Yardbarker

Sean Keane

NBA Writer

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible.com. His debut album “America’s Uncle Dad” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart and since 2016, he’s co-hosted the NBA podcast “Roundball Rock. In 2014, the San Francisco Bay Guardian named Keane an “Outstanding Local Discovery” and promptly went out of business.

EXPERTISE:

NBA, NFL, MLB

Knicks lock down Pacers in Game 5 to stave off elimination

After the Indiana Pacers scored 130 points in their Game 4 win, the New York Knicks knew they had to tighten their defense or their season would be over. They did that and more in a dominant 111-94 win in Game 5.

Five takeaways from Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals

Down 3-1, the New York Knicks refused to concede their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Indiana Pacers. They never trailed on their way to a 111-94 victory in Game 5 and new life as the series heads to Indiana on Saturday. 

Timberwolves must choose between two big men this summer

The Timberwolves have two key players — forward Julius Randle and backup big man Naz Reid — with player options this summer. It may be challenging to maintain both, and it might be a poor idea to do so.

Biggest factor in Timberwolves' offseason may be their ownership

Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have acquired full control of the Timberwolves, pending the transfer process and a vote by the NBA's board of governors.

Five takeaways from Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years after a 124-94 win gave them a 4-1 series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Timberwolves' inconsistent offense hurts them again in Game 5

The Minnesota Timberwolves have an All-Star in Anthony Edwards, former All-Stars Julius Randle and Mike Conley and 2024 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. Still, their offense has had bad stretches in these playoffs — historically bad ones.

Watch: Cason Wallace puts exclamation point on dominant opening quarter

The Minnesota Timberwolves scored their fewest points in any quarter this season in the first quarter of Game 5. Then Cason Wallace made it worse with a buzzer-beater.

Pacers lift suspension on Tyrese Haliburton's father

After banning him from attending his son's last eight playoff games, the Indiana Pacers decided that John Haliburton has paid his debt to society. 

Fans interfering with gameplay is becoming an epidemic

Celebrities have a responsibility as role models, even when they're sitting court side at an NBA game. 

Fouling up three is analytically sound, but terrible for viewers

It's turning what should be the most exciting part of a playoff game into the most boring part.

Five takeaways from Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder held off the hot-shooting Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday with a 128-126 victory in Minneapolis to take a 3-1 series lead.

Five takeaways from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks came back from 20 points down to stun the Indiana Pacers in Game 3, winning 106-100. Here are five takeaways from New York's stunning win.

Thompson twins could get Jamaican basketball to the Olympics

Jamaica has the 107th-ranked basketball team in the world and the 22nd-ranked team in the Americas. But adding a talented set of twins could lift the Jamaicans to a new level.

Knicks need to change starting lineup for Game 3

The New York Knicks have had the same starting lineup for 47 regular-season games and all 14 playoff games. It's time to make a change.

Five takeaways from Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals

The reports of the Minnesota Timberwolves' demise were an exaggeration. 

The trades that put Pacers on the brink of an NBA Finals trip

The last few years of trades have been the NBA equivalent of trading a paper clip for a house. It might get the Pacers to their first NBA Finals in 25 years.

Five takeaways from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals

Here are five takeaways from the Pacers' 114-109 win.

Pascal Siakam carries Pacers to Game 2 win over Knicks

Pascal Siakam does a little bit of everything for the Indiana Pacers. In Friday's Game 2 win, he did a whole lot of scoring.

All-NBA teams show guards are dominating the league

Since last season, voters have selected the All-NBA teams regardless of position. Based on this season's group of 15 players, it's the guards who are dominating the league.

Five takeaways from Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals with a 118-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Watch: NBA referee left with bloody nose after absorbing hard playoff foul

Early in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, referee Scott Foster took a hard playoff foul of his own.

Tyrese Haliburton wasn't the first player to celebrate early in the playoffs

When Tyrese Haliburton hit a shot to send Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to overtime, he thought it was a game-winner. He celebrated accordingly — and mistakenly.

Five takeaways from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals

Here are some takeaways from an exciting start to another Knicks-Pacers battle.

Watch: Tyrese Haliburton's clutch shot leads Pacers to Game 1 win over Knicks

Tyrese Haliburton channeled Reggie Miller on Wednesday when he hit a huge shot and gave the Madison Square Garden crowd the choke sign.

Who will be the next American-born MVP in the NBA?

While it's a testament to the international growth of the game that winners have come from Canada, Serbia, Cameroon and Greece, it also means American-born players are lagging behind the league's elite.