NEW YORK -- Gary Payton II is following in his father's footsteps when it comes to elite defense.Payton II was announced Friday as the G League's Defensive Player of the Year -- a trophy that comes 26 years after his father, Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton, won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.Payton II played for Toronto-affiliated…

ATLANTA -- Fourteen Atlanta Hawks players received their first vaccinations for COVID-19 following Thursday night's win over Oklahoma City.The team said in a statement after the game that 36 individuals with the basketball operations staff, including 14 players, took their first dose after meeting the state's eligibility requirements.Three players were not vaccinated because they didn't meet Georgia standards to qualify."Increasing…

LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James has been awarded the NBA's MVP award four times in his career, tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the third most all time, but one of his teammates, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, says James should have double that. At least."The NBA MVP is a very political award," Kuzma said after the Lakers' 116-105 win…

PHOENIX -- Rookie Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 42 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 41 and the Minnesota Timberwolves suddenly look like a respectable NBA basketball team.The Timberwolves used the dominant Edwards-KAT combo and a fourth-quarter comeback to stun the Phoenix Suns 123-119 on Thursday night. They've won three of five games since the All-Star break.At 19 years and 225 days…