Category: Basketball

The Los Angeles Lakers will have a bold new look next season.

During an event hosted by Nike, the Lakers revealed their new Specter jersey that they will wear a handful of times as an alternate jersey for the 2026-2027 NBA season.

The model walked out on the runway during the event and was seen wearing a No.77 Luka Dončić jersey that had a mixed colorway of purple and black going across it, while the color yellow was on the Lakers wordmark across the chest, and the outline on the numbers, and trim of the jersey.

There was also another unusual change to the jersey, as the Nike logo was seen placed across the middle of the chest, instead of its usual placement on the right shoulder.

On Wednesday, the NBA announced that they were issuing new Standard Issue Collection jerseys for every team in the NBA, as well as NBA Specter Edition uniforms as a way for teams to “trace their roots back to the earliest chapters of the league.”

On top of having a mix of purple, yellow, and black, the jersey also features a blue and white stripe near the front shoulders, likely paying homage to the Lakers’ old blue and yellow colors.

The Specter jersey is a bold choice by the NBA, which hasn’t been shy to test the waters of creativity when it comes to creating different uniforms in the league.

“Basketball is more than a game — it’s a culture and a form of self-expression,” NBA VP Creative Director, Nike Basketball Ross Klein said. “This collection celebrates the attitude, creativity and individuality of today’s hoopers, combining bold team identity and modern style so fans can show their connection to the game in their own way.”

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Michael Brady, who is the Global Head of Merchandise Partnerships & Business Affairs in the NBA, said, “This collection represents the next evolution of our partnership with Nike, redefining how team identity and basketball culture are expressed across the league”

Brady went on to say this collection will bring a new energy and a modern look to NBA fandom.

According to the announcement by the NBA, other teams that are expected to wear specter jersey’s next season include the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics.

The Lakers’ trip to Slovenia seemed to be more about building off-court camaraderie than actually basketball training, although the team did a fair share of both.

What’s for sure is that the Lakers got to enjoy several intriguing off-court activities, including one night spent presumably partying at “a Ljubljana restaurant that also serves as a nightclub.”

The Lakers’ roster knew what to do in Slovenia because of star guard Luka Dončić, who brought and hosted the team in his beloved home country.

Dončić clearly handled his hosting duties well, which Bronny James indicated during an interview on ESPN LA 710 last week.

“We were with [Dončić]. He was hooking us up and getting us in the right places in Slovenia, seeing the most out of the country,” James said.

The country made a lasting impression on James, as he added, “[Slovenia is] great… The city [of Ljubljana] was great, we had the castle that was close to us. And then we went to Lake Bled, which was great. The castle there, and then we played the [golf] course over there near Bled. I wanna go back to go to the Alps and stuff like that. The scenery and everything was great.”

James, who is now single, seems to have savored this Slovenia trip before the Lakers’ season begins.

After months of searching, the Lakers have finally secured their second assistant general manager under Rob Pelinka. 

The Lakers are hiring Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler as an assistant general manager.

He’s also the general manager of the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s G League affiliate.

Amsler is the second assistant general manager hire of the offseason after Pelinka, the Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager, said to start the offseason that the front office was being expanded.

The Lakers have been interested in Amsler since at least late May, according to HoopsHype.

The Lakers hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager in May after Ramadas previously worked as a vice president of strategy and operations for the Pelicans. 

Amsler will focus on the “player draft and evaluation processes,” which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development, while Ramadas’ focus is on the “strategy side,” which entails cap, analytics and data.   

“A lot of the infrastructure is being built,” Pelinka said in May. “We will continue to staff out with assistant general manager positions. There’s a couple of those that we’re currently interviewing for and have done an extensive dive in that process. Those will be two key pillars that we’ll add for this offseason.”

Amsler spent 22 years in the Heat organization, starting as an intern in 2004-05 before working his way up to various other roles: scouting and information coordinator (2005-07); scouting and player personnel coordinator (2007-14); director of scouting operations (2015-18); director of scouting/assistant director of player personnel/assistant general manager of the Sioux Falls Skyforce (2018-19) and director of player personnel/general manager of the Skyforce (2019-23) before being promoted to his most recent role with the Heat.

He’s the Lakers’ first major hire since Mark Walter agreed to sell the majority ownership of the Lakers to businessman Josh Kushner and ex-Disney executive Bob Iger at the historic valuation of $12.5 billion.

Kushner also has ties to the Heat, being a minority owner of the franchise since 2024. He’ll need to divest that ownership stake before becoming the Lakers’ newest owner.

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It turns out the Lakers are not in a hiring freeze.

After spending the summer searching, the team has hired its second assistant general manager. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the team is hiring Eric Amsler from the Miami Heat.

Amsler served as the vice president of player personnel in Miami.

The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Miami Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler as an assistant general manager, sources tell ESPN. Amsler – who spent over 22 years in the Heat organization starting as an intern and working his way up in various scouting, personnel…

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 9, 2026

Another source was very quick to point out that Josh Kushner is a minority owner of the Miami Heat (he'll have to divest to purchase Lakers) https://t.co/xjlaapIj39

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 9, 2026

Amsler held a number of roles in his two decades with the Heat. According to the team’s website, he oversaw the franchise’s scouting department and served as general manager of the team’s G League affiliate. While it’s unclear if he will hold the same role in regard to the South Bay Lakers, he will likely hold a similar role when it comes to scouting and player personnel.

Prior to becoming the team’s VP of Player Personnel, he held a host of jobs with the franchise. As listed by the Heat, here were his various positions over the last 22 years:

• Scouting and Information Coordinator (2005-07)
• Scouting and Player Personnel Coordinator (2007-14)
• Director of Scouting Operations (2015-18)
• Director of Scouting/Assistant Director of Player Personnel/Assistant General Manager, Sioux Falls Skyforce (2018-19)
• Director, Player Personnel/General Manager, Sioux Falls Skyforce (2019-23)

During his exit interview back in the spring, President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka stated that the team planned to hire two assistant general managers. They made their first hire by bringing Rohan Ramadas, a stats and analytics specialist, over from the Pelicans.

Once the ownership hoopla started, namely in Mark Walter selling his majority stake to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, many wondered or expected there to be a hiring freeze, leaving the second assistant GM spot unfilled. Fortunately for the team, that proved not to be the case and now they can move forward with a front office fitting a franchise of the Lakers’ stature.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Back in June, Trey Kaufman-Renn heard his name called at the 2026 NBA Draft.

By the time November rolls around, there’s a good chance he’ll be playing college basketball somewhere.

Kaufman-Renn, a former forward at Purdue who was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA by an Indiana judge on Wednesday, Sept. 9, opening the door for him to return for a sixth college season.

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After five seasons at Purdue, the first of which he redshirted, Kaufman-Renn was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 59 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. In five NBA Summer League games, he averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-9 forward never signed a contract with the team.

Unlike many college basketball players petitioning for an extra season of eligibility under the NCAA’s newly adopted five-for-five model, Kaufman-Renn was not part of the 2022 recruiting class. He was a top-50 recruit in the 2021 class, a group that also included the likes of Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, both of whom are preparing to enter their fifth seasons with NBA franchises.

According to the ruling Wednesday from Clark County (Indiana) Circuit Court No. 6 Judge Kyle P. Williams, the NCAA cannot deny Kaufman-Renn eligibility based on his five years in college and four years playing for the Boilermakers, or his professional status. Additionally, the NCAA must allow member schools to recruit and enroll Kaufman-Renn while permitting him to participate with the basketball team.

If Kaufman-Renn continues his college career, it won’t be with the program he called home the past five years. In a post on Instagram, Kaufman-Renn said he will not return to Purdue.

“Four truly unforgettable years,” he wrote. “Grateful for my teammates, Coaches, Coach (Matt) Painter, the Paint Crew, and Boiler Nation. My chapter in black and gold has come to an end, but Purdue will always be part of me.”

Kaufman-Renn told reporters on Tuesday, Sept. 8 that “six or seven” teams had expressed interest in the Sellersburg, Indiana native playing for them for the upcoming 2026-27 season. He said multiple programs told him he could earn "significantly more" than what he would have as a late-second round NBA draft pick.

Whoever ends up with Kaufman-Renn will be getting a potential difference-maker at an extraordinarily late stage in the transfer portal process. 

Kaufman-Renn started every game as a sophomore for a Purdue team that made the national championship game in 2024, where it lost to UConn. As a junior in 2024-25, he averaged 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and was named an honorable mention All-American. Last season, he averaged 14.2 points and a career-high 8.3 rebounds per game as the Boilermakers advanced to the Elite Eight for a third-consecutive season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Purdue basketball star Trey Kaufman-Renn can return to college for sixth season

Trey Kaufman-Renn accomplished just about everything a men’s college basketball player can do during his five seasons on the Purdue Boilermakers’ roster. Kaufman-Renn came off the bench as a redshirt freshman for the Boilermakers in the 2023 NCAA tournament when they became the second No. 1 seed to ever lose to a No. 16 seed in the first-round. The next year, he was a sophomore starter next to Zach Edey on a team that reached the national championship game before falling to UConn. Kaufman-Renn stepped into a starring role as the Boilermakers made a Sweet 16 run in 2025, and an Elite Eight run in 2026 after winning the Big Ten tournament championship.

Kaufman-Renn’s development into a powerful interior scorer was enough to make him the No. 59 overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2026 NBA Draft, which felt like an inspiring story for a player who grew so much during his time in college basketball. Now Kaufman-Renn is trying to get back to college, and he scored a major victory in court on Wednesday that suddenly makes that realistic.

Kaufman-Renn was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in the No. 6 Circuit Court by Judge Kyle P. Williams, allowing him to join a college basketball team while awaiting a preliminary injunction hearing. It sure feels like Kaufman-Renn could be headed back to Purdue — or another school — instead of going to training camp with the Timberwolves.

Why would Kaufman-Renn rather play in college than the NBA? The money is better at the university level right now. Kaufman-Renn likely would have commanded a top-tier NIL payment worth multiple millions if he had another year of eligibility left. The Timberwolves don’t even have an open two-way spot at the moment with Enrique Freeman, Zyon Pullin, and Rocco Zikarsky all on deals that would split time between the NBA and G League. It’s possible Zikarsky could land an official 15-man roster spot in camp, opening up a two-way deal for Kaufman-Renn. Otherwise, the former Purdue star would likely be on a G League contract to start the NBA season.

Kaufman-Renn redshirted his freshman year as he recovered from a knee injury. Then he played four seasons. He would be ineligible even under the incoming five-for-five system. It seems there’s a decent chance he can get back into college basketball, though. The Big Ten passed a rule that stops former NFL players from returning to college. It said nothing about former NBA players, and the fact that Kaufman-Renn still hasn’t signed an NBA contract could be another loophole. The SEC sued LSU for trying to bring former NFL players back to college.

Kaufman-Renn played in five games with the Timberwolves at Las Vegas Summer League after the draft. The Wolves aren’t the first team to lose a potential player back to college. The Chicago Bulls signed Donovan Atwell as a priority undrafted free agent, and he could have landed a two-way deal after a strong summer league. Instead, he’s fighting to get back to college to again play for Texas Tech with an Oct. 15 court date.

College basketball is becoming an absolute mess with so many players challenging the system this summer for an extra year of eligibility — and an extra year of an NIL payday. There are players all around the country going to court for an extra year of eligibility, and Kaufman-Renn is just the latest example. These players take away opportunities from incoming freshmen, and they will take starting spots away from younger players who have waited years for their chance at a bigger role.

It doesn’t feel fair that Kaufman-Renn might be able to return to college this year after being drafted into the NBA, and the same can be said for all the other players trying to cheat to the system in the same way. College sports are broken right now.

As you guys recently saw, we were looking to add to our staff here at Silver Screen & Roll as we head into a new season. We’ve found some exciting folks — whose bylines you might have seen popping up this wekk — who will be joining the site, some of which you may not know about and one you probably will.

Connor Moreno will provide on-site coverage during training camp, at practices and, most often, at games this season. He spent a year covering the Phoenix Suns, so he’s already been through a lot. But he’s a Lakers fan, so we get to bring him back home to cover the purple and gold this season.

Jackson Frank will be helping out with all the news and rumors and everything in between for us this season. He was the final piece coming our way in the unofficial LeBron James-Quentin Grimes swap. He spent many years covering the Sixers, including over at Liberty Ballers, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the staff.

Lastly, a name many of our longtime readers are familiar with, Plain Fiction will be joining the staff as a contributor. Many of us have seen his detailed comments, blogs in our FanPosts (RIP) or posts in The Feed. They’re as detailed as anything we’re writing on the site, so it was an easy decision to add him to the staff.

I’m excited to welcome all three to our already great staff, giving us even more intelligent voices to help cover the best franchise in the NBA.

Live from New York, it’s the Finals MVP!

"Saturday Night Live" announced that their 52nd season will premiere on Sept. 26, and Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson will be the host. 

Brunson, of course, is coming off a magical season in which he earned his third career All-Star appearance and led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years, earning Finals MVP honors as the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

Brunson won’t be the first New York athlete to host the show, as he’ll join a group that includes Eli Manning in 2012 and Derek Jeter in 2001. 

The 30-year-old Brunson is often very stoic when speaking to reporters, but he's got experience in front of the mic, hosting his "Roommates Show" podcast with longtime teammate Josh Hart.

FIRST FOUR OF SEASON 52!!! pic.twitter.com/m8F1Hnf1gS

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) September 9, 2026

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson is set to become the latest athlete to parlay success on the court into a high-profile acting gig.

Brunson will host Saturday Night Live's Season 52 premiere on Sept. 26, 2026, according to NBC, after leading the Knicks to the NBA championship and earning NBA Finals MVP honors this year. It will be Brunson's hosting debut on SNL.

Brunson is the fifth NBA star to be tapped as a host by the long-running late-night sketch comedy show, joining only Bill Russell, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Girl group KATSEYE will serve as the musical guest on Brunson's Saturday Night Live episode.

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Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 19 playoff games last season for the Knicks before leading the franchise to its first NBA title since 1973. Brunson underwent wrist surgery earlier this offseason, but is expected to return to basketball-related activities in time for the start of training camp.

Brunson has previously appeared in a non-wrestling guest performer role with WWE, mostly in conjunction with Indiana Pacers star and fellow pro wrestling fan Tyrese Haliburton.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks star Jalen Brunson set to host SNL Season 52 premiere

Rutgers men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell revealed he has cancer.

Pikiell announced on Wednesday, Sept. 9 he was not feeling 100% a few months ago and visited the team doctors, and after undergoing testing, he learned he has cancer. He did not disclose what type of cancer it was.

"I am incredibly grateful to my team of doctors at RWJBarnabas Health and Memorial Sloan Kettering for guiding and supporting us through this difficult time," he said in a statement. "After a successful surgery, my doctors and I have a kick-ass game plan to finish treatment."

Pikiell still plans to be involved with the team "to the best of my ability" as he undergoes chemotherapy in the coming months, but associate head coach Brandin Knight will be at the helm when Pikiell is unable to.

Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn said there is no set timeline for when Pikiell will be able to fully return to the team.

"We are grateful to Coach Knight for his willingness to step up during this challenging time and to our entire staff for their great care and compassion for Coach and our student-athletes," Zinn said.

A letter from men's basketball head coach Steve Pikiell to Rutgers Nation. https://t.co/lvMCRvht2V#TheKnighthood🛡️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/gkWOjHWCuK

— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) September 9, 2026

Pikiell arrived at Rutgers in 2016 and led the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, their first apperance in 30 years, and winning its first tournament game in 38 years. Rutgers again made the tournament the following season.

In 10 seasons in Piscataway, Pikiell is 161–160.

Knight has been at Rutgers since Pikiell's arrival in 2016, elevating his way from assistant to associate coach.

Rutgers opens the 2026-27 season against New Haven on Nov. 6.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rutgers men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell reveals cancer diagnosis

The Los Angeles Lakers are not lacking for offensive firepower throughout their perimeter rotation. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are among the NBA’s foremost backcourts overall, especially offensively. Collin Sexton is a dynamite scorer off the bench. Quentin Grimes is a valuable floor-spacer who capably attacks closeouts.

To compete for home-court advantage and a top-four seed out West, though, they must prove they can competently defend on the perimeter. That is not a strength for Dončić, Reaves or Sexton. Grimes’ on-ball defense has ebbed and flowed throughout his career. Reinforcements in that department must arise elsewhere for Los Angeles to properly complement what should be a potent offensive unit led by Dončić and Reaves.

Enter Ziaire Williams, whom the Lakers inked to a one-year, $2.8 million deal earlier this summer. During a recent interview with Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register, Williams laid out the role Lakers head coach JJ Redick and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka envision for him. Their priority, according to initial conversations he’s had with them, centers on “first and foremost, being a main defender, point-of-attack defender.”

Thus far in his career, Williams has shown some standout lateral agility and ability to navigate screens effectively. But he’ll need to find consistency on offense to amplify his defensive flashes.

Throughout his first five NBA seasons, he’s largely struggled as a shot-maker. He’s knocked down 42.2% of his field goals, including 32.2% beyond the arc, which compose more than half (55.4%) of his total attempts. He has, however, flashed keen off-ball movement, converted a career-high 34.3% of his triples last season and is a career 54.6% shooter inside the arc. He’s hoping all of those skills fit seamlessly alongside the Lakers’ primary creators.

“Obviously Luka (Doncic) and AR (Austin Reaves) are going to be the main primary ball handlers,” Williams told Royer. “So just playing off them, being able to shoot, cut, make plays in transition, stuff like that. They thought it was a great fit for me to be here, and the feeling was mutual.”

Williams will have the chance to compete for heavy minutes in the Lakers’ crowded, yet mostly unproven wing rotation this upcoming season. While the likes of Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht and rookie Cameron Carr will all similarly look to earn significant playing time, any definitive claim to minutes — save for maybe Grimes — seems dubious currently. If Williams expands upon his career-best year in 2025-26, the chance to carve out a prominent role is absolutely available.

“I just thought it was a great opportunity,” Williams said of why he chose to sign with the Lakers after averaging a career-high 10.2 points per game for the Brooklyn Nets last season. “Being that big wing, versatile player that they needed, I just thought it was a great opportunity for me to be a Laker. Even if the same team was in New Orleans or Milwaukee, wherever – just the opportunity that was here and the team that they had, I just thought it was the best fit. And then just being back home in L.A. is the cherry on top. Being able to play in front of my family and my friends, and I’m super excited.”

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

Megan Thee Stallion is making one thing clear: Her breakup with Klay Thompson has not been a fun ride.

The “Savage” rapper admitted in a recent interview with InStyle that her split from the former Golden State Warriors superstar has caused her to “feel like I’ve been put through the washing machine and the dryer with tins, shovels, and a cactus.”

Megan began dating Thompson last year, and for months, they looked to be on the path of marriage. The two were constantly together, and she even showed up to a number of his NBA games to cheer him on from a courtside chair.

However, in April, Megan announced the pair had separated, writing in an Instagram post that Thompson had cheated on her.

During her chat with InStyle, Megan called the whole situation “very rough.”

“How do I want to say this gently?” she said. “What’s meant for you is always going to work out. And if something is constantly making you feel uncomfortable, just on edge all the time, you probably are not supposed to be there.

“God will always make you uncomfortable when something is not meant for you. I think I just kept trying to make pieces fit that didn’t belong, trying to fit myself into someone else’s life. I was losing myself a little bit. I am now in the space of finding me again.”

Megan added that she’s now seeking a relationship in which she and her boyfriend are on the same pedestal.

“I cannot be minimized,” she said. “I will not be behind any man. I will have a partner. I will be equals with my partner. I’m never gonna take the backseat to anything. So just going forward, I think I’ve just learned this is the type of person that I want to be with, this is what I will tolerate, this is what I won’t tolerate. And if you can’t take that, we just gotta respectfully go our separate ways.”

As for how the single life is treating her, Megan said she’s learning that “being by yourself is OK.”

“Like, I ain’t smiled so much in so long,” she said. “Like, I’m outside twirling in the grass like, ‘Wow, it’s a beautiful day outside!’

“I don’t know the last time I did that.”