Russell Westbrook scored 14 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter last night to save the Thunder the ignominy of becoming the first team to lose to the Pistons this season. Down 11 points entering the final frame, Westbrook almost single-handedly brought the Thunder back, and once we’d blinked a couple times, the score was tied. Russ and his somewhat out-of-control play in the fourth led to a couple turnovers as well (and we didn’t see Kevin Durant touch the ball for a while either), but he also energized a lethargic-looking Thunder squad that was playing their fourth game in five nights. Read More »

Last night Twitter was all about the latest installment from ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, “Broke” that aired in prime time. The documentary focused on professional athletes who managed to lose all of the money they earned playing professional sports due to things like gambling, real estate, poor advice, bad “friends,” and more. Antoine Walker was one of the stars of the show because he basically lost his money in every imaginable way, blowing through a reported $110 million fortune. [Related: See the largest collection of Antoine Walker memorabilia in the world.]

As part of the promotion for doc, ‘Toine agreed to talk to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless about how he lost all of that money. It’s hard for him to accurately explain it (and harder for the rest of the world to understand it), but here’s the video: Read More »

Mark Cuban went through a spell during the Mavs’ championship run in 2011 where he was as quiet as we’ve ever heard him. He made no headlines, said no controversial things and didn’t even get fined by the NBA. He’s making up for lost time this summer. Recently, not only did he say Jason Kidd wouldn’t get his jersey retired in Dallas anytime soon, but also that Dirk Nowitzki has better job security than Barney Stinson. After declaring Dallas nearly traded for Kobe Bryant while Cuban was practicing for Dancing With The Stars, Cuban is now saying he believes his squad is better off without Deron Williams. Read More »

Dime was on hand for the NBA rookie photo shoot yesterday, where all the top rookies, including Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Dion Waiters, Damian Lillard and Austin Rivers were gathered to have their pictures taken in their brand new NBA jerseys. Between photo sessions, players shot hoops with kids and did interviews. Anthony Davis, as you can imagine, was absolutely mobbed the entire time. Except for one lighthearted moment, when one media outlet orchestrated one of the funnier moments of the day. Read More »

It feels like the NBA offseason has flown by, with the Dwight Howard trade drama and Jeremy Lin‘s departure eating up a large chunk of the conversation. But training camp is just around the corner and we can’t wait to stop talking about Vanessa Bryant. But before we move forward with 2012-2013, let’s look back at the best videos from the 2012 offseason. Read More »

Oof. This was bad. Mark Cuban went on ESPN’s First Take this morning to debate Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless in what promised to be some lively conversation. Cuban is a noted basketball statistician, always plugged in to his team’s goings on and keenly aware of the minutiae of basketball. Stephen A. and Skip, meanwhile, enjoy loud-mouthed blabbering and sweeping generalizations backed up by raised voices as opposed to undeniable fact. Well, Cuban had no reservations eviscerating Skip, reminding him that no one cares what he has to say, ever. This was brutal. I’d tell you more, but you just have to watch the video. Read More »

Unless you’re Skip Bayless and your job is to swim against the current of popular opinion — that being LeBron James keeping Miami almost single-handedly from exiting the playoffs was an incredible, once-every-50-years performance — LBJ was the first thing you talked to your friends about around the water cooler. And why wouldn’t he be? The wrong-footed jumpers (he even banked one in over Kevin Garnett; so filthy), the tip-dunk where his head was at the rim, the 15 rebounds, there was more than enough to go around for conversation. Read More »

“That guy doesn’t know a thing about basketball,” Kevin Durant said of Skip Bayless prior to the Thunder facing the Grizzles on April 2.

SI’s Chris Mannix tweeted recently, “I like @RealSkipBayless, I’ve sat across the desk from him, but the suggestion that OKC is doomed w/Westbrook at point guard is ridiculous.”

As if Skip Bayless doesn’t have enough cats on his hit list, Russell Westbrook is the latest player to feel the hate. He has nicknamed him “Russell Westbrick.” Bayless doesn’t like that he takes too many shots, isn’t a pure point guard, and doesn’t defer to Durant in crunch time. Last season’s playoff performance by Westbrook fueled the media fire against him, but Bayless continually condemns his play and expects he’ll be the Thunder’s cause to their ultimate playoff demise this season. Read More »

Skip Bayless (photo. ESPN)

Skip Bayless recently bragged about a high school career that supposedly included a starting spot on a state championship contender. So during an ESPN debate that became a little testy, Jalen Rose went at him over some false facts, and got Skip to admit that he only averaged 1.4 points a game in high school, and even played junior varsity as a junior. Then Rose dropped the true “Ether” with the “Water Pistol Pete” comment. Read More »

ESPN’s programming seems dedicated to three or four topics nowadays, including Tim Tebow, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Certain network personalities are insistent on creating controversy with the West’s best team. But the 40-13 Thunder do not have locker room problems. Their two shot-happy stars, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, are content. Westbrook, for all of the brooding looks he gives on the court, is loved by the rest of his team. Read More »