First-time nominees for the 2013 Hall of Fame were revealed today by NBA.com, a list that includes just one big name but many more, lower-profile influencers on the game as it’s played today. Gary Payton is the headliner on this ballot, though this is just one step to join the Hall, whose results will be revealed at the NCAA Final Four in April. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Trail Blazers founder Harry Glickman, longtime coach Del Harris and Vlade Divac, among others, are some of the nominees. Read More »

I never called Nick Van Exel shy. Too many jumpers early in shot clocks proved he had no conscience. I never called him timid either. Too many arguments with Del Harris proved that. I also never called him faint-hearted. He had enough street cred to get name-dropped in a song by Jigga. I figured he had a little Cypress Hill in him when he shoved Ron Garretson into the scorer’s table. And busting out “the monkey” midgame, against the Jazz no less (I doubt anyone on that team had even heard of “the monkey”), should’ve been all the evidence needed to sum it up: Van Exel had himself some big ol’ Sam Cassell-sized balls. Read More »