Andre Iguodala explained why he deserves more credit than he gets as a player. He also doesn’t like being called “Iggy”, from Tim Kawakami of Mercury News: “Q: Harrison said you don’t like to be called Iggy? Is that true? IGUODALA: Yeah, I’ve never liked that, since I was a kid I’ve been called that. But my teammates can call me that. I feel like they kind of know me, they can get away with it. But other than that, I’m not a big fan. Q: You think you have another level you can go to individually? IGUODALA: Yeah, definitely. I don’t think I’ve gotten enough credit for what I bring to certain teams, especially last year with the record we had, breaking the franchise record for wins and how we kind of kept everything together and pulled off a great season. Just really continue to build with this team as well and not just for one year but do it for multiple years, keep making runs at everyone’s ultimate goal, which is the championship. Q: How much credit do you deserve for the defensive leap that Denver took last season? IGUODALA: I would say I had a lot to do with it, because I had a lot of responsibility, especially in the pick-and-roll coverage on the weak side and having to guard two guys, the diver and the three-point shooter.”
Metta World Peace explained why he believes the Los Angeles Lakers will make it to the NBA Finals in the upcoming season. He also touched on why he doesn’t need to start and which teams went after him, from Mike Mazzeo of ESPN NY: “I think the Lakers are going to go to the NBA Finals,” World Peace said during a signing for his children’s book “Metta’s Bedtime Stories” in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday. “I think Kobe [Bryant’s] gonna be healthy, they’re gonna get Pau [Gasol]. The Lakers are gonna make a big trade like they always do. They’re gonna get another good player, boom, boom, and they’re gonna go to the Finals. I believe it. Kobe’s gonna come back, he’s gonna play team ball, and Pau’s gonna play well.”… “I’ve been starting for 15 years. I could’ve went to any other team I wanted to and started. I got calls from Oklahoma (City) and the Clippers, all these teams, but I came here and it wasn’t to start, it was to win a ring.”
Deron Williams suffered an ankle injury during a recent work out, according to Mazzeo: Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams has a sprained right ankle and a bone bruise, a team spokesman said Wednesday. Williams suffered the injuries while recently working out in Utah. He is currently in a walking boot, but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, the spokesman said. Nets training camp begins at Duke University on Oct. 1. Williams, 29, is coming off an injury-plagued 2012-13 season. He played in 78 games despite being bothered by ankle inflammation and weight problems for the majority of the season. Williams struggled up until the All-Star break, when he received a third set of cortisone shots in both ankles. During that week, Williams also received platelet-rich plasma therapy treatment and did a three-day juice cleanse.”
- Speaking of Deron, all the assists he accumulated last season turned into something great, from Devin Kharpertian of The Brooklyn Game: “Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams did more than just dish out 663 assists last season — those dishes turned into real help for the Brooklyn community. Through “Brooklyn’s Got Wings,” a partnership with Red Bull and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Red Bull donated $150 for every Williams assist in the 2012-13 season towards rebuilding basketball courts in Brooklyn. 663 assists X $150 = $99,450, or just a shade under six figures. If only Gerald Wallace and Reggie Evans made a few more shots last season…”
- Paul George is expected to sign a long-term deal with the Indiana Pacers, from Michael Pointer of Indy Star: “(A long-term contract) is going to get done,” George told The Indianapolis Star. “There will be a deal signed and sealed on the table before the season. We’re (George and Pacers management) on the same page.” George is entering the final year of his contract and the odds seemed long that he would leave Indiana even before Wednesday’s comments. The Pacers would have the right to match any offer he received next summer and have indicated they would do just that.”
Chris Singleton will likely miss the beginning of the season after being scheduled to undergo surgery on his foot, from Michael Lee of Washington Post: “Wizards third-year forward Chris Singleton will have surgery later this afternoon to repair a Jones fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his left foot suffered during a voluntary workout on Tuesday at Verizon Center. Singleton is expected to miss six to eight weeks, according to a statement released by the team on Wednesday. With training camp set to get underway on Sept. 28 at George Mason, Singleton’s injury came at an inopportune time as he enters a critical season as it relates to his future with the organization. The 6-foot-8 Singleton was already in a difficult position as he attempted to earn a spot in Coach Randy Wittman’s regular rotation and persuade the Wizards to pick up his option worth about $2.5 million for the 2014-15 season.”
The news gets worse for the Washington Wizards: Emeka Okafor will be out indefinitely after being dianosed with a herniated disk in his neck, from Lee: “The Washington Wizards received their second dose of unfortunate injury news on Wednesday, announcing that starting center Emeka Okafor will be out indefinitely with a herniated disk in his neck… “I have worked hard over the summer and was looking forward to the start of training camp next week, so this is a disappointing and frustrating situation for me,” Okafor said in a statement released by the team. “But I have confidence that my teammates and coaches will be able to continue to take steps towards our goal of making the playoffs and that I will be able to do my part to help them once I return.” Okafor had been experiencing discomfort in his neck from his offseason workouts before an MRI exam revealed the problem. After meeting with specialists and team doctors, Okafor will now begin rehabilitation to reduce inflammation and correct the injury.”
