Westphal Confirms Interest in Celtics’ Job

Pepperdine men’s basketball Coach Paul Westphal said he would be interested in the Boston Celtics’ coaching vacancy if he is contacted by the team.

Westphal, who has been at Pepperdine the last three seasons, began his playing career in Boston and coached Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ director of basketball operations, when the two were in Phoenix.

“I love my job here,” Westphal said Tuesday. “But there are a few jobs out there that I’d be crazy not to look at them. I think highly of Danny Ainge and I’d be crazy not to talk to them if they contacted me.

“I’ve read that I’m on this list or that list, but there’s nothing going on that I’m aware of.”

Westphal disputed a published report that Ainge met with him in Southern California last month. He said the two last spoke in February at a high school basketball game.

Pepperdine Athletic Director John Watson said he would expect to hear from Westphal if he decided to pursue the Celtics’ job. Westphal coached the Waves to a 15-16 record last season and is 52-38 in three years with an NCAA tournament appearance in 2001-02.

Ainge let go interim coach John Carroll on Monday.

-- Eric Stephens

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LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade were selected unanimously to the NBA All-Rookie Team.

Chris Bosh and Kirk Hinrich also made the first team in voting by the league’s 29 head coaches.

James, taken No. 1 overall in last year’s draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, is only the third rookie to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists (Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan are the others). He won the rookie of the year award.

Anthony helped the Denver Nuggets reach the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

The Miami Heat’s Wade ranked among the top five rookies in five statistical categories.

The second team members were Dallas’ Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels, Milwaukee’s T.J. Ford, Miami’s Udonis Haslem and Washington’s Jarvis Hayes.

The Clippers’ Chris Kaman missed the second team with 19 votes, finishing one behind Daniels and Hayes. The Lakers’ Luke Walton received one vote.

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The NBA is reviewing a pregame skit Saturday by the Dallas Mavericks to determine if it was demeaning to the Sacramento Kings.

Among the vignettes was a cartoon depicting King guard Doug Christie’s being led on a leash tugged by his wife and one of forward Chris Webber being showered with money at the University of Michigan.

Associated Press