Rumors

Former New York Knicks basketball players J.R. Smith and Al Harrington made a surprise appearance in Albany on Tuesday to push for pot to be legalized before the plan goes up in smoke at the end of the legislative session. The New Jersey-born hoops stars were invited by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D-Buffalo), who is the sponsor of the recreational marijuana legislation, with the suspected tokers lending star power to the dying legislation. Harrington told The Post that he and Smith had “expertise” in both medical and recreational marijuana and were pushing for black communities to be included in the proposed legislation.

New York Post

Ian Begley: Knicks center Enes Kanter got a standing ovation at the New York Senate in Albany. He was recognized by lawmakers for his work on and off the court.

Twitter

Stefan Bondy: Pretty cool Enes Kanter a guest of the New York State Senate in Albany for Turkish Cultural Day

Twitter

The 76ers announced Thursday that they will play a preseason game vs. the Nets on October 10 in Albany, NY, at the Times Union Center. The full preseason schedule won't be announced until the end of July. The preseason usually begins a week after camp opens, meaning the Philly game would be likely be the second game of a six or eight game schedule. Tickets as low as $22 are available this Saturday, May 30th at the Times Union Center box office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, select Walmart music centers or online at timesunion.com. For more information, please visit timesunioncenter-albany.com.

NetsDaily

"There will always be great players in basketball," Magic Johnson told a crowd in Albany, New York. "There's always going to be guys who win championships in the NBA. Except LeBron. Don't be mad." Burn. I guess at least he didn't make fun of his hairline.

CBSSports.com

Long before coaching the Kings (2006-07) and the Golden State Warriors (2002-04) – before his NBA crash, so to speak – he polished his bona fides in Albany, N.Y., and Rapid City, S.D., and before that, while tagging along on his late father's rollicking minor league escapades. This is what he knows, and right now, what he needs. Another job. A fighting chance. "I've been like a musician these last three years touring with a rock band," Musselman said Thursday after being introduced as coach of the Reno Bighorns, the NBA Development League franchise affiliated with the Kings and Warriors. "I've been everywhere, running clinics, observing practices, coaching in the Dominican Republic. But that's not what I want to do. I missed this so much."

Sacramento Bee