Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball knows its schedule to try and repeat as Big Ten champs and deliver Izzo a record 12th regular-season title.
As charges mount for Clippers, don’t expect punishment to include voiding Kawhi Leonard’s contract
It has been clear for a year or more that the Los Angeles Clippers knew they were fast approaching the end of the Kawhi Leonard/James Harden era. The Clippers have been looking to pivot, and the report this week of the Clippers’ frustration with Leonard fit the existing pattern. It's not a coincidence that the team is set up to have massive cap space in 2,027 just when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns (among many others) could become free agents.
That pivot was clearly coming long before accusations started to mount against owner Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers — including new ones that dropped Thursday from the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast (more details on that below) — that the team was trying to circumvent the salary cap. Those allegations allege that Ballmer and minority Clippers owner Dennis Wong invested in "green bank" company Aspiration (a Clippers team sponsor), which also signed Leonard to a $48 million endorsement deal. Except there is no evidence Leonard actually did anything to earn that money, making it a "no-show" deal — a way for the Clippers to circumvent the cap.
In the wake of all the evidence in recent weeks, the topic has shifted in part to potential punishments, because it feels like some punishment is coming (once the league's official investigation ends, which likely runs into the middle of the NBA season). The league can fine the Clippers and Ballmer, but only up to a maximum of $7.5 million — Ballmer earned more than that in interest during the time it took you to read this sentence. The league can suspend Ballmer and/or a Clippers executive for up to a year. The league can take away some of the Clippers' future draft picks (the most painful punishment to the franchise).
Also, the league can void Leonard's contract and make him a free agent. Don't expect that one, in part because the Clippers would be good with it.
Latest accusations against Clippers
In his defense of Ballmer and the Clippers, Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban had said that rather than investments and team sponsorships (both of which happened), the easiest way the Clippers could have helped "green bank" company Aspiration was to buy carbon credits from them (which is what the company was fraudulently selling).
Pablo Torre Finds Out released evidence Thursday that the Clippers did just that. Torre has a bank letter signed by the team's Chief Financial Officer — as well as sources inside Aspiration — that say the Clippers fast-tracked a $21 million deal for carbon credits, weeks before the first payment of Leonard's endorsement deal. This is while the Intuit Dome was under construction.
Together, Ballmer and the Clippers invested $118 million in Aspiration. Leonard had a $48 million endorsement deal with the Aspiration ($20 million of that was in now-worthless stock of the bankrupt company), for which there is no evidence he did any work.
Ballmer and the Clippers released a statement both to the podcast and in general about the purchase of these credits, emphasizing that making the new Intuit Dome a green building was very important to Ballmer, and he believed that dealing with Aspiration helped achieve this goal. It's the same idea as when he said he and other investors were "duped" by the company. Here's the statement the Clippers sent to Torre's podcast:
"Our development agreements for the arena included mandates to buy carbon credits, but after studying the issue of neutrality, we went far beyond those requirements, exploring ways to address emissions from our fans and contracting with Aspiration to directly purchase carbon offsets, as well as broker the acquisition of additional offsets. Some of those commitments were built into the sponsorship deal with Aspiration — totally separate of the investment in the company — and we made payments to Aspiration until the company was unable to fulfill their responsibilities."
Leonard’s contract
This latest accusation about carbon credits just adds to the tsunami of circumstantial evidence that has seemed overwhelming. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the burden was on the league to prove the Clippers violated the CBA and appears to want direct evidence that Ballmer intentionally tried to circumvent the salary cap, which is not going to exist (Ballmer would never have signed something so incriminating). Silver seems more willing to talk about league rule changes around investments and endorsements than punishments, but at this point it feels like the Clippers have to get more than a slap on the wrist.
Could that include voiding Leonard's contract? (Leonard is set to make $50 million this season and $50.3 million next season.) Under the terms of the CBA, yes it could. Silver has that power.
Just don't expect him to exercise it.
As noted in the first paragraph of this story, the Clippers recognize reality, and while they put together a good, veteran team on paper for this season — one better than their 50-win team from last season — it is not a contender. How big a playoff threat it can be depends on two unreliable things: Leonard's health and Harden's playoff performance.
Void Leonard's contract, and the Clippers will have max cap space next summer. They could then chase a star through free agency or a trade, pivoting by the fall of 2026. That would be just fine with the Clippers.
Second, as John Hollinger notes at The Athletic, the NBA's formal investigation is likely to conclude in the middle of the season. Void Leonard's contract at that point and there would be a mad scramble from playoff teams willing to take on the risk of adding him short-term, but none of them would have any more than a veteran minimum or something close to it to offer. As Hollinger notes, Leonard fought to get home to Los Angeles in the first place, would he consider signing with the Lakers for the minimum (which, right now, they can't even offer until mid-January due to being hard-capped at the first tax apron)?
One thing Hollinger suggests that is interesting: Silver putting the money from Leonard's endorsement contract on the Clippers' books, making them pay a luxury tax bill for it.
That is a long shot, but more likely than Silver voiding Leonard's contract. The most likely scenario is the Clippers get fined, lose a first-round draft pick or two, and maybe a Clipper executive gets suspended (but not Ballmer before his new Intuit Dome hosts the All-Star Game in February). Maybe it's more than that, but at this point it all comes down to the league's investigation, which is ongoing and will be for a while.
Creighton AD says $300M project will help achieve vision of becoming the ‘model program’ of Big East
Creighton announced a $300 million facilities project Thursday that will encompass 11 new or upgraded buildings and outdoor spaces covering 12 blocks on the east side of campus. The donor-funded Fly Together initiative received a $100 million lead gift from the Heider Family Foundation, the largest in university history. “Fly Together will enhance the student-athlete experience greatly," athletic director Marcus Blossom said at a presentation on campus.
Pre-camp Sixers questions: Will 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players?
Pre-camp Sixers questions: Will 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers will travel to Abu Dhabi for preseason games vs. the Knicks on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. They’ll begin their regular season by facing the Celtics on Oct. 22.
Before the action commences, we’re looking at key questions for the 2025-26 Sixers.
So far, we’ve dived into:
Next up: Will the 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players?
A giant chunk of the Sixers’ team salary for 2025-26 is dedicated to Joel Embiid ($55.2 million), Paul George ($51.7 million) and Tyrese Maxey ($38 million).
That means low-cost, high-quality role players are a necessity. Recent success stories include Guerschon Yabusele and Kelly Oubre Jr., who both signed one-year, minimum-salary deals and became important players for the Sixers.
This time around, Trendon Watford is a clear contender after he signed a two-year minimum contract with a team option in Year 2. Watford, 24, is coming off of his best NBA season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists with the Nets.
The Sixers’ hope is that Watford keeps doing a little bit of everything — passing, ball handling, defending different positions — and makes meaningful growth as a shooter. Watford shot 2.0 three-pointers per game last season and hit 33.0 percent.
“I think I’ve made big-time progress, especially the last two years with my attempts continuing to go up,” Watford said at his introductory press conference in July. “Now it’s just continuing to work on it. Having three great players that will draw a lot of attention, I’ll be able to get a lot of wide-open shots.
“Just stay in the gym, keep working on it and keep getting better year by year. That’s my goal, be better than I was last year.”
Unless a returning veteran such as Eric Gordon or Andre Drummond surprises with a much-improved year thanks to greater health, the next logical place to look is the Sixers’ youth.
Second-year players Justin Edwards and Adem Bona each have approximately $2 million salaries for the 2025-26 campaign. Edwards earned a new contract this offseason by playing like a legitimate NBA two-way wing as a rookie.
“I feel like it just shows all the hard work I put in,” he said on July 2. “Going undrafted, I didn’t let it determine the rest of my basketball life. I just worked hard and did what I was able to do, and I got a contract out of it.”
Jared McCain ($4.2 million salary) is an obvious player to highlight. He posted 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game in a rookie year cruelly ended by a left lateral meniscus tear. McCain’s studied Stephen Curry and sure has some of his special offensive tools. Given McCain’s knack for learning quickly and shooting through slumps, major development in his second season wouldn’t be shocking at all.
The Sixers inked No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe ($11.1 million) and No. 35 selection Johni Broome ($1.3 million) to rookie contracts this summer. And perhaps one of their two-way contract players — Jabari Walker, Hunter Sallis and Dominick Barlow — can emerge and prove worthy of a standard deal. The Sixers have made a decent amount of two-way conversions in recent years with players like Edwards, Paul Reed, Ricky Council IV and Shake Milton.
Whoever shines, the Sixers’ reality is that they require a bargain or two.
Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick
Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It appears the Warriors don’t want to lock up Jonathan Kuminga long-term, but they also don’t want him to potentially go elsewhere and thrive with another NBA team.
Especially, it seems, the NBA team 80 miles northeast in Sacramento.
As The Athletic’s Sam Amick shared on a recent appearance on Sactown Sports 1140’s “The Carmichael Dave Show,” a small factor that has kept Golden State hesitant to send Kuminga to the Kings partly is due to the fear of the 22-year-old breaking out in California’s state capital.
“Joe Lacob is eternally in love with Jonathan Kuminga,” Amick said Wednesday. “There is a sense from some people involved that there’s a real reluctance not only to finally quit him if you will, but to see him go up the road to another Northern California NBA team that’s run by a guy in Vivek Ranadivé, who used to be with the Warriors. And what if Kuminga blows up and becomes a total star?
“From a personal ownership dynamic level, there are some folks that feel like that could be playing a small part. Again, that’s not really relevant, because these other things are the real obstacles. But I mean, Joe — like a lot of owners — is very involved, too.”
As Amick emphasized, this only is a small factor among the overarching deterrants keeping Kuminga out of Sacramento.
The Kings offered veteran guard Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick to Golden State in exchange for the young forward, per multiple reports, but the Warriors don’t want any protections attached to the future draft pick, something Sacramento has been unwilling to offer at this point.
Plus, as Amick reported in a recent column, there are other financial obstacles in the way as Monk’s current contract runs through the 2027-28 season, when he has a player option worth $21.5 million. But the Warriors are adamant about having as much financial flexibility entering that 2027 summer, as they could chase big-name superstars such as Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo, who both have player options for the 2027-28 season.
Kuminga, in four seasons with the Warriors since being selected No. 7 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting, with 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.0 minutes through 258 career games (84 starts).
He has been in and out of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, and after registering multiple DNP-CDs to end the 2024-25 regular season and into the postseason, Kuminga has been firm about wanting a consistent, solidified role with a team, something Golden State has yet to make feasible, especially after the late-season acquisition of six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler.
The Phoenix Suns are the other team to have shown strong interest in Kuminga via a sign-and-trade deal, and while that still would be shipping their former first-round pick to a Western Conference rival, it would seem to be a lot less painful than watching him shine in Sacramento.
Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick
Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It appears the Warriors don’t want to lock up Jonathan Kuminga long-term, but they also don’t want him to potentially go elsewhere and thrive with another NBA team.
Especially, it seems, the NBA team 80 miles northeast in Sacramento.
As The Athletic’s Sam Amick shared on a recent appearance on Sactown Sports 1140’s “The Carmichael Dave Show,” a small factor that has made Golden State hesitant to send Kuminga to the Kings is the fear of the 22-year-old breaking out in California’s state capital.
“Joe Lacob is eternally in love with Jonathan Kuminga,” Amick said Wednesday. “There is a sense from some people involved that there’s a real reluctance not only to finally quit him, if you will, but to see him go up the road to another Northern California NBA team that’s run by a guy in Vivek Ranadivé, who used to be with the Warriors. And what if Kuminga blows up and becomes a total star?
“From a personal ownership dynamic level, there are some folks that feel like that could be playing a small part. Again, that’s not really relevant, because these other things are the real obstacles. But I mean, Joe — like a lot of owners — is very involved, too.”
As Amick emphasized, this only is a small factor among the overarching deterrents keeping Kuminga out of Sacramento.
The Kings offered veteran guard Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick to Golden State in exchange for the young forward, per multiple reports, but the Warriors don’t want any protections attached to the future draft pick, something Sacramento has been unwilling to offer at this point.
Plus, as Amick reported in a recent column, there are other financial obstacles in the way as Monk’s current contract runs through the 2027-28 season, when he has a player option worth $21.5 million. But the Warriors are adamant about having as much financial flexibility entering that 2027 summer, as they could chase big-name superstars such as Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo, who both have player options for the 2027-28 season.
Kuminga, in four seasons with the Warriors since being selected No. 7 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting, with 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.0 minutes through 258 career games (84 starts).
He has been in and out of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, and after registering multiple DNP-CDs to end the 2024-25 regular season and into the postseason, Kuminga has been firm about wanting a consistent, solidified role with a team, something Golden State has yet to make feasible, especially after the late-season acquisition of six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler.
The Phoenix Suns are the other team to have shown strong interest in Kuminga via a sign-and-trade deal, and while that still would include the Warriors shipping their former first-round pick to a Western Conference rival, it would seem to be a lot less painful than watching him shine in Sacramento.
Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft: Results & Expert Tips for Yahoo Category Leagues
A mock draft is one of the best ways to prepare for your fantasy basketball season. With a panel of NBA Fantasy experts, I hosted a 12-team, 9-category mock draft on Yahoo to analyze different strategies and values. From the first-overall pick to late-round sleepers, I'll break down my picks with commentary on player value, position scarcity, and which players might be worth a gamble. Full results for every team can be found at the end.
1- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
You should consider Victor Wembanyama here too, but I still believe Jokic is the safer option. He's been the best fantasy asset across the past half-decade. Nothing should change this year for him, though I wouldn't be shocked if he saw 1-3 fewer minutes per game since Denver is deeper than last year. Either way, drafting Jokic sets you up for almost any other type of build you want to execute.
24- Amen Thompson, Rockets
Maybe these next two picks could be considered small reaches, but you don't have much of a choice when picking at the turn. You have to get your guys. Thompson certainly fits that bill for me around this draft slot. He's one of the best athletes in the NBA, an All-Defensive player, and versatile on the offensive end. If Thompson can improve his perimeter shooting even a little bit, there might be a first-round fantasy asset here.
25- Josh Giddey, Bulls
You shouldn't expect Giddey to produce at the level he did in March and April last season. But he's still the lead playmaker for this run-and-gun Bulls squad, and agreeing on a contract extension cements the organization's commitment to him. He's a candidate for a triple-double every time he steps on the floor, and he's made strides as a three-point shooter and defender.
48- Coby White, Bulls
I didn't mean to grab Bulls players back-to-back, but Giddey/White is a solid pairing. You get the team's top two offensive options. White is essentially doing a Zach LaVine impersonation. He's an efficient scoring combo guard who can drop some dimes. If Giddey misses any time, White becomes the team's best playmaker by a mile.
49- Joel Embiid, 76ers
There isn't really a "right" spot for Embiid with his injury risk, but this is generally where he's being drafted. Part of me couldn't resist the MVP pairing of Embiid with Jokic. It's also important to remember Yahoo's default league requires two starting centers. There's a premium on bigs, so I didn't mind taking a bit of a gamble.
72- Josh Hart, Knicks
The fantasy basketball community doesn't buy Hart producing at the same level that he did last season. Part of that was potentially unsustainable efficiency; another part is wondering if new coach Mike Brown will play Hart (and the rest of the starters) knee-destroying minutes like Tom Thibodeau did. But at pick 72, I'll buy the dip.
73- Julius Randle, Timberwolves
Randle has holes in his game, especially defensively. But his floor is quite high as Minnesota's clear No. 2 option – a team that doesn't have many reliable playmakers. I'll happily take the points/rebounds/assists combo at this draft position.
96- Brandon Ingram, Raptors
My argument for drafting Ingram at 96 isn't much different from drafting Randle at 73. Who else in this range has 20/5/5 upside? Yes, Ingram falls this far for a reason – he can't stay healthy, and Toronto's offensive hierarchy is confusing. I knock him for those exact same reasons, but those concerns ring more hollow around pick 100.
97- Zach Edey, Grizzlies
Edey won't begin the season healthy, and it's possible he misses the first month or two. For that reason, this might be a little early for him. Still, I'll toss him in my injured reserve slot and figure it out later. Edey's play was encouraging down the stretch last season, and it seems like new coach Tuomas Iisalo is interested in featuring him more than Taylor Jenkins was. We know it doesn't take much for centers with Edey's statistical profile to contend for top-50 production.
120- TJ McConnell, Pacers
Indiana's gameplan for this season feels up in the air. Ultimately I trust McConnell to play 20-25 minutes. He's got top-75 upside if he can get more into the 26-28 minute range. At this point in the draft, he's an excellent source of assists and steals. And we know he can pop for big games when given expanded opportunities.
121- Brandin Podziemski, Warriors
Despite being about a month away from regular-season basketball, we do not have a resolution on the Jonathan Kuminga situation. That makes Podziemski's value murkier than I would like, but he improved significantly toward the end of last year after struggling out of the gate. I buy him as a glue guy with upside to expand his role if/when Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green miss time.
144- Kyle Kuzma, Bucks
I'm far from a Kuzma optimist, but the Bucks are not a deep team when it comes to playmakers. In theory, Kuzma could fill the No. 2 role behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Very few potential No. 2 options are available with your second-to-last pick in a fantasy basketball draft.
145- Collin Sexton, Hornets
Sexton has almost faded into obscurity while playing for the tanking Jazz, but he has quietly been one of the more productive per-minute guards in the NBA. I don't trust him to have more than a sixth-man role for Charlotte, but we know LaMelo Ball has struggled to stay healthy.
Draft Results - Rounds
Round 1
Nikola Jokić (DEN - C) - Alex Barutha
Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C) - Kirien's Mat...
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC - PG) - Rotomancer
Luka Dončić (LAL - PG,SG) - Fantasy•Ba...
Cade Cunningham (DET - PG,SG) - DT's Fabulou...
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...
Anthony Davis (DAL - PF,C) - Aburnshoops
Anthony Edwards (MIN - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK - PF,C) - Mike Catron ...
Trae Young (ATL - PG) - Joel Bartilo...
James Harden (LAC - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...
Tyrese Maxey (PHI - PG) - SteveSaintP
Round 2
Stephen Curry (GSW - PG) - SteveSaintP
Devin Booker (PHX - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...
Domantas Sabonis (SAC - C) - Joel Bartilo...
Evan Mobley (CLE - PF,C) - Mike Catron ...
Jalen Johnson (ATL - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...
Donovan Mitchell (CLE - PG,SG) - Aburnshoops
Jaylen Brown (BOS - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...
Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF) - DT's Fabulou...
Alperen Sengun (HOU - C) - Fantasy•Ba...
Kevin Durant (HOU - SF,PF) - Rotomancer
Scottie Barnes (TOR - SG,SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...
Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF) - Alex Barutha
Round 3
Josh Giddey (CHI - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha
Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C) - Kirien's Mat...
Chet Holmgren (OKC - PF,C) - Rotomancer
LeBron James (LAL - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...
Jalen Brunson (NYK - PG) - DT's Fabulou...
De'Aaron Fox (SAS - PG,SG) - Jeff's Sensa...
Bam Adebayo (MIA - PF,C) - Aburnshoops
LaMelo Ball (CHA - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...
Jamal Murray (DEN - PG,SG) - Mike Catron ...
Pascal Siakam (IND - PF,C) - Joel Bartilo...
Dyson Daniels (ATL - PG,SG,SF) - Matty G @NBA...
Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM - PF,C) - SteveSaintP
Round 4
Myles Turner (MIL - C) - SteveSaintP
Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF,PF) - Matty G @NBA...
Derrick White (BOS - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...
Tyler Herro (MIA - PG,SG) - Mike Catron ...
Deni Avdija (POR - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...
Franz Wagner (ORL - SF,PF) - Aburnshoops
Ivica Zubac (LAC - C) - Jeff's Sensa...
Trey Murphy III (NOP - SF,PF) - DT's Fabulou...
Ja Morant (MEM - PG) - Fantasy•Ba...
Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF) - Rotomancer
Brandon Miller (CHA - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...
Coby White (CHI - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha
Round 5
Joel Embiid (PHI - C) - Alex Barutha
Austin Reaves (LAL - PG,SG) - Kirien's Mat...
Desmond Bane (ORL - SG,SF) - Rotomancer
Jimmy Butler III (GSW - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...
Jalen Duren (DET - C) - DT's Fabulou...
Lauri Markkanen (UTA - SF,PF) - Jeff's Sensa...
Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL - PF,C) - Aburnshoops
Deandre Ayton (LAL - C) - Maven's Mind...
Darius Garland (CLE - PG) - Mike Catron ...
Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF) - Joel Bartilo...
Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C) - Matty G @NBA...
Cameron Johnson (DEN - SF,PF) - SteveSaintP
Round 6
Payton Pritchard (BOS - PG) - SteveSaintP
Mark Williams (PHX - C) - Matty G @NBA...
Nikola Vučević (CHI - C) - Joel Bartilo...
DeMar DeRozan (SAC - SF) - Mike Catron ...
Immanuel Quickley (TOR - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...
Jordan Poole (NOP - PG,SG) - Aburnshoops
Jalen Green (PHX - PG,SG) - Jeff's Sensa...
Jarrett Allen (CLE - C) - DT's Fabulou...
Walker Kessler (UTA - C) - Fantasy•Ba...
OG Anunoby (NYK - SF,PF) - Rotomancer
Alex Sarr (WAS - C) - Kirien's Mat...
Josh Hart (NYK - SG,SF,PF) - Alex Barutha
Round 7
Julius Randle (MIN - PF,C) - Alex Barutha
Kel'el Ware (MIA - PF,C) - Kirien's Mat...
Donovan Clingan (POR - C) - Rotomancer
Miles Bridges (CHA - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...
Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC - C) - DT's Fabulou...
Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...
Zach LaVine (SAC - PG,SG) - Aburnshoops
Matas Buzelis (CHI - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...
Onyeka Okongwu (ATL - C) - Mike Catron ...
Michael Porter Jr. (BKN - SF,PF) - Joel Bartilo...
Fred VanVleet (HOU - PG) - Matty G @NBA...
Paul George (PHI - SG,SF,PF) - SteveSaintP
Round 8
Rudy Gobert (MIN - C) - SteveSaintP
Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF) - Matty G @NBA...
Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...
Christian Braun (DEN - SG,SF) - Mike Catron ...
Nic Claxton (BKN - C) - Maven's Mind...
Mikal Bridges (NYK - SF,PF) - Aburnshoops
John Collins (LAC - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...
Anfernee Simons (BOS - PG,SG) - DT's Fabulou...
Jaden Ivey (DET - PG,SG) - Fantasy•Ba...
Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF) - Rotomancer
Toumani Camara (POR - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...
Brandon Ingram (TOR - SG,SF,PF) - Alex Barutha
Round 9
Zach Edey (MEM - C) - Alex Barutha
VJ Edgecombe (PHI - SG) - Kirien's Mat...
Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG) - Rotomancer
Dereck Lively II (DAL - C) - Fantasy•Ba...
Bennedict Mathurin (IND - SG,SF) - DT's Fabulou...
Devin Vassell (SAS - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...
Draymond Green (GSW - PF,C) - Aburnshoops
Tobias Harris (DET - PF) - Maven's Mind...
Bradley Beal (LAC - SG,SF) - Mike Catron ...
Keyonte George (UTA - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...
Norman Powell (MIA - SG,SF) - Matty G @NBA...
Kyrie Irving (DAL - PG) - SteveSaintP
Round 10
Isaiah Jackson (IND - C) - SteveSaintP
Donte DiVincenzo (MIN - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...
RJ Barrett (TOR - SF,PF) - Joel Bartilo...
Tari Eason (HOU - SF,PF) - Mike Catron ...
Isaiah Collier (UTA - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...
D'Angelo Russell (DAL - PG) - Aburnshoops
Aaron Gordon (DEN - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...
Naz Reid (MIN - PF,C) - DT's Fabulou...
Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG) - Fantasy•Ba...
Keegan Murray (SAC - SF,PF) - Rotomancer
Zaccharie Risacher (ATL - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...
T.J. McConnell (IND - PG) - Alex Barutha
Round 11
Brandin Podziemski (GSW - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha
Reed Sheppard (HOU - PG,SG) - Kirien's Mat...
Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF) - Rotomancer
Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG,SF) - Fantasy•Ba...
Herbert Jones (NOP - SF,PF) - DT's Fabulou...
Malik Monk (SAC - SG) - Jeff's Sensa...
Scoot Henderson (POR - PG) - Aburnshoops
Jaden McDaniels (MIN - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...
Stephon Castle (SAS - PG,SG) - Mike Catron ...
CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...
Jrue Holiday (POR - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...
Ace Bailey (UTA - SF) - SteveSaintP
Round 12
Egor Demin (BKN - PG) - SteveSaintP
Bobby Portis (MIL - PF,C) - Matty G @NBA...
Bilal Coulibaly (WAS - SG,SF) - Joel Bartilo...
Brook Lopez (LAC - C) - Mike Catron ...
Neemias Queta (BOS - PF,C) - Maven's Mind...
Kyle Filipowski (UTA - PF,C) - Aburnshoops
Santi Aldama (MEM - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...
Cason Wallace (OKC - PG,SG) - DT's Fabulou...
Cam Whitmore (WAS - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...
Jared McCain (PHI - PG,SG) - Rotomancer
Jay Huff (IND - C) - Kirien's Mat...
Kyle Kuzma (MIL - SF,PF) - Alex Barutha
Round 13
Collin Sexton (CHA - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha
Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...
Sam Hauser (BOS - SF,PF) - Rotomancer
Ty Jerome (MEM - SG) - Fantasy•Ba...
Daniel Gafford (DAL - C) - DT's Fabulou...
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...
Yang Hansen (POR - C) - Aburnshoops
Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU - PF,C) - Maven's Mind...
Aaron Nesmith (IND - SF) - Mike Catron ...
Yves Missi (NOP - C) - Joel Bartilo...
De'Andre Hunter (CLE - SF,PF) - Matty G @NBA...
Chris Boucher (BOS - PF,C) - SteveSaintP
Draft Results - Teams
Alex Barutha
(1) Nikola Jokić (DEN - C)
(24) Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF)
(25) Josh Giddey (CHI - PG,SG)
(48) Coby White (CHI - PG,SG)
(49) Joel Embiid (PHI - C)
(72) Josh Hart (NYK - SG,SF,PF)
(73) Julius Randle (MIN - PF,C)
(96) Brandon Ingram (TOR - SG,SF,PF)
(97) Zach Edey (MEM - C)
(120) T.J. McConnell (IND - PG)
(121) Brandin Podziemski (GSW - PG,SG)
(144) Kyle Kuzma (MIL - SF,PF)
(145) Collin Sexton (CHA - PG,SG)
Kirien's Matchless Team
(2) Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C)
(23) Scottie Barnes (TOR - SG,SF,PF)
(26) Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C)
(47) Brandon Miller (CHA - SF,PF)
(50) Austin Reaves (LAL - PG,SG)
(71) Alex Sarr (WAS - C)
(74) Kel'el Ware (MIA - PF,C)
(95) Toumani Camara (POR - SF,PF)
(98) VJ Edgecombe (PHI - SG)
(119) Zaccharie Risacher (ATL - SF,PF)
(122) Reed Sheppard (HOU - PG,SG)
(143) Jay Huff (IND - C)
(146) Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF)
Rotomancer
(3) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC - PG)
(22) Kevin Durant (HOU - SF,PF)
(27) Chet Holmgren (OKC - PF,C)
(46) Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF)
(51) Desmond Bane (ORL - SG,SF)
(70) OG Anunoby (NYK - SF,PF)
(75) Donovan Clingan (POR - C)
(94) Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF)
(99) Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG)
(118) Keegan Murray (SAC - SF,PF)
(123) Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF)
(142) Jared McCain (PHI - PG,SG)
(147) Sam Hauser (BOS - SF,PF)
Fantasy•Basketball•PH's Team
(4) Luka Dončić (LAL - PG,SG)
(21) Alperen Sengun (HOU - C)
(28) LeBron James (LAL - SF,PF)
(45) Ja Morant (MEM - PG)
(52) Jimmy Butler III (GSW - SF,PF)
(69) Walker Kessler (UTA - C)
(76) Miles Bridges (CHA - SF,PF)
(93) Jaden Ivey (DET - PG,SG)
(100) Dereck Lively II (DAL - C)
(117) Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG)
(124) Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG,SF)
(141) Cam Whitmore (WAS - SF,PF)
(148) Ty Jerome (MEM - SG)
DT's Fabulous Team
(5) Cade Cunningham (DET - PG,SG)
(20) Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF)
(29) Jalen Brunson (NYK - PG)
(44) Trey Murphy III (NOP - SF,PF)
(53) Jalen Duren (DET - C)
(68) Jarrett Allen (CLE - C)
(77) Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC - C)
(92) Anfernee Simons (BOS - PG,SG)
(101) Bennedict Mathurin (IND - SG,SF)
(116) Naz Reid (MIN - PF,C)
(125) Herbert Jones (NOP - SF,PF)
(140) Cason Wallace (OKC - PG,SG)
(149) Daniel Gafford (DAL - C)
Jeff's Sensational Team
(6) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL - PF,C)
(19) Jaylen Brown (BOS - SG,SF)
(30) De'Aaron Fox (SAS - PG,SG)
(43) Ivica Zubac (LAC - C)
(54) Lauri Markkanen (UTA - SF,PF)
(67) Jalen Green (PHX - PG,SG)
(78) Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF)
(91) John Collins (LAC - PF,C)
(102) Devin Vassell (SAS - SG,SF)
(115) Aaron Gordon (DEN - PF,C)
(126) Malik Monk (SAC - SG)
(139) Santi Aldama (MEM - PF,C)
(150) Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL - SG,SF)
Aburnshoops
(7) Anthony Davis (DAL - PF,C)
(18) Donovan Mitchell (CLE - PG,SG)
(31) Bam Adebayo (MIA - PF,C)
(42) Franz Wagner (ORL - SF,PF)
(55) Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL - PF,C)
(66) Jordan Poole (NOP - PG,SG)
(79) Zach LaVine (SAC - PG,SG)
(90) Mikal Bridges (NYK - SF,PF)
(103) Draymond Green (GSW - PF,C)
(114) D'Angelo Russell (DAL - PG)
(127) Scoot Henderson (POR - PG)
(138) Kyle Filipowski (UTA - PF,C)
(151) Yang Hansen (POR - C)
Maven's Mind-Blowing Team
(8) Anthony Edwards (MIN - PG,SG)
(17) Jalen Johnson (ATL - SF,PF)
(32) LaMelo Ball (CHA - PG,SG)
(41) Deni Avdija (POR - SF,PF)
(56) Deandre Ayton (LAL - C)
(65) Immanuel Quickley (TOR - PG,SG)
(80) Matas Buzelis (CHI - SF,PF)
(89) Nic Claxton (BKN - C)
(104) Tobias Harris (DET - PF)
(113) Isaiah Collier (UTA - PG,SG)
(128) Jaden McDaniels (MIN - SF,PF)
(137) Neemias Queta (BOS - PF,C)
(152) Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU - PF,C)
Mike Catron - @watchtheboxes
(9) Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK - PF,C)
(16) Evan Mobley (CLE - PF,C)
(33) Jamal Murray (DEN - PG,SG)
(40) Tyler Herro (MIA - PG,SG)
(57) Darius Garland (CLE - PG)
(64) DeMar DeRozan (SAC - SF)
(81) Onyeka Okongwu (ATL - C)
(88) Christian Braun (DEN - SG,SF)
(105) Bradley Beal (LAC - SG,SF)
(112) Tari Eason (HOU - SF,PF)
(129) Stephon Castle (SAS - PG,SG)
(136) Brook Lopez (LAC - C)
(153) Aaron Nesmith (IND - SF)
Joel Bartilotta RW
(10) Trae Young (ATL - PG)
(15) Domantas Sabonis (SAC - C)
(34) Pascal Siakam (IND - PF,C)
(39) Derrick White (BOS - PG,SG)
(58) Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF)
(63) Nikola Vučević (CHI - C)
(82) Michael Porter Jr. (BKN - SF,PF)
(87) Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG,SG)
(106) Keyonte George (UTA - PG,SG)
(111) RJ Barrett (TOR - SF,PF)
(130) CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG)
(135) Bilal Coulibaly (WAS - SG,SF)
(154) Yves Missi (NOP - C)
Matty G @NBAGEEWHIZ
(11) James Harden (LAC - PG,SG)
(14) Devin Booker (PHX - PG,SG)
(35) Dyson Daniels (ATL - PG,SG,SF)
(38) Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF,PF)
(59) Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C)
(62) Mark Williams (PHX - C)
(83) Fred VanVleet (HOU - PG)
(86) Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF)
(107) Norman Powell (MIA - SG,SF)
(110) Donte DiVincenzo (MIN - PG,SG)
(131) Jrue Holiday (POR - PG,SG)
(134) Bobby Portis (MIL - PF,C)
(155) De'Andre Hunter (CLE - SF,PF)
SteveSaintP
(12) Tyrese Maxey (PHI - PG)
(13) Stephen Curry (GSW - PG)
(36) Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM - PF,C)
(37) Myles Turner (MIL - C)
(60) Cameron Johnson (DEN - SF,PF)
(61) Payton Pritchard (BOS - PG)
(84) Paul George (PHI - SG,SF,PF)
(85) Rudy Gobert (MIN - C)
(108) Kyrie Irving (DAL - PG)
(109) Isaiah Jackson (IND - C)
(132) Ace Bailey (UTA - SF)
(133) Egor Demin (BKN - PG)
(156) Chris Boucher (BOS - PF,C)
Essential Resources for Fantasy Basketball Success
Check out RotoWire'sHow to Play Fantasy Basketball guide for a complete walkthrough, but here is some basic advice:
- Check out custom NBA Fantasy Projections
- Look intoFantasy Basketball Mock Drafts
- Listen to aFantasy Basketball Podcast
- Check in onFantasy Basketball Player News
- ReadFantasy Basketball Articles
- Dive into RotoWire'sFantasy Basketball Draft Kit
- StudyNBA Depth Charts
- See RotoWire'sFantasy Basketball Dynasty Rankings
New to basketball betting? Check out the best basketball betting promos to find the sportsbook and sign-up bonus that's right for you!
Zolak & Bertrand share intel on Tatum's intense approach to Achilles rehab
Zolak & Bertrand share intel on Tatum's intense approach to Achilles rehab originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jayson Tatum is still a long way from returning to action for the Boston Celtics. But he seems hell-bent on making his absence as short as possible.
Tatum underwent surgery mere hours after rupturing his Achilles tendon on May 12 in the Celtics’ second-round playoff series with the New York Knicks. By early July, he was doing pool workouts. By August, he was out of his walking boot.
And what appears to be aiding his recovery is essentially treating it like a full time job.
Marc Bertrand and Scott Zolak, the co-hosts of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand radio show, revealed Thursday that they went out to dinner Wednesday night with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who relayed some positive news about Tatum’s recovery.
“The Celtics are very happy with how hard Jayson Tatum has been working at his rehab, and his level of focus and intensity in the rehab process,” Bertrand said.
“(Tatum) did not leave town. He has been here the entire time. … Since the injury, he has not left town and he has been inside the building at the Celtics’ facility with their people and their team almost every single day for months.”
It’s not uncommon for injured players to be away from the facility during their rehab, especially during the offseason. For example, there were reports before Damian Lillard re-signed with the Portland Trail Blazers that he planned to rehab from his torn Achilles in Portland, regardless of where he signed.
But Tatum apparently has been doing his entire rehab in Boston under the guise of the Celtics’ training staff at their facility. And his commitment to that rehab is such that he’s been in the building virtually every weekday, per Zolak.
“He’s taken trips. He’ll go away to a certain island or something,” Zolak said. “But he’ll get his Friday workout in, fly down, work out there at that place, fly back late Sunday night, and be right back in the building on Monday morning.”
“All summer long, all he did was take weekend trips away,” Bertrand added. “He did not go away for any extended period of time, because he wanted to be back to work on his rehab.
“He’s doing things that nobody asked him to do.”
What all of this means for Tatum’s return date is still unclear. The Celtics have refused to put a timeline on his recovery, and it’s still possible they hold him out for the entire 2025-26 season, especially if the team isn’t a serious playoff contender after losing several key players this offseason.
But if Tatum continues this round-the-clock approach to his recovery, don’t be surprised if the discussion around his possible return gets louder when the calendar flips to 2026.
Here’s more from Zolak & Bertrand on Tatum:
Tatum’s progress is undoubtedly encouraging. But even if he’s ready to play by late February or early March (about nine to 10 months after his surgery), it’s still possible the Celtics keep him out or slow-play his return to ensure he’s 100 percent healthy for the 2026-27 campaign, instead of rushing him back amid a season with lower expectations.
Either way, younger players like Walsh, second-year wing Baylor Scheierman and rookie Hugo Gonzalez will have opportunity for larger roles while Tatum is sidelined. And it sounds like there’s already a fierce competition playing out for those minutes on the Celtics’ practice courts.
“The energy is already different. You can feel it,” Walsh said. “It’s kind of like, everybody’s trying to find their footing. Everybody’s trying to make their way, because it’s a bunch of young guys who are not necessarily proven. It’s a lot of potential and unproven talent that’s on the team.
“You can feel it in every workout where everybody is going at each other’s necks. Everybody’s trying to earn that spot, earn that playing time, earn that position. So, it’s like a dog fight right now.”
Check out Walsh’s full interview with Forsberg on the latest Celtics Talk Podcast:
Sixers unveil 25th anniversary court for 2000-01 East champs
Sixers unveil 25th anniversary court for 2000-01 East champs originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers on Thursday unveiled the court they’ll play on 14 times this season in celebration of the 2000-01 Eastern Conference champion team.
While the Sixers have not yet formally announced the jerseys they’ll wear on those nights, the team has strongly hinted at bringing back the black uniforms Allen Iverson and company wore that season.
Here’s a look at the 25th anniversary celebration court:
The Sixers have said they plan to “honor the ’01 team’s legacy with alumni tributes, in-game and promotional throwbacks, custom merchandise, and much more.”
Their 25th anniversary nights are on the following dates:
- Nov. 8 vs. Raptors
- Nov. 9 vs. Pistons
- Nov. 23 vs. Heat
- Dec. 4 vs. Warriors
- Dec. 7 vs. Lakers
- Dec. 20 vs. Mavs
- Dec. 23 vs. Nets
- Jan. 24 vs. Knicks
- Jan. 31 vs. Pelicans
- Feb. 11 vs. Knicks
- March 3 vs. Spurs
- March 4 vs. Jazz
- March 23 vs. Thunder
- April 12 vs. Bucks
Ramp to Camp: What's one thing you want to see from Mazzulla this season?
Ramp to Camp: What's one thing you want to see from Mazzulla this season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Every season of Joe Mazzulla’s tenure as Boston Celtics head coach has featured a rather unique challenge.
From being thrust into the fire after the dismissal of coach Ime Udoka, to watching the core of the team get overhauled before the 2024 title run, to trying to defend that crown last season with a virtually identical roster, there have been obstacles different from what most young coaches encounter during their initial runs in the big chair.
Even entering Year 4, Mazzulla will be challenged in a new way again during the 2025-26 season.
Mazzulla is now tasked with shepherding the Celtics out of a summer of change. There is new ownership, a new-look roster thinned of talent by a prohibitive second apron, and a glaring void as superstar forward Jayson Tatum rehabs from an Achilles tear.
It’s also another opportunity for Mazzulla to show why the Celtics have put their faith in him. After rewarding him with a long-term contract extension this summer, Boston’s brass has been adamant that he remains the right person to lead this team forward. The goal hasn’t changed, but the pathway to Banner 19 is much murkier.
For Day 14 of our Ramp to Camp series — and continuing our weeklong examination of what comes next for key members of the 2025-26 Celtics — the spotlight falls on Mazzulla.
It’s wild that Mazzulla has already coached nearly 300 games in green (246 regular-season games; 50 postseason). The 37-year-old coach ranks eighth among the 19 coaches in Celtics history in regular-season wins and could slide into the top five before the end of his current contract.
Skeptics will suggest that while Mazzulla can thrive with talent-filled rosters — as evidenced by delivering Banner 18 in 2024 — he must still prove he can make the most out of more inexperienced groups.
And no one will be more excited for that challenge than Mazzulla.
Entering a season where we’ll find out a lot about the players on Boston’s roster, we’re equally intrigued to see how Mazzulla can put his imprint on this team. What’s next for Mazzulla is showing that he can make strategic decisions that help mask potential weaknesses exposed by the departure of veteran talent.
How can Mazzulla make life easy for Jaylen Brown as he elevates into the 1A role while Tatum rehabs? How can Mazzulla maintain the Celtics’ status as a top-10 defense after losing considerable size and experience in the frontcourt this offseason? How can Mazzulla deploy the talent on his new-look roster to maximize what remains? Can Mazzulla tweak the team’s play style — playing harder and faster — to mask some of the talent drain?
Can his so-called “Mazzulla Ball” thrive with the current mix of players? Can Mazzulla embrace playing younger talent in a way that wasn’t always desirable considering the veteran talent this team possessed?
There is little reason to think Mazzulla won’t be up to the task, that he can’t maximize this roster. Maybe his biggest challenge is that his current boss, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, was renowned for his ability to take lesser rosters and produce expectation-exceeding results. Fair or not, Mazzulla must show he can do the same.
We’re eager to see what changes he’ll embrace. The Celtics certainly seemed to signal a desire to play faster and harder with some of their offseason additions. The cupboards are far from bare with a team bringing back Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, but there are decisions to be made on the best way to deploy that talent while working in a newcomer like Anfernee Simons.
What’s next for Mazzulla might simply boil down to being more flexible. Maybe he has to lean harder into youth development. Maybe he has to tweak this group’s defensive tendencies or its offensive shot profile.
But as is the case for the players on his roster, it’s a chance for Mazzulla to show off a new side of his talents.
Here’s how our panel responded when asked what they want to see from Mazzulla:
Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor
Play the kids, Joe!
Mazzulla has been hesitant to give significant minutes to younger players, and that made sense when the Celtics were chasing championships. But it’s time for the head coach to think bigger-picture and focus on the development of recent draft picks like Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh — even if that means working through some growing pains.
Michael Hurley, Web Producer
I would say some creativity when the 3s aren’t falling.
I know that’s a critique that’s often most clear in retrospect, but when you’re missing 45 threes in a playoff game and losing by three points in overtime, there is plenty of room for a coach to adjust — even if temporarily — to take care of business on a given night. Thus far, Mazzulla’s “live or die by the 3” mantra has been taken to the extreme, regardless of in-game results.
Sean McGuire, Web Producer
I would like to see Mazzulla develop more of a versatile offense rather than living and dying by the 3.
It was more understandable when you had elite players and big men who could stretch the floor like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. However, it doesn’t feel like Boston would have the same success without Tatum, and with Neemias Queta (who has never shot a 3-pointer in an NBA game) and Luka Garza (31.4 percent 3-point shooter on 1.3 attempts per game).
Overall, it will be interesting to see how Mazzulla fares with a less-talented lineup than any he’s had before.
Josh Canu, Media Editor
Maximize impact from role players.
This is a new roster with a lot less high-end talent and depth, meaning the pressure will be on Mazzulla to pull the right strings with his rotations and minutes. The bench is almost all new faces, and some guys who had small roles last season will be elevated to bigger roles this season.
I am looking at Joe to help these players develop and find the right role for each one.
Max Lederman, Content Producer
I want to see Mazzulla lean into the defensive side of the court.
He’s known for his “Mazzulla Ball” offense, but if this team is going to overachieve, it needs to be great on defense.
Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy
Anything that allows the talking heads to stop complaining about how many 3s the team shoots.
NCAA investigates 13 former basketball players for sports betting violations
The six institutions involved are not at risk of being penalized, and none of the 13 players under investigation remain enrolled at their former schools.
Saint Joseph’s basketball promotes Steve Donahue to head coach
Donahue spent nine seasons as the head man at Penn and led the Quakers to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2018 before being hired as associate head coach at Saint Joe's under Billy Lange in May of 2025.
3 Knicks facing the most questions ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season
As time ticks away on the NBA offseason, the Knicks head into training camp with the most expectations the franchise has carried in decades.
But for the team to reach its goal of a championship or at least an NBA Finals appearance, players like Karl-Anthony Towns will have a lot to prove. Let’s look at the three Knicks facing the most questions heading into the new season...
Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns arguably had the best season of his career in 2024-25. He made the All-NBA third team after finishing second in rebounds (12.4) and 12th in points (24.4). And his individual play helped the Knicks succeed, as the team won 51 games during the regular season and advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Towns’ skill set is unique. It’s hard to find big men with the ability to shoot efficiently from nearly every spot on the court. But even after 10 seasons in the NBA, Towns’ fit on a championship-level roster is murky.
When he is the last line of defense, teams mercilessly attack him. In a microcosm of the season, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton incessantly put Towns in pick-and-rolls down the stretch of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and scored or created a good look for his teammates every time.
Can Towns consistently fit as a power forward in jumbo lineups with rim-protecting center Mitchell Robinson? The Knicks' offense held up with both big men on the floor last season, but it’s not the best way to optimize Towns individually, as he can be stuck on the perimeter to preserve spacing.
This season is pivotal for both the Knicks and Towns. The five-time All-Star will turn 30 in November. With a new head coach in Mike Brown, this season will give the Knicks a better understanding of how or if they can build around Towns.
Mikal Bridges
After signing a four-year, $150 million extension in August, Bridges has a chance to bounce back from an uneven first season in New York.
Brown established a pass-first identity with the Kings, and there’s hope he can add some pace and ball movement to New York’s offense.
The largest beneficiary of a more equally distributed offense would be Bridges.
A former leading scorer with the Nets, Bridges has a chance to be a more dynamic perimeter weapon. When Jalen Brunson was sidelined for 15 games late last season, Bridges was more active, averaging 20.5 points and 4.9 assists.
As the Knicks potentially try to have Brunson play without the ball more, it could provide an opportunity for Bridges to be more assertive in the offense and less of a bystander.
This offseason, the Knicks have added guards capable of making plays off the dribble like Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon. But New York's title hopes lie with Bridges. They need the wing to step up by being more aggressive.
Will Bridges be more efficient and willing to play through contact? That will define the season.
Mitchell Robinson
The X-factor of New York’s entire playoff run was Robinson. After missing all but 17 games during the regular season, the seven-footer was a nuisance for opponents in the postseason -- leading all players in the league in offensive rebound rate.
The Knicks gave up 109.0 points per 100 possessions in Robinson’s 370 playoff minutes, per NBA Stats. In the minutes Robinson sat, New York conceded 113.3 points per 100 possessions.
Robinson could begin this season as a part of New York’s starting lineup. Either way, his impact as a rim protector and offensive rebounder is paramount to New York’s success.
Though it’s clear how impactful Robinson is on both ends of the floor, having him available to play has been difficult. He has missed 139 games in the last three seasons, mainly due to a left ankle injury that required surgery in 2024.
Robinson is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million contract. The Knicks can sign him to an extension now, but given his injury history, it makes sense to see if Robinson is capable of staying healthy throughout the course of an entire season before digging deep into the second apron.
Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Beginner’s guide, draft tips and winning strategies
If you saw the title of this article and clicked, first and foremost, thanks for doing that. And in doing so, you're likely in a position where you're looking for tips on how to approach your first fantasy basketball experience. Whether you're playing amongst friends for bragging rights or competing for cash prizes, fantasy basketball can make the season more exciting and enjoyable if played properly.
The goal of this article and the fantasy basketball content we'll be releasing over the next month is to put you in a position to have a successful season, whether you're an expert juggling multiple teams or a novice looking to have a fun first experience.
The NBA regular season begins on October 22 with a fun doubleheader that can be seen on NBA and Peacock. Without further ado, here are some tips that could prove valuable as you jump into fantasy basketball.
Getting the top pick in your draft is a great advantage, but how should you build the rest of your team?
1. Read the rules before entering the league
Last year's intro article strongly suggested that the rules should be read before the draft. While that is true, the rules should be discussed by all involved parties when creating the league, with newcomers then deciding whether or not they want in. How many teams will be in the league? How many IL (or IL+, which is preferred for flexibility reasons) will you have to work with? While missing a rule in a casual league that doesn't have money on the line can be frustrating, the leagues in which you are playing for money are where feelings can get hurt because someone did not pay attention. Save yourself the headache and read the rules early. If anything needs to be addressed, that can be done before someone joins a league they ultimately decide they don't want to participate in.
2. Determine what kind of draft setup you prefer
We'll get into the specifics regarding league types a little later, but the first step is to decide how you prefer to go through the draft process. The simplest way to select your team would be through a snake draft. For example, in a 12-team league, the picks will be 1 through 12 in the odd-numbered rounds, and 12 through 1 in the even-numbered rounds. So, if you're on the front or back end of the draft order, your chances of landing the players you're targeting may be better than if you were stuck with a mid-round pick.
Also, it should be noted that some leagues include a reversal every two rounds. That would flip the draft order every two rounds; the manager with the 12th pick would move to the top of the order in the third round, and the order would return to its original setup in the fifth, and so on. For snake drafts, you can either knock it all out in one sitting or go with an online slow draft, which gives managers more time and can run over multiple days. In this case, set up your email alerts so the site hosting the draft will inform you when you're on the clock.
Try not to be the person who complains about the pace of a slow draft. You know what you signed up for.
Don't want to deal with a snake draft? Well, there's also the salary draft option. Managers are given a salary cap in this setup, with the default number being $200. An order to nominate players will be crafted, and each manager can nominate a player for bid. Two things about the salary draft option. First, they tend to go longer than snake drafts, so if you have patience issues, this may not be your best choice. Two, if you're doing an in-person draft, you must pay attention. And it may not be a bad idea to devise a penalty for those who commit the offense of nominating a player who is already off the board.
3. Determine what kind of league you prefer to play in
Beyond the draft process, do you want to compete in a category league (head-to-head or rotisserie) or a points league? For the latter, point values are assigned to each category. In Yahoo! points leagues, the default scoring is as follows:
Points: 1
Rebounds: 1.2
Assists: 1.5
Steals: 3
Blocks: 3
Turnovers: -1
For those with some experience in daily fantasy, you'll find that the scoring system is similar. While this note is third on the list, your answer to the question is just as important as the draft type, if not more. In category leagues, some may find it more challenging to bounce back from a slow start in rotisserie than in head-to-head.
4. Do your research before draft day
The type of league you're competing in will impact how you approach draft day. There's no shortage of preseason draft information on the internet, whether you're looking for the written word or an audio (or video) podcast. While there is the danger of loading up on too much information while preparing for a draft, the positives outweigh the negatives. And that surplus of available information is why the next point is vital to fantasy success.
5. Participate in some mock drafts, especially if competing in a salary league
Whether you're participating in mock drafts with people you're likely to compete with or strangers, this practice is invaluable, regardless of the league you'll be competing in. Not only is this a good way to see how other managers perceive players, but it's also helping in dealing with the variables of a draft. Someone used a first-round pick on oft-injured Joel Embiid or LaMelo Ball? That may force you to change your approach, and it's good to have prior experience to fall back upon, even if it's only a mock draft.
Mock drafts are highly valuable for those competing in salary leagues. How much are managers willing to spend on a Nikola Jokić or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? And how do you feel most comfortable spending your money? Do you go with a "stars and scrubs" roster build or spread your money out more evenly? While what we see in mock drafts doesn't always align with the "real thing," it's good to have some experience before the big day.
Rotoworld fantasy basketball writer Raphielle Johnson recently participated in a 16-team mock draft. What should you do after drafting Luka?
Raphielle Johnson6. Set aside time to set your lineups once the season begins
OK, you've picked your team for the upcoming season. Next, do your best to set aside time each day to craft your active rosters for that night's games if your league allows for daily adjustments. Not missing that deadline is critical for managers in leagues that lock lineups for the week before Monday's games. In this instance, you'll want to pay close attention to the number of games a player is scheduled to play that week. Unless they're a superstar, most players will be of limited value if their team only plays twice. A good approach to setting your lineups is to do it early in the morning, then reevaluate late afternoon to account for any potential absences due to injury or suspension.
7. Don’t hesitate to make a change in strategy in-season
Turning over your entire roster after a slow start will be difficult. However, one should not be afraid to shift if things aren't working. Maybe you need a major trade to shake things up. If so, assess the free agent market and players your opponents may have listed as available. When putting together a trade offer, aim to create a deal that benefits both sides. The last thing you want is to earn a reputation for attempting to fleece the other managers. And that late-round pick who may not be panning out? Don't hesitate to drop them for other options, as those players tend to be low-risk, high-reward.
8. Don’t try to sabotage the league, especially if there’s money involved
Remember, fantasy basketball is supposed to be fun. Don't be the person who violates league rules or gets mad and dumps their best players onto the waiver wire once their team is no longer in contention for a playoff spot, especially if money is involved. Relationships don't need to become strained or severed over fantasy sports. And if losing money is something you can't handle, either compete in a league with a lower entry fee or no fee at all. There's nothing wrong with taking that approach.
Kevin Durant says he'll play in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at age 39 'If I'm still me'
Kevin Durant is the greatest US Olympic men's basketball player ever, the Olympic GOAT. He has scored more points (518) than any American playing in the Olympics, and after Paris in 2024, he has four Olympic gold medals, the most of any men's hooper in our nation's history.
How about making it five gold medals?
Asked about playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Durant said he'd be up for it — but only if he's still the player he is now, who could make an impact. Via the must-follow Swish Cultures:
KD On playing in the 2028 Olympics “If I’m still me I’ll play I don’t want that veteran sit on the end of the bench and get your 5th”via @ashtenjewellpic.twitter.com/WjdgJFEHqy
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) September 17, 2025
The 2028 USA team will be a transition from the Durant, LeBron James, and in Paris Stephen Curry era to the next generation of American players. That likely includes Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Devin Booker (all of whom picked up a gold in Paris) as well as a younger crop of players such as Cooper Flagg and Paolo Banchero, among others.
Los Angeles is also shaping up to be the USA's toughest test to continue its Olympic dominance (five straight golds for the men). France won silver in Paris when Victor Wembanyama was too young to drink, the prime version of him in 2028 is likely the best player in the world, leading a deep team that could include Alex Sarr, Tidjane Salaun, and some of the country's young guards and wings coming up such as Bilal Coulibaly. Serbia and Nikola Jokic will still be in the mix, as will a German team that is the most recent EuroBasket and World Cup champion.
We'll see if Durant returns as the bridge to a younger generation to help them win gold.