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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kemba Walker has seen NBA basketball in Charlotte at its worst. Hes willing to stick around to see it at its best.The diminutive point guard said thats why he agreed to a contract extension Thursday which allows him to remain with the Hornets instead of testing the free agent market.Now that were a good team, I want to keep us good, Walker said Thursday at a press conference at the teams downtown arena. I want to be in the middle of that.Walker signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Hornets, a person familiar with the deal said Tuesday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the deal had not been announced publicly.The Hornets drafted the 6-foot-1 Walker with the ninth pick in 2011. He has started 180 games in three seasons and averages 16 points, 5.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.After agreeing to the contract late Tuesday night, Walker immediately began paying dividends for the Hornets. He hit two huge shots, including the game-winner with 5 seconds left in overtime to propel the Hornets to a 108-106 win over the Bucks in the season opener on Wednesday night.Its been unbelievable, Walker said of the past few days.It wasnt always so great.Walker endured a 7-59 season as a rookie, the worst winning percentage (.106) in NBA history after leading Connecticut to the national championship as a senior.But things have turned around in Charlotte and he and centre Al Jefferson — one of the players Walker helped recruit to the team — are two of the big reasons why.Charlotte won 43 games last season and reached the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. They were swept by the Miami Heat, but are expected to better this season with the addition of another top free agent in Lance Stephenson.From day one we werent so good and you see us now, Walker said. Everyone is talking about us and we come into the season with high expectations. A few years ago it wasnt like that. Im happy to say Ive been a part of this whole rebuilding process. Tom Brady Jersey .Y. -- Kristen Gillman rallied to win the U. Cheap Michael Jordan Jersey . In their first meeting for six years, the Frenchmen dropped serve twice in the first set, but Giquel broke Simon two more times in the second. Gicquel moves on to face sixth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, who advanced with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) win against wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert, despite the Frenchmans 23 aces. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/tom-brady-jersey/ .twitter.com/xBTpoAKLJk — Daryl Zerr (@darylzerr) May 29, 2014 @BarDown I give to you the @SquirrelsNCHL aka the Fighting Squirels. Michael Jordan Jersey Chicago White Sox . "I had a pretty good year," the soft-spoken Granberg told TSN.ca with a grin from the teams annual rookie tournament in London. A fourth-round selection in 2010, Granberg is worth keeping an eye on with NHL training camps rolling around in less than a week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender may not possess the wow-inspiring theatrics of fellow prospect Morgan Rielly, but nonetheless has a chance to contribute with the Leafs when all is said and done this season. Authentic Tom Brady Jersey . The 20-year-old Barkley, whose impressive form this season could earn him a place in Englands World Cup squad, was hurt in Evertons 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup on Jan.ESTERO, Fla. -- Pittsburgh Penguins star centre Sidney Crosbys right wrist appears to be on the road to recovery. The reigning NHL MVP said Friday hes pleased with the way his wrist has responded to treatment over the summer and is anxious for training camp to begin as the Penguins try to recover from their second-round collapse in the playoffs. "Its good," Crosby said. "You want to see how things progress throughout the summer once you start skating and get back to that regular routine. You want to see how it reacts so Im happy with the way its gone." Crosby led the NHL with 104 points on his way to a second Hart Trophy as the leagues top player, but scored just one goal in 13 playoff games as Pittsburgh fell to the New York Rangers in seven games after blowing a 3-1 lead. He insisted in the aftermath he was healthy only to reveal hed been dealing with the wrist for the latter part of the season. The 27-year-old considered surgery before opting to wait and see if further treatment would produce the desired results. He looked just fine skating alongside fellow NHLers Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche, Jonathan Tavares and Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs David Clarkson under the direction of trainer Matt Belfry. Crosby likened the workouts to "hockey school" because it allows players to focus on fundamentals and individual skill work, an opportunity the long slog through the regular season doesnt often provide. "Its just refreshing things, relearning things as you can," Crosby said. When Crosby returns to Pittsburgh before camp begins next month, hell find the landscape far different than the one he left in May. The team fired general manager RRay Shero and coach Dan Bylsma as part of a massive front office restructuring after the franchise failed for the fifth straight season to reach the Stanley Cup final.dddddddddddd The Penguins tabbed former Carolina GM Jim Rutherford to replace Shero. Rutherford went through a lengthy coaching search before settling on Mike Johnston, whose first job running the show in the NHL will be in a crucible where any spring that doesnt end with a championship is a disappointment. "Were going to have some new faces in the dressing room trying to get that momentum and get a fresh start," Crosby said. "Were not happy with the way things ended last year." Crosby doesnt believe the expectations need to change even though defencemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen and All-Star forward James Neal left in the off-season. "The organization is committed to winning," Crosby said. "We have opportunities as players to be successful every year. As far as the team is concerned, I think were in a great position to win every year. Well do our best to do our part." The camp also gave Crosby a chance to hang out with rookie of the year and good friend Nathan MacKinnon. Both former No. 1 overall picks hail from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. Crosby is well versed in what it takes to cope with being deemed a franchise saviour, not that MacKinnon needs much help after scoring 63 points and helping the Avalanche back to the post-season for the first time in four years. "I can relate to a lot of things hes going through," Crosby said. "Hes handled it pretty well. You see the way hes playing the first year with the Calder Trophy. Hes just going to get better. Its a matter of being there for him." ' ' '
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