Truth & Rumors > NBA

06:30 PM ET 05.23 | Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak believes Dwight Howard will take a return to Los Angeles seriously. The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports that Howard is also interested in Dallas, Houston, Golden State and Atlanta as free agency destinations. But he will also consider the Lakers, whose coach, Mike D'Antoni, is rumored to have rubbed Howard the wrong way. Kupchak doesn't see it that way, and he denied that Howard has spoken critically of D'Antoni. He thinks the two can get along. "I have absolute and complete confidence," Kupchak said. "Players don't have to like coaches. They just have to play hard. In L.A., our coaches get evaluated on wins and losses and not whether our players like them or don't like them."

Long Beach Press-Telegram

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06:11 PM ET 05.23 | Kobe Bryant may not have a chance to usurp Michael Jordan for greatest ever, but he's in the running for having the greatest longevity. The Los Angeles Lakers guard was named to the All-NBA First Team on Thursday, the 11th time he's appeared on the first team and the 15th time he's been on the list overall. That ties him with former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone for the record on the first team and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the overall mark. Bryant was joined on the first team by point guard Chris Paul, forward LeBron James, forward Kevin Durant and center Tim Duncan.

NBA.com

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05:58 PM ET 05.23 | On the same day coach Mike Krzyzewski announced he would return to coach Team USA, his assistant, Nate McMillan, said he won't. McMillan is currently searching for a head coaching opportunity that would fit him. The Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks have interviewed McMillan thus far in the process, but he won't look into the Charlotte Bobcats opening, according to Yahoo! Sports. "It was a great experience with Coach K," McMillan said. "Jerry Colangelo did a great job bringing the staff together. They have to continue to build on what they started. It would be good for someone to experience it. I'm grateful for my six and a half years."

Yahoo! Sports

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05:51 PM ET 05.23 | LeBron James would like to let Michael Jordan know that he's listening. During an ESPN Magazine interview, Jordan said James tends to only take jump shots when he's forced left. That, Jordan said in the interview, is how he'd defend the bigger and stronger James. But in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, James blew by Paul George going left and in just more than two seconds had enough time to finish at the rim with his left hand. That gave the Miami Heat the overtime win at the buzzer. Said James of Jordan's comments: "That theory is wrong, I guess."

ESPN

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05:37 PM ET 05.23 | Newly-appointed Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie is wasting little time in ramping up his head-coaching search, and in a big way. Hinkie skipped out on the NBA Draft Lottery festivities with a mission on his hands. The mission was to speak to Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, who is still coaching in the Eastern Conference Finals. Hinkie made a strong move by visiting Indianapolis, according to CSN Philly's Dei Lynam. It's a play that could give the 76ers the upper hand on other teams once Shaw's season with the Pacers is over. And it's similar to the one the Chicago Bulls made when they visited coaching prospect Tom Thibodeau a few years ago when the Boston assistant was still in the midst of a Finals run.

NBC Sports

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