LeBron James

LeBron James believes Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury managing partner Robert Sarver should face a harsher penalty than a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine.

The Los Angeles Lakers star tweeted, "Our league definitely got this wrong," adding: "I said it before and I'm gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of behavior. I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn't right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place."

The NBA announced Sarver's punishment Tuesday following an investigation that determined he "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards":

Sarver first came under significant scrutiny in November 2021 when ESPN's Baxter Holmes reported on multiple allegations of racism and misogyny by Sarver with the Suns.

The NBA responded by initiating an independent investigation, and the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz released its findings Tuesday in a 43-page report following interviews with 320 people and a review of more than 80,000 documents.

Notably, the investigation determined Sarver "said the N-word in repeating or purporting to repeat a Black person on at least five occasions during his tenure, including after being advised not to do so" and "made many sex-related comments in the workplace."

What's more, the probe found he "made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women" and "frequently engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of employees—including by yelling and cursing at them."

Given Sarver's position with the Suns and the nature of the investigation's findings, it was easy to think of the NBA's 2014 response to former Los Angeles Clippers governor Donald Sterling after he was heard making racist comments on tape.

That happened in the early days of Adam Silver's tenure as commissioner, and he responded by banning Sterling from the league and fining him $2.5 million in a move that garnered plenty of praise.

Yet Sarver has been suspended rather than banned, and James—one of the most notable voices in NBA history given the combination of his on-court accomplishments and his willingness to speak out on non-basketball issues—is among those who disagree with the punishment.

Silver held a press conference Wednesday and told reporters the Sarver situation is "dramatically different" than the Sterling one.

The commissioner said Sterling was guilty of "blatant racist conduct directed at a select group of people," while Sarver's comments were "beyond the pale" but "wholly of a different kind."

During the press conference, Silver also said, "there are particular rights here to someone who owns an NBA team as opposed to someone who is an employee" when explaining why an employee of a team might be fired for these actions but Sarver can still keep the team.

James, though, seems to think there is no room in the NBA for Sarver's return to his previous role.

The 2008 United States men's basketball team will be the subject of a Netflix documentary.

Netflix dropped a trailer for Redeem Team, produced by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, about the "untold story" of the squad that brought U.S. men's basketball to the top of the mountain at the Beijing Olympics.

After winning gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics, Team USA men's basketball underwent a transition phase that led to some difficult results on the court.

The 2002 squad that competed at the FIBA World Championships became the first one to lose in an international tournament with NBA players on the roster. They lost a total of three games, including an 81-78 defeat to Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals.

Things did improve for the U.S. in 2003 at the Tournament of the Americas thanks to the participation of several NBA superstars at the peak of their careers, including Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.

That group cruised to victory with 10 wins by an average of 24.6 points per game to clinch a berth in the 2004 Olympics. The Athens games saw several players from the 2003 team not participate, notably McGrady, Kidd, Carter, Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand.

James, Wade and Carmelo Anthony participated, but all three had not yet established themselves as go-to superstars after just one season in the NBA. America went 3-2 in group play and lost to Argentina in the semifinal, settling for a bronze medal.

It marked the first time since 1988 that Team USA didn't win gold at the Olympics. Their 5-3 record in the tournament was their worst in the history of the event.

Four years later, led by a more experienced James, Wade, Anthony and captained by Kobe Bryant, the U.S. steamrolled its competition en route to a gold medal in Beijing. The squad went 8-0 with a +223 point differential.

The documentary about the Redeem Team drops Oct. 7 on Netflix.

The Los Angeles Lakers are prepared to commit to LeBron James for the remainder of his NBA career.

Lakers governor Jeanie Buss recently told Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated she wants James to retire in a Lakers uniform.

"With LeBron, we have a line of communication between the two of us, and he knows that he can reach me any time and vice versa," Buss said on The Crossover. "And I think he feels appreciated. I know I appreciated that he signed an extension to stay here and continue to lead the Laker team. He's a fantastic leader both on and off the court, and I feel like we're blessed to have him as a Laker. I want to see him retire as a Laker."

James signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers this offseason, tying him to the team through at least the 2023-24 season. He has a $50.7 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign.

The player option is interesting, given James' long-stated desire to play with his son Bronny before he retires. Bronny James will be eligible for the 2024 NBA draft should he choose to declare after his freshman season.

LeBron's eldest son is the No. 45 overall player in the 2023 high school class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. While he's not considered an elite prospect, it's not outside the realm of possibilities that he's eventually an NBA-caliber player.

Should Bronny James declare for the 2024 draft, the Lakers—and 29 other NBA teams—will have an interesting decision to make. If LeBron follows through on his plan to play with Bronny, every team in the 2024 draft will have a potential bargaining chip as James possibly heads for free agency.

While it would be unprecedented for a team to use a draft pick for the express purpose of signing a free agent, a father-son duo in the NBA is equally unprecedented.

Los Angeles Lakers first-year head coach Darvin Ham knows the front office could still be seeking ways to improve the roster, but he's already satisfied with the current group.

Ham told reporters they would have to direct questions about the roster to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, but added he's "absolutely" happy with what they have heading into the 2022-23 season.

Ham was speaking at an introductory press conference for point guard Patrick Beverley, who was acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz last month.

Last Friday, there were indications that Los Angeles wasn't done making moves. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reported that the Lakers have "some interest" in trading for Jazz veterans Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic. Mike Singer of the Denver Post added that "numerous" sources said the same thing:

There has also been speculation that Lakers star point guard Russell Westbrook could be on the move soon. The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported that the acquisition of Beverley "makes it more likely that Westbrook will be off the active roster by the start of training camp, either through a trade or the team sending him home a la the Rockets with John Wall last season."

Beverley and Ham both addressed Westbrook on Tuesday. The defensive specialist said he's "super excited" to be playing with the former NBA MVP despite their rivalry with one another.

Ham added that he expects Westbrook to be a part of the roster as they chase an NBA title, saying, "I want to help him get that championship ring. … I love him and I can't wait to coach him."

While Ham may be satisfied with the roster, it remains to be seen if the front office feels the same way as they try to bounce back from last season's disappointing finish.

When LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2010, it was up to Kyrie Irving to continue to carry the franchise into the playoffs and beyond, but it wasn't always easy for the superstar point guard.

In the latest episode of The Shop, Irving said that trying to replace James with the Cavaliers was an "uncomfortable" feeling:

"Like, playing with Bron and playing with [Kevin Durant]. These are two of the best to ever lace them up. But within our culture, they are two true icons, and I had to fill in those shoes that were very uncomfortable for me because at that point in my life, I didn't know where I wanted to go.

"I was watching the 30 for 30 on the decision. A year later, I was drafted into that Cleveland emotional train of the prodigal son, chosen one has left, and here we have this 19-year-old kid. I'm 6'2". I'm not jumping out of the gym. Emotionally, I was dealing with things that I had no idea had nothing to do with me. Absolutely nothing. So when I took on that pressure as my own, I started feeling like, 'I gotta bring Cleveland back to the promised land.' That was a solo act."

The Cavaliers selected James first overall in the 2003 NBA draft before selecting Irving first overall in the 2011 draft.

James spent the first seven seasons of his career in Cleveland before signing a free agent contract with the Miami Heat ahead of the 2010-11 season. During his first stint with the Cavs from 2003-10, the now four-time NBA champion led the franchise to five straight playoff appearances, including an NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and an Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2009.

James was named Rookie of the Year during the 2003-04 season and went on to win the MVP award four times before departing the franchise.

When Irving was drafted, he was expected to lead the Cavs back to greatness following the departure of James. And, considering he was also a No. 1 pick, there was immense pressure for him to follow in James' footsteps.

Irving went on to be named Rookie of the Year in 2011-12. However, he didn't achieve the type of greatness that James had, and the Cavs failed to make the postseason from the 2011-12 season through the 2013-14 campaign.

When James returned to Cleveland in 2014-15, he and Irving teamed up to lead the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in four straight seasons. The duo won a title together with the Cavs in 2016, overcoming a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors.

Ahead of the 2017-18 season, Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics. One year later, James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he's still playing for the Purple and Gold.

Irving, meanwhile, has teamed up with Durant on the Nets, and the duo shoulders much of the pressure in Brooklyn.

Durant requested a trade from the Nets earlier this summer and, at one point, it looked like Irving was going to have to lead a team on his own once again. However, Durant rescinded his request last month, and the duo will aim to lead the Nets to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2003.

Of course, there's still some heavy pressure on Irving to succeed, but he has another superstar in Durant to lean on, in addition to Ben Simmons, which should help him shoulder some of the load in 2022-23.

LeBron James might be approaching his 20th season in the NBA, but Chris Paul still doesn't think the Los Angeles Lakers star will be losing a step.

"Once you find something that works and you know that getting a little older or whatnot, it doesn't matter, then 'Bron ain't slowing down no time soon," the Phoenix Suns star said on The Old Man & The Three podcast. "So everybody be cool."

Given he has indicated a desire to play with his son, Bronny, nobody expects James to retire within the next year or two. Bronny James isn't eligible to make the jump to the NBA until at least 2024.

But LeBron does seem to be finally showing his age.

To Paul's point, the 37-year-old continues to perform at a high level, averaging 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 52.4 percent from the field last season.

But his 26 missed games point to how he's no longer capable of shaking off the minor injuries he accumulated earlier in his career. He was out for 27 games in 2020-21 too. Sooner or later, the wear and tear could add up for LeBron.

Despite Paul's insistence, Father Time appears to be catching up with James.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham is breathing a sigh of relief after LeBron James signed an extension with the team last week.

Speaking to Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com, Ham called James' decision to extend his tenure with the Lakers "huge" for the franchise.

"LeBron is once-in-a-lifetime player," he added. "You only get so many players. Not even so many. You have Bill Russell, you have Wilt Chamberlain, you have Dr. J, you have Moses Malone, you had Larry Bird, Magic [Johnson], you had [Michael] Jordan, you had Allen Iverson, Shaq [O’Neal], Kobe [Bryant], and now it’s LeBron’s time."

James signed a two-year, $97.1 million deal on Aug. 18, keeping him under contract to the Lakers through the 2023-24 season.

There was initially some skepticism that James would give the Lakers a commitment. He became eligible to sign a two-year deal on Aug. 4, but it took two weeks to get a deal done.

James seemed to have a lot of leverage in the situation. Despite being limited to 56 games last season due to injuries, he had the second-highest scoring average of his career (30.3 points per game) and finished second on the Lakers in assists (6.2) and rebounds (8.2).

Even at 37 years old, James remains one of the best players in the league. The Lakers' roster remains in a state of flux, with concerns about Anthony Davis' durability and lingering questions about Russell Westbrook's fit with the team.

Los Angeles general manager Rob Pelinka did boost the team's backcourt on Thursday by acquiring Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson.

There's still work for the Lakers to do if they want to be considered among the top teams in the Western Conference. They do have the ability to use their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks as a potential sweetener in a Westbrook trade, though there's no indication at this point that anything is on the verge of happening.

The Lakers did win the 2019-20 NBA championship but have otherwise not won a postseason series in four years with James. They have missed the playoffs twice during that span, including last season with a 33-49 record.

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have acquired a veteran capable of starting at the point in Patrick Beverley, is the team more or less likely to trade Russell Westbrook?

Does LeBron James give a hint on Twitter?

Wasn't it just a month ago when James and Westbrook sat on opposite ends of the gym at summer league, a very visible dual snubbing?

A lot has changed since mid-July. James signed a maximum extension adding two additional seasons (though he can opt out ahead of 2024-25). A run at Kyrie Irving appears to be a dead end with Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets moving "forward with [their] partnership."

The short answer is, "More." The Lakers have been trying to get out of Westbrook since before last year's trade deadline. At least now, with Beverley, they have a suitable starting point guard to replace him. L.A. can look to deal without needing a ball-handling guard in return.

Per one NBA executive, the Lakers have three remaining "obvious" partners they should pursue to make a Westbrook swap in the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs or Utah Jazz.

The Lakers are believed to covet Myles Turner from the Pacers, giving the team additional versatility up front with Anthony Davis, Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones. L.A. executive Rob Pelinka used to represent Buddy Hield and was close to acquiring the high-volume shooter last summer.

Per multiple external sources, Indiana isn't eager to part with its veteran players without significant compensation. The Lakers might be willing to give up a first first-rounder in a Westbrook swap, but two may be too much for a deal.

The Pacers' ask may depend on the other two listed teams. The Spurs still have tremendous flexibility under the salary cap, along with veterans Josh Richardson and Doug McDermott. Richardson is on an expiring contract, but McDermott's $13.8 million for 2023-24 isn't appealing to the Lakers.

Los Angeles isn't believed to be interested in moving Westbrook with draft compensation for players that don't move the needle toward a championship. But nearing a deal with the Spurs might prompt the Pacers to lessen their demands, especially if they want to get out of the 2023-24 obligation to Hield at $18.6-$23.3 million (depending on incentives).

Similarly, further conversations between the Lakers and Jazz could spark the Pacers to action. Or perhaps L.A. can find value as a third team in a Utah/Donovan Mitchell blockbuster.

The Lakers might be able to improve their depth with Jazz veterans Malik Beasley, Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley and/or Rudy Gay. Some are better fits than others; some would be reluctant gets for the Lakers. And if the New York Knicks were the team getting Mitchell, perhaps L.A. would end up with Evan Fournier or Cam Reddish. That's a bit much to speculate on, but there's a reasonable chance Utah will resolve Mitchell's situation before the season.

The price and the return will determine how likely the Lakers are to send off Westbrook in a trade. If that means waiting until the trade deadline, so be it. Interested teams may prefer Westbrook to earn half his $47.1 million contract in Los Angeles. This would reduce a trade partner's financial obligation to Westbrook after an in-season deal.

How Would Cap Space in 2023 Influence a Westbrook Deal?

The Lakers have diligently minded its cap space for the summer of 2023. Getting out of Horton-Tucker's $11 million player option could give the franchise up to $30 million in cap space. That number could rise and fall by the 2023-24 salary cap (currently projected at $133 million), a new collective bargaining agreement, their first-round pick in 2023 (the New Orleans Pelicans have swap rights) and which players they intend to re-sign.

Even if the team managed to get near $35 million in cap space, that's only enough to pay a maximum salary to players with fewer than seven years of experience. If the target is Irving as a free agent, he could earn up to a max of $46.6 million.

Will a team offer Irving that amount? That's a difficult question, but it's certainly a risk for the Lakers, with $17 million below what Irving may expect. Irving is anything but predictable. He's not the only potential free-agent target, but banking on cap space to lure the perfect player next summer may be a fool's errand.

If the Lakers and the Pacers agreed to a deal with Turner and Hield, cap room would no longer be a factor for L.A. McDermott from the Spurs would similarly decimate that flexibility.

But the Lakers should be realistic. If the goal is to win with James with two years fully promised, hoping on a half-baked cap space plan for half of that time is unwise. If there's a move to give the 2022-23 Lakers a chance to improve dramatically, cap room in 2023 shouldn't be an impediment.

In terms of sacrificing future firsts (likely 2027 and 2029), the danger is that James and Davis may be long gone by then. Los Angeles would only have first-rounders every other year. And if the team wanted to acquire its next star player via trade, the Lakers wouldn't have any future firsts available until 2031. That's only a worthwhile sacrifice if, in return, the franchise can take a clear, immediate step forward.

Acquiring Beverley should help the Lakers. He can play behind Westbrook or replace him in the starting group after a trade. Somewhere in that mess of iffy options is a solution that could lead to a Westbrook deal. In the absence, the Lakers and new head coach Darvin Ham will do their best to prove that last year's debacle can be solved in the locker room and on the court.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

LeBron James may have been an Ohio State Buckeye if the one-and-done NBA draft rule was in place when he went straight from high school to the sport's highest level.

Perhaps his son Bronny will be the one to don Scarlet and Gray.

According to Joe Tipton of On3, the younger James is "looking to visit Ohio State" and will "likely" make such a trip Sept. 3, when the football program plays Notre Dame in a highly anticipated primetime showdown.

Tipton reported LeBron also hopes to be in attendance.

The Buckeyes are far from the only ones recruiting Bronny, as Tipton listed USC, Memphis and Oregon as interested. LeBron was quick to shut down rumors that the Ducks were the favorites:

LeBron is from Akron, Ohio, and is a longtime advocate of the Buckeyes. He has attended football games in the past, consistently shouts the team out on social media and has provided apparel for the men's basketball team.

"If I would have had one year of college, I would have ended up down here in Columbus at Ohio State," James previously said (h/t Tipton). "No matter where I go in the world, I will always rock Ohio State colors."

He will certainly be rocking those colors if his son joins the team.

While the men's basketball program is often overshadowed by the powerhouse football team, head coach Chris Holtmann brought in the No. 8 class in the 2022 recruiting cycle and has the No. 4 group in 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Landing James, a 4-star prospect and the No. 40 player in the 2023 class, would only strengthen what is already a bright future.

And it surely wouldn't hurt the Buckeyes' chances if he were on campus to experience the environment at Ohio Stadium when the football team hosts Notre Dame.