Only a few months after Steve Ballmer purchased the LA Clippers in 2014, he and his staff began reconsidering everything about the franchise: where it should play, what its logo should look like, what colors it should use, even the name "Clippers" itself.They hired outside consultants to craft fan surveys asking about all the above. Meanwhile, the Clippers soared back into national relevance after the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin era gave way to the Kawhi Leonard/Paul George offseason of 2019. The Clippers haven't made the Finals, but they cracked the conference finals in 2021 for the first...…Only a few months after Steve Ballmer purchased the LA Clippers in 2014, he and his staff began reconsidering everything about the franchise: where it should play, what its logo should look like, what colors it should use, even the name "Clippers" itself.They hired outside consultants to craft fan surveys asking about all the above. Meanwhile, the Clippers soared back into national relevance after the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin era gave way to the Kawhi Leonard/Paul George offseason of 2019. The Clippers haven't made the Finals, but they cracked the conference finals in 2021 for the first...WW…

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<>It started eight months ago with : Chris Murphy, a Democratic U.S. senator from Connecticut, told the world how much he enjoyed 's op-ed in The Washington Post labeling the NCAA "a dictatorship" and calling for increased compensation to college athletes.Green reached out to Murphy's office to thank him for the tweet. Murphy is a huge sports fan -- the are his NBA team -- so he was thrilled to hear from an All-Star on the three-time champion . They have been collaborating since."It's really great," Murphy told ESPN this week. "There are not many...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>It started eight months ago with : Chris Murphy, a Democratic U.S. senator from Connecticut, told the world how much he enjoyed 's op-ed in The Washington Post labeling the NCAA "a dictatorship" and calling for increased compensation to college athletes.Green reached out to Murphy's office to thank him for the tweet. Murphy is a huge sports fan -- the are his NBA team -- so he was thrilled to hear from an All-Star on the three-time champion . They have been collaborating since."It's really great," Murphy told ESPN this week. "There are not many...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>When the promoted Erik Spoelstra out of the video room and into an assistant coaching position, there was one problem: Spoelstra owned no suits. The league's dress code for coaches, codified in a memo sent before the season, mandates every coach wear a dress shirt (or "dress sweater") and sport coat.Pat Riley, Spoelstra's boss and one of the all-time sports fashion plates, lent Spoelstra several of his Armani suits. Riley is taller than Spoelstra, with broader shoulders. "Pat's suits were huge," Spoelstra said. "It was almost like they had...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>When the promoted Erik Spoelstra out of the video room and into an assistant coaching position, there was one problem: Spoelstra owned no suits. The league's dress code for coaches, codified in a memo sent before the season, mandates every coach wear a dress shirt (or "dress sweater") and sport coat.Pat Riley, Spoelstra's boss and one of the all-time sports fashion plates, lent Spoelstra several of his Armani suits. Riley is taller than Spoelstra, with broader shoulders. "Pat's suits were huge," Spoelstra said. "It was almost like they had...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>We left the NBA just after trade and buyout season. Top teams were incorporating new players and adjusting after injuries.Here are 13 new or newish lineups I'm excited to watch when the games start. (!), , , , : 0 minutes.Just when I think I'm out, the Sixers -- my preseason pick to make the NBA Finals, my siren song -- pull me back in. Philly experimented with as sixth man before Simmons injured his back. The Sixers liked what they saw -- including a Feb. 11 home win (because Philly only wins at home) over the Clippers that was one of the most...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>We left the NBA just after trade and buyout season. Top teams were incorporating new players and adjusting after injuries.Here are 13 new or newish lineups I'm excited to watch when the games start. (!), , , , : 0 minutes.Just when I think I'm out, the Sixers -- my preseason pick to make the NBA Finals, my siren song -- pull me back in. Philly experimented with as sixth man before Simmons injured his back. The Sixers liked what they saw -- including a Feb. 11 home win (because Philly only wins at home) over the Clippers that was one of the most...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Editor's note: This story was originally published on April 8, 2016.Over the summer, I enlisted several design experts, including Tom O'Grady, the NBA's former creative director, . O'Grady sifted through his archives, and unearthed a treasure: mock-ups of all the proposed uniforms, court designs, logos, shooting shirts, and warmup jackets -- most of which have never been made public -- the New Jersey Nets conjured when they nearly changed their name to Swamp Dragons two decades ago.Yes, this happened. It was a flashbulb moment for any NBA geek...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Editor's note: This story was originally published on April 8, 2016.Over the summer, I enlisted several design experts, including Tom O'Grady, the NBA's former creative director, . O'Grady sifted through his archives, and unearthed a treasure: mock-ups of all the proposed uniforms, court designs, logos, shooting shirts, and warmup jackets -- most of which have never been made public -- the New Jersey Nets conjured when they nearly changed their name to Swamp Dragons two decades ago.Yes, this happened. It was a flashbulb moment for any NBA geek...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA informed teams in a memo Saturday that coronavirus testing for players and staff taking part in the league's restart will begin June 23 and take place every other day.The memo, which was obtained by ESPN, says players and "essential team staff" -- any coaches, trainers or medical personnel who will be working with players directly, or will be part of the travel party to Orlando, Florida -- will be administered both a COVID-19 test and an antibody test on June 23.Each person will then be administered another COVID-19 test every other day,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The NBA informed teams in a memo Saturday that coronavirus testing for players and staff taking part in the league's restart will begin June 23 and take place every other day.The memo, which was obtained by ESPN, says players and "essential team staff" -- any coaches, trainers or medical personnel who will be working with players directly, or will be part of the travel party to Orlando, Florida -- will be administered both a COVID-19 test and an antibody test on June 23.Each person will then be administered another COVID-19 test every other day,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>A few days after the Bulls won their sixth championship, Phil Jackson organized a dinner for players, coaches, and their wives at a Chicago restaurant. Midway through, he gathered the players into a private area. They sat in a circle, drinks and cigars in hand. Each made one toast."It was so special," . "That was the last moment we were ever all together."Kerr knew his subject right away."I said a toast to Toni [Kukoc]," Kerr said. "Nobody had to go through what he did -- the pressure from Michael [Jordan] and Scottie [Pippen] to earn his keep....…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>A few days after the Bulls won their sixth championship, Phil Jackson organized a dinner for players, coaches, and their wives at a Chicago restaurant. Midway through, he gathered the players into a private area. They sat in a circle, drinks and cigars in hand. Each made one toast."It was so special," . "That was the last moment we were ever all together."Kerr knew his subject right away."I said a toast to Toni [Kukoc]," Kerr said. "Nobody had to go through what he did -- the pressure from Michael [Jordan] and Scottie [Pippen] to earn his keep....WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Father and son remember the stops at Fuddruckers in Columbia, S.C., more than halfway through the five-hour drive back to Charleston from Atlanta, where the son, only 12, had started practicing that summer with a high-level AAU team.The son realized he was in over his head during warm-ups. The Atlanta players dunked. He wouldn't dunk until the end of sophomore year in high school. He would cry sometimes on drives back."I thought I was good," says. "I realized I was s---ty." His father, James, had picked the Atlanta team to show his son how far...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Father and son remember the stops at Fuddruckers in Columbia, S.C., more than halfway through the five-hour drive back to Charleston from Atlanta, where the son, only 12, had started practicing that summer with a high-level AAU team.The son realized he was in over his head during warm-ups. The Atlanta players dunked. He wouldn't dunk until the end of sophomore year in high school. He would cry sometimes on drives back."I thought I was good," says. "I realized I was s---ty." His father, James, had picked the Atlanta team to show his son how far...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>EXCLUSIVE CONTENTThe were on a flight back from an East Coast trip during the 2018-19 season when and , seatmates on the team plane, began talking about how much they were enjoying the Suns' youthful energy.Phoenix acquired Oubre in December 2018 from the , with whom Oubre had been the resident young fashion plate among a somewhat veteran team in win-now mode. He clicked right away with the Suns' younger stars."Being traded was such a transitional moment for me," Oubre, 24, told ESPN this week. "I came to a place where I had a crowd of young...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>EXCLUSIVE CONTENTThe were on a flight back from an East Coast trip during the 2018-19 season when and , seatmates on the team plane, began talking about how much they were enjoying the Suns' youthful energy.Phoenix acquired Oubre in December 2018 from the , with whom Oubre had been the resident young fashion plate among a somewhat veteran team in win-now mode. He clicked right away with the Suns' younger stars."Being traded was such a transitional moment for me," Oubre, 24, told ESPN this week. "I came to a place where I had a crowd of young...WW…