Notes: Battier earns division award for Sportsmanship

Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON -- Shane Battier made his mother and college coach proud on Wednesday.

The Rockets forward was one of six NBA stars selected as a divisional winner for the 2006-07 NBA Sportsmanship Award, putting him in the running for the league's top honor at the end of the regular season.

Battier became the second straight Houston player to receive the honor after Rockets center Yao Ming earned the nod last season.

"I'm honored by the recognition," Battier said. "I've always tried to play the game the right way and I've always tried to practice good sportsmanship. This is a great game and I try to set a good example for the kids watching out there."

Battier credited his on-court demeanor to his mother and college coach -- Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.

He said he got his first lesson in sportsmanship from his mother, Sandee, during a little league game in Michigan.

"When I was younger, I was pitching in the city championship and I was the Big Unit of the little league circuit," Battier said. "In the first inning, I gave up a homerun. A kid named Josh Dixon took me deep. I probably said a four-letter word that I shouldn't have said. My mom was standing right behind the dugout and she heard me. She let me know right then and there even though I was the Big Unit, that that wasn't acceptable. Since that day, I've tried to control my actions."

Battier got another lesson in sportsmanship when he started his college career at Duke.

"It was a lesson that I learned at Duke," Battier said. "Coach K taught us to never let your opponents see you get frustrated. Never let your opponents see you tired or injured. It goes back to the old military themes and it's been with me since college. I never try to show my opponent that I'm frustrated or I'm feeling bad. I always try to show my opponent that I'm pumped, ready to play and they're going to get my best."

The division winners included Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Chicago's Luol Deng, L.A. Clippers' Elton Brand, Toronto's Anthony Parker and Utah's Derek Fisher. Brand was the recipient of last season's award.

The award honors players for ethical behavior, fair play and integrity. The winner of the award will receive the Joe Dumars Trophy, named after the Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons great who won the inaugural sportsmanship award in 1996.

No complaints: Bonzi Wells is still holding out hope that he will be activated prior to the playoffs, but he said he's willing to be "a really big cheerleader" if that doesn't happen.

"I'd love to play, but we're winning and I'm all about the team," Wells said. "As long as we continue to win, I'm never going to be bigger than the team. So I'm just going to ride the coattails of the rest of the guys and hopefully, we'll continue to win as a team. I'm trying not to be a distraction around here."

Wells went on the inactive list on Feb. 28 with a sore left foot. Despite healing from that injury, the Rockets swingman has remained on the inactive list because he hasn't fit into Jeff Van Gundy's 8 1/2-man rotation. Van Gundy reiterated Wednesday that his rotation hasn't changed.

Wells said he understood the coach's position.

"We're on the same page," Wells said. "It's up to him. Coach likes to play a short rotation and he's got his guys that have been playing all year and have been healthy. I'm thinking he's more comfortable with those guys. But you never know. He might call my number tonight or tomorrow. I'm just always going to stay ready."

Not a flopping fan: Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy can be counted among the names who'd like to see the NBA penalize players for flopping.

The league is considering giving officials the option to give players technical fouls for flopping in an attempt to get a call.

Van Gundy said he would fully support the league in going in that direction.

"It's worn out its welcome," Van Gundy said. "I don't want true courage (of taking a charge) to be eliminated, but guys who exaggerate contact should be penalized. Whether it's done during the game or after the game, I think the game would be better without it."