Steph Curry on his rare eye conditon during the Warriors dynasty run: “I joke that when I’m all done, my memoir should be called The Whole Time I Couldn’t See”
Heading into the 2025-2026 season, ESPN ranked Walker Kessler as the 98th best player in the NBA. Now, he is ranked 73rd. Kessler ascended those 25 spots by playing five games, having season ending surgery, and joining the Lakers
[Vorkunov] If league investigators find proof that the Bucks and Trent are guilty of what the Clippers and Leonard were guilty of, the punishment could be equally severe, if not worse.
Lonzo Ball denies retirement in new tweet: “I retired? News to me (laugh out loud) cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long”
[Charania] The Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns unlikely to reach contract extension. Towns is eligible for a 4-year, \(276M max extension. He has a \)61M player option for the 2027-28 season and could become a free agent: “This is a cloud going into training camp.”
Jalen Duren’s full name is “Jalen Anthony Duren”, which is an anagram of “no deal then Jan”, alluding to the fact that if he signs the qualifying offer he won’t be eligible to be traded until January 15
[ESPN] NBA Rank 2026, players Nos. 50-11: for the first time in NBA Rank’s 15-year history LeBron James is ranked outside the top 10 (#18)
If the Milwaukee Bucks know that they’re guilty of cap circumvention with Gary Trent Jr., should they attempt to trade their first-round picks for Jalen Duren now before they’re stripped of them?
SNL promo featuring Jalen Brunson and his key to the city
[Jake Fischer] Brandon Miller’s Hornets extension could top \(200 million, with Amen Thompson’s \)208 million extension serving as a benchmark
Steven Adams - “You guys should anticipate November. The performance of the league, league-wide. GTA is dropping.”
Delonte West seen in good spirits, showing off his new teeth in a recent livestream
[Curious Mike Podcast] Trae Young talks about Guarding SGA: “I put my hand on his chest, and I didn’t push or nothing… you would’ve thought I sent an Iron Man hand through his chest.”
For those who only saw Scottie in the playoffs last year, this is a 06:30 season highlight package you should see
[Begley] On Karl-Anthony Towns, there’s been plenty of conversation between Knicks and Towns’ side…talks have been positive and NYK has made it known that it wants Towns to be a Knick for a long time, thinks highly of him…Knicks have talked to Towns’ side about deals that start in \(45M-\)50M range.
[Vardon] If league investigators find proof that the Bucks and Trent are guilty of what the Clippers and Leonard were guilty of, the punishment could be equally severe, if not worse. An NBA spokesman said the league’s investigation into Trent’s contract is ongoing… NBA hired law firm Hecker Fink
Kevin Durant on the drama surrounding the WNBA:“All that stuff is to be noise man. WNBA is flourishing. Look what these women are doing. Look at the money they made over the last few years. Look at the visibility of their league. They got 4, 5 signature athletes on major brands that are representi”
[Highlight] Westbrook misses the slam but still got the friendly roll.
Simmons: “Who’s playing defense on this (Heat) team?“Lowe: “Giannis, Bam, Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins.“Simmons: “Who’s guarding Jayson Tatum?“Lowe: “Andrew Wiggins.”…Simmons: “Andrew Wiggins did guard Jayson Tatum really well 4 years ago… Welcome to the Play-In.”
The top 2 picks from the 2017 NBA Draft, Markelle Fultz (260 gp) and Lonzo Ball (322 gp) played fewer NBA games combined than the #3 pick, Jayson Tatum or the #27 pick (Kyle Kuzma)
Tyrese Haliburton says he’s confused how people poorer than him are flying private when it’s expensive even for him, even though he’s currently on a $244 million contract with the Pacers. [Boardroom]
[Charania]: Just in: Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN.
[Marc Stein] Ryan Nembhard is expected to have multiple suitors on potential two-ways if he is indeed waived by Charlotte. sources say, with the Nuggets prime among them.
Reed Sheppard on whether he’ll keep this look:“Probably not. I just haven’t got a haircut yet. I don’t really know what I’m waiting on. My goal was to get one before media day, but as you can tell that goal did not happen.”
The NBA Achilles spike, MLB Tommy John epidemic, and the future of sports injuries.
Zion Williamson calls relationship with rape accuser “friends with benefits.”
A message from interim LA Clippers governor John Gibson.Among other things, he thanks Kawhi Leonard, reinforces confidence in Ty Lue, and announces Trent Redden will serve as POBO while Lawrence Frank is suspended.“We believe our best days are still ahead of us.”
[Charania] The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, sources tell ESPN.
[MacMahon] “[Kawhi] is a guy who’s played 60+ games just three times in the last nine years … \(115M for a player with those durability issues, in his mid-30s… that is a massive contract. That’s not a discount deal. A discount deal is Kevin Durant— 2YR, \)90M extension. This is $25M more than that.”
[Windhorst] Curry is now weeks off his extension window. He can extend at any time during the season but this is something you’d want to get settled before the year starts. If Steph does not extend, the Warriors will have $100 million in cap space next summer with enormous financial flexibility’
“Rafael and Ime have talked about wanting to get your minutes down at points this season…”-Kevin Durant: “Why? I’m better on the court. The team is better when I’m on the court. That’s what I’m supposed to be training for is to play the long haul, 48 minutes a night If the game needs me to be out”
Here is a list of players on $10M+ expiring contracts for 2026-27. Which players get extended, moved at the deadline, or ink a new deal in free agency next summer?
[TMZ] Zion Williamson says his relationship with the woman accusing him of rape was nothing more than a consensual “friends with benefits”
Bill Russell: “One thing I have a quarrel with is that I had better players. I personally worked with them to make them better players. I did things physically, emotionally, and intellectually to make my teammates better players. They took advantage of the situation that was part of my creation.”
New Zealand Tall Blacks Haka Explained
[Lowlight] Jalen Duren shows off his vet-minimum rap skills: “I lost my bitch to a dy*e, I said fuck it she can have her, cause she gonna do shit I dont..”
Only 3 players in NBA history have ever dropped a 60+ point triple-double: Jokić (61/10/10), Luka (60/21/10), and Harden (60/10/11).
[Highlight] Courtside view of Jamal Cain posterizing Jalen Duren in the playoffs
[Arthur] The player option in the 2nd year of the extension, meanwhile, is not seen as an escape hatch, per sources familiar with negotiations. When James Harden exercised his player option in Cleveland this summer, it was to maximize the team’s financial flexibility: that resulted in Peyton Watson
[Charania] Just in: Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN.
Steven Adams on the way the West evolved: “Oh okay… The way you were asking, I was like fuck what happened?”. About the Rockets’ young players:“They’re a little bit older. Not sure if they’re smarter.”
Shane Battier shares story of how Kobe Bryant proved he was built differently than Tracy McGrady
Alperen Sengun on losing to the Lakers: “We gave them a really hard time. We beat them in every stat, but the experience beat us.”
Title:Lonzo Ball pushes back on retirement reports: “waiting for a call”
[The Athletic] Don’t look now, but the 2026-27 NBA season is right around the corner. Here’s one reason to be excited for each team this upcoming season ⤵️
Fred VanVleet on the process and adjustments required of him after recovering from ACL injury, returning to full game shape, and getting his body ready for NBA speed:“I’m not a game-speed workout guy. I don’t even go that fast in the games.”
Clint Capela on his offseason: “I was able to lose 4% body fat…feels great to have some abs looking good, you know?”
Jalen Duren has the same agent as Tari Eason, who recently turned down a 5-year \(100 million contract and eventually signed a 5-year \)81.5 million deal
Amen Thompson says he and his twin brother, Ausar Thompson, didn’t inform each other when they got the extension. They each focus on their goals, not money.
Michael Jordan FAMOUS “Double-Nickel” Game at MSG 🔥55 Points Full Highlights | March 28, 1995