The NBA has never seen a player like Zion Williamson. “This is a Shaquille O’Neal-type force of nature with a point guard skill set,” Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters recently after his team fell to Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans. Carlisle had just watched Williamson pulverize his defense by pouring in 38 points […]
There is no linear path to maximizing All-Star potential, especially without the comfort of a long-term home. In the case of Lonzo Ball, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason, the inability to extend his rookie contract last December looked like it could signal an end to his time in New Orleans. After […]
The New Orleans Pelicans were always bound to be one of this season’s most fascinating teams. The Pellies had already been preparing for a big change when they got lucky in the lottery and landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. The fortuitous bounce of the pingpong balls allowed them to […]
Twelve NBA teams have already clinched their place in this year’s playoff field, but 10 others made the trip to the league’s Orlando bubble with the hopes of playing their way into the four remaining unfilled spots. Some of those bids have a better chance than others; for instance, our prediction model thinks the Dallas […]
Assuming nothing goes awry between now and then, professional basketball will return to our television screens soon. The WNBA is set to begin its season on July 25, while the NBA — the league whose abrupt shutdown set off a cascade of matching shutdowns in other sports — will restart its own season on July […]