BRIAN MAHONEY
FILE - United States' Dwight Jones tries to grab the ball as a Russian player goes for a score during the men's basketball final at the Olympic Games in Munich on Sept. 10, 1972. Russia won 51-50 to win the gold medal. Members of the 1972 team have talked about finally retrieving those silver medals they vowed to never accept and left behind in Germany. No, they still don't want them for themselves. They believe the medals belong in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but the latest attempt to get them from the International Olympic Committee has been thwarted. (AP Photo, File)
Efforts to put '72 Olympic medals in hoop Hall thwarted

By Brian Mahoney Sep. 09, 2022 01:31 AM EDT
Members of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team have talked about finally retrieving

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman (16) fouls Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) as he drives to basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday April 8, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
'Let's get it on': Nets, Cavaliers to open play-in Tuesday

By Brian Mahoney Apr. 11, 2022 03:44 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have played in the NBA Finals and

FILE - Chicago Bulls fans Rob Martinez, left, Mark Kojak and Michael Kojak, right, show their support for the team during a rally in Chicago, June 14, 1991, celebrating the Bulls NBA championship. (AP Photo/Mark Elias, File)
The 1990s: Jordan era takes flight; Magic battles HIV virus

By Brian Mahoney Feb. 23, 2022 02:26 AM EST
Michael Jordan had just won his first championship, beating Magic Johnson in the NBA

Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, celebrates her win over Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Olympic champs Zverev, Bencic reach US Open quarterfinals

By Brian Mahoney Sep. 06, 2021 04:39 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic want a trophy in their

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns a shot to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the men's single final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Zverev denies allegations, backs ATP domestic violence rules

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 27, 2021 05:43 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Olympic tennis gold medalist Alexander Zverev again denied

Australia's Patty Mills (5) reacts as time runs down against Slovenia during the men's bronze medal basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Mills, Aussies capture elusive Olympic medal in men's hoops

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 07, 2021 09:10 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Patty Mills and Joe Ingles stood at center court locked

United States' Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after their win in the men's basketball gold medal game against France at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Captain America: Durant makes sure gold medal stays with US

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 07, 2021 03:22 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — With the gold medal in jeopardy, the U.S. knew where to

France's Guerschon Yabusele (7) questions a foul call during a men's basketball quarterfinal round game against Italy at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
In basketball, complaining about calls its own Olympic sport

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 06, 2021 06:23 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Besides his native Slovenian, Luka Doncic speaks English

United States's Bam Adebayo (13) grabs a rebound over Australia's Patty Mills (5) and Nic Kay (15) during men's basketball semifinal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
US routs Australia 97-78, to play for more basketball gold

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 05, 2021 02:26 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — The U.S. has owned gold for three straight Olympics,

Australia's Patty Mills, left, and Matthew Dellavedova (8) celebrate a score against Argentina during a men's basketball quarterfinal round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
US, 3 unbeaten teams set for Olympic men's basketball semis

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 04, 2021 04:31 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — They believe they are the best basketball team at the

El argentino Luis Scola (4) se cubre la cara con la camiseta mientras recibe una emotiva ovación de su equipo, de sus rivales australianos y de los demás presentes en la cancha al sentarse en la banca en los últimos instantes del juego de cuartos de final del torneo olímpico entre los dos países, el último del alero argentino, el 3 de agosto de 2021, en Saitama, Japón. (AP Foto/Eric Gay)
Goodbye to greats: Scola, Gasols reach the end at Olympics

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 03, 2021 11:35 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Luis Scola expected to be in the game competing until the

Italy's Nicolo Melli dunks the ball ahead of France's Guerschon Yabusele, left, during a men's basketball quarterfinal round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Pool)
France tops Italy 84-75 to reach men's basketball semifinals

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 03, 2021 06:19 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Nicolas Batum felt a pressure he'd never experienced with

Slovenia's Jaka Blazic (11) celebrates with teammate Luka Doncic (77) during men's basketball quarterfinal game against Germany at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Doncic, Slovenia move into Olympic basketball semifinals

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 02, 2021 10:49 PM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Luka Doncic and Slovenia need one win for a medal in

United States's Jrue Holiday (12) drives to the basket between the Czech Republic's Tomas Satoransky (8) and Jan Vesely (24) during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Holiday may be piece to a 2nd basketball championship puzzle

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 02, 2021 07:24 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Jrue Holiday has already had gold in his grasp.

France's Evan Fournier (10) shoots over United States' forward Kevin Durant (7) during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Gold and green: Olympic basketball, NBA business intersect

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 01, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum are going for gold,

Slovenia's Mike Tobey (10) celebrates a score against Spain with teammates Klemen Prepelic (7) and Luka Doncic (77) during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Doncic, Slovenia edge Spain 95-87 to sweep basketball group

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 01, 2021 06:27 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Luka Doncic's winning streak with Slovenia will carry

United States's Kevin Durant, left, shoots against the Czech Republic during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Durant sets record, example for US Olympic men's hoops team

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 31, 2021 08:38 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Kevin Durant had been just ordinary so far in these

Germany's Andreas Obst (42) drives to the basket between Australia's Matisse Thybulle (10) and Duop Reath (14) during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Australia beats Germany 89-76 to sweep basketball pool

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 31, 2021 06:09 AM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — The wait needs to end now. Australia views this as its

Iran's Arsalan Kazemi (41), left, and France's Nando de Colo (12) scramble for a loose ball during men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
France moves on, 'sad' Iran heads home in men's basketball

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 30, 2021 10:41 PM EDT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Arsalan Kazemi spoke sadly and not because his Olympics

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
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — There was plenty of time to talk about it, had they