Dirk Nowitzki Foundation staged its 7th Celebrity Tennis Classic, drawing Mavs veterans and the next generation. Cooper Flagg joined as honorary player, while Nash, Blackman and Marion mingled with guests, plus Elvis Andrus representing cross-sport appeal. The day blended charity with star power and a feel of Mavericks lineage.

Nowitzki, now an Amazon Prime analyst, said the Mavs are stacked and health will decide the season, while Flagg’s coin-toss moment signaled rookie integration into a club chasing depth and continuity. The event underscored a bridge between championship DNA and fresh talent in Dallas.

The occasion highlighted the franchise’s celebrity pull and community ties, reinforcing Dallas basketball’s prestige as it eyes the 2025 campaign with optimism and a clear path for emerging stars.

The Knicks bolstered their depth this off-season with Guerschon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon, setting a clear window to challenge in the East. Yet Mario Chalmers challenges that outlook, saying New York still lacks a dominant big who can anchor both ends and change the ceiling. Karl-Anthony Towns has grown into a more well-rounded defender for the Knicks, but the gap at the rim remains a talking point. Indiana, Boston and others shuffled, but the Cavaliers and Knicks are positioned as frontrunners in a crowded conference as a new era under a fresh Knicks identity begins shaping itself with Mike Brown at the helm.

EuroBasket final pits Türkiye's Alperen Sengun against Germany's Franz Wagner, signaling a shift to a younger, deeper guard-forward era.

Sengun averages 20.8 PPG, 11 REB, 7 AST; Wagner 21.1 PPG, 5.6 REB; Schroder 20.9 PPG, 6.6 APG as Germany's veteran floor general. Türkiye and Germany enter final 8-0, with big margins.

Watch Sunday Sept. 14, 2:00 PM ET from Riga via Courtside 1891 or DAZN.

The Suns head into 2025-26 still seeking a true lead guard after Tyus Jones left for Orlando, pushing Devin Booker to anchor a multi-guard attack with Jalen Green if he starts at point. With Durant and Beal moved on, Phoenix bets its offense on Booker’s playmaking, Green’s growth, and Collin Gillespie stepping up as a reliable secondary ballhandler. New coach Jordan Ott must weave a flexible system around a roster that features combo guards like Goodwin and Butler while keeping a center-centered floor for offense to flourish without a traditional facilitator.