Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are planning to paint "Black Lives Matter" on the court inside both sidelines in all three arenas the league will use at the Walt Disney World Resort when it resumes the 2019-20 season late next month in Orlando, Florida, league sources told ESPN.The WNBA is also discussing painting "Black Lives Matter" on the court when it begins its abbreviated 2020 season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, sources said.2 RelatedSources also said some WNBA players have suggested in talks with league...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are planning to paint "Black Lives Matter" on the court inside both sidelines in all three arenas the league will use at the Walt Disney World Resort when it resumes the 2019-20 season late next month in Orlando, Florida, league sources told ESPN.The WNBA is also discussing painting "Black Lives Matter" on the court when it begins its abbreviated 2020 season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, sources said.2 RelatedSources also said some WNBA players have suggested in talks with league...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>AS THE NBA'S at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, were coming into focus last week, and Bob Iger went for a walk.Paul, the president of the National Basketball Players Association, and Iger, the executive chairman of the Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ESPN and owner of the complex that will house the 22 teams restarting the 2019-20 season, are close friends who have known each other for years."​Chris and I probably text one another about seven times a week, and talk four times a week," Iger said. "I...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>AS THE NBA'S at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, were coming into focus last week, and Bob Iger went for a walk.Paul, the president of the National Basketball Players Association, and Iger, the executive chairman of the Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ESPN and owner of the complex that will house the 22 teams restarting the 2019-20 season, are close friends who have known each other for years."​Chris and I probably text one another about seven times a week, and talk four times a week," Iger said. "I...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA has entered into exploratory conversations with The Walt Disney Company about resuming its season at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, in late July, NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said Saturday."The NBA, in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association, is engaged in exploratory conversations with The Walt Disney Company about restarting the 2019-20 NBA season in late July at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida as a single site for an NBA campus for games, practices and housing,"...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA has entered into exploratory conversations with The Walt Disney Company about resuming its season at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, in late July, NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said Saturday."The NBA, in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association, is engaged in exploratory conversations with The Walt Disney Company about restarting the 2019-20 NBA season in late July at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida as a single site for an NBA campus for games, practices and housing,"...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>MICHELE ROBERTS CAN'T remember when she first heard about the "bubble," the idea of isolating NBA players in a hotel so the league could resume its season amid the .But she remembers her reaction to it vividly."When that one was first floated," said Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, "there was some consternation."A where players are separated from their families, and only go to and from practices and games to a hotel, might seem attractive initially, Roberts said. But to enforce it, everyone inside...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>MICHELE ROBERTS CAN'T remember when she first heard about the "bubble," the idea of isolating NBA players in a hotel so the league could resume its season amid the .But she remembers her reaction to it vividly."When that one was first floated," said Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, "there was some consternation."A where players are separated from their families, and only go to and from practices and games to a hotel, might seem attractive initially, Roberts said. But to enforce it, everyone inside...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>FOR YEARS, and had been protective of their relationship.Jordan would call Bryant his "little brother," Bryant would call Jordan his "big brother," and they'd praise each other's work ethic and accomplishments. But rarely would either volunteer much more, each man knowing all too well that any glimpse would invite the kind of comparisons and debate they loathed.Only a few people had a sense of just how close Jordan and Bryant had become."If you just watched them interact in a game, Kobe always was like a magnet going toward Michael," said former...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>FOR YEARS, and had been protective of their relationship.Jordan would call Bryant his "little brother," Bryant would call Jordan his "big brother," and they'd praise each other's work ethic and accomplishments. But rarely would either volunteer much more, each man knowing all too well that any glimpse would invite the kind of comparisons and debate they loathed.Only a few people had a sense of just how close Jordan and Bryant had become."If you just watched them interact in a game, Kobe always was like a magnet going toward Michael," said former...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA is planning a Thursday vote of the league's board of governors -- with owners expected to approve commissioner Adam Silver's recommendation on a format to restart the season in Orlando, Florida, sources tell ESPN.The NBA has been examining several plans for a return to play, but numerous members of the board of governors tell ESPN that there's growing support for a plan to bring 22 teams to Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in July.This format likely would include regular-season and play-in games to compete for playoff berths in...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA is planning a Thursday vote of the league's board of governors -- with owners expected to approve commissioner Adam Silver's recommendation on a format to restart the season in Orlando, Florida, sources tell ESPN.The NBA has been examining several plans for a return to play, but numerous members of the board of governors tell ESPN that there's growing support for a plan to bring 22 teams to Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in July.This format likely would include regular-season and play-in games to compete for playoff berths in...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The Atlanta Dream are close to being sold, a WNBA spokesperson confirmed to ESPN."As it relates to the Atlanta Dream, we understand a sale of the franchise is close to being finalized," the league said in a statement. "Once the sale negotiation is concluded, additional information will be provided."Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that up to five bidders have expressed interest in buying the team, with Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), currently a co-owner, expected to have no association with the franchise after the sale.The franchise has been at the...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The Atlanta Dream are close to being sold, a WNBA spokesperson confirmed to ESPN."As it relates to the Atlanta Dream, we understand a sale of the franchise is close to being finalized," the league said in a statement. "Once the sale negotiation is concluded, additional information will be provided."Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that up to five bidders have expressed interest in buying the team, with Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), currently a co-owner, expected to have no association with the franchise after the sale.The franchise has been at the...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The have presented an ambitious plan to state and local officials to reopen Chase Center in San Francisco at 50% capacity for the upcoming NBA season, which owner Joe Lacob believes can be the model for all sports franchises and entertainment venues to safely bring back fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Lacob said the Warriors are prepared to spend upward of $30 million to test every fan, Warriors employee and player with the most accurate form of COVID-19 testing for each home game or day they come to Chase Center."I not only want to get this...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The have presented an ambitious plan to state and local officials to reopen Chase Center in San Francisco at 50% capacity for the upcoming NBA season, which owner Joe Lacob believes can be the model for all sports franchises and entertainment venues to safely bring back fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Lacob said the Warriors are prepared to spend upward of $30 million to test every fan, Warriors employee and player with the most accurate form of COVID-19 testing for each home game or day they come to Chase Center."I not only want to get this...WW…

Skip to navigation<>Editor's note: This is one in a series of six pieces that , and as athletes .ON THE FIRST day of early voting at State Farm Arena in Atlanta this month, a familiar face peered out from behind a mask. Not all of the voters who passed by Lloyd Pierce, the head coach of the , recognized him at first."I got a lot of 'I thought that was you' on the way out," Pierce said, joking.Besides the mask, which covered his beard and mustache, the context was all off. In any other year, the Hawks would be opening up a new NBA season as Election Day approached. The arena would be...…Skip to navigation<>Editor's note: This is one in a series of six pieces that , and as athletes .ON THE FIRST day of early voting at State Farm Arena in Atlanta this month, a familiar face peered out from behind a mask. Not all of the voters who passed by Lloyd Pierce, the head coach of the , recognized him at first."I got a lot of 'I thought that was you' on the way out," Pierce said, joking.Besides the mask, which covered his beard and mustache, the context was all off. In any other year, the Hawks would be opening up a new NBA season as Election Day approached. The arena would be...WW…

Skip to navigation<>THE CLOSET INSIDE Buzz Williams' office at the Bradley Center was, at most, 5 feet deep. He thinks it had a chair or a small couch inside. He's pretty sure there was a light. But he's not sure it would've mattered to either way.Butler just needed a space to focus before games. To shut the world out. Minimize distractions. Get his mind right. So after shootaround, until the game, every game in his three seasons at , that's where Butler would go."I never eat the day of a game," Williams said. "So after shootaround I go in my office, watch tape, go over my charts....…Skip to navigation<>THE CLOSET INSIDE Buzz Williams' office at the Bradley Center was, at most, 5 feet deep. He thinks it had a chair or a small couch inside. He's pretty sure there was a light. But he's not sure it would've mattered to either way.Butler just needed a space to focus before games. To shut the world out. Minimize distractions. Get his mind right. So after shootaround, until the game, every game in his three seasons at , that's where Butler would go."I never eat the day of a game," Williams said. "So after shootaround I go in my office, watch tape, go over my charts....WW…