The Akron Beacon Journal (Brian Windhorst) reports: For years, Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ head and his feet said no. Now he’s able to give the answer he always has had in his heart: Yes. After a few months of thinking about it, Ilgauskas has told the Lithuanian National Team that he will play for it this summer at the Beijing Olympics, a move that has created a lot of excitement among his countrymen. ”I’ve always wanted to do it before I get too old,” said Ilgauskas, who will turn 33 in June. ”I feel like I have a lot of basketball left in me and I can help, and this is probably my last chance.”
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
Lakers recall Coby Karl from D-League
The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled guard Coby Karl from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today.
Karl, who became the 11th NBA player assigned to a D-League affiliate earlier this season on November 28, was re-assigned to the D-Fenders February 14.
During his first assignment, Karl played in 10 games with the D-Fenders from November 29 – December 22, averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.4 minutes while shooting .435 from three-point range and .492 from the field.
In three games during his second stint with the D-Fenders from February 14 – February 19, Karl averaged 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 37.2 minutes.
In 13 total games with the D-Fenders this season, Karl is averaging 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 38.1 minutes.
Should Karl play in tonight’s game versus Atlanta, he would join Lakers second-year guard Jordan Famar as the only other player in league history to see action in same-day D-League and NBA games. Farmar, who first did so on April 1, 2007 by playing in the D-Fender’s 2:30 pm contest versus Anaheim and then logging time in the Lakers 7:30 pm game versus Sacramento, also played in D-League/NBA double-headers April 3 and April 12, 2007.
Signed by the Lakers as an undrafted rookie free agent on July 30, 2007, Karl has appeared in 11 games this season, averaging 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds in 3.7 minutes.
Last season, the 6’5” guard averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior at Boise State and was named First Team All-WAC. Karl, who left Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-point field goals made (266), ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,698 career points.
Nuggets 2008-09 ticket prices
The Denver Nuggets today announced ticket prices for the 2008-09 season. The Nuggets will continue to be near the middle of the NBA in average ticket price ($61.50), despite playing in a privately-funded arena with a capacity in the bottom half of the league. This is just the 10th time the Nuggets have adjusted ticket prices since 1988 and over 500 seats remain unchanged.
“This price adjustment is needed to continue to provide a competitive product at a fair price in the ultra-tough Western Conference,” said Paul Andrews, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Kroenke Sports Enterprises. “We will remain near the middle of the pack in the NBA and this will help us as we strive towards our goal of winning an NBA championship.”
The Nuggets are one of only six teams in the NBA to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last four seasons and have a roster featuring two NBA All-Star starters (Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson) and the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year (Marcus Camby).
One third of seats in the Pepsi Center will be priced at $22 or less, including the $10 seats which remained flat. The Nuggets will also continue to offer popular ticket promotions such as Denver Post Family Nights (4 tickets, 4 Pepsis, 4 Digiorno’s Pizzas and a $10 ESPN Zone card for $59), Coors Light Guys Night Out (2 tickets, 2 Coors Light beers, 2 guys night out t-shirts) and Pepsi Youth Nights (kids 14-and-under free with a paid adult on select games) and Rocky’s Den (day of game seats for only $5 in this area).
Season ticket holders who renew will receive a price lock on their seats for the 2008 NBA Playoffs, from the First Round to the Conference Finals. New season ticket buyers who purchase before April 1, 2008 will receive a great seat location and the price lock for the playoffs as well.
Suns, Nuggets to play NBA game outdoors
The NBA’s first outdoor game of the modern era will take place when the Phoenix Suns host the Denver Nuggets in a preseason game on Saturday, October 11 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA. The 16,000-seat stadium is an NBA-style arena with no roof located in a spectacular desert setting. The venue annually plays host to one of the world’s major tennis tournaments, the Pacific Life Open.
Full story is here.
Mavericks waive Nick Fazekas
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have waived forward Nick Fazekas.
Fazekas (6-11, 235) was selected by Dallas with the 34th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He saw action in four games with the Mavericks this season averaging 1.0 point in 2.3 minutes. He spent 28 games (24 starts) with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League and averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.5 minutes per game. He was selected as a D-League All-Star but did not play in the game.
Nets officially trade Jason Kidd to Mavericks
The New Jersey Nets have acquired guards Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, center DeSagana Diop and forward Keith Van Horn along with Dallas’ first round draft picks in 2008 and 2010, and cash considerations from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for guard Jason Kidd and forwards Antoine Wright and Malik Allen, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.
“This trade provides us with immediate help, most notably with the acquisition of Devin Harris, who we consider one of the rising young point guards in the NBA,” said Thorn. “Harris’s numbers have improved each of his four years in the league, and we feel that he has a significant upside. This trade also will give us two future first round draft picks and will give us flexibility to improve our roster.”
More info here.
T.J. Ford suffers setback
Little T.J. Ford, barely bigger than many of the young children in the stands at NBA games, has suffered another health setback. Hopefully a minor one that means nothing.
The Toronto Sun (Frank Zicarelli) reports: T.J. Ford’s year of frustration continued yesterday. Just as the lightning-quick point guard was adjusting to his new role as backup, Ford was forced to leave the team’s practice after suffering an abdominal strain. He’ll be re-evaluated today, but it’s unknown if Ford will dress for tomorrow’s tilt against the visiting Orlando Magic. Ford returned from a two-month absence (stinger) on Feb. 6 in Miami, providing a much-needed infusion with the second unit.
Wade doesn’t want slow rebuild
The Palm Beach Post (Chris Perkins) reports: Superstar guard Dwyane Wade, perhaps the most influential voice in the Heat organization, has no patience for a slow, steady rebuilding plan. “You can rebuild through the draft, but that takes two years, three years,” said Wade, who can depart after the 2009-10 season via a player option in his contract. “We’re looking to come into next summer and really do some things,” Wade said. “Whatever we do in the draft is what we do, but we’re looking to get veteran guys.”
Hawks sign Jeremy Richardson to 10-day contract
The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard Jeremy Richardson to a 10-day contract, according to Hawks’ Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.
The 6-foot-7 Richardson has seen a combined eight games of action (one starting assignment) this season with the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs, tallying 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal (3-13 FGs, 2-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs).
Richardson has also played 12 games with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, averaging 25.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg and 1.2 spg (.445 FG%, .385 3FG%, .853 FT%). On February 16, he was named Most Valuable Player of the 2008 D-League All-Star Game in New Orleans, after scoring a game-high 22 points. By signing with Atlanta he becomes the 102nd all-time GATORADE Call-Up in the D-League history.
Richardson played in five games for the Hawks last year after signing two 10-day contracts, averaging 1.6 ppg and 0.4 rpg (3-6 FGs, 2-3 3FGs). He also played in one game for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006-07. In 14 career NBA games, he has recorded 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals (6-19 FGs, 4-10 3FGs, 2-2 FTs).
A First Team All-Gulf South Conference honoree following both his junior and senior seasons at Delta State University, Richardson left school ranking 14th on the all-time scoring list. He started all 31 games as a senior (in 2005-06), and averaged 17.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg (.492 FG%, .404 3FG%, .810 FT%), after posting 15.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg in his junior campaign.
Jeremy Terrell Richardson was born February 11, 1983 in Allentown, PA, and attended Zachary High School in Zachary, LA. He will wear uniform number 32. The Hawks roster now stands at 13 players.
LeBron James interview after All-Star game
Here’s what LeBron James said to the media after the 2008 All-Star game, of which he was named MVP:
Q: Take us through that dunk you had? What did you see? Why did you attack?
LeBron James: The game was tied. I didn’t want to settle for a jumpshot. I had to settle for a couple jumpshots in the fourth quarter. I wanted to be aggressive and try to get the hole to get the lay up. And when I seen those bigs coming, I didn’t want to lay the ball up. They would have definitely made a play and tried to block it, so I was able to go strong and able to dunk it through.
Q: You wanted to win. Did you realize how close you were to the triple double and was that something you were shooting for?
LeBron James: No, I just wanted to win the basketball game. They beat up on us pretty bad last year in Las Vegas, and as the East, we didn’t want to allow that to happen. We wanted to try to win. We did a good job of executing in the fourth quarter. Ray hit some big shots. Some of the biggest shots of the game, and he kept it flowing. You know, we put the finishing touch on it, and it was a dunk.
Q: With the Cavs flying under the radar in the first half of the season, how big is it for you and Daniel Gibson to come through this weekend as big as you did?
LeBron James: Oh well, we know we’re still not going to get the respect we should get. That’s never been a problem for us. We don’t care. We just go out and play. We’re always going to be the third or fourth or fifth best team in the Eastern Conference. You know, we still go out there and win ballgames and we know when the postseason happens, you know, you’ve got to come get it from us, because we’re very good.
Q: I know you don’t care about individual awards or anything, but emotionally how does it feel to get your second MVP in three years?
LeBron James: I mean, to add the MVP trophy with the win means a lot to me. I played well, and I helped our team win the ballgame. It really means a lot to go out there and perform the way I was able to do in front of the fans of New Orleans. In front of my family, and for the Eastern Conference because we really wanted this win. We came out victorious.
Q: How competitive was it on the fourth quarter compared to other All Stars you’ve participated in?
LeBron James: Well, this was one of the most competitive ones. The one in Houston was really competitive also. But you’ve probably seen a lot of guys faces going through the fourth quarter how competitive guys wanted to be, and, you know, who wanted the ballgame. We were able to make a couple more plays had than the Western team down the stretch. D Wade had an unbelievable block on Dirk, and Ray hit some big shots. We were down and the game was tied. And I was able to put the finishing touch on it with the dunk and kept the momentum going for us. So competitive wise, it was the best one. As fans and everybody that watched the game I think would think the same thing.
Read InsideHoops.com every day. Subscribe to our blog’s RSS feed. And discuss the league on the InsideHoops basketball forum, where close to 20,000 of the world’s biggest basketball fans are happy to talk to you.