NBA Knicks obtain Ewing Jr. from Rockets for Weis

Patrick Ewing Jr. followed in his father's footsteps Friday, joining the New York Knicks in a National Basketball Association trade with the Houston Rockets.

Ewing's father, who will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame next week, was a star with the Knicks, taking New York within a game of the NBA crown before losing to the Rockets.

New York sent the rights to French center Frederic Weis, a 1999 first-round draft pick who never made it to the NBA, to the Rockets in exchange for Ewing Jr., a rookie who joined Houston two weeks ago in a major deal with Sacramento.

"Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me," Ewing Jr. said. "It has been my dream to play for this team. My goal is to show the coaches I can play and do all that I can to help the team win some games."

The younger Ewing spent his first two US college seasons at Indiana before transferring to Georgetown, his father's alma mater. He was named his conference's top reserve after averaging 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game off the bench.

Officials say Duckworth died of heart disease

Oregon officials say an autopsy shows former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died when his enlarged heart failed. Duckworth died Monday at 44 on the Oregon coast, where he was on a goodwill tour for the team.

The Oregon State Police said Wednesday the autopsy was done by Dr. Larry Lewman, a state medical examiner who concluded that Duckworth died of "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure."

The police statement says the heart disease had combined with high blood pressure to result in "marked enlargement of his heart which had been failing for some time."

Former Blazers center Kevin Duckworth dies at 44

Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, a "gentle giant" with a feathery touch from the paint, has died. He was 44.

Duckworth, part of a Trail Blazers goodwill tour, was scheduled to hold a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast when he died Monday night. The Depoe Bay Fire Department said it responded about 10 p.m. to a report of a man who was down and not breathing at Salishan Lodge at Gleneden Beach, north of Newport on the central coast.

The cause of death was to be determined by a medical examiner but the Lincoln County sheriff's office said there was no indication of foul play.

"Within the world of basketball, within those Trail Blazers teams, he was a jokester," said Phoenix Suns coach Terry Porter, who played with Duckworth. "He was a big loving teddy bear. At times guys got frustrated because he didn't have a mean streak. He was just a great guy. He loved the team atmosphere, loved being a teammate in those successful Blazer teams."

The 7-foot Duckworth averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over 11 seasons in the NBA, helping Portland reach the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992. The two-time All-Star also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Kevin will be remembered by fans as one of the most popular and recognizable players to ever wear the Blazers uniform, but to people who knew him, he'll be remembered as one of the warmest and biggest-hearted," Trail Blazers president Larry Miller said.

Porter said Duckworth had battled weight problems recently.

"You wake up in the morning and it's your first news of the day, it just kind of hits you," Porter told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "For me, I spent so much time with that young man and had so much success with him. It really hurt. It's almost like losing a brother."

Duckworth grew up in the Chicago area and was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs out of Eastern Illinois University in 1986.

The Spurs traded him that season to the Trail Blazers, where he had his greatest success, playing with Porter, Clyde Drexler, Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey on two Western Conference championship teams.

Duckworth remained in the Portland area after he retired in 1997, doing woodwork, fishing and hunting. He ran a construction company in Northern California for a time, and a restaurant venture in Vancouver, Wash., with former NBA player Kermit Washington went out of business.

Nowitzki: main goal is now NBA championship

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki said he planned to retire from international basketball -- at least for a few years -- after his team was knocked out of the Olympics tournament.

"I achieved my first goal -- playing basketball for Germany in the Olympics," Nowitzki told journalists after the 106-57 loss to the unbeaten U.S. team. They were eliminated with just one win, against Angola, in their five matches.

"Now my main goal is to win the NBA championship," the all-star forward for the Dallas Mavericks said. "We'll have to wait and see how things develop with Germany in the years ahead."

Germany had not qualified for the Olympics in 16 years. Nowitzki spent his off-seasons playing for his country for the last 10 years in pursuit of his childhood dream of playing at the Olympics. Germany just missed the Olympics in 2000 and 2004.

"I don't want to make any concrete plans right now," he said. "But I knew when I came off the court tonight that it was the last time for a couple of years. So from that point of view it was a wonderful feeling to go out on a high note."

Nowitzki, the first European player to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, did not want to rule out a return even though he appeared melancholy about the end of an era. He said he would not play the European championship in Poland next summer.

"Everything's still open, but I think I need a break," he said.

Asked if he would play for Germany in the 2012 Olympics, Nowitzki said: "If we were to qualify for that, I'd be happy to talk about the question. I think the difficult thing will be to qualify. It's been 16 years since the last time."

(Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

Artest leaves Kings for Houston in multi-player trade

Controversial forward Ron Artest officially joined the Houston Rockets in a multi-player trade with the Sacramento Kings, the team said on Thursday.

Artest, forward Patrick Ewing Jr and guard Sean Singletary moved to Houston in exchange for rookie forward Donte Greene, guard Bobby Jackson and Houston's first-round draft pick in 2009.

"This is definitely the high point of my career," Artest, 28, said in a conference call. "It's the biggest opportunity I've ever had playing basketball.

"I should definitely make the team better. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it. I already know what kind of coach (Rick) Adelman is and I definitely should be able to help out.

"When you get a chance to play for same organization that had Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde (Drexler), you've got to appreciate that."

The 6ft-7in, 248-pound Artest, who averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Kings last season, will make up a heavyweight trio in Houston with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

"From hearing Ron's recent statements, it's obvious that he has an immense desire to win," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said.

"We have a team of players who have that same immense desire and Ron will fit right in."

Renowned for his physical defense, Artest was named the NBA's defensive player of the year for 2003-2004 and has twice been an All-Defensive first team selection.

He is also known for his role in one of the most notorious brawls in U.S. sports history when a 2004 fight spilled into the stands to involve Detroit Piston fans.

Artest, then playing for the Indiana Pacers, lost about $5 million in earnings following a 73-game suspension. He has also generated headlines with volatile behavior on and off the court on other occasions.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)

US NBA stars crush Angola but Africans find small glory

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points to lead the US team of National Basketball Association stars past Angola 97-76 on Tuesday but the African champions found a way to put the "feat" in defeat.

With a flamboyant fast-paced attack that featured crisp passing and plenty of acrobatic slam dunks, the NBA wizards overwhelmed the African champions as US teams had by 68, 36 and 33 points in three prior Olympic meetings.

"Our goal was to work hard and keep our pressure," US coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "The main thing was to keep some consistency. Overall I was very pleased."

Angola was thrilled to keep the margin so small in the Group B preliminary round game after the prior routs.

"We achieved our goal. We tried to minimize the gap," Angola coach Alberto Carvalho said. "Playing the US was inspirational for us. They are the best."

The Angolans earned the respect of their NBA rivals for not quitting even as the US stars were making their crowd-pleasing moves.

"They played very hard start to finish. You have to respect a team that is going all out to the end," Wade said. "Our main thing is to get better. That's what we want to do every day."

Dwight Howard added 14 points while LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony scored 12 points each for the Americans, who were a woeful 5-for-21 in three-point shooting to sound the only cautionary note in their quest for a gold medal.

"We haven't shot the ball well from the outside as a team since we've been here but I'm sure we will," Krzyzewski said.

"If we start hitting threes, we will be a lot better. We haven't really gotten hot yet and it hasn't affected the intensity of our defense. That says a lot about our guys."

The US team is trying to reclaim the global throne after settling for bronze at the 2006 World Championship and 2004 Athens Olympics.

Up next on Thursday will be Greece, the last team to defeat the US in global play. The Greeks ousted the Americans in the 2006 world championship semi-finals.

Angola was trying to strike a blow for African pride.

"Our opponent is the strongest team in the world. We tried our best," center Joaquim Gomes said. "I'm sure the whole continent was watching. When you play the US, everybody is going to be watching. You have to do something.

"Losing by 20 to the USA is not bad at all. They were great."

Wade said players realize their inspirational role to global rivals.

"We understand the NBA is loved in the whole world," Wade said. "We are being watched on how we look and what we do. We take that with a lot of pride."

The Americans made trademark spectacular plays, with LeBron James swatting a away a shot by Angola's Felizardo Ambrosio with impressive force and pulling the ball up, down and up again on a left-handed slam dunk in the second period.

"It was incredible watching the play where LeBron James dunked the ball with his left hand after doing some air movements," Gomes said.

Wade was the steadiest playmaker on a balanced US lineup that rolled ahead 55-37 at half-time and cruised home from there.

"I'm playing with a lot of confidence," Wade said. "I'm going to play very aggressively defensively, be a leader and offensively attack and make plays for others."

Carlos Moraies scored 24 points to lead Angola, which plays China on Thursday in a matchup of winless teams.

"We staged a wonderful show," Moraies said. "I wanted to win the game but it was impossible."

China's Sun agrees to terms with NBA Lakers

Chinese national team member Sun Yue has agreed to terms on a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the National Basketball Association club announced on Saturday.

The Lakers said on their website that they hope to finalize details on a contract with Sun in the coming weeks. Sun is in Beijing competing in the Summer Games with his Chinese teammates.

The Lakers drafted the 22-year-old Sun in the second round of the 2007 NBA entry draft.

Instead of heading to southern California, Sun continued to play with his club team Beijing Aoshen and with the Chinese national team.

Bush looking to instill patriotism in NBA hoopsters

President George W. Bush's attendance at the US's opening Olympic match against hosts China on Sunday is expected to drive a shot of patriotism into the team of highly paid NBA superstars.

Bush, who will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Friday, is also expected to watch Team USA embark on their Beijing Games quest to overcome a humiliating bronze medal at Athens 2004.

"This means the entire country is rallying around this kind of road to redemption theme that we have," Los Angeles Laker superstar and multimillionaire Kobe Bryant said.

"For our president to come to watch us play the game and try to bring back the gold medal makes it even more significant."

Bush's attendance at the Games comes at the end of a presidency that is bound to go down in history for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have become unpopular worldwide.

In basketball, the United States have won 12 Olympic championships, but the Athens Games were the first time the team has failed to win gold since NBA professionals were allowed to compete at the Olympics in 1992.

Bryant and other US players are insisting that representing their nation and winning a gold medal is more important than the lofty goal of winning an NBA championship.

"When you're playing for an NBA championship you're obviously playing for a brand, you're playing for whatever motivates you, to prove people wrong or whatever," Bryant said.

"A gold medal is different because you're playing for your country. There is more at stake."

Team Managing director Jerry Colangelo, who has sought to right the dismal play of the Americans in Athens as well as at the 2002 and 2006 World Championships, said he likes the patriotic attitude his current players are showing.

"I know how they feel about (their country) and I appreciate the respect," Colangelo told AFP.

"Right now their attitude of togetherness is great and they are playing selflessly not selfishly."

Colangelo has set up a new structure for Team USA by demanding a three-year commitment from each player to represent the United States at successive World Championships and Olympic Games and all the qualifying matches in between.

Since the system was put in place in 2005 it has not shown the desired results with Team USA settling for a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships after crashing out to Greece in the semi-finals.

Sunday will begin the ultimate test of the system, Colangelo said, and Bush's presence at the opening game will raises the stakes.

"I don't think any of us are nervous, we are anticipating, we are anxious to get there and start the Olympics... we are getting a little antsy," he said.

"I'm looking forward for him (Bush) to be able to spend some time with our team, I hope it works out, we would appreciate that support."

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Bush's expected attendance will reflect the pride the players have to be Americans and will also bring into perspective their professional goals.

"We got to go out there and play like we are representing the United States and if we can do that we can be very proud of our country."

Is the gold medal more important than an NBA championship?

"I've never won a gold medal, I've won an NBA championship, it is an unbelievable feeling," he said.

"I think the gold medal will be just about the same if not even better... so I'll tell you afterwards.

NBA champion Celtics to open season against Cavaliers

American Greg Oden's debut and the Boston Celtics banner raising ceremony will highlight the opening day of the 2008-09 National Basketball Association season, the league announced Wednesday.

There are also five games scheduled for Christmas day and an all star game February 15 in Phoenix.

The Celtics will unveil their 17th championship banner in an October 28 game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Boston defeated the Cavaliers in a seven-game quarter-final series last year.

Also on October 28, the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost to the Celtics in the Finals, host the Portland Trail Blazers in what is expected to be Oden's NBA debut. The first overall pick in 2007 missed his rookie season after undergoing knee surgery.

Christmas will feature five games, highlighted by the Celtics visiting the Lakers.

The Christmas festivities begin when the Orlando Magic host the New Orleans Hornets.

The first full slate of games take place on October 29, headlined by the league's return to Oklahoma City, when the former Seattle franchise welcomes the Milwaukee Bucks to the Ford Center.

Celtics' Pierce cuffed, let go after traffic stop

Police detained NBA star Paul Pierce in handcuffs during a weekend traffic stop on the Las Vegas Strip, but released him without issuing a summons.

Las Vegas police Officer Bill Cassell said Monday that Pierce was handcuffed briefly after emerging "a little agitated" from a vehicle he was driving around 3 a.m. Sunday.

Pierce led the Boston Celtics to the championship this year and was MVP of the finals.

The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Pierce was given field sobriety tests and a Breathalyzer, which registered below the legal limit. Cassell said Pierce was not arrested.

A valet was called to drive Pierce's car, and Pierce took a cab back to where he was staying.

A spokeswoman for the Celtics said Monday the team and Pierce had no comment.