Points in the Paint

» July 28, 2009 5:42 PM | By Brandon Hoffman

Anna K. Clemmons of ESPN.com reports that Jonathan Bender, one of 40 high school players to be drafted from 1995 to 2005, is attempting a comeback after a injury-forced retirement: “Now 28, Bender has developed various entrepreneurial ventures in Houston and New Orleans. When asked in March 2008 if he missed playing basketball, Bender replied by saying it was a ‘tough question.’ That question, though, has since been answered. ‘I thought about it last year for last season, but I was still doing a lot of learning and having fun with my various projects,’ Bender said by phone over the weekend. The No. 5 overall pick in the 1999 draft said he was encouraged by cousin Morris Peterson of the New Orleans Hornets and various friends to make a comeback. ‘I didn’t want the windows to close on me,’ Bender said. ‘I wanted the opportunity to fight off the demons inside my head … I read these articles that say, ‘He’s the top bust’ or ‘He’s one of the guys who didn’t live up to their potential.’ I don’t want to be 38 or 40 looking back thinking, ‘I should’ve done this.’ ‘” Dime has a highlight video from Bender’s days with the Pacers.

Andre Miller has a message for Blazer fans who aren’t excited about his arrival: “I don’t really care what they think. They probably didn’t want me in Philadelphia when I got moved there and there was no expectations when I got traded for Allen Iverson, so I mean, I went in to that situation and pretty much proved the critics wrong. I helped the team get to the playoffs and definitely could have helped the team get to the second round – we were close to getting to the second round for two years. So, I can’t worry about what’s going on off the court as far as critics, or whether it was a good or bad move. I think people will see that I’m a hard worker and I definitely make people better, I make people around me better.”

Chris Paul on Tyson Chandler’s departure: “I’m missing a great friend. A brother. TC was my man. Not just during the basketball season; his wife, his kids, his in-laws, he was somebody I could talk to about anything and he made me a better player. It’s over and done with now. I’m excited by Emeka getting here. … He brings that shot-blocking presence and he’s got the ability to make post moves.”

Bruce Arthur of the National Post: “Life, obviously, changes a person. Priorities change as you grow older — when you leave school, when you buy a house, when you have kids. You tend to get more risk-averse, more willing to compromise. And most of us stop reaching for the stars when it becomes clear we’ll probably never get there. Steve Nash has apparently reached that stage in his basketball life. At 35, he could have played out his contract with the Phoenix Suns and explored free agency in 2010. He could have forced a trade to a potential contender. He could have held out for another chance at a championship. Instead, Nash signed a two-year contract extension with Phoenix, where contention is only a memory. The boy from Victoria, B. C. signed the deal because the money was good, sure — a reported US$22-million over two years — but mostly, he stayed in Phoenix because he likes the guys he plays with, and he likes the city, and he likes the staff, and he is comfortable there. In other words, he is still in the game, but not for a title. His priorities, it seems, have changed.” (Via TrueHoop)

Brian Kamenetzky of the Los Angeles Times: “Assuming the Wolves are willing to meet Rambis’ basic contract demands, whether he’d take the job would have much to do, I would think, with how likely Rambis feels it is he’ll replace Phil Jackson when the Zen Master retires. Personally- and this is based on casual conversations over the years with players, media, and other people around the team and league but NOTHING that would be considered ‘inside’ information on the organization’s thought processes (i.e. I’m speculating)- I feel the longer PJ stays on the sidelines, the more likely it is Rambis gets passed over for Brian Shaw.”

SI’s Scott Howard-Cooper on Brandon Jennings’ play at the Vegas Summer League: “Jennings’ debut fell in line with what the Bucks already believed: that he is mature, no matter the common misstep he has fallen to of leading with his swagger. They can click on YouTube the same as anybody. But owner Herb Kohl met with Jennings before the draft. Hammond, a high-character personnel boss, and coaches and others with an important voice in management, spent time with Jennings during the vetting process. Three members of the Milwaukee front office went to Europe last season. ‘I think sometimes there’s a perception of people, and the perception is not always reality,’ Hammond said.”

Bill Simmons advises readers not to count out Allen Iverson: “Since when was it a good idea to bet against Iverson? Name another NBA player who overcame more obstacles over the years. For ESPN’s ‘30 For 30′ documentary series that premieres this fall, one of the first films is called ‘The Trial of Allen Iverson’ (directed by Steve James of ‘Hoop Dreams’ fame). I have only seen a rough cut. It has a chance to become one of the most important sports documentaries ever. Why? Because you will never think of Iverson the same way again. You will like him. You will feel bad for him. You will connect with him. You will admire him in a way that you never imagined. After witnessing what he endured legally and racially — how unfair it was, how un-American it was — and marveling at the dignity he showed as he put his life back together afterward, I promise, you will never bet against this guy.”

Sponsors