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A handful of players addressed an elephant in the room on media day — unsigned contract extensions.

Brandon Ingram says he does not expect to get an extension done with the Pelicans before the season starts.

— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) September 30, 2024

Jonathan Kuminga said “hopefully” an extension with the Warriors gets done prior to the Oct. 21 deadline, but: “I’m not really concerned about it. If I get it, if I don’t, it’s cool.” pic.twitter.com/h4sQVQWNrG

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 30, 2024

Alperen Şengün makes it clear he wants to sign a contract [extension] with the #Rockets now

"We've been talking .. I want to get the contract .. They are trying to negotiate with us [and vise versa] .. It's been good .. We're going to make it work .. Hopefully we make it work" pic.twitter.com/gWbSiU2LFE

— (@FranchiseSengun) September 30, 2024

There is a running joke in NBA circles that everyone arrives to training camp in the best shape of his life. You would think that might be difficult for LeBron James, who turns 40 years old in December, but ...

LeBron James said his experience with Team USA this summer proved to himself “I do have a lot in the tank … a lot”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 30, 2024

Nobody has prepped for an NBA season more than LeBron James ... Vince Carter is the only player to also play Year 22.

LeBron said that he's a "little bit more advanced" coming into the season in an Olympic year than he typically is, because he's been "playing all summer."

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 30, 2024

LeBron James says playing with Bronny so far gives him “a lot of life.”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 30, 2024

Lerbon said he hasn't thought about big picture stuff with retirement, but said he feels good. Also said he's soaking in the moments more with Bronny.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 30, 2024

Since the swap of Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo is not yet official, neither the New York Knicks nor the Minnesota Timberwolves are supposed to be commenting on the reports.

Which provided us this funny exchange:

Reporter: “Seeing the reports…”

Josh Hart: “What report?”

Reporter: “Where it said that Karl-Anthony Towns is being traded to the Knicks.”

Josh Hart: “We got KAT? Oh, wow!”

(via @sny_knicks)pic.twitter.com/yv3cofM21P

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 30, 2024

What Hart could tell reporters on Randle: "I think for him it was probably pretty difficult and pretty frustrating. He came here when they were struggling, and he helped turn the franchise around and change the trajectory of it. I think New York as a fanbase is eternally grateful to him for that."

On the flip side:

Anthony Edwards: “I think everyone know KAT is my brother so that really hurt. It’s a business.”

Said he’s ready to meet the new guys and roll with it.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 30, 2024

"I just wanted to feel human again"

Ja Morant on his summer pic.twitter.com/qQsfr6rlPa

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) September 30, 2024

The Memphis Grizzlies, who captured the Western Conference's No. 2 seed in 2023, are flying under the radar. They boast Ja Morant and a talented supporting cast. Except, Morant has battled his mental and physical health over the past two seasons, and almost everyone around him got injured last season, too.

Morant is confident that his time away from the game helped him get a grip on a fluent Memphis roster.

"It was basically like a film-study session for me to watch my teammates," Morant told reporters. "I would say it gave me a lot of confidence going into this year on how I can put them in better places."

As for his mental health, Morant does not foresee a repeat of the behavior that earned him multiple suspensions, including a 25-game ban to start last year. Instead, he sees trouble for the rest of the NBA.

"Honestly, I’m not even worried about proving them wrong," the 25-year-old two-time All-Star point guard added of any doubters he might encoutn. "Right now I’m happy, and that’s my main focus. I feel like a happy Ja is a scary Ja for a lot of people. So long as I stay happy and healthy, it’ll be a great season."

It has been 990 days since Lonzo Ball played an NBA game, but Chicago Bulls executive Artūras Karnišovas provided some encouraging news on that front.

AK says Lonzo Ball is expected to be ready to play on opening day.

Undetermined what that will look like re: minutes and workload.

— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) September 30, 2024

In collaboration with the Los Angeles Clippers, Team USA removed two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard from its roster for the Paris Olympics, citing chronic soreness in his surgically repaired right knee.

"We're taking it day by day," Leonard told reporters when asked on media day how soon he might be able to play. "Everything's been going great for the past month, but they're being very cautious for reasons."

For reasons.

Probably because Leonard's knee has kept him from participating fully in the last three postseasons. He told gathered media on Monday that the team wants to ensure his health for the "important moments."

Well, the Clippers lost Paul George to free agency over the summer, and they could very well be fighting for a spot in the playoffs all season. It remains to be seen how many important moments there are in L.A.

To ESPN's Ohm Youngmusik for more clarity:

Kawhi Leonard says the inflammation in his knee is something that he could have to deal with for rest of his career but he says he and medical staff have a handle on it and are doing what is needed to keep it from being something that will be an issue down the road.

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) September 30, 2024

So much for clarity. How could anything be both "something that he could have to deal with for the rest of his career" and not "something that will be an issue down the road"? Nothing to see there, I guess.

The Clippers replaced George with a hodgepodge of Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kris Dunn and Kevin Porter Jr., and Norman Powell, for one, does not anticipate much slippage from one season to the next.

Norman Powell on the Clippers losing Paul George:

“I saw it as addition by subtraction. More guys getting opportunities, including myself…”

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) September 30, 2024

OK, then. Good luck with that. At least James Harden will give us a cold dose of reality ...

James Harden on the new-look Clippers’ style of play this season: “It’s definitely going to involve a lot of me. There was talk when I was in Houston… ‘You can’t win like that.’ You just saw a guy [Luka Doncic] last season make the Finals playing the same exact way I played.” pic.twitter.com/X1x0zn2wpT

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 30, 2024

Or not. Fun fact: James Harden turned 35 years old in August. Luka Dončić is 25.

Trajan Langdon said Ausar Thompson is going through a "medical process" with the NBA and Players Association . Thompson's rookie season ended in March with a diagnosis of blood clots. Langdon said the issue has been going on for the past week.

— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) September 30, 2024

The No. 1 pick overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, taking in his first #NBAMediaDay! pic.twitter.com/MSm9Mmbwzk

— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024

Gregg Popovich on new Spurs point guard — and longtime pain in the Spurs’ side — Chris Paul:

“I have despised Chris for many years.”

— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) September 30, 2024

The Spurs paid Paul back by making the 6-foot point guard stand next to 7-3 Wembanyama ...

First look @wemby @CP3 @VCMtweets | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/h7BunCiIVU

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 30, 2024

The news of Dikembe Mutombo's death broke as most of the NBA's teams convened for media day.

Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey learned of the 58-year-old Hall of Famer's passing from brain cancer at the podium, where he was "visibly shaken." Mutombo played his final two seasons for the Houston Rockets in the late 2000s, when Morey was an upstart general manager.

Daryl Morey on Dikembe Mutombo: “I knew him personally. We were together for many seasons in Houston. Not many guys like him. Just a great human being.”

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) September 30, 2024

Morey, for the first time I can recall, visibly shaken upon hearing the news. Couldn’t bring himself to answer following question.

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) September 30, 2024

Likewise, Masai Ujiri, who worked for years alongside Mutombo, serving as ambassadors to NBA Africa, returned to the podium — fighting back tears — to share his thoughts on "a giant, an incredible person."

Masai Ujiri’s full tribute to the great Dikembe Mutombo.

Dikembe’s passing is indeed a really really sad day in the basketball world.

RIP Dikembe ❤️ https://t.co/IlQx57gtw6 pic.twitter.com/bUsYeag3fZ

— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) September 30, 2024

More reaction from around the NBA ...

Embiid on the passing of Dikembe Mutombo: “He was a role model of mine…It’s a sad day.” pic.twitter.com/ejC9g1U2TS

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) September 30, 2024

You paved the way for me and for many Congolese and African youth with your legendary basketball career and charitable actions. You are an @NBA legend and an African icon and that will inspire the many coming generations. Rest In Peace Dikembe Mutombo. @NBA_Africa pic.twitter.com/gMpWlonmis

— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) September 30, 2024

We lost not only one of the best basketball players ever, but one of the best human beings we have ever seen. Huge loss for the world and the NBA family. Rest in peace pic.twitter.com/AZCjlg8jCV

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 30, 2024

"Dikembe and what he did for the league, his personality ... he's a legend and he'll be missed."

Chris Paul on the passing of Dikembe Mutombo. pic.twitter.com/Ix7AfZdks6

— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) September 30, 2024

LeBron on Dikembe - "That's a big part of the NBA. When you think about iconic moments....you just think about him holding that basketball on his back...." talking about Denver upsetting Seattle before talking about how a Dikembe elbow fractured his face early in his career.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 30, 2024

Joel Embiid dropped 25 pounds ...

Embiid says he lost “25, 30 pounds” from the end of the season to now, but he still has more work to do

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) September 30, 2024

And Victor Wembanyama, apparently, picked them up ...

The San Antonio Spurs are listing Victor Wembanyama at 7’3”, 235 pounds ️

He was listed at 210 last year

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 30, 2024

Joel wouldn't give us the smile #NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/Cc62I3tyx0

— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024

Thibs no-sells three straight KAT questions to open up. "Can't comment on it." "Can't comment on it." "Nice try."

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) September 30, 2024

Thibs said Jalen Brunson is fully cleared for camp.

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) September 30, 2024

Media day is a time for optimism, except in Milwaukee, I guess, where Khris Middleton will be limited in training camp, as he ontinues to recover from offseason surgeries to both of his ankles.

Milwaukee Bucks media day is underway this morning. Doc Rivers says Khris Middleton will participate in training camp and conditioning work, but won't do much live-action coming off surgery

— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) September 30, 2024

Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, who both acknowledge how important their chemistry is to Milwaukee's success, did not work on their pick-and-roll partnership over the summer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said him and Damian Lillard were not able to get together this offseason, but they talked regularly throughout the summer.

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) September 30, 2024

They did not have the time to work out together last summer, either, since Lillard joined the Bucks on the dawn of training camp. It was noticeable. The Bucks fired their first-year head coach midway through last season, replaced him with Doc Rivers and lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.

"I would use the word rebuilding."

Masai Ujiri on how he would describe the expectations for the Raptors this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/yi8miYQbhz

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 30, 2024

"We all pay attention to it" — Doc Rivers on the Bucks possibly being looked at as an afterthought in the East pic.twitter.com/GWTD6O3nYu

— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) September 30, 2024

Anyone can list the best players in the NBA, but basketball is as much about chemistry as it is talent. Within each of the league's 30 teams is a hierarchy, and how well each of the five players on the court understands and performs his role within that hierarchy is every bit as important as his individual skill.

So we created The Starting Lineup Power Rankings — see where your team ranks here.