The great @howardbeck.bsky.social wrote about this recently and it has felt very true today: On the eve of the best part of the NBA season staring — the high-stakes playoffs — the headlines are all about LeBron next season or Harden becoming a free agent. Too often, the games seem secondary.

The PBWA is pleased to announce that Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has won the Rudy Tomjanovich Award for the 2025-26 season. Press release: probasketballwriters.org/pistons-head...

The PBWA is pleased to announce that Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is the winner of the 2025-26 Magic Johnson Award. Press release: probasketballwriters.org/wembanyama-w...

Why the San Antonio Spurs believe they are the exception to the playoff experience rule “I mean, why not?” the Spurs’ Julian Champagnie told NBC Sports. “I definitely think that we all think that we could do something special this year." www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/why...

22 days until the 2026 WNBA season starts

Interesting.

NBA, NBPA uphold challenges, make Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham eligible for MVP, other awards Both men will be All-NBA and likely land in the top five of MVP voting. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

Stephen. Wardell. Curry.

Gui Santos watched Deni Avdija yesterday and thought, "I can do that."

And as soon as I write that, the Warriors go on an 11-0 run (without Curry) and retake the lead.

Stephen Curry exited the first quarter with 3:47 remaining and his team up one, but by the end of the first quarter the Clippers had established a nine-point lead, 31-22. The Warriors were 1-of-5 (0-of-3 from deep) and had a couple of turnovers with Curry off the court.

And he is back on the Warriors bench.

After checking out with 3:47 in the first, Stephen Curry went back to the Warriors locker room.

LaMelo Ball assessed a flagrant 2 foul, fined $35,000 for play on Bam Adebayo Ball was not suspended and will play Friday in Orlando. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/lam...

NBA reviewing LaMelo Ball takedown of Bam Adebayo that led to Heat star's exit from game www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

LeMelo Ball driving bucket off the glass, Miles Bridges' block earnsthe Hornets an overtime play-in win against the Heat The Hornets thrive in chaos and it worked for them Tuesday night. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/lem...

Well, this is less than ideal.

Zion Williamson says he doesn't want to be traded, 'New Orleans is home for me.' www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/zio...

Final NBA power rankings of 2025-26: Thunder top rankings, with Nuggets, Spurs rounding out top three www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/fin...

Doc Rivers out as head coach of Milwaukee Bucks as franchise heads into summer of change www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/doc...

Sacramento Kings reportedly will retain Doug Christie as coach www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/sac...

Doc Rivers: Bucks don't have the roster to contend with Giannis Antetokounmpo, 'That puts him in a tough spot' Milwaukee Bucks legend and broadcaster Marques Johnson is more direct about the situation, "It is as toxic as it appears." www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/doc...

Nuggets to sit key rotation players, Nikola Jokic questionable for Sunday showdown with Spurs Denver is choosing health and a matchup it appears to like better against Houston in the first round, over concerns about the second round and beyond. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nug...

Every single one of the astronauts who went to the moon and back on Artemis II was educated at a public school. Thinking of the teachers who poured into Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen tonight. You helped send a kid to the moon! 🌕 💛

NBA must-watch games for final day of season, April 12: Nine games that impact playoff scenarios, seeding San Antonio and Denver have the most interesting game of the day. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

2026 NBA Most Improved Player predictions: NBC Sports roundtable is a fan of Nickeil Alexander-Walker Jalen Duren and Ryan Rollins get some love, too. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/202...

The NBA says Sacramento was not tanking with an odd foul against the Warriors. It was just inept. That should make Kings fans feel better. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

Philadelphia's 76ers Joel Embiid is out indefinitely following an appendectomy on Thursday. Embiid is out not only for the regular season but also will miss the play-in and very likely the entire first round. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/phi...

NBA owners reportedly to vote May 28 on new anti-tanking proposals The big question: What will the owners be voting on? That remains up in the air as there seems to be little consensus. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year predictions: Keldon Johnson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. in tight race Keldon Johnson gets most of our votes, but it's close. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/202...

Where might Giannis Antetokounmpo play next season? Boston? Houston? Los Angeles? Miami, Golden State and Minnesota also are expected to be in the mix. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/whe...

2026 NBA Rookie of the Year predictions: NBC Sports roundtable shows love to Hornets' Kon Knueppel www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/202...

Today’s pod: Stu and I reacted to Michigan’s win last night after the buzzer, mulled over what to make of Dan Hurley, talked the weirdness of LA, and got into the UNC hire and some NBA. open.substack.com/pub/billreit...

NBA power rankings 2025-26: Oklahoma City moves back into top spot, Denver shows it's a contender www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

There are days I really wish casual fans cared about actual basketball games as much as they do about who might have been included in a failed trade from a couple of months ago.

2026 NBA Coach of the Year predictions: NBC Sports roundtable gives their picks between Boston's Joe Mazzulla, Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff and the rest of a deep field. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/202...

Chicago fires lead executives Arturas Karnisovas, Marc Eversley League sources have told NBC Sports that names connected to the job early on include Kyle Korver, Landry Fields, and in a wild (and highly unlikely) long shot, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/chi...

North Carolina reportedly to hire former Nuggets coach Michael Malone to take over the program It was widely expected that Malone would return to coaching, but his jumping to college was unforeseen. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nor...

2026 NBA MVP predictions: NBC Sports roundtable gives their full picks between Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama In a deep field of MVP-worthy players, the NBC Sports crew gave a clean sweep to SGA. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/202...

Lakers' Austin Reaves suffers Grade 2 oblique strain, out for remainder of season, at least This comes 24 hours after the news of Luka Doncic's Grade 2 hamstring strain. Both of the Lakers' stars are very likely to miss the start of the playoffs. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/lak...

Lakers' Austin Reaves suffers Grade 2 oblique strain, out for remainder of season, at least This comes 24 hours after the news of Luka Doncic's Grade 2 hamstring strain. Both of the Lakers' stars are very likely to miss the start of the playoffs. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/lak...

Giannis Antetokounmpo says he is healthy enough to play, rips Bucks as league starts investigation "It's like a slap in my face. So, I don't know where the relationship goes from there." www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/gia...

Luka Doncic has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is out for the remainder of the season. At least. A Grade 2 hamstring strain usually means a player is out about a month. The playoffs start in 15 days. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/luk...

Bob Myers? Tim Connelly? Mavericks reportedly going big game hunting for new head of basketball The smart money is on one of the current co-GMs Riccardi or Finley getting the job, but at least Dallas is taking a couple of home run swings first. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/bob...

Lakers' Luka Doncic leaves game after apparent hamstring injury, does not return to court He was clearly in pain – and very emotional — as he limped back to the locker room. He will have an MRI on Friday. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/lak...

NBA coaches on hot seat: Five names to watch as season winds down Jamahl Mosley is in trouble in Orlando, should Doc Rivers be in trouble in Milwaukee? www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

Agent Rich Paul on speculation about LeBron's next team: 'There’s no truth to any of it' www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/age...

Grizzlies Brandon Clarke arrested in Arkansas for speeding, possession of a controlled substance www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/gri...

Tom Izzo says he 'talked seriously' with Phoenix about becoming head coach Izzo, 71, decided to stay with the Spartans. Jordan Ott got the job and has thrived with a team that is headed to the postseason and has won six more games than last season. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/tom...

Draymond Green can be a free agent this summer, but don't expect him to leave the Warriors The Warriors are expected to reload this summer to make one more run in the Stephen Curry era, and Green is likely part of that. www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/dra...