Basketball Legend Oscar Schimdt dies at 68.
[Wired] The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine
[The Athletic] The notion that James would want a farewell tour — long cited as evidence that this season was not his last — is false, those sources said, with several sources even hearing that directly from James himself.
LeBron thankful for the break that the playoff teams get due to the Play-In Tournament: “I am happy because being a participant of the f******* play-in for some years, that I get to sit back on my couch with my wine knowing I don’t have to play until the weekend. Just sit there and just like enjoy.”
[Zach Lowe] “I think at the end of his (Nikola Jokić) career, if not already, he’s gonna be statistically and just like eye test, better than Larry Bird, better than Magic Johnson… 1 ring in Denver is worth more than like a Lakers ring or whatever.”
[NBA] Scott Foster will be the crew chief in tonight’s game between the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors. Warriors are 18-12 in the playoffs in games reffed by Foster, Suns are 6-9.
[Benedetto] Durag Jokic via Peyton Watson
[Highlight] LaMelo Ball asked if he apologized to Bam
[Woike] Austin Reaves has been with the team in Los Angeles and been undergoing a variety of treatments in both the Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers facilities, per a team source.
Zohran Mamdani, when asked about the high cost of Knicks playoff tickets vs Atlanta: “I would say that I blame Trae Young… and I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young”
LeBron James says Bronny James ready for playoff minutes on short-handed Lakers: ‘Earned and deserved’
[Katz] JB Bickerstaff has won the NBCA Coach of the Year Award. This is the coaches association’s award, voted on by fellow coaches.
NBA MVP vote tracker so far: SGA has 15 first-place votes, Jokic has 4, and Wemby has 1. SGA has received zero votes for 3rd place or below. Meanwhile, Jokic received 7 third-place votes, and Victor received 6 second-place and 7 third-place votes. Luka hasn’t received any top-three votes.
This week, 53 NBA media members were polled on who they think the best player in the NBA is. Only 3 players received votes: Nikola Jokic (35), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10), and Victor Wembanyama (8).
2026 ROTY tracker- Cooper flagg- 8 votes, Kon knueppel with 9 votes for 1st place. Vj with 6 3rd place votes.
Doc Rivers asked who was the best player he faced this year: “Wemby. It’s just so different, he does so many things. You have to prepare for him differently than everybody else. He can’t get behind you. Like he literally CAN NOT get behind you in the paint. If he does, there’s nothing you can do.”
[Russo] Lawrence Frank, on Tyronn Lue’s future with the Clippers: “Ty not being the coach was never, ever, ever a consideration. Even at our lowest point when were 6-21, there never, ever was any conversation of Ty not being the coach. Ty’s gonna be the coach here for a long, long time.”
[Iko] Kevin Durant: “To me, the value of my legacy and story is going down by the day… It doesn’t matter to me how my story is told. It doesn’t matter who says what. It’s more about the experience I went through and what I put down on paper every day.
PTFO | Watching Fans, Monitoring Kids, Tracking Players: Knicks Surveillance in the Garden Revealed
So the Clippers are eliminated. Still no major news about the Kawhi scandal. Is there even a chance of hearing about it post season? I was promised all star break.
[Amick] According to two high-ranking team sources, the prospect of James returning is still in play from the organization’s point of view. But that scenario would require patience from James, as the Lakers have approximately $50 million in salary cap room and plan on prioritizing roster balance
Only 2 Players In NBA History Have A 30+ PPG Career Average In The Playoffs!
Michael Jordan’s playoff on/off data has now been tracked in full on Basketball History Database. For his postseason career, the Bulls had a +7.7 net rating with him on the court and a -10.4 net rating with him off the court, giving him an on/off of +18.1.
From Oct 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2025 Aaron Gordon shot 44.4% from 3. Outside of that time he has shot 32.4%
LeBron James, when asked by a reporter if he had a message for the Lakers about competing on the glass against the Rockets: “The message is, get your ass in there, box out and rebound. Don’t need to have a message. We’re all grown men. Do your job”
VJ Edgecombe as a Rookie led the NBA in Loose Balls Recovered while also being top 3 in basically every rookie stat.
[Lewenberg] Darko Rajakovic on the Raptors’ lack of playoff experience: We’re not playing in Europe. They’re not going to be throwing bottles at us. There’s not going to be lasers in our eyes when we’re shooting free throws. It’s going to be loud. So what? That shouldn’t faze us.
[Haller] Dillon Brooks doesn’t shy from controversy or a challenge. That’s why the Phoenix Suns forward had a clear preference on which team he wanted to face next in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament: The Golden State Warriors. And his reasoning was simple. “Steph and Draymond… And Steve Kerr.”
[Charania] Just in: The NBA and NBPA have ruled in favor of Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Pistons’ Cade Cunningham on their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for the 65-game award rule, making both eligible for all 2025-26 season honors such as MVP and All-NBA teams, sources tell ESPN.
[Spears] Donovan Mitchell: “He’s 17 years in. I’m nine. Does a ring change the conversation around his name? Yeah. Should it change it? No. I think [Harden] should still be looked at as one of the top guards, the top players who ever played this game. But we live in a ring culture.”
On April 17, Steph Curry has, and will play against every Western Conference franchise at least once in his Postseason career
Mazzulla on Harper Jr: “He got a 2 for 1 in a 4 on 4 scrimmage and that’s when I knew he was gonna help us”
30 of the 70 MVP Awards given out in NBA history have gone to centers, including a stretch of 16 consecutive years from 1965-80.
[Charania] “Team sources told me Draymond Green was sick, he was throwing up, puking all over the place in pregame, sideline in the back area by the locker room”
[PWBA] Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has won the 2025-26 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the NBA player who best combines excellence on the court with cooperation and grace in dealing with the media and fans
Should Portlanders Pay Hundreds of Millions for a Refurbished Moda Center? City Councilors Say “Not So Fast”
[Highlight] Coby White’s 19 points against Miami, including his 3-pointer to force overtime, helped set up Charlotte’s chance tonight at their first playoff appearance since 2015-16.
This week, 13 NBA executives and coaches were polled on who they think the best player in the NBA is. Only 3 players received votes: Nikola Jokic (7), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5), and Victor Wembanyama (1).
[Basketnews] Luka Doncic: “I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision. It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter…. I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards.”
If the Blazers made the Finals, would Dame be allowed to play?
Thunder record when Shai plays in the last two seasons 119-25
[Charania] Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards filed an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge to the NBA as well and his case was advanced to an independent arbitrator, but was denied and is not eligible for awards, sources said.
[Katz] If Donovan Mitchell signs an extension, the Cavs can move forward with him at their core. If he doesn’t, the organization will discuss the possibility of moving him, league sources said.
[WFAN] Adam Silver discusses expansion and if Seattle & Las Vegas will be the cities chosen to give new teams
Game Thread: Charlotte Hornets (1-0) vs Orlando Magic (0-1) Live Score | NBA Play-in Tournament | Apr 17, 2026
[All NBA Podcast] Last night, Draymond guarded the ball-handler (Kawhi) on 21 on-ball picks, the most he’s guarded in a single game since December, 2021. The Clippers scored a measly 0.5 points per direct on those actions. Generational defender.
If the 2025⁄26 Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns tonight, they will be the 11th worst team to make the playoffs based off of win percentage.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played only eight out of 16 possible playoff games since 2022