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Maurice Evans completed college degree while trying to help resolve NBA labor dispute

As a vice president with the National Basketball Players Association, Maurice Evans had made getting the players a new, fair collective bargaining agreement his primary goal since the season ended. The players’ union and the NBA owners have yet to meet that objective without losing regular season games, but Evans can still feel a sense of accomplishment about this offseason.

Because in the midst of attending numerous bargaining sessions in New York, running regional players meetings in Chicago and Las Vegas, and going over strategies with union president Derek Fisher and executive director Billy Hunter, Evans managed to finally get his degree in education from the University of Texas.

“I was very proud of that,” Evans said this week. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t make as much news as the bargaining sessions, but I’ve had a great and productive summer.”

Evans, 32, left Texas after his junior season in 2001, hoping to be drafted in the first round but wound up going undrafted. He scrapped his way into a NBA and has outlasted 12 first-rounders from that draft, but he always felt the void of not having his degree. “I know I’m a leader on and off the court and before you can commence in anything, you have to finish stages and that was the stage left open due to me continuing my NBA career,” Evans said. “Once I had a break due to this lockout, I was able to find the time.”

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post Blog

Barack Obama heartbroken over NBA lockout

At a fundraiser in Orlando last night, President Barack Obama expressed frustration that the Basketball season has been delayed.

Here’s what he had to say, according to the White House pool report:

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I do. Although I have to say that backstage I had the chance to see Dwight Howard — (applause) — and Dwight is a great friend, and I told him I’m a little heartbroken that the NBA season is getting delayed here. (Laughter.) So I’m hoping those guys are back on the court soon. In the meantime, I’m here because I need all of your help. I need your help. (Applause.)

— Reported by Zeke Miller of Business Insider

Two stars from Psych on USA network give InsideHoops shoutouts

The show Psych on USA Network is an InsideHoops.com favorite. I watch it, and tons of our message board members love it as well. Several pro-Psych forum discussions exist and it’s almost all positive. The general consensus is that it’s an extremely fun show.

So it was cool when InsideHoops.com was recently invited to cover a USA network event called “Psych Fan Appreciation Day,” celebrating the upcoming new Psych season with dedicated fans of the show. We were treated to an advance preview of the season premiere, and met virtually the entire cast.

We’ll post some interview quotes in the next day or two, but right now we’ll jump right to the extra good stuff and present video clips of two Psych stars welcoming you to InsideHoops.com:

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Yi Jianlian will play in China, with out-clause for NBA return

Until the NBA and its players’ union can come to a resolution on a new collective bargaining agreement, Yi Jianlian is returning to the place where his professional basketball career started.

Jarinn Akana, one of Yi’s representatives, confirmed that his client has signed a contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association which will have an NBA out for whenever the labor dispute is settled.

The CBA allowed its teams to sign only free agent NBA players, and Yi is an unrestricted free agent after the Wizards declined to extend his $5.4 million qualifying offer for next season. Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin have all signed to play in China since the league decided to lock out its players on July 1, but the CBA does not allow foreign players to leave until the conclusion of the season.

Akana explained in a telephone interview that since Yi is a local player, the CBA and the Southern Tigers have both afforded him the privilege of leaving whenever he signs another deal in the NBA.

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post blog

Celtics may target Josh Howard in free agency

A free agent who could be on the Celtics’ radar is former Wizard and Maverick Josh Howard, who is healthy after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in February 2010. Howard played in 18 games for the Wizards last season, averaging 8.4 points in 10 starts ….. One agent said he believes the NBA will not want to start the season after Christmas, as it did with the lockout in 1998-99. That season was pushed back to February and 50 games were squeezed into two months ….. Celtics second-round draft pick E’Twaun Moore has begun the exhibition season with Benetton Treviso, averaging 10.4 points in four games for the Italian team. Ex-UConn standout Jeff Adrien and ex-Celtic Brian Scalabrine are also on the roster.

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Tickets for Drew League vs Goodman League rematch go on sale Wednesday

Pedro Moura of ESPN.com reports:

Tickets for the much-anticipated rematch between the Goodman League and Drew League, scheduled for Oct. 9, will go on sale at midnight Wednesday, Drew League commissioner Dino Smiley confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com.

The game will be played at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, where the Long Beach State 49ers play basketball and volleyball games. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, with doors opening at the arena at 4 p.m. and a 5 p.m. celebrity game featuring still-to-be-determined participants…

Capacity at the Walter Pyramid, including standing-room only, is 5600, Smiley said. The original Drew-Goodman game in August was played at the 1600-seat gymnasium at Trinity University in D.C.

Tickets, available through the Long Beach State ticket office, will start at $25 for assigned seating and go up to $100 for courtside seats.

Following the game, there have also been preliminary talks to hold a home-and-home series with Jamal Crawford’s Summer League in Seattle, Smiley said, which could be as soon as later in October.

Georgia judge frees Javaris Crittenton on bond in murder case

The AP reports:

A judge granted bond Tuesday to ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton, charged with murder in an August drive-by shooting in Atlanta.

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Karen Woodson allowed Crittenton to go free on $230,000 bond after hearing hours of testimony from the player’s friends and coaches. She also ordered former Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt and others who testified on his behalf to co-sign the bond.

Woodson rejected a motion to dismiss the charges against Crittenton in the shooting of 22-year-old Julian Jones, who was killed as she walked along an Atlanta street. Police have said the shots were aimed at someone walking with Jones.

Defense attorney Brian Steel said his client is not guilty and the charges are based on faulty eyewitness testimony. Crittenton has denied any involvement and his attorney said he will be exonerated.

Team Philly beats LeBron, CP3 and Team Melo in Battle of I-95 game

The AP reports:

LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul couldn’t lead their team back from a dreadful start, as Team Philly beat Melo’s stars of Baltimore 131-122 on Sunday night at the Palestra…

A sold-out crowd that greeted James with thunderous boos when he came onto the floor roared in the final minute when former Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans used a series of fakes to drive into the lane for a basket that put it away at 131-119.

James had 43 points and 23 rebounds, and Anthony had 31 and 17, but Paul wasn’t in top shape in rare action during this NBA summer of inactivity. All three played all 48 minutes.

Former Villanova guard Kyle Lowry of the Rockets scored 34 points and Lou Williams of the hometown 76ers had 31 for Team Philly in what was called the “Battle of I-95.” Evans finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds…

The Melo team is based in Baltimore, but Anthony went outside his city to find James (Ohio) and Paul (North Carolina)…

Paul shot only 3 of 12 for six points and struggled to keep up with Philly’s speedsters.

Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports:

The atmosphere was one usually more conducive to a rock concert. Though slated to start at 6 p.m. at the Palestra, the sellout crowd patiently waited the near 45-minute delay of the “Battle of I-95.” And when it did finally get under way, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house; nor was there a dry shirt, brow or face. The old Palestra was a virtual sauna, and that was before any of the players took to the floor…

James led Team Melo with 43 points, while Anthony chipped in 31. . .Kyle Lowry had 34 and Williams 31 for Philly. . .Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson made a brief appearance and was cheered loudly by fans. . .Former Sixer guard Willie Green was sitting courtside. . .Markieff and Marcus Morris both were no-shows. They had a commitment Saturday night at Kansas. . .Super agent Leon Rose was seated at midcourt. . .The letters BBNS were on the back of both team’s shirts, standing for Basketball Never Stops.

Read fan discussion of the game in this basketball forum topic.

NBA postpones training camps, cancels October 9-15 preseason games

The NBA announced today that player training camps for the 2011-12 season have been postponed indefinitely because a new collective bargaining agreement has not been reached with the National Basketball Players Association. Training camps were scheduled to open on October 3.

In addition, the league canceled all preseason games scheduled from October 9 through October 15.

“We have regretfully reached the point on the calendar where we are not able to open training camps on time and need to cancel the first week of preseason games,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. “We will make further decisions as warranted.”

Read NBA fan reaction or share your views in this basketball forum topic.

Kevin Seraphin signs in Spain

Euroleague.net reports:

Caja Laboral addressed a need for frontcourt players with the signing of Kevin Seraphin. The big man comes off a silver-medal winning performance at EuroBasket 2011 with the French national team. Seraphin (2.05 meters, 21 years old) averaged 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds over nine games in Lithuania for les Bleus. He spent last season for Washington in the NBA where he produced 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds over 58 appearances. A native of French Guiana, Seraphin developed at Cholet Basket where he made his professional debut as a teenager.