Williams Is Fined $10,000

Memphis’ Jason Williams was fined $10,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for improper conduct toward members of the media after the Grizzlies’ playoff loss Sunday to Phoenix.

Williams, angered over how he was quoted in a newspaper column, twice took the pen out of the hand of Geoff Calkins, a columnist for the Commercial Appeal, in the Memphis locker room. He also screamed in his ear as the reporter tried talking to other Grizzlies.

Williams eventually had to be pulled away by teammates and team officials.

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As expected, Charlotte Bobcat forward Emeka Okafor became the first former college player to win the NBA’s rookie-of-the-year award in four years.

Okafor, the second pick in the NBA draft, received 77 of the 126 first-place votes from a media panel after leading all rookies in scoring (15.1 points) and rebounding (10.9). He finished with 514 points in the voting.

Chicago guard Ben Gordon was second with 433 points. Orlando forward Dwight Howard was third with 161 points.

LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire, who both came from high school to the NBA, were the last two winners. Pau Gasol, who won in 2002, played professionally in Spain before coming to the NBA.

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The Miami Heat, practicing for the first time since completing a sweep of New Jersey on Sunday, did so without Shaquille O’Neal, who is nursing a bruised thigh.

O’Neal did not speak to reporters, but Coach Stan Van Gundy said he may practice Friday, adding, “He did more today. He did weights, did aerobic stuff. It’s a good step forward.”

The Heat will resume play Sunday at the earliest.