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Zach Kram

@zachkram

NBA at @espn | formerly @ringer

Joined March 2013
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  • Followers22.6K
Everyone is injured—especially the Thunder. And SGA, Jokic, and the Knicks are struggling. What does it all mean for a wide-open NBA season? New column for ESPN: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5032…
Wide-open title and MVP races: How the NBA has cracked open in just two weeks

Wide-open title and MVP races: How the NBA has cracked open in just two weeks

The NBA season is still young, but injuries and surprising developments have already changed narratives.

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Cooper Flagg has been a top-5 player this season, and I don't really think it's debatable. He's still 19 years old.
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A week into the new NBA season, @BenGolliver and I debated 10 early hot takes—are they overreactions or not? Featuring slumping contenders, Ty Jerome, 2028 Team USA talk, and more! espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5030…
Debunk or double down? Judging 10 early-season NBA overreactions

Debunk or double down? Judging 10 early-season NBA overreactions

A 29-year-old is the NBA's next breakout star. Miami's Giannis era is already cooked. And so are the Thunder, Knicks and Warriors. Which overreactions are valid?

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This is one of the most brutal days I can remember for an NBA team. Here's what the injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace mean for the Thunder—and the title race. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5028…
Answering five questions after OKC's big injuries: Could the Thunder make a move?

Answering five questions after OKC's big injuries: Could the Thunder make a move?

The Thunder will be without two starting guards for months. Could they make a trade to try to replace Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace?

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PSA: NBA teams have played 2-4 games each. It is way too early to glean any useful information from analyzing on/off data or net ratings of individual lineups. Just wait!
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Ahem
Image from Zach Kram (@zachkram)
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Can Nickeil Alexander-Walker and SGA join Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady as All-NBA cousins?
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Three Thunder players named Williams just received technical fouls on the same play. That has to be a record.
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Updated 2026-27 MVP rankings: 1. Javonte Green 2. Wemby 3. SGA 4. Jokic 5. Paul George
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The first possession of the NBA season ended with a whistle for a moving screen. New point of emphasis right away!
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Today I published my annual Now or Later rankings, which track whether each team needs to win now or is content to win later. Find out where your team lands—and which curious team is #1. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5016…
The NBA teams most desperate to win, ranked from 1 to 30

The NBA teams most desperate to win, ranked from 1 to 30

Which teams must win immediately, with their current cores, and which could bide their time and win later instead? We ranked all 30.

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Turns out Anthony Volpe really is the new Derek Jeter, because I'm getting Jeffrey Maier flashbacks
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How will the new lottery rules affect on-court outcomes this season? Here are five predictions based on analyzing recent NBA history: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5007…
Five ways new NBA lottery rules could impact this season

Five ways new NBA lottery rules could impact this season

How could the changes aimed at circumventing tanking likely affect on-court outcomes this season?

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Jackson Chourio just fulfilled the dream of every child imagining an improbably clutch situation—bases loaded, two outs, down by one in the bottom of the ninth against the best closer in the world—while taking swings in the backyard
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One of my favorite annual preseason exercises: identifying one crucial stat or number that explains every team's position entering the 2026-27 season espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4995…
The stat that could swing every NBA team's 2026-27 season

The stat that could swing every NBA team's 2026-27 season

Let's dive into the trends, storylines and statistical nuggets that could define the NBA season.

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Took a time machine back to the early 2000s to analyze how the Joe Smith punishment affected the Timberwolves—and why things might be better, or much worse, for the Clippers 25 years later espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4981…
What an NBA punishment 26 years ago tells us about the Clippers' dire future on the court

What an NBA punishment 26 years ago tells us about the Clippers' dire future on the court

After being punished for cap circumvention in 2000, Minnesota went nearly two decades without any playoff success. Is the same in store for Steve Ballmer's franchise?

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The Clippers just received the Joe Smith penalty, losing 5 first-round picks. As a reminder, here's what the Timberwolves' ensuing drafts looked like at that time, right in the middle of Kevin Garnett's prime:
Image from Zach Kram (@zachkram)
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What's the most memorable, defining moment of the 2025-26 NBA season? Let's evaluate the candidates and choose the winner. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4964…
Knicks in 5? Adebayo's 83? Picking the NBA moment that defined the 2025-26 season

Knicks in 5? Adebayo's 83? Picking the NBA moment that defined the 2025-26 season

ESPN analyst Zach Kram examines the moment from last season that could be remembered for years -- if not decades -- to come.

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At various points over the past few weeks, I'd pre-written material for LeBron joining the Warriors, Cavaliers, and Heat. You're welcome, 76ers fans.
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Charles De Ketelaere is going to be the answer to a really good trivia question someday (only player to score against Spain at this World Cup)
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