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12:36 PM ET ESPN News Services The Memphis Grizzlies are in line to be part of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate of games for the first time. Ja Morant and the Grizzlies will face Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the rest of the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Dec. 25 in San Francisco,

2:30 PM ET Editor’s note: Richard Lapchick is a human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, expert on sports issues, scholar and author. The NBA received an A+ for racial hiring practices and a B+ for gender hiring practices, scoring an overall A as reported in the 2022 NBA Racial and Gender Report Card released

3:14 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The NBA will honor the legacy of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell by retiring his No. 6 jersey for all 30 teams, the league and the National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday. Russell becomes the first player in NBA history to have his jersey retired leaguewide. Along with the number

11:29 AM ET Associated Press COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Basketball has picked its 12-man roster for the opening second-round window of World Cup qualifying, as the Americans look to move closer to clinching a spot in the field for next year’s event. Jim Boylen will return as coach, assisted again by Ty Ellis and

10:09 PM ET Associated press LOS ANGELES — An institutional “culture of callousness” led Los Angeles County deputies and firefighters to shoot and share photos of the remains of Kobe Bryant and other victims of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed the Lakers star, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, a lawyer for Bryant’s widow

7:29 AM ET ESPN News Services LOS ANGELES — An invasion of privacy trial against the Los Angeles County sheriff’s and fire departments begins Wednesday in a U.S. District Court just over a mile from where Kobe Bryant played for the Lakers. Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, claims deputies did not take the photos for investigative purposes

8:17 AM ET Doug KezirianESPN Close ESPN Sports Betting Analyst Host of Daily Wager Behind The Bets podcast host The Boston Celtics, the consensus betting favorite to win the 2022-23 NBA title, have the highest projected win total for next season at 54.5 at Caesars Sportsbook, which released its numbers Wednesday. The Phoenix Suns have

10:42 AM 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 2022-23 NBA season might still be a ways off, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start

9:53 PM ET Marc J. Spears The Sacramento Kings have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Quinn Cook, a source told ESPN’s Andscape on Monday. The two-time NBA champion played with the G League affiliate Stockton Kings last season and worked out for Sacramento in Las Vegas in July during NBA summer league.

5:53 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA informed teams Monday that players still need to have either received a primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine or been given a medical clearance from getting one in order to play games in Canada, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN. The memo also states that, should

8:23 PM ET Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai voiced his support Monday night for the front office and coaching staff after Kevin Durant told Tsai to choose between him and the team’s general manager and coach. Tsai and Durant recently met in London, ESPN sources confirmed, in which Durant reiterated his desire to be traded

10:48 PM ET William E. Ricks Few pro-am basketball organizations carry the level of star power as the Drew League. The Los Angeles-based summer hoops league features high-level competition from a collection of professional and amateur players. The circuit has seen plenty of big-name NBA ballers since its establishment in 1973. 1 Related Brooklyn Nets

12:39 PM ET The Oklahoma City Thunder have re-signed forward/center Mike Muscala, the team announced Thursday. Muscala had a team option for 2022-23 that Oklahoma City had previously declined. Terms of the signing were not released by the team. Muscala, 30, quietly had another excellent year as a sharpshooting big man for the rebuilding Thunder

11:38 AM ET Associated Press DALLAS — Former NBA player Iman Shumpert was arrested at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday for allegedly trying to bring 6 ounces of cannabis through security. The police report from the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety shows police were called to a TSA checkpoint at about

6:37 PM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James and the Lakers had a “productive” discussion about their future together on Thursday, Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, told ESPN. No new deal has been agreed upon yet, however, sources said. James and Paul met with Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager

Aug 1, 2022 NBA Insiders Bill Russell lived an unparalleled life. From his accomplishments on the basketball court to his far more meaningful contributions to society, Russell was a truly remarkable man who left an indelible impact on the NBA and beyond. He is the greatest winner in American professional sports history. He was a

Aug 1, 2022 Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook has signed with agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports for his representation, Westbrook told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday afternoon. Last month, Westbrook’s former longtime agent, Thad Foucher of Wasserman, said he and Westbrook parted ways. Foucher cited “irreconcilable differences” in a statement and suggested that

Aug 1, 2022 Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — JaMychal Green was in a plunge pool in Jamaica on vacation when his phone started to ring. He decided to pick up because, why not? On the other end of the call was Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “He told me that [the Warriors] were interested,

8:00 AM ET If the theme for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ free agency direction last summer was established and familiar, then the profile of L.A.’s signing haul this offseason can best be described as fresh and emerging. “I think we’ve gotten younger, I think we’ve gotten faster, I think we’ve gotten hungrier,” new Lakers coach

9:16 PM ET We live in a debate culture, inherently reductive to this or that, to who was best, most, least, greatest. Television, social media or online, ours is a culture of decibels, where people do not often learn as an element of their entertainment. Ears aren’t for listening. They are for glasses. Within this

12:05 PM ET The NBA is investigating possible tampering charges involving the New York Knicks‘ free agent pursuit and signing of former Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson, sources confirmed to ESPN. Teams weren’t allowed to make contact with an agent or a player to discuss a deal prior to 6 p.m. ET on June 30,

1:19 PM ET ESPN News Services Bill Russell, the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics dynasty that won eight straight titles and 11 overall during his career, died Sunday. The Hall of Famer was 88. Russell died “peacefully” with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, a statement posted on social media read. Arrangements for his memorial

Jul 29, 2022 Charles Barkley says he’s sticking to the NBA, turning away from any further overtures to join LIV Golf as a broadcaster. “I want to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their interest in me,” Barkley told the New York Post. “I wish those guys great success and nothing but the best. But,

8:11 PM ET The NBA has opened an investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers for possible tampering and early contact centered on the franchise’s summer free agency class of James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, sources told ESPN on Friday. One of the central elements of the league’s probe includes questions on Harden’s decision to

10:01 AM ET Paolo Banchero has had an aiding and abetting DWI charge against him dropped after Michael Savarino, his former Duke teammate and the grandson of retired Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski, pleaded guilty to DWI on Wednesday. Orange County (N.C.) assistant district attorney Maren Hardin told The Raleigh News & Observer via email

Jul 23, 2022 Brianna Williams Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry‘s offseason started with plenty of celebrating for earning his fourth NBA championship and first NBA Finals MVP. He continued the break from his day job with a side gig hosting this year’s ESPYS. 2 Related “I’ve had the pleasure of attending The ESPYS but

2:13 PM ET John BarrESPN.com Close Joined ESPN in June 2003 Winner: 2013 Peabody Award; 2011 Edward R. Murrow Award/Video Investigative Reporting Covers breaking news, investigative pieces and human interest features BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who has enjoyed tremendous popularity in his post-playing days through his work as an analyst

Jul 27, 2022 A year after a freak fall at the Tokyo Olympics left him hospitalized for months and derailed his career, NBA veteran center Aron Baynes has agreed to return to basketball with the Brisbane Bullets, agent Daniel Moldovan told ESPN. It’s a two-year deal to join the NBL side but has a provision

7:32 AM ET Dan Hajducky Close ESPN Hajducky is a reporter/researcher for ESPN. He has an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and played on the men’s soccer teams at Fordham and Southern Connecticut State universities. Tom VanHaaren Close ESPN Staff Writer ESPN staff writer Joined ESPN in 2011 Graduated from Central Michigan It’s

6:03 PM ET ESPN News Services PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced on Wednesday their new deal with veteran James Harden. The club didn’t reveal terms in a release, but Harden’s contract is for two years and $68.6 million, and it includes a player option for the 2023-24 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski