Westbrook tops Magic for 2nd on triple-doubles list

While ESPN and TNT didn’t extend their media rights deals with the NBA before their exclusive negotiating window closed, sources tell Front Office Sports that both networks have matching provisions that allow each an opportunity to respond to outside bids before contracts are finalized. The provision applies to both streaming and linear rights packages.

The NBA currently gets nearly $2.7 billion annually from its nine-year $24 billion deals with ESPN and TNT expiring at the end of next season and a doubling of that annual average is possible.

The NBA has been tied to WBD in various ways since 1984, while ESPN has been a partner for more than 20 years. ESPN also provides significant programming beyond live sports that help promote the league.

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t attached a timeline to when LeBron James will return from right foot injury. However, speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, Darvin Ham gave the most positive update yet on where James is at.

“We anticipate him coming back at some point (this season),” Ham said.

James himself recently posted a positive update to social media. He tagged a picture of his feet with a caption that read “recharging” with a photo of a battery at nearly full charge.

James has been out since injury his right foot on February 26 in a win over the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles has gone 5-5 without James in the lineup over the last three weeks. The Lakers enter Sunday’s contest a half-game out of the 10 seed, which is the final spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.