With 4.2 seconds left in a tied Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Marc Gasol inbounded the ball to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard caught the ball at the top key and was promptly met by Ben Simmons, who shadowed Leonard as he made a move to his right and headed toward the wing. When Leonard
4:19 PM ET Two-time championship coach Erik Spoelstra has agreed to a long-term contract extension with the Miami Heat, league sources told ESPN. Spoelstra, who would have been entering the final season of his deal, quietly negotiated a new deal that allows him to continue as the league’s second-longest tenured active coach with one team,
Deni Avdija is a highly regarded international prospect because of his ability to be a positive contributor on offense and defense. Despite sharing an affinity for three-quarter leg tights, Deni Avdija is not the next Luka Doncic. Both are 6-foot-8ish European ball-handlers with significant hype and intrigue. But the similarities mostly end there. Avdija is
7:01 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Bodies bounced off one another during an intrasquad scrimmage that capped the Los Angeles Lakers‘ first practice of training camp Saturday. LeBron James collided with Alex Caruso, causing both of them to fall to the floor. Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard got tangled up going for a rebound
When Nikola Jokic exploded onto the scene in 2017, we knew it was only a matter of time until Denver would establish itself as one of the best teams in the league. After the 2018-2019 season concluded, we now know that the Nuggets’ time has arrived. Last season, they won 54 games, the most wins
5:49 PM ET SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Speaking publicly for the first time since sexual assault allegations were made against him, new Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton said his focus remains on the team. “Yeah, I mean, look, it’s the same I’ve been saying,” Walton said during Friday’s media day. “I’m here to do my job
With the 2019-20 NBA season less than a month away, we’re exploring the most interesting players for each team in the Pacific Division. We’re now less than a month away from the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. Coming off one of the most interesting offseasons in recent memory, it feels like an appropriate time
6:36 PM ET Anthony Davis, now firmly in the fold with the purple and gold, is keeping sour grapes at arm’s length. The Los Angeles Lakers‘ superstar addition says he isn’t affected by comments the general manager of his former team made that appeared to be critical of the forward’s exit from New Orleans. “That’s
When Nikola Jokic exploded onto the scene in 2017, we knew it was only a matter of time until Denver would establish itself as one of the best teams in the league. After the 2018-2019 season concluded, we now know that the Nuggets’ time has arrived. Last season, they won 54 games, the most wins
These New Orleans Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson, are not only a must-watch team for diehards surfing NBA League Pass, but anyone who is a fan of basketball. Open up your calendar right now, pull out a Sharpie marker, and black out whatever you thought you were doing on Oct. 22, because the NBA has
8:54 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Oddsmakers in Las Vegas might consider them the favorites, and desire to repent for the 2018-19 debacle of a season might be palpable, but LeBron James is doing his best to keep the burden of expectations off the Los Angeles Lakers this season. “I’m very motivated but I’m
With the 2019-20 NBA season less than a month away, we’re exploring the most interesting players for each team in the Southeast Division. We’re now less than a month away from the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. Coming off one of the most interesting offseasons in recent memory, it feels like an appropriate time
3:12 PM ET NEW YORK — Kevin Durant reiterated Friday that he does not expect to play this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals last June. Durant told ESPN that he is progressing and has not experienced any setback in his rehab. “I’m just strengthening
Remember when the Jazz were supposed to be rebuilding? Neither do we. It’s truly astonishing that in the two years after Gordon Hayward deserted Salt Lake for Beantown, Utah has not only kept the wheels turning, but they are projected to be in a better spot now than they ever were with Hayward on the
With the 2019-20 NBA season less than a month away, we’re exploring the most interesting players for each team in the Central Division. We’re now less than a month away from the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. Coming off one of the most interesting offseasons in recent memory, it feels like an appropriate time
6:26 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball watched, as seemingly everyone else did, as a clip of his father, LaVar, calling him “damaged goods” made the rounds last week. The clip, from the “Ball in the Family” show on Facebook, was fodder for social media mavens and talk show hosts
With so many new faces in new places, building chemistry is essential. Here’s the perfect team-building activity for each NBA team to finish their summer with. After a summer of shakeups, a handful of NBA franchises have turned to pre-season team-building exercises off the court in hopes of jump-starting team chemistry on it. With the
Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat spoke about his Hollywood projects, expectations for a breakout season, playing point guard and much more. Whether he has a basketball or a camera in his hands, Justise Winslow is a creative type. Those in South Florida consider last season somewhat of a breakout year for Winslow. During a
8:15 PM ET Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma is out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his foot, an injury he suffered while he was working with Team USA this summer, the Lakers announced. Kuzma has not been cleared for full practice or game participation and will miss at least the first three weeks
Remember when the Jazz were supposed to be rebuilding? Neither do we. It’s truly astonishing that, in the two years after Gordon Hayward deserted Salt Lake for Beantown, Utah has not only kept the wheels turning, but they are projected to be in a better spot now than they ever were with Hayward on the
2:29 PM ET The NBA G League is experimenting this season with a new rule under which all trips to the free throw line will include only a single foul shot that will be worth one, two or three points depending on the nature of the foul leading to the attempt, officials told ESPN. It
With the 2019-20 NBA season less than a month away, we’re exploring the most interesting players for each team in the Atlantic Division. We’re now less than a month away from the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. Coming off one of the most interesting offseasons in recent memory, it feels like an appropriate time
3:21 PM ET Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — It was time for the last jump shot of Markelle Fultz‘s workout on the Orlando Magic practice court on Wednesday. He let a 3-pointer fly from the left corner, and spun around in celebration even before the ball swished through the net. After two years of problems,
So, that happened. That, of course, is the sudden, unexpected departure of Russell Westbrook, the undeniable top dog in Thunder-era franchise history. Onto Houston — reuniting with former teammate James Harden — to forge a new path ahead, leaving Oklahoma City – for the first time since the franchise moved cross-country in 2009 – without
6:17 PM ET Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Videos of Ben Simmons making jumpers flooded social media over the summer, and the All-Star point guard said he is ready to take his game to another level when the Philadelphia 76ers open camp next week. “I feel like this summer I fell in love with the game
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden on March 24, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions
1:35 PM ET The Philadelphia 76ers have hired former NBA center Roy Hibbert as player development specialist, the team announced Wednesday. Hibbert, 32, played in the league for nine seasons and was a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers. The 7-foot-2 Hibbert finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2013-14, when the
After earning the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs — all behind the strong play of Nikola Vucevic — the Orlando Magic should have the optimism to improve during the 2019-20 season. The Magic were able to maintain stability within their ranks entering this year, keeping a large part of their core roster
Forget how the Houston Rockets are going to fit on the court, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and P.J. Tucker are going to be rocking heat all season. After Russell Westbrook got traded to the Houston Rockets this offseason naturally everyone’s mind went to “how will he and James Harden coexist?” Which, sure that’s a major
6:49 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Wizards forward Troy Brown Jr. has injured his left calf and is expected to miss about a month, the latest in a series of injuries the team is dealing with as the NBA season approaches. The Wizards said Tuesday that Brown strained his calf a day earlier during