NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 31, 2026, 2:45 AM ET
Western Conference Finals & NBA Finals Preview
The San Antonio Spurs eliminated defending champion Thunder espn.com in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals with a 111-103 victory at Paycom Center, securing their spot against the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Prior to the decisive game, Oklahoma City Thunder star wing Jalen Williams returned from a hamstring strain espn.com but was ineffective, scoring only one point while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with less than half his regular-season average espn.com as the Thunder fell short despite their status as slim championship favorites espn.com. The Thunder had attempted to adjust their strategy espn.com utilizing Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain to counter the Spurs' momentum, but ultimately could not overcome Victor Wembanyama's dominant performance that moved the rookie closer to his "childhood dream" of reaching the NBA Finals.
NBA Finals Preview & Special Events
The upcoming NBA Finals will feature a unique political backdrop with President Donald Trump planning to attend espn.com a game at Madison Square Garden, adding an extra layer of attention to the series between the Spurs and Knicks. Knicks center Mitchell Robinson plans to play despite hand surgery espn.com, wearing a brace on his broken right pinky finger for Game, showcasing the team's resilience after their improbable journey to the Finals fueled by bold moves and a coaching change espn.com. Meanwhile, Aces coach Becky Hammon maintained her controversial stance espn.com that Jalen Brunson's stature could lead a team to an NBA title, challenging the Knicks' star to prove her wrong during this championship run.
Coaching Changes Across the League
The coaching carousel continues to spin with the Orlando Magic finalizing a deal to hire espn.com San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney as their new head coach, while the Atlanta Hawks promoted Onsi Saleh espn.com from general manager to president of basketball operations on a long-term contract. In Cleveland, Kenny Atkinson will return espn.com next season as the Cavaliers coach, providing stability to the franchise, while Boston's Joe Mazzulla was named NBA Coach of the Year espn.com over finalists J.B. Bickerstaff and Mitch Johnson, officially wrapping up the league's end-of-season awards schedule with recognition for the Celtics' successful season.
Draft & Prospects Analysis
The NBA landscape continues to evolve with draft lottery reforms espn.com aimed at addressing concerns about tanking, though numbers show espn.com that drafting in the top five hasn't consistently translated into NBA titles over the past 20 years. Following the college withdrawal deadline, a wave of returners espn.com has reshaped ESPN's latest 2026 NBA draft top 100 prospects ranking, while Arizona forward Koa Peat, a projected first-round pick espn.com, is keeping his name in the NBA draft despite potential higher returns by returning to college. These developments come as the league continues to balance competitive balance with the strategic advantages of high draft picks.
Offseason & Business News
The Los Angeles Lakers laid off more than a espn.com dozen