Irving, U.S. overcome off night, rout Venezuela 11:42 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO -- Kyrie Irving scored 13 points, DeMarcus Cousins powered a dominant performance in the paint, and the United States pulled away from Venezuela for an ugly 80-45 exhibition victory Friday night. Coming off three straight flashy victories in Las Vegas and California, the United States shot 42.4 percent from … [Read more...]

The Warriors are inviting trusted veteran JaVale McGee to camp JaVale McGee could bring some levity to Oakland. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) The Golden State Warriors have a reputation as one of the NBA’s most joyous and watchable teams, but this summer has threatened to make their 2016-17 season deathly serious. The acquisition of Kevin Durant has cast them as villains, to the point where … [Read more...]

Adam Silver doesn't love the 1+1 deals signed by LeBron and Durant Adam Silver sees lots of risks in two-year contracts with player options. (AFP Photo/Thearon W. Henderson) One of the weirdest things about Kevin Durant’s decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors is that he’s not committed to his new club past the 2016-17 season. Durant signed a two-year … [Read more...]

Phil Jackson: Modern players 'lack the skills to play the triangle' Phil Jackson watches the kids just fritter it all away. (Getty Images) It’s not an uncommon refrain, among NBA lifers of a certain age, and they’re not always wrong in cuing up the chorus. The game has evolved, or devolved to certain eyes, and players are capable of as many new things as they aren’t capable of older … [Read more...]

Derrick Rose loses motion, will face trial in civil gang-rape suit Derrick Rose is displayed on the screen of a video camera as he speaks during a news conference at Madison Square Garden, Friday, June 24, 2016, in New York. (AP/Mary Altaffer) A federal judge on Wednesday denied Derrick Rose’s motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit alleging he and two other men drugged a woman, broke into her … [Read more...]

Jimmy Butler doesn't mind being left in the dark with trade rumors Jimmy Butler takes on the questions. (Getty Images) On the NBA’s 2016 draft night, for the first hour of the proceedings at least, the name on everyone’s lips was “Jimmy Butler.” Everyone knew Ben Simmons would be taken No. 1 overall by Philadelphia, Woj already had picks 1-through-19 (all 19-year olds, incidentally) … [Read more...]

Answer a Kevin Durant question? Don’t make Russell Westbrook laugh Nice try, but Russell Westbrook’s lips remain sealed. (AP/Ben Margot) Russell Westbrook has FINALLY broken his silence on Kevin Durant’s decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Golden State Warriors! Well … kind of. [Follow Dunks Don’t Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] All it took was some … [Read more...]

LeBron James ordered a pizza with 16 different toppings LeBron James has clearly let himself go. (Getty Images) LeBron James is allowed to eat whatever the heck he wants. He averaged nearly 42 minutes per game during his brilliant MVP turn in last season’s NBA Finals win, he’s already played more minutes than several NBA luminaries that retired in their mid-to-late 30s (LeBron is 31), and he … [Read more...]

Why Amar’e Stoudemire retired with the Knicks and not the Suns Amare Stoudemire reacts to a foul during Game 4 of the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) When Amar’e Stoudemire announced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday, many fans wondered why the six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection decided to do so after signing a ceremonial one-day … [Read more...]

Amar’e wanted to retire with Suns: ‘Just went where I was wanted' Amare Stoudemire reacts to a foul during Game 4 of the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) When Amar’e Stoudemire announced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday, many fans wondered why the six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection decided to do so after signing a ceremonial … [Read more...]