NBA Coverage

Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez in talks to buy Minnesota Timberwolves
Alex Rodriguez and billionaire Marc Lore are in negotiations to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.

This day in history: Magic Johnson announces he has HIV
Basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson stunned the world by announcing his sudden retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers on this date (Nov. 7, 1991). Johnson was one of the first sports stars to go public about his HIV-positive status.

NBA to begin new season on December 22
The National Basketball Players Association announced a tentatively-approved 72-game season that will start before the year ends.

Vanessa Bryant wishes Kobe and Gigi were here to see Lakers win title
As the Los Angeles Lakers became NBA champions Sunday night, there were two people whose presence was especially missed.

Top White House officials dismiss significance of NBA boycotts
Two top White House officials on Thursday dismissed the significance of decisions by NBA players to not play games in protest over police violence against Black people following the shooting of Jacob Blake.

CBC OPINION
Is it basketball ... or socialism?
While nobody was looking, the NBA figured out how to fight inequality.

The NBA is offering players a 'smart' ring to track Covid. But does it even work?
The NBA, which hopes to restart the season July 30, says it is offering players a ring whose maker claims it can track a user's health data and even predict if users are about to show symptoms of coronavirus infection.

Vanessa Bryant seeks hundreds of millions in death of Kobe Bryant
Vanessa Bryant is now seeking damages from the helicopter company and the pilot's estate. to help cover the cost of losing her loved ones.

Dennis Smith Jr. helps first responders, students in Fayetteville
Fayetteville native Dennis Smith Jr., a Trinity Chrisitan and N.C. State alum now in his third year in the NBA, is known for giving back to his hometown.

Happy birthday, Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is now an NBA star with the Golden State Warriors. He was also a star at Davidson College.

Kobe Bryant's 'Dear Basketball' can now be viewed free online
Bryant wrote and narrated the Oscar-winning short back in 2017.

Ovies: Impact of Kobe Bryant's death
WRALSportsFan and 99.9 The Fan's Joe Ovies joined WRAL-TV to discuss the impact on the sports world and on those outside of sports.

NBC Special Report: Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash
NBA star Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash Sunday, multiple outlets, including ESPN, said.

Pint-sized Sacramento Kings fan shows off dance moves
A tiny Sacramento Kings' fan showed off his dance moves to great approval during Thursday night's NBA game.

A-listers take part in routine with Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders
The Los Angeles Lakers are known to attract celebrities to their games, but Tuesday night, they got a couple of A-listers to become active participants on the floor.

Six Books for the Beginning of Basketball Season

Hornets will wear purple "Classic" unis for 5 games this season
The Charlotte Hornets unveiled a new purple Classic Edition uniform Tuesday. Like the teal and white versions from the last two seasons, the uniform echoes the design worn by the original Charlotte Hornets. The 2019-20 season marks the 25th anniversary of the debut of the purple uniforms during the 1994-95 season.

Hoops Africa: UNC filmmaker's documentary inspires children through basketball
Basketball is a growing sport in Africa, and it's having a major impact on communities there. Taylor Sharp, a UNC graduate, caught it all on film.