1:06 PM ET Andre SnellingsESPN For all of the focus that Ben Simmons‘ unwillingness to shoot jumpers received during his exit from the Philadelphia 76ers, in retrospect the concern was a bit overblown from the fantasy basketball perspective. After all, in his four seasons with the 76ers, Simmons averaged a respectable 15.9 PPG on 11.6

12:47 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans, playing without starters Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones, could have easily had a letdown game against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. Instead, the Pelicans (3-1) punched first and held on late for a 113-111 win that included surviving Luka Doncic‘

7:35 PM ET Russell Westbrook is listed as doubtful for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ road game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday because of left hamstring soreness, the team announced. Westbrook was limited to five minutes in the Lakers’ preseason finale because of the hamstring issue and later said that coach Darvin Ham’s decision to

12:12 PM ET Andre SnellingsESPN The NBA season has tipped off, and as always there are unexpected players making major contributions; the first week always produces tons of “diamonds in the rough.” Below are five players making meaningful contributions to their teams. Each of them is widely available in most fantasy basketball leagues and each

1:40 AM ET MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons called several of the whistles he received “bulls—” following a 134-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, noting that “refs make mistakes too.” While Simmons, who fouled out for the second time in three regular-season games, was frustrated with many calls, the

When LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s career regular-season points list, he set his sights firmly on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s current all-time leading scorer. Abdul-Jabbar has been atop the career points list since April 5, 1984 — eight months before James was even born — when he broke the mark

1:59 PM ET MEMPHIS — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant had high praise for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, noting that the 23-year-old point guard is “doing some stuff that we’ve never seen before.” When asked prior to Monday’s game against the Grizzlies if Morant’s game reminded him of anyone, Durant said it was

Oct 22, 2022 Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored 23 points, grabbed three rebounds and collected four assists in his season debut on Saturday night — a 128-96 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the team’s home opener — and said his left knee felt good after missing the first two games

Oct 22, 2022 NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in recent comments to Phoenix Suns employees, addressed possible solutions for tanking while noting that he understands why teams would do it when a “once-in-a-generation player” is about to enter the league, according to sources who were present. Calling it a “serious issue” that has sparked “hundreds” of

8:55 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Ryan Turell took the next step in his journey of trying to become the first Orthodox Jewish player in NBA history Saturday when he was selected No. 27 overall in the 2022 NBA G League Draft. Turell, who went undrafted out of Yeshiva University in the NBA draft, was picked