NBA News Wire
NBA notebook: Cousins replaces Bryant as All-Star
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
The NBA on Friday selected Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins to replace injured Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant for the All-Star Game.
Cousins is the fourth first-time All-Star in this year’s game. He joins Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague and Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson.
Cousins, a 6-foot-11 center, is averaging 23.8 points (fifth in the NBA), 12.3 rebounds (third), 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals this season.
Cousins, 24, is the Kings’ first All-Star since 2004.
Bryant, voted a Western Conference starter for a record 17th consecutive year, is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery this week.
The All-Star Game is Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
—The Orlando Magic are close to firing coach Jacque Vaughn, according to reports.
Sources told the Orlando Sentinel that the Magic, who lost their seventh straight game Thursday night to fall to 15-34, will not guarantee whether Vaughn will remain as coach for the rest of the season.
ESPN.com reported that the team’s management has decided it will relieve Vaughn of his duties. The only question, according to the source, was how soon.
Vaughn replaced Stan Van Gundy before the start of the 2012-13 season. He has a 58-155 overall record with the Magic.
—The Sacramento Kings signed forward Quincy Miller to a second 10-day contract.
Miller signed his first 10-day contract on Jan. 17 after averaging an NBA Development League-leading 26.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals and league-best 3.7 blocks in 14 games for the Reno Bighorns.
—The Los Angeles Lakers sent forward Ryan Kelly to the D-Fenders of the NBA Development League.
Kelly is averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 17 games for the Lakers this season. In 76 career NBA games, the 6-foot-11 Kelly has averages of 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
