This tiny basketball is the most revealing piece of NBA related evidence since the plaintiff's underwear in the Kobe case:
This is a ball allegedly released by the new Oklahoma City franchise and it reveals a) the name, b) the logo and c) their crazy idea to have their players use a toy basketball. How could these 6'8" athletes even dribble or shoot it? Despite its obvious flaws, I actually commend the Thunder (name pending) for making this bold move. What better way to make a splash in your first year as a franchise than change what is possibly the most fundamental part of the game?
The biggest basketball related story of the 2008 Beijing Olympics isn't how the US totally dominated every opponent. I'm pretty sure everyone saw that coming. The most intriguing player was Spanish 17 year-old Ricky Rubio. Now, I've been a fan of this player since he was in SLAM a year ago, but he had a chance to highlight his skills against the worlds elite and he proved himself a legitimate future NBA talent. This phenom has an incredible basketball IQ, unbelievable court vision and he was able to shine on a team filled with current NBA players who were playing America's finest at a high-school age. Draftexpress.com has him ranked as the number one pick in next years draft and as far as I can tell, that would be a solid choice. His highlight tape won't be filled with dunks but, given his age, there are some incredible defensive plays and an experience level well beyond his years on display. Also, it's accompanied by R.Kelly's epic, "The World's Greatest"
I am seriously tired of all the NBA stars who will be “going to Europe in 2010” or whatever. Actually scratch that, they’re all going to be going to the same team, Olympiakos (Greece) in the future. It’s true that European clubs have no salary cap, and sure Olympiakos might be owned by two billionaire brothers (pictured below)… …but still, they can’t possibly employ Kobe, LeBron and Dwayne Wade each for 50 million dollars a year. Even if they could, do you really think any of those superstars would be willing to move themselves and their family to a foreign country where they don’t speak the language or know the location of the hottest nightclubs? It’s one thing when Josh Childress, Earl Boykins and Carlos Arroyo or geared up to leave the U.S. but NBA players who can actually find employment here would be more inclined to stay. I’ll admit that global branding would probably be improved by, you know, going around the globe, but it’s not like Nike and Adidas don’t use these guys overseas to sell sneakers. Call me old fashioned but I just don’t see superstars leaving the NBA, even if it means 30 million more a year in salary. It would be kind of like when David Beckham came over here. Sure he makes more money, and it got us sort of excited about soccer for a little bit, but ultimately he sacrificed being in a country where people really cared about what he did on the field. Besides, the Europeans have a very different definition of athletics than we do:
What does the man who just signed a contract for 111 million dollars buy? A million dollar grotto. Between his Wizards paycheck and lucrative T.V. show deal with Cartoon Network, Gilbert Arenas has been able to buy himself possibly the most affluent pool ever constructed. The grotto is set to feature three fish tanks, a cliff face and a basement in which Agent Zero can watch all his game film on a phat plasma. Here are some pics:
Here is easily the best feature of the grotto. Gil has commissioned a mural of himself sitting in front of the white house with a pit bull. God bless America.
As usual, the NBA has taken the time to showcase their new rookies in a delightful photo shoot. Last year the result was some sort of weird music video where everyone was still into leaning with it and rocking with it (http://gamewreckgame.blogspot.com/2007/08/you-cant-keep-them-from-dancing.html). This year, GRG invites you to enjoy the event slideshow style.
Does Anthony Randolph's head always look like this? I'm pretty sure it's been squeezed.
It appears that the camera has caught Russell Westbrook in the middle of supermaning that OHHHHHH!
Haha Kosta Koufos. No joke here... no joke needed.
Usually these pictures are action shots or at least set up to make the players look tough. All Donte Greene seems to be missing is a bear skin rug and a fireplace behind him.
Look how sad JaVale McGee is. He can't be comfortable on that itty bitty stool. Giving him that was just cruel.
In an off-season that will in no way come close to rivaling last years (remember that whole KG/Ray Allen trade thing?) some interesting things have actually been happening. Our rivals at the Last Word (dsa31891.blogspot.com) have taken the time to write entire articles about each trade…borrriiinnngg. Here’s a quick snippet with some of my thoughts:
Elton Brand coming to Philly: I am generally a pessimistic person when it comes to the Sixers making trades and whatnot, but I can’t help but be excited about this. Although he’s almost 30 and coming off a pretty serious injury, the Rubber Brand Man is pretty much a guaranteed 20 and 10 player and he can only help a young team trying to advance in the playoffs.
Jermaine O’Neal going to Toronto: I’ve always thought O’Neal was an overrated player and I can’t see the Raptors going too far in the post season now that they have him. More notably, they lost T.J. Ford in the trade and have to upgrade Calderon to a starter without a decent backup. Calderon was better than Ford this past year but it might have had something to do with Al Horford breaking T.J.’s back by slamming him into the floor.
Clippers signing Baron Davis: This is clearly a good job by the Clippers and I can see Davis remaining an impact player for a few more years and maybe making the playoffs again if some of the younger players work out. I can’t help but assume that Davis was pretty mad when Brand decided to leave, but the Clippers have still had a pretty good offseason so far.
The offseason is far from over and the Lakers are still trying to fit in a blockbuster deal. They offered a Lamar-Odom-for-Ron-Artest trade to Sacramento which seems pretty lopsided to me. Artest can be considered one of the 10 best players in the League when he is performing to his potential and Lamar Odom is bald. Odom is a decent player but Artest is definitely better in every way. I can’t say what the Kings will end up doing but they can tick off the entire Western Conference by agreeing to the trade.
