The Opening Tip

• Victor Wembanyama is as good as advertised
• There’s now footage of Draymond Green laying out Jordan Poole
• The NBA is definitely on track to go from 30 teams to 32

1. Who is Rocky, and why does he make $625K?

Last week, Boardroom came out with a claim that Rocky, the Nuggets’ mascot, makes an outlandish $625K a year, easily the most among NBA mascots.

First thought: Why?

Second thought: This is either a nepotism workaround or an elaborate money laundering scheme.

Five guesses as to who might be under the costume: 

1. An illegitimate child of owner Stan Kroenke, who at least is willing to do something while collecting a ridiculous paycheck. 
2. A fourth unknown Jokic brother, who wanted to be on Denver’s payroll but had to have an official position.
3. Aaron Gordon’s weed dealer.
4. Bat Dad from South Park. 
5. Least mischievously, a person who is really good at being an NBA mascot, although we deep-dove into (spent a few minutes googling) how/why they’d be getting paid that much, and found nothing.

2. Daily GIF: Victor Wembanyama, Everyone. Everyone, Victor Wembanyama.

Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French sensation already penciled in as the No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft, played two exhibitions this week vs. the G-League Ignite in Nevada.

He scored 37 and 36 points, respectively, and left NBA superstars in awe. 

[WATCH: More Wemby highlights]

3. Trivia time

The first and most recent foreign-born NBA players to be taken No. 1 overall are both from the Bahamas. Who are they?

Hint: Father of reigning champ

4. A slow-motion look at Draymond Green absolutely rocking Jordan Poole

Reports of the Poole-Draymind fight leaked a few days ago, but TMZ dropped the video today.

One thing worth noting: A post-fight report came out that teammates had noticed ‘a change in Poole’s behavior throughout camp,’ which Steve Kerr, Steph Curry and Andre Iguodala all called BS on.

• So → Draymond punches Poole → Draymond’s camp leaks anti-Poole report → the GSW OGs deny report.

This is Draymond’s contract season. Hopefully they send him to Detroit, or something, so he can learn how hard life is when you don’t have Steph or Klay to dribble-handoff to.

Watch the full video here.

5. NBA expansion is coming

The NBA’s rumored expansion to 32 teams isn’t even being whispered about anymore. It’s being teased/lobbied/discussed out loud. 

• The NBA held a preseason game in Seattle earlier this week, which it would not do unless it had plans to eventually come back for more. 
• LeBron, after playing a preseason game in Las Vegas, sat there and directly told Adam Silver (‘I want the team here, Adam’) he wants to own an NBA team in Vegas. 

It’s no longer if, but when. 

[READ: Seattle wants an NBA team, but will the league play ball?]

6.  Quick Hits

• Ben Simmons shoots shot; shot misses; shot hits Kyrie in the face. 
• Rudy Gobert standing next to Victor Wembanyama puts 7-foot-4 in perspective. 
• Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be in the new Scooby Doo movie. 
• Kat and Gobert are bonding over a love of anime.
• Even Mike Breen thinks preseason games are a tough watch.

7.  Reads + Podcasts

• This is what life after the NBA looks like [New York Times]
• Zach Lowe’s annual NBA tiers [ESPN]
• The alien from France [Bill Simmons Podcast]

Trivia answer: First: Mychal Thompson, father of Klay. Most recent: DeAndre Ayton.