2018 NBA Media Day Blog: Kawhi Leonard Looks Thrilled; LeBron's Debut With Lakers

With the NBA season right around the corner, players and coaches are discussing the year ahead at their team's media days. The Crossover chronicled the best photos, quotes and moments from around the league.

NBA media day is a celebration around the league for the start of the new season. The day gives fans and media members a first look at team personnel after the offseason. A lot has happened since the Warriors won their third title in four seasons. LeBron James is a Laker, Kawhi Leonard is a Raptor and Jimmy Butler is most likely on his way out of Minnesota. 

The first exhibition game of the NBA preseason is on Sept. 28 when the Philadelphia 76ers play Melbourne United and the Boston Celtics take on the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA regular season begins on Oct. 16 with the champs, the Warriors, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But before any of that can get underway, players and coaches must face the media:

Kawhi Leonard looked thrilled to be a Raptor

Kawhi looked like his same ole self in his first photos as a Raptor.

First look at Kawhi in a Raptors jersey 👀 pic.twitter.com/JFzh9xnZB9

— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) September 24, 2018

Kawhi on playing in Toronto long-term

Kawhi Leonard opened up about playing for the Raptors for the first time since the trade. 

Kawhi Leonard: "I want to play here (in Toronto). As long as I have on a jersey, I want to play basketball. I came here with an open mind. [...] By winning games, this is how you get star-caliber players to want to come here and play.” pic.twitter.com/AAQFORIxIg

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 24, 2018

New Raptor Kawhi: 😐 ➡️ 😁

(via @TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/u7I8qRbeHO

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2018

Kawhi on Toronto long-term: If you’re looking in the future, you’re gonna trip over the present https://t.co/yIfdu5xMJr

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) September 24, 2018

LeBron's first media day as a Los Angeles Laker

Standing tall at @Lakers Media Day! #NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/ZpMHhuJIau

— NBA (@NBA) September 24, 2018

The new #Lakeshow pic.twitter.com/XoFUyKnHeK

— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) September 24, 2018

Lakers’ LeBron James addresses hundreds of media members at Media Day pic.twitter.com/lx9xQ82ekT

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 24, 2018

Pressure? 🤨

Nope

(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/kNTUu4f5Qe

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2018

Lonzo has been in the gym

Looks like @ZO2_ been putting in work 🏋️‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/uFbnvNMh2Y

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

Lonzo Ball shares what he has worked on with his jumper this summer. #NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/tDroc4BTUL

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Dwyane Wade's final season

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra convinced Dwyane Wade to return for his final season. 

Spoelstra on Wade's farewell tour: "He has this incredible blessing to know when that finish line will be and to be able to have the perspective to make every day matter."

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) September 24, 2018

Dwyane Wade says Erik Spoelstra is the one who convinced him to come back. Talked to him on a Friday. Decided on a Sunday.

— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) September 24, 2018

Dwyane Wade's final media day

The Last Dance begins. pic.twitter.com/CiAM1Ff6wJ

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 24, 2018

Wade: "I was just a kid with a dream. ... I've laid it out on the line and given everything I have to the game. And I can walk away from this game OK with that."

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 24, 2018

Dwyane Wade says he will be “uncomfortable” with farewell but doesn’t mind “having one last chance for people to tell you how great you were. Not you are. You were. The whole last dance thing came out of nowhere. I don’t even know how to dance.”

— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) September 24, 2018

Wade on starting: "That's like asking if you want breakfast in the morning. Of course. ... But I go into camp and I compete. I don't go into camp worried about starting."

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 24, 2018

New Hornets coach James Borrego on the status of Kemba Walker

"@KembaWalker's a Hornet. He wants to be here. I trust him, he trusts me. He's bought in. He loves the community. He loves the organization." - Coach Borrego #BuzzCity

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2018

"This is where I want to be. This is the place I love. I'm confident this is where I'll be." - @KembaWalker

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2018

Latest update on the Warriors and Boogie

Warriors GM Bob Myers says DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) will be re-evaluated in a month, is on schedule and he is not being held for the playoffs. "We're not holding him back," Myers said.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 24, 2018

“I’m confident I will be here for a very long time,” @warriors @Money23Green pic.twitter.com/Vy9jSzGhDg

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 24, 2018

"He can do it all. ... I'm excited."@KlayThompson is amped to team up with @boogiecousins! #NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/7016DEjxtQ

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

"Honestly, this is one of the best Summers I've had in terms of preparation for the season." - @StephenCurry30

🎤: @ROSGO21 pic.twitter.com/aaCvuBSqL7

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

Steph shares how LeBron's move to LA impacts the entire league.#NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/XYuEGMvDuN

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

James Harden is excited for media day

Got that 1st day of school flow today... 🚀

— James Harden (@JHarden13) September 24, 2018

Tom Thibodeau on Jimmy Butler's trade request

Tom Thibodeau on Jimmy Butler's trade request: "Our job is to seek out the best opportunity for us. If something's good for us, then we're interested in doing it. If not, we're ready to move forward the other way."

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 24, 2018

Anthony Davis is striving to dominate

AD's focus is clear:#PelicansMediaDay | #doitBIG https://t.co/ULUeiLzuhr

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 24, 2018

Tony Parker as a Hornet feels weird

🇫🇷 @tonyparker taking pictures like a pro at his first #HornetsMediaDay https://t.co/L2WYgzGsYw

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2018

The Celtics have arrived for media day

The big 5 🍀

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/PRrO8hr9xu

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2018

Marcus Smart on what basketball means to him as he deals with tragedy off the court

Marcus Smart, who recently lost his mother to cancer, gave an incredible answer about what basketball means to him as he deals with tragedy off the court. pic.twitter.com/0L58YXlgcr

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) September 24, 2018

Kyrie can see himself in Boston for a long time

Kyrie Irving: "I believe Boston is the place for me."

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 24, 2018

Kevin Love and Channing Fyre having some fun before media day

Channing Frye took "some dudes" locker 😂 https://t.co/CUycuNmJKU pic.twitter.com/szaa2l8wpi

— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) September 24, 2018

First look at Carmelo Anthony in a Rockets uniform

Will Melo start for Houston?

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta on Melo's role for this upcoming season.

Carmelo Anthony couldn’t have been any nicer and understands his role—whether it’s starting or coming off the bench. pic.twitter.com/65CG4zXLGW

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) September 24, 2018

Kristaps Porzingis on his potential return

KP: "I'm hungry and I want to be back on the court as soon as possible, so it's good that I have a team around me that is holding me back when I need to be held back."
Says he won't return to game action until he's "110%"

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) September 24, 2018

Hi IT!

The new guy. pic.twitter.com/xNuih14YIQ

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 24, 2018

The Joker checks in at NBA media day

The REAL Nikola Jokić. https://t.co/SSU3qq0GwW

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 24, 2018

Scary Terry is back

Scary Terry is BACK. 😱 pic.twitter.com/GxW9YVpm5N

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 24, 2018

Don't expect the Cavs to tank

Ty Lue says Cavs will not tank this season after losing LeBron.

Ty Lue: “I don’t see this as a rebuild at all. It’s new a challenge for all, but we’re up for the challenge. We will compete for the playoffs. That’s our motivation and we will put a product on the floor to do just that.”

— Scott (@WFNYScott) September 24, 2018

DeMar DeRozan on receiving a mural before playing a game for Spurs

DeMar on the mural created for him after he was traded to SA... didn’t think it was real at 1st, but once he knew, “It gave me one of those feelings like, damn, they love me this already.” #Spurs #NBA @TheAthleticNBA pic.twitter.com/YAa1iE8Yeh

— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) September 24, 2018

"It's growing on me."@DeMar_DeRozan is getting used to his new threads. pic.twitter.com/tw4a222lKz

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

.@DeMar_DeRozan is looking forward to his return to Toronto. 👀#NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/mefkyVaTQx

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 24, 2018

Udonis Haslem's last stand

#5RSN Udonis Haslem getting his last stand in Heat Media Day #HeatMediaDay #MiamiHeat #Miami #HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/bRcPeb4vSn

— El Heat Podcast (@ElHeatPodcast) September 24, 2018

Joel Embiid and Dario Saric reunite for NBA media day

“You don’t text… you don’t call.” 😂@JoelEmbiid and @dariosaric reuniting on #NBAMediaDay is a tradition like none other. #HereTheyCome https://t.co/y42l9ZjE8P

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 24, 2018

CP3 on Melo and this upcoming season

CP3 on Melo, goals and last season: pic.twitter.com/4o0NRnQZki

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) September 24, 2018

New era in New York

FRESH FACES. pic.twitter.com/ZY1aPlWEuy

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 24, 2018

Kevin Love on the Cavs without LeBron

Kevin Love: “Success? I keep talking about building something. Overachieving. We’re going to be a team that surprises a lot of people.” pic.twitter.com/8J37KOXOiI

— Scott (@WFNYScott) September 24, 2018

Deandre Ayton respons to Joel Embiid

Umm okay Enes

Enes Kanter: "When I think about playoffs, my nipples get hard."

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) September 24, 2018