I don’t care if Kobe Bryant had to play press secretary, or if Craig Sager decided to be a full-time reporter instead of a part-time pimp during All-Star Weekend in his efforts to get the scoop on Carmelo Anthony‘s future — I’m still refusing to stick the suffix “-gate” on the ongoing ‘Melo story line. Monday’s update: Read More »

Lockout possibilities set aside for the moment, two of the more interesting NBA free-agency stories of 2011 will be Greg Oden and Yao Ming. Two former No. 1 draft picks, both still relatively young (Yao is 30, Oden is 23), both with the talent to be All-Star centers and even franchise centers. But neither can stay healthy. If you were running a team, how much would you be willing to spend on G.O. or Yao? How many years would you be willing to commit? Read More »

In case you missed it, here are the highlights from the D-League Dunk Contest this past weekend. NBA hopefuls Chris Johnson (LSU), Marqus Blakely (Vermont, 2010 NCAA champ), Derrick Byars (Vanderbilt) and defending champ Dar Tucker (DePaul) went at it, with the finals coming down to Tucker and Johnson. Brian Grant, Jerome Williams and Paul George were among the judges.

If you know anything at all about the NBA, you should’ve seen this coming. Up until last night’s All-Star Game, the weekend had been all about Blake Griffin. And even though Kobe Bryant said the rookie could have Los Angeles, we all knew better. There was no way Kobe would let the All-Star stage come and go, especially in his city, without grabbing the spotlight … Bryant (37 points, 14 rebounds) went H.A.M. in the first three quarters, staking his claim to a record-tying fourth All-Star MVP award (Bob Pettit has four) while the West built a lead they would never relinquish. Read More »

While most of the basketball world was focused on the glitz and the glamour of the NBA All-Star game and all of the hoopla surrounding, a new movement in basketball had its day just a few blocks from Staples Center.

On Saturday, under a gritty overpass at the Lower Grand Street Tunnel in downtown L.A., the inaugural Nike Basketball Los Fearless 2-on-2 tournament went off. 64 teams showed up to do battle for a $2,000 cash prize and the bragging rights that come with surviving what is undoubtedly one of the most brutal tournaments in the known basketball world. Read More »

While I think we all would have loved to see Tim Duncan in the adidas Crazy 8, you know Timmy likes to keep it simple. With that, check out the all-red version of the adidas adiPure that he’s wearing tonight. Read More »

Even though I’m pretty sure these are the shoes that Rajon Rondo hurt his ankle in earlier this season, he must have felt compelled to give them another chance tonight. Check out the All-Star version of the Nike Air Max 360 BB Low. Read More »

Just like Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard also debuted a second version of his signature shoe from adidas tonight, the Dwight Howard Superbeast. Check ‘em out: Read More »

While originally slated to debut last night during the dunk contest, Blake Griffin decided to save the premiere of the Nike Hyperdunk 2011 “10 Point Oh!” for tonight. And they’re still hot. Check ‘em out: Read More »

Now that you’ve seen the All-Star kicks for Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Ray Allen, check out what the other member of Team Jordan is wearing in the game tonight: a grey version of the Jordan Evolution ’85. Read More »