NBA media day is the equivalent of the first day of school: you get your picture taken, set expectations, officially meet your new teammates, and get ready to jump into training camp for the new season.
As teams around the league when through media day on Monday ahead of the 2024-2025 season, there were many storylines both serious and silly. Joel Embiid and Masai Ujiri gave touching tributes to Dikembe Mutombo. LeBron and Bronny are already bickering the way only a father and son can. Chris Paul and Gregg Popovich reflected on 20 years of despising each other. The Bulls looked sad, and Giannis Antetokounmpo stayed freaking by talking about his wedding night.
The most striking part of media is often seeing old players in new uniforms, and that was especially the case this year with so much player movement over the offseason. Klay Thompson just doesn’t look right without a Warriors jersey, for example. There were many more where that came from. Here are 11 NBA players debuting their new looks at media day.
Klay Thompson, G, Dallas Mavericks
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Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Paul George, F, Philadelphia 76ers
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Chris Paul, G, San Antonio Spurs
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Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Russell Westbrook, G, Denver Nuggets
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Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
DeMar DeRozan, F, Sacramento Kings
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Photo by John Todd/Getty Images
Alex Caruso, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
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NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Isaiah Hartenstein, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
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NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Mikal Bridges, F, New York Knicks
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Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Dejounte Murray, G, New Orleans Pelicans
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Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
Josh Giddey, G, Chicago Bulls
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Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Orlando Magic
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Mike Watters-Imagn Images
One player not on this list yet? Karl-Anthony Towns. The star big man is headed to the New York Knicks, but the trade isn’t official just yet. Check out our trade grades on the big deal between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Knicks, and then look at our 10 biggest winners and losers from the KAT-for-Julius Randle + Donte DiVincenzo trade.
