Is Joel Embiid the next NBA MVP?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

FEAR THE BEARD: Alana Beard hit a buzzer beater to lift the Sparks over the Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday. What a shot! Four takeaways from the game from Swish Appeal. Game 2 is at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday on ESPN 2.

THE KING FOR REAL: LeBron James publicly complained about a broken feature on the NBA Game Time app. The NBA fixed it almost immediately.

PREVIEW TIME: Paul Flannery and I are big fans of Paul George, but we have similar concerns about the rest of the Pacers roster. Meanwhile, our opinions diverge widely on the Nuggets. Nugget fight! We also have previews from Indy Cornrows and Denver Stuffs.

SUPERSTAR IN THE MAKING: Joel Embiid is hitting threes and asking to be nicknamed The Process. One does not come up with one’s own nicknames, but the International Panel of Nickname Arbitration ought to take up this appeal pronto. I think it has merit.

THINK BIG: I wrote a piece about the NBA and players’ union having an opportunity to be innovative given relatively quick agreement on the basics of a new collective bargaining agreement.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT HIM: Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib makes a compelling case that Pitbull is not just Mr. Worldwide, but Mr. Wide World of Sports Anthems. Dalé!

PATCH WAR: Why 29 NBA teams haven’t reached deals on jersey patches yet.

NOOOO: Gordon Hayward is out six weeks with a broken and dislocated finger.

TRADE MURMURS: Marc Stein reports the Bucks have pitched around Michael Carter-Williams along with Greg Monroe. Milwaukee wants wing help.

FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT: J.R. Smith is hanging around the Cavaliers like he has a contract with the team (he does not).

SUMMER OF MELO: Carmelo Anthony on The Daily Show, talking about Knicks fans and social outreach.

COLLEGE PREVIEW: Hey, Arizona, you’re pretty darn talented! (Seriously, Pac-12 basketball is going to be a gold mine of NBA prospects this season.)

ALTOGETHER NOW: Marc Spears on the Hawks’ extensive efforts to bring Atlanta together in fandom.

AND FINALLY: Send positive vibes to the wonderful Jeff Zillgitt as he renews his war with cancer, and send money to the Cancer Research Institute. We can all beat this disease together.

Be excellent to each other.