Palace intrigue. Dangerous injury possibilities for the star they traded for. A power struggle: Behind the scenes of the Dallas Mavericks’ turbulent Nico Harrison era www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Could the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell lead the NBA in scoring? Better yet, should he? www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Well, this sucks. Lenny Wilkens, a legend with the SuperSonics, Cavaliers, dies at 88. It’s not in this story, but, personally, he was the first coach I ever rooted for as a young kid in Akron. www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Cavaliers’ De’Andre Hunter ‘said I don’t think I ever made anybody fall like that.’ He was talking about what he did to Josh Giddey last night www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

It’s (nearly) on: NBA official says Oct. 2027, names 12 cities as targets for new European league, www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

With Congressional aides asking the NBA about charges against Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rozier, there remain two unidentified current and former NBA players named in the illegal gambling affidavit www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

Here’s what happened as NBA officials — but not Adam Silver or Mark Tatum — briefed Congress (staffers, not lawmakers) on gambling scandal Wednesday in a 50-minute, ‘cordial’ meeting www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

It is NOT Adam Silver, nor actual members of Congress, but NBA officials are briefing a Congressional committee’s staffers on gambling scandal right now www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

An ex-Atlanta Hawks exec has been accused of embezzling $3.8 million from the team and spending it on trips to Europe and Bahamas, and on a Porsche. He's no longer employed by the Hawks and was indicted by the DOJ. With @joevardon.bsky.social + @samamick.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

How does the NBA feel about the ‘second apron?’ A sampling, www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Congress regulates ‘commerce’ and has jurisdiction over the NBA. House reps wanted to hear from Adam Silver by today and won’t, in part because the Senate is involved now, too. But the league will have its day on the Hill www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

There will be no Adam Silver appearance on Capitol Hill…today. But Congress wants answers on the league’s betting scandal. www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

NBA players agreed to ‘aprons’ to avoid protected fight with owners over a hard cap. Two-plus years in, players are finding they don’t like the second apron — here is why www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Talking about NBA salary rules, a player said ‘You can look at countless guys across the NBA and everybody but the stars are getting kind of f—–.’ Find out who said it, and how his peers share the same view of the ‘second apron.’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

The NBA’s second apron is busting up your favorite teams and kicking homegrown players out of the market. But these aren’t the only reasons the players don’t like the league’s salary rules www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

The NBA and their teams, as with other pro leagues and teams, are paid by the sports books. Wouldn’t it make sense for their shared customers to— you — to know about injuries when they do? With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and @samamick.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

A deeper look at the NBA's memo about the FBI's gambling probe, and the issue of injury reporting, at @theathletic.com (including a look at the Luka Doncic example from last night) W/ @joevardon.bsky.social and @mikevorkunov.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Damon Jones hung around the NBA through his association with LeBron James, and tried to recoup the millions lost he’d earned as a player. Those threads remain in the federal charges against him www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Who is Damon Jones, the former NBA player charged with sharing LeBron injury secrets? @danwoikesports.bsky.social @jasonlloyd.bsky.social share what we know www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

The NBA — and all major American sports — were once vehemently against sports betting. Here’s a look at what’s happened in basketball since that changed www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

A timeline of NBA’s decade-long embrace of sports betting: a mess the league could, should, and did see coming www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said Tuesday’s ring ceremony was a life memory. What happened next — a win like we were used to seeing in the Finals — was ‘humbling.’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

The Thunder planned tonight's celebration for months. But it was what they did after the hoopla, surviving all sorts of drama with the Rockets, that reminded us why OKC is defending champs in the first place www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

The salutary tour for Erik Spoelstra is complete. Now he and Grant Hill have to get to the business of fixing USA Basketball’s World Cup problem www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Erik Spoelstra accepted the job to coach USA Basketball at a swanky restaurant across the street from Miami’s arena, with caviar on the menu, a $48,000 bottle of wine in the cellar, and goosebumps on his arms www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Maverick Carter is one of LeBron James’ closest friends and confidants, and for a time it looked and sounded like he was headed toward starting LIV Basketball. With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and @samamick.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

The Oklahoma City Thunder were so young, they didn’t know how to pop champagne when they won. But what is being asked of them now takes a maturity beyond their collective youth — and they just may have it www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Cavaliers are embracing continuity, but some change is unavoidable (and welcomed) www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones bring hope, experience with ‘high expectations’ to Magic after falling short of the same ultimate goal in Memphis www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

How does Kawhi-Aspiration deal compare to others in the NBA? We asked 50 sponsors www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

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...