OAKLAND, Calif. — Earlier this week, commissioner David Stern presented members of the San Antonio Spurs with the diamond-studded rings celebrating their 2004-05 NBA championship.

One member of that title-winning Spurs team, however, will have quite a wait until receiving his jewelry.

Guard Devin Brown, who signed with Utah as a free agent in the offseason, says he will hold off getting his ring until the Jazz visit San Antonio later season.

As it happens, the Jazz do not make that trip until April 17 — their final road game of the season, and 81st of 82-game regular season.

Brown, who went to high school in San Antonio and played in college at Texas-San Antonio, doesn't mind the wait.

"I've got a lot of fans and a lot of family down there," he said, "so I'm just going to get it when I get down there."

When Brown is finally presented with the ring, odds are that Stern won't be around for the ceremony.

Even if he was, the commissioner would not need to worry about getting a kiss from Brown — who watched on TV as former teammate Brent Barry planted a wet one on Stern's cheek during recent opening-night ceremonies in San Antonio.

"Brent — once you meet him, he's a crazy guy," Brown said. "You never know what he's going to do."

REST OF THE STORY: According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, "sources reveal" that former Jazz assistant coach Gordie Chiesa "did not quit as Lawrence Frank's assistant (in New Jersey) due to family problems."

"That might have been an underlying issue, but not the real truth," Vecsey wrote in Friday's Post, after Chiesa's recent unexpected resignation. "The main reason he walked away from ($400,000) per for two years was his boss' refusal to designate any courtside authority whatsoever to his aides."

BOYETTE SIGNS: The Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association earlier this week made point guard Jermaine Boyette their first signing of the season.

The Weber State product played for the Jazz's Rocky Mountain Revue team in July, and previously has taken part in the Jazz's fall camp.