NBA Pacific Division
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

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

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

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second half of Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Milwaukee Bucks at Phoenix Suns 7/17/2021

Jul. 18, 2021 01:00 AM EDT

Colangelo seeks Suns win, reinforcements for US Olympic team

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 14, 2021 06:53 PM EDT
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jerry Colangelo is headed to Game 5 in Phoenix, hoping to see his old team win its first NBA title. Getting the series...

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

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez rebounds as Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, right, looks on during the first half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, Pool)
Sweatin' with the oldies: 30-somethings abound in NBA Finals

By David Brandt Jul. 07, 2021 07:07 PM EDT

FILE - United States' Jayson Tatum reacts after scoring against Turkey in a FIBA Basketball World Cup basketball game at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, in this Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, file photo. Kobe Bryant wore No. 24 and No. 8 with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he donned No. 10 for USA Basketball when he helped the Americans capture gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Tatum has worn that number as part of U.S. teams several times since — and will wear it at the Tokyo Olympics, where the Americans will aim to capture a fourth consecutive gold medal. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
The power of 10: Tatum eager to wear Bryant's Olympic number

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 07, 2021 12:44 PM EDT

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after shooting a three pointer against the LA Clippers in the second half of game five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoff basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)/The Orange County Register via AP)
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers 6/2/2021

Jun. 30, 2021 04:32 PM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, celebrates with guard Paul George after scoring and drawing a foul during the first half in Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Utah Jazz Friday, June 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Utah Jazz at LA Clippers 6/18/2021

Jun. 19, 2021 05:06 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

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2019, file photo, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown gestures during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco. Brown is the coach of the Nigerian men’s Olympic basketball team this summer, and that team starts preparations for the Tokyo Games with training camp beginning this weekend in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
As Olympics near, Warriors' Brown eager for Nigerian chance

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 18, 2021 01:39 PM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard holds his knee after stepping awkwardly during the second half in Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Utah Jazz Monday, June 14, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Utah Jazz at LA Clippers 6/14/2021

Jun. 17, 2021 03:34 AM EDT

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers waits to enter the game against the Phoenix Suns in the second half of game six of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoff basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers 6/3/2021

Jun. 17, 2021 03:34 AM 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

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, front, reacts after hitting a basket late in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets 6/13/2021

Jun. 16, 2021 09:54 AM EDT

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, front, reacts after hitting a basket late in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Suns say Paul in protocols, status for West finals unclear

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 16, 2021 09:45 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)
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers 6/6/2021

Jun. 07, 2021 06:20 PM EDT