Checkmates and closeouts: Inside the NBA's quiet chess boom
By Anthony Gharib
Published on April 11, 2026.
The NBA has seen a surge in players around the league championing the benefits of chess, with players including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Jaylen Brown and Jaime Jaquez Jr. expressing their appreciation for chess, which they believe offers a different perspective to their on-court play. Chess has been a popular topic across the NBA, with current and former players emphasizing its strategic elements, which can translate from the chessboard to the hardwood. Some players have publicly embraced chess publicly, with some using interactive bots on Chess.com to challenge fans and others giving it a personal challenge. Former NBA player Derrick Rose organized a "NBA players-only chess tournament" in Las Vegas later this year.
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