Author: Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

Ericka Weems, the sister of LeBron James’ close friend and Cleveland Cavaliers executive Brandon Weems, was shot and killed inside her Akron home.

Bill Walton enticed members of the Celtics, including Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle and Robert Parish, to see two Grateful Dead concerts 35 years ago.

Stephen Silas has a history of helping develop high-scoring guards, such as Stephen Curry, Kemba Walker and Luka Doncic.

With a targeted start date of Dec. 22, the next NBA season would include 72 games and finish before the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

The Pelicans are hiring NBA veteran Stan Van Gundy as head coach. Van Gundy, 61, is 523-384 in 12 seasons with Miami, Orlando and Detroit.

After five coaches in eight years and a couple of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Lakers are back on the NBA mountaintop as champions.

Only Michael Jordan with six has more Finals MVPs than LeBron James, who won his fourth Finals MVP award after leading the Lakers to the championship.

LeBron James will go down as one of the all-time greats, but continually proving himself against history fueled him on this Lakers championship run.

Jimmy Butler kept the Heat alive with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to outduel LeBron James and force Game 6 against the Lakers.

The Lakers held off the Heat 102-96 to take a 3-1 series and move within one win of the franchise’s first title since 2010.