Zion Williamson is at once one of the most visibly under-seasoned souls in the league and one of its most beleaguered Read more »

There is a direct relationship between the decision to lean into the Heat Culture mythology, as a branding exercise, and the team's current relationship with Jimmy Butler. Read more »

The NBA viewership numbers we don't get to see are saying something appealing to the people who write the world's biggest checks. Most of what's said contrary to that is part of someone's resentment factory. Read more »

What a thrill to see a competitive ecology for a handful of do-or-die games in December, and for Giannis to stomp through them like all the mess between his championship and right now was just stuff he could stride right over. Read more »

When you play fantasy basketball, you start to look at NBA statistics differently, and seemingly inert numbers start to take on much louder character. Read more »

The Rockets passed a big test with their win on Sunday over the Rockets. It might take a few more signature wins for the whole basketball world to notice, but plenty more newcomers are already looking into Houston today. Read more »

There's nothing especially striking about Scotty Pippen Jr.'s game, unless you're a big fan of professionalism. He simply doesn't ever do much that's wrong and it is why he has quickly become one of the NBA's best reserve guards. Read more »

The two conference have been lopsided for decades, owing to a lot of different factors; an uneven distribution of ambitious ownership, luck, and good weather are usually mentioned, but even that mix of explanations doesn't quite tell the story, which has gotten too large to ignore. Read more »

With Lonzo Ball working his way back from injury, there is a growing belief that this Bulls' team might make a little noise, but at the same time, acceptance that if they don't, it’ll be worth watching them try. Read more »

As ESPN continues its nonstop Bronny James coverage, they also published a report on a NIL-related financial scheme involving one of their own high profile analysts. Read more »

Both rich with gravitas and light-hearted as can be, we will be lucky if the sport ever gives us another man so magnanimous and admirable as Dikembe Mutombo. Read more »

The hope for this season is that, without so much chaos, the Bucks' quick flashes of brilliance will instead be multi-week, fear-inducing exhibits of organizational excellence. Read more »

In a league that's increasingly a poker game featuring a deck with more poisoned cards than useful ones, the Pelicans boast one of the more potent long-term hands. Read more »

In a newly restrictive NBA that more or less punishes teams for being good, there is no way forward into consistent contention without perennial youth development. Read more »

This round of Olympics basketball felt different (weightier, more grand) than usual. It might be the last time that America is the clear favorite. Read more »

The Nuggets very well will be like the 2024 Serbian national team: a hardly extraordinary collection, expanded to their strategic limits by the genius of their leader. Read more »

Authenticity is hard to confirm in the haze of multi-billion, international entertainment products, but what's clear to all about Jaylen Brown is that he really does want to mess with your understanding of how the league works. Read more »

Jalen Brunson is living his dream in a very unique way, while Zach LaVine waits in limbo to achieve his again with a contract too large to trade. Read more »

The obvious offseason business is complete, but the futures of Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine still need to be determined while teams like the Lakers, Heat and Warriors may do some additional tinkering. Read more »

The NBA has traded dynasties for day-traders, the caste system for hunger games. In a sport that crowns a new champion every season for six seasons in a row, everything seems possible. Read more »