Knicks’ Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor
John Starks of the New York Knicks won the NBA’s Sixth Man award on Wednesday.
The guard received 84 of a possible 115 votes from media members in the U.S. and Canada. Toni Kukoc of the Chicago Bulls, last year’s winner, was second with seven votes and Chris Gatling of the New Jersey Nets finished third with six.
Starks’ winning margin was the biggest since Portland’s Clifford Robinson got 89 of 98 votes in 1993.
The voting panel consisted of 28 national media members and three media members who cover the NBA regularly from each of the league’s 29 cities.
Other players receiving votes were Terry Mills of Detroit, 5; Dell Curry of Charlotte, and Sam Perkins of Seattle, 4; and Isaac Austin of Miami; Mark Davis of Philadelphia; Danny Manning of Phoenix; Bo Outlaw of the Los Angeles Clippers; and Dominique Wilkins of San Antonio, one each.
The 6-foot-5 Starks, who lost his starting job when the Knicks signed free agent Allan Houston last summer, averaged 13.8 points and 2.8 assists while coming off the bench in 76 of the 77 games he played this season.
Spurs retain Popovich
San Antonio Spurs general manager Gregg Popovich will keep his job as coach next season despite the worst record in franchise history, team executives announced.
“It was an easy decision for us,” said Spurs President Jack Diller. “Gregg did a great job with the team this season even though our record was one we would like to forget. The way the team played under Pop was a style which was impressive.”
Popovich fired coach Bob Hill on Dec. 10 and, with management backing, appointed himself coach. He oversaw a season filled with player injuries and one that ended with a 20-62 record. The Spurs were 17-47 under Popovich.
Fox goes free
Boston’s Rick Fox can seek employment elsewhere. He’s a free agent.
Fox’s agent, Bill Strickland, notified the Celtics that his client is exercising the “out” clause in his contract. This means the Celtics are just like the 28 other teams in the NBA. They can chat with Fox, but they can’t present a formal offer to him until July 1.