NBC Sports is transforming the NBA's biggest stars into comic book heroes with a comic book campaign to celebrate American Express Tip-Off on Oct. 20.
The comic, narrated by Mike Tirico, opens with a review of the 2025-26 season before diving into the storylines for each of the tip-off tripleheader matchups.
Slam! Bam! Jam! NBC Sports unveils comic book campaign featuring all 30 @NBA teams in celebration of American Express NBA Tip-Off on Oct. 20
Blending basketball culture with bold illustrations paves another avenue for fans to enjoy their favorite players through the world of comics, from larger-than life personalities, episodic storytelling and rivalry arcs for all 30 NBA teams.
The comic thematic will be brought to several locations, beginning at ComplexCon in Los Angeles on Oct. 3-4, with an engaging custom NBA on NBC branded, life-size newsstand. Comics will be distributed to attending fans in tandem with several surprise guests, giveaways, and photo opportunities across the weekend.
Comics can also be found at New York City Comic Con beginning Oct. 8, featuring a larger-than-life, 10-foot-tall comic-book installation appearing throughout locations in Manhattan before culminating at Rockefeller Center on Oct. 19-20.
The 2026-27 season begins Tuesday, Oct. 20, on NBC and Peacock with the American Express NBA Tip-Off tripleheader, featuring Celtics-Pistons (3 p.m. ET), 76ers-Knicks (7 p.m. ET), and Thunder-Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET).
According to court filings from the City of Scottsdale, Brooks was charged Monday, Sept. 28 with driving under the influence, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor and carries a presumed fine of $1,623.11.
A court date has been set for the morning of Oct. 28 for his arraignment. The Suns have a break in their schedule at that time; they’ll play the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Oct. 26, and their next game is Oct. 30, against the Denver Nuggets, at home.
On March 6, officers conducted a traffic stop in Scottsdale at around 1 a.m. local time, hours after the Suns lost at home to the Chicago Bulls. After an investigation, Brooks, 30, was arrested. He was released around 3:30 a.m., following the booking process.
Brooks also has a pair of other traffic charges to address, from a separate incident. According to court records, Brooks has been charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor for exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour and a Class 2 misdemeanor reckless driving charge, which is when a driver surpasses the speed limit by 35 miles per hour. Those two charges carry a presumed fine of $600 combined.
A trial readiness conference has been set for the morning of Nov. 9 for those charges. The Suns host the San Antonio Spurs later that evening.
A separate alleged speeding incident on Feb. 11 was eventually dismissed by the court in July.
Brooks posted a career-high 20.2 points per game last season, though he played just 56 games as he dealt with a left hand fracture. He also shot a career-best 43.5% from the floor and added 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Kawhi Leonard got his contract extension. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley are locked up for at least the next three seasons, as is center Jakob Poeltl on a head-scratchingly large extension (which doesn't even kick in until next season).
What about RJ Barrett? The 26-year-old scoring wing and Toronto have yet to have any meaningful extension talks as he heads into the final season of his contract, reports Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.
According to league sources, the Raptors and Barrett's long-time agent Bill Duffy have yet to sit down and have substantive conversations about the possibility of a contract extension which — in theory — could be worth as much as $185 million over four seasons.
Barrett could be the latest in a growing list of players who want to stay with a team — and those teams would love to keep him — but the financial penalties of the luxury tax aprons make that very difficult (Jaylen Brown in Boston is the shining example).
Barrett is set to make $29.6 million this season, coming off a year where he averaged 19.3 points a game in the regular season, then, with Brandon Ingram out, took over in the playoffs and averaged 24.1 points per game through seven games against the Cavaliers. He's not looking to take much of a haircut, if any. However, the Raptors are $37.8 million below the projected first apron and $50.8 million below the second for next season with just nine players on the books. Paying Barrett market rate, rounding out the roster and staying out of the aprons becomes very difficult.
There is no animosity between Barrett, an Ontario native, and the Raptors. The sides would like to work something out. However, as a scoring wing on an expiring contract, you can bet his name is going to come up in a lot of trade rumors between now and the deadline. Unless an extension can be reached before then.
Toronto heads into a season where it really likes its roster and thinks it could make some noise in the East, but already keeping that roster together — and keeping a Canadian in the place he wants to be — becomes difficult. Welcome to the NBA Adam Silver wants.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As John Voita always puts it, it felt like the first day of school again at Suns Media Day. Mostly familiar faces, with some new ones sprinkled in, and the same objective for everyone: figuring out who this team is.
There’s only so much you can learn from a group with plenty of *checks notes* continuity (that was the buzzword today), but it’s always fun to get the state of the front office, coaching staff, and players.
From aligned to continuity, here’s what stood out.
1) Ishbia, Gregory, and Ott bring consistent messaging in different ways
I mean this in the best way possible. Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory, and Jordan Ott couldn’t be any more different from each other personality-wise. They each have their own communication style and approach to dealing with the media, but the important thing is that they’re aligned on their vision.
Ishbia brings a very direct, intense, and passionate approach that shines through in every word he says. He speaks with conviction and isn’t afraid to confront the tough questions head-on.
“Am I still going to pay the luxury tax? Yes,” said Ishbia, who stated that he has purchased an additional 14% of the team and now owns ~80% of the franchise.
“Are we still going to do crazy things for the fans? Yes, yes, yes. I always say this, I don’t own the team, it’s the city’s team.”
Brian Gregory is more analytical and calculated and provides answers with great detail.
One Gregory moment that stood out was him saying how Khaman Maluach’s body has changed in the past year. He said that he is stronger and runs/moves differently than he did as a rookie. Gregory credited Maluach for taking every step by putting in the work every day, sometimes even twice a day. And yes, he mentioned the word continuity as well.
Jordan Ott looked much more comfortable and personable with the media than he did last season, which is the usual development after knocking out your first year as a head coach and building relationships with the media.
He reiterated his love for Phoenix and said how lucky we are to live here.
When asked about the center battle, Ott said: “Camp is three weeks. We’re gonna mix around with some lineups.” As expected, they will keep things pretty close to the chest right now and not reveal too much about their scheme, overall plans or any lineup talk as they prepare for camp.
2) Khaman Maluach = Media Day Winner
There was no bigger “winner” than Khaman Maluach at media day. Members of the front office, coaching staff, and even veteran players brought him up, unprompted, several times.
"When we talk about the work ethic and putting in the time for that development, he's done every single day, a lot of times, twice a day. He understands where he's at in this spectrum of where he wants to get to. I think that's a great trait for him, because he's never gonna get…
Luke Kennard said he’s the “one of the hardest workers” he’s been around in his career. Coming from a 10-year vet, that means something. Pat Spencer praised his energy. Devin Booker said he’s been pleased with his development and willingness to work.
Khaman quotes and praise will be sprinkled throughout this article. It’s quite impossible to leave them out with how often we heard his name. He is clearly hungry to keep improving, and is doing all of the right things to get where he (and we) want him to be as a player. The next step is translating that to consistent production in games that count.
I asked Khaman Maluach how he doesn’t let the pressure of competing for the team’s starting center spot get to him.
“It’s not like, oh who's gonna start or who's gonna play this kind of minutes. It’s what the team needs. If that night Oso is a good matchup for whatever center… pic.twitter.com/rAKdcsIKEU
I typically don’t feed into the generic offseason buzzwords or “great shape” everyone seems to be in when entering camp. Have you ever heard someone come in and say, “Yeah, I’m in pretty bad shape right now.” Of course not. But Devin Booker isn’t the type to talk himself up like this, specifically about the shape and overall state of mind he’s in.
He also mentioned that he “loves the game more than he ever has” right now.
Devin Booker said this is the best his body has ever felt going into a training camp. Credited learning over the years the new ways to train and take care of his body.
(This is saying something because Booker always comes into the season in fantastic shape)
Another fun Booker quote: “Sometimes I fall into passing too much and this year, hopefully, I fall into shooting too much.” Yeah, inject that into my veins. If we get a more aggressive and assertive Booker, that will only make the Suns better. He’s always at his best in attack mode. That doesn’t mean to force up dumb shots, but to look for his more rather than being too unselfish at times when they need him to take over.
Building off that last point regarding Maluach, Devin Booker and Khaman got some work in together this summer.
Devin Booker said Khaman Maluach texted him about working out together and the two have followed up with workouts.
Said Maluach made the biggest jump from last year to this year thar he has seen. #Suns
“He’s asking a lot of questions, but you can tell he’s asking them when he already knows the answer and knows what to do. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow.”
"That guard and big relationship is super important."
Book on his summer workouts with Khaman and the growth he's seen from our young big man. pic.twitter.com/S5BkAZ9OXF
Kennard said on a call with Coach Ott that it was “great” that I led the NBA in 3PT%, but that may not be the case this year, because “we want to see you take tougher shots”.
He said he is excited for the opportunity in Phoenix and feels like there is a ton of confidence in him and his game, which makes his job easier.
Luke Kennard says the message for him has been to shoot as many 3's as possible this season 🎯
While that is music to many Suns fans’ ears, it may be wise to pump the brakes there. LeBron and JJ Redick were each in Kennard’s ear last season, constantly telling him to shoot more to no avail.
Maybe it will be different for us, and we can get him back in the 6+ attempt range that he hit a few times earlier in his career in Memphis, Los Angeles (Clippers), and Detroit. It’s time for Luke Kennard to let it fly!
5) Pat Spencer fits right in
As we all predicted, Pat Spencer is going to fit right in with this team from a culture and mindset perspective. He is a competitor through and through and will bring a feisty style of play every time he steps on the court.
I wrote about his seamless fit, linked below.
This quote was one of my absolute favorites from the entire day. He and Dillon Brooks are going to absolutely agitate opponents, and I’m here for it.
I asked Pat Spencer about his brother Cam having a dustup with Kevin Durant and if it surprised him.
Pat said he wasn't surprised at all and that with all due respect to everyone and players of that pedigree, once they are between the lines "we don't give a shit who you are."
Spencer also joined in on the Maluach praise, saying he has the “best energy” he’s ever seen in the NBA. For Maluach to get kudos from a couple of new guys, plus returners, speaks to the impact and impression he’s made in a short period of time leading into the new season.
El Segundo, CA, - September 28, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams speaks at a press conference during the team's media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 in El Segundo, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Among the many free agent signings the Los Angeles Lakers made this summer was Ziaire Williams, a Lancaster, California native who attended Sierra Canyon High School, where he played alongside Bronny James. After being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies and heading to the Brooklyn Nets via trade, Williams is back in southern California with a chance to contribute for his hometown team.
“It’s a blessing, man, to come back first circle. I remember being six years old in a YMCA Jr. Lakers jersey in Lancaster, California,” Williams told reporters at Monday’s media day. “Just growing up and seeing the LA culture, watching the championship parades on the street. It’s purple and gold everywhere. My family bleeds purple and gold so just to be able to throw the jersey and be able to play on the biggest stage of the world, it’s a blessing for sure.”
While the Lakers are stocked with wings, most are unproven and yet to earn a rotation spot. Williams is part of that group and could certainly step into a consistent role with his cutting, off-ball movement and point-of-attack defense, all of which complement Los Angeles’ franchise centerpieces, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Williams has previously spoken with head coach JJ Redick about his role this season, one rooted in being a defensive stopper. Carving out a sizable workload would be made easier if Williams can be a consistent 3-point shooter. He’s only knocked down 32.2 percent of his career long balls, including a career-high 34.3 percent last year. But if he remedies that shortcoming to amplify his defensive prowess, it would undoubtedly inject some life into Los Angeles’ perimeter defense and make his SoCal reunion that much sweeter.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns’ wife Jordyn Woods took a break from attending his games after witnessing the New York fan base heckle him in front of her.
In a joint interview with The Athletic, the pair — who were married this offseason after the Knicks secured their first NBA title in 53 years — explained that things got ugly before the team’s playoff run.
“I honestly stopped going to the games for a little while. It was turning dark,” Woods said as they looked back on the Knicks’ 2-9 stretch in January that drew insults and boos at Towns from fans.
At the time, Towns’ name and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (now with the Heat) were mentioned in trade rumors. They were were previously linked in trade rumors during the summer of 2025.
Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns pose with the trophy after the Knicks won the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2026. Jordyn Woods/ Instagram
“We were on Zillow looking at Milwaukee,” Towns said, smiling and mimicking his conversations with Woods about using the real estate marketplace. “Like, ‘Hey, babe, I went around town, and it’s not that bad. This could be a good spot right here.’”
Towns played a pivotal role defensively in helping New York turn their season around, en route to a 16-3 playoff run — and winning four of five against the Spurs to win the 2026 NBA title.
His plus-minus in the playoffs was the best since the league officially started tracking the stat 20 years ago, according to The Athletic.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) guards Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It just proves that you’re in the right place and doing the right thing,” Woods said. “It silences a lot of those haters that we were talking about.
“A lot of these people who didn’t believe now can’t say anything.”
Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns attend the 13th Annual The Daily Front Row Fashion Media Awards in New York on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Nancy Rivera / SplashNews.com
“We talk about (playing in a) small market as a bad thing,” Towns said. “It was a great thing for me because it protected me from having to be a perfect form of myself for the big media markets and stuff.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I was able to really grow and hone myself as a person and fine-tune the things that I needed to so when I got (to New York), which wasn’t part of my plan, I was truly the best version of myself.”
The Knicks open the regular season against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20, and will host their championship banner ceremony that night at Madison Square Garden.
The father of NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns is keeping receipts.
Karl Towns Sr, known as “Big Karl,” opened up recently about his son’s ups and downs in the NBA, especially his clashes with Jimmy Butler during the pair’s time in Minnesota.
“But in the end, it all paid up. Jimmy ain’t got no championship. Karl bypassed him.”
Karl Anthony Towns Sr. and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks celebrate after winning the NBA Finals against the Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Towns and Butler didn’t jell on the Timberwolves for several reasons.
Butler didn’t like Towns’ goofiness in postgame comments, and when Towns was extended before Butler, he requested a trade and went scorched earth, berating team executives and coaches and criticizing younger players on team flights.
Timberwolves forward Jimmy Butler watches during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Minneapolis, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. AP
Towns refused to get involved in Butler’s tirades, even though some around the team were quietly hoping he would do so.
“I just was never going to change who I was, even when the world was asking me to change who I am, so I could be the character in their story. I just was going to continue to be me,” Towns said.
Towns braved the storm in Minnesota and was there after Butler and Tom Thibodeau departed.
Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves hug after beating the Denver Nuggets to clinch their spot in the playoffs at Target Center in Minneapolis, April 11, 2018. NBAE via Getty Images
He helped the Timberwolves reach the 2024 Western Conference finals, which marked just the second time they ever moved past the first round of the playoffs.
Since his chaotic tenure in Minnesota concluded with his November 2018 trade to Miami, Butler made two NBA Finals appearances with the Heat before another uncomfortable exit led him to his current stop with the Warriors.
Meanwhile, as the 2026-27 season approaches, KAT and his Knicks look to defend their championship.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 28: (L-R) Evan Mobley #4, Donovan Mitchell #45, James Harden #1 and Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers laugh during Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day at Rocket Arena on September 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — Media day is chaotic. Players are asked very random questions about their summers. Some of it is interesting. Some of it isn’t.
There often isn’t a throughline to what is said, and it’s impossible to synthesize everything into one cohesive story. So instead of trying to do so, I’m going to just give you one interesting thing each player said that wasn’t covered in any of our other articles.
“I saw Peyton Watson at the World Cup, and I told Koby [Altman] — we were just talking briefly, I had nothing to do with him coming here — I was like, man, he’s tall as shit. Like, I didn’t know he was that tall.”
Small forward has long been a problem area for the Cavs. They’ve struggled to find a player who connects their dynamic backcourt with the imposing frontcourt.
Part of the reason for that is the unique skill set needed to bridge that divide. The ideal fit needs to be comfortable operating off-ball offensively as a shooter and tertiary playmaker. Defensively, they need to cover multiple positions, which includes defending the opponent’s best perimeter player and shifting up to the four if needed.
The Cavs have had players who could do one of those things. De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus delivered the offensive component, but weren’t perfectly suited defensively for that role. Dean Wade was the opposite.
We’ll see if Watson can be the missing piece at the three. What I can confidently say now is that Mitchell is right. Watson is indeed tall.
Thomas Bryant
“We have to be a collective unit out there on the basketball court.”
Some years at media day, you get a lot of talk about how the team will play differently. Pushing the pace, shooting more threes, and moving more off-ball are all things we’ve heard in the past.
The Cavs didn’t focus on that this time. There wasn’t much talk about X’s and O’s. Instead, they talked about being more connected on and off the court.
That makes sense, given how hastily assembled the Cavs were last season. They found instant success due to their incredible skill and how well their talents matched up. Yet, it never felt like they reached their ceiling despite advancing to the conference finals.
If I were to read between the lines here, the Cavs reasoning for that was a lack of cohesion. They’ve spent this summer trying to correct that.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Believeland shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin
“I’m definitely the best dancer. Don can’t dance. Don can’t dance. He got no rhythm for real, and then a lot of people don’t really dance.”
As someone who can’t dance and certainly doesn’t do so in public, I give Mitchell credit for trying.
Ernest Udeh Jr.
Reffering to what he wants to improve: “Decision-making. First and foremost, I understand my role and what I bring to any given team that I’m on. Within those details and little facets is decision-making. What to do with the ball when it comes to me in a specific spot.”
Decision-making and being able to process the game are some of the most important skills. It’s also the area rookies struggle with most coming into the league. It’s good that Udeh recognizes this and wants to improve there.
James Harden
“It’s my left hand. It was swollen at the time (last postseason), so it was kind of difficult to dribble or shoot, or be effective. But I mean, there’s no excuses. You just figure it out. Do whatever it takes.”
Harden admitted that the left thumb that he broke in February was still bothering him in the playoffs. That isn’t surprising since he was often seen icing his hand after playoff games. However, it’s somewhat noteworthy for him to admit that.
Referring to his poor off-ball defense last season: “It’s just laziness. … It was a lot of mental lapses, and I think that’s something that we went into with conditioning and being in even more of an elite condition.”
Tyson isn’t afraid to publicly point out his flaws. That also comes with an intense desire to fix those flaws. Last season, we saw him go from being a hesitant three-point shooter to being one of the most efficient in the league. This year, he’s targeting the defensive side of the floor.
Tyrese Proctor
“[Patty Mills] taught me a lot. Obviously, all the stuff on the court, footwork, technical stuff, balance, base, but a lot off the court. Just with the NBA and the environments that you play in and stuff like that.”
The second-year guard revealed that he spent three weeks in Hawaii with Mills training over the summer. You can’t find too many better guards to pattern your game after. This was in addition to representing Australia in FIBA qualifiers.
Safe to say, it was a busy summer for Proctor.
Tristan Enaruna
“I think I kind of found a spot here. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling confident. That definitely helps knowing what you’re getting into.”
Enaruna has the size and skills you want in a wing. Whether or not he can put it all together for the Cavs remains to be seen.
Mario Hezonja
“I don’t need to prove anything. I just need to give. That is my mentality. I think everyone knows what it is. I am not even coming here with my mentality of who I am back in Europe. … The mentality is giving. Giving to this team, giving to this coaching [staff], my teammates. Just giving back.”
A lack of skill wasn’t the reason Hezonja’s first stint in the NBA wasn’t successful, and isn’t a concern six years later. The question is whether Hezonja can buy into his place on the team, fit into what they need, and excel in that narrower role.
Based on Hezonja’s comments, he knows what he needs to do with this team and is willing to do so. We’ll see if he can back that up.
Craig Porter Jr.
“I feel like scoring. Just being able to open things up for other guys because everyone knows Donovan and James and those guys are going to do what they do on a nightly basis. It’s up to the rest of us to take some of that pressure off their shoulders.”
Porter has the potential to be a much more efficient scorer. The three-point shot has come a long way, and he’s a good finisher at the rim. The next step in his development is figuring out what to do when he’s cut off from the basket.
It’s much easier to envision Porter as the backup point guard if he’s a more multi-faceted scorer.
Meleek Thomas
“But specifically defense because I got to be trusted out there on defense before I could do anything offensively.”
Rookie second-round picks typically don’t make meaningful impacts on teams with championship aspirations. Thomas could be the exception if the scoring he showed in Summer League carries over to games that count. However, if he isn’t at least passable defensively, then it’s difficult to justify giving him minutes given the point-of-attack deficiencies already on this roster.
I’m skeptical of how impactful Thomas will be in his rookie season. It is, however, encouraging that he seems to know what he needs to do to get onto the court.
Riley Minix
“Guys are inviting each other to go to New York, to Phoenix, like to all these mini-camp places. We went to the U.S. Open together, which is pretty crazy. Guys are showing up, and you can tell on this team and in this organization, that’s part of the culture.”
As mentioned with Bryant’s quote, one of the main throughlines of media day was how this team is trying to establish a closer connection on and off the court. It’s difficult to communicate with players you don’t have a relationship with. That was perhaps an issue at times in the playoffs given how little experience the rotation had together.
Cleveland’s star players went out of their way to change that this offseason. Those plans included inviting even two-way players like Minix to events and making sure he felt like a valuable part of the team. That’s meaningful.
Evan Mobley
Reffering to what he worked on most in the off-season: “Getting go-to moves so when I get the ball in certain spots, knowing what I’m probably going to get to. That was a big focus for me this summer.”
Mobley wouldn’t divulge what those moves could be. “You’re gonna have to find out and see.”
Mobley has always been a good finisher around the rim, but the in-between game has been less than ideal for someone who has displayed good touch. Last season, he shot 46% on attempts between the restricted area and free-throw line (52nd percentile) and 31% on long mid-range shots (48th percentile). Both are passable but far from elite. Having something that he could go to in the second level would be a great way for him to supplement his offense.
Sam Merrill
“Experience is so important. You can’t replicate playoff experience. The every second pressure that’s out there, and how important every single possession is.
“I had some ups and some downs in the playoffs, like everybody did. I overall felt good about the way that I grew and felt like I got better and better, but again, how can I continue to get better at all facets of the game? Try and make life easier for Donovan and James, and for Evan and Jarrett [Allen]. The easier we can make life for them, the easier they’ll make it for us and the better we’ll be.”
A single elite skill like shooting can get you onto the floor in a playoff game. Being able to contribute in multiple ways will keep you there.
Merrill’s shooting was helpful at many points in the postseason. But becoming more comfortable doing other things like handling the ball, picking up a wider variety of defensive assignments, and finding ways to score inside the arc will allow him to showcase his shooting more often in the postseason.
Jarrett Allen
“More time together means more success.”
Merrill talked about the importance of playoff reps, but there’s something to be said about regular season ones as well. This group with Harden simply needs time to figure out how they want to play, how to perfect what they did well last year, and counters for when teams take away the high pick-and-roll like the New York Knicks did last postseason.
Regular season results don’t matter much in the playoffs. Regular season habits do. That is what the Cavs need to get right this year.
“We have the ability to do great things, but we have to do the work earlier so that we can be able to play at our best longer.”
Note: Peyton Watson and Khalifa Diop did not participate in media availability.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Head Coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves talks to the media after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Editor’s Note: We are extremely excited to announce another new addition to the Canis family, Troy Asseln! You may recognize his name with his work in other Wolves spheres, but we are blessed to have him here as well. Give him a follow on BlueSky as well @bigmeatyclaws!
“There are certainly things that we can lean into, that we haven’t done, that haven’t necessarily fit our previous rosters.”
These are the opening remarks of Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch while speaking at the team’s media day press conference on Monday, September 28th. Responding to a question from The Athletic’s own Jon Krawczynski regarding expectations and outlook for the reconstructed team, Finch was excited to immediately dig into the X’s and O’s of how different the Timberwolves are going to look this year.
Faster. Small ball. Pick and roll actions. More defensive aggression.
“There’s nothing taken for granted with this team.” These are glowing endorsements for the talent, mentality, and expected level of play that Finch will aim to extract from the Timberwolves.
Chris Finch on potential changes offensively
"There's certainly things that we can lean into that we haven't necessarily done, haven't fit our previous rosters. I can see a lot more 4 around 1, even small ball — guard, guard, small actions, pick and roll." pic.twitter.com/mat6c5BRO5
As we have seen, the offseason content surrounding the new-look Wolves has been nonstop. Media coverage analyzing the prospective on and off-court fit between incumbent superstar Anthony Edwards and newcomer LaMelo Ball has been a peak discussion point for all fans, from the most casual Wolves supporters to those of us that are watching and analyzing every game.
Credit president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, for keeping these offseasons engaging. His work ensures that any time I am out in public wearing my Timberwolves cap, there is a non-zero chance that a stranger will approach me and ask how I’m feeling about our team’s chances this upcoming season. A recent unsolicited conversation with a Costco employee tells me that much, at least.
Perhaps lost in the discourse about the upcoming season is what this complete roster overhaul means for Finch.
Despite being the winningest coach in Wolves history, he has often come under fire from fans for his apparent “lack of willingness to adjust” and “inability to develop the young guys.” The stellar careers and development of Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (including, to a lesser extent, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark) apparently not being enough to quiet the doubters, there is a real case to be made that this season will be the one that entrenches Finch among the league’s elite (we’ll get to the in-game adjustments later, I promise).
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 07: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves meets with Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9 in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 07, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Connelly has had a tendency to zig when the league is zagging in terms of his roster building, this most recent iteration of the Wolves gives Finch the vision and flexibility needed to properly lean into his strengths as a coach.
This is not to say that the previous Timberwolves teams under Connelly have been “bad” by any stretch of the imagination or mathematical aggregate of talent, though it would be disingenuous to say there were no constructional and fit issues and that the team did not have to work meticulously to overcome them.
Regular season and playoff success for Finch’s Timberwolves, in spite of these disjointed rosters, has been overshadowed by the insidious “championship or bust” culture that permeates social media rhetoric and discourse. We as fans have certainly had our share of highlight moments (more Patrick Beverley tears and Rudy Gobert turnaround fadeaways, please), though this has seldom transferred into public-relations success for the franchise and the players/coaches who comprise the soul of the team.
To begin this digression, we must first conceptualize who Finch is, has been, and is supposed to be as a leader. Minnesota fans are well aware of Finch’s reputation as a players’ coach that prioritizes the “free-flowing offense” and sticking with the hot hand.
The premise is simple: provide abbreviated scaffolding and structure based upon the scouting report and preferred matchups, and from there he allows his players to make their own (informed) decisions and play themselves into the flow of the game. Yet, he is known as a firm presence who is not afraid to hold his players accountable. These are the marquee characteristics that prompted former Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas to hire him outright as a full-time replacement for the mid-year head coach departee Ryan Saunders in 2021.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 14: LaMelo Ball #1 and Head Coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for a photo during a press conference on July 14, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Prior to his arrival to the Timberwolves, Finch’s most recent experience was – in order – as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets. Throughout this time Finch has had no shortage of superstar talent surrounding him. From the acquisition and subsequent ascent of James Harden, the rapid arrival of Nikola Jokić, and the orchestration of the briefly dynamic duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, he’s spent his fair share of time with stars.
These experiences encapsulate a wide array of roster constructions that each utilized different approaches to team success. Finch has coached a guard-heavy heliocentric offense with Harden, which explains the rapid development and ascent of Edwards. Finch also made the double-bigs approach work with Davis and Cousins, which invariably paved the way for the Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert pairing to work.
The post-pandemic results in Minnesota speak for themselves, Finch can make it work with just about anybody.
This sentiment of “making it work” has been a prescient theme throughout much of Finch’s tenure in Minnesota. He somehow took the 2021-2022 Timberwolves, a team featuring key rotational minutes from players like Beverley, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt (who are all now either out of the league or on their way) to the playoffs.
That’s no small feat.
What that team lacked in on-court identity they made up for in aggression and intensity, and much of that mentality can be attributed to the ways in which Finch empowered his players. That attitude was not enough to overcome the initial acquisition struggles that accompanied Gobert’s arrival to Minnesota the next season, but the result of the fit next to Towns and Edwards eventually and obviously bore fruit in the form of two straight conference finals appearances.
However, making the Gobert experiment work did not come naturally. The ideas of Finch’s idealized “free flowing offense” and Gobert do not fundamentally mix, at least on the offensive end of the floor. Gobert, for all of his accolades, cannot create for himself without teammates and a game plan that are on the same page. Finch accomplished this, and the hard work put in during Gobert’s first couple seasons will allow this new-look roster with Ball next to Finch in the driver’s seat to further unlock whatever latent offensive potential is left in the Frenchman’s tank.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 3: Chris Finch head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with Rudy Gobert #27 before the game against the Toronto Raptors at Target Center on April 3, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A similar idea can be applied to the recent tenure of Julius Randle, a former all-star caliber player that was used to being a #1 option on an otherwise beleaguered New York Knicks team that was forced to take a backseat when he came to Minnesota.
It’s been well-documented that Finch had to “manage egos” over the last few seasons, and Randle is one of the premier names that fit that description. Even beyond the personality clash, there were obvious on-court differences between the way Randle’s “bully ball” mentality showed up versus the superior floor spacing and ball movement that Towns had previously offered the squad.
It is a testament to Finch’s acumen, intuition, and ability that he was able to lead the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals in consecutive years with two teams that had dramatically different approaches to the game.
Of course, the upcoming season brings another challenge with the new personnel, though there is little evidence to suggest that Finch will not find a way to make this roster shine.
Going back to Finch’s desired “free-flowing offense,” there are few players better suited to maximize that vision than Ball. Few of the rotating cast of point guards over the years have been as complete of a player. The on/off statistics from Ball’s season with the Hornets last year were no fluke – he will raise the floor for every player regardless of lineup. Finch will be in a bit of uncharted territory in regards to the Timberwolves never having a floor general as talented and gifted as Ball, though if Finch’s desired offensive philosophies are to ever be fully actualized, these next few seasons with Ball should give credence to Finch’s directions and intent.
The Western Conference is once again brutal, though if last season’s playoff performance had any silver lining, it is that Finch can make a competitive team out of any assortment of players. If Finch can bring the Hospital Wolves to the Western Conference Semifinals and take Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs to six games, who knows what he’ll be able to do with a fully stacked and complementary roster.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 15: Head coaches Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs (L) and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves meet after Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even last year’s experiment with Edwards playing at the point should prove to be fruitful as it has provided him with additional experience seeing the floor in a different way as he reverts back to his natural position at the two. With looming injury concerns centered around the prospective health of Ball, Wolves fans should take solace in the fact that Finch has a proven track record of maximizing the talent on the roster no matter the circumstances. If (and when) the wins start rolling in, expect to see Finch’s name firmly entrenched in the Coach of the Year conversations.
I get it – Minnesota fans are used to malaise. Criticism flows from the tongues of the North as easily as a ball rolls down a hill. During the adverse stretches, coaches are often the first target of said criticism. Their contributions are rarely as eminently viewable as a made three or a loud block.
I myself will never claim to have not criticized some of his moves and lineup combinations, though at the end of the day there is a reason he’s a franchise-leading head coach of a professional basketball team and I am sitting at my computer desk. While concerns about this iteration of the Timberwolves have validity in regards to durability and the timeline of prospective chemistry development, all the tells are there to suggest that we may see some of the best of Finch moving forward. During his media day press conference, Tim Connelly said it best, and outlined appropriate expectations for Finch this season:
“He’s way smarter than I am…he’s the best coach in the league.”
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Tony Bradley #13 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks are not quite done sorting out their training camp roster.
On Wednesday morning, as we creep ever closer to next Monday’s preseason opener, the Knicks made a series of roster moves at the back of their training camp roster:
There’s a few layers to unpack here, so let’s start with the two new Knicks.
You may remember Bradley from his reserve-center minutes for the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks in the last two postseasons. Picked No. 28 overall by the Lakers in the 2017 draft out of UNC, Bradley will look to make the roster of his seventh team. He started his career as a seldom-used backup big for the Jazz, playing just 12 games total in his first two seasons. He upgraded to being a solid bench player in 2019-20, but then became a complete journeyman.
He was traded twice in one week before the 2020-21 season, from Utah to Detroit to Philadelphia, before being shipped out again in March 2021 to the Thunder in a three-team deal that involved the Knicks (the Austin Rivers trade, if you recall). He balled out in 20 games down the stretch, averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, the best stretch of his career. After playing 55 games for the Bulls in 2021-22, he hasn’t played more than 41 in a season since.
He joined the Pacers in 2024 and was their third center on their run to the NBA Finals, playing 38 minutes total in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, being a plus-15 in fairly minor action.
Bradley found his way to Atlanta midway through the 2025-26 season and played four games in that first-round series too, most notably being minus-17 in the Game 5 blowout.
He has a few interesting links to the Knicks aside from the playoffs. He was traded by the Lakers on draft night to Utah for… Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant. When he was sent to Philly in November 2020, it was in a 1-for-1 deal with lottery bust Zhaire Smith, whom the Sixers infamously chose over Mikal Bridges. In that three-team swap in 2021, he was traded with the second-round pick that became Tyler Nickel… to OKC.
As for Akins, he’s getting his first NBA opportunity. The former All-Big Ten guard went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2025 and spent the 2025-26 season with the Motor City Cruise, the G League affiliate of the Pistons, where he averaged 14.7 points and 4.4 assists on 41.2% from the field and 35.8% from three.
The 23-year-old was with the Knicks in Summer League this year, averaging 11.3 points a night. He was already ticketed for Westchester after signing an Exhibit 10 earlier this month before being subsequently waived, but the Knicks elected to fill their final two-way spot with a guy who’s already in-house.
"There's a lot of skill in that possession we just saw"
–– Jeremy Lin on Jaden Akins
Akins 11.3 points per game was 3rd highest on the summer Knicks
The other two moves could turn out to be just procedural, or could be the sign of the organization going in a different direction.
Konchar, the former Grizzlies wing, did not report to training camp with the rest of the roster due to personal reasons. Ian Begley said the motivation for waiving him was to give him more time to deal with his situation, leaving the door open for a potential return down the road. The fact that he said that makes me believe the org thinks highly of him and had him towards the top for consideration for a roster spot.
Dante, the former Oregon Duck and brief Hawk and Rocket, was also waived. He is recovering from a torn ACL, and it isn’t surprising if the team deems him more G League fodder, but I found it interesting that he was posted as part of Media Day coverage on Monday. Not sure they’d do that with a guy they had no plans for, so maybe they’ll stash him in Westchester and consider him for a two-way when he’s healthy.
Here’s the updated training camp roster:
Standard contracts (13):
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Deuce McBride, Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Andre Drummond, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, Mo Diawara
Exhibit 9/10 deals (5):
Drew Eubanks, Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji, James Wiseman, Tony Bradley
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Years ago, when Quentin Grimes was a member of the New York Knicks, he broke into their rotation — and subsequently, their starting lineup — by being a physical on-ball defender who glued himself to offensive stars and effectively fought over screens. He could knock down catch-and-shoot 3s and became a much better finisher but getting his foot in the door was built on defensive acumen.
The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping he’ll rediscover that defensive mojo this year. As Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves lead the way offensively, the Lakers likely won’t need Grimes to often tap into the ball-handling and shot creation growth he displayed during his 1.5 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. They’ll want him to keep converting efficiently around the basket and shoot much closer to his career 36.6 percent clip from deep than he did last year (33.4 percent) but they need more juice at the point of attack, particularly with Marcus Smart leaving in free agency.
“We’ve already had conversations with JJ and [assistant coach] Greg [St. Jean] trying to get me back to my first couple years in New York when Thibs kind of gave me a lot of responsibility being a point of attack defender,” Grimes told reporters at Monday’s media day. “Bringing that intensity, bringing that nastiness. Like you said, OKC and San Antonio, they play really hard defensively. You can get away with a lot more. So, we’re really trying to set that tone – me, Collin, Matisse, Ziaire just to try to set that tone of being one of the toughest and hardest playing teams on that end as well.”
Compared to his time as a Knick, Grimes didn’t operate with the same level of defensive intensity in Philadelphia. He was overextended a bit offensively (less so in 2025-26), so the goal will be for Dončić and Reaves’ presence to simplify his responsibilities on that end and unlock him defensively. If Grimes does defend like he did in New York and continues being a reliable play-finisher, he’ll be a perfect complement to Los Angeles’ backcourt stars.
NBA star Dillon Brooks has been charged with DUI stemming from the run-in he had with cops in Arizona in March.
Scottsdale prosecutors formally hit the Phoenix Suns forward with one count of DUI liquor/drugs/vapors/combo, a Class 1 misdemeanor, on Monday, according to court records.
He’s now due for arraignment in the case on Oct. 28, just one week after the Suns officially open their 2026-27 regular season, the records show.
Dillon Brooks (3) of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Four at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Monday, April 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesDillon Brooks’ mugshot.
“Dillon Brooks acknowledges that he has been charged in connection with this matter,” Brooks’ attorney, Larry Kazan, said in a statement to the California Post on Wednesday. “He respects the legal process and intends to allow the matter to proceed through the courts.
“Because the case is pending, neither Mr. Brooks nor his legal counsel Larry Kazan will have any further comment at this time.”
Messages seeking comment from the Scottsdale City Attorney’s Office on Wednesday were not immediately returned.
Scottsdale police said they pulled over Brooks for a traffic violation at around 1:33 a.m., and claimed he exhibited signs of impairment during the stop.
Bodycam footage from the scene showed Brooks appeared to blow a 0.0 on a breathalyzer test, though an officer could be heard in the video accusing him of having a vehicle that smelled “like a dispensary.”
BREAKING: Here is the body cam footage of Dillon Brooks' arrest early this morning.
There are 4 clips. 1. officer says "it smells like a dispensary in your car" 2. officer says "What is wrong with your hand" 3. Brooks blows a 0 4. Brooks comments on the officer's driving pic.twitter.com/pEX0BpK3K0
— Griffin S. DeMarrais (@GDeMarraisTV) March 7, 2026
Brooks, who was nursing a broken hand at the time, told the cop, “I haven’t smoked in, like, six months.”
For the first time since Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" was still in theaters, the New York Knicks enter the NBA season as the defending champions — and the favorites to come out of the East and defend their crown.
As Adam Silver is all too happy to tell you, the NBA has had eight different champions in the past eight years. If Silver's quest for parity persists, which teams are poised to take the crown? Here are the five teams with the best chances to dethrone the Knicks.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio made it to the NBA Finals ahead of schedule last season, and it showed in the Finals — blowing a 20-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 4 is the prime example.
"I couldn't imagine a better motivation," Victor Wembanyama said this week of losing in the Finals.
This is still a young team: Wembanyama (22), Stephon Castle (21), and Dylan Harper (20) are still early in their careers and on a steep learning curve, they should improve this season. The "old guys" are not that old, for example Keldon Johnson is 26, and De'Anthony Fox is 28. As a team, this group is still growing together.
The addition of Tobias Harris is underrated. He's got an oversized group of online critics, largely because he was forced into situations in the past where he was asked to take on more responsibility — particularly in the postseason — than fits his skill set. However, with the Spurs he becomes a great third or fourth option, another guy who defenses have to respect and who can knock down 3s and create his own shot if the offense is stuck late in the clock.
If we get a rematch of the Knicks and Spurs in the Finals, New York is going to learn quickly this is a very different San Antonio team than the young pups they dispatched last June.
Oklahoma City Thunder
If Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell had been healthy last May for Oklahoma City's seven-game series against San Antonio — or even if one of them had been — we likely would have had a very different Finals matchup last June. Heading into this season, both are back and healthy.
On paper, Oklahoma City is still the best team in the NBA — they won 64 games and made the Western Conference Finals last year without J-Dub, who was coming off an All-NBA season. They are led by two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the peak of his powers, they have the second-best defensive center in the game protecting the rim in Chet Holmgren — who averaged 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds a game as well — and now they get back Williams after a hamstring sidelined him for much of last season.
"I know what I am," Williams said at media day. "So, I'm not too concerned about trying to prove to somebody — we've all seen it. I'm just excited to prove that I can play healthy and do that whole thing and move on. I'm just excited to get going, bro."
OKC lost some veteran depth for financial reasons (Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins) but this is still a deep roster with Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and other guys who will get their chance to step up. If the Thunder are back in the Finals and poised to knock the Knicks off the top of the mountain, it will not be a surprise.
Philadelphia 76ers
Mike Gansey had a better offseason than any executive in the league: He added Jaylen Brown — coming off an All-NBA season and at the peak of his game — and LeBron James to a lineup with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, forming arguably the best starting five in the NBA. They have some solid depth behind them led by Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons…
If it all comes together. And everyone can stay healthy.
"In order for us to be great, we have to do things that are just not comfortable. We have to be comfortable being uncomfortable," four-time NBA champion LeBron said, laying out the path forward for this team. "That is the best way to expedite being great. You have to fall in love with doing things that's uncomfortable, and if we can do that, then we can be a great team. If we don't do that, then we be like, oh man, it was a great team on paper, and we had a lot of great talent, and we lost in the second round. Like, I don't want to do that.
"I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure. So, work needs to be done, and I'm ready to put the work in."
There are legitimate questions about how good Philadelphia's defense will be and whether they have enough shooting, but on paper, this team has a chance to dethrone New York. What the Knicks did to win a title was become a whole greater than the sum of their parts — can the 76ers do that?
Cleveland Cavaliers
I understand the eye rolls this selection elicits: Picking a team that will need more from the historically up-and-down playoff performances of James Harden — with some major, painful downs — to knock off the Knicks and make the NBA Finals is a risk. And it's why I named Harden one of the players under the most pressure this season.
However, Cleveland is stacked. Donovan Mitchell is in his prime, coming off a season in which he was seventh in MVP voting, averaging 27.9 points and 5.7 assists a game. They have a dominant front line with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. This summer, the Cavaliers' front office plugged the team's biggest hole, poaching two-way wing Peyton Watson from Denver to play the three. While there are questions about depth and level of defense, this is a 52-win, top-four seed that reached the Eastern Conference Finals and then got better this summer.
But can they win it all with James Harden?
Houston Rockets
Out of a group of four teams in the West that maybe could rise up to threaten the Thunder and Spurs — including the Lakers, Timberwolves and Nuggets — I think the Rockets will be the breakthrough team. If anyone has a chance to knock off the Oklahoma City or San Antonio, it's Houston.
"We're not here to just make the first round, we want to make some real noise," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said at media day, referencing the team's first-round exit last year at the hands of the Lakers (without Luka Doncic). "Everybody's hungrier for that and to take the next step and not plateau."
The huge key is the Rockets get point guard Fred VanVleet back. Anyone who watched the Rockets in the clutch last season — when they had a -8.8 net rating — or in their playoff series against the Lakers, knows how stagnant and predictable their half-court offense would get. That despite Kevin Durant's legendary scoring, Alperen Sengun's all-around game (20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last season), and Amen Thompson's athleticism. They lacked a floor general. Getting VanVleet back means not just another clutch scoring threat, but also someone who gets the ball in better positions for Durant and company to thrive. Expect the Rockets to be a good clutch team this season.
Houston was a 52-win team with a top-10 offense and defense last season that just got their glue guy, their connector back, and will be much better for it. If anyone is going to rise out of the West and threaten the two juggernauts, it is the Rockets.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Payton Pritchard #11 and Mike Conley #45 of the Boston Celtics pose for photos during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — At the start of Celtics practice, Payton Pritchard and Mike Conley dribble up the court in tandem. They share a laugh, and then Conley motions Pritchard toward the basket so they can begin another session of work together.
On paper, Pritchard and Conley have plenty of similarities: both are undersized, 6’1 point guards. Both are crafty scorers who rely on their footwork over their athleticism. Both are consistent three-point shooters (Conley has shot 38.7% from beyond the arc in his career; Pritchard has shot 39.4%).
But they’re at completely different points in their careers, and both are leaning into it.
Pritchard, who is 28 years old, is smack in the middle of his athletic prime and fresh off his best-ever season, in which he averaged career-highs of 17 points and 5.2 assists per game.
Conley is a decade older than Pritchard; he’ll be turning 39 next month. And he’s in the twilight years of his illustrious basketball journey; last year, he came off the bench for the very first time, averaging 4.5 points per game in 18.4 minutes. Seasons and rotations are unpredictable, but the expectation is that he’ll play a more limited on-court role again in Boston this year.
Still, the two undersized point guards are working closely together at Celtics training camp. And they’ve hit it off off the court, too.
“I love him as a person,” Pritchard said. “Great human being.”
Pritchard is excited for the chance to work with someone who’s had so much sustained success throughout his career; Conley is impressed by Pritchard’s indefatigable work ethic and unwavering desire to learn.
“Payton’s a menace, man,” Conley said. “He’s an absolute crazy person when it comes to trying to improve his game. I’ve been impressed with just the awareness to ask questions. He’s constantly asking, like, ‘What is your thought process with this? How do you break this down? I’m not as good at this, but I want to be good at that.’”
The two have worked closely together over the past couple of weeks. They have different scoring styles, but also similar limitations; both guards are listed at 6’1 and have relied on their craftiness to carve out successful NBA careers.
Pritchard is hell-bent on extracting as much knowledge from the longtime Minnesota Timberwolves guard.
“Tremendous career and player,” Pritchard said of Conley. “And just so many things he does well: passing the ball, [he] gets in the paint. Now, he shoots more floaters than I would; I’m more of a pull-up jumper, we talk about that. But just the way he sees the game, he’s somebody [that] when I get on the bench or outside the game, just seeing what he sees and picking his brain.”
Luka Garza knows Conley and what he brings to the table from a mentorship standpoint particularly well. Garza and Conley were teammates on the Timberwolves for three seasons and now reunite in Boston after one year apart.
“He’s the best,” Garza said. “He’s able to connect with every guy on the team. He has just a rare skill, but also just is the same, man. Every day, he shows up with a consistent, positive energy.”
Conley knows that’s one of his biggest value-adds to the Celtics: “My best thing is being able to connect with the guys; being able to share my experiences and help guys in real time, be another coach on the floor, be another coach on the bench.”
Pritchard thinks he’ll benefit a lot playing alongside such an accomplished point guard; Conley was an All-Star in 2021 and averaged double-digit points for a whopping 18 consecutive seasons, establishing himself as a model of consistency with the Memphis Grizzlies (2007-2019), Utah Jazz (2019-2023), and Timberwolves (2023-2026).
“I can really benefit — he’s somebody I looked up to, and somebody I hope, at the end of my career, if I can have a similar type of career and have as much success as he has, then that’s a very successful career,” Pritchard said. “So, I listen to everything he says.”
Conley, meanwhile, has been very impressed with Pritchard’s desire to pick his brain.
“[He’s] really shown that humility, shown that he’s willing to grow and be a better player,” he said. “But I mean, he’s got everything in his game, all the tools, his ball handling, his ability to score at his size, the strength, his balance. He’s gonna have a big year.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was created using a Kaleidoscope lens.) Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’re looking more broadly for today’s roundtable, since there’s just not much interesting happening with our Dallas Mavericks. Name one team who will outperform compared to last year and one team who might tumble down the standings.
Brian: It’s going be difficult to settle on one team to rise up the standings from last year to this one, given the season for optimism. I believe in the Grizzlies, Jazz and, to a much lesser degree, the Mavericks to make big strides in 2026-27. A combination of internal development, roster changes both in the draft and free agency, and a much-needed coaching change in Dallas should propel them all from where they ended last year.
A lot of teams at the top of last year’s Western Conference standings shored up weaknesses and/or doubled down on strengths. One team in last year’s play-in picture seemed to not do much of either. That team is the Golden State Warriors, and they should be terrified that they are going to stink in what could be Stephen Curry’s last year in his prime. They struck out in the LeBron sweepstakes this summer, are snakebitten by injuries even before the starting line between Butler and Moody, and have an average age somewhere around the 30 that Steph dons every night. Things are looking a bit bleak for the blue and gold. On the bright side, they’ll benefit from the play of wily vet-I mean, newly drafted rookie- Yaxel Lendeborg.
David: The Indiana Pacers are due for a massive bounce back. With Tyrese Haliburton returning, they’re going to look competent on offense, and year two of Ivica Zubac at center should be a lot better. On the flip side, I think Houston is in for a wake-up call this year. Their roster is weird and clunky, and Durant is not getting younger. I think they have a season that makes them make a choice about the direction of their future.
Dalton: Call it a homer take if you must, but so long as Cooper Flagg stays healthy and Kyrie Irving plays at least 50-ish games, I think the Mavs could nearly double their win total from last year. For better or worse, I’m officially predicting 50-32. I think Dusty May’s style of offense will make Mavs fans happy.
I agree with Bryan on the Warriors. They remind me so much of the Mavs in Dirk’s twilight years. Big fish hunting every summer, in pretty much all the rumors, but ultimately nothing to show for it. And like Dirk, Steph is too loyal to leave despite all of that. Given that the Warriors’ peak was much higher than the Mavs’, winning four titles, the end of Steph’s career kinda gives me Chris Kaman PTSD. I think Golden State finally falls all the way off this year.
Ben: The Pacers will be much improved if Haliburton is healthy all year. They won 19 games and if they get back to being just an average team, that’s an improvement of more than 20 wins. That’ll be huge.
I don’t see any obvious candidates for a huge regression anywhere, so I’m gonna go out on a limb just on a hunch: the Spurs will have a season from hell. I don’t know exactly what’ll go wrong, and they’re too talented to have a huge drop-off, but I’m thinking they’ll have about 10 wins less than the 62 they finished with last year. If they win 67, well, then I’ll say this was all reverse psychology to make them more motivated.
Tyler: The Pacers are the correct answer. But, let’s get nuts for a second. Many of the most improved teams in the league this year will be all the teams who are positioning themselves for the draft. Because Adam Silver has made a mockery of the NBA lottery, you no longer can be plain bad and get the first pick, you’ve gotta be in the Chicago Bulls zone to have the best chance. Of that group, give me the Brooklyn Nets to actually be most improved. They have a great coach in Jordi Fernandez, a roster of, well, stat stuffing veterans who will be looking to get numbers, and they don’t have incentive to be awful! They’ll poke around and be sneaky competitive.
As for the regression candidates, I’m thinking the Detroit Pistons. I love Cade Cunningham just as much as anyone (shout out DFW high school hoops!), but the vibes around Detroit with the whole Jalen Duren situation just seem bad. Plus, some of the turnover on that roster has me asking questions. They won’t come close to the 60-win threshold of last year’s team.
Kirk: I agree with Dalton here. It’s not a normal zone for me, being positive about the Dallas Mavericks, but here we are. I suspect at least a 10 win improvement for the guys.
On the other side of things, I believe the Detroit Pistons are going to collapse somewhat. This Duren non-signing is the sort of thing which can poison a team, even if it’s a fight between him and management. The Pistons spam that pick and roll action and he’s at the center of it. The Pistons are also right not to pay him what he wants. Detroit’s superpower last year was playing harder than everyone else and I don’t think they bring that same fire.
