HoopsHype.com Rumors

Eddie Johnson: Congrats to the Big Red (Olympiacos basketball club on its 2nd straight championship. I am so proud to be a part of your success. Twitter @Jumpshot8

Euroleague, Greece, Olympiacos, Eddie Johnson 

George Karl: Yes, you could say that I have very beautiful memories with Real Madrid. Actually, I can tell you that I have talked with some people about the possibility of coaching again in Europe. Me and my son have also talked about a goal we want to achieve: To coach together one day. And Europe would be a great chance for us to do it. Marca.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain 

Besides the independent judge's decision, Euroleague Basketball has decided to ban for life the access or participation of the aggressors, the brothers Nauris and Normunds Macius, in any event directly organized by the company, including Turkish Airlines Euroleague and Eurocup games. Euroleague Basketball will work together with international basketball stakeholders to study a system for communicating and enforcing bans in other competitions. In parallel, it will recommend that the aggressors are banned from all basketball events, including club and national-team games. Euroleague.net

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Jon de la Presa: While player´s association were asking for a 100.000 € fine to Zalgiris Kaunas, Euroleague fined the lithuanian team with just 25.000 €. Twitter @jondelapresa

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Upon returning to Madrid on Friday, Rudy Fernandez made the following statements: “I am fine. Thank God things did not go further. I have to say thanks for the support of everyone that has contacted me through social networks and private messages. I am not enjoying this; people have to know that basketball cannot get dirty this way. Things like this don’t have to happen again. I think that people should not think that all Lithuanian fans are like that just because of these two people. Not at all. In the game, as always in all games, there was some tension, but I was respected at all times, which is the most important thing. This happened because of these two and that’s the image I keep. Something worse could have happened; I hope it never happens again. I hope [the media] respect me a bit because I am struggling, but I would like to thank those who have supported me and will carry on supporting me.” TrendBasket

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Niki Bakouli: Rudy: "This should never happen again" realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/e… Twitter @Eurohoopsnet

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain, Zalgiris Kaunas 

This picture was taken earlier on today as the two men that reportedly punched Real Madrid's Rudy Fernandez were released from prison and headed straight to the bar for a beer. The Macius brothers, well-known cult figures in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas waited for Real Madrid, especially Fernandez to leave the Zalgirio Arena after Zalgiris' 105-104 loss to the Liga Endesa side last night. Once they assaulted the Spanish international, they were both quickly arrested by Lithuanian Police and held overnight for questioning. TalkBasket

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Euroleague Basketball has opened an investigation into incidents that took place after an overtime victory by Real Madrid on the road against Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania on Thursday night. Real Madrid has reported the incident and is preparing all documents concerning an alleged aggression by fans against player Rudy Fernandez. The alleged aggression took place as Real Madrid was boarding its team bus after the game. Euroleague.net

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Fernandez’s attackers are rumoured to be well-known basketball fans in Lithuania, who are famous for their tattoos and love for lithuanian basketball. An article on them can be found on euro-step blog here. TrendBasket

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Sarunas Mazalas: Sources say Rudy Fernandez was punched in the face hardly by Lithuanian fan after the Euroleague game. Shame on that! Icident happened hen Fernandez was entering team bus. The fan is Latvian origin with Lith. passport. Marty Pocius confirmed the incident. Real Madrid had their security guy but he didn't react fast enough. Offender was arrested, Fernandez&co went straight to airport. Twitter

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Sarunas Mazalas: Fernandez's face was blooded, sources say. Zalgiris expects not to be punished as it happened outside arena. Things like this happen when people are crazy about basketball & get drunk. But those can't be reasons for such a disgraceful behavior. Twitter

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

If Denver doesn’t provide this opportunity until the end of the season, will you stay in the NBA or move to Europe as a free agent in summer? Timofey Mozgov: You can’t rule out anything. But right now my priority is the NBA. According to my agent, there are two or three clubs in this league that are willing to sign me during offseason. We will consider everything and make a decision. Rush'n Hoops

Denver Nuggets, Free Agency, Euroleague, Timofey Mozgov 

Sasha Vujacic: Is there the NBA again in your future or you'll stay in Europe? "I am not thinking about what will happen. I wanna win the championship here. I also want to win the Euroleague. We’ll see, right now I am focused only on my team’s success". basketinside.com

Sasha Vujacic, Euroleague 

Emiliano Carchia: Juan Carlos Navarro is the first player ever to score 3.000 or more points in Euroleague Twitter @SportandoBasket

Euroleague, FC Barcelona, Spain, Juan Carlos Navarro 

Euroleague Basketball and the NBA will enhance their ongoing collaboration by developing several marketing and promotional activities in Europe to increase the awareness of basketball. This was one of the main conclusions reached in a meeting on Wednesday in London between executives of both leagues, headed by NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, the designated successor to current NBA commissioner David Stern, and Jordi Bertomeu, the president and CEO of Euroleague basketball. Euroleague.net

Euroleague, David Stern, Great Britain, Adam Silver 

Q: Was the plan always to come back to the NBA? Andrei Kirilenko: Yes. There was a real possibility for me to stay in Russia, but the reason I came back to Russia (to play for CSKA Moscow last season) was because of the lockout. That was the only reason. I never really thought about staying in Russia, even though I felt great because it was home. Everything was so comfortable. But the NBA is a different stage. You always want to play against the best guys in the world. Q: Where does the bronze medal from last summer's Olympics rank for you in your career? A: This was an unbelievable experience. My previous two Olympics, Sydney and Beijing, (were) unsuccessful. So I was really looking forward to this one. It might be my last Olympics, so I'm very happy that we got a bronze medal. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Euroleague, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, CSKA Moscow 

According to his agent, Baynes' performances have caught the eyes of several NBA general-managers. "There are two Western Conference teams closely following Aron, and after four rounds of Euroleague, there has been much more serious enquiries and interest shown," Moldovan commented. Specifying on what exactly attracts NBA teams to Baynes, Moldovan said, "they love the that he's a good free throw shooter (68% in Euroleague), which is rare for bigs in the NBA. Because Aron started playing ball so late, he is only now coming to his peak. Judging by the way he's playing now and the interest I'm getting -- the NBA is his next step -- it's now just a matter of finding the right fit for him," he said. Sportando

Euroleague, Slovenia, Aron Baynes 

Brad Ames of Priority Sports, which represents Morrison, told Sportando this week that the former No. 3 overall pick is indeed open to joining another team in Europe in hopes of jump-starting his career. "We are looking for a good Euroleague or Eurocup situation for (Adam)," Ames said. Sportando

Free Agency, Adam Morrison, Euroleague, Europe 

During camp with the Blazers, Morrison sounded reluctant about the idea of going back overseas if things didn't work out in Portland, but he has apparently softened that position. Morrison tested the foreign waters during the NBA lockout in 2011 with stints in Serbia and Turkey and shot better than 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc in both countries. The 28-year-old former Gonzaga star then returned to the United States and was a standout at the Vegas Summer League, averaging 20 points a game for the L.A. Clippers and routinely promtping MVP chants from fans. But his battle back to the league hit another road block when the Blazers let him go at the end of camp. "(At this point), Adam is open to whatever is the best move for his career, but he belongs in the NBA and that's his goal," Ames said. "If we don't have anything (from Europe) over the next few weeks, Adam will consider the D-League for call-up opportunities." Sportando

Free Agency, Adam Morrison, Euroleague, Europe 

It’s almost a done deal and it’s a big win for European basketball. Andrei Kirilenko, the marquee superstar of last season’s Euroleague, according to sources from Moscow has already decided to stay at least one more year at CSKA. EuroHoops.net

Euroleague, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, CSKA Moscow