2013-14 NBA All-Rookie teams player list

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Michael Carter-Williams, the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year, headlines the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today.

Carter-Williams was the lone unanimous First Team selection (250 points, 125 First Team votes), while the Orlando Magic’s Victor Oladipo narrowly missed a perfect ballot (248 points, 124 First Team votes). Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz (230 points, 108 First Team votes), Mason Plumlee of the Brooklyn Nets (214 points, 95 First Team votes) and the New York Knicks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. (204 points, 87 First Team votes) complete the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of the Boston Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk (119 points, 19 First Team votes), the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (116 points, 15 First Team votes), the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Gorgui Dieng (96 points, 21 First Team votes), the Charlotte Hornets’ Cody Zeller (67 points, three First Team votes), and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams (65 points, nine First Team votes).

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes in parentheses):

Ben McLemore, Sacramento, 63 (4); Pero Antic, Atlanta, 62 (10); Nick Calathes Memphis, 39 (2); Ryan Kelly, L.A. Lakers, 29; Matthew Dellavedova, Cleveland, 20 (3); Nate Wolters, Milwaukee, 20; Ray McCallum, Sacramento, 8; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit, 6; Hollis Thompson, Philadelphia, 5; Tony Snell, Chicago, 4; Phil Pressey, Boston, 2; Anthony Bennett, Cleveland, 1; Reggie Bullock, L.A. Clippers, 1; Robert Covington, Houston, 1; Alex Len, Phoenix, 1; C.J. McCollum, Portland, 1; Shabazz Muhammad, Minnesota, 1; Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City, 1; Jeff Withey, New Orleans, 1.

Adam Silver would like a higher NBA age minimum

What do you think of the NBA age minimum? New NBA commissioner Adam Silver feels it’s a bit too low. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

Two 19-year-olds – Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins – are expected to be among the first three players picked in the NBA draft on June 26.

Drafting players that young won’t be the case much longer if NBA commissioner Adam Silver gets his wish.

“I’m in favor of raising the minimum age from 19 to 20,” Silver said Tuesday before the NBA draft lottery in New York.

That could ultimately end the “one-and-done” phenomenon in college basketball, when top players head to the pros after their freshman seasons.

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

Alvin Gentry to interview for Utah Jazz head coaching job

Here’s the Orange County Register blog with a report on the Utah Jazz:

Alvin Gentry to interview for Utah Jazz head coaching job

Alvin Gentry, the Clippers associate head coach and architect of their top-rated offense, is scheduled to interview with the Utah Jazz for their head coaching position.

The news was first reported by Yahoo.

Gentry has been the head coach in Miami, Detroit and Phoenix. In three seasons as the Clippers head coach, Gentry went 89-133.

Gentry’s career record as a head coach is 335-370, with his greatest success coming in Phoenix.

2014 NBA Finals game schedule

Here is the 2014 NBA Finals game schedule. The Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers in six games of the Eastern Conference Finals to reach the Finals. And in the West, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games. Here is the official 2014 NBA Finals game schedule. All games televised on ABC.

2014 NBA Finals Schedule: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

Game 1 – Thu June 5 Miami at San Antonio 9:00PM ET

Game 2 – Sun June 8 Miami at San Antonio 8:00PM ET

Game 3 – Tue June 10 San Antonio at Miami 9:00PM ET

Game 4 – Thu June 12 San Antonio at Miami 9:00PM ET

Game 5 * Sun June 15 Miami at San Antonio 8:00PM ET

Game 6 * Tue June 17 San Antonio at Miami 9:00PM ET

Game 7 * Fri June 20 Miami at San Antonio 9:00PM ET

*If necessary

Paul George suffers concussion

Paul George suffers concussion

Tuesday night, Indiana Pacers forward Paul George took a knee to the back of his head during the fourth quarter of the Eastern Conference Finals game against Miami. Immediately after the play, George exhibited no symptoms of a concussion and, in response to questions from the Pacers’ medical staff, he denied dizziness, nausea, and issues with his vision. He was also active and aware of his surroundings. As a result, the Indiana medical staff did not suspect a concussion.

Following the game, George stated for the first time that he “blacked out” on the play. As a result of this statement, the team conducted the NBA-mandated concussion assessment, which did not reveal any active symptoms of concussion.

Because of the statement and Indiana’s ongoing evaluation and management of potential concussions, George underwent further testing and evaluation Wednesday morning. He has been diagnosed by the team’s consulting neurologist with a concussion, based on his post-game reporting that he had briefly lost consciousness during the game. He will begin the NBA-mandated protocol for return-to-participation after a diagnosed concussion.

Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, Director of the NBA Concussion Program, has been in contact with the team medical staff and stated, “The Indiana Pacers medical team followed the NBA concussion protocol and there was no indication of concussion during the game. This case illustrates that concussion evaluation is an ongoing process and manifestations of the injury may not always present immediately.”

Name-change complete: Charlotte Bobcats officially became Charlotte Hornets today

Charlotte Bobcats officially became Charlotte Hornets today

After 12 years, the Charlotte Hornets name has officially returned to the Carolinas. Today the name of Charlotte’s original NBA franchise is back as the Charlotte Bobcats have officially re-branded as the Charlotte Hornets.

“Today is truly an historic day for our franchise, our city and our fans as we mark the official return of the Charlotte Hornets,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chairman Michael Jordan. “Thanks to our fans who were the driving force behind the Hornets name returning. We are thrilled to be able to bring the Hornets name back to the Carolinas.”

In addition, the team announced that after collaborating with the NBA and the New Orleans Pelicans, all of the statistical information, records and history of Charlotte NBA basketball will also be returning to the franchise. The Hornets will now own and have access to all of the historical elements from not only the Bobcats era (2004-2014) but also the original Hornets era in Charlotte (1988-2002). The Pelicans will maintain the history and statistics beginning with the team’s first season in New Orleans (2002-03).

The Hornets was the name of the city’s first NBA franchise from 1988-2002. The NBA returned to Charlotte in 2004 as the Bobcats and played under that name from 2004-2014. On May 21, 2013, Jordan announced that the organization had applied to change its name to the Charlotte Hornets, a move that was approved unanimously by the NBA Board of Governors on July 18, 2013.

Jason Levien and Stu Lash gone from Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday that following discussions with management, the decision was made for Jason Levien and Stu Lash to depart the organization.

“Our franchise has made tremendous strides over the last few seasons and we thank Jason for his hard work and dedication and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors,” said Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert Pera. “Rest assured that we remain as committed as ever to bringing a championship to this great city and we are confident that when the new season begins our fans will be excited about both our roster and the direction of our organization.”

Going forward, existing Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace will assume interim responsibility for the franchise’s basketball operations and Chief Operating Officer Jason Wexler will remain responsible for the franchise’s business operations.

NBA initiates charge to terminate ownership of Donald Sterling in the Clippers

Clippers

The NBA initiated a charge yesterday (Monday) seeking to terminate the ownership of Donald Sterling in the Los Angeles Clippers. If the NBA Board of Governors sustains the charge by a 3/4 vote, all ownership interests in the Clippers will be terminated and the team will be sold to new owners.

The NBA Constitution provides Mr. Sterling with the opportunity to respond to the charge by May 27, as well as the right to appear and make a presentation at a special meeting of the Board of Governors. This hearing, which is planned for June 3, will be presided over by NBA Board of Governors Chairman Glen Taylor, the controlling Governor of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The charge asserts that Mr. Sterling engaged in conduct that has damaged and continues to damage the NBA and its teams. Among other things, Mr. Sterling disparaged African-Americans and “minorities”; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticized African-Americans for not supporting their communities.

Mr. Sterling’s actions and positions significantly undermine the NBA’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion; damage the NBA’s relationship with its fans; harm NBA owners, players and Clippers team personnel; and impair the NBA’s relationship with marketing and merchandising partners, as well as with government and community leaders. Mr. Sterling engaged in other misconduct as well, including issuing a false and misleading press statement about this matter.

All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA Constitution and related agreements.