Charlotte Hornets Blog – Page 33 – NBA Blog

Video: Alonzo Mourning career highlights

Watch some video highlights from the career of former NBA center Alonzo Mourning, who will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame

Jorge Gutierrez fined $15,000 for hard foul on Cody Zeller

Brooklyn Nets guard Jorge Gutierrez has been fined $15,000 for making excessive contact above the shoulders with Charlotte Bobcats center Cody Zeller, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The foul on Gutierrez, for which he was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected, occurred with 6:42 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Bobcats’ 116-111 overtime win over the Nets on Wednesday, March 26, at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Bobcats arena needs upgrades if they want to host an NBA All-Star weekend

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting:

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday Charlotte could host a future All-Star Game.

First, he said, the city must upgrade Time Warner Cable Arena, which needs $41.9 million of work, according to a list of needs compiled by the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

“I’d love to bring the All-Star Game back here,” Silver said before the Bobcats game with the Houston Rockets. “This is a wonderful community, a hotbed of basketball, not just pro but college as well.”

He added: “There are some upgrades to the building that are needed. I know those discussions are underway right now. It’s part of the understanding here that the building remain state-of-the-art. Nothing dramatic is needed. But certainly an upgrade to the scoreboard, some things with the suites and the lighting.”

Report: DJ White to Bobcats soon

Here’s the Charlotte Observer Blog reporting:

The Charlotte Bobcats will bring back a familiar face when they sign power forward DJ White later this week.

A source familiar with the situation told the Observer Wednesday that the Bobcats plan to sign White, a 6-foot-8 forward, as soon as FIBA clears him. The deal will be a 10-day contract.

White has been playing this winter in China for the Sichuan Blue Whales, and his obligation to that team is over.

Bobcats hire Muggsy Bogues, Matt Carroll

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield announced today that former Bobcats guard Matt Carroll has joined the organization as Community Ambassador, while former Hornets guard Muggsy Bogues has joined the team as a Hornets Ambassador participating in the team’s re-branding.

One of the most popular players in franchise history, Carroll will serve as an ambassador for the team at events related to both basketball and business operations and help inform the community about organizational initiatives. In this role, he will represent the team at community programs such as youth basketball camps, educational events, hospital visits, charity outings, speaking engagements and fundraising galas. Carroll will also have a presence on bobcats.com and on the team’s radio broadcasts.

An original member of the Charlotte Hornets, Bogues will represent the organization at events and activities related to the team’s re-branding this summer and into next season. He will make appearances at games, community events and other Hornets-related activities.

“We are delighted to have Muggsy and Matt joining our organization,” said Whitfield. “They are two of the most beloved players in Charlotte’s NBA history and we are thrilled to have them as representatives of our franchise.”

Carroll spent seven and a half of his 10 NBA seasons with the Bobcats, initially joining the team in February 2005. He played in 397 games for the Bobcats, averaging 7.4 points and 2.1 rebounds. He shot .390 from beyond the three-point line and .840 from the free-throw line, ranking second among the team’s career leaders in each category. He also ranks third in career games played and third in three-point field goals (338).

Bogues played 10 seasons for the Hornets after being selected by the team in the 1988 NBA Expansion Draft. He averaged 8.8 points, 8.8 assists and 1.7 steals in 632 games during his time in Charlotte and remains the Hornets’ career leader in minutes played (19,778), assists (5,557) and steals (1,067). Bogues ranked in the NBA’s top seven in assists in six straight seasons from 1989-95, while also ranking in the top 10 in steals three times. He led the Hornets to their first ever playoff appearance in 1993 and was also part of the 1995 and 1997 playoff runs.

Al Jefferson, Blake Griffin named NBA Players of Week through March 16

Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 10, through Sunday, March 16.

Jefferson led the Bobcats to a 4-0 week behind averages of 24.3 points (second in the conference) and 11.5 rebounds (fourth in the conference). He logged 37.7 mpg (tied-eighth in the East) and posted point-rebound double-doubles in three-of-four contests. On March 12, Jefferson tallied 26 points (13-of-20 field goals) and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats beat the Wizards 98-85 at Verizon Center.

Griffin helped the Clippers to a 4-0 week with averages of 27.0 points (third in the conference), 9.3 rebounds (ninth in the conference), 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals. He logged 36.9 mpg (eighth in the conference). Griffin tallied 20-or-more points in all four games and eclipsed the 30-point plateau twice, including on March 12, when he scored 30 points and added 15 rebounds, three assists and three steals during a 111-98 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Kyle Korver, Indiana’s Paul George, Memphis’ Mike Conley, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Tim Hardaway Jr, and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.

Gerald Henderson set to return for Bobcats

Here’s the Charlotte Observer blog with some good news about the Bobcats:

Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Gerald Henderson practiced Tuesday after missing the past five games with a strained right calf. He believes he’ll be fine to play Wednesday against the Washington Wizards.

“I feel good,” Henderson said after a post-practice game of one-on-one against Jannero Pargo. “It’s tough having to be out in that stretch. But I wanted to get myself back to 100 percent and not have that calf bother me the rest of the season.

“I feel good and I’m ready to go.”

Bobcats sign Justin Hamilton to 10-day contract

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed center Justin Hamilton to a 10-day contract. Hamilton joins the Bobcats from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League, becoming the 29th Gatorade Call-Up this season. He will wear No. 41. The Bobcats roster now stands at 15 players.

In 37 games played for the Skyforce this season, the 7-0 Hamilton is averaging 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists in 35.8 minutes, while shooting .491 from the field (269-548), .385 from beyond the three-point line (30-78) and .812 from the free-throw line (147-181). He has scored in double figures 34 times, including 21 games of 20 points or more and three contests with 30 points or more, and recorded 16 games with double-figure rebounds, tallying 16 double-doubles.

Hamilton leads in the D-League in offensive rebounding, while ranking fifth in blocks, sixth in rebounding and 16th in scoring. He played for the Futures team in the 2014 D-League All-Star Game, scoring 20 points on 8-12 shooting, including 2-4 from beyond the three-point line, and 2-2 free-throw shooting.

Hamilton was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 45th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft before having his rights traded to the Miami Heat. He spent the 2012-13 season playing internationally, first for KK Cibona in Croatia and later for VEF Riga in Latvia.

Bobcats waive Ben Gordon

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has requested waivers on guard Ben Gordon. The Bobcats roster now stands at 14 players.

“With the recent acquisition of additional backcourt depth to our roster, we believe this is in the best interests of both parties,” Higgins said. “We want to thank Ben for his contributions over the past two seasons and wish him the best as he moves on in his career.”

According to Yahoo Sports, “Gordon couldn’t reach an agreement with a playoff-bound team to get eligible for a postseason roster before Saturday’s deadline, so contenders are no longer interested in signing him. Nevertheless, there is interest among some non-playoff bound teams, sources said, and Gordon is weighing those opportunities against sitting out the rest of the season and preparing for summer free agency.”

Acquired from the Detroit Pistons along with a future first-round draft pick on June 26, 2012, in exchange for Corey Maggette, Gordon played in 94 games for the Bobcats with averages of 10.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.6 minutes. Gordon saw action in 19 games this season, averaging 5.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.7 minutes.

According to the Associated Press, “Gordon was making $13.2 million this season.”

Kemba Walker, Kevin Love named NBA Players of Week through February 23

Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Feb. 18, through Sunday, Feb. 23.

Walker led the Bobcats to a 4-0 week behind averages of 22.5 points (tied for seventh in the conference), 8.8 assists (second in the conference) and 5.5 rebounds. His 40.5 minutes per game ranked third in the East. Walker tallied 20-plus points three times and eclipsed the 30-point plateau once. He scored 24 points, handed out a career-high 16 assists and added five rebounds on Feb. 19, during a 116-98 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Love helped the Timberwolves to a 2-1 behind a league-best 36.7 ppg and 12.7 rpg (fourth in the league). He recorded a point-rebound double-double in all three contests, and notched one triple-double with 37 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on Feb. 22, during a 121-104 win over the Utah Jazz. Love leads the NBA with 47 double-doubles on the season.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Charlotte’s Al Jefferson, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Indiana’s Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers’ Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin, Miami’s Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Sacramento’s Isaiah Thomas, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and Washington’s John Wall.