LOS ANGELES (AP) — From George Mikan to Kobe Bryant, superstars have been the Lakers' lifeblood for decades.LeBron James is already the biggest star of his generation, and he followed a familiar path to Los Angeles' bright lights when he decided to sign with the Lakers as a free agent.It's no coincidence that this glamorous, 16-time champion franchise has consistently attracted already great players with outsized ambition. The 33-year-old James has taken on the challenge that Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal all accepted near the primes of their careers.Becoming a basketball superstar is one thing, and nobody is bigger than James after 15 prolific NBA seasons and three championships. Succeeding with the Lakers is something different, according to many of the men who have worn this gold jersey.Just ask Bryant, who won two Olympic gold medals as James' teammate while spending his entire 20-year career with the Lakers."The NBA does better when the Lakers are at their... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have waived center Thomas Bryant.The Lakers made the roster move Saturday as the start of free agency neared.Bryant was a second-round pick in last year's draft. The Indiana University product excelled for the Lakers' G League affiliate but averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 15 appearances for Los Angeles.Bryant's $1.38 million contract for next season would have become fully guaranteed next week.The Lakers have spent the past year clearing salary cap room for their pursuit of elite free agents including LeBron James. Los Angeles currently has just six players under contract for next season for a total of roughly $36.1 million, along with a $5.5 million qualifying offer out to Julius Randle.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have extended a $5.6 million qualifying offer to forward Julius Randle, making him a restricted free agent.The Lakers made the move Wednesday, ensuring they can match any offer sheet from another team signed by Randle starting on July 8.The 23-year-old Randle is coming off his best season with the Lakers, who chose him with the seventh overall pick in 2014. He averaged a career-high 16.1 points with 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists while playing in all 82 games.But the Lakers hope to be a major player in free agency next month, so it's unclear whether they will retain Randle. They might need to renounce Randle's rights or otherwise move him to clear salary cap space for two superstars.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

An NBA free-agent class with a little something for everyone hits the market on July 1. The group includes an array of superstars, big men, glue guys and sharp-shooters.Here's a look at some of the players to follow when the action begins:THE SUPERSTARS— Kevin Durant (player option): Has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors. He's in the middle of his prime as one of the game's premier players.— Paul George (player option): He has one of the best all-around games in the league and is still fairly young at 28.— LeBron James (player option): Still the free-agent grand prize at age 33, James has shown few signs of wear and tear despite 15 stellar seasons in the league.— Chris Paul (unrestricted): Among the league's best point guards even at 33, but he's struggled some with injuries over the years, including a hamstring issue in last year's playoffs.BIG MEN— Clint Capela (restricted): He's emerged as one of the league's top young big men after averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds... [More]

An NBA free-agent class with a little something for everyone hits the market on July 1. The group includes an array of superstars, big men, glue guys and sharp-shooters.Here's a look at some of the players to follow when the action begins:THE SUPERSTARS— Kevin Durant (player option): Has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors. He's in the middle of his prime as one of the game's premier players.— Paul George (player option): He has one of the best all-around games in the league and is still fairly young at 28.— LeBron James (player option): Still the free-agent grand prize at age 33, James has shown few signs of wear and tear despite 15 stellar seasons in the league.— Chris Paul (unrestricted): Among the league's best point guards even at 33, but he's struggled some with injuries over the years, including a hamstring issue in last year's playoffs.BIG MEN— Clint Capela (restricted): He's emerged as one of the league's top young big men after averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — And now the real season begins for the Los Angeles Lakers.At least that's what the fans of the 16-time NBA champions repeatedly have been told while Los Angeles missed the playoffs and finished with a losing record for the fifth consecutive year.Ever since they took over the Lakers' basketball operations a year ago, Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have founded their rebuilding project around the acquisition of one or two elite free agents this summer — or next summer, they've recently amended.Magic firmly believes the Lakers' championship pedigree, glamorous location and salary cap room for two enormous contracts can attract superstars near the primes of their careers to lift one of the NBA's cornerstone franchises back to its accustomed heights. The Lakers had only missed the playoffs five previous times in their first 65 years of existence before they doubled that number during this dismal half-decade.But while the pursuit of Paul George and LeBron... [More]

F Julius Randle totaled 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in Sunday's 148-142 double overtime loss to the Houston Rockets. He became the first Laker to finish with that stat line since Shaquille O'Neal in 2004.

F Julius Randle scored 16 off the bench.

F Julius Randle added 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

F Julius Randle scored 16 points in Thursday's 107-104 victory at Philadelphia.

F Julius Randle scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in Wednesday's loss to Golden State. It was his second 20-point game of the season.

F Julius Randle had 10 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday's win over the Bulls. Randle went into the game at center as the Lakers used a small-ball lineup to rally past Chicago. "Julius Randle changed the game for them when he went in there at the 5," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.

F Julius Randle scored a season-high 24 points as the Lakers beat the Nuggets on Sunday.

F Julius Randle contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds in Wednesday's 107-96 loss at Boston.

PF Julius Randle surpassed 2,000 career points when he scored his sixth on Sunday.

Los Angeles Lakers power forward Larry Nance Jr. had successful surgery on his left hand and will miss approximately four-to-six weeks, the team announced Friday night.Nance suffered the injury in Thursday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers said he fractured the second metacarpal bone in the hand.Nance was averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game in his first season as a starter. He was a reserve his first two NBA seasons.Julius Randle or Kyle Kuzma were expected fill his minutes starting Friday against the Brooklyn Nets.Randle started 133 games the previous two seasons, while Kuzma, a rookie, scored a season-best 22 points in the loss to the Trail Blazers and is averaging team-high 15 points.

NEW YORK -- The Phoenix Suns beat the Brooklyn Nets 122-114 on Tuesday to improve to 3-1 since interim coach Jay Triano replaced Earl Watson last week.The Suns blew an 18-point lead in the third quarter but made enough timely plays down the stretch to win.Devin Booker scored 32 points for Phoenix, his second 30-point game of the season and the 22nd of his career. Rookie Mike James added 24 for the Suns. TJ Warren scored all 20 of his points after halftime and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Suns, who controlled the glass by a commanding 66-44 margin.D'Angelo Russell scored a season-high 33 points as the Nets dropped their third straight.Lakers 113, Pistons 93LOS ANGELES -- Julius Randle scored 17 points off the bench to lead seven Lakers in double figures as Los Angeles downed Detroit.Kyle Kuzma added 16 points in a reserve role, Larry Nance Jr. had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball scored 13 points apiece, and Jordan Clarkson... [More]

F Julius Randle scored 17 points off the bench to lead seven players in double figures as the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons 113-93 on Tuesday night.

F Julius Randle played 18 reserve minutes, and his team was outscored by 25 points while he was in the game. He scored nine points. He started 73 of the 74 games he played for the Lakers last year. "When he stepped on the court, he wasn't ready to go like he has been the past week," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "When you get put in the game, you have to be ready at that moment."

F Julius Randle scored 25 points Friday.