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LeBron James dubbed the I Promise program “probably the best thing I’ve ever done”. LeBron James dubbed the I Promise program “probably the best thing I’ve ever done”. And while what he’s been able to accomplish through the school itself is tremendous, the work also goes beyond the classroom. One of the I Promise traditions is to send 23 high school students from LeBron’s hometown of Akron, Ohio to the host city for NBA All Star weekend. He calls the group of standout students, 330 Ambassadors, a nod to the area code of Akron. Which can also serve as a reminder that LeBron James came from the same place and similar circumstances the I Promise children the Ambassadors mentor are currently in. Or as the LeBron James Family Foundation Executive Director Michele Campbell put it, "So LeBron says a lot that he's just a kid from Akron. That's who he is and he'll never forget that. So to have children in Akron hear that and see him and see how successful he can be is the ...

LeBron James has reached just about every accolade humanly possible in the NBA. But James’ world with his I Promise school and the LeBron James Family Foundation might be the greatest achievement of his career. For what has become a tradition, every year LeBron sends 23 students to the host city for the All Star game. The students are referred to as his “330 Ambassadors,” a nod to the zip code in Akron, Ohio. The students got to enjoy all the festivities of All Star weekend, receiving career advice from Graduate Hotels founder Ben Weprin and performing some community service in Chicago. 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is looking into the report. LOS ANGELES — Authorities are investigating whether deputies shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash scene where Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed, according to a newspaper report. The Los Angeles Times reported that a public safety source with knowledge of the events had seen one of the photos on the phone of another official in a setting that was not related to the investigation of the crash. He said the photos showed the scene and victims' remains. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the allegations. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Maria Lucero told The Associated Press on Friday that "the matter is being looked into." The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union that represents rank-and-file deputies, declined to comment specifically on the allegations. "As with all investigations...

Jimmy Butler has found a home in Miami, where the Heat are the NBA's most pleasant surprise Before the season began, Jimmy Butler was asked about podcasts. Specifically, he was asked about podcast hosts who, at the height of NBA free agency last summer, couldn’t understand his decision to leave two All-Stars on the 76ers and engineer a sign-and-trade to a Heat team that won 39 games a year ago. Wasn't this the same guy who forced his way out of Minnesota because he wanted to play for a title contender? Isn’t that exactly what he was leaving in Philadelphia? Half the league’s superstars spent the summer forming strategic alliances to chase championships, but perhaps Butler cared more about being the man in Miami than playing a supporting role for a contender in Philly. Or maybe the decision was proof that a ring was never his primary motivation. The only thing that mattered was which team would offer him the most money and the longest contract as he approached his 30th birt...

SI's Robin Lundberg credits Butler's work ethic, which has once again made the Heat Eastern Conference contenders. Before signing with the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler was a subject of scrutiny in the NBA. Now in his first year with the team, he has helped revitalize the franchise hungry for an NBA title. SI's Robin Lundberg credits Butler's work ethic, which has once again made the Heat Eastern Conference contenders. 

Expert NBA DFS DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo DFS daily plays for Friday, February 28 NBA DFS (Friday, February 28) Here is the TGIF edition of SI Fantasy's NBA DFS daily plays. We have a big ten game Friday night slate for us to sweat tonight in the NBA. The top injury that we will be monitoring today is in Dallas, where Luka Doncic is dealing with a thumb injury. It's nice not to have to worry about injuries on a night with ten games. Fantasy points should be easy to come by, at least three games tonight will have implied totals off over 230. SG/SF Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards   DraftKings: $9,700, FanDuel: $9,300, Yahoo: $47 If the Wizards are playing, Beal goes into my lineup. Beal looks focused on the court lately, and I bet he feels very disrespected by the All-Star snub. I don't think he can catch James Harden for the scoring title, but he will try. Utah is known for its defense, but it hasn't been good lately. Beal will push them for big points tonigh...

Which team will come out on top in the Eastern Conference? The Crossover examines the case for each of the East's top contenders. The Bucks are the favorites for the Eastern Conference crown in May, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. are by no means locks to square off against the West champion in the Finals. The Eastern Conference runs five teams deep in contenders this season (sorry, Indiana) with all five squads capable of making a legitimate run at the Larry O’Brien trophy. Below one regular-season juggernaut lies four ferocious contenders, one of whom could pull off an upset over a potential 70-win team. As we roll into March, we at The Crossover examined the case for each of the Eastern Conference’s Finals contenders. Milwaukee Bucks The Case For Not only are the Bucks the best team in basketball this season, they’re also racing to one of the most impressive regular seasons in recent history. Milwaukee is on pace to become the third 70-win team in NBA history. Its net...

Shaq, Chuck, Kenny and Ernie still have so much fun after all these years. These guys still have so much fun Finding something fun and interesting to lead this column with can sometimes be a challenge, which is why I love Inside the NBA .  Because I have to wake up early to write this, I can’t actually watch live as Shaq, Chuck, Kenny and Ernie goof around until the early morning hours but I love catching up in the morning on what they got up to. On slow days like this (what, am I gonna lead with the primetime NFL combine testing?), it’s always a good fallback plan to occupy this space with whatever was the best moment from Thursday night’s edition of Inside the NBA. Without fail, there will be something that I’ll have fun writing about and that readers will have reading about.  But the guys were so good last night that I can’t just pick one moment to highlight here.  My favorite bit was probably Ernie roasting Barkley for “one of [his] weakest takes of ...

This March, Nike is expected to release a new version of the Kobe 5 with the Lakers’ purple and gold colors, according to Footwear News.

Suns forward Kelly Oubre, Jr. was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets should be at full strength for their Friday night showdown in Los Angeles. Injuries have hampered both teams throughout the season but that hasn't prevented them from being among the leaders in the Western Conference standings, where the Nuggets lead the Clippers by a game for second place, with the Los Angeles Lakers comfortably in first place. The Clippers have been without Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley for stretches, while the Nuggets have played without Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Michael Porter Jr. However, all are expected to play Friday. On Tuesday, the Nuggets pounded the Detroit Pistons 115-98 behind a career-high 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting by reserve forward Jerami Grant. "I just rode (Grant) that whole second half," Denver coach Michael Malone told The Denver Post. "He was terrific." Nikola Jokic and Murray scored 16 points apiece for the Nuggets, ...

The Utah Jazz will look to end a four-game losing streak when they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. All four losses have come at home for Utah, which sits solidly in playoff positioning in the Western Conference but has been taking on water of late. The Wizards, meanwhile, have playoff aspirations of their own. They're ninth in the Eastern Conference, coming off a win over the Brooklyn Nets two nights after taking the Milwaukee Bucks into overtime. The Jazz faced one of the East's top teams on Wednesday night, falling to the Boston Celtics 114-103. Utah started the game 3-for-17 from the field, including 0-for-8 from 3-point range, but recovered to trail 53-51 at halftime and by 85-82 entering the fourth quarter. But the Celtics pulled away with a 13-3 run early in the fourth. "I thought we did a good job playing through it when we weren't making shots. Our defensive effort and our energy stayed at a good level. I felt differently about tonight'...

The slumping Miami Heat have lost two straight games to two of the NBA's five-worst teams -- the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. On Friday, the Heat will play host to the rising Dallas Mavericks, a young team that has won two straight games. Dallas' stars are two Europeans -- Kristaps Porzingis, 24, and Luca Doncic, who turns 21 on Friday. "We're still learning," Doncic said of the relatively inexperienced Mavs. "It's not always going to be perfect." Even so, there's a lot of potential on the Mavs. Doncic, a 6-foot-7, second-year guard from Slovenia, is sixth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 28.7 points. He also leads the team in rebounds (9.6) and assists (8.7). Porzingis, a 7-3 center from Latvia, leads the team in blocks (1.9) and ranks second in scoring (18.7) and rebounds (9.2). In Wednesday's 109-103 win over the host San Antonio Spurs, Porzingis had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Doncic...

The sneakers originally debuted in 2010, the same season Kobe Bryant won his fifth championship with the Lakers. Nike is expected to honor Kobe Bryant by releasing a new version of the Kobe 5 in March featuring the Lakers ' gold and purple colors, according to Footwear News . The shoe originally debuted in 2010, when Bryant and the Lakers beat the Celtics to win the NBA Finals. The latest version of the sneakers features a purple upper with black and gold accents. Footwear News reports the "Lakers" Zoom Kobe 5 Protro will be available at select retailers on March 26, two months after Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in California . Lakers star Anthony Davis sported the shoe at the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago this month, while the Spurs' DeMar Rozan wore it in a recent game. Bryant played for the Lakers for 20 seasons and led the team to five championships. The 18-time All-Star retired after the 2015-16 s...

The Brooklyn Nets suffered a tough loss at Washington on Wednesday despite succeeding in not letting Bradley Beal hit a game-winning shot. The Nets continue their four-game road trip Friday, when they visit the Atlanta Hawks. And this time, the Nets don't want to let second-year guard Trae Young take that potential game-winning shot. Beal scored 30 points in the Nets' 110-106 loss, and they double-teamed the Wizards' star to keep him from getting a shot off on a late possession. However, the Nets did not finish the defensive sequence when Spencer Dinwiddie was late to defend Jerome Robinson, who sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left. The shot sent the Nets to a second straight close loss after having won eight of 12 games. Brooklyn blew a 19-point lead at home in a 115-113 loss to Orlando on Monday. Two nights later, the Nets stormed back from 18 points down and took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter before seeing their lead over eighth-place O...

The Orlando Magic have reversed course following a disastrous stretch to both strengthen their grasp on the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot and inch closer to the No. 7 seed. The Magic aim to continue their ascent Friday, when they host the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando answered a run of eight losses in nine games with its fourth win in five outings on Wednesday, courtesy of a 130-120 victory over Atlanta. Mo Bamba flourished in the early stages against the Hawks, Aaron Gordon scored 18 of his 25 points in the third quarter and Evan Fournier added 14 of his 28 in the fourth. "That's the way it's gotta be," Magic coach Steve Clifford said. "That's what the NBA is. If you want to win, you've gotta have everybody playing well, and our guys know that. We've won four out of five and that's the way it's gotta be." Bamba matched a career high with 15 points after Nikola Vucevic picked up two quick fouls. Bamba also...

Oubre is averaging a career-high 18.7 points per game in 2019-20 while shooting 45.2% from the field. Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. Oubre and the Suns will seek a second opinion on his knee before the 24-year-old potentially undergoes surgery, per Haynes.  Phoenix's forward is currently enjoying his best NBA season. Oubre is averaging a career-high 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season, and he's shooting a career-best mark from three.  Oubre was traded from the Wizards to the Suns in December 2018. He was selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2015 NBA draft after one season at Kansas. Oubre was named to the All-Big 12 Freshmen Team with the Jayhawks before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  The Suns sit No. 13 in the Western Conference at 24–35 following a loss to the Clippers on Wednesday, but Phoenix has shown progress in 2019-20 compare...

The Knicks are in the midst of another losing streak, but take on a 76ers team without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Should you bet on the 76ers to cover the spread? There are only four games on tonight’s NBA slate for us to wager on. I have best bets for two of those contests. The other two games really don’t interest me from a betting stand point, but I do have a couple of opinions on them. The Lakers are 10.5-point road favorites against Golden State. LeBron James will miss the contest to rest his sore groin. Laying 10.5 points with a team that is not at full strength is not something I do, even if the opponent is a bad Warriors team. I would be willing to lay the Lakers' first half number at 5.5. The other game that I have zero interest in betting is the Pacers' home game versus the Trail Blazers. Neither team is playing that well right now, so it’s a no-bet for me. New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers -6.5 In early December after a pair of bad beats, I swore o...

SI's Robin Lundberg details the impact Westbrook has had on the season, and why he and Harden could potentially add an NBA championship to their professional resumes. Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook has been a major bright spot for the team this season. While shooting a career high in field goal percentage, it appears Westbrook's skillset has made the Rockets a legit championship contender. SI's Robin Lundberg details the impact Westbrook has had on the season, and why he and Harden could potentially add an NBA championship to their professional resumes. 

Robin Lundberg is joined by SI Gambling's Corey Parson who gives his best bets for tonight's NBA action. For more gambling analysis, head over to SI.com/Gambling and follow us on Twitter @SIGambling .

Robin Lundberg is joined by SI Fantasy's Corey Parson who gives three players you should insert into your NBA daily fantasy lineup to win some cash on tonight's action. For more fantasy advice, head over to SI.com/Fantasy .

The Rockets guard is playing the most efficient basketball of his career since Daryl Morey committed to playing super smallball. Here’s how his game has changed. Few superstars have been as polarizing as Russell Westbrook has been for much of the last decade. Few superstars have seen their shot selection so widely mocked and criticized while still being considered one of the league’s most freakish talents. And while Westbrook was once popular enough to win an MVP award, it would seem an equal percentage of the NBA intelligentsia view that season as the nadir of his career. At this very moment however, while It’s only been a couple months of the “new” Westbrook, it seems that’s all finally starting to change. Particularly after the Rockets traded Clint Capela and committed to playing without a traditional center , Westbrook has played some of the most efficient and devastating basketball of his career. (The uptick in Russ’s play and efficiency actually began a little earlier in the...

Expert NBA DFS DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo DFS daily plays for Thursday, February 27 NBA DFS (Thursday, February 27) Here is the "No LeBron?!" edition of SI Fantasy's NBA DFS daily plays. There are four games on the NBA DFS slate tonight. Three All-Stars: Ben Simmons Joel Embiid, and Lebron James, are out this evening. Victor Oladipo is questionable for the Pacers. Damian Lillard remains out for the Trail Blazers. C Anthony Davis, Los Angels Lakers DraftKings: $10,300, FanDuel: $10,300, Yahoo: $53 Anthony Davis will be the go-to guy for the Lakers tonight while Lebron James is out to rest his groin. Davis will also have the benefit of going against the Golden State Warriors who have struggled to guard opposing big men all season. PG/SG CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers DraftKings: $9,000, FanDuel: $8,800, Yahoo: $38   CJ has taken advantage of the absence of Damian Lillard. McCollum has scored 50+ fantasy points in three straight games. Not only is he scori...

Memorabilia from Kobe Bryant's career will go up for sale in April. NEW YORK — Some key Kobe Bryant memorabilia, including two of his Los Angeles Lakers uniforms and cement handprints from his induction into the Grauman's Chinese Theater hall of fame gallery, are going up for sale in April. Julien's Auctions said Thursday that the items would be up for sale on April 30 as part of its annual sports auction that includes a silver medal from the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and a 2002 FIFA World Cup gold winner's medal. Bryant's items were already being planned for auction when he, his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26 . "We are honored to include this collection of his items and pay tribute to this giant who was an inspiration not only to basketball fans but to the entire world," said Darren Julien, Julien's Auctions’ president and CEO. The Lakers uniforms up for sale are one worn during the 2000...

Joel Embiid will receive an MRI to determine the extent of his left shoulder injury, which incurred during the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers. This doesn’t bode well for the 76ers team, as Ben Simmons suffered a nerve impingement on Feb 22nd against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sixers have 23 regular-season games before the beginning of the playoffs, and without Simmons and Embiid, the Sixers may struggle down the stretch. 

SI's Robin Lundberg shares his thoughts on the Bucks and says the team will truly get the respect they deserve if they can win in the postseason. The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the most dominant NBA teams in recent memory. Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has his squad on pace to become just the third team in NBA history to win seventy games. SI's Robin Lundberg shares his thoughts on the Bucks and says the team will truly get the respect they deserve if they can win in the postseason. 

The Bucks are having one of the best seasons in NBA history, so why have they flown under the radar compared to historic teams of the past? The Milwaukee Bucks are an anomaly. Coming off a 60-win year, the 50-8 Bucks are on track to record at least 70 victories in 2019-20. Such a feat would make them just the third 70-win team in NBA history, joining the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73-9) and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10). Powered by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo , the Bucks are breaking records at a speedy pace. The team has clinched the fastest playoff berth in the current format’s history, doing so in just 56 games. Milwaukee also sits comfortably atop the East, holding an eight-game lead over the second-place Raptors. After being projected to win 55 games prior to the start of the season, the Bucks have outdone themselves—and they have done it quietly in a historically loud NBA. The Lakers and Clippers have captured much attention this season, but the Bucks have b...