NBA News Blog – Page 1073 – NBA Blog

2014 NBA All-Star weekend host city will be New Orleans

New Orleans is slated to host the 63rd NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 16, 2014, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at New Orleans Arena, home of the Hornets, pending the completion of arena and hotel agreements. This will mark the second time that NBA All-Star will be hosted in New Orleans, having previously been held in the “Crescent City” in 2008.

“There is no better place to celebrate and showcase the NBA than in New Orleans, a city with a rich tradition of hosting major events that is second-to-none,” said Stern. “Our 2008 NBA All-Star festivities proved a terrific experience for everyone involved, and we anticipate 2014 will be even better.”

A weeklong celebration, NBA All-Star showcases NBA players’ passion for basketball, engagement with fans, commitment to community and respect for the history and tradition of the game.

“I have always taken great pride in our city hosting Super Bowls. I don’t think any city does it better than New Orleans,” said Tom Benson. “With the NBA, we get the unique opportunity from time to time to host the NBA All-Star Game, which has proven to be one of the highlights of the NBA season and will be a highlight for our city in 2014. I thank Commissioner Stern for making this announcement today and once again proving how much he believes in the city of New Orleans. In February 2013, we will host the Super Bowl. In February 2014, we will host the NBA All-Star Game. The city of New Orleans is the place to be. Hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact will be generated for our region in these back-to-back February events. We could not be more pleased.”

The 2014 All-Star Game will mark the 30th year that Turner Sports will provide NBA All-Star coverage, and the 12th consecutive year the All-Star Game will be televised in primetime on TNT. The All-Star Game will be seen by a worldwide television audience in more than 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages.

“The addition of the 2014 NBA All-Star Game is part of an unprecedented run of major sporting events for New Orleans. It started with the 2012 BCS Championship, which was followed by the 2012 Final Four just three months later,” said Governor Bobby Jindal. “In 2013, we will host the Super Bowl and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. No city in America has attracted such a string of major sporting events in such a short period of time. This proves that Louisiana continues to be a world class destination for major events. These events will generate millions in economic return for the city and state, provide thousands of jobs for our citizens and provide immeasurable national and international publicity for our great state.”

“We are pleased to add the 2014 NBA All-Star Game to an already unprecedented lineup of international events being hosted in the city,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Commissioner Stern and the NBA have been unbelievable partners for New Orleans. NBA All-Star 2014 will once again put New Orleans on the world stage and give us an opportunity to showcase our city’s comeback.”

NBA All-Star competitions will get underway on Friday, Feb. 14, as the league’s top rookies and second-year players square off in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. The following day’s festivities will feature NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm, an all-inclusive skills showcase comprised of Haier Shooting Stars, a competition featuring NBA and WNBA players, and NBA legends; Taco Bell Skills Challenge, a contest of top guards working against the clock to complete a series of passes, free throws, layups and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, a longstanding staple of the evening; and the high-flying Sprite Slam Dunk contest. Sunday’s slate of activities will also feature the Sprint Pre-game Concert before the 63rd NBA All-Star Game tips off.

In 2008, more than 2,500 people who attended NBA All-Star rolled up their sleeves and participated in the inaugural All-Star Day of Service. Ten service projects were conducted across New Orleans on Feb. 15, which was at the time the largest single-day effort by the NBA family in its ongoing support in rebuilding the city. The 2008 Day of Service highlighted a weeklong schedule of community events, with NBA All-Stars and participants, former players, NBA business and media partners, and guests coming together to give back to several thousand New Orleans-area residents.

LeBron James captured All-Star MVP honors in a 134-128 victory for the Eastern Conference when New Orleans played host in 2008. James tallied 27 points, including a thunderous drive-and-dunk in the final minute, to secure the award. Ray Allen added 28 points for the East, while the West was paced by 18 points apiece from Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Brandon Roy.

The NBA will continue to celebrate its tradition and commitment to social responsibility during NBA All-Star 2014 with a full schedule of NBA Cares events. NBA Cares will partner with schools, government, and local nonprofit organizations in New Orleans and surrounding areas to highlight the league’s grassroots and community initiatives that reach millions of young people and their parents while providing critical resources to community-based programs.

One of the week’s most popular attractions, NBA All-Star Jam Session, the world’s largest interactive basketball theme park, will be held at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. At Jam Session, fans can have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of participating in NBA All-Star excitement, with the chance to meet and collect free autographs from NBA players and legends. Jam Session is nonstop basketball action, as fans can shoot, slam, dribble and drive all day; compete against their friends in skills challenges; or get basketball tips from NBA players and legends. Young fans can hang out at Kids Zone, with hoops and interactive activities that are the perfect size for kids’ slam dunks, three-pointers and jump shots. For fans who want NBA entertainment, Jam Session features the NBA’s favorite players, mascots, dance teams and celebrities as they hit Center Court in a variety of basketball competitions, including NBA All-Star Practice and the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Kevin Garnett and Andrew Bynum named Players of Week

The Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, April 9, through Sunday, April 15.

Boston went 4-1 on the week, going 3-1 in games in which Garnett appeared. Garnett averaged 20.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks for the surging Celtics. He recorded three point-rebound double-doubles on the week, including a 21-point, 12-rebound effort on April 14 during a 94-82 win at New Jersey.

Bynum led the Lakers to a 4-0 week behind averages of 21.8 points, a league-best 16.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks. Bynum posted three point-rebound double-doubles on the week, including a 16-point, 30-rebound effort on April 11 during a 98-84 win over San Antonio.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Indiana’s Danny Granger, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, Memphis’ Rudy Gay, New Orleans’ Eric Gordon, New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Warriors sign center Mikki Moore

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Mikki Moore to a contract, the team announced today.

Moore, a 12-year NBA veteran, is being called-up from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, where he has appeared in 33 games this season and averaged 11.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.06 blocks in 28.1 minutes per contest. He is shooting 55.4% (134-242 FG) from the field and has posted six double-doubles. This marks the 53rd GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA season.

The 7’0” center last played in the NBA with the Warriors during the 2009-10 campaign, when he appeared in 23 games (20 starts) and averaged 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.7 minutes before undergoing season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs in his right heel on December 18, 2009. For his career, Moore has appeared in 557 NBA games with nine teams (Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah, L.A. Clippers, Seattle, Sacramento and Golden State) over 12 seasons, averaging 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest.

Mikki (pronounced MY-key) will wear #31 and is scheduled to be in uniform for the team’s home game tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.

Mark Cuban seeks change to rule on basket interference

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has lobbied the league to immediately begin making basket interference situations in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime reviewable after such a play worked against the Mavs in their 112-108 overtime loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Lakers.

It appeared that Lakers forward Matt Barnes touched a Pau Gasol 3-point attempt from the corner as it neared the cylinder with 3:49 to go in overtime. Barnes’ hands then came down on the rim and then he and Gasol instantaneously waived their arms in the air to suggest that Barnes did not make contact.

The basket was ruled good and the Lakers took a 103-101 lead.

“Any potential basket interference in the last two minutes of a game or overtime should be reviewed,” Cuban said he wrote in his email to the league. “I didn’t bring up that play up at all.

“You’ve got to make that reviewable. You have to ask them to change the rule.”

— Reported by Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas

Former NBA player Dwayne Schintzius dead at age 43

Former NBA and University of Florida basketball player Dwayne Schintzius died Sunday afternoon from respiratory failure. He was 43.

The 7-foot-2 Schintzius, who starred at Brandon (Fla.) High School east of Tampa, had been battling complications from a bone marrow transplant he received as treatment for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, the Tampa Tribune reported.

Schintzius played at Florida from 1987-90 and helped lead the Gators to their first three NCAA tournament appearances in school history (the first two were later vacated by the NCAA). Schintzius is sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,624 points and still holds the school record for blocked shots (272). He was named an All-American by The Associated Press, UPI and the Sporting News in 1989 after averaging 18.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

— Reported by Michael DiRocco of GatorNation/ESPN

Schintzius still became a first-round NBA pick, the 24th overall selection by the San Antonio Spurs in 1990. He also played for the Sacramento Kings, New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics, averaging 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds overall. But injuries haunted his nine-season NBA career. Off the court, Schintzius played the role of a Russian basketball player in the movie “Eddie,” a film that starred Whoopi Goldberg. Schintzius also played himself in an episode of the cable television series Arliss. He later worked in sports marketing while maintaining his free-spirited attitude. He recently published a fitness book.

— Reported by the Tampa Tribune

Cavaliers assign Luke Harangody to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned forward Luke Harangody to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Harangody has played in 16 regular season games (all starts) with the Charge, averaging 19.4 points on .486 shooting, including .413 from three-point range, and 12.6 rebounds in 36.0 minutes per game. In the Charge’s first-ever playoff game, Friday, April 13, Harangody totaled 16 points on 6-12 shooting (.500), nine rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes in Canton’s 108-93 victory over the Springfield Armor.

The 6-foot-8 forward has appeared in 16 games with Cleveland this season, posting averages of 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game, including last night in Washington where Harangody recorded a double-double and posted team highs of 16 points on 6-11 (.545) shooting, 10 rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes.

He will be available for Game 2 of Canton’s best-of-three first round playoff series with the Springfield Armor tonight in Springfield.

Bobcats sign forward Jamario Moon

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed forward Jamario Moon. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Moon will wear No. 9.

A four-year NBA veteran, the 6-8 Moon has played in 278 career games for the Raptors, Heat, Clippers and Cavaliers, with career averages of 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. He was signed by the Raptors as a rookie free agent prior to the 2007-08 season and went on to earn Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for January 2008 before being selected to the All-Rookie Second Team following the season. Moon also participated in the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge and the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend.

In 2010-11, Moon averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 59 total games split between the Cavaliers and the Clippers. He saw action in 40 games for Cleveland, averaging 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 19.1 minutes, before being traded to the Clippers along with Mo Williams in exchange for Baron Davis and a first-round draft pick. With the Clippers, he averaged 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19 games played.

Moon becomes the 52nd player this season called up from the NBA D-League, where he played for the Los Angeles D-Fenders. In 12 games this season, Moon averaged 17.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 37.8 minutes.

After playing one season at Meridian Community College in Mississippi, Moon began his professional career in 2001-02 with the Mobile Revelers of the NBA D-League. He also played for teams in the USBL, ABA, WBA and CBA, as well as in Mexico during the six-year period before he joined the Raptors in 2007-08.

Tyson Chandler hopes to win Defensive Player of Year

Tyson Chandler never toots his own horn about anything, which may be one reason he never has made an All-Star team. But when the subject of the Defensive Player of the Year Award was raised yesterday, Chandler admitted he hopes he will be considered.

Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said he “absolutely’’ believes Chandler is a candidate, and Chandler revealed it’s been a secret goal.

“It would mean an awful lot to me,’’ Chandler said at yesterday’s morning shootaround. “That was one of my goals coming into the season. I felt I put myself right in the thick of things for consideration. I personally feel like I deserve it. It would be a great honor.’’

Ballots for the NBA awards were sent out to the media yesterday, and Chandler will draw consideration for one of the three All-NBA teams at center. The four All-Star centers this season were Dwight Howard, Roy Hibbert, Andrew Bynum and Marc Gasol.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Cavs recall Luke Harangody from D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Luke Harangody from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Harangody was assigned to Canton on March 6th and played in 16 regular season games (all starts) with the Charge, averaging 19.4 points on .486 shooting, including .413 from three-point range, and 12.6 rebounds in 36.0 minutes per game. In the Charge’s first-ever playoff game last night, Harangody totaled 16 points on 6-12 shooting (.500), nine rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes in Canton’s 108-93 victory over the Springfield Armor. He is available for the Cavaliers’ game tonight at Washington.

The 6-foot-8 forward has appeared in 15 games with Cleveland this season, posting averages of 1.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.

David Lee may be done for season

[Golden State Warriors forward David] Lee has been logging heavy minutes with a gash above his eye, bruises up and down both arms and a painful hip and back. Seeing that Lee’s hip had caused his lateral movement to become nonexistent, team doctors requested an MRI exam after Thursday’s loss to Dallas. The exam Friday revealed a strained groin and a stress reaction, and the doctors told Lee that continuing to play would risk substantial injury.

Once Riley got that news Friday morning, he walked down the stairs at the team’s downtown Oakland practice facility and saw Jefferson on the trainer’s table. Jefferson’s knee had doubled in size, and he was sent in for an MRI exam.

— Reported by Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle