Steve Kerr is teaching. And learning.That is his silver lining from this season.After five consecutive years of being No. 1 in the Western Conference — and ending up as NBA champions in three of those seasons — the Warriors are at the bottom of the league. Everyone knows why: Kevin Durant left, Stephen Curry got hurt, Klay Thompson got hurt, D’Angelo Russell got hurt, Andre Iguodala got traded, Shaun Livingston retired, DeMarcus Cousins left ... it goes on and on.“You can’t have worse luck than they’ve had,” Orlando coach Steve Clifford said.But to Kerr’s credit, the Warriors are desperate to make the best of their situation.This will be a losing season for Kerr, his first in more than a quarter-century. He was a winner almost every year as a player, a winner in each of his three seasons as an executive in Phoenix, a huge winner in his first five seasons as coach. He won five titles as a player, three more as a coach. And next year — with Curry back, Thompson back, a top-five lottery pick... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard returns after missing three games with the Los Angeles Clippers to play with Paul George for the first time against the Boston Celtics.It’s taken nearly a month, but the duo will be on the court together Wednesday night in the nationally televised game.Leonard had sat out because of a bruised left knee that he sustained last week at Houston.George hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to lift the Clippers over Oklahoma City on Monday night. He made his debut last week at New Orleans after missing the first 11 games while rehabbing from two offseason shoulder surgeries.The two superstars arrived in Los Angeles last summer as part of a blockbuster deal.“I’m just looking for them to burn minutes and see how they can do,” coach Doc Rivers said.Leonard is averaging 26.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists in nine games.George is averaging 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in three games.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Plenty has changed since Carmelo Anthony last played an NBA game.Zion Williamson had just made his Duke debut. Kyrie Irving had said only a month earlier he planned to re-sign in Boston.There’s been turnover all over the league — including a blockbuster trade between Anthony’s last two teams that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston and Chris Paul to Oklahoma City.When Anthony joins the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in New Orleans, he will come to an NBA that’s much different since Nov. 8, 2018, and he will try to show he still fits in it.“I just look at that opportunity, that team, and say, ‘Look, this is what I can bring to the team, this where I can help,’ and it will only work if all parties see it the same way,” Anthony said in a video posted Monday.Plenty of fellow players think he can. A former coach hopes he will.“Hopefully this is a good situation,” Houston’s Mike D’Antoni said. “You never know why this didn’t happen before. For whatever reason. Maybe he wasn’t ready. I hope it... [More]

Plenty has changed since Carmelo Anthony last played an NBA game.Zion Williamson had just made his Duke debut. Kyrie Irving had said only a month earlier he planned to re-sign in Boston.There’s been turnover all over the league — including a blockbuster trade between Anthony’s last two teams that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston and Chris Paul to Oklahoma City.When Anthony joins the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in New Orleans, he will come to an NBA that’s much different since Nov. 8, 2018, and he will try to show he still fits in it.“I just look at that opportunity, that team, and say, ‘Look, this is what I can bring to the team, this where I can help,’ and it will only work if all parties see it the same way,” Anthony said in a video posted Monday.Plenty of fellow players think he can. A former coach hopes he will.“Hopefully this is a good situation,” Houston’s Mike D’Antoni said. “You never know why this didn’t happen before. For whatever reason. Maybe he wasn’t ready. I hope it... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard is missing his third straight game for the Los Angeles Clippers, again delaying his on-court pairing with new teammate Paul George.George was in the lineup Monday night against his former team, Oklahoma City, which traded him to the Clippers in the offseason.Leonard bruised his left knee in a loss at Houston last Wednesday and didn’t play at New Orleans or against Atlanta last week. Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers says it was “very possible” Leonard was going to play Monday. Rivers has displayed little concern that Leonard will be out long.“I just know it’s going to happen,” he said of Leonard and George playing together for the first time.Leonard has missed five of the Clippers’ 14 games. When he’s been in the lineup, he’s averaging 26.8 points.George has scored 70 points in just 44 minutes over the past two games since making his season debut after rehabbing from two shoulder operations.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard sat out against the Atlanta Hawks because of a left knee contusion, delaying his first game with Los Angeles Clippers teammate Paul George.Coach Doc Rivers described Leonard as day-to-day Saturday night and didn’t seem concerned that it was anything more than that. It’s the fourth game Leonard has missed so far, the others were due to load management.Leonard also sat out in a loss at New Orleans on Thursday when George made his Clippers debut.George scored 33 points, fourth-most in a debut in franchise history. He missed the season’s first 11 games while completing rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers says small forward Paul George is set to make his season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.George, a six-time NBA All-Star, was acquired by the Clippers as a free agent this past offseason. He has been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.Rivers says he’ll have George on “visual” minute restrictions, meaning he’ll remove him from the game when he looks tired.The Clippers coach says he doesn’t know what kind of production or conditioning to expect from George because he has participated in just two practices and has not played full-court basketball since before his surgery last spring.George has averaged 19.8 points per game in nine NBA seasons, his first seven with Indiana and past two with Oklahoma City.George’s return comes as Kawhi Leonard sits out his third game this season to rest his sore knee after playing in the Clippers loss at Houston on Wednesday night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard isn't healthy three weeks into the season, according to the NBA, which says that as a result the Los Angeles Clippers can rest their new superstar.He was on the bench against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks for a national TV game Wednesday night, the first half of a back-to-back for the Clippers. They host Portland on Thursday night, and coach Doc Rivers said Leonard would play."Kawhi Leonard is not a healthy player under the league's resting policy," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement Wednesday. "And, as such, is listed as managing a knee injury in the LA Clippers injury report. The league office, in consultation with the NBA's director of sports medicine is comfortable with the team medical staff's determination that Leonard is not sufficiently healthy to play in back-to-back games at this time."While not disputing the league's comments, Rivers also said Leonard "feels great.""But he feels great because of what we've been doing and we're just going... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard isn't healthy three weeks into the season, according to the NBA, which says that as a result the Los Angeles Clippers can rest their new superstar.He was on the bench against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks for a national TV game Wednesday night, the first half of a back-to-back for the Clippers. They host Portland on Thursday night, and coach Doc Rivers said Leonard would play."Kawhi Leonard is not a healthy player under the league's resting policy," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement Wednesday. "And, as such, is listed as managing a knee injury in the LA Clippers injury report. The league office, in consultation with the NBA's director of sports medicine is comfortable with the team medical staff's determination that Leonard is not sufficiently healthy to play in back-to-back games at this time."While not disputing the league's comments, Rivers also said Leonard "feels great.""But he feels great because of what we've been doing and we're just going... [More]

In today's high-stakes NBA, a powerful pair beats three of a kind.Teams who longed to build a Big Three are now striving for a dynamic duo, hoping two premier players are good enough to win a championship when the belief used to be that it required a trio.And with some of the combinations assembled this summer, it sure seems less is more.That's certainly the thinking in Los Angeles, where LeBron James and Anthony Davis will try to power the Lakers back to the playoffs, and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George attempt to carry the Clippers further than they've ever gone before.Houston is putting James Harden and Russell Westbrook together in a backcourt of recent MVPs, and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant made the Nets the talk of not only New York but also the entire NBA on the opening day of free agency when they decided to partner up in Brooklyn."Everybody was looking for a Big Three," George said. "It didn't work for a lot of teams, so now this is a new dynamic for the new generation of this league."One... [More]

In today's high-stakes NBA, a powerful pair beats three of a kind.Teams who longed to build a Big Three are now striving for a dynamic duo, hoping two premier players are good enough to win a championship when the belief used to be that it required a trio.And with some of the combinations assembled this summer, it sure seems less is more.That's certainly the thinking in Los Angeles, where LeBron James and Anthony Davis will try to power the Lakers back to the playoffs, and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George attempt to carry the Clippers further than they've ever gone before.Houston is putting James Harden and Russell Westbrook together in a backcourt of recent MVPs, and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant made the Nets the talk of not only New York but also the entire NBA on the opening day of free agency when they decided to partner up in Brooklyn."Everybody was looking for a Big Three," George said. "It didn't work for a lot of teams, so now this is a new dynamic for the new generation of this league."One... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Add Miami's Tyler Herro to the list of rookies who look ready for the regular season.Herro scored Miami's first 14 points on Monday night, going 5 for 5 in that stretch, and finished with 23 points in a 120-87 Heat victory over the Atlanta Hawks.Through three games in this preseason, Herro — the No. 13 pick in this year's draft — is shooting 18 for 33 from the field for 49 points."The kid can play," Heat assistant coach Malik Allen said in a televised halftime interview. "He has a confidence but he's a student of the game, he's smart, he's an extremely quick learner and you're seeing that."Among those taken in June's draft, some have wasted no time in announcing their presence to the NBA world.New Orleans' Zion Williamson, the No. 1 pick, is averaging 23.3 points and shooting 71% in the Pelicans' four preseason games — all wins. Ja Morant, the No. 2 pick for Memphis, is among the league's assist leaders in exhibition season with 23 in his first three games.No. 3 pick RJ Barrett... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Add Miami's Tyler Herro to the list of rookies who look ready for the regular season.Herro scored Miami's first 14 points on Monday night, going 5 for 5 in that stretch, and finished with 23 points in a 120-87 Heat victory over the Atlanta Hawks.Through three games in this preseason, Herro — the No. 13 pick in this year's draft — is shooting 18 for 33 from the field for 49 points."The kid can play," Heat assistant coach Malik Allen said in a televised halftime interview. "He has a confidence but he's a student of the game, he's smart, he's an extremely quick learner and you're seeing that."Among those taken in June's draft, some have wasted no time in announcing their presence to the NBA world.New Orleans' Zion Williamson, the No. 1 pick, is averaging 23.3 points and shooting 71% in the Pelicans' four preseason games — all wins. Ja Morant, the No. 2 pick for Memphis, is among the league's assist leaders in exhibition season with 23 in his first three games.No. 3 pick RJ Barrett... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chris Paul is happy to be back where his professional career began.Paul started his career in Oklahoma City with the Hornets when they relocated after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was rookie of the year during the 2005-06 season, the first of two years he spent in Oklahoma City.Now he's 34, a nine-time All-Star who came back to where it all started by way of a trade that sent Thunder cornerstone Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange.Paul still has fond memories of the community that welcomed him to the NBA."The people here, the fans here, make this city what it is," he said. "It's crazy. Our life comes full circle. Now I have two kids. To bring them out here — they came out here this weekend to see me, them and my wife — it's cool to give them perspective because it changes."Paul, who averaged 15.6 points and 8.2 assists last season, said he holds no resentment toward the Rockets for trading him. He still feels he has plenty left to offer, and he looks... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs understand how they can be overlooked in the Western Conference given the flurry of trades and free agent signings in the offseason that reshaped so many of their rivals.That doesn't mean they have to like it."We've got a lot of dogs," Spurs guard Dejounte Murray said. "A lot of dudes with chips on their shoulders. A lot of guys are ready to go and go to war against any team in the NBA."That resolve is needed if San Antonio hopes to earn its 23rd straight postseason berth under Gregg Popovich.Already long regarded as the league's strongest conference, the West got even tougher during a whirlwind first week in July.Former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard has teamed with Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers. Anthony Davis joined LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell Westbrook is again playing alongside James Harden but this time in Houston. Utah traded for Mike Conley to pair with Donovan Mitchell.The Spurs' offseason consisted of adding DeMarre... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder general manager Sam Presti took on a new look during the summer, just like the team he runs.The normally clean-shaven Presti returned from a summer trip with a neatly groomed beard."I went to Vermont and let it go for a little bit, and then when I got back, nobody seemed to have a problem with it," he said. "So I just kind of let it roll for a little while. I can't tell you this is something that's going to be around that much longer, but that is really the story behind it. So thanks, Vermont."If only the changes for the Thunder were as simple.Paul George's surprise trade request accelerated the end of an era. The Thunder sent George to the Los Angeles Clippers, then traded former MVP and scoring champion Russell Westbrook to Houston and rising star Jerami Grant to Denver. Now, for the first time, the Thunder enter a season with no players who were part of the team that debuted in Oklahoma City in 2008.The Thunder got a slew of draft picks in the deals and some... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to temper expectations. Maybe that is understandable.He is preparing to step into the point guard position Russell Westbrook held for 11 years for the Oklahoma City Thunder.Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 10.8 points and 3.3 assists as a rookie for the Los Angeles Clippers last season. He joined the Thunder in the deal that sent All-Star Paul George to the Clippers.He has a massive hole to help fill. Westbrook was the 2017 NBA MVP and two-time scoring champion, two-time All-Star MVP and two-time assist leader who averaged a triple-double the past three seasons with the Thunder before he was traded to the Houston Rockets this summer."I am not Russell Westbrook," Gilgeous-Alexander said matter-of-factly Thursday. "We don't have the same name, the same body type, nothing like that. So I'm going to try to be myself and be the best me, and everything else will take care of itself."Thunder general manager Sam Presti has said Gilgeous-Alexander has... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to temper expectations. Maybe that is understandable.He is preparing to step into the point guard position Russell Westbrook held for 11 years for the Oklahoma City Thunder.Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 10.8 points and 3.3 assists as a rookie for the Los Angeles Clippers last season. He joined the Thunder in the deal that sent All-Star Paul George to the Clippers.He has a massive hole to help fill. Westbrook was the 2017 NBA MVP and two-time scoring champion, two-time All-Star MVP and two-time assist leader who averaged a triple-double the past three seasons with the Thunder before he was traded to the Houston Rockets this summer."I am not Russell Westbrook," Gilgeous-Alexander said matter-of-factly Thursday. "We don't have the same game, the same body type, nothing like that. So I'm going to try to be myself, the best me, and everything else will take care of itself."Thunder general manager Sam Presti has said Gilgeous-Alexander has star... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers unveiled the first renderings Thursday for the lavish arena complex they hope to build in Inglewood.While significant hurdles remain, the Clippers are hoping to break ground by 2021 on an 18,500-seat arena and a surrounding 26-acre, billion-dollar development project. They hope to be finished by 2024, when their lease expires at Staples Center.The team claims the complex will be funded entirely by owner Steve Ballmer and will require no public money or additional public infrastructure. The Microsoft billionaire is the wealthiest owner in U.S. team sports, and Ballmer said he wants his "Clippers to have the best home in all of sports.""What that means to me is an unparalleled environment for players, for fans, for sponsors and for the community of Inglewood," Ballmer added in a statement. "Our goal is to build a facility that re-sets fans' expectations while having a transformative impact on the city we will call home."The Clippers hope to build... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The words rebuilding and tanking don't sit well with Thunder general manager Sam Presti.He prefers the terms repositioning and replenishing.No matter what he calls it, he has quite a task in front of him after trading Oklahoma City's two best players __ All-Stars Paul George and Russell Westbrook __ and a rising star in Jerami Grant.It's the start of a new era, a transformation that began abruptly when George made a trade request, leading Westbrook to seek another destination, too. George joined Kawhi Leonard with the Los Angeles Clippers, while Westbrook is now partnered with former Thunder teammate James Harden in Houston.Presti publicly thanked Westbrook and George on Thursday, then said he is looking forward to the challenges ahead. Oklahoma City has stocked up on future first-round draft picks, and Presti believes the deals netted some good players in Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander."I think our focus right now is on the team that we have,"... [More]