Latest News Updates

NBA roundup: Shaq decides not to interview for Magic GM job (The SportsXchange)

NBA great Shaquille O'Neal has declined an invitation to interview for the Orlando Magic's vacant general manager position.

 

Thunder, Spurs bring connection into West finals (The Associated Press)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) When Clay Bennett was seeking a leader for his team that would one day become the Oklahoma City Thunder, he picked a rising star from a San Antonio franchise on the verge of winning its fourth NBA championship in a decade.

 

James, Bryant lead All-NBA team (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the All-NBA team, while Kobe Bryant earned his 10th first-team selection, tied for second on the career list.

 

76ers Deserve Their Moment in Philadelphia: A Fan's Opinion (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Against all odds, the Philadelphia 76ers will be playing basketball on Memorial Day weekend. After winning Game 6, the 76ers will visit the Boston Celtics in the deciding Game 7 on Saturday, May 26. After an up and down season for the young team, there weren't a lot of people that thought that the 76ers would be one win away from reaching the conference finals. But here they are, and fans should really be excited. No matter what happens in Game 7, the 76ers have succeeded in their mission. They have won back the respect of the city.

 

James, Durant headline All-NBA team (The SportsXchange)

Superstars LeBron James of the Miami Heat and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder headline the All-NBA team that was announced Thursday.

 

James and Durant headline All-NBA selections (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Miami Heat and top scorer Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder headlined the list of players selected for the All-NBA team, the league said on Thursday.

 

After the city canceled its outdoor viewing party, Oklahoma City Thunder fans work to get it back (Ball Don't Lie)

It's a little too easy, in the wake of news like this, to point to "one bad apple" and declare overreaction. We're not law enforcement officials. We don't do this for a living. We weren't there and we don't know better. Now that we've shown respect to the Oklahoma City officials that decided to cancel the outdoor playoff game viewings at "Thunder Alley" during OKC Thunder games, in the wake of the shooting that marred the team's Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, it does appear that the city might be overreacting. Thunder Alley will remain open pregame, so you get to slap on your facepaint and buy a Thunder-sanctioned something or other, but once the game tips off, according to Dan Mahoney, Thunder vice president of corporate communications and community relations , those without a ticket can then "go to their favorite viewing establishment to watch the game." Not to the big outdoor screen, where a cast of thousands watched the Thunder play in the team's opening-round series against Dallas, and the group's triumph over the Lakers. Undeterred, Thunder fans at Welcome To Loud City are attempting to streamline fan efforts to swamp the OKC mayor and city council with requests that fans without a ticket be given the chance to continue to watch the game outside. Considering that sports fans are often as superstitious (if not considerably more) than the players who play the game, we can understand if there are some jittery OKC backers worried about what's going to happen when next Thursday's Game 3 (the first contest in the Western Conference finals to be played in Oklahoma City) tips off.

 

Western Conference Finals Preview Capsule (The Associated Press)

A look at the Western Conference finals, which begin Sunday (with regular-season and playoff records):

 

Police say 16-year-old shot eight outside NBA game (Reuters)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - A 16-year-old boy is in custody and suspected of opening fire after an NBA game on Monday, injuring eight people who had gathered outside an arena to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Los Angeles Lakers, police said on Wednesday. The police said they expect to file charges against the youth of shooting with intent to kill the eight victims, after filing an affidavit in court on Wednesday detailing the evidence against the boy. The Daily Oklahoman newspaper reported on Wednesday that the boy confessed to the shooting, but that could not immediately be confirmed. ...

 

Uncertainty shrouds Gasol's future with Lakers (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Pau Gasol expressed uncertainty about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers after his postseason exit interview with general manager Mitch Kupchak at the team's training facility on Wednesday. The Lakers were eliminated from the Western Conference semi-finals by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday after an erratic playoff run during which Gasol was accused by team mate Kobe Bryant of not displaying enough aggression. ...