The catcalls came after frustrated ticketholders waited for hours in queues that stretched more than two blocks outside Madison Square Garden on Monday due to the intense security restrictions that came with the US president’s appearance.

The New York Knicks lost 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the best-of-seven NBA finals, cutting the Knicks’ lead in the series to 2-1.

After the game, Trump told reporters: “It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.”

Booing broke out on Monday evening when a camera showed Trump on large screens in the arena, saluting as a singer performed the national anthem.

The president attended with his granddaughter Kai Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan, along with members of his administration that included Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Republican president, who was born in the New York City borough of Queens, has had a difficult relationship with his heavily Democratic hometown.

AFP via Getty Images

The US president was shown on the jumbotron in the centre of the arena before the game

Trump, who had been at his New Jersey golf club earlier in the day, flew to downtown Manhattan by taking the Marine One helicopter. He then travelled by motorcade to the venue.

Trump’s arrival meant the streets around Madison Square Garden were shut down to foot and vehicle traffic. Thousands of New York Police Department officers and hundreds of Secret Service officers were deployed.

Metal barriers were put up at each block as sports fans faced an airport-style gauntlet of security.

For bars in the area showing the finals game, this would normally be a lucrative night. But the barriers stopped foot traffic and left many pubs empty.

Disgruntled Knicks fans as well as regular commuters struggled to navigate the celebrations.

One New Yorker told the BBC the high security was “killing the vibe of the Knicks”.

This season has represented a stunning reversal of fortune for the Knicks, appearing in their first Finals since 1999 after decades as one of the worst teams in the league.

Al Bello/Getty Images

A parade of celebrities also attended the game at Madison Square Garden

Celebrities including Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet filled courtside seats.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was there.

Manhattan was crowded with fans of the Knicks decked out in orange and blue, many watching the game in the streets and at watch parties.

The streets around popular Bryant Park were filled as fans gathered at a community watch party after one outside Madison Square Garden, where the game is happening, was cancelled due to Trump’s appearance.

People ran up and down the streets near Bryant Park, celebrating and cheering every time the Knicks scored a point. As the game started, some fans could be seen climbing scaffolding attached to buildings. Others in the busy streets crowded around a laptop to watch the game.

One 44-year-old fan, who watched the game at Bryant Park, said he was 17 years old the last time the Knicks were in finals, when like this year, they played the San Antonio Spurs.

He said the disruption caused by Trump’s visit was “very annoying”.

But not everyone was angry at Trump.

Knicks fan Anthony Pulley, 43, told AFP news agency he found the disruption annoying, but he appreciated Trump coming to the game.

“I think it really put a damper on all the watch parties,” he said. “But it’s pretty cool he wants to show up and be a part of it.”

From the Empire State Building to One World Trade Center, skyscrapers were lit up orange and blue – the Knicks’ team colours.

On the last two game nights, throngs of supporters in Knicks gear took over streets near the arena – even though their team was playing at their opponents’ arena in Texas – leading to dozens of arrests as fans climbed lampposts, jumped on to food carts, and blocked traffic.

Many fans weren’t able to afford tickets to the first series home game, with the cheapest online resale tickets going for more than $10,000 (£7,500) and going up to more than $100,000.

Regular Knicks games already rank among the most expensive in the NBA.

“That’s the way life goes,” Trump said on Friday when asked about the extreme prices. “It’s sort of semi-free to watch it on television.”

Mayor Mamdani told reporters he paid nearly $1,000 for his ticket to the game.

Guardiola, 55, announced last week he will step down as City manager following a decade in charge, leading the club to 20 trophies during his tenure.

Jordan, one of the NBA’s all-time greats, and City’s former captain Vincent Kompany were surprise participants in Guardiola’s send-off at Co-Op Live arena, which was attended by 19,000 supporters.

“I just wanted to congratulate you on an unbelievable career,” said Chicago Bulls legend Jordan via a video message played on the big screen inside the venue.

Guardiola is known to be fond of basketball as well as being a keen golfer and Jordan added: “Enjoy your retirement. Good luck on the links and keep them straight. Congratulations.”

British golfer Tommy Fleetwood also delivered a video message, saying: “You deserve whatever you are about to do next.

“It is an honour to call you a friend and congratulations. You have been amazing.”

Veteran manager Neil Warnock added: “I can’t quite believe you are leaving. I have seen off so many managers but you are top of the pile.

“The best manager I have ever seen.”

Guardiola’s final game in charge was Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa, a match in which the Spaniard broke down in tears.

Earlier on Monday, thousands of City fans lined the streets of Manchester to bid a final farewell to the departing Guardiola.

This season’s successful men’s, women’s and academy teams were driven on buses to Etihad Stadium, where they were greeted by a waiting crowd, before the entourage made its way to Co-Op Live for the ‘after party’.

All three teams celebrated their trophy victories on stage, with City women’s striker Khadija Shaw making the shock announcement that she has signed a new four-year contract to remain at the club.

Guardiola’s three children, as well as former captain Fernandinho, ex-sporting director Txiki Begiristain and goalkeeper Ederson – who left last summer – helped bring out all 20 trophies won under Guardiola.

Surprise appearances by current Bayern Munich boss Kompany and midfielder Jack Grealish, who spent a season-long loan spell at Everton, were loudly cheered by those in attendance.

Guardiola said goodbye for the final time in an interview with Oasis star Noel Gallagher.

“First of all, thank you so much for coming tonight to say bye,” said Guardiola.

“I feel tonight that really shows the connection this club has. [City chairman] Khaldoon Al Mubarak and all the people and all the City fans that were connected from the first minute.

“Thank you so much, I don’t have enough gratitude. Always, for the rest of my life, I will have you in my heart.”

Tributes were also paid to captain Bernardo Silva and defender John Stones, who will also be leaving the club this summer upon the expiry of their contracts.

Striker Erling Haaland said on stage: “It has been a pleasure to play with Bernardo and John – and of course Pep.

“We won a lot of trophies and I was happy to play with Bernardo and John because they are amazing footballers but even better people deep down.

“It has been an amazing journey, but we need to keep pushing and fighting even without them.”

The Slovenian, 37, had played himself into contention for the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during an outstanding March in which he became only the 10th player in history to score 600 points in a single month.

But he will miss the final five regular-season games after suffering a grade two strain of his left hamstring during Thursday’s heavy loss to Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers have not provided a timetable for Doncic’s return after he had a scan on Friday – just two weeks before the start of the NBA play-offs on 18 April.

Doncic is the NBA’s leading scorer this season with 2143 points for an unequalled average of 33.5 points per game.

However, having been sidelined for four games with a left hamstring strain earlier in the season, and missing two games to return to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter in December, Doncic is set to fall short of the minimum games threshold required to qualify for the NBA’s major end-of-season awards.

Doncic, who is one appearance short of the 65 required, will apply for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge”, according to his agent Bill Duffy.

“This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory,” Duffy told ESPN.

“To ensure Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honoured and he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an ‘Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge’ to the 65-game rule.”

Doncic was named March’s player of the month following 13 consecutive 30-point performances which helped the Lakers to 13 wins in 14 games prior to the defeat by Thunder.

Rookie Flagg makes history in defeat

Image source: Getty Images

Cooper Flagg became the first teenager in NBA history to reach 50 points in a game – but that was not enough to earn the Dallas Mavericks victory against the Orlando Magic.

Flagg, 19, scored 51 points – including 24 in the fourth quarter – to surpass his previous career high of 49 in January.

But the 138-127 loss brought Dallas’ 14th consecutive home defeat.

“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said.

“The basket feels big. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

Reigning NBA champions Thunder claimed a commanding 139-96 victory, helped by 28 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as they improved their league-best record to 61-16.

The Lakers have only been beaten by a greater margin on six occasions, with this 43-point loss just six points short of their worst margin of defeat against the Dallas Mavericks in 2017.

It was a first defeat in five for the Lakers, who must now wait to learn the severity of Doncic’s left hamstring injury after the Slovenian appeared emotional as he exited the court during the third quarter.

Doncic, who had scored 40 or more points in each of his previous three games and five of his past seven, will have an MRI scan on Friday, Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed.

The Lakers had won 13 of their previous 14 games as they seek to hold on to the third seeding in the Western Conference, behind Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, before the play-offs begin on 18 April.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning Most Valuable Player, finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Isaiah Joe added 20 points for the Thunder.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 15 points despite struggling with back pain, and LeBron James added 13 in 26 minutes.

Thunder’s 139 points were the most conceded by the Lakers this season and the 43-point defeat was the team’s heaviest since a 44-point loss to Philadelphia in November 2023.

Initial plans for ‘NBA Europe’ are for 10 to 12 franchises that would stay in the league on an annual basis.

It is understood multiple bids worth between $500m and $1bn (£375m to £750m) have been made, while there are also several above the billion-dollar mark.

Europe’s best teams currently compete in the EuroLeague, which was started by basketball’s international governing body Fiba but has been run by Euroleague Basketball since 2000.

Mark Tatum, the NBA’s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, said the NBA had “received significant interest from a range of prospective teams”.

The league is expected to be made up of new franchises, current basketball teams and football clubs who may or may not already have associated basketball teams.

More than a dozen existing teams have been in talks with the NBA, including some EuroLeague teams, sources said.

EuroLeague did not comment when asked by BBC Sport about the talks, but said it is open to exploring ways to collaborate with the NBA.

With a current working title of NBA Europe, the plan is to launch the new league as soon as the 2027-28 season.

As many as 16 teams across the continent could be involved, with a team from both London and Manchester expected to feature.

Tatum said: “The level of engagement and the scale of the bids reflect the marketplace’s belief in our proposed model and the enormous, untapped potential for European basketball.

“We will now review the bids in more detail and shortlist the partners who share our vision and commitment to accelerating the growth of the game across the continent.”

James, 41, moved one clear of Robert Parish’s 1997 record of 1,611 appearances, in a game the Lakers won when Luke Kennard scored a three-pointer with 0.6 seconds left.

“It just kind of happened. It was not on the list of things that I wanted to accomplish,” said four-time NBA champion James.

“I wanted to be the best player in this league at some point. I wanted to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to ever play this game. I wanted to be an NBA champion.

“I wanted to possibly win rookie of the year, make All-Star appearances, win a gold medal, win some MVPs – those were some of my goals.

“But some of the stuff that’s just been happening over the course of the last few years has been super-duper cool.”

James – who is the first player to take part in 23 consecutive NBA seasons and is also the NBA’s record points scorer – contributed 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Lakers beat Orlando for a ninth straight win.

The Lakers are third in the Western Conference, while Magic are eighth in the Eastern Conference.

“Availability, I’ve always wanted to be available to my team-mates,” added James.

“It’s a mental toll, trying to play a lot and being out there. I just give a lot of praise to the man above and [it’s about] just loving the game and appreciating the game.”

James was not the only player to achieve a milestone as Kevin Durant passed NBA legend Michael Jordan to go fifth in the all-time scoring list in regular-season games.

Durant moved to 32,294 – two ahead of Jordan – courtesy of a 27-point display for the Houston Rockets, who are fourth in the Western Conference, in their last gasp 123-122 win against the Miami Heat, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference.

“It means a lot,” said Durant, who passed Jordan with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

“I’m grateful to be here and for this incredible journey it’s been. I’m looking forward to continuing.”

Elsewhere, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder as four players were ejected in his side’s fiery 132-111 win against the Washington Wizards.

The Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace were ejected, along with Washington’s Justin Champagnie, following a mass brawl near the end of the second quarter.

Reigning NBA champions Thunder remain top of the Western Co

Doncic, 27, finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his eighth triple-double of the season as the Lakers secured their fifth consecutive victory.

The six-time NBA all-star hit a step-back jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock to hand his side the victory.

“Just a big-time shot by a generational player,” James said of his team-mate.

“He’s just a big-time player, man. It’s going to be just the first of many game winners like that for him in a Lakers uniform.”

Austin Reaves hit a team-high 32 points, Marcus Smart added 21 points and five steals, while James, 41, contributed 17 points in 40 minutes as the Lakers moved up to third in the Western Conference.

James dived full length on the floor to prevent Denver getting an offensive rebound with 54.3 seconds remaining – a play Lakers coach JJ Redick said he had never previously seen in James’ 23-year professional career.

“I think all of us have heard it from our coaches when we were little: the first man to the floor usually gets the ball,” said James.

“So, that’s just my little league coach kind of in my head at that moment, understanding the significance of it.”

Lakers coach Redick was pleased with his side’s collective performance.

“We still have got a long way to go, but we are certainly optimistic with how we handled this stretch of games,” Redick said.

The Lakers were on a three-game losing streak going into Saturday’s game at the Golden State Warriors but were leading comfortably when Doncic was replaced late in the first quarter.

The Slovenian, 27, tried to avoid a fist bump from Redick as he walked to his seat on the bench, and the Lakers coach then followed Doncic down the sideline.

The pair exchanged words as Doncic took his seat before Redick turned to walk back towards half court.

As he did, Doncic got back to his feet and said more towards Redick while his team-mate Jarred Vanderbilt stood up, ostensibly to clap encouragement for the Lakers but also putting a barrier in front of Doncic, who sat back down moments later.

Speaking before Tuesday’s 110-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Redick said: “I don’t know why it went viral. It felt very normal to me.

“I didn’t think much of it at the time, to be honest with you. I don’t think Luka did either.”

Doncic had claimed four points and three assists by that point, and returned on Saturday to finish with a game-high 26 points.

The six-time All-Star scored another game-high 27 points as the Lakers won a third straight game on Tuesday to stay sixth in the Western Conference standings.

“He and I have a great relationship,” Redick added. “I really value our relationship. And I think those things happen. Not every game, but they happen very frequently.

“It’s a competition. And there’s two guys here who, in this case, are trying to win a basketball game and be on the same page about stuff.”

The Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Chicago Bulls 116-108 on Tuesday while second-placed San Antonio Spurs thumped the Philadelphia 76ers 131-91.

The Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons suffered a 113-109 loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers, for whom Jaylon Tyson scored 22 points and new signing James Harden added 18, while the third-placed New York Knicks took advantage with a 111-95 win at the Toronto Raptors.

Harden, 36, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but he has never won an NBA title.

Although the deal is yet to be confirmed by the NBA, Harden said the opportunity to win a first championship was key in deciding to move.

The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while the Clippers are ninth in the West.

“I see an opportunity to win in the East – they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above,” Harden told ESPN.

“As much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”

Harden has helped the Clippers climb the table after a dismal 6-21 start this season, but sat out Sunday’s defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers while talks with the Cavaliers progressed.

Harden, who won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 while with the Houston Rockets, denied speculation that he requested a trade from the Clippers.

“That wasn’t the case at all. In life, not even just basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other,” he said.

“Maybe we just don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren’t like that.”

Across stints at five franchises, Harden has scored 28,805 points, putting him ninth on the NBA’s all-time list.

The Cavaliers have not won a title since 2016.

Garland, 26, averages 18 points this season in a campaign blighted by injury.

As part of the trade, the Clippers secured a second-round pick for this year’s draft.

The Clippers host the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but Harden and Garland must pass medicals before the trade is confirmed.

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star was not selected as a starter in January but was among the seven reserves chosen from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences by NBA coaches.

James, who missed his side’s first 14 matches of the 2025-26 campaign because of sciatica, has played 31 times this season and is averaging 21.9 points per game.

“It wasn’t a goal of mine to come into the season, miss the first 14 games and say, ‘OK, I can be an All-Star’,” James told reporters after playing in the Lakers’ 112-100 defeat by the New York Knicks.

“I just wanted to get back to playing the game at a high level I knew I was capable of once I kind of worked the rust off of missing pre-season, training camp and my summer workouts, which I’ve never done in my whole career.

“So I didn’t think about the All-Star Game, to be honest.”

James was selected for the NBA All-Star game in 2025 but did not play because he picked up an injury.

Kevin Durant, who plays for the Houston Rockets, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves were also selected as a Western Conference reserves.

The All-Star game has been revamped this season and will feature two teams of players from the United States and one team of international players.

They will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. The top two teams will then face each other in a championship game.

Starters selected from Eastern Conference:

Giannis Antetokounmpo* – Milwaukee Bucks

Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics

Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks

Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers

Reserves selected from Eastern Conference:

Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors

Jalen Duren – Detroit Pistons

Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks

Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers

Norman Powell – Miami Heat

Pascal Siakam* – Indiana Pacers

Karl-Anthony Towns – New York Knicks

Starters selected from Western Conference:

Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

Luka Doncic* – Los Angeles Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander* – Oklahoma City Thunder

Nikola Jokic* – Denver Nuggets

Victor Wembanyama* – San Antonio Spurs

Reserves selected from Western Conference:

Deni Avdija* – Portland Trail Blazers

Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets

Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves

Chet Holmgren – Oklahoma City Thunder

LeBron James – LA Lakers

Jamal Murray* – Denver Nuggets

* denotes international player

The 20-year-old contributed 25 points – including his clutch three-pointer – as the 76ers earned a 139-136 victory on the road.

Team-mates Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid led their side with 34 points apiece as the 76ers ended a three-game losing streak.

Ja Morant responded with 40 points for the Grizzlies, while rookie Cedric Coward added a career-high 28 points, but the hosts fell to back-to-back defeats.

The Grizzlies scored the final seven points of the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, during which they took a 132-128 lead.

Embiid had missed his team’s previous game – a 129-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday – because of a right ankle sprain, and this was only his 14th appearance in 31 games this season.

Elsewhere, LeBron James’ 41st birthday was spoiled by the Detroit Pistons, who claimed a 128-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Cade Cunningham scored 27 points for the Pistons, who remain top of the Eastern Conference with 25 wins from 33 games after avoiding a season-worst three-game losing streak.

Luka Doncic registered 30 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, with James adding 17 points while becoming just the 12th player in NBA history to compete at age 41 or older.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has now played 1,577 career games – second only to Robert Parish’s 1,611.

There were also wins for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

The Clippers claimed a fifth straight victory with a dominant 131-90 win over the Sacramento Kings, while the Celtics beat the Utah Jazz 129-119.

Jokic was hurt late in the first half in an accidental coming together with team-mate Spencer Jones.

Jones stepped on the foot of Jokic who immediately collapsed to the ground clutching his knee.

The 30-year-old will have an MRI scan on Tuesday to determine the seriousness of the problem.

“Immediately, he knew something was wrong,” said Nuggets head coach David Adelman.

“This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is. We’ll find out more tomorrow.

“We’ll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I’m more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that.”

Jokic, who leads the NBA season in rebounds and assists, had 21 points and eight assists in the game before suffering the injury.

The Serb hit 56 points, recorded 16 rebounds and 15 assists – becoming the first player in NBA history to hit at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a triple-double.

Three-time MVP Jokic hit 18 of his 56 points in overtime, breaking Curry’s record of 17 overtime points from 2016.

The Timberwolves took the game in Denver to overtime after clawing back a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes of the game.

Anthony Edwards top-scored for the Timberwolves with 44 points, including the game-tying three that took the game to overtime.

But the 24-year-old was ejected in the extra period for arguing over foul calls as the Nuggets clamed the win.

The Nuggets are third in the Western Conference, with the Timberwolves in fifth.

The London-born forward finished with five three-pointers as the Knicks came from 11 points down in the third quarter to win 124-113 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Point guard Jalen Brunson, who was named the NBA Cup’s Most Valuable Player, scored 25 points as the Knicks won the third edition of the mid-season tournament to claim their first silverware since winning the 1973 NBA Finals.

“We found a way to win,” said Brunson. “That’s going to be our motto going forward: we’re going to find a way.”

Mike Brown, who is in his first year as Knicks head coach, said: “Any time you can participate in an event where you’re the last one standing and you’re able to hang a banner, you take that seriously. And all of our guys took that seriously.”

San Antonio upset top seeds and reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder in Saturday’s semi-finals thanks to a superb display from Victor Wembanyama.

In his second game after missing 12 straight matches with a calf injury, he was limited to 18 points and 25 minutes off the bench.

An emotional Wembanyama fought back tears at a brief post-game news conference, saying: “Sorry, I just lost somebody today.”

Seven Knicks players reached double figures in points. Karl-Anthony Towns claimed 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Mitchell Robertson had 15 rebounds and two blocks from the bench.

Dylan Harper led the scoring for the Spurs with 21 points.

Victory was the Knicks’ sixth in a row – and 10th in 11 games – although the final does not count towards the regular-season standings.

They are second in the Eastern Conference and the Spurs are fourth in the West.

The number one pick at this year’s Draft, the 18-year-old forward finished with 42 points, seven rebounds and six assists at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Only Cliff Robinson (45), GG Jackson (44) and LeBron James (43) have scored more points in a game as a teenager, while Flagg equalled Mark Aguirre’s record for a Mavericks rookie.

Flagg, who turns 19 on Sunday, is the third teenager in the league’s 79-year history – after James and Kevin Durant – to claim 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

The Mavericks led 75-71 at half-time – by which time Flagg had 24 points – and 124-116 late in the fourth quarter.

However, after blowing their eight-point lead to trail 129-127, they required two free throws from Max Christie with less than five seconds remaining to level the game.

The Jazz dominated overtime to register their 10th win of the season as Keyonte George finished with 37 points and Lauri Markkanen 33.

The Jazz are 10th in the Western Conference and the Mavericks 12th.

Who is Cooper Flagg?

The 6ft 8in Flagg became the first freshman to be named Maine Player of the Year after leading high school Nokomis Regional to the state title in 2021.

He transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, winning the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year and 2024 National High School Player of the Year awards.

He was part of the USA side that won the 2022 Under-17s World Cup and was named in the all-tournament team.

In 2024-25 Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in a 37-game debut season for Duke University.

They reached the Final Four and he was named National College Player of the Year.

Flagg, who made his debut for the Mavericks against the San Antonio Spurs in October, averages 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists after 25 matches.

The Lakers were 20 points ahead in the fourth quarter when the Suns fought back to take a one-point lead with 12 seconds remaining after a three-pointer by Brooks.

In a frantic end to the game in Phoenix, Brooks then bumped James, drawing his second technical foul of the night and an ejection.

James, 40, missed the technical free throw but was then fouled by Suns’ Devin Booker on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws with three seconds left to put the Lakers back ahead.

“It’s the NBA, no boys allowed,” James said of his tangle with Brooks, 29.

“We’re out there competing and we were able to get the last laugh.”

James, the NBA’s record scorer, also made four assists and three rebounds, and blocked Grayson Allen’s potential game-winning three-pointer for Phoenix late on.

His Lakers team-mate Luka Doncic finished with 29 points, six assists and three rebounds, while Deandre Ayton scored 20 points.

“We got behind the eight ball a lot in the fourth quarter, but I thought for the majority of the game our physicality was good,” James added.

The Lakers are top of the Western Conference Pacific, with the Suns in second place.

The French sensation, who missed 12 games with a left calf issue, scored 22 points as the Spurs dramatically beat the NBA champions 111-109 in Las Vegas.

Wembanyama also registered nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks during his 21 minutes on court as the Thunder lost for only the second time in 26 games this season.

“I knew I had limited minutes so I had to make the most out of it,” said 21-year-old Wembanyama, whose team-mate Devin Vassell scored 23 points.

“Winning against a team like this, it might seem like it’s just a game but it’s a collective effort and it’s not an easy thing.

“It’s only their second loss of the season. It means something.”

The NBA Cup is the competition’s annual in-season tournament, with all matches except the final also counting towards the regular season standings.

The Thunder were beaten in last year’s final by the Milwaukee Bucks and had a 16-game winning run ended by the Spurs as they exited this season’s competition.

Oklahoma City had equalled the best 25-game start to a season when they went 24-1 by beating the Phoenix Suns in the quarter-finals, but they have now made the second best start to a campaign after 26 games as the Golden State Warriors were 25-1 at the same stage in 2015-16.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, top scored for the Thunder against the Spurs with a game-high 29 points.

San Antonio will play the New York Knicks in the final after they beat the Orlando Magic 132-120.

Jalen Brunson scored a season-high 40 points to inspire the Knicks to victory, while team-mate Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points.

“We came out here and did exactly what we said we wanted to do, which was play Knicks basketball,” said Towns.

Defending champions the Thunder have won 24 of their first 25 games, equalling the Golden State Warriors’ record from 2015-16.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s Most Valuable Player, scored 28 points at Paycom Center, hitting the 20-point mark for a 96th straight game.

It was a franchise record 16th straight win for the Thunder, who face the San Antonio Spurs in the semi-finals in Las Vegas on Saturday.

“Winning is never boring,” said Thunder forward Jalen Williams.

The Thunder have won 92 of their 107 regular-season games since the start of 2024-25, having topped last season’s Western Conference with a 68-14 record.

The record for most wins in an NBA season is 73, achieved by the Warriors in 2015-16.

The Spurs reached the semi-finals by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 at Crypto.com Arena.

The NBA Cup is the competition’s annual in-season tournament, with all matches except the final counting towards the regular-season standings.

The Thunder were beaten in last year’s final by the Milwaukee Bucks.

James scored 29 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists, and 12 of his tally came in the fourth quarter.

The 76ers had levelled the match at 105 apiece with one minute and 29 seconds remaining before James scored five consecutive points as the Lakers went on to seal the victory.

Doncic had returned to the Lakers line-up having missed the previous two games in a run of three on the road following the birth of his child.

He registered a triple-double of 31 points – which was a game high – 15 rebounds and 11 assists.

“The end of a road trip, there can be a lot of tired legs,” said James, who missed his side’s previous game.

“I felt great. I had the opportunity with some pretty good legs to try to assert myself a little offensively.”

Tyrese Maxey top scored for the 76ers with 28 points as team-mate Joel Embiid, who made just four of 21 shots, added 16 points.

The Lakers are second in the Western Conference, while the Philadelphia 76ers are seventh in the Eastern Conference.

The 37-year-old started the game needing just four points to hit the milestone and took his tally to 31,000 points with a 10-foot jump shot midway through the first quarter.

Durant, who finished the night with 28 points to move to 31,024 overall, sits behind Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James on the all-time list.

“As you’re coming up into the league, you look at these guys as heroes and you put them on pedestals, and you look at their accomplishments as sometimes unreachable,” Durant said.

“But then you get on that road trying to do your thing. That’s what I’ve done since 2008.

“I’ve been focused on trying to be the best player I can be, and they set a standard for each player when they left the league.

“Guys like Wilt, Michael, Kobe – I’m missing so many guys – they just set a standard that I try to reach every day.”

Antetokounmpo out for up to a month

The Milwaukee Bucks expect to be without star player Giannis Antetokounmpo for the next month as he recovers from a calf strain.

The Greek power forward limped out of Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons after falling to the ground during a defensive play.

Initial scans indicated the 31-year-old could miss between two to four weeks.

But the Bucks say they will give Antetokounmpo added time to recover given the nature of the injury.

“I feel like we should learn that with calves – make sure they’re healthy,” Bucks coach Don Rivers said.

“So that may take longer than we want. That even may make Giannis frustrated over it, but we’ve just got to try to get that right.”

Elsewhere, James and Luka Doncic were absent as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 126-105 to the Boston Celtics.

James, 40, continues to be troubled by a sciatica problem in his left foot, which saw him miss the first 14 games of the season.

Doncic, who missed the match for personal reasons, could return for the three-game trip against the Philadelphia 76ers this weekend.

James, 40, scored eight points against the Raptors and handed out 11 assists, including the pass for Rui Hachimura to score the buzzer-beating game-winner.

“Just playing the game the right way,” said James, who is in his unprecedented 23rd season.

“Always make the right play. That’s how I was taught the game.”

James last failed to score in double digits in January 2007, breaking Michael Jordan’s previous record by 431 games.

James struggled with his shot for much of the night, connecting on just four of 17 and missing all five of his three-point attempts.

With the NBA’s leading scorer Luka Doncic absent for personal reasons, Austin Reaves delivered a double-double of 44 points and 10 assists for the Lakers.

In March, James became the first player to score 50,000 points in NBA regular season and play-off matches.

Antetokounmpo, 30, fell to the floor in the third minute and had to be helped off court by his team-mates.

The Bucks trailed by 18 points in the first quarter, but fought back at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum to claim just their second win in 10 games.

Kevin Porter Jr registered 26 points for the Bucks, with Ryan Rollins adding 22 and AJ Green scoring 11 of his 19 in the fourth quarter to fuel the comeback.

“It was a hell of a win,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said.

“We get down early, miss wide open, great shots, but we just couldn’t get anything to fall.

“And Giannis gets hurt… to fight back, it just shows a lot of stuff about this team.”

Detroit remain top of the Eastern Conference after their fifth loss of the season, with Milwaukee sitting 10th.

The Bucks initially thought Antetokounmpo had strained his right calf, but are awaiting confirmation after the Greek power forward had an MRI scan.

Before the match, rumours had emerged via ESPN that Antetokounmpo was “mulling his future” with the franchise.

But Rivers said there had been “no conversations” about a possible trade.

Elsewhere, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for 48 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers end a five-game losing streak with a 115-92 win at the Atlanta Hawks.

Jamal Murray scored a season-high 52 points as the Denver Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 135-120 in Indianapolis.

The 40-year-old, who missed his side’s opening 14 games of the season because of sciatica, contributed 11 points, 12 assists and three rebounds in 30 minutes of a 140-126 home win over the Utah Jazz.

James – the NBA’s record scorer – overtook Vince Carter’s mark of having played in 22 successive NBA seasons, while his two three-pointers also moved him above Reggie Miller into sixth place in the NBA’s all-time list of most three-pointers made.

“It’s been a long time since he played basketball, so I think for the first game back, he looked amazing,” said Lakers team-mate Luka Doncic.

“He’s going to keep getting his rhythm, and help us a lot.”

Doncic had a game high 37 points and four steals in the win against the Jazz as he also contributed 10 assists and five rebounds.

Austin Reaves scored 26 points for the Lakers, while Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen scored 34 and 31 points respectively for Utah.

The win puts the Lakers fourth in the Western Conference, with the Jazz in 10th place.

The two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) helped the Warriors end a six-game losing streak on the road with a 125-120 victory at Frost Bank Center in Texas.

Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle became the first Spurs players to record triple-doubles in the same game, but Curry scored 29 points in the second half as the Warriors outscored the Spurs 76-64.

“That third quarter is what we do – getting stops, pushing, creating easy offence. Thankfully I was able to knock a couple down,” Curry said.

Jimmy Butler contributed 28 points and eight assists for the Warriors, while Moses Moody scored 19 points.

Thunder thrash Lakers

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 30 points, five rebounds and nine assists as defending champions the Oklahoma City Thunder thrashed the Los Angeles Lakers 121-92.

The Thunder led by 37 points at one stage, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander and other starters to sit out the fourth quarter at Paycom Center.

Five-time All-Star pick Luka Doncic managed 19 points and seven assists for the Lakers, before being subbed when the result was all but confirmed by the final quarter.

Thunder are top of the Western Conference with a 12-1 record.

“We definitely got better the last two days and that’s the main goal,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.

Jokic downs Clippers

Nikola Jokic scored 55 points, including 25 in the first quarter, as the Denver Nuggets extended their winning run to six games with a 130-116 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers.

The three-time MVP also claimed 12 rebounds and six assists at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

It is the fourth time that Jokic has scored at least 50 points in a regular season game.

With the scores level heading into the final few seconds of the Central Division game, the 30-year-old pivoted to avoid a double block before he floated in a jumper.

It was the fifth occasion the Greek-Nigerian has produced a game-winning shot in the last five seconds of a game, and the second buzzer-beater of his career.

“You can live if you miss. You cannot live if you don’t shoot it,” said Antetokounmpo, who scored a game-high 33 points.

“People don’t remember the time you miss, they remember all the times you make, so I’m happy about that.”

Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic scored with 0.6 seconds of play left to give Utah Jazz a late win over of their own as they clinched a 105-103 victory over the Boston Celtics in the Northwest Division.

The incident occurred during Philadelphia’s 109-108 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday when Embiid, 31, scored while getting fouled and then made a chopping gesture to his groin.

Embiid has been fined for the gesture on multiple previous occasions.

In a post on X which also contained the NBA’s social media post detailing his sanction, Embiid appeared to suggest the gesture was similar to a signal that officials make when calling a foul for blocking.

He said: “Yall better start fining the refs for doing the ‘lewd’, ‘blocking foul’ gesture since I’m not allowed to do it.”

Cameroon-born Embiid did not play in Sunday’s 129-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, sitting out the match as he continues to manage his recovery from a knee injury which required surgery earlier this year.

Williams missed two Dallas games after less than two ounces of marijuana, which is illegal for recreational use in the state of Texas, were found in his luggage.

The 25-year-old scored 20 points and seven rebounds from the bench when he returned in the Mavericks’ 107-105 win against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Centre.

“I can’t really go into further detail,” Williams said.

“I just want to apologise for just being a distraction. I want to take full accountability.”

The use of marijuana is not prohibited in the NBA and the league stopped testing for the substance in 2023.

The Mavericks are 12th in the Western Conference and have won two of their five games this season.

Elsewhere, Matas Buzelis scored 27 points while Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic both chipped in with double-doubles to extend the Chicago Bulls’ perfect start to the season.

The Bulls have won all four of their games and sit top of the Eastern Conference after beating the Sacramento Kings 126-113 in Chicago.

Austin Reaves scored on the buzzer to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-115 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.

Reaves ended the game with 28 points and 16 assists to make up for the absence of injured Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Ja Morant’s 28 points for the Memphis Grizzlies in Arizona consigned the Phoenix Suns to a fourth successive loss.

The Portland Trail Blazers profited from Jrue Holiday’s four key free throws in the final seconds to earn a 136-134 win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

The New Orleans Pelicans remain the only side in the Western Conference yet to win after losing 122-88 at the Denver Nuggets.

Kevin Durant put on a strong late showing, scoring 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, to guide the Houston Rockets to a 139-121 win against the Toronto Raptors in Ontario.

The Orlando Magic fell to a fourth successive defeat at the Detroit Pistons, with Cade Cunningham’s 30 points and 10 assists helping the hosts to a 135-116 win.

In New York, the Atlanta Hawks overcame an early 12-0 deficit to win 117-112 at the Brooklyn Nets, who are yet to win any of their opening five games.

The Boston Celtics made home court advantage count as Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 30 points in a 125-105 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

San Antonio recovered from blowing a 26-point lead to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 118-107 win.

The home side led 81-55 with nine minutes left in the third quarter but a 26-7 run in the Nets’ favour reduced the deficit to 88-81.

But a strong display in the fourth quarter – which included a 10-0 run – helped San Antonio seal the win.

Frenchman Wembanyama put up 31 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and six blocks in 36 minutes of action.

The 21-year-old, the number one draft pick in 2023, is averaging 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and six blocks from his three matches this season.

The 7ft 4in centre returned from eight months out at the start of the campaign after having surgery on his shoulder for deep vein thrombosis in February.

Round-up: Lakers beat Kings without James & Doncic

Austin Reaves put up a career-high 51 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 127-120.

Without the injured Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Reaves took a leading role to surpass his previous best tally of 45, which he managed against the Indiana Pacers in February.

Elsewhere, Anthony Davis scored 25 points and recorded 10 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Rapors 139-129, while Kawhi Leonard managed 30 points and James Harden scored 20 as the Los Angeles Clippers saw off the Portland Trail Blazers 114-107.

Giannis Antetokounmpo managed 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists but could not prevent the Milwaukee Bucks from falling to a 118-113 defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Miami Heat player Terry Rozier was among six people arrested over alleged betting irregularities, including other players who may have faked injuries.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups is one of 31 people charged in a separate illegal poker game case involving former players and organised crime figures.

Rozier’s lawyer denied the allegations to CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner, saying: “Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”

In a statement, the NBA said that Rozier and Billups are being placed on immediate leave, as the association is reviewing the federal indictments.

“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the statement read.

US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr, said all defendants are innocent until proven guilty, but warned: “Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out.”

FBI Director Kash Patel called the arrests “extraordinary” and said there was a “coordinated takedown across 11 states”.

Prosecutors said the first case involved players and associates who allegedly used insider information to manipulate bets on major platforms.

Nocella called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalised”.

Seven NBA games between February 2023 and March 2024 have been identified as part of the case. Rozier is said to have been involved in one between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, when he was playing for the Hornets.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that on 23 March 2023, Rozier allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave a game early with a supposed injury.

Using that information, conspirators allegedly placed bets that paid out tens of thousands of dollars in profits, she said.

During the game, Rozier played roughly nine minutes and scored just five points because of a sore right foot, according to the official NBA match report.

Before that game, he averaged 35 minutes of playing time and about 21 points per game.

“As the NBA season tips off, his career is already benched, not for injury but for integrity,” Tisch said.

Rozier’s lawyer James Trusty said in a statement that prosecutors “appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case.”

Trusty said he had been representing Rozier for more than a year and said prosecutors characterised Rozier as a subject, not a target, until they informed him FBI agents were arresting the player on Thursday morning.

Former NBA player Damon Jones was also arrested.

Jones is said to have been involved in two of the identified games – when the Los Angeles Lakers met the Milwaukee Bucks in February 2023, and a January 2024 game between the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The second case involves 31 defendants alleged to have participated in a scheme to rig illegal poker games and steal millions of dollars, backed by crime families.

The case involved 13 members and associates of the Bonanno, Genovese and Gambino crime families.

Nocella said the targeted victims were lured to play in games with former professional athletes, including Billups and Jones, in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons.

Victims were “fleeced” out of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per game, he said.

He said defendants used “very sophisticated technology” like altered off-the-shelf shuffling machines that could read the cards. Some of the defendants used special contact lenses and eye glasses to read pre-marked cards, and an X-ray table that could read cards when they were face-down, he added.

Tisch said when people refused to pay, the organised crime families used threats and intimidation to get people to hand over the money.

The charges include robbery, extortion, wire fraud, bank fraud and illegal gambling.

The conspiracy cheated victims out of $7m (£5.2m), with one losing $1.8 million, officials said.

“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” Christopher Raia, the FBI assistant director of the New York field office, said, adding the FBI is working day and night to ensure members of mafia families “cannot continue to wreak havoc in our communities”.

The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player added eight rebounds and five assists as the defending champions claimed a 141-135 win.

It came just hours after the league was rocked by an FBI investigation into illegal sports betting and an illegal poker ring tied to organised crime.

Gilgeous-Alexander had scored the winning points in a double-overtime win against the Houston Rockets in the Thunder’s season-opener on Wednesday.

Once again the Canadian guard proved crucial, netting nine points in the second overtime as he beat his previous career-best of 54 points.

“This team has two great qualities,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“It knows how to stay in the moment and it understands that the beginning of the season is just as important as the end of the season.”

The Thunder became the first team in NBA history to go into double overtime in their first two games of a campaign.

Indiana have been without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles tendon in June, while they suffered another injury blow on Thursday when they lost guard Andrew Nembhard to a shoulder injury in the second quarter.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Stephen Curry scored 42 points to lead Golden State Warriors to a 137-131 win in overtime against the Denver Nuggets.

The Frenchman, making his first appearance in the regular season since undergoing surgery on his shoulder for deep vein thrombosis in February, recorded the fifth 40-point match of his career.

The 21-year-old’s performance overshadowed a nervous start from Cooper Flagg on his NBA debut.

The 18-year-old, the number one overall pick in the 2025 draft, became the second-youngest starter in NBA history behind LeBron James on his Mavs debut.

But the teenager struggled to impose himself, failing to score until the second half and finishing on 10 points.

Wembanyama, by contrast, had 21 points by half-time and displayed little rustiness after his eight-month absence.

Edgecome impresses in 76ers win as Knicks beat Cavs

Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe scored the third-most points of a debutant in NBA history in his side’s 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics.

His 34-point haul was the most any debutant has managed since Wilt Chamberlain hit 43 points on his Philadelphia Warriors bow in 1959.

“Man, yeah, that was crazy. That surpassed my expectation, to be honest,” said Edgecombe.

Elsewhere, OG Anunoby, who was born in England but moved to the US when he was four years old, hit 24 points and recorded 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 to give Mike Brown victory on his first outing as head coach.

But before his 23rd season in the NBA, LeBron James heightened speculation about his future with a cryptic post on his social media channels that teased a “Second Decision”.

A video showed him sitting down across from another man on a basketball court, with the caption: “The decision of all decisions. October 7th. 12pm EST.”

By Tuesday it had amassed more than 1.3 million ‘likes’ on Instagram.

Was James about to retire?

It appears not – at 15:31 BST on Tuesday he shared with his 158 million Instagram followers a video revealing “the Second Decision” as a promotion for a drinks brand.

The teaser video shared on Monday had echoed what became known as “The Decision” in 2010 – when in a televised announcement, from a gym, James revealed he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat.

James turns 41 in December and has already made plenty of history in the game.

Last season he became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined points across regular season and play-off games.

In April 2025 his influence beyond sport was shown when he became the first professional male athlete to be honoured as a Ken doll by Barbie makers Mattel.

In the NBA, no other player has made it to a 23rd season.

Since being drafted first overall by hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, switching to the Heat in 2010 and then joining the Lakers in 2018, James has won four league titles and broken a host of records.

One record came after his son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in 2024 and they became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game.

Last week the 6ft 9in superstar insisted he was “excited about the opportunity to be able to play the game that I love for another season”.

“The thing still pushing me is the fact that my love for the game is still high,” he added.

Some suspected “The Second Decision” would not be a retirement announcement.

With a string of investments and off-court ventures in tow, many of those engaging with the teaser on Instagram and X predicted James would be making a promotional announcement for one such vehicle.

They appear to have been correct.

The card is known as the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card and was sold by Heritage Auctions in the United States.

It had been in the hands of its previous owner for more than a decade and went into auction with a valuation expecting it to achieve £4.4m ($6m) or above. In total 82 bids were then received as the estimate was more than doubled.

The winning bid beat the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which was sold for $12.6m in August 2022, though the exchange rate at the time meant this was equivalent to £10.8m.

The Jordan-Bryant card is the second most expensive sports collectable ever, behind baseball legend Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series “called the shot” jersey which sold for £18.1m ($24.12) in August 2024.

Heritage’s director of sports auctions Chris Ivy told ESPN the Jordan-Bryant card was “the pinnacle” for modern card collectors.

He added that “another one can’t be created” and has always been looked at by modern basketball collectors as a “holy grail”.

“The pre-auction estimate was $6m-plus. So sometimes if a piece is unique like this, it’s really beneficial to let it have its day,” Ivy said.

Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls between 1991 and 1998.

Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020, is also considered an NBA legend and won five championships during a two-decade stint at LA Lakers between 1996 and 2016.

Mr Arenas, 43, is charged along with five other defendants, including one Israeli man who prosecutors claim is a “suspected organized crime figure”.

Prosecutors have charged him with three federal crimes, including operating an illegal gambling business and making false statements to investigators.

During a court appearance on Wednesday, Mr Arenas pleaded not guilty and was released pending trial after paying a $50,000 (£38,000) bond.

Prosecutors used his nickname, “Agent Zero” which he acquired during his time as an All-Star point guard – in charging documents unsealed on Wednesday.

According to the indictment, between September 2021 to July 2022 Mr Arenas rented out his mansion in Encino to be used for illegal poker games.

Prosecutors say he directed his co-defendants to prepare the home for games, and to collect a “rake” – money taken from each pot which goes to the organisers.

Co-defendant Yevgeni Gershman, who officials label a “suspected organized crime figure from Israel”, was allegedly responsible for hiring young women to “serve drinks, provide massages and offer companionship” to players, in exchange for tips.

In return, the women were charged a “tax”, prosecutors say. Chefs, valets, and armed security guards were also allegedly hired by the defendants.

Mr Gershman is also facing separate charges of immigration and marriage fraud.

They are charged alongside Evgenni Tourevski, 48, Allan Austria, 52, Yarin Cohen, 27, and Ievgen Krachun, 43.

Mr Arenas made the NBA All-Star team three times, and played 11 seasons in the league. Throughout his career he played for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies. More recently, he has hosted a podcast, Gil’s Arena, where he and other former players discuss basketball.

Prosecutors say that in text messages sent between him and the other defendants, they found a photo of a poker table bearing his name and likeness.

A photo of a poker table bearing Mr Arena’s name and image was listed as evidence by prosecutors

The indictment adds that Mr Arenas falsely claimed to know nothing about gambling in his home, and filed a petition to get the money back that was seized by federal agents during a raid on 20 July, 2022.

His trial is scheduled for 23 September. If convicted of all three charges, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Under California law, a poker match becomes illegal if someone running the game takes a house cut, or fee.

This is not his first time facing legal issues. In January 2010, he was charged with illegal gun possession after drawing a firearm during a card game in the Washington DC Wizards locker room.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. He played his last NBC game in 2012.

A Clackamas County Circuit Court jury found the 32-year-old McLemore, who hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022, guilty last week on one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. The jury didn’t convict McLemore on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse. McLemore, who was sentenced to 100 months in state prison Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to all four counts.

McLemore did not address the court and was dressed in a Clackamas County Jail inmate clothing.

“Many people are often afraid to report this type of conduct for a number of reasons,” Clackamas County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Healy said in a statement. “Hopefully the victim’s strength and courage in this case will give others the fortitude to come forward in circumstances where sexual assault has occurred. The sentence the defendant received today should serve as a reminder that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in our community, and that the Clackamas County DA’s Office will always work hard to hold offenders accountable and provide justice to victims.”

The charges stem from a report of sexual assault in Lake Oswego on Oct. 3, 2021, at the home of Robert Covington, one of McLemore’s then-teammates on the Portland Trail Blazers. Police began investigating, and McLemore was identified as a suspect.

In February 2024, a Clackamas County grand jury heard evidence in the case, including testimony from the woman who said McLemore assaulted her, and issued an indictment against McLemore as well as an arrest warrant, according to police from Lake Oswego.

U.S. Marshals arrested McLemore two months later.

McLemore took responsibility for his actions in a statement released later Wednesday.

“I strive to live with kindness, to be gentle and show up for my people,” he said. “I care deeply about those around me. And, even in this dark moment, I believe in the power of grace and redemption. I believe in second chances, and will work work every day to earn mine.”

In a follow-up statement, McLemore said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the verdict.

“As I testified, I never believed I was having sex without full consent,” McLemore said.

“We hope the Oregon Legislature will adopt a ‘second look’ process that would evaluate whether he should serve the entire 100 month sentence or whether, beyond the short alcohol-influenced encounter that led to this conviction, he is a considerate and humble person who has lived an honorable, community-focused life,” McLemore’s attorney, Kristen Winemiller, told ESPN on Wednesday.

Healy told jurors during the trial that the woman had been drinking heavily, passed out on a living room couch around 2 a.m., then regained partial consciousness in the morning when McLemore sexually penetrated her with his fingers and then began having sex with her.

McLemore’s attorneys disputed the victim’s account and claimed she initiated sexual contact and consented to it. They also asserted that the woman was sober enough to consent even though both she and McLemore were intoxicated. On Wednesday, the victim appeared by video and read a statement.

“This has been the longest almost four years of my life. I never imagined that reporting this back in 2021 would lead to such an incredibly difficult and long journey,” she said, in part. “These last few years have often felt like a weight that I’ve had to drag behind me, a constant reminder of the trauma that I haven’t been able to fully work through because there was no ending in sight. I now understand, on a deep level, why so many victims hesitate or never report what happened to them.”

McLemore was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft out of Kansas and played for five teams across nine NBA seasons. After playing for the Trail Blazers, McLemore began playing overseas for professional teams in China, Greece and Spain.

The 25-year-old had sustained the injury during the first quarter of the decisive game seven of the NBA Championship play-off finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder last month.

Haliburton fell down without any contact as he attempted to drive to the basket and was in obvious distress as he was helped from the court during the game that the Pacers lost 103-91 to end their hopes of a first NBA title.

Confirming the point guard’s lengthy absence, Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said he hoped Haliburton “will be back better than ever”.

“The surgery went well,” Pritchard told WISH-TV.

“He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardise that now. So don’t get any hopes up that he will play.”

A two-time All-Star, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 73 games during the 24-25 regular season and 14 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals.

He had played the decider against the Thunder despite suffering a calf strain in game five of the finals.

Haliburton became the third high-profile player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in the play-offs, following the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard.

A similar injury had also kept Kevin Durant out for a full season when he was hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors.

This aggressive defense aims to disrupt the opponent’s ability to advance the ball smoothly and create scoring opportunities in 3 ways:

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This pressure can be man-to-man or zone-based. In a man-to-man press, each defender shadows an opponent closely as they try to bring the ball up the court. In a zone press, defenders cover specific areas on the court, intercepting passes and cutting off passing lanes.

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A highly useful approach

This strategy is particularly useful when a team wants to come back from a deficit or maintain a slim lead by disrupting the opponent’s pace. It requires 3 things: high energy, good conditioning and excellent communication among defenders. This is because they must stay alert and coordinated to cover the entire court and react quickly to passes or screens. Don’t forget to visit 1xbet.com.gh/en/live/basketball – best live betting basketball is available on teams that play the sport in this way too.

However, the full-court press has risks. If the offense successfully breaks the press, it can create easy scoring chances due to defenders being out of position or fatigued. Therefore, teams usually use this tactic selectively and strategically, often in short bursts rather than the entire game. The best live basketball betting is available at 1xBet, where the best teams from this sport are always featured.

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The move was first announced last month but was confirmed on Sunday when the league’s new year officially started.

The Atlanta Hawks, the Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers are also involved in the deal, which involves 13 players and several future draft picks being exchanged.

The previous record for the largest trade in NBA history was six teams, set last summer when Klay Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks.

Durant, 36, was named the 2014 Most Valuable Player, won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors, and is a 15-time All-Star.

He also won four Olympic golds with the US basketball team.

“My time in Phoenix has come to an end,” he posted on social media.

“All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remember it’s a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players.

“I truly believe this NBA is a one big community. Much love to Arizona. Houston, Can’t Wait!”

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said: “His skill level, love of basketball, and dedication to his craft have made him one of the most respected players of his generation, and my staff and I are excited to work with him.”

Houston finished second in the Western Conference last season but were knocked out of the play-offs in the first round.

“One of the greatest to ever play the game, we are grateful for the impact Kevin made on our organization and in our community,” Phoenix general manager Brian Gregory said.

“As a member of the Suns, he climbed the scoring charts to become just the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points, and we wish him the best as he continues his career in Houston.”

Who gets what in the seven-team deal?

Under the deal, Houston get Durant and 31-year-old Swiss centre Clint Capela from Atlanta – he started his career at the Rockets.

From the Rockets, the Suns pick up 18-year-old South Sudanese centre Khaman Maluach, who was the 10th overall pick in June’s NBA draft, as well as forward Dillon Brooks and guard Jalen Green. The Suns also get Atlanta wing Daeqwon Plowden, Minnesota forward Rasheer Fleming and Golden State guard Koby Brea, as well as two future draft picks.

The Hawks, meanwhile, receive David Roddy, cash, and a 2031 draft pick swap from Houston.

Brooklyn obtained two future second-round picks and sent a draft pick, forward Adou Thiero, to the Lakers.

The Warriors obtained Australian forward Alex Toohey, who was initially drafted by the Suns, and guard Jahmai Mashack, the last pick in the draft for the Rockets.

Minnesota landed two future draft picks from the Suns and 18-year-old Australian centre Rocco Zikarsky, a draft pick from the Lakers.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal could not yet be announced between the Lakers and Ayton, the No 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft – two spots ahead of Luka Dončić.

The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton’s contract last weekend, and he has agreed to join Dončić and LeBron James on a one-year deal with a player option for 2026-27. He will be paid more than $25m by the Blazers while playing for the Lakers in the upcoming season.

Ayton’s arrival fills the Lakers’ most glaring offseason need. He will provide a lob target for James and Dončić while adding the defensive size in the middle that they have missed since trading Anthony Davis to Dallas for Dončić.

Ayton spent his first five NBA seasons with Phoenix before joining the Trail Blazers two years ago. He struggled in Portland while playing for mediocre teams, but he has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds during his seven seasons while making 59% of his shots.

The Lakers struggled without Davis in the paint last season, with Jaxson Hayes playing poorly enough to get benched by coach JJ Redick in the final games. Los Angeles were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by Minnesota in five games, with big man Rudy Gobert racking up 27 points and 24 rebounds in the clinching victory while the Lakers largely played without a center.

Rich Paul said James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was targeting a fifth Championship after activating a $53m (£41m) player option for the 2025-26 season.

“He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all,” he told ESPN.

“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”

James currently shares the NBA season record with eight-time All-Star Vince Carter. His tally of 1,562 regular-season appearances is just 50 short of breaking former Boston Celtics star Robert Parish’s NBA record.

In 2023 he broke Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing points record of 38,387 to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. His current tally stands at 42,184.

James’ NBA career began in 2003 when he was drafted first overall by hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The forward joined the Miami Heat in 2010, winning two titles, before returning to lead Cleveland to their only NBA title with a 2016 success.

He has been with the Lakers since 2018 and helped them win the 2020 title, which was also the fourth time James was named NBA finals MVP.

His 20-year-old son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in the summer of 2024 and they became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game in October.

On Wednesday evening, that dream became a reality as the 18-year-old’s name echoed through the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, having been announced as the 10th pick at the 2025 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.

Forced to play his first games wearing Crocs after taking up the sport aged 13, Maluach’s talent has already seen him represent South Sudan at the Fiba World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Even so, the 7ft 1in centre was overcome with emotion – with tears clearly evident alongside his smile – when he posed on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

“I didn’t think I was going to cry,” Maluach said.

“But everything was just going through my head; my whole journey, my people and the continent I represent.

“I believed in myself. I was delusional about my dreams. No matter what the odds are against you, it shows that you can win.”

The teenager had worn a special suit jacket for the occasion, with lining which displayed the South Sudanese and Ugandan flags.

Back home in Entebbe, Uganda, where his family is based, joy had erupted.

His mother, Mary Aweng, elder brother Majok Madit Maluach and other siblings burst into a celebratory dance and said a heartfelt prayer as they heard his name called.

Majok described the moment as “a blessing” for the family and for Africa.

Visa issues

Maluach’s family had planned to be by his side, but their visa applications were denied because of a United States travel ban affecting South Sudanese citizens.

Only his sister Agum Madit, who is based in Australia, was able to attend the event in New York.

Maluach’s coach from the Solid Skills Academy in Kampala, the programme that first scouted him, was also meant to be there.

“That was really unfortunate. It has taken part of our joy,” coach Wal Deng told BBC Sport Africa.

“But nevertheless, we’re so, so proud of him.

“It’s like a dream that’s actually reality. Seeing how far he’s come, from learning the basics of basketball to now joining the NBA, this is a moment of immense joy.”

Maluach’s status in the USA now looks secure.

After signing with Duke University he had obtained an F1 visa, the standard US student visa, which was subsequently paused for South Sudanese nationals in April.

That F1 status had already shifted back to a tourist visa while Maluach awaited the NBA Draft.

Now officially drafted, he will transition to a P1 visa, typically granted to professional athletes competing in major US leagues.

Many of the NBA’s international players remain on P1 visas for the duration of their careers.

A meteoric rise

Born in 2006 in Rumbek, South Sudan, Maluach’s family fled to neighbouring Uganda to escape conflict.

Raised by his mother alongside six siblings in Kawempe, basketball only entered his life after a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) rider encouraged him to take up the sport because of his height.

“The closest court was a one-hour walk and I didn’t even have shoes,” Maluach told BBC Sport Africa last year.

Yet his potential was quickly spotted by local coaches Deng and Aketch Garang.

“He learned so quickly,” Deng said. “I told Aketch this kid would be the next big thing.”

Within a year, Maluach had earned a scholarship to the NBA Academy Africa in Dakar, Senegal, his first major leap toward the global stage.

The teenager credits competing against the best talent on the continent with helping him “level up”.

By 16, he was playing for South Sudan’s national team, helping them qualify for their first-ever Olympics via their performances at the 2023 Fiba World Cup.

His performances in the Basketball Africa League and MVP honours at the 2023 Basketball Without Borders Africa camp cemented his status as a top prospect, and he committed to playing for Duke.

Five years after first stepping onto a court, Maluach is set to take the next step on a remarkable journey which has been built on belief and persistence.

“It’s a day I’ll never forget,” he said after being selected by the Houston Rockets, and then immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns.

Deng, watching from afar, beamed with pride.

“Seeing him go from learning the basics to the highest level is really something rare,” he said.

“He’s a sign of hope to every African kid that anything is possible.”

Showing the best of Africa

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Tears were evident on Maluach’s face as he greeted NBA commissioner Adam Silver on stage at the Barclays Centre

Maluach is keenly aware of his role beyond the court.

“I want to change the narrative of how people see Africa,” he said.

“I’m thinking about showing them the great places in Africa like Kigali, Senegal, safaris. The cultures and the people we have is different from the stuff they see on TV.”

The centre is eager to get started in Phoenix.

“I’m going to learn how to navigate the league, how to get better and how to stay consistent all year,” he said.

“I’m excited to put on the Suns jersey that says ‘Maluach’ on the back.”

His Duke team-mate Cooper Flagg may have been the top Draft pick, but Maluach has not hidden his own lofty ambitions of reaching the NBA Hall of Fame.

He has modelled his game on the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid, and he now hopes to share the court with those very idols.

“I believed in myself before anyone else did,” he said. “Let God take care of the rest.”

After making the dream journey from war-torn South Sudan to the NBA, millions of African children will be watching and believing they too can make it.

The 25-year-old fell to the court without any contact as he attempted to drive to the basket seven minutes into the first quarter of the decisive game seven of the NBA Championship play-off finals at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He was in obvious distress as he was helped from the court and missed the rest of the game, which his side lost 103-91 to end their hopes of a first NBA title.

The Pacers confirmed he would have surgery on Monday on the injury, which has a likely recovery time of eight to 10 months.

The two-time All Star is the third high-profile player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in this season’s play-offs, following Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard.

The injury is similar to one that kept Kevin Durant out for a full season when he was hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Haliburton had played in Sunday’s decider despite suffering a calf strain in game five of the finals.

It followed an amazing run where he hit a tying or winning shot in the final seconds in all four rounds of the play-offs.

“I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers,” he posted on X after the surgery. “For the chance to do something special.

“Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends?”

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle paid tribute to Haliburton after Sunday’s game.

“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” he said. “But he will be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.”

With an average age under 26, the Thunder capped off one of the winningest seasons in league history with a seven-game triumph over a pesky Indiana Pacers team to win the Larry O’Brien trophy.

It was a tight affair in the early-going, indicative of the back-and-forth nature of the entire series, and then disaster struck for Indiana.

Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had been instrumental in a string of incredible comeback wins for the Pacers this postseason, went down with a non-contact injury to his lower right leg. He writhed in pain, slapping the floor in a mixture of frustration, heartbreak and physical discomfort. His father later confirmed to broadcaster ESPN what many had suspected – it was an Achilles injury for the 25-year-old.

With every excuse to throw in the towel, the Pacers instead rallied around their injured leader. Keyed by Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a hard-nosed defense, Indiana took a surprising 48-47 lead into halftime.

As the adrenaline began to wear off, the Thunder started to impose their will in the third quarter of the game.

In the blink of an eye, the game went from tied at 56-56 to a nine-point OKC lead after three consecutive long range shots from the Thunder’s “Big 3” – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

The Thunder never looked back from that point.

OKC, which boasted the league’s best defense in the regular season, began swarming all over the short-handed Pacers. The Thunder held Indiana scoreless for the first 4:31 of the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City’s lead grew to 22 points.

The Pacers showed their trademark determination and never quit, trimming the deficit down to 10 points with two-and-a-half minutes left.

But without their late-game hero Haliburton, the mountain was just too steep for the Pacers, and the Thunder ultimately won the game 103-91.

The Thunder’s centerpiece, Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 29 points and earned Finals MVP honors, becoming the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to earn both regular season and Finals MVP awards. SGA also became just the fourth player in NBA history to win the league MVP trophy, the scoring title and win the Finals, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.

After looking listless at halftime, the Thunder closed their season in the same fashion that they had been playing since October: Intense defense, lightning quick runs and leaning on Gilgeous-Alexander’s near-perfect basketball to take home the title.

The 36-year-old forward will join the Rockets at the start of July in a deal involving eight other players.

In exchange, guard Jalen Green and small forward Dillon Brooks will move to Phoenix – who will also gain the 10th pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft and five future second-round picks, according to reports in US media.

Speaking at a media event in New York on Sunday Durant told reporter Kay Adams: “Being part of the Houston Rockets, I’m looking forward to it.

“Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I’m glad it’s over with.

“They had a great season last year. Love their leadership. I felt like I’d be a good addition.”

Durant is a four-time Olympic champion with the United States and was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2014.

Last season the Suns could only finish 11th in the Western Conference, with Durant averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots a game.

The Rockets finished second in the Western Conference but were knocked out of the play-offs in the first round.

They are coached by Ime Udoka, who signed a long-term deal last week to remain as Houston’s coach. Durant and Udoka previously worked together with the Brooklyn Nets and on the US Olympic squad.

Durant is the seventh highest-scoring player in NBA history and won his two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, taking the NBA Finals MVP award on both occasions.

The Phoenix Suns forward has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), the majority owners of the French club, and will provide expertise during PSG’s planned expansion into basketball.

“It is an honour to partner with QSI and to be a shareholder of PSG, a club and a city that is deeply close to my heart,” the four-time Olympic gold medallist said.

“This club has big plans and I look forward to being part of the next phase of growth and exploring new investment opportunities with QSI.”

Earlier this year, QSI expressed their interest in owning a franchise in a European basketball league proposed by the NBA and the sport’s world governing body Fiba.

PSG said that they will partner with Durant’s media and investment company Boardroom on a wide range of “commercial, investment and content initiatives” and that the NBA star will “support the club on its continued sports and business diversification and growth”.

Durant was already linked with the 13-time French champions through the club’s minority shareholder Arctos Partners but has now invested directly.

Durant, who won two NBA titles with Golden State Warriors and claimed gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with the United States, was recently included in Forbes’ 2025 list of highest-paid athletes.

QSI acquired PSG in 2011 and their investment has helped the club win 11 Ligue 1 titles and a first Champions League, that they won by defeating Inter Milan 5-0 last month.

The Buss family has owned the team – one of the most iconic in sports globally – since 1979 and now has made a deal with TWG Global CEO Mark Walter, the source said.

The sale is reportedly worth an estimated $10 billion (£7.45bn) – though it could increase once finalised.

Mr Walter also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the professional US baseball team that won the World Series last year.

The BBC has contacted the Lakers for comment.

A spokesperson for Mr Walter’s company confirmed the billionaire financier was in the midst of a deal with the Lakers.

“Mark Walter is entering into an agreement to acquire additional interests in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, of which he has been a stakeholder since 2021,” the spokesperson said.

In 2021, Mr Walter became a co-owner of the team with a 20% stake. He has investments with various sports teams globally, including the Chelsea Football Club and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, which is set to enter racing in 2026.

The deal comes after the March sale of the Boston Celtics basketball team to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion – which at that time was dubbed the priciest sale of a US sports franchise. It had surpassed the 2023 sale of the Washington Commanders American football team for $6.05 billion.

US media reported Wednesday that the National Basketball Association team’s valuation is at least $10 billion. Its sale will surpass those record-breaking deals by about $4 billion.

Jerry Buss bought the team in a $67.5 million deal in 1979 that included the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and a Los Angeles arena, known as the Kia Forum.

Since that year, the Lakers have won more championship titles than any other NBA team. They’ve appeared at the NBA Finals 17 times under the Buss family ownership and won the championship 11 times.

The team – currently led by superstar LeBron James – made it to the playoffs the last three seasons but was eliminated.

After Mr Buss died in 2013, ownership was passed to his six children in a trust. The family owns a 66% stake in the franchise.

Jeanie Buss has served as the Lakers’ governor since that time – a position she’s reportedly going to keep under the terms of the sale to Mr Walter.

The Los Angeles Times reports the trust required the majority of the six children to agree on any sale of the team.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who previously owned a stake in the team, said fans should be ecstatic about the sale and that Mr Walter will carry on the team’s legacy – noting his ownership of the Dodgers led to a World Series win.

“I just talked to my sister Jeanie Buss to tell her congratulations, and that I’m so happy for her and family,” Mr Johnson said on X.

“She’s witnessed him build a winning team with the Dodgers and knows that Mark will do right by the Lakers team, organization, and fans!” he said in another post. “Both are extremely intelligent, visionaries, great leaders, and have positively impacted the greater Los Angeles community!”

The Pacers reduced an 18-point deficit from the second quarter to two points in the fourth quarter before Williams, whose tally was a career best in a play-off game, and team-mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped guide the Thunder to victory.

NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander provided 31 points along with 10 assists as home side Oklahoma moved one win away from securing the NBA title in the best-of-seven series.

“My team-mates instil a lot of confidence in me to go out and be me,” Williams said. “And [coach] Mark [Daigneault] has done a good job of telling me to just be myself.

“I don’t got to be anything more and that’s given me a lot of confidence.”

The Pacers had overcome a 15-point deficit in game one to win but could not repeat the feat in game five.

“Tonight was the exact same game as game one, to be honest,” Williams said. “Learning through these finals is what makes this team good and we were able to do that.”

Game six will take place in Indianapolis on Thursday at 20:30 local time (Friday, 01:00 BST), with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton insisting he will be ready for the contest.

Haliburton scored just four points in 34 minutes of action in game five, with Indiana coach Rick Carlisle saying the player was “not 100%”.

He added: “It’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game.

“We were concerned at half-time. He insisted on playing.”

Haliburton said: “It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete, help my team-mates any way I can.

“I was not great tonight by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play. It is what it is. Got to be ready to go for game six.”

The Thunder won 111-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

They trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter but outscored Indiana 31-17 in the last period, closing with a 12-1 run in the last three minutes.

“I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “I didn’t want to go down not swinging.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneaul gave Gilgeous-Alexander, this season’s Most Valuable Player, a break late in the third quarter rather than his usual rest early in the fourth.

The Pacers led 101-97 with less than four minutes remaining, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of the Thunder’s final 16 points and ended the game with 10 free-throws from 10 attempts.

Jalen Williams scored 27 points and made seven rebounds for the Thunder, while Alex Caruso added 20 points off the bench.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton 18.

“We just didn’t execute at the end of the game,” said Siakam. “We didn’t get easy shots. The easy shots that we got, we missed them. And they made them.”

The Thunder host game five at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at 19:30 local time on Monday (01:30 BST, Tuesday).

Haliburton scored 22 points and made 11 assists and nine rebounds as the Pacers overturned a five-point deficit going into the fourth quarter in game three of the best-of-seven series.

The Pacers bench outscored the Thunder by 49-18, with reserve Bennedict Mathurin contributing 27 points at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

“So many different guys chipped in,” said Haliburton. “Ben Mathurin was amazing off the bench. We just had guys make plays after plays.”

Mathurin said: “The main thing is you have to be resilient. You have to be the aggressor in order to win games.”

The Pacers, who went into the game after a 123-107 defeat in game two, extended a run of not losing consecutive games since March.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, scored 24 points for the Thunder but only three in the fourth quarter.

Jalem Williams top-scored for the visitors with 26 points, while Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and made 10 rebounds for a Thunder side that gave up 19 turnovers which led to 21 points for the Pacers.

“In the fourth quarter I just thought they really outplayed us on both ends,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

Game four will take place at the same venue at 20:30 local time on Friday (01:30 BST, Saturday).

His 21-foot shot put the Pacers in front for the first time in the match, with 0.3 seconds remaining as they secured a 111-110 win.

The Thunder, with home court advantage for the first two games, had led by 15 points during the fourth quarter, and in the closing seconds the ball was in the hands of NBA most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

However, he missed a two-point attempt with 12 seconds remaining and the Pacers grabbed the rebound, passed the ball to Haliburton and he drove down the court before hitting the winning points.

It’s the fourth time in the 2025 play-offs that the 25-year-old has recorded a big-time score – three times to win a match and once to force overtime.

Indiana won despite turning the ball over 25 times, with 20 of those coming in the first half.

“It’s not the recipe to win,” Haliburton said.

“We can’t turn the ball over that much. (But) come May and June, it doesn’t matter how you get them, just get them.”

Team-mate Myles Turner said of Haliburton: “Some players will say they have it, but there are other players that show it. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn’t shy away from that moment.”

Gilgeous-Alexander was the game’s leading scorer with 38 points, while Pascal Siakam top scored for the Pacers with 19 points, followed by Obi Toppin with 17.

“We played like we were trying to keep the lead instead of trying to extend it or be aggressive,” said the Thunder’s Jalen Williams.

Game two of the best-of-seven series is also in Oklahoma and will start at 19:00 local time on Sunday, 8 June (01:00 BST on Monday).