LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first NBA game at Staples Center since Kobe Bryant's death was difficult for the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings. When the Los Angeles Lakers return to the court Friday night, that will be even more emotional.Clippers forward Paul George narrated a 2-minute video tribute to Bryant before Thursday night's loss to the Kings. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Southern California.Bryant's retired No. 8 and No. 24 Lakers jerseys were left uncovered in the upper left corner of the arena. Following the video tribute, there was 24 seconds of silence followed by “Kobe, Kobe” chants before the national anthem.The Clippers wore No. 24 shooting shirts during pregame warmups, while coach Doc Rivers and his staff wore ties and shoes honoring Bryant.“I'm glad it's behind us. This will help us a little bit,” Rivers said.The tribute was a preamble to the Lakers' return to Staples Center on Friday night against... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said he was pushed by a fan when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball during Thursday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.The play occurred late in the fourth quarter of Toronto's 115-109 win. Lowry retrieved a missed shot by teammate Pascal Siakam that was headed out of bounds. Video showed Lowry landed on two fans in the first row of seats and one appeared to press his hand on the six-time All-Star's back as he returned to the floor. Lowry turned and looked at the fan as play continued. “I got pushed, and that’s the second time it’s happened to me,” Lowry said. "The next time it happens, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself. Fans like that shouldn’t be able to lay any hands on you and shouldn't be a part of our game.”Lowry was pushed by a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors during last season's NBA Finals when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball under similar circumstances. This time, Lowry saved the possession for the Raptors and Serge Ibaka hit a 3-pointer that gave Toronto a 105-101 lead. Lowry, selected to next month's All-Star Game earlier in the day, went up court on defense after the basket.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — All-Star forward Paul George narrated a 2-minute video tribute to Kobe Bryant before the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. It was the first basketball game at Staples Center since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in Sunday's helicopter crash in Calabasas.George, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, said during the video: “We gather tonight in the house that Kobe Bryant built to honor and remember him. He was as synonymous with Southern California as the sunshine and touched every inch of it." Bryant's retired No. 8 and 24 Lakers jerseys were left uncovered in the upper left corner of Staples Center. Following the video tribute, there was 24 seconds of silence followed by “Kobe, Kobe” chants before the national anthem.The tribute was a preamble to the Lakers' return to Staples Center Friday night for their first game since Bryant's death. Their game Tuesday against the Clippers was postponed out of respect... [More]

The All-Star Game is going to have plenty of new faces.The NBA released the list of the players Thursday voted by the league’s head coaches as reserves for the Feb. 16 game in Chicago, including six who will be All-Stars for the first time.Kyle Lowry of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors is headed back to the game, as are Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Houston’s Russell Westbrook and — for the first time since 2016 — Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul.The other reserves are all first-time selections: Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram and the Utah duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.“Definitely it is an honor,” Tatum said in a statement. “I am extremely blessed and grateful. Third year, to make the All-Star team, it is a surreal feeling. I’m just very excited and it is a dream come true.”Those six — combined with starters Pascal Siakam,... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Before the Los Angeles Lakers practiced on the final day before their first game since Kobe Bryant’s death, they played.The players, their coaching staff and general manager Rob Pelinka took to the park across the street from the team’s headquarters Thursday to kick around a soccer ball and throw a pigskin.The sight of these basketball big men straining to make saves in goal or loping underneath LeBron James' 30-yard passes brought smiles and laughter to fans walking by. The excursion also seemed to lift the spirits of the players, who got a fun respite from a rough week.“It’s a beautiful day out, and there’s always therapeutic benefits to sunshine and being outside in fresh air,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.The Lakers will return to the court Friday night at Staples Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers in their first game since Bryant's death along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven more in a helicopter crash Sunday.The Lakers will hold a... [More]

Editors:To help you with planning for Kobe Bryant, here are some of our plans. This advisory is subject to change and will be routinely updated. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern.Thursday, Jan. 30BKN—KOBE BRYANT-LAKERSEL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to hold their second practice while they continue to grieve for Kobe Bryant. The Lakers held a light shooting workout Wednesday as they resumed basketball activities after the death of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash. Only coach Frank Vogel spoke to the media, though Thursday some players are expected to be made available. By Greg Beacham. Upcoming: 800 words, photos by 7 p.m. ETBKN—ALL-STAR-FORMAT CHANGESKobe Bryant's jersey number will be chased at this year's NBA All-Star Game. The NBA says this year's game will have a new format. The team... [More]

Editors:To help you with planning for Kobe Bryant, here are some of our plans. This advisory is subject to change and will be routinely updated. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern.Thursday, Jan. 30BKN—KOBE BRYANT-LAKERSEL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to hold their second practice while they continue to grieve for Kobe Bryant. The Lakers held a light shooting workout Wednesday as they resumed basketball activities after the death of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash. Only coach Frank Vogel spoke to the media, though Thursday some players are expected to be made available. By Greg Beacham. Upcoming: 800 words, photos by 7 p.m. ETBKN—KINGS-CLIPPERSLOS ANGELES — In the first NBA game at the Staples Center since Kobe Bryant's death, the Los Angeles Clippers host the Sacramento Kings in a nationally... [More]

Vanessa Bryant made her first public comment Wednesday since the helicopter crash that killed husband Kobe Bryant, one of their daughters and seven other people, taking to Instagram to thank people for the global outpouring of support since the tragedy.She also announced the formation of a fund to help support the other families that were affected by the crash.“Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”The Bryants would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this April. They had four daughters including Gianna, the 13-year-old who died in the crash.“There aren’t enough words to describe our... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers ended practice with a few somber, almost plaintive laughs. As they left the court, they all passed under the oversized 8 and 24 outlined in white on the black wall above the door to their locker room.Anthony Davis and several other Lakers paused and looked up at Kobe Bryant's two retired numbers for a moment before they moved forward.The Lakers are still grieving and mourning Bryant's death Sunday in a helicopter crash along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others. Los Angeles' players and coaches returned to work Wednesday at their training complex with a determination to keep Bryant and the victims in their thoughts while getting on with the business of basketball and life.“We want to represent what Kobe was about, more than anything,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’ve always wanted to make him proud, and that’s not going to be any different now.”Vogel, who joined the Lakers eight months ago, was the only person to speak to the... [More]

Vanessa Bryant made her first public comment Wednesday since the helicopter crash that killed her husband Kobe Bryant, one of their daughters and seven others, taking to Instagram to thank people for the global outpouring of support since the tragedy.She also announced the formation of a fund to help support the other families that were affected by the crash.“Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”The Bryants would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this April. They had four daughters including Gianna, the 13-year-old who died in the crash.“There aren’t enough words to describe our... [More]

Vanessa Bryant spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since the helicopter crash that killed her husband Kobe Bryant, one of their daughters and seven others, taking to Instagram to thank people for the global outpouring of support since the tragedy.She also announced the formation of a fund to help support the other families that were affected by the crash.“Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”The Bryants would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this April. They had four daughters including Gianna, the 13-year-old who died in the crash.“There aren’t enough words to describe... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving is back in Brooklyn's starting lineup after not playing on the day Kobe Bryant died.Irving is starting for the Nets in their home game Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons.Irving was at Madison Square Garden on Sunday when he learned that Bryant had died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and seven others. Irving, who is friends with the longtime Lakers star, then left the arena before the Nets lost to the New York Knicks.The point guard returned to practice Tuesday. Coach Kenny Atkinson said Irving was more quiet than usual but practiced well and believed being back on the floor was good for him. Irving scored 45 points in an overtime victory at Detroit on Saturday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers ended practice with a few somber, almost plaintive laughs. As they left the court, they all passed under the oversized 8 and 24 outlined in white on the black wall above the door to their locker room.Anthony Davis and several other Lakers paused and looked up at Kobe Bryant's two retired numbers for a moment before they moved forward.The Lakers are still grieving and mourning Bryant's death Sunday in a helicopter crash along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others. Los Angeles' players and coaches returned to work Wednesday at their training complex with a determination to keep Bryant and the victims in their thoughts while getting on with the business of basketball and life.“We want to represent what Kobe was about, more than anything,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’ve always wanted to make him proud, and that’s not going to be any different now.”Vogel, who joined the Lakers eight months ago, was the only person to speak to the... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have returned to practice while they continue to grieve for Kobe Bryant.The Lakers held a light shooting workout Wednesday as they resumed basketball activities after the death of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash Sunday.The Lakers' game against the Clippers on Tuesday night was postponed. Instead, the players and coaches gathered that afternoon to share stories and remembrances of Bryant, who played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers.Coach Frank Vogel, who joined the franchise eight months ago, was the only person to speak to the media after Wednesday's workout. Vogel says the Lakers “are all deeply, deeply saddened by this tragedy.”Vogel says the Lakers “want to represent what Kobe was about, more than anything.”The Lakers have the Western Conference's best record at 36-10. Their next game is Friday night at home against Portland.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Editors:To help you with planning for Kobe Bryant, here are some of our plans. This advisory is subject to change and will be routinely updated. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern. Wednesday, Jan. 29BKN—KOBE BRYANT-LAKERSEL SEGUNDO, Calif. — LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers hold their first practice since the team was rocked by Kobe Bryant's death in a helicopter crash. The Lakers' scheduled game Tuesday was canceled while the franchise grieved Bryant, who retired in 2016. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6 p.m. PST.US—HELICOPTER CRASH-KOBE BRYANT KILLEDLOS ANGELES — A crash-warning device wasn't required on the helicopter that crashed and killed Kobe Bryant and eight others but experts say it's unclear whether the instrument would have saved their lives. Jennifer Homendy of the National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot slammed into a foggy hillside outside Los Angeles Sunday after a minute-long, high-speed plunge... [More]

SAO PAULO (AP) — For little Kobe Bryant growing up in Italy, the player that amazed him as a child was a skinny and half bald Brazilian guard who often beat his father's teams with long distance shots.Oscar Schmidt, one of basketball's all-time leading scorers with almost 50,000 points, played with Italian teams between 1982 and 1993. It was there that the son of Joe Bryant started going to courts to watch his father in action and, when possible, take a few shots himself.Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others died in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in Southern California on Sunday, igniting a global wave of grief that includes Schmidt — the idol turned fan.“Once I heard Joe's teammates saying he would talk about Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to Kobe. And the kid would answer, ‘The good one is Oscar, he beats your team all the time.’ And Joe would laugh,” a well-humored Schmidt told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Tuesday.Joe Bryant played in Italy... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid paid tribute to Kobe Bryant by wearing one of his jersey numbers.Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie and Orlando’s Terrence Ross are showing their respect by no longer doing so. Boston’s Kemba Walker is considering such a change.And coaches around the league left their snazzy leather shoes in the office Tuesday night, wearing Bryant’s signature sneakers instead.The games are going on — except in Los Angeles, for a couple more days anyway. So, too, is the grief after the fiery helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday that took the life of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others. And the tributes are continuing as well, such as the separate decisions by Dinwiddie and Ross to no longer wear the No. 8 that Bryant donned at the start of his NBA career.“We often search for meaning in numbers,” Dinwiddie tweeted.Dinwiddie will now wear No. 26. Ross is going back to No. 31. The moves, evidently, are simply their way of saying Bryant’s numbers — he... [More]

SAO PAULO (AP) — For little Kobe Bryant growing up in Italy, the player that amazed him as a child was a skinny and half bald Brazilian guard that often beat his father's teams with long distance shots.Oscar Schmidt, one of basketball's all-time leading scorers with almost 50,000 points, played with Italian teams between 1982 and 1993. It was there that the son of Joe Bryant started going to courts to watch his father in action and, when possible, take a few shots himself. Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others died in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in Southern California on Sunday, igniting a global wave of grief that includes Schmidt — the idol turned fan.“Once I heard Joe's teammates saying he would talk about Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to Kobe. And the kid would answer ‘The good one is Oscar, he beats your team all the time.’ And Joe would laugh,” a well-humored Schmidt told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Tuesday.Joe Bryant played in Italy... [More]

Shaquille O'Neal tearfully said Tuesday he never could have imagined anything like Kobe Bryant's death, remembering his former teammate as a great player whose kids called him “Uncle Shaq."“The fact that we lost probably the world’s greatest Laker, the world’s greatest basketball player is just — listen, people are going to say take your time and get better, but this is going to be hard for me," O'Neal said. “I already don’t sleep anyway, but I’ll figure it out."O'Neal's comments came at the start of TNT's pregame show, as he sat on the court at Staples Center along with the rest of the network's studio team. TNT was supposed to televise a doubleheader, but the NBA canceled the Lakers-Clippers game that was scheduled to be the nightcap because the Lakers organization is still too devastated after the death of Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, in a helicopter crash Sunday.O'Neal was working out with family members when he got the news and hoped it wasn't true.“I never could have... [More]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Kobe Bryant always had an interest in women's basketball, one that he shared with many in the sport even before his daughter Gianna started excelling at the game. Whether it was mentoring players like Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd and Sabrina Ionescu or working out with Gabby Williams and Katie Lou Samuelson, Bryant routinely gave of himself to help them improve their games.But he had only scratched the surface.UConn coach Geno Auriemma believes that Bryant's biggest contributions to women's basketball were in front of him before the NBA great and his daughter were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday.“I don’t think he got a chance to really establish (a legacy) in our game," Auriemma said. “The next 30 years, he might have. The next generation of kids who knew his daughter and played with Gigi. He gets involved at a whole another level. He was just getting started."Taurasi was one of the first WNBA players that Bryant worked with, even dubbing her the White Mamba — a... [More]