9:25 AM ET Auburn freshman Sharife Cooper will declare for the 2021 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility by hiring an agent, he told ESPN. “This season was a roller coaster filled with many ups and some downs,” Cooper said. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything, even through the bad times I

3:46 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Hawks forward John Collins will be out at least a week with a sprained left ankle, another blow to the injury-plagued team. Collins was injured during Tuesday night’s loss at Phoenix. He underwent an MRI that showed a lateral ankle sprain and associated bone bruise. He has started

11:28 AM ET ESPN News Services Cade Cunningham used to see superstars when he watched NBA players. Now, he sees opponents. They soon will see him, too. Cunningham announced Thursday that he will enter the NBA draft after a dynamic freshman season for Oklahoma State that saw him named a first-team AP All-American. “I see

2:58 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN When the NBA trade deadline came and went last Thursday, one of the bigger names thought to be available stayed put as New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball wasn’t dealt. Ball, who is in the final year of his rookie deal and will be a restricted free agent in the

11:42 AM ET Free-agent center DeMarcus Cousins and the LA Clippers are discussing a 10-day contract, but no decision is expected until next week, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Cousins was released by the Houston Rockets last month, with sources telling ESPN’s Tim MacMahon the decision to part ways was mutual. Cousins, 30, a four-time

6:45 PM ET Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss at least a couple of more weeks dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, as coach Mark Daigneault said Wednesday the star guard will be reevaluated in mid-April. “That will be our next touchpoint with him,” Daigneault said. “He’s progressing and doing his

11:54 AM ET UConn Huskies sophomore guard James Bouknight is entering the 2021 NBA draft and plans to hire an agent, Bouknight told ESPN. Bouknight, a 6-foot-5 guard ranked No. 18 in ESPN’s Top 100 of available players, has lottery pick potential and developed into the driving force in reestablishing UConn as a Top 25

12:38 AM ET With ages 16 and up eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the state of Oklahoma, members of the Oklahoma City Thunder roster and basketball operations staff were given their first doses on Tuesday. The vaccines were administered by OU Health, with a “significant” amount of the team participating. The team’s Instagram

12:35 AM ET NEW YORK — Before the Minnesota Timberwolves tipped off against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, Karl-Anthony Towns jogged over to the stands and reached out to grasp hands with a fan in a white No. 32 jersey that said “Towns” on the back. The fan was Karl-Anthony’s father, Karl Towns Sr.

9:18 PM ET Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone expressed confidence that the franchise would not need to employ a “wholesale tank strategy” to rebuild, citing the haul of first-round picks received in the James Harden trade as a reason. “I would for sure, 100 percent, do that deal again,” Stone said in a virtual