Los Angeles Lakers
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

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots next to Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A year after Finals, Lakers and Heat set to play before fans

By Tim Reynolds May. 26, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13), forward Kevin Durant (7) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) run up-court against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, May 15, 2021, in New York. The Nets won 105-91. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Injuries likely to impact quality of play in NBA postseason

By Brian Mahoney May. 17, 2021 01:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2020, file photo, Bologna's Takehiro Tomiyasu, left, and Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku fight for the ball during a Series A soccer match between Inter Milan and Bologna, at Milan's San Siro Stadium. The photo was honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors as best sports action photo of 2020 at their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Stories on pandemic, Black coaches, among AP award winners

By The Associated Press May. 04, 2021 11:48 AM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James dribble the ball during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, April 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
James out, Schröder enters virus protocol for reeling Lakers

By Joe Reedy May. 03, 2021 09:23 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) passes the ball as his path to the basket is blocked by Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) and forward Robert Franks, back left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Schroder, Davis lead Lakers' late rally past Magic

By John Denton Apr. 26, 2021 09:40 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers' Talen Horton-Tucker (5) goes to basket over Boston Celtics' Moritz Wagner (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Jaylen Brown scores 40, Celtics beat Lakers 121-113

Apr. 16, 2021 12:42 AM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers center Andre Drummond (2) shoots over Brooklyn Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Nets' Aldridge retires at 35 due to irregular heartbeat

By Brian Mahoney Apr. 15, 2021 12:32 PM EDT

Brooklyn Nets' Jeff Green, left, and James Harden, right, watch during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Analysis: Injuries wreaking more havoc than virus protocols

By Kyle Hightower Apr. 13, 2021 03:08 AM EDT

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving shoots over Los Angeles Lakers center Andre Drummond and guard Dennis Schroeder (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin).
Nets' Irving out Monday at Minnesota for personal reasons

Apr. 11, 2021 07:40 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) defends, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Butler scores 28, Heat beat depleted Lakers 110-104

Apr. 08, 2021 10:47 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) goes for a layup in front of Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Lakers build big early lead, cruise past Raptors 110-101

By Dick Scanlon Apr. 06, 2021 10:28 PM EDT

A Los Angeles Traffic control officer directs vehicles to an alternative entrance to the Dodgers Stadium vaccination site in Los Angeles Friday, April 2, 2021. California has administered nearly 19 million doses, and nearly 6.9 million people are fully vaccinated in a state with almost 40 million residents. But only people 50 and over are eligible statewide to get the vaccine now. Adults 16 and older won't be eligible until April 15. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
California OKs indoor sports, concerts as COVID cases plunge

By Adam Beam And Janie Har Apr. 03, 2021 01:26 AM EDT

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley celebrate during the first half of basketball's NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Exciting 2nd half awaits NBA, but virus may still have a say

By Brian Mahoney Mar. 08, 2021 02:00 PM EST

Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. Portland Trail Blazers guard Rodney Hood (5) is at left. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Schröder returns, Lakers beat Blazers 102-93 to snap skid

By Greg Beacham Feb. 27, 2021 01:42 AM EST

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, celebrates after scoring against the Miami Heat during overtime in an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NBA All-Star captains: It's LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 18, 2021 01:12 PM EST

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) dunks as Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards (1),Malik Beasley (5) and Karl-Anthony Towns (32) watch in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
James, Lakers, minus Davis, fend off Timberwolves 112-104

By Dave Campbell Feb. 17, 2021 12:00 AM EST

Washington Wizards forward Troy Brown Jr., left, loses control of the ball as Miami Heat guard Avery Bradley (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Heat's Bradley on COVID-19 diagnosis: 'I was really nervous'

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 09, 2021 12:50 PM EST

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) congratulates Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) during the final seconds of the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in New York. The Nets defeated the Clippers 124-120. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
NBA tells teams it plans March 7 All-Star Game in Atlanta

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 04, 2021 09:07 PM EST

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, in Cleveland. Jarrett Allen, left, and Anthony Davis watch. The Lakers own 115-108. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
LeBron scores 46, Lakers beat Cavs to stay perfect on road

By Tom Withers Jan. 25, 2021 10:52 PM EST