nba.102nba.news,
Hoosier Hysteria's poster boy still trying to break into NBA
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Jul 20, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- More than Oscar
Robertson, even more than Larry Bird, Damon Bailey was the poster boy
for Hoosier Hysteria.
Coach Bob Knight said Bailey could have played for Indiana as an
eighth-grader. He scored more points than anyone else in the state's
storied prep history. A national record crowd of 40,000 packed the
Hoosier Dome to watch him win the state high school championship as a
senior in 1990.
He was the best in the only sport that mattered in this state.
But now, three years after graduating from Indiana, Bailey is still
searching for a home in the NBA.
"I'm just kind of waiting to see what happens now," he said. "I'll
definitely try to get into some NBA camps this fall and see what
happens. It's something you've got to wait and see."
This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. He is, after all, Damon
Bailey, Indiana Mr. Basketball and USA Today's player of the year in
1990. People predicted great things for him and for a time he exceeded
the expectations.
Somewhere along the way, though, he got lost in the shuffle. His
career at Indiana was solid, not spectacular. His stint in the NBA
with the Indiana Pacers was over before it began. He's spent the past
two years in France and with the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury, trying to make
the transition to point guard, a position better suited for his
height, 6-3.
"Players who leave Indiana are basketball players," said Keith Smart,
a former Hoosier who was Bailey's teammate on the Fury last season and
is now the coach.
"They can pass, rebound, shoot and defend. But as you move to the next
level, you get labeled. You're (supposed to be) a point guard or
whatever," said Smart, who hit the most famous shot in Indiana history
to win the 1987 national championship against Syracuse. "All the gifts
are there. He has the package to play. Now, it's just a matter of
getting with the right team."
At times, Bailey has displayed the talent that won him Knight's praise
and a national following. But there have been other times when he
hasn't looked as quick or sharp as he once did -- or maybe it's just
that the competition is tougher.
"It's been rough," Bailey admitted. "Trying to learn to play a new
position at the professional level is probably not the easiest place
to learn to play a position."
Injuries haven't helped. He's had knee problems since his days at
Indiana, where he was primarily a shooting guard, and has had surgery
four times in the past two years. He spent his entire rookie season
and parts of the other two on the injured list.
Through it all, he's had to deal with the expectations of an entire
state. Kids still wear his jersey and he can't go anywhere without
being surrounded by fans. When he played for Fort Wayne, fans wanting
to see him would drive three hours from Bloomington, home of the
Hoosiers.
Despite the setbacks, Bailey hasn't lost the bright-eyed enthusiasm he
had as a teenager in the tiny southern Indiana town of Heltonville.
He knows there are people who think he should have chosen a college
that would have built the offense around him. But Bailey wanted to
play for Knight; he wanted the unrelenting demands and pressure, and
the chance to play for a national championship, which he never won.
"I feel I am a better player because of coach Knight, and I feel that
every year we were one of the teams that was fighting for the national
championship," he said. "Would I have been a better player if I'd gone
somewhere else? I don't know and I'll never know that. That's
something that every player that goes to any school has to live with."
He also doesn't waste much time wondering where he'd be if a team
besides the Pacers had drafted him. No matter who took him, he had to
learn to play point guard. Yes, it probably would have been easier to
be on a team that didn't already have three point guards, but that
didn't happen.
Though he was devastated when the Pacers cut him, Bailey isn't bitter.
"I feel I got a chance," he said. "You can't take things personal at
this level. If you take things personal, then you're not going to be
here very long."
Bailey, 25, said the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics have
shown some interest in him, but he's not making any plans beyond the
fall. He's spending the summer running basketball camps and relaxing
with his wife, Stacey, and their 9-month-old daughter, Alexa, in
Heltonville.
He hasn't given up his dream of playing for the Pacers, especially now
that Bird is the coach. And as long as Bailey is playing somewhere,
he'll be happy.
This is what he's worked for all of his life and the
longer-than-expected wait makes him appreciate it even more.
"There are probably times you wonder if it's all worth it," he said.
"But the answer has always been, 'Yeah, it is worth it. This is a lot
of fun."'
nba.103junior,
-> #99, nba.news> Boston Celtics
> Eric Murdock 17 3 5 2 2 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 0 11
Jel' on potpisao za Boston, ili je samo u kampu?
nba.105nba.news,
Nuggets sign first-round pick Battie
DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets signed the last of their three
first-round draft picks Monday, coming to terms with center Tony
Battie, the fifth overall selection.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the maximum Battie can
receive under the rookie salary cap is a three-year deal worth $6.717
million. He joins forward Danny Fortson and guard Bobby Jackson,
first-rounders who signed last week.
The 6-11 Battie entered the NBA draft a year early, leaving after his
junior year at Texas Tech. He averaged 18.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and
2.5 blocked shots last season with the Red Raiders, who did not make
the NCAA Tournament due to academic and compliance problems.
"We felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to pick one of the top
centers in this year's draft," said Nuggets vice president Allan
Bristow. "We think that Tony will improve our club tremendously this
year."
At 230 pounds, Battie may be undersized at center, a position he could
grow into. He has good instincts beneath the basket at both ends of
the court and was the only Big 12 Conference player to average double
figures in points and rebounds.
"What's important to me as a coach is to have a team that has speed
and quickness, and Tony has that," said Nuggets coach Bill Hanzlik.
"He has size, to go along with that. He's a shot-blocker; he can
rebound and get up and down the floor. He'll complement the things
that Danny Fortson and Bobby Jackson can do in that rookie class. It's
the first step for us to go forward and build this team and build it
the way we want to play basketball."
nba.104nba.news,
Wizards re-sign Legler, Ben Wallace
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Washington Wizards took another step today to
keeping their core group of players intact, re-signing free agent
guard Tim Legler and forward Ben Wallace to undisclosed contracts.
Legler appeared in just 15 games last season due to injury and
averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds. He tore his right ACL late in
the 1995-96 season and suffered strained posterior capsules in the
reconstructed knee on Feb. 15. Legler underwent minor arthroscopic
surgery on the knee earlier this off-season.
A basketball vagabond who has played for six NBA teams and in three
minor leagues in eight years as a pro, Legler averaged a career-high
9.4 points per game in 1995-96 and led the NBA in three-point shooting
at 52.2 percent.
"We feel like both of these players will continue to be important
contributors to this team," Wizards vice president Wes Unseld said.
"Tim's shooting touch and Ben's ability to defend and rebound are
critical components to our team taking the next step."
Wallace, a 6-9 forward, averaged 1.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 34
games with Washington last season. He joined the team as a rookie free
agent after being invited to the team's training camp last season.
With the signings, Washington has two free agents remaining -- forward
Harvey Grant and guard Jaren Jackson.
nba.107nba.news,
Heat sign first-round draft pick
Miami, FL (TSN) - The Miami Heat have signed their first-round draft
pick, center Charles Smith. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Smith, who started all 126 games of his collegiate career for New
Mexico, was selected 26th overall in June's draft. Smith is the
all-time leading scorer in Lobos history with 1,993 points. Last
season he averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
He was an honorable mention All-America choice as a senior and he was
a two-time first-team selection in the Western Athletic Conference.
nba.108nba.news,
Foyle to have foot injury examined
Center Adonal Foyle, the first-round draft pick of the Golden State
Warriors, was to be examined by team doctors Monday night to determine
the extent of a foot injury suffered last week.
The 6-foot-10 Foyle, selected eighth overall by the Warriors in the
June draft, suffered the injury Thursday while playing in the Jersey
Shore Summer League in New Jersey.
Unsigned but scheduled to receive $5.1 million over three years under
the rookie salary scale, Foyle was to be examined by Dr. Michael
Krinsky.
Foyle figured to be a big part of the 1997-98 plans for the Warriors,
who went 33-49 last season and totally revamped their staff, hiring
P.J. Carlesimo as coach and Garry St. Jean as general manager. In a
separate move today, former Cleveland Cavaliers executive Gary
Fitzsimmons was named assistant general manager of basketball
operations.
With Felton Spencer at center last season, the Warriors allowed
opponents to shoot 48 percent from the field. They were counting on
Foyle to improve their defense. Foyle set the NCAA record for blocked
shots with 492 in three seasons at Colgate.
As a junior, Foyle averaged 24.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He
reminds some scouts Dikembe Mutombo. Foyle played high school
basketball in Hamilton, New York after growing up on the island of
Canovan in the Grenadines.
nba.109nba.news,
Would-be agent defends threats to Camby
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- A would-be sports agent, accused of trying to
extort money from basketball star Marcus Camby, claims his threats to
go public with allegations of wrongdoing were both legal and logical.
In court Monday, lawyers for Wesley Spears asked a judge to dismiss
the charges of larceny by extortion and promoting prostitution.
Camby has admitted to investigators that Spears sent expensive gifts
to him through some of his friends before he turned pro, a violation
of NCAA rules.
Police also allege that Spears arranged sexual liaisons with
prostitutes for Camby and his friends. The meetings took place in
Camby's dormitory room at the University of Massachusetts and at
Spears' West Hartford home, according to an arrest affidavit.
In filing a criminal complaint against Spears, Camby claimed that two
months before the 1996 NBA draft, Spears demanded to become his agent,
and threatened to publicize the illegal gifts by filing a lawsuit if
Camby refused. Spears allegedly sent a draft copy of a lawsuit to
Camby's mother.
Spears' attorney, Hubert Santos, said there was nothing illegal about
the threatened lawsuit. He said Camby failed to pay Spears back for
money and gifts given after Camby promised that Spears would be his
agent.
Santos also argued that the state's extortion law is
unconstitutionally vague and an infringement on free speech.
Prosector Daniel Krisch argued for the state that the extortion law is
aimed a those who illegally threaten to publicly embarrass a victim,
when all they need to do is bring a lawsuit. He pointed out that
Spears drafted, but never filed, his lawsuit.
Camby, a Hartford native who left UMass after his junior year and now
plays for the NBA's Toronto Raptors, denies he ever promissed that
Spears would be his agent. He is represented by ProServe, a nationally
know sports agency.
In court, Santos claimed the criminal complaint was simply a
"pre-emptive strike" by ProServe, which was trying to stop Spears from
suing and publicly embarrassing Camby just before last year's NBA
draft.
He also quoted from a statement Camby made to prosecutors, arguing
that it showed Camby and his friends were defrauding Spears and should
have been arrested themselves.
In the statement, Camby admits that in May of 1996 he failed to tell
Spears he already had an agent, and continued to ask for favors.
"We told Wes that we needed two stereos that we had seen at the Wiz
store," Camby said in the statement. "I knew we were just scamming
Spears at the time 'cause I had already signed with ProServe, but we
decided to take him one last time."
Hartford Superior Court Judge John P. Maloney reserved a decision on
Santos' request to throw out the charges.
Tony Dutt, Camby's ProServe agent, said he was not the person to
comment on the case. Camby and other representatives of ProServe could
not be reached for comment.
nba.106nba.news,
Jazz sign Jacque Vaughn to three-year deal
SALT LAKE CITY -- Jacque Vaughn, the 27th overall pick in the NBA
draft, signed a three-year deal with the Utah Jazz on Monday.
The contract, according to rookie salary guidelines, will be worth
between $1.7 million and just over $2 million dollars.
The 22-year-old point guard from Kansas is working out in the Jazz
rookie and free agent camp and is scheduled to play in the upcoming
Rocky Mountain Revue which begins Friday.
Vaughn was named second team All-America by the Associated Press for
two straight seasons, and was a selected to the All-America teams by
The Sporting News, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and
the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. He was also named the Big 12
Athlete of the Year.
Vaughn will be expected to split minutes with Howard Eisley in
relieving veteran point guard John Stockton. Eisley is one of three
free agents the Jazz have yet to re-sign.
After the draft, Scott Layden, vice president of basketball
operations, expressed the team's intent to sign Eisley and Vaughn and
start the season with three point guards.
So far the Jazz have re-signed forward Antoine Carr, swingman Shandon
Anderson and forward Bryon Russell. Eisley, shooting guard Jeff
Hornacek and forward Stephen Howard remain unsigned.
Vaughn, who missed 10 games last season following wrist surgery,
averaged 10.2 points and 6.2 assists. He started four years at Kansas,
averaging 9.6 points, 6.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds. He posted a 3.72
grade-point average and graduated with a degree in business
administration.
nba.110nba.news,
Lakers in danger of losing more free agents
The re-signings of small forwards Robert Horry and Jerome Kersey are
more important than ever for the Los Angeles Lakers in the aftermath
of losing two free agents to teams who were able to outbid them.
Backup power forward Travis Knight signed with the Boston Celtics for
$22 million in a seven-year deal that has an out clause after three
seasons. And reserve shooting guard Byron Scott signed a two-year deal
with Panthinaikos of Greece for $2.5 million. Panthinaikos is the same
team Dominique Wilkins played for in 1995-96.
In Knight, the Lakers lost a promising, young, hustling rebounder. In
Scott, they lost a veteran leader who set a great example and was
particularly a positive influence on emotional starters Nick Van Exel
and Elden Campbell.
As a shooting guard, Scott was taking minutes away from 18-year-old
phenom Kobe Bryant, whom the Lakers must keep happy in order to
re-sign next summer or in July, 1999, when he become a free agent. But
Scott was the best perimeter shooter in the second round of the
playoffs, a series the Lakers lost to Utah 4-1, and his smarts in
tight situations proved invaluable. Yet the Lakers didn't want to
commit to him in the early stages of free agency, even though he can
only make 20 percent over next season's salary cap, $326,750.
Kersey is in the same situation and he's interested in making more
money, while still playing for a contender. So the Lakers could lose
him, too. And if they do, it'll be more important than ever to add a
wise, unselfish and respected veteran for the minimum or for the
million-dollar exception.
After all, Scott and Kersey were vital to the team's maturation
process and its sound chemistry last season.
Knight also was a valued teammate and very coachable, qualities that
appear to be essential in an NBA world in which teams are rebuilt or
revamped so often. Lakers management wants continuity and stability so
its team can grow and win together. That aspect already has been
altered with the loss of Knight and Scott and it could change even
more if Kersey doesn't return. That would mean adding yet another
newcomer to the mix and seeing if he can meld on and off the court
with a team that has championship goals.
Despite the restraints of the salary cap last season, the Lakers did
come through with Scott and Kersey, signing the right veterans for
this group of youngsters. So there's the possibility that they could
come through again.
As for Knight, he decided to go to Boston in part because of his
respect for new Celtics coach Rick Pitino, not to mention the
impossible-to-pass-up $22 million.
Knight could not pass on the opportunity to secure his financial
future, even though he repeatedly had said he wanted to remain with
the Lakers despite their inability to offer him a substantial salary
increase (until 1998 or 1999) and regardless of what other teams
offered.
What he didn't expect was a $22 million offer.
Why did the Celtics offer so much to a rookie backup?
Well, he's 7 feet and can run the floor like he's 6-7. Plus, he
hustles on the boards and is a smart defender, particularly against
the pick-and-roll.
Knight's agent, Arn Tellem, talked to almost a dozen teams on July 1,
all of whom were interested in a 23-year-old who appears to have great
potential. In his rookie season alone, he rose from 12th man to backup
power forward and, due to injuries, started for a three week stretch.
In another stretch, Knight played more minutes than starter Elden
Campbell and was on the floor during the fourth quarter in close
games.
So Knight, who loves going to the beach in L.A. and respects Lakers
management, thought he could wait one to two seasons for a big payoff
when the Lakers could pay him substantially under either the early
bird exception or the Larry Bird exception.
But when the Celtics started talking about $3 million per year, he
began to listen.
Notes, quotes, anecdotes
The Lakers' energies are being put into the summer league, where they
hope to evaluate Paul Rogers the promising 7-footer from Gonzaga,
whose performance is important since Knight won't be back.
They'll also take a long look at DeJuan Wheat, the point guard from
Louisville, even though there's a log jam in the Lakers' backcourt.
Plus, they've invited a couple guys to play in the summer league who
could end up playing for the minimum salary if they do lose a few of
their own players to free agency.
The biggest name in that group is Shea Seals.
A 6-foot-5 guard, Seals set Tulsa's career scoring record and averaged
18.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in four seasons.
The other undrafted members on the Lakers' summer league team from the
class of '97: Virginia Tech forward Ace Custis, a two-time
all-Atlantic 10 first team selection, Texas El-Paso forward Jo-Jo
Garcia, Louisville guard Alvin Sims, and Hawaii's 7-1 center Seth
Sunberg.
Former Long Beach State forward Juaquin Hawkins, Keith Closs, a 7-3
center from Central Connecticut State, and forward Jason Sasser from
Texas Tech are free agents from the class of '96.
Ex-Michigan Fab Five guard Jimmy King and former Georgia Tech forward
James Forrest are from the class of '95.
They're on the summer league team with Rogers, Wheat and two
soon-to-be second-year Lakers guards, Bryant and Derek Fisher.
Although many summer league teams are coached by NBA assistant
coaches, the Lakers are being coached by head coach Del Harris, who
has traditionally coached summer teams. In this case, he's
particularly interested in working with Bryant, who is being groomed
for a more significant role next season.
Quote to note: "It has always been Byron's desire to stay. Los Angeles
is his city and the Lakers are where his heart is. But it may be too
good an offer to turn down." -- Agent Leigh Steinberg, prior to Byron
Scott's decision to go to Greece.
Strategy and personnel
Kersey's agent, Dan Fegan, won't specify the teams, but he says Kersey
has definite offers that he'll review late this week after a players'
association meeting.
Robert Horry should be easier to sign because the Lakers can give him
more money than most other teams in the league since only a few are
under the $24.3 million salary cap, which rises to over $25 million on
Aug. 15.
The fifth-year veteran and member of two Rockets NBA title teams was
traded twice last season and injured twice, limiting him to 54 games.
Horry averaged 7.8 points on 43 percent shooting for the Lakers, plus
1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
The Lakers' other free-agency concern is attracting a player for the
million-dollar exception, which they can use this season because they
didn't use it last season (it is available every other year during the
six-year collective bargaining agreement).
If they don't make a substantial trade -- they say they won't unless
they get a really tempting offer -- they'll probably sign a power
forward who rebounds well. With the loss of Knight and possibly
Kersey, who rebounds like a power forward, they'll need a rebounder
off the bench.
Rotation review: Starters -- Nick Van Exel (point guard); Eddie Jones
(shooting guard); Robert Horry (small forward); Elden Campbell (power
forward)l; Shaquille O'Neal (center). Bench -- Kobe Bryant (first
guard); Jerome Kersey (first forward); Sean Rooks (first center).
Medical watch: O'Neal and Horry are likely to be more agile next
season, following a summer of strength training on their respective
left knees.
nba.111nba.news,
Warriors' top pick Foyle has broken foot
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Center Adonal Foyle, the first-round pick of the
Golden State Warriors, has a broken left foot and his status for the
upcoming season will not be known until three weeks before training
camp, the team announced Tuesday.
An examination by Warriors team physician Dr. Michael Krinsky on
Monday night revealed a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in Foyle's
left foot. Foyle will have surgery performed by Krinsky at the East
Bay Surgical Center in Castro Valley, California, on Wednesday.
After surgery, the foot will be placed in a cast and Foyle will remain
in the Bay area this week to be monitored. He will be re-evaluated in
mid-September, when team doctors will determine whether Foyle can
participate in training camp, which starts in early October.
Unsigned but scheduled to receive $5.1 million over three years under
the rookie salary scale, Foyle suffered the injury last week while
playing in the Jersey Shore League. He flew to the Bay area Monday to
be examined by Krinsky.
Foyle figured to be a big part of the 1997-98 plans for the Warriors,
who went 33-49 last season and totally revamped their staff, hiring
P.J. Carlesimo as coach and Garry St. Jean as general manager. In a
separate move Monday, former Cleveland Cavaliers executive Gary
Fitzsimmons was named assistant general manager of basketball
operations.
With Felton Spencer at center last season, the Warriors allowed
opponents to shoot 48 percent from the field. They were counting on
Foyle to improve their defense. Foyle set the NCAA record for blocked
shots with 492 in three seasons at Colgate.
As a junior, Foyle averaged 24.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He
reminds some scouts of Atlanta Hawks All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo.
Foyle played high school basketball in Hamilton, N.Y. after growing up
on the island of Canovan in the Grenadines.
nba.112nba.news,
Sixers ink second-round pick
Philadelphia, PA (TSN) - The Philadelphia 76ers have signed
second-round draft pick Kebu Stewart to an undisclosed contract. The
6-foot-8 forward was the 36th overall pick out of Cal State
Bakersfield.
Stewart averaged 21.5 points and 13.4 rebounds in 33 games as a senior
last season. He was the Division II Player of the Year and led his
team to the NCAA Division II national championship. During the
1996-97 campaign, Stewart recorded double-doubles in 24 of 30 games
during the regular season.
Stewart also led the nation in rebounding last season (13.4 rpg) on
his way to setting five school records, including points in a season
(708), rebounding average (13.4 rpg), rebounds in a game (21), free
throws attempted (354) and free throws made (252). He scored a
season-high 32 points on three occasions.
nba.113nba.news,
NBA Opening Night features Bulls at Boston
NEW YORK -- A Halloween opening night with 14 games, a Christmas
doubleheader featuring rematches of last year's conference finals and
the first New Year's Eve game in 26 years highlight the 1996-97 NBA
schedule released Tuesday.
The schedule includes 26 games to be televised nationally by NBC,
which is entering the final year of its four-year, $750 million
contract to televise NBA games.
Another 70 games will appear on cable networks TNT and TBS, including
opening night matchups between Chicago and Boston and Utah vs. Los
Angeles. The Bulls-Celtics matchup will be the Boston debut for coach
Rick Pitino.
The Sacramento Kings will be the only team not in action on opening
night, Oct. 31. It is the first time in 12 years that the NBA tips off
its regular season before November.
For the second straight season, the Bulls will visit Boston in their
opener and return home to face the Philadelphia 76ers the following
night, most likely receiving their 1996-97 championship rings prior to
that game.
The defending champion Bulls will appear on national television 21
times -- the same league-high amount as the Los Angeles Lakers and New
York Knicks.
The Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers,
Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings
and Golden State Warriors will appear on national television only once
each -- all on cable.
Toronto and Vancouver also will have one game apiece cablecast on
American television, although the Raptors and Grizzlies have several
games each on Canadian national television.
The Western Conference champion Utah Jazz, who were miffed in seasons
past because they felt NBC ignored them, will make six appearances
next season on NBC. Included is a rematch of the NBA Finals on Jan. 25
at the United Center in Chicago. The other Jazz-Bulls game, Feb. 4 in
Salt Lake City, will be televised by TBS.
Opening night will be one of two nights during the season in which 28
of the 29 teams will be in action. The other is Jan. 2 following what
used to be a New Year's break that traditionally has served as an
unofficial two-day league rest period.
This season, however, a New Year's Eve game will be played between
Toronto and Washington at the MCI Center in downtown Washington, which
is scheduled to open Dec. 2. It will be the first NBA game on Dec. 31
since Boston and Philadelphia played in 1971.
"It's mainly so we can make it a festive event," Wizards spokeswoman
Maureen Lewis said. "We're looking to something different and fun, and
there will probably be something postgame to ring in the new year."
Other big NBA matchups in the 1997-98 season:
Larry Bird coaches his first game for the Indiana Pacers at New
Jersey. Bird makes his first coaching return to Boston on Jan. 18.
John Calipari and Pitino, who met in the 1996 Final Four when
Calipari's UMass squad lost to Pitino's Kentucky team in a national
semifinal, will meet for the first time as pro coaches when Calipari's
New Jersey Nets play host to the Celtics on Nov. 19.
Larry Brown returns to Indianapolis as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
for the first time on Nov. 30.
Shaquille O'Neal is scheduled to make his first appearance back in
Orlando when the Lakers travel there for a Feb. 22 game. O'Neal was
injured and did not play in last year's Lakers-at-Magic matchup.
nba.114nba.news,
Evo i zvaničnog rasporeda utakmica za narednu sezonu...
1997-98 NBA schedule
(All times Eastern)
Friday, Oct. 31
Indiana at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Boston, 8 p.m.
New York at Charlotte, 8 p.m.
Washington at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Golden State at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Denver, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 10 p.m.
Utah at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Dallas at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Golden State at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Miami at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Denver at Utah, 9 p.m.
Dallas at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Sacramento at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Portland at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 2
Detroit at New York, 6 p.m.
Orlando at Boston, 7 p.m.
Houston at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 3
Charlotte at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Washington at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Golden State at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Boston at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Seattle, 8 p.m.
Orlando at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Washington at Denver, 9 p.m.
Utah at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Portland, 10 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Miami at Boston, 7 p.m.
Golden State at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Houston at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 6
Seattle at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
New York at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7
Cleveland at Boston, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Miami at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Portland at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Denver, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
New York at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8
Toronto at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Boston at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Phoenix vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Golden State, 11 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9
Seattle at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
New York at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Detroit at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 10
San Antonio at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Portland, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Denver at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Denver at Boston, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Toronto, 8 p.m.
Washington at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Utah, 9 p.m.
Milwaukee at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Detroit at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Cleveland at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Philadelphia at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Detroit at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 14
Toronto at Boston, 7 p.m.
Miami at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Denver at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Houston, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at Utah, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at Portland, 10 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15
Indiana at Toronto, 6 p.m.
Sacramento at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16
L.A. Clippers at Atlanta, 6 p.m.
New Jersey at Cleveland, 6 p.m.
Houston at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 17
Dallas at Portland, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Houston, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Denver, 9 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Utah, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Dallas at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Boston at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Minnesota at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 20
New York at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Golden State at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Utah at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 21
New York at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Boston, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Denver at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Chicago at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22
Orlando at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Charlotte at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at New Jersey, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Golden State at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at Denver, 9 p.m.
San Antonio at Utah, 9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23
Detroit at Boston, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at New York, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 24
Portland at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Washington at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Detroit at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Miami, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at Seattle, 10 p.m.
New Jersey at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Denver at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 26
L.A. Lakers at Boston, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Portland at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Washington at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27
Vancouver at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28
Phoenix at Boston, 7 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Utah, 9 p.m.
Houston at Portland, 10 p.m.
Sacramento at Seattle, 10 p.m.
New Jersey vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Phoenix at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Dallas at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Houston at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30
Philadelphia at Indiana, 5 p.m.
San Antonio at Atlanta, 6 p.m.
Vancouver at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Orlando at Seattle, 8 p.m.
New Jersey at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Toronto at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 1
New Jersey at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Sacramento at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Washington, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
New York at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Orlando at Portland, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Chicago at Boston, 7 p.m.
Seattle at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Utah, 9 p.m.
Orlando at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Cleveland at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Sacramento at Washington, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
New York at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5
Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Utah at Portland, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Indiana at Denver, 9 p.m.
Toronto at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Orlando at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Charlotte at New York, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Washington, 7 p.m.
Houston vs. Dallas at Mexico City, 9 p.m.
Orlando at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7
Detroit at Toronto, 3 p.m.
New York at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
Seattle at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Denver, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 8
Philadelphia at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Utah, 9 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Portland, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9
New Jersey at Washington, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Seattle at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Utah at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Milwaukee at Boston, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Golden State, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Indiana at Portland, 10 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11
Minnesota at New York, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Orlando at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12
Washington at Boston, 7 p.m.
Denver at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Indiana, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Utah, 9 p.m.
Portland at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Golden State at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Atlanta at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Houston at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13
Washington at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Orlando at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Miami at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Sacramento at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 14
L.A. Clippers at Seattle, 8 p.m.
Atlanta at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Houston at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Dallas at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 15
Philadelphia at Boston, 7 p.m.
Utah at Washington, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Portland, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Utah at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at New York, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Denver, 9 p.m.
Seattle at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Dallas at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Portland at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Miami at Washington, 7 p.m.
Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m.
New York at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Detroit at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Utah at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Golden State vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19
Charlotte at Washington, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Indiana, 7 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Toronto, 8 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Portland, 10 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Chicago at New Jersey, 1 p.m.
Washington at Toronto, 6 p.m.
Indiana at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Houston at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Denver, 9 p.m.
New York at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21
Utah at Cleveland, 6 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Boston, 7 p.m.
Portland at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22
Dallas at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Golden State at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Dallas at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Boston, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Indiana at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Portland, 10 p.m.
Minnesota at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 24
No games scheduled
Thursday, Dec. 25
Houston at Utah, 3 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 26
Orlando at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Detroit, 8 p.m.
New Jersey at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Washington at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Boston at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Denver, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Seattle at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 27
Toronto at New York, 1 p.m.
Portland at Utah, 3 p.m.
Milwaukee at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Washington at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28
Minnesota at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Utah at Vancouver, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Boston at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Portland, 10 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29
Washington at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30
New Jersey at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Miami at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Denver, 9 p.m.
Boston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Philadelphia at Portland, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Seattle at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Toronto at Washington, 9 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 1
Philadelphia at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 2
Minnesota at Boston, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Washington, 7 p.m.
New York at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Toronto, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Houston at Denver, 9 p.m.
Dallas at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Philadelphia at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Atlanta at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 3
Toronto at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Orlando at New York, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Portland at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Utah, 9 p.m.
Boston at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Dallas at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 4
Phoenix at Washington, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Vancouver, 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Philadelphia at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 5
Houston at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Washington at New York, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Portland, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Phoenix at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Houston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Vancouver, 8 p.m.
Boston at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Utah, 9 p.m.
Charlotte at Seattle, 10 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Boston at Washington, 7 p.m.
Orlando at Toronto, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Miami, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Denver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Portland, 10 p.m.
Vancouver at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 8
Orlando at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Indiana at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Utah, 9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 9
Seattle at Boston, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at New York, 8 p.m.
Golden State at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Portland at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Miami at Denver, 9 p.m.
Charlotte at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 10
Minnesota at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Indiana at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 11
Atlanta at Washington, 1 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Seattle at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Charlotte at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12
New Jersey at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Golden State at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Utah, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13
San Antonio at Boston, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Orlando at Denver, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Miami at Portland, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 14
L.A. Clippers at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Washington, 8 p.m.
Golden State at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Orlando at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15
Vancouver at Boston, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16
Vancouver at Washington, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Indiana, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at Denver, 9 p.m.
Utah at Portland, 10 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17
New York at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Washington, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Orlando at Utah, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Miami at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 18
Indiana at Boston, 12 p.m.
Houston at Chicago, 2:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Milwaukee, 2:30 p.m.
Miami at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Denver at Portland, 10 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 19
Boston at New York, 1 p.m.
Sacramento at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Orlando at L.A. Lakers, 4:30 p.m.
San Antonio at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Seattle at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Detroit at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Milwaukee at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Denver at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Phoenix at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 21
Portland at Washington, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Indiana at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Detroit at Denver, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Utah, 9 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 22
Houston at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23
Utah at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Chicago at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Miami, 8 p.m.
Dallas at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 24
Minnesota at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.
New York at Detroit, 3:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Seattle, 3:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Washington, 7 p.m.
Boston at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Portland at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Denver at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 25
Utah at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 26
New York at Boston, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27
Washington at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
Atlanta at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Denver, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Portland, 10 p.m.
Chicago at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
Washington at Boston, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Miami, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at Utah, 9 p.m.
New Jersey at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 29
Milwaukee at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto at Denver, 9 p.m.
Chicago at Portland, 10 p.m.
Golden State at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Minnesota at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30
Charlotte at Boston, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Utah, 9 p.m.
San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Minnesota at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Chicago at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Toronto at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 31
Houston at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Denver, 9 p.m.
New Jersey at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 1
Miami at New York, 1 p.m.
Milwaukee at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Chicago at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m.
Houston at Boston, 7 p.m.
Utah at Golden State, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Sacramento, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Portland, 8:30 p.m.
Indiana at L.A. Clippers, 9 p.m.
New Jersey at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 2
Detroit at Washington, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at Denver, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Phoenix at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Boston at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Orlando, 8 p.m.
New York at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Portland, 10 p.m.
Utah vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Indiana at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Dallas at Boston, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Washington, 7 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Utah, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Denver, 9 p.m.
Indiana at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Portland at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5
Dallas at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6
No games scheduled
Saturday, Feb. 7
No games scheduled
Sunday, Feb. 8
All-Star Game at New York, 6 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 9
No games scheduled
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Orlando at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Houston, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Boston at Denver, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Utah, 9 p.m.
Sacramento at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Portland, 10 p.m.
Washington at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Dallas at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Seattle at San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Washington at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Cleveland at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Boston at Utah, 9 p.m.
Portland at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Houston at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Denver at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13
Dallas at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Miami, 8 p.m.
Atlanta at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Denver, 9 p.m.
Houston at Portland, 10 p.m.
Boston at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Seattle at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14
New Jersey at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Washington at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 15
Miami at Toronto, 12 p.m.
Houston at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m.
Dallas at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Detroit at Chicago, 5:30 p.m.
Cleveland at New York, 8 p.m.
Boston at Golden State, 8 p.m.
Washington at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Denver at Portland, 10 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 16
Milwaukee at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at L.A. Clippers, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Cleveland at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Indiana at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
New York at Denver, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Portland, 10 p.m.
Boston at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Milwaukee at Washington, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Utah, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Portland at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Boston at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Charlotte at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 19
Chicago at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Indiana, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Detroit at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Miami vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20
Cleveland at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Charlotte at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
New York at Portland, 10 p.m.
Boston at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Miami at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21
Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22
Houston at New York, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Milwaukee, 2:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Toronto, 3 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Orlando, 3:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Indiana at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
Denver at Seattle, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Miami at Golden State, 8 p.m.
Boston at Portland, 10 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 23
Sacramento at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Denver, 9 p.m.
Seattle at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Houston at Washington, 7 p.m.
Golden State at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Utah, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Sacramento at Boston, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Indiana, 8 p.m.
Portland at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Denver, 9 p.m.
Philadelphia at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Golden State at Washington, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Utah, 9 p.m.
nba.117nba.news,
Would-be agent says threats against Camby were legal
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (Jul 22, 1997 - 12:51 EDT) -- A would-be sports
agent, accused of trying to extort money from basketball star Marcus
Camby, claims his threats to go public with allegations of wrongdoing
were both legal and logical.
In court Monday, lawyers for Wesley Spears asked a judge to dismiss
the charges of larceny by extortion and promoting prostitution.
Camby has admitted to investigators that Spears sent expensive gifts
to him through some of his friends before he turned pro, a violation
of NCAA rules.
Police also allege that Spears arranged sexual liaisons with
prostitutes for Camby and his friends. The meetings took place in
Camby's dormitory room at the University of Massachusetts and at
Spears' West Hartford home, according to an arrest affidavit.
In filing a criminal complaint against Spears, Camby claimed that two
months before the 1996 NBA draft, Spears demanded to become his agent,
and threatened to publicize the illegal gifts by filing a lawsuit if
Camby refused. Spears allegedly sent a draft copy of a lawsuit to
Camby's mother.
Spears' attorney, Hubert Santos, said there was nothing illegal about
the threatened lawsuit. He said Camby failed to pay Spears back for
money and gifts given after Camby promised that Spears would be his
agent.
Santos also argued that the state's extortion law is
unconstitutionally vague and an infringement on free speech.
Prosector Daniel Krisch argued for the state that the extortion law is
aimed a those who illegally threaten to publicly embarrass a victim,
when all they need to do is bring a lawsuit. He pointed out that
Spears drafted, but never filed, his lawsuit.
Camby, a Hartford native who left UMass after his junior year and now
plays for the NBA's Toronto Raptors, denies he ever promised that
Spears would be his agent. He is represented by ProServe, a nationally
know sports agency.
In court, Santos claimed the criminal complaint was simply a
"pre-emptive strike" by ProServe, which was trying to stop Spears from
suing and publicly embarrassing Camby just before last year's NBA
draft.
He also quoted from a statement Camby made to prosecutors, arguing
that it showed Camby and his friends were defrauding Spears and should
have been arrested themselves.
In the statement, Camby admits that in May of 1996 he failed to tell
Spears he already had an agent, and continued to ask for favors.
"We told Wes that we needed two stereos that we had seen at the Wiz
store," Camby said in the statement. "I knew we were just scamming
Spears at the time 'cause I had already signed with ProServe, but we
decided to take him one last time."
Hartford Superior Court Judge John P. Maloney reserved a decision on
Santos' request to throw out the charges.
Tony Dutt, Camby's ProServe agent, said he was not the person to
comment on the case. Camby and other representatives of ProServe could
not be reached for comment.
nba.116nba.news,
Nuggets ponder rolling McDyess in Kemp deal
DENVER -- A month after rebuffing inquiries about Antonio McDyess,
Denver Nuggets officials are considering a trade involving the young
forward and Seattle star Shawn Kemp.
Allan Bristow, Denver's vice president for basketball operations,
acknowledged talking with the SuperSonics.
"They know we're interested," Bristow said.
Sonics officials would not comment on the report.
"I don't think we'll have any comment on that because it's coming out
of Denver," said one Sonics official. "We've said in the past that we
don't have any comment on rumors."
In June, Bristow said the Nuggets were committed to keeping McDyess,
who was drafted in 1995. He has said the 6-foot-9 power forward is a
key part of a corps of players he sees as critical to rebuilding the
team.
But Bristow also wants flexibility under the salary cap so Denver can
be an aggressive player in next summer's free-agent market.
The Nuggets are looking at the Vancouver Grizzlies' decision to
re-sign Bryant "Big Country" Reeves, a first-round pick in the 1995
draft, to a six-year extension worth $65.8 million. The fear is that
his new deal establishes a benchmark for all the other teams.
The Nuggets have until Oct. 1 to sign McDyess to a contract extension.
If Bristow decides to trade McDyess, he faces the problem of other
teams not being willing to sink a lot of money into a contract.
Meanwhile, Kemp, a five-time All-Star, has asked the Sonics to trade
him. He has six years remaining on a contract that would pay him $3.3
million next season.
Sonics owner Barry Ackerley has said he'd be happy to talk with Kemp
if the five-time All-Star forward asks for a meeting. Kemp's agent
said last week that Ackerley had not returned calls requesting a
meeting. Ackerley, in turn, issued a statement saying Sonics president
Wally Walker and other club representatives had been spurned in their
requests for a meeting with Kemp.
nba.115nba.news,
A ovako izgleda raspored direktnih prenosa na američkim kablovskim TV
stanicama. To je ujedno i lista utakmica sa koje će biti izabrane one
koje će se prenositi i na našoj televiziji...
1997-98 NBA TV schedule
(All times Eastern)
Friday, Oct. 31
Chicago at Boston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Utah at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Houston at Seattle, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Orlando at Chicago, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Nov. 7
Orlando at Detroit, 8 p.m. (TNT)
New York at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Nov. 11
San Antonio at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Nov. 12
New York at Toronto, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Nov. 14
L.A. Lakers at Houston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Nov. 18
New York at Houston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Friday, Nov. 21
New Jersey at Boston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Nov. 25
L.A. Lakers at Miami, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Miami at Orlando, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Nov. 28
New York at Detroit, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Seattle at Washington, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Dec. 3
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Dec. 5
Utah at Portland, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Dec. 9
New York at Chicago, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Dec. 10
L.A. Lakers at Golden State, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Dec. 12
Miami at Indiana, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Detroit at New York, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Dec. 17
L.A. Lakers at Chicago, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Dec. 19
Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Charlotte at Boston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Thursday, Dec. 25
Houston at Utah, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Miami at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. (NBC)
Friday, Dec. 26
Miami at Detroit, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Dec. 30
New York at Orlando, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Jan. 6
L.A. Lakers at Vancouver, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Chicago at Miami, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Jan. 9
Chicago at New York, 8 p.m. (TNT)
San Antonio at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, Jan. 13
Seattle at Chicago, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Jan. 14
San Antonio at Washington, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Jan. 16
Orlando at Phoenix, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, Jan. 18
Indiana at Boston, 12 p.m. (NBC)
Houston at Chicago, 2:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Seattle at Dallas, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Jan. 21
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Jan. 23
Orlando at Miami, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Saturday, Jan. 24
New York at Detroit, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
L.A. Lakers at Seattle, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Jan. 25
Utah at Chicago, 1 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, Jan. 27
Detroit at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Jan. 28
New York at Miami, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Jan. 30
Washington at Detroit, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, Feb. 1
Miami at New York, 1 p.m. (NBC)
Chicago at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Atlanta at Orlando, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Chicago at Utah, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Portland at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (TBS)
Sunday, Feb. 8
All-Star Game at New York, 6 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Seattle at Houston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Seattle at San Antonio, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Feb. 13
Detroit at Miami, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, Feb. 15
Houston at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Detroit at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Detroit at San Antonio, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Feb. 18
New York at Utah, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Feb. 20
Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, Feb. 22
Houston at New York, 1 p.m. (NBC)
L.A. Lakers at Orlando, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Miami at Utah, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, Feb. 25
L.A. Lakers at Indiana, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, Feb. 27
L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, March 1
L.A. Lakers at New York, 1 p.m. (NBC)
Utah at Houston, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Phoenix at Seattle, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Detroit at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, March 3
Seattle at Miami, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, March 4
Utah at Boston, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Sunday, March 8
Philadelphia at Washington, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Seattle at Minnesota, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m. (NBC)
San Antonio at Portland, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, March 10
Miami at Chicago, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, March 11
Indiana at Detroit, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Sunday, March 15
Miami at Orlando, 12 p.m. (NBC)
Utah at Detroit, 12 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, March 17
Chicago at Indiana, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, March 18
Utah at Charlotte, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Sunday, March 22
Utah at New York, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
Atlanta at Detroit, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, March 24
Phoenix at Utah, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, March 25
Chicago at Orlando, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, March 27
Houston at Orlando, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, March 29
Houston at Miami, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
San Antonio at Indiana, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, March 31
Detroit at Chicago, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, April 1
Boston at Orlando, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, April 3
L.A. Lakers at Cleveland, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, April 5
L.A. Lakers at Detroit, 1 p.m. (NBC)
Chicago at Houston, 5:30 p.m. (NBC)
Tuesday, April 7
New York at Atlanta, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, April 8
Miami at New York, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, April 10
Atlanta at Charlotte, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, April 14
Washington at New York, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Wednesday, April 15
Chicago at Detroit, 8 p.m. (TBS)
Friday, April 17
Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Saturday, April 18
New York at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, April 19
Orlando at Charlotte, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Miami at Atlanta, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Utah at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Seattle at Portland, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
nba.118nba.news,
Lakers need a backup center
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Jul 22, 1997 - 15:51 EDT) -- When Travis Knight
cleaned out his locker and headed for Boston two weeks ago, the Los
Angeles Lakers were left with a big hole on their roster -- a 7-foot
hole.
The Lakers want a backup to Shaquille O'Neal, and Keith Closs, Paul
Rogers and Seth Sundberg want the job.
At the FILA Summer Pro League, all three were on the Lakers'
invitation-only squad, all aiming to make good first impressions.
Closs, a lanky 7-3 center out of Central Connecticut, seems the
front-runner. Through six games, he has averaged 12.5 points, 6.5
rebounds and five blocks.
With his fluid movement, Closs easily beats opponents and his deft
shot-blocking enables him to stay in the game without getting into
foul trouble.
"I feel my strengths are my quick feet and being able to run my man up
and down the floor every night," Closs said. "I also think I have a
good touch from the outside. I'm able to grasp everything quickly, I'm
very attentive and I show a willingness to learn."
Lakers assistant coach Larry Drew will be among those deciding who is
invited to fall camp.
"All three of them are very good big men, but I think right now Keith
has shown, maybe, to be a little better than the other guys," he said.
"He's really played well in the summer league."
The Lakers' main concern with Closs is his strength. He weighs only
212 pounds. Rogers and Sundberg have no such problems. Rogers, the
54th pick in this year's draft, is 7-0 and 238 pounds; Sundberg is 7-1
and 265 pounds.
Rogers averaged 15 points and 6.3 rebounds during his senior year at
Gonzaga. He fractured his right foot during the fourth game of the
season and missed the rest of the year. He considers himself more a
power forward, although he can play center.
"I think I run the floor well, I'm pretty mobile and I think I can
face up and play face basketball," Rogers said. "I'm also a good team
player, I like to pass. I just want to win, really."
Through five summer league games, he has averaged nine points and four
rebounds.
"Paul, I think, has proven he's capable because he has the size, he
has the strength and he knows how to play the game," Drew said. "He's
really proven to be a good pickup for us."
Sundberg, struggling in summer league play, is more of a throwback to
the prototype NBA center who can bang inside. He uses his bulk to
maneuver inside.
"My back to the basket is probably my strongest point," Sundberg said.
"I know I'm not playing my best basketball right now so that's kind of
disappointing. But I'm just going to keep playing hard and hopefully
coach will give me a shot and I'll be able to prove to him that I'm a
good player."
Sundberg averaged 7.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and two blocks during his
senior year at Hawaii before a lacerated spleen sidelined him during
the team's stretch run. He has averaged 2.2 points, four rebounds and
one block in six summer league games.
But there's a lot of summer league left before play shifts to Utah on
Aug. 3.
"Seth hasn't been getting a lot of minutes so it's really hard to make
a decision on him," Drew said. "He is a big, strong guy who hasn't
been getting as many minutes as Keith, but I think he's also capable."
Like the 7-0, 235-pound Knight, the player who wins the job will be
asked to take up space, filling in occasionally for O'Neal or power
forward Elden Campbell.
Knight got his big chance when he was moved from benchwarmer to
starting power forward after O'Neal was injured and Campbell became
the center.
"We're really looking for a big guy that does the little things," Drew
said. "A guy that can set picks, a guy that can run the floor, a guy
that can pretty much control his territory."
Knight did just that and look what it got him -- a seven-year, $22
million contract with the Celtics.
nba.119nba.news,
Demolition workers place explosives around Omni
ATLANTA (Jul 22, 1997 - 18:33 EDT) -- Demolition experts began placing
the first of almost 3,000 explosives around the roof of the Omni on
Tuesday, preparing for the Saturday demolition of the 25-year-old
arena.
Long yellow wires dangled from the explosives in an oddly cheery
contrast to the building's rust-colored walls and the skyline's gray
wall of rain clouds. The wires will be connected just before the
implosion between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. Saturday.
Atlanta police are guarding the area around the clock, even though the
explosives are not live, said Don Schulink, vice president of
Houston-based Olshan Demolishing Management Co., which is responsible
for removing the structure's 27,000-ton skeleton of concrete and
steel.
"There's been a lot of getting ready and a lot of shot nerves,"
Schulink said of the compressed time frame for demolition. Since the
job began in June, workers have put in at least 96 hours a week to
strip the building to its core, he said.
Work is being done quickly so that a $215 million arena can open on
the same site in the fall of 1999 as the home of Atlanta's pro
basketball and hockey teams. Next year, the Atlanta Hawks will play at
the nearby Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons, and at Georgia
Tech. The Thrashers hockey team will begin play after the new arena is
built.
Demolition experts are warning observers to stay away.
"I'd love for it to rain, just to keep people away," said Mark
Loizeaux, who with his brother, Doug, owns Controlled Demolition Inc.,
the Phoenix, Md.-based company responsible for the implosion. "The
police will have their hands full securing this area."
Loizeaux also handled the demolition of the bombed-out Alfred P.
Murrah Building in Oklahoma City.
At least two Atlanta television stations will broadcast the
demolition.
The 484 pounds of explosives will be detonated from a parking deck
across the street. After five seconds of loud explosions, followed by
five seconds of silence, the Omni's steel roof will fall in, pulling
the walls behind it. The debris will fall about four stories to the
ground.
About 90 percent of the material will be recycled. Some of the steel
and concrete will be used in the new arena's base.
nba.120nba.news,
Poruka sa rasporedom utakmica za narednu sezonu je prekinuta zbog limita.
Evo nastavka...
Thursday, Feb. 26
Golden State at Washington, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Utah, 9 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27
Golden State at Boston, 7 p.m.
Portland at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Detroit, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Philadelphia at Denver, 9 p.m.
Atlanta at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 28
Miami at New Jersey, 1 p.m.
Dallas at Washington, 7 p.m.
Orlando at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 1
L.A. Lakers at New York, 1 p.m.
Denver at Indiana, 2:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Vancouver, 3 p.m.
Utah at Houston, 3:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Seattle, 3:30 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Golden State at Cleveland, 6 p.m.
Portland at Boston, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 2
L.A. Lakers at Washington, 7 p.m.
Golden State at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3
Utah at Toronto, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Miami, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Denver at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Portland, 10 p.m.
Indiana at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4
Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Boston, 8 p.m.
Indiana at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Detroit at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 5
New York at Washington, 7 p.m.
Denver at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Miami at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Detroit at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Friday, March 6
Washington at Boston, 7 p.m.
Utah at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Indiana at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Miami at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Houston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Cleveland at Atlanta, 12 p.m.
Boston at Indiana, 12:30 p.m.
Charlotte at New Jersey, 12:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington, 3 p.m.
Seattle at Minnesota, 3 p.m.
Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m.
San Antonio at Portland, 3 p.m.
Toronto at Vancouver, 3 p.m.
Chicago at New York, 5:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Denver, 9 p.m.
Monday, March 9
Orlando at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Utah, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10
Orlando at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Dallas at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Denver, 9 p.m.
Toronto at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11
Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m.
Washington at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Utah, 9 p.m.
Portland at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 12
Cleveland at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Denver, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Portland, 10 p.m.
L.A. Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13
Detroit at Boston, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Utah, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Toronto at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 14
Minnesota at Seattle, 3:30 p.m.
Washington at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Portland at Denver, 9 p.m.
Sunday, March 15
Miami at Orlando, 12 p.m.
Utah at Detroit, 12 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Vancouver, 3 p.m.
Boston at Atlanta, 3 p.m.
Indiana at New York, 6 p.m.
Dallas at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Golden State, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10 p.m.
Monday, March 16
Detroit at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
New Jersey at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
Denver at Washington, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Indiana, 8 p.m.
Boston at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at Portland, 10 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18
Vancouver at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Charlotte, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 19
Indiana at Washington, 7 p.m.
Denver at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Portland at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Boston at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, March 20
New Jersey at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Denver at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
Vancouver at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Houston at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 22
Utah at New York, 12:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Detroit, 12:30 p.m.
Portland at Miami, 3 p.m.
Chicago at Toronto, 3 p.m.
Philadelphia at Boston, 3:30 p.m.
Washington at New Jersey, 3:30 p.m.
Golden State at Orlando, 3:30 p.m.
Indiana at Milwaukee, 3:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 5 p.m.
Phoenix at San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Monday, March 23
Detroit at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m.
Sacramento at Seattle, 10 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24
Charlotte at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Orlando at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Utah, 8 p.m.
Houston at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Washington at Portland, 10 p.m.
New York at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25
Miami at Boston, 7 p.m.
Houston at Indiana, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Denver, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Washington at Seattle, 10 p.m.
New York at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26
Cleveland at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Portland, 10 p.m.
Seattle at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, March 27
Charlotte at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Boston at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Utah at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Golden State at Denver, 9 p.m.
Washington at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
New York at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Portland at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28
L.A. Lakers at Utah, 9 p.m.
New York at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Sunday, March 29
Houston at Miami, 12:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Indiana, 12:30 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta, 3 p.m.
Orlando at Toronto, 3 p.m.
Charlotte at Cleveland, 3 p.m.
Vancouver at Phoenix, 3 p.m.
Chicago at Milwaukee, 3:30 p.m.
Boston at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
Portland at Golden State, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Sacramento, 8 p.m.
Dallas at L.A. Clippers, 9 p.m.
Washington at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, March 30
No games scheduled
Tuesday, March 31
L.A. Lakers at Toronto, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Indiana, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Dallas at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Milwaukee at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1
Philadelphia at Washington, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Denver, 9 p.m.
Portland at Utah, 9 p.m.
Thursday, April 2
Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at New York, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Miami at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Dallas at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Friday, April 3
Toronto at Washington, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
Boston at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Utah, 9 p.m.
Dallas at Portland, 10 p.m.
Seattle at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Milwaukee at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 4
New York at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Sunday, April 5
Orlando at Washington, 1 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Detroit, 1 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Cleveland, 1:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Indiana, 2:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Atlanta, 3 p.m.
Utah at Vancouver, 3 p.m.
Chicago at Houston, 5:30 p.m.
Toronto at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
New York at Boston, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Sacramento, 8 p.m.
Seattle at Denver, 9 p.m.
Monday, April 6
Charlotte at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7
Cleveland at Indiana, 7 p.m.
New York at Atlanta, 8 p.m.
Miami at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Washington at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Houston at Denver, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Utah at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8
New Jersey at Boston, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at New York, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Utah, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9
Detroit at Washington, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Denver, 9 p.m.
Portland at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Houston at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, April 10
Orlando at Boston, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Charlotte, 8 p.m.
Miami at Toronto, 8 p.m.
Philadelphia at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Seattle at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Utah, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Houston at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
Portland at Vancouver, 3 p.m.
Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Orlando at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12
New York at Miami, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Charlotte, 1 p.m.
Houston at Seattle, 3:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Washington, 3:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Toronto, 6 p.m.
Indiana at Boston, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Monday, April 13
Indiana at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14
Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at New York, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Denver at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Utah, 9 p.m.
Sacramento at Portland, 10 p.m.
Vancouver at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, April 15
Milwaukee at Boston, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Washington, 7 p.m.
Orlando at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Denver at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 16
Toronto at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Utah, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Dallas at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17
Cleveland at Boston, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Portland at Denver, 9 p.m.
Utah at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Dallas at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18
Boston at Washington, 6 p.m.
Indiana at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
New York at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
Sacramento vs. L.A. Clippers at Anaheim, Calif., 11 p.m.
Vancouver at Golden State, 11 p.m.
Sunday, April 19
Detroit at New Jersey, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Toronto, 1 p.m.
Orlando at Charlotte, 3:30 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.
Utah at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 3:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Houston, 6 p.m.
Denver at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
nba.121vpoznanovic,
-> #103, junior>> > Eric Murdock 17 3 5 2 2 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 0 11
>>
>> Jel' on potpisao za Boston, ili je samo u kampu?
Samo je u kampu. Ima on još dosta da se pomuči da bi došao do ugovora sa
Bostonom. :) Igrači koje Vancouver otpušta ne mogu se baš nazvati velikim
kandidatima za angažman u drugim timovima. ;)
nba.122nba.news,
Jackson signs one-year deal with Bulls
CHICAGO -- Phil Jackson, who coached the Chicago Bulls to a fifth
title last season, agreed Wednesday to a one-year, $6 milllion
contract extension that will be his final run with the team.
"I want to emphasize this will be his last year," general manager
Jerry Krause said.
"This contract makes Phil the highest-paid, single-season, pure coach
in NBA history," Reinsdorf explained. "We will now go about the
basketball business of signing the players we think we need to defend
our championship. After that happens, we will concentrate on the
future."
The deal sets the stage for negotiations with Michael Jordan, a free
agent who was paid $30.14 million last season. Jordan said his return
to the team was contingent on Jackson coming back.
"I'm grateful for a team that loves to work together and with a great
coaching staff we are once again prepared to conquer that monster --
an NBA title," Jackson said in a statement from his Montana home. "I
am pleased that Jerry Reinsdorf and the management of the Bulls have
concurred and will allow us a chance to do it once again."
Krause, often at odds with his coach, was said to have a list of
successors already drawn up, headed by Iowa State coach Tim Floyd.
"We have signed a one-year deal with Phil. This is definitely his last
contract as Bulls coach," Krause told WMVP Radio in Chicago. "That is
a mutual concern -- we both have agreed to that. I am now in the
middle of negotiating contracts with our assistant coaches. I assume
we'll have them all back and there won't be any new additions."
Krause wouldn't speculate on Chicago's next coach. "When the time
comes, it will be announced," he said.
"Phil told me he wanted to come back for one last year and try to
defend our world championship," Reinsdorf said. "It has always been
our intention to bring back Phil for that last season and then turn
our attention to building for the future."
Jackson made $2.75 million last season, making him one of the best
bargains in pro basketball, especially when compared with the
offseason deals signed by Larry Brown at Philadelphia ($5 million a
year) and Larry Bird at Indiana (between $4 million and $4.5 million a
year). Brown has never won an NBA championship and Bird had never
coached a game on any level.
All told, 12 teams have changed coaches since the start of the 1996-97
season.
Newspapers reported that the Bulls had offered Jackson $4.3 million
for one year and that Jackson was seeking $6 million. As recently as a
week ago, his agent, Todd Musburger, characterized the Bulls' offers
as "insulting" and said the two parties were several million dollars
apart.
Despite his $6 million salary, Jackson will still earn less than Rick
Pitino at Boston. Pitino, who is earning $7 million a year over 10
years, is also the team's president.
Jordan had said he would retire if Jackson wasn't back. At
34-years-old, the world's best player said he had no interest in
breaking in a new coach or being part of a rebuilding program.
"Our next piece of business, of course, is to negotiate with Michael,"
Krause told WMVP. "We have no timetable, but we'll certainly make that
our priority right now."
Jordan also wanted forward Scottie Pippen brought back, keeping the
nucleus of the team together.
"We're entitled to defend what we have until we lose it," Jordan said
after the Bulls won their fifth championship last month. "If we lose
it, then you look at it and say, 'OK, let's change.'
Pippen has one year left on his seven-year contract. Dennis Rodman is
also a free agent. ESPN NBA analyst David Aldridge reported that the
Bulls will not likely trade Pippen and that Rodman would be brought
back but at a lower salary than last season.
The 51-year-old Jackson has a career record of 96-35 in the postseason
and his .733 winning percentage is the best in NBA playoff history. He
guided the team to an NBA-record 72 wins in the 1995-96 regular season
and Chicago registered 69 wins this season. The Bulls are 30-8 in the
postseason over the last two years, closing out the last two titles
with NBA Finals wins over the Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz,
respectively.
Jackson has a career record of 483-173 in his eight seasons as Bulls
head coach. He was a Bulls' assistant for two seasons prior to being
named head coach in 1989. The former New York Knick was head coach of
the Albany Patroons of the CBA from 1982-87.
Jackson has coached Chicago to five NBA titles in seven years and is
the third coach in league history to win five championships, joining
Red Auerbach (nine) and John Kundla (five).
nba.123nba.news,
Phil Jackson coaching record
(Jul 23, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- The career coaching record of Phil
Jackson, who signed a one-year contract extension with the Chicago
Bulls on Wednesday:
Regular Season
Year Team W L Pct.
1989-90 Chicago 55 27 .671
1990-91 Chicago 61 21 .744
1991-92 Chicago 67 15 .817
1992-93 Chicago 57 25 .695
1993-94 Chicago 55 27 .671
1994-95 Chicago 47 35 .573
1995-96 Chicago 72 10 .878
1996-97 Chicago 69 13 .841
Totals 483 173 .736
Playoffs
Year Team W L Pct.
1989-90 Chicago 10 6 .625
1990-91 Chicago-x 15 2 .882
1991-92 Chicago-x 15 7 .682
1992-93 Chicago-x 15 4 .789
1993-94 Chicago 6 4 .600
1994-95 Chicago 5 5 .500
1995-96 Chicago-x 15 3 .833
1996-97 Chicago-x 15 4 .789
Totals 96 35 .733
Overall Totals 579 208 .736
x-and won NBA Championship
nba.124nba.news,
Rogers signs five-year, $10 million deal with Raptors
TORONTO (Jul 23, 1997 - 19:45 EDT) -- Forward Carlos Rogers, who had
exercised an option in his contract to become a free agent, re-signed
with the NBA's Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Terms of the five-year deal weren't disclosed but a team source told
The Canadian Press that Rogers' salary will be equivalent to the
league average -- about $2 million a season. Rogers had signed an
$11.2 million, six-year contract with Golden State running through
2003.
The 6-foot-11 forward opted for free agency on July 1 after two
seasons in Toronto.
Raptors teammates Oliver Miller and Walt Williams both opted for free
agency after the 1996 season hoping for a big deal but found no
takers. They ended up in Toronto playing for the league minimum of
$247,500.
Williams played well and recently signed a five-year deal for $20
million. Miller is again a free agent.
"Carlos made a real impact on the club last season," Raptors GM Isiah
Thomas said in a release. "We anticipate that he will continue to
improve."
In 56 games last year Rogers had career high averages of 9.8 points,
5.4 rebounds and 1.23 blocks per game. He missed 16 games because of
asthma.
He was Seattle's first-round pick in the 1994 draft out of Tennessee
State and was traded to Golden State in his rookie year. He came to
Toronto as part of a six-player trade with the Warriors in 1995.
"This is the place I want to be," Rogers said in a release before
leaving on vacation. "When I opted out of my contract, I knew that we
could work things out with Isiah to keep me with a team that is moving
in the right direction."
Rogers is one of three Raptors from the 2-year-old team's original
training camp roster.
nba.125nba.news,
Magic sign top pick Taylor, re-sign McCaskill
ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic completed a productive morning Wednesday
by signing their first-round draft pick, forward Johnny Taylor, and
re-signing free agent forward/center Amal McCaskill.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but as the 17th pick in the 1997
draft, Taylor can receive a maximum of $3.111 million over the next
three years under the rookie salary scale.
Taylor made a name for himself during Chattanooga's surprising run to
the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-9 forward was named the
Southern Conference Player of the Year after averaging 16.5 points and
7.3 rebounds, and ranking in the league's top 10 in six different
categories.
"We think he has a chance to be a good player," said Magic coach Chuck
Daly. "Johnny has an NBA body and we liked his abilities. Now he has
to take it from here. I had never seen him play until his workout
here. I saw him snatch rebounds with elbows above the rim. I saw him
run the floor, put the ball on the floor and go to the rim. We just
think he is a good basketball player that can do a multiple of things
with good size."
Taylor also made a strong showing at the Portsmouth Invitational
Tournament, where he averaged 14 points and 8.7 rebounds. He played
two seasons at Chattanooga after playing at Indian Hills Community
College. He is one of 10 players to score 1,000 points at Chattanooga.
The 6-11 McCaskill was Orlando's second-round pick last year and
averaged 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in just 17 games as a rookie. He
will play on Orlando's summer professional league entry in Utah next
week.
"We're excited about re-signing Amal," said Magic general manager John
Gabriel. "Amal is a player with great potential and we look forward to
his continued development in a Magic uniform. We like his size and
love his attitude."
nba.126nba.news,
Harrington re-signs with Rockets
HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets re-signed the second of their eight
free agents Wednesday, second-year forward Othella Harrington. Terms
of the deal were undisclosed.
The 6-9 Harrington was Houston's second-round draft pick in 1996 and
averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 57 games. He shot 55 percent
from the field, blocked 22 shots and had 18 assists.
"We are thrilled to get Othella signed and back in a Rockets uniform,"
said executive vice president of basketball Carroll Dawson. "Othella
is an extremely hard-working, unselfish player who has shown us an
enormous amount of potential. We are very excited about his future."
Houston had previously re-signed guard Emanual Davis. Forwards Matt
Bullard, Eddie Johnson and Sam Mack, center Charles Jones and guards
Randy Livingston and Matt Maloney are the remaining free agents.
nba.127nba.news,
Carlesimo retains Higgins as Warriors assistant coach
OAKLAND -- New Golden State Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo
continued to round out his staff Wednesday by retaining Rod Higgins as
an assistant coach.
Higgins will be entering his fourth season as an assistant and 10th
with the Golden State organization. The 13-year NBA veteran played for
seven teams, including the Warriors, from 1986-92 and five games in
1994-95.
"Rod has been a valuable member of the Warriors' organization for nine
years, and we're delighted that he'll be joining our coaching staff,"
said Carlesimo. "His experience as a player and coach will be a great
asset for our team, and a fine compliment to Paul Westhead's
background."
Westhead was hired as an assistant on July 16.
nba.128nba.news,
Foyle has surgery
Oakland, CA (TSN) - Golden State Warriors first-round draft pick,
forward Adonal Foyle, had successful surgery Wednesday for a broken
left foot.
Foyle, the eighth overall pick in last month's draft, fractured the
fifth metatarsal in the foot last week while playing in the Jersey
Shore League. The foot will be placed in a cast later this week and
he will remain in the San Francisco area to be monitored before being
evaluated again in mid-September. It's then that doctors will
determine if Foyle can participate in training camp, which starts in
early October. Foyle remains unsigned.
Foyle, who played his college ball at Colgate, left after his junior
year. He holds the NCAA shot-blocking record with 492 (5.6 per game),
and is coming off a season in which he averaged 24.4 points and 13.1
rebounds per contest.
nba.129nba.news,
Seikaly a Sixer if three-way deal goes through
Orlando, Philadelphia and Indiana are working on a three-way deal
involving three veterans and draft picks, CNN/SI is reporting
Wednesday night.
The Magic would send center Rony Seikaly and a first-round draft pick
to the 76ers, who would give small forward Clarence Weatherspoon and
the Magic's first-round pick to the Pacers, who would ship power
forward Dale Davis to Orlando.
Only salary cap detail needs to be worked out, according to CNN/SI.
Davis averaged 10.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in 82 games last
season, his sixth year in the NBA, for the Pacers. In Seikaly's ninth
season, he averaged 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds in 74 games.
Weatherspoon started all 82 games for the Sixers and averaged 12.2
points and 8.3 rebounds.
nba.130nba.news,
Brown nixes rumor that 76ers will trade Coleman
PHILADELPHIA -- The agent for Philadelphia 76ers forward Derrick
Coleman, Harold MacDonald, believes there is an 80 to 90 percent
chance the team will trade his client before next season starts.
But, according to a report in Wednesday's Philadelphia Daily News,
Sixers' coach Larry Brown believes just the opposite.
Brown tried to put a stop to rumors that Coleman would be sent to the
Detroit Pistons in a deal that would include Pistons power forward
Otis Thorpe.
"I think (Coleman) is going to be back with us," Brown told the paper.
Coleman, with permission from the Sixers, has been working out at the
Pistons' practice facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. The former star at
Detroit's Northern High very much wants to join his hometown team.
Not so fast, Brown said.
"When I talked to (MacDonald), I was very clear, saying we weren't
going to give him away, unless somebody just took his contract, and I
wouldn't consider that giving him away," Brown said.
"We're not going to take back a whole bunch of garbage for them to
free up cap room. If it can't happen, it can't happen. Every time I
get optimistic that something could happen, it doesn't.
"But if you're as good as (Coleman) says he is, you ought to start
thinking about carrying people on your back."
Speculation in Detroit has centered on the Pistons making Thorpe,
forward Grant Long and perhaps guard Randolph Childress available to
match Coleman's $8.1 million salary next season.
"We don't discuss trades," said Rick Sund, Pistons vice president of
basketball operations. "I'm flattered when players say they want to
come to Detroit, but I won't comment."
nba.131nba.news,
Nuggets now deny McDyess-Kemp trade talks
DENVER -- Denver Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Allan
Bristow denied reports that he had discussed trading Antonio McDyess
to the Seattle SuperSonics for disgruntled star forward Shawn Kemp.
Bristow said a report that came out early Tuesday grew out of a
hypothetical question posed to him by a reporter. The question was
based on the premise that the Nuggets would be unable to sign McDyess
to a new contract.
"We are not having any trade talks involving Antonio. Period," Bristow
told the Rocky Mountain News. "(Reporters) asked me if I had interest
in Kemp, how I feel about Kemp, and it turned around that I've got a
deal with Seattle. That's (expletive)."
"We're 100 percent committed to having Antonio McDyess sign a
contract," team spokesman Tommy Sheppard said.
Sonics officials would not comment on the report, saying they don't
talk about trade rumors.
In June, Bristow said the Nuggets were committed to keeping McDyess,
who was drafted in 1995. He has said the 6-foot-9 power forward is a
key part of a corps of players he sees as critical to rebuilding the
team. But Bristow also wants flexibility under the salary cap so
Denver can be an aggressive player in next summer's free-agent market.
The Nuggets are looking at the Vancouver Grizzlies' decision to
re-sign Bryant "Big Country" Reeves, a first-round pick in the 1995
draft, to a six-year extension worth $65.8 million. The fear is that
his new deal establishes a benchmark for all the other teams.
The Nuggets have until Oct. 1 to sign McDyess to a contract extension.
If Bristow decides to trade McDyess, he faces the problem of other
teams not being willing to sink a lot of money into a contract.
Meanwhile, Kemp, a five-time All-Star, has asked the Sonics to trade
him. He has six years remaining on a contract that would pay him $3.3
million next season.
Sonics owner Barry Ackerley has said he'd be happy to talk with Kemp
if the five-time All-Star forward wants to meet. Kemp's agent said
last week that Ackerley had not returned calls requesting a meeting.
Ackerley, in turn, issued a statement saying Sonics president Wally
Walker and other club representatives had been spurned in their
requests for a meeting with Kemp.
nba.132nba.news,
Judge advises Kersey to negotiate plea in tax evasion case
NORFOLK, Va. -- A federal judge told an NBA referee on trial for
felony tax evasion to negotiate a plea because a jury is not likely to
be convinced by his defense.
"I suggest that ... you make a deal," U.S. District Judge Robert G.
Doumar said Wednesday to Jesse Ray Kersey, 56, of Williamsburg. "I
strongly suggest it."
Kersey and three other NBA referees face charges in a two-year
Internal Revenue Service investigation. The officials allegedly
downgraded first-class airline tickets to cheaper fares and then
pocketed the difference without reporting the gain as income.
Since the probe began, the NBA has sent out numerous notices informing
referees that the practice is illegal, court documents indicate.
In addition to Kersey, NBA refereees Henry Clinger Armstrong of
Virginia Beach, George Toliver of Harrisonburg, Va., and Mike Mathis
of Cincinnati, have been charged in the probe.
At a hearing before Doumar, attorneys for Kersey argued that the NBA
should have notified the IRS of the total amount of salary and
expenses provided to each referee instead of deducting the value of
airline tickets actually used to fly to games.
The NBA has referees provide receipts and passenger coupons as proof
they used the tickets. The indictment alleges the refs sent the NBA
bogus receipts to make it look like the tickets had been used.
Doumar said a jury probably wouldn't believe that Kersey didn't know
he was supposed to pay taxes on the unreported earnings.
"Your arguments are not persuasive with me," the judge said. "I don't
like to pay taxes any more than you do, but you have to pay them."
Kersey did not respond to the judge's suggestion.
Kersey and Armstrong allegedly failed to report about $30,000 a year
over a four-year period. Toliver allegedly failed to report about
$47,000 in two years and Mathis allegedly failed to report about
$69,000 over four years.
All four officials have been relieved of their duties, with full pay,
pending their trials. Referee salaries range between $77,000 and
$224,000, depending on experience.
nba.133nba.news,
See Shaq in a Speedo!
Taco Bell launched a new $200-million ad campaign Wednesday with
company pitchman Shaquille O'Neal conspicuously absent. Guess he's
still suffering from that pesky Taco Neck injury.
Or he's deep into preparations for his latest acting venture: a cameo
appearance on "Baywatch!"
"Shaquille O'Neal asked me if he could be on the show," David
Hasselhoff, star and producer of the show told TV show "Access
Hollywood."
"And so Shaq is going to come on and make a couple of rescues for us
as a gag," Hasselhoff said.
Just don't ask him to make a couple of free throws to save his life.
nba.134nba.news,
Duncan signs with San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (Jul 24, 1997 - 16:45 EDT) -- No. 1 draft pick Tim Duncan
signed with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, setting the stage for
him to play alongside center David Robinson in the upcoming season.
The Spurs would not disclose terms of the deal, but under league rules
his three-year contract is worth slightly more than $10 million. He
could become a free agent after three years.
San Antonio used the top pick in the NBA draft in June to select
Duncan, a center from Wake Forest and the consensus player of the
year. He was twice a first-team All-American and averaged 20.8 points,
a national-best 14.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game his senior year.
The team envisions the 7-foot Duncan as part of a powerful front line
featuring 7-foot-1 Robinson, a seven-time all-star whom the Spurs
drafted in 1987, the last time the Spurs had the top pick.
Spurs officials have said Robinson and Duncan both may play center and
power forward.
"I think it's going to be a hard matchup problem for teams that play
us," said Sam Schuler, director of player personnel. "It's a nice
combination to have and gives us that variability."
San Antonio, which opens the regular season at Denver on Oct. 31, will
be trying to recover from last season's franchise-worst 20-62
performance. Robinson was out with back and foot problems and played
only six games all year, and several other key players suffered an
array of injuries.
Duncan and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich were not immediately available
for comment. They were headed to Utah, where Duncan will play in a
summer league along with teammates Monty Williams and Cory Alexander,
said team spokesman Tom James.
Popovich, who also is the team's general manager, has praised Duncan's
wide range of basketball skills and his maturity and has said Duncan
likely will play a major role with the Spurs from the start.
Schuler echoed that sentiment Thursday.
"Right now we're thinking we're going to throw him right into the
wolves and see how much he can take, put him into the fire and let him
go at it as much as he can stand," Schuler said.
nba.135nba.news,
Lakers sign free agent Forrest
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Jul 24, 1997 - 18:21 EDT) -- The Los Angeles Lakers
signed free agent forward James Forrest on Thursday.
Forrest played for the Lakers' entry in the FILA Summer Pro League,
averaging 15.5 points and seven rebounds. He scored a summer
league-high 37 points against Milwaukee on July 17.
The 6-foot-8, 245-pounder played professionally in Israel last season,
averaging 17 points and nine rebounds for Hapoel Eilat.
Forrest was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection at
Georgia Tech.
He was not selected in the 1995 NBA draft and didn't play his first
year after college while recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
Terms of the deal were not announced.
nba.136nba.news,
Nuggets should consider Lakers offer for McDyess
(Jul 24, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Finally, the Denver Nuggets have come to
their senses with respect to Antonio McDyess. Convinced he will not
play beyond the 1997-98 season with them, they are putting their
superb power forward on the trading block.
That's good news, if you're a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. The bad
news is this: Denver appears determined to move McDyess to Seattle in
a straight-up swap for Shawn Kemp.
This is not just bad news for Lakers fans. It's bad news for Denver
fans as well, if the Nuggets' decision-makers succeed in their
mission. Why? Because the Lakers can do much better for them than the
gifted but troubled Seattle superstar.
In exchange for McDyess, LA's two Jerrys, Buss and West, can wrap in a
neat package for shipment to the Rockies the center and point guard
the Nuggets desperately need to rise above a near-certain 20-win
nightmare of a season. Elden Campbell and Nick Van Exel could do
mile-high wonders for new coach Bill Hanzlik.
Two-for-one, Campbell and Van Exel for McDyess. Salary is no major
issue with Denver among the few NBA teams under the cap and therefore
able to deal for higher numbers than it surrenders.
Campbell, during Shaquille O'Neal's injured absence last season,
proved once and for all that he is a center masquerading as a power
forward. Elden in the post, the focal point in an offense, is capable
of justifying his $7 million salary by averaging in excess of 20
points per game with his array of jumpers, jump hooks and dunks.
Easy Elden is on the second level of NBA centers, ranging anywhere
from seven to 12 among pivotmen in a league housing only a handful of
truly superior large specimens. The Lakers own the best of the young
centers, making Campbell expendable in the right kind of swap.
Granted, Elden isn't perfect. He is no rebounding machine, wherever he
plays, but he does block shots when motivated and is a legitimate
6-foot-11 with a very sturdy 270-pound frame. Denver, as presently
constituted, has no one even remotely resembling a center. Campbell is
a fine center but no better than adequate at power forward, where he
tends to drift around and watch impassively as the ball goes into
Shaq.
Van Exel would be replaced by fast-developing Derek Fisher, Kobe
Bryant and possibly rookie DeJuan Wheat. Van Exel, whose emotional
conflicts have been well documented, has played some of his best
basketball in Denver, a mile high.
Like Campbell, Van Exel ranks among the second tier of NBA point
guards, in the 12-18 range. Denver at the moment has no one answering
the description of full-time NBA point guard. If the Nuggets think
rookie Bobby Jackson of Minnesota is the answer, they must not have
been watching this terrific athlete handle the ball in the NCAA
tournament.
McDyess is made for L.A. with his high-wire, high-octane style. He'd
be a dream fit for O'Neal in that he doesn't mind going out on the
floor and using skills unrelated to the inside power game.
A front line of O'Neal, McDyess and Robert Horry would be the most
athletic ever assembled in the NBA. And it's not as if the Nuggets
would be getting ripped off with Campbell and Van Exel, quality
players who could supply about 40 percent of Denver's offense.
In looking to Seattle, Denver clearly is thinking it can revive Kemp
and his faltering reputation. This kind of thinking is highly risky,
given it will need to award Kemp a mammoth contract extension to make
him happy -- for a while, anyway.
But Kemp is what he is, a power forward, meaning the Nuggets would
have three of those with rookies Tony Battie and Danny Fortson coming
aboard. The idea that a 230-pound Battie can play in the middle is
absurd. He'd be broken down before the All-Star break by the likes of
Shaq.
How the Lakers would fit McDyess into their salary structure is too
complicated for a layman to ponder, but time and again the firm of
Buss and West, with assistance from cerebral GM Mitch Kupchak, have
figured out how to bring premium talent to the Forum.
Here's hoping they can do it again, to the benefit of everyone
involved.
nba.137nba.news,
Sixers respond to Coleman's trade request
Philadelphia, PA (TSN) - If and when Derrick Coleman is traded, the
Philadelphia 76ers made it clear on Thursday they will have the final
word.
The disgruntled forward has requested a trade to the Detroit Pistons
so he can play in front of his hometown fans, but Sixers vice
president of basketball administration Billy King stated Thursday that
Coleman has no say in where he goes.
"If and when the time comes when the Philadelphia 76ers trade Derrick
Coleman, it will be a trade that benefits the Sixers franchise first
and foremost," said King. "We will not allow a player or agent
dictate how this team will operate. Derrick has a contract with the
76ers, we expect him to honor that commitment. The Sixers will not
comment further on this situation until there is something to report."
Coleman came to the 76ers during the 1995-96 season as part of the
deal which sent center Shawn Bradley to the New Jersey Nets. However,
he has suffered through injury problems during his stint in
Philadelphia and many have questioned his willingness to play.
Coleman appeared in just 57 games last season, but when he did play he
was effective. He was third on the team in scoring with 18.1 points
per game to go along with 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
nba.138nba.news,
Phil's back; Is Michael next?
CHICAGO (Jul 24, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Phil Jackson is a laid-back
proponent of Zen meditation, a former flower child, a disciplinarian
and a philosopher who can coach and coerce millionaire athletes into a
unified effort that results in championships.
Jackson, who finds peace every summer in the Montana wilderness far
from the noise and chaos of professional basketball, is coming back to
the Chicago Bulls.
One final year. One final quest for yet another title that would be
the celebrated team's sixth of the decade.
"I know the city of Chicago is breathing easier," the coach's agent,
Todd Musburger, said Wednesday after Jackson agreed to a one-year deal
worth $6 million.
But the collective sigh is not just because Jackson, the 51-year-old
guru, is returning. It's because his coming back all but ensures that
Michael Jordan will do the same.
Jordan, the most popular, recognizable and perhaps wealthiest athlete
on the planet, used strong-arm tactics against Bulls management and
owner Jerry Reinsdorf, threatening retirement if Jackson wasn't
retained.
Several times down the stretch run to the Bulls' fifth championship,
Jordan said he had no interest in breaking in a new coach or being
part of a rebuilding program.
"Michael's support was not only a statement of tremendous loyalty from
a superstar to his coach, but it's something that had to weigh on
their psyches," Musburger said.
Jackson, who owns the best playoff record of any coach in NBA history,
didn't touch on the tough negotiations in a release from his Montana
home.
"I'm grateful for a team that loves to work together and with a great
coaching staff we are once again prepared to conquer that monster --
an NBA title.
"I am pleased that Jerry Reinsdorf and the management of the Bulls
have concurred and will allow us a chance to do it once again."
One more chance appears to be all he'll get.
"I want to emphasize this will be his last year," general manager
Jerry Krause said.
Not so fast, said Musburger.
"Phil is looking forward to next year. We don't know what will happen
after that," he said.
Bulls spokesman Tom Smithburg would not divulge financial terms of
Jackson's deal, except to say the salary is the highest ever for an
NBA coach who is not also a general manager.
There were reports the Bulls offered Jackson $4.3 million for one year
and that Jackson was seeking $6 million. A source close to
negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated
Press that Jackson got what he wanted.
Jackson was paid $2.75 million last season. That made him one of the
best bargains in pro basketball, especially when compared with the
offseason deals signed by Larry Brown at Philadelphia (an average of
$5 million a year for five years) and Larry Bird at Indiana (an
average of between $4 million and $4.5 million a year for three
years). Brown has never won an NBA championship and Bird had never
coached a game on any level.
Jackson is still earning less than the Boston Celtics' Rick Pitino,
who is getting $7 million a year over 10 years. Pitino also is the
team's president.
As recently as a week ago, Musburger characterized the Bulls' offers
as "insulting" and said the two parties were far apart financially.
Reinsdorf at the time said he wanted to meet face-to-face with
Jackson. Musburger said no thanks, he wasn't going to stand outside in
the hallway.
But the Chicago Sun-Times reported today that Reinesdorf flew from his
Phoenix home to Glacier Park International near Kalispell, Mont., then
motored to near Whitefish, Mont., where he and Jackson met privately
last Friday.
"I had no specific message to deliver," Reinsdorf said. "There was
just the fact that Jerry Krause and Todd were more than $3 million
apart on money and I could see their talks seemed to be going nowhere.
"I stepped in to step things up."
Jordan was paid $30.14 million last season and is expected to be
offered an increase of 20 percent to return for one more year. His
agent, David Falk, is on vacation.
Krause, often at odds with his coach, was said to have had a list of
successors already drawn up, headed by Iowa State coach Tim Floyd.
Krause said re-signing the coaching staff would be the next step.
"We expect the entire staff to be back, then we work on the players,
and we hope to get all players done," he said.
While Jordan did not make specific demands on money, he did say that
in addition to Jackson, he wanted forward Scottie Pippen and even
Dennis Rodman back with the team. Pippen had been the subject of trade
rumors.
"We're entitled to defend what we have until we lose it," Jordan said
after the Bulls beat the Utah Jazz for their fifth championship in
seven years. "If we lose it, then you look at it and say, 'OK, let's
change."'
Pippen has one year left on his seven-year contract. Rodman is also a
free agent.
Jackson, who buys books for each of his players on the first long road
trip each season, has a 483-173 record in the regular season during
his eight years.
But it is in the postseason where he's been the most successful. His
96-35 mark, a percentage of .733, is the best among NBA coaches.
nba.139nba.news,
With Phil back, Bulls focus on re-signing The Man
CHICAGO (Jul 24, 1997 - 21:39 EDT) -- Michael Jordan's smile must be
stretching from the first tee all the way to the 18th green.
The only coach he said he'd play for is coming back, albeit as a lame
duck. Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls have been reunited for one
final year.
Now it's Jordan's turn for a new deal. One of his requirements has
been met. Now it's time to talk money. Lots of money.
Jordan, who led the Bulls to their fifth championship of the '90s this
year, won't come cheap. After making $30.14 million last season,
reports say he expects a raise to at least $36 million.
The Chicago Tribune, citing sources close to Jordan's agent David
Falk, reported that Falk will seek a one-year, $40 million deal. Falk
is on vacation and will not return until next week.
How tough will it be to re-sign Jordan?
"I would say it wasn't that difficult last year, and I'm hoping it
won't be this year either," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said
Thursday from his office at Comiskey Park, where he planned to watch
his other team, the White Sox.
"I don't know what is in his head. We've had no conversations in
months. I barely talked to him at the celebration. ... We can afford
to pay him what we paid last year."
But how much more?
"I don't want to get into negotiations with Michael. We won't even be
able to talk until the middle of August. David Falk is on a cruise.
When he gets back, then Michael, David and I will have to talk."
Later Thursday, at an informal Comiskey Park news briefing near the
White Sox dugout, Reinsdorf said the target date for re-signing Jordan
is Sept. 1.
When Jordan returns and with Scottie Pippen apparently off the trading
block -- another requirement for Jordan coming back -- the Bulls would
then need to bring back cross-dressing, professional-wrestling
troublemaker and six-time rebounding champion Dennis Rodman to keep
their nucleus intact.
"It's important for us to have the core of the team back for one more
year, absolutely," Reinsdorf said earlier.
"Phil and (general manager) Jerry Krause and even Michael and Scottie
have said they would like to see Dennis back," Reinsdorf said. "But
our next priority is Michael."
And if Rodman does return, it will be with the understanding that the
conduct that caused him to be suspended for 14 games last season won't
be tolerated, Reinsdorf said.
One key player who won't be back is center Brian Williams, who
received the league minimum after joining the team late last season.
Williams played an important role in the playoff run but will command
a much higher salary than the Bulls can afford.
Reinsdorf took over a major role in negotiating the one-year deal for
Jackson that is worth $6 million. The deal was announced Wednesday.
Reinsdorf, according to newspaper accounts, flew from his Phoenix home
to Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell, Mont., then
motored to near Whitefish, Mont., where he and the vacationing Jackson
met privately last Friday.
"I had no specific message to deliver," Reinsdorf said. "There was
just the fact that Jerry Krause and (agent) Todd (Musburger) were more
than $3 million apart on money and I could see their talks seemed to
be going nowhere. I stepped in to step things up."
Reinsdorf claimed Jordan's threat to retire if Jackson didn't return
was not a major factor in re-signing the coach.
What was, he said, was the team's inability to get what it thought
would be a fair trade for Pippen.
"Once we decided to keep Scottie, we're saying we're keeping the team
intact and if we're keeping it intact, we would be foolish not to
bring back the coach," Reinsdorf said Thursday.
"If we had traded Scottie, Phil would not have wanted to come back."
nba.140nba.news,
Saving Chicago's Jerrys from themselves
CHICAGO (Jul 24, 1997 - 17:51 EDT) -- Phil Jackson just re-upped for
another year in what too many people consider the easiest job in
America. If they only knew.
Watch the Chicago Bulls in action and you can be lulled into thinking
Jackson's list of things to do never has more than three items on it.
The first is to keep Michael Jordan from playing too much golf; the
second is to keep Dennis Rodman sane; and the third is to keep
everybody else on the team from falling asleep for a lack of things to
do.
On Wednesday, those same people read where Jordan strong-armed Bulls'
management into handing over $6 million so Jackson could return to
Chicago for one final season. And they no doubt wondered whether
anyone had been that lucky parlaying powerful friends into a cushy job
since some pals lined up steady work for Wayne Newton in Las Vegas
lounges.
But they're wrong. And all that's needed to prove the point are two
names: Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf.
Although the first is the club's vice president of basketball
operations and the second is the owner, in terms of inflicting
unnecessary pain and humiliation on Jackson, they are interchangeable.
Winning when everybody expects it is one of the hardest things in
sports. North Carolina coach Dean Smith had any number of NBA stars
spend their formative years in his program, including the very same
Mr. Jordan. But no one has had to remind him that talent is both a
blessing and a curse.
Smith fashioned what may be the most impressive, most durable record
in college basketball. But it wasn't until this past NCAA tournament,
when he passed Adolph Rupp to become the winningest coach in Division
I and a kind of professor emeritus, that his critics let go of his
pants leg. And remember, the slam against Smith always was that he won
ONLY two national championships.
Jackson has won the NBA's top prize five of the eight seasons he's run
the Bulls. But his critics are still active. Playing off Jackson's
attachment to Native American lore, one of his principal rivals,
Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy once joked that he planned to improve his
club during the offseason by trying "to find as many Indian artifacts
as we could."
The joke turned out to be on everyone else. Jordan or no Jordan -- and
keep in mind, Michael missed one entire season and four-fifths of
another to dabble in baseball -- it's almost impossible to argue with
Jackson's success. But that's where the Jerrys come in.
With an arrogance that mocks Reinsdorf's reputation as the shrewdest
of businessmen, he began leaking details of a master plan he and
Krause hatched to rebuild the Bulls. It had them replacing Jackson
with Krause favorite Tim Floyd of Iowa State, scouting free agents to
pursue if Jordan retired, listing players they would want in return
for trading Scottie Pippen, and how soon to move reserves Jason Caffey
or Dickey Simpkins into Rodman's spot.
Even though this was taking place while the Bulls marched steadily
through the playoffs, Reinsdorf justified the maneuvering by saying he
didn't want Chicago to "become the Boston Celtics of the next decade."
He believed the Celtics dynasty crumbled because Boston's front office
let Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish grow old together
instead of trading them for younger players. Jordan rightly found the
hole in that logic, pointing out that if draft pick Len Bias and
emerging star Reggie Lewis hadn't been felled by tragedies a few years
apart, the Celtics wouldn't have fallen so quickly or so low.
Then he threw his considerable weight behind Jackson's return,
threatening to depart if his coach did. Though Jackson's return was
the only one he tied into his own future, Jordan soon expanded the
list of people he wanted back to include Pippen and Rodman.
For all that, the Bulls' inability to move Pippen before or during the
draft may have had as much as anything to do with the likelihood that
last season's team will return intact. And it was still Jackson who
had to endure the constant insults.
For the second consecutive year, the Jerrys made Jackson wait for an
offer and then threw him a lowball. At another juncture, Jackson was
reportedly thrown out of his office at the training center while
Krause worked out a potential draft pick.
Yet, he has endured their repeated harping, sniping and silly
maneuvering to accomplish what is perhaps the most impressive feat of
his tenure in Chicago: He has saved the Jerrys from themselves.
nba.141nba.news,
Teams still circumventing salary cap with ease
A year ago, the NBA's salary-cap police were deployed with such gusto
to South Florida that you would have thought Andrew Cunanan was hiding
out at Miami Arena.
In the NBA's view, the Heat was playing too loose with the rules,
especially regarding center Alonzo Mourning. According to the NBA, the
Heat had a secret deal in place with Mourning, withholding
announcement only so it also could sign Washington forward Juwan
Howard. Eventually, Commissioner David Stern remanded Howard back to
Washington.
Yet as you move forward to this summer, teams still are playing fast
and loose with cap rules. Orlando's recent signing of power forward
Derek Strong is a prime example.
He was a minimum-salaried player with only one year's experience with
the same team. So he had no other option with the capped-out Magic as
a free agent except to re-sign for the veteran's minimum of $326,750.
By contrast, several teams around the league were willing to offer
Strong their $1 million salary-cap exemption for next season.
On the surface, it appeared Strong sacrificed in the pocketbook to
stay in Orlando.
But that is only on the surface.
While NBA teams are barred from making promises about future potential
earnings to free agents, Orlando clearly has a "wink-wink'' agreement
in place with Strong.
After next season, Strong will qualify for what is called the "early
bird exemption.'' Under that loophole for veterans with two years'
experience with the same team, Strong can re-sign with the Magic for
the league's average salary, which should be about $2.5 million. Such
a contract would have to be for at least two seasons, with a
20-percent maximum boost in the second season.
Using the NBA's math, it is simple to see why Strong stayed.
With the Magic, Strong earns $326,750 for this season and likely $2.5
for the next. That's a two-year total of $2,826,750. Had he taken a
team's $1 million salary-cap exemption for this season, which allows
only a 15-percent raise in the second year, he would have earned
$2,150,000 over two seasons from that team.
"I might as well risk this,'' Strong said, "and, hopefully, things
come out even better for me.''
From a business standpoint, Strong made the shrewd move by staying in
Orlando.
"In my situation, I figured I would just wait,'' Strong said. "Go back
and check the Magic's track record with the players. They take very
good care of their players. That's what I am going on.''
From a cap standpoint, such a promise of future earnings from the
Magic would be in violation of the NBA's collective-bargaining
agreement.
Apparently, though, when it comes to circumventing the cap, it's all a
matter of timing.
It's why Juwan Howard is still in Washington these days, and Derek
Strong is still in Orlando.
"There was a lot of faith put into this,'' Strong's agent, Mike Carey,
said.
Said Magic General Manager John Gabriel, "I think it's well documented
through the league we do what we can for them. Sometimes, like any
other business transaction, all you have is your word and what you're
able to do for the players -- aside from the dollars.''
Trade talk
While the Pacers are vigorously denying a rumored three-way deal that
would bring forward Clarence Weatherspoon and a first-round pick from
the 76ers in a trade that would send power forward Dale Davis to
Orlando, there is talk of Blazers forward Clifford Robinson moving on
to Indiana.
Because Robinson is a free agent, he first would have to be re-signed
by Portland, then dealt to Indiana. The Pacers clearly are in the
market for a small forward, with Derrick McKey expected to be
sidelined until midseason by an Achilles injury.
"Obviously, I can't sign Clifford Robinson because I'm over the cap,
so the only way to do it would be to make a trade,'' Pacers general
manager Donnie Walsh told the Indianapolis Star, "and I haven't heard
that Portland wants to sign him first to do that.''
Walsh said the Pacers have checked into Robinson's availability.
Inside the schedule
One of the quirks of the NBA schedule announced this past week is that
the 76ers, for the fourth time, will be in Chicago the night the Bulls
receive their championship rings. "Maybe the fourth time will sink
in,'' said Larry Brown, who is about to embark on his first season as
Philadelphia coach ...
Despite finishing behind the Heat in second place in the Atlantic
Division last season, the Knicks will make 21 national television
appearances this coming season, tying the Lakers for most in the
league. The Bulls have 20 national appearances, while the Pistons tie
the Heat with 19.
While the Heat have the maximum 13 national cable slots on either TBS
or TNT, its six national broadcast slots on NBC are topped by the
Knicks, Lakers and Pistons with eight apiece, and the Bulls with
seven.
nba.142junior,
-> #121, vpoznanovic> Bostonom. :) Igrači koje Vancouver otpušta ne mogu se baš
> nazvati velikim kandidatima za angažman u drugim timovima. ;)
Murdock je bio u Teamsistemu prošle sezone. A ovo sam pitao, jer
je Teamsistem doveo Riversa, te je logično bilo da će ovi šutnuti
Murdocka .. samo je bilo pitanje gde.
nba.143nba.news,
Warriors sign Foyle despite broken foot
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors signed their first-round
draft pick forward-center Adonal Foyle, who has a broken left foot, to
a three-year contract on Friday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but as the eighth pick in the
1997 draft, Foyle can receive a maximum of $5.102 million over the
next three years under the rookie salary scale.
Foyle suffered the injury last week while playing in the Jersey Shore
League.
He flew to the Bay area Monday to be examined by Warriors team
physician Dr. Michael Krinsky, who discovered a fracture of the fifth
metatarsal in Foyle's left foot.
Foyle underwent surgery on Wednesday at the East Bay Surgical Center
in Castro Valley, Calif., and the foot was placed in a cast. He will
be re-evaluated in mid-September, when team doctors will determine
whether Foyle can participate in training camp, which starts in early
October.
Foyle figured to be a big part of the 1997-98 plans for the Warriors,
who went 33-49 last season and totally revamped their staff, hiring
P.J. Carlesimo as coach and Garry St. Jean as general manager.
With Felton Spencer at center last season, the Warriors allowed
opponents to shoot 48 percent from the field. They were counting on
Foyle to improve their defense. Although just 6-8Ż, Foyle set the NCAA
record for blocked shots with 492 in three seasons at Colgate.
As a junior, Foyle averaged 24.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He
reminds some scouts of Atlanta Hawks All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo.
Foyle played high school basketball in Hamilton, New York after
growing up on the island of Canovan in the Grenadines.
nba.144nba.news,
NBA First-Round Draft Pick Signing Status
The following is the signing status of first-round picks in the
1997 NBA draft. All contracts are three years and guaranteed.
The dollar amounts represent the maximum under the rookie salary
scale:
1. San Antonio -- Tim Duncan, c, Wake Forest
(signed -- 3 years, $10.239 million)
2. Philadelphia -- Keith Van Horn, f, Utah
(traded to New Jersey)
(unsigned -- 3 years, $9.161 million)
3. Boston -- Chauncey Billups, g, Colorado
(unsigned -- 3 years, $8.227 million)
4. Vancouver -- Antonio Daniels, g, Bowling Green
(unsigned -- 3 years, $7.417 million)
5. Denver -- Tony Battie, f-c, Texas Tech
(signed -- 3 years, $6.717 million)
6. Boston (from Dallas) -- Ron Mercer, f, Kentucky
(unsigned -- 3 years, $6.101 million)
7. New Jersey -- Tim Thomas, f, Villanova
(traded to Philadelphia)
(signed -- 3 years, $5.569 million)
8. Golden State -- Adonal Foyle, f-c, Colgate
(signed -- 3 years, $5.102 million)
9. Toronto -- Tracy McGrady, f, Mt. Zion Academy (HS)
(unsigned -- 3 years, $4.690 million)
10. Milwaukee -- Danny Fortson, f, Cincinnati
(traded to Denver)
(signed -- 3 years, $4.455 million)
11. Sacramento -- Olivier St. Jean, f, San Jose State
(signed -- 3 years, $4.233 million)
12. Indiana -- Austin Croshere, f, Providence
(signed -- 3 years, $4.021 million)
13. Cleveland -- Derek Anderson, g, Kentucky
(signed -- 3 years, $3.820 million)
14. Los Angeles Clippers -- Maurice Taylor, f, Michigan
(signed -- 3 years, $3.629 million)
15. Dallas (from Minnesota) -- Kelvin Cato, c, Iowa State
(unsigned -- 3 years, $3.447 million)
16. Cleveland (from Phoenix) -- Brevin Knight, g, Stanford
(signed -- 3 years, $3.275 million)
17. Orlando -- Johnny Taylor, f, Chattanooga
(signed -- 3 years, $3.111 million)
18. Portland -- Chris Anstey, c, East Melbourne Magic (Australia)
(unsigned -- 3 years, $2.956 million)
19. Detroit -- Scot Pollard, f, Kansas
(unsigned -- 3 years, $2.823 million)
20. Minnesota (from Charlotte via Portland) -- Paul Grant, c, Wisconsin
(unsigned -- 3 years, $2.710 million)
21. New Jersey (from LA Lakers) -- Anthony Parker, g, Bradley
(traded to Philadelphia)
(signed -- 3 years, $2.601 million)
22. Atlanta -- Ed Gray, g, California
(signed -- 3 years, $2.497 million)
23. Seattle -- Bobby Jackson, g, Minnesota
(traded to Denver)
(signed -- 3 years, $2.397 million)
24. Houston -- Rodrick Rhodes, f, Southern California
(signed -- 3 years, $2.301 million)
25. New York -- John Thomas, f, Minnesota
(signed -- 3 years, $2.210 million)
26. Miami -- Charles Smith, g, New Mexico
(unsigned -- 3 years, $2.136 million)
27. Utah -- Jacque Vaughn, g, Kansas
(signed -- 3 years, $2.075 million)
28. Chicago -- Keith Booth, f, Maryland
(unsigned -- 3 years, $2.062 million)
nba.145nba.news,
Kings sign second-round pick
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Anthony Johnson, the Sacramento Kings'
second-round draft pick, signed a contract Friday. Terms of the deal
were not disclosed.
Johnson, a 6-foot-3 point guard from the College of Charleston, was
selected the Trans America player of the year last season, averaging
13.9 points, 7.2 assists and 1.56 steals.
nba.146nba.news,
Dunleavy sues bucks over unpaid severance, relocation allowance
PORTLAND, Ore. (Jul 25, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Portland Trail Blazers
coach Mike Dunleavy can't buy a permanent home in Oregon and has been
forced to rent because the Milwaukee Bucks, his former employer,
haven't made good on his severance payments, he contends in a lawsuit
filed Friday.
Dunleavy resigned as general manager on April 26, and signed on with
the Blazers May 13.
Before parting company with the Bucks, Dunleavy says he and Milwaukee
entered a severance agreement. The Bucks were to make semi-monthly
payments to Dunleavy from May 15, 1997, through May 14, 2000, plus a
"relocation allowance."
Dunleavy says the Bucks transferred the first payment -- amounting to
more than $16,000 -- to Dunleavy's money market account on May 15, the
lawsuit said. But later, without telling Dunleavy, Milwaukee told the
institution holding the account to transfer the money back to the
Bucks, the lawsuit contends.
Dunleavy's lawyers filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court as the
coach headed out of town Friday afternoon for a summer exhibition game
in Salt Lake City. He could not be reached immediately for comment.
Dunleavy's lawyer, Lee Nusich, declined to reveal the total dollar
amount of the severance agreement.
"I think what we all hope is that we can ultimately resolve this
matter in an amicable fashion," Nusich said. "It's really not
appropriate for me to be talking about the situation now it's in
litigation."
There was no answer at Bucks headquarters in the Bradley Center when
The Associated Press sought comment Friday evening. John Steinmiller,
vice president of business operations, and Bill King, public relations
director, could not be reached.
Dunleavy was coach and GM with the Bucks from 1992-96, but gave up
coaching duties last year after four straight losing seasons.
He replaced P.J. Carlesimo, who was fired May 8 after three seasons
with the Blazers. Carlesimo was 137-109 in the regular season, but
just 3-9 in the playoffs.
nba.147nba.news,
Ex-agent says he paid Camby $40,000 at UMass
HARTFORD, Conn. -- A former agent said Friday he gave $40,000 in cash
and gifts to Marcus Camby while he was at Massachusetts, and provided
additional spoils to former Connecticut star Ray Allen and other
college athletes.
John Lounsbury, of Wolcott, Conn., was at the center of a scandal that
ultimately led to Massachusetts and Connecticut being stripped of
their runs in the 1996 NCAA tournament.
Confirming details in a story published Friday in The Boston Globe,
Lounsbury said he provided Camby with rental cars, stereo equipment
and other gifts from October 1994 through May of 1996.
David K. Scott, the UMass chancellor, responded to the allegations in
a written statement Friday.
"Mr. Lounsbury was repeatedly asked to meet with the committee looking
into allegations about Marcus Camby and the basketball program, and he
consistently refused," he said.
"What Mr. Lounsbury is now telling the Globe differs from what a
number of others told our investigating panel. At this point, we have
no reason to believe Mr. Lounsbury is more credible than the people we
interviewed. We do note that over the past year, Mr. Lounsbury has
repeatedly denied wrongdoing concerning Marcus Camby and he is now
contradicting his own statements," Scott said.
Camby, who plays for the NBA's Toronto Raptors, has previously
admitted to taking $2,000 from Lounsbury and more than $5,000 from a
West Hartford attorney who was trying to represent him as a pro.
Camby could not be reached Friday for comment. His agent did not
return a phone call to The Associated Press.
Lounsbury, who has gotten out of the sports agent business and is
seeking bankruptcy protection, gave a lengthy interview to The Globe
earlier this week detailing the cash and gifts he says he gave to
student athletes, who are not allowed to accept money, gifts or other
benefits for their services.
In Allen's case, Lounsbury said he gave him $200 when he was a
sophomore in 1994 to go to a sports clinic for inner-city youths, a
violation of NCAA rules. Lounsbury said he also provided Allen with a
beeper that same year because Allen asked for one, and that he paid
the monthly bills for it until sometime during the 1994-95 season.
Lounsbury would not provide further details about his involvement with
Allen, only saying the violations "were minimal in comparison with
what I did with Marcus Camby."
Allen, who now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, has continually denied
any wrongdoing involving agents. Neither he nor his agent could be
reached Friday.
UConn issued a written statement saying the school -- which employs an
outside firm to review possible cases of wrongdoing -- has, and will
continue to, diligently oversee relationships between agents and
athletes.
"The issue of agents and would-be agents is a very serious problem for
intercollegiate athletics nationwide," athletic director Lew Perkins
said in the statement.
The NCAA executive committee erased the Minutemen's 1996 Final Four
appearance and ordered the school to repay $151,000 in tournament
revenue as a result of Camby's involvement with agents. Camby has
since pledged $151,000 to UMass to pay for the lost tournament money.
UConn also was stripped of its run in the 1996 basketball tournament,
and ordered it to return $90,970 of postseason money because players
Kirk King and Ricky Moore accepted airline tickets, reportedly from
Lounsbury.
On top of his dealings with Allen and Camby, Lounsbury told The Globe
he gave Michael Williams $2,000, a rental car and a $400 diamond ring
for his girlfriend, when Williams was on the UMass basketball team.
UMass is looking into those charges as well.
"The NCAA has advised the University to attempt to contact Mike
Williams to pursue the allegations about him raised by Mr. Lounsbury,"
Scott said. "We are complying with that advice."
Lounsbury also said he staked a star from another university to $1,200
in a casino poker game. He would not identify that player.
Lounsbury on Friday swore by everything he told The Globe. He said one
of the main reasons he granted the interview was to clear up what he
said were some inaccuracies, including a report that Camby paid him
$28,000 to after Lounsbury said his life was in danger from loan
sharks.
"Every time the phone rings or I pick up the paper it's something new,
another lie ... I'm not saying I'm innocent by any means. I'm not a
victim ... I'm trying to get on with my life."
Lounsbury also said he expects to be called to testify this fall at
the trial of Wesley Spears, the West Hartford attorney who has pleaded
innocent to trying to blackmail Camby into signing him as an agent.
Lounsbury said he does not know Spears, but can relate to his
situation.
"You have a case of two agents not associated with each other, who
have been run through the same scam," he said.
Lounsbury said he last talked to Camby hours before he announced he
was turning pro, calling him up after learning from UMass that he had
been eliminated as a possible agent. Lounsbury said Camby reassured
him that he hadn't been ruled out.
"You're the man," Lounsbury recalls him saying. "That's the last
conversation I had with the kid."
nba.148nba.news,
Three-way trade rumor involving Seikaly quashed
ESPN NBA analyst David Aldridge reports that there is no truth to the
rumored three-way trade involving Orlando, Philadelphia and Indiana.
A report Wednesday night indicated that the Magic were looking to send
center Rony Seikaly and a first-round draft pick to the 76ers, who
would give small forward Clarence Weatherspoon and the Magic's
first-round pick to the Pacers, who would ship power forward Dale
Davis to Orlando.
CNN/SI reported that only salary cap details needed to be worked out.
But Aldridge, after contacting sources with the teams, reported that
nothing was being worked on by the three.
In addition, Pacers president Donnie Walsh emphatically denied the
rumor when contacted by the Indianapolis Star/Indinapolis News. "I
have never heard anything about a trade like that," Walsh said. "I
haven't talked to Orlando and I haven't talked to Philadelphia."
Walsh also denied that the Pacers were close to making a trade for
Portland's Clifford Robinson. "This is among six or seven things that
I've checked into," Walsh told the newspapers. "But I haven't even
talked to (Trail Blazer general manager) Bob Whitsitt. There's no
truth to any of this. I'm out there trying to make trades, but these
aren't any of them."
Davis averaged 10.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in 82 games last
season, his sixth year in the NBA, for the Pacers. In Seikaly's ninth
season, he averaged 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds in 74 games.
Weatherspoon started all 82 games for the Sixers and averaged 12.2
points and 8.3 rebounds.
nba.149nba.news,
Agent says McDyess trade talk is just talk
(Jul 25, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Despite all the talk about how much
trouble the Denver Nuggets will have signing Antonio McDyess to a new
contract, the two sides have not even begun negotiations, according to
McDyess' agent..
"We really haven't talked," said Arn Tellem, who represents the
Nuggets forward. "They said at some point they're going to begin
talks. Whenever they're ready to begin, we'll begin."
Under the NBA labor agreement, the Nuggets can offer McDyess any
amount until Oct. 1. After that, he's on a track toward free agency
next summer.
"I do have an idea where Antonio should be paid," Tellem said. "He's
not tied to any one player, so Bryant Reeves is not really a relevant
factor to him."
Reeves, the first headliner from the class of 1995 to sign a new deal,
got an average of $11 million a year from Vancouver.
And what of the Nuggets' concern that a huge contract for McDyess
would prevent them from adding other needed players?
"They have cap room now that they don't seem to be using," Tellem
said. "What they do is their business, and what we do is our business.
Other teams have found ways to accommodate signing players and putting
a team together."
Tellem said he is not concerned about the timing.
"My guess is they probably will start (contract talks) after their
summer league's over," he said. "Whatever they want to do we're OK
with."
Despite a steady stream of trade rumors, Tellem said he has not heard
from any other teams who claim to have had trade talks about McDyess.
"I think everyone is waiting to see what Denver does," he said.
"Suffice to say, if they don't sign him, I believe that he'll be, if
not the most, among the two most desirable free agents next year."
But McDyess is not averse to sticking around.
"I'll say this," Tellem offered. "Antonio thinks some of the moves
have been positive and that the Nuggets are headed in the right
direction. He likes them getting (Tony) Battie and (Danny) Fortson, so
those are all steps in the right direction."
nba.150nba.news,
NBA beat: Little truth to the rumors
There are a million trade rumors during the offseason --almost all of
them are bogus. Such is the supposed Antonio McDyess for Shawn Kemp
deal. After saying his team was interested, Denver GM Allan Bristow
shot down the speculation on Wednesday.
But the trade wasn't going to happen, anyway. The Sonics are not
interested in acquiring anyone in the final year of his contract, like
McDyess. Any hope Seattle has of keeping Kemp around depends on the
Sonics getting under the cap and being able to restructure Kemp's deal
after the 97-98 season. And Seattle's projected to get under the cap
next summer.
Meanwhile, owner Barry Ackerley's vacation is delaying the proposed
meeting between Ackerley and Kemp. And while the trade offers for Kemp
have gotten better, Seattle's still looking for a way to salvage the
relationship.
Signed, debuted and delivered
It's going to be a good week for Tim Duncan. On Thursday, he signed
his contract with the Spurs. On Sunday, he'll see his first
professional action with San Antonio's summer league team. And on
Wednesday, Duncan will pocket all of his first-year salary -- around
$2.5 million.
Normally, players are paid over the course of the season in bi-monthly
installments. But the Spurs made different accommodations for their
next franchise player.
Not-so-free agents
The players' union and the league will meet a week from Friday before
system arbitrator Kenneth Dam to hear a union grievance against the
league. The union is arguing that the league is suppressing potential
player movement with narrow interpretations of its own rules. The
league doesn't allow teams with million-dollar cap exemptions to sign
free agents from other teams with the intent to trade them.
Now, the league is disallowing teams with cap room from signing free
agents with the intent to trade, saying the practice amounts to
collusion between teams. The union argues that this interpretation has
hurt free agents like Chris Dudley and Brian Williams, who would have
been signed by teams with room and then traded elsewhere. The union
also argues that the ruling hurts players who have been renounced by
their former teams, like Rick Fox.
Pointed problems
The Nuggets still don't have their point-guard situation resolved, but
hope to have some answers after next week's Rocky Mountain summer
league in Salt Lake City. Free agents Tyus Edney, Erick Strickland and
James Robinson will be on Denver's team. The Nuggets like Edney and
Strickland, but the Mavericks hope to re-sign Strickland, who came on
at the end of last season. And Edney has drawn Vancouver's interest.
nba.151nba.news,
Williams' fine play a pleasant surprise for Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (Jul 25, 1997 - 08:33 EDT) -- In terms of sheer
man-bites-dog news value, the Minnesota Timberwolves' informal,
low-profile workouts at a local health club already have produced a
shocker:
Micheal Williams is playing. And playing well.
"I'm as surprised as anyone out here," Williams said.
Normally, for an NBA veteran earning close to $3 million per season,
playing well against the young players, draft picks and roster
hopefuls the Wolves have assembled would be expected. But for
Williams, this is big news. A member of the Wolves since 1992 and
their starting point guard in his first two seasons, Williams has
played only 10 NBA games in three years and none since November 1995.
Despite repeated unsuccessful rehabilitation attempts, Williams career
seemed to be over because of a painful plantar fascia tear in his left
foot.
Although Williams has two years left on a guaranteed seven-year deal
worth more than $15 million, the Wolves moved on by acquiring Stephon
Marbury in a draft-day trade with Milwaukee in June 1996. Until then,
the team had been at the mercy of Williams' injured foot and various,
Grade B replacements.
Finally, Marbury filled the void, giving the Wolves a sparkplug
capable of hitting three-pointers, running a fast break or penetrating
and dishing to center Dean Garrett and All-Star forwards Tom Gugliotta
and Kevin Garnett. Marbury even had the potential to be a strong
defender. Those skills were good enough to earn him a second-place
finish in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting.
If the team, or especially management, thought of Williams at all, it
was about his contract: As long as he was hurt, insurance would cover
his paycheck. But the Wolves would be stuck with him on their salary
cap, limiting their flexibility in signing their players or free
agents. A buyout was possible, but only if Williams agreed to retire
would the Wolves be free of his salary and the money actually needed
to pay him. If the team released him, they would be burdened with
both.
So a cordial but palpable tension settled into the relationship
between player and team.
Yet there was Williams, on the court twice this week, running an
offense, hitting shots, finding open men. And there were coach Flip
Saunders and Kevin McHale, the team's vice president of basketball
operations, watching from the side and coming away mightily impressed.
"He looked very good both days," Saunders said. "He hasn't been able
to go back-to-back yet, and the two questions about him coming in
were, first, can he play and, second, can he play on six out of seven
days? But I'm surprised at how well he's played."
So, frankly, is Williams. Though damaged nerves in his foot were
surgically removed last spring by a Houston specialist, Williams was
prepared for the worst.
"I haven't played competitive basketball for so long, so just to be
seeing the flow and making the instinctive passes, that says a lot,"
said Williams, who turned 31 Wednesday. "It hurt (Tuesday) after
Monday's workout, and it hurt today. There's always going to be pain.
But I've played on pain before."
Williams knows what people have said, but he feels that the
organization is starting to understand: He wants to play again, or at
least exhaust every possibility to do so.
The odds remain incredibly long. Even if Williams had a new foot
grafted onto his ankle, the prospect of returning from a three-year
layoff would be difficult. But Williams, a starter when he got hurt,
would settle for a backup role now. Marbury is part of the team's
future, and Williams' best days clearly are in the past.
"I don't think my foot would allow me to play 36 or 38 minutes," he
said. "But maybe I can go 10, 12, 15 minutes a game."
Coincidentally, the Wolves need a reliable backup point guard. So they
are taking Williams with the squad of young players to the Rocky
Mountain Review next week in Salt Lake City. If his foot survives in
game conditions there, they might feel better about his chances in
October.
So would Williams. "I'm not putting a deadline on this," he said. "I'm
having a good time right now."
nba.152nba.news,
The eight-day, 31 game Rocky Mountain Revue starts Saturday at
the Delta Center with the Jazz and Phoenix Suns at 6:00 and Denver
vs Portland at 8:00. This year 15 NBA teams will be represented.
Each team plays 5 games using NBA rules with some modifications.
Sunday July 27
2:00 Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors
4:00 Seattle Supersonics vs Chicago Bulls
6:00 San Antonio / Philadelphia vs Dallas Mavericks
Monday July 28
2:00 Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trailbalzers
4:00 Chicago Bulls vs Denver Nuggets
6:00 Seattle Supersonics vs San Antonio/Philadelphia
8:00 Houston Rockets vs Orlando/Minnesota
Tuesday July 29
1:00 Dallas Mavericks vs Sacramento Kings
3:00 Orlando/Minnesota vs Seattle Supersonics
5:00 Portland Trailblazers vs Utah Jazz
7:00 Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets
Wednesday July 30
2:00 Golden State Warriors vs Dallas Mavericks
4:00 Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings
6:00 Houston Rockets vs Chicago Bulls
8:00 Seattle Supersonics vs Utah Jazz
Thursday July 31
2:00 Houston Rockets vs Denver Nuggets
4:00 Portland Trailblazers vs San Antonio/Philadelphia
6:00 Orlando/Minnesota Vs Chicago Bulls
8:00 Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors
Friday August 1
2:00 Dallas Mavericks vs Orlando/Minnesota
4:00 Golden State Warriors vs Seattle Supersonics
6:00 San Antonio/Philadelphia vs Utah Jazz
8:00 Sacramento Kings vs Chicago Bullls
Saturday August 2
1:00 Phoenix Suns vs Orlando/Minnesota
3:00 Houston Rockets vs Sacramento Kings
5:00 Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz
nba.154nba.news,
Rockets sign F Stephens
HOUSTON (Jul 26, 1997 - 16:33 EDT) -- The Houston Rockets signed
forward Joe Stephens to a contract Saturday.
Details of the deal were not disclosed.
Stephens played in two regular games last season, averaging 1.5 points
and 1.6 rebounds before his 10-day contract was voided by the NBA
because of the league's agreement with FIBA, the international
basketball federation.
Stephens played in four preseason games for the Rockets last year,
averaging 7.8 points and 1.3 rebounds.
Between his preseason and regular season stints with the Rockets,
Stephens played in Argentina during November and December.
nba.153nba.news,
Toronto's Wright injured in car accident
TORONTO (Jul 26, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Toronto Raptors center Sharone
Wright was in a Georgia hospital with multiple injuries after the
vhicle he and two friends were driving in flipped over, the Toronto
Sun said today.
The newspaper said the 6-foot-11 Wright suffered a broken left arm and
broken collarbone.
"His injuries are not life-threatening," the newspaper quoted hospital
patient repesentative Jacoby Hall as saying.
Wright was apparently late for a session of teaching at a basketball
camp in his hometown of Macon, Ga., with two former college players,
Kenny Brown and Ervin Josey, the Sun said.
The vehicle went into a skid before turning over.
The Bibb County Sheriff's department said Friday night an
investigation is still under way.
"We hope that Sharone and anyone else involved is OK," Raptors vice
president and assistant general manager Glen Grunwald said. "All we
have is a very preliminary report. We'll have to wait and see exactly
what it means."
nba.155nba.news,
Crowd watches Omni come crashing down
ATLANTA (Jul 26, 1997 - 10:51 EDT) -- About one thousand spectators --
some hugging Mimosas and Bloody Marys -- watched Atlanta's Omni
crumble into rubble and dust Saturday.
It took just seconds for the nearly 3,000 explosives to drop the
27,000-ton skeleton of the building that had stood for 25 years and
was home to the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and to the NHL's Flames
before they moved to Calgary.
The boom raised both a cloud of dust and roosting pigeons into the
sky.
Some spectators had "implosion parties," and officials had to delay
the explosion for a few minutes because some sightseers wandered into
sealed off zones and got too close to the building.
Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell was one of those who turned out to say
goodbye to a center that had housed everything from an Elvis Presley
concert to a Democratic National Convention.
"You could actually feel the vibrations right under your feet,"
Campbell told WSB-TV. "It was extraordinary."
The blast clears the way for a new $215 million arena for the Hawks
and the city's future hockey team in the fall of 1999.
The Omni was a gleaming innovation in architecture when it opened in
1972 with a Flames hockey game before becoming home to both roosting
pigeons and the Hawks.
Television stations had their trucks parked in a parking lot across
the street to ensure live coverage of the collapse of the Omni. CNN
officials reported they had an old camera inside to capture a few
seconds of the collapsing roof.
The five-second implosion occurred at around 6:30 a.m.
Mark Loizeaux and his brother Doug own Controlled Demolition Inc., the
Phoenix, Md.-based company which handled the implosion, said the Omni
job is one of the toughest he has tackled in his 35 years on the job,
partly because of the complex way it was constructed and partly
because of its cramped downtown location next to the CNN Center.
Tearing down the Omni would take about six months, unacceptable for
the new arena's construction schedule, cost almost four times as much
as implosion and be more dangerous to workers, Mark Loizeaux said.
Work is being done quickly so that the Hawks will have only two
seasons without a home. In 1988, they will play in the Georgia Dome, a
domed football stadium, and at Georgia Tech. The Thrashers, a new NHL
franchise, will begin play in 1999.
The Omni was part of a large entertainment and business complex built
several stories above ground near the city's heart. It was near the
intersection of two busy downtown streets, about 50 feet from an
underground train station and about 50 feet from CNN Center, home to a
hotel and several broadcast studios. Also nearby is the Georgia World
Congress Center, a convention center.
nba.156nba.news,
Bristow hardly the man to solve Denver's problems
DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets have no hope and less credibility. In
unbelievably pitiful Allan Bristow, this team has the fitting man to
lead it to ruin.
Five months after taking one of the lousiest jobs in the NBA, Bristow
doesn't know how to fix the Nuggets, which way to turn, or how to tell
the truth.
As Denver's vice president of basketball operations, all he finds is
deep trouble. And then he steps in it.
In the depths of depression one day last week, Bristow admitted he was
so pessimistic about signing forward Antonio McDyess to a long-term
contract that Denver had proposed trading its best player to Seattle
in exchange for Shawn Kemp.
But the very next day, Bristow went into a fit of rage and oddly
declared Denver had never, ever considered trading McDyess to Seattle.
"We are not having any trade talks involving Antonio McDyess. Period,"
Bristow claimed.
He lied. He lied because Seattle was upset Bristow had gone public
with the McDyess-for-Kemp negotiations.
And, when confronted with his lie by a reporter, Bristow snapped: "If
I have to lie, then (bleep) it. I'll lie."
Has Bristow lost his integrity, his mind -- or both?
Five months ago, when he replaced Bernie Bickerstaff, Bristow didn't
think it would require a miracle to rebuild the Nuggets. But his faith
has been severely shaken.
Five months ago, Bristow believed McDyess could be his team's
salvation. Today, Bristow worries McDyess could be his team's
ruination.
Five months ago, Bristow hoped McDyess would be a Nugget forever. Now,
Bristow is prepared to trade McDyess tomorrow.
"I feel like we've got to get good pretty fast," said Bristow, who
quit going to NBA games in Denver last season for the same reason as
everybody else in town: The Nuggets ruin smiles faster than tooth
decay. "If I can't get McDyess signed to a contract at a reasonable
price, I don't know how we're going to get better. I'm screwed."
In recent days, Denver considered trading McDyess for the first time,
offering him to Seattle for Kemp, an all-star who's equally adept at
rattling rims and his employer's nerves. In the coming months, what to
do with McDyess will cause Bristow restless nights.
"I wish I could wake up and the problem would go away," Bristow said.
"But it won't."
On the night of the NBA draft, the Nuggets wouldn't have traded
McDyess for the disgruntled Kemp, Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen
or Utah's Keith Van Horn, a rookie whose talent made Bristow drool.
Thirty days later, Bristow realizes what a fool he was to fall in love
with a shy, 22-year-old athlete unable to lead the Nuggets to anything
better than a 56-108 record during two pro seasons.
This morning, Denver would gladly deal its 6-foot-9 forward to New
Jersey for Van Horn. The Nets, however, have no interest.
And the Nuggets already have inquired whether Seattle would take their
best player straight up for Kemp.
The Sonics' initial reply? No "Dice."
Unwilling to mortgage the future to pay McDyess and uncertain if any
team would offer fair value for him in trade, Denver now faces the
depressing prospect of watching its young power forward become an
unrestricted free agent at the end of next season. The Nuggets could
watch him leave and get absolutely nothing in return.
While McDyess has his rump plopped down on a summer sea cruise,
Bristow's heart is slowly sinking. His attraction to McDyess could
prove fatal to the Nuggets' rebuilding program and a basketball
executive's career.
All Bristow's pretty plans have been shredded by the one man in the
NBA who can hang with Michael Jordan and commissioner David Stern as
an influence peddler.
David Falk is the agent who swept center Dikembe Mutombo away to
Atlanta last summer for a five-year, $57 million contract Denver was
unwilling to match. For the second straight year, Falk is the Nuggets'
enemy No. 1. Falk recently landed a six-year, $65.8 million deal for
client Bryant Reeves, the Vancouver center picked sixth in the 1995
draft in which McDyess went No. 2.
Now, there's no logical reason for McDyess to accept the six-year, $45
million extension Bristow was hoping his forward would sign before
training camp.
McDyess, who will never lead a team to the NBA championship, isn't
worth $10 million per year. Give McDyess a $10 million annual salary,
and Bristow would blow his budget for future free-agent acquisitions.
"Aren't you glad it's my problem," he said, "and not yours?"
The solution?
He has decided there's only one powerful force capable of rescuing the
Nuggets -- and it's not McDyess. Bristow hopes there's a hoops fan in
heaven.
"I'm looking for divine intervention," Bristow admitted. "There's no
answer at the bottom of this well."
Pray for the Nuggets. Bristow can't save them.
nba.157nba.news,
Raptors sign Walker to 3-year extension
TORONTO -- Darrell Walker, the second-youngest and lowest-paid coach
in the NBA last season, signed a three-year contract extension with
the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
"I think the offer is more than fair," Walker said. "I used to say ...
when (general manager) Isiah (Thomas) and I sit down to talk it'll
take 10 minutes or less. And that's what it took basically."
Walker made $265,000 last year -- last among NBA coaches. His new deal
will more than double that, earning him a reported $1.8 million to $2
million over the three seasons.
The 36-year-old Walker, only New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy is
younger at 35, is the fourth member of the Raptors organization to
agree to a long-term deal this offseason. Guard Doug Christie
(seven-year, $22 million deal), forward Walt Williams (five years, $20
million) and reserve forward Carlos Rogers (five years, $10 million)
were the others.
With center-forward Marcus Camby under contract for two more years,
that leaves point guard Damon Stoudamire as the only key player
without a long-term deal.
But Thomas and Stoudamire appear to have reached a gentleman's
agreement that will see Stoudamire play out the final year of his
contract this season so the Raptors can chase top free agents next
year with about $9 million in salary cap room. That done, Stoudamire
would re-sign with the team for roughly $70 million over seven years
under a salary cap exemption.
Stoudamire is expected to make a formal announcement about his plans
on Friday.
"I think Damon is going to be back," Walker said. "We don't have to
discuss Damon. ... He wants to be a Raptor. He was at my basketball
camp and he told my campers, 'Isiah and I have a bond and that bond is
not going to be broken.' "
The Raptors improved from 21 wins to 30 wins last season, and the team
showed it could use a pressing defense to frustrate opponents and keep
games tight when playing top teams.
Thomas, who gave Walker the head coaching job after only one year as
an assistant and no experience as a head coach, said Walker is part of
his long-term plan.
"When I look out into the market in terms of the young coaches out
there, in terms of the young potential talent, I think we have one of
the best and brightest futures here for a coach in terms of Darrell,"
Thomas said.
"We just wanted to honor him and lock him up as we've locked up Walt
and Doug and eventually, next summer, we'll hopefully do Damon -- with
his blessings, of course."
nba.158nba.news,
Nets sign Van Horn for three years
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Jul 28, 1997 - 20:09 EDT) - The New Jersey Nets
signed Utah forward Keith Van Horn, the second overall pick in the NBA
draft, to a three-year contract Monday.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but under the rookie salary scale,
Van Horn can receive a maximum of $9.161 million over three years.
Van Horn, who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers and later traded
to the Nets in an eight-player deal, becomes the third top-five pick
to sign. The San Antonio Spurs signed centre Tim Duncan, the top
overall pick, to a three-year contract last Thursday. Forward-centre
Tony Battie, the fifth overall pick, signed with the Denver Nuggets
last Monday.
"We are very pleased to sign Keith to a multi-year deal," said Nets
coach John Calipari. "He is a superb outside shooter and free throw
shooter and is an excellent athlete. Keith's signing is another
important step forward in our efforts to put a championship-calibre
team on the floor."
Calipari coveted Van Horn enough to trade a pair of first-round picks
and inherit two other players with multi-year contracts.
New Jersey sent guard Jim Jackson, centre Eric Montross, forward Tim
Thomas, the seventh overall pick in the draft, and guard Anthony
Parker, the 21st overall selection, to Philadelphia for Van Horn,
guard Lucious Harris, forward Don MacLean and centre Michael Cage.
The 6-foot-10 (2.08 metres) Van Horn averaged 22 points and 9.5
rebounds per game for Utah last season as he won his third straight
Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year award.
Van Horn finished his four-year college career with a 20.8 scoring
average. He shot 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point
range as well as connecting on 85 percent of his free throw attempts
in amassing 2,542 points and 1,074 rebounds.
nba.159nba.news,
Boston adds three forwards to new-look roster
BOSTON -- In three months, the Boston Celtics start their season
against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the rest of the NBA
champions. On Monday, they signed Andrew DeClercq, Tony Massenburg and
Bruce Bowen.
Celtics coach Rick Pitino is under no illusions that his rebuilt team
is ready for top competition.
Opening against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 31, "is not the worst thing
in the world because ... no one expects you to win that so you can
just play hard and relax," Pitino said.
"Whether we're being realistic in saying we can make the playoffs,
probably not, but I've always lived as a coach in an unrealistic
world. ... You try to win every game."
Pitino became coach May 6 after M.L. Carr led the Celtics to a 15-67
record, the worst in team history and second-worst in the league last
season.
Since taking over, Pitino has jettisoned all but six players who were
with the team last season -- Antoine Walker, Eric Williams, Dee Brown,
Dana Barros, Greg Minor and Pervis Ellison.
Pitino added first-round draft picks Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer
at guard and signed free agent center Travis Knight from the Los
Angeles Lakers. Then came Monday's announcement that three other big
men had signed.
"We may run into problems with just getting used to being with each
other," DeClercq said, "but as the season goes on, you see each other
so much, you work with each other so much, you learn your teammates."
Pitino said, "You have to, in the first year because the first year is
the most crucial, bring in players that are really willing to commit
themselves to the franchise and are willing to work hard."
DeClercq, Massenburg and Bowen all fit that description, he said.
DeClercq signed a reported five-year, $8.4 million deal, while
Massenburg signed for three years and Bowen for two.
DeClercq, a 6-foot-10, 230-pounder who played at Florida, spent his
two NBA seasons with Golden State and became a free agent after
averaging 5.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 15 minutes in 71 games last
season.
"He's a jump shot away from being outstanding," Pitino said.
DeClercq and the 6-7, 250-pound Massenburg, who played briefly for
Boston in 1991-92 and averaged 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 79 games
for New Jersey last season, fill Boston's need for physical players.
Massenburg, who turns 30 Thursday, also gives a young team experience.
The 6-7 Bowen, who left Cal State-Fullerton in 1993, spent last season
playing in France, where he averaged 23.2 points in 20 games, and in
the CBA. His only NBA experience is one minute in one game with the
Miami Heat last March 14.
"I think we have ourselves a real sleeper," Pitino said. "He has
wonderful size. He scores."
"If I'm a sleeper, I'm a sleeper," Bowen said, "but I can only sleep
so long."
Dino Radja's decision to return to Europe after four seasons with
Boston freed up about $2.8 million this year that helped the Celtics
add the three players.
Pitino said the salary cap is expected to go up by about $1.4 million
on Aug. 16 and that he could add one or two more players, although the
current squad is the nucleus of his first Celtics team.
He appeared to write off a plunge into the rich free agent market
after next season, saying the expected $7 million to $10 million price
tag on many of the players might be too much for a team that may have
to pay that much or more the following year to Walker when he becomes
a free agent.
"One thing I keep telling the players (is) we're going to forget about
last year," Pitino said. "We're interested in the present and, right
now, it's a whole new beginning for the Boston Celtics."
nba.160nba.news,
Barkley goes to court
CLEVELAND (Jul 29, 1997 - 00:04 EDT) -- Charles Barkley, sued for
$500,000 over a bar fight, jumped past bouncers to repeatedly punch a
man who was acting as a peacemaker during an argument about a woman, a
lawyer said Monday in opening statements.
Earlier in the day, Barkley mouthed an expletive to the plaintiff, Jeb
Tyler, before prospective jurors were led into the courtroom.
The scuffle happened last summer at The Basement nightclub when
Barkley was in town with the U.S. Olympic basketball team. Barkley has
told police he was the one who was attacked, and a defense lawyer said
Olympic teammate Reggie Miller will testify that Tyler threw the first
punch.
Relaxed as ever, Barkley patted his two lawyers' rear-ends when asked
to stand as the judge entered the courtroom. The Houston Rockets
forward had stopped earlier to sign autographs for some youngsters in
the courthouse.
During jury selection, plaintiff lawyer Timothy Ita asked jurors,
"Does anyone have a problem with Mr. Tyler being from around
Rochester, N.Y.?" Barkley, who is from Leeds, Ala., raised his hand.
Barkley would not discuss the case, but told reporters, "You tell
everybody back in Houston I'm fine. Unfortunately, being famous, this
is one of the drawbacks."
In a complaint amended Monday, the 24-year-old Tyler of Spencerport,
N.Y., is seeking $50,000 in compensatory damages from Barkley and the
bar, and $500,000 in punitive damages from Barkley. The jury can award
any amount it sees fit.
"Who knows what we'll ask for?" Ita said. "It's up to them."
The trial is expected to last three to four days, Judge William J.
Coyne said.
The trial adjourned Monday during the testimony of Andre Maronian, 23,
of Detroit. He will be the witness when the trial resumes Tuesday. He
testified that Tyler intervened into an argument and that he saw
Barkley throw six or seven punches at Tyler.
In his opening statement, Ita said Tyler was at the club with some
friends on July 7, 1996, when they saw Barkley and Miller, who plays
for the Indiana Pacers.
The two sides agree only on what led up to the fight. One of Tyler's
friends got into a discussion with a woman who said she was with
Miller and Barkley. When the woman was asked if she was sleeping with
Miller, Barkley asked the man to leave.
Tyler stepped in to try to break up the argument, Ita said.
"He gets near them and says, 'Listen, let's calm down,"' Ita said.
"Mr. Barkley would have none of it. ... To make a long story short,
Jeb Tyler gets punched in the face by Mr. Barkley."
A melee ensued and Barkley jumped over bouncers to hit Tyler
repeatedly in the back of the head, Ita said.
"Mr. Tyler tried to fight back a little bit, but it wasn't very
effective," he said.
Tyler, a business equipment salesman, is 6-feet, 180 pounds, while
Barkley is 6-6, 252. No criminal charges were filed.
One of Barkley's lawyers, Larry Peskin, told jurors they would hear
videotaped testimony from Miller saying that Tyler threw the first
punch.
"At this point, Charles Barkley put his arms out," Peskin said. "It
all happened so fast, Charles Barkley can't tell you whether he hit
Jeb Tyler or not. There was a tussle, there was a scuffle. At some
time during that scuffle, Jeb Tyler got two small abrasions on his
forehead. One's about the size of a dime, the other's a little
smaller."
Barkley was accompanied by a second lawyer, Tom Sullivan of
Birmingham, Ala. The player's agent, Glenn Guthrie of Bessemer, Ala.,
also was in the courtroom.
"It's a typical case," Guthrie said. "The guy wants money."
Ita responded, "My client is not here to get rich quick."
nba.161nba.news,
Kemp a no-show at Payton's wedding
SAN FRANCISCO - Gary Payton married his longtime fiancee Monique James
in a lavish ceremony Saturday evening - without the presence of
Seattle SuperSonics teammate Shawn Kemp.
Kemp had been scheduled to be in the wedding party but told Payton on
Thursday he would not attend, said Payton's agent Aaron Goodwin.
Kemp, who's been frustrated in his efforts to get traded from the
Seattle team, said he wanted to avoid awkward confrontations with
Sonics management. Those attending included owner Barry Ackerley, team
president Wally Walker, coach George Karl and vice president Billy
McKinney.
Last week, Walker said Payton's wedding was ''neither the time nor
place to talk shop'' with Kemp. Kemp, along with other celebrities,
also was scared off by advance publicity of the nuptials, Goodwin
said. Several of Payton's friends said Kemp's absence was a source of
great disappointment to the groom, The Seattle Times reported Sunday.
nba.162nba.news,
Lakers re-sign Horry
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Free-agent forward Robert Horry, who has been on
three teams in the last 12 months, re-signed with the Los Angeles
Lakers on Tuesday. Financial terms of the a multiyear contract were
not disclosed.
"I've always wanted to play for the Lakers my whole life, so going to
another team was not even a serious consideration," Horry said. "I
love the city, the organization and the team, and I'm thrilled that
I'll be playing here for years to come."
The Lakers acquired Horry and center Joe Kleine from the Phoenix Suns
on Jan. 10 for forward Cedric Ceballos and guard Rumeal Robinson. The
trade was made five days after Horry threw a towel in the face of Suns
coach Danny Ainge face during a game.
The 6-foot-10 Horry helped the Rockets win consecutive championships
in 1994 and 1995 before going to the Suns last August as part of the
Charles Barkley deal.
"I had one team, Houston, that tried to get me back," Horry said. "But
other than that, I never really thought about going anywhere.
Hopefully we can go through a season, win a lot of games and bring the
(championship) trophy back where it belongs. I'm just so thankful to
be in a Lakers uniform."
After being acquired by the Lakers, Horry missed 23 games with a
sprained left knee and ankle and finished the season averaging of 7.8
points and 4.4 rebounds in 54 games.
Horry made $1.7 million last season, the final year of a deal he
signed as a 1992 first-round pick out of Alabama. He has career
averages of 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
"Signing Robert was one of our top priorities for the off-season,"
Lakers executive vice president Jerry West said. "His talent and
versatility make him an important part of our team and we're very
happy to have him back."
The Lakers have two unsigned free agents -- swingman George McCloud
and forward Jerome Kersey.
nba.163nba.news,
Bucks sign Curry to multi-year deal
Milwaukee, WI (TSN) - The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent guard
Michael Curry to a multi-year contract. Terms of the deal were not
released.
Curry spent last season with the Detroit Pistons and averaged 3.9
points and 1.5 rebounds in 81 games. The three-year veteran connected
at a 44.8 percent clip from the floor and hit a solid 89.8 percent
(97-of-108) from the line to lead the Pistons.
Curry broke into the NBA in 1993-94 with the Philadelphia 76ers, and
played for Washington and Detroit in 1995-96.
Curry played his collegiate ball at Georgia Southern, where he
averaged 9.4 points over his career. He led the Eagles with 16.6
points per game as a senior in 1989-90, shooting 62.1 percent from the
floor that season and 56.3 percent for his four-year career.
nba.164nba.news,
Raptors' Wright to miss first three months
TORONTO (Jul 29, 1997 - 21:51 EDT) -- Toronto Raptors center Sharone
Wright will miss the first three months of the 1997-98 NBA season
after undergoing surgery to repair injuries received in a car
accident.
Wright, 24, fractured his arm and shoulder in an auto accident last
Friday in his hometown of Macon, Ga.
The Raptors said Tuesday that doctors at Central Georgia Hospital
inserted two metal plates into the humerus bone of Wright's left arm
on Monday.
Wright and two friends were on the way to a basketball clinic when the
Mercedes Benz he was driving skidded off the road and rolled for about
60 yards. The two passengers were not seriously injured.
The 6-foot-11 Wright averaged 6.5 points last season and missed 23
games because of injuries.
Wright, who played at Clemson, was the first-round draft pick, sixth
overall, of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1994. The 76ers traded him to
Toronto in February 1996 for forward Ed Pinckney and Tony Massenburg.
nba.166nba.news,
Tax rules are too much, ref's laywer says
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- An NBA referee didn't knowingly cheat on his
taxes but was done in by complex reporting rules, his lawyer argued in
U.S. District Court on Tuesday.
George T. Toliver, of Harrisonburg, was indicted in February on
charges of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service and filing false
income tax forms for 1993 and 1994.
Toliver and three other NBA officials allegedly downgraded first-class
airline tickets to cheaper fares and then pocketed the difference
without reporting the gain as income.
Toliver allegedly failed to report about $47,000 over two years. He
faces up to nine years in prison and a $750,000 fine if convicted.
But Guy M. Harbert III, of Roanoke, said Toliver is "far from the
greedy crook" the IRS and the prosecution are making him out to be.
Between 1989 and 1992, Harbert said, the league frequently altered its
reimbursement policy to include rules that were "contradictory,
inconsistent and constantly changing, sometimes changing after the
fact."
"The rules," Harbert said, "became unmercifully complex."
But Toliver not only failed to report the money he made from
downgrading -- he took "several calculated steps to keep the IRS from
finding out his true tax liability," said Susan Vrahoretis, the
prosecution's co-counsel with the U.S. Justice Department's Tax
Division.
"Greed got the better of Mr. Toliver," Vrahoretis said.
The case being presented to the jury stands to get even more complex
before it's over. Harbert is fortifying his case with nine cardboard
boxes of documents and about two dozen map-size posters that outline
major events.
The prosecution has its own store of posters and transparencies.
After the last witness has been questioned and the last document
examined, Harbert predicted jurors will only be able to guess if
Toliver committed the crimes -- "and you can't send a man to jail
based on speculation."
Judge James P. Jones told jurors the trial probably would go into
Friday and might even last until the first of next week.
Referee Jess Kersey's trial starts Monday in Norfolk. No trial date
has been set for Henry Clinger Armstrong of Virginia Beach and Mike
Mathis of Cincinnati.
Kersey and Armstrong allegedly failed to report about $30,000 a year
over a four-year period, and Mathis allegedly failed to report about
$69,000 over four years.
All four officials have been relieved of their duties, with full pay,
pending their trials.
nba.165nba.news,
Witnesses says Barkley punched man during nightclub fight
CLEVELAND (Jul 30, 1997 - 00:33 EDT) -- Charles Barkley threw the
first punch in a nightclub fight, said the man who is suing Barkley
for more than $500,000.
"Right after he punched me, in self-defense I took a swing back at
him," said Jeb Tyler, 24, of Spencerport, N.Y.
Tyler, a business equipment salesman, is suing the Houston Rockets
forward over a fight at The Basement. He contends he was punched while
acting as a peacemaker between a friend, David DiGiacco, 27, of
Rochester, N.Y., and Barkley.
Tyler said on the second day of the trial that Barkley cursed at him
and DiGiacco and told them both to get out of the bar.
"I said, 'Why should we have to leave? Why don't you leave?' That's
when he punched me in the head," Tyler said.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Tyler said he didn't threaten the 6-6, 250-pound
NBA star in any way before Barkley punched him in the face. Barkley
kept coming after him, and that's when Tyler said he threw a punch at
Barkley.
"The bouncers then got hold of me, but no one was controlling him,"
Tyler said. "He kept punching me on top of my head."
Tyler said he was punched three or four times on his head before the
club's bouncers separated him and Barkley and escorted Tyler outside.
"I remember touching my face and feeling blood and looking down at my
hands and shirt and seeing blood all over," Tyler said.
Barkley, who had been in Cleveland with the U.S. Olympic basketball
team, told police he was the one who was attacked. A defense lawyer
said Reggie Miller, Barkley's Olympic teammate, will testify that
Tyler threw the first punch.
In testimony earlier Tuesday, DiGiacco said the fight started after he
began talking to a woman sitting next to the basketball players. The
woman told DiGiacco she was with Miller, a guard with the Indiana
Pacers.
DiGiacco said he asked the woman whether she and Miller were just
friends or whether she was "sleeping with him."
"Obviously, now I realize it probably wasn't something I should have
said," DiGiacco testified.
DiGiacco said Barkley began telling him to leave the bar after the
woman told him what DiGiacco had said.
"That's when Mr. Barkley kind of snapped and punched Jeb," DiGiacco
said.
Tyler said he and his friends answered questions from police outside
the bar and then drove to a hospital to get his injuries checked.
Two days after the fight, he went to a doctor in New York when he
experienced pain in his neck and upper back, Tyler said.
In a written deposition, Dr. Eugene Ver, of Brockport, N.Y., testified
that he prescribed a muscle relaxant and stretching exercises to
relieve the problem. He noted that Tyler also had cuts on his face.
"Those types of injuries would be consistent with a forceful blow,"
the doctor said.
On cross-examination by Barkley's lawyer, Tyler admitted he may have
had six or seven beers over a five-hour period that night.
"I don't believe I was affected to the point that I was intoxicated or
impaired," he said.
No criminal charges were filed.
Barkley, who stared directly at Tyler through much of his testimony,
appeared to be amused at times by Tyler's description of events.
During a recess, the 34-year-old star signed autographs.
"I think it's going well," he said. "But it's a waste of time and
energy. I have the best life in the world. I'm truly blessed, but
unfortunately one of the things about being a celebrity is that these
types of things happen all the time."
Tyler is seeking $50,000 in compensatory damages from Barkley and the
bar and $500,000 in punitive damages from Barkley.
nba.167nba.news,
Spurs chairman worried by arena survey results
SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio Spurs chairman Peter Holt said Tuesday he
is worried by the results of a survey that showed local residents are
strongly opposed to funding a new facility with tax increases.
Holt on Tuesday released the results of a survey conducted earlier
this month which showed 61 percent of Bexar County residents do not
want a new multi-purpose coliseum funded by taxpayer dollars. He also
released a statement voicing his concerns, which could result in the
relocation of the team.
"We're playing in the smallest market in the NBA and we can't change
the laws of economics," Holt said. "But the people we surveyed sent a
message to us, no doubt about it. And believe me, the figures have me
worried."
Four seasons ago, the Spurs moved from the HemisFair Arena to the
AlamoDome, an oversized facility better suited for football. The
building cost $186 million and was funded by a half-cent sales tax
increase from 1989 to 1994. It has hosted the 1993 U.S. Olympic
Festival and 1996 NBA All-Star Weekend and will host the 1998 NCAA
Final Four.
The Alamodome seats at least 20,557 for basketball and has been
expanded to hold over 34,000 for selected games. The Spurs drew
706,641 fans last season, a 13 percent decline from the previous
season. They drew more than 20,000 fans just twice.
A survey of 773 Bexar County residents likely to vote on a potential
referendum in January showed that while 70 percent think it is "very
important" for the Spurs to remain in San Antonio, just 35 percent
favor building a new coliseum, while 43 percent "strongly" oppose it.
The survey said 68 percent were opposed to a half-cent increase in
sales tax for the next 3-5 years and 64 percent were against a tourist
tax that would raise taxes on rental cars and hotel rooms.
"We now have the results, have thoroughly analyzed them, and ... what
can I say? ... they're not good for us," Holt said. "At this point,
the community is telling us the support for a new coliseum is not
there."
Holt said the survey results meant the Spurs would not seek an
election or referendum. He did not mention relocation but that
certainly is an option. The Spurs already have relocated once in their
history, having moved from Dallas while still in the ABA. They joined
the NBA in 1976.
"San Antonio has a community problem and the people of San Antonio
need to determine for themselves what they want to do about this
problem," Holt said. "When, and if, the community comes up with a
plan, the Spurs would certainly like to be a part of it. However, it
is up to the community and its leadership to develop this plan."
nba.168nba.news,
Stephon Marbury slams his way into Acclaim's NBA Jam '98
To make NBA Jam '98 the most realistic, action-packed basketball game
off the court, Acclaim has brought in Stephon Marbury of the Minnesota
Timberwolves to be recorded in their Motion Capture Studio. Using
Acclaim's Motion Capture technology, Marbury's movements are recorded
as digital images to create the most realistic player movements.
nba.169nba.news,
Pistons re-sign Dumars
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Jul 30, 1997 - 21:04 EDT) -- Joe Dumars, the last
link to Detroit's NBA championship teams of 1989 and 1990, re-signed
with the club Wednesday, virtually ensuring that the team captain will
end his career as a Piston.
Terms of the deal were not released.
"Since being drafted by the Pistons in 1985, I have never considered
playing anywhere else," Dumars said Wednesday. "I look forward to
finishing my basketball career here in Detroit."
This season will mark Dumars' 13th consecutive with the Pistons,
matching the tenure of former teammates Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer
in years of service.
Dumars' 908 games ranks third in Detroit history and he is likely to
pass Thomas (979) and Laimbeer (937) this season.
The 18th player taken in the 1985 draft, Dumars ranks fourth on
Detroit's scoring list with 15,030 points. He averaged 14.7 points per
game last season and shot 43 percent (166-of-384) from 3-point range,
the highest percentage in team history. He was named the most valuable
player in the 1989 NBA Finals.
"Obviously we are ecstatic to have Joe D. back with this team,"
Pistons coach Doug Collins said. "He represents both the glory days of
the Pistons and our gradual return back to the top. Joe Dumars has
been an absolute joy for me to coach these past two years."
After posting a 28-54 record two seasons ago, the Pistons have had
records of 46-36 and 54-28, losing in the first round of the playoffs
each year.
Dumars' signing comes a day after forward Michael Curry signed a
free-agent contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
But while players like Curry and guard Allan Houston, who signed a
free agent contract with New York last year, have left for greener
pastures, Dumars' re-signing with Detroit came as no surprise.
"I am very happy to continue my NBA career here in Detroit," Dumars
said. "I look forward to playing on a team that has shown dramatic
improvement over the last two seasons."
nba.170nba.news,
Seattle signs Howard
SEATTLE (Jul 30, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- The Seattle SuperSonics signed
forward Stephen Howard to a one-year contract Wednesday.
Sonics general manager Wally Walker said Howard had an outstanding
year in the CBA last season "and we felt he has performed well in his
limited NBA action."
In 15 games with Oklahoma City of the CBA last season, the 27-year-old
Howard averaged 25.6 points and 9.5 rebounds in about 42 minutes per
game. Howard, who played at DePaul, played in 42 games last season
with the Utah Jazz, averaging 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds.
nba.171nba.news,
Calipari comments cost Nets' Williams $10,000
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. -- New Jersey Nets center Jayson Williams has
found out that talk is not cheap.
Making an uninvited appearance Tuesday at a promotional event for
newly signed Nets player Keith Van Horn, Williams told a crowd of
reporters that the team fined him $10,000 last week for making
disparaging comments about coach John Calipari in an article he wrote
for GQ magazine's June issue.
Williams said he and Calipari were actually getting along fine now and
his problem was with general manager John Nash.
"I don't know what's going on, to tell the truth," Williams said. "I
said some things to hurt him, and he said some things to hurt me. I
don't think we can rehash that."
Nash would not comment on any fine, but said he wasn't concerned about
William's comments.
"It may be because I'm the messenger," Nash said. "That's my job, to
deliver news on behalf of the organization, and there are times when
the player doesn't like what I have to say."
Williams, who will be a free agent in 1998, said he did not expect to
be with the team when the season started. Nash dismissed talk about a
trade, saying any interest from other teams was for other players.
"Jayson is our starting center, as of today," Nash said. "As for a
trade, just because a player has an agenda of his own, I can't
accommodate that player at the expense of the team."
Williams said he plans to contest the fine through the NBA Players'
Association.
nba.172nba.news,
Referee Kersey resigns
NEW YORK (Jul 30, 1997 - 20:45 EDT) -- Jess Kersey, one of four NBA
referees indicted on charges of federal income tax evasion, resigned
Wednesday after 24 years with the league. He was regarded as one of
the NBA's top officials.
Kersey pleaded guilty in Norfolk, Va., to filing false federal income
tax returns and was sentenced to three years' probation. He was fined
$20,000 after agreeing to cooperate in the investigation of tax fraud
by NBA referees.
Just last week, Kersey was advised by a federal judge in Norfolk that
it was in his best interest to negotiate a plea because a jury was not
likely to be convinced by his defense.
"I suggest that you make a deal," U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar
told Kersey. "I strongly suggest it."
Rod Thorn, the NBA's senior vice president for basketball operations,
announced the resignation Wednesday.
Kersey and three other NBA referees were the subjects of a two-year
Internal Revenue Service investigation. The officials allegedly
downgraded first-class airline tickets to cheaper fares and then
pocketed the difference without reporting the gain as income.
The NBA has since sent out numerous notices informing referees that
the practice is illegal, court documents indicate.
Kersey, 56, worked as an NBA official for 24 years. He officiated in
14 NBA Finals and three All-Star games.
In addition to Kersey, the other NBA referees indicted for tax evasion
were Clinger Armstrong, George Toliver and Mike Mathis.
Toliver's trial started Tuesday in Harrisonburg, Va. The others have
not had trial dates set. They are all suspended with full pay while
they await their trials.
nba.173nba.news,
Barkley claims he was attacked, admits shoving accuser
CLEVELAND -- Charles Barkley testified Wednesday that he pushed the
man who is suing him because he deserved it.
"I don't know if I ever got to hit him or not," the NBA star said. "I
would hope I did, but I don't know if I did."
Barkley, testifying in the lawsuit in which Jeb Tyler is seeking
$550,000, described a chaotic scene in which Tyler moved aggressively
toward him.
The Houston Rockets forward said he pushed Tyler away and was grabbed
by two people when Tyler began swinging at him.
"I thought he made a move toward me and he was raising his voice,"
Barkley said. "I take that as confrontational."
Tyler, a 24-year-old business equipment salesman from Spencerport,
N.Y., has already testified that Barkley bloodied his face with
punches during a July 7, 1996, melee in which he was trying to be a
peacemaker. The nightclub where the fight took place was dismissed
from the lawsuit.
Barkley, who had been in Cleveland with the U.S. Olympic basketball
team, told police he was the one who was attacked. A defense lawyer
said Olympic teammate Reggie Miller will testify that Tyler swung
first.
Under questioning by the plaintiff's lawyer, Timothy Ita, Barkley said
he thought Tyler and his friends were angry a white woman was in
Barkley's company.
"I think sometimes when successful black men are talking to a white
woman there are some racial overtones," Barkley said.
"Did you call him a drunk redneck?" Ita asked.
"I would do it today, probably," Barkley said in one of the many times
he answered following objections from his lawyers.
Barkley, known for speaking his mind, joked with the court reporter,
raised his voice at Ita and laughed at the lawyer when he showed an
exhibit improperly.
Barkley said he was justified in his actions and showed no remorse.
"I still don't think he got what he deserved," Barkley said. "I was
trying to get at him, I admit that. And if I did get to him, he'd have
more lumps than those superficial little rug burns he had."
Earlier Wednesday, a bouncer who got between Barkley and Tyler said he
never saw the star forward throw a punch.
Paul Glatte, a bouncer at The Basement nightclub, said Barkley ordered
Tyler to leave the bar and swiped at him with an open hand, but he
never saw Barkley slug Tyler.
"I would call it an open-handed shiver, like you use in football on a
blocker," Glatte said. "It was more like a shove-push-strike."
Barkley thanked Glatte when he left the courtroom for a recess.
"You're the first one who told the truth," he said.
Testifying on the third day of Barkley's civil trial, Glatte said he
and Miller pinned Barkley against a wall as he exchanged heated words
with Tyler. The confrontation occurred after one of Tyler's friends,
David DiGiacco, 27, asked a woman if she and Miller were sleeping
together.
Glatte said Barkley was trying to get through his block to reach
Tyler, who was swinging at the player. Glatte said he saw Tyler on the
ground and didn't see how his face got bloodied.
nba.174nba.news,
Westhead will have Warriors running
Poolside at a hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, doesn't seem the most
likely place to plot a basketball revolution.
In the stifling, humid heat of the Caribbean summer, the only X's and
O's anyone draws are as part of a leisurely game of tic-tac-toe. A
pick is something you use to break ice that has melted together, not a
move designed to break your shooter free.
Yet it was in Puerto Rico where Paul Westhead tested several of the
basketball principles that have become the signature of his career,
for better or worse.
And the pool was as good a place as any to discuss them. After all, on
any given night he might run into Tex Winter, Sam Jones, Jack Ramsay,
K.C. Jones, Del Harris, Bernie Bickerstaff, Phil Jackson, Tom Nissalke
or Doug Moe, all of whom coached in the island's semipro league.
"We would sit around all day and talk basketball, go out to our
respective games and then come back," Westhead said. "That was what
you did. You didn't have an office. It was basketball in a very pure
sense."
In the summer of '74 Westhead met a driven 25-year-old named P.J.
Carlesimo, who became his boss last week when Westhead was named an
assistant with the Warriors.
They developed a friendship coaching with and against each other in
some of the most rugged conditions a stateside coach could imagine.
Carlesimo's first team in Puerto Rico played its home games on a court
surrounded by a chain link fence, not unlike in many cities in the
United States, where the term cagers was coined.
Westhead had actually seen worse in previous years.
"When I first went down they had the cage in (the town of) Bayamon, at
the old arena before they moved," Westhead recalled.
"It was a little inside place and they had like chicken wire all the
way up from the floor to the ceiling, and players and referees came up
to the court through a trap door underneath. You walked up these steps
and you were out on the floor. I had many a hard time there (as a
visiting coach)."
By that time Westhead had already been experimenting with a breakneck
style of basketball, a sort of controlled chaos based on the premise
that faster is better.
That approach has left an even deeper imprint on his career than the
NBA championship he won with the Lakers in 1980. Ironically, he lost
that coaching job in late '81 when he clashed with Magic Johnson, the
point man of the fastbreaking Showtime teams.
Stints with the pre-Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls in 1982-83 and the
Denver Nuggets from 1990-92 resulted in a combined record of 72-174.
During the latter term Westhead's frenetic scheme was ridiculed as too
out of control offensively and too permissive on the defensive end,
even though it had worked wonders in college.
Westhead put together a 105-48 record in five years at unheralded
Loyola Marymount, including a stirring NCAA Tournament run in 1990
that launched his return to the pros.
But while his Nuggets led the league in scoring with an average of
119.9 points a game in his first year, they also allowed a
preposterous 130.8 per night.
"I guess I have evolved. That was about five years ago now," Westhead
said.
That doesn't mean he's changed his basic beliefs. He remains a firm
proponent of the running game, though after a failed (38-70) four year
tour at George Mason that ended in his firing, he's a little less
gung-ho.
"There are principles of a faster pace that can help teams," said
Westhead. "That doesn't mean you all of a sudden have to try to get
150 points a game and do everything to play at that kind of breakneck
speed.
"But there are helpful principles of quicker outlet passes and players
moving down the court and getting in their shooting positions sooner,
rather than just kind of meandering down."
That's what he'd like to promote with the Warriors, who rarely ran
last season despite having three point guards and players like Latrell
Sprewell and Joe Smith, who are suited to a fast attack. Still, don't
expect to see Loyola Marymount's frenzied pace in Oakland next season.
Westhead's theories would seem to run counter to the style Carlesimo
employed in Portland, where he had talented big guys to carry the
load. The Warriors coach said his reliance on post play was predicated
on the talent he had, and that he'd like to see his new team run more
than last year's Blazers.
To that end he intends to give Westhead a certain amount of leeway.
"He's going to have an awful lot to say about our offense," Carlesimo
said. "I've always been intrigued by the way football does it. We may
very well have an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. It
wouldn't be quite the same, but I like that concept."
There's no question what Westhead will advocate from his side of the
floor. Though he's a man of diverse interests -- he's a Shakespearean
scholar and former teacher, and at 58 is training for a 2-mile ocean
swim -- he only knows one speed on the court.
nba.175nba.news,
Sorry, juče sam čitav dan bio zauzet...
Dunleavy says he has five-year contract with Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (Jul 31, 1997 - 01:51 EDT) -- Mike Dunleavy said he
signed a five-year contract Wednesday to coach the Portland Trail
Blazers.
The announcement, made from Salt Lake City, where the Blazers' rookies
and free agents are playing their summer league schedule, came about 2
1/2 months after Dunleavy was named Portland's coach.
Dunleavy said the delay was not related to disputes involving the
Milwaukee Bucks, who agreed to a contract buyout with Dunleavy in
April.
He filed a lawsuit Friday against the Bucks, who have said they
considered filing a tampering charge against the Blazers.
Dunleavy claims Milwaukee owes him severance pay and relocation money.
"Everything just happened so quickly when I got the job" in Portland,
Dunleavy said. "A lot of issues in my contract had to be resolved. The
fact that it took this long didn't bother me."
He said he met Tuesday with Blazers owner Paul Allen and team
president Bob Whitsitt.
nba.178nba.news,
Barkley's assault case goes to jury
CLEVELAND -- A lawyer asked a jury Thursday to send a message to
Charles Barkley by awarding at least $500,000 to a man who fought
with the NBA star in a bar.
"Just because you don't like somebody doesn't mean you have the
authority to beat the hell out of them," plaintiff lawyer Timothy Ita
said in his closing argument.
Barkley's lawyer said plaintiff Jeb Tyler deserves nothing in his
lawsuit and that Barkley was a victim.
"This case is about fame and fortune," Larry Peskin said. "Charles
Barkley has it. Jeb Tyler wants it."
A jury of eight deliberated for three hours Thursday whether to award
Taylor any money without reaching a verdict. The jury said they would
resume deliberations on Friday.
In a no-holds-barred oratory that often strayed from questioning by
Ita, Barkley admitted pushing Tyler because he was a "drunk redneck"
who deserved it.
"I don't know if I ever got to hit him or not," Barkley said. "I would
hope I did, but I don't know if I did."
The Houston Rockets all-star was at The Basement, a nightclub in
Cleveland's Flats neighborhood, with Indiana Pacers guard Reggie
Miller on July 7, 1996. The players were in town for an exhibition
game with the U.S. Olympic basketball team.
Both sides agree the fight started when Tyler's friend, 27-year-old
David DiGiacco, asked a woman if she was sleeping with Miller.
"I said, 'Why don't you leave?' I said it a couple of times," Barkley
said. "Jeb came out of nowhere. That's what I think scared me more
than anything. He just jumped up there.
"So I pushed him back, and two people grabbed me. ... Then Jeb starts
swinging at me, and I start trying to get back at him. A couple of
people got me, a couple of people got Jeb. I mean, it was a wild
scene."
Barkley insisted he was justified in pushing Tyler.
"I thought he made an aggressive move toward me. He was raising his
voice," Barkley said. "I take that as confrontational."
"Do you realize I'm being confrontational with you now?" Ita asked,
raising his voice at Barkley.
"And I'm not going to hit you," Barkley responded. "If we're doing
this right now and you make a move toward me, I'm probably going to
pop you. I admit that."
Tyler, a 24-year-old business equipment salesman from Spencerport,
N.Y., testified earlier that he was trying to be a peacemaker between
his friend and Barkley. Tyler said Barkley bloodied his face with
punches during the melee.
The plaintiff rested after a stipulation was read to the jury saying
both sides agreed Barkley made at least $5 million a year. The third
day of the civil trial ended with Miller saying in videotaped
testimony that he saw Tyler swing at Barkley first.
"I saw Charles move back and push the guy back," Miller said. "This
bouncer and I started grabbing Charles to restrain him."
No criminal charges were filed. The nightclub where the fight took
place was dismissed from the lawsuit.
nba.177nba.news,
Trail Blazers' Robinson cited for marijuana possession
PORTLAND, Ore. (Jul 31, 1997 - 20:21 EDT) -- NBA free agent Clifford
Robinson says police didn't need to go to such extreme lengths when
they stopped his Humvee with a roadblock and drew their guns on him in
downtown Portland.
Robinson, in a telephone conference call with reporters Thursday, also
said the small amount of marijuana police found in the vehicle was not
his.
"If you look and see how wide that Hummer is, the marijuana was found
in the passenger door armrest," Robinson said. "If it was mine, I
don't see why I would put it all the way over there."
Police cited Robinson for possession of less than an ounce of
marijuana because it was found in his vehicle. The charge is a
non-criminal offense similar to a traffic ticket with a maximum fine
of $1,000.
Robinson was driving. His brother and two friends were riding inside.
Police said they used a "high-risk" strategy to stop the Humvee on
Wednesday evening after receiving reports that a man in the vehicle
had a gun.
Police discovered four paintball guns in the Humvee.
"We have information we have to go on and, for the officers' safety
and for the safety of the public, we have to do that stop by the
numbers," Portland police spokesman Lt. Cliff Madison said.
Just two weeks ago, a Portland police officer was shot to death while
chasing an assault suspect.
"I understand that a police officer was shot, and I feel bad for his
partners and for his family," Robinson said. "But at the same time,
they shouldn't treat me like I'm getting ready to pull a gun on
someone when that's the last thing on my mind. The only gun I own is a
paintball gun."
Robinson said he, his brother and his friends were on their way to
play in a paintball league when they were stopped by a roadblock on
Front Avenue, a main thoroughfare along the downtown waterfront.
"The next thing I knew, there were 10 cop cars around us with guns
pointing at us in the middle of Front," Robinson said. "I didn't know
what's going on. I was totally scared. This has never happened to me
before."
Robinson said police ordered him and the other three to hold up their
hands and slowly back out of the vehicle. They were told to lie down
on the ground and were handcuffed.
Madison said officers did not know it was Robinson until he got out of
the vehicle and it wouldn't have made any difference if they had
known. He said Robinson was "very cooperative."
Robinson said the marijuana that was found was a "tiny amount." He
declined to identify who had the marijuana but said he had not known
anyone in the car had the drug.
Robinson became a free agent this summer after playing all eight of
his NBA seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. He said he hoped this
incident would not harm his attempts to sign with the Blazers or
another team.
He said he was concerned that people would see the run-in as another
example of misbehavior by a team that has been referred to as the
"Jail Blazers" because several players have had run-ins with the law.
"This perception of our team is that we have a bunch of guys who are
shady individuals," Robinson said. "I don't do anything but try my
best to represent myself, represent the Trail Blazers and represent
Portland on and off the court as best as I can."
The Oregon Legislature recently re-criminalized possession of
marijuana. Beginning Oct. 1, it is a Class C misdemeanor with a
maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
nba.176nba.news,
Another NBA ref pleads guilty to tax charge
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- The second NBA referee in as many days pleaded
guilty in federal court to filing false federal income tax returns in
an airline ticket scam.
In return for his guilty plea Thursday on one count of filing a false
income tax statement in 1993, two other counts against George Toliver
of Harrisonburg were dismissed, said U.S. Attorney Robert P. Crouch
Jr.
On Wednesday, NBA referee Jess Kersey pleaded guilty in Norfolk to
cheating on his income taxes and agreed to testify against other
referees involved in the scheme.
Kersey resigned the same day from his 24-year career as one of the
NBA's top officials.
Toliver's status as an NBA official remained uncertain Thursday night.
"I can't speculate. I haven't a clue," Toliver said. "Basketball I
know, basketball I love and I'm going to attempt to stay as involved
in that sport as I possibly can."
Four referees were indicted earlier this year on charges of defrauding
the Internal Revenue Service. IRS investigators allege the referees
downgraded first-class airline tickets supplied by the league to
cheaper fares and then pocketed the difference without reporting the
gain as income.
Toliver's sentencing was set for Oct. 24. He could receive a maximum
combined sentence of three years in prison and fines totaling
$250,000.
"George had a real tough time of it" after hearing that Kersey pleaded
guilty, said Toliver's brother-in-law, Ed Coleman. "There was the
feeling that it leaves everyone with the idea that if one's guilty,
they're all guilty."
Toliver's plea was entered on the third day of his tax fraud trial.
His lawyer, Guy M. Harbert III, contended his client didn't knowingly
cheat on his taxes, but was done in by complex reporting rules.
But Toliver not only failed to report the money he made from
downgrading -- he took "several calculated steps to keep the IRS from
finding out his true tax liability," said Susan Vrahoretis earlier in
the trial. She is the prosecution's co-counsel with the U.S. Justice
Department's Tax Division.
Prosecutors said Toliver agreed the amount of unreported income from
1992 to 1994 was $38,335.
In addition to Toliver and Kersey, the other NBA referees indicted for
tax evasion were Clinger Armstrong of Virginia Beach and Mike Mathis
of Cincinnati. No trial dates have been set in their cases.
All the indicted officials were relieved of their duties, with full
pay, pending trial.
A dozen more referees have been implicated in the fraud, but not yet
charged.
nba.179nba.news,
Thomas, current owner to talk through the weekend
TORONTO (Jul 31, 1997 - 20:33 EDT) -- Would-be Toronto Raptors owner
Isiah Thomas and current owner Allan Slaight said Thursday that
negotiations over Thomas' purchase of the NBA team have been extended
through the weekend.
Thomas, who currently owns nine percent of the team, and Slaight, a
broadcasting magnate who owns 81 percent, had signed a letter of
intent which expired Thursday.
Slaight and Thomas, the team's general manager, are expected to make
an announcement early next week about the planned sale, but could
postpone a final decision with another letter of intent.
nba.180nba.news,
Summer version of Bulls greeted by different atmosphere
SALT LAKE CITY (Jul 31, 1997 - 12:45 EDT) -- On a fast break, Keith
Booth connects with Kevin Rankin, who lays it in to put the Chicago
Bulls within two points of the Denver Nuggets.
The crowd goes minimally wild.
Not exactly a scene reminiscent of the 1997 NBA Finals, when the Bulls
defeated the Jazz in six games.
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson were not at the Rocky
Mountain Revue this week. Everybody actually has their naturally
colored hair, meaning Dennis Rodman is not present either.
These players are guys like Kornel David. David, from Hungary, led the
Bulls at halftime with 10 points.
This Chicago team does know how to win, defeating Denver, 83-80 at at
the Delta Center. The one familiar face was general manager Jerry
Krause, who quietly sat in the stands.
Krause finds this tournament helpful for some newer members, such as
No. 1 draft choice, Booth, from Maryland. Krause noted that "our
youngsters get a chance to play, to play together for awhile."
Unlike the NBA Finals, when much was made of the overwhelming noise
and pregame antics at the Delta Center, Krause had positive things to
say about the overall feel of this tournament.
"We like to come here. It's a good place to come. It's a good
atmosphere for us to play and practice in ... It's really a pleasure
... I don't even think we think about that -- the NBA Finals. It's a
different season now."
Krause also views it as an opportunity for Bulls assistant coach Bill
Cartwright.
"It's a good head coaching experience for Bill Cartwright, who we want
to develop as a coach," said Krause. "So Bill gets his first coaching
experience."
Speaking of coaches, Chicago ended rampant speculation last week about
Jackson when he signed a one-year $6 million contract for next season.
The current Bulls are essentially a puzzle comprised of three pieces:
Jordan, Pippen and Jackson.
The first piece fell into place when the Bulls decided not to trade
Pippen. Jackson's signing means only one piece is missing: Jordan.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he hopes to re-sign Jordan by
Sept. 1. Speculation has Jordan asking between $36 million to $40
million to play next year.
"We want to keep this team together," said Krause, who supposedly
considered rebuilding the Bulls after last season. He added, "All I'm
concerned with right now is with this next season and we'll worry
about that rebuilding when the time comes."
The Delta Center also was familiar territory for 6-foot-7 forward Matt
Steigenga.
Steigenga took a fairly circuitous route to the 1996-97 Bulls. After
getting cut in the Bulls' training camp last fall, he played in the
CBA. In April, after the CBA season ended, Steigenga was living in
Milwaukee and called Krause to see if he could get tickets to a Bulls
game. Krause's response was not what the Michigan State alum expected.
"On a Friday, I called Krause to see if I could come down to watch the
game on Monday and he called me back on Saturday morning and told me
instead of coming down, why don't you come play in the game," said
Steigenga. "Then it turned into, how soon can you get here to join the
team."
Steigenga was signed to help fill in the gaps for an injured Toni
Kukoc. Though primarily a practice player, Steigenga did travel with
the team, which meant a few trips to the Delta Center.
"Being here now is totally, totally different." said Steigenga. "There
aren't 20,000 crazies in here going bananas, and no fireworks."
Steigenga also got a ring -- the same as any member of the Bulls. No
one else playing for the Bulls at the Delta Center right now can say
that.
nba.181nba.news,
Stoudamire has the edge in negotiations with Toronto
The balancing act comes with a safety net for Raptors point guard
Damon Stoudamire. If he cannot come to terms with Toronto on a
contract extension this off-season, there still will be plenty of
willing suitors next off-season, when he becomes a free agent.
The balancing act, however, is far more precarious for the Raptors. A
contract extension for Stoudamire would eat away at much of the $9
million salary-cap bounty Toronto has stored away for next off-season.
Executive vice president Isiah Thomas is hopeful of first landing
another lineup building block and then re-signing Stoudamire in the
'98 off-season.
Thomas' thinking is sound. As much as the Raptors need Stoudamire
back, they also need another anchor in their lineup. While Walt
Williams and Doug Christie, now under contract into the next
millennium, might prove to be sound complementary players, Toronto has
little star potential beyond Stoudamire.
Yet the risk for the Raptors is great. As much as Stoudamire has
stated a preference for remaining in Toronto and growing with the
Raptors, every day he remains unsigned remains another opportunity for
calamity.
Suppose, for example, Stoudamire finally tires of losing?
Suppose Williams and Christie turn out to be so average next season
that Stoudamire sees them not as worthy long-term teammates, but
rather as albatrosses on his own future?
Suppose a ready-to-win team such as Chicago makes a bid next summer
that Stoudamire cannot refuse?
Or suppose that Stoudamire decides that the 2,097 miles from his
hometown of Portland, Ore., to Toronto simply is a bridge too far?
Once Oct. 1 arrives, the Raptors will have no option but to wait on
Stoudamire. In the interim, Thomas can dazzle Stoudamire with the
possibilities of landing '98 free agents such as Jimmy Jackson,
LaPhonso Ellis, Scottie Pippen or Rik Smits as teammates.
Of his decision, Stoudamire said, "I was here when we were losing; I
definitely want to be here when the going is good.''
Yet by playing along with Thomas, Stoudamire also leaves himself with
an escape hatch in case the going isn't good this coming season, in
case the Raptors again languish at the bottom of the Central Division.
Boston 'Z' Party
Andrew DeClercq. Tony Massenburg. Bruce Bowen.
Wasn't Rick Pitino supposed to rebuild the Celtics? Or is this just
another attempt to re-create the magic of the Clippers, Warriors or
Nets?
To say the Celtics' free-agent acquisitions this off-season have been
uninspiring would be an understatement. Factoring in Travis Knight,
the Celtics basically have purchased a group of reserves for a
franchise desperately in need of starters.
At first blush, this rebuilding project has a lot of M.L. Carr to it.
Wasn't it the former Celtics coach and front-office disaster who said
last year he had signed Frank Brickowski at the cost of adding Brian
Williams because he wanted to make sure he had his back-up center in
place?
Of last week's acquisitions, DeClercq was allowed to depart by the
Warriors because they had the center duo of Adonal Foyle and Todd
Fuller in place. Enough said.
Massenburg is coming off a tour of, in order, the Clippers, Raptors,
76ers and Nets. Try getting work with that resume.
And Bowen had played all of one minute in one game last season in the
NBA, a dynamic stint for the Heat against the Rockets on March 16.
That's a 60-second sneak preview.
Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer had better be pretty darn good. No --
make that great.
Getting with the program
So Jayson Williams again is on the outs with the Nets, this time for a
fine resulting from comments made about coach John Calipari in a
magazine article.
The Williams-Calipari discord is old news. What is new is that
Williams is New Jersey's only viable option at starting center, with
the trade of Eric Montross to the 76ers.
In a remarkably undersized lineup that likely will feature three
guards -- Kendall Gill, Kerry Kittles and Sam Cassell -- as well as
Keith Van Horn out of position at power forward, the Nets, more than
ever, need to get in tune with Williams and his considerable
rebounding skills.
While Williams' words may create unease for Calipari, they still ring
truer than anything that could be said of starting Yinka Dare in the
middle.
Elsewhere ...
Philadelphia guard Jerry Stackhouse said he welcomes the opportunity
to get a fresh start under new 76ers coach Larry Brown. "I think good
things are happening,'' Stackhouse said. "I talked with Coach Brown
and he expects me to be a leader. It's been a tough two years. But
being drafted high, you don't expect things to be easy.'' ...
Credit the Warriors for the addition of Cavaliers personnel director
Gary Fitzsimmons. With Garry St. Jean a front-office neophyte, the
Warriors were well served to add a talent evaluator with Fitzsimmons'
background. It will be interesting to see now if Golden State gets
back into the overseas market, as it did during the Don Nelson era,
with additions such as Sarunas Marciulionis and Sasha Danilovic.
Fitzsimmons established his own foreign intrigue in Cleveland with the
drafting of Vitaly Potapenko and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
nba.182nba.news,
Houston extend Tomjanovich's contract through 2001
HOUSTON (Aug 1, 1997 - 18:15 EDT) -- Houston Rockets coach Rudy
Tomjanovich signed a contract extension Friday through the year 2001
that will pay him an average of $4.5 million per season.
Tomjanovich, who has coached the Rockets since February 1992, just
finished the second season of a five-year deal that paid him about
$1.3 million per season.
Coaching salaries have been spiraling upward this summer. Rick Pitino
got a 10-year, $60 million contract from the Boston Celtics, Larry
Brown signed a five-year contract with the 76ers last month worth $5
million per season and Larry Bird's deal with the Pacers will pay him
in excess of $4 million per season.
"People should be adequately rewarded commensurate with their peers,"
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "Through the restructuring of
Rudy's contract, I have made sure that Rudy is adequately
compensated."
The Rockets, who won NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, came close to
getting another chance at the NBA Finals last season, but a
devastating last-second shot by Utah's John Stockton eliminated them
from the Western Conference finals.
During Tomjanovich's time as coach, the Rockets are 281-159 in the
regular season and 48-33 in the playoffs. He has won and coached more
games than any other Rockets coach.
"Les has always show commitment and been very supportive of everything
we've done," Tomjanovich said. "In this case, he didn't have to do
anything because I'm already under contract. Les is always in our
corner when it comes to doing what's best for the team. He truly wants
to bring a winner to the city again."
Tomjanovich will enter his 28th season with the Rockets this year. He
played 11 years and served as an assistant coach and scout before
taking over the top coaching job.
nba.183nba.news,
Hawks coach reportedly ready to sign four-year contract extension
ATLANTA (Aug 1, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens,
the winningest coach in NBA history, has agreed in principle to a
four-year contract extension, Atlanta station WXIA-TV reported Friday.
Hawks spokesman Jon Steinberg would not confirm the report.
"Talks are ongoing, but there's not a done deal yet," he said.
Wilkens, 59, who coached the Hawks to a 56-26 record and the semifinal
round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, has a year left
on his five-year contract, reported to be worth $6 million to $7
million.
WXIA-TV said the contract extension is believed to be in line with the
salaries of other upper-echelon coaches. The Chicago Bulls recently
signed Phil Jackson to a one-year extension worth $6 million, and the
Boston Celtics signed Rick Pitino to a $50 million, 10-year contract
as coach and president.
Wilkens has won 1,070 regular-season games in 24 seasons, more than
any other NBA coach.
nba.184nba.news,
Kings sign former Clippers G Terry Dehere
Terry Dehere, who was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this
month, is back in the NBA. The 6-4 guard agreed to terms today with
the Sacramento Kings.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Dehere played four seasons with the Clippers, averaging 8.9 points in
299 games. He is the franchise's all-time leader in three-pointers
made (262), and hit at least one three-pointer in a franchise-record
27 straight games from February through March 1996.
The best season for the 25-year-old was 1995-96, when he averaged 12.4
points on 45.9 percent shooting from the field, including 44 percent
from three-point range. Those numbers tailed off last season, when he
hit on just 38.6 percent of his shots and 32.5 percent from
three-point range.
"Terry is a great acquisition for us because he brings some different
dimensions to our backcourt," said Kings vice president of basketball
operations Geoff Petrie. "Terry fits with any backcourt combination we
would put on the floor. We love his attitude. He wants to be here in
Sacramento and be part of us returning to the NBA Playoffs."
Dehere fell out of the Clippers' rotation last season and averaged
only 6.4 points and 2.2 assists in 73 games. He appeared in only two
of Los Angeles' three playoff games, playing just five minutes and
grabbing one rebound.
"This is a great opportunity for me," Dehere said. "I would like to
thank the Kings' staff for believing in my ablilities and giving me
this chance to contribute to the organization. I can play both guard
positions, and I will do whatever coach Eddie Jordan asks me to do."
In Sacramento, Dehere will be reunited with guard Bobby Hurley. The
pair were members of the 1989 St. Anthony's (NJ) High School team,
coached by Hurley's father, that went 32-0 and earned the top ranking
in the USA Today poll.
Dehere starred at Seton Hall, becoming the Big East Conference's
all-time leading scorer before being the 13th pick in the 1993 NBA
draft.
nba.185nba.news,
Second referee resigns
HARRISONBURG, Va. (Aug 1, 1997 - 18:09 EDT) -- George Toliver resigned
after nine years as an NBA referee on Friday, one day after he became
the second game official this week to plead guilty to filing false
federal income tax returns.
On Wednesday, Jess Kersey pleaded guilty to similar charges in
Norfolk, Va., and resigned after 24 years as one of the league's best
officials.
Both have agreed to help with the continuing investigation of tax
fraud among referees. Referees Hank Armstrong and Mike Mathis are
awaiting trial on similar charges. Both are suspended with pay pending
the outcomes.
Toliver's resignation was announced by Brian McIntyre, the league's
vice president of communications, but Toliver declined to say whether
he'd been forced out. On Thursday, he said he hoped to continue as an
NBA referee.
"It was an agreement the NBA and I came to," Toliver said in a
telephone interview. "We didn't get into all that other stuff."
In return for his guilty plea on one count of filing a false income
tax statement in 1993, two other counts against Toliver were
dismissed.
The charges against all four referees allege that they exchanged
first-class airline tickets supplied by the league for cheaper seats,
then pocketed the difference without reporting the gain as income.
Toliver's plea was entered on the third day of his trial. His lawyer,
Guy M. Harbert III, had contended his client didn't knowingly cheat on
his taxes, but was done in by complex reporting rules.
Federal prosecutors disagreed, with Susan Vrahoretis, the
prosecution's co-counsel with the U.S. Justice Department's Tax
Division, claiming Toliver not only failed to report the added income,
he also took "several calculated steps to keep the IRS from finding
out his true tax liability."
Prosecutors said Toliver agreed the amount of unreported income from
1992 to 1994 was $38,335.
Sentencing was set for Oct. 24, at which time he faces a maximum
combined sentence of three years in prison and fines totaling
$250,000.
No trial dates have been set in the other cases.
nba.186nba.news,
NBA officially announces resignations of Kersey, Toliver
The National Basketball Association today officially announced the
resignations of referees Jess Kersey and George Toliver, who have
pleaded guilty to felony tax charges.
Kersey, 56, was given three years probation and a $20,000 fine upon
pleading guilty to filing a false federal income tax return. He also
agreed to cooperate with federal officials, who continue their
investigation of all NBA referees.
He and Toliver are the most recent referees indicted. Mike Mathis and
Hank Armstrong also are awaiting trial on similar tax charges and a
government investigation is on-going with additional prosecutions
likely.
One of the best and most respected NBA officials, Kersey began his
career in 1973. He worked 14 NBA Finals and three All-Star Games in
his career.
In May, Mathis was indicted by a federal grand jury in U.S. District
Court in Cincinnati on five counts of falsely reporting income from
1989 to 1992. The amount not reported is nearly $70,000, according to
the indictment. Toliver and Armstrong were indicted in February.
According to the indictment, the four referees allegedly traded
first-class airline tickets provided by the league for cheaper coach
class tickets. They allegedly pocketed the difference and did not
report the financial gains on their federal income tax returns.
nba.187nba.news,
Jury rules in Barkley's favor in bar fight trial
CLEVELAND (Aug 1, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Charles Barkley didn't instigate
a brawl at a Cleveland nightclub and won't have to pay any money to
the man who sued him for $550,000, a jury ruled Friday.
An eight-member jury rejected the claim of a man who said the NBA star
bloodied his face with a flurry of punches. The panel deliberated
about five hours over two days.
"It's been a long week but I am so proud that all eight of those
people know that I did not do anything wrong," Barkley said moments
after the verdict was read in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The
civil trial began Monday.
"The damage is already done to my reputation," he said. "People are
going to think I go around punching people and that's not fair."
Jeb Tyler, 24, a business equipment salesman from Spencerport, N.Y.,
said he was trying to be a peacemaker in an altercation between his
friend and Barkley when the Houston Rockets forward slugged him.
"I have no personal vendetta against him," Tyler said.
But Tyler said that if the jury had heard testimony about Barkley's
previous altercations in bars, the outcome would have been different.
Barkley and NBA player Jayson Williams were accused of being in a bar
fight in Chicago in 1992. Charges were dropped. Barkley was acquitted
the same year on misdemeanor battery charges brought by a man who said
Barkley broke his nose outside a Milwaukee bar.
"This is the third time I have been through something like this. It is
the third time I have been acquitted," Barkley said. "I don't ever
want to fight anybody, I don't ever want hurt anybody, I don't ever
want to get hurt."
The fight happened on July 7, 1996, at a dance club called The
Basement while both Barkley and Tyler were visiting Cleveland.
Barkley was on the U.S. Olympic basketball team and had gone to the
bar with Olympic teammate Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers. Tyler
was partying with some buddies from upstate New York.
The trouble began when Tyler's friend, 27-year-old David DiGiacco,
asked a woman accompanying Miller, Teri Beitel, if she was sleeping
with the Pacers guard.
Barkley testified that he told DiGiacco to leave the bar and Tyler
then confronted him in a threatening manner, so he pushed Tyler.
Barkley called Tyler a "drunk redneck."
"If I had known what Dave had said, I probably would have done
something different," Tyler said Friday.
Tyler also noted Barkley's legal team turned down a $12,000 settlement
offer last week.
"Why should I give him $12,000?" Barkley responded. "He doesn't get a
rebound. He doesn't get it on the head by (Utah Jazz forward) Karl
Malone."
Jurors said they were initially split, with three panelists for
Barkley, two for Tyler and three undecided. After concluding that
everyone involved was probably drunk, they ultimately decided Barkley
acted in self-defense.
"Here you have a crowded nightclub with a celebrity, intoxicated
people and someone who's in a position where they feel threatened,"
jury foreman Michael Norris said. "Jeb challenged Charles."
Barkley, who maintained the same loose attitude Friday that he had all
week, clenched his left fist and bowed his head on the defense table
as the verdict was read.
Moments before the jury was brought into the courtroom, Barkley turned
to reporters and pointed to his attorneys. "If we lose," he said. "I'm
going to fire them."
nba.188nba.news,
Sonics' Kemp hits fire hydrant in rented jaguar
SEATTLE (Aug 1, 1997 - 13:04 EDT) -- Shawn Kemp of the Seattle
SuperSonics lost control of his rented Jaguar last weekend in Beverly
Hills, Calif., and hit a fire hydrant and stop sign before ending up
on a lawn.
Kemp was not injured and cooperated with police.
The accident happened around 2 a.m. on Saturday in a residential
neighborhood, Sgt. John Edmundson said.
"There was no evidence of him being under the influence," Edmundson
said. "And we won't charge him with murder for killing the hydrant."
Kemp, who is unhappy with his Sonics contract, has demanded to be
traded. He told ESPN in June that money is just part of his discontent
and that playing with Seattle has become a "negative" experience.
nba.189nba.news,
Players Association to fight fines against Nets' Williams
NEW YORK (Aug 1, 1997 - 13:04 EDT) -- The NBA Players Association will
file a grievance regarding the fines levied by the New Jersey Nets
against disgruntled forward Jayson Williams, according to a published
report.
Williams was fined $8,000 for making disparaging comments about Nets
coach John Calipari, particularly in an article Williams wrote for GQ
magazine.
The New York Post reported in today's edition, that NBAPA executive
director, Bill Hunter, said the union "intends to file a grievance"
with an NBA arbitrator.
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement states that a team may fine
a player up to $2,000. The Nets contend they are fining Williams for
four separate incidents, but have not made the specifics of the
incidents clear.
The association also contends that the fines infringe on Williams'
right to free speech.
Williams has 20 days from the time of the fine to appeal.
nba.190nba.news,
Spurs struggle to leave Alamodome and move into new arena
SAN ANTONIO (Aug 1, 1997 - 17:33 EDT) -- With a healthy David Robinson
making his return and top draft pick Tim Duncan coming aboard, the
Spurs' future on the court looks bright.
But when it comes to public funding for a new arena -- something the
small-market Spurs contend they need to compete in the big-money NBA
-- prospects seem bleak.
Spurs chairman Peter Holt is appealing for civic and political leaders
to step forward to push for a new multipurpose, $120 million coliseum,
again raising questions about whether the Spurs will abandon the
Alamodome and leave town.
"We are going to fight for and work with the community to keep the
Spurs in San Antonio," Holt insisted Tuesday, releasing what he called
worrisome results of a poll showing opposition to a publicly funded
arena.
The survey of 773 registered voters in Bexar County found that while
most view the Spurs favorably and believe it is important to keep the
team from leaving the city, 61 percent oppose using taxpayer money for
a new arena.
That opposition didn't budge much when various funding proposals were
floated, including a sales tax, taxes on rental cars and hotel
occupancy or use of tax money combined with funding from Spurs'
owners.
So Spurs executives are backing off seeking an arena referendum, which
had been envisioned as early as January.
"I'm through having this issue of coliseums, locations and elections
dominate all our attention," Holt said. "It is up to the community and
its leadership to develop that plan."
Mayor Howard Peak has said the city may renegotiate the Spurs'
contract at the Alamodome but that other city issues are more pressing
than an arena.
County Judge Cyndi Taylor Krier said it's wise to wait until a
definite arena proposal is developed before pressing for a vote.
Susan Blackwood, executive director of the San Antonio Sports
Foundation, said her group will get involved in an arena campaign
because a mid-sized facility will help lure more sports events to San
Antonio.
Ms. Blackwood views the Spurs' poll results more positively than Spurs
executives do. She noted an earlier Express-News poll showed 80
percent of those surveyed opposed using tax money to pay for a Spurs
arena.
Although Ms. Blackwood said it is too early to say how an arena
initiative should take shape, she notes that most cities of similar
size are building sports facilities with a combination of public and
private funding.
Then-Mayor Henry Cisneros led the Alamodome effort in 1989 as county
voters approved a five-year, half-cent sales tax for the $186 million
facility.
Spurs executives say the huge dome is not suited for basketball and
lacks lucrative luxury suites. They want a coliseum that would
accommodate about 20,000 people and be used for rodeo, hockey and
other events.
Holt said he will look at all arena options, including some funding by
owners and selling public shares of the team.
"We could stay in the Alamodome," Holt said. "But I can guarantee you,
we won't be re-signing Tim Duncan, OK? And if you want to call that a
threat, please do."
Duncan has a league-mandated three-year contract worth $10.2 million.
Then his salary is expected to skyrocket when he becomes a free agent.
Holt stopped short of saying the Spurs might leave town if no arena is
built, although he said the franchise has appeal to potential buyers.
"I believe the easiest thing for this ownership group to do is sell,"
Holt said. "I'm not trying to be cynical or anything else, but my
guess is there is interest out there."
nba.191nba.news,
Quiet Jazz ready to rock-n-roll
The Utah Jazz have just come off their most successful season ever and
already this summer are making sure they will be in the thick of
things again. The question now is the same is it was last year: With
Michael Jordan almost assured of coming back, too, does it matter?
You might recall the Jazz didn't exactly go quietly in the NBA Finals,
and we aren't talking about all that noise in the Delta Center. In
three of their four losses, they led for more than 80 percent of the
game.
Were it not for a couple simple things such as missed free throws
(Karl Malone in Game 1) or missed layups (Shandon Anderson in Game 6),
we might be talking about Utah defending its NBA title instead of its
Western Conference crown.
Once the season ended, the Jazz had six free agents, five of whom
played critical roles last season. Three of the five -- Antoine Carr,
Bryon Russell and Anderson -- have re-signed. A fourth, Jeff Hornacek,
is sure to return. The fifth, Howard Eisley, is testing the waters,
but he wants to stay and the Jazz want him back.
Utah didn't even bother scanning the free-agent lists, in part to
accommodate Anderson. The only newcomer of substance probably will be
rookie Jacque Vaughn. (What Utah really needs, based on their Finals
performance, is a closer. If only Mariano Rivera could nail the 3.)
"The collective focus in the organization was to keep the team
together and give it another run," director of basketball operations
Scott Layden says. "So far, we've had success."
Carr has taken a pay cut to return, though his options weren't all
that enticing at 36. Russell signed for five years, Anderson for two.
If you still have a game program from last year, you won't need to
bother getting a new one.
This is the way the Jazz go about their basketball business -- without
rancor or fanfare. Guys want to play there. The coach is a no-nonsense
guy who doesn't know Zen and doesn't care. The team leaders are future
Hall of Famers, and the ongoing success has been consistently
impressive. Last year, the team finally broke through, only to have
the misfortune of running into the Jordanaires.
Be advised, though, that only one Western team -- Houston -- has made
consecutive visits to the Finals in the 1990s.
The Lakers already have an appealing roster and still haven't used the
exemption (that all teams get) that allows them to spend $1 million
outside the salary cap.
The Spurs, lest we forget, will have Tim Duncan to join a presumably
healthy David Robinson.
The Sonics might be back if Shawn Kemp decides to start acting like a
grown up.
And the gerontological wonders in Houston and kiddie corps in
Minnesota also are poised to make a run.
It's a crowded field, and the Jazz often get overlooked or taken for
granted. Last summer, everyone was buzzing about the new-look Lakers
with Shaq, the new-look Rockets with Sir Charles and the Sonics'
seeming maturation process.
Utah added Anderson, a second-round pick, and then went out and lapped
the field. In doing so, they surprised a lot of people, maybe even
themselves.
This year, it will be different. Now, there are expectations. Maybe
the organization had those expectations before, but not many others
did. The Jazz know the drill now. Been there, done that.
There's only one slight hitch. Unfortunately for them and everyone
else, the Bulls know the routine as well. And, like the Jazz, they're
going to be back together as well.
Around the league
Celtics coach Rick Pitino found himself on the receiving end of some
not-so-friendly fire from former player agent Len Elmore. Pitino says
Celtics guard Greg Minor has no money now in part because Elmore took
his full agent's fee up front when Minor signed a five-year, $12.5
million deal last summer.
Elmore calls Pitino's remarks "irresponsible" and says that while he
did take the money up front, it was less than what he normally would
have received and it was done on the advice of Minor's tax advisers.
Minor has been in the news all summer for a child-support case in
Kentucky. He is appealing a court decision to raise his monthly
support figure for three children from $2,000 to $30,000.
While in the appeal process, the children and their mother were left
temporarily homeless because Minor did not close a real estate deal in
Louisville.
Pitino says Minor's life is "in shambles" and that the guard needs
more love and discipline in his life. . . .
Portland's Clifford Robinson is sure making a case for himself in the
free-agent market. He was stopped by the police, and marijuana was
found in his Humvee. Robinson says the marijuana wasn't his and belong
to his brother.
Even before the incident, teams weren't exactly breaking down the door
to sign the forward, who has a history of disappearing in the
playoffs. . . .
The Nets have fined widemouth Jayson Williams for a reported $10,000.
He says it's for negative comments he made about coach John Calipari
in an article for GQ. The team says it's for four separate incidents
but won't elaborate. The players union is filing a grievance.
Muzzling Williams is an impossibility, of course. He's a hardy
perennial on the All-Interview team. . . .
Tim Duncan and Tony Battie were among the rookies who participated in
the recent summer league in Salt Lake City. Their presence is one
benefit of the rookie cap. (There aren't many others.) Players get
guaranteed deals right away, so there's no risk in playing and it
gives players and teams a chance to bond.
nba.192nba.news,
NBA Beat: Coaches look for assist
Dennis Johnson is one of the bright young minds of coaching, with a
pedigree as a championship-winning player as a background.
Clifford Ray has been an assistant for a decade, with a specialty in
working with big men like Shawn Bradley and Gheorghe Muresan.
Gene Littles has been a head coach in the NBA and been on several
benches as an assistant.
So why is it that none of these men -- all African-Americans -- have
gotten so much as an interview this summer from any team in the league
after leaving their former teams?
Many former assistant coaches -- of all colors -- feel they are being
shut out of the interview process while big names come out of
television and the college ranks to take jobs.
And there are certainly white assistant coaches looking for work. But
the problem seems more vexing to African-American assistants. Many
times, these coaches say, they don't get a second chance after being
fired, while white coaches who are fired, get a second chance at equal
or better jobs next season.
Frontcourt neighbors get together
The Spurs are hoping David Robinson will pass his final test before
returning next season. Robinson, Tim Duncan and Will Perdue will get
together next week in Aspen, Colo., for a big-man's minicamp of sorts
under the eye of coach Gregg Popovich.
Robinson and Duncan have had just one brief conversation since San
Antonio drafted Duncan, but the main reason for the get-together is
the Spurs want to see how Robinson's rehabbed back stands up to
pounding.
He's about 90 percent recovered now, and if he gets through the week
without a setback, San Antonio will consider him ready for training
camp.
Off-season delivery to young Nuggets
Nuggets vice president Allan Bristow was finishing up his workout at a
Salt Lake City gym last week when he ran into Karl Malone, straining
under weights. After Bristow showered and was leaving the gym, he saw
Malone again, teaching an aerobics class.
When Bristow mentioned this to coach Bill Hanzlik, Hanzlik gathered
several of the Nuggets young players in town for the Rocky Mountain
review -- including first-round picks Danny Fortson and Bobby Jackson
-- and took them to the gym to meet Malone for about a half-hour.
Malone told them he started his off-season workouts a week-and-a-half
after the Finals ended in June.
"They were bright-eyed rookies," Hanzlik said. "That half-an-hour was
more important than anything we've done in camp."
nba.193nba.news,
Kemp: 'This is the last time I'll be (in Seattle)'
SEATTLE -- Shawn Kemp says he is moving back to Indiana and no longer
wants to talk with Seattle SuperSonics owner Barry Ackerley.
In an interview in Saturday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Kemp said he
is selling his house and will move into his mother's home in Elkhart,
Ind., where he grew up.
"I just came back to make the final arrangements," he said. "More than
likely, this is the last time I'll be here."
Two weeks after saying he wanted to talk directly with Ackerley to
discuss his demand to be traded, the 6-foot-9, All-Star power forward
said he had changed his mind and has "no plans to talk to any of the
Sonics."
The Sonics have resisted trade talk.
"Our original sentiment continues," Ackerley Group spokeswoman Kathy
Savitt said Friday. "Barry would welcome an opportunity to talk to
Shawn. To date there's been no contact made directly by Shawn Kemp."
Kemp was unhappy when the Sonics signed center Jim McIlvaine last
summer to a contract exceeding his own and became more upset as
McIlvaine's playing time decreased during the season.
Soon after the Sonics were eliminated in the second round of the
playoffs, Kemp demanded a trade. Under his contract, which runs
through 2003 and cannot be altered before Oct. 8, he is scheduled to
make $3.6 million in 1997-98.
"The decision I made, I thought out. It didn't come about in two
days," Kemp said.
"I can live with whatever," Kemp said. "I put the ball in their court
and they can deal with it. They knew what they were doing a year ago
when they signed Jim and other guys to contracts."
He said he would work out in Elkhart.
"I'm charged and ready to go. Regardless of what happened last year,
I've got my best years left," Kemp said. "I'm going to be a better
player and person somewhere else.
"My family will be happy to see me leave. They are going to be happy
to see me happy."
nba.194nba.news,
Isiah unable to buy control of Raptors
TORONTO -- Isiah Thomas' bid to become majority owner of the Toronto
Raptors ended Saturday when he and current owner Allan Slaight failed
to reach an agreement over ownership of the club.
Slaight and Thomas signed a letter of intent April 21 for the Raptors
general manager to acquire control of the team by Thursday. But the
sides decided to continue negotiating.
Thomas headed a consortium looking to purchase control of the
franchise, but a sale price couldn't be decided. "That's
confidential," Slaight said Saturday when asked how far apart the
sides where.
Thomas was just as tight-lipped.
"I'm the employee here," he said with a chuckle.
"We went back and forth and back and forth," Thomas said. "I guess in
simple terms he believed it was one price and we believed it was
another. I guess I had to ask myself from a business standpoint
whether I wanted this bad enough in my mind to make a bad deal. The
answer was no."
Slaight owns 81 percent of the team, Thomas 9 percent and the Bank of
Nova Scotia 10 percent.
Slaight said Saturday he wants to sell some of his shares but still
retain a controlling interest. Thomas has the right of first refusal,
meaning Slaight must first offer any shares to Thomas.
And if Thomas is dissatisfied with a potential new shareholder, he can
sell his shares to Slaight and leave.
"We all still retain the same rights, but that's not where my head is
at now," Thomas said. "It didn't work out so we just continue to move
forward from here.
"We'll have to wait and see who the other partners are."
nba.195nba.news,
Pitino gets national championship ring back
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug 2, 1997 - 15:15 EDT) -- Rick Pitino has his stolen
national championship ring back thanks to a Kentucky basketball fan
and a complex negotiation.
A vacationing Wildcats fan helped the former Kentucky coach reclaim
his 1996 NCAA championship ring.
The ring was stolen from Pitino's new office in Boston, where he
serves as the coach and president of the Celtics.
James Sims, a University of Kentucky graduate, was approached by a man
who had noticed his Kentucky baseball cap at poolside of the El
Conquistador resort in Puerto Rico.
The man, a marketing director for a sun tan lotion company in Boston,
asked Sims whether he was from Kentucky. Sims responded that he was,
and then heard a startling revelation. "He told me, 'You know one of
my employees has a national championship ring,"' Sims said.
The marketing director told Sims that the employee had shown him the
ring.
"He said that this kid had been running around with the wrong crowd
(in Boston), and that some kind of way the kid got a hold of this
ring," Sims said.
Sims didn't believe the story until he saw the missing ring on an
unfamiliar hand.
"There was this kid, who looked like he was maybe 19, 20 years old,
with this ring on," Sims said.
After checking the ring out, Sims saw the embedded diamonds and the
words "Pitino" and "NCAA Champions" engraved on the side.
"My jaw just dropped," he said. "Here you have a kid out in the middle
of Puerto Rico with a UK national championship ring on. When I saw
that ring on his finger, I felt like it had been stolen from me. Part
of me was on that young man's hand.
"I just knew that somehow, some way, I had to get that ring back."
Sims called his friend Jodi DiRaimo, a business partner and good
friend of Pitino, in Lexington. DiRaimo called Pitino -- who was also
in Puerto Rico -- and confirmed that the ring had indeed been stolen.
Meanwhile, the coach received an anonymous call at the hotel from a
man who said he had his ring. The two arranged a meeting, but the
caller never showed up.
"Rick was going to have him prosecuted right then and there," DiRaimo
said. "I guess the kid was a lot smarter than we gave him credit for."
DiRaimo said the young man told him he wanted $1,000.
"I told him no way," DiRaimo said. "He was in possession of stolen
property."
Finally, the marketing director was able to persuade his employee to
give up the ring, valued at $500, to Sims.
"I told him that he needed to get that ring back or that young man was
going to jail," Sims said.
Sims then took the ring to Lexington and gave it to DiRaimo, who
returned the ring to Pitino late last month.
"I think it was divine intervention," Sims said. "Somebody up there
wanted to get that ring back to coach Pitino. Everything just fell
right into place."
Sims has not yet heard from Pitino, but DiRaimo has delivered the
address of both Sims and the marketing director and said Pitino will
be sending a token of gratitude soon.
"Rick thought that ring was eternally gone," DiRaimo said. "I know how
much it means to him to have it back."
nba.196nba.news,
Charity All-Star Game raises $1.5 million
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Aug 3, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Magic Johnson played
just some 10 minutes and scored only five points for the losing team,
but he was still the big star Saturday night and the United Negro
College Fund was the big winner.
The 12th annual Magic Johnson All-Star Game, played before a crowd of
14,793 at the Forum, raised approximately $1.5 million for the
charity.
The Red Team, led by Anfernee Hardaway and Gary Payton with 20 points
each, defeated Johnson's Blue Team 153-147 in a game that annually
features lots of offense and little defense.
Koby Bryant, a standout as a rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers last
season, was the game's top scorer with 35 points for the Blue team.
Tracy McGrady added 26 points in the loss.
nba.197nba.news,
Ever wondered who your favorite NBA team is looking at this
summer for the team for this fall. To follow are the rosters for
those chosen by the teams at this summer free agent camp. Note
some teams are splitting rosters.
Phoenix Suns Roster
Tony Battie C 6-11 230 Texas Tech '98
John Amaechi F 6-10 270 Penn St. '95
Kenny Archibold G 6-2 195 Grand Canyon'97
Rowan Barrett G 6-6 210 St'Jophn's'96
Ben Davis F 6-8 240 Arizona '96
Shawn Dirden G 6-3 190 Idaho '96
Shawn Igo C 6-10 230 Rice '97
Stephen Jackson G 6-7 218 Oak Hills HS'96
Horacio Llamas C 6-11 285 Grand Canyon'96
Ian Lockhart F 6-8 240 Tennessee'90
Juergen Malbeck C 7-1 265 Hawaii-Pac.'97
Russ Millard F 6-7 240 Iowa '96
Martice Moore F 6-7 211 Colorado '97
Tim Moore F 6-7 200 Houston '96
Steve Nash G 6-2 195 Santa Clara'96
Dwayne Schintzius C 7-2 285 Florida '90
Corey Williams F 6-6 212 Arizona '96
Utah Jazz Roster
Shandon Anderson F 6-6 205 Georgia '96
Donta Bright F 6-6 225 UMass '96
Pat Burke C 6-11 250 Auburn '97
Junior Burroughs F 6-8 240 Virginia '95
Chis Collins G 6-3 175 Duke '96
William Cunningham 6-11 270 Temple '97
Nate Erdmann G 6-5 195 Oklahoma '97
Nate Green F 6-8 250 Idaho St.'97
Troy Hudson G 6-1 170 So'Illi.'98
Greg Ostertag C 7-2 279 Kansas '95
Bryon Russell F 6-6 215 BYU '97
Jacque Vaughn G 6-1 195 Kansas '97
Denver Nuggets Roster
Tony Battie C 6-11 230 Texas Tech '98
Mitchell Butler G 6-5 210 UCLA '93
Merl Code G 6-2 190 Clemson '97
Joe Courtney F 6-9 220 S. Miss. '92
Fred Edmonds F 6-6 200 Colorado '97
Tyus Edney G 5-10 152 UCLA '95
Danny Fortson F 6-7 260 Cincinnati '98
Anthony Goldwire G 6-2 182 Houston '94
Bobby Jackson G 6-1 185 Minnesota '97
Matt Nover F 6-8 230 Indiana '93
Eric Washington G 6-4 190 Alabama '97
George Zidek C 7-0 266 UCLA '95
Portland Trailblazers Roster
Corey Beck G 6-2 190 Arkansas '95
Marcus Brown G 6-3 185 Murray St. '96
C.J.Bruton G 6-2 170 Indian Hill CC
Kelvin Cato C 6-11 255 Iowa St. '97
Jason Cipolla G 6-7 200 Syracuse '97
Keith Closs C 7-3 212 C.Conn.St'97
Bill Edwards F 6-8 212 Weber State
Jermaine O'Neal F 6-11 226 Eau Claire '96
Jesse Pate G 6-4 195 Arkansas '96
Jamal Robinson F 6-7 212 Virginia '97
Alvin Williams G 6-5 185 Villanova '97
Dontonio Wingfield 6-8 256 Cincinnati '94
Chicago Bulls
Keith Booth G/F 6-6 225 Maryland'97
Stals Boseman G 6-4 200 USC '97
Dante Calabria G 6-3 190 N.Carolina '96
Lorenzo Coleman C 7-1 300 TN Tech '97
David Kornel F 6-10 215 Hungary
Harold Dean G 6-2 175 Virginia '97
Chris Gandy F 6-7 215 Illinois '97
Eric Gingold C 7-0 275 William Coll'96
Boris Gorenc G 6-5 190 Slovenia
Jerrod Haase G 6-3 191 Kansas '97
Kirk King F 6-8 240 UCONN '97
Rusty LaRue G 6-3 190 Wake Forest '96
Eric Leckner C 6-11 250 Wyoming '88
Malcolm Mackey F/C 6-10 240 Georgia Tech'93
Kevin Rankin C 6-11 240 Northwestern'95
Dickey Simpkins F 6-9 257 Providence '94
Matt Steigenga F 6-7 200 Michigan St'92
Mindaugas Timinskas 6-7 220 Iona '97
Dallas Mavericks
Ron Ellis F 6-6 210 La. Tech '92
Al Hamilton F 6-7 200 Weber St. '93
Walsh Jordan G 6-2 185 Oklahoma City97
Stacey King F/C 6-11 250 Oklahoma'89
Ed O'Bannon F 6-8 222 UCLA '95
Kevin Ollie G 6-4 195 UCONN '95
Darnell Robinson C 6-11 270 Arkansas'97
Samaki Walker F 6-9 258 Kentucky '98
Bubba Wells G 6-5 230 Austin Peay'97
Golden State Warriors
Melvin Booker G 6-1 188 Missouri'94
Ace Custis F 6-7 211 VA Tech'97
Dell Demps G 6-4 210 Pacific'92
Montrelle Dobbins F 6-7 230 Ark.LR '97
Todd Fuller C 6-11 255 N.C. State'96
Mark Hendrickson F 6-8 235 Washington St96
Dejan Koturovich C 7-0 260 Belgrade
Lawrence Moten G 6-5 185 Syracuse'95
Ray Owes F 6-9 224 Arizona'95
Vincent Rainey G 6-2 200 Murray State'97
Rahsaan Smith C 6-10 230 Fresno St.'97
Jamie Watson F 6-7 190 S. Carolina'94
Andre Woolridge G 6-0 199 Iowa'97
Houston Rockets
Terrell Bell 6-10 240 Georgia'96
Mario Bennett 6-10 235 Arizona St '95
Doug Brandt 6-10 225 Baylor '97
Sidney Coles 6-5 177 Marshall'97
Ron Coleman 6-4 205 Lamar'96
Emanual Davis 6-5 195 Del. State '91
Frankie King 6-1 185 W.Carolina'95
Randy Livingston 6-4 200 L.S.U.'96
Quadre Lollis 6-7 245 Montana'96
Sam Mack 6-7 220 Houston'92
Anthony Miller 6-9 255 Michigan St'94
Roderick Rhodes 6-7 215 USC '97
Mike Richardson 6-3 195 Texas '93
Joe Stephens 6-7 210 UALR '96
Serge Zwikker 7-2 265 N.Carolina '97
Cedric Curry Gulf Coast
Steven Jiles 6-6 210 ETBU'97
Bryant Bond 6-3 175 Cameron'97
Othella Harrington 6-9 235 Georgetown'96
Orlando / Minnesota
Brian Evans F 6-8 220 Indiana '96
Paul Grant C 7-0 245 Wisconsin '97
Shane Heal G 6-0 180 Australia
Jason Lawson C 6-11 240 Villanova '97
Gordon Malone F 6-11 240 W.Virginia '97
Amal McCaskill F/C 6-11 235 Marquette'96
Clint McDaniels G 6-3 185 Arkansas '95
Cherokee Parks F 6-11 240 Duke '95
Johnny Taylor F 6-9 220 TN-Chatt.'97
David Vaughn F 6-9 240 Memphis '92
Kenya Wilkens G 6-10 160 Oregon '97
Sacramento Kings
Monty Buckley F/G 6-6 210 California '95
Isaac Fontaine G 6-4 210 Wash. State'97
Lawrence Funderburke 6-9 230 Ohio State '94
Derek Grimm F/C 6-10 220 Missouri '97
Otis Hill F 6-8 255 Syracuse'97
Anthony Johnson G 6-3 190 Charleston'97
Chris Kingsbury G 6-5 215 Iowa '96
J.J. Polk G 6-4 190 Rice '97
Oliver Saint-Jean F 6-6 223 San Jose St'97
Kevin Salvadori C 7-0 231 N.Carolina '94
Michael Stewart C 6-10 230 California '97
San Antonio / Philadelphia
Danya Abrams F 6-7 195 Boston Coll.'97
Cory Alexander G 6-1 190 Virginia '96
Tim Duncan C 7-0 248 Wake Forest'97
Ruben Garces F 6-8 242 Providence'97
Jeff McInnis G 6-4 190 N.Carolina '97
Marko Milic G/F 6-6 235 Smelt Olimpija
Allan Ogg C 7-1 255 UAB '93
Anthony Parker G 6-6 215 Bradley '97
Kebu Stewart F 6-8 239 Cal-Bakersfield
Tim Thomas F 6-10 230 Villanova'00
Marty Williams F 6-8 225 Notre Dame'94
Seattle Supersonics
Alaa Abdelnaby F 6-10 240 Duke'90
Derrick Battie F 6-10 240 Temple '96
Mark Blount C 7-0 230 Pittsburgh '99
Jamie Booker G 6-4 195 Washington'97
Rick Brunson G 6-4 190 Temple '95
James Cotton G 6-5 220 LB State '97
Eddie Elisma F 6-9 213 GA. Tech '97
James Forrest F 6-8 240 GA. Tech '96
Phil Handy G 6-5 193 Xavier'95
Michael Hawkins G 6-0 178 Xavier '95
Seldon Jefferson G 6-3 180 W.Virginia'97
Ryan Lotheridge G 6-4 190 Jackson St.'94
Delmonte Madison Colorado St
Jim McIlvaine C 7-1 260 Marquette'94
Anthony Tucker F 6-8 220 Wake Forest'92
nba.198nba.news,
Iverson arrested for marijuana, gun possession
TALLEYSVILLE, Va. -- Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers, last
season's NBA Rookie of the Year, was arrested Sunday morning and
charged with drug and firearms possession, state police said.
Sgt. Kerry Stiles of the Virginia State Police told ESPN that Iverson
was a passenger in a car that was stopped for speeding on Interstate
64 about 20 miles east of Richmond at 1:27 a.m. Sunday.
The Mercedes, registered to Iverson but driven by Maduro Earl Hill,
32, of Hampton, Va., was clocked at 93 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Stiles said that when Trooper Michael Pierce pulled the car over, he
smelled marijuana and told Iverson and the other passengers to get
out.
While searching the car, police found a .45-caliber pistol on the
floor mat in front of Iverson's seat. Iverson was riding in the front
seat.
Iverson told the trooper it was his gun, police spokeswoman Mary Evans
said.
Iverson was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and
possession of firearms with a controlled substance.
Evans said the firearms charge would be dropped because it only
applies if a pound or more of marijuana is found with the weapon. She
said one marijuana cigarette was found under the front seat where
Iverson was sitting and another crumpled up marijuana cigarette was
found in the back of the car.
The driver was charged with reckless driving. Another passenger, Damon
Stewart, 24, also of Hampton, was charged with possession of
marijuana.
Iverson and Stewart were arrested taken to New Kent County jail.
Iverson's sister posted his $2,000 bond and Iverson's uncle posted
Stewart's $1,000 bond, Evans said.
Their first court appearance was set for Aug. 12. If convicted, they
face up to a year in jail and up to $2,500 fine.
Iverson was the NBA's No. 1 draft pick in 1996 and went on to become
rookie of the year with the 76ers, averaging 23.5 points, sixth in the
league. He also ranked seventh overall in steals (157), eighth in
minutes (40.1), 11th in assists (567) and 13th in 3-pointers (155).
Dave Coskey, 76ers vice president of marketing and communications,
said Sunday team officials would not comment on the arrest until they
had spoken with Iverson.
"If Allen broke the law, he won't be given any special treatment,"
Coskey said.
Sunday's arrest is not Iverson's first brush with the law.
Iverson was a standout basketball and football player at Bethel High
School in Hampton. At age 17 he was involved in a bowling alley brawl
between rival groups of black and white high school students.
Convicted on rioting charges in 1993, Iverson was sentenced to five
years in jail. He served four months before former Gov. Douglas Wilder
interceded, granting clemency, and the conviction was subsequently
overturned.
Iverson played for two years at Georgetown before turning pro.
His rookie season was tarnished by a fight with teammate Jerry
Stackhouse, his admission that he carries a gun and a steady stream of
criticism from some of the league's veterans, who felt he didn't
respect them and the game enough.
nba.199madamov,
-> #197, nba.news> Boris Gorenc G 6-5 190 Slovenia
Ko je sad pa ovaj? Ni manje ni više, već kod Chicaga.
> Golden State Warriors
> Dejan Koturovich C 7-0 260 Belgrade
Zar nije kod Lakersa u kampu?
nba.200nba.news,
Nuggets re-sign point guard Goldwire
DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets on Monday re-signed free agent point
guard Anthony Goldwire.
Terms of the contract were not released.
Goldwire, acquired in a trade that sent Ricky Pierce to the Charlotte
Hornets in February, played in 27 games for Denver, averaging 7.3
points and 4.6 assists. He started 21 games and scored in double
figures 16 times, including a career-high 20 points against Minnesota
in March.
The 6-foot-2 Goldwire, who played at the University of Houston,
entered the league in 1995, playing for the Charlotte Hornets, where
Nuggets head coach Bill Hanzlik was an assistant.
"Anthony gives us continuity and experience at the point guard
position," Nuggets vice president Allan Bristow said.
"He is familiar with Bill Hanzlik's system, having played under him
while with Charlotte, and he can push the pace of the game as well as
score and defend the perimeter."
nba.201nba.news,
Sixers front office disappointed with Iverson arrest
PHILADELPHIA -- The law says Allen Iverson is innocent until proven
guilty. The Philadelphia 76ers, however, didn't sound so sure.
One day after the NBA's rookie of the year was arrested in Virginia on
marijuana and gun possession charges, 76ers owner Pat Croce, coach
Larry Brown and vice president of basketball operations Billy King
made their disappointment clear.
"It upsets me," said Croce, joined by the other two in a telephone
conference call Monday. "It bothers me."
Iverson, 22, was a passenger in a car that was stopped at 1:27 a.m. ET
Sunday for speeding on Interstate 64 near Richmond, state police
spokeswoman Mary Evans said. The car was going 93 mph in a 65 mph
zone.
"When the trooper stopped (the car) he smelled marijuana, and that's
why he asked them to get out," she said.
The trooper found a .45-caliber pistol on the floor mat in front of
Iverson's seat during a search. Iverson told the trooper it was his
gun.
Iverson was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of
firearms with a controlled substance.
Iverson faces a preliminary hearing Aug. 12 in New Kent County General
District Court.
Evans said the firearms charge would be dropped because it only
applies if a pound or more of marijuana is found with the weapon. She
said one marijuana cigarette was found under the front seat where
Iverson was sitting and another in the back of the car.
Iverson owns the car but was not driving, according to police.
That's not the point, said the 76ers, who criticized Iverson for poor
judgment.
"Even if it's not his pot, he's in a car where there is pot and he's
implicated," Croce said. "Birds of a feather flock together."
Brown, who has yet to speak with Iverson since being named coach in
April, said Iverson's arrest is "not something any of us can be very
proud of."
"You can say you weren't driving the car, that you didn't smoke that
joint, but that doesn't mean anything," Brown said. "It's not
acceptable for anyone, let alone someone who is a public figure and
represents so many people."
King said he had talked with Iverson since the arrest, but declined to
provide details of the conversation.
"He's upset with what's gone on," King said.
Iverson, who was released after his sister posted a $2,000 bond, has
an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached for comment.
His agent, David Falk, was "out of town and unavailable," according to
Alison Sadofsky of his office.
It's not Iverson's first brush with the law. At 17, he was involved in
a bowling alley brawl between rival groups of black and white high
school students.
Convicted on rioting charges in 1993, Iverson was given a five-year
sentence. He served four months before former Virginia Gov. Douglas
Wilder interceded, granting clemency, and the conviction was
subsequently overturned.
Iverson has retained attorney Thomas B. Shuttleworth, of Virginia
Beach, Va., the lawyer who helped overturn his bowling alley brawl
conviction, to represent him in the marijuana case. Shuttleworth met
with Iverson on Monday and said he will release a statement from
Iverson on Tuesday.
After two seasons at Georgetown, he turned pro and was the first
overall pick in the 1996 draft.
An explosive point guard, Iverson averaged 23.5 points last season,
sixth in the league, and had five straight 40-plus-point games, an NBA
rookie record.
But he made news off the court, too, by traveling with a dour
entourage of hometown friends and by acknowledging he carried a gun.
Both Croce and Brown stressed that, in exchange for receiving millions
in salary and sneaker endorsements, NBA players accept the
responsibility of being role models.
"He's got to be more concerned about who he hangs around with," Brown
said. "For all the things you're given for being a pro athlete, you
have to start giving back. The first thing would be to conduct
yourself like an adult."
Marijuana is not one of the substances covered in the anti-drug side
letter to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement with its players,
according to league spokesman Chris Brienza.
"Allen has not broken any guidelines there," King said when asked
about the possibility of the 76ers fining Iverson.
But every NBA contract contains clauses prohibiting conduct that is
detrimental to the league, and either the NBA or the 76ers could
theoretically discipline Iverson under those provisions.
"Until Allen gets due process, I think it would be unfair and
premature for us to comment," Brienza said.
Iverson has a multiyear, multi-million dollar endorsement contract
with sneaker manufacturer Reebok. Company spokesman Dave Fogelson said
they have sent their liaison with Iverson from Philadelphia to
Virginia to be with the player.
"This is indicative of the fact that we're standing behind Allen,"
said Fogelson, who added Reebok does believe athletes are role models.
"We do believe in our first year with Allen he has definitely lived up
to what we expect a role model to perform for us," Fogelson said. "The
feedback we get from kids certainly indicates that Allen is an
individual they look up to."