League Reinstates Rodman
Around the NBA
Dennis Rodman, suspended by the NBA since kicking a cameraman on Jan. 15, was reinstated by the league on Tuesday and will return to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 11.
However, NBA commissioner David Stern warned that the Bulls star could face banishment from the league if he persists in such conduct.
Rodman’s agent, Dwight Manley, said that his client, as a gesture of appreciation to his fans, will play his first 11 games after the suspension “for free, and donate the money on behalf of himself and the Bulls to 11 assorted charities.”
The suspension will have lasted 11 games, costing Rodman more than $1 million in salary and incentives.
“I am satisfied that Dennis recognizes that his conduct in the Minnesota game was unacceptable,” Stern said. “Dennis told me that while he does not plan to change the way he plays the game, he will conform his conduct on the playing court to acceptable standards, and he knows that any further incidents of this nature may end his career in the NBA.”
Barkley, Drexler out
Charles Barkley ruled himself out of the All-Star Game because of an ankle sprain, and teammate Clyde Drexler later aggravated a hamstring injury that will force him to miss the game, too.
The NBA selected Detlef Schrempf of the Sonics to take Barkley’s place, and a replacement for Drexler should be named today.
A shoulder injury has forced Philadelphia 76ers rookie Allen Iverson to withdraw from Saturday’s Slam Dunk contest, part of the NBA All-Star weekend.
Jayson Williams, the NBA’s second-leading rebounder, will have surgery on his right thumb and will miss from eight weeks to the rest of the season for the New Jersey Nets.
On the courts
Allan Houston scored 17 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the New York Knicks handed Houston its season-high fifth straight loss, 99-95 in Houston.
Michael Jordan scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to almost single-handedly rally the Chicago Bulls to an 88-84 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Taking advantage of Shaquille O’Neal’s absence, the Los Angeles Clippers snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ six-game winning streak with a 108-86 victory at The Pond in Anaheim, Calif.
O’Neal suffered a mild knee strain on Sunday and it wasn’t to be known until this morning whether he would play in tonight’s home game against Chicago.