Here are some of the Images of the New NBA Arenas:
New Jersey Nets Barclays Arena |
New Orlando Magic Amway Center |
New Philadelphia 76ers Wells Fargo Center |
New Washington Wizards Verizon Center |
New Charlotte Bobcats Time Warner Cable Arena |
Here is the Link to the Interview on Zappolo's People with George Karl from Last Night on KDVR.com:
Interview on Zappolo's People with George Karl from Last Night on KDVR.com Link
Rudy Gay is going up for the basket against Slovenia. |
Russell Westbrook goes up for the shot against Slovenia. |
Rudy Gay is going for the shot against Slovenia. |
Russell Westbrook is driving to the Basket against Slovenia. |
Derrick Rose loses the ball in Group B Opener against Croatia. |
Danny Granger goes up for the Basketball in Group B Opener against Croatia. |
Derrick Rose, Rudy Gay, and Kevin Durant on cheering on Team USA. |
Kevin Durant goes up for the shot against Croatia. |
Here is the Nuggets.com Q&A Interview with Masai Ujiri on Nuggets.com:
In a country saturated with soccer, Masai Ujiri tried to immerse himself in basketball after being introduced to the American game as a teenager in northern Nigeria.
His passion for hoops and tireless work ethic started him down a career path that reached another milestone Friday when he was officially named executive vice president of basketball operations for the Denver Nuggets.
Ujiri, pronounced ma-SIGH u-JEER-e, spent four seasons as a scout for the Nuggets from 2003-07, and he returns after three years working as an assistant general manager with the Toronto Raptors. He also has served as the director of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program since 2002.
Nuggets.com caught up with Ujiri to get his thoughts on his new job and what lies ahead for the 2010-11 season.
Q: I read a quote from you when you left Denver in 2007, saying maybe you’d be back someday. Is that true, and did you ever think it would be as the executive VP of basketball operations?
A: I did say that. You never know when these things happen. I had a great time there and a great working experience. It made me grow in the business. I just thought one day we might unite again. I remember saying that to a lot of people and here it is.
Q: The Nuggets have been in the news quite a bit this summer. What is your take on the team?
A: First of all, we have the whole Melo (Carmelo Anthony) situation. I’m excited to meet with Melo and just go over everything. I don’t know what difference I’m going to make, but I’m excited. This has been Melo’s team and Melo’s city almost, basketball-wise. He’s built a legacy here. The players who have played in one city and stayed in one city have done pretty well.
I know last year there was a challenge with George Karl and his illness. But I’ve talked to him and he’s in full spirits. He’s pumped up about the season. That’s positive. I think I can bring a general positive vibe into everything, from the front office to the team. I’m blessed and honored to be in this situation and I’m going to make the best out of it and make a difference in any way I can by working hard.
Q: Regarding Carmelo, do you think it helps that you already have a relationship with him from your first time in Denver?
A: With this thing, you don’t know. I know Melo. I’m not going to try to use anything on him. I’m just going to go there and be myself. I know Melo knows I’m a loyal person. Melo is a loyal guy. Different things have occurred within the last couple years and he’s feeling a certain way. Sometimes it takes time to think about it some more and breathe. Melo’s a positive guy. I’ve always known him to be like that.
Q: You have an extensive background in international scouting. How will that influence the Nuggets' roster in the years to come?
A: I started off with that background, but this is the NBA and you have to expand a little bit. I’ve studied the game in every different aspect that I can. You go for the best talent available, wherever it is. You fish it out. That’s how I’ve scouted all my career. Doesn’t matter where it is – international, domestic, college, anywhere. We’ll get the best talent to Denver and we’ll manage it. There’s no preference.
You want to have unique ways in which you scout. You have thoughts in your head. Scouting is like CIA work and investigative work. You create a lot of stuff and try a lot of stuff. Some works and some doesn’t. I try to get creative.
Q: Josh Kroenke figures to take a more prominent role in the front office this season. What do you think your working relationship with him will be like?
A: It’s going to be great. I think I’ve talked to Josh three times already today and what time is it? (1 p.m.) I have a great feeling for this. I love it. He’s young, he’s vibrant. He wants to succeed and he’s a good person. He’s got a great business mind and I think he’s going to be tremendous.
Q: As far as I can tell, you are the first native of Africa to hold the title of executive vice president of basketball operations for an NBA team. Do you consider yourself a pioneer?
A: It’s just an unbelievable opportunity for me. I carry the continent of Africa on my shoulders proudly. To be given this opportunity, it is a blessing.
Q: In talking to you, it sounds like one of your strengths is never taking your job or your position in life for granted.
A: Never. I don’t believe in that. I believe in hard work. I believe in honesty. I believe in treating people how you want to be treated yourself. That’s why I have a great relationship with the Kroenkes. The opportunity’s so big, I cannot afford in any way to not work hard or not give my best.
Q: As an assistant GM in Toronto, you were able to work with well-respected NBA executive Bryan Colangelo. What did you learn during your time with the Raptors that will help you now that you’re back in Denver?
A: I learned more about scouting. I learned more about player negotiations. I learned more about working trades from Bryan Colangelo. I learned about how to run a front office. Toronto is a class organization. Sometimes it doesn’t translate into wins and championships but it’s top-class. It’s been great for me to learn that way. Also, working close in hand with the NBA and Basketball Without Borders and all the camps and related events, it makes you grow in your mind and your thoughts. It makes you deal with people better and have more respect for the game.
Q: Considering that Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon is from Nigeria, was he someone you considered as a role model?
A: Charles Barkley always used to say, ‘My idol is my dad.’ It’s the same for me. My dad worked hard. He was honest. He told me I should never look back. He told me I should be the best person and the best at what you do. He was my role model. I have a lot of people who I look up to and who helped me with my career.
Q: You played college basketball in Montana and professionally overseas, but when were you first introduced to the game.
A: I started playing when I was 13 years old. Oliver Johnson, a coach from the United States, came over and tried to grow the game in northern Nigeria. He’s the one that taught us how to play. He ran the program. I loved the game. I spent every hour on the court. It’s an unbelievable sport. There’s not much opportunity over there (in Africa). That’s my frame of mind with providing coaching and infrastructure and opening up the dream.
Here is the 2010-2011 Denver Nuggets Altitude TV Broadcast Schedule on altitude.tv:
Wednesday October 27th
Friday October 29th
Saturday October 30th
Wednesday November 3rd
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th
Monday November 8th
Tuesday November 9th
Monday November 15th
Tuesday November 16th
Saturday November 20th
Monday November 22nd
Friday November 26th
Sunday November 28th
Wednesday December 1st
Friday December 3rd
Sunday December 5th
Tuesday December 7th
Wednesday December 8th
Friday December 10th
Sunday December 12th
Tuesday December 14th
Thursday December 16th
Saturday December 18th
Wednesday December 22nd
Saturday December 25th
Sunday December 26th
Tuesday December 28th
Wednesday December 29th
Saturday January 1st
Monday January 3rd
Wednesday January 5th
Thursday January 6th
Sunday January 9th
Tuesday January 11th
Saturday January 15th
Sunday January 16th
Wednesday January 19th
Friday January 21st
Sunday January 23rd
Tuesday January 25th
Wednesday January 26th
Friday January 28th
Sunday January 30th
Monday January 31st
Tuesday February 1st
Wednesday February 2nd
Friday February 4th
Saturday February 5th
Monday February 7th
Wednesday February 9th
Sunday February 13th
Monday February 14th
Wednesday February 16th
Tuesday February 22nd
Friday February 25th
Monday February 28th
Wednesday March 2nd
Thursday March 3rd
Saturday March 5th
Saturday March 12th
Monday March 14th
Wednesday March 16th
Friday March 18th
Saturday March 19th
Monday March 21st
Wednesday March 23rd
Friday March 25th
Wednesday March 30th
Friday April 1st
Tuesday April 5th
Wednesday April 6th
Friday April 8th
Saturday April 9th
Monday April 11th
Wednesday April 13th
Derrick Rose is holding up a MVP Trophy from the 2010 Team USA Basketball Last Exhibition Game against Greece. |
Chauncey Billups is high-fiving Kevin Durant. |
Lamar Odom and Nikos Kalathis are fighting for the rebound. |
Ian Vougiokas gets his shot blocked by Kevin Durant and Eric Gordon. |
Here is The Newest The Nuggets Beat with Aaron Lopez Blog Entry on Nuggets.com:
Billups on Team USA roster, Nene out for Brazil
submitted by Aaron Lopez 8-24-10
Chauncey Billups is ready to take on the world, but Nene will have to sit this one out.
As expected, Billups was among the 12 players named to the Team USA roster that will compete in the FIBA World Championships starting Saturday in Turkey.
Billups will not square off against his Nuggets teammate Nene, however. A right calf injury prevented Nene from competing for his native Brazil and he is back in Denver receiving treatment.
At 33, Billups is the oldest player on the U.S. team, which will have an average age of about 24. Before leaving for training camp with Team USA earlier this month, Billups said he didn’t expect the summer workload to affect his endurance during the 2010-11 season.
“This is my time of year when I’m turning it up anyway,” he said. “I’m doing stuff to get ready for the season. Other than the travel, it’s not like I’m doing that much more.”
Nene, meanwhile, strained his calf while training with the Brazilian national team. He played in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career in 2009-10 but sat out Denver’s final playoff game with a sprained left knee.
Go to the USA Basketball website For more infomation about the 2010 U.S. World Championship team.
Here is the Youtube Video from Yesterday's Team USA vs. Spain Matchup Game Highlights:
Here is the Youtube Video from Yesterday's Team USA vs. Lithuania Game Highlights:
Here are some of the Youtube Videos on Reggie McDaniel Tribute:
Here is the Youtube Video on Basket Brawl in Greece from Yesterday:
Here is the KSE, Altitude Sports sign innovative radio extension August 18th Article on Nuggets.com:
J.R. Smith's New Neck Tattoo |
Here is the Link to the Interview on Doug Gottlieb Show with Ric Bucher discusses the breaking news that Carmelo Anthony wants to leave Denver on ESPNRadio.com
Here is the Link to the Audio Clip of Carmelo Anthony's Interview on Doug Gottlieb Show from Today on ESPNRadio.com:
Audio Clip of Carmelo Anthony's Interview on Doug Gottlieb Show from Today on ESPNRadio.com Link
Here is The Nuggets Beat with Aaron Lopez Newest Blog Entry on Nuggets.com:
Melo speculation borders on comical
submitted by Aaron Lopez 8-11-10Of the 6.8 billion human beings on Earth, 99.9999 percent of them will never have a chance to weigh the pros and cons of signing or rejecting an eight-figure contract extension.
That doesn’t stop people from pretending to know what Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is thinking or what his course of action will be.
It’s no secret that the Nuggets have offered their franchise player and three-time All-Star a three-year extension worth roughly $65 million. His subsequent “silence” on the matter has been described by NBA writers, columnists, bloggers and talk-radio hosts as “eerie,” “telling,” and “deafening.”
There are a couple things people need to keep in mind before they start putting him in another uniform (most notably, that of the New York Knicks).
First of all, maybe Melo is simply enjoying his summer. He got married July 10, went on a honeymoon in Costa Rica and made a stop in Puerto Rico. Yes, the money would be life-changing for most people, but it’s not like Anthony is struggling to make his next mortgage payment. He's still playing under a contract that will pay him about $17 million in 2010-11.
Secondly, Anthony has until June 30, 2011, to sign an extension or opt out of the final year of his current deal. Who can blame him for taking his time before re-committing for an additional three years? If he doesn’t take the guaranteed security, he will assume the risks that come with that choice: injuries and a potential change in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement in 2011.
Like he does every offseason, Anthony is keeping a low profile, so his extended period off the grid isn’t abnormal. He might shed some light on his future when he holds his annual basketball camp Saturday in Highlands Ranch. In past years, Anthony’s PR people have tried to keep the media questions limited to the camp and the kids who attend. It hasn’t always worked out that way, and this weekend will be no different.
Everyone wants to know what’s on Melo’s mind. Maybe he’ll share his thoughts, maybe he won’t. That’s his prerogative – even though some misguided people might think otherwise.
Here is the USABasketball.com Video on Team USA vs. France Highlights:
Team USA Basketball Coaching Staff looks on during the Team USA Basketball Scrimmage | . |
Eric Gordon goes up for the Dunk. |
Chauncey Billups high fives his teammates after the Team USA Basketball Scrimmage. |
Andre Igoudala goes up for the Dunk. |
Here are some of the Photos from 2010 Team USA Basketball World Basketball Festival Tip-Off from Yesterday: