OK, the NBA is back. Now what will it look like? In the days leading up to Christmas – and likely through the first month of a truncated season – there will be a fair amount of hand-wringing about the quality of play. Gloom-and-doom purists will reference the last lockout preceding the 1998-99 season, which by any measure was not among the NBA’s brightest days. In that forgettable season, the NBA was replete with quickly formed teams made up of poorly conditioned
Kobe Bryant wants another meeting with owners
Kudos to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports for landing the interview of the day: “As the NBA and Players Association trudge toward a possible doomsday deadline, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant urged owners to meet with the players union before Wednesday and spare the league from “spiraling into a nuclear winter.” “We need for the two sides to get together again before Wednesday, because we’re too close to getting a deal done,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports on Monday. “We need
Bernucca column: Stupid is as stupid does
By Chris Bernucca This NBA lockout is a 12-inch stupid sandwich. The owners have been stupid in believing they could get back in one negotiation everything they have given away over the last 12 years. The players have been stupid in underestimating the backlash from a fickle fan base hit hard by a nationwide economic malaise. And both sides have been extremely stupid in coming close enough to shake hands, then refusing to with the childish insistence of “You first!” It is another in
Gibson Column: On Kobe, Kirilenko and Parker in Europe
By Nick Gibson of EuroleagueAdventures.com Tony Parker hired himself for minimum wage, Andrei Kirilenko pointed a gun at Viktor Khryapa and Kobe Bryant got a step closer to Virtus Bologna, even though it may be only temporarily. Three players—three All-Stars—that have played their entire (American) pro careers in one uniform are ready to wear new colors in exchange for money while the lockout sorts itself out. It’s been a busy week. But busy means great for European basketball, right? Not absolutely. While the continent would never pass up
Overseas updates: Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bogut, Tony Parker
Spanning the globe to bring you the latest on NBA players who are, who may or who may not be playing overseas this season (the drop dead date of Monday seems such a long way away, eh?) From Jake Appleman of The New York Times in Mons, Belgium: “Deron Williams, the Nets’ point guard, was here Tuesday night with his teammates on Besiktas Milangaz, a professional team from Istanbul playing a game in the Eurocup, a second-tier intercontinental competition. Perhaps Williams wished he had
Video on Kobe Bryant-to-Italy possibility
// This story has taken some wild swings, so make sure you check out this story. This video via CineSport.
Kobe-to-Italy deal now on verge of collapse?
This situation quite obviously remains fluid. From Sportando : Virtus Bologna informed via its official website that Legabasket (the Italian League) rejected its proposal to make a special schedule for the Italian team in case of Kobe Bryant’s signing. Virtus asked to play as many games as possible during the 40 days of Kobe Bryant in Italy against the best teams and in the biggest arenas. The goal of Virtus was to have a big share and the biggest arenas sold out
Lockout update: Talks to resume this afternoon
By Chris Sheridan NEW YORK — NBA labor talks will resume this afternoon in New York, and they are expected to last through the weekend — if not longer. Prior to today’s bargaining session, there will be a player meeting including some of the league’s biggest superstars. If you believe Virtus Bologna owner Claudio Sabatini, Kobe Bryant will be among them. There is some news out there this morning on a few of the details of what the owners are seeking, some of which