Hoops News Blog

Cavaliers star LeBron James had a benign growth removed from his right jaw during a five-hour procedure at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday. James has had the condition for several months, but with permission from his treating doctors, he and his family decided to put off the operation until the Cavs completed their season.

Lamar Odom just can’t help himself when it comes to the sweet stuff. He loves candy. He even credits his consumption of sugary treats for fueling his double-double performances in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference finals that helped the Los Angeles Lakers close out Denver and reach the NBA finals.

OK, Mr. President, let’s see how you do picking the pro game. Barack Obama was on his way to the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn on Tuesday when a reporter shouted a question. The topic: Who is going to win the NBA championship, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Orlando Magic? Said the [...]

Stan Van Gundy never wears the championship ring from Miami’s 2006 title. He coached the Heat for the first 21 games that season but can’t say for sure where he put the jewelry. His best guess is it’s in storage somewhere collecting dust. “It really does not mean anything,” the Orlando Magic coach said.

Madison Square Garden’s renovation will cost more and take longer than originally planned. The owners of the nation’s busiest sports arena say the entire project will cost more than $500 million, and the complete renovation will be finished by the start of the 2012-13 NBA and NHL seasons. Officials had hoped to have the renovation [...]

Chicago Bulls assistant Del Harris has retired after a 33-year career in the NBA in which he was coach of the year in 1995 with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 71-year-old Harris is leaving Tuesday after one season working under Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro. Harris spent 12 seasons as a head coach with three [...]

Orlando Magic players say Jameer Nelson will play in the NBA finals, even though the All-Star point guard and his coach remain publicly pessimistic. Nelson participated in a full team practice Tuesday for the first time since tearing the labrum in his right shoulder Feb. 2. While Nelson and coach Stan Van Gundy still said [...]

The Utah Jazz will play Real Madrid as part of the NBA’s Europe Live preseason tour. The Jazz will face the Spanish club at Madrid’s Palacio de Deportes stadium on Oct. 8, the NBA announced Tuesday. Madrid last played an NBA club in 2007, when it beat the Toronto Raptors 104-103. “It’s a great test [...]