Basketball Intelligence For 7/25/26
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
PODCAST: Dean Oliver on the Meaning of Analytics
Ray LeBov/Nick Agar-Johnson, No Weak Stuff
Dean Oliver, the godfather of modern basketball analaytics, currently of ESPN and formerly of four different NBA teams in a decades-long career in the league, joins Ray LeBov and Nick Agar-Johnson to talk about the meaning of analytics and the purposes of analytics as prompted by the field of strawmen in the aftermath of the Jaylen Brown trade. They discuss the fundamental purpose of analytics, how team goals factor into the scope of analytics-related inquiries, the origins of Oliver’s Four Factors, and many other topics related to the nature of analytics in a wide-ranging conversation about analytics, statistics, and basketball.
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: Hawks’ smart contract management as a reason for optimism.
Yagya Bhargava, Basketball Network
BKN: How East’s Emerging Great Race Affects Nets
Steve Lichtenstein
BKN: Nets still have a Michael Porter Jr. call to make
Brian Lewis, NY Post
BKN: Michael Porter Jr. wants Brooklyn, but the post-LeBron market may test the Nets
C J Holmes, Daily News
CHI: Bulls have sneaky depth with a few outsiders trying to crack rotation
Joe Cowley, Sun*Times
DAL: Mavericks’ path to sign Vsevolod Ishchenko has a complicated roadblock
Will Miller, The Smoking Cuban
GSW: Warriors facing harsh truth, enter next NBA season without realistic title expectations
Nick Friedell, The Athletic
GSW: Warriors’ focus shifts to Draymond Green, young core
Nick Friedell, The Athletic
MIA: Heat miss on LeBron James’ return but won’t downplay a victorious offseason
Eric Nehm, The Athletic
MIN: Timberwolves’ LeBron pursuit falls short. Now they move forward with new-look roster
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic
ORL: Magic have a deeper bench and a stronger rotation
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared
SAC: Darius Acuff Jr. is the new face of the Kings
Brett Siegel, Clutch Points
LEAGUEWIDE
Start, Bench or G League? Predictions for Every 2026 1st-Round NBA Draft Pick
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stack up in 2026 offseason
ESPN
NBA Power Rankings: Where every team stands after LeBron James’ move to 76ers
Law Murray, The Athletic
NBA Power Rankings: The 76ers could own the East with LeBron
Ian Levy, Fansided
NBA Power Rankings for all 30 teams updated after LeBron James signs with 76ers
Ricky O’Donnell, SBNation
Updated NBA Power Rankings After Philadelphia 76ers Sign LeBron James
Andy Bailey, ESPN
Power ranking all 30 NBA teams following LeBron’s decision
Jacob Camenker, USA Today
Eastern Conference Tiers: Contenders, Playoff and Lottery Teams
Blake Silverman, Sports Illustrated
LBJ
LeBron James: An Odyssey
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker
The remainder of today’s coverage of the LBJ signing ( links to 9 of the best stories) follows for paid subscribers
