LOS ANGELES (AP) — When LeBron James chose the Los Angeles Lakers, the burgeoning entertainment mogul realized many people would think he joined a mediocre team with a five-year playoff drought because he wanted to be in Hollywood.James simply scoffs at the notion he's thinking about anything but his day job as he begins the next chapter in one of the greatest careers in NBA history."My decision was based solely on my family and the Lakers," James explained before his first full practice in purple and gold. "I'm a basketball player. I play ball. That's what I do. When I do it at the level I do, everything else will take care of itself. As far as my business, those things have been taking care of themselves way before I even came out here."After winning three championship rings while leading — and sometimes carrying — his last eight consecutive teams in Miami and Cleveland to the NBA Finals, the 33-year-old James' new business is restoring a fraction of the Lakers' traditional glory following... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — There was LeBron James, still somewhat of a startling sight in purple and gold. And there were Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, still very much the champions of basketball for now and the foreseeable future.Playing each other Wednesday night in a game that meant nothing — except for those looking for a glimpse into the future of the NBA.Basketball's biggest stars on stage in a city full of stars. An exhibition game, yes, but that didn't stop fans from packing T-Mobile Arena on the Strip, where in a few years there almost surely will be a team they can call their own.And maybe the best thing? Anyone in the arena with a betting account could pull out their phone and bet a few dollars during the game.The gambling stigma is gone, thanks largely to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's progressive attitude and a Supreme Court decision that allowed sports betting in other states. The Vegas Golden Knights showed in their inaugural season that professional sports... [More]

The roadblock has been removed. With LeBron James gone, the path to the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference is open again.Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto and more are hoping to win the race to it.James ruled over the East for eight years, making four straight trips to the finals from Miami and then moving back to Cleveland in 2014 and getting there every year since.From Boston to Indiana, up north in Toronto all the way down to Atlanta, teams would emerge with what they thought was a title contender only to see James send them home for the summer.Now King James has abdicated his throne and moved to Los Angeles, and there should be rejoicing in the land he left behind."It's a new lease on life in the Eastern Conference," said Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Reggie Miller, who faced a similar situation when he played in the East during the era of Michael Jordan's Bulls."It's great that LeBron has taken his talents out West because it opens up the doors for not only a lot of these young players,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James' first game against the Warriors as a Laker drew nearly 2 million viewers, making it ESPN's most-watched preseason game ever.The Lakers' 123-113 victory Wednesday night in Las Vegas was watched by 1.98 million viewers, the network said Thursday. A spokesman says that is the most viewers for an NBA preseason game on any network since at least 1994, which is as far back as the records go.James developed a rivalry with the Warriors while meeting them in a record four straight NBA Finals while he played in Cleveland. His move to Los Angeles in July put him in the same division as the two-time defending champions.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — LeBron James rubbed his hands in chalk powder at the scorer's table, yelled "Yes!" to ecstatic fans in the first few rows and the Los Angeles Lakers' new era was underway.Playing in the same arena where Magic Johnson made his regular-season debut for Los Angeles 39 years ago, James captivated the crowd from the start of the Lakers' exhibition opener Sunday night, a 124-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets.The opening tip came James' way and he tapped it to fellow newcomer Rajon Rondo, who threw an alley-oop pass to JaVale McGee for the game's first score.James missed his first shot, a turnaround fadeaway, but then made a no-look bounce pass from about 27 feet out to Brandon Ingram for a dunk. A minute later, James hit a long 3-pointer.He finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in just more than 15 minutes."It was great to get back on the floor and then just start a new journey for myself and hear the Lakers fans that we have here in San Diego," said James,... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — LeBron James rubbed his hands in chalk powder at the scorer's table, yelled "Yes!" to ecstatic fans in the first few rows and the Los Angeles Lakers' new era was underway.Playing in the same arena where Magic Johnson made his regular-season debut for Los Angeles 39 years ago, James captivated the crowd from the start of the Lakers' exhibition opener Sunday night, a 124-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets.The opening tip came James' way and he tapped it to fellow newcomer Rajon Rondo, who threw an alley-oop pass to JaVale McGee for the game's first score.James missed his first shot, a turnaround fadeaway, but then made a no-look bounce pass from about 27 feet out to Brandon Ingram for a dunk. A minute later, James hit a long 3-pointer.He finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in just more than 15 minutes.Lakers fans hope James' arrival will turn things around after the worst half-decade in the franchise's lengthy history.He left the Cleveland Cavaliers for... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Although the Lakers' first official practice of the LeBron James era was focused on defense and learning new terminology, they ended it with a good old-fashioned 3-point shooting contest.The Lakers' new superstar was just another teammate during the spirited back-and-forth competition Tuesday. When James wasn't draining his own 3s, he marveled along with everybody else at the surprising perimeter prowess shown by JaVale McGee, the 7-foot veteran with exactly one 3-pointer during a game in his 10-year NBA career.The Lakers have many weeks of work ahead to become a cohesive team assembled around James, but he can already sense they're heading down the right path. They're planning to have plenty of fun along the way, too."I'm not a very patient guy, but I understand that I have to be patient right now," James said. "I've got to be patient with myself, too, because this is a new start for me. It's my first year in a new system. I know how to play the game of basketball,... [More]

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Anthony Davis swatted away the notion that his decision to hire new representation meant he was setting the stage for a change of scenery.With three seasons left on his contract and five All-Star nods to his name, Davis' leverage to control where he plays is growing. So when he recently left the Wasserman agency that negotiated his current contract and joined Klutch Sports, which also represents Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, it begged questions about the reasons for the switch.The move also stoked paranoia in New Orleans, the city Chris Paul left in his prime shortly after he changed agents.But Davis said the move was aimed primarily at helping him become the "the most dominant player in the league.""It was just for where I am right now in my career — what I'm trying to do — I thought the change was necessary," Davis said Monday, when the Pelicans held media day on the eve of training camp. "That's all it was."Increasingly, agencies representing athletes are... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James realizes the size of the challenge he accepted when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers. After eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances, he knows his new team isn't a true contender with Golden State and the NBA's elite just yet.The superstar welcomed every step in the process Monday as he began his next chapter in purple and gold.James finally made his first formal appearance as a member of the Lakers at their media day, nearly three months after he left Cleveland for a four-year, $153.3 million free-agent deal. In between posing for photos in his new gold No. 23 uniform, the 33-year-old superstar revealed part of the motivation behind his decision to join an iconic franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in five years."No matter what uniform I'm in, I'm always humsbled that I'm able to play this game at this level," James said. "I think we all know that this franchise has been a historical franchise in this league for years. ... That's an excitement... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Trail Blazers head into fall camp still stinging from last season's first-round playoff sweep by New Orleans.The trick now is not to overcorrect."You run the risk of overreacting to defeats, and maybe being blinded by victories," coach Terry Stotts said. "I think it's important that we learn from it, I don't want our team to forget about it. I don't want our team to forget about the feeling we had, not just after the series was over, but what we had to live through over the summer, and keep that edge. Hopefully, we use it as a learning experience."Portland returns the nucleus — Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic — of a team that went 49-33 last season. Apart from the early postseason exit, it was mostly considered a success.Boosted by a 13-game winning streak that started with a victory over the Golden State Warriors just before the All-Star break, the Blazers secured the third seed in the Western Conference. They clinched the Northwest Division title... [More]

CANTON, Mass. (AP) — Last summer, new Boston Celtics arrivals Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward beamed just imagining what it would be like to share the court together.Those dreams lasted all of five minutes before Hayward was lost for the season to a gruesome leg injury on the opening night of the season.The Celtics somehow survived it and had set themselves up to make a run at the Eastern Conference title when Irving was lost for the final stretch of the regular season and the playoffs following a pair of knee surgeries.But four months after a season with so much potential was tossed into the "what might have been" basket and following an offseason conference shake-up that saw LeBron James head west to Los Angeles, Boston again finds itself in the spotlight heading into training camp.Irving and Hayward are back and healthy. And they are flanked by a loaded roster of veterans and talented young players who are hungry for another shot at the franchise's 18th championship.Irving said last... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Big Three have cleared out and Lob City is no more.For the first time in 10 years, the Los Angeles Clippers will soon begin a season without DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin or Chris Paul on the roster.So just who is this team?Well, coach Doc Rivers isn't sure yet.But Patrick Beverley offers a bold take: Clamp City."You got two of the best on-ball defenders in the league," he said, referring to himself and Avery Bradley. "We can be a defensive juggernaut."Despite coming off a season in which the team missed the playoffs for the first time in his five-year tenure and LeBron James joining the Lakers, Rivers feels good about the Clippers' future."This is the healthiest this franchise has been," the coach said Monday. "We never had flexibility and now we have flexibility. We have an owner who is willing to do whatever it takes."Heck, even All-Star Jimmy Butler of Minnesota is saying he'd like to be a Clipper.And Luc Mbah a Moute decided to return as a free agent, impressed... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — As the Cavaliers wandered around posing for silly photographs, reading radio promotions and doing interviews, everything felt different.This media day was nothing like the past four. Cleveland heads into the season with very little buzz, zero drama and low expectations. The spotlight, which has illuminated the Cavs in recent years, is pointed elsewhere.LeBron James left and it all went with him."I'm still here," coach Tyronn Lue said, laughing.The Cavs began life without James in earnest on Monday, taking their first steps since the superstar signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer and promptly ended the greatest run in franchise history.Without James, Cleveland has tumbled from an elite team and title contender to one many believe isn't good enough to make the playoffs. However, Lue doesn't believe the Cavs are starting over."No tanking," he said. "Start from what we have and build from that. Not a rebuild at all. It's a challenge for all of us, something... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo was all smiles but had no jokes.The Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star forward was more business this time around: While he didn't indulge reporters by opening his media day session on Monday with a gag, as he had done in previous years, Antetokounmpo still flashed an infectious grin.Things are looking up for the Milwaukee Bucks as they move into a new arena this fall, with a new coach leading a team headlined by one of the NBA's bright, young stars.The organization once had billboards around the city that read "Own the Future." That future is here."You could make an argument that we're number 1, 2, 3, or 4" in the Eastern Conference, co-owner Marc Lasry said when asked about where the Bucks might fit in the conference picture. "I mean I think if we stay healthy and we play to our potential, we'd be one of the top two or three teams, so I think we're there."The Bucks have made slow, steady progress since an ownership group including Lasry bought the team in... [More]

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Ben Simmons is set to turn the 76ers into must-see TV.But he hopes to have another smash hit off the court. NBC has given a script commitment to "Brotherly Love," loosely based on the life of the Aussie-born NBA rookie of the year.Deadline described the pitch like this:"Brotherly Love is inspired by the life of Ben Simmons and centers on a unique sibling relationship within a multi-ethnic family. Together, they pursue their dreams while navigating life in the spotlight in Philadelphia, a passionate city where sports is in your blood, and your blood is always boiling."Don't touch that dial — well, unless the 76ers are on."It's just funny because a lot of people probably pitch their lives and think everything should be a TV show," Simmons said Friday. "We brought it to life. (My brother) wrote something up, pitched it to a few different people. NBC loved it and went with it. It's really going to be about our relationship and how things just happen. It's more of a comedy-sitcom... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Magic Johnson can already see LeBron James' impact on the young Los Angeles Lakers before they've even had a regular practice together.After just a few weeks of unusually competitive offseason scrimmages, the Lakers' basketball boss can't wait to see how James' leadership will translate into real success.Magic and general manager Rob Pelinka on Thursday pronounced themselves thrilled with the offseason progress made by their revamped roster and James, their prize free-agent acquisition. The Lakers have been working out together informally at the club's training complex ahead of the start of training camp Tuesday, and Johnson likes what he sees so far."Just to see all of them together playing a pickup game, oh my goodness," Johnson said. "It's something to watch. I've watched LeBron from afar. I've been at many of his games. But to watch him in the gym is a whole different thing. How much he makes everybody better, but also how he raises everybody's level of play.... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler knows that NBA players can force their way into trades.Forcing their way into a trade that suits the player, that's an entirely different story.Butler has told the Minnesota Timberwolves that he has no intentions of re-signing with the club next summer, his way of saying "trade me now" or "lose me for nothing later." The Athletic first reported Butler's decision.It's a power move that players can make.Thing is, it comes with risk — because what happens next is not up to Butler.This was the lesson learned from the Kawhi Leonard situation, from the Kyrie Irving situation, from the Paul George situation. Leonard supposedly was hoping for a trade from San Antonio to the Los Angeles Clippers. Irving wanted to be sent by Cleveland to either San Antonio and Miami. George was widely assumed to leave Indiana for the Los Angeles Lakers.Leonard is in Toronto , at least for one season.Irving got sent to Boston , and is a free agent next summer.George landed in Oklahoma City,... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand is in charge of the Philadelphia 76ers.A person familiar with the situation says the Sixers have made Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move had not been officially announced. Brand is expected to be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' G League affiliate.Brand was the No. 1 pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls and played two stints with the Sixers.Sixers coach Brett Brown had served as Philadelphia's interim GM and said earlier Tuesday he wasn't interested in holding both jobs. Brown pledged... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand is in charge of the Philadelphia 76ers.A person familiar with the situation says the Sixers have made Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move had not been officially announced. Brand is expected to be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' G League affiliate.Brand was the No. 1 pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls and played two stints with the Sixers.Sixers coach Brett Brown had served as Philadelphia's interim GM and said earlier Tuesday he wasn't interested in holding both jobs.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers will hire a general manager to replace Bryan Colangelo before the start of the season, coach Brett Brown said Tuesday.Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.Brown took the GM role on an interim basis, and the search for a new general manager has only recently heated up. Brown, entering his sixth season, said he had no interest in holding both jobs."That is my expectation, that we will have a general manager before the season starts," Brown said. "This is not something that interests me. I do not believe in the role that I have as a head coach that it's tenable. ... We will have, to the best of my knowledge, a general manager appointed, announced by the start of the season. And it's not me. It was never going to be."The Sixers have reportedly interviewed Utah Jazz assistant general... [More]