Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, his sports agency announced in a statement released on Tuesday, May 12. He was 29 years old.
Clarke's sudden death comes almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.
"We are beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke," Priority Sports said. "He was so loved by all of us here, and everyone whose life he touched. He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family. Our hearts are so broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family and all of his friends. From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life."
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga and enjoyed initial success in the league, earning all-rookie honors while averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Memphis in 2022.
But Clarke's career had been derailed in recent years by injuries. He played in just six games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn Achilles and missed all but two games this past season due to calf and knee ailments.
Clarke then allegedly led Cross County Sheriff's Office deputies on a miles-long chase on April 1, with speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour, and was found with over 230 grams of kratom in his possession, an arrest affidavit obtained by The Memphis Commercial Appeal said.
Kratom is an herbal extract from a tree that grows in Southeast Asia, according to the Mayo Clinic. At low doses, Mayo Clinic said it acts as a stimulant. At higher doses, it has been reported to reduce pain and anxiety. Though it legal in some states, kratom is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in Arkansas.
Clarke's cause of death is unknown at this point.
This story will be updated as more details become known.
May 10, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) works around Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the first quarter of game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
The Spurs will have Victor Wembanyama back for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he avoided suspension for a Game 4 flagrant foul, but the Spurs’ guard rotation could be shorthanded. De’Aaron Fox was already listed as questionable on yesterday’s injury report with a sore ankle after Ayo Dosunmo rolled up on his legs while diving for a loose ball in the second half of Game 4, which Fox briefly left before returning, and today, Dylan Harper has been listed as questionable with a sore knee.
Dylan Harper is now questionable (left knee soreness) for tonight’s Game 5 of Spurs vs. Wolves. https://t.co/rxqOL43R6y
The soreness is possibly a result of a play from late in the fourth quarter when — guess who? — Dosunmu grabbed him from behind on an offensive rebound. Harper then fell backwards, with his left leg folding underneath him. He remained down for a few seconds, rubbing his knee before getting back up. A foul was called on Dosunmu on the play. (None if this is to say Dosunmu is a dirty player. There’s a bit extra on tug backwards there, but he was not trying to bring Harper down, tried to catch him as he went down, and he checked on him after it happened.)
While both players were seen practicing today, Fox is still a game-time decision while Harper was downgraded to questionable. Beyond Wemby, guard play has been the Spurs’ biggest advantage in this round, and it will be a tall task if Stephon Castle has to carry the load by himself. If one but especially both miss the game, the Spurs may need to give former Timberwolf Jordan McLaughlin some minutes, who to his credit has always been ready when called upon and can give them some solid minutes in smaller doses.
The good news is players being listed as questionable on game day has not always meant they will not play, so at this point there is little reason to panic. Still, both players have been vital to the Spurs postseason success so far. Harper has averaged 15.3 points and almost 3 assists off the bench for the Spurs in this series, while Fox has struggled with his shooting at times but has still hit some big, timely shots when needed, averaging 16.8 points and 4 assists.
Tip-off is at 7:00 PM CT on NBC and Peacock. This series is tied at 2-2 and will return to Minnesota on Friday for Game 6.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game on March 31, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you have remained a Cleveland Cavaliers fan since LeBron James departed the franchise for a second time back in 2018, you would know that, despite the varying degrees of success the team has endured since then, the main question on everyone’s mind has been whether and when LeBron would end his career in the Wine and Gold. As the Los Angeles Lakers were just swept in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, interest in LeBron’s final destination in his career is once again at the forefront of many minds.
In an interview with 92.3 The Fan, Bill Reiter joined and described the current situation between the Lakers and LeBron James. Reiter distilled the situation between LeBron and the Lakers to the current dynamic of the locker room. “I know that they (LeBron and Luka Doncic) don’t get along very well”. Reiter then went on to elaborate on what is causing this rift. “He doesn’t do well in a locker room that is toxic…LeBron wants to be the guy and Luka wants to be guy”. Reiter described the current situation as “awkward” and “weird”.
"I know (LeBron and Luka) don't get along very well. (LeBron) doesn't do well when he's in a locker room that's toxic. I would imagine that being in Cleveland with James Harden who he's close to, with Donovan Mitchell…I just think it would be a happier place for LeBron as a… https://t.co/jP3ciAsVGIpic.twitter.com/XgU78kSZNx
The dynamic of any locker room appears to be decided by LeBron. Reiter went on describing “he (LeBron) is the sun, the physics of any locker room he is a part of, and bend to his will. Bend in a good way when he is happy, and bend in a bad way when he isn’t.”
This is where the Cavaliers enter the picture as a team, where this would “bend in a good way.” Reiter posed that “being in Cleveland with James Harden, who he is close to, and being with Donovan Mitchell…who loves LeBron, would be a happier situation for LeBron.”
This isn’t the first time that the two have been linked for this reason. It has always made sense why Cleveland would be alluring to LeBron. The team has been in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference for the better part of a half-decade. The roster is built to contend for championships. It feels like, especially with Harden now in the picture, that the players on the roster would be appealing to LeBron James.
There would obviously be various hoops to jump through for this reunion to take place. It is not a simple cut-and-paste LeBron from LA to Cleveland. However, there will be tons of offseason discussion where these various routes will be discussed in further detail.
As the Cavaliers are currently battling with the Detroit Pistons tied at 2-2, the Cavaliers will keep their eyes on moving on to battle the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Until then, quotes like these simply acknowledge that the Cavaliers appear to have various approaches available if they bottom out in the postseason.
The 2026 NBA playoffs action continues tonight on NBC and Peacock as Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves go head-to-head with Victor Webanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The series is tied 2-2 after Minnesota's 114-109 victory on Sunday. The Timberwolves outscored the Spurs 34-25 in the fourth quarter, led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 16 of his 36 points in the final period. It was the Spurs' first road loss of the playoffs.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
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Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ four-game elimination from the NBA Playoffs, LeBron James is still widely expected to return for a record 24th season.
Leading prediction platform Kalshi gave James a 23% chance of playing another professional season, regardless of team.
Key Takeaways
James said that he didn’t know if he would play again in 2026-27.
Chances of retirement have steadily declined since the turn of the year.
If James leaves the Lakers, the Cavaliers are the favorite to land him.
The Lakers were the largest underdogs of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That played out as it was expected to, as the defending champs swept the purple and gold out of the playoff bracket.
About an hour after the season-ending loss, James told reporters that he did not know if he would be back for another year.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James said. “[I’ll] go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then, when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
Kalshi’s market peaked at a 50% chance on June 30, 2025. Its highest mid-season value was 46% on Jan. 13, from which point the expected likelihood steadily declined.
Although James turned 41 on Dec. 30, he is still a spry youth compared to Kevin Willis — the oldest player to take an NBA court in the modern era — who was 44 years and 224 days old when he played his final game in 2007. “The King” would need to play in a game four seasons down the line in 2030 to steal the record.
Where will LeBron play if he returns?
Kalshi’s prediction markets aren’t limited to whether or not James will retire. Users can also predict which team’s colors he will don next season, if he doesn’t walk away.
Staying with the Lakers or retiring is the market leader with a 49% probability, determined by real-time input from the Kalshi user base. Reuniting with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third stint is the obvious second choice with a 33% chance.
The only other outcome with a probability greater than 10% is the Golden State Warriors, who have a 14% chance. The Warriors were reportedly interested in trading for James, who is friends with Draymond Green off the court, and won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics with Stephen Curry as the starting point guard.
The San Antonio Spurs (6%), New York Knicks (5%), and Los Angeles Clippers (2%) are the remaining teams with an expected chance greater than 1%.
A possible retirement year with the Spurs would allow James to mentor Victor Wembanayama, although he wouldn’t team up with coach Gregg Popovich, for whom James previously said he wanted to play.
The Knicks were in the running to land LeBron ahead of “The Decision” in 2010, have made back-to-back conference finals, and are in a market capable of supporting LeBron’s superstardom.
Links to the Clippers likely stem from their coach, Tyronn Lue, who won a championship with James in Cleveland in 2016, and since James wouldn’t have to relocate.
NBA Finals picture
The upcoming NBA season is expected to begin in early October, meaning that there could be several months before James announces a decision on his future.
In the meantime, the Thunder are still dominating NBA Finals trading markets. Their 64% expected chance to win the championship is at the top of the board, followed by the Spurs (19%) and the Knicks (14%). The Detroit Pistons (4%), Cavaliers (3%), and Minnesota Timberwolves (2%) are all comfortably behind.
The headlines from Game 4, where Cleveland tied its series with Detroit, were Donovan Mitchell exploding for 39 second-half points and a 22-0 run to start the second half that helped the Cavaliers pull away for the win.
To Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, there was more to the story — Cleveland shot 34 free throws in Game 4 to 12 for Detroit. Mitchell himself had more free-throw attempts (15) than the entire Pistons team, a Detroit squad known for its physical play and for drawing fouls.
"It's unacceptable. It is," Bickerstaff said after the loss, via the Associated Press. "There is no way one guy on their team should have more free throws than our team. We're not a settling for jump shots team. We didn't do enough to help ourselves, but ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed."
Bickerstaff was going to get his money's worth with the fine that is assuredly coming, so he wasn't done, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com.
"We drive the ball, attack the paint. So, what was done out there tonight, it's frustrating, but we can't allow that to be the reason why, because we didn't play well enough and play to the best of our capabilities.
"But again, you look at the foul count, you look at the disparity, and that's hard to overcome, and you wonder the reason why. It's interesting since (Cavaliers coach) Kenny (Atkinson) made his comments publicly about us, the whistles changed in this series."
Atkinson complained about the balance of whistles after the first two games, when the Pistons shot a combined 55 free throws to the Cavaliers' 43.
Coaches complaining to the press about calls going against them in a playoff series is a playoff tradition that goes back further than when Phil Jackson was doing it during the Jordan era in Chicago. The hope is to plant a seed in the minds of the officials calling the next game, to get them — even subconsiously — to tweak how the game is called.
Both Bickerstaff and Pistons star Cade Cunningham said that the referees were not why they lost Game 4 — that was the inability to slow Mitchell and a poor start to the second half. Now it's all about Game 5 on Wednesday, and Bickerstaff will gladly pay the fine if it helps his team in that critical showdown at home.
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Timberwolves Game 5 computer picks
Rudy Gobert Over 7.5 points (-120)
Projection: 9.75 points
This is one of two five-star plays our model found for this game, showing an EV edge of 23.91%. Rudy Gobert has scored 10+ points in back-to-back outings, playing 30+ minutes in each.
He should see a similar workload tonight with Wemby back after his ejection.
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Ayo Dosunmu Over 12.5 points (-112)
Projection: 14.78 points
Ayo Dosunmu has become a pivotal part of the Minnesota Timberwolves' rotation, even drawing the start in Game 4. Our projections see him turning up the heat after three underwhelming performances.
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Naz Reid Over 11.5 points (+100)
Projection: 13.51 points
Naz Reid provides a perfect scoring punch for the Wolves off the bench. He's eclipsed this total in six of his last seven games, finishing with exactly 11 in the other outing.
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Spurs Game 5 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 8.5 points (+100)
Projection: 10.54 points
This is the second five-star play for tonight's game, sitting with an EV edge of 24.32%.
Before two mediocre outings, Julian Champagnie was going to work. With Wembanyama expected to play the full game, it'll open up more catch-and-shoot opportunities for Champagnie — who is hitting threes at a 49% clip in the playoffs.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-112)
Projection: 19.73 points
De'Aaron Fox plays a pivotal part in the San Antonio Spurs' success, and they'll need him to be at his best tonight. He just scored 24 points in Game 4, and he's on track to play after going through the afternoon shootaround.
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Stephon Castle Over 4.5 rebounds (-155)
Projection: 6.17 rebounds
Stephon Castle puts his 6-foot-6 frame to good use, averaging 4.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He's eclipsed this line in two of four games against Minnesota, finishing with exactly four in the other two.
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How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 5
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Tip-off
8 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
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In some alternate NBA timeline, Victor Wembanyama was suspended for his katana-like elbow on Naz Reid. In that dimension, the Western Conference semifinals look very different.
But in our universe, the league isn't holding out one of its biggest superstars for Game 5 between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. San Antonio remains a massive favorite at home tonight with the inside track to the conference finals.
Wembanyama will be on the floor tonight, impacting the game as only he can, and these are my best NBA picks surrounding Victor Wembanyama props for May 12. Be sure to also read our Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions.
Victor Wembanyama prop pick
Victor Wembanyama best bet: Victor Wembanyama Under 27.5 points (-112 at bet365)
Prior to his Game 4 ejection, Victor Wembanyama was coming off a 39-point explosion in Game 3.
That boosted his scoring total to 26.5 O/U heading into Game 4 and has tonight’s points prop trending up to 27.5 O/U.
Wembanyama’s absence after getting the hook on Sunday was definitely felt on the defensive end, but the San Antonio Spurs managed well without him on offense.
Guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper picked up the scoring slack, and that takes pressure off Wemby to shoulder the load as he returns to the lineup.
If there wasn’t already a target on the 7-footer, there’s a glowing red laser dot on him in Game 5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are pissed the NBA didn’t suspend him for an obviously calculated elbow to the neck of beloved forward Naz Reid.
Just how Minnesota treats Wembanyama tonight remains to be seen, but it won’t pull any punches. If this were the NHL playoffs, we’d see the gloves come off the instant the puck dropped.
Wembanyama started Game 4 shooting 2-for-5 from the field, scoring off the dribble and on an alley-oop toss. Outside of Game 3, the T-Wolves have done a solid job on Wembanyama.
Taking out that 13-for-18 outing, he’s shooting just 37.8% in the other four showings, with outputs of 11 and 19 points in the first two games of the series.
Player projections for Game 5 range from 25.1 to 29.2 points from the lanky Frenchman, but most models come in shy of his current scoring total of 27.5 points. My number flirts with 26 points, giving the nod to the Under.
Another thing to consider: Given the sizable spread, San Antonio may pull away in the second half. If the score gets out of hand, it could get chippy.
If I’m Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, I’m not playing my franchise player any more than I have to and protecting him from garbage time shenanigans.
San Antonio returns to Texas as 10.5-point home chalk. The Spurs are 12-3 straight up as double-digit home faves this season, as well as 18-5 SU when coming off a loss.
The T-Wolves aren’t going to play nice with Wembanyama after his elbow on Reid, and you can expect the veteran team to needle the youngster in an effort to frustrate and throw him off his game. The bulk of scoring projections come in short of 27.5 points
Wemby will still battle on the boards and with his interior presence pushing Minnesota to the outside — where it’s shot poorly — there will be plenty of rebounding chances for the 7-footer to snap up.
He grabbed 15 boards in each of the first three games and is forecasted for as many as 15+ rebounds tonight.
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Day one of the NBA Draft Combine is in the books, and the measuring tape doesn’t lie, but apparently, college sports information departments do. Seventy-three prospects were invited to Chicago to put their bodies under the microscope. By the end of the measurement session, a handful of guys walked out with their stock firmly on the rise, while others are quietly hoping teams don’t look too hard at the numbers. Here’s who won the day, and who didn’t.
Biggest Winners
Morez Johnson – Michigan, PF
Michigan's Morez Johnson measured 6'9 barefoot and 251 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'3.5 wingspan and 8'11 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/W5QXW1eXqV
The measurements didn’t break the internet, but they didn’t need to. Johnson checked in right at his listed 6’9″, 250 lbs, and backed it up with a 6.5-inch wingspan advantage and a 39-inch vertical. Then he went out and posted the group’s best Pro Lane Agility time. Johnson is already a highly-regarded prospect, and these numbers give teams every reason to keep moving him up their boards over the next six weeks. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the top 10 by draft night.
Darius Acuff – Arkansas, PG
Arkansas' Darius Acuff measured 6'2 barefoot and 186 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'7 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach.
In line with past measurements. Not the biggest or longest guard around, but certainly not any kind of deal-breaker. pic.twitter.com/92axDxsSQC
This was the best-case outcome for Acuff. The knock on him all season has been size and well… defense. Coming in at 6’2 with a 5-inch-plus wingspan goes a long way toward answering the size question. Acuff’s combination of elite playmaking and now-verified length makes a legitimate case for him going as high as fifth overall. The question is whether he can use these tools to be a net natural defender at the next level.
Aday Mara – Michigan, C
Michigan's Aday Mara measured 7'3 barefoot and 260 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'6 wingspan and 9'9 standing reach.
Absolutely absurd measurements. Tied with Mark Williams for the second-longest standing reach in Combine history, behind only Tacko Fall. pic.twitter.com/FvZ41Kv1jo
Seven-foot-three barefoot. Second-highest standing reach in combine history. That’s it. That’s the tweet. Mara has been one of the fastest-rising names in draft circles all season, and he just gave every front office another reason to love him. A top-ten landing feels less like a projection now and more like a floor.
Chris Cenac – Houston, C
Houston's Chris Cenac measured 6'10.25 barefoot and 240 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'5 wingspan and 9'0.5 standing reach.
In a draft class starved for legitimate big men, Cenac may have just put himself into the lottery conversation. The size is real, the length is real, and a 41.5-inch vertical is the kind of number that makes scouts forget about everything else on the page. Teams looking for a high-upside center have their answer. Cenac is going to be a name everyone knows by draft night.
Biggest Losers
Kingston Flemings – Houston, PG
Houston's Kingston Flemings measured 6'2.5 barefoot and 183 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'3.5 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach
Flemings has grown and filled out over the past two years, but does not have great dimensions for an NBA guard by any means. pic.twitter.com/vVhoDhpOeC
It’s been a wild ride for Flemings — from afterthought to can’t-miss top 5 pick, all in one season. The combine didn’t kill his stock, but it put a dent in it. A 6’2 point guard with a 6’3 wingspan gives teams pause, especially the ones that prioritize positional length. He’ll still land in the lottery, but the teams that had him climbing toward the top five are going to take a harder look. One bad measurement session doesn’t erase what he did on the court, but it complicates the conversation.
Christian Anderson – Texas Tech, PG
Texas Tech's Christian Anderson measured 6'0.75 barefoot and 180 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'6.25 wingspan and 8'0.5 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/9SbE2QaYXP
Coming in under 6’1″ when you’re listed at 6’3″ is never a good look. Anderson’s physical profile is now a problem, and it’s going to cost him on draft night. The good news: a 6-inch-plus wingspan and a 40.5-inch vertical tell a story that pure height can’t. There’s a team that’s going to fall in love with that athleticism and take a shot on him, but the mid-first-round buzz might be fading.
Amari Allen – Alabama, SF
2026 AWS NBA Draft Combine anthro measurements for Alabama’s Amari Allen:
This is the one that stings. Allen was already slotted comfortably in the mid-to-late first round, and a clean combine week could have pushed him higher. Instead, his official measurements came in well short of Alabama’s listed 6’8″, 205 lbs., the kind of discrepancy that sets off alarm bells in front offices building around specific positional fits. The path forward isn’t obvious. He could go back to school, bet on himself, and enter a 2026 class with far less top-end talent. Or see if a team falls in love with his workout and gets the promise he needs to stay in the draft.
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has said it consistently all season long: He doesn't know what's next for him.
He doesn't know if he will play another season, and if so, whether it will be with the Lakers or another team. He — and the people around him — have consistently said he had not come close to making that decision.
Minutes after his 23rd season ended, that hadn't changed.
"I don't know what the future holds for me, honestly, as it stands right now tonight," LeBron said after his Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Thunder. "I've got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota: I'll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do."
LeBron is now a free agent and faces two major questions: Whether to return to the NBA, and if the answer to that is yes (as many around the league expect), will it be with the Lakers or another team?
The question is not can he still help a team — he answered that emphatically this season. LeBron, at age 41 and in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, showed he is still one of the top players in the game and an All-Star. For the season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists a night, shooting 51.5% from the floor.
"It's amazing what he's doing out there at this age," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's very impressive. It's hard to put into words. He's not very old in the grand scheme of life, but for the NBA, he's pretty old, and he doesn't seem like it out there. He was a force. He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I'm not sure we'll see anything like that again, his longevity and his greatness." This season was unlike any other for LeBron: He battled more injuries, missing the first 14 games with sciatica and only playing in 60 total (ending his record streak of making 21 All-NBA teams), and for much of that season playing as the Lakers' third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. LeBron also got to share the court again with his son Bronny, including playing in the playoffs together.
With Doncic (hamstring) out for the playoffs and Reaves (oblique strain) missing most of it, LeBron stepped back into the role of primary shot creator and led the Lakers in an upset of the Houston Rockets and into the second round. In the playoffs, he averaged 23.2 points a game with 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.
"I was put into some positions that I never played in my career before. Actually, in my life," LeBron said of this season. "I've never been a third option in my life. So to be able to thrive in that role, for that period of time, and then have to step back into the role that I've been accustomed with over my career or my life playing the sport, and be able to thrive under that, and just my teammates allowing me to lead them under extreme circumstances, that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career."
On the podium after the emotional loss, LeBron sounded like many great, aging athletes before him, including Lakers' legend Kobe Bryant: His love of the game is still there, but his decision whether to retire or continue is more about his whether he remains willing to put in the incredible and increasing amount of work it takes to get his aging body ready to play at this level for another season.
"I think for me, it's about the process," LeBron said. "If I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five-and-a-half hours before a game and start preparing for a game. Give everything I got, diving for loose balls, doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play. Showing up to 11 o'clock practice, I'm here at eight o'clock, preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in.
"So I think for me, I've always been in love with the process and not the aftermath. Okay, we won that game, or won a championship, like I've always enjoyed the process more than the outcome. So that will be a big factor.
"And also, have a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, that's a big factor; my 19-year-old son entering his second year at Arizona and my wife as well. So they're a huge factor in any decision I've made, so they'll be a big part of it as well."
LeBron isn't going to be rushed into a decision, but it's also one he essentially needs to make in the next couple of months, while teams are still shaping and forming their rosters for next season. By the middle of July, that process is largely finished for teams.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers wrestle for a loose ball during the second quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You can feel it in the air.
It’s the rest-and-wait scent.
Here’s the latest from across Knicks nation.
Jalen Brunson eliminated the Sixers and immediately hopped on Papa’s Freezeria 😭 pic.twitter.com/H7cSANjEv8
On closing out series with composure and preparation:
“Closeout games are the hardest games to play, because of the level of desperation from the other team, especially when you’re on the road and you factor in your opponent’s home crowd — so, I give our guys a lot of credit. I give my staff a ton of credit. My staff has been unbelievable from top to bottom. They’ve been really, really, really good in our preparation and making sure guys understand what we need to do so that they can stay focused on the details at hand.”
PACKIN PHILLY UP EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON SO THEY CAN ALL SPEND TIME WITH THEY MOMS ON MOTHERS DAY!!💐
On the team’s mentality entering the Eastern Conference Finals:
“I think it’s really great to see our team in this mindset. The feeling that we’ve got a lot more work to do. To see us not really relaxing, looking at these next days as days to realign ourselves and get ready for the next challenge, I think it speaks volumes about this team where we’re at mentally, we understand collectively that the job’s not done and we have to get our bodies freshened up so we can get ready for the next series.”
On how this year’s mood differs from last season’s:
“To beat a great team like Boston last year, obviously we were very excited. This year we just have another year with each other. We — I don’t know. It’s just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there’s a lot more work to do. And as soon as you start relaxing is when you lose in the playoffs. It’s great to see our guys kind of hungry for the next challenge.”
On using the layoff to reset physically and mentally:
“We’ll take these days. We’ll take [Monday] to heal our bodies, heal our minds — especially me, myself, especially the mind part, mentally, and get back to work on us, on our game plan, our offensive execution, our defensive execution. Continue to find ways that we can get better so we start that next series and we’re at our best version of the year.”
On why reaching the conference finals isn’t enough for this Knicks team:
“That’s what we expect to do. I feel like this group is special. We can’t take it for granted. It’s something special to do. Obviously this fan base has been wanting this, but we have to stay locked in. Getting to the Eastern Conference finals isn’t the final goal.”
On his growth after feeling his fit in the NBA was uncertain earlier in his career:
“I just felt like my back was against the wall. The only way I could get out of it was to fight and just trust myself.”
On admitting the real reason behind his “Golden Child” tattoo:
“Yeah, but a lot of other people have called me that so it worked out. Shoutout to my sister.”
Trey McBride (Deuce’s Brother)
On feeling like Miles got away with things growing up:
“I would do something. I’d get in trouble for it. … Miles does something — he could do the exact same thing, and no one bats an eye. And I was just like, ‘Yo. He’s doing the same thing! I’m calling it out.’ And he would just look at me and kind of chuckle, because he knew he got away with it.”
On his reaction to the “Golden Child” tattoo:
“I swear to you, he got this as a middle finger to me.”
On Miles’ refusal to admit the real reason for the tattoo:
“He would never admit he was doing it to piss me off. He would say he’s doing it because my grandma calls me this or my brother gave me that nickname. Like, ‘It just feels right.’ Some Miles bull—- answer.”
On believing there was some truth behind the rivalry:
“It’s probably a little true, to be honest with you. Like, he probably does like the nickname that I gave to him, because things have gone pretty well for him. But I swear to you, there is a small piece of him that is like, ‘Yeah, Trey, take that. I’m the golden child.’”
"A lot of maturity. … Right now the Knicks are playing championship basketball."@DGreen_14 reacts to the Knicks sweeping the Sixers 🏀 pic.twitter.com/sg7fI3KRRG
On how this postseason run feels compared to last year’s:
“I think the way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was very — I don’t want to say celebratory, but it was — it hit a little bit different than here. It’s just, we’re approaching the business as normal and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused on the next team.”
On the team’s current flow and continued hunger:
“It just didn’t happen overnight. It was a process of trial and error and figuring things out, figuring out where everyone wants the ball, new system, new coaches, stuff like that. So I think we’re in a good little flow state right now, but we’ve got to make sure we continue to get better and not be complacent.”
On using the extended break to recover:
“It’s good. I think we’re all a little banged up, so you know — get some treatment, some rest and recovery. Watch the other games and be ready.”
Mikal Bridges
On playing with urgency even while holding a 3-0 series lead:
“Being able to play desperate even being up 3-0. Shoutouts to everybody: Shoutouts to the coaches and everybody who played tonight.”
On staying afloat while OG Anunoby recovers:
“We’re gonna hold it down for OG and do whatever it takes and hopefully give him some more time to heal up, but next man up. We’ve got a lot of talent on this team, a lot of smart IQ guys and we’re gonna hold it down for OG and anybody else who gets hurt.”
Peter Patton’s commitment to the craft is helping the Knicks to his historic performances:
On the impact of shooting coach Peter Patton on the Knicks’ performances:
“He’s the man. There’s some guys that get it, understand the nuances of shooting. The reality is it’s very nuanced. It’s not as cookie cutter as a lot of people might think like, ‘Have your elbow in a certain position’ and ‘You need more arch,’ and those kind of cliché things that you hear a lot. But Peter is very good at picking up on subtleties and nuances from person to person. My stuff is different from Mikal [Bridges’], and his stuff is different from Jose [Alvarado’s]. He understands that. And he’s good at not being overbearing and doing too much. Just finding ways to give you a couple things to hang onto to think about, to pay attention to. Cause the reality is a lot of guys in here were really good shooters. How can you marginally kind of move the needle? And he’s been really helpful. He’s been great.”
Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk … Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this … Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult … Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K
On the level of difficulty increasing in the Eastern Conference Finals:
“It gets real again in the next round for the Knicks. Cleveland and the Pistons have caused problems for the Knicks this year.”
Charles Barkley
On how he views the Knicks’ path to the conference finals:
“Whoever they play next is a very difficult series.”
Shaquille O’Neal
On whether anyone in the East can slow the Knicks right now:
“They’ve shown me they are ready. And I have to disagree with both guys, I think they’ll breeze through whoever the next opponent is if they play like this.”
On his ultimate prediction for New York:
“Knicks going to the finals.”
Stephen A Smith is officially kicking the Knicks to win the championship 👀
“The New York Knicks are going to the finals. I think they can win the championship. I’m taking the Knicks to win the title. We’re winning the chip!” pic.twitter.com/ZLCuBffV2K
“Philadelphia 76ers, my condolences. We’ll talk about them later. New York Knicks going to the finals. I think they can win the championship. Yes, I do.”
Jay Williams
On the Knicks’ chances if they reach the NBA Finals:
“1,000 percent. I’ll say, once you get to the finals, anything can happen. I still think OKC would be favoured. But still, they could put up a fighter’s chance. By the way, I know that we’ll talk about this later, but you have Cleveland, then you have Detroit. If I’m the Knicks, I want Detroit. I’ll say it.”
On wanting a shot at the Pistons and Cade Cunningham:
“I know because Cade Cunningham is a Knicks killer. And J.B. Bickerstaff, we want all the smoke with that team all the time. You haven’t seen this version of us. OK, I want that back. I want a chance to redeem myself. I’ll take Cleveland or Detroit, doesn’t really matter.”
As we all turn the page to the offseason, Sixers fans are now in wait-and-see mode as reports swirl about the uncertain futures of president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse. What we all know is that the team is stuck in a bit of a holding pattern. As we saw in the playoffs, the Sixers lacked adequate depth to not only compete with the Knicks but to keep their starters fresh for what would have been six more weeks of basketball had they been able to advance all the way to the NBA Finals. The problem is, that depth might not be able to be acquired overnight.
There might be some renewed hope that Philadelphia can get out of the final two years of Paul George’s contract after George’s production improved after his 25-game suspension. If so, a trade of George could inject some much-needed depth to the Sixers’ roster by itself. Then there’s expiring contracts to Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond, really the only three role players that saw meaningful minutes this past postseason. Perhaps there’s a world in which Morey can replace some or all of those players in that trio with better role players for 2026-27.
But Morey’s history in Philadelphia is spotty at best in free agency and on the trade market. It’s his draft history that could ultimately give him some more time as the man in charge of basketball operations. Since taking over in 2020, Morey has drafted four players in the first round that have gone on to play games for the Sixers. Those picks were Tyrese Maxey, Jaden Springer, Jared McCain and VJ Edgecombe. Springer was clearly the only miss amongst that group. Of course he traded McCain this past February, but drafting McCain was a wise decision. Maxey and McCain were both picked outside of the lottery which is where the Sixers find themselves drafting this summer with the 22nd overall pick via Houston acquired from Oklahoma City.
While second-round picks can be a crapshoot, Morey has also drafted Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed towards the end of the second round and both players are NBA rotation players for contending teams six years after being drafted. Adem Bona wasn’t a meaningful part of the Sixers’ playoff rotation this past season, but one could argue he has exceeded expectations of most 41st overall picks, the spot Bona was taken at in 2024.
I get it. You’ve already said, “What’s the point of making good draft picks if the players aren’t going to be retained?” I’m not here to give a ringing endorsement of Morey. But I am trying to get Sixers fans to understand something they might not want to understand at the moment given Morey’s unpopularity within the fanbase. The easiest way for the franchise to build the depth they didn’t have against New York is by continuing to draft good players.
Obviously, they’ll need to keep these players unlike some of Morey’s good draft picks who aren’t with the organization anymore. But the draft represents a chance for every team in the NBA to add young talent and the teams that can best identify said young talent each year are going to be well-positioned to contend.
Morey is under contract with the Sixers for two more seasons as his contract expires after the 2027-28 season. That would mean that Morey has two more drafts with the Sixers, if he’s given those two years in their entirety to remain in his current role. Between this summer and next summer’s drafts, the Sixers have a total of five picks. They also own what could be a very nice draft asset in 2028 as the holders of the Clippers’ unprotected first-rounder and they have first-round swap rights with Los Angeles in 2029.
With the first-round debt to Oklahoma City set to be paid off next month, the Sixers control all of their own first-rounders in the near future save for 2028. They owe Brooklyn their 2028 first-round pick to complete the James Harden-Ben Simmons trade, but that pick is top-eight protected. If it were to fall in the 2028 top eight, the Sixers would only owe the Nets a second-round pick to finalize the trade.
While Morey might not get a new contract to preside over the 2028 and 2029 drafts, we find those draft assets relevant to this discussion because the summer of 2029 is when the Sixers will be done with the three-year max contract for Joel Embiid that is set to kick in next season. Regardless of who is running the Sixers by then, if the franchise can string together some more good drafts for the rest of the decade, they’ll have a good core around Maxey and Edgecombe by then, even if they don’t hit on their free agent signings or strike gold in a few trades.
That’s been the chief problem for the Sixers this decade as they’ve unsuccessfully tried to build around Embiid. The franchise was missing too frequently in trades and free agency, and it’s what led to them being stuck now. Despite some good drafting from Morey, they were also trading away draft picks in an attempt to contend, but the returns in those trades were never helping them get over the hump. We’ve now reached the point where it doesn’t make sense for the franchise to be trading away draft picks as they must act as if Embiid does not exist and supplement their star guards in the backcourt with more young talent.
I don’t think anyone is talking themselves into Morey flipping George for a couple of good roster players or replacing Grimes, Drummond or Oubre with improvements. Those are ways that the Sixers could immediately improve for next season but no one is expecting the team to be significantly improved next year anyway. If the whole idea is having a better and younger core in place for Maxey and Edgecombe, that’s going to require a few more years of good drafting, and of course, retaining the good draft picks once they’re on the roster. Like it or not, Morey’s strong track record in the draft might be enough for him to get a chance to stick around and turn things over.
The Western Conference series between the Spurs and the Timberwolves is back in San Antonio tonight for Game 5 tonight with the series tied at two games apiece. For those who have yet to hear, Victor Wembanyama has not been suspended by the league for his elbow to the throat of Naz Reid in Game 4. That obviously is a major relief and advantage for the Spurs. They did not wilt but also could not hold off the Timberwolves over the weekend once their leader was sent to the showers. Minnesota wore down San Antonio outscoring them 34-25 in the fourth quarter enroute to a 114-109 win.
Dylan Harper has been a revelation this series. The rookie out of Rutgers has matured steadily throughout the season but his scoring has taken a big step in the postseason. Harper led the Spurs with 24 points in Game 4. Consider taking a look at his point totals for tonight’s game. Rudy Gobert has been a steady presence around the rim for the Timberwolves averaging 10 rebounds and nearly 1.5 blocks per game in the series. He is also averaging 2.5 assists.
It is fair to say the winner tonight will win this series. It may still take seven games, but the winner tonight will take a significant step towards a Western Conference Finals date with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who, oh by the way, have yet to lose a game this postseason. Because tonight is so pivotal, the pressure will be amped up that much more. Which side’s stars can take their team to a new level? Which side’s supporting cast can exceed expectations?
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Time: 8PM EST
Site: Frost Bank Center
City: San Antonio, TX
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
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Game Odds: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves (+320), San Antonio Spurs (-410)
Spread: Spurs -10.5
Total: 218.5 points
This game opened Spurs -9.5 with the Game Total set at 218.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Minnesota Timberwolves
PG Anthony Edwards
SG Ayo Dosunmu
C Rudy Gobert
SF Julius Randle
PF Jaden McDaniels
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Stephon Castle
SG Devin Vassell
PF Victor Wembanyama
SF Julian Champagnie
Injury Report: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Minnesota Timberwolves
Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
De’Aaron Fox (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
The Timberwolves are 29-15 at home this season
The Spurs are 31-12 on the road this season
The Spurs are 51-39-2 ATS this season
Minnesota is 43-49 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 40 of the Spurs’ 92 games this season (40-52)
The OVER has cashed in 42 of the Timberwolves’ 92 games this season (42-50)
Victor Wembanyama (ejected)played just 12 minutes in Game 4
Julius Randle has scored 12 points in each of the last 3 games in this series
Ayo Dosunmu was 3-12 from the field in Game 4
Dosunmui is 7-28 in the series from the field
Julian Champagnie had two steals in each game in Minnesota
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 4 assists per game in this series
Terrence Shannon Jr. was just 3-12 from the field in Game 4
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Timberwolves and Spurs’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Timberwolves +10.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 218.5
Player Prop: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Spurs’ Dylan Harper 12+ Points (-112).
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t enough, and now attention turns to the future for “The King,” who, at 41 years old, could have just played his final NBA game.
Following the contest, James was his usual measured self in his media session, noting that he would take time to think and make any decision about his future:
"No sé qué me depara el futuro. Me juntaré con mí familia, recalibraré y hablaré con ellos. Una vez que tenga una decisión, la sabrán".
This offseason could see a lot of changes around the NBA, including with James, which could leave the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with a variety of options. With Giannis Antetokounmpo likely on the move, LeBron may not even get the majority of the headlines this offseason.
No one knows what James will decide to do. Many believe his most realistic options are to return to Lakers, go back home with the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last run, join his friend Steph Curry, along with Steve Kerr, with the Golden State Warriors, or retire. Let’s predict what’s next for LeBron.
LeBron gets the ultimate retirement tour in Cleveland
James should have one of the greatest farewell tours we’ve ever seen in professional sports. It just doesn’t make sense that it would happen on the Lakers, not when Luka Doncic is trying to write his own legacy with the franchise. The most sensible place for LeBron’s farewell tour is of course in Cleveland. I’ve predicted this since the start of this season, and then there was an ESPN report in January that the Cavs are potentially open to it. Beyond being a great story, James could actually help Cleveland on the court with a veteran team that has needed a big wing. I remember reading about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar getting a rocking chair on his farewell tour. LeBron should get similarly fun and extravagant gifts along the way. Cleveland actually feels like a better basketball situation than the Warriors or Lakers to me, and we already know what LeBron does when he’s in the East. I predict LeBron has one more season left before retirement, and the most sensible place for it to happen is in Cleveland. — ROD
LeBron enjoys the “bleacher years”
I spend more time than I should scrolling Instagram mindlessly.
Such is life in 2026.
Thanks to an odd intersection of interests, my algorithm is approximately 25% Interstellar clips, 25% Project Hail Mary clips, 25% dance competition videos (thanks to the ones my daughter shares in our family chat) and 25% high school baseball clips (thanks to our son).
It is that last 25% that is on my mind right now.
We’ve reached May on the calendar, which brings wit it the end of many high school baseball careers. Here in Maryland, the state baseball tournament is underway, with teams already being eliminated. That means for some seniors, their last baseball game is now behind them, and their baseball journey is over.
And for their parents, the end of the “bleacher years.” Those years spent traveling to games, supporting their children, cheering them on, and holding them tight when they’re hurting.
And how you never get those bleacher years back.
LeBron, you’ve accomplished everything there is on the court. Your legacy is secure.
It’s time to enjoy the bleacher years.
You’ve earned them. — MS
LeBron deserves a retirement tour unlike anything we’ve seen before
There will be plenty of time to argue about legacies, who is the GOAT, and pore over the metrics to determine the pecking order on NBA’s Mt. Rushmore, but from my estimation LeBron is both the second greatest player of all time, and the second greatest player I will have seen in my lifetime after Michael Jordan.
I see the vision of LeBron returning to Cleveland, helping them win one more title, and riding off into the sunset as the conquering hero of the NBA — but in reality, I’m not sure it will play out like that. If he joins a championship-caliber Cavaliers team and they falter, the failure will be blamed on the distraction of James’ retirement tour. There’s also the reality here that while LeBron is from Akron, and best identified as a Cavaliers legend — his legacy belongs to multiple NBA teams.
So here’s what we do:
LeBron James signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers and plays the first 25 games of the season with them. Enough to get the hero’s send-off, not enough to take away from the goal at hand of winning a championship.
LeBron is then traded to the Miami Heat, where he plays up until the NBA trade deadline. It’s a chance to team up with Eric Spoelstra again, the coach he won two championships with in 2012 and 2013. Here he can give the Heat a mid-season boost to their playoff odds, then depart as well.
Closing out his retirement tour, LeBron returns to the Los Angeles Lakers. A team that should be in the playoff hunt thanks to Luka Doncic regardless, and this achieves two goals. Firstly, it allows for the bright lights of Los Angeles to be his final stop, allowing him to be the hottest ticket in town — and he still gets to help the Lakers in crunch time of the season as a glue guy, without it feeling like he abandoned the team.
It’s weird, it’s unusual, and it’s the perfect ending to King James’ reign. — James Dator
LeBron James + the Mecca of Basketball
Let me say up front, as a lifelong Cleveland sports fan (cheap plug for my Cleveland Browns site, Dawgs By Nature), LeBron coming home seems most likely, most fitting, and the best storyline. While I want and expect LeBron to come home, and have heard there are some details already in motion for if/when that happens, that would be the homer and obvious pick for me.
Dator’s idea ended up blowing mine out of the water for creativity. I thought I was going to be the curveball.
James has talked about Madison Square Garden with such reverence over the years that a farewell tour centered in New York City makes all the sense in the world. In this scenario, the New York Knicks get taken out in the Eastern Conference Finals this year (maybe by the Cavs) and are desperate for that one piece to take them over the top. LeBron can not only spend a ton of time in another huge market, but also end up being a hero type for four different teams if the Knicks can win the NBA Championship in 2027 while hosting “The King’s” farewell tour.
Joel Embiid was comforted by his son, Arthur, following the Knicks’ sweep of the 76ers on Sunday in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Arthur joined him during the postgame press conference — one that warranted tough questions about another disappointing playoff loss and an injury-filled season.
FS1’s “First Things First” host Nick Wright took issue with Embiid’s son being there.
“Bringing children to press conferences after losses should not be allowed,” Wright said Monday during the show. “I think Joel Embiid is obviously an awesome family man and a great dad, and when you first saw it I think it was Steph [Curry]’s daughter, Riley. Not only was it adorable, here’s the other thing. It was amidst of him always winning and all the press conference stuff was just celebratory. So, it was cute and there was never a, ‘Oh man, I kinda need to ask him an awkward question but he has this adorable child with him.’ Whether intentional or not, the ultimate effect is your kid is shielding you from what could be tough or uncomfortable questions that is the point of those press conferences.”
Joel Embiid sits with his son, Arthur, during a postgame press conference after the 76ers were eliminated by the Knicks on May 10, 2026. YouTube/ESPNPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) carries his son Arthur on the court after a victory against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Wright went on to say he really enjoys that the modern NBA embraces fatherhood and brings athletes’ families to the forefront.
Fans know the children of their favorite stars, such as Canon Curry and Bronny James.
However, he believes there should be a limit when it comes to crucial press conferences.
Nick Wright: "Bringing children to press conferences after losses should not be allowed" pic.twitter.com/jXzb0RzY07
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 11, 2026
“I’m not picking on Embiid because he is not the only guy to do it. … but I don’t think after season-ending losses when you’re talking about your future with the team that you should have your kid on your lap. Just, I know I’ll get ripped for it, but I know I’m right,” Wright concluded.
In Game 4, the Knicks handed out a 144-114 beatdown on the 76ers to close the series.
Nick Wright believes children should not be allowed at press conferences after losses. X @awfulannouncing
Embiid, who missed Game 2 with hip and ankle issues, scored 24 points, shooting 8-for-8 from the field in the final game.
While making the conference semifinals was unexpected for the 76ers, who were not favored to get past Boston in the first round, they will have to answer for their shortcomings in yet another early playoff exit.
Philadelphia has not made it to the Eastern Conference finals since 2001, when they lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals in five games.
Kurt Helin
Timberwolves
Spurs
