With most of the major free agency moves completed and with the NBA draft well in the rearview mirror, here are the USA TODY Sports NBA offseason power rankings:
The defending-champion Knicks stayed mostly pat though they did lose Mitchell Robinson, but it nonetheless remains that everyone is looking to catch them. The biggest movers here, however, are undoubtedly the Sixers, who overhauled their roster after those Knicks swept them in the conference semifinals; Jaylen Brown and LeBron James suddenly give the Sixers one of the most stacked starting lineups in the league. Now, can they stay healthy?
One interesting team in this group is the Timberwolves, who clearly understood that Anthony Edwards would need more help with shot creation and ball handling. Out are Julius Randle and Naz Reid and in comes LaMello Ball in what could be the biggest feast or famine move of the offseason. And then there’s the Lakers, who lost James and went all-in on Walker Kessler. These moves are all about building around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but the new pieces may need time to jell. Even then, it’s not immediately clear if Los Angeles actually improved.
While the Heat did nab the best available player and a genuine Top 5 talent in the league in Giannis Antetokounmpo, this is still a roster that has some flaws; Miami should shine defensively but shooting and shot creation remain an issue. For the most part, people appear to be sleeping on the Pacers, who may have very well won the 2025 NBA Finals had star point guard Tyrese Haliburton not ruptured his Achilles tendon early in Game 7. Haliburton will be back and Ivica Zubac shores up Indiana’s presence down low.
The Jazz are another interesting team and now we can see the fruits of their tank job. Adding Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick and last year’s trade acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. having an offseason to settle in makes Utah a top candidate to see the biggest win improvement next season. And the Bulls could also be quiet contenders, after adding No. 4 overall rookie Caleb Wilson and Norman Powell and hiring Tiago Splitter as head coach.
The big question here is about the Warriors and their decision to run it back. Jimmy Butler appears likely to start the season sidelined, and Golden State essentially doubled down on this build. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg should be a nice player, but this aging, injury-prone team may once again struggle to get out of the play-in. The Wizards are another team that appears to be on the ascent, but questions remain about Trae Young and Anthony Davis and how their veteran presence will fit with this young team that just landed No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Bill Russell (6) in action, rebound vs Los Angeles Lakers. Game 7. Boston, MA 4/18/1962 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X8418 )
NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
If the Boston Celtics were ever going to have their championship streak broken, 1962 was the year. Playing just two playoff rounds doesn’t sound too demanding, until you look at the details.
First, you play your biggest rival, led by a 7-foot-1 behemoth who averaged a 50-piece during the regular season. Also, a brawl breaks out in Game 5. In the second series, you face a superstar duo that averages 70 points per game. One of those two stars hits you with a Finals-record scoring performance. Both series go to Game 7, and both of those are in doubt until the final buzzer.
Was it too easy to win a title back then? Doesn’t seem like it.
<p>Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics takes the hook shot over Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors. <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(Photo by TPLP/Getty Images)</span></p> | Getty Images
The regular season
The schedule was increased from 79 to 80 games, which gave the Celtics a chance to win an extra game. So they did, compiling a 60-20 record, the best in league history to that point. They built a 23-3 record during the first two months and closed the season winning 13 of their last 15.
Bill Russell earned his second straight Most Valuable Player award and third overall, but again was second team All-NBA behind Wilt Chamberlain. The Dipper certainly had the stats, scoring an astounding 50.4 points per game and pulling down 25.7 rebounds nightly. Free-throw shooting was normally his Achilles heel, but this season he made career highs of 10.4 makes on 17.0 attempts for 61.3%. Chamberlain even averaged 48.5 minutes per game, with the extra .5 coming from overtime periods.
For the Celtics, Bill Sharman had retired but Sam Jones was more than ready to take his place. Sam’s minutes and production had increased each season, and in this fifth year of his career he averaged 18.4 points and was named an All-Star. In the postseason, Sam rose to 20.6 ppg.
Filling Sharman’s roster spot, Auerbach signed Carl Braun, a 6-foot-5 veteran guard and five-time all-star who’d been with the New York Knicks for 12 seasons and made the Finals just once. Braun played sparingly but was reliable and filled a need. This type of player acquisition was a habit for Auerbach, with good results.
Eastern playoffs
By winning the Eastern Division for the sixth consecutive season, Boston had its sixth straight first-round bye before meeting the rival Warriors. The series schedule alternated between each city, and as common back then, the home team prevailed each time. The Celtics won blowouts in Games 1 and 3 while the Warriors grabbed close wins in Games 2 and 4. The crucial Game 5 was set for Boston Garden.
The Warriors weren’t intimidated, and the result was several pushing matches, and a few punches thrown during the 48 minutes. The two main bouts were Chamberlain vs. Sam Jones and burly Celtics forward Jim Loscutoff vs. 6-foot Guy Rodgers. In both cases, the smaller man defended himself by swinging a photographer’s stool. Tommy Heinsohn ended up the only player ejected. No one was suspended. Most importantly, in the end, the Celtics won by 15.
<p>Celtics guard Sam Jones grabs a stool to ward off Warrior Wilt Chamberlain during a fourth-period skirmish in Game 5 of the Eastern finals. An iconic photo that captures the heated Boston-Philly rivalry. (Photo by Paul Connell/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)</p> | Boston Globe via Getty Images
The inevitable Game 7 was in Boston and was tense and close all the way, but the key lesson was if you’re facing a player who averages 50 points, it’s good to have Bill Russell. The MVP held Chamberlain to only 22 points for the game, while scoring 19 himself, including five straight free throws during crunch time. Both big men tallied 22 rebounds. With one second remaining, Sam Jones buried a tie-breaking jumper from the top of the key. The Celtics were back in the Finals for the sixth straight year.
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NBA Finals
For the first time since moving from woodsy Minnesota to glitzy Los Angeles, the Lakers made it to the Finals. Their 70 PPG duo was forward-guard tandem Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, still today two of the greatest the NBA has seen. The Lakers were actually in the Garden to witness the dramatic ending of the Eastern Final. They had arrived early, anticipating Finals Game 1 would happen in Boston. They had no way to know that the ending of their own series would be even more nerve-wracking.
Game 1 in Boston went to the home team when the Celtics outscored LA 66-42 in quarters two and three. The Lakers regrouped and took Game 2 by seven points, aided by a large free-throw advantage, 37 of 42 compared to Boston’s 16 of 28.
One you’d like to have back
The series shifted to Los Angeles, and the Lakers got a Hollywood ending as Jerry West lived up to his Mr. Clutch nickname.
Game 4 was a must-win for the Celtics, and they held the Lakers to their lowest total of the series, 115-103. Now tied 2-2 and going home for Game 5, the Celtics felt back in control.
They weren’t. Baylor walked into Boston Garden and delivered a superhuman 61-point Finals-record performance. He shot 22 of 46 from the floor and 17 of 19 at the line with 22 rebounds. Lakers 126, Celtics 121.
Down 3-2 and faced with a do-or-die situation on the road, Sam Jones demonstrated again that his time had come. Sam buried 17 of 27 shots for a game-high 35 points and Boston evened the series, 119-105. The Celtics had displayed grit and will honed by four championships. The Lakers had let their best chance slip away.
Game 7 was excruciatingly close – tied after the first, third and fourth quarters, and with 13 lead changes over the entire contest.
Turning point
Sam Jones scored just two points in the first half of Game 7, but he poured in 20 during the second half and five more in OT. The Celtics wouldn’t have won in 1962 without Sam’s heroics, and he became well-known for always delivering in crunch time.
It was almost over when…
Game 7, tie score, last possession of regulation, the championship on the line. In your driveway and in your dreams, the shot always goes in, but not for LA’s Frank Selvy here.
If that shot had gone in, all of NBA history would’ve been drastically changed. No eight-peat, Lakers would have the most titles now, Russell wouldn’t be 10-0 in Game 7s, and more. Instead, the Celtics survived and won in overtime.
The heroes we needed
Russell scored 30 points (including 14 of 17 free throws) and tied his own Finals record by grabbing 40 rebounds while playing all 53 minutes of Game 7.
Three Celtics had fouled out trying to stop Baylor, so in OT Red turned to little-used Gene Guarilia. The 6-foot-5 forward in his third season played only 6 minutes in the entire series, but he was just scrappy enough to force the tiring Baylor into a couple of misses. Guarilia also snagged an offensive rebound and assisted on a Russell dunk.
Playing on an injured leg, Frank Ramsey still managed to score 23 vital points, including 15 of 16 free throws. Ramsey was always known as a crafty veteran.
The final score was 110-107, with Bob Cousy tricky-dribbling and zigzagging across the court to run out the clock. Banner #5 was secured.
Notable facts and stats
The Celtics became the first NBA team to win four consecutive titles.
Russell played 338 of 341 minutes in the series. He led the Celtics in scoring at 22.9 per game, and rebounding, averaging 27.0, while adding 5.7 assists per game.
Baylor averaged 40.6 points and 17.9 rebounds across the seven games. West added 31.1 points per game.
Banner Years continues Monday with a review of the 1962-63 season and the road to winning Banner #6.
BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 24: Kyrie Irving #11 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA recently found itself arguing with a medical journal, and the league office doesn’t usually bother punching down at a sample size of nineteen unless something in the findings stings.
The paper, published late last month in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, examined nineteen NBA players who ruptured an Achilles tendon over the past decade and found that in the ten to fifteen games before the tendon gave, they were logging more minutes than their norm: twenty-nine a night against a season baseline of twenty-seven and a half. The league’s director of sports medicine answered with methodological objections and an internal review that found no such relationship. The authors, to their credit, had listed their own limitations first. Nineteen players. No control group. No causal claims. Patterns “temporally associated” with injury, and nothing more.
The detail worth keeping is quieter than the fight. The injured players’ seasons were ordinary by the measures available: career-normal playing time and career-normal distance. The clearest pattern appeared in the short window before the rupture. Which raises a possibility the paper is careful not to promise: sudden changes in work may matter differently than season-long volume.
That pattern felt uncomfortably familiar in Dallas, where February has been writing Kyrie Irving’s story since the night it delivered him here, and where the story’s fifth chapter already has a time stamp.
What the minutes can prove
Before anyone reaches for a pitchfork, the honest part has to come first. Tearing the Achilles and the ACL are two very different injuries.
In 2017, researchers examined 83 NBA players who tore an ACL across three decades. The players had logged an average of 17.1 minutes in the games in which they were injured, compared with a season average of 23.5. That comparison carries an obvious limitation: a torn ACL tends to end the night. Even so, the narrow finding is worth respecting. Three decades of NBA knees do not support the simplest fatigue story, the one in which a ligament usually gives way only after an unusually heavy night.
The tear itself resists a clean explanation. The research finds firmer ground on the other side of it, where the question becomes what shapes the player who comes back.
A 2025 study followed sixty-seven NBA players through twenty years of ACL tears. Eleven never made it back; those players skewed older and were more likely to have suffered injuries involving more than one ligament. Among the fifty-six who returned, age at the time of injury and greater minutes played before surgery were associated with a larger decline in player efficiency rating. The returners lost about three points of PER while matched healthy controls lost almost nothing, and lower post-return efficiency was associated with less favorable salary movement.
The minutes cannot convict Dallas of the tear. They still belong in the prognosis.
Dallas could not change Irving’s age. It did choose his minutes. But those minutes make sense only inside the relationship that preceded them, one in which Irving kept becoming whatever the franchise needed. By February 2025, as every other plan collapsed, Irving’s willingness to put on a cape and save the season had become a doomed campaign’s last bit of infrastructure.
February 2023: The discount
The Februarys started long before the tear. Dallas traded for Irving on February 6, 2023, sending Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and two seconds to Brooklyn, a price widely read at the time as below market for a player of his gifts. The discount was the risk. He arrived carrying everything the previous few years had attached to him, and that first partial season ended with no playoffs and a partnership still looking for its rhythm.
Sitting in the nosebleeds for Irving’s first Dallas home game, yours truly. Looking at the names in the Mavs box score for that game makes it feel like forever ago. Christian Wood; “people forget about Frank”; and two minutes of JaVale freakin’ McGee.
The incredible fourth-quarter comeback was a sight to behold. Irving spearheaded it with 24 of his team-high 36, only to see a backcourt miscommunication cost the Mavs a chance at a miracle win. The game of hot potato signified two stars, both willing to defer, and, in retrospect, may have been a sign of the great chemistry that was about to develop.
February 2024: The proof
The backcourt rhythm between Dončić and Irving began the 2023-2024 season at a solid level but kicked into high gear in February of 2024. Exactly one year after the trade became official, Irving returned to Brooklyn and scored 36. Dallas went 8-2 in the ten February games he played, with Irving averaging 27.7 points and shooting 55.4 percent from the field. That month offered the first sustained glimpse of the team that would reach the Finals.
2024 showed us how Irving has always been deployed best: as one of the finest championship-level second options the game has ever seen. The backbreaker against stretched-thin defenses. The secondary creator. The closer who entered the fourth quarter with his best fastballs saved for when the game was on the line. We saw all of it that year, and what felt like the beginning of several contending seasons became, tragically, a one-off memory sealed in amber by the inexplicable act that followed.
For the five weeks after Christmas, the carrying job was Irving’s. He missed five games of it himself in early January, first with an illness, then with what the team listed as a lumbar sprain, and returned on January 14 to the same assignment: holding the team together while the franchise player rehabbed and relief was supposedly coming. Then the first weekend of February, Nico Harrison traded the rehabbing franchise player for Anthony Davis, a thirty-one-year-old with an injury file, in a window Harrison insisted existed to win now. The reunion with his friend and backcourt mate, the one Irving had spent a month propping the season up for, never came. What arrived instead was three quarters of his replacement.
Davis debuted February 8, left late in the third quarter with what was later diagnosed as a left adductor strain, and the win-now roster was suddenly a thirty-two-year-old point guard and whatever was left standing.
Sacramento, it turns out, was present at both ends of this.
Run his final ten healthy games through the Achilles paper’s method, borrowed here as vocabulary and nothing more, with the injury game removed from his season baseline just as the paper removed it. That cohort ran about a minute and a half over its norm before rupture. Irving’s baseline was 36.6 minutes; his final ten healthy games came in at 39.3. A jump of 2.7, at 32, with fourteen NBA seasons on the odometer.
The changing job showed even more clearly on February 12. Forty minutes, roughly a third of the team’s possessions, and not a single assist, the night a point guard completed his conversion into a scoring appliance.
Davis returned March 24, three weeks after Irving’s knee gave out while giving all he could to keep the season’s pulse.
February 2026: The accidental mercy of a lost season
One year later, February delivered the opposite order.
So the franchise’s last two Februarys read as a matched set. On February 10, 2025, Dallas wrung 43 minutes and 46 seconds out of him in an overtime loss. On February 18, 2026, it announced that it would ask him for none. The man who spent him and the man he was spent for were both gone before he could possibly have suited up.
Hold the two Februarys next to each other. Desperation overclocked him. A lost season protected him. Neither posture began with the knee. Both began with what the franchise needed.
And by accident, the lost season may be the kindest thing this organization ever did for him. He had reconstruction surgery on March 26, 2025; by the time the regular season opens he will be nearly nineteen months removed from it, in his second postoperative season by the calendar. The research on NBA comebacks puts the average return at about a year, then half a season of availability, then something resembling the old self in year two. The second postoperative season is the point at which one NBA cohort’s average efficiency had recovered to its preinjury level. That is encouraging context, not a promise. His first season back will still be his first season back.
Two things about his time here can be true at once. When Dallas traded for him, the fear was what he would do to a locker room. That fear inverted so completely it became the best thing about him, and anyone who watched the 2024 Finals run knows it. It kept inverting through the lost season. Dallas Sports Journal reported watching him run footwork drills and post sessions with Cooper Flagg in practice while injured. Flagg told ESPN that Irving “stepped in as a great vet for me” during the stretches of a 26-56 rookie season that shook him. Irving’s review of the kid: “He’s chasing history.”
The more immediate answer will be written in his minutes, his back-to-backs, and how often a young offense makes him the emergency exit. For the fifth February in a row, the month will force Dallas to declare what it needs from him. Whether Ujiri and Schmitz fill the blank with a trade, a protected role, or another emergency will tell you whether the new regime learned anything from the Februarys it inherited.
Irving is the last headliner from the last Dallas team anyone fully believed in.
Orthopedists use a questionnaire built around joint awareness after ACL reconstruction. Its ideal is a knee that recedes from consciousness. The feeling of being on autopilot. An afterthought, merely part of the intended athletic motion.
All season, the league will be noticing. The minutes. The back-to-backs. The first hard plant in traffic in a January game that does not matter.
Five seasons, five Februarys
There is a reason this calendar frame feels personal.
My first long-form piece asked readers to savor the season back in 2022, no matter how it unfolded. Kyrie Irving arrived less than four months later. Four Februarys into this role, every one has become a Kyrie chapter. The fifth is already waiting on the calendar.
And, if we are honest, the redemption arc setup was likely the only door through which he could have arrived in Dallas blue. Without the Brooklyn COVID-era drama, there is no trade, certainly not at that price. Dallas has rarely been the city top-tier stars choose in July. It became the city that answered the phone that February in 2023.
I do not know whether he will be a Maverick past February 11, and anything beyond speculation would be dishonest. What I know is what this season offers: a new front office, a new coach, a young roster worth being curious about, and the possibility that basketball in Dallas may feel exploratory, riveting, and fun again. Somewhere inside it is a thirty-four-year-old guard on a rebuilt knee, approaching the fifth February of a ballad that has given this franchise everything it asked for.
Four Februarys asked something different of Kyrie Irving: arrive under suspicion, prove the wager, carry the wreckage, accept the shutdown. He answered each one.
The fifth February will give Irving and the Dallas Mavericks the chance to decide how they can best help each other…one more time.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on August 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spending a decade with the Boston Celtics prepared Jaylen Brown for just about everything.
He now brings that experience to a rebuilt Philadelphia 76ers team seeking its first championship in 43 years.
Fully cognizant of the implications that come with playing in Philadelphia — a long-storied Boston rival — and alongside a star-studded group featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, V. J. Edgecombe and LeBron James, Brown feels prepared for what’s ahead.
That’s all he’s focused on, fully aware of the spotlight his arrival — and James’ — will shine on both him and the Sixers this upcoming season.
“At this point now, I’ll probably ignore a lot of it,” Brown told reporters during his introductory press conference Thursday, per NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Brown, when asked, avoided most Boston-related questions from members of the press. He kept his answers short and measured, offering minimal insight when asked about his relationship with Jayson Tatum and feelings on the trade.
But when the discussion steered toward the pressures that await him in Philadelphia, Brown expressed confidence. The past decade in Boston not only allowed Brown to improve as a player, but also forced him to learn how to handle the pressure that comes with chasing an NBA championship.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 6: (L-R) President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jaylen Brown #7, and managing partner Josh Harris pose for a picture at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on August 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He’s already been through that, taking home both the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP awards in 2024.
It just so happened that Brown’s departure from the Celtics — something that had been rumored for the past seven-ish years — delivered him his next challenge at the perfect time.
“I played in Boston for the last 10 years, and the pressure is high there — it’s Titletown,” Brown continued. “They expect to win every single year, and they’re always looking for someone to blame. Some of those years, it was me. So I’ve been through that. All I come with is my work ethic, my mentality, impact on winning, and that’s just my approach. Nothing else matters.”
Being part of a loaded roster is nothing new to Brown. In 2024, the Celtics brought in Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday to help get them over the hump. And in order to acclimate both Porziņģis and Holiday, Brown understood and accepted the sacrifice required from him. He didn’t complain, nor did he insinuate he was being held back by those around him that season. Brown did his part, averaging nearly three fewer shot attempts than in his prior campaign while embracing the sacrifices required to turn Boston into a championship team.
During his rookie season, Brown, selected third overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, played off the bench and watched Isaiah Thomas guide Boston to the conference finals.
The following season, Brown — in tandem with a then-rookie Tatum — assumed responsibilities as the leaders in Boston with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward sidelined with injuries before the postseason.
In Boston, things didn’t always go according to plan. Brown endured plenty of gutwrenching defeat from losing to the Miami Heat in seven games after turning a 3-1 deficit into a 3-3 tie to this most recent playoff hunt in which he and the Celtics blew a 3-1 advantage to the Sixers. But as he discovered through the highs and lows of playing in one of the most demanding markets in professional sports, each season is a stepping stone of its own. The next one will determine whether or not that next step is toward a championship pursuit or Brown’s next (painful) learning lesson.
“We’re all trying to figure this thing out,” Brown said. “LeBron, he’s active in the group chats. We’re trying to all get on the same page. I think everybody knows how incredible of an opportunity that we have, but we also have to put in the work. So my focus is on that — putting in the work, earning the respect from the city, from the coaching staff, everything. It takes time. I understand how that process of winning works.”
But in terms of preparation, James isn’t the only member of Philadelphia’s locker room with championship pedigree.
We’ve already seen what a motivated, back-against-the-wall JB looks like. Two summers ago, Brown was left off the United States Team for the Paris Summer Olympics. He admitted the snub served as fuel, responding by averaging 22.2 points on 46.3 percent shooting during his fourth All-Star campaign in 2024-25.
This past season, Brown conquered doubt again with his loudest response to date. He guided an underdog Celtics without Tatum, who nursed his ruptured Achilles tendon for the first 62 games of the season, to 56 wins and the No. 2 seed in the East. Boston’s only bump in the road in the regular season was its 0-3 start in October, which became the team’s lone three-game losing streak until the playoffs.
He averaged a career-high 28.7 points, made the mid-range his bread and butter and allowed everyone around him to develop — all while playing the biggest role in transforming Boston from a rebuilding project into a legitimate contender.
Needless to say, Brown is more than qualified for whatever he’ll face in Philadelphia.
The latest news surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard features additional evidence that the organization may have circumvented the salary cap via secret endorsement deals.
While the Clippers and Leonard are being investigated by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (the NBA’s outside law firm) for a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration Partners Inc, the evidence of another suspicious sponsorship has surfaced.
An investigation into Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers regarding circumventing the salary cap is ongoing, according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Getty Images
On the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Pablo Torre uncovered Leonard’s ties with Daktronics, the manufacturing company that installed the massive double-sided 4K “Halo Board” for the Clippers’ new arena, the Intuit Dome.
Leonard was reportedly a spokesperson for Daktronics, despite the company focusing its advertising on the business-to-business model rather than celebrity endorsements.
An insider told Torre that the sponsorship was “1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap.” Several high-level officials who worked on the Intuit Dome project joked about Leonard’s alleged sponsorship with the manufacturing company, according to Torre’s sources.
Moreover, the sponsorship was reportedly a multimillion-dollar deal between Leonard and Daktronics. Only sources say the Clippers were funding the endorsement, rather than Daktronics.
Daktronics, the manufacturer of the 4K Halo Board at the Intuit Dome, reportedly had a multimillion-dollar deal with Kawhi Leonard. Daktronics
BREAKING: Kawhi Leonard had a hidden, multimillion-dollar "sponsorship" with Clippers' scoreboard-maker, sources tell @PabloTorre.
"It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap," insider says.
In our investigation, Daktronics' Ballmer-linked crisis firm raises NBA probe pic.twitter.com/LU1AeBAF44
Sam Koppelman of Hunterbrook Media followed up with Daktronics directly about the sponsorship. Daktronics didn’t comment on the situation and instead pointed Koppelman to a crisis communications firm, where an executive sent him the following: “My understanding is Daktronics doesn’t have a deal with Kawhi right now.”
Investigators from Wachtell perviously looked into the unreported endorsement deal between Leonard and Daktronics.
The trade between the Clippers and Raptors for Kawhi Leonard has been put on hold amid the NBA’s investigation. USA TODAY Sports
The current investigation into the Clippers and Leonard is entering its 10th month with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hoping to end the probe before the upcoming season. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Leonard have denied any wrongdoing, claiming to be victims of fraud tied to Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a massive pivot this offseason — they went from a big, defense-first team hoping to get enough offense from Anthony Edwards to win, to becoming a high-flying offensive team hoping they can get enough defense to win big. It was a pivot the Timberwolves had to make — they had hit the ceiling with the current construction. If they were going to break on through, it was going to require big changes.
Enter LaMelo Ball.
After a blockbuster offseason trade, the Timberwolves may have the most dynamic backcourt in the NBA with Ball and Edwards. In an appearance on the Road Trippin Podcast with Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Kendrick Perkins, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch laid out why the franchise felt it had to do this (hat tip Bleacher Report).
"We probably did Anthony a disservice last year, at times, playing him as a point guard. It caught up to us. He did a really great job, but in the playoffs it was just double team after double team. We got to get him back to his natural position off the ball. We didn't create enough catch-and-shoot threes for him and when you look at the numbers with LaMelo on the floor with his teammates and the efficiency and the production, I mean Kon Knueppel shot seven percent higher from the three-point line with LaMelo on the floor than he did without... And obviously LaMelo's a phenomenal talent all by himself. We needed the connective tissue. We needed the point guard play."
Edwards is poised for a massive season, for my money maybe getting into the top five in MVP voting. Finch is spot on that teams last season — especially in the playoffs — could absolutely load up on Edwards and not fear repercussions. That is not the case now. Plus, with Ball, the Timberwolves should play much faster, leading to more easy buckets.
There are a lot of questions. Ball himself is not playoff-tested (he had 30 points in the play-in game against Miami but needed 31 shots to get there, then struggled in a play-in loss to Orlando). There is the defense, which is going to ask a lot of Gobert. This is a very different team than we had seen in Minnesota before, what will be its personality?
What the Timberwolves will be is very fun to watch. And LaMelo in town is going to be good for Ant. Very good.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs’ bench was largely a disappointment in the playoffs after being a huge strength in the regular season. While Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson will rightfully get the most scrutiny for his struggles on offense, Luke Kornet had his own issues not only on defense but also scoring inside against better interior defenses.
Kornet is largely a finished product by now, so expecting him to alter his offensive game severely to account for his athletic limitations is too optimistic. That said, there is one relatively simple weapon to develop that he could add to his arsenal, which could make a huge impact on his viability as a playoff scorer and overall offensive player: a floater.
Kornet’s shot profile seemed optimized, at least for the regular season, based on his skills. He gave up on the three-pointer he tried to develop earlier in his career and only takes shots close to the basket now that are largely created for him. He sets screens and dives or roams the dunker spot. Of his 330 field goal attempts, 291 came in the restricted area, and by being close to the rim, he maximized his valuable offensive rebounding. At age 31, Kornet found success as an inside scorer, and he plays to his strengths.
The problem he ran into in the postseason was better rim protection that neutralized his inside scoring, which was his only weapon. On the surface, Kornet going from shooting 65.9 percent in the restricted area to 61.2 percent doesn’t seem like that big of an issue, but since scoring close to the rim is the only way he can get buckets, it was damaging for a second unit that often struggled to create good looks,
Now, with Kornet, his value was always expected to mostly be derived from his defense, so it’s tempting to dismiss any complaints about his scoring. Still, we can’t ignore that San Antonio scored over 10 fewer points per 100 possessions when he played. There’s a strong case to be made that his individual struggles were more a symptom of poor perimeter shot creation than anything else, while the on/off numbers are a reflection of Victor Wembanyama’s greatness, but the fact remains: the Spurs were slightly worse than their average on defense with Kornet playing and absolutely horrendous on offense in the playoffs.
So, would a reliable floater have made a difference? Probably. Isaiah Hartenstein showed the Spurs how much the ability of a non-shooting center to be a threat to score inside the arc can help when nothing else works. Since Victor Wembanyama was a monster close to the paint on defense, Hartenstein stayed away from the rim to be a release valve and used his touch to score. He made as many field goals outside of eight feet as he did within them, which is vastly different than the ratio he had in the regular season, where he took 225 within eight feet and just 64 within eight and 16 feet. The adjustment made him playable.
The floater or push shot is simply a great weapon for big men who are not typical lob threats or three-point shooters. The Spurs not only faced a big with that skill but used to have one, as Jakob Poeltl used his unorthodox launch to make buckets when big men ignored him or dropped too far in the paint to contest ball handlers. There’s no reason to believe Kornet couldn’t get decent at it and at least use it situationally.
Kornet is too useful as a dive man to turn into more of a short roll player, and he’d have to really prove to opponents that he can hurt them with a floater before they start defending him in a way that opens up shots for others. Even if the defense reacts to him away from the rim, he might not have the passing chops and quick decision-making to take advantage, since he never played that role. For the most part, he should continue to set screens, roll hard and make himself available for a pass, and get in position to rebound misses.
If he can mix in the occasional floater, push shot, or even a short jumper, however, he would have a counter for when the defense drops deep to protect the paint. Expecting him to become a knockdown shooter, playmaker, or post scorer at age 31 would not be realistic, but hoping he can diversify his finishing ability a little to make him less dependent on shots directly at the rim doesn’t seem that unreasonable.
The Spurs knew what they were getting when they signed Kornet: a rock-solid backup center with no perimeter skills but the ability to protect the rim against second units and score inside if he was fed. If he’s nothing more than that once again next season, he will be extremely valuable, especially in the regular season.
If he has one more minor evolution left in him in terms of developing a bit of range, however, he could be as important in the playoffs by keeping the offense more diverse when Wembanyama rests, the paint is crowded, and the ideal shots are not available.
The Mavericks are going to great lengths to flag down a one-of-a-kind trading card of their budding superstar.
On release day for the new Topps Chrome Update 2025-26 set, Dallas announced a lucrative bounty for the lucky collector who pulls an ultra-rare card of reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
The one-of-one rookie card, which bears Flagg’s autograph and the actual patch he wore on the night of his NBA debut, is one of the most anticipated and sought-after trading cards of the year.
The one-of-a-kind NBA Debut Patch card bearing Cooper Flagg’s autograph and the patch he wore on his jersey the night he played his first game. The Topps Company, Inc.
The organization’s offer includes several items, including season tickets, a signed jersey and more:
Two (2) Mavericks season premium lower level tickets for 32 years
A Flagg signed game-worn rookie jersey
A post-game photo with Flagg
Private photoshoot with the NBA Rookie of the Year trophy and Larry O’Brien championship trophy
VIP tour of the Mavericks practice facility with a team meet-and-greet
Private basketball experience for up to 10 guests at American Airlines Center
Road trip experience to see the Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics, including: round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, game tickets
Flagg, 19, signed the card at Fanatics Fest in New York City last month.
“Oh my god, that thing is beautiful…I’m nervous,” Flagg said before suggesting that whoever pulls the card should keep it.
“Hold on to it, hold on to it,” he said. “I think it will gain in value as I go on through my career, so it will be a good piece to hang on to.”
In his first NBA season, Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 46.8 percent from the field in 70 games.
In 2023, Topps and Major League Baseball introduced the Debut Patch series, featuring patches worn by players in their first MLB games that were later embedded into one-of-a-kind trading cards.
Pirates superstar pitcher Paul Skenes’ debut patch card fetched a record $1.11 million last year after the card was pulled by an 11-year-old boy in California.
The boy and his family rejected an offer from the Pirates — which was similar to the one issued by the Mavericks — and instead elected to put the card up for auction.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dribbles as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) defends during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Just last week, a one-of-one card of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was found in Boca Raton, Fla.
The card, which features two game-worn gold MLB logo patches along with two Ohtani signatures, one in English and one in Japanese Kanji, was sold for over $10 million.
With Fanatics acquiring the license to feature NBA players on Topps products, this release marks the inaugural Debut Patch release for the league.
Other notable rookies featured in this year’s Debut Patch program include Spurs standout Dylan Harper, Rookie of the Year runner-up Kon Knueppel and Nets guard Egor Demin.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers is greeted by fans for his media press conference at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on August 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Five weeks and one LeBron James signing later, Jaylen Brown finally spoke to the media as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He answered questions for about 20 minutes about his relationship with the team and teammates, both new and old, and what he’s looking forward to bringing the city of Philadelphia.
The first takeaway of Brown’s press conference was the location. As opposed to holding it at the Sixers’ practice facility in Camden where the majority of these availabilities are, Brown requested that his introduction be held at the Francis J. Recreation Center in West Philadelphia with dozens of children in attendance.
As someone who’s been active in the Boston community, Brown is hoping to have that same impact in his new city.
“People who know my family and I, we are rooted in the community,” Brown said. “That’s what we hang our hats on.”
The Francis J. Myers Center doesn’t necessarily mean a ton to Brown personally just yet. He admittedly is still trying to learn the city with this as his first step.
“As I’m getting started on a journey, embarking on a journey here in Philadelphia, the introduction, the first impression is everything,” Brown said. “I just wanted to let people know in Philadelphia that this is something that’s important to me.”
Those kids got to look on with members of the media, family and Sixers organization as Brown described his reaction to the trade as well as his new team. Brown said he threw his phone across the room when he first heard the news, but has since been in steady communication with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and LeBron James. Maxey, Edgecombe and Embiid all reached out to him pretty soon after the news broke. James has been active in the team’s group chats since he signed later in the month.
A theme of Brown’s presser was his desire to win and belief in the Sixers’ ability to do so, but he also isn’t sure exactly how that will look. He wasn’t shy about the fact that this roster is going to take some figuring out with the amount of star-quality mouths to feed. When asked what he’ll be bringing to the team, Brown sounded as curious as the rest of us.
“I’m not sure completely yet,” he said. “I think we’ll figure out as time goes on, as we start to spend time with each other, get on the court, and have conversations, etc.”
He didn’t shy away from the fact that there will be a lot of mouths to feed on this roster. The way he continually addressed winning and the habits it takes to do so reassures the idea that he will do whatever it takes to figure it out.
“I’m just excited to just be myself. I think that’s one thing that I can promise the city and the organization and the coaching staff, that I’m gonna come in every single day and be myself, put my best foot forward,” Brown said. “We’ll figure out the Xs and Os and the ins and outs. But winning is the agenda, so that’s the first thing that’s on my mind.”
To that point, the talent on the front end of this roster stands out to Brown just as much as anyone. He had high praise for the job the Sixers’ front office did as they sat in front of him in the first row.
“Obviously, on paper, we’re excellent,” he said, ”but I’ve been around a long time, long enough to know that just what you have on paper don’t really mean nothing.“
He wanted to stress that it takes the proper amount of work and dedication to take something on paper and turn it into actual success.
“It just takes the amount of work and the transparency, and the leadership can really guide this thing or not. So, for me, I’m just focused on that. How can I lead with my heart, lead with my work, my mentality?”
What will be interesting to see is how much of a vocal role Brown plays. He had tons of praise for Edgecombe when asked about him, but also admitted that he is not necessarily the mentor type. He tries to let his actions speak louder than words.
“I just come in with a mentality to impact winning, lead by example. I’m not designating myself as nothing. You gotta earn that with time and trust, and people gravitate naturally or they don’t,” he said, “but, you know, my focus is on winning.”
Brown has always been a highly motivated individual, and it feels now more than ever that a chip on his shoulder is driving him as a Sixer. He fielded several questions about the end of his Celtics tenure. He briefly mentioned how it didn’t end well there, as well as the fact that he hasn’t spoken to Jayson Tatum since being traded to Philadelphia.
His answer as to whether the trade was as motivating as his 2024 Olympic team snub said the most without having to say a lot.
“Um, yeah. I’m gonna say, it’s one day at a time. That’s all I got.”
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 11: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 11, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite being summer, the NBA’s August doldrums continue at glacial speeds. But amidst the roster limbo the Bucks find themselves in, tidbits continue to emerge about one particular player of interest: Peyton Watson. Let’s catch up.
A delayed resolution?
The news: Reports from Jake Fischer indicate that a resolution on the Watson front might not come until some time in September, with Watson and his Klutch Sports Group agent Rich Paul apparently “willing to remain patient.”
Why it matters: For the Bucks, this continues their roster holding pattern. With Watson the most talented player the Bucks have been linked to—they have also been connected with Jonathon Kuminga and Benedict Mathurin—they are unlikely to make any roster moves until this situation plays out. So, the roster remains at 17.
Actively involved
The news: According to Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets are actively exploring sign-and-trade possibilities for Watson and the Bucks remain very much in play:
[The Nuggets] are in active trade talks with multiple teams on a Peyton Watson sign and trade. That includes Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the Clippers. There are combinations of player packages, pick packages as well. So either they’re gonna trade him, or you could potentially have him back on a 1-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer.
Why it matters: With the Nuggets seemingly unwilling to increase their offer to Watson and the Bucks one of three teams listed in talks, this is an encouraging sign. Of course, with the Nuggets becoming a second apron team after matching the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offer to forward Spencer Jones—and going deeper into it by signing Lonnie Walker IV—any trade will be complex (to say the least).
Asset hesitation
The news: Meanwhile, despite their interest, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that the Bucks are hesitant to include any first-round draft capital in a deal for Watson:
But while the Bucks are interested in the 23-year-old forward, league sources maintain they expect the Bucks to be hesitant to include a first-round pick in any deal for Watson as they continue building out their asset base post-Antetokounmpo.
Without giving up a first-round pick, the Nuggets would have to derive much of the value of a sign-and-trade with the Bucks from the player (or players) involved in the deal. While other teams interested in Watson might be giving up fringe rotation players with a first-rounder, the Bucks might need to include real rotation players to entice the Nuggets to consider their offer.
Why it matters: Jon Horst seems to be playing hardball. Yes, the Bucks would love to have Watson, but being in the extremely early stages of a rebuild, they shouldn’t be outwardly willing to cough up major assets to do so. Yes, Watson is worth a first-round pick. But Horst keeping that in his back pocket is the right move for now. Plus, the Bucks do have a logjam of rotational players that could be dealt in whatever convoluted trade ultimately materialises.
Where the Watson saga ends up is anyone’s guess. For all we know, the Bucks might simply be involving themselves as a trade facilitator taking on a contract they can absorb while bringing back additional assets. Either way, here’s hoping Horst has another heist up his sleeve.
A little over a month since the Sixers shook up the NBA summer by trading for him, Jaylen Brown held his first press conference in Philadelphia.
Here’s what stood out from Brown’s introductory press conference Thursday:
The shock factor
How did Brown initially react to the news of the trade?
“When I first (learned) I got traded, I just threw my phone across the room,” he said with a laugh.
Multiple Sixers soon reached out to Brown and welcomed him aboard, including Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid. Still, on a day that included posing for photos with his No. 7 Sixers jersey and throwing out the first pitch at the Phillies game, Brown acknowledged his new reality hasn’t entirely sunk in yet.
“There’s been a lot of emotions,” he said. “It’s been a process. To be honest, I’m still processing to some degree. One, the excitement of coming to a new city, new place, new expectations, new energy. And then also leaving somewhere that you’ve been for a very, very long time.
“I’ve been in Boston for 10 years. I’m 29 years old, so I was there a third of my life. I met some lifelong friends, some people that I’ll still be connected to. … It’s just a process. Just like everybody else has to deal with certain things, it’s no different. It’s just been public; that’s the only difference.”
Focused on winning and work
Brown was crystal clear about his priorities.
Details will matter for the Sixers’ dramatically revamped roster, but the five-time All-Star wing’s drive to win is simple.
“I’m not sure completely yet,” Brown said when asked where he envisions himself most helping the Sixers. “I think we’ll figure it out as time goes on. … But I’m excited to just be myself. That’s one thing I can promise the city, the organization and the coaching staff, that I’m going to come in every single day and be myself. Put my best foot forward, lead with my integrity, lead with my mentality and lead with my capacity and my will to win.
“So we’ll figure out the X’s and O’s, the ins and outs, but winning is the agenda. That’s the first thing that’s on my mind.”
Brown’s new teammates certainly won’t be strangers at training camp.
“We talk damn near every day almost,” he said. “We’ve got group chats, multiple now, and we’re all trying to figure this thing out. LeBron (James), he’s active in the group chat. We’re just all trying to get on the same page. I think everybody knows how incredible the opportunity that we have is, but we’ve also got to put in the work. My focus is on that — putting in the work, earning the respect from the city, from the coaching staff.
“Everything will take time. I understand how that process of winning works. You’ve got to build from the foundation and build up. You can’t skip steps. So we’re not skipping (any) steps. We’re starting early.”
No pretending time with Celtics ended on pleasant note
While Brown opted against going into great depth on the final stages of his Celtics tenure, he didn’t act as if the parties parted on swell terms.
“The whole process,” he said Thursday. “But to be honest, my mind is so focused on what’s in front of me. … I’m moving on. Maybe one day you share the details of how everything transpired, all the moving parts that took place in this. Obviously, there’s a lot of speculation. I feel no need to chime in on it because I’m focused on what’s in front of me.”
Brown spoke highly of his decade in Boston and said he was “very grateful for my experience” during formative years in his life.
He was asked about his relationship with former Celtics co-star Jayson Tatum.
“We won a championship together,” Brown said. “Anybody that you won a championship with, you’d think that’s what a brotherhood and a lifelong legacy would entail. Obviously, there’s ups and downs in any type of relationship for sure. But on my end, there’s nothing but respect. Besides when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well. But other than that, everything for me is just based in respect.”
Has Brown talked with Tatum after the trade?
“Not really,” he said.
Responding to all the noise
Brown has not been oblivious to the NBA world’s discourse about his game and personality.
“I feel like I’ve dealt with that for a while internally, externally,” Brown said. “I just choose to focus on what I focus on. Obviously, it got to a threshold this offseason that was a little bit higher than what it’s been in the past. I think people attacked my character. Someone even went as far as saying that I had a disease. … But none of it is completely surprising. Some of these things were said externally. Internally, through the organization and stuff like that, there’s been conversations. … It’s just been a crazy process and transition.
“And then obviously, getting traded to the Sixers, somebody that you competed against for the last 10 years, someone that’s been a rival, that was a process, too. So there’s been a lot of stuff. Having to move your family and move places … it has been a lot. But people deal with it every day. People have to change, relocate. I’m not complaining up here. … It is what it is. So let’s get to it.”
Safe to say Brown won’t lack motivation next season.
“I don’t care about the MVP awards, Finals MVP,” he said. “None of that stuff really moves me. It’s nice, but the only thing that’s going to move me is doing something collectively — a championship. That’s what I’m looking forward to, trying to start that journey and building. But all the other stuff that comes with it is just a distraction to me. Whatever it takes on a night-to-night basis. Whatever it takes.”
Centering the community
Brown didn’t pick the standard press conference setting of the Sixers’ training complex in Camden, New Jersey.
He instead chose the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in Philadelphia. Local kids sporting Jaylen Brown shirseys were among the attendees.
Brown’s done extensive work in the Boston community through his 7uice Foundation, which describes its mission as partnering with“institutions, organizations and social change leaders to bridge the opportunity gap for youth in traditionally underserved communities.”
“For me and for people who know my family and I, we are rooted in the community,” Brown said. “That’s where we hang our hat, being able to affect other people’s lives. I think we’re very blessed. We’ve been able to help our own family and be able to kind of change the course of what our generation or our family name could possibly do. But we look forward to being able to impact others and to touch families and households that we may never get to see.
“Being here at Francis J., as I’m still getting to learn this community, I just wanted to make this an important pillar in my life — the community and the foundation. And as I’m getting started on the journey here in Philadelphia, the introduction, the first impression is everything. I just wanted to let people know here in Philadelphia that this is something that’s important to me. … So I’m happy to be here, and thank you to the community for allowing me to be here and holding my space here. I’m looking forward to learning the community, meeting some like-minded individuals and doing some work. That’s what we’re about.”
The misdemeanor unlawful carrying of weapons charge that the Cleveland Cavaliers guard had been hit with stemming from his June arrest was dropped Thursday, according to court records viewed by The California Post.
The mugshot of NBA star James Harden released following his arrest. The Houston Police Dept.Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden’s gun case was dismissed in Houston today. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Harris County, Texas prosecutors wrote in a motion to dismiss the case that they were seeking to dispose of the matter after Harden had completed an “alternative resolution agreement.”
A judge formally signed off on the motion just before 4 p.m. CT, the records show.
Harden was taken into custody on June 13 by the Houston Police Department after he allegedly had an unholstered firearm in plain view in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Messages seeking comment from Harden’s attorney as well as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office were not returned.
Harden was taken into custody on June 13 by the Houston Police Department after the 11-time All-Star allegedly had an unholstered firearm in plain view in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop.
Harden never publicly commented on the arrest, though the Cavaliers said in a statement on the day of the incident that they were “aware” of the situation and were “in the process of gathering additional information.”
“We are in contact with James and his representation,” the team said, “and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment.”
Harden spent nine seasons of his NBA career in Houston. He had played for the Los Angeles Clippers for over two years before joining Cleveland this past season.
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Jaylen Brown revealed he was in sheer disbelief when he was traded to the 76ers. So much so that he chucked his phone.
The five-time All-Star was introduced to the Philadelphia media on Thursday and discussed how he found out he was being traded.
“When I first got traded I just threw my phone across the room,” Brown told reporters of his reaction to the July deal that sent him from Boston to Philly.
“Who [reached out] first? It might have been [Tyrese] Maxxey. … He reached out and was like, ‘I know there’s a lot of stuff going on right now, but we [are] excited to have you.'”
Jaylen Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
Brown was acquired by the 76ers after much speculation about where he’d play in 2026-27. In return, the Celtics got Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round draft picks.
Brown added that he’s still processing the news. He said the excitement of being in a new city with new expectations hasn’t worn off.
He also pointed out that he was in Boston for 10 years, over a third of the 29-year-old’s life to this point, and has to get used to his new normal.
A large part of his Celtics experience was shared with Jayson Tatum, and their relationship was rumored to have deteriorated throughout the past few seasons.
Brown, however, said Thursday that he leaves Tatum with nothing but respect.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaylen Brown poses for a photo during his introductory press conference. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“We won a championship together,” Brown said. “Anybody that you win a championship with, you think that’s what a brotherhood or a lifelong legacy would entail.
“Obviously, there’s ups and downs in any type of relationship, for sure. On my end, there’s nothing but respect. Besides when he plays for the Sixers, I hope he does well.”
Another relationship brought into the limelight after the trade was Brown and 76ers star Joel Embiid.
“It’s been good,” Brown said about his relationship with Embiid. “Me and Joel been friends throughout the years, have mutual respect. I know he loves soccer, I love soccer, so we talk about that a lot.”
