Kemp, On Second Thought
No discussion from Shawn Kemp. If the people in the know say Karl Malone is better, so be it.
Besides, with a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, Kemp can afford to be magnanimous.
“With his stats and as consistent as he’s been over the years, it’s a situation where you don’t even argue,” Kemp said Thursday, after finding out that Malone was named to the All-NBA first team.
Kemp earned second-team honors.
Michael Jordan, already the league’s MVP, scoring champion and member of the All-Defensive team, was the only unanimous selection to the first team.
Jordan and Malone were joined on the first team by Chicago’s Scottie Pippen, Orlando’s Penny Hardaway and San Antonio’s David Robinson.
Jordan was a unanimous pick for the third time, receiving 113 first-team votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Pippen received 91 first-place votes, followed by Hardaway (90), Malone (89) and Robinson (65).
The All-NBA second team consisted of Kemp, Detroit’s Grant Hill, Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon, Seattle’s Gary Payton and Utah’s John Stockton.
On the third team were Charles Barkley of Phoenix, Washington’s Juwan Howard, Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal, Sacramento’s Mitch Richmond and Indiana’s Reggie Miller.
Agent: $18 million a joke
Jordan has said a salary of $18 million a year ought to do. His agent said that’s not even close.
“Michael has made it crystal clear that at the end of the season, he and I will sit down with (Bulls chairman) Jerry Reinsdorf and solicit an offer from the Bulls that is going to be reflective of Michael’s contribution to the team, the franchise, the building and the city over the past 12 years,” agent David Falk said.
That, Falk told the Chicago Sun-Times, is far more than the $36 million for two years Jordan has cited as his minimum wage.
Monday, the Chicago Tribune quoted Jordan saying that was his minimum salary to play two more seasons for the Bulls.
“I don’t know what led to the article,” Falk told the Chicago Sun-Times. “But all I can tell you is that this is not his position or mine in any way shape or form.”
Jordan ruled out playing in New York next season after the Knicks gave Jeff Van Gundy a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.
“Van Gundy has already been signed to the coaching job,” Jordan said. “If Phil’s not my coach, then I don’t think so.”
Told that he would break a lot of hearts in New York, Jordan said, “I’ve done that quite a few times.”
Hornets will hire Cowens
Dave Cowens will be hired as coach of the Charlotte Hornets next week, according to the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer.
Cowens would replace Allan Bristow, fired April 23 after five seasons as Hornets coach.