NBA Pacific Division
FILE - Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol, left, looks to a pass against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA basketball playoffs in Chicago, in this Saturday, April 18, 2015, file photo. Pau Gasol announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, ending a career that lasted more than two decades and earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain's national team. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Veteran Pau Gasol announces retirement from basketball

By Tales Azzoni Oct. 05, 2021 11:56 AM EDT

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

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) reacts in front of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks 7/20/2021

Jul. 21, 2021 07:09 AM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton goes up for a dunk against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (Justin Casterline/Pool Photo via AP)
LaVine cleared, USA Basketball awaits 3 NBA Finals players

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 21, 2021 07:07 AM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second half of Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Milwaukee Bucks at Phoenix Suns 7/17/2021

Jul. 18, 2021 01:01 AM EDT

Colangelo seeks Suns win, reinforcements for US Olympic team

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 14, 2021 06:53 PM EDT
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jerry Colangelo is headed to Game 5 in Phoenix, hoping to see his old team win its first NBA title. Getting the series...

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

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass as Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23)defends during the second half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Sweatin' with the oldies: 30-somethings abound in NBA Finals

By David Brandt Jul. 07, 2021 07:07 PM EDT

FILE - United States' Kobe Bryant reacts after a dunk during the men's gold medal basketball game against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, in this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, file photo. Bryant wore No. 24 and No. 8 with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he donned No. 10 for USA Basketball when he helped the Americans capture gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Jayson Tatum has worn that number as part of U.S. teams several times since — and will wear it at the Tokyo Olympics, where the Americans will aim to capture a fourth consecutive gold medal. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
The power of 10: Tatum eager to wear Bryant's Olympic number

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 07, 2021 12:44 PM EDT

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after shooting a three pointer against the LA Clippers in the second half of game five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoff basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)/The Orange County Register via AP)
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers 6/2/2021

Jun. 30, 2021 04:33 PM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and forward Nicolas Batum, right, defend against Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanovic (51) during the third quarter of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers 6/6/2021

Jun. 29, 2021 06:35 PM EDT

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker reacts after he was fouled while driving to the rim in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series againstt he Denver Nuggets Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets 6/13/2021

Jun. 18, 2021 06:13 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2019, file photo, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown gestures during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco. Brown is the coach of the Nigerian men’s Olympic basketball team this summer, and that team starts preparations for the Tokyo Games with training camp beginning this weekend in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
As Olympics near, Warriors' Brown eager for Nigerian chance

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 18, 2021 01:39 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...

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, center, talks to his players during a timeout in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Antonio, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs 5/16/2021

Jun. 10, 2021 08:07 AM EDT

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, center, talks with his team during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in San Antonio, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Kawhi and Popovich reunited? Leonard wants to go to Olympics

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 07, 2021 02:52 PM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 02:34 PM EST
Feb. 13 1923 — The New York Renaissance, the first all-black pro basketball team, is organized. Rens become one of the dominant basketball...

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 03, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 4 1861 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat Charter Oak 36-27 in a baseball game played on frozen Litchfield Pond in Brooklyn, N.Y., with...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jan. 28, 2021 12:32 PM EST
Feb. 3 1944 — Syd Howe of the Detroit Red Wings scores six goals in a 12-6 victory over the New York Rangers. Howe is the first player to...

FILE - In this June 7, 2019, file photo, Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) holds the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif. Bogut announced Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 that he is calling quits on his bid for an Olympic medal and has decided to retire after 15 years in professional basketball. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Bogut retires, ending his bid for an Olympic medal

Nov. 30, 2020 09:06 PM EST