NBA News Blog – Page 674 – NBA Blog

Elliot Williams named D-League Player of Month

Santa Cruz Warriors guard Elliot Williams has been named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in November. The honor, the first of the 2015-16 season, is also the first of Williams’ NBA D-League career.

Williams (6-5, 183, University of Memphis) helped Santa Cruz to a 4-3 record to start the 2015-16 season. Williams ranked third in the NBA D-League in scoring (28.1 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg), and added 8.6 rebounds. He has scored at least 23 points in every game.

On Nov. 20, he recorded a double-double with 31 points on 10-of-12 shooting and 15 rebounds, to go along with eight assists and three steals in a 106-100 victory over the Los Angeles D-Fenders. On Nov. 26, he notched a double-double with 26 points and 11 assists in a 98-87 loss to the Austin Spurs.

Other players receiving consideration for the monthly award were Delaware’s Jordan McRae and Sean Kilpatrick, Iowa’s Cartier Martin, Los Angeles’ Vander Blue, Raptors’ Scott Suggs, Rio Grande Valley’s Raphiael Putney and Sioux Falls’ Greg Whittington.

David Blatt and Luke Walton named NBA Coaches of Month

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ David Blatt and the Golden State Warriors’ Luke Walton today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November.

Blatt guided the Cavaliers to an Eastern Conference-best 13-4 (.765) record for games played in October and November. After dropping their season opener to the Chicago Bulls, the Cavaliers reeled off eight consecutive victories from Oct. 28 – Nov. 13. The defending conference champion Cavaliers own a 9-0 record at Quicken Loans Arena, and rank sixth in the NBA in both scoring (103.1 points) and team defense, limiting opponents to 96.5 points.

While filling in for head coach Steve Kerr (back surgery), Walton has led the defending champion Warriors to the best start in NBA history at 19-0. The Warriors lead the NBA in scoring at 115.3 points, and enjoy the largest point differential in the league at 15.4 points. Walton is in his second season on the Warriors’ staff, and previously served as a player development coach with the NBA D-League’s Los Angeles D-Fenders during the 2013-14 season.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Charlotte’s Steve Clifford, Indiana’s Frank Vogel, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan, Orlando’s Scott Skiles, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and Toronto’s Dwane Casey.

NBA clarifies rules regarding coaching records

The NBA clarified today the league’s rules regarding coaching records: the head coach of record is credited with team wins and losses. Steve Kerr remains the head coach of record for the Golden State Warriors and is credited with those results.

Additionally, any team head coach, interim head coach or acting head coach is eligible to be recognized with league coaching awards. Therefore, Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton is eligible for NBA Coach of the Month.

The winners for the season’s first month were announced after this clarification, and Walton did in fact win Coach of the Month for the Western conference, while Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt received the honor in the East.

Reggie Jackson fined for directing inappropriate language toward a fan

Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a fan, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred during the Pistons’ 103-87 loss on the road to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 27 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

In the loss, Jackson, whose NBA career began with the Thunder, shot just 4-of-16 against his former team, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Warriors winning streak continues

The 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors set a franchise record with their first undefeated full calendar month following tonight’s 106-103 win at Utah, finishing the November slate with a perfect 16-0 mark. The Warriors are the sixth team in the NBA’s 70-year history to finish a month of at least 16 games with an undefeated record.

Golden State’s 16 wins in November also ties the franchise mark for most wins in a month, set last season when the Warriors posted a 16-2 ledger in March 2015. Golden State’s winning percentage this month tops the club’s previous record of .929 (13-1), set in January 1972 behind former Warriors guard Jim Barnett’s averages of 16.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds on 50.3 percent shooting from the field.

With tonight’s win, the Warriors have extended the best start in NBA history by beginning the season with a 19-0 record. Dating back to 2014-15, the Warriors have won 23-straight regular-season games (19-straight this season, four-straight to end last season), extending a franchise-record streak and becoming the third team in NBA history to win 23 consecutive regular-season contests. The Warriors have also won nine-straight regular-season road games, the second-longest regular-season road winning streak in franchise history behind only the team’s record of 10-straight wins away from home set last season.

The Warriors, who posted a franchise-best record of 67-15 last season before capturing the 2015 NBA title, are now 86-15 (.851) in the regular season dating back to 2014-15 and 102-20 (.836) including the playoffs.

Al Jefferson out 2-3 weeks with calf injury

Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) earlier today which confirmed the team’s initial diagnosis of a strained left calf. Jefferson, who suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s 87-82 win vs. Milwaukee, is expected to be sidelined for approximately two to three weeks.

Jefferson is averaging 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game this season. The 30-year-old has led the team in rebounding in five contests and has four double-doubles in 17 games. The Prentiss, Miss. native recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 20, becoming only the second player in the NBA this season to record at least 25 points, 10-or-more rebounds and five blocks in a game. Jefferson recorded a season-high 31 points (15-of-18 from the field) and grabbed nine rebounds at Dallas on Nov. 5.

Paul George, Kevin Durant named NBA Players of Week

The Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant were today named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 29.

George led the Pacers to a 3-0 week behind an Eastern Conference-leading 37.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He shot 54.7 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the foul line. On Nov. 24, George tallied 40 points on 14-of-19 shooting, including 7-of-8 from beyond the arc, during a 123-106 win over the Washington Wizards.

Durant led the Thunder to a 3-0 week behind averages of 30.3 points (second in the Western Conference), 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 blocks (fourth in the Western Conference). He shot 58.5 percent from the field, 52.2 percent from three-point range and 94.4 percent from the foul line. On Nov. 27, Durant recorded 34 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocks during a 103-87 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Cleveland’s Kevin Love, Golden State’s Draymond Green, Houston’s James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, Philadelphia’s Robert Covington, Portland’s Damian Lillard, and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

Wizards waive Martell Webster, sign Ryan Hollins

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived forward Martell Webster and signed center Ryan Hollins.

“Martell, with his contributions on the court and ability to connect with the fans and the community off the court, has been a great example of the type of player we want to represent our organization,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “He worked extremely hard to fight through his injuries but unfortunately was not able to make a healthy return. We appreciate everything he contributed to the team and wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Webster appeared in 186 games (75 starts) with Washington and averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting .397 from behind the arc. His best season in a Wizards uniform came during the 2012-13 campaign, when he averaged a career-best 11.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 76 games while shooting .442 from the field and a career-best .422 from deep. The 10-year veteran was originally signed by the Wizards as a free agent on August 29, 2012.

Hollins is a nine-year NBA veteran who has averaged 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 481 career games (64 starts), with Charlotte, Dallas, Minnesota, Cleveland, Boston, the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento. Last season with the Kings, he appeared in 46 games (nine starts) and averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per contest. He was originally selected with the 50th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by Charlotte out of the University of California.

Kobe Bryant retirement coming at end of this NBA season

Here’s the Orange County Register reporting on the upcoming retirement of Kobe Bryant, which will occur at the end of this NBA season:

Kobe Bryant will retire at end of season

Kobe Bryant, maybe the greatest Laker in the organization’s history, announced his plans to retire following the 2015-16 season Sunday.

The announcement came in a letter written for The Players’ Tribune.

“This season is all I have left to give,” Bryant wrote. “My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind. But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.”

Bryant is in the midst of his 20th season and struggingly like he’s never have before. Bryant is shooting a career-worst 31.5 percent from the field and 19.5 percent from 3-point range.

Adam Silver statement on Kobe Bryant retirement announcement

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement regarding Kobe Bryant’s announcement today that this will be his final season in the NBA:

“With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game. Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game.

“I join Kobe’s millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories.”