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NBA legend Charles Barkley says he won't 'burn every bridge' like Aaron Rodgers as he considers retirement

23 October 2026 at 03:07

Charles Barkley is ready to pull the plug on television soon, and he wants zero part of the Aaron Rodgers farewell playbook.

During an appearance on SiriusXM, the 11-time NBA All-Star and 2006 Hall of Fame inductee laughed off any comparison between his own planned exit and the veteran quarterback's messy final tour.

AARON RODGERS BLASTS DANICA PATRICK FOR BEING 'DEPRESSED' DURING THEIR RELATIONSHIP

"But I tell you what though, I'm not gonna bury everybody going out the door like Aaron," Barkley said, roasting the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer. "I'm not gonna burn every bridge and talk bad about all my exes on my way out the door like he's doing."

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Barkley took aim at Rodgers' appearance on the Not Just Football podcast, where the quarterback focused heavily on his bitter family rift. Between jabs at exes and former teammates, Rodgers rehashed a decade of bad blood with his parents and brothers, Luke and Jordan. That feud went public during Jordan's 2016 stint on The Bachelorette, kicking off years of familial cold-shouldering and skipped family weddings.

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Now in his 25th year on television, Chuck has built a beloved media career through brutal honesty.

Rodgers is currently grinding through his 22nd NFL season and is widely expected to finally hang 'em up once the season wraps.

Barkley's own retirement talk always comes with a massive grain of salt, as media peers routinely doubt whether he will actually follow through after teasing it for the better part of a decade.

AARON RODGERS DOUBLES DOWN ON RETIREMENT PLANS AT STEELERS TRAINING CAMP: 'THIS IS IT'

Still, after a quarter-century in the studio, Barkley insists his exit will be about gratitude, not grudges.

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Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton moved to tears after long-awaited return from Achilles injury

23 October 2026 at 02:18

Nearly 500 days had passed since Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton last played in a regular-season NBA game. On Wednesday, the two-time All-Star made his long-awaited return, scoring 23 points to help Indiana secure a 123-120 season-opening victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Haliburton was sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder went on to win the championship that year.

During Wednesday’s on-court postgame interview, the conversation took an emotional turn as Haliburton reflected on his long road back to the hardwood.

INDIANA PACERS' STAR TYRESE HALIBURTON HAS ONE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE NEW NBA SCHEDULE

Asked about his performance in the season opener and how much fun he had playing with his teammates, Haliburton became visibly emotional.

"It means a lot to be back out here," Haliburton said as he fought back tears.

"We've got a lot to pick up, the second quarter wasn't good. But, we're battle-tested so we finished this game the right way. Just really proud of this group."

Haliburton added: "... I’m just really thankful to be back out here."

PACERS' TYRESE HALIBURTON TALKS SHINGLES BATTLE AS HE RECOVERS FROM TORN ACHILLES

Haliburton came through in the closing minutes, making a key play that put the Pacers ahead for good after they had trailed by as many as 10 points.

Haliburton was particularly productive in the final quarter Wednesday, scoring 16 of his 23 points in that period.

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The Pacers experienced a significant drop-off without their star guard last season, finishing with just 19 wins. That was a far cry from the team that had come within one victory of winning an NBA championship the year before.

With Haliburton back, Indiana expects to contend in a competitive Eastern Conference. The Pacers host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday for their home opener.

Knicks superfans name their newborn 'Knickson Fyve' to honor historic NBA championship run

23 October 2026 at 00:43

The New York Knicks raised their first NBA title banner in 53 years on Tuesday night before tipping off their 2026-27 season, and we were all reminded of just how much this championship meant to the city of New York.

For one family, the championship was so impactful, it inspired the name of their firstborn son.

Yvonne Gonzalez-Bradford and her husband Vance were expecting their son when the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games during the NBA Finals this summer, capping a run of destiny in the best way possible – ending a 53-year title drought for a city that has been waiting forever to celebrate them again.

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The historic moment ultimately led the Bradfords down a path of names, and they settled on one: Knickson Fyve Bradford.

The Bradfords spoke with TODAY.com about the name choice, saying they already had Prestige Wisdom in place if the baby were a boy, and Lady Victoria if it were a girl.

But the Knicks changed everything.

"You know how when something happens so well in your favor, you don’t want to jinx it?" Vance said. "I was just like, ‘Yep! Absolutely. That’s it!"

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Knickson was the first time, but Fyve as the middle name brought together the "Knicks in Five" slogan this fan base rallied around after they defeated the Spurs in five games.

Knickson was born on Aug. 8, weighing a healthy eight pounds, eight ounces. And for Yvonne, he was born on her birthday.

"We wanted to have a very strong and firm name that would lead to a cool life," Vance told the outlet. "Knickson Fyve is definitely our motto, Knickson Fyve forever!"

It’s also worth noting the Bradford family has a strong Knicks connection, with Vance’s mother being a scorekeeper for the 1972-73 Knicks. They went on to win the NBA title that season as well – and it remained the last time New York hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy before this group, led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, got the job done.

Brunson spoke to a sold-out, emotional Madison Square Garden crowd on Tuesday night before facing LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, thanking the crowd and the Knicks fans at home for their support throughout the playoff run.

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Well, he and his teammates have one new supporter who has no choice but to be a Knicks fan for life now that his name is attached to franchise history.

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Charles Barkley jokingly warns 'Inside the NBA' crew about Shaquille O'Neal's FBI connection

23 October 2026 at 00:00

The NBA season may be only two days old, but Charles Barkley already appears to be in midseason form. During the first hour of Wednesday night’s "NBA Tip-Off" pregame show, Barkley appeared to surprise host Ernie Johnson with an unexpected revelation about Shaquille O’Neal.

Barkley suggested that O’Neal knows FBI Director Kash Patel, delivering the comment so casually that the entire "Inside the NBA" crew broke into laughter.

"Hey, Kenny. Should we be standing this close to Shaq?" Barkley asked.

CHARLES BARKLEY WEIGHS IN ON THE FRICTION IN THE 'MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' BROADCAST BOOTH

Fellow NBA analyst Kenny Smith responded: "Why is that?"

"He’s been hanging out with Kash Patel," Barkley explained. "That’s dangerous."

"Oh!! Oh! Oh, I didn’t know you were gonna be going there," Johnson said. "But I should have known you would."

"Alright, Chuck," O’Neal replied as he continued to laugh. "Alright, Chuck."

For more than three decades, Ernie Johnson has hosted "Inside the NBA," which originates from a television studio in Atlanta. Two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith joined the show in 1998, Barkley came aboard in 2000 and O’Neal became a permanent fixture in 2011.

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"I got your back, big fella," Barkley said. "We can hang out with who the hell we want to."

Barkley was hinting to Patel’s decision in September to name O’Neal an honorary FBI special agent.

"This session is historic – FBI was honored to be joined by one of the best supporters of law enforcement in the country -Shaq- who graduated with this session and became an honorary FBI Special Agent," Patel wrote on Sept. 17, in a post to X.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL TROLLS CHARLES BARKLEY DURING HIS LSU MASTER'S DEGREE GRADUATION CEREMONY

During his graduation ceremony, O’Neal joked that Barkley could be his first arrest. "Some of you will go back to your regular jobs, some of you will go to specialized training," O’Neal said in a speech to the graduating class.

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"Some of you will go do what I do, be undercover. Well, I was undercover… But I just wanna say I appreciate you guys so much. Congratulations. I am not here for this; I am here for you… And if you see Charles Barkley, arrest him."

Dirigente da NBA revela o que falta para o Brasil receber jogos da liga

22 October 2026 at 23:13

Ao contrário do que aconteceu no futebol americano, o Brasil ainda não conseguiu entrar na rota do basquete dos Estados Unidos. A NBA já foi para a Europa, mas descartou o verde e amarelo como sede nesta temporada.

Para Mark Tatum, vice-comissário da NBA, faltam arenas de elite ao Brasil. Sem elas, a liga não consegue entregar a experiência vista nos Estados Unidos e nos países da Europa que receberam partidas, como Inglaterra e França.

“O Brasil é um mercado que valorizamos e sempre consideramos quando decidimos realizar jogos internacionais. Um dos desafios, em São Paulo, é a falta de uma arena indoor de classe mundial. Organizamos partidas no Rio de Janeiro e poderemos fazer isso novamente no futuro”, disse, antes de completar:

“Mas, de uma forma geral, ter uma infraestrutura melhor é algo que indicamos aos brasileiros. Se isso acontecesse em algum momento, certamente levaríamos a NBA para lá”, analisou, em conversa com jornalistas na última terça-feira (20).

Os jogos no Rio de Janeiro que foram citados por Tatum aconteceram na pré-temporada. A Cidade Maravilhosa recebeu três partidas entre 2013 e 2015 (veja abaixo).

  • 2013 (12 de outubro): Chicago Bulls contra Washington Wizards na Arena da Barra. O Bulls venceu a partida, que contou com a presença do brasileiro Nenê Hilário jogando pelo Wizards.
  • 2014 (11 de outubro): Cleveland Cavaliers contra Miami Heat na Arena da Barra. O Cavaliers venceu o confronto, marcando o retorno de LeBron James ao time de Cleveland, além da participação do brasileiro Anderson Varejão.
  • 2015 (17 de outubro): Orlando Magic contra Flamengo na Arena da Barra. O time americano venceu a equipe brasileira pelo placar de 90 a 73.

Na América do Sul, somente a Cidade do México já recebeu jogos oficiais da NBA. Porém, o maior plano de expansão da NBA é mesmo na Europa, e uma fusão com a Euroliga, principal competição de basquete do continente, já vem sendo discutida.

NBA 2026-27: tudo o que você precisa saber sobre a nova temporada

Oklahoma City Thunder x Denver Nuggets: horário e onde assistir à NBA

22 October 2026 at 20:57

Oklahoma City Thunder e Denver Nuggets se encontram nesta quinta-feira (22), às 22h30 (horário de Brasília), no Oklahoma City Paycom Center, em Oklahoma City, em mais um duelo válido pela NBA.

As duas franquias integram a Conferência Oeste e historicamente figuram entre as organizações mais competitivas da liga, tornando este confronto um dos mais aguardados da temporada.

A partida será transmitida pela ESPN 2, Disney+ e NBA League Pass.

Standings provided by Sofascore

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Onde assistir a Oklahoma City Thunder x Denver Nuggets

  • TV fechada: ESPN 2
  • Streaming: Disney+ e NBA League Pass

Ficha técnica de Oklahoma City Thunder x Denver Nuggets

  • Data: 22/10/2026
  • Horário: 22h30
  • Local: Oklahoma City Paycom Center

LeBron James se coloca como maior da história do basquete

Os textos gerados por Inteligência Artificial na CNN Brasil são feitos com base em informações apuradas e checadas por jornalistas. Clique aqui para saber mais

Philadelphia 76ers x Cleveland Cavaliers: horário e onde assistir à NBA

22 October 2026 at 20:52

Philadelphia 76ers e Cleveland Cavaliers se encontram nesta quinta-feira (22), às 20h (horário de Brasília), na Philadelphia Xfinity Mobile Arena, na cidade da Filadélfia, Pensilvânia, em mais um duelo válido pela NBA.

Ambas as franquias integram a Conferência Leste e carregam tradições sólidas dentro da história do basquete norte-americano, tornando este confronto um dos eventos de destaque da rodada.

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O encontro entre os 76ers e os Cavaliers reúne duas organizações com histórico de rivalidade dentro da Conferência Leste, onde cada vitória tem peso direto na corrida pela pós-temporada.

A partida será transmitida pela ESPN 2 e pelo Disney+, além do NBA League Pass.

Onde assistir a Philadelphia 76ers x Cleveland Cavaliers

  • TV fechada: ESPN 2
  • Streaming: Disney+ e NBA League Pass

Ficha técnica de Philadelphia 76ers x Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Data: 22/10/2026
  • Horário: 20h
  • Local: Philadelphia Xfinity Mobile Arena

LeBron James se coloca como maior da história do basquete

Os textos gerados por Inteligência Artificial na CNN Brasil são feitos com base em informações apuradas e checadas por jornalistas. Clique aqui para saber mais

Paul George reflects on health after injury-riddled 76ers stint, strong Celtics debut

22 October 2026 at 19:49

Paul George’s first night in green was memorable for all the right reasons, except for the final score. The nine-time All-Star delivered a record-setting performance during Tuesday's NBA opener, despite the Boston Celtics falling 121-113 to the Detroit Pistons.

George scored 38 points in 31 minutes during his Celtics debut, the most ever by a player in his first game with the franchise.

While the loss dampened George’s performance, it did give Boston an encouraging glimpse of what he can provide after injury-plagued stints with his previous teams.

BOSTON CELTICS' PAUL GEORGE HIT WITH FLOPPING FINE AFTER 38-POINT DEBUT ENDS IN COLLAPSE

George said the last time he felt this healthy was toward the end of his tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, and admitted an injury lingered during his run with the 76ers.

"My stint in LA. I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then, honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn’t quite shake that one — it was an ongoing thing of my leg, my knee not feeling strong, and it was rough, right?" the 36-year-old said.

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LUKA DONČIĆ SAYS HE 'DEFINITELY' REGRETS PLAYING THROUGH HAMSTRING INJURY THAT ENDED HIS SEASON

"Because I was trying to rest, but I was also trying to be available for the team, and just couldn’t quite find the time to let it all come together."

Injury setbacks and load management arguably became a theme of George's stints with the Clippers and Sixers. He's managed to play at least 57 games during the regular season just once since taking the court for 77 contests in the 2018-19 campaign. That year also marked his last season with Oklahoma City.

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The Celtics visit New York City on Friday night to face the defending champion Knicks. Both teams are seeking their first win of the 2026-27 season after losing their openers.

Charles Barkley weighs in on the friction in the 'Monday Night Football' broadcast booth

22 October 2026 at 18:58

There are reports of some serious drama in the"Monday Night Football" booth between play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and commentator Troy Aikman, and now broadcaster and NBA legend Charles Barkley is weighing in.

This comes after Buck signed a big extension with ESPN, while Aikman is still in talks with the network, which will broadcast its first Super Bowl next February with the duo in the booth.

Many folks have given their take on the matter, and now we can add the Round Mound of Rebound to the list.

ESPN ALLOWING TROY AIKMAN TO WALK AWAY FROM JOE BUCK BOOTH WOULD MAKE NO SENSE | BOBBY BURACK

Barkley joined "Unfiltered" on Philadelphia sports station 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday, and he didn't hide where he was placing the blame.

"I'm very disappointed in Troy Aikman, honestly," he said, per Awful Announcing. "It's not Joe Buck's job to get him a deal. Like, he can’t tell them to give him a deal. Now, if he wants to talk to Joe privately, that's fine. But why are you mad? They gave Joe a deal. It looks like they don't want to give you a deal, which they don’t have to give you a deal.

"But you don't have to drag Joe Buck into it. Like, it ain't his job."

This is one damn good point.

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Buck and Aikman have become thought of as a duo, but they're not joined at the hip.

You can understand why Aikman would be frustrated, but you also can't fault Buck for signing on the dotted line when they slid a contract worth over $100 million under his nose.

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SUPER BOWL LXI WILL STREAM ON DISNEY+ ALONGSIDE ABC AND ESPN BROADCAST FROM LOS ANGELES

Barkley noted that the two have been partners for a quarter century, and like many a band or comedy team, maybe they want to take new directions.

"They've been together 25 years," Barkley said. "I'm pretty sure they love working together, but maybe they want to go in a different direction.

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"But I don't understand why you would be mad at Joe Buck. He ain’t negotiating the contract," he continued. "When he went there first, you didn't negotiate with him. Remember? He left the network first."

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Well, the Super Bowl is often good for a little drama, but it's looking like this season some of that could wind up coming from the booth.

Former Euroleague CEO warns clubs against surrendering control to NBA

22 October 2026 at 18:36

Former Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu told Reuters on Thursday that the competition’s clubs should not give up control over their future in any collaboration with the NBA’s planned European league.

The NBA is targeting October 2027 for the launch of NBA Europe, while Euroleague plans to expand its competition for the 2027-28 season.

Euroleague CEO Chus Bueno told Reuters on Monday that further fragmentation of European basketball would be “a disaster”, although both sides say they remain open to working together.

Bertomeu told Reuters that collaboration was in everyone’s interests, but the NBA’s current offer was not attractive to Euroleague.

Euroleague’s 13 shareholder clubs collectively own and govern the competition, giving them a say over its format, financial model and strategic direction. It is unclear what equivalent authority they would hold under the NBA proposal because its terms have not been made public.

“The terms being proposed, as they are being presented today, are not those of a collaboration, based on what we know,” said Bertomeu.

The Euroleague shareholders rejected the proposal at a meeting on October 6. Earlier this month a senior ​executive at a Euroleague club told Reuters that they expected the NBA to come back with an improved offer.

Euroleague and NBA Europe have both promised growth for the 13 Euroleague shareholder clubs.

Bueno says most Euroleague clubs would be sustainable within five years under its 10-year business plan, while NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum told Reuters on Tuesday that the NBA Europe model promised a “much quicker path to profitability”.

Asked about Tatum’s comments, Bertomeu, 67, warned that the path to improved economic results for shareholder clubs was no clearer under the NBA model.

“If European clubs move to a model that they are told will generate much more economic activity and much higher revenues, it is not guaranteed.”

Bertomeu said the potential trade-off could not be measured solely in financial terms.

“In exchange, they would give up control over their own future. And if, three years from now, what they have been promised does not happen, they will not be able to change anything.”

“In 26 years (of Euroleague), I was there for 22. During those 22 years we made mistakes, but we had the ability to correct them. We decided to change course and made our own decisions. (In NBA Europe) that would no longer be the case.”

The NBA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Bertomeu led Euroleague Basketball from its creation in 2000 until stepping down in 2022.

He said the NBA could make its biggest contribution to the growth of Euroleague clubs in commercial operations and stadium infrastructure.

“I have no doubt that the NBA could do an extraordinary commercial job. That is where the NBA could do great things.

“I believe these should be the points of collaboration between the two parties,” said Bertomeu, adding that format changes and economic reform were unnecessary.

Trump attacca LeBron James: “Non vale nulla, è una vergogna totale. Dovrebbe chiedere scusa”. Che cosa è successo

22 October 2026 at 17:54

Donald Trump torna ad attaccare LeBron James. Il rapporto tra il presidente Usa e la star della Nba è sempre stato a dir poco teso. Questa volta Trump ha criticato James sul suo social Truth: “È una vergogna. Dovrebbe chiedere scusa”. Il motivo? Il comportamento del cestista durante l’inno nazionale americano suonato prima del match al Madison Square Garden tra i New York Knicks e Philadelphia 76ers, poi vinta dai Sixers 106 a 100, con James che ha messo a segno 14 punti.

Un video mostra LeBron James che durante l’inno prima sembra mimare con le mani il gesto del golf e poi un tiro a canestro. Trump ha subito colto l’occasione per attaccarlo: “Mentre ascolta il nostro inno nazionale, LeBron James manca di rispetto al nostro Paese”, ha scritto. Per poi insultare: “L’ho detto fin dall’inizio: non vale nulla, è una vergogna totale. LeBron James dovrebbe chiedere scusa a tutti quei grandi guerrieri ed eroi americani che sono morti per la bandiera americana e per tutto ciò che il nostro Paese rappresenta”.

LeBron James già dieci anni fa fu tra le prime star dello sport americano a criticare Trump, durante la campagna elettorale, in particolare per le sue frasi sulle donne e poi per aver fatto tornare “di moda” l’odio in America. Nel 2017 difese la scelta di Stephen Curry di rifiutare l’invito di Trump, scrivendo: “Andare alla Casa Bianca era un grande onore finché non sei arrivato tu”. Nel 2018 arrivò il primo affondo di Trump, che dopo un’intervista di James commentò: “”Lo hanno fatto sembrare intelligente, non facile”. L’ostilità è proseguita anche nel secondo mandato: il 24 luglio scorso, rispondendo a una domanda sul confronto tra James e Jordan, Trump ha definito LeBron “razzista“.

L'articolo Trump attacca LeBron James: “Non vale nulla, è una vergogna totale. Dovrebbe chiedere scusa”. Che cosa è successo proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

LaMelo Ball gets away with egregious travel during Timberwolves season opener, immediately trash-talks fans

22 October 2026 at 15:58

If NBA referees called every travel they saw, games would never end, but blowing the whistle every now and again to remind players that they can't take an infinite number of steps would be appreciated by all involved. Unfortunately, the exact opposite precedent was set during the season opener between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat on Wednesday.

LaMelo Ball put on an impressive performance in his official debut for Minnesota, scoring 21 points and dishing out six assists in his team's 131-106 victory on the road, but three of his 21 points should not have counted.

Just over three minutes into the first quarter, Ball dribbled around a well-set screen that got his defender off balance. Instead of driving towards the basket, he opted to pick his spot beyond the three-point line, but forgot to put the ball on the floor on his way there.

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Ball appeared to take every bit of four full steps without taking a dribble. The carry was so egregious that each of the announcers on the broadcast couldn't help but call out how bad the no-call was.

The 25-year-old guard immediately talking trash to some courtside fans after he made the three made the whole scene that much worse. Then again, Ball and essentially every other player in the league have gotten away with traveling with the basketball throughout their NBA careers.

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Oftentimes, the missed travel calls take place with players driving to the basket and getting away with an extra half-step while carrying the basketball. For Ball not to get whistled while standing well beyond the three-point line is a bit of a surprise, even by NBA standards.

As for the contest itself, the Timberwolves looked as good and entertaining as expected with their new two-headed monster of Anthony Edwards and Ball in the 25-point win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat.

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Edwards finished the night with 45 points, including nine made three-pointers, to go along with 10 rebounds.

While the duo of Ball and Edwards combining for 66 points stands out, maybe the most promising stat line to look at if you're a Minnesota fan is that the two only turned the ball over five times total in the win.

Bernie Sanders takes aim at billionaire NBA owners over surging ticket prices

22 October 2026 at 14:18

The NBA season arrived Tuesday night with the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons opening the 2026-27 campaign in a matinee matchup. The new-look Philadelphia 76ers, featuring four-time MVP LeBron James, followed by spoiling the New York Knicks' banner night as the franchise celebrated its long-awaited title from last season.

The San Antonio Spurs, whom the Knicks defeated in the Finals, then fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2025 champions, to close out the league's three-game opening-night slate.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took notice as the NBA season got underway and weighed in Wednesday while the league’s other teams played their opening games.

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"As the NBA season begins this week, remember: 26 out of 30 NBA owners are billionaires — getting richer every day. Meanwhile, the average ticket price to see the Knicks play the Sixers last night cost $1,894. No. You should not have to be rich to take your kids to a ball game," Sanders wrote on X.

Sanders did not make mention of player salaries in his criticism.

Sanders has regularly spoken about affordability, and this is not the first time he has addressed ticket prices for major U.S. professional sports leagues. On Aug. 20, Sanders pointed to the tax dollars often used to help fund the construction of new sports venues.

"31 out of 32 NFL owners are billionaires. 26 out of 30 NBA owners are billionaires. 26 out of 30 MLB owners are billionaires. Your tax dollars helped build their stadiums," the senator from Vermont wrote on X at the time. "But today, the average person can't afford the price of a ticket to a sporting event. That must change."

KNICKS-SPURS NBA FINALS GAME 3 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN COULD BECOME MOST EXPENSIVE SPORTING EVENT ON RECORD

Steve Ballmer is the wealthiest person who currently owns an NBA franchise, according to Forbes' latest estimates, with an estimated net worth of $166 billion. He is also suspended from attending Los Angeles Clippers games, the team he owns, and participating in all league activities for one year. The suspension followed an NBA investigation that determined Ballmer was "knowingly" involved in "seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities."

The year-long probe looked into whether the Clippers circumvented salary-cap rules to sign Leonard. The Clippers were fined $30 million and ordered to forfeit multiple first-round draft picks.

Clippers' opening-night ticket prices on Ticketmaster for Wednesday ranged from $51 for standard-admission terrace-level seats to $163 for lower-level center-court club seats on the secondary market. The prices did not include taxes or additional fees.

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Tickets for Wednesday's Portland Trail Blazers-Phoenix Suns game were listed for as little as $50 on Vivid Seats, a secondary-ticket marketplace. That price also excluded taxes and fees.

Season-ticket prices vary widely from team to team, with the Golden State Warriors becoming the first NBA team to introduce a personal seat license program.

The fee, which several NFL teams use to help offset stadium construction costs, requires fans to pay an upfront fee per seat for the right to purchase season tickets in a specific location.

The location of the seats determines the license fee. Half of the seating options at the $1 billion Chase Center initially were sold with license fees of $15,000 or less, while the other half cost more, according to ESPN.

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