January 2012 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar named global cultural ambassador

The NBA’s all-time scoring leader is now a global cultural ambassador.

The State Department announced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s appointment Wednesday.

Ann Stock, assistant secretary of state for education and cultural affairs, says Abdul-Jabbar will travel the world to engage a generation of young people to help promote diplomacy.

Stock says the appointment is part of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “Smart Power” that combines diplomacy, defense and development to “bridge the gap in a tense world through young people.”

— Reported by John Carucci of the Associated Press

Bobcats rookie Bismack Biyombo showing talent

It took about a dozen games, but rookie Bismack Biyombo offered evidence to Charlotte Bobcats fans Tuesday why he was the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft.

He’s what Southerners would call “country strong” and what coach Paul Silas called the one truly tough guy on this roster. Biyombo did his best to stand up to the baddest dude in the NBA – Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard – and for a while, it worked.

Biyombo played a big part in Howard committing five fouls. It wasn’t enough to hold off the Magic in the Bobcats’ 96-89 loss at Amway Center, but it held promise for the future, concerning the springy 6-foot-9 big man from the Congo.

“He played Dwight tough. He didn’t just let him back it in all the way to the rim. He’s my toughest player,” Silas said of Biyombo, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Andrew Bynum having career season so far

The formerly erratic scorer has posted double-doubles in eight of 11 games and overall is averaging 16.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, which would be career highs if he maintained those numbers over the rest of the season.

“He’s just establishing himself, being aggressive, making strong moves, rebounding the ball well and intimidating defensively,” Lakers forward Pau Gasol said, “so I’m proud of him and hopefully he’ll be able to keep it up.”

Bynum is also making a quick study of the double teams that have come his way since his early scoring spree, not surprising for a player known to tinker with computers and a fleet of high-end cars that has helped local law enforcement meet its ticket quota in recent months.

While improvising on the court often drives coaches bonkers, the Lakers’ Mike Brown likes it when Bynum employs his own special method of problem-solving. Particularly when it leads to the type of defense Bynum played earlier this month on Utah’s Al Jefferson, who scored only 11 points on five-for-17 shooting and had his shot blocked by Bynum in the final seconds of a loss to the Lakers.

— Reported by Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times

New Jersey Nets waive Dennis Horner, sign Larry Owens

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on forward Dennis Horner and have signed free agent forward Larry Owens from the D-League’s Tulsa 66ers, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Horner, a 6-9 rookie from N.C. State, signed with the Nets prior to training camp on December 9, 2011 from the Nets D-League affiliate, the Springfield Armor. He appeared in five games with New Jersey, scoring a total of four points in 16 minutes of action.

Owens (6’7”/210, Oral Roberts), appeared in 12 career NBA games during the 2010-11 campaign with San Antonio and Washington. In seven contests with the Spurs and five with the Wizards, the undrafted rookie averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12 minutes per game. He shot .469 from the field.

Owens has spent the last two-plus seasons with the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League. In 10 games, seven starts in 2011-12, he averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks in 34 minutes. He shot .453 (53-117) from the field and .944 (17-18) from the line. In 103 career games in the D-League, all with Tulsa, he has averaged 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 34 minutes.

Dwight Howard not adding Clippers to list of preferred destinations

Dwight Howard dismissed a report that he has placed the Los Angeles Clippers onto his list of preferred destinations.

After the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 96-89 Tuesday night, Howard was asked whether he now has interest in joining the Clippers. Howard said no.

The website SheridanHoops, citing an unnamed source, has reported that Howard has expanded his list of preferred destinations to include the Clippers.

Magic General Manager Otis Smith said Howard’s camp has not informed him that the superstar center has expanded his list of preferred destinations beyond the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets.

Smith also said the Magic also have not granted permission to Howard’s agent to speak with any teams in addition to the Mavericks, Lakers and Nets.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Knicks assign Jerome Jordan and Jeremy Lin to D-League

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has assigned center Jerome Jordan and guard Jeremy Lin to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.

Jordan, 7-0, 240-pounds, has recorded eight points and eight rebounds over 29 minutes in six games this season for the Knicks.

Lin, 6-3, 200-pounds, scored nine points and recorded two assists and two rebounds over 16 minutes in five games. He played 20 games (10 starts) for Reno of the D-League last season, averaging 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 31.7 minutes.

Al Horford has surgery, still out 3-4 months

Al Horford had successful surgery today to repair his torn left pectoral muscle, according to Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Dr. Xavier Duralde of Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic performed the surgery, assisted by Hawks team physicians Dr. Michael Bernot and Dr. Ashok Reddy.

Horford suffered the injury midway through the first quarter at Indiana on January 11. He is expected to miss three-to-four months of action.

Cavs owner buys Cleveland Gladiators arena football team

Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers group has purchased ownership stake in the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators. An official announcement will be made at a news conference Tuesday that is scheduled to include Cavaliers President Len Komoroski, Gladiators special adviser Bernie Kosar and the Gladiators’ most recent owner, Jim Ferraro.

Pending league approval, the Cavaliers almost certainly will become majority owner of the Gladiators, and possibly sole owner. The presence of Ferraro on Tuesday indicates he might retain a small percentage.

Two weeks ago, the Cavaliers group confirmed interest in acquiring the AFL franchise. Last Monday, Ferraro said that he was in “serious” negotiations to sell to Gilbert. Ferraro said that, if an agreement were to be reached, it likely would happen by early this week.

The Gladiators will begin training camp in February; the first practice is Feb. 20. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

— Reported by Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Dwyane Wade remains out for Heat

Heat guard Dwyane Wade will not play Tuesday against San Antonio because of a sprained right ankle.

Wade has been dealing with at least three lower-leg injuries in recent weeks, and sprained the ankle late in Miami’s loss on Friday at Denver. He also has been battling a sore left foot and a strained calf muscle.

Tuesday’s game will be the fourth Wade has missed this season. Miami won all three of the previous contests without the 2006 NBA finals MVP, who turned 30 on Tuesday.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Detroit Pistons plane makes emergency landing in Houston

The Pistons team plane landed safely at Hobby International this afternoon after a hydraulic issue forced emergency personnel to greet the aircraft, according to team spokesman Kevin Grigg, who was not traveling with the team.

TV station KHOU 11 reported that personnel was alerted because an alarm was sounded, signaling the hydraulic issue.

But Grigg said it was a precaution and everyone was safely at the team hotel. Passengers weren’t even aware there was a problem until they were greeted by emergency vehicles.

A Houston Airport System spokesman says the crew of MD-80 displaying the Pistons team logo reported problems with the hydraulics operating the aircraft’s left-side landing gear and declared an emergency.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press