Hoops News Blog

Philadelphia 76ers guard Royal Ivey has declined his player option for the 2009-10 season and has become an unrestricted free agent. Ivey played 71 games in his only season for the Sixers. He averaged 3.0 points and 1.1 rebounds and had 36 steals.

Tyler Hansbrough has heard the speculation about where he'll go in the NBA draft. He's a little curious, himself. Hansbrough is making a pre-draft tour, working out for NBA teams and trying to validate a resume that includes college player of the year in 2008 and a national championship this season.

Looting and vandalism that broke out in the aftermath of the Los Angeles Lakers' basketball championship won't keep the city from celebrating the team's victory: City officials and the Lakers are planning to foot the bill for a victory parade they hope will overshadow unrest the police chief blames on a mob of "knuckleheads." Police [...]

The parades down nearby Walt Disney World, the kind where confetti flies and smiles flow — the ending Orlando Magic fans have long waited for — will be reserved for other teams this year. Championship celebrations here are never for the home team. The Magic overcame injuries, came back from almost every obstacle and returned [...]

Los Angeles police say eight officers have suffered minor injuries during downtown disturbances that erupted amid street celebrations of the Lakers' NBA championship victory over the Orlando Magic. Officer Gregory Baek (BEK) says the officers were taken to hospitals for treatment of the injuries sustained during melees Sunday night in the Staples Center area.

Los Angeles police say five officers were hit by debris and had minor injuries in downtown celebrations that followed the Lakers' championship victory over the Orlando Magic. Police Sgt. Andy Mathes says one of the officers was taken to a hospital and the others were treated at the scene during the scattered melees that erupted [...]

The NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers will get their victory parade, but they'll have to help pay for it. City officials say the parade set for Wednesday will run from the Staples Center to a rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Lakers and the city will kick in about $1 million apiece for [...]

Members of a crowd celebrating the Lakers' NBA championship damaged at least one police cruiser and were setting bonfires in the street Sunday night, according to police. Up to five members of the rowdy crowd that collected near the Staples Center and split off on to surrounding streets were arrested after police declared the gathering [...]

As great as Kobe Bryant is, one player wasn't going to beat the Orlando Magic. LeBron James learned that lesson. Bryant didn't have to. He had loads of help in the NBA finals, with four teammates scoring in double figures in the 99-86 Game 5 victory Sunday night that gave the Lakers a 15th championship.

Orlando Magic All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson had no regrets about returning earlier than expected for the NBA finals and said it won't affect his rehabilitation. Nelson had what was then-called season-ending surgery in February and was supposed to be out another two months. He was still rusty and recovering from shoulder surgery in the [...]