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A few greats missing from 2012 All-Star game

When the 61st annual all-star game is played on Sunday, it’ll have a very unfamiliar feel about it.

For the East, no Kevin Garnett.

Out West, no Tim Duncan.

The future Hall of Famers were not voted in by the fans or the coaches, ending more than a decade in which the two were mainstays during all-star weekend.

If ever there was an indication of how the torch of NBA greats has been passed, this weekend only strengthens that position.

Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant are the only all-stars this weekend having been selected to 10 or more all-star games.

— Reported by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England (Blog)

Rajon Rondo discusses Jeremy Lin, and being an All-Star

Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo is an Orlando right now as a member of the Eastern conference All-Star team. He was just recently named a replacement for injured Hawks guard Joe Johnson. Here are a few quick words from Rondo with reporters at All-Star weekend:

Question: What have been your impressions of Jeremy Lin?

Rajon Rondo: He’s worked hard. A lot of people doubt him. I think he’s a product of hard work, and now it’s paying off. He seems like a pretty humble guy. He seems like a good guy. He’s going to be here for a long time.

Question: Sitting here right now, has this kind of been the craziest three days you’ve had in the league?

Rondo: Yeah, it’s been jam packed, really, my schedule. I’ve changed my schedule completely. I didn’t expect to be here. I actually found out on my birthday. It was a good birthday present. I had to go back home and pack and I had to try to get a ticket situation going and a hotel room, who was coming, who wasn’t coming. But I’m glad I’m here, and this has been the quietest All Star I’ve had as far as people coming in. I’ve usually had about 20 people come in, but now it’s about five or six.

Rondo added to East All-Stars, Durant added to 3-point contest

Rajon Rondo

A quick little character.

Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star guard Joe Johnson (injured left knee) of the Atlanta Hawks in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. This is Rondo’s third All-Star Game selection.

Replacing Johnson in the Three-Point Contest is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, a 2012 NBA All-Star.

A lot of people thought Hawks forward Josh Smith would be named a replacement. Not just because he’s Johnson’s teammate. Smith is this season is averaging 16.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.13 blocks per game. Many people thought he was more worthy an All-Star than Johnson in the first place.

As for Rondo, for the season he’s putting up 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.64 steals per game, while shooting a terrific 48.5% from the field. Fantastic stats. Rondo has missed games due to both injury and suspension. But he is playing on an All-Star level.

Durant is a great addition to the three-point shootout. It’s a more interesting contest when stars are involved.

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live at 7 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Amway Center in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.

Celtics forward Brandon Bass out 10-14 days

Forward Brandon Bass, the Boston Celtics’ top reserve, will miss 10 to 14 days with inflammation in his right knee, coach Doc Rivers said before Sunday’s 95-91 win against the Chicago Bulls.

Bass felt some discomfort in the knee during a win over the New York Knicks on Feb. 3. He sat out the following game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but played in three games last week. Rivers said the news came as a bit of a surprise to him, as he was informed by team trainer Eddie Lacerte on Sunday morning that Bass almost certainly will be out through the All-Star break, which begins Feb. 23.

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Kobe passes Shaq for 5th on NBA career scoring list

Kobe Bryant

Scoring assassin

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has passed former teammate Shaquille O’Neal and moved into fifth place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

Bryant needed 24 points to pass O’Neal entering Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. O’Neal retired with 28,596 points. Bryant nailed a long jumper late in the first half to give him 24 points.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Nenad Krstic wins Top 16, Week 3 Euroleague MVP

Nenad Krstic

Ballin’ overseas

One of the central figures in what is shaping up to be a season for the record books for CSKA Moscow is center Nenad Krstic. The big man added to his stellar campaign this week by picking up Top 16, Week 3 bwin MVP honors and thus joining teammate Andrei Kirilenko among only three players to claim that title twice this season. Krstic was worth maximum production in minimum time in Thursday’s 85-70 home win over GS Medical Park. He came off the bench for 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added 9 rebounds, an assist and a steal en route to a performance index rating of 31, which ironically was the same index rating he achieved when he was previously named bwin MVP after Week 9. Krstic was also named Euroleague Basketball’s MVP for November. The team with the second-most wins in the Euroleague this season, FC Barcelona Regal, produced the player with the second best index rating of the week in two-time All-Euroleague big man Erazem Lorbek.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

NBA ticket prices rise for first time in 3 years

The NBA’s average ticket price increased for the first time in three years, up 1.7 percent to $48.48, the Team Marketing Report said Wednesday in its annual survey.

New York Knicks’ tickets cost more than double the league’s average and five times as much as seats for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Knicks tickets averaged $117.47 after a 32.5 percent increase – and these figures don’t even include premium seats.

The Los Angeles Lakers were second at $99.25 after a 4.2 percent hike, and Boston third at $68.55 while leaving its average flat. Chicago was fourth at $68.37 with a 3.3 percent increase, followed by the Miami Heat at $67 following a 10.7 percent jump.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rasheed Wallace may seek NBA comeback

Rasheed Wallace is contemplating a comeback to the NBA, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Wallace, who retired after 15 seasons in 2010, has been working out and probing some close league friends about possible destinations to sign for the rest of the season, sources said.

At 6-foot-11, Wallace, 37, had been one of the most versatile and talented power forwards of his era. One league source who has talked with Wallace recently describes him as “serious” about a return to the NBA this season. Nevertheless, no teams contacted by Yahoo! Sports reported that they had any contact with Wallace, or his representative.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

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Antoine Walker still trying for NBA comeback

Antoine Walker is in a battle with time.

Time has stripped him of what made him part of an NBA championship team, a three-time All-Star and a prolific scorer. His 3-point shooting has gone flat, his legs have turned from springs to anchors and financial trouble has plagued him like a pesky defender. It’s overshadowed his NBA career — a 17.5 points per game average and 10th all-time ranking for 3-point field goals (1,386).

But Walker, 35, has found a way to fight back. He now plays for the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede, which is playing in the D-League Showcase this week at the Reno Events Center. Surrounded by youth and energy, the Stampede’s elder statesman has found a way to slow the final seconds ticking off his career and find hope for one more return. He wants to end his career on his own terms.

“I didn’t get to leave on my own merit,” Walker, known for his “Walker Wiggle” celebrations, said. “I still love the game, I still want to play. I believe that if I’m in the proper shape I could play another year or two and help some teams out.”

— Reported by Brian Nordli of RGJ.com

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Jeff Green has successful heart surgery

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the team was informed Monday afternoon that Jeff Green’s surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm “went great” and that he hopes the process will allow Green to return to an NBA court at some point.

“Surgery went well, he had surgery today — they’re saying it went great,” Rivers said. “Obviously our thoughts, our prayers and every part of our being is with Jeff right now.

“The second news we want to hear is that he’ll be able to play again. That would be terrific. I don’t care if it’s with us — I want it to be with us — [but] I just want him to. Really, at the end of the day, that’s what we want.”

Rivers said he talked with Green on Friday to wish him well with Monday’s procedure at the Cleveland Clinic. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge visited the team’s afternoon practice session to relay the encouraging news that surgery went well.

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston