Former MVP, scoring champ and 10-time All-Star Allen Iverson is reportedly retiring from the game he loves. He initially played 3 games with the Memphis Grizzlies this season before taking a leave of absence for personal matters. Soon after he and the team agreed to part ways. Now today according to Stephen A. Smith Iverson is hanging up the high tops.
For last season, Iverson was part of a Detroit Pistons team considered to be NBA title contenders. Iverson was upset at the role he was given as a reserve for the team. The Knicks considered signing the guard after he was waived this season, but decided against it because they felt Iverson would take time away from younger players they wanted to develop.
According to a statement that Stephen A. Smith published on his website, Iverson said "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level." and that he still has tremendous love for the game. Iverson's former coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets was shocked at the news, offering the following:
"I think he still has something left to give some team out there. If that's his decision, he'll go down in history, I think, as the greatest little guard ever to play the game of basketball," Karl said.
"I was happy to have him for a couple years and hopefully our paths will cross. But I have a sneaky feeling that somewhere along the way an injury or a circumstance with a team will open that window back up."
(Story Source: The Associated Press)
Rabu, 25 November 2009
Jumat, 20 November 2009
Sacramento Monarchs done, Kings next?
Just four short years ago, the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs were on top of the female basketball world, winning the WNBA Championship. Fast forward to 2009, with a struggling economy and slumping ticket sales for basketball, and the Monarchs are officially wiped off the WNBA's active teams list.
According to news reports, some Sacramento players didn't find out until logging into their Twitter accounts online. Rebekkah Brunson was one such player, who saw the news via her teammate Chantelle Anderson's "tweet".
The Monarchs general manager/coach John Whisenant broke the news earlier to a Sacramento TV station that his WNBA team was no longer going to be backed by the Kings organization. The Kings are currently owned & run by the famous Maloof brothers, Joe and Gavin. Despite the Maloofs being dedicated bball fans and very rich, their two teams have been in trouble in recent times. Many NBA teams are having financial difficulties coupled with lower attendance numbers, which could lead to problems. It's possible the Kings could be looking to move, while the Monarchs are currently homeless, but eyeing the Bay area for their WNBA squad. Golden State has already nixed the idea of adding a female franchise to pair up with the Warriors.
According to the Seattle Times:
"Everyone in this business environment ... you have to do what has to be done," Joe Maloof told the Sacramento Bee. "Our focus is to turn the Kings around, and to do that, we have to put all our efforts and good salespeople on the Kings."
Sacramento was one of the original eight WNBA teams, but also came off a 12-22 season, a league worst. During their history, they had a 224-200 record overall, with several playoff appearances including a 2005 Finals win over Connecticut, and a 2006 Finals loss to Detroit. In 1999, center Yolanda Griffith was the league MVP as well.
Attendance was down 5% for the team this year at Arco Arena, with overall WNBA attendance down a whopping 26% since it's all-time high of 10,864 in 1998. This isn't the first WNBA team to fold or move either. Other women's bball franchises which saw their demise include Cleveland Rockers, Detroit Shock (who recently moved to Tulsa) and Orlando Miracles, who found a new home in Connecticut as the Connecticut Sun.
(Story Source: Sacramento Bee)
According to news reports, some Sacramento players didn't find out until logging into their Twitter accounts online. Rebekkah Brunson was one such player, who saw the news via her teammate Chantelle Anderson's "tweet".
The Monarchs general manager/coach John Whisenant broke the news earlier to a Sacramento TV station that his WNBA team was no longer going to be backed by the Kings organization. The Kings are currently owned & run by the famous Maloof brothers, Joe and Gavin. Despite the Maloofs being dedicated bball fans and very rich, their two teams have been in trouble in recent times. Many NBA teams are having financial difficulties coupled with lower attendance numbers, which could lead to problems. It's possible the Kings could be looking to move, while the Monarchs are currently homeless, but eyeing the Bay area for their WNBA squad. Golden State has already nixed the idea of adding a female franchise to pair up with the Warriors.
According to the Seattle Times:
"Everyone in this business environment ... you have to do what has to be done," Joe Maloof told the Sacramento Bee. "Our focus is to turn the Kings around, and to do that, we have to put all our efforts and good salespeople on the Kings."
Sacramento was one of the original eight WNBA teams, but also came off a 12-22 season, a league worst. During their history, they had a 224-200 record overall, with several playoff appearances including a 2005 Finals win over Connecticut, and a 2006 Finals loss to Detroit. In 1999, center Yolanda Griffith was the league MVP as well.
Attendance was down 5% for the team this year at Arco Arena, with overall WNBA attendance down a whopping 26% since it's all-time high of 10,864 in 1998. This isn't the first WNBA team to fold or move either. Other women's bball franchises which saw their demise include Cleveland Rockers, Detroit Shock (who recently moved to Tulsa) and Orlando Miracles, who found a new home in Connecticut as the Connecticut Sun.
(Story Source: Sacramento Bee)
Minggu, 15 November 2009
Brandon Jennings' 55 - Bucks Record
Brandon Jennings hosted an NBA game last night between Milwaukee and Golden State...
So this kid from Lottomatica can play. Last night, Brandon Jennings put his name into the history books by notching an incredible 55 points. That makes for the most by a rookie since Earl Monroe 31 years ago, and the most by a Bucks rookie in a game ever. It beats the record of another guy you've definitely heard of: Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Jennings is the third guy in Bucks' history to have a 50+ point game, joining Michael Redd and Jabbar.
In last night's game, Jennings started off slow, with nothing in the first, then 10 in the second, followed by a huge 29 point third quarter and 16 to close out the Brandon Jennings scoring show. His 55 lead Milwaukee past Golden State in a close game. The rookie was the #10 pick by Milwaukee in this past year's draft and seems to be its best kept secret. He skipped a commitment to play college ball at Arizona then headed overseas to play in Europe for a year, which is why he's from Lottomatica. He soon may carry the nickname "Automatica" if he keeps scoring like this. Also playing in the game is another guy who may put in some big scoring performances in his career, Stephen Curry who is the song of retired NBA sharpshooter Del Curry.
So apparently Jennings was reported as unable to shoot by NBA scouts. Point taken, and thrown completely out the window. Jennings has arrived and will keep arriving in the 2009-10 season.
When It Comes To Brandon Jennings, The Hype Meter Just Got Cranked Up To 11
So this kid from Lottomatica can play. Last night, Brandon Jennings put his name into the history books by notching an incredible 55 points. That makes for the most by a rookie since Earl Monroe 31 years ago, and the most by a Bucks rookie in a game ever. It beats the record of another guy you've definitely heard of: Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Jennings is the third guy in Bucks' history to have a 50+ point game, joining Michael Redd and Jabbar.
In last night's game, Jennings started off slow, with nothing in the first, then 10 in the second, followed by a huge 29 point third quarter and 16 to close out the Brandon Jennings scoring show. His 55 lead Milwaukee past Golden State in a close game. The rookie was the #10 pick by Milwaukee in this past year's draft and seems to be its best kept secret. He skipped a commitment to play college ball at Arizona then headed overseas to play in Europe for a year, which is why he's from Lottomatica. He soon may carry the nickname "Automatica" if he keeps scoring like this. Also playing in the game is another guy who may put in some big scoring performances in his career, Stephen Curry who is the song of retired NBA sharpshooter Del Curry.
So apparently Jennings was reported as unable to shoot by NBA scouts. Point taken, and thrown completely out the window. Jennings has arrived and will keep arriving in the 2009-10 season.
When It Comes To Brandon Jennings, The Hype Meter Just Got Cranked Up To 11
Sabtu, 14 November 2009
Lebron - No More #23 NBA Uniforms
NBA All-Star Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is making a gesture for the goodwill of all basketball-kind. At the end of the 2009-10 season, King James will no longer wear the #23 on his Cavs uniforms, but will instead change to the number 6, his Olympics jersey number. Lebron says he is making this move in an ultimate show of love for NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who is the most famous #23 in basketball history. Jordan entered the hall this year and gave an emotional and inspired speech on his journey to the hardwood as well as all those who made him who he was.
According to NBA.com:
In a rather humble yet bold move, Lebron is urging other players to do the same and stop wearing #23. They would have to make the decision and notify the league by March 2010. While this isn't a league rule or anything, there are 12 other guys active on rosters wearing the famous number. Included in those twelve are several rookies and no real superstars beyond James. Rookie Byron Mullens of Oklahoma City took the number due to the fact his preferred #32 was retired by the Seattle Supersonics organization. Knicks rookie Tony Douglas wasn't sure he wanted to change over from the #23 due to the fact he's idolized MJ growing up and has worn the number on his person since age 3.
One such player who said he will follow suit by dropping the jersey number is Jazz rookie Wesley Matthews. According to Salt Lake Tribune, Matthews said:
"I'm on board," Matthews told The Salt Lake Tribune . "I mean, Jordan has influenced everybody that plays this game and he was my idol growing up. I'm ready. Whenever that time comes, I'm on board with that."
This has been done before. In the MLB, they retired Jackie Robinson's #42, and in the NHL it was the Great One, Wayne Gretzky's #99. It's yet to be done in the NFL or NBA. On its face this seems like a great tribute, but is Michael Jordan really concerned when a player wears #23 and claims he's doing so because Jordan is his idol? Does Jordan feel disrespected by seeing a guy who isn't an all-star on the court bearing his famous numbers?
Knicks fans are upset after shelling out big bucks for Lebron hype gear in the form of #23 silk screened Knicks clothes. However, as mentioned before they already have rookie Tony Douglas displaying the famous numbers on his New York jersey.
It's unknown whether any of the soon to be extinct Lebron jerseys bearing #23 will be a collector's item. There's also no word yet on how many guys wear the #45 on their uniform and do well playing basketball.
According to NBA.com:
James first made his comments during an on-air interview on TNT following the Cavaliers' victory over the Heat. Jordan was at the game in Miami -- where Heat president Pat Riley retired the number in 2003 even though he never played for the franchise. No Miami player has worn No. 23 since Cedric Ceballos in 2001.
In a rather humble yet bold move, Lebron is urging other players to do the same and stop wearing #23. They would have to make the decision and notify the league by March 2010. While this isn't a league rule or anything, there are 12 other guys active on rosters wearing the famous number. Included in those twelve are several rookies and no real superstars beyond James. Rookie Byron Mullens of Oklahoma City took the number due to the fact his preferred #32 was retired by the Seattle Supersonics organization. Knicks rookie Tony Douglas wasn't sure he wanted to change over from the #23 due to the fact he's idolized MJ growing up and has worn the number on his person since age 3.
One such player who said he will follow suit by dropping the jersey number is Jazz rookie Wesley Matthews. According to Salt Lake Tribune, Matthews said:
"I'm on board," Matthews told The Salt Lake Tribune . "I mean, Jordan has influenced everybody that plays this game and he was my idol growing up. I'm ready. Whenever that time comes, I'm on board with that."
This has been done before. In the MLB, they retired Jackie Robinson's #42, and in the NHL it was the Great One, Wayne Gretzky's #99. It's yet to be done in the NFL or NBA. On its face this seems like a great tribute, but is Michael Jordan really concerned when a player wears #23 and claims he's doing so because Jordan is his idol? Does Jordan feel disrespected by seeing a guy who isn't an all-star on the court bearing his famous numbers?
Knicks fans are upset after shelling out big bucks for Lebron hype gear in the form of #23 silk screened Knicks clothes. However, as mentioned before they already have rookie Tony Douglas displaying the famous numbers on his New York jersey.
It's unknown whether any of the soon to be extinct Lebron jerseys bearing #23 will be a collector's item. There's also no word yet on how many guys wear the #45 on their uniform and do well playing basketball.
Minggu, 01 November 2009
Manu Ginobli Bat Heroics on Halloween
Halloween is all about tricks, treats, ghouls, goblins, ghosts, and yes bats flying into NBA games! On Saturday night, the Kings and Spurs' game in San Antonio at the AT&T Center was invaded by a winged creature which swooped down from the rafters high above the crowd. After it interrupted the proceedings twice, gameplay was stopped as officials and players moved aside for the bat to take center court. However, Manu Ginobli decided enough was enough as he smacked the mammal down from mid-air. It flopped to the court, much like Ginobli on a self-generated foul and then Ginobli scooped it up to hand off for an unrecorded assist. The crowd, players and even his coach seemed to applaud the heroics of Manu Ginobli bat boy. Check out the video below to see Manu in action...
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