Yes, the Phoenix Suns are experimenting with Deandre Ayton and Aron Baynes in the starting lineup. Is Ayton at the 4 viable or even survivable? In the 3-point heavy, pace-and-space NBA, traditional positions of old are fading into legend. Switchability is king, seven-footers who can do more than just post up are labeled as mythical
5:54 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for making inappropriate contact with a game official. Thomas received a technical foul and was ejected early in the Wizards’ 122-103 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. Thomas was
Lottery picks are viewed through rose-colored lenses in the NBA. As the draft approaches, teams, fans and the media alike increasingly overvalue top players and picks. Player comparisons provide unrealistic evaluations, and they put a ton of pressure on young players. Meanwhile, top prospects are mostly under 20-years-old and – more often than not –
2:36 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Two words came to mind for Dwight Howard when he was asked to compare Anthony Davis‘ first game against his former team five weeks ago to Davis’ performance Friday in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 123-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. “No stress,” Howard said. It’s a phrase Lakers
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1:17 AM ET HOUSTON — Coach Brett Brown attempted to take a positive approach after the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 118-108 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night. It was the 76ers’ fourth consecutive loss, their longest losing streak since December 2017, but Brown said he liked the way his team competed by pulling within five
Lottery picks are viewed through rose-colored lenses in the NBA. As the draft approaches, teams, fans and the media alike increasingly overvalue top players and picks. Player comparisons provide unrealistic evaluations, and they put a ton of pressure on young players. Meanwhile, top prospects are mostly under 20-years-old and – more often than not –
4:14 PM ET The Cleveland Cavaliers say forward Larry Nance Jr. will miss 1-2 weeks due to left knee soreness. Nance missed Cleveland’s win against Atlanta on Dec. 23, due to the knee, but had played in the Cavs’ four games since. The team said he underwent further testing on Friday and now will undergo
After two seasons of questions, Markelle Fultz has proven himself a useful NBA player. What have we seen so far and what does it mean for his ceiling? After a meandering first two seasons that included mysterious injuries, conspiracy theories, a disappearing jumpshot and plenty of missed games, former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz
8:39 AM ET R.J. Hampton has been medically cleared for full contact in the Australian NBL, while LaMelo Ball remains out for the indefinite future, sources told ESPN. Hampton, No. 7 in ESPN’s top 100 draft prospects for 2020, has been cleared by doctors to resume full basketball activity after recovering from a hip injury
Injuries are never something that NBA teams want to deal with, but they’re an unfortunate part of the game — ask any franchise, they’ll agree. But when NBA teams get hit with injuries, it usually opens up opportunities and playing time for other players to step up and contribute. The Washington Wizards are currently in
12:40 AM ET LOS ANGELES — LA Clippers star Paul George was ruled out of Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons with tightness in his left hamstring. George went back to the locker room with 3:45 remaining in the second quarter. At the end of the half, the team said the guard was questionable
There’s a number of ways NBA players show their admiration for each other. Here are some of the stranger ones. In a recent story on ESPN, several players and coaches speak about the strategy of double-teaming James Harden as soon as he crosses the floor, with many seeing it as a sign of respect. Harden
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a collection of young players that will serve of the cornerstones of their rebuild soon. How are they doing so far? We’re only about 40 percent of the way through the 2019-20 NBA season, but for some teams, it’s pretty clear that the truly competitive portion of the year is over.
6:05 PM ET Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is out indefinitely after an MRI on Thursday revealed a severe sprain and bone contusion in his left knee. The team said in a statement that Isaac will be re-evaluated in eight-to-10 weeks. “While this certainly is disappointing news, there was no damage to his ACL, MCL and
The Utah Jazz have had an interesting season, to say the least. Prior to their roster changes, they were 18-12. This mark was certainly impressive, all things considered, but it left a lot to be desired considering all the win-now moves they made in the offseason — like the acquisitions of Mike Conley and Bojan
4:07 PM ET David Stern, the NBA commissioner who oversaw the sport’s biggest stage for three decades, has died, the league announced Wednesday. He was 77. Stern died as a result of the brain hemorrhage he suffered three weeks ago. His wife, Dianne, and their family were with him at his bedside, the NBA said.
Former NBA Commissioner David Stern has died. He was 77. David Stern, former NBA Commissioner who oversaw exponential growth of the NBA during his 30-year tenure, has passed away. Stern was 77. He was hospitalized for the past few weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement: For 22
11:30 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony said last month that his No. 15 jersey should be retired by the Denver Nuggets. So what about his No. 7 here at Madison Square Garden? After scoring a season-high 26 points for the Portland Trail Blazers in a 117-93 loss to the New York
The Utah Jazz have had an interesting season, to say the least. Prior to their roster changes, they were 18-12. This mark was certainly impressive, all things considered, but it left a lot to be desired considering all the win-now moves they made in the offseason — like the acquisitions of Mike Conley and Bojan
4:11 PM ET On the night of the 2007 NBA draft lottery, David Stern sat in the temporary bleachers lining the NBA’s Secaucus, New Jersey, television studios and seethed. The three finalists had been revealed for a chance to draft Greg Oden and Kevin Durant with the Nos. 1 and 2 picks: Portland, Seattle and
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has good potential to be an impactful NBA player, but how that will happen remains to be seen. One of the most annoying continual arguments occurring around the NBA Draft over the past few years is determining exactly what qualifies as potential and upside. There is one camp that values what has traditionally
11:29 PM ET HOUSTON — Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone considers his preferred defensive strategy of double-teaming Houston Rockets star James Harden, sometimes as far as 40 feet away from the basket, to be a form of flattery. “I know it’s probably frustrating for him,” Malone said before Tuesday night’s game at the Toyota Center.
Wilson Chandler is a unique NBA player. He’s more willing to speak with the media than most, and when asked a thoughtful question, he’ll provide an even more thoughtful response. Since the summer, Chandler has tweeted and discussed his thoughts on many topics that are somewhere between sports and societal issues. So this writer had
12:00 AM ET In case you haven’t noticed, the 2010s are officially over. And it was a wild ride in the Association. It was a span full of triple-doubles, shattered 3-point records and LeBron James trips to the NBA Finals. However, other questions remain outside of points, rebounds and assists. Who was statistically the best
Anthony Edwards and Cole Anthony have separated themselves as the top players in the 2020 NBA Draft, plus other thoughts after the first month of college basketball. The 2020 NBA Draft picture is starting to take shape. Six weeks into the NBA season, we know who a few of the teams who will be picking
8:33 PM ET LA Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley is expected to miss a few games with a right wrist sprain because of a sprained right wrist, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Beverley, whom the Clippers have already ruled out of Tuesday’s game against Sacramento, was injured Saturday against the Utah Jazz, but X-rays
Injuries are never something that NBA teams want to deal with, but they’re an unfortunate part of the game — ask any franchise, they’ll agree. But when NBA teams get hit with injuries, it usually opens up opportunities and playing time for other players to step up and contribute. The Washington Wizards are currently in
7:57 AM ET Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell will miss Tuesday’s game against the Spurs because of a left shoulder contusion. Russell suffered the injury in Saturday’s loss to the Mavericks. He also is battling a flu bug that has affected multiple members of the team. Center Willie Cauley-Stein also is dealing with the
The phrase “out indefinitely” has been in the sports-injury vernacular since time immemorial, though its meaning and use is, at times, purposefully obscure. The definition should be straightforward, but just like with anything in a competition, sometimes things aren’t always as clear as they should be. The phrase “out indefinitely” — along with its kin