The Thunder made a business decision when trading James Harden nine months ago. Now, they need to be just as cold-blooded with Scott Brooks. Brooks has consistently left points on the board in each of the last three seasons and has shown no ability to learn from his mistakes. Read More. Written by Jonathan Tjarks on May 17, 2013
Tyus Jones, the No. 2 overall recruit for 2014 and an excellent point guard, was selected by Paul Biancardi, Adam Finkelstein and John Stovall. Read More.
The event gives front offices the opportunity to evaluate D-League players with the possibility of offering Summer League or training camp invites. Read More.
Tyus Jones, the No. 2 overall recruit for 2014 and an excellent point guard, was selected by Paul Biancardi, Adam Finkelstein and John Stovall. Read More.
Andrew Bogut will serve as an assistant coach for the Australian national team when they meet New Zealand in an Olympic qualifying series.
Bogut hoped to play in the series, but Basketball Australia was unable to insure his NBA contract.
Head coach Brett Brown joked Thursday "he'll be my richest assistant coach. He's fantastic about wanting to play, but with injury and insurance issues with the NBA lockout, he'll play his role from the bench next to me."
USA Basketball and the NBA Development League announced plans that call for the USA Men’s Pan American Games Team roster to be comprised of coaches and players from the NBA Development League. USA Basketball also announced that Tulsa 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts has been selected to serve as the USA’s head coach and that 66ers assistant coach Dale Osbourne will fill one of the team’s two assistant coach positions.
One additional assistant coach and the players who will contend for roster positions will be announced at a later date.
The Pan American Games Committee, chaired by USA Basketball Men’s National Team Director Sean Ford, is charged with the coach and player selections for the 2011 USA Pan American Games squad.
“USA Basketball is excited to join forces with the NBA Development League to field the 2011 USA Pan American Games Men’s basketball team,” stated Ford. “Nate is one of the best coaches in the NBA D-League, he will bring great leadership and experience to the team. The fact that Nate and Dale already have a successful working relationship is a real benefit.”
“We’re excited about the opportunity for players and coaches from the NBA Development League to represent their country on an international stage,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “This is another testament to the world-class basketball talent we're attracting and promoting to the NBA, and we're very pleased to partner with USA Basketball to go for the gold!”
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka says he is ready to help his adopted country Spain defend its European championship.
"I have to give all my energy on the court, that's my job," the 21-year-old Ibaka said. "I will do everything I can to help the team."
Ibaka, a native of the Republic of Congo, played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. He became a Spanish national this month.
He'll join Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol in the front court of a squad packed with NBA talent.
"I am excited to play with point guards Ricky (Rubio), (Jose) Calderon and (Barcelona's Victor) Sada because they make other players better, and also share the paint with Pau, Marc and (Madrid forward) Felipe (Reyes)," Ibaka said.
Canada got a sense of how much work they still have to do ahead of the FIBA Americas Championship as they were on the wrong end of a 106-44 rout by France on Tuesday night.
Boris Diaw had a huge night for the French with 16 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Michael Gelabale added 15 points.
Denham Brown and Levon Kendall led Canada with eight points each.
Canada was held to just 29 percent shooting from the field and had just 17 points at half-time, with France having started the game on a 17-4 run to lead 57-17 at the break.
"Once the machine has started, it is hard to stop," is how Diaw summed up France's performance after the game.
Ricky Rubio is preparing for the EuroBasket while at the same time gearing up for a life-altering move from his native country to the United States, where he will begin his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves once the lockout is resolved.
A man who has already collected an Olympic silver medal, a European gold, ACB and Euroleague honours and played in a FIBA World Championship is not phased by much, and he is trying to bring his usual calm to this latest adventure.
"I approach it with more hope than fear, and with great respect for things," he said.
"I have a huge desire to live this experience, both on the court and off it. I have never moved house before. I have never had that change. I want to have that change of culture, though I don't want to lose the connection to family that I have."
Rubio can expect the changes to be big, both on and off the court.
"I think it will be physically harder than Europe - I will need to do more weights," he said of the NBA's playing style.
Fabricio Oberto has declared himself ready to go forArgentina.
The veteran center, a member of Argentina's 'golden generation', announced at the beginning of July he was coming out of retirement to be available for the FIBA Americas Championship and help his country qualify for next summer's Olympics.
At the time, Oberto admitted he had much work to do on his conditioning, having called time on his distinguished career in the wake of dizzy spells he suffered while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers early last season.
That was linked to the arrhythmia he was diagnosed with in 2008, something he needed to ensure he could combat before fully committing to a comeback.
Now Oberto says he has the all-clear as Argentina prepare to host the tournament in Mar del Plata.
"It is time to say that according to the results of many tests, I have been cleared and I am able to resume practicing safely," Oberto said.
Bulls draft pick Nikola Mirotic produced 29 points and 11 rebounds, leading Spain to an 82-70 win over Italy in the U20 European championship game.
The 6-foot-10 Mirotic was the tournament’s leading scorer. In nine games, he averaged 27 points, 10 rebounds, shot 59.5 percent from the field, 85.1 percent at the foul line and knocked down 10-of-25 attempts from 3-point range.
The Bulls traded two picks and cash to Minnesota in order to select Mirotic with the 23rd pick of this year’s draft. The Montenegro native is under contract with Spain’s Real Madrid and not expected to join the NBA for a few years.
Dirk Nowitzki will try to help his country reach the Olympics again.
The German Basketball Federation announced on Friday that both he and fellow NBA big man Chris Kaman will play for the national team at the EuroBasket in Lithuania.
Should Germany reach the Final, they will book a place in the London Games.
If they come in third, fourth, fifth or sixth, the German national team will be invited to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
"The break was very short, but I would like to help the German team be successful at the EuroBasket,” Nowitzki said to basketball-bund.de.
"I will try now to do everything to get top fitness and am looking forward to the time with my teammates."
Wizards forward Yi Jianlian will join the Chinese national team for the Continental Cup tournament to be played in Haining and Guangzhou in early August.
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