NBA 101

2026-27 NBA Season Preview: Spurs, Rockets, Pelicans, Mavericks, Grizzlies (Southwest Division)

With the regular season set to tip off on Oct. 20, let’s take a look at where each team in the Southwest Division stands. We’ll break down what to like and be concerned about, a lineup to watch and a reasonable range for them to finish in the standings. 

Let’s dig in, shall we?

Spurs • Rockets • Pelicans • Mavericks • Grizzlies

Previous divisions: Central

San Antonio Spurs

WHAT TO LIKE: Victor Wembanyama, as a concept

If Wemby isn’t the best player in the league yet (he has a strong argument for it), we certainly aren’t far away from that being the case. He’s already one of the most disruptive defenders in league history, and there are still subtle nuances and technique-based things (stance and footwork, especially on switches) for him to improve on. My guy Steve Jones has consistently highlighted how cerebral Wemby is defensively, constantly barking out assignments and dictating rotations so he can destroy offenses.

Oh, and he’s already an efficient volume scorer (25.0 points on 62.6 true shooting last season) without really having a half-court go-to yet. It’s scary. 

OTHER LIKES

• Stephon Castle is one of my favorite players in the league — I’m still slightly #peeved that he didn’t make an All-Defensive team last year — and is poised to get better. Elite defender, fun driver, audacious lob-passer, growing shooter: he quietly shot 38% (38.2% during the playoffs) on catch-and-shoot 3s last year.

• Speaking of the guard room, it’s hard not to be excited about Dylan Harper. He’s already one of the most unique drivers we have in the league with budding playmaking chops to boot. I can’t wait to see what kind of steps he takes in Year 2.

• I like what the Spurs have cooking at the 4. Julian Champagnie shoots the leather off the ball while sneaking in for offensive rebounds. Tobias Harris (welcome!) can still shoot and self-create in a pinch, and has at least shown a willingness to take on tough defensive assignments when asked. Keldon Johnson can obviously slide down to the 4 in smaller lineups; he’s coming off a Sixth Man of the Year campaign himself. Lots of different looks for Mitch Johnson to toss out there.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK:De’Aaron Fox’s place in the hierarchy

I believe Fox has been discussed a little too harshly. He had a rough postseason, largely because he played while clearly being well under 100%. The driving juice wasn’t there, and the jumper largely left him. Throw in some mind-boggling decisions — why on earth did he go up for that layup? — and you have people ready to throw him over the top rope.

I get it, but this is still a very good basketball player whose drives and turnover suppression (at least compared to the Castle/Harper duo last year) still hold value for the Spurs.

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

With that said, I do think the Spurs are going to be forced into making some tough decisions next offseason at the absolute latest. Castle and Harper may prove to be so good that we reach the “they kinda have to start” point. Do you really start all three at the expense of Devin Vassell (another one of my faves) and the shooting (and more) that he provides? 

Do you consider bringing Fox off the bench if the guard growth (and lineup data) suggest it? How would Fox take that? 

It’s a subplot worth monitoring.

OTHER CONCERNS

• I cited Castle’s catch-and-shoot numbers earlier, but there is a volume-plus-efficiency threshold that he, Harper, and Fox need to hit to 1) create more room for everyone and 2) turn down the volume of “unders” they faced last year.

• Wemby has to continue growing as a half-court creator. It’s a positive that he can be moved around the board and used in different ways. And, again, he’s fresh off averaging 25 a night on high efficiency. But the Finals really shined a light on the fact that there isn’t a pet action or area of the floor that he can consistently generate good shots at. It’s a positive that he’s this good without it, but that feels like the next step. 

• I’m looking at the 3-through-5 depth on the roster, and my head keeps tilting when I think about Carter Bryant’s pathway to 20+ minutes a night. I like him quite a bit and want real room for him. But there are more options at the 4, Vassell should get plenty of minutes at the 3, and if the Spurs lean into more Fox-Harper-Castle minutes, things do get a bit tight. Of course, Mitch Johnson is an NBA head coach and I am a writer-plus-podcaster; he absolutely has a better handle on this than I would. Keeping eyes on it, though!

LINEUP TO WATCH:Castle-Harper-Vassell-Champagnie-Wemby

Between the regular season and the playoffs, this group played only 94 minutes together. 

They won those minutes by [checks notes] 73 points.

Barring an injury, I don’t think this will be the starting group out of the gate. I do expect we’ll see it, assuming Harper is the first sub in. But if this lineup even approaches winning minutes to this degree over a larger sample, conversations need to be had.

BEST CASE: No. 1 seed

They were only 2.0 games behind the Thunder for the top seed last year (while handedly winning the regular-season matchups). Internal growth from their youngsters and reasonable health may be enough for the Spurs to not only snag the top seed, but to flirt with a 70-win season.

WORST CASE: No. 5 seed

Beyond the easy “what if everyone important gets hurt” button that is available for literally every team in the league, there’s a world where opposing defenses become a little more switch-heavy, a little more willing to cross-match against the Spurs to muck things up for their half-court offense. 

The Spurs aren’t barren of shooters, but there are enough guys in the rotation (Fox, Castle, Harper, Johnson, Bryant*) that defenses may be comfortable saying “OK, I’m not terrified of the prospect of these guys firing away.” 

If the (half-court) offense underwhelms and the top of the conference is as strong as I think it is, it’s not inconceivable that the Spurs start a first-round series on the road.

Houston Rockets

WHAT TO LIKE: Kevin Durant, still going

I’d like to start with a stat: only 6.5% of Durant’s shot attempts came inside of three feet last year, easily a career low. He still averaged 26.0 points on 64.1 true shooting. 

The year could be 2045, he might weigh 87 pounds by that point, and I trust he’d still be able to sleepwalk into 20 points because of the shooting touch, high release point, and his ability to fire off-platform. 

This is one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen, and it’s cool that he’s still as good and impactful — and willing to log an ungodly amount of minutes! — as he is.

OTHER LIKES

• Amen Thompson got himself paid, and rightfully so. He took a step back defensively because of his heightened on-ball role, but he remains one of the most electric on- and off-ball defenders in the league. The “point guard” experiment came with mixed results, but he undoubtedly grew as a self-creator. I’m excited to see what he has in store for us this season.

• Early last season, it felt like Alperen Sengun had ascended to becoming Houston’s best (or at least most impactful) player. He came out the gates firing from 3, he still shrugged and slithered his way into post buckets and free throws, and he looked more comfortable (and competent) within Houston’s defensive system. That didn’t fully sustain, but he still put together a season worthy of All-Star and All-NBA consideration. I remain high on him.

• Related to all of that: welcome back, Fred VanVleet! Whew, boy, were there several points last season where I thought “this team needs someone to set the table.” At minimum, VanVleet’s presence should take some of the creation burden off of the Durant/Sengun/Thompson trio, and his shooting ability should make life easier for those three to operate when they do have the ball.

• Sneaking in a fourth thought, sue me: I really appreciate the competitive fire of Jabari Smith Jr. I had to say his name somewhere.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: (Half-court) Shot Profile 

Health is the easy button, but I do still have some questions about the types of shots they can generate. Per Cleaning the Glass, this is where the Rockets got their shots from last year, both overall and within half-court situations.

• Overall: 18th in rim rate (30% of their shot attempts), 2nd in mid-range rate (37.7%), 26th in 3-point rate (32.3%)

• Half-court: 25th in rim rate (23.2%), 2nd in mid-range rate (43.2%), 25th in 3-point rate (33.5%)

That’s just a tough diet to live on if you don’t have multiple players performing above expectation. 

VanVleet’s presence will help the quality of shots; his comfort in ball screens and his willingness to take 3s off the bounce should shift things some. Even with that, I don’t know if he materially changes how jumper-reliant this team is slated to be. 

That scares me a little bit in terms of their playoff projection.

OTHER CONCERNS

• Speaking of 3-point shooting, I’m curious to see how much rope Ime Udoka gives Reed Sheppard this year. The return of VanVleet and the addition/reunion of Marcus Smart could be all the reason Udoka needs to cut Sheppard’s minutes, especially if his defense and decision-making aren’t at a certain level.

• It was a really uneven season for Tari Eason as he worked through hip and lower body injuries. Many will point to the ghastly 3-point slump he had in March — though he still wound up shooting better from 3 last year (35.8%) than the year before (34.2%) — but he lacked his usual juice as a driver and finisher. I think he’ll ultimately bounce back, but the Rockets do need him.

• Less of a concern, more of a curiosity: as much as I like him, I still cannot figure out just how good of a 3-point shooter Smith is. I am waiting for the 38%-on-high-volume year from him. I hope, for everyone’s sake, that we get it.

LINEUP TO WATCH: VanVleet-Thompson-Eason-Smith-Durant

Per Cleaning the Glass, we got 651 possessions of center-less (no Sengun, Steven Adams, or Clint Capela) basketball from the Rockets during the regular season. They were a slight negative in those minutes (-1.3 net rating), which is a little better than I expected considering the availability issues of Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Rockets were outscored with Thompson/Eason/Smith/Durant on the floor without a center last year (190 possessions, -7.3 net rating), but I am generally curious of what that looks like with VanVleet in the fold, plus a better/healthier Eason.

BEST CASE: No. 3 seed

The Rockets have been an elite defense in every year of Udoka’s tenure. For all my (valid!) concerns about the half-court offense, they were still a top-10 unit overall due to their transition attack. They were also unfathomably good on the offensive glass, and I would expect that to continue.

If the defense remains elite and VanVleet’s presence is enough to take them from 19th in half-court offense to, say, 12th? They’ll be looking at 50+ wins again.

WORST CASE: Play-In Tournament

If the half-court offense is still a problem — if opponents are even more empowered to be physical off-ball, switch a bunch, and shrink the floor off nonshooters — then the ceiling lowers. They’ll still have the defensive infrastructure to churn out wins, but they may not do so at the level of some of their conference-mates.

New Orleans Pelicans

WHAT TO LIKE: Herb Jones, as a concept

All Herb Jones does, when healthy, is defend his tail off, clean up messes, maintain advantages as a driver and connective passer, and ultimately make your team better. 

He’s been one of my favorite wings since his rookie season, and I really hope we get a healthier version of him than we’ve gotten over the past two seasons.

That guy’s a winning player. 

OTHER LIKES

• Are people aware that Trey Murphy III is coming off back-to-back 20-point seasons? The increase in on-ball responsibility hasn’t come without its warts — still keeping an eye on the handle and his processing speed, among other things — but he’s a fun watch when he has it rolling.

• To close the door on injury-related shouts: we are coming off one of the healthiest campaigns of Zion Williamson’s career (62 games), and Dejounte Murray was kiiinda nuts (complimentary; 17-5-6 on 58 true shooting) when he made his return. 

• Give me a big that can pass, and I’m likely going to be in. Friend of the program Derik Queen fits the bill, with his blend of driving chops and passing vision leading to an All-Rookie Second Team selection and a lot of highlights last year. 

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Zion Williamson + Derik Queen

I think you can (still) talk yourself into Zion, an All-NBA caliber talent when he’s upright. I think you can talk yourself into Queen, boasting plenty of upside as a walking mismatch offensively.

It’s a really hard sell, at least for me, to believe in these two as a tandem moving forward. The defense is just too rough, with neither being strong rim protectors or being comfortable enough on the perimeter to provide positive value there. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pelicans had a near-123 defensive rating (that’s really bad!) when they shared the floor. It got to a point where DeAndre Jordan was sharing the floor with those two so they could have some semblance of a defensive center available.

2026 DeAndre Jordan!

(As a brief aside, an earnest shoutout to Jordan for being one of the best veterans in the league. By all accounts, he’s a tremendous guy to have around and there’s a reason the Pelicans wanted him back. There was certainly probably a more cap-savvy way to accomplish that feat, but the overall desire to bring him back made sense.)

Are they really about to enter this year trying to make Zion-at-the-3 work, with Queen and Yves Missi (I’m a fan) up front? Do you bring Queen off the bench by default? If so, what does that do for his growth? 

OTHER CONCERNS

• I am fascinated by what Jamahl Mosley is going to do with this group. His defensive pedigree is strong; his offensive creativity … not so much, at least based on the Orlando sample. If he’s able to lay the foundation of a competent defense with some of the players expected to be in this rotation, he’ll deserve Coach of the Year nods and a raise.

• Similar to Queen, I do wonder what kind of runway Jeremiah Fears will have. I think the minutes will be there — whether he starts ahead of Murray, starts with him, or is simply a high-minute reserve until trades happen — but I’m fascinated by how much (or little) freedom Mosley will give him.

• Seriously, how quickly can the consolidation trades come in for this team? Do we need Jordan Poole on this particular roster? 

LINEUP TO WATCH: Murray-Murphy III-Jones-Bey-Williamson

In what was generally a rough season for the Pelicans, I present you with this: per Cleaning the Glass, this group had a +10.9 net rating in 230 possessions together behind an insanely efficient offense (126.1 offensive rating).

I don’t know how sustainable that is, and this asks a lot of Jones specifically on the defensive end, but I do want to see this group with a larger sample. In theory, it’s a fun mix of (self) creation and spacing.

BEST CASE: Just outside the Play-In, Queen + Fears make notable improvements

There is talent here, though not enough for me to comfortably say “this could be a top-10 team if things break right.” There’s a potential wave element to the lineups Mosley could put together to ensure they have multiple bucket-getters on the floor at all times. If the defense gets to “serviceable,” at minimum they profile as a team that’ll be incredibly annoying to deal with.

More importantly, you want to see growth from Queen and Fears. Steps defensively from both; continued nuance in ball screens (especially the pacing) from Fears; maybe some shooting growth from Queen. 

WORST CASE: Bottom of the West, roster crunch affects Queen + Fears development

There are so many things happening on this roster that I am just now getting to mention the fact that Saddiq Bey played so well that he earned a multi-year extension, and that they added Bennedict Mathurin.

In all seriousness, it’s not difficult to envision a world where it takes Mosley some time to map out a reasonable rotation pattern and the roles within these lineups. If he leans on playing the vets in an effort to establish whatever he feels his vision is, the downstream effect could be seeing less Fears and Queen than expected — especially when you factor in where they are defensively.

Dallas Mavericks

WHAT TO LIKE: Cooper Flagg

It was a year of trial by fire for Cooper Flagg, as he was both moved around the board and increasingly handed the keys as the year went on. The month-by-month — heck, the game-by-game — growth was a joy to witness. The drives became more forceful. The foul-drawing became more frequent. The playmaking chops perked up as teams sent more attention his way. And he displayed this growth, culminating in a Rookie of the Year nod (I probably still would’ve gone Kon Knueppel if I had a vote, but Flagg was a more-than-fair choice), within a context that wasn’t kind to him.

I can’t wait to see what he does this year. 

OTHER LIKES

• The return of Kyrie Irving should certainly make life easier for Flagg, and for the Mavericks’ offense as a whole. He’s one of the most dynamic scorers we’ve ever seen, a high-level shooter, and a quality-enough playmaker that should (further) unlock Flagg as a screener. 

• I think this can be a very good defensive team. A quick reminder that, before the turn of the calendar, the Mavericks were 11th in defensive rating. There’s a level of range and switchability up and down the roster that I like. I really, really hope Dereck Lively II can get back to good health and add to this group.

• On a related note, consider me an early fan of Morez Johnson. His motor runs incredibly hot, he flies around defensively, and I was impressed by the interior scoring during his brief Summer League stint.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: How well can they deal with switches?

As much as I love skilled size, having a bunch of like-sized guys does invite on- and off-ball switching from defenses. The Mavericks faced switches at one of the highest rates in the league, and their efficiency against those looks were … let’s just say #LessThanIdeal. 

If Irving, Flagg, P.J. Washington and others are able to punish switches enough, the offense should be able to complement what I believe will be a good defense. All of a sudden, the Mavericks are in the play-in picture in a way you didn’t expect.

If teams are comfortable flattening them out and their shot quality (and profile) suffers, things are going to feel clunky. 

OTHER CONCERNS

• The guard creation behind Irving leaves a bit to be desired. I don’t know how much we’ll see Sergio de Larrea, a guy I enjoyed in Summer League, but I have questions about his ability to win as a driver (at least early on). I don’t know how much of Marcus Sasser we’ll see. Those two being the first names after Irving is, say it with me, #LessThanIdeal.

• As I said on the Dunker Spot, I am both happy for Zaccharie Risacher being in a different context with lowered expectations, but also worried about how well he’ll perform in this context in light of the teams-will-switch-a-bunch-against-the-Mavs questions I have.

• Dereck Lively II as a concept. Please, please, please get healthy. 

LINEUP TO WATCH: Irving-Christie-Flagg-Washington-Johnson

It’s a smaller group that doesn’t really feel small. There’s some real juice between the Flagg-Washington-Johnson triumvirate on both ends. Irving would have multiple ball-screen partners to choose from, in addition to being a problem in his own right. And I like Max Christie here as a guy that can space and (sneakily) sprinkle in some creation against tilted defenses.

BEST CASE: Play-in Tournament

I’m generally a believer in the defense. Flagg should get better and could push for All-Star consideration this year. Get enough games out of Irving (and Lively), win enough against switch-heavy gameplans, and it’s not hard to map out a pathway to the play-in picture.

WORST CASE: Bottom of the West

This would be some combination of the offense being flattened out, the (transition) defense being dinged in light of the shaky offense, and health concerns with Irving and Lively. I could obviously be wrong when actual games are played, but it feels like any sort of extended absence from Irving specifically would wreck this team.

Memphis Grizzlies

WHAT TO LIKE: Offensive versatility

I’m pretty bullish on the amount of levers this team can pull. Memphis was pretty high on my “I like the stuff they run” list, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the playbook opens up a little more with this group. 

Ty Jerome is electric in pick-and-roll — a kind reminder that he averaged 20 & 6 in under 23 minutes on 52/42/88 splits during his shortened season — and should vibe incredibly well with rookie sensation Cameron Boozer, who could and should be used in a myriad of ways. Zach Edey’s mix of slow (and low) rolls, post-mashing and offensive rebounding prowess should be fun. 

Cedric Coward looked a little more comfortable with the ball in his hands during Summer League, and the off-ball feel and spacing should be there. Jerami Grant remains a bucket-getter. 

I think people are going to be surprised.

OTHER LIKES

• Cam Spencer is one of the most underrated guards in the league, and I’m excited for more people to get hip to him. A cool mix of poise and audacity in pick-and-roll, with the latter portion being informed by his ability to shoot the absolute cover off the basketball.

• I feel contractually obligated to root for any NBA player with drumming in their skill-set; GG Jackson is no different. In all seriousness, I’m forever intrigued by his blend of size and skill. He also was asked to defend a little bit of everyone last year. It didn’t always go well, especially against smaller guards, but I kinda like that he was challenged in that way. 

• Is this quietly one of the better center rooms in the league? Edey’s a monster that grew in important ways before he went down. I’m a fan of the Quinten Post contract, especially since he seemed to grow defensively to complement his shooting on the other end. Isaiah Stewart is one of the best interior defenders in the league, period, who also doesn’t mind hitting people setting bone-crushing screens.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Who draws two?

There are a lot of players I like on this roster, but it’s fair to say there may not be anyone here that actually strikes fear in the heart of opponents. That could work to their advantage early in the season, but if the bit becomes a mix of “we’ll just play drop and stay out of rotation” and “we’ll just switch, especially in the non-Edey minutes,” they could be a lot less fun than I’m currently envisioning.

(Of course, if Boozer is as good as I think he is and will be, he may take the switching off the table immediately.)

OTHER CONCERNS

• More curiosity than concern, but I do wonder how often the Grizzlies will look to play small and how viable those lineups will be. I still have memories of Omax Prosper logging real minutes at the 5!

• I mentioned Jerome and Spencer earlier, but in general I find myself in the “they have guys that can shoot, but how many guys do they have that defenses think can shoot?” vortex. 

• Also more curiosity than concern, but the Grizzlies do have more cuts to make before the season begins. They’ve already gotten D’Angelo Russell out of there. 

LINEUP TO WATCH: Jerome-Spencer-Coward-Grant-Boozer

I almost went with the five I mentioned in the “likes” section, but this is probably the “small” ball unit I’m most excited to see. The combined playmaking and shooting of Jerome and Spencer, the off-ball juice of Coward, the bucket-getting of Grant, and Boozer getting to operate with maximum space around him and screeners for him when they inevitably invert the offense. 

BEST CASE: Play-In Tournament

I’m a couple of weeks away from “having” to finalize my preseason predictions, but I am very close to flat-out having the Grizzlies as a play-in team. I believe in the offensive versatility and the overall depth. They just have to stay healthy and hit enough of the right notes defensively — this is where the Edey steps from last year feel important to me — to have a high-enough baseline.

WORST CASE: Bottom of the West

This could be as simple as the top-end talent not being good enough compared to the rest of the playoff contenders in the West, them missing Jaren Jackson Jr. a lot defensively, and teams playing conservative coverages and the Grizzlies not dinging them enough for it to matter.

Raptors, RJ Barrett reportedly have not had substantive extension talks (yet)

Suns guard Dillon Brooks officially charged with DUI from March arrest

Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks has been formally charged with driving under the influence, stemming from his March arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona.

According to court filings from the City of Scottsdale, Brooks was charged Monday, Sept. 28 with driving under the influence, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor and carries a presumed fine of $1,623.11.

A court date has been set for the morning of Oct. 28 for his arraignment. The Suns have a break in their schedule at that time; they’ll play the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Oct. 26, and their next game is Oct. 30, against the Denver Nuggets, at home.

On March 6, officers conducted a traffic stop in Scottsdale at around 1 a.m. local time, hours after the Suns lost at home to the Chicago Bulls. After an investigation, Brooks, 30, was arrested. He was released around 3:30 a.m., following the booking process.

PHOENIX SUNS SEASON PREVIEW: Lineup, roster, prediction and biggest question mark

Brooks also has a pair of other traffic charges to address, from a separate incident. According to court records, Brooks has been charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor for exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour and a Class 2 misdemeanor reckless driving charge, which is when a driver surpasses the speed limit by 35 miles per hour. Those two charges carry a presumed fine of $600 combined.

A trial readiness conference has been set for the morning of Nov. 9 for those charges. The Suns host the San Antonio Spurs later that evening.

A separate alleged speeding incident on Feb. 11 was eventually dismissed by the court in July.

Brooks posted a career-high 20.2 points per game last season, though he played just 56 games as he dealt with a left hand fracture. He also shot a career-best 43.5% from the floor and added 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suns guard Dillon Brooks officially charged with DUI from March arrest

NBC Sports Unveils Comic Book Campaign Celebrating American Express NBA Tip-Off

Suns forward Dillon Brooks charged with misdemeanor DUI after March arrest

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was charged with driving under the influence on Monday, months after he was arrested in Scottsdale, according to court records obtained by ESPN. 

Brooks was arrested early on March 6 due to a suspected DUI. Body camera footage obtained by TMZ showed a police officer saying that Brooks’ car smelled like marijuana during the traffic stop. 

The arrest occurred hours after a Suns home loss, though Brooks did not play during that contest due to a broken hand.

Brooks is facing a Class 1 misdemeanor charge in the incident. He is set to be arraigned on Oct. 28. The 30-year-old also has a separate misdemeanor reckless driving and speeding case pending. He is due in court next for that January incident on Nov. 9.

“This charge stems from the incident last March,” Suns senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement, via ESPN. “We have addressed the matter with Dillon and have no further comment.”

Brooks was dealt to the Suns ahead of last season in the blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Brooks averaged a career-high 20.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in Phoenix and shot better than 43% from the field, which is better than all but his rookie campaign in the league. Brooks was limited to only 56 games, however, because of the fractured left hand he suffered in February.

Brooks and the Suns agreed to a three-year, $73 million extension in August. He was set to enter the final year of his previous four-year deal that he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies this fall, and then hit free agency next season. Now, Brooks will be a key piece for the Suns for years to come. 

The Suns, who were swept in the first round of the playoffs last season, will open the 2026-27 campaign against the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 21.

Eric Schmitt’s ‘gotcha’ of Jack Smith hilariously mistook the Atlanta Hawks for the Iowa Hawkeyes

It’s not often we get a cataclysmic sports gaffe on Capitol Hill, but Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) gave us something absolutely incredible on Tuesday morning. In what can only be described as “the Sideshow Bob stepping on rakes of attempted gotchas,” Schmitt confidently dropped what he believed would be a smoking gun in causing Jack Smith to perjure himself as part of the probe into Smith’s investigation of President Donald Trump.

Schmitt confidently (and cockily) claimed that he had evidence from a series of text messages that Jack Smith was in Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2024, watching the Atlanta Hawks play the Golden State Warriors. Just one problem: Smith was actually in Maryland, seeing the Iowa Hawkeyes play Maryland.

🤡 Eric Schmitt beclowns himself during Jack Smith hearing 🤡

Schmitt concocted an elaborate conspiracy theory that Smith traveled to Atlanta to go to a Hawks game and collude with Fani Willis, and briefly displayed his “evidence” on a poster board before accusing Smith of… pic.twitter.com/wDMiVrrKBF

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 29, 2026

“It … it was because Caitlin Clark was coming to Maryland to play. That’s why we went to the game,” Smith said. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) tried to hold back her laughter at the gaffe, before criticizing her fellow senator for insinuating Smith was a “dirtbag” over his incorrect “evidence,” while also taking a shot at his lack of hoops knowledge: “For a U.S. Senator to have false information, and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team — which I knew, knowing my midwestern sports…”

Smith said that he was present at the game with members of the U.S. Marshall’s service, which was confirmed. He absolutely was not in Atlanta, when Schmitt said he was. But … should he have been?! Let’s compare the game he went to, with the one that Schmitt thought he was at.

Iowa Hakweyes 93, Maryland Terrapins 85

Caitlin Clark went off, scoring 38 points, dishing 12 assists, and adding 6 rebounds for good measure. It wasn’t her most efficient day from beyond the arc, as she shot 7-for-17 from three — but ultimately it was an astonishingly good game.

Atlanta Hawks 141, Golden State Warriors 134

It took overtime to settle the game between the Hawks and Warriors. Steph Curry was nuclear, scoring 60 points, including 10-of-23 from three, but it wasn’t enough to stop a barrage of Hawks’ offense led by Trae Young.

I don’t know if there was a right or wrong game to go to here, to be honest. I’m giving the edge to seeing the Hawkeyes in Maryland — only because you got to be a part of the Caitlin Clark experience and saw a game where she absolutely went off. Obviously, Steph had an amazing game as well, and it’s not every day you get to watch him drop 60, but it doesn’t have the same level of gravitas.

In any event, the Iowa Hawkeyes aren’t the Atlanta Hawks. Moreover, the smoking-gun text message exchange missed the fact that the Atlanta Hawks’ arena uses letters for their rows, not numbers — so this was incorrect before it was ever presented to the floor.

76ers training camp opens with Nick Nurse ready to experiment: 'We need to clearly define roles for everybody'

CAMDEN, N.J. —The closing moments of Day 1 of 76ers training camp offered a tiny window of insight into the centripetal forces that will govern this novel group. 

At the far end of the Penn Medicine Training Complex, with most other roster members departed for the day, assistant Phil Handy finished up a shooting circuit with veteran guard Anfernee Simons. Handy, a legendary player development coach, paused Simons’ shooting to walk through his mechanics. 

“I just want you to go short and quick,” Handy said, using his hands and feet to demonstrate while Simons clung to every word. Ensuing shots came in rapid succession, each one seemingly quicker and smoother than the last as Handy and fellow assistant Matt Brase looked on. 

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

The less work Simons needs to do when receiving the ball, the better. The 27-year-old will receive a profusion of catch-and-shoot opportunities in the minutes he shares the floor with Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. Role players like Simons will need to be even more rapid with their decision-making to maximize the gravity that comes with All-NBA talents, but it unlocks an even bigger theme. 

For the 76ers to reach the lofty goals that have been set — whether externally or internally — they’ll need to be a much improved version of themselves. Not simply by the splashy summer additions, but by Nick Nurse’s tactical setup. 

“I got an idea as I do with every guy with what their role should be,” Nurse told reporters on Tuesday. “And even bullet points underneath, but I want to see the group for a couple weeks before I start trying to narrow that down. I want to collaborate with each player on that. We need to clearly define roles for everybody.”

Last season was a letdown by most metrics: 26th in effective field-goal percentage, 21st in true shooting, 23rd in 3-point rate, 28th in assist rate. But given the fact that nearly 80% of the 76ers’ possessions came against a set defense, solving their half-court issues seems to be a non-negotiable. It’s difficult to recall any offseason by any team in history that added two players as gifted as James and Brown from a pure mental standpoint. Mixing in their abilities to process real-time defensive happenings and manufacture quality looks is arguably more important than anything else this team does this season. 

“I think a lot of things will help the efficiency,” Nurse said to Yahoo Sports. “I think we’ll have a little bit better pace. Passing — I think these guys are a little bit bigger and have better vision. And obviously they can score too. That helps.”

The 76ers were near the top of the league in possessions that directly affect final outcomes of games, yet ranked just outside the bottom 10 in offensive rating in such high-leverage minutes. It’s why the totality of their offseason was critical; adding floor spacers like Simons, Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope gives them the necessary release valves to punish aggressive defensive man-to-man schemes that pressure Maxey/James/Brown and also those that dare to mix in zone coverages as well. 

“A couple of our metrics would [show] we did really well at generating the shots, but then the percentages — effective field goal or whatever you like — show we’re getting a lot of shots we wanted to get,” Nurse said. “So hopefully, we have a few more shot makers.”

Glancing at their new-look roster, there are a few ways to achieve some of the goals Nurse outlined.

A league-average group in pace won’t stand to see that much of a jump unless shot profiles are altered, in this case Joel Embiid’s. A whopping 35% of his shots came via self-creation, whether by post-ups or isolations. Reworking his blend to incorporate more rolls and quicker actions should help, as well as removing the wear and tear that comes with constantly backing down opposing bigs every night. Using Maxey in an off-ball role and maximizing his relocation and speed will also aid in the 76ers’ overall progression. 

They are the NBA’s most interesting team and with Nurse, a championship coach and mad scientist in his own right, these coming days should fortify what is shaping up to be quite the experiment. 

Knicks Notes: Jalen Brunson talks wrist rehab, complimentary remarks from LeBron James

At a news conference on the second day of Knicks training camp Tuesday, star point guard Jalen Brunsonand head coach Mike Brownspoke about the offseason, the upcoming campaign, and more.

Brunson bounces back after wrist injury 

In July, Brunson underwent surgery to repair a wrist injury sustained midway through the Knicks’ victorious playoff run, leaving him in a cast for about two months and rendering him unable to complete his usual offseason training regimen.

Nevertheless, Brunson said he feels no need to “catch up” on practice ahead of the 2026-27 season.

“I just feel like I didn’t do my normal summer stuff,” he said. “I feel good, but also I know that it wasn’t just my normal summer.”

Brunson sustained the injury — a tendon-bone friction issue in his left wrist caused by the repeated motion of shooting the ball — in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals but continued to play through the remainder of the Knicks’ title hunt, averaging 28 points and six assists across the entire postseason and securing the honor of NBA Finals MVP.

Two years earlier, Brunson fractured his hand on the same side in a season-ending loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He compared that injury to the one in his wrist, noting that although the rehab periods were similar, he had more time to recover during the offseason last time.

“It was similar, but I was shooting earlier than I was this time,” Brunson said. “I was in a cast longer than I was before, when I broke my hand. Plus, [surgery] was a little bit earlier — I think I got surgery right after it happened. I didn’t get surgery until like three weeks later [this time] because I didn’t know it was a necessity.”

Brunson announced Sept. 24 that he’s “fully cleared” for the upcoming season.

Brunson returns respect from LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Since leading the Knicks in their historic title run, Brunson has received praise from across the league — including from stars like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Both players chose to shout Brunson out, along with the rest of the Knicks, in their respective media day comments Monday. James described Brunson as “unbelievable,” and Antetokounmpo called him “one of the best players” in the NBA.

“I really do appreciate it,” Brunson said. “I respect the hell out of them. It’s honestly really cool … I really do appreciate it, and it shows where I’ve grown, but still got a lot of work to do.”

In the same news conference Monday, James stated that, had the Knicks not won the championship last season, he would have wanted to sign with them as a free agent in the offseason, reaffirming the sentiment his agent expressed in early July. 

“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “One of the best places I’ve ever played.”

Instead, the 41-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Mike Brown weighs in on White House visit

Head coach Mike Brown took the podium after Brunson and, among other things, gave an update on whether or not the team has accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House following their title win.

“That’s still something that our guys, the organization is internally discussing,” Brown said. “Whatever we decide to do, we’ll all do together.”

Knicks owner James Dolan stated on the radio after the team’s victory in June that they would indeed make the trip to Washington, D.C. 

A visit would make the Knicks the first NBA team to visit the White House under a Trump presidency.

Luka Dončić says it 'feels great' to be the leader of the Lakers following LeBron James' exit

Luka Dončić is used to being the alpha on his team. Dončić filled that role with the Dallas Mavericks, where he became the team’s de-facto star and leader on and off the court.

A surprising trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025 upended all of that. With LeBron James in town, Dončić had to adapt to a new role. He may have still been the best player on his team, but James was the captain of the ship.

With James now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Dončić said it “feels great” to assume his old role and take over as the Lakers’ leader.

Dončić’s comment was probably not meant to be a dig at James, as the two seemingly got along very well with the Lakers. It was likely more a comment on Dončić feeling comfortable as a team leader, a role he filled for years with the Mavericks.

Dončić explained as much while giving his answer. “I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it’s not new to me,” Dončić said. “I feel great. I feel excited.”

The shift from James to Dončić started before the offseason. With James out with an injury early last season, Dončić put the team on his back, averaging 34.4 points per game over his first 10 games.

That seemed to set the tone for the season, as Dončić’s average barely went down even when James returned. Dončić averaged 33.3 points the rest of the way, firmly putting himself in the MVP discussion until a late injury knocked him out of the running to win the award.

With James now gone, the Lakers are officially building around Dončić. This offseason, that meant trading for Walker Kessler and re-signing Austin Reaves. Dončić spoke extremely highly of both players when asked about them Monday.

Now that the team has a new look, the Lakers are looking for a better result in the playoffs. After losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, Dončić said the team’s goal is a championship. “If that’s not your goal,” Dončić said Monday. “I don’t know what you’re doing here.”

Pistons still awaiting Jalen Duren decision as training camp begins