NBA sets dates and times for 2009 Finals

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA Finals will begin on June 4 and will end, if a Game 7 is necessary, on June 18.

Dates and times for all seven games of the NBA's championship series were announced Tuesday.

The opener of the best-of-seven series is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. (et) on Thursday, June 4. The teams will then have two days off before Game 2 on Sunday, June 7 at 8 p.m. (et).

Game 3 is set for Tuesday, June 9, with Game 4 two days later. Both are scheduled for 9 p.m. (et) tips.

If necessary, Game 5 would take place on Sunday, June 14 at 8 p.m. (et). Games 6 and 7, also if necessary, are scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 18, respectively. Both game times are 9 p.m. (et).

2009 NBA unrestricted free agents

2009 NBA Unrestricted Free Agents

From The Sports Network

Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Zaza Pachulia	C	ATL
Mike Bibby	G	ATL
Ronald Murray	G	ATL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Eddie House (P)	G	BOS
Stephon Marbury	G	BOS
Mikki Moore	F	BOS
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Juwan Howard	F	CHA
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ben Gordon	G	CHI
Lindsey Hunter	G	CHI
Jerome James (P)	C	CHI
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Zydrunas Ilgauskas(ETO)	C	CLE
Joe Smith	F	CLE
Wally Szczerbiak	G	CLE
Anderson Varejao (P)	F	CLE
Lorenzen Wright	C/F	CLE
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Brandon Bass	F	DAL
Devean George (P)	F	DAL
Gerald Green	G	DAL
Jason Kidd	G	DAL
James Singleton	F	DAL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Chris Andersen	F	DEN
Anthony Carter	G	DEN
Jason Hart	G	DEN
Steven Hunter (ETO)	C	DEN
Dahntay Jones	G	DEN
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Kwame Brown (P)	C	DET
Allen Iverson	G	DET
Antonio McDyess	F	DET
Rasheed Wallace	F	DET
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Jamal Crawford (ETO)	G	GSW
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ron Artest	G	HOU
Brian Cook (P)	F	HOU
Dikembe Mutombo	C	HOU
Von Wafer	G	HOU
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Maceo Baston	C/F	IND
Marquis Daniels (T)	F	IND
Travis Diener (P)	G	IND
Stephen Graham	G	IND
Rasho Nesterovic	C	IND
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ricky Davis (P)	F	LAC
Fred Jones	G	LAC
Brian Skinner (P)	F	LAC
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Trevor Ariza	G/F	LAL
Kobe Bryant (ETO)	G	LAL
Lamar Odom	F	LAL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Chris Mihm	C	MEM
Quinton Ross	G	MEM
Mike Wilks	G	MEM
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Mark Blount (ETO)	C	MIA
Luther Head	G	MIA
Jamaal Magloire	C	MIA
Jermaine O'Neal (P)	F/C	MIA
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Malik Allen (P)	G/F	MIL
Keith Bogans	G	MIL
Francisco Elson (P)	C	MIL
Damon Jones	G	MIL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Rodney Carney	G/F	MIN
Jason Collins	C	MIN
Kevin Ollie	G	MIN
Shelden Williams	F	MIN
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Maurice Ager	G	NJN
Trenton Hassell (ETO)	F	NJN
Jarvis Hayes (T)	F	NJN
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ryan Bowen	F	NOH
Devin Brown (P)	G/F	NOH
Melvin Ely	F	NOH
Sean Marks	F/C	NOH
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Eddy Curry (ETO)	C	NYK
Al Harrington (P)	F	NYK
Quentin Richardson(ETO)	F	NYK
Chris Wilcox	F	NYK
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Damien Wilkins (ETO)	F	OKC
Desmond Mason	F	OKC
Malik Rose	F	OKC
Robert Swift	C	OKC
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Adonal Foyle	C	ORL
Anthony Johnson (P)	G	ORL
Tyronn Lue	G	ORL
Hedo Turkoglu (ETO)	F	ORL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Royal Ivey (P)	G	PHI
Donyell Marshall	F	PHI
Andre Miller	G	PHI
Theo Ratliff	C	PHI
Kareem Rush	G/F	PHI
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Matt Barnes	F	PHO
Grant Hill	F	PHO
Stromile Swift	C	PHO
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Raef LaFrentz	F	POR
Shavlik Randolph	F	POR
Michael Ruffin	F	POR
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Calvin Booth	C	SAC
Bobby Jackson	G	SAC
Cedric Simmons	F	SAC
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Michael Finley (P)	F	SAN
Drew Gooden	F	SAN
Ime Udoka	F	SAN
Jacque Vaughn	G	SAN
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Shawn Marion	F	TOR
Anthony Parker	G	TOR
Jake Voskuhl	C	TOR
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Morris Almond	G/F	UTA
Carlos Boozer (P)	F	UTA
Jarron Collins	C	UTA
Brevin Knight	G	UTA
Kyle Korver (ETO)	F	UTA
Mehmet Okur (ETO)	C	UTA
Ronnie Price	G	UTA
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Juan Dixon	G	WAS
Mike James (P)	G	WAS
Etan Thomas (ETO)	C	WAS
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
(T) - Team Option
(P) - Player Option
(ETO) - Right to termina	te cont	ract
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
05/21 14:15:05 ET

Notes: * - Player was released by team

As of May 21, 2009, at 02:15 PM ET

2009 NBA restricted free agents

2009 NBA Restricted Free Agents

From The Sports Network

Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Thomas Gardner	G	ATL
Othello Hunter	F	ATL
Mario West	G	ATL
Josh Childress	F	Greece
Solomon Jones	C	ATL
Marvin Williams	F	ATL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Glen Davis	F	BOS
Leon Powe	F	BOS
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Raymond Felton	G	CHA
Cartier Martin	G	CHA
Sean May	F	CHA
Sean Singletary (T)	G	CHA
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Aaron Gray	C	CHI
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ryan Hollins	C	DAL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Linas Kleiza	F	DEN
Johan Petro	C	DEN
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Walter Herrmann	F	DET
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Rob Kurz	F	GSW
C.J. Watson	G	GSW
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Jarrett Jack	G	IND
Josh McRoberts	F	IND
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Alex Acker (T)	G	LAC
Steve Novak	F	LAC
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Shannon Brown	G	LAL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Juan Carlos Navarro	G	MEM
Hakim Warrick	F	MEM
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Joel Anthony	C	MIA
Yakhouba Diawara (P)	F	MIA
Jamario Moon	F	MIA
Chris Quinn (P)	G	MIA
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ramon Sessions	G	MIL
Charlie Villanueva	F	MIL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Bobby Brown (P)	G	MIN
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
David Lee	F	NYK
Nate Robinson	G	NYK
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Marcin Gortat	C	ORL
Jeremy Richardson	F	ORL
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Louis Amundson (T)	F	PHO
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Channing Frye	F	POR
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Ike Diogu	F	SAC
Rashad McCants	G	SAC
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Joey Graham	F	TOR
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Paul Millsap	F	UTA
Kyrylo Fesenko (T)	C	UTA
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
(T) - Team Option
(P) - Player Option
Player	Pos	2009	2010	Details
05/21 13:48:12 ET

Notes: * - Player was released by team

NBA returns to Mexico

-Courtesy of the National Basketball Association

NEW YORK, May 26, 2009 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today
announced that as part of the league’s ongoing commitment to growing the
game in Mexico, preseason basketball will return to the country when the
Phoenix Suns face the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 18 in Monterrey. This
marks the NBA’s second visit to Monterrey and the 18th game in Mexico
overall, the most NBA games held in any country outside the United States
and Canada.

NBA Mexico Game 2009 will give fans in Mexico the chance to see two
exciting teams and some of the league’s biggest stars compete in the
state-of-the-art Arena Monterrey. Currently, the Phoenix Suns’ roster
features four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, two-time NBA Most
Valuable Player Steve Nash, and the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year and
Brazilian native Leandro Barbosa. The Philadelphia 76ers, who made the
2008-09 NBA playoffs, are a young team on the rise, whose lineup currently
features Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Tickets will be on
sale as of June 1st at www.arenamonterrey.com.

“We're thrilled about the opportunity to bring some of the NBA's most
exciting teams and accomplished players to Monterrey," said NBA Senior Vice
President of International Development and Partnerships Emilio Collins.
"Our fans in Mexico are some of the most passionate in the world, and this
year's NBA Mexico Game is sure to provide them with an unforgettable NBA
experience.”

The league first visited Monterrey in 2006, when the Golden State Warriors
defeated the Denver Nuggets in front of a sellout crowd at the Arena
Monterrey. Mexico is the only international country other than Japan and
Canada to ever host an NBA regular-season game, when the Houston Rockets
defeated the Dallas Mavericks in front of the sold-out Palacio de los
Deportes on Dec. 6, 1997 in Mexico City. The WNBA also staged an exhibition
game at Arena Monterrey in 2004, when the Detroit Shock defeated the San
Antonio Silver Stars.

NBA Mexico Game 2009 is the second preseason game the NBA has announced
that will be played outside the United States and Canada this October. The
Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz will play in London, UK on Oct. 6 as part
of NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS. To date, the NBA has
staged a total of 93 games outside of the U.S. and Canada in 31 cities in
16 countries and territories.

During the 2008-09 season, a record 66 games per week were available for
fans in Mexico via television and broadband. NBA merchandise is currently
sold at retail outlets throughout the country and the annual NBA Gatorade
3x3 interschool league and tournament tipped of on April 20 and is expected
to have a record number of teams participate. At the end of the 2008-09
NBA season, NBA rosters featured 17 Latino players, including New Jersey
Nets forward and Mexican-born Eduardo Najera.

For additional informational about NBA Mexico Game 2009, please visit
www.nba.com/espanol.

LeBron is unanimous selection for All-NBA Team

NEW YORK, May 13, 2009 – LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2008-09 Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, was a unanimous selection to the 2008-09 All-NBA First Team, the NBA announced today. Joining James on the First Team are Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

James, who earns First Team honors for the second straight season, ranked second in the NBA in scoring (28.4 ppg), eighth in steals (1.69 spg) and 10th in assists (7.2 apg) to go along with averages of 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. James guided the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 66-16 record overall and a 39-2 mark at home, both tops in the league. James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month four times (November, January, March, April), tying Kevin Garnett (2003-04) as the only players to receive the award four times in one season since the NBA began voting for Eastern and Western Conference Player of the Month separately.

Bryant, the 2007-08 Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, finished third in the league in scoring (26.8 ppg), while averaging 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Bryant led the Lakers to a Western Conference-best 65-17 record. Bryant earns his fourth straight First Team selection and seventh overall. Among active players, only Tim Duncan (nine) and Shaquille O’Neal (eight) have more First Team selections.

Howard, an All-NBA First Team selection for the second consecutive season, led the NBA in rebounding (13.8 rpg) and blocks (2.9 bpg), becoming only the fourth player to pace the league in both categories since 1973-74, the first season where blocks were kept as an official statistic. Howard led the Magic in scoring (20.6 ppg), while shooting .572 from the field. His 63 double-doubles ranked second in the league (David Lee, New York, 65).

Earning his fourth First Team selection, Nowitzki was the league’s fourth-leading scorer (25.9 ppg), while also averaging 8.4 rebounds. His .890 free throw percentage ranked seventh overall. Nowitzki finished the season by scoring at least 20 points in 25 straight games, the longest such streak in the NBA this season.

Wade earns his first All-NBA First Team selection after ranking first in scoring (30.2 ppg), second in steals (1.7 spg) and eighth in assists (6.7 apg). He also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Wade became only the fifth player in league history to reach 2,000 points, 500 assists, and 150 steals in a single season, as well as the only player under 6-foot, 4-inches to register 100 blocks since they became an official stat in the 1973-74 season.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of New Orleans’ Chris Paul and Portland’s Brandon Roy at guard, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Boston’s Paul Pierce at forward, and Houston’s Yao Ming at center.

The All-NBA Third Team includes Denver’s Chauncey Billups and San Antonio’s Tony Parker at guard, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Paul Gasol at forward, and Phoenix’s Shaquille O’Neal at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

Below are the results of the voting for the 2008-09 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses:

2008-09 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland (122) 610
Forward Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (35) 383
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando (116) 598
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (119) 604
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami (103) 572

2008-09 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio (39) 378
Forward Paul Pierce, Boston (27) 330
Center Yao Ming, Houston (8) 354
Guard Brandon Roy, Portland 189
Guard Chris Paul, New Orleans (32) 424

2008-09 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Carmelo Anthony, Denver (2) 116
Forward Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers (2) 165
Center Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix 68
Guard Chauncey Billups, Denver 131
Guard Tony Parker, San Antonio (1) 158

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Deron Williams, Utah, 105; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 72; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 56; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 36, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 34; Danny Granger, Indiana, 25; David West, New Orleans, 12; Mo Williams, Cleveland, 10; Al Jefferson, Minnesota, 8; Steve Nash, Phoenix, 7; Antawn Jamison, Washington, 7; Ray Allen, Boston, 6; Nene, Denver, 6; Devin Harris, New Jersey, 5; LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 4; David Lee, New York, 4; Rajon Rondo, Boston, 2; Vince Carter, New Jersey, 1; Paul Millsap, Utah, 1; O.J. Mayo, Memphis, 1; Mehmet Okur, Utah, 1; Jermaine O’Neal, Miami, 1; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando, 1; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 1; Caron Butler, Washington, 1; Carlos Boozer, Utah, 1; Andre Miller, Philadelphia, 1; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 1.

Playoffs heat up with Elite Eight

By John McMullen, NBA Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The NBA's marketing machine came up with the tag line "Where Amazing Happens" for this year's postseason.

We certainly got some "amazing" in the first round.

There were a couple of Game 7s, an Oscar Robertson-like effort by the Celtics' Rajon Rondo and the unveiling of Vince McMahon's newest finishing hold, Dwight Howard's bionic elbow.

The Eastern Conference held to form while the West featured a couple of minor upsets.

In the East, both the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks were taken to seven games in polar opposite series.

Boston-Chicago was a classic. With the exception of the Celtics' 21-point victory in Game 3, every other contest until Saturday's Game 7 had been decided by three points or less with four of them going to overtime. The teams played a total of seven extra sessions in the set, including an incredible 128-127 Chicago win in triple-OT during Game 6.

Yao Ming and the Rockets finally got past the first round of the playoffs.

The Hawks and Heat were on a similar see-saw in their series, but the games themselves were less than epics. Joe Johnson drained six of his eight attempts from three-point range in Game 7 as Atlanta finished off a set filled with blowout wins with a 91-78 drubbing of the Heat. None of the seven games in the series were decided by a single-digit margin, only the second time that has ever occurred.

The Hawks-Heat set featured just 15 lead changes in the entire series, and the front-runner never changed after the first quarter in each of the final three contests.

In the West, Houston got out of the first round for the first time in the Yao Ming/Tracy McGrady era by besting the talented but inexperienced Portland Trail Blazers in six games.

Meanwhile, a proud San Antonio team failed to overcome the loss of Manu Ginobili and succumbed to the Dallas Mavericks in five games, while a Chauncey Billups-fueled Denver club won a postseason series for the first time in 15 years, dismantling New Orleans in five.

With all that in the rearview mirror, it's time to take a closer look at the NBA's "Elite Eight"...

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) CLEVELAND vs. (4) ATLANTA
The Hawks are a young, up-and-coming team with a steady, battle-tested point guard in Mike Bibby. That sounds like a recipe for success in the postseason, but they are running into a buzz-saw. LeBron James is playing against history, not his peers, and Mo Williams looks like he was the missing ingredient, playing "Robin" to James' "Batman."

Cavs in 5

(2) BOSTON vs. (3) ORLANDO
As strange as it sounds the Celtics match-up better with a 59-win Orlando team than Chicago. The Bulls had more athletes to throw at Boston's aging scorers. On paper, the Magic, especially with Courtney Lee sidelined and Mickael Pietrus firmly supplanted in Stan Van Gundy's doghouse, don't have the perimeter quickness to make things difficult for Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. That said, Boston is coming off a grueling seven-game series and is without Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe, so Doc Rivers just doesn't have the bodies in the frontcourt to fend off Dwight Howard and his Dusty Rhodes-like elbow. Experience will win out in this one.

Celtics in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) LA LAKERS vs. (5) HOUSTON
The Rockets figure to have the edge at center and point guard, but they simply can't compete with the offense of LA's big three. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom are all capable of taking over a game and Houston, with Luis Scola as its high scorer in the postseason, just can't match that firepower. The only way the Rockets win this series is if Yao dominates to the tune of 20 and 10 every night. But, the Lakers have too many options to throw at the Chinese star.

Lakers in 6

(2) DENVER vs. (6) DALLAS
It's hard to imagine Chauncey Billups playing at the same level for another series, but his presence and playoff-tested mettle can't be underestimated. The Nuggets swept the season series with Dallas and have already taken Game 1. More importantly, you have to like Billups and Carmelo Anthony running the pick-and-roll in late-game situations over Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki.

Nuggets in 6

LeBron is crowned

CLEVELAND – Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has been named the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2008-09 NBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, the NBA announced today.

James received a total of 1,172 points, including 109 first-place votes out of a possible 121, from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five points for each third-place, three points for each fourth-place vote, and one point for each fifth-place vote received.

James becomes the first player in Cavaliers franchise history to receive the award after leading the Cavaliers to an NBA and franchise-best 66-16 (.805) record. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.69 steals and a career-best 1.15 blocks in 37.7 minutes per game. The 6-foot-8 forward also posted career highs in games played (81), field goal percentage (.489) and free throw percentage (.780). He was the only player in the NBA to average at least 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game this season. Leading the Cavs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, James became just the fourth player since the 1973-74 season (when steals and blocks became official stats) to lead his team in each category.

James led the NBA in triple-doubles (7), points per game in road games (31.5) and combined points, rebounds and assists average (43.3). He ranked second in points per game (28.4) and total fourth quarter points (515), eighth in steals (1.69), ninth in assists (7.2), tied for 14^th in double-doubles (29), 23^rd in blocks (1.15) and 27^th in rebounds (7.6).

At 24 years, 106 days old, James is the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79 and his 474-point margin of victory is the sixth-largest in MVP voting history (media began voting 1980-81 season).

During the season, the Akron native was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week an NBA all-time best seven times and tied the league record for most Player of the Month wins with four (November, January, March and April). He was named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the fifth consecutive season and finished runner-up to Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

As part of its support of the Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Motors America will donate a new Borrego SUV on behalf of James to The Urban League of Akron. Kia Motors is presenting a brand new vehicle to the charity of choice of each of four 2008-09 season-end award winners as part of the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.”

The 2008-09 NBA Most Valuable Player Award presented by Kia Motors is part of a series of on-court performance awards called “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.” The series, currently in its second season, is a significant part of the multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and also includes the Most Improved Player, Sixth Man and Defensive Player of the Year Awards. It also includes the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors which are awarded during the regular season. For more information on the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors” visit www.NBA.com/performanceawards.

LEBRON JAMES’ SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Led the Cavaliers to an NBA and franchise-best 66-16 (.805) record and became just the 12^th team in NBA history to win 66 or more games in a season. Also, helped Cleveland post a 39-2 (.951) record at The Q, which tied for the second-best home record in league history, and a 27-14 (.659) road record, which tied for the second-best road record in the league this season.
• Helped Cleveland improve its win total by 21 games from 2007-08 (45-37), tying the 1971-72 L.A. Lakers in NBA history for the second-largest improvement in wins of all teams that won at least 45 games in the previous season.
• Led Cleveland to 16 victories during March, tying the NBA all-time record for most victories in any month. Finished March with 479 points, 152 rebounds and 143 assists. The only other player in NBA history to reach each of those totals in one month is Oscar Robertson, who did it in eight separate months, most recently in January 1965.
• Became just the second player in NBA history to post five consecutive seasons of at least 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists (Oscar Robertson)
• Is the only player to average at least 27.0 points in each of the past five seasons
• Became the youngest player in NBA history to score 11,000 points (23 years, 324 days) and 12,000 points (24 years, 35 days) during the season
• Became the youngest (23 years, 308 days) and fastest (395 games) player to reach the following totals: 10,000 points, 2,500 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 700 steals and 300 blocks
• Scored 41 points in three of the Cavs first eight games (41 vs. Chi on Nov. 5th and 8th and 41 vs. Milwaukee on Nov. 11th), becoming the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 to score 40-or-more in at least three of a team's first eight games of a season
• With 38 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three blocks and four steals versus Boston on Jan. 9, James became the first person to reach those numbers in a game since David Robinson on March 19, 1994
• Totaled 23 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists and three blocks versus Sacramento on Jan. 27th, posting at least those numbers in a game since Larry Bird in 1987
• Tallied 33 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists on Jan. 24th at Utah, becoming the first player to record at least those numbers in a non-overtime game since Kevin Garnett in 2004
• Made a career-high eight three-pointers on 11 attempts on his way to a season-best 55 points at Milwaukee on Feb. 20
• Became only the 12th player in NBA history to have three consecutive triple-doubles (March 7th, 10th and 12th).
• Posted 43 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and a block versus Orlando on March 17th, joining Larry Bird in 1992 as the only players to record at least those numbers in a game.
• Is the only active player in the NBA to have five consecutive seasons with at least 2,000 points and became just the ninth in NBA history, joining legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlin, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, Alex English and Karl Malone all-time.
• With his fourth season of at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists, James became the 2nd player in NBA history (Oscar Robertson) to post at least those numbers in four seasons or more.

2008-09 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS VOTING RESULTS

Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total Points
LeBron James, Cleveland 109 11 1 - - 1172
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2 56 52 8 2 698
Dwyane Wade, Miami 7 50 41 17 4 680
Dwight Howard, Orlando 1 3 17 63 23 328
Chris Paul, New Orleans 2 1 9 23 51 192
Chauncey Billups, Denver - - - 6 15 33
Paul Pierce, Boston - - 1 2 10 21
Tony Parker, San Antonio - - - 1 6 9
Brandon Roy, Portland - - - 1 4 7
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas - - - - 3 3
Tim Duncan, San Antonio - - - - 2 2
Yao Ming, Houston - - - - 1 1

ALL-TIME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS WINNERS

Season - Player, Team
1955-56 - Bob Pettit, St. Louis
1956-57 - Bob Cousy, Boston
1957-58 - Bill Russell, Boston
1958-59 - Bob Pettit, St. Louis
1959-60 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1960-61 - Bill Russell, Boston
1961-62 - Bill Russell, Boston
1962-63 - Bill Russell, Boston
1963-64 - Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1964-65 - Bill Russell, Boston
1965-66 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1966-67 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1967-68 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1968-69 - Wes Unseld, Baltimore
1969-70 - Willis Reed, New York
1970-71 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1971-72 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1972-73 - Dave Cowens, Boston
1973-74 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1974-75 - Bob McAdoo, Buffalo
1975-76 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1976-77 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1977-78 - Bill Walton, Portland
1978-79 - Moses Malone, Houston
1979-80 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1980-81 - Julius Erving, Philadelphia
1981-82 - Moses Malone, Houston
1982-83 - Moses Malone, Philadelphia
1983-84 - Larry Bird, Boston
1984-85 - Larry Bird, Boston
1985-86 - Larry Bird, Boston
1986-87 - Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers
1987-88 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988-89 - Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers
1989-90 - Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers
1990-91 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1991-92 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1992-93 - Charles Barkley, Phoenix
1993-94 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1994-95 - David Robinson, San Antonio
1995-96 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1996-97 - Karl Malone, Utah
1997-98 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1998-99 - Karl Malone, Utah
1999-00 - Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers
2000-01 - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
2001-02 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2002-03 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2003-04 - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
2004-05 - Steve Nash, Phoenix
2005-06 - Steve Nash, Phoenix
2006-07 - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
2007-08 - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
2008-09 – LeBron James, Cleveland

NBA announces renewal of credit facility

NEW YORK, May 4 – The National Basketball Association announced today that all 15 lending institutions have approved the annual renewal of the NBA’s Leaguewide Credit Facility led by J.P. Morgan. Seventeen of the NBA’s 30 teams have borrowed $2 billion under the Facility since it was established in 2003.

“The renewal of the credit facility demonstrates the lending community’s continued high level of confidence in the financial strength of the NBA and the value of our teams,” said NBA Chief Financial Officer Robert Criqui.