San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker appears to be in midseason form as he poured in 32 points and dished out six assists in leading France to an impressive 76-65 victory over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in pool play of the 2011 European Championships in Lithuania. Parker made 11 of 20 shots from the field … [Read more…]
Mike Fratello is taking time off from his role as The Czar of the Telestrator on TV in order to fulfill his obligation as coach of Ukraine’s men’s national team. Fratello, 64, dusts off his coaching clipboard at the 2011 European Championship, which started Aug. 31 in Lithuania and runs through Sept. 18. The Ukrainian … [Read more…]
Coach Mike Krzyzewski recently visited with ESPN’s Mike & Mike Show and talked about 21-year-old phenom Kevin Durant and the significance of winning a world championship. Krzyzewski says winning a gold medal at the FIBA World Championships is a greater accomplishment than winning Olympic gold simply because of the competition. “It’s actually bigger because it’s … [Read more…]
Move over LeBron. Step aside D-Wade. Make room Kobe. Kevin Durant is coming fast and furious to join basketball’s Mt. Rushmore. After leading the United States to a 81-64 victory over host nation Turkey in the 2010 FIBA final, the 21-year-old forward of the Oklahoma City Thunder accomplished something LeBron James and Dwyane Wade couldn’t … [Read more…]
Lucky or not, host nation Turkey will be competing for a gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Down 82-81 to Serbia with 4.3 seconds to play, Turkey coach Bogdan Tanjevic’s designed a play for his best player, Hedo Turkoglu. But as the Phoenix Suns forward made his move toward the sideline he lost … [Read more…]
On Sept. 9, 1972, Russia shocked the United States in the controversial gold-medal game at the Olympics Games in Munich, Germany. It was a bitter loss for the Americans, who still refuse to accept their silver medals because they all believe the game was taken away from them by the officials. It was the United … [Read more…]
With one incredible long shot, Milos Teodosic lifted Serbia into the semifinals of the 2010 FIBA World Championship and ended Spain’s reign as world champions. After Spain tied the game at 89 with 25.8 seconds left in the game on Marc Gasol’s dunk, Serbia put the ball in the hands of its playmaker, Teodosic, and … [Read more…]
Dimitris Diamantidis is not a name most American basketball followers are familiar with. But to those hardcore fans in Europe and especially Greece, Diamantidis is considered a basketball god. The 30-year-old guard/forward known for his defense and versatility has a resume worthy of Greek mythology. He is a four-time Greek League MVP, five-time Euroleague defensive … [Read more…]
Because of the lack of star power currently competing in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, some members of the basketball media have tabbed this year’s event as the “B-rated” championships. But don’t tell that to the individuals who have clearly set themselves apart from the rest of the competition and put together A-plus performances … [Read more…]
Don’t cry for Argentina just yet. Even though the South Americans don’t have their best player, Manu Ginobili, in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, the 2004 Olympic gold-medalists are still a threat to contend for a medal in Turkey. Luis Scola has become the unquestionable leader of the team and he having a very good … [Read more…]