What Wizards players look forward to doing in Japan originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington WASHINGTON — As the Wizards head to Japan for two showcase preseason games against the defending-champion Warriors, they have a unique advantage when it comes to enjoying their time off the court with Rui Hachimura on the roster. He’s from Japan, he’s an NBA player …

CHARLESTON, S.C.–The first move of the offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers was made on draft night back in June when they sent Danny Green to the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal that brought De’Anthony Melton to Philadelphia. The Sixers liked Melton for his two-way ability as he can knock down an open triple while also being able to bother his …

Getty Images The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading Vit Krejci to the Atlanta Hawks for Moe Harkless and a second-round pick, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The trade will have little impact on what either team does on the floor but could prove meaningful to Atlanta for financial purposes. The Thunder lost No. 2 overall pick, Chet Holmgren, to …

CHICAGO (AP) Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball said Tuesday he can’t run at full speed or jump and still experiences pain in his left knee walking up stairs. Ball spoke ahead of his scheduled surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The team said last week he would undergo an arthroscopic debridement and be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. …

CHICAGO — When will Lonzo Ball return? What’s Ball’s timeline? Who will start in place of him? It was clear the biggest storyline of the Chicago Bulls media day on Monday was the status of Ball, who is set to undergo another knee surgery that will keep him sidelined for at least 4-6 weeks. It’s a significant loss to a …

The 2022-23 NBA season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start getting ready for your fantasy basketball drafts. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Fantasy analyst Dan Titus is putting in the work on his draft rankings as well as his position-by-position tiers — he hits the shooting guards below — to help you be prepared when you’re …

CHARLESTON, S.C.–As the Philadelphia 76ers come together for training camp at The Citadel in Charleston, SC, the focus is on James Harden. The Beard begins his first full season with the Sixers after the big deadline deal and there is tons of anticipation surrounding the coming season. In 21 games in the 2021-22 season with Philadelphia after the deal, Harden …

Iguodala worth listening to on Kuminga, NBA’s youth evolution originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea SAN FRANCISCO — Andre Iguodala had a message to make last Friday, to the delight of the entire Warriors organization. He’s back for his eighth season as a Warrior, as well as his 19th and final campaign in the NBA. Along with the play Iguodala …

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In the months leading up to Tuesday’s announcement detailing how Memphis has been punished in relation to its IARP case that was triggered by the school’s decision in 2019 to play five-star freshman James Wiseman in defiance of the NCAA, the consensus was that anything short of a postseason ban should be considered a win.  So, needless …

Bojan Bogdanovic was in Croatia last Thursday when he received word that he had been traded. Rumors suggested that the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns were potential landing spots for the 33-year-old sharpshooter. Instead, he was sent to the rebuilding Detroit Pistons. The Utah Jazz are in the beginning stages of a rebuild and blew up their roster this …

Getty Images Tom Thibodeau is nothing if not consistent. He likes defenders, explosive guards, and above all else, veterans. The older you are, the more you tend to play on a Thibodeau team. With training camp opening in New York this week, it looks as though the Knicks will be maintaining that trend for another season. Thibodeau told the media …

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Kansas State barged into the Top 25 after its win at Oklahoma on Saturday night, and there’s a good argument to be made that the Wildcats’ biggest rival – just down Interstate 70 – deserves to be there, too. As it stands, Kansas is just outside of the rankings. You read that correctly. The long-downtrodden Jayhawks are …

Steph shouts out BTS star Suga for repping Warriors jersey originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea The Warriors and K-pop group BTS have two of the world’s most passionate fanbases. And on Tuesday, their powers collided with a wholesome Twitter post by Golden State star Steph Curry acknowledging the Korean boy band’s lead rapper, Suga. As the Warriors prepare for …

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash and superstar Kevin Durant are “fine,” Nash said Tuesday. After the Nets opened training camp, Nash reiterated their message from media day: They’ve moved past Durant’s unfulfilled trade request, and the drama that came with it. Even the it’s either me or the coach and team president part.  “Knowing Kevin as long …

Grant Williams made a bit of a stir soon after his Boston Celtics had been beaten by the Golden State Warriors to win the 2022 NBA Finals when he suggested it was the Dubs’ greater level of experience behind their win. Asked (c/o CLNS) what the team had learned from last season that they would apply in 2022-23 after the team’s …

Getty Images Anthony Davis hasn’t been the same since the Lakers won the 2020 championship. A shortened offseason after the Orlando bubble coupled with a few nagging injuries have not only lowered his stats but have also kept him off of the floor for most of the past two years. In total, he has played just 76 regular-season games since …

Texas men’s basketball is set to host Arkansas in a charity exhibition matchup prior to the start of the 2022-23 season. The two former Southwest Conference rivals will tip off at 3 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Moody Center in Austin. All reserved ticket sales are going to help out a pair of social justice and educational organizations. The …

Anonymous exec: Draymond wouldn’t be shy about leaving Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea The Warriors are set to begin their quest to defend their 2022 championship. But after that, many questions loom about the team’s long-term future. Draymond Green’s contract situation is one of the team’s biggest remaining mysteries. The Warriors veteran will make $25.8 million this season …

Lonzo Ball is still struggling with his injured knee. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Lonzo Ball was a revelation with the Chicago Bulls last season. He played a pivotal role in the team getting out to a hot start, proving to be a strong defensive player and an adept passer. Then, he injured his knee. Ball missed the final two …

The second of six infractions cases being resolved by the IARP, an independent review panel created in 2019 solely to review complex cases, was formally adjudicated on Tuesday as Memphis joined NC State in seeing its long and winding investigation come to a close. The Tigers program, which was under investigation and facing four Level I allegations and multiple Level …

For most players on the Boston Celtics’ roster, the focus on each season’s Media Day proceedings is on the campaign ahead, but as a rookie two way point guard, JD Davison has yet to forge a foundation off of which fans can base expectations apart from setting a record with the Celtics in Las Vegas Summer League for the most …

The San Antonio Spurs are in position to properly tank for the first time since the start of the Tim Duncan era. Will they do it? It’s hard to imagine a Gregg Popovich team overtly throwing in the towel, but the ability to draft Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-2 talent many consider to be a generational prospect, could be at stake. …

Michigan State basketball opened the 2022-23 season this week, with practice officially opening up for the Spartans. The Spartans have a tough road ahead of them, with one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the nation. The Spartans opened up fall camp with practice on Monday where they will start to prepare for the gauntlet ahead. Tom Izzo took …

You don’t get to choose your own nickname, but you can come to terms with what the masses have selected on your behalf, which Boston Celtics reserve big man Luke Kornet got to find out firsthand on the Celtics’ 2022 Media Day on Monday. Speaking with NBC Sports Boston on whether he prefers to be called the UniKornet or the …

Michigan State and Notre Dame will be squaring off in the 2022 edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Spartans will be travelling to South Bend for a road contest in the matchup with the Fighting Irish. The game is set to take place on Wednesday, November 30th, and it will be the late game on ESPN2. Tip time is …