The NBA currently has no standardized or enforceable protocol for addressing behavioral incidents categorized as “conduct detrimental to the team,” nor for responding to mental health concerns that arise in connection with injury. There is no requirement that a player receive a mental health evaluation before being disciplined, suspended, or waived, and the league has... Continue Reading →
The NBA’s 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement has quietly transformed the economics of roster construction, particularly for teams operating above the second apron. What once functioned as a soft cap system with workable mechanisms for adding depth has hardened into a landscape defined by austerity, where every marginal contract, every roster spot, and every day on... Continue Reading →
By publicly announcing a 2026 deadline for making a formal decision on league expansion, the NBA is signaling that it is in the final phase of its expansion feasibility process. This process involves a multi‑stage evaluation of market strength, ownership readiness, financial modeling, and competitive‑balance implications. The feasibility process is designed to identify markets that... Continue Reading →
The two‑way contract, introduced in 2017 and expanded under the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement, represents one of the most consequential innovations in the NBA’s labor architecture. Far from a marginal roster mechanism, the two‑way system has become a central pillar of the league’s developmental strategy, reshaping the relationship between the NBA and the G-League while... Continue Reading →
The Utah Jazz announced that Lauri Markkanen will miss two weeks after sustaining a hip injury during practice. This announcement raised alarms for many, given the heightened sense of animosity with the league over tanking. A premature report, which has since been walked back, suggested that Adam Silver was prepared to send an independent physician... Continue Reading →
On Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver informed the league's 30 general managers that the NBA plans to implement anti-tanking rule changes beginning next season. The proposed solutions include: reserving the ability to protect draft picks only for top-four selections; freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline; prohibiting teams from picking in the top four in... Continue Reading →
Every February, the NBA’s biggest stars come together for one weekend in a made-for-television spectacle meant to celebrate the league’s brightest talents and give the fans something to get excited about. Yet what is supposed to be a showcase of joy and creativity has become a flashpoint for frustration. If the event feels increasingly strained,... Continue Reading →
Last Monday, George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, revealed that the league has a goal of launching a European league by October 2027.[i] At a conference organized by an Italian news outlet, Aivazoglou named 12 “big European cities” the league is eyeing: London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona,... Continue Reading →
The rapid growth of legalized sports wagering in the United States has created new oversight responsibilities for professional leagues, including the National Basketball Association (“NBA”). As part of an ongoing inquiry into potential betting-related misconduct, the NBA recently asked multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, to provide cell phones and internal documents to assist... Continue Reading →
Dozens of suspicious bets made by gamblers were recently flagged by sportsbooks.1 These suspicious bets were made “against the same small-conference teams in at least 11 men’s college basketball games over six weeks last season.”2 The NCAA and federal authorities have been investigating “alleged point-shaving in college basketball.”3 The new documents reveal alleged gambling in... Continue Reading →