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?
NBA Player Mocks LeBron James “Decision”
Will you remember where you were on August 5th, the day NBA free agent Anthony Tolliver let the world know where he was taking his talents? The former San Antonio Spur and veteran of 65 NBA games mocks LeBron James infamous ESPN special with “The Decision: Part Deux!”
Where will Tolliver take his talents?
Minnesota Timberwolves President Says Michael Beasley Smoked Too Much Marijuana
Do We Have A Problem
The Minnesota Timberwolves on July 9 traded for forward Michael Beasley but team president David Kahn said on July 22 that Beasley “smoked too much marijuana” with the Miami Heat. Kahn has since been fined $50,000 by the NBA for those comments.
Minnesota traded two future second-round picks for Beasley. In 2008, he was fined $50,000 by the NBA for an incident involving marijuana and players Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur. But then again you do have the NBA commissioner David “The Goon” Stern on record saying that it’s not hidden secret that his players smoke marijuana.
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
Another Former NBA Player Files For Bankruptcy
Thank You Tim Duncan
Antoine Walker, the three-time NBA All-Star who made about $110 million during his 13-year career playing for Boston Celtics,Dallas Mavericks,Atlanta Hawks,Miami Heat,Minnesota Timberwolves,and Memphis Grizzlies has filed for bankruptcy.
Walker worked out a payment plan last year with Las Vegas casinos after he was arrested for writing $1 million in bad checks. But he since was hit with a $2.3 million foreclosure lawsuit on a Chicago-area property he purchased for his mother.
Walker, 33, lists liabilities of $12.74 million and assets of $4.28 million in his filing. The assets include his 2006 NBA championship ring, valued at $6,000. The petition also lists nearly $650,000 in gambling losses in 2008-09.
Minnesota Timberwolves Create Special Lucky Charms For NBA Draft Lottery
Magically Atrocious
Tonight at 6:30 PM CST, the NBA Draft Lottery will take place. At this point, all teams can hope for is a little luck in landing the No. 1 pick overall. The Minnesota Timberwolves on the other hand have created a special edition box of Lucky Charms in trying to change their luck around.
The Timberwolves fortunes in the NBA Draft Lottery have been that of anything but lucky, back in 1992 the franchise should have landed Shaquille O’Neal due to record instead had to settle for Christian Laettner. In the Timberwolves 12 previous lottery appearances, they have remained in the same draft position six times and fallen six times. Minnesota has never moved up in the draft through the lottery.
After attempting several unconventional methods to assure themselves some lottery luck in year’s past and failing miserably, the Timberwolves decided to have Minnesota-based company General Mills come up with a custom-designed Timberwolves themed box of Lucky Charms. The box even has all past lottery picks are clearly printed on the back of the box, which one has to ask is that really worth printing?
Mascot Crunch is sporting a top hat and a green jersey, which makes him infinitely more lucky.
Former NBA Player Kendall Gill Returns To Boxing Ring
Who Wrestles In Tims?
Very few people outside of Illinois ties will find this news interesting but former Charlotte Hornets,Seattle SuperSonics,New Jersey Nets,Miami Heat,Minnesota Timberwolves,Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks Kendall Gill will be making a return to the boxing ring tonight.
Gill, 41, who’s currently a Comcast Sportsnet basketball analyst will look to improve upon his prefect 3-0 record when he fights at the Chicago’s UIC Pavilion against Miles Kelly, 1-1-0 in a scheduled four round heavyweight bout.
He also has a video crew following him around as he trains for the fight for an upcoming show entitled “Inside the Ropes.” Gill has two knockouts in his boxing career but hasn’t fought since 2005.
Jose Canseco is impressed.
Top Dunks Of The 2009-2010 NBA Season
The NBA regular season has come to an end and NBA productions put together their top 10 dunks of the season. A majority of these million dollar moments could be found right here on sportsgrindent.com throughout the season except for that Ryan Hollins moment and I want to apologize to Hollins and his family for that mistake. That was pretty.
Former NBA Player Arrested For Abducting Son
Your Breaking Rudy J's Heart
Back on April 10, we posted the story of former Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and 1994 Slam Dunk Contest winner Isaiah Rider being arrested after three incidents in five days. Now you can add a fourth arrest to his record just in the month of April alone, this time for abducting his one-month-old son.
Police ended the manhunt for the ex-NBA player in Mesa, Arizona. Rider took his son on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and was finally found in a cab a little after 1 a.m. Wednesday. What’s up with this guy and cabs?
Isaiah Rider IV, was unharmed and in good health and returned to his mother while Rider Jr. was taken to police headquarters. Mesa Police Department spokesperson Michael Melendez said Rider Jr. is a known drug addict who can be violent and would likely run if confronted by police. When the police department places that label upon you, you know your life is spiraling out of control.
Former NBA Player Arrested For Assaulting Fiancee
Your Breaking Rudy J's Heart
Police arrested former Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and 1994 Slam Dunk Contest winner Isaiah Rider after he assaulted his fiancee and refused to pay a cab driver for a fare. Rider was arrested after three incidents in five days.
Police say the first incident happened Sunday after Rider allegedly pulled his fiancee out of her vehicle and threw her to the ground during an argument. Rider then took a cab ride from Mesa to Phoenix and back to Mesa and when he arrived at his apartment complex he told the driver he needed to run inside to get his wallet to pay the $150 fare however he never returned.
Police then put J.R. under surveillance and was caught driving erratically from his house. When the officer tried to pull Rider over, he drove into a neighborhood, jumped out and tried to run away. The police on the scene found three children in the back of the Escalade.
In 2006 he was arrested in California on charges of kidnapping a female acquaintance and had an outstanding warrant for resisting arrest.
In 1997 he was convicted of marijuana possession and in 1994 he spent two days in jail for failing to complete community service after kicking a woman in the back at an autograph signing.
San Antonio Spurs Fan Appreciation Night: Monday, April 12 vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
The Spurs are headed to the Playoffs, but before the post season tips-off, the Spurs want to honor their loyal fans with a night of prizes, fun and thanks during Fan Appreciation Night on Monday, April 12 vs. Minnesota.
Every fan is part of the Spurs Family, and every fan will go home with a prize of gratitude with over 28,000 prizes distributed throughout the night. Highlights will include 13 lucky fans winning autographed shoes personally delivered by the Spurs players to one lucky fan winning a brand new motorcycle, courtesy of Rinco of Texas.
Among the 28,000 prizes given away during Fan Appreciation Night are Southwest Airlines vouchers, H-E-B gift cards, Silver Stars tickets, Sea World passes, free food courtesy of Levy, Spurs duffel bags courtesy of AT&T, a Wyndham vacation and a prize for everyone courtesy of Whataburger.
Don Nelson Becomes NBA All-Time Winningest Coach
1,333
Golden State Warriors Don Nelson is now your NBA’s most winningest coach with a 116-107 win last night over the Minnesota Timberwolves, passing Lenny Wilkens.
Nelson can extend the number of wins since he has every intention on finishing out the one year left on his contract at $6 million remaining. Nelson has zero number of NBA titles he has as a coach, perhaps the glaring reason he has been passed over by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame three times.
In 31 seasons on the bench, Nelson is 1,333-1,061 in a career that has made stops in Milwaukee, Golden State (twice), New York and Dallas. He won five titles as a player, has been named coach of the year three times. Nelson got his first head coaching job with Milwaukee in 1976 when he replaced Larry Costello 19 games into the season and didn’t even have an assistant.
Through it all, Nelson has always done it his way. He’s clashed with players, management and ownership at various stops along the way and is the only coach with at least 1,000 career victories who has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Nelson has built a reputation as a “mad scientist,” experimenting with lineups and offensive sets to cater to teams that were not always the biggest, strongest or most talented. In his first stint with Golden State in the late 1980s, he employed the famous “Run T-M-C” lineup of guards Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin to make the Warriors one of the more entertaining teams in the league. And now “Nelly Ball” has its own place in history.
This has been a long season for the Warriors (24-54), who have been ravaged by injuries and are a lock to finish with their fewest wins since 2001-02. The Warriors played their sixth straight game without Monta Ellis (flu) and also were again without Anthony Randolph (ankle) and Kelenna Azubuike (knee) Andris Biedrins (sports hernia) and Brandan Wright (shoulder) have missed big chunks of time this season too. The Warriors have called up five players from the Development League this season, which is tied with the 2007-08 Spurs for the most in one season.
Rookie Stephen Curry last night scored 27 points and dished out 14 assists and finished just two rebounds and three steals from a quadruple-double while the other hero in helping Nelson achieve the honor was last night was Anthony Tolliver. He led Golden State with a career-high 34 points and has been averaging 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds since being signed back in January.
- NBA ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES
- Don Nelson 1,333
- Lenny Wilkens 1,332
- Pat Riley 1,210
- Jerry Sloan 1,188
- Phil Jackson 1,095
Robin Lopez Forever Linked To Corey Brewer
Not to many times a player is going to having two million dollar moments in one NBA season but that’s not the case for Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Corey Brewer. His first million dollar moment came back on December 11 against Los Angeles Lakers Derek Fisher but last night in Phoenix he stole the soul of Suns seven footer Robin Lopez with this dunk.
Kevin Love Stuffs NBA Jam Ballot Box For Kevin Love
Excited?
NBA Jam officials are excited on their decision to return franchise later this year to the Nintendo Wii and NBA players are no different in this regard. Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love expressed his love for the game so much that he went online to stuff the ballots for his inclusion,
“I went online and kept refreshing my computer and voting myself into ‘Jam,’ I’m not going to lie,” said Love. “‘NBA Jam’ was my favorite game growing up, so I was on there all day voting for myself. I used to play as Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton or Karl Malone and John Stockton. I never even imagined that I could be in ‘Jam.’ I just want to get that team fire, get that blue ball … it’s going to be cool.”
Other players like Carmelo Anthony said he used to always use the New York Knicks with John Starks and Patrick Ewing. Anthony also can’t wait to see himself in the game saying that he’s not a high flyer, but they’ll have to have the ball on fire when he shoots.
To Golden State Warriors rookie Stephen Curry, just the mention of “NBA Jam” brings back special memories of playing as his sharpshooting dad, Dell, in the game. “I remember in ‘NBA Jam’ and ‘NBA Live 95,’ those were the two games where my dad just couldn’t miss.”
LeBron James Fined $25,000 For Launching Water Bottles Into Stands
Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President Basketball Operations, has slapped $25,00 fine on Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James kicking a water bottle during the Minnesota Timberwolves game.
The incident occurred with 12.4 seconds remaining in the first quarter of Cleveland’s 109-95 victory over the Timberwolves at Quicken Loans Arena and from the above video you can understand why. James launched the cups right into the faces of unsuspecting fans.
D-Fish Forever Linked To Corey Brewer
Los Angeles Lakers Derek Fisher has had his fair share of memorable moments, er 0.4, but that’s not the case for Minnesota Timberwolves Corey Brewer. That’s all changed now for Brewer as he’s gotten his million dollar moment. How do you rank the three million dollar moments we already had in the 2009-2010 NBA season?
My order:
- Heats Dwyane Wade over Cavaliers Anderson Varejao
- Timberwolves over Lakers Derek Fisher
- Nuggets Carmelo Anthony over Jazz’s Paul Milsap
NBA Attendance Only Down 2% Despite Economy
Est. 1946
It’s fairly earlier so don’t shoot the messenger but the numbers are out for early attendance in the NBA and despite the economy and the earliness of the season they are only down 2% from this point last year. Also the statistic is skewed by two teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies, who are drawing less than 70 percent.
The 76ers averaged 15,802 in 2008-’09, in five home games this season they’ve averaged 11,377, and are down more than 20 percent of capacity from last year. The Memphis Grizzlies ranked 29th in attendance last year only filling 70 percent of their arena are now only filling 66 percent, only outdrawing the 76ers. The Detroit Pistons have cause for concern, dropping from first in average attendance to 16th, falling 19.6 percent. The Spurs, a team retooled and trying to avenge their first round playoff exit rank 12th but are down 8%
Not all is doom and gloom as the Chicago Bulls are up over 100 percent of capacity after filling 97.7 percent of the United Center last season. The Cleveland Cavilers are in a similar boat, selling out each home game so far after drawing 97.3 percent last season. The Atlanta Hawks have seen significant gains, rising from 89.4 to 95.4 percent. Even the Minnesota Timberwolves fans are showing support no that Kevin McHale is ruining their team by filling their stadium by 8% more than last season.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal
Average attendances and percentage for each team:
| Rank | Team | Average Attendance | % (+/-) from year prior |
| 1 | Chicago | 21,111 | +3.3% |
| 2 | Cleveland | 20,562 | +2.7% |
| 3 | Portland | 20,350 | -.8% |
| 4 | Dallas | 19,823 | -1.4% |
| 5 | New York | 19,625 | +1.7% |
| 6 | Utah | 19,611 | -1.5% |
| 7 | LA Lakers | 18,997 | (no chg) |
| 8 | Boston | 18,624 | (no chg) |
| 9 | Toronto | 18,131 | -3.2% |
| 10 | Denver | 18,039 | +4.3% |
| 11 | Washington | 17,975 | +6.7% |
| 12 | San Antonio | 17,957 | -.8% |
| 13 | Oklahoma City | 17,882 | +.5% |
| 14 | Atlanta | 17,862 | +6% |
| 15 | Golden State | 17,827 | -5.7% |
| 16 | Detroit | 17,541 | -19.6% |
| 17 | Orlando | 17,541 | +2.4% |
| 18 | Miami | 17,421 | -4.1% |
| 19 | Houston | 17,130 | -2% |
| 20 | Phoenix | 16,771 | -9% |
| 21 | Minnesota | 16,088 | +8.2% |
| 22 | New Orleans | 15,156 | -10.5% |
| 23 | New Jersey | 14,919 | -1.4% |
| 24 | LA Clippers | 14,748 | -7.4% |
| 25 | Milwaukee | 14,636 | -4% |
| 26 | Charlotte | 14,633 | +.4% |
| 27 | Indiana | 14,439 | +1.4% |
| 28 | Sacramento | 12,422 | -.9% |
| 29 | Memphis | 12,095 | -3.5% |
| 30 | Philadelphia | 11,377 | -23.7% |
Delonte West Cited In Domestic Violence
Ride On Outlaw
The wife of real life version of Sons of Anarchy, Delonte West, has filed a domestic violence report against her husband. The report, filed with Cleveland police on Sunday, says that Kimberly West met with authorities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, where she had gone to fly to her father’s house in New Jersey cause Delonte had accused her of cheating on him and grabbed her.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown says the team is aware of the report and is monitoring the situation. West has not appeared in any preseason games, and Brown has not decided whether West will be active for the season opener against Boston. West, who has been treated in the past for bipolar disorder, twice left the team during training camp for personal reasons. He was arrested last month for carrying three loaded guns while riding his motorcycle.
According to league sources, due the mental uncertainty of West, the Cavaliers are close to signing free agent guard Antonio Daniels. He was waived last week by the Minnesota Timberwolves following a contract buyout. Daniels averaged 4.1 points, 4.2 assists and shot 42 percent with the Wizards and Hornets last season.
Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Former Spur
1998-2002
The Minnesota Timberwolves took another step to add depth at the guard position once it was clear Ricky Rubio would stay in Spain. Coming down to the eleven hour it looks as if the Milwaukee Bucks are not going to match the offer sheet made on Ramon Sessions but just in case the Timberwolves took extra precautionary measures. They completed a trade with the New Orleans Hornets that sends former San Antonio Spur Antonio Daniels to the Wolves and forward Darius Songaila and guard Bobby Brown to the Hornets. The trade also sends a 2014 second-round pick to Minnesota.
The Wolves David Kahn’s activity in his short amount of time is a stark contrast from former general manager Kevin McHale who spent most of the off season fishing in the land of 10,000 lakes.
“Antonio has the ability to play both guard positions and will provide a veteran presence and added flexibility to our back court,” said Kahn, the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations.
The financial components of the deal favor Minnesota, with the Wolves shedding their $4.8 million salary obligation to Songaila in 2010-11 to create an estimated $13 million in salary-cap space for the summer of 2010.
Songaila entering his seventh season out of Wake Forest, should nonetheless be a useful addition to the Hornets’ new-look front court rotation additions of Emeka Okafor and Ike Diogu.
A deal that won’t grab the headlines but does make each club better.
No Rubio, No Problem
He Got Game
To the true NBA junkie Ramon Sessions is already a household name because he has game to the casual fan they probably don’t know he even plays in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves do and proceeded to move forward with their plans for next year after Ricky Rubio showed them the curb. The Timberwolves signed restricted free agent point guard Ramon Sessions of the Milwaukee Bucks to an offer sheet. The Bucks have seven days to match the offer. Sessions averaged 12.4 points per game and 5.7 assists for the Bucks last season.
The kid can play.
“The Journey” Documentary From Former Spur
I'm on my Grind
Former San Antonio Spurs Devin Green has a documentary The Journey chronicling his grind as he prepares for summer league with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Devin has played with such NBA teams as the Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat with each team ending up releasing Green. That’s not stopped him from achieving his dream of playing consistently in the NBA. Green now has a shot at making the Timberwolves roster and this past summer his life and shot where all taped to document his journey back into the NBA. Here’s the trailer,
Four Times The Charm For Quentin Richardson??
Those Where The Days
Open letter to Q….
Quentin Richardson remember when you where good, I know it seems so long ago but those days at DePaul University was to carry over into the NBA. You where off to such a good start in Clippers land, tapping your head and in a good rhythm on the court with your homeboy Darius Miles. What happened? Sure you can score but the question is got to be raised that as many times as you’ve been traded how come no winning organization has inquired about you.
It happened to you again as you found out you’ve been traded for the fourth time this off-season. Your wild summer tour of the NBA continued Thursday night, when you where traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Miami Heat for center Mark Blount. You’ve now been traded four times in less than two months: to Memphis on draft night, then to the Los Angeles Clippers, then to Minnesota and now to Miami. Glad to see though you will compensated for your travel as your due to earn about $9 million this season.
Kurt Rambis To Get His Shot To Prove He Will Fail
Clark Kent?
Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis has waited a long time to become a head coach in the NBA. Rambis has been trying to get a head coaching gig since 1998. According to Don Seeholzer of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press,. the annual salary ($2 million) isn’t much more than the Sacramento Kings offered and he passed on. But Rambis apparently has the security of four years.That means $8 million guaranteed, versus the $3 million the Kings had been ready to offer.
Rambis inherits a bad team that’s better than most bad teams. Or, it’s a talented if unbalanced roster. The team’s two best players are power forwards, and neither has any hope of defending legit centers. Meanwhile, the team’s new GM David Kahn drafted two point guards among the first six picks last June. One is still in Spain deciding whether to jump the pond, and the other makes up the entirety of the team’s depth chart at the position following trades.
So, Rambis has his hands full. The Rubio situation will be trying, regardless of the immediate outcome. Kahn hasn’t proven he has a plan; if he does not have a plan to seriously upgrade the shooting guard and small forward positions, the team could die on the vine. Rambis can only do so much with this roster, and the top priority should be finding a way to maximize the talents of Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, whether they play together more, or exist solely as a platoon.
