NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 20, 2026, 2:43 PM ET
Coaching Carousel & Front Office Moves
The Dallas Mavericks parted ways with Jason Kidd espn.com after five seasons, with team president Masai Ujiri taking full responsibility for what he called a "very tough decision" to fire the coach following the team's conference finals appearance. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans hired Jamahl Mosley espn.com as their new head coach after he spent the past five seasons in Orlando compiling an 189-221 record with three playoff berths. In Portland, the Trail Blazers laid off significant numbers espn.com of business-side employees as part of a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon, signaling major structural changes for the franchise.
Eastern Conference Finals: Historic Comeback Sets Tone
The New York Knicks engineered a stunning 22-point comeback espn.com in Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Jalen Brunson leading the charge by relentlessly attacking James Harden on defense. The rally gave New York a 0.1% probability victory espn.com according to analytics models, making it one of the most improbable wins in conference finals history. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson defended his timeout management espn.com despite watching his team collapse down the stretch, holding onto his challenges even as the Knicks erased the massive deficit. Karl-Anthony Towns' evolution into a point-center has transformed New York's offensive attack espn.com, creating matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
Western Conference Finals Set With Spurs-Thunder Showdown
The San Antonio Spurs advanced to face the Oklahoma City Thunder espn.com in the Western Conference finals after eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves, though they'll be without All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox who suffered a right ankle sprain espn.com and was ruled out for Game. Thunder wing Jalen Williams declared himself healthy espn.com after missing six games with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, bolstering Oklahoma City's rotation depth. Anthony Edwards tipped his cap to the Spurs espn.com as "the better team" after walking over to their bench in Game 6 to give them respect following Minnesota's third straight playoff exit.
Draft Outlook & Asset Management
Oklahoma City and San Antonio control much of the next eight drafts espn.com as the NBA's two best regular season teams, both sitting atop the asset pyramid with multiple first-round picks and young core pieces. The 2026 NBA draft combine featured intense 5-on-5 scrimmages espn.com that helped clarify the pecking order for teams evaluating prospects, with ESPN's Jeremy Woo projecting all 60 picks based on the week's performances. Detroit Pistons general manager Trajan Langdon expressed desire to retain espn.com both All-Star center Jalen Duren and veteran forward Tobias Harris, though the team faces difficult decisions after being eliminated by Cleveland in Game.
International Expansion & Player Development
Victor Wembanyama's rise to NBA stardom traces back to ancient warrior training espn.com methods learned from monks in central China, where he developed the discipline and mental fortitude that now makes him "the most unstoppable force in basketball." The Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans will meet in Paris and Manchester espn.com on January 14 and 17 next season as part of the NBA's continued international expansion, giving Wembanyama a homecoming of sorts in front of European fans. Australian basketball legend Joe Ingles confirmed his NBL return espn.com to Melbourne United on a two-year deal, calling the decision "incredibly special" after his NBA career concluded.
Player Movement & Contract Situations
OG Anunoby practiced with the Knicks espn.com and indicated his right hamstring injury is not as severe as the one he suffered during the 2024 playoffs, providing optimism for New York's defensive anchor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received his second consecutive MVP award espn.com in a pregame ceremony but acknowledged he didn't perform up to that standard in the Thunder's thrilling Western Conference finals opener. Off the court, an eBay user paid $9,000,100 espn.com to win a private lunch with Warriors star Stephen Curry and legendary investor, demonstrating the premium fans place on access to NBA royalty.
Offseason Outlook & Future Planning
With only four teams remaining in the playoffs, the NBA offseason officially begins for 26 franchises espn.com including the Los Angeles Lakers, who face major decisions about LeBron James' future and roster construction. Steve Kerr criticized his own performance espn.com in his return to the Golden State Warriors for a 13th season, acknowledging he "has to be better" after what he deemed a subpar 12th year at the helm. Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst identified five franchise-altering decisions espn.com that could reshape the league this summer, with several teams holding significant cap space and draft capital to pursue star players.