The Most Improved Player Award did not irritate me until the seventh year it was awarded. That was in the 1991-92 season when Pervis Ellison won it. Three years earlier, Ellison was the No. 1 pick in the draft. To reward him as the most improved because he played well after underachieving for two years seemed to violate the spirit of the award. He was supposed to be good! In his defense, Ellison was bothered by injuries, but while he was
Steve Nash is celebrating his 42nd birthday today. He is considered one of the best point guards of all time. **Drafted 15th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, Nash is the lowest draft pick in history to win an MVP. Kobe Bryant (1996) and Karl Malone (1985) are the second-lowest at 13th overall. Both Bryant and Nash were part of the 1996 NBA Draft class, which has produced the most MVPs of any draft class in NBA history (Allen Iverson, Bryant, Nash). **Nash
If you take a quick look at the contract extensions given to the 2012 NBA draft class, nothing seems extraordinary. Eight eligible players received extensions. While collusion conspiracy theorists might point out that it’s two less than the 2011 class, it also is one more than the 2010 class and the same number as the 2009 class. As in previous seasons, the top pick got a five-year max deal and at least one other lottery pick also received a max deal of
The Phoenix Suns notched their first win of the new season late Friday vs. the Trail Blazers, but the biggest event happened when play was stopped. The Suns formally inducted two-time league MVP Steve Nash into the organization’s Ring of Honor during the game, a special recognition given to very influential executives, coaches and players throughout the club’s history. Nash, who announced his retirement this March at 41 years old, was introduced at halftime by Charles Barkley before giving a 10-minute speech to the sold-out
After losing Alvin Gentry to the New Orleans Pelicans over the summer, the Golden State Warriors managed to pick up former star Steve Nash to assist as a player development consultant. With Nash on board, there are plenty on the Warriors roster who can benefit from working with his abilities as a creative mind, ball handler and shooter. [Read more…]
What would it take for Kobe Bryant to win the 2015-2016 NBA MVP award? As we handicap the MVP race for the 2015-2016 season, we’ll take a look at last season’s top five finishers— Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis and LeBron James— along with Kevin Durant. But a question many Angelenos and basketball fans around the world have is what kind of numbers would Bryant have to put up in his age-37 season to take home the crown? To
LAS VEGAS — When the Golden State Warriors won the 2015 NBA title, it became official — the slow it down and throw the ball inside style of play is a thing of the past, and pushing the ball and spacing the floor is the way of the future. Here in the NBA’s de facto summer capital, Mike D’Antoni, Ettore Messina and Bob Donewald shared some of their secrets on how their international experience has helped them positively influence the NBA game. With
What is the next big surprise? When will it happen? We are inside of 48 hours until the league’s moratorium ends, so fasten your seatbelts, folks. This summer’s free agency period has provided as much suspense and excitement as the NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs have agreed to terms with LaMarcus Aldridge and David West while retaining Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green in hopes of returning to the Finals. West said he wanted to play for a title