NBA News Wire
NBA roundup: Carter-Williams reportedly Rookie of Year
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams will be named the NBA Rookie of the Year, NJ.com reported on Saturday.
The award is expected to be announced next week.
Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds after being selected the No. 11 overall pick in last year’s draft out of Syracuse.
Carter-Williams was the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month four times this season but the 76ers struggled mightily to a 19-63 record.
—The Memphis Grizzlies may be without guard Tony Allen for Saturday night’s Game 7 playoff at the Oklahoma City Thunder because of an eye injury.
Allen, the Grizzlies’ best defensive player, left the shootaround early wearing dark glasses.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Allen woke up Saturday morning with swelling in his eye from being scratched by Thunder forward Caron Butler during Game 6. Allen visited a doctor later in the afternoon.
—Injured Golden State Warriors backup center Jermaine O’Neal said he planned to play in Game 7 of the first-round playoff series at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, according to the Bay Area News Group.
O’Neal injured his right knee during Game 6 on Thursday. An MRI revealed a bone bruise in his kneecap. After taking medication and receiving a painkilling injection, O’Neal said he would likely wear a knee brace and play through any pain.
—TNT analyst Steve Kerr is close to making a decision on whether or not to accept the New York Knicks’ head coaching job, according to reports.
Kerr’s final TNT broadcast could be Saturday night as he is working Game 7 of the Grizzlies-Thunder first-round playoffs series in Oklahoma City.
Kerr is reportedly expected to make a decision early next week.
