Anthony Edwards is expected to be out for around two months, and that is a huge blow for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Ant-Man had a phenomenal start to the new NBA season, and he formed an instant connection with LaMelo Ball. The duo looked incredible together.
However, Edwards has undergone surgery and will be on the sidelines for a while. The Timberwolves need a solution in his absence, and DeMarcus Cousins has shared an interesting suggestion.
Anthony Davis only joined the Washington Wizards in February this year and made his regular-season debut in the opening game of this season.
The former Mavs star has missed several games due to injury in recent years, but on his day, he is up there with the best forwards in the NBA.

#ball #cousins

LaMelo Ball and Jonathan **** inga seemed to be having a go at Rudy Gobert during the Minnesota Timberwolves' game against the Golden State Warriors.
The Wolves went into the game without Anthony Edwards, and unsurprisingly, they didn't look like their usual selves. They suffered a 119-114 defeat in the end.
Gobert came under a lot of criticism for his performance, and Ball and **** inga seemingly yelling at him made it an even bigger story.
However, the Frenchman has now claimed that no such thing happened between him and his two teammates.
It really was a frustrating night for the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Golden State Warriors.

#timberwolves #state #game

Analicia "Ana Montana" Chaves, the model who is partner to NBA star LaMelo Ball and the mother of his son LaOne, has been arrested for an alleged scheme to get a phony prescription for alprazolam, the generic form of Xanax.
Chaves was taken into custody in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on Monday (Sept. 28) and released that same day on a $10,000 bond. She faces two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or forgery, and two misdemeanor counts of simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance.
via Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office
Chaves, 36, is accused of going to a Walgreens this past February to fill a prescription "that was prescribed by doctor whose DEA registration and NPI number had been stolen/fraudulently obtained," per court records seen by Complex. A warrant for her arrest was issued on Sept. 22, almost a week before she was taken into custody.
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#complex

The 2024-25 Boston Celtics set the NBA single-season three-point record with 1,457 makes across 82 games. Three different Celtics players made at least 250 threes that season, something no team had ever seen before. The question heading into 2026-27 is whether the Hornets can break the NBA three-point record.
Analyst Tom Haberstroh specifically named Charlotte as a genuine contender. Looking at the roster, it is not hard to see why.
" I think this Charlotte Hornets team, even though they lost LaMelo Ball, who was at times the most high-volume scorer, shooter in the NBA from downtown, still, I think this team, dude, I think they have a chance to break the three-point record next year," Haberstroh said on The Kevin O'Connor Show. "You got Coby White, who's a 95, 96 percentile volume three-point shooter. Good three-point shooter off the dribble. Kon Knueppel, we already know; the fact that he led the league in threes as a rookie is insane. Brandon Miller, also a high-volume three-point shooter."
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. Photo Credit: David Butler II, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Look at what Charlotte is putting on the floor. Kon Knueppel made 273 threes in his rookie season — the most in NBA history by a first-year player. Grayson Allen is 40.3% from three in his career. Royce O'Neale shoots 38.9% from deep while White (36.9%) and Naz Reid (37.1%) connect at 36.9% and 37.1%, respectively.

#celtics #season #record #threes

NBA insider takes shot at T-Wolves Jonathan **** inga for jab at Warriors' Steph Curry, Chris Paul originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are going all in on winning a championship this season after the impressive offseason they had. It is amazing to see the team they have put together, and it was all due to their aggressiveness.
The big summer all started just before the NBA Draft when they traded for Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. The team also just ended their free agency by winning the battle for Jonathan **** inga.
"Jonathan **** inga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. **** inga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote.
The 23-year-old NBA champion waited the entire summer for the right opportunity, and he sure got that with the Timberwolves. He joins Anthony Edwards and other talented players in Minnesota.

#jonathan #timberwolves #ball #edwards

As the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, young swingman Jonathan ******* inga couldn't be more excited about his basketball future. After a difficult parting with the Warriors, ******* inga had some tough decisions to make this summer, but he would say it worked out for the best with a two-year, $12.4 million deal to join Anthony Edwards and his rising young team.
Thursday evening marked ******* inga's introductory press conference with the organization, where he answered all sorts of questions relating to his free-agent process and expectations for the future. Notably, he also spoke about teaming up with LaMelo Ball, someone he called his best passing teammate ever (yes, even over Curry).
"I think his ability to pass the ball, I was watching him work out yesterday and I was watching him and the way he can pass the ball, it's incredible," said ******* inga. "I've played with so many point guards in my career, but I've never played with anybody that can pass as good as LaMelo. I'm looking forward to it; I'm excited."
In ******* inga's defense, Ball is famously skilled offensively with career averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 ******* ists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 41.8% shooting. While he often likes to get flashy with the ball, he's undeniably elite as a playmaker and passer, opening up the floor for teammates and adding a layer of flexibility to the rotation.
To claim that Ball is a better passer than Curry might sound like blasphemy, but the stats back it up. Curry averages 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 ******* ists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for his career, falling short of even Ball's passing numbers. More so than LaMelo, Curry is much more of a scorer, and he's always had teammates to help him run the offense.

#lamelo #pass

Beyond winning, Jonathan ******* inga is simply excited to start a new chapter with the Minnesota Timberwolves because of LaMelo Ball. The new Wolves forward has nothing but positive words to say about Ball, even claiming that the star guard's passing ability is superior to any floor general he played with in his young career. "I think his ability of passing the ball," ******* inga said on what excites him the most about playing with Ball during his Minnesota introductory press conference. "I was watching him work out yesterday. I was watching him doing certain things, and just the way he passed the ball, it's incredible. "I mean, I play with so many point guards in my career, but I never played with somebody that could pass as good as LaMelo. So, I think I'm looking forward to it, and I'm excited."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jonathan ******* inga on playing with LaMelo Ball: I've never played with somebody that can pass as well as LaMelo

#passing

LeBron James had several options as a free agent before landing a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Before James' 24th NBA season, there were rumors about which team he would join after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers.
Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors were linked as potential landing spots. The Minnesota Timberwolves were also in the mix in his free agency decision. James could have joined Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Rudy Gobert, forming a dynamic superteam in the Western Conference.
According to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski, James was close to signing a deal with the Timberwolves. Krawczynski revealed on CLNS Media's Celtics Daily with Bobby Manning that one major move changed everything.
Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts against the Houston Rockets during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
"There's a very good chance that if they don't make that trade, LeBron James is in Minnesota this year, and not Philadelphia," Krawczynski said.

#krawczynski #Lakers

The Charlotte Hornets revamped their roster in many ways after a ninth-place finish in the Eastern Conference during the 2025-26 season. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are the most notable departures, with Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Dennis Schroder headlining the list of acquisitions.
Following these moves, ESPN took the time to preview the Hornets ahead of the 2026-27 season. In that preview, ESPN ranked Charlotte as the No. 20 team in their power index. This number is slightly down from last season's production, as the Hornets finished with the 17th-best record between both conferences a season ago. That said, the Hornets were given an "A-" grade for their offseason moves, building for the future while remaining hopeful to compete for a playoff spot, which would be their first since the 2015-16 season.
When evaluating Charlotte's biggest "X factor," ESPN gave three responses, all centers. Moussa Diabate, Ryan Kalkbrenner and rookie Hannes Steinbach were selected, as each has their own unique strengths within the Hornets' rotation.
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#espn #basketbaltes

Few among us know NBA basketball like the players who make up that league. And while that may not come as much of a surprise to most fans of the sport, the fact that recency bias can warp the perception of historical greatness ought to not come as much of a shock either given not all of us (NBA stars or otherwise) are scholars of league history.
So when new Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball paid former Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown near the top of the mountain when it comes to all-time great Celtics on a recent episode of the semi-eponymous "Ball in the Family" podcast, one can hardly blame him, especially considering he was not all that far from the truth. "I have got to see all the accolades," said Ball (h/t to Yahoo Sports' Gautam Varier) with an understandable caveat, "but if you line up Boston's best players ever, he's in my top five."
Now if you were to say top at his position, that would be a more reasonable argument given the existence of players like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. There are reasonable arguments to rank him three or maybe even four of those names, but after that it gets tough given all these Hall of Fame players accomplished in Boston. Ball seemed to acknowledge this dynamic, shifting the frame to a more positional one.
"Only two wings is better than him is Paul Pierce and Larry Bird," said the Minnesota guard. Hondo and White would like a word, but to be fair neither looms as large in the lore of the wider league as they ought to. Perhaps most interestingly, Ball also thinks Boston dealt their best player to the Philadelphia 76ers.
"I think Brown's a little better," said Ball. "He's low-key frying Bird ... I don't want to be disrespectful… Bird is baking him too, but he's baking Bird. Bird is baking him, too, but he is also getting to it ... Jaylen Brown has a better chance of guarding him than he has of guarding Jaylen Brown."

#bird #jaylen #league

Anthony Edwards stands out as the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise. They want to keep him around for the long term, seeing ***** yst Brian Windhorst provide insight into the situation.
Edwards has been playing in the NBA since 2020, balling out six years into his career for the Timberwolves. He ranks first as the highest-paid player on the Minnesota squad, elevating them into serious playoff contention.
Windhorst recently appeared for an episode of the Hoop Collective this weekend. Edwards is under contract until the end of the 2028-29 campaign, but he will be eligible for a major contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid players in the entire league. Windhorst explained that Edwards could feel differently about his team's future by next summer.
"He's excited about the team now. When he needs to be excited is a year from now when he signs the extension," Windhorst said at the 11-minute mark. "And listen, if the extension was now, maybe he would sign it. Maybe he would be excited about this enough to sign it, and maybe he thinks LaMelo is going to be a perfect fit; and maybe he will be a perfect fit. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just trying to be honest. The time where Ant has to feel really good about the Wolves is a year from now."
Apr 10, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) walks off the court after the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#extension #excited #anthony #credit

Moussa Diabate gets a reality check from former Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Charlotte Hornets found a gem with Moussa Diabate. He has been one of the most consistent players on the roster over the past two seasons, which is a big deal for the Hornets, who need a center to pair with the promising perimeter players.
With LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges making their exits via trades, the Hornets are ushering in a new era. Thankfully for Diabate, he is part of that plan. There was a time when he was struggling to stick in the NBA, but he found a home in Charlotte. In fact, he did get some valuable advice before he was even drafted.
Diabate is a regular on the Hornets now, but he struggled early on in his NBA career. He was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2021 class, but he had a modest year with Michigan in the 2021-22 collegiate season. Despite that year, he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately for Diabate, he was only selected 43rd overall. It was quite late in the NBA Draft, but it seems he was warned ahead of time that he could have returned to Michigan for a second season. That advice came from former New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau during a workout.

#knicks

Former Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this offseason as part of the blockbuster trade that involved LaMelo Ball and former Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Naz Reid. Despite training with the Timberwolves throughout the offseason, Minnesota traded Green to the Utah Jazz Saturday, making room under the second apron to sign Jonathan ****** inga.
In return for Green, the Timberwolves received Cody Williams and John Konchar, whose contract has since been waived and stretched. Following a trade from the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the 2024-25 season, Green spent two seasons in Charlotte, making 126 appearances and averaging six points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 ****** ists and 0.9 steals while shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc. Now on his way to Utah, the Australian guard will look to play a supporting role in the Jazz' rotation.
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#minnesota #utah #guard

The Minnesota Timberwolves do not need to beat every top team in the Western Conference to finish first. They need to handle the long stretch of ordinary games better than their closest rivals, and the changes made this offseason give them a better chance to do that.
After going 49-33 last season, Minnesota enters 2026-27 with more ways to keep winning when they are not at their best.
A top seed is built across 82 games. Stars decide plenty of those games, but the standings can also turn on the nights when a starter misses time, the shots stop falling, or a team does not have its best stuff.
That is where Minnesota can make up ground. Anthony Edwards remains the team's main scorer, yet the Wolves have added enough help that they should not need him to rescue every difficult night.
The biggest change is LaMelo Ball, who averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 ****** ists in 72 games for Charlotte last season.

#last

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to terms with power forward Jonathan **** inga on a two-year, $12.4 million contract on Wednesday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to The **** ociated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not confirmed the agreement. ESPN reported that **** inga's contract includes a player option for the second season, which would give the seventh overall pick from the 2021 draft an opportunity to hit the free agent market in a year.
Kuminga will fill an obvious need in the frontcourt for the Timberwolves, who traded Julius Randle and Naz Reid as part of their offseason acquisition of point guard LaMelo Ball.
Kuminga, who will turn 24 on Oct. 6, averaged a career-best 16.1 points during the 2023-24 season for the Golden State Warriors, who drafted the Congo native but never found the right fit for him before ultimately trading him to the Atlanta Hawks in February. **** inga fell out of favor with Warriors coach Steve Kerr and out of the rotation last season, making his departure an inevitability. He played in only seven of his last 38 games with the Warriors.
He'll have a fresh start with the hungry Timberwolves, who'll have the challenge of finding enough shots for **** inga and fellow forward Jaden McDaniels in a lineup that will revolve around Ball and superstar Anthony Edwards. In 278 NBA games, **** inga has averaged 12.5 points and 22.1 minutes. He's a 50.2% shooter from the floor.

#season #year #contract #person

The Wolves have been looking for a prototypical power forward ever since trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid during a busy offseason that also brought LaMelo Ball to Minnesota. Multiple team sources, speaking under condition of anonymity to discuss the team's private recruiting efforts, outlined the work done over the summer that helped the Timberwolves beat out other suitors for ****** inga's services. Tim Connelly, Timberwolves president of basketball operations, had extended conversations with ****** inga and agent Aaron Turner throughout the summer, including flying to Miami for a face-to-face meeting with ****** inga, sources said.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Multiple team sources, speaking under condition of …

#sources #kuminga #summer

In the end, Jonathan ***** inga was willing to take less money per year to get back on the market sooner rather than take a longer contract with more guaranteed money.
After intense recruiting from Anthony Edwards and others, ***** inga has agreed to join the Timberwolves on a two-year, $13 million contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. ***** inga stepped into the taxpayer mid-level exception the Timberwolves still had available.
This is a recruiting coup for the Timberwolves, who put on a full-court press in the last month, Charania reported. That included Edwards and other players, as well as team president Tim Connelly, who reportedly had a four-hour meeting with him. ***** inga is expected to step into the starting lineup at the three next to LaMelo Ball, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.
The Lakers had been pursuing ***** inga to become a starter next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and they were trying to work out a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, but that would have required ***** inga to sign at least a three-year contract instead of the two in Minnesota. Plus, the Lakers and Hawks struggled to come close to a trade that worked for both sides for a variety of reasons (such as the Hawks wanting picks but not taking on players).
Kuminga did not find as robust a market for his services as he expected this summer. Atlanta chose not to pick up his $24.3 million team option, and ***** inga initially hoped for a deal in the ballpark, or at least north of $15 million. Eventually, it became about the shorter contract and the opportunity to play on a team with big expectations and to prove his value in that setting that lured him to Minnesota.

#kuminga #timberwolves #Lakers

Coby White reveals how he and his Hornets teammates are getting along in the offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a massive shift in the 2026 offseason, it seems like the Charlotte Hornets are already making preparations ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. It is a big deal for this team because they made franchise-altering moves by trading pillars like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
Now, they will be building around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel as the star players. To replace Ball, they gave Coby White the starting point guard spot, and it seems they are already getting along ahead of the new season with a refreshed roster.
White has secured a long-term future with the Hornets as the starting point guard. He has the right skill set to pair alongside the likes of Knueppel and Miller, as he is a decent playmaker, but he is also a high-level scorer with his natural driving ability and his affinity for jump shots.
Through the years, White has also built a solid reputation for being a good locker room guy. Now that he is stepping into a leadership role in Charlotte, it seems that he is prepared to be one of the Hornets' best leaders ahead of the 2026-27 season.

#ahead #coby #miller

Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson has explained why trading LaMelo Ball ultimately made moving Miles Bridges feel like the natural next step in the franchise's long-term plan
In a behind-the-scenes look detailing the Hornets' offseason decision-making, Peterson revealed that the front office knew the two moves were connected.
"If we trade LaMelo, we're probably trading Miles."
That line says a lot about where the Hornets were. Moving Ball was not supposed to be an isolated transaction. It was supposed to be a complete shift in a different direction altogether.
Peterson made it clear that Charlotte is no longer interested in short-term success. That philosophy explains why it all followed out of Charlotte.

#miles

The Hornets address the real reason behind trading away both LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In the 2026 offseason, the Charlotte Hornets made some massive moves by trading away their longest-tenured players, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. This surprised a lot of fans because the team had a bright second half of the 2025-26 season. However, it seems the Hornets were intent on making ambitious moves.
Trading away Ball and Bridges means they are now pivoting towards a new foundation with Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. The Hornets knew that there were two contrasting groups, so they have now focused on building around the newer players.
With the trades, Ball is now playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Bridges is now on the Phoenix Suns. Those are strong moves for both players, as they land on decent teams that just reached the Playoffs in the previous campaign.
The Hornets are now focusing on a more sustainable team built around their young players. They did attempt to build around Ball and Bridges for a while, but it did not pan out, and the 2025-26 season seems to have been the final straw that broke the camel's back.

#moves

Tim Connelly speaks on how LaMelo Ball's playmaking will help the Timberwolves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 offseason has been quite eventful for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They traded away Timberwolves mainstay Naz Reid in the package sent to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball, the type of point guard that Anthony Edwards needs alongside him in the same backcourt.
Timberwolves team president Tim Connelly is known for making big moves, and he thinks that this would be yet another addition to a growing team. It is a massive change, but Connelly and the rest of the team believe in having Ball as the starting point guard.
Since his high school days at Chino Hills, LaMelo has always been known as one of the most talented point guards in basketball. He has had an unorthodox play style since then, but he has evolved into one of the league's best playmakers since getting drafted third overall in 2020.
During that same NBA Draft, the Timberwolves selected Edwards two picks earlier. After years of going back and forth, the two guards are now playing together. That is a big deal because they fit well alongside each other because of their complementary styles.

#timberwolves #connelly #since #team

Anthony Edwards sends a warning to the Spurs and the Thunder ahead of the 2026-27 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ahead of the 2026-27 season, a lot of people can say that the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are the favorites in the Western Conference. Considering they are the two teams in the Conference Finals, it is not surprising. However, they do have continuity within their rosters.
Despite that, it seems Anthony Edwards is confident that the Minnesota Timberwolves can challenge them for the top spot. Those are massive expectations to set for oneself, but Edwards is ready to cement himself and his team as the top team in the West.
The offseason has been quite eventful for Edwards and the Timberwolves. They became the headline team when LaMelo Ball got traded to Minnesota, forming one of the best backcourts alongside Edwards. That made people excited about the Timberwolves ahead of the season.
They also had a shot at signing LeBron James, but it ended up not working out for them after the Philadelphia 76ers swooped in and signed him. However, that should not dissuade people from being excited about the Timberwolves.

#timberwolves #season #team #SPURS

Charles Lee loves how the Hornets players are working together in the offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the 2025-26 season, the Charlotte Hornets are entering a new era without the stalwarts from the previous era. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges were loyal players to the franchise, but it did not work out in the end. Despite their lengthy stint with the Hornets, they never reached the postseason during their tenure.
The Hornets front office decided that it was time for a new era in Charlotte. They traded both players away, which has led to a huge shift for the Hornets, but thankfully, they have a team that is fully focused on helping each other develop with a similar goal.
With players like Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel taking charge now, it seems there is a good environment for the Hornets. They might be young, but it seems that they are ready to step up and become the star players for the Hornets.
At the same time, head coach Charles Lee has done a great job of establishing a strong culture within the team. That was apparent even with the former players on the team, but now, it is clear as day that the players are enjoying themselves in the ******* e that Lee cleared out for them.

#players

We now know when LaMelo Ball will make his return to Charlotte next season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This summer, the Hornets decided to part ways with LaMelo Ball, trading him to the Timberwolves.
He was beloved by fans in Charlotte, so it wasn't an easy move for the franchise to make, but with a strong young core, they figured it was the right decision.
Fans won't have to wait any longer to find out when Ball will return and play in Charlotte, as the game that will happen was announced on Wednesday.
NBA insider Brett Siegel announced that the Hornets will host the Timberwolves on Feb. 27 (Presidents' Day) this season.

#charlotte #hornets #make

The NBA announced its Christmas Day slate this morning, and sitting under the tree are some big names in new places like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LaMelo Ball. We've also got a rematch of the NBA Finals with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs heading back to New York to take on Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.
James is at the center of the biggest game of them all, as the Philadelphia 76ers are taking on his former team in the Los Angeles Lakers. It'll be must-see TV as James and Luka Doncic square off after spending the last two seasons together.
With the NBA Christmas Day slate unveiled, let's the rank the games we're most excited to see.
Neither team appears to be a serious ******* le contender in 2026-27, but at least Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry play an aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball. A 10:30 p.m. ET tip-off is a tough ask on Christmas Day, too.
A rematch of the 2025 Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves will be eager to make a Christmas Day statement after losing that series in five games. The addition of LaMelo Ball will give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a harder time defensively in addition to it being great TV alongside Anthony Edwards.

#james #rematch #addition

We gave you our Eastern Conference offseason report card.
So, it is time to hand out grades in the West, where no single team earned an A or F. That fact reflects how little movement of consequence occurred in the conference.
While NBA icons LeBron James and (we presume) Kawhi Leonard are headed East, LaMelo Ball and (we think) Brandon Ingram are the stars bound for the opposite direction, and neither moves the needle much for his new team. Same goes for Ja Morant, who was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Morant and Ball may raise the ceilings for the Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively, but they also lower their floors. In all likelihood, neither Portland nor Minnesota is any closer to contention than it was without doing a thing, so each of those teams earned a C, because we grade around the curve of: Did you get better?
Teams are also graded on ***** et management. Regardless of how we feel about the present state of a roster, did the franchise take steps this summer to build toward a better future? Here's looking at you, Los Angeles Lakers, who spent big, both in salary and draft picks, locking themselves into a team that is … still not a contender?

#morant #conference

Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel put the NBA on notice last season, leading the league in 3-pointers made as a rookie. Knueppel drilled 273 long-range attempts, one more than his former teammate LaMelo Ball, who came in second.
Despite the high volume (7.9 3PA per game), Knueppel remained among the league's most efficient shooters, finishing the year with a 42.5% success rate from beyond the arc.
As a result, Knueppel has been recognized by NBA 2K, the world's most popular basketball video game. Ahead of the 2026-27 season, 2K ranked Knueppel second in 3-point rating, giving the Duke alum a 94. Only Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors ranked higher, as he was awarded a 3-point rating of 99.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel recognized by NBA 2K

#season #recognized

Stephen Curry-Celtics rumors, explained: Why Boston fans are convinced Brad Stevens is trading for Warriors star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA trade machine has stopped churning after Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Jaylen Brown and more were dealt this offseason — or has it?
Celtics fans, largely disappointed with the front office's moves as so many other Eastern Conference teams improved, are holding out hope that Stephen Curry could be on his way to Boston in what would be a league-altering trade.
At this time, though, those hopes might just be hopes and nothing more.
Here's what you need to know about the rumors connecting Curry to the Celtics.

#stephen #fans #brad

Dillon Brooks takes a shot at LaMelo Ball for not playing in the USA after high school originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks is one of the most vocal players in the NBA, and he is never shy to talk trash to his opponents. He has continued to go viral for his big moments, including when he was at Crypto.com Arena to watch and laugh at LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as they took on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Over the past few months, Brooks has regularly appeared as a guest on livestreams with the influencer "N3ON." It has led to many funny moments, including the latest one, when he called out Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball for not being able to compete for the USA after his high school days at Chino Hills.
Back in the mid to late 2010s, the Ball family was one of the most recognizable groups in sports. Lonzo became a phenomenon as he became a standout guard at UCLA, and he was drafted second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, LiAngelo did not get the same success, but he was still relatively well known overseas. The same can be said about LaMelo, who also played overseas in Lithuania and Australia. However, LaMelo did make it to the NBA, as he got drafted third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

#lamelo #draft #high

When NBA free agency opened in early June, no one expected the Minnesota Timberwolves to be major players. Surprisingly, they were in the chase to sign LeBron James right up until the moment he decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers instead.
While James would have been a bargain-bin signing, now that the Wolves missed out on their top target, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has moved on to his next obsession.
The Timberwolves weren't able to reel James into the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but head coach Chris Finch still needs a new starting power forward.
All-Star Julius Randle was traded, which opened the door for former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. But the Timberwolves promptly traded the fan favorite to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for LaMelo Ball instead.
So, who's next?

#timberwolves #james #traded #minnesota