Los Angeles Lakers Blog – Page 129 – NBA Blog

Andrew Bynum completes first full practice since offseason knee surgery

Jun. 08, 2010 - Boston, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES - epa02192971 Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum (R) goes to the basket as Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins defends during the first half of game three of the NBA Finals at TD Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 08 June 2010. The Lakers defeated the Celtics 91-84 to lead the series 2-1 in the best of seven games.

The AP reports:

Center Andrew Bynum participated Monday in his first full practice with the Los Angeles Lakers since offseason knee surgery.

Bynum still isn’t sure when he’ll return to the Lakers’ starting lineup, but he intends to play in December.

“I made it through practice with no pain, no symptoms, so it’s pretty good,” Bynum told reporters after practice. “I just want to get a couple of practices in. I want to play within the month, anywhere. I just want to get enough practices in so it’s not too far when I get into a game, I can keep up the pace and stuff like that.”

Phil Jackson describes Cavaliers home game atmosphere as “obnoxious”

In today’s edition of “Phil Jackson says fun stuff,” the Lakers coach chimes in on Cavaliers home games.

Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Many NBA followers are eager to see LeBron James’ return to Cleveland when Miami players there Thursday.

Not Jackson.

“That’s not of interest to me,” he said. “I hate to listen to the Cleveland broadcast. Their announcers are so loud on the court. It’s just an obnoxious place.”

But almost everybody will be watching on Thursday.

“That’s my night off,” Jackson said, smiling.

The thing is, home crowds are supposed make the game “obnoxious” for the visiting team. So, it’s almost a compliment. Somewhat. Maybe. Or something.

As for the LeBron at Cleveland game, I’ll be watching. The boos Cavs fans hurl at LeBron may be of record-setting proportions. Also, basketball will be played, and that’s a nice supporting attraction.

Have an opinion on the Cavs? Share it on the Cleveland Cavaliers forum.

Phil Jackson ponders possibility of Heat changing coaches

Miami Heat's head coach Erik Spoelstra (L) listens to LeBron James during a break in the first half as they met the Detroit Pistons during their NBA pre-season basketball game in Miami, Florida October 5, 2010. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

ESPNLosAngeles.com reports:

With expectations so high going into the season after team president Pat Riley assembled his dream team, the pressure is on Erik Spoelstra to deliver. When the Heat struggled to an 11-10 start to the 2005-06 season, Riley shocked the league by replacing Stan Van Gundy on the Miami bench. He hadn’t coached since the 2002-03 campaign but led the Heat to the NBA championship.”The scenario that sits kind of behind the scene, is that eventually these guys that were recruited — Bosh and James — by Pat Riley and Mickey Arrison, the owner, are going to come in and say, ‘We feel you [Riley] can do a better job coaching the team. We came here on the hopes that this would work,’ and whatever, I don’t know,” Jackson said. “That’s kind of my take on it, is that eventually if things don’t straighten out here soon, it could be the Van Gundy thing all over again.”

The two-time defending champion Lakers are cruising along again at 12-2. The Boston Celtics, whom they faced in the 2010 Finals, are still the beast of the East, according to Jackson.

“The Celtics have a defense you have to plan for. Their defense is overwhelmingly a factor in the ballgame,” Jackson said. “They’re going to smother. They’re going to really contest. They’re going to body guys. There’s going to be double-teaming underneath the free-throw line. There are a lot of things that go on there that you have to start planning for.

Pau Gasol shoots 10-of-10 in Lakers win over Warriors

The AP reports:

Gasol scored 28 points without missing a shot, Kobe Bryant added 20 points and the Lakers took a 30-point lead in the first half of their fourth straight victory, 117-89 over the Golden State Warriors.

Gasol went 10 for 10 from the field, 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, and had nine rebounds and five assists. Until Gasol shredded Golden State’s shoddy interior defense, Charles Barkley and Matt Barnes were the only players ever to produce games of at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists without missing on at least five shots from the field and the line.

“Matt told me, ‘Welcome to the club,'” Gasol said. “I said, ‘Happy to be in there.’ It’s kind of weird that it happened that way. It’s weird, but it’s obviously a good sign.”

Barnes scored 24 points and hit seven shots — five 3-pointers — without a miss at Minnesota on Friday night. While Barnes was impressed by Gasol’s copycat effort, he noted the 7-foot Spaniard’s advantages as well.

“He was playing against little midgets, though,” Barnes joked. “That’s not something you play for, but 10 for 10, 8 for 8, he topped me. It’s amazing.”

Toddler dies in fall from luxury suite at Lakers game

UPDATE: THE BOY DIED

Police say they are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy who fell 50 feet from a Staples Center luxury suite after a Lakers game.

Officer Julie Sohn said Monday the child abuse unit is investigating because of the boy’s age.

The Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed people familiar with the case, says the parents of Lucas Anthony Tang of Garden Grove had been searching for him when they learned he had fallen Sunday night.

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports:

A young boy fell from a luxury suite after the Lakers’ game Sunday against the Golden State Warriors, tumbling into the lower bowl at Staples Center.

The boy was believed to be from 2 to 5 years old and was transported to an undisclosed hospital. The boy was moving his arms and legs as he was moved onto a stretcher, according to a witness who declined to be identified.

Theo Ratliff out at least 4-6 weeks after knee surgery

Los Angeles Lakers center Theo Ratliff underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to perform a partial meniscectomy on his left knee, it was announced today.

The surgery, which took approximately 30 minutes, was performed by Lakers team orthopaedist Dr. Steve Lombardo of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group. Ratliff is expected to be out a minimum of 4-6 weeks.

Ratliff signed with the Lakers as a free agent this past summer on July 22. In eight games this season, he is averaging 0.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.63 blocks in 8.4 minutes.

One of seven players in NBA history to capture the blocked shots title three or more times, Ratliff ranks 18th in NBA history in career blocked shots (1,968) and owns career averages of 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.43 blocks and 25.4 minutes in 808 games.

Lakers waive Trey Johnson and Andrew Naymick

The Los Angeles Lakers have requested waivers on guard Trey Johnson and center Andrew Naymick, it was announced today.

Johnson, a 6-6 guard out of Jackson State, has split time over the past three seasons with the NBA Development League’s Bakersfield Jam and international teams in France, Italy and Serbia. A 2008-09 D-League All-Star and All-D-League Second Team member, in February of 2009, Johnson signed a 10-day NBA contract with Cleveland, appearing in four games for the Cavaliers (1.0 points, 0.3 rebounds, 3.5 minutes). Beginning last season with BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral in the French League, Johnson later re-signed with Bakersfield in March, averaging 21.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 13 games with the Jam. Johnson, who appeared in five preseason games with the Lakers, averaged 2.8 points and 1.2 assists in 8.8 minutes.

Naymick, a 6-10 center out of Michigan State, has played professionally the last two seasons in Europe as a member of SKK Kotwica Kolobrzeg in Poland and Caceres 2016 C.B. in Spain. In 38 games last season with Caceres 2016 C.B., Naymick averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.89 blocks in 25.7 minutes. In two preseason games with the Lakers, Naymick pulled down two rebounds in 16 minutes of play.

Magic Johnson sells share of Lakers to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong

Los Angeles Lakers legend and part-owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson has sold his share of the team to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, it was announced today. The transaction price of Johnson’s share of the team is undisclosed.

Lakers majority owner Dr. Jerry Buss had this comment on the transaction: “The sale of Earvin’s share of the team is a business decision which will not change our relationship. Our friendship goes well beyond business. Patrick is a long-time and passionate Lakers fan and we are delighted to have him as a partner.”

Johnson, drafted by the Lakers with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, played 13 seasons with the Lakers, leading the team to five championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) and nine appearances in the NBA Finals. He was named NBA Most Valuable Player three times (1987, 1989, 1990), NBA Finals Most Valuable Player three times (1980, 1982, 1987) and All-NBA First Team nine times. He participated in 12 NBA All-Star games, winning Most Valuable Player honors in 1990 and 1992. A member of the United States Men’s National “Dream Team” that won the Gold Medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Johnson was named “One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History” in 1996 and was subsequently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 27, 2002.

“After heavy deliberation and a weighing heart, I have decided to sell my share of the Lakers to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. Dr. Soon-Shiong is a super Lakers fan, an outstanding businessman, a dedicated philanthropist and one of the most active community leaders in Los Angeles,” said Johnson. “I am truly humbled to have been a Lakers player for 13 years and an owner for over 10 years. I thank Dr. Buss from the deepest part of my heart and soul for allowing me such an incredible opportunity. I will continue to work alongside Dr. Buss, Jeanie Buss and Mitch Kupchak in their efforts to continually build and maintain the best NBA franchise in the league. This was a bittersweet business decision made on behalf of my family and myself, and I want to assure all the wonderful and loyal Lakers fans that my decision will in no way affect my dedication and support for the Los Angeles Lakers. I am and will always be a Laker for life.”

Dr. Soon-Shiong, a Lakers season seat holder for more than 25 years, is Chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation, Chairman and CEO of All About Advanced Health and founder of the National Coalition for Health Integration. He is the Executive Director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute and Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Bioengineering at UCLA. Dr. Soon-Shiong is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In 1993, he performed the world’s first encapsulated human islet transplant and the first pig to man islet cell transplant in diabetic patients. He invented the nation’s first FDA approved protein nanoparticle delivery technology for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, now approved in over 38 countries and currently in trials for lung, melanoma, gastric and pancreatic cancer. He is co-inventor of over 50 issued U.S. patents, has published more than 100 scientific papers and has founded two multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies, American Pharma Partners (APP) and Abraxis Bioscience (ABII). APP was responsible for the only safe supply of Heparin in the United States in 2008, and ABII achieved the nation’s first FDA approved blood-derived nanoparticle for breast cancer, doubling the response rate in patients with metastatic disease.

Dr. Soon-Shiong serves on the RAND Health Board of Advisors and the President’s Council at RAND, the Board of Trustees for Saint John’s Health Center in Los Angeles, the Advisory Board of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, the Advisory Board for the Institute of Technology Advancement at UCLA School of Engineering, the Arizona Commerce Authority Board and the Board of Councillors of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

“It is an honor for me to be part of the Lakers family and the nation’s foremost basketball franchise,” said Soon-Shiong. “The Lakers’ leadership and spirit of community engendered by Dr. Jerry Buss and his family is an inspiration to us all. Our family looks forward to a future filled with the excitement this team brings to the city and the nation. Earvin Johnson is a shining example of excellence on and off the court, and it is a privilege to have acquired his ownership position.”

Hornets sign D.J. Mbenga

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed free agent forward D.J. Mbenga. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

The 7-0, 255 pound center played in 49 games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Mbenga registered his first career double-double on Nov. 8, 2009 against the Hornets with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He played in three games during the 2010 playoffs, averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Mbenga holds career averages of 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 193 games (four starts). He has spent time playing with the Mavericks (2004-07), Warriors (2007-08) and the Lakers (2008-10), as well as being a member of the Belgian national team.

Steve Francis arrested for drunkenness at Los Angeles airport

The AP reports:

Los Angeles International Airport police say three-time NBA all-star Steve Francis has been arrested for public drunkenness.

Airport spokesman Albert Rodriguez says Francis was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Thursday because he was intoxicated, unable to care for himself and combative toward staff. Sgt. Belinda Nettles says the arrest took place in the Terminal 7 lobby near the United Airlines ticketing counter.