Kobe Bryant: ‘I’m just like everybody else’

Kobe Bryant is one of the most polarizing figures in sports. He’s part Michael Jordan, part Alex Rodriguez. No player in the NBA fills both ends of the spectrum like Kobe Bean Bryant. He plays the hero and the villain better than anyone. When Kobe finally decides to hang up his Nikes, it’ll be a … [Read more…]

5 best moments from NBA All-Star weekend

When it comes to celebrating its players, past or present, no league does it better than the NBA. And this weekend was no exception. New York City hosted this year’s festivities, and the Big Apple got a real treat. It started with a spin move by a 13-year-old Little League World Series sensation in the … [Read more…]

James Harden’s MVP-type season must be crushing OKC

Back in 2012 the great Bill Simmons wrote a great piece on Grantland that rips Oklahoma City management for breaking up a three-headed monster in James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. The last line of Simmons’ article read: Oklahoma City will rue the day it traded James Harden. Fast forward to 2015. The Thunder … [Read more…]

LeBron, Blatt dynamic still a work in progress

The new year couldn’t come soon enough for David Blatt. The first-year head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers had a rough December as his team stumbled to a .500 record in its last 10 games. An ESPN report recently surfaced saying that there is a growing concern within the team that the players are no … [Read more…]

What Rondo trade means for Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks sent shockwaves around the NBA by trading for Rajon Rondo. The Mavs acquired the All-Star point guard by giving up role players Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and draft picks to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics will reportedly receive a first-round pick in the 2015 draft and a second-rounder in 2016. … [Read more…]

Lillard: Blazers need to embrace being elite

Fans in the Pacific Northwest haven’t felt this good since Starbucks introduced the caramel macchiato. The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off a 54-win season and fresh off a trip to the Western Conference semifinals where they lost to eventual NBA champion San Antonio. Things are looking up in Portland, and expectations for the 2014-15 … [Read more…]

10 observations on the NBA season so far

We’re a couple of weeks into the NBA season, and some fascinating storylines are already developing. Here are my picks for the top-10 developments and observations on the 2014-15 season so far. 1. The Rookies need time Andrew Wiggins. Jabari Parker. Julius Randle. Marcus Smart. This was supposed to be the rookie class that made … [Read more…]

Where Steve Nash ranks among all-time great NBA point guards

Steve Nash has been ruled out this season by the Los Angeles Lakers, and his basketball career is likely over. Because of a recurring nerve damage in his back, the 40-year-old point guard may have to call it quits. Nash’s career spanned 19 seasons in the NBA. He was named MVP twice and made the … [Read more…]

Clippers shift focus on deep playoff run

Donald Sterling will no longer be an embarrassment to the NBA now that he has been replaced by new Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Sterling embarrassed himself, the Clippers and the NBA when a recording was leaked by his personal assistant V. Stiviano on April 25, sending shockwaves through the basketball community. In the … [Read more…]