10:58 AM ET After architecting the franchise’s first NBA championship in 50 years, Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst has agreed to a long-term contract extension, he told ESPN on Friday. Horst had one year left on his contract, and his new deal — finalized Friday morning with his agent, Brian Elfus, and team officials
News
3:04 PM ET ESPN News Services Ben Simmons, who has cleared health and safety protocols and is eligible to rejoin the Philadelphia 76ers, will not play in Friday night’s preseason finale, the team announced. Simmons’ absence is listed by the team as “reconditioning” and he did not travel with the team to Detroit for the
4:27 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will miss the start of the regular season because of a right foot injury that required offseason surgery, Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said on Thursday. Williamson received scans on Wednesday, and after reviewing the scans with Dr.
11:48 PM ET Kevin Durant said he wishes “none of this stuff would happen” but he isn’t upset that Kyrie Irving is not with the Brooklyn Nets. Durant said he has not spoken to Irving since the Nets decided on Tuesday that their starting point guard will not practice or play with the team until
8:00 AM ET FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES before tipoff at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook take the court for a joint workout that Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy guides. “We’ve been tied at the hip, pretty much, since we made the acquisition,” James says of Westbrook at media day. “We’re
1:10 AM ET Kyrie Irving said Wednesday night he still hopes to return and play for the Brooklyn Nets but that “this is about my life and what I am choosing to do,” as he explained his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Irving, speaking on Instagram Live, said he is neither pro-vaccine nor
3:33 PM ET Associated Press CAMDEN, N.J. — This much is known: Ben Simmons is back in Philadelphia. But there’s no clear sign yet the All-Star guard is set to rescind his trade request and actually play for the 76ers. Even coach Doc Rivers — publicly, at least — says he’s unsure of the status
8:00 AM ET Behold, the top 10 NBA teams in our 10th annual League Pass Rankings. Reminder: These are watchability scores, not power rankings! We score teams, 1-10, in five categories: ZEITGEIST: Do actual humans care about this team? STAR/HIGHLIGHT POTENTIAL: Do you stick around games, at the expense of sleep and loved ones, because
2:52 AM ET Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons passed his physical and held a meeting with the team’s front office on Tuesday but remains ineligible to participate in team-related activities until Friday at the earliest due to NBA health and safety protocols, sources told ESPN. Simmons met with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl
7:04 PM ET Associated Press BOSTON — The Boston Celtics say center Al Horford has tested positive for COVID-19. Horford is currently in isolation and didn’t travel with the team for its two-game exhibition road trip to Florida, which includes games in Orlando on Wednesday and Miami on Friday. He is the second Celtics player
11:12 AM ET Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the Brooklyn Nets until he is eligible to become a full participant under local COVID-19 vaccination requirements, general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday. “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to
10:21 PM ET After staying away for the first two weeks of the preseason, 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons reported to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Monday night, sources told ESPN. As the Sixers played the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons took a COVID-19 test in the arena, sources said. The initial test starts several
8:00 AM ET SAN DIEGO — Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Paul Millsap and Joe Harris were all trying their best, but this was not their night. On the plush, manicured lawn of Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai’s picturesque La Jolla, California, home, the Nets’ four veterans were no match for Tsai’s two sons at bocce
11:29 AM ET Discussions have gained momentum on All-Star Ben Simmons returning to the Philadelphia 76ers, likely as soon as this week, sources told ESPN on Monday. Philadelphia management and coach Doc Rivers progressed in talks over the weekend with Simmons’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, on a resolution for Simmons to report to
5:06 PM ET Kyrie Irving returned to practice Sunday, but the Brooklyn Nets sound like a team coming to grips with the realization that its starting point guard will not play in home games for the foreseeable future. While the situation around Irving’s availability for home games due to New York City’s COVID-19 protocols could
1:57 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN DETROIT, Mich. — Ben Wallace is an NBA Hall of Famer, NBA champion and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. Now the 47-year-old can add basketball operations and team engagement advisor for the Detroit Pistons to his resume. The Pistons announced Friday that Wallace has been hired in this role
2:11 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Udonis Haslem and Bam Adebayo were yelling at each other during practice Sunday, which was a critical step for the Heat. It meant things were normal again. Their captain is back. Haslem — the NBA’s oldest active player at 41– returned to practice Sunday, joining his team for
12:03 PM ET Associated Press GREENSBORO, N.C. — Former NBA guard J.R. Smith is set to make his debut next week as a golfer for North Carolina A&T. The school announced that Smith will play his first collegiate tournament Monday and Tuesday at the Phoenix Invitational hosted by Elon. The tournament will take place at
8:43 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Ontario’s major indoor professional sports teams have been given the green light to host capacity crowds. The NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors will be able to play in front of full arenas when their seasons start this month, Ontario Sports Minister
4:38 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has long been an admirer of LeBron James, but he added an extra layer of praise to his famous foe’s accolades in advance of Friday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers. When asked what it’s been like to play against James for
7:00 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will be able to practice at the team’s facility in Brooklyn, sources confirmed to ESPN, but still won’t be able to play in home games due to the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The change in Irving’s status is due to the city determining that the
8:00 AM ET With less than two weeks until the start of the regular season, the uncertainty around Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving continues to swirl. The Nets listed Irving, 29, as ineligible to play in Friday’s preseason game against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. New York City’s COVID-19 protocols allow only NBA players with
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders Which NBA teams and players could disrupt the races for home-court advantage and awards during the 2021-22 season? After the New York Knicks‘ surprising run to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference last season, could head coach Tom Thibodeau’s crew pull off that feat again in an improved East?
7:41 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets listed Kyrie Irving as ineligible to play in their home preseason game Friday, another strong indication he has not met New York’s vaccination requirement. Irving has not been with the Nets for any of their practices in New York, where professional athletes are required
1:50 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Los Angeles became the third NBA city to pass a sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandate that will impact its NBA teams, joining New York and San Francisco. The ordinance, which was both passed by the Los Angeles City Council and was signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti Wednesday, will go into effect
10:56 AM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Eighteen former NBA players have been charged with defrauding the league’s health and welfare benefit plan out of about $4 million, according to an indictment Thursday in New York. Federal prosecutors planned a news conference for noon ET Thursday to describe the case that was brought in
11:00 PM ET PHOENIX — Trevor Ariza will be sidelined about two months after having surgery on his right ankle, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Wednesday. Ariza, one of 11 new players added in the offseason, underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure Wednesday. He has missed most of training camp because of the ankle. The Lakers
5:57 PM ET Kevin Durant said he’s still envisioning Kyrie Irving being a part of the Nets’ championship pursuit but he also acknowledges that it will be “hard to duplicate what he brings” if he can’t play home games in Brooklyn. Irving missed his second straight day of practice in Brooklyn as New York City’s
12:09 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Pau Gasol announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, ending a career that lasted more than two decades and earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain’s national team. The 41-year-old had already announced his farewell from international basketball in August after Spain lost
8:59 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Brian Windhorst Close ESPN Senior Writer ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books The Brooklyn Nets remain unclear on All-Star guard Kyrie Irving‘s ultimate intentions to get vaccinated and
2:34 PM ET Kyrie Irving did not practice with the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday as the point guard is unable to practice or play in New York under the city’s COVID-19 vaccination protocols. After practicing with the team last week at training camp in San Diego, Irving did not attend the team’s first
12:41 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Brooklyn Nets are being tapped as the heavy favorites to win this season’s championship by the league’s general managers, and star Kevin Durant is picked as the slight favorite to win his second Most Valuable Player award. In the annual survey of all 30 general managers released Tuesday by
2:44 AM ET Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins on Monday explained his decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine, noting that he felt “forced” to do so in order to continue his NBA career. “The only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA,” Wiggins said after the Warriors’ preseason opener against
10:52 AM ET The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have agreed to a reduction in pay of 1/91.6th of a player’s salary for each game an unvaccinated player misses because of local COVID-19 vaccine mandates, sources told ESPN, a decision that stands to impact Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving. The decision on a
8:00 AM ET With NBA opening night just over two weeks away, teams are starting to construct their rosters and determine which players will be healthy for the start of the regular season. Several top players were sidelined by injuries in 2020-21 — Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard,
4:10 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins received a COVID-19 vaccination and will be eligible to play in home games this season. Warriors coach Steve Kerr made the announcement following Sunday’s practice. “Andrew got vaccinated,” Kerr said. “He just told me today that he was fine with us acknowledging it
5:42 PM ET Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was not wearing his normal No. 45 jersey at practice Saturday. Instead, Mitchell wore No. 22 to pay tribute to Utah Utes football players Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan. “I wanted to pay my respects,” Mitchell, entering his fifth season with the Jazz, said after the practice,
6:43 PM ET SAN DIEGO — Kevin Durant celebrated his 33rd birthday on Wednesday in San Diego complete with birthday cake and the Brooklyn Nets‘ rookies serenading the star. Now in his 15th season, Durant says he is “growing every single day” and understands the game more as he adapts and evolves to the changes
6:26 PM ET The NBA has reached a 95% vaccination threshold of its players, reflecting a steady rise since the opening of training camps this week, league sources told ESPN on Thursday. That uptick — which includes players who’ve minimally received one vaccination shot, sources said — comes as unvaccinated players prepare for losses of
7:36 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Nineteen seasons into his NBA career and with a slew of accomplishments to show for his tenure, Carmelo Anthony‘s résumé would suggest an automatic featured role for this season’s Los Angeles Lakers. However, Anthony, 37, is open to whatever his new team asks of him as he continues
3:40 PM ET Tim Bontemps Brian Windhorst Close ESPN Senior Writer ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books The Philadelphia 76ers did not pay Ben Simmons the $8.25 million — 25% of his contract — that he was owed Friday and placed that money into an escrow
8:12 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said Thursday that he does not feel like it’s his place to push the COVID-19 vaccine on teammate Andrew Wiggins. Speaking for the first time since training camp began, Green made it clear that even as a leader of the Warriors, he is
12:25 AM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — As exhausted as LeBron James appeared after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ second day of training camp — plopped down on a chair in the interview room, sneakers unlaced and sweat dripping from his forehead — the Lakers star explained Thursday that it actually was a sign of fire
6:29 PM ET Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid called the situation with his disgruntled co-star Ben Simmons “disappointing” and “borderline kind of disrespectful” to the rest of the team. The comments came following a report by The Athletic that Simmons feels his partnership with Embiid has “run its course.” Simmons has yet to report to
7:52 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Instant replay of out-of-bounds violations in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime of NBA games this season will be initiated by a coach’s challenge rather than by referees. The NBA’s Board of Governors approved the change Wednesday on a one-year trial basis. Under the previous
1:06 AM ET METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and team officials revealed the teams’ long-term succession plans in detail for the first time on Wednesday, telling The Times-Picayune and WVUE-TV that they would be sold with the goal of keeping the teams in New Orleans and distributing the proceeds
6:49 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Following their first official practice together as teammates, Russell Westbrook dubbed Anthony Davis as “the ultimate weapon” and vowed to maximize the big man’s impact for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. “He’s one of a kind,” Westbrook said of Davis on Wednesday. “There’s nobody like him who
8:03 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA informed its teams Tuesday night that it is finalizing an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association on a set of health and safety protocols for the upcoming regular season, according to information in a memo obtained by ESPN. The protocols will require unvaccinated players to be under
7:17 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson is starting to look more like his old basketball self amid his rehabilitation from a torn right Achilles injury. Participating in his first official team practice since suffering the injury in an offseason workout Nov. 18, 2020, Thompson knocked down shots from all
3:56 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — LeBron James said he initially felt “skepticism” regarding the COVID-19 vaccine but ultimately decided to get it for the well-being of himself, his family and his team. “You’re always trying to figure out ways that you can just be available and protect one another and put yourself in
9:51 AM ET Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert has a stress fracture in his back, but there’s optimism that it could only be a minor setback and he could return sometime around the start of the season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday. LeVert, who was traded to Indiana from Brooklyn as part of
7:37 PM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — It’s been a little more than two months since the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2020-21 NBA championship, but star Giannis Antetokounmpo still wants to maintain the chip on his shoulder that helped bring them that title. “Are we satisfied? I’m not satisfied. I’m not even close to being
11:43 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — Zion Williamson suffered a broken right foot during the summer but should be available for the regular season, New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said Monday. During his remarks at media day, Griffin said Williamson injured the foot early in the offseason
8:00 AM ET Media days kick off Monday, officially ushering in the start of training camps around the NBA. The dust has finally settled from free agency, and September training camp kickoffs will mark the first normal schedule in two years. The biggest news surrounding training camp comes out of Philadelphia, where Ben Simmons has
12:16 PM ET Four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili — one of the greatest international players in basketball history — is returning to the San Antonio Spurs as a special advisor to basketball operations, sources told ESPN. Ginobili, 44, will work in a player-centric role focusing on the on-and-off court development of a young Spurs roster,
4:38 PM ET Associated Press PHOENIX — Suns guard Devin Booker will miss the start of training camp after being placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The Suns said Sunday that the two-time All-Star won’t participate in Monday’s media day. The team said it would have no further updates until he’s ready for
2:36 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams has a severe left ankle sprain that could cause him to miss the start of the season. The news announced Friday is a blow for a team hoping to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference after some major offseason moves. The Bulls
2:47 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN GREENBURGH, N.Y. — New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry said Friday afternoon that the organization — including all players, coaches and staff — is fully vaccinated, meaning the Knicks will have no issues with New York City’s vaccine mandate this season. “I think it’s a credit to our players,
3:55 PM ET Rui Hachimura will miss the start of Washington Wizards training camp because of personal reasons, the team announced Saturday. The Wizards announced Hachimura’s excused absence and said there will be “further updates when appropriate.” The Wizards have high expectations for the forward, who is projected to start and will be counted on
6:03 PM ET Lawrence Frank reiterated that Kawhi Leonard has a “significant rehab” from his ACL injury and that “no one knows” the time frame for when the LA Clippers star will return and whether he will play this season. Leonard underwent surgery to repair a partial tear in his right ACL on July 13
8:08 PM ET ESPN News Services GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The NBA has denied Andrew Wiggins‘ request for a vaccination exemption, leaving the Golden State Warriors swingman ineligible to play home games until he meets San Francisco’s vaccination requirement. The ruling was announced Friday hours after the New York Knicks said their entire roster is vaccinated,
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders NBArank 2021 has reached its thrilling finish, with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant edging out the Milwaukee Bucks‘ reigning NBA Finals MVP and champion Giannis Antetokounmpo for the No. 1 spot in Friday’s countdown of the top five NBA players for the upcoming season. Overall, there was a ton of
Sep 23, 2021 Our NBArank countdown is back for its 11th season. And after unveiling players Nos. 100-51, Nos. 50-26 and Nos. 25-6 throughout the week, we’ve finally reached the top five. We’ve already stated the cases for each superstar, but who was voted in as the league’s best player? Will LeBron James retain his
7:30 PM ET LOS ANGELES — When the curtain comes up on the new NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers expect all of their performers to be on stage. “On opening night when we play the Golden State Warriors, all of the players that are currently signed on our roster, on that night, will be
2:20 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins said earlier this year that the only way he would get a COVID-19 vaccine is if he were forced to do so. Now, as the start of the 2021-22 season nears, the organization is dealing with an ongoing headache behind the scenes because
8:00 AM ET Our NBArank countdown is back for its 11th season. Which players are beginning their ascent up the league’s hierarchy? Who finished just shy of a place among the top five superstars in the NBA? To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: Kevin
3:25 PM ET Gersson Rosas is out as the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ president of basketball operations. In a statement announcing the move Wednesday, team owner Glen Taylor said the Wolves “remain committed to building a winning team that our fans and city can be proud of.” Minnesota hired Rosas, a former Houston Rockets executive, in May
8:00 AM ET Our NBArank countdown is back for its 11th season. Which players are beginning their ascent up the league’s hierarchy? Who is on the verge of breaking into the superstar tier? To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: Kevin Durant vs. James Harden,
4:28 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN If his team had to practice today, Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks said some players would be unable to participate because of New York City’s vaccine mandate. “Regarding if they could play today, I can’t comment on who could play and so forth,” Marks said Tuesday in the team’s
9:31 AM ET Associated Press JJ Redick, the sharpshooter who was The Associated Press Player of the Year at Duke before embarking on a 15-season NBA career, announced his retirement Tuesday. Redick, 37, played with six NBA teams — the Magic, Clippers, 76ers, Pelicans, Bucks and Mavericks. He averaged 12.8 points in 940 regular-season games,
11:49 AM ET Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons will not report to the opening of training camp next week and intends to never play another game for the franchise, sources told ESPN. Simmons hasn’t spoken to the team since a late-August meeting when he communicated this message to Sixers officials. Simmons is clearly aware of
8:00 AM ET Our NBArank countdown is back for its 11th season. Which rookies are making their debuts on our annual list? Which young stars are beginning their ascent up the league’s hierarchy? Which players dropped after disappointing 2020-21 campaigns? Here’s who made the cut as we break down the league’s top 100. To get
8:16 PM ET Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson is making “good progress” in his rehabilitation from a right Achilles injury and will participate in “controlled drills” during training camp, but his return within the season will be made at a later date, the team announced Monday. Thompson, who tore his left ACL during Game
Sep 15, 2021 Andre SnellingsESPN The storylines this season are almost endless. Giannis Antetokounmpo is on a career path rivaling the best players in NBA history, including both “His Airness” as well as “King James,” yet somehow no one seems to realize it. I’ve been predicting and noting his progress for years, but the majority
12:08 PM ET William Ricks In a hot real estate market countrywide, Orlando, Florida, home prices continue to surge. That is unless, apparently, the home was customized for a 7-foot-1 Hall of Fame center, 15-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat — Shaquille O’Neal, whose Orlando-area mansion was
2:26 PM ET William Ricks Portland Trail Blazers guard, and hip hop artist, Damian Lillard, who performs as Dame D.O.L.L.A. released the new music video for his song “Him Duncan” on Friday. 2 Related The title of this song is a play on NBA legend Tim Duncan’s name but isn’t the only reference he uses.
8:15 AM ET LA Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer initially was content to play at Staples Center — in the same building as the Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings — when he bought the franchise for $2 billion in 2014. But within a year, Ballmer said he realized the Clippers needed to
9:28 PM ET Associated Press DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks signed free agent Frank Ntilikina on Thursday, adding the guard picked one spot before their selection of Dennis Smith Jr. in the top 10 of the 2017 draft. Ntilikina spent four years with the New York Knicks, who drafted him eighth overall four years ago.
2:22 PM ET Associated Press ATHENS, Greece — NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was in Greece for a meeting with the country’s prime minister Thursday and a special ceremony to bestow Greek citizenship on his mother, Veronica, and younger brother Alex. Antetokounmpo, who led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship in July, attended the ceremony
9:11 PM ET Brianna Williams Dennis Schroder made headlines when he signed with the Boston Celtics, but it wasn’t about the money he gained. It was for the money he lost. Last season, the guard turned down a four-year, $84 million contract extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers in order to become an unrestricted
6:40 PM ET ESPN News Services The Milwaukee Bucks have named Lisa Byington as the team’s new television play-by-play announcer on Bally Sports Wisconsin, making her the first woman to handle full-time TV play-by-play duties for a major men’s professional sports team. Byington replaces longtime Bucks announcer Jim Paschke, who retired after the 2020-21 season
5:15 PM ET Eric GomezMexico writer The NBA G League announced its first Latin American expansion team, the Mexico City Capitanes, will debut this November amid a format change to the competition’s schedule. Because of concerns stemming from international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Capitanes will play their home games in Fort Worth, Texas.
1:37 PM ET Baxter Holmes Close ESPN Senior Writer Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, the Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times. Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined
4:29 PM ET Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has agreed to a four-year, $92 million contract extension, his agent, Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports, confirmed to the Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears Tuesday. The deal, which was first reported by The Athletic, includes a player option for the fourth year in 2025-26, his agent told ESPN.
2:24 PM ET The Houston Rockets and John Wall have agreed to work together in an attempt to find a trade destination for the veteran point guard, as the franchise is committed to moving forward with Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green as its starting backcourt, sources told ESPN. The commitment to the 20-year-old Porter
8:40 PM ET Tory BarronESPN Editor Close Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports. The Met Gala, which typically happens on the first Monday in May, was canceled in 2020 due
4:50 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Former NBA All-Star and Slam Dunk Contest champion Cedric Ceballos tweeted Monday that he’d been moved out of isolation and was “COVID-19 free” but was still in the intensive care unit and dealing with several things relating to the virus. Thanking those wishing him well in recent days, Ceballos said
After receiving approval from the Canadian government, the Raptors are back to playing home games in Toronto; this latest Raptors news is sending a positive message to “We The North” faithful. Their first preseason game at home is against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 4. The first home regular season game is versus the Washington
11:46 PM ET Associated Press Nine teams passed on Paul Pierce in the 1998 NBA draft, and if you think he doesn’t remember each and every one of them, then you don’t know Paul Pierce. The newly inducted Basketball Hall of Famer called out by name — in order — the teams with the first
5:20 PM ET Indiana Pacers guard Edmond Sumner tore his left Achilles tendon during an offseason workout on Thursday and will be out indefinitely, the team announced. Sumner, 25, was a second-round draft pick in 2017. He played the most games of his NBA career last season for the Pacers, averaging 7.5 points in 16
4:46 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — The Raptors have gotten approval from the Canadian government to play games at their home arena this season, a team spokesperson said Friday. Toronto played last season in Tampa, Florida, because of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not clear whether the team will be allowed
On Thursday, the Connecticut Sun are playing against the Los Angeles Sparks inside the Staples Center tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET; WNBA expert picks are available. This contest can be watched live on NBATV. The Sun are projected to beat the Sparks by at least 10 points. They are 9.5-point favorites. In the previous ten
7:19 PM ET Restricted free agent forward Jarred Vanderbilt has agreed to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a new three-year, $13.8 million contract, his agent Kevin Bradbury of Rep1 Sports tells ESPN. Vanderbilt, 22, played his first injury-free season since his junior year of high school for Minnesota last season. After playing only 28
According to recent Cavaliers rumors, the Eastern Conference team is interested in trading for Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons. Mark Stein insinuated on Tuesday that Lauri Markkanen could in due course swap teams with Simmons during the 2021-22 NBA season. Of course, Cleveland drafted Evan Mobley third overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, and
3:35 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to trade Marc Gasol, a 2024 second-round pick and cash to the Memphis Grizzlies, who plan to work on waiver and release to allow Gasol to remain in Spain with his family, sources told ESPN. The Lakers will save approximately $10 million in salary and luxury tax
According to MyBookie oddsmakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves are favored to trade for Ben Simmons. The sportsbook is now displaying +225 odds, regarding the team trading for the 25-year-old point guard from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sacramento Kings have the second-best odds (+400) of trading for the three-time All-Star, followed by the Golden State Warriors (+650)
3:36 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN A group of former New Orleans Pelicans players is making donations to the communities in the areas of Southeast Louisiana affected by Hurricane Ida last month, with Jrue and Lauren Holiday leading the charge. The Holidays, Langston Galloway, Jahlil Okafor and Frank Jackson have committed to sending four truckloads of
According to oddsmakers via Bovada, the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers are favored to meet in the 2022 NBA Finals; the exact outcome odds are available. This potential matchup has +380 odds of occurring. Ranking second, the Golden State Warriors have high odds of reaching next season’s NBA Finals. A Nets-Warriors matchup shows +800
8:24 PM ET When DeAndre Jordan signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, he came as part of a package deal with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, with the two megastars both signing for less than max contracts to preserve cap space to sign the former All-Star center that summer. Two years into the four-year,
8:00 AM ET Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers remain at an impasse, as the two sides have been since Philadelphia was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks in June. Simmons, who is under contract for four more seasons, would like to be traded. The 76ers would like to
Free agent center Harry Giles has agreed to a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 2020-21 NBA season, the center averaged 2.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and nearly one assist per game in 38 games played. Giles shot 43.3 percent from the field last season and 34.8 percent from three-point range.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love celebrated his 33rd birthday on Tuesday with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kate Bock. Earlier this year on January 30th, Bock’s 33rd birthday, Love proposed to her. She announced yes to the general public on Instagram. His Canadian fiancée made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2013. On Bock’s Instagram, she shared
8:00 AM ET THEY STOOD SIDE to side in the center circle, waiting for referee Joey Crawford to loft the ball in the air to kick off the 2004 NBA Finals. On one side was Shaquille O’Neal, the gargantuan almost myth of a man, 7-foot-1 and some 330 pounds of pure power and force. And
According to oddsmakers at Bovada, the Philadelphia 76ers are the frontrunners to retain their point guard, drastically altering Ben Simmons’ trade odds for the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season. Philadelphia have +200 odds of keeping the three-time All-Star—the best odds available. Now, what’s to say the 76ers refuse to trade him before training camp and decide
9:37 PM ET ESPN News Services CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers signed point guard Kevin Pangos to a two-year deal, his agency announced Wednesday on Twitter. The contract is worth $3.5 million, agent Zach Kurtin of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Pangos’ first-year salary of $1.67 million is fully guaranteed. The 28-year-old Canadian spent the
7:09 AM ET IN HIS 30 YEARS in the spotlight, Chris Webber has rarely allowed anyone outside his circle to know exactly who the real Chris Webber is. It’s not surprising. Despite a decorated career — first as a high school All-American, then as a member of the Fab Five at Michigan, a five-time NBA
In Wednesday night’s WNBA games, the Phoenix Mercury are playing against the Atlanta Dream and the Minnesota Lynx are facing the Las Vegas Aces; free WNBA picks today are available. All table odds were retrieved from Bovada. The Mercury-Dream matchup begins at 7 p.m. ET inside the Gateway Center Arena. Phoenix are nine-point favorites. For
Varese vs. Sassari is the 2021 Italy Super Cup matchup, and the game begins Wednesday, Sept. 8th at 1 p.m. EST. According to oddsmakers at Bet365, Sassari are 4.5-point favorites over Varese in tomorrow’s thriller inside Enerxenia Arena. The total is also set at 166.5. Additionally, Sassari have a projected first-half spread of 2.5. Yesterday,
10-time All-Star and retired Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce was fired from his ESPN analyst job earlier in May. After Pierce was caught filming strippers at a house party during an Instagram live stream while drunk and high on drugs, that was the final straw for the sports network. Leading up to this event, the
Free agent forward Stanley Johnson is signing a contract with the Chicago Bulls. In the 2020-21 NBA season, the 25-year-old averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 61 games played on the Toronto Raptors. This was an improvement over his 2.4 points-per-game average in the 2019-20 season. Shooting-wise, he averaged a
6:22 PM ET Free-agent forward Alize Johnson has agreed on a two-year, $3.6 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, his agent, George Langberg, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. The loss of Thaddeus Young and Lauri Markkanen this offseason created a need for frontcourt depth and an opportunity for Johnson to crack the Bulls’ rotation.
NBA executives are discussing the possibility of awarding forfeited draft picks to various competitors, such as top contenders. The goal here is to help struggling young players. Similar to the new draft lottery system, this will open the door to many changes—whether positive or negative for some teams—across the league. Needless to say, it will
8:00 AM ET After electing a star-studded Class of 2020 — led by NBA legends Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and the late Kobe Bryant — the Basketball Hall of Fame will officially enshrine two classes in 2021. The full Class of 2020 was unveiled on April 4, 2020. The nine new members of the Basketball
Per sources, the Brooklyn Nets have traded center DeAndre Jordan, four second-round draft picks and $5.78 million to the Detroit Pistons for Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya. The Pistons are planning to work out a contract buyout for the remaining two-years, $19.7 million owed to the 33-year-old. He was set to earn $9,881,598 next season
On April 15, 2021, Arizona state legislators passed House Bill 2772, ratifying the legalization of sports betting for retail and online access. Governor Doug Ducey signed the bill into law for gambling expansion within the state. For those interested, scheduled sign-ups for sportsbooks are available. The sports betting law allows a maximum of 20 sportsbooks
Regarding the mounting Ben Simmons trade rumors across the NBA, Joel Embiid has finally broke his silence. “I love playing with Ben,” Embiid posted on Twitter. “Stats don’t lie. He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done. It’s on me personally.” That last part was a surprising comment. “I hope everyone
1:28 PM ET Bryson Warren, the No. 14 basketball prospect in ESPN’s Class of 2023, has signed with Overtime Elite, the league told ESPN on Thursday. Warren is the eighth five-star recruit to sign with the upstart league. Considered one of the top guard prospects in the class, Warren shunned offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas,
12:53 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Memphis Grizzlies agreed to trade forward Juancho Hernangomez to the Boston Celtics on Friday in exchange for guards Carsen Edwards and Kris Dunn, as well as a swap of 2026 second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal cannot be completed until September 15, when Dunn can be
Power forward Paul Millsap has agreed to a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The 15-year veteran was also considering the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls as well. In the 2020-21 NBA season, the four-time All-Star averaged nine points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 56 games played. Last season,
5:07 PM ET After retiring with heart concerns five months ago, seven-time All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge is returning to the Brooklyn Nets on a one-year, $2.6 million deal, his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Friday. Aldridge, 36, has been medically cleared by a number of doctors — including those both independent
Marcus Garrett has signed a two-way deal with the Miami Heat. On July 30, 2021, he originally signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the organization. After playing two games in the 2021 California Classic Summer League, the point guard averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 blocks and a 77.8 field goal percentage. He led
4:35 PM ET DeAndre Jordan intends to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers upon completion of a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, sources told ESPN on Friday. Jordan was traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Pistons earlier Friday along with four second-round picks and $5.78 million for Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya, sources said.
Seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge has been medically cleared to play for the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season. The 36-year-old retired from the Brooklyn Nets in April after dealing with an irregular heartbeat. On April 15, 2021, the player left a comment after his retirement: “Though I’m better now, what I felt with my heart that night
8:00 AM ET All of them left the Lakers. And all five of them came back to Los Angeles. One of them is back for a second time. One took a decade to return. Three of them were champions with the franchise. All of them had unfinished business in L.A. Lakers vice president of basketball
12:03 PM ET Brian Windhorst Close ESPN Senior Writer ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books Tim Bontemps Unvaccinated NBA players will have lockers as far away as possible from their vaccinated teammates and will have to eat, fly and ride buses in different sections as part
According to oddsmakers via Bovada, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites (-250) to retain five-time All-Star Kevin Love. The Brooklyn Nets have the second-best odds (+800) of trading for the 32-year-old player, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers (+1000) and Philadelphia 76ers (+1000). Five days ago, Jeff Schwartz, Love’s agent, said he has no interest
6:25 PM ET Paul Millsap has agreed to a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent, DeAngelo Simmons, told ESPN on Thursday. Millsap becomes the latest former All-Star to join the Nets over the past few seasons, joining Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Millsap’s four All-Star appearances bring Brooklyn’s total up
BetMGM has announced a partnership with Casino del Mar at La Concha Resort in Puerto Rico. The resort is located in Condado, San Juan. This is a market access agreement, according to sources. This partnership is also subject to regulatory approvals. What does this intriguing information mean for Puerto Ricans? BetMGM has now expanded its
(Image courtesy of ATP) The world’s best basketball league gets back underway on Tuesday, October 19 – there are some gems of games in store for fans during week-1, and the Basketball Insiders team has been quick to action too, scouring sportsbooks to present our early bird NBA betting picks! Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks get
7:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The best players in the NBA are elite for a reason. The Milwaukee Bucks‘ two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is one of the premier two-way players in the league. Dallas Mavericks phenom Luka Doncic is among the most dangerous players in the world at just 22 years old. Still, even the
The Philadelphia 76ers have been working to trade three-time All-Star Ben Simmons. Thus far, they have been unsuccessful with negotiations, considering Daryl Morey, the team’s president of basketball operations, and general manager Elton Brand are demanding a king’s ransom for their point guard. Per sources, now they are aiming to trade Tyrese Maxey along with
11:49 AM ET Joel Embiid has denied a reported “rift” with 76ers teammate Ben Simmons and said Wednesday in a series of tweets that he loves playing with the embattled star in Philadelphia. “Stop using my name to push people’s agendas,” Embiid tweeted. “I love and hate drama. I love playing with Ben. Stats don’t
6:27 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA informed teams that recently issued laws in both New York City and San Francisco about vaccine requirements will be enforced — including for players — for members of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption from
Per oddsmakers at MyBookie, the Sacramento Kings are still the favorites to trade for three-time All-Star Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers. Their current odds are +250. According to sources, Simmons actually has no interest of playing for the Kings. However, to get along with others in this league, sometimes players have to go along.
Per sources, center DeAndre Jordan is working towards a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets. On Monday, it was first reported that the Los Angeles Lakers were expressing interest in signing the 13-year veteran; they are now the official favorites. This news comes right after Rajon Rondo’s contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. Rondo is
7:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The Brooklyn Nets enter September as the betting favorites to take home the 2021-22 NBA title — and for good reason. The superstar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving form the most-feared big three in the league. But that group played just 14 games together during the
11:49 PM ET The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with center Tacko Fall, his agents — Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes — told The Athletic. Fall, 25, spent his first two NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, averaging 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 26 total appearances. At 7-foot-5, he became an
According to MyBookie, the Sacramento Kings are the favorites (+250) to sign Philadelphia 76ers‘ point guard Ben Simmons. Notwithstanding their current luxury tax space amount of $5,521,317, they are $25,465,197 over the cap. To add to that, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the second-best odds (+400) of trading for Simmons. While the Toronto Raptors‘ odds show
4:31 PM ET Rajon Rondo has a pretty good idea of what it takes to win a championship, and as he was introduced officially as a Los Angeles Laker — again — he said the advanced age of the team will only help in the pursuit of another one. “Wisdom is definitely key to winning
Point guard Grant Riller has been signed by the Philadelphia 76ers to a two-way contract, according to an announcement made today by Daryl Morey, the team’s president of basketball operations. On November 30, 2020, the guard signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. In the 2020-21 season, Riller spent time playing for both Charlotte
8:49 AM ET Associated Press Team USA will face Puerto Rico, Mexico and Cuba in the first round of qualifying for the 2023 Basketball World Cup. The Americans, who won a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Tokyo but finished only seventh at the most recent Basketball World Cup two years ago, found out their
According to sources, Rajon Rondo plans to sign a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. The guard will clear waivers today. The four-time All-Star was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Memphis Grizzlies on August 16, 2021. This past Saturday, the guard reached a buyout with the Grizzlies.
2:55 PM ET Jeremy WillisESPN.com Damian Lillard and Shaquille O’Neal are teaming up to rebrand a classic pair of kicks. The “Shaqnosis” has a new look courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers star and the former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat champion and Hall of Famer. 1 Related The original, black and white, “Shaqnosis”
1:48 PM ET Rajon Rondo plans to sign a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers upon clearing waivers Monday, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Rondo, who agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, will still make his full $7.5 million salary this season between the buyout and his
Sidney Lowe is back with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s been 22 years. As an assistant, Lowe has now officially been added to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s coaching staff. This is the 61-year-old’s second stint with the organization after serving under Mike Fratello from 1994 through 1999. During this span, the Cavs had three playoff appearances
On July 28, 2021, New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes was reportedly involved in a physical altercation with Los Angeles police officers. The cops were called to the home in Woodland Hills around 3 a.m. over an alleged domestic violence dispute between Jaxson and his girlfriend. After a woman received worrisome text messages from her
2:00 PM ET Editor’s note: Richard Lapchick is a human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, expert on sports issues, scholar and author. As the world navigated the COVID-19 global health crisis and an outcry for social justice, the NBA set a high standard for how leagues can address health policies, athlete activism and racial
As part of a three-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, the Chicago Bulls have traded restricted free agent forward Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The contract signed was a four-year, $67 million deal. Furthermore, the Cavs are also sending forward Larry Nance Jr. to the Trail Blazers and a 2023 second-round draft pick
1:32 PM ET Associated Press NBA referees will all be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season. The NBA announced Saturday that it has struck a deal with the National Basketball Referees Association on that requirement. Part of the referees’ agreement with the NBA also says that those working games will receive booster shots once those
The Los Angeles Lakers are front-runners to sign four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo. Referencing betting odds from Bovada, the Lakers have -130 odds of signing the player, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies (+120) and Golden State Warriors (+500). On November 23, 2020, he signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Then, he was
11:57 AM ET Five-time All-Star forward Kevin Love has no interest in negotiating a buyout on the two years and $60 million left on his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Saturday. “There have been no talks with Cleveland on a buyout, nor is there any
4:52 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Another former Laker appears to be on his way back to the purple and gold. Rajon Rondo will likely sign with the Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, upon clearing waivers after a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Rondo was traded from the LA Clippers to
12:01 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN When Julius Randle was eligible for an extension this offseason, he knew there was a chance he could make more money if he waited a year to sign a new deal with the New York Knicks. If Randle would have waited until 2022, when his contract expired, he would have
During an Instagram live stream, point guard Damian Lillard said he wants to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers. He said, “I’m not leaving [Portland], not right now at least.” According to oddsmakers at MyBookie, the Trail Blazers currently have the fourth-best odds (+900) of trading for Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers, ranking behind
11:17 PM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles police officer briefly pressed a knee to the neck of Jaxson Hayes as the New Orleans Pelicans center gasped “I can’t breathe” seconds before another officer used a Taser on him during a struggle, according to body camera video released Friday. The officers went
12:15 PM ET The Cleveland Cavaliers are acquiring Chicago Bulls restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen in a three-way trade that also involves the Portland Trail Blazers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Markkanen is heading to the Cavs on a four-year, $67 million deal in a sign-and-trade agreement with the Bulls. Chicago will receive Derrick Jones
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo made an unexpected appearance at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Wednesday. During AEW Dynamite, the six-foot-eleven NBA champion and Thanasis, his older brother and Milwaukee Bucks’ teammate, rolled into the ring and climbed the ropes to have the time of their lives. While walking throughout the ring and standing on the
Former New York Knicks shooting guard Ron Baker has officially retired from the NBA. The 28-year-old from Wichita State went undrafted in 2016. Baker signed a contract with the Knicks on August 1, 2016. Then, he made his NBA debut on October 25, 2016 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the team’s 117-88 loss, Baker scored
2:23 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The Phoenix Suns have had great success over the past year with their “The Valley” jersey design. Now, they’ve introduced a new concept to honor their Mexican and Mexican American fans and are looking to fans for feedback. Phoenix said it is working on a uniform concept based on ancient
Per sources, the Indiana Pacers‘ front office are contemplating a potential in-season trade involving Jeremy Lamb. On October 20, 2021, their season opener begins at the Spectrum Center against the Charlotte Hornets. The team’s backcourt currently consists of Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. McConnell. In the 2021 NBA Draft, the Pacers also selected Oregon
5:58 PM ET Tory BarronESPN Editor Close Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha, are collaborating with Davidson College to launch
2:01 PM ET The National Basketball Players Association, in partnership with NYC Parks, will renovate the Greg Marius Court at Holcombe Rucker Park in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, the players’ union announced Thursday. In a project funded by the NBPA, the renovation of the iconic court includes repairing and leveling the pavement, the replacement
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The peak of NBA free agency is in the rearview. The full 2021-22 season schedule has been released. Training camps can officially open on Sept 28. Still, there are a few potential moves that remain unresolved. Will the Philadelphia 76ers trade Ben Simmons? How much longer will Damian Lillard remain
6:22 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Nick Van Exel has returned to the Atlanta Hawks, joining Nate McMillan’s staff as an assistant coach. Van Exel spent the past two years as a scout with the Dallas Mavericks. The Hawks announced his hiring Wednesday, bringing back a former All-Star who served as a player development
Aug 24, 2021 Andrew LopezESPN Jared Dudley‘s NBA career is coming to a close as he’s joining the Dallas Mavericks‘ coaching staff, the 14-year veteran said on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon. In a pair of tweets, Dudley thanked the Los Angeles Lakers organization — naming LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Jeanie Buss specifically — for
On the Los Angeles Lakers, point guard Russell Westbrook is projected to earn over 25.5 triple-doubles in the upcoming 2021-22 NBA regular season. According to BetOnline, bettors can pick the over 25.5 (-120) or under 25.5 (-120). Moreover, showing +2500 odds, his MVP odds also rank 14th in the league. On May 10, 2021, in
According to sources, Jared Dudley is retiring as an NBA player. He last played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019 to 2021. On Twitter, Dudley thanks LeBron James and the Lakers organization for signing him. The 14-year veteran played for seven different NBA franchises in his professional playing career: Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), Phoenix
7:50 PM ET New York Knicks center Nerlens Noel filed a lawsuit against former agent Rich Paul and his firm, Klutch Sports, on Monday, claiming he lost $58 million in potential salary while he was represented by Paul from 2017 to 2020. Noel took the action after Klutch recently filed a grievance with the National
9:06 PM ET After leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the franchise’s first NBA championship in 50 years, coach Mike Budenholzer has agreed to a three-year contract extension, sources told ESPN. Budenholzer — who was entering the final year of his deal — now ties himself to the Bucks through the 2024-25 season. His extension punctuates
2:05 PM ET LOS ANGELES — As fans look to find ways to remember Kobe Bryant this week — with the late Lakers star’s birthday Monday followed by the date on the calendar that commemorates his uniforms Tuesday, 8/24 — a blockchain company has found another way to honor Mamba forever. Cryptograph, a digital collectibles
9:00 AM ET 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated present The King of Crenshaw, a four-part podcast series that focuses on how the late Nipsey Hussle’s life, death, and legacy deeply impacted the sports world. This series aims to examine how that overlap of Black male creativity, talent, and ambition will forever live on
Stephen Curry’s 55-year-old mother, Sonya, has officially filed for a divorce from Dell, his 56-year-old father. According to court records, in the state of North Carolina, Sonya filled out the paperwork back on June 14th. Sonya and Dell got married on August 27, 1988, five months after Stephen was born. They also moved to Charlotte,
7:56 PM ET ESPN News Services Boston Celtics forward Josh Richardson has agreed to a one-year, $12 million extension, his agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Richardson had one year and $11.5 million left on his deal, which now runs through the 2022-2023 season. The Celtics acquired Richardson from the Dallas
After YouTuber Tasha K, whose official channel name is “UNWINEWITHTASHAK,” made a claim that Iggy Azalea and Tristan Thompson were sleeping together, ridiculous rumors went viral on social media. Iggy responded saying that ‘she’s never even met the dude.’ Iggy was referring to the 30-year-old Canadian NBA player. For those who don’t know, Iggy is
4:54 PM ET Associated Press J.R. Smith is finally getting the college-athlete experience he missed out on nearly two decades ago. The 16-year NBA veteran who skipped college basketball, won two world championships and made millions is now a freshman walk-on for the North Carolina A&T men’s golf team. Now, instead of first-class cross-country travel
7:16 AM ET How has the NBA’s landscape changed after the draft and free agency? The biggest shocker came on draft night, when the Los Angeles Lakers sprung a deal with the Washington Wizards to land former MVP Russell Westbrook. The move created the league’s newest superstar Big Three of Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony
9:34 PM ET Tyler Smith, the No. 8 basketball prospect in ESPN’s Class of 2023, has signed with Overtime Elite, he told ESPN on Sunday. “This is different and new,” Smith said. I wanted to be a pro already, working on stuff that NBA players work on. In high school you can’t work out as
1:20 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Boston Celtics and center Robert Williams have agreed to a four-year, $54 million contract extension, agent Kevin Bradbury of REP1 Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. The deal will put Williams, 23, among the top half of centers in the NBA in terms of annual salary and is
4:17 PM ET The Brooklyn Nets, the consensus favorites to win the title, opened at a league-best 54.5 wins at Caesars Sportsbook after the NBA released its full 2021-22 schedule on Friday. The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are next at 53.5. The Bucks host the Nets on opening night, Oct. 19. Milwaukee is an early
8:42 PM ET Associated Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — What David Stern did for the sport of basketball transcended any gender bias and opened a whole new world for women in the game. NBA commissioner from 1984 to 2014, Stern was the key figure in the formation and operation of the WNBA in 1997. That bold
3:36 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN A trio of return games for All-Star point guards Russell Westbrook, Kyle Lowry and Kemba Walker highlights the NBA’s full schedule release Friday afternoon. Westbrook will head back to Washington with the Los Angeles Lakers on March 19, about a week after the teams meet in Los Angeles on March
According to sources, the Memphis Grizzlies are trading Patrick Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez. Gersson Rosas, the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, is familiar with Beverley’s style of play and work ethic, considering he was the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Houston Rockets, where he previously
5:36 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Kevin Garnett will become the 24th player in Boston Celtics history to have his jersey retired on March 13, when Boston will host the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Garnett, who won the 2008 title with the Celtics, spent six seasons of his Hall
According to oddsmakers at BetOnline, the Los Angeles Lakers have the best odds (2/1) of winning the Western Conference title. Next, the Golden State Warriors possess the second-best odds (9/2), followed by the Phoenix Suns (15/2), Los Angeles Clippers (8/1), Utah Jazz (8/1) and other teams. In the 2020-21 NBA season, the Lakers finished 42-30
5:00 PM ET The NBA schedule is here. And unlike last season’s unveiling that broke games into first and second halves, we know all 1,230 games up front. The 2021-22 season tips off on Oct. 19 with the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Brooklyn Nets on ring night. The last time these two Eastern
9:00 AM ET Who are the NBA free agents to watch in 2022 and 2023? Most of the league’s superstars have signed long-term extensions with their current teams, leading some league executives to call 2022 “The Offseason of the Rotational Players.” Still, superstars like Bradley Beal, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook could become
6:22 PM ET Restricted free-agent swingman Hamidou Diallo has signed a two-year, $10.4 million deal to return to the Detroit Pistons, his agents Thad Foucher and Joe Smith with Wasserman told ESPN. Diallo, 23, arrived in a midseason trade with Oklahoma City and averaged 11 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes a game for
On Wednesday, after a romantic Lake Tahoe trip with 25-year-old model Kendall Jenner, his girlfriend, Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker attended a rooftop party for Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand inside Sunset Beach Hotel on Shelter Island. This place is located at the eastern end of Long Island’s South Fork in the Hamptons. The two
4:25 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN LeBron James took to Twitter to react to ESPN’s offseason survey of 10 NBA scouts and executives leaving him without a single vote for the title of best player in the NBA. James responded to a tweet sarcastically saying he was washed-up as a player, then sent out a separate
The 2021 MGM Resorts Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada is now over. The NBA’s Christmas schedule for the upcoming 2021-22 season has also been released. NBA spectators and bettors alike might be wondering now what their teams’ odds are of qualifying for the playoffs in 2022. Thus far, the biggest trade move this offseason
4:20 PM ET ESPN News Services The Dallas Mavericks are hiring two-time WNBA champion Kristi Toliver as an assistant coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Toliver has previous NBA coaching experience. She spent parts of two seasons as an assistant on the Washington Wizards’ staff. Toliver is currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks where
7:20 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The past two seasons have seen the NBA — like the rest of the world — deal with unprecedented circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused as much upheaval across the NBA as any sports league in North America and beyond, with the 2019-20 season ending in a bubble inside the
On Wednesday, Kevin Durant opened up about his departure from the Golden State Warriors after his on-court altercation with Draymond Green, which led to his abrupt, questionable trade to the Brooklyn Nets. The two-time MVP insinuated that the way general manager Bob Myers and head coach Steve Kerr handled the petty quarrel between him and
4:37 PM ET Kevin Durant and Draymond Green both blamed Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and team president/general manager Bob Myers for mishandling the fallout from the players’ argument that ultimately contributed to Durant leaving the team following the 2018-19 season. In an interview posted Wednesday on Bleacher Report, Durant and Green both said
10:46 AM ET Longtime NBA journalist Jackie MacMullan will retire from ESPN on Aug. 31, ending a decade-long tenure with the company. MacMullan, who has been an NBA reporter for 40 years, joined ESPN in 2010 after a long career with The Boston Globe. She has appeared on every ESPN platform, as a senior writer
12:38 AM ET Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Louis King slammed home a two-handed dunk with a little more than two minutes left in the third quarter of the NBA Summer League championship game, let out a monstrous roar and promptly flexed with authority. Fittingly, it was King who dominated for Sacramento and finished with
7:26 AM ET Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is finalizing a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension, sources told ESPN. The extension keeps Embiid under contract with the Sixers through the 2026-27 season for a total of $261 million. The four-time All-Star already was set to make $65 million over the final two years
Four-time All-Star Joel Embiid has officially finalized a four-year, $196 million contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers. The deal guarantees the star $261 million. The center earned $29,542,010 last season and is set to earn $31,579,390 next season. In the 2020-21 NBA season, Embiid averaged 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in
11:28 AM ET A showdown between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers will highlight the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. In addition to the star-studded, cross-country clash, the Atlanta Hawks will travel to take on the New York Knicks. That game will be a rematch of a first-round playoff series
Marcus Smart has agreed to a four-year, $77 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics. With no player option, the deal starts in the 2022-23 season. Smart was selected sixth overall by the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft. In the 2020-21 NBA season, the seventh-year player averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists
7:15 AM ET Tuesday’s Las Vegas Summer League championship game (9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN App) will feature the Boston Celtics and the Sacramento Kings — both undefeated coming into the finale. Boston’s run has been fueled by a pair of second-year players in Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith, a backcourt duo that has shined
According to BetOnline, Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham has the best odds (+250) of winning Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 NBA season. Next, Houston Rockets‘ Jalen Green has the second-best odds (+275), followed by Jalen Suggs (+650), Evan Mobley (+800), Scottie Barnes +1200), Alperen Sengun (+1200) and others. Point guard Cunningham was selected first
7:59 PM ET Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has agreed to a four-year, $77 million contract extension, sources told ESPN. The extension — which begins with the 2022-23 season — is the maximum allowable off Smart’s $14.3 million salary for 2021-22. The deal does not include a player option. Smart has developed into one of
In the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League, in the matchup between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, Kings forward Chimezie Metu punched Mavericks forward Eugene Omoruyi after a hard foul. The fight occurred with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter of the game. It appears that Metu used more of his elbow than his
Dalano Banton, the Toronto Raptors’ No. 46 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, has officially signed a two-year, $2.5 million rookie deal with the organization. Banton is the first Canadian player in NBA history to be drafted by the Raptors. The signing was made official this morning. In 58 combined games played at Western Kentucky
10:11 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Udonis Haslem is officially back with the Miami Heat. Haslem signed another contract — the 10th of his career — with the Heat on Sunday, assuring that he will return for a 19th season with Miami. It is a one-year deal worth about $2.8 million. The 41-year-old would
8:28 PM ET The LA Clippers are trading Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Eric Bledsoe, sources told ESPN on Sunday. The deal saves the Clippers $30 million in luxury tax and creates an $8.3 million traded-player exception that they will have a year to use. Bledsoe, 31,
Five-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard has signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 2020-21 NBA season, Leonard averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in 52 games played. Last season, he ranked 16th overall for points per game and 10th in steals, averaging 1.6 per
9:41 PM ET Orlando Magic rookie Jalen Suggs, the No. 5 pick in last month’s NBA draft, has a left thumb sprain and will be sidelined for the remainder of NBA summer league as a precaution. Suggs suffered the injury in the first half of Thursday’s game against the Boston Celtics. The team said an
9:03 AM ET Thanasis Antetokounmpo has re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced on Friday. The length of the deal is two years, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Antetokounmpo, the older brother of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, played in 57 games during the Bucks’ championship season, averaging 2.9 points and 2.2
The Houston Rockets’ No. 2 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft might be finished playing in the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League. Jalen Green, the former NBA G League Ignite, sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors. Before the team’s third Summer League game, the shooting guard was averaging
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders Which rookies and veterans have surprised the most after one week of summer league basketball? Who have been the biggest disappointments? Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs have had stellar performances in their summer league debuts, but are they worthy of being named the MVP of Vegas? Players like Payton Pritchard
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of two-time MVP Giannis, has agreed to a new two-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Both brothers won their first NBA championship together against the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals. In the 2020-21 NBA season, in 57 games played, the small forward averaged nearly three points and 2.2
11:40 PM ET Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall draft pick in last month’s NBA draft, left Thursday’s 92-76 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Summer League with a sore hamstring. The Rockets don’t believe the hamstring is a “significant concern,” but he will undergo an MRI as a precaution,
Charlotte Hornets power forward PJ Washington is denying the social media rumor that he is paying $200k per month in child support payments to ex-girlfriend Brittany Renner. Yesterday on Twitter, the 22-year-old power forward broke his silence. He posted, “Stop the cap.” For older adults, this is slang for “stop the lies.” Renner is a
6:29 PM ET Kawhi Leonard will remain with the LA Clippers long term after re-signing with the team Thursday, the team announced. Terms of the deal weren’t revealed by the Clippers, but a source confirmed with ESPN that Leonard signed a four-year, $176.3 million max deal that includes a player option in the fourth year.
Restricted free agent Frank Jackson has agreed to a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons. In 40 games played last season on the Pistons, he averaged a career-high 9.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and a field goal shooting percentage of 45.7 percent. From behind the arc, he had a career-high season average 40.7 percent as well.
7:30 AM ET ON JULY 18, 2002, Kobe Bryant approached Rucker Park, the streetball institution in Harlem. He wore a powder blue sleeveless shirt and dark shades; an oversized key-pendant swung from his chain with each step. Onlookers sprinted toward the park’s metal fencing, meant to separate superstars from the streets, to catch a glimpse.
Free agent point guard Elfrid Payton has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. During the 2017-18 NBA season, the then 23-year-old player was traded by the Orlando Magic to the Suns for a 2018 second-round pick (Jarred Vanderbilt was selected). The Louisiana native averaged 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and one
6:31 PM ET The Brooklyn Nets are hiring former Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford as a coaching consultant, sources told ESPN. In his consulting role, Clifford — who was the most sought-after assistant in the marketplace — will be with the team periodically throughout the 2021-2022 season. Clifford has history with Nets
According to oddsmakers at BetOnline, the Portland Trail Blazers are the favorites to trade for Ben Simmons, if the 76ers are still aiming to move on from the three-time All-Star point guard. The Trail Blazers’ front office told reporters a few days ago that the organization has no future plans to surrender a first-round draft
6:43 PM ET Former NBA standout JR Smith has enrolled at North Carolina A&T and intends to join the historically black university’s men’s golf team if he gets cleared by the NCAA, the university confirmed on Wednesday. North Carolina A&T athletics spokesman Brian Holloway told ESPN that Smith is officially enrolled in the school and
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, the former talented star of the Villanova Wildcats, has agreed to a four-year, $8 million rookie deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The six-foot-nine power forward was the 32nd pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. Oklahoma City traded their 34th and 36th pick in order to move up to select the Wildcat. On
1:38 AM ET ESPN News Services In a featured showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks, it was Jalen Green who received more offensive help from his teammates in the Houston Rockets‘ 111-91 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Green — the
10:24 PM ET While Russell Westbrook spent the first decade of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, maturing from first-round pick to All-Star to league MVP, the thought of returning to Los Angeles someday to play for his hometown Lakers seemed further and further from reality. “Being from L.A., you always wish that you
Free agent guard Dennis Schroder has agreed to a one-year, $5.9 million deal with the Boston Celtics, according to sources. On November 18, 2020, Schroder was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Los Angeles Lakers for Danny Green and Jaden McDaniels. In the 2020-21 NBA season, in 61 games played on the Lakers,
7:12 PM ET Free-agent point guard Dennis Schroder is headed to the Boston Celtics, he announced Tuesday on his Instagram account. The deal is for one year and will be for the $5.9 million exception, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Schroder, 27, turned down the maximum extension the Los Angeles Lakers were eligible to offer
11:01 AM ET Early Tuesday morning, members of the Dallas Mavericks met with star guard Luka Doncic in a Slovenian hotel to officially put pen to paper on a five-year, $207 million contract extension. And hours later they were on a stage to announce it, with Doncic saying he “never had a doubt” about signing
Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Ben Sullivan will join Ime Udoka’s coaching staff with the Boston Celtics. After being hired by the Bucks organization in 2018, Sullivan helped coach the team to their first NBA championship win since the 1970-71 season. The six-foot-ten former international player also helped Milwaukee to finish 46-26 (.639) last season, ranking
9:23 PM ET It didn’t take any intricate pitch for LeBron James to convince his friend of more than 20 years, Carmelo Anthony, to join him on the Los Angeles Lakers. No digging into the minutia about playing time or role. No selling the off-court opportunities that L.A. provides. Just a friend telling another friend
Lauri Markkanen is a restricted free agent on the Chicago Bulls. The organization is now willing to trade the power forward, however, Bulls general manager Marc Eversley is demanding a first-round pick in return. Two days ago, Markkanen told the media that he has no plans to re-sign with Chicago. According to sources, the New
5:47 PM ET Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic has agreed to sign a landmark five-year, $207 million supermax rookie extension, his agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports told ESPN on Monday. Doncic, one of the most accomplished players in NBA history at 22 years old and rapidly evolving into the future face of the league,
According to the Portland Trail Blazers front office, they are not actively shopping shooting guard CJ McCollum for a trade. Is this the truth? One rumor concerned the possibility of the Philadelphia 76ers trading Ben Simmons to the Trail Blazers. However, Portland general manager Neil Olshey is unwilling to surrender a first-round pick for Simmons.
10:33 PM ET James Jackson Free-agent guard Isaiah Thomas remains an impressive shot-maker despite being four years removed from his All-NBA days. The two-time All-Star scored 81 points in the Crawsover Pro-Am in Seattle on Sunday. His point total, of course, matches the second-highest single-game mark in NBA history set by the late, great Kobe
2:12 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN LAS VEGAS — The NBA announced Sunday afternoon that the summer league game between the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers has been postponed because of health and safety protocols. Because the Wizards had several players in contact tracing, they didn’t have enough players available to play Sunday night against Indiana
5:54 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN LAS VEGAS — The NBA announced Sunday afternoon ahead of the start of its annual Summer League here that it will begin enforcing the rule changes enacted this offseason to curb players attempting to use non-basketball moves to draw fouls. In a series of tweets from its NBA Official account
9:53 AM ET Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 6 prospect in the ESPN class of 2022, says he’s narrowed his list of options to five: the G League Ignite, Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State. Sharpe made a strong case for consideration as the best long-term prospect in high school basketball with an outstanding spring and
2:52 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Ramona Shelburne Close ESPN Senior Writer Senior writer for ESPN.com Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News The NBA has opened up investigations into possible tampering violations involving two sign-and-trade deals completed in free agency,
6:04 PM ET Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has been elected as the president of the National Basketball Players Association, succeeding two-term president Chris Paul, sources told ESPN. McCollum has been a vice president on the NBPA’s executive committee since 2018 and has been deeply involved in union decision-making and negotiations with the NBA.
10:31 AM ET Miami Heat All-Star guard Jimmy Butler has signed a four-year, $184 million contract extension with the team, his agent Bernie Lee told ESPN. Butler is extending off of his $36 million salary for the 2021-2022 season, and holds a player option for $37.6 million in the 2022-23 season. The deal will keep
12:30 AM ET SAITAMA, Japan — Kevin Durant has had some wonderful days in his career, but there’s never been one like this green and gold Saturday in Japan. First there was a new $198 million contract locked in with the Brooklyn Nets. Then the pride of Seat Pleasant, Md., extended his legendary status as
4:03 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Kevin Durant plans to sign a four-year, $198 million maximum contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets sometime after he becomes eligible Saturday, his longtime business manager and co-founder of 35 Ventures and Boardroom, Rich Kleiman, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Durant is expected to decline his 2022-23 player option and extend
7:52 AM ET New York Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle has agreed to a four-year, $117 million contract extension — elevating his deal’s total value to five years and $140 million, his agents, Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports, told ESPN. The extension includes a player option on the final season in 2025-26.
1:39 AM ET ESPN News Services Free-agent swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. agreed with the Charlotte Hornets on a guaranteed two-year deal paying close to $25 million, a source confirmed with The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears. News of Oubre’s agreement was first reported by Yahoo Sports. Oubre, 25, was one of the most intriguing free agents
2:48 PM ET Masai Ujiri, the architect of the franchise’s 2019 NBA championship team, has agreed to a significant new deal to become vice chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN on Thursday. His previous title was president. After arriving in Toronto in 2013 as general manager, Ujiri has established himself as
2:10 AM ET SAITAMA, Japan — When Team USA started feeling that historic heat, the creeping grip of an unshakable loss, they went to the men with the rings. Kevin Durant and Jrue Holiday, NBA champions, showed the kind of skill and poise that is absolutely vital in high-level basketball. Durant and Holiday didn’t just
12:48 AM ET NBA Insiders Two days after the start of free agency, the landscape of the NBA already looks very different. The Miami Heat found their new starting point guard in Kyle Lowry via a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors. The Chicago Bulls continued to revamp their roster with the acquisitions of DeMar DeRozan
5:52 PM ET After medical consultation, seven-time All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge is seriously considering a return to the NBA this season, sources told ESPN. Aldridge abruptly retired with the Brooklyn Nets in mid-April after heart concerns sidelined him, but now is exploring the possibility of resuming his 15-year NBA career. Aldridge is expected to have
10:07 AM ET Four-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker has agreed to a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder and, upon clearing waivers, plans to sign with the New York Knicks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Thunder general manager Sam Presti and Walker’s agents at Excel Sports, Jeff Schwartz and Javon Phillips, worked through a
3:17 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Anthony’s manager, Bay Frazier, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal is for one season, according to Frazier. Anthony’s agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA Sports, completed the agreement with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka on Tuesday.
2:59 PM ET Two-time MVP and three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry has agreed to a four-year, $215 million contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, making him the first player in history to sign two $200 million-plus contracts, his agent, Jeff Austin of Octagon Basketball, told ESPN. Curry will extend his contract off his $45.8
6:10 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The Chicago Bulls and point guard Lonzo Ball are landing on a four-year, $85 million deal as part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans, Ball’s agent Rich Paul told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. For the Bulls, Ball slots in at a guard spot where he can
12:00 AM ET Atlanta Hawks All-Star point guard Trae Young has agreed to a five-year designated rookie maximum extension worth up to , $207 million, his agent Omar Wilkes of Klutch Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes a 30 percent escalator clause that would turn the guaranteed $172 million base into $207 million
8:23 AM ET TOKYO — Zach LaVine is eligible for a contract extension with the Chicago Bulls in the next few days. He reiterated Monday that he wants to be rewarded for his All-Star level of play but will work with the team’s front office as it looks to use cap space for new talent.
11:18 PM ET Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul has formally declined the $44 million player option on his contract for next season, but both Paul and the Suns are motivated to negotiate a new deal once talks can begin at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Paul had a midnight ET
7:00 AM ET The NBA offseason has begun. While the playoffs are still in full swing, 26 teams are already looking ahead to next season and making moves in free agency and trades. Prior to last offseason, the 2021 NBA free-agent class was seen as potentially historic. Players like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George,
5:44 PM ET Kawhi Leonard has declined his $36 million player option for next season, becoming a free agent, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The expectation is that Leonard will negotiate a new deal to stay with the LA Clippers. Yahoo Sports first reported that Leonard has declined his option. Leonard’s decision comes
8:02 AM ET Associated Press SAITAMA, Japan — The U.S. and Spain played for Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012, then in the semifinals in 2016. And at the Tokyo Games, the top teams in the FIBA world rankings will meet again – just earlier than has been the norm. The three-time reigning Olympic champion
8:48 PM ET Serge Ibaka has exercised his player option and will return to the LA Clippers for his second season, sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. Ibaka picked up his $9.7-million option. The veteran center was the Clippers’ biggest addition during the past offseason in free agency but Ibaka was limited to just 41
2:31 PM ET Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis is declining his $3.8 million player option and will become a free agent, agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. The most the Bucks can offer Portis is a $5.9 million exception, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The 26-year-old Portis was one of the more
3:51 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst says Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t need any type of offseason procedure for the left knee the two-time MVP hyperextended during the team’s NBA title run. “He’s fine,” Horst said Friday. “I can’t explain it, but he’s fine.” Antetokounmpo hurt his knee in Game
5:57 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Boston Celtics were involved in a pair of moves to reshuffle their roster Friday that saw them ship out center Tristan Thompson and bring back three players: guard Kris Dunn and center Bruno Fernando from the Atlanta Hawks, and guard Josh Richardson from the Dallas Mavericks. The first deal
8:48 AM ET Oklahoma City further added to its stockpile of future first-round picks as the Utah Jazz agreed to send a future No. 1 and center Derrick Favors to the Thunder for a future second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Before the move, the Thunder already had 12 first-round picks above
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders With the 2021 NBA draft in the books, it’s time to shift the focus to the free-agency frenzy, where a host of storylines are set to dominate the next few weeks. Did the Los Angeles Lakers make the right move, opting to swing a blockbuster deal for Russell Westbrook over
5:34 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers are nearing a deal with the Washington Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2021 first-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Harrell has opted into his $9.7 million player option for next season, paving the way for the potential deal.
1:45 PM ET The Detroit Pistons have landed on a decision to select Oklahoma State‘s Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in Thursday night’s NBA Draft, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Detroit officials traveled to New York on Wednesday, met with Cunningham a final time and finalized the decision to choose him at No.1
6:48 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Mike D’Antoni is leaving the Brooklyn Nets, forcing Steve Nash to make another change on his coaching staff. Nash announced the 70-year-old D’Antoni’s decision in a statement Wednesday, saying having the two-time Coach of the Year was “invaluable” in his first season as a coach. “I
9:50 PM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Jalen Suggs has landed a multiyear footwear and apparel deal with Adidas ahead of his anticipated selection early in the 2021 NBA draft on Thursday. “I’m so excited to be with the brand,” the former Gonzaga star said. “I grew up inspired by D-Rose and Dame [Lillard] and want to
3:38 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes was arrested in the Los Angeles area early Wednesday morning following an alleged altercation with a police officer, TMZ Sports reported. “We have been made aware of the incident involving Jaxson Hayes,” the Pelicans said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “We are working in
8:00 AM ET The 2021 NBA draft has finally arrived! Who’s rising? Who’s falling? Will the Detroit Pistons take Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham at No. 1? Is Cunningham more Khris Middleton … or Luka Doncic? Where will USC big man Evan Mobley get selected? Will the Oklahoma City Thunder begin to spend its considerable
4:52 PM ET Marc J. Spears Former President Barack Obama has joined NBA Africa as a strategic partner and minority owner, sources have told ESPN’s The Undefeated on Tuesday. NBA Africa conducts the league’s business on that continent, including most notably the new Basketball Africa League (BAL). Obama plans to help the league’s social-responsibility efforts,
3:08 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN METAIRIE, La. — When the New Orleans Pelicans were searching for a new head coach, they found the answer in Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green. Green, the lead assistant during the Suns’ improbable run to the NBA Finals, now shifts his attention to trying to find success in New Orleans
4:47 PM ET The New Orleans Pelicans are finalizing a trade to send Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe and two future first-round picks – including the 10th overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft – to Memphis for center Jonas Valanciunas and the 17th overall pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Determined to create significant financial flexibility
4:43 AM ET Associated Press SAITAMA, Japan — Luka Doncic is only a 22-year-old Olympic rookie, a player who might still be a few years away from his best basketball. Sergio Hernandez doesn’t need to wait. “For me, I said this two years ago: He is the best player in the world, including the NBA,”
10:08 AM ET The Unites States faltered down the stretch Sunday in a 83-76 loss to France at the Olympics. The U.S. led 74-67 with 3:41 remaining, before Evan Fournier ignited a 14-0 run that helped France secure the victory. Fournier finished with 28 points for France. It is the United States’ first Olympic basketball
11:26 PM ET James Jackson The Milwaukee Bucks are the 2020-21 NBA champions and have snapped a 49-year title drought, the league’s fifth longest entering this season. This ring proved to be hard-fought as Milwaukee is just the third team in Finals history to win four straight after trailing 2-0, joining the 2006 Miami Heat
9:06 AM ET TOKYO — Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday arrived in Japan on a private jet just before 11 p.m. Saturday, less than 24 hours before Team USA opens Olympic play against France in a vital game out of the gate. It was a brutal travel day after an exhausting playoff stretch,
7:10 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers made their first move in what promises to be a busy offseason by extending a qualifying offer to second-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker, the team announced Thursday. The qualifying offer for Horton-Tucker is $1.9 million, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, and will make the 20 year
7:51 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers extended a qualifying offer Friday to center Jarrett Allen, making him a restricted free agent. The team had until Aug. 1 to make the offer to Allen, a 23-year-old acquired last season in a trade from Brooklyn and viewed as one of Cleveland’s core pieces. The
12:53 AM ET TOKYO — The trio of players making the unprecedented jump from the NBA Finals to the Olympics are all scheduled to be in Japan by Saturday. The hope is for Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to be available when Team USA opens play Sunday against France, according to coach Gregg
3:29 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — Thousands of fans lined downtown Milwaukee streets on Thursday to catch a glimpse of their beloved Bucks in a parade to celebrate the city’s first NBA championship in half a century. Six police officers on horseback clopped past cheering fans at the head of a procession that included
3:55 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The New Orleans Pelicans officially named Willie Green as their next head coach Thursday. Green is coming off a stint as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, who just made a run to the NBA Finals, which delayed the timing of the Pelicans’ announcement. “After an extensive and collaborative search,
8:18 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Television ratings for the NBA Finals and playoffs posted sizable increases over last year. But that was the only good news for the NBA as far as viewer numbers. According to Nielsen, the NBA and ABC on Wednesday, the six-game series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix
11:58 PM ET Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu — the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft — underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Wednesday and will miss approximately six months, sources told ESPN. Okongwu’s role grew as the season wore on for the Hawks, but a lingering
12:17 AM ET The Milwaukee Bucks are the 2021 NBA champions after rallying from a 2-0 series deficit against the Phoenix Suns. Now what? We’re not wasting any time spinning forward to next season, where a host of current contenders and potential superteams will aim to unseat Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. in 2022. What will
7:35 AM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — Two shootings in downtown Milwaukee early Wednesday as crowds celebrated the Milwaukee Bucks‘ first NBA championship in 50 years left three people wounded, police said. The shootings both happened at about 12:42 a.m. at two locations near Water Street, police said in a statement. TV station WISN had
11:44 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN MILWAUKEE — Eight years ago, a skinny teenager stood between his parents on the court inside Bradley Center here and gazed up at the rafters, where the retired jerseys for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson hung in the rafters. “Maybe in 15 years, 20 years,” the young man said, “maybe
3:49 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN MILWAUKEE — As Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns prepare for Game 6 of the NBA Finals Tuesday night, they do so knowing they’ll see a very familiar face when the game begins. Scott Foster, who has officiated 11 straight postseason losses in games Paul has played in, will be
12:52 PM ET Twenty players have received invitations to attend the 2021 NBA draft and sit in the green room, sources told ESPN. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Kuminga, Scottie Barnes, Davion Mitchell, James Bouknight, Keon Johnson, Franz Wagner, Josh Giddey, Jalen Johnson, Corey Kispert, Moses Moody and Kai Jones received
4:21 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN MILWAUKEE – For eight years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has worked toward the moment he and the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in right now: one win away from an NBA championship. So it should come with little surprise that Monday afternoon, a little more than 24 hours before playing the biggest game
Jul 17, 2021 Who are the NBA free agents to watch in 2021 and 2022? The 2020 free-agent class featured less star power than normal, as the league blitzed through a condensed transaction period featuring the draft and free agency in the same week. The 2021 class has thinned out after Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert
3:58 PM ET Wes Unseld Jr., has agreed to a four-year deal to become the new head coach of the Washington Wizards, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Washington officials completed an agreement with the Denver Nuggets associate head coach and his agent Brian Eflus on Saturday on a long-term deal to replace Scott Brooks, sources
11:09 PM ET LAS VEGAS — Team USA built some needed momentum for the Olympics with a quality win over current world champion Spain, 83-76, Sunday night in their final exhibition game before heading to Tokyo. After falling behind by as many as nine points in the first half, Team USA showed off his shooting
2:14 AM ET PHOENIX — If there ever was a time for Monty Williams to come up with one of the adages he has been heralded for, it was after his Phoenix Suns‘ 123-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday. The defeat was Phoenix’s third in a
1:43 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHOENIX — As Suns star Devin Booker drove into the lane inside the final 30 seconds of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night, it felt like it was about to be a storybook moment. The Suns were trailing by one, and Booker — who had already hit
2:28 AM ET PHOENIX — Jrue Holiday knows what everyone wants him to do. No one needs to tell him to be more aggressive offensively. Or to keep shooting, that his shots will eventually start falling. “We always kind of throw that out there,” says his father, Shawn Holiday. But Shawn has coached his son
6:08 PM ET ESPN News Services Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton has declined his $14.7 million player option for the 2021-2022 season and will become a free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. There is a strong interest between the team and Barton to negotiate a new deal once free agency opens in August, sources
6:15 PM ET The Washington Wizards are offering Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld, Jr. the franchise’s head coaching job, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Contract talks will begin tomorrow and those are expected to result in an agreement that’ll make him the franchise’s next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Unseld, who has served as a
10:07 PM ET PHOENIX — After coming up small in what would have been the biggest win of his career, missing out on taking a 3-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals, Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul went to the tape. Just like Paul and teammate Devin Booker reviewed the film
8:06 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHOENIX — Two days after Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s ridiculous block of Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton‘s dunk attempt late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals helped save Milwaukee’s season, he still can’t explain exactly how he was able to pull it off. “It’s