NBA

Apr 4, 2024, 09:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Kenny Smith, a two-time NBA champion and prominent broadcaster, has been appointed head of Next Stars’ player initiatives in North America for the National Basketball League‘s Next Stars program, the league announced. The appointment of Smith will see him actively recruit, develop and mentor new Next

Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff WriterApr 4, 2024, 12:57 AM ET Close Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. Open Extended Reactions WASHINGTON — Count LeBron James among the scores of viewers tuning into the

Andrew Lopez, ESPNApr 4, 2024, 12:57 AM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson did not play the final 7:24 of Wednesday night’s 117-108 loss to the Orlando Magic because of a finger injury on his left hand. Williamson had the middle finger of his left shooting hand taped

ESPN News Services Apr 3, 2024, 11:18 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Detroit Pistons reserve point guard Malachi Flynn gave a rare 50-point performance in Wednesday night’s 121-113 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. It was just the third game of 50 points or more by a player off the bench since starters were first tracked

ESPN News Services Apr 3, 2024, 10:40 PM ET Open Extended Reactions BOSTON — Kristaps Porzingis had 27 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, helping the Boston Celtics power past the Oklahoma City Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday night to secure the best record in the NBA and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Boston, which won

Apr 3, 2024, 02:35 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Jerry West has been elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for a record third time, with his latest path coming as a contributor to the game, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday. West, 85, has been previously inducted into the Hall of Fame

Anthony Olivieri, ESPN.comApr 3, 2024, 12:43 PM ET Former G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose body was found near Las Vegas, had his trial date set for March 10, 2025, at a hearing on Wednesday morning. Comanche appeared in front of Judge Michelle Leavitt of Clark

Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPNApr 3, 2024, 10:47 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Steve Clifford is stepping down as the Charlotte Hornets‘ coach at the end of the season and is working to finalize a front office role with the franchise, sources told ESPN. Clifford, who informed his assistants and players of the news Wednesday morning, will

Brianna Williams, ESPNApr 3, 2024, 09:19 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the season as the NBA’s second youngest and least experienced team with an average age of 24.12 years and 2.22 seasons. Editor’s Picks 1 Related Despite that, they have competed with the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves

Apr 3, 2024, 10:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions We’re less than two weeks away from the conclusion of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, and a myriad of possibilities still remain in the West and East playoff seeding. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves have each locked up

Kendra Andrews, ESPNApr 3, 2024, 03:14 AM ET Open Extended Reactions SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green started to move toward Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving as he began to dance his way to the hoop. But Green knew not to commit to Irving. Green wanted to keep himself in position if

Tim Bontemps Kevin Pelton Close Kevin Pelton ESPN Senior Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system Apr 3, 2024, 02:09 AM ET Open Extended Reactions PHILADELPHIA — When Joel Embiid barreled down the court inside the final 30 seconds of Tuesday night’s game

Jamal Collier, ESPNApr 2, 2024, 07:37 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The Stockton Kings’ Lindsey Harding became the first woman to be named coach of the year in the NBA G League on Tuesday. Harding earned the honor after guiding the Kings to a league-best 24-10 regular-season record. They earned the top seed in the

Associated Press Apr 2, 2024, 08:42 PM ET SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell is sidelined again for the Cleveland Cavaliers, sitting out a game against his former team. Mitchell will not play against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night due to injury management. The All-Star guard has played in just seven games since the

Apr 2, 2024, 07:03 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is in the starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 30 for Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Embiid has been rehabbing from left meniscus surgery and returns with seven games left in the Sixers’ regular season. Philadelphia

Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff WriterApr 2, 2024, 02:52 PM ET Close Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is

ESPN News Services Apr 2, 2024, 12:46 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Rajon Rondo officially announced his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons. During an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast, Rondo was quick with a response when asked by host Matt Barnes if the NBA has seen the last of him. “Absolutely,”

Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterApr 2, 2024, 11:09 AM ET Close ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books Open Extended Reactions The Minnesota Timberwolves have been in ownership limbo for much of the past decade. Last week, when Wolves owner Glen Taylor announced he’d voided a contract