The Global Top 10 is your weekly guide to NBA global news. In this week's edition check out the Top 10 of all the Global Top 10s this season.
1. Dikembe Makes NBA Return
After spending the first two months of the season mulling his future, 42-year-old Dikembe Mutombo re-signed with the Houston Rockets on Dec. 31. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year had been considering retirement as well as interest from seven teams, including Boston, Miami and San Antonio.
"I think he's obviously an unbelievable locker room player and leader
Rockets GM Daryl Morey said. "On the floor he's still extremely effective. We think he can help us in many ways: Just like last year with some key matchups when we're playing teams with a lot of size, and also at the big spot which is probably our thinnest spot. So adding depth with Dikembe is extremely important."
Mutombo's break from basketball marked the first time in 20 years he had been out of organized hoops, and he used the time to
focus on his foundation, raising money to help those suffering from deadly diseases in his native Congo.
Mutombo has played the last four seasons of his career in Houston, averaging 3.0 points and 5.1 minutes in 2007-08, and tallying 25 starts in Yao Ming's absence. The likely future Hall of Famer joined the Rockets for their five-game road trip Friday but coach Rick Adelman has set no timetable for his season debut.
Rockets re-sign veteran Mutombo1. Dikembe Makes NBA Return
After spending the first two months of the season mulling his future, 42-year-old Dikembe Mutombo re-signed with the Houston Rockets on Dec. 31. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year had been considering retirement as well as interest from seven teams, including Boston, Miami and San Antonio.
"I think he's obviously an unbelievable locker room player and leader
Rockets GM Daryl Morey said. "On the floor he's still extremely effective. We think he can help us in many ways: Just like last year with some key matchups when we're playing teams with a lot of size, and also at the big spot which is probably our thinnest spot. So adding depth with Dikembe is extremely important."
Mutombo's break from basketball marked the first time in 20 years he had been out of organized hoops, and he used the time to
focus on his foundation, raising money to help those suffering from deadly diseases in his native Congo.
Mutombo has played the last four seasons of his career in Houston, averaging 3.0 points and 5.1 minutes in 2007-08, and tallying 25 starts in Yao Ming's absence. The likely future Hall of Famer joined the Rockets for their five-game road trip Friday but coach Rick Adelman has set no timetable for his season debut.
Rockets re-sign veteran Mutombo2. Krstic Arrives From Russia
The Thunder officially added 6-foot-11 center Nenad Krstic to their roster last Wednesday after the Nets failed to match the restricted free agent's reported three-year, $16 million offer sheet with Oklahoma City by the Dec. 29 deadline.
"It's always good to be able to add a player of Nenad's quality," Thunder general manager
Sam Presti told NBA.com's Art Garcia. "We feel like he's going to be able to help us and make a positive contribution to what we're doing in the short term and long term."
Krstic began the 2008-09 season competing for Triumph Lyubertsy in the Russian Superleague, posting 10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, before agreeing to a buyout with the club so he could return to the NBA. The native of Serbia & Montenegro was part of this past summer's free agent class that had a number of players including Josh Childress, Earl Boykins and Carlos Arroyo opting for lucrative offers overseas rather than remain in the States.
For Krstic, competing in Russia may have been more about restoring his confidence level than it was about money. Last season, Krstic had difficulty shaking off the effects of a December 2006 season-ending knee injury, seeing his averages drop to 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds from 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 2006-07. Most alarming was a 12.6 percent drop in his field goal percentage.
Krstic's entire four-year NBA career has been with the Nets. If he can establish himself as an NBA starter again, he can be a nice piece to the puzzle for the Thunder.
VIDEO: Thunder announce Krstic signing VIDEO: Thunder.com: Krstic roundtable talk3. Nene Continues To Impress
Denver Nuggets center Nene quietly is putting together one of the best storylines of the NBA season. After playing only 16 games last season because of injuries and testicular cancer, the Brazilian big man has helped mitigate the loss of starting center Marcus Camby, who was traded to the Clippers in the offseason.
Nene's 27-point, 14-rebound outburst against Oklahoma City Jan. 2 continues the themes he's touched upon this season: pleasant surprises and few missed shots. Nene converted 10-of-11 shots in the win, increasing his league-leading field goal percentage to 62.5 percent.
For the season, Nene is averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, despite dealing with
fatigue issues and a recent neck ailment.
"I just admire the kid," Nuggets head coach George Karl told the Associated Press. "I know the cloudiness that comes into your life when you are diagnosed with cancer and you have to go through surgery and the kid has never, never given in to the dark side of what's going to happen or the negative part of what's going to happen. And I think we believed with him, but he's probably believed more than anybody that he was going to come back and be a player."
VIDEO: Nene dominates in Nuggets' win over Thunder VIDEO: Nene takes it coast to coast4. Calderon's Free Throw Streak at 72
Raptors guard Jose Calderon is now just three free throws away from tying Calvin Murphy for third all-time in most consecutive free throws made. The Spaniard has made 75 consecutive shots dating to last season, including 72 this year.
Calderon is the only player among league-leading qualifiers who has not missed a free throw this season.
One streak that recently came to an end for Calderon was his string of 57 games with an assist. The fourth-year vet strained his right hamstring early in the second quarter against the Rockets on Jan. 2 and didn't play again. Prior to the injury, he was third in the NBA with nine assists per game, posting a season-high 16 at Golden State on Monday.
VIDEO: Calderon's flashy layup vs. Golden State VIDEO: Calderon finds Bargnani for the dunk5. Ilgauskas, Pietrus and Milicic Suffer Setbacks
A slew of key injuries hit international players last week. The Cavaliers lost star center Zydrunas Ilgauskas for at least two weeks. Another pair of starters -- Orlando swingman Mickael Pietrus and Memphis' Darko Milicic -- also both learned that they are expected to miss a considerable amount of time.
The loss of Ilgauskas was felt with Sunday's 80-77 loss to the Wizards, who have the worst record in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs were outscored 38-28 in the paint. The lone bright spot for Cleveland has been the play of Brazilian pivot Anderson Varejao, who has averaged 18 points and nine rebounds filling in for Ilgauskas. He had a career-high 26 points vs. Chicago.
Ilgauskas learned on Dec. 31 that the left ankle he sprained earlier in the month against Philadelphia had a small chip fracture, requiring him to immobilize it for at least two weeks. According to the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian, he likely will be out "three to four weeks," though he was unsure of that timetable.
"I came back and played on it and it felt OK," Ilgauskas told Cavs.com. "But it really hasn't gotten better with the soreness and pain. I tried missing practices and just playing, but that hasn't helped."
Pietrus, from Guadeloupe, will be out indefinitely after breaking his right wrist on a dunk against Detroit last Monday. He told the Orlando Sentinel he could miss two to four weeks. Milicic, from Serbia, will be sidelined four to six weeks as he recovers from a broken knuckle on his right ring finger, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
VIDEO: Darko jams one home on the Spurs Cavs' Ilgauskas out a month Pietrus out indefinitely6. Nash Lists Possibilites for 2010
LeBron James isn't the only member of the 2010 free agency class already fielding questions about possible destinations. In an interview with NBC Sports last week, Steve Nash spoke about three cities he'd consider.
"There's a few situations out there that would be attractive, so I feel fortunate that there could be some possibilities for me," Nash was quoted as saying
in the Arizona Republic. "One would be for me to stay here in Phoenix. I've had a great 4 1/2 years here. New York, obviously, is our off-season home, so we love the city. It's a basketball mecca. Mike D'Antoni is there so there's a lot of attractive variables.
"And then Toronto, to go back to Canada to play for the home team, so to speak."
VIDEO: Nash among Rick Kamla's smartest players7. Parker Hits Game Winner
On Saturday, Tony Parker played the role of hero for the Spurs, hitting a buzzer-beating jumper to edge the 76ers, 108-106. Parker finished with 15 points and 10 assists to help San Antonio win for the seventh time in eight games.
"I was just trying to make sure it got a chance,'' Parker said. "A chance, you know, with enough air on it. I knew there was not a lot of seconds left. It was just a good shot.''
The Frenchman grabbed Manu Ginobili's corner miss on a 3-pointer with the clock winding down, converting a 15-foot turnaround jumper as the horn sounded.
The game didn't appear to be headed for a dramatic ending. The Spurs held a 21-point lead at the end of the first quarter before Philadelphia slowly chipped away to take a one-point lead with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.
VIDEO: Watch Parker's game-winner VIDEO: Parker hits a tough layup in New Orleans8. Bogut Passes Test vs. Duncan
Andrew Bogut not only got the better of his matchup with Tim Duncan on Dec. 30, but his team got the win. Facing the best big man in the West, the Aussie tallied 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds, added four assists and blocked three shots as the Bucks upset the Spurs, 100-98.
Bogut converted seven of his first eight shots. Duncan, who also was defended by Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva, shot just 7-of-20 from the field, finishing with 22 points and six rebounds.
VIDEO: Bogut's full-court pass to Villanueva for the jam9. Haddadi Makes History
Grizzlies rookie Hamed Haddadi became the first Iranian to play in an NBA regular season game when he made his debut against the Suns on Dec. 30. The 7-foot-2 center scored two points and grabbed a rebound in four minutes.
Haddadi came into the game late in the first quarter, then quickly was whistled for an illegal defense. He re-entered the game in the third quarter and drew a shooting foul on Suns center Robin Lopez. Haddadi made both of his free throws.
Haddadi was called-up by the Grizzlies on Dec. 24 from the D-League's Dakota Wizards. He averaged six points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 17.7 minutes per game there.
VIDEO: Haddadi on his NBA journey VIDEO: Haddadi higlights10. Bargnani Coming into His Own?
Toronto Raptors forward/center Andrea Bargnani has shown flashes of impressiveness during his three-year NBA career, but consistency has been elusive. Raptors fans have reason to once again be hopeful after the three games Bargnani has put together filling in for Jermaine O'Neal as the team's starting center.
The Italian notched 26 points, six rebounds and five blocks vs. Denver on Dec. 31, 19 points and six rebounds vs. Houston on Jan. 2 and 18 points and five rebounds vs. Orlando on Sunday.
VIDEO: Bargnani solid in loss to Nuggets VIDEO: Raptors topple Rockets behind Bargnani
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