NBA

Of the 17 NBA franchises featuring a Wildcat, eight have multiple Kentucky players. Detroit and Sacramento each have a trio of Wildcats on their roster while ...

1 overall (Derrick Rose – 2008, Wall – 2010, Davis – 2012, Towns – 2015). In the 2022-23 season alone, former UK players are slated to make nearly $330 million. Booker and Towns each earned their third NBA All-Star selection. – Los Angeles Clippers Of the 17 NBA franchises featuring a Wildcat, eight have multiple Kentucky players. Duke, with 24, is the only other school with more than 20 players in the NBA.

Coach of the Year? Sixth Man? Best rookie? All-NBA? Sam predicts the future of the 2022-23 NBA season.

But he’s a remarkable competitor, and one of the smartest players in the league, like the quarterback who knows where the receiver will be. I’m going with my heart again with Lauri Markkanen second since with the tanking Jazz he’s going to get a lot of shots. If he survives the season and the nor’easters he gets in the top three along with Patrick Williams. I like the share these kinds of awards, but Smart would be in there again and may be better than everyone. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. It’s too automatic and unimaginative to give the award to the No. This is the award I like the least because of its arbitrary nature and varying definitions and standards. I watched him occasionally with LeBron’s asterisk bubble title a few years back, and he seemed something of a mini Scalabrine with the head band and standing ovations in garbage time. But nobody in the NBA today—sorry, LeBron—makes a difference in games and winning like Curry does, and that’s what the award is about. The rest my my ballot would be Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, whom I think now is the best in game coach in the league, but I guess I’m just as guilty for again denying him the award he’s never won and probably should have three times. The complication, of course, in all of this is the Victor Wembanyana race to the bottom. Nobody still impacts the league more than Curry, and that’s what the award is about.

The NBA Japan Games 2022 have come and gone, but Japanese fans are eager for more live viewing opportunities and the growth of the league in their country.

“Just to play in front of Japanese fans, it was a very special moment for me and the team and the country,” he said. “It was one of the great memories in my life,” he added. “I attended Game 1 and Saturday Night of the NBA Japan Games, Kokushi said. “This whole trip was special and different.” “It was a special moment for me, and this team, this country,” he said. “That’s what the game is about,” he said. While many Japanese kids play basketball in junior high and high school, its popularity as a spectator sport remains limited, so reaching adolescents at the age when basketball is a bigger part of their lives makes sense. “The best way to enjoy sports, not only the NBA, is to watch them live in an arena,” said Makoto Kokushi, a Los Angeles Lakers fan from Tokyo who works in the printing and publishing industry. Tanaka, for one, became an NBA fan in 2007 as a junior high school student when the league was still on TV, a fandom which has now persisted 15 years and counting. “Trying to build inspiration, confidence, fun for the next generation of kids that look up to us and love basketball, love sports.” “This showed us tons of Japanese guys love NBA Games.” And those experiences imprint, and make a level of difference.”

With the NBA set to begin the 2022-23 season on Tuesday night, the Duke men's basketball program has 25 members of The Brotherhood on opening-day rosters.

16, Atlanta), Moore (No. 15, Charlotte), Griffin (No. 26, Dallas) and Keels (No. That includes 1984 Duke graduate Adam Silver The overall No. ), Charlotte (

Who will win each conference and the NBA Finals? When will LeBron surpass Kareem as the all-time scoring champ? Our experts are making their predictions.

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6 Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6 [What to know for '22-23](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) James is 1,325 points behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4145/kareem-abdul-jabbar)'s mark, so we should expect the record to be broken some time near the 2022-23 season's second half. And while our expert panel places the defending champs among the contenders to reach the Finals again in 2023, we weren't as kind to the Celtics. [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) were a trendy pick among our panel, and rightfully so.

It's time for a newNBAseason, with the 2021-22 campaign tipping off with a pair of games on Tuesday. And it should...

We’ve lost some of that and we think this rule is going to inject that exciting play back into our game." Additionally, it also applies when a defender is out of position and unable to make a play on the ball. But it’s important that they not stand the whole game, because now you’re getting into game-integrity issues, injury possibility for game participants; we want to eliminate all that." "Some of our best play at the NBA is defensive basketball. The defending champion @warriors host the @Lakers tonight at 10 PM ET on TNT! The Association will impose a heightened penalty when the defense commits a transition take foul without making a legitimate play on the ball.

Which team will be holding the Larry O'Brien trophy when it is all said and done?

The [Nuggets](https://www.si.com/nba/team/denver-nuggets) are deep and will have a chance to tweak their roster during the season as well. The East, once again, is tough, but I like the Bucks, who will get Khris Middleton back and who added Joe Ingles to the mix, to get out of the conference. [Nets](https://www.si.com/nba/team/brooklyn-nets) bow out of the postseason in a similar manner to last season? But the Bucks will get the best of the Nuggets in a marquee matchup between the two players who have won the last four MVPs. [Warriors](https://www.si.com/nba/team/golden-state-warriors), the [Nuggets](https://www.si.com/nba/team/denver-nuggets), and maybe even the Suns if they can [rebound from last season’s bizarre Game 7 loss](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/05/16/luka-doncic-leads-mavericks-game-7-victory-over-suns)—but arguably no team projects to be as balanced on either side as the Clippers. But—and this is a big, deep breath of a but—Brooklyn still has one of the most talented cores in the NBA, and the return of Joe Harris, coupled with the acquisitions of Royce O’Neale, Markieff Morris and T.J. [Nikola Jokić](https://www.si.com/nba/player/nikola-jokic) has ever played for, and it’s time for him to prove he can be the best player on a championship team. [Clippers](https://www.si.com/nba/team/los-angeles-clippers) have had since their celebrated 2019 haul of [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.si.com/nba/player/kawhi-leonard) and [Paul George](https://www.si.com/nba/player/paul-george). You can find our [award predictions](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/17/nba-award-predictions-mvp-rookie-of-the-year) and [burning questions here](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/18/nba-burning-questions-russell-westbrook-warriors-ben-simmons-daily-cover). It will be a seven-game war between these two but I think Kawhi outduels Giannis and LA takes the title. They are deep and if 100% whole and clicking I'll take them over my default pick in an absolutely stacked East in Milwaukee, who at least have fewer questions to answer than some of the other contenders. And while I think that very well could happen, I still think the East goes through Giannis and the Bucks.

Coming into the new NBA season, things feel more wide open, with more possible contenders than last season. At the same time, however, we could have on our ...

And if the former happens, why not look to trade Durant and bottom out in the hopes of a big prize that could jump-start a rebuild. There’s a fair bit of parity among the top teams in the NBA coming into the season. He came into training camp in tremendous shape as a sign that he’s looking to be a lot more serious than in seasons past but the Harden that shows up in the fall and winter is often different than the one that has played in the spring. For everyone else, however, including the teams that might only be fighting to make the playoffs or the play-in games, expect to see an intense race to the bottom for a chance to draft Wembanyama. Now, the Suns will have to deal with this fallout as the very foundation of the organization has been rocked and is about to be upheaved, all the while also dealing with an unhappy Deandre Ayton, who returns after the off-sheet he signed with the Pacers was matched by the Suns. But things can change at the trade deadline this season or even in the 2023 off-season. What should be a strong Warriors team coming in to defend its title might actually be a fractured club, though, thanks to the ugly altercation between Green and Poole that blew up all over social media. Memphis won 56 games last season and finished second in the Western Conference and there’s no reason to believe they can’t do the same or even better this season. There’s not much weakness to point to with this roster other than the injury bug. Their acquisition of Christian Wood from the Rockets appears like a good move, but he’s only ever put up numbers on a bad Houston Rockets team and is entering a contract year where he’ll be asked to come off the bench. That’s the question of the season for the Nuggets. As mentioned off the top, there are quite a few legitimate contenders to consider coming into the season.

BOULDER – Seven former University of Colorado men's basketball standouts – five players and two head coaches - are set for the 2022-23 NBA regular season ...

He averaged 19.1 points and 7.7 assists per game for the G-League Iowa Wolves in 2021-22. Originally a second-round pick by Detroit in 2014, Dinwiddie enters his ninth NBA season averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds over 387 career games. He has played the fourth-most NBA games of any former Buffalo, trailing only Chauncey Billups (1,043 in 17 seasons), Scott Wedman (906 in 13 seasons) and Jay Humphries (788 in 11 seasons). Wright is on a two-way contract with the Mavericks after joining the squad as a training camp invitee last month. Walker, selected by Portland with the 57th pick in the NBA Draft, played in five preseason games, averaging 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 60 percent. [Jabari Walker](/roster.aspx?rp_id=15382) (2020-22), tips off action with the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday at Sacramento at 8 p.m. White averaged 11.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists and played a key role in the Celtics run to the NBA Finals last season after a mid-season trade from San Antonio. Alec Burks (2009-11), Colorado's elder statesman among current NBA Buffs, debuts with the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, Oct. Burks enters his 12th NBA season with his seventh team. Burks played the last two seasons with the New York Knicks, playing a career-best 81 games in 2021-22. White enters his sixth overall season, averaging 11.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 263 career games. Derrick White (2016-17) and the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics tip off the former Buffaloes in the NBA on Tuesday, Oct.

NBC Sports weekly NBA Power Rankings are back to start the season, and it has the defending champion Golden State Warriors on top.

Not having ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/okc_primary-icon/) [Chet Holmgren](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/66330/chet-holmgren) for the season sucks, but there’s still talent on this team worth watching in [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30582/shai-gilgeous-alexander) and [Josh Giddey](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/64758/josh-giddey). The Bulls are going to rely on a backcourt combo of [Ayo Dosunmu](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51185/ayo-dosunmu) and [Alex Caruso](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30418/alex-caruso) to improve their defense. ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/nop_primary-icon/) [Zion Williamson](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/50955/zion-williamson) will play in the opener against Brooklyn despite turning his ankle in the preseason. Look for another All-NBA season from [Pascal Siakam](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30322/pascal-siakam) and a step forward from Rookie of the Year [Scottie Barnes](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/63426/scottie-barnes). Not having ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/chi_primary-icon/) [Lonzo Ball](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30428/lonzo-ball) to start the season hurts, both defensively and he is their best guard at pushing the pace. The Hawks new All-Star backcourt of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/atl_primary-icon/) [Trae Young](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30576/trae-young) and [Dejounte Murray](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30324/dejounte-murray) were clearly still getting used to playing next to each other in the preseason, with a lot of “your turn/my turn” going on. It’s just preseason, but the Cavaliers’ new backcourt of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/cle_primary-icon/) [Darius Garland](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51040/darius-garland) and [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30439/donovan-mitchell) showed some real chemistry playing off each other. The pressure is on the Clippers this season — this is a championship level roster on paper, one that overachieved last season basically without its stars and now get a healthy ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/lac_primary-icon/) [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29695/kawhi-leonard) and [Paul George](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29583/paul-george) to make that run. We didn’t see much of the twin towers of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2017/11/08/nba-power-rankings-detroit-minnesota-crash-top-five-party/min_primary-icon-2/) [Rudy Gobert](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29944/rudy-gobert) and [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30157/karl-anthony-towns) together in the preseason — they only played together in the final game against Brooklyn (and were -16 in the minutes both were on the floor). The Grizzlies lost more than they gained this offseason with DeAnthony Melton (76ers) and ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/mem_primary-icon/) [Kyle Anderson](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30067/kyle-anderson) (Timberwolves) going out the door. Could ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/phi_primary-icon/) [Tyrese Maxey](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/58302/tyrese-maxey) be second on this team in scoring this season? This is a championship-level roster — better than the one that went to the Finals last season thanks to the addition of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/bos_primary-icon/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30331/malcolm-brogdon) as a sixth man.

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off Tuesday, and our fantasy basketball experts are here to talk about the best players they see readily available on the free ...

[Herbert Jones](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277813/herbert-jones) or [Cameron Johnson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3138196/cameron-johnson). -- Cregan [Malik Beasley](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907822/malik-beasley), SG, [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) (46.3% rostered) For those in deeper formats, rookie wing [Bennedict Mathurin](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4683634/bennedict-mathurin) (14.3%) shined in the preseason and could be surprisingly productive early in his career in Rick Carlisle's fantasy-friendly system. A 24/7 threat to deal their one marquee low-post player ( [Myles Turner](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3133628/myles-turner)). Fast forward to today, and he's come into the season in great shape and is a serious contender for the Most Improved Player Award. [Myles Turner](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3133628/myles-turner) is back in the fold, but the longer play includes him breaking out in an unrestricted role for a lottery-bound Indiana team. While we don't know exactly what the plan is for the Jazz this season, we do know that Beasley is still only 25 years old, and that he showed during his time with the Timberwolves at the end of the 2019-20 season and over the whole of the 2020-21 season that he is fully capable of volume scoring on good percentages with excellent contributions from 3-point range. [Bones Hyland](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4592492/bones-hyland), PG, [Denver Nuggets](/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets) (24% rostered) Hyland has gotten a lot of buzz this offseason for the Nuggets. Adams doesn't score much or block many shots, but only 12 qualified players averaged double-digit rebounds last season, and he was one of them. [Jalen Smith](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4397189/jalen-smith), PF, [Indiana Pacers](/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers) (56.4% rostered) [Steven Adams](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2991235/steven-adams), C, [Memphis Grizzlies](/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies) (45.9% rostered)

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener.

The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. He was able to get to the free throw line often. The 76ers are looking to contend with the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Harden embarking on his first full season in Philadelphia after being swapped for Ben Simmons late last season in a trade with Brooklyn.

Everything you need to know about 76ers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors as the 2022-23 season tips off.

Harden then allowed [Jayson Tatum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) to coast by him for a layup on the following possession, and Embiid then committed his third foul at the other end. [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) gets tangled up with Philly's [Joel Embiid](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid), who hooked his arm and drew a foul. While [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season, it was Horford (third in NBA) and [Robert Williams III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066211/robert-williams-iii) (11th) who had the highest Defensive Real Plus Minus (DRPM) scores on the team. For all of the understandable focus on [Stephen Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry)'s heroics in that series, Boston lost because its offense couldn't get it done against Golden State's defense. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) at power forward. He has already drawn three 3-point shooting fouls, including a completed four-point play, and also became the first player in the NBA to shoot the free throw for the new take-foul rule at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. [Steph Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry) era, but the franchise has leaned into their total titles in new signage around the Chase Center. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) then came over and got in Embiid's face. [What to know about all 30 teams](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) is plus-12 in 18 minutes played even though he's only 1-for-4 from the field for 3 points. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) received their rings after winning their fourth title in the past eight seasons. "We don't want to be one of those teams -- and you very rarely see that in the NBA -- where teams are swaying according to who their opponent is starting," Ham said during his pregame remarks.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors received their 2021-22 NBA championship rings during a special pregame ceremony Tuesday during Champions Ring ...

Next month, the Warriors Community Foundation and Chase will launch a Championship Ring Sweepstakes, offering Warriors fans a chance to win an authentic 2021-22 NBA championship ring. Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more. [approximately 16 carats](https://www.nba.com/warriors/photos/warriors-2022-championship-rings) of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA playoffs, marking the first time a championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds.

Todos los detalles sobre la temporada 2022-2023 de la NBA. Posiciones, calendario, resultados, clasificación a Playoffs.

18:30, 19:30, 20:30, 1:30 (del jueves) [Sling TV](https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/2436205/1354917/14334), [fuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/nfl/?irad=356362&irmp=1131770&sharedID=editorial)(US); Star+ (MX, AR); NBA League Pass Posiciones de la temporada NBA 2022-2023 Movistar+ (ES); NBA League Pass Movistar Deportes (ES) [126-117](https://ar.global.nba.com/boxscore/#!/0022200001) [Sling TV (US)](https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/2436205/1354917/14334); Star+ (MX, AR); Movistar+ (ES), NBA League Pass [123-109](https://ar.global.nba.com/boxscore/#!/0022200002) [Clasificación a Playoffs](#Playoffs)

The Golden State Warriors won last season's NBA Finals after opening up with +1200 odds. Nothing wrong with that payout. This season the Warriors are the ...

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

The 2022-23 NBA season returns Tuesday. Here are our predictions on who will win the NBA Finals and additional award winners.

Two teams out West that could be in for something special if the stars align are the Pelicans with a healthy Zion Williamson and the Kings with their depth-filled roster. The Atlanta Hawks could jump back into the top tier of teams after landing Dejounte Murray while the Pacers and Detroit Pistons should both be fun to watch but not at serious playoff levels just yet. [Rookie of the Year](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/here-are-nba-rookie-year-favorites-2022-23), it’s fair to say [Sacramento Kings](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings) forward Keegan Murray is the rookie who will contribute the most out of the gate and claim the award. Based on my NBA Finals predictions, it would be safe to presume that Jokić and Antetokounmpo are once again in the conversation, along with Ja Morant, Curry and Tatum. New Orleans could be in for a 2021-22 Grizzlies jump in the standings while Sacramento could have a 2020-21 Grizzlies mini-breakout year. Rudy Gobert is probably in line for his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award now that he’s tasked with cleaning up alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. An underrated name here could be Cleveland Cavaliers second-year center Evan Mobley, who came on strong as a rookie and has more potential in him. 8 overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Generally, teams that thrive in the postseason atmosphere possess superstars who defy the opposition’s tactics offensively and deploy a foundation of switchable defenders who are disciplined and can handle multiple positions. He brings both of those factors and raises the level of quality on the court. Another one is Dyson Daniels, the No. Most teams have a clean slate right now, especially with Kawhi Leonard returning to the

The Warriors received their 2022 NBA championship rings on Tuesday night and they certainly did not disappoint.

Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven Championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA Championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more." "The rings feature approximately 16 carats of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, marking the first time a Championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds," the Warriors wrote in a statement. "Seven carats of yellow cushion cut diamonds on the bezel represent the team’s seven championships, while 43 baguettes in the bridge represent Stephen Curry’s 43-point performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals."

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Co. received their 2021-22 NBA championship rings in a ceremony ahead of the season opener vs. LeBron James and ...

The "NBA 75" logo was also added to commemorate the title coming in the league's 75th season. 6 [is being retired league-wide](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/08/11/bill-russell-no-6-permanently-retired-across-nba/10301336002/). [who died earlier this year at 88 years old](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/07/31/bill-russell-nba-celtics-legend-passes-away-88/101042728/), was honored before the Celtics' home opener Tuesday night. The Warriors went 11-1 at Chase Center in the playoffs, only dropping Game 1 of the NBA Finals. All that is set on a design that mimics the Celtics' parquet floor. The Warriors never lost again.

At first glance, coach Steve Kerr was stunned by the size of the Warriors' 2022-23 NBA championship rings.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

The Golden State Warriors didn't just take down the Lakers on Ring Night, they showed...

The providers of these cookies may use the data as explained in their privacy policies. You can opt out of these analytics cookies by unselecting the boxes below. You can continue to the site without accepting these cookies but certain features may not be available or function properly.

The Warriors had their ring ceremony on NBA Opening Night against the Lakers at home, where they received the gaudy new jewelry. The 16-carat rings, as these ...

The Warriors used yellow diamonds to make up the primary face of the ring, the first time that's been done for a championship ring, per the Warriors website. That's to highlight Curry's 43-point performance in Game 4 of the Finals against the Celtics. That's to represent the 91 percent winning percentage for the Warriors at home, another homage to their home-court advantage. 16 is representative of the 16 wins it took for the Warriors to win their seventh NBA championship. There's also a view of the interior of the arena down the side. To start, the rings' designs are modeled after the Warriors' home, the Chase Center.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, a basketball fan in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey took his seat for a preseason NBA game in a sold-out arena.

The crowd went nuts anytime Hachimura touched the ball. Scores of people packed in to watch a pair of preseason games between the Washington Wizards — featuring This would have been unremarkable if not for the fact the game was taking place 5,000 miles away from US shores and the Cavaliers weren't even part of it.

Every member of the deep Golden State roster had a moment to shine in Tuesday's win over the Lakers.

A team with 11 players deserving of significant minutes is a blessing and a curse, and the Warriors understand that just one game into the season. [Boston Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/). [Moses Moody](/nba/players/3177810/moses-moody/), who nearly every Warrior says plays and behaves beyond his years, looked like he was going to be the odd man out Tuesday night. Figuring out the secret sauce is going to be the key to the 2022-23 season. But even without a field goal, the 20-year-old showed how valuable he can be as a defender with his athleticism and versatility. [Andre Iguodala](/nba/players/498289/andre-iguodala/) when he's finally ready to play. So you have to just be patient with it, and we've all gone through it at some point in your career." Both said that Warriors observers needn't worry about the on-court chemistry between the two, and they proved it with one of the signature highlights of opening night, Poole's picture-perfect pocket pass to Green for a layup in the second quarter. They, like the veterans, each had a moment in the spotlight Tuesday night. [Kevon Looney](/nba/players/2152976/kevon-looney/) did what Kevon Looney does, putting up modest counting stats (seven points, six rebounds, two assists), but finishing at a team-high plus-30 in his 21 minutes. "He's just really good," Kerr said after the game. The Warriors' motto, "Strength in Numbers," is never more evident than on ring night.

The Warriors were a big winner Tuesday night as they got their 2022 NBA championship rings then kicked off a new season with a rout of the Lakers.

He likely will never coach the Celtics again, and his NBA future is in doubt. As they continue to improve – Tatum is in MVP candidate territory and Brown is on the verge of All-NBA status – the Celtics should remain contenders in the East. It was long past time the NBA took similar action. Mazzulla was a behind-the-bench assistant last season, but Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens believed in Mazzulla, who has earned the respect of Celtics players. Last season, Los Angeles was 22nd in 3-point percentage and 18th in 3-pointers made. The son of a high school coach, Mazzulla played at West Virginia and began his coaching career in 2011. Last season, there were more than 1,700 take fouls, new NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. the Lakers), Klay Thompson and Draymond Green aren’t playing for the Warriors, and the wins and titles won’t come as often as they do now. Outside of Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers with their 17 titles, no franchise has won more than the Warriors’ seven championships and four of those have happened in the previous eight seasons. They also defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109, and the Boston Celtics topped the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117 as the NBA opened its 2022-23 season. Celebrating the 2022 championship one more time on Tuesday on Ring Night, the Warriors and their fans better make sure they appreciate these moments and this era. "Inside the NBA" isn’t caught up in breaking news or breaking down all the nuances of the pick-and-roll or analytics.

Stephen Curry and Golden State cruised past LeBron James and the Lakers on opening night.

[Warriors may not be a runaway favorite](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/18/nba-finals-predictions-expert-picks-clippers-bucks-warriors-nuggets) in the manner they were during say, the [Kevin Durant](https://www.si.com/nba/player/kevin-durant) years. [Stephen Curry](https://www.si.com/nba/player/stephen-curry) was the only player to play over 30 minutes, and even then it was only a leisurely 33. Not in the current NBA, in which no team is head and shoulders above anyone else, [and superteams have largely gone the way of starry duos](https://www.si.com/nba/2021/10/19/end-of-nba-dynasties). “It was a ring night and that's really what we were focused on finishing the first game. [celebrated its 2022 championship with a ring ceremony](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/19/warriors-celebrate-2022-title-ring-ceremony-before-season-opener) and [breezy win over the Lakers on opening night](https://www.si.com/nba/warriors/news/steph-curry-reacts-to-opening-night-win-over-lakers). Still, the Warriors certainly resembled the version of themselves capable of winning it all in Game 1. Something everyone on the team has echoed since the The weeks leading up to the game were filled with [speculation about the Warriors’ future](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/12/draymond-green-warriors-jordan-poole-punch-fined). The [123–109 win against the Lakers](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/warriors-blow-out-lakers-in-season-opener-ak1987) followed a similar script to countless Warriors games from their best years. [could pick up right where it left off from when we last saw them](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/06/17/golden-state-warriors-stephen-curry-2022-nba-champions-daily-cover), when Golden State was the last team standing in the playoffs. But he does have the luxury of always being able to fall back on Curry and whoever else has it going when the team needs to make a run. “It reminds me of ‘14-’15,” Kerr said of the team’s depth after the game.

After the Warriors surged past the Lakers on opening night, NBA Twitter was buzzing with different reactions.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

The Warriors open their NBA title defense Tuesday against the Lakers, but first, there's a celebration: Golden State players will receive their championship ...

They, of course, did not win the title the previous season, but that game had a similar “ring night” feel to it.) The third point guard is normally a floor-general type and contrast to the scoring guards ahead of him. Still, NBA players are creatures of habit, and a prolonged ceremony before a regular-season game the team badly wants to win also represents a sharp break from that routine. Sometimes, I have to remember to score the ball.” The Warriors also dumped one of their two-ways and snatched up Ty Jerome on their quest for a point guard. A questioned, motivated Green is typically a great Green for the Warriors. The motivation for him to have a super charged, high impact regular season and playoffs is obvious. Jordan Poole is moving back to the bench with Klay Thompson in the lineup, but doesn’t need to obsess over how his minute and point totals will impact his market. Juan Toscano-Anderson, who knows the Warriors as well as anyone outside of the organization, said the key to defeating his former team is disrupting their offensive flow and taking away their preferred reads. The Lakers are going to have to scrap their base schemes and adjust to Golden State’s defense-bending shooting. Locking up Davis to start the year would be the kind of opening statement Green wants to start his Defensive Player of the Year campaign. Ham said he plans on sticking with one lineup for a while, and not changing his starters game to game, so this is a grouping that the Lakers will likely try for at least a few games until re-evaluating.

Here's how NBA Twitter reacted to the Warriors blowing out the Lakers on opening night, plus James Harden's viral moment.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

Jayson Tatum has confidence-booster game, James Harden shows lethal touch and 76ers' new faces have rough debuts.

None of the three were major factors in the loss to the Celtics. A fair number of players who played at the same level of Griffin wouldn’t stick around for this. They’ll need to be at their best when the Sixers are matched against the East powers. It’s an inconvenience at best, and a big loss at worst, for Boston as the Celtics make do until then. But Horford is 36 and the Celtics are rather thin at the power positions. It made for an interesting test case against Embiid, who led the league in scoring last season and, for the second time, was runner-up in the Kia MVP voting. He reset over the summer, reduced weight, signed a team-friendly contract extension that allowed the Sixers to add other players and came to camp feeling determined. Also, he was guarded Tuesday by Marcus Smart, the reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He arrived in midseason from Brooklyn and the initial expectations were just too steep and maybe unrealistic. By the way, Brown and Tatum have each had 30-plus points in the same regular season game 13 times in their careers together. Tatum had some terrific transitional moments against Philly where he made defensive stops and followed up with jumpers and layups, especially in the game-changing third quarter when the balance flipped to Boston. Last we saw Tatum, he was tossing bricks in the 2022 NBA Finals and coming up short in performance and energy against the Warriors.

'Tis the season for NBA prognosticating, with the league returning to the court for 2022-23 on Tuesday night. We released our forecast, which is based on ...

And you can keep track of how both systems view your favorite team all season long by checking out ESPN’s [BPI playoff odds](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/BPI-Playoff-Odds/espn-nba-basketball-power-index-playoff-odds) and [team ratings](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/Basketball-Power-Index/espn-nba-basketball-power-index), and [our NBA predictions dashboard](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-nba-predictions/). [injury Khris Middleton is still recovering from](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1582015598204424192) (remember, these are all current ratings), which takes a bite out of Milwaukee’s [projected rotation strength](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-nba-predictions/bucks/). [performance last season](https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2022.html) — while RAPTOR flips that around to a No. [1](#fn-1) [how much those players are projected to play](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-were-improving-our-nba-forecast-for-2022-23/), but BPI uses [Real Plus/Minus](http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm) as the basis of its player ratings (rather than RAPTOR) and has a self-regulating mechanism to adjust a team’s projections when it over- or underperforms the combined RPM values of its players. [3](#fn-3) [defense of Brook Lopez](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/nba-player-ratings/?player=Brook%20Lopez&season=2021), who should be healthy again after missing all but 13 games last regular season. For Milwaukee, the difference is more on the offensive side of the ball – although the two systems’ disagreement on the Bucks is fairly comprehensive. 1 while RAPTOR ranks it No. However, there are some teams that each system likes (or dislikes) slightly more than the other: But we aren’t the only ones peering into the crystal (basket)ball: ESPN also [released a forecast](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/BPI-Playoff-Odds/espn-nba-basketball-power-index-playoff-odds) based its own rating system, the [Basketball Power Index](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/Basketball-Power-Index/espn-nba-basketball-power-index), which tracks team strength slightly differently than RAPTOR does. 13). We Both metrics adjust for strength of schedule, rest days and game location, building ratings from the bottom up based on the estimated talent of the players on each roster and [2](#fn-2) [Elo-ized form](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-we-calculate-nba-elo-ratings/) for [current rosters](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-nba-predictions/warriors/).

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off & last year's finalists Boston Celtics & Golden State Warriors are leading NBA title contenders again along with the LA ...

“FanDuel TV was designed for viewers to watch and wager and Run it Back will bring a 360° view of the NBA including wagering trends to our audience,” said FanDuel’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Raffensperger. Curry earns the highest figure playing basketball and on the court this season at $48.1 million. 18 nightcap, and the Warriors are leading contenders again and co-favorites to win the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Forbes list of The defending champion Golden State Warriors battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the Oct. The Celtics are a leading favorite to return to the NBA finals for the second straight season, but a slight second choice behind the Eastern Conference favorite Milwaukee Bucks.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

Last year's conference champs showed exactly why they will be forces to be reckoned with over the course of this new season.

Domination from tip to buzzer by the Warriors, whose play matched the shine glimmering off the 2022 Championship rings they received in the pregame festivities. The game, though? Against any other conference foe, the Sixers might have come out on top on Tuesday. It feels like it was yesterday that Tommy was in kindergarten; that the first Hangover was in theaters; that Stephen Curry was winning his first title. On the other side, James Harden led the way in scoring for the 76ers with 35, while Joel Embiid poured in 26 of his own and snatched 15 rebounds. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 70 points (35 apiece) to pace the Celtics to victory.

No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero leads an intriguing group of newcomers in 2022-23.

He played well with the Cavs in Las Vegas (15 ppg, 4.8 rpg) but now might get more reps with the rebuilding Jazz. He hit 61% of his shots while averaging 14.4 points in five games and he led all rookies with 26 total assists (5.2 per game). With Holmgren out, Dieng has the distinction of being the Thunder rookie not named (Jaylin or Jalen) Williams. The Pistons envision a backcourt duo with last year’s No. One role model who’s been mentioned: Draymond Green, right down to the “triple-single” offensive results. As eager as Thunder fans were to see Holmgren play before the August foot injury that wiped out his season, they might get even more excited if the setback shifts OKC into an unabashed “2023 Draft” strategy. No. The only exceptions: New York’s Mark Jackson in 1988, the No. That happened in 2003 with Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire (9th overall in 2002) and again in 2014 with Michael Carter-Williams (11th overall). 18 pick overall in the previous spring’s draft; and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon in 2017, rising up from No. For one of the newcomers, there will be a special prize in about eight months: the Kia Rookie of the Year Award. Shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on draft night was one thing; suiting up and playing in actual NBA regular-season competition is a whole other level.

Listing the top five basketball shoes worn during the opening night of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Meanwhile, James wore the Nike LeBron 20 in the 'Purple & Gold' colorway. The Nike LeBron 20 has flown off the shelves since its release in late September. We knew the 2022 NBA Finals MVP, Stephen Curry, would go big on ring night. Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden wore a new colorway of the Adidas Harden Vol. [complicated history](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/on-court/jaden-ivey-makes-summer-league-debut-in-nike-kobe-6) of the shoes back in July. So it was only fitting that the German company supply the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with special shoes for the big night. Below is our ranking of the top five shoes from the 2022 NBA Opening Night. Harden has worn different colorways of his 7th signature sneaker with Adidas throughout the summer. [Nike LeBron 20](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/nike-lebron-20) in the 'Time Machine' colorway. Later, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. In the first matchup, the Boston Celtics handled the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the shoes still have not been released to the public.

A tough loss to Golden State ended Boston's championship hopes last season. The lessons from that series are already showing.

In their pregame huddle, the Celtics reminded one another to “honor the man” with their work that evening. [the business](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/sports/basketball/stephen-curry-nba-finals-golden-state.html) — in Game 6 of the N.B.A. Tuesday’s game was preceded by a ceremony to honor him that included [remarks from Brown](https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1582518825966182400?s=20&t=-1v69_U5sLJJvI1MyxKtvg) — “Our gratitude is endless,” he said — and [a new work by Porsha Olayiwola](https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1582516123609681920?s=20&t=-1v69_U5sLJJvI1MyxKtvg), Boston’s poet laureate. The Celtics wore special jerseys embroidered with 11 diamond patches, a nod to the 11 championships that the team won with Russell. Curry left Boston with [another championship](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/16/sports/basketball/golden-state-wins-nba-championship.html), and Tatum and Brown were left to contemplate how they could take the next step. The Celtics appear determined to play hard and play fast. “And I think playing with pace was one of the things they wanted to improve.” Brown shot 14 of 24 from the field, while Tatum shot 13 of 20 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Instead, the Celtics seemed to rededicate themselves to their singular goal of winning a championship. His [sudden absence](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-ime-udoka-suspension-celtics.html) could have been disruptive. And if Joe Mazzulla, the team’s 34-year-old interim coach, is daunted by the task ahead of him, he hardly showed it Tuesday night as the Celtics opened their season with a 126-117 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. BOSTON — The Celtics talked an awful lot in training camp about the value of experience.