After a summer of rumors and talks, Russell Westbrook signing with the Sacramento Kings is about to be a reality.
Westbrook and the Kings have agreed to a one-year deal, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and since confirmed by other reports. The deal is expected to become official on Thursday. While the financial terms are not yet public, this is likely a fully guaranteed deal for the veteran minimum of $3.6 million (keeping the Kings $1.8 million below the luxury tax line). Westbrook had not picked up his $3.5 million player option with Denver and became a free agent.
Westbrook, 37, averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists a game last season in Denver. What he brings nightly is energy that can change games — even at this age, nobody plays harder than Westbrook every night. However, he's not an efficient scorer at this point in his career, nor is he a great defender.
The Kings needed depth at the point behind Dennis Schroder, and Westbrook slides right into that role. While the Kings have high hopes for him, and just exercised the third-year option on him, second-year point guard Devin Carter did not seem ready for the leap yet.
Sacramento will have a bench unit with Westbrook, Malik Monk and Doug McDermott behind a starting five of Schroder, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Keon Ellis. It's also a roster that could see shakeups this season as Sacramento looks to retool after having to trade De'Aaron Fox last season, a move that forces a reset.
Murray and the Kings agreed to a five-year, $140 million contract extension, his agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed to NBC Sports California’s Tristi Rodriguez Wednesday.
Kings lock up Keegan Murray for the long haul – signing him to a five-year, $140 million contract extension, his agent Mark Bartelstein confirms to me. Shams on it first.
Behind only Domantas Sabonis, Murray currently is the longest-tenured Kings player. He’s now here to stay. pic.twitter.com/mRWT64YPbv
Murray has averaged 13.3 points points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 233 regular-season games for Sacramento.
The 25-year-old shot 41 percent from the 3-point line during his rookie season and has maintained a reputation as one of the NBA’s preeminent perimeter threats in each of his first three professional campaigns.
Murray currently is sidelined with a UCL injury and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with Sacramento kicking off its regular-season on Oct. 22 against the Phoenix Suns.
While Murray’s return to the court will have to wait, the Kings wasted no time locking up a foundational piece for years to come.
When the New York Knicks started their search to replace Tom Thibodeau as head coach, they cast a wide net. That included talking to Dawn Staley, the South Carolina women's team head coach, who multiple NBA front office people have told NBC Sports was the woman most likely to land an NBA head coaching job right now (Kara Lawson, the new USA Basketball coach, replacing Staley, is the other name that comes up).
That job offer didn't materialize, and the Knicks ultimately leaned into a veteran NBA coach in Mike Brown. At SEC media day, Staley was direct and honest in saying she didn't expect to see a female head NBA coach in her lifetime.
"I don't. And I hope I'm wrong," Staley said.
Staley said she took the interview with New York because of the relationship she has with Knicks president Leon Rose.
"I did the Knicks interview because I've known Leon Rose for 30 years," Staley said. "I have a connection to him and Worldwide Wes. I've known them all my life. It was a real interview, and I like to see what they're talking about."
Staley also got into the details of the challenges both the coach and the organization that someday hires a woman coach would face.
"If I'm the Knicks coach and you have a five-game losing streak, it's not going to be about the losing streak. It's going to be about being a female coach," Staley said. "So you as an organization and a franchise, you have to be prepared about that and strong enough to endure those types of instances when you're a female coach."
Staley has a resume that should get her seriously considered for an NBA job. She has led the South Carolina women to three NCAA titles and coached the USA women to a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. All that is on top of being an eight-time WNBA All-Star and a three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player. However, what has most impressed NBA front office execs about her is that she has the presence to command an NBA locker room, she's someone the players would respect.
But we may never get to see how it would play out with her.
The Atlanta Hawks front office was aggressive in adding talent to the roster this summer — Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard — but was cautious in offering Trae Young a contract extension. Atlanta pushed its chips into the middle with this group, it wants to see how things look before deciding whether to continue down this road or turn the car around and make a dramatic change.
That applies to Porzingis as well, and he sees it the same way. Porzingis is extension eligible, but told Fred Katz of The Athletic there is no push to get a deal done now.
"I know that's an option. I wanna see how the year goes," Porziņģis said ... "I wanna show that I'm playing at a high level again, that I'm healthy, that I'm everything, and then that kind of stuff will take care of itself, you know? We'll see ...
"I don't wanna rush anything and say this or that, but I wanna take it one day at a time," he said.
Porzingis is set to make $30.7 million this season in the final year of a two-year, $60 million contract he signed in Boston. This summer, as it looked to cut salary, the Celtics traded Porzingis to the Hawks in a three-team deal with Brooklyn.
On paper, Porzingis is exactly the kind of big man Atlanta needed — an impressive rim protector on the defensive end who is a pick-and-pop threat with Young. Last season, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds a game, shooting 41.2% from 3-point range. He looked good playing for his native Latvia this summer at EuroBasket as well. However, he played in just 42 games last season (due in part to a mysterious virus) and has played in 65 games just once in the previous seven seasons. He needs to show he can stay on the court, availability will have a lot to do with how much his next contract is worth.
A contract extension with the Hawks could start as high as $43 million a season, although a number closer to where Porzingis is now — in the $30-35 million range a season — seems more likely if he can stay on the court.
If the Hawks live up to the hopes and expectations of fans and the front office this season — top four seed, advancing out of the first round of the playoffs at least — then Porzingis, Young and others are going to get paid this summer and Atlanta is going to continue down the road. If the wheels come off, well, things are going to get hot in Atlanta next summer.
If the expectations and goals for the Warriors in the 2025-26 season weren’t clear before, general manager Mike Dunleavy came to help.
Despite how loaded the Western Conference is, Dunleavy will measure Golden State’s success on one primary thing.
“Success here by the standards that have been set is probably winning your last game. We know what that means,” Dunleavy said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Beyond that, we can have a successful, rewarding season in a bunch of different ways. But you’re judged by banners here.”
“This year, we feel like we have a team that can [win a championship]. We want to be in the mix. And I think we’ve given ourselves a chance in that regard. You need health, you need some good fortune, you need some of those things to go your way for sure.
“But I think with this group, the experience we have, the skill level we have, we’re going to be right there in the mix as soon as we have all those other things we need, like health and good fortune.”
The Warriors already are being judged by their age, but it wouldn’t be the first time they won a title when the odds were against them.
And as the league has come to learn, Golden State prefers to be the underdogs.
We are now one week away from the start of the NBA season, which means many of our pre-season pipe dreams and fantasy scenarios will be doused in cold water from the reality of real NBA games. However, some of our pre-season darlings will emerge through the first few weeks and announce their arrival as players to keep an eye on in this new season.
Below is a breakdown of some of my favorite breakout candidates for the 2025-26 NBA season. Some of them have already flashed star upside, some of them showed it in college, and others are going to demonstrate it to the NBA fanbase for the first time. But let's dig in and find out why I think these players are get to soar to new heights this year. Eric
Breakout Players for 2025 Fantasy Basketball Season
Trey Murphy III (SF/PF, NO) - ADP: 52
I know it's weird to call a player with an ADP nearly inside the top 50 a breakout, but I just believe there's another level for Murphy. Last season, he averaged career highs in points (21.2), rebounds (5.1), and assists (3.5), but he played just 53 games due to injury, so his performance kind of went under the radar. People were also harping on his turnover rate increasing and his three-point shooting efficiency decreasing, but I think that's the nature of a young player stepping into a bigger role; there are some growing pains along the way.
Murphy is a talented player who can do a bit of everything and will start for a Pelicans team that will be without Dejounte Murray (Achilles) for a while. Zion Williamson is not the picture of health himself, so there could be stretches where it's just Murphy and Jordan Poole asked to shoulder the load for the Pelicans. I think Murphy's efficiency will continue to improve, and I'm going to bet on a player with his natural talents to continue to succeed.
Stephon Castle (PG/SG, SAS) - ADP: 109
You could argue that Castle started to breakout at the end of last season, when he averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over 26 games without De'Aaron Fox in the lineup. However, I don't think enough people are accounting for continued growth here. Castle was the fourth overall pick in last year's draft and won NBA Rookie of the Year, but he doesn't really come up in many conversations about ascending young talents.
Yes, Fox should be back a some point early in the season when his hamstring injury heals, and the Spurs drafted Dylan Harper with the second pick, but Castle doesn't really need the ball in his hands to be successful. He's an excellent slasher and understands the spacing of the floor well enough to cut into open lanes. We've also seen him look more comfortable shooting from behind the arc this preseason, which would be a major box ticked in the evolution of his game. I don't expect him to become an elite shooter by any means, but it's just another tool in a pretty loaded toolbox.
Matas Buzelis (SF/PF, CHI) - ADP: 101
Buzelis is everybody’s breakout pick, and his ADP on Yahoo sites alone is now inside the top 80 picks. A lot of that is because of what he has done this preseason, but also because he showed what he can do in a high-usage role last season when he averaged 13.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 27 minutes per game over his final 33 games. There will be some inconsistencies because he's still a young player who just turned 21 years old this week (CHEERS!). Still, Buzelis will assuredly find himself in a high-usage role for a rebuilding Bulls team that lacks many playmakers apart from Josh Giddey and, sometimes, Coby White. Buzelis can do a little bit of everything, and I think he should be able to improve on those numbers we saw in the final 33 games, but do it for an entire season.
Toumani Camara (SF/PF, POR) - ADP: 110
Can I call somebody a breakout just because I like their vibe? I enjoy the way Camara plays basketball, and his nickname is “The Shadow,” which is almost enough of a case for him to appear in this article, but there are legitimate on-court reasons as well. Camara is an excellent defender, which will help you with STOCKS, but also will keep him on the court for major minutes. Last season, he also took a big step forward offensively, improving his usage rate and becoming more efficient as a scorer. However, he scored only 11.3 points per game, so I think another step is coming. With Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton out of town, there is more opportunity to go around, so I think Camara will see his usage rate increase again this year. He's not likely to be an elite scorer off the dribble, but he continues to improve as a shooter, so if we think of him as a 3-and-D wing with the tools to add a little value as a slasher and finisher in transition, there's a chance he pushes for top-50 value.
Reed Sheppard (PG/SG, HOU) - ADP: 111
Yes, Sheppard didn’t do much last year and played only 12.6 minutes per game, and is on a team that just traded for Kevin Durant, so he's clearly not going to emerge as a major offensive force in his second season. Still, Sheppard was the 3rd pick in last year’s draft and was a "high floor" prospect who could shoot, play defense, and see the floor well. Even as a rookie, he posted elite deflection rates that backed up his strong block and steal numbers from college. He's a strong shooter and should push for the starting PG job with Fred VanVleet out. Even if he settles in somewhere around 10-14 points per game, he's going to make some threes every game and initiate offense for a Durant-led team that should give him solid assist numbers to go along with STOCK upside. I think he can help across all nine categories.
Mitchell Robinson (C, NYK) - ADP: 182
Robinson has already “broken out” if you’re a New Yorker who has been waiting for him to start and be healthy forever. When he's on the court, his rebound numbers are insane, and he's an efficient scorer around the rim. However, things could be much better for Robinson this season. With Mike Brown now coaching the team, Robinson looks likely to start in New York with Karl Anthony Towns at power forward. That alone will allow Robinson to post tremendous rebound numbers with solid points/blocks. Yet, another level of breakout could happen because Mike Brown wants the Knicks to play fast and get out and run. Even though Robinson isn't the athlete he was as a rookie before all of his lower-body injuries, he's a great athlete for his size and could thrive in a transition-based offense. This could be a big year for Mitch.
Isaiah Jackson (C, IND) - ADP: 185
The breakout case for Jackson is simple since he will likely start at center with Myles Turner gone on a Pacers team that also needs to replace the scoring and usage of Tyrese Haliburton. Fantasy baseball drafters are aware of this, and Jackson is zooming up boards; however, there is plenty of breakout potential here. He has been great per minute as a reserve, and should have plenty of value for a team that is desperate for people to step up. Even if his offensive game doesn't take a huge step forward, he will have plenty of value in rebounds, blocks, and steals. We also need to note that he is coming off a torn Achilles, so the only question will be how quickly he actually does get back to 100%.
Adem Bona (C, PHI) - ADP: 226
Bona was basically a defense-first, high-efficiency big man off the bench for the vast majority of last season. However, he started 11 games at the end of the season with Joel Embiid hurt and posted 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals in those games. That's the kind of upside you're dreaming on here, and we know his breakout potential is fully tied to Embiid's health. However, Embiid is never healthy and is coming off yet another knee injury. Bona was solid for Turkey in EuroBasket, and I think he's ready for a bigger role this season. He won't be a huge scorer, but is a good athlete, with plenty of block/rebound value.
Moussa Diabate (C, CHA) - ADP: 228
The breakout case for Diabate is a little bit less for him to emerge as a star and more for him to emerge as a solid NBA starter. I think he can take over the starting center role in Charlotte, but he will have to beat out Ryan Kalkbrenner. When he was given the chance to start last year, he showed elite rebounding value and also solid STOCK value as well. He has always been a great rebounder and high-motor player, but he's also evolving as a scorer, and we've seen some nice post moves from him in the pre-season. I think he can get more involved in the offense this season, and his defense will keep him on the floor, which means he could be a legitimate double-double threat every night this season.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
The NBA season tips off in less than a week, and if you haven't finalized your fantasy basketball draft strategy, the clock is ticking! Finding hidden fantasy gems or high-upside late-round sleepers is the key to winning your league. While many managers focus on the top 100 players, true value often lies beyond that.
Fear not, because this in-depth fantasy basketball guide uncovers a number of players with an Average Draft Position (ADP) outside the top 100 who are poised to deliver sustainable fantasy value and become league-winning draft picks this season. Get ready to find your secret weapons and dominate your category leagues with these expert picks for fantasy basketball 2025-2026.
Fantasy Basketball Late-Round Sleepers
Zach Edey, Grizzlies (ADP: 118)
The obvious concern when it comes to Edey is the fact that he underwent offseason surgery, likely costing him at least the first few weeks of the season. While this drags his ADP down, it does not make him someone you need to avoid altogether. After a strong finish to his rookie season, it appears as though he is locked in as the starting center and, perhaps more importantly, will play closer to starter's minutes than he did for much of last season. If he can get to 28 minutes per night, his elite blocks upside, coupled with efficient scoring and strong rebounding numbers, could see him flirt with top-50 value on a per-game basis.
Dereck Lively, Mavericks (ADP: 110.6)
Despite the continued presence of Daniel Gafford, Lively is clearly the center the Mavericks want to prioritize alongside Anthony Davis. While he is coming off surgery himself, Lively has little competition for minutes at the moment, with Gafford sidelined due to an ankle injury. A lack of offensive versatility does limit his overall upside, as does the fact that he will be sharing the floor with multiple rebounding options, namely Davis, Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington. However, if he can stay healthy and continue to develop, playing 26 minutes per night is not out of the question, putting him firmly in the discussion to be a top 80 player when all is said and done.
Tari Eason, Rockets (ADP: 116.2)
It's much easier to make a case for Eason, given his proven per-minute upside. He finished the 2024-25 season as the 65th-ranked player in category leagues, in just 24.9 minutes per game. While the Rockets have increased the top-end talent, bringing in Kevin Durant, Eason should still feature prominently on a nightly basis. Fred VanVleet is likely to miss the entire season due to an ACL injury, meaning everyone on the roster will be doing a little more. Factoring in a slight increase in playing time for Eason, simple math would tell us that he could once again be a solid top-70 asset, typically available in the 10th round of many drafts.
Reed Sheppard, Rockets (ADP: 117)
Another beneficiary of the injury to VanVleet, it appears as though Sheppard will be the starting point guard come Opening Night. It will be a massive step up for the sophomore after averaging just 12.6 minutes per game during his rookie season, suiting up on 52 occasions. With such a small sample size, it's hard to get a good read on what he might be able to do in starter's minutes. With that said, he is a noted defender who has demonstrated the ability to run an offense. At this point in any category league draft, the reward typically outweighs the risk. Conservatively, Sheppard should be viewed as a potential top-80 player this season, with the upside to finish even higher, should his skill set translate better than expected.
Cason Wallace, Thunder (ADP: 124.9)
Wallace ended his second season in the NBA as a top-100 player in category leagues, albeit only just. He closed as the 99th-ranked player, thanks largely to the fact that he averaged 1.8 steals per game. Had it not been for the historic season laid down by Dyson Daniels, Wallace would likely have received more attention for his defensive exploits. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and we have a situation where the lack of media attention could work in the favor of fantasy managers. The Thunder roster remains basically unchanged this season, running it back after a memorable 2024-25 campaign. With that said, Wallace is probably the one player who could see an uptick in playing time, which can only help his overall appeal. Even with just two extra minutes, he could hypothetically flirt with top-70 value, making him a somewhat safe target outside the top 100.
Kyshawn George, Wizards (ADP: 140.1)
There is certainly an element of risk when it comes to considering George, if not only for the fact that he plays for the Wizards. Coming off a solid rookie season, George looks set to be handed a starting role this season, at least until Bilal Coulibaly returns to the court. He followed up his rookie campaign with a strong showing in the recent Summer League, as well as a promising preseason. Offense remains a big question mark, one that could make or break his season. He has the defensive chops to play a key role, but if he can't develop his scoring, his opportunities could remain limited. With that said, at pick 143, there is almost no risk involved, making him one of my favorite late-round targets.
Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz (ADP: 138.5)
Sensabaugh is another player who comes with risk, with Utah running one of the more unpredictable rotations in the league. Now in his third season, Sensabaugh has yet to establish himself as a key piece for the Jazz. In 20.2 minutes per game last season, he averaged 10.9 points and 2.2 three-pointers per game. However, through six preseason games, he has shown far more aggression, averaging 22.0 points, 1.0 steals and 3.7 three-pointers in 24.3 minutes per game. Given the lack of peripheral stats, it's going to be a fine line when it comes to Sensabaugh as a sustainable fantasy asset. But once again, taking someone this late in drafts eliminates all the risk.
Somewhere behind the puff of Michael Jordan’s cigar smoke, he’s still seething about an NBA MVP from a season he didn’t even play in.
Karl Malone winning the 1997 MVP by 11 more first-place votes and 29 more points won than Jordan was a big enough insult to him that he beat Malone’s Utah Jazz over six games in the NBA Finals, won the award the next season and then famously stole the ball from him with 20 seconds left before hitting the winning shot for his sixth ring in what was Jordan’s final game in a Chicago Bulls jersey. Watching the 1998-99 season while retired for the second but not last time must have irked Michael more.
History says Malone won his second MVP in 1999 – his first with Jordan out of the league. But that also was a lockout year in which the season was condensed to 50 games. Malone played 49, easily the least amount for an MVP.
The shortened season also helped Malone become the oldest MVP in NBA history at 35 years old. Enjoy the stogie, MJ. We’re rewriting history and giving the honor back to Jordan when he won the award at 34 in that ‘Last Dance’ Bulls season the year prior.
That still makes Jordan, as the new oldest MVP ever, three years younger than the age of 37-year-old Warriors superstar Steph Curry entering the 2025-26 season. Curry will be 38 in March and is going into his 17th season. Malone was in his 14th season when he was named MVP in 1999, and Jordan was in his 13th when he won the award in 1998.
Everything Curry does goes against historical norms. So would winning his third MVP. Just like every time the ball comes off his fingertips, there’s always a chance.
And a few league-wide changes to this upcoming season will already help him.
Steve Kerr and others within the Warriors have expressed their anger watching Curry’s shooting hand get smacked on his follow-through without a whistle being blown. The NBA this season, in collaboration with the Coaches Association, is implementing the high-five rule. Curry already was a beneficiary in the Warriors’ second preseason game, converting a four-point play against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Warriors’ first points in their fourth game of the preseason came from three free throws by Curry on a night where he was 12 of 13 at the line in three quarters.
Defenders also won’t be able to attack a shooter’s wrist after the completion of his follow-through. Curry frequently was the recipient of both defensive strategies last season while nursing a sprained thumb.
“I think it’ll help Steph every game because of the relaxed rules on that the last few years, everybody’s out there just trying to hammer him on the arm,” Kerr said on Oct. 2. “It’s a good change for him, it’s a good change for everybody.”
Curry shot below 40 percent on 3-pointers last year for only the second time in a full season, finishing at a paltry (sarcasm) 39.7 percent. That rule alone would have put Curry back above the 40-percent threshold with fewer misses. Another new one could also help.
The honest hooper inside of Curry refuses to let grenades at the end of quarters scare him from taking a shot. Now others will be incentivized to join him.
Starting this season, missed shots taken at least 36 feet with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, no longer hurting an individual player’s field goal percentage. While others such as Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have shied away from the shot, Curry has taken 111 heaves for his career and has made six. This might not have as big of an effect on Curry’s stats as the other rule changes, but every little detail helps in chasing history.
The MVP for Curry and the Warriors as a whole will be H-E-A-L-T-H. Warriors fans ought to chant those six letters before every game.
Curry is the best-conditioned player in the NBA. His season also ended five and a half months ago from a hamstring injury, a soft tissue issue he had never previously dealt with. It also began back in the summer when Curry had to save Team USA at the Paris Summer Olympics to win gold.
Though Curry has averaged 72 games the last two years, ideally he’d play closer to 65 this season, the minimum for awards. The perfect sweet spot in recent history would be somewhere between the 66 games Joel Embiid played in his 2023 MVP season, and the 72 Nikola Jokic played in his 2021 MVP season.
Winning matters, too. The Nuggets won 47 games in Jokic’s first MVP season and were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. When Embiid took it from him, the 76ers won 54 games and were the No. 3 seed in the East. The latter number would be more than enough from the Warriors for Curry to be in the MVP conversation. Not 47.
That many wins would have been the reward of the No. 9 seed in the West last season. The magic number of wins the Warriors should be aiming for is 50, the same amount the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 seeds in the West just were.
Not even a glimpse of the finish line is in Curry’s sights, and yet, the upcoming season is the 10-year anniversary since he won his second straight MVP and became the first unanimous winner. His everyday why a decade later is in 20/20 vision.
“The work you put in, love of the game, being around great people in this organization. Still keeping winning as the priority,” Curry said at Warriors Media Day, talking about his evolution since then. “And blessed to still hopefully be in that situation for a couple more years.”
If Curry plays enough games, the Warriors win enough games and he resembles the player jolted to life by the powers of Jimmy Butler, he’ll be on the ballots. Curry’s stats to end the season with Robin at his side were comparable to or better than his first MVP season. Over his final 28 games, where the Warriors went 22-6, Curry averaged 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3 percent overall, 40.8 percent from three and 92.4 percent on free throws. The bright lights were on and Curry was at center stage, where he thrives most.
Curry knew he had a chance to compete for another title soon after feeling Butler’s fit, and he has the same feeling again. Only on a better, but possibly more brittle, team.
History books are used to making room for Curry etching his name on its pages by now. The odds are more against him than ever, and the road he’s about to turn on has never been traveled. Curry has the keys in his hands and the show’s about to begin.
Sacramento and veteran point guard Russell Westbrook have agreed to a free-agent contract, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that the contract is one year, worth $3.6 million.
Can confirm the Sacramento Kings have agreed to a deal with former MVP Russell Westbrook, per source. @ShamsCharania first.
As it's been well-reported, the two have been in communication all offseason. Kings players were informed earlier this week about the impending signing.
It was important for Westbrook, a Los Angeles County native, to stay close to home. He played in Los Angeles, with both the Lakers and Clippers, from 2021 to 2024 before spending last season with the Denver Nuggets.
Since Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox last season, the team has been searching to fill the void at point guard. The Kings signed Dennis Schroder this offseason, but they clearly want to secure as much depth as possible.
Westbrook declined his $3.4 million option with the Nuggets and became a free agent after one season in Denver, where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games. The single-season triple-double NBA record holder still has it, too, after recording the ninth-most in the league last season with four.
It remains to be seen what kind of role Westbrook will play with the Kings, especially after the signing of fellow veteran point guard Schroder, but the nine-time NBA All-Star certainly gives them valuable experience as they seek a playoff return.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on this season:
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s the first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers for Doncic, who has officially taken over the franchise. Despite LeBron James still being his teammate, it’s clear that Doncic is both the future and the present for the Lakers. After dropping weight and signing a max extension over the offseason, all eyes should be on Doncic.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Normally considered the 1B to Jayson Tatum’s 1A, the former Finals MVP will have to do it alone this year. Tatum is out with a torn Achilles, giving Brown his first chance to show what he can do as a No. 1 option. The Boston Celtics‘ championship roster has been completely slashed, but Brown remains the leading force.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
The No. 1 pick in the draft will always come with increased fanfare, but Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks with heightened expectations. After trading away Doncic, Dallas struck gold in the lottery. Flagg is now on a ready-to-win roster, where he won’t be relied on as heavily as most top picks. How will he fit alongside Anthony Davis?
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Similar to Doncic, Butler was traded in the middle of last season. He hit his stride immediately, as the Golden State Warriors went 23-7 with him in the lineup to close the regular season. Seeing Butler play next to Steph Curry, Draymond Green and newly-signed Al Horford for a full season could be special — if the aging veterans can stay healthy.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Hopefully we can watch him play this season, right? The former league MVP suited up for just 19 games last year and 39 the year prior. Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia 76ers‘ center, but he seems to be OK entering the 2025-26 campaign. When he does play, Embiid is among the most skilled stars in the NBA.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were the darling of the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard — and hoping Jalen Johnson returns from injury. One player that didn’t get a new deal from Young, who can opt out of his contract after this season. This team represents Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run since the 2021 conference finals run, but all the pressure is on considering his uncertain future.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve been playing this game with Williamson since he was drafted first overall in 2019 — will he or won’t he stay healthy and in shape? Weight issues have hindered him throughout his career, and this could be his last chance to make it work in New Orleans. Still just 25 years old, Williamson has to prove he can make it through a full season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
His significant other A’ja Wilson just won her third championship and fourth WNBA MVP for the Las Vegas Aces. What can Adebayo do to respond? The Miami Heat center is always one of the league’s best defenders, but his scoring has dipped in recent years. With Butler out of town, more of the offensive load should fall on Adebayo in a critical year for his career.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Like Brown, Nembhard is facing a season without his running mate. Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles will put Nembhard into the lead guard role for the Indiana Pacers. Fresh off another impressive playoff run that led to an NBA Finals loss in Game 7, Nembhard now needs to carry his usual postseason production across an 82-game season.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise of the NBA last season, going from 14 wins to 44 wins and giving the New York Knicks a scare in the first round. Cunningham led the way, making his first All-Star Game and Third Team All-NBA. What does he have in store for 2025-26? The 6-foot-6 guard just turned 24 last month, so he presumably could continue to level up.
If the Warriors are to become a force in the Western Conference, they’re going to need Jonathan Kuminga. For at least as long as he’s on the roster.
Coach Steve Kerr, whose relationship with Kuminga has been a topic of debate for at least two years, has accepted that. The Warriors, the second-oldest team in the NBA, need Kuminga’s athleticism, his youthful vitality and his ability to create offense in isolation. The more he shines, the more they shine.
That’s how, in three months, we’ve gone from the Warriors and Kuminga each exploring outside options toward a divorce to Kerr raving about the 23-year-old forward and even approving of the explosive conduct that led to Kuminga’s ejection Tuesday night in a 118-111 preseason victory over the Trail Blazers.
“I love the way he played,” Kerr told reporters at Moda Center in Portland. “I love the fire, the passion. I don’t mind the objection at all; I kind of liked it, actually.
“I thought JK was terrific tonight.”
Prior to being ejected with .9 seconds left in the first half for belligerence in the face of referee Rodney Mott, Kuminga was doing a nice job of following the script the Warriors handed him as a rookie. He was running with velocity, rebounding with force, making smart and timely passes and generally providing the kind of offense no one else on the roster can deliver.
And while Kuminga has adventured into some missteps through four preseason games – with two starts, including Tuesday – there has been enough constructive hoops to encourage the Warriors and a fan base semi-divided over his merits.
He’s shooting 11-of-21 from the field, 3-of-9 from deep. Small sample size, but respectable enough. Where Kuminga is showing considerable advancement is with rebounding and passing. His 17 rebounds rank second on the team, behind only Trayce Jackson-Davis, and his 16 assists rank second on the team, behind only Brandin Podziemski.
To put a finer point on it, JK is flipping dimes at a slightly higher rate than Draymond Green and a much higher rate than Stephen Curry. His 17 rebounds have come in 74 minutes. Quinten Post, a 7-foot center, has 14 rebounds in 79 minutes.
Numbers like that might persuade Kerr to shrug off the brief tantrum that prompted the ejection.
“He kind of got right in Rodney’s face,” Kerr said. “You can’t do that. They’re going to eject you if you do that.
“But, like I said, I like the fire, and I like the energy that he played with. The emotion. I think JK’s having an excellent camp and I’m excited about how he looks.”
That’s the JK the Warriors have been seeking. The JK who inspires concern in opponents They can live with some of the ill-conceived turnovers if the other parts of his game are flourishing. Their roster is light on athleticism, and he’s the most athletic player. Their roster is heavy on high-IQ vets with tremendous aptitude for the game. He’s still on the learning curve but can offer lightning-bolt activity they can’t.
It’s profoundly evident that Kerr and his staff are trying to find the right balance of experience and youth to succeed. With four players – Jimmy Butler III, Al Horford, Curry and Green – age 35 or older, there will be considerable load management in the 82-game regular season. It’s essential that the veterans be competently supported by the 25-and-under group. That means, above all, Brandin Podziemski (22), Moses Moody (23) and Kuminga.
Kerr believes in Podziemski, so he’s assured to get meaningful minutes. Putting Moody in the starting lineup late last season yielded positive results and could happen again.
Kuminga, however, has been the wild card. In the lineup some nights, in and out of the rotation on a regular basis.
“He got fouled,” Kerr said, again referring to the ejection. “It was a frustration play. I have no problem with it. He deserved the foul (being called). He was getting fouled quite a bit. It was a physical game.
“But the way he ran on that play, the activity that he played with, the rebounding – he had six boards in one half, 17 minutes – that’s the JK who can really help our team.”
Kuminga is trending toward stability. Toward trustworthiness. The Warriors could use that, as could a few other teams. Whether they trade him before the Feb. 5 deadline for someone who is a “better fit” or consider him too valuable to move, they win.
Jason Kidd is an in-demand coach. In the past two years, when the Lakers and Knicks had job openings, they asked for permission to talk to Kidd, but were shot down.
This is on top of the extension Kidd received last season, and he reportedly had two years total left on his deal. This likely keeps Kidd under contract through the first few years of the Cooper Flagg era in Dallas.
In four seasons as the Dallas head coach, Kidd has won 55% of his regular-season games and led the team to the playoffs twice, including an NBA Finals run in 2024. He's a coach players want to play for, which is part of the reason both the Lakers and Knicks checked on his availability, but there is no way the Mavericks were letting him walk out the door.
This season, Kidd coaches an interesting Dallas team with a huge and active starting front line of Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II (with P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford off the bench) — this is a long and athletic roster with quality rim protectors. However, with Kyrie Irving out for the first part of the season (there is no timeline for his return from a torn ACL), Kidd will need to rely on D'Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson in the backcourt, which is not a great defensive unit.
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