3,344 articles
Iyana Martín
Iyana Martín Carrión (born 2006, Oviedo) is a Spanish point guard for Spar Girona, 2026 WNBA draft No. 7 pick of the Portland Fire, 2023 U19 World Cup MVP, EuroBasket 2025 silver medalist, and 2026 World Cup bronze medalist.
Iztok Puc
Iztok Puc (Iztok Puc), Slovenian handball left back (1966–2011); only handball player at three Olympics for three teams, winning bronze 1988 for Yugoslavia, gold 1996 for Croatia, eighth 2000 for Slovenia.
J. B. Bickerstaff
J.B. Bickerstaff (John Blair Bickerstaff, born 1979, Denver) is an NBA head coach leading the Detroit Pistons since 2024, after head coaching stints with Houston, Memphis, and Cleveland; 2026 NBCA Coach of the Year.
J. J. Barea
J.J. Barea (José Juan Barea Mora, born 1984, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) is a former NBA point guard, undrafted from Northeastern in 2006, who won the 2011 title with Dallas and became a Denver Nuggets assistant coach in 2025.
J. R. Smith
J.R. Smith (Earl Smith III, born 1985) is a former NBA shooting guard, 2004 first-round pick, Sixth Man of the Year 2013, and two-time champion (Cavaliers 2016, Lakers 2020), later a North Carolina A&T golf graduate. Not the NCAA betting fixer Jalen Smith.
Ja Morant
Ja Morant (born 1999) is an American NBA guard, 2019 second overall pick, 2020 Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star, later traded from Memphis to Portland after suspensions and injuries.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, born 2004, is an American NBA guard from Greeneville, Tennessee, drafted 42nd overall in 2026 by the San Antonio Spurs after college stints at Belmont, Maryland, and Tennessee, where he was SEC Newcomer of the Year.
Jabari Parker
Jabari Parker, American basketball forward born 1995; Duke one-and-done, drafted 2nd overall 2014 by Milwaukee Bucks; two ACL tears; later FC Barcelona, Partizan, Joventut.
Jabari Smith
Jabari Smith Jr. (born 2003) is an NBA forward for the Houston Rockets, drafted third overall in 2022 from Auburn; National Freshman of the Year, All-Rookie Second Team, son of Jabari Smith Sr.
Jabari Smith Jr.
Jabari Smith Jr. (born 2003), NBA power forward for the Houston Rockets, third pick of the 2022 draft after one Auburn season; All-Rookie Second Team, .519 career true shooting, five-year $122 million extension signed July 2025.
Jack Kayil
Jack Kayil, German guard (born 2006, Berlin), Alba Berlin product and 2025-26 BBL Best Young Player; drafted 39th overall by Houston in 2026 and traded to the New York Knicks after withdrawing from a Gonzaga commitment.
Jack McKinney (basketball)
Jack McKinney, NBA head coach of the Lakers (1979-80), Pacers, and Kings; his 1979 bicycle accident and coma led Paul Westhead to replace him and launch the Showtime dynasty.
Jack Ragland
Jack Ragland (1913-1996) was an American guard on the McPherson Globe Refiners who won the first Olympic basketball gold medal at Berlin 1936, playing 2 games, scoring 7 points, and appearing in the 19-8 final win over Canada; he later played for the Phillips 66ers until retiring in 1938.
Jack Sikma
Jack Sikma (born 1955, Kankakee, IL) is an American Hall of Fame center, 1979 NBA champion and 7x All-Star with Seattle, later Milwaukee; only center to lead NBA in FT% (.922, 1988).
Jackie Stiles
Jackie Stiles (born 1978), Claflin, Kansas guard, NCAA Division I women's all-time scoring leader (3,393 points, Missouri State, 1997-2001), 2001 WNBA fourth pick, Portland Fire Rookie of the Year, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame 2016.
Jacque Vaughn
Jacque Vaughn, born 1975, is a former NBA point guard and head coach of the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets (career 129-226), a 2007 champion with San Antonio, and a Kansas Jayhawks assistant since May 2025.
Jaden Ivey
Jaden Ivey (Jaden Edward Dhananjay Ivey), American NBA guard born 2002; Purdue All-American drafted fifth overall by Detroit in 2022, later traded to Chicago and waived in 2026; son of coach Niele Ivey.
Jaden McDaniels
Jaden McDaniels, NBA forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, born 2000; 28th pick of the 2020 draft, ex-Washington Husky, 2023-24 All-Defensive, five-year $131M extension.
Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder (Corey Jae Crowder), born 1990, Villa Rica, Georgia, is an American NBA forward, Marquette's 2012 BIG EAST Player of the Year, drafted 34th overall in 2012, a 3-and-D wing for Dallas, Boston, Phoenix, and other teams.
Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Okafor (born 1995) is an American basketball center drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2015 after winning an NCAA title at Duke; known for elite post scoring but limited NBA longevity.
Jahmai Mashack
Jahmai Mashack (born 2002) is an NBA guard for the Memphis Grizzlies on a two-way contract; drafted 59th in 2025 by Houston out of Tennessee, known as an elite defensive specialist.
Jai alai
Jai alai (cesta punta), Basque court sport; players throw a pelota off a three-walled fronton with a curved wicker cesta at up to 186 mph; Miami-based World Jai Alai League revived it.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (HY-may HAH-kez), born 2001, is an NBA forward from UCLA, drafted 18th overall by Miami in 2023, 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year, first Mexican NBA first-round pick, now with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jakob Pöltl
Jakob Pöltl (Poeltl), born 1995 in Vienna, Austrian NBA center, first Austrian in the NBA, drafted ninth overall by Toronto in 2016; played for Spurs 2018-23, back with Raptors since 2023.
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson (born 1996) is an NBA point guard for the New York Knicks, formerly the Dallas Mavericks. Villanova star, 2024 All-NBA, 2026 NBA champion and Finals MVP who took a $113M discount extension.
Jalen Duren
Jalen Duren, American NBA center for the Detroit Pistons, born 2003; drafted 13th overall in 2022 by Charlotte and traded to Detroit; one season at Memphis; 2025-26 All-Star and All-NBA Third Team; signed five-year, $200 million extension in 2026.
Jalen Green
Jalen Green (born 2002) is an American NBA shooting guard, drafted 2nd overall in 2021 by Houston out of G League Ignite, traded to the Phoenix Suns in the record seven-team Kevin Durant deal in July 2025.
Jalen Johnson
Jalen Johnson, born Jalen Tyrese Johnson in 2001, is an American basketball forward for the Atlanta Hawks, drafted 20th overall in 2021 after one season at Duke.
Jalen McDaniels
Jalen McDaniels, NBA forward born 1998, drafted 52nd overall 2019 by Charlotte out of San Diego State; also played for 76ers, Raptors, and Wizards; brother of Jaden McDaniels.
Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose (born 1973) is a Detroit-born former NBA guard-forward, Fab Five leader at Michigan, 1994 13th pick, 2000 Most Improved Player, now an ESPN analyst and founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.