Former Laker pleads no contest to two misdemeanor charges
Matt Barnes
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes pleaded no contest today to misdemeanor unlicensed driver and resisting arrest charges.
The 32-year-old basketball player—who has signed with the Clippers—was immediately sentenced to two years probation, ordered to complete 30 hours of community service and attend anger management classes for three months, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Barnes was arrested July 30 after a run-in with a Manhattan Beach police officer who was aware that he had an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor traffic offense, authorities said.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A statue of former Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, will be unveiled today outside Staples Center.
Abdul-Jabbar’s teammates with the 1980s “Showtime” Lakers Earvin “Magic” Johnson and James Worthy; the team’s coach, Pat Riley; former Laker player, coach and general manager Jerry West; and team executive Jeanie Buss are scheduled to join Abdul-Jabbar in speaking at the ceremony, which is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown will likely be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA franchise confirmed today.
"In response to rampant speculation and reports about our head coaching position and Mike Brown, we've met with Mike and are very impressed with him,'' according to a statement issued by the Lakers. "In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days.''
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets Saturday night in their first game at Staples Center since winning their second consecutive NBA championship in June.
The exhibition game will mark the Staples Center debuts of three players the team signed as free agents during the off-season—forward Matt Barnes, guard Steve Blake and center Theo Ratliff—and their two second-round draft choices, forwards Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks.
VAN NUYS, Calif.—Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley was scheduled to be arraigned later this month on 13 misdemeanor charges for allegedly attacking his estranged wife on five occasions between 2011 and 2012.
Bradley, 34, was charged Thursday by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office with four counts each of spousal battery and criminal threats, two counts each of assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism and one count of dissuading a witness.
His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 24 at the Van Nuys Courthouse.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Mike D’Antoni to succeed Mike Brown as coach of the team.
D’Antoni, who coached the New York Knicks for the last four seasons and the Phoenix Suns for five seasons before that, agreed to a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth season. The Los Angeles Times put the value of the deal at $12 million.
