Category: Basketball

Ramp to Camp: Making bold award predictions for the 2025-26 Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Which Boston Celtics player will walk away with some hardware during the 2025-26 season?

With Jayson Tatum sidelined to start the new campaign, his run of four straight All-NBA First Team nods will end. Might someone else slot among the 15 best players in basketball this season? Is there a surprise nominee for a Celtics All-Star candidate? Can someone besides Derrick White muscle their way onto an All-Defense team?

For Day 19 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to make one bold awards prediction involving a Celtics player. 

Our intrepid pick: Josh Minott for Most Improved Player.

We checked out the odds over at DraftKings and there are six Celtics players on their preseason MIP board, and none of whom are nicknamed The Lawn Mower. You can get Payton Pritchard (+2200), Chris Boucher (+5000), Anfernee Simons (+5000), Derrick White (+6000), Neemias Queta (+7000), or Luka Garza (+15000). Quick aside: Queta at +7000, while potentially elevating to a starting role and after a rock-solid EuroBasket tournament, almost made us recast our selection.

But we’re sticking with a breakout year for Minott.

Given the Celtics’ need for size and rebounding, we can see Minott kicking down the door to heavy playing time. The 22-year-old has averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebounds over his three NBA seasons, meaning even a modest stat line this season is going to pop when comparing his year-over-year increases.

Sure, MIP typically goes to a more established player, often someone who went from key role player to All-Star presence. Maybe we’re a year or two early on Minott’s award. And maybe that’s why Pritchard is so high on the preseason odds list. But we’re staying bold.

We love Minott’s potential. We love his nickname. There’s a chance he can help fill the void in our heart that’s been vacant since Robert Williams III’s departure. 

And we think Minott is going to start his climb to key contributor on Boston’s next title-contending team with his play this season.

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Jaylen Brown finally makes an All-Defense team.

Brown has long espoused the importance of playing on both ends and takes immense pride in his defense. While he’ll be expected to shoulder a larger offensive load this season, we could see Brown making a point to bring it on the defensive end, and with a larger spotlight on him, he’ll finally get rewarded for his efforts with an All-Defense nod.

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I’m sure everyone would love for it to be Derrick White winning DPOY, but isn’t the most likely scenario Payton Pritchard winning a second straight Sixth Man of the Year? That just feels right.

Five players have won the award multiple times, but only three of them — Kevin McHale, Detlef Schrempf and Lou Williams — have won it in back-to-back seasons. Pritchard belongs there.

Plus, the Celtics are in a tie with the Clippers for most Sixth Man winners in history with five. Pritchard can break that dreaded tie and finally give the Celtics recognition as being a more successful franchise than the Clippers. This is massive.

Sean McGuire, Web Producer

Derrick White will be named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career.

White, who deserved the honor last season, will take on a larger role without Tatum. I can’t help but think that will lead to his best season yet and, ultimately, the recognition that comes with it.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Derrick White for Clutch Player of the Year.

Without Tatum, there will be a lot more end-of-game opportunities to go around, and I think most teams will look to contain Jaylen Brown. So, White seems like an obvious choice to step up. And I think he will be up to the task.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content

Jaylen Brown lands on one of the top two All-NBA teams.

I think there’s the possibility that Brown’s points-rebound-assist totals scale over 40 per game this season, with increased playmaking and rebounding. If he does that, then he’ll be on one of the first two teams.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

Joe Mazzulla wins Coach of the Year, because this award always goes to the coach whose team exceeds expectations.

Doc Rivers won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month THREE TIMES in 2007-08, and lost the entire season award to Byron Scott (one month as West Coach of the Month). It defies logic.

Anyway, Mazzulla will finally win the award he should’ve won in 2023-24.

Kayla Burton, Celtics Pregame Live host

Derrick White makes an All-NBA team.

I know it’s not hardware, but White actually rises to become the No.1 guy with Tatum out and makes more headlines than Jaylen Brown.

Targeting two players on the same team has long been a viable draft strategy when it comes to fantasy sports, and a fairly popular one at that. In football, taking a strong quarterback/wide receiver duo gives managers a foundation they can rely on in any given week. The same team-building concept applies to basketball. This article will highlight some of the best combos you should keep your eyes on when doing preparation for upcoming drafts/leagues.

Top Fantasy Basketball Teammate Duos

James Harden, PG/SG / Ivica Zubac, C - Los Angeles Clippers

Let's start with an obvious one. Yes, the Clippers added Brook Lopez and John Collins to their frontcourt and Chris Paul and Bradley Beal to the backcourt. The majority of the playmaking will still belong to James Harden, and the 28-year-old Ivica Zubac, who broke out with career-highs in scoring (16.8), rebounding (12.6) and double-doubles (59) in 80 games last year, will continue to dominate the minutes at center. The new arrivals will surely eat into playing time for this pick-and-roll nightmare, but that should mean less wear and tear over the course of the season that will keep them fresh when it matters.

Josh Giddey, PG/SG/SF / Matas Buzelis, SF/PF - Chicago Bulls

After a drawn-out negotiation period over the summer, Chicago brought back Josh Giddey on a reported four-year deal worth about $100 million. With that finally getting done, the Aussie can focus on leading an up-tempo Bulls offense that took the third-most three-pointers (42) in 2024-25. Remember, following the All-Star break last year, Giddey cooked to the tune of 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.5 steals across 19 contests, racking up 15 double-doubles and five triple-doubles in the process. A similar run during the fantasy playoffs could be the difference in claiming a championship.

Buzelis, who didn't start a game until early February in his rookie campaign, is set to start from the onset of 2025-26. He's an explosive athlete at 6-foot-10, and with Giddey orchestrating an efficient offense, the Chitown native could be primed for a jump in Year 2.

Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG / Evan Mobley, PF/C - Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell will presumably be the starting point guard for the Cavs while Darius Garland continues to recover from offseason toe surgery. The 2024-25 All-NBA First Teamer will be tasked with running Cleveland's offense and providing a large chunk of it, too, as last year's starting small forward Max Strus will be out for a significant period of time after undergoing surgery for a Jones Fracture in his left foot in August.

Heading into his fifth season, Evan Mobley should be ready to carry the load while his teammates get back to full health. Last year, he registered a career-high 18.5 points with 9.3 boards, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks on 55.7 / 37.0 / 72.5 shooting splits. Don't be surprised if '24-25's Defensive Player of the Year goes above those numbers in 2025-26.

Luka Doncic, PG/SG / LeBron James, SF/PF - Los Angeles Lakers

After an eventful summer for the Lakers, Luka Dončić and LeBron James look poised to lead an upgraded roster back to the postseason in the stacked Western Conference. Dončić was happy to recruit Deandre Ayton to LA, giving him a talented 7-foot lob threat to work with from the start of training camp. The Slovenian looks to be in the best shape of his young career after guiding his country to a quarterfinals appearance in EuroBasket 2025.

James, who appeared in 70 games a year ago, decided that Father Time needs to wait at least one more year. The 40-year-old will be suiting up for what will be an all-time NBA record 23rd season in 2025-26. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 boards, 8.2 dimes, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks a season ago, and there's plenty of evidence suggesting the King will keep torturing defenses alongside his superstar running mate in Dončić.

De'Aaron Fox, PG / Victor Wembanyama, C - San Antonio Spurs

Assuming both De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama are healthy, this dynamic duo will spearhead a new era of Spurs basketball on both ends of the court. Fox only made 12 appearances for San Antonio after they acquired him at last year's trade deadline because of a left pinkie finger injury. Fox is locked in as the starting point guard alongside the Frenchman for their debut in 2025-26.

Wembanyama is expected to be ready to roll for training camp, a tremendous sign for the 21-year-old and the Spurs. Before being shut down for the 2024-25 season, 'The Alien' averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and an NBA-best 3.8 blocks per contest over 46 outings. It'll likely cost you a top two overall pick in your draft, but Wemby has all the opportunity and tools necessary to provide plus-production in nearly every statistical category.

Nikola Jokic, C / Christian Braun, SG/SF - Denver Nuggets

It feels like all Nikola Jokić has done for the past five years is record one unbelievable season after the next. 'The Joker' has three league MVP awards and two second-place finishes since 2020-21. In 2024-25, he averaged a triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.7 boards and 10.2 assists across 70 outings, adding 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks. There's no reason to put any sort of limit on Jokić's potential, especially when considering he's still in his prime at age 30.

Although Denver traded for Cameron Johnson and signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway, Jr. to bolster their second unit, Christian Braun remains the primary combo target if you're lucky enough to draft Jokić. The Nuggets swapped out Michael Porter, Jr. for Johnson, and despite him assuming the starting small forward spot, Braun has the benefit of pre-existing chemistry with Jokić and experience in Denver's system that gives him the edge. Across 79 games last season, he posted 15.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg and 0.5 bpg on splits of 58.0 / 39.7 / 82.7, numbers the fourth-year pro should be able to replicate in 2025-26.

Essential Resources for Fantasy Basketball Success

Check out RotoWire'sHow to Play Fantasy Basketball guide for a complete walkthrough, but here is some basic advice:

• Check out custom NBA Fantasy Projections
• Look intoFantasy Basketball Mock Drafts
• Listen to aFantasy Basketball Podcast
• Check in onFantasy Basketball Player News
• ReadFantasy Basketball Articles
• Dive into RotoWire'sFantasy Basketball Draft Kit
• StudyNBA Depth Charts
• See RotoWire'sFantasy Basketball Dynasty Rankings

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Two potential win-win outcomes for Jonathan Kuminga's stalemate with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With the face-off between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga reaching Day 87 on Thursday, it’s apparent both sides are wading waist-deep through tedious self-harm. Their summer denouement never materialized, and they’ve plodded into an autumn of annoyance.

With both sides being salty if Kuminga signs the qualifying offer, the surest path to mutual contentment would be a sign-and-trade deal, with the Warriors replacing Kuminga with a player better befitting their win-now vibe and with JK landing in a place that would give him the freedom to chase stardom. Happy them, happy him.

Sign-and-trade options were pondered two months ago and then abandoned. But with training camp beginning next week, urgency induces revisiting. Trade conversations are restarting, according to two league sources.

Failing that outcome, however, conceivably would nudge both sides toward the Blame Game, in which substantive dialogue is overrun by fingers pointing in both directions. As we know from our national discourse, this produces few winners and many losers.

Golden State CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy would be subjected to jobs and darts, as would Kuminga and his representative, Aaron Turner. No doubt a few strays would find their way to Warriors coach Steve Kerr. This is the nightmare scenario.

If Kuminga returns, regardless of contract details, the only way to avoid the toxicity of the blame game is for the Warriors to spend the first month of the season playing well enough to raise “caution” signs around the NBA. Get to Thanksgiving Day with a record no worse than 15-5 and decorated vets Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green productive and in sync. See the reserves punishing opposing second units and Kuminga contributing to success, flashing glorious smiles to convey contentment, if not bliss.

That would give Kuminga and the Warriors a layer of grace, likely enough to squelch the concerns certain to surround them when the ball tips off for the 2025-26 NBA season opener on Oct. 17.

“If he comes back to Golden State, and they get off to a hot start, this could work out,” one Western Conference front office executive told NBC Sports Bay Area. “A lot of things would have to go right, but winning early in the season works for both sides. Maybe Kuminga’s value goes up, and the Warriors – considering the clauses in the contract – can decide whether move him or keep him.”

On a roster with four starters age 35 or older, and athleticism below the league average, Kuminga’s strengths are at a premium with Golden State. He’s quick off his feet, speedy from baseline to baseline, and has enough agility and strength to defend at least three positions.

“There’s a place for him on [the Warriors],” an Eastern Conference scout said. “He’s the only one they have who you know can match up against the other team’s better athletes. Teams in the West like Houston and Minnesota and OKC. Even Portland now.”

Dunleavy entered the summer hoping Kuminga, as a restricted free agent ready to move on, was the chip to lead to someone who might have similar attributes but is more compatible with Kerr’s offense on one end and the team’s defensive schemes on the other. There was interest from at least three teams: Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.

None of the proposals put forth by those potential partners satisfied the Warriors, which is why they pulled back. That was in July into August, and now it’s September. There is incentive to bring this impasse to a conclusion, as they want no part of opening training camp under a drama cloud.

Or, for that matter, the prospect of Kuminga being less than enthused about coming off the bench in a Warriors jersey.

“I keep saying this: I just think if he is this important [to the Warriors], how do you not have him come in in a good mental space?” Turner wondered last week on the “Dubs Talk” podcast. “If he’s not important, let him go. But if he is this important, how do you bring him back not feeling good?

“It’s very confusing to me because it is not how you win in the NBA.”

As we said, there are only two ways this ends well for all parties. A sign-and-trade deal in the coming days, which both sides prefer. Or should that fail, a momentum-generating start that potentially increases the bargaining power of both the Warriors and Kuminga.

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Celtics unveil gold City Edition jerseys for 2025-26 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics are taking a break from the color green with their newest City Edition jerseys.

The unveiled the new look, which features a clean, white jersey with gold lettering and numbers.

“A white base accented with gold representing success, achievement and triumph,” the team posted on X. “The word mark and number set are trimmed in black, making this our first uniform to not feature green.”

As an added touch, Red Auerbach’s signature is stitched in to every jersey.

“The Gold Standard – a uniform honoring our storied franchise,” the Celtics wrote on Instagram. “Notable teams, plays and careers are weaved into our DNA, transcending time. To be a Celtic is to be someone who works hard, never gives up and never has excuses. As we look to our past, sit in our present and plan for the future, we will recognize the accomplishments of all that have come before us.⁣”

The gold-lettered jerseys replace last year’s City Edition jerseys, which were black with neon green lettering and numbers. The team has experimented with various looks each year, though the color green has always been a part of those outside-the-box concepts.

The Celtics didn’t announce a schedule for when this year’s City Edition jerseys will make their on-court debut, but their preseason begins on Oct. 8, with the regular season beginning on Oct. 22.

Knicks training camp is underway, with the team taking the court together for the first time on Wednesday in Westchester.

After hearing from established Knicks like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on Tuesday, Wednesday offered a chance to hear from a couple of newcomers in Jordan Clarksonand Guerschon Yabusele, a pair of veterans expected to have important roles on Mike Brown’s squad.             

Clarkson, 33, is now on his fourth NBA team as he enters his 12th pro season, but he’s been able to score at a high clip every step of the way.

The Sixth Man of the Year award winner with Utah in 2020-21, Clarkson, who has averaged 16.0 points per game in his career, is ready to take on whatever role is needed as he begins his Knicks tenure.

“For me, I’m going to be myself within what’s going on already. …I’m going to make my changes or whatever I’ve got to do to fit in here and play the right way and figure that out,” Clarkson said. “It’s the first day of training camp, but I definitely feel like down the line all the guys know, you throw it to me, it’s going in there air. The majority of the time I feel like I’m open. But it comes with a grain of salt, and I know I have to take good shots and play the right way as well.”

Yabusele’s route to the Knicks is a different story. Originally selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, Yabusele appeared in just 74 games with Boston before being waived and taking his career overseas.

But after helping France earn a silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yabusele landed back in the NBA last season with the Sixers, averaging 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while playing in 70 games (43 starts).

“First and foremost I’m just really grateful to be here in this organization with everything that’s been done before,” Yabusele said. “Coming in here, my mindset was just really ty to play as a team, really try to be a good teammate first, on and off the court. Just try to bring all the energy possible, play every day with joy, bring the fun out there, and the rest is going to take care of itself."

After winning 51 regular season games and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks kept their talented core together, upgrading in the margins instead of trying to make a huge splash. 

And with Brown now at the helm, Clarkson and Yabusele are ready to do whatever is asked of them to help the Knicks reach their ultimate goal of winning a title.

"The team is really good. They’re playing for something," Clarkson said. "These guys I’ve watched a lot during the playoffs and during the year. …I just wanted to be here."

"I just like the team, the spirit that they had on the court, the way they were playing tough every possession," added Yabusele. "They were really playing together, you can really tell they were bonding together and they had a goal together. They just fight on the court. They give everything out there."

If you're new to fantasy basketball, you might find that it's a bit different from other fantasy sports. While there are a few ways to play, the most popular format is 9-category (or 9-cat) head-to-head. It's the classic setup, and if you're in a Yahoo league, there's a good chance this is your format. This guide is here to walk you through everything you need to know to build a winning team, from draft day to the championship.

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

For anyone coming from the world of fantasy football, the idea of "categories" might seem a little strange. Fantasy football is based on points, but in 9-cat, you're going head-to-head with an opponent each week across nine different statistical areas.

Those nine categories are:

• Points (PTS)

• Rebounds (REB)

• Assists (AST)

• 3-Pointers Made (3PM)

• Steals (STL)

• Blocks (BLK)

• Field Goal Percentage (FG%)

• Free Throw Percentage (FT%)

• Turnovers (TO)

Each week, the goal is simple: win more categories than your opponent. If you win points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, but lose the other four, you finish the week with a 5−4 victory. These wins and losses pile up over the season to decide the league standings.

Big-Picture Draft Strategies

Think of your 9-cat draft as less of a race to grab the biggest names, and more of a puzzle. The best player available isn't always the right pick for your team. You're building a portfolio of stats, and every pick changes the equation.

1. The Balanced Build

This is the bread and butter of 9-cat strategy. The goal here is to build a solid team that can compete in every single category, every single week. You want to draft versatile players who stuff the stat sheet without torpedoing any of your categories.

Dan Titus' Category League Rankings

We've all seen it: A dominant center who grabs every rebound but shoots 50% from the free-throw line, single-handedly losing you that category. On the flip side, some score-first guards can tank your field goal percentage and rack up turnovers. Very few players are elite in everything. The key is to pay attention to how each player you draft affects your team's overall stat profile. Keep an eye on your projected totals after every pick and make sure you're not accidentally digging yourself a hole in one category. Speaking of which ...

2. The "Punting" Strategy

Now for a more advanced, high-risk/high-reward strategy: Punting. This is where you intentionally decide to ignore, or "punt," one or more categories so you can build a powerhouse in the others. It's a bold move, but if you do it right, you can create a team that's almost guaranteed to win you 5 or 6 categories every week.

Here are a couple of popular ways to punt:

• Punt the Guard Stats: Load up on centers and forwards. By punting categories like Assists, 3s and Free-Throw Percentage, you can build a monster team in Rebounds, Blocks and Field Goal Percentage. You'll usually be solid in Turnovers, too, leaving you to fight for Points and Steals each week.

• Punt the Big Man Stats: This is the reverse. You grab elite, high-usage guards and wings, aiming to dominate Points, Assists, 3s, Steals and Free-Throw Percentage. You basically concede Rebounds, Blocks and FG% from the jump. This can be a bit riskier, as there's less room for error when you're aiming for that 5−4 win every time.

• Punt Percentages: Another way to go is to just focus on the "counting" stats (points, boards, assists, etc.) and forget about FG% and FT%. This works great if you plan to be very active on the waiver wire, because the more games your players play, the more counting stats you'll rack up.

How to Manage Your Team During the Season

The draft is just the beginning. Winning a championship is all about how you manage your team week in and week out.

Know Your Opponent

Take a look at your opponent's team each week. What are they good at? Where are they weak? You can use your weekly waiver wire moves to counter their strengths. If they're loaded with guards, maybe you stream a center to lock up rebounds and blocks. And don't be afraid to bench players on a Sunday! If you have a slim lead in FG% and a risky shooter on your team, sitting them is a smart tactical move to secure the category win.

Master the Stream

Having a dedicated streaming spot on your roster is a massive advantage. At the start of each week, look at the schedule. See which teams have four games or a nice back-to-back set. You can pick up a player from one of those teams to maximize your games played for the week. You'll get a huge boost in those counting stats, and you might even stumble upon a player worth keeping long-term. Sure, you'll make a few drops you regret, but the extra stats you gain over the season are well worth it. Also, learn to manage your losses. A tough 4−5 loss is fine, but a crushing 1−8 defeat can sink your season.

Just Stay Active!

Honestly, one of the biggest keys to success is simply paying attention. Set your lineup every day, stay on top of the news and be active on the waiver wire. Just by being more engaged than the other managers in your league, you give yourself a considerable leg up.

A Few Quick Tips for Your Draft

Find Value in Late-Round Guards

Right now, the guard position is incredibly deep. My favorite strategy this year is to lock up solid forwards and centers in the middle rounds and then pounce on the guard value that falls late. You can find guys like Reed Sheppard, Andrew Nembhard, D’Angelo Russell, Keyonte George, Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Suggs and CJ McCollum well outside the top 100 picks. The big men in that range are often much bigger gambles.

Be Careful with Rookies

Every single year, people get hyped and overdraft rookies. It’s the classic case of chasing the shiny new toy instead of the reliable veteran who just gets the job done. For every rookie who hits the ground running, there are five who disappoint based on where they were drafted. This pushes proven, steady players down the draft board, creating amazing value for you. My personal rule is to generally let someone else take the risk on rookies. You can often trade for them a month into the season if they start slow anyway.

Final Thoughts: Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, this is your team. While all this advice can give you a great foundation, you have to be the one to make the final call. A lot of fantasy decisions are basically coin flips, so you might as well go with your own opinion, right? Be confident in your picks and your strategy, and everything else will fall into place.

And remember, this is supposed to be fun! If you're not enjoying the daily grind of fantasy basketball, you're doing it wrong. Good luck!

How Steph Curry mentored Tyrese Haliburton on Team USA at 2024 Paris Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Star Warriors guard Steph Curry wasn’t just an iconic scorer for Team USA men’s basketball during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

He also was a phenomenal teammate and leader — just ask Tyrese Hailburton.

The 25-year-old face of the Indiana Pacers and fellow Team USA guard shared how Curry mentored him during the Olympics in Thursday’s edition of “The Young Man and The Three” podcast with filmmaker Spike Lee.

“He is so unbelievable the way he can like, he remembers people, he cares about people,” Haliburton told Lee. “I mean, I just, I can’t say enough good things about Steph. And then, like, through the Olympic experience, for me, I didn’t play a ton, so a lot of it was for me to learn, and pick guys’ brains, and Steph was just that guy for me.”

As he said himself, Haliburton didn’t play much during Team USA’s successful quest for gold.

But Curry still admirably took the up-and-comer under his wing and showed him what it’s like to dominate on the sport’s biggest international stage.

Curry led the Americans to glory after scoring 60 points over the team’s final two games, sinking eight 3-point shots — including the “Golden Dagger” — in the dramatic gold medal game win over Victor Wembanyama and Team France.

It is no wonder that Haliburton soaked in every moment with Curry.

“After every practice, I’m like, ‘I got to work out with Steph,’” Haliburton said. “I got to do what he’s doing and kind of take things from him, and he was always like, before he would start, if I’m on the other end of the gym, he’ll be like, ‘Come on, Ty, we’re going to work out.’ So for me, I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Haliburton took Curry’s mentorship and ran with it based on his performance during the ensuing 2024-25 NBA season. 

He led the underdog Pacers to the NBA Finals, where Indiana lost to the deep-rostered Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. Haliburton, of course, tore his right Achilles tendon early in Game 7, exiting what always will be remembered as a “what-if.”

Curry’s influence and mentorship clearly have rubbed off on Haliburton. And no one is doubting the Pacer’s ability to recover — after he’ll miss the 2025-26 season — and reassume his role as franchise cornerstone.

Surely Curry, who has dealt with his fair share of injuries over his 16-year Golden State career, has more advice for Haliburton as his journey continues, too.

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Pre-camp Sixers questions: After setting lineups record, which unit will be best?  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers will travel to Abu Dhabi for preseason games vs. the Knicks on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. They’ll begin their regular season by facing the Celtics on Oct. 22. 

Before the action commences, we’re looking at key questions for the 2025-26 Sixers. 

So far, we’ve covered: 

• Are the Sixers about to enter a true youth movement?
• Can the Sixers be a passable rebounding team?
• Will the 2025-26 Sixers have any bargain role players?
• Can the Sixers avoid another disastrous start? 

Next up: After setting the starting lineups record last year, which unit will be the Sixers’ best? 

The Sixers’ lineup stats tell the story of their 2024-25 season. 

Injuries were everywhere and the Sixers started an NBA-record 54 different lineups. On opening night, head coach Nick Nurse went with Tyrese Maxey, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr., KJ Martin and Andre Drummond. He closed the season with Jared Butler, Quentin Grimes, Lonnie Walker IV, Marcus Bagley and Adem Bona.

The team’s two most-used lineups outside of garbage time played a mere 148 possessions together, according to Cleaning the Glass. They were:

• Maxey-Oubre-Paul George-Caleb Martin-Guerschon Yabusele (Plus-25.0 net rating)
• Maxey-Gordon-Oubre-Justin Edwards-Yabusele (Minus-14.4 net rating) 

Nurse knows all about adjusting the basics on the fly.

“My reaction (was) the same as it’s been most of the year,” he said after a slew of players were scratched for a Jan. 14 loss to the Thunder. “You take a little gut punch, and then you regroup and figure out the starting lineups, figure out the rotations, figure out what needs to change on the game plan as quickly as possible. And go play.”

In projecting ideal, healthy scenarios for this season, restricted free agent Grimes remaining unsigned is notable. However, if we pencil Grimes back on the Sixers’ roster, he’d be a logical starter alongside Maxey, Oubre, George and Joel Embiid. 

One or two of the Sixers’ young players could easily shake up that idea. Jared McCain started just eight games in his rookie season, but he obviously has the talent to thrive when handed tons of minutes. McCain averaged 23.8 points and 4.3 assists as a starter, and he shot 39.2 percent from three-point range on 9.3 attempts per game. 

Perhaps a youthful role player like VJ Edgecombe or Edwards will wind up meshing nicely with the Sixers’ high-usage stars and earn a starting spot. 

The Sixers could also lean into their guard-heavy nature, neglecting size at times in favor of offensive firepower and pace. The 6-foot-4 Grimes and 6-5 Edgecombe could defend bigger forwards on occasion in units with Maxey and/or McCain. Having Embiid as a rim protector would be helpful defensively in those lineups, although the Sixers could also play the shot-swatting Bona at center and encourage him to join the fun in transition offensively. 

Trendon Watford has only made 30 career NBA starts, but the Sixers believe the 24-year-old forward will keep improving and he could be pressed into heavy minutes on nights without George. 

Nurse will hope that he doesn’t have to scrap plan after plan, but there’s no doubt he’ll have many options in mind. 

Jonathan Kuminga not at Jimmy Butler-led Warriors minicamp amid contract saga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With training camp less than one week away, the Warriors met in San Diego this week to bond both on and off the court.

Well, all except one player.

Jonathan Kuminga, who remains a restricted free agent with the 2025-26 NBA season a month away, did not attend the team minicamp in San Diego put together by Warriors veteran forward Jimmy Butler, ESPN’s Shams Charania shared Wednesday on “NBA Today.”

“Jimmy Butler is actually holding a team minicamp in San Diego this week. This is the first full year of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all together,” Charania explained to host Malika Andrews. “One player who is not there, the only player on the potential Warriors roster that isn’t there, is restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. My understanding is he is not appearing at this team function, this camaraderie minicamp in San Diego. It’s still at a stalemate.

“I spoke to Aaron Turner, Kuminga’s agent, today, and he told me that the player option still remains critical in these conversations. We know about the three-year, $75 million offer, or the two-year, $45 million offer, both still have team options in them. Him, just like [Quentin] Grimes, has until Oct. 1, before his decision, but these sides are still at a stalemate.

“Jonathan Kuminga did not appear at the first team-related event that the Warriors players had today.”

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson later confirmed Kuminga was not in attendance, though the Warriors had hoped he would be.

As Charania mentioned, a player option remains significant to Kuminga and his camp, but as of now, it is not something the Warriors have been willing to do.

Turner, while speaking to multiple media members last week, said there’s no drama or bad feelings between Kuminga and his teammates, particularly the veteran stars such as Butler, Curry and Green.

While Kuminga wasn’t in sunny San Diego on Wednesday, he’s still been putting in the work on the hardwood as he prepares for Year 5.

However, who that is with and what that looks like remains in question.

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