Kendrick Perkins dislocates finger, tries to fix it himself (VIDEO)

The Oklahoma City Thunder opened the NBA’s 2013 preseason schedule on Saturday morning, playing Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul as part of the Global Games that will see teams play eight preseason games in eight cities, in six countries and territories.

The Thunder was already without Russell Westbrook — who will now miss at least the first month of the regular season after undergoing an additional knee surgery last week — and lost the services of Kendrick Perkins late in the first half, although to something that looks to be far less serious.

Perkins dislocated a finger while battling for a rebound, and as seen in the video clip, he did his best to pop it back in place himself. He was apparently unsuccessful, however, as Perkins didn’t start the second half; rookie Steven Adams got the nod in his place.

The Thunder led 48-42 at the break, behind 20 points and six rebounds from Kevin Durant.

Jason Kidd suspended 2 games over DWI, will miss home opener

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd will be suspended for two games for pleading guilty for driving while ability impaired, the NBA announced Friday morning.

The suspension covers the first two games of the season, Oct. 30 in Cleveland and Nov. 1 in Brooklyn against the defending champion Heat.

Kidd’s first game on the bench will come Nov. 3 in Orlando, and his Barclays Center home debut is reset for Nov. 5.

The suspension was expected as was the length, based on past suspensions issued by the NBA for a similar offense. Other players and coaches, including Eric Musselman, Zach Randolph and Carmelo Anthony, have received two-game suspensions for driving while impaired or under the influence.

“The decision is consistent with what the league has done in the past and we look forward to Jason leading our team versus Orlando and the rest of the year,” general manager Billy King said in a statement.

Kidd’s guilty plea stemmed from a July 2012 incident in which he crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in The Hamptons.

“You could have killed yourself that night,” said Judge Andrea Schiavoni said at Kidd’s sentencing this summer at Southampton Town justice court. “You could have killed somebody else.”

Celtics' Brandon Bass learns to swim at age 28 (VIDEO)

It takes a lot courage to learn how to swim but it might take even more brass when your first breast stroke is at age 28 with a pool full of children splish-splashing around.

Brandon Bass, the 6-foot-8, 260-pound Boston Celtics power forward could go coast-to-coast on the hardwood but when it came to lapping a pool — he was the dunk. Ironically, a Bass who hated the water.

This week, Bass conquered a lifelong fear and climbed into the shallow end of a city pool with 10 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Boston to take their first swimming lesson. He has vowed to continue taking plunges until he is confident enough to swim on his own.

"My son’s the first one in the family to learn how to swim," says Bass, who is now in his third season with the Celtics.

"If you threw me out in the ocean, I would drown."

"I’m nervous, because I don’t know how to float," he told  the Boston Globe,  "I can’t tread water."

Bass hopes his desire to learn swimming well into adulthood will encourage more young and old people to learn the ability. And from the cheers and encouragement of the kids in his class  — it's sounds like he's already done so.

Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there was no place for Bass to learn to swim and he remembers a tragic drowning of young neighbor his own age back then.

He feels that as the man of the house he needs to learn to swim. He says he believes other parents should learn, too, and encourage their children.

"Even if you don’t want to swim," he said. "It’s important to learn in case you need to."

Way to go Brandon.

Jason Kidd: Nets were too 'vanilla' last season

Jason Kidd sounded more like a Ben & Jerry's taste-tester than the Brooklyn Nets new head coach on Tuesday.

The first year coach set a goal yesterday to change the Nets' identity, from the bland tasting squad which fell flat last last season to a more flavorful blend of competitors.  Kidd understands that GM Billy King did most of the prep work already — acquiring the necessary ingredients to make a champion — on draft night with a blockbuster trade.

"I think the identity," Kidd said at the PNY Center. "It was just vanilla [last season] and I think you guys can see after the trade with [Kevin] Garnett and [Paul] Pierce that it's kind of changed. So, I think we're doing the right thing with changing the identity. It was just there was no flavor and no identity. So with that trade, that changes the whole game."

Kidd is confident, but nervous.

"I think I've always been nervous before every game," he said. "You ask any trainer, I've always taken Pepto just to settle my nerves, because basketball's always been something that you can never control. It's something that you just don't know how it's going to turn out, but once the ball is up in the air, your nerves tend to go away, you just respond and react.

"And so I am nervous, but the nice thing is that we do have some talented players who know how to play, who want to be coached and it's exciting. I think it's an exciting nervousness and I'm very excited about this opportunity."

The arrival of Garnett and Pierce, paired with other new additions like Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko, gives the Nets one of the NBA's top starting fives to go along with quality depth. As they get set to start training camp at Duke in six days, Kidd said one of his most pressing challenges is figuring out the different floor combinations he's hoping to use because the Nets easily can go two deep at every position.

He also has to concoct a plan for Garnett, whom Kidd previously said he wouldn't play in the second ends of back-to-backs, believing it's the best way to preserve the 37-year-old's legs and body so he'll be fresh and available for the postseason. Garnett rejected the idea.

Get more Pepto. Sounds like there's already too many cooks in Kidd's kitchen.

Carmelo Anthony on leaving Knicks: 'I'm not going nowhere'

Carmelo Anthony can become a free agent after the upcoming season, and has made it clear he doesn't want to talk about it. But he gave the strongest indication yet that his plans include re-signing with the Knicks when the season is through.

"I'm not going nowhere," Anthony said during an interview Tuesday with Bloomberg Television's "Market Markers." 

"That is one of the reasons why I wanted to come here to New York, just so I could take on those pressures and those challenges," Anthony said. "A lot of people do not like to deal with the pressure. A lot of people do not know how to deal with the challenges they face. To me, it is everyday life."

Anthony is due to make $23.3 million in the 2014-15 season. If he were to opt out, the Lakers likely would pursue the All-Star, but the Knicks can offer him significantly more —including a five-year deal. Under the collective bargaining agreement, the most the Lakers could offer is four years and roughly $96 million. Anthony could get a maximum five-year contract worth about $129 million from the Knicks, who can start negotiating with him in February.

Money aside, Anthony pushed for the February 2011 trade from Denver to be in the New York limelight and try to help the Knicks win their first championship since 1973. He led them to 54 wins last season and their first Atlantic Division title in 19 years, but they lost to Indiana in the second round.

The 29-year-old Anthony remains committed to bringing a title to Madison Square Garden.

"That is one of the reasons why I wanted to come here to New York, just so I could take on those pressures and those challenges,'' Anthony said. "A lot of people do not like to deal with the pressure. A lot of people do not know how to deal with the challenges they face. To me, it is everyday life.''

Still, Anthony doesn't want his future or free agency to be an everyday discussion with the New York media. He told The Associated Press at a Sept. 11 charity event Wednesday that he would not address either issue during the season. "I'm just not going to do it,'' he said. "I'm going to let everybody know the first day that I'm not going to talk about it.''

The Knicks were the No. 2 seed in the East last season behind eventual NBA champion Miami, but they lost veteran players Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wallace. Their big offseason additions this winter were Andrea Bargnani, Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih —making the team somewhat younger.

Anthony and the Knicks could be looking up the rebuilt Nets and improved Bulls and Pacers but Melo still believes his team is still a front runner.

"I actually see this team being better than last year,'' said Tuesday. "That's just my opinion, that's the way that we feel. And if we feel that way as a unit, then there's nothing that can come between us.''

Kris Humphries puts Kim Kardashian's $2 million engagement ring up for auction: Report

A sparkling engagement ring matching the description of Kim Kardashian's symbol of marriage has been listed in an auction called "Magnificent Jewels" that’s slated for Oct. 15 at Christie’s in Manhattan, according to RumorFix.com. The high-end auction house declined to name NBA player Kris Humphries —Kardashian’s ex-husband — as the seller, saying only that "a gentleman" was behind the listing.

The former Brooklyn Net and current Boston Celtics' forward presented Kim K with the ring on her reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.  Their August 2011 wedding was featured in two separate and highly viewed E! specials and lasted a whole 72 days. Their divorce came a few months later.

After filing for divorce, 32-year-old Kardashian wanted to keep the ring but Humphries sought the jewel’s return as part of his fraud claim.

The Lorraine Schwartz design features a 16-karat emerald cut center stone flanked by 1.8-karat trapezoid side diamonds — in case you are in the market for some tainted bling.

The ring goes on view Oct. 11 at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center and is expected to fetch only about $500 K.

Kevin Durant shoots ping-pong balls on French television (VIDEO)

Kevin Durant is in France as part of a Nike promotional tour of Europe where he appeared on a French talk show doing some sort of stupid human tricks segment.

This French version of Jimmy Fallon had the bamboozled Oklahoma City Thunder star shoot colored ping-pong balls into a basket on top of his host's head while answering questions he was asked in French. Durant looks like he'd actually rather be jumping off the Eiffel Tower onto a giant souffle than endure the bizarre interview.

He's probably thinking, Where's Tony Parker when you need him?

Thunder's DeAndre Liggins accused of dropping Xbox 360 on girlfriend's head

Oklahoma City Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins has been accused of beating up his girlfriend Jasmine Horton — allegedly punching her and dropping a fan and an Xbox 360 on her as their 2-year-old son looked on.

Liggins has been accused of beating Horton and was released from jail on an $8,000 bail.

According to The Oklahoman, Liggins supposedly punched her, and dropped a fan and the heavy game box on her head. Their 2-year-old son was in the room during the incident according to the probable cause affidavit filed on Tuesday.

Horton, who describes herself as Liggins' girlfriend, said Liggins hit her in the head with his hand and then punched her in the head when she fell on the ground, according to the affidavit filed in Oklahoma County District Court. 

Horton claims she locked herself in a bedroom before Liggins reportedly kicked in the door, pushed her down and assaulted her, according to the affidavit.

Horton had injuries on her hands and fingers as well as bruises on her chest and back. Liggins was booked on Saturday under domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse in the presence of a minor.

The general manager of the Thunder Sam Presti said in a statement, "We reiterate the serious nature of this issue," before stating that the Thunder has "no further comment at this time."

Jay Z selling Nets share to head coach Jason Kidd: Report

It sounds like Jay Z is taking this whole sports agent thing pretty seriously. The entrepreneurial rapper is selling his minority ownership in the Brookyn Nets to head coach Jason Kidd, sources told Page Six of the N.Y. Post.

The sources claim Kidd will take over Jay’s .067 percent (1/15th of a percent) stake in the team for about $500,000.

The move comes as Jay was forced to sell his Nets shares over a conflict of interest after he started a sports agency, Roc Nation, signing clients including Yankee Robinson Cano and NBA star Kevin Durant.

"Other owners want to give Jason a part ownership of the team, and urged Jay to sell his shares to him," said the source.

Goodbye Brooklyn.

Page Six said:

Amazingly, Jay was introduced to the team in 2003 by Drew Katz, the son of one of the Nets’ principal owners, after Kidd, then the Nets’ marquee point guard, suggested the music mogul buy the team.

According to reports, Jay helped design the team logos and choose the Nets’ stark black-and-white color scheme, and personally appealed to National Basketball Association officials to drop their objections to it.

The Times reported Jay’s influence stretched so far, he courted top players to join the team and even counseled execs on music to play during games.

"He is it,” Bruce Ratner, the Barclays Center developer, said in an interview. “He is us. He is how people are going to see that place."

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov bought 80 percent ownership of the team in 2009 and appeared on billboards around the city with Jay Z.

Meanwhile, Kidd, who signed on as Nets coach in June, added to an impressive lineup including Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez. 

Unlike Jay Z, the coach owning minority shares in the team would not be seen as a conflict of interest.

A rep for the Nets had no comment, and Kidd’s spokesman, Nets VP of public relations Gary Sussman, also declined to comment. Reps for Jay Z didn’t get back to Page Six.

J.R. Smith reportedly driving around NYC in armored car

It looks like New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith is already finding ways to spend some of the money from his new $24 million deal with the NBA team.

According to the New York Post, Smith was seen driving up to the restaurant Catch in Manhattan's  Meatpacking District behind the wheel of a Gurkha F5 armored vehicle. 

Smith, who’s recovering after surgery on his left knee in the off-season, rolled up to the hotspot in the $450,000 ride — which is made by Toronto-based Terradyne Armored Vehicles and used by police and the military. Smith parked the oversize truck on the street while he dined inside.

Hummers are so passe.

LeBron sends selfie on way to jury duty

Even royalty has to sit with commoners once in a while. But at least King James doesn't mind helping turn the wheels of justice while having to do so.

LeBron James was all smiles on his Instagram account as he prepared to make his way to the courtroom to report for jury duty Thursday morning and tweeted the following: "Jury duty time. Time to serve my civic duty."

No word on if the NBA's biggest star will actually serve at a trial but at least he brought a book to keep himself occupied while getting that $15 per diem.

Jury duty time. Time to serve my civic duty http://t.co/7OgkVM74Er
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 8, 2013

Amar'e Stoudemire applies for Israeli citizenship

While the New York Knicks had their own mass exodus from the NBA playoffs last season, Amar’e Stoudemire is now taking his own small steps closer to the Promised Land.

The Knicks power forward — with reported Hebrew roots but who wasn't raised Jewish — has applied for Israeli citizenship after becoming part owner of a Jerusalem basketball team earlier this year.

Stoudemire, who has been learning Hebrew and practicing Judaism, put in the paperwork while he was in the Jewish state for the annual Maccabiah Games, where he served as the assistant coach of the Canadian basketball squad.

“He applied, and he’s getting there now,” Stoudemire’s agent Happy Walters told New York Magazine.

Those ended earlier this week, but Stoudemire has more than religious reasons for forging closer ties with Israel.

In July, Stoudemire announced he had become a part owner in the Israeli basketball club Hapoel Jerusalem.

Stoudemire, who was signed by the Knicks in 2010 to a nearly $100 million five-year contract, has been considering joining the religion ever since he moved to New York and began telling people his wayward mother had Jewish ties. In interviews, Stoudemire has stated that he has "no formal religion," although he practices certain Jewish rituals because “we are all Jewish. It's the original culture.”

Also, Stoudemire donned a yarmulke and a prayer shawl when he and Alexis Welch tied the knot last year.

“I’m not a religious person, I’m more of a spiritual person,” he recently told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “So I follow the rules of the Bible that coordinate with and connect with the Hebrew culture.”

The gimpy, 30-year-old Stoudemire has virtually no chance of representing the USA at the 2016 Olympics but has already received an invitation from President Shimon Peres to play for the Israeli national team. 

Shalom!

Ossie Schectman, first player to score basket in NBA history, dies at age 94

Oscar "Ossie" Schectman, the former New York Knicks guard who scored the first basket in NBA history, died Tuesday. He was 94.

Schectman's son Peter confirmed his father's death, which was also announced by the Knicks and paid tribute by the NBA. Peter says his dad died of complications from respiratory failure.

Sad News: Former Knick Oscar B. "Ossie" Schectman passed away this a.m. Ossie scored the first basket in @NBAHistory (11/1/46). Ossie was 94
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) July 30, 2013

Schectman scored the opening basket of a game in what was then known as the BAA on Nov. 1, 1946 for the Knicks against the Toronto Huskies.

Schectman was born in Queens, N.Y., and won two NIT titles as the point guard for Long Island University before turning pro. From Newsday's Al Iannazzone:

Schectman, a 6-foot guard played in the American Basketball League with the Philadelphia Sphas — whose nickname came from the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association — before the Knicks signed him in 1946 to play in the new Basketball Association of America, which later became the NBA. [...] Schectman played just one season and 54 games with the Knicks. He averaged 8.1 points and was third in the league with 2.0 assists.

Commissioner David Stern said Tuesday in a statement that Schectman was a "pioneer." The commissioner says, "Playing for the New York Knickerbockers in the 1946-47 season, Ossie scored the league's first basket, which placed him permanently in the annals of NBA history. On behalf of the entire NBA family, our condolences go out to Ossie's family."

Metta World Peace wants fans to pick new nickname

After word spread around the Internet that Metta World Peace might be changing his name again ahead of playing for the Knicks next season, the former St. John's star — where he was known as Ron Artest — took to his Twitter account to squash the idea.

“Don’t believe anyone who said I’m changing my name again,” World Peace tweeted. “I am letting fans give me a new nickname. I am not legally changing my name.”

Don't believe anyone who said I'm changing my name again. I am letting fans give me a new nick name. I am not legally changing my name.
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 26, 2013

World Peace also said he will be picking a nickname a fan suggests in a couple of weeks, and that fans could tell him what nickname by going to his website.

And, so far,  it sounds as if MWP likes what's what he's hearing.

I love the nicknames that's coming . Keep them coming!!!;)
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 27, 2013

World Peace is making his return to New York this fall as a member of the Knicks after agreeing to a two-year deal — the second year a player option — shortly after being amnestied by the Lakers this month.

How about The Artest Formally Known As Peace?

USAF Airman throws down windmill dunk in fatigues and boots at USA Basketball Showcase (VIDEO)

At Thursday's USA Basketball Showcase in Las Vegas, the biggest dunk highlight didn't come from a group of NFL players that included Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Paul George. Instead, it came from Nathaniel Mills — a member of United States Air Force.

At one of the scrimmage's TV breaks, the Douglaston, Ga. native came onto the court in full uniform — camo-fatigues, combat boots, etc. — and pulled off a one-handed windmill dunk to the cheers of the crowd and NBA stars including Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

"You should see me without fatigues and without boots," the Airman told reporters after he took flight.

We believe it.

Baby loves Dikembe Mutombo in Geico commercial (VIDEO)

Dikembe Mutombo's biggest fan might not even be old enough to pick up a basketball, but that doesn't stop this little toddler from being amused by the former NBA star in his popular Geico television commercial.

Every time the 7-foot-2 Mutombo appears on screen the adorable infant lets loose with the kind of infectious laughter only a baby can bring forth.  Even when the parents rewind a tape of the commercial, the baby waits quietly until the finger-pointing shot-blocker re-appears on the TV and then the giggle-fest starts again.

How happy are folks saving hundreds of dollars by switching to Geico?

Here's your answer.

Paul Pierce happy to be 'glorified role player' with Nets

There is an "I" in Paul Pierce but, when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA star claims there won't be one there this season.

If you look at the old version of the Nets, you might see an NBA squad already loaded with big names — up-and-coming Brook Lopez, one of the best shooting guards in Joe Johnson, and a top point guard in Deron Williams — and wonder how they could fill the roster with any more.

Mix in newcomer veterans Pierce and Kevin Garnett and it now leaves the Nets with a Klieg light-wattage of names on the roster.  Just for fun, throw in other well-known role players like Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko and you've got a cast bigger than Ocean's Twelve.

Now, the former Boston Celtics forward is looking at the makeup of the Nets and claims he is willing to step out of the spotlight with a supporting role with the team as a "glorified role player."

Think DeNiro sharing the bill with Pacino (Okay, D-Will can be Val Kilmer) in Heat.

Pierce told the Boston Globe he's fine with giving up a leading part on the team if it leads to a blockbuster finish at the end of the season.

"There will definitely be less pressure on me on this ball club than there was in Boston," Pierce said. "In Boston, I was the No. 1 primary option. Here we have so many options. We have young All-Stars on this team. My job is to be more of a glorified role player, as Doc [Rivers] used to always say, with the guys we have.

"With my abilities to do so many things, there's going to be nights where I'm not going to score a bunch of points. I can do other things to help this club win. With the combination of these guys, we're going to take pressure off each other."

Pierce — who averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds last season — hasn't been a role player, probably ever, in his basketball life, but isn't ready for the TNT broadcast booth just yet.

The future Hall of Famer could possibly lead this team as a scorer if asked to, and it wouldn't be a desperate move by Jason Kidd. However, to maximize everybody's abilities, the Nets have to get older guys like Pierce and Garnett to sacrifice their own individual games if they are going to save their bodies in the suddenly rough-and-tough NBA East over a long season.

Let's say the Nets decide they need Kirilenko to start at small forward for defensive purposes and bring Pierce off the bench as a scorer, it remains to be seen if Pierce will be open to playing second banana.

And the award for best player in a Nets supporting role goes to ...

Steve Nash's boozy, profane buddy audiobombs interview

During an MLS match between the Los Angeles Galaxy against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Kelli Tennant, a reporter for Time Warner Cable SportsNet (the Los Angeles Lakers' local broadcast partner) managed to get an interview with the Lakers star and Whitecaps co-owner Steve Nash. The seemingly clueless reporter began the doomed interview by asking Nash,"Steve, I know you are a huge soccer fan, what brought you out tonight?"

"Uh, two things," Nash replied. "One, I'm one of the four owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps. And one of my best buddies, it's his bachelor party, so, um, I think he's bombing this interview ..."

Nash's soon-to-be-married bud, with beer cup in hand, then stumbles over into the camera frame and drops a few choice words about a referee's call on live TV — sort of like video c---blocking.

A smiling Nash apologized for his friend's language, saying: "I'm going to enjoy the game. I hope I didn't ruin the telecast with the poor behavior."

He later posted a photo on Instagram with the caption, "@whitecapsfc vs @ galaxy for one of my best friends bachelor party. Due hard. Check him on YouTube cussing. Class act."

L.A. went on to win 2-1 by adding a second goal in the 57th minute — which probably had Nash saying a few choice words of his own.

Nick Collison photobombs three kids buried in the sand

Nobody is off limits for a photobomb when Nick Collison is around. Even little children are worthy targets of the sneaky snapshot prank when the Oklahoma City Thunder forward is lurking about.

Collison interrupted this shot while the three kids were half buried in a pristine Hawaiian beach.

The threesome became a party of four when Collison jumped into the frame and was snapped, in mid-air, behind the smiling children.

Captioned "Best photobomb yet?" the playful NBA player posted the fun photo to his Instagram account a few days ago.

None of his other photos appear to be of the visual gag, but if his user photo on his Twitter site is any indication, Collison is a pretty funny guy.

Knicks signed J.R. Smith to three-year deal — not four as reported

The revelation about J.R. Smith's knee surgery on Monday had a lot of people wondering where the New York Knicks' school of thought was.

The team reportedly knew their Sixth Man of the Year needed surgery in May, got it done in July, needs four months of rehab and the season begins in October.

Did the Knicks hide the shooting guard's injury during his free-agency or were they kept in the dark?

Next time, do the math.

Now another little fib by the Knicks has leaked out via The New York Times and it also has to do with basic mathematics and defies logic.

Maybe the Knicks didn't necessarily lie about the length of J.R. Smith's new deal—originally reported to be for four years at $24.5 million with a player option for the 2016-2017 season—but they certainly didn't correct the misconception.

According to the Times:

The precise terms were confirmed Tuesday by a rival team executive and a second person with access to the contract. Despite the intense scrutiny of the deal, Knicks General Manager Glen Grunwald made no attempt to correct the erroneous reports during a 16-minute conference call with reporters Tuesday.

The contract calls for Smith to make $5.57 million next season and $5.98 million in 2014-15, with a third-year player option at $6.4 million. It is still a considerable commitment for a player with a checkered career and now a surgically repaired left knee. But Grunwald betrayed no concern on Tuesday. 

Grunwald initially danced around the issue of Smith's timing for Monday's knee surgery. Because the rehab is expected to take between 12 and 16 weeks, the beginning of Smith's 2013-2014 season is now up in the air.

Ultimately Grunwald conceded that it was Smith's decision (a player cannot be forced by a team to have surgery) and once it was determined that his left knee wasn't responding to rest, both Smith and the Knicks opted for surgery.

Obviously Smith's decision was complicated by his status as a free agent (he opted out of his previous contract).

In any case, Monday's surgery to repair his patella tendon and to correct a tear in the lateral meniscus in Smith's left knee was deemed successful and Grunwald insists he does not regret the decision to re-sign the troubling Smith.

Summer school is now in session.