NEW YORK — The NBA will begin selling jersey sponsorships in 2017-18, becoming the first major North American sport to put partners’ logos on players’ uniforms.

The three-year trial was approved Friday by NBA owners and will take effect when the league’s contract with Nike begins. The patches will appear on the front left of the jersey, opposite Nike’s logo, and measure about 21/2 by 21/2 inches.

Commissioner Adam Silver had said this step was inevitable as an additional revenue generator. WNBA teams have logos and NBA clubs were wearing them on practice jerseys.

The sponsor patch won’t appear in retail versions of the jerseys, but clubs can sell jerseys with sponsor patches in their team stores.

FOR LEBRON JAMES and the Cleveland Cavaliers, there’s only suitable outcome: They have to win it all.

But when the Cavs open the playoffs Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, James is in an unfamiliar role: underdog. He’s not supposed to win it this year, which could even make him more dangerous.

More than anyone, he understands his window of opportunity to win another title is closing. James is on the down slope of his career and knows Father Time is the only one who doesn’t get posterized at the rim. The 31-year-old James, too, sees a juggernaut growing in Golden State and would like nothing more than to slow it down.

If his play over the past few weeks is any indication, and as long as he gets some help from Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and others, James could add a fourth title to his resume.

After declaring he had shifted into “playoff mode” earlier than usual, James averaged 28.4 points on 63 percent shooting in his last 10 games.

NBA COMMISSIONER Adam Silver said a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people remains “problematic” for the league, but he said there is no decision on moving next year’s All-Star Game out of Charlotte.

Owners have discussed the law and Silver said the league wants to be involved in helping protect those the law discriminates against. He believes that is better done with dialogue than by making threats.

COACH BYRON SCOTT expects to be a part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ life after Kobe Bryant.

Scott anticipates returning to the Lakers next season despite presiding over the two worst years in the history of the 16-time NBA champion franchise.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak made no guarantees but praised Scott’s work.

MIKE CONLEY IS just one of several Grizzlies nursing injuries as Memphis prepares for its first-round series against San Antonio that begins Sunday. The seventh-seeded Grizzlies bear little resemblance to the team that was considered a contender.

Instead, with injuries to point guard Mike Conley and leading scorer Marc Gasol, seventh-seeded Memphis is limping into the playoffs.