National Basketball Association

So much for reality programming. . . . People used to say televised sports were the original reality shows, but real life is s-o-o-o unreliable. Thus we have last week's NBA All-Star game with its heartwarming story lines: Nate Robinson playing "Krypto-Nate" to Dwight Howard's Superman in the dunk contest; Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal falling into each other's arms -- well, metaphorically -- as co-MVPs of the game.

What started as a small gift from a pair of agents to their well-known client has taken off in an unexpected direction. The yellow "X" cap that Lakers Coach Phil Jackson donned a few minutes after the Lakers won the NBA championship on Sunday in Orlando, Fla., spawned a deluge of phone calls to the office of Jackson's father-and-son agent team of Todd and Brian Musburger.

The last line of questioning may have been the toughest for Elgin Baylor during his news conference Thursday morning at his attorney's office in Beverly Hills. What have you been doing since October, Elgin? Have you been watching Clippers games? Do you cheer for the team? Is it tough to cheer for the team? Baylor, 74, the NBA Hall of Famer and former Clippers executive, didn't answer and appeared more emotional than at any time during the session.

This was supposed to be the appetizer for the highly awaited main course of NBA free agency next summer. But if it wasn't already obvious to interested parties, it became painfully clear on Thursday that the eventful last nine days around the league have expanded well beyond a mere first course. And if you want to keep the food analogy going -- and no, this has absolutely nothing to do with Shaquille O'Neal's draft-day trade to Cleveland -- just look at the latest bloated deal.

NBA Commissioner David Stern and NBA Players Assn. head Billy Hunter disclosed Saturday that in light of the nation's economic plight, they're in talks that could reopen the current bargaining agreement. "I can't tell you that we are close to reaching a deal, but we have been talking," said Hunter, appearing at Stern's All-Star news conference. " . . . We all understand that we live and benefit from the success of the NBA. The last thing we want to do is see it lose its vitality.

The NBA on Thursday detailed plans to dramatically expand its digital business deal with Turner Broadcasting System by turning over operation of its league website, a 24/7 digital television channel and a cable and satellite television package that lets avid fans watch out-of-town games. NBA Commissioner David Stern's decision to partner with a media company on digital rights runs counter to the go-it-alone strategies adopted by the NFL and MLB.

BOISE, Idaho -- Spacing is a concern now, possibly more so than it is on the court. There is no charter flight for the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers' Development League team. Abdoulaye N'Diaye and Jelani McCoy, both nearly seven feet tall, stake out a couple added inches of space by claiming front-row seats on the flight headed here for a two-game trip. Their teammates scatter throughout the plane, most nodding to sleep as the sun seeps through the windows with no blinders.

NEW ORLEANS -- Nothing is guaranteed, not even local star Chris Paul winning the MVP award that would have been the bow on the ribbon of the gift wrap of this weekend. Paul thrust himself into contention, scoring 16 points with 14 assists as the West came from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to take the lead . . . before the East came back to win, 134-128 Sunday night.

When it comes to professional basketball, why has Hollywood shot an air ball? Showtime in the NBA has brought the league tremendous prosperity and global popularity but the two together have combined for no cinematic all-stars. It has been like pairing up Tony Parker with Tony Soprano or King (LeBron) James with Queen Latifah for a fastbreak. However you cut it, the royalty of the sport, the National Basketball Assn., is lacking a crowning achievement on the silver screen.

Darren Collison paid attention to how two former UCLA teammates handled season-long speculation about whether they planned to leave the Bruins early for the NBA. Jordan Farmar, who turned pro after his sophomore season, Collison's rookie year, and Arron Afflalo, who left early last year, always answered the NBA question by saying something such as, "I'm not thinking about it."