Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

OKC Thunder retain Scott Brooks as head coach

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team will retain interim coach Scott Brooks as head coach.

“We are excited to have a Head Coach in Scott Brooks who believes in our philosophies and consistently leads with those values,” said Presti. “He has a passion to help our players develop, continue to foster accountability and selfless play, and has the ability to communicate with every player on our roster.”

Brooks was named interim head coach of the Thunder on November, 22, 2008. The Lathrop, California native guided to the Thunder to a 21-47 (.309) record in his first stint as a head coach.

Brooks spent six years as an NBA assistant coach with the Thunder (2007-2008), Denver Nuggets (2003-2006) and Sacramento Kings (2006-2007) following an 11-year NBA career. Brooks saw action with seven teams during his career. He also served as an assistant/head coach with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA, guiding the club to a 23-14 record.

Brooks graduated from UC-Irvine, playing two seasons for the Anteaters, where he led the team with 23.8 points per game as a senior.

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Spurs assign Marcus Williams to D-League

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have assigned guard/forward Marcus Williams to the Austin Toros, the NBA Development League team owned and operated by the Spurs.

The 6-7, 207-lb Williams appeared in two games with San Antonio where he averaged 2.0 points in 1.5 minutes.  He was signed by the Spurs on 4/8.

An All-League First Team Selection with the Toros this season, Williams averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 45 games.  He was named the D-League Performer of the Week for the week of 3/30 after averaging a triple-double with 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists in three games.

Ray Allen suspended for elbowing Varejao

Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics has been suspended one game without pay for elbowing Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in the groin, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics 107-76 loss to the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday, April 12.

Allen will serve his suspension tonight when the Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA.

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Knicks sign Chris Hunter

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent forward/center Chris Hunter has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Hunter, a member of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, became the 24th Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

Hunter, 6-11, 240-pounds, averaged 19.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 47 games with Fort Wayne this season. The Gary, IN-native registered 21 point-rebound double-doubles in 2008-09 with Fort Wayne and ranked among the league leaders in points and rebounds per game. Following a four-year career at the University of Michigan, Hunter played professionally overseas in Poland and Belgium before signing with Fort Wayne prior to this season.

The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.

Raptors sign Quincy Douby through next season

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed guard Quincy Douby for the remainder of this season and the 2009-10 season. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. The Raptors signed the free agent to consecutive 10-day contracts March 24 and April 2.

Douby has appeared in six games for Toronto, averaging 5.2 points and 1.7 assists in 10.7 minutes. He has averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 14.0 minutes in the past three games, shooting .667 (10-15) from the field and three-point range (4-6) during that span.

Douby, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, averaged 18.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 28.6 minutes in five games with the D-League’s Erie BayHawks this season. He scored in double figures in all five games, with a high of 23 points at Albuquerque.

Douby, 24, was the 19th selection as an early entry candidate by the Sacramento Kings in the 2006 NBA Draft. He averaged 4.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in 116 career games with the Kings. He posted a career-high 32 points at the Los Angeles Lakers on April 15, 2008. He was released by Sacramento on January 21.

Douby averaged 17.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 95 career games at Rutgers University. He finished his career ranked sixth in school history in scoring (1,690) and holds the school record for points scored in a single season (839 in 2005-06). He averaged 25.4 points as a junior, leading the Big East in scoring and finishing sixth nationally. He earned first-team All-Big East honours in his junior season.

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Hedo Turkoglu is OK

The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports (via blog): But there was good news: Hedo Turkoglu, said Van Gundy, has no swelling in his ankle and could have played against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight if the game meant something. He should be ready for the first round of the playoffs this week, which open in Orlando. Turkoglu sprained his left ankle late in Saturday night’s loss to the New Jersey Nets. “He was had very little swelling and no discoloration,” Van Gundy said. “To be quite honest, if this were a game we had to have, I think he could actually go tonight. He and Rashard could both go.”

Euroleague MVP for March/April: Erazem Lorbek

Euroleague.net reports: A former Euroleague Rising Star Trophy winner, all grown up now at age 25, has done the seemingly impossible during March and April – made defending champion CSKA Moscow look even stronger. While CSKA was qualifying for its record seventh consecutive Final Four over the last two months, big man Erazem Lorbek was solidifying his role as the newest major contributor for the Russian powerhouse. During the five victories in March and April with which CSKA reached and then swept through the playoffs, Lorbek led the champs in scoring, index rating or both in every game except one. For his outsized role in keeping CSKA’s back-to-back title hopes very much alive, Lorbek is Euroleague Basketball’s choice as March/April MVP.

Ben Wallace has left knee strain

Ben Wallace left the Cavaliers game last night at home vs. the Celtics in the 2nd Quarter with a left knee contusion and did not return to play. He did not travel with the team to Indiana last night for tonight’s game vs. the Pacers.

Ben was re-evaluated at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health this morning and received an MRI, the results of which revealed a left patella tendon strain.

He will receive treatment and rehab here in Cleveland today and is now listed as Out for tonight’s game in Indiana and Doubtful for Wednesday’s game at home vs. Philadelphia. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Curtis Stinson is D-League Performer of week

Curtis Stinson of the Iowa Energy today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played the week of April 6, 2009.  Stinson is the second Energy player to earn the honor this season.

Stinston led Iowa to a 2-0 record last week as the team clinched the Central Division title with averages of 21.5 points, 15.0 assists, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals.  His two 15-assist games marked the 19th and 20th time he has reached double-figures in assists this season.

This season, Stinson ranked third in the NBA D-league with 8.4 assists while also adding 16.1 points in 50 games, all starts for the Energy.  The 6-2 guard from Iowa State is playing his third season in the NBA D-League.

Other top performers last week included Albuquerque’s Will Conroy, who averaged 31.0 points and 7.8 assists in four games for the Thunderbirds; Colorado’s Trey Gilder, who averaged 23.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in four games for the 14ers; Austin’s Malik Hairston, who averaged 38.0 points in three games for the Toros; Austin’s Dwayne Jones, who averaged 22.0 points and 18.5 rebounds in four games for the Toros; and Erie’s Maureece Rice, who averaged 28.0 points and 8.0 assists in two wins for the BayHawks.