International Basketball Blog – Page 29 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves sign Andrei Kirilenko

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed free-agent forward Andrei Kirilenko. We’ll post contract details on this page later today.

“We are pleased that Andrei has decided to resume his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Over his time in the NBA he has proven to be one of the best defensive players in the world. His ability to play multiple positions and big-game experience will be wonderful assets to our team. He is coming off an MVP season in Europe, on what many believe was the best team in Europe, CSKA Moscow. We are excited to see him in a Timberwolves uniform and wish him well in the upcoming Olympics, where he will be the star player for the Russian National Team.”

“I’m excited to be returning to the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Kirilenko said. “The Wolves have one of the best coaches in the league in Rick Adelman and I feel my game fits in well with his style of play. I also like the talent that Minnesota has on the team with star players like Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.”

Kirilenko, 31, has spent parts of 10 seasons in the NBA, all with the Utah Jazz. In 681 career games (478 starts) the St. Petersburg, Russia, native holds averages of 12.4 points (.470 FG, .312 3FG, .763 FT), 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game. In 45 career playoff games (36 starts), the 6-9 forward owns averages of 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks per game. Most recently Kirilenko averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game for Utah during the 2010-11 season. The Jazz selected Kirilenko with the 24th overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft.

Kirilenko posted perhaps his best season in 2003-04 when he averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals – all career high figures – and 2.8 blocks per game en route to being named a 2004 All-Star reserve. Among his best games that season were two 5X5 lines (recording five or more points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in same contest), when he posted 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, eight steals and five blocks at Houston on Dec. 3 and 10 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, six steals and five blocks vs. New York on Dec. 10. In 2005-06 he became just fourth player in NBA history, and first since 1993-94, to average 15+ points, 8+ rebounds, 4+ assists and 3+ blocks in single season (Abdul-Jabbar six times, Bob Lanier – 1973-74, David Robinson – 1993-94). Included in that season was his third career 5X5 game, a 14-point, eight-rebound, nine-assist, seven-block and six-steal performance vs. the L.A. Lakers on Jan. 3. He became only the second player in NBA history with 6+ in each category (A. Olajuwon, March 10, 1987 – Houston vs. Seattle).

Regarded as one of the best defensive players during his 10 years in the NBA, Kirilenko has totaled 1,380 blocks and 960 steals over his NBA career. A three-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection (1st – 2005-06; 2nd – 2003-04, 2004-05), Kirilenko led the NBA in blocked shots per game over the 2004-05 season (3.32 bpg – a career high) and total blocks (220) in 2005-06. He has recorded 62 games of 5+ blocks and 14 games of 5+ steals over his career (5+ blocks and steals in the same game three times). He blocked a career-high 10 shots on March 25, 2006 vs. Sacramento and swiped a career-high eight steals Dec. 3, 2003 at Houston.

Kirilenko spent the 2011-12 season in Russia playing for CSKA Moscow, where he teamed up with current Timberwolves guard Alexey Shved. In 17 Euroleague games, Kirilenko averaged 14.1 points on .598 shooting (.417 from three), to go along with 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.9 blocks. He was named 2012 Euroleague MVP and 2012 Euroleague Best Defender for his efforts. Before starting his NBA career he played five seasons professionally in Russia, beginning his basketball career with Spartak St. Petersburg (Russia) in 1996-97 at the age of 15 (the youngest ever in the Russian League). Kirilenko has also starred on the international stage for the Russian National Team, which he has played on since the age of 19. Most recently he competed at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, averaging 16.2 points (.512), 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.25 steals per game in leading the Russian National Team to a 2012 Olympic berth. The 2012 London Olympics will be his third (2000, 2008) such competition.

Knicks sign guard Pablo Prigioni

New York Knickerbockers Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Pablo Prigioni.

Prigioni, 6-3, 180-pounds, is a veteran of the Argentine and Spanish leagues, having played professionally since 1995. The 35-year-old has played for Ramallo (1995-96), Belgrano (1996-98) and Obras Sanitarias (1998-99) of the Argentine League and for Fuenlabrada (1999-01), Alicante (2001-03), Caja Laboral (2003-09, 2011) and Real Madrid (2009-11) of the Spanish ACB and LEB Leagues. He won the Spanish National Championship in 2007-08, the King’s Cup three times (2004, 06, 09) and Spanish Super Cup three times (2005, 06, 08) and is also a two-time All-Euroleague second team selection (2006, 07).

In addition, Prigioni is a key member of the Argentinean National team, winning the gold medal at the 2011 Americas Championship, the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the bronze medal at the 2009 Americas Championship. He represented his country in the 2006 and 2010 World Championships and is scheduled to play in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.

Fran Vazquez continues overseas career

If Fran Vázquez ever plays for the Orlando Magic, it won’t be before the 2014-15 season.

The Magic’s former first-round draft pick has decided to keep playing in Europe. Again.

In an interview Tuesday, Vázquez’s agent, José Cobelo, confirmed that Vázquez has agreed in principle to a new contract with Unicaja Málaga, a team in Spain’s top league.

Cobelo said the new deal is guaranteed for two seasons and does not include an out clause that would enable the 6-foot-10 big man to leave Spain for the NBA. The contract includes an option to extend the deal for a third year, the 2014-15 season.

“We haven’t had much communication with Orlando,” Cobelo said. “They didn’t have much interest, so they didn’t affect our situation.”

— Reported by the Orlando Sentinel

Anthony Davis will play in USA vs Dominican Republic exhibition game

USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo announced today that USA Basketball National Team alternate and 2012 NBA No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets) will suit up for the red, white and blue for tonight’s USA-Dominican Republic exhibition game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Nev. Davis, who was in Las Vegas, was added after Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers) flew back to Los Angeles today for evaluation of his left knee.

The USA National Team concludes the Las Vegas portion of its training tonight (July 12, 6:00 p.m. PDT) with the USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. The game is being televised live by ESPN.

Davis, who led the University of Kentucky Wildcats to this year’s NCAA championship, was named a finalist for the USA team on May 3, 2012.

Davis in 2011-12 played and started in all 40 UK games as a freshman and led the Wildcats to a 38-2 record, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season title and the NCAA championship. The 6-10 forward averaged team highs of 14.2 ppg., 10.4 rpg. and 4.7 bpg., while adding 1.3 apg. and 1.4 spg. He shot 62.3 percent from the floor and 70.9 percent from the foul line. Named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player after leading Kentucky to the title and averaging 13.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.8 blocks in NCAA Tournament play, the Chicago native recorded 186 blocks which is the most in the history of the SEC and an all-time NCAA mark for freshmen.

Davis owns UK freshman records for blocks (186) and rebounds (399) by a Kentucky first-year player. He also tied the UK freshman record for double-doubles (20). He won six National Player of the Year awards including the Adolph Rupp Trophy, U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), Basketball Times, Associated Press, Wooden and Naismith. In winning the 2012 Naismith Trophy, Davis became just the second freshman to ever capture the award. Additionally, he was selected the 2012 SEC player, freshman and defensive player of the year.

Timberwolves expected to sign Russian guard Alexey Shved

A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to terms on a deal with Russian guard Alexey Shved.

Shved came to the Twin Cities on Tuesday and reached agreement on a deal, but the terms were not immediately available. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced.

Shved can play both point guard and shooting guard.

— Reported by NBA.com

Nenad Krstic continues playing in Russia

One of the best big men in the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague is set to stay put, as CSKA Moscow announced a new agreement with center Nenad Krstic, who extended his contract until the end of the 2013-14 season. CSKA keeps an option to keep Krstic for one more year, through 2014-15. Krstic (2.12 meters, 28 years old) was chosen to the All-Euroleague first team last season, averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games. He named the 2011-12 Euroleague bwin MVP for November and earned weekly bwin MVP honors twice – in regular season Game 9 and in Top 16 Game 3. Krstic was second in accumulated performance index ranking (405) and points (312) and third in rebounds (121) and fouls drawn (104), leading the 2011-12 Euroleague in two-pointers made (178) with a 62.9% shooting percentage, in which was his first Euroleague season in seven years.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Acie Law continues playing in Europe

Reigning Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiacos BC Piraeus kept building its roster for the upcoming season by re-signing point guard Acie Law for an extra year, the club announced Saturday. Law (1.90 meters, 27 years old) arrived to Olympiacos before the start of the Top 16, averaging 5.5 points in 12 games with the Reds last season. He boosted his numbers up to 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the playoffs series against Montepaschi Siena, which allowed Olympiacos to make it to the Final Four and eventually win the Euroleague title. Law also helped Olympiacos to win the Greek League last season.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Tony Parker cleared to play in Olympics

Spurs guard Tony Parker can play for European runner-up France in the Olympic Games after San Antonio’s doctors agreed he has recovered from an eye injury.

Parker scratched his left cornea during a nightclub melee in New York last month.

“The two ophthalmologists (from the Spurs) confirmed the opinion of the French doctor who operated on Tony Parker, and the two Swiss specialists who also examined the player last Thursday, and indicated that he can resume playing,” the French Basketball Federation said on Friday, adding that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also gave his blessing.

Parker is joining the French squad in Orleans and he could play in a tuneup against England on Saturday.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Injured Joakim Noah off French Olympic team

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will not play for France at the London Olympics because of the left ankle injury he sustained during the NBA playoffs. Noah told L’Equipe he was “absolutely not ready. Not ready to run, not ready to jump.”

The 12 players who will represent France are to be announced Thursday.

Noah severely sprained his left ankle in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers in early May. He has been rehabbing outside of Los Angeles with his personal trainer Alex Perris, but the pair did not feel comfortable with the idea of playing on an ankle that is still not 100 percent.

“Now that the Olympics are out of the picture, it gives his ankle more time to heal naturally,” Perris said in a text message to ESPNChicago.com. “We will be training in New York City and Los Angeles, focusing on speed, explosion and power.”

— Reported by Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago

Lamar Odom withdraws from 2012 USA Basketball National Team

The following has been known for days, but just became official today:

Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Clippers) has informed USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo and USA Basketball Men’s National Team head coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will be unavailable to play for the USA Basketball National Team this summer.

“Lamar has told us that he is unable to play for the United States this summer. While it is unfortunate to have lost the players we have, Coach Krzyzewski and I remain extremely confident with the group of players we’ll have at our training camp in Las Vegas. We believe that we will still have an outstanding collection of talent and that ultimately we will have another team that all Americans will be excited about and proud of,” said Colangelo.

The 15 USA finalists will assemble July 5 in Las Vegas, Nev., for the start of the 2012 USA National Team training. The USA’s 12-man roster will be announced after the team’s practice on July 7. Finalists contending for a roster spot include: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).