I recently completed a full re-read of the Expanse series, and man, what an incredible piece of longform sci-fi storytelling. I wish we'd gotten the Laconian trilogy on TV.

Why Lakers' shooting records in Game 1 could be good news for Rockets ESPN analyst Zach Kram examines how Game 1's shotmaking gap could actually be good news for Houston in its first-round series versus Los Angeles.

The Lakers enjoyed a historic shooting night in Game 1. Here's why that's good news for ... the Rockets.

My latest piece ahead of a big Game 2:

Because their ceiling seemed higher than second-round exit after their performance last year and what appeared to be a great offseason. As a very smart basketball mind wrote before the season, while predicting they might set a franchise record for wins:

Sure, they had a shrewd change in direction after a disastrous start, but they were expected to be one of the best teams in the West. They went from potential championship contention to elimination in the 9-10 game.

76ers players with at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals in a postseason game*:

Julius Erving, twice
Moses Malone
Andre Drummond tonight

* I know tonight's stats will be lost to the ether afterward. But still!

NBA playoffs 2026: Ranking the 50 most impactful players ESPN analyst Zach Kram ranked and tiered the 50 NBA players most likely to make the biggest impacts in the postseason.

I ranked the 50 players most likely to have an impact on the 2026 postseason, combining quality and quantity of play.

Probably the only time I'll ever rank Daniss Jenkins above Steph Curry on a list of any kind!

The chaos and drama of this game is an auspicious sign for the rest of the postseason

Included in today's piece: why I'm not worried about Wemby's ability to ramp up his workload in the playoffs—which should be great news for Spurs fans

2026 NBA playoffs: Predicting each series, including the Finals ESPN's Zach Kram decides each NBA series in the playoffs through the Finals. Who will square off in June?

The NBA postseason is nigh! So the ESPN editors had me fill out my entire playoff bracket, with predicted winners for every series leading up to a surprising champion:

It would be a shame to miss out on a Durant vs. LeBron playoff matchup when both players are still no. 1 options this late into their careers

NBA teams all want to play faster -- is it making them worse? ESPN analyst Zach Kram explores how pace has become a counterintuitive phenomenon impacting the league's best and worst teams.

A strange thing is happening in the NBA this year: Almost all the fast-paced teams are bad, and almost all the slow-paced teams are good.

Why? And what does it mean? I talked to a bunch of folks around the league to find out:

Denver is now just half a game back of the decimated Lakers for the #3 seed, while the Spurs are now 2.5 back for the #1 seed.

There's a solid chance we get a rematch of today's Nuggets vs. Spurs classic in the West semis.

I'm thrilled for Kevin, who has long been one of my favorite writers and basketball thinkers. My only disappointment is that I hoped to work with him for many more years.

NBA rookie rankings: 10 players to watch ahead of the playoffs Where do the NBA's top rookies stack up with a few weeks left in the regular season? We stacked the top 10.

Final rookie rankings of the year! In which the top 4 players happen to be the first 4 players picked in last year's draft:

The Spurs are 2 games back of the Thunder, with the tiebreak and an easy remaining schedule, while OKC has the hardest remaining schedule in the NBA.

I hope both teams go for the #1 seed. Buckle up!

Udoka calls out 'soft' officiating in Rockets loss to Bulls Rockets coach Ime Udoka blasted the officiating after he was ejected from his team's loss to the Bulls, saying they made "soft" calls.

News story from Chicago, where Rockets coach Ime Udoka called out “soft” officiating following two technical fouls and an ejection

Ranking the 10 best and 10 worst NBA deals since 2025 offseason Bradley Beal to the Clippers? Jared McCain to the Thunder!? We ranked the best and worst moves since last offseason.

New ESPN story:

With the benefit of hindsight, I ranked the 10 best and 10 worst transactions of the last year in the NBA.

Underrated part of Venezuela's title: Salvador Perez got to catch the final pitch of the WBC title, after he wasn't in for the end of the Royals' win in 2015. (Drew Butera caught the final strike after Jarrod Dyson pinch ran.)

SGA to break Wilt record: Thunder star's historic feat, by the numbers With Gilgeous-Alexander one game away from holding the most consecutive 20-point games in history, ESPN analyst Zach Kram breaks down the 20 most impressive stats about the streak.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the verge of breaking a 63-year-old Wilt Chamberlain record, I dove deep into the facts and stats around his extraordinary achievement

MON@SF: Giants tie game on infield-fly gaffe YouTube video by MLB

And unlike DeRosa, my favorite moment of Robinson's managerial career involved him yelling at his own players because he knew the rules and they didn't

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq2v...

Italy and Mexico can reenact the Disgrace of Gijon in their WBC game tomorrow, if they want to both advance at the United States' expense

Which NBA Star Is Most Likely to Break Wilt’s 100-Point Record? The NBA’s recent surge of spectacular scoring efforts made us wonder: Is Wilt Chamberlain’s single-game record breakable? And if so, by whom?

A couple years ago I broke down which NBA player was most likely to challenge Wilt's 100-point game. Bam didn't even make my preliminary list of 50 candidates.

What an outrageous performance.

Bam Adebayo has a new career high in points, with 43. It's halftime.

NBA alternate reality: 17 ripple effects of KD's sneaker on the line ESPN analyst Zach Kram examines a reality in which Durant's foot didn't touch the 3-point line in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals -- and its ripple effects throughout the NBA.

Had a lot of fun with this one:

How would the NBA have changed if Kevin Durant's foot were behind the 3-point line on his shot against the Bucks in 2021? Here's all the ripple effects, in an alternate history of the last 5 years of the NBA.

I would like to see seven more Thunder-Nuggets battles again in the playoffs this year. What a game.

How NBA's conference gap has shrunk this season, playoff impact ESPN analyst Zach Kram explores the Western Conference's recent dominance and how the East's underrated strength could surprise in the postseason.

Everyone keeps talking about how much better the Western Conference is. But the East has four really good teams (and Charlotte!), too.

Here's why the conferences have surprising parity this season, and what that means for the playoffs:

Predicting the 2028 USA Olympic basketball roster: Top 12 players In a time of transition for USA basketball, here's what the 12-man squad that will go up against a competitive international slate could look like.

With the Winter Olympics coming to a close, I peered ahead to the 2028 Summer Games—and projected a 12-man Team USA men's basketball roster, full of youth and defense

The Thunder are only up 3 games on the Spurs, and San Antonio has a much easier remaining schedule and the tiebreaker, if necessary.

These lingering injuries could very plausibly cost OKC the #1 seed.

Generation Jalen: How one name dominates the NBA like few before The Jalens (and Jaylens, Jaylins and Jaylons) are running the modern NBA -- but could they beat some of the all-time greats if they teamed up?

If all the Jalens in the NBA joined forces, they'd be a championship contender. But are they the best "same name" team in NBA history?

Today, I survey the Jalens and Mikes and Bobs and Bills to answer this extremely important basketball question.

That’s what I had in mind.

Unless you count Durant refusing to draft Harden right after the Nets drama.