NBA Teams – Page 1173 – NBA Blog

Jan Vesely playing great at EuroBasket

Don’t look now, but Jan Vesely may have found his confidence. So far in Eurobasket 2013, the [Washington] Wizards forward certainly has found his game.

Playing for the Czech Republic along with Washington’s 2012 second-round pick Tomas Satoransky, Vesely leads the entire tournament in rebounding (11.3) and is tied fourth in scoring (18.5). For some context regarding the talent on hand for the tournament in Slovenia, as a scorer Vesely is tied with is San Antonio Spurs star and French guard Tony Parker.

The Czech squad evened its record at 2-2 with a 95-79 over Georgia on Sunday behind 27 points and 10 rebounds from a fist-pumping Vesely. On the assumption that many of you didn’t seek out the game online, there is video of Vesely taking a lob from Satoransky and overall highlights with the 6-foot-11 forward making an aggressive dunking appearance. He finished 12 of 14 from the floor. The 27 points came in only 27 minutes.

Reported by Ben Standig of CSN Washington

Former Pacer Roger Brown, who died in 1997, enters Basketball Hall of Fame

Roger Brown became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer on Sunday, with another Hall of Famer telling people what the former Indiana Pacers superstar in the old ABA meant to the franchise.

“People say that I put the Indiana Pacers on the map,” Reggie Miller said. “No, it all started with Roger Brown.”

Brown, who died in 1997, was presented by Miller and Hall of Famer Mel Daniels, a teammate of Brown’s.

Brown’s daughter, Gayle Brown Mayes, called it “a really special day” but “bittersweet” because of her father’s absence.

During the induction, Mayes was on the stage with Brown’s son, Roger Jr., plus Miller and Daniels.

Reported by Curtis Harris, special to the Indianapolis Star

Brown was the first player to sign a contract with the Pacers when they were formed in 1967, based on the recommendation of Oscar Robertson, who had played against him in off-season pickup games. Although 25 years old when the ABA was formed, and already operating on knees softened from playing so many games on asphalt and concrete, he was a first-team all-ABA selection in 1971, played in four All-Star games and was a member of the Pacers’ three championship teams. He was coming off the bench by the third one, in 1973, was traded away in 1974 and retired after playing 10 games with the Pacers at the end of the 1974-75 season.

His shining moment, however, came in the 1970 ABA Finals when the Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Stars in six games for their first title. He averaged 28.5 points in the series and scored 53 in a win in L.A. He also once hit all 14 shots in a game, and was one of the game’s greatest clutch players. Pacers coach Slick Leonard often sent the other four players to one side of the court and let Brown go one-on-one for clutch baskets.

Reported by Mark Montieth of Pacers.com

LeBron James hits a Dallas Cowboys game

Miami Heat forward LeBron James made his appointed rounds Sunday at AT&T Stadium, including a visit with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

“Me and The Boss!! #OneOfTheGreatestOwnersOfAllTime #GoCowboys,” James posted with Instagram photo he posted of himself and Jones.

With Dwyane Wade’s Chicago Bears winning earlier in the day, the stakes were high for LeBron.

Jones announced last week that James would be among his guests for the Cowboys’ season opener against the New York Giants.

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Wayne Ellington plans to bring outside game to Dallas Mavs

Wayne Ellington plans to bring outside game to Mavs

Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon may have highlighted the Dallas Mavericks’ offseason. But Wayne Ellington could make a big difference this year.

In his four-year career, Ellington has averaged 6.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

“I’m bringing a long-range threat, and I’m a guy that’s going to work really hard on the defensive end of the floor,” Ellington told Mavs.com. “I’m a team player, unselfish, and I want to win. That’s what’s most important to me.

“I’m very excited. I feel like we have a chance to do some good things this year.”

Reported by SportsDayDFW

TMZ continues to report that Lamar Odom has a serious drug problem

Lamar Odom’s crack cocaine addiction had reached such dangerous levels … even his dealer thought the NBA star had gone over the edge, and cut off his supply last week, TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the dealer tell us, the crack slinger had delivered the drug to Lamar all summer, but last week, Lamar was insatiable … calling incessantly and demanding more and more crack. His go-to dealer apparently got scared enough to cut Lamar off.

Reported by TMZ.com

Rajon Rondo return date for Celtics remains unknown

From the moment his torn ACL was confirmed, Rajon Rondo seemed to believe that he would be back on the court for the Celtics’ season opener. Speculation was even tossed around that the All-Star point guard could be ready to go for training camp.

Rondo’s swift return does not look so likely anymore. Although Rondo was working out Tuesday, his readiness is up in the air, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told Bill Simmons in the B.S. Report podcast.

“I’m not sure [when Rondo will be back],” Ainge told Simmons, via ESPN.

Reported by NESN staff

Jordan Farmar took interesting basketball journey these past few years

In 2010, Farmar was frustrated over playing a secondary role in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, which didn’t suit the player’s game. His journey took him to New Jersey, where he averaged 9.6 and 10.4 points per game in two seasons, and during the lockout to Tel Aviv, where he reconnected with his Jewish heritage.

After he was traded to Atlanta and waived, he signed with Anadolu Efes of the Turkish League and lived in Istanbul, where he marveled at hearing the traditional Muslim call to prayer echo around the city five times a day.

“A lot of people can’t say they have that experience in the short lives we live,” said Farmar, who shared it with his wife, former UCLA and professional soccer player Jill Oakes, and their first child. The couple added a second daughter a month ago.

Seeing the world has helped Farmar see himself more clearly and recognize what’s important.

He followed the Lakers closely, staying up until the wee hours in Europe to watch them on TV. But not until Jackson retired and was replaced — by Mike Brown, who was replaced by Mike D’Antoni — was the situation right for Farmar to return to the Lakers, or for them to want him back. They paid his Turkish team $500,000 to buy out the rest of a contract potentially worth $10 million, and he took a one-year NBA deal for $1.1 million.

Reported by Helene Elliot of the Los Angeles Times

Former Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins faces multiple charges

Oklahoma City Thunder player DeAndre Liggins was charged with seven counts Friday, including counts of domestic abuse, kidnapping and domestic assault and battery, in connection with an incident at his home last month.

Liggins was also released by the Thunder, general manager Sam Presti announced in a team-released statement.

The charges against the Thunder reserve guard were filed late Friday afternoon in Oklahoma County District Court.

In addition, a second man involved in the domestic incident — who reportedly taunted and made fun of the victim in a partial cellphone recording of the alleged attack — was also charged, court records show.

Reported by Matt Dinger of the Oklahoman

Timberwolves likely hiring Bobby Jackson soon

The Wolves officially announced this afternoon that Washington Wizards executive Milt Newton is their new general manager…

His hiring — as well as the May hiring of Calvin Booth — adds diversity to a Wolves front office that has noticeably lacked it during most of the team’s 25 seasons.

The official hiring of former Gophers star and former Timberwolf Bobby Jackson as player development coach is next. That likely will come Monday.

For those asking, Jackson’s arrival means Shawn Respert won’t be back in that role. Respert and David Adelman both worked as player development coaches last season; Adelman has been promoted to an assistant coach now that Bill Bayno has taken a job with Toronto.

Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Blog)

J.R. Smith suspended five games for violating anti-drug program

The NBA announced today that J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Smith’s suspension will begin with the first game of the 2013-14 season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

According to the New York Daily News, “the punishment suggests that Smith did not test positive for a performance-enhancing drug but instead tested positive for marijuana. According to the league’s drug policy a player is suspended five games after a third positive test for marijuana A second offense results in a $25,000 fine while first positive test calls for the player to enter a program. Smith, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, is currently recovering from knee surgery and is not expected to be ready for the Knicks Oct. 30 regular season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. In a statement released by the league on Friday, the NBA said “Smith’s suspension will begin with the first game of the 2013-14 season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.”

More from the Daily News: “Smith signed a three-year deal worth $17 million which includes a player option after the second year of the contract. Smith averaged a career high 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists during the regular season.”