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There is truly no need for preseason NBA games. The season is already too long with an eternal 82-game regular season slate, followed by four more months of the most intense basketball possible for a team to run all the way to the championship. Yet, there’s still about five more preseason games for every team despite the league’s long history of stars playing themselves into shape and pacing their bodies for the eventual postseason run.

Preseason is mostly useless, but it does often allow young players to get an audition for extended minutes they otherwise wouldn’t be seeing until injuries hit in the regular season. A few younger role players have already made a strong case for themselves during the preseason. Now we wait to see if it will translate to when the games start to matter for real with opening night coming on Oct. 20. Check out our list of NBA breakout candidates for more thoughts on the league’s most promising young players.

Here’s a short list of young NBA veterans who have impressed in the preseason so far. It will be interesting to look back on this list at the end of the year and see which performances were real, and which only happened because it was preseason.

Leonard Miller, F, Chicago Bulls

Leonard Miller put together another great game for the Bulls, his been incredible this preseason.

26 PTS, 7 REB, 11/14 FG, 4/6 3PT, 93 TS%

Year 5 leap 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HBM9ccav8U

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) October 12, 2026

Chris Finch never gave Leonard Miller a chance at real minutes during his first three years in Minnesota. It’s hard for any second-round pick to earn minutes on a contender, and Miller’s shaky outside shooting made him a particularly rough fit in a Wolves front court that already had spacing issues with Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Minnesota didn’t hesitate to part with him to acquire Ayo Dosunmu at February’s trade deadline, and that’s when his career finally started to tick up. The Bulls gave him a shot while they were tanking down the stretch, and Miller immediately proved to be productive, well-rounded player who knows how to use his big 6’10, 220-pound frame on both ends of the floor. Miller continues to impress in the preseason as an opportunistic scorer around the basket, a menace in transition, a quality rebounder, and an improved three-point shooter. Miller knows how to extend advantages with long, coordinated strides to the rim, and he has nice touch in close. He looks far more in control than he did earlier in his career. He’s never looked better than he did Sunday night, when he dropped 26 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes against the Nuggets on ESPN. It’s fair to still be skeptical of his outside shot, but if he’s made any progress there, Miller’s ability to generation extra possessions and score efficiently should earn him minutes. The Bulls have a major glut of young power forwards after spending their last three lottery picks on Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue, but Miller is simply too good to keep off the floor this season.

Brandon Williams, G, Golden State Warriors

Warriors Brandon Williams 19 PTS (7-8 FG, 2-2 3P, 97% TS), 1 AST, 1 STL, +12 in 17 minutes vs. Kings

18 PPG on 74% FG/60% 3P the last 2 games https://t.co/4CqtNsvoTspic.twitter.com/gA9tY0zM2D

— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) October 11, 2026

Williams shined for the Mavericks last season in limited minutes filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving at point guard, and the Warriors did well to identify him as a buy-low free agent target this summer. Golden State has never had a point guard with the downhill scoring juice that Williams provides, and it should make him part of Steve Kerr’s rotation as Stephen Curry’s backup when the season begins. Williams is incredibly fast with the ball in his hands, and he’s slippery enough to keep defenders off-balance on his drives to the paint. His ability to glide to the rim and finish from awkward angles will be his bread-and-butter, and it sets up some easy passing reads for him to kick out to shooters. Williams won’t have much defensive versatility, but he looks pretty good guarding in isolation against other smaller guards, and he’s always quick to loose balls. The Warriors got him for an absolute steal on the veteran’s minimum. It’s fair to question how he fits into Steve Kerr’s offense as primarily a pick-and-roll ball handler, but he gives the Warriors an element they’ve always lacked, and that alone should get him rotation minutes.

GG Jackson, F, Memphis Grizzlies

It’s wild to think Jackson is still only 21 years old with three NBA seasons already under his belt, but that’s what happens when a player reclassifies to skip his senior year of high school. Jackson has never lived up to his recruiting hype at any point since heading to college early, but he’s always had the tools to be a productive off-ball scorer. If his preseason run is any indication, he might be putting it all together. He has 43 points in 46 minutes to open preseason, showing new confidence as an outside shooter while looking like a runaway freight train in transition. Jackson has a huge body for a forward at 6’9, 210 pounds, and he uses it to play a power game on the glass and in the open floor. He’s going to help the Grizzlies get up and down around the slower Zach Edey-Cameron Boozer front court, and he looks more decisive in his dribble-pass-shoot actions. Jackson’s size should make him a factor on the glass, and he no longer looks like a liability as a floor spacer. The Grizzlies are loaded with young talent, and he could be another diamond in the rough.

Asa Newell, F, Atlanta Hawks

Asa Newell has an ability to run into easy points just by using his god given tools. He’s an excellent run-and-jump athlete for a 6’11, 224-pound forward, and he’s kept his motor high in the preseason by moving without the ball and finishing everything around the rim. Newell’s skill set might feel a little outdated in the modern game when forwards are expected to be able to handle and shoot, but Atlanta’s up-tempo system should allow him to find more opportunistic avenues to make an impact. Newell isn’t going to be a creator, but he can put the ball on the floor in small doses to set up spin moves and step-throughs around the basket. His outside shot looked okay in low volume last year, and while that hasn’t been part of his preseason success, it’s something that will continue to be vital for him going forward. He’s a pretty nimble player when he gets in close, and he’s powerful enough as a two-footed leaper that it’s going to hard to challenge him around the rim. It’s still a bit of a question on how Newell fits into this version of the Hawks, but he could have some utility as a garbage man-style player just by keeping his energy high.

Kel’el Ware, C, Milwaukee Bucks

Ware always seemed to be in Erik Spoelstra’s doghouse in Miami, but it’s possible the lessons he learned with the Heat can help him take the next step in his career after being sent to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Ware’s tools have never been a question as a super bouncy big man with a 7’4+ wingspan, and he’s always produced great highlights playing above the rim on both ends. The issue for Ware has been keeping his motor consistent while executing the scheme, but the early returns look good in preseason so far for the Bucks. Ware shoots such an easy ball from three-point range and has the results to back it up with a 36.9% stroke on 5.3 attempts from three per 100 possessions for his career. He started next to Myles Turner in the front court for the Bucks’ most recent game, giving Milwaukee two 7-footers who can space the floor beyond the arc. Ware has a massive catch and block radius when he goes above the rim, and he’s going to gobble up rebounds, blocks, and dunks on his tools alone. He just needs to stay focused enough to earn head coach Taylor Jenkins’ trust. A fresh start could be exactly what Ware needs to take the next step in his career.

Scoot Henderson, G, Portland Trail Blazers

Scoot Henderson 4/5 from three in 16 mins pic.twitter.com/CQBB0BbMP6

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) October 12, 2026

Henderson was a bit underwhelming in his first two seasons after being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and a torn hamstring delayed his debut until February last season. When he finally returned to the lineup, Henderson looked more comfortable playing off the ball while refining his ability as a shot-creator. Portland is no longer counting on him to be a savior with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in front of him on the depth chart, but it’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor if he stays on the trajectory he’s currently hinting at during preseason. The game no longer feels too fast for Scoot: he’s more composed making reads as a passer, and he’s more confident shooting it from deep whether it’s off the dribble or on spot-ups. He gets a lot of deflections on the defensive end, and he’s good at challenging shots with his explosion off the floor. Henderson learned he wasn’t going to be able to dominate the NBA on athleticism alone, but he’s in a better spot now that his skill level has started to match his speed and strength. He’s playing for a contract next summer, and if the Blazers don’t want to pay him under Tom Dundon, another team will.

Ron Holland, G, Detroit Pistons

Holland entered a tough situation when he was drafted to a Pistons team that already had two non-shooters entrenched in the starting lineup in Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. The outside shot has always been the biggest hole in Holland’s game, but it shouldn’t conceal everything else he does well on the basketball floor. Holland has always been a maniac in terms of his motor on both ends of the floor, and it excelled again in his preseason debut, when he amassed seven ‘stocks’ (steals and blocks) in 24 minutes. Forcing defensive takeaways allows him to get in the open floor, where his speed, leaping, and agility can all shine. Holland doesn’t need the ball to make an impact, although he’s not much of a threat away from the ball offensively in the halfcourt. It feels like he may have to move to a different team to really have a chance to stand out, but his defensive projection and transition ability continue to intrigue. It would be wonderful to see Detroit give him a real chance in different lineup configurations to see if his per-minute impact numbers could extend to a bigger role.

Draymond Green identifies ‘weird' aspect of Brandin Podziemski Warriors contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green always has been one to speak his mind, even about his teammates’ contract terms.

After fourth-year shooting guard Brandin Podziemski signed a five-year, $110 million extension on Oct. 10, Green congratulated his younger teammate on Tuesday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” before commenting on an interesting aspect of Podziemski’s contract.

“I will say about this deal: it has the mutual option in the fifth year, and these mutual options, it’s kind of gotten a little weird,” Green said on his podcast. “We’re starting to see them pop up more and more in the NBA. You used to see the player option or team option, but lately we’ve been seeing these mutual options, … and it is ultimately a structure to where the final year of the deal requires both the player and the team to opt in for the contract to continue.

“Now, obviously, in the other ones, either the player has the option, or the team has the option. This one, they both have to agree. And if either the team or the player declines, the the year is voided. So this is essentially a four-year deal with the mutual option for the fifth year.”

Green noted that Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein and Miami Heat guard Pelle Larson, who both signed extensions this summer, also included a mutual option in their deals.

The former Defensive Player of the Year also pondered how the second apron could potentially alter a team’s perspective.

“The second apron has affected a lot,” Green said. “I wonder if this is another instance where the second apron is essentially making a team say, ‘Hey, we want the option to be able to get out of this because what if we are up against the second apron and we need a way out? This is an opportunity for us to be able to get out, even if we need to negotiate a lower number to avoid the second apron.’ “

The second apron is a spending threshold that went into effect in the 2024-2025 offseason, and severely curtails an organization’s ability to spend on or sign players through trade and free agency restrictions that are triggered if the monetary barrier is crossed.

The Warriors currently sit in the first apron with a $205 million cap that ranks third in the NBA, according to Spotrac.

Podziemski is set to be paid $5.7 million in the 2026-27 NBA season before his salary jumps to $18.9 million in the first year of his extension.

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Why the Celtics might be the most ‘annoying' team in the NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics might be the most annoying team in the NBA this season — and in the best way possible.

Picture this: You’re a team playing your fifth game in seven days in Boston. Legs are heavy, everything feels like a grind. And when you’re not getting swarmed by Boston’s gaggle of young wings like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh, you’ve got to try to figure out how to keep Mitchell Robinson and his 7-foot, 240-pound frame from vacuuming up every available offensive rebound.

Boston’s depth and potential playstyle might be the two biggest reasons the Celtics can remain entrenched at the top of the Eastern Conference, despite beefed-up competition and the departure of Jaylen Brown.

We may very well be overreacting to an incredibly small sample of preseason basketball, but in two games so far the Celtics have showcased a readymade identity that builds off much of what made the team elite last season. Health is vital to Boston’s overall regular-season success, and there’s a lot to figure out to be able to judge how successful this team might be when the playoffs arrive.

But over the course of 82, we’re pretty bullish that Boston is going to be exactly the sort of team that opponents don’t want to see.

Let’s crunch some early numbers: 

22

That’s how many deflections Boston registered against Philadelphia. For context: Boston ranked 25th in the NBA generating just 15.2 deflections per game and lagged way behind league-leading Oklahoma City, which generated 20.8 deflections per game last year.

The addition of Paul George ought to kick up both Boston’s total deflections and steal rates on its own. George produced five steals against Philadelphia and has routinely ranked among the best at his position in steal rate. And whenever George wasn’t deflecting an entry pass, it was Baylor Scheierman swatting one on his own, then hurling himself into the front row of the stands to ensure that turnover morphed into points.

With George and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics now have two of the more underrated forward defenders in the league (their offensive prowess often overshadowing their ability on the other end). Mix in All-Defense stalwart Derrick White and Boston’s three core starters set a heavy defensive tone. Regardless of how coach Joe Mazzulla elects to deploy the rest of his depth, the Celtics are going to have the ability to roll in long, active wings like Scheierman, Gonzalez, Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. to keep the defensive intensity up.

The Celtics have averaged 28.5 points off turnovers through their first two preseason games, this after ranking 25th in points off turnovers in each of the past two seasons (averaging 15.7 points off turnovers per game across those two seasons). 

Boston has an opportunity with its personnel this year to take some more risks and cause more chaos on the defensive end. It’s a big reason why one of our bold preseason predictions was for Boston to lead the Eastern Conference in defensive rating this season.

44.8 percent

That is Boston’s offensive rebound rate this preseason, the best mark in the league and by more than three percent from the next closest team. 

The Celtics were already one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA last season, subsisting largely on the corner crashes of its young wings combined with energetic big man play from Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. Now the team has added the league’s best offensive rebounder in Robinson.

The Celtics have a new luxury of managing the minutes of Queta and Robinson, letting them go full throttle over shorter stints as the two divide up the majority of 48 available minutes. Whatever is left over, Garza will come in and be relentless on the glass in those minutes.

What once felt like the weak spot of Boston’s roster, the center position now feels like a strength. Queta put up some of the best analytics in the NBA last season during his floor time, and Robinson is going to generate so many second-chance opportunities for a team that isn’t bashful about kicking the ball back outside and continuing to launch from the perimeter.

Consider this: Boston posted a 35-18 record (.660 winning percentage) in the games it won the shot margin last season. That’s a 54-win pace over 82 games. And Boston’s new personnel configuration gives it a chance to win the shot margin each night if the team takes care of the basketball.

18.1 percent

That is the offensive rebound rate for Boston’s opponents so far this preseason. It’s the best mark in the NBA this preseason by 5.6 percent. 

Sustainable? We’ll need a bigger sample. But Boston ranked 25th last season, giving up second-chance opportunities on 33.6 percent of possessions. Even some minor strides in that category are going to help the hunt to win the margins. And Boston’s ability to finish out possessions this preseason is a big reason for its early success.

The bottom line is that Boston, with its new look, is set up to build off the “hardest-playing team” identity it embraced last season — and got accentuated in the Game 82 win over Orlando. 

For a team whose North Star is winning titles, the Celtics have to figure out how to best translate that to the postseason. There is no victory in being a great regular-season team if it ends with a first-round exit.

But the first two preseason games have shown a roadmap to how Boston can stay at the top of a beefed-up Eastern Conference. The Celtics are the last team you want to see on the second night of a back-to-back. The handful of schedule losses that most teams will endure in the dog days of the NBA calendar might be the time when Boston thrives.

With another NBA season set to tip off, we asked our experts at USA TODAY Sports and For The Win to rank the top 100 players who will take the court in 2026-27 – regardless of position, regardless of experience and regardless of usage.

While we can’t know yet how rookies will adapt to professional basketball, how veterans will integrate with new teammates and how coaches will choose to employ individual players for the betterment of their teams, we can judge talent and skill.

From former NBA champions like LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo to current champs Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, we considered them all. Seven NBA reporters submitted their individual rankings, and a points system was used to determine the final results.

Here, we present our top 50 players ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, starting with No. 50 and concluding with our pick for the best in the league.

(For our rankings of No. 100 through No. 51, click here or visit usatoday.com/nba).

No. 50 Zion Williamson

• Team: New Orleans Pelicans
• Position: Forward
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: 21.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 apg

His strength is overpowering defenders in the low block, and it’s remarkable how comfortably he gets to the rim, despite being undersized at 6-foot-6. As always, the questions with Williamson are his weight, conditioning and his availability, though in recent seasons, Williamson has made it a priority to slim down a touch. The Pelicans were in a lost season, but a career-low scoring average was nonetheless a concern.

No. 49 Rudy Gobert

• Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Position: Center
• Age: 34
• 2025-26 stats: 10.9 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.6 bpg

2025 was a return to the All-Defensive First Team for Gobert, who jumped back into the top-four of Defensive Player of the Year voting after a “down” 2024 (he was still second team All-Defense). And now he has a real chance to increase his scoring output with LaMelo Ball there to create easy opportunities as the most dynamic point guard Gobert has ever played with.

No. 48 Jaren Jackson Jr.

• Team: Utah Jazz
• Position: Center
• Age: 27
• 2025-26 stats: 19.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg

Jackson Jr. is a dynamic two-way center that can affect both sides of the ball. He can score from inside and out. He can guard the interior and the perimeter. Jackson is a two-time All-Star, two-time blocks leader and was the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. He only appeared in 48 games last season though, so expect that number to go up. 

No. 47 Dylan Harper

• Team:San Antonio Spurs
• Position: Guard
• Age: 20
• 2025-26 stats: 11.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.9 apg

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, even though he is only entering his sophomore season in the league, the Spurs internally believe Harper is already their second-best player behind Victor Wembanyama. Something that pops about Harper: He averaged 2.1 unassisted field goals at the rim per 36 minutes, via PBPStats. That ranked behind two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2.35) for the most among players who hit the 65-game threshold last season. Harper was just 19 years old until a month before the playoffs began.

No. 46 Derrick White

• Team: Boston Celtics
• Position: Guard
• Age: 32
• 2025-26 stats: 16.5 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.4 rpg

By all metrics, White set career-highs in points, assists, steals, and blocks, but he also shot under 40% and all but disappeared in the Celtics’ first-round playoff meltdown. His defense remains a strong part of his game, and with Jaylen Brown now in Philadelphia, he will be expected to be even more productive on offense to help Jayson Tatum.

No. 45 Trae Young

• Team: Washington Wizards
• Position: Guard
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 17.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 8.0 apg

Young was limited to just 15 games total during the 2025-26 campaign — 10 with the Atlanta Hawks and five with the Wizards, who by the time Young arrived, had entered tank mode for the No. 1 pick in the draft. However, don’t sleep on Young; he’s one of the best playmakers at the point guard position. He can pass and he can score, especially from long range. Young now has a chance to reestablish himself as one of the best perimeter threats in the league alongside Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa.

No. 44 De’Aaron Fox

• Team: San Antonio Spurs
• Position: Guard
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 18.6 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.8 rpg

There will be nights when Fox is the fourth scoring option, and if that becomes the norm, he may be prime trade bait at the deadline. The Spurs are still on the hook for his four-year, $221 million deal until further notice. Having three ball handlers on a team is a luxury, but not getting enough shots while still trying to please Victor Wembanyama is another matter.

No. 43 Lauri Markkanen

• Team: Utah Jazz
• Position: Forward
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 26.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 apg

Utah’s lack of competitiveness is hopefully in the past and should help one of the league’s best scoring big men. Markkanen could again put up big numbers with the talent infusion that is on its way to Utah, which has missed the playoffs in each of the past five years.

No. 42 Franz Wagner

• Team:Orlando Magic
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 20.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.3 apg

The big question last season was whether Wagner and fellow Magic co-star Paolo Banchero could co-exist. Both can handle the ball, and both can create their own offense. The difference with Wagner is that his jumper is more consistent. Wagner also flies under the radar as a defender, but he’s solid there. What new coach Sean Sweeney will want to see is availability; injuries have limited Wagner to just 94 games across the last two seasons, including just 34 last year.

No. 41 Joel Embiid

• Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• Position: Center
• Age: 32
• 2025-26 stats: 26.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.9 apg

Unlike some of the other injured players on this list, we saw enough of Embiid last year to know exactly how much his injuries have taken a toll on his mobility – and we also saw how effective he still was as a scorer. Expect that to continue with him apparently in better shape. The biggest knock today is his insistence to shoot so many threes despite his declining efficiency from deep.

No. 40 Alperen Sengun

• Team:Houston Rockets
• Position: Center
• Age: 32
• 2025-26 stats: 20.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 6.2 apg

OK, so maybe the (premature) “Baby Jokić” comparisons were inaccurate. That doesn’t change the fact that Şengün is an All-Star-caliber big man with terrific passing chops at the center of a Rockets team with expectations. The question for Şengün and Houston moving forward is simple: Is he closer to the reliable regular-season version, or the playoff dropper that helped open the door to a troubling first-round upset last spring?

No. 39 Jalen Duren

• Team: Detroit Pistons
• Position: Center
• Age: 22
• 2025-26 stats: 19.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 65% FG

Duren may have overplayed his hand when he was named third-team All-NBA and demanded max dollars. While he did eventually sign for five years and $200 million, Duren’s next move is to improve his relationship with the team and his offensive game – especially in the playoffs, which is why Detroit was hesitant to pay him big bucks in the first place.

No. 38 Deni Avdija

• Team: Portland Trail Blazers
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 24.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 6.7 apg

Avdija has increased his scoring average in each of his six NBA seasons, and he'll have three dynamic guards to play off him if he's asked not to be the offense's focal point. Another season like 2025-26, when he also posted career highs in assists and free-throw percentage, would put him in line for a big payday in 2028.

No. 37 Anthony Davis

• Team: Washington Wizards
• Position: Forward
• Age: 33
• 2025-26 stats: 20.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg

Davis’ ability on the floor has never been a question. When he plays 60 games in a season, he’s a lock to make the All-NBA and All-Defense teams. The only problem is he’s played 60 games just twice in the last eight years. But, if we’re assuming good health, Davis is one of the league’s very best bigs and much better than this ranking.

No. 36 Evan Mobley

• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 18.2 ppg, 9 rpg, 3.6 apg

Mobley, a former Defensive Player of the Year, is an enigma. He can easily dominate on any given night, but sometimes he seems overwhelmed, especially when his shooting is suspect and his rebounding is nonexistent. Mobley simply needs to elevate his Robin role to Donovan Mitchell’s Batman if the Cavs ever want to make it out of the Eastern Conference finals.

No. 35 Kyrie Irving

• Team: Dallas Mavericks
• Position: Guard
• Age: 34
• 2025-26 stats: Did not play

It’ll be interesting to see how Irving looks after a full year off, but if he’s anything close to the player he was before the ACL injury, he’ll still be one of the best guards in the game. As a former 50-40-90 guy whose year-to-year production is normally in that range, Irving has several ways he can beat a defense. Expect him to return to All-Star form.

No. 34 Paolo Banchero

• Team: Orlando Magic
• Position: Forward
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 22.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 5.2 apg

Paolo Banchero is one of the young, bright stars of the NBA. He’s led the Magic to three consecutive postseason appearances and continues to grow in the league. His 6-foot-10 stature makes him a matchup problem for opponents. The next step in his game is getting him to buy into playing bully ball.

No. 33 LaMelo Ball

• Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Position: Guard
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 7.1 apg

While his identity on the court will shift after a blockbuster trade sent him from Charlotte to Minnesota, there is still plenty to celebrate about Ball. He is the only player in league history aside from Luka Dončić with at least 6,000 points 2,000 assists and 900 made 3-pointers before turning 25 years old. Pair his electric shooting and playmaking with Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves should make some noise on offense this season.

No. 32 Austin Reaves

• Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 23.3 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.7 rpg

Reaves’ ability to score at all three levels is an asset, and he will be expected to increase his production alongside Luka Dončić, now that LeBron James is no longer in L.A. to serve as a security blanket. Reaves just needs to stay healthy and prove that the team was right to give him a four-year, $180 million extension. 

No. 31 Cooper Flagg

• Team: Dallas Mavericks
• Position: Forward
• Age: 19
• 2025-26 stats: 21.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.5 apg

Flagg came on strong to win Rookie of the Year honors last season, emerging from an early shooting funk to deliver some historic scoring performances during his first campaign in the league. His combination of size, skill and versatility naturally translated to the NBA, and he should have more space to operate with the return of Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks’ lineup. If his shooting improves in Year 2, Flagg could quickly ascend to the top of the league’s pecking order.

No. 30 Pascal Siakam

• Team: Indiana Pacers
• Position: Forward
• Age: 32
• 2025-26 stats: 24 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.8 apg

Don’t let a gap year without Tyrese Haliburton fool you. The Pacers’ dark-horse 2025 NBA Finals run doesn’t happen without Siakam’s all-around versatility. Full stop. Indiana can basically insert Siakam into any lineup and expect to win those minutes. He is the ultimate gap-filler, a guy who almost always finds a way to make a play. Now firmly in his early 30s, pairing Siakam with a defensive big like Ivica Zubac might unlock his final form. 

No. 29 Amen Thompson

• Team: Houston Rockets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 18.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.3 apg

Along with his brother, Ausar, who plays for the Pistons, Amen Thompson might be the most athletic player in the entire league. He broke out last season when the Rockets deployed him as a point-forward, after starting point guard Fred VanVleet was lost to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Thompson is a two-way demon; he uses his quickness and length to lock-up his assignments, and he can slash to the cup for high-percentage looks. The only thing keeping Thompson from becoming a Top-15 player is a jumper that can be unreliable, especially from deep (21.6% last season).

No. 28 Stephon Castle

• Team: San Antonio Spurs
• Position: Guard
• Age: 21
• 2025-26 stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 7.4 apg

The 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year backed up that initial campaign by improving in nearly every statistical category during his second season, then elevated his game even further during the Spurs' run to the NBA Finals. Castle's shooting efficiency improved dramatically from his rookie year, while his playmaking and ability to lock down opposing teams' top perimeter scorers has quickly made him one of the league's most promising young guards.

No. 27 OG Anunoby

• Team:New York Knicks 
• Position: Forward
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg

There are role players, and then there are the kind of indispensable winning players who do all the little things and hard things at the same time. Anunoby is the latter. Anunoby can nail corner 3-pointers in the clutch, dive for loose balls and snatch long rebounds, and lock down the other team’s best player. He is the lovely rug that ties the room together for the reigning NBA champions. 

No. 26 James Harden

• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 37
• 2025-26 stats: 23.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 8.0 apg

At his age, it’s amazing what James Harden has been able to do, especially adapting his game. We’ve seen the dynamic scorer version of Harden, and now we get more of a playmaking version of him. Is Harden still a top 30 player in the league? Yes, especially since this is a regular-season designation. 

No. 25 Jalen Johnson

• Team: Atlanta Hawks
• Position: Forward
• Age: 24
• 2025-26 stats: 22.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 7.9 apg

He’s more of a point-forward, and Atlanta’s decision to turn the offense over to Johnson proved to be a sound one. Though he’s versatile, Johnson is at his best when he’s leading the Hawks in transition, where he deploys his size, handles and vision to find teammates or simply get to the rim. Coach Quinn Snyder deserves a lot of credit here, as Johnson also displays excellent patience and doesn’t force many looks; he lets the game come to him.

No. 24 Scottie Barnes

• Team: Toronto Raptors
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 18.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.9 apg

Barnes emerged as a bonafide two-way force as the Raptors became one of the Eastern Conference’s biggest surprises last season. The fourth-year forward shot better than 50% from the field for the first time in his career, pairing elite defensive versatility with a more polished offensive game. He then elevated his play in his postseason debut, helping push Toronto to the brink of an upset over Cleveland in the playoffs.

No. 23 Chet Holmgren

• Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
• Position: Forward
• Age: 24
• 2025-26 stats: 17.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.7 apg

Holmgren’s reported two-pound offseason weight gain certainly won’t do him any favors if he doesn’t use his other skills on offense. His defense is elite, and he has the capabilities to become a 25-point-a-night scorer. With the talent he has around him, including Shai Gilgeous Alexander, the MVP of the last two seasons, Holmgren should be an All-NBA mainstay for years to come.

No. 22 Jalen Williams

• Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.5 apg

Injuries (wrist surgery, hamstring) robbed huge chunks of his regular season and playoffs, which massively hurt the Thunder. But he remains a two-way forward who can slash to the rim, handle the ball and lace perimeter shots when required. Now that he’s fully healthy, he should continue his production as one of the game’s bright stars – one that was instrumental in closing out the Pacers at the 2025 NBA Finals.

No. 21 Jamal Murray

• Team: Denver Nuggets
• Position: Guard
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 25.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.1 apg

Where Murray lacks high-end athleticism, he makes up for it by being arguably the craftiest offensive player in the league. The veteran has built his career on reaching into his bag of tricks. And when he’s on, Murray’s capacity for microwave scoring and shooting can be genuinely jaw-dropping. All of this context is why he fits with Nikola Jokić like a glove as his running mate. 

No. 20 Bam Adebayo

• Team: Miami Heat
• Position: Center
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.2 apg

Adebayo coming in at No. 20 still makes him a top-five center or big-man in the NBA. Don’t let the 20.1 ppg fool you, he can fill it up with best of them – Remember, 83? The addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo should really open up Adebayo’s game and his impact will be felt tremendously.

No. 19 LeBron James

• Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• Position: Forward
• Age: 41
• 2025-26 stats: 20.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 7.2 apg

There will be times throughout the season when James coasts simply due to age and the mileage on his body. But he proved in carrying the Lakers to a first-round playoff win over the Rockets, when he needs to assert himself, he can still control a game better than most thanks to the best mind in basketball.

No. 18 Tyrese Haliburton

• Team: Indiana Pacers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 26
• 2025-26 stats: Did not play due to injury

The last time we saw Tyrese Haliburton play basketball, he led the Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals, where he pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games before he devastatingly tore his right Achilles tendon. We don’t know how Haliburton will look coming off the injury – which is why he finished this low on the list – but if he returns to form as the season progresses, while running pick-and-roll with Ivica Zubac, then he can easily outperform this spot in our rankings.  

No. 17 Devin Booker

• Team: Phoenix Suns
• Position: Guard
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 26.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.0 apg

One of the smoothest and most consistent buckets in the NBA, Booker is a three-level scorer who has taken on even more responsibility since a June 2025 trade shipped Kevin Durant to the Rockets. Booker is the face of the franchise, and his silky jumper helped elevate the Suns to a surprise playoff run last season. He may not be the most vocal, but he has also embraced a leadership role, while trying to get the Suns back to legitimate competition out West – six seasons after they reached the Finals.

No. 16 Karl-Anthony Towns

• Team: New York Knicks
• Position: Center
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 3.0 apg

Towns’ frustrations with his contract situation could be an interesting side note and distraction for the world-champion Knicks, but Towns’ professionalism won’t let that be the case. As long as he keeps up his stellar playoff play, with timely outside shooting and defense, the Knicks will be right back in contention.

No. 15 Jaylen Brown

• Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• Position: Guard/Foward
• Age: 29
• 2025-26 stats: 28.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.1 apg

Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, has been heralded for his ability to play both sides of the ball, but his offensive output deserves more recognition after being among the top five scores in the league during the 2025-26 regular season. The scenery change to Philadelphia could shine an even bigger spotlight on him, playing alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James. 

No. 14 Tyrese Maxey

• Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 28.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.6 apg

Maxey’s high-profile teammates will probably make most headlines this year, but make no mistake: The electric point guard is the straw that stirs the 76ers’ drink. An explosive first step, an elite shooting stroke and underrated passing vision make Maxey one of the Association’s most dynamic offensive players. If the new-look 76ers live up to the hype, Maxey will almost certainly drive their success. 

No. 13 Donovan Mitchell

• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 27.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.7 apg

Mitchell has earned all-NBA honors in back-to-back seasons for the first time in his career and inked a new $273 million contract extension this offseason that should keep him in Cleveland for the duration of his prime. Questions linger about his viability as a No. 1 option in the playoffs after the Cavaliers were swept in the Eastern Conference finals, but Mitchell remains one of the league’s most explosive perimeter scorers and playmakers.

No. 12 Kevin Durant

• Team: Houston Rockets
• Position: Forward
• Age: 38
• 2025-26 stats: 26.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 apg

For all intents and purposes, this might be Durant’s last hurrah, as he will move into fourth place on the all-time scoring list by season’s end. The 38-year-old can rely on the young core to give the Rockets hope of making a dent in the West, but Durant’s leadership and still-lethal scoring will ultimately decide Houston’s fate.

No. 11 Stephen Curry

• Team: Golden State Warriors
• Position: Guard
• Age: 38
• 2025-26 stats: 26.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.7 apg

Whatever decline we’re supposed to be expecting from Curry hasn’t taken place yet. In the 43 games he was on the court last year, he was still cheffing. His 46.8 shooting percentage was his second highest in the last five years, and he still knocked down 39 percent of his threes.

No. 10 Kawhi Leonard

• Team:  Toronto Raptors
• Position: Forward
• Age: 35
• 2025-26 stats: 27.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.6 apg

Now free of distractions after a year-long saga following an investigation and subsequent discipline involving cap circumvention for the Los Angeles Clippers, let’s allow Leonard to reintroduce himself to us. The last time that Leonard played for the Raptors, he was crowned NBA Finals MVP for the second time in his career. Everyone knows what he can do on defense, but Leonard quietly played the second-most games in his career since 2017-18 while averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game at 34 years old. 

No. 9 Jayson Tatum

• Team:  Boston Celtics
• Position: Forward
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 21.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 5.3 apg

Expect Tatum to return to his All-NBA, MVP-candidate form without Jaylen Brown, with one caveat: his health. Tatum was injured again at the worst possible time, as the Celtics were eliminated early in the playoffs. Expecting Paul George to match Brown’s production might be a little too much to ask.

No. 8 Cade Cunningham

• Team: Detroit Pistons
• Position: Guard
• Age: 25
• 2025-2026 stats: 23.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 9.9 apg

Cunningham has put up gaudy numbers for years. Last year was when the young star finally came of age at the helm of a winning Pistons team. At his best, Cunningham is a big, physical and strong guard who leverages every bit of his listed 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame to punish smaller defenders while leaning on a silky-smooth jump-shooting bag. He is a metronome the Pistons can count on to deliver, and perhaps even rescue them, every single night. 

No. 7 Anthony Edwards

• Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Position: Guard
• Age: 25
• 2025-26 stats: 28.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.7 apg

Edwards set career highs for points, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage during the 2025-26 season before a knee injury slowed him in the Timberwolves’ playoff run. The franchise is betting that the addition of LaMelo Ball will finally provide Edwards with the elite playmaking point guard he’s lacked throughout his time in Minnesota. Already one of the league's most explosive scorers, Edwards enters 2026-27 with legitimate MVP and championship expectations.

No. 6 Jalen Brunson

• Team: New York Knicks
• Position: Guard
• Age: 30
• 2025-26 stats: 26.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.8 apg

Everybody is better than Brunson until it’s time to be better than Brunson. There was no better example than his 45-point magnum opus in the NBA Finals. When the lights are brightest, the 2025 Clutch Player of the Year gets it done.

No. 5 Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Team: Miami Heat
• Position: Forward
• Age: 31
• 2025-26 stats: 27.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 5.4 apg

Antetokounmpo is still a top-5 player in the NBA, and he has been for nearly the last decade becoming a 10-time All-Star, two-time league MVP, an NBA champion and Finals MVP. He’s about to remind everyone just how dominant he can be – even without a consistent jump shot – now rejuvinated and playing in South Beach.

No. 4 Luka Doncic

• Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Position: Guard
• Age: 27
• 2025-26 stats: 33.5 ppg, 8.3 apg, 7.7 rpg

Dončić has ranked among the top five in usage percentage in each of the last seven seasons, and without LeBron James, don’t expect that to change much. With the Lakers on national television 34 times this season, Dončić is expected to take Los Angeles to championship heights. It’s too bad the Lakers don’t have five Luka’s on the floor at once.

No. 3 Victor Wembanyama

• Team: San Antonio Spurs
• Position: Center
• Age: 22
• 2025-26 stats: 25.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.1 bpg

It was genuinely difficult not have Wembanyama at No. 1 overall, but after falling short to the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals, it became clear that there is still more room for growth for the Defensive Player of the Year. Expect we see that this season as the MVP favorite looks to make it evident to the rest of the world that he is the best player on the planet. And with a chip on his shoulder after winning the Western Conference Finals, he can do exactly that.

No. 2 Nikola Jokic

• Team: Denver Nuggets
• Position: Center
• Age: 31
• 2025-26 stats: 27.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 10.7 apg

Though he has a legitimate claim as the top player in the world, Jokić was just edged out. Either way, he might be the best passer in all of basketball – not just among bigs. His footwork is singular, his touch around the rim makes him a nightmare to defend, and he’s just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a single season. Last year was the second-consecutive time he did it.

No. 1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
• Position: Guard
• Age: 28
• 2025-26 stats: 31.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.6 apg

The two-time reigning MVP had the most efficient offensive season of his career in 2025-26, and his play remained elite in the playoffs with the Thunder battling injuries. SGA is also evolving as a playmaker after setting a career high for assists last season and dishing out nearly eight per game in the postseason. He’s already a defining player of this era, but another title with OKC and a third-straight MVP trophy in 2026-27 would elevate him into the conversation with the league’s greatest players of all-time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are the best NBA players? We ranked the top 100 for 2026-27 season

Internal monologue:

Ok, time to write the annual preview article for the season. This is important, try not to mess it up. I mean, I know growing up that one of my favorite things to do was to open up the Sports Illustrated NBA preview issue and find the Celtics section. Then I would devour the previews from the Boston Globe. I want the new generation to feel that with this blog and look up to me like I looked up to Jack McCallum, Bob Ryan, and Jackie MacMullan. I should really make an effort to be objective, informative, fair, and balanced.

Then again, I’ll never have the kind of talent and drive those legends did. Why do I need people looking up to me? Maybe don’t take yourself so seriously. What, do you think you’re going to get your big break at age 51? Why don’t you just write from your heart and see if people connect with it?

Ok, you convinced me. Or maybe I convinced me. Whatever.

Sometimes I try to approach these things by establishing the bookend of “best case” and “worst case” and go from there. But let’s be honest, we all know that the worst case involves injuries and failures and sad times; and really who needs that in their preseason preview article? So we’re going with good vibes only in this one.

Jayson Tatum is back

Everything starts with the star of the show. The MVP candidate who returned in record time from Achilles surgery to look (mostly) like his old self at the end of last season. He has had a full offseason to recover and train and should (by all accounts) be up to full speed for the season.

It is a joy to watch Jayson Tatum play basketball. Full stop. He’s so talented in so many different ways. In fact, his versatility is one of his greatest and sometimes most underrated talents. He can score at all 3 levels (and even in the creases between those levels). He’s a willing and talented playmaker. He can be the hub of the offense but he can also get off the ball and still be effective. He’s a monster on the boards. He’s a disruptive help defender and generally an extension of the coaching staff on the court.

He’s so buttoned up and politically correct that it is almost boring. But he’s also so genuine with it that it comes across as endearing rather than eye rolling. He actually does just love basketball with all his heart and wants to play it the right way. He wants to be a leader and an inspiration to the next generation.

The spotlight tends to gravitate toward more edgy personalities, but I want to show some appreciation to a man that I’m proud to have my kids root for. I can’t wait to see what he does with the year ahead and beyond.

Brad Stevens has a plan

We can’t have a preview without addressing the departure of Jaylen Brown. That one hurt a lot of hearts and we each processed the news in our own ways. I was confused and angry and full of several other emotions at the time. The following months provided a little more context and perspective. Call it cope if you like, but I think I can see the vague outline of the vision.

In the back of our minds we knew something like this was probably coming sooner or later. Smart cap people were warning us about it for years. Nearly every other decision this front office has made has looked extremely smart over time. Why would this one be any different? In short, I’d trust Brad Stevens and his judgement long before I’d trust my own heart. He’s not without flaw, but he’s very good at his job.

As it stands, the roster is built around Jayson Tatum and a “replace Giambi in the aggregate” collection of Moneyball support players. Derrick White is poised to shake off his shaky shooting and remind everyone why he’s a plus-minus god. Payton Pritchard might be the best bargain contract in the league (not counting rookie deals).

At this time last year the big rotation was universally cited as the team’s most glaring weakness. Stealing Mitchell Robinson from the defending champs gives the Celtics one of the better center rotations in the league, with Luka Garza a luxury as the 3rd string big.

Then there’s the PG13 sized signature shoe waiting to drop. At some point the front office will have to decide if they want to move Paul George (and possibly draft picks) in exchange for a player or multiple players that better fit into the team’s short and long term plans. But there’s no need to rush that decision until we understand exactly what the needs are for this team.

Of course there’s also a world in which the team decides to keep George. Why would they keep the guy that just a year ago was listed among the worst contracts in the league? Well, what if everything goes right with the young players and several of them end up as high level rotation players? If there are no holes on the roster then there’s no need to move George (or those valuable draft picks) to fill roles. You could either extend George on a more reasonable number or let his contract eventually expire as extensions are starting to kick in.

The kids are more than alright

As hard as it was to move on from the core of a championship roster, the front office has replaced aging veterans with developing talent. While most (myself included) assumed last year would be a big step back (gap year), the team barely missed a step and gave guys valuable reps in a winning system (something a tanking team just can’t replicate).

Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and even Ron Harper Jr. each took turns proving they belong in this league. Each has had a season to build off the confidence those reps gave them and shore up shortcomings in their games. Neemias Queta went from major question mark to a tremendous success story.

Through the draft the team added Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell. Both of whom may see more time in Maine than Boston, but each of whom as real translatable talents for the NBA. They may have even uncovered a hidden gem in Devin Carter (when in doubt, take a flyer on a Kings cast-off, right Neemy?)

This isn’t a “two timelines” thing either. These are young players that have proven they can contribute to winning and they will have opportunities to show their stuff. The veterans are all willing teachers and “old heads” that can provide guidance and direction when needed. From Tatum to White to Paul George to Mike Conley, there are enough adults in the room to keep everyone focused. And of course when those guys need an extra few days of rest, the young guys will happily step into bigger roles.

Speaking of keeping everyone focused, I am a Joe Mazzulla believer. The biggest long-term challenge a coach has is getting the same guys to buy in year after year without the message turning stale. Joe seems to inherently understand this and he’s continually looking for new ways to get his message across. It helps that the roster turnover has given him new ears to bend and the veterans remaining (Tatum, White) are notoriously coachable.

Why not us?

Prediction time. There are a lot of very good teams in the East. I have a lot of respect for the defending champion Knicks. The Sixers have assembled a lot of on-paper talent. The Cavs have a track record of regular season success and are coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Pistons had a dominant regular season. The Heat added Giannis to their “culture.” The Raptors brought back Kawhi Leonard and didn’t have to plant a single tree. The Pacers are bringing back Tyrese Hilburton and adding Ivaca Zubac. There’s going to be a lot of competition for the East title.

However, I keep coming back to the subtitle question. Why not us?

The Celtics have the talent and the system and enough young try-hards to finish in the top 3 of the Eastern Conference standings. Maybe even the top 2 (again). As I’m sure you’ve heard 100 times already, it is notable that fewer teams will be tanking, so the win totals might be harder to replicate from last year. But I could see the Celtics easily clearing the 5o.5 to 51.5 wins that Vegas is setting their over/under at (kids, don’t gamble, the house always wins).

My official prediction is 55 wins, if anyone cares. In the spirit of good vibes only, who’s to say that this team can’t win it all? Sure, it would take some good matchup luck, reasonably good health, and perhaps a few fortunate bounces, but what title team hasn’t had all those things in their favor? They key will be translating all that “try hard” execution from the regular season into consistent execution in the playoffs when everyone else is trying hard too.

Sure, there are plenty of things that could go sideways this season. There will be plenty of time to react to those things in real time. For the moment, however, anything is possible and the vibes are fresh and new. I’m excited to start this journey and see where it leads us again. This feeling of giddy anticipation is what got me hooked on basketball in the first place (all those decades ag0). Why not embrace it a little bit longer? Let’s go Celtics!

Onyeka Okongwu enters his seventh NBA season with his perimeter game taking shape and his long-term future in Atlanta approaching an important checkpoint.

Coming off the best three-point shooting season of his career, Okongwu gives the Hawks something valuable at center: a player who can stretch the floor without sacrificing the mobility that makes him useful defensively. After starting 63 games last season, the challenge now is building on that progress and strengthening his case as Atlanta’s long-term answer at the position.

Okongwu shot 37.6 percent from three on 5.2 attempts per game last season. The volume matters almost as much as the percentage. Taking those shots consistently forces opposing centers to account for him outside the paint, creating more room for Atlanta’s perimeter players to attack.

That spacing makes him a natural fit in Quin Snyder’s five-out offense. When Okongwu pulls a defender away from the basket, Jalen Johnson has more space to drive and create. It also gives the Hawks flexibility to move their center between screening, rolling and spotting up rather than keeping him stationed near the rim.

His next step is making that shooting a dependable part of Atlanta’s offense again. Another productive season from beyond the arc would reinforce that his development can hold up as opponents adjust their coverage.

However, his evaluation cannot begin and end with three-pointers. Atlanta still needs its starting center to finish defensive possessions, protect the basket and compete against physical frontcourts. Okongwu’s mobility gives Snyder options when defending ball screens, but pairing that versatility with consistent interior play remains essential.

Those responsibilities carry additional significance because of his contract situation. According to Brad Rowland, Okongwu is eligible for an extension worth up to three years and $76.6 million, with an October 19 deadline to reach an agreement.

An extension would represent another investment in his place alongside Atlanta’s young core. The absence of one would leave questions about how the organization values him, particularly after its reported offseason interest in Isaiah Hartenstein and Jarrett Allen. Those pursuits suggest the Hawks have continued evaluating their options at center.

Still, missing the deadline would not automatically mean Okongwu’s departure is approaching. He has two seasons remaining on his current contract, and negotiations can stall over price or timing. His performance would remain a significant part of any future decision.

For Okongwu, this season is an opportunity to make his importance clear. His shooting already helps unlock Snyder’s offense. Sustaining that production while delivering more consistently inside would strengthen his argument that the Hawks’ search for their long-term starting center should end with the player already in their lineup.