Remember Jan Vesely’s Notebook-worthy kiss of his girlfriend last night? Her name is Eva Koudouskova and she’s taller than half of Minnesota’s roster. There are some hilarious YouTube videos of her and Jan where the reporters ask her all about her game (she hoops), with Vesely standing to the side like a sick puppy, only getting questions like “Where did you meet her?” or “How do you pronounce her last name?” Read More »
Although he’s no Kyrie Irving, Bobby Sura was drafted 17th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1995 NBA Draft. But since he retired in 2007, no one’s really heard from. That is, until now. With the second season of the PokerStars.net show “The Big Game” premiering on Monday, tune in to watch Sura play with some of poker’s biggest names.
Mr. Irrelevant is more of a story than a player. He’s a novelty item, a person to be celebrated but ultimately forgotten. It’s an accepted reality of being the last pick, because that’s what history has taught us. In truth, nothing separates these men from the hoards of undrafted prospects that try to scrap and claw their way onto NBA rosters. It’s a battle royale, and being drafted last provides little to no guarantee that you won’t be kicked to the curb. Read More »
As we mentioned, the Bucks were the real winners in the draft’s only mega-deal, combining with Charlotte and Sacramento in an exchange that netted them Stephen Jackson, Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston and the No. 19 pick, Tobias Harris. They flushed out some dead weight (Corey Maggette, John Salmons), players who were supposed to take them to the next level last year, but ended up pairing to destroy the offense and dampen expectations. Read More »
Chuk-a-what? With the 56th pick in last night’s NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers left a lot of viewers (and analysts) scratching their heads by selecting Chukwudiebere Maduabum. Besides being 6-9, 20 years old and from Nigeria, not much is known about Maduabum, who was quickly shipped from the Lakers to the Denver Nuggets for a future second-round pick. Here’s what could be scrounged up from a few minutes of research. Read More »
When I think of the NBA Draft, three things come to mind: 1) Becoming a millionaire, 2) Shaking hands with David Stern, and 3) Putting on the hat of the team that selected you. (Yes Kobe, you were drafted by the Hornets.) And while I gave you a sneak peek at the Lottery, here’s a great shot of the new Washington Wizards’ 2011 NBA Draft Cap from adidas – the first authentic piece of team apparel a player receives after being drafted. Read More »
Welcome to the 2011 NBA Draft Awards – an awards ceremony where we celebrate the obscene, the awkward and the term “wingspan.” Unlike the red carpet, we encourage the peculiar and admire the hideous. You wear a green suit, you probably get an award. You hug David Stern for more than four seconds, you probably get an award. You make fun of what Craig Sager’s wearing or his unnecessary question about how you’re feeling now that you just got drafted, you bet your ass you get an award. Much like the Oscars, this award defines your legacy – separating the boys from the Hall of Famers.
So without further ado, your 2011 NBA Draft Awards: Read More »
Besides the big names, there were two players I was actively cheering for last night: Isaiah Thomas and Xavier Silas. And the reason being is that most people assumed they were going to go undrafted. Thankfully, Zeke was picked by the Kings with the 60th pick, but Silas wasn’t so lucky. “Well, I went undrafted,” Silas tweeted after all the picks were in. “All that means is that this journey will be a bit more interesting for you and me. Quote me on this… A journey isn’t a journey without a journey.” You gotta love the positive outlook. So for every Kyrie Irving, there’s a J.J. Barea – a guy who gets overlooked on Draft Night but makes a huge impact in the League. With that, here’s are the top 10 players that didn’t hear their named called last night. Read More »
What more could you ask for the day after being the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft? How about your own rookie card. Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company and the NBA’s exclusive trading card partner, announced today that they have inked an exclusive agreement with Kyrie Irving, joining an impressive roster of exclusive athletes in the Panini family that includes Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, John Wall and fellow 2011 draftee Derrick Williams. Read More »
From what I recall in my young life, I’d rank this draft in the top 5, not because it was utterly surprising as far as picks go, but mostly because of how much Twitter enhanced the viewer experience. OK sometimes the pre-pick “sources told me blank team is taking blank player” tweets ruined the surprises; it was a little too NFL Drafty for my tastes. Read More »
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