Take a look at some of the latest news and notes in the National Basketball Association:
Crawford Signs With Phoenix
The Phoenix Suns announced that they have officially signed 18-year veteran Jamal Crawford and will waive guard Davon Reed. Crawford will join the Suns after spending last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Crawford averaged 10.3 points per game last season coming off the bench with the Timberwolves and appeared in 80 games. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Crawford with the 8th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft out of the University of Michigan.
Crawford has won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, three times during his career, and is the only player in NBA history to accomplish this feat. The 38-year old has career averages of 15.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. He is fifth all-time in career three-point field goals made and has scored the second most bench points in the NBA in the last 35 seasons.
Bulls Set To Wear Sponsorship Patch
The Chicago Bulls will wear a sponsorship patch on their uniforms for the first time in franchise history. The team announced that they have reached a five-year deal with Zenni Optical that will place their logo on the iconic Bulls uniforms. Zenni Optical is an online eyewear retailer that will also receive extra promotional benefits inside the United Center. The patch will be prominently displayed on the left breast of both home and away jerseys. The Bulls begin their 2018-19 NBA season on Thursday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Anthony Struggles in Rockets Debut
Carmelo Anthony made his Houston Rockets debut on Wednesday night, and did so by coming off of the bench. It was the first time in Anthony’s career that he has played in an NBA game that he did not start. Anthony is a 10-time All Star who is hoping to win a NBA title before being forced to retire. The veteran forward struggled in his Rockets debut, scoring just nine points in 27 minutes. After the game, Anthony acknowledged that he struggled to find rhythm in the Rockets blowout loss.
Houston was defeated by the New Orleans Pelicans, 131-112 in one of their worst defensive efforts in recent seasons. Carmelo Anthony and the Rockets will try to rebound when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
Kristi Toliver Hired By Wizards
The Washington Wizards announced that they have hired former WNBA All-Star Kristi Toliver as an assistant coach for player development for the 2018-19 season. Wizards head coach Scott Brooks announced several changes to his coaching staff for this season, including Toliver’s role. Toliver was a star player for the Washington Mystics this season and helped them reach the WNBA Finals.
She has played in the WNBA for 10 seasons and is a two-time WNBA All-Star. Toliver worked with the Wizards coaching staff during the summer league and training camp. The Wizards will open up their regular season on Thursday night against the Miami Heat.
Nuggets Sign Malone To Extension
The Denver Nuggets announced that they have agreed to a two-year contract extension with head coach Michael Malone. Malone entered this season on the last year of his current contract, but the extension will keep him on the bench for three more seasons in Denver. The Nuggets won 46 games last season which was the most in any season since the 2012-13 Denver team won 57 games.
Denver missed out on the playoffs by one game last season but should be a playoff contender this season. Malone has compiled a 119-127 record since taking over the coaching job with the Nuggets. The Sacramento Kings fired Malone in December of 2014 after the coach had posted a 39-67 record with the Kings over a span of two seasons.
Pelicans Add Tim Frazier
Tim Frazier is headed back to New Orleans after the Pelicans claimed the guard off of waivers before the start of the 2018-19 season. Frazier was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks after spending the entire preseason with the team. The former Penn State product averaged 8.3 points and 5.6 assists in 81 games with the Pelicans before being traded to the Washington Wizards. New Orleans waived forward Troy Williams in order to make room for Frazier on the roster.
