Category: Basketball

Rich Paul is adamant his agency has lost clients due to NBA players’ hatred of LeBron James.

The super agent, who founded Klutch Sports Group over a decade ago, told Max Kellerman on the twosome’s “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast this week that his business has been impacted by the way some of James’ peers feel about the Lakers superstar.

“I’ve had NBA current players, and former players, involve themselves in a recruiting process with a kid — it’s not their son — and purposely push a kid to a different agency because of their disdain for LeBron, and I’m his guy,” Paul said. “So, I know what happens.”

Paul’s shocking revelation came as he and Kellerman were discussing the results of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and how players and media have publicly talked about it.

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Paul accused the masses of giving Nuggets center Nikola Jokic a pass for a postseason loss to the Timberwolves that they wouldn’t have given to James.

“The reason why you don’t hear a lot of conversation about Jokic is because I don’t believe people are happy to see Jokic lose,” Paul said.

“But when LeBron loses, people are happy to see him lose. Especially his peers. Guys that played in the league that have platforms today. For different reasons, it’s extra. They are happy to see him lose. For whatever reason. That’s just how I feel, and I think it’s true.”

Paul didn’t expound on exactly why he believes James is so despised by some in the Association, though he did say it’s “deeper than” them just being envious of the future Hall of Famer’s situation.

“I just think that in our community,” he said, “it makes you feel better when someone else has a thing of detriment placed upon them because of what you lack and what you always wanted.

“That’s the DNA of our communities. We’re born into that. An athlete is not an exception.”

Paul went on to say he’s all for critique, but he insisted it’s more than that when it comes to James.

“I’m telling you,” he said, “it’s a deeper thing.”

It is all pretty simple, really. 

Mike Brown is only the Knicks’ head coach because not even back-to-back 50-win regular seasons were enough to save his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, from being fired after New York stumbled in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring.

The implied word from on-high for all to see that even though Thibodeau posted a .565 winning percentage over his five years and won NBA Coach of the Year in 2021, the franchise's first trip to the doorstep of the NBA Finals in a quarter of a century was unsatisfactory. 

The perception – and possible reality, too – is that there is a mandate for the first-year man in New York: It better be a trip to the NBA Finals or bust.

“People have talked about a mandate, I'm coaching to win,” Brown said Tuesday after a dominant Game 1 win of the Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

“It doesn't matter what others say,” he continued. “I'm disappointed if we're not in the Finals and having a chance to win it."

Brown said he’s been “fortunate, blessed, lucky” to have made the Finals six times with three different teams during his career as a head coach and assistant, with four titles.

“It’s the best feeling in the world, and I know that’s what I do it for,” he said. 

As far as the “mandate and all that stuff,” Brown said the NBA Finals-or-bust attitude is something the head coach embraces.

“That’s what I expect, that’s what I want to do,” he said, “and hopefully it can happen, but who knows?”

Despite acknowledging at least that elephant in the room, Brown doesn't let the proverbial Sword of Damocles above his head impact his coaching.

"He doesn't listen to the outside noise and doesn't let that affect him," Josh Hart said Tuesday. "He's focused every day on how he can come in and make this team better. He listens to his coaches, and he listens to us with our feedback and what we have to say, and asks us questions and stuff like that.

"I think it's just a good line of communication with everyone within the organization, with obviously him at the helm of how we can make this team the best unit that we can be. And he's doing an amazing job."

So are the Knicks playing at a championship level in the head coach's eyes?

“We’re playing well at the right time, but I think we have room to grow,” Brown said. “We can’t give up 34 free throws like we did last night. It’s gonna be tough if you give up 34 free throws. We had 15 turnovers last night. We can’t have 15 turnovers against this team because they thrive at the free-throw line, they thrive in the steal game, they convert those turnovers into points really quickly.

“And they didn’t shoot well. We know they’re gonna shoot better. We know that [Tyrese] Maxey is gonna be more aggressive, so we have to be even more alert than what we were in our last game.”

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The Minnesota Timberwolves upset the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 thanks to an offensive outburst in the fourth quarter.

My Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, May 6 expect Minnesota to lean into that fourth-quarter recipe once again, which means parking Rudy Gobert on the bench.

Don't miss tip-off at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2 prediction

Who will win Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2?

Spurs: Factoring desperation into a betting line is a bit beyond usual algorithms, but it should absolutely be a nod in San Antonio’s direction in Game 2. Losing both home games to start this series would rightfully frighten everyone in the Spurs organization.

Timberwolves vs Spurs best bet: Rudy Gobert Under 11.5 rebounds (-130)

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the fourth quarter Monday night trailing the San Antonio Spurs by three. Rudy Gobert went to the bench for the next 10:16; when he returned, the Timberwolves led by seven.

Minnesota had scored 32 points in those 10 minutes, already eight more than it had in any previous quarter. A five-out lineup featuring Julius Randle and Naz Reid as the Timberwolves’ big men pulled Victor Wembanyama too far from the hoop to bolster his inflated blocks stats, and suddenly, Minnesota could score.

Expect more of that look in Game 2, costing Gobert minutes as the game wears on.

COVERS INTEL: The Spurs outscored the Timberwolves 45-40 in the 21:32 that both Gobert and Wembanyama were on the court in Game 1.

Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2 same-game parlay

Fewer Rudy Gobert minutes should help both Minnesota’s and San Antonio’s offenses. In the 21:32 that Gobert faced Wembanyama, the Spurs’ offensive rating was 104.7 while the Timberwolves’ was 93. For the entirety of the game, San Antonio’s offensive rating was 106.3 while Minnesota’s was 108.3.

The math does not need to delve further than that. Gobert serves a purpose in this series, but his minutes need to be limited compared to Wembanyama’s, and that should propel both offenses.

Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP

• Rudy Gobert Under 11.5 rebounds
• Rudy Gobert Under 8.5 points
• Over 215.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wemby's shifted focus

First of all, at least four of Wembanyama’s Game 1 blocks should have been called either goaltends or fouls. That is of note because Minnesota is absolutely going to bring that to the attention of the NBA between Games 1 and 2.

Second of all, fewer Rudy Gobert minutes will pull Wembanyama further from the hoop, and that alone should lessen his rebounding total.

Lastly, Wembanyama spent some of Monday’s postgame press conference lamenting how much energy he spent on defense, taking away from his offense. He may overcorrect in that regard, obviously only furthering Over thoughts.

Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Under 4.5 blocks
• Victor Wembanyama Under 12.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
• Over 215.5

Timberwolves vs Spurs odds for Game 2

• Spread: Timberwolves +10 (-110) | Spurs -10 (-110)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves +350 | Spurs -450
• Over/Under: Over 213 (-110) | Under 213 (-110)

Timberwolves vs Spurs betting trend to know

After Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said his team “lied” to him all season, evidenced by their Game 1 loss at Denver, Minnesota has gone 5-1 against the spread, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 14.5 points, even when including the ATS loss. For what it’s worth, that ATS loss came by just the hook. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Spurs.

How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2

Timberwolves vs Spurs latest injuries

Ayo Dosunmu is expected to suit up tonight, per reports, after missing Game 1.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The offseason is underway for the Golden State Warriors, which seemed like a good time to answer some mailbag questions. Thanks to everyone who responded to the prompt in The Feed.

ScottWarrior:
1. who do you like for the Warriors at 11?

2. Will the Warriors trade the pick or draft a player and keep him?

3. If you had to pick a number, how many seasons away are we from Steph’s retirement?

It’s hard to answer the first question without answering the second question first; and it’s hard to answer the second question! Ultimately, I think the Warriors will try fairly hard to trade the pick, simply because they’re going to explore every possibility to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and any other All-NBA caliber talent. I expect them to fail in that endeavor, which means they’ll probably keep the pick. Given what we know of the front office’s recent frustrations, it seems very unlikely to me that they would trade a lottery pick for a role player. Everything will be on the table for a star, but nothing will be on the table for a sixth man.

As to whom they pick, assuming they stay at No. 11, that also depends on so many factors. Most importantly: is Steve Kerr the coach? If so, then I would anticipate a polished player who can slot into the rotation fairly early — partially because that’s the type of player Kerr works best with, and partially because Kerr’s return increases the odds of signing/retaining quality veterans that can make the Warriors competitive, which will further enforce the idea of chasing the current timeline, rather than the future one.

For those reasons (I expect Kerr to stay), I like Yaxel Lendeborg. He’s one of the highest-floor prospects in the draft, and, critically, fits both the offensive and defensive schemes. I will sympathize with any and all calls for the Dubs to chase a higher-ceiling player, but I’m hesitant to do that towards the end of the lottery. If they luck out and get a top-four pick, on the other hand…

As for Steph Curry’s retirement, if I absolutely had to pick a number, I would say three more seasons (but I think four is far more likely than two). Curry is aging like the quality of wine that he can afford to drink (must be nice), but I don’t see him as a player who is going to attempt to keep his career around as long as possible. He has too many interests — his family, his potential golf career, his numerous business pursuits, among others — to chase every last minute on the court. And he deals with enough injuries and ailments that I can’t imagine the reward will be worth the price of admission in a few years.

Here’s my bold prediction though: Curry and the Warriors will go the same route as Buster Posey and the San Francisco Giants, with Curry becoming a minority owner and a member of the board within a few years of his retirement (just don’t expect him to pull a Posey and try to oust Mike Dunleavy Jr.).

SantaCruz351:
1. What’s your latest take on how likely Steve Kerr is to stay?

2. If he stays, how many more seasons?

thanks

I think at this point it is extremely likely that Kerr stays, for the reasons I laid out last week. If he had wanted to leave, he likely would have chosen that already. The longer the indecision drags on, the more likely he is to return, as it points to the meetings being about the details rather than actual decisions.

It does feel to me like the goal for the Warriors is to line up Kerr’s timeline with Curry’s, and I think that will happen. My prediction is that he re-signs on a three-year deal, with Curry signing a two-year extension this summer, and everyone can target the 2028-29 season as the final run for that historic duo.

SantaCruz351:
I thought of one more.

Since your post-game player grades are so interesting, how about doing Final player grades for the entire season? Sort of a basketball final exam if you will.

thanks

I have thought about doing that and this is a good reminder. I’ll get to it this week. Thanks!

Nopelongpause:
When will the fan base stop hating on Podz? Does he need to be traded as he’s

A. One of the only players they have that other teams would want and

B. So universally hated by the fans for no reason I can tell. (Heard people hating on his hair?)

Sort of a joke question but still

The disdain for Brandin Podziemski is at times odd, but at other times kind of funny. I will say though, this is a case where the internet is not always reflective of other forms of reality. Podz gets a lot of late from the online segment of the fanbase, but he’s still a pretty popular player at the arena. I would say the average fan loves his energy and heart, his willingness to put his body on the line to make any play, and his craftiness (his unending support of the Valkyries is also great).

But the online segment of the fanbase? Sometimes they just latch on to people. Podziemski has said a few corny things in his career, and as Karl-Anthony Towns has proven, no amount of success on the court will shake that label.

JDGJDG:
How in the world can the Warriors realistically become a legit contender again?

Well, they seem to think the answer is by acquiring a superstar. Antetokounmpo or Leonard, anyone? How about LeBron James?

That would certainly help, though it’s not particularly realistic, I fear. They’ll try like hell, though, and they’ve pulled it off before.

Otherwise, the plan is simple, if not particularly easy. They need a sprinkle of more talent and a dash of updating their schemes. I’m not fully convinced that the Warriors can’t be competitive running it back (which means re-signing Kristaps Porziņģis) and getting a healthy Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody for the second half of the season. But you can’t rely on that, so they need to do something a little more substantive (I’m curious to see if Porziņģis’ second-half surge boosted his value, and if he could be a sign-and-trade piece now, though I’m doubtful).

People will be quick to point out that the Warriors can’t rely on the health of Curry and Butler, and that’s true. But here’s the reality: the Warriors days of being title favorites are gone, and they’re not coming back for many, many years. But just because you’re not title favorites doesn’t mean you can’t be contenders, and just because you’re merely a contender doesn’t mean you can’t become a champion. Exhibit A: the Golden State Warriors in 2022.

If you’re a contender, you need a little bit of luck to really compete for a title, and for the next few years, that luck will likely have to come on the injury front if the Warriors have any chance of surpassing the West’s elite in the postseason.

Onepunman:
Will Draymond exercise his player option?

Draymond Green is a hard one to figure out. We know he wants to stay with the Warriors, but as he showed a few years ago when he almost signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, he also wants to play somewhere where he is appreciated and compensated accordingly. Green has been very introspective about his current relationship with the organization, and how he doesn’t want to hang around just to hang around. But with Kerr likely coming back, it seems all but certain that Golden State will want Draymond to stick around. So my guess is that he doesn’t exercise his player option, and instead negotiates a new deal three-year deal with the Warriors for a lower annual value. That will line him up with Curry and Kerr, while also giving the Warriors more flexibility this offseason.

scizzorhands:
Draft content. Options for trading down and/or trading to get more picks in the 2026 draft.

I’d be surprised if they trade their first-round pick for anything other than a star player. It seems unlikely that they would want to trade down to get more draft picks, and put more young, raw players on the roster, though they’ll probably do something in the second round, because that’s just what they do. But with the first-round pick, they’ll want to get the best player they can, rather than multiple lesser players.

Thanks for the questions, everyone!

The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is on Mother's Day this year, with every team that didn't make the playoffs seeking the gift of the right ping-pong ball combination on Sunday, May 10. A whole batch of franchises tanked this past season just to have a better shot at securing the best choice possible in what's considered a strong draft class. So much so that NBA commissioner Adam Silver is considering radical changes to the NBA draft lottery system.

Teams have been lining up for the top of the draft board. BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Duke's Cameron Boozer and UNC freshman Caleb Wilson have largely been considered the best four prospects but in varying orders. The potential prizes extend beyond that this year, though. The latest first-round mock draft conducted by USA TODAY Sports through Microsoft Copilot's artificial intelligence chatbot shows – when compared to one done just two weeks earlier with the same team order – the perception of this draft is fluid before its exact order is known.

The top five picks remained the same, but there was plenty of movement from there. New prospects were elevated into the first round by AI or higher in the NBA draft pecking order with another two weeks of intel. Other players were dropped out of the top 30 selections. More will be decided over the next week or so, when the NBA Draft lottery and NBA Draft Scouting Combine are held in Chicago.

Here's Microsoft Copilot's latest 2026 NBA mock draft heading into the draft lottery, as curated by USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats are nearing completion of their 2026-2027 basketball roster, with just a couple more spots to fill.

Kentucky native Malachi Moreno was expected back on the team after he tested the NBA Draft waters. However, some recent draft rankings and projections have left some wondering if he could actually stay in this year’s draft.

The Georgetown (KY) native was mocked 31st overall to the New York Knicks in Jonathan Wasserman’s latest mock draft at Bleacher Report, one spot shy of the first round. His pro comparison was former Wildcat Nick Richards, who saw great success in his junior year in Lexington.

As a few players could potentially withdraw from the draft process in the coming weeks, Wasserman believes Moreno could be a first-round pick based on his size alone.

“With NIL bringing back a handful of first round guys, Malachi Moreno has a chance to capitalize on that during the draft process,” Wasserman said. “There is already enough intrigue around a 19-year-old, 7-footer with strong shot-blocking and passing metrics, plus some touch indicators. Certain teams would prefer to gamble on a freshman with Moreno’s tools, production, impact, and historically translatable/valued archetype, rather than a projected 23-year-old rookie in a shallow draft.

“Scrimmages at the NBA combine will represent a huge opportunity for Moreno to generate more first-round interest.“

Moreno was invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago next week. This is a huge opportunity for Moreno to showcase his size and athleticism in front of NBA scouts, teams, and front offices. The scrimmages will be aired on television as BBN and Mark Pope will be keeping a close eye on the 7-footer.

From Luke Kennard’s Game 1 performance, to Marcus Smart’s offensive surge in Game 2, to Deandre Ayton’s play in Game 6, there were so many great moments for the Lakers during their series win over the Rockets.

While LA’s victory lap has to come to an end as they prepare to face the Thunder in the second round, one lasting memory that deserves an immediate look back is the string of plays LeBron James and Bronny had in Game 3.

With the Lakers looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead and needing a road win to do so, the family duo delivered.

James set a screen for Bronny and he nailed the three. On the next possession, LeBron lobbed it to Bronny, who converted a reverse layup to give LA a 12-point advantage.

LeBron piled on another five straight points, meaning the James family had scored 10 consecutive Lakers points. During Tuesday’s episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast, LeBron reflected on the iconic moment.

“We had that mini-run between the two of us, and that was just something that I will never, ever forget. Something that I’ve learned, obviously, at my elder stage and being 41 years old to kind of like appreciate the small wins in the moment. That was one of the moments where I kind of, I’ve always, like, always been locked in, and that moment right there, throwing him the lob, seeing him make the three, we kind of going back and forth, I kind of blanked out for a little bit and just really accepted and relished in that moment.

“That’s pretty cool for me as a dad. And then us as colleagues and then our whole family, like, I think I mentioned at one point, like my mom being at the game and her being able to watch her son and grandson in a postseason game at the same time. My wife was there. His sister was there. I think Bryce was back home from college. You can’t even write that script in Hollywood better than what’s going on. So just being super appreciative of it.”

After all the hoopla and screaming about nepotism and privilege, it’s great to see that Bronny has silenced those ridiculous criticisms. He stepped up for a shorthanded Lakers team and played meaningful, playoff minutes for LA during the early parts of that series.

Thanks in part to Bronny’s efforts, the Lakers survived without Austin Reaves, and now that he’s back, they’ve advanced to the next round.

LeBron should take this all in as much as he can because these moments are still amazingly cool and unique. Absolutes aren’t wise to say in any sport, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever see another father-son duo playing at that high a level in the NBA again.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Somehow, someway, the Pistons clawed their way back from a 3-1 series deficit to win in 7 games. They scrapped their way to a historic second-half comeback in Game 6. This team just won’t roll over, we saw that for 82 games, now we’ve seen it in the playoffs. Wes and Blake come to you just before the beginning of the Second Round of the NBA playoffs to react to the extraordinary Round 1 victory, giving specific props to the superstar that is Cade Cunningham, the leadership of Tobias Harris, and the mind of strategies from JB Bickerstaff. They then turn to the upcoming series against the Cavaliers. Do the Pistons have any advantages? Are the Cavs able to employ the same defensive strategy that the Magic did? And, ultimately, what both teams will need to do to secure a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.

We’ve got you covered for all this and more in this week’s episode!

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Two NBA heavyweights will meet in the playoffs for the first time when Lebron James’ Lakers visit reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunders to kick off Round 2 of the playoffs.

After winning three straight against Houston in the first round, it took the Lakers until Game 6 to advance into the second round in a series that saw the return of Austin Reeves. Now, the Lakers will take on the No. 1 seed in the West.

The Oklahoma City Thunder advanced easily, sweeping the Phoenix Suns in four games. The defending NBA champs come into this series having already swept their season series against the Lakers. Of the four wins, only one was decided by less than a 29-point gap.

Both teams are heading into the second round missing key players. The Lakers are still without Luca Doncic after he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 (in a game against the Thunder), but sources told the California Post that he’s expected to miss the first two games, leaving a door open for a Game 3 return.

Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams has also been out with a hamstring injury, and his status for tonight’s Game 1 is uncertain.

The next game in the Lakers-Thunder series is scheduled for Thursday night.

Lakers vs. Thunder start time:

Tonight’s (May 5) Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and OKC Thunder is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Lakers vs. Thunder for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

You can also stream the NBA playoffs with a subscription to Peacock, which costs $16.99/month after a seven-day free trial.

Lakers-Thunder second round playoff schedule

• Game 1: May 5 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 2: May 7 (9:30 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 3: May 9 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 4: May 11 (10:30 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 5: May 13*
• Game 6: May 16*
• Game 7: May 18*

* if necessary

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The Brooklyn Nets agreed to extensions with Jordi Fernández and his entire coaching less than three weeks ago. Opposing NBA teams are already looking to break them up.

Tuesday morning, Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote a story pooling together everything he’s heard regarding the head coaching searches active around the league. In it, he named Nets assistant Steve Hetzel as a finalist for the lead job in New Orleans.

As for the league’s other coaching vacancy, New Orleans has been deliberating over finalists Darvin Ham (a Bucks associate head coach under Rivers), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn assistant), Sean Sweeney (San Antonio associate head coach) and Rajon Rondo (a coaching associate with the Bucks),“ Amick said. ”Mosley has long been believed to be a possible candidate if he became available, but it’s unclear as of yet if he’ll be added to the list.

Will Guillory, also of The Athletic, reported on April 27 that New Orleans had conducted at least one interview with Hetzel. Less than two weeks before that, Fred Katz and Eric Nehm named Hetzel in a story titled “Candidates to be first-time NBA head coaches this coming hiring cycle.”

Hetzel got his start coaching in the NBA as the assistant video coordinator for Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs in 2005. Since then, he has served as an assistant coach for Mike Brown, Lawrence Frank, Steve Clifford, Chauncey Billups and now Jordi Fernandez in Cleveland, Detroit, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland and Brooklyn. He worked in player development early on before being lauded as a smart tactician in the back half of his career. He also served as the head coach of the Canton Charge for the 2013-14 season.

Indeed, Hetzel has been by Fernández’s side during each his first two seasons in Brooklyn, serving as coach both times in the Summer League as well. Hetzel even led the Nets to one of their 19 wins last year and perhaps their most demonstrative one. With Fernández unable to coach at home against Milwaukee on December 14, Hetzel stepped in as his interim replacement and propelled Brooklyn to a 127-82 victory, which tied a franchise record for their largest win margin ever in a game.

This would be Hetzel’s first full-time head coaching job if he lands the job and departs Brooklyn. It’ll also land the Nets another question mark ahead a sure-to-be intriguing offseason.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse stepped away from the team Tuesday, May 5 so he could attend the funeral of his older brother.

The 76ers coach flew home to Iowa after the loss against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA conference semifinals following the death of his older brother, Steve Nurse, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. Nurse's brother reportedly died "unexpectedly" on April 29 before Game 6 between the 76ers and the Boston Celtics in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Steve Nurse, who was 62 years old, was the longtime athletic equipment manager for the University of Northern Iowa.

According to The Athletic, the 76ers held a film session but no practice Tuesday afternoon.

The NBA Draft Lottery is less than a week away. The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets each have the highest odds — 14% — in the lottery to land the No. 1 pick in what is expected to be a loaded draft. Recent years also have seen a number of teams jump bottom of the lottery into the top three of the draft, including the Dallas Mavericks, who won the lottery last year and earned the right to take the future Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg.

The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who had the best record for the second season in a row, could even win the lottery. They own the Los Angeles Clippers’ pick courtesy of the Paul George trade.

This figures to be the final NBA Draft Lottery in its current format before the league likely puts a new system in place for next season in an effort to reduce teams tanking for better odds. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 including, the top prospects.

NBA mock drafts: 3.0 • 2.0 • 1.0 | NBA Draft combine participants

When and what time is the NBA Draft Lottery?

The lottery is at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, May 10. It will be at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center and coincides with the draft combine.

Where is the NBA Draft Lottery streaming?

It will be on ABC, ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.

NBA Draft Lottery odds to land the No. 1 pick

The 14 teams that didn't make the playoffs have a chance to land the No. 1 pick. The teams that finished with the three-worst records — Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn — each have the highest odds (14%) at winning the No. 1 pick.

Here are the odds for every team in the draft lottery, based on team records at the end of the regular season. Teams that finished the season with identical records had their draft order determined by a random drawing.

1. Washington Wizards

Record: 17-65
Odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

2. Indiana Pacers

Record: 19-63
Odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

Due to the Ivica Zubac trade with the Clippers, if the Pacers’ pick lands between the 5-9 spots on lotto night, it will go to L.A.

3. Brooklyn Nets

Record: 20-62
Odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

4. Utah Jazz

Record: 22-60
Odds for No. 1 pick: 11.5%

5. Sacramento Kings

Record: 22-60
Odds for No. 1 pick: 11.5%

6. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 25-57
Odds for No. 1 pick: 9%

7. New Orleans Pelicans (Atlanta Hawks)

Record: 26-56
Odds for No. 1 pick: 6.8%

The Pelicans owe their unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks as part of their 2025 draft-night trade.

8. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 26-56
Odds for No. 1 pick: 6.7%

9. Chicago Bulls

Record: 31-51
Odds for No. 1 pick: 4.5%

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 32-50
Odds for No. 1 pick: 3%

11. Golden State Warriors

Record: 37-45
Odds for No. 1 pick: 2%

12. Los Angeles Clippers (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Record: 42-40
Odds for No. 1 pick: 1.5%

The Clippers owe their 2026 first-round pick to the Thunder as part of the 2019 Paul George trade.

13. Miami Heat

Record: 43-39
Odds for No. 1 pick: 1%

14. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 44-38
Odds for No. 1 pick: 0.5%

How the NBA Draft Lottery works

The draft lottery determines the order of the first 14 picks. It takes place in a private room with NBA officials, representatives of participating teams, select media and the accounting firm Ernst & Young, which oversees the drawings, in attendance.

For the drawings, 14 ping-pong balls (numbered 1 through 14) are dropped in a lottery machine. Before the lottery, 1,000 of a possible 1,001 combinations are assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams. A league representative randomly selects four balls, revealing a four-number combination.

From the NBA:

The drawing process occurs in the following manner: All 14 balls are placed in the lottery machine and they are mixed for 20 seconds, and then the first ball is removed. The remaining balls are mixed in the lottery machine for another 10 seconds, and then the second ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the third ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the fourth ball is drawn. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The same process is repeated with the same ping-pong balls and lottery machine for the second through fourth picks.

If the same team comes up more than once, the result is discarded and another four-ball combination is selected. Also, if the one unassigned combination is drawn, the result is discarded and the balls are drawn again.

After the first four picks are determined, the remaining picks are based on regular-season records, in reverse order.

Rest of 2026 NBA Draft order

FIRST ROUND NOS. 15-30

15. Portland (to Chicago)

16. Phoenix (to Memphis)

17. Philadelphia (to Oklahoma City)

18. Orlando (to Charlotte)

19. Toronto

20. Atlanta (to San Antonio)

21. Minnesota (to Detroit)

22. Houston (to Philadelphia)

23. Cleveland (to Atlanta)

24. New York

25. Los Angeles Lakers

26. Denver

27. Boston

28. Detroit (to Minnesota)

29. San Antonio (to Cleveland)

30. Oklahoma City (to Dallas)

Best prospects in 2026 NBA Draft

AJ Dybantsa

Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators. At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools with the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands. Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game while breaking Danny Ainge’s 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point eruption. He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point-forward potential. What will determine his upside is whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But the native of Brockton, Massachusetts, has a tremendously high floor with his scoring skill alone. — Kevin O’Connor

Cameron Boozer

He’s a do-it-all offensive talent who can post up, run pick-and-rolls, set screens, spot up and crash the boards. He doesn’t need to rely on bully ball to make an impact as a scorer or passer. Defensively, some of the questions about Boozer popped up in Duke’s Elite Eight loss to UConn: He wasn’t big enough to defend Tarris Reed, and he got smoked by Alex Karaban on a key 3-pointer on the perimeter. But he plays hard and has improved at every weakness in his game so far. — O’Connor

Darryn Peterson

He can pull up from anywhere and get to his spots. Plus he’s 6-6 and plays with a fluidity that just screams superstar. Not to mention he’s a defensive playmaker with the tools to guard multiple positions and the approach to impact the game even if he’s not scoring. Between the cramping saga, the missed time, the lack of apparent athletic pop, and the stretches where he played heavy minutes but struggled to produce offensively, there’s a lot to be concerned about. But the pre-draft period could answer any questions. — O’Connor

Caleb Wilson

Wilson is the most gifted athlete in the draft class. He's 6-10 with springs for legs. When he's flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot in his area code, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone. But the conversation changes when you watch his jumper because he hasn’t shown any consistency as a shooter at any level. Still, even without the jumper, he has star upside. — O’Connor

Darius Acuff Jr.

Acuff is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who's been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. And that’s not even what he’s best at. Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders. — O’Connor

When and where is the 2026 NBA Draft?

The 2026 NBA Draft will again be two days: Tuesday, June 23 for the first round; and Wednesday, June 24 for the second round. Both rounds are in Brooklyn, New York.

ABC/ESPN will broadcast the first round, and the second round will be on ESPN.

Is the NBA Draft Lottery changing?

Almost certainly. NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to curb the wide-spread tanking teams engaged in ahead of this season’s draft.

The league reportedly will put forth a new 3-2-1 format for a vote by team owners on May 28. The new format will create a system where each team gets a certain number of ping-pong balls to win the No. 1 pick. Here’s how it looks in reverse order of the standings and then play-in game participants:

• No. 1-3: two ping-pong balls (5.4%)

• No. 4-10: three ping-pong balls (8.1%)

• Teams in 9-10 play-in games: two ping-pong balls (5.4%)

• Losers of 7-8 play-in games: one ping-pong ball (2.7%)

The league hopes non-playoff teams will be incentivized to stay competitive late in the season. It also provides the No. 8 seeds in the East and West at least one shot at the top pick.

In addition, the league will not allow teams to win the top pick in back-to-back seasons or win a top-five pick in three consecutive seasons.

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse was away from the team Tuesday ahead of Game 2 of its second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks to attend the funeral of his brother.

Nurse's brother Steve Nurse, 62, died unexpectedly last Wednesday. Nick Nurse left the team following Philadelphia's 137-98 loss to open the second round against the Knicks on Monday for the service on Tuesday in Ankeny, Iowa.

Nurse is expected to rejoin the Sixers for Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

“I'd like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother's family and all their friends," Knicks coach Mike Brown said at the team's training center in suburban Greenburgh. “Life is precious and you don't wish that upon anybody, so I'd like to pass along my condolences to him and his family while they're going through these times.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Eliminating the Thunder from the playoffs is no easy task.

Last year, no one could do it. This season, they have yet to lose, much less even flirt with the idea of being eliminated.

The Lakers are well aware of the challenge at hand as they begin their series against OKC. They understand that a near-perfect performance will be required, especially considering that they are still playing without Luka Dončić.

On Tuesday’s episode of the “Mind The Game podcast”, LeBron James laid out the realities of what it’s going to take to pull off this upset.

“We cannot shortcut the details. In order for us to give ourselves a chance to win games, we cannot shortcut the details and the game plan. We know we can’t stop everything. It’s impossible. They’re that great. But if we can control the controllables, which is not turning the ball over because we know how great they are when it comes to pick sixes and how handsy they are and the athleticism and speed that they play with. Then we can give ourselves a chance, and that’s all you can ask for in the postseason is a chance to compete and compete to win games.”

The recipe to beat the Thunder is still being concocted, but how to lose to them is well-known. If you turn the ball over, they’ll take advantage. Thunder opponents have a turnover rate of 16.5, which is the third highest in the playoffs. Off of those turnovers, OKC scores an average of 20.8 points per game. So, they not only create advantages, but they also make you pay.

Add in the fact that the Thunder never foul — at least according to head coach JJ Redick, with his tongue in his cheek — and OKC employs MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and has one of the deepest benches in all of basketball and it’s difficult to find a weakness that can be exploited.

So, it’s all about the Lakers controlling what they can control. That means protecting the ball, getting good looks at the basket and defending as well as anyone can against the Thunder.

LeBron’s done impossible tasks like beating the prime Warriors and even winning against the Rockets in the first round this season, so we’ll see if he can pull another unprecedented upset by taking down the Thunder.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.