The Washington Wizards are in the middle of training camp, where fans were in long lines to attend an open practice at Capital One Arena yesterday. Before that practice, Bub Carrington was interviewed on WUSA-TV where he said that the Wizards were “held back because [they] were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret.”

Watch the video below.

Bub Carrington says the Wizards held back to try to draft AJ Dybantsa 👀👀

"We haven't been told to be the best version of ourselves. We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That's no secret" pic.twitter.com/yASjsgnUWD

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) October 2, 2026

Given the vision of Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, I’m not surprised the Wizards prioritized youth over a competitive record. From that standpoint, the Wizards are held back. But of course, it’s not like Winger or General Manager Will Dawkins will tell the Wizards players explicitly to lose games.

The Wizards have less incentive to lose games this season because they have Dybantsa now as their presumptive franchise player. A new lottery system that takes effect for next year’s draft penalizes the bottom three teams in the standings.

Do I think Carrington had to say this out loud? No. That’s simply because the Wizards’ actions indicated their direction quite clearly over the last several seasons.

My brain melted yesterday, thought it was Sunday, not Thursday.

Anyway, today’s Friday. I guess.

Here’s the latest from Tarrytown as we keep hearing from different Knicks.

Mike Brown tells a story from over the summer about how he was riding his motorcycle and was recognized by a family of Knicks fans that followed him home pic.twitter.com/xSfvK355ok

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 1, 2026

Mike Brown

On Josh Hart’s injured finger and the toughness it reflects:

“Josh, he’s a handsome young man. But that finger is ugly. So, I don’t look at it. But it adds to his toughness. Josh is a tough son of a gun, man. I can’t even watch when he [shakes his hand], because I’m just like, oh, my gosh I can’t imagine having a finger like that.

“But it just shows who he is. He’s tough but, more importantly, there’s dedication there to wanting to be a great shooter, and you’ve got to put it into work. And he puts in the work, even though his finger’s bothering him. And even though it’s a little crooked, he’s putting in the work to get it right. [Shooting coach] Pete [Patton] and the rest of the coaches are helping him out, and it shows that he can shoot at a high level with the dedication he has in the first place.”

On OG Anunoby’s playoff performance boosting his All-Star case:

“It should help him a ton because guys that are quiet naturally, they have a hard time getting the necessary publicity and promotion toward being an All-Star, unless you’re doing something extraordinary and people start talking about it — like OG in the playoffs. So doing it in the playoffs and having people talk about it should have carryover, in my opinion, since he helped us win the championship.

“And he was in the conversation for [NBA] Finals MVP. That should definitely help create calls for him to have a case to be an All-Star this year. He’s still got to go earn it, but he should be in everybody’s conversation from the beginning.”

On Anunoby’s shooting ability:

“He’s not [at Stephen Curry] or [Klay Thompson’s] level but the next tier. He’s way better than I thought.”

On Anunoby’s confidence, shooting and the Knicks’ spacing:

“His confidence is really high. And I thought during the playoffs we did a really good job of touching the paint and taking the right 3s. With OG being 6-foot-7 with long arms, if you’re closing to him with a smaller guy or a guard, it’s going to be good for us because they try to put their best player on Jalen, and sometimes, their best player is a bigger perimeter defender.

“So that means OG may have a smaller guy [defending him]. That’s not impacting him when he shoots the basketball.

“So I think first starts off with him, yes; he’s way better than what I thought. I would categorize him as a great shooter. But more importantly, I thought our spacing and our ability to touch the paint and spray it helped out a lot.”

On his plans for the preseason games:

“We’ll try to ease them in. The last game is always a dress rehearsal, but we’ll try to build them up leading to that game.”

On the Knicks’ conditioning entering camp after a short summer:

“All the guys look like they’re in pretty good shape, especially for a short summer. We have a conditioning test that we did last year and this year that the guys have to pass to get into camp and they all passed it.”

On James Wiseman’s presence at training camp:

“Fantastic human being, fantastic young man…. Good to see him in the gym. When you’re that long and that athletic, with skill – he has skill – there’s a place for you in this league. Sometimes it takes the right moment, the right team, the right situation, all that stuff, to be able to fit someplace and grow. We have a lot of great guys in camp that have potential of impacting us in a lot of different ways throughout the course of the year. He’s definitely one of the many guys that we have that we’re excited about.”

On Tony Bradley after his training camp signing:

“We’re looking for bigs. Tony’s a veteran guy that’s still in his prime and has a good feel for the game, knows how to play the game the right way and he’s hurt us in the past. To be honest, when a guy hurts you in the past, you tend to remember him more than others. So to be able to add him to camp was a positive for us because again, I said this last year, (Karl-Anthony Towns) has one of the most (challenging positions) out of everybody because I want to move him around when I play him at center. I want to play him at power forward; (when he’s at) power forward 1-4 is interchangeable. Same with OG (Anunoby). OG we put him at the 5 last year. We probably will do it a little bit more this year as well.

“But to be able to do that, you’ve gotta have enough centers around on the team, so having Tony here with his skill set and feel is definitely a blessing because we’re looking at that position heavily.”

Question for Josh Hart on Jalen Brunson: "Was there a moment this summer where you were like, 'Holy crap, my best friend from college is so freakin' famous now?'"

Josh Hart: "He's not LeBron, let's relax" pic.twitter.com/psNLSBWjFW

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 1, 2026

Josh Hart

On the options to fix his finger:

“The only option for my finger at this point, because of how damaged it is, is a full joint replacement. With a joint replacement, you can’t have the banging, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that. You can’t do that. So if I did a joint replacement, then I wouldn’t be able to play. So I guess it’s either wrap it until I retire or cut it off. I guess that’s the other option. That’s really the only alternative: either joint replacement, let it go, or, I guess, amputation.

“I mean, there was a lot of stuff that I had to get checked, and that was one of them. It was just with how it deteriorated, the joint and the bone and everything, that’s what it’ll be. So I’ll do that probably when I retire. Hopefully, they can make it straight. You know, it’s a little off center if y’all didn’t realize. So I’m hoping after that joint replacement it can kind of get a little straighter.”

On how the pain in his finger varies from day to day:

“Some days, it’ll be good. Some days it’ll hurt to catch the ball. It varies. I wish I could tell you when I wake up what’s gonna be good, what’s gonna be bad. Somedays it’s good, like a regular functioning finger. And other days it hurts to just close my hand, to make a fist.”

On why a joint replacement would prevent him from playing basketball:

“You can’t have the banging, you know, repetitive, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that; you can’t do that. It was just with how it deteriorated — the joint and the bone and everything — that’s what it’ll be. So I’ll do that probably when I retire. Hopefully they can make it straight. You know, it’s a little off center if you know y’all didn’t realize.”

On the appearance and functionality of his injured finger:

“I mean, it’s it’s not the prettiest to look at. I would love to have a straight finger, but you know, it works.”

On the physical toll of an NBA career and what fans don’t get:

“I think people think money is everything, and for me, obviously, you want to be compensated fairly for your performance and all that. But at the end of the day, just because you get paid, be blessed in a position to get paid well and take care of our families, [it’s not like] we’re not humans at the same time. I’m sitting here thinking, my knees are aching a little bit, but I want to leave the game and be able to run around and play with my kids when they’re you know 10, 11,12-plus. So that wear and tear, it’s significant to a certain point. If you’re in this league for 14, 15, 16 years, and you see some of these guys that are older, they they got limps, knees are barking, those kind of things. So I think that definitely gets overlooked. But that’s also why I don’t think I’ll play till I’m 40.”

On OG Anunoby’s increased recognition helping his All-Star chances:

“It’s extremely impactful. Obviously, you have to be a gifted and good player to make an All-Star team, but also you have to have the press and all that kind of behind you, bolstering it. So it’s good for people to see how talented he is, how impactful he is on both sides of the ball in the game. So hopefully that recognition will continue throughout this year, and hopefully we’ll be able to get him in.”

On Jalen Brunson’s increased fame following the Knicks title:

“He’s not LeBron, let’s relax.”

On planning to attend Yankees Game 3:

“I think I’m going to be able to get to Game 3. We have a preseason game the next day. So I’m excited, man. I’m excited for New York. Excited for that team.”

"I learned on the fly. When I watched the video after, they said you can leave the ball in the backcourt but your body can be in the frontcourt – I didn't know it was a thing until then. I'm glad it worked out."

– Jose Alvarado on his possession at the end of Game 4 pic.twitter.com/CUv69Gvelr

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 1, 2026

Jose Alvarado

On OG Anunoby’s playoff success boosting his confidence:

“That’s definitely a boost of confidence going into this year. OG knows how good he is, and we know how good he is. So he’s gonna continue doing what he does.”

On learning the backcourt rule during his late Game 4 possession:

“I learned on the fly. When I watched the video after, they said you can leave the ball in the backcourt but your body can be in the frontcourt – I didn’t know it was a thing until then. I’m glad it worked out.”

On what has allowed the Knicks to embrace their roles:

“We care for each other, we compete, we want to get each other better”

On whether he always planned to return to the Knicks before signing his extension:

“In my mind, yeah. ‘I want to stay here, I want to stay home.’ We had a chance to do that, and we did it.”

On his championship summer:

“My favorite summer of all time”

they said what they said 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/e5udEhWlkk

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 2, 2026

Steph Curry left $20 million on the table when he signed a contract extension with the Warriors this offseason.

Curry signed a two-year, $116 million contract extension, which includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. The veteran guard was eligible to sign a deal worth $136.7 million, but opted to take less in order to give the Warriors more financial breathing room.

In an interview with ABC7 News Bay Area, Curry explained how the conversation with his wife, Ayesha, went when he informed her he would be taking somewhat of a pay cut for his remaining years with Golden State.

“That’s why sometimes I realize like, this is not a real place, the NBA, because I can also say, people like, ‘Oh, you stressed out about the decision and all that,’ and the gratitude and understanding, the numbers we’re talking about, and of course there’s team valuations and the salary cap, max numbers and all,” Curry said.

“It goes back to my very first contract, the $11 million (per season), $44 (million) that I signed. You sign contracts based on information that you have and what you feel like is right.

“And you talked about Ayesha, my family, we, everybody’s on the same page of understanding what I have in front of me in the controllables of playing good basketball, staying with the Golden State Warriors and trying to end this thing the right way.”

Steph Curry on how his conversation with Ayesha went on leaving $20 million on the table for his contract extension:

“That’s why sometimes I realize like, this is not a real place, the NBA, because I can also say, people like, ‘Oh, you stressed out about the decision and all… pic.twitter.com/g6lKgdDYWy

— aly ✶ (@jinthirty) October 1, 2026

A few notes from the first three days of Knicks training camp:

BACKUP PLAN

The Knicks are looking at Drew Eubanks, James Wiseman and Tony Bradley as potential third center options during training camp.

I didn’t get the sense that there was a clear favorite heading in to camp. Before training camp, the team told some potential free agents that it was looking for a big man on the younger side. I don’t think this disqualifies Eubanks (29), Bradley (28) or Wiseman (25).

Head coach Mike Brown was asked about both Wiseman and Bradley during training camp news conferences and offered praise for both players.

BROWN ON WISEMAN, WHOM HE COACHED AT GOLDEN STATE

"Fantastic human being, fantastic young man…. Good to see him in the gym. When you’re that long and that athletic, with skill - he has skill - there’s a place for you in this league. Sometimes it takes the right moment, the right team, the right situation, all that stuff, to be able to fit someplace and grow. We have a lot of great guys in camp that have potential of impacting us in a lot of different ways throughout the course of the year. He’s definitely one of the many guys that we have that we’re excited about."

BROWN ON BRADLEY

"We’re looking for bigs. Tony’s a veteran guy that’s still in his prime and has a good feel for the game, knows how to play the game the right way and he’s hurt us in the past. To be honest, when a guy hurts you in the past, you tend to remember him more than others. So to be able to add him to camp was a positive for us because again, I said this last year, (Karl-Anthony Towns) has one of the most (challenging positions) out of everybody because I want to move him around when I play him at center. I want to play him at power forward; (when he’s at) power forward 1-4 is interchangeable. Same with OG (Anunoby). OG we put him at the 5 last year. We probably will do it a little bit more this year as well. 

"But to be able to do that, you’ve gotta have enough centers around on the team, so having Tony here with his skill set and feel is definitely a blessing because we’re looking at that position heavily."

The Knicks can also trade for a third center later in the season. On the wings, I think John Konchar had a solid chance to make the opening night roster before he had to leave training camp due to personal issues. Maybe that creates a lane for Bruce Brown Jr. or Ochai Agbaji? In order to keep a veteran center and veteran wing on the regular season roster, the Knicks would have to trade one of their players on NBA deals. They’d have to do this because they are not going to spend above the second apron in team salary, according to owner James Dolan. If they changed course and decided to spend above the second apron, the Knicks would have the roster spots available to keep both a veteran big and veteran wing without making a trade.

The decision to stay below the second apron gave the Knicks very little chance of retaining Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks made it clear they will miss Robinson but also are bullish on new backup center Andre Drummond.

"We’re not expecting Andre to come in and be Mitch or impact the game in a lot of different ways than Mitch did,” Brown said this week. “Just be yourself and everybody else has to step up and box out a little harder and come across earlier to help stop the penetration sooner, all those things that will make us a top level team. We can all do a little bit better together."

EXTENSION APPREHENSION? 

It seems unlikely at this point that the Knicks will agree to extensions with Towns, Josh Hart or Miles McBride before the regular season. There is clearly a gap between what the Knicks are offering Towns and what he’s looking for. Logically, the Knicks need to figure out Towns’ situation before they can address Hart or McBride. The club’s immediate financial future is impacted greatly by Towns’ $61 million player option for 2027-28. If he agreed to an extension, Towns would presumably decline the extension and have a lower annual salary for 2027-28.

If extensions are not signed before the season starts, I’m sure Towns, Hart and McBride will maintain the same approach to their job. But, as Hart noted, it’s only natural for contract uncertainty to impact a player’s life on or off the court.

"Once the season starts (and if no extension is reached), I’ll probably have that mentality of 'I don’t really wanna deal with this, I want to try and focus on playing the season.' (But) I’m sure there will probably be a little extra weight to the jersey," Hart said this week. "You don’t know the certainty of your situation and obviously it affects home life. There are certain things that you might want to do, but you’re like ‘I can’t, because I have no idea what the situation will be in two months, three months, four months, in a year, if I’m gonna be here or not.’ You don’t know. But hopefully, like I said, I’m a Knick, I’d love to be a Knick and I love the city."

"…At the end of the day, we’re humans and I think what sometimes gets lost is that we are people, that we all have lives and things that we have to deal with and fix," Hart said in response to a separate question later in his interview. "I wish I could sit there and say it wouldn’t have any weight or any bearing, but you never know. Some people can handle it great and some people can really struggle with it and that can kill their performance. I hope it gets done, but we’ll see."
Unless the Knicks decide to exceed the second apron in team salary, it will be difficult for the club to extend all three of Towns, Hart and McBride.

To illustrate this, let’s use $75 million as a combined annual salary for the first year of Towns and Hart extensions. With this number, the Knicks would have roughly $13-$14 million in second apron space to offer McBride. 

But the bigger hurdle, in my view, is the 2028-29 season.

Let’s say Jalen Brunson signs a max extension that starts in 2028-29.  If you take Brunson’s deal and combine it with a total $75-$80 million in extensions for Towns and Hart, the Knicks would have around $10 million under the second apron for either McBride or another player. This number doesn’t account for an extension for OG Anunoby. Anunoby would be eligible for an extension. And obviously, that $10 million is certainly below McBride’s market value. So the Knicks have to navigate a tough situation with these extensions if they want to remain below the second apron in team salary. 

To date, not much has changed on the Knicks’ side: they think very highly of Towns and want him to be a Knick for a long time. The Knicks, in earlier negotiations, offered Towns a contract with a starting number of between $45-$50 million, as SNY reported. I don’t know if they have or haven’t increased their offers to Towns. Again, everything here is based on the Knicks’ commitment to staying under the second apron.

BIGGER ROLE FOR OG?

If you’re reading this, you already know that OG Anunoby played at an incredibly high level in the playoffs. He shot 49 percent from beyond the arc across all four rounds.
Brown was effusive when asked about Anunoby’s shooting this week.

The coach said Anunoby is "not Steph (Curry) or Klay (Thompson)-level, but he's like the next tier. He's way better what I thought. His confidence is really high."

A look at the postseason numbers leads to an interesting question: will Anunoby supplant Towns as the Knicks’ clear No. 2 option on offense?

Anunoby’s usage and shots were steady across the regular season and postseason. Towns’ usage and shots dropped noticeably in the playoffs. In the Finals, Towns was preoccupied with defending Victor Wembenyama, which he did masterfully. But if Anunoby’s shooting can carry over to this regular season, it will be interesting to see if there is a shift in the Knicks’ hierarchy. Maybe Anunoby becomes New York’s No. 2 option behind Brunson?

Towns is obviously a brilliant offensive player, so this wouldn’t be about anything he can or can’t do on that end of the floor. It’s moreso about Anunoby’s growth. Brown this week mentioned the possibility of Anunoby and Mikal Bridges playing in more pick-and-roll in the coming season. He also mentioned how Anunoby’s jab step – while not exactly lightning-quick – was effective.

Given all of this, it’s worth keeping an eye on New York’s offensive hierarchy early in the season.

HART HURTING

Josh Hart will deal with intermittent pain in his shooting hand for the rest of his career. He explained on Thursday why he’ll delay surgery to repair his right finger until after retirement. When asked about it, Hart said he still has to deal with pain in the finger/hand.

"Some days it'll be it'll be good. Some days it'll hurt to catch the ball. It just, it varies. I wish I could tell you when I wake up, what's gonna be good, what's gonna be bad. But yeah, I mean, somedays it’s good like a regular functioning finger. And other days it hurts to just close my hand, to make a fist," he said.

This is obviously something the Knicks will monitor all season. Last year, Hart and the team’s approach worked well. Hart shot a career-high 41 percent from beyond the arc and hit 40 percent of his threes in the NBA Finals. Brown has been impressed by Hart – and the coaches/trainers around him – for the way they’ve handled the hand injury.

"It just shows to he is…he's tough; he's tough," Brown said this week. "But more importantly, there’s dedication there to wanting to be a great shooter, and you’ve got to put (in work to reach that level). And he puts in the work, even though his fingers bothering him, and even though it's a little crooked, you know, he's putting in the work to get it right. And, you know, (Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton) and the rest of the coaches are helping him out, and it shows. He can shoot at a high level with the dedication he has in the first place (and with assistance from the Knicks staff)."

Patience is a rare currency in NBA training camps. Yet, at HSS Training Center in Sunset Park, the Brooklyn Nets have plenty of it when it comes to Mikel Brown Jr.

The sixth overall pick rolled his left ankle working out before the start of camp. On Media Day, Sean Marks mentioned that he isn’t expecting him to miss “considerable time at all.” That’s a sigh of relief compared to September 2025, when the Nets revealed that eighth overall pick Egor Demin would miss time due to a left plantar fascia tear that at one point had put him in a wheelchair.

As for Brown Jr., it’s becoming obvious the 20-year-old is very eager to get on the floor, but as he continues his recovery, the Nets’ performance team is taking a cautious approach. He has resumed light on-court work, but he hasn’t been cleared for full-contact work as Brooklyn prepares for its preseason opener against Charlotte on Tuesday.

“Yeah, as of right now they’re just telling me you could get back moving a little bit, really just trying to get the strengthening it up back,” Brown said at Thursday’s practice. “I mean, I am back on the court moving. That’s all I’m really worried about right now. I’m just taking it one step at a time.”

For any rookie, the mental adjustment to rehab is often harder than the physical one. The organization hasn’t provided a firm timetable for his debut. Brown Jr. acknowledged the learning curve required to yield to the medical staff – something worth getting used to in Brooklyn.

“I feel like I have no choice but to be patient,” Brown Jr. said. “I want to be out there so bad, but they’ve just been emphasizing to me, ‘Let’s take our time with this stuff and get you back 100 percent,’ which me, I’m trying to play as soon as possible. So really just attacking this rehab, focusing on stuff that I can control.”

The real games don’t begin until October 21 with preseason games beginning next Tuesday and running through October 14. The Nets aren’t going to risk Brown Jr. getting more injured over practice — whether he likes it or not. But this will also be Brooklyn’s second preseason in which its highest-drafted prospect will miss some time in training camp due to injury. Demin played only one preseason game last year. 

“I mean, that’s up to the performance staff,” Brown said when asked if he expects to play in the preseason. “I’m just doing what I can to get back on the court as of right now.”

---

Keon Ellis Stock Rising Early in Camp

While Brown’s on-court debut is on pause, another backcourt piece is making noise. Keon Ellis has turned heads early in training camp with his defensive intensity and perimeter shooting. When asked which teammate has made the strongest impression during the opening slate of practices, veteran forward Michael Porter Jr. didn’t hesitate.

“Keon has been hooping these first [few] days,” Porter Jr. noted. “He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid.”

Ellis, known for his relentless point-of-attack defense and efficient floor-spacing, provides the exact operational pace head coach Jordi Fernández is preaching: quick choices, defensive versatility, and zero wasted motion.

---

Closing Out The Work Week

Fernández shifted the team’s workload on Thursday, making it a non-contact practice.

“When you’re tired, you can lose it easily,” Fernández explained. “And [Thursday] being a non-contact session and a session that it’s more mental with the film and the walk-throughs and installing new things, your brain needs to be there. It was very positive like an active recovery where you still need to advance… It was a great day. And then [Friday], it’s going to be a big high-load game day with a lot of playing. And players, they love to play, so they’re excited about tomorrow.”

The fast-paced scrimmages have also served as a testing ground for lineup experimenting. Interestingly, Fernández has kept veteran forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle on opposite sides during scrimmages, using the early portion of camp to evaluate different lineups.

With Charlotte coming to town next week, Brooklyn’s mix of developmental patience and physical evaluation is officially underway.

• Mikel Brown Jr. has no timetable as Nets prioritize full recovery – Brian Lewis – New York Post

With the 2026-2027 NBA season just right around the corner, the Sixers are at the forefront of conversation and intrigue for the upcoming campaign.

Most of the focus is centered around the acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and how they will fit amongst the trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. While the star-studded first five will have to shoulder most of the responsibility on this team, the depth and production from the Sixers’ bench unit will be a major swing factor in how this team contends both throughout the regular season and postseason. So that raises the question. Do the Sixers have enough depth?

The Backcourt

This is the most quality backcourt depth the Sixers have had in recent memory. The trio of Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should provide the Sixers with plenty of ball handling, shooting and scoring punch off the bench.

Simons joins the Sixers after signing a two-year, $12-million contract with a second-year player-option this summer. Simons is coming off a season where he appeared in 55 games between Boston and Chicago, where he was traded before the deadline in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and draft compensation. Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, while shooting 44% from the field, 39% from threeand just shy of 90% from the foul line. The skill that is going to prove most valuable for this Sixers team is his shooting ability. On top of his 39% from three, Simons attempted a career high 9.9 threes per 36 minutes. His ability to shoot off the catch, off the dribble and off movement is going to be huge for providing space and gravity across many lineups next to the Sixers stars. Simons also has the ability to go off on his own at any given time and be the primary focal point offensively for a bench unit.

Philon, the Sixers’ first-round pick in June’s NBA draft, is a perfect guard to blend in with this team. He’s immediately the Sixers’ second-best passer on the perimeter aside from LeBron James and an elite pick-and-roll operator who is also more than capable of scoring in isolation from all three levels. Philon has the skillset to play both with the ball in his hands or off the ball next to other primary creators — an ability he showed throughout his time in college at Alabama and in high school at Link Academy.

Philon, similarly to Simons, has the ability to be the primary engine of your second unit offense, with even more playmaking juice than Simons provides. He’s also able to fit next to either Maxey or Edgecombe in the backcourt as well playing a tertiary role as a secondary creator or spot-up guy alongside Brown, Embiid and James. Philon is also an excellent transition player which plays right into what is likely to be a major part of the Sixers identity given how Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and James are four of the most dangerous transition players in the sport. Philon was a steal for the Sixers in the 2026 draft, and his scalability is going to provide the Sixers with a significant jolt in their backcourt off the bench.

Why the Sixers got the steal of the draft in Labaron Philon Jr. | Liberty Ballers

Labaron Philon efficient from all three levels. Don’t be surprised if he is in 6th man of the year conversations immediately. pic.twitter.com/6JiYe8PTln

— Will Rucker (@Will_Rucker3_AD) June 24, 2026

Caldwell-Pope, more famously referred to as “KCP,” is no stranger to playing a 3-and-D role supplementing star-laden lineups. The two-time NBA champion and fellow Klutch sport client won a title alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis in L.A. during the NBA bubble as well as with the Denver Nuggets in 2023 next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. While Caldwell-Pope is not quite the elite 3-and-D role player he was in his prime, now entering year 14 and his age 33 season, KCP still should be able to provide adequate defense and spacing off the bench and his championship experience and championship level chemistry that’s already established with James won’t hurt either.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offseason work 🎯

(h/t chrisjohnsonhoops on IG) pic.twitter.com/bhJUuMaKfy

— Sleeper76ers (@sleeper76ers) August 2, 2026

Two-way contract guys Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert could provide some value as well if the team runs into some injuries or there’s some heavy rest nights for the Sixers primary players. Love is a microwave scorer capable of having big offensive outburst. Rupert is more of a defense-first guard/wing with standout length and a high motor who is an excellent rebounder.

The Frontcourt

The Sixers’ biggest offseason acquisition prior to the trade for Brown and the free agency acquisition of James was them inking former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade to a four-year, $38-million deal. Wade was penciled in as the Sixers starting power forward prior to the addition of James later on in free agency. Wade is a quintessential 3-and-D forward whose versatile defense is going to be a major chess piece for the Sixers.

I’d expect Wade to lead the Sixers bench in minutes played and time played alongside the Sixers starters. His ability to guard both up and down the lineup from small guards to larger forwards will make him an important piece on the board for the Sixers. I would expect Wade will spend a lot of his time checking opposing team’s primary scoring options. He’s also a phenomenal offensive rebounder who will win extra possessions and space from three. Wade upping his three-point volume should be a point of emphasis for him this year as he is going to get plenty of open looks playing next to the Sixers stars.

Dean Wade 76er pic.twitter.com/fiorFLUYyS

— Will Rucker (@Will_Rucker3_AD) July 1, 2026

Dominick Barlow was a revelation for the Sixers during the 2025-2026 season. Barlow, who started the season on a two-way contract, went on to start 59 games and play 24 minutes a night. His defense, motor and overall activity on both ends made him a key role player on a playoff team last season. Barlow, who spent most of this offseason reworking his jump shot in an effort to become a better three-point shooter, could prove to be a vital role player for the Sixers again this season.

His cutting ability and open court athleticism theoretically fits very nicely alongside the Sixers stars, in particular LeBron James, who is one of the best in the world at finding cutters. Lineups that featured Barlow at the power forward spot next to Joel Embiid were among the most efficient lineups for the Sixers last season. If Barlow can improve his outside shooting, he becomes an even more valuable and fittable piece into the Sixers’ puzzle.

Barlow off ball movement, cutting, ability to run the floor are going to fit great with LeBron. https://t.co/hRvuOTI79K

— Will Rucker (@Will_Rucker3_AD) July 28, 2026

Jabari Walker and Justin Edwards are likely to serve as deeper bench reserves in the Sixers frontcourt. Walker’s rebounding ability on both ends allows him to provide value in that context while also being capable of knocking down an open corner three. Continued improvement as a shooter and defender will be needed for Walker to carve out more of a role. Edwards should be a plug-and-play fit whenever needed as another 3-and-D wing. Edwards will have to show more consistency to warrant a consistent role on this iteration of the Sixers. Improvements in screen navigation on the defensive end would go a long way in helping Edward’s case for more minutes. Edwards is also capable of getting hot from distance as we’ve seen several times over the last couple of seasons.

Have a night, Justin Edwards ‼️

🔔 22 PTS (13 in 4Q)
🔔 8-9 FGM
🔔 5-6 3PM

He drilled 3 STRAIGHT triples in the 4Q to spark the @sixers' comeback victory over Boston! pic.twitter.com/x7ivFhdZv6

— NBA (@NBA) November 12, 2025

Offseason work for Jabari Walker @ Official Sports Academy pic.twitter.com/Kt2p944HRR

— HG (@Harrison_Grimm) July 29, 2026

The biggest question mark for the Sixers depth chart heading into the season is the backup center position. Adem Bona is likely to serve as the Sixers primary backup center to start the season, and he has had his moments throughout his first couple of seasons in the NBA. Bona should benefit greatly when playing alongside James as Bona is an excellent runner of the floor and lob threat who will be better optimized playing with a passer like LeBron. Bona has had his struggles defending bigger players in the low post and with rebounding as he is a bit undersized for a center and does not have the best hands. I expect Bona to provide minutes in the regular season and his defensive versatility to shine more in a better equipped Sixers lineup.

Ariel Hukporti is the Sixers other true backup center option after coming over from the New York Knicks in the offseason by way of free agency. Hukporti saw limited minutes for the Knicks over the last two seasons playing nine minutes a game over 79 contest the past two years. He’s a quality rebounder and provides a bit more size than Bona does at the center spot. Hukporti is known to be an excellent screener which serves him well as he will likely be setting a lot of ball screens for the Sixers ball handlers. I would also expect the Sixers to deploy quite a bit of “small ball” at the 5 with guys like Wade, Barlow and James playing in that spot and alongside each other across the frontcourt and leaning into the versatility that their forward positions provide.

If there is a spot that I could see the Sixers looking to upgrade before the trade deadline it would be the backup center spot as we know how valuable that position is behind Joel Embiid.

Adem Bona really did it ALL for Türkiye (including making a three-pointer) 🫣🇹🇷

📊 8 PTS | 10 REB | 3 BLK #FIBAWC | #StepItUppic.twitter.com/1PEZieI4Pn

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 31, 2026

The most underdiscussed and underappreciated part of the Sixers offseason was the improvements made to their second unit. I’m bullish on what the Sixers bench will be able to provide for this team and the quality of depth as a whole — something us Sixers fans have not often experienced with this team. Helps when you can sign the greatest player of all time to a vet minimum contract.

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The question of whether Tarik Biberović will be used in the right way – or at all – in Dallas is on a lot of people’s minds. 

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Will he get the minutes and touches to show what he can do? Will he get the time and trust from the coach to transfer his skills to a league that’s basically ‘designed’ for players like him?

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Or will this be yet another European EuroLeague star, coming in with incredible experience performing under pressure, an elite shooter, off-ball mover, high IQ, who can defend, as well – but won’t get the minutes and support needed to flourish in the NBA?

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Let’s not forget: Tarik Biberović is a proven, elite shooter, who played professionally for eight seasons in Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. Talk about performing under pressure, these guys have played through it all. 

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And in a similar vein, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets said something interesting this week during their media day. He said that he wishes every NBA player “would go play six months in Europe just to see how much pressure there is,” and pointed out that it’s all about production there. 

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In this clip, we get a little taste of the fandom, support but also the extreme pressure of the top teams in Europe. Here, Fenerbahçe fans are getting ready for a big game against Olympiacos. 

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Awesome stuff from Fener fans #FenerbahceBeko#Olympiacospic.twitter.com/STEreVgXDu

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) May 3, 2023

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This is just a glimpse of the support Fenerbahçe receives. But with great expectations comes great pressure, and these players have to learn to handle it all. Especially how to play in equally hostile environments, like against Serbian Partizan. 

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Vivir un partido de @EuroLeague del @PartizanBC en Belgrado, es uno de los sueños que me quedan por cumplir.

'Baloncesto, las mejores atmósferas del mundo del deporte'. pic.twitter.com/Z3FzRod4bF

— Richi González Dávila (@RichiGDavila) October 1, 2026

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Historically, NBA teams have not been very good at taking advantage of and utilizing the talent produced in Europe, and formed through equal parts pressure and support. This tradition has the potential to create some of the greatest players the game has seen, capable of seizing the moment every game. But still, most NBA teams have hesitated when the player doesn’t come from the draft and fit into what they already know. 

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It’s as if when a player arrives in the NBA, already formed and considered a star in Europe – some with MVP awards, who affect winning on their team every day – things get lost in translation. 

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Support, communication and guidance have not been provided to these players, who are so far out of their comfort zones in America, but itching to prove themselves. Respect for what these players have already accomplished seems to be lacking at best, leadership, staff and teammates looking at them as outsiders and end-of-bench guys seems to be the norm, all because they forgot to do their homework. What a waste. 

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Two times EuroLeague MVP and also two times EuroLeague topscorer, Sasha Vezenkov, is just one recent example here, but there are many more. 

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So when Tarik Biberović walked onto the podium to do his first media day press conference in Dallas last week, it was not a normal day at the office. Not for the Turkish national team player with Bosnian roots – or for many of us watching from the old continent. 

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Despite the whole media day setup of multiple interviews, media people everywhere, (silly) games and questions and photo shoots – which could be very overwhelming when you’re not used to it, Biberović entered the stage with a smile and left a great impression, looking like the pro he obviously is. 

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Confidently, and with the biggest smile, he announced that he’s a “lights out shooter”, and that Dallas fans will get to see that for themselves this season. 

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In case you didn’t know about Tarik Biberovic 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qLLLdHA22E

— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) September 29, 2026

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Confidence is contagious, and watching this, it’s hard not to smile along and feel pretty confident this guy is the real deal. 

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“I’m a sharp shooter. I hope everyone will see that clearly this season. I believe it will translate just as well as it did there, (the EuroLeague) maybe even better. I’ve been here for a month now, and from what I’ve seen so far, the style of play and the pace of the game here have the structure I prefer and enjoy,” the 6’7 shooting guard said. 

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Again with a bright smile, Biberović told the story of how people who had played in the NBA kept telling him he was made for the best league in the world: 

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“Before I came here, throughout last season, every player who had previously played in the NBA and is currently playing in the EuroLeague told me I needed to go to the NBA.”

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“Because this league is essentially designed for players like me – players who can shoot, create space, and play defense. Energy, enthusiasm… all of these are qualities that can be fully expressed in this league. I really appreciated them talking to me that way because it made me feel more confident and better guided in taking this step.”

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Adapting to life in the US and Dallas can be tough, and even overwhelming to the best of us. But Biberović seemed prepared and very reflective through this process. 

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“It’s a completely different experience for me. I believe there are major differences between cultures. America is very practical in every way. I’m still trying to get used to it – after all, this was my first month here.”

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Just as all the new guys said during media day, everybody loves the food, vibe and people of Dallas. And that’s no small thing for a newcomer:

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“I’ve explored some places; I love the restaurants and the food. People are very hospitable and warm. The city itself is also very energetic. Actually, one of the things I love most is how much they love and value sports in all its forms.”

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Earlier this summer, coach Dusty May called Tarik Biberovic “a cultured guy”, who doesn’t need Google Translate. Like most Europeans on the continent, he speaks multiple languages and moves between cultures effortlessly. 

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The cultured part became very evident during this interview, too. Biberović was comfortable, confident and answered questions with great reflection. Like here, when he talked about how he believes him and other Europeans have a lot to contribute to the NBA. 

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“Getting things from different perspectives is always going to be better. I believe as European guys, those are the things that we can bring to the team.”

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Years ago, I wrote about how Luka Doncic learning how to lose in Europe, when he played with grown men as a teenager, helped make him the standout superstar he is today. 

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Biberović reflected on his similar experience and how that has affected him and his game. 

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That experience and tradition is also what makes the European player special. 

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“It’s a different kind of basketball. We’re taught in a different way. Since I was very young, since I went pro when I was 14, 14-15, I played with old men basically, since 15. That brings us an understanding of basketball.”

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“At that young age, trying to understand your position and trying to earn your own status is very hard. You have to fight for yourself, so from a very young age you either are or you’re not. Eat or be eaten. It is like that over there because nobody cares if you’re young or you’re old. If you can play at that moment you play, if not, you’re at the end of the bench and you wait for your chance,” he said. 

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But it’s not all bad, there’s a lot of aspects of European basketball and player development that set players up for success, both in Europe and compared to American peers:

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“There’s good things about it, too. Learning how to live as a professional. Learn from their experience. Better to learn from somebody else’s mistakes than make your own. So these kinds of things are actually helping you to mature a little bit earlier than your age group. And personally, I’m very grateful for the path I’ve lived,” Biberović reflected. 

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He also revealed that the idea of going to Dallas was not as surprising and new to him as we may have thought. As it turns out, when Dallas acquired his rights and he arrived at the Mavs facility, there were a couple familiar faces. 

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“I’ve known Mike Schmitz since I was very young because he’s one of the best when it comes to scouting players. He knows everything about European players. So this was kind of a comfort zone for us. When the Mavericks acquired my rights, I spoke with Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz; we were completely on the same page. My dream has always been to make it to the NBA and be part of the Dallas Mavericks organization. They stepped up, gave me this chance, and I’m very happy to be here.”

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Just another nod to both president Masai Ujiri and GM Mike Schmitz’ hard work and huge network over a long time – especially in Europe. All that work is now benefiting the Mavericks organization.

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It wouldn’t be a surprise at this point if hidden treasures and gems from all over the world will be going to Dallas the next while. Many will be cheap and unrefined still, but with all the potential of a Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic or Giannis Antetokounmpo. Or Tarik Biberović and Sergio De Larrea. 

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So as Biberović is getting ready to play for the Mavs soon, people all over Europe are following his journey closely to see if he and Dallas manage to set a new precedent. 

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The potential is huge. The current NBA style of play combined with the high IQ, shooting and defensive acumen, all point to one thing: the more high-level European talent you can utilize, the bigger the chance of success for your team as this league looks right now. 

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Something feels different in Dallas. Both compared with the recent past, but also with a

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other teams in the NBA. The new  leadership is outward-focused. Instead of seeing differences as a problem, they see it as an advantage. As a way to gain an advantage over other teams. 

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Two international scouts at the helm. A close relationship with the GM, which Tarik Biberović calls “the best scout”. Five Europeans of varying NBA experience to add some familiarity and support when adjusting to life in the US and customs in the NBA. 

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Things are different in Dallas in all the right ways. 

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Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

Good things come to those who wait and boy have we waited. Yes, after months of anticipation, deliberation, and disputation, we can finally see our beloved Milwaukee Bucks in action—their preseason starts next week!

Schedule

The Bucks play five preseason games, starting Monday against the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves. Here’s their complete schedule:

When	Opponent
Monday, October 5 (7:00 PM)	vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Wednesday, October 7 (7:00 PM)	@ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, October 11 (6:00 PM)	@ Charlotte Hornets
Wednesday, October 14 (7:00 PM)	vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, October 16 (6:00 PM)	@ Indiana Pacers

Revitalised rosters

Like the Bucks, their preseason opponents have also undergone significant facelifts. We’ll delve into these in more detail in our game previews, but for now, here’s how they’ve changed:

Minnesota Timberwolves

Ins: LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Lyles, Cody Williams, and Isaiah Evans.

Outs: Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and John Konchar.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Ins: Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, and Otega Oweh.

Outs: Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Branden Carlson.

Charlotte Hornets

Ins: Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson, Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Dennis Schröder.

Outs: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green, Buddy Hield (well, sort of), Xavier Tillman, and Tre Mann.

Chicago Bulls

Ins: Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Buddy Hield, and Dailyn Swain.

Outs: Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Nick Richards, Rob Dillingham, and Mouhamadou Gueye.

Indiana Pacers

Ins: Larry Nance Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr., and Braden Smith. Of course, the real in is Tyrese Haliburton, who will return after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn right Achilles tendon.

Outs: Kam Jones and Micah Potter.

How to watch

As per the Bucks’ media release in July, preseason and regular-season games will air on MY24 and statewide affiliates in partnership with Rincon Broadcasting Group. How good! If you’re an international fan like me, make sure you’ve re-upped your NBA League Pass subscription. Either way, all fans can check here for local viewing options.

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Brew Hoopers, which game are you most amped for? And what are you hoping to see from the Bucks?

After missing out on LeBron James and losing Dean Wade in free agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers had to pivot. Waiting for James to make his decision, while worth the risk, left very few options on the wing once the Cavs were shunned. The front office had to get creative, check every couch cushion, and the international space to find a diamond in the rough.

Enter, Mario Hezonja.

It is hard to say, perhaps near impossible to say, that Hezonja will turn out to be a diamond. He fizzled out in the NBA prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has rebuilt his value overseas with Panathinaikos, UNICS, and Real Madrid. In his most recent season in Spain, Hezonja averaged 17.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 46.5% from the floor and 36.6% from three-point territory (on just under six attempts per game). Those are solid numbers for the NBA, but overseas play is different for a number of reasons.

Now 31 years old, it is difficult to say exactly what the Cavs are getting in Hezonja. He is listed as 6’9” and 242 pounds, both higher than what he was previously listed as. Size is something on the wing that the Cavs have continuously needed (along with athleticism), and Hezonja should be able to provide that at the very least.

During media day, when asked he brings to the Cavs, Hezonja focused on energy and hustle. “Well.. very hardworking player that plays 200% every day,” Hezonja said. “There is no off games, super versatile, can do all on the on the court with confidence, grit, and a lot of hunger.”

Flaming out in the NBA the first time undoubtedly provides some fire and desire to get back and be successful, and Hezonja has an opportunity to carve out a role in Cleveland. The Cavs’ bench is thin, even by their standards, and the losses of Wade and Max Strus will compound their issues on the wing. Acquiring Peyton Watson helps, but Hezonja will have a certain level of responsibility right out of the gate. That may be an uncomfortable reality, but the Cavs are counting on him — as well as growth from Jaylon Tyson — to fill the cracks in the roster.

Hezonja comes into a good opportunity with a team that has playoff expectations and multiple stars to orchestrate things on both sides of the ball. But there is certainly a risk of him failing to meet the NBA’s physicality and speed. His contract is not guaranteed for a reason, but he will get a fair shot to make an impact. And the Cavs would be much, much better for it.

Two noteworthy Knicks birthdays today!

Dr. Dick Barnett was born October 2, 1936, in Gary, Indiana. Barnett spent eight seasons with New York, became an All-Star in 1968, and played for both the 1970 and 1973 championship teams. His number 12 hangs in the Garden rafters. He died last year at 88.

Barnett had one of the most unforgettable shots in basketball history. Starting in college (when nicknamed “Dick the Skull”), he became known for contorting his body into a question mark while shooting his jumper, kicking his legs back and telling defenders, “Too late–fall back, baby!” Barnett went on to turn his eccentric shot into more than 15,000 NBA points.

A beloved teammate of Walt Frazier, Barnett was featured in the documentary film, The Dream Whisperer, about his time playing at Tennessee State University for the Tigers. During segregation, the all-Black Tigers won three straight national championships. Captain Barnett tirelessly fought for their recognition, which culminated in their 2019 induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Watch the doc here, you’ll dig it.

After hanging up his sneakers, Barnett earned an MBA from New York University and then a PhD in education from Fordham University. He taught Sports Management at St. John’s University for four years.

Here are his career highlights, per Wikipedia:

• 2× NBA champion (1970, 1973)
• NBA All-Star (1968)
• ABL champion (1962)
• All-ABL First Team (1962)
• No. 12 retired by New York Knicks
• 3× NAIA champion (1957–1959)
• 3× AP Little College All-American (1957–1959)
• 2× UPI Little College All-American (1958, 1959)
• 2× NAIA tournament MVP (1958, 1959)
• NBA Hall of Fame

And (feeling like Garrison Keillor here) Tyson Chandler was born today in 1982, in Hanford, California. Chandler came to New York immediately after anchoring Dallas’ 2011 championship defense and became the 2011-12 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the only Knick ever to take the honor.

Drafted second in 2001, the seven-foot Chandler played for five seasons in Chicago before bouncing from NOLA to Charlotte to Dallas and then the Knicks. After three seasons at MSG, he was sent back to Dallas, then Phoenix, and finished out his 19-year career with the Lakers and Rockets.

Chandler joined the Knicks in December 2011 via a sign-and-trade between multiple teams, which also sent traded Ronny Turiaf, cash, and a 2013 2nd-round draft pick to the Wizards. While there was no denying his talent, Chandler appeared on the injured list often during his tenure here, with a hamstring strain, playoff flu and an upper respiratory infection, a bulging cervical disc (plus related neck spasms and weight loss from illness), and a fractured right fibula.

In June 2014, he and Raymond Felton were traded to the Mavs for José Calderón, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington, Shane Larkin, a 2014 2nd-round draft pick (Thanasis Antetokounmpo was later selected), and a 2014 2nd-round draft pick (Cleanthony Early was later selected). (h/t basketball-reference.com)

Chandler concluded his time in New York with averages of 10.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 183 games. His career highlights, also from Wikipedia:

• NBA champion (2011)
• NBA All-Star (2013)
• All-NBA Third Team (2012)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
• NBA All-Defensive First Team (2013)
• 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2011, 2012)
• First-team Parade All-American (2001)
• Second-team Parade All-American (2000)
• McDonald’s All-American (2001)
• 2× California Mr. Basketball (2000, 2001)

Quite a nice pairing: two Knicks born 46 years apart, one remembered for his offense, the other for defense. Closing my Writer’s Almanac loop, your poem for the day is a personal favorite, “The Bear,” by Galway Kinnell.

Knicks in five. And keep in touch.

Steve Kerr pinpoints biggest area rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has room to improve originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are back in action ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, and new faces like rookie Yaxel Lendeborg are ready to prove themselves in the NBA. Lendeborg could have a big role for the team right away, and early on, he is making a good first impression.

Steve Kerr had high praise for the former Michigan star; speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill and Dalton Johnson on “Dubs Talk,” Kerr declared Lendeborg is “100 percent” the most pro-ready rookie he has had since becoming the Warriors coach.

“He’s the most prepared, most ready guy,” Kerr said. “I think he was coached really well last year by Dusty May, and I like his life story too. He wasn’t the five-star recruit, [he spent] two years in … junior college in Arizona. He’s had to fight his way to get here, and he’s so appreciative of the opportunity, and he’s a pleaser. He wants to be coached, and he wants to do the right thing. He’s got a great approach.”

Lendeborg shined during NBA Summer League and has had a good training camp so far, but that does not mean that there is not room for improvement. The NBA is a big adjustment, and for him to be successful, there are certain areas of his game that need to grow. According to Kerr, Lendeborg’s biggest area to focus on is the defensive side of the floor, particularly in moments of adversity.

“Defensive awareness, it’s the biggest adjustment a guy like him has to make,” Kerr explained. “He already has a great feel offensively, very natural gift for just moving the ball, making the right play, without even having to coach anything on that front. He just does that, and then that will ingratiate himself with his teammates. It’s the defensive side where there’s so many actions that you see in the NBA that you don’t see in the college game. You have to learn personnel.

“You have to know who you’re going against every night. If we’re switching, now you’re guarding point guards, you’re guarding centers, you’re guarding wings. You’ve got to know all the rotations from all the spots. So that’ll take some time, and that’s what we’re working with him on. The good thing is, he’s very experienced as a basketball player. He’s 24 now, he turned 24 yesterday. He’s played junior college. He’s played for a national championship last year with Michigan. He’s got a lot of basketball wisdom, and that will serve him well.”

Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds for Michigan last season and proved to be the program’s marquee player. He earned several accolades at the end of the season, such as consensus First-Team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Now, Lendeborg enters his rookie year with the Warriors eager to bring that same level of play.

The Warriors do not face very high expectations this season, but if Lendeborg can establish himself as a star early on, it will create problems for the rest of the league. Lendeborg and the Warriors play their first preseason game in Honolulu on Oct. 4 before returning to the mainland.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

If the song from LeBron James’s agonizing Polymarket ad is as stuck in your head as mine thanks to the commercial playing during every YouTube video and HBO show (all I wanted to do was rewatch The Leftovers), let Victor Wembanyama be your antidote. At the Spurs’ practice on Thursday, San Antonio Express-News columnist Mike Finger asked Wembanyama if he would ever partner with a sports betting firm. It couldn’t have been easier for the 22-year-old to say yes. The NBA displays ads for both FanDuel and DraftKings, in addition to hawking betting odds on its broadcasts. Until the streaming service met its end a few months ago, plenty of NBA games streamed exclusively on FanDuel Sports Network. Then there are Wembanyama’s legendary peers: James is the new face of Polymarket; Kevin Durant reads FanDuel odds and invests in Kalshi; Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Kalshi shareholder.

“Absolutely not,” Wembanyama said instead. “I will never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”

Related: ‘It’s sad seeing players promote it’: Wembanyama says he will never endorse gambling companies

Standards are so back. It shouldn’t feel miraculous that a star of Wembanyama’s stature is taking the position that players should not cash checks from predatory companies that incentivize athletes to dabble in insider trading, but in 2026, we’ll take any anti-sellout ally we can find. This one may prove particularly valuable. Given his age and fame, Wembanyama should be around as a beacon to cut through the murk of betting for some time to come. How refreshing that, as rightwing terror reigns, the NBA’s best and biggest young star is a politically outspoken leftist.

It’s not a stylish time to turn down buckets of money. Thanks to some combination of a disintegrating economy, a president and political party so craven and corrupt that scandal-worthy behavior often doesn’t register, and a significant overlap among the wealthy and the morally bankrupt, shame died a bloody death somewhere in the last decade. Most basketball podcasts keep themselves afloat with gambling companies’ life rings. No reputational damage seems to last. James’s Polymarket partnership was immediately and emphatically unpopular, but apparently not enough for anybody at the Philadelphia 76ers’ media day to ask him about it.

So Wembanyama’s emphatic rejection of a sports betting partnership stands out. Had he simply said, “Sure, who knows what the future brings,” few would have batted an eye. But not only did he refuse the possibility, he also left behind a receipt. I will never do that. For Wembanyama, any eventual embrace of gambling will be met with fans’ usual criticism – and his own words echoed back at him.

What’s perhaps most refreshing about Wembanyama is – so far, at least; athletes tend to become more and more PR-friendly as they age – his willingness to ruffle feathers. Asked about the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in January, Wembanyama said, “Yeah, PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct [answer]. Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable.” It’s similarly outrageous that the aggressive integration of sports betting and prediction markets into society has been successful. It’s not normal or ideal for professional sports leagues to be in bed with gambling firms, or for companies that allow people to trade money on every event imaginable to exist at all. A healthy NBA is one where the star poised to dominate the league for the next decade is willing to express sentiment along those lines out loud.

There is one cynical way to look at Wembanyama’s response. He’s coming off a run of bad press on the court. After a brilliant playoff run through three rounds, he had a disastrous NBA finals. He threw a pass off a teammate’s back in the decisive moments of one game, missed two free throws towards the end of another (in which the Spurs failed to consolidate a 29-point lead into victory). He showed flashes of violence in the playoffs, earning an ejection by elbowing Naz Reid in the neck, and at times succumbed to the same brand of foul-baiting he’d criticized in other players months earlier. As the Spurs crashed out, Wemby had never been less popular. Decrying the omnipresence of sports betting, which fans almost universally abhor, gets the Spurs’ big man back in their good graces. But it’s hard to say his swing in fortune is undeserved. Fun as it is to watch, what happens during a professional basketball game is rarely more than a metaphor for society. A clear appraisal of the real world is more representative of virtue.

Coming in at four in our Ranking the Roster series is the second most accomplished of the four players the Bucks got in the Giannis trade: Jamie Jaquez Jr. The former UCLA Bruin is one of the league’s most unique young players. Jaquez likely won’t develop into a star, but he’s become one of the NBA’s best glue guys. It’s rare for a player his age to be mature enough to not only understand his role, but excel at it the way JJJ has. To borrow a phrase from my friend and fellow Brew-Hooper Finn Kuehl’s blog, he’s a “Bench-Mob All-Star.” Not in the same vein as the more end-of-the-bench guys Finn generally focuses on, but in the sense that Jaquez has been an All-Star in his role in Miami. The question now is: how does he fit on a rebuilding team?

But before we answer that, let’s look back at what Jaquez has accomplished over his three years in the association. Following in the footsteps of other middle first-round picks the Miami Heat have made, Jaquez made an immediate impact, finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. Remarkably, he also added a top-10 finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting in the same season (!), averaging 11.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.0 SPG while shooting .489/.322/.811. That said, the following year (2024-25) was a step back for Jaquez, as he played only 66 games while dealing with an ankle injury. That injury played a key role in his scoring numbers dipping into the single digits (8.6 PPG), and his shooting dropping marginally to 46.1% and 31.1% from three-point range.

As much as the 2024-25 campaign was a rocky one for Jaquez, he came back strong last year, setting a bunch of career highs, including scoring (15.4 PPG), rebounding (5.0 RPG), assists (4.7), assist percentage (24%), shooting percentage (50.7%), minutes per game (28.3), and field goal attempts (12.2). He also finished the season with strong shooting from beyond the arc, shooting 39.0% on 3.5 attempts over the final 20 games. Those improved numbers propelled him to a second-place finish in the Sixth Man of the Year voting behind the Spurs’ Keldon Johnson.

Now, the question for Jaquez is: can he replicate that type of success in a totally new environment? Or, for my baseball fans, will Jaquez become the proverbial San Francisco Giants of the mid-2010s and only be good every other year? While this Bucks team has many moving parts heading into the season, Jaquez should be one of the more consistent and reliable players. Over the last few years, I’ve felt like Jon Horst has brought in too many players at important spots whose performance can vary widely from game to game (Kevin Porter Jr. and Kyle Kuzma are prime examples). Jaquez will be a steady, reliable option for the Bucks, and they sorely need that.

To answer the initial question, though, I reckon head coach Taylor Jenkins will find plenty of ways to utilise Jaquez. He’s already coached other versatile players like Jaylen Wells in Memphis. While the starting lineup will likely take the whole of training camp to figure out, I predict Jenkins will keep Jaquez where he’s most valuable: off the bench as a fantastic sixth man. How long he’s actually a Buck will be another question. Jaquez becomes a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and if he puts up a good first half, I can imagine Horst moving on to pick up more future pieces, especially if the team isn’t tracking well. Otherwise, Jaquez could be a long-term piece for the next good Bucks team, considering he’ll only turn 26 this February.

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Who is next up at three?

The Dallas Mavericks enter the 2026-2027 season with numerous questions, but Cooper Flagg isn’t one them.

The 19-year old enters his second season with sky-high expectations, fueled by his incredible play in the back-half of last season.

The jump from year one to year two is often massive, especially for generational talents such as Flagg. For example: LeBron James went from 20.9 points per game, to over 27 points per game, while also improving his efficiency. Obviously it is unfair to levy these expectations on Flagg, but most superstars show tremendous growth in their first real NBA offseason.

Flagg averaged 23 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds in his final 51 games, including multiple 40+ point games. Flagg’s comfort level and confidence grew exponentially, quickly becoming one of the most dangerous downhill scorers in all of basketball.

But at just 19-years of age, there is still ample room for growth. Flagg shot just 29% from three on the season, and often turned down open threes to settle for tougher shots. His defense was also somewhat inconsistent, as even though he averaged nearly 2 steals and blocks per game, the advanced metrics suggest he was only average on that end.

Flagg’s potential is truly limitless, and he has already shown incredible development in his young career. All of this leads me to believe that a special season is ahead for the former number one overall pick.

Big Question

This one is easy; Cooper Flagg has to shoot the ball better in 2026.

Flagg was an all-around bad shooter last season. He shot 29% from three with only attempting 3.5 threes per game. He also took far too many “long mid range” jumpers, which are defined as two point attempts that are attempted from farther than 10 feet.

This combination of poor shot selection and poor shot-making cratered Flagg’s efficiency last season, as he was in the 25th percentile for league-wide true-shooting%.

This lack of shooting also effected his ability to get downhill, with many teams simply ignoring him on the perimeter to load up on his drives. His sheer unwillingness to attempt these shots was the biggest issue, as he would often settle for 18 footers rather than simply taking an open three.

If Flagg can extend the defense to beyond the three-point line, he becomes truly un-guardable. We even saw an example of this last season against the Orlando Magic when Flagg scored 51 points. He made six threes in nine attempts, including a barrage or tough threes in the fourth quarter.

Now I’m not going to expect a massive jump in efficiency, nor will I expect a massive jump in attempts. But if Flagg does not at least try and extend his range, his scoring potential will be capped underneath a hard-ceiling.

Best-Case scenario

Simply put, the best-case scenario for Cooper Flagg this season is joining the conversation for the best player in the world.

This may seem completely far-fetched, but Mavericks have seen this exact scenario play out before with Luka Doncic. Both players had record-breaking rookie seasons, and entered year two with sky-high expectations, with Doncic becoming a top-5 player in the world overnight.

So how could Flagg reach that seemingly impossible level?

Well it would take some significant development, but not it would not be impossible. First, Flagg would have to go from a bad shooter to a very good one. Outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, all of the other players in the top 5 are elite shooters from either the three or mid-range. Flagg would have to double his three-point attempts while also increasing efficiency.

A similar jump was seen with Jayson Tatum, as he went from attempting 3.9 3PA at 37%, to over 8 threes per game at 40% from his second to third season.

Along with improvements in his shooting, Flagg would also have to improve his ball-handling. While Flagg did not produce many turnovers overall, he was top 10 in the league in lost balls that resulted in turnovers. These issues were exasperated when Flagg went up against the truly elite perimeter defenders in the league, as he often struggled to create space against these players.

Finally, Flagg would have to adjust to defenses having a year of film on his game, and deal with the amount of attention he will receive. I imagine defenses will try and pressure him as much as possible, throwing lots of bodies in his direction. If he has the composure to deal with this pressure consistently, defenses will be completely out-of-luck when playing the Mavericks.

Worst case scenario

The worse case scenario for Cooper Flagg is staying stagnant.

I think it’s very unlikely Flagg will regress in year 2, especially because he didn’t have unsustainable outside shooting.

If spent his entire summer at the beach this scenario could happen, otherwise, I don’t think its very likely.

Season goal

The goal for Cooper Flagg in his sophomore season should be to make an all-star team, and compete for an All-NBA selection.

This may seem like a very high bar, but it really shouldn’t be that hard for Flagg to reach. If he’s able to slightly increase his volume and efficiency in both scoring and playmaking, being an all-star should be relatively easy.

But past getting recognition from his peers and fans, another bar he needs to reach is in his leadership.

Flagg is already a vocal player who plays with a tremendous amount of energy and hustle, so becoming the leader of this team shouldn’t be that hard. Obviously Kyrie Irving is the team’s leader, but he isn’t the future of the franchise.

Flagg doesn’t need to be a perfect leader as a 20-year-old, nor does it really matter for this season. But whether wants it or not, the team will be molded in his image, both in their playstyle, and the mentality of the team.

Overall

It cannot be overstated how excited Mavericks fans should be for Cooper Flagg’s second season. He has every tool to be a superstar, and has shown the hunger to improve over his entire career.

The roster construction could hold him back from truly reaching his potential this season, as he will more than likely be forced to play another season at point guard.

But I’m confident Flagg will excel.

Why?

Because it’s all he’s ever done.