To say that USA Basketball had a rocky training camp heading into the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo would be an understatement. The senior men’s national team lost its first two exhibition games in Las Vegas, had three players enter the health and safety COVID protocols, and two players dropped out. Even head coach Gregg … [Read more…]
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a refreshing perspective when it came to playing in the NBA Finals. Giannis wasn’t born in the United States. He was born in Greece to Nigerian parents. He wasn’t a five-star recruit. He wasn’t exposed to the AAU circuit. He wasn’t a high draft pick. His journey to the NBA was different … [Read more…]
Deandre Ayton is causing a major reassessment of the value of an old-school basketball center. When Ayton was selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NBA draft, some internet draft “experts” thought the Phoenix Suns were making a mistake for investing in a 7-footer who doesn’t fit the modern big preferred by analytics. Now, the … [Read more…]
Nikola Jokic is listed at 6-11 and 284 pounds. But even his massive physical stature couldn’t prevent the Denver Nuggets from being blown out of the NBA playoffs. The Nuggets’ 2021 season ended in disappointment after getting swept 4-0 by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. The heavy toll … [Read more…]
When Anthony Davis limped off the court with 6:35 left in the first quarter of Game 6 in the L.A.-Phoenix playoff series, the Lakers’ reign as NBA champions came to an end. Without Davis, the Lakers were unable to generate enough offense to keep up with the Suns and eventually ran out of gas. It … [Read more…]
Remember when Kobe Bean Bryant announced he was entering the 1996 NBA draft straight out of high school? He had his shades flipped above his forehead, looking sharp in his tailored suit. Let’s be honest. He looked like a cocky teenager who feared nothing and no one. Many thought Kobe would fall flat on his … [Read more…]
Before Russell Westbrook came along, Oscar Robertson’s 181 career triple-doubles seemed unattainable. Even Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd both said no one will ever break The Big O’s record. But someone forgot to tell that to Westbrook. Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook made history on May 10, 2021, when he produced the 182nd triple-double of … [Read more…]
It took one of the all-time great Final Four buzzer-beaters to eliminate the UCLA men’s basketball from the 2021 NCAA tournament. Jalen Suggs’ near-halfcourt bank shot in overtime lifted top-seeded Gonzaga to a 93-90 victory over 11th-seeded UCLA in the national semifinals. Suggs’ “banked robbery” (a great headline from the Los Angeles Times) ended one … [Read more…]
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has dished out more than 200 assists in his rookie season in the NBA. But one particular assist stood out. It was early in the first quarter of a March 1 game between the Hornets and Trail Blazers in Portland. Ball was pushing the ball up the court on a … [Read more…]
Each year OneManFastBreak.net ranks the five best players in the NBA. Let’s call it the “OMFB Furious Five.” It’s paying homage to the five styles of Chinese martial arts: snake, crane, monkey, praying mantis, and tiger. The ranking system is based on one man’s opinion and does not follow or conform to any standard format, … [Read more…]