LeBron James believes it would be "unfair" to put too many expectations on the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers will be working under a new coach in the upcoming season, with JJ Redick having come in to replace Darvin Ham.
Los Angeles were defeated 4-1 by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last season.
And though the core of a roster that reached the conference finals two seasons ago remains in place, James does not think expectations should be too high, too early.
"I don't have any expectations," James said after the first day of the Lakers' training camp.
"And that's unfair to put any expectations on us right now. The only thing that we can count on each other is how we come to practice and come to work every day."
James said it had been a "great first day" but stressed that it will take time for the Lakers to adjust to their new coach's methods.
He added: "It was very detail oriented.
"It's a collision course for all of us. We're all learning on the fly."
The Lakers kept hold of Max Christie over the offseason, and James believes he will be a crucial cog in 2024-25.
"I think Max will be a big part of our rotation," James said.
"He's gotten better and better and I'm happy we were able to bring him back in the summertime. I look forward to a bright season from him."
Dikembo Mutombo, one of the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history and a Hall of Famer, died Monday due to brain cancer at 58.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in October 2022, and the NBA said he was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that he will be remembered for his play on the court and his humanitarian work after his retirement.
"Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life," Silver said. "On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others."
The fourth overall pick of the 1991 draft, Mutombo was an eight-time All-Star and a three-time All-NBA selection during his 18-year career, playing for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and the then-New Jersey Nets.
A native of the Congo, the 7-foot-2 centre was also one of just three players to be named the defensive player of the year four times, along with reigning winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.
Mutombo was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after putting up career averages of 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.75 blocked shots. He led the league in blocks five times - the most by any player in the past 50 seasons.
He routinely followed up a blocked shot by waving his index finger in his opponent's face, insinuating don't try to shoot the ball over me.
Also remembered for his gigantic smile, Mutombo spent his time after his retirement from the NBA in 2008-09 working for several charitable organisations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
In 1997, he founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which focused on improving the health and quality of life for people in the Congo.
In a franchise-altering trade, the New York Knicks are close to acquiring four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves for a package centered around Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, according to reports on Friday night.
Minnesota would also get a protected first-round pick from the Knicks that originally belonged to the Detroit Pistons.
The deal is expected to be finalised Friday night, sources said.
Because the Knicks and Timberwolves are both operating over the luxury tax apron, more players and possibly a third team must be involved.
Towns previously played under current Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau from 2016-2019 and has been linked to New York ever since Leon Rose took over the front office in March 2020.
Towns, who grew up in nearby New Jersey, will pair with star guard Jalen Brunson to give New York one of the best inside-outside combinations in the league.
This would be the second major addition this offseason for the Knicks, who acquired forward Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in July.
Towns has spent all nine of his NBA seasons with Minnesota and helped the Wolves reach the Western Conference finals this past season following a 56-26 regular season.
He averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds this past season and has averaged 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds for his career.
Randle was a three-time All-Star with the Knicks as their starting power forward, a Most Improved Player winner and a two-time All-NBA selection.
He did not play in the playoffs after dislocating his shoulder on January 27, and after two months of rehab, opted to undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery in April.
DiVincenzo averaged a career-best 15.5 points last season for the Knicks and ranked third with 283 3-pointers made, trailing only Stephen Curry and Luka Dončić.
JJ Redick says the Los Angeles Lakers are mulling plans for the first time LeBron James and son Bronny James share the court together this season.
Bronny is gearing up for his first NBA season with the Lakers, who drafted the 19-year-old in the second round after he played a single campaign at USC.
He and LeBron - a four-time MVP - will become the first father-son duo in NBA history when they take to the court during the upcoming season, which begins against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.
And Redick says plans for how to commemorate the historic moment are still in the air, but insists both players will be involved in the decision-making process.
"We obviously have talked about it as a staff, and we've gotten into some specifics of what that might look like," Redick told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.
"But we haven't committed to anything. And obviously, there's a discussion to be had once we're all together with Bronny and LeBron, too. They should be a part of that discussion as well."
Redick is embarking on his first venture in the NBA, having been appointed the Lakers' 29th head coach in June.
Along with managing the James duo, the 40-year-old will be looking to improve on the franchise's first-round playoff exit last term, but is not fazed by the prospect.
"I don't look at it as a challenge," he said. "It's unique from any other challenge of coaching a player or coaching a relationship.
"Bronny, I feel very fortunate that I get to coach him because he's young, and he's hungry, and he's got a lot of inherent skill sets that we can really mould into a really good NBA player.
"On top of that, he's a fantastic kid. He's extremely coachable. He's got the right spirit and energy every single day."
Former No. 1 draft pick and NBA MVP Derrick Rose announced his retirement on Thursday following a 16-year career in the league.
Rose was selected first overall by his hometown Chicago Bulls and went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honours in 2008-09 before becoming the youngest MVP in league history at 22 years old in 2011.
He earned his third All-Star appearance in 2011-12, but Rose sustained a major knee injury during the 2012 playoffs that led to him sitting out almost all of the next two seasons.
That was the beginning of Rose battling knee and ankle injuries throughout his career.
Rose thanked the game of basketball on Instagram on Thursday, calling it “My First Love.”
“You believed in me through the highs and lows, my constant when everything else seemed uncertain,” Rose posted.
“You gave me a gift, our time together, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days.
“You told me it’s okay to say goodbye, reassuring me that you’ll always be a part of me, no matter where life takes me.”
Rose averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 723 career regular-season games with the Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.
The max contract extension is worth $193million over three years, multiple media outlets reported, guaranteeing Embiid over $299million through the 2028-29 season.
Embiid announced the deal with a post on Instagram.
“Philadelphia is home. I want to be here for the rest of my career,” Embiid said in his social media post. “I love this community and everything you’ve given me and my family.
“There is a lot more work to do. You guys deserve a championship and I think we’re just getting started!”
The team announced the extension without disclosing terms, citing a team policy, with managing partner Josh Harris saying Embiid is “one of the greatest Sixers of all time and is well on his way to being one of the best players to ever play the game.”
With the start of the NBA regular season just over a month away, Embiid’s extension caps a massive offseason spending spree by the 76ers.
Philadelphia committed an estimated $550million in new money with extensions for Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, plus the free agent signings of Paul George and several role players.
Embiid has established himself as a franchise cornerstone and perennial MVP candidate but is still seeking the corresponding play-off success while dealing with several injuries.
Embiid was voted the 2022-23 MVP after second-place finishes in the two previous seasons.
He scored 34.7 points per game last season, but his 39 games played did not qualify him for the scoring title.
A seven-time All-Star, Embiid is coming off a summer in which he helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
