Kobe Bryant: Could Playing Overseas Diminish His Legacy with the LA Lakers?

Recently Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant's agent said the young star would consider playing overseas if the NBA lockout continues to linger, adding his name to a list of stars that includes New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams and is sure to grow if the work stoppage persists.

In my opinion stars who consider playing overseas publicly are only hurling idle threats at the NBA's owners, since a lost NBA regular season has the potential to kill the NBA as we know it.

America's love affair with the NBA is much more fragile than similar relationships with the NFL and MLB, as professional basketball players are usually viewed as the most spoiled and over-paid athletes by the general public.

Basketball players are also in a more exclusive club since teams have fewer players than professional football and baseball, and it's always easier to identify with a sport that you may have had an opportunity to play.

Fans love to marvel at the skill and athleticism of today's NBA players, but many of those same fans actually had the chance to play football or baseball at least on the high school level and that generates a level of interest basketball can never match.

Younger stars like Durant and Williams defecting to Europe could turn novice fans away from the NBA, but they are also both young enough to play a role in what is sure to be a long revival for the league if the 2011-12 season is lost.

But for an aging star like Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant a lost season is much harder to replace at this stage in his career, and there is a possibility that playing overseas could diminish his career as a Laker.

Bryant has not been as vocal as some of his peers about the prospects of playing elsewhere if the lockout continues to linger, but he has contemplated about playing in Europe in the past.

I can appreciate a player's desire to stay in game shape, and competing in Europe or somewhere else professionally certainly does serve that purpose. But one of the most important things about Bryant's legacy is connected to the uniform he has worn throughout his career.

Each one of Bryant's glowing accomplishments has been achieved as a member of the Lakers, and to some old school fans that exclusivity makes a world of difference.

For instance, there are some fans who consider Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be one of the top two NBA players of all time, but there are few Lakers fans who would consider Kareem as the top player in the franchise's history.

That designation usually goes to Magic Johnson or Jerry West, two hall of fame players who were also life-long Lakers.

Both West and Magic were great players by any measure, but the fact that they spent their entire career with Los Angeles elevates them to near mythical status in the hearts of Lakers fans.

To be fair Kareem is also loved dearly by Lakers fans, but the fact that he started his career in Milwaukee is not lost on those who bleed purple and gold.

The same applies for center Shaquille O'Neal who may have erased any good feelings from leading the Lakers to three consecutive championships in 2000-02 by retiring as a member of the hated Boston Celtics.

Bryant is already the leading scorer in franchise history, and he has won five NBA championships to go along with numerous other individual awards and accolades and he has done it all with one team.

Those accomplishments alone place Bryant in the same rarefied air with Magic and West, but how will history remember Bryant if he does decide to play overseas during the lockout?

Even worse, what if the last image anyone has of Bryant on a basketball court is in the uniform of a team that is not easily recognized by the casual NBA fan?

It's not a likely proposition, but the threat of injury does make it a possibility that if Bryant does decide to play overseas he might never step onto a NBA court as a player again.

If the lockout does continue to drag on there are some players who may carry through on their threats to take their talents overseas, and if the NBA does face another work stoppage during the season fans may be slower to return the next time around.

Eventually the beauty of the game will lure us back, but there are some fans who will never forget the players who did choose to play in Europe instead of focusing on saving the NBA.

For a player like Bryant that type of notoriety could over-shadow what has been a spectacular career in Los Angeles, and that's certainly not the final memory anyone wants from what could be history's greatest Laker.

 

 

 

 

Read more Los Angeles Lakers news on BleacherReport.com

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/766101-kobe-bryant-could-playing-overseas-diminish-his-legacy-with-the-la-lakers

Nate Thurmond Dave Bing Lenny Wilkens Robert Parish Joe Dumars

Derrick Rose Supports the City of Chicago on His Broad Shoulders

It may only be coincidence that Derrick Rose grew up in Chicago, the city of broad shoulders, but he DID carry his hometown Chicago Bulls all the way to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.  

I'm not one to credit fate, but some higher, universal power must have intervened.  

Maybe it was David Stern.

In the two seasons prior to Rose's arrival in Chicago, the Bulls were slipping, missing the playoffs in 2007 and 2008 after three straight playoff appearances, and the front office duo of Gar Forman and John Paxson (a.k.a. GarPax) swung and missed on several trade offers for superstar players Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Pau Gasol.  

The organization as a whole was heading in the wrong direction, and because of that, I can't think of a more symbolic player in the history of the NBA than Derrick Rose. Just his name alone has been the cause of many overused puns by the media (Rose in bloom, every Rose has its thorns, etc.).

Derrick grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the Englewood neighborhood. If you live in Chicago, you know that this area is notoriously dangerous and has a high crime rate.  

Not many make it out, but Derrick was a rose that cracked through the concrete at Murray Park, where he learned how to hoop (See? It's too easy).

And, to (sort of) steal from the late comedian George Carlin, is there anything more heroic than a rose growing through concrete?

While he overcame those odds, the Bulls themselves somehow managed to overcome enormous odds (less than a two percent chance) to win the NBA draft lottery (Mr. Stern?).

Now Rose is the hometown hero, and we're all left to praise GarPax on the Bulls' draft pick and, more recently, their offseason acquisitions.  

How quickly a team's fortunes can turn in this league.  

It only takes one player, and the Bulls' front office took its sweet time waiting for the right one. Never before has it been alright to pass on players like Kobe, Garnett or Pau—unless it's for Derrick Rose.    

Maybe that was the plan the whole time. Who knows? Only David Stern can know for sure.  

But we can all be certain of one thing heading into the future: Derrick Rose brought a city that seemed to be stuck in a winter depression since the Jordan era into a blooming spring.  

A new beginning.  

Chicago, the city of Derrick Rose. 

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/773375-derrick-rose-and-the-city-of-his-broad-shoulders

Jason Kidd Paul Arizin Dave Cowens Tracy McGrady Patrick Ewing

Yao Ming: 10 Best Games of His Houston Rockets Career

Including the postseason, Yao Ming played in 514 games with the Houston Rockets.

Yao announced his retirement from basketball at a press conference Wednesday from Shanghai, so now is the perfect time to recall the 10 best games of the Chinese legend's NBA career.

Picking a small handful from a heavy litter of phenomenal performances was an arduous task. A few of his monster postseason performances were left out because the Rockets were on the losing end. One in particular was hard to overlook and had to be included. 

Everything from the magnitude of the game to the opponent to his statistical output was considered when putting the list together. 

If nothing else, this display will remind us what could have been if injuries hadn't cut him down in his prime.

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/773129-yao-ming-10-best-games-of-houston-rockets-career

Jason Kidd Paul Arizin Dave Cowens Tracy McGrady Patrick Ewing

From Musty Digital Files, The Nets Reconstruct Their History

When you can't talk about the present and your future is freighted with the possibility of a lost season and the certainty of a Brooklyn move, what do you talk about if you're the Nets?  Well, the past, or should we say, history. The Nets have compiled what they are calling "Nets History 101" on the official website in hopes of reinvigorating traffic.

With the trusty Ben Couch acting a curator, the History 101 includes, for starters, a photo gallery of Drazen Petrovic and another covering the Nets' origins in the ABA. There's also the Nets' Timeline, year-by-year Draft History, Season-by-Season records and features on the highly successful 1981 draft and Petrovic's greatness.

• NETS: History 101 - New Jersey Nets

Source: http://www.netsdaily.com/2011/7/20/2285046/from-the-musty-digital-files-nets-reconstruct-their-history

Neil Johnston Isiah Thomas Steve Nash Allen Iverson Elvin Hayes

NBA Trade Rumors: 4 Ways to Pry Josh Smith from the Atlanta Hawks

The marriage of Josh Smith and the Atlanta Hawks appears to be coming to an ugly end. 

After growing tired of being labeled as a scapegoat for the Hawks' playoff shortcomings, Smith privately told friends around the NBA that he wants out of Atlanta. 

According to Yahoo! Sports Analyst Adrian Wojnarowskl, the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets top the list of Smith's preferred destinations. 

With the NBA locked out and the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement expired, it's difficult to say for sure what various trade packages for Smith would look like.

However, we'll go ahead and take a look at the four potential ways Smith's desired team's can pry him from the Atlanta Hawks. 

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/773976-nba-trade-rumors-4-ways-to-pry-josh-smith-from-the-atlanta-hawks

Steve Nash Allen Iverson Elvin Hayes Bill Sharman Scottie Pippen

Philadelphia 76ers: Time for a True Overhaul, the "Keep 3" Strategy

Speaking as a follower and fan of the team, last year was a fun year to be a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers. 

The team seemed to re-achieve relevance, depending on your definition of that word, and actually generated more than its fair share of interest from a Philadelphia fan base that had collectively forgotten them over the previous two years. 

Quite a bit of last year's success can be attributed to head coach Doug Collins, as well as his players' willingness to "buy in" to his methods. 

Let me just get one cheap shot in:  Another big factor was the complete and total "addition by subtraction" that was not having one Samuel Dalembert!

Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand were two key cogs in last year's turnaround, and they are to be commended for their team play, positive attitudes and influence, and respective work ethics. 

Lou Williams is a nice off-the-bench performer, whose energy and ability to create are difficult to refute. 

Maurice Speights shows flashes of brilliance.

Andres Nocioni, though clearly done in terms of talent, and Spencer Hawes at least try to play hard. 

Jodie Meeks can shoot.

Jason Kapono used to be able to at least shoot.

Having said all of that, all of these players need to go. No, not eventually. No, not next year or the year after. Today. Yesterday. As soon as humanly possible, if it is indeed possible at all.

Does this sound a touch harsh? Hey, I'll be the first guy to say that it is harsh. Most of these players are good, quality players who bring serious effort on a nightly basis. Why should I want them all gone with one sweep of the GM broom?

As I said, these guys are good players. However, with the current core in place, the 76ers will never be better than a lower-tier playoff team. 

That is the simple, irrefutable truth. Even if the young players fulfill, and, moreover, surpass their potential, the players that are there around them right now will only serve to hold them back. 

There are three (and possibly only two) players on this team that should be kept for their development. 

Jrue Holiday has the potential to be a very strong, if not truly spectacular, point guard in this league.  He is a decent defender, both on and off the ball, and can create for others as well as himself. 

Even Turner, though he had his up and downs as a player during his rookie campaign, showed exactly how strong a player he could become during the Sixers' playoff series against the Miami Heat. Specifically, in the last game he provided exceptional defense against the great LeBron James, which is really no fluke. I will be the first one to admit that Turner needs quite a bit of experience, but the talent and court IQ are definitely there.

The third player that I'd like to see kept is Thaddeus Young. This may prove imprudent, as Young could be offered an amount from another team that, if the 76ers were to match it, might hurt the franchise down the line, not unlike the Iguodala signing.

Having said that, Thad Young is the type of player that you want on your team.  He may not even be a starter, but the guy gives every fiber at his disposal to win a basketball game.  He has a terrific team player-type attitude, and is the type of player that can only blossom under Collins.

Are these three players a "can't-miss" core? Absolutely not. However, right now, they are young, talented and cheap!

Each one of them is the type of player that Collins loves to coach, and they could very well combine (with others) to give the 76ers the type of core that could go beyond that lower level playoff team that they are today. 

The million dollar (or multi million dollar, I should say) question remains: How are we supposed to get rid of all of these players?  Some of them have salaries that are not justified by their output.

Are we ready for the ultimate cop-out? Hey, I'm not a GM. That's for them to decide.

My position rests on the theory that maybe, just maybe, the team would do well to cut the fat and think about the future now, rather than in two years, because we always seem to be two years away.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/773689-philadelphia-76ers-time-for-a-true-overhaul-the-keep-three-strategy

Charlie Villanueva Caron Butler Andre Miller Joe Johnson Rasheed Wallace

Barclays Interior Designs Released

Barclays Center, now officially called "Barclays Center of Brooklyn" released the latest designs for the arena's interior, including updated images of the Main Concourse and VIP Entrance as well as a first look at the arena's beer garden, to be known as "Beers of the World."

"SHoP wanted the design of the interiors of the Barclays Center to be focused on bringing the energy of Brooklyn street life into the arena," said Gregg Pasquarelli, Principal of SHoP Architects PC. "The design uses a simple yet tactile palette of industrial materials to create an urbane experience open to all."

The Main Entrance, known as the Arena Atrium, will feature views of the arena and Nets' practice facility, as well as access to the Box Office and Team Store, all across a "smooth terrazzo floor". In addition, the architects released designs for the plaza outside the Main Entrance as well as the Event Level Suite and Suite Level Bar.

Meanwhile, the two reigning heavyweight boxing champions, Ukrainian brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko said they were excited about the possibility of bouts at Barclays in front a big Russian crowd.  "Let's do it," said Wladimir.

• Barclays Center of Brooklyn Interior Designs Unveiled - Barclays Center
• First look at Nets new arena - Rich Calder - New York Post
  
• Developers Reveal Interior Plans For Barclays Center Arena (Video) - NY1
• Separate and unequal at the Barclays Center - Daniel Bush - Brooklyn Paper
• SLIDESHOW: Luxe Treatment for VIPs at the Barclays Center - Patch
  
• Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, reigning heavyweight champions, visit New York Daily News office - Tim Smith - New York Daily News
  
• Renderings of arena interiors (by SH0P) "unveiled," though "subject to change" - Norman Oder - Atlantic Yards Report
• Rhetoric check: arena now dubbed "Barclays Center of Brooklyn," taking advantage of Brooklyn connection - Norman Oder - Atlantic Yards Report

Source: http://www.netsdaily.com/2011/7/19/2283541/barclays-interior-designs-released

John Havlicek John Stockton Walt Frazier Neil Johnston Isiah Thomas