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Chauncey Billups Arrested As Result Of Illegal Gambling Investigation

October 23rd, 2025 at 9:38am CST by Luke Adams

9:38 am: According to law enforcement officials, 31 people have been taken into custody in connection to a scheme to rig illegal poker games that were backed by several New York crime families, per NBC News.

Prosecutors allege that recognizable figures like Billups were used to lure in victims who weren’t aware that everyone else involved in the games was in on the scam.

“Once the game was underway, the defendants fleeced the victims out of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per game,” said Nocella, who went on to explain that technology like hidden cameras, special contact lenses and eyeglasses, and an X-ray table that could read cards placed face down was used as part of the scheme.

8:10 am: Billups’ arrest is related to an illegal poker operation tied to the mafia, according to Aaron Katersky of ABC News, who reports that the case is separate from – but related to – the illegal gambling case for which Rozier was arrested.

7:34 am: Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been arrested in connection with the federal investigation into illegal gambling, report Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst of NBC News (Twitter link). He’ll appear in federal court in Oregon later today, tweets Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

While we’ve known for nearly nine months that Terry Rozier – who was also arrested on Thursday morning – was being investigated as part of a probe into illegal gambling, Billups’ connection to the case is new.

It’s unclear at this point what the federal investigation uncovered that led to the arrest of the Hall of Famer, but according to Winter and Dienst, it’s not related to bets made on games that Billups coached.

Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, will be joined by officials from the FBI, Homeland Security, and New York City police for a press conference on Thursday at approximately 10:00 am Eastern time to announce the latest developments in the investigation.

Billups was on the sidelines for the Trail Blazers’ season opener less than 12 hours ago. It’s safe to assume one of his assistants will serve as Portland’s head coach when the team faces Golden State on Friday night, with Nate Bjorkgren likely the favorite. Bjorkgren briefly served as the Blazers’ acting head coach last winter when Billups missed time for family reasons.

Billups has coached the Blazers since being hired by the team in June of 2021. He signed an extension with Portland in the spring and is under contract until 2028.

Besides Rozier and Billups, former Pistons sharpshooter Malik Beasley was also being investigated due to alleged illegal betting. According to investigative reporter and podcaster Pablo Torre (Twitter link), Beasley’s fate hinges on today’s announcement. He was previously investigated by the NBA and cleared after the league learned he made “a bet or two on another sport,” per Torre.

Heat’s Terry Rozier Arrested In Relation To Gambling Probe

October 23rd, 2025 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

9:28 am: Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty has shared the following statement with NBC News:

“A long time ago, we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel.

“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender, they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case.

“They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA, and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”

Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones has also been arrested as a result of the investigation, per NBC News.

Rozier, Jones, and the four other individuals connected to the illegal sports betting case have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, tweets Chris Mannix of SI.com.

Jones has also been connected to the separate (but related) investigation into illegal poker games with mafia ties, Mannix adds (via Twitter). Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in connection with that case, as we detail in a separate story.

8:09 am: Rozier is among six people being charged on Thursday for a scheme to use inside information to place unlawful wagers on basketball games, according to Aaron Katersky of ABC News.

6:52 am: Heat guard Terry Rozier has been arrested by the FBI as a result of a federal investigation into illegal sports betting, according to investigative reporter and podcaster Pablo Torre (Twitter link).

Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, will be joined by officials from the FBI, Homeland Security, and New York City police for a press conference on Thursday at approximately 10:00 am Eastern time to discuss the latest developments in the probe into illegal sports betting and poker games, including numerous arrests.

Word broke back in January that federal prosecutors in New York were investigating Rozier as part of a probe into illegal sports betting. Investigators were specifically looking at a game that took place on March 23, 2023, when the veteran guard was still a member of the Hornets.

Ahead of that game, one bettor reportedly placed 30 wagers in 46 minutes on the “unders” on Rozier-related prop bets at a casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, raising alarms about potential suspicious activity. At the same time, there was a rush on multiple sportsbooks in New Orleans of under bets on Rozier props. Sportsbooks and the NBA were alerted, and some books stopped taking bets related to Rozier’s performance that day.

After recording five points, four rebounds and two assists in 9:34 of action in the first quarter, Rozier exited the game during a timeout and didn’t return, citing a foot issue. All 30 of those “under” prop bets won as a result of the abbreviated outing, and Rozier didn’t play the final eight games of the 2022/23 season due to the injury.

ESPN’s Shams Charania said during a TV appearance in June that Rozier had been “cleared, as of right now.” However, subsequent reporting indicated that wasn’t accurate, and that investigators were still looking at the 31-year-old, even if he wasn’t the specific target of the probe.

Rozier was permitted to continue playing for the Heat last season while the investigation was ongoing, but he had one of the worst years of his career, averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 25.9 minutes per game across 64 outings while shooting just 39.1% from the floor and 29.5% from beyond the three-point line. He didn’t see any action in Miami’s season opener on Wednesday.

If Rozier were to be banned by the NBA as a result of this investigation, his contract would be voided and his expiring $26.6MM salary would come off the Heat’s books, notes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The federal investigation into illegal gambling is part of the same government probe which saw former Raptors big man Jontay Porter plead guilty to a federal felony charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Following an investigation, Porter was banned from the NBA for violating league rules “by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.”

Free agent sharpshooter Malik Beasley was under investigation as part of the same federal probe, but there has been no indication yet that he has either been arrested or cleared. If he were to be cleared by investigators – and by the NBA – Beasley would immediately become the most popular target on the free agent market.

Spencer Dinwiddie Signs With Bayern Munich

October 23rd, 2025 at 8:54am CST by Luke Adams

After having been linked to multiple EuroLeague teams, including Olympiacos, free agent point guard Spencer Dinwiddie has officially signed with Bayern Munich, the German club announced in a press release. The deal doesn’t include an NBA out clause, according to the team.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Dinwiddie signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with Charlotte in July. Although the deal was fully guaranteed, the 32-year-old became the victim of a preseason roster crunch for the Hornets, who waived him last Thursday in order to set their regular season roster.

Dinwiddie spent last season in Dallas and played a more significant role than expected due to the Luka Doncic trade and a series of injuries affecting guards like Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum. He was one of the only Mavericks players who made it through the season without dealing with any major health issues.

In 79 games (30 starts), Dinwiddie averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .416/.334/.802.

Dinwiddie’s new team competes in both the EuroLeague and Germany’s top league (Basketball Bundesliga). Bayern just missed the EuroLeague playoffs last year after finishing with a 19-15 record, losing to Real Madrid in the play-in tournament for the final spot. However, the club is a powerhouse in the German league, having won each of the past two domestic titles. Dinwiddie will look to help make it three in a row for Bayern in 2025/26.

Sixers Notes: Edgecombe, Maxey, Embiid, Barlow

October 22nd, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Eli Cohen

VJ Edgecombe had a historic debut for the Sixers on Wednesday, scoring the most points in a rookie debut since Wilt Chamberlain, writes Kurt Helin for NBC Sports.

After starting the game with 14 first-quarter points, Edgecombe finished with 34 for the game, the third-highest mark ever for a rookie in his first NBA outing. He also added seven rebounds, three assists, and five three-pointers.

“We certainly needed the offense, and he certainly just looked pretty comfortable out there,” head coach Nick Nurse said after the game. “Again, I think that’s probably one thing I’ve noticed the most about him, is he seems to really know what’s going on out there for a young player. You just don’t see him making silly mistakes, or many mistakes. He is just playing the right way. He’s got a very good feel for the game.”

It wasn’t all perfect for the third overall pick. Edgecombe went to the line with a one-point lead and 7.3 seconds on the clock and missed both free throws, but the Celtics were unable to take advantage, allowing the Sixers to escape with the win.

We have more Sixers notes:

Prior to Wednesday’s opener, Tyrese Maxey reflected on his path to becoming a leader with this Philadelphia team. “I used to always smile, but I know that I can’t be that guy anymore,” Maxey said told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “I kind of leave it up to Jared (McCain) and VJ. I want them to be extremely happy and have fun and just focus on playing basketball. That’s what they deserve to do.” One thing Maxey is focused on is letting go of a disaster 2024/25 season. On Wednesday, he took a good first step in that direction, leading the team to a win over Boston with 40 points on 24 shots and six assists to just one turnover.
One of the hardest things for a superstar to do is accept their limitations, but that’s exactly what Joel Embiid has been forced to do, writes Keith Pompey for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Embiid knows he’s perceived differently after the injuries that have caused him to lose so much time. “We got a bunch of athletes,” Embiid said. “We’ve got to release them… They’ve got to run. My job is to find them and, in a way, that also kind of saves me, because if we get early baskets and easy baskets, I won’t have to run up and down. I can just let those guys push the pace, attack. And if we don’t have anything, I’ve always trailed anyway in my career. Then I can come in and get into the offense.” In the season opener, Embiid was limited to four points on 1-of-9 shooting while playing just 20 minutes. Nurse confirmed ahead of the game that Embiid would be on a minutes restriction, Pompey reported (via Twitter).
Two-way big man Dominick Barlow got the start for the Sixers and ended the night with 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one block in 34 minutes. After a strong preseason, he continued to impress, causing Jones to predict (via Twitter) that Barlow will have his contract converted to a standard NBA deal at some point this season.

Kings Notes: Westbrook, Murray, Future, Maxiell

October 22nd, 2025 at 9:02pm CST by Eli Cohen

After signing with the Kings last week, veteran point guard Russell Westbrook spoke on Sunday about why and how he chose Sacramento and what his future with the team looks like.

“I don’t know how it all came together so quickly,” Westbrook said (Twitter video link via Matt George of ABC10). “Obviously, I have a lot of friends and guys that I’ve played with on this team, familiarity with our games and different things like that.”

He also discussed what he believes his role to be as a leader in a locker room.

“Leadership is not just something that, unfortunately, you guys see on the floor, but my job and one of my traits as a leader is to be able to learn about guys’ journeys off the floor, how they got to this point, what inspires them, what pushes them,” he said. “To me, that’s what I look forward to most in any part of my journey: being able to impact and inspire someone daily… to run into somebody and maybe I can inspire them to do something that they didn’t think they could do. So I look forward to doing that.”

The Kings are widely projected to be a lottery team in 2025/26, but Westbrook suggested he views those low expectations from outside observers as a source of motivation entering the season. He also squashed any idea of this being his last season, responding, simply, “Yeah, right.”

We have more Kings notes:

Despite some mixed reactions from around the league to the five-year, $140MM deal, the Kings probably couldn’t afford not to extend Keegan Murray, who is the team’s most successful homegrown talent in recent years who wasn’t traded away (or at least, hasn’t been traded yet), writes Yossi Gozlan for The Third Apron (Substack link). Gozlan refers to Murray’s new salary, which will account for around 14-15% of the salary cap moving forward, “probably the most sensible on the roster” relative to similar players around the league.
In the same article, Gozlan notes that the Kings are now looking at a projected 2026/27 payroll surpassing $200MM, making them a luxury tax team if they don’t make any major changes. On a team without a clear pathway towards competing in the Western Conference, Gozlan considers Murray the only veteran on the roster with clear long-term security.
Former Piston Jason Maxiell has joined the organization as an assistant coach for the Stockton Kings, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter). Maxiell played 10 years in the NBA, eight of which were spent with Detroit, with whom he averaged 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 523 games.

New York Notes: Robinson, Thibodeau, Demin, Thomas

October 22nd, 2025 at 8:00pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Knicks are facing the ghosts of injuries past as recently anointed starting center Mitchell Robinson opens the season inactive due to load management, writes Kristian Winfield for the New York Daily News.

Winfield notes that there’s no official timetable for Robinson’s season debut, a dissatisfying data point in a confusing saga that began when Robinson sat out the second half of the team’s October 9 preseason game after playing the first half. According to head coach Mike Brown, that uncertainty may not be resolved in the near future.

“There may be a stretch of five games where we may sit him. There may be a stretch of two games where we may sit him,” Brown said. “There’s no definition of what load management is. You just go along … myself and the medical team and the front office will go along as we see fit, and we’ll decide if we want to sit him during practice or we want to sit him in a game. It’s as simple as that.”

Stefan Bondy of the New York Post also expresses some confusion regarding Robinson’s status, writing that he doesn’t understand why the big man is sitting out on opening night if he didn’t suffer some sort of injury or setback during the preseason. Bondy also relays Brown’s explanation for Robinson missing the team’s season opener.

“Just because he might be able to play tonight, he might be able to practice today, that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m gonna play him or I’m gonna practice him,” Brown said.

We have more from around the world of New York basketball:

The Knicks‘ decision to part ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau this summer after one of their most successful seasons in recent memory came down to a philosophical misalignment with certain members of the front office, writes Ian O’Connor for The Athletic, who says those front office executives were focused far more on Thibodeau’s flaws than his strengths. “In their world, the players were 51-0 and Tom was 0-31… He also had a sense of betrayal,” a source close to him said. “When you find out that people you helped either weren’t with you in the end or didn’t fight for you like you fought for them, that stings.”
Egor Demin was intent on preparing his body for the Nets‘ season as he recovered from plantar fasciitis, writes Peter Botte for the New York Post. Demin has added over 10 pounds of muscle since being drafted and he said the difference is noticeable. “[I wanted] to be able to compete against athletes as we have [in the NBA], so I can be a little bit heavier to be stronger on defense, on offense, to get into the paint, and things like this,” Demin said. “As long as I’m above that [number], it’s good, but not too much [because] I want to still be able to run. But I think I’m in a good balance right now with my weight, muscles and condition.” Demin came off the bench on Wednesday in the Nets’ season opener against the Hornets.
Cam Thomas will return to free agency in 2026 after accepting his qualifying offer following a lengthy standoff with the Nets this summer. However, he’s not struggling to keep his eye on the ball, literally, as he enters another contract year, writes The New York Post’s Brian Lewis. “I’m not really worried about that. It’ll take care of itself,” Thomas said of his place in Brooklyn and his contract situation going forward. “The main goal is just being on the court and playing, being out there. I love to hoop, I love to play, so that’s really the main thing I’m trying to do this year. Whatever happens, happens. I’ll let that take care of itself.” After a season shortened by injuries, Thomas came into this year slimmed down and ready to take on an even bigger role.

Lakers Notes: Doncic, James, Vincent, Opener

October 22nd, 2025 at 7:02pm CST by Eli Cohen

Following the Lakers‘ season opener against the Warriors on Tuesday, star guard Luka Doncic required treatment in the training room on the inside of his right leg, writes ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. However, Doncic, who played a team-high 41 minutes in the first game of the season, downplayed the issue.

“It’s probably nothing,” Doncic said. “Just felt it a little bit because my hip went [the opposite] way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.”

Head coach JJ Redick also didn’t seem overly concerned about the potential injury when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

“He seems to be fine. I don’t think it’s anything major,” Redick said. “He got some treatment this morning and we didn’t practice long, but he was a participant in practice.”

Doncic scored 43 points to go along with 12 rebounds and nine assists in the Lakers’ loss to the Warriors. As McMenamin notes, the team now has two days of recovery time before its second game of the season on Friday against Minnesota.

We have more from the Lakers:

While the Lakers showed some promise in Tuesday’s loss, the performance also showed the team’s desperate need for LeBron James, writes Dan Woike for The Athletic. “I’ll be honest with you, I did have one moment in that first half when we had a few possessions, couldn’t score against the zone, I (thought), ‘That’d be great to have LeBron just to throw it to the high post,’” Redick said. While James was unable to help on the court, he’s already helping off the court, writes McMenamin. According to Redick, LeBron was a vocal and helpful presence during the team’s post-game film session. “[James] asking questions, him giving his input, us having a back-and-forth is so healthy,” Redick said.
Gabe Vincent was something of a forgotten man coming into this season, but after a strong preseason, he’s seeing his optimism and hard work pay off, writes Woike. “They’ll get everything I have to offer,” Vincent said. “I’ll be pouring everything into it because I’m trying to win.” Redick said he wished he had a team full of Vincents, though he went on to add, “I think everybody does possess those qualities; otherwise they wouldn’t be a Laker. The difference is he’s the most consistent in bringing those qualities every single time.”
Tuesday’s loss was only one game, but it was enough to raise concerns, writes Bill Plaschke for the Los Angeles Times. The team showed its lack of depth, Plaschke writes, exemplified by questionable debuts from Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia. L.A. also had 20 turnovers and 11 missed free throws. “Not being organized in early offense,” Redick said, listing the problem areas. “Having the wrong guy bring it up. Not sprinting back. We make a run, we got two guys back, Buddy Hield gets a wide-open three for some reason on a full-court pass. Those are self-inflicted things. So it’s not anything Golden State did to us.” He went on to say that while having James available would help, what’s even more important is for the role players to play like stars in their roles.

Pacers Notes: Jones, Turner, Mathurin, Nesmith

October 22nd, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Eli Cohen

After being arrested on Monday for alleged erratic driving, Pacers rookie Kam Jones was determined to apologize, both to his team and to the public, writes Dustin Dopirak of the Indy Star.

“I’m deeply sorry to the Pacers organization and the fans,” Jones said. “This was a very, very traumatic experience for me. I’ve never been through anything like this, but definitely a mistake that I’ve learned from. … It won’t happen again. I’m deeply sorry to the organization and I’m looking forward to letting this one go past and get back to work.”

Subsequent reporting indicated that Jones told police he was running late for practice. Dopirak clarifies that while the Pacers didn’t actually hold a practice on Monday, Jones was on his way to the team facility for treatment and rehab on the back injury that has prevented him from participating in preseason.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle backed Jones publicly, telling reporters that the rookie was insistent on making his apologies and vouching for his character, which Carlisle described as “exemplary.”

“My feeling is that this is going to turn out to be a speeding ticket and probably not much more,” Carlisle said. “The kid thought he was going to be late to practice so he was going too fast. I’m not going to get into much more about it than that.”

We have more from the Pacers:

Longtime Pacers center Myles Turner didn’t expect to be changing teams when this summer began, writes Eric Nehm for The Athletic. “I thought that we would be on the same page in terms of where I’m at in my career, being 29 years old, heading into my prime and just knowing what I wanted from this next contract,” Turner said. “But we, unfortunately, just weren’t aligned. It was a surprise because I had a great, great conversation with the front office before I left, and I really thought that we were aligned for the future. So, it was kind of a shock that our heads weren’t together.” While there were conflicting reports over the summer about what the Pacers were offering Turner, Nehm hears that they never exceeded about $22MM per year for three seasons. Underwhelmed by Indiana’s proposal, Turner and his agent began looking around the league for alternatives, which resulted in him becoming the newest starting center for the division rival Bucks.
Bennedict Mathurin was one of 12 eligible players who didn’t sign a rookie scale extension by Monday’s deadline, but he’s not stressing about it, Dopirak writes in a separate story. “It’s not that big of a deal, man,” Mathurin said. “Obviously, I would’ve loved to, but I’m not worried about that. It’s just about going into the game, going into the season with my mind straight knowing that, you know what? I’m going to have a great season. I can actually be who I’ve been wanting to be.” Mathurin had been considered unlikely to receive an extension, given the multitude of higher-value contracts already on the roster. This season, he will have an opportunity to show Indiana and the league who he can be with a bigger opportunity.
After being widely viewed as an afterthought to start his career with the Celtics, Aaron Nesmith is more appreciative of his spot with the Pacers than ever after signing a two-year extension to stay with the team, Dopirak writes. “It’s awesome,” Nesmith said. “Second contract is a big deal for a lot of guys and for this one, it was really, like I said, just really stamping that I want to bring a championship to this city and continue to build this thing up. That was all this deal was about.” Carlisle is happy to have Nesmith under contract for the next four seasons: “He’s a proven starter on a championship-caliber team. The opportunity to keep him in the fold for an additional two years is a great event for the franchise. Happy for him. Happy for the organization.”

Cavs Pick Up Third-Year Option On Jaylon Tyson

October 22nd, 2025 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have exercised their third-year option on guard Jaylon Tyson for the 2026/27 season, the team announced today in a press release.

The move ensures that Tyson’s contract is guaranteed for at least the next two seasons. He’ll earn $3,492,480 in 2025/26 and $3,658,560 in ’26/27, with the Cavs facing a decision next fall on his $5,641,500 option for the ’27/28 season, the fourth year of his rookie scale contract.

Tyson, who will turn 23 in December, played a limited role as a rookie after being drafted 20th overall in 2024. While he saw the floor in 47 games, he averaged just 9.6 minutes per night and often only got off the bench in garbage time.

The 6’6″ shooting guard contributed 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while making 43.0% of his shots from the floor (including 34.5% of his three-pointers) and 79.2% from the free throw line.

As our tracker shows, Tyson is the only Cavalier whose contract includes a rookie scale team option for 2026/27, so the team won’t have to make any more contract decisions by the October 31 deadline.

Warriors Notes: Kuminga, Butler, Curry, Green

October 22nd, 2025 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

After free agency negotiations between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga dragged on for the entire offseason amid questions about the forward’s place in Golden State’s lineup (and future), Kuminga looked like a natural fit in the first game of the season on Tuesday, contributing 17 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in a victory over the Lakers.

Kuminga, who had career averages of 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in his first four NBA seasons, said after the game that he’s committed to finding ways to help the team beyond his scoring, per Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.

“It was just one of my goals coming into this year,” Kuminga said. “Just trying to be on the boards as much as I can. And guarding the best players. The main thing moving forward is just getting better and doing that every day. When my shots are not falling, just find a way to impact the game. Doing the small things that matter. I’m gonna have my moment when they’re gonna need me to go out and score.”

Kuminga’s most productive stretch of the night came in the third quarter, when he scored 13 of his points and made a trio of three-pointers. However, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, his teammates were talking after the game about a key offensive rebound late in the fourth quarter that set up a Stephen Curry dagger to seal the victory.

“That rebound is what everyone in the world has been waiting to see,” Draymond Green said. “You have that athleticism, you go make big plays. You have superstar potential, you go make big plays. Those are game-winning plays. When you ask for opportunity, you must deliver. He’s been very vocal about his opportunity, and he delivered.”

Here’s more on the Warriors:

Head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game that he thinks Kuminga has “really, really matured” and noted that Jimmy Butler‘s leadership has been a factor. “(Kuminga’s) had a great camp,” Kerr said, according to Thompson. “We’ve had some really good conversations. I think he has a better understanding of what we need. “I think he just has a better sense of what’s needed now compared to past years, and I think Jimmy has really helped him, too. Jimmy has talked to him a lot during camp, he’s taken him aside after practices.”
A belief that Curry’s heavy workload in the first round of last season’s playoffs contributed to the hamstring injury he sustained early in round two is one key reason why Kerr will make it a greater priority than ever to manage the star guard’s workload in 2025/26, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. “(Warriors head of player health and performance) Rick Celebrini shared that with me,” Kerr said. “I asked him (about the possible correlation), and he said, ‘Absolutely. One hundred percent.’ So we have to try to keep the minutes down as best we can.” According to Amick, the goal within the organization is to have the team’s older veterans (Curry, Butler, and Green) top out around 34 minutes on a given night.
Although Kuminga is widely considered an in-season trade candidate, Amick suggests there aren’t many players expected to be available whom the Warriors would want to move him for. According to Amick, Pelicans sharpshooter Trey Murphy III is a name that “continues to circulate” as a potential target, but there has been no indication New Orleans wants to move Murphy, who is in the first season of a four-year contract.
Butler’s opening night performance – including a game-high 31 points – served as a reminder of why the Warriors need him, and vice versa, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. In Butler, the Warriors have another “alpha” who benefits from the defensive attention that Curry commands. “Everybody pays attention to Steph,” Butler said. “I got the easy job.”

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