Midway through last August, Jayson Tatum’s path toward earning enough playing time to have a meaningful nightly impact was unclear. Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge had built a roster loaded with interchangeable wing talent, and it would have been understandable if the 19-year-old
Shooting the basketball is a study in both art and persistence. No one starts with perfect form, nor can they connect on a high percentage of attempts. But the all-time greats learn through tireless dedication, which usually entails hours and hours practicing alone in a
The Boston Celtics have defied every bit of expectations this season. A year in which Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving were preparing to immerse themselves in Boston quickly saw the plan put on hold after the gruesome injury to the small forward. No matter, Irving
LeBron James’ brilliance continues to stand the test of time—and then some. This year’s iteration of the Cleveland Cavaliers is living, breathing, if sometimes blundering proof. Just think: The Cavs are seven-and-a-half games back in the Eastern Conference, 3-9 over their last 12 outings, and still
Toronto and its basketball team have developed a special love and obsession for the number six, thanks to Canadian rapper Drake, who came up with the city’s nickname, “The Six,” and was dubbed the organization’s global ambassador in 2013. The Raptors, in fact, just unveiled their
Sometimes, spotting a future NBA star is easy. Everyone knew LeBron James would be one when he entered the league in 2003—scouts, agents, general managers, even sneaker execs. His talent was readily apparent, his body NBA-ready. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the coronation of the King
Last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards was the most entertaining series of an otherwise dull 2017 NBA Playoffs. It had fights, flops, big shots, even bigger performance and everything else you can imagine. It was also a hilarious caricature of
By now, the collective basketball world has deciphered the obvious: The Houston Rockets are the NBA’s second-best team. They sport a 25-8 record. James Harden is the runaway MVP candidate. Chris Paul is smiling for the first time in six years. And Clint Capela is