Eddie Johnson had a long career in the NBA, spanning from 1981 to 1999. At the end of his career, he had amassed 19,202 points, the 22nd highest total at that point in time, better than all but 30 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees. Yet, during his career, he was never an All-Star, never an All-NBA athlete nor did he win any major awards save for one—the 1989 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. In his many years
As the forces of nature push toward a rematch in the NBA Finals, fans may be treated to the end of the two current mini-dynasties. All teams have a life span measured in a small number of years, and both of these teams are nearing the end of theirs. The Spurs have been on top for a tremendously long stretch, equaled by only a few teams in recent memory. The Stockton/Malone Jazz teams coached by Jerry Sloan kept their core together
We are still more than a month away from free agency, and everything seems so placid now. LeBron James? Looks primed for a three-peat. Carmelo Anthony? He wouldn’t leave New York, would he? He’ll be happy to take less than the max, as Phil Jackson has said he’ll need to do. He will be the backbone of the Knicks’ renaissance, right? No chance those two guys end up in Cleveland or Chicago. No chance, right? Well, five weeks out, and nobody can
Scandal, scandal everywhere. If it’s not Donald Sterling, it’s Mark Jackson feuding with the Warriors’ front office. Or maybe it’s the Grizzlies’ management structure suddenly collapsing. It seems everywhere you turn, you get smacked with another piece of dirty laundry. And if you just want to watch the games? Get ready for controversy after controversy over flops, out-of-bounds calls, arguments between teammates. Anything people can complain about, they will. With all that – combined with louder than usual cries of fixing at
Like most people, I was a skeptic during the season when folks talked about LeBron James returning to the Cavs next season after he opts out of his contract with Miami and becomes an unrestricted free agent. It just seemed too absurd of a notion. But I am starting to believe that the possibility exists, however remote. Just for kicks, let’s throw out a few “What ifs …” What if the Miami Heat lose to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals? Or
Could the “Chosen One” return to his home team? With the NBA Draft Lottery out of the way, all news can focus on the future—immediate and long-term—for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They appear to be exploring all options, with reports surfacing that Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid, barring medical clearance coming off of back surgery, sits atop the Cavaliers’ draft board to recent rumblings that Cleveland has expressed interest in Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star power forward Kevin Love. With a core
The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the jackpot by leaving the NBA Draft Lottery with the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in four years. What’s even more amazing than winning the lottery in three of four years? How about the fact that Cleveland’s “human luck charm,” Nick Gilbert, wasn’t in attendance as Joe Kotoch points out in his latest mock draft. Will the No. 1 pick be enough to make a possible trade for Kevin Love and entice LeBron James to
Paul George has a concussion and cannot play again until cleared by the NBA’s protocol. Indiana’s best all-around player, George took a knee to the head from Miami’s Dwyane Wade in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Game 2 loss. According to the Pacers, he showed no signs of a concussion when he was examined by the team’s medical staff immediately after the play. George was aware of his surroundings and told the staff he felt no dizziness, nausea or vision issues. However,