NBA

The NBA Japan Games 2022 have come and gone, but Japanese fans are eager for more live viewing opportunities and the growth of the league in their country.

“Just to play in front of Japanese fans, it was a very special moment for me and the team and the country,” he said. “It was one of the great memories in my life,” he added. “I attended Game 1 and Saturday Night of the NBA Japan Games, Kokushi said. “This whole trip was special and different.” “It was a special moment for me, and this team, this country,” he said. “That’s what the game is about,” he said. While many Japanese kids play basketball in junior high and high school, its popularity as a spectator sport remains limited, so reaching adolescents at the age when basketball is a bigger part of their lives makes sense. “The best way to enjoy sports, not only the NBA, is to watch them live in an arena,” said Makoto Kokushi, a Los Angeles Lakers fan from Tokyo who works in the printing and publishing industry. Tanaka, for one, became an NBA fan in 2007 as a junior high school student when the league was still on TV, a fandom which has now persisted 15 years and counting. “Trying to build inspiration, confidence, fun for the next generation of kids that look up to us and love basketball, love sports.” “This showed us tons of Japanese guys love NBA Games.” And those experiences imprint, and make a level of difference.”

The RotoWire NBA crew offers their favorite bets for opening night. Will Joel Embiid dominate the glass against a shorthanded Boston frontcourt?

[Jordan Poole](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jordan-poole-4791) 25+ points, 4+ rebounds and 4+ assists (+1000) [Al Horford](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/al-horford-2816) and [Luke Kornet](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/luke-kornet-4151) are not slowing down Embiid inside. [Tyrese Maxey](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/tyrese-maxey-5158) is one of the first names that comes to my mind. [Robert Williams](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/robert-williams-4382), and Harden hoists enough threes that he should comfortably sink two or more. [Jayson Tatum](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jayson-tatum-4108) 20+ points, Embiid 10+ rebounds, Harden 2+ threes parlay (+260) [NBA Picks](/betting/nba/picks/) series.

Coming into the new NBA season, things feel more wide open, with more possible contenders than last season. At the same time, however, we could have on our ...

And if the former happens, why not look to trade Durant and bottom out in the hopes of a big prize that could jump-start a rebuild. There’s a fair bit of parity among the top teams in the NBA coming into the season. He came into training camp in tremendous shape as a sign that he’s looking to be a lot more serious than in seasons past but the Harden that shows up in the fall and winter is often different than the one that has played in the spring. For everyone else, however, including the teams that might only be fighting to make the playoffs or the play-in games, expect to see an intense race to the bottom for a chance to draft Wembanyama. Now, the Suns will have to deal with this fallout as the very foundation of the organization has been rocked and is about to be upheaved, all the while also dealing with an unhappy Deandre Ayton, who returns after the off-sheet he signed with the Pacers was matched by the Suns. But things can change at the trade deadline this season or even in the 2023 off-season. What should be a strong Warriors team coming in to defend its title might actually be a fractured club, though, thanks to the ugly altercation between Green and Poole that blew up all over social media. Memphis won 56 games last season and finished second in the Western Conference and there’s no reason to believe they can’t do the same or even better this season. There’s not much weakness to point to with this roster other than the injury bug. Their acquisition of Christian Wood from the Rockets appears like a good move, but he’s only ever put up numbers on a bad Houston Rockets team and is entering a contract year where he’ll be asked to come off the bench. That’s the question of the season for the Nuggets. As mentioned off the top, there are quite a few legitimate contenders to consider coming into the season.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener.

The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. He was able to get to the free throw line often. The 76ers are looking to contend with the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Harden embarking on his first full season in Philadelphia after being swapped for Ben Simmons late last season in a trade with Brooklyn.

Everything you need to know about 76ers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors as the 2022-23 season tips off.

Harden then allowed [Jayson Tatum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) to coast by him for a layup on the following possession, and Embiid then committed his third foul at the other end. [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) gets tangled up with Philly's [Joel Embiid](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid), who hooked his arm and drew a foul. While [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season, it was Horford (third in NBA) and [Robert Williams III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066211/robert-williams-iii) (11th) who had the highest Defensive Real Plus Minus (DRPM) scores on the team. For all of the understandable focus on [Stephen Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry)'s heroics in that series, Boston lost because its offense couldn't get it done against Golden State's defense. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) at power forward. He has already drawn three 3-point shooting fouls, including a completed four-point play, and also became the first player in the NBA to shoot the free throw for the new take-foul rule at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. [Steph Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry) era, but the franchise has leaned into their total titles in new signage around the Chase Center. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) then came over and got in Embiid's face. [What to know about all 30 teams](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) is plus-12 in 18 minutes played even though he's only 1-for-4 from the field for 3 points. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) received their rings after winning their fourth title in the past eight seasons. "We don't want to be one of those teams -- and you very rarely see that in the NBA -- where teams are swaying according to who their opponent is starting," Ham said during his pregame remarks.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors received their 2021-22 NBA championship rings during a special pregame ceremony Tuesday during Champions Ring ...

Next month, the Warriors Community Foundation and Chase will launch a Championship Ring Sweepstakes, offering Warriors fans a chance to win an authentic 2021-22 NBA championship ring. Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more. [approximately 16 carats](https://www.nba.com/warriors/photos/warriors-2022-championship-rings) of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA playoffs, marking the first time a championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds.

The Warriors received their 2022 NBA championship rings on Tuesday night and they certainly did not disappoint.

Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven Championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA Championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more." "The rings feature approximately 16 carats of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, marking the first time a Championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds," the Warriors wrote in a statement. "Seven carats of yellow cushion cut diamonds on the bezel represent the team’s seven championships, while 43 baguettes in the bridge represent Stephen Curry’s 43-point performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals."

The 2022-23 NBA season returns Tuesday. Here are our predictions on who will win the NBA Finals and additional award winners.

Two teams out West that could be in for something special if the stars align are the Pelicans with a healthy Zion Williamson and the Kings with their depth-filled roster. The Atlanta Hawks could jump back into the top tier of teams after landing Dejounte Murray while the Pacers and Detroit Pistons should both be fun to watch but not at serious playoff levels just yet. [Rookie of the Year](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/here-are-nba-rookie-year-favorites-2022-23), it’s fair to say [Sacramento Kings](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings) forward Keegan Murray is the rookie who will contribute the most out of the gate and claim the award. Based on my NBA Finals predictions, it would be safe to presume that Jokić and Antetokounmpo are once again in the conversation, along with Ja Morant, Curry and Tatum. New Orleans could be in for a 2021-22 Grizzlies jump in the standings while Sacramento could have a 2020-21 Grizzlies mini-breakout year. Rudy Gobert is probably in line for his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award now that he’s tasked with cleaning up alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. An underrated name here could be Cleveland Cavaliers second-year center Evan Mobley, who came on strong as a rookie and has more potential in him. 8 overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Generally, teams that thrive in the postseason atmosphere possess superstars who defy the opposition’s tactics offensively and deploy a foundation of switchable defenders who are disciplined and can handle multiple positions. He brings both of those factors and raises the level of quality on the court. Another one is Dyson Daniels, the No. Most teams have a clean slate right now, especially with Kawhi Leonard returning to the

Who will win each conference and the NBA Finals? When will LeBron surpass Kareem as the all-time scoring champ? Our experts are making their predictions.

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6 Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6 [What to know for '22-23](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) James is 1,325 points behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4145/kareem-abdul-jabbar)'s mark, so we should expect the record to be broken some time near the 2022-23 season's second half. And while our expert panel places the defending champs among the contenders to reach the Finals again in 2023, we weren't as kind to the Celtics. [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) were a trendy pick among our panel, and rightfully so.

Rookie Bennedict Mathurin is among the more exciting young Canadian players entering this season with immense potential. The Montreal native was picked sixth ...

I think more aspiration, more inspiration, more young players coming into the game and more great Canadian players in the future." Mathurin, 20, entered the league having been a consensus second-team all-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year in his sophomore year at Arizona. And now he's starting his rookie season with the Pacers. The six-foot-nine centre played 80 games last season averaging 9.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a night. "He was our first-ever Canadian player to join the NBA Academy in Latin America. The Montreal native was picked sixth overall in the 2022 draft by the Indiana Pacers. We've continued to see that the game is at an all-time high," Troy Justice, NBA vice-president and head of international basketball development, told The Canadian Press. Murray, a guard for the Denver Nuggets, will be making his long-awaited return after a torn ACL kept him out of action all of last season. Wiggins, of Thornhill, Ont., headlines the Canadian delegation fresh off an NBA title win with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors rewarded him with a four-year, US$109-million extension on Sunday. The previous record of players for Canada was 18 from last season. "There is an investment in growing the game of basketball, an intentional investment, to ensure that there's opportunities and pathways for players around the globe.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the opening game of the ...

… Shot 71% in the second quarter with no turnovers. The uniforms included 11 gold diamonds down the sides, signifying the 11 championships Russell helped bring Boston during his career. The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. “I think at the end of the game, the 'Let's go Celtics! He was able to get to the free throw line often. “It was just unique and special," Brown said.

Jayson Tatum has confidence-booster game, James Harden shows lethal touch and 76ers' new faces have rough debuts.

None of the three were major factors in the loss to the Celtics. A fair number of players who played at the same level of Griffin wouldn’t stick around for this. They’ll need to be at their best when the Sixers are matched against the East powers. It’s an inconvenience at best, and a big loss at worst, for Boston as the Celtics make do until then. But Horford is 36 and the Celtics are rather thin at the power positions. It made for an interesting test case against Embiid, who led the league in scoring last season and, for the second time, was runner-up in the Kia MVP voting. He reset over the summer, reduced weight, signed a team-friendly contract extension that allowed the Sixers to add other players and came to camp feeling determined. Also, he was guarded Tuesday by Marcus Smart, the reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He arrived in midseason from Brooklyn and the initial expectations were just too steep and maybe unrealistic. By the way, Brown and Tatum have each had 30-plus points in the same regular season game 13 times in their careers together. Tatum had some terrific transitional moments against Philly where he made defensive stops and followed up with jumpers and layups, especially in the game-changing third quarter when the balance flipped to Boston. Last we saw Tatum, he was tossing bricks in the 2022 NBA Finals and coming up short in performance and energy against the Warriors.

Opening-night rosters for the NBA's 2022-23 season, which tips off later on Tuesday, will feature 120 international players from 40 countries, according to ...

Among the American players with ties to other countries are Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat; ties to Nigeria), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets; ties to the Philippines), Matisse Thybulle (76ers; ties to Australia and Haiti), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Lakers; ties to Mexico), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves; ties to the Dominican Republic) and Jaylin Williams (Thunder; ties to Vietnam). Australia (10), France (9) and Germany (6) were next on the list followed by Nigeria, Serbia and Spain who each have five players on opening-night rosters. The record for international players (121) and record for countries and territories represented (43) were set at the start of the 2021-22 and 2017-18 seasons, respectively.

Stephen Curry began the season with 33 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 on Tuesday night after receiving their ...

"During the peak of racial tension in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honour that transcended sports", the Celtics Guard concluded. In Boston, the Celtics paid tribute to the mythical N6 of the franchise Bill Russell, who died in July. "Bill Russell was a great man for what and who he stood for", Jaylen Brown noted.

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers tip off their season against the Boston Celtics. Injury Situations to Monitor. NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid ...

PHI ($4,400) LAL ($6,000) There’s reportedly a chance Nunn could even draw the start at shooting guard Tuesday, but even if he cedes that opportunity to Patrick Beverley, Nunn is almost a lock to see extended minutes off the bench with Dennis Schroder (thumb) unavailable. Poole also averaged 29 FD points in four meetings against the Lakers last season, including 27.9 in 25 minutes on Opening Night. Brogdon is projected to see a significant role off the bench in his new Celtics digs. [the latest news](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/news.php) regarding the status of all players on that night’s slate, including those carrying injury designations that aren’t listed in this section. Thompson enjoyed a great comeback season in 2021-22 after two years away, averaging 31.0 FD points per game. [Klay Thompson](https://www.nba.com/player/202691/klay-thompson), LAL ($6,800) [Russell Westbrook](https://www.nba.com/player/201566/russell-westbrook), LAL ($7,000) Embiid averaged 53.5 FD points per game last season and looked good during his limited preseason action. James’ minor foot issue aside, he’s much healthier than he was most of last season when he suited up for 56 games. NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day.

Every member of the deep Golden State roster had a moment to shine in Tuesday's win over the Lakers.

A team with 11 players deserving of significant minutes is a blessing and a curse, and the Warriors understand that just one game into the season. [Boston Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/). [Moses Moody](/nba/players/3177810/moses-moody/), who nearly every Warrior says plays and behaves beyond his years, looked like he was going to be the odd man out Tuesday night. Figuring out the secret sauce is going to be the key to the 2022-23 season. But even without a field goal, the 20-year-old showed how valuable he can be as a defender with his athleticism and versatility. [Andre Iguodala](/nba/players/498289/andre-iguodala/) when he's finally ready to play. So you have to just be patient with it, and we've all gone through it at some point in your career." Both said that Warriors observers needn't worry about the on-court chemistry between the two, and they proved it with one of the signature highlights of opening night, Poole's picture-perfect pocket pass to Green for a layup in the second quarter. They, like the veterans, each had a moment in the spotlight Tuesday night. [Kevon Looney](/nba/players/2152976/kevon-looney/) did what Kevon Looney does, putting up modest counting stats (seven points, six rebounds, two assists), but finishing at a team-high plus-30 in his 21 minutes. "He's just really good," Kerr said after the game. The Warriors' motto, "Strength in Numbers," is never more evident than on ring night.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

The Toronto Raptors feature eight international players, marking the second consecutive season the Raptors lead the league, followed by the Mavericks, Indiana ...

Canada 19 and Friday, March 31 in Philadelphia. 23 and Monday, Feb. 25 in Milwaukee and on Saturday, March 25 in Denver. Two international players have won the last four Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Awards: reigning back-to-back MVP Jokić (2021-22 and 2020-21) and Antetokounmpo (2019-20 and 2018-19). 1, 2 and 3 players most likely to win the 2022-23 Kia NBA MVP Award (48%, 34% and 13% of votes, respectively). There are also a number of American players with ties to other countries, including more than 35 players with at least one parent from an African country. Thirty-eight players on opening-night rosters participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) prior to their NBA careers, including Deandre Ayton (Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder; Canada; BWB Global 2016), Joel Embiid (76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards; Japan; BWB Global 2016), Jamal Murray (Nuggets; Canada; BWB Global 2015), Pascal Siakam (Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012) and Jonas Valančiūnas (New Orleans Pelicans; Lithuania; BWB Europe 2008). The Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz each have six. For the ninth consecutive year, Canada is the most-represented country outside of the U.S., followed by Australia, France (nine players) and Germany (six players). All 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player. There is a total of 58 European players on opening-night rosters, including three members of the 2021-22 Kia All-NBA First Team: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria), Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks; Slovenia) and 2021-22 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia).

The Golden State Warriors responded to a fourth championship-ring ceremony in the last eight years with a performance they hope will lead to a fifth in nine ...

Curry (16) and Poole (10) combined for 26 points in the half, during which Golden State used 13 assists to help build a 59-52 lead. Held to 25 points in the first quarter, the Warriors poured in 34, 32 and 32 over the final three periods, shooting 45.5 overall while outscoring the Lakers 48-30 on 3-pointers. The Golden State Warriors responded to a fourth championship-ring ceremony in the last eight years with a performance they hope will lead to a fifth in nine, riding Stephen Curry’s game-high 33 points to a 123-109 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Opening Night in the NBA on Tuesday.

No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero leads an intriguing group of newcomers in 2022-23.

He played well with the Cavs in Las Vegas (15 ppg, 4.8 rpg) but now might get more reps with the rebuilding Jazz. He hit 61% of his shots while averaging 14.4 points in five games and he led all rookies with 26 total assists (5.2 per game). With Holmgren out, Dieng has the distinction of being the Thunder rookie not named (Jaylin or Jalen) Williams. The Pistons envision a backcourt duo with last year’s No. One role model who’s been mentioned: Draymond Green, right down to the “triple-single” offensive results. As eager as Thunder fans were to see Holmgren play before the August foot injury that wiped out his season, they might get even more excited if the setback shifts OKC into an unabashed “2023 Draft” strategy. No. The only exceptions: New York’s Mark Jackson in 1988, the No. That happened in 2003 with Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire (9th overall in 2002) and again in 2014 with Michael Carter-Williams (11th overall). 18 pick overall in the previous spring’s draft; and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon in 2017, rising up from No. For one of the newcomers, there will be a special prize in about eight months: the Kia Rookie of the Year Award. Shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on draft night was one thing; suiting up and playing in actual NBA regular-season competition is a whole other level.

Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker (1) and Chris Paul (3) slap hands during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Adelaide 36ers, Sunday, ...

Bridges: +10000 (tied for 43rd) Ayton: +5500 (tied for 23rd) Ayton: +13000 (tied for 29th)

RotoWire gives insight on key players and values for Yahoo NBA DFS ahead of tonight's 12-game slate.

[Domantas Sabonis](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/domantas-sabonis-3865). [Keldon Johnson](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/keldon-johnson-4782), SAS vs. [Rudy Gobert](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/rudy-gobert-3440) ($28) into Minnesota’s starting lineup. Memphis will rely on [Brandon Clarke](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/brandon-clarke-4819) ($15) to out-maneuver the dominating duo, and it just doesn’t look like a favorable spot for Adams, who stacks up much better against teams with only one standout frontcourt player. NY ($10) [Markelle Fultz](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/markelle-fultz-4100) (toe) is once again sidelined, so the job is Anthony’s to lose, but he’ll need to shoot much better to keep it. WAS ($23) [Terry Rozier](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/terry-rozier-3736), CHA @ SAS ($25) [LaMelo Ball](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/lamelo-ball-5151) (ankle) begins the season sidelined, making Rozier a great streaming option for Charlotte’s offense against a Spurs team in rebuild mode. OKC ($32) [Paolo Banchero](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/paolo-banchero-5700) ($25), and he is likely to start and have an immediate impact on the offense. [Dejounte Murray](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/dejounte-murray-3856) ($32) into the Atlanta backcourt should only help Young, who has had to carry enormous weight for the Hawks over his four-year tenure with the team. HOU ($37)

Buzzer, a mobile platform for live sports aimed at young people, has renewed its deals with the NBA and WNBA. The platform allows fans to watch games via ...

“We look at our partnership with FanDuel as one of a user engagement tool for NBA and WNBA games,” Han said. FanDuel’s odds are integrated into the Buzzer app, and ads for Buzzer appear in FanDuel’s app. In a lot of ways, it’s optimized for a device that the next generation engages with and uses.” With the FanDuel partnership, fans who bet on NBA or WNBA games through FanDuel are alerted to watch them via Buzzer. It involves Buzzer distributing live moments from boxing matches DAZN airs with the goal of people watching the clips and signing up for DAZN. In addition, young fans also are typically glued to their mobile phones searching social media and the internet, so Buzzer was created as a mobile platform that those fans could easily access. “The goal here is how do we become a bridge to the next generation and how do we address an audience that is not addressed by television,” Han said. “For a two-year-old startup, it’s incredible affirmation and I’m looking forward to seeing how Buzzer will continue to innovate and roll out features that bring mobile-first basketball fans back to the live window.” They can also purchase full access to NBA League Pass, which costs $99.99 for the entire season without commercials, and the WNBA League Pass, which cost $24.99 for the 2022 season that ended last month. The company, which now has 42 full-time employees according to Han, raised a $4 million seed round in March 2020 and a $20 million Series A round in March 2021, which was led by Sapphire Sport and Canaan Partners. Before founding Buzzer, Han was the director of live content at Twitter, where he negotiated deals with professional sports leagues to stream their games on the platform. “The market dynamics have shifted quite a bit as everyone has seen and experienced,” Han said.

Listing the top five basketball shoes worn during the opening night of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Meanwhile, James wore the Nike LeBron 20 in the 'Purple & Gold' colorway. The Nike LeBron 20 has flown off the shelves since its release in late September. We knew the 2022 NBA Finals MVP, Stephen Curry, would go big on ring night. Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden wore a new colorway of the Adidas Harden Vol. [complicated history](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/on-court/jaden-ivey-makes-summer-league-debut-in-nike-kobe-6) of the shoes back in July. So it was only fitting that the German company supply the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with special shoes for the big night. Below is our ranking of the top five shoes from the 2022 NBA Opening Night. Harden has worn different colorways of his 7th signature sneaker with Adidas throughout the summer. [Nike LeBron 20](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/nike-lebron-20) in the 'Time Machine' colorway. Later, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. In the first matchup, the Boston Celtics handled the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the shoes still have not been released to the public.