NBA Finals
FILE - Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) hooks a shot over Portland Trail Blazers' Jim Brewer (52) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on March 12, 1980. Abdul-Jabbar wins his sixth MVP award after claiming five in the 1970s. He averaged 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)
Timeline of NBA in 1980s as league celebrates 75th season

By The Associated Press Jan. 17, 2022 10:45 AM EST

Ginobili, Chambers, Whalen among 1st-time hoop hall nominees

Dec. 21, 2021 05:08 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Former San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobili, SuperSonics and Suns forward Tom Chambers and Olympic and WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen are...

Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry hides his face from the media as he leaves practice during NBA basketball camp, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
With Lowry, Heat hoping for run back to NBA title contention

By Tim Reynolds Oct. 12, 2021 11:14 AM EDT

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol, from Spain, kisses the Larry O'Brian trophy after the Lakers won the NBA basketball championship in Orlando, Fla., in this Sunday, June 14, 2009, file photo. Pau Gasol announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, ending a career that lasted more than two decades and earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain's national team. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Veteran Pau Gasol announces retirement from basketball

By Tales Azzoni Oct. 05, 2021 11:56 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, May 17, 2019 file photo, Madrid's Walter Tavares gestures during the Euroleague Final Four semifinal basketball match between CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria, Spain. While the AfroBasket tournament doesn’t boast the star power of an Olympics, it does showcase ever-competitive and improving quality of basketball on the continent. Tiny Cape Verde has one big advantage as it tries to become champion of African basketball for the first time: 7-foot-3 former NBA draft pick Walter “Edy” Tavares. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos, file)
Tall task: Cape Verde aims high in AfroBasket semifinals

By Ken Maguire Sep. 03, 2021 02:18 PM EDT

United States' Kevin Durant (7) drapes himself with a United States flag as he celebrates with teammates after their win over France in a men's basketball Gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Captain America: Durant makes sure gold medal stays with US

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 07, 2021 03:22 AM EDT

United States' Kevin Durant (7), center, and teammates celebrate their win in the men's basketball quarterfinal game against Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Analysis: He's Kevin Durant, and finding his Olympic groove

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 04, 2021 10:35 AM EDT

Spain's Pau Gasol watches from the bench during a men's basketball preliminary round game against Slovenia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Pau Gasol elected by Olympic athletes to be an IOC member

By Graham Dunbar Aug. 04, 2021 04:09 AM EDT

United States's Jrue Holiday (12) fights for a rebound with the Czech Republic's Jan Vesely (24) during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Holiday may be piece to a 2nd basketball championship puzzle

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 02, 2021 07:24 AM EDT

Members of team United States Kelsey Plum, left, and Jacquelyn Young pose with their gold medals during the awards ceremony for women's 3-on-3 basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Durant, Stewart, members of hoops Achilles Comeback Club

By Tim Reynolds And Doug Feinberg Aug. 01, 2021 12:49 PM EDT

Spain's Pau Gasol, right, fights for a rebound with Argentina's Facundo Campazzo, left, and Gabriel Deck, center, during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Pau Gasol defied odds to return, is going out on his terms

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 31, 2021 03:32 AM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) is fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
US trio puts NBA Finals behind, turns focus to Olympic gold

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 29, 2021 06:32 AM EDT

United States' Damian Lillard (6), Kevin Durant (7), and Draymond Green (16) their loss to France in wait for play to resume during their loss to France in a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Analysis: For USA Basketball, the time is now to fix things

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 26, 2021 05:11 AM EDT

United States coach Gregg Popovich, left, and forward Kevin Durant (7) look on from the side line during their loss to France in a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
If shots don't fall in Olympics, not a surprise when US does

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 25, 2021 04:03 PM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) is fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Trio of NBA Finals players finally arrives at Tokyo Olympics

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 24, 2021 10:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2019, file photo, ESPN's Maria Taylor works from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Miami and Florida in Orlando, Fla. Taylor is leaving ESPN after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Taylor had been with ESPN since 2014 but her contract expired Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Her last assignment for the network was Tuesday night at the NBA Finals, where she was the pregame and postgame host for the network's “NBA Countdown” show. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
NBC quickly hires Maria Taylor after her departure from ESPN

By Joe Reedy Jul. 23, 2021 05:34 PM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) reacts in front of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks 7/20/2021

Jul. 21, 2021 07:08 AM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton goes up for a dunk against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (Justin Casterline/Pool Photo via AP)
LaVine cleared, USA Basketball awaits 3 NBA Finals players

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 21, 2021 07:07 AM EDT

People gather Wednesday, July 21 , 2021, in Brisbane, Australia, for the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 2032 Summer Olympics bid. The Australian city was the inevitable winner of a one-candidate race steered by the IOC to avoid rival bids. (Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP)
The Latest: Top shooter tests positive, will miss Tokyo

Jul. 20, 2021 10:34 PM EDT

United States' Kevin Durant (7) blocks a shot by Spain's Ricky Rubio (9) during the first half of an exhibition basketball game in preparation for the Olympics, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Ready or not: Short-handed US basketball roster off to Tokyo

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 19, 2021 02:11 AM EDT