Inside Hoops – Page 745 – NBA Blog

New Sacramento Kings uniforms

Today, the Sacramento Kings unveiled a new uniform system for the 2016-17 season, featuring the team’s recently released logos.

“Our bold modern look represents our commitment to Sacramento and the pride of this region,” said Kings President Chris Granger. “Sacramento Proud will be on display at home, on the road and across the globe.”

Here is how the Kings describe their new uniforms:

The four new uniforms – home, away, global and city – showcase updated emblems and a refreshed color palate. The classic Baby Blues, worn from 1985-1990, as well as for select home games last year – will return as a part of the team’s ongoing salute to the origins of the team.

At the center of the home, away and city jerseys, the team’s new crown serves as a reminder of the foundation of the team. The city jersey proudly features Sacramento’s oft-referenced acronym – SAC – in bold granite lettering, representing the organization’s deep connection to its city.

The clean, tri-colored side stripes on the shorts – inspired by the Kansas City-era Kings – are tapered for a modern look. At the base of the shorts for all three uniforms, the city logo serves as a reminder that when you root for the Kings, you root for Sacramento.

A bold, black global jersey features the team’s global crest, a symbol of leadership and strength. The granite pattern – a continuous “S” inspired by an emblem on our city’s flag – runs horizontally through the jersey to reflect the inseparable link between the team and its community. The design runs through the shorts up to a single granite stripe, reminiscent of the team’s first black uniforms in 1994. The primary emblem on the shorts is inspired by the classic Kings logo, reimagined to reflect the civic and franchise pride that has grown over the last 31 years.

Each jersey is united by the team’s beginnings in Sacramento, as a baby blue band runs along the base of the collar, while three baby blue stiches that run perpendicular to the seam on the right side of the jersey stand for the three elements that form the soul of our franchise: our city, our pride and our foundation. At the base of the jersey, a baby blue “Sacramento Proud” tab is embedded to serve as a reminder that each jersey is more than a uniform – it is a symbol honoring our city every time the team takes the court.

Nate Robinson tries out for NFL

Nate Robinson’s NBA career appears to have mostly come to a close. It’s possible he’ll return to the league, but at this point it wouldn’t shock anyone if this is the last we’ve seen of the pint-sized superhuman athlete. So what next? Nate just spent time playing bball in Israel. And the latest? He’s trying to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL. Here’s the New York Daily News reporting:

Nate Robinson tried out with the Seahawks on Monday, and — according to his agent — was “impressive.”

Aaron Goodwin told TMZ Sports that the former NBA star, who played for the Knicks and seven other teams during 11 seasons in the league, worked out as a defensive back, which he played at the University of Washington. Last season, the 5-foot-9 Seattle native played for Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

“Nate’s tryout with the Seahawks went well and was impressive,” Goodwin told the website, though no deal is in place.

Coach Kevin Eastman retires

Eastman has 31 years of combined pro and college basketball experience

The Clippers have announced the retirement of assistant coach Kevin Eastman, who served as a Clippers coach for two seasons and was an assistant under Clippers President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Doc Rivers in Boston for eight years.

“Kevin has one of the best basketball minds I have ever been around,” Rivers said. “After much deliberation, he has decided to move forward with his goals and aspirations to impact the game through speaking and consulting at all levels. Kevin has been an integral part of the Clippers success and culture, and his unparalleled loyalty will be greatly missed. We are thankful for his time and commitment and I am confident he will continue to excel both on and off the court.”

Eastman spent the 2014-15 season as the Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations and has been involved in college and professional basketball for a combined 31 years.

Pistons sign GM Jeff Bower to contract extension

Bower has been Pistons general manager since June, 2014

The Detroit Pistons have signed general manager Jeff Bower to a contract extension.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the job Jeff has done for our organization,” said Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Stan Van Gundy. “He’s been at the forefront of all the moves we’ve made over the last two seasons and has implemented much of the strategy and structure throughout our basketball operations department. The confidence I have in his ability allows me to go out and coach during the season knowing that he’s always looking to make our team better.”

Pistons Owner Tom Gores praised Bower’s work shaping the roster and contributing to a cohesive leadership team.

“Jeff has been a key link for Stan and me and the whole organization to accomplish many things in a very short period of time,” said Gores. “His ingenuity, along with having a deep understanding of Stan’s basketball vision, has very quickly helped us toward our goal of long term sustained success. He deserves a lot of the credit for getting us to the playoffs and assembling a cohesive, young team that will continue to grow.”

Bower was named general manager on June 3, 2014. His tenure coincides with the team’s improved record over the last two seasons and its return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. In Bower’s first year as the Pistons general manager, the club went 32-50 and posted a three-game improvement from the previous season. Detroit moved to 44-38 in 2015-16, marking the team’s most wins and first above-.500 record since 2007-08.

Bucks, Jason Kidd will soon sign extension

The Bucks were a disappointment this season, putting up a 33-49 record. They showed little growth from last year. But, their roster remains young, and the team still clearly loves head coach Jason Kidd. And the two sides will reportedly soon agree to an extension. Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting:

The Milwaukee Bucks and head coach Jason Kidd have agreed on the parameters of a three-year, $15 million contract extension, multiple league sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to the Journal Sentinel on Monday.

Kidd initially signed a three-year, $15 million contract when he came to the Bucks in the summer of 2014, after one season coaching the Brooklyn Nets. The new deal would take him through the 2019-’20 season, which would include the first two years of the team playing in its new downtown arena.

The Bucks have compiled a 74-90 record in Kidd’s two seasons as head coach.

Tiago Splitter learning broadcast skills

Hawks center Tiago Splitter is still a basketball player, and focused on that, but has recently spent time gathering a side skill: broadcasting. A pretty good idea, since that’s one of the obvious job choices out there once their playing days end. Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting:

Tiago Splitter is ahead of the game.

He already has a prime broadcasting job.

Still, the Hawks center spent last week getting a crash course in the new craft at Sportscaster U., a program sponsored by the NBA Players Association at Syracuse University. He will put what he learned to use when he calls basketball games during the 2016 Summer Olympics in his native Brazil in August.

Splitter had hoped to play in the Olympics but right hip surgery in February while playing his first season with the Hawks put an abrupt end to such dreams.

“I’ve thought about in in the past,” Splitter said of a possible broadcast career after his playing days are over.

JJ Barea had surgery in April

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting on Mavericks guard Jose Juan Barea:

Barea said he underwent arthroscopic surgery in April to repair his right medial meniscus. The 10-year veteran added that only rest – not surgery –was needed to repair the strained right groin injury that nagged him during the latter stages of the regular season and throughout the Mavericks’ five-game first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I just had one knee scope the day after the season, and it was awesome,’’ Barea. “It was real quick and I’m good to go.’’

Barea played in Dirk Nowitzki’s Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game this past Friday night and walked away without any complications from his surgery. He also played a few games of knockouts with some kids at the Mavs’ Hoop Camp on Monday morning at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Stephen Curry pranks media with ice pack

The Warriors lead the Cavs 3-1 in the 2016 NBA Finals. The defending champs won’t have Draymond Green’s services for Game 5, but they’re still in good shape. Now, as for guard Stephen Curry, is he fully healthy? Nobody knows. He’s looked like himself for some stretches of some games, but plenty of other times has looked like a regular, mortal, pretty good guard. He’s clearly mostly healthy, or else he wouldn’t be out there at all. But as for real injuries? Here’s CSN Bay Area with the latest:

It was with a completely different look that Steph Curry walked to the interview podium Sunday after Warriors practice.

There was a large ice pack wrapped around his right shoulder, a visual that was particularly notable in the wake of weekend reports he is coping with a shoulder injury.

The ice pack was, according to Curry, his comedic response to reports he was having problems with his shoulders.

“I can’t even keep a straight face,” Curry said. “Whoever said I was getting shoulder surgery and all that kind of stuff, we’ve got bumps and bruises, but every – we’ll be all right.”

Tyronn Lue fined by NBA for comments

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Lue made his comments during the postgame press conference following the Golden State Warriors’ 108-97 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 4 of The Finals on June 10 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Draymond Green is suspended for NBA Finals Game 5

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 upon league office review, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

In accordance with NBA rules, Green will serve a one-game suspension without pay for accruing his fourth Flagrant Foul point of the 2016 postseason. He will serve his suspension Monday, June 13 during Game 5 of The Finals at Oracle Arena.

The incident occurred when Green made unnecessary contact with a retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James with 2:48 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 108-97 win in Game 4 of The Finals at Quicken Loans Arena.

Under league rules, any player who accumulates four flagrant foul points over the course of the playoffs will be automatically suspended for one game, and every additional flagrant foul will result in either a one-game suspension (for a Flagrant Foul 1) or a two-game suspension (for a Flagrant Foul 2).

“The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game” said VanDeWeghe. “While Draymond Green’s actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a standalone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for Game 5.”

James has been assessed a technical foul upon league office review for his role in the altercation, which included a physical taunt.