General Basketball Wiretap

NBA Launches Effort To Rebuild New Orleans

The NBA announced Wednesday a league-wide season-long effort to help in the on-going rebuilding of New Orleans.

Joining NBA Commissioner David Stern for the NBA Cares programming announcement at Walter L. Cohen High School were Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans' Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Ollie Tyler, New Orleans Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas, New Orleans Hornets' Owner George Shinn, Sacramento Kings' Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, and NBA Legends Bob Lanier and Willis Reed.

Via RealGM Staff Report


With No New Arena, Vegas' Future In NBA On Hold

The future of a professional basketball franchise in southern Nevada remained on hold after the NBA Board of Governors decided to continue monitoring developments on a new arena.

NBA commissioner David Stern on Thursday cited a report by a seven-member owners' committee that said an NBA-quality arena would enhance Las Vegas' chances.

But Stern added there were no immediate plans for a new franchise in the league, and he didn't promise Las Vegas would be first in line for a team.

"The report was generally positive," Stern said at a news conference in New York City. "We looked at various arena sites. There are several prospective owners for a Las Vegas franchise, and we're talking to a lot of people."

Via ESPN


Stern To Allow Some Forms Of Gambling By Refs

Along with a reduction in duties for league executives Stu Jackson and Ronnie Nunn, referees now have looser rules in regards to gambling. These developments were revealed Thursday by NBA Commissioner David Stern following the league's Board of Governors meeting.

Stern said an internal review had found that all of the league's 56 referees violated the contractual prohibition against engaging in gambling, with more than half of them admitting to placing wagers in casinos. But Stern said none of the violations was major, and no referees had admitted to wagering in a sports book or with a bookie.

"Our ban on gambling is absolute, and in my view it is too absolute, too harsh and was not particularly well-enforced over the years," Stern said. "We're going to come up with a new set of rules that make sense."

"It's too easy to issue rules that are on their faith violated by $5 Nassau, sitting at a poker table, buying a lottery ticket and then we can move along," Stern said. "And by the time I got through and I determined going into a casino isn't a capital offense ... I'm the CEO of the NBA, and I'll take responsibility."

Via ESPN


Oct 2007 Archive

  • USA Basketball Might Move HQ After Olympics

    USA Basketball says it will consider moving its headquarters and training center out of Colorado Springs next year.

  • NBA GMs Favor Spurs To Win Title, LeBron Likely MVP

    The San Antonio Spurs were picked as the favorites to win another championship in a poll of NBA general managers, who gave Dirk Nowitzki no chance of repeating as league MVP.

  • Sparks Win WNBA Draft Lottery

    The Los Angeles Sparks won the seventh annual WNBA Draft Lottery and earned the top pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, the League announced today.

  • NBA: Report Of Refs In Trouble For Gambling Untrue

    The NBA on Sunday denied a New York Daily News report that the league had disciplined six referees of violating anti-gambling rules for officials.

  • Late-Season Return Possible For Houston

    After ending his comeback attempt this weekend, Allen Houston told reporters he would not rule out a late-season return to basketball (or even a coaching position), but he emphasized he was letting the future shape itself.

  • NBA Punishes 6 Refs For Breaking Rules

    In the biggest fallout from the Tim Donaghy betting scandal to date, six NBA refs have been disciplined by the league for breaking its strict anti-gambling rules.

  • U.S. Marshals Arrest Keon Clark

    A former NBA player wanted on drug and weapons charges in Illinois was arrested Thursday when U.

  • Donaghy's Sentencing Postponed Until January

    Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy's sentencing on two felony charges in a basketball gambling scam has been posted until late January, according to a report.

  • Van Gundy Stays Put In Broadcast Booth With ESPN/ABC

    Former Rockets' coach Jeff Van Gundy signed Tuesday for a full season as part of ESPN/ABC's lead NBA broadcast crew and said he expects his former team to be a contender once again this year.

  • Ex-Ref Donaghy Forfeits $30,000 As Part Of Plea Deal

    Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy has forfeited $30,000 in restitution to the government under his plea deal in a basketball gambling scam.

  • NBA China Games To Reach 209 Countries

    The NBA China Games 2007, featuring three exhibition games between the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Team China All-Stars in Shanghai and Macao from October 17-20, is a global event that will be televised in 209 countries in 13 languages.

  • Stern Considers NBA Regular-Season Games In Europe

    The NBA is staging another successful preseason tour in Europe.