Around the NBA Updates

Frank Vogel was named head coach of the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, about five months after he took over the struggling team on an interim basis and led them to a playoff berth. Vogel, 38, replaced the fired Jim O'Brien on January 30 and helped the Pacers to a 20-18 finish to the National Basketball Association's regular season and their first playoff appearance since 2006. Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said Vogel, who joined the team as an assistant in 2007 when O'Brien was named the head coach, had been a favorite for the job from the start of the search for a replacement. "I was in no hurry regarding the coach, mainly because I knew I had a good candidate in Frank," Bird said in a statement. "But we wanted to get through the draft and I wanted to have numerous conversations with Frank about a staff that will cover all areas." Reuters

Zach Lowe: Dwane Casey told me he really likes Sonny Weems, was consulted on decision to extend QO. Now Weems headed to Europe, it appears. 

Whenever the next NBA season starts, it won't cost any more to see the Los Angeles Clippers' reigning Rookie of the Year, Blake Griffin. For the fourth consecutive year, the Clippers declined to raise their season-ticket prices despite a 7.9 percent jump in attendance that can be largely correlated with Griffin's arrival and dominant rookie season. The team declined comment. However, ESPNLosAngeles.com obtained ticket information that confirms the prices of Clippers' season-ticket packages remain unchanged. The most expensive courtside seats ran $48,400 for a full 41-game home season. The cheapest full-season seats in the third level of Staples Center ran $396. The Clippers averaged 17,742 fans in 2010-11, a 7.9 percent increase from the 16,343 they averaged in 2009-10. According to Team Marketing Research's annual fan cost index report for the 2009-10 season, the Clippers' average ticket cost $51.47, well above the league average of $47.66 but well below the Los Angeles Lakers' $95.25 average ticket, highest in the NBA. ESPN.com

Darren: Why did you go to Under Armour? Kemba Walker: I think they offered me more than anyone else did. They gave a great presentation to me. Darren: When did Under Armour become cool in your circle? Kemba: I actually just found out about Under Armour last year. A lot of people, especially females, were wearing it on campus. Darren: What do you know about the NBA lockout?Kemba: I don't know much. I'm just waiting for them to tell me when the season starts. CNBC