8:00 AM ET This story appears in ESPN The Magazine’s Oct. 29 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today! On a late-summer afternoon in 2016, Joel Embiid is throwing a fit — and Elton Brand is catching it. For weeks, Embiid has been dominating pickup games at the Sixers’ old practice facility at the Philadelphia College of
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2:50 PM ET Kevin Garnett played 14 of his 21 seasons in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, so what does the retired forward known for his fiery competitiveness have to say about his former team’s current strife? “It’s a s— storm up there.” In an interview with The Athletic, Garnett said he hopes the
8:08 PM ET We’ll drop the final installment in our preseason series — my annual list of crazy predictions — next week before the season starts. But some noteworthy roster decisions will be decided before then, so let’s run through them. While there don’t appear to be a lot of likely extension candidates ahead of
11:49 AM ET DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki has been ruled out of the Mavericks‘ season opener and is expected to miss several games as he continues to rehab from April ankle surgery. “It’s going to be multiple weeks, I can tell you that,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “But there’s no real soft or hard
6:34 PM ET The San Antonio Spurs, plagued by injuries, have added Rudy Gay and Derrick White to the list of unavailable players, which currently stands at four with less than a week until the regular-season opener. Gay has an inflamed bursa in his heel and is not available for Friday’s preseason finale against the
11:24 AM ET Jimmy Butler was not with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Milwaukee on Friday as they prepared for their final game of the NBA preseason. Jimmy Butler held a players-only meeting with his Minnesota Timberwolves teammates on Thursday, a day after he reported to the team for a contentious practice. The disgruntled Timberwolves star
3:00 PM ET In a recent interview with New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, ESPN’s Rachel Nichols asked him about his place among the NBA’s elite players, his recent switch of representation and what his role will be in leading the Pelicans this coming season. An edited transcript of the interview appears below: Nichols: What
8:59 AM ET Jackie MacMullan Close ESPN Senior Writer Award-winning columnist and author Recipient of Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2010 Brian Windhorst Close ESPN Senior Writer ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books Both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers
8:33 AM ET The start of the 2018-19 season is just days away, but we’re already looking ahead to the playoffs. Who will be crowned in June? Our NBA experts make their conference championship and Finals picks. More: Experts’ picks for MVP, top rookie and more awards Eastern Conference finals Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports
8:33 AM ET Who will win top individual honors in 2018-19? Our NBA writers and analysts make their picks for MVP, Rookie of the Year and more. More: Experts’ picks for the conference finals, NBA Finals Rookie of the Year Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images PLAYER Kevin Arnovitz Luka Doncic Ian Begley