Expert basketball coverage from around the world
Lakers coach JJ Redick said teams in the Western Conference still jockeying for playoff seeding would prefer to draw Los Angeles in the first round. Redick framed the Lakers as a desirable opponent given the team’s current health situation.
A massive wave of absences hit the NBA on Friday, with no fewer than 168 players held out across the league. The list included reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and 14 members of the Memphis Grizzlies.
UC Santa Barbara will move to the West Coast Conference beginning with the 2027-28 season. The addition will bring the WCC to 12 member schools.
Former Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen is pursuing a return to Florida, where he started his college career. His ability to suit up for the Gators next season depends on receiving an NCAA waiver for an additional year of eligibility.
76ers star Joel Embiid has been released from a hospital in Houston and is traveling back to Philadelphia. The team said there is no timeline for his return to game action.
UConn freshman Eric Reibe has entered the transfer portal. Reibe was part of the Huskies’ rotation on a team that reached the Final Four.
Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears announced Friday that he will enter the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. Fears led the Spartans in scoring and paced the nation in assists per game.
Cal sophomore guard Justin Pippen is transferring to Ohio State, according to his agents at WME Basketball. Pippen began his college career at Michigan before spending last season at Cal.
Miami is expected to waive guard Terry Rozier on Friday. Rozier has been on leave since October amid a sports gambling probe.
As the season closes, analyst Dean Oliver applies ESPN Analytics’ Net Points metric to recognize the NBA’s most valuable players across 15 categories. The list spans skill-specific areas such as floaters and defense, while also including the league’s top overall honor.
As the NBA postseason unfolds, several league-wide storylines are coming into sharper focus. From the Lakers’ outlook to the Spurs’ perimeter shooting, six key questions are drawing attention across the league.
Jayson Tatum logged 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes Thursday night. Afterward, the Celtics star said the most important part was walking off the floor “on my own two feet.”
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said he appreciated an endorsement from team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf as he continues to weigh his future with the organization. Donovan added he understands the need for everyone involved to prioritize what’s best for the Bulls.
Michigan star point guard Elliot Cadeau, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, will return to Ann Arbor for his senior season. Cadeau shared the decision Thursday in an interview with Pete Thamel.
Providence and first-year coach Bryan Hodgson added two notable pieces Thursday, securing a commitment from G League standout Dink Pate and signing reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Miles Byrd. The pair represent significant early roster additions for the Friars under new leadership.
The Big Ten will collect $69.4 million in NCAA distributions tied to appearances and performance in the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The payout reflects the conference’s share of NCAA revenue allocated through tournament participation and results.
Stephen Curry will not play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a knee issue, the Warriors announced. The absence means Curry and LeBron James will not face each other in the regular season this year.
Wizards forward Alex Sarr is likely to miss Washington’s final three games of the season due to a toe injury. The setback leaves the club shorthanded in the closing stretch of its schedule.
Tennessee big man J.P. Estrella has committed to Michigan out of the transfer portal. The 6-foot-11 redshirt sophomore becomes the Wolverines’ first portal addition since winning the national title Monday.
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis. He is undergoing surgery Thursday afternoon in Houston.
The NBA issued a $25,000 fine to the Orlando Magic for violating the league’s injury reporting rules. The violation occurred ahead of Monday night’s home game against the Detroit Pistons.
Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie is entering the NBA draft after a standout freshman season. Okorie led the ACC in scoring in his first year with the Cardinal.
A new look at every men’s NCAA tournament champion since 2000 raises the central question: how does Michigan’s 2026 title team compare to the best of this century? The ranking places the Wolverines in the broader context of modern champions across eras, styles, and levels of dominance.
Men who are plaintiffs in a lawsuit said they sought help from an NC State athletic trainer but instead experienced unwanted genital touching or other alleged misconduct. The filing recounts their claims of attempting to get assistance and the behavior they say followed.
As more teams push tempo, pace has become a league-wide obsession — and a complicated one. An ESPN analysis from Zach Kram highlights how playing faster can correlate with both elite performance and costly mistakes, depending on the team.
Jaylen Brown didn’t approach Boston’s season as a one-man rescue mission. Instead, he focused on leading in his own way — a mindset he summed up simply: “I’m not going to make myself small ever again.”
Oklahoma City secured the NBA’s best regular-season record Wednesday night by beating the Los Angeles Clippers. The result also placed the Thunder in rare historical company.
An NCAA panel is scheduled to discuss potential changes to college eligibility rules. The proposal under review would incorporate age into the eligibility process, according to reports.
Cade Cunningham returned to the lineup and delivered a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 assists. Detroit backed his comeback with a lopsided win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
Michigan’s national title victory over Connecticut delivered a major audience on Monday night. The championship broadcast averaged 18.3 million viewers across multiple networks and streaming.
