NBA News Blog – Page 1503 – NBA Blog

Tim Duncan to wear knee brace all season

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Tim Duncan is getting older and taking care to ensure that his knees stay strong.

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

The brace Tim Duncan has been wearing on his left knee throughout the preseason will remain for the entire season.

Duncan scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in his first preseason action Friday.

“It feels pretty good,” he said. “I’ve gone through four or five braces this summer, trying to find the right one. That’s the one that feels good so far.”

Duncan will turn 35 years old on April 25, which according to the calendar in my head should be during the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Brian Wheeler calls 1,000th consecutive Blazers game

Joe Freeman of the Oregonian writes (via blog): The Trail Blazers have featured four coaches, orchestrated 39 trades and endured one NBA lockout since Brian Wheeler’s smooth, soothing voice started belting “Boom-chaka-lakas” out of Portland radios. But during that time, one thing has never occurred — Wheeler has never missed a game. The longtime play-by-play broadcaster called his 1,000th consecutive game on Friday, when the Blazers lost to the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. This is Wheeler’s 12th season behind the microphone for the Blazers, and not a scratchy voice, illness nor any other hindrance has forced him to miss an exhibition, regular-season or postseason game along the way. “Luckily, I’ve never really had any trouble with my voice,” Wheeler said. “I don’t know if that’s because of the great training I had in the school choir as a kid, where they taught you to breathe from your diaphragm and not put extra strain on your throat. But whatever it was, I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had any real issues with that.”

Marvin Fishman, an original Bucks owner, passes away

Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: Fishman, an original owner of the Bucks and a man who helped bring professional basketball back to Milwaukee in the late 1960s, died Friday at the age of 84. With the backing of Wesley Pavalon, Fishman raised $2 million and their group, Milwaukee Professional Sports and Services, was awarded an expansion franchise by the National Basketball Association on Jan. 22, 1968. Fishman once recalled how he bought a copy of every New York and out-of-town newspaper he could find the day after the franchise was awarded to look for “Milwaukee” in the headlines. Pavalon became the team’s chairman of the board with Fishman the vice chairman of the board. The Bucks drafted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) in 1969, and with Abdul-Jabbar teaming with Oscar Robertson, the Bucks won the 1971 NBA championship. Fishman’s smile was never more evident than after the Bucks swept the Baltimore Bullets in the championship series.

Warriors suspend Stephen Jackson

The Golden State Warriors have suspended guard/forward Stephen Jackson for two games due to conduct detrimental to the team during last night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team announced today. Jackson will serve the suspension for the team’s next two games – tonight against the Phoenix Suns at Indian Wells and Monday, October 12, against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

The AP reports: The team said the suspension is for Jackson’s behavior Friday night against the Lakers. He picked up five fouls plus a technical foul in less than 10 minutes of action. He went to the locker room from the bench and never returned.

The AP continues: Jackson has been unhappy with Golden State’s decline since reaching the second round of the 2007 playoffs. He was fined $25,000 by the NBA last month for publicly requesting a trade.

Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times reports (via blog): Nellie pulled Jackson from the game after he picked up his fifth foul Friday in the first quarter. Jackson was clearly upset/frustrated/emotional. He was in a mano-y-mano with Kobe and he wasn’t happy with the way the refs were calling it. Jackson’s tirade continued on the bench. Eventually, Nelson sent Jackson to the locker room to “cool off” one team source told me. Jack never came out for the second half. Not sure if that was Nellie’s decision or Jackson’s decision. I also heard he got into with an assistant coach. That rumor was disputed. I don’t know what happened once he left the bench, as Nelson isn’t talking and Jackson isn’t available. But it must’ve been serious because it forced Nelson into a first.

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

Francisco Garcia out 4+ months after surgery

Sacramento Kings’ swingman Francisco Garcia underwent successful surgery this morning at the UC Davis Medical Center to repair a broken right radius in his forearm and ligament damage to his wrist. Dr. Mark Lee performed the three-hour procedure. Garcia will spend eight weeks immobilized in a cast. He is expected to miss a minimum of four months of action.

Austin Daye, Carlos Delfino suspended for fighting

Detroit Pistons forward Austin Daye and Milwaukee Bucks guard Carlos Delfino have each been suspended one game without pay for their roles in an altercation that took place during Wednesday night’s preseason game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Daye has been suspended for striking Delfino in the face, and Delfino has been suspended for retaliating by swinging at Daye. The incident occurred with 34.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Detroit’s 113-104 win over Milwaukee at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Daye and Delfino will serve their suspensions commencing with the first game of the 2009-10 NBA regular season in which they eligible and physically able to play.

Brandan Wright has left shoulder surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the team announced. Following the surgery, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Wright’s shoulder will be immobilized for up to six (6) weeks, at which point he will be re-evaluated prior to the next phase of rehabilitation.

Wright, 22, suffered the injury during practice on the evening of Friday, October 2. A 6-9 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest. He missed 41 games due to injury or illness in 2008-09, including 37 games due to injury or pain in his left shoulder. Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.

Hawks exercise option on Al Horford

The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the contract option for the 2010-11 season on center Al Horford, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Horford has averaged nearly a double-double as he enters his third pro season, racking up 10.8 points and 9.5 rebounds, while connecting on 51 percent of his field goal attempts. A unanimous pick for the NBA All-Rookie first team in 2007-08, he also finished second in balloting for league Rookie of the Year honors.

He paced the Hawks in FG shooting last year (53%) in addition to delivering 11.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. In the exhibition opener Wednesday against New Orleans, Horford had 11 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.

Francisco Garcia breaks right arm

Sacramento Kings swingman Francisco Garcia today fractured his right forearm during a weight lifting session before practice. He will undergo surgery tomorrow morning. Garcia is currently in his fifth NBA season (all with the Kings).

With a career average of 9.1 points and 3.0 rebounds, Garcia has shown a nice ability to score, but he’s still best used as bench depth.

Jamaal Magloire, Jonas Jerebko suspsended for fight

Detroit Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko and Miami Heat center Jamaal Magloire have been suspended without pay for their roles in an altercation that took place during Monday night’s preseason game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Magloire has been suspended two games for instigating the altercation and striking Jerebko in the face, and Jerebko has been suspended one game for retaliating and striking Magloire in the face. The incident occurred with 5:04 remaining in the fourth quarter of Detroit’s 87-83 win over Miami at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Jerebko and Magloire will serve their suspensions commencing with the first game of the 2009-10 NBA regular season in which they are eligible and physically able to play.