Ira Newble

Newble in 2005
Small Forward-Power Forward
Personal information
Born	(1975-01-20) January 20, 1975 (age 37) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
High school	Southfield
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College	Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (1993–1995) Miami (Ohio) (1995–1997)
NBA Draft	1997 / Undrafted
Pro career	1997–2010
Career history
As player:
1997	Wisconsin Blast (IBA)
1998–2000	Idaho Stampede (CBA)
2000	Keravnos Strovolos (Cyprus)
2000–2001	San Antonio Spurs
2001–2003	Atlanta Hawks
2003–2008	Cleveland Cavaliers
2008	Seattle SuperSonics
2008	Los Angeles Lakers
2009	Bnei HaSharon (Israel)
2009	Keravnos Strovolos (Cyprus)
2009–2010	Cáceres 2016 Basket (Spain)
As coach:
2011–present	Canton Charge (D-League) (asst.)
Career highlights and awards
Cyprus Basketball Division 1 champion (2000) Honorable Mention All-MAC (1997)

Ira Newble (born January 20, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach with the Canton Charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers-owned team in the NBA D-League. He previously played in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

College career[link]

After graduating from Southfield High School in 1993, Newble went to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before attending Miami University in Ohio, where he studied sports marketing. As a senior at Miami, he averaged 11.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while earning Honorable Mention All-Mid American Conference honors.

NBA career[link]

After an uneventful first season with the Spurs and one and-a-half consistent ones with the Hawks, the Cavaliers signed Newble as a free agent on July 2003. Injuries hampered Newble in the 2005-06 NBA season. He missed 21 games with a right foot strain and missed 14 games with a facial abscess. On December, 2007, it was revealed that the Cavaliers fined Newble and Damon Jones an undisclosed amount of money, for refusing to come off the bench during the final minute of their Christmas Day win over the Miami Heat.^[1] On February 21, 2008 he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in a multi-player deal including Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, and more .^[2] He was then waived by the Sonics one week later.^[3] On March, 2008, it was confirmed that Newble signed a ten-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.^[4] Nine days later, the Lakers signed Newble for the remainder of the 2007-2008 Season.^[5]

European career[link]

Newble started his professional career overseas in the Cypriot League playing for Keravnos Strovolos. Keravnos won the Cyprus Basketball Division 1 championship in 2000.^[6] In March 2009, he signed with Bnei HaSharon from the Israeli BSL for the remainder of the season.^[7] He joined the Greek League club Aris Thessaloniki in August 2009.^[8] However, he had to leave them before he played any games with them due to legal matters. He signed for Cáceres 2016 Basket in December 2009.^[9] Cáceres released him a month later.^[10]

Coaching career[link]

In 2011, Newble became an assistant coach of the Canton Charge, the new NBA Development League affiliate of Newble's former team Cleveland Cavaliers.^[11]

Darfur Campaign[link]

Ira Newble leads a campaign to help bring awareness to China's involvement in the Darfur crisis. Ira Newble saw a letter that Aid Still Required had written expressing concern about investments funding the crisis in Darfur. He collected signatures around the league for the letter that then was presented to the Chinese Government and the President of the Olympic Committee for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.^[12]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Ira Newble bio at NBA.com
• Ira Newble at Basketball-Reference.com
• Diamondsportsgagency.com Profile
• Basketpedya.com Profile

Danny Granger

No. 33 – Indiana Pacers
Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1983-04-20) April 20, 1983 (age 29) New Orleans, Louisiana
Nationality	American
High school	Grace King
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
College	Bradley (2001–2003) New Mexico (2003–2005)
NBA Draft	2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career	2005–present
Career history
2005–present	Indiana Pacers
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2006) NBA All-Star (2009) NBA Most Improved Player (2009)

Danny Granger, Jr. (born April 20, 1983) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. He is mainly a small forward, though he does log time at the power forward position.^[1] He is also able to initiate the team's offense and so is regarded as one who can play the point forward position.^[2] Before his professional career, he went to Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana where he was a McDonald's All-American nominee before his senior year.^[3] He was a good student who scored a 30 on the ACT^[2] and was offered admission to Yale University.^[2] He played for Bradley University and then transferred to University of New Mexico in the middle of his sophomore year.^[4]

College career[link]

Granger started his collegiate career at Bradley University where he played the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons.^[4] After a lackluster 12–18 season in 2002–03,^[5] he transferred to the University of New Mexico, where he began playing during the second semester of his junior season in 2003–04,^[4][6] although he wasn't eligible to start playing for the Lobos until January, 2004.^[6][7] He said the reason for the transfer was because of Braves head coach Jim Les's intimidating tactics,^[8] including being 'verbally abusive'.^[9] In 2004–05, he became the first player in school history to get 60 assists, 60 blocks and 60 steals in a season. He won the Mountain West Conference tournament MVP and led the Lobos to the NCAA tournament.

Granger graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

NBA career[link]

Indiana Pacers (2005–present)[link]

Granger shooting a free throw.

Granger was selected 17th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers,^[10] as the organization included former Lobo Mel Daniels^[11] and Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who was coached in college by the father of New Mexico men's coach Bob King.^[12]

In his first NBA season, Granger played in 78 regular season games, averaging 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while making the All-NBA Rookie Second Team. He added 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 6 playoff games.^[4]

With the departure of Peja Stojaković^[13] and arrival of Al Harrington^[14] during the 2006 offseason, Granger became the Pacers' starting small forward for 2006–07. After the first 15 games, he became the first man off the bench.

Since a January 17, 2007 eight-player trade with the Golden State Warriors,^[15] Granger started at the small forward and shooting guard spots, mainly due to the departure of Harrington. With the second and third scoring options (Harrington and Stephen Jackson, respectively) on the team gone, he was given more chances for scoring and averaged 13.9 points per game in 2006–07.^[4]

In 2007–08, Granger led the Pacers in scoring for the first time, averaging 19 points per game, while starting all 80 games he appeared in.^[16]

On October 31, 2008, Granger and the Pacers agreed on a 5-year contract extension.^[17] The contract pays him $9,930,500 starting in 2009–10 and escalates ten percent each year, ending after the 2013–14 season.^[18] The finalization of the deal was announced that night, mere hours before the midnight deadline which, if passed without any agreement, would have made Granger a restricted free agent the following summer.

In the 2008–09 NBA season, he scored a career high 42 points against the Detroit Pistons on December 12, 2008^[19] and again against the Golden State Warriors on January 11, 2009.^[20] On January 29, 2009 Granger was announced as an All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference. On May 12, 2009 Danny Granger was named the Most Improved Player for 2008–09.^[21] At the end of the 2008–09 season, Granger had raised his scoring average by at least five points per game each year (7.5, 13.9, 19.6, 25.8) for three consecutive years, becoming the only player in league history to do so.^[4]

Following his breakout season in 2008–09, the next season was a bit of a disappointment, marred by injuries and losses. On March 26, 2010, however, Granger scored a new career-high 44 points against the Utah Jazz.^[22]

Medal record
Competitor for  United States
FIBA World Championship
Gold	2010 Turkey	National team

In the summer of 2010, Granger participated in the FIBA World Championships, playing for the US Senior National team. On September 12, the US team won the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, beating host country Turkey 81–64.

College career statistics[link]

^[23]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

^[24]

Playoffs[link]

^[24]

Family[link]

Granger has a younger brother, Scotty, who appeared on a reality TV show titled The One: Making a Music Star on ABC, in the summer of 2006. Scotty, an openly gay artist,^[25] plays piano, guitar, flute, sax, piccolo, and several other instruments.^[26] Scotty also won $50,000 on the ABC show Wipeout on June 10, 2009. Scotty was one of the 12 finalists on the 2011 series on Bravo entitled Platinum Hit, a competition about songwriting. He came third overall behind winner Sonyae Elise and runner-up Jes Hudak.

Granger is also great-nephew of the "Queen of Gospel", Mahalia Jackson.^[27]

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Danny Granger

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2010)

Derek Fisher

Fisher with the Lakers
No. 37 – Oklahoma City Thunder
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1974-08-09) August 9, 1974 (age 37) Little Rock, Arkansas
Nationality	American
High school	Parkview Arts and Science Magnet (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Arkansas–Little Rock (1992–96)
NBA Draft	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Pro career	1996–present
Career history
1996–2004	Los Angeles Lakers
2004–2006	Golden State Warriors
2006–2007	Utah Jazz
2007–2012	Los Angeles Lakers
2012–present	Oklahoma City Thunder
Career highlights and awards
5× NBA Champion (2000–2002, 2009–2010) Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year (1996)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9, 1974) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His NBA career has spanned more than 15 years, during which he won five NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He currently serves as the president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).^[1]

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fisher started out his basketball career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Selected with the twenty-fourth pick by the Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft, Fisher spent his first eight seasons with the franchise. During that time, he played a role in the Lakers' "three-peat", and was the third-leading scorer on the team behind Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. After his success with Los Angeles, Fisher signed with the Golden State Warriors, but was later traded to the Utah Jazz, where he helped lead the team to the Western Conference Finals. Due to his daughter's health, he asked to be released from his contract and rejoined the Lakers in 2007.^[2] In 2010, he won his fifth NBA Championship with the Lakers. Only he and Kobe Bryant have played in all five of the Lakers' most recent championships. The Lakers, in 2012, traded Fisher to the Houston Rockets, who bought out his contract and waived him. He was subsequently claimed by the Thunder.

As of 2011, Fisher had played in 209 career playoff games, the fourth highest total in NBA history.^[3] He ranks second all time in NBA Finals three-pointers made (43), behind former teammate Robert Horry. He has the highest three-point field goal percentage in NBA Finals history (42.6%). The NBA listed his "0.4 Shot" as the 18th-greatest playoff moment of all time.^[4]

Early life[link]

Fisher attended the Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock, where he was a letterman in basketball.

He went on to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) for four years, with a major in communications. Fisher concluded his collegiate career at Arkansas-Little Rock second on the school’s all-time lists in points (1,393), assists (472) and steals (189). He averaged 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists over 112 games and led the team in assists and steals every year. Fisher also set a school record for free throws made in a career (399) and ranked third among all-time UALR leaders in three-point field goals made (125). As a senior, he earned Sunbelt Conference Player of the Year honors after averaging 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.^[5][6]

In 2005, Fisher pledged $700,000 to UALR towards the construction of its Jack Stephens Center auxiliary gym, since named in his honor, and the establishment of the Fisher Fellows Life Skills program, a mentoring series for UALR student-athletes.^[7]

NBA career[link]

Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)[link]

Fisher was selected 24th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, and spent his first eight seasons with them.^[5]

He made his NBA debut in an early season game against the Phoenix Suns, tallying 12 points and five assists. Over the course of his rookie season, Fisher appeared in 80 games, averaging 3.9 points, 1.5 assists and 1.2 rebounds. He was selected to the Schick Rookie Game during the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland and had 16 points and six assists.

Due to a stress fracture in his right foot, Fisher missed 62 games out of the 2000–01 season. By 2002–03, Fisher had firmly established himself as the Lakers' primary point guard, starting in all 82 games. But after the team was eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals by the eventual champion Spurs that spring, followed by the signing of veteran point guard Gary Payton in the summer, Fisher was demoted back to the bench for the 2003–04 season.

The 0.4 shot[link]

One of Fisher's finest playoff moments came in Game 5 (May 13, 2004) of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals between the Lakers and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. The series was tied at 2, and Game 5 was a closely contested affair. With 11 seconds remaining, Kobe Bryant hit a jump shot to put the Lakers up 72–71. Tim Duncan then made a fadeaway 18-footer over Shaquille O'Neal to give the Spurs a 73–72 lead with 0.4 seconds on the clock.

To devise strategies, three consecutive time-outs were called: the first by the Lakers, the second by San Antonio to set up the defense, and the last by the Lakers to re-set up the offense. When the game resumed, Gary Payton inbounded the ball to Fisher, who managed to catch, turn, and shoot the game-winning basket all in 0.4 seconds. Fisher sprinted off the court, as he later admitted he was uncertain he beat the buzzer and wanted to exit before the play could be reviewed. The Spurs immediately filed a dispute regarding the shot and after reviewing video footage of the play, the referees concluded that the ball indeed left Fisher's hands before the clock expired. The "0.4" shot counted and the Lakers won the game 74–73.^[8]

The Lakers closed out the Spurs in Game 6. They proceeded to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves to clinch the Western Conference championship, but were upset in the NBA Finals by the Detroit Pistons 4 games to 1.

Golden State Warriors (2004–2006)[link]

On July 16, 2004, Fisher signed with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. Fisher's two-season term with Golden State proved to be somewhat of a disappointment. While he was a reliable spot-up shooter, Fisher saw limited openings without a star player such as Bryant or O'Neal to command a double-team. The team as a whole continued to struggle mightily and languished near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Speedy Claxton started more games than Fisher in 2004–05 season, and then newly-acquired point guard Baron Davis was a starter the following season. In the 2005–06 season, Fisher averaged 13.3 points a game, the highest season scoring average of his career.

Utah Jazz (2006–2007)[link]

Fisher was acquired by the Utah Jazz on July 12, 2006 in a trade that sent Keith McLeod, Andre Owens, and Devin Brown to the Golden State Warriors. He appeared in all 82 games of the 2006–07 season, averaging 10.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.01 steals while scoring in double figures 40 times.

In November 2006, Fisher was voted President of the National Basketball Players Association, succeeding Antonio Davis. Fisher had previously served as vice president.^[9] He has also been the color commentator for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA since July 1, 2008.

2007 Playoffs[link]

Candace and Tatum Fisher at the White House in 2010

Several days before the Western Conference Semifinals between the Jazz and the Golden State Warriors began, Fisher stated that one of his four children was ill, avoiding going into further detail other than to say he needed to be with his family and his playing status was uncertain.

Fisher had asked head coach Jerry Sloan to leave him on the active list for Game 2, but could not guarantee he would make it in time to play. But with permission from their doctors, he and his family flew from New York after his daughter's surgery and landed in Salt Lake City with the game in progress. When they landed, Fisher found out starting point guard Deron Williams was in foul trouble and his backup Dee Brown had been injured. The Jazz had been using Andrei Kirilenko as a point guard and desperately needed Fisher. Given a police escort, Fisher arrived at the arena, suited up, and was given a standing ovation as he walked onto the floor. Not even given a chance to sit down, Fisher was put in the game in the middle of the third quarter. Late in the fourth, Fisher made a key defensive stop on Baron Davis that helped send the game into overtime. In the closing minutes, the Jazz held a three-point lead when Deron Williams found an open Fisher for a three-pointer that sealed the victory.^[10] After the game, a tearful Fisher was interviewed, where he revealed the situation involving his then-11-month-old daughter, Tatum. She had been diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a degenerative and rare form of eye cancer, which required an emergency three-hour surgery and chemotherapy at a New York hospital.^[11]

The Jazz eventually defeated the Warriors 4 games to 1, but fell to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals in five games. Fisher's dramatic Game 2 entrance and performance against the Warriors was nominated for Best Moment in the 2007 ESPY Awards.

On July 2, 2007, Fisher asked the Jazz to release him from his contract so he could relocate to a team and city that would have the "right combination" of specialists that could help fight his daughter's retinoblastoma.^[12][13] The Jazz honored his request.^[13][14]

Second run with Lakers (2007–2012)[link]

After much speculation, on July 19, 2007, Fisher officially rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers by signing a three-year contract worth roughly $14 million.^[13][14] He had given up roughly $8 million over three years, as he was due about $22 million over the next three years in his prior contract with the Jazz. Jazz owner Larry Miller noted that "[i]t did look funny" that Fisher signed with the Lakers, but he did not believe Fisher or Lakers owner Jerry Buss would do anything underhanded.^[15] Jazz fans have taunted him, suspecting that he simply wanted to return to the Lakers.^[16]

When the 2007–08 season began, Fisher resumed his role as the Lakers' starting point guard. He contributed a solid season, shooting 40% from the three point range and 88% from the free throw line, the highest percentage of his career. He made a controversial defensive play in Game 4 of the Lakers-Spurs Western Conference Finals, when late in the game Fisher jumped into Brent Barry's path without a foul called, causing Barry to miss a potential game winning shot. The Lakers eventually ousted the Spurs 4–1, but lost the NBA Finals to Boston.

Fisher (left), Kobe Bryant (center) with President Obama (right) on January 25, 2010.

Throughout the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Fisher faced criticism about his age and lackluster defensive performances against younger, quicker opposing point guards. However, Fisher helped the Lakers win Game 4 over the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, hitting a three pointer over Jameer Nelson with 4.6 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, and a tie-breaking three pointer with 31.3 seconds remaining in overtime to help send the Lakers to a 3–1 series lead and soon after, the franchise's 15th NBA title. Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times described these shots by stating, "After his two jaw-flooring three-pointers led the Lakers to a 99–91 overtime victory against the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, you'll now officially be seeing him forever."^[17] Fisher's 11.0 points per game, 50% shooting average, and 44% three-point percentage over the course of the Finals were an improvement over his regular season numbers and a departure from his post-season struggles to that point. He had shot 23.5% from behind the three point line and 35.6% from the field in the three prior playoff series. This was Fisher's fourth NBA championship.

On September 8, 2009, Fisher released a book, Character Driven: Life, Lessons, and Basketball.^[18] He is credited as the author of the book with Gary Brozek contributing. On February 3, 2010, Fisher made the 1,000th 3-pointer of his career against the Charlotte Bobcats.^[19] On February 10, 2010, Fisher played his 1,000th career game against his former team, the Utah Jazz, beating Kobe Bryant to the milestone by one game.^[20] On February 23, 2010, Fisher made the 9,000th point of his NBA career against the Memphis Grizzlies.

On June 8, 2010, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Fisher played a pivotal role down the stretch to help the Lakers take a 2–1 series lead. In the 4th quarter, he scored 11 of his 16 points, including a 3-point-play lay-up that helped the Lakers wrap up a 91–84 road victory.^[21] In Game 7, the Lakers came all the way back from a 13-point 3rd-quarter deficit when Fisher hit a critical 3-pointer to tie the game with 6:11 remaining. The Lakers ultimately defeated the Celtics 83–79, and Fisher went on to win his fifth NBA championship.

After his fifth Championship win, Fisher became a free agent, fielding offers from several teams, including the Miami Heat. However, on July 12, 2010, he agreed to a three-year, $10.5 million deal with a player option in the third year to continue with the Lakers. Though their contract offer was not the most lucrative, Fisher considered it "the most valuable" option.^[22][23]

On March 15, 2012, Fisher and a 2012 first round draft pick were traded to the Houston Rockets for Jordan Hill.^[24] Three days later, media sources began reporting that Fisher's contract would most likely be bought out by the Rockets, making him eligible to sign with any team other than the Lakers.^[25] On March 19, 2012, Fisher was officially waived by the Rockets, without appearing in a game.^[26]

Oklahoma City Thunder (2012–present)[link]

On March 21, 2012, after clearing the waivers at 6 pm Eastern time, Fisher signed a contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.^[27] The Thunder organization called a pre-game press conference prior to its 7pm game to formally announce the signing of Fisher.^[28] He chose jersey number 37, his age at the time because all his old numbers were taken. Fisher made his Thunder debut on the very same night against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 5 points.

Player profile[link]

This section requires expansion.

Phil Jackson said that Fisher was "definitely the spokesman for [the Lakers] as far as leadership goes."^[29]

In a 2011 poll of NBA players by Sports Illustrated, Fisher received the fourth most votes, six percent, for being the best flopper in the game. "Fish takes the contact. He does draw and sell offensive fouls," Jackson said. "We're happy he does what he does."^[30]

NBA career statistics[link]

Correct as of April 22, 2012

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Players union[link]

Fisher was a player representative for the NBPA before becoming a member of the union's executive committee. He was elected the union's president in 2006. He supported the NBA's referees during their lockout in 2009. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Fisher took a more active role than his predecessors, and he shared the lead with Billy Hunter, the union's full-time executive director.^[31] Jason Whitlock of Foxsports.com wrote that Fisher was privately working with Stern on a deal to accept a lower percentage of revenues for the players and that Hunter confronted Fisher about the issue.^[32] In a letter to the players, Fisher called the reports questioning his loyalty "absurd" and demanded "a retraction for the libelous and defamatory stories" through his attorneys.^[33][34] Hunter said his "relationship with Derek is very good. There was no confrontation."^[34][35]

Personal[link]

Fisher is the younger brother of former NBA player Duane Washington,^[36] who is ten years Fisher's senior.

In 2009, Fisher had a temporary restraining order placed on a 40-year-old female stalker, Symone Fisher, who had been victimising him since 2001.^[37] She had insisted she and Derek Fisher were married, and had even changed her surname to match his.^[38] He had the order extended by three years, expiring in May, 2012.^[38]

In 2010, it was initially reported on an Oklahoma City radio station that Fisher was involved in an altercation at an Oklahoma City Waffle House. While he admitted he was a police witness to a fight that broke out between two customers at a Waffle House in Oklahoma City during a visit with the Lakers after a regular season game in 2009, Fisher denied having been a participant in the latest allegation, which he labeled as false.^[39]

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association players with 1000 games played

References[link]