Spanish basketball great Pau Gasol announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from the sport after a 23-year career.

"I'm here to tell you that I'm going to retire from professional basketball. It's a difficult decision after so many years but it`s a decision I've taken carefully," Gasol, 41, told a news conference at Barcelona's Liceu theatre.

Gasol, who stands 7 feet 1 inch, made his professional debut in 1998 with Barca as a centre before being signed by NBA side Memphis Grizzlies in 2001.

He won NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 while being chosen in the All-Star team on six occasions.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hockey-india-withdraws-from-2022-birmingham-cwg-cites-covid-concerns-discriminatory-quarantine-rules-418432">Hockey India withdraws from 2022 Birmingham CWG; cites Covid concerns, discriminatory quarantine rules</a>

Gasol later played for Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs and had a brief stint with Milwaukee Bucks plus four months at Portland Trail Blazers, where injury prevented him playing.

He returned to Barcelona earlier this year, helping his boyhood club end a seven-year wait to win the Spanish championship in June.

Gasol was a talisman for Spain, helping them win the Olympic silver medal at the 2008 and 2012 Games plus bronze in 2016.

He recovered from almost two years out injured to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where Spain lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners the USA in his final international.

Spanish basketball great Pau Gasol announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from the sport after a 23-year career. "I'm here to tell you that I'm going to retire from professional basketball.

Spanish basketball great Pau Gasol announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from the sport after a 23-year career. "I'm here to tell you that I'm going to retire from professional basketball. It's a difficult decision after so many years but it`s a decision I've taken carefully," Gasol, 41, told a news conference at Barcelona's Liceu theatre. Gasol, who stands 7 feet 1 inch, made his professional debut in 1998 with Barca as a centre before being signed by NBA side Memphis Grizzlies in 2001. He won NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 while being chosen in the All-Star team on six occasions. Also Read: Hockey India withdraws from 2022 Birmingham CWG; cites Covid concerns, discriminatory quarantine rules Gasol later played for Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs and had a brief stint with Milwaukee Bucks plus four months at Portland Trail Blazers, where injury prevented him playing. He returned to Barcelona earlier this year, helping his boyhood club end a seven-year wait to win the Spanish championship in June. Gasol was a talisman for Spain, helping them win the Olympic silver medal at the 2008 and 2012 Games plus bronze in 2016. He recovered from almost two years out injured to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where Spain lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners the USA in his final international.

Basketball- Pau Gasol retires after 23-year career, two NBA titles, three Olympic medals

LeBron James scored a season-high 34 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won their eighth straight road game with a 113-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The victory opened a seven-game road trip for the NBA champion Lakers, who are hoping this is the beginning of another run of victories.&nbsp;

They had a five-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing, a 115-113 loss to Golden State.

"Our motivation was not losing two in a row tonight. We were able to get that accomplished," said forward Anthony Davis.

James made a key three pointer and capped his night with an emphatic double clutch slam dunk as the Lakers improved to a NBA best 12-4 on the season after Thursday's gritty performance at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 23 points and Davis finished with 18 points and nine rebounds in the win. Caldwell-Pope sank seven-of-10 threes as the Lakers went 19-of-37 from three-point range.

Going on a seven-game road trip might be a daunting task for some teams but not the Lakers, who have the best record in the league.

They have excelled away from Staples Center arena by compiling a franchise best 8-0 start on the road this season.

"It is coming along. We are just playing for each other," said Caldwell-Pope.

The Lakers bottled up reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds but had a career high nine turnovers.

"We've got to keep working, keep playing good basketball for longer periods of time, make shots, defend better, rebound the ball better," Antetokounmpo said. "Ultimately we've got to get better."

Jrue Holiday tallied 22 points and Khris Middleton scored 20 for the Bucks, who dropped their second straight game for the first time this season.

The Bucks led by as many as seven in the first quarter before taking a 33-29 lead into the second.

The Lakers started the fourth with a five-point lead, 86-81, but quickly extended that to 11 points. The Bucks took advantage of some sloppy Laker defence to go on a 9-0 run to close the gap to 98-96 with three minutes to go on a layup by Middleton.

But four-time MVP James and Alex Caruso each drained key three pointers in the final two minutes. James, who beat the shot clock with his three pointer, then put the game away in style by driving hard to the basket and dunking it with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth.

"There were stretches where we were really good on both ends of the court," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.&nbsp;

"We had a bad stretch, I felt like the last four or five minutes of the second quarter, on both ends of the court we were not good. We were not sharp like you need to be for 48 minutes."

&nbsp;

<h2>- Green ejected for yelling -</h2>

&nbsp;

Elsewhere, R.J. Barrett recorded a career best with 28 points, and the&nbsp;New York Knicks used a 40-point first quarter to build a lead they relinquished only momentarily in a 119-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen Curry had a game-high 30 points for the Warriors, who were coming off back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.&nbsp;

The Warriors lost Draymond Green to a disputed technical ejection in the second quarter, when he appeared to be yelling at his own teammate&nbsp;James Wiseman -- but the officials saw it differently.

The Knicks outshot the Warriors 46.3 percent to 38.4 from the floor.

LeBron James scored a season-high 34 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won their eighth straight road game with a 113-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

LeBron James scored a season-high 34 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won their eighth straight road game with a 113-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. The victory opened a seven-game road trip for the NBA champion Lakers, who are hoping this is the beginning of another run of victories. They had a five-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing, a 115-113 loss to Golden State. "Our motivation was not losing two in a row tonight. We were able to get that accomplished," said forward Anthony Davis. James made a key three pointer and capped his night with an emphatic double clutch slam dunk as the Lakers improved to a NBA best 12-4 on the season after Thursday's gritty performance at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 23 points and Davis finished with 18 points and nine rebounds in the win. Caldwell-Pope sank seven-of-10 threes as the Lakers went 19-of-37 from three-point range. Going on a seven-game road trip might be a daunting task for some teams but not the Lakers, who have the best record in the league. They have excelled away from Staples Center arena by compiling a franchise best 8-0 start on the road this season. "It is coming along. We are just playing for each other," said Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers bottled up reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds but had a career high nine turnovers. "We've got to keep working, keep playing good basketball for longer periods of time, make shots, defend better, rebound the ball better," Antetokounmpo said. "Ultimately we've got to get better." Jrue Holiday tallied 22 points and Khris Middleton scored 20 for the Bucks, who dropped their second straight game for the first time this season. The Bucks led by as many as seven in the first quarter before taking a 33-29 lead into the second. The Lakers started the fourth with a five-point lead, 86-81, but quickly extended that to 11 points. The Bucks took advantage of some sloppy Laker defence to go on a 9-0 run to close the gap to 98-96 with three minutes to go on a layup by Middleton. But four-time MVP James and Alex Caruso each drained key three pointers in the final two minutes. James, who beat the shot clock with his three pointer, then put the game away in style by driving hard to the basket and dunking it with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth. "There were stretches where we were really good on both ends of the court," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We had a bad stretch, I felt like the last four or five minutes of the second quarter, on both ends of the court we were not good. We were not sharp like you need to be for 48 minutes." - Green ejected for yelling - Elsewhere, R.J. Barrett recorded a career best with 28 points, and the New York Knicks used a 40-point first quarter to build a lead they relinquished only momentarily in a 119-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry had a game-high 30 points for the Warriors, who were coming off back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors lost Draymond Green to a disputed technical ejection in the second quarter, when he appeared to be yelling at his own teammate James Wiseman -- but the officials saw it differently. The Knicks outshot the Warriors 46.3 percent to 38.4 from the floor.

James scores 34 as Lakers improve to 8-0 on the road

Former WNBA player Becky Hammon has become the first woman to direct a team in an NBA contest, describing the experience as "a big deal, it's a substantial moment."

Hammon made history Wednesday in the Los Angeles Lakers' 121-107 win over the San Antonio Spurs, taking over the Spurs' bench duties when head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the first half.

"I've been a part of this organization, I got traded here in 2007, so I've been in San Antonio and part of the Spurs and sports organization with the Stars and everything for 13 years," Hammon said. "So I have a lot of time invested, and they have a lot of time invested in me, in building me and getting me better."

Popovich received a technical foul and was thrown out of the game with 3:56 remaining in the second quarter for arguing with a referee as his team trailed the Lakers 52-41.

"He officially pointed at me. That was it," Hammon said. "Said, 'You got 'em,' and that was it. Very Pop-like."

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was among those to congratulate Hammon on social media saying she hopes more ex-WNBA players can land coaching jobs in the NBA.

"Congrats, @BeckyHammon. You may be the first, but I know you certainly won't be the last."

Hammon is in her seventh season on the San Antonio coaching staff.&nbsp; Hammon was a six-time all-star in the WNBA with teams in New York and Texas.

Former WNBA player Becky Hammon has become the first woman to direct a team in an NBA contest, describing the experience as "a big deal, it's a substantial moment.

Former WNBA player Becky Hammon has become the first woman to direct a team in an NBA contest, describing the experience as "a big deal, it's a substantial moment." Hammon made history Wednesday in the Los Angeles Lakers' 121-107 win over the San Antonio Spurs, taking over the Spurs' bench duties when head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the first half. "I've been a part of this organization, I got traded here in 2007, so I've been in San Antonio and part of the Spurs and sports organization with the Stars and everything for 13 years," Hammon said. "So I have a lot of time invested, and they have a lot of time invested in me, in building me and getting me better." Popovich received a technical foul and was thrown out of the game with 3:56 remaining in the second quarter for arguing with a referee as his team trailed the Lakers 52-41. "He officially pointed at me. That was it," Hammon said. "Said, 'You got 'em,' and that was it. Very Pop-like." Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was among those to congratulate Hammon on social media saying she hopes more ex-WNBA players can land coaching jobs in the NBA. "Congrats, @BeckyHammon. You may be the first, but I know you certainly won't be the last." Hammon is in her seventh season on the San Antonio coaching staff. Hammon was a six-time all-star in the WNBA with teams in New York and Texas.

Hammon makes history by becoming first woman to direct NBA team

Los Angeles superstar LeBron James celebrated his 36th birthday Wednesday with another NBA milestone, scoring double-digit points for the 1,000th straight game in the Lakers' 121-107 victory over the Spurs in San Antonio.

James finished with 26 points to extend his already record streak of double-digit games in the regular season.

He sealed the milestone midway through the second quarter with a turnaround jump hook that gave the Lakers a 46-37 lead.

"I just try to live in the moment and just try to continue to get better with my game, try to get better with my teammates and try to just maximize when I'm on the floor," said James, who is in his 18th NBA campaign after leading the Lakers to the 2020 title in the league's quarantine bubble in Orlando.

"I've been blessed to play the game that I love for 18 years and hopefully I can continue to play at a high level," he said.

James' double-digit scoring streak began on January 6, 2007, when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"It's a tribute to his tenacity level ... his commitment to excellence," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the game. "He deserves a lot of credit for being the consummate professional. His mental state along with his physical state really makes him really special."

Shortly after James reached the milestone, Popovich was ejected from the contest for arguing with officials.

Assistant Becky Hammon took over on the Spurs bench, becoming the first woman to direct a team in an NBA game.

Anthony Davis scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Lakers, newcomer Dennis Schroder added 21 points and four assists.

Wesley Matthews had his best game since joining the champions, scoring 18 points off the bench as he made all six of his three-point attempts.

<h2>- Humbled Heat bounce back -</h2>

In early action, the Miami Heat rebounded from an embarrassing 47-point loss to Milwaukee with a 119-108 NBA victory over the Bucks.

The Heat didn't have to wait long for revenge as they hosted the Bucks for the second straight night.

Goran Dragic came off the bench to lead Miami with 26 points, Bam Adebayo added 22 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists and Tyler Herro scored 21 points with a career-best 15 rebounds as the Heat rallied to stave off another home defeat.

The Bucks had dominated on Tuesday with an NBA-record 29 three-pointers in their 144-97 triumph.

The Bucks, fueled by a triple-double of 26 points 13 rebounds and 10 assists from two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, looked like making it two wins in a row when they led by 14 in the third quarter.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 15 points and Jrue Holiday added 13 for the Bucks, but the Heat rallied despite missing Jimmy Butler for the second straight game.

"You want to constantly develop some grit and toughness during the course of a long season, and our guys responded in an appropriate fashion," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who acknowledged before the game that there was "a lot of anger and frustration" after the blowout loss on Tuesday.

"As well there should have been," he said.

In Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Kevin Durant added 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Nets dealt the Atlanta Hawks their first defeat of the young season, 145-141.

Irving's late burst helped the Celtics withstand 30-point performances from Atlanta's Trae Young and John Collins.

Boston, powered by Jaylen Brown's career-high 42 points, defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 116-111.

The Celtics led by 12 points after the opening quarter and took full control with a 17-0 scoring run in the second period.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who missed two games with a mouth injury from an elbow to the face, returned in a protective mask to score a game-high 28 points in his team's 128-105 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Los Angeles superstar LeBron James celebrated his 36th birthday Wednesday with another NBA milestone, scoring double-digit points for the 1,000th straight game in the Lakers' 121-107 victory over the Spurs in San Antonio.

Los Angeles superstar LeBron James celebrated his 36th birthday Wednesday with another NBA milestone, scoring double-digit points for the 1,000th straight game in the Lakers' 121-107 victory over the Spurs in San Antonio. James finished with 26 points to extend his already record streak of double-digit games in the regular season. He sealed the milestone midway through the second quarter with a turnaround jump hook that gave the Lakers a 46-37 lead. "I just try to live in the moment and just try to continue to get better with my game, try to get better with my teammates and try to just maximize when I'm on the floor," said James, who is in his 18th NBA campaign after leading the Lakers to the 2020 title in the league's quarantine bubble in Orlando. "I've been blessed to play the game that I love for 18 years and hopefully I can continue to play at a high level," he said. James' double-digit scoring streak began on January 6, 2007, when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. "It's a tribute to his tenacity level ... his commitment to excellence," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the game. "He deserves a lot of credit for being the consummate professional. His mental state along with his physical state really makes him really special." Shortly after James reached the milestone, Popovich was ejected from the contest for arguing with officials. Assistant Becky Hammon took over on the Spurs bench, becoming the first woman to direct a team in an NBA game. Anthony Davis scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Lakers, newcomer Dennis Schroder added 21 points and four assists. Wesley Matthews had his best game since joining the champions, scoring 18 points off the bench as he made all six of his three-point attempts. - Humbled Heat bounce back - In early action, the Miami Heat rebounded from an embarrassing 47-point loss to Milwaukee with a 119-108 NBA victory over the Bucks. The Heat didn't have to wait long for revenge as they hosted the Bucks for the second straight night. Goran Dragic came off the bench to lead Miami with 26 points, Bam Adebayo added 22 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists and Tyler Herro scored 21 points with a career-best 15 rebounds as the Heat rallied to stave off another home defeat. The Bucks had dominated on Tuesday with an NBA-record 29 three-pointers in their 144-97 triumph. The Bucks, fueled by a triple-double of 26 points 13 rebounds and 10 assists from two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, looked like making it two wins in a row when they led by 14 in the third quarter. Donte DiVincenzo scored 15 points and Jrue Holiday added 13 for the Bucks, but the Heat rallied despite missing Jimmy Butler for the second straight game. "You want to constantly develop some grit and toughness during the course of a long season, and our guys responded in an appropriate fashion," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who acknowledged before the game that there was "a lot of anger and frustration" after the blowout loss on Tuesday. "As well there should have been," he said. In Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Kevin Durant added 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Nets dealt the Atlanta Hawks their first defeat of the young season, 145-141. Irving's late burst helped the Celtics withstand 30-point performances from Atlanta's Trae Young and John Collins. Boston, powered by Jaylen Brown's career-high 42 points, defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 116-111. The Celtics led by 12 points after the opening quarter and took full control with a 17-0 scoring run in the second period. Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who missed two games with a mouth injury from an elbow to the face, returned in a protective mask to score a game-high 28 points in his team's 128-105 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

'King' James celebrates birthday with milestone in Lakers win

The quick turnaround from the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA triumph in October mean the team will face a "balancing act" in keeping veteran superstar LeBron James at his best, Lakers vice president Rob Pelinka said Thursday.

“That'll just be a balancing act throughout the season, recognizing that there was an extremely short layoff between championship and the start of the season and kind of figuring out what's best for LeBron, what's best for his health, the team's health, what's best for the league and kind of walking that carefully and thoughtfully throughout the year,” Pelinka said in a videoconference with reporters.

James and the Lakers polished off the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in the league's quarantine bubble in Orlando on October 11.

With the 72-game 2020-21 season scheduled to tip off on December 22, it's less than a month to the start of training camps on December 1.

James, who will turn 36 on December 30, has never been a fan of "load management," the technique used by teams to give uninjured players rest during the season to make sure they're in peak shape when the playoffs roll around.

"If I'm healthy, I play,” James said last December. "I mean, that should be the approach."

But without the usual four months to recover from the rigors of the previous season, even former president Barack Obama has suggested that James may have to spend less time on court.

Obama, appearing on an episode of HBO's "The Shop" said James is "definitely going to have some minutes restrictions” in the new season -- quipping that he should let younger teammate Anthony Davis absorb the load.

"That’s what I got him for," James said.

The quick turnaround from the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA triumph in October mean the team will face a "balancing act" in keeping veteran superstar LeBron James at his best, Lakers vice president Rob Pelinka said Thursday.

The quick turnaround from the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA triumph in October mean the team will face a "balancing act" in keeping veteran superstar LeBron James at his best, Lakers vice president Rob Pelinka said Thursday. “That'll just be a balancing act throughout the season, recognizing that there was an extremely short layoff between championship and the start of the season and kind of figuring out what's best for LeBron, what's best for his health, the team's health, what's best for the league and kind of walking that carefully and thoughtfully throughout the year,” Pelinka said in a videoconference with reporters. James and the Lakers polished off the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in the league's quarantine bubble in Orlando on October 11. With the 72-game 2020-21 season scheduled to tip off on December 22, it's less than a month to the start of training camps on December 1. James, who will turn 36 on December 30, has never been a fan of "load management," the technique used by teams to give uninjured players rest during the season to make sure they're in peak shape when the playoffs roll around. "If I'm healthy, I play,” James said last December. "I mean, that should be the approach." But without the usual four months to recover from the rigors of the previous season, even former president Barack Obama has suggested that James may have to spend less time on court. Obama, appearing on an episode of HBO's "The Shop" said James is "definitely going to have some minutes restrictions” in the new season -- quipping that he should let younger teammate Anthony Davis absorb the load. "That’s what I got him for," James said.

NBA champion Lakers face 'balancing act' in fast-approaching season

Teary-eyed speakers shared their tales about Kobe Bryant at his memorial ceremony called 'celebration of life' in Staples Center on Monday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kobe-bryant-honoured-at-naacp-image-awards-2020-with-an-empty-basketball-court-282290">Kobe Bryant honoured at NAACP Image Awards 2020 with an empty basketball court</a>

Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony.&nbsp;

The star-studded crowd included Lakers legends such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol. NBA commissioner Adam Silver joined by NBA legend Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson and dozens of current NBA players, including Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook. Hollywood A-listers Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West were also in attendance.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kobe-bryants-widow-vanessa-bryant-refuses-to-accept-death-of-her-husband-and-daughter-279982">Kobe Bryant's widow Vanessa Bryant 'refuses to accept' death of her husband and daughter</a>

Nearly 20,000 fans gathered at the Staples Center for the memorial of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant.&nbsp;

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— STAPLES Center (@STAPLESCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/STAPLESCenter/status/1232055805626609664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Vanessa Bryant called Kobe "the MVP of girl dads".&nbsp;

Vanessa could not hold her tears back and said: "God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other, He had to bring them home to have them together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi."

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Always &amp; Forever the House That Kobe Built <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MambaForvever?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MambaForvever</a> <a href="https://t.co/jgYl1EGH18">pic.twitter.com/jgYl1EGH18</a>
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On her relationship with Kobe, Vanessa said: "He was the most amazing husband, Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words. I was the fire. He was ice. Vice versa at times. ... He was my everything."

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan had tears in his eyes while talking about Bryant, he said: "He wanted to be the best basketball player that he could be. And as I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be."

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Jordan concluded the speech by saying: "When Kobe died, a piece of me died."

Shaquille O'Neal compared his relationship with Kobe to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. He said: “Kobe and I have a very complex relationship throughout the years. But it’s like another leadership duo in John Lennon and Paul McCartney, whose creative rivalry led to some of the greatest music of all time,”.&nbsp;

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“Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time and I am proud that no other team has accomplished what the three-peat Lakers have done since the Shaq and Kobe Lakers did it. Sometimes like immature kids, we argued, we fought.. Folks thought we were on bad terms. But when the cameras are turned off, he and I would throw a wink at each other and say, ‘Let’s go whoop some…'” he added.&nbsp;

The memorial service ended with Nat King Cole's song Unforgettable as the crowd started chanting "Kobe, Kobe."

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Teary-eyed speakers shared their tales about Kobe Bryant at his memorial ceremony called 'celebration of life' in Staples Center on Monday. Also read: Kobe Bryant honoured at NAACP Image Awards 2020 with an empty basketball court Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony.

Teary-eyed speakers shared their tales about Kobe Bryant at his memorial ceremony called 'celebration of life' in Staples Center on Monday. Also read: Kobe Bryant honoured at NAACP Image Awards 2020 with an empty basketball court Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony. The star-studded crowd included Lakers legends such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol. NBA commissioner Adam Silver joined by NBA legend Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson and dozens of current NBA players, including Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook. Hollywood A-listers Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West were also in attendance. Also read: Kobe Bryant's widow Vanessa Bryant 'refuses to accept' death of her husband and daughter Nearly 20,000 fans gathered at the Staples Center for the memorial of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant. 2 ♾ 24 pic.twitter.com/s2wIYwVWfA — STAPLES Center (@STAPLESCenter) February 24, 2020 × Vanessa Bryant called Kobe "the MVP of girl dads". Vanessa could not hold her tears back and said: "God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other, He had to bring them home to have them together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi." Always & Forever the House That Kobe Built #MambaForvever pic.twitter.com/jgYl1EGH18 — STAPLES Center (@STAPLESCenter) February 24, 2020 × On her relationship with Kobe, Vanessa said: "He was the most amazing husband, Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words. I was the fire. He was ice. Vice versa at times. ... He was my everything." Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan had tears in his eyes while talking about Bryant, he said: "He wanted to be the best basketball player that he could be. And as I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be." pic.twitter.com/R7ValyNfFC — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 24, 2020 × Jordan concluded the speech by saying: "When Kobe died, a piece of me died." Shaquille O'Neal compared his relationship with Kobe to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. He said: “Kobe and I have a very complex relationship throughout the years. But it’s like another leadership duo in John Lennon and Paul McCartney, whose creative rivalry led to some of the greatest music of all time,”. The one and only Shaq reflects on his time spent with Kobe and the Bryant family. pic.twitter.com/0Ef0gguwIm — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 25, 2020 × “Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time and I am proud that no other team has accomplished what the three-peat Lakers have done since the Shaq and Kobe Lakers did it. Sometimes like immature kids, we argued, we fought.. Folks thought we were on bad terms. But when the cameras are turned off, he and I would throw a wink at each other and say, ‘Let’s go whoop some…'” he added. The memorial service ended with Nat King Cole's song Unforgettable as the crowd started chanting "Kobe, Kobe."

'MVP of girl dads': Teary-eyed Vanessa bids goodbye to Kobe and Gianna at memorial service 

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-legend-kobe-bryant-and-his-daughter-gianna-among-9-killed-in-a-chopper-crash-in-california-276748">Kobe Bryant</a> and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play. Former Lakers legend was expected to coach the team.

Also see-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kobe-bryant-an-nba-champion-olympic-gold-medalist-and-a-basketball-giant-276818#kobes-early-life-276800">Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures</a>

National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has started an investigation regarding the crash.

As the investigation unravels new aspects of crash keep pouring in. Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying the helicopter. He held a commercial helicopter license and was a certified flight instructor, according to Federal Aviation Administration records cited by the New York Times.

In his last transmission to the air traffic control, he said that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer.

And after that communication, the pilot didn't respond to the air traffic control, according to the National Transport Safety Board.

The crash took place into a hillside in Calabasas, Califonia. The impact of the crash broke the chopper into pieces, debris created due to the crash stretched from about 500 to 600 feet.

The NTSB board member, Jennifer Homendy told the reporters that the last radar contact was around 9:45 AM. She said that the accident scene was 'pretty devastating'.

"There is (an) impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill, on the left side of the hill," Homendy said. "The fuselage is over on the other side of that hill, and then the main rotor is about 100 yards beyond that," she added.

According to Jennifer Homendy, the pilot took off from JohnWayne Airport, in Orage County and was flying under regular visual flight rules (VFR), but around Burbank, the pilot requested for special visual flight rules (SVFR) due to low visibility. The helicopter circled for 12 minutes until the air traffic control approved the request. The SVFR allows the pilot to fly amid bad weather conditions.

Homendy continued that the pilot requested flight following, which is radar assistance for a flight that helps the pilot avoid traffic, But air traffic control said the helicopter was too low to provide flight following assistance.

The investigation is still on, and Sikorsky, the helicopter manufacturer, tweeted its condolences.

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We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California. We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer.
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Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play.

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play. Former Lakers legend was expected to coach the team. Also see- Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has started an investigation regarding the crash. As the investigation unravels new aspects of crash keep pouring in. Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying the helicopter. He held a commercial helicopter license and was a certified flight instructor, according to Federal Aviation Administration records cited by the New York Times. In his last transmission to the air traffic control, he said that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer. And after that communication, the pilot didn't respond to the air traffic control, according to the National Transport Safety Board. The crash took place into a hillside in Calabasas, Califonia. The impact of the crash broke the chopper into pieces, debris created due to the crash stretched from about 500 to 600 feet. The NTSB board member, Jennifer Homendy told the reporters that the last radar contact was around 9:45 AM. She said that the accident scene was 'pretty devastating'. "There is (an) impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill, on the left side of the hill," Homendy said. "The fuselage is over on the other side of that hill, and then the main rotor is about 100 yards beyond that," she added. According to Jennifer Homendy, the pilot took off from JohnWayne Airport, in Orage County and was flying under regular visual flight rules (VFR), but around Burbank, the pilot requested for special visual flight rules (SVFR) due to low visibility. The helicopter circled for 12 minutes until the air traffic control approved the request. The SVFR allows the pilot to fly amid bad weather conditions. Homendy continued that the pilot requested flight following, which is radar assistance for a flight that helps the pilot avoid traffic, But air traffic control said the helicopter was too low to provide flight following assistance. The investigation is still on, and Sikorsky, the helicopter manufacturer, tweeted its condolences. We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California. We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer. — Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) January 26, 2020 ×

Death of Kobe Bryant: Pilot was flying higher to avoid a cloud layer

Kobe Bryant's death: What do we know till now

Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles, California on Sunday. The tragic event killed all nine onboard including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant.

Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles, California on Sunday. The tragic event killed all nine onboard including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant. × Kobe Bryant's untimed death has put the whole world in a frenzy. He was considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led his team Lakers to 5 NBA titles. The American is the fourth in the list of all-time scoring list in NBA history. He was recently succeeded by his team's LeBron James. Kobe Bryant was well known as 'The Black Mamba', he was an 18-time All-Star player. He was the 'Most Valuable Player' in the year 2008. He scored 33,643 points in his career in NBA. Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020 × Kobe Bean Bryant has been a prolific shooting guard and is the all-time lead scorer for Los Angeles Lakers. He was drafted in NBA's Charlotte Hornets who later traded him to Lakers in the year 1996 directly from the high school. He was under the then Lakers manager Jerry West. He was the first Shooting Guard to play 20 seasons in NBA history. He played from 1996 to 2016. He earned two gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics for the USA. .....Melania and I send our warmest condolences to Vanessa and the wonderful Bryant family. May God be with you all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020 × He earned his reputation in his initial years after the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest and was named All-Star in just his second NBA season. Despite a few life-lows, especially in the year 2003-2004, when he was accused of sexual assault. The charge was later dropped as a settlement was reached outside the court. Bryant continued to perform in the arena. Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA, following a series of injuries in the year 2016. Along with him, his jersey no. 8 and 24 were retired as well. Rivalry with his team-mate and fellow Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal has been known to all. He and Bryant were involved in a fist-fight against each other in a lockdown. They resolved their issues after their retirement. Both the legends are known for taking the team to a new high. They won three championships together from the year 2000 to 2002. Shaq O'Neal mourned Kobe Bryant's death, he called him a brother. There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1 — SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020 × So sad to hear the heartbreaking news of the deaths of Kobe and his daughter Gianna. Kobe was a true legend and inspiration to so many. Sending my condolences to his family and friends and the families of all who lost their lives in the crash. RIP Legend💔 pic.twitter.com/qKb3oiDHxH — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) January 26, 2020 × View this post on Instagram No tengo palabras... Todo mi cariño para la familia y amigos de Kobe. Fue un placer conocerle y compartir buenos momentos juntos. Se nos fue un genio como pocos. A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) on Jan 26, 2020 at 2:40pm PST × The shockwaves were felt across the world as the legend was mourned by Global Icons. View this post on Instagram Kobe Bryant was my first real introduction to the NBA. I was 13 living in Queens NYC, the same age as his sweet little girl, Gianna. He ignited my love for the sport, competition, and striving for excellence. He inspired an entire generation. His legacy is so much bigger than basketball. This heartbreaking accident also took the life of his young daughter, Gianna. I’m shook and so saddened. My heart goes out to Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri Bryant. You are in my thoughts. Also sending my condolences to the loved ones of the other family and pilot in the accident. Being at tonight’s Grammys ceremony in his home at the Staples Center is going to be surreal. 💔 #RIP #KobeBryant #RIPMamba A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) on Jan 26, 2020 at 2:21pm PST × View this post on Instagram 🏀 👑 #rip #kobe 💔 A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Jan 26, 2020 at 12:24pm PST × My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight. — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 26, 2020 ×

NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, among 9 killed in a chopper crash in California

Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures

Boston Celtics hand LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers their biggest defeat in their NBA season history.&nbsp;

Lakers were beaten 139-107 by Bostons. Boston managed to end their losing streak despite Anthony Davis returning.&nbsp;

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Jayson Tatum (27 PTS, 5 3PM) &amp; Kemba Walker (20 PTS, 7 AST) steer the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a> past LAL at TD Garden. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> 
 
Jaylen Brown: 20 PTS, 6 AST 
Enes Kanter: 18 PTS, 11 REB 
Gordon Hayward: 16 PTS, 6 REB <a href="https://t.co/Lp6fmEdhbW">pic.twitter.com/Lp6fmEdhbW</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1219456262724890625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Celtic's Jayson Tatum scored the most for Celtics (27 points), followed by Kemba Walker who scored 20 points. Enes Kanter was third with 18 points. 11 rebounds came off the bench.&nbsp;

The Celtics had lost six of their past eight games, they had lost the last three consecutive matches before facing LA Lakers.&nbsp;

LeBron James was great with his passing game, he got 18 assists. But he was latent as a shooter as the 35-year-old just attempted 12 shots in three quarters. He just scored 15 points for Lakers.&nbsp;

Jayson Tatum was in-form with his offensive gameplay. He scored 27 points with just 18 shots. Out of his 8 attempts for the 3 pointers, 5 of them were successful.&nbsp;

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Kemba Walker &amp; Jaylen Brown drop 20 PTS apiece in the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a> victory against LAL at home! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> <a href="https://t.co/vb0IjvZbF5">pic.twitter.com/vb0IjvZbF5</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1219460836328120320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Lakers star Anthony Davis came back from bruised tailbone injury. Davis missed the last five games for Lakers.&nbsp;

It looked like LeBron James had different plans for the game. He started off with his passing game, he at the moment leads in assists tally in NBA with 10.9 assists per game.&nbsp;

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Bigs helping Bigs 💪💪 <a href="https://t.co/QzyZUQo2yH">pic.twitter.com/QzyZUQo2yH</a>
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1219431627299770368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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He is right now 66 points away from Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant for third place in the NBA's all-time scoring list.&nbsp;

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J.B. finishes strong with two hands in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhantomCam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PhantomCam</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> <a href="https://t.co/DIYyx9rs1x">pic.twitter.com/DIYyx9rs1x</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1219453763087413249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Kemba Walker finally breaks his forgettable streak versus LeBron James. Walker never won a game against LeBron's team. He tried it 28 times. He finally was victorious after crucially scoring 20 points, 7 assists, and four rebounds. 
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Boston Celtics hand LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers their biggest defeat in their NBA season history. Lakers were beaten 139-107 by Bostons. Boston managed to end their losing streak despite Anthony Davis returning.

Boston Celtics hand LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers their biggest defeat in their NBA season history. Lakers were beaten 139-107 by Bostons. Boston managed to end their losing streak despite Anthony Davis returning. Jayson Tatum (27 PTS, 5 3PM) & Kemba Walker (20 PTS, 7 AST) steer the @celtics past LAL at TD Garden. #Celtics Jaylen Brown: 20 PTS, 6 AST Enes Kanter: 18 PTS, 11 REB Gordon Hayward: 16 PTS, 6 REB pic.twitter.com/Lp6fmEdhbW — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2020 × Celtic's Jayson Tatum scored the most for Celtics (27 points), followed by Kemba Walker who scored 20 points. Enes Kanter was third with 18 points. 11 rebounds came off the bench. The Celtics had lost six of their past eight games, they had lost the last three consecutive matches before facing LA Lakers. LeBron James was great with his passing game, he got 18 assists. But he was latent as a shooter as the 35-year-old just attempted 12 shots in three quarters. He just scored 15 points for Lakers. Jayson Tatum was in-form with his offensive gameplay. He scored 27 points with just 18 shots. Out of his 8 attempts for the 3 pointers, 5 of them were successful. Kemba Walker & Jaylen Brown drop 20 PTS apiece in the @celtics victory against LAL at home! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/vb0IjvZbF5 — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2020 × Lakers star Anthony Davis came back from bruised tailbone injury. Davis missed the last five games for Lakers. It looked like LeBron James had different plans for the game. He started off with his passing game, he at the moment leads in assists tally in NBA with 10.9 assists per game. Bigs helping Bigs 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/QzyZUQo2yH — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 21, 2020 × He is right now 66 points away from Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant for third place in the NBA's all-time scoring list. J.B. finishes strong with two hands in #PhantomCam! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/DIYyx9rs1x — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2020 × Kemba Walker finally breaks his forgettable streak versus LeBron James. Walker never won a game against LeBron's team. He tried it 28 times. He finally was victorious after crucially scoring 20 points, 7 assists, and four rebounds.

NBA: Celtic Boston run-riot against Los Angeles Lakers, hand them worst defeat ever

High profile city rivals&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lakers-kyle-kuzma-ruled-out-for-nba-season-opener-257190">Los Angeles Lakers</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/camila-cabello-shawn-mendes-make-temperatures-soar-during-los-angeles-clippers-game-261971">Los Angeles Clippers</a> clashed on Christmas Day which was witnessed by several Hollywood stars.

However, an incident&nbsp;became&nbsp;the centrepiece of jokes on social media&nbsp;at Staples Centre, Los Angeles after&nbsp;Lakers' player Anthony Davis fell on the lap of actor and comedian, Kevin Hart.

Rather than getting up, Davis decided to remain seated on Hart's lap to pose for a photo, and probably to make his Christmas wish. The two were joined by Davis's teammate and NBA star, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/houston-rockets-gm-wasnt-educated-when-he-sent-hong-kong-tweet-lebron-james-256087">LeBron James</a>, who rushed to sit on Hart's lap to make his own wish.

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Did AD want a selfie with Kevin Hart? 🤔😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LakeShow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LakeShow</a> <a href="https://t.co/DrgmKyK2Km">pic.twitter.com/DrgmKyK2Km</a>
— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1210020889913225216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Hart has made known his liking for the game, having been seen on the telecast of several NBA games.

It led to several memes and&nbsp;jokes on social media.&nbsp;A&nbsp;joke on social media compared&nbsp;the situation to a scene from the 2003 movie 'Elf', where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/julia-louis-dreyfus-and-will-ferrell-starrer-downhill-to-release-on-valentines-day-2020-264706">Will Ferrel</a> plays 'Buddy', sitting on the lap of the much smaller 'Papa Elf'.

High profile city rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers clashed on Christmas Day which was witnessed by several Hollywood stars. However, an incident became the centrepiece of jokes on social media at Staples Centre, Los Angeles after Lakers' player Anthony Davis fell on the lap of actor and comedian, Kevin Hart.

High profile city rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers clashed on Christmas Day which was witnessed by several Hollywood stars. However, an incident became the centrepiece of jokes on social media at Staples Centre, Los Angeles after Lakers' player Anthony Davis fell on the lap of actor and comedian, Kevin Hart. Rather than getting up, Davis decided to remain seated on Hart's lap to pose for a photo, and probably to make his Christmas wish. The two were joined by Davis's teammate and NBA star, LeBron James, who rushed to sit on Hart's lap to make his own wish. Did AD want a selfie with Kevin Hart? 🤔😂#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/DrgmKyK2Km — NBA TV (@NBATV) December 26, 2019 × Hart has made known his liking for the game, having been seen on the telecast of several NBA games. It led to several memes and jokes on social media. A joke on social media compared the situation to a scene from the 2003 movie 'Elf', where Will Ferrel plays 'Buddy', sitting on the lap of the much smaller 'Papa Elf'.

NBA star Anthony Davis land's on Kevin Hart's lap as LeBron James joins in

Fred Van Vleet scored a career-high 34 points as the Toronto Raptors got their NBA title defence off to a winning start with a 130-122 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Pascal Siakam also tallied 34 points and added 18 rebounds before fouling out of the NBA's season-opening contest at Scotiabank Arena which featured the Raptors' championship banner and ring ceremony.

Both teams were missing some big names as the Raptors began life without Kawhi Leonard and the Pelicans lost Anthony Davis in trade and were missing injured first pick Zion Williamson.&nbsp;

"We had to reach into our bag of tricks," said Raptors coach Nick Nurse.

The game was one of two opening night contests with the Los Angeles Lakers taking the court later against Leonard's new team Los Angeles Clippers.

Prior to the tipoff against the Pelicans, the Raptors presented their players and coaches with their rings and unveiled the 2019 championship banner in the rafters of the arena.&nbsp;

The massive ring features over 80 diamonds including 74 in and around the Toronto skyline logo which represents the club's 74 wins last season.

The Pelicans decided to remain on the floor during the pre-game festivities instead of loosening up in their locker room.&nbsp;

"It was great to see the ceremony," said Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. "That is what we aspire to be."

Kyle Lowry chipped in 22 points and Serge Ibaka added 13 for Toronto, whose championship pedigree shone through by outscoring the Pelicans 13-5 in overtime. The teams were tied 117-all at the end of regulation.

Nurse blamed their slow start against the Pelicans on the ceremony.

"I thought the energy was an issue," Nurse said. "The emotions of the night took its toll.&nbsp;

"I was super happy it was tied at the half. There was a noticeable lack of energy just in the locker room.

"You just got to take them (wins) in this league when you get them."

Brandon Ingram finished with 22 points to lead the Pelicans.

This marks the end of the Leonard period in Toronto as he left as a free agent to join the Clippers.

That means leadership by committee with the load being distributed amongst Lowry, VanVleet and Siakam, who signed a four-year, $130-million contract extension Monday.&nbsp;

The Raptors are also without another key player from their championship team in Danny Green, who departed as a free agent for the Lakers.

Fred Van Vleet scored a career-high 34 points as the Toronto Raptors got their NBA title defence off to a winning start with a 130-122 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Fred Van Vleet scored a career-high 34 points as the Toronto Raptors got their NBA title defence off to a winning start with a 130-122 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. Pascal Siakam also tallied 34 points and added 18 rebounds before fouling out of the NBA's season-opening contest at Scotiabank Arena which featured the Raptors' championship banner and ring ceremony. Both teams were missing some big names as the Raptors began life without Kawhi Leonard and the Pelicans lost Anthony Davis in trade and were missing injured first pick Zion Williamson. "We had to reach into our bag of tricks," said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. The game was one of two opening night contests with the Los Angeles Lakers taking the court later against Leonard's new team Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to the tipoff against the Pelicans, the Raptors presented their players and coaches with their rings and unveiled the 2019 championship banner in the rafters of the arena. The massive ring features over 80 diamonds including 74 in and around the Toronto skyline logo which represents the club's 74 wins last season. The Pelicans decided to remain on the floor during the pre-game festivities instead of loosening up in their locker room. "It was great to see the ceremony," said Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. "That is what we aspire to be." Kyle Lowry chipped in 22 points and Serge Ibaka added 13 for Toronto, whose championship pedigree shone through by outscoring the Pelicans 13-5 in overtime. The teams were tied 117-all at the end of regulation. Nurse blamed their slow start against the Pelicans on the ceremony. "I thought the energy was an issue," Nurse said. "The emotions of the night took its toll. "I was super happy it was tied at the half. There was a noticeable lack of energy just in the locker room. "You just got to take them (wins) in this league when you get them." Brandon Ingram finished with 22 points to lead the Pelicans. This marks the end of the Leonard period in Toronto as he left as a free agent to join the Clippers. That means leadership by committee with the load being distributed amongst Lowry, VanVleet and Siakam, who signed a four-year, $130-million contract extension Monday. The Raptors are also without another key player from their championship team in Danny Green, who departed as a free agent for the Lakers.

Raptors launch NBA title defence with win over Pelicans

The Los Angeles&nbsp;Lakers&nbsp;say Kyle&nbsp;Kuzma&nbsp;won't play when they open the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;season&nbsp;against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot.

Kuzma, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last&nbsp;season&nbsp;for the&nbsp;Lakers, was hurt while he was with the United States team in the run-up to the World Championships in China.

He was cleared for non-contact practices after the&nbsp;Lakers&nbsp;returned from playing two&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;preseason&nbsp;games in China last week.

Lakers&nbsp;coach Frank Vogel said he wants to see&nbsp;Kuzma&nbsp;do more work before he takes the court in games to be sure he has no setbacks. A stress reaction is a painful condition that is a precursor to a stress fracture.

"We're going to try to increase his workload and activities this week and we'll see where we're at," said Vogel, who described the 24-year-old third-year forward as "probably our third-best player" behind superstar LeBron James and center Anthony Davis.

The Los Angeles Lakers say Kyle Kuzma won't play when they open the NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot.

The Los Angeles Lakers say Kyle Kuzma won't play when they open the NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot. Kuzma, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season for the Lakers, was hurt while he was with the United States team in the run-up to the World Championships in China. He was cleared for non-contact practices after the Lakers returned from playing two NBA preseason games in China last week. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he wants to see Kuzma do more work before he takes the court in games to be sure he has no setbacks. A stress reaction is a painful condition that is a precursor to a stress fracture. "We're going to try to increase his workload and activities this week and we'll see where we're at," said Vogel, who described the 24-year-old third-year forward as "probably our third-best player" behind superstar LeBron James and center Anthony Davis.

Lakers' Kyle Kuzma ruled out for NBA season opener

Some Chinese National Basketball Association (NBA)&nbsp;fans&nbsp;have asked for&nbsp;streaming&nbsp;subscription&nbsp;refunds&nbsp;from&nbsp;exclusive service provider&nbsp;Tencent&nbsp;amid a deepening free speech row, a move that could cause the tech giant financial pain.

Tencent&nbsp;Holdings&nbsp;renewed its exclusive digital partnership with the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;in July, securing rights to stream the US&nbsp;games in&nbsp;China, a market with an estimated 500 million&nbsp;fans.

But the Chinese social media giant behind the ubiquitous app WeChat may now become a corporate casualty of the deepening row sparked by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nba-rockets-executive-says-hong-kong-tweet-not-meant-to-offend-254149"> expressed support for Hong Kong protests in a tweet </a>over the weekend.

That prompted a furor in mainland&nbsp;China, and local sponsors of the games have pulled out.

Tencent&nbsp;halted broadcasting games involving the Rockets over the weekend and later said it would stop broadcasting the entire preseason after&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;commissioner Adam Silver voiced his support for Morey's "freedom of political expression" on Tuesday.

It said users subscribing to the Rockets games can switch to feeds&nbsp;from&nbsp;other&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;teams or apply for a&nbsp;refund.

Refunds have become a hot topic online with more than 3 million views on Twitter-like Weibo social media platform on Wednesday. Some users claimed they had received automatic&nbsp;refunds ranging&nbsp;from&nbsp;$2.80-$37, depending on what packages they subscribe to.

Tencent&nbsp;declined to comment on&nbsp;refunds.

The Houston Rockets became the most popular&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;team in&nbsp;China&nbsp;after drafting Chinese player Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. He became a star and helped build the&nbsp;NBA's following in&nbsp;China.

Tencent&nbsp;extended its&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;partnership through 2024-25 season in July, according to an&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;statement. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but the Chinese sports news portal Lanxiong Sports reported it was worth about $1.5 billion.

Nearly 500 million people watched last season's&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;games on&nbsp;Tencent's video platform, up threefold since the 2014-15 season,&nbsp;Tencent&nbsp;said in July.

Tencent&nbsp;isn't the only company distancing itself&nbsp;from&nbsp;business dealings with the&nbsp;NBA. Chinese Smartphone maker Vivo, state-run broadcaster CCTV and sportswear maker ANTA Sports Products Ltd all halted cooperation with the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;on Monday.

Some Chinese National Basketball Association (NBA) fans have asked for streaming subscription refunds from exclusive service provider Tencent amid a deepening free speech row, a move that could cause the tech giant financial pain.

Some Chinese National Basketball Association (NBA) fans have asked for streaming subscription refunds from exclusive service provider Tencent amid a deepening free speech row, a move that could cause the tech giant financial pain. Tencent Holdings renewed its exclusive digital partnership with the NBA in July, securing rights to stream the US games in China, a market with an estimated 500 million fans. But the Chinese social media giant behind the ubiquitous app WeChat may now become a corporate casualty of the deepening row sparked by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who expressed support for Hong Kong protests in a tweet over the weekend. That prompted a furor in mainland China, and local sponsors of the games have pulled out. Tencent halted broadcasting games involving the Rockets over the weekend and later said it would stop broadcasting the entire preseason after NBA commissioner Adam Silver voiced his support for Morey's "freedom of political expression" on Tuesday. It said users subscribing to the Rockets games can switch to feeds from other NBA teams or apply for a refund. Refunds have become a hot topic online with more than 3 million views on Twitter-like Weibo social media platform on Wednesday. Some users claimed they had received automatic refunds ranging from $2.80-$37, depending on what packages they subscribe to. Tencent declined to comment on refunds. The Houston Rockets became the most popular NBA team in China after drafting Chinese player Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. He became a star and helped build the NBA's following in China. Tencent extended its NBA partnership through 2024-25 season in July, according to an NBA statement. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but the Chinese sports news portal Lanxiong Sports reported it was worth about $1.5 billion. Nearly 500 million people watched last season's NBA games on Tencent's video platform, up threefold since the 2014-15 season, Tencent said in July. Tencent isn't the only company distancing itself from business dealings with the NBA. Chinese Smartphone maker Vivo, state-run broadcaster CCTV and sportswear maker ANTA Sports Products Ltd all halted cooperation with the NBA on Monday.

NBA fans in China seek refund from Tencent as streaming suspended

Chinese organisers on Wednesday cancelled a fan event on the eve of a National Basketball Association (NBA) exhibition game in Shanghai, the latest fallout in a growing dispute over a tweet by a team official supporting protests in Hong Kong.

Chinese sponsors and partners have been cutting ties with the NBA after the Twitter post by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey last week supporting anti-government protests in the Chinese-ruled city.

The Shanghai Sports Federation said the cancellation ahead of Thursday's game between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers was due to the "inappropriate attitude" of Morey and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

A Wednesday news conference with both teams was indefinitely delayed, organisers said. Outside the team hotel, workers tore down massive banners advertising the game, a Reuters witness said.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-stage-peaceful-rallies-calling-for-liberation-254834">Hong Kong protests</a> were sparked by opposition to a bill allowing extradition to mainland China, but have evolved into broader calls for democracy. China has accused the West of stirring up anti-Beijing sentiment in Hong Kong.

The NBA controversy also comes against the backdrop of a US-China trade war that escalated after Washington imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials on Tuesday.

Silver said on Tuesday the league supported Morey's right to exercise his freedom of expression, further angering authorities and some fans in China and threatening the NBA's business there, said to be worth more than $4 billion.

Morey deleted the tweet and apologised on Monday, but Chinese broadcasters, sportswear companies and sponsors have said they are reviewing their ties with the NBA, which has had a presence in China since 1992.

The NBA initially described the anger over Morey's post as "regrettable," drawing criticism from US politicians, who accused the league of putting its China business ahead of free speech.

Silver, speaking in Japan before a preseason game between the Rockets and Toronto Raptors, said it was not up to the league to regulate what players, employees and team owners said.

On Tuesday night, during a preseason game between the NBA's 76ers and the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, security at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia confiscated signs from a couple that read "Free Hong Kong" and "Free HK." Security later removed the couple from the game after they yelled, "Free Hong Kong," a local NBC affiliate said.

Security officials warned the couple following multiple complaints from guests and verbal confrontations with others in attendance, the team said in a statement.

"Ultimately, the decision was made by Wells Fargo Center personnel to remove the guests from the premises, which was accomplished without incident," the team said.

Signs that read "Google Uyghurs," referring to a Muslim minority group in China, and "Free Hong Kong," were also confiscated by security staff on Wednesday during a game between the Lions and the Washington Wizards in the US capital.

A Wizards representative said staff were following a standing policy prohibiting signs that are political in nature, adding that the fans had not been asked to leave the game.

On Wednesday, an editorial in the official English-language China Daily accused Silver of "brazenly endorsing Morey's secessionist-supporting tweet" and giving "a shot to the arms of the rioters of Hong Kong".

"If Silver thinks endorsing the indiscriminate violence the radical Hong Kong protesters are resorting to ... is supporting freedom of expression, then he should think again," it said.

Asked about the NBA controversy in an interview with PBS, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said American businesses were waking up to the risks of operating in China.

"The reputational cost to these companies I think will prove to be higher and higher as Beijing's long arm reaches out to them and destroys their capacity for them, their employees - in the NBA's case teams members and general managers - to speak freely about their political opinions," Pompeo said.

'I just don't understand'

Some Chinese fans expressed dismay at how the controversy had spread, while voicing support for Beijing's view.

"I'm patriotic of course. I support that Hong Kong is part of China, but I just don't understand this," said Yu Jie, a fan waiting to see the players in Shanghai.

The Global Times tabloid, published by the People's Daily newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party, said the NBA was treating the Chinese market with disregard.

"Tweeting something offensive to the Chinese people before a series of NBA promotional activities in China only shows a lack of intellect, respect, and responsibility," it said.

Basketball is the most popular sport in China, with about 500 million people consuming NBA content. The league has deals with TV and digital media outlets across the country, and teams have played exhibition games annually since 2014.

NBA China, launched in 2008 to run the league's business, is now worth more than $4 billion, according to Forbes.

The NBA had planned media events in Shanghai ahead of the Nets-Lakers game, but Chinese organisers cancelled an event at a Shanghai school on Tuesday and an open training session with the Nets on Wednesday.

State television dropped plans to air the NBA exhibition games this week, saying a country's sovereignty and social stability were "not within the scope of freedom of speech."

Some Chinese fans have asked for streaming subscription refunds from exclusive service provider Tencent, which halted broadcast of Rockets games after the Morey tweet.

Online travel agency Ctrip said it had stopped selling tickets to NBA games and NBA-related tour packages. Smartphone maker Vivo and sportswear maker ANTA Sports Products Ltd have also stopped working with the NBA.

Chinese e-commerce platforms Alibaba&nbsp;and JD.com appeared to have taken Houston Rockets merchandise, including sneakers, off their sales platforms, including mobile apps.

The growing controversy did not seem to bother some waiting outside Shanghai's Ritz Carlton hotel for a glimpse of the NBA players.

"Personal opinions belong to them. It doesn't affect us chasing the stars," Xu Ziyang, a university student from the eastern province of Jiangsu, told Reuters.

Chinese organisers on Wednesday cancelled a fan event on the eve of a National Basketball Association (NBA) exhibition game in Shanghai, the latest fallout in a growing dispute over a tweet by a team official supporting protests in Hong Kong.

Chinese organisers on Wednesday cancelled a fan event on the eve of a National Basketball Association (NBA) exhibition game in Shanghai, the latest fallout in a growing dispute over a tweet by a team official supporting protests in Hong Kong. Chinese sponsors and partners have been cutting ties with the NBA after the Twitter post by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey last week supporting anti-government protests in the Chinese-ruled city. The Shanghai Sports Federation said the cancellation ahead of Thursday's game between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers was due to the "inappropriate attitude" of Morey and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. A Wednesday news conference with both teams was indefinitely delayed, organisers said. Outside the team hotel, workers tore down massive banners advertising the game, a Reuters witness said. The Hong Kong protests were sparked by opposition to a bill allowing extradition to mainland China, but have evolved into broader calls for democracy. China has accused the West of stirring up anti-Beijing sentiment in Hong Kong. The NBA controversy also comes against the backdrop of a US-China trade war that escalated after Washington imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials on Tuesday. Silver said on Tuesday the league supported Morey's right to exercise his freedom of expression, further angering authorities and some fans in China and threatening the NBA's business there, said to be worth more than $4 billion. Morey deleted the tweet and apologised on Monday, but Chinese broadcasters, sportswear companies and sponsors have said they are reviewing their ties with the NBA, which has had a presence in China since 1992. The NBA initially described the anger over Morey's post as "regrettable," drawing criticism from US politicians, who accused the league of putting its China business ahead of free speech. Silver, speaking in Japan before a preseason game between the Rockets and Toronto Raptors, said it was not up to the league to regulate what players, employees and team owners said. On Tuesday night, during a preseason game between the NBA's 76ers and the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, security at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia confiscated signs from a couple that read "Free Hong Kong" and "Free HK." Security later removed the couple from the game after they yelled, "Free Hong Kong," a local NBC affiliate said. Security officials warned the couple following multiple complaints from guests and verbal confrontations with others in attendance, the team said in a statement. "Ultimately, the decision was made by Wells Fargo Center personnel to remove the guests from the premises, which was accomplished without incident," the team said. Signs that read "Google Uyghurs," referring to a Muslim minority group in China, and "Free Hong Kong," were also confiscated by security staff on Wednesday during a game between the Lions and the Washington Wizards in the US capital. A Wizards representative said staff were following a standing policy prohibiting signs that are political in nature, adding that the fans had not been asked to leave the game. On Wednesday, an editorial in the official English-language China Daily accused Silver of "brazenly endorsing Morey's secessionist-supporting tweet" and giving "a shot to the arms of the rioters of Hong Kong". "If Silver thinks endorsing the indiscriminate violence the radical Hong Kong protesters are resorting to ... is supporting freedom of expression, then he should think again," it said. Asked about the NBA controversy in an interview with PBS, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said American businesses were waking up to the risks of operating in China. "The reputational cost to these companies I think will prove to be higher and higher as Beijing's long arm reaches out to them and destroys their capacity for them, their employees - in the NBA's case teams members and general managers - to speak freely about their political opinions," Pompeo said. 'I just don't understand' Some Chinese fans expressed dismay at how the controversy had spread, while voicing support for Beijing's view. "I'm patriotic of course. I support that Hong Kong is part of China, but I just don't understand this," said Yu Jie, a fan waiting to see the players in Shanghai. The Global Times tabloid, published by the People's Daily newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party, said the NBA was treating the Chinese market with disregard. "Tweeting something offensive to the Chinese people before a series of NBA promotional activities in China only shows a lack of intellect, respect, and responsibility," it said. Basketball is the most popular sport in China, with about 500 million people consuming NBA content. The league has deals with TV and digital media outlets across the country, and teams have played exhibition games annually since 2014. NBA China, launched in 2008 to run the league's business, is now worth more than $4 billion, according to Forbes. The NBA had planned media events in Shanghai ahead of the Nets-Lakers game, but Chinese organisers cancelled an event at a Shanghai school on Tuesday and an open training session with the Nets on Wednesday. State television dropped plans to air the NBA exhibition games this week, saying a country's sovereignty and social stability were "not within the scope of freedom of speech." Some Chinese fans have asked for streaming subscription refunds from exclusive service provider Tencent, which halted broadcast of Rockets games after the Morey tweet. Online travel agency Ctrip said it had stopped selling tickets to NBA games and NBA-related tour packages. Smartphone maker Vivo and sportswear maker ANTA Sports Products Ltd have also stopped working with the NBA. Chinese e-commerce platforms Alibaba and JD.com appeared to have taken Houston Rockets merchandise, including sneakers, off their sales platforms, including mobile apps. The growing controversy did not seem to bother some waiting outside Shanghai's Ritz Carlton hotel for a glimpse of the NBA players. "Personal opinions belong to them. It doesn't affect us chasing the stars," Xu Ziyang, a university student from the eastern province of Jiangsu, told Reuters.

Chinese organisers cancel NBA fan event amid free speech row

Beijing sees red! Why Chinese sponsors, partners are cutting ties with NBA