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Liam McKeone

NBA Media Days: Live Updates From Around the League As Preseason Nears

NBA Kyrie Irving Victor Wembanyama Cooper Flagg Mitch Johnson Celtics Jayson Tatum Mavericks Spurs Dallas (Organization)

The new NBA season will officially tip off on October 21, but it unofficially begins today with media days kicking off around the league.

On Monday, most of the teams in the NBA will hold their media days, with the exception of the five teams who held media days last week ahead of their participation in international preseason contests. As is annually the case with media days, there will be an onslaught of new information, funny clips, and fresh previews of the upcoming season. It is the first time fans will hear from many of their favorite players after an offseason free of any media obligations. New faces acquired over the offseason make their introductions to the local media and the fanbase.

But there is a lot to keep track of with 25 teams hosting their media days in the same general timeframe. To help bottleneck the raging river of information, consider this your one-stop shop for anything interesting, fun, or newsworthy to occur at NBA media days today.

As the season gets underway, be sure to sign up for Sports Illustrated's NBA newsletter, Open Floor by Chris Mannix, which will debut on Tuesday and arrive in your inbox twice a week throughout the season.

Here's everything you need to catch up on from NBA media days in 2025.

NBA Media Days Live Updates

Jayson Tatum Gives Update on Achilles Injury

Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles against the Knicks last May and sent the Celtics into a teardown that leaves the upcoming season a bit of a mystery as far as where Boston will finish in the standings. The superstar forward recently addressed the possibility of returning this season with Sports Illustrated, and said he hasn't ruled it out, but the priority for himself and the organization is getting him back to 100% health. During the Celtics' media day on Monday he gave another update on that front when asked if he felt any "pressure" to return.

"No. No pressure," Tatum said. "I've stated that. There's no pressure to return back any sooner than when I'm 100% healthy. No pressure from Brad [Stevens], Joe [Mazzulla], the [Celtics]. The most important thing is that I'm 100% recovered when I do come back."

Mavericks Star Kyrie Irving Is 'Right On Schedule' With ACL Recovery

One of several superstar guards injured last season, Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in March and his timeline to return for Dallas is still up in the air. Fans got excited about his progress after a recent on-court workout video in which Irving looked to be moving fluidly. On Monday, Irving discussed how his ACL rehab was going and said he is "right on schedule" but is focused on enjoying the process.

"It's been up and down, emotionally, just because of the good days where you make progress and some other days where you want to push your body to the limit but you can't," Irving said. "I was dealing with some of that, but it's been a great journey thus far. Connecting with others who have torn their ACL or dealt with traumatic injuries... The best advice I got was take your time. No timeline is going to be perfect. Don't compare it to anyone else, so just enjoy the process and that's what I've been doing."

Victor Wembanyama Has Been Fully Cleared After Blood Clot Issue

Victor Wembanyama's excellent sophomore year in San Antonio was unfortunately derailed by deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot issue that ended his season in February. However, it seems all is well with the French superstar. Head coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama was cleared to return by both the Spurs and the NBA heading into training camp.

"Victor is cleared. He has been cleared by our medical team and by the league," Johnson shared with reporters. "He's been ramping up, in a really good place."

First Look at Cooper Flagg With His Superstar Mavericks Teammates

Nobody expected Cooper Flagg to end up with the Mavericks after a tremendous freshman year at Duke, but here we are. One of the best prospects to enter the draft in ages, Flagg joins a Dallas roster pretty loaded with starpower already. But it may be some time before he gets to share the court with Irving given his ACL recovery, so Monday's media day provided the first look at the Mavs' three stars in uniform: Flagg, Irving and Anthony Davis.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Absent From Media Day With COVID, Comments on Myles Turner Signing

Giannis Antetokounmpo had an eventful summer, playing for Greece in EuroBasket as rumors about his future in Milwaukee persist. However, fans and reporters may have to wait a bit longer to hear about it. Bucks GM Jon Horst revealed Giannis would be absent Monday's media day as he tested positive for COVID and is in Greece until he recovers.

The Greek superstar did end up Zooming in to speak to the media and spoke highly of the team's big offseason acquisition— Myles Turner, pilfered from the rival Pacers.

"Very, very excited that he’s on the team," Antetokounmpo said. "We can fit so well together. Gives our team so much depth. Can take you off the dribble, great defender. Unbelievable guy. Very high character guy."

Anthony Davis Will Wear Glasses for Rest of Career

Anthony Davis was plagued by several injury issues upon arriving in Dallas as part of the stunning Luka Doncic trade back in January. One persisted into the offseason; Davis had to undergo surgery to repair a detached retina over the summer. While he is expected to make a full recovery, the All-NBA big man revealed the glasses he donned near the end of last season will be a constant moving forward as his doctors recommended he wear protective eyewear for "the rest of his career."

Jaylen Brown Is 'Close to 100%' After Offseason Meniscus Surgery

The 2025-26 season is shaping up to be a big one for Jaylen Brown. The Celtics star will be tasked with running the team completely for the first time in his career in light of Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury. Between Tatum's absence and the roster upheaval Boston experienced it'll be a tall task for Brown. Making it even more challenging is that the All-NBA wing underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus over the offseason. But Brown said on Monday he feels "awesome" and is close to 100% health.

"I feel great," Brown said. "I think I'm getting close to 100%. We've been just trusting the medical staff, ramping up. I feel great. My athleticism is back. I'm running. I'm a little lighter, I would say. I feel awesome. I feel ready."

Nikola Jokic Addresses Future With Nuggets

Nikola Jokic put forth another MVP-caliber season for the Nuggets last year before the team was eliminated by the eventual champion Thunder in the second round of the postseason. But some flags were raised about his plans for his future in Denver after he neglected to sign an extension this offseason. On Monday the Serbian superstar made it clear he plans to be a Nugget "forever."

"My plan is to be with the Nuggets forever," Jokic said when asked whether he would sign an extension next offseason.

Clippers President Issues Statement on Kawhi Leonard Controversy

The Clippers have been a main character of the NBA offseason after reporting done by Pablo Torre points to the possibility that owner Steve Ballmer and the franchise circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard via a "no-show job" with the company Aspiration. Los Angeles has denied any and all accusations of impropriety; despite that the NBA has launched its own investigation into the matter. To kick off media day on Monday, the franchise's president of basketball operations, longtime NBA exec Lawrence Frank, issued a statement on the Leonard controversy.

"I'm not naive," Frank began. "I know there are a lot of questions about our organization. I wish I could answer them all. But out of respect to the NBA investigation, I can't. What I can do is answer what I'm able to share. I will say this: We are glad there's an investigation. And we welcome it. We appreciate that there will be a clear-eye look at these allegations. We're eager for the truth to come out. The assumptions and conclusions that have been made are disappointing and upsetting. We expect the investigation will show these allegations are wrong.

"I'm hurt for Steve [Ballmer]. He's one of the best people, one of the most honorable people I've ever met. He does things the right way for the right reasons. And he constantly reminds us to stay on the right side of the rules. I'm also hurt for our players, our staff, and fans. On a larger level, as I've learned more about this over the past month, I feel bad for all the people who are defrauded by this individual. Let's not forget: this was a case of widespread fraud. And there were a lot of different victims.

"The salary cap governs everything we do. Our mission every day is to build the best team we can under the constraints of the cap. There is no gray area. There are no secret shortcuts. It's clear what we are and are not allowed to do. The accusations made against us are serious and they don't line up with my experience, my reality. We will cooperate with this investigation and let this process play out. But we are eager for the whole truth, the whole picture, to be revealed. We're very confident in what it will show."

LeBron James Talks Retirement Ahead of 23rd NBA Season

LeBron James has dominated the basketball world for decades but the end is near in some fashion. The 40-year-old star will play his 23rd season in the NBA this year. His stats over the past few seasons have taken a slight dip but it is clear James is still entirely capable of playing at an elite level for long stretches, even if he can't steamroll the entire league like he did with ease when he was younger.

James discussed the possibility of retirement at Lakers media day, saying he didn't know exactly when the end of his career was coming, but that he did know it was soon.

"I don't know when the end is but I know it's sooner than later," James said.

The King also addressed whether superstar teammate Luka Doncic would factor into the equation at all. Would James extend his career to keep playing alongside Doncic as he continues to elevate his game? The answer, it turns out, is no.

Kevin Durant Speaks on Future in Houston After Offseason Trade to Rockets

The Rockets hope to contend for a championship this season after winning 52 games last year and trading for Kevin Durant over the offseason. One of the interesting offshoot storylines from the trade is that Durant is entering the final year of his contract. Entering media day it was still unclear how much longer the 37-year-old wants to play and if he would want to spend those last years in Houston with the Rockets. But KD put the drama to rest once he got in front of a microphone, confirming he wanted to sign an extension with his new team at some point.

"I do see myself signing a contract extension," Durant said. "I can't tell you exactly when that'll happen but I do see it happening."

Kawhi Leonard Gives First Comments on Aspiration Deal, NBA Investigation

Kawhi Leonard was his usual quiet self throughout the NBA offseason despite the raging inferno that erupted around the Clippers in light of Pablo Torre's reporting around the team, Aspiration, and Leonard himself. But he gave his first public comments on the situation to reporters at media day on Monday, pushing back against the idea that his contract with Aspiration was a "no-show job" and that he believes nobody involved did anything wrong.

"The NBA is going to do they job. None of us did no wrongdoing. That's it. We invite the investigations. It's not going to be a distraction for me or the rest of the team."

Steph Curry Speaks on the Jonathan Kuminga Situation

The Warriors are hoping to capitalize on however many years Steph Curry has left as one of the NBA's best players. But their offseason plans were thrown into disarray thanks to the Jonathan Kuminga situation. Contract negotiations with the young forward have sputtered to a standstill and Golden State has yet to find a trade they like for Kuminga; he remained unsigned and missed media day on Monday. Curry discussed the matter and said he respects Kuminga's process trying to "figure out his situation" but he expects the 22-year-old to be ready to work when it's all settled.

"When he's here ready to work, we expect him to be locked in on doing what he needs to do to help us win."

Anthony Edwards Boils Down MVP Candidacy to Simple Formula

Expectations are very high for Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards as he enters his sixth NBA season. After two consecutive career seasons resulted in two deep playoff runs in Minnesota, Edwards is on the shortlist of MVP candidates for the coming year and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see him atop those rankings at the end of the season. When asked what it would take to win MVP, Edwards boiled it down to a simple (and mostly correct) formula.

"We gotta win. I think all MVPs win at a high level. Average a whole bunch of points. Um... Yeah, I think that's the main recipe. Win and Average a whole bunch of points."

This post will continue to be updated throughout Monday's media day sessions.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NBA Media Days: Live Updates From Around the League As Preseason Nears .

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