Morrison will start season as a backup

Adam Morrison will start his NBA career on the bench.

Charlotte Bobcats Coach Bernie Bickerstaff said Tuesday that veteran Brevin Knight would start at shooting guard ahead of Morrison, the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft, in tonight’s season opener against Indiana.

Morrison started four of the Bobcats’ eight exhibition games, averaging 11.6 points and 36% shooting. Bickerstaff said coming off the bench would help his transition to the NBA.

“He’s done well, but he’s still a rookie,” Bickerstaff said. “This is a different level, but I think Adam will be just fine. He’s a good basketball player, but he has to navigate his way through being an NBA player.”

Morrison, who led the nation in scoring (28.1) last season at Gonzaga, agreed, saying, “I came off the bench my freshman year in college. I have to earn it before anybody says I should start.”

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Guard Kirk Hinrich and the Chicago Bulls agreed on a five-year contract extension believed to be worth about $47.5 million. Hinrich, in his fourth season, averaged 15.9 points last season.

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Point guard T.J. Ford and the Toronto Raptors agreed on a four-year contract extension believed to be worth as much as $33 million.

Ford, who averaged 12.2 points and 6.6 assists last season, was acquired in an off-season trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.

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New Dallas Mavericks swingman Devean George was hospitalized because of a stomach ailment that could sideline him for Thursday’s season opener against San Antonio.

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Washington Wizards forward Darius Songaila will have back surgery for a herniated disk and be sidelined up to three months.

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San Antonio point guard Tony Parker didn’t practice and remains questionable for Thursday’s opener at Dallas after spraining his right ankle during drills Monday.

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Red Auerbach was buried as Hall of Famers Bill Russell and John Thompson and NBA Commissioner David Stern were among about 150 in attendance in Falls Church, Va. Auerbach died Saturday of a heart attack at 89.