NBA LOCALS
A weekly look at locals players in the NBA:
Jordan Adams, Grizzlies, Central Gwinnett High
Averaging 2.5 points in 7.2 minutes in 24 games
Al-Farouq Aminu, Mavericks, Norcross High
Averaging 5.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.4 minutes in 66 games
Chris Bosh, Heat, Georgia Tech
Out for the season because of blood clots on his lung
Lorenzo Brown, Timberwolves, Centennial High
Started past five games and averaged 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists
Will Bynum, Wizards, Georgia Tech
Signed 10-day contract March 27
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Pistons, Georgia
Had 18 points, three assists, one rebound and one steal versus Hawks on Tuesday
Jae Crowder, Celtics, Villa Rica High
Averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 19.6 minutes in 75 games
Derrick Favors, Jazz, Georgia Tech
Injured March 28 and missed two games with back spasms
J.J. Hickson, Nuggets, Wheeler High
Averaging 7.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 19.3 minutes in 66 games
Dwight Howard, Rockets, Southwest Atlanta Christian
Scored a combined 33 points and 21 rebounds in first three games back after missing 26 game with right knee injury
Jarrett Jack, Nets, Georgia Tech
Averaging 12.2 points and 4.9 assists in 29.0 minutes in 72 games
Jeremy Lamb, Thunder, Norcross High
Averaging 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.9 minutes in 44 games
Jodie Meeks, Pistons, Norcross High
Scored 4,000th career point at Miami on March 29
Anthony Morrow, Thunder, Georgia Tech
Had career-high 32 points, including six 3-pointers, verus Mavericks on Wednesday
Iman Shumpert, Cavaliers, Georgia Tech
Averaging 7.7 points and 3.4 rebouds in 56 games with Knicks and Cavaliers
Josh Smith, Rockets, McEachern High
Just missed triple-double with 16 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds versus T’Wolves on March 27
Thaddeus Young, Nets, Georgia Tech
Returned to lineup after missing two games with a left knee strain
Lou Williams, Raptors, South Gwinnett High
Averaging career-best 15.1 points this season
Note: Stats through Wednesday
Dikembe Mutombo is about to find out if his name will change.
That’s as in Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo.
The former NBA center, who spent four-plus seasons with the Hawks, is among 12 finalists for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The announcement will be made Monday in Indianapolis, hours before the NCAA men’s championship game.
An eight-time All-Star, Mutombo was chosen a finalist for the Class of 2015 in February, along with seven-time All-Star Jo Jo White, five-time All-Star Tim Hardaway, four-time All-Star Spencer Haywood and three-time All-Star Kevin Johnson.
“Being from Africa, who would have ever thought that my name would have been called to the Basketball Hall of Fame?” Mutombo said in February. “I never dreamed of playing basketball to reach this level.”
Other finalists are three-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie, NBA referee Dick Bavetta, Kentucky coach John Calipari, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, former NBA coach Bill Fitch and high school coaches Robert Hughes and Leta Andrews.
Finalists must receive a minimum of 18 of 24 votes to be elected by the Honors Committee.
Already chosen from the Class of 2015 as direct elects were John Isaacs, Louie Dampier, Lindsay Gaze, Tom Heinsohn and George Raveling.
Mutombo played for the Hawks from 1996-2001. He was four-time All-Star with Atlanta and won three of his four Defensive Player of the Year awards with the team.
Korver goes viral
Kyle Korver’s 65-second, 11-point barrage against the Bucks went viral this week, with the video of the remarkable minute making its way around the Internet and social media.
Korver, still wearing a protective mask for a broken nose, missed his first five shots.
And then it happened.
He made a 30-footer with 5:49 left in the third quarter, a 21-footer with his foot just on the 3-point line at the 5:27 mark, and two more long-distance field goals at 5:05 and 4:44.
Those 11 points in a row staked the Hawks to a 67-51 lead in a game they eventually won 101-88.
“I just needed one to go in, and one finally did and I was like, ‘Let’s go!’” Korver said. “I have been so frustrated shooting with this mask on my face.”
Korver briefly ditched the mask last week at the Magic, but has continued to wear it. It saved him against the Bucks.
“I took a shot to the nose that would have put me back to square one, so I’m not going to complain about the mask anymore,” he said. “I took two of them in the fourth quarter, one on Chris Middleton’s layup. It would’ve been bad, so I’m grateful for it.”
Sefolosha back
Welcome back, Thabo Sefolosha.
The Hawks guard/forward returned last week after missing 23 games with a right calf strain. In his past two games (before Saturday), Sefolosha combined for 30 points and nine rebounds, including a season-high 19 points against the Pistons Tuesday.
“I’m feeling good,” Sefolosha said. “I’m coming back in the swing of things and try to be aggressive and ready.”
Without Sefolosha, the first wing defender off the bench, the Hawks were 14-9.
Quotable
“Lance is here because of me. I’m the one that wanted Lance. It’s simply that I can’t find a group that plays well when he’s out there.”
— Hornets coach Steve Clifford after not playing Lance Stephenson in two consecutive games
“All those hockey guys would have killed me, so I had to do it.”
— Celtics center Kelly Olynyk on playing with a bruised and nearly closed eye after taking an elbow
“We had another no-show tonight.”
— Bucks coach Jason Kidd after a loss to Hawks
By the numbers
3: Triple-doubles in the NBA on April 1 as the Celtics' Evan Turner, the Kings' DeMarcus Cousins and the Thunder's Russell Westbook all accomplished the feat. It was the first time three players had triple-doubles on the same day since Ray Allen, Latrell Sprewell and Jason Terry on Feb. 28, 2003.
966: Season point total for Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, which still leads the team by more than 250 points, although he hasn't played since the All-Star game
41-4: Hawks record when holding an opponent under 100 points
Carroll’s Corner
Words of wisdom from DeMarre Carroll, the man who brought you this quote from last season: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, you better help that bear.”
Following a 23-point, eight-rebound, five-assist and two-steal game against Bucks: “That’s why I’m the Junkyard Dog.”
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