LOS ANGELES — Deandre Ayton stood with his hands in his pockets, his all-black attire — from the suit to tie, shirt and shoes — a measured look for the newest member of the Lakers. His eyes were mostly down as he answered questions about how he'll fit with the team and how he's driven to prove his naysayers wrong.

In many ways, Ayton fell...Read more

NEW YORK — The Knicks are singularly focused on winning a championship. New head coach Mike Brown received the message loud and clear.

Brown understands the assignment at Madison Square Garden and is embracing the championship-or-bust expectations that come with his new job. The coach replacing Tom Thibodeau inherits a 51-win roster fresh off...Read more

CHICAGO — Second-round draft pick Lachlan Olbrich has been getting acquainted with Chicago before the Bulls summer league team heads to Las Vegas for Friday’s opener against the Toronto Raptors

“I love it,” he said. “The weather’s beautiful and being out by the lake has been pretty cool. Italian beef is cool (but) I can’t eat it ...Read more

BOSTON — Most of the hay is in the barn for the Celtics this offseason.

But what about Al Horford?

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens cast doubt on the 39-year-old returning to TD Garden in green and white, as Horford continues to mull his options in free agency.

“We made offers to both Luke (Kornet) and Al,” ...Read more

DENVER — Nikola Jokic has informed the Nuggets he will not sign a contract extension this offseason, team sources told The Denver Post, as the three-time MVP intends to wait until next summer to engage in contract talks.

Jokic has a minimum of two years remaining on his current supermax contract, as well as a player option for the 2027-28 ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero signed the largest contract in Orlando Magic history earlier this week — a five-year, $239 million rookie max extension that could rise to $287 million if he reaches All-NBA levels this season.

It’s great news.

It’s a landmark deal.

It’s a generational commitment.

It’s a clear message that the Magic...Read more

MIAMI — While the Miami Heat shook up its roster by trading for guard Norman Powell at the start of this week, the free agency of guard Davion Mitchell provided very little drama.

After arriving in Miami as part of the midseason February Jimmy Butler trade, Mitchell thrived with the Heat in the final months of this past season before becoming...Read more

NEW YORK — Dwight Howard’s wife, “Love & Hip Hot: Atlanta” star Amber Rose Howard, wants out of their marriage, filing for divorce after a mere six months of marriage to the former NBA mainstay.

Amber, better known as Amy Luciani, is seeking alimony and asking for all marital assets and property to be “equitably divided,” according ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — When Kevin Slaughter heard the news that the WNBA will add a franchise in Philadelphia in 2030, the Universal Audenried Charter girls’ basketball coach immediately thought of his former player, Shayla Smith, having the opportunity to play professionally for her hometown.

“Shayla Smith will be coming out of Penn State,” ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Lowry has agreed to return to the 76ers on a one-year contract, a source confirmed to The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday evening.

Lowry, the North Philly native and former Villanova star, will play his 20th NBA season and continue with his hometown team after joining the Sixers off the buyout market in February 2024. This...Read more

DENVER — As aggressive as the Nuggets have been with roster changes this offseason, one of their most intriguing and mysterious additions will be someone who was already on the team.

DaRon Holmes II won’t have any injury-related limitations on his minutes when he returns from a torn right Achilles tendon this week, Nuggets Summer League ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic forward Paolo Banchero agreed to sign a five-year, $239 million rookie max extension on Monday, a league source told the Orlando Sentinel.

The contract could be worth as much as $287 million, ESPN first reported, as Banchero is eligible to earn 30% of the team’s salary cap should he get voted to an All-NBA team this ...Read more

CHICAGO — The WNBA is about to be bigger than ever.

The league announced a major expansion last week, bringing in new teams in Philadelphia, Cleveland and Detroit — in addition to already announced teams in Toronto and Portland — over the next five seasons.

For players such as Chicago Sky center and WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams, ...Read more

MIAMI — The Miami Heat won Monday’s three-team NBA trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz, and it isn’t open to debate. Pat Riley sat at the poker table (picturing him in dark shades) and never smiled once until he stood up with all of the chips and a needed reminder of that familiar old mojo.

The godfather is still around, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers have traded guard Norman Powell to the Miami Heat and have acquired forward John Collins from the Utah Jazz in a three-team, multiplayer deal that also includes a draft pick, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak on the matter.

The Clippers will send a 2027 second-round pick to ...Read more

DENVER — Mike Rodriguez needed to find 10 hoopers, and fast.

It was Easter Sunday, 2014. Rodriguez was the boys basketball coach at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School outside of Pittsburgh, and one of his pupils had an unexpected new suitor reaching out: University of Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon.

“He just happened to be flying out ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Dan Hurley, Rick Pitino rivalry has leveled up every year since their initial meeting in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament, when Hurley was looking for his first tournament win at UConn and Pitino’s Iona team was hoping for an upset.

UConn won that game, 87-63, and started its record streak of 13-consecutive ...Read more