NBA

NBA All-Star LeBron James Is Featured Player in His Own Green-Themed Online Game, "LeBron James: Worldwide Big Green Bike-a-thon!"

NEW YORK, June 30, 2008 -- Four-time NBA All-Star LeBron James teams up with Nickelodeon's The Big Green Help pro-social campaign this month in a brand-new online mini-game, LeBron James: Worldwide Big Green Bike-a-thon! that features James himself. Available now on biggreenhelp.com, players are asked to help a bike-riding LeBron James avatar deliver green tips across the globe to rack up points and progress to the next level of play.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- For the sixth consecutive year, ESPN will present live coverage of the NBA Draft – this year featuring a talent pool highlighted by Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Derrick Rose (Memphis) – Thursday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET from the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Stuart Scott will host with college basketball analyst and Draft expert Jay Bilas and NBA analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- Based on fast national ratings, Game 5 of the best-of-seven NBA Finals on ABC – the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics – last night, Sunday, June 15, averaged 17,257,000 viewers (P2+), an increase of 21 percent compared to Game 5 in 2006 (there was no Game 5 last year), which averaged 14,318,000 viewers for Dallas at Miami. The Lakers/Celtics game averaged 11,393,000 households, an increase of 13 percent over 10,049,000 households in 2006, and a 10.1 rating, up 11 percent over a 9.1 in 2006. It was the most-watched NBA Finals Game since Game 7 of 2005 (18,997,000 viewers).

Through five broadcasts, the 2008 NBA Finals are averaging a 9.0 rating, up 45 percent over the four-game series last year (6.2).    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- ESPN’s NBA coverage has generated audience growth across the company’s multimedia platforms, including significant improvements in television viewership and online traffic during the NBA Playoffs.

ESPN – NBA Playoffs through Eastern Conference Finals

* ESPN’s coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs ranks as the network’s most-viewed ever (3,149,000 households; previous high – 2,994,000 households in 2006);
* The 3,149,000 households for 21 telecasts marks an increase of 41 percent when compared to 2,239,000 households last year (17 telecasts);
* The corresponding 3.3 rating is up 38 percent over the 2.4 rating in 2007.

ABC – NBA Playoffs through Eastern Conference Finals    » read more »

SportsCenter NBA Finals Special – 1987 Celtics/Lakers – Tuesday on ESPN

June 2, 2008 -- The 2008 NBA Finals, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant and the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett, will tip off on Thursday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC HD, ESPN Radio and ESPN International.

ESPN’s multi-platform presentation of The Finals will include coverage across ABC, ABC HD, ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN International, ESPNEWS, ESPNEWS HD, ESPN.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com, ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Mobile Properties.

ABC’s primetime lineup will include:    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the National Basketball Association’s vote to relocate the Seattle Sonics:

“This is a sad day for basketball fans across Washington state. The Sonics have a proud, storied 41-year history in Seattle and, as a sports fan, I am very disappointed with today’s action by the National Basketball Association (NBA) owners to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

Seattle Sonics warmup: Photo by Fizzgig (CC)    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, joined by state and local officials, today sent a letter to the National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern and NBA owners urging them to postpone this week’s vote on relocating the SuperSonics until legal and financial issues can be resolved.

Seattle SuperSonics, Key Arena: Photo by travelbug.nz (CC)    » read more »

Monday, April 7, 2008 -- NCAA Response: "Jeff Goodman’s April 7, 2008 post on FoxSports.com erroneously reported that NCAA President Myles Brand and NBA Commissioner David Stern would make a joint announcement regarding NBA age limits. The NCAA has no role whatsoever regarding the NBA age policy or its collective bargaining process. The joint announcement was on the establishment of a new youth basketball initiative. Click here to read the news release about the announcement."

Source: NCAA

Monday, April 7, 2008, SAN ANTONIO -- The NCAA and the NBA have joined forces to launch a wide-ranging initiative aimed at enhancing youth basketball programs in the United States, it was announced today by NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand and NBA Commissioner David Stern during a press conference from the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, TX.

The yet unnamed initiative is designed to reach and benefit everyone who participates in youth basketball programs, including the more than 23 million American boys and girls who play basketball, their parents and those who teach, officiate and administer youth basketball programs at every level. The initiative will create a platform for teaching youth the value of education and the important lessons of fair play.    » read more »

April 8, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the KeyArena proposal:

“While I am disappointed that funding could not be found to renovate KeyArena., I am proud of the local ownership group that came forward, especially because those individuals have lived and worked in the community for years.

Seattle Sonics dance team: Photo by Andrew Hitchcock (CC)    » read more »

January 17, 2008 -- Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a ground-breaking expansion of the longest-running league/network programming partnership in professional sports, through which the companies will jointly manage a portfolio of the NBA's digital businesses that TBS, Inc. will operate out of its Atlanta production facility. The new domestic digital rights relationship, will allow TBS, Inc.    » read more »

Jan 09, 2008 -- BATON ROUGE - The State of Louisiana and the New Orleans Hornets have reached an agreement to extend the team's lease an additional two years through 2014. The extension essentially makes up for the time the team spent when it relocated to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Under the lease terms, the soon-to-be expanded Alario Center in Jefferson Parish will continue to serve as the Hornets practice facility. The State will be relieved of its responsibility to construct a practice facility for the team.    » read more »

Multi-Platform, All-Access Coverage of Charlotte Hosting Orlando Friday

December 11, 2007 -- ESPN will present unique behind-the-scenes coverage capturing a day in the life of an NBA franchise as the Charlotte Bobcats prepare to take the court against the Orlando Magic Friday, Dec. 14. In addition to increased access within the game coverage, ESPN’s all-access pass will include multi-platform content throughout the day beginning with interviews during ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning up to and including the event telecast at 8 p.m. ET.    » read more »

- All ESPN Telecasts Live on ESPN360.com and Mobile TV
- ESPN Studio Programming Live on ESPN.com and Mobile TV

Witness NBA Superstars Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer and Rising Stars Greg Oden and Kevin Durant Dominate the High School Hardwood in ESPN's High School Phenoms: Top of the Class

October 29, 2007 -- ESPN Home Entertainment, in conjunction with Genius Products, LLC, presents an unprecedented collection of rare footage and highlights from the high school careers of some of the NBA’s most talented, in High School Phenoms: Top of the Class, available in stores nationwide December 11, 2007 for $19.95 SRP.    » read more »