New York Knicks Blog – Page 63 – NBA Blog

2015 NBA All-Star weekend location may be New York City

The 2015 NBA All-Star Game almost certainly will be played in New York. The only question remaining for the Knicks, Nets and the league is in which arena the game will be played.

Despite the sometimes rocky relationship between the two franchises, they are working with the league to jointly host All-Star Weekend, which would mark the first time the event would be held in the metropolitan area since it was played at Madison Square Garden in 1998…

The key stumbling block will be which state-of-the-art arena — the Nets’ new Barclays Center or the Knicks’ refurbished Madison Square Garden — will host the game.

It’s likely the solution will feature one building playing host to the Saturday night festivities, including the 3-point and Slam Dunk contests, while the other will host the game Sunday night.

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Beno Udrih discusses joining the Knicks

Q: How soon did the Knicks opportunity come about for you in free agency?

A: “They contacted my agent and the Knicks sent me a video of Madison Square Garden — actually on July 1. So they were always interested in me, but I just wanted to keep my options open and just look everywhere to see what would be the best situation for me. It took one month and the Knicks were really pursuing me. I talked to my wife and we thought this would be a very good fit, a good team. I’m very happy to be back on a playoff team and we definitely can make a run for a title.”

Q: What did you learn about what it takes to become a champion during your time in San Antonio, which you hope to bring to New York?

A: “What it takes is just to be a team and to definitely have good players. There has to be chemistry and everything has to be right. That’s how it was in San Antonio basically. Tim Duncan didn’t care who scored the most points. He’s a Hall of Famer, but he was more about the team. He just wanted us to win. Sometimes he scored 30, and the next day he scored 10, but he still was very, very productive in rebounding. Everybody has to work for each other, especially on the defensive end. I think we have enough scorers on our team now, but we definitely got to step up and basically defend first and then rebound the ball.”

Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Paul Pierce dislikes the Knicks even more now

If you think Paul Pierce had no use for the Knicks when he played in Boston, just wait till he puts on his Brooklyn Nets uniform.

Actually, Pierce admitted in his media tour of New York on Thursday that he’s already working up a fresh dose of hate for Carmelo Anthony and Co., well in advance of their first meeting of the season, on Dec. 5 in Brooklyn.

“My dislike for the Knicks is more now because it’s right across the river,” Pierce said during an interview on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio. “The rivalry is going to go to a new level.”

Just to make sure the Knicks heard him, Pierce added, “It’s time for the Nets to start running this city.”

Reported by Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News

New York Knicks sign Beno Udrih

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guard Beno Udrih. According to New York Newsday, the contract is a one-year deal worth the $1.272 million league minimum.

“Beno is a solid addition to our backcourt where he will give us more depth and flexibility,” Grunwald said. “He is a talented and experienced floor general who brings championship experience to our locker room.”

According to the New York Post, “the 6-foot-3 Slovenian point guard signed with the Knicks for less money, agreeing to his veterans minimum of $1.27 million as the Knicks put a solid capper to their summer maneuverings. They were desperate for a third point guard because they like to pair Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni together in the backcourt. After seasons with the Kings, Bucks and Magic, Udrih wanted to win again. His agent, Marc Cornstein, said Udrih had “many offers,’’ including at least one for more than the minimum.”

Udrih, 6-3, 205-pounds, holds career averages of 9.1 points, on 46.2-percent shooting, 3.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds over 23.5 minutes in 628 games (243 starts) over nine seasons with San Antonio, Sacramento, Milwaukee and Orlando. The two-time NBA champion (with the Spurs – 2005, 2007), recorded 8.2 points, 4.6 assists, 2.1 rebounds and a 2.80 assists-per-turnover ratio (13th best in NBA) over 66 games (nine starts) with the Bucks and Magic last season.

The native of Slovenia was selected by San Antonio in the first round (28th overall) of 2004 NBA Draft. Prior to the NBA, he played internationally in Slovenia (1998-2002), Israel (2002-03), Italy (2003-04) and Russia (2003-04).

J.R. Smith says the Knicks are still the marquee team in New York

J.R. Smith isn’t too worried about his knee, but he might be a bit concerned about the Nets.

The Knicks shooting guard addressed the media at a charity golf tournament in Lakewood, NJ on Thursday, seeming pleased with his progress since his knee surgery and eager to get back on the court, especially after Brooklyn’s offseason push to win the battle for New York.

“It’s an unbelievable move for J Kidd to have a team like that to start off with in his first year. I think they’ve got a great chance to compete for a title, but I think we’re still the marquee team in New York,” Smith said. “A lot of people are counting us out just like they did last year. We’ve got a lot to prove. I think we’re going to come out with a lot of edge and hopefully put it to positive use on the court.”

Reported by Stephen Lorenzo of the New York Daily News

New York Knicks sign Jeremy Tyler

Big Jeremy Tyler played well summer league this year, and has been rewarded with a contract.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed Tyler. Terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but will be added to this page tonight or tomorrow.

Tyler, 6-10, 260-pounds, holds career averages of 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds over 10.1 minutes in 63 games (23 starts) over two seasons with Golden State and Atlanta. He appeared in 21 games with the Warriors and Hawks last season, recording 22 total points and 20 rebounds over 68 minutes, before finishing the season with Santa Cruz of the NBA D-League.

The San Diego, CA native averaged 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds over 17.6 minutes in five games for New York’s entry in the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. He was originally selected by Charlotte in the second round (39th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft before having his draft rights traded to Golden State. Tyler left San Diego HS, following his junior season, to play internationally with Maccabi Haifa (Israel) and Tokyo Apache (Japan) for two seasons, before becoming draft eligible.

Melo happy to have Bargnani, World Peace on Knicks

Carmelo Anthony hopes newly acquired Knick Andrea Bargnani comes into the season with a new attitude and renewed fire.

Speaking at his basketball camp at Queens College Saturday, Anthony lamented losing key teammates from last season’s 54-28 squad but said getting Bargnani was a “steal.” He’s convinced the Knicks will be better.

“I hate to lose [Steve] Novak and [Marcus] Camby,” he said, “but when you get someone like [Bargnani] in return, it’s kind of a win-win situation.”

The 7-foot forward, the No. 1 overall pick of the Toronto Raptors in 2006, averaged 12.7 points and 3.7 rebounds last season. It was his lowest point total since he averaged 10.2 points per game in 2007-08. “Hopefully, Bargnani will want to come in and prove something, come in with a chip on his shoulder and be ready to rock,” Anthony said.

He also was pleased with the acquisition of veteran forward Metta World Peace. Anthony joked that he still can’t get used to calling him Metta, but he’s happy to be his teammate. “To have him on our team right now brings some more toughness to our team and another defensive presence,” Anthony said.

Reported by Marcus Henry of New York Newsday

Carmelo Anthony says his shoulder is no longer an issue

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony says the small shoulder tear he suffered late last season is no longer an issue.

“I’m good. My shoulder feels good,” he said Saturday at his annual youth camp at Queens College.

An MRI taken shortly after the season showed that Anthony had suffered a small tear in his left shoulder. He said the injury affected him in the playoffs.

“I was surprised that I was able to get through it the way that I did,” Anthony said Saturday. “When it happened, I knew something was wrong with it, and I was kind of being a little bit naive and trying to fight it and toughen it out. But to feel the difference now … it’s night and day.”

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Stoudemire not returning to Hakeem Olajuwon camp in Houston

The Knicks have decided rest is more important for Amar’e Stoudemire than “The Dream Shake’’ and wisdom of Hakeem Olajuwon.

Stoudemire will not return to the Olajuwon camp in Houston to work on his post moves again this month as had been planned, The Post has learned.

Stoudemire had planned to return to Texas to refine the post moves he learned last summer. That Olajuwon is about to be named to the Rockets staff as instructor for Dwight Howard and Omar Asik is not a factor in Stoudemire not attending.

According to a Rockets source, Houston is allowing Olajuwon to fulfill any of his prior commitments with opposing players this month before he exclusively works with Rockets big men. Hence, Stoudemire might never work with Olajuwon again.

Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Knicks interested in Beno Udrih, Bobby Brown

The desperate-for-a-point-guard Knicks have until Aug. 15 to make a move on intriguing Euroleague point guard Bobby Brown, and he hopes they do.

Brown signed a tentative agreement Wednesday to play for Donguam of the Chinese Basketball Association, but can break the deal before that date, according to a league source. The league source said Brown’s top choice is to play for the Knicks and take less money than his roughly $1 million-plus Chinese pact.

Brown is squarely on the Knicks board but they are first hoping veteran point guard Beno Udrih, who made $7 million last season, will come to New York for the $1.4 million veteran’s minimum. The Knicks have been outbid on players all summer, so it could leave Brown as the Knicks’ likelier signing.

Still, the Knicks would be extremely lucky if they can land Udrih — a 6-foot- 3 point guard from Slovenia who averaged 8.2 points and 4.6 assists in 22.1 minutes per game for Milwaukee and Orlando.

Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post