HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jeff Zillgitt: NBA All-Rookie second team: Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kyle Singler, Tyler Zeller. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Kyle Singler, Jonas Valanciunas, Tyler Zeller, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist said Friday in Houston that 49-year-old Jordan beat him a one-on-one game. Jordan turns 50 Sunday, while Kidd-Gilchrist is seven months away from turning 20. "It was hard for me," Kidd-Gilchrist said before playing in the Rising Stars Challenge rookie-sophomore game Friday night. "I lost. He's the greatest man that ever played the game. "Oh, yeah. He's good." USA Today Sports

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist practiced Thursday for the first time since suffering a concussion in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s road loss to the Houston Rockets. Practicing was one of several steps Kidd-Gilchrist must take before being cleared to play under the NBA’s concussion protocol. The Bobcats haven’t yet ruled him out to play against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, but doctors – both with the team and the NBA – will make the final call as to whether he’s ready. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Rosters set for Rising Stars Team Shaq: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Andre Drummond, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons, Dion Waiters, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tyler Zeller, Kemba Walker. Team Chuck: Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Ricky Rubio, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Alexy Shved. Sulia

Ricky Rubio, Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Anthony Davis, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, All Star Game 

Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a concussion in a collision with teammate Jeff Taylor and spent Saturday night in a Houston hospital for observation while the team flew on to Miami for Monday’s game against the Heat. Kidd-Gilchrist was injured early in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Rockets. Attempting to cut off a drive by Houston’s Toney Douglas, Kidd-Gilchrist knocked into Taylor and the resulting fall caused a collision with the floor. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

X-rays and a CT scan, performed at Memorial Hermann Hospital, showed no head or neck injuries beyond the concussion. However, the NBA established a concussion protocol this season, which Kidd-Gilchrist will have to pass before being cleared to play again this season. The injury happened with around 10 minutes left in the game, after the Bobcats took their first lead on Taylor’s 3-pointer. Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap described it this way: “Jeff and Michael got tangled up, and I think the first thing that hit the wood was (Kidd-Gilchrist’s) head. It was a quick bang-bang play.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Bradley Beal: Hope my bro @Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is alright...Pray for him !! Twitter @RealDealBeal23

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Jason Thompson: Hope My Young Homie @Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is OK From His Head Injury Today.....Thoughts n Prayers Twitter @jtthekid

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge -- televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN Radio, with live audio also available on NBA.com in multiple languages -- features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA's assistant coaches. Joining Irving from the Sophomore class are: Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic), and Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats). Davis and Lillard lead a group of rookies that includes Harrison Barnes (Warriors) Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Bobcats), Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dion Waiters (Cavaliers), and Tyler Zeller (Cavaliers). Oregonian

Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, Alexey Shved, All Star Game 

They called it the “Breakfast Club.’’ This was freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s creation at Kentucky, the team’s youngest player leading with charisma. It wasn’t bagels or cereal or bacon-and-eggs. It was a daily extra workout and all the other Wildcats followed along last season. “He’d work out in the mornings before class and brought people with him,’’ Kentucky coach John Calipari recalled Wednesday, at halftime of the Charlotte Bobcats’ home game with the Los Angeles Clippers. “When I recruited him I told him, 'You’re going to elevate every practice. You’re going to drag people with you.’ ’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, John Calipari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

“What he did (playing with great energy and intensity) is a skill, and he drags it out of everybody else. What (as his teammate) are you going to say? ‘I don’t go that hard.’ ’’ Calipari said. “On top of that he was 18 years old, youngest player in the country, under the spotlight he was under, and he never changed a bit.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, John Calipari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

As for Jordan himself, he's been keeping busy with his team. This week, he stopped by the Charlotte Bobcats' practice and played a little one-on-one with guys like Gerald Henderson, Bismack Biyombo and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Yahoo! Sports

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Gerald Henderson, Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

This year it was Gerald Henderson and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, with the injured Tyrus Thomas throwing Jordan entry passes. Everyone left smiling, and maybe a little more savvy about basketball, too. “He’s the best ever to play and he’s still got that competitive nature. He always feels he can help you,’’ said team captain Henderson. “We played one-one-one. That’s always fun. He wants to win.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Tyrus Thomas, Gerald Henderson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Apparently Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had a crisis of confidence in the preseason, but his college coach quickly put out that fire. Kentucky coach John Calipari, speaking with local media in Lexington, revealed Friday that Kidd-Gilchrist sent him text messages that “I may have made a mistake’’ turning pro, and “I don’t think I’m good enough.’’ “He was scared to death,’’ Calipari recalled. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, John Calipari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Calipari said he told his former star, “What? Are you kidding me? You may not shoot it as well. You may not bounce it as well. But the thing you do, no one else does. So you keep playing hard and competing. That’s what you do.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, John Calipari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Apparently Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had a crisis of confidence in the preseason, but his college coach quickly put out that fire. Kentucky coach John Calipari, speaking with local media in Lexington, revealed Friday that Kidd-Gilchrist sent him text messages that “I may have made a mistake’’ turning pro, and “I don’t think I’m good enough.’’ “He was scared to death,’’ Calipari recalled. Calipari brought this up to illustrate how much he valued Kidd-Gilchrist’s competitiveness, resilience and energy. He reminded Kidd-Gilchrist of that in a series of texts. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, John Calipari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: S/O to @Kemba Walker on the Game Winner!! Twitter @MikeGillie14

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Late in the second quarter of the Hornets’ win over the Bobcats on Friday, Anthony Davis and Byron Mullens got tangled up. There was some pushing and shoving to go along with the requisite showing of bravado, before the referees stepped in and the two had to be separated. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist then came over to intervene, in what you’d hope was an attempt to calm rather than inflame the situation. But the official was already there, so MKG ended up running him over, which sent the ref tumbling to the ground. There’s no guarantee Kidd-Gilchrist will be suspended for the contact; the rule book only specifies an automatic one-game suspension for making “intentional” contact with an official, and in this case, that’s going to be subjective. NBCSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, BJ Mullens, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Odd playing against my own brother @Anthony Davis .. Love u lil bro lol Twitter @MikeGillie14

Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Anthony Davis: Great playing against my bro @Michael Kidd-Gilchrist love him to death. Twitter @AntDavis23

Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist