NBA Playoffs

FILE - Dream Team members Charles Barkley, left, and Grant Hill share a laugh with teammates after receiving their gold medals at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Aug. 3, 1996. Let the recruiting begin. The braintrust for the U.S. — managing director Grant Hill, national team director Sean Ford and coach Steve Kerr — is already well into the process of trying to get players thinking about wearing the red, white and blue at the World Cup in 2023 as well as the Paris Olympics in 2024. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk, File)

Analysis: Plans in works for USA Basketball's World Cup team

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 14, 2022 01:41 PM EST

FILE - Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan dribbles during the second quarter of an NBA game on Oct. 31, 2002, at the MCI Center in Washington. (AP Photo/Ken Lambert, File)

Column: Brady may join top 10 who should've stayed retired

By Paul Newberry Oct. 28, 2022 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili, left, of Argentina, drives to the basket over Oklahoma City Thunder's Caron Butler during the second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoff series, Thursday, May 29, 2014, in San Antonio. The four-time NBA champion with the Spurs is one of the headliners for Saturday night’s enshrinement ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Thunder Spurs Basketball

Sep. 08, 2022 11:30 AM EDT

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 8, 2021, in Los Angeles. James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension through the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

LeBron James inks 2-year, $97.1 million deal with Lakers

By Greg Beacham Aug. 17, 2022 04:23 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jun. 09, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
June 14 1922 — Gene Sarazen edges Bobby Jones and John Black to win the U.S. Open tournament. 1934 — Max Baer stops Primo Carnera in 11th...

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic walks off the court after the team's loss in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 27, 2022. The Warriors won the series. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Jokic's NBA MVP a win for hoops-crazed nations outside US

By Ken Maguire May. 11, 2022 02:38 AM EDT

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

FILE - Boston Celtics Larry Bird, right, passes off to teammate as Milwaukee Bucks Marques Johnson steps in to block his path during NBA action in Boston, Nov. 7, 1980. (AP Photo/John Martell, File)

Timeline of NBA in 1980s as league celebrates 75th season

By The Associated Press Jan. 17, 2022 10:45 AM EST

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra signals to his players during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

With Lowry, Heat hoping for run back to NBA title contention

By Tim Reynolds Oct. 12, 2021 11:14 AM EDT

Argentina's Luis Scola (4) drives around Slovenia's Edo Muric (8) during men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Doncic debuts with 48 points, Slovenia wins Olympic opener

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 26, 2021 02:46 AM EDT

Bradley Beal, left, and Kevin Durant, right smile 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

FILE - Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons plays during Game 5 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Washington Wizards, in Philadelphia, in this Wednesday, June 2, 2021, file photo. Ben Simmons can't shoot and lost his confidence. He blamed a mental block on the worst free-throw shooting percentage in NBA playoff history. The 76ers head into the offseason faced with a big question - do they try and salvage Simmons or deal the former No. 1 pick. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Ben Simmons withdraws from Australia's Olympic squad

Jun. 28, 2021 08:07 PM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton shoots past Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals game Friday, June 25, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Commitment to Olympics not a distraction for Bucks' guards

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 26, 2021 12:06 PM EDT

Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant warms up before Game 7 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, June 19, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP source: Grant accepts Olympic bid, pushes US roster to 12

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 23, 2021 03:56 PM EDT

Fans watch as Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday (21) defends against Brooklyn Nets' James Harden (13) during the first half of Game 7 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, June 19, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP source: Harden commits to US Olympic men's team for Tokyo

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 21, 2021 03:20 PM EDT

Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal, left, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris during the second half of Game 5 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Wizards at Philadelphia 76ers 6/2/2021

Jun. 18, 2021 03:33 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jun. 10, 2021 11:41 AM EDT
June 11 1898 — Willie Simms becomes the only African American jockey to win the Preakness Stakes when he rides Sly Fox to victory and the...