Bulls' Rose signs 5-year, $94 million extension
Reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth more than $94 million.
Reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth more than $94 million.
"I think I can finally say this now. Mom, I finally made it," he said to his mother, Brenda, who attended a news conference Wednesday announcing the deal.
It's fair to say Rose made it long before Wednesday. The extension, which kicks in next season, is just another stop in a rapid and steady rise from Chicago's South Side to a starring role with his hometown team. He has gone from rookie of the year to all-star to MVP in his first three seasons, becoming the youngest player to win that award.
He averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds over 81 games, the only NBA player last year to rank in the top 10 in both scoring and assists. He also became just the fifth player in history (along with Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James) to post 2,000 points, 600 assists, and 300 rebounds in a single season.
Warrior is sued
A former Golden State Warriors employee has filed a sexual-harassment suit against star guard Monta Ellis, alleging that Ellis sent her unwanted texts that included a photo of his genitals.
Erika Ross Smith filed the lawsuit, which also names the team as a defendant, on Wednesday in Alameda County (Calif.) Superior Court. She alleges Ellis began sending her explicit messages in November 2010 while she worked in the team's community relations department.
The messages included lines such as, "I want to be with you," and, "Hey Sexy," and periodically asked her what she was wearing or doing, according to the lawsuit. She would often reply with: "What do you want?" or "I am sleeping," the suit claims.
At a news conference, Smith's lawyer, Burton Boltuch, showed a photo of what he said was Ellis' genitalia.
A call to a spokesman for the Warriors was not returned. Ellis's agent, Jeffrey Fried, said he was en route to Oakland and didn't immediately have a comment.
According to the lawsuit, the Warriors changed Smith's job description and eventually fired her after Ellis' wife learned of the texts and complained to team executives.
"I was treated unfairly. I was let go," said Smith, who has also worked for other NBA teams.
Ellis was the Warriors' leading scorer last year, averaging 24.1 points per game.
Humphries back in N.J.
Power forward Kris Humphries has re-signed with the New Jersey Nets. No details were released.
Humphries averaged career bests of 10.0 points and 10.4 rebounds last season. He started 44 of 74 games, shot almost 53 percent from the field, and ranked fifth in the NBA in rebounding.
Humphries is likely most known for his 72-day marriage this summer to reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
He has asked a judge in California to annul the 10-week marriage on the basis that it was fraudulent. The filing came roughly a month after Kardashian filed for divorce on Oct. 31, citing "irreconcilable differences."
Injury sidelines Kobe
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant was not expected to play in Wednesday night's preseason finale against the Clippers because of an injury suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Clippers on Monday night.
The team said Bryant was being listed as day to day. The Lakers said an MRI exam revealed that Bryant had torn a ligament in his right wrist.