Former Kansas stars Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were sent home Wednesday from the NBA's mandatory rookie transition program for violating unspecified league rules.
The Miami Heat, which drafted Chalmers, and the player's agent confirmed to the Associated Press that the guard had left the program. Neither would say why Chalmers, who made the overtime-forcing jump shot in the Jayhawks' win over Memphis in the national championship game five months ago, was asked to depart early from the resort in southern Westchester County, N.Y., north of Manhattan.
"The players were sent home for violating program rules," an NBA spokesman said. "They will be appropriately sanctioned and will have to repeat the program next year."
Arthur, a 6-foot-9 forward selected late in the first round by New Orleans, was traded three times on draft night and signed with Memphis in early July.
The Grizzlies acknowledged Arthur was sent home but declined to give details.
In addition to returning to the symposium in 2009, the former Jayhawks may be facing a fine and suspension from the NBA.
Chalmers is expected to compete for the starting point guard spot with the Heat when training camp begins this month. He was drafted early in the second round by Minnesota and quickly traded to the Heat.
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San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili had arthroscopic surgery in Los Angeles for a ligament injury in his left ankle and the team said he will be in a splint and on crutches for three weeks. The injury hobbled Ginobili during the NBA playoffs and the Olympics.
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Oklahoma City's new NBA franchise will be called the Thunder and team Chairman Clay Bennett said the team colors will be blue, red and orange -- blue to coincide with the main color of Oklahoma's state flag and red and orange to reflect the colors of the sunset.
BOXING
Mayweather Sr. to train Hatton
Light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will be trained for his next bout by Floyd Mayweather Sr., the father of the man he fought for a welterweight title last year.
Mayweather, who also trains Oscar De La Hoya, will prepare Hatton for his fight against International Boxing Federation 140-pound champion Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas on Nov. 22.
Mayweather Sr., 55, is the estranged father of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who stopped Hatton (44-1, 31 knockouts) in the 10th round of a World Boxing Council title bout in December 2007.
