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NBA owners want answers on Kawhi Leonard's below-max 2024 deal with Clippers
Chris Mannix: I think Mark Cuban has his own reasons perhaps to be supporting Steve Ballmer, but the board of governor's meeting is in New York next week, and I'm guessing this is going to come up very early in that meeting. I've seen it suggested that the owners don't want any part of investigation here because that could open them up to a world of legal problems. They don't want to wind up on the wrong side of their own investigation. But I will tell you what ownership sources have told me over the last few days is that they want to know about the money. In 2021, Kawhi Leonard signed at the time what was a full max contract. No issue there. In 2024, he took less than the max. Now, the narrative back then was that he did it to help the team. Great. But if he was getting compensated another way, that's a different story because the Clippers are a taxpaying team. An extra few million dollars per year that gets multiplied in tax penalties and that gets dispersed to other teams.
Carmelo Anthony on his playing days with the Knicks: 'I understood the people'
No. 7 still garners a raucous reception every time he is announced to the home crowd on the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden. “Wanting to be in New York and wanting to accept and take on that challenge, I understood the assignment, and I understood what I was up against,” said Anthony, who set the Knicks’ franchise record with 62 points in one game in 2014. “I understood the people, as far as how they hold you, how they look at you and how they receive you. “Win, lose or draw … we’re talking about the Mecca of basketball. Our city, so nice they named it twice. So for me to come and represent that, and do it with such grace and such respect and take whatever comes with that, I was willing to do that.”
NBA hires law firm to investigate Kawhi Leonard's endorement deal
The NBA has hired New York-based law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct an investigation into allegations that LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal with a now-bankrupt environmental company was made to help his team and its billionaire owner, Steve Ballmer, circumvent the salary cap, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic.
Jim Boeheim on criticism Carmelo Anthony received from former coaches: He made his teams better—sometimes that’s all you can ask
You often defended Melo throughout his NBA career when he got criticized in Denver and New York. How George Karl and Phil Jackson’s criticisms about Melo land with you? Boeheim: “Well, the thing I think about the NBA is that he made every team that he was on better than they were. Whether it was Denver or the Knicks, he made them better. They had to go up against the Lakers and the Spurs in Denver. They couldn’t do it, but he made the team better. That’s all you can do sometimes as players. You can’t make a team a championship team by yourself. You have to have a lot of parts to it. His time in Denver, there were some great teams with the Lakers and the Spurs. He made them better, and that’s all you can do as a player.”
The new store is the NBA’s fourth flagship location in the U.S. It now operates more than 200 branded retail stores and attractions worldwide, including flagships in New York City and London, both run by Lids.
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NBA Communications: NBA COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE PASSING OF CAROLINE KLEIN NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2025-NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Smith Entertainment Group Chief Communications Officer Caroline Klein: "The NBA family mourns the passing of our colleague and friend, Caroline Klein. Caroline was a leader within the Utah Jazz, Smith Entertainment Group, and across the league. Her passion, determination, and generosity left a lasting impact on everyone she met, and she played a pivotal role in making the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Utah an unforgettable celebration of the Jazz organization and the Salt Lake City community. Even after her diagnosis, Caroline remained dedicated to supporting her colleagues and embraced every opportunity with courage and grace. She will always be remembered for the example she set and the lives she touched. "We extend our deepest condolences to her husband, Mike; her family and friends; Ryan and Ashley Smith; and her many colleagues at the Jazz and Utah Mammoth."
Knicks could show interest in Malik Beasley now that he's been cleared
Yet New York has also been cited as a team that could pursue Malik Beasley after ESPN reported Friday that Beasley is no longer the target of a federal gambling investigation. I'm told that the Knicks have maintained a level of interest in Beasley since the teams met in the first round of the playoffs in May and now the sharpshooter appears poised to become an unexpected late-summer free agent of note after the launch of the investigation just as free agency was about to commence led Detroit to scrap its plans to sign him to a new three-year, $42 million deal.
Stacey King: Back then, Jud, people could actually be inside the hotel — not outside. They could wait in the lobby, be at the hotel bar. So we’d come in, and the whole lobby would be full of people. It was remarkable. Today’s players — unless you're LeBron or Steph Curry — they don’t feel that kind of thing from the fans. They don’t land in a city and see that kind of turnout. One time, after playing the Knicks in New York, a woman literally laid down in front of the team bus and said she wasn’t getting up until Michael came out and took a picture with her. We thought it was a joke. But Phil was like, ‘Michael, I need you to go take this picture so we can get out of here.’ You had to leave New York by a certain time because the airport shut down. If you missed the window, you had to stay the night. That kind of thing happened all the time. I’ve seen some crazy stuff — and I know you have too.”
One thing we don’t know about Wemby? Sandro Mamukelashvili: One thing we don’t know about Wemby? Oh — he likes Georgian food. A lot. I took him to a Georgian restaurant in New York, and since then, he’s been there three times by himself. He always sends me a selfie with Georgian cheese bread.
Knicks likely to sign Mohamed Diawara to two-way deal
Who could the Knicks sign as two-way players? I wouldn’t be surprised if New York ended up signing second-round pick Mohamed Diawara to one of its three two-way spots. I’ve heard rumblings of that potentially happening since summer league. After that, Kevin McCullar could return in one of the other two-way spots. It is my understanding, after talking to several people around the league, that McCullar isn’t eligible for the second-round exception slot on the main roster because he has one year of service. That spot has to go to someone who hasn’t had an NBA contract, and McCullar played last season on a two-way deal. For McCullar to make the main roster, the Knicks would have to sign him using their veteran minimum slot or make a trade to open up another space. I don’t see the former happening.
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Josh Robbins: The Orlando Magic are scheduled to play a total of six games on either NBC or ESPN: + Nov. 4 at Atlanta on NBC + Nov. 12 at New York on ESPN + Nov. 25 at Philly on NBC + March 11 vs. Cleveland on ESPN + March 24 at Cleveland on NBC + April 1 vs. Atlanta on ESPN. The Magic are scheduled to have eight other games on either Peacock or Amazon Prime.
Celtics' sale unanimously approved by Board of Governors
NBA Communications: NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVES SALE OF BOSTON CELTICS TO A GROUP LED BY BILL CHISHOLM NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2025 - The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the controlling interests in the Boston Celtics to an investor group led by Bill Chisholm. The transaction is expected to close shortly.
Allen Iverson is heading out on the road to share his story with the world. The Basketball Hall of Famer is embarking on a book tour to talk about his memoir, Misunderstood. Iverson’s book tour will begin in New York, then New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Louisiana.
Rod Boone: Preseason scheduling: #Hornets will travel to New York for a matchup with Knicks on Oct. 17 at Madison Square Garden.
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