You know things are heating up when start getting enough quotes to put together a Bulletin, only I’m keeping those for later this off/preseason.
For now, here’s the latest round of links and notes for you to enjoy as we approach media day about the end of September. Get excited!
- Knicks Opening Night tickets have exploded in price after the championship, experiencing a silly 526% increase from last season’s home opener.
- Jalen Brunson made a cameo in Mariska Hargitay’s Emmys cold open.
- Tyler Kolek is entering Year 3 focused on being more aggressive whenever opportunities come his way, he told The New York Post, and he believes he’s got much more to offer the NBA world: “There’s definitely a lot left [for me to show].”
“I just gotta play my game everyday. Be consistent, whatever the coaches need just follow their direction and let it be what it is.”
- Kolek echoed his teammates’ broader underdog mentality entering the season even coming off hoisting the Larry O’B. “At this stage, we shouldn’t have to be motivated. We’re champions,” Kolek said. “We know what it looks like, and we’re not just satisfied with one.”
- Jordan Clarkson keeps openly reminding fans he’s fly.
- Dirk Nowitzki admitted he never expected Jalen Brunson to develop into a franchise cornerstone in New York. That said, he gave kudos to JB for being “unbelievable on and off the floor” and fully deserving to lead the Knicks to a championship and win Finals MVP.
- Mitchell Robinson’s move to Boston still stings inside the Knicks’ locker room, with Kolek calling his departure painful. Robinson, meanwhile, says he is entering his Celtics stint with renewed confidence. We’ll see how that goes.
“Right now, I’m just so confident in myself. I feel like this is going to be a great year for me.”
- Taj Gibson was waived by New Orleans shortly after being acquired from Memphis, then called it a career and joined the Bulls on a coaching role. Also, Taj wants him kid to be like JB.
- Julius Randle acknowledged returning to New York with Brooklyn feels natural after spending five seasons with the Knicks. “It’s definitely a place that just feels like home,” Randle said.
- Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Toronto has officially been approved by the league, ending the uncertainty surrounding whether the Raptors would complete the deal after a year-long investigation and its massive aftermath.
- Speaking of Kawhi, Nikola Jokić said he prefers playing every game rather than managing his workload.
- Danilo Gallinari also chimed in on the Klaw saga, and blasted the NBA’s punishment of Kawhi Leonard, arguing that Leonard should have faced a much larger financial penalty because of the impact his decisions had on others.
“He should pay all of that $50 million. He changed the trajectory of my career and put me in a difficult situation by sending me away from Los Angeles.
“What happened to my NBA career (when he was traded from the Clippers as part of the SGA-Paul George deal to convince Kawhi to sign with LA) wasn’t decided by a general manager or an owner, but by a player who decided that team wasn’t good enough and wanted something else.”
- The NBA Board of Governors discussed a possible expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle during meetings in New York on Monday and Tuesday. Commissioner Adam Silver, however, keeps stressing that nothing is guaranteed, with the league still weighing whether to add both cities, one, or neither. Yeah, right?
- Jalen Duren and Detroit remain far apart on a new contract, with the Pistons’ most recent offer reportedly around five years and $190 million and Duren seeking at least $200 million. The big fella is supposedly seriously considering taking the $9.6 million qualifying offer to reach unrestricted free agency next summer.
- Dwight Howard is continuing his career overseas, signing with Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia.
- Team USA won the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup by trouncing France 97-79. Breanna Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds and was named tournament MVP.
