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Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Bulls youngsters Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue prepare to lay a foundation in summer league

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — Matas Buzelis is embracing his new role as a young leader for the Chicago Bulls — even if it just lasts for the short duration of the NBA Summer League.

A year ago, Buzelis was a teenager stumbling through the new jargon of a professional team during the lengthy days of summer league practices. Just months ago, he was still ...Read more

A dream delayed: Bay Area's Chance McMillian has Warriors career put on pause

Sports / Basketball /

VALLEJO, Calif. – Like an innumerable number of other Bay Area kids watching television on May 11, 2007, 6-year-old Chance McMillian was awestruck when Warriors guard Baron Davis cocked back his right arm and threw down an iconic poster dunk through Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko.

After his beloved “We Believe” Warriors finished off the ...Read more

Reigning WNBA MVP suffers wrist injury in Aces' loss to Liberty

Sports / Basketball /

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson suffered a wrist injury in the first half and the Las Vegas Aces lost 87-78 to the New York Liberty on Tuesday at Barclays Center.

Wilson, the reigning WNBA MVP, went down hard on a drive to the basket with 4:13 remaining in the first half. She remained on the court in pain for a while. Her teammates shielded her ...Read more

Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Newest Laker Deandre Ayton is ready to prove the doubters wrong

Sports / Basketball /

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

Ishika Samant/Getty Images North America/TNS

With Knicks, Mike Brown knows it's championship or bust: 'That's why I'm here'

Sports / Basketball /

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

Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Bulls are embracing 'Lachie' Olbrich, their 2nd-round pick: 'He's going to hurt someone'

Sports / Basketball /

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

Nancy Lane/Boston Herald/TNS

Brad Stevens opens up about Al Horford's possible return, Celtics' plans

Sports / Basketball /

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

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Nikola Jokic won't sign contract extension with Nuggets this offseason, sources say. Here's why it makes sense to wait.

Sports / Basketball /

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

Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Mike Bianchi: With max contract in hand, here's hoping Paolo Banchero becomes a different kind of Magic superstar

Sports / Basketball /

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

D.A. Varela/Miami Herald/TNS

Davion Mitchell breaks down decision to return to the Heat and how Norman Powell can help

Sports / Basketball /

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

15 years after 'The Decision,' LeBron James is dominating the NBA rumor mill again

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — Fifteen years ago, LeBron James made “The Decision.”

It was on July 8, 2010, that James sat down at the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn., about 35 miles from Madison Square Garden, and revealed on live TV that he was joining the Miami Heat.

“I’m gonna take my talents to South Beach,” James, then 25, told moderator...Read more

Bulls rookie Noa Essengue weighs in on the Michael Jordan GOAT debate: 'Basketball changed with MJ'

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — Noa Essengue doesn’t want to pick sides.

But one basketball debate is hard to avoid in Chicago: Michael Jordan versus LeBron James.

When the Bulls drafted him last month, Essengue said he didn’t know much about Chicago but he knew the legacy of the franchise well. From draft night to his first week of practice at the Advocate ...Read more

Paras Griffin/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dwight Howard's reality star wife files for divorce after 6 months

Sports / Basketball /

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

Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

How the WNBA coming to Philly could inspire girls' basketball players

Sports / Basketball /

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

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Kyle Lowry staying with the Sixers on a one-year deal for his 20th NBA season

Sports / Basketball /

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

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Nuggets' DaRon Holmes II is 'full go' for Summer League return from torn Achilles

Sports / Basketball /

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

Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Magic secure future of Paolo Banchero with max rookie extension, as much as $287 million

Sports / Basketball /

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

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

As the WNBA expands, Sky players are looking ahead to new CBA after rejecting the league's 1st offer

Sports / Basketball /

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

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Greg Cote: Heat getting 3-point ace Powell a pickpocket win for Riley

Sports / Basketball /

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

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Clippers trade Norman Powell to Heat as part of three-team deal, net John Collins

Sports / Basketball /

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