FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Almost five months after he became the fifth commissioner in ACC history, Jim Phillips stood in front of a crowded hotel banquet room in Charlotte and emphasized the single priority most critical to the league’s future. It was Phillips’ first major public appearance in his new role, and he was speaking at the ACC�...Read more

I remember when it happened. March 2, when the Dallas Mavericks played the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s when I realized Luka Doncic was a top-5 player.

But Sunday night, after Luka Magic’s Mavericks ran up a 47-point lead to dismiss the league-best Suns in Game 7 — in Phoenix — I realized top-5 might not do him justice.

Doncic repeatedly...Read more

Celtics guard Marcus Smart will be listed as questionable for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Miami with a mid-foot sprain, coach Ime Udoka announced Monday.

Smart underwent an MRI on Monday and the imaging returned clean, according to ESPN, which has given the team hope he can start Tuesday night. He played 37 minutes in Sunday’s ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Daryl Morey used the word “unlocked” a couple of times when referring to 76ers point guard James Harden.

That led to the Sixers’ president of basketball operations being asked if there’s multiple levels Harden can elevate to than what he’s shown the past couple of months with his new team or should people adjust their...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Dallas Mavericks’s dominant performance in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals series Sunday against the Phoenix Suns was a look at what’s to come for the Warriors.

The Mavericks, behind superstar Luka Doncic, sent the Suns packing for their end-of-season vacations much sooner than anticipated with a Game 7 ...Read more

After a career of operating in the shadows, William ‘Worldwide’ Wesley is stepping into the spotlight.

The Knicks executive and backroom basketball operator will represent the team at the draft lottery Tuesday in Chicago, where James Dolan’s squad will face long odds to move into the top-4.

Wesley, nicknamed ‘Worldwide Wes,’ had been...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Coach Steve Kerr on Sunday said he’s “hopeful” that Otto Porter Jr. will be cleared to play at the start of the Western Conference finals.

Porter has missed the last game and a half due to soreness in his right foot that flared up during the Golden State Warriors’ Game 5 blowout loss Wednesday night. Porter had done ...Read more

The Miami Heat finally know who stands between them and a trip to the NBA Finals.

With a 109-81 decimation of the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday, the Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. Boston will face Miami in Game 1 on Tuesday at FTX Arena in Miami at 8:30 p.m...Read more

BOSTON — Over seven games, 15 nights and 336 minutes, the Bucks tried to frame their second-round series with the Celtics as a bet.

That they could successfully isolate Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown against Giannis Antetokounmpo, the greatest player in the world, and Jrue Holiday in a tilted contest of stars.

That Boston’s role players ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO – Steve Kerr returned to coach the Warriors Sunday after he tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

Kerr cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols this weekend after he missed the Warriors’ last three games due to COVID-19. During that span, Golden State went 2-1 with Mike Brown at the helm and advanced to the ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns' girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, posted a photo Saturday of Towns on her Instagram story that set off some concern among Minnesota Timberwolves fans on social media.

The photo was of Towns on a couch but with what appeared to be a brace on his right leg.

It turns out Towns has multiple injuries he is trying to heal...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry has a mantle full of trophies earned through his Warriors career. He can add a college diploma to his collection.

Thirteen years after leaving Davidson College for the NBA, Curry will graduate with the class of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Curry won’t be at his alma mater’s graduation ceremony...Read more

These have been tense times for Udonis Haslem, sweating out these playoffs, stakes raised, clock ticking.

Oh, and he’s been involved with the Miami Heat’s championship chase, as well.

Consider it playoffs squared for the South Florida icon, because the veteran Heat captain also can’t get enough of his Florida Panthers.

“It’s ...Read more

Kirk Speraw announced his retirement earlier this week as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa.

If life were fair, he would be retiring after nearly three decades as the head basketball coach at UCF.

In hindsight, the firing of Speraw as UCF’s longtime basketball coach a dozen years ago turned out to be one of the biggest injustices ...Read more

The most toxic commodity in Philadelphia sports is unfulfilled hope. The 76ers of this era have delivered little more than that. It’s no stretch to say that the collective reaction around here to the Sixers’ 99-90 loss Thursday night and their six-game, second-round flameout to the Heat goes beyond mere disappointment. There’s anger in the...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO – The Chase Center crowd chanted “Whoop that trick! Whoop that trick!” late in the fourth quarter after the Golden State Warriors pulled away with a 11-point lead.

The cheers mocked the Memphis Grizzlies’ unofficial anthem, which Stephen Curry had said was the team’s mentality heading into Game 5, a statement that upset ...Read more