Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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New Jersey Nets to run Springfield Armor starting in 2011-12

The Springfield Armor, the New Jersey Nets, and the  NBA  Development  League  announced today that the Nets and Armor have entered  into a single affiliation partnership beginning during the 2011-12 season,  giving the Nets full control over the basketball operations of and making  them the sole affiliate for the Armor.  The Nets are the second NBA team  to enter into a single affiliation with an NBA D-League team, joining the Houston Rockets and the 2009-10 NBA D-League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

In a structure similar to other minor leagues, this partnership model, also referred  to  as  the  “hybrid affiliation,” allows for NBA teams to secure control over and cover the expenses related to the basketball operations of an NBA D-League team, while partnering with existing local ownership, which maintains responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations.

“The  New  Jersey  Nets’  decision  to  enter  into  a  single  affiliation partnership  with the Springfield Armor is yet another example of NBA teams understanding how integral the NBA D-League can be to their success, and an important  step  in  our continued evolution as a true minor league for the NBA,”  said  NBA  D-League President Dan Reed.  “With twenty percent of NBA players  having  used  the  NBA D-League as a springboard, it’s no surprise that  the  Nets  join  a growing number of NBA teams that have acquired the benefits of a one-to-one relationship with their NBA D-League affiliate.”

“The  Nets  organization  is very pleased to enter into this agreement with the Springfield Armor,” said Nets General Manger Billy King.  “We feel that the  ‘hybrid’  arrangement  will  allow our basketball team to maximize its affiliation  with  the  NBA  D-League  and  allow Springfield to serve as a fertile   training  ground  for  our  players,  coaches  and  front  office personnel, only strengthening our basketball product.”

“The  Springfield  Armor  organization is thrilled to be entering into this single  affiliation  partnership  with  the  New  Jersey  Nets,” said Armor Managing Partner Michael Savit.  “This is the wave of the future in the NBA D-League,  and  we’re  pleased  to  be  getting in on the ground floor as a partner  with  one  of  the  NBA’s  most  exciting teams.  It reflects very positively   on  the  NBA  D-League,  our  organization  and  the  City  of Springfield.”

During  the  2010-11  season,  the  New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, along with the Nets, will serve as affiliates for the Armor.

Former NC State player Gavin Grant wanted by police

WTVD (ABC) reports:

Warrants have been obtained charging 25-year-old Gavin Troy Grant with first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

The attempted robbery happened on September 24 around 10 p.m at an apartment on Crossroads Arbor Way.

Police say two suspects forced their way into the apartment and assaulted two people who were inside.

The victims fought off the suspects, who fled before being about the complete the robbery.

One of the victims in the case is former NC State baseball player Domonique Rodgers.

Rodgers was arrested four hours after the incident for running a marijuana operation at his house.

Spurs waive Bobby Simmons, sign Chris Quinn

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed point guard Chris Quinn.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.  At the same time, the Spurs announced that Bobby Simmons has been placed on waivers.

Quinn (#11, 6’2”, 175, 9/27/83) has appeared in 193 regular season games in his four-year NBA career, averaging 5.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game, while shooting .390 (150-385) from three-point range. He enjoyed his best campaign during the 2007-08 season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game in 22.3 minutes of play, including 25 starts for the Heat.

Originally signed as a free agent out of Notre Dame by Miami in 2006, Quinn was traded by the Heat to the Nets on January 5, 2010. He appeared in two preseason games with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2010 preseason.

Simmons originally signed with the Spurs as a free agent on September 25, 2010.  He had appeared in two games in the regular season.

Magic at Knicks game postponed due to MSG asbestos-related debris issue

The Orlando Magic at New York Knicks game scheduled for tonight (November 2) will instead be played another night, and it’s possible  that additional games in Madison Square Garden may have to be relocated.

Here is the information sent out by the Knicks:

Following last night’s Rangers game, during overnight maintenance of Madison Square Garden, which included cleaning asbestos-related materials in the attic above the ceiling, some debris fell into the Arena.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are postponing tonight’s Knicks v. Magic game. We will be working with the city and independent experts, ATC Associates and GCI Environmental Advisory, to evaluate and determine the most appropriate course of action. As the safety of our customers and employees are our top priority, we will not reopen the Garden until we are absolutely assured the Arena is safe.

Ticketholders are advised to retain their tickets, and return to nyknicks.com for rescheduling information. We will announce information about future events as soon as they have been determined.

Madison Square Garden apologizes for any inconvenience.

Prudential Center in Newark will host 2011 NBA Draft

The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., has been selected to host the 2011 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 23, 2011, NBA Commissioner David Stern, Chairman and Managing Partner, Devils Arena Entertainment, Jeff Vanderbeek, and the Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor for the City of Newark, announced today at the Prudential Center before the New Jersey Nets’ home opener against the Detroit Pistons.

This marks the second time the NBA Draft is being held in New Jersey.

“We are delighted to bring one of the NBA’s premier events to Newark,” said Stern. “The Prudential Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena that will be a great host for another exciting NBA Draft.”

“Hosting the draft is further affirmation of Prudential Center as a home for the NBA,” said Vanderbeek.  “In fact, this season the Rock will host more basketball games at the NBA, WNBA and college levels than all but two other arenas, Madison Square Garden and STAPLES Center.”

“Newark, New Jersey, is a basketball City,” said Mayor Booker.  “We are proud and honored to host one of basketball’s most significant annual events here in the Prudential Center. It will be a fantastic event, in our great City, helping to wrap up what is expected to be a tremendous year of basketball in Newark.”

The NBA Draft became a public event in 1979, and was held in various venues in New York City through 1991. It was held in Portland in 1992, followed by Detroit (1993), Indianapolis (1994), Toronto (1995), East Rutherford, N.J. (1996), Charlotte (1997), Vancouver (1998), and Washington D.C. (1999).

The Prudential Center, which opened Oct. 25, 2007, is located in downtown Newark and is the temporary home of New Jersey Nets. It also is the home arena of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall University’s Men’s Basketball.

The Theater at Madison Square Garden, which has hosted the NBA Draft for the last several years, is unavailable to hold this year’s Draft due to the ongoing transformation of Madison Square Garden.

Nets exercise options on Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams

The New Jersey Nets have exercised the fourth year contract option on Brook Lopez and the third year contract option on Terrence Williams, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.  Lopez and Williams are now signed through the 2011-12 season.  Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Lopez was selected 10th overall by the Nets in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.  Last season he was the only Net to appear and start in all 82 games, becoming the first center in franchise history to do so.  He averaged team-highs with 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.70 blocks (ranked 10th in the NBA) and dished out 2.3 assists in 36.9 minutes per game, while shooting .499 (563-1,129) from the field and .817 (416-509) from the line (3rd among qualified centers).  In his rookie season, 2008-09, he was selected to NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting (Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo).  He also set the Nets all-time rookie blocks record with 151.

Williams was selected 11th overall by New Jersey in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft.  The Louisville product appeared in 78 games for New Jersey last season, earning nine starts.  He finished 5th among rookies in double-doubles with eight and 9th among rookies in rebounds and assists, while earning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for April.  Williams averaged 8.4 points while shooting .401 (261-651) from the field, along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 22.6 minutes per game.


MOSCOW, RUSSIA. OCTOBER 10. 2010. New Jersey Nets Brook Lopez attends the opening of the first NBA store NBA Shop in Shop in Russia, Moscow. (Photo ITAR-TASS / Alexei Filippov) Photo via Newscom

Rafer Alston seeks NBA comeback

Rafer Alston seeks NBA comeback

Veteran point guard Rafer Alston wants to continue playing professional basketball. And if he can’t do it in the NBA, the New York native is willing to cross oceans to keep his career going.

On Thursday, Alston’s long-time personal manager and close friend Eddie Lau told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner in an email that the player is in “the best shape of his life and that he is looking for a chance to get back in the NBA as a backup point guard.”

Lau also said that Alston is open to playing overseas, should that be the best opportunity for him.

Several recent reports said that the guard is working out with a team in China, and could sign a contract there.

Alston played for part of the 2009-10 NBA season, with the New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat. His career NBA average is 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

Future Brooklyn Nets arena gets vodka sponsor

Today Stolichnaya, a pioneer in the flavored vodka category, and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the sales and marketing arm of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, announced that Stolichnaya is embarking as a Founding Partner in a five-year alliance with the Barclays Center, the planned state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, and with NETS Basketball. The opening of the Barclays Center in late spring/early summer of 2012 will mark the return of major professional sports to Brooklyn for the first time since 1957, and Stoli will become the official vodka partner of the Barclays Center.

“This partnership represents Stoli’s first long-term foray into professional sports and we look forward to an exciting and successful partnership with the Barclays Center and NETS Basketball,” said Andrey Skurikhin, Partner at SPI Group, the Stolichnaya brand owner. “Stoli is a pioneering brand in the spirits industry and celebrates the same spirit of innovation that characterizes the development of the Barclays Center and the revitalization of the NETS. We look forward to engaging with our consumers in this much anticipated, exciting new venue.”

“We are thrilled to become partners with the most innovative and historic brand in the spirits industry,” said Brett Yormark, president and CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “The Barclays Center continues to align with renowned companies which seek to build their brands in the heart of world commerce. Stoli has made a major commitment to the Barclays Center and we look forward to building its brand with a year-round marketing platform.”

As part of the agreement with the Barclays Center, Stoli will receive numerous entitlements, including category exclusive branding throughout the new arena and the branding of six bars.