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
News
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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”
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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