Basketball

Pistons, Ausar Thompson Agree to $155M Extension

Pistons and Ausar Thompson agree to a fully guaranteed five-year, $155 million extension, ending an offseason standstill; he led the NBA in steals last season.

Jazz, Keyonte George Agree to Five-Year, $157.5M Extension

Keyonte George and the Utah Jazz agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million extension finalized September 18, 2026, with no options, running through 2031.

Olivia Miles Surpasses WNBA Rookie Scoring Record

Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx is closing in on Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record, tying it at 769 points and likely to surpass it with a few games left, while already setting rookie benchmarks in 3-pointers and early-season totals. Despite a few tough outings and the Lynx’s skid, Miles remains the frontrunner in rookie scoring and assists and is in MVP conversations as Clark’s 2024 debut record is highlighted in comparison.

Jackie Young Ties WNBA Quarter-Scoring Record as Aces Rout Storm

Jackie Young tied the WNBA quarter-scoring record with 22 points in the first period and finished with a career-high 35 as Las Vegas beat Seattle 114-77.

Reese sets league record with 30th double-double in Dream win over Sun

Angel Reese scored 30 points and 10 rebounds for a WNBA-record 30th double-double as Atlanta Dream beat Connecticut Sun 103-59.

Knicks Pause Sales for Opener After Mistake Sends Prices Over $1,000

MSG paused Knicks ticket sales for the Oct. 20, 2026 opener after Section 418 seats listed at $1,039.50, citing a pricing mistake and promising refunds and a 12% rollback.

Cavaliers land Peyton Watson on $88 million deal after late push

Cavaliers landed Peyton Watson on a four-year, $88 million deal after a late push; Harden recruited him by call and text during free agency.

Jalen Brunson Set for SVU Guest Role

Knicks star Jalen Brunson will guest star on Law & Order: SVU Season 28 in the Nov. 5 episode, with the role under wraps and reuniting with Mariska Hargitay. He will also host Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26 as the Knicks prepare for the fall season.

Kobe Bryant’s Obsession Fueled Five NBA Championships

Kobe Bryant, coming straight from Lower Merion High School after a standout senior year, was drafted 13th in 1996 and initially had a modest rookie season before proving his scoring potential in Summer League and early NBA play. In Los Angeles, his fearless mindset and drive for leadership clashed with Tex Winter’s triangle offense alongside Shaquille O’Neal, a dynamic teammates like Nick Van Exel described as unafraid and willing to challenge even Michael Jordan.

Luol Deng Regrets $72 Million Lakers Deal

The 2016 Lakers free-agent splashes for Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng are now viewed as misfires after both players struggled for rotation roles and Deng was benched in favor of a younger core. Deng says he took the big offer largely to seize a premier opportunity, but the team’s shifting plans and conflicting messages left him feeling he couldn't play the game he loved.

Clippers Accept NBA Penalties, End Legal Challenge

Clippers accept a $30M fine, five forfeited first-round picks (2029–2033) and owner suspensions after a $66M Kawhi deal probe; Ballmer ends the legal challenge.

Denzel Aberdeen Sues NCAA for Injunction to Play Fifth Season

Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen has filed for a temporary injunction to return for a fifth season under the NCAA’s 5-in-5 rule, arguing the policy should apply to him despite the Class of 2022 being excluded. The push comes amid multiple legal challenges to the rule, including a Colorado court ruling awarding eligibility that was stayed by the 10th Circuit, leaving his status in flux as lawsuits expand to state courts.

Kawhi Leonard Returns to Raptors in Trade

The proposed Kawhi Leonard trade between the Clippers and Raptors remains in flux as the Clippers’ front office lacks an interim governor after the NBA imposed a $30 million fine and suspensions on owner Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank for a salary-cap circumvention investigation, complicating league approval of the deal. Despite assurances there is no league-level holdup, internal governance issues and ongoing investigations continue to delay finalizing Leonard’s return to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple draft assets.

Suns Center Mark Williams Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery to repair a torn left shoulder labrum and will miss an extended period, with no return timeline announced as training camp approaches, potentially reshaping the Suns’ rotation in his absence. The injury comes amid past trade drama with the Los Angeles Lakers over Williams and underscores asset considerations in that deal’s history.

Federal Prosecutors Reportedly Probe Clippers Over Leonard Deals

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation in Brooklyn into whether the Los Angeles Clippers secretly arranged endorsement deals to circumvent the NBA salary cap, a probe that follows the league’s $30 million penalty, loss of five first-round picks, and ballpark suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer. While at least one subpoena has been issued and details remain unclear, the case is unfolding alongside ongoing NBA sanctions and prior independent findings, with the team denying wrongdoing and weighing legal challenges, and related SEC inquiries into involved contractors such as Daktronics.

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell announces cancer diagnosis after surgery

Rutgers men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell announced he has cancer, underwent successful surgery, and will undergo chemotherapy, with plans to stay involved while Brandin Knight serves as interim leader if he cannot be on the bench. There is no set timeline for his full return, and the program will navigate the season with Knight guiding the team during Pikiell's absence.

China rallies past Czech Republic in overtime as Belgium remains unbeaten

China used its height advantage to pull off OT wins against the Czech Republic in both the men’s and women’s World Cup events, led by Han Xu’s 22-point, 14-rebound performance in the women’s game and a late clutch by Xu Han in the men’s matchup. The women’s victory sets up a pivotal group-stage clash with Italy, while the men’s result keeps China vying for second place as Belgium stayed undefeated in its group and eyed a leadership showdown with Australia.

Mali stuns sixth-ranked Spain 82-73 for historic World Cup win

Disrupting expectations, Mali defeated Spain 82-73 in Berlin to record their second-ever Women’s World Cup win and first against a European country, led by Sika Koné’s 19 points and 10 rebounds (her fifth straight double-double) and Djeneba N’Diaye’s 19. A 16-4 third-quarter burst flipped a tight game after halftime, turning momentum in Mali’s favor as Spain’s Iyana Martín top-scored with 20 but could not close the gap.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire after transformative, tumultuous tenure

Cathy Engelbert announced she will retire as WNBA commissioner after the 2026 season, concluding a seven-year tenure that drove record growth, major media deals, and expanded the league while drawing scrutiny over leadership and player relations. Reactions were mixed, with praise from NBA's Adam Silver and notable critics like Stephen A. Smith, alongside ongoing discussions about succession planning and the future direction of the league.

Ben Simmons ends NBA absence with one-year deal to Kings

Ben Simmons signs a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, marking his return to the NBA after sitting out the 2025-26 season due to injuries. He is expected to serve as a backup point guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr and provide versatility as Sacramento seeks to rebuild after a 22-60 season.

Kawhi Leonard in Clippers scandal

EuroLeague CEO says league is ready to rival NBA in Europe

European basketball is at a pivotal juncture as the NBA pursues NBA Europe expansion while EuroLeague leaders insist any partnership must be mutually beneficial; if no deal is reached, EuroLeague says it will press ahead and compete, highlighting a risk of value fragmentation across media rights and fan engagement. With the NBA eyeing consolidation and expansion into major European markets and club iterations like ASVEL under Tony Parker signaling continued focus on long-term stability, both sides see potential benefits from collaboration but remain prepared to advance separately if needed.

Caitlin Clark sets WNBA record for points and assists in a month

Caitlin Clark’s August was historic, averaging 24.4 points and generating 44.7 points per game when including her points and assists, the highest month ever by a WNBA point guard and a driving force behind Indiana’s status as a championship threat with a 26-14 record. She also extended her impact off the court with major brand partnerships, a Stanley 1913 collaboration, and a rising MVP spotlight as she competes with Team USA in Berlin, earning the nickname MVCC for her dominant 2026 season.

Luka Doncic in Slovenia

Kevon Looney, the Lakers’ new backup center, lauded Luka Doncic after the team’s Slovenia minicamp funded by Doncic, saying the trip revealed his background and leadership and that the group is ready to run through a wall for him. The event drew commentary from ABA League figures, including Luka’s father, who noted the league’s rising quality and investment and highlighted Ilirija’s focus on developing young players while supporting the Lakers’ Slovenia trip.