New: Adam Silver meets with Real Madrid in Paris to discuss NBA’s Europe league venture, potential huge step toward getting something started overseas www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

The NBA bubble, 5 years later: ‘The most exclusive basketball camp in world history,’ missed children birthdays, and, an asterisk? www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

LeBron James hasn’t had buyout, trade discussions with Lakers, both sides expect that he will be with team for training camp. Reporting with @danwoikesports.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Ernest Hemingway were both famed for walking to fuel creativity. MLB's Bruce Bochy is also a huge fan. It was key to him leading the San Francisco Giants to three World Series rings: http://dlvr.it/TLcclJ

Bulls agree to trade Lonzo Ball to Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro — in a move that gives the Cavs (some) financial flexibility and security at point guard www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

Each year I do maybe one pre-draft story on a prospect. Here is Egor Demin, trying to become the first Russian selected by an NBA team since…who? www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Gutting development: Tyrese Haliburton suffers lower right leg injury during first quarter of NBA Finals Game 7 that looked very, very bad www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Game 7 of the 2016 Finals was the greatest game I’ve ever covered. No. 2 was USA-Serbia and I don’t know what’s after that. I can’t wait to see how this goes tonight, and it’s an honor and privilege to cover it. I never take it for granted

In tight series, Game 7 between Pacers and Thunder may come down to ‘contest of wills’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Pacers blow out Thunder to force first NBA Finals Game 7 in nine years. History is on both teams’ side. www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton dealing with calf strain, pushing to play in NBA Finals Game 6: Source www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Jalen Williams played the best playoff game of his life, the Oklahoma City Thunder survived one of the Indiana Pacers’ patented, double-digit comebacks, and the NBA Finals are, or could be, nearly decided. www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle comes to the defense again of a perceived easy target — this time veteran referee and lightning rod Scott Foster: ‘He’s a great official’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Thunder flip script against comeback-king Pacers, rally in fourth to tie NBA Finals www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton dealing with lower leg discomfort and a perplexing Thunder defense www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Unless he heals quicker than expected, Darius Garland is probably out til November for the Cavs. Will it impact their Ty Jerome decision? www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Cavaliers’ Darius Garland has surgery on big toe, 4-to-5-month rehab expected — which means he might miss some time when the new season rolls around www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Thunder leave no opening for Game 2 hero moment, dominate Pacers to even NBA Finals www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Hall of Famer Don Nelson roasts Mavericks in ‘protest’ over Luka Dončić trade www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Thunder need Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams to outplay their experience in NBA Finals www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

The Pacers were down by 14 early in the fourth quarter and by five with 90 seconds to go. But that's an eternity with Tyrese Haliburton on the team, @joevardon.bsky.social writes.

What kind of confidence does it take to pull off these playoff comebacks, hit game winners in the Finals? ‘When I get off the bus, when I put on my shoes,’ there is no doubt, Tyrese Haliburton said www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

There is another side to the ‘small market NBA Finals’ discussion: the Thunder, Pacers love their intimate connections with their ‘small’ towns www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

Pacers’ Rick Carlisle has been asked too many times about surprise NBA coach firings to offer much that’s new. But his response to Tom Thibodeau’s dismissal in New York, after losing to Indiana, was pretty good www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

For the last month I’ve been with the Indiana Pacers, watching them steamroll their way to the Finals. I was also with them in Paris in January, when few seemed to care and fewer saw this coming www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Tyrese Haliburton just played one of the greatest playoff games in NBA history, to the point where he and the Pacers wanted to downplay the statistical highlights and focus on the team pushing the Knicks to the brink www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

Aaron Nesmith is a game-time decision for tomorrow after spraining an ankle in the Pacers’ Game 3 loss to the Knicks www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

Karl-Anthony Towns has a tattoo behind his right ear. He has to fold it to reveal the ink. It reads “4:/13” & has a double meaning. On Dominican Mother’s Day, KAT’s Game 3 gem didn’t just save the Knicks, it gave him the stage to honor his mother: www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

Spinouts and blown tires. Maneuvering from the back of the pack and the pole position slipping away. Apologies for the racing metaphors, but the Eastern Conference finals, currently in Indy, are anything but four left turns www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

Why Knicks went away from Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 2 when ‘searching for a win’ — didn’t look or sound great on Friday night in New York for the All-NBA performer www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

Pacers built up — and around — Tyrese Haliburton, and Knicks can vouch that it’s worked www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

Move over, Reggie Miller. Your Pacers descendants just authored a new chapter in Knicks misery. @joevardon.bsky.social on Indiana's third stunning comeback of this postseason ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

The allure of scoring for a winner, a sneaky two-way player, and perhaps a smidge of voter fatigue: how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won NBA MVP www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

Cleveland Cavaliers parting shot: After collapse against Pacers, ‘respect’ isn’t the issue www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Like Bob Seger’s ‘Still the Same’ says, the Cavs were trounced in the second round, again, after a historically good regular season. Why? The Pacers had something to do with it www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

The Cavaliers are headed home — much earlier than anyone expected. Cleveland lost Game 5 to the Indiana Pacers, 114-105, and was eliminated by dropping this Eastern Conference semifinal series, 4-1. @joevardon.bsky.social on how the magical season came to an end ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

This afternoon, PBWA member Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer presented Kenny Atkinson with the Rudy Tomjanovich Award, on behalf of @prohoopswriters.bsky.social. (Photo via @joevardon.bsky.social)

And ICYMI -- my top 22 prospects for this year's draft www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell to undergo MRI on Monday, says he ‘will be good’ for Game 5 vs. Pacers www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

There was so much h about Game 3 other than injuries. Thoughts on Donovan Mitchell’s growing legend in Cleveland and how the Cavs stopped Tyrese Haliburton www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

‘Y’all don’t understand what I’m growing through.’ How the Cavaliers’ injured players fought through pain to win Game 3 www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

The new head of the Catholic church is a tennis fan. Within the walls of Vatican City, he will find his own court to play on: http://dlvr.it/TKgx6l

Ok folks, Evan Mobley is on the floor for his usual warm-up, which means all three injured players (Garland and Hunter) are in fact trying to play Game 3 in Indiana. We’ll see for real in a few more minutes

Somewhat of a surprise, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson was not fined by the league despite his repeated criticism of officials from Game 1 against the Pacers

There is optimism all three injured Cavaliers will try to play Game 3 against Indiana, including Darius Garland, who’s missed the last four games www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

Donovan Mitchell has a calf strain? What all these Cavalier injuries mean for Game 3 www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Kenny Atkinson named NBA Coach of the Year, beating former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Three key Cavs are ‘questionable’ for Game 2 vs. Pacers, and Kenny Atkinson is upset with refs www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Injuries, bad shooting crush Cavs, who had no answer for Tyrese Haliburton or Andrew Nembhard www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Cavaliers-Pacers preview: What if Cleveland’s Darius Garland isn’t ready for Game 1? www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...