basketball

The NBA will test the one-free-throw rule, aimed at speeding up play, at upcoming Summer League contests, the league said Thursday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #nbasummerleague

Jaylen Brown said goodbye to Boston on Thursday, admitting he was "still processing how this all went down," a ⁠day after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #jaylenbrown #bostonceltics #philadelphia76ers

The Boston Celtics have agreed to a blockbuster trade which sends ⁠All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for former All-NBA veteran forward Paul George and four draft picks. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #jaylenbrown #bosonceltics #philadelphia76ers #paulgeorge

The Los Angeles Clippers are trading star forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, sending him back to the franchise he led to the 2019 NBA championship. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #kawhileonard #brandoningram #torontoraptors #losangelesclippers

Ja Morant joined the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday in ⁠a trade that ended his volatile run with the Memphis Grizzlies. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #portlandtrailblazers #memphisgrizzlies #jamorant

The Washington Wizards opened the NBA draft on Tuesday night by selecting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #ajdybantsa #washingtonwizards #darrynpeterson #utahjazz #nbadraft

The Brooklyn Nets added former All-Star forward Julius Randle ⁠and moved up five spots in the first round of Tuesday night's draft in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls on Monday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #juliusrandle #nicclaxton #chicagobulls #minnesotatimberwolves #brooklynnets

The long-rumored trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo finally occurred, with the Milwaukee Bucks dealing the superstar ⁠big man to the Miami Heat late Monday night. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #miamiheat #giannisantetokounmpo #tylerherro #milwaukeebucks

The Asian University Basketball League is ready to hit the hardwood again as it works to take Asian college basketball global, with league officials wanting Japan to play a role. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #asianuniversitybasketballleague #gregstolt #asia

The NBA's proposed new European league would distribute hundreds of millions of dollars per year to its franchises, said George Aivazoglou, one of the league's senior executives. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #europe #adamsilver

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to play ⁠for the Miami Heat, ESPN reported on Monday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #giannisantetokounmpo #milwaukeebucks #miamiheat

The New York Knicks, fueled by 45 points from Jalen Brunson, beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to win their first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #newyorkknicks #nba #sanantoniospurs

OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds left Wednesday night capped the greatest comeback in ⁠NBA Finals history, as the New York Knicks stunned the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 to move within one win of a championship. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #newyorkknicks #sanantoniospurs #oganunoby #jalenbrunson #nbafinals

Knicks in NBA-Finals: New York City träumt vom Basketball-Titel

New York's five boroughs have been electrified by the New York Knicks playoff run, yet in their first home NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999, the Knicks came up just short in a 115-111 loss. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #newyorkknicks #newyorkcity #nbafinals #sanantoniospurs #madisonsquaregarden

Irate ticketholders booed U.S. President Donald Trump as they waited ⁠in long lines outside Madison Square Garden on Monday, where the Republican became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #donaldtrump #newyorkknicks #nbafinals #sanantoniospurs #madisonsquaregarden #newyorkcity

Road closures, bag bans and a gauntlet of security measures will greet fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday, with U.S. President Donald Trump planning to watch Game 3 ​of the NBA Finals in person. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #nbafinals #donaldtrump #newyorkknicks #sanantoniospurs #newyork

Jalen Brunson was beaten and battered but not dismayed, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the New York Knicks overcome a 14-point third-quarter deficit to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #newyorkknicks #sanantoniospurs #jalenbrunson #victorwembanyama #nbafinals

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league remains on schedule to launch NBA Europe in October 2027, with final bids for permanent franchises due by the end of June. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #adamsilver #nbaeurope #euroleague #europe

The New York Knicks will try to deliver the city its first NBA title since 1973 when they face a Spurs team looking to launch a new dynasty behind Victor Wembanyama in a highly anticipated Finals matchup. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #newyorkknicks #victorwembanyama #jalenbrunson #sanantoniospurs #nbafinals

Stephen Curry ended his sneaker free agency on Monday, ⁠announcing a deal to take Curry Brand to China's Li-Ning. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #stephencurry #lining #goldenstatewarriors

Victor Wembanyama is within sight of realizing a lifelong dream after helping the San Antonio Spurs battle past the Oklahoma City Thunder to set up an NBA Finals showdown with the New York Knicks. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #victorwembanyama #sanantoniospurs

The San Antonio Spurs knocked off the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals to book a date against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #sanantoniospurs #oklahomacitythunder #victorwembanyama #shaigilgeousalexander #lukekornet

Victor Wembanyama set the tone from the beginning, helping the San Antonio Spurs build a lead they never relinquished while beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 to force Game 7 in the Western Conference finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #sanantoniospurs #oklahomacitythunder #victorwembanyama #shaigilgeousalexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 to move within one win of a return to the NBA Finals on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #shaigilgeousalexander #oklahomacitythunder #sanantoniospurs #nbaplayoffsvictorwembanyama

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks ⁠advanced to the NBA Finals with a 130-93 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #newyorkknicks #clevelandcavaliers #nbaplayoffs

Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs in a 103-82 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder that evened the Western Conference finals at two games each on Sunday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #sanantoniospurs #oklahomacitythunder #shaigilgeousalexander #victorwembanyama #nbaplayoffs

The New York Knicks are on the brink of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 after a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday stretched their playoff win streak to 10 games. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #newyorkknicks #clevelandcavaliers #nbaplayoffs #jalenbrunson

Josh Hart bounced back from a quiet series opener by scoring nine of the Knicks' 18 consecutive third-quarter points Thursday night, when New York took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #newyorkknicks #clevelandcavaliers #joshhart #nbaplayoffsdonovanmitchell

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to help lift the Thunder to a 122-113 home win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #sanantoniospurs #oklahomacitythunder #shaigilgeousalexander #victorwembanyama #nbaplayoffs

The New York Knicks mounted their biggest comeback in playoff history by overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #newyorkknicks #clevelandcavaliers #nbaplayoffs

Victor Wembanyama outdueled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the San Antonio Spurs to an epic 122-115 double-overtime triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #sanantoniospurs #victorwembanyama #shaigilgeousalexander #nbaplayoffs #oklahomacitythunder

The Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated the top-seeded Detroit Pistons from the NBA playoffs with a dominant 125-94 win in a decisive Game 7 on Sunday and will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #clevelandcavaliers #detroitpistons #nbaplayoffs #donovanmitchell

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for a second straight season on Sunday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #shaigilgeousalexander #oklahomacitythunder

James Harden scored 30 points as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 on Wednesday to take a ⁠3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #detroitpistons #cadecunningham #clevelandcavaliers #jamesharden #nbaplayoffs

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points as the San Antonio Spurs moved to within one win of the NBA Western Conference finals with an emphatic 126-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #victorwembanyama #anthonyedwards #minnesotatimberwolves #sanantoniospurs #nbaplayoffs

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, with NBC Los Angeles reporting that his death is being investigated as a possible overdose. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #brandonclarke #memphisgrizzlies #adamsilver

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western ⁠Conference finals with a 115-110 victory over the Lakers on Monday, completing a four-game sweep. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #losangeleslakers #ruihachimura #lebronjames #oklahomacitythunder #shaigilgeousalexander #nbaplayoffs #detroitpistons #clevelandcavaliers #donovanmitchell

The Washington Wizards are widely expected to take BYU forward AJ Dybantsa after winning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 ⁠NBA Draft lottery. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #ajdybantsa #washingtonwizards #nbadraft #utahjazz #darrynpeterson #cameronboozer #memphisgrizzlies

Closing out a playoff series is one of the toughest challenges in sports, but the red-hot New York Knicks made it look easy again with a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of their series on Sunday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #newyorkknicks #philadelphia76ers #nbaplayoffs #mikebrown #jalenbrunson

Jarrett Allen scored 14 of his career playoff-high-tying 22 points in the third quarter and grabbed 19 rebounds, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to ⁠a 114-102 Game 7 win over the visiting Toronto Raptors. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #torontoraptors #darkorajakovic #donovanmitchell #clevelandcavaliers #nbaplayoffs #detroitpistons #jbbickerstaff #tobiasharris #paolobanchero

LeBron James scored 18 of his 28 points in a runaway first half for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, who cruised to a ⁠98-78 series-clinching victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #losangeleslakers #houstonrockets #lebronjames #ruihachimura

OG Anunoby scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half to lead the visiting New York Knicks to ⁠a historic 140-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #nbaplayoffs #newyorkknicks #atlantahawks #philadelphia76ers #bostonceltics #oganunoby #karlanthonytowns

Cade Cunningham kept the top-seeded Detroit Pistons' playoff run alive against the Orlando Magic, as the Los Angeles Lakers again failed to close out their series with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #cadecunningham #detroitpistons #orlandomagic #lebronjames #losangeleslakers #houstonrockets #nbaplayoffs

In the second-closest vote in the award's recent history, a 100-member global media panel selected Dallas ⁠Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg as the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #cooperflagg #dallasmavericks #konknueppel #charlottehornets

Victor Wembanyama returned in style as the Spurs beat Portland to go 3-1 up, while the Rockets stayed alive, the Raptors tied their series and the Celtics closed in on the next round. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #bostonceltics #clevelandcavaliers #torontoraptors #philadelphia76ers #sanantoniospurs #portlandtrailblazers #losangeleslakers #houstonrockets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-109 victory over the Phoenix and a commanding 3-0 lead in their NBA playoff series. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #shaigilgeousalexander #oklahomacitythunder #phoenixsuns #detroitpistons #orlandomagic #newyorkknicks #atlantahawks #nbaplayoffs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns and a 2-0 lead in their NBA playoff series. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #nbaplayoffs #oklahomacitythunder #detroitpistons #phoenixsuns #orlandomagic #shaigilgeousalexander #cadecunningham

Japan will host the FIBA Women's Basketball ⁠World Cup in 2030 and France will host the men's tournament in 2031, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said on Wednesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #fibawomen039sbasketballworldcup #fibabasketballworldcup #japan #france #fiba

LeBron James compiled 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a ⁠101-94 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #lebronjames #losangeleslakers #houstonrockets #vjedgecombe #bostonceltics #philadelphia76ers #nbaplayoffs

Scoot Henderson poured in a season-best 31 points as the visiting Portland Trail Blazers came back from 14 ⁠points down in the fourth quarter to outlast the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs 106-103 in Game 2. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #victorwembanyama #scoothenderson #portlandtrailblazers #sanantoniospurs #nbaplayoffs

The visiting Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114 in Game 2 to level their playoff series on Monday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #nbaplayoffs #clevelandcavaliers #minnesotatimberwolves #denvernuggets #torontoraptors #newyorkknicks #atlantahawks

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was named the NBA's defensive player of the year on Monday, becoming the first unanimous winner in the award's 43-year history. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #victorwembanyama #sanantoniospurs #dirknowitzki

The Orlando Magic stunned the Detroit Pistons 112-101 on Sunday as the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics opened the NBA playoffs with big wins. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #detroitpistons #orlandomagic #oklahomacitythunder #bostonceltics #sanantoniospurs #cadecunningham

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers eased past the Houston Rockets 107-98 on Saturday as the Denver Nuggets held off the Minnesota Timberwolves in a bruising battle to open the NBA playoffs. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #losangeleslakers #houstonrockets #lebronjames #nbaplayoffs #denvernuggets #minnesotatimberwolves #jamalmurray #nikolajokic

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has guided the Warriors to four championships, wants to contemplate his situation for a week or two before discussing his future plans with ⁠team officials. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #stevekerr #goldenstatewarriors #stephencurry

Victor Wembanyama, whose rapid rise from teen phenom to superstar has transformed the San Antonio Spurs into legitimate title contenders, is relishing his first shot at playoff glory. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #victorwembanyama #sanantoniospurs #nbaplayoffs

Al Horford connected on four 3-pointers in the final 5:37 of a Western Conference play-in game, lifting the 10th-place Golden State Warriors ⁠to a 126-121 win over the ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #stevekerr #goldenstatewarriors #tyronnlue #losangelesclippers #nbaplayintournament

Tyrese Maxey scored 11 of his team-high 31 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night for the host ⁠Philadelphia 76ers, who advanced to the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the Orlando Magic 109-97. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #tyresemaxey #philadelphia76ers #nbaplayintournament #orlandomagic

Deni Avdija scored 41 points and capped the Portland ⁠Trail Blazers' comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 114-110 victory over the host Phoenix Suns in a play-in game Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #deniavdija #portlandtrailblazers #nbaplayintournament #phoenixsuns

LaMelo Ball was hero and villain as the Charlotte Hornets lifted their curse to send the Miami Heat tumbling out of the NBA play-in tournament with a thrilling 127-126 overtime victory on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #lameloball #erikspoelstra #charlottehornets #miamiheat #nbaplayintournament

Azzi Fudd became the seventh UConn player to be selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft when the Dallas Wings took her at the outset of Monday night's festivities ⁠in New York. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #azzifudd #dallaswings #wnba #uconn #ucla

Mai Yamamoto of the Toyota Antelopes in the Women's Japan Basketball League is ready to take on new challenges in Project B, a new global basketball league set to debut this winter, with her sights set on the WNBA. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #maiyamamoto #projectb #wnba

Doc Rivers is departing as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after the team concluded its lackluster season on Sunday, U.S. media reported. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #docrivers #milwaukeebucks

It took 12 seasons and more than 1,600 games, but brothers Stephen and Seth Curry finally played in ⁠the same NBA game, on the same team, together. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #goldenstatewarriors #stephcurry #sethcurry

NBA great Shaquille O'Neal said ⁠on Monday he is launching a professional dunk league with its inaugural season set to debut this year. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #shaquilleo039neal

Michigan won it all, but UConn made the Wolverines work for it in a seesaw national ⁠championship game on Monday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #uconnhuskies #michiganwolverines #ncaatournament #marchmadness

The Chicago Sky traded two-time All-Star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday for two first-round picks. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #angelreese #chicagosky #atlantadream #wnba

In an attempt to move up his timeline for ⁠a return, Lakers star Luka Doncic will seek specialized treatment for his Grade 2 left hamstring strain in Europe, Doncic's representation told ESPN. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #lukadoncic #losangeleslakers

Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey was fired by the team on Monday after condemning the NBA's support for the LGBTQ+ community. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #jadenivey #chicagobulls

The Connecticut Sun will be rebranded as the Houston Comets once the sale to Houston Rockets owners Fertitta Entertainment is approved by the league's board of governors. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #wnba #connecticutsun #houstoncomets

Moses Moody hit a key 3-pointer in overtime before sustaining a serious knee injury as the Golden ⁠State Warriors concluded a six-game trip with a 137-131 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #mosesmoody #goldenstatewarriors #dallasmavericks

LeBron James broke the NBA record for most regular-season games played on Saturday, taking the court for his 1,612th when the Los Angeles Lakers tipped off against the Orlando Magic. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #lebronjames #losangeleslakers

The Milwaukee Bucks' injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't want to be shut down for ⁠the rest of the season, reportedly putting him at odds with the team. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #giannisantetokounmpo #milwaukeebucks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke the NBA record for consecutive 20-point games by delivering his 127th in a row on Thursday in Oklahoma City's 104-102 home win over the Boston Celtics. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #shaigilgeousalexander #oklahomacitythunder #bostonceltics

Negotiations between the WNBA and its players' union stretched past 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday with no deal in sight, and a leading sports business expert said the league was now dangerously close to uncharted territory. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #wnba

Bam Adebayo erupted for a jaw-dropping 83 points — the second highest total in NBA history — as the Miami Heat thrashed the Washington Wizards 150-129 on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #bamadebayo #miamiheat #washingtonwizards #erikspoelstra

The NBA has canceled the Atlanta Hawks' collaboration with Magic City, a local strip club, ending what would have been a first-of-its-kind promotional night in professional basketball. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #atlantahawks #adamsilver

LeBron James broke the record for most field goals made in NBA history Thursday, though the latest milestone in his glittering career did not stop the Los Angeles Lakers from crashing 120-113 to the Denver Nuggets. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #lebronjames #losangeleslakers #denvernuggets #nikolajokic

Ace Bailey scored a career-high 32 points and recorded two steals to help the Utah Jazz end a seven-game losing streak with a 122-112 win over the Washington Wizards, who saw Trae Young make his debut. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #traeyoung #acebailey #washingtonwizards #utahjazz