Kobe Bryant will make his return for the Lakers this Sunday in Los Angeles, where they will face the Toronto Raptors.

The Lakers are off to a better-than-expected start this season, putting up a 9-9 record. They’ve shown good team chemistry and have been fun to watch.

It’ll be interesting to see how good Kobe Bryant still is. Coming back from serious injury, it’s safe to assume he’ll have lost some athletic ability. He should look rusty, right? Maybe play limited minutes? That’s the smart assumption. But, this is Kobe we’re talking about. In which case, until there’s evidence to the contrary, the sky is still the limit.

Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution blog on Kyle Korver looking to get his name in the record books:

Much of the talk around Hawks practice this morning revolved around Kyle Korver’s shot at owning the NBA record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer. With a long-range shot against the Cavaliers tonight Korver will own the streak outright at 90. He is currently tied with Dana Barros at 89.

One new item that came out today came from Al Horford. The Hawks center he has heard players from other teams tell Korver that he wouldn’t get a 3-point shot off against them.

“I’ve heard it,” Horford said. “‘You’re not going to get a 3-point shot off tonight.’ I’ve definitely heard it. It gives credit to what he’s been able to do. That is an impressive streak.”

The Hawks are planning an in-game moment of recognition should Korver set the record tonight.

The Sacramento Kings assigned center Hamady Ndiaye (Ah-meh-dee enj-eye) to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, it was announced today by General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

Originally from Senegal, the 7-foot center is averaging 0.2 points (1-6 FG, 0-1 FT), 1.4 rebounds and 5.8 minutes per game in nine appearances this season for the Kings. This will be the fourth D-League team Ndiaye will see action with, having played for the Dakota Wizards (2010-11), Maine Red Claws (2011-12) and Iowa Energy (2011-12).

Ndiaye becomes the second Kings player to be assigned to Reno this season after Ray McCallum played three games with the Bighorns during his stint from November 21-27. He will be available to play for the Bighorns tonight when Reno faces the Santa Cruz Warriors at the Reno Events Center at 7:00 p.m.

Here’s the Milwaukee BizTalk blog (of the Milwaukee Business Journal) on one of Caron Butler’s future aspirations:

Milwaukee Bucks forward and Racine native Caron Butler has ambitious plans to expand his business enterprises and one business he would like to buy is the Bucks.

Butler is serious about his interest in becoming a major investor in his hometown team. His timing could be perfect because just as his NBA career winds down in two to three years, Bucks owner Herb Kohl likely will be ready to sell.

Kohl, the former U.S. senator who has owned the Bucks since 1985, has said repeatedly that he will sell the team only to a buyer who will keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. Butler, 33, grew up a Bucks fan, moved his family to Racine County after the team acquired him in August and would like to see the Bucks succeed in Milwaukee.

Here’s the Philadelphia Daily News on talented 76ers rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams, who so far has been playing like a clear Rookie of the Year:

What if Carter-Williams keeps playing the way he has been for the foreseeable future? Will that land him a berth on the Eastern Conference All-Star team?

It very well could, and he would be the second point guard in 2 years representing the Sixers. MCW is becoming part of the big talk around the league. He opened eyes nationally with his debut against the Miami Heat - 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds - and hasn’t slowed down since. The 11th overall pick posted the first triple-double of his career against the Orlando Magic and second overall pick Victor Oladipo. He is currently leading the league in steals at 3.13 per game and already has garnered trust from his teammates as a leader of the young team.

He has shown an unbelievable nose for the ball, a tremendous ability to get to the basket and challenge bigger and stronger players, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Many are wondering if trading Jrue Holiday in the offseason after his first All-Star appearance was the right move. MCW’s play early in the season is certainly making it seem that way.

Here’s Deadline.com reporting on LeBron James and Kevin Hart teaming up to try to make you laugh:

Kevin Hart is signing on to star with LeBron James in Ballers, the basketball comedy for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. Brian Grazer and Michael Rosenberg are producing.

Hart will first co-write the comedy along with his scripting teammates Joey Wells, Chris Spencer and Harry Ratchford. He’ll then star as a man who lives in the shadow of his NBA superstar brother (James), but gets a chance to prove himself when he and some pals attend a weekend fantasy basketball camp in Miami. Hart is certainly dominant in the stand-up arena, but posting up against this screen sibling could be dangerous. Hart is under 5’3″ while James is a towering 6’8.” That kind of sibling size differential hasn’t been seen since Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in another Universal comedy, Twins. They’ll sign a director when Hart and his cohorts turn in the script. The plan is to start production next summer when James has time off.