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United States' Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after their win in the men's basketball gold medal game against France at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Golden, again: U.S. beats France 87-82 for Tokyo title

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2019, file photo, ESPN's Maria Taylor works from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Miami and Florida in Orlando, Fla. Taylor is leaving ESPN after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Taylor had been with ESPN since 2014 but her contract expired Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Her last assignment for the network was Tuesday night at the NBA Finals, where she was the pregame and postgame host for the network's “NBA Countdown” show. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

NBC quickly hires Maria Taylor after her departure from ESPN

By Joe Reedy - Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Bucks’ 50-year wait ends with a title behind 50 from Giannis

By Brian Mahoney - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sunday, March 1, 2020 file photo, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) confers with assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game. The Washington Wizards have named Wes Unseld Jr. as their next head coach. The Denver Nuggets associate coach is the son of Washington basketball legend Wes Unseld, whose number is retired and hangs in the rafters. Unseld Jr. replaces Scott Brooks who was fired after three playoff appearances in five seasons.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Unseld Jr. arrives to the Wizards his own man: ‘I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not’

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

FILE - In this Sunday, March 1, 2020 file photo, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) confers with assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game. The Washington Wizards have named Wes Unseld Jr. as their next head coach. The Denver Nuggets associate coach is the son of Washington basketball legend Wes Unseld, whose number is retired and hangs in the rafters. Unseld Jr. replaces Scott Brooks who was fired after three playoff appearances in five seasons.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

LOVERRO: Unseld name carries weight, good and bad, for Wizards fans

By Thom Loverro

FILE - In this Sunday, March 1, 2020 file photo, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) confers with assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game. The Washington Wizards have named Wes Unseld Jr. as their next head coach. The Denver Nuggets associate coach is the son of Washington basketball legend Wes Unseld, whose number is retired and hangs in the rafters. Unseld Jr. replaces Scott Brooks who was fired after three playoff appearances in five seasons.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Unseld Jr. named new Wizards coach

By Combined reports - The Washington Times

Phoenix Suns' Jae Crowder reacts as he talks with members of the Milwaukee Bucks bench during the second half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals, Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) **FILE**

Suns now know that NBA titles don’t come easily

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the second half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals, Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Halfway there: Suns beat Bucks for 2-0 lead in NBA Finals

By Brian Mahoney - Associated Press

Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton (22) attempts a shot ahead of Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in Phoenix. (Christian Petersen/Pool Photo via AP) **FILE**

With Suns’ stars rolling, Bucks must be better in NBA Finals

By Brian Mahoney - Associated Press

Maryland's Aaron Wiggins shoots as he participates in the NBA Draft Combine at the Wintrust Arena Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) **FILE**

Wiggins to remain in NBA draft, forgo remaining Maryland eligibility

By Andy Kostka - The Washington Times

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul hoists the trophy as he and his teammates celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) **FILE**

Bucks, Suns set for the NBA Finals after long waits

By Brian Mahoney - Associated Press

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, second from left, hugs Chris Paul, left, and Jae Crowder, second from right, as Devin Booker stands by as time runs out in Game 6 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Suns won the game 130-103 to take the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) **FILE**

NBA Finals berth emotional for Suns’ Paul, Williams

By Joe Reedy - Associated Press

Maryland guard Eric Ayala (5) shoots over Michigan State guard Jack Hoiberg (10) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 11, 2021. Maryland defeated Michigan State 68-57. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Eric Ayala withdraws from NBA Draft, returns to Maryland basketball

By Andy Kostka - The Washington Times

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts after he made a 3-point basket during the second half of the team's NBA basketball Eastern Conference play-in game against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

Selection to Team USA ‘humbles and inspires’ Beal

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon talks with Quinndary Weatherspoon (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, file photo. Becky Hammon became the first woman to direct a team in NBA history, taking over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, Dec. 30, 2020, against the Los Angeles Lakers following Gregg Popovich’s ejection in the first half.(Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP, File) ** FILE**

NBA’s watershed moment may have to wait another year

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) shoots over Brooklyn Nets forward Jeff Green (8) and guard James Harden (13) during the first half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) **FILE**

NBA playoffs deliver despite small-market teams, missing stars

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

In this Wednesday, May 6, 2015, photo Harlem Globetrotters' Hi-Lite Bruton, second from left, Ant Atitkson, third from left, look at teammate Flight Time Lang, right, helping Pope Francis spin the ball on his finger as they meet during the general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) **FILE**

Harlem Globetrotters want to become the next NBA franchise

By Noah Fleischman - The Washington Times

FILE - Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham is shown during an NCAA college basketball game against Oral Roberts in Stillwater, Okla., in this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, file photo. Cunningham has made The Associated Press All-America first team, announced Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Pistons win lottery, receive No. 1 pick in 2021 NBA draft

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press

Villanova head coach Jay Wright celebrates after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Wright is among those announced Sunday, May 16, 2021 as the 2021 class for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, file) **FILE**

LOVERRO: Villanova’s Wright would be right pick to change Wizards’ loser culture

By Thom Loverro

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle gestures during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Carlisle steps down as Mavericks’ coach, one day after GM departs

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press