Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Spurs sign Tony Parker to contract extension

Spurs sign Tony Parker to contract extension

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that guard Tony Parker has signed a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy details of the contract were not announced. The San Antonio Express-News reports that the deal is for $50 million over four years.

“We are thrilled that Tony has signed a long-term contract extension,” said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “He has enjoyed an outstanding NBA career. With all that he has accomplished it is easy to forget that he is only 28-years-old. Tony is a unique talent and a wonderful young man.”

A three-time All-Star (2006, 2007 and 2009), Parker is currently in his 10th NBA season.

Selected by the Spurs with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Parker has been the team’s starting point guard since the fifth game of the 2001-02 season. A month before his 20th birthday he was named to the 2002 All-Rookie First Team becoming the first foreign-born guard to earn the honor.

Parker was the starting point guard on three of the Spurs NBA Championship teams (2003, 2005 and 2007). During the team’s latest championship run, he was named the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals. He is the only European-born player to be named an NBA Finals MVP.

During the 2005-06 season Parker led the team in both scoring and assists, becoming the first point guard in Spurs history to lead the team in scoring. For the season he averaged 18.9 points and 5.8 assists while shooting .548 (623-1,136) from the field. He ranked third in the league in FG percentage (the first time since 1973-74 that a point guard ranked in the top three in FG percentage).

Parker again made history during the 2008-09 campaign when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team, becoming the first European-born point guard to earn All-NBA honors. For the season he averaged a career-high 22.0 points and a career-best 6.9 assists.

In his 10-year NBA career Parker has appeared in a total of 669 regular season games, averaging 16.6 points and 5.7 assists per game. Among Spurs all-time NBA leaders he ranks fifth in games played (669), fourth in points (11,133) and third in assists (3,781). He has seen action in 132 playoff games, averaging 18.7 points and 4.9 assists in the postseason. Among active NBA playoff career leaders he ranks eighth in games (132), seventh in points (2,473) and fifth in assists (651).


San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker takes a foul shot in the second half against the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the second round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at the US Airways Center, in Phoenix, AZ, May 3,2010. The Suns defeated the Spurs 111-102 to take a 1-0 series lead. UPI/Art Foxall Photo via Newscom

David Stern has plan for NBA in Europe

The AP reports:

The travel plans for NBA teams could be a bit more extensive a decade from now.

NBA commissioner David Stern told a luncheon audience in Miami on Friday that he envisions a five-team European division within the league sometime in the next 10 years.

It’s not a new notion, but Stern’s words nonetheless represented a strong stance that the NBA is more committed than ever to expansion and further globalizing the game.

“It’s a wonderful topic, because 10 years ago, I said, ‘Oh, it’s inevitable, it’ll happen in 10 years,’ ” Stern said, speaking to business leaders. “And now what I’m saying is, ‘It’s inevitable, it’ll happen in 10 years.’ But in terms of globalization, we’re going to see a desire for franchises in Europe — and in about 10 years, you’ll send me a postcard.”

NBA suspends Jason Williams for making contact with referee

NBA suspends Jason Williams for making contact with referee

Jason Williams of the Orlando Magic has been suspended without pay for one game for making contact with a game official following his ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 58 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Magic’s 112-83 victory over the Washington Wizards at Amway Center on Thursday, Oct. 28.

Williams will serve his suspension tonight when the Magic face the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

Bobcats exercise options on D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on point guard D.J. Augustin and the third-year option on guard Gerald Henderson.

Augustin, who was selected by the Bobcats with the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, has  posted career averages of 8.9 points, 2.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 153 games. Additionally, he has connected on .410 from the field, .418 from beyond the three-point line and .853 from the free-throw line. In 72 games as a rookie, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 26.5 minutes and was named to the 2008-09 All-Rookie Second Team.

An early-entry candidate from Duke University, Henderson averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 43 games last season. He was selected by the Bobcats with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, host the Indiana Pacers tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena. The game will be televised on SportSouth and heard on WFNZ 610 AM and across the Bobcats radio network.

Pacers exercise Brandon Rush option

The Indiana Pacers announced Friday they have picked up the fourth-year option on Brandon Rush’s contract. Per club policy no details of the contract are released.

Rush, a third-year player out of Kansas, was drafted 13th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.  In his three seasons with the Pacers, Rush has career averages of 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Father of Anderson Varejao having heart surgery

Anderson Varejao did not travel with the Cavaliers to Toronto following practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts this afternoon. He was excused from traveling in order to be with his father who is scheduled to have heart surgery tomorrow in Cleveland.

Anderson’s game status will be updated tomorrow afternoon, but he is currently listed as Doubtful for tomorrow night’s game vs. the Raptors.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with Anderson, his father and their family.

Bulls name Sidney Green Team Ambassador

The Chicago Bulls announced today that they have named former Bull Sidney Green as a Team Ambassador.  Green joins former Bulls great Scottie Pippen as a Team Ambassador.

Green will make the transition to his new role after serving as a scout and Player Development Assistant for the Bulls’ Basketball Operations Department.  In this capacity, he will serve as a goodwill ambassador and represent the organization at various community functions, speaking engagements, school activities, non-profit and youth group appearances, as well as other select civic events.  Sidney will also have a presence at Bulls games and appear at a variety of sponsor and team-related affairs.

“We are pleased to have Sidney assume his new role as Team Ambassador,” said Chicago Bulls President and COO Michael Reinsdorf.  “His compassion and enthusiasm for the Chicagoland community are a natural fit for the city of Chicago and the Bulls.”

In accepting his new position, Green said “I would like to thank the Bulls organization for promoting me to this position.  I will work to my utmost ability to earn and justify the confidence the Bulls have shown in me.  It is great to work for such a first-class organization, which is not only successful on the court but also is so committed to the betterment of our community.”

A member of the Bulls from 1983-86, the former power forward averaged 9.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.1 apg during his playing days in Chicago.  The Bulls selected Green with the fifth overall pick of the 1983 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies exercise options on O.J. Mayo, Darrell Arthur and Hasheem Thabeet

Grizzlies exercise options on O.J. Mayo, Darrell Arthur and Hasheem Thabeet

The Memphis Grizzlies exercised the fourth-year contract options on guard O.J. Mayo and forward Darrell Arthur and the third-year option on center Hasheem Thabeet, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.  All three players are now guaranteed through the 2011-12 season.

Mayo, the third overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, holds career averages of 17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 38.0 minutes in 165 games (all starts).  The 6-4, 210-pound guard posted 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 37.9 minutes last season, and was the only Grizzlies player to start and play in every game.  The 22-year-old, who has yet to miss a game in his NBA career, entered the 2010-11 season with more minutes logged (6,234) than any other NBA player in the last two seasons aside from Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala.

Arthur, who missed most of his sophomore season due to right pectoralis surgery, bounced back this preseason to average 11.1 points (4th on the team) and 6.3 rebounds (2nd) in 24.9 minutes in eight games.  The 6-9, 235-pound forward, who stepped into the starting lineup last night and scored a career-high 19 points in the Grizzlies’ regular season opener vs. Atlanta, has posted 5.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 17.9 minutes in 109 games (66 starts) with the Grizzlies, who acquired his draft rights (27th overall) during the 2008 NBA Draft.  A key member of the 2008 NCAA Champion Kansas Jayhawks, the 22-year-old recorded 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14.3 minutes in 32 games last season.

Thabeet, the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, ranked second among rookies in blocks (1.31) while averaging 3.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 13.0 minutes in 68 games (13 starts) last season.  The 7-3, 267-pound center led all NBA players (min. 60 games) in blocks per 48 minutes (4.84).  The 23-year-old, who was named the 2009 Co-Big East Player of the Year (along with current San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair) in his third and final season at Connecticut, is the first Tanzanian-born player to play in the NBA.

The Grizzlies (0-1) will look to bounce back from last night’s opening night defeat, as they travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night at the American Airlines Center.  The game will be televised locally on SportSouth HD.