NBA News Blog – Page 1373 – NBA Blog

Chicago Bulls adding Scottie Pippen statue

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Former NBA player Scottie Pippen attends the 23rd Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to Cure Paralysis at the Waldorf Astoria on September 22, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for The Miami Project)

The Chicago Bulls announced today plans to unveil a bronze statue of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen that will be displayed permanently in the United Center by the end of the 2010-11 season.

“Not only is Scottie Pippen one of the greatest players to ever wear a Bulls uniform, but he’s among the best players in history of the league to play the game,” said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “He had a tremendous impact in bringing six world championships to Chicago and there is no better way to pay tribute to him than with a permanent statue that honors his inspirational career.”

The statue will be crafted by Omri and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany of Highland Park, Ill., who also sculpted the famous Michael Jordan statue which was unveiled in January 1994 in conjunction with Jordan’s No. 23 jersey retirement.

“Words really can’t express my feelings,” Pippen said. “It’s an unbelievable honor and truly amazing. It’s something you dream of as a kid growing up, but you can never foresee those childhood fantasies becoming reality. You see statues of individuals who have done great things and made their mark on history, but as a basketball player, you never really think about arriving at this point. It’s an amazing honor for the Chicago Bulls to do this for me.”

Pippen was informed of the news the same week that he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In his first year of eligibility, Pippen was inducted on Aug. 13 as an individual player and as a member of the 1992 Dream Team which won the gold medal in the Barcelona Summer Olympics.

In July, the Bulls named Pippen as an ambassador for the organization. In this capacity, he will attend a majority of Bulls home games and spend time with fans and sponsors. Additionally, Pippen will also participate in a variety of team related events throughout the year, write a monthly column on Bulls.com and make appearances on BullsTV via Bulls.com.

“Being back in Chicago is a great feeling,” said Pippen. “To be among the fans who made my career so special is a fitting next step for me. I’m ready to be a regular at the United Center again as I get back into basketball. I can’t wait to bring my kids around the game. I look forward to working with the younger generation of players, too. Hopefully getting on the court and sharing my knowledge and experience with them will help.”

Pippen was a seven-time NBA All-Star (1990, 1992-97) and a member of six NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls. He was a three-time All-NBA first team honoree and was voted to the NBA All-Defensive first team from 1992-99. Pippen won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the 1992 USA Basketball “Dream Team” and returned to help lead the USA to gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He also won NBA All-Star MVP honors in 1994.

Is Shaq marrying Hoopz from the VH1 Flavor of Love show?

I will assume this gossip story is NOT TRUE until proven otherwise, but check out what some blogs are reporting about Shaq and Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander:

The Clutch Blog on MTV.com reports:

Is Shaq marrying Hoopz from Flava of Love?

Remember Hoopz, the girl who won Flava Flav’s heart on the first season of “Flava of Love”? Apparently she’s marrying Shaq! We knew they were dating, but the St. Louis Post Dispatch says that things are about to get much more serious. According to the paper, they were together at a St. Louis restaurant when Shaq “brought a chair into the middle of the dance floor and he put a ring on her finger.” Sounds like a proposal to us.

And Blog.VH1.com reports:

Adding fuel to these (very speculative!) fires is a story on the (pretty reputable) sports website Sports By Brooks that says, and we quote, the site “has also been informed that O’Neal has spent much of his summer in Alexander’s hometown of Maryville, TN. In fact, the current Celtic now has a home with Alexander in Maryville’s Royal Oaks golf community.”

UPDATE: Mike Wise (Washington Post) wrote the following on Twitter (thanks to Howard Beck of the New York Times for spotting this): “The Daddy not engaged to Hoops. Shaquille O’Neal’s text message reply to my congrats: “What engagement dnt believe dat.”

Celebs enjoy the festivities during the gala opening of the Casino Club At The Greenbrier in West Sulfur Springs, West Virginia on July 2, 2010. Restriction applies: NO NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS Fame Pictures, Inc

Bobcats sign Kwame Brown

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed free agent center Kwame Brown. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Several media outlets reported that the deal would be for one-year and the league minimum.

The 6-11 Brown will enter his 10th NBA season, with career averages of 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.0 minutes over 510 games (217 starts) with Washington, the L.A. Lakers, Memphis and Detroit. In 18 career playoff games (12 starts), Brown averaged 8.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. Last season with the Pistons, Brown appeared in 48 games and averaged 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 16.0 minutes.

“Kwame is a defensive-minded veteran who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation,” said Higgins. “At age 28, he has the size, strength and experience to be a solid contributor for this team.”

His best overall season came with Washington in 2003-04 when he posted career highs in points, rebounds and minutes played, averaging 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 30.2 minutes. Additionally he posted 18 double-doubles (points-rebounds), including his 30-point, 19-rebound effort against Sacramento on March 17.

An early entry candidate, Brown became the first-ever player to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick out of high school when Washington chose him in the 2001 NBA Draft.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th team when they joined the league in 2004-05, finished the 2009-10 season with a franchise-best 44-38 overall record (31-10 at home) and first-ever playoff appearance.

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

38 Kwame Brown of the Detroit Pistons in action vs. the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. The Pistons beat the Kings 100-92 Photo via Newscom

Team USA cuts Rajon Rondo; Colangelo says Rondo asked to withdraw

With one exhibition game remaining and just tfour days out from the tip of the FIBA World Championship for Men, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo today announced the 12 players who will represent the United States at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Named to the 12-man 2010 USA World Championship Team were: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

“Rajon came to us and said he was going to withdraw from the team, that he had some family matters to attend to and some things to take care of before the NBA season. He did an outstanding job during our training, we appreciate the effort and commitment he made to our program and he completely has our support,” said Colangelo.

Much more info is on the InsideHoops.com USA Basketball page.

Thunder announce 2010-11 coaching staff

The Thunder announced its coaching staff for the 2010-11 NBA season today. Assistant coaches Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks, Rex Kalamian and Brian Keefe will all return to the bench for the Thunder.

Joining the current quartet of Thunder assistant coaches is newcomer Maz Trakh. Trakh, who joins the club as assistant coach/player development, brings over 20 years of basketball experience to the Thunder.

“I am thrilled to have this group of coaches back on the bench with me for the 2010-11 season,” said Thunder head Coach Scott Brooks. “Every coach brings a unique perspective on the game and provides a great support for the future development of our team. Maz is someone I have known for a long time and he brings a wealth of basketball experience.”

Trakh has spent the last five seasons coaching in Asia including a stint as head coach of Fastlink (now Zain) of Jordan where he led the team to the 2005 FIBA Asia Club Championship. Fastlink became the first Jordanian team to win the Asia Club Championship. Trakh’s coaching career spans three decades and includes stints in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), Korea, Lebanon and the NCAA.

SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Maurice Cheeks of the Philadelphia 76ers watches the game against the Seattle Sonics on November 15, 2006 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The 76ers defeated the Sonics 96-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Evan Turner signs Li-Ning shoe deal

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

China’s top athletic footwear brand is banking on Evan Turner being a star with the 76ers.

Li-Ning announced yesterday that it had signed the No. 2 overall pick to a multiyear contract. Turner will begin appearing immediately in the company’s global marketing and will wear Li-Ning as a rookie. He will have his own branded sneaker and apparel in the second year of the deal.

CNBC first reported the contract.

“This is truly a game-changing moment for the Li-Ning brand,” Brian Cupps, Li-Ning’s brand initiative director for basketball, said in a statement.

Discuss this and shoes in general in our basketball sneakers forum.

Rockets sign Ishmael Smith

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard Ishmael Smith to a multi-year deal.

Smith (6-0, 175, Wake Forest) led the Rockets in assists per game during the 2010 NBA Summer League, finishing with averages of 7.8 points (.581 18-31 FG) and 4.8 assists in five games (five starts) with Houston.

An undrafted rookie, Smith finished his four-year career at Wake Forest with averages of 9.2 points (.425, 458-1078 FG), 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.26 steals in 121 games (91 starts). Smith, who finished second all-time at Wake Forest in assists, stands as the only player in school history with 1,000 points (1,114) and 600 assists (612) in a career. He was also the first Deacon with at least 1,000 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds (448). A three-year team captain, Smith also ranked sixth in career minutes played (3,667), eighth in career steals (153), 18th in career games played (121) and 36th in career points. He actually started for the Deacons as a freshman, sophomore and senior. An injury to start his junior year pushed him to a reserve role, but he still excelled as the team’s sixth man.

Smith started all 31 games at point guard as a senior, averaging 13.2 points, 6.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.68 steals. He was named Second-Team All-ACC and earned Second-Team All-District honors from the NABC. Smith also received the team’s Murray Greason Award and Team Assists Leader award after finishing third in the ACC and seventh nationally in assists per game in 2009-10. He surpassed Chris Paul in career assists during his junior season and was just the fifth freshman in the history of the ACC to lead the league in assists (6.0 apg).

Smith will wear #13 with the Rockets.

ATLANTA - JANUARY 28: Ishmael Smith #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on January 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Bobcats will reportedly sign Kwame Brown

NBA free agent Kwame Brown has reportedly found a new home.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the center has agreed to a one-year, minimum-salary deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Michael Jordan, who recently purchased the Bobcats, drafted Brown as the #1 overall pick into the NBA back when Jordan was an executive on the Washington Wizards. Brown turned out to just be a bench player, however, and has had little impact in the league thus far.

For his career, Brown averages 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game.

Jose Calderon hurts leg, will miss Worlds

The AP reports:

Spain point guard Jose Manuel Calderon will miss the basketball world championships after hurting his leg in an exhibition against the United States.

Tests Monday revealed the Toronto Raptors player tore a muscle in his left leg in Sunday’s 86-85 loss. Calderon had headed to the locker room late in the game. He went scoreless with three assists.

The Spanish federation says Calderon needs four weeks to recover.

Former Pistons PR director Matt Dobek dies

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

Matt Dobek, 51, died unexpectedly at his Rochester Hills home on Saturday.

Dobek spent 29 years with the Pistons organization before he was fired in May as the team’s vice president of public relations.

Hired by former Pistons executive Tom Wilson, Dobek was a confidant to many of the players during the Bad Boys era of Pistons basketball, including Isiah Thomas, Rick Mahorn and Joe Dumars.