Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Thunder assign Steven Hill to D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has assigned center Steven Hill to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Hill (7-0, 245) saw action in one regular season game with the Thunder. The Branson, Missouri native scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in two minutes of action versus the Orlando Magic.

Hill is the first player to be assigned to the 66ers by the Oklahoma City Thunder since the Professional Basketball Club, LLC assumed control of the NBA Development League franchise on July 31, 2008.

Bruce Bowen now a reserve

San Antonio Spurs small forward Bruce Bowen has made a living out of playing amazing defense, angering opponents, and occasionally cheap-shotting them. But, he’s old, and the team’s roster is diluted right now with both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili out with injuries. So, a change has been made. The San Antonio Express-News (Jeff McDonald) reports:

The Spurs seem to have followed the lead of Bruce Bowen, who started the first four games of the season — and the first 555 of his Spurs’ career — before being transformed into a reserve. He comes off the bench now, without complaint. “It’s a matter of priorities,” Bowen said. “So what if you’re only playing eight minutes? There are a lot of people out there who would love to play in the NBA, for just those eight minutes.” For Bonner, any amount of NBA minutes is a blessing. In the span of three games earlier this month, he played a grand total of 42 seconds. In the past four, he’s gotten an early call from Popovich, and made the most of it, averaging a shade more than nine points and making 7 of 14 3-pointers.

With 5 wins and 6 losses the Spurs currently sit in 9th place in the Western conference, one spot out of the playoffs. Until their backcourt is healthy, the team’s goal should probably be just to hover around making the playoffs, and focus on a second half of the season run for playoff positioning. But even with full health, this team lacks the good role players they had in the past, so going far in the post-season could be a serious challenge.

Agent to be Kings assistant GM

The Sacramento Bee (Sam Amick) reports:  The Kings will add a piece to their front office next month, when attorney and agent Jason Levien is expected to join the team as assistant general manager. The move, which sources within the organization and close to the team say should be official in the coming weeks, marks a rare addition to the Kings’ management team that Geoff Petrie has headed for 15 years. And with an on-court rebuilding and youth movement already in effect, the franchise also is taking the same approach upstairs.

Bobcats waive Andre Brown and Linton Johnson

The Charlotte Bobcats today requested waivers on forwards Andre Brown and Linton Johnson III. The Bobcats roster now stands at 13 players.

Brown appeared in four games with averages of 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 point in 10.3 minutes. Brown was signed prior to training camp this season.

Johnson was signed prior to the start of the regular season and appeared in just two games. He was inactive for eight of the Bobcats 10 games this season.

Yao Ming out tonight

Houston Rockets C Yao Ming will not play tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.  Yao is being held out for precautionary reasons after leaving Monday night’s game at Oklahoma City in the fourth quarter due to soreness in his left foot. Diagnostic tests conducted yesterday at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center revealed no structural issues in his foot.  He is listed as day-to-day.

Top recruit Xavier Henry picks Memphis

I don’t normally include college news in this blog, but it’s worth knowing that Xavier Henry, a top national recruit, will be playing for John Calipari at the University of Memphis.

Coach Cal for years has shown an amazing ability to land star players, and Henry is another on that list.

Ticker reports: Both of Henry’s parents played basketball at Kansas, but the younger Henry wanted to be reunited with brother C.J., a freshman on this year’s Memphis team.

Ticker reports: A 6-6 shooting guard at Putnam City High School, Henry averaged 26.7 points and 7.2 rebounds last season in leading his team to a 25-2 record and the quarterfinals of the state Class 6A quarterfinals.

ESPN.com (Christopher Lawlor) reports: The start to Henry’s senior season will be delayed up to six weeks following surgery to repair a broken cheekbone suffered in an automobile accident on Oct. 22. Henry said, he still has headaches after the surgery in which two plates and eight screws were inserted, but he is expected to be cleared for game action in late December.

NBA suspends Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics has been suspended one game without pay for striking Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut in the face. In addition, Bogut’s Foul that was committed on Garnett has been upgraded to a Flagrant Foul Penalty One, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 3:58 remaining in the fourth period of the Celtics 102-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, November 15, at the Bradley Center.

Garnett will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Celtics host the New York Knicks at TD Banknorth Garden.

Here is a video of the incident. Click ‘high quality’ once you’re on the video page.

Pete Newell dies

The AP reports: Pete Newell, the Hall of Fame basketball coach who won an NCAA championship and Olympic gold medal and later tutored some of the game’s greatest big men, died Monday. He was 93. His death was confirmed by the University of California, the school Newell coached to a national title in 1959. Newell, who had been living near San Diego, had a serious lung operation in 2005. Newell coached for 14 years at San Francisco, Michigan State and California before doctors advised him to give it up because of the emotional toll. His final coaching job came in the 1960 Olympics, when he took a U.S. team led by Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Jerry Lucas to a gold medal in Rome. Newell later returned to prominence with his famous “big men” camps. He instructed some of the game’s greatest stars, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Shaquille O’Neal and Ralph Sampson.

The following statement was issued today by Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss regarding the death of former Lakers General Manager Pete Newell: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Pete Newell earlier today,” said Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. “Pete was one of the most brilliant teachers and coaches the game has ever known, and was also an exceptional front office man as the Lakers General Manager from 1972-76. He was a great help to me when I first purchased the Lakers and he was very generous with his time and counsel. In addition to his great contributions to the basketball world, Pete was also one of the finest gentlemen we’ve known. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the Newell family.”

The following statement was issued today by Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson: “This is obviously a very sad day for the game of basketball, whether you are associated with the NBA, college or high school ranks. I’ve known Pete for over 50 years and have a tremendous amount of respect for the man and his many accomplishments. Pete was a great coach and a great man who had the ability to relate to players and people on every level. A countless number of coaches and players benefitted from Pete’s tutelage over the years – including those who attended his specialized camps each summer – and will be indebted to him for the expertise and wisdom that he provided. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Warriors sign Stephen Jackson to contract extension

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard/forward Stephen Jackson to a contract extension, the team announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. InsideHoops.com will post contract details in the next few hours, so reload this page later today.

“We’re excited to have Stephen under contract for the next several years,” said Warriors President Robert Rowell. “He has been nothing short of terrific – both on the floor and in the community – since we acquired him almost two years ago.  He has embraced this opportunity with the Warriors and has become a leader of a very young basketball team. Furthermore, he expressed a desire to be here long-term and we wanted him to be a part of our team as we move forward. We view this as a win-win for everyone.”

Jackson, 30, is averaging 22.1 points (12th in NBA), 6.4 assists (11th in NBA), 3.9 rebounds and 43.4 minutes (1st in NBA) per contest in 10 games thus far this season. His performance this season is building upon his finest NBA campaign in 2007-08, in which he appeared in 73 games and established new career-highs in points (20.1 ppg), assists (4.1 apg), three-point field goals (182), three-point percentage (.363), free throw percentage (.832) and minutes per game (39.1 mpg) to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.26 steals per contest.  He scored 20-or-more points 42 times and helped lead the Warriors to a 46-27 (.630) record in the 73 games in which he appeared.

“I’m extremely happy,” said Jackson.  “The Bay Area has become my second home since I arrived here in 2007 and I can’t accurately describe how good it feels to be wanted and appreciated by an organization.  The Warriors – from Chris Cohan, Robert Rowell, Chris Mullin and Coach Nelson to the last person working in the front office – have embraced me since Day One.  This organization has put me in a position to succeed and, for that, I will be forever grateful.  I am really looking forward to the next several years, helping this young team win and providing my veteran leadership.”

Since being acquired by Golden State from Indiana on January, 17, 2007, Jackson has appeared in 121 regular-season games with the Warriors, averaging 19.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.29 steals in 37.9 minutes per game.  Over that stretch, the Warriors have posted a 73-48 (.603) record in the 121 games in which he has appeared.  Immediately following Jackson’s arrival in 2006-07, the Warriors posted a 23-15 (.604) record in the 38 games in which he played that season, including a 16-5 mark over the final 21 games of the season — which matched the best 21-game finish to a season in NBA history by a team that eventually ended up as the #8 playoff seed.

Currently in his ninth NBA season, Jackson owns career averages of 15.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.32 steals and 31.9 minutes in 550 regular-season games over eight seasons with New Jersey, San Antonio, Atlanta, Indiana and Golden State.

A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Jackson was named the 2007-08 recipient of the Angela & Christopher Cohan Community Service Award, given annually to the Warriors player who best exemplifies the spirit of community service through their outstanding commitment of time, service and financial support to the children and families of the Bay Area.  Additionally, he received the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of March, 2008.  This past summer, Jackson launched the “Jack 1 Foundation,” a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide community initiatives focusing on youth development and empowerment regardless of economic status.  As part of the foundation launch this past summer, he held a grand re-opening ceremony of the Stephen Jackson Academy of Art, Science and Technology in Port Arthur.