Category: Basketball

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has compiled a few accolades the last few months.

He finished the 2024-25 regular season as the NBA scoring champion. He was named the Western Conference finals MVP in May and then the NBA Finals MVP after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league championship last month. His first signature shoe with Converse will be released this fall, and last week, he agreed to a four-year supermax contract extension worth $285 million.

Gilgeous-Alexander can add “video game cover athlete” to that growing list of accomplishments.

Wednesday morning, NBA 2K announced Gilgeous-Alexander, WNBA forward Angel Reese and NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as the cover athletes for NBA 2K26, which will be released in September. Gilgeous-Alexander will be on the cover of the video game’s Standard Edition, and Reese will be the cover for the WNBA Edition. Anthony will be the cover for the for the Superstar Edition, an exclusive that includes 100,000 virtual currency (VC), which is a digital form of currency used to purchase upgrades within the game.

To add, the trio of athletes will share a cover for the game’s “Leave No Doubt” Edition, a special release that includes everything in the Superstar Edition plus an additional 35,000 VC.

Weeks after leading the Thunder to a hard-fought, seven-game championship series win against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander is now starting to appreciate his historic season. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to win the scoring title, league MVP and NBA Finals MVP in the same season.

“When you look back, you realize it,” Gilgeous-Alexander told in a one-on-one interview. “Being in the midst of it and getting lost in the process and getting lost in competing, I didn’t really realize it. I didn’t feel like I was doing something extraordinary. I was just going out there trying to be the best version of myself playing the game that I love.

“But it’ll for sure be a season that I never forget.”

Since the Thunder’s championship parade, Gilgeous-Alexander said he’d kept a low profile to spend time with family after a draining season. He said the game being released around the same time as his signature shoe is an added bonus.

“It’s a childhood dream come true,” he said of the video game cover. “Those feelings are the best feelings in the world, and it’s hard to wrap your head around, really. It feels amazing.”

Gilgeous-Alexander said signing the extension was an easy decision. The Thunder are champions and have the nucleus of the team under contract for next season. The Canadian guard, a three-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team selection, added that Thunder fans “never wavered” in their support through the years and have helped him make Oklahoma City a home away from home.

“You feel the love, and you feel the appreciation,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.  “(The extension) was a no-brainer, obviously, but to know that I have a little bit more of a run in Oklahoma City is a great thing.”

Gilgeous-Alexander finished the 2024-25 season averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game during the regular season, all while shooting 52 percent from the field. Being on the video game cover is special for a league MVP who, as a teen, enjoyed playing 2K using Andre Iguodala when he played for the Denver Nuggets during the 2012-13 season. Gilgeous-Alexander said he also used J.R. Smith when he played for the New York Knicks. Both were among Gilgeous-Alexander’s favorites, two athletes he watched throughout their careers.

Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Reese has fond memories of the video game growing up. She recalled her first times playing 2K in the early 2010s, back when LeBron James was with the Miami Heat. The game, she said, helped build a stronger bond with her younger brother.

It’s a different vibe, however, being one of the faces of the game.

“I’m just really happy to be a part of something that’s legendary, something that two other great players are on,” Reese said.

Additionally, Reese finds herself on the cover of the game and hopes to be an inspiration for girls looking to follow in her footsteps. On July 1, she was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 19.7 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and two steals in three games between June 23-29. This past Sunday, Reese was named a reserve for the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

“If you can see it, you can believe it,” Reese said. “Hopefully, that gives them the opportunity to know that they can do these same things.”

As of Tuesday, Reese is averaging 13.2 points, a WNBA-best 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals through 18 games. No other player in the league is averaging 10 rebounds per contest.

“You don’t win championships without rebounds and without defense,” Reese said. “The greatest players play both sides of the ball.

“I’m only in my second year, and I’m just reaching to where my potential can actually go. I think I’ve done a great job so far, just giving myself grace and just continuing to get better every single day.”

Reese specializes in rebounding. Anthony, like Gilgeous-Alexander, can put the ball in the basket. A 10-time NBA All-Star and the league scoring champion in 2013, Anthony scored 28,289 points — which ranks 10th all-time on the NBA career scoring list — and averaged 22.5 points per game in 19 seasons.

To add, Anthony is a four-time Olympic medalist in men’s basketball, three of them gold in 2008, 2012 and 2016. His résumé was good enough to earn a spot in the 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class — for his individual play and for his contributions on “The Redeem Team” in 2008 after the United States finished the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece with a disappointing bronze medal.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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Warriors star Jimmy Butler bringing BIGFACE coffee pop-up to San Francisco originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Full steam ahead.

Warriors star Jimmy Butler III is bringing his famed BIGFACE coffee brand to San Francisco, EATER SF’s Paolo Bicchieri revealed in an article published Tuesday.

The six-time NBA All-Star is partnering with digital point-of-sale company Square to bring his iconic flavor to a pop-up at Square’s temporary Corner Store in the Mission District. BIGFACE will be open from July 10 to 27 at 22nd and Valencia streets with hours spanning from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“San Francisco’s coffee culture is legendary, making the city an ideal fit for BIGFACE,” Butler shared in BIGFACE’s press release. “Coffee brings people from all different backgrounds together, so partnering with Square to bring BIGFACE to the Mission is the perfect way to connect more deeply with the Bay Area and show love to a community that’s embraced me.”

“The menu will include espresso drinks, cold brew, pour-over, and bags of the hard-to-find coffee, and exclusive merch will be available to purchase,” Bicchieri added. “BIGFACE infusions for the drinks include vanilla, salted caramel, and strawberry.”

Butler has become a fan favorite in the Bay after being traded to Golden State from the Miami Heat on Feb. 6. He surely will be loved even more after Dub Nation gets a taste of his coffee.

Butler launched BIGFACE in 2020 during the NBA’s historical bubble era in Orlando. Then, making his first of two finals appearances with the Heat, Butler sold coffee from his hotel rooms to fellow players and staffers who were desperate for a yummy taste of normalcy during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Perhaps BIGFACE’s pop-up in San Francisco will evolve into a brick-and-mortar location, if local Bay Area coffee connoisseurs crave the brew-tiful beverages as the NBA players in the legendary bubble did.

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Chicago Sky star Angel Reese named NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition cover athlete originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Angel Reese isn’t just a WNBA All-Star — she’s a NBA 2K cover star.

The Chicago Sky forward was named the cover athlete for the NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition video game coming out in September.

Reese joins NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and future Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as cover stars for this year’s NBA 2K slate. Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition of the game, while Anthony is the face of the Superstar Edition. Reese, Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony stand together on the Leave No Doubt Edition.

As part of the announcement, Reese also announced her first signature shoe with Reebok, the Reese 1.

“Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone — it’s a statement,” Reese said in a press release. “It’s about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically.

Reese, now a two-time WNBA All-Star in just her second season, joins a list of illustrious WNBA players to be featured on an NBA 2K cover.

NBA 2K20 was the first edition of the game to include the full list of WNBA teams. Two-time WNBA MVP and three-time champion Candace Parker was the first woman to grace an NBA 2K cover with the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition. Diana Taurasi (NBA 2K23), Sue Bird (NBA 2K23), Sabrina Ionescu (NBA 2K24) and A’ja Wilson (NBA 2K25) have since starred on the WNBA Edition covers.

“To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole,” Reese said. “I’m proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate women’s basketball and can’t wait for fans to see how NBA 2K26 brings our game to life like never before.”

2K Games announced that NBA 2K26 will be released on Sept. 5. The Standard Edition will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The other editions will be exclusive to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The WNBA Edition will be exclusively available at GameStop in the U.S.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese named NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition cover athlete originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Angel Reese isn’t just a WNBA All-Star — she’s a NBA 2K cover star.

The Chicago Sky forward was named the cover athlete for the NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition video game coming out in September.

Reese joins NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and future Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as cover stars for this year’s NBA 2K slate. Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition of the game, while Anthony is the face of the Superstar Edition. Reese, Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony stand together on the Leave No Doubt Edition.

As part of the announcement, Reese also announced her first signature shoe with Reebok, the Reese 1.

“Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone — it’s a statement,” Reese said in a press release. “It’s about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically.

Reese, now a two-time WNBA All-Star in just her second season, joins a list of illustrious WNBA players to be featured on an NBA 2K cover.

NBA 2K20 was the first edition of the game to include the full list of WNBA teams. Two-time WNBA MVP and three-time champion Candace Parker was the first woman to grace an NBA 2K cover with the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition. Diana Taurasi (NBA 2K23), Sue Bird (NBA 2K23), Sabrina Ionescu (NBA 2K24) and A’ja Wilson (NBA 2K25) have since starred on the WNBA Edition covers.

“To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole,” Reese said. “I’m proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate women’s basketball and can’t wait for fans to see how NBA 2K26 brings our game to life like never before.”

2K Games announced that NBA 2K26 will be released on Sept. 5. The Standard Edition will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The other editions will be exclusive to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The WNBA Edition will be exclusively available at GameStop in the U.S.

Celtics preseason schedule 2025: Dates, times and opponents for all four games originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics announced their four-game 2025 preseason schedule Wednesday, and it includes a couple familiar opponents.

There will be two games against the Toronto Raptors — at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 10 and at TD Garden on Oct. 15.

The C’s will travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies on Oct. 8 in the preseason opener. They’ll also host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 12.

All four preseason games will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston.

The preseason will be a good opportunity for Boston’s young players to showcase their talent in a game setting and make a case for more playing time in the regular season.

Players to watch for in the preseason include 2024 first-round pick Baylor Scheierman and 2025 first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez, as well as recent free-agent additions Luka Garza and Josh Minott.

Here’s the full 2025 preseason schedule for the Celtics:

D-White aptly sums up Mazzulla's mindset entering uncertain Celtics season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Expectations have changed for the Boston Celtics — and that’s an understatement.

A year ago, they were fresh off winning their 18th NBA title and had the inside track on raising Banner 19 after bringing back their entire championship core. Twelve months later, they’re preparing for a season without five key members of that title squad.

With Jayson Tatum out for most or all of the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon and Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and (likely) Al Horford all gone, the Celtics are viewed as a fringe playoff team at best as they enter what many believe will be a “reset” season.

But if you know anything about Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, he’s not going to accept mediocrity.

🔊 Celtics Talk: Derrick White tackles trade rumors, a new-look Celtics roster and excitement to prove doubters wrong | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

“Yeah, he’s probably going to love it,” Celtics guard Derrick White said of how Mazzulla will approach a season with lowered expectations during an exclusive interview with Celtics insider Chris Forsberg on the Celtics Talk Podcast.

“That’s just the type of guy he is. He’s going to be excited about this opportunity, people doubting us, people not believing in us. Knowing him, he’s going to come into training camp so excited and ready to go.”

While Mazzulla’s love of adversity is well-documented, don’t be surprised if the Celtics adopt the mindset of their head coach. Tatum’s absence will thrust players like Jaylen Brown, White and Payton Pritchard into larger roles, and they fully intend to embrace that opportunity while playing with a chip on their collective shoulders.

“That’s kind of how my whole NBA and basketball journey has been,” White reflected. “That’s a fun position to be in. But I mean, we didn’t win the championship last year, so we’ve got a lot to prove, and we’ve got to get better.

“(When) you play for the Boston Celtics, that’s what it is, and we all understand that. So, it’s going to be a fun position to prove people wrong, but we also just have to be ready to go.”

The Celtics have reached the NBA Finals in two of the last four seasons and the Eastern Conference Finals in six of the last nine seasons, so it’s been a while since they’ve been true underdogs. But if any group can embrace that role, it’s the core of Brown, White and Pritchard, who have all played with something to prove throughout their NBA careers.

And there’s no better coach to lead them than the darkness-embracing Mazzulla.

White also shared his perspective on being involved in trade rumors, talking with Jayson Tatum amid his recovery and more. Check out the full episode here or on YouTube.

Kings' Maxime Raynaud details friendship with Nique Clifford before NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford will begin their NBA journeys as teammates – and old friends.

You see, although the two rookies didn’t share the court leading up to being selected by the Kings in the 2025 NBA Draft, they both established a bond leading up to one of the most important days of their respective careers.

During an interview with NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan on “Kings Central,” Raynaud, Sacramento’s No. 42 overall selection, detailed how his relationship with his new teammate formed leading up to the draft.

“I think we were both kind of in awe of the process, sharing advice on the workouts,” Raynaud told Ragan. “We also got to know each other even more and joke around.

“Funny enough, I think we got along pretty well right away. There was no little awkward time when you meet someone new.

“He was in the hot tub, and I was in the cold tub. We actually talked for so long that once I came out, I couldn’t move anymore. It just happened naturally.”

The 7-foot center was a star at Stanford, earning First-Team All-ACC honors as a senior after averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals. 

A round earlier, on the other hand, Sacramento traded up into the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft for the No. 24 overall pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, acquiring the rights to Colorado State’s Clifford in exchange for a protected 2027 first-round pick. 

Despite not knowing where they would end up, both rookies quickly established a bond in between pre-draft workouts. 

The rest, as we know, is history.

“Once I got drafted by Sacramento, I was like, ‘Oh, he got drafted by Sac, too,’” Raynaud concluded. “That was a full-circle moment. I was super excited for him. 

“He’s also someone that we played against when he was at Colorado in the Pac 12. And seeing him perform well at Colorado State this year was amazing. I’m super happy it ended this way.” 

Raynaud and Clifford, as teammates and friends, now will look to make a positive impression in Sacramento.

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Chicago Sky star Angel Reese named NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition cover athlete originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Angel Reese isn’t just a WNBA All-Star — she’s a NBA 2K cover star.

The Chicago Sky forward was named the cover athlete for the NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition video game coming out in September.

Reese joins NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and future Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as cover stars for this year’s NBA 2K slate. Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition of the game, while Anthony is the face of the Superstar Edition. Reese, Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony stand together on the Leave No Doubt Edition.

As part of the announcement, Reese also announced her first signature shoe with Reebok, the Reese 1.

“Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone — it’s a statement,” Reese said in a press release. “It’s about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically.

Reese, now a two-time WNBA All-Star in just her second season, joins a list of illustrious WNBA players to be featured on an NBA 2K cover.

NBA 2K20 was the first edition of the game to include the full list of WNBA teams. Two-time WNBA MVP and three-time champion Candace Parker was the first woman to grace an NBA 2K cover with the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition. Diana Taurasi (NBA 2K23), Sue Bird (NBA 2K23), Sabrina Ionescu (NBA 2K24) and A’ja Wilson (NBA 2K25) have since starred on the WNBA Edition covers.

“To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole,” Reese said. “I’m proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate women’s basketball and can’t wait for fans to see how NBA 2K26 brings our game to life like never before.”

2K Games announced that NBA 2K26 will be released on Sept. 5. The Standard Edition will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The other editions will be exclusive to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The WNBA Edition will be exclusively available at GameStop in the U.S.

Derrick White reacts to Celtics trade rumors, ‘tough' offseason moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Derrick White has been key to the Boston Celtics’ success since joining the team in 2022, and he’s expected to take on an even more significant role this upcoming season.

White and Jaylen Brown will likely lead a new-look Celtics squad that parted ways with multiple members of its 2024 championship roster. Jrue Holiday (trade), Kristaps Porzingis (trade), and Luke Kornet (free agency) will play for new teams in 2025-26, and free agent Al Horford will likely follow suit or retire. Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum could miss the entire season after rupturing his Achilles in the playoffs.

Even White and Brown haven’t been safe from trade rumors this summer with the Celtics shedding salary to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Boston reportedly was open to trade offers for any player on its roster except Tatum, though both White and Brown would command a massive haul.

Nonetheless, they remain on the roster as the Celtics enter unfamiliar territory as underdogs in the Eastern Conference. Although White is sad to see his fellow NBA champions leave, he’s optimistic about what’s next for Boston.

He spoke about the transition during an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics insider Chris Forsberg.

🔊 Celtics Talk: Derrick White tackles trade rumors, a new-look Celtics roster and excitement to prove doubters wrong | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

“It’s always tough to see guys leave, especially people that you won a championship with and had so many great battles with,” White said. “Obviously, seeing KP and Jrue get traded, it was tough to see. And then Luke (Kornet) signs somewhere else.

“Having a different team and having those guys leave is kind of difficult, but it’s part of the business and I’m confident the guys that we have coming in and the guys that we still have returning. So it’s gonna be a lot of fun, and it’s gonna be a different challenge, but I think that’s just the great thing about basketball.”

White also shared his reaction to being mentioned as a potential trade chip.

“I think every summer is pretty crazy, especially nowadays,” he said. “But I didn’t feel too worried about anything. My agent and Brad had been talking and all the other rumors and stuff, I wasn’t really too worried about.

“I mean, I feel like it’s cool to be wanted by other teams, but I wanted to stay in Boston, and I was glad they wanted to keep me.”

White also shared his perspective on the Celtics’ retooled roster, playing with a chip on his shoulder, talking with Jayson Tatum amid his recovery and more. Check out the full episode here or on YouTube.

The Lakers rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, closing the three-game California Classic with a win over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night at Chase Center.

Lakers forward Darius Bazley led all players in scoring with 27 points on seven-for-nine shooting, hitting the game-sealing dunk. Bazley also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Dalton Knecht was also pivotal in the Lakers' comeback win, scoring 25 points and collecting eight rebounds on 50% shooting, including four three-pointers.

Read more:Bronny James, Dalton Knecht ready for second summer with Lakers

The Lakers got off to a slow start, shooting less than 40% in the first half, but they found their rhythm when it mattered.

Bronny James, still working on getting his conditioning back to game level, played just over five minutes and scored two points.

The Lakers will travel to Las Vegas and will play the Dallas Mavericks, led by No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, on Thursday.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Deandre Ayton stood with his hands in his pockets, his all-black attire — from the suit to tie, shirt and shoes — a measured look for the newest member of the Lakers. His eyes were mostly down as he answered questions about how he’ll fit with the team and how he’s driven to prove his naysayers wrong.

In many ways, Ayton fell to the Lakers after he was bought out of his contract from the Portland Trail Blazers, opening the door for him to agree to a two-year, $16.6-million deal.

The two seasons he spent with the Trail Blazers were not as good as the time he was in Phoenix. His production dropped. The number of games he played dropped.

That led to the narrative that Ayton hasn’t lived up to his potential. That he played consistently enough at a high level. That he doesn’t give his best effort all the time.

When Ayton was introduced to the media Tuesday, he didn’t shy away from the criticism.

He’s a 7-foot center who the Lakers need to be at his best at all times this season.

Read more:Hernández: Can LeBron James help maddening Deandre Ayton transform into a reliable center?

“Most definitely. It fuels me,” Ayton said about criticism. “It fuels me up completely. And it’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time. I think this is the perfect timing, here in the purple and gold. And it’s a platform that I cannot run from.

“I can show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well. It is a lot of fuel in me to prove to the whole world.”

Ayton played only 40 games last season for the Trail Blazers, missing a lot of those because of a calf injury. He averaged 14.4 points per game. During the 2023-24 season with Portland, he averaged 16.7 points over 55 games.

Both of those seasons were short of what Ayton did while with the Suns in 2022-23, when he averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Ayon was asked if the questions were fair about his motor.

“I feel like at the end of the day, I’m on the court and I’m supposed to perform,” he said. “It’s just different routes with organizations, whether you want to win or not. I just took my route where I want to win. When it comes to wins, you play hard when you know everybody’s goal is to win. You do everything you’re supposed to do or can do to win. …

Read more:Lakers agree to terms to bring back Jaxson Hayes

“I’ve just been trying to put in as much work as I possibly can. When I’m on the floor, I want to really just show the world and prove to everybody that I am a winner. Any position I’m in, I just want to really win and sacrifice the way I did coming into this league.”

Ayton will have Luka Doncic and LeBron James to help push him along and hopefully tap more out of his potential.

Doncic averaged 8.1 assists per game last season and James averaged 7.8 assists.

“They both average about nine assists over their career span, and just the type of players they create with their teammates,” Ayton said. “They turn them into superstars, they make them bigger than their roles, they make them very important on the floor. Just seeing that and finally getting the chance to go in and experience that would be big for me. Just getting me back to my full form of how I used to play, you know, coming up and being a part of the [NBA] Finals. It’s those playmakers I’m used to having around me that’s leading to wins.”

The Lakers also introduced Jake LaRavia to the media. He played a season with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He shot 47.5% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.