When two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo tumbled to the court in the first quarter of the Milwaukee Bucks’ series-opening loss against the Miami Heat, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference kn...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-bucks-would-be-in-big-trouble-without-brook-lopez/
The NBA playoffs come with an intensified microscope on everyone, referees maybe most of all. Typically an afterthought (with some exceptions) during the regular season, NBA officials tend to be ...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/busting-4-major-myths-about-referees-in-the-nba-playoffs/
Every WNBA draft has the potential to reshape the league. But Monday’s picks might carry more of that capability than most. Last year’s worst teams just got a lot better. The Indiana Fever ad...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/who-won-the-2023-wnba-draft/
As the NBA’s annual play-in tournament plays out over the next few days, we’re sure to hear a lot of talk about which of the teams involved is the greatest threat to “make some noise” in ...
In the modern NBA, there is no resource more valuable than time on the shot clock. In fact, it’s the only thing that teams can’t score without. While it’s tough to put the ball in the baske...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-way-to-derail-an-nba-offense-make-it-waste-time/
FiveThirtyEight 2023 March Madness Predictions In-game win probabilities and chances of advancing, updating live.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-march-madness-predictions/
If you head over to our RAPTOR ratings page, there’s something that should jump out at you right away. So far this season, just 12 players have produced at least 7.0 RAPTOR wins above replaceme...
Damian Lillard collects a long offensive rebound beyond the 3-point line, shuffle-steps to his left and drains one of his patented deep triples. It’s another game winner to add to his extensive...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/can-the-nbas-experimental-endgame-make-it-to-games-that-count/
The NBA All-Star break is here — and as is our tradition, that means it’s time to hand out some awards. For some reason, we in the NBA media still call this the “midway point” of the year...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/drumroll-please-for-our-not-quite-midseason-nba-awards/
While it has been far from a banner season for the Los Angeles Lakers, one bright spot has been LeBron James’s pursuit of an NBA record that was once considered unbreakable: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lebrons-path-to-the-nbas-all-time-scoring-crown-in-2-charts/
Typically, when an NBA player finally puts together the best season of his career, it’s the result of some sort of expansion in his game. He adds some stretch to his jumper, improves his ball-h...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/aaron-gordons-career-year-recipe-all-the-dunks/
After making just their second playoff appearance in nearly 20 years, the Minnesota Timberwolves entered full win-now mode with a blockbuster trade during the offseason — sending five players a...
The NBA is in the midst of an offensive explosion, with 14 of the best 15 historical offensive ratings for teams coming in the past four seasons. The Boston Celtics currently boast the third-best...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-nba-teams-are-bringing-the-post-up-back-to-life/
It’s usually a special occasion when LeBron James has one of his patented statistical eruptions. In Monday’s victory over the Houston Rockets, James notched a hyper-efficient 48 points, to go...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nba-stars-are-stuffing-stat-sheets-like-never-before-but-why/
Nikola Jokić has a tendency to make the spectacular look mundane. Take this play during the third quarter of a recent game against the Boston Celtics, just one of the 40,904 passes he’s slung ...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nikola-jokics-mvp-case-is-hidden-in-plain-sight-again/
After a come-from-behind victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, the Sacramento Kings — yes, the Kings — have a 15-12 record, tied for the 11th-best mark in the NBA. Sacramento�...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-sacramento-kings-offense-is-playoff-worthy/
Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were arguably the NBA’s most improved team. After going just 22-50 during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, Cleveland improved its record all the way...
When it comes to putting together a championship-caliber team, there are a few tried-and-true methods. Teams can build their nucleus through the draft like the Golden State Warriors did with Step...
Predictably, the Los Angeles Lakers are off to a disastrous start to the season. After getting demolished by the apparently-not-tanking Utah Jazz on Monday night, the Lakers are just 2-8. They ha...
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has blossomed into one of the NBA’s best playmakers since his pro debut in 2018. Last season, the two-time All-Star further elevated his game by joining Nate “T...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/dejounte-murray-looks-like-the-running-mate-trae-young-needed/