Mavericks sign General Manager Nico Harrison to contract extension

The Dallas Mavericks have signed General Manager Nico Harrison to a multi-year contract extension.

“Nico Harrison has demonstrated his leadership and capabilities in the Dallas Mavericks organization,” stated Dallas Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont. “His vision, along with his efforts on behalf of our players and staff have propelled our team to two playoff appearances in three seasons and of course this year’s NBA Finals. We are proud to have him as part of our team for the long term, and we are excited to watch him continue to build on the foundation of success he has helped establish.”

“I am incredibly grateful to Patrick and the entire Dumont and Adelson family for their continued trust and confidence and to Mark for his willingness to hire an unconventional candidate,” stated Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. “Patrick and his family have accepted me as their own from day one and I am honored to work alongside them, as well as Jason Kidd, as we continue to build a winning culture in Dallas.”

Nico Harrison was named general manager of the Dallas Mavericks on June 28, 2021. Harrison’s tenure, which saw the August 2021 signing of Luka Dončić to his record-setting rookie supermax extension deal and the 2023 NBA Draft selections of Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, also includes the recent 2023-24 trade deadline acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington Jr., which helped propel Dallas to its fifth division title in team history and third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

Harrison joined the Mavericks after spending 19 years at Nike, where he most recently held the title of Vice President of North America Sports Marketing. Prior to joining Nike in 2002, Harrison played professional basketball in Europe for over six years.

Nets coaching staff for 2024-25 season announced

The Brooklyn Nets yesterday named Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard, Deividas Dulkys, Connor Griffin and Travis Bader as assistant coaches on Head Coach Jordi Fernández’s staff.

They join Jay Hernandez, Adam Caporn, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Corey Vinson on Brooklyn’s bench.

Hetzel comes to Brooklyn from Portland, where he was an assistant coach on the Trail Blazers’ staff for the past three seasons (2021-24). He previously served as an assistant coach for three seasons (2018-21) with the Orlando Magic following a four-year stint (2014-18) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Hetzel was also the head coach of the Canton Charge in the NBA G League for one season (2013-14) while Fernández served as his lead assistant coach. The pair helped guide the Cavaliers’ affiliate to a 28-22 record and second-place finish in the East division while allowing the fewest points per game (101.5) of any team in the league. Before his time with the Charge, Hetzel served as a player development coach for four seasons (2009-13) in Detroit. He began his NBA career in the video room, first as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio for the 2005-06 season and then spending three seasons (2006-09) as a video coordinator in Cleveland. The Allen Park, Mich., native is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he served as a student manager for the men’s basketball team.

Howard joins the Nets’ staff after serving as the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for the past five seasons (2019-24). While at the helm in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines compiled an 87-72 record, which included trips to the Sweet 16 (2022) and Elite Eight (2021) in the NCAA Tournament and a regular season Big Ten Conference championship. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Howard earned National Coach of the Year honors. Before his stint leading Michigan, Howard spent six seasons (2013-19) as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat. During his tenure, Miami made three postseason appearances, including securing an Eastern Conference championship in 2014. He joined the coaching ranks after a 19-year (1994-2013) NBA career, where he was a two-time champion (2012 and 2013) as a player for the Heat. In 1,208 career games with Washington, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Houston, Charlotte, Portland and Miami, Howard recorded averages of 13.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.3 minutes per game. Selected fifth overall in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by Washington, Howard earned an NBA All-Rookie Second Team nomination in 1995 and achieved an All-Star appearance and All-NBA Third Team honors in 1996 as a member of the Bullets. The Chicago native played three seasons (1991-94) at the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the famed “Fab Five” and helped lead the school to back-to-back Final Four and national championship game appearances (1992, 1993). As a junior, he was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team recipient and an All-America Third Team awardee.

Dulkys joins Brooklyn’s bench after spending the last two seasons (2022-24) as an assistant and player development coach for the Sacramento Kings. The Šilutė, Lithuania, native also spent one season (2021-22) as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. Before becoming a coach, Dulkys played professionally overseas, competing with teams in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, Italy and Spain over the course of his nine-year playing career (2012-2021). He spent four seasons (2008-12) at Florida State University, where he helped lead the program to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, including a run to the Sweet 16 as a junior. He ranks third all-time in Seminoles’ history with 203 career 3-pointers made.

Griffin arrives in Brooklyn after three seasons (2021-24) with the Denver Nuggets. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as head video coordinator/player development while assisting a postseason run in 2023 that resulted in the Nuggets’ first NBA championship. Griffin originally joined Denver ahead of the 2021-22 season as an assistant video coordinator. The Lake Oswego, Ore., native began his coaching career at Pepperdine University, where he started as a graduate manager for the men’s basketball team for two seasons (2018-20) before transitioning to video coordinator for the men’s and women’s basketball programs (2020-21). Griffin was a walk-on player at Gonzaga University, where he played in 29 games over two seasons (2013-15) and helped the Bulldogs to a pair of West Coast Conference championships. He then transferred to the University of Washington, where he joined the football program as a tight end and wide receiver for two seasons (2015-16), during which the Huskies won the 2016 Pac-12 championship game and earned a berth to the College Football Playoff. Griffin concluded his collegiate career in the NAIA at Vanguard University and played on the Lions’ basketball team in 2017-18.

Bader begins his fifth season as part of the Nets organization and his first as an assistant coach. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as the team’s head video coordinator following a two-year stint (2020-22) as a video seasonal assistant. Bader played basketball professionally in the NBA G League for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2015) and Austin Spurs (2019) and internationally in France, Lithuania, Italy, Greece and Spain. He also competed in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), an annual winner-take-all single elimination tournament, with Overseas Elite, helping lead the squad to three-straight tournament championships (2015-17). The Okemos, Mich., native spent five years (2009-14) at Oakland University, where he set the then all-time NCAA career record for 3-pointers made (504). His marks currently rank fifth all-time, and he is still just one of five players in NCAA history to make 500 or more 3-pointers in a career.

Hernandez (second season), Caporn (fourth season with the organization and third as an assistant coach), Forehan-Kelly (ninth season with the organization and fifth as an assistant coach) and Vinson (second season) return to Brooklyn’s bench and will join Fernández and the newly appointed assistants to round out Brooklyn’s coaching staff ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Pistons hire Trajan Langdon as new President of Basketball Operations

The Detroit Pistons announced yesterday that Trajan Langdon has been named President of Basketball Operations.

Langdon will report to Pistons owner Tom Gores and will expand the current team by recruiting additional innovative and experienced executives, with an emphasis on strategy, player personnel and operations.

“I have committed to building a front office in Detroit that brings together the most advanced capabilities and creative basketball minds,” said Gores. “Trajan is an accomplished front office executive with an impressive track record. He’s worked his way up and seen it all as a player, scout and executive. He’s been successful at every level. I’m confident he will very swiftly get us to the standard of excellence I expect from every business.”

Langdon, 48, joins the Pistons with 12 years of front office and scouting experience, including most recently as General Manager of the New Orleans Pelicans from 2019-2024. Prior to his time in New Orleans, Langdon served in front offices for the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.

Pistons General Manager Troy Weaver is leaving the organization

The Detroit Pistons announced today that General Manager Troy Weaver is leaving the organization.

“I very much appreciate all the dedication Troy displayed to our Pistons franchise,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores. “As much as we have struggled lately, we will look back and see Troy as an important person in the remaking of the Pistons. He took the pain of rebuilding head on and he did the hard work to get us the flexibility we have today. He also assembled a great core of young men with tremendous skill and character to give us a path to the future. Make no mistake, I have real appreciation for who Troy is as a person and what he has meant to the organization. I wish him the very best as he pursues his ventures.”

The decision was agreed upon mutually and comes after the Pistons recently appointed Trajan Langdon President of Basketball Operations.

Clippers sign head coach Tyronn Lue to new long-term contract

The LA Clippers have signed Tyronn Lue to a new, long-term contract, it was announced by President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank.

“T Lue is everything we want in a head coach. He’s a brilliant tactician and a natural leader with an extraordinary ability to connect with those around him, both players and staff,” said Frank. “Four years ago, we felt privileged to hire T Lue, and we feel just as fortunate today. There’s no one we’d rather coach our team. T Lue is a pillar of the organization and will be for a very long time.”

“This is where I want to be. I’ve loved coaching this team for the past four years and I’m excited to head into a new era at Intuit Dome,” said Lue. “I’m grateful to Steve, Lawrence and the entire organization for the opportunity. With our ownership, front office, roster, staff and arena, we have all the advantages we need to win in the present and the future, and I’m confident we will.”

Over four seasons as head coach of the Clippers, Lue has amassed a record of 184-134 (.579), leading the organization to the postseason in three of the past four seasons. During the 2023-24 campaign, Lue guided the team to a 51-31 (.622) record, winning the Pacific Division title for the third time in franchise history and becoming the first Clippers’ head coach to win consecutive Coach of the Month awards. Lue has coached the Clippers to four consecutive winning seasons, extending the longest active streak in the NBA to 13 seasons. The third-winningest head coach in franchise history, Lue also led the organization to its first Western Conference Finals in 2021.

Before joining the Clippers, Lue was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 (.607) record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016. During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship in his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and a player. Prior to Cleveland, Lue worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach and director of basketball development.

A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (No. 10) retired by the school in 2017.

Wizards hire Brian Keefe as their new head coach

The Washington Wizards have named Brian Keefe as head coach. Keefe becomes the 26th head coach in the organization’s history.

“We are excited for Brian to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. “As a leader in the organization, he will continue to positively grow and invest into the development of our players. His wealth of experience will help move our team forward as we build for long-term sustained success.”

Keefe was originally named interim head coach on January 25, 2024, with the team seeing improvement in defensive rating, overall net rating, and opponent three-point percentage over the remainder of the regular season. Under his direction, the Wizards held opponents to the second lowest three-point percentage (34.5%) in the league. Before being named interim head coach, Keefe was in his first season with Washington, serving as the team’s lead assistant coach.

Throughout his 16-year NBA coaching career, he has been influential in the development and evolution of the careers of multiple All-Stars, All-NBA, and MVP caliber players, with stops in Brooklyn (2021-2023), Oklahoma City (2019-20 and 2007-2014), Los Angeles (2016-2019), and New York (2014-2016). Known for his extensive background in player development, multiple Wizards players improved in various statistical categories under Keefe’s guidance as interim head coach.

He started his NBA career as a video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. During his second season, the team won the 2007 NBA championship.

“I am grateful to Michael [Winger] and Will for the opportunity to lead the Washington Wizards,” said Keefe. “I look forward to continuing to work with our players and helping them grow and develop. As a team, we are committed to a collaborative approach to build an environment of accountability and hard work that allows us to improve every day.”

As an assistant coach, Keefe has been a part of teams that have earned playoff berths on eight occasions, including five consecutive playoff appearances (2009-2014) and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Players who made the official 2023-24 All-NBA Teams lists

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been unanimously selected to the 2023-24 All-NBA First Team. Both players received First Team votes on all 99 ballots from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, with Jokić earning his fourth First Team selection and Gilgeous-Alexander his second.

Joining Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander on the 2023-24 All-NBA First Team are Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Dončić (fifth consecutive First Team selection), Antetokounmpo (sixth consecutive First Team selection) and Tatum (third consecutive First Team selection) continue their streaks of First Team honors.

The 2023-24 All-NBA Second Team consists of New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Lakers forward-center Anthony Davis.

Brunson and Edwards make their All-NBA Team debuts. This is the 11th Kia All-NBA Team selection for Durant, the sixth for Leonard and the fifth for Davis.

The 2023-24 All-NBA Third Team is composed of Lakers forward LeBron James, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Suns guard Devin Booker.

James has extended his NBA record for most Kia All-NBA Team selections to 20, having been named to the First, Second or Third Team every season since 2004-05. This marks the 10th Kia All-NBA Team selection for Curry and the second for both Sabonis and Booker. Haliburton is a first-time honoree.

The media voting panel selected players to the All-NBA Team without regard to position. Players were awarded five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for each vote to the Second Team and one point for each vote to the Third Team.

Thunder eliminated by Mavericks in second round of playoffs

Per the Oklahoman:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey. Chet Holmgren clasped his hands on his head. Jalen Williams, after his desperation heave drifted wayward, bent over, hands on knees.

The game was epic, making the Thunder’s 117-116 defeat in Game 6 all the more agonizing.

Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City is headed home.

An electric fourth-quarter filled with spectacular shotmaking and would-be game-defining plays was decided by a whistle. A correct whistle, but a whistle nonetheless.

Gilgeous-Alexander, tremendous all night, fouled his old college buddy, P.J. Washington, on a 3-pointer with three seconds left.

Mayhem preceded the call.

FULL ARTICLE

Lakers announce partial schedule for 2024-25 preseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced three games for the team’s 2024-25 preseason schedule.

The preseason slate is highlighted by an Oct.15 contest in Las Vegas against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena, the site of the purple and gold’s NBA Cup title last season. Tickets go on sale May 20.

In mid-October, the team will continue its tradition of bringing Lakers basketball to Las Vegas when it takes on Golden State Oct. 15 at T-Mobile Arena. The purple and gold own many proud moments in Sin City, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaking the then-NBA scoring record held by Wilt Chamberlain on April 5, 1984, versus Utah. Legend Kobe Bryant was named the 2007 NBA All-Star Game MVP held in Las Vegas after leading the West Team to victory with a game-high 31 points.

Los Angeles will open the preseason with a pair of games in Greater Palm Springs at Acrisure Arena, hosting Minnesota Oct. 4 and Phoenix Oct. 6. The purple and gold boast a rich history in the Coachella Valley, the former home of Lakers training camp. Legends Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal left their mark on the Greater Palm Springs area when they suited up for Los Angeles in the 1997 preseason at the College of the Desert. The Lakers most recently hosted the Suns at a sold-out Acrisure Arena during the 2023 preseason. Tickets for this year’s contests in the Coachella Valley will go on sale May 20 as well.

Suns hire Mike Budenholzer as head coach

The Phoenix Suns last week named Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach.

“We’re excited to name Mike as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and bring him back to his home state of Arizona,” said Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. “Mike has proven himself to be among the most successful head coaches in the NBA. He is the right leader to take us to the next level and reach our championship goals.”

“Mike’s exceptional basketball acumen, championship pedigree and his standing as one of the NBA’s premier coaches will be invaluable as we compete for a championship,” said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones. “We’re confident that under his leadership our team will reach new levels of success.”

“I am honored to be named head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the team I grew up watching,” said Budenholzer. “I would like to thank Mat Ishbia, Josh Bartelstein and James Jones for the opportunity to lead this team. I’m grateful to have a talented roster of players who are ready to compete and play a style of basketball that will bring out the best in all of them, and bring them together as we compete for championships.”