Charles Bassey Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southwest Notes: Davis, Morant, W. Green, Edey, Bassey

November 7th, 2025 at 1:53pm CST by Arthur Hill

Anthony Davis‘ early-season injury is bringing back memories of the events that led to last season’s Luka Doncic trade, writes Christian Clark of The Athletic. Like Doncic, Davis reported to training camp weighing more than usual with a plan to work himself back into shape once the season began. The big man weighed in at 268 pounds for the start of camp, about 15 pounds heavier than last season.

Davis was productive in his first four games, although Clark states that some rival scouts and coaches said he didn’t look as mobile as he used to be. He was forced out of an October 29 game with a left calf strain, which is the same injury that hampered Doncic last season and eventually led to his departure. Davis hasn’t played since then and is listed as doubtful for tonight’s NBA Cup contest against Memphis.

The Mavericks were reluctant to make an investment in Doncic because of concerns about his physical condition, and Clark notes that they’ll soon be facing a similar decision with Davis. He’s owed $58.5MM for 2026/27 and has a $62.8MM player option for the following season. He’ll become eligible for a contract extension next summer and can earn up to $218.5MM by picking up his option and extending for three more years. He’s already 32 with a lengthy injury history, so general manager Nico Harrison will have to determine if he’s more deserving of a long-term deal than Doncic was.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Last week’s blowout between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies‘ coaching staff hasn’t affected his relationship with teammate Jaren Jackson Jr., sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. They remain united in their determination to turn the season around, and general manager Zach Kleiman hasn’t lost confidence in his two stars. Siegel states that there’s no indication that Kleiman has thought about trading Morant, and Morant hasn’t expressed a desire to be dealt. Siegel also hears that Morant received support from several teammates after clashing with coach Tuomas Iisalo over his unorthodox substitution patterns.
An 0-6 start increased speculation about Willie Green’s job security, and the Pelicans‘ front office had “serious internal conversations” about making a change, Siegel adds in the same piece. Controversial decisions may lead to Green’s demise, Siegel states, citing the choice of giving playing time to rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears ahead of Jordan Poole. Sources tell Siegel that the move caused “visible frustration” for Poole and “did not sit right” with some of his teammates. There was also consternation about starting DeAndre Jordan ahead of Yves Missi, who made the All-Rookie team last year, and lead executive Joe Dumars was unhappy early in the season that Derik Queen wasn’t getting enough minutes.
The Grizzlies announced (via Twitter) that they’ve assigned Zach Edey and GG Jackson II to practice with their G League affiliate. Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com notes that Edey has entered the front end of his projected “return-to-play” window following ankle surgery (Twitter link). Wallace adds that Charles Bassey is no longer with the team after his 10-day hardship contract expired on Wednesday.

Grizzlies Notes: Coward, Small, Morant, Bassey

October 27th, 2025 at 11:16pm CST by Rory Maher

After a slow start during the preseason, rookie Cedric Coward has quickly shown why the Grizzlies were so high on him entering the 2025 draft. Memphis traded a future first-round pick and two second-rounders in order to move up five spots from No. 16 to draft Coward at No. 11 overall.

The 22-year-old wing, who earned praise from his coaches and teammates during training camp, averaged an extremely efficient 15.0 points per game over his first two contests. And in Saturday’s victory over Indiana, Coward erupted for 27 points (on 9-of-13 shooting), six rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes.

“It’s just been waiting to happen,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (subscription required). “He’s making those shots in practice and knocking them down at a high clip. Great free throw shooter, like, all the signs are there.”

As Sharon Brown of The Memphis Flyer writes, Coward doesn’t act or play like a rookie, with an even-keeled demeanor, “quiet confidence,” and excellent work ethic — traits that should serve him well over a long season.

“It’s super important,” Coward said of his poised demeanor. “We’ve got 82 of these things, plus playoffs … You have to take the highs and the lows the same. You can’t just do it one time and be satisfied.”

We have more from Memphis:

In addition to Coward, backcourt injuries have also created an opportunity for rookie guard Javon Small, writes Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com. “He’s worked extremely hard to learn a ton of things in a short amount of time,” Iisalo said of Small, who is on a two-way contract. “He’s doing a great job. He listens. He just absorbs. He has a confidence that really works for us, and he’s become big-time for us in a situation that we really needed him.”
Star point guard Ja Morant used to be mentioned as one of the future faces of the league until off-court incidents and injuries changed the trajectory of his career, but he tells Nick Friedell of The Athletic he was never interested in filling the role. “There’s a lot that comes with that,” Morant said. “I play basketball for the love of the game, not to be the face of the NBA. Obviously, I hear that a lot. I don’t put no pressure on it. I just go out and just play my game. Me pretty much just going out there and doing that had me in those conversations. Obviously, people have their own opinions, but I really don’t care for it too much.”
The Grizzlies signed center Charles Bassey to a 10-day hardship contract on Monday. Iisalo praised the Nigerian big man’s rebounding prowess and said he’ll get a chance to play for Memphis at some point, as Cole relays (via Twitter). “He will get his opportunity,” Iisalo said of Bassey. “Whether that comes today or in the future games, that remains to be seen.”

Grizzlies Sign Charles Bassey To 10-Day Hardship Deal

October 27th, 2025 at 12:15pm CST by Eli Cohen

October 27: Bassey’s 10-day contract with the Grizzlies is now official, the team announced (Twitter link).

October 26: The Grizzlies are preparing to sign free agent center Charles Bassey, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter).

Memphis doesn’t have an open 15-man roster spot, but will complete the signing using a hardship exception, which allows a club to temporarily add a 16th man.

A team qualifies for a hardship exception if it has at least four players who have missed three consecutive games and are expected to be sidelined for at least two more weeks. Ty Jerome, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Brandon Clarke fit that bill for the Grizzlies, per Charania.

Bassey is entering his fifth season in the NBA, having spent the last three seasons with the Spurs after playing for the Sixers as a rookie. The former 53rd overall pick holds career averages of 4.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 11.1 minutes per game.

Bassey, a 6’10” center, will turn 25 in two days and can provide some stability at the center spot, which has been manned primarily by Jock Landale to start the season.

The Grizzlies are 2-1, with wins over the Pacers and Pelicans, though they gave up 146 points in a loss to the Heat on Friday and currently boast the sixth-worst mark among teams for opponent scoring allowed, giving up 123.7 points per game.

Hardship deals cover 10 days at a time. If the Grizzlies still meet the hardship criteria when Bassey’s first 10-day contract expires, he could be signed to a second 10-day deal.

Hawks Waive Charles Bassey, Lamont Butler

October 18th, 2025 at 11:23am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hawks have waived Charles Bassey and Lamont Butler, ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk tweets. The moves reduce the Hawks’ standard roster count to 14 players, one below the maximum.

Bassey was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract prior to training camp. Butler was added to the roster once again earlier this week on a camp deal after being waived in late September.

Bassey was selected by Philadelphia with the 53rd pick in the 2021 draft. He was cut after one year with the Sixers and signed in San Antonio, where he played for the past three seasons.

Injuries were an issue for Bassey during his time with the Spurs — his 2022/23 season was cut short due to a non-displaced patella fracture, then he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in December 2023. The 24-year-old appeared in 36 games in 2024/25, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per night.

Butler, a 6’2″ guard who played his final college season at Kentucky, averaged 11.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG while shooting 39.1% from three as a fifth-year senior. He went undrafted in June.

Both players could wind up with the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawks’ G League affiliate.

Atlanta has only 10 players with fully guaranteed salaries. Vit Krejci and N’Faly Dante have partially guaranteed deals while Caleb Houstan and Mouhamed Gueye have non-guaranteed contracts. Youngmisuk confirms that Dante will make the Hawks’ regular season roster; the other three players without fully guaranteed salaries also look well positioned to make the team.

Hawks Sign Charles Bassey To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 10th, 2025 at 3:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Hawks have signed big man Charles Bassey, the team announced in a press release on Wednesday. It’s a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, a league source tells Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).

Bassey was selected by Philadelphia with the 53rd pick in the 2021 draft. He was waived after one year with the Sixers and signed with San Antonio, where he played for the past three seasons.

Injuries were an issue for Bassey during his time with the Spurs — his 2022/23 season was cut short due to a non-displaced patella fracture, then he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in December 2023. The 24-year-old appeared in 36 games in 2024/25, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per night.

Bassey was a standout with the Celtics during Summer League play this July, averaging 15.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest in Las Vegas while shooting 70.4% from the field across three outings. He reportedly drew interest from Partizan Belgrade, but has decided to remain stateside as he seeks an NBA roster spot.

While most camp invitees who receive Exhibit 10 contracts don’t end up making their teams’ regular season rosters, there could be a pathway for Bassey to earn a spot in Atlanta. As we detailed last week, the Hawks are carrying just 11 players on fully guaranteed contracts (plus Vit Krejci with a significant partial guarantee), so players with non-guaranteed deals or small partial guarantees – including Bassey, Caleb Houstan, Mouhamed Gueye, and N’Faly Dante – could be vying for two or three roster spots.

Because he has four years of NBA experience, Bassey isn’t eligible to have his Exhibit 10 deal converted into a two-way contract.

Partizan Belgrade May Be Frontrunner To Sign Charles Bassey

July 27th, 2025 at 11:02am CST by Arthur Hill

Former Spurs center Charles Bassey is negotiating with several European teams, but he appears to be leaning toward KK Partizan, according to Eurohoops. Agent Mark McNeil confirmed negotiations with the Belgrade club in an interview with Meridian Sport.

“Charles is honored by the interest shown by Basketball Club Partizan,” McNeil said. “He is definitely considering the offer and will continue discussions with the club and his representative. Other European clubs have also contacted him, but Partizan has been his priority.”

Bassey was a standout with the Celtics during Summer League play, leading to speculation that he might get at least a training camp offer. However, it appears he’s leaning toward taking the safer route of guaranteed money in Europe rather than waiting for an opportunity with Boston. He averaged 15.3 points and 11.0 rebounds in Las Vegas while shooting 70.4% from the field, but he had to leave after three games due to a prior commitment.

Bassey was selected by Philadelphia with the 53rd pick in the 2021 draft. He was waived after one season and signed with San Antonio, where he played for the past three years. He appeared in 36 games last season, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per night.

The 24-year-old big man was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but he has never played overseas as a professional before. He spent three seasons at Western Kentucky before being drafted into the NBA.

Partizan, which signed Shake Milton earlier this week, continues to build up an impressive collection of former NBA talent. Its roster also includes Jabari Parker, Sterling Brown, Isaac Bonga, Aleksej Pokusevski, Frank Ntilikina, Duane Washington, and Carlik Jones.

Celtics Notes: Niang, Simmons, Bassey, Nicholas

July 23rd, 2025 at 8:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics got back another floor spacer in the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta, but Georges Niang hasn’t been feeling welcomed by Boston fans, relays Daniel Donabedian of ClutchPoints. In a recent appearance on the OGs podcast (YouTube link), the Massachusetts native discussed his reception since the deal was announced.

“I then get traded for Kristaps Porzingis — which, you know how tough Boston fans are. They don’t give a (expletive) if I’m from Boston or not,” Niang said. “‘You just took our Unicorn and replaced it with a Minivan. Get the (expletive) outta here.’ I’m like public enemy No. 1. They’re like, ‘What is this? This ain’t shiny. It’s got scratches on it, man.”

The reaction may be the result of lingering bitterness over an incident where Niang grabbed Jaylen Brown‘s knee from the bench during the 2023 playoffs (Twitter video link). It may also be related to uncertainty over whether the team intends to keep Niang’s $8.2MM expiring contract as it continues to look for ways to reduce payroll.

“You don’t want to be in Boston losing, that’s for sure,” Niang added. “What can I do this summer? Can I come in, in the best shape that I’m in, and also mentor, and kind of teach, and also learn — because they’ve won championships. And kind of dial all that into one, and focus every day on how can I win the day, and then win games.”

There’s more from Boston:

The Celtics have been mentioned as a possible destination for Ben Simmons, but Matt Vautour of MassLive advises them to look elsewhere for free agent help. Vautour states that although Simmons still has positive aspects to his game, the team wouldn’t be able to count on him staying healthy and signing him would most likely lead to disappointment as it did in Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
Charles Bassey, who made a strong impression with Boston during three Summer League games, is attracting attention from Virtus Bologna, according to Italian media outlet Pianeta Basket. Bassey could receive a training camp invitation, but that’s far from certain as the Celtics sort through their center options.
Drew Nicholas will join the Celtics as executive director of player personnel, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Nicholas was a scout for Brooklyn last season and previously served as director of scouting in Denver.

Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Smart, Thomas, Bassey

July 20th, 2025 at 5:00pm CST by Eli Cohen

Despite the Sixers‘ lottery luck that landed them prized rookie VJ Edgecombe, the team’s outlook hasn’t changed, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Everything still revolves around the health of Tyrese Maxey and especially Paul George and Joel Embiid.

That plan has already hit a snag with the announcement that George underwent knee surgery following an injury sustained during workouts, an injury that Pompey says has the potential to keep him sidelined through the start of the season, depending on how the rehab process goes.

Pompey adds that the offseason drama, which the Sixers are no stranger to in recent years, also includes a recent ESPN article about Embiid that cast an unnamed member of the roster into suspicion when Embiid claimed to know which teammate had leaked information about a players-only meeting last season.

Team president Daryl Morey is still expressing optimism about the coming season, including George’s ability to not only recover from the injury but also bounce back after a disappointing first season in Philadelphia.

“I know he really wants to show the Philadelphia fans what he can do,” Morey said. “He didn’t feel like he was able to do that last year. So I know he’s very optimistic and excited to get out there and show what he can do.”

We have more from around the Atlantic division:

The Knicks checked in on Marcus Smart‘s availability and desire to join the team after it became clear that he would be bought out by the Wizards, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post (via Twitter). Bondy notes that the conversations didn’t move forward, since Smart wanted a clearer pathway to major minutes than the Knicks could offer. Smart ultimately signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $11MM deal with a player option on the second year.
Cam Thomas, who is currently a restricted free agent and attempting to secure a new deal with the Nets or another team, took umbrage at recent comments from The Ringer’s Zach Lowe, writes Net Income for NetsDaily.com. After an aggregator Twitter account relayed Lowe saying that there’s a consensus about Thomas being an “empty calories ball hog,” the guard responded. “F–k you and the consensus,” Thomas wrote to Lowe. “This is most likely the same consensus teams who can’t guard me and send double teams from jump ball.” Net Income notes that this comes after multiple less-than-positive summaries of Thomas’ value had emerged online in recent days, and that Thomas is likely to be particularly sensitive, as it has been speculated that there is little movement toward him receiving the kind of offer he’s looking for.
Charles Bassey had a strong Summer League for the Celtics, who are very thin at center, but according to Brian Robb of MassLive, that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a spot for him on Boston’s roster. In a mailbag article, Robb writes that Bassey’s skill set overlaps with Neemias Queta‘s, and that Bassey’s play as a fifth-year player in Summer League might not be as convincing to the team as to fans. However, it has been widely reported that the Celtics are still pursuing a variety of trades before the season begins, so a deal that sends multiple players out could make room for Bassey to join the team on a guaranteed deal. Barring such a move, it’s more likely that Bassey lands a non-guaranteed training camp invitation, Robb writes.

Eastern Notes: Sexton, Holland, Anthony, Embiid, Bassey

July 17th, 2025 at 9:09pm CST by Luke Adams

In a wide-ranging interview with Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer (subscription required), Hornets head coach Charles Lee spoke about the offseason additions to the roster, why he’s comfortable with the team’s frontcourt options, and how he expects LaMelo Ball to take another step forward as a leader next season, among other topics.

Discussing newly acquired veteran guard Collin Sexton, Lee suggested that the 26-year-old’s “fearlessness” and “competitiveness” are traits that stand out and joked that he’ll be expecting different treatment from Sexton during games now that they’re on the same side.

“From afar, he was very competitive. At times he would stare me down during games as the opposing coach or scout coach, and he’s always looking for some fuel to get him going,” Lee said. “So, when he first got here, I made sure to remind them of that, ‘Like, don’t be looking at me crazy like that anymore or your minutes are going to suffer now.’ But it’s great. I’m so glad to have him on our side.

“… I already appreciate so much of what he’s kind of giving to our group,” Lee continued. “Seeing him do group workouts with Melo, them having conversations, I just think is really important for our group to continue to grow. And he’s going to be a big part of that with his work ethic and then also with his competitiveness.”

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

While Ron Holland has been impressive all around for the Pistons during Summer League play, with averages of 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 steals per game in three outings, his three-point shooting has perhaps been the most encouraging part of his performance, writes Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscription required). It’s a small sample, but Holland has knocked down 7-of-15 threes (46.7%) after making just 23.8% as a rookie. “I feel like me and Freddie V have been in the gym, for sure,” Holland said on Sunday, referring to Pistons assistant coach and shooting guru Fred Vinson. “There’s no secret behind that.” Shawn Windsor of The Detroit Free Press (subscription required) also weighs in on Holland’s strong Summer League play, suggesting that the Pistons should be very encouraged by what he has shown.
Cole Anthony‘s new one-year contract with the Bucks is worth the veteran’s minimum, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. Anthony will earn $2,667,947 on the deal, while Milwaukee carries a cap hit of $2,296,274.
In a fascinating, in-depth feature, Dotun Akintoye of ESPN gets some candid comments out of Sixers star Joel Embiid, who discussed the media narratives that have followed him around, his altercation with local columnist Marcus Hayes, and his (successful) quest to find out who leaked details about a team meeting last fall, among many other topics.
Big man Charles Bassey has left the Celtics‘ Summer League team, as Souichi Terada of MassLive.com relays. Bassey’s deal with Boston only covered three games in Las Vegas, as he had other summer commitments. The former San Antonio center – who doesn’t yet have a contract in place for 2025/26 – performed well in Vegas, averaging a double-double (15.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG) and shooting 70.4% from the field.

Celtics Notes: Bassey, Chisholm, Gonzalez, Brown

July 12th, 2025 at 7:17pm CST by Arthur Hill

Charles Bassey wasn’t on the Celtics‘ Summer League roster when the week began, but he was one of the stars of Friday’s win over Memphis, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. The free agent big man, who’s playing a rare fifth year in the Las Vegas league, came off the bench to contribute 14 points and 11 rebounds in 18 minutes.

“It was last-minute,” Bassey said. “I got a call from my agent and flew out the next day and started training camp with them. It’s been good, man. It’s been good from training camp to today’s game. The energy has been great, vibing with these guys and coaches, it’s been fun. Everything’s been good.”

A source tells Robb that Boston has expressed interest in Bassey in the past, but now there’s a clear need for size with Kristaps Porzingis traded, Luke Kornet leaving in free agency and Al Horford likely to follow. The Celtics don’t have a proven center on their current roster, which explains why Bassey jumped at the chance for a tryout in Las Vegas.

“Great effort, rebounding, blocking shots, rim protection,” Bassey said of what he can provide. “I bring great defense to the team. I just play my role. I know what a team needs from me and I know what they want from me and I do it every night.”

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens didn’t speculate on Bassey’s chances of making the 15-man roster, Robb adds in a separate piece, but he was impressed with Bassey’s first outing.

“I don’t want to speak for him, what his goals might be,” Stevens said. “He’s a guy that’s probably playing for what’s next. I just think he’s a guy we’ve paid attention to from afar for a long time. We’re watching all these guys all the time and I thought he did a really good job yesterday. He probably was the biggest reason we won the game I thought.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

The sale of the team is expected to be approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors when it meets this week in Las Vegas, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Stevens said new owner William Chisholm remains excited about assuming control of the franchise in spite of Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles injury, which led to the decision to part with some high-priced talent. “He didn’t take over at the easiest of times when you talk about the second apron issues that we talked about the other day, and Tatum’s injury, and everything else,” Stevens said. “But he’s so level-headed and he’s got such a good way about him. I’m really excited to have him around.”
Stevens was impressed by first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez in his Summer League debut, Himmelsbach adds. Stevens reveals that the Celtics told Gonzalez to take four days off after he helped Real Madrid win the Spanish League title, but he showed up two days later. “I think he really wants to be good,” Stevens said. “You can tell he’s got a good work ethic, a good compete level. There’s a care factor there and, you know, he’s just learning.”
Tatum’s injury means Jaylen Brown is preparing to be the number one option on offense for the first time in his career, Robb states in another story. Brown discussed the challenge in a livestream with Kyrie Irving, saying, “People haven’t seen me at my best because we have a loaded roster, so sometimes you need to do what needs to be done as a team.”