AP National Sports

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Tony Parker surely knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the San Antonio Spurs. And the four-time NBA champion tells The Associated Press he sees a bright future at his former team for fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama. Parker played 17 seasons for the Spurs

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer It’s the easiest call of the NBA draft: The San Antonio Spurs won. That’s not to say other teams didn’t do very well on Thursday, when 58 players were selected as the league’s newest members. But the Spurs being able to take generational French talent Victor Wembanyama puts them

HALLE, Germany (AP) — Daniil Medvedev has been upset by Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the Halle Open quarterfinals for only his second loss in nine quarterfinals this season. The third-ranked Russian drops to a 2-2 record on grass this season following his first-round loss at the Libema Open last week. Bautista Agut

By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) — The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies will play a two-game series in London next season as MLB takes another rivalry abroad. League commissioner Rob Manfred has confirmed the June 8-9 games at London Stadium. He was speaking ahead of this weekend’s series between the St.

By DAVID BRANDT AP Baseball Writer PHOENIX (AP) — The percentage of Black players in Major League Baseball has been on the decline for decades, but prospects at MLB’s Draft Combine this week think that may soon change. Several highly touted Black players are hoping to become the next Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts or Andrew

By The Associated Press All but one of the 30 of the Major League Baseball teams are hosting Pride Nights this season, most during Pride Month, which celebrates and supports LGBTQ+ culture and rights. The Texas Rangers are the only team without a Pride Night. They say they are committed to making everyone feel welcome

By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman says the 25-game suspension the NBA slapped guard Ja Morant with “was appropriate.” The GM also said Thursday night after the NBA draft that it’s up to Morant to change the behavior that led to two suspensions in four months. Kleiman

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — The parade is just a memory for the NBA-champion Denver Nuggets and the party is beginning to simmer down. Back to the business of finding a way to remain at the NBA’s mountaintop. The Nuggets went in search of some cost-control players in the NBA draft

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst confirmed that Khris Middleton declined his player option for the upcoming season but added that the team hopes to keep the three-time All-Star forward. ESPN first reported that Middleton had opted against exercising the $40.4 million option. Middleton will turn 32 before the start of the

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had a clean up procedure on his right knee in early June and is expected to be ready for the start of Los Angeles Clippers’ training camp in late September. The five-time All-Star turns 32 next week. He had a meniscus tear

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls expect point guard Lonzo Ball to miss another season because of his left knee injury. “Everything is going well,” executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said Thursday. “Going into the offseason, I think our expectation is that he’s not coming back next season and he’s going to

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Thanks to their recent success, the five teams in the NBA’s Pacific Division weren’t necessarily trying to draft one of the next generation’s hardwood superstars on Thursday night. Instead, finding a good role player or two would be just fine. The five teams in the Pacific

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer The Raptors took the player with possibly the flashiest suit of the night during the NBA draft. The Celtics loaded up on future picks. And the Brooklyn Nets continued their latest rebuilding on an interesting draft night for the East’s Atlantic Division. Toronto made the highest selection of the

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer Michigan teammates Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin are headed to the same division. So are Arkansas’ Anthony Black and Nick Smith Jr. The Southeast Division had seven first-round picks in the NBA draft Thursday night. No division had more. The Southeast Division had six of the top 18 selections.

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer DALLAS (AP) — The young Houston Rockets are getting even younger with another pair of first-round draft picks. Houston and other Southwest Division rivals have been operating in the shadows of San Antonio. The Spurs drafted French sensation Victor Wembanyama first overall. The Rockets added the first player drafted

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer The Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers used lottery picks on players who should make their biggest early impact on defense while the rest of the Central Division teams sat out the first round of Thursday’s draft. Detroit selected wing Ausar Thompson of the Overtime Elite developmental program with the