Bulldogs

Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock shares his experience of moving to Bologna, Italy, where he became an assistant coach for a professional basketball team before becoming a sports agent. Check out <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/my-past-life-as-a-sports-agent-going-to-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part 1</a> about how he got his start and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/my-past-life-as-a-sports-agent-the-2006-nba-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part 2</a> about helping players prepare for the 2006 NBA Draft.
It was 2006, I was 22-years old and I was set to begin my first full-time job out of college as an assistant coach for Virtus Bologna, a professional basketball team in Bologna, Italy. Before leaving for Europe, I stayed at my parents' house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had received my travel itinerary via email, so I packed up all of my stuff, purchased a couple of Italian phrasebooks and hugged my mom. Then, my dad drove me to Chicago for my flight, and before I knew it, I was off to Italy.
After a long travel day, I made it to Bologna. I had not been given many details about my arrangements before landing. I knew that I would be an assistant coach and that the team would cover all of my expenses, but I didn't know where I would be living. I didn't even know if anyone would pick me up at the airport. I didn't have anyone's contact info from the team. To say an unknown world awaited me would be a significant understatement. I was a bit anxious.
I exited the plane and made my way to the baggage claim. I had hoped to see a driver holding a big sign with my name, but I did not see anyone like that. I collected my two massive bags that contained pretty much everything I owned at that point, took a seat and waited, hoping someone from the team was coming to pick me up. I was exhausted and grew increasingly anxious the longer I waited. I began to think, "Did I make a mistake coming here?"
Finally, a man approached me and said with a thick Italian accent, "Matt?"
I felt like I had been rescued from a deserted island.
The man pointed to a logo on his shirt that read, "Virtus Bologna." It was evident that he did not speak English. I didn't speak any Italian, so I'm sure you can imagine how everything carried on. We shook hands, and he directed me to follow him to his car, which was seemingly a team-issued van. After about a twenty-minute drive and no words exchanged, we arrived at a small hotel. A receptionist translated for us when we walked into the hotel, which was a huge relief. She explained that the team was on the road, but someone would reach out to me on the hotel phone the next day. (I didn't use my cell phone, as international roaming charges were costly at the time.)
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I was exhausted but also starving, so I asked the receptionist if any restaurants would be serving food at that hour. She directed me to a place nearby. I walked into the restaurant, and no one spoke English very well. I sat down at a table with my Italian phrasebook in hand. I ordered a pizza and a glass of red wine&mdash;I was in Italy, after all. After a long day and night, I was tired and stressed. Having been a young guy on my own in a foreign country was difficult. The language barrier was challenging, and all of the unknowns were nerve-wracking. I again questioned if I had made the right decision accepting that job. However, the waitress brought out my pizza and glass of red wine, and let me tell you, they were perhaps the best things I had ever tasted in my entire life! Subsequently, my stress subsided a bit, and although I still didn't know what to expect next, I could relax and appreciate the opportunity.
The following day, I woke up at about 3:00 AM because of jet lag. After hours of killing time, a man named Daniele Cavicchi called me on the hotel phone. He introduced himself in a thick Italian accent, saying he was the team's assistant coach (there was only one before I came). He told me they were happy to have me and that he would pick me up in a few hours. He explained that the team had the day off, but I would meet with the head coach and general manager.
When Daniele picked me up, I instantly liked him and thought he was a nice guy. Although he was older than I was, maybe in his late 20s, he was a relatively young coach. So he naturally became my "go-to guy" while I was there. Anyway, we got into his car, and we were off to the practice facility. He told me that he was from Bologna and would show me around the town. He gave me the lay of the land as we drove around, similar to a tour guide. Daniele explained that it was essentially a college town, with the university being the oldest in the world, established in 1088. He continued to explain that within Italy, a country known for its food and wine, that specific region was the best and even the home of bolognese sauce. It had been dark the night before when I arrived, so that car ride with Daniele was when I realized that Bologna was an extraordinary place, rich in culture and history. The more he described the city, and the more I saw it, the more excited I became to be there. I couldn't believe that was where I would be living. It felt like a dream come true.
When we arrived at the team's offices, my first meeting was with the team's head coach, Zare Markowski. A classy gentleman from Macedonia, he was a veteran coach that seemed to have coached nearly everywhere at some point in his career. Our initial meeting was brief as he pretty much just welcomed me. However, despite only meeting with him briefly, I found him to be a charming guy.
My second meeting was with the general manager, Piergiorgio Bottai, a businessman from "Roma." After meeting him, it was apparent from his enthusiasm that he was the main reason I was there. He outlined his vision for me and laid out the details of my arrangements during my stay. He told me I would be an assistant coach, and my primary responsibility was to develop their players individually. They also wanted me to occasionally direct the youth team's practices with a translator. He continued to tell me that they had an apartment for me in the "city centre," which also happened to be in the same building as the team's owner. I would have access to a nice restaurant, and I could eat there whenever I'd like, order whatever I'd like and always put it on the team's tab. He then explained that Mercedes-Benz sponsored the team, so players and staff members were given courtesy cars, myself included. It was apparent that the team had intended to take great care of me while I was there.
Following my meetings, Daniele brought me downstairs to give me all of the team-issued gear: a team jacket, polos, t-shirts, etc. I felt part of the team, and everyone was very welcoming.
After leaving the practice facility, Daniele and I had a great dinner at the team restaurant, and then I settled into my apartment afterward. It was "perfetto." The following day was my first day of practice, where I was set to be introduced to the team as their new assistant coach. Although it had been a hectic couple of days, and I was nearly 5,000 miles from home, I went to sleep that night with my mind at ease. Everything was "molto bene!"
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Matt Babcock discusses his stint as an assistant coach in Italy, which helped lay the groundwork for his later job as an NBA agent.

My past life as a sports agent: Bologna, Italy

Through two weeks of the WNBA season, where does each team stack up and what are some prime takeaways?

WNBA Power Rankings 5/22

Objectively, Damian Lillard is as accomplished as nearly anyone in the NBA, but the legacies of all-time greats are judged against other all-time greats. Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal teases Charles Barkley on "Inside the NBA" about having won zero championships because he can. Win one, and you&rsquo;re forever a member of the club. Fail to do so, and you&rsquo;ll remain on the outside looking in.
Granted, being an all-time great is a good club to be a part of, but failing to win a championship can be utterly haunting. Just watch players like Barkley and Patrick Ewing talk about failing to win on the biggest stage. You hear regret in their voices. And pain. And there&rsquo;s nothing they can do about it.
It&rsquo;s premature to lump Lillard in with the aforementioned greats. After all, he&rsquo;s still only 31, meaning he has years remaining before we can have an honest discussion about his place amongst league legends (with or without a championship). I&rsquo;ll happily wait until he&rsquo;s retired to assess his legacy.
What I will address now is the fact that Lillard&rsquo;s inability to deliver a championship to Portland in his 10 seasons is actually not his fault. In fact, I posit that that no superstar in recent memory can be blamed less than Lillard for his team&rsquo;s shortcomings. Lillard has faced a grueling uphill battle since joining the Trail Blazers as a rookie, and his presence has resulted in Portland consistently outperforming their talent.
First, let&rsquo;s inventory how Lillard&rsquo;s Trail Blazers have fared in the postseason. In total, Portland has missed the playoffs twice since Lillard was drafted: once during his rookie year and again in 2021-22, a season in which Lillard was shut down in late December due to abdominal surgery. Had Lillard been healthy all season, his Blazers may have made their ninth consecutive postseason appearance.
Once there, Lillard is an impactful postseason player, posting 25.7 points and 6.2 assists per game in 12 career postseason series. Across his playoff career, he&rsquo;s shot 41.2% from the field, 36.9% on threes and 88.7% on free throws. He&rsquo;s also had several epic shots that were either game-winners or series-enders, which probably inspired Robert Horry, an all-time great shooter himself, to recently refer to Lillard the best clutch shooter ever.
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Robert Horry calls Damian Lillard the best clutch shooter ever over Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant &ldquo;He has hit a clutch shot versus every team in the NBA.&rdquo;<a href="https://t.co/lg34EjTZNB">https://t.co/lg34EjTZNB</a>
&mdash; NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1525203234650050562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Despite his heroics, Lillard&rsquo;s Trail Blazers have never reached the NBA Finals. They did succeed in reaching the Western Conference Finals once in 2019. They ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors. They also lost to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2014, the 73-9 Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2016 and the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round in 2020. So, four of Lillard&rsquo;s eight postseason appearances ended against either the eventual champions or the dynastic Warriors.
Like Barkley and Ewing before him, Lillard has been a victim of time and circumstance, as his prime fell right in the middle of the Golden State Warriors&rsquo; historic run. But in Lillard&rsquo;s case, his struggles have been about more than his opponents. After all, Lillard is not dominated by any one player like how Jordan dominated his era. His circumstances are more a result of his supporting cast, or lack thereof.
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Lillard&rsquo;s stance on recruiting is that he wants to remain in Portland. He&rsquo;ll assist in recruiting free agents to Rip City, but he will not entertain recruiting pitches from other teams&rsquo; stars, a fair and respectable stance. For whatever reason, Lillard has been unsuccessful in recruiting others thus far. For example, he failed to land Kelly Oubre in Portland just last summer. However, there are limited examples of a dedicated push by Lillard in recruiting. Whether he foregoes recruiting or fails at it , the result is the same, and it hurts.
But as much as Lillard could participate in team building, there is a management team that is paid a handsome salary to build the team into a legitimate contender, regardless of Lillard's recruitment style. Frankly, that front office has failed to surround Lillard with top-tier co-stars.
A quick inventory of recent NBA champions reveals that Portland&rsquo;s talent is simply insufficient. Seven of the last 10 champions had multiple All-Stars. The other three were San Antonio in 2014, Cleveland in 2016 and Milwaukee in 2021, and we know all three teams had far more talent than any Portland team. Comparatively, battling all-time great competition, Lillard&rsquo;s only active All-Star teammate has been LaMarcus Aldridge, and they only overlapped as All-Stars twice.
There is also CJ McCollum, who was the 2015-16 Most Improved Player. Despite not being named to an All-Star team, he&rsquo;s certainly been an All-Star caliber player for much of his career. He&rsquo;s even (slightly) better in the playoffs, where he&rsquo;s scored 20.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in 13 series.
McCollum's and Aldridge&rsquo;s better seasons sadly didn&rsquo;t overlap. Aldridge&rsquo;s final season in Portland (2014-15) was McCollum&rsquo;s sophomore season, and McCollum wasn&rsquo;t yet the McCollum we've come to know.
Portland could be on to something now. Anfernee Simons could prove to be a valid backcourt mate for Lillard. The former IMG star had a breakout season last year, averaging 17.3 points per game on 40.9% on three-pointers. If Joe Ingles can regain his pre-injury form and Jusuf Nurkic can remain healthy, there are some promising pieces in the mix.
However, the Trail Blazers still need at least one more creator. Fortunately, Portland has a 37.2% chance of sneaking into the top-four in this year&rsquo;s NBA Draft. Doing so would equip them with a valuable trade chip that could deliver exactly the type of player they need and maybe get them closer to becoming NBA Champions.
Regardless as to what happens with Portland in the immediate future, a closer look at Lillard's body of work reveals just how great he really is. Soon, he may join that elusive and exclusive championship club, but even if he doesn&rsquo;t, we should be careful how we refer to his failures. Because more so than practically anyone in NBA history, not winning a championship shouldn't paint our perception of Lillard.&nbsp;
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Damian Lillard is already an all-time great. We can't ignore his postseason failures, but he can't be defined by them, either.

Damian Lillard's inability to win isn't his fault

It was the summer of 2001, and I had just finished my junior year of high school.
I received a phone call on my family's home phone in Milwaukee, Wisconsin &mdash; it was a representative from Adidas calling to invite me to be a participant at the famed ABCD Camp.
A prestigious camp held at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, the ABCD Camp was established in 1984 and would continue until 2006. The camp was sponsored by Adidas and run by legendary shoe company executive Sonny Vaccaro. His main claim to fame was his role in developing and executing Michael Jordan's Air Jordan brand with Nike. After leaving Nike, Sonny joined Adidas, where he was able to get the ABCD Camp rolling.
Each year, the camp was comprised of the top high school players in the country. In 2001, the NBA had not yet set the age limit restricting high school players from declaring for the NBA draft following their senior year. Because of this, not only was every prominent college coach at this event, but so were all of the NBA scouts and front-office personnel. At that point, the ABCD Camp was the mecca of high school basketball.
I was beyond excited to get invited, but I must admit, it was somewhat intimidating. Luckily I wouldn't be going alone, as several of my good friends received invitations to the camp too.
My roommate at the camp was Dan Grunfeld, who was, and still is, one of my best friends. Dan is the son of Ernie Grunfeld, who, at the time, was my dad's boss and the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks. Dan became a star player at Stanford and led the (then) Pac-10 conference in scoring his junior year, and had a successful career playing in Europe. In addition, our good friend and my high school teammate, Coby Karl, was also with us. Coby is the son of George Karl, who was the head coach of the Bucks at the time. Coby played a few years in the NBA after starring at Boise State.
The three of us were teammates as a part of the AAU program, Friends of Hoop.
Also with us from Milwaukee was Steve Novak, who has been a friend of mine since we were AAU teammates on the Wisconsin All-Stars all the way back when we were in middle school. Once Steve and I got to high school, we had some great battles during our freshman and sophomore years. (I was at Shorewood High School and he was at Brown Deer High School, one of our conference rivals. Steve went on to team up with Dwyane Wade at Marquette, and had a long successful career in the NBA.)
So there's no denying that Milwaukee was represented well at the ABCD Camp that year.
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For whatever reason, I didn't fly with my friends from Milwaukee. Instead, I flew by myself to La Guardia Airport in New York. When I landed, an Adidas representative was waiting and drove another player, DeAngelo Collins, and I to the hotel in New Jersey. It's probably not a name that will ring a bell for many people, but at the time, he was a well-known player. As soon as I saw him, I knew who he was &mdash; although we had never met before. DeAngelo was one of the top-ranked players in the country, became a McDonald's All-American and entered his name in the NBA Draft after his senior year of high school. (Unfortunately, he went undrafted and only had a short professional career overseas).
Anyway, as I was sitting next to DeAngelo in a van heading to the camp hotel, my nerves kicked up another notch. I knew that, at the end of that ride, the rest of the top high school players in the country awaited.
When I arrived at the hotel, my friends from Milwaukee were there. We had to sign in, collect a bag full of Adidas gear and take some photos. When Dan and I finally got to our room, we had a moment where we talked about how excited we were to be there. The whole experience was exciting and fun, but intense at the same time. Whether it was the top-ranked player in the country or the last guy invited, we all wanted the same thing &mdash; to improve our stock. The ABCD Camp was the biggest stage any of us had played on at that point in our careers. It was an opportunity to move up in the player rankings, which would subsequently lead to more scholarship offers or even interest from NBA teams, for some.
Coby, Dan and I had somewhat similar backgrounds, as we all grew up around the game, as our dads and families all had careers working in the NBA. As I was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/growing-up-a-buck-from-ray-allen-to-giannis-antetokounmpo-dave-babcock-remains-milwaukee-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growing up</a>, my dad would often suggest that I "get some shots up" or do my "Pistol Pete" ball-handling routine instead of playing video games, but generally, my family never put a lot of pressure on me to be a great player. I never got the impression that Coby or Dan felt much direct pressure from their families either. However, I think I can speak for the three of us in saying that we all put a significant amount of pressure on ourselves due to our backgrounds. And at the ABCD Camp, I certainly felt the pressure. But I was motivated and determined to move the needle!
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The first night, all of the players went to the gym for Sonny's welcome speech. He spoke to our group to set expectations for the camp, and gave some general advice. We then split up to join our assigned teams and had a light practice. That allowed us to meet our teammates for the camp and our teams' coaches. The coaches tried to implement some basic offensive and defensive principles during that practice. However, the reality was the camp was "pick-up ball" with some freelance referees.
My team's head coach was Chris Grant, who worked for my uncle, Pete Babcock, the general manager of the Atlanta Hawks at the time. (I don't think that was a coincidence). Chris started his career as an intern for my uncle after playing in college at the University of San Diego. Years later, he worked his way up and became the Cleveland Cavaliers' general manager. The top player on our team was Josh Smith from Atlanta, Georgia. He was a year younger than me, but he was a high-profile prospect. A couple of years later, Josh was selected in the first round by the Hawks directly out of high school. He had a successful NBA career, and was one of the top players for the Hawks for years.
Following practice, we returned to our rooms for the night. Dan and I talked about our teams. He told me he had a player on his team that was good. I had never heard of him before &mdash; his name was Carmelo Anthony.
We had a few things to do the following day before live games began. First, there was a guest speaker, but not just any guest speaker; it was Kobe Bryant. He talked to us about some of his personal experiences going through a lot of the same things we were all going through as high school players. It was incredible to listen to a player who had been living the life that every one of us dreamed about for ourselves. To say Kobe's talk was inspiring would be an extreme understatement. Although just a young guy at the time, Kobe had such distinct confidence and determination. It was a privilege to meet Kobe and listen to him speak.
Following the session with Kobe, the players had to take prep ACT and SAT classes. We were seated at tables with about a handful of players per table. I remember sitting with Travis Outlaw, who was a hilarious, nice guy. Travis declared for the 2002 NBA Draft after high school, and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. He went on to play in the NBA and had a good career.
At the table directly next to me was a younger player that I did not know. Like most of us, he didn't seem interested in that class. Halfway through picking out his braids and leaving half of his hair in an afro, he decided he would lay his head down and take a nap. The teacher wasn't happy about that and kept lecturing him, saying things like, "This is important, your future depends on this" &mdash; something along those lines. Finally, the player sat up and said, "I'm going pro!" and put his head back down.
Soon after, I found out the player's name was LeBron James.
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Finally, when classes finished up, the real reason we came to town was about to begin. It was time to hoop.
The games started, and they were great! There was so much talent in each game. I had the opportunity to share the court with future NBA All-Stars like Carmelo, LeBron, Chris Bosh, Deron Williams and many other soon-to-be standout pros. The gym was buzzing, and it was quite the scene. "Oohs and ahhs" could be heard left and right. The stands were filled with famous coaches, including Coach K, Lute Olson and Rick Pitino. NBA scouts and media members were busy taking notes and trying to find the next NBA star.
The actual gameplay was pretty sloppy, as expected. In most showcase types of events, players will play "to get their's." Also, there is not much of a game plan without much practice time, which usually results in poor ball movement and limited opportunities for lower-ranked players (like myself) to have the ball in their hands.
Despite the challenges, I played pretty well. I shot a high percentage, and even had one game where I scored 15 points and hit a handful of three-pointers. Because I had limited opportunities to have the ball in my hands, I made an extra effort to be as effective as possible without the ball. I noticed that the referees were quick to call offensive fouls during this camp, so I decided to get in the lane when players would drive to the hoop to draw charges. My strategy worked well, and I drew several charges.
However, I tried this tactic in one particular game and my plan backfired, as the player on the other end was LeBron. He laid one of his now-signature tomahawk dunks right on me. I flew back probably 10 feet, and the gym went crazy. That was my formal introduction to "King James."
It's been said that the 2001 ABCD Camp is when LeBron broke onto the scene and the whole media frenzy began for him. His legendary battle with the No. 1 player in my class, Lenny Cooke, happened at this camp. Dan and I were sitting together in the bleachers watching that game. I am happy to say that I was a "witness" to the making of one of the greatest stars our game has ever seen.
All in all, I did well at the camp, and I was able to generate more interest from schools, which was my goal. However, more than 20 years have passed since that ABCD camp, and the most valuable experience turned out to be the memories that I will cherish forever.
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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.babcockhoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BabcockHoops.com</a>.
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Matt Babcock relives his experience at the 2001 ABCD Camp, where a number of high schoolers stood out before becoming NBA stars.

ABCD Camp: The mecca of high school basketball circa 2001

Suitcases are packed, and passports are in tow. The Philadelphia 76ers will soon be heading to Canada to do battle with the Toronto Raptors in this year's NBA Playoffs.
Best believe, no matter how lightly he packs, it is James Harden who will be carrying most baggage, even if he doesn&rsquo;t want to admit it.
Ahead of Saturday&rsquo;s playoff matchup in which the Sixers will play host to the Toronto Raptors, Harden has been consistent in stating that he doesn&rsquo;t feel any pressure heading into his first playoff series as Joel Embiid&rsquo;s running mate.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing to it,&rdquo; he <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33739023/philadelphia-76ers-james-harden-not-feeling-pressure-entering-playoffs-ready-hoop">said to ESPN</a>, just days after he <a href="https://www.complex.com/sports/james-harden-interview-philadelphia-sixers-playoffs-brooklyn-nets?utm_campaign=sportstw&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_medium=social">declared to Complex</a> that he had, &ldquo;Nothing to prove.&rdquo;
Not even Harden himself believes that. That is, assuming he gives one iota about the legacy he will eventually leave.
Named MVP in 2018, the 32-year-old Harden is a 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA First Team Member. He&rsquo;s one of the most talented players of his generation and one who has helped revolutionize the way the game is both played and officiated today.
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James Harden + Joel Embiid Best of PNR Highlight Reel I First 5 Games Here are the top PNR plays between James Harden and Joel Embiid through 5 games, good luck stopping this duo Brooklyn <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sixers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HereTheyCome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HereTheyCome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JamesHarden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JamesHarden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoelEmbiid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JoelEmbiid</a> <a href="https://t.co/iKBMReqBLP">pic.twitter.com/iKBMReqBLP</a>
&mdash; MRCROCKPOT TPL (@mrcrockpot) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrcrockpot/status/1501996652634193921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Despite being able to boast those facts, if things ended for Harden here and now, he would only be remembered by future generations as another &ldquo;superstar&rdquo; who ultimately wasn&rsquo;t able to deliver when it mattered most. Fair or not, he wouldn&rsquo;t be considered among the likes of Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson or even, perhaps ironically, Chris Paul.
Each of those three players have proven histories that show they were not only winners, but that they managed to get every bit out of their potential. They showed up, every single day.
Can the same be said of Harden?
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As a basketball-viewing public, we are in an era where individual greatness is ultimately defined by someone&rsquo;s ability to deliver championship-level performances, if not championships. The perception (whether true or not) is that Harden hasn&rsquo;t done that. What he&rsquo;s mostly remembered for today is quitting on each of his last two teams. That, and a rather shabby playoff track record.
To his credit, in his eight years in Houston, Harden did get the Rockets out of the first round five times, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2015 and 2018. But is that good enough? Do people remember that he lost twice to the dynastic Warriors? Do they even care?
Or do people more remember Harden for his five dubious Game 7 performances? In those contests, he shot a combined 37.4% from the field and also happens to have a higher regular-season scoring average (24.9) than playoff scoring average (23.3). If you check the tape on the greatest of Harden's contemporaries &mdash; Giannis, Curry, LeBron and Durant among them &mdash; you&rsquo;d see that this isn&rsquo;t the norm.
In the end, sadly for Harden, the scoring titles, incredible individual performances and career accolades ring a bit hollow. Not only because he hasn&rsquo;t been able to win a championship, but because, on an individual basis, he has faltered so tremendously on the quest.
Once upon a time, we said similar things about Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce. To a lesser extent, we at least questioned the true greatness of Kevin Garnett. In the end, they were able to write final chapters that mostly made us forget about their earlier shortcomings. They reinvented themselves and changed their legacies. The aspiration is what brought Harden to Philadelphia to in the first place.
On the precipice of his first postseason run with MVP candidate Joel Embiid, Harden can only hope that his career trajectory in Philadelphia emulates that of his new teammate. Through his first eight seasons as a professional, the hallmarks of Embiid&rsquo;s still-young career have been about working harder and doing more. He just secured his first scoring title and has a legitimate shot at dethroning reigning MVP Nikola Jokic for that accolade. He&rsquo;s looked almost as dominant as an in-prime Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal and will now attempt to lead the Sixers to the franchise&rsquo;s first Eastern Conference crown in over 20 years.
That, Embiid knows, will require Harden to play at a high level.
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James Harden discusses shooting struggles: "I'm one of the most confident players in this league because I put the work in." <a href="https://t.co/YdbevAOCZW">pic.twitter.com/YdbevAOCZW</a>
&mdash; HoopsHype (@hoopshype) <a href="https://twitter.com/hoopshype/status/1513152084069130244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote>

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"I tell him to be himself,&rdquo; Embiid <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33739023/philadelphia-76ers-james-harden-not-feeling-pressure-entering-playoffs-ready-hoop">told ESPN</a>. &ldquo;He just has to be himself and not worry about people talking about pressure. Whatever happened in the past, you look back at what he's accomplished and what he's done, he had to play against a dynasty&hellip; Bad timing. But I'm sure it's going to be fine."
For Embiid&rsquo;s sake and that of the front office in Philadelphia, we can only hope his words are prophetic.
Whether James Harden cares to admit it, there&rsquo;s a lot riding on his marriage with Joel Embiid. Not the least of which is James Harden&rsquo;s ability to write a final chapter devoid of postseason shortcomings.
With all his baggage, Harden forced his way to Philadelphia.
Passport in tow, baggage checked, as he prepares to head north to Canada next week, the hope for Harden is that it will be just the first of many postseason trips that the Sixers will be taking.
Truth be told, Harden's legacy depends on it.
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When it comes to legacies, championships are the measuring stick, and Philadelphia's James Harden is still fighting for his.

Despite his remarks, James Harden actually has quite a bit to prove

We have reached the final installment of this season's NBA Sour Rankings and it's been a wild ride.
Of the 30 NBA teams, 28 appeared on the list at some points in the season. I inversed each ranking and turned it into a point value to tally up the most prominent members. The Los Angeles Lakers (134 points), Sacramento Kings (117), New York Knicks (113) and Portland Trail Blazers (99) were the highest point-getters, and continuously peppered the rankings since they each disappointed at consistent levels throughout the year.
Who never touched the Sour Rankings? The San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic. I bet you didn't expect them. Those squads had the combination of extremely low expectations and frequent flashes from young talent. Despite those franchises never being on top of the NBA sphere, I never felt frustrated by by either team because there was always a silver lining after every game.
So we arrive at the final ranking with several playoff contenders sputtering to the finish.
If you're new to the Sour Rankings, here's a refresher: Unlike the typical "power rankings" that are so common throughout sports media, Sour Rankings are a bizarro-world counter. These rankings highlight the top-10 most frustrating NBA franchises throughout the season, and they are updated every week to match the twists and turns of the league.
This is not merely a bottom-10 of your typical best-to-worst outlooks. You will see championship contenders and playoff hopefuls mixed in with struggling squads. Teams well under .500 may never touch the Sour Rankings because they are on track with their respective processes. Injuries, drama, transactions and generally underwhelming play will earn you a spot on this list.
The central question is ultimately this: How good should you feel about the direction of each franchise? Let's get going.
Escaping the Sour Rankings:&nbsp;The Dallas Mavericks have climbed up to fourth in the Western Conference standings and flipped to home-court advantage against the Utah Jazz, who they'll likely play in the postseason. The Chicago Bulls have somewhat righted the ship and maintain a hold on fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks may be out of the playoff picture, but they've suddenly been hit with a wave of developmental flashes from the young core. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-stats-notebook-immanuel-quickleys-unusual-shot-diet-can-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Immanuel Quickley leads the way</a>.&nbsp;
10. Boston Celtics (47-28)
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ESPN Sources: Celtics C Robert Williams has suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee and will minimally miss several weeks. Further evaluation today will help provide a timetable. Boston moved into first-place Sunday, and Williams has been immense part of NBA&rsquo;s best defense.
&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1508469824195899398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Man... <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-celtics-center-robert-williams-feared-to-have-torn-meniscus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that is pain</a>. What else is there to say?
(Last week: Unranked)
9. Brooklyn Nets (39-36)
Brooklyn boasts the league's fourth-ranked offense over the past two weeks, and that was before the New York City vaccination policies changed, allowing Kyrie Irving to play in home games. The Nets can end their season with some positive momentum, as they face just three more teams at .500 or better.
One of those teams is the Atlanta Hawks, who Brooklyn is currently slotted to play in the Play-In bracket. The race for the eighth seed is dead even between the Nets and Charlotte Hornets, and that's a battle within a battle to get at least two extra shots at a playoff spot. Should the Nets lose, do they want to face a dominant Trae Young with their not-so-dominant defense?
(Last week: 8)
8. Golden State Warriors (48-27)
The Warriors have lost 5 of their last 6 games and just took a 123-115 defeat against the Wizards. They are 6-10 since the All-Star break, and while those losses have come with a mix of injured absences involving Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, it's concerning that the rest of the cast can't keep things together &mdash; even against bad teams. Golden State is currently two games up on the Mavericks for the third seed, but only four games separate the team from the sixth-place Denver Nuggets. This is a sneaky-close middle tier with the Warriors holding little momentum.
(Last week: 10)
7. Atlanta Hawks (37-37)
As mentioned, the Hawks face a potential playoff preview with the Nets. But they'll likely have to meet both Brooklyn and Charlotte in some order in the postseason. Atlanta went 2-2 against the Hornets in the regular season, and is 0-2 vs. the Nets prior to this coming Saturday's matchup. That doesn't inspire much confidence that the Hawks, as the No. 10 seed, can storm through both to the playoffs.
(Last week: 7)
6. Utah Jazz (45-30)
Utah received a quality playoff test this past week with games against the Nets, Celtics, Hornets and Mavericks. The Jazz lost all four games, though they missed Gobert. Their perennially stalwart defense is down to 20th over the past two weeks, and against the Celtics in particular, they couldn't seem to contain anyone. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 26.4 points per game since the All-Star break, but even that isn't mattering when the defense doesn't show up beyond Gobert.
(Last week: Unranked)
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5. Miami Heat (47-28)
Bryan Fonseca wrote a great piece this past week about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-miami-heats-blow-up-was-necessary-but-now-the-rest-is-up-to-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that Heat meltdown on Wednesday</a> against the Warriors. His message was that these types of altercations don't have to define the rest of the season. But the dust-up certainly is right now, as the Heat have lost their grip on the East's top spot. They followed up the defeat with two more bad losses to the Knicks and Nets.
Miami still has conference powers in Boston, Chicago and Toronto left on the schedule. With the top four seeds separate by half a game, the Heat could easily plummet to the bottom of the tier.
(Last week: Unranked)
4. Washington Wizards (32-42)
Let's talk about Corey Kispert! The No. 15 pick flailed, as most rookies do, to open his NBA career. But Kispert has meaningfully caught fire in recent weeks. The 23-year-old sharpshooter is drilling 42.4% of his three-pointers in March. He just hit six triples on his way to a career-high 25 points in the team's aforementioned win over the Warriors. Washington hasn't had too much to get excited about in these last two weeks, so at least Kispert is helping send the young core into the summer on a high note.
(Last week: 2)
3. Portland Trail Blazers (27-47)
According to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jerami-grant-trade-rumors-portland-is-still-the-frontrunner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James L. Edwards III of&nbsp;The Athletic</a>, the Trail Blazers are still the front-runner to trade for Jerami Grant this offseason. "I think a lottery pick would be the kind of sweetener that would [get a deal done]," Edwards told HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.
I just don't understand how a team so badly in need of a reset can cash in what will likely be its highest draft pick in a decade to go make a last-ditch attempt at keeping the current group relevant. Portland does not have a playoff-caliber roster regardless of Damian Lillard's health. Trading away several key future pieces for Jerami Grant will not change this. I'm simply against this move for the franchise's future.
(Last week: 4)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (31-43)
Here we go!
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WHAT A COMEBACK 😱 The Pelicans rally from a 23-point deficit to take down the Lakers in NoLa! <a href="https://t.co/MmFRQr8n2l">pic.twitter.com/MmFRQr8n2l</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1508254421804716033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The Lakers are on a two-game skid and the Spurs are on a three-game win streak. Los Angeles has eight games to try and hold off San Antonio and at least survive to reach the postseason. Over the past two weeks, in which the Lakers have gone 2-5, they have the league's ninth-ranked offense and 27th-ranked defense. Their last eight games include the Mavericks, Jazz, Pelicans, Suns, Warriors, Thunder and Nuggets (twice).
Whew, this is not going to be easy!
(Last week: 1)
1. Sacramento Kings (27-48)
The Kings shut down Richaun Holmes for the season due to "personal reasons" and did not specify why. Robin Epley of the <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article259668860.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacramento Bee found out</a>: Holmes is facing serious domestic violence allegations amid an ongoing custody battle.
Obviously this is an ongoing process with no conclusion yet. But Epley makes the point painfully clear in her article.
"I&rsquo;m not convicting Richaun Holmes ahead of his court date. It does, however, appear that the Kings were focused on covering up a serious situation involving allegations of domestic violence by one of their players. When I contacted the team this week, they refused to comment on the serious charges facing their player, or say anything beyond the cryptic announcement of Holmes&rsquo; departure," she writes.
Epley goes more into some important statistics surrounding domestic violence cases in the U.S. and in the NBA. I seriously implore you to read them if you haven't yet. But the point is: This is yet again another case being swept under the rug by the league and its franchises.
(Last week: 3)
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Ethan Fuller ranks the most frustrating NBA teams in the last Sour Rankings of the season.

NBA Sour Rankings: The final countdown

With a couple of curses, a primal scream, and a few tears, too, Kevin Garnett helped hoist his No. 5 to the TD Garden rafters on Sunday alongside the 2008 NBA championship banner he helped win after arriving in Boston.
On a day that featured live and video tributes from ex-teammates, former Celtics greats, other NBA A-listers &mdash; and even musician Kenny G &mdash; Garnett became the 24th person in franchise history have is number retired.
None of the previous honorees them had quite the same combination of intensity, hard work and humor that Garnett brought when he joined Paul Pierce and Ray Allen for a New Big Three that ended the longest title drought in franchise history.
&ldquo;Before he got here, we had one of our worst seasons. He was just that injection in the heart that we needed,&rdquo; Pierce, whose No. 34 was retired in 2018, said in the postgame ceremony. &ldquo;You brought a sense of culture to this team that was desperately, desperately needed. You brought Boston pride &mdash; Celtic pride &mdash; back.&rdquo;
Wearing a dark suit and a black turtleneck, with a Ukrainian flag ribbon on his lapel and a Celtics green pocket square, Garnett came onto the court with his daughters and was greeted by former teammate and current broadcaster Brian Scalabrine.
With the championship trophy on a table behind them, Scalabrine asked where Garnett got the passion that propelled him from the fifth overall draft pick out of a Chicago high school to the basketball Hall of Fame.
&ldquo;Nobody tells you how to use your superpower,&rdquo; Garnett said, adding that he watched his mother work hard to raise him. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s in my DNA. I figured it out.&rdquo;
The day also included a reunion with Allen, ending a public feud that began when the sharpshooting guard left the Celtics to sign with the Miami Heat. The two players hugged and were soon joined by Pierce before Garnett shouted into the microphone: &ldquo;Ray&rsquo;s next, damn it!&rdquo;
Garnett played only six seasons in Boston, but they included five of his 15 career All-Star appearances and the 2008 championship &mdash; the 17th for the Celtics. He was the 2004 MVP with Minnesota, where he started and ended his 21-year NBA career.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad to see you&rsquo;re a member of this elite club,&rdquo; Hall of Famer Bill Russell told him in a videotaped tribute. &ldquo;I always enjoyed watching you play, and now our jerseys hang together in the rafters.&rdquo;
The Celtics presented Garnett with a piece of the original parquet floor, a custom bottle of tequila, a portrait of him popping his Celtics jersey, and &ldquo;an NFT gift basket.&rdquo; His daughters joined him as he raised the banner to the rafters, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Other tributes came in from Kevin McHale, the Celtics Hall of Famer who was also the Timberwolves general manager who traded Garnett to Boston; the TNT broadcast crew, including Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal and Charles Barkley; Danny Ainge, the general manager who built the '08 championship team; and former teammates Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo. (Former Piston Isiah Thomas, who was in the crowd, was booed.)
&ldquo;You changed the culture of the Boston Celtics. You taught us so much about what it takes to win,&rdquo; said ex-Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who is now coaching the Philadelphia 76ers. "Every coach in America &mdash; in the world &mdash; should have a chance to coach a Kevin Garnett, the greatest team player who ever played the game.&rdquo;
During the game, which the Celtics lost 95-92 to the Dallas Mavericks, videos regaled the fans with stories of Garnett's legendary intensity, including the time he challenged teammate Glen &ldquo;Big Baby&rdquo; Davis to arm wrestle.
Kenny G played &ldquo;Loving You&rdquo; on the saxophone. &ldquo;From one KG to another, congratulations,&rdquo; he said.
As fans filed out about an hour after the loss that snapped a five-game winning streak and was the day&rsquo;s only sour note, the arena rang out with the 1970s-era &ldquo;Gino Time&rdquo; video that the Celtics would play when Garnett&rsquo;s Celtics had wrapped up another victory.

With a couple of curses, a primal scream, and a few tears, Kevin Garnett helped hoist his No. 5 to the TD Garden rafters on Sunday.

Tears, swears as Celtics retire Kevin Garnett's No. 5

Civil Rights attorney Lee Merritt discusses the power and influence the NBA has, and can continue to have &mdash; if the NBA continues using its platform, voices and resources to fight for justice.&nbsp;
Lee Merritt is one of the attorneys for Ahmaud Arbery&rsquo;s family &mdash; a 25-year-old black man who was murdered while on a run near Brunswick, in Glynn County, Georgia. A verdict of life imprisonment was just announced in the case, in which three men were convicted of murdering Arbery. While Lee Merritt is definitely relieved about the verdict, we discuss the long road ahead to achieve justice and equality for all. Merritt is running for attorney general in Texas and I would love to see the NBA duplicate what the WNBA did, when they threw their support behind Raphael Warnock, an Atlanta-area pastor who was running as a Democrat at the time for (and would eventually win) one of Georgia&rsquo;s seats in the U.S. Senate.&nbsp;
This was a great discussion.
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Etan Thomas: So this time last year, I interviewed a group of WNBA players, [including] Renee Montgomery and Elizabeth Williams, who both played for the Atlanta Dream at the time, [as well as] Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, Angel McCoughtry &mdash; and Eric Garner's daughter, Emerald. And <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-nba-kelly-loeffler-atlanta-dream-renee-montgomery-elizabeth-williams-swin-cash-etan-thomas-activism-black-lives-matter-activist-movement-vote-warnock-shirts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we discussed what the WNBA did to galvanize support for Raphael Warnock, and ultimately get him in office and Kelly Loeffler out of office</a>. And it was really amazing. Because for one, Raphael Warnock was polling at 9% before the WNBA got involved. And he won &mdash; in Georgia, of all places.&nbsp;
So I want to see how we can galvanize the NBA to duplicate that with you, as you're running for attorney general in the state of Texas. So that's why I reached out to you to have this interview with you. I've been following you for a long time and I'm a big fan of the work that you do. And so, I'm going to send this interview to the NBA, to the <a href="https://www.thesocialchangefund.org">NBA Social Change Fund</a>.
Which, for those that aren't familiar, it was birthed out of the Bubble season. After the NBA players went on strike, after Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in broad daylight, in front of his children. The NBA Social Change Fund was formed by Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, and is aimed to support critical issues in the black community.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/img_7183_lg.jpg" alt="" width="501" height="282" />
So that's why after speaking to Allisa Charles-Findley, who is Botham Jean's sister &mdash; and I actually interviewed her for my new book, &ldquo;<a href="http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/police-brutality-and-white-supremacy-the-fight-against-american-traditions/">Police Brutality and White Supremacy: The Fight Against American Traditions.</a>&rdquo;
She was one of the people I interviewed, along with Atatiana Jefferson's family, who I know that you work with as well &mdash; so we came up with the idea of conducting this interview with you, to try to galvanize that support from the NBA. Some people are like, "Alright, you usually do basketball stuff. Why are you interviewing a politician right now?" But that's the reason why. So thank you for taking this time.
Lee Merritt: "Sure, I really appreciate that. During most of my career, I've enjoyed the support of the National Basketball Association. I can recall in 2017, a young man named <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2018/08/29/jordan-edwards-made-the-case-against-roy-oliver-unlike-any-murder-trial-dallas-had-ever-seen/">Jordan Edwards </a>was slain in Balch Springs, Texas.&nbsp;
"It was in the middle of the NBA playoffs &mdash; and Steve Kerr, who had suffered family tragedy as well, identified with that family, reached out, invited them to the playoff games [and] got his brothers to take their mind off of it for a bit.
"I actually used to coach basketball myself. I was a coach down at South Atlanta High School. I coached Derrick Favors, I coached against Cousins and Walls* when they were high school students. And I enjoy a relationship with them today, continuing to give back to the community of Atlanta.
"And yeah, the names that you mentioned that you work with, Chris Paul has supported the work and the families I represent. Dwyane Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, [have] been major, major supporters over the course of my career.
"And, just as I transition away from representing one family at a time and start talking about representing larger groups of people and going towards policies, I certainly think the NBA can play a major role &mdash; in not only the success of the campaign, but championing some of those issues that we're fighting for on a case-by-case basis, and taking it to one of the biggest states in the country and really impacting national policy."
Etan: So, let me ask you to review some of the cases that you've worked with before, and the people that you've represented. We could start off with Ahmaud Arbery.
Merritt: "Sure. I came to represent the Ahmaud Arbery family before the video was released of his brutal slaying in South Georgia. Many [...] will recall that he was a South Georgia jogger. On February 23, 2020, he was targeted by three white men who have now been each <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/jury-reaches-verdict-ahmaud-arbery-death-case/story?id=81353504">convicted of murder</a>, and are facing life sentences in the state of Georgia, as well as federal hate crime charges.
"I've also represented... Unfortunately, the list of families that I've represented is quite extensive. I represent over 67 families who have suffered misuse of force, that lost a loved one, as a result of the deadliest police culture in the world. Some of the names that your viewers may have heard of.
"You mentioned [...] <a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article236198028.html">Atatiana Jefferson</a>.&nbsp;
"Of course, that case is ongoing. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/death-innocent-man-timeline-wrong-apartment-murder-trial/story?id=65938727">Botham Jean</a>, who was an accountant eating a bowl of ice cream in his own apartment complex.&nbsp;
"<a href="https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-illinois-police-shooting-guard-20181112-story.html">Jemel Roberson</a> was a security guard in Chicago. Had just stopped a mass shooting, and was shot in the back by a police officer who must have mistook him for a gunman.&nbsp;
"<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/us/california-attorney-general-sean-monterrosa-shooting/index.html">Sean Monterrosa</a> in California.
"But the bulk of my work has been in Texas. I represent <a href="https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/damian-daniels-family-responds-to-no-indictment-for-deputy-that-killed-him">Damian Daniels</a>, a veteran shot to death in his home.&nbsp;
"<a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Family-of-woman-killed-by-Baytown-officer-13872709.php">Pamela Turner</a> in the Houston area.&nbsp;
"And like I said, we could probably spend the rest of this podcast going through the list of names."
Etan: Wow! So now you're running for attorney general in Texas. And for those that don't know, what exactly are the responsibilities of an attorney general?
Merritt: "The attorney general of Texas, and an attorney general in any state, is the legal voice for the people. They're supposed to serve as the spokesperson for what justice is in a municipality. And so we've seen it, in cases like Breonna Taylor, where we had a really bad attorney general interfere with accountability in that case, in the form of Daniel Cameron. We've seen the opposite end of that spectrum with Keith Ellison and the work that he's done in Minnesota. Prosecuting the officers responsible for the death of George Floyd and, most recently, Daunte Wright.
"But even beyond the criminal justice aspect, the attorney general&rsquo;s office, particularly in the state of Texas, impacts virtually every aspect of Texas life. So property taxes, school protection. And we've heard a lot recently in the news about the CRT [Critical Race Theory] scam, where they're trying to erase entire portions of our history in the name of not getting anyone upset.
"From the border crisis, to really economic empowerment in our schools. There's so many businesses that are attempting to get off the ground, but don't have access to the kind of governmental loans and support that our white counterparts do.
"All of those things run through the attorney general's office. It's a very, very influential office. More or less the second-in-command in the state of Texas."
Etan: Now, Ken Paxton, [is] who you would be running against, and who is the current attorney general &mdash; and has been since 2015. I want to talk about the stark differences between the two of you, because it's really night and day.
But I want to start off with this, because the Jan. 6 insurrection [anniversary] is upon us. And you know, I'm looking at him, looking at the footage, and I see him at a rally right before the insurrection, almost like leading the charge. Explain to me, let's start off with there, about the stark differences between you and Ken Paxton.
Merritt: "Well, there is a clear contrast. You know, Texas was in the national news because of [its] unique voter suppression laws. They passed some laws that would make it more difficult for the black and brown people in the state, people with disabilities and marginalized communities to vote.
"It was so upsetting that certain members of the Texas legislature left the state and went to DC &mdash; refused to participate in that session in order to fight for voting rights. Now, I was present with them. I thought that was a fight worth standing with people for, providing both legal advice and strategies, working with the labor community and others to take on voting issues in Texas.
"By contrast, the last sort of infamous trip of the attorney general, the current attorney general, to our nation's capital was on Jan. 6. And we don't know exactly what he did there, because he has not participated in an ongoing investigation in terms of his potential criminal liability for helping to incite a riot.
"But he was very publicly on camera, encouraging the soon-to-be riders and insurrectionists that the election was stolen, that they had a responsibility to fight. And he invoked the name of Texas when he did it. He said, "You all should fight, because Texans fight." And he laid out that he had fought to overturn the results of the free and fair election. And yeah, that's our top legal position in the state, advocating for the overthrow of our government."
---------------
We then went on to discuss particular differences between him and Ken Paxton such as his position on education, police reform, border, gun training before owning a gun, and we cleared up the misconceptions on CRT, being anti-police vs. anti-police brutality, Second Amendment rights, etc.
---------------
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Etan: So let's go to the NBA, and how important it is for the NBA to continue to promote, to continue to use their platforms, to be able to &mdash; I mean, this is the thing. It's important to do that part. But now we have to take it a step further.
And I think the NBA has been doing a great job of promoting, raising awareness. You saw it all especially during the Bubble season, after the entire country was promoting and demonstrating and protesting what happened with George Floyd, what happened with Breonna Taylor [and] Ahmaud Arbery.
You saw John Wall and Bradley Beal here in D.C. leading protests. You saw all the Ball brothers, you saw Russell Westbrook in L.A. You saw Jaylen Brown and Enes Kanter Freedom too, in Boston &mdash; of course everything that LeBron was always doing.
But now it's like, it needs to be a step further, like the next step. And I think that you, with what you are trying to implement in Texas as the attorney general, is that next step. Because you have to be able to have someone in place that's on the right side of wanting to be able to create something that functions properly. So just talk about that, how this is like the next step that should happen. Along with [...] raising awareness and protesting and everything like that.
Merritt: "Yeah. I can recall, we were in the middle of the NBA playoffs when Jacob Blake was repeatedly shot in his back by a Milwaukee police officer. And I was watching the game, and Chris Paul had just gone off, sort of a historic performance.
"And <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxcNbbyg0ZI">they interviewed him</a> right after the game. And they said, 'You know, Chris, you were playing...' I think he was playing his old team, the Houston Rockets. He was with the Oklahoma City Thunder [...], where Derrick Favors is currently.
"And they said, 'Tell us about this performance against your old team. You had a chance to really show them that you still got it.' And he said, 'Yeah, I don't really care about that. That's cool. And that's what I'm paid to do. But a law enforcement officer in my community has just shot someone in their back several times. He was unarmed and nonviolent. Let's talk about that.'
"I think it's on the players to stand up like Chris Paul did, and like you said, like people have done, in a systemic way across the National Basketball Association &mdash; where the pundits and the media might tell you, 'Could you just shut up and dribble.' We've heard that refrain before.
"It's important for the players to say, "No, actually I won't. This is my community. What's going on in our community, it's urgent. It's a crisis. It's not something that we want to put off for a later conversation or for the offseason. But where it happens, I'm going to stand up to it. And I will get involved in elections. And I will use my resources and time and attention to shine a light on these issues that must be addressed."
Etan: You know, it's interesting. In my book, &ldquo;<a href="http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/we-matter-athletes-and-activism/">We Matter: Athletes and Activism</a>&rdquo; I interviewed Jahvaris Fulton, who is Trayvon Martin's brother. And in the interview, he told me how &mdash; and when he said this, it kind of threw me,&nbsp; because I didn't expect him to say it &mdash; he said that if it weren't for NBA players and celebrities and everybody like that, talking about his brother, he didn't think that anybody would know his name. And I was like, "Wow, that's kind of strong. Why do you say that?"
So then he explained to me how, when Trayvon Martin was first killed, his family was trying to get the local news people to cover it and they didn't want to cover it. They said, "Okay, another young black man was killed. That's not newsworthy."
And I was like, "That's what they told you?" He said, "Yeah," he was like, "We don't have no evidence. We don't have no video of it. Just your word saying that he [was] killed, that's not newsworthy." And he gave a shout-out to Roland Martin and some of the black news people, who were covering it. But he said, "But no local news people wanted to cover it."
So then he said, "But then, LeBron James started talking about it. And Dwyane Wade started talking about it. And then the entire Miami Heat team posed in the hoodies." So then he said, "So then you had everybody like, 'Okay, what is this that LeBron James is discussing? And why is Dwyane Wade feeling so passionate about this, and talking about his kids, and about this case?' Then everybody started to gravitate towards it and cover it and everything like that."
But he said [...] before, they couldn't get anybody to cover it. And that's just... It's unfortunate that it is that way, because people should have a regard for human life anyway, without an athlete having to speak about it. However, the athlete speaking about it is what drew the attention &mdash; and that just shows where athletes have to continue to do that, continue to use your voice and your platform to be able to speak to these causes.
And also to take it a step further by having laws being changed, and people who are in positions to fight for laws being changed, like [you are]. You know what I mean? And running for attorney general &mdash; [who] are in positions to actually implement some things so these things don't just continue to keep happening.
Merritt: "Yeah. I can remember in 2016, we saw two high-profile officer-involved shootings back-to-back, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. It was the same weekend, and it was almost like a dark cloud being hanged over impacted communities. And if you and I saw each other on the street, we would make eye contact and say, 'You know, man, this is becoming too much.'
"Dallas had a protest &mdash; I was living in Dallas at the time. And they had a protest downtown, where we marched and we discussed what happened, and started to talk about organizing police reform. And at the end of that protest, a vigilante named Micah Xavier Johnson, targeted law enforcement officers and shot five police officers and a couple of civilians as well. And you could imagine the national outcry about Black Lives Matter, and how they put law enforcement lives at risk.
"And everyone began to ignore the fact that people were there for protesting peacefully about police violence &mdash; that was back-to-back and overwhelming. And while it was a tragedy for our entire community that law enforcement officers were targeted by Mr. Johnson, there was also an ongoing crisis in our community, that was the reason that all those people had gathered and made targets of themselves.
"And it was Dwyane Wade. LeBron was still, I think, in 2016, with the Miami Heat. So it was Wade and LeBron who came forward at the ESPY Awards that weekend and re-centered the conversation. And said, 'That's terrible what happened in Dallas, and we back the blue. We stand for the law enforcement officers.'
&ldquo;But understand that our community is also under attack. And it's two sides of the same coin. We don't tolerate violence directed at law enforcement officers. And we cannot continue to tolerate violence directed at our community.
And it saved the national conversation so that we could get back to what had brought us all there in the first place. And so, yeah, members of the NBA have the opportunity, in [the] state of Texas, but [also] throughout the country, the voices of the NBA are critically important to that."
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Etan Thomas is joined by Lee Merritt on "The Rematch" to discuss social justice and the NBA's role in societal change.

Lee Merritt: The NBA could impact public policy and elections

Tommy Beer is back with his latest version of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings. To read last week's version, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/suns-eclipse-warriors-for-the-top-spot-in-nba-power-rankings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
Golden State leapfrogs Phoenix to once again ascend to the top of the BasketballNews.com Power Rankings, while the Memphis Grizzlies continue to creep their way into the league's upper echelon this season. &nbsp;
1. Golden State Warriors (27-6) ⬆️ Last Week: 2
The Warriors beat the Suns on Saturday in a much-anticipated Christmas Day showdown despite playing without Andrew Wiggins, Damion Lee and Jordan Poole, who were all in health and safety protocols. As expected, Steph Curry led the way, knocking down five three-pointers en route to a game-high 33 points; however, it was Otto Porter Jr. who surprisingly sealed the deal for the Dubs, scoring 7 of his 19 points in the closing minutes.&nbsp;
2. Phoenix Suns (26-7) ⬇️ Last Week: 1
After falling to the Warriors on Christmas, the Suns were tripped up by the Grizzlies on Monday night as well. It's the first time Phoenix has lost consecutive contests since the season's first week. The Suns will look to get back on track Wednesday when they host the Thunder.
3. Brooklyn Nets (23-9) &harr;️ Last Week: 3
Reports of James Harden being "washed" may have been a bit premature. After racking up 36 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Lakers on Christmas, Harden was back it Monday vs. Clippers, finishing with 39 points and a season-best 15 assists. Harden's final assist on Monday was the 6,000th of his career. He is just the 10th player in league history to tally 20,000 career points, 5,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists. After sweeping their two-game Los Angeles road swing, the Nets are an NBA-best 13-3 on the road this season.&nbsp;
4. Utah Jazz (24-9) &harr;️ Last Week: 4
The Jazz were missing Donovan Mitchell (lower back strain) but continued to roll along Monday night, securing their fourth straight victory by beating the Spurs. Mitchell tweaked his back during Saturday's win over the Mavericks and is expected to miss at least one more game.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (22-13) ⬆️ Last Week: 6
The Bucks are finally starting to get healthy, which is bad news for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo made his return to action in the Bucks' victory over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day, suiting up for the first time since entering the health and safety protocols on Dec. 12. Giannis was joined by Bobby Portis, who had missed the previous four games due to COVID, and Donte DiVincenzo, who hadn't played since injuring his left foot during the 2021 playoffs.
6. Chicago Bulls (21-10) ⬆️ Last Week: 7
After a brief slump earlier this month, Nikola Vucevic is once again beasting for the Bulls, who have won four in a row. Vooch tallied a combined total of 40 points, 32 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 blocks and 6 made three-pointers in a back-to-back set against the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and Monday.&nbsp;
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-13)&nbsp;⬇️ Last Week: 5
While many pundits and fans league-wide continue to wait for the Cavs to come crashing back down to earth, Cleveland <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/from-lovable-underdog-to-unforgiving-bully-how-the-cavs-got-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener">keeps on winning</a> (and often dominates in the process). Over the last month, the Cavs lead the NBA in Defensive Rating (they are the only team in the league allowing fewer than 100 points per 100 possessions during this stretch). Cleveland also leads the league in Net Rating (+15.8) over the past month. Remarkably, each of the Cavaliers' last 11 wins has been by double digits.
8. ​​Memphis Grizzlies (21-14) ⬆️ Last Week: 9
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Ja Morant drives, hangs, switches hands and gets it to on his way down, FOR THE <a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@memgrizz</a> WIN! <a href="https://t.co/GnTl4RbAEJ">pic.twitter.com/GnTl4RbAEJ</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1475686020079407104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Ja Morant made a contested layup with 0.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Grizzlies an impressive 114-113 victory over the Suns on Monday night. Morant's backcourt mate, Desmond Bane, remained red-hot (as <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/dissecting-desmond-bane-role-memphis-grizzlies-offense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">profiled by our Jackson Frank</a> over the weekend), scoring a career-high 32 points. Over his last seven games, Bane is averaging 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 made treys while shooting over 50% from the floor and behind the arc.
9. Miami Heat (21-13) ⬇️ Last Week: 8
With rosters around the league decimated by COVID, depth has become a crucial asset. On Sunday, the Heat needed important contributions from a handful of role players to pull out a victory over Orlando, and they got just that. Caleb Martin tied for the team-high with 17 points off the bench; Omer Yurtseven scored 16 points and grabbed 15 boards in his first start, while Gabe Vincent and Max Strus chipped in 13 points apiece.&nbsp;
10. Philadelphia 76ers (17-16) &harr;️ Last Week: 10
The Sixers had lost 4 of 5 entering Sunday's matchup with the Wizards, but Joel Embiid (36 points and 13 rebounds) put Philly on his back to carry his squad to a much-needed victory, pushing the team back over .500. Philadelphia has a chance to secure back-to-back wins on Tuesday when it takes on the injury-depleted Raptors, who are fresh off a 45-point drubbing in Cleveland.
11. Denver Nuggets (16-16) &harr;️ Last Week: 11
The Joker is running wild. Over the Nuggets' last two games, Jokic has racked a ridiculous 55 points, 43 rebounds and 13 assists. He is the first player to tally at least 25 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists in back-to-back games since Charles Barkley in 1988. Jokic is the first player ever with 25/20/5 and a three-pointer in consecutive contests.&nbsp;
12. Charlotte Hornets (18-17) ⬆️ Last Week: 14
The Hornets won their second straight game Monday by beating the Houston Rockets. Terry Rozier knocked down seven three-pointers on his way to a game-high 27 points vs. Houston. Mason Plumlee also provided a significant lift, registering a season-high 15 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals in Monday's 123-99 win.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (17-17)&nbsp;⬇️ Last Week: 12
Paul George complained of soreness in his right elbow last week, and soon after underwent an MRI, which revealed a ligament tear. The Clippers, who have lost 5 of their previous 6, announced PG-13 would miss 3-4 weeks before being re-evaluated. However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski ominously reported that the Clips will "see if rest can get him on a pathway to recovery, but he's gonna be out certainly a significant period of time and there's no real sense of when, or if, he'll be back this year." Yikes.&nbsp;
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14. Dallas Mavericks (16-17) ⬆️ Last Week: 18
In addition to franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic, the Mavs were forced to play without Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Reggie Bullock and Trey Burke on Monday, but still whooped the Portland Trail Blazers. Kristaps Porzingis led the way for Dallas, knocking down 12 of 21 field goal attempts and three treys en route to a season-high 34 points, along with 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks and no turnovers.&nbsp;
15. Washington Wizards (17-16) ⬆️ Last Week: 16
The Wizards travel to Miami on Tuesday night but afterward return home for a four-game homestand. Then after a quick two-game road swing in early January, Washington will play eight straight games in D.C. All told, the Wiz will play 12 of their next 14 at home, which is a golden opportunity to make a push up the standings. However, it was announced that Montrezl Harrell entered the league's health and safety protocols on Tuesday. Harrell is the seventh Wizard in protocols.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (16-18) ⬇️ Last Week: 13
LeBron James is averaging 35.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks, while shooting over 58% from the floor and 80% from the free-throw stripe over the Lakers' last four games, but L.A. has lost each one. With Anthony Davis (knee) still weeks away from returning to action, it will be fascinating to see if the Lakers' front office seriously considers shaking up their roster by trading away Russell Westbrook.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-17) ⬇️ Last Week: 15
Despite playing without their top three scorers (Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell), the Wolves found a way to beat the Celtics on Monday night. Nathan Knight tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Nowell scored a game-high 29 points for Minny. Greg Monroe signed a hardship contract over the weekend and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/greg-monroe-and-the-brief-case-for-us-to-see-more-nba-veterans-this-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chipped in 13/9/6 off the bench</a>. After the game, he admitted he wasn't overly familiar with his teammates. "Not gonna lie, Jaylen Nowell played awesome tonight, but I had no idea who that was," Monroe said.
18. Toronto Raptors (14-16) ⬆️ Last Week: 19
The Raptors have eight players in the health and safety protocols, including Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes, and only had eight players active for Sunday night's game vs. Cleveland. It showed, as the Raps were blown out by by the Cavs, 144-95. Fortunately, Toronto plays 7 out of their next 8 games at home, which could allow them to right the ship. And luckily, Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. have been cleared to return off the COVID list.
19. New York Knicks (15-18) ⬆️ Last Week: 22
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Quentin Grimes has a beautiful jump shot. Good work here, <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nyknicks</a>. <a href="https://t.co/KNAA5vLsjK">pic.twitter.com/KNAA5vLsjK</a>
&mdash; SLAM (@SLAMonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1475542501914300420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Quentin Grimes is slowly but surely making a case for consistent, extended minutes in the Knicks' rotation. After 27 points in his first start before entering COVID protocols, Grimes chipped in 15 in his return to action in Saturday's victory over Atlanta. Grimes is shooting 45.5% from three-point territory this season, which leads all rookies. In fact, among rooks that have made at least 20 three-pointers this season, Grimes is the only one shooting above 37% from behind the arc.
20. Boston Celtics (16-18)&nbsp;⬇️ Last Week: 17
On Monday, Celtics fans got some good news as both Grant Williams and Al Horford cleared COVID protocols. However, Boston faithful was also walloped with some bad news, as fans learned Jayson Tatum was forced to enter the league's health and safety protocols. It is worth noting that Tatum contracted COVID last season as well, and revealed he had to use an inhaler to help his breathing before games for months due to the lingering effects of the virus.
21. Atlanta Hawks (15-18) ⬇️ Last Week: 20
The Hawks welcomed Trae Young back to the lineup on Monday, and he scored 29 points, but it wasn't enough to beat the Bulls. However, Cam Reddish provided another encouraging effort in the loss to Chicago, as he hit a career-high eight three-pointers and finished with 33 points. Since being inserted into Atlanta's starting lineup, Reddish is averaging 23.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 made treys while shooting over 44% from downtown and 87.5% from the charity stripe.
22. San Antonio Spurs (14-19) ⬆️ Last Week: 25
The Spurs had their season-high three-game winning streak snapped Monday night by the Jazz, 110-104. Coming into the contest, San Antonio had scored at least 110 points in 10 straight games (their longest such streak since March of 1984). The Spurs rank seventh in Offensive Rating on the season, averaging 110.6 points per 100 possessions.
23. Indiana Pacers (14-20) ⬇️ Last Week: 21
The Pacers have been inconsistent all season, but Caris LeVert has finally found his groove. Over the Pacers' last four games, LeVert is averaging 24.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.0 treys and 1.5 steals.&nbsp;
24. Portland Trail Blazers (13-20)&nbsp;⬇️ Last Week: 23
Playing at home and matched up against a shorthanded Mavs team, the Blazers were three-point favorites on Monday night but ended up losing by 15. The Blazers' defense was atrocious, as they allowed 132 points while Dallas shot above 57% from the floor. According to StatMuse, no team has scored that many points and shot that well in Portland since 1987. Portland has lost 12 of their last 15 games.&nbsp;
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25. Sacramento Kings (13-21) ⬇️ Last Week: 24
Kings interim head coach Alvin Gentry did not mince words after his team's embarrassing 25-point loss to the Grizzlies at home on Sunday. "It's the most disappointed I've been in 34 years in the NBA, I can honestly say that," Gentry told reporters. "That performance was absolutely ridiculous. We didn't play hard, we didn't compete. We didn't guard the ball, we didn't guard screen-and-rolls. We didn't follow the game plan. No competitiveness whatsoever. They basically toyed with us. I'm totally disappointed and everybody in this building should be disappointed." Tell us how ya really feel, coach. &nbsp;
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (12-20) &harr;️ Last Week: 26
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/gilgeousalexander-walker-named-players-of-the-week-for-dec-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">named the Western Conference Player of the Week</a> on Monday after leading OKC to a 3-1 record last week. SGA averaged 27.5 points, 7.0 dimes, 6.3 boards and 1.3 blocks in those four games.&nbsp;
27. New Orleans Pelicans (12-22) ⬆️ Last Week: 28
Brandon Ingram had been posting incredibly impressive stats before being ruled out Sunday's game against the Thunder due to left Achilles soreness. Ingram, who is listed as doubtful for Tuesday's game vs. the Cavs, has averaged 27.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.8 treys and 1.2 steals over his previous 10 appearances.&nbsp;
28. Houston Rockets (10-24) ⬇️ Last Week: 27
It's been a wild, roller-coaster ride of a season for the Rockets. After losing 15 in a row over the first month of the season, Houston bounced back by somehow winning seven straight games. However, since that unexpected win streak, the Rox are just 2-8 and have lost each of their last four.&nbsp;
29. Orlando Magic (7-27) ⬆️ Last Week: 30
The Magic have won just 7 of their first 34 games this season, tying the franchise mark for their worst record at this point in a season. How hard has Orlando been hit by COVID and injuries this season, you ask? Hassani Gravett, an undrafted 25-year-old rookie out of Pensacola State, has averaged 25 minutes per game for the Magic over the past two weeks.&nbsp;
30. Detroit Pistons (5-27) ⬇️ Last Week: 29
The Pistons have five players in COVID protocols, including Cade Cunningham, and are missing injured bigs Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk. Detroit, which has had 12 different starting lineups this season, has lost 17 of its last 18 contests. They host the Knicks on Wednesday night. &nbsp;

Tommy Beer checks in with an installment of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings.

NBA Power Rankings: Bulls are hot, Warriors reclaim top spot from Suns

Tommy Beer is back with his latest version of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings. To read last week's version, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-power-rankings-warriors-and-suns-still-sit-at-the-top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
Golden State and Phoenix split a pair of highly anticipated games last week, while the Bucks and Bulls continue to climb up the rankings.
1. Golden State Warriors (20-4) &harr;️ Last Week: 1
The Warriors were beaten by the Phoenix Suns last Tuesday, but bounced back and beat them in a rematch on Friday. Of note: Steph Curry is currently just 15 three-pointers away from tying Ray Allen as the NBA's all-time leader in made triples. Before embarking on a five-game road trip, the Warriors have one more home game: Wednesday vs. Portland. When asked if Curry could tie/break the record on Wednesday, coach Steve Kerr said it "absolutely" could happen. "He's Steph Curry, so anything's possible." Here's to hoping Kerr and the Warriors let Steph make a real run at the record by allowing him to attempt 25+ treys.
2. Phoenix Suns (20-4) &harr;️ Last Week: 2
Since the week of Halloween, the Suns have lost just once (the aforementioned defeat to the Warriors), compiling an absurd 19-1 record in their past 20 contests. Devin Booker strained his left hamstring in Phoenix's first matchup vs. Golden State and has missed each of his team's past three games.&nbsp;
3. Milwaukee Bucks (16-9) 🔼 Last Week: 4 
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to action on Monday after missing two games due to a sore right calf, and scored 27 points on his 27th birthday to help lead the Bucks to another victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Giannis is the only player in NBA history to tally at least 12,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists before turning 27. It's scary to think he is just now entering the heart of his prime.&nbsp;
4. Chicago Bulls (17-8) 🔼 Last Week: 5
On Monday afternoon, the Bulls learned that the team's leading scorer, DeMar DeRozan, would be forced out of actoin due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Chicago is also without Alex Caruso, who is expected to miss at least a week due to a strained right hamstring suffered in Saturday's win at Brooklyn. However, the Bulls still found a way to beat the Nuggets on Monday night, notching their fourth consecutive victory. Ayo Dosunmu made his first career start in place of DeRozan and tallied 11 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
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5. Brooklyn Nets (16-7) 🔽 Last Week: 3
The Nets have beaten up on lesser teams all season, posting a perfect 10-0 record against opponents with sub-.500 records. However, Brooklyn is 0-5 in the five games it has played against the top two teams in the West (Suns, Warriors) and the other two teams in the top three of the Eastern Conference (Bucks, Bulls).
6. Utah Jazz (16-7) &harr;️ Last Week: 6
The league announced Monday that Donovan Mitchell <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/mitchell-derozan-earn-nba-player-of-the-week-honors-for-nov-29dec-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors</a>. Over three contests, he averaged 33.0 points while shooting 57.1% from the floor &mdash; including 43.3% from downtown, and 93.3% from the charity stripe &mdash; to go along with 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals to lead the Jazz to victories in each.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (13-11) 🔼 Last Week: 10
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🔔 <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelEmbiid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoelEmbiid</a> joins Giannis Antetokounmpo and Charles Barkley as the only players in the last 40 years with 40+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ assists at least 75% shooting! 43 PTS 15 REB 7 AST 15-20 FGM<a href="https://twitter.com/sixers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sixers</a> W <a href="https://t.co/TdvnQTfEtN">pic.twitter.com/TdvnQTfEtN</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1468207421805973507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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It took a Herculean effort from Joel Embiid (a season-high 43 points to go along with 15 rebounds and 7 assists), but Philadelphia was able to go on the road and beat the shorthanded Charlotte Hornets on Monday. In the process, the Sixers secured back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a month.
8. Miami Heat (14-11) 🔽 Last Week: 7
On Monday, Jimmy Butler returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a tailbone contusion. Unfortunately, he couldn't finish the contest, as he re-injured his back after a hard fall. Butler "drew contact and got shoved and landed on his tailbone," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game. "There could not have been a worst scenario for us to start the game. It is a contact sport. It's an unpredictable thing... But he definitely reaggravated it. You can tell from that point on he was not his usual self. So we'll reevaluate him (Tuesday) and see where we are."
9. ​​Charlotte Hornets (14-12) &harr;️&nbsp;Last Week: 9
Despite missing five players &mdash; including starters Lamelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee, due to NBA health and safety protocols &mdash; the Hornets beat the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and nearly knocked off the Sixers and the second night of a back-to-back Monday. After pouring in 28 points vs. Atlanta, Kelly Oubre Jr. racked up 35 points (on 13 of 24 shooting), 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and made six treys in the Hornets' 127-124 overtime loss to the 76ers.
10. Washington Wizards (14-11) 🔽 Last Week: 8
The Wiz exceeded expectations early this season, winning 10 of their first 13 games. However, after falling to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, Washington has lost three in a row and 4 of its last 5. (In fact, the Wizards are just 3-6 in the nine games they've played since Kyle Kuzma made an interesting fashion choice. Could it be the <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1468058584625954818?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">curse of the oversized pink sweater?!?!</a>)
11. Boston Celtics (13-11) 🔼 Last Week: 14
The C's have won 3 of their last 4, but are entering a brutal stretch of their schedule. They play a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers in L.A. on Tuesday and Wednesday, then travel to Phoenix on Friday to wrap up a five-game road trip. Boston then returns home, but has to take on the Bucks and Warriors in the team's first games back in Beantown.&nbsp;
12. Los Angeles Clippers (13-12) &harr;️ Last Week: 12
The Clippers had lost 4 of 5 before beating up on an undermanned Portland Trail Blazers squad Monday night. Encouragingly for Los Angeles, Marcus Morris is healthy and seems to be finding his rhythm. Morris is averaging 19.7 points and 4.3 treys while shooting 56.8% from the floor and 56.5% from downtown over his last three games.&nbsp;
13. Memphis Grizzlies (14-10) 🔼 Last Week: 20
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Dillon Brooks with the slickest of his career high-tying 8 assists, setting up Desmond Bane for the late slam in the <a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@memgrizz</a> 5th straight W! <a href="https://t.co/H8waWUWIrr">pic.twitter.com/H8waWUWIrr</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1468060881598619651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Grizz have won five in a row, and I'm not sure what's more impressive: The fact that they've won all five games without Ja Morant (who is sidelined by a left knee injury), or the fact that Memphis has not trailed, even for a second, at any time during this five-game run!
14. Atlanta Hawks (13-12) 🔼 Last Week: 17
The Hawks had lost 3 of 4 and were missing Bogdan Bogdanovic, Cam Reddish and Solomon Hill on Monday, but still found a way to push past the Minnesota Timberwolves. Trae Young scored 29 points despite shooting just 7 of 18 from the floor, as he was able to knock down 11 of his 13 free throws. After averaging 5.3 free-throw attempts per game over the Hawks' first 15 contests this season, Young is now averaging 7.0 attempts over his past 10 games.&nbsp;
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-12) 🔼 Last Week: 18
The Cavs had won four in a row before falling to the Jazz and Bucks in a torturous back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday. Jarrett Allen has been a beast since returning to action in late November. Over his last eight games, Allen is averaging 22.6 points, 11.8 boards and 1.9 blocks while shooting 73% (!!) from the floor and 78% from the free-throw line.&nbsp;
16. Dallas Mavericks (11-11) 🔽 Last Week: 11
The Mavs have lost 4 of their last 5, and 7 of their previous 9 contests. In Saturday's loss to the Grizzlies, they were forced to play without both Luka Doncic (left ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (left knee contusion). Fortunately for Dallas, Porzingis said he expects to play Tuesday night against Brooklyn, and both Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. (right knee contusion) have been upgraded to probable for Tuesday's matchup vs. the Nets.&nbsp;
17. Los Angeles Lakers (12-12)&nbsp;🔽 Last Week: 16
The Lakers host the Celtics on Tuesday, but then play 5 of their next 6 games on the road. Head coach Frank Vogel did say Monday that Trevor Ariza was able to participate in live-action practice for the first time since he underwent ankle surgery back in October, indicating Ariza's rehab is progressing in the right direction.
18. Denver Nuggets (11-12) 🔽 Last Week: 13
In their last 10 games, the Nuggets are just 2-8, but those defeats certainly can't be pinned on Nikola Jokic. Denver went 0-4 in the four games Jokic missed due to injury, and in the six games he's played in, Joker is averaging 26.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 7.8 dimes. On Monday, he notched his 60th career triple-double, passing Larry Bird for eighth place on the all-time career list.
19. New York Knicks (11-12) 🔽 Last Week: 15
The 'Bockers have lost three in a row, and for the first time since Tom Thibodeau was hired as head coach, the Knicks have given up more than 110 points in three consecutive defeats. Part of the reason for their struggles of late has been RJ Barrett's nasty shooting slump. Over the last month (13 games), Barrett is shooting 32.9% from the floor (50-of-152), 22.4% from downtown (13-of-58) and 66.7% from the stripe (22-of-33).
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-13) 🔼 Last Week: 19
Karl-Anthony Towns (tailbone contusion) returned to the lineup Monday night and chipped in 31 points and 16 rebounds, but KAT couldn't prevent Minnesota from losing its third straight game. The Wolves host the Jazz on Wednesday.&nbsp;
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21. Toronto Raptors (11-13) 🔼 Last Week: 22
The Raps have won two games in a row and are finally showing some improvement on the defensive end. Toronto has held three consecutive opponents below 100 points for the first time all season.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (11-14) 🔽 Last Week: 21 
The Blazers were forced to play without Damian Lillard (abdomen injury), backup point guard Anfernee Simons (sprained right ankle) and CJ McCollum (rib contusion) Monday, and unsurprisingly fell to the Clippers. On Monday morning, The Athletic <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-damian-lillard-wants-to-play-with-ben-simmons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>: "In recent weeks, sources say Lillard has grown frustrated with the team's play and tension appears to be on the rise between the players and Billups."
23. Indiana Pacers (10-16) &harr;️ Last Week: 23
The Pacers secured a desperately needed victory Monday night over the Wizards. Indiana had lost four straight before Domantas Sabonis (30 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals) put the team on his back to lead them past the Wiz. Indy will look to maintain the positive momentum going Wednesday when they host the Knicks. It should be mentioned that the team is also <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pacers-moving-to-substantial-rebuild-listening-to-trade-calls-on-stars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mulling significant long-term changes</a> despite its latest win, per The Athletic.
24. Sacramento Kings (10-14) &harr;️ Last Week: 24
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/TerenceDavisJr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TerenceDavisJr</a> had the hot hand in tonight's victory, with a season-high 28 pts (6-11 3PM) 🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/nA9qo3Ckq0">pic.twitter.com/nA9qo3Ckq0</a>
&mdash; Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1467386806593146882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Kings beat the Clippers twice last week to improve to 4-3 in seven games under Alvin Gentry, despite playing without Harrison Barnes (right foot sprain) in each of their past five contests. Terence Davis stepped up in the two wins over L.A., tallying a combined total of 51 points on 18 of 30 shooting, including 11 of 20 from behind the arc.&nbsp;
25. San Antonio Spurs (8-14) &harr;️ Last Week: 25
The Spurs had their four-game winning streak snapped by the red-hot Suns on Monday night. San Antonio will look to get back on track on Tuesday when they begin a five-game homestand by hosting the Knicks.
26. Houston Rockets (7-16) 🔼 Last Week: 28
Yes, the league's longest winning streak (six games) belongs to the Rockets, just as we all predicted before Thanksgiving &mdash; when Houston was riding a 15-game losing skid. After four straight wins against teams at least 10 games below .500, the Rockets get a much tougher test this week. They play the East-leading Nets Wednesday and the world-champion Bucks on Friday.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-16) 🔽 Last Week: 26
The Thunder had lost eight straight before overcoming a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Detroit Pistons on the road Monday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for OKC, pouring in 30 points and dishing out a career-high 13 assists, while Luguentz Dort scored 28 points, including five made three-pointers.&nbsp;
28. New Orleans Pelicans (7-19) 🔽 Last Week: 27
The Pels' record is still awful, but it seems they are headed in the right direction. New Orleans is 4-3 over their last seven games, with all four of those victories coming against teams at or above .500. Brandon Ingram was a beast last week, averaging 30.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 made treys over a four-game stretch.
29. Orlando Magic (5-20) 🔼 Last Week: 30 
Although Orlando has lost 9 of their last 10 , Wendell Carter Jr. has <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-orlando-magic-are-finding-their-front-court-of-the-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to play well</a>. He's averaging 15.6 points and 11.4 rebounds over the Magic's past seven contests. And, on the season, he's shooting nearly 36% from downtown. Over his first three years in the league, WCJ was 27-for-112 from behind the arc. In 2021-22, he is 35-of-98 from deep.&nbsp;
30. Detroit Pistons (4-19) 🔽 Last Week: 29
The Pistons have lost nine in a row, but after a slow start to the season, Cade Cunningham is establishing himself as a Rookie of the Year favorite. Over Detroit's past three games, Cade is averaging 24.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks and 4.7 made treys while shooting 55.8% from the floor and 60.9% from downtown.&nbsp;

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets, Grizzlies on unexpected winning streaks

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.
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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/shaquille-oneal-reveals-his-all-time-ranking-for-the-lakers-centers/" 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>:
During the NBA on TNT pregame show, following the league&rsquo;s announcement of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/first-25-members-of-nbas-75th-anniversary-team-announced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first 25 players from the NBA 75th Anniversary Team</a>, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal was asked to rank the best centers in Lakers&lsquo; history.
Here&rsquo;s what he had to say:
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"YOU'RE NOT BETTER THAN WILT. STOP IT!" Welcome back to another edition of Shaq vs. Chuck 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/CWB3squoTT">pic.twitter.com/CWB3squoTT</a>
&mdash; NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1450605409421586435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2021</a></blockquote>

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To no one&rsquo;s surprise, Charles Barkley disagreed, kicking off another back and forth between two NBA legends. O&rsquo;Neal <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1450605409421586435?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cited his rings</a>, as he always does, and the statue of him outside the Staples Center &mdash; Barkley&rsquo;s response? &ldquo;You&rsquo;re already getting petty.&rdquo;
But is he? O&rsquo;Neal is right to rank himself as one of the Lakers&rsquo; great big men. Is he better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Should he even rank himself above Wilt Chamberlain? Where does Shaq rank among Lakers&rsquo; big men?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, O&rsquo;Neal, and Chamberlain are all deserving to be in the top spot. Choosing the best out of the three legends is tricky. These men played in different eras under different circumstances and different levels of competition.&nbsp;
Abdul-Jabbar sits on top all-time scoring list. His record is in danger of being overtaken by LeBron James this season. He won five rings in eight finals appearances. Off the court, Kareem remains an ambassador of the game, often appearing in public events and even campaigning for the players to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, Wilt Chamberlain played for the purple and gold in the latter part of his career. He was not at his peak yet, but he managed to win a title and Finals MVP at 36 years old. If Wilt suited up for the Lakers five years earlier, he would have won and accomplished more. So what&rsquo;s the verdict?
Shaq is wrong with his rankings; he should name himself ahead of both Kareem and Wilt. In terms of dominance, Big Diesel changed how teams drafted in his generation. He managed to score 28,596 point in his career despite lacking a jump shot and bricking almost every free throw. He spent his prime years as a Laker and had career averages of 27.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. That&rsquo;s why he deserves to be No.1 on this list. But why talk about it on the opening day of a new season?
Ranking all-time greats brings up heated discussions. As mentioned, aside from the stats, the players all played in different eras. Could Wilt or Kareem dominate today&rsquo;s NBA the way they used to dominate in their generation? Would Shaq&rsquo;s lack of outside shooting hurt his team&rsquo;s chances of making the playoffs if he played today? There&rsquo;s no way of knowing, which makes the all-time lists an interesting topic every time.&nbsp;
However, this one could&rsquo;ve waited. Shaq just couldn&rsquo;t resist sharing his thoughts.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Shaquille O’Neal was asked to rank the best centers in Lakers‘ history after the first 25 members of the 75th Anniversary team were revealed.

Shaquille O’Neal shares his top three centers in Lakers history

76ers fan Marc Lamont Hill discusses the Ben Simmons situation, potential trade scenarios and whether a reconciliation is possible.

Marc Lamont Hill: The 76ers coddled Ben Simmons, then turned on him

Only three times have the Phoenix Suns finished with 60 or more wins in a season. First, it was Charles Barkley in the early 1990s, and then, two-time MVP Steve Nash and the 7 Seconds or Less crew in the mid-2000s. Now, following their special run to the 2021 NBA Finals after missing the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons, the third installment of prime Suns basketball has arrived.
When looking through the Suns&rsquo; schedule (which released on Friday along with every other organization), Phoenix is set up for one of its strongest starts in recent memory. With 9 of its first 20 games against teams that didn&rsquo;t make the playoffs last season, Phoenix is well positioned to be sitting near the top of the NBA standings at the first-quarter mark &mdash; especially since the adjustment period is in the past, as everything clicked together for the Suns&rsquo; dynamic backcourt led by Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
Now, returning all of their top rotation players from a Finals appearance &mdash; and including the additions of two solid second-unit pieces in Landry Shamet and JaVale McGee &mdash; the Suns are running it back to becoming one of the Western Conference&rsquo;s most formidable squads. It should also be noted that Phoenix is leaving open one roster spot into the regular season with half of its mid-level exception ($4.5 million) and full bi-annual exception ($3.7 million) at its disposal. This means the Suns are preparing to strike while the iron is hot upon a stronger buyout market than expected for the upcoming season, further bolstering one of the Association&rsquo;s deepest rosters.
Although many believed the Suns capitalized upon a weaker-than-expected path to the Finals thanks to injuries (Anthony Davis, Lakers; Jamal Murray, Nuggets; Kawhi Leonard, Clippers), this team is still loaded to the gills with win-now players who can play championship-caliber basketball. And the Suns' building blocks of Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges have yet to even turn 25 years old. With the expected advanced development from one of the best young trios in the NBA, plus CP3 continuing to age like fine wine entering his age-37 season, Phoenix is going to create early storylines for its continued run of excellence.
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The best start in Suns franchise history was from the 2004-05 roster led by Nash and Amar&rsquo;e Stoudemire, checking in with a 13-2 record through the first 15 games. Examining the 2021-22 schedule for Phoenix, that similar scenario is very much in play. Phoenix is only playing one true title contender on the road in their first 15, which is against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 22 at Staples Center. Here is the schedule in order:
OCTOBER &mdash; Denver Nuggets, @ Los Angeles Lakers, @ Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers
NOVEMBER &mdash; New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, @ Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, @ Memphis Grizzlies, @ Houston Rockets, @ Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Mavericks
There are only two back-to-backs for the Suns in the first three weeks of the regular season, and the final instance isn&rsquo;t really a formidable test on the road against Houston and Minnesota. Aside from the Lakers, Blazers and Grizzlies, the Suns will only play against three playoff teams away from the Footprint Center over this beginning stretch. Add all of these factors together, and the Suns are an easy bet to be at or near the top of the West through the first calendar month of the regular season.
Phoenix&rsquo;s 13-2 start 17 years ago has the makings of being matched or exceeded. Thanks to an early schedule heavily leaning in the Suns&rsquo; favor, there&rsquo;s a plausible route to a 13-2 start.
For a team that didn&rsquo;t find its footing until a few months into last season, having one of the most experienced teams back together with ample amounts of chemistry are good ingredients to rattle off a historically-hot start even with a shortened offseason. Having one of the strongest 9-man rotations in the NBA, Phoenix can feel comfortable trotting out on any night with the chance of notching another W in the win column. On pace for 58 wins over a regular 82-game schedule last season, Phoenix is poised to make another leap to the 60-plus win threshold for 2021-22.
Count out the Suns as a fluky Finals team at your own transgression. This roster is young and hungry, and has the right mix of win-now veteran pieces led by Paul to stay atop the Western Conference&rsquo;s hierarchy moving forward.

The Suns' favorable start to the 2021-22 season gives them the opportunity to maintain elite status in the Western Conference.

Suns' early-season schedule should lead to a hot start in the West

In discussing his new role as Managing Director of USA Basketball, seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill said a mouthful when looking back at what transpired this summer with the United States men's national team and the Tokyo Olympics. Also, he called Kevin Durant &ldquo;maybe the best offensive player of all-time.&rdquo;
That may not sit well with his old rivals in Michael Jordan and Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal among others, but anyone who watched Durant lead the American team to the gold medal would at least say that Hill has a valid argument as he plunges into his newest job.
&ldquo;What is encouraging is that we had the best offensive player, maybe of all-time, wanting to be a part of it, along with a lot of our best young guys wanting to be a part of it,&rdquo; Hill told BasketballNews.com in his first interview since taking over the USA Basketball position previously held by Jerry Colangelo. &ldquo;I do believe there is a widespread excitement and desire to be a part of it.&rdquo;
Colangelo stepped down following the Olympics after being at the helm for 15 years and winning four Olympic gold medals. Now, Hill must first decide who will replace Gregg Popovich as head coach and who will play for the team that will have to qualify for the World Cup beginning in November. Jeff Van Gundy, who handled coaching duties when the Americans qualified for the 2019 World Cup in China and became the chief U.S. scout for the Tokyo Olympics afterward, would seem like a likely candidate if he can get clearance from his broadcasting duties at ESPN and ABC.
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The next competition for Team USA is the 2023 World Cup of Basketball, which will be contended in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan &ndash; the first time multiple nations have played host to the event. And though it may be a challenge to get a team of top American professionals to commit to playing in those far-flung locales, Hill said he will definitely field a team of NBA players, despite suggestions from some corners that the Americans should use a team that has already competed under the Team USA banner (such as the Under-19 team led by Chet Holmgren, a Gonzaga recruit who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft).
&ldquo;Every generation of players is different, so the challenge is what can we do to make it interesting and welcoming so that players will want to be a part of it,&rdquo; Hill said. &ldquo;I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and making it work.&rdquo;
Presumably, the coach who ends up leading Team USA at the 2023 World Cup will also be the head coach for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, when Durant &ndash; if he so chooses &ndash; will have a chance to go for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. Whether that will happen is a long way from being determined, and Durant will have had two more seasons to try to bring the Brooklyn Nets franchise its first NBA championship.
What Hill expects to be difficult is keeping expectations in line with reality, something Popovich and his predecessor, Mike Krzyzewski, dealt with over the past decade-and-a-half. There is a segment of the basketball-viewing public that expects American teams to dominate the competition, but in reality the American teams have been challenged and defeated at numerous events, including the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the 2006 World Championship in Japan and the 2019 World Cup in China. It even happened during training camp this summer when they lost exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia. That was, however, before the roster was tweaked and the team came together over the course of the Olympics, peaking at the end and defeating France 87-82 for the gold medal.
Hill was a member of the first U.S. team that was challenged &ndash; the 1996 Olympic squad that competed in Atlanta and had its hands full in the first half of the gold-medal game against Yugoslavia before pulling away in the second half.
&ldquo;What I remember most were the personalities on that team: Charles Barkley, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal, Reggie Miller, Gary Payton," Hill recalled. "It was always fun to be together as a group, just constant laughs, and back then, guys did not know each other as well as they do nowadays because there was no social media and guys played on different teams, and they were just not as connected.
"But I remember the practices were incredible. I went up against Scottie Pippen every day, and all of us formed a bond and a connection that has lasted 25 years."
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Two years from now, and then again the following summer, similar bonds will be formed by players to be determined. Whether they return to the United States with gold medals remains to be seen, but Hill sounded a cautionary tone when he noted that last season&rsquo;s NBA Most Valuable Player, Nikola Jokic, and his runner-up, Joel Embiid, were non-Americans. This year's NBA Finals MVP (Giannis Antetokounmpo) and NBA Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert) were international stars as well.
Hill also spoke about his role as the secretary of the National Basketball Retired Players Association&rsquo;s Legends Care initiative, which earlier this year awarded five $10,000 scholarships to students who will be attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the fall.
&ldquo;I was very involved in picking the finalists,&rdquo; Hill said. "And in reading the essays and looking at the students' histories, you hate to narrow it down because they are all inspiring, all deserving in many ways. We look forward to doing this for years to come. We looked at everything from GPAs to hardships growing up, how some endured gun violence, some had low household income. When you see what they&rsquo;ve endured, it&rsquo;s wonderful to see who these students actually are."
Here are the "Starting Five&rdquo; of the Legends HBCU Scholarship and Legends Scholars program:
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">Damon Germaine Bryan Jr.</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="3">South Carolina State University, Class of 2022&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Major: Criminal Justice&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Born and raised in the projects of Charleston, SC, he plans to use his major to develop a youth center that would offer a safe space with services &ndash; such as mentoring &ndash; and college scholarships to help youth realize their potential and build for their future outside of their current constraints.</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="2">Saniya Keeton&nbsp;</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="3">Tuskegee University, Class of 2023&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Major: Animal Science&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Only 2.1% of veterinary medicine professionals are people of color. She plans to use her major to become a veterinarian, adding to the diversity of the field and showing BIPOC &ndash; especially children and young adults &ndash; that this is a field for them.</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="2">Tyrell Miller-Johnson&nbsp;</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="3">Central State University, Class of 2023&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Major: Psychology&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 2017 after his high school graduation, and has deployed on missions to help others affected by hurricanes, tornados, COVID-19 and other disasters/crises. One deployment involved his providing security for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. He plans to use his major to help educate teens and high-school students that the entire world is open to them and to teach them about college-alternative pathways such as learning a trade, becoming an entrepreneur, military service, etc.</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="2">Erin Foster&nbsp;</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="3">Spelman College, Class of 2024&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Major: Political Science&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Fewer than 5% of federal judges are women of color. She plans to use her major to go to law school, become a federal judge and start removing the gender and racial disparities in the field.</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="2">Jayla Imani Thornton&nbsp;</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="3">North Carolina A&amp;T State University, Class of 2024&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">Major: Political Science&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="3">She currently interns for Congresswoman Kathy Manning, and plans to use her major to go to law school and become a civil rights lawyer to combat and eradicate systemic racism and the oppression of minorities in America.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</ul>
The five Legends Scholars will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship from the NBRPA for the 2021-22 school year. In addition to addressing the financial needs of Legends Scholars, a comprehensive scholars program will assist Legends Scholars in the areas of career preparation and development, job placement and mentoring both during and after their undergraduate years.
The Legends HBCU Scholarship and Legends Scholars program was created in 2020 under the NBRPA&rsquo;s Legends Care initiative as a way to honor the rich history of HBCUs and their alums while moving the legacy forward by supporting current HBCU undergraduates.

In his first interview since becoming USA Basketball's managing director, Grant Hill discusses what's next for Team USA.

Grant Hill shares widespread excitement surrounding USA Basketball

Etan Thomas spoke with Al Harrington about Sha'Carri Richardson's suspension, marijuana in pro sports, his cannabis company and more.

Q&A: Al Harrington on Sha’Carri Richardson, cannabis company, more

MONTVALE, N.J. &ndash; When tossing $40 down the legalized gambling sinkhole (or not), this columnist decided to channel one of ABC commentator Jeff Van Gundy&rsquo;s most prescient thoughts from back in the day.
&ldquo;How about we only pay players if they win?&rdquo; Van Gundy proposed, half-seriously and half tongue-in-cheek back when he was in his second season coaching the New York Knicks. &ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t win, you don&rsquo;t get paid.&rdquo;
Van Gundy had a thing for players who are driven to succeed, along with a distaste for players who were more about money than they were about grit. It was something taught to him by his one-time mentor, Pat Riley, and it&rsquo;s something Van Gundy passed along to his assistants, including Tom Thibodeau and Steve Clifford.
Right now in the NBA playoffs, nobody quite matches Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers when it comes to &ldquo;championship-or-bust&rdquo; mode. Embiid had his &ldquo;worst&rdquo; game of the Philadelphia-Atlanta series last night with 27 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three blocks in the 76ers&rsquo; 127-111 victory over the Hawks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series. With Finals MVP odds of 8-1, a wager of $10 was placed. If it hits, the one-and-a-half tanks of gasoline will be pumped courtesy of William Hill in appreciation of the coaching job Doc Rivers has done.
But the thought here is that the Sixers will not win the NBA Finals because they are not the best team. Heck, they are not even the best team in the East if the Brooklyn Nets are at full strength. But with James Harden&rsquo;s hamstring being a monumental question mark, it is an open question as to whether they will be able to get past the Sixers in the next round (if they both get there). The Nets still have to get past the Milwaukee Bucks, which is no longer a lock even though it seems a likelihood.
From my perspective, the Utah Jazz are the team to beat, and Donovan Mitchell is the most likely Finals MVP. But Mitchell&rsquo;s odds are only +320, which would barely cover the cost of the toll on the Mario Cuomo Bridge that many New Yorkers must cross if they choose to wager at <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/americas-new-sports-gambling-hotspot-is-a-starbucks-in-new-jersey">the nearby intersection of the New York/New Jersey border</a>. (Gambling is not yet legal in New York, but the framework of the legalization law has already been passed by the state legislature in Albany.)
So if the Jazz MVP is not Mitchell, who are the most likely candidates from Utah? Who&rsquo;s the best bet?
There are several, and Ruby Gobert was the most obvious choice and carrying odds of 25-1 (+2500). So $10 went on him, $10 went on Joe Ingles at 150-1 (+15000), and another $10 went on Jordan Clarkson at 150-1 (+15000). If any of them hit, a certain Toyota Camry getting new front-control arms and brake pads might just get a repaint. The rest will go into a 529 college savings account, and the origins of those tuition funds will be kept in the dark for two years until he makes his decision on college.
The legalized U.S. gambling industry continues to grow, and the exact amount of money being wagered is an industry secret. Bookies are still in business because they will give credit to those who cannot get it elsewhere, and offshores continue to accept American dollars despite efforts by the federal Justice Department (and the big U.S. sportsbooks) to make them off-limits.
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Sports gambling stocks are down from their historic highs of a couple months ago, but are still doing well. Flutter Entertainment, parent company of FanDuel, closed Friday on the London Stock Exchange at $98.54, up nearly 45% over the past year &ndash; perhaps in part because Charles Barkley &nbsp;dropped $100,000 on the Portland Trail Blazers to win the championship (if he followed through with what he said on TV).
Penn National Gaming, which holds a 36% interest in Barstool Sports, closed Friday at $83.84 and is up nearly 183% in the past 52 weeks, and DraftKings closed Friday at $53.14 on the NASDAQ exchange, leaving it up 44.09% in the past 12 months.
Anyone who invested in these companies when the pandemic began and held the stock is sitting pretty financially right now, and legions of gambling companies continue to buy up NBA television advertising slots, while also striking deals with just about anybody they can imagine doing business with. One new deal pairs DraftKings and Boost Mobile, making it easier for Boost Costumers to gamble on live events as they watch them. If this runs counter to the idea of promoting responsible gambling, you would not be alone in wondering whether this is a good thing for America.
But then again, it is a free country, and those who remember to limit themselves to what they can afford can still have fun with it.
At FanDuel Sportsbook, the current favorite for Finals MVP is Kevin Durant at +165 (wager $100 to win $165), followed by Mitchell at +350, Kawhi Leonard at +900, Devin Booker and Embiid at +1000, and Chris Paul, Harden, Kyrie Irving and Giannis Antetokounmpo all at +1800. The only other players at FanDuel with odds of lower than 100-1 are Gobert (+4800), Trae Young (+5500), Paul George (+7000) and Mike Conley and Bogdan Bogdanovic (+9500).
DraftKings&rsquo; Finals MVP odds were down Saturday morning, while PointsBet.com and BetMGM had Durant at the +180 favorite.
Curiously, Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns was +2800 at PointsBet, +3500 at BetMGM and a whopping +25000 at FanDuel.
Different sportsbooks give different odds, but Ayton being worth nearly 10 times as much at FanDuel as he was at PoinstBet was one of the biggest differentials seen in the legalized U.S. market over the past 37 months as that industry has grown. (Ayton had 10 points and 15 rebounds and was a plus-18 in the Suns&rsquo; victory Friday over Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, putting Phoenix up 3-0 in the West Semifinals.)
Some Nuggets appear uninterested in and/or incapable of winning, and it was curious that Coach Michael Malone went with basically the same rotation in Game 3 after indicating he planned to shake up the lineup following the non-effort he saw in Game 2 at Phoenix.
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No team has ever come all the way back from an 0-3 deficit to win an NBA playoff series, and if you believe the Nuggets will be the first, you can get that for a price of +2200 at DraftKings, although we would advise purchasing savings bonds instead.
We still have a long way to go before the NBA Finals are decided, and a win by Milwaukee on Sunday or Atlanta on Monday will change a few minds about what will happen in the East.
But the Nets and Sixers have shown that when they are at or close to their best, they are the better team. Same with the Suns and Jazz in the West.
It comes down to a will to win, and the Van Gundy rule may be the best advice you can heed if you put your funds at risk. Try to remember that they build big hotels in Las Vegas for a reason, and it is not easy to make a living at sports gambling. But also remember that there are folks who are doing it, and those winners have a few things in common with Van Gundy: They are patient, intelligent and astute.

Chris Sheridan breaks down the latest Finals MVP odds and explains the reasoning behind some of his recent bets.

Channeling Jeff Van Gundy while making NBA Finals MVP wagers

The understated highlight to Trae Young&rsquo;s Game 1 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers was a simple turnaround floater on the left baseline in the fourth quarter. Philly&rsquo;s defenders were frozen in place, and one of the many pushes the Sixers made in the final minutes was snuffed out again. Young made the shot and promptly skipped away, seemingly pleased with his performance and the arena&rsquo;s relative silence -- the equivalent to kicking sand in the eyes of the Sixers&rsquo; animated, blue-collar crowd.
The Atlanta Hawks&rsquo; first-round matchup against a darling New York Knicks team introduced everyone to a necessary character in the league&rsquo;s postseason soap opera: the villain. In order to fill this role, a player must be skilled enough to frustrate opposing fans and confident enough to relish the role by absorbing blows from detrimentally competitive players and fans alike. Young was bodychecked by Nerlens Noel on his way to the locker room, which led to cleared benches and a scuffle behind him as he continued his stroll and straightened his posture, looking a little impressed at his ability to provoke. He was spat on by a fan before an inbound pass, declining to press charges and opting to continue the series without distraction.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s at this point that Knicks fans came to a terrifying realization: with every shaken fist and raised middle finger, Young consumes their energy like a Dragon-Ball-Z alien antagonist, ready to return the enthusiasm on the court in the form of deep threes and woven pick-and-rolls.
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This dynamic that audiences enjoyed so much in Atlanta&rsquo;s first-round matchup will likely carry over into round two. And in Joel Embiid, we may get twice the chosen violence. Both stars love talking to hostile crowds as monolithic viewers, mouthing taunts and smirking, skipping, shuffling, and thrusting their hips after especially impressive baskets. It&rsquo;s great.
These two franchise cornerstones have an alternative understanding of their positions as NBA superstars, an understanding more camp and audacious. Young and Embiid see cameras, a tipsy audience and adjust accordingly &mdash; as evidenced by Young&rsquo;s literal bow after a 30-foot exclamation point against the Knicks in Game 5.&nbsp;
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As self-appointed performers, the overzealous joy and villainy they bring is in refreshing contrast to the players too cool for such antics. Yeah, you may get a smirk out of Kevin Durant, a blank expression out of Kawhi Leonard, and maybe a gesture to Dame Lillard&rsquo;s imagined watch when he&rsquo;s feeling particularly sassy, but these measured responses don&rsquo;t compare. 
When players behave as theatrically as Embiid and Young, they do so completely prepared for the inevitable response and potential embarrassment they&rsquo;ll undoubtedly receive for those inefficient, off nights. Young will bow after eliminating your team, but he&rsquo;ll take a loss on the chin too. Embiid will taunt opponents after an and-1, but he'll cry when he loses on a Game 7 buzzer-beater. They have an ability to remind us of the fun in the game -- a reminder that enjoying these moments rather than focusing on long-term narratives is where this excitement exists. Also, both sides of the spectrum show how much they care about this game.
To be treated to not one, but two agents of chaotic confidence has already proven special after Game 1.
Being listed as a game-time decision wasn&rsquo;t enough suspense for Embiid; he had to up the ante. WWE star Triple H was the franchise&rsquo;s bell-ringer for this matchup. As a reference to what has become a viral on-court celebration for the big man, Embiid walked onto the court alongside Triple H donning a DX &lsquo;Thrust The Process&rsquo; shirt. This latest addition to his &lsquo;Process&rsquo; lore (following the &lsquo;Phantom of the Process') set the stage for the antics we can expect to see all series long.
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this is the absolute peak for any Attitude Era/NBA fans out there. haven't been this hype since Rodman walked out with the NWO. <a href="https://t.co/2O2iVF9tWW">pic.twitter.com/2O2iVF9tWW</a>
&mdash; Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1401590327098683398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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 But &lsquo;Ice Trae&rsquo; is an equally pompous competitor who loves the spotlight. Young utilized his every acquired skill in a single Sunday afternoon, slicing up the Sixers&rsquo; defensive gameplan by forcing a multitude of adjustments in the form of traps and full-court presses, all while contributing 10 assists to get his teammates involved.&nbsp;
The Sixers were initially taken aback by the way the star guard immediately dictated the rules of engagement, though it didn&rsquo;t take long for Embiid to join in on the fun, repeatedly calling for the ball in the post during the final minutes of the game and contorting his body into layups to induce contact (punctuated with an accomplished yell each time).&nbsp;
Atlanta ultimately came away with the win, but it's already safe to say that this series is primed to be a bright spot of the postseason, and these stars are ready for the challenge&hellip; to say the least.
&nbsp;"All the individual stuff is for the birds...&rdquo; Young said following the Game 1 win. &ldquo;All we care about is wins."

Trae Young and Joel Embiid know how to put on a show. They love hostile crowds and big stages, which is why this series should be fun.

Joel Embiid has met his theatrical match in Trae Young

The Knicks have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2012, and New Yorkers are beaming with pride.&nbsp;
When they officially reached the milestone, Knicks All-Star <a href="https://twitter.com/j30_randle/status/1392668095718772747?s=21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Julius Randle tweeted</a>: &ldquo;Check it off the list, Knicks. We not close to done.&rsquo;&rsquo;
This season, the Knicks have channeled their inner Charles Oakley, John Starks, Patrick Ewing, Anthony Mason, Greg Anthony-mentality of laying it all out on the floor every single night, and Knicks fans have appreciated every minute of it.&nbsp;
Even when they lose, you no longer hear the typical &ldquo;they're-all-bums&rdquo; or &ldquo;trade-everyone&rdquo; sentiment around New York; instead, you hear nothing but appreciation, admiration and excitement about the team's future possibilities.&nbsp;
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One of the main reasons for the change in attitude is because New York appreciates the effort.
Giving it your all. Playing with emotion. Never backing down to anyone (no matter who it is). And if you are going to go down, you go down swinging.
That&rsquo;s what New York respects, and that&rsquo;s what has the whole town buzzing.&nbsp;
Even though the Brooklyn Nets are highly favored to win the championship, especially when they are full throttle (which we have seen with James Harden, and he just returned from a hamstring injury). They really look unstoppable, but the Knicks are the heart and soul of the city, and that&rsquo;s why diehard New York fans -- from young to old, from passionate fans to superstars of the past -- are singing their praises.&nbsp;
New York Knicks legend John Starks spoke glowingly about this year's Knicks on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-rematch-raekwon-and-john-starks-talk-knicks-hip-hop-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an episode of "The Rematch" that featured Starks and legendary rapper Raekwon</a>.
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"I love the way they&rsquo;re playing. I love their mentality. I said [it] when [Tom] Thibodeau got here -- the one thing you&rsquo;re going to see in the Knicks is they will have an identity, which they haven&rsquo;t had for some years," Starks said. "That they&rsquo;re gonna come out there and play defense, and they&rsquo;re gonna get after you. And it&rsquo;s the same crew that they had last year, with the exception of a couple of rookies that came in -- IQ [Immanuel Quickley] [and] [Obi] Toppin -- but the same crew. They come in there and they battle.
"They get after you on the defensive end of the court. As you know, defense is going to give you a chance to win every single night, and they&rsquo;re one of the top defensive teams in the league -- and their record has shown that. They got guys who are tough-minded and are going to go out there and give it their all every single night. And that&rsquo;s what it takes in order to win in this league. Defense has been frowned upon for many years in this league, with the focus and attention being on the offensive end of the court."
Starks also had high praise for Thibodeau, who has changed the culture in his first year as head coach of the Knicks.
"He has all but guaranteed maximum effort, which we were always told that coaches can&rsquo;t teach, but he has," Starks said. "And he has guaranteed defense, which seems to be a lost art in the NBA...
&ldquo;...When you have a coach that has that defensive mentality and puts that inside of a team, and they come out and teams don&rsquo;t know what hit 'em, they&rsquo;re like, 'Wait a minute, you&rsquo;re not supposed to be playing defense. We&rsquo;re supposed to just be running up and down and freelancing.' But no, these guys are getting after it. And that&rsquo;s going to give them a chance to win every single night. So I love that attitude.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Starks was more than complimentary when discussing New York's core players.
&ldquo;I love having a young player like IQ; Immanuel Quickley comes in and really shows his leadership role. I love the way he plays the game," Starks said. "He&rsquo;s not afraid to get out there and get in someone&rsquo;s face, and we&rsquo;re all able to see his maturity out there on the court. And Toppin, being from Brooklyn and wanting to come here and play and be back in his home city -- he has a lot of potential.
"And to watch Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and Mitch Robinson, D-Rose back here again, [it's great]."
The team's success is also exciting younger fans, such as 10-year-old Cam Singleton of Harlem, New York. He's a Knicks enthusiast who has aspirations of being a sports journalist whenever his playing career comes to an end. This is an excerpt of his breakdown of the Knicks clinching the playoffs:
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"The loyal New York fan base is deserving of the Knicks clinching the playoffs for the first time since 2013. And now, when you have to play the New York Knicks, you know you're going to have to fight until the very end," Cam said. "The Knicks have not received this type of attention in the NBA since the 1990s when they were dominant. From playing efficient defense to being tied [for] third in the league in three-point percentage, New York finally has something to celebrate...
"The hard work that New York has put into this season has made New York proud because they represent what New York is. When I think about New York, I think about grit, grind and people that are hungry. So I feel that the Knicks got their swag back from the Patrick Ewing days, and if you are going to get a win in Madison Square Garden, you&rsquo;re gonna have to work very, very hard for it."
Starks agreed with this sentiment.
"I love the fight and the grit, and they are really taking on the personality of the city," Starks said. "They represented New York in a big way this year.&rdquo;

From young and old, to regular, everyday fans and stars of the past, New York fans are singing the Knicks' praises. Etan Thomas writes.

John Starks on Knicks: 'They represented New York in a big way this year'

From the year 2000 to the present day, New York Knicks governer James Dolan has been despised by most New York Knicks fans. I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ll have too many people who argue that point with me, and the reasons as to why definitely vary.
First, let&rsquo;s go over the stats.
For the last 21 years, Dolan has cycled through eight front-office leaders, 14 head coaches and countless supposed &ldquo;saviors" with subpar winning percentages, all while an arms-folded Dolan was pouting on the sideline game after game. That goes without mentioning a number of lifetime bans, including beloved Knicks warrior Charles Oakley, who was the heart and soul of the franchise. The image of Oakley being accosted by Madison Square Garden security guards will probably anger Knicks fans for the rest of their days. And in addition to all of that, prior to this season, the Knicks only mustered up five playoff appearances, four winning records and one postseason series win, while recording more losses than any other NBA team for the last two decades with Dolan at the helm of the organization.
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The perception was that he was a boss who doesn't seem to understand his job, but kept meddling in everyone else&rsquo;s. He never allowed the people he put in place to actually do their job, and fumbled any potential superstars signing with the Knicks who may have genuinely wanted to come to the Mecca. Further, the perception has been that he undervalues fan-favorite players when free agency arrives, and they leave as a result -- something that Knicks fans are currently praying to the basketball gods doesn&rsquo;t happen with Julius Randle.&nbsp;
But nowadays, the feeling is different in New York, as the Knicks are currently 37-29 and would be the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference if the playoffs started today. They say winning cures everything, and now we see longtime frustrated, over-emotional New Yorkers repping their Knicks and talking about their team with pride.&nbsp;
Full disclosure: I grew up a Knicks fan. My grandfather was, too. We were both passionate, emotional fans that wore our heart on our sleeve when it came to our Knicks. We took losses to heart and yelled at the television screen. We cheered when we won, and felt the Knicks were going to win the championship for many, many years. So I can relate to the emotional fans in New York. I felt their pain in years past, as well as their jubilation this season as the Knicks faithful definitely have a lot to cheer about.&nbsp;
Derrick Rose, who everyone in the NBA is rooting for, has had a comeback-of-the-year-worthy story in one of the toughest places to achieve that, New York. The same Knicks fans who booed him in his first stint are now singing his praises -- a difficult task to achieve. We actually see Derrick Rose smiling, which was definitely not the case during his first stint there.
Then you have Julius Randle, whom Charles Oakley told SiriusXM Radio &ldquo;is a better version of Zion Williamson.&rdquo; The praise doesn&rsquo;t get much higher than that.&nbsp;
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"Now they got a superstar" 🔊 Longtime NBA Forward Charles Oakley believes the Knicks have their centerpiece in Julius Randle <a href="https://t.co/LaUHE0rxjI">pic.twitter.com/LaUHE0rxjI</a>
&mdash; SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1388520336258334722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Even when the Knicks lose, they are exciting to watch. They play hard the entire game, leaving it all out on the court and giving maximum effort. It's reminiscent of the good ol' days with Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, Derek Harper, Greg Anthony, Latrell Sprewell and Larry Johnson. Those Knicks teams played with all heart, all the time.&nbsp;
And Randle, Rose, Obadiah Toppin, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Nerlens Noel, Reggie Bullock and Co. are giving maximum effort night-in and night-out,&nbsp;
So, the question now becomes: has the tide shifted in the perception of James Dolan? Does the success of the team this year erase the anger and vitriol New York fans felt for two decades due to the perceived mismanagement of Dolan? Will the &ldquo;Fire Dolan&rdquo; signs that once populated MSG read &ldquo;Dolan Is The Man!" now?
On my radio show in Washington D.C. with Dave Zirin, "<a href="http://archive.wpfwfm.org/mp3/wpfw_210506_100000collision.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Collision: Sports And Politics</a>," basketball historian and NBA insider Brandon &ldquo;Scoop B&rdquo; Robinson gave us his opinion:
&ldquo;Many people thought it was a foregone conclusion that the Nets were going to be the only ticket in town. And the Knicks had different plans this season... When you look at the Knicks, and you look at Dolan specifically, Knicks fans are passionate fans and knowledgeable fans. But I think Knicks fans were, one: living in the past, and two: did not have the accoutrement to make them happy to be Knicks fans," Robinson said.
"I feel like they&rsquo;ve always laid the blame on Dolan because they weren&rsquo;t a good team... But now, those criticisms have quieted down quite a bit. The Knicks are a feel-good story for the NBA as a fourth-place team if the playoffs started today. I think Dolan is off the hook in the eyes of Knicks fans this year, but I still do think they gotta finish what they started. I think the Knicks fans had a right to be upset, but it&rsquo;s only one year. The last time they made the playoffs was 2013, but this year, it&rsquo;s a different story, so now Knicks fans can drink cucumber water and sprout sandwiches with the crust cut off and be happy.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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ESPN&rsquo;s Scoop Jackson has a very different opinion, as he told me for the purpose of this article.&nbsp;
&ldquo;To me, Dolan is not getting a pass, he&rsquo;s simply being overlooked. We all know what is happening right now with the Knicks is happening in spite of him, not because of him," Jackson said. "Real basketball people are back cheering for the Knicks because we are cheering for Thibs, Leon Rose, Worldwide Wes and Derrick Rose. All of them are underdogs in their own special way, and New Yorkers know how each one of them has been counted out by larger parts of society during parts of their careers. Any applause for Dolan (if there is any) is for him hiring Leon and Wes, and getting out of the way for one of the few times during his tenure as owner. So in a lot of our minds, Dolan&rsquo;s not even there and none of this &lsquo;New Knicks&rsquo; love has anything to do with him.&rdquo;
Elements of both opinions from the two Scoops may very well be true. And for those that don&rsquo;t know, James Dolan isn&rsquo;t only the governor of the New York Knicks, but he is executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, and executive chairman of MSG Networks. And as the companies' chairman, Dolan oversees all operations within the company and also supervises day-to-day operations of its professional sports teams -- the New York Knicks and New York Rangers -- as well as their regional sports networks, which include MSG Network and MSG Plus.
I say all that to say this: he&rsquo;s not going anywhere, whether the Knicks do well or do terrible.
But this season, the Knicks have definitely given New York plenty to cheer about.

Etan Thomas writes about his lifelong love of the Knicks and asks if James Dolan should get a pass for his previous failures.