AAU Wiretap

The NBA is investigating an exchange between Jalen Brunson and courtside fans during the final minute of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, sources confirmed to ESPN. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 Wednesday night.

The incident occurred with 29.4 seconds remaining while teammate OG Anunoby was shooting free throws. Brunson, visibly agitated, spoke twice with crew chief Scott Foster during and after the game. He did not address the matter with reporters postgame.

Chris Haynes of Prime Video first reported the league's investigation.

The confrontation did not affect Brunson's performance. He finished with 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter without a turnover, as New York erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit. The Knicks have now won 12 consecutive playoff games, 11 by double figures, posting a plus-272 point differential over that stretch, the best in the NBA's 80-year history across regular season and postseason play.

The investigation arrives alongside a separate fan conduct matter from Game 1. The NBA issued a lifetime ban Thursday to a fan who ran onto the court during play attempting to take a selfie with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. A second individual also received a permanent ban for their involvement.

Fan behavior has drawn increased league attention in recent years. The NBA distributed a memo to all 30 franchises at the start of this season demanding consistent enforcement of its Fan Code of Conduct.

"It is critical that teams and arenas vigorously enforce the Code of Conduct and not tolerate any misconduct that impacts our players, fans, or otherwise disrupts the game," the league stated.

The Houston Rockets revealed new uniforms on Wednesday that draw directly from the franchise's iconic red-and-yellow look worn during their back-to-back NBA championship seasons in 1994 and 1995. The redesigned kits uniforms debut during the 2026-27 season.

The updated uniforms restore the "Championship Yellow" trim across Houston's home white, road red and alternate black jerseys, reviving the color scheme associated with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon's title-winning teams. Pinstripes are also featured across all three versions.

Rockets vice chairman Patrick Fertitta connected the redesign directly to sustained fan demand.

"We heard our fans... ketchup and mustard is back!" said Fertitta. "From the time my family bought the team in 2017, we've heard from countless fans about how deeply these colors are tied to memories of Rockets basketball. We wanted to create something that celebrates the generations of fans who built Rockets basketball while inspiring the next generation of Rockets fans."

The uniforms also incorporate the "Dunkstronaut" logo, which the franchise describes as blending nostalgia with innovation while connecting the club to Houston's identity as Space City.

The white and black jerseys will display "Houston" across the chest, while the red road uniform will read "Rockets."

The Portland Trail Blazers have narrowed their head coaching search to three finalists, though the process has been delayed by the Carolina Hurricanes' run to the Stanley Cup Final. Team owner Tom Dundon also owns the Hurricanes, who are currently facing the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the NHL championship.

Sources tell The Stein Line that Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter remain under consideration. Two previously identified finalists, Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy and Utah Jazz assistant Mike Williams, did not advance.

Portland launched its coaching search after Chauncey Billups was arrested last October amid a federal investigation. Splitter took over as interim head coach and guided the Blazers to the seventh seed in the Western Conference, marking the franchise's first playoff appearance since Damian Lillard's initial departure in 2023.

Lillard is set to return to Portland next season, giving the Blazers renewed optimism about competing in a deep Western Conference. The franchise has also signaled interest in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo as part of a potential roster upgrade.

The Dallas Mavericks are focusing their head coaching search on NBA assistants, with several prominent candidates drawing official interest. Former head coach Terry Stotts is also expected to receive an interview, per sources.

Dallas has registered or plans to register formal interest in Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, Toronto Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, Boston Celtics assistant Tony Dobbins and Miami Heat consultant Noah LaRoche.

Stotts, who previously coached the Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks and once served as a Dallas assistant, is guaranteed a meeting with the club. Former majority owner Mark Cuban had previously recommended Stotts strongly for Jason Kidd's staff. Stotts recently departed his assistant role under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors and is only pursuing head coaching positions at this time.

While the Mavericks have expressed interest in collegiate options Jon Scheyer and Dusty May, sources indicate an NBA hire remains the more probable outcome.

The search is being conducted by new general manager Mike Schmitz alongside Masai Ujiri. Sources within league coaching circles expect Ujiri to cast a wide net, potentially exploring candidates from European leagues and the women's game. Ujiri followed a similar broad approach after the 2022-23 season when he replaced Nick Nurse with Darko Rajkovic with the Toronto Raptors.

The Dallas Mavericks have had exploratory conversations with Jon Scheyer of Duke and Dusty May of Michigan for their head coaching vacancy. Scheyer recruited and coached Cooper Flagg at Duke.

Both Scheyer and May are entrenched in the college game at their respective schools, but there has still been outreach to determine whether there is any mutual interest.

Scheyer has maintained Duke's position as the preeminent collegiate program following the retirement of Mike Krzyzewski and the transitions into the NIL era.

May led the Wolverines to the national championship this past season in just his second year with the school after being hired from Florida Atlantic. 

Masai Ujiri is searching for a new head coach after parting ways with Jason Kidd.

The Chicago Bulls worked out Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, Nate Ament, and Morez Johnson on Tuesday, league sources told Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports.

The Bulls currently hold the No. 4 and No. 15 pick in the draft. With Caleb Wilson considered to be a top-four pick, O'Connor adds that it is unlikely that Wagler, Flemings, and Ament would still be available at No. 15.

Ament also worked out with the Thunder. 

The Bulls hired a new president in Bryson Graham last month. The team is still in the process of hiring a new head coach. 

BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson are the favorites to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, sources told Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports.

O'Connor adds that Duke's Cam Boozer still remains in the running for the top pick. 

It was reported last month that Dybantsa, who has strong links to the Jazz, was not considered a lock to be the top pick. 

Wizards' president Michael Winger also previously said that the team would consider trading down to accumulate assets.