On a date aligning with Kobe Bryant’s iconic jersey numbers — 8 and 24 — and his daughter Gianna’s No. 2, the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena to honor one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, introduced the statue during an emotional dedication … [Read more…]
Joel Embiid’s historic 70-point game breaks Wilt Chamberlain’s 57-year-old 76ers record
On the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, Joel Embiid took center stage and eclipsed one of the many NBA scoring records held by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Embiid scored 70 points in just 37 minutes on the court to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 133-123 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. It … [Read more…]
L.A. Lakers win NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament: ‘It absolutely means something’
A big shout-out to NBA commissioner Adam Silver for gifting basketball fans the in-season tournament. It was a smashing success. It created a ton of buzz right around a time when football usually dominates the headlines. The championship game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 9 was the most-watched regular-season … [Read more…]
Giannis Antetokounmpo explains why he doesn’t work out with other NBA stars
Giannis Antetokounmpo gave an honest response when TNT reporter Chris Haynes asked him why he doesn’t work out with other current NBA superstars. “I cannot fake it,” the Milwaukee Bucks superstar said. Antetokounmpo’s answer is a reminder of the type of special talent he is in today’s game. He combines his modern-day skillset with an … [Read more…]
Bucks, Celtics, Suns may have made loudest noise but Lakers quietly had best offseason
The Damian Lillard saga was the dominant storyline of the 2023 NBA offseason. It took three months of back-and-forth drama before the Portland Trail Blazers struck blockbuster deal that sent Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade. A few days after the Lillard trade, the Boston Celtics took away some of … [Read more…]
2023 FIBA World Cup: Germany wins gold, U.S. fails to reach podium. Here are 4 observations.
Dennis Schroder came through in the clutch to lead Germany over Serbia in the gold medal game at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, Philippines. Schroder, who had a game-high 28 points in the championship game, was spectacular throughout the tournament, averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 assists en route to winning the FIBA … [Read more…]
2023 FIBA World Cup predictions: Here are the 16 nations advancing to the second round
It’s disappointing that some of the world’s best players such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry won’t be participating in basketball’s biggest international tournament. But their absence shouldn’t take away from the excitement and immense anticipation of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Jokic, the face of Serbia’s national … [Read more…]
2023 FIBA World Cup: Young and inexperienced USA squad has something to prove
The United States senior men’s national team enters the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with the weight of the world on its shoulder. Being the hunted is a familiar position for Team USA after being so dominant for nearly 20 years. But the rest of the world is catching up, and winning a gold medal … [Read more…]
Rookies who shined — and fizzled — at the 2023 NBA summer league in Las Vegas
The NBA summer league is the best teaser to what to expect from the incoming rookie class. As expected, the top lottery picks didn’t disappoint, while others have obvious weaknesses that need to be corrected. The Las Vegas summer league was the main event of the NBA offseason. All 30 teams, armed with their first-round … [Read more…]
Jokic takes No. 1 spot in OMFB Furious Five ranking. Here are the 5 best basketball players.
They don’t call him Nikola Jokic “The Joker” for nothing. When a reporter covering the 2023 NBA Finals asked Jokic if he considers himself the best player in the world, he responded in classic Joker fashion. “I’m confused,” the Denver Nuggets superstar center replied. “It’s hard to say. Sometimes I am, sometimes I’m not. And … [Read more…]