Words. Chantay Jordan

After LeBron sent the Bulls fishing last week, he finds himself in the middle of many storylines. Aside from bricking a left-handed free throw in a critical part of Game 5, Elbow-Gate and his lethargic play in Game 2 against the Celtics, James seems to be facing another familiar criticism: “He’s too unselfish.” Read More »

The NBA sent a clear message to Danny Ainge and any other front-office executive who wants to sit amongst the “regular” folk at a game: Just because you’re with the fans doesn’t mean you get to act like one.

After Ainge was seen tossing a towel in the air while Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson shot free throws during Game 2 of Celtics/Cavs — an old-school trick that can draw a player on the bench a technical if he’s caught — he was fined $25,000 by the League for “creating an unauthorized distraction” and “conduct detrimental to the game.” Read More »

The fun part about NBA awards season is the arguments. But this year, while the championship race seems wide open and ripe for plenty of debate, most of the regular season awards were no-brainers. LeBron for MVP? Easy. Dwight Howard for Defensive Player of the Year? Easy. Tyreke Evans for Rookie of the Year? Easy. (OK, not really; the fans in Milwaukee and the Bay Area will have a chip on their shoulders for the next decade over that one.)

So it’s only according to form that the All-NBA First Team, which was unveiled earlier today, is a pretty clear statement on who are the five best players in the NBA today, leaving little room for argument. Read More »

You’re a college basketball coach, need some talent and have two roster spots available. It’s time to make a move. Today it was announced that North Carolina rising sophomore twins David Wear and Travis Wear are transferring. Get after it. Read More »

This is going to be one busy NBA offseason. In addition to the Draft (June 24) and the most anticipated free agent period of all-time (beginning July 1) where it seems like one-third of the players in the League will be available, there’s also the World Championships taking place in Turkey from August 28 to September 12.

Since the Redeem Team took care of business at the ’08 Olympics, there isn’t a lot of pressure on Team USA to make a good showing at this tourney, however a gold medal at the Worlds is an automatic qualifier for the 2012 Olympics. Read More »

Yesterday, it seemed like not too many people were feeling Richard Jefferson‘s kicks. But I have a feeling that it was because of him, and not the shoes. With that in mind, check out another version of the Nike Air Max Hyperize, this time made specifically for Amar’e Stoudemire. Although STAT began wearing the Nike KD2 late in the season, you might catch him in these one night. Check out two different colorways after the jump. Read More »

Words. Jonathan Marshall

We’ve already given you the Top 8 freshman and the Top 8 sophomores in this year’s NBA Draft, but before we put together the Top 8 juniors, there was one name that caught my eye: John Sloan out of Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. One might think that Sloan is a 6-7 athletic specimen tearing it up in the small college ranks. That could not be more further from the truth. Read More »

All 15 guys on an NBA roster want to play. That goes without saying. But now I can understand why Nate Robinson must have been so upset riding the pine in Boston at the end of the season: It cost him $1 million. During his time with the Celtics, Robinson didn’t see action in only five games. The first three were right after he got traded, and then there were two random ones in April – the 4th against Cleveland and the 7th against Toronto. While at the time no one thought much of it, Boston’s motives now appear clear: It saved them $2 million. Read More »

With the end of the Heat’s season began the start of its star’s potential exit. Was this possibly the last time we’ve all seen Dwyane Wade rip it up in a Heat jersey? Who knows. I for one think that Wade will be back in action in South Beach come training camp, but what is sure, is that analysts and “analysts” (as far as the basketball blogsphere can see) will be drubbing the issue to death. What this discussion does present us with, however, is a great opportunity to oogle at D-Wade’s highlight reels as much as we want. I for one would love to see Chicago’s son explore other options this summer, but he has become the King of Miami; and that sounds pretty amazing for anyone.

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You know what’s the best thing about NCAA sophomores? They’re not freshmen. Not that two-year players are significantly less likely to be NBA Draft busts than one-and-done guys — ask Cedric Simmons, Pat O’Bryant and Chris Taft about that — but for a lot of the players who do get that extra year in the weight room and of game experience, it can pay huge dividends once they hit the pros. Read More »