NBC secures 11-year NBA playoff deal; Challenged Athletes Foundation distributes $7M in grants; NFL explores AI for draft decisions

NBC Sports won back rights to broadcast NBA playoff games through 2035, marking the network's return to postseason basketball coverage after an absence. This is the first major sports media contract renewal to be finalized in this TV rights cycle.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation distributed over 4,000 grants totaling $7 million to disabled athletes worldwide, expanding access to equipment, training, and competition opportunities that would otherwise be financially out of reach for athletes with disabilities.

The NFL is testing AI tools to assist in draft decision-making, meaning teams now have machine learning (algorithms that learn from data) analyzing player performance data and injury history to help scouts and general managers predict which prospects will succeed — reducing reliance on gut instinct alone.