Getty
Spurs
It looks like De’Aaron Fox may not have to wait much longer to make his Spurs debut. The veteran guard took part in a full 5-on-5 scrimmage Friday, a major step in his recovery from a lingering hamstring injury, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News.
Fox, who hasn’t played since training camp began, said he’s “close” to returning, and there’s growing optimism he could be back by the end of the month.
He wasn’t the only familiar face on the court. Jeremy Sochan and Kelly Olynyk both scrimmaged as well, with head coach Mitch Johnson hinting that their returns are also on the horizon.
“I see them do some things on the court, and I think they definitely can play,” Johnson said. “It’s October, so we’re probably going to be a little later than early. But they look great. I hope it will be sooner rather than later.”
Hornets
The Hornets are wasting no time turning the page to a new era. Rookie starters Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kon Knueppel both made strong debuts in Charlotte’s season-opening win over the Nets, per Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
Kalkbrenner, a second-round pick, logged 10 points and 11 rebounds, becoming just the second player in franchise history to post a double-double in his first NBA game.
“It’s awesome,” Kalkbrenner said. “We’re just going to make the most of the opportunity that we get. Whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, we just want to help the team win.”
Knueppel added 11 points and five rebounds as Charlotte became the first team since 2019 to win its opener while starting two rookies.
“Everybody ate,” Knueppel said. “Everybody is playing unselfishly. Nine guys in double figures — that’s winning basketball. Hopefully we can keep that going.”
Free Agency
Veteran guard Cameron Payne could be headed overseas. Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports that Partizan Belgrade of the EuroLeague has “serious interest” in signing Payne following a season-ending ankle injury to former NBA guard Carlik Jones.
Payne, 31, appeared in 72 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 6.9 points and 2.8 assists in 15 minutes per game. He briefly signed with the Pacers earlier this month but was waived before the season began.
Payne, the 14th overall pick in the 2015 draft, has played 10 seasons in the NBA — including stops in Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and Chicago — and could be a high-level addition for one of Europe’s most competitive clubs.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!