Category: Basketball

Russell Westbrook announced he was stepping away from the NBA after 18 seasons in a video released on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

\n

Westbrook played for seven different teams in the league but had his longest stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008 to 2019.

\n

The point guard was voted the 2016-17 MVP and was a nine-time All-Star during his career.

\n

Westbrook averaged 20.9 points, 8 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game but is referred to as Mr. Triple-Double for producing 209 career triple-doubles.

\n

He finishes his career as the all-time leader; his former teammate, Nikola Jokic, is threatening to take over the record as he's sitting at 198 career triple-doubles.

\n

Here’s how basketball fans honored Westbrook following his announcement:

\n

Russell Westbrook praised after announcement

\n

Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end.

You had to be there. And now it’s over. pic.twitter.com/6YoOW8WyIV

— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) August 12, 2026

\n

Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti:

"Russell Westbrook is the ultimate competitor.

His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness helped establish the foundation of our organization from day one in 2008 and he elevated the confidence and inspired…

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 12, 2026

\n

The former UCLA basketball player also played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers and Denver Nuggets before playing his final season with the Sacramento Kings.

\n

Little did we know, that would be Russell Westbrook’s final season 🥲

(via @MattGeorgeSAC) pic.twitter.com/GsYQdHQkNj

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 12, 2026

\n

Final bucket of Russell Westbrook's career 🥲

March 19th, 2026 pic.twitter.com/eeDcZtRTyN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 12, 2026

\n

Congrats on retirement, Russ! We’re honored to be part of your legendary career ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/3sdJv6GdSV

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 12, 2026

\n

Grateful Sacramento was part of an unforgettable career. Congratulations on 18 incredible seasons. Enjoy retirement, Brodie 💜 @russwest44pic.twitter.com/l66Qo1k7Nx

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 12, 2026

\n

Russell Westbrook's career in 18 seasons

▫️9x All-Star
▫️9x All-NBA
▫️3x Assists Champion
▫️2x Scoring Champion
▫️2x All-Star Game MVP
▫️2016-17 NBA MVP
▫️Member of the 75th Anniversary Team
▫️All Time Triple Double Leader

Thank you for everythingpic.twitter.com/fdUqBzXAnI

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) August 12, 2026

\n

Russell Westbrook has retired from the NBA.

Brodie was special in his time with @UCLAMBB 👏 pic.twitter.com/P9x9ALQevD

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) August 12, 2026

\n

2x gold medalist Russell Westbook has announced his retirement.

Thank you @russwest44 for all of your contributions to the game & USA Basketball! 🇺🇸 #USABfamilypic.twitter.com/y62soDYTz2

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 12, 2026

\n

Russell Westbrook had a career for the books 📚

🏀 209 career triple-doubles, most in NBA history
🏀 1 of 2 players in NBA history with 25,000 points & 10,000 assists
🏀 14th on the NBA all-time scoring list (27,176)
🏀 1 of 14 players to record 2,000 career steals (2,038) pic.twitter.com/w3FQ1WRfpJ

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) August 12, 2026

\n

I still can’t believe he pulled this off https://t.co/5v7GUvyQfY

— Kazeem Famuyide 🇳🇬 🍎 (@Kazeem) August 12, 2026

\n

Congrats on your retirement, Russ!

Thank you for the memories 🤞 pic.twitter.com/BkjVwvtsup

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) August 12, 2026

\n

Several current and former NBA players, including Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell, shared their thoughts on the future Hall of Famer.

\n

Damn Brodie… an absolute Legend! What a hell of a career!
🫡 @russwest44

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 12, 2026

\n

Thank You @russwest44 🫡

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 12, 2026

\n

Some careers need no words. Congratulations, Russell 🤝 https://t.co/JdE5ZAXDr0pic.twitter.com/OvcPjmqr0T

— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 12, 2026

\n

GREATEST POINT GUARD EVER!!!! 🖤 https://t.co/qZcUnpwz0m

— Dejounte Murray (@DejounteMurray) August 12, 2026

\n

Russell Westbrook. Man, what do you even say.

Every time you figured you had him read, thought he'd go right, he'd go left on you. He played his whole career that way and...he gave us one more surprise today.

Russell was one of my favorite guys to line up against near the end…

— Michael Redd (@MichaelRedd_) August 12, 2026

\n

Big shouts to Russell Westbrook on a LEGENDARY career 🫡

Free invite to pull up on the couch whenever brodie! https://t.co/yVQBsSGAOOpic.twitter.com/aJyzpo8I4H

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) August 12, 2026

\n

"One of the best point guards to ever pick up a basketball"@adaniels33 reacts to the breaking news of Russell Westbrook announcing his retirement after 18 seasons with @WorldWideWob

Hear Give and Go weekdays from 2-4 PM ET: https://t.co/SvrOaCZqlXpic.twitter.com/hTzwIfh2CD

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) August 12, 2026

\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russell Westbrook retires from NBA: Fans' reaction on social media

While we probably still have another month (at least) until we hear that Jalen Duren has signed a new contract with the Detroit Pistons, let’s entertain the idea of what a JD sign-and-trade could look like this late in the summer.

A couple of caveats, first:

1. I’m only trading Jalen Duren if I’m getting a center back in the deal. Any JD trade that doesn’t bring a center back means there needs to be another deal afterwards to find your new starting big man.
2. I’m only taking a center back if that player can shoot. If I wanted a center that can rebound and catch lobs, I’d just pay Jalen Duren. In this fake world we’re living in for the premise of the article, I want to add even more spacing so Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson can thrive.
3. I’m not going to add any picks into these trades. This exercise is more about showing what a trade can look like financially, and y’all can decide in the comments where picks would need to be added.

Let us begin.

Option #1

DET gets: Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner

MIL gets: Jalen Duren

Why Detroit says yes: They land their starting SG of the future and finally pair Ausar with a stretch five since the time Mike Muscala was on the team for a fortnight. Rollins (shoutout Toledo Joe) averaged 17/4/5 while shooting 47%/40%/80% in 32 minutes per game last season and fits Detroit’s core at 24 years old. I do not care that Turner only averaged 12/5/1 last year on an extremely dysfunctional Milwaukee team. His career 37% three-point percentage is the prize, and he can’t be a worse rim protector than Duren.

Why Milwaukee says yes: They kick off their post-Giannis rebuild with a 22-year-old All-NBA center to play with Tyler Herro and the rest of the young guys they got from Miami. That should make them good enough to avoid being a bottom-three team this year.

Why Jalen Duren says yes: He’ll get paid more than what Detroit is reportedly offering him.

Option #2

DET gets: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu

ATL gets: Jalen Duren

Why Detroit says yes: For the same reasons they’d say yes to the first deal, though, NAW’s contract is probably the prized possession of this trade. While Okongwu doesn’t have a ton of size, he has turned into quite the stretch five. He averaged 15/7/3 on 48%/38%/76% last season while shooting more than five threes per game. Both guys are young enough to stick around with Detroit’s core.

Why Atlanta says yes: Atlanta is primed to make a big splash at some point this season, and it’s not a secret they’re looking for a center. Rudy Gobert was rumored to be on their watch list to reunite him with head coach Quin Snyder, but if Minnesota is still looking to compete with Gobert, Atlanta pivoting to Jalen Duren could be an appealing idea.

Why Jalen Duren says yes: He’ll get paid more than what Detroit is reportedly offering him.

Shoutout to Based Pistons from Bluesky for the idea on this one!

Option #3

Option #3 just had to be a three-team deal, right?

DET gets: Chet Holmgren and Jordan Hawkins

NOP gets: Jalen Duren

OKC gets: Trey Murphy III and Duncan Robinson

Why Detroit says yes: Ever since Chet Holmgren faded in the playoffs against Wemby and OKC drafted Aday Mara while also extending Isaiah Hartenstein, I’ve wondered what it would take to get Chet to Detroit. He averaged 17/9/2 while shooting 56%/36%/79% in 69 games last season. Pairing him with Ausar Thompson would make Detroit the best defensive team in the league, and he’s a career 37% three-point shooter. Sign me up!

Why New Orleans says yes: Troy Weaver.

Why Oklahoma City says yes: With the addition of Aday Mara, he and Hartenstein combined will make $12 million less than Holmgren. If there’s a world where OKC wants to continue cutting costs, turning Chet into TMIII and Duncan is a great cost-saving move. The two J-Wills and TMIII could fill the minutes at PF while Hartenstein and Mara hold down the C position. Shai’s 4yr/$272m extension starts after this season, so future moves may be needed in OKC to prevent them from reaching the second apron.

Why Jalen Duren says yes: He’ll get paid more than what Detroit is reportedly offering him.

What say you, DBB? Any interest in any of the above trade ideas?

Go Stones.

The Lakers’ path was certain after Mark Walter agreed to buy the Lakers at a valuation of $10 billion in June 2025. 

They were going to be built in the likeness of the Dodgers, who have won three World Series championships since Walter and Guggenheim Baseball Management took over ownership in 2012. 

But just 14 months later, the Lakers have been sold once again to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner at a valuation of $12.5 billion.

You probably have questions. Here’s what we know. 

How did this deal come together?

Apparently with whiplash-inducing speed. Iger and Kushner were pursuing a majority stake in a potential NBA expansion team in Las Vegas through Thrive Eternal, which is the permanent capital holding company launched by Thrive Capital, which Kushner founded. 

The decision to pivot and buy the Lakers happened over a three-day period, the California Post learned in an exclusive interview with Iger.

“As you may have read or heard, we were involved in pursuing the new franchise in Vegas,” Iger told Khobi Price of the California Post.

“And while that happened, it was suggested to us that maybe Mark Walter would be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers. And we immediately decided that given the value of the franchise and the iconic nature of the team that we would be really smart to pursue it. And we did.”

“The deal came together in three days. It’s that simple.”

Why is Mark Walter selling the Lakers 14 months after buying the team?

We’re not sure. 

Was it because he could make a $2.5 billion profit? 

Did it have anything to do with the fact that insurance companies he owned are being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission?

According to Bloomberg, Walter’s holding company, TWG Global, was seeking fresh capital to reduce loans held by those insurance companies .

What we do know is that Walter is not expected to sell the Dodgers, which his ownership group purchased for $2.15 billion in 2012. 

Does this mean anything for Luka Doncic?

Doncic wanted to retire with the Dallas Mavericks before he was stunningly traded to the Lakers in February 2025 in what was widely considered one of the most surprising deals in sports history. Since then, he has undergone two ownership changes. 

It has been dizzying for the 27-year-old, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season. 

Doncic was heavily involved with the revamping of the Lakers’ roster this offseason, including the acquisition of center Walker Kessler. Doncic, who signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the Lakers in August 2025, has a player option for the 2028-2029 season. 

It’s no secret that he will be paying close attention to how the team is run next season. Doncic weighed in on the massive news on X on Wednesday. 

“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA,” Doncic wrote. “I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”

What does this mean for Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick?

Iger has already spoken with Lakers coach JJ Redick, whom he has known for a long time. Iger was a season ticket holder when Redick played for the LA Clippers. He has even made several appearances on Redick’s former podcast, “The Old Man and the Three.” They both live in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. 

As for Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, it’s unclear if Iger has spoken to him yet. Pelinka has been with the Lakers for nine years after joining the franchise as general manager in 2017.  

What happens to Jeanie Buss?

Jeanie Buss had an agreement with previous ownership to remain as governor for four more years. Will that agreement remain intact under new ownership?

Yes. 

When the Buss family sold the Lakers to Walter, there was an agreement for her to remain the team’s governor for at least five years. Iger intends to honor that arrangement. 

“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger told the California Post.

 “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change. But we’re going into this with  enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”

Josh Kushner is a minority owner of the Heat. How does that work?

Kushner became a minority owner of the Grizzlies in 2019 before selling his share to become a minority owner of the Heat.

He will have to sell his share in the Heat before taking over the Lakers.

Less than a year after Mark Walter officially took majority ownership of the Lakers, the franchise is now being sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion.

This sale is not only a shock, but comes with many questions. One very notable one is what happens to current governor Jeanie Buss?

When Walter took over the team, the agreement was that Jeanie would remain as governor for at least five years. However, just one season as the Lakers’ owner, Walter is gone. However, it looks like Jeanie will stay in her position.

Iger, in an exclusive interview in the California Post written by Khobi Price, stated that Jeanie will remain on as the team’s governor.

Iger told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement made between Walter and Buss.

“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger said. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”

It certainly sounds like Jeanie won’t be leaving her position with the franchise anytime soon. However, Iger did leave himself some leeway by saying, “If things change, they’ll change.”

Transitions of power in the NBA can be tricky. When Mark Cuban sold the Mavericks, he believed he would continue to have control of the basketball operations and clearly that didn’t happen.

The difference between that situation and the original one with Jeanie was that she got it in writing, making it official. If it’s a handshake agreement, you can see how that turns out. For now, Iger seems open to the idea of keeping Jeanie on.

But, as he said, if things change, they change.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

As part of its weeklong schedule release (sigh), the NBA announced the schedule for the group-play round of the Emirates NBA Cup on Wednesday.

We already knew that the Sixers were placed into a Group of Death with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. Granted, that news quickly got buried by the Sixers trading for Jaylen Brown that same day and signing LeBron James on a veteran-minimum contract a few weeks later.

Now that the dust has finally started to settle on the offseason, the NBA Cup now looks like a valuable early-season measuring stick for the new-look Sixers. Each opponent will provide a different challenge, but all four figure to be vying for playoff spots this year right alongside the Sixers.

Let’s briefly dive in to what each matchup could tell us about the Sixers early in the year.

Oct. 30 vs. New York Knicks

We found out Tuesday that the Sixers will tip off the season by taking on the reigning champion Knicks in New York on opening night. They’ll face them again 10 days later, except they’ll be back home in Philly for both teams’ NBA Cup opener.

We’ll find out the Sixers’ full schedule Thursday, but in all likelihood, this will be their first chance to face the same opponent for the second time in the 2026-27 season. That means this will be their first chance to make playoff-style adjustments based on what happened in the season opener.

The Knicks’ fan takeover of the Wells Fargo Center in last year’s playoffs is also still a sore spot for the organization. Granted, with LeBron and Brown now in the fold, tickets might be almost as expensive in Philly this season as they are at Madison Square Garden. Still, this will likely be our first chance to see whether Knicks fans are able to pack the stands at the WFC as prominently as they have in past years.

The on-court matchups should be fascinating, too. The Knicks have two elite wing defenders in Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby who figure to draw the primary assignment on Brown and LeBron. Can Skinny Joel Embiid hang with Karl-Anthony Towns, particularly when he floats out to the perimeter? Will Tyrese Maxey look to hunt Jalen Brunson? And can VJ Edgecombe stop Josh Hart from inexplicably shooting 50 percent from deep every time he plays the Sixers?

Last, but certainly not least: Ariel Hukporti Revenge Game loading?

Nov. 6 at Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers will be a very different matchup for the Sixers than the Knicks stylistically. The Cavs run a double-big lineup with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, so whichever one of them avoids Embiid as their primary defender should have a clear height advantage.

The Cavaliers also have an elite scoring guard in Donovan Mitchell and an elite passing guard in James Harden, which should keep Maxey and Edgecombe busy defensively. However, the soon-to-be 37-year-old Harden might as well have a bullseye tattooed on his face whenever he’s on defense, as Brunson proved in last year’s playoffs.

Given the “there’s only one ball” concern-trolling surrounding the Sixers, this game should give them an opportunity to prove how they present opponents with an impossible pick-your-poison dilemma. If they relentlessly hunt Harden all night regardless of whom he’s defending, it might force the Cavs to consider pulling him off the floor entirely.

That could be a preview of how the new-look Sixers can maximize their powers while still avoiding the typical your-turn, my-turn tug-of-war that tends to come with superstar tandems.

Nov. 25 vs. Miami Heat

TrueHoop’s David Thorpe is wondering who on the Sixers can stop Giannis Antetokounmpo. This might be their first chance of the season to answer that question.

Like the Cavs, the Heat will trot out a double-big starting lineup with the Greek Freak and Bam Adebayo. That size could prove problematic for the Sixers, who will be on the smaller side with LeBron likely starting at the 4.

But unlike the Cavs, the Heat do not have a star guard to help shoulder some of the scoring load, with all due respect to Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson. Barring another 80-point eruption from Adebayo, it’s unclear whether the Heat have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Sixers.

The Heat largely abandoned pick-and-rolls last season, although they’ll presumably reinvent their offense again around Antetokounmpo this year. Luckily, the Sixers will have roughly a month’s worth of games to scout before this Cup showdown, so they shouldn’t be caught totally off guard by any unforeseen wrinkles.

Really, this might come down to whether Antetokounmpo (or Simone Fontecchio?) can go full Superman mode. That’s what would happen in the playoffs, too, so this could be an early-season test for the Sixers in that regard.

Nov. 27 at Indiana Pacers

Given the massive shakeups that happened around the league this offseason, the Pacers are largely flying under the radar heading into the year. Somehow, everyone seems to have memory-holed that they were one win away from winning the 2025 NBA Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 campaign to recover from the torn Achilles that he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, but he’ll have more than a month to shake off the rust before this matchup. He’ll also have a new center in Ivica Zubac, whom the Pacers acquired ahead of the February trade deadline.

Zubac played only five games for the Pacers last season, but he and Pascal Siakam should form an imposing frontcourt when healthy. Much like with the Heat and Cavaliers, the Sixers will have to figure out how to counter the size disadvantage they face whenever that duo is on the floor together.

But as their team name would imply, the real concern with the Pacers is their pace. They tend to fly up and down the floor, leveraging their depth to stay fresh. Outside of Embiid, the new-look Sixers should also be a dynamo in transition, but head coach Nick Nurse tends to overplay his starters. That could lead to late-game fatigue against Indiana in particular.

Dec. 4-11: Knockout rounds?

Through the first three iterations of the NBA Cup, the Sixers have yet to advance past the group-play stage. Despite the star power they added this offseason, it won’t be easy for them to snap that trend this year, either. They’ll be working through some early-season kinks while other Eastern Conference title hopefuls aim to send a message against them.

Given the projected strength of their group, it’s hard to imagine any team going 4-0 in group play. A 3-1 record might the best that any team can realistically hope for. Point differential is the tiebreaker for teams with the same record, so the Sixers will have incentive to run up the score in all of their group-play games.

If they make it to the knockout rounds, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be held in normal NBA team markets. The championship is moving out of Las Vegas this year and is headed to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis instead. And teams in the knockout round also receive a cash prize depending on how far they advance, which is a nice bonus, especially with LeBron playing on a minimum contract this year. (The prize for winning the Cup is more than 1/8 of his total salary!)

The Knicks won the Cup last year and went on to win the actual championship, although the first two Cup champions did not have similar playoff success. So, even if the new-look Sixers fail to bring the Cup to Philly, it doesn’t mean they’re destined for a playoff letdown.

But if the Sixers do go on a deep run in the Cup, they’ll be well ahead of schedule, particularly given the strength of their group in the opening stage.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

The Lakers will open NBA Cup play against the same team they open the season with.

The Lakers start the in-season tournament on Oct. 30 on the road against the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m. PDT on Prime Video, the NBA announced Wednesday during another stage of the schedule release that will wrap up Thursday. The NBA Cup opener is a second matchup in the first weeks of the season between the Lakers and the Warriors, who begin their regular-season schedules on Oct. 21 at Crypto.com Arena.

The Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs are also in the Lakers’ five-team Group C. The Lakers have Cup home games against the Trail Blazers (Nov. 6, 7 p.m.) and Kings (Nov. 20, 7 p.m.) and play their last group-stage Cup game at San Antonio at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 27.

With 30 teams split into six groups for the NBA Cup, teams play a round-robin group stage before the top team in each group and the best second-place team in each conference advance to the eight-team quarterfinal stage.

The quarterfinals (Dec. 4 and Dec. 5) and semifinals (Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9) will be hosted in NBA team markets, a departure from the previous formats that placed only the quarterfinals in team arenas before playing the semifinal and championship in Las Vegas. The championship game, scheduled for Dec. 11, will be played at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The in-season tournament, now in its third season, was launched to increase the stakes during a long NBA regular season. It incentivized competition in part by dangling more than $500,000 in prize money for each player on the winning team.

Read more:Bob Iger, Joshua Kushner to buy Lakers from Mark Walter's ownership group for $12.5 billion

The NBA Cup just produced its first NBA champion, with the New York Knicks becoming the first team to win the regular-season tournament and the NBA title in the same season.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Herald Celtics schedule: Dates, times for 2026 NBA Cup games announced

Globe Jaylen Brown trade has reignited a Boston-Philadelphia rivalry that could trump Boston-New York, and other thoughts

CelticsBlogThe Celtics NBA Cup schedule is out, and here’s who they’ll face

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were great teammates. Why wasn’t that enough?

Banner Years: 1965, when Sam Jones was on fire, and Havlicek stole the ball

Celtics Reacts Survey: Ben Simmons, anyone?

CLNS Media The Celtics Are Still Contenders + Remembering Don Nelson

NBC Sports Boston 2026 NBA Cup schedule: Dates, opponents, times for all Celtics games

NESN4 More Celtics 2026-27 Games Revealed After NBA Cup Group Stage Schedule Released

Celtics Named Among Best Landing Spots for Stephen Curry If He Leaves Warriors

Warriors Share Stephen Curry News That Celtics Fans Will Love

Giannis Antetokounmpo Puts Celtics On Notice With Bold Christmas Day Prediction

Celtics Become 73-9 Warriors When Jayson Tatum Reaches This Key Stat

We Now Know the Real Reason NBA Made Unusual Celtics Decision

3 Celtics Franchise Records Players Could Break in 2026-27 Season

Mass LiveTwo Celtics centers will get valuable international experience

Celtics schedule: NBA Cup group play games released

Cavs exploring trade involving former Celtics guard

Former Celtics forward drawing interest from Warriors

Celtics Wire Celtics schedule for 2026-27 NBA regular season already weird

Payton Pritchard motivated ahead of another prove-it season for Celtics

Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White can be a better player this season

Celtics NBA Cup dates vs. Bulls, Hornets, Wizards, and Hawks revealed

Celtics history: Antoine Walker born; NBA shares rules for Orlando bubble

The AthleticCheck out this season’s NBA Cup group-play schedule

Russell Westbrook appears to announce retirement in social media video

Boston Sports JournalThe Celtics have gone all-in on Mazzulla Ball

Hardwood Houdini Rival Lakers shockingly sold for the second time in a calendar year

NBA Cup schedule further cements Celtics as heavy favorites to win Group C

Where to watch every Celtics game in 2026-27: TV, streaming, radio

It would fit Brad Stevens’ M.O. to bring back Celtics hero Kelly Olynyk

Warriors GM tries to curb Steph Curry rumors but conflicting goals remain

NBA’s ridiculous 3 PM opening day start time puts European fans over Celtics diehards

Mitchell Robinson gives Celtics’ home opener an edge Jaylen Brown didn’t take away

Celtics are redefining 76ers’ old ‘trust the process’ motto

Celtics’ Amari Williams now has a huge opportunity in front of him this summer

Locked on Celtics NBA CLEARLY Does NOT Care About Jaylen Brown vs. Boston Celtics Storyline

SI .comNBA’s Opening Night Schedule Includes One Big, Unnecessary Change That Makes No Sense

Ranking the Atlantic Division Small Forwards: How Does Michael Porter Jr. Stack Up?

The One Offensive Adjustment the Boston Celtics Must Address Before Opening Night

Basketball Network Tim Donaghy said NBA refs were told to help Kobe Bryant score more: “Make sure you don’t let this happen tonight”

“They’re all cupcakes” – Shaquille O’Neal would never play against modern NBA players

The Big LeadCeltics insider shuts down storyline about Jaylen Brown’s return game to Boston

The Sixer SensePaul George’s contract suddenly gets a pass after 76ers took heat

Blue Man HoopD’Angelo Russell’s Celtics wish for Stephen Curry falls apart quickly

Crossing BroadThe Celtics are Such a Huge Draw That the NBA Gave Them an Opening Day Game at 3 P.M. on a Tuesday

Sportsnet NBA off-season grades: Eastern Conference

HeavyCeltics Get Unexpected Stephen Curry Trade Update After Warriors Report

Jaylen Brown’s Celtics Revenge Mission Gets Surprising NBA Verdict: Insider

Jaylen Brown Celtics Revenge Game Left Off NBA Cup Schedule

For the Win4 Stephen Curry landing spots if Warriors star ever seeks fresh start

HITCGiannis Antetokounmpo makes bold Boston Celtics prediction after NBA Christmas Day reveal

The Sports HubNBA announces Celtics 2026 NBA Cup schedule

NikNBA/YouTubeWHY Mitchell Robinson is the NBA’s Best Offensive Rebounder : Film Session + Deep Dive

Fan RecapNBA Passed On A Celtics Reunion Fans Expected Right Away

Celtics Just Got An Opening Night Spotlight Few Teams Ever See

Clutch PointsCeltics’ Payton Pritchard reveals what ‘ate away’ at Boston after early playoff exit

Daily KnicksMitchell Robinson’s revenge game against Knicks has officially been announced

The New York Knicks headline a four-game slate to be played on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, this season. It's the 41st time the league will feature games on the federal holiday, which honors the slain civil rights leader.

The day starts with two Eastern Conference contenders, the Detroit Pistons visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland bounced the top-seeded Pistons from the playoffs in the second round last season.

King's birthplace of Atlanta, Georgia, hosts the next matchup of the day, with the Hawks playing the new-look Philadelphia 76ers. Atlanta has beaten Philadelphia nine straight times.

Madison Square Garden will welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game that features two of the league's most dynamic guards: NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson and perennial All-Star Anthony Edwards.

pic.twitter.com/Ppyi5Pux5N

— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) August 12, 2026

In the nightcap, Memphis, the city where King was shot and killed in 1968, takes center stage, with the Grizzlies hosting the Houston Rockets. It will be the 24th time the Grizzlies have hosted a game on MLK Day, with Memphis posting an 8-15 record in those games.

MLK Day Holiday schedule

(all times Eastern)

• Detroit at Cleveland (12 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
• Philadelphia at Atlanta (2:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
• Minnesota at New York (5 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
• Houston at Memphis (7:30 p.m., Peacock)

More: NBA gifts LeBron to LA with Lakers-76ers showdown on Christmas Day

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks, Timberwolves, 76ers highlight four-game MLK Day slate

Russell Westbrook is calling it a career. The point guard announced his retirement from the NBA at age-37 on Wednesday after a brilliant career that spanned 18 seasons. Westbrook will be remembered as the 2017 NBA MVP, and the first player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson.

Westbrook retires as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209. It’s likely that record doesn’t last for long, because Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic already has 198 triple-doubles at age-31. Westbrook became the first player to average a triple-double for a season in 55 years on the way to his only MVP. He would average a triple-double in a season four times in his career, all with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Seattle SuperSonics selected Westbrook out of UCLA with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, but the franchise’s move to Oklahoma City was already in motion at that time. Westbrook joined Kevin Durant, who was drafted one year before him, and then teamed with James Harden one year later to form one of the best young trios in league history. The Thunder reached the 2012 NBA Finals where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat, and Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets the next year.

Westbrook reached new heights after Durant left for the Golden State Warriors in free agency in the summer of 2016. He put up numbers the league had never seen before in a super high usage role, but he was unable to lead OKC out of the first round of the playoffs. The Thunder traded him to the Houston Rockets for a package headlined by Chris Paul in the summer of 2019, which began a nomadic stage of his career.

Westbrook played for the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings before retiring. He averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds on 52.8 percent true shooting this past season with the Kings.

Westbrook will go down as one of the most polarizing players in league history, in part because he was unable to improve as a three-point shooter after his athleticism started to wane. In his prime, though, Westbrook was an absolute marvel with the most ferocious rim attacks the league had ever seen from a point guard.

SB Nation wrote about Westbrook so much over the years. Here are a few of my favorite pieces.

• My story on Westbrook’s best moments from his 2017 MVP season
• Paul Flannery on how Westbrook defined the 2017 season
• Zito Madu on Westbrook’s outstanding MVP speech
• Tom Ziller on Westbrook as an inspiration to us all
• Mike Prada on why you can’t judge Westbrook without proper context

There will never be another player like Westbrook. It was truly a thrill to watch his career.

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is taking on a new project as a co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

\n

Iger and American businessman Josh Kushner reportedly bought the Lakers from Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter for a record-breaking price. ESPN was the first to report the deal.

\n

The sale has not been finalized by the NBA but is expected to be worth more than $12 billion. It would be the second time the Lakers have been sold in the past two years.

\n

Iger is no stranger to the sports world, overseeing ESPN, which is an entity under The Walt Disney Company, while serving as Disney’s CEO from 2005 to 2020, and then again from 2022 until March of this year.

\n

He helped launch ESPN's new direct-to-consumer platform in 2025. The company initially launched its ESPN+ streaming service in April 2018 during Iger’s first tenure as CEO.

\n

Iger also helped shepherd the Disney company through many of its multibillion-dollar acquisitions, from Pixar in 2006 and Marvel in 2009. He secured Lucasfilm in 2012 for more than $4 billion, sparking an ambitious relaunch of the "Star Wars" franchise across film and TV.

\n

In recent years, Iger helped expand "Star Wars" and Marvel into the Disney theme parks, and spearheaded the opening of Disneyland in Shanghai.

\n

Iger was the brainchild behind one of the company’s largest acquisitions, the purchase of 20th Century Fox, which includes properties such as Hulu, FX and National Geographic, in 2018 for $71 billion.

\n

Magic Johnson addressed Lakers fans on X, speaking highly of Iger.

\n

"Laker fans, you couldn’t have two better owners. I’ve known Bob personally for over 40 years - he has always loved the Lakers and basketball, and he will bring championships back to LA."

\n

The Lakers last won an NBA championship in 2020.

\n

Johnson served as the star point guard for the Lakers during the late 1990s before later becoming the President of Basketball Operations from 2017-19.

\n

Lakers' current star, Luka Doncic, shared a statement regarding the news of the sale and its new owners.

\n

"Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA," Doncic said. "I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together."

\n

How much were Lakers sold for?

\n

The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold for a record $12.5 billion less than two years after Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter bought the team from the Buss Family. The deal was first reported by ESPN.

\n

The sale to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger would mark the highest amount ever paid for a North American sports franchise, surpassing the $10 billion that Walter paid for the Lakers. — Scooby Axson

\n

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bob Iger's next act: Former Disney CEO becomes Lakers co-owner

The Los Angeles Lakers have two new owners, after Bob Iger and Josh Kushner purchased the franchise from Mark Walter for a jaw-dropping $12.5 billion sum.

It didn’t take long for Lakers superstar guard Luka Dončić to weigh in on the sale, as he made a social media post in the wake of the deal that read, “Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. 

“I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together,” he added.

This sentiment from Dončić earned the approval of Jeanie Buss, who is still the Lakers’ Team Governor after selling her majority stake to Walter for $10 billion in 2025.

Buss responded to Dončić’s X post and wrote, “Perfectly said ”.

Perfectly said https://t.co/f7GL4tbG8n

— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) August 12, 2026

---

Follow the latest on the multibillion-dollar LA Lakers sale:

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes championship promise after historic Lakers sale
• Luka Dončić doesn’t mince words on historic $12.5 billion Lakers sale

---

Buss assumed full leadership as the Lakers’ controlling owner back in 2017, following the death of her father, Dr. Jerry Buss.

The Buss family still had a 15% stake in the Lakers after the deal with Mark Walter.

Earlier Wednesday, Iger chatted with The California Post in an exclusive, where he detailed the plans for Buss’ role with the Lakers.

“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger said. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”

Barring anything unforeseen, it makes sense why she would be in a good mood.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Russell Westbrook is calling it a career.

The former NBA MVP announced his retirement Wednesday with a farewell video on social media narrated by Michael B. Jordan, bringing an end to his 18-year NBA career.

“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” Westbrook wrote in the caption. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”

View this post on Instagram

The three-plus minute video served as Westbrook’s goodbye to basketball, with ESPN’s Shams Charania later reporting that the nine-time All-Star was retiring.

Earlier this week, rumors emerged that Westbrook could be leaving the NBA for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel, although insider Marc Stein reported that the possibility was “laughably false.” 

Westbrook’s retirement closes the book on one of the NBA’s most distinctive careers.

The 37-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with the Kings, averaging 15.2 points per game across 64 contests.

The longtime Thunder star won the 2016-17 NBA MVP award and two scoring titles, made nine All-Star teams and became the league’s all-time leader in triple-doubles during his surefire Hall of Fame career. 

Westbrook spent 11 seasons in Oklahoma City after being drafted No. 4 overall out of UCLA in the 2008 NBA Draft. 

He, Kevin Durant and James Harden led the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals as one of the youngest teams to ever make it to the championship round before falling to LeBron James and the Heat. 

Westbrook would bounce around the league after leaving OKC following the 2018-19 season, spending time with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets and Kings.

Russell Westbrook is calling it a career after 18 NBA seasons. 

\n

Westbrook announced his retirement from basketball in a video posted to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Aug. 12. 

\n

Westbrook finished his career as the all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209 in his storied career. 

\n

He entered the NBA after being selected out of UCLA with the No. 4 overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics, who shortly after became Oklahoma City Thunder. 

\n

Westbrook played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. 

\n

During his 18-year career, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game through 1,301 NBA games. 

\n

He became a league MVP, nine-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion on his way to a future Hall of Fame career. 

\n

View this post on Instagram

\n

Follow the NBA with USA TODAY

\n

The NBA never rests, and USA TODAY is keeping tabs on the league all year long with reporters on the ground covering every team. Follow the news on our NBA hub . Get our USA TODAY Sports newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

\n

Watch the NBA on Fubo

\n

NBA Key Dates 2026-27

\n

• Aug. 14-15: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Enshrinement Weekend
• Oct 9 & 11: NBA Preseason | NBA China Games 2026 | Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets | The Venetian Arena (Macao)
• Nov. 7: NBA Mexico City Game | Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers | Arena CDMX
• Jan. 14, 2027: NBA Paris Game | San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans | Accor Arena
• Jan. 17: NBA Manchester Game | San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans | Co-op Live
• Feb. 19-21: NBA All-Star 2027 | Phoenix, AZ

\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA star Russell Westbrook retires, ending one of basketball's most unique careers

For Bob Iger, his and Josh Kushner’s purchase of the majority ownership of the Lakers from Mark Walter for a historic $12.5 billion valuation was still sinking in as of late Wednesday morning.

Because after the former Disney CEO and his business partner originally pursued ownership stakes in the NBA’s potential expansion in Las Vegas, it came to their attention last weekend that Walter could be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers that he purchased just over a year ago. 

Iger and Kushner immediately jumped at the opportunity, coming to an agreement to buy the Lakers within three business days.  

“We were involved in pursuing the new franchise in Vegas,” Iger said during an exclusive phone call with the California Post. “And while that happened, it was suggested to us that maybe Mark Walter would be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers. And we immediately decided that given the value of the franchise and the iconic nature of the team, that we would be really smart to pursue it. The deal came together in three days.

“It’s that simple.”

---

Full coverage of historic Lakers sale

• Lakers stunningly sold to Josh Kushner, Bob Iger for historic $12.5 billion
• Lakers fans react to blockbuster $12.5B sale: ‘Insane!’
• Lakers’ sudden $12.5 billion sale comes amid Mark Walter federal investigation
• Magic Johnson makes bold claim about Lakers after historic $12.5 billion sale
• New Lakers owner’s supermodel wife gushes about Los Angeles before historic sale

---

When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family for a valuation of a then-record $10 billion, the league announced that former majority owner Jeanie Buss would remain the team’s Governor for a period of at least five years.

Iger told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement made between Walter and Buss. 

“We have enormous respect and appreciation for Jeanie, her father and what they’ve contributed to this franchise,” Iger said. “And we have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie. If things change, they’ll change, but we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”

Iger shared that has yet to speak to Lakers star Luka Doncic, but mentioned that he spoke with Buss, as well as coach JJ Redick. The Lakers coach and Iger built a relationship while Redick played for the Clippers from 2013-17 – with Iger being a longtime Clippers season ticket holder. 

And now, he’ll be leading the Lakers. 

“Grateful, appreciative, excited to own something that’s as iconic as the LA Lakers,” Iger said of his feelings. “Josh and I are avid NBA fans. And [to] have an opportunity to own not just any NBA team, but the LA Lakers is…it’s extraordinary from a life experience perspective and business perspective. It’s still sinking in. We’re very excited.”

With the deal coming together so quickly, questions still remain about the vision that Iger and Kushner have for the Lakers. 

And what potential changes could come under their ownership.

Iger made it clear it’s too early to speculate what’s to come. 

“We’re fans,” Iger said. “We respect the value that’s been created, both on the court and off. Our intention is to build this great franchise from a position of strength in many respects as an organization. We’re smart enough to know what we know and what we don’t know. It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet. Again, we go into this with an appreciation of who the Lakers are. And we just want to build value from today on.”

Iger added: “This is very new.”

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

After a decorated 18-year career, former Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on Wednesday.

Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end.

You had to be there. And now it’s over. pic.twitter.com/6YoOW8WyIV

— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) August 12, 2026

Westbrook, 37, spent one season in Washington after the team acquired him in a December 2020 trade that sent John Wall and picks to the Houston Rockets.

The standout guard averaged a triple-double — 22.2 points, 11.7 assists and 11.5 rebounds per game — during his lone season with the Wizards. Washington made the playoff as the No. 8 seed before losing in five games to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before stints with the Rockets, Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. His 27,176 career points ranks 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

His Hall of Fame resume is as follows:

• 9x All-Star

• 9x All-NBA

• 3x Assists leader

• 2x Scoring champion

• 2016-17 MVP

In 2017, the UCLA alum became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double across an entire seasons — a feat he accomplished four times in his career. He recorded his record-breaking 182nd triple-double in a Wizards uniform in a May 2021 game against the Atlanta Hawks and remains the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles leaders with 209.

Westbrook’s 38 triple-doubles during the 2020-21 season cleared everyone else on the Wizards’ all-time list. The next closest is Darrell Walker with 15, followed by John Wall’s seven.

Current Wizards guard Trae Young congratulated Westbrook with an X post saluting his career.

Damn Brodie… an absolute Legend! What a hell of a career!
🫡 @russwest44

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 12, 2026