basketball

If you've been hiding under a rock, or just somehow not on the internet at all today, here's a newsflash -- Jason Collins is now the first active NBA player to be openly gay.

Twelve-year NBA veteran center Jason Collins writes in an essay in Sports Illustrated: "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay man playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation."

Tony Parker scored 23 points, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 103-82, in Los Angeles on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep of their best-of-seven, first-round NBA playoff series. Tim Duncan added 11 points and six rebounds for the Spurs, who await the winner of the Denver Nuggets - Golden State Warriors series in the second round...

LeBron James scored 30 points, and the top-seeded Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 88-77, in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon to complete a four-game sweep of their best-of-seven, first-round NBA playoff series. Milwaukee's Monta Ellis had 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in a losing effort...

The first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs start this weekend, as 16 NBA teams begin their postseason run toward the 2013 NBA Finals in June. The Oklahoma City Thunder have plenty of competition as they attempt to repeat as Western Conference champs and win an NBA title...

The first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs start Saturday and Sunday, as 16 teams vie to become the 2013 NBA champions. The Miami Heat are strong favorites to represent the Eastern Conference, as well as repeat as NBA champions. Here's a preview of the 2013 NBA playoffs' first round match-ups in the Eastern Conference All series are best-of-seven...

There's a conspiracy theory for everything, even one of Michael Jordan's greatest games. The legend goes that Jordan was terribly ill because of the flu when he scored 38 points to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Jazz in Utah in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals...

If you’re even tangentially affiliated with college basketball, Atlanta is the place to be for this weekend’s Final Four. Walk down the streets of downtown and you’re sure to see a lot of tall men with familiar faces. No face is more familiar to college hoops fans than Jay Bilas, ESPN’s outspoken college basketball analyst and noted Young Jeezy enthusiast.

Sorry, it's not that Usher. Regardless, he's still got the beat so might as well move those feet, right?

This guy is so totally busted. He thought he could get away with not giving one tiny spoonful of mint chocolate chip ice cream to his girlfriend at a basketball game, but now everybody knows it, thanks to a hilarious play-by-play by Isaiah Thomas and C-Webb.

Todays' top sports stories:

There are only a couple of reasons why a pro basketball player should attempt to make a half-court shot, and they all usually involve a ticking clock that’s about to end the game. We’ve seen many failed attempts and famous wins in basketball history as only two or three seconds remained in the game and one hopeful player hurled the ball from half court praying that he would sink the winning shot.