New Jersey Nets-Toronto Raptors confirmed for London

NBA Commissioner David Stern has confirmed that the Toronto Raptors will face the New Jersey Nets at London’s 02 Arena on March 4 and 5.

The pair of regular season games are the first time the league has taken competitive fixtures to Europe after over 20 years of friendlies. And although he is making no absolute guarantee that it will become an annual event, it fulfils Stern's promise to bring a regular season game to the UK before the 2012 Olympic Games.

"We'll need to assess how we do in March," Stern said. "It would not surprise me if this becomes an annual event. But I don't want to make a commitment on it."

The NBA has been criticised for pushing its own product at the expense of British domestic basketball, which has been damned by comparison in the chase to attract both fans and paying sponsors. Stern, understandably, is looking for a profit from the trans-Atlantic diversion but he is hoping for longer-lasting spin-offs in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond.

“It’s always about the games themselves and the activities around the games,” he said. “Last year with our friendly in October, we did community service, we did clinics, we did court dedications. You can expect there will be a dramatic build-up towards March, that we begin to demonstrate to people that basketball – in particular NBA basketball but we hope all of basketball – has drawing power, especially for kids.

“It’s a very inclusive sport. When you have rosters that demonstrate the impact of globalisation in the NBA, that together with the focus that LOCOG will be putting basketball, it is going to be a very catalytic series of events that will keep basketball in the public eye.”

This game will be the Raptors' first visit to the United Kingdom. Toronto faced the Boston Celtics and Lottomatica Roma in Rome, Italy and Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain in pre-season games in 2007.

"The entire Raptors organisation is pleased to be representing the NBA in these historic regular season games in Europe," added Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo.

NBA regular season games have previously been played in Mexico and Japan but the league has previously resisted calls to bring a competitive game to Europe.

However, the National Football League has staged an annual regular season game in London for each of the last three seasons and the National Hockey League has also held in-season games in London before.

Stern admits it is unlikely other cities in Europe could host a similar fixture at present, with the 02 Arena's facilities, capacity and price policies making business sense. And having franchises across the Atlantic, on a full-time basis, remains unlikely in the short-term.

"I think one franchise doesn't work. It needs to be multiple franchises," Stern said. "We need buildings, we need owners, we need a better economy. It's certainly something that I and my successors will be considering."

Tickets will go on sale on September 1.

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Nets-Raptors to meet in London

The Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets are coming to London.

The Commonwealth's only NBA team will face the Nets in two regular season games on March 4 and 5 at the 02 Arena, according to Stateside sources.

The LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves will meet at the same venue in a pre-season friendly in October.

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NBA regular season game in London within a year?

Interesting throwaway from NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper about the chances of a regular season game in London during the forthcoming 2010-11 campaign

According to his regular take, citing sources close to the league's Commissioner David Stern, confirmation of a game in the UK may come next month when the full schedule is announced. "The Nets seem set as one of the teams, barring a late change," Howard-Cooper wrote.

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Chris Finch savours D-League title

Great Britain coach Chris Finch has guided the Rio Grande Vipers to the NBA D-League Championship in his first season at the helm.

The Texas-based team, operated by the Houston Rockets, beat the Tulsa 66ers 94-91 on Tuesday to win the series 2-0. The victory is expected to further raise Finch's stock and justifies his decision to quit the Belgian League last summer to return to the USA.

And the ex-Sheffield boss believes he has improved for the experience.

"This year has been about expanding my basketball knowledge," he said. "Me and my staff in the NBA D-League have a had the chance to have several NBA players on our team, and being able to integrate their experience into the European game I'm used to coaching has given me great perspective.

"NBA D-League and NBA basketball is much more game intensive, rather than preparation intensive, and I've actually grown as an in-game coach.There are more timeouts, I have more control of the game. I'm a better in-game coach than I have been before."



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Lakers-Wolves to meet in London

The Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Minnesota Timberwolves in a pre-season game at London's O2 Arena on October 4, sources have confirmed to Britball.com.

The Lakers, the reigning NBA champions, last played overseas in Paris in 1991 when a line-up featuring Magic Johnson narrowly beat Spanish side Badalona. Their European mini-tour will also see the Lakers travel to Catalunya to take on FC Barcelona, three days later, in a game that will see Pau Gasol meet his former club.

Minnesota, who have one of the worst records in the NBA this season, lost 92-81 to the Boston Celtics in London in 2007 as part of the league's annual Europe Live event. Ironically, they face the Lakers at the Target Center on Friday night.

An official announcement, from NBA Commissioner David Stern, is scheduled for Tuesday.

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NBA set for London decision

The NBA could be set to bring the Detroit Pistons, and their British-born star Ben Gordon, to the UK for a friendly later this year. A number of teams are understood to be in the frame to play in London in October.

'Together with the Euroleague, we are at the advanced stages of discussions with several host cities and teams,” NBA Europe chief Sophie Goldschmidt confirmed.

“We plan to announce the teams and cities for NBA Europe Live 2010 in the coming weeks.”

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The award-winning best of NBA writing from the past year

The Professional Basketball Writers Association had its annual awards this week. No, I didn't win but if you want to read the best of the best of NBA journalism from the past 12 months, then grab yourself a coffee and a comfy chair and enjoy.

Contest winners

Feature stories
First: Marc Stein, ESPN.com on Vlade Divac

Second: Chris Tomasson, fanhouse.com on Marvin Barnes

Third: Rick Bonnell, Charlotte Observer on Larry Brown


Game stories
First: Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Plain Dealer on LeBron

Second: Marc Stein, espn.com on Dallas

Third: Steve Adamek, Bergen Record on LeBron visiting New York

Columns
First: Scott Howard-Cooper, SI.com on Ron Artest

Second: Fran Blinebury, nba.com on Dikembe Mutumbo

Third: Shaun Powell, nba.com on Dave Bing

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Finch and Nurse earn All Star nods

Great Britain coach Chris Finch, and his lead assistant, Nick Nurse, are to go head to head in Dallas later this month after the duo were chosen to take charge of the East and West teams at the NBA D-League All Star Game.

Iowa Energy boss Nurse makes a second appearance as coach of the West following a trip to Phoenix for 2009 NBA D-League All-Star festivities. While Finch, in his first season at the helm of Rio Grande Vipers, will coach the East. Both coaching staffs were selected based on their teams having the highest winning percentage by Jan. 26. Prior to the game Finch and Nurse will choose starting lineups for their respective teams.

“The NBA D-League All-Star game is not only a fantastic opportunity for the fans in Dallas to see an exceptionally talented group of NBA prospects compete in person," said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “It is also a great chance for our players to showcase their skills for NBA team personnel who will gather for the All-Star festivities."

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Finch wins D-League Battle of Britain

Chris Finch came out on top of Nick Nurse in the head to head between GB coaches in the D-League's own Battle of Britain.

Finch's Rio Grande Valley Vipers defeated Nurse’s Iowa Energy twice on the road at the weekend, the Vipers knocking off the Eastern Conference leaders 109-100 on Saturday - the loss the first at home all season for the Energy - followed by a further 122-104 victory on Sunday.

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Mensah-Bonsu hints at Europe return

Great Britain international Pops Mensah-Bonsu is ready to turn his back on the NBA for good after being released by the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.

The 6’9” Londoner only began his second stint with the league’s sole Canadian club three months ago but saw his stay curtailed for financial reasons.

It remains possible that, under the NBA’s collective bargaining rules, Mensah-Bonsu could be offered a new cut-price deal by Toronto as soon as next week. However with lucrative offers already on hand from teams in Spain and Russia, the ex-Hackney forward is hinting that he will head home to Europe and give up his trans-Atlantic dream.

“If I can go over there and have the type of season I had in the D-League last year, then I will definitely raise the eyebrows of some teams and look to get a more established contract, rather than always looking over my shoulder with a non-guaranteed contract or taking a short-term deal,” Mensah-Bonsu told The Fan 590.

“I’m definitely looking to put myself in a better position financially and then as a player too. I’m 26-years-old now. This is pretty much how my NBA career has gone. I had a short time in Dallas, an even shorter time in San Antonio. Same with Houston and Toronto too. It’s wearing thin sometimes.

“As a player who plays based on confidence, it’s tough to keep bouncing back. But I’m a resilient guy. It’s not going to stop me from proving myself in the NBA but sometimes you’ve got to take your family into consideration and do what’s best for them.”

With his playing time with the Raptors declining in recent weeks, Mensah-Bonsu’s exit was not unexpected despite his popularity with the team’s fan base. And although he has received an approach from another NBA team, the priority – he claims – is to play out this season on the court rather than from the sidelines.

“I’m going to weigh up my options and if I see a (NBA) team come up with an offer in the next couple of days that gives me a chance to play, then maybe I’ll take it,” he added. “If I see a situation that is just me being the 13th or 14th guy on the bench, then I’ll probably head back over to Europe.”

Listen to the full interview here.

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Mensah-Bonsu waived by Toronto

Great Britain forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu has been waived by the Toronto Raptors, ahead of the deadline that would have seen his contract guaranteed for the remainder of the NBA season.

It is possible that the team could re-sign the Londoner to a 10-day contract if he is not picked up by another club in the league, or in Europe.

The 26-year-old Londoner – who has averaged just 2.1 points per game this season – is likely to move on after accepting his fate. "It's a business," he said.

It is thought Mensah-Bonsu's former club, Joventut Badalona, are preparing an offer to tempt him to return to the Spanish ACB although Caja Laboral Vitoria could also be in the running.

UPDATE: Here's how the news is being reported by Lord Doug of Smith in Toronto.
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Mensah-Bonsu to learn Raps fate

Tuesday is D-Day for Pops Mensah-Bonsu and the Toronto Raptors. The Great Britain forward will meet team management to learn whether he will be retained for the rest of the NBA season - thereby, fully guaranteeing his contract. Ditching the Londoner would save the Raps US$400,000 and leave them extra flexibility for an extra roster move.

Sources close to Pops say "he is prepared for either outcome" but reports in the Spanish press that an approach from CSKA Moscow is on the table have been described as "nonsense".

Mensah-Bonsu, who re-joined Toronto after a brief stint with Houston at the start of the season, is averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.

He has also been demonstrating his singing capabilities in Canada.



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Deng, Gordon not in All-Star hunt

Thew first voting returns for this season's NBA All-Star Game have been released - and as expected, there is little chance Great Britain duo Luol Deng or Ben Gordon will be headed to Dallas in February.

Deng - currently out-of-sorts on a dreadful Chicago Bulls squad - is in eleventh place among Eastern Conference forwards with 37,428 votes, well behind leader LeBron James.

While Gordon, who moved to the Detroit Pistons last summer, has failed to crack the top ten for guards in the East.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets top the Western Conference, while Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and James of the Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference after the first returns of 2010 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Bryant, who shared All-Star MVP honours with Shaquille O’Neal last season, is the overall leader with 692,518 votes.

Fans can vote on nba.com.

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This should not be Iverson's final bow

Allen Iverson claims he's retiring. Is it for good? We have, as yet, no answer. This time, only questions remain. How did a four-time scoring champion of the NBA end up in such a predicament? Why did the penny (or dime, if you prefer) not drop that sometimes, no matter how great you've been, you have to take a step back and let youth shine?

If the last image on a court we have of AI is the tetchy, wayward, hapless character that could not contemplate coming off the bench in that basketball backwater known as Memphis, it would be a tragedy. Not just for those who admired the little guy that could. But, most of all, for the man himself.

There was the young Allen, all petulant and foreboding, the rebel with a cause celebre. The raps, the tattoos, the corn rows that struck such fear into the heart of the NBA's marketing men that they commandeered the airbrushes and pulled a Kate Winslet on this bright young punk of Philadelphia.

They didn't understand him. Neither, in truth, did we. He didn't seem to care. Surprisingly, deep down, he did. At some point, everyone needs a hug and an embrace. Like anyone else, he just needed a little love plus the wisdom of years. To embrace responsibility, parenthood, even - just occasionally - practice.

The transformation didn't happen overnight. The mutual appreciation society granted membership by stealth over a long period. We got to know him. He began to open up. We saw this funny, passionate character beneath the shell. The punk lived on. But like Johnny Rotten, he buttered us up and won both hearts and minds.

And the thing is, he knew it - and he enjoyed it. We always admired his guts on the court, throwing his fragile frame where behemoths feared to tread. That ability to excite with the unexpected. At some point, we saw past the flaws and saw the human within.

It took effort on both parts to achieve that rapprochement. Which is why this may not be the last act in the play. Memphis was always ill-fated. The wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. In modern America, that is sadly so often the prefix to a premature final scene.

But AI is no longer on the mean streets. Just 34, there is a place for him, somewhere, on the right side of the tracks that mark out the four edges of the parquet. Greece will surely come calling. In his statement, he declared only that he had retired "from the NBA". Josh Childress would be a mere blip if the Athenian coffers were opened up. Let the Euro rumour mill begin.

"I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank," he said. "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level." No-one is calling, yet. The Knicks let the phone ring off the hook. Others have passed. It will only take an injury for Iverson's name to be floated once more.

You'd like to think AI will spend his 'retirement' asking himself the tough questions. Can he embrace a new role on the terms of others, rather than his own? Will he realise that teams, in the NBA at least, will no longer bow to his whims? The answer, you hope for all our sakes, is yes.

Mensah-Bonsu makes Raptors return

The Toronto Raptors announced on Tuesday they have been awarded forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu on a waiver claim, signing the Londoner to a non-guaranteed deal despite interest from the New Jersey Nets and an un-named Russian side. And the GB international went straight into action against the Denver Nuggets, claiming 5 points and 4 rebounds in 6 minutes in a 130-112 loss.

Mensah-Bonsu, who signed with Houston this past offseason, was waived by the Rockets on Friday after appearing in just four games, averaging 1.3 points and 3.3 minutes.
            
Prior to signing with the Rockets, Mensah-Bonsu, 26, averaged 5.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 13.8 minutes in 19 games with the Raptors. He was signed as a free agent by Toronto on March 6 and became a popular figure coming off the bench. "It's good to be back," he said, after linking up with his new side in Denver.

Mensah-Bonsu saw action in three contests with the San Antonio Spurs in 2008-09, averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 6.7 minutes. He appeared in 12 games with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006-07 season where he totaled 29 points and 22 rebounds in 72 minutes. He also spent part of that season in the D-League with Fort Worth, averaging 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 30.7 minutes in 26 games. He earned 2007 D-League All-Star Game MVP honours with 30 points and seven rebounds.
           
He spent two seasons overseas, playing with Benetton Treviso in 2007-08 and Joventut in 2008-09. He averaged 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in 31 regular season games with Benetton. He saw action in just two games with Jovenut before returning to North America to play in the D-League.  

Pops waived by Rockets

Great Britain forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu has been surprisingly waived by the Houston Rockets after less than a month of the NBA campaign.

The 26-year-old Londoner, who had a non-guaranteed contract worth a reported $825,497 per year, played only four regular season games for his new team since joining in September, averaging a lowly 1.3 points. However Rockets general manager Daryl Moray admitted the move was more about strategy than the British star’s form under coach Rick Adelman.

Morey said: ”Pops did a great job while he was here with us at the Rockets. "This move is only being done to give us some roster flexibility in case of an injury or a potential call up from the (minor league) RGV Vipers.

"With the way Coach currently has the rotation set up, this will also allow Pops an opportunity to explore options for more playing time.”

Mensah-Bonsu, who is now a free agent, is likely to be the subject of interest from leading European teams with Real Madrid thought to be keeping tabs on his availability.

Sullivan remains GB captain

British Basketball officials have denied reports that Drew Sullivan has been stripped of the Great Britain captaincy and replaced by Luol Deng.

It followed a news release from the NBA's UK office that claimed Deng was now the team skipper, which was also reported by the Daily Telegraph.

"The process for captain selection is for Chris Finch to appoint at the beginning of each international season," said a British Basketball spokesperson. "It has always been this and will remain to be this, therefore at present it probably makes sense for any reference to the GB captain to be to Sullivan, as he was the 2009 captain.  

"Unfortunately it has previously been wrongly reported that Luol was the GB captain, but this was an assumption from both the NBA and the non-basketball press at various events."

Hope that makes sense.

Deng's return invites interest, questions

Luol Deng’s official return to the NBA on Thursday won’t quite be viewed around the league with quite the same anticipation as that of Kevin Garnett on opening night. The Boston Celtics beating the Cleveland Cavaliers? Hype that up as a really early Eastern Finals forecast. The Bulls, Deng included, against San Antonio? Keep us posted.

However for Deng, playing a competitive game for the first time since February 28 means a lot. Months of recovery and rehab. Enduring the criticisms of the doubters who wondered why a stress fracture of the tibia was enough keep him on the sidelines. Plus, inevitably, proving to himself and his employers that he can be an elite player who merits every dollar of his $70 million contract.

No pressure then.

Two years ago, the Londoner played all 82 games, averaging 18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds – both career-highs. He led Britain in the Eurobasket finals. Life couldn’t be better. Then fate took a twist. Deng is having to prove himself all over again in an offense that has evolved during Vinny Del Negro’s second offseason and with the replacement of Ben Gordon with John Salmons in the Chicago line-up.

So what can Lu do? “I really have to use my versatility, focus on defence and rebounding," he said. "It's not going to be one of those things where I have to get 20 or 30 points every night. We have different options. The most important is going out there, chipping in and doing all parts of the game."

If he doesn’t, the criticism, the doubts and the analysis will continue. But that comes with being paid the big bucks. Lest we forget, it’s only a year since no-one questioned Deng’s primetime value. His best, quite probably, is still to come.

"I can't tell you how confident and excited I am for the season to start," he declared. 

A long time coming, the return starts here.

Season predictions

Eastern Conference champions: Boston Celtics

Western Conference champions: LA Lakers

NBA Finals winners: LA Lakers

Regular season MVP: LeBron James

Rookie of the Year: James Harden

Coach Of The Year: Flip Saunders

Pops ready to fizz for Rockets

Great Britain forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu will step into the biggest shoes in basketball when the new campaign begins in the NBA tonight but the Londoner has insisted he is capable of making himself a permanent fixture in the world’s toughest league.

Mensah-Bonsu will make his official debut for the Houston Rockets in their opening game against the Portland Trailblazers after successfully battling to win a roster spot during the team’s month-long training camp. Mission one, accomplished, acknowledged the 6’9” swingman, who split time last season between the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and Spanish club Badalona. However, with the daunting prospect of trying to replace injured Chinese superstar Yao Ming, he concedes there is pressure to deliver from Rockets coach Rick Adelman.

“I’m excited about the challenge,” Mensah-Bonsu said. “I’ve been working all summer for this opportunity and hopefully, I’ll get the chance to play a lot and showcase what I can do. I’d like to stay in the NBA for good. Coach Adelman has told me I have a chance to play and when I get that, I have to do the best I can with it and solidify my position.”

Pops on brink of Rockets deal

Great Britain forward Pops Mensah Bonsu survived the Houston Rockets first tranche of cuts on Wednesday, lowering the odds that the Londoner will be on the team’s roster at the start of the NBA season.

Mensah-Bonsu, who agreed a non-guaranteed contract with the Rockets last month, had his hopes of surviving raised on Monday when he played in his team’s win over Oklahoma, a game in which coach Rick Adelman hinted would feature his intended rotation.

And he contributed 13 points in 17 minutes to advance his cause.

“He's done what we hoped he will do,” Adelman said of the GB star. “He's strong around the basket. He's been aggressive. He's got to be consistent in the way he plays.

“His strengths are around the basket, so in our stuff, he has to roll hard, he has to establish himself inside, he has to use his quickness and his athleticism to get shots.

“And he's got to run the floor. That's one thing he can do, run the floor and get easy opportunities on the run.”