Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver and the rest of the Pistons’ basketball decision-makers hold the top card in the 2021 NBA draft. The Pistons have an opportunity to change the fortunes of a franchise that’s been to the playoffs twice in 12 years and haven’t had a playoff win in 14 years. Detroit fans … [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…]
Memo to rebuilding NBA franchises. When evaluating LaMelo Ball, let your eyes dictate. Ignore the noise. If you’re an NBA scout or executive, don’t judge LaMelo because of what you’ve read or heard about him. Don’t let your disdain for his outspoken father, LaVar Ball, influence your decision. Don’t listen to the noise from pundits … [Read more…]
The hype surrounding the 2019 NBA draft all points to one player: Zion Williamson. The Duke superstar is the most celebrated basketball pro prospect in recent memory and he will be coming to an NBA city near you. The New Orleans Pelicans hold the top pick in the draft and — barring some kind of … [Read more…]
This year’s NBA draft may not have a LeBron James or Kevin Durant or a Steph Curry but it has plenty of very gifted young prospects who have the talent and pedigree to could contribute right away for a lot of teams, and may even become the face of a franchise. The Phoenix Suns have … [Read more…]
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA. These two teams have a combined 33 championships and dozens of Hall of Famers. Now, they are in a rare position of drafting No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the 2017 NBA draft. Boston is coming … [Read more…]
The Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 1 selection in this year’s NBA draft, and they have their eye on former Louisiana State standout Ben Simmons. Sixers coach Brett Brown knows Simmons and his family well. He coached Simmons’ dad, David, when he was with the Melbourne Tigers, so it makes perfect sense for Philly to … [Read more…]
This year’s draft was supposed to be the rebirth of the Los Angeles Lakers brand. After Minnesota took Karl-Anthony Towns the Lakers were poised to land arguably the best center in the draft in Duke center Jahlil Okafor. It was a marriage made in basketball heaven, right? The Lakers and a dominant center. You couldn’t … [Read more…]
The Golden State Warriors may have made small ball trendy, but the NBA is still a big man’s league. Go big or go home. That’s the TNT slogan in the NBA playoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers could be the big winners in the 2015 NBA draft as both teams should walk away … [Read more…]
Adam Silver has only been NBA commissioner five months but he has already delivered two landmark moments. First, Silver dropped the hammer on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling by banishing him from the league after it was found that he made racist remarks. Second, Silver and the NBA made an incredible touching gesture Thursday … [Read more…]