Category: Basketball

Steve Kerr shares expectations for Warriors rookie Will Richard this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are a veteran-laden team entering the 2025-26 NBA season, but coach Steve Kerr is just as excited about the youth at his disposal.

Speaking to “The TK Show” host Tim Kawakami, Kerr raved about rookie guard Will Richard, the 56^th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

“[Richard is] a great young guy,” Kerr told Kawakami. “Totally engaged. Got good size, can shoot it well and he’s just such a sponge. He’s so coachable. I think he has got a future.”

The 22-year-old, 6-foot-4 Richard brings plenty of collegiate experience with him into the professional ranks. He played his freshman season at Belmont University in Tennessee before transferring to the University of Florida, where he started 105 games over his final three seasons of college play.

His success with the Gators led the Memphis Grizzlies to select Richard in the second round of June’s NBA Draft. Memphis then traded Richard’s rights to the Warriors, where he will learn from veteran stalwarts like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford. And while the presence of those established stars will make it difficult for Richard to find playing time this upcoming season, Kerr is bullish on his long-term prospects.

“Usually, guys in their rookie years, it takes time,” Kerr told Kawakami. “So, I don’t anticipate Will playing any time soon. He’ll certainly see some time in Santa Cruz to get lots of playing time. He’s impressive and I think we really like him.”

It’s clear Richard already has endeared himself to his coach and one of his star teammates. Now, it’s up to the rookie to validate the organization’s excitement.

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There has been chatter surrounding a Giannis Antetokounmpo-Knicks union for years, as the star repeatedly refused to shut down the possibility of leaving the Bucks. 

This summer, things got real.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Knicks and Bucks discussed a potential Antetokounmpo trade in August after the star singled out New York as "the only place" he wanted to play outside of Milwaukee.

The talks between the clubs were described to ESPN by a source as "an exclusive negotiating window."

A source confirmed to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley that the Knicks and Bucks had cursory talks about an Antetokounmpo deal in August. The talks did not reach an advanced level.

Begley reports that winning a title in New York appeals to Antetokounmpo, and would be one reason why he sees them as a destination.

Per Begley, the Knicks -- and many other teams -- have monitored Antetokounmpo's situation and will continue to do so. 

The majority of the discussions this summer between the Knicks and Bucks took place after the Knicks and Mikal Bridges agreed to an extension, reports Begley. Due to the extension, Bridges was unable to be traded -- and can't be dealt until Feb. 1, 2026. 

Begley notes that -- as was the case over the summer -- Antetokounmpo would need the Bucks to work with him on a trade destination in order to wind up in New York. Another route? The two-time MVP can make things uncomfortable by forcing his way out of Milwaukee. He could use his pending contract extension (he's eligible in October 2026) to dissuade other teams from trading for him. 

The Knicks, who dealt a ton of their draft pick capital while trading for Bridges last year, might have to get creative if Antetokounmpo hits the market again during the season.

While the Bucks -- who finished 48-34 last season and were the No. 5 seed in the playoffs -- are still a viable threat in the Eastern Conference, it's the Knicks and Cavaliers who are viewed as the favorites to emerge this season in a conference where the Celtics (without Jayson Tatum) and Pacers (without Tyrese Haliburton) are severely weakened.

Antetokounmpo, 30, is under contract through the 2026-27 season and holds a player option for the 2027-28 campaign. His cap hit this season is $54.12 million.

Since winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2018-19 and 2019-20, Antetokounmpo has finished in the top five in MVP voting each of the last five years.

In 67 games last season, he averaged 30.4 points and 11.9 rebounds while playing 34.2 minutes per contest.

Centers of attention: Four storylines to watch in Celtics' preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics kick off exhibition play for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday night in Memphis (8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston).

Here are four storylines we’ll have our eyes on this preseason:

1. Centers of attention

We’ve already seen Al Horford don blue and yellow out in the Bay. Luke Kornet was throwing down lobs from Victor Wembanyama on Monday night in San Antonio. We’re gonna need a little while to get used to seeing Kristaps Porzingis in red and yellow with Atlanta.

Now it’s time to see how the Celtics plan to build back up their frontcourt after all those offseason departures.

Can Neemias Queta build off his success from EuroBasket? Will Luka Garza blossom with more minutes than he saw in Minnesota? Can Xavier Tillman carve out a more consistent role after dealing with knee woes last season? Will the Celtics go double-big with veteran Chris Boucher at the forward spot, or lean more heavily into small ball lineups?

If you’re optimistic about the Celtics’ chances to compete this season, it likely hinges on the team’s obvious perimeter talent. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Sam Hauser give this team ample firepower. The “big” question is how quickly the new-look frontcourt gets settled and whether this group can bring the same sort of defensive impact that has become standard for this team. 

Regardless of how the new season plays out, there’s one question that needs to be answered: Is the starting center of Boston’s next title contender is already on the roster? Will someone grasp the opportunity in front of them, or does center remain the biggest area of need as Brad Stevens and Co. determine how this team will look moving forward?

Four preseason games aren’t going to answer that question, but they’re a chance for all of the younger bigs on this new-look roster to make a first impression as they step into a harsher spotlight. 

2. Fast and the furious

You may have heard the Celtics want to play faster. Outside of Tatum’s rehab, it’s been the most relentless storyline since Boston huddled last week for Media Day and the start of training camp. Brown went so far as to suggest recently that he doesn’t play for a basketball team, he plays for a track team given the way that Mazzulla has been running his team throughout camp practices. 

Brown was quick to note how that’s not a bad thing. He wants to run. And the numbers back up his desire. 

Brown was one of only six players to average five-plus transition possessions per game during the 2023-24 season. (The others: Giannis Antetokounmpo, De’Aaron Fox, RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and LeBron James.) Brown was one of the best high-volume transition finishers while averaging 1.25 points per play during the 2022-23 season.

But the Celtics ranked 28th in transition plays finished last season, too often plodding into their offensive sets. That was down from 10th in transition opportunities during the 2024 title season.

Now, it’s time to shift back to a higher gear. And Brown could be the biggest beneficiary.

Talking after practice Monday at the Auerbach Center, Brown stressed that the Celtics need to play both fast and smart. The Celtics absolutely have to maximize possessions and limit turnovers, even while trying to make quick decisions. 

Preseason play is usually sloppy out of the gates, and Boston’s new crank-the-tempo play style might accentuate any growing pains. But the Celtics clearly yearn to mask some of the talent drain that occurred this summer by playing faster and harder than their opponents. 

3. Pull the cord on the Lawn Mower

After Brown held a state of the union on Boston’s new up-tempo ways, newcomer Josh Minott stood in front of reporters Monday and confidently declared himself the fastest player on the roster. Pull the cord on the man nicknamed the Lawn Mower, and let’s see just how fast he can go. 

Minott has all the physical traits to thrive in Boston. His penchant for cleaning the glass could be important for the size-deprived Celtics, while his desire to run will be welcomed if the team leans heavily into the up-tempo ways. 

Nearly half of Minott’s shot attempts came at the rim last season. One of his top highlights came on a dunk over Derrick White, who made a bit of a business decision in not trying to contest the high-flying Minott while scrambling with help defense.

Minott’s offensive development could be key to unlocking maximum playing time. Defensively, he has the ability to be a menace with his ability to block shots, create steals with his length, and be impactful on the glass. 

Minott is still only 22 years old. There’s been a good amount of camp hype about his ability to impact Boston in a positive way. Let’s see if the Lawn Mower can win fans over this preseason.

4. Away we Hugo

There hasn’t been much playing time for rookies during the Mazzulla era, but we’re eager to see if rookie Hugo Gonzalez gets a chance to change that this season.

Maybe nothing emphasizes the way Gonzalez plays like the clip of him diving to save a ball in the Celtics’ Spike Ball tournament at camp this week. Gonzalez is going to bring energy and grit. HIs 3-point shot looks notably smooth in post-practice shooting. 

Maybe he ends up spending most of the early season up in Maine getting extra reps. But the Celtics need to build a bench, and they need defensive energy in that second group.

We’re eager to see if Gonzalez can make an early impression and earn Mazzulla’s trust.

Steve Kerr urges Jonathan Kuminga to be ‘patient' amid fluctuating Warriors role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation sorted out — for now — the focus turns toward what the 22-year-old’s role will be on a Warriors team with NBA championship aspirations.

Coach Steve Kerr detailed his vision for Kuminga’s usage during an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk.”

“I think the role is right there for him,” Kerr told Burke. “We need JK’s size, athleticism on the wing, his ability to guard the big wing guys like Luka [Dončić], LeBron [James] and Kawhi Leonard. So, the role is right there for him. I know it hasn’t always been easy for him because he’s wanted more of a role, being more of a focal point in our offense.

“But right now, we have Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler — two of the best players in the league. So, JK has to do what every player on our roster has to do, which is embrace whatever role we ask and help us win. If he does that, I’m confident that his role will grow over the coming year.”

Kuminga certainly has the ideal size and physical traits to be a key focal point of the Warriors’ defense, with Golden State’s point-of-attack success poised to play a major role in determining its ceiling during the 2025-26 NBA season.

Kuminga’s agent recently said there was a bit of a miscommunication between his client and the Golden State braintrust, a notion that Kerr disagreed with.

Kerr explained that he understands Kuminga’s situation differs drastically from the other top picks from the 2021 NBA Draft, with the 22-year-old immediately joining a championship roster and not having the same room for error that other prospects in his class were afforded in their first few seasons.

The Warriors coach also urged Kuminga to be “patient,” and that there still is plenty of room for him to grow as a player entering his fifth NBA season.

“Our communication is fine. We have film sessions all the time,” Kerr said. “There’s no confusion about what his role is. What I understand is his desire for more of a role. I think his agent misspoke, frankly, when he talked about confusion. I’m really clear with all my players, exactly what I ask of them, what’s to be expected. I think the difficult part for JK is that everyone in his draft class around him were given big roles right away on bad teams, frankly, that were able to play through mistakes, play 35 minutes.

“JK came to a championship team. We won the whole thing his rookie year. This has not been easy for JK, and I recognize that. But I also think that he could be patient, recognize that he’s 22 and that there’s a lot of things he can improve upon and that we are asking him to do. That’s all a part of being on a team and being a part of a group. He’s a good, young guy. We have a great rapport. I know he’s frustrated, but we will get through it.”

Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 47 appearances during the 2024-25 season, showing tremendous promise before an ankle injury derailed his season. In his absence, the Warriors added Jimmy Butler into the mix, further complicating Kuminga’s fit as Golden State reeled off a notable run of success en route to the NBA playoffs.

On a positive note, Kuminga noted that his ability to share the floor with Butler during Golden State’s Western Conference semifinal series with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season allowed him to begin building crucial on-court chemistry with the six-time NBA All-Star.

Ideally, that chemistry and a clear line of communication between Kuminga, his teammates and coaches will allow the young forward to make the most efficient impact possible on an aging roster that is desperate for an impact from its younger pieces.

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Why Steve Kerr is confident having Warriors' identity built on aging superstars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are zigging while the rest of the NBA zags, but coach Steve Kerr remains confident Golden State’s foundation built on older superstars still is a recipe for success.

Kerr detailed why the duo of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler remains a lethal pairing during an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk.”

“Steph is our solar system. He’s the sun. Everything else revolves around the sun,” Kerr told Burke. “We have Steph Curry. He is one of the all-time great players. We thrive – and Steph thrives – when there’s spacing, ball movement, flow. This is why we have built our team around Steph, and then Jimmy arrived last year and gave Steph another threat next to him. Jimmy is the best isolation player in the league, analytically. When you give him the ball and you space the floor, you give him a good shot.”

Curry’s credentials need no introduction, with the two-time NBA MVP spending the last decade as one of the most feared offensive players in league history. While Curry’s gravitational pull is generational, the addition of Butler gives Golden State a different one-two punch than the Warriors had throughout their dynastic run.

The Warriors felt Butler’s immediate impact after acquiring him from the Miami Heat, posting a 23-7 record in the six-time All-Star’s 30 regular-season appearances with Golden State during the 2024-25 NBA season.

Kerr explained that Butler’s isolation value isn’t limited to just scoring, but also by creating opportunities for others, which creates a need for plus shooting on the floor around him.

“A lot of that, though, is [Butler] creating a shot for someone else, and so we need spacing,” Kerr said. “The combination of Steph and Jimmy last year, once those two guys were together, I think we went like 26-8. [We] beat Houston in the first round of the playoffs, the No. 2 seed. Our identity is built around those two guys, and we have a chance to be really good. Everyone else on the team has to see that, embrace it and find a role within that. That could be difficult at times for certain players, easy for others. But as a coaching staff, we just have to do whatever we think to win each game.” 

While Butler’s instant integraton into the Warriors’ roster certainly was impressive, Kerr also highlighted the benefits of having the five-time All-NBA selection experiencing an entire training camp with Golden State.

“I think having Jimmy from the start will help with our chemistry, our continuity, just the guys getting used to one another,” Kerr said. “The good thing: it was an immediate fit last year, but we didn’t even put anything in. We just gave them the ball and it kind of cleared out. He was really good with that. I don’t think we’re going to do anything earth-shattering offensively, changing our attack a ton. But I do think Jimmy will get more and more comfortable with the stuff that we already do and with the teammates around him.”

Butler averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game with Golden State last season while also providing a boost with his leadership and high-IQ play that can’t be quantified in a traditional box score.

Based on the track record in a relatively small sample size, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic Curry and Butler can pick up right where they left off. The question remains: can the duo stay healthy and contribute at that level for a full season and the grind of postseason basketball?

If, and it’s a big if, they are able to, there’s no reason to think Golden State won’t be right in the thick of things among NBA title contenders this season.

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He is arguably basketball's greatest ever player.

But before his 23rd season in the NBA, LeBron James heightened speculation about his future with a cryptic post on his social media channels that teased a "Second Decision".

A video showed him sitting down across from another man on a basketball court, with the caption: "The decision of all decisions. October 7th. 12pm EST." By Tuesday it had amassed more than 1.3 million 'likes' on Instagram.

Was James about to retire?

It appears not - at 15:31 BST on Tuesday he shared with his 158 million Instagram followers a video revealing "the Second Decision" as a promotion for a drinks brand.

The teaser video shared on Monday had echoed what became known as "The Decision" in 2010 - when in a televised announcement, from a gym, James revealed he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat.

James turns 41 in December and has already made plenty of history in the game.

Last season he became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined points across regular season and play-off games.

In April 2025 his influence beyond sport was shown when he became the first professional male athlete to be honoured as a Ken doll by Barbie makers Mattel.

In the NBA, no other player has made it to a 23rd season.

Since being drafted first overall by hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, switching to the Heat in 2010 and then joining the Lakers in 2018, James has won four league titles and broken a host of records.

One record came after his son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in 2024 and they became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game.

Last week the 6ft 9in superstar insisted he was "excited about the opportunity to be able to play the game that I love for another season".

"The thing still pushing me is the fact that my love for the game is still high," he added.

Some suspected "The Second Decision" would not be a retirement announcement.

With a string of investments and off-court ventures in tow, many of those engaging with the teaser on Instagram and X predicted James would be making a promotional announcement for one such vehicle.

They appear to have been correct.

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Steve Kerr confidently claims 2025-26 NBA season isn't Warriors' ‘last dance' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The window on the Warriors’ dynasty certainly is nearing it’s end, but coach Steve Kerr is confident that the 2025-26 NBA season won’t be the swan song for Steph Curry and Golden State’s aging core.

Kerr was on the famous 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team that earned the “last dance” moniker as the final season in a storied dynasty led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson.

This iteration of the Warriors won’t be the same final chapter, as Kerr explained to The SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami on an episode of “The TK Show.”

“By no means am I looking at this as the last dance or my last dance,” Kerr told Kawakami. “I think this team, you know obviously Steph [Curry], Draymond [Green] and Jimmy [Butler] are signed for two more years. That Bulls team, everybody was a free agent. Michael [Jordan], Scottie [Pippen], Phil [Jackson] were all free agents. It was very clear cut and defined. We were also coming off back-to-back championships. Very unique situation.”

“This is different. This is more of a traditional NBA situation where you got some aging stars, you’re just trying to be good for as long as you can. You don’t know if it’s going to be this year or two more years or three more years. None of us have any idea. So, this definitely is not the last dance.”

Curry, Green and Kerr have led the Warriors to four NBA championships, solidifying Golden State’s place among the best dynasties in league history.

While Curry (37), Butler (36) and Green (35) make up one of the NBA’s older cores, but the hope is their combined experience and generational feel for the game can make up for the tremendous amount of wear and tear on the trios bodies from lengthy professional careers.

The relatively small sample size is encouraging, as Golden State posted a 23-7 record in the regular season after acquiring Butler before dispatching the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in the NBA playoffs.

Although the Warriors enter this season with high hopes, Golden State fans can rest easy knowing there still will be more Curry-led basketball on the horizon.

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Steve Kerr explains how Al Horford ‘instantly' changes Warriors' offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr already loves what new center Al Horford can do for his team.

In an interview with “The TK Show” host Tim Kawakami, Kerr described how Golden State’s free agent acquisition big man didn’t take long to impact the offense.

“Instantly, you see the spacing with Al as a 4 or a 5,” Kerr told Kawakami. “He’s out at the 3-point line, he catches it. He’s [six-foot-10] and he gets his shot off quickly. And so, it’s not just that he’s a good shooter, it’s that it is boom-boom, [the] shot is up there.”

Horford shot 39.2 percent from 3-point range over his last four seasons with the Boston Celtics, and the Warriors are counting on that proficiency to open things up for the team’s playmakers.

“If you space the floor with him, and you run the pick-and-roll with Draymond [Green], and you get downhill … that is a long way for the defense to go, to get to that shot,” Kerr told Kawakami.

But it isn’t just Horford’s proficiency from 3-point range that excites Kerr.

“Conversely, you put him in the post,” Kerr told Kawakami. “You give him the ball, space somebody else out [because] he’s a great passer. Our split game that we’ve been running for a decade—with Steph throwing the ball in and getting a screen from another guard—watching Al the first time we started doing that [in practice], instantly [he had] three assists, little back-door passes for lay-ups to guys, or hitting Steph on the perimeter.”

Horford’s presence figures to boost last season’s 17th-highest scoring offense, and before the first regular-season game has been played, he already has a big fan in his head coach.

“[Horford is] an all-around basketball player,” Kerr told Kawakami. “He’s seen everything at both ends of the floor. He’s a big-time player. We’re lucky to have him.”

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Why Steve Kerr isn't rushing into Warriors contract extension with one year left originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said last week that he’s “comfortable” coaching the 2025-26 NBA season on the last year of his contract with Golden State.

But on the same day, general manager Mike Dunleavy added that he “selfishly” wants Kerr back with the Warriors for a long time.

So, what’s the hold up? Kerr explained to Tim Kawakami on Monday’s episode of “The TK Show” why he’s in no rush to sign an extension despite the Warriors’ desire for him to return next season and beyond.

“I think Mike respects the fact that I’m just at the point in my career, and we are at the point organizationally, where I just want to make sure everything is feels right, and for them, too — not just for me, but for the players, for them,” Kerr told Kawakami. “I think one of the things that I’m aware of is in sports, and every sport, there’s kind of an expiration date on on coaching jobs, and if you feel as a coach that it’s not clicking anymore, then it’s time to go, and I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t believe that that’s where we are right now.

“I think I’m very comfortable with the players. I know they respect me. We have a great collaboration. Love working with Mike, love working with this whole organization. So if you had to ask me, I would guess that it’ll keep going. But I just, I don’t really feel like that’s the right call to make, because I just want to see where this all is. And maybe we’re at the All-Star break, and it’s like, ‘Hey, this is going to keep going. Let’s do it,’ you know, but for right now, let’s just kind of see where this all goes. And like I said, I’m perfectly comfortable with whatever happens, but I love what I do, and I would imagine I’ll keep doing this.”

Kerr signed his two-year,  $35 million contract extension in February 2024. With two years left on Steph Curry’s contract, two left on Draymond Green’s with a player option in the final year and Jimmy Butler also signed through the 2026-27 NBA season, it only seems right that Kerr would stick around for at least one more year.

But there’s plenty that goes into that decision, Kerr explained, team aside.

“As I get older, I think a lot about what would drive me from the NBA, you know?” Kerr told Kawakami. “And what would that mean? I love being part of a team, being part of a group, collaborating. The travel, the length of the season does start to wear on you. A little bit of life enters the equation, family, all that stuff, grandkids. So this is really more about let’s just see where everything is at the end of the year, or midway through the year, whatever it is.

“But I didn’t really feel like addressing this stuff right now, because I want to see how I feel six months from now, and how the organization feels, too.”

No matter how — or when — Kerr’s Warriors tenure ends, many members of Dub Nation likely will feel the conclusion came prematurely.

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