| | ATLANTA -- Isaiah Rider was a no-show, again.
This time it was another practice, failing to show up Wednesday
for a workout with the Atlanta Hawks, who are preparing for their
home opener and first game at the new Philips Arena on Thursday night
against the Milwaukee Bucks.
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| Rider |
Rider missed Tuesday night's 94-87 season-opening loss at
Washington to attend his grandfather's funeral in Texas.
"If it's any other player, it's no big issue. Unfortunately in
his situation, it's an issue," Hawks general manager Pete Babcock
said Wednesday.
Babcock said the 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard telephoned him in
Washington on Tuesday night after arriving back in Atlanta and told
him he would practice with the team on Wednesday.
He didn't, but did call Babcock again -- after the Hawks'
practice -- and the two agreed to meet at 3 p.m.
That didn't happen, either.
"He called back and said he was going to work out first, then
we would meet," Babcock said. They finally met about an hour
later.
"We talked about things, things he's got to work through,"
Babcock said. "He's had a tough deal -- his grandfather passing
away -- but he's fine now and back on track mentally and ready to
play."
He said Rider would be available against Milwaukee on Thursday
night, but wouldn't start.
Rider wasn't available for comment.
Rider, acquired in an offseason trade with Portland, has a
troubled history in the NBA. He didn't make the start of the Hawks'
training camp because he said he didn't like the plane on which he
was booked. He also missed a mandatory media gathering in Atlanta
and three practices before he arrived at camp in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Babcock, however, insisted he wasn't frustrated with Rider, 28,
who led Portland in scoring (16.6 points per game) last season.
"For the media, maybe," Babcock said. "We pretty much knew
what we were getting when we made the trade." | |
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