Category: Deportes

The NBA Foundation hosted its inaugural Sports & Arts Symposium and Gallery Exhibition Sept. 9-10 in Phoenix, bringing together athletes, artists, creators and leaders from sports, culture, philanthropy and business as the city prepares to host NBA All-Star 2027.

In partnership with the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Symposium centered on the work of NHL player Jacob Trouba and renowned artist William Wegman. Trouba uses his hockey equipment and movement to create body-print artwork, turning the physicality of the sport into something visual. Wegman then reimagined Trouba’s pieces through his own artistic style, bringing together two artists with very different backgrounds and creative approaches.

The program brought together voices from across sports and the arts, including NBA legend and art collector Elliot Perry, art collector and philanthropist Jessica Nowitzki, NBA Foundation Executive Director Ruth Jurgensen, NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, NBA legend and photographer CJ Miles and author and professor Mitchell S. Jackson. Conversations explored collecting and philanthropy, the creator economy, creative career pathways and the role of art in sports and culture.

Trouba and Wegman also took part in a public conversation about their experimental collaboration, exploring how their different paths brought them to the project.

The event concluded with the opening reception for Cross Check: Jacob Trouba and William Wegman at the ASU Art Museum, where guests could experience the new collaborative work firsthand.

The exhibition will remain on view at the ASU Art Museum through January 2027.

The players of the 2025 NBA Draft class made an impact in their rookie season – not only in the regular season but in the playoffs and NBA Finals, too.  

From the No. 1 overall pick (Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg) through the second round (Sacramento Kings’  Maxime Raynaud), the 2025-26 rookie class produced and showed potential for multiple All-NBA, All-Star and MVP candidates. 

The five players on the All-Rookie first team were lottery picks, including selections 1-4: Flagg, Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, Philadelphia 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe, San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper and Memphis Grizzlies’ Cedric Coward. 

And Flagg edged Knueppel, his former college teammate at Duke, for Kia Rookie of the Year in one of the slimmest margins in ROY voting history, 412 points to 386. 

The All-Rookie second team included Raynaud, New Orleans Pelicans’ Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, Utah Jazz’s Ace Bailey and Toronto Raptors’ Collin Murray-Boyles. 

How will this class continue to make its mark? Year two will reveal answers.

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2025-26 All-Rookie First Team

Cooper Flagg, Mavericks 

Flagg led all rookies in points (21.0 per game), was No. 2 in assists (4.5 per game), tied for No. 2 in steals (1.2 per game) and No. 4 in rebounding (6.7 per game). Flagg, who turns 20 on Dec. 21, is the centerpiece of Dallas’ push to become a playoff contender under team president Masai Ujiri, general manager Mike Schmitz and first-year coach Dusty May. It should be fun to watch the versatile 6-foot-9 forward develop in May’s system.

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Kon Knueppel, Hornets

Knueppel, the No. 4 pick, put on a shooting display and set a record for most 3-pointers in a season by a rookie with 273 – zipping past the previous mark of 206 set by Keegan Murray in 2022-23. As a rookie, he averaged 18.5 points and posted percentages that suggest he can be a 50-40-90 shooter: 47.5% from the field, 42.5% on 3s and 86.3% on free throws. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists, showing that he can also be a 20-5-5 player. With the offseason moves the Hornets made, Knueppel and Brandon Miller are the primary offensive options.

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VJ Edgecombe, 76ers 

Edgecombe, the No. 3 selection, had a standout season offensively and defensively, averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a rookie-best 1.4 steals. With the addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a roster with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 2026-27 rookie Labaron Philon, Edgecombe, who also received valuable playoff experience, will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact on both sides of the court in coach Nick Nurse’s system.

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Dylan Harper, Spurs 

Harper generated a fantastic rookie season that culminated in a Western Conference championship and trip to the NBA Finals. His per-36-minute averages made him a vital part of the Spurs’ rotation: 18.8 points, 6.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds in a reserve role. His growth was evident throughout the season, and you could see it in real time during the playoffs, where his confidence and elite shotmaking, especially at the rim, soared. It’s going to be difficult to keep Harper, selected second, out of the starting lineup in 2026-27. Regardless, his role and minutes should increase.

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Cedric Coward, Grizzlies 

As Memphis altered course with trades, Coward emerged as a central player in the franchise’s present and future. The No. 11 pick in the draft, Coward averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists and shot 47.1% from the field. The Grizzlies have assembled a young core mixed with veterans, and Coward’s development as a shooter and defender with his size and strength is important for the Grizzlies this season.

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All-Rookie 2025-26 second team

Ace Bailey, Jazz  

The No. 5 selection, Bailey was fifth among rookies in scoring last season, posting 13.8 points per game while also collecting 4.2 rebounds per game. His development as a two-way player – improvement defensively and increased versatility offensively with more efficiency – is crucial to Utah’s progress. With Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., Bailey doesn’t always have to be the No. 1 option, and 2026 No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson will need to contribute, too.

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Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans 

Fears is one of two Pelicans rookies from last season who made the All-Rookie second team after averaging 14.3 points (fourth among rookies), 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals. He was one of two rookies to play in all 82 games. In a good sign for Fears, the No. 7 pick, and the Pelicans, he didn’t smash into the rookie wall, posting better scoring, assists and shooting stats after the All-Star break.

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Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors 

Two components stand out when evaluating Murray-Boyles: his per-36-minute stats and his production in the playoffs. Per 36 minutes during the regular season, Murray-Boyles, chosen ninth, averaged 14 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. In the first round of the 2026 playoffs, Murray-Boyles’ minutes increased, and he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in seven games against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Maxime Raynaud, Kings 

Raynaud, a 7-foot-1 center, was the lone second-round pick to earn All-Rookie honors, and he did it with his scoring (12.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.5 per game). He shot 57.1% from the field, including 62.1% on shot attempts less than 10 feet. He led all rookies in double-doubles with 18, including a 21-point, 19-rebound performance against New Orleans. Adding muscle and becoming more of a rim protector are central to Raynaud’s growth.

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Derik Queen, Pelicans 

The other Pelican on the All-Rookie second team, Queen showed double-double potential playing 25 minutes per game in 81 games: 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while adding 3.7 assists per game and shooting 47.3% from the field. Selected 13th, Queen registered 14 double-doubles and had 30 points and 22 rebounds against Minnesota in the final game of the regular season. A major function of new Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley’s job is helping Queen and Fears take the next step.

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Other second-year players to watch in 2026-27:

• Tre Johnson, Wizards  
• Will Riley, Wizards
• Egor Dëmin, Nets
• Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets
• Kasparas Jakučionis, Bucks
• Carter Bryant, Spurs
• Nique Clifford, Kings
• Khaman Maluach, Suns
• Joan Beringer, Timberwolves
• Walter Clayton Jr., Grizzlies
• Rasheer Fleming, Suns
• Ryan Nembhard, Hawks
• Javon Small, Grizzlies
• Hugo González, Celtics
• Asa Newell, Hawks
• Thomas Sorber, Thunder 
• Noah Penda, Magic
• Jase Richardson, Magic

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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

The NBA Foundation hosted its inaugural Sports & Arts Symposium and Gallery Exhibition Sept. 9-10 in Phoenix, bringing together athletes, artists, creators and leaders from sports, culture, philanthropy and business as the city prepares to host NBA All-Star 2027.

In partnership with the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Symposium centered on the work of NHL player Jacob Trouba and renowned artist William Wegman. Trouba uses his hockey equipment and movement to create body-print artwork, turning the physicality of the sport into something visual. Wegman then reimagined Trouba’s pieces through his own artistic style, bringing together two artists with very different backgrounds and creative approaches.

The program brought together voices from across sports and the arts, including NBA legend and art collector Elliot Perry, art collector and philanthropist Jessica Nowitzki, NBA Foundation Executive Director Ruth Jurgensen, NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, NBA legend and photographer CJ Miles and author and professor Mitchell S. Jackson. Conversations explored collecting and philanthropy, the creator economy, creative career pathways and the role of art in sports and culture.

Trouba and Wegman also took part in a public conversation about their experimental collaboration, exploring how their different paths brought them to the project.

The event concluded with the opening reception for Cross Check: Jacob Trouba and William Wegman at the ASU Art Museum, where guests could experience the new collaborative work firsthand.

The exhibition will remain on view at the ASU Art Museum through January 2027.

With the regular season only five weeks away, and with training camps and preseason games booked between now and then, NBA commissioner Adam Silver understandably is excited for what’s to come.

“I don’t remember a season where the competition was as hotly anticipated as this year,” Silver said Tuesday at a news conference after this week’s Board of Governors meetings. “There are so many good teams, so many interesting situations out there. … I can’t wait for the season to start.”

First, however, there was leftover and ongoing business to address, including questions about the penalties imposed on the Los Angeles Clippers in the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention case. The media session in midtown Manhattan at the end of the two-day BOG event was the first time reporters could seek details from the commissioner.

For instance, Silver was asked how the Clippers’ punishment – suspensions to owner Steve Ballmer, president of business operations Gillian Zucker and general manager Lawrence Frank, a $30 million fine and five forfeited future first-round draft picks – was determined to be neither too harsh nor too light.

“That’s in some ways the most difficult part of adjudicating these disputes,” the commissioner said, “because while there have to be competitive consequences, our view, if these rules are violated, we still want to be a 30-team league.

“We recognize that in some ways we’re unfortunately punishing the fans of that team as well. That’s the balance we’re trying to seek. I don’t think in any way we’ve done permanent damage to this franchise.”

Hammer the offending team too much and it might flat-line in the standings for a decade or more. Go too easy and neither it nor an ambitious rival from among the other 29 might be deterred from similarly cheating again.

“No question, this is a setback for the team,” Silver said. “The ultimate goal in terms of these type of sanctions is to ensure that other teams don’t engage in this type of behavior in the future.”

In penalizing the Clippers for arranging endorsement deals for Leonard as a prohibited work-around to the league’s salary cap, the NBA used the precedent of Minnesota’s illegal contracts with Joe Smith back in 2000. That same precedent could be invoked again, if the NBA were to modify the punishment: the Timberwolves eventually had two of their five stripped picks rebated for dropping any legal challenges and complying with the verdict.

Said Silver: “Putting aside the precise words he chose to use, most importantly he indicated a willingness to accept the league’s decision in this case and the accompanying sanctions.

“Our plan is to move forward. Every reason to believe that at the end of the year [suspension] he’ll return to be an owner in good standing.”

The commissioner dismissed a suggestion that similar illicit side deals might exist with other players and teams. “I’ve had lots of conversations with general managers, team presidents, owners as to the kind of conduct that goes on,” he said. “We know around the lines there’s been slippage over the years, but nothing of this nature that I’m aware of.”

As always, the BOG agenda included a variety of topics, most of which Silver touched on in taking questions from the media:

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Expansion inches closer for Las Vegas, Seattle

There was enthusiasm in the boardroom for Las Vegas and either a renovated T-Mobile Arena or what Silver called a new “modern entertainment palace.” He added: “It’s a unique market where you could truly see essentially 365-day-a-year activity.”

Seattle got less attention at this week’s meetings only because it’s arena situation is more solidified. Silver reaffirmed the NBA’s goal to reach an expansion decision by the end of 2026.

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NBA Europe on track for next summer

Silver said the NBA continues to negotiate with the EuroLeague about partnering in the new endeavor. But he said some version of NBA Europe would begin play in 2027 regardless.

Despite all the complexity of a start-up league overseas, Silver said: “We want to get going. … There will be announcements [on markets and franchises] coming over the next few months.”

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Uncertainty around the Trail Blazers’ arena

A standoff between the city of Portland and team owner Tom Dundon has some fans nervous that the franchise might seek to relocate. Silver deftly avoided taking a side, talking about the importance for Dundon and public officials to reach an agreement for a “state-of-the-art arena.”

“It’s my hope that we can lower the temperature honestly a bit in these negotiations,” he said. Silver said he spoke at length with Dundon this week in New York and knows the Blazers owner consulted with other team owners about their similar civic negotiations.

Silver added: “I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland.”

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Tanenbaum out, Arison in

This BOG session was the last with Toronto’s Larry Tanenbaum as chairman, who held the post for nine years. Miami’s Micky Arison now assumes that role.

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The NBA Foundation hosted its inaugural Sports & Arts Symposium and Gallery Exhibition Sept. 9-10 in Phoenix, bringing together athletes, artists, creators and leaders from sports, culture, philanthropy and business as the city prepares to host NBA All-Star 2027.

In partnership with the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Symposium centered on the work of NHL player Jacob Trouba and renowned artist William Wegman. Trouba uses his hockey equipment and movement to create body-print artwork, turning the physicality of the sport into something visual. Wegman then reimagined Trouba’s pieces through his own artistic style, bringing together two artists with very different backgrounds and creative approaches.

The program brought together voices from across sports and the arts, including NBA legend and art collector Elliot Perry, art collector and philanthropist Jessica Nowitzki, NBA Foundation Executive Director Ruth Jurgensen, NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, NBA legend and photographer CJ Miles and author and professor Mitchell S. Jackson. Conversations explored collecting and philanthropy, the creator economy, creative career pathways and the role of art in sports and culture.

Trouba and Wegman also took part in a public conversation about their experimental collaboration, exploring how their different paths brought them to the project.

The event concluded with the opening reception for Cross Check: Jacob Trouba and William Wegman at the ASU Art Museum, where guests could experience the new collaborative work firsthand.

The exhibition will remain on view at the ASU Art Museum through January 2027.

The NBA Foundation hosted its inaugural Sports & Arts Symposium and Gallery Exhibition Sept. 9-10 in Phoenix, bringing together athletes, artists, creators and leaders from sports, culture, philanthropy and business as the city prepares to host NBA All-Star 2027.

In partnership with the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Symposium centered on the work of NHL player Jacob Trouba and renowned artist William Wegman. Trouba uses his hockey equipment and movement to create body-print artwork, turning the physicality of the sport into something visual. Wegman then reimagined Trouba’s pieces through his own artistic style, bringing together two artists with very different backgrounds and creative approaches.

The program brought together voices from across sports and the arts, including NBA legend and art collector Elliot Perry, art collector and philanthropist Jessica Nowitzki, NBA Foundation Executive Director Ruth Jurgensen, NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, NBA legend and photographer CJ Miles and author and professor Mitchell S. Jackson. Conversations explored collecting and philanthropy, the creator economy, creative career pathways and the role of art in sports and culture.

Trouba and Wegman also took part in a public conversation about their experimental collaboration, exploring how their different paths brought them to the project.

The event concluded with the opening reception for Cross Check: Jacob Trouba and William Wegman at the ASU Art Museum, where guests could experience the new collaborative work firsthand.

The exhibition will remain on view at the ASU Art Museum through January 2027.

The NBA Foundation hosted its inaugural Sports & Arts Symposium and Gallery Exhibition Sept. 9-10 in Phoenix, bringing together athletes, artists, creators and leaders from sports, culture, philanthropy and business as the city prepares to host NBA All-Star 2027.

In partnership with the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Symposium centered on the work of NHL player Jacob Trouba and renowned artist William Wegman. Trouba uses his hockey equipment and movement to create body-print artwork, turning the physicality of the sport into something visual. Wegman then reimagined Trouba’s pieces through his own artistic style, bringing together two artists with very different backgrounds and creative approaches.

The program brought together voices from across sports and the arts, including NBA legend and art collector Elliot Perry, art collector and philanthropist Jessica Nowitzki, NBA Foundation Executive Director Ruth Jurgensen, NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, NBA legend and photographer CJ Miles and author and professor Mitchell S. Jackson. Conversations explored collecting and philanthropy, the creator economy, creative career pathways and the role of art in sports and culture.

Trouba and Wegman also took part in a public conversation about their experimental collaboration, exploring how their different paths brought them to the project.

The event concluded with the opening reception for Cross Check: Jacob Trouba and William Wegman at the ASU Art Museum, where guests could experience the new collaborative work firsthand.

The exhibition will remain on view at the ASU Art Museum through January 2027.

The NBA Foundation hosted its inaugural Sports & Arts Symposium and Gallery Exhibition Sept. 9-10 in Phoenix, bringing together athletes, artists, creators and leaders from sports, culture, philanthropy and business as the city prepares to host NBA All-Star 2027.

In partnership with the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Symposium centered on the work of NHL player Jacob Trouba and renowned artist William Wegman. Trouba uses his hockey equipment and movement to create body-print artwork, turning the physicality of the sport into something visual. Wegman then reimagined Trouba’s pieces through his own artistic style, bringing together two artists with very different backgrounds and creative approaches.

The program brought together voices from across sports and the arts, including NBA legend and art collector Elliot Perry, art collector and philanthropist Jessica Nowitzki, NBA Foundation Executive Director Ruth Jurgensen, NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, NBA legend and photographer CJ Miles and author and professor Mitchell S. Jackson. Conversations explored collecting and philanthropy, the creator economy, creative career pathways and the role of art in sports and culture.

Trouba and Wegman also took part in a public conversation about their experimental collaboration, exploring how their different paths brought them to the project.

The event concluded with the opening reception for Cross Check: Jacob Trouba and William Wegman at the ASU Art Museum, where guests could experience the new collaborative work firsthand.

The exhibition will remain on view at the ASU Art Museum through January 2027.