Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 119 – NBA Blog

Nets are first NBA team to sell practice jersey sponsorship

New Jersey Nets Basketball player practice jerseys during the 2009-10 season will be adorned with a logo of PNY Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality computing and digital imaging products.

The Nets are the first NBA team to grant sponsor logo placement rights on its practice jerseys

As part of the two-year agreement, PNY will own the naming rights for the Nets practice facility in East Rutherford, to be called the PNY Center.

Launched in Brooklyn in 1985, PNY is now headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and operates in 13 locations, with products sold in over 50 countries. It is considered a leading manufacturer and supplier of flash memory cards, USB flash drives, solid state drives, computer memory upgrade modules, as well as consumer and professional graphics cards. Whether it’s an SD™ card for a digital camera, a MicroSD™ card for a cell phone or a Graphics Card for a home computer, PNY offers complete solutions for digital lifestyle needs.

“This is an ideal fit between our two companies,” said Nets CEO Brett Yormark. “Our brand attributes line-up perfectly with PNY’s; we’re both about speed, precision, and durability. PNY will be synonymous with the pulse of the Nets, including through brand exposure during post-practice interviews. This unprecedented spotlight provides PNY the compelling opportunity to activate its brand, not just in the nation’s No. 1 media market, but also internationally. Due to the popularity of our players Yi Jianlian and Eduardo Najera, Nets Basketball regularly receives extensive exposure in China and Mexico, respectively.”

“With an array of lifestyle oriented products to engage fans and enhance the overall game experience, PNY is pleased to expand our support of Nets Basketball,” said Tony Gomez, vice president of sales and marketing at PNY. “Our comprehensive alliance allows PNY to further extend our reach to the broad and ever-growing global NBA fan base. On the dawn of our 25th Anniversary, the PNY brand is stronger than ever and our alignment with the Nets and its global media reach will prove to be a key asset in targeting this important international audience.”

In addition to practice jersey branding, the PNY logo will be seen on the media backdrop used for interviews at all practices. PNY logo placement will also be on Nets coaching staff apparel worn at team practices.

As a special feature on the Nets home page of njnets.com, including on the Nets’ two Chinese language Web sites, PNY will sponsor the ‘Live from Practice’ feature. Each day an image of a home practice will be posted on the site, which will also include updated team news.

PNY will also garner brand presence at Nets home games, as well as sponsor many fan-focused activities in the IZOD CENTER, such as the sponsorship of the ‘High 5 Line,’ along with PNY branded prizes and cheer sticks.

Hawks sign Jason Collins

The Atlanta Hawks have signed veteran center Jason Collins, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not announced.

“Jason provides us with additional size and a good interior defensive presence,” Sund said. “He has extensive experience, having started in two NBA Finals with the Nets, and is another player with strong character and leadership qualities.”

An eight-year veteran, Collins spent last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he appeared in 31 games (22 starts), and averaged 1.8 ppg and 2.3 rpg.

He spent his first six-and-a-half seasons with the New Jersey Nets, where he appeared in 510 contests (starting 404 of them) before he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on February 4, 2008 in exchange for Stromile Swift. He then came to the Timberwolves as part of an eight-player deal on June 26, 2008 that also involved Kevin Love and O.J. Mayo.

Collins has played in 572 career regular season games, including 429 starting assignments, averaging 4.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.0 apg in 23.4 mpg (.410 FG%, .648 FT%). Collins also has significant postseason experience, playing in 75 playoff games (3.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg), including two trips to the NBA Finals with the Nets in 2002 and 2003.

The native of Southern California played four seasons at Stanford University alongside twin brother Jarron (now of the Utah Jazz). He earned Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press and was named to the All Pac-10 First Team in 2001, after putting in 14.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Collins attended Harvard-Westlake Prep in North Hollywood, California.

Jason Paul Collins was born December 2, 1978 in Northridge, California. He will wear uniform number 34.

Nets hire John Loyer as assistant coach

The New Jersey Nets have named John Loyer as an assistant coach, team President Rod Thorn announced today. Loyer joins Tom Barrise, Roy Rogers and Doug Overton as a member of Head Coach Lawrence Frank’s staff.

“We are pleased to add John to Coach Frank’s staff,” said Thorn. “The experience he has gained in both Philadelphia and Portland will be an asset to both the players and coaches.”

Loyer joins the Nets following four seasons as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to his time in Philadelphia, Loyer spent a total of five seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers as the team’s video coordinator (2000-01), advance scout (2001-03) and assistant coach (2003-05).

Before joining the Trail Blazers staff in 2000, Loyer spent 12 years in the collegiate coaching ranks with stops at Wabash Valley College (1999-00), University of Akron (1987-89) and the University of Cincinnati (1989-99). He was an assistant at Cincinnati for 10 years during which time the Bearcats made it to the Final Four once and twice to the Elite Eight.

Overall, while an assistant coach on the college level, teams he worked with posted a 234-86 (.731) record. The team Loyer recruited at Wabash Valley College went on to win the 2001 National Junior College championship.

A 1988 graduate of the University of Akron, Loyer was a four-year letterman in basketball and earned a degree in social studies. He and his wife Katie have three children, sons Foster and Fletcher, and daughter, Jersey.

Nets giving away free jerseys

With the economy still struggling, many businesses need to seek new, innovative ways to attract attention and draw consumer dollars. Vincent M. Mallozzi of the New York Times reports:

Perhaps no other team has enhanced its marketing game the way the Nets have. They are offering ticket buyers free jerseys, complete with the names of their favorite players — and their favorite opponents.

The Nets are promoting a 10-game plan that includes tickets to see the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. Any fan who buys at least two tickets to one of those games will receive a reversible jersey, one side featuring the name of a Nets star, like guard Devin Harris, and the other featuring the name of a marquee opponent: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce or Ray Allen.

“I don’t think it has ever been done before,” said Chris Granger, the N.B.A.’s senior vice president for team marketing and business operations. “I don’t think any team has ever given premium items as part of a promotion that highlights someone from another team.”

The Nets have a tough time drawing fans to games primarily due to the location of their arena. Factor in the team’s current rebuilding state and they have to be creative in order to keep drawing fans as they continue their hopeful move to Brooklyn, New York.

Assault charge against Jayson Williams dropped

The AP reports: An assault charge against former NBA star Jayson Williams stemming from a fight outside a North Carolina nightclub has been dismissed. Multiple media outlets reported Wednesday that Wake County Assistant District Attorney Phillip Cowan dismissed the charge at the request of Ahmad Sulimon Nazari of Cary.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I still remember Williams as a player, cutting down the middle of the paint, catching lobs and slamming them home. Those were the good days, before a million different legal problems and the “accidently shooting a guy” thing.

New Jersey Nets 2009-10 preseason games are all away from home arena

The New Jersey Nets will not play any 2009-10 preseason games in their own arena.

The team will open with a seven-game preseason schedule that includes three home contests, two of which will be played at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and the other on the campus of St. John’s University in Queens, NY, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

“We are pleased to offer the three preseason ‘home’ games in these two venues,” said Thorn. “The different sites will add vitality to the preseason, which should be beneficial to both our players and fans.”

The Nets will host the Boston Celtics in the first of two contests at ‘The Rock’ on Tuesday, October 13, and then return to Newark on Wednesday, October 21 when they play host to their cross-river rivals, the New York Knicks. Both contests in Newark will start at 7:00 PM. The Nets conclude their preseason home schedule on Friday, October 23 when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at Carnesecca Arena at St. John’s University, game time at 8:00 PM.

The Nets begin their preseason schedule on the road on Sunday, October 4 as they travel to Albany to take on the Knicks at the Times-Union Center at 2:00 PM.

The team will continue their road slate on Friday, October 9 at Philadelphia at 7:00 PM, and then travel to Boston for an afternoon game against the Celtics on Sunday, October 11 at 1:00 PM.

The Nets will travel to Manhattan for their final road game on Friday, October 16 when they play New York at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 PM.

Detroit Pistons hire Brian Hill as assistant coach

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the team has hired Brian Hill as an assistant coach. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to welcome Brian Hill as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons,” said Dumars. “Brian has vast NBA experience as both a head coach and assistant coach and he will help our coaching staff and players in a variety of ways.”

Hill’s coaching career has spanned over 36 years, including head coaching positions with Orlando (twice) and Vancouver and assistant coaching positions with New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando and New Jersey. He most recently served as an assistant coach with the Nets for the last two seasons (2007-2009).

The East Orange, New Jersey native spent three and a half seasons with the Orlando Magic during his first head coaching appointment, 1993-96, guiding the club to a 191-104 (.647) record. He led the team to three playoff appearances, back-to-back Atlantic Division titles, consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals (1994-95 and 1995-96) and the 1995 NBA Finals. He posted a home record of 122-26 (.824) while with the Magic, including 40 consecutive wins spanning from March 12, 1995, through March 19, 1996. His record over his first three seasons as a head coach (167-79, .679) ranks third in NBA history behind Pat Riley and Phil Jackson and he ranks as the ninth fastest head coach to reach 100 victories, accomplishing the feat in 149 games. Hill coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the NBA All-Star Game in 1995.

Hill was named as head coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1997-98, becoming the franchise’s third head coach, and compiled a record of 31-123 in two-plus seasons. After serving on Lawrence Frank’s New Jersey Nets staff in 2004-05, he returned to Orlando for his second head coaching stint. Hill led the Magic to a 76-88 record during his second tenure with the club, guiding the team to a playoff berth in 2006-07.

Hill’s coaching career includes high school as well as 17 years at the collegiate level. He was the head coach at Lehigh for eight seasons and held assistant coaching positions at Montclair State, Lehigh and Penn State. He got his NBA coaching start in 1986, serving as an assistant to Mike Fratello with the Atlanta Hawks.

Memphis Grizzlies sign Marcus Williams

INITIAL JULY 29 NEWS (SEE UPDATE BELOW): The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Marcus Williams, who opened some eyes playing for the Grizzlies’ summer league team in Las Vegas earlier this month, could be joining the team in a more official capacity within the next few days. Calvin Andrews, Williams’ agent, said this afternoon that he feels “confident” that Williams will sign a 1-year deal with the Grizzlies. “We’re very close,” Andrews said. “They like some of the things he can do to help the team, to get the ball in the right places.”

AUGUST 6 UPDATE: GRIZZLIES SIGN MARCUS WILLIAMS

grizzlies sign point guard marcus williams

The Memphis Grizzlies added depth to the team’s backcourt by signing free agent point guard and 2009 NBA Summer League standout Marcus Williams, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“The addition of Marcus Williams not only adds depth to our point guard position, but also gives the team a very skilled passer,” Wallace said. “Marcus excels at getting easy baskets for his teammates. His teammates will enjoy playing with him.”

The three-year NBA veteran averaged 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and a league-leading 8.2 assists (shared with Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings) in helping lead the Grizzlies to a perfect 5-0 record in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month.

The 6-3, 205-pound guard began and finished his summer league in memorable fashion, recording a Vegas-record 17 assists in the opener on July 12 vs. Oklahoma City and then made the game-winning field goal with 0.4 seconds remaining in the summer finale on July 19 vs. San Antonio.

The 23-year-old playmaker holds career averages of 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 15.8 minutes in 141 games (nine starts) with the New Jersey Nets (2006-08) and Golden State Warriors (2008-09). Williams was originally selected by New Jersey with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft and was named to the 2006-07 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after recording 6.8 points and 3.3 assists in 79 games in his rookie season.

Last season, Williams averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 assists in 6.0 minutes in nine games for the Warriors before finishing the year in Puerto Rico, recording 16.8 points and a league-best 9.0 assists in 33.5 minutes in 34 games with the Quebradillas Pirates.

The Los Angeles, Calif. native averaged 9.0 points and a school-record 7.3 assists in 26.1 minutes in 70 games (51 starts) over three seasons (2003-06) at the University of Connecticut, where he teamed with current Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay for two seasons (2004-06). While at UConn, Williams posted the first-ever triple-double for a Huskies player in conference play with 18 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds on Feb. 21, 2006 vs. Notre Dame.

Williams also joined Gay as part of the 2005 USA Men’s U21 World Championship Team, where he led the squad in minutes (20.4) and averaged 4.1 points and 4.1 assists in eight games.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 12 players.

Richard Jefferson breaks off wedding

NBA small forward Richard Jefferson, formerly of the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, recently traded to the San Antonio Spurs, is now a single man. The New York Post reports:

Former Net star Richard Jefferson admitted yesterday that he told his beautiful bride-to-be that their wedding was off in an e-mail — stunning her just days before their planned posh nuptials.

Kesha Ni’Cole Nichols got the heart-wrenching message after a tense Fourth of July weekend, Jefferson told The Post.

“There was a lot of stress and tension in the relationship. We’ve been through a lot — but we just couldn’t continue,” said Jefferson, sounding upset during a telephone interview.

But at least Nichols got a nice parting gift — Jefferson, who was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the San Antonio Spurs last month, said he’s giving her a “six-figure” settlement so she can start a new life.

In speaking with the Post, Jefferson also took a moment to clear something else up:

He insisted a rumor he’s gay had nothing to do with the breakup.

“I’m not gay,” Jefferson said. “That couldn’t be any further from the truth. I have nothing to hide.”

Nets sign first round draft pick Terrence Williams

The New Jersey Nets have signed their first round selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, Terrence Williams, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

This is basically just a formality, as first round draft picks are guaranteed a contract.

Williams, selected by the Nets in the first round with the 11th overall pick, earned Third Team All-America and First Team All-Big East honors after averaging 12.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 5.0 apg last season. Williams helped lead Louisville to their first Big East regular season and tournament titles while claiming the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The senior guard/forward was the only player in Louisville history to tally 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals. He finished his career ranked 18th in school history with 1,564 points, second in assists (541), seventh in rebounding (966), fourth in three-point field goals made (195), fifth in steals (210) and second in minutes played (4,486).