Category: Basketball

Former Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Lionel Hollins raised eyebrows with a comment he made during an appearance on Sirius XM’s “NBA Today” show on Sunday.

“I’ve got a story to tell you: We got [Anthony Davis] in a trade, and AD comes into the weight room in the morning, and he said, ‘[LeBron!] You said if I came in, we were gonna work out together! Man, we haven’t worked out yet!'” Hollins recounted.

“[Lebron] said, ‘Well, you’ve got to get up a little earlier to come and work out with me.’ And it was a true statement, because LeBron’s a morning person. He gets up, he does when he needs to do. And AD is sleeping in a little bit later. But he’d get there, and he’d do work. But it couldn’t be with LeBron, because LeBron was already done,” Hollins continued.

Hollins’ story — specifically when he said, “LeBron told him ‘you’ve got to get up a little earlier to come work out with me” — went viral on social media.

And it caught Davis’ attention, who responded with the   emoji on X Monday morning.

— Anthony Davis (@AntDavis23) August 3, 2026

Davis’ use of the emoji is a way for him to “call cap” on this story, asserting that it isn’t true.

There’s no way of knowing whether Hollins or Davis is telling the truth. Not to mention that the story would’ve taken place about seven years ago at this point.

Regardless, it’s easy to see why Davis would be upset about Hollins sharing this story, as it subliminally makes him seem like not as hard a worker as James.

Then again, nobody is as hard a worker as James. That’s why he’s the (arguable) GOAT.

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, who along with the excellent James Dator comprise about 100% of the site’s NBA “staff,” wrote about seven teams he expects to be much improved this season. The Knicks are not one of the seven; their only mention in the piece is to say Philadelphia can match up with anyone in the East now, including New York. Usually that sorta schtick angries up my blood.

I want to hear my favorite team is better than I think, than anyone thinks, better than any anything in the history of everything. Don’t tell me Jalen Brunson isn’t the best player alive. Don’t gimme that “OG Anunoby never turned water into wine” blasphemy. Now that the Knicks are on top of the basketball world, I figure let them stay there. I want constant coronation. Endless adoration. Give them the key to the city. And the keys to Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio. They owned them joints, too.

O’Donnell’s piece centers on who he thinks will show the greatest leap from last year to this, all teams who added All-NBA talent(s) this summer or a top-three draft pick — and also the Nets, likely to level up by finally fielding an actual professional team. As far as games won in 2027 versus 2026, the Knicks are unlikely to improve dramatically on 53 wins (if they do, they’ll make history). And what could they possibly do for an encore after the title run they just staged, anyway?

And yet — what if they are a lot better?

Why not?

Think of all the lessons the 2025 team learned that benefited the 2026 team. Last year’s squad won together and learned together, and everyone from that team is back this year minus Mitch. The better defenses around the league will spend the offseason preparing for the offense the Knicks unleashed starting with Game 4 in Atlanta. But nearly half the league doesn’t even make the playoffs. Opponents may have a better idea what the Knicks will throw at them, but that doesn’t mean there’s much they can do about it. And the Knicks will have had an offseason to work some new wrinkles into their play style.

What if last spring was only the beginning? Odds and evens fit together; odds and logic, not so much. The odds are against the Knicks, if only because the last seven teams to win it all failed to defend their crown. Maybe the Knicks don’t repeat as champs. Probably not, even. But there’s logic that says they can.

Of those prior seven champions, only one, the 2025 Celtics, had continuity at the top of their rotation for their title defense: the five players who led them in minutes in ‘25 also did in ‘26. The other six champs all lost a top-five player from one year to the next. Four lost two. From Kawhi leaving the Raptors to the Bucks shipping Donte DiVincenzo to Sacramento to the Thunder’s Jalen Williams’ year-long injury struggles, the group tasked with repeating usually isn’t the same one that peated in the first place.

Every championship team is freakish in some way. The Heatles were freakishly athletic. The Warriors went on freakish scoring runs. The Bubble Lakers were freakishly big. The Bucks were led by a literal Freak. The five Knicks who led them in minutes in 2025 did so again last season. Is it asking too much for them to threepeat? If there’s a lineup that can, it’d be the New York Five. And while title-winners usually empty the tank in their pursuit, the Knicks took their foot off the gas, relatively.

In Tom Thibodeau’s last year in charge, that quintet averaged a combined 181.6 minutes per game. Last year Mike Brown cut it to 162.2, an 11% drop. Presumably his years with defending champs in San Antonio and Golden State clued him in to the benefits of load management, even as the owners continue to insist the sun revolves around the Earth. One would expect the Knicks to be as mindful of the big picture this year as last.

Just like we knew 12 months ago the roster wasn’t finished, what we see today is not the end-product. The last time we saw the Knicks best lineup — after two years of plus/minus angst — they were freakishly dominant against the best the league had to offer. They’re freakishly resilient, with more 20-point comebacks the past two postseasons than the other 30 playoff teams combined. They won the most lauded, longed-for championship possible in the Association, in the most impressive way possible. And their top-seven in minutes and 11 of their top-12 are back. What if they are a lot better?

Why not?

Not many NBA stars can fight, but how many UFC fighters can play ball?

Interim UFC Heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane — coming off a technical knockout win over Alex Pereira — showed off his basketball skills on social media.

Gane didn’t just go against any Average Joe, either. On the contrary, UFC’s two-time title holder went 1-on-1 with four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are used to seeing the 6’4” Gane tower over his Heavyweight foes, but he was completely dwarfed by the Minnesota Timberwolves center in this playful session.

He did show some decent skills, though.

Watch Gane get a couple of buckets, including a pretty smooth looking step-back three over the 7’1” NBA star:

Ciryl Gane going 1-on-1 with Rudy Gobert, 4-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year 🏀

(via @ciryl_gane) pic.twitter.com/hhGr0lQh6k

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 2, 2026

Crossing over to other sports isn’t easy even for high-level athletes, whether it’s NBA vets Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson fighting each other, or Gane’s former opponent in Jon Jones embarrassing himself in this classic video with five-time All Star Al Horford:

Gane and Gobert are popular French athletes and friends, who have trained together in the past. They sparred one year ago, with the UFC star helping Gobert with his boxing.

Gane’s next fight is expected to be a Heavyweight title unification rematch against one-eyed division champion, Tom Aspinall, later this year; however, an official date has not yet been locked in (details here).

Unless, of course, Dana White and Co. decide to go in a different direction.

Anything is possible.

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To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country.

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Hypotheticals and projections. That’s what’s keeping us engaged at this point in the offseason. It’s August, the regular season is still two and a half months away, and we’re all wondering what the Phoenix Suns are going to look like. We speculate about the three-point shooting. We debate the defense. We try to project the rotations.

Devin Booker will lead the Suns in scoring. If he doesn’t, that will create an entirely different conversation. But the odds overwhelmingly favor Booker finishing as the team’s leading scorer once again. The balance this organization has worked to build is a welcome sight, especially when you think back to two seasons ago, when the roster was so heavily tilted toward a handful of players.

That balance is a good thing. At the same time, it leaves you wondering one simple question. Who’s going to be the second leading scorer on this team? Yeah, you might be thinking, “Who cares?” I care. I think it’s an interesting thought exercise, and the results could reveal something interesting.

Allow me to introduce the candidates.

First up is Jalen Green. He is the explosive, athletic, and at times inconsistent shooting guard who will certainly have every opportunity to fill up the stat sheet. Last season with the Suns, he averaged the third-most field-goal attempts on the team at 16.0 per game and finished third in scoring at 17.8 points per game.

By Green’s standards, it was a quiet season. It was his lowest scoring average since his rookie year in 2021–22, and he also posted the lowest three-point percentage of his career at 31.3%. You can certainly point to the circumstances. Green played only 32 games and started 27 of them as he battled multiple hamstring injuries throughout the season. He never truly found a rhythm or the consistency needed to get his game rolling.

The question is whether he can return to the level he reached in Houston during the 2022–23 season, when he averaged a career high 22.1 points per game. That year, he also averaged a career high of 17.9 field goal attempts per game.

Next up is Dillon Brooks. Brooks took more shots than he ever had in his career last season, averaging 17.1 field goal attempts per game. The previous high came in 2021–22 with the Memphis Grizzlies, when he averaged 16.4 attempts on a team that finished 56–26 and earned the second-best record in the Western Conference.

He responded by posting a career high 20.2 points per game for the Suns despite shooting 34.4% from beyond the arc, the fourth lowest mark of his career. He also attempted a career high 6.6 three pointers per game. 

Was last season an outlier for Brooks? You can certainly make that argument. Jalen Green missed 50 games and Devin Booker missed 18, forcing Brooks into a much larger offensive role than anyone anticipated. His usage climbed accordingly, and so did his shot attempts.

Then there’s the newly acquired Miles Bridges. Bridges averaged 21.0 points per game during the 2023–24 season with the Charlotte Hornets while taking a career high 17.5 shots per night. He’s entering a new system with new teammates and new opportunities, so we don’t yet know exactly how he’ll be utilized offensively. But as someone who can attack the rim and who once shot 40% from three during the 2020–21 season, he certainly has the ability to elevate his offensive production and put points on the board.

So who do you think will finish as the Suns’ second leading scorer this season? That’s the question at the heart of this week’s Suns Reacts survey. Go cast your vote, then head to the comments and tell us why you made your choice. I’m curious to see where everyone lands on this one, because there’s a legitimate case to be made for all three candidates.

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While the Lakers have more players than can be rostered once the season starts, it doesn’t mean they have a complete team.

The obvious need for a wing has fueled their chase for Jonathan Kuminga. However, as more time passes, the less likely it feels that an agreement will be reached.

That means the Lakers may have to look elsewhere to fill that void, which could include revisiting old friends. All reports this summer have indicated there’s no interest from the purple and gold in frontcourt players from the Mavericks, but there hasn’t been anything about Klay Thompson.

Notably, Thompson picked Dallas over the Lakers in the 2024 offseason, a time when Luka Dončić was still on the Mavericks. However, things changed quite a bit in a short time for both franchises and Thompson has long felt like someone who doesn’t make much sense in Dallas.

However, a mixture of his big contract and declining play made it nearly impossible to move him. Much like the Lakers, the Mavs are in a bit of a roster crunch and the aging Thompson, who is in the last year of his deal and is due $17.5 million, is an obvious candidate for the team to part with.

On Monday, Christian Clark of The Athletic wrote about the Mavs’ situation and had some insight on Thompson, noting that it is unclear if he returns next season. According to Clark, Dallas has explored trade talks, but nothing has come of it.

It is not known whether the Lakers were among the teams that have spoken with the Mavs about Thompson, but Clark did reveal that Thompson would be open to playing in Los Angeles.

My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer.

As things stand, multiple things would have to happen before Thompson playing in LA became a realistic scenario. Similar to their links with Jericho Sims, the Lakers need to make a consolidation trade just to be roster-compliant, let alone make a move for another player.

Unlike Sims, though, this scenario could end in a buyout and a free-agent signing. Thompson being a veteran and the Mavs being a non-contender is the perfect equation for a buyout. From there, it would depend on whether he wants to go to Miami to potentially play a bigger role with the Heat or return to California. And in that last scenario, you would imagine the Warriors would be an option, too.

If you’re getting the sense that this doesn’t feel likely, then you’re not alone. A trade feels quite unlikely in this scenario and if free agency is the route, the Lakers would seemingly be down the list of suitors. He’d have to really want to play in LA or alongside Luka again, to say nothing of LA’s interest.

But crazier things have happened. Klay doesn’t fill a direct need for the Lakers, but it’s hard to say no to a player with his pedigree and shooting, even if it’s tailed off, especially if it’s on a minimum deal.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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The Los Angeles Lakers still need shooting around Luka Doncic, but they may face competition from the Miami Heat for one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.

Miami has been frequently mentioned as a potential destination for Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic. The Heat are reportedly interested in adding the four-time NBA champion through a buyout, potentially using their remaining mid-level exception to place another shooter alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Thompson, however, would also welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home.

The Lakers have not been directly linked to trade discussions with Dallas, but Thompson would be a natural target if he becomes available. Los Angeles needs dependable perimeter shooting after reshaping its roster around Doncic, and few players command more respect beyond the arc.

Los Angeles is confirmed to also be pursuing Jonathan Kuminga through a potential sign-and-trade, although the Timberwolves have emerged as a realistic threat to land the 23-year-old forward on a one-year deal.

Thompson’s production declined last season, when he averaged career lows of 11.7 points and 21.7 minutes per game. The 36-year-old still connected on 38.3% of his 3-point attempts across 69 appearances, remaining valuable in a smaller role.

Dallas has explored Thompson’s trade market without finding a deal. He is owed approximately $17.5 million in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

A buyout would give Los Angeles and Miami a much cleaner path to signing him, but the Mavericks reportedly have little incentive to release Thompson. Dallas would prefer a trade, while Thompson would likely have to surrender a significant portion of his remaining salary to become a free agent.

Thompson may no longer be the two-way star who helped the Golden State Warriors win four championships, but his shooting would address an obvious weakness for either contender.

If Dallas eventually grants him a buyout, the Lakers could find themselves competing with the Heat to offer Thompson his preferred combination of role, money and championship opportunity.

The Los Angeles Lakers may be considered the favorites to land Jonathan Kuminga, but a new threat has emerged in the prolonged pursuit of the free-agent forward.

NBA insider Evan Sidery reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves should be viewed as a “realistic option” for Kuminga, whose free agency could be resolved this week.

“The Lakers are viewed as the favorites, but don’t rule out the Timberwolves as a realistic option,” Sidery wrote. “Kuminga might end up betting on himself taking a 1-year deal playing alongside LaMelo Ball + Anthony Edwards.”

The Lakers have reportedly offered Kuminga a considerably more lucrative multiyear contract than Minnesota can provide. Los Angeles would need the Atlanta Hawks to cooperate in a sign-and-trade, however, creating a complicated path to completing the deal.

A sign-and-trade contract must cover at least three seasons. The Lakers could reportedly offer Kuminga between $15 million and $18 million annually, but they would also need to move players such as Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia or Dalton Knecht. Draft compensation or a third team may be required to convince Atlanta to participate.

Minnesota can offer only its $6.06 million taxpayer mid-level exception and must create additional room below the second apron. The Timberwolves’ potential advantage is the opportunity they could offer Kuminga rather than the money.

The 23-year-old could accept a one-year contract, take over Minnesota’s starting power forward job and attempt to rebuild his value alongside Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. He would then return to the market in 2027 rather than committing to an offer he believes undervalues him.

Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, a career-high 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 36 games last season. His desire for a larger role contributed to the end of his tenure with Golden State before he was traded to Atlanta.

Los Angeles can offer more financial security and a role alongside Luka Doncic, but Minnesota’s shorter path back to free agency could complicate the Lakers’ pursuit.

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Chris Bosh revealed just how frightening a recent medical emergency was.

In an interview with Hoops Hype, Bosh shared that he suffered another pulmonary embolism in January and explained that he nearly died as a result.

“I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I’m not joking,” Bosh, 42, said.

The former Heat star mentioned that he passed out in his bathroom after feeling a numbing sensation shoot down his leg. Upon waking up, he was in a pool of his own blood. His wife had called 911 and Bosh was hospitalized for a week to recover.

Bosh battled blood clots during his 13-year career, which ultimately forced him to officially retire in 2019. He won two NBA championships alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami.

“After coming back from the darkness, there was no euphoric clarity. No life montage flashing before my eyes. No voice in my ear telling me it’ll be ok and what to do next,” Bosh said. “Just the gratitude for still being alive, and a newfound, sobering awareness of how everything actually is. What did change was an immediate outlook on life that was simpler and more honest.”

Bosh said the scare was a tough reminder of the need to take his medicine and care for his body, despite not having any symptoms before the incident.

Bosh previously discussed the scare in February.

“It was crazy. It was fast. It was instant. There was no warning,” he said in a video posted to his social media. “I was getting ready to go on a date with my wife and the next thing you know I was on the ground.”

The incident changed Bosh’s view on life.

“No matter what it is, make sure you don’t wait. That’s the thing that I get from this. Don’t wait to take action because it could come fast,” Bosh said. “And now I’m thinking about how I live my day-to-day life. That’s really it. But don’t wait.”

For this installment of the Staff Roundtable, I asked the crew “Who makes the biggest developmental leap next season?” Below are the answers:

Ian Inangelo

I feel like Hugo Gonzalez will make the biggest developmental leap going into next season. After a rookie year where he was able to show a lot of potential more specifically on the defense end, I feel like we will see more from him on the offensive side of the ball. Boston really believes him and he showed some real offensive flashes when he played for Spain in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. If he can become a consistent average three point shooter from the corners on top of his already great defense and hustle, he will get a lot of playing time and continue to develop into a star in his role for Boston.

Trevor Hass

I think Ron Harper Jr. has a chance to emerge as a very solid backup point guard. The genes are there, and watching his brother emerge as a star has surely added more fuel to the fire. He’s explosive, makes sound decisions and can really shoot it. Give him the rock and see what happens.

Jake Issenberg

The battle for minutes among the development pieces on the Celtics roster will be a bloodbath. Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr, Jordan, Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman all have a claim to more playing time after impressing in their minutes last season. For that reason I am choosing Neemias Queta. Despite finishing fourth in the Most Improved player race I expect Queta to continue to make significant strides in his second season in a featured role. We can start with eliminating the head scratching fouls he picked up in the first round of the playoffs. What we saw from Queta in Game 7 against the 76ers is what I want to see every night.

Nate Moskowitz

I think it’s hard to go wrong answering this question. Hugo feels like a clear option, especially with some of the on-ball reps we saw from him in summer league. If the minutes are there, Harper Jr. taking the biggest leap could definitely be on the table in terms of the limited sample we’ve seen of him in comparison to the type of player I think he can become. My darkhorse pick might actually be Chris Cenac Jr. though. His flashes are very encouraging, and the Celtics are extremely intentional about how they use and develop bigs. I can picture him making major strides throughout the year if he can find his way onto the floor as a rookie like Hugo did.

Grant Burfeind

I know Hugo is going to be the popular answer, but give me Baylor Scheierman.

Last year was really his first season getting consistent NBA minutes, and I think having a full offseason knowing exactly what’s expected of him could make a big difference. I’d love to see him play with a little more freedom and confidence to do Baylor things instead of playing not to make a mistake. Hugo probably has the higher long-term ceiling, but if we’re talking about this season, I think Baylor has a better chance to surprise people.

Robby Fletcher

Hugo Gonzalez has been under the spotlight this offseason after his name was attached to speculation regarding the Giannis trade. It’s gotten the causal fan worked up over what makes Hugo so special to not be a blockbuster throw-in.

Those fans will learn this year why Gonzalez  wasn’t someone the Celtics have been so willing to move. Hugo showed impactful defensive instincts and game-shifting hustle in his rookie season, quickly establishing himself as a player that needed to see the floor before we even finished with the preseason. More opportunities await Hugo, who will look to show improved shooting/driving confidence in a more consistent bench role.

And to think he’s only 20 years old.

Jeff Clark

Ok, hear me out. How about Jordan Walsh? He’s already one of the best defenders on the team. He came into the league at age 19 and is entering his 4th season. The Celtics believed in his progress enough to give him an extension. He shot 38.4% from 3 last year. He only played 17.8 minutes a game last year and he’ll be fighting for minutes with a lot of wings again. But what if he just adds the ability to attack the paint off a close out? What if he starts setting monster screens and cuts backdoor and finishes with more comfort around the rim? What if the game just slows down a little bit more for him this year? He’s going to out-hustle anyone he faces up with on a night to night basis. All he needs is a little more offensive comfort level and he could be the leap guy.

Mike Dynon

Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman seem like the most ready guys, and Ron Harper Jr. was impressive when called upon. But if we could put a twist into the question, Sam Hauser and Derrick White need to develop their shots back to what we know they can be. Sam was below 40% on threes for the first time in his career, and Derrick was below 40% for field goal shooting overall, by far his worst season. Celtics can’t afford that again.

Rich Jensen

I’m a sophomore leap guy, so I’m going with Hugo Gonzalez. I think there’s a ‘there’ there with Hugo that might catch a lot of people off guard next season. He’s fearless and dedicated to the game. That’s a potent combination.

Ryan Paice

I’d bet on Baylor Scheierman taking the biggest leap, even over Hugo. I think Baylor’s ability to improvise and make plays for himself and others is going to be crucial for the C’s in lieu of Jaylen Brown. As I’ve said before about Boston’s lack of a strong tertiary playmaker, I think there are going to be several possessions where our first options get shut down and our role players will be asked to finish them. Outside of the Celtics’ top four players (Tatum, White, Pritchard, George), I don’t know if I trust anyone more than Baylor to answer that call. And I think we’ll see him blossom into a starting caliber player because of that. He’s shown a lot of flashes on the court, but he’s yet to eclipse 20 minutes per game, so his opportunities to shine have been limited. Give Baylor 25+ per game and I think we’ll see some magic.

Your Turn – How would you answer this question?

Will Richard finds voice as leader during Warriors' NBA Summer League title run originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS – Will Richard’s goal going into his second NBA Summer League was to build off what he was best at as a rookie for the Warriors: Cutting, hitting open shots and guarding at a high level. 

Sitting at the Chase Center podium for Warriors Summer League Media Day at the end of June, Richard then listed another area of his game he was focused on. 

“I want to improve my communication,” Richard said. “I feel like this is an opportunity to step up and use my voice and be a leader in that area.”

Summer league rosters mostly are filled with rookie draft picks, two-way contracts and those trying to impress ahead of training camp with a G League opportunity. Richard was one of the summer’s rare players who came with experience. Colby Jones technically has one more NBA game to his name than him – 70 to 69 – but all of Richard’s experience comes from the Warriors’ system. 

He is who the Warriors leaned on this summer, from their first practice to celebrating a championship in Las Vegas. Richard, 23, is who brought the Warriors together before they broke the huddle every game. He encouraged teammates during games and was first to get off the bench for a timeout. 

The Warriors mic’d up Richard for their first game in Las Vegas, and how he leads was seen and heard in a game where the young Warriors wing had six points on 3-of-5 shooting with four rebounds, a team-high seven assists and a team-high two steals as a game-high plus-26 in an 11-point win against the Dallas Mavericks. 

Just us on three! Richard says to lead the Warriors onto the court. 

Be aggressive! Come on! Richard encourages LaJae Jones on his way to a three-point play. 

Knock-down, boy! Richard says after finding an open Yaxel Lendeborg right before making a three. 

LJ! Way to hoop, boy! Richard immediately says after the Warriors win, dapping up LJ Cryer, who scored a team-high 25 points. 

Yeah Yax! Richard yells into an ESPN microphone, messing with Lendeborg after his first summer league game in Las Vegas. 

Sounds of a Summer League W with Will Richard 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/rtLPRkU8zj

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 10, 2026

Richard’s three summer league goals were executed in the Warriors’ first game of their championship run in Las Vegas. So was the fourth. He cut, he hit open shots and he defended at a high level while leading the way outside of the box score. 

“He’s definitely taken on a pretty big vocal leadership role, and we’ve encouraged him,” Warriors summer league coach Khalid Robinson said after practice on June 13. “We’ve encouraged him in practice, in games, in the locker room and he has taken on that challenge. He’s been a really good leader and a good teammate in this environment.” 

There’s a great clip from Warriors training camp last year that exemplifies why Richard made an impact as a rookie, and why the team has high expectations for his 2026-27 NBA season. Richard sets a screen on Gary Payton II for Draymond Green in practice and immediately slips for an easy bucket. After praising Richard for his cut, Kerr turns to Jimmy Butler on the sidelines and whispers “That kid is pretty good!”

Kerr and Butler come to the same conclusion: He knows how to play.

Only three players were picked below Richard in the 2025 NBA Draft, yet he ranked 11th in win shares by the rookie class. Richard was fifth in steals per game among all rookies (1.2) as he easily cemented himself as one of the steals in the draft. 

The Warriors liked Richard enough to move up in the draft for him, and even they admittedly were surprised by his early contributions. Richard wound up ranked third on Golden State in games played (69) and started 21 of them, averaging 20 minutes a night after being one of the last picks in the draft. 

This summer, Richard played in seven of a possible nine games and averaged 10.3 points on 48.1-percent shooting (26 of 54) and 48.3 percent (14 of 29) from 3-point range. Adding strength in the weight room was another primary focus since the season ended, which was evident as part of Richard’s team-high 13 steals.

Richard came full circle after winning the championship in Las Vegas when he emphasized his growth in leadership. 

“This was a great opportunity for me to find my voice on the team,” Richard told reporters. “That’s not just talking and all that but leading by example. Making sure I’m coming here doing the right things and being a voice where the coaches can connect to the players.” 

Instead of going outside of himself throughout summer league, Richard expanded on his role and jumped into bigger shoes after a year of learning from all-time greats. His services will be needed even more in Year 2, and the Warriors should be able to rely on him even more with confidence in his game and his communication.

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9 thoughts on Sixers' offseason as LeBron James news sinks in originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James is a Sixer and the team’s 2026-27 schedule should be here soon.

With the fireworks finally in the rearview mirror, here are nine thoughts on the Sixers’ offseason: 

1. The Sixers haven’t earned 50 regular-season victories since Doc Rivers’ tenure as head coach. The 2026-27 team looks capable of hitting 50. The Sixers should care about racking up wins, too. Every day of playoff rest will matter for a team featuring James and Joel Embiid. James will be 42 years old by the time the postseason rolls around, Embiid 33 and with an injury-cursed past. No deep playoff run is effortless, but the Sixers will aim for the smoothest possible road. 

2. The Sixers should pose major physical problems to just about every opponent. Embiid, Jaylen Brown and James are all well-versed at targeting defenders who can’t cope with their size and strength. Tyrese Maxey’s speed is a world-class tool. Offensive rhythm and balance sounds nice, but the Sixers’ smartest option will sometimes be as simple as tossing the ball to whoever has the best chance of beating his man 1-on-1. James should enhance their ability to identity those mismatches and exploit them over and over again. 

3. With James on board, it’s so much easier to envision Maxey benefiting from greater offensive variety. Even if he remains the Sixers’ primary ball handler and continues to see heaps of pick-and-roll blitzes, there’s no question Maxey should have a lighter on-ball load. Cleaning the Glass classified Maxey as playing 100 percent of his minutes at point guard each of the last three seasons.

“This series was definitely tough for me,” Maxey said at his May exit interview after the Sixers were swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks. “They made it tough on me. I can’t even sit here and lie. I saw multiple bodies every single night. Every single pick-and-roll, it was a trap. Every single (Jalen) Brunson action, it was a trap. Every single time I got downhill, the entire team was in the paint and I was trying to kick out. … Next year I want to do some things off the ball and just not have to be in front of the defense all the time. 

“When you’re in front of the defense all the time, it gives them opportunities to trap me a lot. It gives the entire team opportunities to kind of load up. I feel like that’s one thing that really good players and great players can do. They can be on the ball and make plays on the ball, but they can also be off the ball and contribute that way, use their gravity that way.” 

4. In a strange way, Embiid and Maxey are uniquely equipped to adjust to all the day-to-day buzz that comes with James. They’ve each endured true sagas as Sixers — Markelle Fultz’s damaged shot; Ben Simmons and James Harden’s traderequests; health woes ranging from Bell’s palsy to appendicitis. James will bring a different sort of spotlight. However, strictly in terms of riding the season’s rollercoaster and handling intense moments, Embiid and Maxey should be relatively unfazed. 

5. Mike Gansey’s outlandishly productive first summer as the Sixers’ president of basketball operations is hard to fully fathom. Jameer Nelson has also made a substantial impact this offseason. 

The Sixers promoted Nelson to executive vice president of basketball operations in June. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul named him as an “X-factor” when discussing the Sixers as a potential landing spot for James on the “Game Over” podcast. And when new Sixers guard Anfernee Simons explained why he’d chosen Philadelphia, he mentioned that the team’s recruitment included Nelson calling … his parents. 

“I think it’s showing his level of seriousness in trying to get me to come to Philly,” Simons said in a July press conference on Zoom. “That’s one thing other teams didn’t do. That was one of the big selling points with me coming to Philly and feeling like I’m needed here and wanted here. That helped the pitch out pretty good for sure.” 

6. The Sixers will surely fall short of expectations in certain areas. Even if James thrives and his fellow stars stay healthy, the Sixers might underwhelm defensively or struggle to rebound at an adequate level. We still think it’s safe to project that the Sixers will be great at drawing free throws. After finishing last season sixth in free throw rate, they may very well lead the league in that category. James and Brown combined to shoot 12.8 free throws per game last year. 

7. Before all of his summer dealmaking, Gansey emphasized “internal development” as a core part of the Sixers’ plans. 

“With Tyrese, VJ (Edgecombe) and some of our other young guys, they’ve got to get better, too,” Gansey said at his introductory press conference. “I think it’s internal growth, (the 22nd pick), free agency, and trying to add as much depth as we can to this roster.”

Offseason work hasn’t suddenly become irrelevant for the Sixers. Can Maxey improve even more as a long-range shooter, pick-and-roll passer and do-it all guard? What kind of offensive progress will Edgecombe make ahead of Year 2 in the NBA? Could a young role player like Dominick Barlow enter the season with sharpened skills and establish himself as a valuable, dependable piece on a star-heavy team? 

8. The Sixers went 21-23 last regular season without Embiid and 1-3 in the playoffs. He expects to have a healthier season and everyone associated with the Sixers hopes his luck finally turns. Regardless, there still appear to be valid reasons for concern about the Sixers when their seven-time All-Star center is out. The 23-year-old Adem Bona and 24-year-old Ariel Hukporti are right behind Embiid on the Sixers’ depth chart. Both Bona and Hukporti have two years of NBA experience and, to this point, they’ve been foul-prone, offensively limited players. The Sixers do have others capable of sliding up to center on occasion, including James, Barlow and Dean Wade, but picking up another big man during the season might make sense. 

9. With three hefty salaries on their books in Embiid, Brown and Maxey, the Sixers will need some bargain players. James is an obvious candidate; he’ll play on a minimum salary of approximately $3.9 million. He’s not the only one, though. After starting 59 games last season, Barlow is set to make $3.4 million. Edgecombe ($11.7 million), Simons ($6 million) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($3.9 million) are among the other contenders.