New 2010-2011 NBA Uniforms
Golden State
If you haven’t seen the new uniforms the NBA is rolling out for the upcoming 2010-2011 season here is a quick look. Cleveland Cavaliers,Dallas Mavericks,Golden State Warriors,Los Angeles Clippers,Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz new jerseys can be purchased at NBA.com.
Which do you like best?
R.I.P. Lorenzen Wright
R.I.P.
NBA free agent Lorenzen Wright who had vanished on July 19 was found dead at the age of 34. The former Los Angeles Clipper, Atlanta Hawk, Memphis Grizzlie, Sacramento King and Cleveland Cavalier was last seen July 18 when he was expected to fly out of Memphis.
His body was found in Southeast Memphis in a wooded area and according to the Commercial Appeal “police sources confirmed earlier that they are investigating a 911 hangup call from Wright’s cellphone made July 19.” During the call, at least ten gunshots could be heard.
Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore of the Memphis Police Department wrote in an e-mail to the AP that police were investigating the death of an unidentified man beside a wooded area about 15 miles south of downtown Memphis. Asked if the man was Wright, she wrote they could not confirm the victim’s identity Wednesday night.
Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall.
He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 778 career games.
Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman Explodes $10,000 Fireworks
Illegal activity for an NBA player and it doesn’t involve marijuana, that’s a shocker. That is how you do celebrate America’s birthday though, Chris Kaman style.
2010 San Antonio Spurs Summer League Schedule Announced
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
Twenty-two NBA teams, including 11 that appeared in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, will compete in this year’s NBA Summer League. For the second consecutive year, a team of NBA Development League Select players will also participate in the action taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Marketing partners included in the event are adidas, EA SPORTS, Gatorade and T-Mobile.
A 58-game schedule of action will tip off on Friday, July 9, with four games scheduled at COX Pavilion. Teams slated for action on opening day include the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns.
“While the NBA Summer League continues to grow, its core mission remains the same: allowing NBA teams to evaluate young talent and free agents, giving rookies the chance to get acclimated to the NBA and providing veterans a chance to fine-tune their games,” said Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President of NBA Basketball Operations.
This year’s event will feature the Washington Wizards, who won the top overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Other participating teams with top five selections in this year’s draft include the Minnesota Timberwolves (fourth overall pick) and the Sacramento Kings (fifth overall). Additionally, 10 of the top 14 picks are expected to participate in Las Vegas this summer.
“NBA fans have the chance to get a sneak peek at the league’s newest stars in an up close and family-friendly venue at NBA Summer League,” said Gail Hunter, NBA Senior Vice President of Events and Attractions.
Joining the above-mentioned teams scheduled to appear in Vegas this summer are the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards.
Tickets for the 2010 NBA Summer League are on sale and can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS, through UNLVtickets.com or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office and UNLV Ticket Outlets. All general admission tickets are $25 for the day; seniors and children (3-12) are $15 for the day; and children two years and under are admitted free of charge.
2010 NBA Summer League Game Schedule:
All Times listed are local Las Vegas time.
Monday July 12
Thomas & Mack
3:30 PM – San Antonio vs. Minnesota
Wednesday July 14
Thomas & Mack
3:30 PM – Atlanta vs. San Antonio
Thursday July 15
COX Pavilion
1 PM – LA Lakers vs. San Antonio
Saturday July 17
COX Pavilion
5 PM – LA Clippers vs. San Antonio
Sunday July 18
Thomas & Mack
1:30 PM – San Antonio vs. Memphis
Former NBA Player Gives R&B Singing A Shot
Former Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Rudy J’s all time favorite Los Angeles Laker Kareem Rush has decided its time to take his career path into a whole new direction. Rush is stepping away from the NBA court to lend his vocals to the R&B game.
Rush can be found in the recording booths at Felicia Khong Music where he already has recorded his single, “Hold You Down.” His first single has received airtime on 10 R&B stations across the country so far but San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker is not impressed.
Jodeci can just pack up their mics right now as Kareem is about to give the ladies a little adrenaline rush.
Back Pain Nearly Drove Former NBA Star Bill Walton To End His Life
Throw It Down
Former NBA player and UCLA Bruin great Bill Walton has undergone some 36 orthopedic surgeries at various points in his life. The toll of the pain and surgeries finally caught up to Walton as he contemplated ending his life.
The bad back and all the surgeries on Walton’s 6-foot-11 frame became so unbearable 14 months ago that he had the thought of suicide. The man who overcame a speech impediment to win an Emmy, the same man who held numerous championship trophies over his head couldn’t beat this at the time.
“You can’t understand until you’ve been where I’ve been,” said Walton.
He says that before he would undergo an 8½-hour surgery 14 months ago, he had become useless. He couldn’t walk and had trouble sleeping and even resulted in him eating his food flat on his stomach stretched out on the floor.
Things changed when he meet Dr. Steven Garfin for saving his life, who’s the chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics and teacher of less-invasive surgical techniques.Garfin who practiced a new surgical technique of operating on the spine by entering through the side using a Neurovision probe. The surgery allowed Walton to get back to having somewhat a normal life again although he will never be pain free. He walks gingerly these days but the serve leg pain that haunted him before the surgery is gone and now he can be found swimming, lifting weights and even ride a bike. All things he never saw himself ever being able to do ever again.
Walton pinpoints the start of his back problems back to a game in 1974 playing for the Bruins against Washington State when he was undercut and broke two bones in his spine. Walton returned after only missing three games wearing a corset.
“I’m getting back into the game of life. I have a new life now. It got to the point where my life wasn’t worth living. I was standing on the edge of the bridge, figuring it was better to jump than to go back to where I was.”
Walton pinpoints the start of his back problems back to a game in 1974 playing for the Bruins against Washington State when he was undercut and broke two bones in his spine. Walton returned after only missing three games wearing a corset. The back injury lead to numerous foot injuries that marred his NBA career and cut his tenure down with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego Clippers and the Boston Celtics.
But for now Walton is back.
Mike Dunleavy Might Have To Sue Clippers Owner To Get Paid
Where's The Love
When the Clippers fired Mike Dunleavy as both coach and later general manager he had a remaining $5.4 million on his contract. To the surprise of absolutely no one who’s paid attention to Donald Sterling over the years you can expect Dunleavy to have to take him to court to receive it all.
Sterling the Clippers owner is balking at writing the check he owes Dunleavy after firing him in February. This isn’t the first time a coach removed by Sterling has had to seek payment paid in full in the justice courts. Both Bill Fitch and Bob Weiss had to go that route after being dismissed.
The Clippers actually sued Fitch after firing him, claiming he was content to take the team’s money without looking for another head coaching job quickly enough. Sterling’s deposition in the Fitch case stated Sterling claimed he had nothing to do with firing Fitch, had no role in drafting or signing players, and had no idea what a guaranteed contract was.
Best owner in all of major sports
ESPN/ABC Mark Jackson Calls Out Michael Clark Duncan
First of all, if your not familiar who Michael Clark Duncan is you might better know of him as John Coffey from “The Green Mile” or Atlas from the video game series “God of War II” and “God of III“.
Second ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson will find any way he can to make the Milwaukee Bucks versus the Los Angeles Clippers game entertaining. Jackson supposedly is good friends with Duncan and decided to air out his business in front of a national audience as his friend sat courtside. We had Andre Agassi say that Pete Sampras was a non tipper now we have Jackson saying Duncan doesn’t just not tip, he doesn’t even pay his dinner bills.
Pay your bill John Coffey
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Matt Bonner
Matt Bonner
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. The very first recipient of this prestigious honor goes to San Antonio Spurs forward/center Matt Bonner who has been simply BLAZIN.
Bonner has been playing with a high level of confidence as of late that it’s reflected in his team leading 41.7 shooting percentage from beyond the arch. Just in the last seven games Bonner is averaging 11.1 points off the bench, shooting 51.9 percent overall and 48.5 from 3-point range. In the Spurs victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, he was the team leading scorer with 21 points. Bonner made 8 of 9 field goals and went 5 of 6 on 3-pointers, it was his third 20 point game of the season.
Matt Bonner, keep up the great work and continue grinding you are the first ever Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Travis Outlaw
Grant Hill, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Reggie Evans Named NBA’s Dirtiest Player
Why Your Hand Down There The Ball Is By His Face
In a recent poll conducted by Sports Illustrated they asked 173 NBA players who they thought was the dirtiest player in the league was. According to the players it was Reggie Evans. Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman and Philadelphia 76ers Samuel Dalembert could not agree more. Here’s the rest of the list:
- Reggie Evans, Toronto Raptors (21%)
- Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers (13%)
- Andres Nocioni, Sacramento Kings (6%)
- Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers (5%)
- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (4%)
Interesting though that Washington Wizards Fabricio Oberto who leads the league in fouls per 48 minutes, averaging 9.1, did not receive a single vote.
Who do you think is the NBA’s dirtiest player?
Baron Davis Selling His Beard
It’s 2010 and if aren’t sporting a beard already I’ve gotta ask, what’s wrong with you?
Can’t grow one? Have no fear as because the illest don dada Baron Davis is here to help you step your game up. The don dada is hooking you up with a recession special by slashing the $5,000 price tag by practically giving it away for only $29.99 plus shipping and handling. Mark that down Kate.
Acting now and you’ll receive a free Deron Williams Texturizer kit too!
So where’s your beard at already?
WTF: Reggie Evans
Why Your Hand Down There The Ball Is By His Face
Seriously, Reggie Evans, you gay. This the second time you’ve tried to reach in and grab a pair of Spaldings.
First it was Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman when you where with the Denver Nuggets and now molesting Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers.
You gay.
Baron Davis Stars In “The Forgotten”
Baron Davis starred in ABC drama The Forgotten last night with Christan Slater aka Slater Mac. Davis did a pretty good job but seeing how it he already plays on a forgotten NBA team he probably was well suited for the role.
WTF: San Antonio Express-News
I'm sorry how many major sport franchises do we have here?
First let me start off by saying once again that I love my city of San Antonio all that comes with it. I love the city so much that at times I act as if the negative doesn’t even exist but over the weekend I ran into a problem with the San Antonio Express-News.
On Saturday the San Antonio Spurs played the Los Angeles Clippers, understandably comes with a later start time here in San Antonio. However as I mentioned on today’s show, I left before the game had finished and just awaited to read about the finish through the Sunday paper which I’m a subscriber of everyday to. But to my surprise when I went outside and grabbed my paper in the morning there was no recap or any score just a post listing it as LATE.
Now this subject would have been dead to me after today’s show but it wasn’t with a few listeners, who called me after and couldn’t believe the Express-News would skip out on covering it’s only real major sports team in town. That’s where I had to dig up the paper, good thing I recycle and care about my planet, and relive this beef.
The callers where right we are talking about an organization that has brought four NBA championships to this city and helped put San Antonio on the map at least in the sports world. I know there’s other ways to achieve this information and I am an Internet rat but when you spend $237.60 yearly on what many call a dying business, you ask yourself is it necessary to continue to contribute to something that’s on life support?
This isn’t in anyway directed at Jeff McDonald but rather his employers. Those that make the decisions on how much coverage to give, when to holdup a deadline or whoever has the responsibility to run with the posting as LATE. I know what it feels like to work but not be there mentally and chalk it up as “just one of them days” but we are talking about the Spurs here not San Antonio Iguanas and when your asking $237.60 yearly from me, that’s unacceptable.
NBA Announces All-Star Reserves
February 14, 2010
The NBA is set to announce the All-Star reserves during tonight’s TNT games but Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski got a hold of a leaked list of the 2010 NBA All-Star reserves
Eastern Conference Reserves:
Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
Chris Bosh – Toronto Raptors
Gerald Wallace – Charlotte Bobcats
Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford – Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference Reserves:
Deron Williams – Utah Jazz
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
Zach Randolph – Memphis Grizzlies
Brandon Roy – Portland Blazers
It will be the All-Star debuts for seven players: Williams of Utah, Chicago’s Rose, Boston’s Rondo, Charlotte’s Wallace, Memphis Randolph, Atlanta’s Horford and Oklahoma City’s Durant.
Among the notable candidates left off the team are the Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman, New York Knicks David Lee and Denver Nuggets Chauncey Billups.
NBA Announces Rookie Challenge Participants
Rookie Challenge
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the reigning T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans, the leading scorer among first-year players, lead a list of 18 players selected for the 2010 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam to be held on Friday, Febuary 12 in Dallas during NBA All-Star 2010. San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair will also be making an appearance for the Rookie Team.
The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.
At halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, the Los Angeles Clippers Eric Gordon and the Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan will compete in the first NBA All-Star Slam Dunk-In, a single-round slam dunk competition. Fans will be able to vote via text message and at NBA.com to determine who will advance to the Sprite Slam Dunk the following night.
The Sophomore Team:
| Player (Team) | Position | Height | School |
| Michael Beasley (Heat) | F | 6-9 | Kansas State |
| Marc Gasol (Grizzlies) | C | 7-1 | Spain |
| Danilo Gallinari (Knicks) | G-F | 6-10 | Italy |
| Eric Gordon (Clippers) | G | 6-3 | Indiana |
| Brook Lopez (Nets) | C | 7-0 | Stanford |
| Kevin Love (Timberwolves) | F-C | 6-10 | UCLA |
| O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) | G | 6-4 | USC |
| Derrick Rose (Bulls) | G | 6-3 | Memphis |
| Russell Westbrook (Thunder) | G | 6-3 | UCLA |
The Rookie Team:
| Player (Team) | Position | Height | School |
| Omri Casspi (Kings) | F | 6-9 | Israel |
| DeJuan Blair (Spurs) | F-C | 6-7 | Pittsburgh |
| Stephen Curry (Warriors) | G | 6-3 | Davidson |
| Tyreke Evans (Kings) | G | 6-6 | Memphis |
| Jonny Flynn (Timberwolves) | G | 6-0 | Syracuse |
| Taj Gibson (Bulls) | F | 6-9 | USC |
| James Harden (Thunder) | G | 6-5 | Arizona State |
| Brandon Jennings (Bucks) | G | 6-1 | Lottomatica Roma Italy |
| Jonas Jerebko (Pistons) | F | 6-10 | Sweden |
BLOCK CITY: Your Victims-Caron Butler & Antawn Jamison
Marcus Camby, you have been charged with multiple crimes of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
NBA Announces Slam Dunk Partipants
Will It Be The Year Of The Little Man Again?
The NBA has announced it’s participants for its Slam Dunk contest on February 13, held during All-Star weekend this year at Jerry World’s. One notable absence is that of Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James.
Those who will participate are Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown, New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson and Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace. A fourth player will be determined through a “dunk-off” between Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon and Toronto Raptors forward DeMar DeRozan.
Robinson won the event last season and in 2006.
I care to see “TNT Legs” Brown win it but I’m going to put my money down on Wallace of Charlotte.
Blake Griffin Has Season Ending Surgery
Stay Off The Leg
The Los Angeles Clippers had told the world just recently that Blake Griffin was just weeks away from making his NBA rookie season debut, now it seems an injury that was reportedly only suppose to take six weeks will now cost him his entire season.
Griffin, the number one overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, will have surgery on his left knee and causing him to miss the rest of the ’09-10 season. After feeling some discomfort during his rehab in his pool sessions, he was examined by team doctors, who determined that his knee hasn’t recovered like they hoped.
The NBA said Griffin will retain his rookie of the year eligibility for the 2010-11 season because he did not appear in any regular-season games. Greg Oden of Portland had a similar situation when he was eligible for rookie of the year voting in 2008-09 after injuries forced the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft to sit out the entire ’07-08 season.
So does that make Griffin the next Greg Oden?
The Clippers have had two winning seasons in the last 30 years and just one playoff series victory since moving from San Diego in 1984.
Los Angeles Clippers Announcer Out On Bail For Felony Grand Theft Charges
That's Just Wrong
Los Angeles Clippers announcer Michael Smith is out on bail after pleading not guilty on grand theft charges of stealing of $735,000 from a golfing buddy in a development deal.
Smith, who was suspended one game in November by Fox Sports Prime Ticket network for inappropriate comments about Iranian-born Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi, and his business partner Bruce Furst were charged on December 21 with felony grand theft.
Orange County district attorney’s spokeswoman Farrah Emami says Smith posted $25,000 bond today and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for Febuary 5.
According to prosecutors, Smith persuaded his friend, a retired school teacher with an inoperable brain tumor, to put up his paid-off Dana Point home in January 2008 as collateral for a $735,000 loan, so Smith and Furst could develop land in Dana Point. Prosecutors said the pair lied and said the loan was safe and would be 100 percent guaranteed. They also failed to deliver as promised the $7,200 monthly mortgage payment the victim now must make on his house. The victim is expected to lose his home.
Smith and Furst face up to five years in prison if convicted. Furst posted bail Monday
A Game Winner & It’s Not Kobe
I like most of the NBA world hear the term game winner and instantly think of Kobe Bryant, hey that’s because he is a winner, but last night we got to see Los Angeles Clippers Baron Davis knock down a jumper to end the Boston Celtics nine-game winning streak 92-90.
How about the announcer using the cross reference of Redskins offense coordinator Sherm Lewis into the game winner…..BINGO
It’s Over!!! The New Jersey Nets Finally Post Their 1st Win
Still Hold The Record For Worst Start
The streak is over and Kiki is the hero. Finally is what every NBA fan is thinking as the New Jersey Nets got to experience what a win exactly feels like.
The Nets won for the first time this season and their first win since April 13, ending the worst start in NBA history at 18 losses by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 97-91.
Brook Lopez and Courtney Lee where the stars as Lopez had 31 points and 14 rebounds and Lee scored a career-high 27 points in his return to the starting lineup for the Nets in their first game under Kiki Vandeweghe, their general manager who will coach the rest of the season.
Vandeweghe was given the position Tuesday, two days after the Nets fired Lawrence Frank. Assistant Tom Barrise guided the team for the previous two losses so Vandeweghe could bask in the glory when the team had one of it’s best chances to turn the page.
But they still are the Nets and gaffes still occur in East Rutherford as Vandeweghe first coaching decision was to inset Lee for Trenton Hassell in the starting lineup. Apparently though nobody told the personal announcer as he announced Hassell doing starting lineup introductions.
The game included some eire side notes as the Nets last victory was in April and against the Bobcats. In addition Bobcats coach Larry Brown once coached the Nets in 1981-82 and ’82-’83. Brown also coached Vandeweghe for a year at UCLA and again for the Los Angeles Clippers at the end of his pro career.
The krispy kreme is finally no more but let’s not forget the history still holds this New Jersey Nets team photo as the worst to ever start an NBA season,0-18.
Lawrence Frank Denied His Shot At History
13-0 To 0-16
The NBA has fired it’s second head coach prior to reaching the 20 game mark, that’s a coach every ten games. The New Jersey Nets was the latest team after the denied coach Lawrence Frank a chance to make history. The Nets went ahead and achieved it without the coach that lead them to zero wins in their first 16 games.
The undermanned, under-talented Nets matched the worst start to an NBA season with their 106-87 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Nets 0-17 start matched the 1988-89 Miami Heat and the 1999 Los Angeles Clippers.
Frank was setup to fail in 2009 after management decided not to touch the roster or spend a dime after draft night, who closes out on this team? Management went publicly and said wins didn’t matter cause he was playing with a wounded squad and now wins matter.
Frank took over for Byron Scott, his friend and boss, when Scott was fired in early 2004. The Nets proceeded to go 13-0, setting a NBA record for most consecutive wins by a head coach to begin a coaching career. He finished with a regular season record of 225-241 and in the playoff he was 18-20.
Tom Barrise took over for Frank and has served as his assistant since the start of his tenure in early 2004, could be just a one-game replacement as it’s rumored Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe could be Frank’s replacement for the rest of the season.
When will Rod Thorn have to answer for his legacy and I’m not talking about the lucky legacy of getting Michael Jordan?
