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The NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League saw a 27% viewership uptick this year across ESPN and ESPN2. Games averaged 255,000 viewers, up from 201,000 last year. It’s still below the 2023 slate when Spurs C Victor Wembanyama debuted, which averaged 310,000 viewers (that was the league’s second-best figure yet). The record remains 322,000 for games in 2017, which were fueled by the arrival of Lonzo Ball with the Lakers. Sunday’s championship game between the Hornets and Kings drew 420,000 viewers, up from 406,000 for Grizzlies-Heat in the title game. Helping overall numbers this year’s was Cooper Flagg’s debut with the Mavericks against Bronny James and the Lakers. That drew 955,000 viewers, which is the fourth-best Summer League audience ever.
Warriors not interested in Nikola Vucevic
Jake Fischer: Conversations between Phoenix and Golden State and Phoenix and Jonathan Kuminga’s agent Aaron Turner. Turner has had several meetings with Golden State to our understanding in Las Vegas. I believe some offers have been exchanged back and forth, but still seems like that's in a bit of a holding pattern. I do know that Kuminga’s representation was trying to figure out some sign-and-trade scenario that would have gotten both Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga paid in Chicago. And I think that was something that would have been more likely if the Bulls waited and had Lonzo Ball to send back to Golden State instead of that deal that they already made with Cleveland. I think that would have been something that Golden State would have liked, but without that obvious piece, you know, there's the thought that Nikola Vucevic would be a potential outgoing piece in a sign-and-trade that the Warriors have had some interest there. I don't think the Warriors have much interest in Nikola Vucevic.
Lonzo Ball on expectations: Everybody knows that it's pretty much ring or nothing
“We should all be focused on getting to a ring,” Ball said. “But we all know that June's a long time when you start in September, October, so you can't look too far ahead. [The Cavs] were [the No. 1 seed] in the East last year, so everybody knows that it's pretty much ring or nothing.”
“I couldn't ask for nothing better than this,” Ball said. “I think it's a great situation for my play style. “I play basketball the same way no matter what team I'm on. I'm gonna go out there, defend, push the pace, shoot the shots that are open and live with the results.”
Cavs make Lonzo Ball addition official: We are very excited about this opportunity
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard Lonzo Ball in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. As part of the trade, the Cavaliers sent forward Isaac Okoro to Chicago. “We are very excited about this opportunity to acquire someone with the skillset and versatility that Lonzo Ball brings to this team,” said Altman. “We have built a team for sustainable success and finding a way to improve around the edges has been our focus this offseason, and the addition of Lonzo represents part of that process. I would also like to thank Isaac Okoro for his professionalism, hard work, and the true grit he brought to the court during his five seasons in Cleveland. We wish Isaac and his family nothing but the best in the future.”
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Lonzo Ball on being traded to Cleveland: It's a blessing to join a team that truly has a shot at winning a championship
During a guest appearance on the “What an Experience” podcast, the 27-year-old point guard explained why he's so excited to play for the Cavs. Lonzo Ball is grateful for the opportunity to play for a title-contending team and opened up about how happy he is to be a part of the Cavaliers. “Just playing, competing for a ring. I feel like that should be the goal, I feel like that is the goal,” said Lonzo Ball. “So, happy to get over there and get started. To meet everybody, get familiar with everything, and take it as far as we can. “I feel like it’s just a blessing, bro. To be honest, I mean, everybody keeps asking me how I feel about the trade. I'm like, s*** I'm happy to still be playing anywhere, let alone a team that has a real chance to win a ring. My whole life, I feel like I've been playing the right brand of basketball, and that's to win games, so I feel like I'm going to a great situation and I just want to play my role and do what I can to help.”
First up on Chicago's to-do list is to re-sign Josh Giddey, a restricted free agent who is expected to command a salary near $30 million annually, sources told ESPN. The move to acquire Giddey in a player-for-player trade, without any additional draft compensation, looked a lot like the deal the team made last week when it swapped Lonzo Ball (age 27) for Isaac Okoro (age 24) from Cleveland.
Lonzo Ball to Cleveland
Shams Charania: BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources tell ESPN.
Jake Fischer: That is indeed the full trade, per source: Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro. It’s a straight-up deal between the Cavaliers and Bulls. No draft picks changing hands.
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Now that a majority share of the Lakers is going to be sold by the Buss family to Mark Walter, the elder Ball wants his three sons — Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo — to play for the Purple and Gold and for Magic Johnson to return to the organization. “More news!” LaVar said. “The Lakers just sold for $10 billion. Uh oh. Hey, [Los Angeles] Clippers, you better get my boys or Lakers if you put Magic back in line. Let Magic run this thing so we go get these championships, 'cause he know what to do. Magic, this for you. Since them Lakers is ran by a new group, shoot. A new time, new era. Go get the Ball boys. Hey, it’s not even about a bidding war. First come, first serve. “Whoever wants them championships, better get the Ball boys. Trust me when I tell you. But Magic, if you in line, I’m down with you, dawg. Holler at your boy.”
Gelo performing “Tweaker” with his brother Lonzo Ball at the #BETAwards pre-show 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/vrjbcEfHkx
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 9, 2025
Lonzo Ball on how MVP should be defined: Shai would have gotten my vote if I voted for MVP (… ) It has to be the best player on the best team.
Mavericks have trade interest in Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball and Chris Paul
League sources say Dallas is expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways to Boston's Jrue Holiday — complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday's contract — while also maintaining an interest in a far more reasonable trade target as we've discussed on the DLLS Mavs podcast: Lonzo Ball…Another name to monitor for Dallas: Chris Paul. The free agent-to-be just turned 40 on May 6, but Paul also just played (and started) 82 games in his maiden season as a San Antonio Spur.
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