NBA

Associated PressWas Kobe Bryant's pilot feeling pressure to fly that day?By BRIAN MELLEY, DAVID KOENIG and BERNARD CONDONLOS ANGELES (AP) The pilot in the foggy-weather helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant was well-acquainted with the skies over Los Angeles and accustomed to flying celebrities.Ara Zobayan, 50, had spent...

CLEVELAND (AP) - Kobe Bryant, who has won five NBA championships, will be part of Sina's pregame and postgame livestream of Game 3 of the NBA Finals in China.The Lakers superstar will provide analysis before and after Tuesday night's game, joining host Huang Shuo remotely from Los Angeles.Bryant remains...

NBA G League player dies after collapsing during gameGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Zeke Upshaw, a swingman for the Detroit Pistons' G League affiliate who collapsed on the court during a game over the weekend, died Monday.Upshaw, 26, died at a hospital, the Grand Rapids Drive said. No cause...

AP Sports WriterFor Bulls, blockbuster trade is all about directionBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls set a clear direction by trading All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night last week.As for whether they got enough in return? Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson...

AP Basketball WriterUSA Basketball's next move hinges on new Olympic scheduleBy TIM REYNOLDSUSA Basketball is hoping that the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will be held around the same time next year as they would have been this year.Otherwise, an already-complicated situation could get even tougher for coaches and players.USA Basketball...

AP Basketball WriterDwyane Wade bikes with police to promote unity in MiamiBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade still plans to do plenty of talking about the need for societal change, a quest that became even more personal for him after one of his cousins was shot and killed...

AP Sports WriterFor Isaiah Thomas, no hard feelings in his return to BostonBy BY KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) Isaiah Thomas wanted to make thing one perfectly clear during his return to Boston: He isn't holding onto any hard feelings about the way he left.Thomas returned to TD Garden on...

Giannis thinking of drafting Curry with 1st All-Star pickNEW YORK (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks he might take Stephen Curry with his first pick in the NBA All-Star draft.Antetokounmpo is the captain of one team for the game as the top vote-getter among Eastern Conference players in fan balloting....

AP Sports WriterHouse Call: 76ers expect Doc Rivers to lead on, off courtBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Doc Rivers used his voice as one of five Black coaches in the NBA to make some of his strongest statements condemning racial injustice.With playoff games postponed in the NBA bubble as...

AP Basketball WriterZion Williamson out for summer league with bruised kneeBy TIM REYNOLDSLAS VEGAS (AP) Zion Williamson's summer league is over.The New Orleans Pelicans announced Saturday that the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft will not play any more at the Summer League in Las Vegas...

Rudy Gobert returns for Jazz after missing 2 gamesINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Rudy Gobert started at center for the Utah Jazz at Indiana on Wednesday after missing two games because of a sprained left ankle.Gobert was named the league's top defensive player each of the past two seasons and is...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Hard hats on, Steve Kerr and Kevin Durant lifted their golden shovels filled with dirt in a ceremonial moment for the Warriors franchise as it broke ground on snazzy new San Francisco digs at long last. And keeping KD in a Golden State uniform to see...