Zach Kram

Predicting the 2028 USA Olympic basketball roster: Top 12 players In a time of transition for USA basketball, here's what the 12-man squad that will go up against a competitive international slate could look like.

With the Winter Olympics coming to a close, I peered ahead to the 2028 Summer Games—and projected a 12-man Team USA men's basketball roster, full of youth and defense

The Thunder are only up 3 games on the Spurs, and San Antonio has a much easier remaining schedule and the tiebreaker, if necessary.

These lingering injuries could very plausibly cost OKC the #1 seed.

Generation Jalen: How one name dominates the NBA like few before The Jalens (and Jaylens, Jaylins and Jaylons) are running the modern NBA -- but could they beat some of the all-time greats if they teamed up?

If all the Jalens in the NBA joined forces, they'd be a championship contender. But are they the best "same name" team in NBA history?

Today, I survey the Jalens and Mikes and Bobs and Bills to answer this extremely important basketball question.

That’s what I had in mind.

Unless you count Durant refusing to draft Harden right after the Nets drama.

Recency bias, perhaps, but it feels like that Kawhi stretch is the coolest All-Star Game moment in years

Starting a conspiracy theory that the Shooting Stars challenge was rigged for the Knicks because they got Rick Brunson as their designated passer instead of an actual celebrity

My favorite anti-tanking idea is to set aside $1.23 billion of annual league revenue. Instead of an even 30-way split, teams get that money at a rate of $1 million per win.

Want to tank for better lottery odds? Fine. But you have to convince your owner that's worth ~$15 million.

Pistons-Hornets just had the biggest NBA fight in a while—especially notable because this is a very plausible first-round playoff series

NBA trade deadline: The biggest winners and losers of a busy week After a wild week of superstar movement, Zach Kram unveils his winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline.

The Cavs! The Thunder! Surprise star destinations!

Here are the biggest winners, losers, and trends of the trade deadline:

Between the Clippers getting worse, the Jazz getting better, and the other top teams in the West not getting much better—plus a shrewd trade of their own—the Thunder are the big winners of the deadline with 40 minutes to go

Pretty wild that the two biggest buyers of the trade deadline so far are the Jazz and Wizards, with a combined record of 29-71 (and two top-8-protected picks they're both desperate to keep)

I read the Washington Post sports section every day growing up. My hands and elbows often turned purple from so much time pressed against the newspaper ink.

To close the sports department is shameful.

Over the last three seasons, 47 players are averaging at least 20 ppg.

Fewest assists among that group:

47. Lauri Markkanen (1.9 per game)
46. Jaren Jackson Jr. (2.1 per game)

Nobody else is below 3 assists per game.

This news hit me like a strong zinc pull from a Rioter. I'm bursting with excitement.

The Rockets have a plus-11.8 net rating with Adams on the floor this season—the best mark on the team.

This is a massive loss for a championship contender, and a huge bummer for a fun, unique player.

NBA rookie rankings: Who takes No. 1 spot at midseason mark? With the NBA now at the midpoint of its season, ESPN analyst Zach Kram ranks the top 10 rookies based on their performance.

New rookie rankings!

- How high did Cooper Flagg rise since his early-season struggles?
- Which new rookies are in the top 10?
- Who are Kon Knueppel's outrageous statistical comps?

NBA midseason trends: Four storylines to watch amid playoff race ESPN analysts Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton break down the league's biggest storylines from leading challengers to surprise contenders.

Took a spin with @kpelton.bsky.social through four of the NBA's biggest questions at the midway point of the season, discussing slumps in OKC and NYC, the surging Clippers, and comps for Paolo Banchero

Are blockbuster NBA trades actually worth it? We evaluated 14 big deals since 2013 As teams shy away from dealing first-rounders for stars, which trades have been the biggest successes and utter failures?

With reporters suggesting that NBA teams are starting to shy away from all-in blockbuster trades, I analyzed the trades with the most draft picks in league history to see if they're worth it, or if in fact they should be avoided

Heat-Bulls PPD due to condensation on court The scheduled game between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat was postponed due to condensation on the court in Chicago on Thursday night.

Quick story from an unusual scene in Chicago, where Bulls-Heat was postponed due to condensation on the court

What NBA moment will define 2025? Looking back at the most memorable events since 1954 On the heels of the new year, ESPN analyst Zach Kram picks a moment from each basketball season that NBA fans will most likely learn about and remember for years to come.

In case you missed it last week:

Go for a drive down memory lane, as I wrote about the defining moment of every basketball season since 1954.

What NBA moment will define 2025? Looking back at the most memorable events since 1954 On the heels of the new year, ESPN analyst Zach Kram picks a moment from each basketball season that NBA fans will most likely learn about and remember for years to come.

As another year ends, I'm not just reviewing the last year for ESPN—I'm reviewing the last 7 decades of NBA history, with a big project that answers the question: What moment defines every NBA season since 1954?

(h/t @sammillerbb.bsky.social for the original idea)

Jokic has finished 1st or 2nd in MVP voting for the last five years. But if he doesn't return within 31 days, he won't be eligible for MVP voting (or All-NBA or other postseason awards) this year.

Reasons for optimism and pessimism for all 10 NBA teams that played on Christmas ESPN analyst Zach Kram picks two stats for the teams that played on Dec. 25, and breaks down why fans should be happy and worried about their title aspirations.

I wrote about the hopes and concerns for the 10 teams that played on Christmas, featuring:

- OKC's imbalanced schedule
- the Nuggets without Jokic
- shaky young shooters
- the Lakers in and out of clutch time

And much more!

The Thunder are now 3-3 with a +1.8 point differential against the other teams in the West's top six.

For comparison, they're 23-1 with a +18.2 differential against all other opponents.

Limiting pick protections to top-4 and 14+ wouldn't stop all tanking, but I've long thought the league should do it to curb the most egregious tanking examples.

Real hoopers remember the Mark Madsen game, among more recent examples.

LeBron vs. Father Time: How James has changed this season, by the numbers LeBron James might be mortal. Zach Kram examines how the future Hall of Famer looks different compared to the past two decades.

LeBron James is playing like he never has before—fewer points, lower usage, less time on the ball. What does this mean for the career scoring leader, and for the Lakers with LeBron, Luka, and Reaves?

NBA 25 under 25 rankings: Where Wemby, Ant, Flagg and more young stars check in Which youngsters are among the next class of superstars? Which are already there? Our NBA experts rank their top 25 under 25.

25 for 25 in '25!

Presenting ESPN's ranking of the NBA's best young players based on long-term potential:

'It's an advantage': How post-ups became the NBA's most efficient play In the tool belt of big men such as Porzingis and Wembanyama, the play has seen a resurgence that reflects how basketball has changed -- and will keep changing.

Years after the NBA moved away from the post-up, this old-school strategy has quietly become the most efficient play in the league.

I talked to six All-Star scorers about why—and what this surprising trend says about analytics in sports.

LeBron James failed to score double-digit points in the regular season for the first time since January 5, 2007, breaking a record 1,297-game streak.

He had a chance to score on the last possession but made a kickout pass to Rui Hachimura for a game-winning 3.

Highest true shooting percentage in a 50-point game in NBA history:

1. Aaron Gordon in October
2. Kyrie
3. VanVleet
4. Jamal Murray in 2021
5. Kyrie
6. Jamal Murray tonight