Former Los Angeles Laker Samaki Walker won an NBA title with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson in 2001-2002 and played with Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Dwyane Wade over the course of his 10-year career. He was my guest on this week’s NBA Press Break podcast, where co-host Max Kirshblum and I discussed all things Phil and the Knicks, Kobe and the Lakers and which current superstars could have survived in the rougher NBA of 15-20 years
The kinder, gentler NBA schedule is out. First, here’s the stuff you want. Opening Night is Tuesday, Oct. 27 and has a TNT doubleheader with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans visiting MVP Stephen Curry and the defending champion Golden State Warriors, who will be handing out rings and hoisting their title banner. Both are rematches of playoff showdowns. The following night, it’s ESPN’s turn with Kevin Durant returning for the Oklahoma City Thunder
It appears playing with Kobe Bryant still carries some perks. The 36-year-old Bryant, of course, has developed a reputation in his final years of being a turnoff to younger players. (Just ask Dwight Howard and Jared Dudley.) Fortunately for the Lakers, their No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell doesn’t seem bothered. [Read more…]
As I said recently on NBC Sports Radio and in my previous free agent rankings — there are still bargains to be had on the free agent market. Just ask the New York Knicks, who landed Kevin Seraphin on a one-year, $2.8 million deal. Seraphin was No. 1 on our previous free agency rankings. Seraphin turned down several significant offers for a better chance at playing time with the prospect of cashing when the salary cap spikes next summer. [Read more…]
Not too long ago, you could make the case that Rajon Rondo was the best point guard in the NBA. At the current moment, you could make the argument that DeMarcus Cousins is the best center in the NBA. And as far as pure scorers go, it is not a reach to say that Rudy Gay is in the top 10. Oh, and George Karl is a very good coach. Not many would dispute that. All of those guys are now members
Free agency shopping at the end of July is similar to waiting all month for the giant coupon booklet from your neighborhood grocery store. With that in mind, which players will be this year’s bargains on the clearance shelf? Can you find a scoring guard and a big man off the bench with a $2.8 million mid-level exception? Yes, that is somewhat akin to a two-for-one deal on soon-to-expire potato chips at your favorite grocery store. Some of the unrestricted free agents in
The final 16 teams have been cut to eight, with a day off on Friday before Saturday’s quarterfinals in Las Vegas. Friday’s action will feature consolation games for the 16 teams no longer in the running for the highly coveted summer league trophy. Suns 106 Bucks 80 Phoenix outscored Milwaukee 56-28 in the second half en route to an easy win. The Suns’ stable of young guns all came through on Thursday. T.J. Warren scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, rookie
After five days of fun-filled competition, Day Six at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League finally eliminated eight of the 24 teams and whittled the field down to 16. Here’s a quick recap of Wednesday’s eight games and a look forward to the Round of 16. Bucks 97 Rockets 93 Milwaukee, the 24th and final seed in the tournament, advanced despite going 0-3 in the three-game regular season. Sean Kilpatrick continued as the breakout star of this Summer League with a game high 26