NBA News Blog – Page 667 – NBA Blog

Al Jefferson to undergo knee surgery

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that center Al Jefferson will undergo arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to address a tear in the lateral meniscus of his right knee. Earlier today, Jefferson underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed the injury.

The procedure will be completed by Hornets Team Physician Dr. Marcus Cook at Novant Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte. Jefferson’s recovery time is expected to be approximately six weeks.

The 11th-year center from Prentiss, Miss. is averaging 12.5 points (.482), 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.2 minutes per game in 19 contests (17 starts). In three years with Charlotte, Jefferson has averaged 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.0 minutes per game. In his first season in Charlotte, he was named to the 2013-14 All-NBA Third Team.

Alec Burks has surgery on fractured left fibula

$Alec Burks has surgery on fractured left fibula$

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks:

Burks underwent successful surgery today on his fractured left fibula. The procedure was performed in Salt Lake City by ankle and foot specialist Dr. Charles L. Saltzman, the chair of the department of orthopaedics at University of Utah Health Care, and assisted by Jazz head orthopaedic team physician, Dr. Travis Maak. Jazz head athletic trainer Brian Zettler accompanied Burks.

Burks will remain in Salt Lake City to begin his rehabilitation, and will then accompany the team on road trips once he is cleared to travel. He will be out indefinitely, and further updates will be provided when appropriate.

He suffered the injury in a fall after being fouled during a shot attempt against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 26.

At the time of his injury, Burks was one of three players to have appeared in every game this season for the Jazz. The fifth-year guard is averaging a career-high 14.3 points (third on the team) on a career-best 38.7 percent three-point shooting, with 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.1 minutes in 28 games (three starts). His 14.4 points per game as a reserve rank third in the NBA.

Grizzlies sign Ryan Hollins, waive Russ Smith

The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that the team has signed center Ryan Hollins and waived guard Russ Smith.

Hollins (7-0, 240) is a 10-year NBA veteran who has averaged 3.7 points on 58.1 percent shooting and 2.2 rebounds in 486 career games (67 starts) with the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. The Pasadena, Calif. native was selected by Charlotte in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft following his senior season at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The 31-year-old joined the Grizzlies during their 2015-16 training camp and averaged 5.4 points on 83.3 percent shooting and 3.0 rebounds in 11.5 minutes in seven preseason games. Most recently, he made five appearances (three starts) for Washington before he was waived on Dec. 23.

Smith (6-0, 165) holds NBA career averages of 2.0 points and 0.7 assists in 4.9 minutes in 27 games (zero starts) with the Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. The 24-year-old recorded 2.3 points in 4.9 minutes in 21 games for Memphis after he was acquired from New Orleans in a trade on Jan. 12. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round (47th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft following his senior season at the University of Louisville.

Alec Burks will have surgery on fractured left fibula

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks, who suffered a fractured left fibula in a fall after being fouled during a shot attempt on Dec. 26 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers:

After further evaluation, Burks (6-6, 211, Colorado) has elected to undergo surgery on his fractured left fibula. Burks opted for the procedure in an effort to expedite and assure the healing process. The surgery will be performed Tuesday in Salt Lake City by ankle and foot specialist Dr. Charles L. Saltzman, the chair of the department of orthopaedics at University of Utah Health Care.

Burks will remain in Salt Lake City to begin his rehabilitation, and will then accompany the team on road trips once he is cleared to travel. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.

Suns fire assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi, promote Nate Bjorkgren and Earl Watson

The Phoenix Suns today announced changes to their coaching staff, promoting assistant coaches Nate Bjorkgren and Earl Watson to the front of the bench on Head Coach Jeff Hornacek’s staff. The Suns also announced Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi have been relieved of their duties as assistant coaches.

“It is never easy to make changes to a coaching staff in the middle of a season but we feel Earl and Nate are ready to take the next steps in their careers and provide some creative ideas to our group,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “We thank Mike and Jerry for their contributions. They are both good coaches who made significant contributions to our team winning 87 games over the previous two seasons.”

Bjorkgren (pronounced BEE-ork-Gren) is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Suns and second season overall with the organization as in 2014-15 he served as head coach of the Bakersfield Jam, the team’s NBA D-League affiliate. An experienced head coach in the D-League, Bjorkgren amassed a 126-74 (.630) record in four seasons, going 34-16 in his one season with the Jam, leading the Iowa Energy to the Central Division title in 2013-14 and the Santa Cruz Warriors to the 2012-13 D-League Finals. Before becoming the head coach of the Dakota Wizards in 2011-12, Bjorkgren spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Energy from 2007-11.

Watson is in his first season with the Suns after working last season as an assistant coach for the Austin Spurs of the D-League. Watson became a coach following a 13-year NBA career as a player in which he appeared in 878 career games from 2001-2014. Watson averaged 6.4 points, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals for his career, posting highs of 10.7 points and 6.8 assists in 78 games (73 starts) with Seattle in 2007-08. Watson played for three NBA Coach of the Year Award winners throughout his 13-year career (Hubie Brown, George Karl, Scott Brooks), as well as Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan. During Watson’s three seasons with the Jazz from 2010-13, Hornacek served first as shooting coach then as an assistant coach for the team.

Sichting and Longabardi both joined the Suns as assistant coaches prior to the 2013-14 season.

Matt Barnes suspended over incident with Derek Fisher

Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has been suspended for two games without pay for engaging in a physical altercation with and threatening New York Knicks’ Head Coach Derek Fisher, the NBA announced today. The altercation occurred on October 3, 2015 in Redondo Beach, CA. The NBA conducted its own investigation into the matter.

Barnes’ suspension will begin when the Grizzlies face the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at FedExForum.

On October 7, 2015 the New York Post reported: “Knicks coach Derek Fisher was attacked in Los Angeles by NBA bad boy Matt Barnes, who drove 95 miles to “beat the s—t out of him” when he found out Fisher was romancing his estranged wife, sources told The Post on Wednesday. The 6-foot-7 Barnes, who now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, made a fast break from his team’s California training camp Saturday when he was tipped off that Fisher was making time with sultry “Basketball Wives LA” star Gloria Govan in the home Barnes once shared with her.”

Eric Bledsoe suffers torn meniscus in left knee

Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe has sustained a torn meniscus in his left knee. The injury occurred during last night’s game against Philadelphia and a subsequent MRI revealed the tear.

Bledsoe will undergo surgery Tuesday, December 29. The surgery will be performed by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Carter.

The sixth-year guard is averaging career-highs of 20.4 points, 6.1 assists and 2.0 steals, in addition to 4.0 rebounds and 34.2 minutes in 31 games this season, his third with the Suns.

Tiago Splitter sustains calf strain

Atlanta Hawks center Tiago Splitter left last night’s game versus New York due to right lower leg muscle soreness and did not return. Further examination revealed a mild right calf strain. Splitter did not travel with the team to Indiana and is out for the next two games. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Alec Burks suffers fractured left fibula

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks:

$Alec Burks suffers fractured left fibula$

Burks (6-6, 211, Colorado) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his left leg this morning at University of Utah Health Care’s Orthopaedic Center. Following today’s examination, Jazz physicians Dr. Travis Maak and Dr. David Petron confirmed that Burks suffered a fractured left fibula. Burks was also previously diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms by the Jazz medical staff.

Both injuries resulted from a fall suffered after being fouled during a shot attempt with 34.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Saturday night’s game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.

No surgery is required and Burks will remain out indefinitely. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.

One of three players to have appeared in every game this season for the Jazz, the fifth-year guard is averaging a career-high 14.3 points (third on the team) on a career-best 38.7 percent three-point shooting, with 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.1 minutes in 28 games (three starts). His 14.4 points per game as a reserve rank third in the NBA.

Blake Griffin injured, will be re-evaluated in two weeks

The L.A. Clippers announced today that forward Blake Griffin suffered a partially torn left quad tendon during last night’s win over the Lakers. Griffin underwent an MRI this morning that revealed the injury.

The Clippers leading scorer did not accompany the team to Utah and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Griffin is averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 30 games (all starts) this season for the Clippers.