Newsday&#39;s in-depth look at the upcoming 2023-24&nbsp;season for the Knicks, the Nets and the rest of the NBA. On newsstands Wednesday, Oct. 25,&nbsp;with digital stories added here between now and then.

Sports

Basketball

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Barbara Barker

Drama, dysfunction and disappointing basketball. 
 The Nets and the Knicks have taken turns providing us plenty of that over the past decade, so it is kind of stunning to be approaching a season where the headlines will likely be about what is happening on the court instead of the head-scratching backstories off of it 
 Let’s start with the Nets, since no team has gone through a more jarring and drastic change than the one this franchise has gone through since the start of last season. 
 A year ago, the Nets were Vegas’ favorite to win a NBA title. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, all the talk was about whether the Nets would finally be the first basketball team to bring a title to New York since Dr. J’s Nets did it in 1976. 
 Instead of a title, coach Steve Nash got fired, Irving got suspended for linking to an anti-Semitic film, Durant got injured, Irving demanded a trade, Durant demanded a trade and by the All-Star game the Nets had gone from a superteam to a retooling one. 
 The Nets have no real superstars on this team, or at least no players that have been a superstar in the last two years. That’s not to say they don’t have some good pieces 
 Mikal Bridges, who came to the team in the Durant trade, is on the precipice of being an All-Star, especially if he can continue to score the 26.1 points per game that he averaged in his 27 games as a Net. Nic Claxton, who could be a free agent in 2024, will continue to be the anchor of the Nets defense. 
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 Speaking of defense, the Nets could have one of the better ones in the league if Ben Simmons returns to the form of the three-time All-Star player he was in Philadelphia. A year and a half after having micro-surgery on his back, Simmons is looking both healthy and motivated in the preseason.&nbsp; I know, I can almost hear some of my fellow sports writer’s eyes roll, but Simmons could really be the x-factor on the team this year. 
 Still, the Nets are still one superstar away from being a team you can count on to make the playoffs. Given that they have a plethora of picks and some other pieces to work with, the Nets could be pursuing one at the trading deadline if both Simmons and Bridges are having All-Star like years. 
 As for the Knicks, they &nbsp;have chemistry, stability, a good coach and a big-time point guard. When was the last time anyone was able to kick off a Knicks season preview with a sentence like that? 
 The Knicks took a major step forward last year when they won a playoff series for the first time in 10 years. They’ve retained the 12 players that counted for almost all their minutes last season and there seems to be no reason why they can’t repeat and get to the second round of the playoffs. 
 Getting beyond that is going to be a problem, considering that the Knicks play in the East and both the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics stand head and shoulders beyond the rest of the conference after adding pieces this offseason that made their already strong teams stronger. 
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 Still, the Knicks have some pretty big-time players. Jalen Brunson is the best point guard the Knicks have had since Mark Jackson. He has both the mentality and skills to push this team further than the sum of their talent. Julius Randle has been an All-Star in two of the last three years, but has been inconsistent in the playoffs. 
 The biggest question mark, however, is RJ Barrett. Entering his fifth year in the league, Barrett has yet to become the player most thought he would be when the Knicks took him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft. The Knicks don’t need Barrett to be a superstar, but it would really help if he could become a more efficient second weapon. 
 So, there will be plenty to watch on the court this year for New York basketball fans. The best-case scenario has both teams making the playoffs, though it’s more than likely that if the Nets get there it will be as a play-in team. The worst? Well, Knicks and Nets fans have seen enough dysfunction over the years to be shocked by anything.

Columnists

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The Knicks and Nets both have the look of winners this NBA season

Barker: Knicks, Nets both have the look of winners this season

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Steve Popper

In a summer in which the NBA seemed to be slipping into a crisis, star players demanding trades — and to their preferred destinations — the Knicks were, well, boring.&nbsp; 
 There was no frantic chase of stars like they had engaged in nearly every summer, and no draft night intrigue (the Knicks didn’t have a pick in the draft). 
 Other than dealing away Obi Toppin to Indiana in a friendly move that allowed him to land in a place where he could start, and signing another former Villanova standout at the start of free agency, they mostly relaxed. 
 The normally volatile franchise found serenity in the second round of the playoffs and are running it back. 
 “I think that helps a lot, just having guys that kind of know each other already,” Isaiah Hartenstein said. “I think that’s always something special and how all great teams keep building. I think that’s something we need to keep building on, keep everyone together and it will make it a lot easier, especially at the beginning.” 
 That might not be as simple as it sounds. 
 The Knicks don’t possess one of the premier stars in the NBA. There's no Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic on the roster. Those are the players they&nbsp;have chased most summers. 
 But still, the&nbsp;Knicks&nbsp;got uncharacteristic respect in the NBA’s annual general manager survey, picked for fifth place in the East. They garnered&nbsp;a decent number of votes for as high as third place behind only Boston and Milwaukee. 
 No player got a vote for the best anything other than Jalen Brunson, who also received&nbsp;votes for best leader and a player who might make a good coach someday. 
 “We’re a team, man,” RJ Barrett said. “We’re a team. Everybody is coming together for one goal. We know the expectations we have of ourselves and we kind of work to that standard every day.” 
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 But the thing about this Knicks team is that it isn’t just continuity in terms of keeping the pieces in place with the coaching staff intact — although that matters if you consider that Tom Thibodeau, entering his fourth season at MSG, is on the longest run of any Knicks coach since Mike D’Antonio walked away 42 games into his fourth season. The Knicks also had five coaches in the five years prior to Thibodeau’s arrival.&nbsp; 
 The team brought back these pieces and have good reason to believe that they still have levels above where they reached last season. Not one player in the nine-man rotation is 30 years old yet, and two starters (Barrett and Quentin Grimes) are just 23 years old. Brunson now has one full season with the franchise and Josh Hart is entering his first full season with the organization.&nbsp; 
 &quot;We can bring people back and pick up where we left off,” Julius Randle said. “Already have a great sense of how we want to play together and play off of each other. So, we’re just gonna keep building off of it.” 
 “This group, we have a bunch of guys who love to work on their game, have great work ethic,” Brunson said. “We have guys that we have to kick out of the gym. It’s not a problem for guys to work on their game. So I think that’s a plus for us.&nbsp; 
 “I think we all come back better, we all come back wiser. We understand the task at hand, what we need to do. It’s just getting better every single day. This is a great group. We have resilient guys and a lot of tough-minded, hard-working and great teammates. Resilient guys on this team. Couldn’t be more happy to go into games with this group.” 
 It hasn’t shown yet, however, as the Knicks have not only struggled to a 1-3 record in preseason, but their calling card of hard-nosed defense was absent for stretches. So, it’s no surprise that Thibodeau has preached over and over that the success of last year means nothing this time around, that the team must start at zero and build without skipping steps.&nbsp; 
 The Knicks were the No. 4 seed in the 2020-21 season and dropped back into the lottery the next year. But that team was far different than this one, shifting pieces and hoping for the best next season. This time, it is with a foundation set and no excuses — as long as the group approaches the season with the same chip on its shoulder as it had a year ago and doesn’t believe that a switch is flipped and they are back in the postseason again. 
 “That’s the danger in it,” Thibodeau said. “I think if you get into the mindset that I’m going to pace myself through this you’re making a huge mistake. We open with Boston on Wednesday. I already saw the intensity level that’s going to be required. That’s a habit that you’ve got to build that through your practice habits. We’ve got to put as much as we can into this. And when we do, we’re a good team. And when we don’t, we’re not. It’s not really complicated.&quot; 
 “I think what’s been brought up the most is not being comfortable, not looking too much ahead,” Hartenstein said. “I think again Thibs is always big on taking it day by day. That’s really going to help us, taking it really day by day, as corny as it may sound.”

New York Knicks

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Same-look Knicks confident familiarity can lead to big things this season

Same-look Knicks confident familiarity can lead to big things

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Before he came to the Knicks, arriving as if a Tom Thibodeau practice session speech had been conjured into life, Jalen Brunson once was a player trying to prove himself as a second-round pick with the Dallas Mavericks. 
 But even then, on a team loaded with veterans and a superstar in Luka Doncic, it was Brunson who became the team captain. It’s a role he filled at Villanova as he led the Wildcats to a pair of national championships, and in high school in Illinois, where he was a state champion. 
 There is no Knicks captain right now, with Thibodeau insisting he wants a team of leaders. But on a team that struggled through decades of dysfunction, there now is a calmness over Madison Square Garden, with the team competitive and playing with the fire the coach demands. 
 It can be attributed to the guidance of Thibodeau, the patience of the front office in letting this team develop rather than clearing out the roster for a star chase, and the play of Julius Randle, who has become a two-time All-NBA player here. 
 Although those pieces already were in place, there still were the usual rumblings. When Brunson arrived last season, however, the Garden suddenly became a destination for players on other teams. The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference semifinals, and it was Brunson who starred on the court and set a tone off it. 
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 “He’s the same Jalen,” said Donte DiVincenzo, who signed on as a free agent this summer and reunited with Brunson, his college roommate. “And I really mean that; he’s the same Jalen. First and foremost, it’s a credit to him, but also a credit to [Brunson’s parents] Miss Sandra and Mr. Rick. They’ve done a great job with him. 
 “He’s him. He knows himself. He knows when to speak, when not to speak. He just has a great feel for that. The thing that’s underrated about him: Off the court, he does a really, really good job of making sure everybody feels like they’re the superstar of the team. But he’s been doing that since we got into college.” 
 It is that combination of quiet leadership, mostly by example in practice and in games, and humility that allows Brunson to lead without stepping on toes or nudging egos. 
 His arrival in New York as a free agent in the summer of 2022 came on a trail paved by relationships. Knicks president Leon Rose jokes that he held Jalen before his father did. Thibodeau was a Knicks assistant coach when Jalen would play in the gym at practice. Rick Brunson, after his NBA playing career, was an assistant coach under Thibodeau in multiple stops and now in New York. 
 But before any claims of nepotism or of the team uniting a Villanova community around Jalen Brunson in New York, be assured that his humility is ground in by more barbs from old friends than fawning comments. 
 When the comment about “making sure everybody feels like they’re the superstar of the team” was relayed to Josh Hart, he laughed and said, “[He] ain’t never made me feel like that. I don’t know who the hell said that” before adding that Brunson “is good in terms of bringing good chemistry, camaraderie, good vibes. I think that’s the big thing and people gravitate toward that.” 
 Even in his 10th season, Randle seems different now, as if Brunson’s tone is rubbing off on him. What is certain is that Brunson lifted some of the burden off Randle’s broad shoulders on and off the court — giving him a teammate who can absorb the lead role in the locker room and complement him on the court. 
 “I think the best leadership you have, it’s really the things that you do,” Thibodeau said. “It’s not the things you say. And so we want to have a team of leaders and it’s not just Jalen, I want Julius, I want RJ [Barrett] I want Josh. I want them all to lead. 
 “And so do the right things each and every day. Not everyone’s going to have a great day every day. So when they don’t, someone’s got to help pick them up, pick [up] the team. Be mentally tough when we face adversity. Be able to get through things. Find different ways to win. But that’s the bottom line, and to understand we can’t do it individually. We have to figure this out together.” 
 Perhaps most important, Brunson’s arrival turned the Knicks’ fortunes, changing the perception of the franchise, and in that, it’s individual pieces, too. He has been on top at every level except the NBA, and his determination to do that now, in New York, is what drives him. 
 The Knicks won a playoff series for the first time in 10 seasons in Brunson’s first year in New York, and even with bumps and bruises slowing them, they nearly got past Miami in the conference semifinals. 
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 In his home, Brunson keeps no trophies — not the Naismith Award he won as the best player in college basketball, not the championship rings or banners. The only hint he has achieved anything is his jersey and NBA jerseys of former Villanova teammates. 
 “I want to win a championship at some point in my career,” Brunson said. “I want to keep building toward that. It’s all about taking steps to get there. So that’s why I stay motivated. Just going back to previous accomplishments, I did that in high school, I did it in college, but then I was still hungry to do it again. It’s all about what can you do. 
 “Everyone’s asked me throughout my career, high school, college, I’ve done a lot of great things. I don’t have any championship rings from college at my place. I don’t have my state rings. I don’t have anything, the national player of the year. All that stuff. That’s at my parents’ house because I don’t want to reflect on that, I don’t want to look at that stuff every day, because it’s not going to help me going forward. 
 “Going forward, I’ve got to focus on how can I be better the next day because no matter what I did, I’ve always had that mindset. I’ve never said that out loud, it’s kind of crazy, but that’s just how I’ve been. I don’t want to be satisfied. I don’t want to be in a position where I’m comfortable, because that’s when I’m relaxed.”

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Jalen Brunson's stats with the Knicks

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Jalen Brunson's quiet leadership has brought calmness — and wins — to the Knicks

Brunson's quiet leadership gives Knicks calmness — and wins

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<h3> 3&nbsp;reasons the Knicks might surprise </h3> 
 1. Continuity: While there has been chaos, good and bad, in the East with stars shifting locales and new coaches coming in, the Knicks bring back eight of their nine rotation players as well as the key depth pieces behind them. On a still young team that could be huge. 
 2. Depth: The Knicks are lacking the sort of superstar that Boston or Milwaukee (or Philadelphia) boast, but they are deep and the second unit, powered by Immanuel Quickley and newcomer Donte DiVincenzo, could provide a fast-paced attack with versatile defenders up and down the lineup. 
 3. The Villanova effect: The Wildcats won NCAA titles led by a trio of players who now make up a significant part of the Knicks rotation in Brunson, Hart and DiVincenzo. Does that winning pedigree carryover when they unite in the NBA? 
<h3> 3 reasons they may disappoint </h3> 
 1. Wear and tear: The Knicks made it through last season without losing any of their key players for an extended stretch. But even if they are deep they are very reliant on Brunson and Randle, who have managed to play through tweaks and minor injuries (not so minor, too, as Randle underwent ankle surgery when the season ended). Losing one of them could derail the whole process. 
 2. Everything matters - everywhere: One of the advantages any Tom Thibodeau team has had is that they don’t take games off. Ever. So while many teams are playing around with load management or taking games lightly in the middle of the schedule the Knicks played with a fire every night. But what happens if coaches and players adhere to the new urging of the league to prioritize every game? 
 3. New York, New York: The Knicks' early-season schedule is a bear, opening with Boston at home and then three games on the road (9 of first 14 on the road). A slow start in the pressure cooker of MSG quickly raises the heat — see 2021-22.&nbsp;

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Three reasons why the Knicks might surprise — and why they may disappoint

Why the Knicks might surprise — or disappoint — this season

Timberwolves Knicks Basketball

Ryan Arcidiacono,&nbsp;G: $2,019,706 
 RJ Barrett,&nbsp;SG: $23,883,929 
 Jalen Brunson, PG: $26,346,666 
 Donte DiVincenzo, SG:&nbsp; $10,960,000 
 Evan Fournier, SG: $18,857,143 
 Quentin Grimes, SG&nbsp;: $2,385,720 
 Josh Hart, SG:&nbsp; $12,960,000 
 Isaiah Hartenstein, C:&nbsp;$9,245,121 
 DaQuan Jeffries, SG: $2,065,585 
 Miles McBride, PG:&nbsp;$1,836,096 
 Immanuel Quickley, SG: $4,171,548 
 Julius Randle, PF:&nbsp; $28,226,880 
 Mitchell Robinson, C:&nbsp;$15,681,818 
 Jericho Sims, C: $1,927,896 
 Dylan Windler, SG:&nbsp;$2,019,706 
 Inactive/two-way players 
 Charlie Brown Jr., G: N/A 
 Jacob Toppin, F: N/A 
 Duane Washington Jr., PG: N/A

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Knicks player salaries for the 2023-24 NBA season

Knicks player salaries for the 2023-24 season

Evan Barnes

Mikal Bridges didn’t hesitate long when asked for his expectations for the Nets. 
 “Like I always say:&nbsp;Playoffs for me and then go for there,” Bridges said at Media Day. “But I don’t see why we shouldn’t make the playoffs at all.” 
 It’s a recalibration Nets fans have to get used to. They’re no longer title contenders or a national story. They went from 13 national TV games last year to just five this season, tied for fewest among last year’s playoff teams. 
 Playoffs are now the goal instead of an expectation. That’s life when you go from superteam to just another team,&nbsp;but it’s also a chance for the Nets to reset and figure out their next direction. 
 What does this new era look like led by Bridges and Jacque Vaughn in his first full season as coach? First, the Nets are now one of the NBA’s younger teams with only three players older than 27. 
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 It’s exciting on one hand but it means patience is required with players figuring out their roles. The good news is Bridges is firmly entrenched as a team leader. 
 If Bridges can build on what he showed last season as a scorer and shot creator with the Nets, he’ll have All-Star buzz. The Nets have to figure out how to best use him but Bridges showed he can thrive as the No. 1 scoring option. Now he just has to do it for a full 82-game season. 
 Cam Johnson, who came with Bridges in the trade with the Suns, also took a leap upon arrival. His steady presence and shooting ability gives the Nets maturity and the long-range shooter they can build around. Like Bridges, he’ll benefit from spending time with Team USA this offseason. 
 Yet the Nets were 12-15 in games Bridges played. At that pace, the Nets will barely be a play-in tournament team. If their ceiling rises, it’ll be from the last reminder of their superteam era. 
 Ben Simmons showed this preseason he’s healthier from the hobbled version he was last season because of&nbsp;a back injury. It’s encouraging because the Nets need him to be the facilitator and defender he was in Philadelphia. 
 He’s earned the chance to play point guard. But the only thing missing so far is the scoring as he reached double figures in points just once in four preseason games. 
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 Simmons, whose shooting woes are well documented, thrives on scoring in the paint but it’s tricky with Nic Claxton also being down there. Can he balance setting the table for others with getting his own shot? 
 That key —&nbsp;along with staying healthy — will determine if the Nets end up in the play-in tournament or or a top-6&nbsp;seed in the playoffs. 
 “This team goes as far as Ben and Mikal take it,” Spencer Dinwiddie said. “We know who Ben can be when he’s healthy and right and in a good space, and that’s what we hope for, obviously, because to be the best possible team we can be, we need that.&quot; 
 Elsewhere, the Nets are filled with solid players and more questions. They want to be a defense-first team but it means offense could be hard to come by. 
 Claxton had a breakout season last year and became one of the league’s best rim protectors. Can he do it again while expanding his offense? It also could determine the contract he gets next summer as he enters the last year of his current deal. 
 Dinwiddie will share the floor with Simmons but can thrive in a role he had in Dallas as a catch-and-shoot player. But he’s also in a contract year so the Nets have to make a decision on his future. 
 The Nets also need improved rebounding and bench scoring.&nbsp;Cam Thomas and new free agent addition Lonnie Walker IV showed potential in that second category.&nbsp; 
 Thomas’ overall knack for getting buckets sets him apart on the team. But can he do it while bringing playmaking and defense? That will keep him in the rotation after being in-and-out last season. 
 There’s also an uncertain future ahead. Seven Nets players are on expiring or one-year contracts. Royce O’Neale, Walker and free agent signee Dennis Smith Jr. are key for the second unit, especially Smith’s defense, but will they also be trade bait during the season? 
 The Nets also have no draft picks in the 2024 draft. So it’s either ride this team out or find a way to make a significant trade. 
 It all depends on how the season goes. One that starts with the Nets stuck in the middle of an Eastern Conference well behind the Bucks, Heat and Celtics as the top three teams. It’s a harsh reality after the highs and twists of the last four seasons. But as Bridges said, the playoffs are still a reasonable expectation 
 The question is if that’s a bar the Nets can reach while avoiding the play-in tournament.

Brooklyn Nets

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For new-look Nets, playoffs are no longer a given

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As a kid, Mikal Bridges often hosted friends growing up in Philadelphia. That meant it was his call to coordinate group activities or let them know what time his mother was picking everyone up. 
 He’d also get peppered with questions on what the plan was for&nbsp;that day. Years later, he sees how it helped prepare him for the role he’d smoothly slide into after being traded to the Nets last season. 
 “It was always like, what we doing, what we doing,” Bridges told Newsday. “So I think just like a little part, just growing up and having that type of role helped.” 
 Bridges’ star turn with the Nets — he averaged 26.1 points per game in 27 regular season games — brought more respect this offseason. He guested on podcasts with Clippers forward Paul George and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. He started every game for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup and became one of the&nbsp;best players. 
 Not bad for someone who, before February, hadn’t been a No. 1 option on a team since high school. Yet it’s something that Bridges is comfortable with after winning two national championships at Villanova and helping the Suns reach the 2021 Finals. 
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 At Nets Media Day, Bridges talked up wanting the pressure of having everything on his shoulders. It’s not just growing as a player and person, but a reflection how he was raised to prepare for this moment. 
 Some of that came from planning things for his friends. A different burden, sure, than scoring a clutch basket or getting a defensive stop. But the same mindset of “It’s on me, I got this” that helped make him a valuable two-way player. 
 “I think it’s more effective to do whatever it takes to win and taking the consequences of losing and be able to man up,” Bridges said.&nbsp;“Obviously be mad or frustrated but to own it, take the blame and be ready for the next one.” 
 Jay Wright, Bridges' former coach at Villanova, wasn’t surprised he’s ready for a bigger role. At Villanova, Bridges put his skills to use studying his teammates and honing his feel for what was needed in a given moment. 
 Part of it was his high basketball IQ, Wright said. Part of it came learning the hard way whether it was fierce practice battles with Josh Hart or playing alongside Jalen Brunson and Ryan Arcidiacono. 
 “He redshirted his first year and spent a lot of time getting stronger. So he was matched with Ryan and Jalen [Brunson], who were outstanding leaders,” said Wright, now an analyst with CBS Sports. “He didn’t need to be the leader but he made them great leaders because he was quietly a leader without the title.” 
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 Even as Brunson earned national player of the year honors in 2017-18, Bridges had just as much impact helping Villanova win the national championship that year. It served him well starting his NBA career in Phoenix. 
 With Devin Booker and Chris Paul, Bridges saw two different examples of leadership. He studied them both as Booker led by example and Paul was more vocal. 
 “I don't sit there and note everything they do but I think it’s just naturally like a sponge,” Bridges said. “I’m just around them so much I just watch. I’m a pretty smart guy so I'm just around them and see the things they do. You’re there all those years, you're gonna know one person in and out.” 
 Paul, in turn, appreciated Bridges’ work ethic. When Paul showed up early to work out, before practice, Bridges would be at the facility too. It impressed Paul, who values teammates that are early risers like him, and led him to offer Bridges tips to round out his game. 
 “I learned that real quick that Mikal was about his business and he was a pro,” Paul said. “He said things here and there but you could tell he was trying to figure out who he was as a player. And so he sort of just let his play do the talking. As he got more and more comfortable and more confident, he started to talk more, and I think it helped our team actually.” 
 Paul wasn’t surprised Bridges took his game to the next level with the Nets. He encouraged Bridges to be a better ball-handler and saw the work he put with Suns player development assistant Corey Vinson, now a Nets assistant. 
 He believes the sky is the limit to what Bridges could do over a full season. 
 “Had that trade to Brooklyn happened a year earlier or something like that, he may not have been ready to do what he’s doing now,” Paul said. “So I think everything was timing and it happened at the perfect time.” 
 With Team USA, Bridges combined the best of what he learned before the Nets and what showed in Brooklyn. Some games, he focused on defense while Anthony Edwards led in scoring. Against Italy, Bridges led the way with 24 points. 
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 He ended World Cup play with an improbable buzzer-beating three-pointer to force overtime against Canada after chasing down his own missed free throw. 
 The tournament didn’t just give Bridges more confidence, but also motivation after the United States failed to medal. That, besides playing alongside players like Brunson and Josh Hart again, gave him an extra push to be comfortable being more vocal once training camp started. 
 “I wouldn't say pressure but it’s just a different type of expectation, different type of lock-in mentality to have,” Bridges said of his Team USA experience. “So just having that coming in this year and also losing. Obviously, I won't walk around here pouting … but it’s always there in the back of my head, didn’t get what I want.” 
 It’s the edge needed after a summer receiving praise. With Bridges settled in his role, it’s a culmination of what he learned planning for friends and playing alongside leaders like Brunson, Booker and Paul. 
 Now it’s his time to lead. Just like when his friends looked to him to make plans, the Nets will&nbsp;look to him on the court. For those who know Bridges, they’re glad while knowing he’s still eager to prove himself ready for that challenge. 
 “He’s going to continue working,” said Cameron Johnson, Bridges' teammate since 2019-20. “It's not a matter of 'OK, I'm good, I'm here.’ Nah, he's going to put in the work. Every day I've been around him, this is what he's been about. 
 “So he's definitely capable of continuing that momentum that he built up toward the end of last year and taking it into some really positive things.”

SPBBNFEAT231025

Final Four Kansas Villanova Basketball

CORRECTION World Cup Italy US Basketball

Mikal Bridges likes to lead, which is exactly what he will do for Nets

Follow the Nets' leader: Mikal Bridges

<h3> Three reasons the Nets might surprise </h3> 
 1. Ben Simmons stays healthy:&nbsp;Simmons has looked great in the preseason in terms of speed, explosiveness and facilitating. If he keeps this up, the Nets have an elite point guard to make things easier and a premier perimeter defender to pair with Mikal Bridges. 
 2. Elite defense:&nbsp;With Simmons, Bridges, Nic Claxton and Dennis Smith Jr., the Nets could emerge as one of the league’s best defenses to compensate for lack of shooting. It might lead to some ugly games, but it also might help them steal a few wins against contenders. 
 3. Cam Thomas’ growth:&nbsp;He can score with anyone but if he learns to channel that within the team concept, he’ll help add a few wins. If he improves as a playmaker for others, he’ll be a bigger spark for the Nets' offense and emerge as a Sixth&nbsp;Man of the Year candidate. 
<h3> Three reasons the Nets might disappoint </h3> 
 1. Ben Simmons is limited:&nbsp;Simmons stays healthy but isn’t the 16-17 ppg scorer he was to start his career. As a result, the Nets’ offense stagnates more often than excites despite Bridges’ brilliance. 
 2. Shaky bench play:&nbsp;Thomas and Lonnie Walker&nbsp;IV bring scoring and Dennis Smith Jr's defense is a bonus, but if they get little help from their fellow reserves, it won't be enough to match the firepower of deeper teams. 
 3. Rebounding gets worse:&nbsp;The Nets’ rebounding-by-committee approach fails to make up for the issues from last season. With a lack of size, the Nets could fall back to being one of the league’s worst rebounding/second-chance point teams again.

SPBBNTHREE231025

Three reasons why the Nets might surprise — and why they may disappoint

Why the Nets might surprise — or disappoint — this season

Mikal Bridges, SF: $21,700,000 
 Nic Claxton, C: $9,625,000 
 Noah Clowney, F:&nbsp;$3,089,520 
 Spencer Dinwiddie,&nbsp;PG:&nbsp;$20,357,143 
 Dorian Finney-Smith, PF: $13,932,008 
 Harry Giles III, F:&nbsp;$2,019,706 
 Cameron Johnson, SF: $25,679,348 
 Royce O'Neale, PF: $9,500,000 
 Day'Ron Sharpe, C: $2,210,040 
 Ben Simmons, PG: $37,893,408 
 Dennis Smith Jr., &nbsp;PG: $2,019,70624 
 Cam Thomas, SG: $2,240,160 
 Lonnie Walker IV, G: $2,019,706 
 Trendon Watford, PF: $1,836,096 
 Inactive/two-way players 
 Armoni Brooks, G: N/A 
 Dariq Whitehead, F: $2,966,040 
 Jalen Wilson, F: N/A

SPBBNROST231025_H0X

Nets player salaries for the 2023-24 NBA season

Neil Best

Local play-by-play announcers often grew up as fans of the teams they chronicle, from Gary Cohen and Howie Rose on the Mets to Michael Kay on the Yankees to Mike Breen on the Knicks and beyond. 
 But the Nets? Not so much. Until now. 
 The YES Network has found itself a genuine, born-and-raised Nets fan&nbsp;to add to its roster for 2023-24, a 26-year-old named Noah Eagle who is to call about 10 games this season. 
 “I’m not sure how many people could think back to say, ‘I remember when Zoran Planinic hit a 75-footer,’ &quot;&nbsp;he told Newsday. “Or, ‘I remember when Boki Nachbar was knocking through corner threes.’ 
 “I will have that ready to go, just from my own personal experience.” 
 How did this happen? Eagle did grow up in New Jersey when the Nets still played there and recalls their 2001-02 and ’02-03 NBA Finals teams. But his connection runs deeper —&nbsp;and closer to home —&nbsp;than that. 
 His father, Ian, has called Nets games for nearly 30 years and remains YES’ lead play-by-play man. 
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 When Ian and Ryan Ruocco both are unavailable, Noah will get the nod, beginning Dec. 2 with a home game against the Magic. 
 Even at his young age, Noah already has seen it all with the Nets —&nbsp;other than their last championship, which came in the ABA 20 years before he was born. 
 “I went to the NBA Finals games in back-to-back years,” he said, “and I was at the games when they were 12-70.” 
 Said Ian, “He was a legitimate Nets fan growing up, and I'm sure it's going to be a 'pinch me' moment for him. My earliest memory of him falling in love with sports was at the Meadowlands, and it truly is a full-circle experience for our family.” 
 Noah attended Syracuse, like his father, making an early name for himself there. Then he went directly from college to the Clippers’ radio job, hired at 22. 
 He did national work for Fox and CBS, too, including on Nickelodeon’s popular version of NFL games. 
 Noah’s father said the early exposure to the job made the transition to actually doing it easier. “He was never intimidated, and when he got some big assignments early in his career, he didn't bat an eye,” Ian said. 
 Now Noah’s national home is NBC, where he has been calling the network’s new Big Ten college football package. He also will work Big Ten basketball games for NBC. 
 He returned to the East Coast in part to be closer to Big Ten schools. After he moved to New York, YES reached out to see if he would fill in on the Nets. NBC signed off, and here he is. 
 “It keeps me involved with the NBA,” Eagle said, “and from a personal standpoint, it’s special just to come that full-circle moment with a team I grew up watching and rooting for.” 
 The NBA was an early passion, from when he was as young as 5 and sitting in his father’s office reading media guides. 
 “I just think it's really cool to see these guys be superhuman on a nightly basis, and so I was always passionate to do it,” he said.&nbsp;“For the last four years it was amazing to kind of spring my career with that. I really couldn't have asked for anything better.” 
 His Clippers stint also allowed him to establish himself beyond being the son of a famous father in the same business. 
 “I think it adds this level of, OK, yeah, he's done it before,” Noah said. “This isn't just brand new . . . He’s done it. Let's bring him in and have some fun with it.” 
 Speaking of fun, Noah shows flashes of the humor for which his father is known —&nbsp;as was his grandfather Jack, a comedian, actor and musician who died in 2008. 
 “I’m not someone who's going to force it,” he said, “but when [chances]&nbsp;present themselves, which they always tend to do over the course of a 48-minute game at least once or twice, I'm going to pounce. 
 “So I would say yes, I'm going to try to see what I can do. I'm not going to try to go at the same level as my dad, because I'd say that's difficult. He is in my estimation among the funniest people on the planet.” 
 Even at age 54, Ian can hold his own with his son on 21st century pop culture. 
 “He covers a lot of ground,” Noah said of his father, who earlier this NFL season made a Taylor Swift song reference on a Travis Kelce touchdown catch. “He is multi-generational in his abilities. I don’t know what he does. I don't know if he's a time traveler of some sort.” 
<div data-oembed-url="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1703481362420826502"> 
 <blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet"> 
 MAHOMES TO KELCE IS BACK 🔥 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KCvsJAX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KCvsJAX</a> on CBS 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW">https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW</a> <a href="https://t.co/SGjRJfmtZH">pic.twitter.com/SGjRJfmtZH</a> — NFL (@NFL) 
 <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1703481362420826502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2023</a> 
 </blockquote> 
</div> 
 Ian said he hears a lot of himself in Noah but also has noticed his son developing his own style. Now they will be colleagues. 
 “My dad thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to everything I did, from WFAN updates to network TV play-by-play,” Ian said. “I feel the same joy watching Noah and could only imagine the pride his grandfather would have felt if he were around today. 
 “Ultimately my most important role is being his dad. That supersedes anything broadcast-related. But it's been fun to exchange notes and ideas about our day-to-day game prep. 
 “I'm now trying to convince people that he's my brother. That will make it much easier when I inevitably start lying about my age.”

Media

SPBBNOAH231025_HE1

'Full-circle experience' for Nets broadcasters Noah Eagle and Ian Eagle

Play-by-play family: Noah Eagle to call Nets games, too

2ff070bc9ca1fe1781d2df042eca3c2446c38548.jpg

1. The Wemby era begins 
 Victor Wembanyama has arrived as the most hyped prospect since, well, ever (LeBron James might have been the last, but in 2003 the iPhone hadn’t been invented —&nbsp;nor had Twitter, er, X&nbsp;arrived). He has delivered hints already of the strange package of talent his 7-4 frame possesses but how he handles the rigors of the regular season for San Antonio is worth watching. 
 2. Player empowerment arrives … and ends? 
 Damian Lillard and James Harden set a disturbing tone this summer by publicly demanding trades. Lillard eventually got his way, kind of, after Portland general manager&nbsp;Joe Cronin resisted the calls to send him to his preferred destination of Miami, instead moving him to Milwaukee where he can contend for a title. Harden remains in limbo. 
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 3. LeBron’s last stand? 
 Now in his 21st season and turning 39 in December, James is still doing things that players his age just shouldn’t be able to do. But how much longer does he have with 1,421 games logged already — along with 282 postseason games? He has talked of wanting to play with his son, Bronny, who is a freshman at USC.&nbsp; 
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 4. The Ja and Zion question 
 Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were the easy picks for the top two spots in the 2019 NBA Draft, but they are approaching crossroads in their careers in strange ways. The potential remains, but Williamson has been dogged by injuries and weight issues.&nbsp; Morant was already reaching the status of the next face of the NBA — until his face began appearing with guns on social media last season. He will start the season on a 25-game suspension. 
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 5. No rest until . . . 
 The NBA has put into effect a rule, or a request, or a plea to its players and teams to halt the load management that has become fashionable in recent years, devaluing the regular season. The league issued a set of rules that seem almost unenforceable, so as the NBA heads into broadcast negotiations the hope is that all sides cooperate. The most obvious effort is the implementation of the In-season tournament which will culminate in a Las Vegas trip in December for the final four teams, even if the&nbsp;financial incentive is a small fraction of most salaries. 
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SPBBSTORY231025

Media Day Bucks Basketball

Media Day Lakers Basketball

spBBSTORY

Adam Silver

spSILVER220915_photos

NBA 2023-24: Five storylines to watch this season

Five storylines to watch this NBA season

Spurs Thunder Basketball

Even before the flurry of headline-grabbing deals that restructured their rosters just ahead of training camp, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics were penciled in as the class of the Eastern Conference. But with glossy additions at the last minute, both are expected to make the 82-game chase a moot point for the rest of the conference. 
 Giannis Antetokounmpo has been paired with Damian Lillard in Milwaukee. Former Bucks standout Jrue Holiday made his way to Boston, where he joins All-NBA talent already in place in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown along with Kristaps Porzingis, who was dealt to the Celtics earlier in the summer. 
 So for the rest of the Eastern Conference, it’s expected to be a chase for third place and wait until next year. 
 The Knicks got a taste of it in the preseason when they saw the Celtics in full force; suddenly, all the dreams of the unicorn that Porzingis is seemed to arrive in New England. Derrick White and Al Horford add to the mix of a team that might be as talented as any in the league. 
 And if it’s not Boston, it’s Milwaukee, which has added Lillard to the mix — giving Antetokounmpo the best running mate he’s ever had — while keeping Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis in place. 
 The Bucks also added some under-the-radar pieces in postseason-proven Jae Crowder and Cam Payne. But Milwaukee let go former championship coach Mike Budenholzer and handed Adrian Griffin his first head-coaching job. The Bucks also lost experienced assistant Terry Stotts, who decided to leave the team a week ahead of the season start. 
 The Eastern Conference this season figures to be unlike last, when Miami made it to the NBA Finals from the seventh spot in the playoff seeding (after needing the play-in games to get there). Philadelphia could make a case as one of the top teams in the conference, but it seems to be a two-team race at the very top now. 
 Miami failed in its summerlong efforts to land Lillard and is left with a shell of its overachieving team from last season. Tyler Herro is back, although with the knowledge that he was dangled in trade talks, but the Heat lost Gabe Vincent and Max Strus and added only first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. While the Heat can be counted on to develop talent from the fringes of the NBA, it’s hard to imagine them contending with Boston and Milwaukee. 
 Philadelphia had a more troubling summer because it failed in its moves and doesn’t have a highly functional environment to fall back on. Instead, the 76ers have James Harden, who remains, well, somewhere, potentially hoping for a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 76ers are holding out for a better offer that just doesn’t seem to be imminent. Nick Nurse left a strange situation in Toronto for this? 
 Philadelphia and Miami have sunk to the second tier with the Knicks and Cavaliers. Cleveland made a huge leap last season, but the Knicks’ opening-round beatdown of the Cavs exposed some of their flaws. The Knicks muscled Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen while Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland tried to carry Cleveland. 
 The battle for the final playoff spots in the conference might hold more intrigue than the race at the top. While the Celtics, Bucks, Cavaliers, 76ers and Knicks seem bound for the top five spots, there are tons of questions to be answered about the teams chasing them. 
 The Hawks hope Quin Snyder can unlock the key to mostly the same roster that disappointed last season. Toronto is another team that has downshifted from contender to question mark despite a talented roster, firing Nurse and turning to rookie coach Darko Rajakovic. 
 The Nets have begun their rebuild around Mikal Bridges, but to rise, they will need Ben Simmons to shake off the on- and offcourt troubles of recent years. He has performed better in the preseason, but he still might be the most confounding player in the NBA. 
 Indiana and Orlando could make a leap this season. The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, have compiled an athletic young roster that could push its way into the mix. Former Knick Obi Toppin has been added to the starting lineup and second-year wing Bennedict Mathurin appears ready to become a star. Orlando already has a young star in Paolo Banchero, who won the Rookie of the Year award last season, and with Franz Wagner and rookie Anthony Black, the Magic could make waves.

SPBBEAST231025

NBA Eastern Conference preview 2023-24: It's the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics and everybody else

NBA East: It's the Bucks, the Celtics and everybody else

Bucks Thunder Basketball

The Nuggets were the best team in the Western Conference most of last season, and there’s little reason why that shouldn’t be the case again in 2023-24. 
 Sure, defending NBA champions usually get the benefit of the doubt. Sure, there hasn’t been a repeat NBA champion since the 2017-18 season. But barring some major injury, the Nuggets have a lot in their favor for a potential return to the Finals. 
 Start with Nikola Jokic. The two-time MVP center didn’t get a third last season but was named Finals MVP. He’s arguably the best player in the world. Despite how social media loves his laid-back approach to basketball, he’s got the killer instinct and a command of his all-around offensive brilliance. Few teams have an answer for him. 
 Second is the Nuggets’ collective youth. Jokic and Aaron Gordon are 28. Jamal Murray is 26. Michael Porter Jr. is 25. Murray could be in line for an All-Star/All-NBA-caliber season after returning from an ACL injury last season and showing no signs of struggle. 
 Third? A wide-open conference behind the Nuggets. Any argument you make for a team to challenge Denver can easily be refuted. 
 The Suns added Bradley Beal and will have a full season of Kevin Durant next to Devin Booker. Can Beal, one of the league’s best scorers, handle being a point guard? How many games will Durant play? He hasn’t played more than 55 since his Achilles injury four years ago. And even with all that scoring, who defends? 
 Golden State showed cracks last season as it has gotten older and less dominant. It added Chris Paul, who’s eager to win that elusive title, but that ages the team even more. 
 This could be the last run for the Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green era, so there’s a sense of urgency. 
 The Clippers are unsure bets, given the health of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. If both play, this team can compete with anyone in the West. But in four years together, neither has played more than 57 games in a season. The potential is always there, but will it ever be fulfilled with a second deep playoff run? 
 The Grizzlies went from precocious to troubling last season. With Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games&nbsp;and Steven Adams out for the season, they’re a mystery, even after adding a veteran presence with Marcus Smart. To be contenders, Morant must mature off the court and the team must get past the scar tissue of last season’s first-round playoff exit. 
 The Lakers will be better after adding Gabe Vincent and Cam Reddish in free agency. They’ll need it because LeBron James is entering Year 21. He’s still great, but Father Time is closing in. Anthony Davis must stay healthy enough to carry this team, and that’s tricky, given his past injuries. 
 The Kings were last season’s surprise. The “Beam Team” gave Sacramento its first taste of the postseason since the 2005-06 season. They’re still not true contenders, but a second year under coach Mike Brown can build on the momentum a great fan base has yearned for. 
 If anything, there’s more intrigue with the possible play-in teams. 
 With so much young talent, the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the promise of Chet Holmgren, who missed his rookie season because of injury, this could be the year the Thunder break through. 
 Houston’s lack of discipline among its young core might change with the hiring of coach Ime Udoka and the addition of guard Fred VanVleet. 
 The Spurs will have everyone’s attention because of rookie Victor Wembanyama. The 7-4 No. 1 overall pick is must-see TV as one of the league’s most hyped prospects. His unique mix of height, length, defense and ballhandling is worth watching, along with how the 19-year-old Frenchman adjusts to the NBA game. 
 But with all that said, it’s difficult to see anyone dethroning the Nuggets. As long as Jokic is playing at a high level and Murray gets further removed from that ACL injury, the Nuggets have two elite players among a proven, playoff-tested starting lineup. 
 It will be fun to see which team ends up second-best in the West, especially if the Suns find a way to jell quickly. But the West title runs through Denver, and Jokic has all the motivation to build his resume as one of the all-time greats. 
 Add in coach Michael Malone and a built-in home advantage playing at altitude. Then go ahead and book the Nuggets for a third conference finals trip in five seasons.

SPBBWEST231025

NBA Western Conference preview 2023-24: Can anyone catch the Denver Nuggets?

NBA West: Can anyone catch the Nuggets?

Bulls Nuggets Basketball

<h3> BEST PLAYERS </h3> 
 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks 
 Joel Embiid may be the defending MVP, but no one has meant more to his team than Giannis Antetokounmpo, who now has the best running mate he’s had in his career with Milwaukee's acquisition of Damian Lillard.&nbsp; &nbsp; 
 2. Joel Embiid, 76ers 
 With the — eventual — trade of James Harden, Embiid’s impressive numbers might soar higher. But the 76ers will have a hard time keeping pace with Milwaukee and Boston in the East. The biggest question will be if Embiid eventually seeks a move. 
 3. Jayson Tatum, Celtics 
 Tatum has become&nbsp;the complete player he was projected to be years ago. While he is&nbsp;the clear leader in Boston, the team's offseason moves will provide him with help on the offensive end. 
 4. Damian Lillard, Bucks 
 Lillard has always been among the most gifted players in the NBA and now is playing with something to prove. Given the opportunity to win an elusive NBA title, he figures to continue to play at the top of his game. 
 5. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers 
 In his first season in Cleveland he embraced the move to the Cavs and with free agency not far off he’s got a next contract to consider and the Cavs need him to see a reason to stay.&nbsp; 
<h3> BEST ROOKIES TO WATCH </h3> 
 1. Brandon Miller, Hornets 
 2. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat 
 3. Jarace Walker, Wizards 
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<h3> BEST PLAYERS OVER AGE 30 </h3> 
 1. Jimmy Butler, Heat 
 2. Damian Lillard, Bucks 
 3. Jrue Holiday, Celtics 
<h3> BEST SHOOTERS&nbsp;&nbsp; </h3> 
 1. Damian&nbsp;Lillard, Bucks 
 2. Buddy Hield, Pacers &nbsp; 
 3. Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 
<h3> BEST POINT GUARD </h3> 
 1. Damian Lillard, Bucks 
 2. Jrue Holiday, Celtics 
 3.&nbsp;Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers &nbsp; 
<h3> BEST SCORERS </h3> 
 1. Damian Lillard, Bucks 
 2. Joel Embiid, 76ers 
 3. Jayson Tatum, Celtics 
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<h3> BEST BIG MEN </h3> 
 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks 
 2. Joel Embiid, 76ers 
 3. Bam Adebayo, Heat 
<h3> BEST DEFENDERS </h3> 
 1.&nbsp;Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks 
 2. Jrue Holiday, Celtics 
 3. Mikal Bridges, Nets 
<h3> BEST REBOUNDERS </h3> 
 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks 
 2. Mitchell Robinson, Knicks 
 3. Joel Embiid, 76ers 
<h3> BEST SHOTBLOCKERS </h3> 
 1. Brook Lopez, Bucks 
 2. Nic Claxton, Nets 
 3. Myles Turner, Pacers &nbsp; &nbsp; 
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<h3> BEST BALL HANDLERS </h3> 
 1. James Harden, 76ers 
 2. Trae Young, Hawks 
 3. LaMelo Ball, Hornets 
<h3> BEST SIXTH MEN&nbsp; &nbsp; </h3> 
 1. Immanuel Quickley, Knicks 
 2. DeAnthony Melton, Sixers 
 3. Bobby Portis, Bucks 
<h3> SMARTEST PLAYERS </h3> 
 1. Jimmy Butler, Heat 
 2. Jalen Brunson, Knicks 
 3. Damian Lillard, Bucks 
<h3> BEST OFFSEASON&nbsp;ACQUISITIONS </h3> 
 1. Damian Lillard, Bucks 
 2. Jrue Holiday, Celtics 
 3. Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics 
<h3> BEST COACHES </h3> 
 1. Erik Spoelstra, Heat 
 2. Tom Thibodeau, Knicks 
 3. Quin Snyder, Hawks 
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<h3> BEST ASSISTANTS WHO SHOULD BE A HEAD COACH </h3> 
 1. Chris Quinn, Heat 
 2. Sam Cassell, Celtics 
 3. Kevin Ollie, Nets 
<h3> BEST GMS </h3> 
 1. Andy Elisburg, Heat 
 2. Brad Stevens, Celtics 
 3. Jon Horst, Bucks 
<h3> TOUGHEST PLACES TO PLAY </h3> 
 1. TD Garden, Boston 
 2. Madison Square Garden, New York 
 3. Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia 
<h3> BEST UNIFORMS </h3> 
 1. Knicks 
 2. Celtics 
 3. Bulls

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<h3> BEST PLAYERS </h3> 
 1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
 Until somebody snatches the crown, Jokic is the best of the West. The reigning NBA Finals MVP will try to win his third regular-season MVP in four years&nbsp;and chase that elusive triple-double average for the season. 
 2. Luka Doncic, Mavericks 
 Hard to believe Doncic is just 24 until February. But as a top-10 player in the world and one of the best facilitators in the league, can he lead the Mavericks back to the playoffs after last season’s collapse? 
 3. LeBron James, Lakers 
 It’s Year 21 and there might not be 10 current players better than James. That’s uncharted territory. While James will further decline this year, he’s still capable of showing why he has few peer in the league. 
 4. Stephen Curry, Golden State 
 Curry remains fun to watch when he gets cooking as a scorer and shooter. But during the last two years, he’s been more impressive while carrying Golden State&nbsp;on his back. 
 5. Kevin Durant, Suns 
 Even at age 35, Durant is still among the NBA’s best scorers from anywhere on the floor. His presence - along with Devin Booker - makes the Suns worthy challengers to the Nuggets in the West despite not playing more than 55 games since his 2020 return from his Achilles injury. 
<a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/OWRiYTFiNTktMDVkYy00" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/OWRiYTFiNTktMDVkYy00', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/OWRiYTFiNTktMDVkYy00"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/OWRiYTFiNTktMDVkYy00/39c8297f-4832-47a6-adc6-14aa529928d3.jpeg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3" /></a> 
<h3> BEST ROOKIES TO WATCH </h3> 
 1. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs 
 2. Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers 
 3. Amen Thompson, Rockets&nbsp; 
<h3> BEST PLAYERS OVER AGE 30 </h3> 
 1. Stephen Curry, Golden State 
 2. LeBron James, Lakers 
 3. Kevin Durant, Suns 
<h3> BEST SHOOTERS </h3> 
 1. Stephen Curry, Golden State 
 2. Devin Booker, Suns 
 3. Desmond Bane, Grizzlies 
<h3> BEST POINT GUARDS </h3> 
 1. Luka Doncic, Mavericks 
 2. Jamal Murray, Nuggets 
 3. Ja Morant, Grizzlies 
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<h3> BEST SCORERS </h3> 
 1. Devin Booker, Suns 
 2. Kevin Durant, Suns 
 3. Stephen Curry, Golden State 
<h3> BEST BIG MEN </h3> 
 1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
 2. Anthony Davis, Lakers 
 3. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies&nbsp; 
<h3> BEST DEFENDERS </h3> 
 1. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies 
 2. Draymond Green, Golden State 
 3. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers&nbsp; &nbsp; 
<h3> BEST REBOUNDERS </h3> 
 1. Nikola Jokic, Denver 
 2. Domantas Sabonis, Kings 
 3. Jonas Valanciunas, Pelicans 
<h3> BEST SHOT BLOCKERS  </h3> 
 1. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies 
 2. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves 
 3. Walker Kessler, Jazz&nbsp; 
<h3> BEST BALL HANDLERS  </h3> 
 1. Kyrie Irving, Mavericks 
 2. Ja Morant, Grizzlies 
 3. Stephen Curry, Golden State 
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<h3> BEST SIXTH MEN  </h3> 
 1. Malik Monk, Kings 
 2. Norman Powell, Clippers 
 3. Christian Wood, Lakers 
<h3> BEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS </h3> 
 1. Marcus Smart, Grizzlies 
 2. Bradley Beal, Suns 
 3. Fred VanVleet, Rockets 
<h3> SMARTEST PLAYERS </h3> 
 1. LeBron James, Lakers 
 2. Chris Paul, Golden State 
 3. Mike Conley, Timberwolves 
<h3> BEST COACHES </h3> 
 1. Ty Lue, Clippers 
 2. Michael Malone, Nuggets 
 3. Mike Brown, Kings&nbsp; 
<h3> BEST ASSISTANTS WHO SHOULD BE A HEAD COACH </h3> 
 1. Jay Larranaga, Clippers 
 2. Mitch Johnson, Spurs 
 3. David Adelman, Nuggets&nbsp; &nbsp; 
<h3> BEST GMS </h3> 
 1. Calvin Booth, Nuggets 
 2. James Jones, Suns 
 3. Zach Kleiman, Grizzlies 
<h3> TOUGHEST PLACES TO PLAY </h3> 
 1. Ball Arena, Nuggets &nbsp; 
 2. Golden 1 Center, Kings &nbsp; 
 3. Delta Center, Jazz 
<h3> BEST UNIFORMS  </h3> 
 1. Suns 
 2. Trail Blazers 
 3. Kings &nbsp;

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