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The following statement has been issued by Mike Bass, Executive Vice President, Communications:
“This evening, the NBA received responses from Donald and Shelly Sterling to the charge to terminate the current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers. The NBA Board of Governors will meet on June 3 at 1 p.m. in New York City to hear and vote upon this matter. Should the Board vote to sustain the charge, the Sterlings’ interests in the Clippers will be terminated and the team will be sold.”
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The Memphis Grizzlies today announced they have signed head coach Dave Joerger to a contract extension. Which is surprising considering there have been recent reports suggesting that the Grizzlies and Joerger were on their way to a separation. But whatever the case, the two sides have chosen to stick together.
“I am excited to announce that we have reached an agreement to extend Dave Joerger as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies,” Controlling Owner Robert Pera said. “Following an open and honest dialogue with Dave, it became clear that Dave was fully committed to Memphis and we are committed to him. I look forward to seeing Dave build upon the foundation he helped establish over the last seven years, and we are both committed to bringing a championship to Memphis.”
In his first season as an NBA head coach, Joerger guided Memphis to a 50-32 record (.610) during the regular season, the third 50-win campaign in franchise history, and a club-record fourth consecutive appearance in the NBA Playoffs. Memphis was eliminated by the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game first-round playoff series that featured an NBA postseason-record four straight overtime games, three of which were won by the Grizzlies.
Joerger was named Western Conference Coach of the Month twice last season (January and April), becoming the first person to win the award multiple times in his first season as an NBA head coach since it was divided by conference in 2002-03. He posted the best record of the 10 first-year NBA head coaches last season and tied the franchise record for most wins by a head coach in his first full year helming the Grizzlies (Hubie Brown in 2003-04).
“I am absolutely thrilled to continue as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies for years to come,” Joerger said. “I want to thank Robert Pera for believing in me. I look forward to building on the success we experienced this year with our core group of players that I have worked closely with over the past seven years as we work towards our ultimate goal of winning a world championship. I am 100 percent committed to leading the Grizzlies and I could not be more proud to call Memphis home.”
Introduced as the 12th head coach in franchise history on June 28, 2013, Joerger served the previous six seasons as an assistant coach for the Grizzlies, including two as the lead assistant (2011-13). In his final season as lead assistant (2012-13), Joerger helped guide Memphis to franchise records for regular season wins (56) and winning percentage (.683) and led the Grizzlies the 2013 Western Conference Finals.
Before earning his first NBA assistant coaching job with the Grizzlies, Joerger gained fame as head coach of the 2007 NBA Development League Champion Dakota Wizards. Dakota’s 2007 title marked Joerger’s fifth as a head coach after winning one International Basketball Association (IBA) championship and three more in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Joerger owns two CBA Coach of the Year Awards (2002, 2004) and a head coaching record of 232-117 (.665) in the minor leagues.
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Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of the officiating, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.
George made his comments in the postgame press conference following the Pacers’ 102-90 loss to the Miami Heat on May 26, at AmericanAirlines Arena.
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Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams underwent successful surgery today on both ankles, General Manager Billy King announced today. The surgery was performed by Nets’ foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Martin O’Malley.
“The arthroscopic surgery performed today on Deron’s left ankle included the removal of spurs from the front and back of the ankle, as well as a cleaning out of his ankle joint,’ said Dr. O’Malley. “In addition, Deron underwent a procedure on his right ankle to remove a loose bone fragment that was below his right ankle joint. Deron is expected to be on crutches for 4-6 weeks and then begin rehabilitation. He is scheduled to begin light court activities in August, which will progress to full basketball activities in September. Deron is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the beginning of training camp.”
Williams appeared in 64 games this season, averaging 14.3 points, 6.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.45 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. He missed 18 games due to injury, including 16 games due to a sprained left ankle.
Here are video highlights of the top plays from Spurs vs Thunder Game 3, which took place in OKC last night. The Thunder won, 106-97:
Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers have interest in Alvin Gentry, who has been around:
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Add Clippers associate head coach Alvin Gentry to the list of candidates the Lakers plan on interviewing for their head-coaching vacancy, The Times has learned.
After talking with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak by phone last Friday, Gentry has an interview with Kupchak and vice president Jim Buss on Wednesday to talk about replacing Mike D’Antoni, according to several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Gentry also has an interview for the head coaching opening with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, the executives said.
Sunday in Oklahoma City, the Thunder won Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs. OKC got a lift from the unexpected return of power forward Serge Ibaka, who in 30 minutes shot 6-of-7 for 15 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and a steal. Here are some video highlights of Ibaka’s playoff return:
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka was supposed to be out for the rest of the 2014 NBA playoffs. Yet, he’s back, and played well in Game 3, helping OKC grab a win. After the game, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cracked a good joke, which you can listen to here:
The Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs Sunday night in OKC. The Spurs still lead the Western Conference Finals 2-1, but the with the return of Serge Ibaka, a shakeup in the backcourt, and a much-needed win, the Thunder have to feel better about the series. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on a change at the shooting guard spot:
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Serge Ibaka was back, which meant Serge Ibaka was starting. That was a no-brainer for Scott Brooks.
But there were two changes to Brooks’ starting lineup before Sunday night’s 106-97 momentum-shifting win for the Thunder — the second not as loud or heroic but nearly as impactful as Ibaka’s triumphant return.
For the first time in his career, Reggie Jackson started alongside Russell Westbrook. He replaced the previously ineffective Thabo Sefolosha and injected some needed offensive punch into the lineup, playing a game-high 37 minutes and scoring 15 points — six more than three OKC starters combined for in the first two games.
Here’s ESPN.com reporting on the Memphis Grizzlies leadership circus:
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One of the prime options under consideration by the Memphis Grizzlies in the wake of last week’s management shakeup and the looming departure of Dave Joerger to the Minnesota Timberwolves is making a run at Jeff Van Gundy to be their coach and run their front office, according to NBA coaching sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Grizzlies have serious interest in trying to convince Van Gundy to serve as coach and team president in a job structure modeled after the new dual role brother Stan Van Gundy has secured with the Detroit Pistons.
Jeff Van Gundy’s interest in that sort of undertaking or the Grizzlies specifically in the wake of all their recent turmoil is unclear, with the former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets coach and current ESPN analyst consistent in his reluctance to publicly discuss job openings.