Category: New York Knicks Blog

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Steve Lavin to have cancer surgery Thursday

St. John’s men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin will undergo surgery Thursday to treat his prostate cancer, the school announced Wednesday.

Lavin, 47, was diagnosed with the disease in fall 2010, right before his first season at St. John’s. Until last month, he and his doctors had chosen to closely monitor his condition without undergoing further treatment. But in late September, Lavin revealed that he would begin more aggressive treatment, either via surgery or radiation treatments.

“The advantage of early detection is that we were afforded the time to research all options,” Lavin said in a statement released by the school.

— Reported by Kieran Darcy of ESPN New York

David Lee interview, on the upcoming Golden State Warriors season

Power forward David Lee had a good first season on the Golden State Warriors in 2010-11, averaging 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 36.1 minutes per game. He shot an impressive 50.7 percent from the field.

The play of Lee along with teammates Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and Dorell Wright resulted in 36 wins for the young squad. There’s enough talent on the roster for them to aim a bit higher. A big focus will have to be on the defensive end of the floor.

InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner and a few other reporters met with Lee for the following interview, which took place at Impact training gym in Las Vegas in late September:

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Melo, LeBron, Wade, Pierce and Ray Allen party in NYC

Carmelo Anthony

The NBA stars were in NYC this past weekend to take part in bargaining sessions to try to settle the lockout, but it didn’t stop them from enjoying a late night out. On Friday night Carmelo Anthony held court, playing host to Miami Heat’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, taking the guys to the five-year anniversary party of Meatpacking hotspot Tenjune. The basketball greats were treated to a DJ set by Swizz Beatz. According to an insider at the club, “The towering athletes parted the crowd, with Carmelo leading the pack.”

— Reported by New York Post’s Page Six

Brooklyn Barclays Center to host A-10 Basketball Tournament starting in 2013

brooklyn nets

The Atlantic 10 Conference announced that it has formed a five-year partnership with the Barclays Center to bring the A-10 men’s basketball tournament to Brooklyn and the new arena, beginning in 2013.  The joint announcement was made Wednesday afternoon at the Barclays Center Showroom in Manhattan, N.Y.

It will mark the first time the A-10 Championship, which sends its champion to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, will be held in metropolitan New York City and the first time it will be played in a state-of-the-art new facility.

“The opportunity to partner with the Barclays Center and bring the Atlantic 10 Basketball Championship to New York has unlimited possibilities. Our teams will compete in the newest, state-of-the-art facility within the Atlantic 10 footprint and the number-one media market in the country,” stated Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade.

Currently under construction, the Barclays Center will be a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue and the future home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. The Barclays Center will offer approximately 18,000 seats for basketball and will have one of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed into a modern multi-purpose arena. The last time the Atlantic 10 Tournament was in an NBA building was in 2002 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.

“We are thrilled for the Barclays Center to play host to one of men’s basketball’s most prestigious conference tournaments,” Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said. “We appreciate our alliance with the Atlantic 10 as we position the Barclays Center as a significant national collegiate sports venue.”

The highest concentration of Atlantic 10 alumni of any region in the county live and work in the New York metro area. There are 2.5 million people total in Brooklyn and 8.1 million total people in New York, an opportunity for the A-10’s premier event to be played on the biggest stage in the nation.

“Brooklyn and the surrounding metropolitan New York area is home to over 100,000 Atlantic 10 alumni; this combined with the eight-million plus population will give the Atlantic 10 an opportunity to grow the Championship to new heights,” said McGlade.

The move also places the championship into the largest media market in the nation and home to CBS Sports, the Atlantic 10’s television partner for the men’s basketball championship.  CBS Sports carries several regular season A-10 games and the league’s championship title game is aired on CBS as part of the network’s Selection Sunday package.

The Atlantic 10 is one of the most successful and well-respected leagues for basketball. The A-10 has averaged more than three teams per year in the top 50 of the RPI, equal to the Southeastern Conference. For the last four years, the Atlantic 10 earned three bids into the NCAA Tournament, one of only six Division I conferences to do so. Over the last six years, the league has had 10 at-large selections – the seventh most in Division I – behind only the big six BCS leagues.

Donnie Walsh in Indiana, waiting to make next move

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports (via blog):

Donnie Walsh has been spending most of his time at home in Indiana, waiting for the basketball season to start and waiting to make his next move.

He probably won’t have to go far. There is growing sentiment that Walsh will return to his old job of running the Pacers if and when Larry Bird steps down. According to several people close to the situation, Bird is leaning toward leaving Indiana after this season.

The plan would be for Walsh to replace Bird and name either Chris Mullin or Reggie Miller as general manager. When I spoke to Walsh last Friday in Manhattan before he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, he declined to address his future except to say that he still wants to work.

LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Durant, Melo, Amare to play game at FIU where Isiah Thomas coaches

The AP reports:

Knicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire will join Miami Heat stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a charity game on Oct. 8.

Details are being finalized, and although no contracts had been signed by late Tuesday, an official announcement about the game and ticket information for the contest is expected Wednesday.

The game will be played at Florida International, where Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is a coach.

Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo and John Wall have also committed to play.

FIU’s gym can hold around 5,000 fans. University officials said they expect the game to quickly sell out. All proceeds will go to charity, with at least some of that money earmarked for educational programs in South Florida.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Leave it to Isiah Thomas to arrange a quasi-NBA All-Star Game at FIU.

The Miami Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and Knicks stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony will grace Thomas’ small Miami gym on Oct. 8 and play in an All-Star type event.

The rosters also will include other big names, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford, Rudy Gay, John Wall, Russell Westbrook and Eric Bledsoe. Even ex-Knick and Heat wannabe Eddy Curry is expected to show.

Jay-Z show will open Barclays Center of Brooklyn in September of 2012

Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter announced today that he will be the first performer to play the Barclays Center of Brooklyn when the venue opens in September 2012.

Speaking at a major press event on the plaza at Atlantic Terminal, overlooking the under-construction Barclays Center, JAY-Z also revealed that ownership of Brooklyn’s future NBA franchise has chosen Brooklyn Nets as the team’s name.

JAY-Z was joined on the dais by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Forest City Ratner Companies Chairman and CEO Bruce Ratner, and Barclays Center and Nets CEO Brett Yormark.

“From the moment the Barclays Center became a reality, I knew this meant something significant for Brooklyn,” said JAY-Z. “This is where I’m from, I’ll always be Brooklyn, and opening this arena will mean more to me than anywhere else. I also look forward to opening night for the Brooklyn Nets. We’re going to create an atmosphere like only Brooklyn can.”

“Brooklyn is where legends are made and dreams come true—and no one proves it more than our very own JAY-Z, a dedicated philanthropist, innovative artist, entrepreneur and cultural icon who, as a Nets investor, helped take my vision of bringing a professional basketball team to the ‘center court’ of Brooklyn and drove it in for the layup,” said Borough President Markowitz. “I am thrilled to join Bruce Ratner, FCRC, Brett Yormark, and the Nets organization today in announcing that JAY-Z will perform at the opening of the Barclays Center. As for the selection of the Brooklyn team name, was there ever any doubt? It’s ‘nothing but Nets!’”

“Who else but JAY-Z could open the Barclays Center?” said Bruce Ratner, the developer of the Barclays Center. “JAY-Z is a world icon, but more importantly, he’s Brooklyn’s icon. For the past seven years, Jay has been a great partner of mine and a true friend. It’s going to be an incredible experience next year when JAY-Z, Brooklyn’s own, takes the stage to open the Barclays Center and our vision becomes a reality.”

“We are proud to announce this highly anticipated decision to name the team the Brooklyn Nets, a choice which reflects the decades-long tradition of our team and fans, as well as the dynamic new place that will be our home,” Nets Chairman Chris Charlier said. “JAY-Z embodies the spirit of Brooklyn – its energy, guts and spirit.  We are delighted our friend and partner will be opening the Barclays Center.”

“JAY-Z is truly the face of the Barclays Center and of the Brooklyn Nets,” Brett Yormark said. “There’s no better alignment than to have a world-class venue and team with a world-class entertainer.”

Turns out Carmelo Anthony had knee and elbow surgery in May

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

carmelo anthony

Maybe the delayed training camp won’t be so bad for Carmelo Anthony.

He revealed more elements to his mysterious offseason, disclosing last night he had knee and elbow surgery simultaneously in May. Anthony disclosed the surgeries after playing 48 minutes and dropping 31 points with 17 rebounds last night at the sweaty Palestra in a lockout-inspired barnstorming-tour loss.

The Knicks never announced the procedures. Melo said he had arthroscopic surgery on the left knee and an elbow procedure, as he suffers from chronic bursitis.

“Can’t tell, can you?” Melo said after his rugged performance.

Anthony said it was the first time in his life he’s had surgery.

“I did both of them,” Anthony said. “They were bothering me seven years.”

Anthony said the procedures came at the same time.

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Jay-Z concerts to open new Nets arena; Nets will be named Brooklyn Nets

Erin Durkin of the New York Daily News reports:

Rap mogul Jay-Z will headline a series of concerts to open Brooklyn’s new Nets arena next fall – and will make it official Monday: The team will be named for his hometown.

The superstar, who owns a small piece of the soon-to-be renamed Brooklyn Nets, will perform at eight concerts to celebrate the grand opening of the arena – where all-access passes are going for up to $15,400 a season.

Jay-Z likely will be joined by his wife, Beyoncé – who by then will have given birth to the couple’s first child – at one of the shows, and will bring on a series of other performers, sources said.

Jay-Z will appear with developer Bruce Ratner and Borough President Marty Markowitz to reveal details of the shows Monday at the Prospect Heights construction site.

The Barclays Center, which is rapidly rising at Flatbush and Atlantic Aves., is set to officially open on Sept. 28, 2012, with the first concert and will have three weeks of special events before the basketball season starts.

They’ll also make it official today that the team will be named the Brooklyn Nets, sources said.

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