This is where amazing really happens. With almost every single NBA player in town staying in one hotel, the lobby is like looking through your basketball card collection. You have rookie cards (DeMar DeRozan was just kind of chilling by himself) and then you have veterans (like Jerry Stackhouse and Stacey Augmon who rolled in with their kids). You also have guys that grew up together (like D.C. products Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant showing one another some love), and Hall of Famers (like Magic Johnson and Bill Walton). Oh yea, and then there’s Tim Duncan. Read More »

According to Twitter, about 7 hours ago I was on the bus to the Rookie/Sophomore practice. And I knew then, as I know now, that today was going to be a BUSY day! Not only is it making it to all the events, and battling the countless numbers of journalists and reporters from all around the world, but it’s getting a few minutes to talk with guys that you really want to talk to. And this morning, I was able to do just that. Read More »

As the League pulls into the All-Star break, we rank each team from worst to first…

30. New Jersey Nets (4-48) MVP: Brook Lopez (18.8 ppg, 9 rpg, 1.9 bpg) We know Louisville isn’t having the best year, and Rick Pitino has some skeletons falling out of the closet down there, but does he really want to get involved in this mess? Jersey seems like more of a job for Whoopi Goldberg.

29. Golden State Warriors (14-37) MVP: Monta Ellis (26.2 ppg, 5.4 apg, 2.1 spg) With their collection of D-League call-ups, guys in and out of the lineup with injuries, national college sweetheart Stephen Curry prominently involved, and perhaps the League’s most passionate fan base, the Warriors would be a feel-good story on par with the Rockets — if only they could win some games. Read More »

Just in time for all of the NBA All-Star 2010 festivities, we’re dropping the digital version of Dime #55 on the site today. You can GO HERE to flip through and read the new issue of the magazine.

For the cover shoot and story, we got up with Kobe Bryant in L.A. back in December, at the launch of the Nike Zoom Kobe V. At a particularly hectic time in Kobe’s life (when isn’t his life hectic?), Dime’s Austin Burton penned the best Kobe cover story and interview you’ll read this year; Read More »

Beast of the Night: LeBron James finished the first half of the ’09-10 NBA season with a bang, putting up 32 points, 2 threes, 8 rebounds, 13 assists and 2 steals. He shot 48 percent (10-21) from the field, 83 percent (10-12) from the line and had three turnovers. The King is undoubtedly the top dog in fantasy ball this season, and there’s no reason to think it won’t be the same story after the All-Star break. Read More »

As a former high school All-American with an NBA body and Lottery-pick potential, Scotty Hopson was supposed to be Tennessee’s top scorer and take on a leadership role. Next year.

But when UT head coach Bruce Pearl dismissed All-SEC senior wing Tyler Smith from the team in January following Smith’s arrest on misdemeanor gun and drug charges — an incident from which three other players were suspended — Hopson had to step up. Two days after Smith was dismissed, the sophomore scored 17 points to lead the Volunteers in an upset win over No. 1-ranked Kansas. Read More »

After making special colorways for Kobe (even though he’s not playing now) and LeBron, you knew that Nike Basketball was also going to take care of their guys in the All-Star Game who rock the Nike Hyperize. With versions for both the Eastern and Western Conference, check out more detailed pics after the jump. Read More »

Rain, sleet or snow, I will be bringing y’all the best of All-Star Weekend. And as I said the other day, throughout the week/weekend, I’ll be keeping y’all up-to-date on everything going on around town, and letting you know about all the player appearances that you can check out. That is, if you’re in town and not stranded in some city covered in snow. Wanna get up with Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan or Derrick Rose? Then keep on reading. Read More »

A quick glance at this year’s All-Star game rosters, and you might think you’re looking at a League injury report. Significant injuries to Kobe, CP3 and B-Roy (as well as personal matters with A.I.) have already kept those players from participating in Sunday’s game. And while those four are sitting out, guys like Pierce, KG, D.Rose, Gerald Wallace, Carmelo and Chauncey will all be playing with nagging injuries. If George Karl limits ‘Melo’s minutes to preserve his ankle for the rest of the season, Kevin Durant would be the lone swingman left on the Western Conference roster. Read More »

It seems this year’s All-Star Weekend is just full of dunk contests. From the dunk-in during the Rookie/Sophomore game, to the search for the nation’s best amateur dunker in the inaugural Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown, to the actual dunk contest during All-Star Saturday Night, there will be more 10s out than a Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoot. But there’s one dunk contest that nobody’s really talking about, and it just so happens to feature some of the most talented aerial artists around. That’s right folks, I’m talking about the dunk contest during tonight’s D-League Dream Factory. Read More »