San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 76 – NBA Blog

Spurs sign Manu Ginobili to contract extension

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that guard Manu Ginobili has signed a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy terms of the contract were not announced.

According to CBS Sports, “Ginobili, 32, will make $11.8 million in 2010-11, $12.9 million in ’11-12 and $14.1 million in the final year of the deal, bringing the total to more than $38,8 million, sources said.”

The 6-6 Ginobili was selected by San Antonio with the 57th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. In his eight seasons, Ginobili has helped navigate the Spurs to three NBA Championships. He and Bill Bradley are the only two players to win a NBA Championship, an Olympic gold medal and a Euroleague Championship.

“It is quite obvious how important Manu has been to our program,” said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “It is a great feeling to know that one of the best players in the world will continue to be a Spur.”

The 32-year-old Ginobili was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. That season he was also selected to the All-NBA Third Team, becoming the first South American – and first sixth man – to earn All-NBA honors. Among active NBA players in playoff action Ginobili ranks eighth in three-pointers made (170), fifth in steals (148) and is tied for ninth in free throws made (478). An All-Star in 2005, he has also been named the NBA’s Player of the Week three times.

In 550 regular season games Ginobili has averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.51 steals in 27.8 minutes. He is the Spurs franchise leader in three-pointers made (801) and attempted (2,125) and is seventh all-time in points (8,232), eighth in assists (2,058) and fifth in steals (834). Ginobili has appeared in 107 playoff games and averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.38 steals in 32.9 minutes. On San Antonio’s all-time playoff leaders, he ranks first in three-pointers made (170) and attempted (447) and is fourth in points (1,710), third in rebounds (510), fourth in assists (378) and second in steals (148).

A member of the Argentinean National Team since 1998, Ginobili led Argentina to the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics after averaging 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.38 steals in 29.9 minutes in eight games. During the 2000-01 season he was named the MVP of both the Italian League and the Euroleague Finals as Virtus Bologna captured the title in both the Italian and Euroleague Championships.

Spurs, Ginobili set to announce extension

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

The deal that will keep guard Manu Ginobili with the Spurs for three more seasons has been completed, and the team plans to announce the contract extension on Friday.

Negotiations on final details were hammered out late Thursday afternoon and Ginobili was expected to sign the new contract, the details of which were approved by the NBA office on Thursday.

The extension will pay Ginobili $38.9 million through the 2012-13 season.

NBA fines Phil Jackson

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Jackson was fined for comments made after the Lakers’ 100-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, April 4, at STAPLES Center.

Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News reports:

Jackson was displeased with the manner in which calls went against Ron Artest, who was locked in a physical battle with Manu Ginobili.

“They wouldn’t let Ron play the way he played prior to (a second-quarter technical foul),” Jackson said Sunday. “(Ginobili) could hook Ron (who) didn’t get what was going on and ended up getting too many fouls on him.

“The way we ended up the half, I think turned the referees against us and when you do that, that’s an unfortunate thing. Ron didn’t back off and didn’t read that official well enough to know (when) to back off. … Ginobili forced the issue and got the calls.”

The NBA playoffs are approaching fast.

Nets beat Spurs for 10th win of season

Playing in New Jersey, the Nets Monday night beat the injury-riddled San Antonio Spurs 90-84 for their 10th win of the season.

With the victory, the Nets surpass the nine-win mark, the lowest in NBA history.

The Spurs were playing without stars Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

For the Nets, center Brook Lopez (7-of-14) led with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Courtney Lee (7-of-13) had 19 points and six rebounds. Devin Harris (6-of-16) added 17 points and dished nine assists without a single turnover. As a team, the Nets only shot 37.6%, and they were outrebounded as well.

The Spurs were led by George Hill (8-of-19), who scored 19. Richard Jefferson, playing against his former team, had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists. Tim Duncan was kept in check, hitting just 6-of-15 for 13 points, 12 rebounds, and as many turnovers as assists. As a team, the Spurs hit just 41.5%.

New Jersey is now 10-64. Their remaining schedule includes games against the Wizards, Bulls and Pacers, so it’s possible the team can add to their current win total.

Spurs sign Alonzo Gee

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Alonzo Gee from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The 6-6, 220 lbs. Gee had previously been playing with the Washington Wizards where he signed his first of two 10-day contracts on 3/7. In 11 games -including two starts- with Washington he averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.5 minutes. He scored a career-high 19 points in his first career start on 3/26 at Charlotte. Prior to joining the Wizards, Gee had appeared in 36 games for the Austin Toros where he averaged 21.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 38.2 minutes. Gee has recorded four double-doubles for the Toros this season and notched a season-high 34 points vs. Sioux Falls on 1/6.

In his four years at Alabama, Gee averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 128 career games. Gee started 96 consecutive games with the Crimson Tide and finished his collegiate career 11th in school history in scoring (1,630) and 18th in rebounds (730). An All-SEC selection in both his junior and senior seasons, he is only the 11th player in Alabama history to score at least 1,500 points and grab 700 rebounds.

Gee will wear #23.

Rumors Talk: On Sixers, Ginobili, Blatche

Philadelphia 76ers coach Eddie Jordan may or may not have lost some or all of the team, but really, chances are at least a few of those guys have lost themselves. Certain players realize they aren’t having a great season and the team’s upside being so limited probably affects them just as much as not necessarily agreeing with everything Jordan does.

But, also, the triangle offense simply doesn’t work if a coach doesn’t have the right pieces for the puzzle.

Simply put, the 76ers have a limited roster and wouldn’t be doing much better than they are under another coach.

As for Real Madrid reportedly preparing to make Manu Ginobili a huge offer, the report came from Europe. And sorry to say, but a lot of reports from that continent regarding NBA players are either only partially true, or lost in translation. The offer may or may not come to exist. And chances are, he’ll re-sign with the Spurs.

Juwan Howard is right to not think about retiring yet. He can still help teams as a backup.

Shaquille O’Neal should keep playing, too. If he isn’t good on the court, he can help a team by acting as a security guard in the parking lot before and after each game, and occasionally breakdancing during timeouts.

Dwight Howard leads the league in technical fouls, with 15. He’s followed by Boston Celtics teammates Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace.

Andray Blatche finally said he was sorry for acting out of line the other day. With all the issues the Washington Wizards have had this season, it’ll be forgotten. He’s still raised his stock nicely over the last month.

As expected by people following the situation all along, the Washington Capitals owner will become the next Wizards owner. For fun, they should let the Capitals hockey team and the Wizards basketball team occasionally practice together, on the same floor at the same time. Hilarity will ensue.

Raptors struggles mean more articles coming out about Chris Bosh possibly leaving town this summer. There have only been 27,500,000 of those so far. More are needed.

Bosh should consider the attention a compliment. If we national media members stop talking about you, it probably means you don’t matter. Bosh matters.

Eddy Curry remains out. In equally shocking news, the sun is hot.

There’s no reason for Tyreke Evans to rush back until his head fully clears up. He and the Kings know this.

Tons of NBA games Friday night, but you should DVR your favorites and watch live NCAA Tournament instead, even if you don’t follow college hoops.

Go INSIDE HOOPS every day. Talk to you Saturday.

This feature is an editorialized take on the day’s hot NBA rumors stories.

Spurs sign Curtis Jerrells

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Curtis Jerrells from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Jerrells, 6-1, 200 pounds, has appeared in 43 games this season with the Austin Toros. He averaged 20.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 40.0 minutes.

Jerrells has been selected as the NBA Development League Performer of the Week twice this season, most recently for games played during the week of March 15 when he averaged 32.7 points, 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds. Jerrells also appeared in five preseason games for San Antonio, averaging 3.6 points and 1.8 assists in 14.8 minutes. He was waived on 10/22.

Jerrells played collegiately for four years at Baylor University. As a senior he averaged a team-high 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists while starting in all in 39 games for the Bears. He was selected to the All-Big 12 Third Team and was named to the 2009 NIT All-Tournament Team after leading the Bears to the NIT championship game. As a junior Jerrells was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, after averaging 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He scored a career-high 36 points, including a school and Big 12 record 20-of-24 free throws, in a five-OT 116-110 win at Texas A&M on 1/23/08.

For his career, Jerrells averaged 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.34 steals. Jerrells is the only player in school history to finish his career with more than 1,000 points, 400 assists and 100 steals.

Spurs sign Garrett Temple

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Garrett Temple. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

San Antonio is Temple’s third NBA team this season. He also saw time with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. In two games with the Spurs, Temple has averaged 5.5 points in 17.0 minutes. On the season he has appeared in 16 games and is averaging 4.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.9 minutes. He was originally signed to a 10-day contract by San Antonio on 3/13.

The 6-6, 190-pound Temple was signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston on 9/22. He averaged 2.5 points in four preseason games with the Rockets before being waived on 10/21. Temple was allocated to Rio Grande Valley on 11/4 and averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30 games with the Vipers. He signed his first of two 10-day contracts with Houston on 2/8. In nine games with the Rockets he averaged 5.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. On 3/3 Temple signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento. He averaged 2.2 points in 4.6 minutes with the Kings.

Temple averaged 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists over his four seasons at LSU. He left school as the Tigers all-time leader in games played (134), starts (131) and minutes played (4,432). Temple also ranked fourth in career assists (482), seventh in steals (191) and fourth in blocks (113) in school history.

The Spurs roster stands at 13.

Spurs sign Garrett Temple to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Garrett Temple from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract. Temple is the 23rd call-up of the 2009-10 D-League season.

The 6-6, 190-pound Temple has seen time this season with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston on 9/22, he averaged 2.5 points and 0.3 assists in four preseason games with the Rockets before being waived on 10/21. Temple was allocated to Rio Grande Valley on 11/4 and averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30 games with the Vipers. He signed his first of two 10-day contracts with Houston on 2/8. In nine games with the Rockets he averaged 5.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. On 3/3 Temple signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento. He averaged 2.2 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.6 minutes with the Kings.

Temple will wear uniform #2.

Spurs sign Cedric Jackson to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed guard Cedric Jackson from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract. Jackson is the 22nd call-up of the 2009-10 D-League season.

Jackson, a 6-3 guard, had a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this year. He appeared in five games with the Cavs from Jan. 23 to Feb. 12, scoring one point and handing out two assists in nine total minutes. In 30 games with the BayHawks, Jackson averaged 15.8 points, 7.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 32.7 minutes. He posted season-highs of 34 points and 13 assists on Jan. 19 at Austin.

As a senior at Cleveland State in 2009, Jackson was named 2009 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Horizon League Second Team for the second consecutive season. In two seasons with the Vikings, he had career averages of 12.3 points on .405 shooting, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.8 steals in 32.2 minutes per game.

Jackson will wear No. 11 for the Silver and Black and will be available for tonight’s game vs. New York.