Month: October 2008

Avery Johnson joins ESPN

Former NBA point guard and head coach Avery Johnson has also joined ESPN as an NBA studio analyst, mainly joining host Stuart Scott and analyst Bill Walton on ESPN’s NBA Shootaround pregame show throughout the season and postseason.  Johnson, who contributed to ESPN’s NBA Playoff coverage earlier this year, will also contribute at times to ABC’s GMC NBA Countdown.

“Avery has excelled in every professional endeavor and we know his success will carry over to his on-air role,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.  “His experience and passion for the game will resonate with our fans.”

“I’m excited to join the ESPN family of networks and, specifically, to join the NBA broadcast team,” said Johnson.  “ESPN and ABC has an abundance of terrific talent and I’m glad to launch my career in broadcasting with the premiere sports network.”

Johnson most recently served as coach of the Dallas Mavericks (2004-08), guiding the franchise to a .735 winning percentage (194-70).  His team advanced to the Finals in 2006 and Johnson was rewarded with NBA Coach of the Year recognition.  During the 2007 season, Johnson became the fastest coach to reach 150 wins.

Johnson, an NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999, had a 16-year NBA career including time with the Seattle SuperSonics (1988-90), Denver Nuggets (1990-91; 2001-02), Spurs (1991, 1992-93, 1994-2001), Houston Rockets (1992), Golden State Warriors (1993-94, 2003-04) and Dallas Mavericks (2002-03).  Johnson earned the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 1998.

Oct 15: Clippers 116, Kings 112

The AP reports: Kevin Martin scored 29 points in less than 22 minutes for Sacramento, but rookie Eric Gordon scored 33 points and led the Los Angeles Clippers’ fourth-quarter rally for a 116-112 victory over the Kings in an exhibition game Wednesday night… Fellow rookie Mike Taylor had another impressive game with 21 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who are unbeaten in three exhibition games. Cuttino Mobley added 17 points and Jelani McCoy had 12 for Los Angeles, which held the Kings scoreless after Bobby Jackson’s free throw with 2:54 to play.

Oct 15: Nuggets 120, Jazz 119 OT

The AP reports: J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza each finished with 19 points but were criticized by Karl for wanting to cheat out on the fast break instead of focusing on rebounds that would have sealed the win earlier. Deron Williams tuned up for his homecoming at Champaign, Ill., by scoring 22 points and collecting eight assists for Utah. Next up for the Jazz superstar is a trip to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at Assembly Hall on the Illini campus, where Williams is revered for leading the Illini to the 2005 NCAA championship game, where they lost to North Carolina… Carmelo Anthony finished with 16 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes, his first game action since the Americans beat Spain in the gold medal game in China.

Oct 15: Rockets 101, Grizzlies 97

The AP reports: Von Wafer scored 17 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, D.J. Strawberry added 20 points and the Houston Rockets put on a 3-point shooting clinic in beating the Memphis Grizzlies 101-97 in a preseason game Wednesday night… Aaron Brooks finished with 14 points and nine assists for Houston, while Rafer Alston scored 13. Darrell Arthur, the rookie from Kansas, and Rudy Gay led Memphis with 14 points each. Darko Milicic and Mike Conley had 12 points apiece. Hakim Warrick and Quinton Ross finished with 10 each. While the Rockets were hitting 18 shots from outside the arc, Memphis was 4-of-12 on the night.

Oct 15: Suns 102, Hawks 100

The AP reports: Grant Hill made an 18-foot jump shot with 5.6 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns beat the Atlanta Hawks 102-100 in a preseason game Wednesday night… Raja Bell scored 18 points and Boris Diaw added 15 points for Phoenix. Steve Nash scored 11 points before leaving with a sprained right ankle with a little more than two minutes left in the first half… Flip Murray led the Hawks with 23 points, including 15 in the first half. Al Horford, starting at forward, had 15 points and six rebounds. Zaza Pachulia, starting at center, had seven points and 10 rebounds.

Oct 15: Pacers 100, Mavs 93

The AP reports: Danny Granger had 18 points and rookies Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert scored 15 apiece, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 100-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a preseason game Wednesday night… Antoine Wright scored 14 points, James Singleton added 11 points and nine rebounds, and DeSagana Diop contributed 10 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who dropped to 3-1 in the preseason.

Oct 15: Bucks 98, Warriors 94

The AP reports: Andrew Bogut scored 18 points and Luke Ridnour added 16 Wednesday night, leading the Milwaukee Bucks past the Golden State Warriors 98-94 in an NBA exhibition game. Milwaukee trailed most of the night but Bogut took control in the second half with 13 points. Kelenna Azubuike led the Warriors with 24 points while Corey Maggette added 16… Bucks rookie Joe Alexander, who finished with 11 points, was the crowd favorite in this southern Chinese city. He’s the first NBA player to be born in Taiwan and can speak Mandarin.

China loves Joe Alexander

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Charles F. Gardner) reports: It didn’t take long for Milwaukee Bucks rookie Joe Alexander to be discovered by the Chinese media. Before the Bucks’ practice Tuesday at the Guangzhou Gymnasium, the 6-foot-8 Alexander was swarmed by a huge group of reporters. His fluency in Mandarin was one reason for his popularity, and the fact he spent much of his youth living in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan. “They enjoyed me a little bit,” Alexander said in a phone interview. “There was a pretty fair amount (of media), more than I’m used to.”

Eddie Jones and Pacers agree to part ways

Eddie Jones will not join the Pacers but the franchise will recoup the ability to sign another player as a result of an agreement reached today.

Jones was acquired by the Pacers from Dallas, along with two second-round picks and cash, in exchange for Shawne Williams on Oct. 10.

The 36-year-old veteran guard made it clear he preferred not to play this season.

The Pacers worked with agent Leon Rose and reached an agreement that lowers the salary-cap figure for the one season remaining on Jones’ contract, thus clearing enough room for the team to sign another player to a veteran minimum contract without exceeding the NBA Luxury Tax threshold.

Bobcats exercise two player options

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins today announced that the team has exercised its options on Adam Morrison and Jared Dudley for the 2009-10 season.

Morrison, the third overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, played in 78 games for the Bobcats as a rookie in 2006-07, averaging 11.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists.  He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after ranking second among all NBA rookies in scoring and minutes played, while also ranking sixth in assists.  Morrison missed the entire 2007-08 season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during the preseason.

Dudley, the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, played in 73 games for the Bobcats last season, with averages of 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists.  He ranked among the league’s top 20 rookies in field goal percentage (seventh), steals (eighth), rebounding (12th), assists (T-14th) and scoring (T-17th).

The Charlotte Bobcats will host their annual Cool School preseason game presented by Harris Teeter for middle school students at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 16, against the Orlando Magic. Approximately 16,000 students and teachers representing 31 regional cities and 14 counties will take part in this educationally geared event.