BOSTON — Wyc Grousbeck will have a smaller role than expected when the Celtics’ new ownership group takes control, according to a new report.

ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne on Tuesday reported that Grousbeck “will no longer stay on as governor” of Boston’s NBA franchise despite initial plans for him to do so.

When a ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Durant is debuting for the Houston Rockets at his old stomping grounds against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Golden State Warriors are taking on LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers. The future of the East — the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks — ignites ...Read more

MIAMI — Unlike Jimmy Butler a year ago, when July meant go time with his extension window, there is considerably more breathing room for the Miami Heat this offseason when it comes to Tyler Herro, whose extension window does not open until Oct. 1 (and closes on Oct. 20).

On one hand, that allows for comparative analysis.

On the other hand, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — It’s time for me to get into the cryptocurrency game. My coin will be called smokeyscribe. I will promote it by throwing cigars and disrupting play at sporting events throughout the country.

What could go wrong? If it hits a fan, he or she can light it up. If it hits a young fan, hey, it will be his or her introduction to ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tucked toward the back of “Memorial Coliseum: 75 Years as Monument, Stage, and Arena” — a new book chronicling the history of the Lexington landmark — a series of memories from Kentucky basketball greats can be found.

There’s UK’s all-time leading scorer, Dan Issel, recalling the inside of the locker room and the ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — On Dec. 30, 2002, Mitchell Etess had his first meeting with the WNBA about moving the Orlando Miracle to Connecticut.

Less than a month later, Etess, then the executive vice president of marketing at the Mohegan Sun, watched as the announcement was made that the Orlando team would move to the casino and become the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Lakers and NBA fans in general will get a quick view of two of the league’s longtime greats when LeBron James and the Lakers open the regular season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 at Crypto.com Arena, people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Los Angeles Times on Friday.

The...Read more

DETROIT — Former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley was evicted from his high-rise apartment in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, more than one month after The Detroit News exclusively revealed he was dealing with an FBI gambling investigation and more than $8 million worth of financial problems.

The eviction order was filed in the 36th ...Read more

BOSTON — Joe Mazzulla is sticking around Causeway Street for the foreseeable future.

The Celtics announced Friday that they had signed the NBA championship-winning head coach to a multi-year contract extension.

In a team-released statement, Mazzulla said the extension is “truly a blessing.”

“I would not be here without my faith, my ...Read more

CHICAGO — An individual was briefly detained at Wintrust Arena after Thursday’s game between the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream in response to another incident of a sex toy being thrown on the court.

Two objects were thrown toward the court during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game, which the Sky lost, 86-65. One green sex toy landed ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — An 18-year-old man has been arrested after the sex toy he allegedly threw during a WNBA game in Phoenix hit a man and possibly a young girl sitting in front of him.

It is one of at least five recent incidents of such objects being thrown by fans at a WNBA game and the second so far to result in an arrest.

Waddell, Ariz., ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — Former UConn women’s basketball star Aaliyah Edwards became the fourth former Husky on the Connecticut Sun‘s roster Thursday when she was traded by the Washington Mystics in exchange for Sun guard Jacy Sheldon and the rights to swap first-round picks in 2026.

Edwards was drafted No. 6 overall by the Mystics in 2024 and ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — Despite reports that the WNBA is not supportive of Hartford’s bid to purchase the Connecticut Sun, the local investment group isn’t giving up on its push to keep the franchise in-state.

The Boston Globe reported Saturday that an investment group led by the Boston Celtics minority governor Steve Pagliuca had reached an ...Read more

NEW YORK —There was no red carpet for UConn women’s basketball legend Diana Taurasi to walk at the entrance to her documentary premiere at the Whitby Hotel in Manhattan on Monday night.

Instead, in true Taurasi fashion, they rolled out her resume.

More than 15 feet of white carpet stretched through the doorway, striped with line after line...Read more

SEATTLE —The Storm have hit a hump.

Brittney Sykes will help.

Since downing the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty, 79-70, on July 6 to improve to 12-7, Seattle has unexpectedly stalled. The Storm are 4-7 in their last 11 games — including losses to Connecticut (5-23), Dallas (8-22), Washington (13-16) and Los Angeles (13-15). In ...Read more

NEW YORK — By coincidence, Maddy Siegrist returned from her second long-term injury as a pro on the same court where she returned from her first one.

That the court was at the Barclays Center meant the Siegrist clan could witness the occasion, just as it did last time. But if you give most people the choice, they probably wouldn’t want to ...Read more

CHICAGO — Rachel Banham spent most of her WNBA career in a constant state of redefinition.

As a role player with the Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx and now the Chicago Sky, each season always came with a new set of responsibilities. Banham is known and valued for her cheerful dependability, unflappable regardless of her minutes or place on ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A neon green sex toy was thrown from the stands and landed on the court during the second quarter of Tuesday night's Sparks win over the Indiana Fever at Crypto.com Arena.

With 2:05 remaining in the first half, the sex toy landed in the paint near Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recoiled before Sparks guard Kelsey Plum kicked...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — College basketball in August?

Why not? It’s Duke.

The Blue Devils opened up Cameron Indoor Stadium for a basketball practice Tuesday, giving students and fans their first look at what will be the 2025-26 team.

A year ago, the latest basketball wunderkind, Cooper Flagg, was the main attraction. The season ended in the NCAA ...Read more