NBA Notebook: Meeting Celtics broadcaster Drew Carter who will follow Mike Gorman

Preseason P. All-NBJays. Drew Carter even gave Celtics assistant Matt Reynolds a nickname during the preseason -- the green lantern -- as the man in charge of lighting up the green coach's challenge light along the sideline. Brian Scalabrine, Boston's color commentator, who nicknamed the challenge the green light special since its creation seemed to nod in approval. 

Carter and Scalabrine received three opportunities to broadcast together as the tandem that'll become familiar to Celtics fans after NBC Sports Boston hired Carter, a 26-year-old Plymouth, Minnesota native and Syracuse University graduate, to succeed Mike Gorman, the retiring Hall-of-Fame broadcaster who's called Celtics games since 1981. Carter will broadcast road games during Gorman's final season this year, then take over full-time in 2024-25. He will continue to appear on college games for ESPN, with the Celtics now his priority -- but he's still searching for a home like fellow new arrival Jrue Holiday. 

"It's the Celtics," Carter told Boston Sports Journal. "How many people have done play-by-play for this team? It's nuts ... I do feel some nerves and a little bit of pressure. Imagine how Mac Jones felt the first time he started after Tom Brady was here ... (he) had to replace a legend. That's kind of what I feel like I'm doing. The key is not trying to be Mike, because there's only one Mike. I understand that, but it is crazy. Who wouldn't want this job? I feel really lucky, honestly."

After graduating college in 2019, Carter spent two years in Birmingham, Alabama at CBS 42 as a sports anchor, but felt the pull to return to play-by-play, his passion and what he focused on at Syracuse and during his summers, one of which took him to Cape Cod to call Chatham Anglers baseball games in 2017. He started doing freelance play-by-play in 2019, including University of Alabama, Birmingham women's basketball games on Conference USA's streaming service. The pandemic ended most of those opportunities, but Carter held onto his CBS job until the opportunity emerged at ESPN. 

Carter tried out there as a studio play-by-play commentator, and announced college football, basketball, softball and lacrosse games over the past two years. Shortly before NBC announced his hire on the eve of this season, Carter called an alternative broadcast of the London game between the Falcons and Jaguars with a Toy Story-themed animation on the ESPN+/Disney+ apps, similar to the Nickelodeon NFL broadcast that his former Syracuse classmate Noah Eagle, who'll begin broadcasting Nets games this season, spearheaded. Noah's father Ian, a sports broadcasting legend and Syracuse alum, became a mentor for Carter and inspired his witty approach to the job. Jason Benetti, the voice of the White Sox and a major national broadcaster, helped Carter get started. 

"He convinced me I should try play-by-play in the first place," Carter said. "When I was first starting and absolutely horrible at it, I would go into Sadler Hall study rooms and try to do a broadcast of an NBA game, call it into my Garageband and send it to him. He would give me advice and that was the first time I ever tried it." 

"Mike Tirico is really solid, he is so smart and clearly preps in a way that's effective," he said. "Mike always has a note that he's clearly prepped for right after (player introductions) ... he's like a maestro. He just knows what's coming next at all times ... Ian, to me, is so clever. He makes subtle references he must work on beforehand ... the Pritching hour, Preseason P, that comes from watching and listening to Ian, that really enhances the experience for viewer when they hear something that makes them laugh ... in the Toy Story game I called, to infinity and Bijan would've been the best touchdown call I could've possibly asked for. Five different people told me to say that ... if he scored, it would've been the best."

Last spring, Carter and his agent heard Gorman would retire following the 2024 season and were beginning a search for a new broadcaster. They pursued the opportunity not expecting to succeed, nevermind receiving a permanent designation in the role. Carter met with NBC Sports Boston executives Kevin Miller and Paul Lucey and thought it went well, stayed in touch with them and received an email at the beginning of the summer asking if he could come to the studio for an audition. 

Carter responded in all caps YES. His agent reached out to him shortly after -- maybe act like you've been here before. 

He arrived next to a supportive Scalabrine at the studios in Needham, and they called Game 6 of the second-round series between the Celtics and 76ers in Philadelphia in a podcasting room when Jayson Tatum hit a flurry of fourth-quarter threes to save the team's season after a 1-for-13 start. That went well too, and receiving a meeting with Celtics president Rich Gotham convinced Carter that this might happen for the first time. He only worried, after recently re-signing at ESPN, that all the logistics might not come together as the season and a deadline to add a new announcer approached. 

They figured out a plan that'll keep him working for both, with NBC receiving priority and the Celtics announced his hire earlier this month. He worked their win over the Hornets on Thursday before arriving on Saturday at Miami University in Ohio to announce their football game against Toledo. Carter will travel to New York on Wednesday, where he made his preseason debut alongside Scalabrine last week, but Gorman will have the opening night call. 

"(Gorman) is just a super cool dude who's very nice," Carter said. "Despite his status and his history as one of the best to ever do this, he's extremely humble and has no ego. The same thing I said with Scal applies to Mike, it would've been easy for him to be like are you kidding me with this guy? I've been doing these games longer than he's been alive. But he hasn't been that way at all. In fact, he's been incredibly supportive and he's given me some good advice ... before the Hornets game the other night (he said), just a heads up, when you're watching the action from your vantage point, it's going left-to-right, but then on the jumbotron and on the program monitor, it's going right-to-left, because the camera's on the other side, so it throws you off, it takes a little bit to get used to. He gave me the heads up on that, we had a good conversation when he and his wife Terry were driving the other day ... that's probably the most important relationship for me ... getting to know Mike well and trying to learn from him and also getting his stamp of approval."

Perhaps Carter's greatest strength flashed in his inquisitive approach to working with Scalabrine, deferring to the former Celtic champion throughout their two broadcasts for his thoughts on rebounding, the modern NBA and giving him space to talk through how impressive a gather step by Payton Pritchard was in traffic. Scalabrine called the play something he hadn't seen from Pritchard before, and his years of experience broadcasting Celtics games and willingness to talk will allow Carter to adapt to covering a team he hadn't prior to this year. Scalabrine, in turn, sounded intrigued by Carter's fluidity on the call, impressed by the nicknames and his knowledge of fourth quarter preseason players. Carter sees his role as setting up Scalabrine.

"I have a good time just listening to him," Carter said. "He also sees the game at an extremely high level, maybe on a different level than your average NBA player ... we had a good conversation after the Knicks game at MSG, we went out and got pizza, because it was late in New York. A couple of dollar slices, Scal picked it up because I'm still new ... then he got a salad and a sub, it was like, who are you, Joey Chestnut? It was impressive ... he was telling me how his brain works and how he visualizes things, and that applies with hoops. When he sees things one time, it's seared into his head ... I think he's a really sharp dude and it manifests itself in a way that's perfect for doing color on a TV broadcast ... I'm trying to move to Boston and he's like, if you ever need to crash, let me know." 

Gorman's institutional knowledge and fandom for the Celtics became his calling card alongside one of the biggest Celtics fans ever in Tommy Heinsohn, Gorman's late, long-time broadcast partner. Carter loves the NBA and pointing out the Kornet Kontest in New York showed his attention to detail and how well he researched the team this year, but his deep voice and energetic approach to the role, along with coming into the job as a relative unknown to many fans might catch some by surprise. 

Sean Grande will return to 98.5 The Sports Hub full-time alongside Cedric Maxwell, who signed an extension with the radio network, returning some consistency to the team's two broadcasts before Carter calls every television game next year. Both Carter and Grande agreed that 2023 is all about Gorman. 

Carter said he doesn't want to overdo or become a stand-up comedian on the telecast, knowing what Celtics fans became accustomed to in Gorman's low-key approach that let the crowd, game and sounds speak for itself at times. Carter came from a radio background in college, so that might take some adjusting to. Only time will produce his own trademarks like Gorman's got it! 

"I really want the fans to enjoy our broadcast," Carter said. "Truthfully, the most important approval to me is from Mike, because that's his chair and it has been for 40+ years. I want him to think I'm doing a good job and so far he's given me every opportunity to get close to him and learn from him." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Started Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey and Clint Capela in the preseason finale as a preview of the opening night lineup with Bogdan Bogdanovic off the bench. Balancing lineups, particularly finding the sweet spot for staggering Young and Murray, along with utilizing Bogdanovic, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu as arguably the team's next three most important players will become Quin Snyder's greatest challenge in his first full season on the job. The Hawks face the Hornets on Wednesday and open at home on Friday against the Knicks. 

Boston: Unloaded on the Hornets in the preseason finale with their smaller starting lineup thriving for the second consecutive game with Derrick White and Jrue Holiday in the starting lineup. The Celtics forced 22 steals against Charlotte, a team record and something Joe Mazzulla noted will become the key to becoming less reliant on the three-pointer. Al Horford, White and Holiday all expressed a willingness to come off the bench during training camp and Mazzulla explained that the team's starter-by-committee approach will only reflect who starts, not finishes, the game. 

Neemias Queta, the first Portuguese player in NBA history who the Kings waived last month to sign Javale McGee, dominated Charlotte to cap a strong preseason with the Celtics after signing a two-way contract with them. Luke Kornet did not play against the Hornets, and Mazzulla acknowledged that Queta earned minutes in the preseason. Boston expressed further confidence in its center situation by waiving Wenyen Gabriel, who arrived on a training camp deal after the Celtics traded Robert Williams III. The Celtics plan to carry 14 players with an empty roster spot into the season. 

Celtics champion Rajon Rondo returned to Boston as Paul Pierce and other team legends did this month to take in Celtics practice on Friday, and expressed interest in coming back and eventually beginning a coaching career. The Celtics open at the Knicks on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden at 7 EST. They host the Heat in an east finals rematch on Friday. 

Brooklyn: Ben Simmons averaged 6.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 7.0 APG while shooting 47.8% in production similar to his past self this preseason, moving more fluidly and clearly healthy following back surgery he said largely caused his struggles between 2021-23. With two years left on his contract, he enters a critical season to save his career and one where the Nets will rely on him heavily to raise their ceiling alongside breakout star Mikal Bridges. Fliers like Dennis Smith Jr. and Harry Giles III played well in the preseason, while the team waived Darius Bazley to finalize its roster. None of those players project to unlock the team's offense that fell off a cliff after Brooklyn traded Kevin Durant last season. The Nets turned the ball over 27 times against Philadelphia in the preseason finale, a weakness that'll likely prevent them from making the playoffs in the east. They open hosting the Cavs on Wednesday.

Charlotte: Blown out in their preseason finale in a turnover-filled mess against Boston where they lost by 28 points to drop to 1-3. Worse, an offseason filled with bad news got worse when the mother of Jamea Jonae Harris sued rookie Brandon Miller for wrongful death of the 23-year-old woman allegedly killed by Miller's former Alabama teammate Darius Miles and Michael Davis. Miles and Davis remain on trial for capital murder charges while Miller was never charged, stating that he had no knowledge of the gun in the back seat of the car he drove to pick up Miles. Miller finished his season at Alabama and the Hornets selected him No. 2 overall. Charlotte opens against the Hawks, Pistons and Nets at home, beginning on Wednesday. 

Chicago: Devin Vassell's five-year, $146-million extension could complicate extension talks between Patrick Williams and the Bulls, with the mostly unproven top selection reportedly seeking as much as $20 million annually, according to Zach Lowe. Williams will become a restricted free agent next summer if he and the Bulls can't agree to a deal before the season opens next week. Williams fell to the bubble of the team's starting lineup in training camp, called out for inconsistency by Billy Donovan this week. Zach LaVine and Ayo Dosunmu played well in the preseason, while Coby White remains in the mix for Chicago to play smaller, but against the elite wings of the east, the Bulls need their perimeter prospect to emerge to beat them.

The Bulls open against the Thunder on Wednesday. 

Cleveland: Picked up Evan Mobley's fourth-year option for the 2024-25 season, a formality ahead of rookie extension talks this time next year that should progress more smoothly than they might've under the former CBA. Previously, teams could only carry two players on maximum rookie extensions, Rose Rule contracts, that Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland play on. Acquiring Mitchell before the new CBA risked taking Mobley to restricted free agency, which Cleveland will no longer have to do. Still, Mobley's improvement will make or break the Cavs' ability to contend, while Cleveland might face a reckoning for its double big identity between Mobley and Jarrett Allen if the team's offense plays inconsistently despite shooting additions on the wing. 

The Cavaliers open at the Nets before hosting the Thunder in their home opener on Friday. 

Dallas: Luka Dončić enters the season uncertain to play on opening night against the Spurs with a left calf strain that plagued him throughout the late stages of the preseason. Dallas initially hoped he would return on time, but Jason Kidd said on Friday Dončić remains without a timetable to return. Kyrie Irving closed the preseason with a strong performance and can hold it down in the meantime, but a soft tissue injury for Dončić after he entered past seasons in less than his best shape. Dončić participated in the World Cup, lessening concerns that would become an issue and instead, a team with a revamped front court looking for its identity might have to begin that process without the team's best player. Grant Williams averaged 6.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 1.0 BPG on 34.6% shooting (31.8% 3PT) in four preseason games. He'll start next to rookie Dereck Lively II and an array of wings, likely Josh Green, but Derrick Jones Jr., Seth Curry, Jaden Hardy and Tim Hardaway Jr. could all challenge him for that spot. 

Denver: Begin their title defense against the Lakers, renewing their budding rivalry and their competitive sweep from the spring on Tuesday at 7:30 EST. Nikola Jokić begins the season as the undisputed best player in the league after racing alongside Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon to the 2023 title. An array of rookie wings and Christian Braun will seek to replace Bruce Brown's production, while Jeff Green departed to Houston. More importantly, Murray enters this season healthy after beginning last year ramping-up and playing inconsistent following ACL surgery the year before. They're favorites. 

Detroit: Not much buzz around this team following another dreadful season that resulted in the worst lottery luck of any of the Victor Wembanyama contenders. The Pistons spent this summer and their cap space taking on contracts like Joe Harris, moves that didn't begin to approach some of the massive stockpiles of picks rival rebuilding teams like Oklahoma City and Utah compiled in recent years. Cade Cunningham returns from essentially an entire lost season, some hope alongside rookie Ausar Thompson's preseason success that they can take some steps this year. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren intrigue me some, while Monty Williams should help even if his highest coach salary might not befit his capabilities with this roster. They visit the Heat on Wednesday to open the season. Cunningham, Thompson, Duren and Isaiah Stewart will likely start with Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) and Monte Morris (back) uncertain to return by then. 

Golden State: Andre Iguodala retired after 19 seasons, four championships and emerging as an icon in the Bay Area as one of the founding members of the Warriors dynasty. Golden State's ill-fated pursuit of big men Kevin Love and Dwight Howard led to Iguodala's arrival after he spent the 2013 season with the Nuggets as part of a four-team trade that sent Howard to the Lakers and Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia, where Iguodala began his career. The high-flying defensive force helped transform the Warriors from a team built around big man Andrew Bogut to a perimeter team that could still defend and play physically, Iguodala and Draymond Green becoming the centerpieces to the championship death lineup in 2015 (Iguodala won Finals MVP for his efforts defending LeBron James) before Kevin Durant arrived to make Golden State arguably the greatest team ever. He'll focus on his MOSAIC company, which gathered $200 million in venture capital upon its founding. The Warriors open the season without him against the Suns Tuesday.

Houston: Traded Kevin Porter Jr. to the Thunder to end his tumultuous tenure, and likely his NBA career, after ghastly domestic violence allegations emerged following his arrest for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend last month. Oklahoma City will waive Porter's $16.9-million contract, guaranteed for one year before only paying $1 million over the final three years, in exchange for a pair of second-round picks and Houston taking on Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl's contracts as part of needed roster cutdowns. The Rockets will look to utilize Oladipo's expiring $9.5-million deal to acquire a rotation player as he recovers from a torn patellar tendon from last year's playoff run with the Heat. Jake Fischer reported Houston has interest in Detroit's Alec Burks and Utah's Talen Horton-Tucker. The Rockets open their first season under head coach Ime Udoka on Wednesday at Orlando. 

Clippers: Terrance Mann will start alongside Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Ivica Zubac when the Clippers' season begins on Wednesday against the new-look Blazers. LA, unlike the 76ers, face little urgency to speed up James Harden trade talks despite their consistent interest in the star evident since he demanded a trade this summer and asked to end up on the Clippers. Harden left training camp this week and did not play in the preseason, an apparent escalation of his effort to get out of Philadelphia. LA will not include Mann in a deal though, and obviously don't have the assets that appeal to Daryl Morey given the little traction that's developed on a deal. Will the Clippers regret not just getting Harden in the door if they view him as the decisive piece? It's hard to imagine how he completes this team after how yet another playoff run finished for Harden in Philly. 

Memphis: Marcus Smart made his Grizzlies debut in the team's preseason finale against the Bucks after sitting out part of training camp with an abdominal injury. Smart shot 4-for-8 (1-4 3PT) with 11 points and six assists, knocking down a corner three following a shot fake minutes into the game where he mostly played off-ball alongside Desmond Bane and Ziaire Williams, and defended Khris Middleton. Ja Morant did not play as he prepares to serve a 25-game suspension while still practicing with the team. ESPN published an inside look at the events that led to his downfall last season, with multiple off-court scandals highlighted by social media live streams featuring him waving a gun leaving at least one unnamed Memphis source frustrated. 

"There was no discipline," the source said. "They felt like they could do anything they wanted. In my opinion, the enabling was out of control. Just constant. Definitely s*** was swept under the rug."

Miami: Wes Goldberg interviewed Heat star Tyler Herro about a tumultuous offseason where he seemed inevitably headed for Portland in a Damian Lillard trade. He and Erik Spoelstra sat together eating lunch when the news broke that the Blazers traded Lillard to the Bucks, securing his future in Miami with trust evidently needing some rebuilding entering an important year for Miami's core. Herro, who missed most of the team's playoff run, will reunite with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo after they led the Heat to their second Finals appearance in four years. Miami opens against Detroit on Wednesday before visiting the Celtics on Friday. 

“I didn’t really speak to the Heat all summer, honestly,” Herro said.

Milwaukee: Khris Middleton returned from his slow training camp ramp-up to face the Grizzlies, solidifying his availability for opening night against the 76ers on Thursday. Another problem emerged almost simultaneously this week when Adrian Griffin's top assistant Terry Stotts stepped down from his position on the doorstep of the season. Stotts, an offensive expert who coached Damian Lillard for most of his career with the Blazers, projected to get the most out of Lillard and manage the team's offense for the defensive-minded Griffin. Difficulty transitioning to an assistant role after exiting the league over the past two seasons. The Athletic described a practice scene that might've been the breaking point, Griffin and Stotts potentially at odds. 

"When the players and coaches broke the huddle, Stotts went in the opposite direction of the coaches’ huddle and instead started walking toward players to discuss the offense. As Stotts attempted to start a conversation with Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Griffin called to Stotts to join the coaching huddle," Shams Charania wrote. "When Stotts asked for some time with the players, Griffin yelled for Stotts to join the coaches’ huddle. The incident occurred in front of the entire team, those sources said." 

New Orleans: Ranked last in offense during a 1-3 preseason as they tried to integrate Zion Williamson back after he last played in January. A 10-point first quarter marked a step in the right direction, with teammate CJ McCollum praising the star's attitude during this training camp, but the pressure mounted on Williamson and Brandon Ingram to remain available and consistent with injuries like Trey Murphy III's hurting the team's depth over the summer. Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) will return for opening night against the Grizzlies in Memphis. Williamson averaged 12.0 PPG and 3.8 APG with 2.3 turnovers on 56.7% shooting.

New York: Had one of the worst preseasons of any team defensively, averaging 125 points allowed ahead of opening night at home against the Celtics on Wednesday. Boston lit up New York's second unit on Tuesday, but Jordan Poole unloaded for 41 points against the Knicks' rested starters in the following game against the Wizards. Tom Thibodeau criticized the team while Jalen Brunson took the blame for too many turnovers. Immanuel Quickley and the Knicks remain without an extension ahead of the Oct. 23 deadline, likely setting him up for restricted free agency next summer. 

Oklahoma City: Chet Holmgren will make his NBA debut 16 months after the Thunder drafted him No. 2 overall against the Bulls on the road after a preseason slate where he averaged 16.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 2.0 BPG on 57.9% shooting (50% 3PT). Victor Wembanyama will probably overshadow Holmgren in the rookie conversation night-to-night, but Holmgren's interior defensive presence on a team that lacked one last year could transform Oklahoma City into a playoff team. They're young, they lack an experienced veteran presence and aside from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, now a Ringer top-10 player, enter this season largely unproven across the board. They still intrigue as a team that could sneak up to the home court competition in the west if everything breaks right. Leominster native Mark Daigneault is a solid bet for coach of the year. The Thunder need to make one more roster cut ahead of camp after getting down to 16 by trading Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Victor Oladipo Houston, then waiving Kevin Porter Jr.

Orlando: There is so much intrigue on this roster, which finished the season 29-28 after a 5-20 start behind reigning rookie of the year Paolo Banchero. They host the Rockets on opening night with a mix of solid candidates to step up in the back court, Cole Anthony exciting the team in the preseason, Markelle Fultz continuing his growth into a contract year, Jalen Suggs improving late last season and rookies Anthony Black and Jett Howard arriving in the lottery. Jonathan Isaac returns from another injury after flashing some defensive brilliance in his short run last season, while Franz Wagner and Moe Wagner helped lead Germany to a gold medal this summer. They seem poised for a play-in run, but before long they need to make a big addition. 

Philadelphia: James Harden left the 76ers this week, missing multiple practice and reportedly only communicating with GM Elton Brand with his relationship with Daryl Morey in shambles. It's hard to imagine Harden, who's now home in Houston, returning to Philadelphia for opening night against the Bucks on Thursday, and he didn't play in the preseason, but a rule that prevents him from becoming a free agent if he withholds services for 30 days could pull him back. Nick Nurse doesn't sound interested in integrating Harden, who the team sat out from its preseason scrimmage after he amicably took part in training camp after skipping the first two days. No feasible trade could maintain this team's contention status, so expect Morey to remain patient until he can at least find a bridge deal to the team's next star alongside Joel Embiid. At what point does Harden, even away from the team, become too big of a distraction and could hanging over the team though? 

“I think I’ve been preparing for (playing without Harden) all this week, for sure,” Nurse said Friday. “Lots of thought has gone into him not playing and preparing the team that way this summer. I keep saying, there is another plan if something changes. I don’t think it’s affected us very much, at all. We’ve just gone out and played and we’re going to have to go out play the way we’re trying to play. I think that is without (him) until something changes.”

Phoenix: Kevin Durant will return to San Francisco for only the second time since leaving the Warriors on opening night with the Suns, beginning his new pursuit of a championship alongside fellow stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal after injuries rocked his attempt after last trade deadline. Jusuf Nurkic played inconsistently in the preseason, while attempts to find consistent depth play will challenge new head coach Frank Vogel all season. Yuta Watanabe, Eric Gordon, Nassir Little, Grayson Allen and Josh Okogie give Vogel plenty of options with diverse skill sets. Allen became the fifth starter in the preseason after arriving in the Damian Lillard three-team trade. Nurkic shot 37% from the field and fouled three times per game. 

Portland: Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III will likely come off the bench against the Clippers on Wednesday, when Williams III is expected back from a sore knee after colliding with Jerami Grant in practice. Brogdon embraced a backup role again, emphasizing this season is about supporting Blazers rookie and No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson. Deandre Ayton will start as the team's priority at center, but any minutes Portland can sneak Williams III in next to Henderson could become pick-and-roll magic. Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and Grant should join Henderson and Ayton as starters. The Blazers will lose a ton of games, but they'll be fun to watch develop and grow alongside two former Celtics veterans. 

“I think it’s honestly important for Scoot to get this experience, starting," Brogdon said. "He’s going to be the franchise player going forward, so he has to be invested in and given that opportunity.”

San Antonio: Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins and Victor Wembanyama will start the most intriguing Spurs opening night against the Mavericks on Wednesday at 9:30 EST since Tim Duncan's career ended. Wembanyama's preseason play met the hype, averaging 19.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.8 BPG on 50.9%, pulling off moves never before seen due to his height well over seven feet and eight-foot wingspan. Wembanyama raised his arms to put back in missed free throws, dislodged balls from offensive player's hands by simply swinging his arms in traffic and pulled off crossover moves off the dribble to shake defenders. He's going to dominate as a defender at least from tip-off, which Steph Curry tried to challenge him on this week. Gregg Popovich, however, denied he lacked coaching enthusiasm in recent years prior to Wembanyama's arrival. 

Toronto: Scottie Barnes exited the Raptors' preseason win over the Wizards with a sprained right foot ahead of the team's opener on Wednesday against the Timberwolves. Darko Rajaković said Barnes would be fine and Jakob Poetl, Precious Achiuwa and Otto Porter Jr., who quietly missed 2022-23 with a foot injury, returned to give Toronto some hope at full strength to begin what could become a challenging season. Pascal Siakam's future looms as a question all year, and OG Anunoby will enter free agency next summer too. Dennis Schröder will try to succeed Fred VanVleet and a challenging path back to the playoffs looms. Toronto also responded to the Knicks' lawsuit from last month, calling for the dismissal of the case. 

"I know who I am. I know how my parents raised me. I know what I see every single day when I look in the mirror," Rajaković said. "I know that there's nothing that I should be worried about and I cannot wait for this lawsuit to be over so everybody can find the truth.”

Washington: Jordan Poole might shoot so often for these Wizards that he'll lead the league in scoring, as previewed by a 41-point effort against the Knicks on 10-for-19 shooting. Poole averaged 15 shots per game this preseason on 31.7% efficiency, closing Washington's slate with a 1-for-15 effort. Bilal Coulibaly stood out most, the young French defender who starred alongside Victor Wembanyama this past season, on a team that could finish with the worst record in the NBA after trading Bradley Beal this summer. They host the Celtics for the third game of the season on Oct. 30.