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The Toronto Raptors announced forward Patrick Patterson had his right ulnar collateral sprain reassessed and a second scan was taken of the elbow.
The injury is healing as anticipated. Patterson will return to limited basketball activity over the next seven days with the use of a supporting brace and then a decision will be made with regards to his return to play thereafter.
Madison Square Garden Executive Chairman James L. Dolan today announced that legendary basketball figure Phil Jackson has joined the New York Knicks as the organization’s President. Steve Mills will serve as General Manager. Both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Mills will report directly to Mr. Dolan.
“There is only one Phil Jackson, and he is synonymous with winning basketball teams,” said Mr. Dolan. “His history of success in the NBA is unrivaled, and he is the ideal executive to lead our team and develop short and long term plans that build a successful franchise and result in an NBA championship. That is our only goal, and what our loyal fans deserve.
“In addition to the tremendous respect I have for Phil regarding basketball, over the last several months, I have had the opportunity to get to know him personally, and have developed a high regard for his character and passion as an individual,” Dolan added. “I am confident that he and Steve Mills have the right combination of complementary skills to make this franchise successful.”
In his role as President, Mr. Jackson will be in charge of all basketball decisions.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Jim Dolan. I have gotten to know Jim and he is totally committed to delivering a winner for New York. I started my career as a Knick, and know what it feels like to win in this great city,” said Mr. Jackson. “I take the task of helping to deliver a winning team to our fans seriously, and look forward to combining my vision of the game with Steve Mills’ abilities as a General Manager.”
“When Jim first asked me to join the Knicks this past fall, I said my goal was to be part of a winning organization,” said Mr. Mills. “With Phil Jackson aboard, we’ve taken a major step in that direction. I look forward to working with him.”
According to the New York Daily News, ” The Zen Master made it clear Tuesday that he’d like to see the Knicks return to the style of team basketball that led to two championships in the 1970s. “I believe in system basketball,” Jackson said at his introductory press conference Tuesday. “We want to build a team.” Jackson touched on the team’s contentious relationship witht he media, and said that the organization “has suffered” in recent years as a result of that policy. “I’ll be accessable,” Jackson said, adding that there will still be walls between the club and the people who cover it. “I’m reaching out to say to you today that we’ll have an open relationship.” After posing for photos, Jackson took a seat on the stage between Garden chairman James Dolan and Knicks GM Steve Mills.”
And according to ESPN New York, “Jackson confirmed that the length of his deal with the Knicks is for five years. Financial terms weren’t released, but sources told ESPN.com last week that he will receive $12 million annually. Jackson and Mills will report directly to Dolan, the Knicks said. But Dolan and Jackson both noted Tuesday that Jackson will have full autonomy, with Dolan adding he will cede power to Jackson “willfully and gracefully.” Jackson has won an NBA-record 11 NBA titles as a head coach and two more as a Knicks forward.”
Mr. Jackson won two championships as a player with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973, and is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association. He was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 until 1998, during which time Chicago won six NBA titles. His next team, the Los Angeles Lakers, won five NBA titles from 2000 until 2010. In total, Jackson has won 11 NBA titles as a coach, surpassing the previous record of nine set by Red Auerbach. He also holds the NBA record for the most combined championships as a player and a head coach. In 2007 Jackson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, as part of celebrations for the National Basketball Association’s 50th anniversary, Jackson was named one of the 10 greatest coaches in league history.
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Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield announced today that former Bobcats guard Matt Carroll has joined the organization as Community Ambassador, while former Hornets guard Muggsy Bogues has joined the team as a Hornets Ambassador participating in the team’s re-branding.
One of the most popular players in franchise history, Carroll will serve as an ambassador for the team at events related to both basketball and business operations and help inform the community about organizational initiatives. In this role, he will represent the team at community programs such as youth basketball camps, educational events, hospital visits, charity outings, speaking engagements and fundraising galas. Carroll will also have a presence on bobcats.com and on the team’s radio broadcasts.
An original member of the Charlotte Hornets, Bogues will represent the organization at events and activities related to the team’s re-branding this summer and into next season. He will make appearances at games, community events and other Hornets-related activities.
“We are delighted to have Muggsy and Matt joining our organization,” said Whitfield. “They are two of the most beloved players in Charlotte’s NBA history and we are thrilled to have them as representatives of our franchise.”
Carroll spent seven and a half of his 10 NBA seasons with the Bobcats, initially joining the team in February 2005. He played in 397 games for the Bobcats, averaging 7.4 points and 2.1 rebounds. He shot .390 from beyond the three-point line and .840 from the free-throw line, ranking second among the team’s career leaders in each category. He also ranks third in career games played and third in three-point field goals (338).
Bogues played 10 seasons for the Hornets after being selected by the team in the 1988 NBA Expansion Draft. He averaged 8.8 points, 8.8 assists and 1.7 steals in 632 games during his time in Charlotte and remains the Hornets’ career leader in minutes played (19,778), assists (5,557) and steals (1,067). Bogues ranked in the NBA’s top seven in assists in six straight seasons from 1989-95, while also ranking in the top 10 in steals three times. He led the Hornets to their first ever playoff appearance in 1993 and was also part of the 1995 and 1997 playoff runs.
Watch Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin continue to develop his game in all directions, including his dribbling and passing skills:
Here’s the Washington Post with a look into the future of the Washington Wizards and Trevor Ariza:
Ariza can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Although he has been a huge contributor to the franchise’s revival, the Wizards have a logjam at his position. Backup forward Martell Webster is in the first year of a long-term deal, and rookie Otto Porter , the third overall in last June’s draft, needs to play, which he can’t do that if he remains buried on the bench.
For now, though, Ariza is on the roster — and the Wizards have needed him.
The Wizards have maintained their solid footing in the Eastern Conference playoff race (they’re currently fifth) despite the loss of Nene, who could miss all but the last few games of the regular season because of a knee injury. The Wizards had been 8-34 without the talented-but-brittle Brazilian big man before this most recent ailment, but they’re 7-3 in this stint entering this week’s four-game Western swing, thanks in large part to Ariza.
Ariza, whose career scoring average is 9.6 points, is at a personal-best 15 points per game this season.With Nene out, Ariza is averaging 19 points.
Here’s the Detroit News with some good news about young, talented Pistons center Andre Drummond:
Andre Drummond was in sweats at Pistons practice, chatting and laughing with members of the front office as practice concluded Monday.
It was a welcome sight after his scary neck injury Saturday, one that will keep him out of Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, the first of a four-game Western swing. He’s listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
He collided with Pacers center Roy Hibbert and forward Paul George midway through the first quarter while attempting to retrieve a loose ball.
You know, food and health are pretty important. Here’s the Oregonian with an update on Portland Trail Blazers home game offerings:
The Trail Blazers have added another option to the food makeover of the Moda Center.
The organization has added a “healthy food” spot named Plum Tasty that will feature “nutrient-rich, minimally processed menu items.” Plum Tasty will debut Tuesday night, when the Blazers host the Milwaukee Bucks, and will be located outside entry A9 on the Moda Center’s 100-level concourse.
A variety of “grab-and-go” options will be available at Plum Tasty, including a selection of gluten-free and dairy-free items. Every food option will meet a host of the following nutritional guidelines: minimally processed whole food ingredients rich in nutrients; less than 35% calories from fat, with a focus on healthy fats; less than 600 mg of sodium; limited refined carbohydrates.
Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on the Knicks, soon-to-be new team president Phil Jackson, and a coaching possibility:
Steve Kerr says that having his name linked to the Knicks head coaching job is “awkward” but Kerr did not rule out the possibility of him becoming Phil Jackson’s first significant hire.
“It’s very awkward because it is just speculation,” Kerr said on NBC Sports Network’s Dan Patrick Show. “More than anything, you’re talking about somebody else’s job.”
Jackson will be introduced as Knicks president on Tuesday and it is believed that Kerr, who played for Jackson in Chicago, is a top candidate to eventually replace Mike Woodson, who is under contract through next season.
Los Angeles D-Fenders forward Shawne Williams was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, March 10 – Sunday, March 16. The award is the first for Williams, who becomes the third Los Angeles player to be honored as Performer of the Week this season, joining Manny Harris and Terrence Williams.
Williams (6-9, 225, Memphis) led the D-Fenders to a 3-0 week, including road wins over the Tulsa 66ers and Canton Charge. For the week, Williams averaged 26.3 points on 49 percent shooting from the floor and 46 percent shooting from three-point territory to go with 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. His 34-point performance on March 15 at Canton was his NBA D-League career high.
A six-year NBA veteran who played in 36 games for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, Williams is averaging 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 30.6 minutes in 13 games for the D-Fenders.
Other top performers considered included Austin’s Austin Daye, on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs, Idaho’s Kevin Murphy, Maine’s Frank Gaines, Rio Grande Valley’s Tony Bishop, Santa Cruz’s Cameron Jones, Sioux Falls’ Henry Walker, and Springfield’s Khalif Wyatt.
Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 10, through Sunday, March 16.
Jefferson led the Bobcats to a 4-0 week behind averages of 24.3 points (second in the conference) and 11.5 rebounds (fourth in the conference). He logged 37.7 mpg (tied-eighth in the East) and posted point-rebound double-doubles in three-of-four contests. On March 12, Jefferson tallied 26 points (13-of-20 field goals) and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats beat the Wizards 98-85 at Verizon Center.
Griffin helped the Clippers to a 4-0 week with averages of 27.0 points (third in the conference), 9.3 rebounds (ninth in the conference), 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals. He logged 36.9 mpg (eighth in the conference). Griffin tallied 20-or-more points in all four games and eclipsed the 30-point plateau twice, including on March 12, when he scored 30 points and added 15 rebounds, three assists and three steals during a 111-98 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Kyle Korver, Indiana’s Paul George, Memphis’ Mike Conley, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Tim Hardaway Jr, and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.