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I can't remember a "marquee superstar" free agent quite like him. In the final installment of my Trade Value Trilogy two weeks ago, I compared the experience of watching Dwight How...(full article)

LeBron James is in the hunt for a second straight NBA championship after leading the Miami Heat to an NBA-best 66 wins during the regular season. It has been a wildly successful 12...(full article)

If given the choice of any player in NBA history to start a franchise, legendary coach Phil Jackson says Celtics center Bill Russell would win out over his former player Michael Jo...(full article)

Wizards Coach Randy Wittman called Bradley Beal from the golf course about an hour before Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery and had one simple message: “Don’t screw it ...(full article)

As the basketball world descends on this city this weekend, when the Memphis Grizzlies host the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their history, many will discover ...(full article)

More Recent Articles

Pacers, Heat Coaches Reverse Roles

Frank Vogel's Indiana Pacers lost a heartbreaking overtime game Wednesday night to open these Eastern Conference finals. He emerged Thursday, "encouraged." Erik Spoelstra's Miami H...

Vogel's Blunder Will Likely Be Pivotal Moment

What was Frank Vogel thinking?   With 2.2 seconds to go and holding on to a hard-earned one-point lead in a must-have Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Pacers coach Frank ...

LeBron's Layup Saved More Than Just the Game

MIAMI — The clock was moving to zeroes, the Heat were down a point, LeBron James took the inbounds pass and, there he went, accelerating to the basket to win the unwinnable ...

Not a Bad Night: Triple-Double, OT Winner

This was more like it. Ten games in, the playoffs felt like they started for real for the Heat here Wednesday night. Welcome back, tension and doubt. Good to see you again, major...

Cavs Won the Lottery and With It, Noel

NEW YORK -- Saddle up, everyone. This is going to be a wildly unpredictable draft. Though reports about this crop's weakness are premature -- it is impossible to know just how goo...

Boeheim on 'Star Wars' Ride With Carmelo

Like most everything in life, Jim Boeheim’s undying loyalty to Carmelo Anthony can best be explained by Star Wars. Ever wondered why Chewbacca followed Han Solo everywhere, no ma...

Jordan Tries to Put Buzz Back in Charlotte

Four years ago, I wrote that Michael Jordan couldn't save basketball in Charlotte. His track record for building a team was dismal and he showed little desire to use his celeb...

Pacers Collect Everything But Victory

This was the game the Indiana Pacers had to have, nearly had, should have had. They controlled tempo. They dominated the boards. They turned Game 1 of the Eastern Conference fina...

LeBron Putting Jordan in Rear-View Mirror

When Michael Jordan retired for the final time in 2003, he retired as the clear-cut, no-doubt-about-it greatest basketball player of all-time. Better than Magic. Better than Bird...

Spurs Blow Lead, Then Survive in Overtime

The San Antonio Spurs hadn't played fair with these overmatched Memphis Grizzlies for most of the night, but this third quarter sequence was even meaner than normal. Tony Parker ...

Cavs Hit Lottery Jackpot With No. 1

Yes, the Cavs grabbed the No. 1 pick in the NBA lottery, but it's a lousy draft. OK, it is a lousy draft ... so would you rather have the No. 6 pick in a bad draft? That was the w...

Del Negro Sacrificed for Paul, Griffin?

Why mess with success when you have known only defeat previously? The Clippers sold out 94 straight games with Vinny Del Negro as coach, won the franchise's first Pacific Division ...

Heat Have Reason to Be Scared of Pacers

LeBron James’ overreaction to the media-ginned “just another team” controversy strikes me as Miami Heat vulnerability. Dan Le Batard’s whining about the New York Knicks los...

NBA, NHL Need Better Economic Models

Spring and early summer is the busiest time of the sports calendar. A new baseball season opens, the NFL Draft happens, and the NHL and NBA playoffs occur. Amidst this flurry of ...

Hollinger's New Math Good for Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies entered this NBA season as a good basketball team living in the worst of all possible worlds. Coming off two consecutive playoff runs, they were bound to com...

The No. 1 Choice in the NBA Draft Is ...

It’s a pretty safe bet that, when it comes time for David Stern to announce the No. 1 pick in this June’s draft, he will say Kentucky forward Nerlens Noel, rehabbing k...

Bobcats Need Different Luck, Not Nickname

The Bobcats are changing their nickname when they really should be working on changing their unofficial motto. Which is: "Everything seems so right, and yet everything goes so wron...

Secret to NBA's Small-Town Success

Are you psyched about a Pacers-Grizzlies NBA Finals?   Unless you’re from Indianapolis of Memphis, probably not. In truth, this matchup probably won’t happen, giv...

Grizzlies Lean to the Left

Of the four teams left in the NBA playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies boast the richest roster of lefties—a factor that's largely regarded as irrelevant in sports outside of baseba...

With Lottery Near, Noel Ranks as Top Pick

On Tuesday at roughly 9 p.m. ET, the Socratic paradox will rear its ugly head back into the NBA. No one will know anything, everyone will know that no one knows anything, but no...

Contrasts Abound in Heat-Pacers Matchup

The Heat gets who in the NBA Eastern Conference finals? Indiana? What, no (censored) Knicks? The NBA playoffs must shatter conspiracy theorists’ core beliefs. Sort of like the ...

How San Antonio Stifled Randolph

You have to look back to 2002 to find the last postseason game in which the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph failed to convert a field-goal attempt. Once there, you'll see that as...

Talk Is Cheap in Heat-Indy War of Words

The Eastern Conference Finals don’t start until Wednesday, but the war of words has already started between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.   Well at least from ...

Pacers Can Thank Bird for Stephenson

INDIANAPOLIS – Before the Indiana Pacers' Lance Stephenson had time to study an endless scroll of congratulatory texts on Saturday night, there promised to be a most meaningful ...

NBA Owners Made Wrong Call on Kings

When deciding the fate of the Sacramento Kings, the NBA's 30 owners this week chose to vote for franchise stability. But they were wrong in doing so. Sacramento fans are ardent in...

Re-Made Warriors Inspire Pride, Loyalty

OAKLAND -- They were globally insignificant and, on the whole, an object of civic ridicule. There had been so much failure and futility, so much shameful history, so many years of...

Lawsuit Proof NBPA Needs New President, Too

There’s no reason for me to pretend this Derek Fisher-Billy Hunter feud isn’t personal for me. It became personal the moment Fisher publicly threatened to sue me because I rep...

76ers Must Solve the Bynum Conundrum

No NBA general manager who wants to get his roster from Point A to Point B ever begins that process by trying to construct a four-team trade.   Simple is best and that is cer...

Knicks Get Ugly and Gritty ... Finally

All night long you kept looking at the scoreboard after the Pacers had missed another free throw or made another turnover, and kept expecting to see the Knicks up by more than the...

NBA Draft to Mimic NFL: 'Not a Lot to Look At'

CHICAGO — A large gathering of NBA personnel gathered here over the last few days to blow their expense accounts, gossip about the latest events, network for jobs, talk shop...

Sacramento Deal Nothing But Net for Stern

The NBA is staying in Sacramento. The Maloof family has agreed to sell the Kings to a group led by tech entrepreneur Vivek Ranadive, 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and forme...

Spurs' Next Task: Toughen Up Fast

The San Antonio Spurs just shut that "Splash Brothers" stuff all the way down. They got hit with a couple buckets of confetti early in the series and that was plenty. They'd had ...

Muhammad, Zeller Doing Their Own PR

Soaked in sweat, former UCLA forward Shabazz Muhammad settled into a folding chair on Thursday morning and was immediately swallowed by a sea of cameras, digital recorders and no...

Maloof Era to End in Sacramento

The Maloof era in Sacramento, at times spirited and uplifting, at times dismal and depressing, appears to have come to an end. A Sacramento investors group has reached a deal wit...

Spurs Ride Defense Into Western Finals

The Warriors had a great run, but their magic ran out. In a hard fought, defense driven effort the Spurs defeated the Warriors 94-82 to advance to their 2nd consecutive Western Co...

Not Much Sense in Overvaluing Dollars

At least 30 years ago, maybe 40, Pete Rose declared he wanted to the “the first $100,000 singles hitter.’’ Or some such. How quaint. We’ve been fascinated with athletes...

Nowitzki Pay Cut Part of Mavs' Strategy

Dirk Nowitzki's intention to take a "significant pay cut" next summer will be part of the Mavericks' sales pitch in July as they attempt to sign a superstar in free agency. If the ...

Noel, McLemore Duel to Go 1st in NBA Draft

You couldn't have missed Orlando Magic officials if you visited the 2013 NBA Draft Combine on Thursday. Coach Jacque Vaughn sat at midcourt inside the Attack Athletics gym, flank...

Jackson Tells All: Jordan Was Better

Phil Jackson never liked to compare Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. Believe me, I tried everything.   Sometimes I'd ask him after random Lakers practices or before games against C...

Rose Saved His Knee, But Lost His Reputation

Derrick Rose saved his knee. But what did he lose?   He lost a lot of us, that's for sure. Did he lose us forever? Can't say. Don't know. Time heals a lot of things, but I'm ...

Seattle Should Tell Stern to Take a Hike

At the end of the fight, the old, vindictive NBA commissioner couldn't announce the winner without first needling the city he was about to make a loser again.   At the end of a p...

Now Playoffs Turn Real for Heat

Always, for teams climbing the mountain, there are nights like this, when their breathing's labored, and their opponent plays hard, and there's healthy spasms of doubt if they're...

NBA Again Leaves Seattle High and Dry

  At the end of the fight, the old, vindictive NBA commissioner couldn't announce the winner without first needling the city he was about to make a loser again. At the end o...

Thunder Find 1 Star Not Bright Enough

When Russell Westbrook went down in Game 2 against the Houston Rockets, the Oklahoma City Thunder knew that their ability to fulfill their championship aspirations would be seriou...

Bosh's Play Proves Crucial to Heat's Success

LeBron James spent the better part of the past four days making headlines for “flopping”, according to Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. Dwyane Wayne‘s curious wardrobe choi...

Rivers' Message: Celts Rondo's Team

Nine games into the 2011-12 season, on the heels of a less-than-inspiring loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Celtics coach Doc Rivers gave us one of the earliest hints that his team now...

Lakers Switching to Princeton Offense

Kobe Bryant has been searching for spacing and freedom and flow on offense, for a way to counter defenses bent on sagging and suffocating him on the floor. Even before the Los An...

Lillard, Selby Summer League MVPs

Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard saw his already sky-high expectations elevate even higher Sunday, when he was named co-MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League.  Lillard, ...

Howard Trade in Holding Pattern

The Cleveland Cavaliers are eager partners in the three-way blockbuster trade talks to send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, but won’t proceed until the Lakers grant ...

Kidd Nabbed for DWI in Hamptons

This isn't the kind of driving the Knicks had in mind. An allegedly impaired Jason Kidd slammed his car into a light pole, leading to his arrest in the Hamptons this morning, pol...

Sorting Out Magic's Best Options

The Dwight Howard stay-or-go saga continues to drag on and on and on. At this point, the only certainty in this soap opera is that it will feature more uncertainty. Each day see...

Watson to Back Up Nets' Williams

C.J. Watson could have played somewhere else for more money. But a personal sales pitch from Deron Williams and Nets coach Avery Johnson, plus the opportunity to be a part of the...

Pacers' Hibbert Match a No-Brainer

Roy Hibbert’s return is not official yet, but it will be in due time. The Indiana Pacers will match the Portland Trail Blazers’ free agent offer sheet, according to my ...

Knicks Get Camby, Re-Sign Novak

The Knicks made two moves Monday to build their roster in hopes of contending for an N.B.A. title. They acquired 38-year-old Marcus Camby in a sign-and-trade deal with the Houston ...

Hinrich Set to Return to Bulls

The notion began on the June 2010 draft night the Bulls traded Kirk Hinrich to the Wizards for additional salary cap space in their attempt to go all in for LeBron James, Dwyane ...

Nash Brings Out Best in Teammates

The Phoenix Suns won 29 games in 2003-04. The next season they won 62. One man cannot make that much difference, you say, and you are right. When you get Steve Nash, you get ever...

Nets' Move Leaves Howard Hanging

Dwight Howard might need to revise his wish list. Although Howard has informed the Orlando Magic he wants a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, the Nets decided they couldn't wait for him...

Pacers' Move Obvious: Pay Hibbert

OK, some names: Baron Davis, Andre Iguodala, Manu Ginobili, Marc Gasol. What do they have in common? All four made in the area of $14 million last season. Now, Roy Hibbert is in ...

9 Assured of U.S. Olympic Berths

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Monday nine of the 12 spots for the U.S. Olympic basketball team are secured and there will be competition later this week to determi...

Celtics Hopeful on Allen, Green

At last February’s trade deadline, Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge sounded like he was ready to break up the team’s vaunted Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce...

Sources: Lakers in Mix for Howard

The Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic have had preliminary contact about a possible deal for All-Star center Dwight Howard, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Orlando official...

Celts Feel Lucky to Get Sullinger

Jared Sullinger made a strong first impression on Doc Rivers and it hasn’t changed. Rivers first saw Sullinger, who was one of the top high-school recruits in the class of 2...

Impact of Free Agency to Be Limited

This is a free-agent class of experience, to put it kindly. When the contracts expire Sunday, there will be one All-NBA star who is approaching his peak. His name is Deron Willia...

Beal Perfect Complement to Wall

Great shooters, like great hitters, are born rather than made. Reggie Miller. Larry Bird. Ray Allen. Jeff Hornacek. Glen Rice. Mitch Richmond. Dirk Nowitzki. Michael Jordan. Thro...

A Draft of Educated Guesses

Unless you're with the New Orleans Hornets and you watched Anthony Davis put on your team's cap, you couldn't begin to know what to make of this draft. Everything that happened a...

Suns Draft PG; Nash Era Likely Over

The Suns insisted they got the guy they wanted all along in Thursday's NBA draft after selecting North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall with the 13th pick of the first round...

Kings Lucky to Grab Robinson

Sometimes, it happens. In recent NBA drafts, it happens a lot. A few of the league's top executives believe they're a little smarter than everyone else – or more daring, at...

Assessing Winners, Losers

New Orleans -- First, the Hornets grab the draft's lone transcendent talent in Anthony Davis, a defensive menace who will terrorize dribble penetrators for years. After an offsea...

Is NBA Done Drafting Internationally?

It all started in the summer of 1992. That's the line you'll hear from most everyone — scouts, players, coaches both foreign and domestic — whenever you ask for the mo...

Scariest Prospects, Boldest Opinions

The NBA Draft is a day away, and the 2012 Draft gives us as strong a class as we've had in years -- but with just enough uncertainty to have us all totally confused. Who's the seco...

Bobcats' Pick Has Major Ramifications

For the moment, Charlotte has the NBA’s full attention. Holding the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s draft, the Bobcats control the fates of a handful of potential future All-...

3 Potential Busts

Andre Drummond (7’0” center, Connecticut): He could be the second best player in this draft and could be a franchise type big. If. Nobody questions his physical tools ...

Heat's Title Unites Community

South Florida gathered to celebrate the most powerful basketball team on the planet, but it was the power of sports that was on full display Monday in downtown Miami. They called...

Hawks Improve With New GM Ferry

Three cheers for the Atlanta Hawks, and not just puny “hip, hips,” either. Make these full-throated “hoorays.” A franchise that has chosen wrong so often ...

Allen, Heat Have Mutual Interest

The celebration isn’t done yet, but the Miami Heat’s plans for the future are under way. All champions want to repeat, and of course, the Heat already have expectatio...

'Not a Chance' Howard a Rocket

Amid a report that stated the Houston Rockets are hoping to amass enough trade assets to make a deal with the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard–even though Howard would only ...

New GM Ferry Will Help Hawks

There will be a blur of issues for the Hawks’ new architect to deal with, but all that really matters today is the organization seems to have the right guy in charge. The H...

Top Targets in Free Agency

The bulk of the attention will be on Deron Williams, who is expected to either re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets or be wooed by his hometown Dallas Mavericks. Beyond Williams, there...

Magic's New GM Rides Fast Track

People who watched new Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan play basketball in high school and in college remember him as an excellent outside shooter. But those closest to...

Bobcats Rely on High-Tech Tools

The Charlotte Bobcats’ new database scouting system has over 50,000 web pages. You can instantly look up year-by-year statistics for Boston Celtics great Bill Russell &helli...

Kentucky Should Dominate Draft

By the end of the week, University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari is going to have a new, powerful recruiting pitch. Barring any surprises in Thursday nig...

Durant Can Learn From LeBron

When the final buzzer sounded, long after the Thunder had waved the white flag in Thursday’s Game 5 clincher in the NBA Finals, series MVP LeBron James sought out Thunder sta...

Title Boosts James' All-Time Rank

For all those who argued that LeBron James would never be considered an all-time great because his fingers were all empty, well, I've got some news for you. James just capped off ...

James-Durant Rivalry Just Beginning

For years, the LeBron/Kobe rivalry was the most compelling one in basketball, but we never truly got to see it play out on the court. Sure, their teams would play each other twic...

Durant in Tears After Defeat

Kevin Durant walked off the court and into his mom's arms. He stood there, all 6-foot-whatever of him seemingly folded in half, sobbing in the embrace of his parents as the Miami...

Aching Miller Surprising Hero

This was going to hurt. But then again, it hurt all season. What was one more night? So Mike Miller lifted his body off the bench, then hoisted the Heat onto his aching back, nai...

Keys to a Heat Repeat in 2013

The Miami Heat just won the 2012 NBA Championship. But this club wasn't built to win one championship -- LeBron James told us that himself. It was built to win multiple champions...

Give Coach Spoelstra His Due

Wasn’t it just yesterday that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was all but out of a job, that he was being berated by Heat star Dwyane Wade, and that he was being vastly outcoache...

Let's Admire LeBron's Talent

I’d been quietly pulling for the Miami Heat to win the title since April -- and not because I find LeBron James to be sympathetic, or because I like the Heat’s brand ...

LeBron, Heat Can Rejoice

As a boy, LeBron James pretended he won an NBA championship. By the time he was a teenager, a title was a foregone conclusion. But for James the pro superstar, an NBA title has bee...

How Thunder Can Still Win Title

Kevin Durant, fourth-quarter Superman. After Game 1, it looked as though Durant might well have the best-player-in-the-league torch passed to him. Durant scored 36 points in tha...

LeBron Ready to Be a Champion

Forget for a moment the painful grimace on the face of LeBron James. When he was carried off the court late Tuesday by teammate Juwan Howard and trainer Jay Sabol, isn't that how...

Despite Odds, Thunder Believe

A 3-1 series hole hung over the Thunder's head like the blanket of clouds that have swept in and stolen South Beach's scenic nature the past two days. History says this team is ...

Heat Tougher, More Resourceful

Dwyane Wade landed on his tailbone. Given Wade’s vertical leap, it’s a long way down to the hardwood. He grimaced, clutched his lower back, rolled on the floor. It didn...

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