International Basketball Blog – Page 29 – NBA Blog

Ticket backlash overshadows Olympic Games

Olympic organizers scrambled on Sunday to quell a backlash over depressing TV images of half-empty stands at the London Olympics as a government minister said an urgent inquiry had been launched to identify just who had failed to show up and why.

Sports fans from all over Britain who had been charmed by the Olympic publicity offensive but let down by a complex ballot system for the 8.8 million tickets, have been outraged by footage of empty seats at key venues including Wimbledon, one of the hottest tickets in world tennis.

Chairman Sebastian Coe, who threatened to name and shame sponsors that did not fill their seats, said missing spectators were mostly officials from international sports federations, other Olympic officials, their families and friends.

“It doesn’t obviously appear to be a sponsorship issue at the moment,” Coe said, after Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt said he thought the vacant seats had belonged to sponsors.

Coe, a former Olympic gold medalist on the track, said that only eight percent of allocated tickets went to big corporate sponsors such as Visa and Coca-Cola and that 75 percent of tickets were in the hands of the public.

— Reported by Karolos Grohmann and Paul Casciato of Reuters

Kevin Durant and LeBron James lead U.S. past France 98-71

Hardly dreamy, still dominant.

Kevin Durant scored 22 points, LeBron James added eight assists and the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team opened tournament play with a rough-and-ragged 98-71 win over France on Sunday.

Seeking a second straight gold medal to match the one they won in Beijing four years ago, the Americans expected a tough test from a French team featuring San Antonio guard Tony Parker and five other NBA players.

The U.S. was never in real trouble, and after overcoming some major foul issues and sloppy play, the superstar-laden squad finally put France away in the second half…

With first lady Michelle Obama on hand to cheer on the U.S., Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler added nine rebounds apiece and Kevin Love finished with 14 points for the Americans. The U.S. will next play Tuesday against Tunisia, beaten 60-56 by Nigeria in the tournament opener.

As they left the floor, the U.S. players stopped to hug the first lady.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

A full recap will appear on the InsideHoops USA Basketball page later today.

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