NBA News Blog – Page 483 – NBA Blog

Ben Gordon reportedly arrested in Los Angeles

Former NBA player Ben Gordon has been going through some things in 2017. There have been several incidents this year. Here’s TMZ Sports reporting the latest:

Ex-NBA player Ben Gordon was arrested in L.A. Monday afternoon — after allegedly roughing up a guy at an apartment building … and leaving with several thousand dollars of his money, TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us … the 34-year-old went to the apartment complex where he used to live in an effort to get his security deposit back. We’re told there was a dispute about the money and Gordon allegedly put hands on the guy and threatened him.

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Grizzlies fire head coach David Fizdale

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the organization has relieved David Fizdale of his head coaching duties. Grizzlies associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been named interim head coach.

Fizdale was named the 13th head coach in franchise history on May 29, 2016 and compiled a 50-51 record (.495) during his two seasons in Memphis, including a 7-12 record (.368) this season.

“After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond,” Wallace said. “Coach Fizdale represented the Grizzlies and City of Memphis proudly, and we wish him well as he continues his career.”

“Coach Fizdale worked tirelessly to achieve on-court success, and for that, we are grateful. We wish him and his family all the best in the future,” Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert J. Pera said. “We remain focused on achieving sustainable, long-term success.”

Before joining the Grizzlies as associate head coach in June 2016, Bickerstaff served five seasons (2011-16) with the Houston Rockets, originally as an assistant coach and then as interim head coach, guiding the Rockets to a 37-34 record (.521) to close the 2015-16 season with a berth in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. His previous NBA coaching experience also includes four seasons (2007-11) as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves and three seasons (2004-07) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats under his father, Bernie Bickerstaff.

Steve ‘Snapper’ Jones has died

Steve “Snapper” Jones, former Portland Trail Blazers player, team announcer and later NBA broadcaster, has passed away in Houston at age 75. Family members and friends confirmed Jones’ death this evening following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be announced soon by the Jones family.

Jones played 64 games in a Trail Blazers uniform during the 1975-76 season, averaging 6.5 points per game in what would be his final year as a player. He was acquired by the Trail Blazers in October of 1975 for a sixth-round draft pick from the Golden State Warriors. The bulk of his pro career was spent in the American Basketball Association (ABA) where Jones was a three-time ABA All-Star and played for five franchises, including the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Rockets (now Nuggets) – both now teams in the NBA. His nine-year ABA/NBA pro career spanned 704 games, with an impressive 15.2 points per game average.

In more recent years, Jones carved a successful career as an NBA broadcaster, including providing color commentary for CBS Television when the Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 1977 NBA Championship. His broadcasting resume included work for ESPN/ABC, TBS, TNT, Fox Sports Net, USA Network and NBC, where he was an analyst for the “NBA on NBC” for more than a decade. Jones was also part of numerous Trail Blazers broadcasting tandems, including Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honoree Bill Schonely.

“Steve was as positive and good-natured a broadcasting partner as I could have had,” said Schonely of Jones, who would be a broadcasting fixture with the Trail Blazers for 26 years. “He loved to call me ‘Pops’ as a nickname, and we worked very well together on Trail Blazers games during some of the early years of the franchise. He was a terrific guy.”

In March 2012, Jones was honored at center court of the then Rose Garden arena (now Moda Center) by the Trail Blazers for his years of service to the franchise as a player and broadcaster. Among his Trail Blazers broadcasting partners along with Schonely were Pat Lafferty, Pete Pranica, Mike Rice and Mike Barrett. Jones moved to Houston in 2008 where he resided until his death.

As a collegiate player, Jones played for the University of Oregon from 1961-64, leading the team in scoring during the 1963-64 season. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, but raised in Portland, Jones was a standout player locally at Franklin High School, leading his squad to an Oregon state championship in 1959. His younger brother Nick Jones, also a highly-touted player at Franklin and later Oregon, played for the Golden State Warriors and was a member of the Trail Blazers Community Relations staff for several years.

Al Horford dishes 10 assists, Celtics beat Magic

Celtics basketball is a beautiful thing this season. And the magic continued, err, against the Magic. Here’s ESPN.com reporting on the outcome of Friday’s matchup:

Before Friday’s visit to play the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel offered high praise for Boston big man Al Horford, calling him maybe the “most underrated guy in the league.” Then, his poor Magic team got a reminder of why Horford earned those plaudits.

Horford matched a career high by dishing out 10 assists, seven of which came in the first quarter, as the Celtics bucked their season-long trend of slow starts during a 118-103 triumph over the Magic at TD Garden.

Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 30 points over just 25 minutes, and Terry Rozier snapped out of a recent shooting funk to score a career-best 23 points off the bench. But it was Horford who set the tone after Celtics coach Brad Stevens subtly reminded his team that ball movement would be key to Boston’s avoiding the first-half lulls that plagued the Celtics even during their recent 16-game winning streak.

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Jazz correct pronunciation of Ekpe Udoh

The Jazz have announced that the accurate pronunciation of Jazz forward/center Ekpe Udoh’s last name is “OO-Doe.” Many listings had the pronunciation as “YOU-Doe.”

Here are other pronunciation guides for other Jazz players:

Danté Exum (DAHN-tay x-umm)
Rudy Gobert (go-BARE)
Joe Ingles (ING-uhls)
Raul Neto (Hah-OOL Nett-oh)
Thabo Sefolosha (TAH-bo sef-a-LOW-sha)
Ekpe Udoh (EPP-ay OO-Doe)

Delon Wright out with shoulder injury

Toronto Raptors guard Delon Wright visited specialist Dr. Riley Williams at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday in New York. After consultation with Williams, it was decided no surgery is required at this time, the team announced.

Wright will continue his rehabilitation with team medical officials. There is no timetable for Wright’s return, but updates will be provided when appropriate.

Wright’s right shoulder was dislocated in the second quarter of a game at New Orleans on Nov. 15th. He had surgery on the same shoulder in August, 2016 after sustaining an injury during an NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas.

The 25-year-old guard has averaged 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 20.9 minutes this season for the Toronto Raptors.

Patrick Beverley undergoes season-ending surgery

The L.A. Clippers today announced that guard Patrick Beverley underwent an arthroscopic lateral meniscus repair, and a microfracture procedure, on his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. Walt Lowe at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, in Houston.

Beverley is expected to miss the remainder of the 2017-18 NBA season.

Beverley, 29, has appeared in 11 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.73 steals in 30.3 minutes per game.

“The hits just keep rolling,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “That’s a tough one because you could see him trying to get back. He plays the one game and then his knee was really bothering him. We sent him back to have a look at it and he ended up having surgery, where we thought it would just be the meniscus. It turned out to be a lot more. So he’s out for the season. We just want him to get healthy.”

Knicks hire Dan Sabreen as VP of public relations

The New York Knicks have hired Dan Sabreen as vice president of public relations, effective November 27. Mr. Sabreen joins the Knicks after spending more than a decade at CBS Sports, where he most recently served as VP of communications.

As vice president, Mr. Sabreen will serve as the Knicks chief communications strategist with oversight of all public relations activities for the team. He will be responsible for developing and executing communications plans for all announcements; working closely with the team’s management, coaching staff and players on media appearances; driving proactive publicity efforts focused on non-traditional media outlets and collaborating with marketing on the creation of compelling content for social media.

Mr. Sabreen will also manage the execution of game-night operations for media, as well as alumni relations. He will oversee a seasoned public relations staff.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Dan’s caliber joining our communications team,” said Steve Mills, president of the New York Knickerbockers. “Dan brings 15 years of experience in guiding and promoting some of sports’ most well-known properties. His relationships, along with his keen understanding of media will be a valuable addition as we continue to seek opportunities to build on the New York Knicks’ legendary brand.”

Mr. Sabreen joins the Knicks after 12 years at CBS Sports. Most recently, as vice president of communications, he was responsible for helping to oversee publicity efforts for all CBS Sports properties, including broadcast, cable and social media.

Before joining CBS Sports Network (then CSTV) in 2005, Mr. Sabreen oversaw public relations for Sports America, Inc., where he led media relations strategy for the company and its various events and properties, including the McDonald’s All-American Games, Jordan Brand Classic and Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic.

He started his career in 2002 as an account executive at the public relations agency, Goodman Media International, Inc.

Mr. Sabreen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication.

John Henson undergoes eye procedure

Milwaukee Bucks center John Henson will miss tomorrow’s game at Phoenix following a successful eye procedure this morning in Chicago by Dr. Parag Majmudar. Henson is scheduled to join the team later this week in preparation for Saturday’s game in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz.

In 16 games (9 starts) this season, Henson is averaging 6.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots in 22.5 minutes per game.

Mirza Teletovic out after knee surgery

Milwaukee Bucks forward Mirza Teletovic underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to repair cartilage in his left knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York under the supervision of Bucks team physician Dr. William Raasch.

Teletovic is expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

In 10 games this season, Teletovic is averaging 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 15.9 minutes per game while shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range.

The Bucks are 8-8 this season: 5-4 at home and 3-4 on the road. They’d being led in scoring by Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.7 ppg), Khris Middleton (18.7 ppg), Malcolm Brogdon (13.1 ppg) and recent backcourt addition Eric Bledsoe (12.2 ppg in six games as a Buck).