New threads. New number. New season.
Kevin Durant donned Rockets red for the first time yesterday as the 2025-26 season prepares for lift-off.
What else popped on Media Day as 25 teams entered the spotlight?
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Sep. 30, 2025
Welcome Back: Viral moments, birthday wishes, Media Day history and Draymond being Draymond
Media Day Extended: More coast-to-coast coverage, from Joker’s latest trick to Wemby’s busy summer
Media Day Hub: All of Monday’s content, from all 25 teams, all in one spot
International All-Access: The Knicks, Sixers & Pelicans touch down overseas for the Global Games
What’s Next: The preseason tips off in Abu Dhabi in just two days. Plus, more key dates
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Opening Night is exactly three weeks away…
Countdown to American Express Tip-Off: Just 21 days until the regular season begins – and Opening Week is packed.
NBC makes its NBA return on Opening Night – which coincides with banner night in OKC – followed by a pair of midweek ESPN doubleheaders and a Friday showcase on Prime.
- Opening Night On NBC & Peacock (Tuesday, Oct. 21): Rockets at Thunder (7:30 ET), Warriors at Lakers (10 ET)
- Wednesday on ESPN (Oct. 22): Cavaliers at Knicks (7 ET), Spurs at Mavericks (9:30 ET)
- Thursday on ESPN (Oct. 23): Thunder at Pacers (7:30 ET), Nuggets at Warriors (10 ET)
- Friday on Prime (Oct. 24) Celtics at Knicks (7:30 ET), Wolves at Lakers (10 ET)
1. MEDIA DAY MUST-SEES: MONDAY’S BEST
Houston Rockets + Dallas Mavericks Instagram
One day. Twenty-five teams. Countless viral moments.
Some of the game’s biggest names took center stage Monday as Media Day offered a first glimpse of the 2025-26 landscape – from revamped rosters to title contenders running it back.
We start out West in Texas, where all eyes were on a 17-year vet in Houston and an 18-year-old rookie in Dallas – both stepping in as new stars in the Lone Star State.
- Rocket Man: On his 37th birthday, Kevin Durant shared a wish for Houston’s upcoming season before praising the unique firepower around him – including skillsets that he’s “never played with before”
- Flagg’s First: In Dallas, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, made his Media Day debut, joining fellow top picks Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving for a snapshot of the Mavs’ star power
- 100 Club: While Flagg experienced his first Media Day, LeBron James soaked in an unprecedented 23rd – and posed with Luka Dončić as they enter their first full season as a duo
- Mind-Blowing Reign: Watch LeBron’s reaction as he learns there are over 70 players in the league born after his NBA debut
- Back In Blue & Red: Chris Paul’s return to the Clippers highlighted LA’s other Media Day, as the Point God reunited with the team he steered for six seasons
- Boom In The Bay: Up I-5, Draymond Green set the tone in Golden State with some new shades, bringing his trademark energy into Year 14
Oklahoma City Thunder Instagram
OKC Unfiltered: While the veteran Warriors gear up for another title hunt, OKC – the youngest team to win an NBA title since 1977 – begins its defense. And Jaylin Williams had jokes for one of the squad’s few vets.
- Double Take: As Jaylin brought in the laughs, Jalen Williams reminded everyone what’s at stake for the Thunder this season – greatness
2. MEDIA DAY EXTENDED: COAST-TO-COAST COVERAGE
‘Greatness’ is a word that’s become synonymous with three-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokić over the years.
But before unleashing more aces on the court this season, the Joker pulled an even bigger card from the deck on Monday – flashing the humor that makes him one-of-one.
Jokić wasn’t the only star in his element yesterday, from Desmond Bane repping Orlando’s new pinstripes to Tyrese Haliburton reminiscing on the Pacers’ magical Finals run.
- “It’s something I’ll cherish for a long time,” said Haliburton on Indiana’s 2025 postseason. “But I look forward to creating many more memories that hopefully overtake that.”
- New To The Nest: One team eyeing Indy for the East crown is Atlanta, which welcomed Kristaps Porziņģis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the squad as part of a busy offseason
Kevin C. Cox + Nick Cammett/NBAE via Getty Images
- The Land Runs It Back: Meanwhile, after posting an East-best 64 regular-season wins last year, the Cavs kept their core intact while adding Lonzo Ball to the backcourt
- “There’s not many players in the league that are shut-down defenders – that’s what makes Lonzo special,” said Donovan Mitchell. “I’m glad he’s on our side.”
David Berding/NBAE via Getty Images + Memphis Grizzlies Instagram
Back out West, more stars shared their hunger to summit the mountaintop – including Victor Wembanyama detailing his summer grind, Ja Morant speaking on his career goals and Anthony Edwards emphasizing the importance of team chemistry.
- Wemby: “I can assure you nobody has trained like I did this summer … I feel better, I look stronger … everything is a green light.”
- Ja: “My goal is to win … and to bring a championship here.”
- Ant: “The most important thing that I’ve learned from teams that go deep in the Playoffs is they are together. They really care about each other … I think winning starts with being together.”
3. MEDIA DAY HUB: MORE MONDAY FRAMES & FUN
Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images + Philadelphia 76ers Instagram
Looking for all of yesterday’s biggest moments? Dive into our Media Day hub for every viral moment from all 25 teams – and keep scrolling for exclusive coverage.
- Behind The Scenes: What does Media Day look like from a player’s perspective? Take a peek behind the curtain with our all-access team
Geoff Stellfox + Brandon Dill/NBAE via Getty Images
- Same Faces, New Places: Which vet went where? A look at familiar stars with their new squads
Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images
- Mic Check: Monday’s top quotes, boldest predictions and best one-liners
Jacob Kupferman + Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images
- Rooks In New Looks: A first glance at the 2025-26 rookie class in their new threads
4. ON THE GROUND: ALL-ACCESS IN ABU DHABI & AUSTRALIA
David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
While 25 teams staged Media Day on Monday, five clubs – the Knicks, Sixers, Pelicans, Nets and Suns – got a head start last week ahead of this year’s Global Games.
The international action tips off in Abu Dhabi, where the Knicks and 76ers open the 2025-26 preseason on Thursday (12 ET, NBA TV). Both squads touched down yesterday — and our all-access team was right there with them.
- On The Ground: Philly was the first to arrive, with Paul George and Joel Embiid taking in the scene, while Tyrese Maxey and Andre Drummond wasted no time diving into the culture
- Travel Day Diaries: Roughly 7,000 miles from Philadelphia, the Sixers shared their secrets for avoiding jet lag
- Falcon First: After saying he wouldn’t hold one during last week’s Media Day, the Sixers’ No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe caved – and his bird-handling reaction is priceless
- Big Apple Abroad: New York pulled up shortly after, with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges all smiles as they soaked in a warm Abu Dhabi welcome
The Global Games stretched from the desert to Down Under on Monday, as the Pelicans landed in Melbourne, where they’ll face an NBL squad on Friday (5:30 a.m. ET, NBA TV) and another on Saturday (11 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
- Aussie Awesome: Jordan Poole and the NOLA vets had the rookies decked out for their Australian arrival: “I think it’s the only way to set the trip up right.”
5. WHAT’S NEXT: PRESEASON GLOBAL GAMES & MORE KEY DATES
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Media Day is in the books, training camp is underway and the preseason is just two sleeps away.
Starting with the opening Abu Dhabi game on Thursday between New York and Philly (12 ET, NBA TV), 71 preseason matchups will take place across five countries prior to Opening Night on Oct. 21.
Below are some key dates to circle on your calendar before the regular season tips off in exactly three weeks.
- Oct. 2 & 4: NBA Abu Dhabi Games (Knicks vs. 76ers | Abu Dhabi, UAE)
- Oct. 3: NBA preseason opens in North America (Suns vs. Lakers | Palm Desert, CA)
- Oct. 3 & 5: NBA Melbourne Series (Pelicans vs. NBL teams | Melbourne, Australia)
- Oct. 6: NBA Canada Series (Nuggets vs. Raptors | Vancouver, B.C.)
- Oct. 10 & 12: NBA China Games (Nets vs. Suns | Macao, China)
- Oct. 17: NBA preseason ends
- Oct. 20: Rosters set for NBA Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
- Oct. 21: Start of the 2025-26 NBA regular season (Full Schedule)
