The 30-year-old Sacre announced his retirement recently, surprising many in Japan because he was at the top of his game, but not those who know what means the most to the personable center.

Former NBA head coaches Jason Kidd and Lionel Hollins have joined new coach Frank Vogel’s staff with the Los Angeles Lakers. Phil Handy, Miles Simon, former Lakers guard Mike Penberthy and Quinton Crawford also will be Vogel’s assistant coaches. Kidd joins the Lakers after head coaching stints in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, while Hollins was in charge of Memphis and the Nets.

Anthony Davis has finally joined the Los Angeles Lakers after several months of courtship between the superstar and the 16-time NBA champions. Davis believes the Lakers can become an immediate championship contender in his first season alongside LeBron James. The six-time All-Star knows the Lakers play under a larger microscope than the New Orleans Pelicans, but he can’t wait for the challenge of winning big in the Hollywood spotlight.

Norvell and the Lakers played seven games over 11 days, in two summer league events in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, making it quite easy to bond with a dozen other hopefuls.

Zach Norvell Jr., no stranger to hitting clutch shots when he played for Gonzaga, has carried that trait into the pros.

The Los Angeles Lakers extended a qualifying offer to former Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams, the NBA team announced. The move means Williams becomes a restricted free agent on Sunday. If Williams accepts the offer, he becomes a two-way contract player.

Former Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr. didn’t hear his name called in Thursday’s NBA draft but he quickly found an NBA opportunity.

The saga is over. When this trade is done, everybody can say they won. For the Pelicans, it’s a new beginning. For the Lakers, it’s about winning now.

Several people familiar with the situation say the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to trade disgruntled six-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for point guard Lonzo Ball, forward Brandon Ingram, shooting guard Josh Hart and three first-round draft choices. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade cannot become official until the new league year begins July 6. The deal teams Davis with superstar LeBron James.

A person familiar with the search says the Los Angeles Lakers have hired Frank Vogel as coach and Jason Kidd as an assistant. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the hirings have not been announced. The 45-year old Vogel did not coach last season following two years with the Orlando Magic.

A person familiar with the search says Frank Vogel will be interviewed for the Lakers head coach opening. The 45-year old Vogel did not coach last season following two years with the Orlando Magic. He is the fifth candidate known to have interviewed for the opening since the Lakers dismissed Luke Walton in April.

Luke Walton is out as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after three losing seasons. The former Lakers forward went 98-148 in his first permanent head coaching job. Walton was let go just three days after the Lakers ended their 37-45 season with the abrupt resignation of president of basketball operations Magic Johnson.

Magic Johnson has abruptly quit as the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations. The Hall of Fame point guard cited his desire to get back to the simpler life he enjoyed before taking over the franchise just over two years ago. Johnson didn’t tell owner Jeanie Buss or general manager Rob Pelinka before he stepped in front of reporters about 90 minutes before the final game of the Lakers’ sixth consecutive losing season.

LeBron James’ first season with the Los Angeles Lakers is over. James will sit out the final six games of the Lakers’ sixth consecutive losing season, the team announced Saturday. In a statement, President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and General Manager Rob Pelinka claimed the decision will provide James with a head start on offseason healing for a three-month-old groin strain, the first significant injury of his career.

As Florida State crept closer to Gonzaga, shaving the Bulldogs’ second-half lead to six points, five points and finally four points, Johnathan Williams started to grow anxious, just like every other fan in the navy-blue-and-red section behind Mark Few’s bench.

Doc Rivers is denying rumors that he’s interested in leaving the Los Angeles Clippers to coach the Lakers

LeBron James had 36 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 123-107 on Tuesday night and end a five-game losing streak.

When LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan’s career points total, he did it in a pair of Nikes with “Thank You M.J.” written neatly on the side.

Couch Slouch: At last count, nearly 2,000 NBA players changed teams last week before the trade deadline. Remarkably, Anthony Davis was not among them.