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Victor Wembanyama, the best NBA prospect since at least LeBron James, will likely play for the San Antonio Spurs. The team won the NBA’s closely-watched draft lottery tonight and will, unless something bizarre happens, draft the 7’3″ Frenchman next month.

The news instantly vaults the lowly the San Antonio Spurs into playoff contention. It will also ensure sold out arenas for years to come for the franchise, as well as a vastly-increased national TV presence on TNT, ABC and ESPN.

That latter network’s Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski — a man not given to hyperbole — said before the draft today, “This is the most highly-anticipated player to ever enter the NBA…maybe the greatest prospect in the history of team sports.”

The 19-year-old Wembanyama has an eight-foot wingspan and is an outstanding shot-blocker. He often draws comparisons to perennial All Star Kevin Durant, not just for his willowy frame but...

LeBron James — by his own admission, and against all logic — was convinced that his Los Angeles Lakers could recreate the magic of The Heatles with the acquisition of Russell Westbrook, an aging 47 million-a-year slasher, when the team appeared to be in dire need of perimeter shooter/defenders. And, as nearly everyone but LeBron and Kobe Bryant’s former agent predicted, the trio of Anthony Davis (injured again, naturally), Westbrook and The King has not gelled, and their supporting parts, mostly just Patrick Beverley waving his hands like a lunatic and a twenty-something farmboy from Bumblefuck,...

Michael Irvin and Tim Tebow will be among the guest rotation on “First Take” that appear opposite its now solo star Stephen A. Smith.

Irvin will join the show on Mondays during the NFL season, while Tebow (who was attempting an NFL comeback as tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars) will bookend each week on Fridays.

During the week, the guest commentators will include Paul Finebaum, Keyshawn Johnson, Mina Kimes, Kimberley A. Martin, Monica McNutt, Jessica Mendoza, Chiney Ogwumike, Dan Orlovsky, Kendrick Perkins, Marcus Spears, Brian Windhorst and Damien Woody.

“This new format will pair Smith with new voices and perspectives every day of the week who will challenge him on their specific area of expertise in a completely new way,” said Antoine Lewis, senior coordinating producer, ‘First Take.’ “Stephen A., Molly and a lineup of A-list guests will definitely continue to provide fans with all they’ve come to...

A lot of fans are excited about Warner Bros.’ Space Jam 2, but apparently a lot of the NBA athletes aren’t. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Lebron James, who will star in and produce the movie, is having trouble recruiting players to be in the movie. He’s been making an effort, but only a few players have signed on.

Windhorst explained:

"In all honesty, he's been recruiting players to come and try to be in Space Jam with him this summer and he hasn't been able to close some of those deals. He's recruiting for his movie as well as he is for the Lakers."

When asked which NBA players James has been trying to get on board the film Windhorst said, "I'm not going to say right now but let's just say it's the top players."

It would make sense to get all of the top...

It’s the NBA Draft so nice ESPN is covering it thrice.

The 2018 edition of the annual selection process for the basketball league’s best incoming rookies will see three different teams of broadcasters from the Disney-owned sports empire covering the event, which will be telecast live Thursday evening from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“The NBA Draft Presented by State Farm” will get the usual showcase on ESPN’s main stage, its premium channel. But for the first time ever, sister network ESPN2 will have an entirely separate squad covering the proceedings from a different angle.

To top that off, a third version will get into the game on Twitter, where “On the Clock” coverage will stream during the first round of picks.

Stephanie Druley, senior VP of production at ESPN, explained the decision to triple down on the NBA Draft as an effort to fully...