After rumors were circling since December of a possible return, league sources have confirmed that former NBA point guard Darren Collison will not return this season.

The 32-year-old’s retirement announcement came out of nowhere last June and analysts were convinced Collison was going to return in February. The 10-year veteran has always been a productive point guard with career averages of 12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The last two seasons he’s steadily improved his three point percentage shooting 43% and last year he started 76 games and also averaged a career-high six assists.

Collison joined The Undefeated for an interview with ESPN’s Marc Spears last June to discuss his reasons for retiring. “While I still love basketball, I know there is something more important, which is my family and my faith. I am one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and my faith means everything to me. I receive so much joy from volunteering to help others and participate in a worldwide ministry. The joy I feel is unmatched,” Collison said.

The Lakers were the leading candidates to acquire him but league sources say they will work on signing former Heat guard Dion Waiters. He was previously represented by Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka and Los Angeles is hoping their past relationship will help lure Waiters away from the Clippers who will also be targeting him.

Waiters was traded to the Grizzlies last Thursday in the deal that brought Andre Iguodala to Miami after the veteran sat out the first half of the season, but Waiters has since been waived meaning he is free to sign with any team he chooses.

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The 28-year-old is a streak shooter with career averages of 13.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. This season has been a roller coaster ride for Waiters who was suspended three times including punishment for a situation where he took a Marijuana edible on the team plane which caused him to pass out. He will have to have a serious conversation with Lakers’ management similar to the process the team had with Dwight Howard prior to signing him in the offseason, in order to determine if he will be a distraction or a asset, according to ESPN.

Former NBA point guard Darren Collison was in attendance for the Lakers’ 121-111 loss against the Rockets’ Thursday night adding to the speculation that Los Angeles is attempting to sign him before another contender does. In the third quarter, the former Pacers’ player was shown on the big screen sitting near Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss.

“I’m just here to watch the game,” Collison told USA Today as he was leaving Staples Center. The Lakers’ were reportedly active prior to the NBA Trade deadline on Thursday and analysts thought third-year player Kyle Kuzma would be moved, but the Lakers were unable to make a deal. Now they look to add someone who is an experienced veteran to provide depth for the bench.

The 32-year-old’s retirement announcement came out of nowhere last June. The 10-year veteran has always been a productive point guard with career averages of 12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The last two seasons he’s steadily improved his three point percentage shooting 43%. Last year he started 76 games and also averaged a career-high six assists.

Collison joined The Undefeated for an interview with ESPN’s Marc Spears last June to discuss his reasons for retiring. “While I still love basketball, I know there is something more important, which is my family and my faith. I am one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and my faith means everything to me. I receive so much joy from volunteering to help others and participate in a worldwide ministry. The joy I feel is unmatched,” Collison said.

When asked if Collison would be a good fit after Thursday’s loss, LeBron James responded, “I don’t know. I don’t like talking fantasy basketball. I’m never one to talk fantasy basketball. We’ll see what happens. But I don’t really have too much to comment on that one.”

Los Angeles has 15 players on their roster and would have to waive someone to make room for Collison but there’s no question they could use him. ESPN NBA analyst Matt Barnes told the network it’s a “50-50” chance the Lakers sign him.

Former Pacer point guard and NBA veteran Darren Collison is considering signing with a team in February after announcing his retirement before free agency last season. Not surprisingly the Lakers and the Clippers are the two favorites to land the former UCLA star, league sources told ESPN.

Collison is only 32 and his retirement announcement came out of nowhere last June. The 10-year veteran has always been a productive point guard with career averages of 12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The last two seasons he’s steadily improved his three point percentage shooting 43%. Last year he started 76 games and also averaged a career-high six assists.

Collison joined The Undefeated for an interview with ESPN’s Marc Spears last June to discuss his reasons for retiring. “While I still love basketball, I know there is something more important, which is my family and my faith. I am one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and my faith means everything to me. I receive so much joy from volunteering to help others and participate in a worldwide ministry. The joy I feel is unmatched.” Collison said.

Other contenders have kept in touch with Collison’s agent, Bill Duffy of BDA Sports, and friends of Collison, according to league sources. It is still unclear if the former Pacer will join a team before the NBA’s trade deadline. The Lakers and Clippers are still trying to put together trade proposals for Grizzlies’ swingman and former NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala. He hasn’t dressed once this season, and Memphis would prefer to get something for him in return instead of buying out his contract.

Another team that could use Collison is the Utah Jazz. Mike Conley was their big acquisition this offseason, but the former Grizzly is off to a rocky start averaging just over 13 points a game and shooting a career low 36% from the field. Conley is dealing with an injured hamstring and only played in three games for the Jazz in December. They could also use another bench player to handle the ball and run the offense to take some pressure off Donovan Mitchell.

Both LA-based teams could use his scoring and ball-handling abilities, but the Lakers need him more. Besides Rajon Rondo the back up point guard position could use more production. Alex Caruso is out with a calf injury and Quinn Cook is shooting a career low 31% from three point range and doesn’t provide much else on offense. Collison could give them more depth and is a much more consistent player than the latter.

However, he did spend one season with the Clippers in 2013-14 as a back up to Chris Paul, so maybe his familiarity with coach Doc Rivers will give them the upper hand in the bidding war. We’ll have to wait and see.

The star point guard of the Sacramento Kings, along with many other athletes in the last two years, cannot seem to get the point.

STOP PUTTING YOUR HANDS ON FEMALES. It is really that simple.

Darren Collison was booked on charges of “inflicting corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant and two misdemeanor bench warrants” for driving with a suspended license, CBS Sacramento reported Tuesday.

The incident has the former UCLA Bruin staring dead in the eyes of legitimate time behind bars, as the charge is listed as a felony, according to the California penal code, meaning the Kings’ point-man is facing two to four years in prison if convicted.

The 28-year-old Collison had a strong season in Sac-town in his second year with the team, averaging 14 points and 4.3 assists per game, but he may never set foot on the floor again if the charges are even remotely plausible.

Look, I understand people get heated. And some cohabitants, spouses, companions, happen to enjoy getting under their other half’s skin. Giving in to the anger and getting physical is easy. It is the coward’s move. What makes a man is the ability to keep your cool, not your ability to put your hands on someone who would be no match for you.

Sometimes I still like to dunk on my niece’s and nephew’s Little Tikes’ hoop. You know, the one that has the blue base, orange rim and white backboard. And in order for it to stay upright you need to fill it with water or sand.

Now picture a grown man well into his twenties cocking back and hammering one home on top of the head of a six-year-old girl. You really need to be a depraved individual to get pleasure out of something like that.

What would we call that guy?

A loser. An animal, a jerk.

Putting your hands on a woman or child is much worse that Tony throwing alley-oops off the bedroom wall to reign terror down on little Timmy, but our society has allowed too many communities to permit such behavior.

So for all the tough guys out there who like to use their hands on women and children, LEARN THE LESSON ALREADY. Because if you don’t, you’ll end up like that loser who ruined Christmas when he broke Timmy’s backboard.