The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
IG
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements, listening, and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, The Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business, with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
IG
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements, listening, and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, The Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business, with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6 percent of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements, listening, and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, The Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business, with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6 percent of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, The Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business, with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6 percent of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, the Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, the Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, the Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, the late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems No.23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, the Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, the late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems Chicago's No. 23 will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the most recent example.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, the Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, the late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems His Airness will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/michael-jordan-tops-the-list-of-25-highest-paid-athletes-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Michael Jordan is atop so many lists. Whether based on metrics or subjective assessments, if he&rsquo;s eligible for it, you better believe MJ&rsquo;s name is up there, and Sportico&rsquo;s &ldquo;Top 25 Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time&rdquo; is the <a href="https://www.sportico.com/personalities/athletes/2021/highest-paid-athletes-earnings-1234645635/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most recent example</a>.
When Michael entered the NBA in 1984, Magic Johnson was the highest-paid NBA player with $2.5 million in salary. Today, players with 10 or more years of experience in the league get veteran minimums worth around the same amount. Guys who have yet to make their NBA debut can earn up to $925,528 per year &mdash; Michael Jordan, as a rookie, made $550,000.
Thirteen years and four NBA championships later, Jordan inked a one-year deal worth $33.1 million &mdash; more than an average team payroll at the time &mdash; representing the highest single-season salary in NBA history up until 2017-18, when LeBron James and Stephen Curry each surpassed it. Today, 31 players are on track to earn north of $30 million.
Boosted mostly by huge TV deals &mdash; $75 billion over the next nine years &mdash; star salaries have increased dramatically over the last four decades. But despite Michael only earning $90 million from NBA contracts &mdash; non-inflation adjusted, that's equivalent to Danny Green &mdash; he&rsquo;s still the highest-paid athlete of all time, despite the fact only 6% of his estimated earnings come from his playing salaries.
The estimate is based on salaries, endorsements and memorabilia earnings since Michael joined the NBA, including his ongoing deals with Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, and other large and established companies.
According to Forbes, Michael has made over $1 billion from Nike alone since first signing a deal with the sportswear giant in his rookie year. Today, the Jordan Brand is easily worth over $10 billion, dominating the booming &ldquo;retro&rdquo; or lifestyle basketball business with a market share of 52%, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Unrivaled marketability
Michael Jordan, as well as his brand, show no signs of slowing down. It&rsquo;s been nearly two decades since his final goodbye to the game, and MJ is still arguably the most popular basketball persona in the world. A run that started almost four decades ago, still with no end in sight, is yet to be replicated, despite the impact and platform today&rsquo;s NBA superstars have.
And while some of them were able to build images that transcend the game of basketball, no one used it to MJ&rsquo;s extent. Guys like LeBron James, the late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal tried and will continue to try for decades to come &mdash; the fact each of them also made the list says they&rsquo;re on the right track. But it seems His Airness will always be the standard.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Michael Jordan is listed by Sportico as the highest-paid athlete of all time.

Michael Jordan tops the list of 25 highest-paid athletes ever

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, and Lillard must be respected for passing it up to win for his city. With Dame rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, he might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, and Lillard must be respected for passing it up to win for his city. With Dame rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, he might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard must be respected for passing it up to win for his city. With Dame rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, he might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard must be respected for passing it up. With Dame rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, he might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard must be respected for passing it up. But at the same time, by rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, Dame might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard must be respected for passing it up and sticking to . But at the same time, by rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, Dame might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard is courageous for passing it up. But at the same time, by rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, Dame might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive. 
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard is courageous for passing it up. At the same time, by rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, Dame might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive.
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard is courageous for passing it up. At the same time, by rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, Dame might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

According to Yahoo Sports, Damian Lillard was recruited by LeBron James and Anthony Davis to join the Lakers over the offseason.

Could saying no to LeBron be Damian Lillard's biggest career mistake?

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he&rsquo;s no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Lou himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Lou <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Lou?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, Lou conducted himself like a true pro and even resigned with the Hawks this summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Lou himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Lou himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Lou <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Lou?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, Lou conducted himself like a true pro and even resigned with the Hawks this summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Lou himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Lou?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, Lou conducted himself like a true pro and even resigned with the Hawks this summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Lou himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, Lou conducted himself like a true pro and even resigned with the Hawks this summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Lou himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, he conducted himself like a true pro and even resigned with the Hawks this summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Lou himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, he conducted himself like a true pro and even re-signed with the Hawks this past summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Lou himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, he conducted himself like a true pro and even re-signed with the Hawks this past summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Williams himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best off-the-bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, he conducted himself like a true pro and even re-signed with the Hawks this past summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Williams himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Because, no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, he conducted himself like a true pro and even re-signed with the Hawks this past summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Williams himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen, because no matter where he played, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/lou-williams-opens-up-about-the-clippers-trade-i-kinda-cried/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Lou Williams wanted to retire as a Clipper. But the team unexpectedly traded him for Rajon Rondo, sending the former Sixth Man of The Year to Atlanta. Williams struggled with coming to terms with his new situation &mdash; so much that he thought about retiring before playing a game for the Hawks. He opened up about it in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks</a>.
Emotional Rollercoaster
In an Instagram post one day after the trade, Williams started his caption by saying, &ldquo;I thought about retiring yesterday.&rdquo; After spending his entire career as a trade piece and finally feeling as if he had found a permanent home, being involved in yet another move shocked Williams.
&ldquo;It took me a few days to get here because once I arrived, I wanted my energy to be positive,&rdquo; Williams said last season in his first interview as a Hawk. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want the guys to look at it like I didn&rsquo;t want to be here. It wasn&rsquo;t personal against the Hawks. I just needed time to figure out what was best for myself at this stage of my career, but now I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;ve been embraced. Seems as though guys want me here, so I&rsquo;m ready to get back to work and make this push.&rdquo;
Then the 34-year-old veteran got his act together, providing a much-needed spark in 24 games played for the Hawks &mdash; he averaged 10 points on 44.4% shooting from the floor. Williams did much of the same in the playoffs, providing veteran minutes off the bench in Atlanta&rsquo;s deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once he accepted he was no longer a Clipper, Williams did what the Hawks expected him to do. But those first days after the trade, it seemed their investment would never pay off. Williams himself admitted to it.
&ldquo;I had conversations with my family and friends and I was like, &lsquo;It&rsquo;s over,'&rdquo; Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWr8qGnuFg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;I kinda cried a little bit, I&rsquo;ll be open about that, you know? I kind of cried and I took a nap and I woke up and I had a conversation with my agent, he was like, &lsquo;man, take a deep breath, we&rsquo;ll talk tomorrow.
"I just felt like I had put so much time, energy, and effort into creating this special place in LA. I felt like I owed that to the Clipper fans. I wanted to do that for that fan base. Once that was over, I just felt funny about moving forward, you know?"
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDWr8qGnuFg" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What&rsquo;s Next for Williams?
Williams has been in this league long enough to know players&rsquo; wishes do not always match the organizations&rsquo; needs. That&rsquo;s why, once the initial shock had passed, he conducted himself like a true pro and even re-signed with the Hawks this past summer.
If this ends up being his farewell NBA season, playing in his hometown seems like a good way to go. It&rsquo;s not how Williams envisioned his retirement, nor his last few seasons in the league, but that&rsquo;s the business side of the NBA. Some would say it&rsquo;s cruel; Williams himself would not.
He&rsquo;d suit up and continue to be one of the best bench scorers we&rsquo;ve ever seen, because no matter where he plays, one thing has always been true about Lou Williams &mdash; the man is a walking bucket.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Lou Williams said he nearly considered retiring when he was traded by the Clippers.

Lou Williams opens up about Clippers trade: 'I kinda cried'

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. 
&nbsp;
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side."
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or click here to listen.
&nbsp;
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side."
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or click here to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side."
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side."
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side," Payne said on The Habershow
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side," Payne recently said on The Habershow.
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side," Payne <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brandon-payne-of-accelerate-basketball/id1443174829?i=1000540073186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently said on The Habershow</a>.
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo, and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side," Payne <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brandon-payne-of-accelerate-basketball/id1443174829?i=1000540073186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently said on The Habershow</a>.
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is Steph is still improving. While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side," Payne <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brandon-payne-of-accelerate-basketball/id1443174829?i=1000540073186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently said on The Habershow</a>.
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is: Steph is still improving.
While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live. Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steph-currys-workout-is-even-crazier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
A few days ago, Brandon Payne blew our minds when he said Stephen Curry only counted swishes as made shots this offseason. He's such a great shooter that just making a shot isn&rsquo;t enough for him. Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Curry's standards are in the gym.
Chasing perfection
Payne has been working with Steph since 2011. He&rsquo;s been with Curry through thick and thin, and is responsible for creating the offseason routines that helped Steph turn from an exciting shooter with bad ankles to a unanimous MVP to arguably the greatest shooter of all time.
It&rsquo;s a good problem to have &ndash; coming up with new ways to challenge Steph Curry in practice. Payne has tested and applied a lot of technology to help Steph evolve; we&rsquo;re talking about neuroscience here. One of the ways they used technology to raise the stakes was by monitoring the ball&rsquo;s movement, the ball&rsquo;s arc and how deep the ball went into the rim. If it wasn&rsquo;t a swish, the shot wouldn&rsquo;t count.
&ldquo;Making shots in workouts is no longer good enough," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mark Medina of NBA.com</a>. "We&rsquo;ve established he&rsquo;s going to make a lot of shots in workouts. He consistently does that. So for us, we&rsquo;ve utilized technology to be even more precise.&rdquo;
This was applied to both catch-and-shoot and movement shots. The idea is simple &ndash; raise the stakes as much as possible to create game-like pressure. As Steph <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained it</a>: &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to be out there all day feeling dog tired because you can&rsquo;t beat the drill.&ldquo;
Editor's Note: Steph Curry joined BasketballNews.com's "The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins" to discuss his incredible stretch last season and more. Watch the full episode below or <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-8-episode-7-stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a> to listen.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcxEbnrhwOM" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Swishes don&rsquo;t count
So what happens when Steph swishes 10 shots in a row? Payne makes him change range and position on every shot, so Steph&rsquo;s brain constantly has to calculate the distance and angle &ndash; no muscle memory during workouts is tolerated. For a player at his level, this is all about creating mental strength and endurance.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re changing the rhythm, we&rsquo;re changing the distance and we&rsquo;re changing things dynamically," Payne <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/after-offseason-focused-on-perfection-stephen-curry-could-be-even-more-unstoppable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
But what about when even that isn&rsquo;t enough? Well, make the standards even higher. With technology, Payne can measure Steph&rsquo;s shots to such an extent he introduced a new insane level of excellence &ndash; not all swishes are created equal.
"Some people got a bit confused with &lsquo;Oh we&rsquo;ve been doing swishes.&lsquo; No, no, no. You can still swish and be four inches of center. We don&rsquo;t count that. You gotta be within three inches of center on either side," Payne <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brandon-payne-of-accelerate-basketball/id1443174829?i=1000540073186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently said on The Habershow</a>.
That&rsquo;s how you get to a point where you launch a shot from the logo and everyone expects you to make it. The best part is: Steph is still improving.
While the unanimous MVP season was obviously insane, Payne said Curry has never been a more complete player. His body type and style of play will ensure Curry ages like fine wine, and we&rsquo;re lucky to watch it live.
Enjoy every moment, folks.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Brandon Payne, founder and CEO of Accelerate Basketball, revealed what Stephen Curry's lofty expectations are like in the gym.

Steph Curry's trainer explains his incredible shot-making standards

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Dražen&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Dražen participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Dražen to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
Mirko [Novosel] was the Head Coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel], we came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall of Fame coach, a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Dražen stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Dražen participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Dražen to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
Mirko [Novosel] was the Head Coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel], we came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall of Fame coach, a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Dražen stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
Mirko [Novosel] was the Head Coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel], we came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall of Fame coach, a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Dražen stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the Head Coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel], we came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall of Fame coach, a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Dražen stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the head coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling, &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel], we came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall of Fame coach, a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Dražen stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the head coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling, &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel]. We came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall-of-Fame coach and a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Dražen stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the head coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling, &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel]. We came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall-of-Fame coach and a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Petrović stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Dražen was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the head coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling, &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel]. We came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall-of-Fame coach and a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Petrović stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Petrović was competitive balance. &lsquo;All the teams are here.&lsquo; If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the head coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling, &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel]. We came to play basketball, not on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall-of-Fame coach and a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Petrović stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Petrović was competitive balance. "All the teams are here." If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/when-drazen-petrovic-sorted-his-teammates-out-with-a-single-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Above all else, Dražen Petrović&rsquo;s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic. He was far from the most talented player of his generation, but where others failed, Petrović pushed through. Anything other than basketball was of secondary importance, as his teammates found out in 1993.
Love of his country
Petrović&rsquo;s love for basketball could only be matched with his love of country. While he was playing ball, his family and friends were fighting in Croatia&rsquo;s war of independence. Petrović carried the burden of not being there with them and did all he could to raise awareness of what was going on in the Balkans during the 1990s. For instance, Petrović participated in a protest in front of the UN with Stojko Vranković.
But the best way for Petrović to help was to do what he loved most &ndash; play basketball for his country. No matter how insignificant a game was, Petrović would show up. This was the team that made it to the Finals in Barcelona against the Dream Team. We&rsquo;re talking Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojko Vranković, and a strong cast of great players on the European level.
They were good enough to go through European qualifications for international tournaments without Petro, but that was out of the question.
&ldquo;What seems to be the problem?&rdquo;
The team was in Wroclaw, Poland, for the EURO qualifying tournament. To remind you, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell four years prior. Luxury wasn&rsquo;t in high supply at that time, and the team accommodation was consistent with that fact. Soon after arriving at the hotel, a few of the team veterans started to complain.
"Mirko [Novosel] was the head coach, and it&rsquo;s not easy when several stars, veterans on the team start complaining, demanding to change the hotel," Veljko Mr&scaron;ić <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMVVCoNgAk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Podcast Inkubator</a>. "Dražen was sitting at the table, looked at them, and asked &lsquo;What seems to be the problem?&lsquo; They started rambling, &lsquo;The hotel sucks&hellip;,&lsquo; and Dražen interrupted them. &lsquo;Listen to me. All the teams are here [in the same hotel]. We came to play basketball, not [go] on vacation. We&rsquo;re staying here.'"
Mirko Novosel is a Hall-of-Fame coach and a man without reproach in Croatia. But he was still under pressure until Petrović stepped in and sorted his teammates out. This is what leadership is all about. Making sure everyone on the team has their sights set on what&rsquo;s at stake. The only thing that mattered to Petrović was competitive balance. "All the teams are here." If everyone was in the same sucky hotel, all was fine by him.
Everything in Dražen&rsquo;s life was viewed through the prism of winning basketball games. Money, fame, and everything else were irrelevant. That&rsquo;s why Petrović was and is so beloved by basketball fans around the world. He just wanted to ball.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Above all else, Dražen Petrović’s superpower was his love for the game that translated into an insane work ethic.

How Dražen Petrović sorted his Croatian teammates out directly

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of dropping 30 points against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that and that there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking at all cylinders and are currently the first team in the eastern conference with a 4-1 score. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it.&rdquo;
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August and is currently averaging a bit over 14 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of dropping 30 points against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking at all cylinders and are currently the first team in the eastern conference with a 4-1 score. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it.&rdquo;
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August and is currently averaging a bit over 14 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking at all cylinders and are currently the first team in the eastern conference with a 4-1 score. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it.&rdquo;
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August and is currently averaging a bit over 14 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it.&rdquo;
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August and is currently averaging a bit over 14 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise&nbsp; not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it.&rdquo;
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August and is currently averaging a bit over 14 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise &mdash; not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it," Rose said.
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August and is currently averaging a bit over 14 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise &mdash; not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it," Rose said.
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August, and is currently averaging a bit over 12 points per game, shooting exceptionally well from the floor. It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise &mdash; not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it," Rose said.
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August, and is currently averaging a bit over 12 points per game, and shooting exceptionally well from the floor (including a . It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise &mdash; not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it," Rose said.
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August, and is currently averaging a bit over 12 points per game, and shooting exceptionally well from the floor (including a 54.2% clip from long distance). It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having the plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/derrick-rose-talks-about-his-future-in-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Derrick Rose found his new home with the New York Knicks playing for his former coach Tom Thibodeau, while providing his squad with much-needed experience and scoring. After being almost out of the league a few years ago, Rose is motivated and hopes to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy.
Rose on his future in the NBA
When talking about his future in the NBA, the 33-year-old Rose said he is looking up to NFL quarterback and sports legend Tom Brady as someone who's had an extensive and productive career, particularly in the latter stages.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try to Tom Brady this thing,&rdquo; Rose <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/derrick-rose-tom-thibodeau-hope-bulls-knicks-rivalry-brewing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Thursday. &ldquo;Play as long as possible, make sure I really take care of my body. And make sure I&rsquo;m playing with joy.&rdquo;
What is remarkable about Rose is that he has adapted his game and evolved as a player. When he first got to the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, he was mostly an athletic, pure scorer capable of going off against every team in the league. Now, he understands he no longer needs to do that, and says there are different ways to impact the game for the benefit of his team.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have to score 30 points a night anymore to affect the game. I can come out, do what I&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Rose said.
The Knicks are a great fit for Rose
The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 record. They have a great balance of young and experienced players, and Rose is aware he is a part of a team that can make some noise &mdash; not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a great supporting cast with Ju [Julius Randle] and everything in the starting five, even the guys that are on the bench, we have a great rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just got to play my game and whatever the game presents I&rsquo;ve just got to be ready for it," Rose said.
Rose signed a three-year, $43 million deal to return to the Knicks in August, and is currently averaging a bit over 12 points per game, and shooting exceptionally well from the floor (including a 54.2% clip from long distance). It&rsquo;s great to see Rose doing his thing and having a plan to play in the NBA as long as possible if he remains healthy, which we most certainly hope will happen.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Derrick Rose is aiming to play as long as possible in the NBA, and he's going to take care of his body in order to do it.

Derrick Rose on career: 'I'm going to try and Tom Brady this thing'

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years&nbsp; through all the ups and downs, when someone needs to point out his loyalty so often, it just becomes weird. Imagine your spouse telling you she&rsquo;s loyal to you every single day &mdash; you would probably start questioning your relationship.
I am confident there is nothing Dame would want more than winning the championship with his homies in Portland. But I would like to remind him of Giannis, Dirk, and others who had to stick it through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes weird. Imagine your spouse telling you she&rsquo;s loyal to you every single day &mdash; you would probably start questioning your relationship.
I am confident there is nothing Dame would want more than winning the championship with his homies in Portland. But I would like to remind him of Giannis, Dirk, and others who had to stick it through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

I am confident there is nothing Dame would want more than winning the championship with his homies in Portland. But I would like to remind him of Giannis, Dirk, and others who had to stick it through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes overkill.
I am confident there is nothing Dame would want more than winning the championship with his homies in Portland. But I would like to remind him of Giannis, Dirk, and others who had to stick it through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes overkill.
I am confident there is nothing Dame wants more than winning the championship with his teammates in Portland. But I would like to remind him of Giannis, Dirk, and others who had to stick it through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes overkill.
I am confident there is nothing Dame wants more than winning the championship with his teammates in Portland, and for those fans. But I would like to remind him of Giannis, Dirk and others who had to stick it through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018). 
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes overkill.
I am confident there is nothing Dame wants more than winning the championship with his teammates in Portland, and for those fans. But let's remind him that Giannis, Dirk and others had to stick through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018).
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes overkill.
I am confident there is nothing Dame wants more than winning the championship with his teammates in Portland, and for those fans. But let's remind him that Giannis, Dirk and others had to stick through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-freestyles-about-his-loyalty-to-the-portland-trail-blazers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Damian Lillard is a generational player that any general manager dreams of building around &mdash; known for his clutch shooting, ridiculous range, leadership, and, most importantly, loyalty.
Blazers' Postseason "Success"
Drafted in 2012, Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise rich in history, but also one that has failed to last in the playoffs for the last 20-ish years. They've made it to playoffs eight out of nine seasons during Dame&rsquo;s tenure, which is a pretty good result. However, they've always ended up with the participation award, failing to last throughout and reaching the conference finals just once (and it was only to be swept by the Warriors in 2018).
The Paradox of Today&rsquo;s NBA
In the last 20 years or so, the NBA has expanded its fan base globally, becoming the leading sports organization of the digital age and bringing in colossal TV contracts. In doing so, the game of basketball has naturally changed. The concept of player loyalty that we used to have in the 1970s, 1980s or even 1990s is more rare than we've ever seen it. Players are given astronomical contracts based on their potential.&nbsp;
Some players have a considerably larger social media following than their franchises, essentially being more powerful brands than their actual employers. How crazy is that? In this paradoxical environment of the "players league" we have today, some occasionally end up using the power of their brand as leverage to push their way out of situations they may dislike. The <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-open-letter-to-ben-simmons-from-etan-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons saga</a> that has been all over the headlines in the last couple of months is one instance. James Harden pushing his way out of Houston to join his buddies in Brooklyn is another prime example.
Damian Lillard&rsquo;s Loyalty to Portland
Lillard is different from the others. There is no doubting that. He has always firmly stood behind his franchise, and has been grateful for the opportunity to have the "keys to the gym." In doing so, Dame has shown loyalty and love to the people of Portland and, most importantly, the Blazers. Lillard must have gone on record a couple of hundred times saying how he will never leave Portland up until this past offseason.&nbsp;
This offseason, Dame was in serious trade discussions after publicly voicing his displeasure with the front office for not bringing in new star power. The team remained pretty much the same, but Dame ended up staying true to his word and the organization, again, thanks to none other than his new head coach &mdash; Chauncey Billups.
&ldquo;I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey&rsquo;s conversations, and where we see things the same,&rdquo; Lillard said via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2901000/2021/10/19/damian-lillard-says-im-not-leaving-portland-and-one-reason-why-is-chauncey-billups/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a>.
Lillard Freestyling About His Loyalty
In a recent video that went viral on Reddit, Dame was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise. With his own lyrics, he said: &ldquo;Me not wanting to join a super team might end up being my Achilles heel," and made mention of Bradley Beal, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f7y00o9Nedw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Babo 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXZOzxbN46">pic.twitter.com/lXZOzxbN46</a>
&mdash; Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1454321062682890245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

While we must appreciate Lillard for staying in Portland for so many years &mdash; through all the ups and downs &mdash; when someone needs to point out "loyalty" so often, it just becomes overkill.
I am confident there is nothing Dame wants more than winning the championship with his teammates in Portland, and for those fans. But let's remind him that Giannis, Dirk and others had to stick through the painful process of losing until they finally climbed to the top &mdash; and we didn&rsquo;t hear them overemphasizing their loyalty or complaining about the lack of star power.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

In a recent video that went viral, Damian Lillard was rapping about the Blazers, his teammates and his loyalty to the franchise.

Damian Lillard freestyles about his loyalty to Trail Blazers

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked dumb.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
You control what you can inside the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or put a windmill at the end of the game, he has every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked dumb.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
You control what you can inside the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or put a windmill at the end of the game, he has every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
You control what you can inside the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or put a windmill at the end of the game, he has every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
You control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or put a windmill at the end of the game, he has every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
You control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or do a windmill at the end of the game, he has every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
You control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or do a windmill at the end of the game, they has every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
With that said, you control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or do a windmill at the end of the game, they have every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
With that said, you control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or do a windmill at the end of the game, they have every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past, and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in some way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
With that said, you control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or do a windmill at the end of the game, they have every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past, and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in a sour way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close. It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/i-hate-unwritten-rules-mychal-thompson-on-westbrooks-ejection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Unwritten rules exist in any sport. They are not found officially in any rule book but observed based on common understanding between players and coaches. However, in this day and age, are unwritten rules still relevant? Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Mychal Thompson shared his strong opinion on the matter.&nbsp;
Russell Westbrook ejection in a loss against the Thunder&nbsp;
With the game already settled, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley stole the ball and dunked it on the other end. That did not sit well with Russell Westbrook, who confronted Bazley and got himself an ejection with only seconds remaining in the game. The final score was 123-115 in favor of OKC, but the bizarre ending stirred up discussion about unwritten rules.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Russell Westbrook on his ejection &amp; Bazley's dunk: &ldquo;Just how I play the game. I&rsquo;m more old-school &amp; when sh*t like that happens, I don&rsquo;t just let it slide...In the game of basketball, there's certain things you just don't do." <a href="https://t.co/Pzt5WWTfiZ">pic.twitter.com/Pzt5WWTfiZ</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1453696954467246087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
Westbrook, as a veteran, disliked the move by the younger player. To him, it was a sign of disrespect to still attempt to score with the victory already secured for Thunder. It adds salt to the wound of the opposing team. Bazley did not commit any violation, but context matters in this situation.
In some cases, bench players who rarely get playing time would likely score last-minute baskets to add to their stats or prove they are deserving of more playing time. But should the opposing teams have a problem with that?
Mychal Thompson, who retired in 1992 after playing 12 seasons in the league, shared his opinion on the matter via his Twitter account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I HATE &ldquo;unritten rules&rdquo; in sports&hellip;
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453574770868555776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

He added in a separate Tweet that the Lakers should have won the game to stop potential last-minute dunk attempts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Yeah wen I played that kinda thing nevr bothered me&hellip;We shudda won if u dont wanna see THAT happen
&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="https://twitter.com/champagnennuts/status/1453575807578918915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Are unwritten rules still relevant?&nbsp;
Unwritten rules are basically an ethics code for any sport. It&rsquo;s like a gentleman&rsquo;s agreement between players and coaches. It&rsquo;s a "violation" if a player decides to break such rules. And they come in many different forms.
Aside from disrespecting the losing team with attempting to score when the game&rsquo;s already decided, there&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;don&rsquo;t deliberately miss shots to record a triple-double&rdquo; unwritten rule.&nbsp;
Ricky Davis attempted it in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers leading by 25 over the Utah Jazz. Davis intentionally missed a layup in a game so he could add a rebound to reach a triple-double. As you would have guessed, he got shoved by a Jazz player immediately. Not only was the move unsportsmanlike, but it also looked awkward.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDtGHHnA9ms" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
With that said, you control what you can control on the basketball court. If other players decide to increase offensive output or do a windmill at the end of the game, they have every right to do so. Unwritten rules are a thing of the past, and a generational thing that players use to excuse behaving in a sour way.
So if players don&rsquo;t want to feel disrespected, they should win the ball game or keep the scores close.
It&rsquo;s as simple as that.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Former 12-year veteran Mychal Thompson chimed in on the mix-up between Russell Westbrook and Darius Bazley.

Mychal Thompson on end of Lakers-Thunder: 'I hate unwritten rules'

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in Paramount Plus' "The Birth of the Modern Athlete."
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court off the court. The team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play according to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paramount Plus' "The Birth of the Modern Athlete."</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court off the court. The team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play according to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paramount Plus' "Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete."</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court off the court. The team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play according to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paramount Plus' "Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete"</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court off the court. The team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play according to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete" on Paramount Plus.</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court off the court. The team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play according to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete" on Paramount Plus.</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court and off of it. The guys on the team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play according to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete" on Paramount Plus.</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court and off of it. The guys on the team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete" on Paramount Plus.</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court and off of it. The guys on the team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor in why the Americans dominated the 1992 Olympics.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates in the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete" on Paramount Plus.</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court and off of it. The guys on the team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor in why the Americans dominated the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/larry-bird-once-beat-charles-barkley-1-on-1-but-not-in-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The legend of Larry Bird continues to grow each day as former teammates, reporters and friends share special moments with the Hall-of-Famer that are still unknown to many. Charles Barkley is no different. The two were former teammates on the famed 1992 Dream Team, and Sir Charles revealed that Bird beat him in one challenge &mdash; but it was outside of basketball.
Charles Barkley: &ldquo;My head hurt For like two days.&rdquo;
When Barkley said in an interview that his head hurt for two days, it wasn&rsquo;t a result of any commotion or fist-fight between him and Bird, but rather because of beer drinking. The members of the '92 Dream Team, which many consider the greatest team assembled in the history of the Olympics, were competitive NBA players out to prove they were the best, on and off the court. Barkley and Bird hung out in Monte Carlo before the Barcelona Games began. With Bird, any normal thing could get competitive fast, as Barkley found out.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One thing you don&rsquo;t wanna do is drink beer with Larry Bird," Barkley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraymSUdK0M&amp;t=3692s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a Dream Team documentary</a>. "He drinks Budweiser, but Budweiser is the strongest beer in the world. And my head hurt for like two days.&rdquo;
Even ordinary and safe bonding moments such as drinking beer prompted the Boston Celtics legend to prove he&rsquo;s the best at it. This just shows that knowing the personalities of teammates could lead to better performance as a unit. Team dinners and activities provide a rare glimpse of what makes teammates tick.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IraymSUdK0M" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Who&rsquo;s the most competitive in the 1992 Dream Team?
When you put a bunch of superstars and legends in the game, things could get real competitive quickly. The players on the 1992 Dream Team played for pride, and some had an ego. Everyone knew they were the team to beat, but not everyone knew how they pushed each other so hard in practices. So much, that by the time games came around, it looked easy.
Barkley may have led the team in scoring with 18 points per game, but Michael Jordan&rsquo;s commitment helped the team&rsquo;s formation. What pushed Jordan to accept the invitation? Apparently, it was for self-interest, as revealed in <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Dream Team: The Birth of the Modern Athlete" on Paramount Plus.</a>
&ldquo;I never had the chance to see how these other All-Stars prepare themselves for a game or practice. Or compete against them in practice each and every day [to see] what was their desire, their hunger, what drove them to eat, what drove them to play. That to me was why I played for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team," Jordan <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/dream-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team beat each other in practices, but they enjoyed activities that built their chemistry on the court and off of it. The guys on the team played hard and competitive, but they learned to play to each other&rsquo;s strengths, which was a key factor in why the Americans dominated the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Larry Bird and Charles Barkley were teammates on the famed Dream Team that dominated the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Larry Bird once beat Charles Barkley 1-on-1, but not in basketball

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and score two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western All-Stars prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. This is how Vince described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think. Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western All-Stars prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. This is how Vince described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think. Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

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The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. This is how Vince described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think. Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. This is how Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think. Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think. Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think," Carter said. "Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think," Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. "Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws, and we lose. We end up loosing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

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The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think," Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. "Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws and we lose. We end up losing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, I&rsquo;m pretty sure he had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think," Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. "Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws and we lose. We end up losing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, he likely had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT. At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/how-kobe-ruined-michael-jordans-last-all-star-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The 2003 NBA All-Star Game is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows that All-Star weekend has ever put on due to all the storylines coming into it. Michael Jordan was making his last appearance, Vince Carter gave up his starting spot to MJ and the torch got passed to Kobe Bryant, as all of that ultimately led to an overtime showdown.
A no-brainer decision from Vince Carter
Back in 2001, Michael Jordan decided to come back to basketball for a final run with the Washington Wizards. It was far from the Chicago Bulls version of MJ who dominated the league, but he still demanded respect from his opponents with his presence no matter the age. The 2002-03 season&nbsp; announced the final go-round for Jordan with no chance of a fourth comeback. Every game was going to be must-see, a heartfelt farewell that would lead MJ into retirement.
When the All-Star teams got announced, MJ was, of course, a part of the Eastern Conference team, but was not named a starter. It was pretty untypical and weird to see for NBA fans, but it was the right call as guys like Carter, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady deserved it more, and the voters agreed. But that would lead to an admirable and respectful gesture by Carter, who gave up his starting spot so MJ could start in his last All-Star game.&nbsp;
Even though Jordan tried to convince Vince not to do it because he deserved it, Carter did not doubt his decision:
&ldquo;I remember walking in All-Star weekend with all the festivities and MJ&rsquo;s in the back doing what MJ does. And I walk in and say, &lsquo;Hey MJ, it&rsquo;s your last All-Star game and everything, you&rsquo;re gonna start.' He said, &lsquo;No, you earned it,&rsquo;" Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled on ESPN's NBA Today</a>. "I didn&rsquo;t wanna get blackballed, so I get back in, get dressed. And I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;No way.&rsquo; So I go shoot and that conversation right there is where I&rsquo;m telling him and he&rsquo;s telling me, &lsquo;You earned it.&rsquo; I said, &lsquo;MJ look here. I am going to walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups because you&rsquo;re going to start, I&rsquo;m not about to get blackballed.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This Vince Carter story about MJ's last All-Star game is amazing 😂❤️ (via NBA Today) <a href="https://t.co/kHW4nsg2z1">pic.twitter.com/kHW4nsg2z1</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1453101231761727490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Kobe stole the show
The game turned out to be an instant classic with a flurry of NBA legends on the floor giving it their all. From MJ to Kobe, Shaq, KG, Iverson, McGrady, Carter and Kidd, all the best players in the game came to play. It would come down the wire, as Jordan symbolically got the ball on the wing and scored a tough fadeaway jump shot over Shawn Marion for the perfect ending...
But then Kobe Bryant and the insane competitive nature came into the picture, as he managed to draw a foul on Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal and make two free throws to send the game into a second overtime where the Western Conference team prevailed and took the 155-145 victory. Carter described that last play in the first overtime:
&ldquo;We tried our best, we&rsquo;re yelling to stop the game. It was like 7 seconds I think," Carter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGt9-33IckE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. "Stop the game, stop the game. Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant &mdash; being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game and steal the show. So he gets the ball out of the timeout, he gets fouled by Jermaine O&rsquo;Neal, hits both free-throws and we lose. We end up losing that game.&rdquo;
Jordan is known as an insane competitor, but Kobe was right up there when it came to wanting to win every game. That &ldquo;Mamba Mentality&rdquo; couldn&rsquo;t have let him just slide that game away, even though it was all about Jordan that night. Knowing MJ&rsquo;s mentality, he likely had no problem with Kobe going full force at him, as any other way would have been an insult for the GOAT.
At least it led to some great trash talk between the two greats who also became brothers off the court.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the 2003 All-Star Game 😂 <a href="https://t.co/A6K8ko1O3N">pic.twitter.com/A6K8ko1O3N</a>
&mdash; Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1243149432993931265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2020</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

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Vince Carter reminisces about the time Kobe Bryant stole the show from Michael Jordan in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.

How Kobe Bryant took over in Michael Jordan’s last All-Star Game

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader when needed. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should put their A-game no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, primarily if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should put their A-game no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, primarily if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and when to underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should put their A-game no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, primarily if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should bring their A-game no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, primarily if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should bring their A-game&nbsp; no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, primarily if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should bring their A-game &mdash; no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, primarily if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should bring their A-game &mdash; no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, especially if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should bring their A-game &mdash; no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, especially if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/anthony-edwards-calls-out-wolves-teammates-in-nsfw-rant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Anthony Edwards is playing in his second year in the NBA, but he is showing maturity beyond his age and experience. After a recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the sophomore swingman called out his teammates in an NSFW rant.
Edwards message: "Lock the f*** in"
Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98. Putting to bed any speculation about him not caring about basketball and winning, Ant called out himself and his teammates.
&ldquo;Wake-up call for sure. Lock in. Lock the f**k in," Edwards <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1452848534097629186?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after the loss</a>. "Everybody coming in here thinking it&rsquo;s sweet playing the Pelicans. Whooped our ass. Now our back&rsquo;s on the wall again. We got to wake up.&rdquo;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vIw0EYyiQjE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The defeat dented Minnesota&lsquo;s promising start to the season after going undefeated in the team's first two games. The loss was understandably hard to accept given the fact the Pelicans are missing their best player, Zion Williamson. Edwards is right; his teammates should not have assumed it would be an easy win because New Orleans was missing their star.
Complacency has no place in the league, and it should be corrected as early as now if the Wolves want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Although Karl Anthony-Towns played great, he failed to contain Jonas Valanciunas, who had a monster double-double of 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Veterans should be held accountable
Edwards has likely learned from one of the best vocal leaders on the court, Patrick Beverley, who joined the team in the offseason. Beverley&rsquo;s tenacity will surely rub off on his teammates. While Ant and Pat Bev can try and set high expectations, Towns and D&rsquo;Angelo Russell are the ones who have to lead on the court. They should set an example so that the newcomers can follow.&nbsp;
What Edwards is doing is rejuvenating the franchise and stepping up as a vocal leader the team needs. The Wolves can&rsquo;t afford to cherry-pick when to play great games and underestimate anyone in the NBA. If they want to be considered a serious threat, they should bring their A-game &mdash; no matter who the opponent is or who&rsquo;s missing on the other side.&nbsp;
In an era where star players could disrupt team chemistry after being called out by the media or teammates and then force a way out, it&rsquo;s nice to know young stars such as Edwards are not afraid to voice their strong opinions, especially if it benefits the team. Everyone needs a dose of tough love from time to time, and Edwards decided the Wolves need it as soon as possible. He&rsquo;s not wrong.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Edwards aired out his frustrations after the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, 107-98.

Anthony Edwards: Wolves need to 'lock the f*** in' after loss to NOLA

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s talking about it. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. Yes, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, lists like these are a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I make. Does that make him the GOAT? Hell no. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. Yes, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, lists like these are a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I make. Does that make him the GOAT? Hell no. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. Yes, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I make. Does that make him the GOAT? Hell no. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (Yes, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I make. Does that make him the GOAT? Hell no. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (At the same time, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.)
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I make. Does that make him the GOAT? Hell no. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (At the same time, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.)
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I put together. Does that make him the GOAT? Hell no. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (At the same time, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.)
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I put together. Does that make him the GOAT? Not at all. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our Old School department and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (At the same time, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.)
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I put together. Does that make him the GOAT? Not at all. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our old-school department, and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive, whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (At the same time, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.)
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I put together. Does that make him the GOAT? Not at all. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our old-school department, and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive&nbsp; whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I love this game!
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/alex-english-opens-up-about-not-being-on-the-top-75-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Every era has a few great players that get lost in the shuffle, and Alex English is one of those players. A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds,and 3.6 assists over his career. He was one of the best scorers around, and we rarely talk about him.
A Guaranteed Bucket
When I say a prolific scorer, I&rsquo;m selling English short. He scored the most points in the Association during the 1980s &ndash; 22,395. His career total is higher than guys like Reggie Miller, Jerry West and Allen Iverson. To be fair, English benefited from playing on fast-paced teams that were all about offense, but that&rsquo;s not why he was left off the list. He has his own theory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Can't say I am not disappointed for not being included on the 75th anniversary team after seeing the list. I felt the same after the first list of 50. I have always known that my understated style wasn't conducive to being associated with such a flamboyant sport
&mdash; Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexEnglish_2/status/1451560968895479857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

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English continued to congratulate everyone who made the list, a true gentleman as always. But he does make an insightful point. Basketball is an entertainment product; it&rsquo;s more than just stats. We remember guys who are featured on highlight reels, and you&rsquo;ll rarely find English on most of those. You need to win a lot or "catch the eye" for your name to make the lists that try to capture decades of greatness.
The Problem with Lists
Look, the NBA achieved its goal with this list &ndash; everyone&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/there-were-major-snubs-from-nba-75-just-like-we-knew-there-would-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking about it</a>. You can be mad about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/put-some-respect-on-dwight-howards-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwight Howard not making it</a>, but that Damian Lillard is on there. (At the same time, Lillard has a few last-second shots that will be remembered as some of the coldest daggers in NBA history, and that obviously counts.)
Don&rsquo;t get it twisted, a list like this is a marketing tool. I&rsquo;m not saying they are pointless, but you should read them within their context. For me, Manu Ginobili makes every list I put together. Does that make him the GOAT? Not at all. It just lets you know the kind of player I enjoy watching and the kind of basketball I appreciate.
The list tells you more about the person making it than an objective truth about basketball. Rather than getting upset about a specific player, take a step back and look at the fantastic body of work the NBA community has. We&rsquo;ll continue to cover NBA history in our old-school department, and try to keep the memory of all the great players like Alex English who slip through the cracks alive &mdash; whether he&rsquo;s on a list or not.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Alex English has his own theory regarding why he was left off the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.

Alex English frustrated over 75th Anniversary Team exclusion

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