Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\nLEBRON PLANNED TO JOIN THE KNICKS?<\/p>\n
It is NBA media day for the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James has just dropped a bombshell.<\/p>\n
In his first media appearance as a member of the 76ers, James revealed he had visions of finishing his career with the New York Knicks before their NBA championship ultimately changed his thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had visions of playing in Madison Square Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the best places I\u2019ve ever played. I think it\u2019s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after they beat San Antonio, I was like, \u2018hey, I can\u2019t.\u2018 I couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
James admitted the reaction to joining the Knicks after they had just won a championship played a part in his decision, knowing the criticism that would have followed.<\/p>\n
It would have drawn similarities to Kevin Durant\u2019s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016, after they had just won 73 games before losing the NBA Finals 4-3 to James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2019all wouldn\u2019t have let me lay that down, at all,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut much respect to the Knicks, obviously, an unbelievable team, unbelievable players.<\/p>\n
\u201cShout out Jalen Brunson, I love that guy, he\u2019s unbelievable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, yeah, I\u2019m happy where I\u2019m at and I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, James now finds himself in Philadelphia as part of a stacked 76ers roster with championship expectations firmly on their shoulders.<\/p>\n
And when asked what his role will look like this season, James pointed towards the versatility he can still provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever they need me to do,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe luxury of my game is I can do everything. … Literally, I can do everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
James also broke down his decision to eventually sign with Philadelphia, revealing there were five teams in consideration towards the end of the process.<\/p>\n
He also took a moment to have a little jab and laugh at his longtime friend and agent Rich Paul.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a list of 5 teams that I was interested in,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you saw my agent and his little podcast, you saw his whiteboard… whatever, I love him to death. He had his LeBron teams up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Philadelphia 76ers’ Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe *left to right pose for photos during the NBA basketball team’s media day, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Camden, N.J.. (AP Photo\/Chris Szagola)Source: AP<\/p>\n
But one of the biggest factors in James eventually choosing Philadelphia was his relationship with Tyrese Maxey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a great relationship with Tyrese.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked a lot… When I broke a lot of the teams down, [Tyrese] was one of the main deciding factors.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while Maxey helped sell James on Philadelphia, the four-time NBA champion made it clear what he expects from the move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t leave my family to lose in the second round, I know that,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
The 76ers unveiled their new-look starting core of James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and V.J. Edgecombe at media day, with expectations incredibly high heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.<\/p>\n
‘I didn’t leave my family to lose’ | 00:57<\/p>\n
JOKIC TO BECOME RICHEST MAN IN NBA HISTORY?<\/p>\n
Nikola Jokic is already one of the greatest players in NBA history, but is he about to become the richest too?<\/p>\n
Jokic is expected to sign a five-year, $360 million deal with the Denver Nuggets in the summer of 2027, according to Yahoo Sports\u2019 Kevin O\u2019Connor.<\/p>\n
If the three-time NBA MVP was to sign the deal, it would become the richest contract in NBA history.<\/p>\n
When asked about the possibility of signing a new deal at Nuggets media day, Jokic was short and sweet with his response.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to sign next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would be a massive commitment from Denver, with a contract of that size having major ramifications on how the Nuggets build the roster around their superstar.<\/p>\n
With the NBA\u2019s second-apron restrictions making life increasingly difficult for the league\u2019s most expensive teams, paying Jokic $360 million across five years would only make the challenge of building a championship roster around him even greater.<\/p>\n
But when the player in question is a three-time MVP and already one of the greatest players to ever step on an NBA court, it is a decision the Nuggets appear more than willing to make.<\/p>\n
WEMBY\u2019S WARNING AFTER NBA FINALS HEARTBREAK<\/p>\n
Victor Wembanyama said he still struggles to sleep sometimes following San Antonio\u2019s loss to New York in June\u2019s NBA Finals, but the French superstar predicts the Spurs will be tougher this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fighting for the top spot of the mountain,\u201d Wembanyama said on Monday. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to move people in our way.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 7-foot-4 (2.24m) centre reached his first NBA Finals in only his third season since being selected first overall in the NBA Draft, but the Spurs fell to the Knicks in five games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t imagine better motivation,\u201d Wembanyama said.<\/p>\n
After falling short in his first NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama has warned the Spurs are coming back hungry as they target the top seed in the Western Conference.Source: AP<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in a great spot, very hopeful, very ambitious and ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won the West last year and we don\u2019t want to do anything less this year. We want to be the first seed and we want to keep fighting for the top spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wembanyama said there remains an emotional toll from the heartbreak. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to go through some emotions and some of that you have to go through alone,\u201d said Wembanyama. <\/p>\n
\u201cHard to find sleep sometimes, hard emotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a just a point where you accept that you have to go through it and feel all of it. We\u2019re going to face these emotions, face the reality that we have 100 games to play.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWemby\u201d was last season\u2019s NBA Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in blocked shots for a third consecutive season.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old Frenchman said he felt the Spurs\u2019 22-game playoff run last season made him better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like going through something of great magnitude,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI never played so many games or so many minutes. We still pushed through it.<\/p>\n
Victor Wembanyama has opened up on the emotional toll of San Antonio\u2019s NBA Finals defeat, admitting he still struggles to sleep after the loss to New York.Source: AFP<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in better shape than I could have expected right now just off experiences and growing.\u201d <\/p>\n
Wembanyama is prepared to be the hunted among NBA clubs instead of chasing other favored clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like we\u2019re in our place. It feels normal,\u201d said Wembanyama. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are high expectations around us. We will play each team at their best every night. No one will be surprised by our performances now.\u201d <\/p>\n
Wembanyama averaged NBA career highs of 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds last season as well as 3.5 assists, 3.1 blocked shots and 1.1 steals a game for the Spurs.<\/p>\n
DUREN TRADE WATCH EMERGES?<\/p>\n
The never-ending saga between the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren has taken another turn.<\/p>\n
The All-NBA Third Team big man is not attending Pistons media day as the stalemate between the two parties continues.<\/p>\n
According to ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania, Duren is also expected to miss the start of training camp after declining Detroit\u2019s five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed offer in restricted free agency.<\/p>\n
The two sides remain at a stalemate ahead of Thursday\u2019s deadline on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer.<\/p>\n
If Duren signs the qualifying offer, he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer and have the opportunity to chase a max contract elsewhere.<\/p>\n
But according to Marc Spears, a trade could emerge for Duren, with several teams interested in acquiring and signing him to a max deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cA Pistons source told me that there\u2019s still optimism that they think he\u2019ll sign the big deal,\u201d Spears said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if not, I\u2019m hearing from an NBA GM who told me the Milwaukee Bucks, the Atlanta Hawks, the Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards… have interest in a potential sign-and-trade.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, one of those teams immediately pricks the interest levels\u2026 the Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n
The reason is that if Washington was to eventually pursue a sign-and-trade for Duren, a deal would likely have to involve Anthony Davis to help make the salaries work.<\/p>\n
And while that remains hypothetical, Spears hinted at the possibility when discussing how a deal between the Pistons and Wizards could work.<\/p>\n
Jalen Duren\u2019s future in Detroit remains up in the air, with the All-NBA big man absent from media day as his contract stalemate with the Pistons continues.Source: AP<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would seem like a salary that would be easy to trade with,\u201d Spears said, referring to Davis\u2019 contract and Duren\u2019s potential new deal.<\/p>\n
According to Charania though, Detroit remains strong in its belief that the offer currently on the table is a fair one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Pistons have been completely and vehemently against [a max deal] to this point… believe their offer is fair,\u201d Charania said.<\/p>\n
If Duren does sign the qualifying offer, he would become the 44th player to do so.<\/p>\n
But more significantly, Duren would become the first All-NBA or All-Star player in NBA history to take that path.<\/p>\n
\u2018NOT SATISFIED\u2019: KNICKS SEND WARNING AFTER TITLE GLORY<\/p>\n
Jalen Brunson says the reigning champion New York Knicks, coming off their first NBA title since 1973, cannot become complacent in trying to repeat the feat in the upcoming campaign.<\/p>\n
The Knicks captain and 2026 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player spoke Monday at the team media day before training camp began.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot being satisfied is the biggest takeaway moving forward,\u201d Brunson said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to find a way to turn the page and move on.\u201d It won\u2019t be easy after an off-season celebration like no other for a club that struggled for so long before returning to the top.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonoured and grateful for all the opportunities that have come about. It was the longest shortest summer ever but it was well worth it,\u201d said Brunson, who hosted Saturday Night Live\u2019s season opener last weekend.<\/p>\n
Jalen Brunson has warned the reigning NBA champion Knicks they cannot afford to become complacent as New York begins its bid for back-to-back titles.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s cool to feel the energy and it makes you want it even more.\u201d <\/p>\n
Brunson, however, stressed that after ending the long Knicks title drought, this season will be a different quest.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year we took everything one day at a time,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know what it takes, going through the same mindset for this journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new journey. It\u2019s a different journey. The approach has to be the same if not better.\u201d <\/p>\n
Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game in the Knicks playoff run, capped by a 4-1 series victory over San Antonio in the finals.<\/p>\n
He expects fans will see early on if the Knicks still have what it takes to capture the crown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first couple weeks of the season are going to show us who we are and where we are,\u201d Brunson said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what we\u2019re doing, playing great or playing bad, how are we going to be able to learn.<\/p>\n
Karl-Anthony Towns says the Knicks will need to reach another level if they are to defend their NBA championship this season.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll find a way. We\u2019ll hold each other accountable. We\u2019ll learn and we\u2019ll be better.\u201d Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns has goals as the 2026-27 campaign begins next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust get back to the drawing board, start at 0-0, be hungry, be willing to do whatever it takes again and to win it again,\u201d Towns said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo repeat, it\u2019s going to take an even greater sense of discipline and execution. We\u2019re going to have to be even better than what we showed in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of us are aware of that. We\u2019re going to have to bring a whole \u2018nother level to the table if we expect to have a chance to repeat.\u201d<\/p>\n
CLIPPERS OFFSEASON GETS WORSE?<\/p>\n
Did the Los Angeles Clippers want to get rid of Kawhi Leonard so badly they traded for a player with a torn Achilles?<\/p>\n
Brandon Ingram was one of the centrepieces in the blockbuster Leonard trade between the Toronto Raptors and Clippers, but it has now been revealed that Ingram has a partially torn Achilles.<\/p>\n
Ingram underwent routine surgery on his heel this off-season, which led to the discovery of a partially torn Achilles suffered while playing for the Raptors.<\/p>\n
He is expected to miss the start of the season and will be re-evaluated in the early stages of the campaign, where a clearer timeline for his return is likely to be revealed.<\/p>\n
It adds another blow to an off-season that has quickly become one to forget for the Clippers.<\/p>\n
After trading Leonard, Los Angeles will now begin the season without one of the centrepieces of that deal.<\/p>\n
Bill Simmons weighed in with a strong take on the Clippers\u2019 latest setback.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew strategy for the Clippers with the Ingram trade \u2014 trading for expensive guys who already HAVE a serious injury,\u201d Simmons wrote on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cA pivotal new direction for the franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Add in the ongoing NBA investigation, which resulted in the loss of five first-round picks, and there are plenty of concerns surrounding the Clippers both this season and beyond.<\/p>\n
And with Ingram\u2019s return timeline still unclear, things have only gone from bad to worse in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
WARRIORS TAKE ANOTHER HIT IN THE PRESEASON<\/p>\n
The Golden State Warriors will be without Kristaps Porzingis for an unconfirmed amount of time to start the season.<\/p>\n
According to Anthony Slater, Porzingis is out indefinitely with a \u201chealth issue\u201d and will not be with the team as training camp begins.<\/p>\n
Porzingis was reportedly on the court last week and fully cleared, but has experienced an undisclosed setback since then.<\/p>\n
He signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors this off-season to join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but with this latest setback, Golden State\u2019s depth has already taken a considerable hit.<\/p>\n
Curry was also asked about the Warriors\u2019 chances this season, with Golden State not expected by some to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n
After hearing that, Curry got up and walked off.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo playoffs?? Damn!\u201d Curry said.<\/p>\n
The Warriors are also expected to welcome back Jimmy Butler from his ACL injury this season, with the All-Star saying he is ahead of schedule in his recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy (testing) numbers are staggering, they\u2019re off the charts,\u201d Butler said at media day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ahead, so they say.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Warriors will be an interesting watch this season, with their hopes of becoming a genuine championship contender likely coming down to Butler\u2019s return, what Curry can still produce and whether their ageing roster can stay healthy.<\/p>\n
And with Porzingis already sidelined before the season has even begun, that last question has only become even bigger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NBA media day is here and everything is happening. From LeBron James revealing he had visions of joining…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":909276,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":["post-909275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=909275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909275\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/909276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=909275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=909275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=909275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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