The NBA withdrawals after season can get bad. I’ve been feeling them, and all the trade and free agent talk has gotten me antsy.

Fans have the Summer League to look forward to, which tips off on Friday, July 11 for the Lakers against the Toronto Raptors at 3:00 p.m. They also play on the 13th against the Pelicans and the 14th against the Warriors.

The Summer League championship game is July 21st. Preseason play won’t start until October. But for the basketball enthusiast, there’s another place this summer to see your favorite basketball starts, old and new, in the Los Angeles area.

The ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball and Music Festival (July 22-27th) is in its second year, and already growing in popularity with the basketball community, like participation from former Laker players Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic in the six-man competition. Athletic prowess doesn’t stop there; three-time Gold medalist Kerri Walsh is competing for team USA, along with Brazillian superstar Larissa Franca coming out of retirement to fight for the WSOBV one million in cash prizes.

Close to the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, we’ve watched LA-based NBA stars opt for homes along the CA coast, which has sparked their interest in beach volleyball. For those who have watched the Olympic Games in the past, you may have noticed Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and other NBA players watching Kerri Walsh and team USA dominate when the group didn’t have their own basketball games going on. In fact, the Black Mamba proudly praises the sport. Don’t be surprised if you see him walking around the beach July 22-27th at the WSOBV, as the sport has become a favorite of all Team USA members the last 8 years.

It doesn’t stop at just Kobe. Darren Collison, former Clipper and now Sacramento King, is playing in the celebrity volleyball match this year on July 26th. His former UCLA and Clipper teammate Ryan Hollins attended the WSOBV in 2013 as the Celebrity Coach for the charity game and tweeted photos of himself at the Bronze Medal Title Match. Brent Barry, who began his NBA career with the LA Clippers in the 90’s, competed in the inaugural event’s six-man with NBA vet Richard Jefferson. Former Laker James Worthy also took to the sand last year.

The ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball brings together the world’s best beach volleyball players in a way that’s never been seen in the world of professional sports. The affair is much more than a volleyball tournament; it’s a music festival sponsored by iHeart Radio and a celebration of all things beach. One of the reasons why it draws such an incredible sports crowd.

The coolest part about the WSOBV is anyone can participate either as a spectator, music lover, or even in four man/six man competitions. How often do you and your buddies get a chance to kick back in the sand around a bunch of beautiful people and play a little 6-on-6 against Luke Walton, who sported a Kurt Rambis jersey the entire 2013 weekend, I might add. Once in a lifetime experience, my friends.

As a basketball fan, you have to go to this event. The beach volleyball bug has bit some of our favorite former and current NBA ballers, and in a sport space as grand as this, the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball is the place to be this end of July. This may be a beach volleyball competition, but the week is chalk full of basketball love. Miami Heat DJ Irie is even spinning all weekend long. Between the amateur events, the celebrity participation, and the overall NBA in-the-know, fans of the court will glad they stepped foot into the sand.

Did we mention admission is free? Check out their website for more details and follow them on Twitter or Facebook for a chance to win courtside seats, backstage passes to the concerts, and more.

You can also view a link of last year’s action here:

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Lakers Mitch Kupchak On Coach Search And Free Agency

It has also been reported that Odom still wants to be a member of the Lakers. His chances were slim, but it appears that after this ordeal, they seem impossible. The Lakers expressed interest in the Odom, but look to have moved on signing rookie forward Elias Harris recently.

Antawn Jamison will return to L.A. for another year, except this time, his role will be with the Clippers. Jamison’s deal will be for one year at the veteran’s minimum, $1.4 million. Jamison was good role player off the bench last season for the Lakers, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Make sure to check out Lakers Nation’s latest roundtable, where our writers reflect on their favorite shot of all time from Kobe Bryant. Selections include his game-winners against the Phoenix Suns in 2006 and the Miami Heat in 2009.

Lakers Nation News

Former Laker Antawn Jamison Signs With Clippers

Antawn Jamison Nearing Deal With Los Angeles Clippers

Lakers Nation Roundtable: What Is Your Favorite Kobe Bryant Shot

Lakers Nation Roundtable: What Is Your Favorite Kobe Bryant Shot

Lakers Rumors & News Recap: Lamar Odom Continues To Struggle

Lamar Odom Reportedly Missing For Nearly 72 Hours

Lamar Odom Still ‘Wants To Be A Laker’

Lakers News

Antawn Jamison Agrees to 1-Year Deal with Clippers [Silver Screen and Roll]

Lakers Not Interested in Signing Lamar Odom [Silver Screen and Roll]

Lamar Odom Allegedly Struggling with Drug Abuse, Wants Return to Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]

Laker Fans Have High Hopes but Lowered Expectations [Los Angeles Times]

35 Things You Didn’t Know About Kobe Bryant [Complex]

Nick Young Shows Off His Shoe Collection [Inside the Lakers]

Lamar Odom Reportedly Has a Serious Drug Problem [SLAM ONLINE]

Rookie Elias Harris Working Diligently with Lakers’ Coaching Staff [latimes.com]

Surprising Name Who Will Make a Big Impact for LA Lakers in 2013-14 [Bleacher Report]

Matt Barnes Tells Lakers Fans to Stop Living in the Past [ProBasketballTalk]

Jim Buss Open To Bringing Back Phil Jackson In Official Consulting Role [Real GM]

Kobe Bryant Rehabs by Dominating at Pop-a-Shot [For the Win]

Video Highlight Shows Kobe Bryant’s Career Unfold in Slow Motion [Inside the Lakers]

Looking at 10 of the Mamba’s Best Plays [LA Times]

Dwight Howard Wanted D’Antoni Fired, Kobe Amnestied if He Was to Remain with Lakers [ProBasketballTalk]

Every NBA Team’s Biggest Flaw [Bleacher Report]

Jordan Hill Believes the Lakers Could be Third Best Team in the Western Conference [Inside the Lakers]

Do the Los Angeles Lakers Have the Best Fans in the NBA? Yes, but It’s Complicated [Yahoo Sports]

Elias Harris’ Continual Improvement Great Sign for L.A. Bench [LA Times]

NBA News

Philadelphia Acquires G Tony Wroten from Memphis [Yahoo! Sports]

Jared Sullinger on Rajon Rondo’s Return: ‘Hopefully he’ll be back by December’ [ProBasketballTalk]

NBA Rookie Victor Oladipo Strips Kevin Durant and Dunks at the Goodman League [Bleacher Report]

Warriors Sign Seth Curry, Reuniting Brothers [NBA.com]

Former New York Knick Dean Meminger Dead at 65  [SLAM ONLINE]

Mike Miller, Heat Players Caught Up in Alleged Real Estate Scam [ProBasketballTalk]

Tracy McGrady Retires from NBA at Age 34 [USA Today]

Nicolas Batum says LaMarcus Aldridge Doesn’t Want a Trade [CBSSports.com]

Paul Pierce Has Owned the Knicks for 15 Years [For the Win]

Finally Stabilized, Kings Look to Start Piling Up Wins [NBA.com]

Dwyane Wade Says He Removed Himself from Heat’s Free-Agent Recruitment this Offseason [ProBasketballTalk]

LeBron On The Run, Too! [Hang Time Blog]

Pacers’ Hall of Fame Streak Continues [NBA.com]

Kevin Durant, Victor Oladipo Shine at Goodman League [ProBasketballTalk]

Nuggets’ Ty Lawson Has Hearing Delayed Until September [CBSSports.com]

During the “Kobe Up Close” special, Kobe Bryant said that Tracy McGrady, with his size and athleticism, was the guy who gave him the most problems. Bryant and McGrady were easily the two best wings in the NBA during the early 2000s. McGrady got caught this morning by TMZ at the airport and acknowledged Kobe’s compliment. Check out the video to see who he thought was the best player he ever played against.

LeBron James named his top three basketball players of all time, which are Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Julius Erving. Magic Johnson was not included.  However, when LeBron was prompted to list a fourth player, Johnson was #4. Unfortunately that wasn’t enough for the former Lakers player, and he took to Twitter to express his feelings.

“NBA Championship rings are all that matter; Jordan 6, Me 5, Bird 3, LeBron 2 and Dr. J 1.”

Yikes. Johnson is bit offended that he wasn’t included in James’ top three players of all time, and rightfully so. If you consider how great and accomplished Magic was during his career with the Lakers, he deserves a spot in the top three.

Today is Throwback Thursday, and LN is bringing you the first time Kobe hit a game-winning shot! Bryant has had a number of these over the time, but there is just something about number one. The clip is from the 2000 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. This shot gave the Lakers a 2-0 series lead as they would eventually win the series 4-1 on their way to the first championship of the Kobe-Shaq era and also marked Kobe’s first game-winning jumper of his career. Check it out here.

Lakers Nation News

Lakers Show Off New Hollywood Nights Uniforms Via Instagram

Magic Johnson Responds To LeBron James Ranking His Top 3 Players

Being More Receptive To Change And Giving Short Sleeves A Shot

Throwback Thursday: Remembering Kobe Bryant’s First Game-Winning Shot

Tracy McGrady Says Kobe Bryant Is Toughest He’s Had To Guard

Chris Paul Elected NBPA President, Steve Blake Joins Executive Committee

Lakers News

How Nick Young Fits in the Lakers’ Offense [Silver Screen and Roll]

What if Steve Nash Never Broke His Leg [Silver Screen and Roll]

Lakers Reveal New Black Jerseys [Silver Screen and Roll]

Lakers Guard Jodie Meeks Turns 26 Years Old [Lakers Now]

Magic Johnson Fires Back at LeBron for Not Having Him in Top Three [ProBasketballTalk]

The Forum: Lakers’ Front Office [ESPN]

The Gift & the Curse of Improved Depth on the Perimeter [Forum Blue and Gold]

Watch Ronny Turiaf One-Up Kobe Bryant by Jumping Over a ‘truck’ [LA Times]

Kobe Bryant’s “True Genius” Video Captures Unyielding Drive [Inside the Lakers]

Jordan Hill Says Improved Outside Shooting Won’t Change the Rest of His Game [ProBasketballTalk]

Can Lakers Generate Enough Offense? [ESPN]

Kobe Bryant Takes in the Drew League Championship Game [Lakers Now]

Blogtable: Kobe’s Comeback [NBA.com]

TMZ Incorrectly Reports that Tracy McGrady Thinks Kobe Bryant Was Tougher to Guard than Chicago-era Michael Jordan [Ball Don’t Lie]

Steve Blake Named to NBPA Executive Committee as a Vice President [LA Times]

Corner Three Time? [BasketBlog]

Kobe Bryant Impressed by Frank Robinson at Drew League Championship [ProBasketballTalk]

Lakers to Wear Short Sleeves [ESPN]

NBA News

Allen Iverson Set to Retire from NBA [ESPN]

2013 Offseason Report: Toronto Raptors [Eye on Basketball]

The NBA, A-through-Z: Sacramento Kings [Ball Don’t Lie]

Pistons Agree to Partially-Guaranteed Deal with Josh Harrellson [ProBasketballTalk]

Brewer Returns to Minnesota a ‘Different Player’ [Yahoo! Sports]

Officer Who Escorted LeBron James Faces Discipline [USA Today]

Gary Payton Says He’s to Blame for Iverson’s Practice Rant [CBS Sports]

Derek Fisher’s Team Falls at Ball Up Streetball Classic Tour [Lakers Now]

Caron Butler Says Nobody From Clippers Called to Tell Him He Was Traded [ProBasketballTalk]

Chris Paul of Los Angeles Clippers Named NBPA President [ESPN]

How Does a 7-Footer Fit in an Airplane Bathroom? [For The Win]

Grizzlies Trade 2012 First-Round Pick Tony Wroten to 76ers [Yahoo Sports]

Ex-Celtic Walter McCarty Joins Brad Stevens’ Staff as an Assistant Coach [ProBasketballTalk]

Phoenix Suns Refuse to Address Michael Beasley Saga [USA Today]

The Definitive Guide to NBA Team Names [Grantland]

LeBron Dressed Up as a 1970s Basketball Player [ProBasketballTalk]

The 10-Man Rotation, Starring Allen Iverson [Ball Don’t Lie]

NBA Player Corey Brewer Owns a Goat [For the Win]

Tim Duncan Granted Divorce at ‘secret hearing’ [CBS Sports]

DeAndre Jordan Remains Key to Clippers Season [ProBasketballTalk]

Larry Sanders Wins One for the Geeks [TrueHoop Blog]

If Bryant is able to return at 80 percent of his level last year with this intense of an injury, that will be an amazing accomplishment. With Kobe set to have his Achilles evaluated again in a few weeks, fans will get a better idea of whether or not Bryant really will be ready for opening night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Bryant will be in Dubai on September 27 and 28 for what is being called the “Bryant Health & Fitness Weekend” to raise awareness for diabetes. Kobe Bryant already made his annual overseas trip to Asia, making appearances in both China and the Philippines earlier this summer. This time around, Bryant will show up and participate in various activities, including a celebrity all-star game. The game will be played against Real Madrid, one of Europe’s best basketball teams.

The Lakers will wear short-sleeve jerseys next season for several games (up to 12), instead of just the single matchup previously rumored for Christmas Day. The Lakers were one of the Summer League teams to wear the sleeved jerseys provided by Adidas. According to sources, these particular uniforms will be white.

This news seems rather interesting considering the Lakers claimed the number two spot, behind their arch-rival the Boston Celtics, for the best jersey design in the NBA. The Lakers moved up one spot from their position last year, while the Celtics were at the top of the list for yet another season. Rounding out the top five on ESPN’s list are the San Antonio Spurs (3), Utah Jazz (4), and the Golden State Warriors (5).

On Aug. 25 at 4 p.m., the World Poker Tour Foundation will hold the Frank Mariani & Jerry Buss No-Limit Hold ‘em Poker Tournament at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens. Fans may not know Jerry Buss was an avid poker player. Twenty-five percent of the tournament’s prize pool donated to the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation.

Lakers Nation News

Los Angeles Lakers To Wear Sleeved Alternate Uniforms This Season

Lakers News: Lakers’ Jersey Named Second Best In NBA By ESPN

Kobe Bryant To Participate In Celebrity All-Star Game In Dubai

Lakers News: Dr. Klapper Believes Kobe Will Be Ready For Opener

Top 10 Lakers Nation Facebook Comments Of The Week

Lakers News: Dr. Jerry Buss To Be Honored By World Poker Tour

Lakers News

Lakers to Add Alternate Sleeved Jerseys, according to report [SB Nation]

Meeks Seeks to Emerge From Forgotten Man Status [Lakers Index]

Kobe Bryant Has Progressed to Running on Weight-Bearing Treadmill [latimes.com]

D’Antoni Drinking From Kobe’s Full Cup [Hang Time Blog]

Grantland: Kobe & Kimmel [ESPN Los Angeles]

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant Doesn’t Know if He’ll Play Opening Night [latimes.com]

Paul Pierce Wants to Outlast Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Others [SLAM ONLINE]

You Can Buy Kobe Bryant’s House, Complete with Shark Tank [For the Win]

Los Angeles Lakers: Is Dwight Howard the Most Despised Player in Team History? [Yahoo Sports]

Meeks Seeks to Emerge From Forgotten Man Status [Los Angeles Lakers Blog]

Lakers Limited by Luxury Taxes [latimes.com]

NBA News

Knicks Season-Ticket Renewal Rate Exceeds 97 Percent [ProBasketballTalk]

Transition Game [SB Nation Exclusive]

Anthony Tolliver Signs with Charlotte Bobcats [ESPN]

Paul Pierce Confident in Rajon Rondo Leading the Boston Celtics [SLAM ONLINE]

Eight NBA Teams are Considering Utilizing a Beeper-Sized Device, Worn by Players, to Track Movement [Ball Don’t Lie]

LeBron James is Almost Fully Bald [For the Win]

Ty Lawson‘s Pregnant Girlfriend Says Call Led to Fight [USA Today]

Jeff Green Can Still Throw Down Dunks (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]

The 30 Best Players Born Outside Of The States In NBA History [Dime Magazine]

Meet the “Three-Headed Monster” [Nets Daily]

Raymond Felton Fires Back at Paul Pierce, says Brooklyn Nets Will ‘never take over the city’ from New York Knicks [ESPN New York]

Dwight Howard Willing to Be a Power Forward Next to Omer Asik [SLAM ONLINE]

Nate Robinson Turns an Airport Into His Private Gym [For the Win]

Ty Lawson Charged with Criminal Mischief and Harassment After Dispute with Girlfriend [SB Nation]

Mavs’ Carlisle Rolls With Plan B, Revolving Roster [Hang Time Blog]

Summer League Top 10 Dunks [NBA.com]

Summer League Top 10 Performances [NBA.com]

Ty Lawson of Denver Nuggets Free on Bond After Arrest [ESPN]

Andre Drummond Learns Never to Play H-O-R-S-E with Rasheed Wallace [ProBasketballTalk]

New Additions, Familiar Names Hoping to Connect Dots for ‘Cats [NBA.com]

Chris Hansen’s Attempted Sacramento Kings Arena Sabotage is Inexcusable and Self-Destructive [SB Nation]

The 10 Best Starting Lineup Introductions In NBA History [Dime Magazine]

Imagine an NBA Game with No Free Throws [ESPN]

According to Dr. Robert Klapper, it appears that Kobe’s rehabilitation is way ahead of schedule largely due to the fact that he had his surgery the day after the tear.  Kobe will be re-examined in a few weeks, at which time an updated timetable for his return will be set.

Last Thursday’s “Kobe Up Close” brought in a lot of attention, and now the full interview is available. Kobe makes the most of his fame, and this event was a great example. Ticket proceeds benefited Kobe and his wife, Vanessa Bryant’s, charity foundation, KVBFF, and Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular in part to eradicate homelessness throughout the Los Angeles community.

The LN team has brought you the Top 5 Lakers Moments of the 2000s Decade to remind you why the purple and gold is such a force in the NBA. Check out the moments here and add what we missed that you would have liked to seen in the comments.

Lakers Nation News

Lakers News: Kobe Bryant’s Achilles To Be Evaluated In A Few Weeks

Lakers Lookback: Top 5 Lakers Moments Of The 2000s Decade

Stephon Marbury Believes Kobe, Not LeBron, Is NBA’s Best

Kobe Bryant Posts Instagram Video Of Him Running On Treadmill

Lakers Rumors And News Recap: Mike D’Antoni Remains Optimistic

Mike D’Antoni Expects Improved Chemistry Next Season

Pau Gasol And Steve Nash Could See A Reduction In Minutes This Year

VIDEO: Watch The Full Interview From ‘Kobe Up Close’

Lakers News

Jim Buss, Dwight Howard and Moving On [Silver Screen and Roll]

Lakers Met with Free Agent Lou Amundson [Silver Screen and Roll]

Steve Nash Makes Cameo in Jeremy Lin’s YouTube Video Parody [Inside the Lakers]

Why Kobe Bryant’s Path to Title No. 6 Has Never Been a Longer Road [Bleacher Report]

Bill Bertka’s Proudest Lakers Moment Led to 33-Game Winning Streak [LA Times]

Phil Jackson Reiterates He Has No Intention of Coaching [ProBasketballTalk]

Robert Horry Recalls Confrontation with Kobe Bryant [Lakers Now]

Lou Amundson Meets With Clippers, Lakers [The Real GM]

Will Lakers Make Playoffs Next Season? (Poll questions) [Inside the Lakers]

Kobe Bryant vs. Larry Bird: 5 Days of Black Mamba Birthday Comparisons [Bleacher Report]

More on Jim Buss, Jeanie Buss, and the Present/Future of the Lakers [Land O’Lakers]

Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni Tunes Out the Static [LA Times]

Kobe Bryant has Progressed to Running on Weight-Bearing Treadmill [Lakers Now]

Nick Young on Lakers’ 12th-Place Ranking in West: “It’s disrespectful” [Inside the Lakers]

Shannon Brown Fails, Falls in Overseas Dunk Contest (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]

Ideal Targets to Pair with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol for Lakers in 2014 Offseason [Bleacher Report]

A Lakers Fan’s Charity Results in a Meet and Greet with Kobe Bryant [Lakers Now]

L.A. Lakers Drama: Owners Jeanie and Jim Buss on Power-Sharing, Phil Jackson and Filling Dad’s Shoes [The Hollywood Reporter]

World Poker Tour to Hold Tournament in Honor of Jerry Buss [LA Times]

Jim and Jeanie Buss’ relationship, Phil Jackson, Third Arms, Coen Brothers Superheroes [Land O’Lakers]

Fans Win a Night Out with Kobe Bryant, for Charity [For the Win]

Spotlighting and Breaking Down LA Lakers’ Center Position [Bleacher Report]

NBA News

Chris Hansen Hurt More Than Himself [NBA.com]

J.R. Smith is Basically Driving a Tank Around Manhattan [ProBasketballTalk]

Ranking NBA Teams by Young Talent [Bleacher Report]

SB Nation’s Top 100 NBA Players of 2017 [SB Nation]

LeBron’s Police Escort to Concert Reportedly Under Investigation [ProBasketballTalk]

Why Chris Paul Is Under More Pressure Than Blake Griffin Next Season [LA Times]

Failed Drug Tests Aren’t Only Teeth In NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program [Hang Time Blog]

Bobcats Assistant Bob Beyer Charged After Altercation [USA Today]

Looking At The Top Free Agents of 2014 [Hang Time Blog]

Future of the Wolves Isn’t Just Search for Playoffs but Health Too [Eye On Basketball]

Horrifying Details of Dan Roundfield’s Drowning Come to Light [ProBasketballTalk]

Summer Dreaming: Most Valuable Player [NBA.com]

James Harden’s Extraordinary Shapeshifting Beard Through the Years [For the Win]

Teams Advancing Fast At The Intersection Of Science And Technology [NBA.com]

The Future of Injuries in the NBA [Hardwood Paroxysm]

Blog Archive Video: Watch Chris Paul School Top HS and Colllege Guards [Dime Magazine]

Daryl Morey Defends Jeremy Lin in Reddit AMA [ProBasketballTalk]

Chris Hansen Gave $100,000 to Group Opposing New Sacramento Kings Arena [ESPN]

Dwight Howard Willing to Change Positions for Rockets [USA Today]

Blog Archive Kevin Durant James Harden Coach Nike’s “Summer Is Serious” Game [Dime Magazine]

Pistons’ Andre Drummond: ‘I’m not shooting free throws underhand [CBSSports.com]

Former Celtic James Posey Reportedly a Candidate to Join Brad Stevens’ Coaching Staff [ProBasketballTalk]