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It has taken Derrick Rose more than a year to recover from the physical effects of a torn ACL in his knee, but his mentality appears to be in midseason form. When asked by CNN's Pedro Pinto in an interview who the best player in the NBA is right now, the former MVP did not hesitate with his answer.
"Derrick Rose," the 24-year-old said confidently.
The fact that Rose responded that way won't surprise those close to him. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman both said recently that the star point guard is feeling great and is ready to start the season.
"There will be an adjustment period, but I'm not anticipating there being any problems," Thibodeau, in an interview with ESPNChicago-com last week during the Las Vegas Summer League, said of getting Rose back into the swing of things during the preseason. "His overall strength is terrific. He's put a lot of work into his body. I know he's anxious to get out there and play. He's played some pickup but not a lot, but he feels great, and that's the most important thing."
Thibodeau also noted that Rose likely would play the regular starters' minutes during the preseason. "We'll see once we get to training camp, and we're going to have an opportunity to get some work done in the fall, but we have to keep in mind he's been out an extended amount of time," Thibodeau said. "So the preseason -- and we look at training camp as the entire month, not just a week -- we'll move him along accordingly. We'll see what he can handle. I think there's going to be some rust initially, but I fully expect him to get back to [being] the player we all know that he is."
There's obviously no doubt in Rose's mind that he can return to being that player. Rose did acknowledge in the CNN interview that the toughest person to guard in the league is four-time MVP and two-time NBA champion LeBron James.
"I would have to say LeBron," Rose said. "A 6-foot-8 guy that's 250 [pounds]. What do you think?"
Derrick Rose of Chicago Bulls says he is best player in NBA - ESPN Chicago
"Derrick Rose," the 24-year-old said confidently.
The fact that Rose responded that way won't surprise those close to him. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman both said recently that the star point guard is feeling great and is ready to start the season.
"There will be an adjustment period, but I'm not anticipating there being any problems," Thibodeau, in an interview with ESPNChicago-com last week during the Las Vegas Summer League, said of getting Rose back into the swing of things during the preseason. "His overall strength is terrific. He's put a lot of work into his body. I know he's anxious to get out there and play. He's played some pickup but not a lot, but he feels great, and that's the most important thing."
Thibodeau also noted that Rose likely would play the regular starters' minutes during the preseason. "We'll see once we get to training camp, and we're going to have an opportunity to get some work done in the fall, but we have to keep in mind he's been out an extended amount of time," Thibodeau said. "So the preseason -- and we look at training camp as the entire month, not just a week -- we'll move him along accordingly. We'll see what he can handle. I think there's going to be some rust initially, but I fully expect him to get back to [being] the player we all know that he is."
There's obviously no doubt in Rose's mind that he can return to being that player. Rose did acknowledge in the CNN interview that the toughest person to guard in the league is four-time MVP and two-time NBA champion LeBron James.
"I would have to say LeBron," Rose said. "A 6-foot-8 guy that's 250 [pounds]. What do you think?"
Derrick Rose of Chicago Bulls says he is best player in NBA - ESPN Chicago
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Do-everything point guard Marcus Smart turned heads when he opted to stay for his sophomore season at Oklahoma State even though he was projected as an NBA lottery pick.
His coach, Travis Ford, thought Smart would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
Instead, he returned to Stillwater — making the Cowboys a top 25 team with Big 12 title and deep NCAA tournament run aspirations. With Smart getting a taste of playing against NBA-level talent as one of only two collegians in the USA Basketball minicamp, he noted that his upcoming sophomore campaign with Oklahoma State will be his last college basketball season, as many would have guessed.
"It's safe to say that if, by the grace of God, I'm healthy and everything, this will be my last year at Oklahoma State," Smart said Tuesday in Las Vegas to Yahoo! Sports. "Nothing will change my mind on that."
The 19-year-old Smart averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading the Cowboys to a 24-9 record, including a 13-5 finish in the Big 12. Oklahoma State was upset by 12th-seeded Oregon in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Smart, who piloted Team USA to a FIBA U-19 title at the World Championships as the starting point guard, said there won't be any hard feelings.
"(Oklahoma State) understands," he said. "They didn't figure I was coming back this year. They were just as surprised as everyone else."
Marcus Smart plans to declare for 2014 NBA draft
His coach, Travis Ford, thought Smart would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
Instead, he returned to Stillwater — making the Cowboys a top 25 team with Big 12 title and deep NCAA tournament run aspirations. With Smart getting a taste of playing against NBA-level talent as one of only two collegians in the USA Basketball minicamp, he noted that his upcoming sophomore campaign with Oklahoma State will be his last college basketball season, as many would have guessed.
"It's safe to say that if, by the grace of God, I'm healthy and everything, this will be my last year at Oklahoma State," Smart said Tuesday in Las Vegas to Yahoo! Sports. "Nothing will change my mind on that."
The 19-year-old Smart averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading the Cowboys to a 24-9 record, including a 13-5 finish in the Big 12. Oklahoma State was upset by 12th-seeded Oregon in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Smart, who piloted Team USA to a FIBA U-19 title at the World Championships as the starting point guard, said there won't be any hard feelings.
"(Oklahoma State) understands," he said. "They didn't figure I was coming back this year. They were just as surprised as everyone else."
Marcus Smart plans to declare for 2014 NBA draft
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Dallas Mavericks point guard Gal Mekel recently joined Kevin Arnovitz on True Hoop TV. Here are some highlights from the interview:
On what he needs to improve on to make a difference in Dallas:
“We made the huge journey, but the real work starts now of improving myself and putting my footprint in this league. The transition from the European game to the NBA game is first of all, physicality. It’s a different speed and power. I used to play a lot of pick and rolls in reading situations, which is great for this league with this league for this spacing. I feel I can bring my game even in a better way with this spacing. I need to get used to the 3-point line, which is a little bit further, and work on my 3-point shot. That’s about it. Basketball is basketball. It’s just a new place. Every time you come to a new place, you need to adjust and learn the system, the players and the atmosphere and that’s what I’m going to do.”
On how he landed on the radar of so many NBA teams:
“I think David Thorpe (trainer) had a big key in this journey. Last year, I took my time. I didn’t have a team. I waited for the right offer fro Europe after a season in Italy. I decided to come to the states to start workouts. My good friend told me about David Thorpe, and the rest is history. We started to work. We had a great month last year. Besides the fact that I think I got so much better, he made me dream big. When he told me he sees the potential and he sees that I can do it and make the NBA, it gives you a great feeling, and you start to believe. Our goal was to play somewhere and have a career season, and this what it was. I couldn’t ask for more from the last season, MVP, championship, great season. When you come with that kind of confidence after a great season and this guy is telling me you can do it, the sky is the limit.”
New Maverick Gal Mekel not worried about transition to the NBA: Basketball is basketball | Dallasnews-com - News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW
On what he needs to improve on to make a difference in Dallas:
“We made the huge journey, but the real work starts now of improving myself and putting my footprint in this league. The transition from the European game to the NBA game is first of all, physicality. It’s a different speed and power. I used to play a lot of pick and rolls in reading situations, which is great for this league with this league for this spacing. I feel I can bring my game even in a better way with this spacing. I need to get used to the 3-point line, which is a little bit further, and work on my 3-point shot. That’s about it. Basketball is basketball. It’s just a new place. Every time you come to a new place, you need to adjust and learn the system, the players and the atmosphere and that’s what I’m going to do.”
On how he landed on the radar of so many NBA teams:
“I think David Thorpe (trainer) had a big key in this journey. Last year, I took my time. I didn’t have a team. I waited for the right offer fro Europe after a season in Italy. I decided to come to the states to start workouts. My good friend told me about David Thorpe, and the rest is history. We started to work. We had a great month last year. Besides the fact that I think I got so much better, he made me dream big. When he told me he sees the potential and he sees that I can do it and make the NBA, it gives you a great feeling, and you start to believe. Our goal was to play somewhere and have a career season, and this what it was. I couldn’t ask for more from the last season, MVP, championship, great season. When you come with that kind of confidence after a great season and this guy is telling me you can do it, the sky is the limit.”
New Maverick Gal Mekel not worried about transition to the NBA: Basketball is basketball | Dallasnews-com - News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW
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Oscar ''Ossie'' Schectman, the former New York Knicks guard who scored the first basket in NBA history nearly seven decades ago, died Tuesday. He was 94. Schectman's son Peter confirmed his father's death, which was also announced by the Knicks. Peter Schectman said his father did not have a prolonged illness and succumbed after developing complications related to respiratory failure.
''Ossie Schectman was a true NBA pioneer,'' NBA Commissioner David Stern said, adding that scoring the league's first basket ''placed him permanently in the annals of NBA history.''
Schectman scored the opening basket of a game in what was then known as the BAA on Nov. 1, 1946 for the Knicks against the Toronto Huskies, a layup after cutting down the center of the lane. The Knicks wound up winning that game at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens 68-66, and Schectman went on to average 8.1 points that season, his only one with the franchise.
The significance of scoring the first points in league history was lost on Schectman and others for decades. In a telephone interview Tuesday, Peter Schectman said he wasn't aware of it until the league researched some of its points milestones in 1988, around the time Utah's Rickey Green scored point number 5,000,000 in league history.
''Growing up with him, I never heard him mention it,'' Peter Schectman said. ''He probably didn't concentrate on it. He was the captain of the team and the idea was to win ballgames. It wasn't discussed that much. He certainly never boasted about it, but when the time came up and it was brought into the light, it was thrilling for him.''
Born Oscar B. Schectman on March 30, 1919, he was a graduate of Long Island University, which added him to its list of Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients earlier this year. Schectman played under legendary coach Clair Bee for the school's undefeated NIT championship team in 1939. He was selected as a first-team Converse All-American in 1941, the school said.
Schectman was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 and was a central figure in the documentary ''The First Basket,'' detailing Jewish basketball history. He also had a long career in the garment industry after his basketball career was complete, then retired to Florida before returning to the New York area a few years ago. He remained a fan of the NBA throughout his life, his son said. ''All these wonderful things came out of it for him and he was fortunate to have the NBA and basketball,'' Peter Schectman said. ''And likewise, the NBA and basketball in general were fortunate to have him. So it was a marriage of sorts.''
Peter Schectman said his father particularly enjoyed regular gatherings that would draw up to 50 other former players in South Florida, their club holding events like weekly breakfasts and an annual dinner. According to STATS LLC, Schectman was the first of what now is 3,779 players to score at least one point in a NBA regular-season game.
Schectman is survived by two sons, their wives and their children. Schectman's wife Evelyn predeceased him in 2011 after a 70-year marriage, according to their son.
''He was 94 and he was very fortunate to have a great run,'' Peter Schectman said. ''He was very fortunate and very appreciative.''
The Knicks said that the oldest living former member of their franchise is now Dick Shrider, who appeared in four games for the club in the 1948-49 season. Shrider is 90.
'Ossie' Schectman dies, scored NBA's first basket - NBA News | FOX Sports on MSN
''Ossie Schectman was a true NBA pioneer,'' NBA Commissioner David Stern said, adding that scoring the league's first basket ''placed him permanently in the annals of NBA history.''
Schectman scored the opening basket of a game in what was then known as the BAA on Nov. 1, 1946 for the Knicks against the Toronto Huskies, a layup after cutting down the center of the lane. The Knicks wound up winning that game at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens 68-66, and Schectman went on to average 8.1 points that season, his only one with the franchise.
The significance of scoring the first points in league history was lost on Schectman and others for decades. In a telephone interview Tuesday, Peter Schectman said he wasn't aware of it until the league researched some of its points milestones in 1988, around the time Utah's Rickey Green scored point number 5,000,000 in league history.
''Growing up with him, I never heard him mention it,'' Peter Schectman said. ''He probably didn't concentrate on it. He was the captain of the team and the idea was to win ballgames. It wasn't discussed that much. He certainly never boasted about it, but when the time came up and it was brought into the light, it was thrilling for him.''
Born Oscar B. Schectman on March 30, 1919, he was a graduate of Long Island University, which added him to its list of Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients earlier this year. Schectman played under legendary coach Clair Bee for the school's undefeated NIT championship team in 1939. He was selected as a first-team Converse All-American in 1941, the school said.
Schectman was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 and was a central figure in the documentary ''The First Basket,'' detailing Jewish basketball history. He also had a long career in the garment industry after his basketball career was complete, then retired to Florida before returning to the New York area a few years ago. He remained a fan of the NBA throughout his life, his son said. ''All these wonderful things came out of it for him and he was fortunate to have the NBA and basketball,'' Peter Schectman said. ''And likewise, the NBA and basketball in general were fortunate to have him. So it was a marriage of sorts.''
Peter Schectman said his father particularly enjoyed regular gatherings that would draw up to 50 other former players in South Florida, their club holding events like weekly breakfasts and an annual dinner. According to STATS LLC, Schectman was the first of what now is 3,779 players to score at least one point in a NBA regular-season game.
Schectman is survived by two sons, their wives and their children. Schectman's wife Evelyn predeceased him in 2011 after a 70-year marriage, according to their son.
''He was 94 and he was very fortunate to have a great run,'' Peter Schectman said. ''He was very fortunate and very appreciative.''
The Knicks said that the oldest living former member of their franchise is now Dick Shrider, who appeared in four games for the club in the 1948-49 season. Shrider is 90.
'Ossie' Schectman dies, scored NBA's first basket - NBA News | FOX Sports on MSN
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Every year, there are a few guys who make general managers feel silly for passing on them. Some just completely slip under the radar, which can be attributed to a poor fit or role in their college system.
It's tough to expect results right away from any rookie. Most teams typically fill out their rotations during free agency and put their rookies in developmental situations.
But some rookies find a way to sneak through the cracks. These are the guys who might not have starred in college, but should make an NBA impact by playing to their strengths.
Pictures: Under-the-Radar 2013-14 NBA Rookies Guaranteed to Surprise Fans | Bleacher Report
It's tough to expect results right away from any rookie. Most teams typically fill out their rotations during free agency and put their rookies in developmental situations.
But some rookies find a way to sneak through the cracks. These are the guys who might not have starred in college, but should make an NBA impact by playing to their strengths.
Pictures: Under-the-Radar 2013-14 NBA Rookies Guaranteed to Surprise Fans | Bleacher Report
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Local basketball star Craig Ehlo, who played in the NBA and most recently coached at Eastern Washington University, was arrested early Thursday on a domestic violence charge after firefighters encountered family members holding Ehlo down near a pile of his burning clothes.
Spokane County sheriff’s deputies arrested Ehlo, 51, on the felony charge of first-degree reckless burning and a seperate charge of domestic violence, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into Spokane county jail at 7:36 a.m.
Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin said fire crews responded to a fire after 1 a.m. today to the 3300 block of East 77th Avenue.
When fire crews arrived, they reported finding family members engaged in an altercation and a fire burning a large pile of clothes. Firefighters then requested deputies to respond, Chamberlin said.
“As (deputies) approached, they saw two males holding down another male on the ground, who was Craig” Ehlo, Chamberlin said.
Deputies detained Ehlo and began to question witnesses.
“Through the investigation, the deputies learned that Craig had a domestic dispute. He had been arguing with his wife earlier in the evening,” he said.
The family members then heard strange noises coming from the garage. They went out and “saw Craig piling up clothes next to the garage and he lit them on fire,” Chamberlin said. The family members told the deputies they were holding Ehlo down because “they thought he was … going to run and jump onto the fire. That’s why he was being detained on the ground.”
The fire caused some damage, melting some siding and damaging an awning, Chamberlin said.
Chamberlin said he does not know what happened during the 26 minutes it took for the deputies to arrive or if firefighters got involved in the altercation.
None of Ehlo’s family members reported any injuries, Chamberlin said.
Ehlo was charged with domestic violence and reckless burning “because he had been in a domestic dispute with his wife and he knowingly started a fire that caused damage to the house,” Chamberlin said.
Ehlo is expected to make his first appearance in Spokane Superior Court sometime Friday.
He resigned as assistant basketball coach at EWU on July 11. He also has worked as a television analyst for the Seattle SuperSonics and Gonzaga.
Ehlo played at Washington State University from 1981-1983 before he was drafted into the NBA by the Houston Rockets. He played for 14 seasons with the Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics.
Former NBA star Craig Ehlo arrested - Spokesman-com - Aug. 1, 2013
Spokane County sheriff’s deputies arrested Ehlo, 51, on the felony charge of first-degree reckless burning and a seperate charge of domestic violence, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into Spokane county jail at 7:36 a.m.
Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin said fire crews responded to a fire after 1 a.m. today to the 3300 block of East 77th Avenue.
When fire crews arrived, they reported finding family members engaged in an altercation and a fire burning a large pile of clothes. Firefighters then requested deputies to respond, Chamberlin said.
“As (deputies) approached, they saw two males holding down another male on the ground, who was Craig” Ehlo, Chamberlin said.
Deputies detained Ehlo and began to question witnesses.
“Through the investigation, the deputies learned that Craig had a domestic dispute. He had been arguing with his wife earlier in the evening,” he said.
The family members then heard strange noises coming from the garage. They went out and “saw Craig piling up clothes next to the garage and he lit them on fire,” Chamberlin said. The family members told the deputies they were holding Ehlo down because “they thought he was … going to run and jump onto the fire. That’s why he was being detained on the ground.”
The fire caused some damage, melting some siding and damaging an awning, Chamberlin said.
Chamberlin said he does not know what happened during the 26 minutes it took for the deputies to arrive or if firefighters got involved in the altercation.
None of Ehlo’s family members reported any injuries, Chamberlin said.
Ehlo was charged with domestic violence and reckless burning “because he had been in a domestic dispute with his wife and he knowingly started a fire that caused damage to the house,” Chamberlin said.
Ehlo is expected to make his first appearance in Spokane Superior Court sometime Friday.
He resigned as assistant basketball coach at EWU on July 11. He also has worked as a television analyst for the Seattle SuperSonics and Gonzaga.
Ehlo played at Washington State University from 1981-1983 before he was drafted into the NBA by the Houston Rockets. He played for 14 seasons with the Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics.
Former NBA star Craig Ehlo arrested - Spokesman-com - Aug. 1, 2013
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When NBA stars are forced to miss extended periods of time or battle through immeasurable amounts of pain, we long for the day that they will return to health.
Watching a perennial All-Star occupy a courtside seat or play at a level that we're not used to is difficult. Diehard fanatics probably even experience sympathy pains.
The Association is built around the success and hype its stars generate. Tickets cost a fortune, but human-highlight reels are worth the cost of admission.
Injuries ruin everything, though.
Stars aren't always able to recapture their previous swagger and dominance following extended stints on the sidelines. They have to prove they can still ball at the highest level, and it doesn't always work out that way.
Pictures: Hobbled NBA Stars with the Most to Prove in 2013-14 Season | Bleacher Report
Watching a perennial All-Star occupy a courtside seat or play at a level that we're not used to is difficult. Diehard fanatics probably even experience sympathy pains.
The Association is built around the success and hype its stars generate. Tickets cost a fortune, but human-highlight reels are worth the cost of admission.
Injuries ruin everything, though.
Stars aren't always able to recapture their previous swagger and dominance following extended stints on the sidelines. They have to prove they can still ball at the highest level, and it doesn't always work out that way.
Pictures: Hobbled NBA Stars with the Most to Prove in 2013-14 Season | Bleacher Report
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Are NBA teams getting smarter, or am I just a ridiculously generous grader?
That's what you'll have to decide after reading through these grades for every NBA team's offseason. Personally, I feel like it's the former even though 10 teams are earning an "A-" or better.
Throughout the summer, general managers have been making financially sound decisions. Whereas bad contracts have run rampant in the past, teams are taking longer and properly analyzing their choices.
For the most part.
As is always the case, there have been plenty of franchises that have failed to do what's in their best interest. You better hope your favorite team doesn't fall into that category.
Especially given the largely positive grades, that's not where you want it to be.
If you're curious, the NBA as a whole earned a 3.01 GPA this offseason, using the University of Georgia's plus/minus grading scale.
Grading Offseason Moves for Every NBA Team | Bleacher Report
That's what you'll have to decide after reading through these grades for every NBA team's offseason. Personally, I feel like it's the former even though 10 teams are earning an "A-" or better.
Throughout the summer, general managers have been making financially sound decisions. Whereas bad contracts have run rampant in the past, teams are taking longer and properly analyzing their choices.
For the most part.
As is always the case, there have been plenty of franchises that have failed to do what's in their best interest. You better hope your favorite team doesn't fall into that category.
Especially given the largely positive grades, that's not where you want it to be.
If you're curious, the NBA as a whole earned a 3.01 GPA this offseason, using the University of Georgia's plus/minus grading scale.
Grading Offseason Moves for Every NBA Team | Bleacher Report
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The NBA released its 2013-2014 schedule on Tuesday in a televised special on NBATV alongside a release on NBA-com and its team websites.
The season will kick off Tuesday, Oct. 29 when Miami plays host to the Chicago Bulls in Derrick Rose's expected return to the court. Then it'll be the Battle of LA when the Lakers entertain the Clippers. It could be the return of Kobe Bryant from his Achilles injury he suffered last spring, and will be the regular season debut of Doc Rivers as the Clippers' newest head coach.
It's a massive gamble by the NBA, considering Rose's struggles returning from his ACL injury suffered in the 2012 playoffs and Bryant's more recent Achilles surgery. If those players were to miss the opening night, it's going to make for a very underwhelming opening night of basketball, regardless of the markets involved for ratings.
Opening week continues on Thursday with the Bulls hosting the Knicks in what is likely to be Rose's return to the United Center in the regular season. The Knicks will be on a back to back, opening the season on Wednesday vs. the Bucks. Thursday night the revamped Warriors visit the Clippers, who are clearly the hot team, with two national appearances in the first three days.
Opening week concludes Friday with the Nets' home opener vs. the Heat, followed by another Lakers home game, this time vs. the defending Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs.
On the NBA's biggest regular season day, Christmas Day, starts with the Nets hosting Chicago, followed by the scoring-champ rematch of Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Durant as the Thunder visit Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. Then in the main event, the Heat play the Lakers at Staples Center. Dwight Howard joins the Christmas fun as the Rockets travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs. And in the night cap, the Clippers visit Oracle Arena to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors.
On Jan. 20, the NBA will continue its tradition of making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a huge basketball event, with four games on the schedule. Brooklyn travels across the bridge to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, followed by the Grizzlies hosting the Pelicans, the Lakers taking on the Bulls at the United Center, and the Pacers facing the Warriors in the bay to cap off the night.
The Lakers will first meet Dwight Howard on Nov. 13 in Houston, and again on Jan. 14. They first host Howard at Staples Center on Feb. 19, and again on April 8.
The NBA Finals rematches will occur on Jan. 26 in Miami and March 6 in San Antonio. Will Gregg Popovich rest his starters? It's not a back to back, as the Spurs face Atlanta on the 24th, but it is in the middle of a three-game road trip.
Despite the departure of Dwight Howard, the Lakers keep the max number of nationally televised (non-NBA TV) games in the league at 25, tied with the Knicks and Heat. The Clippers have 21 nationally televised games, while the defending Western Champs, the Spurs, only have 15. The Bulls jump to 24 national games, with the league banking on Rose's return to carry audiences. The Thunder also feature on national TV 24 times.
Houston, with newly-signed Dwight Howard and James Harden, feature 20 games on national television, a pretty low number given the star power. The Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011, and now have just eight national TV appearances. The Warriors meanwhile jump to 17 games, while Eastern Conference finalist Indiana only appears 10 time next season. To put that in perspective, the Denver Nuggets appear 13 times.
Here's the complete schedule, courtesy of the NBA. NBA releases 2013-2014 schedule - CBSSports-com
The season will kick off Tuesday, Oct. 29 when Miami plays host to the Chicago Bulls in Derrick Rose's expected return to the court. Then it'll be the Battle of LA when the Lakers entertain the Clippers. It could be the return of Kobe Bryant from his Achilles injury he suffered last spring, and will be the regular season debut of Doc Rivers as the Clippers' newest head coach.
It's a massive gamble by the NBA, considering Rose's struggles returning from his ACL injury suffered in the 2012 playoffs and Bryant's more recent Achilles surgery. If those players were to miss the opening night, it's going to make for a very underwhelming opening night of basketball, regardless of the markets involved for ratings.
Opening week continues on Thursday with the Bulls hosting the Knicks in what is likely to be Rose's return to the United Center in the regular season. The Knicks will be on a back to back, opening the season on Wednesday vs. the Bucks. Thursday night the revamped Warriors visit the Clippers, who are clearly the hot team, with two national appearances in the first three days.
Opening week concludes Friday with the Nets' home opener vs. the Heat, followed by another Lakers home game, this time vs. the defending Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs.
On the NBA's biggest regular season day, Christmas Day, starts with the Nets hosting Chicago, followed by the scoring-champ rematch of Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Durant as the Thunder visit Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. Then in the main event, the Heat play the Lakers at Staples Center. Dwight Howard joins the Christmas fun as the Rockets travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs. And in the night cap, the Clippers visit Oracle Arena to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors.
On Jan. 20, the NBA will continue its tradition of making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a huge basketball event, with four games on the schedule. Brooklyn travels across the bridge to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, followed by the Grizzlies hosting the Pelicans, the Lakers taking on the Bulls at the United Center, and the Pacers facing the Warriors in the bay to cap off the night.
The Lakers will first meet Dwight Howard on Nov. 13 in Houston, and again on Jan. 14. They first host Howard at Staples Center on Feb. 19, and again on April 8.
The NBA Finals rematches will occur on Jan. 26 in Miami and March 6 in San Antonio. Will Gregg Popovich rest his starters? It's not a back to back, as the Spurs face Atlanta on the 24th, but it is in the middle of a three-game road trip.
Despite the departure of Dwight Howard, the Lakers keep the max number of nationally televised (non-NBA TV) games in the league at 25, tied with the Knicks and Heat. The Clippers have 21 nationally televised games, while the defending Western Champs, the Spurs, only have 15. The Bulls jump to 24 national games, with the league banking on Rose's return to carry audiences. The Thunder also feature on national TV 24 times.
Houston, with newly-signed Dwight Howard and James Harden, feature 20 games on national television, a pretty low number given the star power. The Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011, and now have just eight national TV appearances. The Warriors meanwhile jump to 17 games, while Eastern Conference finalist Indiana only appears 10 time next season. To put that in perspective, the Denver Nuggets appear 13 times.
Here's the complete schedule, courtesy of the NBA. NBA releases 2013-2014 schedule - CBSSports-com
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Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Shabazz Muhammad has been sent home from the NBA's Rookie Transition Program "for violating of a rule and bringing a female guest into his hotel room," USA TODAY Sports's Jeff Zillgitt reported Wednesday, citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation:
Muhammad, who also will be fined, was in Florham Park, N.J. for the four-day program which helps rookies transition into the league through a series of seminars, instructions and guest speakers. [...]
Just hours before Muhammad was sent home, players were given the rules for the program, which included no guests unless approved by program administrators.
Muhammad, the No. 14 pick in the draft, will have to return next summer and complete the program with the 2014 draft class and others who have not yet attended.
Kind of a summer bummer that, at least in terms of the RTP, Shabazz now finds himself held back a year. I'd imagine he's had quite enough of that.
It's worth noting that, according to Zillgitt's source, Muhammad wasn't given the boot for doing anything illegal, as was the case when Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat and Darrell Arthur of the Memphis Grizzlies were kicked out in 2008 after being found with marijuana (and women) in their hotel rooms during the rookie program. (Michael Beasley, then Chalmers' teammate with the Heat, was later fined $50,000 after admitting he had been at the scene of the crime but snuck out to avoid getting caught.) Muhammad appears at this point to have just been bounced for being busted breaking a rule, which isn't great, but also isn't the worst and craziest thing in the world.
Also, it's not like the transition program ejection forever doomed Chalmers and Arthur to being viewed as slackers and NBA pariahs. The former has become a valued contributor and starting point guard on back-to-back NBA champions, while the latter has fought through injuries to become a rotation-caliber big man, first for the Memphis Grizzlies and now with the Denver Nuggets. (Beasley, as you might have heard, is doing less great nowadays.)
Still, this is obviously a less-than-ideal development for a player whose introduction to the NBA world included the revelation that he's a year older than everybody thought he was, his father being indicted on federal fraud charges, a subsequent drop to the middle of the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, where his selection was booed by Wolves fans watching the proceedings at the Target Center, and a Summer League performance that, despite efforts to the contrary, didn't do much to change the perception of his game as scoring-dependent, me-first and relatively light on secondary skill sets.
When you're a young player whose maturity and decision-making have already come under as scrutiny as Muhammad's have, every bump in the road to personal development seems more jarring, more telling and more damning. While this could very well wind up being little more than a minuscule footnote in the young swingman's NBA story, the nature of the offense — not only being unable to steer clear of trouble for a three-day event, but getting called out mere hours after having the rules detailed — looks a bit bigger right now, adding a bit more depth to the hole out of which he'll need to climb to establish himself as a reliable professional, both on and off the court, in the minds of many NBA observers.
The removal from the rookie program, which is aimed at preparing incoming first-year players for the myriad off-court issues they may face as they make the move from amateur to professional, seems kind of interesting given a pair of quotes about the program that appeared in an advance story on the RTP by Mark Remme of the Timbewolves' official website — one from Shabazz himself, the other from nine-year NBA veteran Kevin Martin:
Muhammad said he feels the responsibility, but he understands the key to success.
“Just carrying yourself the right way,” he said. “And making sure you’re nice to everybody, because you’re carrying out your brand and it will really help you out as a basketball player, and not only as a basketball player but as a person as well.” [...]
“You have to learn to be an adult,” Martin said. “The NBA has a great program about hanging out with the right people and all that. It all factors into one great event for the rookies. Now it’s time to be an adult.”
You'd imagine the Wolves' brass are hoping Muhammad soon realizes that the best way to "carry out his brand" would be to start making better decisions in the very near future.
Y! SPORTS
Muhammad, who also will be fined, was in Florham Park, N.J. for the four-day program which helps rookies transition into the league through a series of seminars, instructions and guest speakers. [...]
Just hours before Muhammad was sent home, players were given the rules for the program, which included no guests unless approved by program administrators.
Muhammad, the No. 14 pick in the draft, will have to return next summer and complete the program with the 2014 draft class and others who have not yet attended.
Kind of a summer bummer that, at least in terms of the RTP, Shabazz now finds himself held back a year. I'd imagine he's had quite enough of that.
It's worth noting that, according to Zillgitt's source, Muhammad wasn't given the boot for doing anything illegal, as was the case when Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat and Darrell Arthur of the Memphis Grizzlies were kicked out in 2008 after being found with marijuana (and women) in their hotel rooms during the rookie program. (Michael Beasley, then Chalmers' teammate with the Heat, was later fined $50,000 after admitting he had been at the scene of the crime but snuck out to avoid getting caught.) Muhammad appears at this point to have just been bounced for being busted breaking a rule, which isn't great, but also isn't the worst and craziest thing in the world.
Also, it's not like the transition program ejection forever doomed Chalmers and Arthur to being viewed as slackers and NBA pariahs. The former has become a valued contributor and starting point guard on back-to-back NBA champions, while the latter has fought through injuries to become a rotation-caliber big man, first for the Memphis Grizzlies and now with the Denver Nuggets. (Beasley, as you might have heard, is doing less great nowadays.)
Still, this is obviously a less-than-ideal development for a player whose introduction to the NBA world included the revelation that he's a year older than everybody thought he was, his father being indicted on federal fraud charges, a subsequent drop to the middle of the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, where his selection was booed by Wolves fans watching the proceedings at the Target Center, and a Summer League performance that, despite efforts to the contrary, didn't do much to change the perception of his game as scoring-dependent, me-first and relatively light on secondary skill sets.
When you're a young player whose maturity and decision-making have already come under as scrutiny as Muhammad's have, every bump in the road to personal development seems more jarring, more telling and more damning. While this could very well wind up being little more than a minuscule footnote in the young swingman's NBA story, the nature of the offense — not only being unable to steer clear of trouble for a three-day event, but getting called out mere hours after having the rules detailed — looks a bit bigger right now, adding a bit more depth to the hole out of which he'll need to climb to establish himself as a reliable professional, both on and off the court, in the minds of many NBA observers.
The removal from the rookie program, which is aimed at preparing incoming first-year players for the myriad off-court issues they may face as they make the move from amateur to professional, seems kind of interesting given a pair of quotes about the program that appeared in an advance story on the RTP by Mark Remme of the Timbewolves' official website — one from Shabazz himself, the other from nine-year NBA veteran Kevin Martin:
Muhammad said he feels the responsibility, but he understands the key to success.
“Just carrying yourself the right way,” he said. “And making sure you’re nice to everybody, because you’re carrying out your brand and it will really help you out as a basketball player, and not only as a basketball player but as a person as well.” [...]
“You have to learn to be an adult,” Martin said. “The NBA has a great program about hanging out with the right people and all that. It all factors into one great event for the rookies. Now it’s time to be an adult.”
You'd imagine the Wolves' brass are hoping Muhammad soon realizes that the best way to "carry out his brand" would be to start making better decisions in the very near future.
Y! SPORTS
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The day began joyfully enough with NBA rookies taking pictures for their trading cards.
The day ended with former drug addict and alcoholic and NBA player Chris Herren delivering his powerful, gut-wrenching and emotional story of substance abuse, wasted dreams and ultimately his ongoing recovery. Shortly after NBA Commissioner David Stern gave a brief introduction to players at the NBA and National Basketball Players Association's Rookie Transition Program on Tuesday, Herren walked into the room.
"This is a living amends," Herren told the rookies in his compelling and rapid-fire delivery. "I come back here because I remember sitting in your seat. I remember my attitude. I remember my behavior and I remember sitting in your seats saying, 'None of this pertains to me.' " Approximately 50 rookies and other young players who had not attended the Rookie Transition Program were rapt for an hour as Herren spoke. It was an intense example of how close a player is to having it all or having nothing at all.
"Growing up, you heard about it, but for him to actually come in and tell it from his perspective, it was an amazing experience," Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo said. The players assembled in Florham Park for four days for the program which helps players make the transition into the NBA and assist them with fame, fortune and potential dangers of their new lives and lifestyles.
The program, which ends Friday, included financial, sexual education, philanthropic, social, business, media training and responsibility presentations as well as smaller breakout sessions.
"The goal is to provide the education, training and support that first-year players need as they transition into the NBA," NBA senior vice president of player development Greg Taylor said. "We know that's a big transition and it requires a lot of information, a lot of support and training. … The league, teams and union, we're all committed to helping these guys move forward."
The league and players union takes this event seriously. Minnesota Timberwolves rookie guard Shabazz Muhammad was sent home early for violating a program rule. He brought a female guest into his room hours after program directors spelled out the rules which included no guests.
The NBA and NBPA provide contact information for almost every situation, and players are encouraged to take advantage of the support system.
"There's so many resources they have for us," Oladipo said. "They don't have any reason to do what they do but they do it anyway because they want to see us be successful. It's really touching."
Ultimately, the seminar centered on this decision-making and how decisions impact a player's career and life.
"This program was derived by both labor and management – a joint collaboration," interim NBPA Executive Director Ron Klempner said. "It's one of the things we do together. There are a lot of things that we do apart, and there are things we do together, and those things we do together, we do them well. This is one of them. We collaborate on content, location on all of the details of the program. By this point in time, we've become really good at it."
The seminar is an eye-opener in a variety of ways – not just Herren's story or the graphic photos of what sexually transmitted diseases can do to the body. Those are extreme examples. Deputy commissioner Adam Silver gave a presentation on the business side of the NBA, and financial advisors encouraged prudent spending. "Save your money early so you can have it late," Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum said.
Closer to home, NBA vice president of player development Rory Sparrow and NBPA director of player program Purvis Short gave players a two-way look at the 2003 draft. That class had plenty of success stories: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
But there's the other side. No. 2 pick Darko Milicic never averaged more than nine points a game and started just four games in his first four seasons. Troy Bell was the No. 16 pick in the draft. He played in six games his rookie season and never played another NBA game.
No one in that room realizes it or wants to realize it, but at least one of them will be one of those players – out of the league in less than five seasons. "Every year, someone is trying to take your job," Sparrow told the players.
But Sparrow and Short also said players don't need to be a James or Anthony to have a long, productive and financially rewarding NBA career. They pointed to Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour and David West – players who found a niche on the court, are strong locker room leaders and contributors to the community.
Philanthropy was a large part of the program. Stern stressed the importance of the league's community work, and Ivan Blumberg from Athletes for Hope, a non-profit group aimed at connecting athletes with charitable causes, guided players through the charitable process.
"Your time can be as valuable as your money," he said.
Oladipo is thinking about how he will contribute.
"I have a sister (Kendra) who is deaf, and I have family members who aren't as fortunate and giving back is huge," he said.
Emotional warning for NBA rookies
The day ended with former drug addict and alcoholic and NBA player Chris Herren delivering his powerful, gut-wrenching and emotional story of substance abuse, wasted dreams and ultimately his ongoing recovery. Shortly after NBA Commissioner David Stern gave a brief introduction to players at the NBA and National Basketball Players Association's Rookie Transition Program on Tuesday, Herren walked into the room.
"This is a living amends," Herren told the rookies in his compelling and rapid-fire delivery. "I come back here because I remember sitting in your seat. I remember my attitude. I remember my behavior and I remember sitting in your seats saying, 'None of this pertains to me.' " Approximately 50 rookies and other young players who had not attended the Rookie Transition Program were rapt for an hour as Herren spoke. It was an intense example of how close a player is to having it all or having nothing at all.
"Growing up, you heard about it, but for him to actually come in and tell it from his perspective, it was an amazing experience," Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo said. The players assembled in Florham Park for four days for the program which helps players make the transition into the NBA and assist them with fame, fortune and potential dangers of their new lives and lifestyles.
The program, which ends Friday, included financial, sexual education, philanthropic, social, business, media training and responsibility presentations as well as smaller breakout sessions.
"The goal is to provide the education, training and support that first-year players need as they transition into the NBA," NBA senior vice president of player development Greg Taylor said. "We know that's a big transition and it requires a lot of information, a lot of support and training. … The league, teams and union, we're all committed to helping these guys move forward."
The league and players union takes this event seriously. Minnesota Timberwolves rookie guard Shabazz Muhammad was sent home early for violating a program rule. He brought a female guest into his room hours after program directors spelled out the rules which included no guests.
The NBA and NBPA provide contact information for almost every situation, and players are encouraged to take advantage of the support system.
"There's so many resources they have for us," Oladipo said. "They don't have any reason to do what they do but they do it anyway because they want to see us be successful. It's really touching."
Ultimately, the seminar centered on this decision-making and how decisions impact a player's career and life.
"This program was derived by both labor and management – a joint collaboration," interim NBPA Executive Director Ron Klempner said. "It's one of the things we do together. There are a lot of things that we do apart, and there are things we do together, and those things we do together, we do them well. This is one of them. We collaborate on content, location on all of the details of the program. By this point in time, we've become really good at it."
The seminar is an eye-opener in a variety of ways – not just Herren's story or the graphic photos of what sexually transmitted diseases can do to the body. Those are extreme examples. Deputy commissioner Adam Silver gave a presentation on the business side of the NBA, and financial advisors encouraged prudent spending. "Save your money early so you can have it late," Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum said.
Closer to home, NBA vice president of player development Rory Sparrow and NBPA director of player program Purvis Short gave players a two-way look at the 2003 draft. That class had plenty of success stories: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
But there's the other side. No. 2 pick Darko Milicic never averaged more than nine points a game and started just four games in his first four seasons. Troy Bell was the No. 16 pick in the draft. He played in six games his rookie season and never played another NBA game.
No one in that room realizes it or wants to realize it, but at least one of them will be one of those players – out of the league in less than five seasons. "Every year, someone is trying to take your job," Sparrow told the players.
But Sparrow and Short also said players don't need to be a James or Anthony to have a long, productive and financially rewarding NBA career. They pointed to Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour and David West – players who found a niche on the court, are strong locker room leaders and contributors to the community.
Philanthropy was a large part of the program. Stern stressed the importance of the league's community work, and Ivan Blumberg from Athletes for Hope, a non-profit group aimed at connecting athletes with charitable causes, guided players through the charitable process.
"Your time can be as valuable as your money," he said.
Oladipo is thinking about how he will contribute.
"I have a sister (Kendra) who is deaf, and I have family members who aren't as fortunate and giving back is huge," he said.
Emotional warning for NBA rookies
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2006/12/07
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It goes without saying that the 2013-14 season is important to everyone in the NBA. But for a few select players around the league, it means a little bit more.
For some guys, it's a make-or-break season.
A few of these players are taking on a new role, some are attempting to recover from injury, and some are just trying to prove they belong in the league. Whatever the reason, their 2013-14 campaign could end up going a long way in determining their respective NBA futures.
Let's see who's on the hot seat.
Pictures: 10 NBA Players Heading into Make-or-Break Seasons | Bleacher Report
For some guys, it's a make-or-break season.
A few of these players are taking on a new role, some are attempting to recover from injury, and some are just trying to prove they belong in the league. Whatever the reason, their 2013-14 campaign could end up going a long way in determining their respective NBA futures.
Let's see who's on the hot seat.
Pictures: 10 NBA Players Heading into Make-or-Break Seasons | Bleacher Report
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2006/12/07
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29893
On Sunday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward and NBA All-Star Kevin Durant played a pro-am tournament in Seattle, where he dropped 63 points and was mobbed by fans after the game, who had packed a tiny gym to watch Durant, Jamal Crawford and other NBA stars play against Seattle’s best amateurs. Crawford hosted the tournament.
After the game, Durant went on Twitter to express his feelings about Seattle, the city where he began his professional career before the SuperSonics franchise was moved to Oklahoma City and renamed the Thunder. Enough has been written about Seattle losing its NBA team to fill ten books. Their attendance numbers were good, the fans loyal. The players loved playing there. And in an age where all we hear in sports (college sports, even) is the size of television markets, the move from Seattle made no sense. Moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City was a step from the 14th-largest TV market in the United States to the 45th.
And none of this is to detract from the Oklahoma City team. That city deserves an NBA team. Their fans have developed into one of the most loyal, loud and excited fan bases in the entire NBA. General Manager Sam Presti has built a culture in Oklahoma City that reflects the city’s spirit, bringing in players who are comfortable in a small market, who care only about basketball and the team. They’re a model franchise.
But the way OKC got an NBA team is not right, nor will it ever be right. Seattle is ready. An ownership group was ready to bring the Sacramento Kings there until Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson stepped in and made a last-minute deal to keep the team there. The Seattle fans are ready. They’re eager.
It’s hard to imagine another city turning out in such numbers for a summer pro-am tournament, with many in attendance still wearing the departed team (and star’s) jerseys. But that’s exactly what happened in Seattle on Sunday, as many in the crowd had on Durant SuperSonics jerseys at the Crawford Invitational. Durant played there just one season before the team left (or got hijacked) for Oklahoma City. It doesn’t matter. The Sonics fans still think of him as a city basketball hero.
Let’s let Seattle out of NBA prison. Let’s not make their fans pack high school gyms and watch goofy pro-ams where stars hoist up shots and no one plays defense. Adam Silver is the new Commissioner of the NBA, and he can make a bold statement by righting a wrong and bringing professional basketball back to Seattle. The fans are waiting.
It’s time for Seattle to have an NBA team again | For The Win
After the game, Durant went on Twitter to express his feelings about Seattle, the city where he began his professional career before the SuperSonics franchise was moved to Oklahoma City and renamed the Thunder. Enough has been written about Seattle losing its NBA team to fill ten books. Their attendance numbers were good, the fans loyal. The players loved playing there. And in an age where all we hear in sports (college sports, even) is the size of television markets, the move from Seattle made no sense. Moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City was a step from the 14th-largest TV market in the United States to the 45th.
And none of this is to detract from the Oklahoma City team. That city deserves an NBA team. Their fans have developed into one of the most loyal, loud and excited fan bases in the entire NBA. General Manager Sam Presti has built a culture in Oklahoma City that reflects the city’s spirit, bringing in players who are comfortable in a small market, who care only about basketball and the team. They’re a model franchise.
But the way OKC got an NBA team is not right, nor will it ever be right. Seattle is ready. An ownership group was ready to bring the Sacramento Kings there until Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson stepped in and made a last-minute deal to keep the team there. The Seattle fans are ready. They’re eager.
It’s hard to imagine another city turning out in such numbers for a summer pro-am tournament, with many in attendance still wearing the departed team (and star’s) jerseys. But that’s exactly what happened in Seattle on Sunday, as many in the crowd had on Durant SuperSonics jerseys at the Crawford Invitational. Durant played there just one season before the team left (or got hijacked) for Oklahoma City. It doesn’t matter. The Sonics fans still think of him as a city basketball hero.
Let’s let Seattle out of NBA prison. Let’s not make their fans pack high school gyms and watch goofy pro-ams where stars hoist up shots and no one plays defense. Adam Silver is the new Commissioner of the NBA, and he can make a bold statement by righting a wrong and bringing professional basketball back to Seattle. The fans are waiting.
It’s time for Seattle to have an NBA team again | For The Win
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The NBA is taking steps to implement stricter testing for human growth hormone, deputy commissioner Adam Silver told the New York Post recently.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports has found its way back into the spotlight in the wake of Major League Baseball's recent Biogenesis scandal, which implicated dozens of players and has seen the suspension of major stars including Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez.
"One of the changes that we know we'll be making to our current drug testing is the addition of HGH testing, which requires taking blood from the players," Silver said in the interview. "We want to make sure, on behalf of our players, as well, that's it's done in the proper way, and that we understand what are the appropriate baselines for a natural substance, like HGH, so we can detect where there are aberrations. That is something we're very focused on."
Silver, who will succeed David Stern as NBA commissioner when Stern retires on February 1, 2014, says he is unaware of any NBA players being named in the Biogenesis investigation. The biggest roadblock to a new HGH policy being implemented in the NBA is the current state of the National Basketball Players Association. The union has undergone a lot of upheaval since the end of the 2011 lockout. LeBron James has decided not to run for NBPA president, but there is much speculation that Derek Fisher's seven-year reign will come to an end next week when the players' union meets in Las Vegas. Until the union has a new president in place, they will not be able to negotiate with the league about an expansion of the drug-testing policy.
Many of the NBA's biggest stars have already undergone HGH testing through their involvement with Team USA. James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and others who have played in the Olympics have been subjected to blood tests through the International Olympic Committee, which has a much more stringent policy than the NBA.
Currently, the NBA's policy on performance-enhancing drugs states that players receive a 20-game suspension for their first positive test, a 45-game suspension for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third. Players are tested six times per year — four times during the season and twice in the offseason.
In the Post interview, Silver said he believes that the players and owners are on the same page about the need for stricter testing for PEDs including HGH. "[T]his is an issue where it is in everybody's interest to have state-of-the-art drug testing, and to have a level playing field for all players," he said. "[W]e recognize it's not fair for a player to believe that in order to compete, and in order to keep his job, he has to do something that one could potentially harm his body and number two could potentially get him in trouble."
Stern has echoed that sentiment in recent months. At the Board of Governors' meetings, in April and in July, he was asked about the testing.
"We have a long list of banned substances, and we expect to have agreement on HGH whenever the union gathers because we're in this together," he told reporters in July. "The union has always been very forward thinking in this. … It's on a long list of items that we're hoping to discuss with the players association between now and the kickoff of the next season."
Adam Silver says NBA is committed to HGH testing
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports has found its way back into the spotlight in the wake of Major League Baseball's recent Biogenesis scandal, which implicated dozens of players and has seen the suspension of major stars including Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez.
"One of the changes that we know we'll be making to our current drug testing is the addition of HGH testing, which requires taking blood from the players," Silver said in the interview. "We want to make sure, on behalf of our players, as well, that's it's done in the proper way, and that we understand what are the appropriate baselines for a natural substance, like HGH, so we can detect where there are aberrations. That is something we're very focused on."
Silver, who will succeed David Stern as NBA commissioner when Stern retires on February 1, 2014, says he is unaware of any NBA players being named in the Biogenesis investigation. The biggest roadblock to a new HGH policy being implemented in the NBA is the current state of the National Basketball Players Association. The union has undergone a lot of upheaval since the end of the 2011 lockout. LeBron James has decided not to run for NBPA president, but there is much speculation that Derek Fisher's seven-year reign will come to an end next week when the players' union meets in Las Vegas. Until the union has a new president in place, they will not be able to negotiate with the league about an expansion of the drug-testing policy.
Many of the NBA's biggest stars have already undergone HGH testing through their involvement with Team USA. James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and others who have played in the Olympics have been subjected to blood tests through the International Olympic Committee, which has a much more stringent policy than the NBA.
Currently, the NBA's policy on performance-enhancing drugs states that players receive a 20-game suspension for their first positive test, a 45-game suspension for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third. Players are tested six times per year — four times during the season and twice in the offseason.
In the Post interview, Silver said he believes that the players and owners are on the same page about the need for stricter testing for PEDs including HGH. "[T]his is an issue where it is in everybody's interest to have state-of-the-art drug testing, and to have a level playing field for all players," he said. "[W]e recognize it's not fair for a player to believe that in order to compete, and in order to keep his job, he has to do something that one could potentially harm his body and number two could potentially get him in trouble."
Stern has echoed that sentiment in recent months. At the Board of Governors' meetings, in April and in July, he was asked about the testing.
"We have a long list of banned substances, and we expect to have agreement on HGH whenever the union gathers because we're in this together," he told reporters in July. "The union has always been very forward thinking in this. … It's on a long list of items that we're hoping to discuss with the players association between now and the kickoff of the next season."
Adam Silver says NBA is committed to HGH testing
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The free agents have just about all been signed up. The NBA is down to a series of Instagram photos from moving yachts and crossed fingers from worried teams hoping their players stay safe in the summer off. There’s nothing going on, save for that clock on the wall that is ticking down to the 2013-14 season.
And it’s moving SO SLOWLY.
This is why we’ve decided to pick 26 things we’re looking forward to in 2013-14. Or, at the very least, 26 things that intrigue us as we wait out an offseason that feels like it has thousands of miles left to cross before we can get to Halloween and opening week. Because there are 26 letters in the alphabet – you guessed, NBA A-through-Z.
We continue with Kobe Bryant.
You do realize that this is just about unprecedented, right? Other notable stars have attempted to come back from major injuries, and several notable stars have attempted to return from Achilles tendon tears late in their career. For Isiah Thomas, the injury was a career-ender, and the too-soon age of 32, with the caveat that Isiah’s burgeoning business interests and the decline of the Detroit Pistons hastened his decision to step away.
For Dominque Wilkins, it was a minor setback – he went on to average nearly 30 points per game in his first season back from surgery at age 33, and would continue to play for seven more seasons professionally in both the NBA and overseas.
Kobe Bryant’s different. Always has been. The guy wants to stay a Laker, make $30 million and take 22 shots a game until his children are old enough to legally rent a car. He doesn’t want your pity, and despite the endless stream of Instagram photos and Twitter updates, he doesn’t want to be thought of as a comeback case. He’ll take the attention happily, but only for what matters most to him – “look at what I’m doing to make this tough situation better, Mamba-style.”
The problem for Kobe, and the Lakers, is that “Mamba-style” isn’t always the smartest way to go about things. Breathless tributes to Kobe’s competitive spirit tend to render themselves meaningless when Bryant uses that “boy he sure wants to win!”-edge to fire up another long jumper.
This will likely manifest itself in two ways, in 2013-14.
Bryant knows his body better than anyone else, in spite of never suffering this injury before, and he’ll be the best judge of what day to come back. Still, a too-quick return to form could hamstring Bryant for the rest of the season, never fully getting the needed amount of rest (rehabilitation, with Kobe’s work ethic, is not a concern) needed to buttress an Achilles that has already put up with nearly 54,000 career regular and postseason minutes.
Then there’s that on-court fire.
Kobe Bryant doesn’t do minute restrictions. He doesn’t go to school for half-a-day. He’ll be at things at a fever pitch from the outset of his return, attempting to both prove Dwight Howard wrong, make the playoffs on healthy wheels, and showcase his all-world talents in anticipation of possibly bringing in a marquee free agent in the summer of 2014, or (perhaps more important to him) signing another massive contract with the Lakers when he becomes a free agent himself in the same offseason.
If smartly played (Jordan-style, all quick post-ups and limited dribbling), Bryant can make it work, and possibly lead what still is a talented Lakers team to the playoff bracket.
If it’s all jab-step 20-footers, while taking the ball out of Steve Nash and Pau Gasol’s hands? Then the Lakers will be in trouble. Nash and Gasol have their own athleticism issues at their age, but they’re not coming off of career-altering surgery. And that’s not even getting into the defensive side of things.
Time away, especially when paired with one of the most disappointing NBA seasons we can remember (honestly, name something more disastrous than the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers), will fuel this unprecedented comeback. I understand that others have come back from the same injury, around the same age, but this is unprecedented because it’s Kobe. He may look a lot like Michael Jordan, but there’s never been anything like him.
How this affects the first full year of the post-Dr. Jerry Buss era remains to be seen. It deserves to be seen, though. The Lakers are on national TV 25 times this season, and I don’t mind one bit.
Y! SPORTS
And it’s moving SO SLOWLY.
This is why we’ve decided to pick 26 things we’re looking forward to in 2013-14. Or, at the very least, 26 things that intrigue us as we wait out an offseason that feels like it has thousands of miles left to cross before we can get to Halloween and opening week. Because there are 26 letters in the alphabet – you guessed, NBA A-through-Z.
We continue with Kobe Bryant.
You do realize that this is just about unprecedented, right? Other notable stars have attempted to come back from major injuries, and several notable stars have attempted to return from Achilles tendon tears late in their career. For Isiah Thomas, the injury was a career-ender, and the too-soon age of 32, with the caveat that Isiah’s burgeoning business interests and the decline of the Detroit Pistons hastened his decision to step away.
For Dominque Wilkins, it was a minor setback – he went on to average nearly 30 points per game in his first season back from surgery at age 33, and would continue to play for seven more seasons professionally in both the NBA and overseas.
Kobe Bryant’s different. Always has been. The guy wants to stay a Laker, make $30 million and take 22 shots a game until his children are old enough to legally rent a car. He doesn’t want your pity, and despite the endless stream of Instagram photos and Twitter updates, he doesn’t want to be thought of as a comeback case. He’ll take the attention happily, but only for what matters most to him – “look at what I’m doing to make this tough situation better, Mamba-style.”
The problem for Kobe, and the Lakers, is that “Mamba-style” isn’t always the smartest way to go about things. Breathless tributes to Kobe’s competitive spirit tend to render themselves meaningless when Bryant uses that “boy he sure wants to win!”-edge to fire up another long jumper.
This will likely manifest itself in two ways, in 2013-14.
Bryant knows his body better than anyone else, in spite of never suffering this injury before, and he’ll be the best judge of what day to come back. Still, a too-quick return to form could hamstring Bryant for the rest of the season, never fully getting the needed amount of rest (rehabilitation, with Kobe’s work ethic, is not a concern) needed to buttress an Achilles that has already put up with nearly 54,000 career regular and postseason minutes.
Then there’s that on-court fire.
Kobe Bryant doesn’t do minute restrictions. He doesn’t go to school for half-a-day. He’ll be at things at a fever pitch from the outset of his return, attempting to both prove Dwight Howard wrong, make the playoffs on healthy wheels, and showcase his all-world talents in anticipation of possibly bringing in a marquee free agent in the summer of 2014, or (perhaps more important to him) signing another massive contract with the Lakers when he becomes a free agent himself in the same offseason.
If smartly played (Jordan-style, all quick post-ups and limited dribbling), Bryant can make it work, and possibly lead what still is a talented Lakers team to the playoff bracket.
If it’s all jab-step 20-footers, while taking the ball out of Steve Nash and Pau Gasol’s hands? Then the Lakers will be in trouble. Nash and Gasol have their own athleticism issues at their age, but they’re not coming off of career-altering surgery. And that’s not even getting into the defensive side of things.
Time away, especially when paired with one of the most disappointing NBA seasons we can remember (honestly, name something more disastrous than the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers), will fuel this unprecedented comeback. I understand that others have come back from the same injury, around the same age, but this is unprecedented because it’s Kobe. He may look a lot like Michael Jordan, but there’s never been anything like him.
How this affects the first full year of the post-Dr. Jerry Buss era remains to be seen. It deserves to be seen, though. The Lakers are on national TV 25 times this season, and I don’t mind one bit.
Y! SPORTS
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Paul George didn't envision himself as a leader when he attended USA Basketball's camp last year to scrimmage against the U.S. Olympic team.
But when he returned to the national team minicamp in Las Vegas last month, the feeling was different. He arrived with an All-Star selection, the NBA Most Improved Player Award and recognition as one of the league's elite all-around players. He's now the player expected to lead the Indiana Pacers to their first NBA title.
George said Thursday during a visit to Riley Hospital for Children he's reveling in that — and it showed in his play against some of the league's best players this summer.
"I had a great showing out there," he said. "That was another fun experience for me going into this summer and helping me prepare for this year. I'm looking forward to seeing the results." George said he still considered Danny Granger the Pacers' leader at this time last year, as Granger had been the team's most productive offensive player for several seasons. That was true even during training camp.
But Granger only played in five games last season because of a knee injury. George looks forward to his teammate's return, but he understands this is his team after leading the Pacers to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals vs. the Miami Heat.
"A lot comes with that," George said. "This whole summer, I really trained being the go-to guy and the lead guy for our team. Last year, we still had Danny and did not know the results (of Granger's injury) coming into the year. I had a role that I had kind of prepared for and trained for. This year, it was more about training to be the No. 1 guy and lead this team."
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo declined to comment on George's performance in detail at this year's camp but left little doubt he will get strong Team USA consideration for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
"He made a big impression on us last year and then he enhanced his position big time during the NBA season," Colangelo said. "The versatility he shows in his game makes him a very interesting player. He can guard at any position. He has great upside to his game. Great character. I like him a lot." The 6-8 swingman is confident he has a future with the national team as well.
"I feel like my game translates well to the international game," he said. "Very versatile and I can play that speed, guard-oriented-type game. It comes down to playing all positions 1-5 going forward."
He said he also likes the numerous moves made by Pacers officials during the off-season to upgrade the team's bench.
"It's reassuring for guys like me," he said. "It tells me we've got something special. We still have to work hard, but it would be a huge letdown for the front office to make the moves that they made and for us not to take that next step."
George has spent much of his off-season in Southern California, but he also made a trip to China as part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program. He visited patients and families at Riley on Thursday and made a $15,000 donation to the Riley Foundation in conjunction with Papa John's, which is donating $1 for every online order of it Hope Happens Here Meal Deal to the hospital.
"To see them light up, with a bright smile on their faces, there's no way I can't walk in here and not feel great about myself," he said of his day. "I'm happy to be here and be part of it."
Paul George ready to lead Indiana Pacers to NBA title
But when he returned to the national team minicamp in Las Vegas last month, the feeling was different. He arrived with an All-Star selection, the NBA Most Improved Player Award and recognition as one of the league's elite all-around players. He's now the player expected to lead the Indiana Pacers to their first NBA title.
George said Thursday during a visit to Riley Hospital for Children he's reveling in that — and it showed in his play against some of the league's best players this summer.
"I had a great showing out there," he said. "That was another fun experience for me going into this summer and helping me prepare for this year. I'm looking forward to seeing the results." George said he still considered Danny Granger the Pacers' leader at this time last year, as Granger had been the team's most productive offensive player for several seasons. That was true even during training camp.
But Granger only played in five games last season because of a knee injury. George looks forward to his teammate's return, but he understands this is his team after leading the Pacers to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals vs. the Miami Heat.
"A lot comes with that," George said. "This whole summer, I really trained being the go-to guy and the lead guy for our team. Last year, we still had Danny and did not know the results (of Granger's injury) coming into the year. I had a role that I had kind of prepared for and trained for. This year, it was more about training to be the No. 1 guy and lead this team."
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo declined to comment on George's performance in detail at this year's camp but left little doubt he will get strong Team USA consideration for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
"He made a big impression on us last year and then he enhanced his position big time during the NBA season," Colangelo said. "The versatility he shows in his game makes him a very interesting player. He can guard at any position. He has great upside to his game. Great character. I like him a lot." The 6-8 swingman is confident he has a future with the national team as well.
"I feel like my game translates well to the international game," he said. "Very versatile and I can play that speed, guard-oriented-type game. It comes down to playing all positions 1-5 going forward."
He said he also likes the numerous moves made by Pacers officials during the off-season to upgrade the team's bench.
"It's reassuring for guys like me," he said. "It tells me we've got something special. We still have to work hard, but it would be a huge letdown for the front office to make the moves that they made and for us not to take that next step."
George has spent much of his off-season in Southern California, but he also made a trip to China as part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program. He visited patients and families at Riley on Thursday and made a $15,000 donation to the Riley Foundation in conjunction with Papa John's, which is donating $1 for every online order of it Hope Happens Here Meal Deal to the hospital.
"To see them light up, with a bright smile on their faces, there's no way I can't walk in here and not feel great about myself," he said of his day. "I'm happy to be here and be part of it."
Paul George ready to lead Indiana Pacers to NBA title
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Billionaire Chris Hansen, who tried to move the Kings NBA franchise from Sacramento to Seattle, is behind a secretive effort to thwart the city's efforts to build a new downtown arena for the professional basketball team, California's campaign watchdog disclosed Friday after an investigation. The announcement is an embarrassment for Hansen, who lost his bid after NBA owners voted to keep the team in California's capital city, and it could undermine support for the local ballot measure Hansen funded that is designed to put to a citywide vote the council's planned $258 million subsidy for a downtown arena.
"I made a mistake I regret," Hansen said in a written statement. "While I'm sure everyone can appreciate how easy it is to get caught up in the heat of battle, with the benefit of hindsight, this is clearly a decision I regret."
Hansen had said he would end his effort to buy the Kings for $625 million after the NBA blocked the sale, and a group of investors led by technology executive Vivek Ranadive bought the team a day later for $535 million.
Hansen publicly wished the city well after losing his bid to buy the team. Yet the California Fair Political Practices Commission said that a month later, Hansen gave $80,000 to pay signature gatherers trying to get the measure on next June's ballot, and the group violated state law by refusing to disclose the donation.
The NBA has said that Sacramento must build a modern arena to keep the Kings in town. The team's new owners have set a 2016 target.
Hansen's money was funneled through the Los Angeles law firm of Loeb & Loeb. Hansen said the firm approached him about making a contribution to the petition effort after he had hired them to gauge citizen opposition during the battle over the sale.
Members of Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork, which filed to put the initiative on the June 2014 ballot, distanced themselves from the money and said they use only volunteers to circulate petitions. Spokesman John Hyde said the money went to a political group that offered to assist STOP's efforts.
"No doubt this is a PR nightmare for STOP," Hyde said. "We didn't know where that money came from and we weren't the recipient of any of that funding."
The signature gatherers are halfway to the 22,000 they need to qualify the measure by December, Hyde said.
Gary Winuk, chief of the commission's enforcement division, said Hansen donated $100,000 total. It was not immediately clear what happened to the additional $20,000, though Winuk said it might have been spent on other expenses. He said the investigation is continuing.
"These are as sophisticated parties as you can get and they should know better," Winuk said. "Most people just comply when we call them. They just happened to make us take them to court."
The donors were intentionally denying the public information that could help them decide whether to sign the petition, he said.
The commission filed a lawsuit Thursday to learn the donor's identity and revealed during a Friday news conference that it was Hansen.
"Unbelievable," said state Senate President pro Tempore Darrel Steinberg, who is from Sacramento and was active in efforts to keep the Kings in town.
Kings and NBA officials declined comment, as did Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA all-star who led the fight to keep the team.
Suspicion about the origins of the money originally had fallen on the Maloof family that previously owned the team because the same law firm had long represented them.
The commission was dropping its lawsuit, but Winuk said Hansen and the law firm could face a civil fine of up to $80,000 plus an administrative fine of up to $5,000 for each of at least three campaign-reporting violations.
Seattle investor regrets bid to block Kings arena | NBA-com
"I made a mistake I regret," Hansen said in a written statement. "While I'm sure everyone can appreciate how easy it is to get caught up in the heat of battle, with the benefit of hindsight, this is clearly a decision I regret."
Hansen had said he would end his effort to buy the Kings for $625 million after the NBA blocked the sale, and a group of investors led by technology executive Vivek Ranadive bought the team a day later for $535 million.
Hansen publicly wished the city well after losing his bid to buy the team. Yet the California Fair Political Practices Commission said that a month later, Hansen gave $80,000 to pay signature gatherers trying to get the measure on next June's ballot, and the group violated state law by refusing to disclose the donation.
The NBA has said that Sacramento must build a modern arena to keep the Kings in town. The team's new owners have set a 2016 target.
Hansen's money was funneled through the Los Angeles law firm of Loeb & Loeb. Hansen said the firm approached him about making a contribution to the petition effort after he had hired them to gauge citizen opposition during the battle over the sale.
Members of Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork, which filed to put the initiative on the June 2014 ballot, distanced themselves from the money and said they use only volunteers to circulate petitions. Spokesman John Hyde said the money went to a political group that offered to assist STOP's efforts.
"No doubt this is a PR nightmare for STOP," Hyde said. "We didn't know where that money came from and we weren't the recipient of any of that funding."
The signature gatherers are halfway to the 22,000 they need to qualify the measure by December, Hyde said.
Gary Winuk, chief of the commission's enforcement division, said Hansen donated $100,000 total. It was not immediately clear what happened to the additional $20,000, though Winuk said it might have been spent on other expenses. He said the investigation is continuing.
"These are as sophisticated parties as you can get and they should know better," Winuk said. "Most people just comply when we call them. They just happened to make us take them to court."
The donors were intentionally denying the public information that could help them decide whether to sign the petition, he said.
The commission filed a lawsuit Thursday to learn the donor's identity and revealed during a Friday news conference that it was Hansen.
"Unbelievable," said state Senate President pro Tempore Darrel Steinberg, who is from Sacramento and was active in efforts to keep the Kings in town.
Kings and NBA officials declined comment, as did Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA all-star who led the fight to keep the team.
Suspicion about the origins of the money originally had fallen on the Maloof family that previously owned the team because the same law firm had long represented them.
The commission was dropping its lawsuit, but Winuk said Hansen and the law firm could face a civil fine of up to $80,000 plus an administrative fine of up to $5,000 for each of at least three campaign-reporting violations.
Seattle investor regrets bid to block Kings arena | NBA-com
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Steven Adams' NBA prospects have received a glowing endorsement from someone who should know - All-Star centre Brook Lopez.
The two seven footers are in Wellington today coaching 250 star-struck kids at a New Zealand Basketball Academy camp at the ASB Sports Centre.
Lopez, a skilled 25-year-old big man with the Brooklyn Nets, shares the same agent as Adams and has followed his progress since the 2011 adidas Nations tournament.
He told a press conference that Adams had all the tools to succeed in the NBA, having created Kiwi history by being picked No 12 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in June's draft.
''It's a great story and an inspirational one,'' Lopez said.
''I'm following his story and I'm definitely excited to see him succeed... I definitely think he has the tools. A lot of people are definitely drafted on their potential and in a lot of cases it's all up to the player to take advantage of their opportunity and take advantage of their skill-set.
"Steven definitely has all the tools, all the potential and what I've noticed about him is he really has the mindset and willpower to want to be one of the best players in the league.''
Lopez is probably the most skilled offensive centre in the league but said adapting to the speed of the NBA was his biggest challenge as a rookie.
''Coming out of college, when you watch the game on TV it looks very slow, thought out and methodical but then you get out on court and everything's happening instantaneously and you have to make split second decisions," he said.
"That was a bit of an adjustment for me but I think Steven will be doing great for the most part. He's a coachable guy, he'll get out there and work hard, do what's asked of him and do a lot of the small things at first, that will make him stand out from the pack. And from there build on his role.''
Lopez is a self described ''big nerd and geek'' so he was in his element this morning as he received a tour of Wellington's Weta Workshop.
It is not his first visit to New Zealand, having watched older brother Alex play as an import for the Canterbury Rams in 2000.
''So we were in Christchurch for a little bit and saw a few of his games. I definitely took a liking to the area. I'm a big nerd and geek so I did my best to follow the trail to Mordor and see the Lord of the Rings stuff on site, I really enjoyed that as well. We were here for about three weeks.'' Adams is on a one-week holiday in New Zealand before returning to pre-season duties with the Thunder.
He was enjoying life in Oklahoma City where he is now a teammate of superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
''It's quiet but it's good because all you do then is just focus on basketball,'' Adams said.
''They're cool, Westbrook and KD, they're pretty mean. I've never been star struck bro, I don't know, I just see them as normal people. Especially if I'm going to be playing with them, it's never really hit me. I just see them as players but I definitely have mad respect for them and what they've done and accomplished.''
Adams said he hoped to play for the Tall Blacks at next year's World Cup in Spain and he will make an announcement about his international future later today.
He was soaking up as much knowledge as possible while on tour with Lopez.
''Just professionalism really, how you hold yourself around the public and stuff like that. You can still be yourself but you've got to be professional about it. I've got a good support group around me, a good team that makes sure I don't go down the wrong path. So it's been easy I guess, just because they're protecting me.''
Basketball | NBA All-Star Lopez backs Adams to succeed... | Stuff.co.nz
The two seven footers are in Wellington today coaching 250 star-struck kids at a New Zealand Basketball Academy camp at the ASB Sports Centre.
Lopez, a skilled 25-year-old big man with the Brooklyn Nets, shares the same agent as Adams and has followed his progress since the 2011 adidas Nations tournament.
He told a press conference that Adams had all the tools to succeed in the NBA, having created Kiwi history by being picked No 12 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in June's draft.
''It's a great story and an inspirational one,'' Lopez said.
''I'm following his story and I'm definitely excited to see him succeed... I definitely think he has the tools. A lot of people are definitely drafted on their potential and in a lot of cases it's all up to the player to take advantage of their opportunity and take advantage of their skill-set.
"Steven definitely has all the tools, all the potential and what I've noticed about him is he really has the mindset and willpower to want to be one of the best players in the league.''
Lopez is probably the most skilled offensive centre in the league but said adapting to the speed of the NBA was his biggest challenge as a rookie.
''Coming out of college, when you watch the game on TV it looks very slow, thought out and methodical but then you get out on court and everything's happening instantaneously and you have to make split second decisions," he said.
"That was a bit of an adjustment for me but I think Steven will be doing great for the most part. He's a coachable guy, he'll get out there and work hard, do what's asked of him and do a lot of the small things at first, that will make him stand out from the pack. And from there build on his role.''
Lopez is a self described ''big nerd and geek'' so he was in his element this morning as he received a tour of Wellington's Weta Workshop.
It is not his first visit to New Zealand, having watched older brother Alex play as an import for the Canterbury Rams in 2000.
''So we were in Christchurch for a little bit and saw a few of his games. I definitely took a liking to the area. I'm a big nerd and geek so I did my best to follow the trail to Mordor and see the Lord of the Rings stuff on site, I really enjoyed that as well. We were here for about three weeks.'' Adams is on a one-week holiday in New Zealand before returning to pre-season duties with the Thunder.
He was enjoying life in Oklahoma City where he is now a teammate of superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
''It's quiet but it's good because all you do then is just focus on basketball,'' Adams said.
''They're cool, Westbrook and KD, they're pretty mean. I've never been star struck bro, I don't know, I just see them as normal people. Especially if I'm going to be playing with them, it's never really hit me. I just see them as players but I definitely have mad respect for them and what they've done and accomplished.''
Adams said he hoped to play for the Tall Blacks at next year's World Cup in Spain and he will make an announcement about his international future later today.
He was soaking up as much knowledge as possible while on tour with Lopez.
''Just professionalism really, how you hold yourself around the public and stuff like that. You can still be yourself but you've got to be professional about it. I've got a good support group around me, a good team that makes sure I don't go down the wrong path. So it's been easy I guess, just because they're protecting me.''
Basketball | NBA All-Star Lopez backs Adams to succeed... | Stuff.co.nz
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2006/12/07
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Long-term success in the NBA is hard to come by, but owners and general managers can help sustain prosperity well into the future with savvy financial dealings.
Whether it's locking up a young prospect early at a nice rate or picking up quality veteran talent at a reduced rate, there are a number of moves that the league's top-rate franchises repeatedly make in pursuit of championships.
There's also the flip side, when team management doesn't take the financially prudent route. Whether it's signing a big name whose game isn't deserving of a big payday or simply overpaying for role players, we've seen how far franchises can be set back.
For the purposes of this slideshow, first-round draft picks who are still on their rookie deals were exempt for the simple reason that their salaries are determined by the rookie wage scale. Second-round picks, however, were considered because they receive no guaranteed money.
Pictures: The Most Overpaid and Underpaid Player on Every NBA Team | Bleacher Report
Whether it's locking up a young prospect early at a nice rate or picking up quality veteran talent at a reduced rate, there are a number of moves that the league's top-rate franchises repeatedly make in pursuit of championships.
There's also the flip side, when team management doesn't take the financially prudent route. Whether it's signing a big name whose game isn't deserving of a big payday or simply overpaying for role players, we've seen how far franchises can be set back.
For the purposes of this slideshow, first-round draft picks who are still on their rookie deals were exempt for the simple reason that their salaries are determined by the rookie wage scale. Second-round picks, however, were considered because they receive no guaranteed money.
Pictures: The Most Overpaid and Underpaid Player on Every NBA Team | Bleacher Report
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2006/12/07
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So Mike Krzyzewski is really enforcing only one rigid policy when it comes to the 28 young pros summoned to Sin City to become fully fledged members of the Team USA talent pool.
Coach K's decree: No specific questions allowed about any of those 28 participants.
Any attempt on the opening day of Team USA practices to engage Krzyzewski about any particular player was swatted away with essentially the same vow: "I'm not going to focus on any one individual."
"Not even Kyrie," Krzyzewski insisted.
Yet it should come as little surprise that Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, reunited here in the desert with his old Duke coach, was by no means the first player Krzyzewski got asked about after the first of three practice days leading up to an NBA TV-televised intrasquad scrimmage Thursday night.
The camper attracting the most attention and generating the greatest curiosity on the campus of UNLV was inevitably Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins, precisely one year removed from a chaotic stint in Vegas with the USA Basketball select team that had USAB chairman Jerry Colangelo openly questioning Cousins' maturity. The pack of reporters around Cousins after Monday's maiden workout was so deep that John Calipari, who attended the session as a guest of USA Basketball to see some of his former players, jokingly complained that "I couldn't find him."
Calipari was looking for Cousins to inform him that they'd be dining together Monday night, where it's reasonable to assume that the Sacramento manchild was reminded once again by his college coach how crucial it is that he capitalize on this second chance afforded by Colangelo and Krzyzewski.
"What's going on for him here [in Las Vegas]," Calipari said, "is the best thing for his career."
Playing for your country, Calipari went on to explain, is the best and fastest way that Cousins will learn to embrace the idea of "taking pride in something other than himself" after three roller-coaster seasons with the Kings so far.
"If you want to make [the Team USA roster next summer]," Calipari continued, "you make everybody better or you're not making the team."
Or as Krzyzewski himself described it when asked what he's generally looking for from the players assembled here: "The ability to blend your talent willingly with other people who have talents ... blending your talents with other talented people in a willing manner."
And that's where Cousins, for all the (mostly) conciliatory comments he made to the media pack surrounding him, clearly still has work to do.
He repeatedly thanked Colangelo for the opportunity at redemption, earnestly tried to downplay any notion of trying to force his way out of Sacramento and even volunteered the idea that he has been studying the defense-first role Tyson Chandler filled at last summer's Olympics under the premise that he thinks he can provide the same at the 2014 World Cup of Basketball in Spain.
However ...
Cousins' humility went missing when he was pressed to elaborate on his intent to "come in and try to be the best big [in camp]."
Asked to identify his competition for that unofficial title -- in a camp that also features the likes of Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, Derrick Favors, DeAndre Jordan, Greg Monroe and Larry Sanders -- Cousins shot back with a quick: "Nobody."
Boogie defenders out there will undoubtedly say that Cousins merely gave in to a one-quote rush of his usual bravado that shouldn't be overanalyzed. Yet the reality, given Cousins' rocky history and the spirit of uber-cooperation and teamwork Team USA officials expect in this environment, is it's a comment that doesn't exactly help Cousins' cause.
"Look," Calipari said, "everybody's expecting him, because of his physical body, to be a 29-year-old. He's not."
Calipari went on to reveal that he had already counseled Cousins before this mini-camp opened and likewise huddled with Colangelo to help those running the national-team program try to get the best out of the 6-foot-11, 270-pound enigma. Krzyzewski, according to Calipari, hasn't directly asked for advice on the best buttons to push, but you can understand why USAB wants to give the Boogie Experiment every chance to succeed. Surely everyone in the game sees the potential Cousins possesses, particularly in the international arena, with his ability to rebound and pass and, of course, score in a variety of ways.
"Big guys with those kinds of skills are [made for] FIBA basketball," said Calipari, who nearly coached his way into the London Olympics in last summer's gig with the Dominican Republic.
Said Colangelo: "I've been around the game a long time. Things happen. You set them aside, you bury these things and you move on. It was overplayed last summer for sure, but that's last year. I never had a doubt I'd bring him back if he deserved to come back."
Another invite, frankly, was inevitable. Cousins, after all, doesn't even turn 23 until August. It would be lunacy to write him off this early in his career.
Yet you can rest assured that he's being watched closely and evaluated daily by numerous USAB eyeballs, no matter how little we get from Krzyzewski in terms of progress reports.
According to the whispers emanating from UNLV's Mendenhall Center, Portland's Damian Lillard, Utah's Gordon Hayward and collegian Doug McDermott of Creighton were among the Day 1 standouts, with the Los Angeles Clippers' Jordan said to have made his presence felt defensively.
The Sacramento King sporting the No. 36 jersey, meanwhile, had to settle for making a post-practice splash, with Cousins thrust into the media spotlight essentially for the first time since the consortium led by Vivek Ranadive bought the Kings from the Maloof family and promptly installed Mike Malone as Sacramento's new coach and Pete D'Alessandro as the its new general manager.
"He came in with a great attitude, he h