Lakers, Warriors game gets big ratings
LeBron James' first game against the Golden State Warriors as a Los Angeles Laker drew nearly 2 million viewers, making it ESPN's most-watched preseason game ever.
The Lakers' 123-113 victory Wednesday night in Las Vegas was watched by 1.98 million viewers, the network said Thursday. A spokesman says that is the most viewers for an NBA preseason game on any network since at least 1994, which is as far back as the records go.
James developed a rivalry with the Warriors while meeting them in a record four straight NBA Finals while he played in Cleveland. His move to Los Angeles in July put him in the same division as the two-time defending champions.
Assistant coaches selected for U.S. national team
Steve Kerr and Jay Wright will be assistant coaches for the U.S. national basketball team, putting the coaches of the NBA and NCAA championship teams on Gregg Popovich's staff.
Nate McMillan will be the other assistant, USA Basketball announced Thursday.
The trio of coaches will work with Popovich in the 2019 Basketball World Cup and 2020 Olympics, assuming the Americans qualify for both events.
Kerr has led Golden State to two straight and three of the last four NBA championships. Wright guided Villanova to the 2016 and 2018 NCAA titles. McMillan worked on Mike Krzyzewski's staff from 2006-12, when the Americans won two Olympic gold medals and the 2010 world championship.
The defending champion Americans are closing in on qualifying for the 2019 worlds in China, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2020 Olympics.
Innovator of triangle offense dies
Tex Winter, the innovative "Triangle Offense" pioneer who assisted Phil Jackson on NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has died. He was 96.
Winter's family said he died Wednesday in Manhattan, where he began his coaching career at Kansas State in 1947 and led the Wildcats to two Final Fours and eight Big Seven/Eight titles as head coach from 1954-68.
"I learned so much from Coach Winter. He was a pioneer and a true student of the game," Michael Jordan said in a statement emailed to the Chicago Tribune. "His triangle offense was a huge part of our six championships with the Bulls. He was a tireless worker. Tex was always focused on details and preparation and a great teacher. I was lucky to play for him. My condolences to his family."
Former Lakers star Kobe Bryant called Winter a basketball genius "in every sense of the word."
"My mentor. I sat with Tex & watched every minute of every game during our 1st season together. He taught me how to study every detail," Bryant posted on Twitter.
Winter published "The Triple-Post Offense" in 1962 and teamed with Jackson to use the system to great success with Jordan and Bryant.
Winter assisted Jackson on championship teams with the Bulls in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998, and the Lakers in 2000, 2001, 2002. He was a consultant with Los Angeles' 2009 title team, and the Lakers also won in 2010.