SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — D'Angelo Russell has done this before, forced to take on a far bigger role just last season because of injuries in Brooklyn. And now the new Golden State guard must do it again with the absence of both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in a suddenly short-handed backcourt.Curry broke his left hand in a 121-110 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night and it remained unclear a day later how long he might be sidelined, while Splash Brother Thompson could miss the entire season recovering from July 2 surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee that he hurt in a Game 6 loss in the NBA Finals that gave Toronto its first title. Curry underwent a CT scan Thursday but the team said it would have specialists evaluate the results before providing an update on his status.However long he is out, it hurts for far more than what he brings on the court. Curry's presence in the locker room provides an example for the young Warriors, and he is their longest-tenured player and their oldest at age... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Steve Kerr insists he isn't ruling All-Star guard Klay Thompson out for the entire season, yet the Golden State coach cautions that Thompson's recovery from surgery July 2 for a torn ACL in his left knee is still expected to take nine to 12 months.Thompson is "moving great" according to Kerr and certainly looked it as he's back doing shooting work on the court."ACLs, generally they take nine to 12 months. Nine months takes us right to the end of the season," said Kerr, who had recently told NBC Sports Bay Area it was unlikely Thompson would play this season."I wasn't announcing anything. He's doing great with his rehab. It's still possible that he could play. I forgot with modern media that 'unlikely' is going to become on the ticker 'out for the year' and all that stuff, so probably my mistake for opening my mouth. It's not the first time I've gotten myself in trouble for doing that. It's an ACL, so if you just do your research with the history of ACLs, he had surgery... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — New Warriors big man Willie Cauley-Stein will be sidelined for training camp with a left foot injury, while Klay Thompson is making progress from a July 2 surgery for a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee but will be out at least until the All-Star break.General manager Bob Myers said at Monday's media day that Cauley-Stein strained his foot last week while scrimmaging. Cauley-Stein is scheduled to be reevaluated in about a month with an update on his status expected at the end of October."It's disappointing for him mostly, I know he was ready to go," Myers said at the new Chase Center, where the Warriors will begin training camp Tuesday. "You like to have new players get a chance to get acclimated in camp, so for him and obviously the coaches, myself, the whole organization, we want him to get back. The good news is he will be back. But camp is a formative time for him and his teammates. Nothing you can do, injuries are clearly a part of it. We want... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — New Warriors big man Willie Cauley-Stein will be sidelined for training camp with a left foot injury, while Klay Thompson is making progress from a July 2 surgery for a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.General manager Bob Myers said at Monday's media day that Cauley-Stein strained his foot last week while scrimmaging. Cauley-Stein is scheduled to be reevaluated in about a month with an update on his status expected at the end of October."Other than that, we're healthy," Myers said at new Chase Center, where the Warriors will begin training camp Tuesday.The No. 6 pick in the 2015 draft, Cauley-Stein averaged 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds with the Sacramento Kings.Golden State doesn't have its usual depth at center, but re-signed Kevon Looney to a three-year contract.The Warriors have reached five straight NBA Finals but two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant departed for the Brooklyn Nets this offseason.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Someday, years or even decades from now, at one of those celebratory reunions teams like to do, Stephen Curry knows he and Kevin Durant will reminisce with fondness about their three insanely successful years together on the Golden State Warriors.They will reflect on the greatness, the fun, all they learned from each other shooting side by side day after day. Two championships, a pair of NBA Finals MVP awards for Durant."I'll always remember the three years we had. We'll probably be back here down the road celebrating those like they did the '74-75 team," Curry said, nodding in the direction of the Warriors' recent championship banners. "It'll be cool when that happens."For now, Curry is embracing new beginnings as the oldest player on a Golden State roster that will look far different come training camp next month — and that also was the theme he shared with girls attending his Warriors camp this week in one of his bittersweet final trips to the downtown Oakland... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Someday, years or even decades from now, at one of those celebratory reunions teams like to do, Stephen Curry knows he and Kevin Durant will reminisce with fondness about their three insanely successful years together on the Golden State Warriors.They will reflect on the greatness, the fun, all they learned from each other shooting side by side day after day. Two championships, a pair of NBA Finals MVP awards for Durant."I'll always remember the three years we had. We'll probably be back here down the road celebrating those like they did the '74-75 team," Curry said, nodding in the direction of the Warriors' recent championship banners. "It'll be cool when that happens."For now, Curry is embracing "new beginnings" as the oldest player on a Golden State roster that will look far different come training camp next month — and that also was the theme he shared with girls attending his Warriors camp this week in one of his "bittersweet" final trips to the downtown Oakland... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Bob Myers has accepted Kevin Durant's departure for the Brooklyn Nets with an appreciation for all the superstar forward accomplished with the franchise, even if the Golden State general manager would have loved to keep KD around a little longer."I have a peace about it," Myers said Monday as he discussed the Warriors' flurry of moves in free agency.And Myers doesn't think he would do anything differently in an attempt to keep Durant, who told Myers he was ready for a new chapter after winning championships with the Warriors in 2017 and '18 as NBA Finals MVP both years."You do the best you can," Myers said. "I think all along, to me it was a blessing that he came, that he wanted to be a part of this. This is a guy who can move in whatever direction he wants because of his talent. He came and he delivered. In my opinion he was everything we could have asked for. He represented us on the court, he represented us off the court. He still has a great relationship with... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — About five minutes after hearing Luke Walton had been dismissed as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac called Walton's agent.Finalizing the deal that brought Walton to Sacramento as the Kings new coach didn't take much longer. After getting the call Friday, Walton changed plans to take some time off and flew to Sacramento the following day instead. He agreed to a deal that afternoon and was formally introduced as coach of the Kings on Monday."I knew these types of offers don't come available very often," Walton said. "I love coaching, so having that opportunity with this type of talented team and doing it alongside somebody the way I feel about Vlade made it too good to pass up on."Divac called Walton one of his basketball "soul mates," who embraces the same philosophies in style of play and building culture on a team. The relationship between the two goes back more than a decade to when they were teammates on the Lakers... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings hired Luke Walton as their coach Monday, just days after the Los Angeles Lakers parted ways with him following three losing seasons.Neither the Kings nor Walton waited long following changes that came just after the end of the regular season. Sacramento fired coach Dave Joerger on Thursday following a 39-43 finish that was the best record for the franchise in 13 years, while Walton was dismissed in Los Angeles a day later when he failed to get the Lakers into the postseason in the first year with LeBron James.Kings general manager Vlade Divac met with Walton on Saturday and the two sides quickly came to the agreement that was formally announced Monday.The 39-year-old Walton was 98-148 in three years with Los Angeles in his first full-time head coaching job. He was 37-45 this season and was unable to make the playoffs even once.Walton also has experience as an assistant for Golden State, helping the Warriors win the 2015 title and then leading... [More]

Luke Walton will become coach of the Sacramento Kings, securing another NBA head coaching job just a day after parting ways with the Los Angeles Lakers following three losing seasons.The 39-year-old Walton was dismissed by the Lakers on Friday after Los Angeles went 37-45. His move to the Kings was confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadn't been finalized. A formal announcement from the Kings is expected in the next couple of days.Sacramento general manager Vlade Divac fired Dave Joerger on Thursday after the coach helped develop the young Kings into playoff contenders before ultimately falling short in the franchise's 13th straight losing season.Also Thursday, the Kings extended Divac's contract through the 2022-23 season — and Walton's deal is expected to run those same four years.Sacramento features several talented young players acquired by Divac: guards De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield, forward Marvin Bagley III and center... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Sacramento's best season in 13 years wasn't enough to save coach Dave Joerger's job.General manager Vlade Divac fired Joerger on Thursday after he helped develop the young Kings into playoff contenders before ultimately falling short in the franchise's 13th straight losing season."I think he did a great job to make that step," Divac said. "But moving forward, I just felt like we had to go a different direction. It's been three years and we made some progress. This year was a good season but I think we could do more, especially after All-Star break."Divac said he had been contemplating the decision to change coaches for a while and ultimately made it after the team stumbled to the finish with a 9-16 record after the All-Star break. The poor stretch run left Sacramento with a 39-43 record, nine games out of a playoff spot after being tied for the eighth spot in the West heading into the final game before the break.The Kings had their most wins since having a 44-38... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings fired coach Dave Joerger on Thursday after three losing seasons.Joerger had a 98-148 record since joining the Kings, but also helped the team reach its best record in 13 seasons this year with 39 wins. But it wasn't enough to earn him a fourth season in hopes of ending the NBA's longest active playoff drought. Sacramento last made the playoffs in 2006 in coach Rick Adelman's final season."After evaluating the season, I determined that we need to move in a different direction in order to take us to the next level," general manager Vlade Divac said. "On behalf of the entire Kings organization, I want to thank Dave for his contributions to our team and I wish him all the best."Divac made the move official just hours after he was given an extension through the 2022-23 season by owner Vivek Ranadivé. Divac took over as GM before the 2015-16 season and helped bring in some of the key pieces that have led to the improvement this year, including guards... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings have extended general manager Vlade Divac's contract through the 2022-23 season.The team announced the decision Thursday, one day after finishing its 13th straight losing season — the NBA's longest active playoff drought.Owner Vivek Ranadive called Divac vital to the rebuilding job. Divac became general manager at the start of the 2015-16 season. The Kings have made no announcement about coach Dave Joerger, who is 98-148 in three seasons.The Kings went 39-43 this year, their best record since their last playoff season in 2005-06. They have several talented young players acquired by Divac — guards De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield, forward Marvin Bagley III and center Willie Cauley-Stein.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Dave Joerger sized up Sacramento's situation in the summer and decided there was a need for speed.Never mind that his past doesn't scream run and gun. He was one of the coaches who oversaw the grit-and-grind era in Memphis, and disagrees that everyone needs to play fast even in this era of exploding offenses in the NBA.But you don't put the ball in De'Aaron Fox 's hands and tell him to walk it up the floor.So these Kings would have to push the pace."It's what best fits us," Joerger said. "About two weeks before the season started, I'd worked on it all summer trying to figure out how can I develop all these guys at the same time, the young guys, and made the priority list, and the list for me was De'Aaron Fox. And I think he can be great. And how do we best use his skills, and that is to play fast and to play open."Maybe the Kings will keep right on running until they've ended the longest current playoff drought in the NBA.They are at least in the race, sitting two games... [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]

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) — Chicago center Robin Lopez was ejected after being hit with back-to-back technical fouls during the second quarter of the Bulls' game in Sacramento, tossing a chair once he finally left the court.Lopez exchanged words with referee Justin Van Duyne with 4:21 remaining before halftime Monday after getting called for fouling Willie Cauley-Stein. Lopez, who appeared to still be seething over not getting a call on the offensive end 30 seconds earlier, was quickly hit with the first technical as he walked toward midcourt.The 7-footer stormed back toward Van Duyne and had to be held back by teammates after being called for a second technical. Lopez then reluctantly left the court and grabbed a chair in the tunnel leading to the Bulls locker room and tossed it.Chicago was already playing without Lauri Markkanen, who missed his third straight game due to the birth of his child. Markkanen was scheduled to join the Bulls in Sacramento but his flight was cancelled due to weather in Chicago.

Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein appears in line to start at center to open the regular season, according to CSN Bay Area.

Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein appears in line to start at center to open the regular season, according to CSN Bay Area. Cauley-Stein had been nursing a sprained ankle over the last couple of days, but was able to return to practice Saturday and was working out with the top unit. The rookie had been battling Kosta Koufos all camp for the starting role next to DeMarcus Cousins, and it looks like the No. 6 overall pick will have the first crack at assuming the bulk of the minutes at center. Head coach George Karl indicated Monday that Cauley-Stein is likely to start in his rookie season. “I thought he was pretty good,” Karl told CSN Bay Area. "I would say right now, Willie’s probably going to start. I’m not sure of that yet, but I think that’s probably where I’m heading.” Cauley-Stein averaged 8.9 points per game and secured 251 rebounds in his final season with the Kentucky Wildcats.