Despite the NBA lockout, this was hands down one the best summers for the game of basketball that I can remember. And if you need reassurance, check out the following highlights of from all over the place through the eyes of The Mars Reel.

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When I saw an article in Forbes last week that detailed how Michael Jordan made $60 million over the past year, primarily from endorsements, I had to laugh. I was on my couch at the time, wearing Jordan basketball shorts. A pair of Air Jordan retros sat next to me where I had kicked them off, a framed poster of a Jordan ad campaign hung on my wall and an empty bottle of Gatorade sat on my coffee table.

My apartment itself is a testament to Michael Jordan’s earning power, which becomes more amazing when you consider how relevant his personal brand remains long after his playing career has ended. Read More »

While I was in Portland for the Jordan Brand Flight Forum, you can only imagine the NBA names dropped while amongst other members of the media. But there was one player I had to defend more than the rest: Darvin Ham. While Trey Kerby of The Basketball Jones says he’s my “No. 1 favorite” player of all time, I’ll say that he is one the top. I mean, do I really have to explain myself. So inspired to cop some “Ham Slamwich” memorabilia, I checked out eBay yesterday and found these: Read More »

Walter McCarty‘s been at this music thing for a little while. Earlier this year, the former Celtic released the album Emotionally (you can check it out on iTunes), and just a few days ago, he released the video for the single “Emotionally.” It might not be Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds or even Kevon Edmonds. That’s alright. It’s at least better than “The Season.”

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ESPN The Magazine‘s annual Body Issue hits newsstands tomorrow, and Blake Griffin will be on one of the four covers. “I’ve already gotten a lot of good feedback,” Griffin told The Associated Press, describing the experience as “uncomfortable at first.” I mean, who wouldn’t be when one of the decisions you have to make is between a white, black or leopard thong to don for your photo shoot. “After a while I didn’t really care,” he says. “They were bringing the robe over after every take and after a while, I was like, ‘Whatever, it’s OK.’ I guess I’m more comfortable now with less clothes.” Read More »

Now that you’ve seen the shoe and the commercial, you knew that the next thing to drop would be behind the scenes footage from the shoot. Filmed in mid-August, the video follows Derrick Rose in Madrid and gets his commentary as he films against the backdrop of a packed bullfighting arena.

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Quick. Name three centers from the 1950s. You can’t do it can you? Our fam at TheHoopDoctors.com did. They named 10 dudes, and made up a list. Some of the names, forget that, pretty much all the names outside of Bill Russell and George Mikan will be foreign to mostly everybody. Even the biggest hoophead has probably only heard the names Ed Macauley and Clyde Lovellette a few fleeting times. They weren’t Dwight Howard. But they weren’t Pavel Podkolzin either. Read More »

Some folks might say we told you so. Others could be nodding their head in agreement. Still others are going to be shaking their head, flabbergasted and shocked. The rest of his fellow NBA players might be in New York City pointing fingers at the commissioner or hooping at some defense-is-a-disease celebrity game, but Deron Williams is across the ocean playing officially. And he’s not doing too hot. Read More »

You’d think with an electric point guard and an authentic Aussie around, the Milwaukee Bucks would be a pretty exciting NBA team. Dig into the team’s statistics from last season and you’ll find otherwise. There isn’t much else in Milwaukee besides some middle-round value, and the most valuable fantasy player the Bucks have to offer is bogged down by serious physical limitations. Maybe Captain Jack can turn the ship around? Read More »

We’ve all done it, but now Brian Wilson (dressed as Larry Bird) has joined the debate over what the greatest NBA team of all time is. Wilson hands down thinks it’s the ’86 Celtics. And while I may agree, the following video is hilarious nonetheless. Think he’s wrong? Prove it by submitting a video at NBA2KDebate.com and join the #NBA2KDebate on Twitter.

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