Basketball: the main stories of 17.09.2026

LeBron James spent a decade as the most outspoken athlete in American sport. He now fronts a predictions market and has been photographed alongside Angola's president, the turn set out in this morning's piece; one outlet reports the Polymarket deal is worth $15m against the $3.8m minimum contract he signed in Philadelphia. The move has already reached the box office: the Knicks paused sales for their opener against the 76ers after the cheapest seat reached $1,408, called it a pricing mistake and promised refunds to anyone who had paid. Two days ago the wire still carried Golden State rumours, which Steve Kerr talked down. Philadelphia was the answer, and by all accounts the league is still working out what it bought.

The VTB United League put its members' budgets on the record at its pre-season press conference, and the heaviest spender last season was Zenit, who finished it with nothing. The bill arrived again on the floor: Zenit lost their Super Cup tie to UNICS 73-78, and Sergei Karasev said afterwards there was no team play in attack and no proper ball movement. Two reports have Zenit closing in on Chris Ledlum, a forward with four NCAA seasons behind him, three of them at Harvard. League president Sergei Kushchenko, meanwhile, says clubs are now spending far more carefully.

• Michael Sweetney, ninth pick of the 2003 draft, has died at 43; the news came from his wife on social media.
• Ben Simmons signed a one-year deal with Sacramento after New York looked at him; the Knicks also have Gabe Vincent training with them before camp.
• Jayson Tatum said there was never a serious rift with Jaylen Brown.
• Dwyane Wade thinks more lies behind the Philadelphia move; Iman Shumpert warned the 76ers stars about the credit.
• Jonathan Kuminga, on 2 years and $12.4m in Minnesota, denies turning down larger offers.
• Duop Reath agreed a one-year minimum in Phoenix; Miles Turner was elected NBPA vice-president.
• DeMar DeRozan told The Athletic that Jokic, Gordon and Murray phoned him to sell Denver.
• Maccabi Tel Aviv blew Hapoel away 101-83 to take the Israeli Super Cup.
• Olympiacos guard Jean Montero flew to Abu Dhabi separately over visa trouble before the EuroLeague Super Cup; league chief executive Chus Bueno says no concrete NBA partnership proposal has been received.
• A screenshot doing the rounds has Kevin Durant answering a Thunder fan bluntly over a school fundraiser; one source only.
• The VTB United League cup and its individual awards will carry Sergei Ivanov's name from next season.
• The WNBA resumes tonight: Atlanta host Connecticut, Seattle play Las Vegas.