PISTONS’ CUNNINGHAM AND LAKERS’ DONČIĆ
ELIGIBLE FOR 2025-26 NBA AWARDS
– Timberwolves’ Edwards Challenge Denied by Independent Arbitrator –
NEW YORK, April 16, 2026 – The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have agreed, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), that Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić are eligible for all annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
Cunningham played in 63 qualified games due in part to missing 12 games as a result of a collapsed lung that was diagnosed on March 17. Dončić played in 64 qualified games due in part to missing two games to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA.
Additionally, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge under the CBA, seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator. Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
HORNETS’ LAMELO BALL FINED AND ASSESSED FLAGRANT FOUL
NEW YORK, April 15, 2026 – Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $35,000 and assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 upon league office review for making unnecessary and reckless contact with Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo that created a significant injury risk, it was announced today by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 11:13 remaining in the second quarter of the Hornets’ 127-126 overtime win over the Heat on April 14 in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
Ball has been fined an additional $25,000 for using profane language during a live postgame television interview.
To view Ball’s Flagrant Foul, click here.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff wins Rudy Tomjanovich Award for 2025-26
April 15, 2026 — J.B. Bickerst
This season, Bickerstaff guide
“J.B. has been a joy to work w
Chris Finch of the Minnesota
The award is named for Hall of
The PBWA annually honors a PR
The Pistons PR staff was annou
The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA on a regular basis for newspapers, online news outlet
Rudy Tomjanovich Award winners
2010-11 | Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz |
2011-12 | Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics |
2012-13 | George Karl, Denver Nuggets |
2013-14 | Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers |
2014-15 | Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors |
2015-16 | Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors |
2016-17 | Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Piston |
2017-18 | Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors |
2018-19 | Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippe |
2019-20 | Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors |
2020-21 | n/a (pandemic) |
2021-22 | n/a (pandemic) |
2022-23 | Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings |
2023-24 | Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors |
2024-25 | Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers |
2025-26 | J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pist |
NBAPR
170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and NBA TV during the regular season – the most in 24 years and up 86% vs. last season.
Pistons PR staff wins PBWA’s 2025-26 Brian McIntyre Award
April 14, 2026 — The Detroit Pistons’ basketball communications team has won the 2025-26 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award, presented each season to the NBA media relations staff that best exemplifies standards of professionalism and excellence, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.
The Pistons staff is led by chief communications officer Kevin Grigg, along with Cletus Lewis, vice president of public relations; Michael Horan, senior director of communications; Corey Moore, senior manager of public relations; and Savannah Strawter, coordinator of public relations.
Grigg’s staff, along with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, consistently foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation with both local and national journalists who cover the league. Their commitment to those ideals has facilitated accurate, in-depth and nuanced coverage of the team.
“The Pistons’ resurgence has put this franchise back in the national spotlight – but everyone who covers the league knows that the Pistons’ PR staff has been elite for many years. If anything, this award feels overdue,” said PBWA president Howard Beck. “Kevin, Cletus and the rest of the staff are always welcoming, and always eager to connect reporters with players, coaches and team officials.”
The media relations staff of the Washington Wizards finished second in this year’s balloting. The other finalists, based on nominations from PBWA members, were the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. A vote of the full PBWA membership determined the winner.
This is the Pistons’ first time winning the award, which was launched in 2006-07 and is named for Brian McIntyre, the former longtime NBA public relations director.
The PBWA annually honors a PR staff (Brian McIntyre Award), coach (Rudy Tomjanovich Award) and star player (Magic Johnson Award) who go above and beyond to work with the media and help inform fans. Under the PBWA’s current rules, adopted in 2020, no team or individual can win in consecutive years.
The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA and the WNBA on a regular basis for newspapers, online outlets and magazines.
Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award winners
2006-07 Phoenix Suns
2007-08 Toronto Raptors
2008-09 Portland Trail Blazers
2009-10 Golden State Warriors
2010-11 Indiana Pacers
2011-12 Milwaukee Bucks
2012-13 Indiana Pacers
2013-14 Golden State Warriors
2014-15 Toronto Raptors
2015-16 Golden State Warriors
2016-17 Golden State Warriors
2017-18 Golden State Warriors
2018-19 Golden State Warriors
2019-20 Miami Heat
2020-21 N/A (pandemic)
2021-22 N/A (pandemic)
2022-23 Golden State Warriors
2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves
2024-25 Golden State Warriors
2025-26 Detroit Pistons
NBA ANNOUNCES 36 OFFICIALS SELECTED FOR 2026 NBA PLAYOFFS PRESENTED BY GOOGLE
– Playoff Roster Features 29 Officials With 10 or More Years of NBA Experience –
NEW YORK, April 13, 2026 – The NBA today announced the 36 officials who have been selected to officiate the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs presented by Google. The group will also serve as the officiating staff for the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
“Selection to officiate in the Playoffs is a significant achievement that reflects a season of outstanding work,” said Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations. “Congratulations to these 36 officials for earning this honor through their dedication, professionalism and on-court excellence.”
Below is the list of officials for the first round:
Ray Acosta, Brent Barnaky, Curtis Blair, Tony Brothers, Nick Buchert, John Butler, James Capers, Sean Corbin, Kevin Cutler, Eric Dalen, Marc Davis, JB DeRosa, Mitchell Ervin, Tyler Ford, Brian Forte, Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Jacyn Goble, John Goble, Jason Goldenberg, Courtney Kirkland, Marat Kogut, Karl Lane, Mark Lindsay, Tre Maddox, Ed Malloy, Andy Nagy, Gediminas Petraitis, Natalie Sago, Kevin Scott, Ben Taylor, Josh Tiven, Justin Van Duyne, James Williams, Sean Wright and Zach Zarba.
Jason Goldenberg and Natalie Sago are making their debuts as members of the NBA playoff officiating staff. Sago becomes the third woman selected to officiate in the NBA Playoffs, joining Violet Palmer and Ashley Moyer-Gleich.
The following officials are alternates for the first round: Mousa Dagher, Nate Green, Aaron Smith and Dedric Taylor.
Playoff officials are selected by the NBA Referee Operations management team based on key criteria assessed throughout the season: NBA Referee Operations grades and rankings, play-calling accuracy and team rankings. Officials are evaluated after each playoff round to determine advancement in the 2026 postseason.
The officials on the 2026 playoff roster average more than 16 years of NBA experience and total 588 years of combined service. Among them, 16 referees have officiated 50 or more playoff games. Nine officials have worked 100 or more playoff games: Scott Foster (262), Marc Davis (218), Tony Brothers (216), James Capers (204), Zach Zarba (173), John Goble (151), Ed Malloy (150), Sean Wright (104) and Sean Corbin (100). Twenty-eight officials have five or more years of playoff experience.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament begins tomorrow with a Prime Video doubleheader, featuring the Miami Heat at the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Phoenix Suns. The first round of the NBA Playoffs presented by Google tips off Saturday, April 18. Individual game assignments for referees are posted at NBA.com/official at approximately 9 a.m. ET each game day.
NBAPR
Take a look at the 10 most-viewed players across @NBA social media platforms for the 2025-26 regular season.
The @SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament tips off Tuesday, April 14 on @NBAonPrime. The NBA Playoffs presented by @Google begin Saturday, April 18.
STEPHEN CURRY LEADS NBA’S TOP-SELLING JERSEY LIST FOR 2025-26 REGULAR SEASON
– New York Knicks Lead Team Merchandise Sales –
– 14 of 15 Players on Top-Selling Jersey List Make NBA Postseason –
– Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg Only Rookie Among Top Sellers –
NEW YORK, April 13, 2026 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) today jointly announced that the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and the New York Knicks have secured the top spots on the NBA’s Top-Selling Jersey and Team Merchandise lists, respectively, for the 2025-26 regular season. Results are based on sales from NBAStore.com, Fanatics.com and Fanatics partner sites.
Additional highlights include the following:
- Fourteen players on the Top-Selling Jersey list have qualified for the NBA postseason: No. 1 Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), No. 2 Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers), No. 3 Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), No. 4 Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), No. 5 LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), No. 6 Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), No. 7 Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), No. 8 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), No. 10 Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets), No. 11 Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets), No. 12 Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), No. 13 Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), No. 14 Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) and No. 15 LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets).
- Six players on the Top-Selling Jersey list are 25 and under: No. 4 Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), No. 6 Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), No. 9 Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), No. 12 Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), No. 14 Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) and No. 15 LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets).
- The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg (No. 9) is the only rookie on the list and reaches his highest ranking after placing 11that midseason.
- The Thunder (No. 8) make the top 10 in Team Merchandise sales at the end of the season for the first time since 2018-19.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS’ RYAN ROLLINS NAMED NBA CARES BOB LANIER COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD WINNER FOR MARCH
– Rollins Recognized for Season-Long Literacy Initiative, Support of Justice-Impacted Youth and Commitment to Inclusive Youth Basketball –
NEW YORK, April 10, 2026 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) today announced Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of March. Rollins is recognized for his season-long commitment to youth literacy, his meaningful engagement with justice-impacted youth, and his efforts to expand access to inclusive basketball programming across the Milwaukee community. In honor of his efforts, the NBA and the NBPA Foundation will donate $20,000 to Developing K.I.D.S.
Throughout the season, Rollins has made literacy a central pillar of his community engagement. He began the year with a personal pledge to donate one book for every point he scored during the regular season, turning his on-court performance into a direct investment in education. By season’s end, more than 1,000 new books will be distributed to students across Milwaukee Public Schools, reinforcing his belief that reading is a gateway to opportunity. Rollins further supported literacy development through his involvement in the Bucks’ Rhymes with Reason program, where he connected with students through hip-hop–based learning, recorded personalized video messages to encourage participation, and helped students build confidence and vocabulary skills.
Rollins’ commitment to young people has also extended to justice-impacted youth across Milwaukee. One of his most impactful initiatives this season was hosting a Friendsgiving Experience at the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center, bringing together approximately 60 youth for a shared meal and an open conversation centered on vision, resilience, and purpose. During the holiday season, Rollins also participated in the Bucks’ “Shop with a Buck” event, supporting youth from Camp Reunite, a trauma-informed program for children with an incarcerated parent. In addition to helping participants shop for holiday gifts for their families, Rollins personally ensured each child received a gift for themselves, creating moments of dignity, joy, and connection.
In addition, Rollins has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding access to basketball and promoting inclusive play. He took part in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA wheelchair basketball clinic in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association, joining student-athletes on the court and participating directly in drills. Rollins also received a $25,000 matching grant from the NBPA Foundation to support education and leadership development programs for underserved youth in Detroit.
Looking ahead, Rollins is preparing to host a youth basketball clinic later this year in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, continuing his efforts to grow the game and reach young players across the region.
“Growing up, the moments that stayed with me were the ones where somebody made me feel like I mattered,” said Rollins. “That’s what I’m chasing with this work – whether it’s putting a book in a kid’s hands or sitting down with young people who just need someone to believe in them. I’m blessed to play this game, but this is what the game is actually for.”
The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. Lanier had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people around the world, traveling extensively to teach the values of the game and making a lasting impact through his kindness and generosity. His legacy continues through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award, which recognizes NBA players for their commitment to positively impacting their communities throughout the NBA season. Each NBA season includes an offseason winner followed by seven monthly award winners. The offseason winner receives the Bob Lanier Trophy, while each monthly winner receives the David Robinson Trophy. To learn more, visit communityassist.nba.com.
ORLANDO MAGIC FINED
NEW YORK, April 9, 2026 – The NBA announced today that the Orlando Magic organization has been fined $25,000 for violating league injury reporting rules.
The Magic failed to accurately disclose the game availability status of Anthony Black prior to their game against the Detroit Pistons on April 6. Black was listed as “Out” in Orlando’s initial injury report and subsequently played in the game.
April 16, 2026 – Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has won the 2025-26 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the NBA player who best combines excellence on the court with cooperation and grace in dealing with the media and fans, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.
Wembanyama averaged 25 points,
“Victor Wembanyama thoroughly
Beck added: “Even with the imm
Wembanyama is the first Spur to win the award and, at age 22, the youngest honoree since Kevin Durant(also 22) in 2011.
Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers finished second in the balloting, for the second straight year. The other finalists, based on nominations from PBWA members, were Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee
The award, created in 2001, is nam
The PBWA annually honors an NB
The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who regularly cover the NBA and WNBA for newspapers, magazines and onli
Magic Johnson Award winners
2000-01 | Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks |
2001-02 | Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers |
2002-03 | Jalen Rose, Chicago Bulls |
2003-04 | Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacer |
2004-05 | Antawn Jamison, Washington Wiz |
2005-06 | Grant Hill, Orlando Magic |
2006-07 | Shane Battier, Houston Rockets |
2007-08 | Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lake |
2008-09 | Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Bl |
2009-10 | Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors |
2010-11 | Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Th |
2011-12 | Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns |
2012-13 | Shane Battier, Miami Heat |
2013-14 | Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Maverick |
2014-15 | Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls |
2015-16 | Stephen Curry, Golden State Wa |
2016-17 | Damian Lillard, Portland Trail |
2017-18 | DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors |
2018-19 | Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat |
2019-20 | Damian Lillard, Portland Trail |
2020-21 | N/A (pandemic) |
2021-22 | N/A (pandemic) |
2022-23 | Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwauk |
2023-24 | Stephen Curry, Golden State Wa |
2024-25 | Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns |
2025-26 | Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs |
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