ClutchBasket: Basketball News

 

ABC delivers most-watched NBA Finals through four games since 1998

• Most-watched NBA Finals Game 4 since 1998 with 20.9M viewers
• Most-watched NBA Finals Game 4 ever on ABC
• Most-watched NBA Finals ever on ABC and ESPN through four games
• Game 4 viewership up 123% from last year; audience peaked with 23.2M viewers

 

ABC delivered the largest NBA Finals Game 4 audience since 1998, averaging 20.9M viewers, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. The Game 4 audience was up 123% from last year’s Game 4 and peaked with 23.2M viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.

 

Through four games, the 2026 NBA Finals are ABC and ESPN’s most-watched ever and the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998, averaging 19.6M viewers. It is up 116% from last year’s Championship series.

 

Wednesday’s Game 4 on ABC was the most-watched program of the day across all of television and in all key male and adult demos for June 10.

 

ESPN’s coverage of the 2026 NBA Finals on ABC continues Saturday, June 13, with potential series-closeout Game 5, at 8:30 p.m. as the New York Knicks look to secure their first NBA Championship in 53 years.

 

For the full schedule, visit ESPNPressRoom.com. ESPN has produced the NBA Finals on ABC since 2003.

 

Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs is now the most-viral NBA game ever on social media, generating 3 billion views and counting.  Additional engagement highlights for Game 4:

 

• NBA-related topics trended No. 1 worldwide on X for eight consecutive hours
• Most-viewed game recap ever on the NBA’s YouTube channel
• The series has now generated 8 billion views and counting across social media, the most ever for the NBA Finals (previous record: 6.2 billion views in 2025).

 

Beijing set to host FIBA Intercontinental Cup through 2028

JUNE 12, 2026 BEIJING (China) – The FIBA Intercontinental Cup initiated a new era in its history, with an agreement that sees Beijing as the host of the event over the next three years. The Chinese capital will see some of the best clubs in FIBA Basketball from 2026 to 2028, the first edition in China tipping off in late September in 2026. Beijing takes over from Singapore, which hosted the event from 2023 to 2025. The era in Singapore marked a constant rise in the development of the Intercontinental Cup, bringing in teams from Africa, Asia and Oceania. "With the roots of this event set back in 1965, it was one of our key missions to give the FIBA Intercontinental Cup a new life in the 2020s. What started as a competition between just two teams has evolved into a truly global tournament," FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. "Together with our valued partners from the Chinese Basketball Association, the Beijing Municipality; the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and our long-standing partner the Beijing Enterprise Group, we are confident that the event will continue to grow over the next three years. This journey will also uniquely position Beijing as the host of FIBA's flagship competitions for both club and national teams, after hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019.

"The knowledge and experience of organizing a major event here is outstanding and, now it is time to jointly deliver unforgettable basketball moments in 2026, 2027 and 2028," Mr Zagklis added. Hosting the event in Beijing is another step in acknowledging the continued rise of basketball across China, the professionalism of its stakeholders and the passion of its fans. Over the past 35 editions, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup has seen 36 participants from six continents. Europe leads the all-time trophy count with 24 Cups. Overall, Spain has picked up the most titles with 12, last six coming with their clubs representing the Basketball Champions League Europe. The winners of the 2026 editions of the Basketball Champions League in Europe (Rytas Vilnius, Lithuania), the Basketball Champions League Americas (Boca Juniors, Argentina) and the Basketball Africa League (RSSB Tigers, Rwanda) have secured their place in the competition, with the full line-up of teams to be confirmed at a later stage.

Olympic Studies Centre welcomes FIBA to Olympic World Library Network as first International Federation, expanding access to global basketball resources JUNE 11, 2026 MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA has become the first International Sports Federation and fourth overall partner of the Olympic World Library (OWL) network. Managed by the Olympic Studies Centre (OSC), the OWL serves as a library catalog, an information portal and a search engine entirely devoted to Olympic knowledge. The OWL Network was launched by the OSC to offer a turnkey solution for library management and bring together Olympic library collections from around the world into a single, collaborative platform and meta-catalog for Olympic knowledge and literature. The FIBA Pedro Ferrándiz Library, managed by the FIBA Foundation and recognized as one of the world's largest and most comprehensive basketball libraries, will be gradually made accessible online through this dedicated portal. Its collection includes more than 9,000 books, 800 magazine titles, and over 2,000 game and tournament programs from more than 80 countries and in over 40 languages. “We are delighted to welcome FIBA as the first International Federation to join the Olympic World Library Network,” said Yasmin Meichtry, interim Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage. “This important step highlights the services we provide to the Olympic family and reflects our shared commitment to preserving and disseminating Olympic heritage and knowledge. By making library collections and documentation accessible to audiences worldwide, we are reinforcing the collective effort to promote Olympic education and research. It also marks a new chapter in our collaboration with FIBA, extending it beyond our current cultural and heritage joint initiatives.” Andreas Zagklis and Maria Bogner visiting the Pedro Ferrándiz Library. "The FIBA Pedro Ferrándiz Library is the largest and most complete collection in the world devoted to basketball," said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. "Making it accessible online, thanks to the OWL Network integration, marks an important milestone, fully aligned with FIBA’s mission to promote basketball globally. Becoming the first International Federation to join the network also supports FIBA's strategic objective to be a global leader in the world of sports technology and develop pioneering solutions to make our content available to both the FIBA family and the wider Olympic family around the world." These resources from FIBA will add to the OSC’s existing collection of over 42,000 publications and 17,500 digital documents, which include reports and publications of the IOC and the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games, as well as academic books, articles and journals on all Olympic themes. "The FIBA Pedro Ferrándiz Library and its unique collection are an outstanding addition to the OWL," added Maria Bogner, Head of the OSC. "Through this collaboration, we are enabling FIBA to benefit from the OWL’s professional library infrastructure, while enhancing the resources we can make available to our global research and professional audiences. It also paves the way for other International Sports Federations to partner with us to safeguard and share their collections through the Olympic World Library." FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, Head of Olympic Studies Centre Maria Bogner, Senior Infotheque Manager Séverine Martinez, Cultural Heritage Associate Paola Giuntini, Head of FIBA Foundation Theren Bullock Jr. FIBA joins the Spanish National Olympic Committee, the Moroccan National Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Academy as a member of the OWL Network. "The Pedro Ferrándiz Library has already become a key destination for researchers, historians and the wider basketball community," said Head of FIBA Foundation Theren Bullock Jr. "As part of the FIBA Foundation’s commitment to preserving and promoting basketball’s cultural heritage, this partnership, which marks 90 years since the first Olympic jump ball, will give the global basketball family greater access to valuable basketball resources and historical archives. The seamless collaboration with the OSC teams has been instrumental in launching the portal and marks the beginning of the expanding integration of our catalog." Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in 28 years (since Bulls/Jazz in 1998), averaging 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN. The audience peaked with 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.   Game 4 tips off tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.   Additional notes and numbers about Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals: Most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in 28 years (since Bulls vs. Jazz in 1998); audience peaked with 26.3M viewers 2026 NBA Finals games have generated more than 5 billion social media views, the most ever through the first three games of the Finals. Global Google searches for the NBA Finals, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are at an all-time high Game 3 is most-watched program across all of TV since the Super Bowl per Nielsen Highest P2+ Share (42.7) for an NBA game on record Latvia and USA win FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 JUNE 7, 2026 Warsaw (POLAND) -  Latvia and USA were crowned winners after a thrilling final day at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 on June 7. Played in front of a passionate crowd at Parade Square in the heart of Warsaw, the competition concluded after seven days of world-class action featuring the best men's and women's 3x3 basketball national teams from across the globe. With more than one hundred thousand spectators over seven days, the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 was a huge success, featuring sold-out sessions, incredible games and a thrilling conclusion to the competition. Latvia won their first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Cup title to become the first team to claim Olympic gold (Tokyo 2020), the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup (2017) and the FIBA 3x3 World Cup (2026). They had previously added the FIBA 3x3 World Tour title in 2020 to their trophy cabinet. In the final, they defeated Germany 20-15, led by tournament MVP and top scorer Karlis Lasmanis, who finished the game with 12 points, while Denzel Agyeman, who also earned a place on the Team of the Tournament, scored 9 points for Germany. Lasmanis and Agyeman were joined on the Team of the Tournament by Strahinja Stojacic of Serbia, who won bronze for the second straight year after defeating France 20-19. On the women's side, USA won their fourth FIBA 3x3 World Cup title (2012, 2014, 2023 and 2026), led by tournament MVP Mikaylah Williams, who scored the game-winner in the final. They defeated Australia 21-20, with the Australians reaching the World Cup final for the first time in their history. Williams was joined on the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament by Australia's Amy Atwell, who finished as the tournament's top scorer with 49 points. They were joined by Noortje Driessen, who led the Netherlands to bronze after a 21-14 victory over Azerbaijan.   Men's Standings Latvia Germany Serbia France Lithuania Netherlands Austria United States Czechia New Zealand Madagascar Belgium Brazil Spain Mongolia Puerto Rico China Poland Australia Japan Women's Standings United States Australia Netherlands Azerbaijan Germany Ukraine Hungary France Latvia China Lithuania Czechia Spain Canada Japan Poland Philippines Mongolia Italy Madagascar The 10th edition of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup delivered unforgettable moments, dramatic upsets and new milestones for the sport. With the road to Los Angeles 2028 firmly underway, the global 3x3 basketball community now looks ahead to the next events on the international calendar. The next edition of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup will be hosted by Singapore in 2027. ABC’s most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018 with average audience of nearly 17M viewers (16.93M) Audience peaked with nearly 20M viewers (19.63M) at 11 p.m. ET Largest Game 1 audience on ABC ever excluding the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals matchups Viewership up 90% from last year’s Game 1   The New Yorks Knicks victory over the San Antonio Spurs on June 3 was ABC’s most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018 – according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Game 1 generated an average audience of nearly 17M viewers (16.93M) and peaked with nearly 20M viewers (19.63M) at 11 p.m. ET.   The Knicks vs. Spurs series-opening game was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 ever on ABC excluding the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchups. Viewership was up 90% from last year’s Game 1.   NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC was the most-watched program of the day across all of television and in all key male and adult demos for June 3. It was also the most-watched NBA Finals game since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.   ESPN’s coverage of the 2026 NBA Finals on ABC continues tonight, June 5, with Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET. For the full schedule, visit ESPNPressRoom.com. ESPN has produced the NBA Finals on ABC since 2003. NATIONAL BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION  PRESENTS THE 2026 CHUCK DALY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD  TO NBA & WNBA COACHING ICON – PAUL WESTHEAD   San Antonio, TX June 5, 2026—Paul Westhead, a longtime NBA and WNBA Head & Assistant Coach, and the only coach in history to win both an NBA and WNBA Championship, is the recipient of the 2026 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) announced today.   “We are honored to recognize Paul Westhead as the recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Detroit Pistons Head Coach and NBCA President J.B. Bickerstaff. “Coach Westhead’s impact on the game extends far beyond wins and championships. He challenged conventional thinking, introduced ideas that were ahead of their time, and influenced generations of coaches across every level of men’s and women’s basketball. His commitment to innovation, teaching, and the growth of our game has left a lasting mark on our profession, making him truly deserving of this recognition.”   "I am grateful to receive the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Westhead. “Chuck was a good friend of mine, who helped me in my early coaching career, back in Philadelphia. It was always a challenge to coach against Chuck. He usually outsmarted me, but in how to dress for the game Chuck never came in second. And at a social event, Chuck could work the room like no other. I gave him the nickname "Glide" for how easily he would move from one group to another.   “I'm honored to join a select group of coaches including my college coach, Jack Ramsay. He taught me the game, and more importantly how to care for your players.   “I am thankful for all the coaches who worked with me during my NBA coaching career. From Jack McKinney, who gave me my start with the LA Lakers, to P.J. Carlesimo who hired me for my last job with the Seattle SuperSonics.   “Also, I am appreciative of my family, who moved from city to city during my career. My wife, Cassie, and my four children: Monica, Patrice, Paul and Juliet.   “I want to thank the NBCA for bestowing this honor on me. Special thanks to the selection committee, J.B. Bickerstaff, and David Fogel for bringing this honor about.   “This award would not be possible if not for the players. As a coach, you are only as good as your players. Thank you team, you made me look good."   Westhead served as a basketball coach for 38 seasons, spanning five decades across the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and international basketball. He was an NBA Head & Assistant Coach for 12 seasons, with the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Seattle Supersonics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Coach Westhead is the only coach in history to win both an NBA (Los Angeles Lakers – 1980) and WNBA Championship (Phoenix Mercury – 2007).    In 1970, Westhead began his coaching career at La Salle University before transitioning to the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. He quickly established a reputation as an original thinker and offensive innovator. Known as the father of the “Run and Gun” offense, he guided Magic Johnson, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, and the Lakers to the franchise’s first title in eight years. In three years with the Lakers, Westhead finished with 111-50 record. Following his championship tenure with the Lakers, he continued his NBA coaching career with the Chicago Bulls and Denver Nuggets, where he further showcased his innovative offensive philosophy. With the Nuggets, Westhead implemented an ultra-fast-paced system that produced some of the highest-scoring teams and most prolific offensive seasons at that point in NBA history.    Westhead continued to emphasize pace, spacing, and relentless offensive pressure throughout his collegiate coaching career. In addition to his time with La Salle University, Westhead also found success with Loyola Marymount University, George Mason University, and the University of Oregon.    Coach Westhead’s accomplishments are notable not only for their breadth, but also for their rarity. He captured championships with both the Lakers and the Mercury, cementing his place in basketball history and becoming one of the few coaches to achieve high level success across men’s and women’s professional basketball. Endearingly called “The Professor” throughout the basketball world, he combined creativity, intelligence, and an unwavering belief in innovation, to build a coaching legacy that is not only defined by the success of his teams and players, but also on the continued evolution of basketball that shaped many of today’s NBA offensive concepts.    Westhead’s lasting impact on the game has also been recognized through multiple Hall of Fame honors and career distinctions. Westhead has been inducted into the Loyola Marymount University Hall of Fame (2000), the West Coast Conference Hall of Honors (2017), and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2024).     “Paul Westhead is widely revered for his ability to innovate and shape modern elements of today’s up-tempo basketball that were way ahead of their time,” said David Fogel, NBCA Executive Director and General Counsel. “His dedication to coaching for over five decades and his unique success across the men’s and women’s game of basketball is a testament to his leadership, offensive creativity, and commitment to winning. Congratulations to Paul on this most deserving recognition.”   The National Basketball Coaches Association’s Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award honors the memory of Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly, who, over an outstanding NBA coaching career, set a standard for integrity, competitive excellence, and tireless promotion of NBA basketball. The award is determined annually by a Selection Committee composed of some of the most respected coaches and basketball executives in the game, including Bernie Bickerstaff, Rick Carlisle, Billy Cunningham, Joe Dumars, Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley, and Donnie Walsh.    Prior recipients are Don Nelson (2025), Rudy Tomjanovich (2024), Rick Adelman (2023), Mike Fratello (2022), Larry Brown (2021), Del Harris (2020), Frank Layden (2019), Doug Moe (2018), Al Attles and Hubie Brown (2017), K.C. Jones and Jerry Sloan (2016), Dick Motta (2015), Bernie Bickerstaff (2014), Bill Fitch (2013), Pat Riley (2012), Lenny Wilkens (2011), Jack Ramsay and Tex Winter (2010), and Tommy Heinsohn (2009). The Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder finished as the most-watched Conference Finals in 24 years with an average of 10.8 million viewers per game on NBC/Peacock. San Antonio’s victory over Oklahoma City in Game 7 averaged 15.9 million viewers, peaking with 17.7 million viewers.   The NBA Playoffs are the most-watched in 28 years with an average of 5.3 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video. HALL OF FAME SERIES RETURNS TO BOSTON WITH TWO EVENTS AT TD GARDEN THIS WINTER - National Championship rematch between UConn and Michigan set for November 6; Syracuse and Providence to play on December 19 - PHOENIX (June 2, 2026) – Position Sports, in partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced today that TD Garden will host two Hall of Fame Series events this winter, continuing Boston’s emergence as one of college basketball’s premier non-conference destinations. Following last season’s UConn vs. BYU matchup at TD Garden, the Hall of Fame Series returns with a National Championship game rematch between UConn vs. Michigan on Friday, November 6, before Syracuse and Providence renew their storied rivalry on Saturday, December 19. “Boston has quickly established itself as one of the premier destinations for elite college basketball, and this winter’s slate at TD Garden is a reflection of that," said Melissa Meacham-Grossman, President of Position Sports. “Having UConn, Michigan, Syracuse, and Providence all come through the city in a single season speaks to the demand in this market and the relationships we have built here. We are proud to keep raising the bar for what the Hall of Fame Series delivers in New England.” TNT SPORTS HALL OF FAME SERIES BOSTON | NOVEMBER 6 | UCONN VS. MICHIGAN The TNT Sports Hall of Fame Series Boston event features a rematch of the 2026 NCAA National Championship, with UConn and Michigan squaring off in one of the most anticipated non-conference matchups of the season. UConn brings with it one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in all of New England, while Michigan counters with one of college basketball’s most expansive alumni networks and a devoted national fan base. The TNT Sports Hall of Fame Series Boston will air exclusively on TNT Sports’ networks and platforms. HALL OF FAME SERIES BOSTON | DECEMBER 19 | SYRACUSE VS. PROVIDENCE The Hall of Fame Series comes back to TD Garden in December and showcases two celebrated Northeast programs embarking on a new era under first-year head coaches. Providence will be led by Bryan Hodgson, while Syracuse turns to Gerry McNamara, a former star player for the Orange who helped lead the school to its only national championship in 2003. This game will mark the first meeting between the schools since they faced off in Big East play in 2013. “Last year’s event at TD Garden proved what we already believed, that Boston and the surrounding region represent one of the richest environments for college basketball in the country,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “The response from fans was outstanding, and it reinforced our commitment to making this market a cornerstone of the Hall of Fame Series. This November, we're bringing the two teams that just played for the national championship to TD Garden for what will be one of the most compelling early-season games in the country. Then we return in December with an exciting top regional matchup with Syracuse and Providence. There is no better place to celebrate this game than in the region where basketball was born.” “Bringing the Hall of Fame Series Boston back to TD Garden with additional games strengthens our mission in providing Boston with unique entertainment options,” said Glen Thornborough, President of TD Garden and EVP & COO of the Boston Bruins. “The addition of more marquee matchups enhances TD Garden’s dynamic event calendar and further establishes Boston as a premier destination for college basketball.”  Complete broadcast details, game times, credential and ticket on-sale information to be announced at a later date. Fans can visit HOFSeries.com or @HOFSeries for official hotel information, pre-sale details, and event updates. The Hall of Fame Series, owned and operated by Position Sports, is a collection of high-profile non-conference basketball events featuring top collegiate programs competing in premier venues across the United States and internationally. The series annually showcases marquee men’s and women’s matchups while celebrating the legacy and impact of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on the game. Previous Hall of Fame Series events have been held in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Toronto, featuring many of the nation’s top-ranked programs and drawing national television audiences each season. UConn vs. Michigan Series History Michigan leads the all-time series 3-2, with the Wolverines' most recent victory coming in the 2026 NCAA National Championship Game over UConn. The programs first met on December 18, 1939, then didn't face each other again for 70 years. UConn proceeded to win in Storrs in 2009, Michigan responded with a home victory in 2010, and the Huskies won at the 2015 Battle for Atlantis in the Bahamas. Quotes from Head Coaches: “It’s always an honor to participate in an event put on by the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Hall means a great deal to both the UConn family and the Hurley family, and our program has had nothing but positive experiences playing in their Hall of Fame Series. There’s no better way to live up to the Hall of Fame name than to kick off the season with a title game rematch on the first weekend. Michigan is a championship program and we’re excited to test ourselves with an early challenge. It will be awesome to return to Boston and see the Husky faithful in ‘Storrs North’, a city that has been great to us in recent years.” Dan Hurley | UConn "What an exciting opportunity to be able to face off with Coach Hurley and UConn again. It's also a game our fans will really look forward to as well. Anytime you get two programs like this together that early in the season, it's going to be a great test and a great atmosphere. Playing in Boston should make it even more fun for our players and everyone traveling out to support us." Dusty May | Michigan Syracuse vs. Providence Series History Syracuse has won seven straight meetings and leads the all-time series 48-10. The Orange claimed a 84-59 decision in the last matchup in 2013 and have won 11 of the last 12 overall. Providence's last win came in 2009. Quotes from Head Coaches: “Syracuse is excited to participate in the Hall of Fame Series Boston event versus Providence at TD Garden on December 19. We appreciate the opportunity to return to New England, an area that includes a large and enthusiastic group of SU alumni and fans. Syracuse has a rivalry with Providence that dates more than 55 years, and we look forward to the challenge of competing against the Friars.” Gerry McNamara | Syracuse “We are excited to be playing against Syracuse in TD Garden in Boston. It has been 20 years since the Friars played in TD Garden. This is a unique opportunity that will enable us to play an ACC team and a former BIG EAST rival in December. All these factors make the game very appealing and I’m sure this will be a highly anticipated matchup for our fans.” Bryan Hodgson | Providence NBA ANNOUNCES 12 OFFICIALS SELECTED FOR 2026 NBA FINALS   NEW YORK, June 2, 2026 – The NBA today announced the game officials assigned to the 2026 NBA Finals.  The championship series between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs tips off on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.   “Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the highest honor for an NBA official, and I congratulate them on an outstanding and well-earned achievement,” said Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations. “We are grateful for their unwavering dedication to the game and pursuit of excellence in their craft.”   NBA Finals 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 ratings.  Officials are evaluated after each playoff round to determine advancement in the NBA Playoffs 2026 presented by Google.   The referees assigned to the 2026 NBA Finals are below:   Curtis Blair (1st Finals) John Goble (10th Finals) Tony Brothers (15th Finals) Courtney Kirkland (5th Finals) James Capers (14th Finals) Josh Tiven (7th Finals) Marc Davis (15th Finals) James Williams (6th Finals) Tyler Ford (2nd Finals) Sean Wright (3rd Finals) Scott Foster (19th Finals) Zach Zarba (13th Finals)   Blair will make his NBA Finals debut after serving as an alternate in 2021 and 2022.   Foster has officiated the most NBA Finals games among this year’s Finals referees (26), followed by Davis (23) and Brothers (19).  NBA officials Nick Buchert, JB DeRosa, Mitchell Ervin and Justin Van Duyne have been assigned as alternates for the 2026 NBA Finals.   Individual game assignments for referees are posted at NBA.com/official at approximately 9 a.m. ET each game day.  THIRTY-EIGHT EARLY ENTRY CANDIDATES  WITHDRAW FROM NBA DRAFT 2026   NEW YORK, May 28, 2026 – The NBA announced today that 38 players have notified the league that they wish to be removed from the list of “early entry” players eligible for selection in the NBA Draft 2026.  Following the NBA’s early entry withdrawal deadline of 5 p.m. ET on June 13, 2026, the NBA will announce the list of any additional players who provide the NBA with timely notice that they wish to be removed from the list of “early entry” players eligible for selection in the NBA Draft 2026.  The following 35 non-international players have withdrawn their names from consideration for the NBA Draft 2026: Player School or Team Height Status Matt Able North Carolina State 6-6 Freshman Amari Allen Alabama 6-8 Freshman Alijah Arenas USC 6-6 Freshman Flory Bidunga Kansas 6-10 Sophomore Finley Bizjack Butler 6-4 Junior John Blackwell Wisconsin 6-4 Junior Shane Blakeney Drexel 6-5 Junior Anton Bonke Charlotte 7-2 Junior Rowan Brumbaugh Tulane 6-4 Junior Elliot Cadeau Michigan 6-1 Junior Rueben Chinyelu Florida 6-10 Junior Jacob Cofie USC 6-10 Sophomore Cruz Davis Hofstra 6-3 Junior Kennard Davis Jr. BYU 6-6 Junior Keanu Dawes Utah 6-9 Junior Gabe Dynes       USC 7-5 Junior Eian Elmer Miami (OH) 6-6 Junior Jeremy Fears Jr. Michigan State 6-2 Sophomore Colby Garland San Jose State 6-0 Junior Juke Harris Wake Forest 6-7 Sophomore Isiah Harwell Houston 6-6 Freshman Lou Hutchinson Alabama A&M 6-7 Junior Acaden Lewis Villanova 6-2 Freshman John Mobley Jr. Ohio State 6-1 Sophomore Milan Momcilovic Iowa State 6-8 Junior Malachi Moreno Kentucky 7-0 Freshman Paulius Murauskas Saint Mary’s 6-8 Junior Dennis Parker Jr. Radford 6-6 Junior Sebastian Rancik Colorado 6-11 Sophomore Billy Richmond III Arkansas 6-6 Sophomore Andrej Stojakovic Illinois 6-7 Junior Tyler Tanner Vanderbilt 6-0 Sophomore Aiden Tobiason Temple 6-5 Sophomore LeJuan Watts Texas Tech 6-6 Junior Tounde Yessoufou Baylor 6-5 Freshman Below is the list of international players who have withdrawn for early entry into NBA Draft 2026.   Player Team/Country of Team Height Status Bassala Bagayoko Bilbao (Spain) 6-10 2006 DOB Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada Nancy (France) 5-11 2006 DOB Alexandros Samodurov Panathinaikos (Greece) 6-11 2005 DOB   # # # NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVES NEW DRAFT LOTTERY SYSTEM TO ADDRESS TANKING   – “3-2-1 Lottery” Designed to Eliminate Incentives for Teams to Prioritize Draft Position Over Winning –   NEW YORK, May 28, 2026 – The NBA Board of Governors today approved a new NBA Draft Lottery system designed to eliminate incentives for teams to prioritize their position in the Draft over winning games.   The “3-2-1 Lottery” expands the lottery from 14 to 16 teams and flattens odds among teams that do not qualify for the NBA Playoffs or NBA Play-In Tournament.  The new system will take effect beginning with the 2027 NBA Draft.   KEY ELEMENTS OF THE 3-2-1 LOTTERY   Flattened Odds and Draft Relegation: Each team participating in the Draft Lottery will receive three, two or one lottery ball for the drawing.  Teams that do not qualify for the NBA Playoffs or NBA Play-In Tournament will receive three lottery balls each, except that – to provide an increased incentive to win – the teams with the three worst records will be “draft relegated” and lose one of their lottery balls.  The No. 9 and No. 10 Play-In seeds in each conference will receive two lottery balls each, while the losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play-In games in each conference will receive one lottery ball each.   Lottery Drawing: Lottery balls allocated to all 16 participating teams will be drawn to determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the NBA Draft.   Pick Floors: Each draft-relegated team will receive, at worst, the No. 12 pick in the NBA Draft.  All other lottery teams can fall as far as the No. 16 pick.   Pick Restrictions: No team’s pick will be permitted to be the first pick in two consecutive NBA Drafts or a top-five pick in three consecutive NBA Drafts.  These restrictions will apply only to each team’s own pick without regard to whether that pick has been retained by the team or traded to (and thus held by) another team.    Pick Protections: Teams will be unable to attach top-12 through top-15 protections to newly traded draft picks.   Discipline: The league will have expanded disciplinary authority to address tanking, including the ability to reduce teams’ lottery odds, modify teams’ draft positions and impose significant fines on offending teams.   Additional information regarding the new system, including the lottery odds distribution, can be found here.   Since October, the league office has met with key stakeholders to discuss current competitive incentives and solicit ideas aimed at discouraging tanking.  That process led to the creation of the 3-2-1 Lottery.   The 3-2-1 Lottery will be in effect for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 NBA Drafts.  Rules governing selection order beginning with the 2030 NBA Draft will be determined by a vote of the Board of Governors.