Foot Locker x ASICS Announce ‘Real Lives. Real Runners.’ Finalists (VIDEOS)
on Thursday, October 1, 2015
Foot Locker and ASICS have joined forces for the “Real Lives. Real Runners.” campaign. Launched in June, the two companies set out to find aspiring filmmakers to create short films ahead of the 2015 New York Marathon. Five finalists have now been announced. From Foot Locker and ASICS:
The public is now invited to participate in the voting process by viewing the submissions on Foot Locker’s YouTube page today through Oct. 15. At the end of the viewing period, the creators of the three spots with the most YouTube views will be flown to New York City for an exclusive screening event hosted by Foot Locker and ASICS America on Oct. 26, where the winner will be selected and announced by a panel of judges that will include elite runners and celebrity guests.
The winning spot will air nationally on Sunday, Nov. 1, during the television broadcast of the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon on ESPN2, from 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET. The winning filmmaker will also receive a cash prize from MOFILM, plus an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for the annual MOFILM Awards.
Check out the top five spots below:
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WATCH: Marcus Thornton at the 2015 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
After leading William & Mary to its first regular-season CAA championship in 17 years, Marcus Thornton headed to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA.
His shooting ability, athleticism and quickness were on full display against 64 of the nation’s top seniors. For Holmes, the PIT proved to be a step toward eventually being selected 45th overall by the Celtics in the 2015 NBA Draft.
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Kentucky Lands Five-Star Forward Wenyen Gabriel
Up until this morning, the Class of 2016 recruiting class had been relatively quiet for John Calipari and Big Blue Nation, with no commitment from a five-star prospect yet. But that all changed earlier today after the Wildcats received a verbal pledge from 6-9 power forward Wenyen Gabriel. Gabriel blew up this summer after impressive outings in the summer youth circuit.
More info from the Lexington Herald Leader:
Five-star power forward Wenyen Gabriel announced his commitment to the University of Kentucky on Thursday, giving the Wildcats an important addition to the recruiting class of 2016.
“I really like Kentucky because of how Calipari was recruiting me,” Gabriel told ESPN. “He recruited me (himself) since day one. … His approach has always been the same with me. He’s really excited about me, and I feel exactly the same way.”
Gabriel — a 6-foot-9 prospect from Manchester, N.H. — plays for Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts and was one of the biggest risers in the national recruiting rankings over the summer. Scout.com, which did not have him ranked going into the summer, now pegs Gabriel as the No. 10 overall prospect in the class of 2016.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth from him over the past year,” said Scout.com’s Evan Daniels. “He’s grown 2 or 3 inches, he’s such a good athlete and he plays very hard. He runs the floor with ease, he gets his hands on shots. He can step out and make jump shots with consistency. And he can even take the rebound and push the break.”
Gabriel finished the summer by averaging 17.7 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots per game at the star-studded Adidas Nations event in Las Vegas.
He joins 6-10 power forward Sacha Killeya-Jones as the second commitment in UK’s class of 2016. Killeya-Jones is ranked by Scout.com as the No. 29 overall senior in the country. Both are considered versatile post players who have the ability to play away from the basket.
The Cats’ 2016-17 roster will also feature incoming freshman Isaac Humphries — a 7-foot center who will play at least two seasons at UK due to NBA age requirements — and New Zealand power forward Tai Wynyard, who is expected to enroll at Kentucky during the middle of the upcoming 2015-16 season.
“We’re all basketball players. We can all play together,” Gabriel told ESPN. “I have no problem guarding any position. I can guard the wing. I can play on the wing … and Sacha can probably do the same. It’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be really special.
Calipari is also still pursuing several other talented post players in the class of 2016, including No. 1 overall recruit Harry Giles.
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Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG ‘Varsity Royal’ (KICKS)
Jordan Brand just announced the AJ 1 Retro Low “Varsity Royal,” coming out in deep blue. The wings move from the upper to the heel on this remixed silhouette. These come out on October 7 at 10 a.m., for $130.
Images courtesy of Nike
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James Harden Got A Truck Full of adidas Shoes (VIDEO)
adidas’ deal with James Harden is officially official. The Three Stripes showed up at the Beard’s house to start the new era. Harden will be in the Crazylight Boost 2015 during the ’15-16 season.
Check out the photos above and the video below to see Harden living the good life.
Photos and video courtesy of adidas
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Best Video Bombs of the 2014-15 NBA Season (VIDEO)
Watch the video above for some genuinely funny video bombs from the ’14-15 campaign. Featured is Robin Lopez getting into another battle with another mascot, Klay Thompson’s professionalism on full display and you can see Blake Griffin and JJ Redick being foolish, too.
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Rabble.TV Spotlight: CawCast
As we introduced a few weeks back, the folks at Rabble.TV have provided a platform for anyone to call live professional sports games. Users can be commentators for the NBA, NCAA, NFL, MLB—basically any sport you’d like. CawCast, run by Atlanta Hawks fans, calls NBA games on Rabble.
CawCast is made up of James Braswell, Antonis Papadopoulos, Josh Lane and Benjamin John Mason. The group started calling games on Rabble when the Hawks were playing the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
Braswell was on the mic for CawCast’s very first Rabble broadcast. “Rabble is a great place for young and aspiring broadcasters because there are no restrictions to your content,” he says. “You can be as creative as you want.”
After making two episodes of the podcast independently, SB Nation approached the guys at CawCast, asking them to be a part of Peachtree Hoops, the Hawks’ site on SB Nation. Since then, NBA personalities like Ric Bucher, Tas Melas, JE Skeets and Bob Rathbun, from FOX Sports, have been on the podcast. SLAM’s own Lang Whitaker even made an appearance on one of the 23 episodes to date.
With the podcast up and running, the guys started to expand to Rabble. Braswell, who has won an Emmy for producing television at Georgia Southern University, where he goes to school, says using Rabble was a natural choice to learn more.
“Rabble has actually given me a chance to improve my skills as a broadcaster,” Braswell says. “What I enjoy most about using Rabble.TV is the fact that I can call the game from the comfort of my apartment. It’s a really unique experience.” CawCast now has seven broadcasts on Rabble.
Braswell is always the live voice. He incorporates the live comments section into his broadcasts, saying it allows him a way to engage with his audience. Braswell makes sure to connect with fans, especially during pregame, breaks in the action and postgame, where he spends a good amount of time using Rabble’s comment section. He asks questions to his listeners, and uses them as talking points throughout games.
He also is a big Hawks fan, and that fandom comes through during games. “I’ll have more of a Hawks focus, but I try to be as fair and balanced as possible,” Braswell says. “My job is to try to describe the action as it’s happening, so if a big play happens, I react accordingly.”
Braswell’s love for the Hawks is easy to hear. He says “we” when talking about the team. In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semis, his favorite Hawks game from last season, he was pretty animated while broadcasting the game from Grafenwoehr, Germany. “Paul Pierce!” Braswell says on that post. “What a guy. What a shot.”
Braswell says the goal for CawCast in this upcoming season will be to call as many games as possible on Rabble. He expects the Hawks to do well and to play consistently at the same level they reached during last season’s 19-game winning streak. “I expect improvement from Thabo Sefolosha, Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore,” he notes.
To keep up with Braswell and CawCast, keep it tuned to their site, and a keep a head up for their next Rabble broadcast. The Hawks first game of the season is on October 27, against the Detroit Pistons. Expect to hear Braswell on the call for that game—and in the meantime, go over to SB Nation to hear Lang Whitaker’s episode of CawCast. #ATLshawty
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SLAM Top 50: Al Horford, no. 23
The Atlanta Hawks and their three-time All-Star big man Al Horford could not have asked for a better season than the one that unfolded in 2014-15.
The Hawks won 60 games en route to receiving the No. 1 seed in the East. There were four All-Stars representing the team in New York at last year’s All-Star game. A first-ever Eastern Conference finals appearance and a level of popularity that more than rivaled both the Braves and Falcons filled Phillips Arena all season long. Good times were had by all.
A lot of that has to do with Horford coming back healthy after missing 53 games the previous season.
Career years by starting point guard Jeff Teague, shooting guard Kyle Korver and power forward Paul Millsap along with wing man (and current Toronto Raptor) DeMarre Carroll all added up to the greatest year in Atlanta Hawks history (for whatever that’s worth), but none of that is possible without Horford.
One of the League’s most versatile players, Horford averaged 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game despite playing out of position at center to better get the most out of Millsap.
His 15.2 points per game (third on the team after Millsap and Teague, respectively) and 7 rebounds per game don’t tell the Dominican born big man’s value to his team. During the 2013-14 season, when Horford was out for the majority of the regular season, the Hawks finished 38-44, making the Playoffs but losing to Indiana in seven games. The following season with Horford playing 76 games, the team has a season of a lifetime. Coincidence? Not likely.
Horford’s unselfish play—he only took 12.7 shots per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the field—keeps defenders honest while he also doubles as the Hawks’ best interior defender and post playmaker.
He’s also clutch. Case in point: Game 5 of their second-round Playoff series against the Washington Wizards, Phillips Arena. Horford’s 23-point, 11-rebound and 5-block game helped put the Hawks in position to win the game. His putback of a Dennis Schroder miss with less than two seconds remaining on the clock made winning a reality.
The math is simple: With Al Horford on the floor, the Hawks are one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
The son of a former NBA player (Tito Horford) and the older brother of current MIlwaukee Buck and former Michigan Wolverine, Jon Horford, Horford was set to play for the Dominican National Team this summer in hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Horford has always been a winner on every level—Michigan Class A Player of the Year out of Grand Ledge High School, back-to-back NCAA Champion at Florida in 2006 and 2007, SEC tournament MVP in 2007 and NBA All-Rookie First-Team in 2008.
All the man does is win and headed into the 2015-16 season with the entire Eastern Conference, Horford will needed more than ever to be, well…Al Horford.
| SLAM Top 50 Players 2015 | ||||
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Pos. Rank |
| 50 | Rajon Rondo | Kings | PG | 14 |
| 49 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | SF | 8 |
| 48 | Rudy Gobert | Jazz | C | 10 |
| 47 | Al Jefferson | Hornets | C | 9 |
| 46 | DeMar DeRozan | Raptors | SG | 7 |
| 45 | Goran Dragic | Heat | PG | 13 |
| 44 | Zach Randolph | Grizzlies | PF | 11 |
| 43 | Jeff Teague | Hawks | PG | 12 |
| 42 | Bradley Beal | Wizards | SG | 6 |
| 41 | Joakim Noah | Bulls | C | 8 |
| 40 | Eric Bledsoe | Suns | PG | 11 |
| 39 | Tony Parker | Spurs | PG | 10 |
| 38 | Andrew Wiggins | T-Wolves | SF | 7 |
| 37 | Kyle Lowry | Raptors | PG | 9 |
| 36 | Serge Ibaka | Thunder | PF | 10 |
| 35 | Gordon Hayward | Jazz | SF | 6 |
| 34 | Pau Gasol | Bulls | PF | 9 |
| 33 | Paul Millsap | Hawks | PF | 8 |
| 32 | Mike Conley | Grizzlies | PG | 8 |
| 31 | Andre Drummond | Pistons | C | 7 |
| 30 | Dirk Nowitzki | Mavs | PF | 7 |
| 29 | Draymond Green | Warriors | PF | 6 |
| 28 | Kobe Bryant | Lakers | SG | 5 |
| 27 | Dwyane Wade | Heat | SG | 4 |
| 26 | DeAndre Jordan | Clippers | C | 6 |
| 25 | Tim Duncan | Spurs | C | 5 |
| 24 | Derrick Rose | Bulls | PG | 7 |
| 23 | Al Horford | Hawks | C | 4 |
Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2015-16—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.
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2015 Jordan Holiday Collection Preview (KICKS)
Earlier this week, we had the privilege of peeping Jordan Brand’s upcoming 2015 Holiday releases at an invite-only Editor Preview in New York City. Needless to say, there was some serious heat on hand.
Scroll through the photos above—and watch the video, too—to get a closer look at what Jordan Brand has coming out over the next few months, including the brand new Jordan CP3.IX and retros like the Air Jordan XI “72-10″ that will have you drooling.
Here are a few release dates so you can mark your calendars properly:
Jordans coming soon… Air Jordan 1 "UNC" 10/10 Air Jordan VII "Nothing But Net" 11/14 Air Jordan XI "72-10" 12/19 http://pic.twitter.com/BJ8Uza2UBO
— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) September 29, 2015
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On the Outside Looking In: Ranking East Teams Most Likely to Break Into Playoff Field
Less than a month now separates us from the start of the 2015-16 NBA regular season. While the Cleveland Cavaliers are again expected to be the class of the Eastern Conference, there are a number of teams that earned lottery picks a season ago, looking to be playing basketball in May. Here’s a look at which seven teams that missed the playoffs in the East last season are most likely to be in that field this year:
1. Indiana Pacers
Despite having superstar Paul George miss 76 games a year ago, the Pacers finished just one game short of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This year, George will have a legitimate No. 2 scorer by his side in Monta Ellis. The team also made an emphasis to become more athletic in the frontcourt by replacing David West and Roy Hibbert with Jordan Hill and Lavoy Allen while drafting former Texas standout Myles Turner.
2. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have a roster that would indicate it should be among the best teams in the East, but Miami woefully underachieved a season ago. Forwards Chris Bosh and Luol Deng did miss significant time, but if they can stay healthy, the Heat could have one of the conference’s best starting fives. Re-signing Goran Dragic will bring stability to the other guard position next to Dwyane Wade. Center Hassan Whiteside came on strong last year and the addition of swingman Gerald Green could do wonders for the team’s depth.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 14: Victor Oladipo #5 of the Orlando Magic reacts during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2015 NBA Allstar Weekend at Barclays Center on February 14, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
3. Orlando Magic
New head coach Scott Skiles will be looking to turn around a team that hasn’t won more than 25 games in any of the last three seasons, but the talent for Orlando is pretty good. The re-signing of forward Tobias Harris keeps a strong, young nucleus in place that includes center Nikola Vuecvic and guards Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. The selection of Mario Hezonja and signing of C.J. Watson should help the Magic stretch the floor.
4. Detroit Pistons
The loss of Greg Monroe may have been the biggest headline surrounding the Pistons this offseason, but the personnel on the roster may be the best fit for head coach Stan Van Gundy’s system since he came to Detroit. The Pistons have a deep backcourt with Reggie Jackson, Brandon Jennings, Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Ersan Ilyasova can stretch the floor from his power forward position while center Andre Drummond remains one of the league’s most underrated big men. Rookie Stanley Johnson should be able to contribute right away, but Detroit still lacks a go-to scorer.
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 29: Al Jefferson #25 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts after a play during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Time Warner Cable Arena on October 29, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 108-106 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
5. Charlotte Hornets
It’s safe to say that there’s at least a handful of fans in Charlotte that aren’t sad to see guard Lance Stephenson go, but finding scoring outside of guard Kemba Walker and center Al Jefferson may be difficult. Centers Spencer Hawes and rookie Frank Kaminsky are each capable of stretching the floor as is acquisition Nicolas Batum, but Charlotte still had a less than stellar offseason and could take a step back.
6. New York Knicks
Having forward Carmelo Anthony healthy will be key for the New York Knicks, but reaching the postseason is still a long shot. The additions of center Robin Lopez and guard Arron Afflalo are certainly upgrades for New York, but how NBA-ready sharp-shooting rookie and Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis is remains to be seen. The point guard position is also a major mystery at this point.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
There is reason for optimism in the City of Brotherly Love, but most of that optimism is in regard to the future. Third overall pick Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel give Philadelphia three pillars to build around inside. Guard Tony Wroten showed the potential to be a solid scorer at the NBA level in 30 games last season.
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Under Armour x Muhammad Ali Collection (PHOTOS)
Yesterday. Under Armour unveiled a collection of apparel and footwear in collaboration with Muhammad Ali, which launches on November 1, at Under Armour stores and underarmour.com
We're at Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn checking out @UnderArmour's new Muhammad Ali performance product collection. 🔥🔥🔥 http://pic.twitter.com/4OaWp1GMdJ
— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) September 30, 2015
The collection celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila, and the collection marks UA’s first ever performance training collection.
Check out the photos above to see what UA and Ali cooked up. And peep the dope video below for appearances by Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Misty Copeland and Jordan Spieth.
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Kobe Bryant Plans to Be More of a ‘Catch and Shoot’ Player
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott is toying with the idea of a lineup consisting of Kobe Bryant at the three, guards D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, with Julius Randle and Roy Hibbert anchoring the paint.
Kobe has already said he’s willing to play small forward—something he points out that he’s done throughout his storied career—and thinks not having the ball in his hands so much will allow him to focus on more catch-and-shoot action within the offense.
Kobe didn't touch the ball when we saw him scrimmage. Kobe: "I don't think it matters, man. I don't have to handle the ball at all."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 1, 2015
Bryant, 37, has been going hard during the first two days of the Lakers’ training camp in Honolulu, but claims that his offseason workouts were much more challenging.
Per the OC Register:
“I think the more those guys can play together, the better,” Scott said. “I’m going to try that out this first week, see how it goes and then I’ll start mixing and matching a little bit more. It looked good.”
Bryant at small forward was not so much a surprise as it was strange to see. Scott has frequently discussed giving Bryant time on the wing, which in theory could reduce the amount of strain required for him to get open shots. […] “I don’t have to handle the ball really at all,” Bryant said. “Gives me more time to catch and shoot.”
He said having Russell and Clarkson on the court makes his job simpler. […] “These guys can handle the ball and make incredible decisions and make plays,” he said. “Makes it a lot easier.”
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SLAM Top 50: Derrick Rose, no. 24
Coming off a successful 2015 postseason, in which he hit a game-winner against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Derrick Rose turned down an offer to attend USA Basketball mini camp in order to spend his summer like a regular basketball player.
Three years of rehab weighing on him, Rose admitted to having “tunnel vision” over the summer, fueled by the prospect of incredible riches when he hits free agency in 2017.
And still, Rose would not get a quiet summer in the lab. A former female partner accused Rose, along with his friends, of rape in an alleged 2012 incident.
He has repeatedly claimed his innocence, while regretting his indiscretions of the past.
As Rose has learned, an incredibly rich basketball player must live with nearly unattainable expectations—not only in one’s decision-making off the court, but as a professional on the court.
In all, Rose did not have a terrible season last year. He played in 51 regular-season games (more than he played in the previous two seasons combined), and 12 games in the post-season.
He had his right meniscus removed in February, and looked far more comfortable afterward in the Playoffs. He fixed a completely broken, line-drive of a three-point shot, and eventually converted a respectable 34.8 percent in the Playoffs.
The season was a re-acclimation process. One that can be deemed a success merely because he finished the season healthy and on a good note.
But the fact remains that former MVP Derrick Rose, while in his prime at almost 27 years old, is no longer what we would call an elite player in the League. Rose now painfully watches his contemporaries—Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin—take the reigns of a League that once was his.
He claims that he can still be the MVP. But do we believe that he’ll ever again be the MVP of his own team?
In new head coach Fred Hoiberg’s space-and-pace offense, Rose will have to become more efficient with the ball. An incredibly high 47.9 percent of Rose’s shots last season were taken after he dribbled the ball three or more times. That type of ball-stopping action will not fly this year.
Of course, Rose is most dangerous when he’s driving to the basket, and he should see plenty of opportunities to slash given Hoiberg’s affinity for high-ball screens and spacing the floor with shooters.
His pull-up jumper from the mid-range has to be respected. His floater, feared. When the defense collapses, his unique court vision allows him to create a number of assist opportunities for teammates.
There is cause for some concern, though, as Rose produced at only a League-average rate when running in the pick-and-roll last season, and was almost ineffective (bottom 16th percentile) when running the fast break.
Rose tries to do too much with the ball at times, and gets forced into bad turnovers. He threw the ball away on average 1.75 times per game last season, a number that jumped up to 2 intercepted passes per contest in the postseason.
Sadly, after a summer spent on fine-tuning his game, Rose will miss training camp and most of pre-season with a fractured orbital bone. The injury doesn’t seem to threaten his chances of playing in Chicago’s regular-season opener, but it’s another reminder that D-Rose can never just be a regular basketball player.
With great riches comes great responsibly. No one said it would be easy.
| SLAM Top 50 Players 2015 | ||||
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Pos. Rank |
| 50 | Rajon Rondo | Kings | PG | 14 |
| 49 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | SF | 8 |
| 48 | Rudy Gobert | Jazz | C | 10 |
| 47 | Al Jefferson | Hornets | C | 9 |
| 46 | DeMar DeRozan | Raptors | SG | 7 |
| 45 | Goran Dragic | Heat | PG | 13 |
| 44 | Zach Randolph | Grizzlies | PF | 11 |
| 43 | Jeff Teague | Hawks | PG | 12 |
| 42 | Bradley Beal | Wizards | SG | 6 |
| 41 | Joakim Noah | Bulls | C | 8 |
| 40 | Eric Bledsoe | Suns | PG | 11 |
| 39 | Tony Parker | Spurs | PG | 10 |
| 38 | Andrew Wiggins | T-Wolves | SF | 7 |
| 37 | Kyle Lowry | Raptors | PG | 9 |
| 36 | Serge Ibaka | Thunder | PF | 10 |
| 35 | Gordon Hayward | Jazz | SF | 6 |
| 34 | Pau Gasol | Bulls | PF | 9 |
| 33 | Paul Millsap | Hawks | PF | 8 |
| 32 | Mike Conley | Grizzlies | PG | 8 |
| 31 | Andre Drummond | Pistons | C | 7 |
| 30 | Dirk Nowitzki | Mavs | PF | 7 |
| 29 | Draymond Green | Warriors | PF | 6 |
| 28 | Kobe Bryant | Lakers | SG | 5 |
| 27 | Dwyane Wade | Heat | SG | 4 |
| 26 | DeAndre Jordan | Clippers | C | 6 |
| 25 | Tim Duncan | Spurs | C | 5 |
| 24 | Derrick Rose | Bulls | PG | 7 |
Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2015-16—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.
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Shaquille O’Neal Made Goran Dragic Carry a Piano Keyboard Everywhere
When Goran Dragic was a rookie during the 2008-09 season, Shaquille O’Neal took it upon himself to haze the newcomer.
Shaq made the 21-year-old Phoenix Suns guard inexplicably carry around a piano keyboard everywhere the team went.
Dragic reports that he never heard the big fella play a single key.
Per the Palm Beach Post:
“I always had to carry his piano keyboard,” Dragic said.
“Is that the word, keyboard? I always had to carry that for him on the road. I didn’t know why he needed it. A couple of times his room was next to mine and I never heard him playing that thing. He was messing with me.”
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50 Questions For 2015-’16: What Are Realistic Expectations For The Top 10 Picks?
Getting ready for the 2015-’16 season? I’m asking 50 questions before things get under way. Have an important question for the upcoming NBA season you want answered? Find me on Twitter (@thatjoemags). Thanks for reading!
Let’s dive into the Top 10 picks from the 2015 NBA Draft and make reactionary, measured predictions for their seasons.
1. Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns will make greater leaps off the floor learning from Kevin Garnett and Tayshaun Prince than on the floor for the sputtering Timberwolves. The 3-point range we’ve all heard about won’t click from day one, but Towns’ production will closely resemble the 10 points, six rebounds and 1.6 blocks Garnett averaged as a rookie before exploding as a sophomore.
2. D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
With a gaggle of “I Need The Ball” guards blocking his path, Russell will spend more time off the ball than he should. The benefit? He’ll display his shooting touch — he was a 41.1 percent shooter from 3 at Ohio State — and have more time to improve on his turnstile defense. By season’s end, the Lakers will be long out of the playoff race, and Russell will finally get the keys to the car.
3. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
Okafor will benefit from being the most competent scorer from day one in Philadelphia, but he’ll also reap the rewards of the most talented 76ers roster since “The Process” began. The addition of Nik Stauskas and Kendall Marshall will add just enough spacing and passing, respectively, to showcase Okafor’s skills as a postup. He’ll lead all rookies in scoring.
4. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
Porzingis is a lightning rod in New York, but here goes nothing on making a conservative prediction for his rookie year. Carmelo Anthony will predominately play power forward next to Robin Lopez, meaning Porzingis will come off the bench most of the year. Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher are invested in him — this is not Darko Milicic-Detroit Pistons all over again — but in limited playing time, Porzingis won’t do much more than establish his blanket NBA skills. He’s a true shooter and he can block shots. Whether or not Anthony finishes the season as a Knick, however, will play a large role in how quickly Porzingis bursts into the Knicks starting lineup.
5. Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
Hezonja injects two badly needed elements to the Magic rebuild: perimeter shooting and attitude. It’s inevitable Hezonja and new head coach Scott Skiles will butt heads every now and then, but Hezonja will win the Orlando fans over in a heart beat.
.@Double0AG & Mario Hezonja are the new sheriffs in town. #GunShow #MagicMediaDay http://pic.twitter.com/edwEbZMxlA
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) September 25, 2015
6. Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
Stein is playing out of position offensively, and that will accentuate his shortcomings. Ideally, he’d be the Tyson Chandler to a Dirk Nowitzki-type forward, but instead he’s going to be roaming around DeMarcus Cousins post entries. Where he does figure to impress right away is defensively. Stein can guard every position on the floor, and he and Cousins will make scoring in the lane on Sacramento very difficult. If the Kings are a real playoff threat, it’s because they ratcheted up their defense, and Stein will help immediately.
7. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
Mudiay already has professional experience under his belt, giving him a head start during summer league. The Nuggets are rebuilding the team around Mudiay and Jusuf Nurkic, and he’ll be allotted starter’s minutes and a long leash from the get-go. Mudiay will have plenty of hiccups along the way — namely when teams force him to shoot over the top — but he’s a contender for Rookie of the Year because of the minutes he’s promised.
8. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons
For the next few years, critics will watch closely to see if the Pistons screwed up not taking Winslow. Johnson is a different player with different skills, and Stan Van Gundy didn’t misread the board. Johnson enters his rookie season with a usable jumper — the same cannot be said about Winslow. He’s a capable defender with an NBA body, and Johnson could be the starting small forward in Detroit before season’s end.
(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
9. Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets
Kaminsky has plenty of question marks — his thin frame will provide challenges on the defensive end against centers, but he doesn’t have the quicks to chase the most dynamic 4s. He needs playing time and the patience of the organization to get through the growing pains. Considering how “all in” the Hornets went this season in order to chase a playoff spot, I’m not sure Kaminsky will see the floor over established players when the games matter most.
10. Justice Winslow, Miami Heat
Winslow is a young, athletic guy on a roster full of old, diminished guys — he was the perfect pick at No. 10 for Miami. He will be asked to check the top scorers from the other team whenever Luol Deng needs a blow or Dwyane Wade comes out of the game. Winslow is a work in progress offensively, but Miami has plenty of scoring. The Heat will need his physicality come playoff time.
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Running With Wolves: Minnesota Timberwolves 2015-16 Season Preview
Boasting the No. 1 overall picks from the 2014 and 2015 NBA Drafts in Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns, the future has arguably never been brighter in Minnesota.
Key additions
Karl Anthony-Towns, Tyus Jones, Nemanja Bjelica, Tayshaun Prince, Andre Miller, Lorenzo Brown, Nick Wiggins
Key departures
Chase Budinger, Anthony Bennett, Robbie Hummel, Gary Neal
2015-16 Season Preview
Coming off an exceptionally cold winter in which injuries helped bury them in the league’s basement, the Wolves made up for their in-season losing with a big win at the NBA’s annual draft lottery.
Pairing two young players possessing superstar potential has to feel like a dream for the Minny faithful, especially having watched management struggle to surround Kevin Garnett with talent during his prime years.
KG, the Professor, and Prince will provide the player-coach perspective, and the impact they are sure to have on the young players makes them each worth so much more than their contracts.
Garnett, Sam Mitchell, and Flip Saunders know one another like the back of their own hands. Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin, though oft-injured, provide veteran leadership and NBA know-how. Establishing a strong culture will be the goal for 2015-16, a year in which the Wolves are playing with house money.
No one is expecting this team to be in the playoff discussion when April rolls around, but a sizable leap from A.W. combined with a smooth transition for K-A-T could have this team winning far more games than most imagine.
If Ricky Rubio can stay healthy, this Wolves team has enough depth and skill to compete on a near-nightly basis right away, at least in my opinion.
Projected Record: 31-51
Following the assumed top-seven of (in no order) the Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Pelicans, the Jazz have to be the favorites to land the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
Many odds-makers have the Wolves winning somewhere around 25 games, with Western Conference teams like the Kings, Lakers, Blazers, and Nuggets all projected to finish with superior records.
Personally, I believe that Minnesota will win more games than those four teams. Further, Dallas and Phoenix are both decent fall-off candidates, as the Mavericks have legitimate injury issues, and the Suns’ chemistry could be cause for concern.
Less than two years removed from the Kevin Love sweepstakes, Wolves nation should be fully rejuvenated in 2015-16. If this team has better luck in the injury department than last year (which is almost a given), I’ll be surprised to see them fall short of 30 wins. It won’t be hard exceeding the low expectations that have been set by some, but rest assured KG and the coaching staff will set the bar high for this exciting young group of hoopers.
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Exclusive First Look: Stance Unveils Milwaukee Bucks Official On-Court Socks (PHOTO)
A few weeks back, Stance Socks unveiled the official 2015-16 on-court socks for six NBA teams. Since then, they’ve been rolling out each remaining team’s socks one by one. Today, we’ve got the exclusive on the next team to get its official on-court socks unveiled: the Milwaukee Bucks. Check out Trillwaukee’s socks:
Starting on Opening Night, the Bucks—and every other NBA team—will not only rock white and black socks, but also the team-specific color-coordinated socks like you see above, one of which even includes the team logo on the back.
Stance’s team socks will be available for fans at retail starting on October 15 at Stance.com and major retail partners like Foot Locker.
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WATCH: Carmelo Anthony Holds Knicks Mini-Camp in Puerto Rico
Carmelo Anthony invited his New York Knicks teammates to Puerto Rico this summer, offering them a chance to train and bond together prior to the regular season.
Melo, who did quite a bit of traveling across South America during the offseason, explains some of the motivation behind having recently-purchased a pro soccer team.
In the video above, which was produced by VICE, Anthony spends time in some of La Perta‘s roughest neighborhoods with a colorful cast of characters.
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Mo Williams: LeBron James’ Blessing Needed to Play for Cavs
LeBron James, as everyone knows, is the de-facto general manager (and, at times, head coach) in Cleveland.
Mo Williams, who inked a two-year deal to return to the Cavs this summer, confirms that LeBron must give his OK before the team signs a free agent.
Williams had a meltdown on social media after James bolted for South Beach in 2010, but the two have since patched things up.
Per NEOMG:
A blessing from James goes a long way in getting management to increase their intensity level in signing that particular free agent. […] “Yeah, you have to call. This is his team,” Mo Williams, who played two seasons with James in Cleveland from 2008-10, said. “That’s no secret. The conversation was made and the feeling was mutual. It was a good conversation.”
Williams notably shared his disapproval on social media on the way James left Cleveland in 2010 to form the Big 3 in Miami. On the day of “The Decision,” a frustrated and disappointed Williams tweeted, “The only thing, and I mean the only thing I disagree with is. … If he knew somewhere else was the destination, he should have spared Cle.” [….] Williams took it hard. He had become an All-Star as James’ teammate. But devastated by the departure, he contemplated retirement at 27. Their friendship took a hit. They went their separate ways.
So how did these two end up sharing the same locker room once again? Williams said James is a forgiving human being. A few years back, Williams reached out to settle their differences. It didn’t take long for the conversation to transition to their old time playful banter. […] “It wasn’t any animosity during the talk,” Williams said. “I thought when we conversed about the opportunity of me coming back, he was excited, I was excited and we got it done. It was basically simple as that.”
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Ty Lawson: Stephen Curry ‘Was Just Chillin’ on Defense’ During Playoffs
On their way to the 2015 NBA Finals, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors dismissed the Houston Rockets in five games.
Ty Lawson was watching the Western Conference Finals with great interest, and says he watched Curry basically coast on defense.
Lawson is now playing for a title in Houston, and says the League’s reigning MVP will have to work extra-hard should the two teams run into each other again in the postseason.
Per Yahoo! Sports:
Before Ty Lawson texted James Harden with a plea – “Man, get me over there” – he had studied the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in the Western Conference Finals and come to a conclusion: Half the time, Steph Curry was coasting. […] “Steph Curry needed someone to go back at him,” Lawson said. “I thought Steph was just chillin’ on defense – and then going crazy on offense. He looked like he was just putting shots up and not working so much on the defensive end. He would just come down and hit three or four 3s. He can shoot when he’s got his legs under him.”
Now, Ty Lawson is sitting at a table in a room in the Toyota Center. He’s wearing a Houston Rockets practice top and a smile that keeps coming, and feeling so, so sure of himself again. “I’m not saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to stop Steph,’ but just make him work harder at the other end. I saw that in the Cavs series too. […] “He wasn’t really working at the other end.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever seen so many good point guards in one conference at one time in the league ever,” Lawson said. “But you’ve got to win. If you want to be an elite PG in this league, you’ve got to win. You’ve got to be in the conference finals, the NBA Finals. If you’re not winning, you’ll always be a second-tier, or third-tier point guard.”
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LeBron James on Kevin Love: ‘I Expect Big Things from Him’
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offensive attack in 2015-16 will feature a lot more of Kevin Love than it did during his ill-fated first season in Ohio.
LeBron James, for one, has huge expectations for his teammate and thinks Love will now be able to fit in with his Cavs squad.
Head coach David Blatt, echoing what the front-office announced this summer, plans to have the rock in the three-time All-star’s hands quite a bit going forward.
Per ESPN:
“I just think he’s more comfortable in the situation that he’s in,” James said after practice Wednesday. “He’s got a year under his belt; he knows what he expects out of himself and what his teammates expect out of him. I expect big things from him this year with a year up under his belt.”
James was expounding upon his statement at Monday’s media day that Love’s increased presence will allow James to sit back and rest more than he has in years past. […] “He will do some of the things he did prior to last year,” James continued.
Once Love committed to the Cavs long-term, Blatt spent the offseason trying to figure out a way to get more out of his stretch 4. […] “No question, this summer we looked for and identified ways that we can take advantage of Kev’s unique skill set, and hopefully we’ll see that on the floor,” Blatt said.
Related
WATCH: Kevin Love and LeBron James Had ‘Very Honest’ Talk Before Free Agency
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Carmelo Anthony Says the Knicks Are Competing for an NBA Title
In theory, yes, every team in the NBA is competing for the championship.
Even the New York Knicks, winners of a franchise-low 17 games last season.
Carmelo Anthony argues that, despite all of the naysayers, his squad is indeed gunning for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Per ‘ESPN:
“S—, we’re competing. People might not believe that, but we’re definitely competing for that,” Anthony said after training camp practice on Wednesday. “That’s always going to be the goal. Whether we get there or not depends on us and what we’re doing. That’s always our big-picture goal.”
On Tuesday, the Westgate Las Vegas Sports SuperBook listed the Knicks’ over/under win total at 31.5. New York’s odds for winning a title are 200-1, according to Westgate. […] But second-year coach Derek Fisher believes the Knicks may surprise those who expect them struggle in 2015-16.
“We think that our group, as we figure some things out, will be more competitive than maybe what people think,” Fisher said after the Knicks’ practice Wednesday morning. “Rebuilding doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not trying to win right now.” […] “That’s just me,” Anthony said. “It’s hard for me to kind of lose my patience and get upset at something you pretty much can’t control. The only thing I can control is what goes on out there on the basketball court. Everything else is out of my control.”
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Denver Nuggets Sign Mike Miller
After clearing waivers, Mike Miller has landed in Denver.
The Nuggets inked the 35-year-old veteran to a reported one-year deal.
After clearing waivers, #Nuggets have signed G Mike Miller to a 1-year deal, league sources say
— Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) September 30, 2015
Hey, #NuggetsNation! http://pic.twitter.com/R3yTKWqzPt
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 1, 2015
Per the AP:
Miller played last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he saw action in 52 games and averaged 13.5 minutes. The 15-year veteran has also played for Memphis, Miami, Washington, Minnesota and Orlando.
Drafted fifth overall by the Magic in 2000, he has averaged 11.3 points a game over his career. He is a good 3-point shooter, hitting 41 percent from behind the arc.
In addition to Miller, Denver signed Matt Janning, Oleksiy Pecherov and Devin Sweetney to bring its training camp roster to 19 players. The Nuggets are practicing at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this week.
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Owner Mikhail Prokhorov Made the Nets Do His Strange Workouts
Mikhail Prokhorov is a tall, fit and very rich Russian man who happens to own an NBA team.
The quirky billionaire surprised the Brooklyn Nets at their training camp Wednesday by demonstrating his workout techniques—an unusual mix of martial arts, volleyballs, tennis balls, boards and sticks—then asked the players to join in.
#Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov at Training Camp today to give the team a demonstration. http://pic.twitter.com/oyApQJ0eJ6
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 30, 2015
A sampling of Tescao drills demonstrated by #Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov with the team. http://pic.twitter.com/WPZ4soEGuf
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 30, 2015
Another look at the #Nets working with owner Mikhail Prokhorov today at Training Camp! http://pic.twitter.com/T4iW0VGuox
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 30, 2015
Simply amazing.
Per the NY Post:
The Nets knew Mikhail Prokhorov was coming to practice Wednesday at Duke University. […] They didn’t know the owner would be putting them through a workout.
“I think my preference was to come personally, and to say hello to the players and to the coaches,” said Prokhorov, who was making his first stateside visit to training camp since buying the team in May 2010. “I think it’s very important for the new team to have special team building, and of course the commitment of ownership as part of the team. But I also wanted to share with them my own experience with martial arts, and I really will be happy if it helps them in some way.”
Some of the more peculiar exercises during the half-hour session: doing push-ups while balancing on four volleyballs, doing push-ups on a volleyball with a stick, and bouncing a volleyball off the floor with one hand while bouncing a tennis ball on a board with the other. […] “That was cool,” Jarrett Jack said. “It was my first time meeting him in person, but for him to come out and show he’s a guy that actually tries to better himself, health-wise, that’s pretty cool. He’s works in a different realm, definitely, than we usually do. It was clear to see that it looks like it’s easy, but it definitely isn’t. It’s clear he’s put some time in, and he’s competitive, too.”
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Derrick Rose Out 2 Weeks After Facial Surgery
on Wednesday, September 30, 2015
The Chicago Bulls announced Wednesday afternoon that Derrick Rose underwent surgery to repair a left orbital fracture.
The injury occured during the first team practice of the 2015-16 season Tuesday.
Hoiberg on play Rose got hurt: "He made a great baseline drive, made a good kick-out to the corner and one of the bigs caught him."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 30, 2015
Rose is expected to be sidelined for the next two weeks.
From the press release:
Derrick Rose’s procedure went as expected today. At this time it is estimated he will be able to resume basketball activities in two weeks.
The Bulls guard sustained a left orbital fracture in practice yesterday morning.
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Stephon Marbury Announces Return of The Starbury (KICKS)
Remember the Starbury’s? Well, those $15 kicks, which haven’t been on the market since 2009, are making an epic comeback.
Stephon Marbury, who has blossomed into a basketball god in China, took to Instagram to share the exciting news. With the success he’s had overseas, the return makes a lot of sense. No release date has been given yet, nor has there been word of an official price. But you can bet the kicks will still be cheaper than pretty much all other basketball shoes out there.
Check out the images above, courtesy of Marbury.
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WATCH: Richaun Holmes at the 2015 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
After leading Bowling Green to its first 20-plus win season in 15 years, Richaun Holmes headed to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, VA.
His explosiveness, timing as a shot blocker and high basketball IQ were on full display against 64 of the nation’s top seniors. For Holmes, the PIT proved to be a step toward eventually being selected 37th overall by the 76ers in the 2015 NBA Draft.
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Wizards Unveil New ‘Baltimore Pride’ Uniforms
As if our Kicks 18 cover star John Wall didn’t have enough swag already. The Wizards just revealed new Baltimore Pride uniforms, which pay homage to the old school Baltimore Bullets. They plan to rock these alternates for six select games this upcoming season. Take a look:
OFFICIAL: #Wizards to wear Baltimore pride jerseys this season http://t.co/r8YrsUjbrt http://pic.twitter.com/iN8pgu7aez
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) September 30, 2015
Here’s more from Wizards Today:
The Washington Wizards will celebrate their special relationship with the city of Baltimore by wearing Baltimore Pride uniforms for six select games during the season. The uniform pays homage to the uniform worn by the Baltimore Bullets from 1969-73, updating the color scheme to the Wizards’ current red, white and blue.
The Wizards will also honor the organization’s proud past with the addition of a display featuring all of the uniforms in franchise history. A narrative highlighting historical facts and pictures will also be included. Fans will have their first chance to see the new display at the Wizards’ preseason game on Oct. 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The display will be located on the concourse outside of section 112.
The Wizards franchise called Charm City home beginning in 1963, playing as the Bullets at the Baltimore Civic Center and featuring future Hall of Famers Walt Bellamy and Gus Johnson. Fellow Hall of Famers Earl Monroe (1967-71), Wes Unseld (1968-73) and Elvin Hayes (1972-73) also were part of the Baltimore franchise before the team relocated to Landover, Md., prior to the 1973-74 season.
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