It was at 6:57 p.m. Tuesday that Jalen Brunson’s voice delivered the line Knicks fans have long been waiting for. 

“Thank you guys,” Brunson said, “let’s raise this banner.” 

And the 2025-’26 championship banner slowly made its way to the Madison Square Garden rafters. The team that earned it posed in front of it, then simply stared at it in awe. President Leon Rose and coach Mike Brown wrapped their arms around one another and savored the moment. 

The title run of a lifetime and a team that stirred New York in a way few ever have were officially cemented in immortality. 

This was a moment just over four months in the making, since they clinched the championship June 13. It was a moment 13 years in the making, the last time there was a new banner in the MSG rafters — for the 2012-’13 Atlantic Division title. A moment 53 years in the making, since the team’s last championship. 

The banner remained next to the jumbotron — above the court — for the night. It wasn’t until after the game, when fans had exited, that staff placed it among the other banners — where the NBA Cup banner had already been raised ahead of the ceremony. 

The Knicks wore white quarter-zips with gold lettering — fitting for the current NBA royalty. Their jerseys underneath had gold lettering and numbers as well. And on the back of the jersey, there was a championship patch that was impossible to miss. 

The executives — Rose and William Wesley — and coaches — Brown, Chris Jent, Brendan O’Connor and Rick Brunson — received their rings first. The rest of the executives and assistant coaches were not part of the ceremony. 

The players, one by one, collected theirs next from the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe and the families of Dave DeBusschere and Willis Reed were also involved, giving out the executives’ and coaches’ rings. It was perfectly poetic — the last Knicks championship team bridging the gap to the current one. 

The starters went last — Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and then, finally, Brunson. 

“To celebrate one last time with the fans, it means a lot,” Towns said after the Knicks’ 106-100 loss to the 76ers. “We wanted to give them a better version of ourselves tonight than we did, but it was really special to have that moment here again in New York after 53 years.” 

Ariel Hukporti — who joined the 76ers in the offseason but tore his Achilles in the preseason opener — was even there to claim his, scooting across the court with his foot in a cast. 

And just like that, the championship was officially behind them. The challenge of repeating began in earnest. 

“We’re excited to get this season going,” Brunson said. “We’re ready to turn the page as a team. But one thing I wanted to say — the joy that the city had this summer, we would love to replicate that again.” 

Then, a game actually had to be played. 

Not just any game — one against a 76ers side, now with LeBron James, most labeled the biggest threat to the Knicks’ chances of repeating. And the 76ers delivered the first punch against a Knicks team that at times looked lethargic and emotionally drained. 

“Definitely not your normal game day,” Brunson said afterward. “We can make all the excuses in the world about all that stuff. But if you asked me what would I rather have, to finish that and then not have a regular first game or not, I would do that.” 

7:18 p.m. — the time of the opening tip — marked the official end of all the championship celebrations. A dreamlike few months were put in the past. 

And a new journey began. 

“I’m just happy,” Brunson said, “we can move forward now.”

Like a thief in the night, the Knicks raised their NBA Cup banner. 

After James Dolan originally balked at recognizing Adam Silver’s beloved tournament, a “2025 NBA Cup champions” banner was stealthily hung Tuesday — hours before the Knicks celebrated the bigger championship on ring night. 

“I haven’t seen it yet,” coach Mike Brown said of the NBA Cup banner. “But I think it’s just a recognition of what our journey was like last year. There were obviously a lot of ups and downs throughout the course of the year and our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup. It’s just a recognition to not just our guys, but the fans out there. We got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty neat.” 

The Knicks beat the Spurs to win the NBA Cup in December, which represented Dolan’s first opportunity to raise a championship banner since the Atlantic Division title in 2013. 

But Dolan became the first owner to decline raising the NBA Cup banner, telling WFAN in January, “We want an NBA championship, we don’t want some consolation prize.” 

Dolan caused a stir because Silver had been propping up the NBA Cup as a significant tournament. The Knicks then became the first team to win the NBA Cup and the NBA championship. 

They raised both banners on the same day, although the NBA Cup’s appeared out of nowhere and was tucked in the corner. 

When considering the face of his league to replace LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Silver identified Jalen Brunson. 

“It’s hard not to start with Jalen Brunson,” Silver said Tuesday on ESPN. “I’ll be down when they hang the banner tonight for the championship. Here’s a guy who was a second-round pick, was picked up as a free agent from Dallas, and nobody talked about him as the next superstar in the league, but look how he’s led that team to a championship.” 

Brunson, 30, certainly wasn’t in the mix before leading the Knicks to the 2026 championship. He is older than some of the other candidates — namely Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama. 

But Brunson has the benefit of the most recent title and the NBA’s biggest market. 

Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, newly extended guard Brandin Podziemski will miss tomorrow’s season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers due to lower back soreness.

Brandin Podziemski is out for the Warriors tomorrow night in Los Angeles. Lower back soreness. He played all 82 games last season but will miss the opener this season against the Lakers. Steph Curry is probable.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 20, 2026

The Golden State Warriors’ guard depth takes an immediate hit as they head into a crucial tilt against Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and their Pacific Division rivals. Expected to step up in Podziemski’s place are veteran De’Anthony Melton and newly signed Brandon Williams.

Known for his health and durability last season — during which Podziemski did not miss a single game — he will now have to watch the Warriors’ tip-off from the sidelines.

Steph Curry is about to enter his third season not sharing the court alongside his former Splash Brother, Klay Thompson.

And part of him doesn’t feel right not playing alongside him.

Curry appeared as a guest on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Tuesday and told him, “I miss that dude every day.”

But even without his former partner in crime, Curry knows that’s how life goes in the NBA.

“You know everything’s not going to be the same because we all grew up together,” Curry said. “Me and Draymond [Green], we grew up as adults. We grew up as competitors, as champions.”

Curry went on to say that when he, Thompson and Green decide the day comes that they all retire, he will be looking forward to having “a glass of bourbon, and reminisce on all the things that we were able to accomplish.”

For Thompson, he is about to embark on another new chapter after spending the last two years with the Dallas Mavericks.

Over the summer, Thompson was waived by Dallas and immediately signed a 2-year $11.5 million contract with the Miami Heat.

“I’m happy for him in Miami. I know it’s he wants to be in a situation where he can be impactful, have a championship-contending kind of energy going into the season,” Curry said. “… So for him, he deserves an opportunity to play and impact a winning team. I wish it was still with us, but that’s part of the nature of how things evolve in the league.”

Before Thompson packed his bags for Dallas, the Warriors’ iconic trio brought the organization four NBA titles and produced a record-breaking season in 2015 when they broke the record for most wins in a single season, finishing 73-9.

“Nobody’s going to hold that cloud over any of our heads because what we accomplished was so great that we’ll talk about it forever,” Curry said.

While Thompson is about to embark on his new adventure, Curry is set to kick off his 18th season in the NBA on Wednesday, when the Warriors open their season on the road against the Lakers.

Dallas Mavericks basketball is back, and there is no shortage of questions heading into Wednesday night’s season opener against the Houston Rockets. Can Kyrie Irving get back to looking like Kyrie Irving? How quickly will Cooper Flagg take another leap? And can new head coach Dusty May get this group moving in the right direction after last season’s mess? Those are the obvious storylines.

But opening night is a chance to see what else Dallas has on its roster and who could potentially emerge as a solidified third option, behind Flagg and Irving. Of course, one game is just one game, but Dallas has talent – young talent. Three players, in particular, are worth keeping an eye on against Houston. One is a former No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft looking for a fresh start, another is a small guard trying to prove he belongs in the rotation, and the third is a rookie big man who could make a living doing the things that don’t always show up in the box score. Any guesses? Let’s break it down.

Zaccharie Risacher

There is something fascinating about the Risacher situation. Not that long ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Now, just two years later, he’s in Dallas trying to figure out how to turn that potential into consistent NBA production. The good news? The Mavericks don’t need him to be a superstar. The bad news? They do need him to be more consistent than in Atlanta.

Risacher’s time in Atlanta didn’t exactly go according to plan, and there’s a reason the Mavericks have an opportunity to take a chance on him. He’s only 21, and a player with his size at 6’8 and athleticism should be given another shot at becoming something. In his two years in Atlanta, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Those aren’t typically numbers you want to see from a number one pick.

Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a young player needs. Other times, it just reveals the same problems in a different uniform. We’ll see which one this is. What makes Dallas an interesting landing spot is that Risacher shouldn’t have to force anything. At minimum, he’ll be the third wheel behind Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He won’t have to bear the weight of the pressure of being THE guy. My ask of him against the Rockets is just to keep things simple. Knock down open threes. Make cuts and find open space on the floor. Do the little things that get a coach to trust you.

The Mavericks could use another reliable wing, especially one who can contribute on both ends. If Risacher can become that guy, a revival could be in the works.

Marcus Sasser

The Mavericks need shooting. Period. Although he’s a little undersized at 6’1, the 25th pick in the 2023 draft brings skills most other Mavs don’t have at the top of their list – ball handling and shooting. Sasser can create his own shot and give the offense a little juice when things get stagnant. Do you remember that offense last year? Things got stagnant. In his career, he’s averaged 7.0 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game.

If Sasser can come in on Wednesday and create a few good looks, get into the paint and knock down shots, he’ll have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation. Of course, there’s a catch. Scoring a few buckets is nice, but it won’t matter much if the Rockets hunt him on the opposite end. His minutes became limited in Detroit Sasser due to injury and his size defensively. Luckily, the Mavericks have size at all other positions to make up for him.

The Mavericks don’t need Sasser to be a starting-level point guard or some hidden star waiting to explode. They need a dependable bench guard who can keep the offense afloat, make smart decisions, and occasionally provide a scoring burst when the team needs one. Whether Sasser can deliver consistently is another question. His preseason debut against Atlanta was an encouraging step after he missed Dallas’ first three exhibition games with left adductor tightness. Now the real games start. It will be telling to see how Sasser handles pressure and if he’s willing to make the simple play instead of forcing a difficult shot. A strong showing could help him make his case for regular minutes. A rough one could remind everyone why undersized guards have such a narrow margin for error.

Morez Johnson Jr.

There’s a reason the Mavericks took Johnson Jr. over a guard in the 2026 draft. At 6’9, 250 pounds, he’s an athletic juggernaut who plays both sides of the floor. The ninth overall pick is built around doing the uncomfortable stuff. Rebound through traffic. Run the floor. Protect the paint. Finish around the basket. Make opposing big men work for every inch of space. Those things aren’t always going to make the highlight reel, but they can absolutely help a team win games. At Michigan, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Again, not eye-popping numbers, but it’s impact that matters.

The Mavericks have enough players who will want the ball in their hands. Johnson doesn’t need to compete with them for touches. He can make himself valuable by dominating the areas where effort and toughness matter most, which is a pretty good way for a rookie to get on the floor. There was an encouraging glimpse of that during the preseason, when Johnson grabbed seven rebounds in just 14 minutes against Atlanta. That’s the kind of activity that gets your attention. It doesn’t mean he’s ready to play 25 minutes a night, but it shows how he can contribute even when the offense isn’t running through him

The challenge is doing it against NBA competition. The Rockets are a massive team. The jump from big men in college to the NBA is substantial. Johnson will also have to avoid the rookie mistakes that can frustrate coaches, particularly unnecessary fouls and defensive breakdowns. But if he can bring energy, crash the glass, and make life difficult for opposing centers, he’ll put himself in the conversation for a regular role sooner than some might expect.

There is something refreshing about a young player whose path to contributing is so straightforward. Oh and by the way, did I mention his new coach is also his former coach in Dusty May? That’s good too.

Bottom line

The Mavericks have bigger questions to answer than whether Risacher, Sasser, or Johnson can have a good opening night. Irving’s health and Flagg’s development will ultimately tell us much more about where this team is headed. But the supporting cast matters, too.

Risacher is the swing-for-the-fences play: a former No. 1 pick who could become a valuable two-way wing if things finally click. Sasser is the intriguing bench option who needs to prove he can make enough plays to stay on the floor. Johnson is the rookie who could carve out a role by doing the dirty work and making life miserable for opposing big men. None of these guys needs to have a career night against Houston. It would be nice to see some confidence from Risacher, creativity from Sasser, and “dirty” stats from Johnson Jr. If Dallas is going to surprise anyone this season, it will take more than its two biggest names. Wednesday night is the first chance for others to step up.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Rockets tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. The game will be televised locally on both WFAA Channel 8 and KFAA Channel 29 locally, as well as on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. The game can be streamed on MavsTV or NBA League Pass where available.

With the preseason wrapped up, the Phoenix Suns get ready for their season opener in Portland. This is a fun game for the Suns, who faced the Trail Blazers last year for the seventh spot in the Play-In tournament. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Blazers snuck up on them and stole the win, but the Suns were lucky enough to make the play-in tournament as the eighth seed. Phoenix will look to get off to a strong start and avenge last postseason by winning on opening night, and a huge reason they can do that is how cohesive this squad is.

As we noted throughout the offseason, the team made minimal roster changes. They shipped Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to bring in Miles Bridges, then signed Luke Kennard. Beyond the two-way acquisitions, almost everyone (sorry, Haywood Highsmith) is still on this roster, and a bunch of them signed new deals to stay. That shows the Suns had just the tip of the iceberg last year, and they can fully capitalize on this opportunity.

Not to mention, Kennard and Bridges will add the areas the team needs. Kennard comes in to try to replicate Allen’s three-point shooting, while Bridges brings more size to the frontcourt, which lacked a natural power forward last season.

That said, key guys like Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin were brought back because of the role and impact they had last season. With both of them back and locked in as the backcourt duo, their chemistry is only going to grow. Add that Gillespie worked well with Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro last year, getting them both comfortable in that bench unit. That leaves me with no fear that he will do the same with Ighodaro and now Khaman Maluach, who has taken this leap.

With this bench unit mostly intact and a few fun new pieces, I’m confident it will be one of the league’s top bench units. Regardless of who starts at center, a lineup with Gillespie, Goodwin, Kennard, Dunn/Fleming, and Ighodaro/Maluach is set up to be a well-oiled, complementary machine. Most of them can shoot threes, and they make the hustle/winning plays we look for as fans. Of course, there can be some concern about a few pieces, and even if a guy like Koa Peat sees some time, given how deep the roster is, only time will tell.

Looking at the starting lineup, I think a lot will carry over from last season. Obviously, with the Bridges trade and Williams’s injury, the lineup will look different from last season, but not drastically. Devin Booker is still here, and he is the franchise guy who will look to improve as he did last year. We saw the number change, and maybe this unlocks Book to be on one this upcoming season. Three-point shooting is one key area he needs to improve from last year, and with Jalen Green getting some work with Steve Nash this offseason, we could see Book take on more of an off-ball role than in the previous two years.

Green is another intriguing name, as the guard came to Phoenix last year as the centerpiece of the KD trade on paper, but, with injuries, didn’t meet expectations. The former Rockets guard led the team in points per game and brought them to the No. 2 seed in a deep West, only to be traded the following offseason. That takes a mental toll on a player, and for Green, who came into training camp with some injuries, the combination didn’t pan out well. Luckily for him, this year, he said he feels a lot better and healthier coming into camp, and looks to make the most of his redemption arc this year,

As I said above, he worked with Nash in the offseason and stayed in Phoenix over the summer to maximize his opportunities. He knows next year is the final year of his deal; it is a big prove-it year, and he wants to take full advantage of it, not only to secure a nice payday but also to have somewhere to call home in the future. With no injuries to consider, this should be an exciting year to watch Green in this system.

Then comes Villain Dillion Brooks, who looks to keep that floor rising for this team. He was a huge acquisition to help shift the culture in the Valley, and he looks to build on it this season. Adding Bridges, too, I think, eases the pain of having to show up offensively every night, especially when Green was out. Now that Bridges and Brooks are together, they can hopefully share that offensive load, while Brooks can still disrupt the defense.

When you add it all up, the Suns look like a pretty impactful team on both ends and across the roster. The roster has no position needs and isn’t overstocked in any one position as they head into the season with 14 guys under contract. That’s something I enjoy and feel confident about going into this year; they’re deep, and I saw that last night. From watching the final preseason game against the Utah Jazz, you could see this team’s cohesion on the floor.

Green looked for open guys, and he and Book started hot. Then Brooks got into a rhythm and started to hunt down his shots; Bridges also hit some threes and looked more comfortable. Even Maluach, stepping up for Ighodaro, who was out, made some impactful plays on both ends. This team was scrappy last season, and that mentality is still sticking through from 1-14 on the roster, and that is key. Personally, I’m super excited to see them take the floor.

Both the starters and the bench looked like a complete unit, with one player ready for the wide-open shot or the best opportunity, which didn’t always seem the case last season. That truly has me bought in and excited for the season; last year, I was optimistic, but not this high on the whole roster. Ultimately, we will find out whether this cohesion truly makes a difference. I think we will see it show on the bright side this season for the Suns.

The Knicks have dazzling, diamond-encrusted championship rings to match their historic title. 

Ahead of Tuesday night’s regular-season opener against LeBron James and the 76ers, the Knicks celebrated their first championship in 53 years with a banner-raising ceremony. They also distributed the gaudy jewelry that was created by renowned luxury jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills along with input from Knicks leadership.

The 22-carat ring made up of just under 800 diamonds and blue sapphires set in white gold features a first-of-its-kind feature: a mechanism that includes raising a miniature recreation of Madison Square Garden’s exterior with a turn of the ring.

The underside of the removable part of the ring recreates the Garden’s ceiling, while the top showcases the arena’s lower bowl. 

“The ring was designed to capture the team’s identity and the defining moments of its title run,”  Jason Arasheben, founder and CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills, told Page Six Style exclusively. “What makes this ring unique from others I’ve created is how every detail — from the combination of round brilliant and emerald-cut diamonds with radially set blue sapphires to the individual player tributes and championship milestones — tells a story that is distinctly New York Knicks.”

Numbers of the entire team wrap around the ring top. Each player’s specific ring includes their last name above their number in diamond.

A .16-carat round diamond signifies the team’s 16-point comeback in the clinching Game 5.

There are 16 emerald-cut diamonds that line the inner part of the ring for every playoff victory.

The shank of the ring is engraved with the phrase “Knicks in Five,” for their NBA Finals victory over the favored Spurs.

The Lakers entered this week in a similar situation they were in last year.

They’re opening the regular season against one of their in-state rivals, the Warriors, after a pair of preseason matchups earlier in October.

But because of the nature of preseason NBA basketball, they couldn’t lean too much on the game film in preparation for Wedneday’s opener at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers were without a significant chunk of their rotation in the first exhibition against the Warriors on Oct. 6 in San Francisco, with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler among the several players who didn’t suit up for the matchup at Chase Center during the first week of preseason.

One week later, Kessler made his preseason debut and Reaves scored a preseason-high 28 points in Las Vegas, but the Warriors were without Draymond Green, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. 

And star guard Steph Curry only played 23 minutes, with Kessler only playing in the first half and Reaves also only playing through a chunk of the third quarter.

So the game tape from those matchups don’t provide too much insight into what to expect Wednesday.

“We’ll do a normal scout,” coach JJ Redick said of his team’s regular season opener. “There’s segments of the game where they’re playing their rotation guys, [we’re] playing our rotation guys, where you can look and glean some stuff from that. And we will. Obviously you look at how they have played historically and what they’ve been good at. So there’ll be a combination of the two.”

Historically, the Warriors are a known commodity even as they become a “fading dynasty”, as Steve Kerr put it last Decemeber.

Their post-split actions will continue to confuse defenses.

Green will quarterback the defense.

And Curry’s historical 3-point shooting will bend the court in ways no other player in NBA history can.

But they’re no longer the juggernaut they once were.

What the Warriors are though is a team that forces teams into mistakes. 

The Lakers learned this the hard way in both preseason matchups, including turning the ball over 30 times in the second exhibition last week.

While that was an extreme example, the Warriors have been top-five in defensive turnover percentage in each of the last two seasons. 

Making a point of emphasis from the Lakers’ preseason even more important for them in order to open the regular season with a victory. 

What the Lakers also learned from playing against the Warriors is that they can be an even better defensive team that expected.

It was a general takeaway from preseason.

“From early in September, and even kind of early training camp-ish, maybe before we played our first game, I thought we could potentially be like around an average defense,” Redick said. “Our standards for that have elevated, and we talked to the group about that. We have the chance to be a good defense. And there’s certain things that we really want to get better at from the preseason.

“The areas of focus for us, transition defense, defensive rebounding, we weren’t good. So if we get better at that, we’ll have a chance to be a pretty good defense, and that’s exciting.”

The moment that months of speculation has led to is here.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to South Beach to take on the new look Miami Heat in what will kick off each team’s regular season. Two teams that made massive moves to overhaul their rosters step into the spotlight for the ESPN’s first nationally televised game of the season.

Everyone has had way to much time to overanalyze this game and how each team might attack the others weaknesses, so now it’s finally time to get a look at what they can actually do. There were constant rumors of Anthony Edwards and Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up earlier this calendar year, but instead they’ll face off to kick off their 2026-27 seasons.

Game Info

• Who:Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0) at Miami Heat (0-0)
• When: Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30 PM CT
• Where: Kaseya Center — Miami, Florida
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: 830 WCCO

Injury Reports

What to Watch for

Clash of styles

When the Timberwolves opted to deal Naz Reid and Julius Randle in the offseason to obtain LaMelo Ball, they made an active choice that they were going to shift towards a more guard-heavy, perimeter-oriented team. Conversely, when the Miami Heat chose to deal a bevy of players and picks to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, they were aspiring towards a bruising interior presence that would beat other teams down in the paint.

Tracking how each team went about their splashy offseason moves could not have been more different, and yet they are all too similar. Miami and Minnesota both chose to pair their current star with another at a neighboring position – Bam Adebayo with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Anthony Edwards with LaMelo Ball. The fallout of these decisions should be none more apparent than when they are pitted against each other.

This clashing of styles will show up in the matchup. The Wolves are trying to shoot more threes and give more space for Anthony Edwards and others to operate. Something to watch for will be the three-point discrepancy between the two teams. When the backcourt can shoot like Ant and LaMelo do, not to mention the rim defense that the Heat are expected to boast, it won’t be surprising if Minnesota attacks Miami with their perimeter shooting.

The Heat will be looking to do the opposite when trying to take it at Rudy Gobert and young Joan Beringer to get their points on the offensive end. This all coalesces in a fascinating mismatch where both teams have things they can exploit.

Stopping the bigs

Heading into game one, the defense seems to be the end of the floor that has more questions than the offense. The spacing and shooting should carry them on offense as they find their footing in sets and rhythm, but finding the best way to play defense when it has been drastically changed from the last two years will be something to keep an eye on. It’s easier to play offense when you have the personnel they do, but defense takes much more of an attention to detail to be able to play the right way. Especially when you have Rudy Gobert.

This should be a great test for the Timberwolves right off the bat. They are playing arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA while having the least amount of size in their own in years. Being able to guard both Giannis and Bam is a different beast compared to most other teams. Minnesota will most likely opt to put Rudy on Bam, and have Kuminga shadow Antetokounmpo with Rudy helping near the rim.

This strategy has worked for them in the past when facing dominant bigs, but we will see if they are able to effectively do it when there are two skilled bigs. Adebayo’s ability to make threes off of Giannis drives will also determine if Minnesota will need to pivot to a different strategy. Not to mention when the reserves get into the game and Beringer, still a teenager, has to matchup against one of them.

Rotation decisions

During opening night, there is usually a lot more leeway for going deeper into the bench. Coaches want to get a look at different lineups and don’t want to be too rigid early on in the season. Head coach Chris Finch has historically had a shorter bench (at least in recent years), but is also willing to try out different players and lineups early in the season.

Something to keep an eye on will be how deep the Wolves will actually go into their bench, as well as what the minutes distribution is for said players. Though little can be taken from preseason, it was of note that in the final game against the Bulls, Bones Hyland stayed back in Minnesota while TJ Shannon traveled to play in the “split team” game. With those two players vastly differing in skillsets, it is something to monitor.

Trey Lyles could also be someone to watch for on Wednesday. He is at the fringes of the rotation, but could see some more minutes in this particular matchup because of the Heat’s frontcourt. If Beringer struggles with fouls or being overwhelmed by the more seasoned stars, it could be a chance for Lyles to come in as another big who can help to mitigate the size deficit with his spacing.

It’s finally time all. The official road to 82-0 begins Monday evening. The Wolves are ready. Are you?

In 2017, the Los Angeles Clippers gave Blake Griffin a five-year, $173-million contract that they said would make him a “Clipper for life.”

When he signed the contract, employees of the team were wearing a controversial shirt that read “Pioneers,” featuring Griffin alongside notable historical figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, and more.

Fast forward nine years later, Griffin appeared on “Pablo Torre Finds Out” and talked about how that moment still haunts him to this day.

Before Amazon kicked off it’s inaugural season covering the NBA on Prime Video last season, Vice President of Global Live Production, Jared Stacy, held a team meeting with the streaming service’s broadcast and production team and told everyone that they are all “Pioneers.”

Including Griffin, whom he reminded had been a “Pioneer” before.

“He does this whole speech about, you know, ‘We are pioneers, and I really have to single out one guy.’ And he says, ‘Blake, this isn’t his first foray into being a Pioneer,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh no,'” Griffin said. “He brings up the shirt. Found the shirts and bought everybody on the Prime team a Pioneer shirt.”

When he received the first copy of the shirt, Griffin said he ended up losing it and also didn’t realize who was on it at first.

“Literally on the way home it had exploded on Twitter, and I was like, ‘Is that Martin Luther King? Is that Gandhi? Oh my God,'” Griffin said.

During the interview, Torre asked Griffin if he had remembered all the faces on the shirt.

The former six-time All-Star started off strong, but couldn’t complete the entirety of the list as he forgot Nelson Mandela and Michael Jackson were featured in the image.

“I’ve tried to block the shirt out of my memory,” Griffin said while laughing about it.

While the Los Angeles Clippers promised Griffin that day he would be a “Clipper for life,” their word would be true for only a year and a half, as he was traded by the team to the Detroit Pistons in January 2018.

Griffin spent over three years with the Pistons, then finished his career playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.

Following the 2023 season, Griffin retired from basketball.

Now, Griffin is about to embark on his second year working in the NBA on Prime Video and is also about to begin his new show, “The Stepback with Blake Griffin.”

Put your shades on because these rings are dazzling!

The New York Knicks received their championship rings on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden ahead of their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. The arena was buzzing as Knicks and ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen led the ceremony to honor New York's first title in 53 years. Knicks superfan Ben Stiller was in the crowd filming the festivities on his phone.

The rings were crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills and feature the Knicks logo in orange gems on the ring face with a line of blue gems surrounding the entire base. The top of the ring opens up to reveal the inside of Madison Square Garden. The back of the band has "Knicks in Five" engraved on it, to commemorate that New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. The inside of the band has the number "10 weeks" engraved in black, a call back to Knicks owner James Dolan rallying his team to make sacrifices for the length of the playoff run.

One of the sides of the ring says "World Champions" with the records for each of New York's series wins and the Larry O'Brien Trophy encrusted in diamonds. The other side has the player's name and number with a gold image of the outside of Madison Square Garden.