LOS ANGELES (AP) — The father of veteran NBA player Richard Jefferson has been killed in a drive-by shooting in the Los Angeles area.The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department says that Jefferson's father, also named Richard Jefferson, was fatally shot while standing on a corner in Compton on Wednesday night.The sheriff's department says at least one man fired on the 65-year-old Jefferson from a car, hitting him several times in the torso. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.Detectives say the motive is unknown and that the shooting is under investigation.The younger Jefferson has played in the NBA for 17 years. The 38-year-old won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and most recently played for the Denver Nuggets.

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic only had a basic outline of his offseason plans: Rest, work out in Denver, return home to Serbia and rest some more.It's not more elaborate since the Nuggets big man figured he'd be working for a while longer.The Nuggets won six more games than a year ago and yet finished in the same position — a spot out of the playoffs. This season even came down to a winner-take-all scenario in Minnesota, where the Nuggets came up short in overtime to miss out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season."I'm not mad. I'm not sad, because I think we played good," Jokic said Thursday. "We're not making the playoffs because we were not focused the whole season, every game."Still, the Nuggets won six straight down the stretch to climb into contention for a spot, before losing to the Timberwolves in a spirited game."If we play with that sense of urgency that we did at the end, then we wouldn't have even been in this position," Will Barton said. "It's all a part of growing."Veteran... [More]

F Richard Jefferson made his season debut, and the former Net received a nice hand when he checked in with 2:23 remaining.

F Richard Jefferson was active for the first time since signing as a free agent on Thursday, though he didn't play.

F Richard Jefferson, signed Thursday, was inactive.

F Richard Jefferson officially signed with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, a one-year deal that will reportedly pay him $2.3 million. Jefferson, 37, cleared waivers Monday after being waived by the Hawks after Atlanta acquired him in a trade with the Cavaliers that was completed Saturday. He spent the last two years of his 16-year career with the Cavs, serving as a role player and helping the franchise win its first championship during the 2015-16 season.

F Richard Jefferson and the Nuggets reportedly agreed on a one-year, $2.3 million contract. The 37-year-old Jefferson, who spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will join a young nucleus of rising stars that include center Nikola Jokic and guard Gary Harris in Mile High City.In a text message to the website The Vertical, Jefferson explained why he decided to join the Nuggets."I picked Denver because I believe in what they are doing and building and believe I can add and contribute on and off the court to their nucleus in a positive way," Jefferson said.Jefferson, who averaged 5.7 points per game in about 20 minutes per game last season, was traded over the weekend to Atlanta, where he was promptly waived.The Nuggets also added All-Star veteran swingman Paul Millsap in the offseason. Jefferson will compete for playing time with Millsap, Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler.

F Richard Jefferson, guard Kay Felder, two future second-round draft picks and cash considerations were traded from Cleveland to Atlanta on Saturday. In exchange, the Cavs acquired the draft rights to forward Dimitrios Agravanis and guard Sergey Gladyr.Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that $3 million is going to Atlanta.The Hawks later requested waivers on Jefferson and Felder, and they will become free agents after clearing waivers. Jefferson was set to earn $2.5 million this season and Felder $1.3 million.The trade gets the Cavaliers' roster to 15 ahead of the start of the regular season on Tuesday. The Cavaliers will save $12.8 million in luxury tax by unloading the two contracts, according to ESPN."These situations and decisions are some of the toughest to be in and have to make. Certainly, both RJ and Kay are two guys we also wanted to have here with us this season," Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman announced from Cleveland Clinic Courts.The 6-7, 233-pound Jefferson spent the previous two seasons with the Cavaliers, playing in 153 games (18 starts) with averages of 5.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per contest. A member of the Cavaliers' 2016 NBA championship team, Jefferson appeared in 35 postseason games for Cleveland and averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds. The 16-year veteran originally signed with the Cavaliers on Aug. 5, 2015.

F Richard Jefferson, who previously was mulling retirement, announced Wednesday on his podcast that he is coming back to the Cavs next season.Jefferson, 37, said on his "Road Trippin'" podcast on the LeBron James-owned "Uninterrupted" social-media platform, "I will be starting my 17th season next year; I am not retiring."Jefferson's 2017-18 contract is guaranteed for $2.5 million. Last season, his second with Cleveland, he appeared in 79 games, making 13 starts, and averaged 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and one assist. He played in 14 postseason games, contributing 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest.

One of the Cleveland Cavaliers' reserves will return next season, but another remains uncertain.Forward Richard Jefferson, who previously was mulling retirement, announced Wednesday on his podcast that he is coming back. However, guard James Jones and the team are still determining his status, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.Jefferson, 37, said on his "Road Trippin'" podcast on the LeBron James-owned "Uninterrupted" social-media platform, "I will be starting my 17th season next year; I am not retiring."Jefferson's 2017-18 contract is guaranteed for $2.5 million. Last season, his second with Cleveland, he appeared in 79 games, making 13 starts, and averaged 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and one assist.He played in 14 postseason games, contributing 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest.Jefferson, a 2001 first-round pick by the Houston Rockets out of Arizona, has played for the New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland. He has career averages... [More]

F Richard Jefferson nailed a 3-pointer with 10:57 left in the second quarter, breaking a 46:08 personal scoreless streak.

F Richard Jefferson (left knee tendinitis) played 11 scoreless minutes Sunday after missing the previous two games.

F Richard Jefferson (left knee tendinitis) sat out Friday. He didn't play Thursday against the Bulls

F Richard Jefferson missed Thursday's game due to left knee tendinitis. Jefferson did not practice Wednesday.

F Richard Jefferson tallied 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting but did not attempt a shot over 15 second-half minutes for Cleveland, which fell to 0-9 on the road in the second half of back-to-backs.Jefferson, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 49 points on 19-for-24 shooting in the first half. Cleveland shot 63.4 percent prior to the intermission.

F Richard Jefferson had three of Cleveland's record 25 3-pointers Friday and finished with 11 points.

F Richard Jefferson started instead of Channing Frye and added 11 points and six boards.

F Richard Jefferson was excused from the team for personal reasons. There is no timetable for his return.

F Richard Jefferson was ejected Wednesday after receiving two technical late in the game following at tie-up with Milwaukee's Thon Maker. He ripped his jersey off and threw it into the stands, to the crowd's delight, on his way to the locker room.

SF Richard Jefferson's next basket will be the 5,000th of his career.