NBA
Sports
Gary Payton II draws strength, athleticism from mother: ‘It’s got to be Monique’
‘She was running track, doing high jump, long jump, it just makes sense. And she used to always tell me she was the most athletic in her class.’
Sports
Cade Cunningham rookie diary: ‘I was kind of pressing too hard, trying to get acclimated’
The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft reflects on the Pistons’ recent play, the holiday season and his daughter’s upcoming birthday
Sports
G League Ignite provides ‘a good environment’ for NBA prospects
The Ignite allows selected teenage stars to get paid and play a season of developmental basketball in preparation for the draft once eligible
Sports
J.B. Bickerstaff finding his groove with surprising Cavaliers
‘They’re playing hard for J.B. … If a team plays hard, generally it means a coach is making an impact and making a connection with that group.’
Culture
Stephen Curry celebrated 2,974 with special edition shoes, hats — and wine
Curry and his brand partners had been planning for this moment since the start of the season
Sports
Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups and Damian Lillard forging a partnership
Portland is off to a slow start, and injuries have become a factor, but the first-year head coach and star player are working to figure it out
Sports
For Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, representation matters in all of his ventures
‘If there’s no inclusion or diversity with the shoot and the people recording, the agents and the cast, I’m not doing a deal with them’
Sports
Hawks’ Nate McMillan: from reluctant head coach to 700-game winner
‘To coach over, what, 1,000 games and to win over 50% of them, I never ever imagined it’
Sports
Tony Brown on working his way back: ‘My story will be how I make it’
The NBA referee returned to work in the league’s replay center in New Jersey as he continues chemotherapy for stage 4 pancreatic cancer