HoopsHype.com Rumors

The NBA announced the official lineup of the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which will take place at the Sprint Arena on Friday, Feb. 15, during NBA All-Star Jam Session at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. NBA All-Stars James Harden of the host Houston Rockets and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder will serve as the West and East team coaches, respectively. For the ninth straight year, ESPN will televise the game beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can also view the game through NBA GameTime from Sprint application, available on Android and iOS, as well as via WatchESPN on computers, tablets, and phones. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Clyde Drexler, Dikembe Mutombo, Bruce Bowen, Sean Elliott, All Star Game 

This year's rosters include celebrities from film, TV, and music. Reigning 2012 Sprit NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Kevin Hart ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"), will look to defend his title alongside stars like Grammy Award-winner Ne-Yo (R&B/pop); Nick Cannon ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"); Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games); Trey Songz (R&B Singer/Actor); Usain Bolt (Olympic gold medal sprinter); Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education); Terrence Jenkins ("E! News," Anchor); Common (Rapper/Actor); John Schriffen (ABC News Correspondent); Ryen Russillo (ESPN Host); NBA Legends Dikembe Mutombo (eight-time NBA All-Star), Clyde Drexler (ten-time NBA All-Star), Sean Elliott (two-time NBA All-Star), and Bruce Bowen (NBA legend); WNBA stars Tamika Catchings ( Indiana Fever) and Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx). NBA.com

Clyde Drexler, Dikembe Mutombo, Bruce Bowen, Sean Elliott, All Star Game 

Following Wednesday practice, DeMarcus Cousins met publicly with media for the first time since receiving a two-game suspension from the NBA. The league punished the 22-year-old big man for confronting TV announcer Sean Elliott in a “hostile manner” after Friday’s game between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs. “Just to see my team out there battling without me,” Cousins said of how difficult it was to sit out the last two contests. “Definitely a position I don’t want to be in again. And I apologize again to my teammates.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Media, Sean Elliott 

DeMarcus Cousins' agent told me a few minutes ago that the Players Association is appealing the two-game suspension the third-year center received for what the league characterized as "confronting" San Antonio Spurs television analyst Sean Elliott in a "hostile manner" following Saturday's Kings- Spurs game at Sleep Train Arena. According to John Greig, the union is continuing to investigate the matter, but already is convinced the penalty is too severe. Cousins was informed of the two-game penalty and did not play in the Kings-Lakers game Sunday in Staples Center. The immediate goal is to get the suspension lifted prior to tomorrow's home game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Calls to the Players Association were not returned. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Media, Sean Elliott 

Cousins, who missed Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, did not meet with media following Monday practice in Natomas. Teammates and coaches avoided offering any details on what Cousins may or may not have said to Spurs’ color commentator Sean Elliott following Friday’s loss at Sleep Train Arena. Geoff Petrie was also asked to address the Cousins situation, but the Kings president of basketball operations declined to meet with reporters. Cowbell Kingdom also reached out to the NBA for further clarity, but the league doesn’t release details of their investigations to such incidents, according to an official. “He told me his story, his side,” Kings head coach Keith Smart told the media pack present at Monday’s practice. “That’s between my center and the coach of the Sacramento Kings.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Geoff Petrie, Media, Keith Smart, Sean Elliott 

The Kings will not punish Cousins with any further discipline. And Smart thinks with time, Cousins will address the controversy. But currently, there’s nothing that suggests the big man was contrite about his actions. “That’s just between myself and the player,” Smart responded when asked if Cousins apologized for his behavior. Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Media, Sean Elliott 

The NBA suspended Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins for two games without pay for confronting San Antonio Spurs announcer Sean Elliott in a hostile manner. The exchange followed the Spurs' 97-86 victory in Sacramento on Friday night. Cousins, who has a volatile past, will lose about $70,500 of his $3.9 million salary. Cousins will sit out games at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and at home Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. USA Today

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Sean Elliott 

The NBA is looking into a postgame confrontation between Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins and broadcaster Sean Elliott that took place on the Sleep Train Arena court after the Spurs’ 97-86 victory in Sacramento on Friday. Elliott, the former Spurs star who serves as analyst on the locally produced telecasts of Spurs games, criticized Cousins for “talking trash” about Spurs captain Tim Duncan during the fourth quarter. After overpowering Duncan for two baskets and drawing a shooting foul on the Spurs star with about five minutes left, Cousins bellowed to his teammates on the Kings’ bench after drawing a shooting foul on the future Hall of Famer. Elliott paraphrased Cousins as saying, “I’m going to bust his (expletive).” San Antonio Express-News

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Sean Elliott 

Elliott responded after Duncan blocked a Cousins shot at the rim and scored three baskets. “That’s why some humility is in order,” Elliott said on the air. “You think you’re dominating Tim Duncan, you get it stuffed right back in your face. Timmy doesn’t like to talk trash. But if guys start talking mess to him, he’s going to respond. All that trash talking was premature. I’m not about to let these guys off the hook. Young ballclub should learn from this. Don’t start talking and flapping your gums against one of the greatest players ever. He’s going to make you pay. Tell me who got the best of this exchange.” San Antonio Express-News

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Sean Elliott 

Apparently informed postgame of Elliott’s remarks, Cousins appeared on the court in his uniform and confronted Elliott after he and broadcaster Bill Land completed their postgame show. “I was wondering why Cousins was out there in his uniform waiting for them to finish his postgame show,” said Bill Schoening, who does the play-by-play call on radio broadcasts of Spurs games. “Then I saw them in an animated conversation out on the court. “I observed Sean walk away from Cousins and Cousins continue to talk to Sean as he left the scene, but I couldn’t hear what was being said.” San Antonio Express-News

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Sean Elliott 

She underwent dialysis for 10 hours a day, seven days a week for 18 months before receiving a kidney from her mother. Renae thought her life had finally changed but her difficulties had only just begun. After complications from the kidney transplant, Renae underwent 25 surgeries while in and out of the hospital for two years. Doctors then diagnosed Renae with cancer. In the midst of all this chaos, Renae received some encouraging and good news when Make-A-Wish volunteers visited her and told her that her wish to meet her idol, two-time All-Star NBA forward, and fellow kidney transplant recipient, Sean Elliott. Renae and Sean forged a unique bond and friendship that has lasted more than 10 years. Like many Make-A-Wish recipients say, her experience was life-changing. "I returned home from my wish with an increased desire to set high expectations for myself, dream big and live life to the fullest," she said. “It's hard to find the words to adequately describe how an hour of someone's time changed my life forever." king5.com

Sean Elliott 

For the first time all season, Spurs color analyst and former standout player Sean Elliott shot with the team during their Friday practice as they prepared for their game against Dallas tonight. Despite starting rustily from the foul line, the 42-year-old Elliott showed his familiar touch from deep in the corners. The Spurs are actively looking for a 13th player to join the roster. But some of Elliott’s former teammates jokingly said they didn’t think he could help the team. “There’s too much wine in his system,” guard Tony Parker said. “I don’t think he could last 20 games.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Sean Elliott 

If Elliott was to return he would make history as the first Spur player to see action with the team in four different decades. But don’t expect it to happen. Elliott is much more comfortable in his new role with the organization than starting his playing career over again after a gap of nearly 10 years. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Sean Elliott