Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski was adamant last August that his second Olympic gold medal as Team USA head coach would be his last. Essentially everyone took him at his word, until a report three weeks ago by ESPN said that his Team USA boss didn’t Read More »

We’ve spent a good chunk of time either talking or thinking about who will succeed Mike Krzyzewski as the USA men’s national team coach after his seven-year run ended in London. It’s time to start thinking about who will guide the freight train of a USA women’s team now, too. Geno Auriemma, the Connecticut head coaching legend, has said he has “zero interest” in taking the job again, although the team’s governing body might still invite him to coach the 2014 World Championships. Is taking a job with a 41-game Olympic win streak too much pressure or little to none? Read More »

The last time USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo wanted to secure a coaching commitment from Mike Krzyzewski, he had a pizza and a bottle of wine with the Duke coach. After winning gold in 2008 in Beijing, Colangelo needed to get Coach K to coach again in 2012 to mirror the commitments many of the players had made. Colangelo joked with reporters that he’ll try the same meal again after London regarding 2016′s head coaching spot, but don’t think it’s a formality the 65-year-old will accept. Read More »

I always wanted to enter the Hoop It Up three-on-three tournament but never did. Clearly, I missed out. It’s wildly popular and no matter where you go in this country, if you ask someone about hooping in the Hoop It Up, they usually know what you’re talking about. Now, a partnership will be taking the 3-on-3 king worldwide.

For the first time ever, on September 9-11 in Italy, FIBA is holding an Invitational 3×3 Youth World Championship for boys and girls 18 years old and younger. How amazing is that? Four players from both the girl’s and boy’s USA Basketball Developmental Team were selected to represent us. Read More »

Meet the next big name in women’s hoops: Diamond DeShields. A 6-1 forward out of Georgia’s Norcross High School, DeShields is coming off a monster season in which she posted 19.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game to lead Norcross to its second consecutive state title. The 2011 Gatorade Georgia Girls Basketball Player of the Year, DeShields is currently in Chile suiting up for the Team USA at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Oh, and by the way, she’s only 16 years old. Read More »

In basketball, being a go-to guy isn’t always about who takes the last-second shot. It’s the guy who regularly gets the basketball when things are getting tense in the fourth quarter; the guy expected to calm things down when teammates are getting antsy; the guy called upon to snuff out an opponent’s rally or spark a rally of his own; the guy who’s not just supposed to make shots, but make the right decisions. Bottom line: Who do you want the offense to run through when everything is on the line? Read More »

We argue. You decide.

DERRICK ROSE (by Casey Mack) As expected, Team USA brought home a gold medal from the World Championship in Turkey. Even though the NBA heavyweights were not on hand to participate in the tournament, the up-and-coming stars filled their shoes nicely.

One place in particular where the youngsters stepped up was at the point guard spot. Read More »

Why Team USA won: Kevin Durant. He absolutely owned the last three games of the World Championship, dropping 33 on Russia in the quarterfinals, 38 on Lithuania in the semis, and 28 on Turkey in the gold-medal finale. Everyone in the building knew KD would be the focal point, and yet most of his buckets today were standstill jump shots, as he was able to play catch-and-shoot and score within the flow of the Team USA offense. Read More »

Labor Day Weekend is one of my favorites in NYC for one reason: The West Indian Day Parade. Having been born and raised in Seattle, essentially a small town if you’re Black, simply being around 2-3 million people who look like me is something that has to be experienced to be believed. And everybody is wrapped in their national flags — Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad, St. Croix, etc. — in one of the most colorful, upbeat parties you’ll ever see. Read More »

I’ve never dealt directly with a bookie, and I don’t know much about gambling, so I have to ask: Is there such a scenario where you’d lose money on “winning” bet? For today’s Team USA vs. Iran matchup, putting $100 on the U.S. to win should cost you at least and extra $50 just out of pure shame in trying to get over so easily.

While Iran did pick up a win yesterday to run their record to 1-2 in Group B, it’s safe to say they’ll be fortunate here to keep the margin under 30. I’m usually one to pull for the underdog, and while there’s a part of me that wants Iran to do well, let’s be realistic: Hamed Haddadi is by far the best player on the team, and he might be the worst player in the NBA. Read More »