If Sunday morning’s roster cuts didn’t give you an idea of what kind of USA team we’re going to see at the World Championship later this month, Sunday afternoon’s USA vs. France exhibition hammered the point home. This squad is going to press and trap and run and shoot — that’s why big men Jeff Green and JaVale McGee were deemed expendable, and how the U.S. destroyed Tony Parker‘s guys at Madison Square Garden … Read More »
I was still in high school when the NBA held its All-Star Game in New York City, but today we’re getting a taste of what it would be like to bring All-Star Weekend back to the Big Apple.
Player introductions were just made for the USA vs. France exhibition, and it’s safe to say the Madison Square Garden crowd hasn’t seen a collection of NBA talent like this in their building in years. Rajon Rondo surprisingly got the biggest ovation of any player, rivaled only by Kevin Durant, NYC native Lamar Odom and Derrick Rose. Oh, and Mike D’Antoni got a huge ovation — and no audible boos. This is the finale of the World Basketball Festival, today’s game and the following exhibition between China and Puerto Rico. Time for tip-off: Read More »
Nicolas Batum is the future for Team France, and a big part of the future for the Portland Trail Blazers. The 21-year-old small forward has two seasons under his belt in the NBA, where he is preparing to take over as a full-time starter next season, and this summer has a featured role representing his country at the FIBA World Championship tourney in Turkey. Read More »
While the World Basketball Festival moves its operations to Madison Square Garden today, wrapping up with exhibition games pitting Team USA vs. France and China vs. Puerto Rico, for most of the four-day weekend we’ve been posted at Rucker Park.
The historic playground mecca of Harlem was once home to Dr. J and Kareem, but more recently has become synonymous with the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic. Read More »
While the World Basketball Festival‘s name implies fun and games, there are some ballplayers on a serious mission in New York City this weekend. Sometime in between today’s exhibition versus Team France and the beginning of the FIBA World Championship, Coach K still has two cuts to make from Team USA — which meant the guys believed to be on the borderline needed to do something impressive during yesterday’s scrimmage against China … Read More »
In front of an invitation-only crowd that included Kobe Bryant, Dell Curry, B.J. Armstrong and Jerry Colangelo, the United States senior national team got the better of China in today’s mid-afternoon scrimmage at Madison Square Garden.
Played in four quarters that were scored separately, the U.S. dominated the first three sessions, but lost the fourth in a close battle that came down to the last shot. We’ll have more details of the scrimmage in Smack, but afterwards I was able to get up with a few Team USA guys. Read More »
Every player has their own signature move. You just might not know it. Whether it’s the crossover pull-up, fadeaway in the corner or the moving screen, if you want to figure out yours, just ask your boys. As for the signature moves of NBA superstars, you can remember practicing those in your driveway growing up. And for those that came through Rucker Park for the World Basketball Festival, they got a special experience. Read More »
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