new coaching staff. The guys who came in the trade with me are new. We’ve got two or three rookies. Everybody’s here, and we’re all doing it together. It doesn’t really feel like I’m coming into somewhere where they’re not welcoming me with open arms… It feels like this is where I’m supposed to be”
One answer I really enjoyed was how Herro responded to a question about his goals for the season: “I don’t have any individual goals.”
“I feel like everything is around the group. When people try to write everyone off, especially after the trade we made, people feel like we’re not going to win games… That’s the opposite of what we’re thinking… We’re trying to win; we’re trying to compete. That’s my main goal: to help lead this team to as many wins as possible.”
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
There weren’t too many interesting notes from Jaquez’s presser, but his answer to a question about how he approaches the prospect of getting a rookie-scale extension done before the season begins was noteworthy:
“I approach it the same way I approach every day: just try to be as professional as I can be. I’m here to work. My contract is the one going into next year; that’s the only one I can really worry about… whatever happens will happen.”
“The first step to becoming a champion is to believe that you can be.”
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Like Turner and Herro, Jaquez wasn’t fazed that the media doesn’t rate the Bucks very highly.
“I feel like I can keep my expectations pretty consistent no matter where I’m at,” Jaquez said. “The goal is always the same: you want to win as many games as you can and compete for a championship. The media says what they want to say, but what really matters is what the core group of guys believe.”
Brayden Burries and Nate Ament
As you can imagine, interviewing 19- and 20-year-olds never yields the deepest responses, but I thought Burries’ and Ament’s answers to 1) what the vets have taught them so far, and 2) what coach Jenkins has told them will help them get minutes, were both notable.
Burries: “The team that’s the most together is going to win a lot, but also the physicality… It’s a physical league, so just getting my mind and body ready for that.”
Ament: “Yeah, the NBA game is much different from the college game, but also just teaching me about the league… Things you should and shouldn’t do, requirements in your contract, and how to be a professional.”
“Cheese curds and Lake Michigan”
Nate Ament on his favourite things about Milwaukee so far.
Burries: “Impact winning outside of scoring. Rebounding, defending, being a great teammate, and being coachable. Even if you’re not playing, still having a positive mindset, and then once you get an opportunity, make the best of it.”
Ament: “Effort plays. We’re the youngest on the team, so giving energy every day, running the floor hard, playing defence—all those types of things.”
Kasparas Jakucionis
“It means a lot”: Jakucionis on what the fresh start means to him.
“At the end of the day, it’s the same game. I’m excited to be here and give all out for this program.”
Kasparas Jakucionis
“I played for the University of Illinois not too long ago, so I’m familiar with the weather here,” the young Lithuanian said to some chuckles around the room. “I’m just excited to be here.”
Jakucionis also opened up on his turbulent offseason, saying that being traded was hard at first, but he soon realised he couldn’t control it, so he put his head down and focused on what he could.
Kel’el Ware
Ware was pretty short (but respectful) in most of his answers. However, I thought his response to a question about how he and his Heat teammates have transitioned to Milwaukee was notable. Ware said he thinks it’s gone smoothly for all four of them, but “the most smoothly” for him, as the Cream City reminded him of his hometown in Arkansas: “It wasn’t like a big change for me.”
“I like how calm it is. It’s slow-paced. That’s more my speed.”
Kel’el Ware on Milwaukee
Ware was also bullish on how he and Myles Turner could complement each other:
“We’re both bigs who can shoot, play down low, defend, and rebound. So if you have two bigs that are able to do that, that’s what you need.”
Kyle Kuzma
Fittingly, Kuz rounded out the day with a bunch of thoughtful responses, but I thought his best was his answer to how his myriad NBA experiences will help him lead this group.
“I know about a lot of different things you have to do for the team, and I’m somebody you can lean on for that. I think that’s what leadership and being a veteran is about.”
Kyle Kuzma
“This is my 10th year in the NBA, and it’s such a blessing… doing it for a decade, you get to learn a lot about yourself through trials and tribulations… We have some people on this team who have only played for one team in their life, and now they just got traded to a brand-new team—I know how that feels. I know guys who have played a role in a certain system that may be asked to do something else—I’ve done that a lot of different times.
Hilariously, Myles Turner dropped in to ask Kuzma about his skincare routine.
Washing your face, exfoliating, moisturising, and using serums were the four keys, according to Kuz. And on that note, we’re out.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 06: New head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Milwaukee Bucks speaks during an introductory press conference at the Milwaukee Art Museum on May 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s up, Brew Hoop family. After the longest offseason for Bucks fans in a while, the new season is finally upon us! I’m here with the first article from media day, plucking out the most newsworthy content from Bucks co-owner and governor Wes Edens’ solo presser, as well as Jon Horst and Taylor Jenkins’ joint presser. The second article includes the best player quotes. Enjoy!
Wes Edens
Wes Edens opened by saying the Bucks brass is “extremely excited” about the season ahead, but also thanked Giannis and his family for giving 13 years to the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee.
“It’s been a minute since we haven’t had [Giannis] in the building,” Edens said. “It’s good to acknowledge that, but it’s also a great time to change and move on.”
Moving to the coaching change, Edens drew on his experience as Aston Villa’s co-owner to discuss how coaching can impact a team and why choosing the right coach is crucial to success. Edens said he sees the qualities he was seeking in Taylor Jenkins, saying Jenkins may be “the biggest addition in the NBA offseason.”
“He was the guy that we wanted. We signed him to a long-term contract. He’s a known quantity to us because he was here before, then went off and had lots of success in Memphis. You take that and a refresh of the organisation and it’s a really exciting time.”
Wes Edens on Taylor Jenkins
When later asked what specifically he and the Bucks were looking for in their coaching search, he answered, “somebody who was going to be a builder.”
“Taylor is the right person at the right time,” Edens said. “He’s a known quantity… We know exactly what we are getting with him, and we feel really blessed he was available. He is a tremendous teacher… Look at some of the guys in Memphis and the impact he had on them; we think he can have a similar impact on some of our players”
Regarding Giannis, Edens was quizzed about what went into the decision not to trade him last offseason.
“We won more games from 2018 to 2023 than any other team in the league. We had massive amounts of success. It was the right decision in all of our ownership’s view to try to give that the best chance of having the next year of it. We did a bunch of very aggressive things. They were all with the intention of trying to give ourselves another chance to win a championship.
“But now you look around here, there’s no Giannis, there’s no Khris Middleton, there’s no Brook Lopez, no Jrue Holiday… but we have the next crop of these young folks here that have every right to believe they can be the next group that kind of builds towards that.”
“We don’t think of this as a rebuilding team; we think of this as a building team. There’s a big difference between the two, and I think we’re going to have a lot of success this year, but it’s certainly a big change.”
Wes Edens
Edens was also asked about the health of the fanbase after some low attendance numbers at Fiserv late last season:
“Wisconsin fans are fanatical sports fans,” Edens said. “Everything kind of goes through a cycle. Obviously when you’re winning 60 games a year, it’s not hard to fill up your stadium. When you win less than that, it’s a little more challenging. But we’ve made big investments not just to the arena and all the programming with it to create the best entertainment that we can.
“People spend a lot of money to come out on a Tuesday night in February; we want them to feel like they’ve had the best experience they can, not just on the court but off. I really believe that fans are very intelligent and are very authentic. If you’re authentic, they really respond to that, and you don’t have to win 75 games to have the arena full again. I feel like we’re going to have a really good year on the court and I think we’re going to have a good year off the court as well.”
Edens conceded that the new TV rights deal—which will have all 82 games broadcast for free over the air—would not be ideal for the organisation’s bottom line, but that it was the right move to make as this new era kicks off.
“We’re gonna be impacted negatively this year, but we made the decision to invest in the fan base and to reach a lot more people. People will get a great chance to see the product we put out there.”
Finally, Edens answered a direct question about whether he’s considered selling his stake in the team: “I haven’t.”
“I mean, circumstances change. You never know, but no, I have no plans to.”
Jon Horst and Taylor Jenkins
Jon Horst was asked the first question about his message to fans regarding the team’s direction as Milwaukee enters the post-Giannis era.
“We talked a lot about having a successful offseason, executing a successful draft, and hiring a great coach as the pillars of our focus when the season ended last year,” Horst said. “We sit here today feeling like we accomplished a number of those things.
“There’s a great level of energy and excitement, buy-in, collectively with the group, and that gives us a foundation to build from. Everything we’re going to do today and going forward is building a group and trying to do it together each and every day.”
Jenkins was then asked about what the word “culture” means to him and how he plans to implement it with the Bucks.
“Culture is more than a word; it’s behaviors and actions… This is all the idea of building the next great era of Bucks basketball… It boils down to who do we want to be and the behaviors that drive us every day.”
Taylor Jenkins
Of course, Horst was always going to be questioned on the elephant in the room: why he signed Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64m deal.
“When you look at Gary Trent and what he’s done for us in the last two seasons… he’s an elite shooter… Only 27 years old. He was big for us in playoff moments, so there’s a big belief in Gary for what we think matters, and that’s elite shooting in the NBA; that’s hard to find. It’s something that Taylor values, and I think he’s even going to maximise more with us, so it was a great opportunity for us to do that, and we acted on it.”
Horst was tight-lipped when asked later about the NBA’s investigation into possible cap circumvention and how he justified Trent’s contract, responding, “We’re working with the league, and we can’t comment any further on that.” Both Wes Edens and Trent himself gave the same answer in their pressers.
Moving on, the players traded in from Miami were obviously a major topic of conversation, with Horst revealing that each of the four players being in the deal was pivotal to getting it across the line.
“We wouldn’t have done the trade without one of those players,” Horst said. “We went into this trying to get players who not only could help us compete now, but can also grow and develop as we go forward… They fit a culture and a style of play that we want to embody… They absolutely check the boxes we were trying to check if we were going to do a trade.”
“They’re the competitors we desire,” Jenkins added.
Another topic discussed was how the organisation plans to champion accountability after the mess that was last season. It sounded like Horst knew things had to change and was determined to make that happen.
“We’re here today talking about building a culture and identity of accountability,” Horst said. “We’ve got a group of guys that we think embody that and that are going to live that. Taylor is going to demand that each and every day, and quite frankly, if they don’t live by it, we’ll figure out the accountable actions and move forward from there.”
“We’ll talk about so many other things along our journey, but competitiveness is the number one thing… When we put on this jersey, and we know what we’re playing for, we’ve got to embody that with a competitive tone.”
Taylor Jenkins
When asked what he wants the team’s identity to be, Jenkins cited the team’s new mantra: “Compete. Together. Get Better,” which multiple players later repeated in their pressers.
“It starts with our competitiveness. I’m not going to guarantee wins and losses; we just talked with the team about developing our winning standards and habits. It starts with ‘Compete. Together. Get Better.’”
Horst closed by echoing Edens’ thought on this not being a “rebuild.”
“There’s an urgency to compete today. We believe that building the next great era of Bucks basketball has to have a foundation of competitiveness, and we have to instill that out of the gate. There is a patience component to this… but there’s not a complacency component to this.”
