Category: Basketball

In an offseason when the Los Angeles Lakers had a near overhaul of their roster and were praised for giving out new contracts in every direction, former guard Marcus Smart felt differently.

After opting out of a two-year, $10.5 million deal he signed with the Lakers the year before, Smart told Varun Shanka of The Houston Chronicle, the offer he received over the offseason felt “disrespectful.”

“First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didn’t match the way that I played,” he said to the Houston Chronicle, “Especially when you see guys who played way worse than I did, the offers they’re getting. And then it wasn’t any security that we wanted that they were willing to do.”

Smart, a Texas native who grew up outside of Dallas in Flower Mound, is back in his home state with his former Boston Celtics coach, Ime Udoka, when he agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million deal that includes a player option with the Houston Rockets.

“They gave me an opportunity to be able to go out and try to get what I’ve earned,” Smart said to the Houston Chronicle, “And what I’ve been working my tail off to provide for my family is a decent-sized paycheck with obviously years on it, right? Or a big paycheck with less years, but to be able to have that option.”

The Lakers have committed $480 million towards Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler.

Kessler was the Lakers’ big offseason acquisition when they acquired him from a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz for $129.5 million for the next four years.

Aside from adding Kessler, the team also added Collin Sexton by committing $19.2 million towards him for the next two years, $60 million to Quentin Grimes for the next four years, and $52 million to Sandro Mamukelashvili. All three of them have player options included in their deals.

When Smart originally arrived in Los Angeles, he expected to be a solid depth piece that would come off the bench last season, but he quietly emerged as a defensive anchor who was in the team’s starting five during the playoffs.

Smart finished last season with a defensive rating of 116.9, averaging 2.2 defensive rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.

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"A total badass."

That's how ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas remembers Chris Spatola.

Spatola, who died unexpectedly Sept. 21 at age 47, built a remarkable life that stretched far beyond the basketball court. He was an Army standout, a U.S. Army veteran, a respected broadcaster for ESPN and SiriusXM, and the son-in-law of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

News of his death has left the college basketball world reeling. Friends, colleagues and former teammates have flooded social media with stories of his generosity, humility and competitive spirit.

Bilas counts himself among them.

"Devastated and heartbroken," he said, mourning the loss of "a treasured friend."

"Chris was the most solid guy that you could ever meet," Bilas told USA TODAY Sports. "High character, thoughtful and he was selfless. He wasn't the first to speak, but when he spoke, it was always thoughtful and measured."

That's how Army basketball teammates remembered Spatola, too.

"You wouldn't hear him speak unless he had something really important to say,'' George Tatum recalled of his backcourt mate Spatola, three years his junior. "To see Chris come out of his shell and be such a great commentator and a star on TV, it really warmed my heart to see him finally coming into his own with that profession.''

Rick Schultz was the Army radio play-by-play announcer for two seasons, including Spatola's freshman year. Five years ago in Syracuse, the pair ran into one another at a hotel, and Schultz asked him: Did you ever imagine you would be on the broadcasting side? Spatola shook his head no and said, "I never had any idea."

"It's such a tragedy," said Pat Harris, who coached Spatola at West Point for four seasons but knew him years earlier as a Duke camper. "I still haven't wrapped my arms around the loss of Chris. It still hasn't set in. It's almost like you think it's a hoax."

Harris wasn't the coach who recruited Spatola, a product of Babylon, Long Island, to the U.S. Military Prep School for the 1997-98 season (it was previous coach Dino Gaudio) but he certainly benefited from the 6-1, gangly kid who led with determination and possessed a great shooting touch. He had a great feel for the game and a tremendous basketball IQ, noted former teammate Babe Kwasniak, also three years Spatola's elder.

Spatola started as a freshman, played 111 games and scored 1,543 points, ranking No. 5 all-time at the Academy. He was fast, a 90% free-throw shooter his final two seasons and a deft passer. "I can't really say that Chris ever truly took a bad shot," his coach said.

West Point remains a military academy where seniors can still look down on lowly freshmen — or plebes, as they are called — in the pecking order, but that dynamic changes when it comes to the "fields of friendly strife" and becoming teammates. Kwasniak recalled a young Spatola helping him clean his barracks room, and also presenting the Firstie (a senior) his first salute.

"I think when it came to (playing basketball), that was like breathing to him," Kwasniak said. "It just came very, very natural." That endeared him to his teammates, whether at West Point or on the All-U.S. Army team, when his squad didn't care about his 1,500 collegiate points or ties to Coach K.

Bilas had known Spatola since 2004, when Spatola married Krzyzewski's daughter, Jamie. Over the next two decades, their paths remained intertwined. Spatola served on Duke's staff from 2007 to 2012, connecting him to Bilas' alma mater, and later the two became colleagues at ESPN.

Yet for all the basketball ties that linked their careers, it was rarely the subject of their conversations.

Instead, Bilas said Spatola always focused on the people around him, whether it was the players and coaches he covered, the fans who followed the sport or, most importantly, his family. That selflessness only deepened Bilas' admiration for a man who had already accomplished so much, including serving in the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002 to 2007.

Despite an impressive résumé that included military service, coaching and broadcasting, Spatola never made himself the center of attention. That's one of the many qualities Bilas found remarkable.

"Chris was all-American in every way as a human being," Bilas said. "I would sit there and sort of see Chris and go, 'You realize he's done things tougher than we could ever imagine, right? Like, do you guys have any idea what he's accomplished?' And he would never tell you that.

"You would have to pry it out of him, all the accomplishments that he had as a vet, and and when he would talk about it, it would usually be something on Veterans Day when he was putting attention on others, not on himself. That was the kind of guy he was." 

That's why Bilas will always remember him as "a selfless human being that was a total badass."

"Chris was a person that I loved, but also admired," he added. "He'll always be a part of of everyone that was fortunate enough to know him."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From Army to ESPN, Chris Spatola was a 'total badass' who never stopped winning people over

This week, ESPN released its list of the top 100 NBA players. The San Antonio Spurs had three players in the top 50: Dylan Harper (50), De’Aaron Fox (43), and Stephon Castle (38). It’s safe to assume that Victor Wembanyama will be in the top 1o, revealed later this week.

One player was notably missing from the rankings: Devin Vassell. Despite starting on an NBA Finals team, averaging 13.9 points while shooting 38.4% from three in the regular season, and making huge strides on the defensive end in the playoffs, Vassell was left completely off the list. Even Carter Bryant got a mention as a player who will probably be on the list next year.

Now ESPN is just one of many sites ranking NBA players, and is one of the only ones not to include Vassell (The Ringer has him at 65). Maybe this is an editorial oversight? If not, it’s one of the biggest snubs of this year.

Notable players who made the list over Vassell include: Lu Dort, rookie Caleb Wilson, Peyton Watson, Donovan Clingan, Coby White, and Fred VanVleet (who didn’t play a game last season). Dort is a particular head-scratcher, as he couldn’t stay on the court in the playoffs as his jump shot abandoned him and his defense failed to make a game-changing impact. Dort averaged 8.3 points while shooting 34.4% from three last season.

To validate upset Spurs fans about the snub on ESPN’s list: yes, Devin Vassell is undoubtedly a top-100 NBA player. He’s probably somewhere in the 70s to 80s. His combination of shooting, size, shot creation, and budding defense makes him one of the league’s more exciting glue guys.

Next year is a big season for Vassell, though. The Spurs will have a lot of attention on them after their Finals run last season. With players like Harper, Tobias Harris, Julian Champagnie, and Keldon Johnson all fighting for minutes, this will be one of the most competitive seasons San Antonio has experienced in quite some time, both externally and internally.

Vassell will be crucial to San Antonio making it back to the Finals in 2027. He’s one of the few players on the Spurs roster who can both shoot from deep and reliably put the ball on the deck and create his own shot. He’s the team’s best pull-up jump shooter. If he can maintain the level of defensive intensity he showed in the playoffs, this team could soar to new heights in the regular season.

One thing that could drive him to get there is the feeling of being underestimated. The Spurs need an edge this season after coming up short last year. Vassell playing with a chip on his shoulder is only going to make the team better. In the end, being left off the ESPN top 100 could be a good thing.

In his first public comments since taking over the franchise, Clippers interim CEO/governor John Gibson thanked Kawhi Leonard after the franchise sent the star forward back to Toronto via trade. 

As part of a nearly five-minute long video the Clippers released, Gibson addressed multiple topics about the franchise, including briefly touching on the trade involving Leonard, the Clippers’ new leadership structure and moving forward. 

After 2 ½ months of waiting, the Clippers officially traded Leonard to the Raptors on Sept. 14, nearly two weeks after the NBA punished the Clippers for circumventing the league’s salary cap by “initiating off-court income opportunities” for Leonard with four different companies that also did business with the team. 

The Clippers received Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round draft picks (2031 and 2033), one first-round draft pick swap (2027) and two second-round picks in the transaction. 

The trade brought an end to what was a disappointing era for the Clippers.

Leonard led the franchise to just two playoff series victories during his seven seasons with the franchise. 

The lone time the Clippers won multiple playoff series in the same postseason came in 2021, when the franchise advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history after Leonard tore the ACL in his right knee midway through the second round series against the Jazz.

“We thank Kawhi for his contributions on the court and wish him well,” Gibson said. “At the same time, we are excited to welcome Brandon Ingram along with offseason additions Gradey Dick, Rui Hachimura, and Max Strus. They join a talented core that includes Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez, Kobe Sanders, Isaiah Jackson and Keaton Wagler, whom we were thrilled to select in this year’s draft.”

Gibson also announced the official organizational changes after the league’s punishments left the Clippers with multiple holes. 

General manager Trent Redden will serve as the interim president of basketball operations, while assistant general manager Mark Hughes has been appointed as the interim general manager. 

In addition to a $30 million fine to the franchise, the team being stripped of five first-round draft picks (2029-33) and Clippers owner/CEO Steve Ballmer being suspended for a year, president of business operations Gillian Zucker (one year) and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank (six months) were also suspended for their roles in the scandal involving Leonard.

Gibson reiterated that the Clippers have “complete confidence” coach Ty Lue’s leadership as it navigates its post-sanctions future.

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“Ty has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity, unite teams, and inspire players to perform at their best,” Gibson said. “His leadership will be instrumental as we move forward.”

Gibson, a Los Angeles-based lawyer, was named the franchise’s interim governor and CEO on Monday in light of Ballmer’s suspension. 

He’s a longtime Clippers season-ticket holder and was a “nationally recognized trial lawyer and litigation partner”, the Clippers stated, at DLA Piper in Los Angeles.

“For more than 20 years, I have proudly been a member of Clipper Nation,” Gibson said. “I have witnessed the growth of this franchise, the passion of our fans, and the resilience of the people who wear this logo every day. I appreciate how far we have come. I respect the work that built this organization and I’m excited about the future we will create together. As Steve said, the challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve. And our resolve will be measured not by what we say, but what we do. 

“You’ll see that resolve in action in three key areas. First, we will build bridges. We will engage openly with our players, staff, fans, sponsors, business partners, the NBA, fellow governors, the players association, and our communities. We want to hear your concerns. We want your ideas. We want your perspective. We will listen with humility. We will act with purpose. Second, we will build on our culture of compliance. Excellence requires accountability. We will continue working closely with the NBA to ensure strong compliance systems,effective oversight and the highest professional standards throughout our organization. Our goal is straightforward: Compete with integrity. Operate with professionalism. Earn and maintain the confidence of our fans, players, partners, and the league. Trust is not given. Trust is earned. We are committed to earning your trust every single day. Third, we will build on our team and our organization. We are conducting a thoughtful and comprehensive review of both basketball and business operations to ensure every decision supports a winning culture.”

The Warriors are no longer considered legitimate championship contenders, but they’re still one of the NBA’s most fun teams. 

There are great storylines. There’s intrigue. There’s history. There’s suspense. 

They won four championships in eight years, becoming the league’s modern-day dynasty. Steph Curry, Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr are still together. 

Last season, Kerr referred to the Warriors as a “fading dynasty.” Can they resuscitate the team before the 38-year-old Curry retires? Will they make a big move ahead of February’s trade deadline? 

Regardless of what happens, the Warriors are still one of the NBA’s most interesting teams. Here are five things to get excited about ahead of next season:

1. Steph Curry is still the most jaw-dropping player in the league

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is like a metronome because of his stunning consistency, regularly producing 30-point performances while locking down defenders. 

The runner-up for the league’s most prestigious individual award, Victor Wembanyama, is rightfully called an alien because of how agilely he moves around the court with his 7-foot-4 frame, blocking shots, sinking jumpers and making his defenders look like junior high players. 

But there’s something different about Steph. 

When he gets going, there’s nothing like it. He goes unconscious. He makes shots from stunning distances with multiple hands in his face while falling down. The rim becomes ocean-sized. He transforms into a wizard. 

Even though he’s turning 39 in March and dealt with a balky knee that sidelined him for 27 straight games last season, Steph is still Steph. 

Last season he was the oldest point guard in NBA history to be named an All-Star starter. He averaged 26.6 points on 46.8% shooting from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc, 3.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. 

And on any given night, he was capable of the scoring explosions that make the NBA so fun to watch, including finishing with 35 points (27 in the second half) against the Clippers in their play-in game in April. 

2. Draymond Green remains one of the league’s top defenders 

Draymond’s magic lies in his ability to guard positions 1 through 5 on the court as well as excite his team. 

He pours himself so deeply into what he does that it inspires everyone around him. He’s vocal. He’s intense. He’s long been the team’s spark plug. 

Look no further than what he did against the Clippers in that play-in game. With the Warriors’ season on the line, he held Kawhi Leonard to two points in the fourth quarter. 

Said Leonard: “It was hard to even get shots up.”

Green went all in on trying to recruit LeBron James to the Warriors this summer, including declining his $27.7 million player option to free up money before James eventually chose the 76ers. 

Green still has it. And he still deeply cares about winning. 

3. Jimmy Butler is coming back

The Warriors were dealt a debilitating blow last season when Butler suffered a torn right ACL on Jan. 19. 

That knocked them out of contention, dashing any hopes of competing in the very-crowded Western Conference. 

Butler will miss the start of the season, but he’s expected to make his return around January or February. 

Last season, the Warriors were inconsistent when Curry, Butler and Green shared the court. But back in 2025, after trading for Butler in February, they finished the season by going 23-7. 

If they can tap back into that magic, they could be exciting.  

4. Steve Kerr is still at the helm

Kerr contemplated retiring as Warriors coach last season. 

But he still felt the pull to be on the sideline alongside Curry and Green, and signed a two-year contract extension in May. 

Kerr, who has been at the Warriors’ helm for 12 years, is the conductor of one of the greatest teams the league has seen, and there’s something that feels right about him being alongside Curry and Green as they face their basketball mortality. 

Kerr did a lot of soul searching before deciding to return. He acknowledged that the team and the coaching staff have a lot of areas in which they need to improve. 

And he’s ready to help the team try to fight its way back to relevance.

5. Yaxel Lendeborg is intriguing 

The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in June’s NBA draft, their highest pick in the last five years. 

Part of the reason they chose the 23-year-old is because he’s ready to contribute immediately. 

Lendeborg, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year and led Michigan to the 2026 men’s national championship, also delivered during the summer league in Las Vegas, leading the Warriors to a championship while being named tournament MVP. 

The rookie, who’s considered a jack of all trades and is skilled at scoring and defense, could make an impact in the rotation. 

If all goes well, he could infuse the team with some young blood while helping plug the roster’s holes. In other words, he could make things much easier for Curry, Green and Butler.

The Nets signed forwards Dain Dainja and Ben Humrichous, rounding out their 21-man training camp roster. 

Dainja and Humrichous played for the Nets at Summer League. 

Both are likely on Exhibit 10 deals and headed to G-League Long Island after camp, where they would be eligible for bonuses up to $91,000 after 60 days. 

The 6-foot-7, 222-pound Humrichous went undrafted in June after being a backup on the Illinois team that made the Final Four. 

He averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes, shooting 36.1 percent from deep. 

Dainja, 24, had gone undrafted a year earlier and spent last season with Miami’s G-League affiliate, so the Nets would need to acquire his returning rights from the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Austin Reaves.

Last year was a bit of a convergence season for Austin Reaves and the Lakers, where his pursuit of a new contract, his ever-expanding role and his continued upward development were all on a collision course to determine what his future on the only franchise he’d ever known would be.

The fact that Reaves thrived when he was available to play and was ultimately rewarded handsomely with a lucrative new contract that pays him (essentially) his maximum allowable salary, should not be a surprise. The Lakers see Reaves as one of their true success stories: a player plucked from the world of undrafted free agents and developed into a high level contributor. There’s institutional value that comes from that beyond what he produces on the court.

But it is that tangible improvement he’s shown every season and is baked into the story of Reaves’ NBA life that the Lakers are also paying for. Reaves went from a converted two-way contract as a rookie who only saw the court because of his hustle, connective instincts and competitive nature on defense to, in every ensuing season, adding more responsibility and production offensively to the point that, this past year, he was slotted above LeBron James in the pecking order.

That Reaves has done all this while never completely losing sight of his role-player roots is what makes him a cultural touchstone for head coach JJ Redick and a leader as the now longest tenured Laker on the roster. That his talent, particularly on offense, has placed him as the second banana to Luka Dončić is why he’s ultimately paid what he is. But it’s the complete picture of him as a player and presence off the court that made the Lakers decision to go all the way up in salary the way they did this past summer such an easy decision.

Make no mistake, though, the deal Reaves is on now is not just about the player he is, but the one the Lakers project him to be. Reaves just turned 28 and may be squarely in his prime, but the team is paying him to continue to improve, to continue to refine and smooth out the edges of his game and build on the foundation he laid down last season as someone who is able to scale up in usage and responsibility to increase his production while maintaining efficiency.

It may sound reductive, but at least part of Reaves’ job now is justifying the investment the Lakers made in him. If he does, the team will be better off and (very likely) win as a result. If he doesn’t, not only will the opposite be true, but Reaves will find himself in the crosshairs in a way that he never has been before.

That’s the reality of being on the contract he is now. The Lakers hope, though, it won’t come to that. And history says they have reason to be confident.

What is his best-case scenario?

In October and November of last season, Austin Reaves played in 16 of the Lakers’ 19 games and averaged 28.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 52.2% from the field, 36.1% from behind the arc and 87.9% from the foul line on 7.4 attempts per night.

Of the 16 games that Austin appeared in, Luka Dončić played in 13 of them while LeBron James played in only four. That said, the Lakers went 13-3 in those contests and Reaves looked like one of the better players in the entire NBA while being discussed as an early All-Star and All-NBA candidate.

If looking for a best-case outcome for what Reaves can be this upcoming season, one only look at this stretch of the year where, without LeBron for most of the games and without Luka for a few more, Austin was clearly the team’s second option and was part of a team where every other player on the roster was put in a position to support the strengths of him and Luka.

Said another way, this stretch was about as close to the role Reaves will be asked to fill this season. Yes, the supporting cast has changed and there’s been a bit of an uptick in the usage of some of the role players with Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton all capable of being on-ball creators who can absorb possessions when needed. But, the fact remains that Austin will still be clearly slotted into the second shot creator role and will not have a third star like last season who he will not only split duties with but, based on their history as partners, will sometimes defer to in ways that minimize his own role.

So, while I can go on and on about a projection of how Reaves’ game can translate to what he’ll be asked to do this season and project the highest end of what that can be, it’s much easier to go back and watch clips from when he was put into this exact situation and looked like one of the top shot creating guards in the league.

What is his worst-case scenario?

Any worst-case outcome for Reaves almost certainly involves his health not cooperating and him missing significant chunks of the season. Which, if we’re being honest, should be at least a slight concern for the Lakers.

Last season, I do not think it’s a coincidence that in the campaign when he was asked to carry the biggest shot-creation burden of his career, he suffered two soft tissue injuries, first a calf strain in December and then an oblique strain in April. Maybe it was just bad luck, but playing the style and minutes he did last season was simply a much heavier load on his body and I think it’s only fair to wonder, when projecting him into a similar workload this year, those same rigors could end up costing him time.

And if injuries did crop back in, it’s not just that Austin’s availability would be impacted, but it’s all the ways that an injury and missing time impact a player’s rhythm, with ramp-ups and getting back into game shape or the right physical condition shaving away at your overall effectiveness on any given night. Something that would only be exacerbated without that third high-level shot creator no longer there to lean on or burden share with.

Beyond the injuries, however, there’s a chance Austin’s growth and development stagnates or, in some ways, even goes backward. Or, if that feels too strong, where certain parts of his game just do not work to the same degree they did last season. Austin is a very talented player, of course, but because he’s not an overwhelming athlete, he often needs all facets of his game to be working in unison to give him access to all the counters and misdirection that can make his game truly sing.

There’s a world, then, where multiple small things combine to lessen his game in what end up being significant ways. Let’s say he doesn’t shoot the three ball as well, especially off the dribble. Or maybe he doesn’t get as favorable a whistle. Or that his mid-range jumper doesn’t fall to the same degree it has in the past. Or maybe he doesn’t find the right chemistry in the pick and roll with Walker Kessler and their timing doesn’t quite sync up in the same ways it has with other players in the past.

If even two of these things happen for any extended stretch during the year, maybe he has a harder time getting to the rim. And when he does get there, he draws fewer fouls and it all sort of cascades to turn him into a lower-volume scorer who isn’t as efficient as he typically is. Combine this with a bigger bullseye on him and more expectations and there’s a scenario where Reaves is suddenly looked at as not the player the Lakers believed him to be, but on a huge max-level deal that is underwater in the trade market.

Now, do I envision this being likely? No, I don’t. But I also don’t think any of these things are totally out of the realm of possibility either.

What is his most likely role on the team?

There’s no question that with LeBron now gone and a remade roster to begin this new era of Lakers basketball, Reaves will take his place as the second most important player behind Dončić, both as an on-court talent whose production is needed for the team to play at its best and as a leader within the organization whose steadiness, general competitiveness, and approach to the work will serve as a standard bearer within the organization.

Further, there’s a strong likelihood that for half his minutes this year (and maybe more), he’ll be the best Laker on the court and will carry a burden and responsibility of shot creation and stewardship of the team’s entire offense that mirrors what Luka provides whenever he’s in the game. And while Austin did some of that this past season, after that first stretch of the year and a few games in March, he always had LeBron there as a release valve and someone to burden share with when Luka was not in the game.

Whether Reaves is up for this sort of challenge, particularly in the playoffs, remains to be seen. But the Lakers are betting on him being ready — and betting big. And if Austin delivers, it will simply be more proof that he’s exactly the player who they’ve continued to give more and more responsibility to since he entered the league. And to be fair to both sides, he has not let them down yet.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

The Houston Rockets kicked off their 2026-2027 NBA season on Tuesday with their annual Media Day. Every season, it gives NBA fans and media a chance to see what players have improved this summer, what they’ve rehabbed from injuries, and what they expect for the upcoming season.

For the Rockets, the top topic was Fred VanVleet’s health. VanVleet missed the entire 2025-2026 season, which played a major role in the Rockets’ struggles. SB Nation asked Ime Udoka about VanVleet’s health, and the coach said he doesn’t expect the veteran point guard to play back-to-backs but is making good progress.

Media Day also gave me a chance to speak with Rocket players from last season, like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, as well as the new additions, like Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Media day kicks off the new season and gives everyone a chance to see the players for the first time in several months, but the more important start is training camp.

Training camp kicked off a week earlier than normal for the Rockets, as they will start their season in China with two games against the Dallas Mavericks starting October 7, with the preseason on October 15th and the Rockets’ one home preseason game on October 15. The Rockets began their training camp Wednesday at their training facility in Houston. SB Nation was out at Wednesday practice as Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, and Marcus Smart all spoke to the media afterward.

Houston Rockets Training Camp Day 1

The Houston Rockets kicked off day one of training camp with a full workout with all players participating. That included the player most Rockets fans were looking forward to seeing on the court: Fred VanVleet. VanVleet spoke during media day on Tuesday and also after practice Wednesday.

VanVleet spoke about being back on the court, whether he thinks he will play back-to-backs, and what he saw from the bench last season. SB Nation asked VanVleet how both he and Kevin Durant, as veterans, will help them hit the ground running despite not playing together last season.

I asked Fred even though him and Kevin did not play together last season will both of them being vets will make it a lot easier to hit the ground running this season.

“Kevin is probably maybe the greatest plug and play guy y’all find He can play in any system any court any team… pic.twitter.com/5HXMXuAiup

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) September 23, 2026

VanVleet also said he doesn’t see each game as a “being back” moment, since it will remain a process all season. Udoka also spoke with the media after practice about the team’s day-one emphasis, what Marcus Smart brings to the Rockets, and how having VanVleet will change their offense.

SB Nation asked Udoka about the change in offense with their veteran point guard back on the court.

“Definitely want to move Kevin around. If teams are going to try and take him out, they can pretty much do that anywhere on the court, but you can put him in some better spots to take advantage of that and avoid some blitzes.”

I asked Ime Udoka with Fred back will we be seeing less Alperen and KD at the top of the key having to initiate the offense.

“Definitely want to move Kevin around if teams are going to try and take him out they can pretty much do that anywhere on the court but you can put him in… pic.twitter.com/rEe7Gn20xZ

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) September 23, 2026

Udoka also responded to whether he feels the Rockets have been overlooked for this upcoming season.

Here Ime responds when asked if he feels the Rockets are being overlooked.

“Yeah I would say so we played on opening night last year we played on Christmas last year so that says it.” pic.twitter.com/SRN9gh0O2R

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) September 23, 2026

Marcus Smart was the last Rocket to speak after day one of training camp, and he talked about working with VanVleet, what the culture is like for the Rockets, and how he fits into that culture.

Here Marcus Smart was asked what he has noticed about the Rockets culture since joining the team.

“Perfect fit it’s a perfect fit.”

BTW Marcus is going to be an interview all star this season In the first two days he has been great. pic.twitter.com/7UjOhUYEgE

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) September 23, 2026

The Rockets will practice Thursday again as they continue to ramp up in preparations for their preseason opener on October 9 in Macao, China, against the Dallas Mavericks.

On Tuesday, a 528-page authorized visual book of the Lakers’ franchise history was published by TASCHEN.

The book features never-before-published artwork and photographs, along with original stories and essays from many members of the Lakers’ organization, past and present.

Star guard Luka Dončić’s essay is making waves on social media for the passionate message he sent about being part of the franchise.

“Somehow, now I have landed in Los Angeles. I’m a Laker now. I’m not sure that I ever could have imagined being here and wearing the purple and gold. It’s a wonderful surprise and it feels amazing and now I desperately want what all Lakers want: To win it all,” Dončić was quoted as saying, per an Instagram post from @jdeez.

“I won’t rest until we win more championships.”

He later added, “On one of my first days as part of this incredible club… Jeanie Buss welcomed me into her office and showed me all the trophies that sit next to her desk, overlooking the practice court. She told me that now I will have the chance to write my own story as a Laker. That is what I plan to do.”

The emotional message concluded with Dončić saying. “I tend to let my game do most of the talking, but I want Lakers fans to know that I am ready, excited, and eager to deliver SO ready. This is a city that is used to winning and winning big. I am so honored and grateful that I get the chance now to write my own championship chapters.”

Lakers fans are hoping everything Dončić has promised in this message will come true.

The Lakers’ local broadcast team will bring back familiar faces while also having some shakeups for the 2026-27 NBA season.

Spectrum SportsNet announced Wednesday that play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald and analyst Stu Lantz will return to lead the Lakers’ television broadcast team. 

The upcoming season will be Macdonald’s 17th year calling Lakers games. 

Lantz will only call Lakers’ home games in his 41st season on the broadcast team, while three-time NBA champion Danny Green will be the primary analyst for road games. 

Green, who played 14 years in the NBA and won NBA titles with the Spurs (2014), Raptors (2019) and Lakers (2020), stepped in for Lantz multiple times during the 2025-26 season.

Lantz missed multiple stretches of last season recovering from medical procedures.

Green will also continue to contribute to the network’s studio coverage.

Spectrum SportsNet shared that additional analyst details will be announced for the upcoming season.

Mike Trudell will return as the team’s sideline reporter for his 16th season, sharing the role with Roqui Theus, who’s new to the Spectrum SportsNet broadcast team.

Theus is the daughter of former NBA coach, All-Star, broadcaster and current Bethune-Cookman athletics vice president/men’s basketball head coach Reggie Theus. 

Roqui Theus played college basketball at UC Irvine before starting her broadcasting career, which has included stops at KTLA, KRNV News 4-Reno, Nevada, Good Day Sacramento, KPIX (CBS San Francisco/Bay Area), KLAS TV (Las Vegas) and ExtraTV.

Veteran host Chris McGee and Lakers Hall of Famer James Worthy will continue to lead Spectrum SportsNet’s studio programming.

Sasha Vujacic, who won NBA titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, will be in the rotation for Spectrum SportsNet’s studio programming.

Green, Derek Fisher and Robert Horry will remain in the studio programming rotation. Mike Bresnahan and Allie Clifton will continue to contribute to the network’s studio programming and podcast.

Lakers games will also sound different inside of Crypto.com Arena after longtime franchise public address announcer Lawrence Tanter retired in June, ending a 43-season run.

Game Info

When: Thursday, September 24th at 7:30 p.m. ET

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Injury Report

Sky: DiJonai Carrington – Out (Foot), Skylar Diggins – Out (Knee), Rickea Jackson – Out (Knee), Azura Stevens – Out (Knee)

Mystics: No Injuries Reported

Pregame notes

And it comes down to this. The final game of the season is upon us, as the Mystics are looking to continue the momentum they have built since coming back from the FIBA Tournament. Winners of three straight games, the Mystics’ win over the Sun on Tuesday night marked the franchise mark for most wins in a season, at 27 wins. Don’t let that get in the way of what should be an interesting night in the “W”.

At stake for Thursday’s game is the potential to move up as far as the 5th playoff spot, and lock in a 1st round matchup against the Atlanta Dream, but the Mystics will need some help. A combination of beating the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx beating the Indiana Fever, will allow the Mystics to move up to the 5th playoff spot.

On the other side, Chicago has been dealing with a great deal of injuries. This game is an opportunity for their team to play spoiler and stop the Mystics’ momentum going into the playoffs.

Bottom line, the Mystics need to put the Sky away early and focus on resting their key players so that they can go into the playoffs, not only with momentum, but also with a healthy roster. This game will be at Capital One Arena, which has been undergoing significant renovation over the summer, so that should add a little more excitement to an already important game.

Extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns have stalled as Knicks training camp nears, but the sides haven’t given up on an agreement.

Towns has been eligible for an extension since early August and the Knicks, as The Post reported earlier this month, are asking him to take a discount from his max of four years, $272 million.

It’s part of the front office’s attempt to keep the championship core together amid James Dolan’s mandate of staying below the second apron. With Jalen Brunson eligible for a big extension next year (four years, $257 million), the Knicks are watching their spending now and Towns — a multi-time All-Star — is in the middle.

New York’s exact offer to Towns is unclear but ESPN reported Wednesday that “a deal before training camp is considered unlikely.” It’s relevant because the story will now hang over camp and beyond.

But the sides also have all season to negotiate.

“There’s been plenty of conversations with KAT, all cordial, all positive,” a league source told The Post. “We want KAT to be here for a long time.

“And just because a deal isn’t done now doesn’t mean it can’t get done.”

Towns was also eligible for an extension before last season and didn’t come close to an agreement. He expressed a desire to stay with the Knicks and was key to the championship run, transforming into a playmaking force at the elbow while elevating his defense in the playoffs.

Both Towns and the Knicks can feel they have leverage in these negotiations. With the Knicks, there’s time to assess since contract eligibility extends through the season. For Towns, who visibly dropped weight in the offseason, there’s the threat of leaving in free agency in 2027 while armed with the security of a player option. If Towns is injured this season or underwhelms, he can pick up the option and be paid $61 million for the 2027-28 campaign.

The Knicks already sacrificed one player to stay below the second apron, allowing Mitchell Robinson to leave in free agency this summer and sign with the Celtics. Towns, who was either the Knicks’ second or third best player during the playoffs, is obviously more important.

Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions. Hart has a team option in his contract but McBride would become a free agent next summer with no deal.

The Knicks will host Media Day on Monday at their Tarrytown facility, where Towns will undoubtedly be asked about his extension negotiations. It’s worth noting that he has a longtime relationship with team president Leon Rose, who once served as Towns’ agent.

Last season, Towns was asked by The Post about not agreeing to an extension and said, “Hell yeah I want to stay here. Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”

How Steph Curry's ailing knee is doing as Warriors prepare for NBA training camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

OAKLAND – For more than two months last season, Stephen Curry only could watch as the Warriors spiraled downward without him. His ailing right knee forced him to miss 27 games, 18 of which ended in defeat.

Curry, whose workout routine is legendary among NBA players, acknowledged then that there would be a “new normal” because changes were required.

As Golden State prepares for NBA training camp next week in Hawaii, those changes have Curry brimming with optimism after he was diagnosed last February with patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly referred to as “runner’s knee,” and forced to the sideline.

“Feeling fantastic,” Curry said Wednesday at an appearance in east Oakland. “There was a very particular and kind of prescriptive plan over the course of the summer of what I could do on court (and) off court to build the foundation back but give my knee some rest. And then slowly build to where when I get to camp on Monday, I’ve got enough reps, enough pickup sessions and court time where I’m able to do everything like I normally do but not overdo it going into camp.”

Curry, 38, realizes he is nearing the end of a career that will earn him first-ballot Hall of Fame status. Always devoted to conditioning – the primary source of his success for 17 seasons – a first-time knee issue left him briefly unsettled.

Even now, the experience lives in the back of his mind.

“I think because I missed so many games last year that that’s going to be like top of mind, and obviously should be,” Curry said. “But anybody at this age and with the number of miles, you’re managing something. So, it’s kind of part of the longevity aspect of this, and I’m not afraid of it.”

Golden State’s medical and training staffs, led by Dr. Rick Celebrini, are considered among the best in the league. Curry will be monitored on a regular basis beginning with the first practice on Sept. 29 at BYU-Hawaii.

The Warriors are, according to league sources, somewhat concerned because Curry long has been the key to their fortunes and “runner’s knee,” which generally affects distance runners, can devolve into a chronic condition.

“It’s at that stage of my career . . . so all of this was just information to design a summer where you’re pacing yourself, getting your reps in, trying to improve the things that I set out to do skill-wise,” Curry said. “But I’m feeling strong and healthy, and I’m pretty sure I’m there.”

The Warriors surely hope so. Either way, this will be a season during which Curry will miss select games, mostly on back-to-back sets, for cautionary purposes.

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There is a pretty simple question surrounding Collin Murray-Boyles entering his second NBA season: how high can his ceiling actually be?

Selected ninth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Murray-Boyles entered Toronto with plenty of intrigue. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, he is undersized for a traditional center, but his strength, physicality and instincts allow him to play much bigger than his frame suggests.

After an encouraging rookie season, the Raptors now have a better idea of what they have in their young forward.

What Did He Do Last Year?

Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in 57 games. He also averaged 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 21.9 minutes per game.

The numbers do not tell the whole story. Murray-Boyles quickly became one of Toronto’s more physical defenders and reliable rebounders, using his strength to battle bigger players and his instincts to make plays around the basket.

That impact became even more noticeable in the playoffs. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.

He had 15 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 against Cleveland before scoring 17 points in Game 6 to help Toronto force a deciding Game 7. For a rookie, it was an encouraging way to finish the season.

What Should We Expect This Year?

The biggest change should simply be opportunity.

Murray-Boyles is no longer trying to figure out where he fits. He now has a full NBA season and playoff experience under his belt, and Toronto should give him more responsibility.

A reasonable expectation is for him to become a consistent rotation player and potentially start at times. He does not need to become a 20-point scorer. Instead, his development should focus on passing, cutting, screening and attacking mismatches.

The biggest question is his shooting. Murray-Boyles shot 34.0 percent from three as a rookie. If he can become a more reliable perimeter threat, his offensive fit becomes much easier to envision.

Can He Be the Raptors’ Long-Term Center?

This is where things get interesting.

Yes, but probably as a modern small-ball centre rather than a traditional one.

Murray-Boyles has already shown he can survive at centre because of his strength and mobility. He can switch onto smaller players, battle bigger forwards and provide help around the rim, giving Toronto defensive flexibility that a traditional big may not.

The obvious concern is size. There will be nights when a 6-foot-7 center struggles against a legitimate 7-footer, particularly on the glass or in the post.

That is why it is too early to declare him the long-term answer. But it is also too early to rule him out. Toronto still has Jakob Poeltl if it needs a traditional centre, allowing the Raptors to continue experimenting with Murray-Boyles without forcing him into a role he is not ready for.

What Needs to Improve?

Murray-Boyles’ three-point shooting is the biggest swing skill. Even becoming a high-30s shooter would change how defenses approach him.

His foul discipline also needs to improve. His physicality is a strength, but learning when to challenge and when to stay vertical will become increasingly important.

Finally, he needs to become more comfortable creating advantages offensively rather than simply finishing plays.

The Verdict

It is too early to call Collin Murray-Boyles the answer to the Raptors’ long-term needs at centre.

It is not too early to say he could become one.

His rookie season showed that his physicality, defensive versatility and instincts translate to the NBA. If his shooting and offensive game continue to develop, Toronto could eventually have a centre who does not look like a traditional centre at all.

And that might be exactly what the Raptors want.

Contract extension talks between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have been ongoing this offseason after Towns played a huge role in helping New York capture its first championship in 53 years.

According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, there's been plenty of dialogue between the two sides, and those conversations have been positive, with the Knicks making it known they think highly of the big man and want him in New York for a long time.

As far as numbers go, during negotiations the Knicks have discussed extensions starting between $45-$50 million a year. Obviously, no deal has come to fruition yet. ESPN reported earlier Wednesday that the Knicks and Towns had hit a snag in negotiations.

Towns will earn $57 million this season and has a player option worth $61 million next year. The Knicks have until June 30 to extend Towns. Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions.

Jalen Brunson will presumably be getting a new contract in the 2028 offseason. So if Hart and Towns extend, the Knicks' starting five will command a significant percentage of the salary cap.

New York will not spend beyond the NBA’s second apron ($221.6 million) in team salary this season, according to owner James Dolan. If the club takes that stance in future seasons, it will be challenging to extend Towns and Hart while also extending McBride. McBride is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Training camp for the defending champs opens next week.