North American professional basketball league of 30 teams.
Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame basketball coach and longtime Mavericks figure, has died at 86. Family statements describe him as beloved husband, father and grandfather. Nelson leaves a legacy as a pioneering coach who popularized fast-paced play and Nellie Ball, influencing teams and players across the league.
New York City has hit peak summer activity with record crowds and spending. After Knicks’ championship and World Cup crowds, the city remains lively as visitors push commerce and events into high gear this August.
The Knicks will host the 76ers on Oct. 20 to raise their 2023-24 championship banner, then begin the NBA Cup schedule with a group-stage game against Philadelphia in New York. The league has released a partial schedule, with key Christmas and opening-night matchups revealed and full details due Thursday.
Holland has admitted to staging a fake hole-in-one at WingHaven Country Club, citing no excuse and highlighting concern for his family amid a wave of online backlash. The club has addressed the incident and closed the matter.
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter in a transaction valuing the franchise at about $12.5 billion. The sale has been announced this week, requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors and is subject to due diligence and Kushners divestment of a Miami Heat stake.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wed at Madison Square Garden in July 2026. Public details are scarce, with guests and outfits discussed by media. Kelce reflects on the night as the couple navigates privacy and public interest.
Russell Westbrook has publicly retired after an 18-year NBA career, marked by a 2016-17 MVP season and a record 42 triple-doubles in a single season. His farewell video, narrated by Michael B. Jordan, confirms the end of an era for one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.
The Cavaliers have secured a multi-year deal with James Harden, including a player option for 2028-29 and a trade kicker, after Harden declined a $42.3 million option earlier this summer. The move follows Cleveland’s recent trades, including acquiring Peyton Watson from Denver. Harden has averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists in 26 games for Cleveland this season, and his career marks span 1,221 games across multiple teams.
The Trump administration has mobilized a broad sanctions push to choke Iran’s economy, promising the toughest penalties in history. Officials say secondary sanctions will target countries and firms doing business with Tehran, with aims to isolate Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the war disrupts regional trade.
The Buss siblings are contesting the sale of the Lakers while Joey and Jesse Buss have secured a minority stake in the San Diego Padres. Jeanie Buss argues the sale is void, citing fiduciary concerns. The ownership shift unfolds as the Padres deal brackets a broader family-dynasty moment in Southern California sports.
Josh Kushner has issued his first public statement on the collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, saying he still supports its aims but would not have invested had he known how the process would unfold. UEFA has filed US court papers seeking document production and depositions from Kushner and Thrive as it prepares possible criminal mismanagement claims against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Federal filings show a nurse practitioner prescribed hundreds of thousands of opioid pills across more than 20 states, guiding clients on evading DEA scrutiny. The DEA has revoked her authority to prescribe controlled substances. Civil settlement reached earlier this year did not admit wrongdoing. Details tie prominent athletes and others to the operation.
A wave of court rulings on prediction markets, led by Kalshi, has put federal and state regulators at odds. The Ninth Circuit has ruled Nevada may apply its gaming laws to Kalshi’s sports-event contracts, a decision echoed by other circuits as litigation intensifies. The Supreme Court is likely to weigh in as cases diverge.
Naomi Osaka has continued her high-profile fashion storytelling at the US Open, wearing a basketball-inspired, Allen Iverson tribute outfit while advancing to the second round with a straight-sets win. The look blends Nike’s basketball theme with nods to Iverson, echoing past grand-slam entrances and building anticipation for further stylistic reveals.
Westbrook has joined the upstart league Project B as an equity holder and chief strategy officer, with a seat on the board as it launches in January 2027. The move follows his retirement after 18 seasons.
The NBA has found misconduct by the Clippers tied to off‑court income deals for Kawhi Leonard, resulting in five first‑round picks forfeited between 2029 and 2033, a $30 million fine, and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and team executives. Leonard has expressed responsibility for lapses and is focusing on the future after the situation. The league notes ongoing compliance monitoring for five years.
Engelbert has announced she is stepping down at the end of 2026 after seven years as the WNBA's first commissioner. The league has seen record growth under her leadership, including a historic CBA, a long-term media deal, and expansion plans, though criticism from players on leadership and responses to protests has persisted.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has published an essay calling for a deliberate slowdown in frontier AI development and has committed Anthropic to embed third‑party evaluators with employee‑level access. OpenAI’s Sam Altman and xAI’s Elon Musk have publicly backed the proposal, markets and lawmakers are reacting, and President Donald Trump has rejected a slowdown.
The Clippers have faced a sweeping NBA punishment including a $30 million fine, five first-round picks forfeited, and a one-year suspension for Ballmer. Ballmer has publicly apologized, stating the team is complying with penalties and focusing on moving forward as Leonard’s trade to Toronto remains on hold pending the investigation.
Sports leagues have pressed regulators to permanently revoke betting privileges for anyone who threatens or harasses athletes, coaches or staff. The initiative seeks uniform rules across states to curb harassment as legal sports betting expands.
The Knicks have paused individual ticket sales after a pricing error sent early prices soaring. They are rolling back to last year’s prices with an average 12% increase and will refund buyers who already purchased tickets. Sales will restart next week at moderated prices.
The NFL has fined Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair more than $11,000 for wearing eye black bearing the name Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza. Al-Shaair has repeatedly worn messages to highlight Palestinian casualties, prompting public support and ongoing penalties from league officials.
New ownership has outlined aggressive plans to lift the Lakers’ value to $30 billion within a decade, backed by higher ticketing, media rights and international growth. The sale from the Buss family to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger has triggered a valuation surge and renewed speculation about the franchise’s long-term health.
Bob Pettit, the NBA’s first MVP and one of the game’s greatest scorers and rebounders, has died at 93. The Hall of Fame member led the Hawks to the 1958 title, earned MVP honors twice, and left a lasting legacy on the forward position.
Jalen Brunson has hosted Saturday Night Live, becoming the first Knicks player to host since 2007. The episode opened the Knicks’ season after their title victory, featuring questions from Brunson’s teammates in the monologue and a series of sketches.
The Kennedy Center has paused operations and closed for safety repairs amid roof and ceiling concerns. A court challenge blocks adding Donald Trump’s name to the building, while lawmakers have allocated funds for repairs. The honorees for 2026 will be named later, with the center facing ongoing disputes over governance and safety.
The NFL has filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to let states regulate sports-prediction markets, arguing such contracts are gambling rather than financial swaps. The league cites $1.8 billion in prediction-market activity on the season’s first Sunday and calls for stronger safeguards, including a 21-year age minimum for bettors.