11:09 AM ET The Brooklyn Nets are hiring former Turner executive David Levy as Chief Executive Officer, league sources tell ESPN. Levy worked closely with the NBA in his capacity overseeing Turner Sports’ television sports coverage and holds a strong relationship with commissioner Adam Silver. Levy’s appointment will become official shortly after the league’s Board
Month: September 2019
Donnie Darko and Darko Milicic have more in common than an uncommon name. For NBA Draft Bust Week, the Detroit Pistons’ infamous No. 2 overall pick takes centerstage. In 2001, New Market Films released a science-fiction/psychological thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal called Donnie Darko. Though it raked in just $7.5 million at the box office, the film
10:28 AM ET Associated Press Spain has won its second World Cup championship, defeating Argentina 95-75 on Sunday to give Marc Gasol a rare double-title year. Tournament MVP Ricky Rubio scored 20 points and Sergio Llull added 15 for Spain (8-0), the ninth team to make it through a World Cup or world championship unbeaten.
In a season where there will be plenty of wild cards, Dallas just might be the wildest of them all. With the long-awaited return of Kristaps Porzingis, no one knows exactly how this season is going to turn out for the Mavericks. If Porzingis is — or will be — back to normal, there may
Michael Olowokandi played for three NBA franchises over a span of nine NBA seasons that included minutes logged in 500 regular-season games — and I can’t stress this enough — he was a number one pick who averaged a pedestrian 8.3 points per game and 6.8 rebounds. He is either a largely unknown figure or
3:30 PM ET ESPN News Services The NBA is looking to further crack down on tampering, proposing a new top fine of $10 million for teams conducting the practice, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN. Other maximum-fine levels could be raised significantly as well, provided the league’s board of governors approves the measures
This past summer, the NBA liquefied from a league of super-teams (and wannabe super-teams) to a league of duos. Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors’ championship not only ended an era in Golden State but also may have ended an era in the league altogether. To borrow from Daryl Morey’s Evernote, talent is still the
11:31 AM ET BEIJING — There were a record 54 NBA players that took part in the FIBA World Cup over the last 16 days, a true commitment with training camps scheduled to open in two weeks. The performance of the 12 who played for Team USA was well documented. Though Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell
The New York Knicks enter 2019-20 hoping for development and cohesion. As recently as this time last year, the Knicks expected to enter the season with at least one cornerstone piece in Kristaps Porzingis, a free agent superstar and a lottery pick added to the roster. Instead, the team experienced tremendous turnover, returning only six
8:21 PM ET Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan has agreed to sell a portion of the team to a pair of investors, the team announced in a release Saturday. The sale is pending NBA approval. Terms of the deal have not been released. Jordan is bringing in Gabe Plotkin, a founder of Melvin Capital, and
The rest of the world may have caught up to Team USA basketball, but before we blame this loss on external forces, it’s time we face a few harsh internal realities. After Team USA lost its second consecutive game at the FIBA World Cup, Kobe Bryant opined that international competition would never again be a
5:18 PM ET On behalf of certified player agents, the National Basketball Players Association is sending a signed letter to the NCAA that refuses to submit to a proposed certification process to work with undergraduate men’s basketball players “testing the waters” for the NBA draft. The NBPA has been communicating with NCAA officials in recent
The Phoenix Suns have had a bad go of it. In five years, the Suns have managed just 126 wins, tied with the Knicks for the fewest in the NBA over that span. With the exit of Steve Nash in 2012, the team found themselves in a pit that they have yet to dig themselves
7:58 AM ET BEIJING — After finishing seventh in the FIBA World Cup with a victory over Poland on Saturday, Team USA coach Gregg Popovich issued a rebuke for those criticizing his team for its worst-ever showing in a major event. “Some people want to play the blame game, there’s no blame to be placed
The Clippers added two elite two-way perimeter stars but neither Paul George or Kawhi Leonard has much track record as a passer. Could this be a problem? After a summer full of seismic shifts and full-out Steve Ballmer enthusiasm, the Clippers are entering the 2019-20 season as favorites to win the title. And those high
4:53 PM ET The New Orleans Pelicans have named Jeff Bzdelik an associate coach for defense and promoted Chris Finch to associate head coach for the offense, the team announced Friday. Bzdelik, 66, worked the past three seasons with the Houston Rockets and received credit for the team’s defensive turnaround. He began a stint as
The Phoenix Suns have had a bad go of it. In five years, the Suns have managed just 126 wins, tied with the Knicks for the fewest in the NBA over that span. With the exit of Steve Nash in 2012, the team found themselves in a pit that they have yet to dig themselves
5:48 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — New Jersey’s governor has signed a bill allowing Atlantic City’s Golden Nugget casino to accept bets on most National Basketball Association games. Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the casino — and also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets. When New Jersey lawmakers legalized sports betting last year,
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 05: (L-R) Kyle Kuzma #21, Kemba Walker #26 and head coach Gregg Popovich of the 2019 USA Men’s National Team talk during a practice session at the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team World Cup minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on August 5, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
9:36 AM ET BEIJING — Kobe Bryant thinks Team USA might have to get used to a new reality of losing in major events. Bryant was part of likely the second-most relevant Team USA in history. After the original Dream Team in 1992, the Bryant-led 2008 “Redeem Team” that won gold in the Beijing Olympics
Sometime in July, the internet unanimously crowned the Atlanta Hawks as basketball’s newest darlings — everybody’s favorite upstart, League Pass-worthy, fun-as-heck roster that could shock the world and make a postseason bid through high-tempo and athletically electric hoops. Although such claims may, in truth, be premature — at heart, the sport does love a good
For Zach LaVine to take the next step into All-Star territory, he’ll have to improve his passing while also cutting down on turnovers. Before last season, the name “Zach LaVine” elicited the image of through-the-legs dunks, 360 tomahawks, and a commercial with the Migos (Dat Way). If one was not aware of his tangible basketball
Aug 12, 2019 The NBA 2K League announced on Thursday that Heat Check Gaming power forward Basil “24K Dropoff” Rose was dismissed and disqualified from joining any of the league’s teams for breaking the league’s gambling policy. In a release from the league, an investigation determined that Rose provided inside information to somebody he “knew
Joe Alexander was a workout warrior prior to being taken early in the lottery of the 2008 NBA Draft but his potential never came through. Scouting is not easy. Year-by-year hundreds of people within NBA organizations are tasked with combing through hours of game film and pages of notes breaking down the next crop of
1:38 PM ET The Detroit Pistons and veteran swingman Joe Johnson have agreed to terms on a deal, according to ESPN and multiple reports. Johnson, 38, last played in the NBA in the 2017-18 season. He recently was named the MVP of the BIG3 and led his team, the Triplets, to the league championship. Johnson
Why do NBA Draft prospects fail? Our four-part series looks at the 2011-2015 NBA Drafts and why the prospects who busted didn’t make it. Part one looked at functional strength. Part two looked at skill development. Part three looked at intelligence and decision-making. Part four wraps up by looking at some unique cases that we can
Sometime in July, the internet unanimously crowned the Atlanta Hawks as basketball’s newest darlings — everybody’s favorite upstart, League Pass-worthy, fun-as-heck roster that could shock the world and make a postseason bid through high-tempo and athletically electric hoops. Although such claims may, in truth, be premature — at heart, the sport does love a good
9:19 AM ET Associated Press The U.S. will leave the World Cup with its worst finish in a major international tournament, assured of finishing no better than seventh after falling to Serbia 94-89 in a consolation playoff game Thursday night. The previous worst finish for a U.S. men’s team in 45 tournament appearances was sixth
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Malik Monk #1 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on February 14, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty
9:38 PM ET Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James‘ attempt to trademark the term “Taco Tuesday” has been denied. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday refused the application filed by James’ company LBJ Trademarks, explaining that “Taco Tuesday” is “a commonplace term.” “The applied-for mark is a commonplace term, message, or expression widely