Milwaukee Bucks Blog – Page 21 – NBA Blog

Jabari Parker and Tyler Ennis medically cleared for Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker and guard Tyler Ennis have been medically cleared to return to game action on Wednesday, Nov. 4 when the team hosts the Philadelphia 76ers, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Game time for Wednesday’s contest at the BMO Harris Bradley Center is 7 p.m.

“We’re very excited to have both Jabari and Tyler medically cleared to play for us,” said Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd. “Both players have put in a tremendous amount of hard work during the rehabilitation process. It’s a real credit to their work ethic and the talents of our world-class medical team and terrific coaching staff to have them ready to go. I know our fans are thrilled to have them back and will welcome them both on Wednesday night.”

In 25 games last season, Parker averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 29.5 minutes per game. He earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for October/November and was the first teenager in over 30 years to record multiple double-doubles in his first three career games. Parker, 20, underwent season-ending knee surgery on Jan. 5 after suffering a left knee ACL injury at Phoenix on Dec. 15.

After a standout season at Duke where he was named consensus First Team All-America, ACC Freshman of the Year and a finalist for the Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy and John R. Wooden Awards, Parker was the 2nd overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft by Milwaukee.

Ennis, 21, averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 33 games last season with the Bucks and Suns. He was acquired from Phoenix on Feb. 19 in a three-team trade that also brought Miles Plumlee and Michael Carter-Williams to the Bucks. In his first career start on Mar. 14 vs. Boston, Ennis became the third player in franchise history under 21 years old (B. Jennings, T.J. Ford) to record 10+ assists in a game. On May 19, he underwent labral repair surgery on his right shoulder.

In one season at Syracuse, Ennis was named to the All-ACC Second Team, ACC All-Freshman and ACC All-Defensive Teams.

“Having Jabari and Tyler back on Wednesday is great news for our team,” said Head Coach Jason Kidd.

Bucks exercise options on Tyler Ennis, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams

The Milwaukee Bucks have exercised the third-year contract options on Tyler Ennis and Jabari Parker, and the fourth-year contract options on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

All of these moves were expected. While the jury is still out on Ennis, the other three players are considered key building blocks and the foundation of the franchise.

Antetokounmpo, 20, appeared in 81 games (71 starts) last year during his sophomore campaign and averaged 12.7 points with 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 blocks in 31.4 minutes per contest. He posted double-figure scoring in 60 games in 2014-15, including seven 20-plus scoring outings. In his two NBA seasons, the 6-11 forward has played in 158 games (94 starts), averaging 9.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.1 minutes per game. In 2014-15, Antetokounmpo became the youngest Buck in franchise history to amass 1,000 points with Milwaukee.

Carter-Williams, 24, appeared in 66 games (63 starts) split between Philadelphia and Milwaukee last season, averaging 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists (11th in the NBA) and 1.7 steals (15th in the NBA) in 32.6 minutes per game. Over two seasons, the 2013-14 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year has played a total of 136 games (133 starts), averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals. With these averages, Carter-Williams joins a list of Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Grant Hill, Steve Francis and LeBron James as the only players to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists through their first two NBA seasons.

Ennis, 21, split time between Phoenix and Milwaukee last year during his rookie season and averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 12.5 minutes over 33 contests. He made his debut in the Bucks starting lineup on March 14 at Memphis, logging career highs in assists (11), rebounds (4) and minutes played (36). With his 11 assists, Ennis became the third Bucks player in franchise history under 21 years old to record 10-plus assists in a game, joining Brandon Jennings and T.J. Ford.

Parker, 20, competed in 25 games (all starts) as a rookie for the Bucks in 2014-15 before missing the remainder of the season due to a left ACL tear. In his 25 games played, Parker averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per contest. The Duke product was named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November of 2014 after he helped lead the Bucks to a 10-8 mark by averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Parker recorded consecutive double-doubles in his first week of NBA action last season (11 pts/10 rebs on 10/31 vs. PHI and 13 pts/11 rebs on 11/1 at WAS), making him the first teenager in 30 years to record multiple double-doubles in his first three career games.

Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option.

Bucks waive Jorge Gutierrez, Marcus Landry, Josh Powell

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard Jorge Gutierrez and forwards Marcus Landry and Josh Powell, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Gutierrez appeared in four preseason games and averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 assists. Landry averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in four contests, while Powell also saw action in four games during the preseason.

The Bucks roster now stands at 15 players.

Jason Kidd has Ronnie Lott speak to Bucks

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks, whose head coach Jason Kidd had a legend from another sport come in and talk to his squad:

Kidd brought in former San Francisco 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott to talk to the team Wednesday.

Lott was one of the most feared tacklers in NFL history and famously had his broken pinkie amputated in 1986 to avoid a long recovery process that would have been required with reconstructive surgery.

“He talked about it,” Kidd said. “He’s very modest in saying it’s not that big of a story.

“He didn’t wear shoulder pads in public, but you saw him do his job on the field. Watching him as a kid — he played for the 49ers and (Los Angeles) Raiders — and no matter what team he was on he was always known as a hitter and a champion.”

Kidd said Lott talked to the Bucks players about working as teammates and the privilege of being pro athletes.

Lott won four Super Bowl titles in 10 years with the 49ers and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Lott also is a friend of one of the Bucks’ primary owners, Wes Edens.

Bucks waive Jon Horford and Charlie Westbrook

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on forward Jon Horford and guard Charlie Westbrook, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Horford saw six minutes of action in last night’s preseason game at Chicago, while Westbrook posted four points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in nine minutes. Both were signed by the Bucks as free agents on Sept. 18.

The Bucks roster now stands at 18 players.

Bucks to use alternate court design this season

Now this is interesting. An alternate home court to go with an alternate jersey. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:

Bucks to use alternate court this season

The Milwaukee Bucks gave their fans the chance to buy something new, as the team announced at its Fan Fest Saturday that it will sell a four-game ticket package where the team not only will wear a new alternate jersey but will play on a completely new alternate basketball court.

“The idea has always been to take the fan experience to the next level,” said the Bucks vice president of marketing Dustin Godsey. “We rebranded with the alternate uniforms, but other teams have done that.”

No NBA team has ever played on a different surface in its home arena within the same season.

Bucks sign John Henson to contract extension

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward John Henson to a contract extension, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to ESPN.com, it is a four-year extension worth somewhere around $45 million.

“We’re thrilled to get this deal done to keep John in a Bucks uniform for years to come,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Since we drafted him in 2012, John has made an impact on this team, especially on the defensive end, and he is an integral part of our future. We’re looking forward to continuing to watch his development as we work to become a championship-caliber team.”

Henson, 24, played in 67 games for Milwaukee last season (11 starts), and averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds. He finished 5th in NBA for blocks per game with 2.01 and is one of seven players in Bucks history to average over 2.0 blocks in a single season. Henson blocked at least one shot in 20 straight games from Dec. 26 to Feb. 22, which was the third-longest streak in the NBA last season and one game shy of the longest such streak of his career (21 from Dec. 13, 2013 to Feb. 22, 2014). On March 20 at Brooklyn, Henson tied his career high with seven blocked shots in only 21 minutes – tying the shortest time for any player to get to seven blocks last season.

“We’re excited for John and for our organization as we continue to build a consistent winner,” Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd said. “John is a great teammate, plays unselfishly and has worked very hard to develop into a top-tier defender. We look forward to many great years together with him.”

The Bucks selected Henson with the 14th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He’s posted career averages of 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over three seasons, and his field goal percentage of 53.1 ranks third on Milwaukee’s all-time list (min. 1,000 FGA). In one of his best games on April 10, 2013, at Orlando, Henson posted 17 points along with career highs of 25 rebounds and seven blocks, becoming the first player to hit all three of those numbers since Shaquille O’Neal did so during the 2003-04 season.

Henson has been to the playoffs with the Bucks twice with averages of 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks through 10 games. In the 2015 postseason, he notched his first career playoff double-double on April 23 vs. Chicago with postseason career highs of 15 points and 14 rebounds, and with three blocks he became the first Bucks player since Ervin Johnson on May 28, 2001, to post a double-double with at least three blocks in a playoff game.

The 6-foot-11-inch product out of North Carolina was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2011, 2012) and was named First-Team All-ACC as a junior after leading the conference in shot-blocking and rebounding. He was also named a 2009 McDonald’s All American as a senior at Sickles High School (Florida).

Gus Johnson and Marques Johnson join Bucks broadcast team

The Milwaukee Bucks and FOX Sports Wisconsin (FSW) today announced the additions of Gus Johnson and Marques Johnson to the Bucks broadcast team, bringing a pair of nationally-recognized voices to the broadcast booth to join long-time commentators Jim Paschke and Jon McGlocklin, who return for their 30th season of calling Bucks action together.

The additions of Johnson and Johnson mark a pair of homecomings, with Gus returning to the NBA for the first time since 2010 and Marques returning to the Bucks franchise where he enjoyed a storied career during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Gus will handle play-by-play duties for 20 games this season, while Marques will serve as the color analyst on approximately 55 local telecasts. Paschke and McGlocklin, who have been fixtures on Bucks broadcasts for 30 years, will continue to handle play-by-play and analyst duties, respectively, for the remaining FSW broadcasts.

Already a prominent member of the FOX Sports family as lead play-by-play announcer for college football and college basketball, Gus Johnson returns to his NBA roots with his new Bucks play-by-play duties. From 1994-2010, Johnson served as the primary radio voice of the New York Knicks for Madison Square Garden Network (MSG), while also filling in on TV roles for both the Knicks and WNBA’s New York Liberty. Prior to joining FOX Sports, Johnson was one of CBS’s top play-by-play voices for the network’s college basketball coverage from 1996 to 2011. Clips of his dramatic, enthusiastic calls in the deciding moments of NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games became part of the fabric of the event and were the foundation of Johnson’s rise as a YouTube sensation.

“I am overjoyed and so looking forward to calling the games of a great young team with an exciting young coach in one of my favorite cities. It’s an honor to get back into the NBA with a franchise truly on the rise,” Johnson said. “I also look forward to working with Jim Paschke, someone I have known and admired for many years as one of the best in the business, and Marques Johnson, one of the all-time great Milwaukee Bucks. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA.”

Marques Johnson’s NBA career began in Milwaukee when the Bucks selected the 6-7 forward with the third overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft. Johnson would go on to play seven seasons in Milwaukee, leading the Bucks to the playoffs in six of them while earning four All-Star and three All-NBA Team selections. Johnson averaged 21.0 points per game during his time with the Bucks, the fourth-best mark in franchise history, and also ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders nearly every statistical category. Following his playing career, Johnson served as an analyst on Seattle SuperSonics broadcasts in the late ’90s, as lead college basketball analyst at Fox Sports for 15 years, as studio analyst for the Lakers and Clippers broadcasts, and most recently hosted a morning sports show on the Clippers’ flagship radio station in Los Angeles.

“I loved my time in Milwaukee and was part of some truly memorable teams, so it’s an honor to be coming back home to this fantastic franchise,” Johnson said. “This young and talented team has a very bright future, and I’m thrilled to have a front row seat alongside two of the best announcers in the business in Gus and Jim for what promises to be an exciting season.”

“I have a lot of admiration and respect for Gus and Marques – two of the all-time greats in their respective fields – and look forward to the energy and expertise they’ll bring to Bucks broadcasts this season,” Paschke said. “In my 30 years of calling Bucks action I’ve been a part of many incredible broadcasts, but I honestly believe the best is still to come. Bucks fans will have plenty to look forward to this season, both on the court and on TV.”

“I am honored to continue to be a part of the Bucks broadcast team as I start my 40th season behind the mic,” added McGlocklin. “It has been a blessing and a privilege for me and my family to have been a part of the Bucks organization since its inception in 1968. Gus and Marques are both outstanding talents with extensive basketball experience who bring unique and special skills to our broadcast.”

The 2015-16 regular season Bucks TV schedule tips off on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when the Bucks host the New York Knicks.

Bucks extend contract of GM John Hammond

The Milwaukee Bucks have extended the contract of General Manager John Hammond, the team announced today. The agreement will keep Hammond in his position with the Bucks through the 2016-17 season.

“A great deal of our team’s success and progress is due to the vision and hard work of John,” said Wes Edens, Bucks owner. “He’s assembled a talented and competitive roster and we’re very pleased that he will continue to lead basketball operations. With John and Coach Kidd at the helm, our young team has a very bright future.”

Hammond was hired by the Bucks on April 11, 2008, and was awarded the 2009-10 NBA Executive of the Year Award, voted on by his peers in the NBA, following the team’s 46-36 season. He has more than 30 years of coaching and administrative experience, including seven seasons with the Detroit Pistons that included an NBA Championship (2004), another NBA Finals appearance and three other Eastern Conference Finals appearances.

Bucks name Alicia Dupies Vice President of Community Relations

The Milwaukee Bucks today announced Alicia Dupies as the organization’s new Vice President of Community Relations. Dupies brings over 20 years of experience in project development and community affairs to the Bucks staff, where she will also serve as the managing director of the new Bucks Foundation, which will be launched later this fall.

“From the day we came on board our ownership group has been committed not just to putting a championship-caliber team on the court, but to assembling a world-class staff that is committed to Milwaukee and will make a difference in our community,” Bucks president Peter Feigin said. “Alicia is uniquely qualified to lead the charge as we work to revitalize downtown Milwaukee and further engrain the Bucks within this vibrant community. We’re so thrilled to welcome her to our talented leadership group.”