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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lenard may get only court action today


Rookie Andre Iguodala, left, and sophomore Dwyane Wade battle for a rebound during the NBA Rookie Challenge, won by the sophomores 133-106. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

Count Denver Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard among the few players who might actually give a hoot about NBA All-Star today.

It’s for good reason. Lenard tore up his Achilles tendon on opening day of the NBA season. In the middle of intensive rehab, he’ll try to defend his title in the 3-point shooting contest today. It could wind up as his only real competition of the season.

“It’ll be nice because I haven’t been competitive since November,” Lenard said. “It’s nice to get out there, compete and have some fun.”

Among those not participating today will be LeBron James. The Cavaliers star, recovering from the flu and a hurting ankle, said he isn’t feeling well enough to jam in the dunk contest. He has been invited both years he’s been in the NBA and has declined both times.

“I’m not healthy right now,” he said. “My ankle is still a little tender. I’m still a little sick. I will be there in attendance, but I won’t be participating. I want to be 100 percent before I decide to be in it.”

James’ absence leaves a less-than-stellar cast for the dunk contest: Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns and J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen of the New Orleans Hornets.

While he’ll skip today’s dunk contest, he did play on the sophomore team in the Rookie Challenge and will be a starter for the East in the All-Star Game.

Denver was the site of the NBA’s first dunk contest in 1984 and the ABA dunk-off between Julius Erving and David Thompson in 1976. Larry Nance of Atlanta won the 1984 dunk contest.

Union president optimistic

The president of the NBA players’ union emerged from a collective bargaining session and said he’s optimistic a new labor agreement will be reached by the end of the regular season.

“It’s almost impossible to get one done come playoff time, so I’m optimistic that it’s going to get done before the end of the (season),” union president Michael Curry said.

The 90-minute meeting included eight players and six owners, along with commissioner David Stern, union director Billy Hunter and attorneys for both sides.

Stern and Hunter pledged to meet several times during March to try to narrow their remaining differences. Among the items the league is seeking: a reduction in the maximum length of long-term contracts, a minimum age of 20, and a reduction in the annual pay increases allowed in long-term deals.

The union is seeking reductions in the so-called escrow and luxury taxes designed to place a drag on the growth of player salaries.

The current seven-year agreement expires at the end of June.

Neither Stern nor Hunter spoke as optimistically as Curry, but Stern said the apparent cancellation of the NHL season served as a lesson.

“What we learned from hockey, at least what I learned, is that if you think a move at the last second can do the deal, you may be raising the stakes too much and eliminating the flexibility that might come from making your move earlier,” Stern said.

Anthony leads sophomores

Carmelo Anthony took advantage of his only on-court appearance of this All-Star weekend at Denver, scoring 31 points to lead the sophomores to a 133-106 victory over the rookies in an exhibition between the top stars from the two classes.

Teaming with LeBron James for the first time since the Olympics, Anthony fell just three points short of his season high with the Denver Nuggets, winding up with five dunks, including three straight early in the second half while the game was still competitive.

James had 20 points. Dwyane Wade finished with 12 points and eight assists.

Tony Allen, Luol Deng and Al Jefferson led the rookies with 17 points each. Chris Bosh had 26 points and 14 boards for the sophomores.