Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference in the first returns of All-Star balloting.

The NBA will scrap its new microfiber composite ball and bring back the old leather one beginning Jan. 1.

Rockets star Tracy McGrady is out indefinitely with back spasms and was scratched from Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NY Post report said Iverson went to team president Billy King last Tuesday and made the demand, even though he'd said throughout his career that he'd never do such a thing.

The latest internal strife was evident Sunday when Seattle lost 98-78 to San Antonio and coach Bob Hill strongly criticized his bench after the game, saying Seattle's first unit was getting no help from its reserves.