FORT WORTH, Texas — The following is not an intended dig, shot or knock of a man who was forced to retire from a job he loved because of an unfortunate illness that finally stopped him from working.

Former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a Hall of Fame coach who maximized the considerable power, and talent, he was blessed to possess...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There is something inherently unfair about the next sentence I’m about to type, but here goes:

If I were the 76ers, if I were Daryl Morey and his scouting staff, and if I were given the opportunity to select either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey in next week’s NBA draft, I would pick someone else.

I would not pick someone who ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Courtney Williams couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half Tuesday at Target Center. In the second half she cashed in. The Lynx offense was stuck in neutral for the first 20 minutes, in the second half it shifted into gear.

Once again, one half was enough.

With Napheesa Collier out of the game for most of the second half with ...Read more

CHICAGO — Angel Reese is embracing the “mebounds” — at least as a businesswoman.

The Chicago Sky star filed a trademark application over the weekend for the term, which refers to a rebound a player secures off her own missed shot. Although the term is relatively new, the “mebound” concept has hounded Reese throughout her first two ...Read more

The status of Tyrese Haliburton’s calf now hangs over the NBA Finals.

The Indiana Pacers’ star point guard played through a right calf strain in Game 5 and was set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Haliburton managed only four points on 0-of-6 shooting in Monday night’s 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which put ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves boss Tim Connelly could do just about anything this summer, and one of the most surprising things he could do is nothing.

No one knows, at the moment, what the future holds for Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Mike Conley, not to mention younger players who could become trade chips.

One of the ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Knicks don’t need to rush. They are a one-of-one — the only franchise in the NBA with an active head coaching vacancy. That means they can afford to take their time. And they should. Because the next move might be the most important yet under Leon Rose’s tenure.

This is their one shot to get it right.

The Knicks parted ...Read more

BOSTON — Six weeks after being bounced by Boston in the opening round of the playoffs, the Orlando Magic pulled off the first major move of the NBA offseason.

The Magic gave up a haul Sunday to add Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane to their young and talented core. In return for the 26-year-old, Memphis received four first-round draft picks, a ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The decision to trade guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and multiple future first-round picks to acquire Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies was one Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman described as easy to make.

Speaking with the media Monday inside the AdventHealth Training Center for the first time ...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun veteran Tina Charles and Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese had to be separated by multiple teammates and referees after a heated shoving match in Sunday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena, resulting in double technical fouls for the star forwards.

The scuffle involved all three UConn alumni on the Sun’s roster, ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hallelujah, the rebuild is over.

No, seriously, this time, it’s really over.

It’s finally, officially, historically, euphorically, dramatically, emphatically over.

After a dozen years of painful rebuilding and an endless pursuit of acquiring draft capital, cap flexibility and other future assets, Orlando Magic president ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Where these 76ers end up will depend on the health of a player who had two left knee surgeries in 14 months and three in nine years.

This was always the case.

What has changed is the level of intrigue regarding what the team will do in the June 25-26 NBA draft.

Right now, the Sixers are garnering headlines for exploring every...Read more

MIAMI — You start here: It didn’t matter what Damian Lillard wanted.

But you also start here: It did matter what Jimmy Butler wanted.

Because here the Pat Riley and the Miami Heat stand again, at a crossroads of desire and destination, this time with Kevin Durant.

Once again, a player who wants out, but also wants out to a preferred ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The latest twist in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes seems to have the Timberwolves on the outside looking in as teams are assembling their best offers to entice the Suns to deal the 36-year-old former MVP.

On Saturday night, ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania reported Durant has a list of teams he would prefer to go to that ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman made his first move Sunday looking through Orlando’s “win-now” lens that he described the organization entering after a second straight first-round playoff exit.

The Magic will acquire guard-forward Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Cole ...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Despite standout performances from the star duo of Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey, the Connecticut Sun fell to last place in the Eastern Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings with a 78-66 loss to the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday.

Mabrey led the Sun with 22 points, shooting 7 for 17 from the field and ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — This was more than 90 minutes before the Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks would have a noon tipoff at Target Center. The WNBA game was scheduled to be televised nationally on CBS.

There were 15 girls, maybe ages 10 to 13, ready to make a left turn from the skyway to the arena entry. The youngsters were wearing T-shirts saluting ...Read more