The 29-year-old Warriors forward told The Athletic earlier this month he thought he was the best defender ever. Green elaborated on that comment Wednesday during NBA Finals media day. “I think as a competitor, if you’re trying to do something meaningful, if you don’t have the mindset that you’re the best ever, you failed already,” Green told reporters. “That’s been my mindset since I can remember. That will be my mindset as long as I can remember anything — that I am the best ever at what I do....

This year’s “Big Three” — Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — is unlikely to all team up like the 2010 trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but the 2019 class might be the best since that historic group from nine years ago. Beyond those three, the likes of Kemba Walker and Jimmy Butler — arguably the NBA’s top free agent whose name doesn’t start with a K — also figure to make a big impact wherever they land....

The Warriors do-it-all swingman nearly left Golden State to join Houston this summer, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, who reports Iguodala was “dissatisfied” with Golden State’s initial offer. As vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, Iguodala knew he needed to set a good example and maximize his worth, especially after signing a relatively cheap four-year, $48 million deal with the Warriors in 2013. MORE: LeBron’s schooling of Warriors rookie doesn’t bother Draymond Green...

ESPN reported it’s a one-year deal worth $4.8 million. Holiday, 30, already has someone to bond with on the team – his younger brother, Aaron, the Pacers’ point guard and a first-round pick last year. Older brother Jrue plays with the Pelicans. According to the Indianapolis Star, the 6-6 Holiday “had been of particular interest to the Pacers” when free agency opened. He’s a good wing defender who averaged 10....

There are “rumblings” Los Angeles would like to sign the 27-year-old to a deal this summer, according to a report from The Athletic, which cites unidentified league sources. But the big man hopes to remain with the Jazz and is grateful for his 8 1/2 seasons in Utah. “My journey has been amazing,” Favors said. “I’ve been through a lot. I’ve been through trade rumors and a step back in role....

Each of the 22 teams that were invited to resume the NBA season after four-plus months away from the court is scheduled to play eight seeding games before the playoffs begin in mid-August. That means the NBA had to pack up to six games per day over the span of a couple weeks — a beautiful sight for basketball fans. MORE: Watch select NBA games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)...

Each of their three previous No. 1 selections ended up having an immediate impact on the fortunes of their franchise. First, Shaquille O’Neal in 1992. Then, lightning hit twice when they received the No. 1 overall pick in 1993 and selected Chris Webber, trading him straight away to Golden State for Anfernee Hardaway and picks. Finally, they selected the second greatest center in franchise history, Dwight Howard, in 2004....

The addition of the tournament brought a new level of intrigue and drama down the final stretch of the regular season and encouraged teams to compete rather than tank in the hopes of landing a better draft pick. While the play-in format is straightforward, it may be confusing to many NBA fans at first because it’s a new concept to the league. Don’t worry — we’re here to help....

WASHINGTON — Paul George had his best game of the series with 23 points and eight rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers held the Washington Wizards to a franchise-low scoring total Friday night in an 85-63 victory for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Roy Hibbert was again a factor for Indiana with 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Washington made only 24 field goals, a team postseason worst, on 73 attempts, 32....

Presumably the block was an accident. Westbrook finished with 47 points on 15-of-34 shooting, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the Thunder’s 105-99 loss in Game 5 of their NBA Western Conference playoff series. MORE: Russell Westbrook chides reporter after Game 4 loss There was no way Westbrook was going down without a fight, and though blocking a teammate isn’t the best option to win, this play perfectly sums up what this season was for the MVP favorite....

Portland ended up pulling off a 140-137 win over Denver to lead the series 2-1. The Nuggets weren’t willing to go down without a fight, though, meaning this likely will be a series that goes to seven games before deciding who advances to the Western Conference finals. Rodney Hood came up big for Portland down the stretch as he turned a one-point deficit into a two-point lead with 17 second remaining after making a 3-pointer....

McCollum scored 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting as the Blazers opened up a 3-1 series lead over the Thunder with an 111-98 win Sunday in Game 4. A win Tuesday in Portland would see the Blazers advance, and McCollum is ready to stay above the fray when it comes to trash talk. “I think we’re a lot more mature than we were in past years,” McCollum told reporters. “We can handle adversity and understand what we want to accomplish....

Point spreads and totals are current as of Thursday evening. Check our odds page for updated Las Vegas lines. No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 3 Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 3 spread, total: Chicago -2, 196 Series lead: 1-1 Multiple Las Vegas sports books opened Chicago -1.5, with early bettors laying the points and pushing the line to -2. Cleveland (58-30 SU, 44-44 ATS) was a desperate team in Game 2, and it showed with a 106-91 win as a 5....

We saw most of the rookies make their first splash during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, and again in the 2021 NBA preseason. But with exhibition games behind us and the 2021-22 regular season upon us, we’ve finally had the chance to see what most of the first-year players could be capable of during their inaugural campaign. There are a few exceptions, of course, with the biggest one being the absence of No....

Cavaliers star Robin wore a microphone during the game and gave some hilarious quips as he called out Brook, as he played for the Bucks. Robin unfortunately sat out the game, as he has done for much of the season so far, only averaging eight minutes per game, but this meant that he had time to share his thoughts on brother Brook’s play. So there were plenty of jokes, including calling out Brook for flopping in a hilarious exchange with the officials....

These are the key games this week in the NBA, along with the full schedule (all times Eastern). MORE: Watch the NBA live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors Thursday, Jan. 11, at 8 p.m. on TNT LeBron James and the Cavaliers will face one of the East’s most surprising contenders in the Raptors on Thursday night. Point guard Kyle Lowry is a standout player for the under-the-radar Raptors, averaging 16....

Here is the trade in full: Kings-Pacers trade details Kings receive: Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, Pacers 2027 second-round pick Pacers receive: Tyrese Haliburton , Buddy Hield, Tristan Thompson Pacers grade: A At 21 years old, Haliburton is one of the most intriguing young guards in the league. He has incredible feel, and he will get an opportunity to show more of his creative pick-and-roll prowess with the Pacers....

Philly is set to add Mike Muscala as part of the three-team trade that dropped Carmelo Anthony in Atlanta (he will be waived by the Hawks and become a free agent), but that trade won’t be finalized in the near future until the Sixers make another move. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reports the Sixers have discussed sending Jerryd Bayless to the Cavs in exchange for Kyle Korver. MORE: 76ers wouldn’t include two players in Kawhi Leonard trade talks...

Cousins will be leaving Sacramento and staying in New Orleans for the foreseeable future after the Kings decided to send their now-former center to the Pelicans in exchange for guards Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield and Langston Galloway as well as 2017 first- and second-round picks. Omri Casspi will also join Cousins on the Pelicans as part of the trade. The deal was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical....