The premature deaths of iconic players like Moses Malone, Darryl Dawkins, and Jerome Kersey worried many NBA players. "I always tell my wife that she won't see many seven-foot-tall (2.13-meter) men walking down the street when she's 75," Larry Bird said in response to these news reports. This concern inspired an investigation into the causes of death and associated risk factors among players in the American professional basketball league. The ten-year investigation has culminated in the publication of three scientific articles. The latest was authored by a multidisciplinary team that included Martí Casals, Professor of Statistics at the INEFC in Barcelona and researcher and professor at the Faculty of Medicine and the Center for Studies in Sports and Physical Activity (CEEAF) of the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), and Klaus Lan Felipo, a journalist from Sports World"Athletes are our own worst enemy because we don't listen to our bodies, we don't listen to the doctors, and we don't realize it until it's too late," said Bill Walton, a 6'11" player who died a couple of years ago. In fact, the NBA and the players' association reacted in 2016 by creating a plan to conduct checkups for retired players. Research confirms that mortality among NBA basketball players is directly associated with their ethnicity and height. According to the research, players of African descent have a higher rate of cardiovascular mortality, specifically 69% higher compared to players of European descent. According to the researchers, this is possibly due to three main factors: genetic differences that predispose individuals to more aggressive patterns of cardiac hypertrophy, historical inequalities in access to healthcare that persist after players retire, and an inherited socioeconomic disparity, as the lower quality of life for veterans also had a negative impact. In fact, by age 75, the cumulative incidence of death from cardiovascular disease has been estimated at 15% for African Americans and 10% for those of European descent.

From creating rankings with Pokémon toys to working for the franchise with the most NBA titles, Adrià Arbués has realized his dream and has been working for the Boston Celtics as a Basketball Data Scientist for the past few weeks. "I consider myself very fortunate to have made it to the NBA, but doing so with the Celtics is special because of the franchise's history and what it represents. Boston has something that many other franchises lack: widespread continuity. This is quite unique in the world of sports, where there's often volatility in positions, personnel changes, and even changes in management. With this continuity, the tools we've created have undergone many iterations, making them incredibly valuable and tailored to the team's needs. Through time and countless questions and answers, we've created and established a data-driven culture."

European basketball is experiencing one of the most important strategic moments in its history. The NBA is finalizing its arrival in the Old Continent with a new competition expected to launch in October 2027 with 16 teams (12 guaranteed spots and 4 awarded based on sporting merit). This move, which has many geopolitical implications, will reshape the current landscape, but it is still too early to know its true impact.

Illegal betting has become the biggest bad apple in sports. Ryan Bowman, a 33-year-old English footballer, received a 42-month ban for placing 6,397 sports bets in 2021, when he played for Exeter, and 3,100 bets between August 2021 and July 2023, when he played for Shrewsbury. He was also a top scorer. He also placed hundreds of bets on competitions involving his clubs.

Illegal betting isn't limited to football. In basketball, the latest scandal involved Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors player pleaded guilty to gambling irregularities linked to a betting scheme and was banned for life by the NBA. His performance in two games, played on January 26 and March 20, set off alarm bells. During the first game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the prediction that earned the most money in the NBA was the one referring to his three-pointers. Unlike usual, he didn't shoot any. The situation was repeated against the Sacramento Kings, when he only attempted one shot before requesting a substitution due to an alleged vision problem in one eye.

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A few days ago, Sergio Scariolo announced the list of players to compete in the Eurobasket with the Spanish national team, and Isaac Nogués, the Catalan player who just signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, was not among those chosen. Away from the media and fans' spotlight, the 21-year-old from Badalona hopes to complete the surprise and debut in the best league in the world.

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The hero who almost never makes mistakes had the best of rewards. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to victory in the seventh and final game of the NBA Finals (103-91). The point guard tallied 29 points and 12 assists to close out a historic season with the franchise's first championship ring. "It doesn't seem real, but we deserved it because we worked so hard," he said.

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South Sudan is such a poor country that it doesn't even have indoor arenas for sports. Yet its national basketball team qualified to play in the World Cup and, later, the Olympic Games. Royal Ivey, its coach, puts the magnitude of the milestone into context. "Not long ago, we were training on flooded courts outdoors, with eagles soaring above us," he explains. One of the reasons for the feat is the contribution of Khaman Maluach, a young man destined to become an NBA star.

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European basketball is experiencing a key strategic moment. While the EuroLeague strengthens its ties with the United Arab Emirates, the NBA is finalizing its launch with a newly created competition. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA ​​Secretary General Andreas Zagklis announced a few days ago that this time they are serious. "We are ready to move to the next stage, which is to explore a possible league in Europe. We believe the time is right. We have had the opportunity to have conversations with many different stakeholders about the opportunity to take the sport to the next level, utilizing our NBA brand and our way of operating a professional league," Silver said.

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European basketball is experiencing a key strategic moment. While the EuroLeague strengthens its ties with the United Arab Emirates, the NBA is finalizing its launch with a newly created competition. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA ​​Secretary General Andreas Zagklis announced a few days ago that this time they are serious. "We are ready to move to the next stage, which is to explore a possible league in Europe. We believe the time is right. We have had the opportunity to have conversations with many different stakeholders about the opportunity to take the sport to the next level, utilizing our NBA brand and our way of operating a professional league," Silver said.

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Vandana Balachandar, NBA Vice President of Global Partnerships in the Europe and Middle East (EME) region, is one of the key voices to understand the international projection of the best basketball league in the world. The executive analyzes for the ARA the main challenges of an area in constant evolution.

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