Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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NBA fines Larry Brown, Lionel Hollins for behavior towards replacement refs

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins and Charlotte Bobcats head coach Larry Brown have each been fined for improper conduct towards game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Hollins has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing game officials following the Grizzlies loss to the Orlando Magic on October 12 at FedEx Forum.

Brown has been fined $35,000 for verbally abusing game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter of Charlotte’s game vs. Atlanta game on October 12 at Philips Arena.  Brown has been fined an additional $25,000 for publicly criticizing the referees following the game.

The Charlotte Bobcats have also been fined $60,000 for Brown’s actions.

Allen Iverson out 3 weeks with hamstring injury

Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson will miss approximately three weeks after an MRI today revealed a partial tear in his left hamstring, the team announced today.

Iverson suffered the injury during the Grizzlies’ training camp, held in Birmingham, Ala. last week.  The 6-0, 165-pound guard did not play in the team’s preseason opener on Oct. 6 against the Washington Wizards.

A four-time NBA scoring champion and a 10-time NBA All-Star (2000-09), Iverson signed with the Grizzlies as a free agent on Sept. 10, 2009.  The 2000-01 NBA Most Valuable Player ranks second among active players in career scoring behind the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Shaquille O’Neal and 16th in NBA history with 23,983 career points in his 13 NBA seasons.

The Grizzlies host the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7 p.m. tonight in the team’s home preseason opener at FedExForum.

Oct 6: Wizards 101, Grizzlies 92

The AP reports: Gilbert Arenas had 10 assists in 24 minutes, and the Washington Wizards beat the Memphis Grizzlies 101-92 on Tuesday night in the preseason opener for both teams. The anticipated matchup of Arenas and Allen Iverson didn’t happen. Iverson, the Hampton, Va., native whose presence helped sell out Virginia Commonwealth University’s Verizon Wireless Arena, sat out with a strained left hamstring… After the game, Arenas declined comment. “I don’t talk anymore—next training camp,” Arenas said. Antawn Jamison led Washington with 20 points. Caron Butler added 15. Mike Conley scored 12 for Memphis.

NBA tells bench players stay seated so fans can see

Good NBA seats are expensive. Fans shelling out big money to sit near the court should expect a good view of the action.

But what about when players get off the bench and remain standing for a while? On the one hand, it’s nice to see guys cheer their teammates. On the other, these giants prevent fans from seeing what they paid to see.

The Cavs are one team with players who remained standing a lot, and now the league office has reportedly taken action.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

The NBA has issued a memo to its teams directing players on the bench to remain seated during games. Game officials will be keeping a closer eye and will issue faster warnings and possible technical fouls if not followed. Players are permitted to cheer, but standing during regular-game action and blocking the fans’ views apparently isn’t going to be allowed.

That goes for Tuesday night’s first preseason game at The Q, where the Cavs will host the Charlotte Bobcats in the first of eight practice games before the season opener.

The Cavs weren’t exactly thrilled that their custom has been legislated.

“It is hard to take that out of the game,” LeBron James said. “Part of the game is emotions, your teammates are all you have. That was part of the reason we played great basketball, because we cheered each other.”

I support the league protecting the paying fan’s view.

Allen Iverson acting as vocal leader

allen iverson

Scott Cacciola of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:  Allen Iverson made his presence felt at training camp, and he was vocal. After the team had a sloppy mid-week workout, Lionel Hollins got the group together at center court and yelled at them. Then Iverson did the same, his mini-tirade laced with expletives. “C’mon, man!” Iverson yelled. “This ain’t punishment! This is how we’re trying to play.” Was Hollins encouraged to see Iverson take such a vocal role so early? He almost bristled at the question. “You know, I don’t care,” Hollins said. “The team has to take the onus, and it’s not just one person. It’s the team. They have to encourage each other, they have to chastise each other. … They have to say the right things and mean it the right way.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: I fear w hat happens when Iverson, Zach Randolph and maybe Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo start disagreeing about who should be shooting what shot, who ignored the open man or didn’t see the cutter, etc.

Grizzlies, Marko Jaric to part ways

marko jaric

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that they have mutually agreed to allow guard Marko Jaric to not join the team for training camp and the preseason, and have provided permission for Jaric’s agent to seek a roster spot with another team.

“With the offseason additions of Allen Iverson, Marcus Williams and Sam Young, our backcourt has become crowded,” Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace said. “Therefore, we have agreed with Marko Jaric and his representatives that he is permitted to seek out another situation that will provide him with a better opportunity to play. Marko is a proven NBA player and is deserving of such an opportunity.”

Jaric, a seven-year NBA veteran, owns career averages of 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 25.2 minutes in 447 games with the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and last season with the Grizzlies. Memphis acquired the 6-7, 224-pound guard, along with the draft rights to O.J. Mayo, Greg Buckner and Antoine Walker in exchange for the draft rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins on June 26, 2008. Jaric was originally selected by the Clippers in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft (30th overall) and played six years professionally in Europe before making his NBA debut in 2002.

Grizzlies withdraw qualifying offer to Juan Carlos Navarro

The Memphis Grizzlies have withdrawn their qualifying offer to guard Juan Carlos Navarro, making him an unrestricted free agent, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

In his only NBA season (2007-08), Navarro averaged 10.9 points and 2.2 assists in 82 games and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.  After his rookie season, the 6-3, 170-pound guard signed with his former Spanish club F.C. Barcelona.  Memphis now surrenders the right to match any future offer should Navarro decide to return to the NBA.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30.

Grizzlies sign Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson expected to sign with Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies today released the following statement from General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace.

“The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed in principle to enter into an agreement with free agent guard Allen Iverson. We anticipate signing him to a contract very soon.”

According to the New York Times the deal is a one-year contract for about $3.5 million.

SEPTEMBER 10 UPDATE: The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Allen Iverson, one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“We are excited to announce the signing of Allen Iverson,” Wallace said. “He is one of the all-time great guards in the history of the NBA.  This is a great day for the Grizzlies organization, our loyal fans and the city of Memphis.”

A four-time NBA scoring champion and a 10-time NBA All-Star (2000-09), Iverson ranks second among active players in career scoring behind the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Shaquille O’Neal and 16th in NBA history with 23,983 career points.

The 2000-01 NBA Most Valuable Player holds career averages of 27.1 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.22 steals in 41.4 minutes in 886 career games (877 starts) over 13 seasons (1996-09) with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers, who originally selected him with the first overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.

Iverson’s career scoring average ranks fifth all-time behind Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and the 2008-09 NBA MVP LeBron James. One of only four players in NBA history to capture the league’s scoring title four times (1998-99, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2004-05), joining Jordan (10), Chamberlain (7) and George Gervin (4), Iverson places fourth all-time in 40-plus point games (79) and sixth all-time in 50-plus point games (11). He scored a career-high 60 points on Feb. 12, 2005 vs. the Orlando Magic as a member of the 76ers.

The 6-0, 165-pound guard’s extensive list of awards and honors include the NBA Rookie of the Year (1997), All-NBA First Team (1999, 2001, 2005), All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2002, 2003), All-NBA Third Team (2006), NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (2001, 2005) and NBA Rookie Game Most Valuable Player (1997).

Most recently, Iverson split the 2008-09 season with Denver and Detroit, averaging 17.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 36.7 minutes in 57 games (53 starts). The Pistons acquired the 34-year-old from the Nuggets in exchange for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb on Nov. 3, 2008. Iverson will face his former team in the Grizzlies’ 2009-10 regular season opener at FedExForum on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

The former Georgetown standout also ranks fourth all-time in career minutes per game (41.4), 12th in career steals (1,964) and is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in steals per game in three consecutive seasons (2000-03). Iverson also owns 134 career double-doubles (one in every 6.6 career games).

The Hampton, Va. native enjoyed his most successful season in 2000-01, when Iverson led the 76ers to the Eastern Conference Championship and a berth in the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1982-83 season. During his MVP campaign, Iverson averaged a league-leading 31.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 42.0 minutes in 71 games (all starts).

Iverson, who has helped lead his team to the postseason in nine of his 13 seasons, ranks second all-time in NBA playoffs history in points per game (29.7) and 40-plus scoring games (10), while ranking seventh in steals per game (2.07).

The addition of Iverson gives the Grizzlies an NBA-high four players on their roster who averaged at least 17.0 points per game during the 2008-09 season (Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Zach Randolph).

The roster currently stands at 15 players.

Rudy Gay bulks up

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Rudy Gay carries, by his estimation, about 15 pounds of added muscle. He’ll tell you his level of focus is immeasurable behind a strong showing during USA Basketball’s July minicamp. His desire to elevate the Grizzlies is off the charts with training camp less than a month away and three consecutive losing seasons in the rearview mirror. “I want to be an All-Star. Everything I do now is trying to help me get to that point,” Gay said. “If I’m at the top of my game and recognized as an All-Star, it’ll mean we’re winning.”

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