“The goal is to provide the education, training and support that first-year players need as they transition into the NBA,” NBA senior vice president of player development Greg Taylor said. “We know that’s a big transition and it requires a lot of information, a lot of support and training. The league, teams and union, we’re all committed to helping these guys move forward.” The NBA and NBPA provide contact information for almost every situation, and players are encouraged to take advantage of the support system. “There’s so many resources they have for us,” Oladipo said. “They don’t have any reason to do what they do but they do it anyway because they want to see us be successful. It’s really touching.” Ultimately, the seminar centered on this decision-making and how decisions impact a player’s career and life. The seminar is an eye-opener in a variety of ways not just Herren’s story or the graphic photos of what sexually transmitted diseases can do to the body. Those are extreme examples. PHOTOS: 2013 NBA DRAFT FIRST-ROUNDERS The Cleveland Cavaliers shocked all the experts when they drafted Anthony Bennett out of UNLV first overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. Josh Holmberg, USA TODAY Sports Victor Oladipo, considered the best perimeter defender in the draft, was selected second by the Orlando Magic. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports Georgetown’s Otto Porter Jr.
NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on DeMarcus Cousins, Ivan Johnson and More
By now, most eligible marquee players would be locked up to long-term extensions and almost every single name-brand free agent would be on a roster, but that simply isnt the case. Lets take a look at who is still looking for a new deal, which star player is hoping to get paid and more in Fridays rumor roundup. DeMarcus Cousins Extension on Way? Despite a tumultuous three-year tenure with the Sacramento Kings, superstar center DeMarcus Cousin is in line for a major contract extension in the coming months. According to ESPNs Marc Stein , Cousins power agentDan Feganis in active discussions with the organization to score a long-term extension for his client. Does Cousins deserve a max deal? Lock it up right now.
Is the NBA D-League almost a real minor league?
No current player combines his size and athleticism, and in limited playing time last season, he showed he can use those traits to make a huge impact. Nearly 20, Drummond has plenty of time to smooth his rough edges, especially his free throw shooting, and become elite. Already, he’s a highly efficient finisher, unstoppable rebounder and plus defender. Gutierrez: Andre Drummond. As a raw 19-year-old, Drummond averaged 2.8 blocks, 1.7 steals, 13.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. By the time he’s actually playing 36 minutes a game, those numbers could be significantly better.
NBA-National Basketball Association roundup
The Thunder signed the veteran forward Wednesday. Terms weren’t disclosed. Gomes last played in the NBA during the 2011-12 season with the Los Angeles Clippers , who then waived him via the amnesty clause. He spent last season playing professionally in Germany. Gomes has averaged 10.2 points in 482 career games for Boston, Minnesota and the Clippers. Copyright 2013 Associated Press . All rights reserved.
Roundtable: NBA’s center position
Muhammad, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, was participating with about 50 fellow rookies in a four-team program designed to ease the transition to professional basketball through a series of seminars and instructions. No guests, unless they are approved by program administrators, are allowed into a player’s room. Muhammad, who left UCLA after his freshman season to enter the draft, will be required to pay a fine and return next year with a new crop of rookies and others who are required to complete the program. – – – The New York Knicks signed free agent center Jeremy Tyler , the team announced. Terms of the deal were not revealed by the team. Tyler averaged 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 63 NBA games, including 23 starts), the past two seasons with the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks . He played in 21 games last season for the Warriors and Hawks and also for San Cruz in the NBA Developmental League.
NBA Players cruise in these 10 Dope & Crazy Cars
Trade Agency NBA Free-Agent Guard Beno Udrih Signs Deal With New York Knicks By Nancy Kercheval – 2013-08-09T04:00:00Z Free-agent point guard Beno Udrih signed a contract with the New York Knicks , General Manager Glen Grunwald said in a statement on the teams website. The National Basketball Association team did not disclose terms of the agreement. ESPN said Udrih signed a one-year agreement for $1.27 million without saying where it got the information. Udrih, 31, a native of Slovenia, has career averages of 9.1 points, 3.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 628 games covering nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs , Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic . He won NBA championships with the Spurs in 2005 and 2007. Beno is a solid addition to our backcourt, where he will give us more depth and flexibility, Grunwald said. He is a talented and experienced floor general who brings championship experience to our locker room. Last season with the Bucks and the Magic, he averaged 8.2 points and 4.6 assists in 66 games. To contact the reporter on this story: Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net More News:
Veteran Ryan Gomes back in NBA, signs with Thunder
Andrew Bynums Porsche TECHART GT Street R Andrew Bynum seems to have more whips than hairstyles. The injury prone prodigy claims to have around 10 cars in total. Few are as impressive as this pimped out Porsche. Dwight Howards Conquest Knight XV By the look of things, Dwight will definitely be ready when the zombie apocalypse finally begins. Until then, this crazy truck will surely help protect him from rabid Lakers fans should he decide to visit Los Angeles any time soon. Chris Andersens Giant Black Truck We dont know for certain, but it sure looks like a big chunk of Birdmans salary goes to filling the tank of this giant black truck. This thing must guzzle gas like no other.
NBA Free-Agent Guard Beno Udrih Signs Deal With New York Knicks
The Iowa Energy and Bakersfield Jam each have five NBA clubs theoretically sending players down to them; the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants have six. The mere logistics makes it impossible for those NBA clubs to effectively use the D-League to the same advantage that the single-affiliates do. Not only do the sharing clubs have no say in D-League team management or coaching, they can’t even be sure the player they send down will be among the five or six most worthy of playing time! The single-affiliate teams can ensure their young players get playing time and practice in a system that will be familiar once they come back up to the NBA level. That’s what a minor league should provide, similar to how reserve teams in the soccer world work: opportunity beyond mere practice, but better practice, too. Single-affiliate NBA teams can offer that. The other 16 clubs cannot. Ridiculous Upside explores the idea of D-League expansion As that advantage continues to grow, more of those 16 clubs will see the D-League as a valuable investment.
Let The Dog In 