Category: International Basketball Blog

International basketball blog

Ginobili out 20-25 games

The San Antonio Express-News (Jeff McDonald) reports: Manu Ginobili, the Spurs’ leading scorer last season, will miss at least all of November while recuperating, coach Gregg Popovich said. “Manu will be out 20 to 25 games – until mid-December at the latest,” Popovich said on the eve of Spurs training camp. Doctors initially gave Ginobili a timetable of 8-12 weeks for recovery. The most optimistic end of that spectrum would put him back in uniform for the start of the regular-season. For now, it appears the Spurs will approach Ginobili’s return more cautiously. When training camp begins today, Ginobili, 31, will be a non-participant. He has been able to walk without crutches and without pain for some time but has not been cleared to participate in any activities other than swimming and weightlifting.

InsideHoops.com editor says: For the good of the Spurs and his NBA career, Manu needs to stop playing international basketball. Or else he should just start paying money back to the Spurs for all the times he’s not 100 percent because he keeps playing for Argentina in the summer.

Nathan Jawai heart tests raise concern

As a result of concerns raised during routine pre-season cardiac screening, Toronto Raptors center Nathan Jawai will be held out of practice until further tests are conducted. It is anticipated that these tests will be concluded later this week.

The club acquired the draft rights to Jawai (pronounced JA-why) from the Indiana Pacers on July 9. He was the 41st overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. He is the first indigenous player from Australia to be drafted by an NBA team.

A look at Andris Biedrins

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.

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.