2026 NBA updates: Recent news, player injuries, league insights, and developments

The 2025-26 NBA regular season is nearing its conclusion, and the playoff landscape is becoming clearer, yet discussions surrounding June’s draft and the upcoming offseason are already gaining momentum.

For the 10 teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention, attention has shifted to the draft lottery scheduled for May 10 and its implications for their franchises. The 2026 draft is anticipated to be rich in talent; many of the leading prospects are projected to become future stars in the league, prompting some of the most blatant tanking strategies seen in recent years.

Stay tuned here for the latest updates, news, and insights from our ESPN NBA insiders, with the most recent information listed first:

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April 8

The NBA’s perspective on tanking

ESPN’s Anthony Slater engaged with players, coaches, and executives to gather their views on tanking in the NBA and its future within the league.

In discussions with numerous players, coaches, and front office personnel, a recurring sentiment was evident: There is widespread disapproval of tanking — “I hate it,” stated Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr — yet few dispute that it often represents the most sensible approach to team-building when a franchise is struggling. Various seasons and drafts will yield different manifestations of this strategy, but there is a consensus that it will persist until the NBA establishes effective regulations or penalties to mitigate it.

“These teams are employing a full range of tactics: resting players in the fourth quarter, utilizing suboptimal lineups, and designing plays for low-percentage shots,” remarked one general manager from the Western Conference. “The ingenuity is remarkable, and I can’t fault them. It’s the most effective way to improve. Look at the most promising teams in the league: Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, Rockets, Hornets. Years of poor performance have led to high draft picks. It’s a painful process, but ultimately beneficial.”

The methods being used are becoming bolder and more frequent. Management directives are being issued earlier in the season, resulting in extended periods of compromised competition and often unwatchable basketball. The average victory margin in NBA games this season stands at 13.1 points, the highest in history, with a record 89 games decided by 30 points or more.

• What NBA players, coaches, and executives are saying about tanking

Hoop Collective: Bulls changes and playoff seeding battles

Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Chicago Bulls’ decision to terminate president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, and the potential positive direction for the franchise. They then shift to potential playoff matchups, including a compelling series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, and analyze how the recent victories of the Denver Nuggets position them for a deep playoff run. The discussion concludes with whether the Los Angeles Lakers should consider resting LeBron James for the remainder of the regular season.

• Latest episodes of the ‘Hoop Collective’ podcast

April 7

Bulls hiring search firm for front office replacements

The Chicago Bulls are anticipated to enlist a search firm to assist in finding a successor for vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, who were dismissed after six seasons overseeing the basketball operations, sources informed ESPN.

This marks a departure from the approach taken when Karnisovas was hired in 2020. Team president and CEO Michael Resindorf indicated at that time that he sought the top “No. 2” in basketball, pursuing general managers like Karnisovas, who was then with the Denver Nuggets, and Bobby Webster, who has since been elevated to head of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors.

This is only the second instance since 2003 that the Bulls have appointed a new head of basketball operations. Prior to Karnisovas’ appointment in 2020, John Paxson held the position for 17 years from 2003 to 2020. Karnisovas and Eversley recorded a 224-254 record over six seasons, leading to one winning season and a single playoff appearance.

Despite Chicago’s current 29-49 record and 12th place standing in the Eastern Conference, the position is expected to be appealing across the league. The Bulls possess flexibility in roster construction with their own lottery pick, around $60 million in cap space, and young players on the roster without long-term salary obligations.

Chicago is also expected to explore retaining coach Billy Donovan in some capacity following the season. — Jamal Collier

• Bulls fire Karnisovas, Eversley

The strained relationship between Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks

ESPN’s Shams Charania delved into the tensions between two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks as a pivotal summer approaches. The report outlines the factors contributing to the discord in Milwaukee and the implications for both Antetokounmpo and the franchise.

This season, the Bucks have recorded a 17-19 record with Antetokounmpo on the court and 14-28 without him, ranking 25th in offensive efficiency and 26th in defensive efficiency overall. They are among six NBA teams positioned in the bottom five for both metrics.

Throughout this period, uncertainty regarding Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee has persisted. The Bucks engaged in trade discussions prior to the February 5 trade deadline but opted to retain him, even as it became increasingly evident that their chances of making a play-in push were slim. Milwaukee is now headed to the draft lottery for the first time since 2016, ending a streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances. The Bucks have not won a playoff series since 2022. Antetokounmpo, who is under contract for one more season, has participated in a career-low 36 games and has privately clashed with the organization for several months, culminating in rejecting the team’s requests to shut him down in the final month of the season, setting the stage for another contentious summer.

“When your best player is one foot in, one foot out,” stated one team source, “you’re not going to win.”

The Bucks have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.

• Inside the Bucks’ lost season

April 6

Bulls part ways with front office leaders, Karnisovas and Eversley

The Chicago Bulls have terminated the contracts of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The 29-49 Bulls currently occupy 12th place in the Eastern Conference and are headed for the lottery.

• Why now? What next? Our experts weigh in

Former Nuggets coach Malone intends to take North Carolina opening

The North Carolina Tar Heels are expected to appoint former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone for the same role at the university, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Malone secured the 2022-23 NBA championship with the Nuggets.

• How the Tar Heels got here, what he’ll need to do to succeed

Hoop Collective: Flagg’s ROY statement and final week drama

Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss Cooper Flagg’s significant weekend and the current state of the Rookie of the Year award race. They then delve into the most pressing storylines as the regular season draws to a close, including the ongoing issues between the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the playoff races to monitor, and the increasing injuries affecting the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff aspirations.

“I don’t know who will still be employed in Chicago by the end of next week,” Brian Windhorst remarked on the podcast. “Whether it’s due to their own choices or others’ decisions.”

• Latest episodes of the ‘Hoop Collective’ podcast

April 4

Williamson unlocks more money in 61st game

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has achieved another financial milestone regarding games played.

The salary protection for his $42.2 million contract in 2026-27 was non-guaranteed at the start of the season. However, having now played in 61 games, 80% ($33.7 million) of his $42.2 million salary for the upcoming season is now protected.

The remaining $8.4 million will become guaranteed if Williamson’s combined weight and body fat percentage is below 295. He was required to weigh in seven times this season, but it is unclear what his weight was during those evaluations.

Williamson’s contract is among the most unique in the league. His salary for next season and for 2027-28 was initially non-guaranteed after he missed over 22 games in the 2022-23 season. His $44.9 million salary for 2027-28 remains non-guaranteed.

The 61 games played this season ties for the third most in his career. He is averaging 21.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. The Pelicans, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, have four games remaining on their schedule. — Bobby Marks

• One big question facing every lottery team’s offseason

April 3

Doncic out for the rest of the regular season

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is sidelined indefinitely due to a Grade 2 right hamstring injury, sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin. Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular season, and his status for the playoffs remains uncertain.

In the 20 minutes following the announcement, the Lakers’ championship odds fell from 30-1 to 100-1, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Doncic, who has participated in 64 games and ranked fourth in ESPN’s latest MVP straw poll, will seek an “extraordinary circumstances challenge” regarding the 65-game requirement for award eligibility, as stated by his agent, Bill Duffy.

Statement from Luka Doncic’s agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball: "This season, Luka Dončić has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly… https://t.co/bKVOmzheDE

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2026

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Doncic can apply for the exception for the two games he missed in December due to the birth of his daughter. The application must be submitted no earlier than 12 p.m. ET on the last day of the regular season and no later than 11:59 p.m. on the day following the last day of the regular season.

Doncic signed a three-year extension last August and has been named All-NBA in five of the six previous seasons.

There will be no financial repercussions in his next contract if the application is rejected.

While the Lakers have not provided a timeline for his return, Grade 2 hamstring injuries typically necessitate a recovery period of about a month. Doncic has averaged a league-leading 33.5 points this season, along with 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists.

The Lakers, who have recorded an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, currently sit third in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the No. 4-seeded Denver Nuggets, 2.5 games ahead of the No. 5-seeded Houston Rockets, and 3.5 games ahead of the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

• More Lakers coverage

Maxey reaches important milestone

Meeting the 65-game threshold for postseason accolades could have significant financial ramifications for Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.

If Maxey is named All-NBA this season, he would qualify to sign a four-year, $300 million supermax extension in the 2027 offseason, provided he is also named All-NBA next season. The first year of the extension would commence in 2029-30.

A player with seven or eight years of NBA experience is eligible for a supermax contract if they are named All-NBA in the immediately preceding season or in two of the last three seasons. Maxey ranks fourth in the league in points per game (28.8) and third in total clutch points. — Bobby Marks

• What to watch in final week

Hoop Collective: The final straw poll: Can Wemby catch SGA?

Brian is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to review this season’s final MVP straw poll, including whether Victor Wembanyama still has a chance to surpass reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for the award. They also discuss the tight competition in the Rookie of the Year race between Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg.

• Latest episodes of the ‘Hoop Collective’ podcast

April 2

Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration investigation ongoing

The inquiry into a purported agreement involving the LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, and the company Aspiration is still in progress, sources informed ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.

“Wachtell’s investigation is ongoing,” stated an NBA spokesperson. “There is more work to be done and no established timeline.”

The investigation was initiated in September 2025, concerning allegations that a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration constituted a violation of salary cap regulations. Owner Steve Ballmer has refuted these claims.

• Read more: The latest on the NBA’s investigation into the LA Clippers

Front offices debate the NBA draft’s No. 1 pick

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps consulted with executives throughout the league regarding the forthcoming 2026 NBA draft, including their predictions for the first overall selection,