Category: Basketball

SAN FRANCISCO ― Jimmy Butler III is in a rehabilitative state following a torn ACL injury in January that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He still isn't back.

General manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters during Monday's media day that Butler is doing light court work but won't be available for opening night.

Still, Butler's presence shines a light in the Golden State Warriors locker room. Butler is always good for an annual meme, especially on media day. He stared and smirked at teammate Draymond Green as he was finishing his interview session with media members.

They shared a warm embrace as Green left the podium and Butler took his place. Butler rocked a new haircut and dangling diamond earrings that shone from ear to ear as he shared how great he felt.

Jimmy Butler injury update

"Rehabbing every day. I'm to a point now where I get to start running a little bit," Butler said. "I can dunk a basketball, in case anybody wants to know. Very excited about that. But it's still a process, but at least I get to play basketball a little bit now, and I know that all the work that I have been putting in, it's starting to get to basketball."

A vulnerable Butler shared how tough the process has been for him, not being able to play the game he loves.

"I think it's difficult to me because I do love to play basketball, and I know that I will return still being able to play at a high level, but I want to hoop now. I wanted to hoop two months ago, three months ago," Butler said. "I want to go out there and compete with my guys, with Dray, be Robin again to Steph's Batman. I know I will be able to do that at an incredibly high level, but I just miss the game. I miss not being around my guys. So any time I get to be around them and laugh, joke, compete in ways that I can't compete, it's all a plus for me."

Jimmy Butler on missing the game

Being around the guys is infectious. Butler knows that his personality can bring up their spirits. He relishes that aspect of being a favored teammate.

"Probably just being very vocal and just being around the guys. Honestly, I think it's more about the smiling, even when it's not going the way that we would want it to go, it's still okay to have fun and to smile," Butler said. "I'm coming back from an ACL. I'm smiling, I'm happy. I get to be around these guys, some of the greatest players of all time, phenomenal organization. It's never all bad. I'm not going to sit here and say it's all good either."

"I think my main job is going to be like, hey, guys, I can't go out there and play with you individuals, but that doesn't mean that this is a bad day," he added. "You know, I still get to be around y'all. I still get to call myself an NBA player. So as bad as things might seem, I promise you, it's definitely not that bad."

He's not listening to any naysayers. He knows he's 37. He doesn't care, nor listen to what critics say about him recovering from injury and returning to the player he once was.

"I am confident that whenever I come back, I'll be more than ready, I'll be more than healthy, and I'll be more of a better player, all-around player than I was whenever I went down," Butler said.

He doesn't have a target but simply said, "when it's time, it's time".

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Butler injury update: Warriors star opens up, 'I just miss the game'

After being massively underpaid for the first five seasons of his NBA career, Austin Reaves signed a four-year, $184 million deal this summer to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for the foreseeable future. His 2025-26 salary ($41.2 million) rightfully ranks him among the league’s 40 highest-paid players as the 28-year-old presumably enters his prime and should vie for All-Star appearances out West over the next few seasons.

During Monday’s media day, Reaves described those contract negotiations as “weird” because he didn’t want to be anywhere else and told reporters he mostly took a hands-off approach by letting his agents handle things.

“It’s weird, to be honest with you. I’m glad that’s behind us and we got that over with. It’s difficult because I’ve been here for five years, this is going on my sixth year,” Reaves said. “This is home to me. I want to be here. Both parties wanted that to happen. It was just how can we figure out what’s best for our team, figure out what’s best for me at the same time. We had a good time doing it.

“I didn’t talk much. My agents took care of all that. Stay out of the way and then when we get a number we like, we take. Like I said, my heart was always here. I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I’m just happy to be back.”

Between Monday’s comments and ones he made during the summer, it’s evident the entire process weighed on Reaves. Shortly after he signed his new deal this summer, he called it “a sigh of relief” and a “breath of fresh air” to remain in Los Angeles.

Throughout multiple free agency negotiations, Reaves has always made it clear that he’s wanted to remain in Los Angeles and with the Lakers. The franchise has repeatedly rewarded that loyalty with big paydays.

Reaves clearly loves being a Laker and is ecstatic to be around for the long haul as the only franchise he’s ever known embarks on a new era with him and Luka Dončić leading the way.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

Devin Booker kicked off his 12th season for the Phoenix Suns with a new number, but just as cool and as confident as ever.

As Booker approaches his 30th birthday in October, he has accomplished a lot in his career, but there is still a lot left in the tank.

“I love the game more than ever,” said Booker during his media day press conference. “Honestly, my body feels better than it’s ever felt going into a training camp. So, I think, you know, as you get older you know, you learn new ways to train, new ways to take care of your body… I’ve been a sponge to, you know, a lot of guys that have had success and played a lot of years in their career.”

Last year, Booker played in just 64 games and averaged 33.5 minutes per contest, both his lowest marks since his rookie season. No matter what version of him we get this season, the Suns need him healthy and confident to be the best team they can be this year. His level of play and status have fallen in the NBA player hierarchy, but the Suns cannot function without him in the lineup.

Because the Suns brought back almost the entire roster from last season, Booker expects more success and growth from the team this season.

“I’m excited about it. In the past, you know, I’ve been more successful; the team has been more successful when you know, we know what to expect going into the year,” said Booker.

“We’re coming in all with the same mindset to win. So time will tell, but you know, it’s definitely gonna be nice seeing some familiar faces back, with the same coach. We’re all on the same page. This summer was a big summer for us to keep all the same guys in the same building.”

For Booker, Jordan Ott is only the second head coach he has played consecutive seasons for in his career, with the other being Monty Williams. That alone, plus bringing back most of the roster, puts the Suns and Booker in a better position to begin the season strong.

“We got together a few times, you know, as a full team,” Booker said. “You know, I know Dillon [Brooks] had about half the guys in Toronto too. We all met in Vegas. We all were in Flagstaff, and you know, this past month we’ve been running a lot of open gyms, probably three times a week in the facility… There isn’t an off season anymore. You know, we’ve been building; we’ve been getting that chemistry together.”

For Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, building chemistry together is vital to the Suns’ success this season, with the trio only playing in 10 regular season games last season. Throw Miles Bridges and Khaman Maluach into the mix, and there is still a lot of untapped continuity for this team to figure out.

As for Maluach and Booker’s chemistry, the two have been working together this offseason to figure it out.

“You know, we would end up being in the gym at the same time late night, and then one time he just texted me and was like, you know, can we get some work in together?” said Booker. “So, you know, I think that guard and big relationship is super important, and you know, he’s way ahead of the curve.”

With all the Suns’ offseason work and hours together, they need to start fast and start healthy.

“To start the season, we’re gonna be definitely ahead of where we were to start the season last year,” said Booker.

“We have to remain healthy, and you know, we’re gonna get that chance to, you know, like I said, start this season off more on the same page than we were last year.”

Booker and the Suns have the chance to hit the ground running this year because of their depth and continuity, and the Suns franchise player has been leading the way all offseason.

SAN FRANCISCO ― Draymond Green is excited for the 2026-27 season for plenty of reasons.

Green signed a one-year, $27.7 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors; he's back paired with his right-hand Steph Curry and he's the vet who will teach rookie Yaxel Lendeborg the ropes. They immediately developed a friendly banter, having gone to rival schools: Lendeborg to Michigan, and Green to Michigan State. College rivalry aside, Green likes what he sees from their rookie.

"Needless to say, he's going to be -- obviously we know what Steph does, myself, but he's going to be important," Green said about Lendeborg. "I think from what I've seen already, I think my role for him will be to make sure he's always aggressive. You know, he's one of those guys that has the skill set to do certain things, but the way you see the game could affect that negatively. Meaning I can just go get a bucket, but I'm watching this play out, so let me try to make this play. It's, like, no, the right play is actually for you to probably go get the bucket."

Green made a point to himself to stay on top of Lendeborg's development in the league. Mainly, staying aggressive.

"At all times you should be downhill trying to get to the rim. Like, there will be a time in his career where, you know, you may become, like, the playmaker, but I don't know if everybody is going to need him making plays for them his rookie year," Green said. "You need to have the play made for you, and not necessarily made for you because he can make the play himself, but let guys be making the play for you and you're going to score."

Draymond Green on new challenges

With the amount of injuries that the Warriors have suffered, it will be on everyone to step up, including more from Green. Head coach Steve Kerr expressed a change in their offense, going to a more modern style with five-out on the perimeter.

There will be more offensive expectations from Green, especially with injuries to guys like Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody to start the season.

“[Yaxel] is REALLY good, I was very impressed. I actually hate to say it because that means he was really good last year at Michigan.” 😅🤝

Draymond Green says he’s impressed by Yaxel Lendeborg’s game and believes he will be an important piece this season. pic.twitter.com/9tiohDmKcI

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) September 28, 2026

There’s no doubting that the Golden State Warriors will enter the 2026-27 NBA season with a whole lot of talent. Instead, the question with the Dubs has always been whether they can stay healthy, with Steph Curry and Draymond Green’s mounting list of ailments, Jimmy Butler III’s ACL, and Moses Moody’s patellar tendon.

The biggest injury question mark, however? That of Kristaps Porziņģis. After trading Jonathan Kuminga for him at February’s deadline, the Warriors somewhat surprisingly gave Porziņģis a two-year, $40 million extension to kick off the offseason.

When the Dubs inked the All-Star to that extension, the reasoning was simple: he fit in brilliantly both on offense and defense in his short stint last season, and can transform the team on both ends of the court. The concern was equally simple: for a variety of reasons, the 7’2 Porziņģis has been unable to stay on the court throughout his career. Just look at his games played totals for the last nine seasons:

48
0
57
43
51
65
57
42
32

And unfortunately, that trend is already continuing to start this season. When the Warriors arrived in Hawaii to start training camp on Monday, the 31-year old Porziņģis was not there with them. He is officially listed as out indefinitely due to a health issue, though the team has not provided more details than that.

According to GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., Porziņģis was fully cleared last week, but informed the team on Sunday of a health issue, and won’t join the team in Hawaii. The Dubs are in Hawaii for the first week of camp, which includes a preseason game on Sunday against the LA Clippers in Honolulu. They return to the Bay Area after that, as they host the Los Angeles Lakers next Tuesday in a preseason contest.

While the Warriors are being vague about what Porziņģis is dealing with, Dunleavy did try to temper concerns, tell reporters that the center is out for the week, but has not been ruled out for the start of the season in late October.

Dunleavy on Porzingis: "I'm not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that. He's just not available this week."https://t.co/ec5irIUgXC

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 28, 2026

Sadly, none of this is surprising. But hopefully good news is on the horizon for Porziņģis and the team.

With three starters from last year’s team now gone — LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura — the Los Angeles Lakers have dramatically overhauled their roster, led by a lively series of transactions during free agency.

Among those brought in to help Los Angeles compete near the top of the Western Conference was Quentin Grimes, who has a chance to earn a starting spot alongside Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. During Monday’s media day, Grimes told reporters that a Lakers team full of new faces is getting along well and gelling rather quickly.

Quentin Grimes says that the team has gotten along well quickly, and has gelled on the court at a rapid pace.

Grimes says that the Lakers will "shock" a lot of people in the NBA season ahead.

— Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) September 28, 2026

He also said Los Angeles has the talent to “shock a lot of people this year, for sure” and wants to claim one of the two remaining starting spots up for grabs.

Quentin Grimes wants to win a starting spot as he joins the Lakers. He says they’re talented enough to “shock a lot of people this year, for sure.” pic.twitter.com/wHQcyPF9UH

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) September 28, 2026

With his point-of-attack defense, outside shooting, finishing and connective passing, Grimes profiles as an ideal fit next to Dončić. He briefly played with Dončić on the Dallas Mavericks and spent 2.5 seasons alongside Jalen Brunson in New York, so he’s experienced in the sort of role he’ll likely enjoy alongside Dončić and Austin Reaves moving forward.

The keys for Grimes will be to streamline his offensive decision-making and ratchet up the defense to his pre-Philadelphia ways. Sometimes, he’s a bit erratic and rushed attacking closeouts while he never really resembled the menacing on-ball defender folks were previously accustomed to during his tenure as a Sixer.

If he refines those areas, he’ll be a wonderful complementary starter for the Lakers and play a major role in whether they can actually surprise for the better this season.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Warriors will only go as far as their franchise leader Stephen Curry will take them.

That is partially why it was important for him to ink a deal to return to the Warriors for the next year or two. Now that the dust has settled and the ink is dry, an area of focus for Curry will be his availability.

Curry missed 39 games for the Warriors last year with knee issues. Entering his 18th season, he's not getting any younger. He spent the offseason nursing his knee through many rounds of golf during the summer, now he's ready for basketball.

"Knee is feeling great, ready to go. No issues at all. There is a management element of it for sure where you just have to be mindful of everything that you're doing in practice, games, preparation," Curry said. "We haven't talked about the game schedule yet or anything like that where I'm kind of getting too far ahead of myself, but for training camp and the preseason schedule and getting myself into shape and ready to go, there's no limitations at all."

Curry is more confident going into the year, he said, after becoming stronger and understanding that he doesn't have 18-year-old knees anymore, let alone 28-year-old ligaments.

"So I'm excited to get out there and hoop. I feel like I've built a really good foundation over the summer to be in a much better position up until, what, November last year, it wasn't really any kind of signs or symptoms, but I feel a lot stronger and more understanding of what I'm dealing with," he said. "That gives me a lot of confidence going into the year."

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla understands what’s ahead for Boston.

In fact, he’s anticipating it more than anything else. Mazzulla made that clear when he took the podium Monday during the team’s media day at the Auerbach Center.

“The most thing I’m excited about is the unknown,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I always get excited about that because there’s risk to the unknown, but there’s also opportunity to the unknown.”

For the second consecutive postseason, the Celtics have failed to make it beyond the second round. It hasn’t been since the team was led by Isaiah Thomas (in 2015-16) that Boston has gone back-to-back years without securing a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Last time the Celtics took the floor, they fumbled a 3-1 series lead over the 76ers for the first time in franchise history — in front of their home crowd in a disappointing Game 7.

For Mazzulla, entering his fifth season at the helm, that does two things: it mounts pressure and keeps him fueled in the most Mazzulla way imaginable.

“I know the stories I tell myself to keep myself internally motivated,” Mazzulla shared, “which are healthy and unhealthy at the same time.”

Mazzulla has seen it all since replacing Ime Udoka four years ago, shortly before the team’s training camp in 2022. From coaching the team through a 3-1 series deficit to fight for a Game 7 to going 16-3 en route to raising Banner 18, Mazzulla has undergone more than he’d be willing to admit.

First look 👀 pic.twitter.com/NBQ9Xs0RK3

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 28, 2026

Last season, without Jayson Tatum for most of the regular season, and with a talent-depleted roster, Mazzulla coached the C’s to 56 wins. He was even named the NBA’s Coach of the Year, becoming the youngest recipient at 37 years old in over 50 years (since Phil Johnson in 1974–75).

By maximizing last offseason’s group, most notably Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, then-rookie Hugo González and Jordan Walsh, Mazzulla changed the discourse surrounding the Celtics. Rather than linking the team to a justified tanking-for-draft-capital case throughout the regular season, the Celtics were being talked about as legitimate championship contenders to make it out of the East.

When it all came to a crashing end in Game 7 of the first round, Mazzulla took time and reflected.

“The first couple of weeks of a end of a season, even when you win, is kind of a debrief of the type of person and coach you became,” Mazzulla explained, “based on everything you went through. And then you take the rest of that summer of like, ‘OK, with all that information, who do I wanna become? And what do I wanna get better at?”

That’s been a constant obsession for Mazzulla.

Even with a championship ring and a COTY trophy to his name, Mazzulla hasn’t abandoned his student-of-the-game approach. He’s willing to accept the discomfort of blowing a 3-1 lead to Philadelphia and extract something of value to apply moving forward. To him, there’s value in both the highs and lows of an NBA season.

Everything the Celtics, including Mazzulla, went through last season shaped them through experience and perspective.

“I’m different,” Mazzulla continued. “I’m a product of the experiences that you go through. So you wanna get better at those, and the great thing about the NBA season is it’s gonna put you in more situations that you’re gonna become a product of. And you work to use those to your advantage to grow as a coach, as a person and as a team.”

Just as the Celtics faced what looked to be a colossal challenge in starting the season without Tatum nearly a year ago, the team took their circumstances in stride. Mazzulla treated the season as any other, regardless of what Boston had to work with, and made the absolute most despite suffering a historic tumble to close it out.

This time, it’ll be Round 2 as Mazzulla undergoes his next test.

Boston moved on from Jaylen Brown this offseason and replaced him with Paul George, who’s only a year younger than Mazzulla. The demand for support guys like Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Queta and González remains high, as is the standard to make a deep playoff run this go-around.

That hasn’t gone anywhere.  

“I don’t know that it’s necessarily the phrase ‘without Jaylen,’” Mazzulla said. “It’s really every year that it gets answered. Every year you’re getting new players, old players, the same players you have coming back to expand their games, and they look differently. So it’s not as much of what does it look like without one person or the other as much as what’s our roster? How can we take advantage of the strength and the talent that we have? How can we take advantage of the offseason and the work that the guys have put in? And turn that into an offense and a defensive philosophy.”

Subtracting Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and over 70 percent of Tatum’s ninth season put Mazzulla’s clipboard to the ultimate test. He’s been there, faced it, and found ways to work around it.

This upcoming season will be no different in that regard.

There’s an emotional rupture still within the fanbase mourning Brown’s departure. There’s the thrust of Tatum back to the forefront as Boston’s alpha, coming off his career-threatening Achilles tear in 2025. There’s the need for guys to deliver, maneuver and buy into what Mazzulla and the coaching staff deem the formula.

That — all of that — is the unknown.

It’s finally that time! After a shorter offseason than any other this decade but still a long 3 1/2 month wait, it’s finally Media Day for the 2026-27 Spurs. There was definitely a different vibe than recent years with the team fresh off a trip to the Finals but with a chip on their shoulder from the loss and still plenty of room to learn and grow. Here are the biggest takeaways.

Staff additions and promotions

Before things got started, the Spurs did a press release with all staff hires and promotions, including Billy Donovan as new assistant coach as well as his son, Billy Donovan III (who was an Austin Spurs assistant back in 2017) in player development.

Spurs welcome Billy Donovan as new assistant coach and announce several new promotions and additions to the Basketball Ops crew. pic.twitter.com/uAJDRKyTTV

— Dan Weiss (@DanWeissPBP) September 28, 2026

Dealing with higher expectations

With this being the first time most of these Spurs enter a new season fresh off a playoff appearance, let a lone a Finals ones, a new factor to deal with this season are greater expectations and having a target on their back. Here is what head coach Mitch Johnson, who in just two years of coaching has been on both ends of the expectation spectrum, had to say about meeting the moment:

“I understand that’s what comes with the field we’re in and the positions that we hold in our jobs, but it really doesn’t mean anything. There’s things we want to improve upon and things we felt like we did a good job of that we want to continue to grow in. The expectations are kind of like big games, right? There’s added enthusiasm, excitement, criticism, opinions. And I guess I’d say I’ve been on both sides of it now in this league one way or another, and I’ll take the (high) expectations.”

Speaking of higher expectations, Victor Wembanyama not only enters the season as the potential favorite for MVP, but he also managed to establish himself as a villain during the playoffs with his play, antics and emotions. As far has he’s concerned, that’s a sign of respect.

Victor Wembanyama shared his perspective on being vilified at times during the playoff run: “It feels like going through something of great magnitude and feels like destiny of anybody — We're fighting for the top spot of the mountain. We're going to have to move people in our… pic.twitter.com/deumzMvtWC

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 28, 2026

Acknowledging the past, preparing for the future

Everyone remembers what happened in the Finals and are using it has motivation. Wemby acknowledged that the losses kept him up at times but he learned to accept that it is part of the growing curve.

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

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 28, 2026

De’Aaron Fox also addressed falling short of expectation in the Finals while playing on a bad ankle, while also having to get past that mental hurdle and move on.

"Injuries happen. I was able to play through it, so I played. I wish I played better, but I didn't. I have a gift of being able to move on. I move on, and I reflect. But it's a new season. It's a new day." pic.twitter.com/kAfmfi4X9I

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

At the same time, folks should watch out, because another factor in the loss was Wemby’s lack of stamina in the Finals, which he has addressed, to the point where he has surprised even himself.

"My [conditioning] baseline has increased. I'm in better shape than I could've expected, just from experience and growing. It doesn't mean I pushed myself less this summer." pic.twitter.com/bkyDsfOUxv

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

On the motivation side, Wemby said he couldn’t imagine a better motivation than losing. Redemption 2.0 incoming?

"Is that loss in the Finals the ultimate motivation for this season for you?"

"I can't imagine a better motivation." pic.twitter.com/Tb3vwE67Mq

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

Welcoming Tobias Harris

As the main offseason addition, Harris said all the things we’re used to hearing from player who join the Spurs, whom after 15 years in the league, he has admired from afar.

"Excited to be here. Since I came into the league, this organization has truly epitomized excellence. When the opportunity was presented, I was really excited. [To] strive for something I haven't achieved yet. I'm blessed to be a part of it." pic.twitter.com/EffaR946p0

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

He also had extremely high praise of Wemby thanks to their summer workouts together despite only knowing each other for a couple of months now.

Tobias Harris gave some of the HIGHEST praise about Victor Wembanyama:

“He’s the most talented player in the NBA…”

“I’ve been in the league for 16 years/seasons. I have not seen a guy work as hard as he works.” pic.twitter.com/9QqGRR5iju

— SpursNationSA (@SpursNation_SA) September 28, 2026

Finally, he said he’s willing to except any role, with his only goal being to win. That will be a good thing, because there is a lot of talent on this team and more than five players capable of being starters anywhere else in the NBA.

First Spurs media day for @tobias31 📸 pic.twitter.com/8FkO8gWLPj

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 28, 2026

The Slash Bros

Questions have and will continue to persist about the Spurs’ dynamic guard trio of Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. Johnson addressed it head on, saying they plan on playing all three together more this season but couldn’t say how much.

Mitch Johnson's full answer on the three-guard rotation of Fox, Castle, and Harper. pic.twitter.com/OEvgTAErl9

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

All three guards also said all the right things when asked about it, saying they expect/hope to play more together, but there won’t be any tension over who’s starting or coming off the bench.

"I think we had some success when us three were on the court. It didn't happen a lot, but I definitely expect to see it more, and for us to continue to grow both offensively and defensively." https://t.co/baU5TV783kpic.twitter.com/U3ev3W8gQv

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

#Spurs’ Stephon Castle speaks on the De’Aaron Fox-Dylan Harper narrative, and why he feels it’s all “outside noise”: pic.twitter.com/jwPRgalaqf

— Matt Guzman (@mattgzman) September 28, 2026

"Everyone has a competitive edge to them. The biggest thing for me is whatever I can do to help the team win, whatever position all the coaches think is best for me to be in — that's the position I have to go in. Whatever happens this year, I'm always going to stay positive." pic.twitter.com/PzRBDoGz7i

— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) September 28, 2026

They’ll be fine.

Slash Bros 🏰🦊🪉 pic.twitter.com/Z9MMlfxrxr

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 28, 2026

Picking on Castle

Castle appeared to be the butt of jokes today. First, Devin Vassell and Carter Bryant crashed his press conference, with Vassell asking if Castle or Carter had more bounce. Castle scoffed and said himself, but honestly, considering they’re the two reigning Dunk Context runners-up, it’s hard to say. Maybe we need a dunk off?

Devin Vassell and Carter Bryant crash Stephon Castle’s Media Day interview 🤣

Vassell: “Who got more bounce, you or Carter and why is it Carter?”

Castle: “You know the answer to that bro. You know Carter doesn’t have more bounce than me.”

(via @spurs) pic.twitter.com/s9ObcgZqVN

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 28, 2026

Carter also harassed Castle about his “killer” little dog. (Don’t laugh! I had a miniature dachshund I had to hold or put in another room when strangers came to the house; she once grabbed a worker’s jeans and he freaked out!)

Spurs’ Carter Bryant asks Stephon Castle when he’s going to unleash his dog, Steph Says his dog is a killer and he’s gonna unleash him when he’s ready:@spurfectblog#PorVidapic.twitter.com/qxRuMP7pEi

— Carolina Teague (@CTtheMicSlayer) September 28, 2026

And of course, Keldon Johnson interrupted Castle with one of his classic yells. Who can’t love this team?

lmaoooo Keldon doing an AHHHHH in the background 😭 pic.twitter.com/koFjn7jvYg

— dylan (@dylangonzalez21) September 28, 2026

These are just the main points, but there was plenty more, including from Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie, so be sure to watch the whole thing when you have the chance.

Training camp starts tomorrow and preseason next week. Are you ready, Pounders?

We're BAAAACK 🤠📸 pic.twitter.com/ULFSbAV5hW

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 28, 2026

LeBron James once envisioned sporting the orange and blue.

That was before the Knicks won their first NBA title in 53 years.

James admitted as much to ESPN during the 76ers’ Media Day on Monday.

“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “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 Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”

Following the Knicks’ championship in June, the 41-year-old only considered his current team along with the Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors and Timberwolves for his free agency decision this offseason. James felt he would be taking a lot of heat from Knicks fans and the media if he jumped on the team after a historic season.

“Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all,” he said, referring to the media. “But much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable. But, yeah, I’m happy where I’m at, and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Knicks “checked in” with James in July, however The Post reported the signing was “very, very unlikely.” His agent Rich Paul expanded on the Knicks’ lack of appeal following their NBA title while on his “Game Over” podcast on Netflix.

“It’s difficult. The last thing you want to do is mess up something like that,” Paul said. “The Knicks have a good thing. … If the Knicks hadn’t have won [the title], there would be no board [of teams]. He’d be going to the Knicks.” 

James, who plans to spend time between residences in Philadelphia and New York, went on to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, but the 22-time All-Star continuously emphasized it was never about the money for him.

Rather, James wants to have an impact and bring a championship home to a new city at what is the twilight point of his career.

The four-time NBA champ even bluntly stated: “I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round” on Monday.

The Knicks swept the 76ers swiftly in the second-round of the playoffs in May. Philly has not been to the NBA Finals since losing in the 2000-01 season to the Lakers in five games.

Alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and young star VJ Edgecombe, James will start his Sixers era on Oct. 20 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Amid a busy offseason full of signings, trades and departures, the Los Angeles Lakers’ most notable addition was center Walker Kessler, whom they acquired via sign-and-trade from the Utah Jazz. Ideally, Kessler will serve as the long-term answer at center during the Luka Dončić era, a position which has eluded the Lakers since trading away Anthony Davis to acquire Dončić in February 2025.

During Monday’s media day, Dončić spoke about Kessler, telling reporters he “really wanted him” and that he believes Kessler is “gonna help [the Lakers] a lot.” Dončić noted Kessler was always a challenging opponent to face during his four years with the Jazz and considers the 25-year-old “an amazing fit” for Los Angeles.

"I really wanted him," Luka Doncic says of landing Walker Kessler as the Lakers' franchise center.

"He's gonna help us a lot."

— Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) September 28, 2026

Luka Doncic, when asked about why/how he identified Walker Kessler as a player he wanted on the Lakers, says Walker was always tough to play against. Added that Walker will be an "amazing fit for us" and "he’s going to help us a lot.”

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) September 28, 2026

Between his generational passing and defensive inconsistencies, Dončić has long paired well with defensive-minded, play-finishing centers, so his desire to land Kessler is no surprise. When the Dallas Mavericks made the 2024 NBA Finals, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford played some of the best basketball of their careers alongside Dončić. Last season, Deandre Ayton’s true shooting percentage was 5.4 points higher (69.6 vs. 64.2) with Dončić on the floor, according to Databallr.

Since entering the league, Kessler’s converted 74.7% (716-of-959) of his shots around the rim and posted a block rate no lower than the 95th percentile (excluding last year’s five-game sample), per Cleaning the Glass. He is both a reliable interior scorer and high-level rim protector who will benefit from Dončić‘s offensive splendor while helping cover for his struggles defending in space.

Most interestingly is the lengths to which head coach JJ Redick deploys Kessler as a screening and playmaking hub. He’s developed in both areas over the past four years and could be a short-roll outlet when Dončić is doubled or help create easier scoring chances for Dončić and Austin Reaves off the ball. The finishing and interior defense are bankable. It’s the scope of his offensive capabilities that could further validate Dončić‘s belief Kessler is “an amazing fit.”

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

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BOSTON — As he embarks on his Year 17 NBA season, Paul George has heard it all.

He knows he’s been counted out by most of the basketball world after several injury-riddled campaigns that saw him perform well below his previous All-Star levels. He knows how his four-year, $211.58 million maximum contract, signed two summers ago, is widely perceived (spoiler alert: it hasn’t been viewed as a steal).

But on Celtics Media Day, George made clear that he’s confident that he has plenty left in the tank. He might not be in his physical prime — he might not be Indiana Pacers Paul George, or Oklahoma City MVP candidate Paul George — but he’s still really darn good.

(For reference, George averaged 17.4 points per game while shooting 48.9% from the field in 7 playoff games against the Celtics last Spring, and taking turns guarding Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum).

On Monday afternoon, donning a Celtics jersey for the first time, George attributed some of his more underwhelming stretches in recent years to injuries that he tried to persevere through. And this year, fresh off his first fully-healthy offseason in years, he’s ready to show the world what he’s capable of.

“I think the most frustrating thing about it is when a player is not healthy — but he tries everything to put it all on the line, tries to be available for his team, knowing that he’s not fully 100%, and then people are saying ‘Oh, he’s not this, he’s not that,’” he said. “Like, the fact of the matter was I wasn’t healthy; I was trying to play through injuries and be available and give everything that I had to the team, when I maybe — I probably — should have took a little more time off to let my body fully heal. And so, to hear that he’s not capable of this or he’s ‘washed’, it’s frustrating just because it’s like, I’m still capable of doing those things when healthy and I feel like my body is is back healthy. I feel I’m capable of doing those things again.’”

Asked Paul George how motivated he is to show people what he’s capable of when healthy:

“I think the most frustrating thing about it is when a player is not healthy, but he tries everything to put it all on the line, tries to be available for his team, knowing that he's not… pic.twitter.com/KEO4imykBz

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) September 28, 2026

For his career, George averaged 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. From 2015 to 2024, he never averaged below 21 points per game. But in his last two seasons in Philadelphia, his numbers declined across the board; he averaged 16.2 in 2024-2025 and 17.3 points in 2025-2026 while playing 78 games across both seasons.

When he was formally introduced earlier in September, George said he felt reborn.

“This summer really was a chance to continue to work: strengthen my body, strengthen my knee,” he said. “It’s almost like a kind of rebirth, or reborn again — to be in a system, to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good. To be able to work, to be able to train again in the summers — my summers the last couple of years were dedicated to rehab.”

Still, his biggest motivation won’t be motivating the naysayers and critics, it’s showing himself what he’s capable of.

It’s reminding himself that the physical limitations he faced over the past couple of years were a result of injuries and surgeries that have since healed.

“It’s more so from a personal standpoint,” George said. “It’s not about going out and trying to drop 30 every night. I think it’s more so about being available, being efficient, being consistent, and I think, again, for myself, just proving that, when healthy, I’m able to do what I’ve done in my career, and I don’t judge it off of what I’ve done while being injured. It’s two different tales, I think, and so I’m erring on the side of what can I do when I’m healthy.’”

Paul George looks forward to excelling alongside Jayson Tatum

George’s mindset on Media Day was consistent with what he expressed in his introductory press conference two weeks ago: he’s not trying to turn back the clock to his prime, when he was often his teams’ leading scorer. But he does want to excel in a complementary role to Jayson Tatum.

“I’m here to help JT. He’s the guy,” George said then. “I’ve played alongside another superstar wing, and we coexisted beautifully. I see this with myself, with JT, being able to play off him.”

Fittingly, George walked into his Media Day press conference as Tatum was mid-answer to a question about George’s impact on him as a young basketball player.

“I’m around that generation of kids that kind of grew up watching him play, especially when I was in middle school and high school,” Tatum said.

Jayson Tatum was talking about how growing up he looked up to Paul George, without realizing PG was in the back of the room waiting for his media availability

The two dapped up pic.twitter.com/SV9UBUINSH

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) September 28, 2026

George dapped up Tatum as he took his place at the podium: “That was sentimental.”

In a few short weeks, the two will take the court together. And George looks forward to returning to the high level of play he feels he is capable of.