Basketball

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — (EDITOR’S NOTE: Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, will do a periodic diary for The Associated Press to chronicle his first season in the league.

Nikola Jokic is about to start his chase toward something that hasn’t been done in nearly 40 years. A player winning back-to-back NBA MVP awards is rare, something that’s happened only 13 times in league history.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have committed to De'Andre Hunter as one of the key players on a team looking to return to championship contention, signing the small forward to a $95 million, four-year extension.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schröder will be sidelined for several weeks after undergoing surgery on his right thumb. The German point guard had surgery Monday to repair a ligament in his thumb, the Lakers announced.

TORONTO — The rebuilding Toronto Raptors were a revelation last season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets guard James Bouknight has been arrested for driving while impaired just days before the team was set to open the regular season. Bouknight was arrested at 1:51 a.m.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets have agreed to a four-year contract extension with Kevin Porter Jr. that could be worth as much as $82 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr went into last season uncertain if his club would be good enough to contend for another NBA championship. He got his answer. He’s getting another ring. And now, the Warriors will try to do it all again.

The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to give their fans a new way to view games. A lot of new views, actually. And one of them will even feature in-game commentary at times from Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward/center Brandon Clarke to a multiyear contract extension Sunday. Clarke just finished his third season with the Grizzlies, averaging 10.4 points in 64 games, all but one off the bench.