NBA News Blog – Page 751 – NBA Blog

Suns sign Earl Barron to 10-day contract

Suns sign Earl Barron to 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed center Earl Barron to a 10-day contract.

The 7-0 center has averaged a double-double in 27 games with the Bakersfield Jam this season, posting 20.3 points and 10.9 rebounds for the Suns’ NBA Development League affiliate. Barron played with the Suns during the 2014-15 preseason and averaged 3.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in six appearances, including a 10-point, 13-rebound performance in 24 minutes at Houston on Oct. 13.

Barron, who played with the Suns in 2010-11, is a seven-year NBA veteran from the University of Memphis who last saw regular season action with the New York Knicks during the 2012-13 season. In 124 career games with Miami, New York, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Portland, Golden State and Washington, Barron has averaged 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds. Barron previously signed with the Suns on Nov. 16, 2010, and averaged 3.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12 games (six starts) with the club.

Pistons sign Quincy Miller to 10-day contract

Pistons sign Quincy Miller to 10-day contract

Detroit Pistons General Manager Jeff Bower announced today that the club has signed forward Quincy Miller to a 10-day contract.

The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward joins the Pistons after spending parts of the 2014-15 season with the Sacramento Kings and the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Developmental League. In six games with the Kings, he averaged 2.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals in 10.2 minutes. He had his best game with Sacramento at Golden State (1/23), recording season-highs in points (13) and rebounds (6).

The North Chicago, IL native averaged 25.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 28.9 minutes in 15 games with the Reno Bighorns this season. Miller was named to the D-League All-Star Prospects team where he scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 24 minutes.

The three-year pro holds career averages of 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 13.5 minutes in 65 career games (16 starts) with Sacramento and Denver. He has also spent time with the Iowa Energy of the D-League.

Timberwolves sign Lorenzo Brown for remainder of season

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed guard Lorenzo Brown for the remainder of the season.

Brown, 24, has appeared in five games (one start) with Minnesota, averaging 3.2 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game. He played a career-high 47:55 against Cleveland on Jan. 31, dishing out a career-high nine assists.

Originally drafted by Minnesota with the 52nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Brown appeared in three preseason games before being waived on October 25, 2013. He signed with Philadelphia a month later, averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 assists in 8.6 minutes over 26 games.

Brown started this season in the NBA D-League, playing in 19 games (17 starts) with the Grand Rapids Drive and averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. In his career, Brown has appeared in 39 games (31 starts) in the D-League and holds career averages of 17.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game.

Jerome Kersey dies at age 52

Former Trail Blazer Jerome Kersey dies at age 52

A beloved figure and one of the most prolific Portland Trail Blazers, Jerome Kersey, has passed away at age 52. Cause of death has not been confirmed. A long-time resident of Portland after his 17-year NBA career, Kersey was employed by the Trail Blazers as Director of Alumni Relations as part of the team’s Social Responsibility Department.

“Today we lost an incredible person and one of the most beloved players to ever wear a Trail Blazers uniform,” said Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen. “My thoughts and condolences are with the Kersey family. He will be missed by all of us. It’s a terrible loss.”

“We’re shocked to lose such a great member of our Trail Blazers family,” said Trail Blazers President and CEO Chris McGowan. “The news is so sudden, and we’re sure more details will be forthcoming. But it is indeed a sad day for our organization, the city of Portland and the NBA. Jerome will be remembered not only for his incredible contributions on the court, but his tremendous impact in our community.”

“Jerome was an incredible influence on our players as a model for life after basketball,” said Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey. “He set the bar extremely high with his long-lasting influence in this community.”

Kersey was part of the great early 90s Portland nucleus that led the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. He ranks fifth on the team’s all-time scoring list (10,067) and third in rebounds (5,078) after an 11-year tenure in Portland from 1984-95. He continued his career with Golden State, L.A. Lakers, Seattle, San Antonio and Milwaukee, and he won an NBA Championship with the Spurs in 1999.

Jrue Holiday out at least three more weeks with leg injury

Jrue Holiday out at least three more weeks with leg injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Jrue Holiday re-aggravated the stress reaction in his lower right leg on Monday. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks by the team’s medical staff. A timetable for his return will be announced at a later date as more information is available.

Holiday has missed the previous 16 games with the injury. In 37 games this season, Holiday averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.7 minutes per game. The 6-4 guard holds career averages of 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 369 contests.

Pelicans sign Toney Douglas to second 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Toney Douglas to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Toney Douglas to a second 10-day contract.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, has appeared in three games for New Orleans, averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 22.0 minutes per game. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Douglas played for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 35 games while averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals. Drafted 29th overall out of Florida State in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas had appeared in 297 career NBA games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State and Miami, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Kings hire George Karl as head coach

Sacramento Kings hire George Karl as head coach

The Sacramento Kings announced today that George Karl will become the team’s new head coach, according to General Manager Pete D’Alessandro. Karl becomes the 27th coach in franchise history and the 16th during the Sacramento-era. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re fortunate to be taking a step towards returning this franchise to prominence with one of the best coaches in basketball on our sideline,” said D’Alessandro. “George knows how to win, as evidenced by a lifetime track record of success and ability to maintain consistency throughout his three decades in the game. We’re excited to welcome him to Sacramento.”

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to coach again in the NBA, and I’m thankful it’s happening in Sacramento,” said Karl. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping guide the franchise back to greatness. We have an owner in Vivek Ranadivé who is committed to winning, a roster with some impressive components already assembled and an exciting new development downtown. Anyone who follows basketball, even at a casual level, understands that Kings fans are renowned for their passionate support of the team. I’ve coached against the Kings in some important moments over the years and was always amazed by the level of energy they bring to the game. We’re going to provide them with more instances to display that enthusiasm.”

Karl joins the Kings as a veteran of 25 seasons on the bench for five NBA franchises (Cleveland, 1984-86), Golden State (1986-88), Seattle (1991-98), Milwaukee (1998-2003) and Denver (2004-2013), where he was named the 2012-13 NBA Coach of the Year after guiding the Nuggets to a franchise-record 57 victories and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference—marking the 22nd postseason appearance in his coaching career. His 21 consecutive NBA campaigns of .500 or better achieved from 1991-92 through 2012-13 is the longest such streak in league annals. He is tied with Lenny Wilkens for eighth all-time with 80 playoff victories and has 12 Coach of the Month nods to his credit—tied for second-most in NBA history. He joined the 1,000 win club on Dec. 10, 2010 in a victory over Toronto, adding his name to a rarified quadruple-digit coaching pantheon that includes Rick Adelman, Don Nelson, Wilkens, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, Jackson, Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich.

Before joining the Kings, Karl most recently spent nearly two seasons as an NBA analyst for ESPN across a multitude of network platforms, including SportsCenter, NBA Coast 2 Coast, and NBA Tonight.

A two-time cancer survivor, Karl is active in a number of cancer outreach and awareness organizations, working closely with programs such as the Cancer Care Initiative at Swedish Medical Center to provide information and assistance for patients and their families. Additionally, he and his life partner Kim Van Deraa devote energy to several philanthropic organizations. Established in 2012, the George Karl Foundation supports cancer care programs, educational platforms, animal rights advocacy and environmental initiatives.

Karl, 63, has three children, daughters Kelci and Kaci and a son, Coby. In 2007-08, Coby and George became just the third father/son duo to face each other in an NBA game and the first to do so in a postseason game as Denver took on Coby’s Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

Magic hire Igor Kokoskov as assistant coach

Orlando Magic hire Igor Kokoskov as assistant coach

The Orlando Magic have named Igor Kokoskov (kuh-KOS-kov) assistant coach, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Kokoskov, 43, has spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA, most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 campaign. During his tenure on an NBA bench, Kokoskov’s teams have made six conference finals appearances, two NBA Finals trips and captured one NBA World Championship.

Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Kokoskov spent five seasons with the Phoenix Suns from 2008-13. He also spent five seasons with the Detroit Pistons from 2003-08, reaching the conference finals in each campaign and earning the 2004 NBA title.

In 2000, Kokoskov became the first full-time, non-American assistant coach in NBA history, when he was named to Alvin Gentry’s staff with the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent three seasons with the Clippers from 2000-03. Kokoskov later became the first non-American assistant to win an NBA championship and also the first to serve on an NBA All-Star Game coaching staff. Kokoskov also owns the distinction of being the first European coach to hold a full-time position with an NCAA Division I-A school, when he served as an assistant at the University of Missouri during the 1999-00 season under Quin Snyder, now head coach of the Utah Jazz.

A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Kokoskov owns extensive international experience as a head coach and assistant coach. He was an assistant with the Serbian national team at the 2004 Athens Olympics under renowned European coach Zeljko Obradovic. Kokoskov has enjoyed seven successful summers (2008-14) as the national team head coach for the Republic of Georgia. His team has twice qualified for the European Championships during his tenure, something the nation had never done previously. In 2012, his work with the national team earned him the Order of Honour, Georgia’s highest civilian honor.

Prior to his move to the United States, Kokoskov instructed the former Yugoslavia’s top amateur and professional players for eight years, including a stint as an assistant coach for the nation’s junior national team. He has participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program and administered other clinics throughout Africa and Europe.

Anthony Davis injured, will not play in 2015 NBA All-Star game

Anthony Davis injured, will not play in 2015 NBA All-Star game

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who is recovering from a right shoulder sprain, released the following statement:

“After careful thought and consideration, I’ve decided I will not be participating in this year’s NBA All-Star competitions. I want to thank the fans for voting me into the All-Star game and I am sorry I will not be able to play.

While I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to compete this weekend, I’m still very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star events in New York and celebrate our game with some of the NBA’s greatest figures.

More than anything, I am anxious to get healthy and back on the court with my teammates after the All-Star break.”

Steven Adams out at least three weeks after hand surgery

Steven Adams out at least three weeks after hand surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams underwent successful surgery today to address a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his right hand, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.

The procedure was performed by Thunder team physicians at McBride Hospital in Oklahoma City. Adams will be re-evaluated in three weeks, at which time a further update will be provided.

In 50 games this season (all starts), Adams is averaging 7.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.22 blocks in 24.3 minutes per game. He was recently selected to participate in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge for a second consecutive season as part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend festivities.