D-Fenders hire former NBA coach Eric Musselman
Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Development League
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Former Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings coach Eric Musselman was named today as coach of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Development League affiliate.
Musselman, 46, coached the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League to a 34-16 record in the 2010-2011 season, the best in the West Conference.
D-Fenders president Joey Buss said Musselman “will be a great addition to our franchise.”
Musselman said he was “extremely excited to be joining a first-class organization like the D-Fenders.”
“Our staff will work hard to develop young players for the next level while at the same time being an extremely competitive team,” Musselman said.
The D-Fenders will resume play in November after a one-season hiatus.
Musselman coached Golden State to a 75-89 record from 2002-2004 and Sacramento to a 33-49 record in the 2006-2007 season.
Musselman has also been an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies, and coached the Rapid City Thrillers and Florida Beachdogs of the Continental Basketball Association, the Florida Sharks of the U.S. Basketball League and the Dominican Republic’s men’s national team.
Musselman is a son of the late Bill Musselman, who coached in the NBA, CBA, American Basketball Association and in college basketball.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Mike D’Antoni to succeed Mike Brown as coach of the team.
D’Antoni, who coached the New York Knicks for the last four seasons and the Phoenix Suns for five seasons before that, agreed to a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth season. The Los Angeles Times put the value of the deal at $12 million.
ANAHEIM, Calif.—The Sacramento Kings have dropped plans to ask the NBA for permission to move the team to Anaheim because of opposition from the league, the team announced today.
Officials from Anaheim Arena Management, which since September had been in negotiations with the Maloof family that owns the team, were told of the decision early today.
Today was the deadline for the Kings to request permission to move.
ANAHEIM, Calif.—It's not a done deal, but negotiations are continuing in Anaheim's effort to lure the Sacramento Kings to Orange County.
"The good news is that we are continuing to move closer to bringing a professional basketball team to Anaheim,'' Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait said at the end of Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"More information will be forthcoming in the next week or so.''
Because of the ongoing negotiations, Tait said he couldn't offer many details.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A statue of former Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, will be unveiled today outside Staples Center.
Abdul-Jabbar’s teammates with the 1980s “Showtime” Lakers Earvin “Magic” Johnson and James Worthy; the team’s coach, Pat Riley; former Laker player, coach and general manager Jerry West; and team executive Jeanie Buss are scheduled to join Abdul-Jabbar in speaking at the ceremony, which is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes pleaded no contest today to misdemeanor unlicensed driver and resisting arrest charges.
The 32-year-old basketball player—who has signed with the Clippers—was immediately sentenced to two years probation, ordered to complete 30 hours of community service and attend anger management classes for three months, according to the District Attorney's Office.
