Danny Granger News: Pro Sports Daily

Pacers' Granger is an All-Star. He wants to become a winner.

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October 30

Indianapolis Star

"The face of the Indiana Pacers was just another face in the crowd on this night. There were no autograph seekers or photo requests and very few whispers or finger-pointing as Danny Granger and his new bride dined at one of Indianapolis' premier steakhouses. Those who did tell Granger "good luck this season" as he exited toward his white Range Rover know the 26-year-old All-Star has to carry the Pacers if they hope to return to being a playoff regular. "I hear that a lot from people," Granger said, cutting into his 24-ounce porterhouse. "People ask me if we're going to get back to the playoffs." Granger's continued growth will be pivotal. Team president Larry Bird repeatedly has said there ..."

Pacers All-Star Granger practices, might play

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October 28

Indianapolis Star

"All-Star forward Danny Granger participated in this morning's team shootaround, but the Pacers want to see how he responds before deciding whether he plays in the season opener tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Granger is dealing with a right bruised heel."

Pacers go small, and move pays off

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October 24

Indianapolis Star

"A shortage of healthy bodies forced Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien to go with a small lineup to start the second half of Friday's preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. The move paid off. Using a lineup that had All-Star Danny Granger playing power forward, the Pacers outscored the Spurs by 13 points in the third quarter to help them beat San Antonio 114-112 before 8,029 fans at Indiana University's Assembly Hall. "I thought we competed well and had a great third quarter," O'Brien said. "We went small because (Troy Murphy) only had seven more minutes he could play. I wanted to be able to start small and it seemed to work out." The Pacers wrapped up the preseason with a 3-4 record. ..."

Award just another step for Granger

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May 13

Indianapolis Star

columnist Bob Kravitz

"Congratulations, Danny Granger. First, an All-Star. Now, the league's Most Improved Player. Next, lead the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs for the first time in four years. How does he lead them there? Easy. Become one of the league's best defenders. Take note that the five top MVP vote-getters (LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul) all made the first or second All-Defensive teams. Accept the challenge of becoming the kind of star who not only scores lots of points, but leads his team on both ends of the floor. "I don't want to just get better; I want to be an elite player," Granger said Tuesday. "I've really patterned my defensive game after Ron Artest, but ..."

Pacers' Granger NBA's most improved, sets sights on playoffs

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May 12

Indianapolis Star

"After being named the NBA's Most Improved Player today, Pacers forward Danny Granger said he's aiming for another title next year: Danny Granger, member of a playoff team. In talking about where he sees his improvement for the future, he talked mainly about the team. "We had so many opportunities to win so many games, and we came up a little bit short," Granger said this morning. "Next year, with myself and the other leaders on the team, we have to find ways to win those games. That's what I'd like to improve on the most." More coverage:Click here for team updates, blogs, photo galleries, schedules, stats and more. The first player in NBA history to raise his scoring average by five points ..."

NBA to honor Granger today

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May 12

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger will cap off his stellar season today when he's named the NBA's Most Improved Player, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. Granger will be the third Pacer to win the award, joining Jalen Rose (2000) and Jermaine O'Neal (2002). A team spokesman said they had no comment on the scheduled 11:30 a.m. news conference set for today at Conseco Fieldhouse. The league waited to announce the award until Granger returned from his two-week vacation to Italy. Granger, who signed a $60-million contract extension last October, finished fifth in the league in scoring at 25.8 points a game. He's the first player in league history to ..."

Team USA invites Granger

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May 9

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger has been invited to participate in the USA Basketball training camp, which could lead to him playing in next year's World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. The camp is in late July in Las Vegas. He was first approached about the possibility in February during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.

"I think that's the level everyone strives to get to," Granger told The Associated Press by telephone from Italy. "You want to win an NBA championship, of course, but I think to play in the Olympics is something really special. It comes around just once every four years, and it's a special opportunity.""

Pacers' Granger wants to become one of NBA's top defenders

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May 8

Indianapolis Star

"As Danny Granger vacations in Italy, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are marching toward a possible dream matchup in the NBA Finals. Granger proved he could go basket-to-basket with those two this season. Now the Indiana Pacers' All-Star forward needs to prove he can defend at the same level, or his vacation next year might start just as early as this one. Granger finished fifth in the league in scoring (25.8 ppg). His defense fell off as quickly as his offensive game took off, and the Pacers missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season. "Danny will get better," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "He'll do what it takes to get better. Danny plays with a chip on his shoulder. The one ..."

Is Granger the league's Most Improved Player?

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April 9

Indianapolis Star

"It's getting around that time of year for voting on the league's top players. One of the most intriguing battles appears to be for the league's Most Improved Player. Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger will likely be in the running for award. Teams routinely send out little gimmicks trying to persuade voters. I recently received a spray bottle, sponge and towel from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of their campaign for rookie Kevin Love because he cleans the glass in the rebounding department. The Pacers don't believe in doing that. They simply sent out a letter from team president Larry Bird explaining why voters shouldGranger. Here are some of the highlights of the letter from Bird: ..."

Granger rusty in return to Pacers' lineup

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March 16

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger's return to the lineup featured plenty of rust, a lot of missed shots and a highlight dunk over Granger by Toronto's Shawn Marion. Welcome back, Danny. Granger, who had missed the previous 11 games with a partially torn tendon in his right foot, scored 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting in the Pacers' 110-87 loss to the Raptors on Sunday afternoon. "I'm glad I got that out of the way," Granger said. "I played 18 minutes, but I thought I played 32. That's how it feels. It'll come around. It takes awhile to get back in rhythm." The plan was to bring Granger off the bench and limit him to 20 minutes. Coach Jim O'Brien didn't give Granger the full 20 minutes since the game turned into ..."

Granger's aching foot pushes back return

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March 14

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger's return to the lineup was put on hold for at least one more game because of continued soreness in his right foot. "It's definitely still sore," he said before Friday's 101-87 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. "I have to be able to do everything I normally can on the court. Otherwise we're going to keep going backwards. We need to get to the point where I'm playing and it's getting better and better. I think that's the main issue." Granger had targeted Friday as his return from a 10-game absence due to a partially torn tendon in his right foot. He practiced Thursday, but woke up with some discomfort in his foot Friday. "He's not even close to being ..."

Granger remains sidelined as red-hot Jazz visit

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March 10

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers returned from their three-city West Coast trip feeling good after gaining ground in the playoff race. They're also a game closer to having their leading scorer return. But there's a catch: They'll be without Danny Granger tonight and have to beat the hottest team in the NBA if they expect to gain or maintain their ground in the Eastern Conference. The Utah Jazz have won 11 consecutive games and are 14-1 since Feb. 1. "When you play against them, you have to bring your hard hat," Pacers guard Jarrett Jack said. Center Mehmet Okur scored a career-high 43 points in the Jazz's victory against the Pacers in January. Utah and San Antonio are the only teams among the NBA's top ..."

Pacers' Granger feels better but isn't close to return

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March 1

Indianapolis Star

"The crutches are gone. He's doing conditioning work in the pool and on the stationary bike. He has even started taking shots, albeit flat-footed, on the court. There's still plenty of work to get done, but Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger is taking the necessary steps to return from the partially torn tendon in his right foot. "It's going slowly," he said after practice Saturday. "I would like for it to go faster, but it's in my heel and I'm constantly walking on it. I can't really do too much about that. I'm also trying to stay in shape, but at the same time, I can't really run so it's difficult. "It's progressing, just kind of slowly." Granger has missed the past five games ..."

Granger must sit and wait

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February 21

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers star Danny Granger is in a situation he's never been in during his four-year career. Granger, who is less than a week removed from his first All-Star appearance, will spend at least the next 10 days watching from the sideline and using crutches because of the partial tendon tear in the sole of his right foot. "It's funny, it's the first time since I've been in the NBA that I'll miss an extended period of games because of an injury," Granger said. "Honestly, I knew it was going to happen at one point. My foot is in pain, but I'm glad it's not that severe." Granger hopes the time off -- he expects it to be between the 10 days and three weeks the team announced -- will help his ..."

No trades for Pacers; Granger out 10-20 days

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February 20

Indianapolis Star

"There was a big sigh on the other end of the phone Thursday afternoon. "It's frustrating," Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird said. "We were out there trying to get something done. I want to throw up." The Pacers' inability to move locked-out point guard Jamaal Tinsley or add players for a final playoff push before Thursday's trade deadline aren't the only reasons Bird felt sick. The Pacers' roster remains the same, but their lineup will be different starting tonight at Minnesota. All-Star forward Danny Granger will miss 10 days to three weeks with a partial tendon tear in the sole of his right foot, which happened in the second quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Mike ..."

Pacers have fingers crossed

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February 19

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers' fading playoff hopes likely rest on an MRI to be done on All-Star forward Danny Granger's right foot later today. Granger, who is sixth in the league in scoring, left in the second quarter of Wednesday's 103-94 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats with a sprained right foot. "It's really painful," Granger said. "It's an unfortunate series of events. Hopefully I won't be out long." Granger, who was dealing with pain in his right knee recently, wore a protective boot as he walked out of the locker room. Granger opened the second quarter by making a layup and a 3-pointer. He said something "popped" in his foot after his jump shot. He went down to the other end of the court before ..."

Granger has tear, possibly out 3 weeks

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February 19

Indianapolis Star

"Pacers Danny Granger has a partial tear in his right foot and could miss up to three weeks, the team said today. The 6-8 forward suffered the injury Thursday night at Charlotte. Granger leads the Pacers in scoring at 25 points per game"

Granger enjoys limited time in NBA All-Star game

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February 16

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger scored two points in his first NBA All-Star Game, but he couldn't have cared less. With his sore right knee limiting his time, the Indiana Pacers forward planned simply to enjoy the chance to be on the court with some of the game's greats. "It was cool. I just wanted to run up and down, try to guard Shaq, stuff like that," Granger said after playing for the East in its 146-119 loss to the West on Sunday night at U.S. Airways Arena. "It was a lot of fun." Granger made his only field goal and had two steals and one rebound while playing just a little more than 10 minutes. The 10th Pacer to make the All-Star team, Granger played in the first half with Dwyane Wade and Kevin ..."

Pacers' Granger ready to show he belongs at All-Star weekend

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February 14

Indianapolis Star

"Don't expect Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger to show up for the 3-point Shootout on Saturday in Phoenix and ask the other five contestants who will finish second, like Larry Bird did in 1986. Granger isn't likely to flash the No. 1 sign as he walks off seconds before the final money ball splashes through the net, either, which Bird did when he won his third consecutive shootout in 1988. Granger, however, does have a legitimate shot to win the event, Bird said. "He's got a (heck) of a chance to win it," the Pacers president said. "The first round is always the key. If he can get by it, he'll settle down and get into a rhythm. The key to the thing is, you're not really going against ..."

Granger: No time to rest aching knee

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February 6

Indianapolis Star

"Bulging ice wraps on his knees, Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger sat in the visitors' locker room and contemplated a possibility he clearly dislikes. Is it time for him to take a few games off? "Maybe, man, but I just don't like that idea," he said after his sore right knee rendered him ineffective for more than a half in Thursday's 99-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. "It might be the best idea, but like I said, we need these games. We're losing. I just can't take this time off, I don't think." Granger, bothered by a sore right knee for nearly a dozen games, made just one of his final eight shots after starting 5-for-7. He had to sit out the Pacers' win over Milwaukee on Jan. 28 and ..."

Granger could play tonight; knee 'better'

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February 5

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger said this afternoon that his sore right knee is doing better and doesn't expect to miss any more games. He sat out this morning's light practice before tonight's game against the 76ers. "I'm not able to practice, but it's getting better," he said. "I just shot a bunch of jump shots, let it rest up for tonight." The knee kept Granger out of the Pacers' 107-99 home win against Milwaukee Jan. 28. He has played at least 33 minutes in each of the three games since then, scoring 19, 19 and 28 points, respectively. Granger said he doesn't expect to miss any more games."

Granger makes 3-point contest

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February 5

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger's All-Star itinerary just got a little busier. Granger, already selected to play in his first All-Star Game on Feb. 15 in Phoenix, was added to the 3-point shooting contest the previous night, the league announced Wednesday. Granger is tied for second in the league with 120 3-pointers and is shooting 40.1 percent from long range. He is on pace to surpass 200 for the first time and could threaten Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers record of 229 set in 1996-97. Pacers president Larry Bird, then with the Celtics, once guaranteed he would win the competition -- and did; Granger wasn't ready to go that far."

Granger joins All-Star 3-pointer contest

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February 4

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger's All-Star itinerary just got a little bit busier. Granger, already selected to play in his first All-Star Game on Feb. 15 in Phoenix, was added to the 3-point shooting contest the previous night, the league announced today.

Granger is tied for second in the league with 120 3-pointers this season and is shooting 40.1 percent from long range."

New All-Star has tons of friends

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January 31

Indianapolis Star

"The phones calls and text messages started about 10 seconds after Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger's name scrolled across the bottom of the television screen. The calls and messages were still coming in nearly 24 hours after he was named an Eastern Conference All Star. "It's been crazy," Granger said. "I'm seriously ready to turn my phone off. It just keeps buzzing. I've got like 30 text messages I haven't even read yet and 20-something voice mails I haven't listened to." Things likely won't slow down between now and the Feb. 15 All-Star Game for Granger. Friends and family members will be calling to ask for tickets to the game in Phoenix. Granger said he gets six tickets and can ..."

Pacers' Granger named to NBA All-Star team

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January 29

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve today. Granger, who is dealing with a right knee injury, is fourth in the league in scoring at 25.8 points, including 14 games of at least 30 points.

Reserves are picked by coaches in the East. The All-Star Game is Feb. 15 in Phoenix. Granger, who signed a five-year, $60-million contract extension before the season, is the 10th Pacer and first since Jermaine O'Neal in 2007 selected to play in the All-Star Game."

Pacers' Granger sits out with sore knee

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January 29

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers have a new concern: the health of leading scorer Danny Granger. Granger sat out Wednesday night's 107-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks with a right knee injury that has been bothering him for some time. "It's messed up," Granger said. "There's a tendon that's required for me to jump and move and it's attached to my bone. It was getting better and then we went through a stretch where it started getting worse and worse playing on it. We are in a back-to-back situation, and with the constant pounding, (the medical staff) told me to sit out." Granger, who is averaging 25.8 points a game, said he started having problems with the knee last summer. "It flamed up and they shut me ..."

Paul, Granger not always best of friends

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January 20

Indianapolis Star

"Chris Paul and Danny Granger have more in common than being the best players on their respective teams. The two were not only roommates at the NBA predraft camp in Chicago in 2005, they almost came to blows when Granger's New Mexico squad played against Paul while he was at Wake Forest during the 2004-05 season. "He did something to one of my teammates and I went at him. They had to break it up and we both got techs," Granger said. "They beat us, too. We didn't like each other then. I couldn't believe it when I got to the camp and saw an envelope on the bed with his name on it." Paul got the best of Granger again Monday when he made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Pacers 103-100. ..."

Belinelli fires up Granger

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January 12

San Francisco Chronicle

"Before Marco Belinelli left with a sprained right ankle Sunday, he nearly found himself in a fight with Indiana's Danny Granger. Belinelli had the ball on the wing early in the second quarter, when Granger's tight defense led to a foul call. Belinelli responded by swinging his elbow - it appeared instinctive more than malicious or intentional, but the elbow caught Granger squarely on the chin and clearly infuriated him. After pausing momentarily to tend to his chin, Granger jumped in Belinelli's face, ready to rumble. The officials and other players quickly intervened before the dispute escalated. Belinelli and Granger each landed a technical foul. Belinelli drew the defensive assignment ..."

Pacers win in clutch again

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January 5

Indianapolis Star

"Did you expect anything other than a close game? It wouldn't be an Indiana Pacers game if it wasn't decided by a possession or two. The Pacers were in their customary position Saturday against the Sacramento Kings. As they did the night before, the Pacers buckled down on the defensive end and got big baskets late to survive Kevin Martin's scoring spree to beat the Kings 122-117 at Conseco Fieldhouse. "We're giving people their money's worth," Pacers point guard Jarrett Jack joked. It isn't much, but the Pacers have won two in a row for just the third time this season. They start their longest trip of the season Monday at Denver. The Pacers' past eight games have been decided by a total of ..."

Pacers head west for 5 games with plenty to prove

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January 5

Indianapolis Star

columnist Mike Wells

"By the time the Indiana Pacers return home in eight days, they will have traveled more than 4,000 miles, played four playoff-caliber teams and perhaps seen the return of Mike Dunleavy. They also should have a better feel for where they stand in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Let the challenges begin. The Pacers, who have endured their share of agonizing losses, start a five-game trip -- their longest of the season -- tonight at Denver. "Going on the road is something we've struggled with early on," Pacers point guard T.J. Ford said. "I think we have confidence because we've played a few of these teams already. I think for us, let's get the first one. The first team is Denver. We have ..."

Pacers Granger does more than score

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November 19

Indianapolis Star

"The lead was never really in danger, but a slight sense of uneasiness was understandable considering they had blown a 26-point lead days earlier. The Indiana Pacers saw what was a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter shrink to seven in about four minutes. There wasn't a letdown inside Conseco Fieldhouse this time, though. Danny Granger supplied a vocal lift to go with his play, and Rasho Nesterovic had his best all-around game of the season to help lead the Pacers to a 113-96 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. "Danny and Rasho were terrific," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "To single two guys out, not only from scoring, but Rasho had eight deflections and Danny had seven ..."

Cramp in leg KOs Granger

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November 13

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger was a late scratch from the lineup Wednesday against the New Jersey Nets because of a right quad cramp. A Pacers spokesman said Granger, the team's leading scorer, would be questionable to play shortly after tipoff. He was ruled out in the second quarter. "It was hurting during shootaround (Wednesday morning)," Granger said. "I thought I would be able to play on it. When I tried to warm up before the game, it kept spazzing." Rookie Brandon Rush, starting in Granger's place, had eight points, four rebounds and two steals in 23 minutes. Granger said he should be able to play Friday against Philadelphia at Conseco Fieldhouse."

Granger remembers New Mexico

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November 11

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers swingman Danny Granger is giving back to New Mexico. Granger, who went to the University of New Mexico, is sponsoring an AAU basketball team, the Granger Hurricanes, in Albuquerque. "They asked me in the summer time if I would be interested and told them yeah," said Granger, who donated $40,000 toward the program. "I had wanted to do it before and now I'm getting a chance to do it. I'll get to coach in the summer some time, and that's right up my alley." Granger said the name Hurricanes comes from his hometown of New Orleans and that there will probably be three age groups in the AAU program. Granger's sponsorship comes just months after he donated $500,000 to the University ..."

One heck of a first impression

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November 2

Indianapolis Star

columnist Bob Kravitz

"The bad news: Danny Granger lost his two front teeth Saturday night as he hustled for a loose ball late in a one-sided game. (Actually, he didn't lose his two front teeth as much as he saw them get vaporized, reduced to jagged little shards after a teeth-first meeting with the fieldhouse floor.) The good news: He can now afford the best dentists and oral surgeons in all the land. One day earlier, Granger -- the soon-to-be-rearranged face of the Pacers -- signed a five-year, $60 million extension, a smart and necessary decision by both the club and the player. "I was kidding Danny, he's just using this as an excuse to get new veneers,'' Jeff Foster said after the Pacers' ecstatic 95-79 ..."

Pacers make Granger the $60-million man

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November 1

Indianapolis Star

"The Pacers' long-term future began to come into focus Friday when the club agreed to a contract extension with forward Danny Granger. The 6-9 forward agreed to a five-year extension that will keep him with the Pacers through the 2013-14 season. The deal is worth at least $60 million and up to $64 million, depending on incentives reached. He's scheduled to make $2.3 million this year. "It's a big load off my shoulders, and now I can focus on getting the team to the playoffs," Granger said by phone Friday as he pulled into Conseco Fieldhouse to sign the deal. "I want to help to get the Pacers back to where they used to be. I'm glad we were able to get something done. I'm glad to be a Pacer ..."

Granger eager to shoot straight

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October 17

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger was putting his shoes and socks on following Wednesday's seven-point victory over Dallas when he grabbed the box score and looked at his stat line. "Ooh, 3-for-15, that's not good," the Indiana Pacers small forward said. Granger probably had a similar response when he looked at the first two preseason games. He was 1-of-11 against New Orleans and 1-of-6 against Chicago. The Pacers' leading scorer last season has also made just two of his 13 3-point attempts in the preseason. Is there cause for concern? No, according to Granger. "I've gone through this before," he said. "I usually get off to a slow start in the preseason. Plus, my elbow has been bothering me." Granger injured ..."

Danny Granger gives $500K for New Mexico arena

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September 17

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger has donated $500,000 to New Mexico's athletic department, funds that will go toward a planned $60 million renovation of The Pit. Pending approval by administrators, the arena's new locker room for men's basketball will be named after the former New Mexico standout. "I want to give something back to the school because I'm a Lobo fanatic and this is a great way for me to do that," said Granger, who is starting his fourth season after being taken with the 17th overall selection of the 2005 NBA draft. The university is currently raising $17 million for the project's initial phase. Plans to modernize The Pit, which opened in December 1966, call for widened ..."

Pacers' Granger is star of the show in Indonesia

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September 16

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger didn't know what to expect when he traveled nearly 10,000 miles last month to participate in the NBA's first basketball camp in Indonesia. But he wasn't expecting this: More than 30 billboards promoting his arrival, police escorts to a sold-out arena, throngs of professional and student journalists asking him questions, and photographers constantly taking his picture. Or this: The Jawa Pos, one of the country's biggest newspapers, displaying a full-page photo of Granger in his home Pacers jersey wrapped around a front-page story in what the paper called the "Danny Granger Edition." "It was cool to be thought of like that over there," Granger said in a ..."

Pacers' Granger wants long-term deal

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July 2

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger's long-range future with the Indiana Pacers could be settled later this summer. The 6-9 swingman, who was the Pacers' leading scorer last year in his third year in the NBA, is eligible for a long-term extension. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he'll likely begin talks with the Pacers in a few weeks. "These things are never easy, but they want to keep Danny and Danny wants to stay," Bartelstein said today."