What Magic are saying about Bol Bol, a basketball 'unicorn'

For all of the hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama, who will likely be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Bol Bol is doing some similar things. At least, that's what his teammates think.

The NBA's new take foul rule, explained

The NBA plans to incorporate a rule change for the 2022-23 season, eliminating the take foul.

Zach LaVine trade rumors: Potential landing spots for Bulls star

Zach LaVine and the Bulls have reportedly not been seeing eye-to-eye. What does his trade value look like? And where could he land?

How much are the Lakers' picks in 2027 and 2029 actually worth?

The chatter around the Lakers' picks seems to suggest that they will surely be good-to-great, but is that a fair assessment of their value?

Who is NBA's Clutch Player of the Year so far?

It's admittedly tough to call Gilgeous-Alexander the most clutch player in the league when the Thunder are only 11-16 this season, but they'd be the worst team in the league without his heroics.

The Warriors are wasting the best year of Steph Curry's career

Steph Curry is having a season on par with his MVP years, yet the Warriors are mired in mediocrity. Here's what the Warriors need to do in order to not waste it.

Does Luke Kornet's eclipse technique actually work?

Luke Kornet, the backup center for the Celtics, has become a viral sensation for his trademark defensive maneuver.

How the Lakers unlocked the best version of Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is averaging career highs in scoring and efficiency, leading the NBA in rebounding and playing all-league defense. After a relatively slow start, this is how the Lakers finally unlocked the best version of AD.

Why Overtime Elite is the most intriguing basketball league in the country

OTE is authentic. It's weird, it's loud and the level of play can be up and down. But it's definitely not boring, and it could turn into something pretty cool down the line.

Celtics have already established themselves as 2023 championship favorites

The Celtics' league-leading 18-4 record is impressive on its own. But diving even deeper into the numbers, that record only begins to scratch how far ahead of the pack they have been.

Does Luka Doncic deserve more credit for his defensive performance?

After being a liability defensively for much of his career, Luka Doncic feels that he's improved on that end of the floor. Is he right?

The message board that shaped the NBA's analytics movement

The APBRmetrics message board brought together some of the most brilliant minds from all over the country and shaped the future of the basketball analytics space.

How changed shooting form helped Yuta Watanabe become Nets' fan favorite

Yuta Watanabe has given the Nets excellent two-way play, quickly becoming a fan favorite. How his sped-up shot release has led him to become the most accurate 3-point shooter in the league.

How Lauri Markkanen went from glorified role player to All-Star candidate

Markkanen is a great example of how vital fit is for players — and he's found the perfect one in Utah.

Meet the NBA's most efficient role player

Yuta Watanabe has developed into a solid role player for the Nets. The statistics show how he provides value on offense with unselfish play, and helps protect the rim on defense.

What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's leap into stardom means for Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the best players in the NBA this season. Better defense and a continued dedication to driving the ball are the main causes behind his rise.

What's wrong with the Warriors? Thompson, Wiseman at center of problems

Here's why the Warriors have come out so slow — and whether it's time for Golden State to panic.

How much blame does Doc Rivers deserve for the Sixers' slow start?

Doc Rivers is yet again on the hot seat. How much of the criticism against him is fair, and how much is undeserved?

An oral history of Collin Sexton's legendary 3-on-5 performance

A normal college basketball game between Minnesota and Alabama fell off the rails back in 2017 when Alabama was left with only three players on the floor. The players, coaches and staff reflect on what happened that day.

Who is Steve Nash's replacement? Meet new Nets coach Jacque Vaughn

The Nets officially named Vaughn as the team's new head coach on Nov. 9 after initial reports indicated that they were expected to hire suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka.

Why Ben Simmons can't stop fouling

Ben Simmons can't stay out of foul trouble. How injuries and an unfamiliar role are contributing to the Nets' bad team defense.

One-on-one with Dyson Daniels: Guarding LeBron, earning trust & more

How has Pelicans rookie Dyson Daniels been handling his first stretch of the NBA season? Daniels sat down with The Sporting News for a check-in on his year.

Scouting reports for potential top-10 picks Amer and Ausar Thompson

Amen and Ausar Thompson will almost surely be lottery picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.

How the Lakers can fix their biggest flaw

The Lakers have a serious lack of shooting on their roster. What are the avenues to improve?

Pelicans emerge as West favorites and more Week 1 overreactions

The Jazz have come roaring hot behind Lauri Markkanen's strong play. The Lakers are struggling. The Pelicans look like a legitimate powerhouse in the West. And Bennedict Mathurin is taking the early lead for Rookie of the Year.

NBA awards, standings, playoff predictions for 2022-23 season

Picks for the major NBA awards and predictions on how the 2022-23 season will play out from TSN's Steph Noh

Who is Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla? His former coach and colleague shares his personality

Jerrod Calhoun coached Joe Mazzulla as an assistant at West Virginia, then later hired Mazzulla as an assistant when he took the head coaching job at Fairmont State University. He spoke of what Mazzulla is like as a coach and a person.

76ers, Pelicans and Hawks will be NBA's biggest overachievers this season

Here's the case for why the 76ers, Hawks and Pelicans could break out this season.

Why Dyson Daniels is the most NBA-ready defender in his draft class

Dyson Daniels has already shown the capability of being a great perimeter defender during the Pelicans' preseason games.

Ranking top 30 players heading into 2022-23 NBA season

The 2022-23 NBA season is kicking off soon, and that means we're back with an updated edition of our player rankings.

Ranking top bench players for 2022-23 NBA season

With the NBA season almost upon us, we ranked the top 30 starters at every position. Now, it's time to tackle the bench.

Ranking top centers for 2022-23 NBA season

We're ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Center is up next.

Ranking top power forwards for 2022-23 NBA season

We're ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Power forward is up next.

Darvin Ham's center field defense could be key to Lakers' revival

If the Lakers are going to make some noise in what will almost certainly be a crowded Western Conference playoff picture, they will have to do their work on the defensive end.

Ranking top small forwards for 2022-23 NBA season

We're ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Small forward is up next.

Ranking top shooting guards for 2022-23 NBA season

We're ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Shooting guard is up next.

Ranking top point guards for 2022-23 NBA season

We're ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Point guard has by far the deepest talent pool, and it was the hardest position to rank.

An inside look at the Heat's exhausting preseason conditioning test

What is Miami's conditioning test? And how good is the team's strength and conditioning program? The Sporting News' Stephen Noh breaks down a key part of Heat culture.

Can you pass the NBA Crunch Time Coaching Quiz?

Here's your chance to show how well you understand end-of-game situations.

Manu Ginobili has one-of-a-kind Hall of Fame resume

To understand Manu Ginobili's greatness is to appreciate how unique he was to the sport, both on and off the court.

Did Cavaliers or Jazz win Donovan Mitchell trade?

After months of speculation, Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz finally found an unlikely suitor.

Which NBA teams have easiest, hardest schedules in 2022-23?

Now that the NBA has released the full 2022-23 season schedule, we can see which teams have the hardest and easiest schedules.

Biggest winners and losers from NBA schedule release

After a slow leak of initial games, the full NBA schedule for the 2022-23 season was released on Wednesday afternoon. The Sporting News' Stephen Noh took a look at the calendar and picked winners and losers.

Test your skills with the 'Who He Play For?' offseason quiz

Are you smarter than Charles Barkley? Put your NBA knowledge to the test with The Sporting News' version of the "Who He Play For?" quiz.

The Andrew Wiggins All-Stars: Players ready to shine in new roles

Andrew Wiggins flipped the narrative on his career last season by finding a new role on an elite team. Which players could follow in his footsteps?

Why does nobody want to trade for Myles Turner?

How good is Turner if nobody has pulled the trigger on a trade for him?

How much does Russell Westbrook have left in the tank?

Can Westbrook adjust to a new role as he ages? Or is he destined to follow the same path as other athletics guards?

Daniels is next in line for treatment from NBA's best shot doctor

"Once we're able to ramp up and prepare for the season, all that time we're going to spend together, you're going to see results," Vinson said.

3 lessons Nets should learn before trading KD and Kyrie

What the Nets can learn from past trades for Anthony Davis, Paul George and James Harden.

What Ayton signing means for Suns, Kevin Durant and rest of NBA offseason

Deandre Ayton is back with the Suns after they matched the Pacers' offer sheet. How does that impact the Suns and the rest of the league's pursuit of Kevin Durant?

Vasilije Micic is ready to help an NBA contender right now

With most of the top free agents off the board, Micic is the last guy left who could immediately be an impact player for a contending team.

Mahmoud Abdelfattah's coaching journey is about much more than basketball

There are many paths in life, and Abdelfattah is yet another example that some of the more unconventional ones can develop the greatest talent.

Holmgren shows why NBA's increased spacing could unleash scoring ability

Holmgren put up a ridiculous stat line of 23 points (7-of-9 shooting), seven rebounds, six blocks, four assists and one steal in only 24 minutes of play.

The five biggest winners so far from free agency period

The Clippers, Jazz, Celtics, Lakers and Kings all improved their fortunes over the first week of 2022 NBA free agency.

Free agency grades and instant analysis

Free agency officially begins at 6pm ET on Thursday, June 30. The Sporting News is breaking down every major signing and trade in real time with instant analysis.

How will Golden State replace its key pieces?

The Warriors have had a quiet free agency period. What is available for them to do?

Noh: Several obstacles to Nets, Suns working out a Durant trade

Brooklyn is willing to honor Kevin Durant's trade request, but it will be difficult to grant him his wish to go to Phoenix.

Ranking the top 25 free agents from Zach LaVine to Deandre Ayton

With NBA free agency set to start on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, TSN's Steph Noh ranks the top 25 free agents.

Five free agency sleepers every team can afford

You don’t need to understand complicated salary cap rules to know that these are all realistic targets that could help your favorite team. 

Zach LaVine free agency: Best fits for Bulls star

Zach LaVine will be one of the top free agents of the 2022 class. Will he stay with the Bulls?

Biggest winners & losers from 2022 NBA Draft

The Magic and Pistons made smart selections in the lottery, emerging as clear winners at the 2022 NBA Draft.

Inside NBA Draft Twitter, where amateur scouts turn pro

Do you want to learn more about the top NBA Draft prospects? Check out Draft Twitter, where the analysis is so good that teams are hiring its members.

Could Paolo Banchero have been an NFL QB?

"If Paolo had stayed in football, he would have been one of the top recruits in the country."

The Celtics threw everything at Curry — and it didn't matter

Stephen Curry proved once again in the NBA Finals that there is no good way to guard him.

How much longer can Warriors keep dynasty going?

The Warriors showed that they still have some gas left in the tank in the 2022 NBA Finals. But how much longer can they keep this thing going for?

Warriors vs. Celtics: Breaking down Game 6 of NBA Finals

Here's everything you need to know going into the pivotal Game 6.

Mission Impossible: Stopping Steph Curry

The greatest shooter of all-time is hotter than he's ever been. Short of praying for an off night, how on earth are the Celtics supposed to stop him?

Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn is gone, but not forgotten

The Sporting News spoke to various members of the Celtics community in the midst of their chase for championship No. 18. Here are their Heinsohn stories.

Boston crowd takes page out of Draymond Green's book

The TD Garden crowd gave the Celtics the energy boost that they needed to take a 2-1 lead in the 2022 NBA Finals.

Tatum must be better for Celtics to win NBA Finals

The Warriors are an elite opponent. Mediocre isn't going to cut it.

The late adjustments the Celtics made to slow down Curry and the Warriors

Ranking top 15 players in 2022 NBA Finals

The Celtics and Warriors both feature strong rosters. Which team has the talent advantage entering the 2022 NBA Finals?

How did the Warriors get back to the NBA Finals?

A timeline of how the Warriors went from bottom-feeders back to the top of the league.

Warriors vs. Celtics: Breaking down 2022 NBA Finals

This is going to be a star-studded affair featuring the Celtics' elite defense going up against an equally elite Warriors offense. Which team will raise the Larry O'Brien Trophy?

Ranking all of the recent Warriors Finals teams

Here's how all of the Warriors' NBA Finals teams rank, including this year's group.

Who would be the perfect player to pair with Luka Doncic?

The Mavericks showed in the Western Conference Finals that they're still one supporting piece away from winning it all. Who could that piece be?

Who is Theo Pinson? How Mavs' culture-setter makes impact from bench

Pinson has become one of the most impactful end-of-rotation players in the NBA by serving as a constant reminder that basketball is supposed to be fun.

Why is Duncan Robinson not playing for Heat in NBA Playoffs?

Duncan Robinson has barely played in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Why is he sitting on the bench?

Biggest winners and losers from the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery

The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery has concluded, and the order of teams picking is set. Here are the biggest winners and losers from lottery night.

The truth about 76ers coach Doc Rivers

The Sixers have 24 million reasons not to fire Doc Rivers.

What should 76ers do with James Harden? Evaluating Philadelphia's options

What options are available to the Sixers and James Harden in his upcoming contract negotiations?

Forget analytics: Jokic is the eye test MVP

You don't need advanced statistics to make a case for Nikola Jokic as the best player of the 2021-22 NBA season. Here's the case using regular box score statistics and eye test.

Could D-Wade and LeBron someday team up as NBA owners?

Future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade weighs in on what it might take to someday own an NBA team with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.

The Ja Rules: What the Warriors should try to slow down Grizzlies star Ja Morant

Like the Jordan Rules of the 1980s, Ja Morant deserves his own set of defensive rules. The Warriors need to switch things up to advance in this series.

Giannis' ever-evolving game on full display vs. Celtics

Here are some specifics on how Giannis has become an even more dominant player, and what he needs to continue to improve on. 

Why making adjustments during NBA Playoffs isn't always easy

The Sporting News spoke to two former video coordinators in the NBA to learn how in-game adjustments get made.

Noh's Notebook: Takeaways from every Game 1

Observations and breakdowns from Bucks-Celtics, Warriors-Grizzlies, Heat-Sixers and Suns-Mavericks in Round 2 of the NBA playoffs.

How the Warriors new lineup put the NBA on notice

Jordan Poole is having a Kevin Durant-like impact on the Golden State Warriors. How a five-man lineup that didn't play a single minute during the regular season has the Warriors thinking championship.

Who is Jose Alvarado? Meet the Pelicans rookie point guard viral for backcourt steals

Jose Alvarado has become a fan favorite in New Orleans this season. Now in the playoffs, he's getting an opportunity to showcase his talent on the world stage.

Gary Payton talks guarding in today's NBA, Defensive Player of the Year award and more

Gary Payton was a nine-time All-Defensive team member and the last guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, back in 1996. He sat down for an interview with The Sporting News on behalf of Hennessy to discuss what he’s been up to and what he thinks of the defensive landscape of the league today.

Why Vegas odds and statistical models disagree on best bets to win 2022 NBA Finals

Examining how Vegas handicaps NBA title odds and how NBA models like FiveThirtyEight come to different numbers

I tried to watch Duke stars Paolo Banchero, Trevor Keels and others like an NBA scout. It wasn't easy

Incorporating a few tips from an NBA scout, I watched Duke's Paolo Banchero, Mark Williams, AJ Griffin, Wendell Moore Jr., and Trevor Keels with an eagle eye during the Final Four.

Chris Paul's return for Suns means his brilliantly dumb rip through move is back

Chris Paul's rip through move has been brutally effective, particularly when the Suns are in the bonus.

How did LeBron James get his points compared to the other scoring greats?

LeBron James will likely pass Karl Malone as the No. 2 regular season scorer in NBA history the next time he takes the court.

Draymond Green could bring back the All-Star version of Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins has been slumping since Draymond Green left the Warriors' lineup. Here's what Green's return could mean for Wiggins.

Hidden Gems: Scary Gary Trent Jr. adding more treat, less trick to his game for Raptors

Sometimes, it takes years to judge a trade winner. The swap between the Blazers and Raptors involving Norman Powell and Gary Trent Jr. is not one of those trades.

Linda Johnson's push to make poker inclusive

A Hall of Famer and one of the game's greatest ambassadors, Linda Johnson's impact goes far beyond the poker table.

Hidden Gems: Robert Williams III's innovative role has saved the Celtics' season

Robert Williams' innovative role on defense has reshaped the Celtics' season.

Shifting odds and parity: Predicting final order, seeds in wide-open playoff race in the NBA's Eastern Conference

Predicting the finish order of the top eight teams in the East.

Checking in on the new NBA trade acquisitions

How Tyrese Haliburton, CJ McCollum, Domantas Sabonis, Robert Covington, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, Derrick White and others have looked since getting moved.

Will Goran Dragic rediscover touch with Nets? Brooklyn's Kyrie Irving insurance is no slam dunk

Looking at all of Dragic's Raptors minutes to guess how much he has left in the tank.

Hidden Gems: Seth Curry could be the Nets' new glue guy

Seth Curry is not being discussed enough as a big part of the Simmons-Harden swap. Why he could be the glue guy that helps the Nets put it all together.

Who won the Simmons-Harden trade?

The Nets traded James Harden to the 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks. Who won the trade? SN's Steph Noh breaks it all down.

2022 NBA trade deadline winners and losers: Ben Simmons for James Harden blockbuster caps wild day

The Kings, Pacers, Pelicans, Nets, Sixers, Celtics, and Blazers all pulled off big moves at the 2022 trade deadline. Who won and who lost?

Why a James Harden for Ben Simmons trade might save the Nets' season

The struggling Nets are in desperate need of an answer to their problems. As rumors swirl, could a James Harden-for-Ben Simmons swap actually help them in the immediate short term?

Trade grades: Sabonis for Haliburton, Hield

The trade rumblings in both Indiana and Sacramento finally resulted in an actual move as the Pacers sent All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis to the Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Who won the trade?

Hidden Gems: The new and improved Wendell Carter Jr.

Sometimes, all a player needs is a change of scenery. Wendell Carter Jr. was one of those players.

Four NBA trade machine deals that need to happen before Thursday deadline

Ahead of Thursday's highly anticipated trade deadline, our TSN staff share deals they most want to see made.

NBA trade grades: Caris LeVert, Ricky Rubio, Norman Powell jumpstart deadline deals

How to make your fake NBA trades suck less

Seven tips to make your fake NBA trades slightly more realistic.

What Daryl Morey's Five Percent rule tells us about a Ben Simmons trade

The Five Percent rule lays at the heart of the current Ben Simmons trade debate. Does Morey waste a year of Joel Embiid’s prime and hold onto Simmons if a great deal isn’t out there, or does he prioritize the now and get whatever he can?

Hidden Gems: Jalen Brunson plays an old-school game for Mavs

Jalen Brunson was considered by many to be the best backup point guard in the league over the past few seasons. Now, he’s proving that he might be much more than that.

The evolution of DeMar DeRozan: Why his value is no longer in doubt

DeMar DeRozan has gotten better throughout every stage of his career, to the point where he is having arguably his best season at age 32.

Hidden Gems: Bane teaching a course on how to create space

A lot of Desmond Bane's value is hidden, and we’re exposing it today.