Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images The Long Two: Nets need Nic Claxton, Jalen Brunson helps lead the Mavs by Ben Ladner With an NBA expansion looking more and more likely, basketball fans in Seattle and Las Vegas are getting fired up about the future. While we may be in the middle of another exciting NBA
According to new reports, the Sacramento Kings are apparently open to trading two of their young guards for Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons. It seems the Sixers’ adamance about holding off on lowball Ben Simmons offers has finally paid off — or, at least, that’s the way it’s trending. The Kings have been popping
12:39 AM ET DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki watched and listened to two tribute videos and three high-profile speakers Wednesday night before he finally took his place behind the lectern, which featured “41 FOREVER” on the front and was set up in the center of the American Airlines Center court for a postgame ceremony in which
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Malik Monk has a specific strategy when it comes to tattoo sleeves — and it’s borrowed from Nick Young. Malik Monk is only 23 years old, but he’s quickly building a name for himself in the NBA as a former first-round pick and a Los Angeles Laker. But during that
11:46 AM ET INDIANAPOLIS — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving will make his season debut Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers — but Nets coach Steve Nash didn’t want to reveal whether Irving would start or come off the bench. No matter what Nash decides to do, he is confident that Irving will play “a
Former WNBA star and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon talks about leading her own professional basketball team with the Las Vegas Aces. Basketball star Becky Hammon has been circling the top as a candidate for leading professional basketball teams for years, but it was the Las Vegas Aces who finally gave her a
8:00 AM ET IT’S A FEW hours after dusk on a Monday in early December, and the Golden State Warriors‘ gleaming spaceship, the Chase Center, is about to transform into a vibrating dance party. The frenzy will be identical to those created by superstar Stephen Curry‘s one-man scoring blitzkriegs, but Curry will be swaying and
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dribbling the ball drives towards the basket on Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center on January 02, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or
8:00 AM ET “Will Kyrie Irving play tonight?” is about to become a regular question throughout the rest of the 2021-22 NBA season. Irving, who is not vaccinated for COVID-19, hasn’t played because of the Brooklyn Nets‘ decision prior to the start of the regular season not to allow him to participate due to New
7:11 PM ET The Miami Heat have ruled out forward Jimmy Butler for Wednesday night’s game against the Trail Blazers in Portland. Butler injured his right ankle late in the third quarter of Monday night’s 115-108 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Heat provided no other updates Tuesday beyond ruling him out against the
10:38 AM ET After missing four games in the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams has been cleared and will join the team for Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Suns, at 28-8, have the second-best record in the league. Williams entered the league’s health and
Though Antonio Brown trying to get away from MetLife Stadium was a big subplot of yesterday, he never left New York after quitting the Bucs and football. Antonio Brown was the talk of the NFL on Sunday, but not for anything he did on the field — well, at least in terms of playing in
12:27 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane has heard the chatter about whether his backcourt mate, Ja Morant, should make his first All-Star Game this season. But after Morant’s latest dominant performance — 36 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and a game-high plus-24 in 33 minutes of a 118-104
4:20 PM ET After a two-year layoff with significant injuries, there’s optimism that Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson will make his return against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, sources told ESPN. A final decision on Thompson’s debut is expected to be made once the Warriors return from back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday in
The Rajon Rondo trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers got a little bigger after the Knicks trade for Denzel Valentine. It’s been a rather quiet transactional front so far in the NBA this season. While teams struggle to deal with how to properly handle COVID-19 without changing the rules on everyone, deals
4:20 PM ET After a two-year layoff with significant injuries, there’s optimism Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson will make his return against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, sources told ESPN. A final decision on Thompson’s debut is expected to be made once the Warriors return from back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday in Dallas
8:00 AM ET DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls ended 2021 with fireworks. They started 2022 with some too. The NBA’s leader in fourth-quarter scoring was at it again this past week, knocking down wild, buzzer-beating 3-pointers in back-to-back fashion to stun the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards. Thanks to DeRozan’s late-game heroics, the Bulls
10:03 PM ET ESPN News Services OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Josh Giddey, back after missing three games while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double during Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. Giddey finished with 17 points, 14 assists
12:08 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant didn’t mince words after a disappointing 120-116 loss to a severely undermanned LA Clippers squad on Saturday night. He was frustrated by not only the fact that the Nets dropped their second straight game, but that they did so against a team he thought
A reflection on LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, the Lakers, Christmas and the too-familiar ghosts of past, present and future. Tis the season at the freshly christened Crypto.com Arena, which really means there are only 82 games of this to endure, and of those 82, some 34 are already in the record. Hope and disappointment are
12:02 AM ET Jamal Collier Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan hit a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer for the second consecutive night Saturday, leading the Bulls to a 120-119 road victory over the Washington Wizards, their seventh straight win. DeRozan, who hit a game-winner Friday to defeat the Indiana Pacers, is the first player in NBA history
More than one basketball lifetime separates the birth of LeBron James and Ja Morant. In sharing this time and space, they give us the best of both worlds. Ja Morant is a lot of fun right now. Ja Morant is likely to be fun for a while. There is a Paul Rudd uncorking a bottle
5:29 PM ET Denver Nuggets assistant Popeye Jones will be the acting head coach vs. the Houston Rockets in Saturday night’s game, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Assistant David Adelman, who had been acting head coach, now joins coach Michael Malone in COVID-19 protocols, sources said. Denver has a total of four coaches in protocols,
The Boston Celtics paid tribute to NBA legend Sam Jones on Friday afternoon. Jones passed away at 88 years old. Only Bill Russell has more championships than Jones, who retired with 10. Jones died on Thursday and the Celtics honored their team legend before their game against the Phoenix Suns with a tribute. “Sam Jones
2:28 PM ET Superstar point guard Luka Doncic is among three Dallas Mavericks who have cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols and are expected to rejoin the team before Sunday’s game in Oklahoma City. Shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and power forward Maxi Kleber have also cleared the protocols after missing several games because
Cincinnati football star Coby Bryant will honor the late Kobe Bryant during the Cotton Bowl. Ahead of the biggest game of his life, Cincinnati football player Coby Bryant will pay tribute to the person he was named after, honoring the late Kobe Bryant during the Cotton Bowl. No. 4 Cincinnati may be the last undefeated team
3:56 AM ET LOS ANGELES — If 2022 goes anything for the Los Angeles Lakers like LeBron James‘ first game since turning 37, L.A. could have big things in store. James scored a season-high 43 points in just 29 minutes in the Lakers’ 139-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, dominating the action from the
Seth Partnow, author and former Director of Basketball Research for the Milwaukee Bucks, spoke with FanSided about his new book, The Midrange Theory. Last month saw the release of Seth Partnow’s new book, The Midrange Theory. Throughout the book, Partnow, the former director of basketball research for the Milwaukee Bucks, explores the evolution of basketball
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green isn’t happy with the NBA’s decision to cancel their game against the Denver Nuggets. Green cited the Nuggets getting an unfair advantage, as well as inconsistent policy, for his frustration in a well-time social media discussion. Many NBA players, including LeBron James, have grown upset with the Association’s COVID-19
The Golden State Warriors have made it clear they have no intention of trading their young players to win now, but is that the right decision? After two consecutive years with a postseason appearance, expectations were tempered for this year’s Golden State Warriors. Yet a third of the way through the season, the Warriors have