Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Pistons to retire Dennis Rodman jersey

By Jeff Lenchiner

Dennis Rodman will forever be known as one of the greatest rebounders and defenders in the history of basketball, and the Detroit Pistons have decided to honor his legacy. Here’s the info:

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club will retire Dennis Rodman’s #10 jersey during a halftime ceremony on April 1, 2011 when the Pistons host the Chicago Bulls at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“I’m pleased that we are honoring Dennis for his accomplishments as a player and his contributions to the success of the organization,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons.  “His jersey retirement is well deserved.”

Drafted 27th overall by the Pistons in the 1986 NBA Draft, Rodman was a key member of the Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ teams that led the franchise to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.  An elite defender and rebounder, he averaged 8.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field in 549 games as a Piston.  Rodman led Detroit in rebounding four consecutive seasons (1989-1993) and was the league’s top rebounder from 1991-93 when he averaged 18.7 and 18.3 rebounds per game, respectively.  He was a two-time NBA All-Star while playing for Detroit (1990, 1992) and was named to the All-NBA Third Team following the 1991-92 season.  Rodman was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991 and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive first team for five consecutive seasons (1989-93).

“Individual accomplishments have never been a big deal for me as a player, but to be honored for my contributions in this way by the Detroit Pistons organization is truly humbling,” Rodman said in a statement issued through his manager, Steven Simon of Prince Marketing Group.  “This organization gave me a chance to blossom regardless of my size or what school I came from.  My only regret is that the man that believed in me more than I did myself, Chuck Daly, is no longer with us. I’m sure he’ll be with us that evening in his own way.”

The 6-7, 210-pound forward, nicknamed “The Worm” during his playing days, ranks fourth among all-time franchise leaders in total rebounds (6,299) and still holds team records for most rebounds in a game [34, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most offensive rebounds in a game [18, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most defensive rebounds in a game [22, at Sacramento (3/14/92)] and most games with 25-plus rebounds (15).  He also recorded 30 or more rebounds three times and holds the team record for highest field goal percentage in one season at 59.5 percent (1988-89).

Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on October 1, 1993 and also played with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.  He played a key role in the Bulls’ three consecutive championships from 1996-1998 and holds the NBA records for most consecutive seasons leading the league in rebounds [7, (1991-97)] and most seasons leading the league in defensive rebounds [3, (91-92, 93-94, 97-98)].  Rodman picked up two more NBA All-Defensive First Team honors after leaving Detroit (1995, 1996), a NBA Second-Team All-Defensive honor in 1994 and an All-NBA Third Team honor in 1995.  Overall, he played in 911 career NBA games averaging 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 31.7 minutes per game.

“We are excited to welcome Dennis Rodman back to The Palace and honor him with his jersey retirement,” said Alan Ostfield, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment.  “We look forward to hosting an exciting evening for Dennis as well as our fans.”

Michael Jordan suits up for practice with his Bobcats

The AP reports:

Michael Jordan suits up for practice with his Bobcats

Short on players for practice, the Charlotte Bobcats found an extra body in the front office: Michael Jordan.

The Hall of Famer and Bobcats owner suited up for Thursday’s workout, participating in a full-court scrimmage and showing a few of the old moves that helped make him a six-time NBA champion.

“He’s Mike. He’s been kicking our (butts). He still has it,” forward Gerald Wallace said. “He doesn’t have this quickness, but he can score, he’s a shooter. The last thing to ever go is your jump shot and he has that.”

Jordan, who turns 48 next week, has been spending more time at practices and shootarounds, getting on the floor and doing some teaching. Thursday’s practice was his most involved yet.

“He’s holding these guys accountable and it’s great. I love him out here,” coach Paul Silas said. “He’s teaching them how to protect the basketball, how to play hard on defense, how to talk. It’s a good thing.”

Thunderbirds of D-League sign J.R. Giddens

The New Mexico Thunderbirds have announced today they have signed former Lobo guard J.R. Giddens (6-5, 215, New Mexico) and he will be active for their game tonight against the Erie Bayhawks at 5:30 MT.

Giddens played for the University of New Mexico during his junior and senior years of college.  During the 2007-08 season, he averaged 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.  He was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and was also an Honorable Mention All-American.

The Boston Celtics selected J.R. Giddens with the 30th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.  Giddens averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6% in 38 career NBA games for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks over two seasons.

Giddens has also seen time in the NBA Development League during the past two seasons.  Last year, he played in four games for the Maine Red Claws and averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 64.4% from the field.  During the 2008-09 season, he played in 28 games for the Utah Flash and averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 57.8% from the floor.

Giddens began this season with Asseco Prokom Gdynia in Poland and averaged 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Cavs lose 26th straight game

The AP reports:

The Cavaliers’ record-setting losing streak is intact.

Byron Scott finally snapped.

Cleveland’s first-year coach unloaded on his team during and after a listless 103-94 loss on Wednesday night, extending the Cavs’ NBA record skid to 26 and tying them with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the longtime national punchline for failure—for the longest stretch of incompetence in major American pro sports.

“I’m mad as hell,” said Scott, who kept the postgame locker room closed for more than 30 minutes. “I can deal with losing, especially when our guys play as hard as they have in the last couple weeks, but I find it very hard to deal with when guys don’t come out ready to play.”

The Pistons were supposedly a beatable opponent for the cellar-dwelling Cavs (8-45), still winless since Dec. 18 and now losers of a hard-to-imagine 36 of 37.

Instead, Cleveland’s season slipped further into shame.

“Everybody’s mad as hell,” guard Daniel Gibson said when told of his coach’s surly mood. “To lose like that and for it to get to this point and still sometimes not see a sense of urgency, I can see why it would push you to that point. What are you going to do? It’s either do it or don’t.

“The guys have to figure that out.”

The Cavs’ next chance to end the slide will be Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers. After that comes a home game against the road-winless Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Ricky Rubio is shooting bricks overseas

The AP reports:

Ricky Rubio shooting bricks overseas

The numbers don’t lie—Ricky Rubio is struggling with his shot.

The Spaniard is shooting just 20 percent from beyond the 3-point line in the Euroleague this season, a stat that has concerned fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that used a first-round draft pick in 2009 to claim him.

As for Rubio himself, he’s not sweating it.

“Sometimes it goes in, sometimes it doesn’t,” Rubio told The Associated Press after a recent 80-56 win over Roma Lottomatica. “I’m not worried. You have to keep shooting and believing in yourself.”

Rubio is averaging only about six points per game, but he is also doing what he does best—finding passing angles few others see and creating offense.

No HORSE event at 2011 All-Star weekend

By Jeff Lenchiner

There will be no H-O-R-S-E shooting competition at 2011 NBA All-Star weekend.

TNT, who organized the event — an unofficial addition to the weekend’s festivities — confirmed to InsideHoops.com that they are not bringing it back this year.

H-O-R-S-E got it’s All-Star weekend start in 2009. Kevin Durant won it both years it existed. The event will be missed, but only a little. The problem is, if the players aren’t hitting their shots (or they’re never missing) then H-O-R-S-E can drag on, and on, and on. Sort of like Chris Andersen in the slam dunk contest when his throw-downs aren’t being thrown down.

Read fan reaction and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Mehmet Okur out at least 3 weeks with back injury

Mehmet Okur out at least 3 weeks with back injury

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur, who has missed the last six Jazz games after suffering a strained lower back during the Jazz’s win over Minnesota on January 28:

Okur was seen by back specialist, Dr. Graham Hill, in Salt Lake City on Monday.  Following his examination, which confirmed inflammation of his chronic disc problem, Dr. Hill has decided to place Okur on a back rehabilitation process, consisting of low back rehab and cardiovascular exercise, which will be directed by Jazz team physical therapist, Marlin “Moe” Forsyth.

An update on Okur’s progress will be provided following his re-evaluation in three weeks.  No additional updates will be given prior to that point.  Okur will not travel with the team during this span.

Now in his ninth NBA season, Okur (6-11, 265, Yalova, Turkey), who missed the first 26 games of the 2010-11 campaign while recovering from an unrelated Achilles’ tendon injury, has appeared in 13 games (no starts) this season, averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.  The 2007 NBA All-Star holds career averages of 13.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists and had played in over 92 percent of all possible regular season games, including at least 71 games per year, over his first eight seasons (94 percent since joining the Jazz in 2004-05).  Okur has appeared in all 82 games for the Jazz twice, including a streak of 233 straight games played spanning from 2004-2007.

Brandon Roy almost set to return for Blazers

The AP reports:

Brandon Roy almost set to return for Blazers

Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy is returning to practice, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll play this weekend.

Portland’s three-time All-Star had arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees just three weeks ago.

He was averaging 16.6 points in 23 games before he was sidelined indefinitely by the team. Roy says now he is nearly pain free, but still needs to practice at full speed.

2011 3-Point Shootout participants

Reigning champion Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics will defend his title in this year’s NBA Three-Point Shootout Contest, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19, at Staples Center in Los Angeles as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night. Rounding out the field are All-Stars Ray Allen of the Celtics and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Gibson of the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Jones of the Miami Heat, and Dorell Wright of the Golden State Warriors. Allen won the contest in 2001.

Pierce bested the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry in last year’s contest, scoring 20 points in the final round to capture the title. Jeff Hornacek, Jason Kapono, Mark Price and Peja Stojakovic each won two titles; Larry Bird and Craig Hodges captured three straight.

More info on the NBA three-point shootout here.