NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks blocks the shot from Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 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
They certainly did, just as Muruju rightfully mentioned in the Postgame. It’s usually the only thing coaches can really be proud of in a season opener because not much else of your summer plans worked out. Rotations are still clunky, outside shots are still on vacation, chemistry doesn’t feel like chemistry. All of these were true for both the Philadelphia 76ers and your New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the guys from the “City of Brotherly Love” at least have the win to feel good about.
If you’re a historically accomplished but gigantically insecure four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer, that maybe seemed “special” to you, but overall the fact remains that season openers always get way too much talk and not nearly enough perspective. Some might quip, “Easy for you to say, fan of a losing team on Opening Night,” and rightfully so. But seriously, nothing happened on the shiny Madison Square Garden floor last night that should worry anyone who likes orange and blue more than red and blue. Nothing, nada, nichts! At least not for now.
New Knicks season, old problems
Mikal Bridges disappearing offensively was a problem last season, remember? KAT foul trouble? Yup, heard that one before. Inconsistent point of attack defense, lack of secondary creation, spotty free-throw shooting? Shut up, Captain Obvious! Most of the problems the Knicks had last night have been part of their DNA for quite some time now, and it doesn’t change the fact that this is still mostly the same team that earned this beautiful banner going up into the rafters of the World’s Most Famous Arena before the game. A team that can still look back on a historically dominant postseason run in which they didn’t just win a title but annihilated teams along the way.
That team, for the most part, also did a fairly decent job of showing up against Philly, considering how often champions struggle the first time back in serious game action. The Knicks didn’t play entitled, fought hard for loose balls, and matched the intensity of the Sixers, who clearly were out to prove all that talk about them being a superteam is real (shhh, I’d say it isn’t, but nevermind). The Knicks got dealt a tough hand with early foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns, but it didn’t even seem to matter as newly aquired Knick Andre Drummond channeled his inner Moses Malone. If the Knicks somehow had found a way to win, he would have been one of the biggest stories of the game. Unfortunately, he finished more like Jerome James later on, blowing close-range opportunity after close-range opportunity. Still, hats off to the big guy; the Knicks never thought that they would need him for 24 minutes.
How the Knicks and Sixers matched up
What they probably thought, though, was that Jalen Brunson would have a better time finishing in the lane. Philly’s seemingly antiquated remnants of an older NBA are still incredibly effective, but the reigning Finals MVP creates like nobody else in the league. The captain and newly crowned king of the city basically got all the little floaters and mid-rangers that he wanted. Yet last night Brunson’s offense was quite a bit off, even if he was getting to his spots. It might have to do with his wrist surgery in the summer, the banner night taking a lot out of him, or just some bad luck. Whatever it was, the Knicks should not be worried about it.
There are things from the opening night that the Knickerbockers have to take a look at and definitely things to work on. That’s especially true when you think of Philly as a potential matchup in the postseason. Tyrese Maxey is still the type of player who the Knicks can struggle with: a high-octane, immensly fast combo guard dynamo who loves to travel into the lane. With more weapons around him, it becomes a lot harder for the Knicks to collapse on him and shrink the court to their advantage. Yesterday it wasn’t even the three-point shooters that hurt Mike Brown’s squad most (Philly only shot 28 percent from downtown), but the Sixers constantly found guys in the dunker spot with drop-offs for easy buckets.
"I think it's good for us to kind of get knocked down off the mountain, humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what's going to happen."
Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks losing tonight and how it can help them improve: pic.twitter.com/sDFWPHE4Lh
Physically, Philadelphia is also a load to deal with, at least when healthy, and Joel Embiid is out there fit enough to complain his way through a game. He is still a massive post-up presence; LeBron is huge at any position he plays; and Jaylen Brown loves to venture inside, as well as punish smaller defenders. You could tell that Nick Nurse instructed his players to really seal off the mostly smaller New York wings not named Ogugua Anunoby Junior inside and then take advantage of said matchups. Brunson, Josh Hart, even Landry Shamet, and Deuce McBride constantly got caught underneath their own basket, and all that was left for them was fouling or taking the ball out of the basket.
Knicks know they got work to do
On the other end of the court, Philadelphia struggled to keep the Knicks out of the paint as well, but yesterday they made a strong adjustment with LeBron playing small-ball center and thus becoming one of the primary defenders for the top of the key screens on Towns as a passing hub. If that can remain a thing all season long—physically and mentally for a soon-to-be 42-year-old—remains anybody’s guess and will be dealt with down there in Pennsylvania. For one night, it certainly made the Knicks think a bit and led to some unfortunate turnovers. It also made Philadelphia move faster in transition, one thing that clearly upset Mike Brown after the game and has to be looked at on film.
In the end, the Knicks head man has been around long enough to know that most of these issues can be worked upon, and I bet that when he shed his old-school Vans kicks late last night on his couch, he was already thinking of how his team could do things differently next time around. It’s one of the hallmarks of the current Knicks nucleus; they usually find a way to adjust, a way to deal with adversity. And recent history would lead you to believe that this will continue now that they are the reigning champions of the basketball world. The biggest challenge for now is leaving that wonderful title run and all the accompanying hoopla behind and dealing with the task at hand.
The bad news: It won’t get any easier in Boston on Friday for the second game of the season. The good news: Another clunker there could also be explained away. The season is young. But make no mistake, there will come a time when “playing hard” won’t be enough.
Philadelphia 76ers’ Jaylen Brown slams the ball in the third quarter against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It was most glaring with their transition defense, where the Knicks struggled to keep up with the 76ers’ speedy backcourt — particularly Tyrese Maxey, who finished with a game-high 28 points. And it was the starters who were most to blame.
“They had nine fast-break points in the first half [in how the Knicks track it],” Brown said. “And then in the second half, they had 19 fast-break points. That’s where the game was won and lost, especially in the third quarter when our starters were out there.”
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline in the third quarter. Jason Szenes for NY Post
But it also reared its head on the offensive end. The ball movement and off-ball cutting that defined their championship run last year were missing and the offense was instead stagnant.
The Knicks, ideally, want to get to 20 “sprays” — what Brown describes as drives into the paint leading to kickout 3-pointers — per game. They only had seven Tuesday.
It resulted in a rough shooting performance — they shot just 37.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, who are two of the biggest beneficiaries and two of the most dependent on that movement around them, were particularly off the mark, shooting a combined 5-for-20 from the field and 1-for-11 from deep.
“Part of us looking like we were running in mud was our spacing wasn’t great,” Brown said. “We were walking everywhere, which hurt our spacing.”
It is understandable that the Knicks weren’t their freshest immediately after an emotional banner and ring ceremony before the game. At times, they looked drained.
“Transition defense, yeah,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our offense, I think we were good in spurts. But it’s not good enough.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Head Coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets speak during a press conference during Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Six long months after the Brooklyn Nets closed out their third worst season in 59 years, they will return to the Barclays Center court Wednesday night vs. the Charlotte Hornets.
A lot has changed but the team is still at 24.31 years on average, the youngest team in the NBA just as they were last year. They have three rookies at this point, compared to the eight who played at various points last season. Of the 18 players on the expanded roster, six are new to the Nets, led by Julius Randle who with two All-NBA selections, three All-Star Games and a Most Improved Player award is the most decorated.
The big difference though is that for the first time in three years, Brooklyn is not tanking, not trying to get the best lottery odds. The rebuild may continue, but the tank is over. So, as we do every year, we gather our writers — nine total — for their take on the coming season. Sports books may peg them at 24.5 to 25 wins, but Fuggetaboutit! What do they know!
So what’s our consensus? Take the over on the number of wins. We nine have them at 33.5 wins with about half of us thinking (dreaming) of the play-in. In Jordi we trust! We love Egor and Mikel, maybe Egor a little more. Who goes MPJ or J-Ran (copywright pending)? MPJ.
Enjoy.
Who or what are you most excited for entering the season?
Net Income: The backcourt, of course. They don’t have a nickname yet but if they look as good together as they have in Summer League and preseason, the Nets rebuild will take a huge leap. Also, I have believed since the trade that brought Julius Randle (and Joshua Jefferson) to Brooklyn for Nic Claxton was a big deal.
Anthony Puccio: Excited to watch a team with direction that isn’t geared towards losing. The Nets have a good coach, cornerstone hopefuls in Mikel Brown Jr. & Egor Dëmin, and stars (or near-stars) like Julius Randle & Michael Porter Jr. That’s good enough for me.
Brian Fleurantin: I’m most excited to watch how Egor Dëmin plays in his second season. There was enough optimism and success last season and he’s had a good preseason this year. If he can put forth a good season, I think it’ll give the Nets another dose of confidence and give one more signal that this team is ready to move on to the next phase of the plan.
Professor B: Putting the shame of tanking in the rearview mirror. Every win will be a win!
Collin Helwig: It’s Mikel Brown Jr. Like many, I had some concerns about Brooklyn’s draft the year before, but not this time. I’ll buy the take that he’s going to be a very good, maybe even great basketball player. So, that whole thing getting started should be fun.
Connor Long: I’m most excited to see how Brooklyn’s young core develops with Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin at the forefront. Beyond development, I’m excited to see this team start playing meaningful basketball. The tanking era is over. Jordi Fernández is entering his third season, and the Nets need to start building a winning environment. At some point, all of the talent accumulation and tanking have to result in victories.
Chris Milhollin: Seeing the young core develop in a more competitive environment. I’m particularly excited to see what Dëmin, Traoré and Brown can become with established veterans around them.
Jordan Greene: I’m most excited for Julius Randle’s impact on the young guys this season. While Randle has been a polarizing player in the eyes of NBA fans, his playoff experience and veteran leadership can help the young guys navigate their journey towards winning basketball. Based on some of his interviews, and his energy through the preseason, Randle seems excited in his role of leadership, which speaks volumes to what we can expect this season.
Scott Mitchell: I’m most excited to see the sophomore season of the Flatbush 5. Who takes a step forward? Who improves? Who takes that next step to becoming a starting player on an NBA roster? Egor Demin specifically, since he got off to a great start last year and now that he’s back and healthy again, it’ll be interesting to see where he picks up and further develops in Year 2.
Who or what are you most concerned about entering the season?
NI: Health, particularly with Mikel Brown Jr. Not so much because he had back issues last season at Louisville, or rolled his ankle in Brooklyn, but because he will get pushed around. He is at this point in his career slight. And yes, rim protection, rim protection, rim protection.
AP: A slow start. Don’t think Nets fans are asking for too much this season, but if losses mount early then people might become more disinterested and/or start finding scapegoats for the problems. (That’s not including how it negatively impacts development if it snowballs.)
BF: The thing I’m most concerned about this year is how the defense plays. It projects to be poor and if that’s the case, I’m not sure if the offense can keep up, especially during the dog days of the season. Bad defense is a killer and if the Nets can’t get stops, it’s gonna be ugly.
PB: Donald Trump, oligarchy, and climate change. The Nets will be fine; the stakes could not be lower.
CH: I think Day’Ron Sharpe being the starting center is far and away the most “boom or bust” element of the team right now. I believe trading Nic Claxton and letting Day’Ron take over the reins was the right decision, because it’s about time we see if the “boom” scenario can happen via increased minutes for him. That said, I can’t pretend like the “bust” scenario isn’t possible, especially after seeing him pick up three fouls in about five minutes against Miami last week.
CL: Rim protection, without question. Losing Nic Claxton leaves the Nets without an established rim-protecting big entering the season, and I think that will be a major issue when facing top teams throughout the season. We saw some of those concerns get amplified in the preseason, particularly against the Heat. The Nets have some intruiging defensive pieces and offer positional size at both guard and forward spots, but I don’t think they have anyone who can consistently protect the paint.
CM: Whether any of the young players can separate themselves as a legitimate cornerstone. Brooklyn has invested heavily in the draft, but potential only gets you so far. At some point, we need to start seeing players emerge as foundational pieces rather than just promising prospects and Twitter favorites.
JG: I’m most concerned with the bench. We have good players, but there are question marks that still need to be answered for the season. Can Moritz Wagner stay healthy this season? Can Nolan Traore continue to show promise that he did last season? Can Drake Powell develop into the two way prospect that he was believed to be out of UNC?
SM: I’m most concerned about Ben Saraf. He has shown signs of being a solid player last season, but despite those signs, he has also shown he’s not yet an NBA-caliber starting player. I’m hoping he takes a big leap forward in his development this season and is able to grow into the player that we all hope he will be. That, and the Nets’ “big” issue. Since losing Nic Claxton, the Nets seem to lack that big presence in the paint. Here’s hoping that Day’Ron picks up where Clax left off.
What is the BEST case scenario for the Brooklyn Nets this season?
NI: Development takes a leap. Not just with the Flatbush 5 but with the two rookies as well. Nets have high hopes for Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson. If the Nets come out of this season with a backcourt of the future including a much improved Nolan Traore, they will have made a huge move in the rebuild. Everything else is gravy. It’s a long process.
AP: Playoffs would be a miracle but a play-in spot feels like it could be possible.
BF: Hmm, best case scenario for the Nets is competing for the last play-in spot. It would be a big step forward and a sign they’re getting closer to the postseason again. Take a step forward and it gives fans and players around the league confidence that the franchise will be competitive sooner rather than later.
PB: Preseason hot shooting holds up through the season, the defense is respectable, Sharpe grows in the starter’s role, and Minott or Johnson emerges as a long-term piece alongside Demin and Brown.
CH: Seven or Eight seed via the Play-In. You might’ve been able to convince me six wouldn’t be outrageous for them if the East didn’t get so much better this year.
CL: An eighth or ninth seed in the East. I don’t think that’s the most likely outcome, but it’s certainly plausible and, in my opinion, around the team’s ceiling. While the Nets improved this offseason drastically, so did many of the conference’s already high-level teams. The Nets don’t control their own first-round pick, so there is no incentive to bottom out. If they play a competitive 82 and play meaningful basketball in April, that would be a significant step forward compared to the last two seasons.
CM: Competing for a Play-In spot while seeing two or three young players establish themselves as legitimate long-term building blocks. Development matters more than wins right now.
JG: I think the best case scenario for the Nets will be a play in spot. If the youngest team in the league can show they have a chance to make the playoffs, then they will give confidence within their fans and show the league they have promise in the future.
SM: The best-case scenario for Brooklyn this season is to be a Play-In team. I would love to sit here and say that they will win the NBA Championship this season, but I just don’t see that being in the cards. However, if Brooklyn can be a competitive team to the very end, that would be a major positive sign for the development of Brooklyn’s young core. Also, Mikel Brown Jr. balling out in his rookie season as a point guard could make this team a lot of fun to watch.
Which of the eight players on rookie contracts do you have the highest expectations for this year? (Clowney, Flatbush 5, Brown Jr., Jefferson)
NI: I’ve already spoken about Demin, Brown Jr. and Traore. So I’m going with Clowney! His biggest issue, as he and Fernandez have said, has been consistency. There have been games when fans have thought they saw a jump forward, the seven 3-pointers in one game last year, the two games of seven and four blocks in a week the year before. Then, hopes come down to earth. He has the motivation, as noted, with restricted free agency staring him in the face next summer. There’s also opportunity. He may not start 60 games as he did last year, but he shoulda/coulda get minutes at all three front court positions.
I also think Jefferson will surprise … if he gets an opportunity.
AP: Egor Dëmin.
BF: I went with Egor for number one, so I’ll change up and say Mikel Brown Jr for this one. He looked good against Miami and as he works through his minutes restriction, he’ll be someone that will be someone to watch closely as the year progresses. I think he’ll take to the NBA really well once he’s past the restrictions and give fans a bit of excitement they haven’t seen in some time.
PB: Demin, by a lot, though Brown will show some brilliant flashes.
CL: Egor Dëmin, without a doubt. He addressed many of his “concerns” during his rookie campaign, particularly by establishing himself as a shooter after struggling in that area at BYU. Now, I want to see him become a more aggressive creator on offense, especially when attacking the rim. I think he certainly can establish himself as a long-term building block for the team this year.
CM: Egor Dëmin. We’ve seen flashes of his playmaking, size and shooting ability. I want to see him become more aggressive offensively and turn that potential into consistent production.
JG: I have the highest expectation for Mikel Brown Jr. . Yes I get that Egor had a huge offseason but I believe the Nets drafting MBJ is the centerpiece for how this franchise goes forward. He is our potential quarterback for the future, and with the intangibles he has, I expect him to be promising.
SM: Of the eight players on rookie contracts, the one I have the highest hopes for is Egor Demin. Egor has taken to New York City very easily, and he made that clear at the Nets Fest earlier this month in Brooklyn. Egor is someone that the fans want to get behind. We’ve seen glimpses of his greatness last season; with his potential, he could be the next real ‘Nets player.’ Someone who the fans rally behind and someone who changes the culture of Brooklyn.
Will MPJ and/or Julius Randle still be in Brooklyn post-deadline?
NI: Michael Porter Jr. – No. Julius Randle – Yes. It will all depend, as Sean Marks said on Media Day, the progress of the team and it’s kiddie korps as well as what’s available. That said, Porter Jr. is nearly four years younger than Randle so you’d think he’d be the higher priority to extend, but that may also make him a better target for contenders looking for the final piece. There were (disputed) reports that Golden State and Detroit were interested in MPJ last year. With the NBA, particularly the East, looking highly competitive, the market could be strong for final pieces. But what would the Nets want? More picks? They already have 32, including 13 firsts. How about a young player?
AP: Randle yes, MPJ no.
BF: I think Randle remains post-deadline while Porter Jr gets traded to a contender. I feel this time around, a team that believes that they’re one player away will pay the price to bring MPJ in. MPJ can give a contender the boost they need and should bring a lot back in return for the Nets.
PB: Both will play out the season. Porter will be signed-and-traded this summer, and Randle will be extended for a couple more seasons.
CH: I think Julius stays at least one more year under the assumption he’s picking up his player option. I’m not confident in this, but I think MPJ stays this year too. It’s a gamble, and Sean Marks has almost NEVER done this, but I think he lets Porter Jr. play out his contract and then re-signs him as a free agent this summer. The Nets will again be able to give him more money than anyone via their cap space, will give him a lead role in an offense, he gets to stay with a coach he seems to like, and live in NYC. Who’s gonna offer him a better deal than that? I’d bet on that being able to pull him back in to avoid bidding against yourself this season and possibly overpaying for him with an extension.
CL: I think Randle stays, while Porter gets moved. Porter’s expiring contract could make him an attractive trade target for contenders around the deadline. However, I wouldn’t move him just to move him. If there isn’t solid value in return, there’s no reason to force him off the roster, especially if the Nets are competent by the time those conversations spark.
CM: I think Randle stays and MPJ gets moved. Porter should attract interest from contenders, but Brooklyn shouldn’t trade him just for the sake of collecting another pick.
JG: I think Julius Randle will stay and MPJ will go to a contender at some point. Because of Porter’s contract, contenders will look for his skill set to complete their championship hopes. It also helps that I believe MPJ will take another leap career. Randle will continue to be the veteran the Nets need until further notice.
SM: Seems to be a common consensus amongst Nets fans, but I can absolutely see a world where Michael Porter Jr. gets traded to a contender by the NBA Trade Deadline. His talent speaks for itself, and any teams contending for the NBA Playoffs would LOVE a player like MPJ on their squad. As for Randle, I just don’t think he’ll get that same amount of love that MPJ will. So, I can see Randle staying post-deadline.
Are you generally happy or unhappy about the progress of the rebuild?
NI: Ask me that question at the end of the year! Maybe even at the deadline! This is the critical year, IMO. Should the Nets make a big jump, as they did in 2018-19, Brooklyn’s master plan will look prescient. They’ll have all those young players on rookie deals, all those draft picks, all that cash, New York! Development will have been proven! Jordi Fernandez will be a magnet not just for free agents but those players wanting to move! If on the other hand, the sportsbooks are right, where do we go from here? Who’s going to be in charge?
The plan is not simple: Build through the draft, develop picks into rotation pieces, may be stars, then make the big moves without having to worry (that much) about aprons, luxury taxes etc., Sustainable success! There is an outline of how it could work, but reality can rear its ugly head. Stay tuned.
You want a grade right now? I’ll go with a B.
AP: TBD. Egor and Mikel look good AND fun. You can tell they’re proud to be Nets and that’s genuinely nice to see. But I’m saying TBD because they have plenty of others on rookie contracts with a lot to prove. particularly from the 2025 Draft in which they took a historic five first round picks.
BF: I think I’m happy with the state of the rebuild. In a perfect world, they win the lottery or finish top 3 in each of the previous seasons, but it didn’t work out. But the Nets have put some good talent together and Brown Jr. + Dëmin is a good one-two punch and solid building blocks to help the team right the ship.
PB: Too slow for my taste—but then, I was not a fan of taking two steps backward in the first place. Demin and Brown will prove to be good picks, but not the foundation of a contending team.
CH: I wouldn’t say “happy” but if “content” works, I’ll settle for that. It’s clear they have something here with this group. However, it’s hard to get over the talent they missed at the top of the ’25 and ’26 drafts. It’s also not totally the Nets’ fault that the NBA lottery gods hate their stinking guts. So, I don’t know. It’s alright, I guess.
CL: I’m more happy than not, but it’s time to start seeing results. Sean Marks has done a good job of buying assets and maintaining flexibility. However, those “assets” need to eventually result in wins. I think this year, it’s fair to start expecting tangible progress in the standings, not just player development.
CM: Cautiously happy. Marks has done a good job rebuilding the asset base and maintaining flexibility, but collecting picks is the easy part. Now it’s about turning those assets into legitimate NBA talent.
JG: For what the Nets dealt with until this point, I can say that I’m happy with the rebuild. The Nets found what worked and what didn’t. Now, the Nets have a good young core they can build around, but this means results are needed. It’s time that the Nets use all of the work that they put in to finally start seeing progress, because the fan base deserves it.
SM: I’m more than happy with the current rebuild. I’m certainly higher on certain players than others. However, even if the Nets get two quality starters of the five players they drafted last season, I’d consider that a win. I think the jury is still out on a player like Ben Saraf; however, Egor Demin has the makings to be one of the best Brooklyn draft picks in recent memory. Also, seeing Mikel Brown Jr. come into the fray now is going to be super fun.
One bold prediction?
NI: Julius Randle is voted to the All-Star team for the fourth time. I’m big on J-Ran.
AP: Julius Randle makes the All-Star team.
BF: A bold prediction? Not sure if this fits the bill, but I think this is the year Porter Jr finally makes the All-Star team. After falling just short last year, I think he’ll have all the motivation in the world to make his case for being named an All-Star. I think he’ll get off to a terrific start and that will help drive the conversation around him in a positive fashion.
PB: The Nets will lead the league with 30 assists per game, building a fun, Pacers-style offensive identity.
CH: Mikel Brown Jr. wins Rookie of the Year. It’s going to take some luck, but I think the talent is there.
CL: The Nets finish with a top-10 offense in the East. Between Porter, Randle, Dëmin, and the first-year expectations for Brown, the Nets have the potential to be a dangerous team on offense this year. I still have concerns about defense, but I think the offense could really surprise people this season.
CM: Nolan Traoré establishes himself as one of Brooklyn’s three most valuable young players by season’s end. His speed and ability to attack the paint could make him the biggest surprise of the group.
JG: The Nets will make the playoffs after a successful play-in. Yes I know it sounds crazy, but out of all the bottom tier teams that will be in the East this year the Nets will be able to beat them. Nets fans, it might be a first around exit upon us, but we will be in the playoffs!
SM: Mikel Brown Jr. finishes among the very top of the NBA rookie of the year voting. It’s getting to be exciting times again to be a Brooklyn Nets fan. Behind the Flatbush 5, Mikel Brown Jr., and even guys like Joshua Jefferson, Tyler Bilodeau, or Grant Nelson, the potential on this team is endless. MBJ has all the makings to be a great NBA point guard. Also, another bold prediction for this season is that the Brooklyn Nets are a middle-of-the-pack team, and that’s in large part due to their fantastic point guard play from MBJ.
Final record
NI: 37-45. Nets will improve but so will the East.
AP: 32-50.
BF: 32-50.
PB: In the immortal, ungrammatical words of Doris Day, que sera, sera.
CH: 33-49
CL: 28-54. I think the Nets will be better than they were a year ago, though the bar wasn’t very high. The defensive concerns are too much for me to overlook; I also worry about where points will come from off the bench. I also expect some growing pains from such a young roster that is now looking to win. The Nets should be more competitive nightly, but I don’t think they are ready to make a playoff push yet.
CM: 29–53. More competitive than last season, but still too young and defensively limited to seriously contend for the postseason.
JG: 35-47
SM: 40-42. Call me crazy, but why not us?
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How’d we do last year and who among us did well? Not great, but Lucas Kaplan of sainted memory gets the coveted Netsradamus Award. Speaking of sainted memory, we welcome back Chris Milhollin. Things must be getting better if writers want to return! Right?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aside from potentially playing a role in a tiebreaker scenario at the end of the season, Tuesday night’s game was just one of 82 on the schedule. But it felt much bigger than that, what with the New York Knicks raising the banner, and the Philadelphia 76ers both looking to show that last spring’s playoff sweep wasn’t who they are anymore, both figuratively and literally with the number of new faces. Fans were treated to a playoff-like atmosphere in October, and it’s hard to come away with anything but optimism about the Sixers’ prospects after their 106-100 win over New York.
The defense looked much better than anticipated, stifling the Knicks into shooting just 37 percent from the field. Philadelphia’s unselfishness mantra held true offensively, with 28 assists on 37 made field goals. In addition to the big-name acquisitions, two of the new players down the roster contributed in the team-wide effort, with Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both finishing in double figures. It was a hard-nosed, gutsy performance from a bunch of guys who haven’t played a ton together yet against a Knicks group that has about as much continuity and recent success as anyone in the league. We saw a lot to like from these Sixers, so let’s talk our first Bell Ringer of the season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a layup during the third quarter of the game against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a game featuring the defending champions and teammates with all the accolades you can accrue in this sport, Tyrese Maxey looked to be the best player on the court to my eyes. He was the most consistent offensive engine for the Sixers all evening long, starting the scoring with a pair of threes, one off a nice read in the open court to pick off a pass. All game, whenever the Sixers needed something, it seemed to be Tyrese in transition, or using his elite acceleration to drive to the rim for a bucket or a foul. And remember when Maxey was a negative on defense? Those days are long gone. He’s learned to hone his speed and athleticism to perfectly time rejections at the rim or intercept passing lanes. His pick-six with around two minutes left in the game firmly put the Sixers in control for the remainder of the contest. In so many ways, this is Tyrese Maxey’s team now.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James, Philadelphia 76er, became an actual on-court reality on Tuesday night, and it was beautiful in so many ways. He brings so much connectivity to the team on both ends of the court. James helped shore up the defensive glass and was such a communicative piece on the defensive end; I guess it remains to be seen if he’ll be this locked in defensively on a non-nationally televised game against the Kings or whoever, but this game proved he still has that gear. Offensively, he made all the right reads we’ve come to expect over the years from LeBron James, basketball savant. I’m sure it will only get better as his chemistry with his new teammates increases. He also supercharges the transition game, both as an initiator and a finisher. LeBron James in the open court is still a freight train that can’t be derailed. This was a “quieter” game from LeBron on a night his shot wasn’t really falling, and he still had his fingerprints all over the win.
THE NEW GUYS IN TOWN 💪 Jaylen Brown lobs it to LeBron James for the alley-oop! pic.twitter.com/R7UcKg0vYe
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the third quarter of the game against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen’s Sixers debut went how you would have drawn it up to a tee. He played a lot of off ball when the starters were in the game, and then got his turn as a lead initiator when members of the second unit filtered into the game. Through it all, he never forced anything, picking his spots to score and doing a terrific job distributing to his teammates as well. Brown was the catalyst of the Sixers’ 11-0 run to close the third quarter and turn the tide of the game, knocking down a pair of threes and assisting another. His end-of-quarter buzzer beater was a fun first capsule highlight for his Philadelphia 76ers career. Defensively, he was brilliant, stifling Jalen Brunson during his stints guarding the reigning Finals MVP. I hope he enjoyed his debut in a Sixers win combined with Boston blowing a 22-point lead in the same day as much as we did.
JAYLEN BROWN IS A SIXER! Sinks the three as time expires in Q3 and Philadelphia leads by 7! pic.twitter.com/uMmHgdMsfC
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: Anfernee Simons #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We weren’t absolutely sure Simons would play in the opener after missing the preseason with a hamstring injury, but it’s a good thing he did. On a night a lot of folks were having trouble seeing their outside shot fall, Simons came in and knocked down three triples across a three-minute span in the third quarter. It helped ensure the Knicks didn’t start to pull away and the Sixers could remain within striking distance. Simons looks like a super microwave scorer option off the bench, and considering he joined the team with this viewed as a huge weakness, there wasn’t anything I saw defensively that gave me great pause. He’s going to see a ton of open looks this season, and Anfernee looks poised to drain his fair share.
The game, which was on Tuesday, Oct. 20 in San Antonio, featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to make history as a shooter and Victor Wembanyama struggling on offense, but showcasing his defensive prowess, reminding fans why he was last year's Defensive Player of the Year.
"Obviously, it's the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal, but for us, I think it was more we're just happy to be back," Gilgeous-Alexander said on the NBC broadcast after the game. "... One of 82. This doesn't prove anything. This doesn't mean anything besides the fact that we won tonight. We took a step in the right direction. We gotta do it 81 more times."
Wembanyama started 0-for-12 from the field and finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and six blocks.
San Antonio ousted the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a seven-game battle royale last season. Oklahoma City was riding high off Gilgeous-Alexander's second MVP season and their own NBA championship in 2025.
Both Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander are early favorites for this season's MVP as their young teams play hungry for more glory. In USA TODAY's preseason ranking of the top 100 players in the league, 22-year-old Wembanyama is No. 3 and Gilgeous-Alexander, 28, is No. 1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats in NBA season opener
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, six rebounds and four assists. He also was a strong defensive presence with three steals and three blocks.
It was his 141st straight game with 20-plus points, the longest streak in NBA history, per the NBC broadcast.
"This is the game I love. I work hard in the summertime. I come out here and trust my work," the MVP said after the game. "It's that simple."
Victor Wembanyama stats in NBA season opener
Victor Wembanyama had a lackluster night and started 0-for-12 from the field, the longest drought of his career. The only points off a field goal came via an alley-oop dunk at the end of the third quarter.
The French superstar finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. He shined on defense on top of the double digit boards with six blocks.
James finished the night with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 34 minutes on the court in the Sixers’ win at Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James reacts on the court and looks toward Spike Lee during the third quarter of the Knicks’ 106-100 loss to the 76ers in their home opener on Oct. 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It wasn’t the only memorable shot at Knicks fans that he got during the game.
In the second quarter, he was seen exchanging words with a spectator sitting courtside at the Garden.
According to Mike Tirico on the NBC broadcast, a fan behind him yelled at LeBron about his helicopter and said that just because the NBA superstar lives in New York, it didn’t mean they would cheer for him.
A video posted online showed James cursing at the fan, appearing to tell them there “ain’t nothing soft about the Midwest, I don’t know what the f–k you talking about.”
"You don't know what the fk you talkin about…I'm not from the west coast…I'm from Ohio baby. Ay…Fk you talkin about"
Eventually, Spike Lee stepped in to play peacemaker and cooler heads prevailed.
“Guess who’s playing peacemaker? Spike Lee,” Reggie Miller said on the broadcast, much to his own amusement.
“He’s over here playing peacemaker. Boy, I’ve seen everything.”
LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey react on the court in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ loss to the 76ers in their home opener at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “One of the best places I’ve ever played.
“I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after [the Knicks] beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”
What LeBron James brings to the 76ers was on full display right after halftime of their season opener: Coach Nick Nurse switched up the matchups and had LeBron guarding Karl-Anthony Towns (putting Joel Embiid on Josh Hart).
Versatility. He can defend multiple positions. He can get a bucket, but spent most of the game as a facilitator, making the smart pass to get someone else the easy two.
LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey continue to work well with one another in their first game as teammates!
On a team stacked with talent — and guys used to having the ball in their hands — LeBron's willingness to sacrifice to do whatever it takes to win stood out in his opener — and is part of the reason the 76ers picked up the 106-100 win to spoil ring night in Madison Square Garden.
LeBron had a 14-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist night.
LeBron with an all-around performance in his 76ers debut!
"I can be a lot better. Still getting my rhythm," LeBron said in his walk-off interview with NBC's Zora Stephenson. "Obviously, just a little over two weeks with the new squad. I like the way we played, I thought we played well, especially defensively. Didn't shoot the ball well but we have capable shooters, we know that."
It looked better than LeBron thought. When LeBron and Embiid were on the floor, the 76ers could invert the offense, put them both out high, and have Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown cut and move with space in the paint. It wasn't always smooth, but it worked.
LeBron still has his haters. "We don't want you" chants rang out in Madison Square Garden when LeBron stepped to the free-throw line (a reference to LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, saying that if the Knicks hadn't won a title, he would have gone to New York this summer).
That's not going to bother him. And, it's not going to bother the 76ers. Coach Nick Nurse called other coaches to see what he was in for coaching LeBron.
"There wasn't a whole lot of amazing, laundry list of things they're gonna say. They say you're gonna really like coaching him, and that is the case," Nurse said.
Nurse also talked about what LeBron, and another champion in Jaylen Brown, bring to the 76ers.
"You see both of their work ethics are A-plus, right? So without them even saying anything, who they are and how they go about things, automatically gives you some some pop, right?" Nurse said. "But they're both very serious about winning, both very serious about their preparation, and they both understand the game and do use their voices and help their teammates do things out there."
LeBron did that on opening night, and that is exactly why Philadelphia was excited to welcome him in. They are 1-0 because of it.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, 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. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers open their season by hosting the Golden State Warriors at home on Wednesday.
In the last five years, the Lakers have faced the Warriors three times on opening night. At this point, it feels inevitable that these two Pacific Division teams clash on opening night — with or without LeBron James in the mix.
Speaking of The King, one thing the Lakers didn’t do well during his era was kick off the regular season. During James’ eight-year tenure in Los Angeles, they won only once, that coming in 2024. Will this trend continue now that the Luka Dončić era is in full effect?
In order for the Lakers to do just that, they’re going to have to play sharp and smart basketball right off the bat on Wednesday. As we saw in both preseason losses to the Dubs, they’re a more connected team right now, which makes sense since they barely made noise in free agency, contrary to the Lakers. So look out for them to bank on that with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green leading the way.
What the Lakers should do is capitalize on the Warriors’ injuries. Note that aside from Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody — who have been sidelined since last season — Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porziņģis also aren’t suiting up. So while that would probably mean more minutes and touches for Curry and even Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the Lakers should outperform them on offense. They absolutely can’t get beat by anyone not named Steph from the Warriors.
It would be nice to get a sensational Dončić game right away, because who wouldn’t want that on opening night? Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler can’t afford to be passive or role players. Rebounds will be key for the Lakers because they mean more possessions for a supposedly more offensive-minded team. Ideally, the role players make their shots and their impact is felt in this one. Which one of them will stand out in the season opener?
Remember, a Curry-led team is always worth having appropriate fear for and hopefully that encourages the Lakers to play purposeful basketball from start to finish. There may be 82 games in a season but only one season opener that can help set the tone and begin the year with positive vibes.
Let’s see if the Lakers can secure their first victory on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee effusion) will start the season sidelined with injuries.
After missing the whole preseason, Colin Sexton (right soleus strain) is noted as questionable.
As for the Warriors, Jimmy Butler (ACL recovery), Moses Moody (patellar tendon repair). Brandin Podziemski (bilateral low back soreness), Kristaps Porzingis (not with the team) are listed as out.
Blake Griffin, who was the face of the Clippers during this era, told Front Office Sports that the organization hasn’t done anything to honor those past teams.
Blake Griffin says the Clippers have never reached out to the “Lob City” group, which made six straight playoff trips with him and Chris Paul.
"I don’t think we’ve ever been asked to come back or do anything or honor that team.”
Blake Griffin reveals the Clippers have yet to honor past “Lob City” era teams. Anthony J. Causi
“I don’t think we’ve ever been asked to come back or do anything to honor that team,” Griffin said.
Between 1997-2011, the Clippers were perennial outcasts when it came down to making the playoffs. The team had only one playoff appearance during this 14-year period in 2006, when they were eliminated in the second round by the Phoenix Suns.
Griffin played for the team between 2009-2018 he and Chris Paul helped change the identity of the team entirely.
During the “Lob City” era, the Clippers made the playoffs six straight years and made it out of the first round three times, in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
“You look back and have a sense of pride because of what the Clippers were before, and it was often a punchline,” Griffin said. “I think that we feel pride in that we sort of got that franchise to a place where it was like, ‘Oh no, you’re expected to make the playoffs. You’re expected to go further.”
Blake Girffin guarding Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis as a member of the Clippers during an NBA game in 2017. Anthony Causi
While the Clippers were starting to be taken seriously in the NBA spotlight, one of Griffin’s iconic moments for the organization happened during the 2010-2011 season.
Blake Griffin reveals the Clippers have yet to honor “Lob City” era teams. Getty Images
“I was just kind of confused where the disconnect was like,” Griffin said. “This is who he’s been his whole career. He’s like a leader. He’s a talker. So why not use that to your advantage?”
“I wasn’t there, obviously so I don’t know everything that went on, but you know, to see it end like that, it’s definitely disappointing.”
New York struggled on both ends and looked, as head coach Mike Brown described them as being “stuck in the mud” in an ugly night, but they did receive a positive from one of their newest and eldest members.
Veteran big manAndre Drummond was one of the Knicks’ biggest early contributors off the bench, shining in the first half before seemingly running out of steam down the stretch in the second.
The backup center ended up being called upon much earlier than anyone could've anticipated, but he did a tremendous job sliding in after Karl-Anthony Towns picked up a pair of early fouls.
Chants of ‘Andre Drummond’ quickly came raining down from the fired-up MSG crowd for the first time as he quickly made his presence felt down low on both ends of the floor.
Drummond needed just over 14 minutes to put together 10 points and 11 rebounds, which, according to the team, was the third-fastest double-double by a Knick since 1996-97. He also became the first and only player in franchise history to record a first-half double-double in the season-opener dating back to that same year.
The 33-year-old picked up just one more bucket following halftime, but he still finished with a dozen points and a game-high 14 boards across 24 minutes in his impressive Knicks debut.
Drummond also recorded a pair of blocks, a steal, and a team-high four assists.
“I thought that he played with a lot of bounce and energy,” Brown said. “We probably ran him a little too long there because it looked like in the second half, not just him but all five of our starters too, ran a little bit out of gas.
“I have to keep getting to know him to see where the minutes may lie for him to be effective for us, but I thought that he was really really, really good on both ends of the floor during the first half.”
Even if Brown has to cut his time down slightly on a nightly basis, receiving this type of production from Drummond would go a long way towards the Knicks bolstering their center depth after losing Mitchell Robinson this offseason.
Oct 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) pulls down a rebound in front of Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith (35) in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The preseason has come and gone right before our eyes, and the regular season is finally here. Several battles took place on the roster, and while some may be decided, nothing is set in stone this time of year.
But we do have a cut-and-dry 10-man rotation at this point. And the first preseason roster cut casualties went down with Haywood Highsmith, Kennedy Chandler, and Phillip Wheeler being waived. Then, Koby Brea and CJ Huntley joined shortly thereafter.
Jamaree Bouyea kept his spot on the roster, and the Suns elected to enter the season with 14 players on standard contracts. Drew Timme was signed after being cut by the Timberwolves.
The Phoenix Suns are keeping Jamaree Bouyea as the 14th player on the roster. They have officialy cut Haywood Highsmith.
So what about the group that actually plays? Well, it’s a shorter list. And preseason told us most of it.
Ryan Dunn emerged; Rasheer Fleming faltered. The center position is still to be determined, though we all know Jordan Ott has that answer… he is just reluctant to tip his hand.
10-Man Rotation
Below you will find the 10-man unit in two groups, along with who may be next in line, with a quick snippet on each guy. Dunn could be the odd man out if they cut it down to a 9-man rotation, depending on the matchups.
Starters
G: Jalen Green
G: Devin Booker
F: Dillon Brooks
F: Miles Bridges
C: Oso Ighodaro
Bench
G: Collin Gillespie
G: Luke Kennard
F: Jordan Goodwin
F: Ryan Dunn
C: Khaman Maluach
Next man up?
Jamaree Bouyea– If Phoenix needs another guard to step in, they trust him. He appeared in 46 games for the Suns last season, including one start.
Duop Reath – Foul trouble, foul trouble, foul trouble. Or an injury to either center. Duop Reath will be relied on at times this season. It’s better if he’s not, but it’s a long season.
Rasheer Fleming – Still a young, talented defender with massive 3-&-D upside, Fleming had a disappointing preseason and appears to have fallen out of the rotation.
Koa Peat – The rook will have to serve his time most likely, but don’t sleep on him. He has an NBA-ready body and will be ready to go if his number is called. If Ryan Dunn falters and Rasheer isn’t ready… enter Koa Peat.
Pat Spencer – Like Bouyea, if an injury occurs, Spencer could be someone they trust as a reserve to give them 10-15 minutes. Similar to all of their two-way guys, they have options if the injuries pile up.
Drew Timme – Depth signing. They’ll see what he’s got in the G League. Don’t expect to see him much, and if you do, it means things went bad.
Early in the second quarter with the Thunder up 37-28, Ajay Mitchell tossed a pass under the net toward Chet Holmgren. The big man was defended by De'Aaron Fox, who shoved him and flipped him so he landed on the court. A scuffle ensued under the net with Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams rushing over to defend their Thunder teammate. Victor Wembanyama was caught up in the melee and got into a shoving match with Jaylin Williams.
Both teams were separated as the crowd booed. The referees reviewed the scuffle and Fox was given a Flagrant 1 foul for "an unnecessary act." Technical fouls were given to Wembanyama and the three Williams players.
Things start to get chippy between the Thunder and Spurs 👀
Even three hours before the New York Knicks season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, you could sense the excitement outside of Madison Square Garden. The sun had come out, and the bars across the street were filled with the sound of energetic conversations and laughter hours before the workday was over.
“Opening night’s always exciting for anybody and everybody,” said Knicks head coach Mike Brown before the game. “It's starting something new for everybody. It's fresh. Everybody's energized. You know, you feel the buzz. I don't care where you are, you feel the buzz. Here with our fans, I’ve said this many times before, but Knicks fans are different, and the buzz has been going on for a while. You felt it today.”
Obviously, Tuesday wasn’t just any opening night. The NBA champion New York Knicks were receiving their championship rings and having their banner hung from the rafters at the Garden. It was the main event on the NBA’s opening day, and the ticket to get in, which averaged around $2,000, was more than it cost to get into every other opening game combined. There was some fear that the exorbitant cost of entry would impact the vibes in the arena, similar to Game 3 of the NBA Finals, when the high prices and special guests seemed to price out the raucous Knicks fans.
That wasn’t the case on Tuesday, despite the Garden being filled with attendees like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, singer Jon Bon Jovi, and fellow New York star athletes Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice, Michael Strahan, and many more.
From the moment fans started streaming into the arena, the energy was high. The walkways of Madison Square Garden were filled with Knicks fans wearing championship memorabilia and chanting “Knicks in 5.” As fans walked to their seats, they snapped photos of the championship graphic on the jumbotron or looked over the championship shirts that were on the back of every seat. Some fans hugged the ushers they’ve come to know over the years, enjoying a moment of shared joy. “We did it! We did it!” they smiled.
Unlike most Knicks home games, there was no edge to the crowd (that would come later after one hard foul by Joel Embiid). However, the pre-game atmosphere felt almost relaxed. The mountaintop had been reached. The monkey had been removed from the back. The fans weren’t anxious about the team earning something or achieving something; they were just here to celebrate what had already been completed.
Even though a basketball game was going to be played, the celebration of last season’s accomplishments would take center stage. Which is exactly the tightrope that Coach Brown knew he would have to walk in getting his team prepared for the night.
“It's tough because…this could be a once in a lifetime thing,” he said before the game. “You never know. It's hard. It's hard to accomplish something like this, and you definitely want guys to embrace it and celebrate it with each other because they went through a lot, with the fans, with the rest of the organization, with their families, so you don't want to take that moment away from them. But, in the same breath, we obviously have a job to do tonight. But I keep telling myself that no matter what happens tonight, if we win by five, if we win by 20, if we lose by five, if we lose by 20, there's a lot of basketball left. Whatever happens tonight is not going to define us, and so I would rather they enjoy the moment than me cut it short or carve into their emotions.”
There was certainly no carving into emotions once the ceremony began. It started with a video narrated by Ben Stiller that highlighted what the Knicks title meant to the team.
Then the jumbotron showed a video close-up of the Knicks’ championship rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills. The ring, which was crafted in white gold, has just under 800 diamonds and sapphires totaling 22 carats. The white and blue colors aren't the only reflection of the Knicks since the ring also features a built-in mechanism that raises a miniature version of Madison Square Garden, and the removable top of the ring reveals the distinctive ceiling architecture of the area. The words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” are set with 69 diamonds, to represent the Knicks’ 69 combined wins during their season, and the jersey number of every player on the team wraps around the ring. It’s an extravagant ring to match the flash and prestige of the city and team.
Courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills
“Courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills”
During the ring ceremony, each Knicks front office member, coach, and player had a chance to stand before the crowd and receive their ring to thunderous applause. When it was the player’s turn, Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier strode to the middle of the floor and had his moment shaking hands with, and presenting a ring to, each member of the Knicks’ title team (minus Mitchell Robinson, who was playing for the Celtics earlier today).
Brooklyn native Jose Alvarado received the first arena-shaking roar of the night, but there were plenty more to come, including when former Knick and current 76er Ariel Hukporti wheeled himself out with a knee walker after his recent Achilles surgery. Unsurprisingly, the biggest cheers came for the playoff heroes. Karl-Anthony Towns was the first starter to walk out, and the crowd would have risen to their feet, but they had already been standing for almost 20 minutes. Game 4 hero OG Anunoby was greeted by cheers and the entire stadium melding into chants of “OG! OG! OG”
By the time Jalen Brunson came out to receive his ring, the crowd was in a fervor. Chants of “MVP” meshed with chants of “[Expletive] Wemby,” as Knicks fans simply seemed happy to scream any kind of support for their team. When Brunson took the mic a few minutes later before the championship banner was raised and told the crowd the team wanted to “do it again this year,” the Mecca of Basketball exploded one more time.
The banner hung over the court for the entire game, watching as the Knicks failed to muster the same come-from-behind magic they had during the postseason and fell 106-100 to the 76ers. Yet, just as Mike Brown had expected, the loss didn't seem to deter the fans. As they filed peacefully out of the arena, a fanbase that would usually have been lambasting the poor shooting performances or the lazy third quarter defense was instead uttering things like "It's a long season," or "I forgot that October basketball doesn't matter as much."
Maybe it was self-preservation. Hopefully it wasn't complacency, but, more than likely, it was still the feeling of joy and appreciation for what this team was able to accomplish last season. In a few days, the banner that hung over the court on Tuesday will be moved to the open spot next to the 1970 and 1973 banners, which will be its final home. A few spaces to the right, the Knicks recently raised their banner commemorating the 2025 NBA Cup trophy.
“I think it's just a recognition of what our journey was like last year,” said Coach Brown. “There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the course of the year, and our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup, and then you go ahead and win the end-of-season final. It's just a recognition not just to our guys, but to the fans out there. We’ve got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty good.”
It was a pretty good recognition as part of a pretty good ceremony to honor a pretty great year. Yet, even as the team took it in, they had one eye on the next chapter.
“This is a new season,” said Coach Brown. “It's a new team, new challenges in front of us.”
Starting those challenges out with a loss is certainly not going to dampen the mood in New York on Tuesday. After all, this team has come back from far greater deficits.
The No. 6 pick and his Nets teammates are intimately familiar with the low expectations on this team, to be one of the league’s worst.
To them, it’s fuel.
Mikel Brown Jr. goes up for a shot during the Nets’ win over the Heat in their preseason finale. NBAE via Getty Images
“Yeah, absolutely,” Brown said. “But at the end of the day, man, we focus on ourselves right now, focusing on getting better. Like I said before, every game we have something to prove. So that’s the mentality going into it.
“I mean every game is something we have to prove. We don’t really look at the outside world when it comes to that stuff. We focus on ourselves and what we have going on within this organization and this team. We know what we’re capable of, so we got to go out every single night to show that.”
He had 18 points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes against the Heat.
Jordi Fernández has suggested he wouldn’t consider starting a player that would be available for fewer than 24 minutes. He wouldn’t answer whether Brown’s minutes limit would be relaxed Wednesday against Charlotte.
Keon Ellis started every preseason game at off-guard, while Egor Dëmin moved over to point guard. Ellis has said consistency of role — regardless of as a starter or reserve — will help.
Mikel Brown Jr. defends Davion Mitchell during the Nets’ win over the Heat in their preseason finale. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
“Oh, absolutely. Just because it comes down, it helps everything,” Ellis said. “When you’re going in the game, if you’re starting, if you’re coming off the bench — which to me that doesn’t really mean a lot — but the consistency of knowing where you’re going to play, who you’re going in the game with, the rhythm that you guys have, that all matters.”
His playing time will surely be even more curtailed than Brown’s.
“A player that hasn’t played a game yet would be, because once again, if you haven’t played a preseason game and then you put your body out there into a real NBA game, I don’t think it would be fair for him to play crazy amount of stints or minutes,” Fernández said. “So yeah, we always take care of our … I’m not going to tell you if he is or how many minutes are, but we always take care of their bodies.”
Michael Porter Jr. courted more podcast controversy by opting to interview right-wing social media personality SNEAKO, who has at points been banned from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for being violent, homophobic, misogynist and antisemitic.
The pending free agent didn’t endorse SNEAKO’s positions and criticized him afterward.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks receives his 2025-26 NBA Championship ring before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NYC came to party tonight. The Knicks (0-1) received their rings and hung a championship banner before tonight’s inaugural game of the 81st season. As a repeat is not guaranteed, your intrepid blogger tried to appreciate the moment for its rarity.
The visiting Philadelphia 76ers (1-0), with offseason additions LeBron James (14 PTS, 9 RBS, 7 AST) and Jaylen Brown (19 PTS, 8 RBS, 6 AST), came ready to rumble, determined to knock the kings from their throne. The champs, dressed in gold-lettered uniforms for the affair, played with a mix of efficiency and slop, taking and giving the lead throughout. Down the stretch, Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 12 RBS) drilled a few big shots, Captain Clutch (21 PTS, 6-19 FG) missed a couple, and the first game of the season ended with an L, 106-100.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 53 YEARS, THE KNICKS RAISE AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mNkMpJva6b
Tyrese Maxey (28 PTS) started the contest with six points, shooting well through the period. Both teams showed opening night jitters, though. New York missed four shots before Mikal Bridges (4 PTS, -15 +/-) put back his own miss, and Brunson got a fortunate bounce for his first trey of the season. Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two fast fouls, and Andre Drummond (12 PTS, 14 RBS, 2 BLK) relieved him.
So far, we were digging the Andre experience. He blocked an Embiid jumper, rebounded over and stuffed Embiid, and intercepted a VJ Edgecombe pass for a dunk. If you picked Dre to lead the team in first-quarter scoring, claim your no-prize at the door. Spoiler alert: he disappeared in the second half and finished 5-of-13 from the field.
James ran the point on a number of possessions and connected with Brown for a cutting layup they’ll run a couple hundred times this season. Landry Shamet took exception to James forcefully shoving him multiple times (no calls) and getting clubbed by Embiid on a drive. ShamWow stood chest-to-chest with the big Cameroonian, and tensions rose when the teams circled around their mates. Things cooled off. To wrap up the quarter, Jose Alvarado slashed to the cup for an athletic layup, Brunson subbed in to float a final shot, and the hometown heroes held a 25-23 lead at the break.
In the preseason, the Drummond-Alvarado two-man game caught our attention. Tonight, they powered the Knicks early in the Q2, helping to give the Knicks a 10-point lead and ignite an 11-2 run. Shamet added his first three-pointer of the season (after a number of misses), and Jordan Clarkson got on the board with a finger-roll.
Also not quite back to game form: the refs whistled 28 fouls in the first half, yet somehow missed contact on a few of Brunson’s drives. The most free throws attempted in a game by the Knicks last season was 38. They had already taken 16 by halftime, and Philly had 21. By the end of the game, the hosts had been whistled 23 times and the visitors, 22.
KAT puts his head down and goes to WORK 💪
Knicks still holding the lead at home as they begin their title defense on NBC and Peacock! pic.twitter.com/UWXDJnQpot
Embiid returned to steady his squad with a pull-up and a triple, plus a few dimes. OG egged his face when he blocked the big fella, but the Pennsylvanians gained momentum as Brunson missed a couple and KAT whiffed at the charity stripe. Fouls bedeviled them, too; Hart and Towns had collected three apiece. After a tight game, Brunson took a Maxey charge, then bucketed off the glass and made three freebies to preserve the intermission lead, 58-54.
With Brunson at the line, LeBron was on the blocks and got into a heated exchange with a fan in the second row. The crowd chanting “We don’t want you” must’ve gotten under his skin.
The Knicks shot worse from the field (42% to 46%), but sat on top due to their 27–19 rebounding advantage. They also outscored Philadelphia 30–20 in the paint, but missed seven freethrows. Through two, Maxey had 16 points, and Brunson had 15. Meanwhile, Drummond had already cooked a 10-point, 12-board double-double (plus two blocks) in 18 minutes. This debut was one to remember.
The third period stunk. Missing eight of their first nine shots, the Knicks’ sloppiness let the Chesesesteaks flirt with the lead before Hart swished a three. We could feel the tide turning, though. With Drummond off the floor, the guests had an easier time penetrating the paint. Anfernee Simons hit three from deep, while Brunson shot 1-of-5 and Bridges, Anunoby, McBride, and Drummond combined to go 0-for-10. With the Knicks throwing the ball away, Brown hit a buzzer-beater to cap an 11-0 run. Philly up 83-76.
Jaylen Brown Hits The Buzzer Beating Three To End The Quarter.
LeBron James Found Him And He Hit The Fadeaway.
The Former Celtic Knocks It Down From Deep As The Superstar Finds Him In Their First Game Together Against The Knicks At Madison Square Garden.
Grand Theft Alvarado didn’t sweat opening night. He poked the ball from Maxey and stepped into a fast-break three. With an OG trey (his first after seven misses), the Knicks rode a 10-5 run to scare Nurse into a timeout. Philly benefited from big shots by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but the unified unit of Towns, Alvarado, Shamet, Clarkson, and Hart kept the deficit at four with five minutes left and Brunson waiting to clock in.
After a Philly timeout, Brown fielded a backcourt of Brunson and Alvarado, teamed with Shamet, Hart, and Towns. The latter swished from the logo to make it 96-95, but Philly’s center countered with his own bomb.
Towns was ready to prove his value, though. He had 19 points and 10 came in the fourth. While Brunson bricked a few attempts, KAT stroked again from deep. A poorly timed Anunoby giveaway became a running Maxey dunk. New York found themselves trailing 104-98 with a minute left. A coach’s challenge overturned an out-of-bounds call and returned the ball to New York with 50 seconds left. Cap wasted little time running in a tricky layup, cutting it to four with 41 seconds to go. At the other end, Embiid airballed from beyond the arc. The ball reached Brunson, who missed a heavily contested triple on the run; no foul was called, and James corralled the defensive board. Ballgame.
Up Next
Mo has a proper recap in the oven. The Knicks return to the court on Friday in Boston. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
