Basketball Capsules: Ellis, Morrow lead Warriors past Mavericks 111-103

Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85

WASHINGTON — Abe Pollin was the NBA’s patriarch, an old-school owner who won a championship and had the mettle to stand up to Michael Jordan. He introduced luxury boxes and the large replay screen to big-time professional sports. He used to have 3-point shooting contests with Wes Unseld.

That’s plenty to admire for the rest of the country. In the nation’s capital, Pollin will be remembered for so much more.

On Tuesday night, hours after Pollin died at the age of 85, the Washington Wizards played the Philadelphia 76ers in a neighborhood that was torched during the 1968 riots, on a street that most everyone avoided only 15 years ago.

Now the street is called "Abe Pollin Way," and it sits in front of Verizon Center, an arena Pollin risked much of his fortune to build. The building anchors a downtown area flush with theaters, shops and restaurants — all owing their existence to a man loyal to his city.

"He loved Washington," said Hall of Fame center Unseld, "when some of us at the time really didn’t care a lot about it."

A moment of silence was held before the game for the NBA’s longest-tenured owner, and the Wizards played with heavy hearts. They had learned of Pollin’s death late in the afternoon. No details were disclosed, but he had suffered for years from progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder that impairs movement and balance. He also had heart bypass surgery in 2005 and broke his pelvis two years later.

"The NBA family has lost its most revered member, whose stewardship of the Wizards franchise, together with his wife Irene, has been a study in unparalleled dedication to the city of Washington," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "During his illness he fought with a determination and valor that will remain an inspiration to all."

With Pollin’s death, a group led by longtime AOL executive Ted Leonsis is poised to take ownership of a Washington-area sports empire that began when Pollin purchased the Baltimore Bullets in 1964.

Leonsis previously bought two of Pollin’s teams — the NHL’s Capitals in 1999 and the WNBA’s Mystics in 2005 — and secured the right of first refusal to buy the rest of Pollin’s Washington Sports and Entertainment holdings — including the Wizards, Verizon Center and Washington-Baltimore TicketMaster — when Pollin retired or died.

"We are committed to continuing his tradition of building exciting, championship-caliber teams," Leonsis’ ownership group said in a statement.

In the changing world of professional sports, Pollin stood out for decades as an owner who tried to run his teams like a family business. He bemoaned the runaway salaries of free agency and said it would have been difficult for him to keep the Wizards if it weren’t for the NBA’s salary cap. He was such a father figure that the team’s marquee star, Gilbert Arenas, immediately called his own father on the West Coast upon hearing of Pollin’s death.

"He was the father away from California," Arenas said. "He wanted a championship before he died. And as long as I’m here, that’s what I’m going to be shooting for."

A builder by trade, Pollin also constructed the Verizon Center’s predecessor, originally known as the Capital Centre, in the Washington suburbs in 1973. He renamed his NBA team in 1997 because of the violent connotation of the word "Bullets," particularly in a city associated with crime.

The Bullets won the 1978 NBA title, and Pollin maintained he would not sell the franchise until it won another championship — repeating that vow from his wheelchair as he was inducted into the George Washington University Sports Executives Hall of Fame in March.

"I’ve contracted a very rare disease, but it’s not going to keep me from wining a championship," Pollin said. "Until then I’m not going to quit, and I’m going to do whatever I can to win a championship for this town, for me, and for the fans."

While he remained mentally sharp, his brain disease forced him to give up his active lifestyle and rely on a cart to ride the halls of the Verizon Center. He and his wife, Irene, established a $1 million research fund in 2008 at the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in hopes of finding a cure.

Pollin was critical of modern-day player misbehavior and wouldn’t hesitate to trade a star who got in trouble off the court. At his insistence, the final labor agreement after the 1998-99 lockout included stricter rules concerning player conduct.

"You may or may not want to be role models, but you are role models," Pollin told his players after the labor talks ended. "If you don’t want to be role models, you should get out of this business and go do something else."

Pollin’s ultimate coup — getting Jordan back into the NBA — was a plan that didn’t pan out. Jordan, in a deal brokered by Leonsis, bought a minority stake in the Wizards in 2000 and was given the title of president of basketball operations.

The sport’s biggest name spent 3½ seasons in Washington, the last two on the court after deciding to come out of retirement as a player, but his domineering personality overwhelmed the organization and made losing even more miserable. He expected to return to his front-office job and repurchase his ownership share after playing his final game, but Pollin parted ways with No. 23 during a stormy 20-minute meeting in May 2003.

Pollin later explained his decision in an interview with The Associated Press.

"It was an atmosphere on edge," Pollin said. "It was not a healthy atmosphere to produce a happy organization or a winning team. ... I knew that there would be some negative stuff thrown at me, but when I made my decision, I stuck to my decision. I wasn’t going to change."

The drama of Jordan’s exit threatened to overshadow the rest of Pollin’s accomplishments, including his philanthropy and his two state-of-the-art arenas.

The Capital Centre, located in Landover, Md., and was the nation’s first sports major venue with luxury boxes and a big replay screen. It was topped 24 years later by the Verizon Center, which Pollin built with $200 million of his own money at a time when many owners of professional franchises demanded taxpayer support for new facilities — and threatened to move their teams if they didn’t get it.

"He had opportunities to go to other places, but this is where he wanted to be," team president Ernie Grunfeld said. "He wanted to do this for his city."

Born Dec. 3, 1923, Pollin and his family moved from Philadelphia to the Washington area when he was 8. He graduated from George Washington University in 1945 and went to work in his family’s construction business. He started his own construction company in 1957.

Pollin and two partners bought the Bullets in 1964 for a record $1.1 million, a mere fraction of the salary of today’s NBA stars. He bought out his partners four years later and moved the team to the Washington suburbs when the Capital Centre opened. He also acquired an expansion NHL franchise, the Capitals, for his new building.

The Bullets won their championship with Unseld and Elvin Hayes and reached the NBA finals the following season as well, but Pollin was unable to keep up with the subsequent free agency explosion that sent salaries skyrocketing. He kept a shoestring front-office operation for much of the 1990s, was sometimes reticent to spend big for players, and developed a reputation for retaining employees who were loyal but not necessarily successful.

"I have no doubt that he kept me longer in positions than he should have," said Unseld, who also was the Wizards’ coach and later their general manager, "and longer than I wanted him to. He was loyal."

Pollin’s frustration boiled over when he argued with Jordan at a labor negotiating session during the 1998-99 lockout. When Pollin complained that individual owners such as himself could no longer survive, Jordan suggested that Pollin sell his team. Less than a year later, Pollin and Jordan became partners in a relationship that never blossomed.

After far too many losing seasons to count, the Wizards finally started winning again in recent years. A 2005 playoff series victory was the franchise’s first in 23 years, and the team returned to the postseason for the next three seasons.

Despite his illness, Pollin made his annual trip to training camp in Richmond, Va., this year to encourage the team.

"He would want us to celebrate his life and not mourn his death," coach Flip Saunders said before Tuesday’s game. "That’s just the individual he was. But when you’re here going through it, it’s not that easy."

Pollin’s other major franchise was more successful competitively, if not financially. The Capitals, faced with the daunting task of turning Washington into a hockey town, made the playoffs regularly in the 1980s and 1990s but also lost $20 million the year they made the Stanley Cup finals in 1998. Pollin sold the team to Leonsis the following year.

In addition to his wife, Pollin is survived by sons Robert and James and two grandchildren.

-- Joseph White

Quotes on the passing of Wizards owner Abe Pollin

Quotes on the passing of Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin, who died Tuesday at age 85:

"The NBA family has lost its most revered member, whose stewardship of the Wizards franchise, together with his wife Irene, has been a study in unparalleled dedication to the city of Washington. During his illness he fought with a determination and valor that will remain an inspiration to all." — NBA commissioner David Stern.

"What made him happy was being around his players. He loved being around his players, coming down to practice, maybe taking a foul shot every once in a while when he’s able to. He loved it when Antawn (Jamison) would go up to him and call him ‘Big Time.’ ‘Tawn would call him ‘Big Time’ and he would get a big smile on his face." — Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld.

"He was the catalyst in building a fabulous downtown arena that revitalized the surrounding area. Anyone walking down 7th Street, seeing the throngs of excited fans, the host of popular restaurants, hotels and nightspots, can attest to the lasting legacy of Mr. Pollin’s deep commitment to D.C." — Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who stands to take over ownership of the Wizards.

"He would want us to celebrate his life and not mourn his death. That’s just the individual he was. But when you’re here going through it, it’s not that easy." — Wizards coach Flip Saunders.

"He loved Washington, when some of us at the time really didn’t care a lot about it." — Wizards Hall of Fame center Wes Unseld.

"I used to let him win and I’m not going to change that story now. He was the boss, so it’s called corporate advancement," — Unseld, remembering on his 3-point shooting contests with Pollin.

"He hired me to come back to coach a team that I’m a big fan of, my hometown team. It was a 10-minute interview and I shook his hand. He said, ‘You know I don’t live by contracts, I go by handshakes.’ And I walked out and said, ‘Gee, did I take a job, or what happened there?’ — Former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan.

"Abe Pollin was a giant in the sports world, but he also was a civic leader and a generous philanthropist whose visionary Verizon Center helped revitalize the east side of Washington, D.C.’s downtown. Abe was a gentleman who believed in sportsmanship and in honor on and off the court. He was a true friend who never hesitated to give advice and counsel." — U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.

"The Pollins can take a large part of the credit for the bright lights, crowds and remarkable revitalization of downtown Washington." — D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray.

Senator urges Adidas to keep NBA uniforms in USA

WASHINGTON — The official uniforms for NBA players could soon be made in Asia, a move drawing sharp criticism from a New York Democratic senator.

Sports apparel maker Adidas plans to end its contract with American suppliers and move production of NBA jerseys to a factory in Thailand. The move could cost about 100 jobs at a factory in upstate New York that makes more than half the uniforms worn by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other NBA players.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said the switch would blemish more than a century of history for the marquee American sport. He called on Adidas to reverse its decision and keep making the uniforms in the U.S.

"To do anything else is an insult to the American worker and sports fans everywhere in America," said the New York Democrat, who is a longtime New York Knicks fan.

American Classic Outfitters of Perry, N.Y., has been making NBA jerseys for 40 years.

Adidas is in the middle of an 11-year merchandising deal to be the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, WNBA and the NBA Development League.

In a statement, Adidas said it was consolidating its supply chain and moving production closer to the source of uniform materials.

"The Adidas Group continues to produce uniforms for professional, college and other amateur teams at more than 30 facilities in North America and will continue to do so moving forward," Adidas said.

A spokeswoman for the NBA did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

NBA players’ jerseys have always been manufactured in the United States.

Rob Knoll, senior vice president at American Classic Outfitters, said his company had a multiyear contract to make professional basketball uniforms for Adidas. But last month, he said, Adidas officials told him they were moving operations overseas. The New York plant had invested more than $1 million in facility improvements and equipment to produce the jerseys.

"It’s a blow because the work that was in house and scheduled for production is gone now," Knoll said. "If they want to change their mind, we’d love it."

Adidas also had contracts with two other U.S. companies to make the official NBA jerseys.

German-owned Adidas is the second largest athletic shoe and apparel company in the world. Its U.S. subsidiary, Adidas America, has its U.S. headquarters in Portland, Ore.

-- Sam Hananel

Nash guides Suns to surprising fast start

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are supposed to be an aging NBA afterthought, a franchise that a couple of years ago saw its best title shot slip away.

Few could have foreseen the way this team has bolted out of the starting gate. With Steve Nash as good as ever, Amare Stoudemire on the mend and an array of sharpshooters firing away, the Suns are off to an 11-3 start.

Going into Tuesday night’s action, coach Alvin Gentry’s team was tied for the best record in the league.

"It’s a lot of fun. My teammates are great," Nash said. "We’re playing in a fun style where we move the ball a lot. We’re not really a fastbreak team like we used to be but the ball still moves I think the guys are just playing hard for one another."

"We enjoy each other on the court and off and it makes all the difference in the world when you have that singular vision and everyone buys into it."

Nobody was talking that way a year ago, when many players, including Nash, weren’t buying into new coach Terry Porter’s system. Porter wanted a slower game, a defensive-oriented style, a system that, except for Shaquille O’Neal, failed to match the personnel at hand.

Porter was fired at the All-Star break and O’Neal was traded to Cleveland in the offseason. Now the court is wide open for Nash and his teammates to do what they do best.

Stoudemire is back, wearing protective goggles following serious eye surgery that sidelined him the final 29 games last season. He leads the team in scoring at 19.9 points per game.

"He’s probably 80-85 percent now," Gentry said. "I still think there’s a little bit more that he can do for us, but he’s getting better and as he gets a little better, our team will get a little better."

With O’Neal no longer clogging the middle, Nash and Stoudemire again are making the pick and roll the tough-to-defend heart of the Suns’ offense.

Jason Richardson has mostly thrived in this environment.

"This is what I envisioned and we’re having a lot of fun doing it," he said.

Steady Grant Hill holds down the small forward spot, with the rapidly improving Jared Dudley waiting in the wings.

"The spacing is good. Everybody’s comfortable," Stoudemire said. "It feels great when guys know where they’re supposed to be and then when the ball comes out to them they’re ready to shoot or pass because the rhythm and flow is perfect right now."

Gentry promised to return the team to the high-flying style of coach Mike D’Antoni, and while the Suns might not quite be the "seven seconds or less" squad of those days, they still are a highly entertaining bunch.

Phoenix leads the NBA in scoring with a 110.35 average and is the only team that has topped 100 points in each of its games. The Suns are making 44.4 percent of their 3-pointers, a better percentage than eight teams are shooting overall from the field.

At the controls is the 35-year-old Nash.

"I think he’s playing right now better than he did the year he got the MVP, either one of them," Gentry said.

Nash is averaging 17.1 points and an NBA-best 11.6 assists per game. He already has two 20-assist games and is shooting 52 percent from the field, 44 percent on 3s.

But numbers don’t really describe his play, the way he is weaving through towering defenders, then softly tossing the ball — with either hand — off the glass for a layup, or somehow finding the open man.

Seven Suns are shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range, including Channing Frye, the 6-foot-10 newcomer who had made only 20 3s in his four NBA seasons before coming back to his hometown. Frye has made 38 of 86 3s in 14 games, both team highs.

Phoenix is getting help from its reserves. Dudley is hitting 49 percent of his 3s and is a hustling defender with a team-high 18 steals. Nash’s backup, Goran Dragic, seems vastly improved, Louis Amundson is his hustling self and, of course, Leandro Barbosa is a blur off the bench.

The whole, Gentry said, is greater than the sum of its parts.

"To me we’re a little bit like the Florida (basketball) teams that won national championships back to back," the coach said. "Those guys have done OK on their own but they were really, really good as a collective group. I think as a collective group we’re pretty good. We feed off each other."

The question, of course, is whether this team will prove to be any good over the grueling 82-game season.

"I think going in I kind of knew we’d be better than what people thought," Hill said. "What that means overall, it’s still too early to judge. But I think we’re good. We like each other. We play hard and have good chemistry. We’re defending."

Gentry won’t call his team a contender. The aim is to just get back to the playoffs after missing them in a dysfunctional 2008-09 season.

"I just think this is a special group of guys," Gentry said. "I don’t know what’s going to happen but I do know that night in and night out we’ll compete and play extremely hard and try to play together, and to me as a coach whatever happens after that I would be willing to accept."

-- Bob Baum

Butler out with sore ankle for Wizards vs 76ers

WASHINGTON — Caron Butler is being kept out of the Washington Wizards’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers because of a sore right ankle.

Coach Flip Saunders said Tuesday an MRI showed fluid on the ankle and that Butler needed to get the extra rest so that he could possibly return for the Wizards’ next game, Friday against Miami.

The Wizards were missing two starters for the game. Mike Miller is expected to be sidelined several weeks after straining his right calf Saturday against San Antonio.

Courtney Lee back from injury for struggling Nets

DENVER — New Jersey guard Courtney Lee is available to play against the Denver Nuggets after missing the last seven games because of a groin injury.

Nets coach Lawrence Frank said he planned to ease Lee back into the rotation, not overplay him in an attempt to spark the struggling team, which was 0-13 going into Tuesday night’s game.

Lee is averaging 11.8 points a game this season. He was acquired by New Jersey as part of the deal that sent star guard Vince Carter to Orlando last June.

Thunder recall Weaver for Jazz game

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder have recalled guard Kyle Weaver from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League and he was expected to be available for Tuesday night’s game at Utah.

A second-year player, Weaver scored 11 points in his season debut last week against Orlando. He also played the final minute of the Thunder’s victory Friday night against Washington.

International

Draw determined for women’s basketball worlds

NEW YORK — Geno Auriemma and the United States women’s basketball team were placed in Group B at the world championships that begin next September.

The draw announced Tuesday pits the Americans against Greece, Senegal and France in opening pool play, which begins on Sept. 23. The U.S., which won its fourth straight Olympic gold medal in 2008, will be trying to recapture the world title. The Americans lost to Russia in the semifinals of the 2006 worlds.

The U.S. is 8-1 in world championship play against pool opponents. The loss came against France in 1971.

"Every group is going to have their share of teams that are there thinking they can compete and win the world championship," said Auriemma. "Some teams are there for the first time or are not as experienced and I think in our group we’ve got a little bit of both."

Group A features defending world champion Australia, Canada, Belarus, and China. Mali, Korea, Brazil, and Spain make up Group C. Japan, Russia, Argentina, and the host Czech Republic are in Group D.