11:37 AM ET In a move that could challenge the NCAA’s monopoly on elite talent, the NBA’s G League is creating a new venture as an alternative to the one-and-done route for the best American basketball prospects, league president Malcolm Turner told ESPN. As part of a newly formed “professional path” starting in the summer
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8:00 AM ET LeBron James makes his much-anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. We’ve got you covered right here before, during and after the matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers with previews, predictions, expert analysis and live reaction. Predictions and projections EPA/MIKE NELSON Our experts weigh in 1 2 3 4 5
7:57 AM ET Since entering the NBA in October 2003, LeBron James has transformed from one of the league’s least effective volume scorers into a hyper-efficient offensive mastermind, dominating opposing defenses with an incredible blend of interior scoring prowess and perimeter shot creation. On Thursday he launches the next chapter of his career, and while
11:42 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN When LeBron James makes his Los Angeles Lakers regular-season debut Thursday night in Portland, Oregon, his jersey hues might be entirely new, but the colors of his shoes will be all too familiar, celebrating one of the first iconic moments of his Nike career. Styled in a burgundy knit upper,
4:12 AM ET Marc J. Spears Paul George revealed to ESPN’s The Undefeated that he “would have been in a Lakers uniform” if he had never been traded from the Indiana Pacers. But after the Pacers dealt the five-time All-Star to the Oklahoma City Thunder instead last year, he fell in love with his new
3:20 AM ET Chris Herring SAN ANTONIO — It wasn’t exactly leading the benchwarmers to victory over the starters in a scrimmage, but Jimmy Butler — even in a somewhat rusty form — again illustrated his value to the Timberwolves in their season-opening 112-108 loss here against the Spurs Wednesday. Down eight points and looking
3:30 AM ET PHOENIX — On a night that was supposed to be about two touted rookie debuts, it was a return that stole the show Wednesday in Phoenix. Returning from a broken hand suffered late in the summer, Devin Booker shook off some early rust to showcase his star potential and the reason the
1:00 AM ET HOUSTON — The Toyota Center crowd welcomed Carmelo Anthony with a loud ovation when he checked into the season opener with 7:12 remaining, the first time the 10-time All-Star came off the bench during his NBA career. Houston’s home crowd didn’t have too many other opportunities to cheer on Wednesday night, as
10:42 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard had 24 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in his Toronto debut, Kyle Lowry scored 27 points and the Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-104 on Wednesday night in the season-opener for both teams. Fred VanVleet scored 14 points, Pascal Siakam had 13 and Danny Green
8:32 PM ET LOS ANGELES — In another demonstration of the NBA’s technological and analytics revolution, the LA Clippers on Wednesday unveiled a platform that makes multiple streams of augmented game viewing available, the first of its kind among professional sports in North America. “What we have today is what I would call an augmented