Zach Kram
@zachkram.bsky.social
NBA at ESPN | formerly at The Ringer
The four best players in the NBA are off to four of the best statistical starts to a season in league history. Read about Jokic, SGA, Giannis, and Luka here:
Jokic, SGA, Giannis and Luka are off to historic starts: Why this MVP race could be epic
Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic are off to scorching starts. What does it mean for the MVP race?
www.espn.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The four best players in the NBA are off to four of the best statistical starts to a season in league history. Read about Jokic, SGA, Giannis, and Luka here:
My real estate holdings on Peyton Watson Island are spiking in value, as he's now 13/25 on 3-pointers in his last four games
November 25, 2025 at 2:51 AM
My real estate holdings on Peyton Watson Island are spiking in value, as he's now 13/25 on 3-pointers in his last four games
The first edition of ESPN's 2025-26 NBA Rookie Rankings features not one, not two, but *three* Charlotte Hornets, plus a surprising player at no. 1
NBA rookie rankings: Where do Flagg, Edgecombe and more land early this season?
From top-10 picks to late first-round draft steals, who are the top rookies that have impressed early this season?
www.espn.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The first edition of ESPN's 2025-26 NBA Rookie Rankings features not one, not two, but *three* Charlotte Hornets, plus a surprising player at no. 1
There's a ton of really exciting NBA action tonight, but watching Victor Wembanyama in person in this 4th quarter has been a religious experience
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 AM
There's a ton of really exciting NBA action tonight, but watching Victor Wembanyama in person in this 4th quarter has been a religious experience
Nikola Vucevic posted career-best efficiency numbers last season, and he's been even better to start 2025-26. He just hit a corner 3-pointer with 3 seconds left to complete a Bulls comeback from a 24-point deficit against the 76ers.
Pretty cool story for the 35-year-old center.
Pretty cool story for the 35-year-old center.
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Nikola Vucevic posted career-best efficiency numbers last season, and he's been even better to start 2025-26. He just hit a corner 3-pointer with 3 seconds left to complete a Bulls comeback from a 24-point deficit against the 76ers.
Pretty cool story for the 35-year-old center.
Pretty cool story for the 35-year-old center.
I teamed up with @kpelton.bsky.social to debate some early-season storylines, including:
- Are the Spurs true contenders?
- Magic or Hawks?
- Is Austin Reaves the Lou Gehrig to LeBron's Wally Pipp?
- Are the Spurs true contenders?
- Magic or Hawks?
- Is Austin Reaves the Lou Gehrig to LeBron's Wally Pipp?
Are the Spurs actually a contender? Debating four early-season storylines
ESPN national analysts Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton debate the biggest early-season questions about Victor Wembanyama, Austin Reaves, Cooper Flagg and more.
www.espn.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I teamed up with @kpelton.bsky.social to debate some early-season storylines, including:
- Are the Spurs true contenders?
- Magic or Hawks?
- Is Austin Reaves the Lou Gehrig to LeBron's Wally Pipp?
- Are the Spurs true contenders?
- Magic or Hawks?
- Is Austin Reaves the Lou Gehrig to LeBron's Wally Pipp?
Sports are amazing because our great-great-grandchildren are going to know Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s name because of what he did this week
November 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Sports are amazing because our great-great-grandchildren are going to know Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s name because of what he did this week
Important analytical question: Do the Thunder keep playing overtimes because Oklahoma Thunder abbreviates as OT?
October 24, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Important analytical question: Do the Thunder keep playing overtimes because Oklahoma Thunder abbreviates as OT?
It's my last big 30-team preview as the season begins: the Now or Later rankings, which measure each team's urgency to win now
Is your NBA team built to win a title now or later? Where all 30 teams stack up
ESPN analyst Zach Kram analyzes our Now or Later rankings, where the first-place team is the most desperate to win now and the 30th-place franchise is the most content to win later.
www.espn.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's my last big 30-team preview as the season begins: the Now or Later rankings, which measure each team's urgency to win now
Overtime between two title contenders in the opener seems like a good omen for this NBA season
October 22, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Overtime between two title contenders in the opener seems like a good omen for this NBA season
It’s cool that every key Thunder player is back this season, so they can all receive their rings together tonight
October 21, 2025 at 11:18 PM
It’s cool that every key Thunder player is back this season, so they can all receive their rings together tonight
The defending champs might be on the verge of a dynasty, so I explored the possible futures for the Thunder as they attempt to become the NBA's first repeat champion since the Durant-era Warriors
What's next for OKC? Three paths forward for SGA and the champs
ESPN analyst Zach Kram breaks down whether Oklahoma City is past, in or entering the best version of its roster.
www.espn.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The defending champs might be on the verge of a dynasty, so I explored the possible futures for the Thunder as they attempt to become the NBA's first repeat champion since the Durant-era Warriors
I've seen a lot of people say the Warriors' window is closed—but I think they're still a dangerous contender in the West this season. Here's why:
An NBA dynasty reborn? Why the Warriors could be more dangerous than you think
ESPN analyst Zach Kram details why Golden State's championship window might not be closed after all.
www.espn.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I've seen a lot of people say the Warriors' window is closed—but I think they're still a dangerous contender in the West this season. Here's why:
The "face of the NBA" title has shifted neatly from Magic and Bird to Jordan to Kobe to LeBron and Curry. But who comes next?
My new story on the possible paths for Wemby, Ant, Luka, Flagg, and more:
My new story on the possible paths for Wemby, Ant, Luka, Flagg, and more:
Wemby, Luka, Ant? Examining the players primed to become the face of the NBA
ESPN analyst Zach Kram explores the paths and players who could follow in Curry and James' footsteps.
www.espn.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The "face of the NBA" title has shifted neatly from Magic and Bird to Jordan to Kobe to LeBron and Curry. But who comes next?
My new story on the possible paths for Wemby, Ant, Luka, Flagg, and more:
My new story on the possible paths for Wemby, Ant, Luka, Flagg, and more:
With the new Basketball Hall of Fame class being inducted this weekend, I surveyed the active players who are most likely to join them in the future
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...
Who's next? Tiering Hall of Fame chances for 50 active NBA stars
From top-75 locks to vets on the bubble, Zach Kram runs down the active NBA players on the path to Springfield.
www.espn.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
With the new Basketball Hall of Fame class being inducted this weekend, I surveyed the active players who are most likely to join them in the future
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...
I have fun with this piece every year: Here's the key statistic for all 30 teams entering the 2025-26 season
The stat that could swing every NBA team's 2025-26 season
What numbers are teams focused on with just over a month until camp? Zach Kram runs down the big stat for all 30 franchises.
www.espn.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I have fun with this piece every year: Here's the key statistic for all 30 teams entering the 2025-26 season
This was a fun one to write: I ranked all 30 NBA teams' worst mistakes of the 2020s thus far, from confounding contracts to disastrous draft picks to franchise-altering terrible trades
Franchise-shifting trades to draft disasters: Roster mistakes for all 30 NBA teams since 2020
Zach Kram examines the deals, trades and picks that all 30 NBA teams would like to take back from the 2020s.
www.espn.com
July 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
This was a fun one to write: I ranked all 30 NBA teams' worst mistakes of the 2020s thus far, from confounding contracts to disastrous draft picks to franchise-altering terrible trades
I don't understand the sentiment I've seen online that Bradley Beal is an upgrade over Norm Powell at this stage of their careers
July 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I don't understand the sentiment I've seen online that Bradley Beal is an upgrade over Norm Powell at this stage of their careers
SGA will earn almost $1 million per game in the final year of his new supermax contract. The first NBA player to cross that threshold is coming soon.
I dove into all the implications of this financial milestone in a new piece for ESPN.
I dove into all the implications of this financial milestone in a new piece for ESPN.
The NBA is closing in on its first $1 million per game player
The reigning MVP will get close, but the league is still waiting for its first $82 million per year player.
www.espn.com
July 11, 2025 at 2:41 PM
SGA will earn almost $1 million per game in the final year of his new supermax contract. The first NBA player to cross that threshold is coming soon.
I dove into all the implications of this financial milestone in a new piece for ESPN.
I dove into all the implications of this financial milestone in a new piece for ESPN.
I tiered the 15 Western Conference teams after the initial offseason flurry. The Thunder are in a group of their own, but who's closest to catching the champs?
NBA free agency 2025: New West tiers after flurry of moves
Did any West team do enough to challenge the champs? Zach Kram runs through a new-look conference.
www.espn.com
July 8, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I tiered the 15 Western Conference teams after the initial offseason flurry. The Thunder are in a group of their own, but who's closest to catching the champs?
Offseason winners and losers!
NBA free agency winners and losers: Where Houston, Atlanta -- and, yes, the Lakers -- check in
From big-man depth to the New Orleans Pelicans, here are the early winners and losers of early NBA free agency.
www.espn.com
July 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Offseason winners and losers!
Lillard news is the first of the offseason that literally caused my jaw to drop
July 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Lillard news is the first of the offseason that literally caused my jaw to drop
Wrote about Luke Kornet in today's piece (espn.com/nba/story/_/...). Advanced stats *love* his impact on both ends.
June 30, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Wrote about Luke Kornet in today's piece (espn.com/nba/story/_/...). Advanced stats *love* his impact on both ends.
Before the free agent frenzy begins, here are 7 underrated targets this summer, from post-prime award-winners to unheralded analytics darlings and more:
Seven underrated NBA free agents -- and teams that should sign them
As the Finals showed, a deep bench can make the difference. Here are seven players to watch this week, including former champions and a Hall of Famer.
www.espn.com
June 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Before the free agent frenzy begins, here are 7 underrated targets this summer, from post-prime award-winners to unheralded analytics darlings and more: