Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will make their ESPN debut at 6 p.m. EST on Oct. 22 as part of the network’s season-opening slate. After that, the group will only appear twice more before Christmas. For context, the famed quartet’s show consistently aired weekly on TNT during the NBA season.

According to the press release the pregame coverage will begin an hour before tip-off on ESPN and 30 minutes before the games on ABC. The only specifics about the postgame show, which traditionally ran around an hour on TNT, would follow NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC and would begin "immediately after the game on ABC and continue on the ESPN App."

While the Warriors have depth, they also have one of the NBA's oldest rosters. Their oldest player is center Al Horford, who was signed as a free agent on Oct. 1 shortly after Kuminga agreed to his new deal. Horford is 39 years of age, and one has to wonder how much he has left in his tank.

The survey named the Hawks as the team that had the best offseason. They received 53 percent of the vote. Onsi Saleh took over as general manager after Landry Fields was fired, and he did have a great run of moves, starting with the draft. The Hawks:

Just over one year into the second-apron era, NBA general managers are not fans of all the roster restrictions that come if you exceed certain cap thresholds.

Wembanyama entered the league as one of the most physically unique prospects in NBA history, joining the Spurs as their No. 1 overall pick in 2023. In his first two NBA seasons, the San Antonio organization listed the Frenchman at 7-foot-3 and 209 pounds on its official roster.

The reigning champs include two budding stars that are just 23 and 24 years old, as well as another starter who turns 22 in November. Unsurprisingly, the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by the 27-year-old reigning Kia MVP, are the overwhelming favorite in the 24th annual NBA GM Survey to win another title in 2026.

Basketball league restarts pre-season games in bid to revive business in its most important international market