NBA Playoffs
FILE - Dream Team members Charles Barkley, left, and Grant Hill share a laugh with teammates after receiving their gold medals at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Aug. 3, 1996. Let the recruiting begin. The braintrust for the U.S. — managing director Grant Hill, national team director Sean Ford and coach Steve Kerr — is already well into the process of trying to get players thinking about wearing the red, white and blue at the World Cup in 2023 as well as the Paris Olympics in 2024. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk, File)
Analysis: Plans in works for USA Basketball's World Cup team

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 14, 2022 01:41 PM EST

FILE - Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan waves as he walks off the court at the end of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 16, 2003, in Philadelphia. It was Jordan's last NBA game. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy, File)
Column: Brady may join top 10 who should've stayed retired

By Paul Newberry Oct. 28, 2022 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili, left, of Argentina, drives to the basket over Oklahoma City Thunder's Caron Butler during the second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoff series, Thursday, May 29, 2014, in San Antonio. The four-time NBA champion with the Spurs is one of the headliners for Saturday night’s enshrinement ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Thunder Spurs Basketball

Sep. 08, 2022 11:30 AM EDT

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 8, 2021, in Los Angeles. James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension through the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
LeBron James inks 2-year, $97.1 million deal with Lakers

By Greg Beacham Aug. 17, 2022 04:23 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jun. 09, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
June 14 1922 — Gene Sarazen edges Bobby Jones and John Black to win the U.S. Open tournament. 1934 — Max Baer stops Primo Carnera in 11th...

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic walks off the court after the team's loss in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 27, 2022. The Warriors won the series. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Jokic's NBA MVP a win for hoops-crazed nations outside US

By Ken Maguire May. 11, 2022 02:38 AM EDT

FILE - Chicago Bulls fans Rob Martinez, left, Mark Kojak and Michael Kojak, right, show their support for the team during a rally in Chicago, June 14, 1991, celebrating the Bulls NBA championship. (AP Photo/Mark Elias, File)
The 1990s: Jordan era takes flight; Magic battles HIV virus

By Brian Mahoney Feb. 23, 2022 02:26 AM EST

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

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

Slovenia's Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket over Argentina's Francisco Caffaro (11) during men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Doncic debuts with 48 points, Slovenia wins Olympic opener

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 26, 2021 02:46 AM EDT

Kevin Durant runs during during practice for USA Basketball, Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
'He loves to win': Durant seeking a third Olympic gold medal

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 09, 2021 05:35 PM EDT

FILE - Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons plays during Game 5 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Washington Wizards, in Philadelphia, in this Wednesday, June 2, 2021, file photo. Ben Simmons can't shoot and lost his confidence. He blamed a mental block on the worst free-throw shooting percentage in NBA playoff history. The 76ers head into the offseason faced with a big question - do they try and salvage Simmons or deal the former No. 1 pick. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Ben Simmons withdraws from Australia's Olympic squad

Jun. 28, 2021 08:07 PM EDT

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defend during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
AP source: Harden commits to US Olympic men's team for Tokyo

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 21, 2021 09:37 PM EDT

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, shoots over Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Missing men? Suns, Clips deal with uncertain status of stars

By David Brandt Jun. 19, 2021 05:04 PM EDT

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul falls on the floor while pursuing a loose ball in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series agtainst the Denver Nuggets Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Analysis: The NBA playoffs have entered survivor mode

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 17, 2021 03:33 AM EDT

File-This Oct. 4, 2020, file photo shows NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaking during an interview before the NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The NBA has informed teams that it intends to return to a normal schedule next season, with training camps opening in late September and the regular season set to begin on Oct. 19., 2021. It is not an unexpected development, and Silver has said several times that the league’s intention for the past several months, virus-permitting, was to get the league back onto its regular calendar after two seasons of schedule havoc because of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Back to normal? NBA plans to start '21-22 season in October

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 10, 2021 04:18 PM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George (13) consoles Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) after defeating the Mavericks during Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Mavs focus on help for Doncic after another 1st-round exit

By Schuyler Dixon Jun. 07, 2021 06:18 PM EDT

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts reacts to a missed call against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Trail Blazers, Terry Stotts parting ways after 9 seasons

By Anne M. Peterson Jun. 05, 2021 12:39 AM EDT

Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal, right, and Russell Westbrook watch as the Philadelphia 76ers attempt a free-throw during the second half of Game 5 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Wizards at Philadelphia 76ers 6/2/2021

Jun. 03, 2021 05:04 PM EDT

Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball Eastern Conference play-in game against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Wizards GM skirts topic of coach's future after playoff exit

By Howard Fendrich Jun. 03, 2021 04:59 PM EDT