NBA News

Every NBA season is defined in part by the players who take an unexpected leap. The Detroit Pistons went from 44 to 60 wins largely because big man Jalen Duren ascended into an All-NBA player at age-22. The Portland Trail Blazers made an unexpected playoff appearance after Deni Avdija grew into a first-time All-Star. The Atlanta Hawks turned into a …

In the Rockets player stock market, there’s a lot of buzz around AMEN, and REED shares, and controversy around SGUN, but the hidden gem in that selection of Rockets growth stocks might turn out to be JABS. (Full disclosure, I own a great number of entirely fictional REED shares.) Quick, who is older, Jabari Smith or Amen Thompson? Yep, it’s …

We missed this on Tuesday, but Cameron Boozer had a successful debut in NBA pre-season play, helping the Memphis Grizzlies to defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 132-123. Boozer scored 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and passed out four assists in 18 minutes. He also shot 5-9, though he missed his three three-point attempts. Advertisement Take the threes out though, and …

Peyton Watson isn’t the first player that the Cleveland Cavaliers have tried to use to fill this gap. A long list of names, from Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro — to Dean Wade and De’Andre Hunter. This team has searched for a starting-caliber wing throughout the decade. And while Max Strus fit the build better than anyone, he was perpetually …

The Nets opened their preseason by cycling through every healthy player in a resounding 124-90 rout at Charlotte. Veteran forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle leading the way wasn’t a surprise. The white-hot shooting was. Advertisement The Nets, who were dead last in the league in offensive rating and 3-point percentage last season, shot 55.0 percent overall and 20-for-37 …

Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti will miss the entire 2026-27 NBA season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon less than five minutes into the team’s first NBA preseason game against the New York Knicks on Monday, the team announced Tuesday. Hukporti, who left the Knicks to sign a one-year, $3.4 million deal with the 76ers in free agency this summer, …

SAN FRANCISCO — Superstar Luka Doncic was among the Lakers players who weren’t available for Tuesday’s preseason game against the Warriors at Chase Center. Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma also sat out against the Warriors, which was the second night of a back-to-back for the Lakers. Even though he didn’t …

When the Nets tipped off their preseason Tuesday night in Charlotte, a strong offseason by Egor Dëmin had buoyed hopes of a potential sophomore leap. Brooklyn’s young guard said he’s not the player he was in summer league. Advertisement He’s better. “Yeah, my goal is to translate not just a part of what I did in summer league, but even …

The first, inevitable dent to the good vibes has occurred – the Jazz lose a frustrating, hard-to-watch game to the Nuggets in their home opener, 106-117. We all knew that this was not the perfect team, but still… it’s never fun to be reminded like this. The first quarter was more in-line with the strong quality of play we saw …

Steph Curry may have reminded us on Sunday that preseason results don’t matter, but there’s still an expectation to handle business. And for the Golden State Warriors, that meant there was an expectation that they would easily beat a Los Angeles Lakers squad that was playing without their three core, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. And handle business …

Down seven rotation players, the Lakers did their best impression of the Kings as they were blown out by the Warriors on Tuesday, 124-98. Along with the same four players who missed Monday’s game, LA also sat Luka Dončić, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. The result was a pretty barebones roster, by preseason standards, that was immediately overwhelmed by a …

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors were celebrating Don Nelson with “Nellie Night” when they hosted the Lakers on Tuesday at Chase Center. And Warriors coach Steve Kerr had the perfect way to honor the late Hall of Fame coach. Warriors coach Steve Kerr honored late franchise legend Don Nelson with a pregame beer. Khobi Price Kerr cracked open a can …

SACRAMENTO — That is what Luka Doncic has missed. Not post-practice shooting. Not transition drills where players have to successfully fill their lanes on a fastbreak. But the opportunity to play basketball against an opponent after going several months without doing so. Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) returned to the floor in Monday’s preseason-opening win over the Kings after a …

Why Warriors great Don ‘Nellie’ Nelson was more than a coach with Golden State originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SAN FRANCISCO – To the NBA at large, Don Nelson was a Hall of Fame coach known for innovative strategies, savvy business acumen and a unique personality. Advertisement To those who played for him during his two terms as …

What we learned as Yaxel Lendeborg dominates Lakers in Warriors’ preseason win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SAN FRANCISCO – Schedule makers didn’t do the Warriors any favors for their next game, and the same can be said about the challenges the Los Angeles Lakers faced Tuesday night at Chase Center. Advertisement The Lakers were on their second …

This was never going to be a game for the Lakers to remember. But with nearly half of the roster sidelined because of injuries or resting, Adou Thiero at least tried to inject some life into a sleepy preseason back-to-back. Thiero’s towering one-handed dunk over two Golden State defenders provided a highlight in the Lakers’ otherwise forgettable 124-98 preseason loss …

SACRAMENTO — Cameron Carr displayed his scoring ability throughout July with the Lakers’ summer league team. And he picked up right where he left off in his preseason debut, showing his offensive skill set translates on the court against genuine NBA talents. Lakers rookie Cameron Carr made 3 of 7 3-point attempts in Monday’s win over the Kings. Getty Images …

The Brooklyn Nets visited the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night to open preseason play. Mikel Brown Jr. did not play, still rehabbing his ankle injury, nor did Joshua Jefferson and his stiff lower back. All other regulars did, though, with Egor Dëmin, Keon Ellis, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, and Day’Ron Sharpe the starting lineup. The Charlotte Hornets were without …

The NBA and the EuroLeague won’t be joining forces for NBA Europe just yet.  Members of the EuroLeague rejected a formal offer from the NBA this week to merge and create a single NBA Europe entity, according to both Front Office Sports and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The 13 permanent EuroLeague clubs met in Cernobbio, Italy, on Tuesday to discuss the …

Head coach JJ Redick wasn’t in love with the idea of a preseason back-to-back, so it’s probably not a surprise that very few regular players are going to suit up for the contest. After routing the Kings on Monday, the Lakers play the Warriors on Tuesday, but will rest a whole host of players. On top of being without the …

There are always fun moments throughout media day. With the vibes at an all-time high for the Sixers, this year was no different. Jaylen Brown was one of the first to speak. After a chaotic offseason which saw him in trade rumors, his game and personality dragged through the mud, and eventually shipped off to a bitter rival, there were …

Former Knick and current 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during Philadelphia’s preseason opener on Monday night.  Hukporti, 24, was injured during the first quarter against the Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and an MRI on Tuesday confirmed the injury. The team said that he will undergo surgery.  Advertisement The big man signed with the 76ers …

You could tell Bronny James needed this. LeBron James fulfilled his dream of becoming the first NBA player to play alongside his son. Now it’s Bronny’s turn to fulfill his dream. He wants to be respected as an NBA player. And we all know that was a nearly impossible task while sharing a locker room with LeBron, who’s not only …

Kevin Byard details Mike Vrabel’s Allen Iverson-inspired message to Patriots originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was left looking for answers after his team’s blowout Week 4 loss in Jacksonville. Advertisement He found the answer in Buffalo. The Patriots bounced back in Week 5 with a thrilling 29-26 victory over the 3-0 Bills. …

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed former Philadelphia 76ers forward Johni Broome to a training camp deal, the team announced today; in a related move, the Bucks will waive John Butler Jr. Philadelphia selected Broome with the 35th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, but he spent most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats on a two-way deal. In …