Iverson wants Grizzlies to win

LOS ANGELES -- Allen Iverson sees no reason to apologize for a week of barbed comments when his only concern is helping the Memphis Grizzlies win, preferably from the starting lineup.

Standing before his Staples Center locker with bemused frustration on his face Friday night, Iverson downplayed the various controversies caused by his comments during a tumultuous first week in a Memphis uniform.

Iverson returned from a torn right hamstring on Monday and immediately said he didn't like coming off the bench. He also insists nobody told him the Grizzlies were in rebuilding mode after a 24-58 season.

Coach Lionel Hollins says he has no problem with Iverson's pointed words, and he doesn't intend to have a special chat with the 10-time All-Star.

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CHICAGO: Forward Tyrus Thomas broke his left forearm during a weight training session Friday and will have surgery today. He could miss four to six weeks.

Rookie Taj Gibson is expected to take over as a starter.

CLEVELAND: LeBron James thinks his present is too good to spend time worrying about his future.

James says he has no timetable for deciding what he will do next summer. The NBA's MVP says it will be his first time getting to be an unrestricted free agent, so he's not going to rush any decision.

The All-Star can opt for free agency on July1, but said Friday before playing the Knicks that he isn't concerned with that now because he believes the Cavaliers have a chance to contend for the championship this season.

The Knicks are one of the teams who will have money to make him an offer.

Former Cleveland ace CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were among the Yankees who came on the floor after the first quarter of the Cavaliers-Knicks game.

The team celebrated its title with a parade through Lower Manhattan earlier Friday. Former Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, now a musician who has been nominated for a Latin Grammy, played the national anthem on his guitar, and Reggie Jackson also was in the crowd.

SACRAMENTO: Leading scorer Kevin Martin will be out for about two months after deciding to have surgery on his injured wrist.

The team said Martin will have the operation on his left wrist on Monday. Martin has a non displaced hairline fracture of the navicular bone in his wrist.

Beno Udrih is expected to replace Martin in the starting lineup today in Utah. Observer news services

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