Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

NBA and Ticketmaster develop ticketing service

The National Basketball Association  selected  Ticketmaster,  a  Live  Nation Entertainment company (NYSE:LYV), to develop a comprehensive online ticketing destination for NBA fans.  As  the  Official  Ticketing  Provider of the NBA, Ticketmaster will present  buyers  all  of  the  available ticket options for upcoming games, including  available  tickets  from  the primary market, as well as tickets being  resold by other fans.  NBA fans will be able to buy with confidence, as  Ticketmaster will validate every ticket purchased on the league’s site, making  it  the premier destination where fans are guaranteed authentic NBA tickets.

“Together  with  the  NBA,  we’re  building  the  sports  industry’s  first comprehensive  ticket destination that provides fans all of their ticketing options  –  from  both  primary  and  resale  –  in one place,” said Nathan Hubbard, CEO of Ticketmaster.  “The NBA is determined to provide their fans a safe, convenient place to buy and sell game tickets, and we are delighted to be delivering this revolutionary solution.”

“We are committed to ensuring that our fans receive the best in service and selection  when  it  comes  to  purchasing  individual  game  tickets,  and Ticketmaster’s  proven  ticketing solutions for both the primary and resale markets  were  the  right fit for us,” said NBA Executive Vice President of Team  Marketing  &  Business  Operations  Chris  Granger. “On behalf of our teams,  we  also  appreciate  Ticketmaster’s  commitment to analytics, data sharing,  and marketing support.  This partnership will be a winner for all involved.”

— Press Release

Kevin Durant goes from gold medal to red carpet

Kevin Durant movie

Kevin Durant is going from representing the red, white and blue to walking the red carpet.

Adding to a resume that already includes being a three-time NBA scoring champion and Olympic gold medalist, Durant was the star as his movie ”Thunderstruck” premiered in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown entertainment district Sunday night. It opens in other theaters Friday.

Durant strolled down a red carpet in a black T-shirt, grey vest, white jeans and black sneakers to answer questions about his acting skills instead of the deadly shooting ability that propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals last season.

”Of course, people are going to look at it a little different because I’m a basketball player and I’m doing something different,” Durant said. ”A basketball player is what I do. It’s not really just solely who I am. I like to do other things.

”It’s all about conquering your fears. That’s one thing I did with this, stepping in front of a camera and people yelling ‘Action!’ It’s not the norm for me. I did something outside the box, and I’m glad it turned out pretty well.”

— Reported by Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press

Brandon Jennings seeks contract extension from Bucks

Brandon Jennings seeks contract extension from Bucks

Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is hoping to have a contract extension in his pocket by the time the regular season opens on Nov. 2 in Boston.

Jennings is entering his fourth NBA season and is in line for an extension that could keep him with Milwaukee for four additional seasons.

But the 23-year-old had more than his contract on his mind during an interview Sunday morning at Homestead High School. Jennings was on hand to supervise a group of 200 youngsters on the second day of the Brandon Jennings Basketball ProCamp.

“It would be something I’d love to get done with and over with so I don’t have to worry about it,” Jennings said of the contract extension. “But the main thing is just to come into training camp a better player, a better leader … just lead the team to the playoffs.”

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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New Orleans Hornets sign coach Monty Williams to contract extension

New Orleans Hornets sign coach Monty Williams to contract extension

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed head coach Monty Williams to a new multi-year contract extension. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, it’s a four-year deal that will keep Williams with the team through 2016.

“We are proud to announce that Monty Williams will be the head coach of the New Orleans Hornets for years to come,” said Hornets Owner Tom Benson. “We could not be any happier to have someone of Monty’s quality – both professionally and personally – involved in the resurgence of this franchise.”

“The Hornets have a promising future and an exciting young nucleus,” said Hornets Executive Vice President Mickey Loomis. “It is our opinion that Monty is the perfect coach to develop and lead this group of talent going forward.”

“I would like to thank Mr. Benson, his family, Mickey and Dell for putting their trust in me and showing me their commitment,” said Williams. “The love and support the city and its fans have shown me and my family in the time we have been here has been incredible and I look forward to continuing to work to make the city and the Benson family proud of the Hornets.”

Williams, hired by the Hornets on June 7, 2010 as the ninth coach in franchise history, is entering his third season at the helm with a career record of 67-81 (.453), including his debut season with the club in 2010-11 where he led New Orleans to a 46-36 record and earned the team a playoff appearance. Williams placed seventh in Coach of the Year voting after that season and was named the NBA’s Western Conference Coach of the Month for January 2011. Last season, Williams’ squad improved its win total each month and finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 6-1 stretch at the New Orleans Arena.

A native of Fredericksburg, Va., Williams came to the Hornets after five seasons as the assistant coach under Nate McMillan of the Portland Trail Blazers, including serving as the head coach for the Blazers summer league team in the NBA Summer League in both 2007 and 2008. Prior to his time in Portland, Williams spent one season as a coaching intern under Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs in 2004-05, helping the Spurs capture the NBA Championship. He was also the head coach for the Spurs summer league entry team in the 2005 Rocky Mountain Revue.

Williams played in the NBA for 10 seasons before chronic knee problems forced him into retirement in 2003. Selected by the New York Knicks in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft out of Notre Dame, Williams played for the Knicks, Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers. His best season was with the Spurs in 1996-97, when he averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 65 games. For his career, Williams averaged 6.3 points in 456 games. Williams was an honorable mention All-American at Notre Dame after averaging 22.4 points and 8.4 rebounds during his senior season.

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JaVale McGee learns from Hakeem Olajuwon

JaVale McGee learns from Hakeem Olajuwon

And so, the Nuggets center is spending some of his summer at the home of Hakeem, which for McGee is, pun intended, a dream.

“It’s definitely an honor to be working with him,” McGee said.

McGee has spent a couple of weeks on Olajuwon’s ranch near Houston, where Denver teammate Kenneth Faried is expected to work out as well this month.

Olajuwon has become sort of a hoops whisperer, teaching his intricate moves to some of the NBA’s best bigs, including Dwight Howard and Amar’e Stoudemire.

“No question, I see him as another star,” Olajuwon said to the Fox affiliate in Houston about McGee. “That guy should dominate the league.

— Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

Sixers may want Mike Zarren for GM job

The Sixers may have just swung a deal for Andrew Bynum, but they’re still looking for a new general manager.

Boston Celtics assistant GM Mike Zarren has emerged as a candidate for the job, a source confirms to CSNPhilly.com’s John Finger.

Zarren’s involvement was first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick, who described Zarren as “an intriguing addition to the field of prospects; a widely-respected purveyor of advanced player statistics in the NBA who is one of the least-known yet most-influential members of the Celtics’ front office group,” and the “right-hand man of [Celtics GM] Danny Ainge.”

— Reported by CSN Philly

Suns may have shot at someday landing James Harden

Suns may have shot at someday landing James Harden

News that Serge Ibaka reached agreement on a four-year contract with Oklahoma City should catch the attention of Suns fans.

The amount of the deal, $48 million, will make it trickier for the Thunder to secure James Harden, who could command a maximum contract as a restricted free agent after the 2012-13 season. That could open the door for the Suns, who have maintained $15 million in cap space for next summer’s free-agency period and who have expressed interest in Harden behind the scenes.

Much will hinge on what becomes important to Harden. No one could fault him for chasing the money if a max deal (roughly $60 million over four years) is offered. But would the appeal of sticking it out with his Thunder teammates make him willing to stay for say, $52 million?

— Reported by Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic

OKC Thunder sign Serge Ibaka to contract extension

OKC Thunder sign Serge Ibaka to contract extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Serge Ibaka to a multi-year extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. According to Yahoo Sports, the deal is for four years, $48 million.

“We are very excited that Serge will continue as a core member of the Thunder for years to come,” said Presti. “His passion for our organization, our community and for continuing to build on the foundation that he and his teammates have established was pivotal to making this possible. Serge personifies many of the traits that we value as an organization; he is a tireless and disciplined worker, an elite competitor and someone who treats his profession with the utmost focus, which in addition to his character, will all be integral to his continued improvement.”

In three seasons with Oklahoma City, Ibaka has appeared in 221 games (110 starts) and registered averages of 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.43 blocks in 24.1 minutes per contest. During the past two seasons, the forward has blocked 439 shots which are the most in the NBA during that period.

Last season, Ibaka was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team after pacing the league in blocks (3.65 bpg). He blocked 10-or-more shots three times and became the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double which included blocked shots after recording 14 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocks vs. Denver (2/19).

Originally selected with the 24th overall selection of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Thunder has qualified for the postseason in each of his three seasons in Oklahoma City. The Brazzaville, Republic of Congo native has recorded averages of 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.86 blocks and 28.2 minutes in 43 postseason contests.

This summer, Ibaka earned a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London. He helped guide the Spanish national team to a 5-3 record while averaging 8.0 points, 4.4. rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 15.1 minutes per game.

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Wade says best is yet to come for LeBron

Wade says best is yet to come for LeBron

All LeBron James has done so far this year is win the NBA’s MVP award for the third time, an NBA Finals MVP trophy to go along with that one, his elusive first championship and a second Olympic gold medal.

Dwyane Wade thinks his Miami Heat teammate is just getting started.

With the start of Heat training camp now just six weeks away, Wade said on Friday that he expects James to be even better this coming season now that the will-he-ever-win-a-championship question has been forever put to rest.

“That monkey is off his back and now he’s just playing basketball,” Wade said while taking a break from his annual fantasy camp, where fans pay up to $12,500 to get a four-day luxury taste of NBA life. “I think we’ll see a better LeBron James – scary to say, three-time MVP – than we’ve seen. And it’s because all he has to do is play basketball now. He doesn’t have to worry about what he hasn’t done. It’ll always be something, but he’s got the biggest one off his back.”

— Reported by the Associated Press