Tag: Dallas

Former Spur Walker jailed after allegedly eating his weed after traffic stop

Maybe it was the munchies.

But there’s more to the weekend story about former Spurs player Samaki Walker on drug possession charges that helps explains his arrest.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Walker was arrested by police in Kingman, Ariz., after a routine traffic stop. Arizona authorities allege that as a Department of Public Safety officer approached his 2002 Mercedes-Benz late Thursday in Kingman.

Officials said about 10 grams of marijuana was seized from the vehicle along with some prescription drugs and eight bottles of liquid steroids.

Walker, who played with the Spurs from 1999-2001, cooperated with officers at the Mohave County Jail, police said. He told police that he uses steroids to improve his athletic ability because he still plays professional basketball in Syria.

Walker told police the steroids are legal in Syria, but possession is a misdemeanor in Arizona, police told the Review-Journal.

The Woodland Hills, Calif., resident was drafted ninth in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft by Dallas. His 10-year NBA career ended in 2006 after stints with the Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Washington, Indiana and the Spurs.

He was a member of the Lakers’ 2002 championship team, starting 63 games during the regular season.

Bond was set at $2,000 for Walker’s release with a preliminary hearing set for Friday.

His story should be an interesting one for lawmen once his trial begins.

Red-letter dates on Spurs’ schedule (circle them in pencil)

Here are some games not to miss on the Spurs’ 2011-12 schedule, lockout permitting. With the NBA labor crisis still nowhere near a resolution, we’d circle these dates in pencil, and hold off on hiring a babysitter for now.

for complete schedule.

Nov. 2 — The Spurs open the season at home against Milwaukee. The last time the Bucks visited the ATT Center, Manu Ginobili sank them with a buzzer beater.

Nov. 4 – First visit of the season from the Dallas Mavericks, who much to the chagrin of folks in San Antonio can now add “defending NBA champions” to their official title. The Spurs also face the Mavs on Jan. 29 and March 17 in  Dallas and on April 8 again at home.

Nov. 9 — First of two visits out west to take on Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. After this, Spurs won’t face Lakers again until April, when they close the season by playing two of the final four games against their West Coast rivals.

Dec. 17 — Reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls come to San Antonio, repaying the Spurs’ visit to the Windy City on Nov. 30.

Dec. 26 – First of four revenge games against the Memphis team that knocked the Spurs from the playoffs last season in an historic 1 vs. 8 upset. This one will be at the ATT Center. Spurs also face the Grizzlies on Jan. 3 and Feb. 14 in Memphis and at home on April Fool’s Day.

Dec. 31 – Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style. Sort of. Spurs ring in 2012 by hosting the Toronto Raptors.

Jan. 11 — Ex Spurs guard George Hill will face his former team for the first time since his draft-night trade to the Pacers. This game  is in Indiana. Hill comes home to San Antonio on March 30.

Jan. 17 – Spurs vs. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh in Miami. Enough said. Heat make their lone visit to ATT Center a few weeks later, on Feb. 1.

Feb. 6 – Spurs open nine-game rodeo road trip, beginning in Washington. Trip will also take them to Philadelphia, Toronto, Detroit, Memphis, Los Angeles (Clippers), Utah and Portland before concluding Feb. 23 in Denver.

March 7 – The only trip to the ATT Center for Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and the reconstituted New York Knicks is part of a seven-game homestand that follows the rodeo trip. After the rodeo leaves town, the Spurs finish with 16 of their final 22 games at home.

Mavs assistant Dwane Casey in line for Toronto head job

It’s been a whirlwind the last several days for Dallas Mavericks’ lead assistant Dwane Casey.

Last week, the Mavericks claimed their first title. Casey helped celebrate with all of his team once they got back to Dallas later in the week.

And Casey also had what appears to be a successful job interview with Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo.

Enough that the Dallas Morning News is reporting that Casey  perhaps as soon as later this afternoon.

Casey interviewed with the Raptors twice over the last several days. He apparently has beaten out Boston lead assistant and former New Jersey head coach Lawrence Frank.  

Casey, a former Kentucky standout in college, has most recently served as the top assistant coach under Rick Carlisle for the Mavericks. Earlier, he was the head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves over 1-1/2 seasons — a span during which the Timberwolves were 53-69. The Timberwolves were 20-20 in the 2006-07 when Casey was fired by then-GM Kevin McHale, who said he believed the team was a playoff contender. Randy Wittman took over, and the team finished 12-30 in its remaining 42 games.

Casey will take over the vacant job created when Jay Triano was demoted after more than two seasons as Toronto’s head coach.

Frank apparently has now emerged as the created when John Kuester’s contract wasn’t renewed, the Toronto Star reports.