Keyon Dooling Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: NBPA, Dooling, A. Anderson, Officiating, Elam Ending

February 19th, 2023 at 12:51pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics forward Grant Williams, formerly a vice president for the National Basketball Players Association, has been elected as the first vice president of the players’ union, per a press release. Williams will take over that role from Andre Iguodala, whose four-year term has expired following his election in 2019.

Since Williams was promoted to first vice president and Kyrie Irving‘s term as an NBPA vice president expired, two new VPs were elected to the union’s executive committee — those new vice presidents are Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who will serve three-year terms.

“We are thrilled to have Grant in this elevated position, and we welcome Jaren and Donovan to the executive committee,” NBPA president CJ McCollum said in a statement. “Their experience and ability to connect with the younger players in our league will be imperative as we move forward as a union. I also want to take a moment to thank Andre and Kyrie for their service. Kyrie’s insights have been invaluable since he joined us in 2020, and Andre has been been a key leader for us for more than a decade. Their leadership will be missed but we know they will stay close and continue to support us as we work for the best interests of the brotherhood.”

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former NBA players Keyon Dooling and Alan Anderson have received prison sentences of 30 months and 24 months, respectively, for their roles in defrauding the NBA’s health and welfare plan, according to Steve Gardner of USA Today. Anderson was one of 18 players originally arrested in 2021 for making fraudulent claims, while Dooling – a former NBPA vice president who was most recently an assistant coach with the Jazz – later had his name added to the criminal case.
Before holding his annual All-Star news conference on Saturday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver also appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter this week to discuss concerns about load management and officiating, among other topics (YouTube video link). Silver stated that the NBA is exploring ways to use technology to automate certain calls (ie. who last touched an out-of-bounds ball) so that referees can focus more on the more subjective calls they’re required to make (ie. fouls).
Tim Bontemps of ESPN takes a deep dive into the “Elam Ending,” exploring how Nick Elam first came up with the concept and detailing the path it took to being adopted in the NBA’s All-Star Game (as well as the G League’s overtime period).

Jazz Assistant Keyon Dooling Placed On Leave After Fraud Charge

April 27th, 2022 at 5:28pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jazz assistant coach Keyon Dooling has been placed on administrative leave after being charged in a fraud case involving the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, according to Larry Neumeister and Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

Dooling, a former vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, had his name added to a criminal case that involves 18 former players who are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. The first charges were brought in October, as federal officials said the players schemed to collect about $2.5MM through false medical and dental claims.

Dooling, who served eight years as an NBPA officer, “allegedly engaged in the scheme and recruited other co-conspirators to join the scheme,” according to federal officials. Also added to the indictment today were a doctor and a dentist who reportedly had a role in facilitating the operation.

Dooling is accused of keeping about $350K in illegal proceeds from the operation, which took place at least from 2017 through 2020.

“It is a case concerning his time at the National Basketball Players Association, prior to him joining our organization,” the Jazz said in a formal statement. “He has been put on paid administrative leave. Due to the ongoing legal process, we will refrain from further comment.”

Northwest Notes: Mudiay, Jazz, Dooling, Thunder, Nuggets

September 29th, 2020 at 3:08pm CST by Luke Adams

After signing a one-year contract with the Jazz during the 2019 offseason, Emmanuel Mudiay didn’t play a major role in Utah. His 15.7 minutes per game represented a career low and he fell out of the team’s rotation in the postseason.

Still, Mudiay tells Brandon Robinson on the Heavy Live With Scoop B Show that his year with the Jazz was “great” and that he “learned a lot” from head coach Quin Snyder and top assistant Johnnie Bryant. The veteran point guard added that he’d be open to a new deal with the club if the opportunity arises.

“Like I said, they taught me so much,” Mudiay said of the Jazz. “The staff was amazing; I have nothing negative to say about Utah, everything was great. So if it’s there, it’s definitely something that I’ll look into. I’m not about to make a decision right now, but definitely, like I said before, the team was great and that’s definitely something that I’ll reconsider for sure.”

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

In addition to confirming the previously-reported hire of Dell Demps as an assistant coach, the Jazz announced in a press release that they’ve added former NBA guard Keyon Dooling to Quin Snyder‘s staff as a player development coach. Dooling previously worked for the NBPA as a wellness counselor and mental health advocate.
In a pair of columns for The Oklahoman, Berry Tramel makes the case that the Bulls’ future isn’t necessarily brighter than the Thunder‘s despite Billy Donovan‘s decision to leave Oklahoma City for Chicago, and explains how the Clippers’ split with Doc Rivers could indirectly help the Thunder.
Danny Leroux of The Athletic and John Hollinger of The Athletic each preview the Nuggets‘ upcoming offseason decisions, with Hollinger explaining why Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee, and Torrey Craig may all end up not returning to Denver for 2020/21.
Determining where Gary Harris and Will Barton stand going forward will be among the Nuggets‘ most pressing offseason questions, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post.

And-Ones: Hinkie, Mental Health Program, RFAs, Wear

May 26th, 2018 at 11:59am CST by marksuleymanov

Sam Hinkie, who is often credited for the current success of the Sixers, has reportedly landed a consultation role with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (subscription required). Hinkie served as the Sixers’ general manager from 2013 until 2016 when he stepped down from the role.

Hinkie is viewed as a pioneer for analytics use in the NBA and using data to build a team. The 40-year-old was at the helm for several poor seasons for Philadelphia but his strategy helped the organization stockpile several top picks, which led to a rejuvenation, culminating this season with a 52-30 regular season. Hinkie previously was the youngest vice president in NBA history when he landed the title with the Rockets in 2007.

In his role with the Broncos, Hinkie will be an analytics consultant that helps with the team’s strategy for years to come. Jhabvala examines all of the top Broncos personnel Hinkie met with and their expectations from his respected acumen.

Check out more news and notes from around the basketball world:

The National Basketball Players Association announced a new Mental Health and Wellness program on Friday. The program will be available to all NBPA members to assist with any mental health issues. Former NBA player Keyon Dooling, who has served as a mental health counselor since January, will oversee the program.“I am thrilled to be a part of this new program within the NBPA,” Dooling said in a statement. “I look forward to serving the needs of our players and to continue normalizing the conversation around mental health in the NBA.”
Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders looks at which upcoming restricted free agents will be impacted this summer due to the NBA’s salary cap situation. Rodney Hood, Marcus Smart, and Julius Randle are among the players who could be affected, in Greene’s view.
Former Kings player David Wear has signed with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (via Sportando). Wear appeared in two games with the 2014/15 Kings team. He is the twin brother of Travis Wear, who played for the Lakers this season.

Pacific Notes: Jones, Russell, Chalmers, Grizzlies

March 14th, 2016 at 12:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

Tyus Jones has already played in more games since the All-Star break than he played before it, as the Timberwolves have decided it’s time to let last year’s 24th overall pick learn on the court. Ricky Rubio, a subject of deadline trade talk whom Jones is trying to eventually replace as Minnesota’s starting point guard, sees “great things” ahead for the rookie, observes Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune.

“He can really score the ball. I think he’s learning how to control, and play in this league,” Rubio said. “It’s not like college. He’s learning how to play and he’s not afraid. That’s one of the main things you ask of a rookie. Don’t be afraid.”

See more from the Western Conference:

Much consternation has surrounded the limited playing time Lakers coach Byron Scott has given No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell this season, but the combo guard is seeing 31.4 minutes per game since the All-Star break compared to 27.1 minutes per game before it, and he’s upbeat about the future, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. “It’s all about the opportunity,” Russell said. “Everybody has a different route toward reaching their potential. Some people bloom early and some people bloom late. If I’m a late bloomer and I’m around this league for a long time, I would prefer that.”
Mario Chalmers was popular within the Grizzlies organization, as Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal, who believes his early-season acquisition was a plus for the team, writes in his Pick-and-Pop column. Chalmers cleared waivers after tearing his Achilles tendon last week.
The Grizzlies have filled gaps in their roster with such wizened veterans as Gilbert Arenas, Jason Williams and Keyon Dooling in past years, so the recent signings of Ray McCallum, Alex Stepheson and Briante Weber represent a shrewd pivot toward finding stopgaps with potential future value, Herrington argues in the same piece.

And-Ones: Fisher, Vaulet, Rasheed, Huestis

November 18th, 2015 at 2:54pm CST by Chuck Myron

Derek Fisher admits to feeling more comfort as a coach this season, though Knicks team president Phil Jackson hasn’t been working more closely with Fisher, as Jackson said before the season that he would. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has the details.

“Maybe a couple times earlier in training camp, we had some kind of sat down and talked about some things visually at the same time. So far, it’s our typical mornings-after-the-game conversations or email exchanges,” Fisher said. “Sometimes before practice we’ll visit for a few minutes. But not really any hardcore film sessions together. Although when those opportunities do present themselves, I’ll definitely be happy to participate.”

The Knicks are 6-6, a significant improvement on last season’s 17-65 mark, though Fisher cautions that .500 isn’t the team’s goal. See more from around the NBA:

Draft-and-stash prospect Juan Vaulet is pleased that the Nets own his NBA rights, citing the way team doctors cared for the stress fracture in his leg, as he said in an interview with ESPN Argentina earlier this month (YouTube link), as NetsDaily relays. Still, the 6’6″, 19-year-old Argentian, who fashions himself a point guard, believes he’s a ways off from signing to play in the NBA.
Rasheed Wallace, Al Harrington and Keyon Dooling are among the 60 players who’ve so far committed to The Champions League, an upstart minor league circuit with plans to play in the summers beginning in 2016, USA Today’s Sam Amick reports. The league intends to pay annual player salaries that average around $200K, league chairman and CEO Carl George told Amick.
The Thunder have assigned Josh Huestis to the D-League, the team announced via press release. It’s the second trip to the D-League this season for the small forward, who averaged just 7.0 points in 28.4 minutes per game across two appearances in his first D-League stint this year.

Keyon Dooling Retires

January 9th, 2014 at 9:41am CST by Luke Adams

Keyon Dooling has completely retired as an NBA player and has moved on to the next phase of his career, he tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (all Twitter links). According to Spears, Dooling is now a certified life coach, subcontracted through the NBA to mentor troubled NBA and D-League players, and is also writing a book.

If word of Dooling’s retirement sounds familiar, it may be because he made a similar announcement in September 2012. The 33-year-old eventually decided to return to the NBA and signed with the Grizzlies last spring, before reportedly drawing interest as a free agent over the summer. It seems unlikely that another comeback is on the offing this time around, however.

In 13 NBA seasons, Dooling served primarily as a backup guard for the Clippers, Heat, Magic, Nets, Bucks, Celtics, and Grizzlies. The former 10th overall pick averaged 7.0 PPG and 2.2 APG in 728 overall contests (19.4 MPG). His best season probably came in 2008/09 in New Jersey with the Nets, when he recorded career-highs in PPG (9.7), APG (3.5), and 3PT% (.421) to go along with a 13.6 PER, the second-best mark of his career. According to Basketball-Reference, Dooling earned more than $30MM over the course of his playing career.

While Dooling’s on-court numbers may not have been exceptional, his story off the court qualifies as such. Following his initial retirement, the longtime point guard opened up to Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com about the “meltdown” he experienced in the summer of 2012 that led to his decision, as well as the adversity he’d overcome in his life, including emotional, mental, and sexual abuse. At the time, Dooling indicated that he wanted to share his story as a way of helping others in similar situations cope, so his new career path doesn’t come as a surprise.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Keyon Dooling

FA Rumors: Maggette, Blair, Telfair, Tinsley

July 26th, 2013 at 8:54am CST by Luke Adams

Restricted free agents like Nikola Pekovic, Brandon Jennings, and Gerald Henderson represent the most intriguing names left on the free agent market, but in his latest piece for HoopsWorld, Alex Kennedy takes a look at a few unrestricted free agents who have flown more under the radar. Here are some highlights from Kennedy:

Corey Maggette considered retiring to pursue a front office job, but it looks like he'll postpone that plan for at least a year. Maggette would like to play for a contender, and could likely be had for a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
Although more than a dozen teams, including the Bulls and Clippers, have expressed some level of interest in DeJuan Blair, the big man still hasn't been able to secure the sort of multiyear offer he's seeking.
There continues to be mutual interest between the Knicks and Sebastian Telfair, who has also attracted some interest from contenders like the Heat and Thunder.
The Nets nearly signed Jamaal Tinsley earlier in the offseason, but opted for Shaun Livingston instead. Tinsley is now considering teams like the Mavericks, Rockets, Bobcats, and Suns.
Keyon Dooling still appears likely to make a decision on a team within the next week, and he figures to land a one-year contract worth the veteran's minimum.
After turning down the Bobcats last summer to join an apparent contender (the Lakers), Antawn Jamison could end up returning home to Charlotte this time around, according to Kennedy.

Odds & Ends: Kleiza, Iguodala, Dooling, Knicks

July 19th, 2013 at 2:35pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few Friday odds and ends from around the Association….

After being amnestied by the Raptors, Linas Kleiza is drawing interest from several European teams, including CSKA Moscow, writes Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, passing along a report from Djordje Matic.
Sam Amick of USA Today spoke to Andre Iguodala about his free agency, and some drama along the way related to the Kings and Nuggets.
Keyon Dooling is receiving "serious interest" from two teams and will likely decide next week where he'll sign, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, who adds that a reunion with the Grizzlies is unlikely.
There's nothing new on the Raja Bell front, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com, noting that the Knicks no longer have any interest in Bell after signing Metta World Peace. The Knicks remain in the market for a point guard and a big man though, says Zwerling.
Tom Ziller of SBNation.com explains why he finds it unusual that the NBA decided to compensate the Thunder for a portion of Kevin Durant's contract.
Multiple teams have inquired on undrafted free agent Khalif Wyatt, according to agent Stephen Pina. Wyatt played for the Sixers' Summer League squad in Orlando, but hasn't talked to Philadelphia yet about a more permanent contract (Twitter links via Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com).

Odds & Ends: Ujiri, Oladipo, Dooling, Grizzlies

May 28th, 2013 at 4:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier in the day, we heard that a decision from Masai Ujiri on whether he'll be running the Raptors or Nuggets could come as early as today. But according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter links), Ujiri won't decide whether or not to accept the Raptors' offer until he meets with Denver ownership. That meeting could happen today or tomorrow, says Berger, so we may be waiting one more day to get closure on the Ujiri saga. In the meantime, let's round up a few odds and ends from across the NBA:

While Nerlens Noel remains atop the latest version of Chad Ford's big board at ESPN.com (Insider link), there's a new name at No. 2, with Victor Oladipo on the rise in a big way.
In an interesting piece for Grantland.com, Zach Lowe revisits the 2011 trade that sent George Hill to the Pacers and Kawhi Leonard to the Spurs, exploring how negotiations played out on draft night two years ago, and outlining how it's turned into a great deal for both teams.
Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic lauds Phoenix's hiring of Jeff Hornacek, writing that the former Suns guard has what it takes to become a very good head coach.
After announcing his retirement last year, Keyon Dooling returned to sign with the Grizzlies toward the end of the 2012/13 season, and he intends to play again next season, tweets Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com.
The Grizzlies are facing major decisions on a coach and a GM in addition to a handful of players, as Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld details.
No decisions have been made on Paul Pierce's future yet, Celtics GM Danny Ainge tells A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, which echoes a report we passed along earlier.
Dave Deckard of Blazer's Edge examines the possibility of the Trail Blazers trading out of next month's draft.
As Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside writes, the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League are hoping to enter a hybrid affiliation with a single NBA team.