The San Antonio Spurs released 2021 first-round pick Josh Primo after allegedly exposing himself to multiple women. Josh Primo was the 12th-overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, and was just 19 years old entering the season. San Antonio saw plenty of promise in Primo on the court, but the off-court allegations forced the Spurs
Month: October 2022
5:17 PM ET While the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers stepped away from trade talks shortly before training camp that involved Russell Westbrook and draft capital going to Indiana for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, the Pacers center says it’s a deal that could be worth revisiting. “If I’m the Lakers, I take a
Myles Turner would apparently like the Pacers to trade him to the Lakers. But there are a lot of moving parts that could prevent this deal from happening. A weird NBA weekend — Josh Primo released by the Spurs for allegedly exposing himself to multiple women, Kyrie Irving angrily defending his own obviously antisemitic behavior
The Lakers are the only winless team in the NBA. When will they grab their first W of the year? Yes, it’s probably time to panic, Los Angeles Lakers fans. The Lakers are 0-5 and the only team in the NBA without a win. On Saturday night, the Sacramento Kings were able to take the
2:30 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Coming into Sunday as the NBA’s last winless team at 0-5, the Los Angeles Lakers finally broke through with a 121-110 decision over the Denver Nuggets, giving first-year coach Darvin Ham the first victory on his résumé. “Tonight, we needed to prove something to ourselves,” Ham said afterward. “Not
Kyrie Irving recently shared a movie on his social media that includes anti-Semitic themes and argued with a reporter over it the next day. If you’ve missed the latest saga in the book of Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving’s obsession with obscure, fringe beliefs and temperament, here’s a quick summary: Kyrie Irving shared a link
The NBA released a vague statement in regard to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving promoting an antisemitic film on social media. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is once again in the spotlight following his social media activity. Earlier this year, he promoted a conspiracy theory by Alex Jones, who recently was ordered to pay $1
10:33 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN DETROIT — The Golden State Warriors suffered their second straight loss and third on the road Sunday night, falling to the Detroit Pistons 128-114 to drop to 3-4 on the season. Just one week into the season, the Warriors have been plagued by the same issues through all of their
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving got into an argument with a reporter regarding a tweet linking to an antisemitic film. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is in the news following his social media activity. Back in September, Irving shared a conspiracy theory by Alex Jones. This past week, Irving sent out a tweet linking to
3:04 PM ET Zion Williamson returned to the New Orleans Pelicans‘ lineup, getting the start Sunday against the LA Clippers. Williamson had been listed as probable for Sunday’s game after missing the previous two games because of a nasty fall he took Oct. 23. Williamson (right posterior hip/lower back bruise) did not play against the
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo
1:53 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said Saturday night he does not believe he did anything wrong in promoting an antisemitic film and book on his social media accounts. Speaking for the first time since he posted about a movie called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” Irving made
The Brooklyn Nets released a statement decrying hate speech after point guard Kyrie Irving endorsed an antisemitic film and book on social media. Antisemitism has been front-and-center this week with Kanye West facing backlash for spreading dangerous stereotypes and conspiracy theories but he’s not the only major public figure, unfortunately, feeding the hate. Nets point
12:12 AM ET NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets held a players-only meeting after Saturday night’s 125-116 loss to the Indiana Pacers. It was the Nets’ fourth straight loss and dropped them to 1-5 this season. “It was a disaster,” Nets coach Steve Nash said of the loss. “How else do you say it? I
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports The 2016 NBA Draft yielded arguably the most scrutinized and debated rookie class in recent history. A lot has happened since 2016, both in the world at large and in the NBA. It’s hard to imagine a more interesting and hotly contested collection of players than the 2016 rookie
7:45 PM ET The San Antonio Spurs suddenly waived 2021 lottery pick Joshua Primo on Friday, the team announced. “It is our hope that, in the long run, this decision will serve the best interest of both the organization and Joshua,” Spurs CEO RC Buford said in a statement. Primo, the No. 12 overall pick
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ latest Instagram post is eyeopening following the team’s 0-4 start to the season. After missing out on the playoffs (and play-in tournament), the Los Angeles Lakers spent the offseason trying to improve their roster, while hiring a new head coach in Darvin Ham. Yet, the start to their season
1:45 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — Russell Westbrook came off the bench in a regular-season game for the first time since his rookie year in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 111-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and impressed his team by taking to the role. “He was great,” said LeBron James, who said Westbrook’s energy “catapulted” L.A.’s
A week into the season, the NBA MVP race looks wide open. Here’s a look at one key stat for each of the top candidates so far. By the time we get to March and April, the NBA MVP race will have likely winnowed to one or two key frontrunners. But for now, the field
12:03 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai issued a statement Friday night condemning guard Kyrie Irving‘s decision to promote an anti-Semitic film and book on his social media accounts. “I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-Semitic disinformation,” Tsai tweeted. “I want to
Jalen Brunson is giving the Knicks everything they could have hoped for at the point guard position, helping to drive their surprising early success. When the New York Knicks finagled point guard Jalen Brunson from the Dallas Mavericks by dangling a four-year, $104 million contract in front of him, the decision was met with a
2:54 PM ET The NBA is pursuing the implementation of an upper spending limit in its negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, a systemic change that has been met with significant union resistance, sources told ESPN. In the wake of large-market contenders Golden State, Brooklyn and the LA
Oct 27, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Red Sox continue theme of botching Rafael Devers contract talks by Cody Williams In overtime between the Mavericks and
12:43 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — As the final seconds of regulation ticked down Thursday night with the score tied between the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets, the entire Brooklyn defense converged on Mavericks star Luka Doncic, clearly convinced he’d try to win the game himself. But with two guys on him, and
The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Dallas Mavericks without two of their biggest stars, thanks to Trey Murphy III and a surprisingly deep bench. The Pelicans have gotten off to an impressive 3-1 start to the season but picked up their most important win Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 113-111 without Zion Williamson (hip
5:25 PM ET ESPN News Services Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has a Grade 1 strain of his right calf and will be reevaluated in 1-2 weeks, the team announced Thursday. An MRI taken Thursday confirmed the strain. Lillard suffered the injury with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss
NBA play-by-play commentator Kevin Harlan jinxed Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry at the free-throw line. The 2022-23 NBA season has just begun, and there was already a huge Western Conference matchup early in the schedule. The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors were on the road to take on the Phoenix Suns. In the
8:00 AM ET HIGH ABOVE THE Bay of Naples, Paul George stood in his white paisley tuxedo jacket and black pants with the breathtaking Amalfi Coast behind him. As Daniela Rajic, George’s bride, walked down the aisle past a star-studded NBA guest list that included Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Karl-Anthony Towns, Patrick Beverley and Lou
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker revealed that Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors kept taunting him by saying “four rings” during the Oct. 25 game. On Tuesday night, the NBA had a huge Western Conference matchup on the schedule. The Phoenix Suns hosted the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. While the Suns got
2:55 AM ET DENVER — With the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 0-4 start being the first time his team has lost four straight games to begin a season since he was a rookie nearly 20 years ago, LeBron James vowed to tweak his personal approach moving forward. “I wasn’t aggressive enough in a lot of my
12:15 AM ET ESPN News Services PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard left the Portland Trail Blazers‘ 119-98 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night because of a strained right calf. Lillard, a six-time All-Star, came up limping with just over five minutes to go in the third quarter and headed straight for the locker
The New York Knicks made a big splash when they signed Jalen Brunson to be their new point guard. Can he help guide them back to the playoffs? The expectations in New York were sky-high for the 2021-22 season for the New York Knicks after their shocking 41-31 record earned them the fourth seed in
Damian Lillard has been nearly unstoppable but he’s not the only player off to an impressive start in their comeback seasons. One of the most fascinating storylines coming into this season was the abnormally large number of players returning from injuries or other circumstances that caused them to miss all or most of last season.
3:03 PM ET Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. will miss Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of lumbar management, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. There is optimism he could be back for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz. A back injury limited Porter to nine games in 2021-22, and he underwent
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 12: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on October 12, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald and Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown have parted ways with rapper Kanye West’s Donda Sports agency following his antisemitic statements. Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has been in the news for the past couple of weeks for antisemitic remarks he has made. West also saw the
12:30 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN PHOENIX — Warriors guard Klay Thompson was ejected for the first time in his career after picking up two consecutive technical fouls during a chippy third quarter in Golden State’s 134-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. It was the five-time All-Star’s first career ejection in 759 regular-season
8:10 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald both announced Tuesday night that they are leaving Donda Sports, the agency founded by the artist formerly known as Kanye West, due to antisemitic comments he recently made. The announcements came hours after Adidas terminated its relationship
8:00 AM ET Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN’s Insiders sort out life and the news from in and around the NBA world. The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-3, have roster construction issues and eventually will have to make a trade — probably, but not certainly, involving Russell Westbrook. For now, let’s focus on
1:40 AM ET MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons called several of the whistles he received “bulls—” following a 134-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, noting that “refs make mistakes too.” While Simmons, who fouled out for the second time in three regular-season games, was frustrated with many calls, the
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The first week of the 2022-23 NBA season did not disappoint, delivering big-time performances, upsets and playoff-caliber matchups. Ja Morant and Paolo Banchero got off to strong starts, as the Memphis Grizzlies star scored 49 points against the Houston Rockets on Friday night and the Orlando Magic player on Wednesday
The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers both went winless in the first week of the NBA season. Which team is in deeper trouble? The Lakers have been effective on defense, allowing just 103.4 points per 100 possessions, the second-best mark in the league. Their offense has just been an absolute disaster. You’ve probably seen
7:00 AM ET Kade Krichko PAOLO BANCHERO TWISTS his 6-foot-10 frame into a kids’ chair surrounded by atilt Lego towers. “Don’t Touch” signs adorn computer desks, child-scrawled warnings amid a makeshift cityscape of plastic. It’s hardly a scene where you’d expect to see the $50.16 million-deal-wielding budding star of the Orlando Magic. Banchero isn’t rocking
Can the Los Angeles Clippers finally achieve their championship aspirations? Since acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019, the Los Angeles Clippers have had championship aspirations. In 2020, the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in the bubble. In 2021, they had their best season in franchise history under head coach
9:42 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach Darvin Ham benched Russell Westbrook for the final three possessions of L.A.’s 106-104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, and Ham was unflinching when asked if he’d have to manage any fallout with the point guard from his decision. “We don’t have time for feelings
8:32 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans lost both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson to injuries on Sunday in a 122-121 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz. Williamson took a hard fall with 8:07 left in the fourth quarter when his dunk attempt was blocked by Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson.
Micah Parsons and Marcus Smart are helping a teen facing some high school bullies. It’s always cool when the big shots stand up for the little guy. On Saturday on social media, that’s what Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons and Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart did. Videos surfaced of a teen with special needs that
Oct 21, 2022 Kendra AndrewsESPN The Golden State Warriors had a certain glow as they entered training camp four weeks ago. It’s a glow you have after spending the summer celebrating a championship and preparing to defend it the next season. Klay Thompson was seen dancing on his boat. Stephen Curry had his jersey retired
3:10 AM ET SACRAMENTO — LA Clippers star guard Paul George was in the middle of a big second quarter when he said a technical foul “turned my aggression up.” He proceeded to take his anger out on the Sacramento Kings. George exploded for 40 points to go with six rebounds and six assists to
2:38 PM ET NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in recent comments to Phoenix Suns employees, addressed possible solutions for tanking while noting that he understands why teams would do it when a “once-in-a-generation player” is about to enter the league, according to sources who were present. Calling it a “serious issue” that has sparked “hundreds” of
2:30 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Jordan Poole put the Golden State Warriors down just one point with 14 seconds remaining after stealing the ball off a lazy Denver Nuggets pass and laying it back in. But just a split second later, as the Warriors were still getting back in transition, Nikola Jokic
Charles Barkley showed no mercy to the Los Angeles Lakers in a scorching yet humorous take. Charles Barkley is known for being bald, brash, and brutally honest. That doesn’t change when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers. Following the purple and gold’s loss to the Clippers 103-97, Barkley offered his perspective, and it was
12:06 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash said he was “proud of” Ben Simmons for the way the talented swingman bounced back in Friday night’s 109-105 win over the Toronto Raptors after a poor showing in the Nets’ season opener. “A step up for Ben,” Nash said after seeing Simmons score
The Cleveland Cavaliers have young talent, depth a new star and all the positive momentum they built last season. How long can they ride it? If you were to make a list of the most likable players in the NBA, several Cleveland Cavaliers would make an appearance. There’s Jarrett Allen with one of the biggest
With just a handful of NBA games played, we’re already seeing a baseline emerge for trends like the Lakers spacing, Cavs defense and more. With most teams only having one or two games under their belt, it’s difficult to say anything for certain. So, to avoid any brash generalizations, we will offer a few observations
10:04 PM ET In comments to Phoenix Suns employees before the team’s season-opening win over the Dallas Mavericks, NBA commissioner Adam Silver apologized multiple times on behalf of the league office for enduring years of workplace misconduct under Suns majority owner Robert Sarver, according to sources who were present. “I’m incredibly empathetic to what many
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports Despite finishing with one of the worst records in the NBA last season, there is some reason for optimism for the 2022-23 Houston Rockets. We all know who is going to dominate the national spotlight in the Western Conference t may be time for the networks to shift away from their
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders NBA opening week is here, and a number of players returned after having not played since 2021, while the latest crop of rookies suited up for their first regular-season games. The return of Kawhi Leonard — off the bench for the time being — immediately made the LA Clippers contenders
Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson bashed a supposed rumor that he might retire after the 2024 season. Klay Thompson’s contract with the Warriors expires after the 2024 season. Thus, some have suggested that he could retire, rather than seek another deal in Golden State or elsewhere. Thompson refuted those suggestions in a press conference
3:32 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The Lakers can’t hit outside shots. That much is clear after L.A. shot 9-for-45 from 3 in Thursday night’s 103-97 loss to the Clippers. That total somehow managed to be even worse than the Lakers’ 10-for-40 clip from deep in their opening-night loss to the Golden State Warriors. Yet
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 12: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets takes a shot during a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on October 12, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms
It may have only been one game this NBA season, but fans are already handing the Rookie of the Year award to the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero. The Orlando Magic won the NBA Draft lottery, and the right to choose one of the top prospects in the class. Come June 23, the Magic opted to
8:02 PM ET Detroit Pistons assistant general manager Rob Murphy is on leave after the organization commenced an investigation into an allegation of workplace misconduct involving a female former employee, sources told ESPN on Thursday night. Murphy, 50, has been out of the Pistons’ offices for approximately a week on leave after management was made
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 01: Boston Celtics Legend Bill Russell attends the statue unveiling in his honor at Boston City Hall Plaza by artist Ann Hirsch on November 1, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images) 3 reasons to be excited about the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2022-23 season by Rucker Haringey NFL
CANTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 26: Interim head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics takes questions from reporters during Boston Celtics Media Day at High Output Studios on September 26, 2022 in Canton, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms
The Brooklyn Nets’ 2022-23 campaign did not get off to a great start, as they were blown out by the New Orleans Pelicans. The Brooklyn Nets had quite the offseason. There was discussion of Kyrie Irving opting out of his contract, and Kevin Durant demanding a trade to a new team. Despite that, both stars
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN INSIDE MCALISTER FIELDHOUSE on The Citadel’s campus in Charleston, South Carolina, all eyes are fixed on a conversation between Joel Embiid and P.J. Tucker. For the second straight day of training camp in late September, the new Philadelphia 76ers teammates engaged in a long — and loud — discussion over
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden crossed up Boston Celtics defensive stalwart Marcus Smart, and social media had some fun at their expense. Had James Harden converted his crossover into a made three-point field goal, then perhaps he could’ve avoided becoming a part of this meme. Yet, a wide-open shot hit nothing but the side rim,
3:19 AM ET PHOENIX — The first half of Wednesday night’s season opener conjured up the still-fresh painful feelings from last spring’s embarrassing playoff exit for the Phoenix Suns. Once again, the Suns were being dominated by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks at home. That made the rally from a 22-point deficit for a
The Golden State Warriors celebrated their 2021-22 NBA Championship on Tuesday’s opening night getting their rings and hanging the championship banner. Some four months after Stephen Curry captured his fourth career NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors, the team helped to tip off the 2022-23 season with a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
9:17 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN TORONTO — Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland suffered a left eye injury late in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s season opener against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena and will not return. Garland was inadvertently hit in the face by Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. and fell to
Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images To celebrate the return of NBA basketball, we take a look at one reason to watch every team this season. The 2022-23 NBA regular season officially tipped off on Tuesday night, commencing a nearly six-month journey for 30 teams. The stakes of this season for those 30 teams vary drastically.
12:29 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons couldn’t hold back his excitement as he prepared to play in his first regular-season NBA game in almost a year and a half. “Ready to go,” Simmons said after Wednesday’s shootaround, in advance of the Nets’ season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans. “Very
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports With Opening Night hours away, here are 15 NBA season predictions for the Eastern Conference, one for each and every team. In preparation for tonight’s tip, these are 15 predictions on the upcoming season for the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. The only requirement is that each prediction is measurable
11:14 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors unveiled their 2021-22 NBA championship banner and rings Tuesday night ahead of their season-opening 123-109 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. “It takes resiliency to win a title, and resiliency is what defines this Warriors team,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said during the
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports The Heat have a way of flying under the radar these days, but Miami fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2022-23 NBA season. Erik Spoelstra deserves a ton of credit for keeping the Heat in the mix for Eastern Conference supremacy on an annual basis. Miami isn’t
9:11 PM ET The NBA is back! The 2022-23 season tips off with a doubleheader. First up, the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Boston Celtics in an early clash of Eastern Conference contenders. The Celtics are the defending conference champs, while the Sixers are looking to end a Finals drought that has lasted more than
From undrafted to an important piece of a potential Miami Heat championship roster, Max Strus has had quite the basketball journey. Max Strus is tough. Tough enough to work his way from Division II Lewis University to becoming a playoff starter for the Miami Heat. But it’s hard to not be tough when Jimmy Butler
When LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s career regular-season points list, he set his sights firmly on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s current all-time leading scorer. James enters the 2022-23 season, his 20th in the NBA, needing only 1,326 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387. Given that James has scored
Are the Portland Trail Blazers primed to bounce back from their 27-55 season? Last season did not go according to plan for the Portland Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard got off to a disappointing start before suffering a season-ending abdominal injury. Lillard was limited to 29 games, and he posted new career lows in field goal
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 11: Blake Wesley #14 of the San Antonio Spurs walks on the court during a game against the Houston Rockets during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 11, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
5:24 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers will be limited at point guard for their opener against the Golden State Warriors, but that didn’t stop Anthony Davis from planning a statement performance to start the regular season. “Our first two games are against two title contenders,” Davis said Monday, referring to
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Chicago sports fans need something to be excited about due to the Bears’ misery. Here are three reasons to get hyped about the Bulls instead. The Chicago Bulls surprised a lot of NBA fans by surging to a sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference last year. Billy Donovan’s established nucleus of
8:27 PM ET Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter has agreed to a four-year, $95 million contract extension, his agents Thad Foucher and Joe Smith of Wasserman told ESPN on Monday night. The deal, agreed to ahead of the 6 p.m. ET deadline for rookie scale extensions, allows Hunter to avoid restricted free agency next summer.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 03: Head coach Doc Rivers looks on in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets during a preseason game at Barclays Center on October 03, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
8:00 AM ET What will the 2022-23 NBA season be remembered for? Some teams will look very similar, but the landscape of the league is never exactly the same two years in a row. An offseason full of big trades and a handful of star players returning from injury is bound to shake up the
11:43 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton will miss at least three weeks with a right calf strain, the team announced Sunday. Connaughton missed the final two preseason games with a sore right calf that the team initially hoped wasn’t serious, before an MRI on Friday revealed the injury. Bucks coach Mike
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports The Oklahoma City Thunder may not be ready to chase a playoff spot just yet. But a dominant preseason offers plenty of reasons for optimism. For a minute, it looked like this might be the year the Oklahoma City Thunder rebuild turned the corner. Chet Holmgren went beast mode in Summer
7:08 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — For the past two years, the Golden State Warriors have been vocal about their desire to bridge their current success with future success. And over the weekend, they put that into action, signing Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins to contract extensions. The Warriors signed Poole to a
Both Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins said that they were “going to get a bag” after winning the NBA championship last season. The Golden State Warriors provided just that for both of them. The Golden State Warriors made it to the playoffs last year for the first time since 2019, and they emerged as NBA champions after
8:00 AM ET When we last saw the Los Angeles Lakers, they were careening out of the playoff picture, losing eight straight games from late March through early April as a fetid topper to a rotten season. L.A. went from the oddsmakers’ NBA Finals favorite to missing the play-in tournament, as injuries and an ill-conceived
Death. Taxes. The return of Zion Williamson to the top of the NBA elite. All these things seem inevitable — as long as Zion’s body holds up, they will be. Zion Williamson has not been the NBA’s version of Thanos in a long time. He has not played a basketball game since May 4, 2021
NBA Slam Dunk star Nate Robinson announced that he is undergoing treatment for renal kidney failure. On Saturday, NBA Veteran and Slam Dunk Contest Nate Robinson announced that he is undergoing treatment while battling renal kidney failure. “I am currently undergoing treatment for Renal Kidney Failure and have been privately dealing with it for the
11:57 AM ET The Golden State Warriors and guard Jordan Poole have agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension, his agents, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown of CAA Sports, told ESPN on Saturday. The extension comes ahead of Monday’s deadline for members of the 2019 NBA draft class. It also comes in the aftermath
The NBA announced that Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. On Saturday, the NBA world was hit with devastating news regarding Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo. NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the league announced Mutombo, known for his days in Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Philadelphia, and other destinations,
5:47 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Kendra Andrews Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins has agreed to a four-year, $109 million contract extension, his agents, Drew Morrison and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports, told ESPN. The deal, which includes a player option
Cade Cunningham has the skill to be literally anything for the Detroit Pistons. How will the pairing with Jaden Ivey shape his future? Cade Cunningham’s bag, as the kids would say, is deep. He’s got the step-back 3. The mid-range pull-up game. He can get himself to the tin. Bully smaller players in the post.
8:00 AM ET The vibes are good right now in Kyrie Irving‘s world. As he stands inside the Brooklyn Nets‘ locker room following Wednesday night’s preseason win against the Milwaukee Bucks, Irving lights up some sage from the side of the room and discusses his team and what he feels is the positive direction it
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports MLB: Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter passes away at 69 by Eric Treuden Draymond Green is still answering questions about the Warriors’ chemistry. His latest comments seem to be pointing fingers at the front office. Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole at a Warriors practice has dominated the NBA conversation as
11:30 PM ET ESPN News Services Lakers guard Russell Westbrook will be reevaluated Saturday after exiting Los Angeles’ 133-86 loss to the host Sacramento Kings on Friday night with a left hamstring injury. Westbrook exited the court in the first quarter, but it was unclear how he suffered the injury. Coach Darvin Ham said after
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic wearing a Superman Cape in the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest at the New Orleans Arena during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend February 16, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. AFP PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) Tennessee’s best chance to upset Alabama comes
11:29 AM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Dave McMenamin Close ESPN Staff Writer Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. The Los Angeles
Skip Bayless is known for being critical of LeBron James but sided with the Lakers star over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s unfair and unwarranted criticism. Unlike his TV counterpart Shannon Sharpe, Fox Sports 1’s Skip Bayless has been one of the staunchest critics of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. However, Bayless recently chose a different route
8:00 AM ET Ben Simmons looks and sounds like he’s in a very good place with the Brooklyn Nets. Sitting in the padded courtside seats of Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum during shootaround on Wednesday, the 26-year-old swingman says, after nearly a year and a half away from an NBA floor, he is embracing his new role
8:51 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green returned to practice on Thursday following a week away from the team after the fallout from punching Jordan Poole last Wednesday. The Warriors opted not to suspend Green for the incident, and instead fined him. He will play in the Warriors’
Tyrese Haliburton gives the Indiana Pacers something solid they can build, a foundation that could last for years to come. I’ve been watching the Indiana Pacers long enough to see a savior or two. I remember the excitement about Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender as potential bridges to the post-Reggie Miller era, only for Jermaine
From opening night to the 2023 NBA Draft, here are all the important dates you’ll need to know to follow the 2022-23 NBA season. The NBA preseason is already winding down and what should be a fascinating regular season is just over the horizon. We’ve seen big names change teams this offseason — Donovan Mitchell,
10:56 AM ET MILWAUKEE — Kevin Durant knows some of the parallels are there. From a distance, the Brooklyn Nets‘ star forward has watched — like everybody else — the leaked video footage of Draymond Green punching Golden State Warriors teammate Jordan Poole during practice. The defending champion Warriors’ locker room has been hurt by
The Orlando Magic have to love what they’re seeing from Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. so far this preseason. The Orlando Magic have gotten off to an impressive preseason start, winning three of four games and notching wins over the Mavericks and Grizzlies. You obviously need to take all preseason results with
8:00 AM ET Here we go: The top 10 in our 2022-2023 League Pass Rankings! We revealed Nos. 30-11 on Tuesday, and you can read about the rankings formula there. 10. DALLAS MAVERICKS (35) Look at this soul-snatcher: That is the smile of someone who knows he has you. The Mavs’ offense is one-dimensional —
From one era reaching an end to the next that has the potential to be just as strong, Jordan Poole seems primed to connect Golden State’s present to its future. Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors comes from a long line of overachievers. For the Warriors, the dynasty that no one saw coming, have
According to The Athletic, Draymond Green could be disciplined by the Golden State Warriors after getting into a physical altercation with Jordan Poole at practice. The Golden State Warriors open up the 2022-23 season on Oct. 18 against the Los Angeles Lakers, as they look to repeat as NBA champions. But in the preseason, there
11:22 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN MIAMI — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson understands the microscope he’s under when it comes to injuries. It’s why when he left Wednesday night’s 120-103 preseason loss to the Miami Heat with left ankle soreness, he knew what to expect on social media before he even looked at his
The game of Cade Cunningham is both classic and something entirely his own. As the Pistons’ roster improves so do the possibilities for him. Cade Cunningham’s name rolls off the tongue like a Sunday morning comic strip your great-grandparents might have read, and there is something old about his game. Cunningham branches from the James
5:26 PM ET MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons knows that criticism is going to find him wherever he goes. After years of dealing with verbal barbs from fans — both in person and on social media — the 26-year-old understands that the type of ire he faces comes with being one of
Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports As the NBA regular season rapidly approaches, we take a look at some of the highly motivated players that have a lot to prove in the imminent 2022-23 season. Motivation is a powerful angle in the NBA. Redemption is an even more powerful driving force of narrative. Amidst the squeaking of
2:54 PM ET NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets are doing everything they can to make Ben Simmons feel comfortable in his new surroundings after being away from an NBA floor for almost a year and a half while dealing with back surgery and mental health concerns, but coach Steve Nash acknowledged that what Simmons
12:46 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors forward Draymond Green will rejoin the team on Thursday, coach Steve Kerr said following Golden State’s preseason win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Green has been away from the team since an altercation with teammate Jordan Poole last Wednesday. He has been fined,
Jarrett Allen has become one of the most dominating interior defenders in the entire NBA. And he’s done it all with a characteristic smile on his face. All due respect to Jarrett Allen, but he doesn’t exactly conjure a sense of intimidation. The afro adds some soft, non-threatening curves to an otherwise angular frame. He’s
Evan Mobley is a budding star with utterly unique two-way potential, representing the bright future of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sometimes you know a player is special and has what it takes to be an NBA superstar the moment you see them take the court as a rookie. Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley is one
4:36 PM ET ESPN News Services Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball is expected to miss one to two weeks because of his sprained left ankle, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday. The Hornets had earlier announced that an MRI confirmed that Ball has a sprained ankle and his return to full basketball
With Chet Holmgren off the board and preseason action rolling, who are the top candidates for NBA Rookie of the Year this season? Chet Holmgren’s injury took a huge name off the board in what was a very crowded field of potential Rookie of the Year candidates. But the first batch of preseason games have
8:00 AM ET It’s time for our silliest preseason tradition: The 11th (how???) annual League Pass Rankings, a watchability scale to help you avoid wasting time on things like, “Wait, has this team actually ordered its players to tie their shoes together as part of its Lose-A-Rama for Victor Wembanyama campaign?” These are not power
9:16 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of a 116-107 preseason loss against the Washington Wizards on Monday night when his foot was stepped on while he was driving to the basket. The Hornets announced Ball would not return
Luka Doncic plays basketball like a video game, piling up stats and achievements. But can he thrive while still letting go of the controller? A cigarette burns on the screen’s left side. To the right sits a rubbed-down blue chalk cube. These are objects whose use wears them thin. The voiceover belongs to the director.
3:37 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Paul George set aside any ego and made it clear that Kawhi Leonard is the LA Clippers‘ No. 1 option and that he is the second star in the All-Star duo’s pecking order. As they enter their fourth season together with championship expectations, George was asked if there are
May 23, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) talks with head coach Ime Udoka in the first half against the Miami Heat during game four of the 2022 eastern conference finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports AEW shocks fans with debut of Saraya, formerly WWE’s Paige: Best
Jayson Tatum will be playing on perhaps the most talented Celtics team of his career. But his own responsibilities have never been larger. Jayson Tatum is a hard worker. The footwork, strength, and knowledge required to do what he does on offense prove the blood, sweat, and tears have all been paid on time. And
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has made his claim as the face of the next generation of superstars ready to take the game of basketball to another level. For this season, Ja Morant has been chosen as the very best NBA player under the age of 25 by the team here at The Step
8:00 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN As long as the Milwaukee Bucks have star Giannis Antetokounmpo in his prime, they begin every NBA season with championship expectations. Despite losing Khris Middleton, arguably their second-best player, for the final 10 games of the 2022 playoffs with a sprained MCL in his left knee, the Bucks took the
Trae Young has the potential to take the Atlanta Hawks to heights they’ve never reached in the modern era. He just has to keep doing the work. Dominique Wilkins was an incredible basketball player hardly anyone outside Atlanta ever thinks about because his teams never won anything. That wasn’t his fault; he was repeatedly brilliant
Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green had an altercation with Jordan Poole, and it was certainly worthy of a suspension. Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green had an altercation with his teammate, Jordan Poole, that was aggressive and worthy of a suspension. In a video originally released by TMZ, Green is shown walking up to
Oct 8, 2022 Associated Press UVALDE, Texas — The smallest gesture can have a huge impact. That was reaffirmed to the San Antonio Spurs when the team held an open practice and community fair in Uvalde, Texas. It was 137 days ago that the small town, 88 miles southwest of downtown San Antonio, was the
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly taking “every legal course of action” to see how the video of Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole leaked, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. The Golden State Warriors are dealing with the fallout from the altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole in practice. The Athletic first reported
6:45 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Bradley Beal has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will miss the Wizards‘ preseason game at Charlotte on Monday night. The Wizards announced Beal’s status Sunday. Washington opens the regular season at Indiana on Oct. 19, so Beal has over a week to get himself cleared
Collin Sexton looks like a star and scores like a star. Now he’ll have to prove to the Utah Jazz that he can lead a team like a star. Imagine a childhood friend grows up to become the star player on your high school team. He’s named a McDonald’s All-American, then gets a scholarship to
The Chicago Bulls have a complementary mix of talent that could take them far in the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Bulls have bamboozled us before. Heading into the 2019-20 season, plenty were bullish on what the Bulls could do with a team led by Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. That team, in a Covid-shortened season,
2:53 PM ET NEW YORK — As the Brooklyn Nets embark on the 2022-23 campaign, they do so hoping they can change the narrative surrounding their team and put the focus back on the floor instead of making headlines off of it. “We want to erase everything that was said about our team the last
NBA League Pass (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Quinn Ewers goes Enter Sandman to lay Oklahoma’s season to rest in Red River by John Buhler Twitter reacts to bizarre 11-pitch Pete Fairbanks performance by Rylie Smith The NBA preseason is in full swing. Here’s how many games are left and where
7:32 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — As the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to integrate a new coach, rebound from one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history and maximize what’s left in LeBron James‘ brilliant career, they have reaffirmed their faith in Rob Pelinka to lead the franchise through it. Pelinka, the Lakers’
Texas completely destroyed Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown and Longhorn basketball great Kevin Durant just savaged Sooners head coach Brent Venables. Even if Texas football fans believed that the Longhorns were simply better than bitter rival Oklahoma, particularly with the return of quarterback Quinn Ewers to the field, they couldn’t have imagined what Red
2:19 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green offered a public apology and announced he will step away from the team indefinitely after an altercation on Wednesday between him and Jordan Poole. “I’m going to continue to stay away, as I’ve been away, and continue to do work on
TMZ released footage of the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole fight at practice, and NBA Twitter reacted to the clip. The focus of the NBA has been on the Golden State Warriors. Not just because they are the defending NBA champions, but because of the reported altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole during practice on Wednesday.
8:50 AM ET Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has suffered a left knee capsule sprain and bone bruise, the team announced. There’s relief that Suggs avoided a more serious injury, sources told ESPN. His timeline on a return will depend on response to treatment, the team said. Suggs was helped off the court and into
Russell Westbrook and Russell Wilson carry the same first name and initials, and now find themselves as centerpieces to horrible trades. There are a surprising number of ways one could connect Russell Wilson and Russell Westbrook. The two were both born in November of 1988. Both are nine-time All-Stars in their respective leagues. Both play
8:25 PM ET Associated Press PARIS — Top NBA draft prospect Victor Wembanyama will join France’s national team next month for a pair of World Cup qualifying games. The French federation made the announcement Friday. The 7-foot-3 Wembanyama is among 12 players selected for a road game at Lithuania on Nov. 11 and a home
Anthony Edwards didn’t make the 25-under-25 last season, a huge mistake on our part. Here’s what we missed and why we won’t miss again. It felt only appropriate that I write the profile for Anthony Edwards this year, considering I found myself in the uncomfortable position of having to defend our collective decision to leave
3:47 PM ET Ramona Shelburne Close ESPN Senior Writer Senior writer for ESPN.com Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 The Golden State Warriors are taking “every legal course of action” to discover how video of Draymond Green
LaMelo Ball has the talent to transform the Charlotte Hornets and take them to new heights. Can he keep making the subtle improvements it will take? Assuming LeBron James stays healthy most of this season, he’ll pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. It’s a select club, those few who at some
8:00 AM ET The LA Clippers enter the 2022-23 season — Year 4 of the Kawhi Leonard–Paul George era — with enormous expectations. They have a superstar two-way duo. They have perhaps the deepest roster in the league. They are loaded with veteran experience and interchangeable players at almost every position. And they have a
After news broke of a reported physical altercation between Golden State Warriors players Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, Twitter users shared memes. The regular season is just a matter of days away, and there is some drama brewing on the Golden State Warriors. Specifically, there was a physical altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole
11:30 PM ET OKLAHOMA CITY — The Adelaide 36ers, the seventh-place squad in Australia’s 10-team National Basketball League last season, boarded a 6 a.m. commercial flight on Sept. 28, when a few players sat in business class and the rest of the roster and staff squeezed into coach. The team made connections in Sydney and
As a rookie, Josh Giddey proved himself to be one of the best passers in the entire NBA. How good can he be as the Thunder roster around him improves? Few teams in modern NBA history have been as transparently focused on losing basketball games as the Oklahoma City Thunder. After four seasons of spinning
The Suns are in turmoil and Deandre Ayton has been a part of it. Can his new deal and new focus help quell the storm and get them back to championship contention? Deandre Ayton plays for the Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Suns have been owned by Robert Sarver for 17 years. That is a problem
4:46 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green apologized to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday morning for an altercation with Jordan Poole the day before, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. Green subsequently left the training facilities and is not expected back until Saturday. The Warriors are still in the process of
R.J. Barrett signed a four-year extension during the offseason with the Knicks and could be on the cusp of a breakout season. R.J. Barrett is no stranger to disrespect. As soon as he was drafted by the New York Knicks with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, it began. Because of the
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a budding star hiding in plain sight. Is this the year the rest of the NBA finally takes notice? Arguably no young player experiences a starker contrast in their standing among mainstream and diehard audiences than one Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. To more casual observers, Gilgeous-Alexander is seen as just another young player consuming
8:00 AM ET MIAMI — UDONIS HASLEM was vacationing in Orlando with his family this past July when he saw a black SUV pull up to his rental house. “My antenna goes up,” the Miami Heat veteran says of the moment. “A black SUV? I can’t see inside it? I told my kids, ‘Go in
As a rookie, Herb Jones was already one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA. And the versatile forward is just getting started. It’s generally a safe assumption that first-year NBA players will struggle on defense. As modern offenses create more space on the floor and use an increasingly wide range of set plays,
Scottie Barnes is entering his second year with the Toronto Raptors but you can already find traces of NBA legends in his versatile game. Start with the frame. 7-foot-3 wingspan. 6-foot-9 tall. 230 pounds. Low post strength and a stride that bursts like Usain Bolt. A constant commitment on defense. The possible comparisons and career
9:49 PM ET Golden State Warriors‘ All-Star Draymond Green threw a punch at teammate Jordan Poole at practice on Wednesday, sources told ESPN. The two players had been verbally sparring prior to some pushing, which escalated when Green took a swing and made contact with Poole, sources said. Team officials are reviewing the episode. Poole
The term unicorn is overused but it still fits for Jaren Jackson Jr. and he and his Memphis Grizzlies are ready to show you why. Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies is a man of many tastes. He is into high fashion and has music albums available for download. How many professional athletes balance such
3:46 PM ET As NBA executives consider the transformative impact 7-foot-4 French prospect Victor Wembanyama’s performance on Tuesday could impose on the NBA’s tanking and trade market this season, his agent insists that there’s no plan to listen to some team executives who suggest shutting down the projected No. 1 pick until the 2023 NBA
Victor Wembanyama and Scott Henderson faced off in a showcase of two top NBA Draft prospects. They were every bit as good as advertised. ESPN was likely hoping for something dramatic when they arranged to televise an exhibition game between the G League Ignite and the French team Metropolitans 92 — featuring a matchup between Scoot
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports The NBA’s most surprising team of last season also had the splashiest summer. How exciting will the Cavaliers be in their high-expectation encore? Things can change quickly in the NBA. Believe it or not, we are only about 2.5 years removed from then-Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein reaching out to
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The NBA was without its full slate of stars for much of last season, as a number of the league’s best players missed extensive time. But the start of the 2022-23 season marks a fresh start and return to the court for those stars. Marquee veterans such as Kawhi Leonard
The Miami Heat have inked Tyler Herro to a multi-year deal, but was it worth giving the Sixth Man of the Year that kind of raise? When the Miami Heat drafted Tyler Herro, the expectation was that he would join the legacy of sharpshooters that roamed South Beach. So far, he’s done quite well with
5:30 PM ET As Robert Sarver prepares to sell the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, investment bank officials who have managed the sales of professional sports franchises told ESPN that they expect the transaction’s final price to set a record. “It’ll be the highest price ever paid for an NBA team,” one
Desmond Bane may not get the headlines that Ja Morant receives. All he does is make the Grizzlies’ offense more dangerous, and continue to prove those that wrote him off wrong. In case you didn’t know, Desmond Bane is underrated. Even when he is seemingly appropriately rated, that rating is wrong. It’s not because of
Nikola Jokic alone makes the Denver Nuggets a fringe contender. But a healthy and productive Michael Porter Jr. could make them much more. Two years ago, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić won league MVP after averaging 26 points, 11 rebounds and 8+ assists on a 57/39/87 slash line. Last year he won the award again,
12:09 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Milwaukee Bucks are slight favorites to win the 2023 NBA championship, and Luka Doncic was tapped as most likely to win the 2023 Most Valuable Player award in NBA.com’s annual survey of all 30 of the league’s general managers. The 21st edition of the survey was released Tuesday and
LeBron James was pondering the idea of his college eligibility if he played another sport and Ohio State AD Gene Smith made sure to shoot his shot. Ohio State football didn’t look like it needed much help this season in Week 4 as they ran through Wisconsin like a hot knife through butter in a
Any honest evaluation of Tyler Herro requires looking at his production compared to expectations, but also how much he’s actually developed. Most NBA players under 25 are somewhat difficult to project and build safe expectations around. Tyler Herro is a perfect example of the complications that come with projecting the talent of young players. Part
3:16 AM ET SEATTLE — After waiting 476 days to return to NBA action, Kawhi Leonard needed only 15 seconds to launch and drill a 3-pointer again. In his first game in 15-plus months, Leonard began his return to the court by hitting his first shot from behind the arc before finishing with 11 points
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12:14 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons made his long-awaited debut with his new team on Monday after almost a year and a half away from the game. After pushing for a trade out of Philadelphia while citing mental health concerns and then dealing with offseason back surgery, Simmons said he
NBA preseason stats are notoriously unreliable especially if there is only a game or two to draw from. But there are still important things to watch for. Just a handful of teams began their preseason schedules over the weekend and only the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards have actually played multiple games. But even
1:37 AM ET ESPN News Services The Phoenix Suns lost their preseason opener at home to a hot-shooting Adelaide 36ers team from Australia’s National Basketball League 134-124 on Sunday night. The Suns, whose last game at Footprint Center was a 33-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, became
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders Which NBA players are on the verge of a breakout season? Last year, it was third-year point guard Ja Morant, who increased his scoring to average to 27.4 points per game from 19.1 during his sophomore season and led the upstart Memphis Grizzlies to the league’s second-best record. Morant set
6:28 PM ET Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro — the 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year — has agreed to a four-year, $130 million contract extension, his agents, Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Sunday. After averaging 20.7 points a season ago, Herro, 22, lands an annual salary worth
Sep 30, 2022 Tim BontempsESPN The Boston Celtics agreed to a one-year, fully guaranteed contract with veteran forward Blake Griffin on Friday, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Griffin will provide Boston with some depth in the frontcourt after forward Danilo Gallinari tore an ACL last month playing for Italy in FIBA World Cup qualifying, and
5:57 PM ET TEMECULA, Calif. — The day after last season mercifully came to an end for the Los Angeles Lakers, Russell Westbrook was asked about LeBron James and Anthony Davis repeatedly stating over the course of the year their intent to “let Russ be Russ” in pursuit of team success. “Yeah,” Westbrook replied bluntly
5:19 PM ET Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams has agreed to a two-year, $25.2 million contract extension, tying him to the franchise through the 2024-2025 season, his agent, Darren Matsubara of Wasserman, told ESPN on Saturday. Adams, 29, was entering the final year of his deal, and now is under contract for three years and
Dear NBA teams looking into Ime Udoka as a potential head coach candidate despite his year-long Celtics suspension, please don’t. Ime Udoka won’t be the Celtics head coach for the 2022-23 season and it feels unlikely he’ll return as their coach even after his one-year suspension for workplace misconduct is over. That doesn’t mean he
12:49 PM ET New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. has agreed to a two-year, $21.6 million contract extension, his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN on Saturday. The extension, tying Nance to the franchise through the 2024-2025 season, allows him to join the Pelicans’ key players — including Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram
6:25 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — With the Los Angeles Lakers‘ preseason debut fast approaching, the first signs of new coach Darvin Ham’s impact on the team are beginning to reveal themselves. For starters, Ham said Friday that guard Kendrick Nunn and center Damian Jones have joined LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports As the 2022-23 NBA season rapidly approaches, we take a look at some of the players who are especially hoping to stay healthy and on the court this year. The old adage “availability is the best ability” holds a lot of truth in the NBA. While helpful and wise words from
5:13 PM ET The independent law firm probe into Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka found that he used crude language in his dialogue with a female subordinate prior to the start of an improper workplace relationship with the woman, an element that significantly factored into the severity of his one-year suspension, sources told ESPN. Those