Basketball: the main stories of 22.09.2026

Toronto have tied down Kawhi Leonard for two more years at $115m, with a player option for 2028/29 — a deal reported by Shams Charania and, as yet, carried by one outlet. It lands a day after the same reporting line had Leonard telling interested sides he would extend only in Toronto or San Antonio, so the market never really opened. The Raptors keep the forward they reacquired by trade rather than let the question run into the season, and they do it without the cap room a walk-away would have handed them. He will be 37 by the end of the contract.

Atlanta and Charlotte, who were reported to be talking this deal through a day earlier, have closed it: Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash go east for Dorian Finney-Smith, himself only a summer arrival in Charlotte from Houston. In Istanbul, Fenerbahçe took the first trophy of the European season, beating Beşiktaş 72-59 in the Turkish Super Cup final, a year on from a clean sweep of the three domestic titles. And at Houston's media day Kevin Durant, entering his 19th season, pushed back on the load management his general manager and head coach had floated, saying the side is stronger with him on the floor.

• Alperen Şengün, also at Rockets media day, set out his target: best player in the league.
• Fred VanVleet is back in full 5-on-5 contact work ahead of Houston's camp, coach Ime Udoka said.
• James Johnson, 39, returns to Indiana on a training-camp deal, per Jake Fisher.
• Angel Reese (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Jordin Canada (19 points, 9 assists) carried Atlanta past New York for a fourth straight win.
• Kahleah Copper's lay-up with 2.4 seconds left won it for Phoenix, 87-86.
• Real Madrid banked €580,000 for winning the first EuroLeague Super Cup, AS reports.
• Žalgiris extended Nigel Williams-Goss to 2028 and set a €28.8m budget; sporting director Gediminas Navickas wants firmer EuroLeague transfer rules.
• Rytas beat RSSB Tigers and Boca Juniors beat Beijing Royal Fighters at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
• Around a million people sought tickets for the 2027 games in Paris and Manchester, both sold out.
• Brian Windhorst put the Lakers' local television income at $180m last season.
• The VTB United League's outlay rose 60% to 2.17bn roubles, with the Winline deal put at 600m a season; Zenit chairman Alexander Medvedev says one point-guard slot is still open.
• Jalen Duren rates himself above the Thompson twins as Detroit's negotiation drags, The Athletic reports.
• Washington host Connecticut, Indiana host Minnesota and Las Vegas host Los Angeles on 23 September.