International Basketball Blog – Page 53 – NBA Blog

Yao Ming set to retire from basketball Wednesday

The AP reports:

Yao Ming is likely to make it official on Wednesday, announcing what is expected to be his retirement from the NBA and a sport that made him a household name in China.

The 7-foot-6 center for the Houston Rockets played eight seasons in the NBA, but has missed 250 regular-season games over the past six years.

His career, including frequent appearances for the Chinese national team at Olympics and world championships, has included leg and foot injuries.

On Wednesday, a large reception hall at a hotel in the Pudong section of Shanghai—Yao’s hometown—has been booked for what will likely be the country’s media event of the year.

Hundreds of media have been accredited to attend the restricted event and are expected to arrive hours early to go through security checks. It is expected to be broadcast live in China and in many countries around the world.

Reports have been circulating for nearly two weeks that the 30-year-old star would retire, but the Rockets have not commented due to the NBA lockout and his management refused to confirm the reports. The NBA said it has not received official retirement paperwork from Yao.

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Gary Forbes to play for Team Panama in FIBA Americas Tournament

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

It’s been a mind-boggling year for former UMass standout Gary Forbes, who earned a roster spot with the Nuggets, became a key rotation player, watched the whole Carmelo Anthony saga unfold firsthand, and participated in the NBA playoffs.

Forbes is now hosting a basketball camp in his hometown of Brooklyn. It includes a lesson on eating better and education on diabetes, which Forbes was diagnosed with in 2005.

And while he ponders whether to return overseas during the lockout, Forbes will be playing for his native Panama in the FIBA Americas tournament in August, hoping to land a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.

Report: Marcin Gortat to sign in Russia

Eurobasket.com (using a foreign-based fan as a journalist who may be jumping the gun) reports:

Spartak Saint Petersburg made a strong market move. They have reportedly agreed on terms of contract with Marcin Gortat (213-C-84). The 27-year-old centre has been playing in the NBA since 2007. Last season Marcin Gortat started in the Orlando Magic. He tallied 4.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. In December the centre was traded into the Phoenix Suns. There his stats came up to 13.0 points, 9.3 boards and 1.3 blocks per appearance. Before moving to the NBA Marcin Gortat had spells for Koeln and Lodz. Marcin Gortat is the member of Polish National Team. The centre posted 18.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 assists per game in 2011 EuroBasket Qualifying Round.

UPDATE: Several reports say that Gortat’s agent denies that the signing has taken place.

Marcus Slaughter signs in Germany

Euroleague.net reports:

German champion Brose Baskets Bamberg kept loading up for 2011-12 with the signing on Saturday of forward Marcus Slaughter for the upcoming Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season. Slaughter (2.04 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Valladolid of the Spanish League, where he averaged 9.9 points and 6 rebounds in 34 games last season. Although he has already played in five European countries, Slaughter will make his Euroleague debut with Bamberg. He started his career in Turkey with Pinar Karsiyaka, averaging 13.3 points over 29 games in 2006-07. His next stop was Israel, where he played only five Eurocup games with Hapoel Jerusalem before moving in the same season to BCM Gravelines Dunkerque of France.

Deron Williams signs in Turkey

The AP reports:

New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams says on Twitter that he has officially signed with Turkey’s Besiktas.

The All-Star guard has posted a picture of Friday’s agreement with Besiktas bearing his signature on his Twitter account…

NTV Spor, however, stressed that the 27-year-old Williams needs clearance from FIBA, the international governing body of basketball, to play overseas.

InsideHoops.com editor says: As has been reported numerous times, D-Will’s deal is said to have an out clause allowing him to immediately leave and return to the United States to play for the New Jersey Nets as soon as the NBA lockout ends. Also, as I’ve said many times, no one expects many other NBA stars or even starter-level players to follow Deron’s lead and head to Europe. There simply aren’t enough big money basketball jobs available over there. Some additional opportunities may develop in China, however. But generally, most quality NBA talent will wait this thing out.

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Torin Francis signs in Germany

Euroleague.net reports:

German runners-up Alba Berlin is shaping up for the new season and its imminent Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds duel against VEF Riga as the team announced on Friday the addition of big man Torin Francis for the next two seasons. Francis (2.10 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Panellinios of the Greek League, where last year he averaged 15.7 points and 8.2 rebounds in six Eurocup Last 16 games. He had his biggest game against Benetton Basket in which he scored 29 points for a 44 index rating performance. In the Last 16, he ranked 3rd overall in index rating, 9th in scoring, 2nd in rebounds and also 4th in blocks. Francis played college ball in Notre Dame until 2006 and then he moved to Europe to play in Italy with Capo D’Orlando.

Sasha Vujacic signs in Turkey

Euroleague.net reports:

Anadolu Efes Istanbul improved its backcourt for the upcoming season by inking shooting guard Sasha Vujacic to a one-year deal and an option for another, the club announced on Friday. Vujacic (2.00 meters, 27 years old) arrives from New Jersey, where he averaged 11.4 points and 2.3 assists in 56 NBA games last season. He spent more than six seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping the team to win back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010, as well as reaching the finals in 2008.

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Mickael Pietrus to have minor knee surgery

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Phoenix Suns swingman Mickael Pietrus will undergo minor right knee surgery Tuesday, and as a result will not follow through with plans to play for France in the European Championship starting Aug. 31.

Pietrus missed the final 12 games of the season because of a quadriceps-tendon strain near the same knee, an issue that seemed to start when he landed after an attempted blocked shot on March 23. Pietrus’ agent, Bill McCandless, said Pietrus was mentioning discomfort with the knee before he was traded from Orlando in December. At his recent camp in Guadeloupe, friends were telling McCandless that Pietrus was not moving well.

“I’m looking at it extremely positively,” McCandless said. “I know the player well and I sensed something wasn’t right. He’s not a complainer.”

Pietrus took a physical upon arrival for France’s camp, but the national team recommended he undergo surgery to remove loose cartilage. He is expected to be out of basketball action for four weeks.

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Serge Ibaka nationalized by Spain, ready to play European championship

The AP reports:

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka has been granted Spanish nationality on Friday, clearing the way for him to help Spain defend its European championship this summer.

“Spain is a country that has given me a lot,” Ibaka said after Spain’s Council of Ministers approved his petition for nationality. “It will be an honor to give Spain back all that it has given me on the court.”

The 21-year-old was born in the Republic of Congo but played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. According to Spanish media reports, he maintains a residence in Barcelona.

Ibaka must swear loyalty to the Spanish crown and constitution to complete the nationalization process before he can team with Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol and brother Marc of the Memphis Grizzlies in a formidable front court for Spain.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This likely isn’t lockout-related. He was probably doing this anyway.

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Agent says Bismack Biyombo will play for Bobcats next season

The AP reports:

The agent for Bobcats rookie Bismack Biyombo insists the seventh pick in the draft will play for Charlotte next season despite a buyout dispute with his Spanish team.

“At the time the lockout is over and the season starts, the player will be playing with the Bobcats,” Igor Crespo told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “Everything else is not relevant.”

A spokesman for Madrid-based Fuenlabrada said last month the team is fine in letting the 18-year-old Biyombo out of the last two years of his contract, but expects to receive a $1.4 million buyout.

The two sides held a mediation session earlier this month. Crespo declined to reveal the results, saying only he believed the buyout figure was made public to “put pressure on us.”

But he stressed the issue wouldn’t prevent the Congo native from reporting to Charlotte’s training camp on time.

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