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James Jones benefitting from absence of Mike Miller

Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

James Jones benefitting from absence of Mike Miller

James Jones (Miami Heat) has benefited the most from the absence of Mike Miller, who had thumb surgery and is out until January.

After struggling with open looks against Boston in the season opener, James has been effective the past two games.

He was 9-of-14 on 3-pointers against the 76ers and Magic.

“I’m just doing what they brought me here to do and what I’ve done my entire career, which is shoot the ball,” Jones said.

“I look at it as I’m an NBA player, I’m a skilled player and I just have to be ready capitalize and I have to take advantages of the opportunities that I’m given.”

Spurs sign Tony Parker to contract extension

Spurs sign Tony Parker to contract extension

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that guard Tony Parker has signed a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy details of the contract were not announced. The San Antonio Express-News reports that the deal is for $50 million over four years.

“We are thrilled that Tony has signed a long-term contract extension,” said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “He has enjoyed an outstanding NBA career. With all that he has accomplished it is easy to forget that he is only 28-years-old. Tony is a unique talent and a wonderful young man.”

A three-time All-Star (2006, 2007 and 2009), Parker is currently in his 10th NBA season.

Selected by the Spurs with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Parker has been the team’s starting point guard since the fifth game of the 2001-02 season. A month before his 20th birthday he was named to the 2002 All-Rookie First Team becoming the first foreign-born guard to earn the honor.

Parker was the starting point guard on three of the Spurs NBA Championship teams (2003, 2005 and 2007). During the team’s latest championship run, he was named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals. He is the only European-born player to be named an NBA Finals MVP.

During the 2005-06 season Parker led the team in both scoring and assists, becoming the first point guard in Spurs history to lead the team in scoring. For the season he averaged 18.9 points and 5.8 assists while shooting .548 (623-1,136) from the field. He ranked third in the league in FG percentage (the first time since 1973-74 that a point guard ranked in the top three in FG percentage).

Parker again made history during the 2008-09 campaign when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team, becoming the first European-born point guard to earn All-NBA honors. For the season he averaged a career-high 22.0 points and a career-best 6.9 assists.

In his 10-year NBA career Parker has appeared in a total of 669 regular season games, averaging 16.6 points and 5.7 assists per game. Among Spurs all-time NBA leaders he ranks fifth in games played (669), fourth in points (11,133) and third in assists (3,781). He has seen action in 132 playoff games, averaging 18.7 points and 4.9 assists in the postseason. Among active NBA playoff career leaders he ranks eighth in games (132), seventh in points (2,473) and fifth in assists (651).


San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker takes a foul shot in the second half against the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the second round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at the US Airways Center, in Phoenix, AZ, May 3,2010. The Suns defeated the Spurs 111-102 to take a 1-0 series lead. UPI/Art Foxall Photo via Newscom

Allen Iverson signs with Besiktas in Turkey

Press Release From President of Besiktas Sports Club Yildirim Dimiroren:

Distinguished Press members and participants:

Allen Iverson signs with Besiktas in Turkey

First of all I would like to welcome you all and express my pleasure for being here as the President of Besiktas Sports Club – one of Europe’s biggest sports club to sign with one of the best ever basketball players, Allen Iverson. I would like to underline once more Besiktas is a big and strong club, having a history of 107 years with 14 sports branches and nearly 20 million supporters both in Turkey and all around the world. For all branches, Besiktas has one goal, and that is Championship! Allen again, this season, for basketball, we have started out for the Championship. Now we’re transferring one of the best basketball players in the world. The only aim of Besiktas, with Allen Iverson, is definitely the championship in Turkey and in Europe. We at Besiktas believe that a player as Allen Iverson, who won top scorer of NBA four times and MVP title two times, will bring the championship title to the team.

I personally believe that especially after seeing the enthusiasm and the excitement of Besiktas fans, he will make a huge contribution on the way to championship.

I must also add that not only Besiktas fans but also as all sport lovers in Turkey; we are waiting for Allen Iverson with great excitement.

As you all know, after Turkey won the silver basketball cup in 2010, the interest and the respect in basketball have been increased. The fact that a basketball star like Allen Iverson, will be playing for Turkey,and especially for Besiktas, I believe will accelerate and strengthen Turkish basketball as a whole. Currently, we have five Turkish players playing in the NBA.

I’m sure Allen Iverson will love Istanbul and Besiktas very much and will be very happy with us. We are very proud of transferring such a huge name. With Iverson’s transfer, the fans and followers of Besiktas, not only in the USA or Turkey, but all around the world, will grow in numbers. From now on, the world of basketball will be watching Besiktas. Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the board members especially Seref Yalcin, for their great efforts in achieving this transfer.

This year, the Besiktas Board concluded transfers of world famous soccer stars, like Quaresma and Guti. As a final note, today is the 87th establishment of the Turkish republic. Our joy is doubled by Iverson’s transfer on this republic day. Happy Republic Day and welcome Allen Iverson.

Yildirim Dimiroren
President of Besiktas Sports Club

David Stern has plan for NBA in Europe

The AP reports:

The travel plans for NBA teams could be a bit more extensive a decade from now.

NBA commissioner David Stern told a luncheon audience in Miami on Friday that he envisions a five-team European division within the league sometime in the next 10 years.

It’s not a new notion, but Stern’s words nonetheless represented a strong stance that the NBA is more committed than ever to expansion and further globalizing the game.

“It’s a wonderful topic, because 10 years ago, I said, ‘Oh, it’s inevitable, it’ll happen in 10 years,’ ” Stern said, speaking to business leaders. “And now what I’m saying is, ‘It’s inevitable, it’ll happen in 10 years.’ But in terms of globalization, we’re going to see a desire for franchises in Europe — and in about 10 years, you’ll send me a postcard.”

NBA suspends Jason Williams for making contact with referee

NBA suspends Jason Williams for making contact with referee

Jason Williams of the Orlando Magic has been suspended without pay for one game for making contact with a game official following his ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 58 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Magic’s 112-83 victory over the Washington Wizards at Amway Center on Thursday, Oct. 28.

Williams will serve his suspension tonight when the Magic face the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

Bobcats exercise options on D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on point guard D.J. Augustin and the third-year option on guard Gerald Henderson.

Augustin, who was selected by the Bobcats with the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, has  posted career averages of 8.9 points, 2.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 153 games. Additionally, he has connected on .410 from the field, .418 from beyond the three-point line and .853 from the free-throw line. In 72 games as a rookie, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 26.5 minutes and was named to the 2008-09 All-Rookie Second Team.

An early-entry candidate from Duke University, Henderson averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 43 games last season. He was selected by the Bobcats with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, host the Indiana Pacers tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena. The game will be televised on SportSouth and heard on WFNZ 610 AM and across the Bobcats radio network.

Pacers exercise Brandon Rush option

The Indiana Pacers announced Friday they have picked up the fourth-year option on Brandon Rush’s contract. Per club policy no details of the contract are released.

Rush, a third-year player out of Kansas, was drafted 13th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.  In his three seasons with the Pacers, Rush has career averages of 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Father of Anderson Varejao having heart surgery

Anderson Varejao did not travel with the Cavaliers to Toronto following practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts this afternoon. He was excused from traveling in order to be with his father who is scheduled to have heart surgery tomorrow in Cleveland.

Anderson’s game status will be updated tomorrow afternoon, but he is currently listed as Doubtful for tomorrow night’s game vs. the Raptors.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with Anderson, his father and their family.