The Fast Break – Sept. 25

Magic Johnson suddenly, shockingly resigned as Lakers president on Tuesday night. He did it all with his trademark smile, but the real reasons may be complicated.

When Collin Sexton learned that the NBA – and not a pandemic – had prematurely ended his second season, the Cavaliers guard had a guttural reaction. The league’s decision to invite only 22 teams to resume play at Disney World in Florida next month and a season interrupted by COVID-19 was a body blow for players on the omitted squads – the Delete 8. Perhaps no team feels the sting of being denied a chance to complete the season more than the Cavs, who went through a midseason coaching change – John Beilein stepped down at the All-Star break – and were playing their best ball when the outbreak brought everything to a halt.

With Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker winding down their careers, the next NBA generation of global talent is just getting started.