LeBron James is now a 76er, Giannis Antetokounmpo landed in Miami, and Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto. LaMelo Ball runs the point in Minnesota, while the New York Knicks begin the season as champions for the first time in 53 years.
Now it all gets tested. Training camps opened Tuesday, Kevin Durant's 38th birthday, after 28 teams held media day Monday. Dallas and Houston met reporters last week before flying to Macao.
Some of the biggest questions came back with the stars who missed last season. Tyrese Haliburton said Monday he is 100% with no restrictions after sitting out the year with the right Achilles he tore in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. Others are about money. Jalen Duren skipped Pistons media day and was still unsigned going into Thursday night, and Karl-Anthony Towns opened camp without the extension he wants from the Knicks. Miami still needs a starting shooting guard.
The 2026 NBA regular season starts Oct. 20. Here is the biggest question facing each of the 30 teams, listed alphabetically.
Atlanta Hawks: Has Jalen Johnson Shown Enough to Be a No. 1 Option?
After Trae Young was traded to Washington in January, the offense went to Jalen Johnson. He made his first All-Star team. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists.
In three regular-season meetings with New York, he made 22 of 49 shots. On April 6, with Josh Hart on him, he shot 8-of-19 with five turnovers.
The series was his first postseason as the No. 1 option. He shot 4-for-12 in Game 4. In Game 5, a 126-97 loss that put Atlanta down 3-2, he finished 7-for-15 with 18 points.
Johnson spent much of the offseason studying that failure.
“There was the first month and a half, two months after the season; all it was was film from that next series and just how I can learn and grow from that because, at the end of the day, I want to win championships,” Johnson said. “The playoffs are where you need to be at your best. Understanding that and having the right people around me who help me focus on what I need to focus on. You've got to have the mental capacity to be able to want that for yourself and not be complacent. I want that.”
Atlanta is also asking Johnson to grow into the leadership that comes with being the centerpiece.
“I think leadership is something that the team wants to see, and one I want to do that just for my teammates,” Johnson said. “I want to be one of those guys that they can call aside from basketball and just have that type of impact with my teammates and have that type of relationship with them.”
New York closed it out in six.
Boston Celtics: Does the Jaylen Brown Trade Backfire?
Seventh-seeded Philadelphia came back from 3-1 down to knock Boston out in the first round. On July 1, Jaylen Brown was shipped to the 76ers. Boston got Paul George back, along with first-round picks in 2028 and 2031 and seconds in 2028 and 2030.
In June, Brown had been the centerpiece of Boston's offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee took Miami's package.
Brad Stevens explained the trade in terms of optionality, over and over. He described analytics as a small part of the decision.
"When I looked at our team and where the league was heading ... the path looked a little bit more challenging to me," Stevens said.
At 36, George has two years left on a four-year, $212 million contract. Boston took on $57.7 million for him this season after a trade bonus raised his salary from $54.1 million, and it sent out Brown, who is owed $57 million. Brown's deal pays him $64.9 million in 2028-29, and he will earn it playing next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
BOSTON'S NEW WING DUO: JT AND PG 🤩 pic.twitter.com/4VXlTuNzT9
— NBA (@NBA) September 28, 2026
Brooklyn Nets: What Is Julius Randle to a Rebuilding Team?
The four-team deal that sent LaMelo Ball to Minnesota brought Julius Randle to Brooklyn. He is owed $33.3 million this season.
Brooklyn is in year two of a rebuild built on five first-round picks from 2025: Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. This summer, Sean Marks and Jordi Fernández told Randle his job was to show those players how to be pros.
Noah Clowney started at power forward last season and is expected to lose the job to Randle. Randle has predicted the Nets could "shock the world."
"Whatever your expectations are, whatever expectations that are put upon us, we're gonna exceed them and we're gonna do things at a very high level," Randle said.
On Monday, Marks went through what would justify an aggressive move. His answer came back to development, "or whether it's Julius."
Charlotte Hornets: Will Kon Knueppel or Brandon Miller Make the All-Star Leap?
The Hornets haven't made the playoffs in 10 years, the longest active drought in the league. With Ball now in Minnesota and Miles Bridges in Phoenix, the offense belongs to Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
As a rookie, Knueppel averaged 18.5 points and shot 42.5% from 3. His 273 3-pointers led the league, which no rookie had done before. A left hamstring injury will keep him out for the preseason. Charlotte opens its season Oct. 21 at Brooklyn.
Knueppel expects his responsibilities to expand without Ball.
“They want me to handle the ball a little bit more, be more of a secondary playmaker and create for other guys,” Knueppel said.
Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 65 games last season. He shot 43.5% from the field and 38.3% from 3. A left shoulder subluxation cost him nearly a month early in the season. The year before, he missed 55 games with a torn ligament in his wrist that required surgery.
Miller believes better health can unlock another level.
“Last year my shoulder just wasn't holding up. It was either popping out of place, feeling funny, or just 10/10 pain,” Miller said. “Now just limiting that pain to 0/10. Shoulder is not popping out of place, it's been stable. … I think that can take my game to another level.”
Charlotte got as far as the play-in, beating Miami 127-126 in overtime before losing 121-90 at Orlando. Miller scored 23 points against the Heat and 14 against the Magic.
Nobody on the roster makes $25 million this season.
Chicago Bulls: Is Caleb Wilson the Player the New Front Office Builds Around?
Chicago jumped to fourth in the lottery despite having just a 3% chance. With the pick, the Bulls selected Caleb Wilson, who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds as a freshman at North Carolina.
On Monday, Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter urged patience, saying the season would be judged by both wins and the development of the young players. Splitter wants Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and Josh Giddey to play at a fast pace.
"I learned that Chicago really cares about their athletes and cares about winning," Wilson said. "I can really play for that."
Buzelis, who expects more freedom this season, called what he has seen from Wilson so far "incredible." Since trading Jimmy Butler in 2017, the Bulls have reached the playoffs once.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Is Peyton Watson the Piece That Gets Cleveland Past New York?
Cleveland won 52 games but was swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. In Game 1, the Cavaliers blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead. They scored 100.3 points per 100 possessions over the series.
Peyton Watson came from Denver in a five-team sign-and-trade on a four-year, $88 million deal. He shot 41% from 3 last season and set career highs across the board.
“I just think the versatility that I bring to the game, being able to do a lot of things on both ends of the ball, and just making our guys — like you said, the core four have been here — just making their job a little bit easier,” Watson said. “I know that I’m somebody who could really bring that intensity on the defensive end, and then I’m really multifaceted on the offensive end. I could play with the ball in my hands, with the ball out of my hands, cutting, moving, screening. So, I think that I’m just gonna be the perfect person to bridge that gap here and bring a lot of the things that we need to get us over that hump.”
Cleveland held on to Evan Mobley rather than move him for Brown or Antetokounmpo. When Mobley scores 20 or more, Cleveland is 72-31.
Dallas Mavericks: How Far Can Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg Take Dallas?
Kyrie Irving is 34 and entering his 16th season. There are no restrictions on him, and he has not yet played a game with Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, meanwhile, led a 26-56 Mavericks team in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a rookie. Michael Jordan is the only other rookie to do it. Flagg was also the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game.
The relationship between Dallas' two most important players started developing well before training camp. Irving called Flagg an old soul, hosted Mavericks teammates in Los Angeles over the summer and then worked with Flagg during a team mini-camp.
“This is somebody that, being on the court with, you guys will see some of the possessions out there in Macao. It’s very easy for us. It’s very easy for us,” Irving said. “High-level basketball players, no matter the age, you put us out there, we’re going to win some ballgames. So I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow with him and look forward to seeing him grow.”
Flagg described the fit in almost the same terms.
“Ky’s one of those guys, playing alongside him, I feel like he just makes it easy to play with him,” Flagg said. “Obviously, he’s one of the greats of our game and he’s an incredible talent. But I think that combined with his personality makes it really easy to fit next to and play with. And I think the time that we’ve been able to spend in the summer on the court together has been really good for both of us to kind of build that connection.”
Denver Nuggets: Does DeMar DeRozan Buy Nikola Jokić Another Deep Run?
Nikola Jokić averaged 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists, tops in the league in both. Denver won 54 games.
The Nuggets still went out in the first round, losing to Minnesota in six even though the Timberwolves played the last two games without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
Keeping Watson would have cost too much, so Denver traded him. The Nuggets are still above the second apron.
DeMar DeRozan came over on a one-year deal after averaging 4.1 assists in Sacramento, and David Adelman plans to run the second unit through him.
"For me, I'm all for it. Whatever I can do to take pressure off Mal and big fella," DeRozan said.
Jokić still views Denver as a championship-caliber team.
“I was here when we basically were a so-so team and we won a championship, and we still have a capability and have opportunity to compete on a high level, and to win a championship,” Jokić said. “For me, it’s legacy. You want to be legendary, and you want to be remembered, so I think that’s the way how you do it, in my way of thinking.”
In the 23 games Adelman's preferred starting five played together, Denver went 18-5.
Detroit Pistons: Is the Jalen Duren Standoff Behind Detroit?
Jalen Duren landed the long-term deal he wanted Thursday night, agreeing to a fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million contract that will keep him in Detroit through the 2030-31 season.
Now the question becomes what he does after getting it.
Duren earned third-team All-NBA honors last season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting for a 60-win team. But the negotiations did not end without friction. Duren reportedly felt disrespected by how Detroit handled the process, including weight clauses in previous offers and the five-year, $155 million extension given to Ausar Thompson.
The sides found common ground, but a new question remains: Will Duren use doubts as motivation after securing $200 million, or will negotiation frustration linger?
Trajan Langdon publicly left the door open for Duren throughout the process.
"We are excited to have him back when he gets back," Langdon said Monday.
How Duren responds could matter as much to Detroit's next step as the deal itself.
BREAKING: All-NBA and All-Star center Jalen Duren has agreed to sign a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed contract to return to the Detroit Pistons, agent Chafie Fields of THE•TEAM tells ESPN. This ends a prolonged restricted free agency dispute between the two sides. pic.twitter.com/hCvkze2ixd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 2, 2026
Golden State Warriors: Can Jimmy Butler Come Back and Lift Golden State on a Run?
After Golden State traded for Butler in 2025, it went 23-8. He tore his right ACL in January. Surgery came a month later, and he turned 37 last month.
January or February is the optimistic target. He wants opening night. He knows he will have to wait.
"I know that I will return still being able to play at a high level," Butler said. "I want to hoop now."
Stephen Curry knows Golden State has work to do before Butler gets back.
“They’re a part of our squad, and their energy is going to be key for us even until they get back on the court,” Curry said of Butler and Moses Moody. “I don’t know how many games will be under our belt before they each come back, and we have a job to do to hopefully make their return relevant and meaningful in the sense that the team that they’re coming back to.”
It is the last year of Butler's contract. Winning is the focus, he said, not the next deal. Curry is 38 and starting his 18th season, and Draymond Green is back on a one-year deal.
Houston Rockets: Is This Kevin Durant's Last Push in Houston?
This is Durant's 20th season. He is making $43.9 million, less than the $122 million he could have signed for, and holds a player option for 2027-28.
Both of his seasons in Houston have ended in the first round. The retirement question came up at media day.
"I'm not thinking about anything like that. I'm enjoying coming into work every day. It's been fun going through the process with everybody," Durant said.
For now, Durant's focus remains on seeing how far this version of the Rockets can go.
“Excited for another opportunity to get on this horse, ride on the journey with this team and see what happens,” Durant said.
Rafael Stone said the team will give Durant space to decide his future.
"It feels like he's really happy to be here," Stone said.
Ime Udoka said last week the Rockets aren't there just to make the first round.
Indiana Pacers: What Does Indiana Look Like With Tyrese Haliburton Back?
Indiana was one win from a title when Haliburton went down with an Achilles injury. He had averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists that season. Without him, the Pacers went 19-63.
"I'm healthy, I'm 100%, there will be no restrictions," Haliburton said. "That is not news. There is no source, I am the source. I'm good. I'm ready to go."
Haliburton's expectations are considerably higher than simply getting Indiana back into the playoffs.
“The year is successful if we win a championship,” Haliburton said.
“I feel like I’m stronger. I feel that will help me with more physical matchups,” he added. “We all have a chip on our shoulder. That’s an exciting part of our team.”
His return also gives Indiana its first real look at a partnership with Ivica Zubac, who arrived from the Clippers in February but never shared the floor with Haliburton last season. Their first extended work together came during the Pacers' players-only minicamp this offseason.
“The chemistry is coming along well,” Haliburton said. “The more experience and the more time we get together, the more it's going to help. The more we spend time off the court I think helps as well.”
Will the Pacers Get Back to the NBA Finals?
Zubac does not expect the adjustment to take long. Haliburton represents a different kind of pick-and-roll partner than he has played with before, while Zubac gives Indiana a more traditional interior presence than Haliburton had alongside Myles Turner.
Rick Carlisle expects that difference to change the Pacers' offense rather than simply replicate what they had before.
“Zubac is one of the top centers in the game,” Carlisle said. “His game is different. He brings some different strengths to our team that are unique to how we’ve been structured in the past and there are other aspects of his that will make our thing look a little bit different.”
Zubac starts at center, giving Haliburton a new screening, rolling and interior target as Indiana tries to get back to the level it reached before his injury.
LA Clippers: What's Left After the Kawhi Leonard Trade?
The Clippers acquired Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected Toronto first-round picks, and a pick swap in exchange for Kawhi Leonard. The trade came after the league's Sept. 2 ruling, which fined the team $30 million, stripped it of its 2029–33 first-round picks, and suspended Steve Ballmer for a year.
Ingram averaged 21.5 points over 77 games last season and has a $41.9 million option for 2027-28. The Clippers said doctors repaired a partial Achilles tear they discovered during heel surgery in May. His recovery timeline remains unknown; interim president Trent Redden said partial tears typically heal about six months faster than full tears.
Ingram described his recovery as a "week-by-week" process and said he's making steady progress.
He also pushed back against the idea that the Clippers have to treat this as a lost season.
“I know [there are] little to no expectations for us this year,” Ingram said. “We have enough in the building to compete. This is what we love to do. So, we’ll go out and compete every single night, learn, go on to the next game and get better and better.”
Bradley Beal played six games last season after hip surgery. Right knee inflammation will keep him out at the start of camp.
Los Angeles Lakers: Will Luka Dončić See a Contender by Season's End?
LeBron James is in Philadelphia, and Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura are gone too. The Lakers kept Austin Reaves on a long-term deal and filled out the rest of the roster with new faces, headlined by Walker Kessler.
Leading the franchise is a new challenge for Luka Dončić, but not a new position.
"I like everybody that we signed," Dončić said. "I think there's a lot of underrated guys, a lot of new guys that are underrated. Like I said, I got to spend some time with them. It's off-court. Now the training camp is going to help us a lot, focus on basketball, get to know what they like on the court. But I'm very excited to play with all of them."
Dončić signed a three-year extension in August 2025 that includes a player option for 2028-29.
Los Angeles was 18th in defensive rating last season. Opponents shot 72% at the rim against the Lakers, second-worst in the league. For Kessler, the Lakers gave up unprotected 2031 and 2033 first-round picks and two swaps, then signed him to a four-year, $130 million deal. Shoulder surgery limited him to five games last season.
JJ Redick called Kessler the anchor of the defense. To guard quicker players at the point of attack, the Lakers signed Quentin Grimes to a four-year deal. Neither forward spot in the starting lineup is settled, and Matisse Thybulle believes he can win one.
Memphis Grizzlies: Is Cameron Boozer the New Face of the Franchise?
Memphis traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah in February and Ja Morant to Portland in June. With the No. 3 pick, the Grizzlies took Cameron Boozer, who won the Wooden Award at Duke.
Boozer is projected to start at power forward beside Zach Edey, who has been cleared after surgery. Tuomas Iisalo praised Boozer's "high level" ability to create. He expects growing pains and plans to use Boozer in a variety of ways.
The former Duke star does not view the roster reset as a reason Memphis has to wait to compete.
“We are a team who is going to really surprise people this year. We are going to be shockingly good to people,” Boozer said. “I think people don’t really understand that just because obviously it was kind of a rebuild, but you look at the players we have, the roster who we are bringing in this year, and I think we are going to have something pretty special.”
Miami Heat: Did Miami Keep Enough Around Giannis to Contend?
Miami sent Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, the No. 13 pick, and future firsts to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. Before the deal, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported Antetokounmpo had questions about the post-trade roster.
Norman Powell left for Chicago, and Miami brought in Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Nick Richards.
Erik Spoelstra wants the defense built from the inside out, around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Adebayo and Portis are the only players on the standard roster with extended minutes at center. At shooting guard, Hardaway and Pelle Larsson are competing to start.
Antetokounmpo called the Knicks the best team in the league right now.
“My goal is the same every single year,” Antetokounmpo said. “Try to win a championship.”
He believes his partnership with Adebayo can drive Miami toward that goal.
“Bam’s going to be Bam. He’s going to dominate the game offensively, he’s going to get to his spots, he’s going to be a nightmare defensively,” Antetokounmpo said. “Fire be with fire … We have to keep pushing each other.”
THEY HIT THE FUSION 😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/xmquqHP3bn
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 28, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks: Do the Bucks Compete or Sell at the Deadline?
Milwaukee went 32-50 last season and missed the playoffs. Doc Rivers stepped down after the season, and the Bucks replaced him with Taylor Jenkins, who went 250-214 in six seasons in Memphis.
Herro headlines the return for Antetokounmpo. He grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin. In five of his seven seasons, he averaged 20 or more points. Last season he missed 49 games.
Jon Horst described the team's identity as centered on competition and getting better every day.
"We're building, this isn't a rebuild," Horst said. "From ownership on down, there's an urgency to compete today. We believe that building the right way, building the next great era of Bucks basketball has to have a foundation of competitiveness, and we have to instill that out of the gate. So, there is a patience component of this to make sure that we develop, that we grow the right way, that we make great decisions."
Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma are the holdovers from before the Antetokounmpo trade. Turner, 30, is still owed $83.55 million, including a player option for 2028-29. Kuzma is on an expiring contract.
Herro wants to win as many games as possible, and he thinks Jenkins approaches the game the same way.
"I don't think we're replacing Giannis," Herro said. "It's a new era. Building as a team, building as an organization, and trying to get back to the mountaintop."
Minnesota Timberwolves: Is LaMelo Ball the Piece That Pushes Minnesota Over the Top?
Minnesota made the West finals in 2024 and 2025. This spring the Timberwolves went out in the second round.
Anthony Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points running the offense. In the playoffs, he saw double-teams constantly. Putting Edwards on the ball before camp was a mistake, Chris Finch has said. Handling the ball wore Edwards down on defense, Edwards said.
Ball's arrival allows Edwards to return to the role he prefers.
“I feel like I'm a natural two-guard at heart,” Edwards said. “I never thought I could develop any point guard skills. I know Finchy harps on me passing the ball. But now we got Melo, so I'm happy.
“Now I’ve got LaMelo,” Edwards said. “I’ve got a point guard, so I don’t got to really bring the ball up at all. I can go to the corner for three, four plays in a row and just guard the best player.”
Ball runs the point now. It cost Randle, Naz Reid, and a future first. Finch said few guards in the league create more efficient offense for teammates than Ball. He is a two-time All-Star who has never played in a playoff game. Charlotte missed the playoffs in all of his seasons there.
Ant and LaMelo are ready to go in Minnesota 🥶@anthonyedwards x @MELOD1P pic.twitter.com/pmODJYzQjK
— NBA (@NBA) September 28, 2026
New Orleans Pelicans: What Changes for a 26-Win Team That Kept Its Roster?
New Orleans won 26 games and then brought back nearly the same roster, with Bennedict Mathurin as the only major addition. In two seasons under Joe Dumars, the Pelicans have won 47 games and finished in the bottom 10 defensively both years. Jamahl Mosley is the third coach since Dumars arrived in April 2025.
Zion Williamson has two years left on his contract. He reported at 277 pounds, down seven.
"You can't play 82 games and not be in great shape," Dumars said. "We talked about him being in impeccable condition and he has done that."
Mosley is asking for more than improved conditioning.
“The challenge that we want to put on his plate is: how do you make your teammates better?” Mosley said of Williamson. “As teams start up, can you step in and take that midrange? Can you expand your game?”
Williamson has responded positively to Mosley's approach.
“He checks in a lot,” Williamson said. “Since coach got hired, as a unit, we’ve been stronger. ... You can tell it’s not just basketball for him. He cares about the individual.”
Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, both 2025 first-round picks, started early last season, then spent much of the second half on the bench as the team chased wins. Both are expected to open this season there too.
New York Knicks: How Does the Karl-Anthony Towns Situation End?
On Sept. 23, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that extension talks had stagnated. Karl-Anthony Towns has been eligible since this summer for a four-year max worth more than $272 million. If no extension comes by June 30, he would likely decline his $61 million player option for next season.
"I've made it known that I want to play here," Towns said. "I'd like to get it done."
Towns also acknowledged there is little comfort in allowing the situation to linger.
“I think in this situation there’s no comfort to be had,” Towns said.
A year ago, the Knicks tabled extension talks. His name came up in their Antetokounmpo discussions and again during a January slump. Mitchell Robinson left for Boston when James Dolan declined to go into the second apron.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Is a Cheaper Roster Good Enough to Beat San Antonio?
Oklahoma City won 64 games. In Game 7 of the West finals, without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, it lost at home to the Spurs. Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins were traded to get the Thunder below the second apron.
"I really do feel that by season's end, we could have a really exceptional basketball team, if we stay healthy," Sam Presti said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged what Oklahoma City lost but does not view the departures as changing the team's expectations.
“Obviously we’re a really close, tight-knit group, and those guys had a big hand in not only our success on the court but the relationships and the brotherhood off the court,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But with that being said, it’s the business of the NBA.”
He believes he returned better equipped to help Oklahoma City make another run.
“I definitely learned,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I feel like I got better this summer, for sure.”
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points on 55.3% shooting last season. Cason Wallace has until Oct. 19 to sign an extension.
Orlando Magic: Is Paolo Banchero Long for Orlando?
Orlando led Detroit 3-1 in the series and was up 24 in Game 6, then lost in seven. Paolo Banchero had 45 points in Game 5 and 38 in Game 7.
"Last season was disappointing in all aspects, but a good thing about it is that it's over," Banchero said.
His expectations for the next step are considerably higher.
“My main goal this year, outside of winning the Eastern Conference, is to go out there and dominate every single night,” Banchero said.
He said that means attacking all 82 games with the same mentality, intensity and focus.
ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported that Banchero had grown frustrated with Mosley's late-game decisions, especially taking the ball out of his hands. Orlando fired Mosley the day after Game 7 and hired Sean Sweeney. It was the Magic's third straight first-round exit.
Philadelphia 76ers: Can Four Stars Share One Ball?
Philadelphia added Brown and LeBron James to Maxey and Embiid. Each of the four will take fewer shots, James said at media day. He called that sacrifice the cost of winning.
“If we want to accomplish something that’s really, really important, like if we say that we want to do something special, there will be a collective sacrificing in a good way,” James said. “Sometimes in sports, people hear ‘sacrifice’ and automatically start thinking negative about it. It’s not a negative thing.”
James said giving up a shot or two can leave more energy for winning plays late in games.
“I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round,” James said. “I know that for sure.”
Maxey is ready to play more off the ball. Only 40% of his 3-point attempts last season came off the catch. He shot 41.8% on those. Off the dribble, 33.3%.
“The opportunity that this roster presents for me is to play off the ball a little bit more, more catch and shoots,” Maxey said. “I’ll still play on the ball, of course, playing ball screens and different actions like that. But for me to be able to play off the ball, get some catch and shoots, come off some screens, come off some handoffs, get out in transition, I think it’ll be good for our team.”
Embiid reported noticeably thinner. He has played in 42% of the team's games over the past three seasons. Philadelphia hasn't reached the conference finals in 26 years.
time to work. 👊 pic.twitter.com/BuZ5I3CPtL
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 28, 2026
Phoenix Suns: Can Devin Booker Win a Playoff Series Again?
Oklahoma City swept the Suns this spring. That made it 10 straight playoff losses for Phoenix.
Devin Booker believes continuity gives this version of the Suns a better starting point.
“I feel like last year was everybody getting to know each other, learning through mistakes and learning on the fly,” Booker said. “I think we brought a new life back to the city with the way we played.”
Returning with the same coach and much of the same roster should matter, he said.
“We're coming in, all with the same mindset to win,” Booker said. “Time will tell, but it's definitely gonna be nice seeing some familiar faces back. Same coach. We're all on the same page.”
Booker turns 30 this month. His two-year, $145 million extension from 2025 runs through 2030.
Jalen Green worked with Steve Nash this summer on pace and reading the game. Dillon Brooks averaged a career-high 20.2 points. He expects that to drop if Booker and Green stay healthy.
Portland Trail Blazers: How Do Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, and Deni Avdija Share the Ball?
Deni Avdija spent most of last season as a point forward. His usage rate rose to 28.5, and he made his first All-Star team.
Damian Lillard is back from a ruptured Achilles, and Morant came over from Memphis. Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson are both healthy.
Lillard does not sound concerned about sharing creation duties.
“If I get the ball and I'm advancing the ball ahead to Ja Morant, I feel pretty good about it, and if I'm advancing the ball to Deni Avdija, I feel good about it,” Lillard said. “If we are just doing the right thing, playing the right way ... I think the balance will work itself out just based off what we are capable of.”
Ja Morant has taken a similar approach to his own role.
“I think winning is the most important thing for me. So whatever role I have to play, you know, get that done,” Morant said. “I don't think anybody would be mad after a win. So as a starter, if I'm starting, if I'm not, it's the same thing.”
Micah Nori sees Lillard, Morant and Avdija as playmakers rather than simply scorers and expects to use Lillard and Morant together frequently. Joe Cronin is similarly comfortable with a guard group whose best players want the ball.
"There's definite areas of strength," Cronin said.
The roster lacks size on the perimeter, Nori acknowledged. He wants Avdija defending the way he did in Washington. Nori is Portland's third head coach in less than 12 months.
meet the squad 😎 pic.twitter.com/EsueDqZ7hJ
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) September 29, 2026
Sacramento Kings: Does Sacramento Trade Its Veterans?
Over the past year, Sacramento explored trades for Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk. It turned down every offer.
The Kings went 22-60. From January into February they lost 16 straight, the longest losing streak in franchise history.
Sabonis, LaVine, Keegan Murray, and De'Andre Hunter are all healthy now. Staying that way is the first key, Scott Perry said.
"We're in the business of winning," Perry said.
The rebuild runs through Darius Acuff Jr., the guard Sacramento took with this year's No. 7 pick.
San Antonio Spurs: Where Does Dylan Harper Fit Behind Fox and Castle?
Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in 2025, averaged 22.6 minutes as a rookie, eighth-most on the team. De'Aaron Fox played ahead of him, and so did Stephon Castle, the 2025 Rookie of the Year.
Harper isn't approaching Year 2 as a fight over who starts.
“The biggest thing for me is whatever I can do, just like last year, to help the team win,” Harper said. “Whatever position the coaches think is best for me to be in, that’s a position I’m happily going into. Whatever happens this year, just know that I’m always going to stay positive and I’m always going to be at the forefront of keeping the team together.”
Mitch Johnson plans to use all three guards together more often this season, though he wouldn't say how much. Fox believes that look became increasingly viable as last season progressed.
“I think it progressed a lot,” Fox said. “I mean, I think that was a big reason why we were able to get to where we did. Obviously, us being a talented group and continuing to learn to play together, I think that we had some success whenever us three were on the court. And obviously, it didn't happen a lot, especially throughout the regular season. But I definitely expect to see it more, and for us to continue to grow in that aspect, just both offensively and defensively.”
San Antonio went 62-20 before losing to New York in the Finals in five games.
Toronto Raptors: Can Kawhi Leonard Win Toronto a Playoff Series Again?
At 35, Leonard is back in Toronto, seven years after the 2019 title. His trade remained frozen from July 9 to Sept. 2. Last season, he played 65 games and earned All-NBA Second Team honors.
"I need pressure. I need a winning situation," Leonard said. "I'll be leading, trying to help guys get better."
Darko Rajaković highlighted defensive rebounding. Among last season's playoff teams, only Toronto and one other ranked in the bottom eight in defensive rebounds per game. Toronto is again expected to manage Leonard's workload.
Scottie Barnes believes Leonard changes what Toronto should expect from itself.
“Our goal is to win a championship, but we’ve gotta get over the hump in the playoffs,” Barnes said. “I think the addition we made will help us get over that hump.”
The Raptors last won a playoff series in 2020.
Utah Jazz: How Do Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George Fit Together?
Darryn Peterson went second overall in June. Keyonte George agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million extension on Sept. 18.
Peterson is highly confident in the pairing.
“Fitting in with the team, I think me and Keyonte are going to be one of the best backcourts in the NBA,” Peterson said. “Then we’ve got those three bigs that I think are going to dominate.”
Will Hardy expects "a rookie season in the NBA" from Peterson, ups and downs included.
George said their relationship has grown well beyond practice.
“We sit next to each other in the locker room. We hang out with each other off of the court. I go to his house, he comes to my house,” George said. “I mean, that’s my dog. Since he got here, I’ve felt like I’ve known him for multiple years.”
Behind them in the frontcourt are Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., who has recovered from a benign tumor in his left knee.
Washington Wizards: Is Anthony Davis Part of the AJ Dybantsa Era?
Washington had the league's worst record. It won the lottery and took AJ Dybantsa first overall. Trae Young signed for four years and $212 million.
It’s still unclear whether Anthony Davis will remain part of that core beyond this season.
Davis became eligible in August for a four-year extension worth up to about $275 million, but no deal was reached. He will make $58.4 million this season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
Davis planned to revisit extension talks with Washington after the season’s first part, but pushed the timeline further at media day.
“I'm going to go through the season and try to do what I do at a high level, and then when it's over, sit down and have those conversations again with the front office,” Davis said.
That leaves Washington with a season to show Davis what playing alongside Young, Dybantsa and Alex Sarr could become.
Davis missed all of last season after arriving from Dallas because of a hand injury. His role for now, he said, is "just helping the young guys."
"He's ready for it. He's got all the tools to be successful in this league. He's a very special talent," Davis said of Dybantsa.
Young, Dybantsa, Davis, and Sarr are set to start. Brian Keefe has not named a fifth starter.
