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The Dallas Mavericks have requested waivers on center JaVale McGee.
McGee (7-0, 270) signed as a free agent with Dallas on July 9, 2022. He averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 42 games (7 starts) with the Mavericks last season.
He reportedly had $11.7 million remaining on his Mavs contract, on a three-year deal signed one summer ago.
NBA G League Ignite today announced the addition of five veteran players to its roster for the 2023-24 NBA G League season. The signees include 2022-23 Ignite players John Jenkins and Eric Mika, NBA G League veterans Jeremy Pargo and David Stockton, and newcomer Admon Gilder.
“We have a great group of veterans who can help accelerate the growth and development of our young players both on and off the court,” said Ignite head coach Jason Hart. “Bringing back John Jenkins and Eric Mika was vital for us. Their production and professionalism had a tremendous impact on our team as a whole last season.”
A full breakdown of Ignite’s veteran signees is below.
Admon Gilder | Guard
Gilder joins Ignite after one season with the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. In his lone season with the Surge, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23 games. His international experience also includes stints in Israel, Poland, and Finland. Gilder played collegiately at Texas A&M and Gonzaga.
John Jenkins | Guard
Jenkins returns for his second season with Ignite after averaging a team-high 17.9 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 2022-23. Last season, Jenkins set several Ignite records, including the most points in a game (37), most 20-point games in a single season (14) and most three-pointers in a game (11). Jenkins, who was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 23rd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, averaged 5.0 points in 171 games over six NBA seasons.
Eric Mika | Center
Mika returns for his second season with Ignite after appearing in 40 games and averaging 12.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists during the 2022-23 campaign. Mika ranked second on the team in both total rebounds (342) and assists (161), and third in blocks (28). He recorded the only triple-double in franchise history with 16 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Jan. 21, 2023, and posted the second most double-doubles in single season Ignite history (13).
Jeremy Pargo | Guard
Pargo averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 assists in 26 games with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League during the 2022-23 season. Over the past decade, Pargo has appeared in 86 NBA games with the Memphis Grizzles, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors. Pargo has played internationally in China, Israel, Italy, Russia and Spain.
David Stockton | Guard
Stockton, an eight-year NBA G League veteran, has appeared in 220 NBA G League games and owns career averages of 16.5 points, 7.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds. Last season, Stockton averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 assists with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. He was eighth in the league in total assists (199) and set an NBA G League record for assists in a single game (19).
On 2.8.24, fans can forever pay tribute to beloved Lakers Legend and five-time champion Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers and Vanessa Bryant announced today that they will unveil Kobe Bryant’s bronze statue at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 8, 2024, prior to the Lakers’ home game that evening.
“As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker,” said Vanessa Bryant in a video to fans posted at 8:24 this morning. “Since arriving in this city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the City of Angels. On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as the house that Kobe built, we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”
Following his retirement, Kobe Bryant participated in the initial planning of the anticipated statue to come at Star Plaza. This is the first in a series of physical tributes to honor his legacy. Bryant will be the seventh Laker to be commemorated with a statue, joining Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn. The statue was created by renowned sculptor Julie Rotblatt Amrany of the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany.
“Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time, and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles,” said Jeanie Buss, Los Angeles Lakers Governor. “There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here, at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”
The Feb. 8 ceremony will be outside the arena and details will be released in the coming months.
“Kobe’s transcendent spirit is always and forever in our hearts – inspiring us every day,” said Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager. “And now, with the unveiling of this powerful and beautiful statue, he will have a physical presence, too. A place on the hallowed ground Kobe created, where we can all gather and pay honor to a mighty and great man.”
The Washington Wizards announced today the team’s four-game 2023 preseason schedule, which features two home games at Capital One Arena.
Washington will host the Cairns Taipans of the Australian National Basketball League at Capital One Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 10, to tip off the 2023 preseason slate and will follow that with a visit from the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, Oct. 12. The Wizards will conclude preseason play with a two-game trip with visits to New York on Oct. 18 and Toronto on Oct. 20. The team will begin regular season play on Oct. 25 at Indiana and will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 28 for the home opener.
The Detroit Pistons announced today the team’s 2023-24 preseason schedule which features one home and three road games.
Detroit’s lone preseason home game features the Phoenix Suns visiting Little Caesars Arena on October 8.
The Pistons travel to Montréal to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 12, as part of the NBA Canada Series.
The team will then head to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a rematch with the Thunder (10/19) and wrap up the preseason schedule at Dallas (10/20).
The Atlanta Hawks today announced several additions within the Athletic Performance Team, including Director of Integrative Health Ray Chow, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Paddy Hogben, Upper Extremity Specialist Mojca “Mo” Herman, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Isaiah West, Assistant Physical Therapist Javan Francis and Performance Coach, Basketball Systems Nick Gibson. Director of Athletic Training Scottie Parker enters his 10th season with the organization, Assistant Athletic Trainer John Dusel returns for his sixth season, and Assistant Athletic Trainer Takahiro Uchida begins his fourth season.
Chow comes to Atlanta following 27 years as a massage therapist and assistant athletic trainer with the Toronto Raptors, where he also assisted with player strength and conditioning as well as nutrition. He served under every team president and general manager in Raptors history, including during the franchise’s 2019 NBA Championship season. A native of Myanmar, Chow graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master’s in Molecular Biology and from the Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy.
Parker came to the Hawks as assistant athletic trainer in 2014 before he was named head athletic trainer in 2017. Prior to joining the Hawks, Parker worked with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was part of the athletic training staff for the 2014 Super Bowl champions. Parker is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) by the National Athletic Trainers Association, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He graduated from University of Northwestern – St. Paul (MN) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Coaching. He earned his Master’s from California Baptist University in Athletic Training.
Hogben, originally from England, served as lead athletic development coach with the Geelong Football Club (Australian rules football) since 2020 after two years as lead performance specialist with P3 Peak Performance Project. He also has experience in professional rugby as strength and conditioning coach with Saracens RFC, Bedford Blues and with Bath Rugby. Hogben is a graduate of the University of Bath with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science and holds a Master’s from the University of Bedfordshire.
Herman has worked in private practice and sports medicine for the past 20 years. For the last four years, she has owned and operated Pro Rehab with MO, specializing exclusively in elite and professional athletes. Herman has been a therapist consultant to NBA athletes since 2008. She is the past president of the American Society of Hand Therapists and a former elite collegiate and Olympic swimmer. Herman is a Certified Hand Therapist who graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science and Master’s of Arts, both in Occupational Therapy.
Dusel originally joined the Hawks in 2018 following two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, finishing as the team’s assistant athletic trainer. He also has experience with Cressey Sports Performance. Dusel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of New England and a Master’s from East Tennessee State University in Sport Science.
Uchida, a native of Japan, came to the Hawks as a seasonal assistant athletic trainer in 2020 before a promotion to assistant athletic trainer in 2021. He has prior experience with the Los Angeles Rams, Stanford University and University of Hawaii at Manoa. Uchida owns a Bachelor of Science from Lindenwood University and a Master’s in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa.
West joins the Hawks from NBA Academy Africa (Senegal), where he served as athletic performance coach for the last three years. West previously worked for Healthy Baller Speed and Performance Center, The St. James, Cressey Sports Performance and the Washington Mystics. West earned a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from George Mason University.
Francis has worked the last four years at P3 Peak Performance Project as a sports biomechanist. From 2021-23, he also served as a graduate research assistant at the Georgia State University Biomechanics Laboratory. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management from Claflin University, Francis moved onto Georgia State, earning a Master of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Gibson rejoins the Hawks, where he was basketball operations coordinator from 2013-15. Most recently, he’s worked as director of basketball at P3 Sport Science in Atlanta for the last three years. Prior to that, he coached internationally with the Sichuan Blue Whales and Shenzhen Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association. Gibson also served as player development director for the Tunisian National Team during the 2021 Olympic Qualifiers and AfroBasket, where Tunisia took home the Gold Medal. Gibson is a graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s in Broadcast and Digital Journalism.
The Charlotte Hornets today unveiled a new Classic Edition uniform to be worn during the 2023-24 season in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the franchise’s inaugural 1988-89 campaign. With a teal silhouette featuring multi-colored double pinstripes, the 2023-24 Hornets Classic Edition uniform echoes the second-generation Hornets uniforms from 1997-2002.
“We’re pleased to introduce a new Classic Edition uniform to be worn as part of our celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Charlotte Hornets inaugural season,” said Hornets President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield. “Throughout our history, the Hornets have been recognized for fashionable uniform designs, and we know our fans will be excited to see the look that our team wore from 1997-2002 back on the court in Charlotte.”
The new Charlotte Hornets Classic Edition uniform for the 2023-24 NBA season pic.twitter.com/B1JwhS3aB0
— INSIDE HOOPS – NBA Basketball (@InsideHoops) August 23, 2023
The jersey features the classic Hornets font for the “Charlotte” wordmark on the chest, the player’s name on the back and the number on both sides. Along with the multi-colored double pinstripes in royal blue, light blue, purple and green, the design includes a crossover v-neck, along with purple striped side panels on both the jersey and shorts. The shorts are highlighted by a Classic Hornets logo on the left thigh. Like all Hornets uniforms, the jersey features the logo of Nike’s Jordan Brand on the right chest.
The Hornets are expected to wear the Classic Edition uniforms for eight home games this season, during which the evolution of the franchise from 1988 to the present and on into the future will be celebrated as part of the 35th Anniversary. The schedule of games and a special ticket package will be unveiled in early September.
The Portland Trail Blazers yesterday signed center Moses Brown.
A two-way player for the Trail Blazers during the 2019-20 season, Brown returns to Portland after averaging 4.3 points on 63.5 percent from the field and 3.9 rebounds in 36 games for the LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets during the 2022-23 campaign. The UCLA alum has accrued career averages of 5.5 points (57.1% FG), 5.2 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 128 games (39 starts) for six teams; Portland (2019-20), Oklahoma City (2020-21), Dallas (2021-22), Cleveland (2021-22), LA Clippers (2022-23) and Brooklyn (2022-23).
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward/center Olivier Sarr to a Two-Way Contract.
Sarr (6-11, 240) appeared in 12 games (seven starts) last season for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, and averaged 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.42 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game. During the 2022-23 season, Sarr saw action in nine games (one start) for the Thunder and averaged 4.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting to go along with 3.4 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Lindy Waters III to a Two-Way Contract.
In two seasons with the Thunder, Waters III appeared in 66 games (one start) and averaged 6.3 points on 36.0 percent 3-point shooting to go along with 2.2 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game. Additionally, Waters III saw action in 29 games (26 starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue over the past two seasons and averaged 13.7 points on 42.7 percent 3-point shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29.8 minutes per game.