Tag: NBA

Raptors big man idolizes Tim Duncan

Not surprising: Toronto center — or centre, as it were — Aaron Gray grew up idolizing Spurs great Tim Duncan.

Somewhat surprising: Duncan knew exactly who Gray was when the latter introduced himself to the former during his rookie season with Chicago during the 2007-08 season.

(Keep in mind that Gray, a second-round pick out of Pitt, had appeared in all of about 20 NBA games to this point, while Duncan was coming off his fourth championship.)

Gray explains:

I tried saying hello to him and he said, ‘What’s up, Aaron?’ I was kind of taken aback, just because he knew my name. It was a super cool experience.

On second thought, should we really be surprised that Duncan would know who Gray was? You can read at National Post.com.

dmccarney@express-news.net

Twitter: @danmccarneySAEN

Fox Tech grad takes anger out on innocent backboard

Tales of Fox Tech grad Ivan Johnson’s inner rage have already become legendary after just one NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks. They include:

* , when the 2002 Express-News All-Area selection was known as Ivan Johnson.

* A string of anger-related incidents culminating in a .

* last season for refusing to give up his seat on the bench to a veteran teammate.

* A $25,000 fine for during last year’s playoffs.

Those are just the highlights. Johnson added another one on Monday, shattering a backboard during Atlanta’s practice at Butler University. Teammates were awed by Johnson’s feat — not just because it reportedly takes to shatter a modern backboard, but because practice was subsequently cancelled.

After fighting so hard to reach the NBA last season as a 27-year-old rookie, Johnson was understandably nonplussed by his show of strength:

Report: NCAA investigating relationship between Joseph’s agent and UT standout

The relationship between Rich Paul, the agent of Spurs guard Cory Joseph and reigning NBA MVP LeBron James, and University of Texas guard Myck Kabongo is being investigated by the NCAA, late Wednesday evening.

Joseph played at UT during the 2010-11 season. Paul represents another former Longhorn, Cleveland forward Tristan Thompson. Paul told Yahoo! that he met Kabongo, a sophomore who averaged 9.6 points per game as a freshman, through Joseph and Thompson.

“I haven’t been contacted by the NCAA and I wouldn’t put a kid in harm’s way,” Paul said. “I would never disrespect anybody’s program. I love the game of basketball. I understand the business of basketball, but I’m about doing it the right way.”

UT spokesman Scott McConnell confirmed that the NCAA has interviewed Kabongo but declined further comment.

A key element of the NCAA’s probe is whether Paul facilitated Kabongo’s visit to Cleveland this spring, during which he had at least one session with a New York-based professional trainer. The potential issue is who paid for Kabongo’s travel and expenses, and whether the trainer provided his services without cost.