NBA Finals
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

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

FILE - A USA basketball fan holds up the Stars & Stripes as the American Olympic team play Angola, July 26, 1992, Barcelona, Spain. The "Dream Team" with the first U.S. Olympic men's basketball team to field active NBA players rolls past Croatia 117-85 for the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games. The Americans demolish the field. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)
AP Was There: Dream Team rolls in Barcelona to Olympic gold

By The Associated Press Feb. 23, 2022 01:39 PM EST

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

Ginobili, Chambers, Whalen among 1st-time hoop hall nominees

Dec. 21, 2021 05:08 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Former San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobili, SuperSonics and Suns forward Tom Chambers and Olympic and WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen are...

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

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

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 file photo, Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri in action during the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Dallas. While the AfroBasket tournament doesn’t boast the star power of an Olympics, it does showcase ever-competitive and improving quality of basketball on the continent. Mejri, a more slender 7-foot-2 center who played for the Dallas Mavericks from 2015-19, hopes to use his 3-point shooting to draw former NBA draft pick Walter “Edy” Tavares away from the basket. Ugandan players struggled in the paint, knowing Tavares was looming to swat away shots. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, file)
Tall task: Cape Verde aims high in AfroBasket semifinals

By Ken Maguire Sep. 03, 2021 02:18 PM EDT

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

United States' Kevin Durant (7) scores during men's basketball quarterfinal game against Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Analysis: He's Kevin Durant, and finding his Olympic groove

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 04, 2021 10:35 AM EDT

Federica Pellegrini of Italy swims in a heat during the women's 200-meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Pau Gasol elected by Olympic athletes to be an IOC member

By Graham Dunbar Aug. 04, 2021 04:09 AM EDT

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

United States' Kelsey Plum (5) drives past Olga Frolkina (15), of the Russian Olympic Committee, during a women's 3-on-3 gold medal basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Durant, Stewart, members of hoops Achilles Comeback Club

By Tim Reynolds And Doug Feinberg Aug. 01, 2021 12:49 PM EDT

Argentina's Gabriel Deck, left, fights for a rebound with Spain's Pau Gasol during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (Aris Messinis/Pool Photo via AP)
Pau Gasol defied odds to return, is going out on his terms

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 31, 2021 03:32 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

United States' Kevin Durant reacts at the end of a men's basketball preliminary round game against France at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. France won 83-76. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Analysis: For USA Basketball, the time is now to fix things

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 26, 2021 05:11 AM EDT

United States' Damian Lillard (6), Kevin Durant (7), and Draymond Green (16) their loss to France in wait for play to resume during their loss to France in a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
If shots don't fall in Olympics, not a surprise when US does

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 25, 2021 04:03 PM 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)
Trio of NBA Finals players finally arrives at Tokyo Olympics

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 24, 2021 10:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2019, file photo, ESPN's Maria Taylor works from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Miami and Florida in Orlando, Fla. Taylor is leaving ESPN after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Taylor had been with ESPN since 2014 but her contract expired Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Her last assignment for the network was Tuesday night at the NBA Finals, where she was the pregame and postgame host for the network's “NBA Countdown” show. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
NBC quickly hires Maria Taylor after her departure from ESPN

By Joe Reedy Jul. 23, 2021 05:34 PM EDT