ORLANDO, Fla. — In a results-obsessed sports world where legacy is often defined by banners, rings and winning percentages, Alex Martins departs as CEO of the Orlando Magic with something far more layered — and, perhaps, even more meaningful — than a championship trophy:

Compassion, consistency and a commitment to something bigger than ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Once reliant upon the NBA draft to reconstruct their roster, the Magic have entered the “win-now” phase of building a competitive squad and they’ve secured their core pieces in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and the recently-acquired Desmond Bane.

Orlando, however, still had the opportunity to find roster help...Read more

ATLANTA — It took a while, but the Hawks finally got a player they liked in the first round of the NBA draft.

The Hawks did not make their pick at No. 13, trading with the New Orleans Pelicans for No. 23 Wednesday night, a league source confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

They used that pick to select Georgia forward Asa Newell.

...Read more

NEW YORK — Coming off a disappointing 26-56 season, the Nets stormed into the 2025 NBA draft at Barclays Center with five first-round picks, six total selections inside the top 40, league-leading cap space and a bold approach to reshaping the future of the franchise.

Entering the night armed with pick Nos. 8 (own), 19 (via Milwaukee), 22 (via...Read more

Danny Wolf bet on himself when he made the decision to transfer from Yale to Michigan.

He wanted to prove he could play on the perimeter. He wanted to prove he could play against the best in the Big Ten. He wanted to prove he had the talent to play at the next level.

Wolf proved all that and more, and it paid off in a major way Wednesday when ...Read more

BOSTON — With the 28th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics selected Hugo Gonzalez, a 19-year-old wing from Spain.

The 6-foot-6 Gonzalez was regarded as a first-round talent by most prominent draft analysts, but how he’ll fare against NBA-caliber opponents is something of a mystery. He played for Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid ...Read more

NEW YORK – Former UConn star Liam McNeeley was selected by the Phoenix Suns, who traded his rights to the Charlotte Hornets, with the 29th overall pick in the NBA draft Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-7 wing from Richardson, Texas, was one of the last players in the green room when he got up from his table on the draft floor, surrounded by his ...Read more

You only had to listen to VJ Edgecombe talk to understand why he is so much more than the consolation prize at a Tricky Tray raffle.

Sure, you’ve seen the YouTube videos of him leaping above the rim as if the baseline was made of blubber. You’ve read the scouting reports that use words like “electric” and “explosive” and other ...Read more

NEW YORK — Rutgers was well-represented at the NBA draft.

The Scarlet Knights had two of the top five picks in Wednesday night’s first round at Barclays Center, with guard Dylan Harper going No. 2 to the San Antonio Spurs and wing Ace Bailey going No. 5 to the Utah Jazz.

Harper joins an ascendant Spurs roster built around center Victor ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mark Williams is headed west again, except this time he’s bound for the desert.

The Charlotte Hornets traded the center to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night in exchange for the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NBA draft and a 2029 first-round pick, league sources confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.

The move comes four months ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves decided to bolster their frontcourt depth with their first pick of this year’s NBA draft, selecting forward/center Joan Beringer on Wednesday.

Beringer, at 6-foot-11, most recently played in Slovenia and averaged 5.1 points, 4.7 rebounds for Cedevita Olimpija. He was born in France and will join fellow ...Read more

MIAMI — For the first time since 2005, the Miami Heat have made a first-round pick in the NBA draft for a fourth consecutive year.

The streak of selections continued Wednesday night with the Heat selecting Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis at the No. 20 draft slot acquired from the Golden State Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline in ...Read more

FRESNO, Calif. — The best rags-to-riches story at this year’s NBA draft was a Fresno native who strode to the podium at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn dressed in a black suit with a black shirt buttoned up to the top and a diamond necklace.

Compared to the vibrant hues and unique patterns worn by many of his fellow draftees, Cedric Coward�...Read more

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. was cool-headed and in control on his way to a national championship, but the 22-year-old let the tears flow Wednesday night as his NBA dream became reality.

In a head-spinning turn of events for one of the draft’s fastest-rising players, Clayton was selected with the No. 18 ...Read more

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the first time in 20 years, a University of South Carolina basketball player was taken in the first round of the NBA draft.

The Toronto Raptors selected Gamecocks forward Collin Murray-Boyles with the ninth overall pick on Wednesday during the first night of the 2025 NBA draft. Murray-Boyles is the first Gamecock taken in...Read more

NEW YORK — Coming off a disappointing 26-56 season, the Nets stormed into the 2025 NBA draft at Barclays Center with five first-round picks, six total selections inside the top 40, league-leading cap space and a bold approach to reshaping the future of the franchise.

Entering the night armed with picks Nos. 8 (own), 19 (via Milwaukee), 22 (...Read more

BALTIMORE — Three months removed from forging one of the greatest freshman seasons for Maryland men’s basketball, Derik Queen will try to do the same as an NBA rookie.

Queen, a 20-year-old Baltimore native, was selected No. 13 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday night.

New Orleans ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls took a swing in the NBA draft Wednesday night by selecting French teenager Noa Essengue with the No. 12 pick.

A 6-foot-10 forward boasting a 7-1 wingspan, the 18-year-old Essengue was one of the youngest prospects in this draft class — and one of the latest arrivals. He was playing for Ulm in the playoffs of the ...Read more

NEW YORK — The 76ers stayed put at No. 3 in the NBA draft on Wednesday night, using the third pick to select Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe.

This came after Ace Bailey, regarded as the best player available, backed out of last week’s meeting and workout at the team’s practice facility. The Sixers had been expected to aggressively shop the ...Read more

Kon Knueppel won’t have to change his state of residence, just his zip code.

Two months removed from helping the Duke Blue Devils during their run to the Final Four, the Charlotte Hornets made Knueppel the fourth overall selection in the NBA draft at Barclays Center in New York on Wednesday night.

A 6-foot-7 guard and native of Milwaukee, ...Read more