The father of NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant is named as the new coach of Italian outfit Sebastiani Rieti.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol has confirmed he will join up with the Spain squad for the 2009 European Championship (Eurobasket) in September. World champions Spain were runners-up to Russia in the last Eurobasket final in Madrid two years ago.
Free agent Trevor Ariza is poised to leave the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and join the Houston Rockets, while Ron Artest is expected to head in the other direction, according to local media reports.