The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reports: Andris Biedrins was the youngest player ever drafted by the Warriors when he entered the league as an 18-year-old in 2004. The skinny teenager has since grown into Golden State’s anchor up front, becoming the only young big man to survive -and thrive – in Nellie-ball’s return to Oakland. The 6-foot-11 center nearly averaged a double-double last season with career-highs of 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in 27 minutes per game, and he’s looking to increase that production in his fifth NBA season. Biedrins spent the summer playing for the Latvian National Team, leading it to a 4-2 record and a spot in next summer’s Eurobasket 2009 championships. He also led the tournament in rebounding (13.7 rebounds per game), field goal percentage (.653) and double-doubles (six). But the most intriguing stat? Biedrins, known mostly as a defensive stopper and rebounder, averaged 22.3 points per game – third-best behind France’s Tony Parker and Britain’s Luol Deng.
Category: International Basketball Blog
International basketball blog
Danilo Gallinari still not healthy
The New York Daily News (Mark Lelinwalla) reports: Just as Danilo Gallinari was beginning to draw a crowd in front of the Garden Wednesday, a Knicks fan shouted out a special request to the sixth pick of this year’s NBA draft. “Go hard!” the man yelled. “We need you, go hard!” Although Gallinari smiled and nodded graciously, he may not be able to fulfill that request immediately. Still nursing a sore lower back, the Italian rookie said he doesn’t know if he’ll be ready to practice when camp opens in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday.
InsideHoops.com editor says: It’s still unclear how many minutes Gallinari will get early on, once he’s healthy. I’d assume very few and that he’ll be deep on the bench. First he’ll have to prove himself to Mike D’Antoni in practice, and earn minutes from there. Of course, this is the case with almost all rookies.
Lakers re-sign DJ Mbenga
The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed free agent center Didier “DJ” Ilunga-Mbenga, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.
Mbenga, a 7-foot, 255 pound native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Lakers last season on January 21 and February 1 before signing for the remainder of the year on February 11.
In 26 games with the Lakers, Mbenga averaged 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.62 blocked shots in 7.8 minutes while totaling four points and five rebounds in 10 minutes over seven postseason games.
Earlier in the season, Mbenga signed with the Golden State Warriors on November 17 after spending three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks prior to their request for waivers on him October 30. In 16 games with the Warriors prior to his release January 6, Mbenga averaged 1.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.63 blocked shots in 8.1 minutes.
After signing with Dallas as a rookie free agent in 2004, Mbenga, 27, played 79 games over three seasons with the Mavericks, totaling 106 points, 75 rebounds and 35 blocked shots in 374 minutes. In his rookie year of 2004-05, he averaged 4.10 blocks per 48 minutes played while improving to 5.00 blocks per 48 minutes in 2005-06. In 2006-07 he was limited to just 21 games after missing the first 16 games of the year with a left foot tendon strain and suffering a torn right ACL 2/7/07 vs. Memphis.
In 121 career games including two starts, Mbenga is averaging 1.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.50 blocked shots in 5.8 minutes.
The Lakers preseason roster now stands at 19.
Suns sign Goran Dragic
The Phoenix Suns announced today that the club has signed Slovenian guard Goran Dragic (GORE-on DRAG-itch) to a multi-year contract.
“It has been a lengthy process, but we’re happy to announce the signing of Goran Dragic,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “He is a talented young point guard who we believe has a very bright future.”
Dragic’s rights were acquired by the Suns on June 26, 2008, in a draft-day deal with the San Antonio Spurs, who selected him with the 45th overall pick (second round). Phoenix sent San Antonio the draft rights to 48th overall selection Malik Hairston, as well as a 2009 second-round pick and cash. The 2009 pick was obtained from the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 3, 2005, in exchange for Zarko Cabarkapa.
Just 22 years old, Dragic joins the Suns with four years of international professional experience. Most recently, the 6-3, 190-pound point guard spent the 2007-08 season with Union Olimpija in Slovenia and helped to lead his club to both the Slovenian League Championship and Slovenian Cup. Against top competition in Euroleague play last season, Dragic averaged 9.7 points, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 13 games. Likewise, he tallied 12.0 points, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 28 Adriatic League games. A quick guard with a knack for getting to the basket, Dragic shot 60.9 percent from the field in Euroleague play and 61.0 percent in the Adriatic League.
The lefthander began play in Europe’s top leagues in 2004-05 with Geoplin Slovan and was named the 2005 Slovenian League Newcomer of the Year. Dragic also received All-Star recognition in 2008 in the Adriatic League as well as 2006 in the Slovenian League.
The newest Sun has been a member of the Slovenian Senior National Team since 2006. Dragic’s play during the 2007 European Championships in Spain included 28 minutes of action in the Slovenian’s upset victory over Tony Parker and France to win Group D of the tournament. He was also a member of the Under-20 National Team in both 2004 and 2005.
Stephane Lasme signs in Serbia
Euroleague.net reports: Perennial Serbian League champion Partizan has improved its roster for the upcoming 2008-09 Euroleague season by inking power forward Stephane Lasme to a one-year deal. Lasme (203, 25) arrives from the Miami Heat, where he averaged 5.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 16 NBA games last season, during which he also played for the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBDL.
InsideHoops.com editor says: I’ve seen Lasme just enough to feel that he could help an NBA team’s deep bench. A solid 9th-13th man worth giving a shot. The overseas experience should help him a bit.
Bogut should be healthy for camp
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Charles F. Gardner) reports: Andrew Bogut is scheduled to return to Milwaukee from Australia this weekend, and the 7-foot center is expected to be ready for the opening of the Milwaukee Bucks’ training camp Sept. 30. Bogut suffered a badly sprained left ankle while competing for Australia against the U.S. during the Beijing Olympics, an injury suffered when he got tangled up with Team USA star Kobe Bryant. But a magnetic resonance imaging exam showed no serious damage, and Bogut has been rehabilitating the injury in his hometown of Melbourne for nearly a month.
Mustafa Shakur to Spain
Euroleague.net reports: Tau Ceramica has completed its roster for the upcoming season by inking playmaker Mustafa Shakur to a one-year deal. Shakur (190, 24) arrives from Prokom Trefl Sopot, where he averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists in seven Euroleague games last season. He scored 4 points against Tau in Vitoria last season.
Chinese great Mu passes away
Fiba.com reports: China have lost one of the great players in their basketball history following the death of giant center Mu Tiezhu. Mu has died of a heart attack at the age of 59. The 2.28m center, who joined Bayi in 1973 and started his international career in 1977, was named the “No.1 center in Asia.”
2009 Eurobasket locations set
FIBA Europe has approved the venues and the format for basketball’s top national team competitions next year, EuroBasket Women 2009 in Latvia and EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.
The Competitions Commission of European basketball’s governing body met in Munich, September 12, to endorse the details of next summer’s major tournaments.
The EuroBasket Women 2009 will be played in three cities in Latvia while the EuroBasket 2009 will be played in seven of Poland’s main cities.
EuroBasket Women, Latvia, 7-20 June
Preliminary Round: Liepaja and Valmiera
Qualifying and Final Round: Riga
EuroBasket 2009, Poland, 7-20 September
Preliminary round: Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw and Wroclaw
Qualifying Round: Bydgoszcz and Lodz
Final Round: Katowice
Sun Yue does not want Chinese Magic Johnson nickname
The AFK reports: Los Angeles-bound guard Sun Yue has said he does not want to be known as “China’s Magic Johnson” as he seeks a spot on the Laker’s roster, but is happy to be known as the “Monkey King.” Sun is expected to depart for the Laker’s training camp as soon as the US Embassy here issues his visa, and he is confident that he can make a roster that is led by superstars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. “I don’t want to be called the next Magic Johnson,” Sun told the China Daily of the nickname given him to by the Chinese sporting press.
InsideHoops.com editor says: From today on, I now insist on being called the Chinese Magic Johnson. No, I’m not Chinese, but if the title is available I’m claiming it until something better comes along.