New York Knicks Sign Knicks Sign Patrick Ewing Jr
Coming Home
Patrick Ewing Jr. is back with the team where his father became famous. The New York Knicks signed the Georgetown star but terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ewing was the 43rd pick of the 2008 draft by Sacramento Kings but wound up with the Knicks through a series of moves. He spent the 2008-09 season in the NBA Development League but missed all of last season because of injuries.
The six-foot-eight forward averaged 4.8 points in four games for the Knicks’ summer league team. Ewing’s father played 15 seasons for the Knicks before finishing his career with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Orlando Magic.
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.
2010 NBA Finals Most Viewed Since 2001
Est. 1946
ABC averaged a 10.6 rating and 18.1 million viewers for the 2010 NBA Finals, up 26% in ratings and viewership from Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic last year (8.4, 14.3 mil, five games), up 14% and 21% from Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 (9.3, 14.9 mil, six games), and up 71% and 95% from San Antonio Spurs/Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 (6.2, 9.3 mil, four games).
This marks the most-viewed NBA Finals since Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers on NBC in 2001 (19.0 mil), and the second most-viewed since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz in 1998 (29.0 mil), Michael Jordan’s last NBA Finals.
This is only the second time since 1998 that the NBA Finals has averaged at least 18 million viewers. This only the second time in the past eight years that the NBA Finals has averaged a double-digit rating.
Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics outdrew the last two seven-game NBA Finals San Antonio Spurs/Detroit Pistons in 2005 (12.5 mil) and Houston Rockets/New York Knicks in 1994 (17.3 mil).
Of the 15 NBA Finals since 1990 that did not involve Jordan and the Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics is the third-most viewed, behind the Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers series in 2001 (19.0 mil) and Houston Rockets/Orlando Magic in 1995 (20.1 mil).
However the Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics ranks as the fifth-lowest rated NBA Finals to involve the Los Angeles Lakers in the past thirty years (15 series). It’s ahead of only Los Angeles Lakers/New Jersey Nets in 2002 (10.2), Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics in 2008 (9.3), Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic in 2009 (8.4) and Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers in 1980 (8.0).
For perspective, the 2010 NBA Finals finished behind the 2009 World Series, which averaged an 14.7 rating and 23.4 million viewers for six games.
The final game of the 2010 NBA Finals saw its largest audience and it was its largest for an NBA game since the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
The Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 win over the Celtics drew a 15.6/27 final rating and 28.2 million viewers on ABC.
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game on any network since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz Game 6 in 1998, topping the previous highs of 14.7 Indiana Pacers/Los Angeles Lakers Game 6 in 2000 and 23.8 million viewers Los Angeles Lakers/Sacramento Kings Game 7 in 2002.
Additionally, this is easily the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game ever on ABC, topping the previous high of 13.8 and 21.8 million viewers for Los Angeles Lakers/Detroit Pistons Game 5 in 2004. This is the first time since that 2004 series that any NBA game has surpassed 20 million viewers.
Despite the big numbers Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers finished behind previous Game 7s in the NBA Finals. New York Knicks/Houston Rockets Game 7 drew a 17.9 on NBC in 1994, Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 drew a 21.2 on CBS in 1988, and Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 7 drew a 19.3 rating on CBS in 1984.
Former NBA Player Named Serbian Olympic President
He Blew
Former Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings Vlade Divac and Serbian basketball great has become the country’s Olympic committee president.
Divac won several medals with the former Yugoslavia in international competition and also enjoyed a 16-year NBA career that he officially finished in 2007. He won gold medals at the FIBA World Championships in Argentina in 1990 and 12 years later in Indianapolis.
“Sport has built me as a man and taught me not just to compete, but to lead the team as well,” Divac said. “I’m ready to be animated and to motivate every single member of our society to contribute to the promotion of sport.”
The only good Divac ever served on an American court was being traded to the Charlotte for the draft rights to Laker great Kobe Bryant in 1996.
New Orleans Saints Jeremy Shockey Looks For Love In All The Wrong Places
That's What Dogs Do
New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is taking advantage of his Super Bowl win by seeking out online love.
Shockey posted a Facebook and Twitter note that he looking for female fans to send him videos of why they “deserve” to date the Super Bowl champion.
Ok LADIES heres the contest.. Post a video on the “just fans” section of my fbk fan page explaining why u deserve to have me take u on a date 1 nite this offseason… Contest ends sun night 4/18 at 8pm est… Lets have fun w this so be creative but just be careful its not too inappropriate where fbk deletes it!! good luck!!!
Shockey should go the eHarmony route like Sacramento Kings rookie Tyreke Evans.
Sacramento Kings Tyreke Evans In eHarmony
Sacramento Kings Tyreke Evans is producing rookie averages of 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assist per game.
But more importantly he is producing huge man crushes along the way.
Chicago Bulls Jerome James Doesn’t Like To Play Or Pay
Look How Proud He Is In His Garbage Bag
Chicago Bulls center Jerome James, who once was cut by the Sacramento Kings and given a trash bag to clean out his locker, has decided paying his bills does not apply to him.
James, who is in the final year of $30 million, is skipping out on paying off a 6.91 carat diamond engagement ring and the jeweler has filed a civil suit against the NBA player. Lemmerman’s Inc. claims James bought a $70,000 engagement ring in 2008. The jeweler claims Jerome paid $40,000 up front and promised to pay the balance. However James who hasn’t played one single minute for the Bulls this season also hasn’t made a payment since January 2009.
And there’s more according to the docs, Lemmerman’s maintained a credit account for James who racked up a grand total of $96,000 in bling-related purchases.
Someone should have reminded Lemmerman’s that James once wore a garbage bag as a Superman cape in front of 25,000 fans. I mean who trusts a man that sports a garbage bag as a fashion statement?
Denver Nuggets Kenyon Martin Threatens To Boycott Playoffs Cause Of Joke
Is That Chris Anderson Lips?
Denver Nuggets Kenyon Martin has a sort fuse when it comes to practical jokes being played on the NBA superstar.
During the Denver’s victory on Thursday former Nuggets ball boy, Laquan Johnson who is now J.R. Smith driver, got into the club’s locker room, took Martin’s car keys and filled the player’s Range Rover with buttered popcorn. Angered, he went back to the locker room spewing profanities and threats at teammates and other members of the organization.
“That ain’t no fucking joke,” Martin said. “I’m going to find out who did it … put my fucking hands on one of y’all. I’m going to put my hands on whoever did it. You better believe that. It’s fucking personal. You better believe it.”
Martin who has missed 15 games with a torn patella tendon in his left knee, even went as far as to threaten to boycott the playoffs if somebody didn’t step forward to claim the failed prank. Eventually Johnson came forward and Martin and the Nuggets are said to be okay.
Apparently Martin sense humor doesn’t match that of Sacramento Kings Spencer Hawes who had the same prank pulled on him by teammate Jason Thompson and his Escalade but had the whole event and reaction video taped for all of YouTube to see.
Overreact much? I can say that since my my bank account doesn’t see deposits of $15.3 million this year or $16.5 next year.
New Jersey Nets Give Away Brown Bags
1,016
A game after Nets CEO Brett Yormark laced into a fan sitting at courtside wearing a brown paper bag over his head, the team used the incident for another team promotion.
Every fan who was in attendance at last nights 93-79 win over the Sacremento Kings with a brown bag had it swapped for a Nets bag filled with team goodies.
Inside each nylon Nets bags was a poster, a set of trading cards and a greeting card that read “Thanks for letting us see your face. We hope to see you more often at Nets games, regards CEO Brett Yormark.”
The bag included his email, so fans can offer constructive criticism.
“What happened, happened,” Yormark said before last night’s game. “I didn’t agree with how the fan expressed his point of view of our franchise. I consider myself one of the most accessible CEOs in this market, I email anyone that emails me, I return every phone call from fans. If someone has a point of view of our franchise that’s constructive, call me, email me. I’m here; I’m accessible.
“We didn’t need to stoop to that level . . . having someone come out and hide behind a brown bag, but it happened. I’ve invited the gentleman — we’re trying to coordinate a bag lunch in my office next week where we sit down and talk constructively about it and we might even [stream] it live so the fans can hear a nice, constructive conversation on the state of the team, the direction we’re going.
“We think we have a great future ahead, and I certainly want to express that to this particular individual. He was here on free tickets, OK, which made it even worse, because when you come into someone’s home for dinner, you don’t insult them, and I took that as an insult. But, that being said we move on. We’ll have a little fun tonight with the fans, and that’s it.”
The Nets had 10,068 to recieve the promotion humor bag and see the Nets 8th victory. At 8-63 they still need to win twice to avoid the Philadelphia 76ers’ dubious mark of 9-73 for the worst in NBA history.
San Antonio Spurs Sign Garrett Temple
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Garrett Temple from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract. Temple is the 23rd call-up of the 2009-10 D-League season.
The 6-6, 190-pound Temple has seen time this season with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston on 9/22, he averaged 2.5 points and 0.3 assists in four preseason games with the Rockets before being waived on 10/21. Temple was allocated to Rio Grande Valley on 11/4 and averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30 games with the Vipers. He signed his first of two 10-day contracts with Houston on 2/8. In nine games with the Rockets he averaged 5.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. On 3/3 Temple signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento. He averaged 2.2 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.6 minutes with the Kings.
Temple averaged 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists over his four seasons at LSU. He left school as the Tigers all-time leader in games played (134), starts (131) and minutes played (4,432). Temple also ranked fourth in career assists (482), seventh in steals (191) and fourth in blocks (113) in school history.
Temple will wear uniform #2.
San Antonio Spurs Top 9 Worst Injuries Of All Time
1996-97: The Gift & The Curse
The latest injury to San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, a broken the fourth metacarpal in his shooting hand, has cost him the rest of the regular season in a year that has already plagued him with plantar fasciitis, spraining both ankles, a strained hip flexor and food poisoning.
With the Spurs currently hanging onto the Western Conference seventh seed that already has many questioning their chances in the playoffs and with this latest injury it will sure cast a greater shadow of doubt. While injuries are part of the game, what have been the 9 most damaging to the Spurs franchise? Why 9? In honor of Tony.
- 9. Tony Parker 2009-10 season
Parker an NBA Finals MVP season looked shaky from the start when he suffered his first injury in a year that was filled with many. While playing overseas in the off-season for France against Hungary in Eurobasketball Parker turned his ankle. The bug was cast before the season even started but stayed with him until March 6 in Memphis, where his regular season came to end. Parker sat out numerous games in the year to a variety of injuries: plantar fasciitis, a strained hip flexor, spraining both ankles and food poisoning.
- 8. James Silas 1976-76 season
Possibly one of the best Spurs of all-time that the NBA never had a chance to see at his peak. In the last season ABA before the merger Captain Late broke his ankle by landing on the foot of New Jersey Nets guard Brian Taylor in the ABA Finals. Recovered and ready for the Spurs first season in the NBA he suffered a cartilage tear in his knee restricting him to play in only 22 games for a Spurs team that was poised to contend. Silas played only 37 games the following season and was out of the league in four years.
- 7. Manu Ginobili 2008-09 season
One of the greatest to put on a Spurs jersey was injured in the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics. The injury carried through to the NBA season and limited him to appear only in 44 regular season games and missed the entire playoffs. San Antonio went in as the third seed with a 54–28 record but was eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round 4–1 the earliest exit since 2000.
- 6. Johnny Dawkins 1988-89 season
Originally drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft the former Duke all time leading scorer and Naismith College Player of the Year was suppose to be the point guard of the future for the Spurs and coach Larry Brown. Durring the 88-89 season he started to suffer from a nerve injury in his left leg and foot that allowed him to only see action in 32 games. The nerve injury in his leg would eventually force him to retire from the game.
- 5. Terry Cummings 1992-93 season
In a season in which the Spurs improved on its record and advanced out of the first round they did so with limited minutes from one of their best scorers in Cummings. In the off-season Cummings tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a pickup game that forced him to miss the first 74 regular season games. Upon his return, he could no longer put up All-Star numbers he was accustomed and from then on was used in a role much like a reserve.
- 4. Derek Anderson 2000-01 season
Anderson was a vital part in the Spurs plans of providing outside help to Tim Duncan and David Robinson averaging 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game on the wing. The Spurs looked to be on their way to earining a second NBA championship in 3 years as the stars where lining up until Dallas Mavericks Juwan Howard drew a flagrant foul on Anderson. He separated his right shoulder when he drove for the basket and Howard swung his arm into Anderson’s side that caused him to land on his shoulder. He missed the rest of the Mavericks series and returned in the conference finals against the in limited minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers. Anderson and the Spurs where caught in a no win situation since it wasn’t adequate enough time for him to heal.
- 3. Tim Duncan 1999-2000 season
In the Spurs first chance at trying to repeat as champions after winning their first NBA championship, they entered the playoffs without Duncan. He was averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in a season that he had earned co-MVP with Shaquille O’Neal during the All-Star Game. However Duncan injured his meniscus shortly before the end of the regular season against the Sacramento Kings. The injury forced him to miss the playoffs and the Spurs saw them lose to the Phoenix Suns 3–1 in the first round. Without Duncan the Spurs relied on Malik Rose and Jerome Kersey to play alongside David Robinson but in the series they saw them go down as well with injuries.
- 2. Johnny Moore 1986-87 season
An assist man, who lead the league in that category in 1981-82, a steal man, an all around NBA player in his first five season with the Spurs. Moore often found the open man and wasn’t afraid to make the extra pass as he is one of only three players in teams history to record 20 assists during a game was hospitalized December 26,1986 with the devastating disease, Desert Fever. Doctors warned him that the disease could be fatal. Desert Fever luckily did not cost his life but ended up costing his basketball career as Moore lost three years of playing. He finally was able to return to the court to play in 53 games during 1989-90 season, which would be his last.
- 1. David Robinson 1996-97 season
The year that will be known as the gift and curse for the Spurs franchise. That season saw Robinson hurt his back in the preseason, an injury that would plagued him the rest of his career, limited him to 6 games before breaking a bone in his foot. He wound up missing the entire season and the Spurs finished 20-62. The curse is it cost the Spurs their best player in franchise history and their season but the gift came in the form of ping pong balls and the drafting of Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest University with the number one overall pick.
Is there a Spurs injury you believe that was missed to be of greater significant than these 9? Feel free to leave your feedback.
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?
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 |
A Game Winner & It’s Not Kobe
Naturally when I think of game winner I instantly think of Kobe Bryant, hey that’s because he is a winner, but last night we got to see Sacramento Kings Tyreke Evans knock down a jumper to beat the Denver Nuggets 102-100.
I’m not gonna mention any names but didn’t a small round body person on Sports Grind Entertainment proclaim Evans as the Rookie of the Year prior to the NBA season tip off?
Another Game Winner For KOBE!!!
This game on Friday and this highlight got lost in the whole New Years weekend shuffle so I apologize Kobe.
Sacramento Kings Scouting Director Banned For Betting On Games
Tyreke Evans For ROY
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! is reporting that the NBA has banned former Kings assistant scouting director Jack Mai revealed that Mai bet on NBA games, including ones involving the Kings.
Wojnarowski also reports the investigation began with accusations that Mai used his position to broker deals for NBA player appearances and for equipment with teams in China and Korea.
Mai has been disqualified from future employment with any NBA team.
More to come as future details emerge.
Dam Tim Donaghy.
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% |
Former Spur Ime Udoka Finds Another Job
Not A Hoopster
The Sacramento Kings seeking some defense help waived veteran small forward Desmond Mason a day after signing former San Antonio Spur Ime Udoka to a non-guaranteed minimum salary contract. After Udoka failed to take over playing time by the aging defensive beast Bruce Bowen, the Spurs let him go, and again was left team less for opening day after Portland waived the swing man at the end of the preseason.
Kings coach Paul Westphal elevated Andres Nocioni to the spot Wednesday but then Nocioni created another problem: by being arrested on suspicion of DUI in downtown Sacramento early Thursday morning. He can expect a compulsory two-game suspension by the NBA at some point in the future.
Udoka is a year younger than Mason, but the Kings boast a young roster, with three starters and five rotation players under the age of 23.
I promise unless Udoka resurfaces with the Spurs or nails a shot to win the NBA Finals, this will be the last Ime post.
The Goon Presents 83 Players From 36 Countries
Est. 1946
David “The Goon” Stern’s 2009-10 NBA season starts tomorrow night with 83 international players from 36 countries and territories on official rosters (active and inactive), matching the record of international players on opening night rosters (2006-07). Twenty-seven of the 30 teams have at least one international player. Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and the Los Angeles Clippers are the only teams without an international player.
The Milwaukee Bucks roster features the most international players with seven. The Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors each feature five international players. Omri Casspi (Israel) of the Sacramento Kings, Jonas Jerebko (Sweden) of the Detroit Pistons, and Hasheem Thabeet (Tanzania) of the Memphis Grizzlies are representing their countries for the first time on an NBA roster. France has the strongest representation with a record ten players.
At the end of the 2008-09 regular season, the NBA featured 77 international players from 33 countries and territories on team rosters (both active and inactive). In comparison, the NBA had 36 international players from 24 countries and territories in 1999-2000.
“Godfather” can try and take his game to London but when talking global the “The Goon” is got that talk on lock.
A Pair Of NBA Players Retire
Hoopster
Bobby Jackson is retiring from the NBA. The 12-year veteran guard, who spent six seasons with Sacramento, made the announcement Friday night before the Kings’ preseason finale against the Utah Jazz. The former University of Minnesota star Jackson averaged 9.7 points per game in his career. He was the league’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2002-03 with averages of 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
“It’s a tough day for me because I’m retiring from professionally playing the game I love,” he said. “But it’s also a happy day because I’m retiring on my own terms.”
Jackson said his role with the Kings hasn’t been defined, he plans to be involved in community efforts to sell tickets, occasional player development and perhaps scouting of some sort while absorbing all he can. Having said for years he wants to be a coach, Jackson has shifted his focus to front-office aspirations.
“I want to know what everybody’s job is, what they do, learn from the best,” he said. “Learn from (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie), learn from (vice president) Wayne (Cooper), learn from (assistant general manager) Jason (Levien), learn from (director of scouting) Scotty Stirling, (director of player personnel) Jerry Reynolds. You learn from all those (guys) because you never know what sort of position you’ll be in down the road.”
The guy could absolutely ball, bringing such a high energy off the bench and competing tirelessly on a consistent. I was a fan.
In related NBA news, Tyronn Lue has also decided to retire and join Doc Rivers and Boston Celtics staff as director of basketball development. He’ll be Rivers’ fifth assistant. Lue, averaged 8.5 points per game in 11 NBA seasons and most notably was involved in an Allen Iverson signature moment as he stepped over him in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals.
I was not a fan but thank you for the hilarious moment.
Exploding Balls In Kings Locker Room
Kiss The Baby On This Season
Francisco Garcia of the Sacramento Kings was recently injured over the weekend with a broken forearm and some ligament damage in his wrist that will sideline him at least four months while working out.
Garica, whose in the first year of his 5-year $29.6 million deal, injury occurred when he was lying on his back on an exercise ball doing dumbbell presses with 90-pound weights in each hand with the exercise ball popped, leaving Garica in a substantial amount of pain.
Garcia’s accident brought up comparisons to University of Florida basketball player Hudson Fricke who broke both of his wrists when his exercise ball popped during a workout.
Sacramento Mayor Worried They May Lose Kings
Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor
Mayor Kevin Johnson received some bad news when he recently learned that the Arco Arena is considered unsuitable to host a major college basketball tournament, and that has the mayor fearful the city could lose the Sacramento Kings if efforts for a new arena aren’t stepped up.
“If we don’t have a clear path to an arena in the not too distant future, then we as Sacramentans need to know that (the Kings) very well may look elsewhere,” Johnson said.
Mayor Johnson made his statements after finding out the NCAA had bypassed Sacramento’s bid to host the regional round of the men’s basketball tournament because of concerns over Arco’s conditions. Arco Arena has hosted the money-making event four times since 1994 and pumping $4 million dollars into the local economy as recent as 2007.
An emotional mayor said it was “staggering and mind-boggling” that Arco is no longer considered suitable for big-time college basketball. Johnson said he wants to see a proposal to build a new arena at Cal Expo soon.
If the city doesn’t start seriously considering alternate options for a new arena should the Cal Expo plan fall flat the threat of the Kings leaving town will become more real, according to the Mayor Johnson.
“I don’t have all the answers right now, but I will tell you this: When you look at Cal Expo as an option, the clock is ticking. I’ve got to be more aggressive, and I’ve got to move the time line up in terms of the arena. The timeline has to include an Option B, an Option C, and I haven’t quite determined what we’re going to do,” said the mayor.
There is a March 1 deadline that looms, that could have the NBA and Kings pulling the plug for that deadline is when NBA teams have to submit a relocation application to the league. League officials need to see that there is some kind of light at the end of tunnel in the city of Sacramento.
Johnson said ideas for a new arena has now moved up on his list of priorities.
