CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on NBA All-Star Weekend (all times local):7:30 p.m.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he's pleased with the level of competitive balance that currently exists within the league, though cautioned there are still many ways to improve on that front.Silver's annual All-Star weekend address was Saturday night. It comes with Milwaukee holding the NBA's best record, a surprise of sorts in Denver contending for the top record in the Western Conference and Sacramento in position to end the league's longest current playoff drought at 13 years.Silver says there are still teams who choose, for whatever reason, to not be as competitive as others. But he says the league is striving to continue creating a fair and balanced playing field for all 30 teams.___12:50 p.m.The NBA is bringing a pro league to Africa.The Basketball Africa League, a collaboration between the NBA and the sport's global governing body FIBA, was announced Saturday. The initial plan is for the 12-team... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on NBA All-Star Weekend (all times local):12:50 p.m.The NBA is bringing a pro league to Africa.The Basketball Africa League, a collaboration between the NBA and the sport's global governing body FIBA, was announced Saturday. The initial plan is for the 12-team league to begin play in January.It's yet to be determined which existing club teams will be part of the league. Qualification tournaments will be held later this year to determine those clubs, with teams from Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia expected to be among those taking part. No nation will have more than two teams in the league.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league is "an important next step in our continued development of the game of basketball in Africa."___12:35 p.m.Boston's Kyrie Irving and New Orleans' Anthony Davis say they both plan to play in Sunday's All-Star game.Both have been dealing with injuries lately. Irving has been dealing... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on NBA All-Star Weekend (all times local):12:35 p.m.Boston's Kyrie Irving and New Orleans' Anthony Davis say they both plan to play in Sunday's All-Star game.Both have been dealing with injuries lately. Irving has been dealing with a strained right knee for about a week, and Davis left New Orleans' last game before the All-Star break with a bruised muscle in his left shoulder.Irving is a starter on Team LeBron, and Davis is one of the reserves on that team.Irving was definitive, saying he is fine and ready to go. Davis' tempered his prediction on playing, saying he expects to play but suggesting that it depends on how he feels Sunday.___12:10 p.m.LeBron James says he has kept a close eye on what freshman sensation Zion Williamson is doing at Duke and believes "it's great for the game."Williamson, a 6-foot-7, 285-pounder, has become a national sensation with his size and leaping ability.James said Saturday at practice for the All-Star game that the biggest... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on NBA All-Star Weekend (all times local):11:35 a.m.The Curry brothers have levied a wager for their head-to-head competition in Saturday night's NBA 3-point contest: Whoever loses must buy tickets for the entire Curry family anytime they play against each other for the remainder of their NBA careers.Stephen said Saturday before practice for the All-Star game that "the stakes are pretty high considering how many people show up for our games."It's unclear if the group will include a new sister-in-law. There are reports that Seth has proposed to Callie Rivers, the daughter of NBA coach Doc Rivers. When asked about it Saturday, Seth declined to talk about their relationship.Stephen, who won the 3-point competition in 2015, says he is motivated to win it again because he's "knows for a fact" that everybody else in the Curry family —including his parents— are pulling for Seth.Stephen says with a laugh, "so I hope to pull the upset."Both players are hoping to... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on NBA All-Star Weekend (all times local):10:50 p.m.Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo says he'll play in the FIBA world championships this summer.Greece has already qualified for the 32-team tournament, which starts in China on Aug. 31.Antetokounmpo said Saturday before practice for the All-Star game that the only way he wouldn't play is if he had any injury concerns.Many NBA stars are expected to participate, even though the finals in mid-September will be held a week or so before the start of training camps for the 2019-20 season.___10:10 a.m.John Collins has a favorite dunker. Not surprisingly, it's his Atlanta teammate Vince Carter.Collins will represent the Hawks in the dunk contest, one of the events during All-Star Saturday Night. The 3-point contest and skills competition are also on the evening docket.Collins had perhaps the best dunk of the Rising Stars game Friday night, going with a pass off the backboard to himself for a slam over Dallas' Luka Doncic. He says he's got three or four dunks ready to go for Saturday night.He won't reveal what to expect: "No hints," he said Saturday morning.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — John Collins has a favorite dunker. Not surprisingly, it's his Atlanta teammate Vince Carter.Collins will represent the Hawks in the dunk contest, one of the events during All-Star Saturday Night. The 3-point contest and skills competition are also on the evening docket.Collins had perhaps the best dunk of the Rising Stars game Friday night, going with a pass off the backboard to himself for a slam over Dallas' Luka Doncic. He says he's got three or four dunks ready to go for Saturday night.He won't reveal what to expect: "No hints," he said Saturday morning.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Vince Carter looked up at the highlights, enjoying the view of himself back in the days when he was among the NBA's highest flyers.He's about to turn 42, now in his 21st season, and he doesn't jump quite like the guy being shown Wednesday night on the Barclays Center overhead screens.The Nets honored Carter, who is the oldest active player, with a tribute video during their game against Atlanta, a way to say thank you for his 4 ½ seasons with the franchise."It was great. Any time you can see old video of when you were young and spry and springy and all of that good stuff, I mean, it's always great to see," Carter said.Good times, yes.But was it goodbye?Carter hasn't said if he plans to retire following the season. He would make NBA history if he returns, as nobody has played 22 seasons in the league.So was the video premature?"I'm OK with it. Either way it's cool," he said with a smile. "I'm very thankful for it, that they even considered it."When it was mentioned to me... [More]

Vince Carter could have gone anywhere.To a contender, to chase a ring. To retirement, because he has nothing left to prove. To television, which seems like it will be his next vocation whenever his playing days end.Instead, he chose Atlanta — a young team, a rebuilding team, a team that probably has minimal chance of making the playoffs.And he's happy."I'm with a great bunch of guys," Carter said. "I enjoy helping young guys who want to learn, who are willing to be coached and let you coach them and ask questions. It's a small thing, but it's a major thing — because if you're asking questions, that means you're trying to learn and grow. And these guys are all great."He's the NBA's oldest active player, someone who turns 42 next month. When he was drafted in June 1998, neither Trae Young nor Kevin Huerter had been born yet. And they're the starting backcourt for the Hawks this season, Carter's 21st in the league, with Atlanta being the eighth team he's played with.Carter talked with Dwyane... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young just might make the Atlanta Hawks fun to watch this season.The rookie point guard flashed some dazzling ball-handling skills in his preseason debut, keeping his teammates and fans involved in the action while he is on the floor.Atlanta is not expected to win many games this season, but Young will likely win over his teammates and more than a few fans."His greatest skill is he can facilitate and he can find guys," first-year coach Lloyd Pierce said. "When you have a player with the ability to do that, to find guys in creative ways, he's fun to play with."In his preseason debut Monday night, Young provided a glimpse of what Hawks fans can expect this year.Some good:On one play he bounced a pass off the backboard and later wrapped on around a defender on the baseline to assist on uncontested dunks.Some not so good: It was far from a perfect night as Young missed 10 of his first 11 attempts from the field.But he seemed to get a pass on his shooting — for now.The seamless... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Taurean Prince knows the Atlanta Hawks are about to begin one of the toughest seasons in franchise history.A year after going 24-58 — worst in the Eastern Conference — the Hawks are likely to take a step further back in the standings with an even younger team.Point guard Trae Young, the fifth overall draft pick, and shooting guard Kevin Huerter, the 19th overall pick, are both 20 years old. Forward Omari Spellman, the 30th overall pick, is 21.Young is projected to start alongside forward John Collins, 21, and Prince, a 24-year-old small forward who began to flourish in the final six weeks of last season."I'm still super young, so I'm looking for advice, too," Prince said Monday. "I'm still figuring out things. I'm still getting better along with them every day. I'm no better than them just because of my age."The Hawks have mixed in several veterans to balance out the roster. Guard Kent Bazemore, a sixth-year veteran, and center Dewayne Dedmon, a fifth-year veteran, will start.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — There is almost certainly pain coming for the Hawks, or at least their fans, yet first-time NBA head coach Lloyd Pierce and second-year general manager Travis Schlenk refuse to notarize that word while in charge of Atlanta's only woebegone pro team.Training camp begins Tuesday for the team that last season lost more games than any other in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks were 24-58, and their offseason moves are not likely to move them closer to playoff contention.They're going to be painfully young outside of their two potential marquee players. Vince Carter, though, is 41 years old ahead of his 20th NBA season. And Jeremy Lin, 30, signed over the summer too, joining his seventh NBA team. Oh, and they signed 30-year-old center Cole Aldrich last week.Still, the brass is excited for training camp to open next Tuesday.The NBA, after all, is as much about massive rebuilds these days as it is assembling super teams. The Hawks qualify for the former, and Pierce knows that game... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Udonis Haslem arrived at the Miami Heat facility for a workout one day last week, and was told he needed to sign a waiver before he took the court.The reason: Technically, he wasn't on the team."That was a little weird, having to do that," Haslem said.It won't be a problem for the next year. Haslem officially signed his one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Heat on Monday, a deal that was struck last week and finally became official when he put pen to paper. Haslem will enter his 16th NBA season, all with the Heat, and that means the Miami native will be with his hometown franchise for more than half of its 31-year history."For the hometown kid in me, that means the world," Haslem said. "I wish I understood how big that is right now, because I really don't, but I know it's big."Haslem was the seventh-oldest player in the NBA last season — and will rise at least one spot on that list this season, with the retirement of San Antonio's Manu Ginobili. Vince Carter is 41 and will... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Veteran Vince Carter is the latest addition to the new-look Atlanta Hawks.The 41-year-old Carter has agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Hawks, said a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press Thursday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.Carter was given the veteran's minimum deal to provide veteran leadership on a rebuilding Atlanta squad entering its first season with coach Lloyd Pierce.Carter, the NBA's oldest player, averaged 5.4 points and only 17.7 minutes per game while starting only five games last season with Sacramento.He will be entering his 21st season with his eighth team. He is an eight-time All-Star and has averaged 17.7 points for his career.Carter was named Rookie of the Year with Toronto in 1999. Following eight seasons with the Raptors, he was traded to New Jersey in 2004 and also has played for Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis and the Kings.Carter joins an Atlanta roster... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says veteran Vince Carter has agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks.The person spoke to The Associated Press Thursday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.The 41-year-old Carter was given the veteran's minimum deal to provide veteran leadership on a rebuilding Atlanta squad entering its first season with coach Lloyd Pierce.Carter averaged 5.4 points and only 17.7 minutes per game while starting only five games last season with Sacramento.He will be entering his 21st season with his eighth team. He is an eight-time All-Star and has averaged 17.7 points for his career.Carter was named Rookie of the Year with Toronto in 1999. Following eight seasons with the Raptors, he was traded to New Jersey in 2004 and also has played for Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis and the Kings.___More AP basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Rockets star Chris Paul is receiving treatment "around the clock" on his injured right hamstring and coach Mike D'Antoni hopes it will only be a matter of days before he is healthy enough to play again.The timeline remained unclear whether Paul might be fine to play a possible Game 7 if the Rockets lost Saturday night's Game 6 and had to return to Houston to face the Golden State Warriors again Monday night. Eric Gordon started in Paul's place Saturday at Oracle Arena."I think he'll play as soon as he can," D'Antoni said before the game Saturday. "It's just not a question of trying to outsmart. He's going to play. As soon as he's able to walk and run, he'll do it. There was no shot at it today."Golden State forward Andre Iguodala was out for a third straight game this series after he sustained a bone bruise in his left knee during Game 3. Coach Steve Kerr said Iguodala continues to have pain when running, so he's still listed as day to day."It's a bone bruise, and... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Golden State guard Patrick McCaw has been cleared to do some modified shooting and on-court running following a frightening fall at Sacramento on March 31 when he lost feeling in his lower half and was taken out on a stretcher with a severely bruised lower back.The team says the second-year pro was re-evaluated Thursday and will be examined by team medical staff again in four weeks.McCaw is making "steady functional progress" and will also work with the athletic training staff to keep building back his overall strength and conditioning.McCaw drove the baseline and went down with a thud in the third quarter of a 112-96 win, hit in the lower body by Vince Carter.McCaw lay still for about 10 minutes as the crowd quieted. Carter, who was given a Flagrant-1 foul, knelt nearby as medical personnel from both teams along with Warriors coach Steve Kerr rushed out to the baseline beneath Golden State's basket.McCaw has said he didn't believe Carter intentionally injured him.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Coach Dave Joerger strongly believes Sacramento's commitment to youth this season will pay off down the line in helping develop the Kings into a playoff contender.How soon that happens remains an open question."It can be frustrating because we're a society that wants a quick change and we want it right now," Joerger said after the final game of his second season in Sacramento. "It just takes time together to get that chemistry. We all want it to happen as fast as possible and we're doing everything we can for that."The Kings took a step back in the standings this season, winning five fewer games on the way to a 27-55 record that left them out of the playoffs for the 12th straight season, the longest active drought in the NBA.But with most of Sacramento's key players age 25 or younger, there might be some reason for optimism for a franchise that seems to be in perpetual rebuilding mode."They've seen enough to know how to react now," veteran Vince Carter said. "They... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Coach Dave Joerger strongly believes Sacramento's commitment to youth this season will pay off down the line in helping develop the Kings into a playoff contender.How soon that happens remains an open question."It can be frustrating because we're a society that wants a quick change and we want it right now," Joerger said after the final game of his second season in Sacramento. "It just takes time together to get that chemistry. We all want it to happen as fast as possible and we're doing everything we can for that."The Kings took a step back in the standings this season, winning five fewer games on the way to a 27-55 record that left them out of the playoffs for the 12th straight season, the longest active drought in the NBA.But with most of Sacramento's key players age 25 or younger, there might be some reason for optimism for a franchise that seems to be in perpetual rebuilding mode."They've seen enough to know how to react now," veteran Vince Carter said. "They... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Golden State Warriors guard Patrick McCaw has been released from a hospital following a terrifying fall to the floor during Saturday's game at Sacramento.The team also said Sunday that preliminary tests showed McCaw has no structural damage or problems with his nervous system after the freak injury.Golden State announced that X-rays, a CT scan and an MRI "were all clear." McCaw was able to leave UC Davis Medical Center. He is scheduled to be re-examined by a specialist on Thursday and his injury — aside from anything related to the impact of the fall — will be listed as a bruised lumbar spine."Just a huge relief," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Last night was really terrifying. All the news has been good. He's up walking. That's the only thing that matters, that Patrick's OK."Scariest thing I've ever experienced on a basketball floor for sure. Not even close."McCaw was taken away on a stretcher after a thud to the court following a foul by Sacramento's Vince Carter... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Golden State Warriors guard Patrick McCaw has been released from a hospital following a terrifying fall to the floor during Saturday's game at Sacramento.The team also said Sunday that preliminary tests showed McCaw has no structural damage or problems with his nervous system after the freak injury.Golden State announced that X-rays, a CT scan and an MRI "were all clear." McCaw was able to leave UC Davis Medical Center. He is scheduled to be re-examined by a specialist on Thursday and his injury — aside from anything related to the impact of the fall — will be listed as a bruised lumbar spine.The second-year pro was taken away on a stretcher after a thud to the court following a foul by Sacramento's Vince Carter in the Warriors' 112-96 win.McCaw, who appeared to be trying to dunk, did a scissor kick in the air over Carter's shoulder before landing hard on his back. He lay in agony for about 10 minutes as the crowd quieted. Carter, who was given a flagrant-one foul, knelt nearby as medical personnel from both teams along with Warriors coach Steve Kerr rushed onto the court.Players for both teams eventually came to the floor and huddled in prayer as McCaw was placed on a stretcher and wheeled away with his neck stabilized.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball