InsideHoops
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Ronny Turiaf has broken left hand
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG20
Ronny Turiaf has been replaced by Ali Traore in France’s squad for EuroBasket, which begins on 31 August, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) confirmed on their website on Friday.
Turiaf fractured his left hand on Tuesday during France’s game with Great Britain at the London Olympic Test Event.
Rumours since the break suggested that the injury was less significant than first suspected and that the 28-year-old centre would recover in time for the tournament, that also serves as a qualifier for next year’s Olympics.
The FFBB confirmed he has fractured the fourth metacarpal of his left hand and will be out for at least three to four weeks.
– Reported by FIBA
Chinese Basketball Association bans contracted NBA players from playing for local teams
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG19
This was widely reported as expected to happen, but now it appears the overlords of basketball in China have no interest in letting teams sign players with NBA contracts, only to see those players abandon their Chinese teams once the NBA lockout ends.
The Associated Press reports:
The Chinese Basketball Association will restrict contracted NBA players from playing for domestic teams in the event the season is canceled, but will still allow free agents, state media reported Friday.The CBA would bar players under contract such as Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. They and others had expressed interest in playing in China if the NBA lockout drags on and results in the cancellation of all or part of the 2011-12 season.The CBA said it will welcome free agent NBA players, but will require them to play an entire season in China, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
This cuts off what was possibly going to be a huge destination for some pretty good NBA players in the event that the lockout was going to ruin a sizable chunk of next NBA season.
Rockets forward Chase Budinger enters beach volleyball tourney
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG19
Chase Budinger of the Houston Rockets has entered the men’s open division of the Corona Light Wide Open beach volleyball tournament to be played Saturday and Sunday.
The former Arizona star, who has played the last two seasons with the Rockets, will partner with former UC Santa Barbara all-star Dane Jensen. Budinger was a two-sport standout at La Costa Canyon High in San Diego County. He won the 2006 Mizuno National Player of the Year Award in volleyball and was named a McDonald’s All-American in basketball.
With NBA players locked out by owners, no one is sure if there will be a 2011-12 season.
“Volleyball has always been a passion of mine, and it has been great to get back out on the beach and train,” Budinger said in a statement. “I’m really excited about this opportunity and I’m looking forward to seeing how my skills match up against some of the top players.”
– Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle blog
Hawks draftee Keith Benson to play in Italy
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG19
Former Oakland men’s basketball standout Keith Benson will be heading to the island of Sardinia to play professional basketball with Italian team Sassari, Oakland coach Greg Kampe said on Thursday. A second-round pick by the Atlanta Hawks, the 6-foot-11 Benson was the first Oakland player selected in the NBA draft.
“We’re delighted for Keith,” said Kampe. “I know he has worked hard in the past couple of months with our strength coach Todd Wohlfeil and he has his weight up to 233, with a goal of 240.”
– Tom Markowski of the Detroit News
Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa signs in Brazil
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG19
Leandro Barbosa doesn’t feel like sitting around doing nothing if the NBA lockout extends into the basketball season.
The AP reports:
Toronto Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa has signed a deal to play in his native Brazil.Barbosa signed with Rio de Janeiro-based club Flamengo. The deal includes a clause that would allow him to return to the NBA if the lockout ends.A statement on Flamengo’s website says Barbosa signed Thursday. Details of the deal weren’t released.
Barbosa was the third leading scorer on the Raptors last season, averaging 13.3 points per game. The team had the third worst record in the league, finishing 22-60.
It’s likely that over the next couple weeks, plenty of other bench-level NBA players will take this route.
Lakers donate part of playoff bonus to help staff during lockout
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG19
The Lakers were in a foul mood after getting eliminated from the playoffs in a shocking sweep by Dallas in May, but some players remembered to make financial considerations before scattering for the off-season.
Kobe Bryant insisted on giving some of the team’s playoff bonus to two members of the Lakers’ video department whose contracts were not renewed after the season. Chris Bodaken and Patrick O’Keefe split about $65,000 of the Lakers’ playoff bonus.
Bodaken started with the Lakers as a ball boy in 1986 and spent the last 10 seasons as their director of video services. O’Keefe was the Lakers’ video coordinator for six seasons. They both hope to be re-hired by the team when the NBA lockout ends. For now, they are thankful for Bryant’s financial gesture.
“He always looks out for people who are lower on the totem pole,” O’Keefe said.
Said Bodaken: “At the end of the day, he told us he was going to take care of us and he did, and that’s not how most people in the world operate. He not only talks the talk. He walks it.”
– Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times
Kendrick Perkins pleads not guilty
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG18
Oklahoma City Thunder starting center Kendrick Perkins has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 30.
According to documents released to The Associated Press on Thursday after an open records request, Perkins entered his plea by mail through attorney Langston Adams. He was arrested just after 2 a.m. Saturday in Beaumont, Texas, where an event for his charitable foundation was being held.
Denise White, a spokeswoman for Perkins, says doctors instructed Perkins to stay in bed and drink fluids after he passed out while playing dominoes at Milwaukee Bucks guard Stephen Jackson’s home last Thursday.
– The Associated Press
Spurs hire Matt Herring as Director of Athletic Performance
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG17
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Matt Herring has joined the organization as the team’s Director of Athletic Performance.
Herring comes to San Antonio after spending the past five years as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the University of Florida men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf programs. He was an integral part of the Gators back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Prior to his stint in Gainesville, he helped the Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball program reach the 2004 Final Four. He arrived at Oklahoma State University after spending two years as an intern at the University of Texas.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt Herring to the Spurs family to serve as our Director of Athletic Performance,” President of Sports Franchises R.C. Buford said. “Coming from one of the premier programs in college basketball led by Billy Donovan at Florida, Matt brings championship credentials with him and we look forward to the contributions he will bring to our team.”
Herring earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise sports science from Southwest Texas in 1994. He achieved his M.Ed. in kinesiology from the University of Texas in May of 2002. He is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and USA Weightlifting. He also is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Sports Performance Coach.
Prior to joining the strength and conditioning field, the Austin native was a teacher in the Schertz school district from 1994-99.
Dominican Republic, coached by John Calipari, beats Kentucky Pros in exhibition again
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG17
The Dominican Republic swept its two-day exhibition tour of Kentucky, beating a team of former Wildcats Pros 91-86 Tuesday night.
The intensity on the court sure didn’t feel like an August exhibition.
NBA star Rajon Rondo led fellow former Wildcats John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight in a final-minute full court press but couldn’t complete a comeback over the Dominican squad coached by John Calipari. Rondo and Knight both took fourth quarter charges…
Wall, the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick for the Washington Wizards in 2010, led the Pros with 26 points. Backup Eulis Baez had 17 points and nine rebounds for Dominican, which also won Monday night at Lexington’s Rupp Arena, 106-88.
Calipari rested NBA All-Star Al Horford and former University of Louisville stars Francisco Garcia and Edgar Sosa in the second half. Calipari said he needed to see more players as he tries to winnow his roster in preparation for the Americas tournament, set for Aug. 30-Sept. 11 in Argentina. The winner of that event will earn an automatic bid to London’s 2012 Olympics.
– The Associated Press
Jimmmy King in court on child support claim
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG17
University of Michigan “Fab Five” member and ex-Toronto Raptors player Jimmy King said he is working with authorities to resolve a child support claim after being arrested earlier this month. The state says he failed to pay $17,000.
“We are working with the attorney general’s office,” King told reporters Tuesday outside a hearing in Pontiac. “We are going to do everything in our power to make sure that this is taken care of. I’m just going to continue doing what I’m doing to support my family.”
King, 38, is scheduled to return to court Sept. 9 for a preliminary hearing.
– The Associated Press
Basketball referee Troy Raymond commits suicide
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG16
College basketball and former NBA referee Troy Raymond committed suicide in a New Orleans hotel room late last week just hours after police found his wife’s body in their Houston-area home.
Police found his wife, Leslie Anderson Raymond, 41, deceased at their home in Spring, Texas, at 2:08 p.m. on Friday.
Constable Tim Holifield of Montgomery County Precinct Three told CBSSports.com that the medical examiner ruled the cause of death a homicide caused by asphyxiation due to manual strangulation.
“We’re not prepared to tell you who’s responsible,” Holified said. “But certainly Mr. Raymond is a person of interest — and his death brings about more questions than answers.”
Holified said that during the course of the investigation while at the residence on Friday, investigators were notified that Troy Raymond had been found dead in a hotel in New Orleans due to a single gunshot wound to the head.
– Reported by Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports.
Scottie Pippen wins $2.37M judgment over airplane deal
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG16
Former NBA basketball star Scottie Pippen has won a $2.37 million judgment against a Miami businessman, Craig Frost, and a Miami company, CF Air.
Pippen, who has a home in Fort Lauderdale, and his wife, Larsa Pippen, filed suit against Frost in 2007 regarding Pippen’s disastrous ownership of his own airplane through a company called Air Pip.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Air Pip had fallen apart in 2004, and Pippen lost a related $5 million judgment in Missouri to U.S. BankbizWatch . Pippen lost a further appeal of that judgment in 2007.
Pippen tried to argue that he was a victim of a conspiracy by those he trusted to put together the airplane deal.
– Paul Brinkmann of the South Florida Business-Journal
Police to interview Kobe Bryant about sprained wrist of fellow churchgoer
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG16
Police said Tuesday they were seeking to interview Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant over allegations he sprained the wrist of a man possibly trying to take his picture at a San Diego church.
The man said Bryant, who has won five NBA championship rings with the Lakers, grabbed his wrist and took his phone away, only to give it back when he found no photos of himself or his wife inside, San Diego Police Detective Gary Hassen told Reuters.
“Detectives have the case and are hoping to talk with Mr. Bryant,” Hassen said of the incident at Carmel Valley Catholic Church on Sunday.
The man, who was not identified by authorities, was treated for a sprained wrist at a local hospital, Hassen said.
– Reuters
Members of Nets given OK to attend Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries wedding
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG16
The New Jersey Nets can accept their invitation to Kim Kardashian’s wedding.
A team official says the Nets have been granted permission to attend the reality star’s marriage to forward Kris Humphries on Saturday in California.
General manager Billy King and other members of the Nets’ basketball operations department are expected to attend the ceremony of their free agent forward, the official told The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the guest list was to remain private.
– As reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press
Hornets continue drive for sponsorships, ticket sales despite NBA lockout
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG16
The NBA’s current lockout has not hindered the Hornets’ push to solicit more support from area businesses and fans.
Entergy, the lone Fortune 500 company in the metro area, agreed Monday to become the Hornets’ fourth major Crescent City Champions sponsor, joining Cox Communications, 7-UP and Ochsner Health System.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but each Crescent City sponsorship deal is estimated to be about $1 million, sources said.
“Building strong corporate support for the Hornets in New Orleans is fundamental to our mission to keep the team in this great city and to ultimately find local ownership,’’ Hornets president Hugh Weber said.
– Report by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
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Eddy Curry is losing weight, allegedly
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG15
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:
Center Eddy Curry is increasing his chances of generating serious interest from the Heat. Respected Chicago-based trainer Tim Grover said last week that since Curry’s workout with Miami in late June, he has lost another 28 pounds and is now at 300. Curry weighed 350 when he auditioned for Miami in March. Curry intrigues Pat Riley, who might offer him a minimum deal postlockout if he loses another 12 pounds or so. His skills “are there, no question,” Grover said.
Nuggets guard Ty Lawson will play in Lithuania during NBA lockout
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG15
Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports:
The reality of the NBA lockout is hitting home as the Nuggets’ point guard Ty Lawson — one of the team’s top players — said today he has signed to play with a team in Lithuania called Zalgiris Kaunas.
Lawson said agreed Sunday to play for this team, which also features former Nugget teammate Sonny Weems.
“It’s the best situation for me to go out there,” Lawson said by phone. “Being at home, I’m not saying I’m a lazy person, but I want to be in the gym. And plus, it’s a new experience going out to Lithuania, so why not? It was a no-brainer.
“And as soon as the lockout ends, I can come right back and be with the Denver Nuggets.”
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Milwaukee Bucks name Sidney Moncrief assistant coach
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG15
General Manager John Hammond announced today that Sidney Moncrief has been added as an assistant coach to the 2011-12 Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff. Moncrief, who played 10 seasons with the Bucks, most recently ran his own consulting and motivational training practice for businesses and corporations, in addition to consulting with international basketball teams. Moncrief joins Jim Boylan, Joe Wolf, Bill Peterson and Anthony Goldwire on the coaching staff of Head Coach Scott Skiles.
Moncrief, 53, won the league’s first two Defensive Player of the Year awards (1983 and 1984), is a five-time NBA All-Star (1982-86) and was named to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams five times in his career. He is among the franchise leaders in points (11,594, third), games (695, second), minutes (22,054, second), field goals (4,000, eighth), free throws (3,505, first), rebounds (3,447, seventh), assists (2,689, second) and steals (874, third). Moncrief’s jersey #4 was retired by the Bucks in a Bradley Center ceremony on January 6, 1990.
In addition to his individual success, Moncrief’s teams won seven consecutive division titles starting with his arrival in 1979 and also won 50-plus games in seven consecutive seasons. The Bucks were 522-298 (.637) while he was with the team and advanced to the playoffs in each of his 10 seasons, including three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Moncrief played collegiately at the University of Arkansas and was selected by the Bucks in the first round (5th overall pick) of the 1979 NBA Draft. He finished his playing career in 1990-91 with the Atlanta Hawks, after not playing in the 1989-90 season. Moncrief’s coaching career began as head coach at the University of Arkansas – Little Rock for the 1999-2000 season. He was an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks (2000-2003), head coach of the Fort Worth Flyers in the D-League for the 2006-07 season and an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors from 2007-2009.
Moncrief replaces Kelvin Sampson, who took a coaching position with the Houston Rockets.
Tulsa Shock lose 17th straight WNBA game
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG14
The AP reports:
Seimone Augustus scored 16 points and the Minnesota Lynx handed the Tulsa Shock their WNBA record-tying 17th straight loss with an 82-54 victory on Sunday night.
In a matchup of the teams with the best and worst records in the league, the Lynx (18-5) won their 11th in 12 games, while Tulsa fell to 1-22.
Lindsay Whalen chipped in 12 points and nine assists for Minnesota.
Sheryl Swoopes scored nine points for the Shock, who will try to avoid setting a new league record for consecutive losses when they face the Los Angeles Sparks at home next Sunday. Tulsa is tied with the Atlanta Dream, who lost the first 17 games of their inaugural 2008 season.
Kendrick Perkins arrested in Texas night club
Posted by Inside Hoops
AUG13
The Chicago Tribune reports:
Authorities have charged Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kendrick Perkins with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and public intoxication after an altercation early Saturday morning in South Texas.
A statement from police in Beaumont, Texas, said officers saw a large crowd outside The Ticket night club just after 2 a.m., and received complaints of fights and pepper spray inside.
An officer saw about 50 people inside around Perkins, who police said was attempting to fight the club’s manager. The statement said the crowd pushed Perkins out the back door of the club, where he continued to yell obscenities and start other fights.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Kendrick was probably scowling at some point during the evening.
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