James Harden suspended for kicking LeBron

James Harden suspended for kicking LeBron James

James Harden suspended for kicking LeBron James

Houston Rockets guard James Harden has been suspended one game without pay for kicking Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James in the groin, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter of the Rockets’ 105-103 overtime victory against the Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 1. Harden was assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 for the incident, and it has been upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 2 upon league office review.

Harden will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Rockets travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks.

To view the play, click on this link.

Grizzlies sign JaMychal Green to multi-year contract

Grizzlies sign JaMychal Green to multi-year contract

Grizzlies sign JaMychal Green to multi-year contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward JaMychal Green to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today.

“Before first coming to Memphis, JaMychal was the top prospect in the NBA Development League, and he has impressed us both in games and in practice during his tenure with the Grizzlies,” Wallace said. “JaMychal is not only a gifted athlete with tremendous upside but he is a humble, very hard working individual who has quickly earned the respect of his new teammates.”

Green (6-9, 227) has made four appearances with Memphis this season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 3.8 minutes and scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting in his Grizzlies debut on Feb. 6 at Minnesota. Green first signed with Memphis on a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the NBA Development League’s Austin Spurs on Feb. 1 and signed a second 10-day contract on Feb. 19. In his first NBA season, Green has recorded 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.0 minutes in eight total games with the Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs.

The 24-year-old averaged 23.0 points on .577 shooting, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.55 blocks in 31.8 minutes in 20 games (all starts) this season with Austin. The NBA D-League Player of the Month for games in December, Green ranked sixth in the D-League in scoring and rebounding per game and tied for seventh in double-doubles (15) before his Call-Up to the Grizzlies (among players with at least 10 games played).

Undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Montgomery, Ala. native averaged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.72 blocks in 123 games over four seasons at the University of Alabama. He played 25 games for Chorale Roanne of the LNB Pro A League in France during the 2013-14 season.

Forbes says Michael Jordan is now a billionaire

Forbes says Michael Jordan is now a billionaire

Forbes says Michael Jordan is now a billionaire

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting that Michael Jordan is now a billionaire, according to Forbes.

Michael Jordan just had his name added to another impressive list.

The former Bulls star, who has NBA record-career averages for regular-season scoring (30.12) and playoff scoring (33.45), has been included on Forbes magazine’s billionaires list for the first time.

MJ had a net worth of $1 billion, according to the magazine, to land at No. 1,741. Forbes said it calculated each person’s wealth based on stock prices and exchange rates on Feb. 13, 2015.

Jimmy Butler out 3-6 weeks with elbow injury

Jimmy Butler out 3-6 weeks with elbow injury

Jimmy Butler out 3-6 weeks with elbow injury

The Chicago Bulls announced today that an MRI of Jimmy Butler confirmed a Grade 2/3 ulnar ligament sprain and small bone impaction injury to the left elbow. It is estimated that Butler may be out three to six weeks.

On the year, Butler has appeared in 55 games (all starts) and averaged a team-high 20.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.73 spg (ninth in the NBA) and 0.58 bpg in 38.9 mpg (first in the NBA).

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “After announcing on Friday that Derrick Rose would be lost for at least four weeks with right knee surgery to again repair his meniscus, and then losing Taj Gibson with another left ankle injury in the Friday game, the team found out on Monday that All-Star Jimmy Butler had a confirmed Grade 2/3 ulnar ligament sprain and small bone impaction injury to his left elbow that could keep him sidelined anywhere from three to six weeks.:

More from the Sun-Times: “It’s our reality,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said, when asked about now being down a former MVP, a Sixth Man of the Year Award finalist, and a first-time All-Star in Butler. “We got more than enough to get it done. Just find a way to win. [Sunday against the Clippers], it’s a tie score with about 61/2 minutes to go and it’s a one-possession game with four minutes to go, we gotta find a way to win. Whoever is out there, just get the job done. Know what your job is and go out there and get it done.’’

Sixers waive JaVale McGee

Sixers waive JaVale McGee

Sixers waive JaVale McGee

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today the team waived JaVale McGee prior to midnight on Mar. 1, making him eligible to join a postseason roster.

The Sixers originally acquired McGee and Oklahoma City’s protected 2015 first-round pick from Denver on Feb. 19, 2015.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “JaVale McGee was able to keep all of his money. The former 76ers big man was opposed to being bought out, because that wouldn’t enable him to receive his full salary. So the Sixers agreed to waive the 7-footer Sunday night after a 94-74 setback to the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldnouse.”

Willie Reed named D-League Performer of Week through March 1

Willie Reed named D-League Performer of Week through March 1

willie reed

Iowa Energy forward Willie Reed was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 23 – Sunday, March 1. This is the second Performer of the Week honor of Reed’s career. He previously won in March of 2013 as a member of the Springfield Armor.

The newly acquired Reed (6-10, 220, St. Louis) led Iowa to two wins after being traded from the Grand Rapids Drive in exchange for Diante Garrett on Feb. 26. He averaged 29.0 points on 78.8 percent shooting (26-of-33), to go along 13.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals. His debut included a 31-point performance in a 122-112 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. It was the second time this season Reed registered at least 30 points in a game. On Feb. 28, he recorded a double-double with 27 points and 20 rebounds in a 96-92 victory over the Erie BayHawks.

Reed has appeared in 33 games –two with Iowa — and tallied 15.5 points, 12.2 rebounds (second in the league) and 2.1 blocks.

Other top performers considered included Bakersfield’s Jerel McNeal, Canton’s Brandon Paul, Oklahoma City’s Talib Zanna, Rio Grande Valley’s Chris Johnson and Sioux Falls’ Scotty Hopson.

Kyle Anderson named D-League Player of Month for February, 2015

Kyle Anderson named D-League Player of Month for February, 2015

Kyle Anderson named D-League Player of Month

Kyle Anderson, a small forward playing with the Austin Spurs on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs, was today named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February. The award is the first monthly honor for Anderson, who was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week on Feb. 9.

Anderson (6-9, 230, UCLA) led the Spurs to an 8-1 month in February, when he scored 20-or-more points five times and recorded four double-doubles. He led the team in scoring three times and was the leading rebounder five times. He dished out team-high assists five times in February. For the month, Anderson averaged 22.8 points to go with 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Anderson has played in 16 games on assignment in Austin, averaging 22.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Other players receiving consideration for the monthly award were Bakersfield’s Mac Koshwal, Canton’s Brandon Paul, Fort Wayne’s Andre Emmett, Iowa’s Kalin Lucas and Sioux Falls’ Scotty Hopson.

Isaiah Thomas, Damian Lillard named Players of Week through March 1

Isaiah Thomas, Damian Lillard named Players of Week through March 1

isaiah thomas

Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, March 1.

Thomas helped the Celtics to a 3-1 week, which included wins over the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets. He placed third in the East in scoring (22.0 ppg) and tied for seventh in assists (6.5 apg). On Feb. 27, Thomas scored a season-high 28 points and dished out seven assists during the Celtics’ 106-98 win over the Hornets.

damian lillard

Lillard led the Trail Blazers to a 3-0 week, which included wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 26.0 points (third in the conference) and added 5.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds. Lillard capped his week with a 31-point, seven-assist, four-rebound performance on March 1, during a 110-99 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Charlotte’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Mo Williams, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Houston’s James Harden, Indiana’s George Hill, Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, New Orleans’ Tyreke Evans, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, and Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe.

Frank Vogel, Scott Brooks named Coaches of Month for February, 2015

Frank Vogel

The Indiana Pacers’ Frank Vogel and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Scott Brooks today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

Vogel led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference’s best record in February at 7-2 (.778). He became the franchise’s all-time NBA coaching wins leader thanks to the Pacers’ second win of the month over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a 93-86 victory on Feb. 27. Indiana also topped the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors. The Pacers shot 47.2 percent from the field to lead the NBA in February, and also held opponents under 100 points in six-of-nine contests.

scott brooks

Brooks guided the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference in February at 9-3 (.750). The Thunder recorded a seven-game winning streak from Feb. 8-24, winning by an average of 15.6 points during that span. On the month, Oklahoma City’s 111.8 ppg led the league, while its 46.8 field goal percentage placed third. The Thunder went from one game under .500 to five games over thanks to its February performance.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Boston’s Brad Stevens, Cleveland’s David Blatt, Houston’s Kevin McHale, Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers, Milwaukee’s Jason Kidd, and Portland’s Terry Stotts.

Jazz playing good basketball lately

Utah Jazz playing good basketball lately

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz, who are 23-35 and have won six of their last eight games:

It began a positive, albeit not steady, incline with the team’s first win over San Antonio followed by an impressive 3-3 showing on the pre-Christmas trip.

Even with last Wednesday’s disappointing loss to the Lakers, the Jazz are playing their best basketball of the season, especially defensively.

Since the All-Star break — or the trade deadline when Enes Kanter was dealt to Oklahoma City, you decide — the Jazz have won four of five games while limiting opponents to an astonishingly low 82.8 points per game.

That’s helped the Jazz climb to the 23rd spot in the NBA’s defensive efficiency ratings for the season. Utah is giving up 104.4 points per 100 possessions this year compared to a league-worst 109.1 last season (and even more than that earlier this season).