After the resounding success of the NBA’s “Encouragement” campaign, where they had current people talking to NBA superstars when they were younger, you were hoping someone was going to take this idea and run with it. Thankfully, someone did. Check out four such spots. This is where amazing truly happens…

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After debuting the “Away” colorway of the Jordan Melo M7 Advance the other night, Carmelo Anthony will unveil the “Home” colorway tomorrow night at the Garden. Check ‘em out: Read More »

While everyone was busy talking about Kemba Walker and the resurgence of New York City basketball this year, Hofstra senior Charles Jenkins was doing work under the radar. Finishing his career as the Pride’s all-time scoring leader with 2,513 points, he became just the 63rd player in NCAA history to log over 2,500 points in a career, finishing second in Colonial Athletic Association history behind Hall of Famer David Robinson. As the CAA Player of the Year for the second year in a row, Jenkins averaged 22.6 points this season, ranking him sixth in the country, along with 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game. But what makes him so special? The 6-3, 220-pound guard from Queens could be the first New York City public school graduate to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since Sebastian Telfair. Read More »

With many of the big name early entrants deciding to forgo participation in this June’s NBA Draft, the collective potential talent pool has definitely taken a major hit. But it has also opened doors for lesser-known products to rise up and surprise a team or two. One of those hopeful applicants is Northwestern junior forward, John Shurna. And Shurna’s no stranger to the spotlight, at least in the Midwest. The prospect from Glen Ellyn, Ill., has been giving the Big Ten the business for the last two seasons. Read More »

Back in 2004, part-ownership of an NBA team was called by MTV “the new hip-hop status symbol.” From Jay-Z (Nets) to Nelly (Bobcats) to Usher (Cavs), it seemed like one-named rappers were destined to join the Mark Cubans and Dan Gilberts of the world at the NBA roundtable. (I’m still hoping Magoo can scrape together enough paper to buy-in somewhere.) But unlike Mr. St. Lunatic and Mr. Raymond, Nets general manager Billy King says that Jay-Z’s role with the team is a very active one. Read More »

Remember that game we all used to play as little kids where we would spin around in circles for as long as we could until we got too dizzy to walk straight? Russell Westbrook was probably really good at that game.

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Earlier today, reports surfaced that Kevin Love was going to be named this season’s Most Improved Player. Just as Derrick Rose is being fitted for this season’s MVP, Love was destined to win the league’s M.I.P. since sometime in February. And to the surprise of no one, he will be given the award officially sometime this afternoon. Read More »

As we documented in Dime #63, the outgoing Derrick Rose that we’ve come to know and love today is not the same kid that we met back in high school. And for anyone that’s ever met him, they know exactly what we’re talking about. Now almost completely out of his shell, watch the forthcoming MVP give a tour of the Bulls’ practice facility, locker room and everything else behind the scenes in Chicago.

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Of all the awards handed out at the end of the season, Most Improved Player has to be my favorite. But at the same time, it’s also the most subjective. For example, should it go to a guy like Dorell Wright who went from 7.1 to 16.4 points per game – the highest increase in the NBA – including a league-leading 194 threes this season? Or a guy like Kris Humphries, who finished the season averaging a double-double, one of only eight players to do so. Regardless of how you look at it, there are always going to be about 10 guys in this conversation that have either gone from unknown to know, role player to starter, or star to superstar. This year, it appears Kevin Love‘s miraculous season will earn him some hardware. Read More »

I can’t remember the last time I saw someone hit back-to-back buzzer beaters in consecutive quarters. Chris Paul did last night.

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