After Anthony Davis missed roughly half of the Los Angeles Lakers’ games over the past two seasons because of injury, plenty of fans have lost faith in him. They also feel he is lazy and lacks motivation, and some even want him traded. But that is not exactly how the organization feels about him. In fact, the Lakers want to …

How Looney, Iguodala helped mentor Kuminga in rookie season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea When the Warriors drafted Jonathan Kuminga No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, the teenager was coming into a situation where there were plenty of veteran players to show him how to be a professional. Kuminga reflected on his rookie season while speaking with NBC Sports …

The Houston Rockets are still one of the NBA’s youngest teams, and the roster hasn’t changed dramatically from the group that finished last season with the league’s worst record — besides trading Christian Wood and adding three first-round rookies in the 2022 draft. But as head coach Stephen Silas sees it, there could be a possibility for internal, organic growth …

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green steadily improved as his 2021-22 rookie season progressed, culminating in a historic scoring stretch to end the year and a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team. Just 20 years old, one reason for the steady growth was Green adapting his body to the rigors and lifestyle of professional basketball. Now, with a full offseason …

Cleveland Cavaliers v Washington Wizards It’s a matter of perception. And spending limits. Collin Sexton perceives himself as the player from two seasons ago in Cleveland who was a primary ball handler averaging 24.3 points per game. A guy who deserves starting guard money (think $20 million a season and up). The Cavaliers view Sexton more as the guy who …

The Houston Rockets on Wednesday announced their four-game schedule for the NBA’s 2022 preseason in October. The team’s full 2022-23 regular-season schedule will be announced later this month. The Rockets will open the preseason by hosting San Antonio at Toyota Center on Sunday, Oct. 2, followed by another home game vs. Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7.  Houston closes out its …

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has become a polarizing superstar in recent years. He certainly has his legion of supporters who feel he is the ultimate team player and perhaps the greatest of all time. But there are also an increasing number of observers who think James is selfish and only out for his own stats these days. …

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George weighed in on the apparent beef between Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero and Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray after they made headlines over the weekend. The situation began to unfold in the Zeke-End Pro-Am after Banchero appeared to unintentionally knock Murray to the court after making a play on the ball. Murray took exception to …

Report: Wizards sign Makur Maker to Exhibit 10 deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington The Wizards are adding a former five-star recruit in the form of Makur Maker as they prepare for training camp. Washington signed Howard University’s Makur Maker to an Exhibit 10 contract, per The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace. The plan is for Maker to participate in …

Report: Kevin Durant sees Sixers as ‘desired’ landing spot originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea The Kevin Durant trade-or-not-trade scenario has gone through roughly 100 iterations by now, and it still seems like the superstar has his qualms about returning to the Brooklyn Nets next year. The teams initially believed to be in the Durant trade race – the Heat, …

Kuzma goes off for 67 points in Utah pro-am game originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington Wizards basketball is still a couple of months away but Kyle Kuzma remains in the lab. Washington’s forward participated in a pro-am game in Utah this week. Most players tend to take it easy and give maybe 60% effort during these games, but Kuzma …

Getty Images A jersey that was worn by Michael Jordan during his “Last Dance” season is expected to hit the auction block next month. The jersey, which Jordan wore during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals, could fetch as much as $5 million at the Sotheby’s auction. The jersey will be just one of only two of Jordan’s game-worn …

‘Never satisfied’ Kuminga dreams of extending Dubs’ dynasty originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea LAS VEGAS — Steph Curry had recently turned 27 years old when he won his first NBA title in 2015. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, whose birthdays aren’t even a month apart, both were 25 and Andre Iguodala was 31. Jonathan Kuminga was 12, the same …

usatsi Kevin Durant doesn’t seem too fond of the Brooklyn Nets right now. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that the former MVP has told team owner Joe Tsai that he wants general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash fired, and Josh Kosman and Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that he …

Getty Images When Kevin Durant initially made his trade request, two teams were reportedly atop his wishlist: the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat. From the get-go, both teams faced complicated paths to landing the 2014 NBA MVP. The Suns needed to find a way to sign-and-trade DeAndre Ayton to Brooklyn, which they can no longer do. Miami couldn’t send Bam …

Kevin Durant eyeing Sixers as a trade landing spot? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia The Kevin Durant trade-or-not-trade scenario has gone through roughly 100 iterations by now, and it still seems like the superstar has his qualms about returning to the Brooklyn Nets next year. The teams initially believed to be in the Durant trade race – the Heat, …

Echenique was treated to hero’s welcome in Colombia originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington LAS VEGAS — Jaime Echenique thought he could go unnoticed. Even though he is 6-foot-11 and 260 pounds, he could wear a COVID mask. At least they wouldn’t be able to see his face. But it was a futile effort, as the Wizards big man estimates …

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year old daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. Kobe and Gianna were on their way, along with seven other people, to a youth basketball game in Thousand Oaks, Calif. On that same day, responders at the scene took photos of the crash site for …

As the Brooklyn Nets continue to keep the Kevin Durant trade saga alive in a fairly stagnant part of the NBA news cycle, new details are percolating to the surface via various news outlets, including those focused on the Boston Celtics because of the rumored inclusion of star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown in trade talks. And while that point has …

In the wake of Kevin Durant‘s ultimatum to Nets’ owner Joe Tsai — either me or coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks — a second report popped up that Kyrie Irving agreed with Durant. He thought Marks was “bad” and Nash “terrible,” according to a source speaking to two reporters at the New York Post. Irving’s agent reached out …

Boston Celtics sharpshooting forward Grant Williams famously had a rough start to his NBA career from 3-point range. In fact, it was such a bad start it was nearly historic for all the wrong reasons. But since that uncharacteristically cold start from beyond the arc, the Charlotte native has since transformed his game to become one of the NBA’s most …

At any given time, there are 210 first-round picks in circulation within the NBA’s trade market. That figure represents 30 apiece for the next seven drafts, which is as far out as trades are allowed to go. In the past, that rule was almost never invoked. Trading picks seven years in the future simply represented a degree of risk teams …

Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ jersey from Game 1 set for auction originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago Another piece of legendary equipment worn by Michael Jordan will be the newest item to spark an extremely high bidding war. Jordan’s game-worn Bulls jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals will be featured in Sotheby’s online auction titled Invictus: Part 1 …

2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant was one of the most photogenic sports figures in Los Angeles and images of him seen by millions around the world – smiling in victory, grimacing in agony – keep his memory alive. But some photos of him should never be seen, his widow says, and she’s …

LeBron James is among the most ball-dominant players in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he always wants to be. When he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he eagerly spoke of eventually handing the reins to Kyrie Irving. In Los Angeles, he so badly wanted another ball-handler on his team that he advocated for the disastrous Russell Westbrook trade. James …