Report: Monta Ellis was hurt in 'low-speed' moped accident

After saying he hurt his ankle working out at home the truth comes to light. He has 66 million reasons why he should protect his investment aka his body from here on out.

Monta Ellis was riding a moped when he severely injured his left ankle last month in his native Jackson, Mississippi, sources close to the Warriors guard told The Chronicle.

The 22-year-old tore the deltoid ligament in his ankle and sustained a high-ankle sprain in what one of the sources labeled as a "low-speed" accident. Ellis underwent surgery on Aug. 27 and is expected to be sidelined for at least another two months.

Sacramento F Abdur-Rahim retires with knee woes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)—Sacramento Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim retired Monday because of a persistent right knee injury.

The 31-year-old Abdur-Rahim played 12 NBA seasons for four teams, beginning his career in 1996 when the Vancouver Grizzlies made him the third overall draft pick. The 2002 All-Star averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his career, but the power forward reached the playoffs just once, with the Kings in 2006.

He appeared in just six games last season before getting season-ending surgery in December on his long-injured right knee. The former California star had two surgeries on his knee in six months last year to clean out the joint, but the pace of his recovery was frustratingly slow.

“I came to grips with the fact that, health-wise, I won’t be able to get back to the condition and level that is needed to play in the NBA,” Abdur-Rahim said. “My right knee has become arthritic over the years, and is to the point where it won’t allow me do the things and play at the level at which I’m accustomed to playing. As tough as it is to come to grips with, it’s the reality.”

Abdur-Rahim also played for Atlanta and Portland before joining the Kings in 2005. He averaged at least 18.7 points in each of his first 7 1/2 NBA seasons while becoming the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 points, but knee problems plagued his three years with the Kings.

“He has had an exemplary career as a player and citizen,” said Geoff Petrie, the Kings’ president of basketball operations. “It is unfortunate for any productive career to be felled by injury. However, no one can ever doubt Shareef’s effort, commitment or desire to excel.”

The Kings plan to hire Abdur-Rahim to fill a yet-to-be-determined job with the organization, Petrie said.

Beasley fined $50,000 for involvement in Rookie Transition Program incident

It sounds to me like they was trying to make my boy Beasley a snitch, but I know he will make that change back...

NEW YORK -- Miami Heat rookie Michael Beasley was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Thursday after acknowledging that he was involved in an incident involving teammate Mario Chalmers and Memphis' Darrell Arthur at the Rookie Transition Program this month.

The NBA said Beasley, the No. 2 overall pick, originally failed to cooperate with the league investigation of the matter. The Heat said Beasley eventually chose to reveal that he was part of the incident.

Chalmers and Arthur, former Kansas teammates, were fined $20,000 apiece last week after being banished from the rookie symposium. They were found in a room at the resort where the event was taking place with two women -- which violated NBA policy for the event. Security at the resort said the scent of marijuana was detected, but no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found, and Chalmers and Arthur both insisted they were not using any illegal substances.

Beasley's involvement in the incident is not clear. He filed papers to dissolve the relationship with his agent, Joel Bell, last week, and was not available for comment Thursday.

"While we are disappointed with Michael's involvement, we are pleased that he chose to come forward and stand with his teammate and accept the consequences of his actions," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. "We are hopeful that both Michael and Mario have learned from this experience and we will have no further comment on the subject."

None of the three players will be suspended by the league. Chalmers and Arthur will have to repeat the symposium, which teaches incoming NBA players how to handle the on- and off-court rigors of life in the league, next summer.


Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Chalmers, Arthur fined $20,000 after rookie symposium incident

If you didn't already know former Kansas teammates Darrell Arthur (Memphis Grizzlies) and Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat) got caught smoking that marijuana stuff in their hotel room at the NBA rookie symposium even though no drugs or paraphernalia were found. They were still in trouble for having two women guests in their room which violated NBA policy. Well the result of all of this will be a $20,000.00 fine before they even get their first NBA check and they will have to the camp again next season with the new rookies.

All Im going to say is don't smoke in the hotel boys...

Breaking News!!!

NBA: Lakers G Kobe Bryant plans to forgo surgery to repair ligament damage in right pinkie finger

Jason Kidd Leaves Nike!!!

All-Star point guard Jason Kidd took care of some unfinished business before leaving China with his Olympic Gold medal. Jason decided to ditch Nike and sign an endorsement deal with Peak. Peak is a Chinese athletic footwear and apparel brand that is starting to sign B-Grade as well as soon to be retired athletes.




VIA: Secret Society NYC

Hall Bound: Enshrinees Set For Hall of Fame Ceremony Tonight

NBA TV and ESPN Classic will present live the Enshrinement ceremonies for the Class of 2008 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when the networks simulcast the event tonight from Springfield, Mass beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. This year’s prestigious class of inductees includes NBA legends Patrick Ewing, Pat Riley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Adrian Dantley (pictured above) and William Davidson, as well as women’s basketball pioneer Cathy Rush and ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale. Mike Breen, the voice of the NBA on ESPN and ABC, will host the coverage and serve as master of ceremonies.

VIA: NBA.com

Reunited Once Again

A championship winning duo, Clyde Drexler will reunite with Hakeem Olajuwon to present the center at his Hall of Fame Enshrinement. NBA TV and ESPN Classic will present the Enshrinement ceremonies for the Class of 2008 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when the networks simulcast the event from Springfield, Mass., on Friday, Sept. 5, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. This year’s prestigious class of inductees includes NBA legends Patrick Ewing, Pat Riley, Olajuwon, Adrian Dantley and William Davidson, as well as women’s basketball pioneer Cathy Rush and ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale.

VIA: NBA.com

Sources: Chalmers, Arthur caught with marijuana at rookie camp

March Madness heroes Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were thrown out of the NBA's rookie transition program on Wednesday morning after being caught in their hotel room with marijuana and women, according to several sources.

"They were sent home for violating program rules," NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said.

Sources said Chalmers and Arthur, who starred on the Kansas Jayhawks' 2008 NCAA championship team, were also fined $20,000 apiece and could start the regular season on the suspended list. But McIntyre would not confirm that.

"We're still looking into it," McIntyre said. "Once we have all the details, appropriate sanctions will be taken."

The players were caught by NBA security at the Doral Arrowwood resort in Rye Brook, N.Y., where 69 of the league's rookies arrived last night for the four-day seminar in which coaches, referees and former players speak about adapting to the league. Having visitors at the rookie transition program is not permitted

Chalmers, who sank the game-tying, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that forced overtime in Kansas' 75-68 championship victory over Memphis, was drafted 34th by Minnesota. He was quickly traded to Miami, where he is expected to vie for the starting point guard position after playing well during summer league. Chalmers played three seasons for the Jayhawks.

Arthur, also an early-entry candidate who played two years at Kansas, was a sympathetic figure on draft night. Roundly believed to have lottery-type talent, Arthur sank to the 27th spot after erroneous rumors of a health problem circulated throughout the league.

Then, after being selected by New Orleans, the 6-foot-9 forward was traded to Portland, then Houston, before finally settling in Memphis.

Per league policy, Chalmers and Arthur will have to attend the program again next season.

Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.

VIA: ESPN

Rockets trade Ewing Jr. to Knicks for Weis' draft rights

NEW YORK -- Talk about pressure. Patrick Ewing Jr. is following in the footsteps of his famous father again.

The New York Knicks acquired the younger Ewing from the Houston Rockets on Friday in exchange for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis, one of the most widely panned picks in franchise history.

"Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me," Ewing Jr. said in a statement. "It has always been my dream to play for this team. My goal is to show the coaches that I can play and do all that I can to help the team win some games."

Ewing was selected by Sacramento with the 43rd pick in this year's NBA draft and traded with Ron Artest to the Rockets on Aug. 14. Now, he's on to New York, where his father ruled the paint at Madison Square Garden for 15 of his 17 NBA seasons.

"I am very happy my son will follow in my footsteps," said Ewing, an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic. "Hopefully he will have a long and productive career in New York. I am proud of him and wish him nothing but success."

Ewing joined the Knicks as the No. 1 pick in the 1985 draft, and is the franchise's career leader in points, rebounds, and blocked shots, among other categories. He was voted one of the league's 50 greatest players, and will be inducted into basketball's Hall of Fame next week.

Ewing Jr. hasn't shied away from his father's legacy. He started his collegiate career at Indiana before transferring to Georgetown, where his father led the Hoyas to three Final Fours and the 1984 national championship.

The 24-year-old Ewing averaged 6.1 points and 4.2 rebounds last season, winning the Big East Sixth Man of the Year award.

Ewing isn't expected to be the impact player his father was, but he gives the Knicks a valuable public relations boost coming off last season's 23-59 record, matching the franchise record for losses. New York has posted seven straight losing seasons overall.

"Patrick Ewing will have an opportunity here to compete for a spot on our roster," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said. "He is a solid defensive player and a very good athlete."

Ewing would've been caught in a numbers game in Houston -- he was one of nine forwards on the roster after the Artest trade.

New York drafted Weis with the 15th overall pick in 1999, passing on Artest, Andrei Kirilenko and James Posey, among others. The 7-foot-2 center never joined the Knicks and is most known for being on the wrong end of an incredible Vince Carter dunk in the 2000 Olympics.

Weis, from France, won a silver medal in Sydney and is currently playing for a Spanish club.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Ginobili to undergo surgery to fix injured ligament in heel

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel.

Manu Ginobili says the ligament injury didn't get any worse during the Olympics -- but it certainly didn't get better, either.

"They're going to operate on me," he told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper Friday. The 31-year-old doesn't know when he'll have the surgery or who will do it.
Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics, said an MRI exam of the injury showed no improvement.

"It's the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam," he said. "Now, the thing is, it's not better either, and it seems like the only way to repair it completely is arthroscopic surgery."

Ginobili hurt the ankle during the NBA playoffs, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had urged his player not to compete in the Olympics unless the injury improved.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

USA Basketball Team Celebrates Gold in Beijing!

Description:
Magic center Dwight Howard and the U.S. Men's Basketball team celebrates a championship in the 2008 Olympics.

'One of the Greatest Games in International Basketball History'

The weight of expectations have been lifted and the U.S. Men's Senior Basketball Team are all smiles. Kobe Bryant (pictured left) and LeBron James contributed to a strong all-around team effort in a close, 118-107, victory over Spain that was deemed by Coach Mike Krzyzewski as "one of the greatest games in international basketball history." It was the first Gold Medal for the Men's Team since the 2000 Olympics.

Team USA Reclaims The Gold! Celebrate With Championship Gear.

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Big D welcomes back George with new contract

Devean George's stay in Big D is going to last longer than anyone imagined.

George and the Dallas Mavericks have reached an agreement on a new two-year contract worth about $4 million, according to his representative.

Agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN.com on Wednesday that the deal soon will be made official and includes a player option for George to return to free agency after the coming season.

George, 30, appeared to have little future in Dallas beyond last season after his controversial refusal in February to be included in the Mavericks' trade with the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd.

Kobe Bryant has the NBA's only active no-trade clause, but George was able to prevent his inclusion in the deal on Feb. 13 by citing a little-known league rule applicable to a handful of players on one-year contracts. In a game that same night, George missed all 11 of his field-goal attempts in a home loss to Portland and was roundly booed by fans in Dallas.

The Mavericks and Nets completed a reworked trade without George days later, but the second version of the deal cost Mavs owner Mark Cuban more than $11 million extra last season alone in additional payroll and luxury-tax obligations. Fan discontent with George, though, faded quickly, as did any friction within the organization.

New coach Rick Carlisle was eager for the Mavericks to retain George, who spent the last two seasons in Dallas and is regarded as a perimeter threat and versatile defender off the bench when healthy after winning a ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in each of his first three pro seasons.

Injuries limited George to 53 games last season and averages of 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here

VIA: ESPN

Raising the Bar: Kobe Drives U.S. Past Australia, 116-85

Kobe Bryant poured in 25 points and grabbed five rebounds to help lead the U.S. Men's Senior National Team soar past Australia, 116-85. Five players on the team scored in double digits. Tune in to USA Network tomorrow as the U.S. Women's Senior National Team faces Russia in the Women's Olympic Basketball Semifinals at 8:00 a.m.

VIA: NBA.com

NBA 2K9 Trailer (Parts I and II)

The best basketball game ever! Yeah I said it and meant it. The game is scheduled to hit stores Oct. 7.

P.S. I can't be beat... Beleed Dat!

Riding the Momentum: U.S. Defeats Germany, 106-57

Dwight Howard scored 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds to power the U.S. Men's Senior National Team to a 106-57 victory over Germany. Fellow NBA players Dirk Nowitizki and Chris Kaman scored 14 and 10, respectively, to lead Germany. The No. 1 seeded U.S. National Team will face Andrew Bogut and the No. 4 Australian National Team in the quarterfinals. Tune in tomorrow to the USA Network as the U.S. Women's Senior National Team faces the South Korea at 8:00 a.m.

VIA: NBA.com

Payback Time: U.S. Defeats Greece 92-69

Dwyane Wade continued his strong play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics by dominating on both sides of floor, scoring 17 points and swiping six steals in the U.S. Men's Senior National Team's 92-69 win over Greece. Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh both added 18 points while LeBron James contributed 13 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tune in tomorrow to the USA Network as the U.S. Women's Senior National Team faces Spain at 8:00 a.m. ET.

VIA: NBA.com

Soaring To Victory: U.S. Defeats Angola, 97-76

Dwyane Wade continues to be the U.S. Men's Senior National Team's sparkplug off the bench. Wade scored 19 points in 16 minutes and added five rebounds and Dwight Howard contributed 14 points off 6-for-6 shooting to lead the team against a stingy Angolan defense. Tune in to the USA Network tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. ET as the U.S. Women's Senior National Team faces Mali.

VIA: ESPN