Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Lakers sign Kobe Bryant to two-year contract extension

Lakers sign Kobe Bryant to two-year contract extension

The Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant really like each other. And want to stick together. And have put it in writing.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced today that the Lakers have signed Bryant to a two-year contract extension. According to ESPN reporter Chris Broussard, the deal will pay Bryant $23.5 million in the 2014-15 season, and $25 million in the 2015-16.

“This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers organization,” said Kupchak. “We’ve said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that that happens. To play 20 years in the NBA, and to do so with the same team, is unprecedented, and quite an accomplishment. Most importantly however, it assures us that one of the best players in the world will remain a Laker, bringing us excellent play and excitement for years to come.”

Bryant, a five-time NBA Champion, has earned numerous accolades over the span of his 17-year career, including being selected as the NBA MVP in 2007-08 and winning the NBA Finals MVP award in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The 15-time NBA All-Star has also led the United States to gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. Bryant has earned All-NBA honors in each of the last 15 seasons and has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team 12 times.

The Lakers have appeared in postseason play in all but one season (2004-05) of Bryant’s 17 campaigns with the team, and have reached the NBA Finals seven times, winning championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010. The 6’6” guard scored a career-high 81 points (55 in the 2nd half) on January 22, 2006, the second highest game and half point totals in NBA history.

Originally acquired by the Lakers from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Vlade Divac on July 11, 1996 after being selected by the Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant is the Lakers all-time leading scorer and currently ranks 4th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Read fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Derrick Rose injury news update: Out for season after knee surgery

Derrick Rose injury news update: Out for season after knee surgery

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is gone again.

Earlier this morning, Rose underwent successful surgery to repair his previously torn medial meniscus in his right knee. The surgery was performed at Rush University Medical Center by Chicago Bulls head team physician Dr. Brian Cole and team physician Dr. Chuck Bush Joseph.

Rose is out for the remainder of the season. He suffered his injury in the third quarter of Chicago’s loss at Portland on Friday night.

This is a real shame. D-Rose is a dynamic, exciting player and a key member of the Bulls. The former league MVP continues to be hit by major injuries that keep him off the court for extremely long stretches of time. Hopefully he someday finds consistent health. Until then, the Bulls go on without him.

Read fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Andre Iguodala out indefinitely with strained left hamstring injury

andre iguodala

Relatively good news for the Golden State Warriors: Forward Andre Iguodala’s injury is fairly minor.

Iguodala has been diagnosed with a strained left hamstring following an MRI that took place earlier today. He originally suffered the injury in the third quarter of last night’s game against the Lakers at Staples Center.

Iguodala will not play in tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers and is out indefinitely. In 13 games this season, he is averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.92 steals in 37.2 minutes per contest.

Derrick Rose suffers right knee meniscus tear injury, needs surgery, out indefinitely

derrick rose

Bulls guard Derrick Rose sustained an injury to his right knee against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Subsequent examinations and an MRI confirmed a medial meniscus tear to his right knee, which will require surgery. Rose is out indefinitely, and will not accompany the team on the rest of its current road trip.

According to Yahoo Sports, “It is unclear when – or if – Rose will return this season. If Rose decides to reattach the meniscus – usually the route taken by young players – he’ll be expected to miss the rest of the regular season. To clip off the meniscus is a riskier long-term issue, but could have Rose back in one to two months.”

And AFP reports: “He showed flashes of his former MVP form on Friday, but late in the third quarter, when a pass from team-mate Joakim Noah was picked off by Nicolas Batum, Rose stepped awkwardly as he tried to get back on defense and hyper-extended his right knee. After hobbling to the bench he was helped the locker room. “He has pain and it felt like he couldn’t push off his right knee,” Thibodeau said.”

Read NBA fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Marc Gasol injured with MCL sprain in his left knee

Marc Gasol injured with MCL sprain in his left knee

The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that center Marc Gasol underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed a MCL sprain in his left knee. He will be out indefinitely and no surgery will be required.

Gasol (7-1, 265), who sustained the injury in the second quarter last night against San Antonio, was evaluated at the Campbell Clinic today by team physician Dr. Fred Azar.

The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Gasol ranked second on the Grizzlies in scoring, rebounding and assists and led the team in blocks entering the game against the Spurs. The 2012 All-Star and 2012-13 Second Team All-NBA center has missed just four games dating back to the start of the 2010-11 season, playing and starting in 239 of a possible 243 regular season contests.

Clippers forward Matt Barnes out at least two weeks with eye injury

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that forward Matt Barnes suffered a retinal tear in his left eye on Monday, Nov. 18 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Barnes will undergo a surgical procedure to repair the retina and is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks.

Barnes has appeared in eight games this season and is averaging 5.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20.0 minutes per game.

Philadelphia 76ers waive Kwame Brown and Darius Morris, sign Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have signed free agent guards Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown.

Williams (6-5, 190) was an early entry candidate for the 2010 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Memphis and was selected with the 22nd overall pick by Portland. He played his freshman season at Duke. Williams appeared in 24 games for the Trail Blazers in 2011-12 and saw action in six games for Cleveland this preseason.

Brown (6-5, 186) was an early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft following his junior season at N.C. State and was selected with the 52nd overall pick by Minnesota. He participated for the Timberwolves in both the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and in the preseason. Brown started 95 of his 101 games played with the Wolfpack and was named Second Team All-ACC as a junior and Third Team as a sophomore.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived Kwame Brown and Darius Morris.

Marvin Williams suffers broken nose, will return for Jazz soon

marvin williams

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz forward Marvin Williams, who suffered a fractured nose during the first half of the Jazz’s November 15 game vs. San Antonio and has played in each of the two subsequent Jazz games:

Williams did not accompany the team Tuesday to New Orleans, remaining in Salt Lake City to be fitted for a customized protective face mask. Following a medical consultation, it was determined that Williams will undergo a procedure to reduce the nasal fracture on Thursday in Salt Lake City. The outpatient procedure will be performed by Dr. Demetrios Skedros.

Williams will miss the Jazz’s game Wednesday at New Orleans, but is expected to re-join the team and be available for Friday’s game at Dallas.

Williams (6-9, 237, North Carolina) has played in seven games for the Jazz in 2013-14, averaging 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game. The 27-year-old Jazzman was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round (second overall selection) of the 2005 NBA Draft, and has appeared in 567 career games (430 starts) and owns averages of 10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assist in 29.5 minutes. He was acquired by the Jazz in a trade with the Hawks in exchange for guard Devin Harris on July 11, 2012.

Stephen Curry suffers concussion, is day-to-day

stephen curry

Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been diagnosed with a mild concussion after hitting his head on the court during the fourth quarter of last night’s 98-87 victory at Utah. The only symptom at this time is a headache, which has dissipated since last night.

Curry will not play in tomorrow night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies and his status moving forward is day-to-day. In 10 games this season, he is averaging 19.9 points, 8.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.70 steals in 32.7 minutes per contest.

Read NBA fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.