Yaxel Lendeborg: “I feel like it’s a lot easier to grab rebounds here than in college. The paint was always packed. These guys, I feel like they’re more lazy to grab the rebound. It’s crazy, sometimes I’m in the paint by myself.“
Steven Adams and Zhang Ziyu (Chinese women’s national team player)
[Highlight] The behind-the-back dime from Nikola Jokic at a new angle
Bruce Brown, who is fighting for the Knicks’ last roster spot “I heard all summer by teams that the 2nd apron was reason they could not sign me. I’ve been on 8 teams in 9 years: every year you got to prove yourself. I’m fighting for a job right now. So any role they give me, I’d be happy to do it.”
23 years ago - LeBron made his preseason debut.
Steve Kerr on Porzingis “I haven’t seen him yet. We’d love to get him back, we’re supporting him and helping him with everything, and we’ll see where it all goes. It’s definitely concerning but we’re going to support him and give him medical help and emotional support, and hope he’s back soon”
[Talksport] Michael Jordan on playing in today’s NBA: “I’m glad I was born at the time that I was born”
News from Across the Pond: AS Monaco Basket, which won 3 French Leagues and made the Euroleague Final in 2025 has declared bankruptcy and is shutting down
Mike Breen says he was told Joel Embiid showed up a couple minutes late to Sixers practice and LeBron “let him hear it.”
Steph Curry addresses the crowd before the preseason game vs. the Lakers. Talking about Don Nelson, who was his coach in his rookie season with the Warriors, on a night dedicated to Nelson
LeBron states on Instagram story that purported story about him scolding Embiid’s lateness is false, Embiid has not been late
[Highlight] Steph Curry gets called for a point of emphasis change for the upcoming season: Shoving people during screens
Matas Buzelis on Bulls’ last season under Billy Donovan “Last year was extremely hard. There was no type of rhythm. We didn’t know who was playing. We didn’t know how we were gonna play. Now, there’s gonna be more structure. Everyone’s in a role. You know what you’re going to get every night”
In light of the Ariel Hukporti season-ending Achilles injury, 76ers coach Nick Nurse suggests LeBron James as a potential back-up center.
Tre Donaldson dropping Ryan Conwell as he gets the ball between Conwell’s legs and then dropping a 3!
[Highlights] Aday Mara blocks Derik Queen under the rim and then glides for the finger roll at the other end, as the entire Thunder bench impersonates him (with a replay)
What team is the most likely to leave the 2020s as 2x champions?
[Highlight] Jokić gets a technical foul for shoving Jaxon Hayes after Hayes shoved him
In six games in the 2016 playoffs without Steph Curry, Klay Thompson averaged 29.5 points, often carrying the Warriors offensively as they closed out Harden’s Rockets and took a 2-1 series lead over Dame’s Trail Blazers. How would he have done in his prime as a permanent first option?
[Highlights] Yaxel Lendeborg full highlights vs. Los Angeles Lakers (124-98 W) - preseason: 17 Points on 7⁄11 FG (63.6%), 2⁄3 from 3, 1⁄2 FT, 9 Rebounds (2 Off. Rebs), 2 Assists (2 TOV), 1 Block, 3 PF, and a +/- of +21 in 21:27 minutes played.
[Charania] Philadelphia 76ers 7-footer Ariel Hukporti has sustained a season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN.
[Highlights] Zion Williamson hits a rare 3 and later on scores a cutting dunk (with a replay)
[Highlights] Aday Mara full highlights vs. New Orleans Pelicans last night (116-110 L) - preseason: 12 Points on 5⁄5 FG, 2⁄2 FT, 9 Rebounds (1 Off. Reb), 3 Assists (2 TOV), 3 Blocks, 4 PF, and a +/- of +13 in 18:23 minutes played.
[Highlights] Jared McCain slips, Fears scores, and McCain throws a halfcourt alley-oop lob to Aday Mara, who finishes it with a dunk. Mara blocks Derik Queen and, at the other end, manages to tip it in despite mis-timing the jump off a missed 3 by McCain (with replays)
The Showtime Nets having some fun against Charlotte in preseason with back to back behind the back dimes
[Charania] There’s a growing cloud around the New York Knicks. Josh Hart has already hinted that, as we closer to February, which is around the trade deadline, the temperature could rise if Karl-Anthony Towns and Hart himself are not extended. So far, these sides are not close.
[Highlight] Adou Thiero rises high for the dunk past Yaxel Lendeborg
Victor Wembanyama reefusing all U.S. interviews, except for ‘60 Minutes’. “I’ve had a few sleepless nights,” Wembanyama said then. “We don’t want to hide from anything. We’re going to face these emotions.”
[Highlights] Darryn Peterson full highlights vs. Denver Nuggets (117-106 L) - preseason:23 Points on 10⁄18 FG (55.6%), 1⁄6 from 3 (16.7%), 2⁄4 FT, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists (3 TOV), 5 PF, and a +/- of -11 in 29:37 minutes played.
[Windhorst] The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is their second best player. I’m not saying Mitch Johnson is going to come out and say that. That’s not a slight on De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle. Harper is a stud
[Highlights] Sandro Mamukelashvili full highlights vs. Golden State Warriors last night (124-98 L) - preseason:15 Points on 6⁄10 FG, 3⁄4 from 3, 2 Rebounds (1 Off. Reb), 2 Assists (1 TOV), 1 Block, 1 PF, and a +/- of -20 in 18:08 minutes played.
[Highlight] Aday Mara takes Derik Queen in the post, sends him flying one way with the fake, and finishes with the lefty layup off the spin move (with replay)
[The Athletic] Anthony Davis wants a Max extension (4Y/275M) but there’s almost no chance the Wizards will give him that, considering his injury history and his age. Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, is assessing other teams’ interest in AD and will continue to do so as February’s trade deadline approaches.
16 years ago today the NBA featured Josh Smith and Chef Brad (B-Rod) in the most riveting ‘Where Amazing Happens’ YouTube clip of all time.
Sources: Euroleague teams reject offer to merge into NBA Europe
[Highlights] Jared McCain hits three early 3s in the first quarter and the Pelicans take a quick timeout
[Highlights] Bennett Stirtz full highlights vs. New Orleans Pelicans last night (116-110 L) - preseason: 15 Points on 6⁄9 FG (66.7%), 3⁄6 from 3, 5 Rebounds, 6 Assists (4 TOV), 4 PF, and a +/- of -7 in 30:45 minutes played.
[Highlight] Zion Williamson turns on the jets and finishes with a powerful dunk (with a replay)
Kon Knueppel fell in love with basketball after getting a Nintendo Wii
[Highlight] Bronny James hits the fadeaway over Brandin Podziemski, and on the next play Podz picks him up and finds Steph Curry for a 3-pointer (with a replay).Steph Curry gets called for a foul shortly after, in disbelief, as he faces the new Points of Emphasis by the refs
[Highlight] Yaxel Lendeborg gets the And-1 layup on Jake LaRavia and hits him with the too-small taunt
[Highlights] Stephen Curry full highlights vs. Los Angeles Lakers (124-98 W) - preseason:16 Points on 4⁄7 FG (57.1%), 3⁄6 from 3, 5⁄6 FT (83.3%), 2 Rebounds, 5 Assists (ZERO turnovers), 2 PF, and a +/- of +26 (game high) in 14:19 minutes played.
[Highlight] Julius Randle finds Michael Porter Jr. for the 3-pointer, and MPJ returns Randle a favor, finding him for a 3-pointer from the same spot
[Marc J. Spears] I’ve heard that Ben Simmons had an outstanding camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if, within a month, he’s starting. He’s doing that well. He looks like Sixers Ben again.
The Warriors honor Don Nelson (RIP)
LeBron James Jr. turns 22 years old today.
JJ Redick on Luka Doncic’s shape: “He’s great physically. The guy worked his butt off all summer on staying in shape and actually ran this summer. He actually did sprints and stuff and came into camp in fantastic shape”. Doncic is reportedly back at his rookie weight.
[Highlight] Replays of Darryn Peterson highlights from the game, so far
Jaylen Brown has honed his skills to survive the new off-arm rules.