LeBron James units the bar in Philadelphia, Jalen Duren sits out Detroit and extra from 2026 NBA media day

The NBA’s 2026-27 season launched itself Monday as groups throughout the league held media day periods earlier than coaching camps open Tuesday — a day headlined by LeBron James’s debut as a Philadelphia 76er, a conspicuous absence in Detroit, Nikola Jokic’s pointed contract declaration, and Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto with unfinished enterprise in tow.

LeBron units the bar in Philadelphia

The 76ers commanded probably the most consideration of any staff. James, who signed with Philadelphia within the offseason to hitch a roster that already consists of Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, suited up in his new jersey for the primary time and met the press alongside Embiid, Brown, Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. He opened his session with a quip — eradicating his identify tag on the podium and asking reporters, “You guys know who I am, right?” — earlier than leaving no ambiguity about why he got here to Philadelphia.

“I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round,” he mentioned.

James mentioned his determination to signal with the Sixers got here down considerably to a dialog with Maxey.

“I had a list of five teams… Tyrese was one of the main deciding factors.”

On how a lineup this laden with stars will operate collectively, James acknowledged what any sincere studying of the roster requires — adjustment time, and a willingness to concede particular person turf for collective achieve.

“If we want to accomplish something really important, there will be collective sacrificing in a good way.”

“It’s going to take time. Everyone wants instant oatmeal. You want to do something special? It takes time.”

Embiid, whose sturdiness has been the defining query round Philadelphia’s ceiling in latest seasons, addressed his conditioning with deliberate brevity.

“I feel good. I won’t get into all the details of what I did, but felt like I did the right things.”

He framed the Sixers’ method to the season round peaking when it counts.

“You got to build it up because you want to be at your peak in April, May. We got a plan and we got to execute it.”

Duren sits out in Detroit

The most unresolved personnel scenario of media day performed out not at a podium however in its absence. Jalen Duren didn’t seem at Pistons media day or coaching camp Monday as his contract extension standoff with Detroit remained unsettled. The Detroit News had reported his anticipated absence the day past.

CBS Sports reported, citing unidentified sources, that Duren feels “disrespected” by the Pistons’ extension supply — a characterization that has not been confirmed publicly by Duren or his representatives. Yahoo Sports has hooked up a determine of $200 million to the negotiation; neither the membership nor Duren’s camp has confirmed any phrases. The Pistons didn’t tackle the standoff publicly at their session.

Duren is 22 and eligible for a rookie extension. By permitting the deadline to cross with out signing, he positions himself to develop into a restricted free agent subsequent offseason — a leverage level that SI’s All Pistons protection has famous might finally yield a extra favorable deal than what Detroit has supplied.

Jokic indicators his intentions in Denver

Nikola Jokic, who declined a staff choice this offseason to pursue a max extension, addressed his contract scenario at Nuggets media day with attribute directness.

“I’m gonna sign next year, if they want me,” Jokic instructed reporters, as quoted by NBC Sports and HoopsHype.

The three-time MVP’s remark landed as an announcement of intent. Jokic declined the staff choice particularly to place himself for a bigger deal; his media day remarks quantity to a public sign that he plans to see that via in Denver. NBA.com reported the Nuggets are coming into the yr with a new-look roster constructed round their franchise cornerstone.

Kawhi returns to Toronto, declines to elaborate

Kawhi Leonard appeared at Raptors media day following his commerce from the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason — his first return to the Toronto group because the 2019 championship run. He mentioned he desires to “move forward” from an NBA investigation stemming from his time in Los Angeles, in accordance with Yahoo Sports and BVM Sports.

Leonard declined to take further questions on the investigation on the press convention, Bleacher Report reported. ClutchPoints famous his assertion got here with a caveat tied particularly to the Clippers-era probe. CBS Sports has beforehand reported that the investigation considerations Leonard’s endorsement association with an organization referred to as Aspiration. No discovering or sanction towards Leonard has been publicly introduced by the NBA.

Notes across the league

Jimmy Butler appeared at Warriors media day nonetheless rehabbing a torn ACL. “I just miss the game,” Butler instructed reporters, per Yahoo Sports, including a vow to return from the damage as a fair higher participant than earlier than. Golden State has not introduced a return timeline.

In Oklahoma City, Jalen Williams instructed reporters he’s “totally healthy” heading into coaching camp, per HoopsHype — placing to relaxation the wrist damage questions that restricted him final season.

In Dallas, new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri set the tone for a franchise climbing out of back-to-back shedding seasons. “Bring joy back to basketball,” Ujiri mentioned, per NBA.com. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg each described their growing partnership in uncomplicated phrases; each characterised it as “very easy,” per the Dallas Sports Journal.

Butler’s jewellery made the ESPN media-day highlights bundle for the second consecutive yr — a lighter footnote in a day that in any other case ran on heavier themes.

Training camps open Tuesday.