GS Warriors waive disgruntled Jasikevicius

[Kamnik]

Not only that but here's some new info for Spurs fans:

http://www.sportdog.gr/new/article.aspx?id=41501

Here's hoping someone who speaks Greek can translate this article. But the heading for the link was printed in English.

Panathinaikos to play in NBA in 2010
According to David Stern

yeah a translation of this would be much apreciated!

[Scola Trade]

I don't know Greek, but I stayed at the Holiday Inn last night . Here is the translation:

"David Stern said in an interview with WFAN, a sports station in New York, that Panathinaikos (Greece), Real Madrid (Spain), and CSKA Moscow (Russia) have passed the criteria to become full-fledged members of the NBA. They will enter the NBA in 2010 as expansion teams and have the ability to draft players.

He also said that by 2012, there will be five teams from Europe who will form there own conference within the NBA. There are other teams also being condidered such as Benetton Treviso (Italy), Makabi Tel-Aviv (Israel), and Tau Ceramica (Spain). Also, other cities being considered to host NBA games are Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil), and Buenos Aires (Argentina)"

[Kamnik]

I don't know Greek, but I stayed at the Holiday Inn last night . Here is the translation:

"David Stern said in an interview with WFAN, a sports station in New York, that Panathinaikos (Greece), Real Madrid (Spain), and CSKA Moscow (Russia) have passed the criteria to become full-fledged members of the NBA. They will enter the NBA in 2010 as expansion teams and have the ability to draft players.

He also said that by 2012, there will be five teams from Europe who will form there own conference within the NBA. There are other teams also being condidered such as Benetton Treviso (Italy), Makabi Tel-Aviv (Israel), and Tau Ceramica (Spain). Also, other cities being considered to host NBA games are Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil), and Buenos Aires (Argentina)"

wow, sweet news!

cant wait for that

[ChumpDumper]

One would think an NBA expansion into Europe would make the news in something other than "sportdog."

[magic]

[Indazone]

Oh that is hilarious!! LMAO

[Indazone]

So basically Spanoulis doesn't have to come back to the US to play in the NBA eh?

[magic]

won't happen (traveling distance and different time zones)

[Indazone]

Oh it'll happen it's inevitable. The NBA isn't stupid. I think what we'll have is a separate NBA Euro-Division and every now and then a team will fly over the pond and play. But for the most part, I think they play over there amongst themselves until playoff time.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

One would think an NBA expansion into Europe would make the news in something other than "sportdog."

I can says Sport 24 Greece also had reports this. In as Sport 24 like ESPN is in Amerika.

[Indazone]

NBA exhibition games with European Teams. Get Ready cause these game along with PANA's game play against Houston and San Antonio are the NBA's way of testing whether the European Market ready. Last year, CSKA beat the Clippers and the Sixers handily. The day is coming for NBA Europe!


http://www.insidehoops.com/europe-live.shtml

NBA Europe Live

2007 NBA Europe Live | Oct. 1-5, 2007
The Boston Celtics will take part in the second year of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™ along with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors. The four teams will conduct training camps and play six exhibition games in six European cities in four countries, announced today by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The Celtics will have their training camp take place in Rome, Italy from October 1-5, 2007. The Celtics will play their first game of the 2007-08 preseason against the Toronto Raptors in Rome at the PalaLottomatica on October 6. The Celtics will then travel to London, England to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the O2, London’s new state of the art NBA style arena on October 10.

This October will mark the Celtics’ first appearance in Europe since the 1988-89 preseason when they played two games in Madrid, Spain in the McDonald’s Classic. The Celtics played the Yugoslavian National Team on October 21, 1988 and played Real Madrid on October 23, 1988. The Celtics won both match-ups, defeating Yugoslavia 113-85 and Real Madrid 111-96.

The 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™ will mark a series of firsts in the NBA’s 19-year history of conducting games in Europe. The Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves will play in the first basketball game in the O2, London’s new state of the art NBA style arena. In addition, the NBA will conduct its first game played in Turkey. The event will also feature the first time two NBA teams have competed against one another in Rome.

After the 2007 NBA Europe Live, NBA teams will have played 41 games in 15 cities throughout Europe over the past two decades. The inaugural NBA Europe Live drew more than 36 million viewers, 115,000 spectators, and 18 marketing partners in October 2006.

This is the only full event of the year where NBA teams and Euroleague teams play together and against each other.

“Following the success of last year’s event, fans throughout Europe will have the opportunity to see four NBA teams embark on this special European tour,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “This collaborative effort between the NBA, Euroleague Basketball and EA SPORTS™ is committed to grow the sport of basketball across Europe and to embrace fans in each city through our NBA Cares community outreach.”

“Last year, we witnessed outstanding games proving that the game of basketball is growing in popularity and intensity. Euroleague Basketball is excited to be participating in the second edition of NBA Europe Live with teams such as Efes Pilsen Istanbul, Unicaja Malaga, Real Madrid and Lottomatica Roma,” said Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertomeu. “We look forward to seeing some great games.”

“We share a passion with our partners at the NBA to bring the world’s best basketball to Europe,” said Jan Bolz, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing at EA. “After the great success of last year’s event, we’re excited to continue to be ambassadors for NBA basketball and for the opportunity to showcase NBA LIVE on the largest of stages. NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™ creates an authentic platform for fans of all ages to enjoy real life and virtual basketball experiences across the continent.”

As part of NBA Cares, the NBA and adidas will conduct a series of court refurbishment and community enhancement activities in the cities where its teams will visit. During the 2006 NBA Europe Live, the NBA and Euroleague teams hosted more than 15 community events, highlighted by four basketball court refurbishments with global partner adidas in Barcelona, Rome, Lyon and Cologne.

“The NBA’s popularity in Europe has never been higher and we look forward to building upon the success of last year’s event with new ways of reaching the NBA fans in Europe,” said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President and Head of Global Basketball.

"We are delighted that the NBA has recognized the growing popularity of basketball, especially in markets like Turkey," said Scott McCune, Vice President, Worldwide Sports, Entertainment and Licensing, The Coca-Cola Company, a partner of NBA Europe Live for the second year.

Following is the schedule for the 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS:

NBA Europe Live 2007 TRAINING CAMPS LOCATIONS:

TEAM DATE CITY
Boston Celtics Oct. 1-5 Rome
Memphis Grizzlies Oct. 5-8 Malaga
Minnesota Timberwolves Oct. 1-5 Istanbul
Toronto Raptors Oct. 1-5 Treviso

2007 NBA EUROPE LIVE SCHEDULE

Oct. 6:
Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors (PalaLottomatica Arena, Rome)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Efes Pilsen Istanbul (Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall, Istanbul)

Oct. 7:
Toronto Raptors vs. Lottomatica Roma (PalaLottomatica Arena, Rome)

Oct. 9:
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Unicaja (Palacio de Deportes Jose Manuel Martin Carpena Arena, in Malaga)

Oct. 10:
Boston Celtics vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (The O2 Arena, London)

Oct. 11:
Toronto Raptors vs. Real Madrid (Palacio de Deportes de la Communidad Arena, Madrid)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. MMT Estudiantes OR (Palacio de Deportes de la Communidad Arena, Madrid)

Additional NBA Europe Live Info

The 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™ will mark a special homecoming for some of the players involved including Toronto Raptors rookie Andrea Bargnani, a native of Italy. Toronto’s Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa, both natives of Spain, will play in Madrid for the first time wearing a Raptors uniform. Spain’s most celebrated basketball player Pau Gasol will make his second appearance in the country with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis last played in Barcelona in 2003. In addition, Toronto’s Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Maurizio Gheradini will be returning home to Italy where he served as Benetton Treviso’s Executive Director and General Manager for 14 years.

An NBA licensee since 1991, EA expanded its relationship with the league to become an official global marketing partner of the NBA to develop interactive basketball programs around the world, including NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™. The award-winning NBA LIVE video game franchise, recognized worldwide for delivering the most authentic interactive basketball experience for more than a decade, will be featured in promotion of the events throughout Europe and the U.S. The newest iteration in the series, NBA LIVE 07, is currently available in more than 100 countries on six continents. EA Sports will partner with the NBA and Euroleague Basketball to conduct a series of promotional activities leading up to the start of the event.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Yes CSKA Moscow did beats Clipper and Sixer last year, then they lose championship final to Panathinaikos.

Also Panathinaikos much better team this year be compare last year. Plus we now see Olympiacos team also be from Athens also be competes level now this year CSKA and Panathinaikos.

[ChumpDumper]

I can says Sport 24 Greece also had reports this. In as Sport 24 like ESPN is in Amerika.

Trouble is WFAN is in America, and no one here seems to have heard the interview on the leading sports radio station in the largest city in the United States.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Trouble is WFAN is in America, and no one here seems to have heard the interview on the leading sports radio station in the largest city in the United States.

Sport 24 not report BS. This not like Greek sport newspaper or prints or team friendly report. Sport 24 the national sport news. This not be report there unless true.

[ChumpDumper]

All I'm saying is this interview that folks in Greece claimed to have happenend on the biggest sports station in the biggest city in the United States has not been reported in the United States at all. Just seems strange.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

All I'm saying is this interview that folks in Greece claimed to have happenend on the biggest sports station in the biggest city in the United States has not been reported in the United States at all. Just seems strange.

You listen radio all day? How you know? You always listen radio? Beside Spanish paper have also report Real Madrid agree between Vlade Divac and David Stern join NBA too. Guess they also lie?

[ChumpDumper]

There is no report of this in any of the news outlets of the United States, including the radio station that was said to have conducted the interview. This is all I'm saying. News like this usually would have made the wire services by now and showed up on several US websites.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

There is no report of this in any of the news outlets of the United States, including the radio station that was said to have conducted the interview. This is all I'm saying. News like this usually would have made the wire services by now and showed up on several US websites.

Maybe news Amerika could of say reports also make US be that Iraqi have no WMD's before President USA have said so, but nope they alls just say he said so and CIA agree so we not need check.

After turn out all be lie and wrong they says oh we check now turns out not true but why check before President have say all true and CIA agree why us check then if actual be true?

In as something like this NEVER happens NEVER be allows happen. You act like our press is as bad as yours is?

[ChumpDumper]

There is no report of this in any of the news outlets of the United States, including the radio station that was said to have conducted the interview. This is all I'm saying. News like this usually would have made the wire services by now and showed up on several US websites.

[ChumpDumper]

Shouldn't there be a press release from the NBA itself declaring this confirmed future expansion?

Wouldn't it be kind of important news that would naturally be reported just as NBA players are arriving in Europe to start traning camps there?

Why is the NBA and the whole of the United States media keeping this explosive story top secret after announcing it on the biggest sports radio station in the biggest city in the United States?

[Indazone]

October 2003

Is it so hard to believe that Stern would reiterate and repeat himself?


http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/quickthoughts26.htm

by Harlan Schreiber (10/11/03)



1. Euro-Expansion: This week David Stern announced that the NBA intends to expand into Europe by 2010. We have long felt that NBA expansion into Europe was inevitable. Of course, expansion into Europe presents some serious logistical problems. I presume that part of Stern's idea of training camps in Europe is to test how regular intercontinental travel affects the teams. In terms of expansion, it would seem unrealistic to expand to two teams into Europe and place them in an existing division. Even having these teams play East Coast teams six times a year seems burdensome in terms of travel. More likely, the NBA would have to create a whole European division, at least four teams worth to player each other and to limit their play to a few trips into the U.S.

This leads to another interesting question: is Stern planning to create new European teams or will his expansion consists of something even more groundbreaking, an NBA-FIBA merger where teams likes FC Barcelona or PAOK Athens make the leap into the NBA. A merger of the top FIBA teams would certainly solve some problems regarding expansion transitions and appealing to local fan bases (not too mention the fact that an NBA team in most major cities would have to compete with an already popular FIBA counterpart).

Aside from these logistical issues, is the question of finance. If Toronto is having problems competing because of the problems with the value of the Canadian Dollar, will the Euro and the Pound also create problems. It is possible. There are ways around this problem which will discuss in more detail soon. But suffice it to say currency differences is another issue the NBA will also have to address before expanding abroad.

2. The Next LeBron: No, he's not the next LeBron, but the next big high school player has already been identified. His name is Dwight Howard, a 6'10 225 forward from Southwest Atlanta Christian High School. Howard established himself as the high school senior to watch after dominating the ABCD camp last summer. Scouts have marveled at Howard's foot work in the post and his athleticism. He can be fairly placed with Pavel Podkolzine and Emeka Okafor as the hottest NBA prospects for next year. After LeBron's following last year, I expect that high school stars will receive even more publicity, starting with Howard this coming year.

It will be a big year for Dwight Howard



3. Interesting Training Camp Names: Every year, some blasts from the past or curiosities try their shot in NBA training camps. Here is a list of this years noteworthy NBA hopefuls:



Mitc Butler (Washington): Former Bullet from 1993-1996 tries to make it in D.C. again.

Rodney Buford (Sacramento): He could always play but he just can't stifle the urge to do stupid things off of the court.

Omar Cook (Indiana): He left St. John's two years ago but he is still trying to get into his first pro game.

Zendon Hamilton (Golden State): Speaking of St. John's, Zendon is still trying to parlay his decent 2001-02 into a steady NBA job.

Jerald Honeycutt (Portland): This three point shooter has been out of the NBA since 1998-99 but he did show some promise in 1997-98.

Brandin Knight (Sacramento): Brevin's brother played well at Pitt but has almost no shot of making the Kings.

George McCloud (Golden State): McCloud spent last year with no job. He is hoping to re-eastablish himself in GS.

Tracy Murray (Portland): Back with his rookie team of 1992-93. Is competing with Honeycutt as the Blazers' shooter.

Ademola Okulaja (Utah): After graduating from UNC in 2000, Okulaja has been a German star. Utah might be a good place for him,

Robert Pack (Portland): Another Blazer rookie in the early 1990s back in up north.

Eric Washington (Denver): He is back where he made a name as a decent rookie on an awful Denver team in 1997-98.

Michael Smith (Indiana): The big banger for the mid 1990s Kings has not played in the NBA since 2000-01.

[ChumpDumper]

Is it so hard to believe that Stern would reiterate and repeat himself?

It's hard to believe that no US media outlet would report that European expansion is a done deal -- to say nothing of the NBA's not saying it themselves on their own website or television network.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

It's hard to believe that no US media outlet would report that European expansion is a done deal -- to say nothing of the NBA's not saying it themselves on their own website or television network.

Show me report from nba website announces 3 year before Grizzlies join NBA?

[ChumpDumper]

Show me report from nba website announces 3 year before Grizzlies join NBA?

As soon as expansion is decided upon by the NBA, it is announced and reported.

Here's the report for the Charlotte expansion team made on the same day of the decision, even before the official announcement.

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1217/1478643.html

So now I'll ask you to show me the ESPN article announcing the NBA expansion into Europe that has already been decided.

I'm prefectly willing to accept the NBA European expansion as complete and sure and true once I see a US news outlet report. One would think the NBA would be rather excited about it and would want to let people know.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

As soon as expansion is decided upon by the NBA, it is announced and reported.

Here's the report for the Charlotte expansion team made on the same day of the decision, even before the official announcement.

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1217/1478643.html

So now I'll ask you to show me the ESPN article announcing the NBA expansion into Europe that has already been decided.

I'm prefectly willing to accept the NBA European expansion as complete and sure and true once I see a US news outlet report. One would think the NBA would be rather excited about it and would want to let people know.

Where announcement 3 year before team join NBA? Guesses must be nevers happen then.