The last 12 months represent by far the least amount of basketball Kevin Durant has played in his eight-year NBA career. In a sadly ironic twist, it also represents a time when he has had more intrigue swirling around him than ever before. In the last year, Durant has won NBA MVP and given a moving acceptance speech; quit as the new face of Team USA; created a bidding war between apparel companies in the mid nine figures; become the beacon of
What can one write where all has practically been written already? What was once a 100-percent confirmed source has now confirmed itself. LeBron James is leaving the Miami Heat behind and returning to Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers. James made Decision 2.0 known with an Instagram photo and an essay published on Sports Illustrated. [Read more…]
NEW YORK – There were simultaneous senses of shock, joy, exuberance and disgust Tuesday night at Times Square Studios in Manhattan where the Cleveland Cavaliers drew the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery for the second straight year and the third time in four years. Cleveland had the ninth best odds to claim the top pick and, percentages be damned, landed numero uno again. “It was incredible,” said Cavs general manager David Griffin. “When Cleveland didn’t pop up at nine,
Miami Heat All-Star forward LeBron James has been all over the media the past few days. From his exclusive All-Star interview with Steve Smith for NBA TV to his recent comments regarding his basketball Mt. Rushmore, if you’re reading sports news, you’re likely to hear about something that he said to someone. Early Wednesday, ESPN Dallas writer Calvin Watkins and fellow ESPN writer Michael Wallace put together an article detailing a conversation between James and perennial media pariah and Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Tonight in Miami, LeBron James has another “Decision.” This one is not about where James is going to play, however. Tonight is about how he is going to play. And this decision is tougher, because he doesn’t have days to think about it. He has about an hour, tops. [Read more…]
When is a retread hire not a retread hire? When the Cleveland Cavaliers hire Mike Brown. The Cavaliers made it official Wednesday morning, bringing back Brown as coach after a three-year absence. He will receive a reported $20 million over five years and should have a heavy hand in a rebuilding project that already is well under way. [Read more…]
MIAMI – LeBron James has completed the rarely seen transition from national villain to national darling. For the first time in two years, there’s no over-the-top hatred for James to start the season. There’s no venom or vitriol. It’s been an amazing transition to watch. Kobe Bryant made a similar change/comeback a few years ago. LeBron’s might have been bigger. “Quicker,” Dwyane Wade said with a smile. “But I don’t know about bigger. You can go with quicker comeback.” OK, he’s got a
This column was originally going to be a convincing piece as to why Maurice Cheeks (full disclosure: my favorite player of all time) deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Then Stan Van Gundy decided enough was enough and exposed for all of us Dwight Howard’s true character – a selfish brat whose childish demands and indecision make him utterly impossible. When this mess in the Magic Kingdom shakes out sometime in May, Van Gundy will be unemployed, because that’s what