Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

New partnership gives Denver Nuggets arena a new name: Ball Arena

Ball Corporation and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment today annnounced a global partnership across three marquee venues in Denver, Los Angeles and London.

The partnership includes naming rights for Ball and KSE’s hometown arena in Denver, Colorado, home to the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and NLL’s Colorado Mammoth, and also home to family entertainment and concerts.

Per Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, “the partnership is a demonstration of both companies’ steadfast commitment to a sustainable future and builds on their long history of working together to support the Denver community.”

Ball and KSE will also partner with the Premier League’s Arsenal F.C., which plays in London’s Emirates Stadium, and the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and their home stadium, SoFi Stadium.

“This is an important moment in sports and entertainment, and we are proud to partner with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to advance sustainability in venues by implementing real-world solutions to the packaging waste crisis,” said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ball Corporation. “We are committed to making recycling an easy, everyday choice for consumers by providing them with infinitely recyclable aluminum cans, bottles and cups that can be used and back on a store shelf in just 60 days, and enhancing recycling infrastructure in venues. We look forward to continuing to work with KSE to bring about positive change for years to come.”

“It is with great pride that we introduce Ball Arena as the new home of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth,” said KSE Founder and Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. “Our goal in selecting a long-term international venues partner was to find a Colorado-based company with global renown to grow side-by-side with our talented young teams. Ball Corporation is an ideal fit for that vision, an innovative leader that shares our commitment to our local community, to environmental sustainability and creating quality jobs in Colorado. We look forward to unveiling Ball Arena and welcoming our fans back home when it is time once again to celebrate live sports and entertainment events responsibly. We ask everyone to continue to stay safe and look after each other so that we can soon enjoy countless amazing memories at Ball Arena.”

“This announcement is an extension of a relationship that began between Ball Corporation and KSE a year ago with the introduction of their infinitely recyclable Ball Aluminum CupTM. That opened the door to this incredible opportunity, that builds on the importance of aluminum packaging and recycling,” said Michael Ceilley, KSE Senior Vice President, Partnership Marketing & Media Sales. “Working together, we believe this partnership will be transformative and help redefine the way arenas and stadiums operate globally. We are also grateful for PepsiCo’s dedication to elevating the fan experience at our arena for over 21 years, and through ongoing official beverage partnerships with the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth and Ball Arena.”

New Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren says team style will be aggressive, disruptive and fun

The new head coach of the Pacers is saying all the right things from a fan entertainment standpoint. Which sounds great to us as well. Here’s the Indianapolis Star:

The Indiana Pacers didn’t want to stick with the old when it came to their coaching search. They pushed the envelope. Got out of their comfort zone. Thought outside the box.

Amid all the cliches to conjure up, they produced anything but a cliche hire when Indianapolis met Nate Bjorkgren on Tuesday.

“Very disruptive. Very aggressive style,” Bjorkgren said about what his offenses and defenses will look like when next season starts. “We’ll be a fun team to watch. You’re going to see a lot of movement on both sides of the ball. You’re going to see weakside movement on the offensive end. You’re going to see different players handling the ball and pushing it up the floor. We want to look for more possessions. We want to utilize the free throw line getting to the rim. Utilize that 3-point line.”

In other words, these Pacers will look 180 degrees different in how they play compared with how Nate McMillan ran them for four years before he was fired in August.

The Pacers probably won’t be active in free agency this summer. The team’s key players, including Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, Jeremy Lamb, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, are signed at least through 2020-21. Their core, assuming it gets kept together, is pretty set, so coach Bjorkgren is walking into a situation where chemisty does already exist. Expect to see the Pacers in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Pistons have big needs to fill in free agency

The Pistons finished this shortened NBA season with a 20-46 record, which was 13th best in the Eastern conference. The only stars on the roster are former NBA MVP Derrick Rose and power forward Blake Griffin, who had an injury-filled, disappointing season. Here’s the Detroit Free Press with an overview of what Pistons free agency may look like this offseason:

The Pistons are projected to have around $30 million in cap space, depending on the new salary cap. They are among six teams in the league that will have cap space, positioning them to be a major player in the free agency and trade market.

Since general manager Troy Weaver took over in June, the organization has avoided using the term “rebuild.” Despite finishing 20-46 and moving on from Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, the franchise is eyeing a return to playoff relevancy.

It’s tough to project exactly what the Pistons will prioritize. But there are two obvious positional needs on the roster — point guard, and center. Pistons coach Dwane Casey told reporters in June that for the roster to continue to develop, the team needs a starting point guard. Derrick Rose is the only natural point guard on the roster with experience. Considering he has a year left on his deal, it seems likely the Pistons will look to acquire a point guard either through the draft or free agency.

The roster also only has one true center under contract next season in recently signed Justin Patton. There are other players on the roster capable of playing the position, but the Pistons lack depth there. Casey experimented with playing Sekou Doumbouya as a small center during group workouts in September, but said having a traditional center is a necessity.

D-Rose is 32 years old, while Griffin is 31. While Rose is signed just through next season, Griffin reportedly has a player option for almost $39 million in the 2021-22 season. Unless he has a seriously great bounce-back season, Griffin is likely to exercise that option to remain with Detroit.

But no matter how those two players play, the team is clearly in rebuild mode, and that needs to dictate the moves they make in the next few months.

Clippers officially name Tyronn Lue new head coach

The L.A. Clippers have named Tyronn Lue as the team’s head coach, it was announced today by Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Lue will become the franchise’s 26th head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the Clippers during the 2019-20 season. Before joining L.A., he was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016.

“Ty has been where we want to go. He is a championship head coach with an extraordinary feel for the game and the people who play it,” Frank said. “He’s one of the great minds in our league, and he’s able to impart his vision to others, because he connects with everybody he meets. We conducted a thorough search and spoke with fantastic candidates. We found that the best choice for our team was already in our building. As head coach, Ty will put a unique imprint on the organization, and drive us to new heights.”

“The pieces we need are in place – committed ownership, smart management, and elite talent, on and off the court, in the NBA’s best market,” Lue said. “My familiarity with the organization, particularly Mr. Ballmer and Lawrence, confirmed this is where I want to be. We have work to do to become champions, but we have the motivation, the tools, and the support to get there. I’m excited to get started.”

During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship during his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and as a player. During that same season, Lue was also selected to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Over the next two seasons, he led the Cavaliers to two more Finals appearances, becoming the third head coach in NBA history to lead his team to three straight NBA Finals in his first three seasons. Lue previously worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics, as an assistant coach and the director of basketball development.

A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning two NBA championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (#10) retired by the school in 2017.

Cleveland Cavaliers sign radio broadcast agreement with iHeartMedia Cleveland

The NBA Cleveland Cavaliers, AHL Cleveland Monsters and NBA G League Canton Charge have signed a multi-year, multi-team broadcast agreement with iHeartMedia Cleveland that will start with the 2020-21 season.

The agreements for iHeartMedia’s network of official flagship stations include WTAM 1100 AM/106.9 FM and WMMS 100.7 FM for Cavs basketball; FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler,” the new home for Monsters hockey; and 99.7 FM Canton’s New Country for Charge basketball.

The stations will broadcast each team’s preseason, regular season and postseason games as well as pre-and postgame programming.

“We are excited to extend our already successful relationship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Monsters, and Charge,” said Keith Hotchkiss, Metro President for iHeartMedia Cleveland. “These teams are an important part of the iHeartMedia family, and this multiyear agreement allows us to continue delivering content to fans who listen to iHeartRadio’s WTAM, WMMS, and FOX Sports 1350 The Gambler.”

“Our decades-long partnership with iHeartMedia Cleveland reflects a mutual commitment and collaboration by all involved to continually find ways to deliver the highest quality broadcast and fan experience possible,” said Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO Len Komoroski. “We’re excited to keep the good times rolling with the great team at iHeartMedia as we introduce a new level of broadcast and promotional inclusion across all of the flagship stations for the Cavs, Monsters and Charge.”

WTAM 1100 AM will continue as the Cavaliers’ long-time flagship station, broadcasting all 82 Cavs regular season games, select preseason games and all playoff games, which will also simulcast live on sister station 100.7 WMMS, Cleveland’s Rock Station.

Both WTAM 1100 AM and 100.7 WMMS will also serve as flagship stations for the 30-station Cavs Radio Network that reaches 38 states and half of Canada.

The extension marks the 31st consecutive season that WTAM 1100 AM has been the official flagship radio home of the Cavaliers, which began in 1990-91 when the station was then WWWE 1100 AM.

It is the 46th season that Cavs games have been broadcast on 1100 AM, starting in the 1971-72 season.

Veteran broadcaster Tim Alcorn will return for his 2nd season as the radio play-by-play voice of the Cavaliers and will be joined by Cavaliers legend, Jim Chones, as the game analyst, who will be back for his 11th season as the game analyst. Returning for his 29th year is studio host Mike Snyder, who will anchor all pregame, halftime and postgame shows. Former OSU great and NBA player Brad Sellers will be back for his 11th year as a postgame studio analyst.

Heat reportedly may pursue Jerami Grant this offseason

A role player who will likely receive increased attention in free agency this NBA offseason is Nuggets forward Jerami Grant. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting that the Heat may choose to pursue him:

Add Jerami Grant to the list of players expected to interest the Heat this offseason. Grant is expected to opt out of his $9.3 million player option with Denver, but it would be a coup if Miami could land him with its $9.3 million mid-level exception.

Grant, a 6-8 swing forward, averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 26 minutes and shot 38.9 percent on threes in 71 regular season games, including 24 starts. He averaged 11.6 points during Denver’s postseason run, starting 16 games and coming off the bench in three others.

Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix reportedly are expected to have interest.

Grant is 26 years old, so this is a pivotal time in his career as he continues to grow as a player were he to change teams and enter a new situation.

Indiana Pacers hire Nate Bjorkgren as head coach

The Indiana Pacers have hired Nate Bjorkgren as their new head coach.

Bjorkgren (pronounced BEE-ork-gren) served as assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors during the past two seasons (2018-20), and helped the Raptors win their first NBA championship during the 2018-19 season. He also served as player development coordinator and assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns for two seasons from 2015-17 before joining the Raptors as an advance scout during the 2017-18 season.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “Bjorkgren replaces Nate McMillan, who was fired after four seasons in charge and three first-round sweeps.”

“We are very pleased and excited to have Nate as our new coach,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “This was an extensive and thorough search, and when we reached the conclusion, we felt strongly Nate is the right coach for us at the right time. He comes from a winning background, has experienced championship success, is innovative and his communication skills along with his positivity are tremendous. We all look forward to a long, successful partnership in helping the Pacers move forward.”

Prior to his tenure as an NBA assistant, Bjorkgren served as a head coach in the NBA G League for four seasons and compiled a 126-74 record (.630) with the Bakersfield Jam (2014-15), Iowa Energy (2013-14), Santa Cruz Warriors (2012-13) and Dakota Wizards (2011-12). He served as an assistant coach under current Raptors head coach Nick Nurse for Iowa from 2007-11 and helped the Energy win the 2010-11 NBA G League championship.

“I am honored to take on the role as head coach of the Indiana Pacers,” said Bjorkgren. “This is something I have prepared for during my career. I want to thank Kevin, Chad (Buchanan), Kelly (Krauskopf), Larry Bird, Donnie Walsh and Herb and Steve Simon for this opportunity. I also want to thank Nick Nurse for giving me my first professional coaching job 14 years ago.

“I’m looking forward to working with this great team to achieve our goal as NBA champions.”

Bjorkgren is a native of Storm Lake, Iowa. He played basketball collegiately at the University of South Dakota and Buena Vista University in Iowa.

Kobe Bryant honored with display at Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Honors for the late Kobe Bryant will continue to roll out for a long time. The latest comes by way of Washington, D.C. Here’s the Los Angeles Times:

For the transformative effect he had on the sport of basketball and on American culture more broadly, the late Kobe Bryant will be remembered with a new display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.

The display — featuring a Lakers jersey that Bryant wore during the 2008 NBA Finals — was installed in the museum on the National Mall last week and will be revealed to the public for the first time Monday, said Damion Thomas, the museum’s sports curator.

“We wanted to be able to share his impact,” Thomas said. “It really is about the cultural significance of basketball as an expression of the African American fight for greater rights.”

The display, which also features other jerseys and basketball items of historic significance, further cements Bryant’s presence at the museum, which already featured his image in its Sports Gallery. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, also helped to build the museum with a $1-million donation from their foundation.

NBA scout Brent ‘BJ’ Johnson dies in bike accident

There was a tragic accident Thursday that took the life of one of the most popular scouts in the NBA. Per the Houston Chronicle:

Longtime Rockets personnel scout Brent “B.J.” Johnson, a well-known and popular fixture throughout basketball, died Thursday evening following a bicycle accident in Houston. Johnson was 65.

“He was riding his bike and hit a culvert,” Johnson’s wife Claudette said. “There was construction. They are thinking he fell forward and broke his neck because there was no blood.”

Johnson was one of the longest-tenured members of the Rockets organization.

Everyone who knew Johnson has very kind words about him. He’ll be greatly missed.

Utah Jazz add Sergi Oliva to coaching staff

The Utah Jazz added Sergi Oliva to their coaching staff today.

Oliva joins the Jazz after spending the past six seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, most recently as Vice President of Strategy.

A native of Gelida, Catalonia, he first joined the 76ers in 2014 as a Basketball Operations Analyst after he’d earned multiple degrees from Polytechnic University of Catalonia, including a PhD in Computational Complexity and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science.

Oliva spent 12 years previously as a head coach at the youth and senior amateur levels in Catalonia. He is also a regular collaborator of the Catalan Basketball Federation (FCBQ), particularly as a lecturer in their coaching certification courses.