BASKETBALL

After an $80M contract extension for John Wall, it’s now time to prove for the supposed elite point guard that he can carry the Washington Wizards to greater heights in the 2013-2014 NBA season.Can he prove that indeed he’s one of the best court generals in the league? Can a combination of veterans and youngsters be a good mix to at least challenge for a playoff spot in the tough Eastern Conference?

The Bucks have an interesting mix of young and not-so-young players. The first few games should be ugly to watch, but once this team gets more cohesive, they will reduce their turnovers and close the gaps on defense.

Lamar Odom has been tested negative for drugs, on Tuesday, as reported by TMZ.

The preseason might look shaky, but the Blazers have put together a pretty scary lineup for 2013-14.

When the Utah Jazz meet the Portland Trail Blazers in Boise, Idaho, Jazz fans can expect to see some familiar faces.

New-look Detroit is off to a promising start after new additions Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings looked good in their pre-season debuts. The defending champions Miami Heat, meanwhile, looked like they didn’t miss a beat after the long offseason.

NBA preseason continues Thursday night when the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night in an exhibition game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Chandler Parsons, one of the sought-after players of Houston Rockets, admitted having a dinner date with Filipino actress KC Concepcion. Houston Rockets is currently in the Philippines for NBA Global Games 2013 as part of its NBA's pre-season games.

Thursday's game serves as the Lakers' last before they fly off to China, where they will play a couple of exhibition games against the Warriors. The Kings will be home-bound, playing games against the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Scheduled to be back in the Philippines today, Miss World Megan Young will take part in NBA's pre-season game ceremonial toss between Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets. She will do a press conference upon her arrival and will join the NBA players at the Mall of Asia Arena at 7:30 to open NBA's the pre-season game.

On Thursday, all roads lead to the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, south of Manila, as the Indiana Pacers take on the Houston Rockets in the NBA Global Games.

Recent news out of New York is that the combo of Carmelo Anthony and Andrea Bargnani is off to a good start. That pair will be put to test on Wednesday night when the Knicks face the Boston Celtics in a preseason game.

The San Antonio Spurs - CSKA Moscow matchup is bound to be an exciting one marked by hot shooting and tough defense.

Lebron James is scorching hot, literally!

The Sacramento Kings were known more for off-court drama than for their on-court performance in 2012-13. The biggest stories of the season were the repeated attempts of the Maloof family to move the franchise to other cities, notably Seattle, Anaheim and Virginia Beach. The tension clearly showed as the Kings did not have a single winning month, getting close in December and March with 7-8 records.

Floyd Mayweather has always been seen as a courtside guest to Heat games.

The Golden State Warriors got a taste of what new acquisition Andre Iguodala can bring in his pre-season debut on Monday versus the Sacramento Kings. Iguodala and his new teammates take on the Utah Jazz, which are making their first preseason appearance on Tuesday.

Former NBA forward Vladimir Radmanovic has decided to call it quits. The 12-year NBA pro is retiring from the game of basketball.

In his coaching debut, new Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw won his first preseason game, 97-88, over the Los Angeles Lakers, his former team both as a player and as an assistant coach. On Tuesday, his Nuggets hope to make it back-to-back wins as both teams continue their preparation for the 2013-2014 regular season.

Nike opens contest for kids to design LeBron James' shirt.

Chris Mullin was introduced as a "16th-year senior" who majors in "surfboard aerodynamics" to the cheers of the crowd, who have most likely forgotten his exploits as a Golden State Warrior against the Kings.

It was a meeting of champions.Floyd Mayweather, one of the greatest active boxers today, knocked the socks off the Heat's players when he visited the team's practice facility on Sunday.

The 2013-2014 NBA regular season is a few weeks away, but fans can’t wait to see their favorite teams take the hardwood. On Monday night, it’s Sacramento Kings’ supporters chance to see their squad for the first time this year as the Kings travel to Golden State to take on the Warriors.

The real NBA season has yet to start but already fans are excited for their teams’ respective preseason debuts as this is their first chance to see their favorite players in action for the first time in the new season. The Los Angeles Clippers visit the Portland Trailblazers as part of an 8-game NBA schedule on Monday night.

The Pistons possess a blend of youth and experience that should give them the opportunity to win more than a few games. Scoring at the wings, which used to be in short supply, will be significantly boosted by the addition of Josh Smith, who is clearly the biggest offseason pickup for the team. Brandon Jennings should be a more mature, complete player this time around, and will be a huge factor in the clutch. A playoff spot may not be guaranteed, given that Maurice Cheeks is not the best one avai...

Pau Gasol, a Spanish professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, feels confident and hopeful that Lamar Odom gets to play in the NBA again.

Lamar Odom thinks he can combat his addiction without going to rehab.

This Will Make A Grown Man Cry: Article on Basketball Great Bob Cousy and His Wife Goes Viral

For Greg Oden, everything about Tuesday was like a dream.After being away from basketball for four years, Oden was finally back on the court. And it was not just any court; it was in a conference hall in a hotel in the Bahamas.The Miami Heat opened their training camp with a workout focusing on defense at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Oden participated in half of the training session; it was still a crucial adjustment as he had not played since 2010.