NBA Editorials Articles - Page 17

The Los Angeles Clippers enter the 2025-26 season with one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the NBA. After an offseason in which they added Bradley Beal and Chris Paul, the franchise is hoping this is finally the year that their stars align at the right time. For James Harden, the stakes could […]

Kevin Durant will write another chapter in his colorful career as he is set to enter his first year with the Houston Rockets in the upcoming season after being traded by the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets are Durant’s fifth team, and he is hoping for a much better stint compared to his largely mediocre three-year […]

Hopes are high for the Atlanta Hawks for the upcoming season; the Hawks arguably have the most improved roster over the offseason following the additions of Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. Atlanta is clearly on an upward trajectory, and the players they added fit so seamlessly within their Trae Young-led nascent core that […]

INGLEWOOD, CA — With Kawhi Leonard back healthy and the free agency addition of Bradley Beal, the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to reign in James Harden and his sky-high usage rate during the 2025-26 regular season. Harden is coming off of one of the better recent seasons in his career, following what many considered […]

INGLEWOOD, CA — While Kawhi Leonard entered training camp 100 percent healthy, the LA Clippers are hopeful their two best shooters are also at 100 percent by the time the regular season tips off. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Bradley Beal are both limited to start camp for the Clippers, but are slowly trending upwards. Beal underwent […]

When Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s Senior Vice President of Referee Development and Training, discusses what separates good referees from great ones, he doesn’t focus on rulebook knowledge or positioning fundamentals. Instead, the legendary referee with NBA Finals appearances repeatedly returns to a single concept: processing power. It’s a revealing choice of terminology borrowed from computer […]

Amid the relentless intensity of NBA games, where razor-thin margins and heated rivalries amplify every whistle, accountability stands as the unsung hero of top-tier refereeing. It is an undeniable necessity as few roles face more scrutiny than the game’s officials. Every decision is dissected in real-time by thousands in attendance and millions watching at home. […]

The Washington Wizards have yet to acquire D.C.-area native Kevin Durant since he got drafted in 2007, but they did get a shooter inspired by him. The Wizards drafted Texas guard Tre Johnson No. 6 overall in June, who played for the same college as the 15-time NBA All-Star. Johnson told ClutchPoints on Monday’s Media […]

In his younger days, Monty McCutchen, now the Senior Vice President and Head of Referee Development & Training for the NBA, had few prospects for a professional basketball career. Money was tight for his family and the junior college playing days were all but over, but he was driven to attend a referee camp to […]

Fans scrutinizing every whistle and non-call has always been just a fact of life in basketball. Unfortunately, the ridiculous rhetoric is only getting worse in the NBA’s replay review era. Thankfully, the NBA and WNBA’s approach to officiating development has undergone a significant transformation under the leadership of Vice President of Referee Development and Training […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the 2025-26 NBA season with both promise and pressure, and no one embodies that duality more than Donovan Mitchell. The star guard has established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, and despite nagging injuries in last season’s playoffs, he once again demonstrated his elite ability to carry a […]

The Orlando Magic enter the 2025-26 NBA season under a completely new spotlight. After back-to-back playoff appearances and consecutive first-round exits, the team’s leadership has made it clear: the developmental phase is over. Winning is the only standard. Team president Jeff Weltman doubled down on that message during Media Day, while Paolo Banchero himself welcomed […]

The Memphis Grizzlies enter the 2025-26 NBA season with a sense of cautious optimism. After an offseason focused on health, development, and subtle roster upgrades, the franchise has every reason to believe it can climb back into playoff contention. The pieces are in place: Jaren Jackson Jr. remains an elite defensive anchor, and the development […]

The Boston Celtics enter the 2025-26 season with expectations turned upside down. Once considered a favorite to return to the NBA Finals, the team was rocked by Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoffs, an unfortunate blow that sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 campaign. The franchise reacted swiftly, restructuring its roster in […]

Anthony Edwards’ meteoric rise through the NBA ranks has been nothing short of spectacular. In just five years, he has gone from an explosive young scorer with raw potential to the unquestioned face of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a player whose name is already being etched alongside Kevin Garnett in the annals of franchise history. Edwards, […]

Trae Young has carried the Atlanta Hawks into the national conversation ever since he was drafted in 2018. With his deep three-point shooting, playmaking brilliance, and fearlessness on the big stage, Young has cemented himself as one of the most electrifying guards in the league. Now entering his eighth season, Young is sounding more motivated […]

The New York Knicks have reestablished themselves as one of the NBA’s most serious contenders in the Eastern Conference. After coming within two wins of the NBA Finals in the 2024-25 campaign, only to fall short against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers, New York heads into the new season with both momentum and pressure. […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are heading into the 2025-26 NBA season with renewed optimism, and much of that confidence stems from the man who remains the centerpiece of their franchise: Zion Williamson. After an offseason where the Pelicans reshaped their roster, added depth in free agency, and had a strong showing in the 2025 NBA […]

The Boston Celtics will enter what many have already branded as a transitional season after the Jayson Tatum injury led to a considerable clearout for financial purposes. However, there were multiple arrivals as well, and none will have fans more excited than Anfernee Simons. Simons is playing for a new contract and will earn $27.6 […]

The New York Knicks arrive to the new season with plenty of changes to look forward to, the most notable being the appointment of head coach Mike Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau. With the new coach set to focus on a more balanced minutes-sharing approach aimed at getting the best out of the Knicks’ biggest […]

Though San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper’s focus to start training camp is on returning from a partially torn ligament in his left thumb, it is, relatively speaking, a minor injury. He could be back in time for the season opener. Under the assumption that the second overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft will […]

The Golden State Warriors and restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga have agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract that contains a team option for the 2026-27 NBA season, league sources told ClutchPoints on Wednesday. As part of this contract, Kuminga will waive his inherent no-trade clause with the understanding that he is a prime […]

Another NBA regular season is just around the corner and the Memphis Grizzlies were stirring up the excitement during Media Day. Of course, much like the Nike Ja 3 is perhaps the most sought-after sneaker currently on the market, Ja Morant was a man in demand before training camp opened. Just look at a WNBA […]

BOSTON — The NBA is a constantly evolving league, serving as living example of the “adapt or die” philosophy. And if the Boston Celtics don’t adjust to the current basketball landscape — especially with star forward Jayson Tatum out — they could miss the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. The Celtics […]

With NBA Media Day final here, superstars around the league are giving reporters and news outlets their first looks at players in their uniforms for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. Denver Nuggets’ franchise star Nikola Jokic spent time in Serbia this offseason, along with visiting China for a tour with sponsor 361° to promote his […]

The New York Knicks will enter the 2025-26 season with major expectations. They’ve brought on new head coach Mike Brown to implement a modern offense. They’ve also added some free agent fire power via Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. And most importantly, they’ll enter the pre-season healthy (and hungry). But there are still questions for […]

The Dallas Mavericks made one of the boldest moves in recent memory last season when they parted ways with Luka Dončić in a franchise-shaking trade. In return, Dallas received a package of Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick in return, a player once seen as a developmental project but now looking like a […]

The Toronto Raptors are in the middle of a transitional phase, with their roster built around young talents like Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Ochai Agbaji. But among the names expected to step into a bigger role this season, Gradey Dick stands out as the player most poised to shock the league with […]

The Phoenix Suns are entering the 2025-26 season with more questions than answers after a turbulent year that ended in disappointment. Coming off a 36-46 record and a massive roster overhaul, the franchise has embraced a new era under first-time head coach Jordan Ott. Gone are the championship-or-bust expectations that hovered over the team in […]

INGLEWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles era started a new season on Monday afternoon, kicking off the 2025-26 season with media day at Intuit Dome. Bradley Beal was among the new Clippers who spoke to members of the media Monday ahead of the start of their journey with their new team. Following weeks of negotiations, […]

The Detroit Pistons addressed the upcoming 2025-26 season and their expectations during NBA Media Day. All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham had a very focused mindset on what it would take for the Pistons to build off their recent success. “At the end of the day, we all want a championship out of this, and last […]

SAN FRANCISCO– Chemistry goes a long way towards winning in the NBA, and Jimmy Butler knows that. Ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ training camp this week, Butler hosted a player-led mini camp at his own home in San Diego. For Butler, it’s something he hadn’t done in the past, which speaks to the joy […]

INGLEWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Clippers held their annual media day to close out September and kick off the start of training camp. While there’s much to look forward to on the court with this team, all of the attention was on Kawhi Leonard and his response to the allegations made against him over […]

Throughout the history of the NBA, teams with young rosters were often viewed as teams that were building for the future. Young NBA players are on cheaper contracts than veterans, and they have the potential to develop into something special eventually. They often don’t have the experience to compete right away, though, which is why […]

For the last few years, the Chicago Bulls have been caught in the hamster wheel. In other words, feeling trapped. However, with the new season approaching, the Bulls are looking to get back to form.  A place where, at the very least, they could contend for the playoffs while developing a group of young talent […]

SAN FRANCISCO– As Jonathan Kuminga’s contract negotiations drag into the preseason, a slew of questions regarding the 22-year-old forward’s future in Golden State hang over him and the team with the two sides seeking a resolution to a long back-and-forth. And while Kuminga was absent from the Warriors’ media day to answer those questions himself, […]

The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2025-26 NBA season under the weight of skepticism. Injuries, inconsistent team chemistry, and a new-look roster built by Joe Dumars have left national outlets dismissing their chances of becoming a true contender in the West. Yet, beneath the criticism and the doubts, one player is poised to shock the […]

The Portland Trail Blazers have entered the 2025-26 season in a moment of transformation. After years of oscillating between promise and struggle, they’ve begun stepping into a rebuild that both demands patience and rewards boldness. New coaching approaches, roster changes, and shifts in usage are setting the stage for emergence. Among the young pieces, one […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are entering a new era of basketball in the 2025-26 season. After years of building around Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, the front office made a bold statement this offseason: it was time to shift gears. Bane, a cornerstone for the franchise and one of the league’s most reliable […]