Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Hawks center Al Horford out 3-4 months with torn pectoral muscle

Al Horford

The Atlanta Hawks learned this afternoon that All-Star center Al Horford will likely miss three-to-four months of action after an MRI revealed a torn pectoral muscle in his left shoulder as a result of an injury he suffered with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game at Indiana.

Typically, this type of injury requires surgery, but Horford will get a second opinion and make a final decision at that time.

“We are very disappointed for Al and our team and we wish him the best as he moves forward in the rehabilitation process,” said Hawks’ Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund.  “He has contributed greatly to our success since his arrival in Atlanta, and that’s evident by his selection to the NBA’s All-League team last season (third team pick).”

The two-time All-Star finished with five points and two rebounds before leaving last night’s contest, and in 11 games, Horford posted 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks to go along with .553 FGs (eighth in the NBA).

Kwame Brown needs surgery, will miss at least three months

Kwame Brown

Results of an MRI performed yesterday on Golden State Warriors center Kwame Brown revealed a torn pectoralis major (the large chest muscle that attaches to his right shoulder), which will require him to undergo surgery within the next few days, the team announced today.  The surgery, which has not yet been scheduled, is expected to keep him out for a minimum of three months.

“Obviously, we’re very disappointed, especially for Kwame, who was playing extremely well and had worked diligently since his arrival,” said Larry Riley, the team’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager.  “In a short time, he had proven to be the anchor to our low post defense and certainly lived up to his reputation as one of the top interior defenders in the NBA.  He had provided us a big, physical presence in the middle, which is something that we’ve lacked in the past.  Unfortunately, surgery of this nature typically requires, approximately, a three-month recovery period.”

The injury occurred at the 6:22 mark of the fourth quarter during the Warriors’ game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, January 10.

Brown, 29, appeared in all nine of Golden State’s games this season, averaging 6.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game.  He started each of the team’s last three games, averaging 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in those contests.  He was originally signed by the Warriors as a free agent on December 14, 2011.

“I feel extremely bad for Kwame,” said Head Coach Mark Jackson.  “He had done absolutely everything that myself and our coaching staff had asked of him and quickly started to change this team’s image on the defensive end of the floor.  If you look at the last week, in particular, he had some pretty impressive defensive performances, especially against some of the top scoring big men in the NBA.  This is a blow, but Kwame and the Warriors will recover and move forward.  I know that he will work as hard as he can during rehabilitation.”

Alonzo Gee steadily improving for Cavs

Alonzo Gee

In the NBA, a player rarely comes back from the offseason with a completely new look.

In Alonzo Gee’s case, he has returned with a completely new game.

The Cavaliers small forward could be the team’s most improved player from last season. Heading into the Phoenix Suns game at 9 p.m. Thursday at U.S. Airways Center, he’s averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals.

The 6-foot-6, 219-pound Gee started his transformation last year when he started 29 games with the Cavs (4-5). Now coming off the bench behind starter Omri Casspi at small forward, he makes things happen when he’s on the court.

“I’m going to keep getting better,” Gee said. “Hopefully, I can be consistent on my shot if I continue to shoot.”

— Reported by Bob Finnan of the News Herald

Antoine Walker still trying for NBA comeback

Antoine Walker

Antoine Walker is in a battle with time.

Time has stripped him of what made him part of an NBA championship team, a three-time All-Star and a prolific scorer. His 3-point shooting has gone flat, his legs have turned from springs to anchors and financial trouble has plagued him like a pesky defender. It’s overshadowed his NBA career — a 17.5 points per game average and 10th all-time ranking for 3-point field goals (1,386).

But Walker, 35, has found a way to fight back. He now plays for the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede, which is playing in the D-League Showcase this week at the Reno Events Center. Surrounded by youth and energy, the Stampede’s elder statesman has found a way to slow the final seconds ticking off his career and find hope for one more return. He wants to end his career on his own terms.

“I didn’t get to leave on my own merit,” Walker, known for his “Walker Wiggle” celebrations, said. “I still love the game, I still want to play. I believe that if I’m in the proper shape I could play another year or two and help some teams out.”

— Reported by Brian Nordli of RGJ.com

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Andre Miller not thrilled with role on Nuggets

Andre Miller

Denver Nuggets point guard Andre Miller regularly was a starter in his first 12 NBA seasons. He’s not too happy with that changing.

Miller, who becomes a free agent after the season, said before Wednesday’s game against New Jersey that he would “probably not” return to the Nuggets next season if the role is to back up Ty Lawson. But Miller wouldn’t completely rule that out as a possibility if no better situations were available.

“At this point in my career, I don’t see myself as a backup,” Miller, who entered the NBA in 1999, said in an interview with FOXSports.com. “For 13 years, I wasn’t a backup before. This is a short season (due to the lockout), so I’ll deal with it. But I don’t see myself as a backup at this point in my career. I don’t see that.”

Interestingly, Miller did start his first game of the season against the Nets because Lawson was out with a right foot strain. But Lawson’s injury isn’t expected to sideline him for long, and he could be back starting Friday against Miami.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

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Spurs guard guard T.J. Ford out 4-6 weeks

TJ Ford

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that guard T.J. Ford has been diagnosed with a longitudinal tear of his left hamstring (biceps femoris). He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Ford was examined earlier today by Spurs team physician David Schmidt. An MRI was performed which confirmed the injury. The injury occurred in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s Spurs-Bucks game in Milwaukee.

Spurs sign Malcolm Thomas, waive Ike Diogu

Any roster move made by the San Antonio Spurs is of interest. Because, they generally don’t make mistakes. So when they give a lesser-known player a shot, it’s always smart to take a heavier glance at that player than usual.

The Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Malcolm Thomas from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.  In addition, the Spurs placed forward Ike Diogu on waivers.

Thomas, 6-9, 225 lbs., saw action in six games with the D-Fenders, averaging 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.67 blocks, 1.50 steals and 1.3 assists in 31.5 minutes while shooting .673 (35-52) from the field. Thomas posted a season-high 19 points to go along with 9 rebounds at Erie on Dec. 29.

Thomas, a teammate of Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard at San Diego State, helped lead the Aztecs to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance last season, averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.02 blocks in 30.4 minutes.

An All-Mountain West Conference Second Team selection in each of his two seasons at San Diego State as well as an All-Defensive Team selection as a senior, Thomas concluded his career with the Aztecs as the second leading shot blocker in school history (127).

Diogu was signed by the Spurs on Jan. 3.  He appeared in two games, totaling 2 points and a rebound in 14 minutes.

Thomas will wear No. 23 for the Spurs and will be available tonight when the Silver and Black host the Houston Rockets at the AT&T Center at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago Bulls sign guard Mike James

Mike James

Sometimes, players you thought had fallen out of the league rise back up from the dead and make a comeback.

The Chicago Bulls today signed free agent guard Mike James. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. We assume it’s a very short-term, small contract.

James, (6-2, 190), appeared in three games for the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA D-League, posting averages of 15.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg 34.7 mpg, .386 from the field and .727 from the free throw line.  He is the 14th GATORADE Call-up of the 2011-12 NBA D-League season.

An eight-year NBA veteran, his most recent NBA stint was with the Washington Wizards during the 2009-10 campaign.  He appeared in four games and averaged 4.5 ppg and 1.3 apg in 11.5 mpg.

In addition to playing with the Wizards, James has also played for the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Hornets.  In 528 regular season contests in the NBA, he has averaged 10.5 ppg, 3.6 apg and 2.3 rpg in 25.2 mpg.  A .378 career shooter from behind the arc, he also owns career shooting averages of .420 from the field and .803 from the line.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.

Gerald Wallace will not seek Blazers contract extension this season

Gerald Wallace

Because of limitations with the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, Gerald Wallace will not seek a contract extension with the Trail Blazers this season, his camp has informed the team.

However, after this season, Wallace will be open to an extension, his representatives said, adding that Wallace loves Portland and is open to retiring in a Blazers uniform.

Wallace is under contract for this season and the 2012-2013 season, but he can opt out of the final year of his contract, which would pay him $11.4 million. The Blazers had hoped to avoid that potential scenario and in December had casual conversations with agent Rob Pelinka to extend his contract this season. However, under the new CBA, the Blazers can only extend Wallace for two more seasons, down from the four-season option in the previous CBA.

— Reported by Jason Quick of The Oregonian