Ray Allen hopes NBA expands into Europe – I didn’t know Ray Allen spent a lot of time growing up in England and Germany  “People all over the world are now watching basketball. People in the United States don’t realize that there are cities over here with 4-5 million people. Those market shares would be great,”  Allen said “The league is making so much money, you’ve got to think how it’s going to grow to the next level.”  The Celtics are currently in Italy for the NBA Europe Live tour, which also features the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies.  Source: Celtics’ Ray Allen likes idea of NBA expanding overseas. (Yahoo News)

Tony Parker taking two-year hiatus from international competition – Tony Parker, the 2007 NBA finals MVP, is taking time off from the French National Team and will be back in Poland for the 2009 Eurobasket tournament “It has been many years that I am playing more than 120 games a year,” Parker said. “In the end, my body is at risk.” — not really big news to anyone familiar with the international basketball schedule.  France won’t be competing in any major competition until 2009 anyways.  They finished 6th in this year’s Eurobasket, failing to qualify for the pre-Olympic tournament, thus making them ineligible for the 2008 Olympics.  Parker won’t be missing any major international tournaments.  Source: Parker will take 2-year hiatus from French national team. (Yahoo News)

Dikemebe Mutombo Signs with Rockets for his final season – Listening to the advice of his family and Rocket’s legend Hakeem Olajuwan, Dikembe Mutombo, the oldest NBA player last season has decided to return for one final NBA season with the Houston Rockets.  “I don’t know what I’ve got left in my tank. But I want to enjoy this year.”  Mutombo said.  The 7-2 Congalese center’s career has spanned six NBA teams and over his 17-year career has averaged 10.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.  Last season, the 7-2 Mutombo posted 3.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 block per game in 75 matches and played at a level counter to what anyone believed when Yao Ming went down with an injury midway through the season.  My question is, would Hakeem have advised  Mutombo to return for one more season if Mutombo seriously-threatened Olajuwan’s all-time NBA record in blocks?  (Mutombo is second all-time and is 600 blocks away from tying Hakeem’s 3830)  Source: Mutombo Heeds Advice from Hakeem (Houston Chronicle)