NBA

Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas is an enigma at this point in his career. The Crossover podcast discussed this stage of his career and more with Scott Brooks. 

With Giannis becoming one of the rare signature stars, The Crossover decided now was the time to take a look back at the best sneaker debuts, including LeBron, Kyrie and much more. 

It's nearly time for Sports Illustrated's annual Top 100 NBA players ranking. While rookies aren't included in the list, the Open Floor podcast considers where Zion Williamson would land if involved. 

As an owner of the fledgling Clippers for decades, Magic Johnson represented a lot to Donald Sterling. In fact, his obsession with Magic actually played a part in his banning from the NBA. 

Rong Niu, better known as Red Panda, has become a mainstay at NBA halftime shows across the country. While she performs alone on the court, the long hours and hard training with her father, GuiZhang, prepared Niu for the spotlight.  

The NBA and Kings looked into a claim that Luke Walton sexually assaulted and repeatedly harassed former Spectrum SportsNet reporter Kelli Tennant. The Crossover considers their decision to close the investigation and what could come next. 

Magic Johnson was roundly mocked when he decided to resign from the Lakers. Since then the NBA legend has been living his best life and enjoying every bit of his Twitter activity. 

Even with an important Clippers season ahead of him, Doc Rivers made time to take a trip to East Coast and maintain his relationship with the Action for Boston Community Development charity, an anti-poverty effort he helped start in the city he once called home. 

The Wizards struggled through last season, with John Wall injured and their year stalled before it started. Washington coach Scott Brooks disusses that, Bradley Beal and more with The Crossover podcast. 

Michael Avenatti might not be the most trusted voice, but all eyes will turn to him during a criminal case that centers on extortion and fraud. The Crossover digs into reasons why Avenatti's case could cause concern for the basketball world. 

Mikhail Prokhorov is officially selling his remaining 51% ownership stake in the Nets. He leaves a more complicated legacy in the NBA than many would have you believe. 

De'Aaron Fox is in the process of making his star turn, and the young Kings standout is doing that through USA Basketball like several important players before him. 

While Team USA is without its typical firepower, it is not devoid of talent all together. The Crossover takes a look at the best available players, devises a potential roster for the FIBA World Cup and points out who could miss the cut. 

The Trail Blazers secured the other half of their heralded backcourt, locking CJ McCollum up with a three-year, $100 million contract extension. Portland pays a tall price tag, but McCollum has proved his worth. 

Several players have dropped out of the FIBA World Cup, leaving the Team USA roster leaning on a host of players with little to no national experience. But not every aspect of this is all bad. 

Tim Duncan, the most coachable star to ever play, has now become the highest-profile assistant in NBA history. As Gregg Popovich and countless others are willing to attest, he was always a teacher. 

Don’t get too excited about Ben Simmons draining a three. 

When you have a plan this good, it's probably better to not explain it on YouTube.

Tim Duncan spent all 19 years of his NBA career with the Spurs.

Multiple players have already withdrawn from Team USA for the FIBA World Cup.

Sam Presti traded for Chris Paul with the intent to move him and start the Thunder's race to the bottom. Now with Paul more than likely staying for the long haul, should OKC alter its approach? 

While NBA free agency was marked by player movement, the Blazers made the decision to double down on their cornerstones. Instead of moving one of their stars, Portland rebuilt around CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard. 

Chris Paul is a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder and it appears that he could remain with the team. That said, the Open Floor team still took the time to consider whether he could be moved to Minnesota. 

We watched DeMarcus Cousins struggle through two major leg injuries and take discount deals with the Warriors and Lakers. The Open Floor podcast discusses what next season holds for Cousins in Los Angeles. 

In an offseason full of moves, no deal was more shocking than the trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Rockets. The Crossover takes a closer look at the team's makeup and asks important questions. 

What would lead Penn's basketball coach, an ex-pro player and beloved Quakers star, to take payouts from the father of a phony recruit? And what would happen when that phony recruit's father turned out to be the man behind a sprawling Medicare fraud? Before the Varsity Blues scandal, there was Jerome Allen.

With Paul George gone and Russell Westbrook rumors swirling, a well-positioned rebuild looms for the Thunder. Oklahoma City, a team known for operating in the shadows, couldn't be more transparent about its future plans. 

Not everyone can pull off a coup like the Clippers or Nets. There are also franchises that appeared to be clueless during free agency. The Crossover considers those teams. 

After an unprecedented run of deals, 2019 NBA free agency is off to a roaring start. The Crossover is tracking every move this summer and providing all the latest details and analysis. https://www.si.com/nba/2019/06/27/nba-free-agency-jimmy-butler-sixers-rockets-rumors

Kawhi Leonard's decision to join the Clippers—and take Paul George with him—was the exclamation point on an already insane free agency. With so much movement and so many title contenders emerging, the 2019-20 season will be one of the most exciting we've seen. 

With the Warriors set to regress to the mean next season, teams that took cover have resurfaced. There's finally something to play for in the Western Conference, and we could see as many as 12 or 13 teams vying for the playoffs until the bitter end.

There's an avalanche of deals to process from Day 1 of NBA free agency. The Crossover grades the wild start to the summer and weighs in on the Knicks, Nets, Sixers and more.

The 76ers attacked free agency with the same approach they've used throughout general manager Elton Brand's tenure, pouncing for players they want when given the chance. This time they lured Al Horford away from the Celtics. 

The Pacers landed Malcolm Brogdon as part of a multi-team trade, finding a perfect running mate for Victor Oladipo in the process. 

Kevin Durant has decided to switch coasts and join the Nets, leaving the Warriors and other contenders to figure out their next course of action. How should runners-up handle the remainder of free agency?

Anthony Davis waived his $4 million trade kicker to help his future team. The Open Floor podcast discusses his decision and the summer of the Lakers. 

The 2019 NBA draft is behind us, which means it's time to take a look into the future and rank potential players in next year's class. The Front Office provides insight on the futures of James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball and more.

The downfall of the Celtics' dreams started 12 months ago, when Gordon Hayward went down with an injury. From there Kyrie Irving waffled on his commitment and Anthony Davis rumors poisioned the Boston locker room. 

The most polarizing figure in the NBA is not any owner, player, exec or even LeBron James—it’s Rich Paul, the King’s agent and friend, who unleashed havoc on the league this past season when he demanded that New Orleans trade star client Anthony Davis in a seeming bid to unite him with James in L.A. Paul’s next moves could reshape the entire league, but here’s the thing: He and LeBron have bigger plans.

The Warriors await the results of Kevin Durant's MRI.

Play Draymond Green at center? Find a new way to attack DeMarcus Cousins? The Crossover staff considers the biggest adjustments the Warriors and Raptors can make to prepare for Game 3 of the NBA Finals. 

Will Stephen Curry win his first NBA Finals MVP? When will Kevin Durant return? The NBA Finals are here and The Crossover wants to consider every storyline in advance of the big game. 

The Warriors were always the favorites to win the Finals, but circumstances have changed recently. Kawhi and the Raptors could give Steph and the Warriors trouble. 

Stephen Curry has taken his game to another level since Kevin Durant went down with a strained right calf. This Warriors run will surely secure his legacy. 

Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum always has a counter. The Portland star has become known for his savvy and NBA players have taken notice, with some even stealing a few pages out of his playbook. 

While the Kawhi Leonard Game 7 buzzer-beater caught most off guard, these three NBA photographers were prepared for the moment. They tell Sports Ilustrated about their clutch shots. 

Every team in the NBA draft lottery is hoping for the top pick and the chance to select Zion Williamson. But not everyone can be a winner. The Crossover discusses what Zion and the teams that desperately need him. 

The Cavaliers have finally found a coach to replace Tyronn Lue, landing on John Beilein of Michigan. After operating in something of a post-LeBron malaise since the summer, Cleveland adds a source of stability on the sidelines. 

The 2019 NBA draft lottery is finally upon us and, as is often the case at this time of year, the future of several teams hang in the balance. The Front Office takes a close look at what every team has at stake on Tuesday. 

The 76ers pulled off a 112-101 win to push their second-round series to Game 7. The key to that Game 6 victory, as it has been all season, is the performance of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.