How the election led to all 30 NBA teams playing in one night
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
All the news leading up to the presidential election has undoubtedly been stressful for many people out there. But if you're an NBA fan, the election has given you at least one thing to be grateful for.
Monday night will feel like a fever dream in the best way possible. All 30 NBA teams will be in action for the first time this season. The NBA made the scheduling decision to go completely dark on Tuesday in an attempt to give all of its fans time to vote.
A new NBA game will start every 15 minutes from 7 p.m. ET until 10 p.m. ET.
Shoutout to all of the NBA League Pass fiends out there. Tonight is your night, folks.
This isn't the first time the NBA has done this. The league also took election day off in 2022. Just like this go-round, all 30 teams played the night before.
Enjoy the basketball, folks.
Stephen A. versus KD!
One of the most interesting feuds in the league is happening off the court.
"The NBA season is still early, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant are already in the middle of a beef.
Last month during a segment on First Take, the sports commentator said that he doesn’t have much belief in a Suns organization led by Durant. This struck a nerve with Durant, who replied to a clip of the video posted on social media after it aired.
Durant was recently asked about the criticism from Smith, and he did not hold back with his thoughts. He called the ESPN talking head a “clown” and said that he never even sees Smith attending games or practices.
Smith predictably took issue with these claims and explained why Durant was perhaps incorrect in this assessment."
Shootaround
— Joel Embiid's altercation with a columnist was the writer's words coming home to roost
— Why Gregg Popovich isn't coaching the Spurs against the Clippers and Rockets
— The Bucks are accidentally tanking with absolutely nothing to gain from it
— Christian Braun posterized Rudy Gobert and quickly regretted his celebration