NBA

1:10 AM ET Kyrie Irving said Wednesday night he still hopes to return and play for the Brooklyn Nets but that “this is about my life and what I am choosing to do,” as he explained his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Irving, speaking on Instagram Live, said he is neither pro-vaccine nor

4:44 PM ET Calling it a “difficult” but “sound” decision, Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash addressed the team Wednesday and began the process of moving forward without Kyrie Irving. A day after the Nets decided not to allow their starting point guard to practice or play with them until he complies with New York City’s

3:33 PM ET Associated Press CAMDEN, N.J. — This much is known: Ben Simmons is back in Philadelphia. But there’s no clear sign yet the All-Star guard is set to rescind his trade request and actually play for the 76ers. Even coach Doc Rivers — publicly, at least — says he’s unsure of the status

11:45 AM ET Overtime Elite unveiled its complete game schedule and three rosters for its inaugural season, which tips off Oct. 29. As part of the schedule, OTE’s group of 16-to-20-year-olds, including several four- and five-star recruits and top international prospects, will be split into three teams and compete against prep and postgraduate opponents including

12:56 PM ET Fanbo Zeng, previously the No. 33 prospect in the ESPN class of 2022, told ESPN on Wednesday that he has signed with the NBA’s G League Ignite program and will declare for the 2022 NBA draft. “This is the best and fastest way to become a pro, and also get better every

11:36 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN As part of the league’s 75th anniversary celebration, the NBA has unveiled a season-long calendar, showing a detailed uniform schedule for all 30 teams, on its Locker Vision website. In total, 123 different uniforms will be worn leaguewide during the 2021-22 regular season, with teams each receiving four jersey editions:

8:00 AM ET Behold, the top 10 NBA teams in our 10th annual League Pass Rankings. Reminder: These are watchability scores, not power rankings! We score teams, 1-10, in five categories: ZEITGEIST: Do actual humans care about this team? STAR/HIGHLIGHT POTENTIAL: Do you stick around games, at the expense of sleep and loved ones, because

3:45 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The Lakers‘ brand-new Big Three made its preseason debut in a 111-99 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. And while the result of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis‘ first court time together was another defeat to drop L.A.’s record to 0-5 in its exhibition schedule,

2:52 AM ET Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons passed his physical and held a meeting with the team’s front office on Tuesday but remains ineligible to participate in team-related activities until Friday at the earliest due to NBA health and safety protocols, sources told ESPN. Simmons met with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl

7:04 PM ET Associated Press BOSTON — The Boston Celtics say center Al Horford has tested positive for COVID-19. Horford is currently in isolation and didn’t travel with the team for its two-game exhibition road trip to Florida, which includes games in Orlando on Wednesday and Miami on Friday. He is the second Celtics player

7:35 PM ET Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks will miss the start of the season to ensure he fully recovers from a broken left hand. The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that the decision for Brooks to receive additional treatment was made after reviewing imaging in checking Brooks as part of the team’s

1:05 PM ET Marc J. Spears Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann has agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract extension, ESPN’s The Undefeated has learned. Mann averaged 7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists last season primarily as a reserve for the Clippers, but offered a big lift in the postseason as they advanced

11:12 AM ET Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the Brooklyn Nets until he is eligible to become a full participant under local COVID-19 vaccination requirements, general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday. “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to

8:00 AM ET It’s time for our dumbest NBA preseason tradition: League Pass Rankings! These rankings turn 10 today. I can’t believe I continue to trick publications into running them. These are not power rankings! They are watchability scores, derived from an ancient formula Bill Simmons claims appeared before him when he ingested too many

10:21 PM ET After staying away for the first two weeks of the preseason, 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons reported to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Monday night, sources told ESPN. As the Sixers played the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons took a COVID-19 test in the arena, sources said. The initial test starts several

7:39 PM ET Associated Press BURLINGTON, N.C. — JR Smith couldn’t help but feel anxious. Sure, he had spent 16 years playing in the NBA, making millions and winning two world championships in packed arenas at the highest level of a global sport. But he had never been in the situation like he was Monday:

8:08 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — As discussions between Ben Simmons‘ side and the Philadelphia 76ers have gained momentum in recent days, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said Monday night that from “day one” Philadelphia has wanted Simmons to come back and play for the team, and that his teammates will welcome him back if

5:43 PM ET The San Antonio Spurs waived forward Luka Samanic on Monday, cutting ties with the No. 19 pick in the 2019 NBA draft after just two seasons. Samanic, 21, had two years left on his rookie contract. San Antonio was facing a deadline this month to pick up his option for the 2022-23