After years of hitting the same wall, the Toronto Raptors finally broke through behind the strength of their superstar and balanced collection of co-stars. It’s a novel idea that the Toronto Raptors could be NBA champions, but it shouldn’t be altogether surprising that they arrived here. The Raptors were among the league’s best teams all
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user
11:54 PM ET Last summer, the San Antonio Spurs thought they had the Los Angeles Lakers right where they wanted them. L.A. had the inside track to sign LeBron James as a free agent on July 1. But the belief around the league was that James wouldn’t come to the Lakers by himself and spend
Injecting youth into the frontcourt will be one of the most important tasks for the Boston Celtics in this year’s NBA Draft. The 2019 NBA Draft has been regularly described as disappointing after mega-prospect Zion Williamson, and that’s an understandable feeling — there aren’t many other players with well-defined paths to stardom to be found
With the NBA Draft less than nine days away, things in the NBA are starting to heat up as NBA teams zero in on trade scenarios and the players they will ultimately have a real shot at drafting. There is a very important disclaimer/concept worth re-stating. Rumors, like the ones we’ll dig into in a
6:12 PM ET Twenty players have received invitations to attend the 2019 NBA draft and sit in the green room, sources told ESPN. Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, Jarrett Culver, Coby White, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes received the first batch of invites on June 7, sources said, with an
TORONTO, CANADA – JUNE 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors talks to Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors after sustaining an injury during Game Five of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors on June 10, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and
6:39 PM ET OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers remains confident that the organization can retain Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant this summer. “There’s things I can say; there’s all these rules — but I would say that we value those guys at the highest level,” Myers said on Friday. “I
The NBA Finals ended with a timeout that wasn’t there, leading to a technical foul. Calling a timeout they didn’t have actually gave the Warriors one final fleeting hope, one dashed after Kawhi Leonard hit both free throws to clinch Toronto’s title. It was an odd end to a noble run: Golden State, already without
Masai Ujiri has accomplished quite a bit in his short time with the Toronto Raptors. Named Executive of the Year with the Denver Nuggets in 2013, Ujiri was shortly thereafter named General Manager of a Raptors team that looked destined for rock bottom. But, undeterred, Ujiri cobbled together a roster that ended a then five-year,
2:19 PM ET The NBA Finals had a wild impact on next year’s championship odds, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers as the favorites at some sportsbooks and the injury-riddled Golden State Warriors as second-tier contenders. The Lakers, at +400, are the favorites to win the 2019-20 NBA championship at Caesars Sportsbook, followed by the Milwaukee
Bol Bol’s draft stock is hard to pin down, and he could go anywhere in the 2019 NBA Draft. Here are the best five fits for him. Bol Bol is the most polarizing player we’ve seen in the NBA Draft in quite some time. You will see him all over big boards right now. He’s
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 10: Rapper Drake shakes hands with Commentator Michael Wilbon before the game between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 10, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 17: The Cleveland Cavaliers logo on the uniform during the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of
1:55 PM ET OAKLAND, Calif. — Three years ago, as the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated the franchise’s first NBA championship on the Golden State Warriors‘ home court, Draymond Green sat at his locker and sent a text message to Kevin Durant. Green wanted to let Durant know that — even at his lowest moment, just an
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 18: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets during game three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 18, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges
With the NBA Draft less than nine days away, things in the NBA are starting to heat up as NBA teams zero in on trade scenarios and the players they will ultimately have a real shot at drafting. There is a very important disclaimer/concept worth re-stating. Rumors, like the ones we’ll dig into in a
8:51 AM ET Kyle Lowry‘s willingness to take a secondary role to incoming star Kawhi Leonard was a key first step in the Toronto Raptors winning their first title Thursday night. The July trade that brought Leonard to Toronto was among the topics the two players discussed with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols following the Raptors’ 114-110
Per the Boston Herald, Kyrie Irving is prepared to sign with the Brooklyn Nets when free agency opens next month. Representatives of his new agency, Roc Nation, told the Herald Irving intends to join the Nets. Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics have long been rumored to part following a tumultuous season that had the
The Toronto Raptors have captured their first NBA championship in franchise history and Twitter reacted to We The North toppling Dub Nation. The Toronto Raptors have toppled the Golden State Warriors dynasty. In a Game 6 that was thrilling from start-to-finish, the Raptors supporting cast helped Kawhi Leonard bring We The North their first championship
Kyle Lowry joined the Raptors in the summer of 2012 without many expectations. He had only started 139 games over his first six seasons with Memphis and Houston, and while perhaps there was some untapped potential there, few could have projected how quickly and how fully he flowered north of the border. Toronto only had
12:17 AM ET Golden State came up short in the NBA Finals and saw superstar Kevin Durant suffer a serious injury, leaving a question mark on what’s next for the Warriors’ dynasty. Yet, for now, the Warriors — not the champion Toronto Raptors — are the favorites to win next year’s title. Golden State, at
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 21: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a lead over the New York Knicks with Kyle Kuzma #0 during the first half at Staples Center on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) AEW: The Road to Fyter Fest episode 2: Enter
Every year, at least one good player slips through the cracks and goes in the second round. In the 2019 NBA Draft, here are five players who could fit that mold. To be a good team in the NBA, you have to hit decisions on the margins. Building an elite team can’t be done without
With the NBA Draft less than nine days away, things in the NBA are starting to heat up as NBA teams zero in on trade scenarios and the players they will ultimately have a real shot at drafting. There is a very important disclaimer/concept worth re-stating. Rumors, like the ones we’ll dig into in a
4:26 PM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN Duke star Zion Williamson is suing to enforce his termination of an agreement he signed with a Florida marketing company, maintaining their deal was unlawful under North Carolina law, his attorneys told ESPN. Williamson is set to become the No. 1 overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in next
After an up-and-down season with the Boston Celtics, Kyrie Irving’s free-agent fate is more up in the air than ever. Kyrie Irving wasn’t supposed to be here. In October, Irving told Boston Celtics season-ticket holders, “If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here next year.” Free-agent case closed, right? Not so
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 12: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during the second half of a NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Smoothie King Center on March 12, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Milwaukee Bucks won the game 130 – 113. NOTE TO USER: User
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 8: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or
8:20 AM ET With their backs against the wall in a must-win NBA Finals Game 5 in Toronto, the Golden State Warriors leaned on an old friend to extend the series: historically great 3-point shooting. The Dubs are the defining team of our time in part because they’ve turned the basketball court inside-out, winning games