Year of LeBron: The Los Angeles Lakers signed four-time League MVP LeBron James to a four-year $153.3 million deal among adding veterans JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stevenson, and Michael Beasley. Before the season started, James opened the I Promise School in his native land, Akron, Ohio.(Courtesyof the LA Lakers)
Rams Begin Season With 8-0 Record: The L.A. Rams showed they were a contending team during the first half of the season. Highlights were their comeback victory against the Seattle Seahawks, defeating the L.A. Chargers at home and their Thursday Night Football victory over the Minnesota Vikings. (Robert Torrence /LA Sentinel)
Bethany Donaphin Named Head of WNBA Operations: Former WNBA star Bethany Donaphin was named head of league operations. She has also served as an associate vice president of NBA operations and earned her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. The new WNBA head of operations played for the New York Liberty in 2003 and 2004 and also played six seasons in Europe. (Courtesy photo)
Derek Fisher Takes Helm of the L.A. Sparks: Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher became head coach of the L.A. Sparks, after their former coach Brian Agler resigned. Fisher has been a long-time supporter of the Sparks and has a good relationship with WNBA star Candace Parker. Although the Sparks are excited about their new head coach, others believe that the franchise should have hired a female coach or a candidate with more coaching experience. (Amanda Scurlock /LA Sentinel)
Serra Girls Basketball Team Becomes State Champions: Along with a State Title, the Serra girls basketball team finished their season ranked fifth in California and 14th in the nation. Guard Alexis Tucker became a member of the All-CIF Southern Section Open Division Team and head coach Mckinsey Hadley was named the CalHiSports.com 2017-18 California Girls basketball Coach of the Year.(Amanda Scurlock /LA Sentinel)
James Harden Hosts Block Party at Audubon Middle School: NBA All-Star James Harden returned to his alma mater Audubon Middle School to host the “Imma Be a Star” block party. Rappers Rick Ross and Famous Dex performed, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was a special guest. The block party was for the Adidas Legacy Basketball Program. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for adidas)
Naomi Osaka Win U.S. Open:
Tennis icon Serena Williams faced off again upcoming tennis stand out Naomi Osaka in the U.S. Open Final. After a competitive first set, Williams acquired violations from the umpire Carlos Ramos, costing her one game and one set. Osaka ultimately won the game amid those controversial calls.
(Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images)
Crenshaw Football Coach Wins Don Shula Award: Veteran football Coach Robert Garrett was honored by the NFL with the Don Shula Coach of the Year Award. The Chargers nominated Garrett for the award. the NFL gave Garrett $10,000 and the football team $15,000. The award was presented to Garrett at the 2018 Pro Bowl.(Amanda Scurlock /LA Sentinel)
LAFC Home Opener is one for the Ages: Though game was destined for the history books, regardless of what would play out on the field, the game proved to be one worthy of LAFC lore. After a scoreless majority of the game, LAFC won a free kick 35 yards out from goal in the 93rd minute. The club’s Belgian captain (at the time), Laurent Ciman, who had recently scored from a similar spot in their previous match, found a stroke of luck scoring off the free kick completing a storybook ending to a historic night, the likes of which Hollywood screenwriters can only dream of. (Robert Torrence/ LA Sentinel)
Elgin Baylor is Honored With Statue: The L.A. Lakers celebrated the career of legendary player Elgin Baylor. The Lakers franchise was the only team that Baylor had played on from 1958-1971. In 1983, the Lakers retired his no. 22 jersey in the Forum and was named to the basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Black Athletes in PyeongChang Olympics: The 2018 Winter Games featured several Black athletes including Erin Jackson, Shani Davis, and Maame Biney. The Olympics also featured the first ever Nigerian Bobsled team. Lauren Gibbs helped Team USA win silver in the women’s bobsled event. (AP Photo/John Locher)
View Park boys Basketball Wins the State Crown: The View Park boys varsity basketball team won the CIF State Division IV championship. The team became ranked 63 in the state and was the #1 seed in the division I City Section playoffs but was upset by University in the semifinals. They were invited to the State tournament where they defeated Stuart Hall of San Francisco for the state title. (Amanda Scurlock /LA Sentinel)
NBA All Star Weekend in L.A.: Lakers players Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball were selected for the Rising Stars game. The NBA Voices initiative hosted a conversation between NBA All-Stars, Los Angeles Police Department, members of the Brotherhood Crusade and community leaders during that weekend. “Team Steph” selected the Brotherhood Crusade as the organization that the team would play for during All-Star Game. (Courtesy Photo)
