All articles tagged with #basketball
Labaron Philon scores 18 and shows growing playmaking as the Sixers beat the Pistons 101-93 in Summer League, with strong contributions from Johni Broome and Isaac Johnson and a hot shooting stretch from Dante Maddox; the outing highlights Philon's potential while also exposing size and pace questions as he adjusts to pro competition.
Brooklyn routed cross-town rival New York 91-65 in the Las Vegas Summer League, led by 20-point performances from Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. after a strong defensive effort and a 15-0 third-quarter run. Danny Wolf made his Nets debut, while the Knicks struggled with cold shooting. Julius Randle, traded to Brooklyn earlier in the day, spoke about the opportunity and building chemistry as Brooklyn gears up for the next game against Atlanta.
Portland opens the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with Yang Hansen and two-way players Chris Youngblood and Jayson Kent, highlighting four scheduled games (with a potential fifth depending on the Las Vegas Tournament) over the coming week. Games are in Pacific time on KUNP/BlazerVision and ESPN networks: Suns on 7/10 at 8 p.m., Magic on 7/12 at 4 p.m., Timberwolves on 7/13 at 8 p.m., Nuggets on 7/16 at 7 p.m. (Nuggets game also on Amazon Prime).
Former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro reportedly clashed at a Las Vegas Summer League session after Adebayo confronted Herro over social-media comments; Herro’s AAU coach intervened, and security escorted them out. ESPN reported the incident, with The Athletic noting a punch, and there are no confirmed charges or team/league penalties yet as to whether any discipline will follow. Adebayo did not attend the later game while Herro remained courtside.
SB Nation’s early 2026-27 NBA power rankings place the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 1, with the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks in a high-tier club, as the league adapts to new anti-tanking rules and a relegation-style lottery that dulls the appeal of “free wins.” The bottom of the league looks unsettled, with Sacramento, Milwaukee, and Chicago projected to struggle, while a flurry of moves could come after LeBron James’ free-agent decision. The piece walks through all 30 teams, weighing rookie impacts, fit around star players, potential trades, and which teams could surge or slide as the season approaches.
SB Nation’s mid-July look at the 2026-27 NBA season ranks Oklahoma City No. 1, San Antonio No. 2, and New York No. 3, signaling an elite trio atop a reshaping league. The piece notes new anti-tanking rules and a draft lottery relegation zone that redefines risk for the worst teams, highlights key offseason moves across franchises, and acknowledges that LeBron James’s soon-to-come decision could trigger additional movement.
A Summer League recap of the Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors grading the club’s newcomers. Ryan Nembhard posted 15 points and 11 assists with a rusty shooting night, Sergio De Larrea struggled (3-for-14 from the field) but showed activity, Morez Johnson, Jr. exploded for 27 points and looked NBA-ready, Tobi Lawal offered athletic upside with solid defense, John Poulakidas shot volume but kept it modest, and Vsevolod Ishchenko remained an enigmatic but promising presence as the group begins to acclimate to NBA life.
Dan Shaughnessy argues that Jaylen Brown’s trade is far from unique in Boston’s history of controversial deals, situating it among the city’s famous unpopular moves across the Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots. He notes Boston franchises rarely trade stars in their primes, but such decisions—like the Ruth sale, Ed Macauley departure, the Perkins-Green swap, and the Thornton deal—have shaped eras even if they sparked initial backlash. The piece frames Brown’s deal as part of a broader pattern of “obvious” moves that are contentious in the moment but may redefine a franchise’s trajectory.
AJ Dybantsa poured in 27 points (plus 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) to lead the Wizards to a 92-88 win over the Jazz, while Darryn Peterson had 24 points for Utah in the first-ever head-to-head meeting of the 2026 No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks. Tre Johnson added 26 for Washington and Will Riley 18 as the Wizards opened 1-0 in Las Vegas; Utah dropped to 0-1 but earlier had momentum from a Salt Lake City Summer League run. The two teams meet again in upcoming games as part of the summer slate.
In the Las Vegas NBA Summer League opener, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans as guard-forward prospect Zyon Pullin posted 24 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds in a near-triple-double; Joan Beringer impressed as a rebounder and shot blocker and is projected to play the four in defensive lineups, while Rocco Zikarsky started slow but showed flashes. Nate Santos and Donovan Williams boosted roles, Trey Kaufman-Renn logged limited minutes, and Minnesota eyes a Monday matchup with the Nuggets.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he’s still processing Jaylen Brown’s trade to the 76ers, stressing gratitude for Brown’s decade with Boston while acknowledging the challenge of forging a new identity now that Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley have joined the roster after a 56-win season and first-round exit. Brown reacted to the move on a livestream, underscoring the business side of the NBA, and Mazzulla noted strong organizational alignment with Brad Stevens during the deal.
Labaron Philon Jr., the 22nd overall pick, opened his NBA Summer League career with the Sixers in Las Vegas, scoring 18 points with 7 assists in a 101-93 win over the Pistons. He flashed an elite handle and playmaking for a young, guard-heavy roster, while Johni Broome contributed with interior scoring and rebounding. The game emphasized development over results, but Philon’s early showing gives Philadelphia optimism about his fit as a stabilizing guard and the team’s path to depth for 2026-27.
Nikola Kusturica, a 6-foot-9 international wing from FC Barcelona and a projected 2028 NBA first-round pick, committed to UCLA over Kentucky for the 2026-27 season, leaving Kentucky to search for its final roster spot; he’ll spend two years in college before turning pro.
An Ohio judge issued a temporary injunction allowing 15 Division I basketball players whose eligibility expired under the NCAA's new five-season rule to return for another season, even as the transfer portal window had closed; the NCAA criticized the ruling and said it will appeal, arguing the decision harms eligible student-athletes and may require congressional action to resolve amid a wave of lawsuits challenging waivers and age-based eligibility changes in college sports.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey says Joel Embiid is excited and healthy entering the offseason after the blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown, quelling speculation of friction; Brown’s arrival will require offensive adjustments, and there’s ongoing chatter about a potential LeBron James signing, with Gansey confirming the team’s interest.