Last week, stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett played a road game. But not just any road game. It was perhaps the most significant road game of their careers. The future Hall of Famers returned for the first time to basketball-bonkers Boston, the city where they won hearts and championships. The former Celtics were given a warm welcome that included video tributes and had an emotional evening. In this era of free agency, many players have a similar experience. They move from a
Adam Silver is in a tough spot. Silver became the NBA’s fifth commissioner on Saturday. He follows David Stern, whose 30 years as the league’s top executive likely will be unmatched by anyone in any sport. Silver begins his term without facing a major problem that needs immediate fixing or a hot-button issue that requires immediate attention. With TV contracts running through 2016, labor peace assured until at least 2017 and most of the top stars in their 20s, the NBA is
Only three coaches in NBA history have done what Erik Spoelstra is attempting to do in Miami. One is dead. One is approaching 100 while in assisted living in Minnesota. The third is off the grid somewhere, presumably in Montana. The Heat are trying to become only the fourth franchise in NBA history to win three consecutive titles. The Lakers were the last to turn the trick, winning three in a row from 2000-2002. They were coached by Phil Jackson, who also
BROOKLYN – Kevin Durant treated the league like a game of NBA 2K14 on a nightly basis in January. Durant is a 7-footer with the handle of a guard, the shooting ability of a sniper, the leaping ability of a kangaroo and the rebounding ability of a power forward. Basically, he’s the player we all created from scratch in a video game as kids with the ratings boosted as high as possible. Recently, Durant added “Slim Reaper” to his list of nicknames
It had to happen sometime and it was last night that the Thunder snapped their 10-game winning streak, falling to the Washington Wizards. Kevin Durant’s/OKC outside shot wasn’t working, so he responded by increasing his playmaking. But the Wizards would have none of it, as John Wall/WAS led an offense that hummed like a well-oiled machine. Fresh off a win over the Spurs, the Bulls interior players were neutralized by the Pelicans’ big men. Toronto fell behind by 19 in
With just hours separating the world from Super Bowl XLVIII, the NBA stepped up with a night of memorable action. From All-Stars putting on world-class performances to a transcendent point guard ripping off a triple-double, there was no shortage of outstanding results and accomplishments. Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action. [Read more…]
David Stern called it quits today. Over 30 years and billions of dollars later, it’s hard to deny the impact he had on the NBA. Stern grew the league to new heights. When he became commissioner in 1984, annual revenue of the league was $165 million, today it’s more than $5.5 billion. When he started, the average player salary was a mere $290,000, currently it’s $5.15 million. He had help along the way. Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron
The Thunder are playing so well these days they didn’t need a full dose of Kevin Durant/OKC to trounce the Nets. What does it say that Durant scoring only 26 points constitutes a major letdown? Serge Ibaka/OKC was the top stat accumulator for Oklahoma City, while Durant got extra rest in advance of tonight’s game. There are only six teams off tonight on the eve of the Super Bowl, and DraftStreet has a wide assortment of standard payout and double