Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Courtney Sims wins D-League MVP

Courtney Sims, who appeared in 32 games with the Iowa Energy, has been named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2008-09 season.  Sims, a 6-11 center, who is currently in the middle of his second 10-day contract with the New York Knicks, was selected by a vote of the NBA D-League’s head coaches.  NBA D-League president Dan Reed will present Sims with his award prior to the start of an upcoming Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

Prior to his GATORADE Call-Up to the Knicks on March 23, Sims was leading the Energy with 22.8 points per game, while shooting 61 percent (277-of-458) from the field to go along with averages of 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 38.8 minutes.  Twice called-up by the Phoenix Suns this season, Sims appeared in one game for Phoenix this season and has yet to appear in a game for New York.

“Courtney really has earned this honor, and I’m proud of him,” said Energy head coach Nick Nurse.  “His development in the last 12 months has been outstanding – he has grown his offensive game, his competitiveness and his athleticism.  The improvements in his game are a total credit to him for all of the hard work he’s put in over the last year and if he can improve as much in the next 12 months as he has in the last, I know he’ll be a great asset to the Knicks or any NBA team.”

The Co-MVP of the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star Game in Phoenix, Sims scored in double figures in all 32 of his games with the Energy, including 21 games with 20 or more points and six 30-plus outings, including twice notching a season-high 36-points.  Additionally, Sims recorded 22 points/rebounds double-doubles and one triple-double when he opened the NBA D-League season with 22 points, 17 rebounds and an NBA D-League record-tying 11 blocks in a 113-101 road win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Twice honored during the season for his standout play, Sims earned NBA D-League Performer of the Week honors on Dec. 1 when he averaged a double-double of 22.5 points and 14.5 rebounds to go with 8.0 blocks while shooting 54 percent (13-of-24) from the.  Later that month, Sims was named NBA D-League Player of the Month for December, as he averaged 24.3 points and 13.0 rebounds, shooting 62 percent (67-of-109) from the field, scoring in double figures in all six games and recording five double-doubles (points/rebounds) while  leading Iowa to a 6-1 record during the month.

Sims appeared in three games for the Indiana Pacers during the 2007-08 season and has seen training camp, summer league and preseason action with the Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats since finishing his career at the University of Michigan.  During his four-year career as a Wolverine, Sims averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 131 games, earning a spot on the Big 10 Conference All-Freshman team in 2004.

“Courtney is a perfect example of what our league is about,” said Chris Alpert, vice president of basketball operations and player personnel for the NBA D-League.  “He has utilized the NBA D-League as an opportunity to develop his skills and as a platform to showcase his ability to NBA teams.  It’s nice to see his hard work is paying off and it’s encouraging to see our coaches recognize Courtney’s impact he has on his team’s success. Courtney has demonstrated all season that he is a top NBA prospect and we wish him the best with the New York Knicks.”

Sims joins Ansu Sesay (Greenville, 2002), current New Orleans Hornet Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2003), Tierre Brown (Charleston, 2004), current Dallas Maverick Matt Carroll (Roanoke, 2005), Marcus Fizer (Austin, 2006), Randy Livingston (Idaho, 2007) and Kasib Powell (Sioux Falls, 2008) as winners of the NBA Development League Most Valuable Player Award.

Knicks re-sign Joe Crawford

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that guard Joe Crawford has been signed for the remainder of the season. The 6-5, 210-pound rookie had been signed to a 10-day contract on Mar. 27 and has yet to appear in a game for New York.

I actually like this dude and think if he keeps clawing at it, he could carve out an NBA career as a deep bench player.

–Jeff

Jordan, Stockton, others to make Hall

The AP reports: It was only a matter of time, and now Michael Jordan is in the Hall of Fame. Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 Monday with David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer. The announcement was made in Detroit, site of the men’s Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan’s Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history.

Andrew Bogut won’t rush back

When a really good player (or even a not-so-good player) is injured, the season is close to ending, and the team isn’t making the playoffs, it makes no sense for that player to rush back and try to get some games in. It’s smarter to stay out and continue to heal.

And that’s what Andrew Bogut is doing. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:

Despite the favorable medical reports received by center Andrew Bogut last week, coach Scott Skiles said that there just weren’t enough games left to try and work Bogut back into rotation to play in a game or two before the end of the season. Bogut has been out since Feb. 3 with an incomplete stress fracture in his lower back.

With 32 wins and 46 losses the Bucks are currently tied with New Jersey for 11th in the Eastern conference. They’re five games behind the 8th place Detroit Pistons.

Cavaliers finally release Eric Snow

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made the medically necessary release of Cavaliers guard and Canton-native Eric Snow, it was announced today by Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry.

Snow suffered, what ultimately became, a career-ending injury to his left knee immediately prior to the start of the 2007-08 NBA season. He has not practiced or played during the current 2008-09 NBA season.

“We appreciate all that Eric has done for the Cavaliers both on the basketball court and in the community. Eric is a tremendous competitor. He had a very successful playing career and I look forward to watching his broadcasting and coaching careers unfold,” said Ferry.

Snow enjoyed a long, successful and notable NBA career, the last several seasons of which were with the Cavaliers. During Eric’s final full season of play (2006-07) wearing the Wine and Gold, the Cavaliers won their first-ever Eastern Conference Championship and made their first-ever trip to the NBA Finals.

“It was a great privilege and dream come true, not just to play for my hometown team, but to finish my career in front of the fans who have given me so much support throughout my career.  I loved the role offered to me of being a veteran the younger players could rely on, as the organization was rebuilding this franchise into a winner.  The Cavaliers have done it the right way and I am proud to be a part of a new and re-energized winning tradition,” said Snow.

Snow, a second round pick (43rd overall) in the 1995 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, was acquired by the Cavaliers from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Kedrick Brown and Kevin Ollie on July 20, 2004. In four seasons with the Cavaliers, Snow played in 267 games (147 starts) and averaged 4.0 points, 3.9 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game. Snow played in all but one regular season game from the 2004-05 through the 2006-07 seasons.

The 2005 recipient of the J. Walker Kennedy Citizenship Award presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, Snow was a true champion in the community and worked hard to make a positive impact with local fathers and their children. His work included the popular Full Court Fathers program, which brought a father/child duo to every home game for a special pregame meeting with Snow, as well as his annual father/son basketball clinic.

Snow was also very active with a number of team and individual community programs, such as annual holiday toy drives and the construction of the Eric Snow Reading and Learning Center at the Ed “Peel” Coleman Community Center in Canton, Ohio. He hosted an annual fundraising golf tournament and summer basketball camps in support of his Shoot for the Moon Foundation. Snow made charitable donations to local non-profit agencies promoting positive father/child relationships for his steals and assists on the court. He also received the 2005 National Basketball Players Association Community Contribution Award at the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.

Thunder recall two from D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has recalled forward D.J. White and guard Kyle Weaver from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

White has appeared in six games (five starts) for the 66ers during three assignments to the D-League. The 6-9 forward averaged 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 31 minutes per game while with Tulsa.

Weaver saw action in two games (two starts) during his first assignment to the 66ers. The 6-6 guard averaged 17 points, 9.0 assists and 7.5 rebounds in 44 minutes per game.

Both players will practice with the Thunder today.

Andrew Bogut recovery is on schedule

waukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond released today the following statement on the injury (incomplete stress fracture – lower back) to center Andrew Bogut (7-0, 260).

“We are very pleased by this week’s test results that show Andrew is well on his way to a full recovery from his back injury.  Because his injury required him to rest and refrain from cardiovascular activities for the past eight weeks, we do not anticipate Andrew returning to game action for the remainder of the regular season.”

In the coming weeks, Bogut will begin a supervised strength and conditioning program.  He is expected to be fully recovered for the start of training camp in October.

In 36 games this season, Bogut, 24, averaged 11.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocked shot in 31.2 minutes per game.  At the time of his injury, Bogut was one of 11 players in the league averaging double-figures in both points and rebounds, and one of 13 players in the NBA that was averaging a double-double for the season.

Bucks sign Salim Stoudamire

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Salim (Sah-LEEM) Stoudamire (6-1, 175) to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Stoudamire, 26, has three seasons of NBA experience with the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 8.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 157 games.  He is the all-time free throw percentage leader in Hawks history (minimum 200 attempts) connecting at a clip of 88.2 percent.

Originally selected by the Hawks with the 31st overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Stoudamire was named a Second Team All-America selection by Associated Press and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) as a senior at the University of Arizona.  He also earned First Team John R. Wooden Award All-American mention and First Team All-Pac Ten honors in his senior year with the Wildcats.  He finished his four-year collegiate career in 9th place in NCAA history in three-point percentage (.458) and tied for 18th in career three-point field goals made (342).

The Bucks roster now stands at 15 players.

Raptors re-assign Nathan Jawai to D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have reassigned rookie forward-centre Nathan Jawai to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. Jawai will continue to be included on the Raptors’ roster and will be placed on the team’s inactive list.

Jawai was previously assigned to Idaho on February 26, appearing in 10 games with the Stampede, starting nine. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 25.0 minutes. He posted two double-doubles, with personal bests of 21 points at Utah on March 16 and 10 rebounds on two occasions (versus Reno on March 21 and March 16 versus Rio Grande Valley). He was recalled by Toronto on March 23.

Jawai, 22, has appeared in six games totaling two points and two rebounds in 19 minutes with Toronto this season. He was cleared December 17 to begin physical activity after being sidelined since training camp for precautionary reasons as a result of an abnormality detected during normal procedural pre-season cardiac screening.

The club acquired the draft rights to Jawai from the Indiana Pacers on July 9. He was the 41st overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. He is the first indigenous player from Australia to be drafted by an NBA team.

Idaho, who is led by head coach Bryan Gates, has been designated as Toronto’s D-League affiliate for the 2008-09 season. In addition to the Stampede, the 16-team NBA D-League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (Calif.), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Erie BayHawks (Penn.), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Ind.), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders, Reno Bighorns (Nev.), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (McAllen, Tex.), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.), Tulsa 66ers (Okla.) and Utah Flash (Provo).

Raptors sign Quincy Douby to second 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have signed guard Quincy Douby to a second 10-day contract. Douby was originally signed to a 10-day contract on March 24, becoming the 17th Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season and the 135th overall since the league began play in 2001.

In one game with Toronto, Douby registered two points and one assist in five minutes. Prior to signing his first 10-day contract with Toronto, 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.

The Raptors face the New York Knicks on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is 1p.m. (CBC/FAN 590).