Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 75 – NBA Blog

Mehmet Okur retiring from basketball

Mehmet Okur announced his retirement from basketball at age 33.

The Turkish forward played for nine years in the NBA averaging 13.5ppg and 7rpg in 634 games (460 in the starting five) with the Pistons, Jazz and Nets.

Last season, Okur started with Turk Telekom Ankara, averaging 12ppg and 8.2rpg in the TBL. When the NBA lockout ended he returned to the United States, where he played 17 games with the Nets, scoring 7.6ppg and pulling down 4.8rpg.

Okur decided to retire because of injuries that affected him over the last three seasons of his career.

— Reported by Sportando

Heat beat Nets by 30 in Miami

Dwyane Wade scored 22 points on 10 for 14 shooting, LeBron James finished two assists shy of a triple-double and the Miami Heat improved to 4-0 at home for the first time in franchise history by beating the Brooklyn Nets 103-73 on Wednesday night.

James had 20 points and 12 rebounds in only 30 minutes, and Rashard Lewis scored 13 points for the Heat (4-1). Miami – which plays its next six games on the road – has won its four home games by an average of 17.8 points.

Kris Humphries had a double-double by halftime, then was silent in the second half and finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets (1-2). Deron Williams scored 14 for Brooklyn, which got 12 off the bench from MarShon Brooks.

The Nets had 19 turnovers, which Miami turned into 31 points…

The Nets were without Gerald Wallace, who missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

InsideHoops.com notes: Deron Williams dished just three assists while committing seven turnovers… Keith Bogans, who started at shooting guard for Brooklyn, contributed just three points and two rebounds… Nets swingman Joe Johnson shot just 4-of-14 for nine points and little else… The Heat as a team shot 52 percent from the field.

Kenyon Martin has no NBA contract offers

The NBA season is nearly a week old, and Kenyon Martin doesn’t know why he still can’t find a job in the league. He helped the Los Angeles Clippers during their playoff run last season. His knee issues of the past no longer seem to trouble him. And he’s even willing to take a contract for the league minimum.

So why hasn’t any team called wanting to sign him?

“There is a notion about me that is not accurate at all – I don’t know who started it or where it came from – that people can’t control me,” Martin told Yahoo! Sports. “I don’t understand. Have I had my issues like a lot of other people? Yeah. But I’m getting back that people think they can’t control me, that if I don’t play I’m going to explode, or I can turn a locker room.

“In 12 years there was not one day where I told one guy to dislike anybody. If you ask guys who I’ve played with that know me, they know what it is and know I’m about winning basketball games and competing.”

— Reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

Nets beat Raptors in Brooklyn debut

Nets win their first-ever regular season game in Brooklyn

Brooklyn made a winning return to major pro sports on Saturday night, as the Nets beat the Toronto Raptors 107-100 in the first game at Barclays Center.

After a 55-year wait that was extended a couple of extra days by Superstorm Sandy, the borough finally has a team of its own again, and the Nets think it’s going to be a good one.

Brook Lopez scored 27 points and Deron Williams added 19 points and nine assists for the Nets. C.J. Watson finished with 15 points and Joe Johnson had 14.

A sold-out crowd of 17,732 that included entertainers Jay-Z, a part-owner, and wife Beyonce chanted ”Brooklyn! Brooklyn!” a few times during the game and loudly at the end, celebrating the name on the front of the shirt much more than the back.

And with good reason. Brooklyn hasn’t had a team to cheer since the Dodgers left for Los Angeles in 1957.

Kyle Lowry had 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Raptors, who fell to 0-2. DeMar DeRozan added 25 points.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Deron Williams has bone spurs in ankle

Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King confirmed Thursday that an MRI revealed point guard Deron Williams has bone spurs in his left ankle and probably will have to undergo offseason surgery to have them “cleaned up.”

However, King downplayed the results and expects the injury to be “manageable.”

King said the bone spurs were causing inflammation in the point guard’s ankle. Williams needed a cortisone shot to ease the pain, missed two practices as a result, but expects to be fine during the season.

— Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

Postponed Knicks at Nets game rescheduled for November 26

The New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets game that was originally scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled for Monday, November 26 at 7 p.m. ET at Barclays Center, the National Basketball Association announced today.

The game will be televised by TNT.

The original game was scheduled for Thursday, November 1 but was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

November 1 Knicks at Nets basketball game in Brooklyn postponed

The National Basketball Association game scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 1 between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center has been postponed due to the conditions in the New York area caused by Hurricane Sandy.

“Mayor Bloomberg informed us this afternoon that after further analysis of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy that he felt it was in the best interests of the city of New York, the teams and our fans that we postpone the Knicks-Nets game scheduled for Thursday night,” NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating storm.”

The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.

This means that the first NBA regular season game to ever take place in the new Brooklyn Nets Barclays Center will be Saturday night, November 3, against the Toronto Raptors. Unless that event gets postponed as well, which InsideHoops.com speculates is quite possible.

Deron Williams dealing with ankle issue

Less than a week before the Nets officially begin the Brooklyn era, point guard Deron Williams, the star who is the cornerstone of the franchise, has been sidelined with an ankle injury that the team admits could be a lingering problem. Williams received an injection in his left ankle on Friday and is expected to miss two days of practice.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious, just a case of tendinitis, so he’ll be out (Saturday) for practice,” Avery Johnson said following Friday’s practice, “but we anticipate having him back Sunday or Monday.”

That would give Williams at least three days of practice to get ready for Thursday’s season opener against the Knicks at the new $1 billion Barclays Center. Williams, who signed a five-year, $98 million contract this offseason, was not available for comment after practice Friday.

— Reported by Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News

Nets waive James Mays and Carleton Scott

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forwards James Mays and Carleton Scott, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Both players were signed to the training camp roster on September 17.

In 24 minutes over two preseason games, Mays tallied six points and four rebounds. Scott totaled nine points and 10 rebounds with three blocks in 51 minutes over three contests.

The Nets roster currently stands at 15.

New York Islanders will move to Barclays Center in Brooklyn

New York Islanders Owner Charles B. Wang, Barclays Center Majority Owner and Developer Bruce Ratner, and Onexim Sports and Entertainment announced today that the Islanders will move to Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 25-year agreement begins for the 2015-16 season.

The announcement was made at a press conference in the GEICO Atrium at Barclays Center, which was also attended by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Islanders General Manager Garth Snow, and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark.

In support of the illustrious history of the team, the New York Islanders name and logo will remain unchanged.

“It was our goal from day one to keep the Islanders in the local New York area.” Wang said. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play in Barclays Center, a first class arena. This has been a long journey for the Islanders family starting with our loyal fans, sponsors, and employees. I want to personally thank them for their patience, loyalty, and support. I am excited about today’s announcement and I am looking forward to a long and successful future in Brooklyn.”

“We are delighted to welcome the Islanders to Brooklyn and to bring NHL hockey to the borough for the first time,” Ratner said. “Eleven subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road come directly to Barclays Center at Atlantic Terminal, offering great accessibility for current and future Islander fans. I want to thank Charles for his determination in keeping the team in New York and for having the vision to bring his club to Brooklyn.”

“More than ever before, Brooklyn is the place where everyone wants to be,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “Barclays Center has already brought an incredible amount of excitement to Brooklyn since opening last month. Now things will get even more interesting, with Brooklyn’s first-ever NHL franchise. Whether or not you’re a hockey fan, more events at Barclays Center will lead to more economic activity and more jobs, and that’s good news for all New Yorkers.”

“Today is another great day for Brooklyn,” BP Markowitz said. “When I first campaigned for Borough President, I made the promise that I would bring a major-league sports team to Brooklyn. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I think we would be home to both the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Islanders. With the Nets and the Islanders, Brooklyn is beginning a dominant power-play.”

“The Brooklyn Nets are excited to welcome the Islanders to Barclays Center and Brooklyn!” Yormark said. “Barclays Center will offer the Islanders with an exciting opportunity to grow their fan base and to build their brand. Islander fans are going to love Barclays Center for its intimacy, sightlines, Brooklyn Taste culinary program, and customer service. We are looking forward to opening our doors for the Islanders and bringing the best in sports and entertainment to Brooklyn.”

Barclays Center will hold 14,500 seats for Islander games. Current Islander season ticket holders will have first rights to purchase season tickets in Brooklyn.