Basketball Capsules: Serbia center released after basketball brawl

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Serbia's Nenad Krstic, a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder, was released Friday after being held in police custody overnight following a chaotic brawl during a match with Greece.

The fight broke out during the last game of the Acropolis tournament, which was abandoned with 2:40 remaining and Greece leading by one point. The incident occurred just a week before the basketball world championship in Turkey, where both teams will play.

"This shouldn't have happened," said Serbian coach Dusan Ivkovic, who is due to take over Greek club Olympiakos next season. "Relations with the Greeks are now very bad."

A stunned crowd of about 5,000 at the Athens Olympic Arena watched players from both teams exchange punches and kicks on the floor and in the tunnels leading to the dressing rooms. Two or three spectators entered the fray but were quickly shoved out of the arena.

The fight began when Greece forward Antonis Fotsis moved threateningly against Serbia guard Milos Teodosic, who had fouled him. Krstic grabbed Fotsis by the throat and threw a chair toward Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who was pursuing him. The chair hit Yannis Bouroussis, who had not played because of a hand injury, and left him with a bloody wound on the side of his head.

The teams were finally separated after they had carried the fray off the court.

Prosecutor Costas Simitzoglou released Krstic pending an investigation into the brawl. Investigators from Greece's sports violence squad will examine video footage of the game and take statements from witnesses before deciding whether to bring charges.

Krstic returned to his hotel after being released and was due to leave Athens for Belgrade later on Friday. The rest of the Serbia team returned earlier.

"I don't know the rules, but I hope I won't be punished," Krstic told Serbian media. "An (act of) stupidity was committed, and I hope they will not punish us. The Greeks started the brawl, there were no guards and the (Greek) fans entered the court."

FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann said in a statement Friday that the international basketball federation will conduct its own review of the violence.

"FIBA will take whatever steps are necessary against any individual player found to have been involved in this shocking incident," Baumann said. "FIBA wishes to make it clear that it will not hesitate from taking the strongest possible action against any individual found to have brought the sport of basketball into disrepute."

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said he showed his team footage of the brawl as an example.

"We just told our guys that if something happens to walk away and not to pull anyone from another team, to just pull your teammate," Krzyzewski said in Madrid, where the Americans have been preparing. "This is not about getting into a fight but playing basketball — and you can be suspended. You represent your country so you shouldn't do that."

Krzyzewski said that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, teammates of Krstic on the Thunder, were "surprised because he is such a quiet guy, smiling all the time."

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said he spoke with Krstic on Friday.

"He recognizes that this is an unfortunate situation and he is regretful for his actions," Presti said in a statement. "He has apologized to the Greek national team and has reached out personally to specific members of the Greek team. He is looking forward to continuing his preparation for the world championships and representing his country."

U.S. forward Lamar Odom said his team would avoid being carried away by their emotions when they face Greece in an exhibition game next week in Athens, and later during the tournament.

"We understand that if something like that were to happen with us it would be worldwide news," Odom said, "so that's something we won't let happen."

Greece's deputy culture and tourism minister Giorgos Nikitiadis, whose portfolio includes sports, condemned the "regrettable incidents."

Nikitiadis said Greek authorities would not tolerate sports violence, "especially from those who, although they wear their national symbols, are not aware that they represent their country — not themselves."

Serbia and Greece are scheduled to play in the basketball world championships beginning Aug. 28 in Turkey, although they are in separate groups for the preliminary round.

Serbia plays in Group A with Angola, Argentina, Australia, Germany and Jordan, while Greece, the runner-up at the last worlds in 2006, is in Group C with China, the Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia and Turkey.

Group B features Slovenia, Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Tunisia and the United States, and Group D contains Canada, France, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand and defending champion Spain.

Spain brushes off worlds favorite tag

The two teams are playing an exhibition game Sunday — a rematch of the 2008 Olympic final won by the Americans — in what could be perhaps the best indicator of who will carry the tag into the tournament in Turkey beginning Aug. 28.

Former Toronto Raptors forward Jorge Garbajosa said it would be "ridiculous" to call Spain the favorites despite retaining most of their Olympic silver team — minus center Pau Gasol.

"To have an advantage mentally, I guess, that's what some teams do," U.S. forward Lamar Odom said Friday. "(But) the champion is always considered the favorite."

No one from the Olympic gold-medal team will return for the Americans, whose inexperience is its biggest problem in a tournament that it hasn't won in 16 years.

"We're going to play at our best and we're going to try. Whatever other people think of us, whether we're favorites or a B team or we're going to lose, it doesn't make any difference," coach Mike Krzyzewski Friday said at the "Magic Box" in Madrid, where the Americans trained. "I never pay attention to what anyone says."

Spain guard Sergio Llull said the U.S. team was "incognito as always in these types of tournaments," referring to the less well-known players on the roster.

"While they didn't call up those players most fans recognize as their biggest stars, they're still playing with players that are stars in the NBA," Llull said.

Krzyzewski put Argentina and Greece alongside Spain as tournament favorites, although he believes the defending champions' experience, camaraderie and "sensational" passing game will make Sunday's game a lot different than the last one.

"We don't have our whole system in yet — what we're going to do offensively and defensively — whereas Spain already knows," Krzyzewski said. "Exhibitions are somewhat like scrimmages — you want to win, no question. But we still want to take a look at everybody. It'll be a big game but it won't be bigger than if we play in Turkey, and that's what we have to gear ourselves up for."

Spain's players were reserving judgment on the Americans until at least Saturday, when the United States was scheduled to play Lithuania.

"It'll show us where we are and what level we are at going into the worlds," Spain guard Ricky Rubio said. "It'll help us get the title again."

Spain will be without Gasol, who decided to skip the tournament after a long season that saw him help the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA championship. But the European champions have a steady fill of NBA players in Rudy Fernandez, Jose Manuel Calderon and Gasol's brother Marc, who came up big in the final victory over Greece four years ago with Pau injured.

Fernandez and Gasol trained normally on Friday after picking up leg injuries, while U.S. guard Stephen Curry should also be available from a left ankle injury after practicing Friday.

"Spain, that's the team to beat," American guard Derrick Rose said. "They last won it. They've got the players, they're veterans and they have a passion for the game and to win."

Krzyzewski also warned his young team about letting emotions get away from them after a brawl involving Greece and Serbia on Thursday ended with a player being held in jail overnight.

"The passion that comes out when you're playing that country's team on their soil — it's at the highest level," Krzyzewski said.

-- Paul Logothetis

FIBA selects Miller, Sabonis, Divac for hall

Seventeen players, coaches and officials will be inducted for their achievements at the Olympic Games, world championships and developing the global game, FIBA announced Friday.

The enshrinement ceremonies Sept. 12 in Istanbul include a presentation on court at the final of the men's world championship.

"The 2010 class has stardom, character and countless merits for the promotion of our game," FIBA president Bob Elphinston said in a statement. "The inductees were and still are brilliant on and off the court."

Miller won 1984 Olympic gold with the U.S., a world title two years later and is believed to be the first woman to dunk in a high school game. Miller won two NCAA championships at USC and later became head coach.

She also became coach and general manager of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. Miller, whose brother Reggie played for the Indiana Pacers, is a television commentator for NBA games.

She's joined in FIBA's 2010 Hall class by Lithuania-born Natalia Zassoulskaya, who helped the Russian federation team win the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Sabonis and Divac were stars in Europe before joining NBA teams.

Sabonis won Olympic and world titles with the Soviet Union, then led his native Lithuania to two Olympic bronze medals.

He moved to the U.S. at 30, and had two stints with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Divac helped Yugoslavia win two world titles and two Olympic silvers, losing to Sabonis and the Soviet Union in 1988, and at the 1996 Atlanta Games to a United States Dream Team. He is president of Serbia's Olympic Committee.

He played in the NBA from 1989-05, including twice with the Los Angeles Lakers. He had his No. 21 jersey retired by the Sacramento Kings.

Double Olympic record holder Oscar Schmidt is also being enshrined. The Brazilian is the top scorer in games history, amassing 1,093 points in a record five Olympic tournaments from 1980-96.

Others to be inducted include Italy's four-time Olympian Dino Meneghin, and Serbian Dragan Kicanovic, a two-time European player of the year who won gold at the 1980 Olympics with Yugoslavia.

Curry trains with U.S. team after ankle injury

The Golden State guard took part in the non-contact training Friday at the Magic Box center in Madrid. He says he's "80 percent" a day before the U.S. plays Lithuania in a world championship warmup match. The U.S. plays defending world champion Spain on Sunday.

Curry is trying to make the Aug. 28-Sept. 12 tournament in Turkey, with one player still to be cut from the 13-man roster.

Curry says Warriors general manager Larry Riley contacted him to ensure he didn't force himself back prematurely. Curry hurt the ankle on Wednesday but says he'll likely play since it's "a one-time opportunity."

Torrance had been training at the IMG Academies when he lost consciousness, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the player's family had not authorized the release of any information.

Emergency medical personnel began working on Torrance within two minutes, and performed CPR as he was being taken to a hospital.

IMG spokesman Chris Ciaccio confirmed Torrance had been training at the facility Friday and had to be taken to the hospital, but had no other immediate information.

AOL Fanhouse first reported Torrance's collapse.

Torrance said earlier this summer that he was diagnosed in 2009 with an enlarged heart, which is why he believes he went unchosen in this year's NBA draft. He signed a summer-camp deal with the Miami Heat, but was with the organization less than a week and never participated in any on-court drills or summer-league games.

Torrance, 21, had been planning to spend the coming season overseas with Maccabi Tel Aviv, agreeing to a contract with the top Israeli team last month. He led Alabama in points (15.6 per game), assists (162) and minutes (1,043) last season as a senior.

"I was shocked and saddened to hear about Mikhail this afternoon," Crimson Tide coach Anthony Grant said in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this very difficult time. I want Mikhail and his family to know that his teammates, coaches and the entire university community are praying for his full recovery."

Earlier this summer, Torrance told The Birmingham News and Mobile Press-Register that team doctors at Alabama cleared him to play and said his heart condition was common to athletes.

Telephone calls placed to his parents' home Friday evening rang unanswered.

-- Tim Reynolds

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent guard Delonte West was suspended without pay for 10 games Friday after pleading guilty last month to weapons charges.

Maryland authorities said he was carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife while speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle on the Capital Beltway last September.

West played for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. The Minnesota Timberwolves waived him Aug. 3 after acquiring West in a trade.

West received a home detention sentence that includes flexibility to travel to games. If he signs with a team, his suspension will begin with the first game of the regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

The 27-year-old West has averaged 9.9 points in six NBA seasons. He has battled bipolar disorder during his career.

Williams pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated in the Jan. 5 wreck and was immediately sentenced to a year in jail.

Prosecutors say the former New Jersey Net had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

The wreck happened the week before he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for accidentally shooting and killing a limo driver in New Jersey.

The 42-year-old Williams will serve his one-year term after serving a five-year prison term in New Jersey on a separate assault conviction.

Williams retired from basketball in 2000 after nine seasons with the Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.

-- Jennifer Peltz