TOMBALL, Texas -- If you don't know how four-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler defied the odds to get from there to here, his social media account bios will tell you.

His Twitter profile reads "From Tomball, all the way to the Minnesota Timberwolves," while on Instagram it's "small town to a big city = tomball to minneapolis."

And if you don't ...Read more

ATLANTA -- The Knicks will interview Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer for their vacant head coach position this weekend, according to a person with knowledge of New York's plans. Budenholzer talked to the Suns this week about their open head coach position before deciding to withdraw from consideration Thursday.

Budenholzer declined to comment ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Udoka Azubuike has decided to enter his name in the 2018 NBA draft but not hire an agent, which means Kansas' 18-year-old center from Delta, Nigeria, has left open the option to return to KU for a junior season.

"I'm going to wait and see where I stand among other bigs out there," Azubuike, KU's 7-foot, 280-pound sophomore ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- Warriors guard Stephen Curry could return as early as the beginning of the Western Conference semifinals, but that hinges on two variables.

When will the Western Conference semifinals start? How well does Curry progress his rehab on his Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee?

The Warriors will have more clarity on both of those ...Read more

MIAMI -- With much of the blame being placed on his struggling center, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra once again took some of it upon himself.

For a second consecutive day, Spoelstra said he needs to do a better job of getting Hassan Whiteside involved offensively. Whiteside has been non-existent through three games of the Heat's first-round ...Read more

MIAMI -- Even with the Philadelphia 76ers holding a 2-1 lead over the Miami Heat in their best-of-seven series, Joel Embiid isn't quite ready to say the Heat's backs are against the wall. Not yet, anyway.

However, the All-Star center is expecting another physical effort from the Heat on Saturday afternoon, when the teams meet in a critical Game...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- The Warriors first experienced what coach Steve Kerr called a "subdued feeling." Then, the team both grieved and expressed sympathy over Erin Popovich, the wife of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, passing away.

The Warriors then experienced sluggishness. Then, the Warriors saw the Spurs pour out their emotions stemmed from Popovich's ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- As expected, redshirt sophomore guard Donte DiVincenzo has become the fourth player from Villanova's national championship team to enter the NBA draft but the second one to not hire an agent, leaving his options open for a possible return to the Wildcats.

The 6-foot-5 DiVincenzo, who was named the most outstanding player of the ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- The somber mood permeated the Warriors' morning shootaround with their stoic facial expressions and soft words for obvious reasons. The Warriors mourned the passing of Erin Popovich, the wife of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, an incident that Warriors coach Steve Kerr called "shocking" and "unexpected" after "courageously fighting a ...Read more

HOUSTON -- In Sunday's Game 1 of a first-round playoff series, the 3-point loving Houston Rockets made a mere two more 3s than the Timberwolves and still walked away 3-point winners after a last-seconds scare.

In Wednesday's game, Rockets superstar James Harden made just two of his 18 shots from the field three nights after he scored 44 points ...Read more

Within an hour of arriving in Miami on Wednesday, the 76ers were on a practice court and Joel Embiid was with them for a second consecutive day. But, his return to playing is still unknown as he was officially listed as doubtful for Game 3.

Doubtful does not inspire confidence or probability, but it is definitely an upgrade from being listed as...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Kevin Ollie's contract dispute with UConn, not surprisingly, is getting messy.

Ollie's lawyers have sent UConn president Susan Herbst a letter accusing the school of violating his constitutional rights by firing him for "just cause" before giving him an opportunity to contest the decision. The letter, dated April 3, was ...Read more

WICHITA, Kan. -- Former Kansas State basketball player Amaad Wainright sped away from police at 100 mph after he was initially stopped following a road-rage shooting that involved his car on Jan. 17 in Overland Park, according to a Johnson County court affidavit obtained by The Kansas City Star.

Wainright has been charged with two felonies: ...Read more