basketball Page 85 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
If Giannis did what I think he just did, the rest of the NBA is in trouble, with or without Kyrie
When we last left two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo he was ordering a cheat meal fit for a champion: 50 (not 51, not 49) chicken minis from Chick-Fil-A, with a large Sprite/lemonade. This was a month after narrowly defeating the Brooklyn Nets while we all complained about his jump shot holding ...
Dominique Wilkins is owed an apology and the only asterisk I’ll accept in sports
Dominique Wilkins is owed apologies from a lot of you people. ...
Deandre Ayton hasn’t gotten paid because Phoenix is cheap
Phoenix Suns fans might be in for a rude awakening coming very soon. Breakout big man Deandre Ayton is eligible for a rookie max contract extension, but is still without one heading into his fourth year with the Suns. This comes with the territory when you play for a frugal owner who is mainly conce...
I’ve had it with relievers
Maybe I’ve rebelled against getting older as long as I can, and I’m coming to accept the hair growing out of my ears combined with the opinions that something in a modern sport isn’t as good as I remember. It’s weird, because I don’t remember having any attachment to relief pitchers of my youth. The...
The NHL returned to ESPN, so here’s what it lacked
The NHL returned to ESPN on Tuesday night, with the self-proclaimed World Wide Leader celebrating itself and especially the old ESPN hockey theme....
Pierce and Garnett team up for podcast
For all of you NBA podcast lovers out there, you’ll soon have another to add to your favorites list. Former Boston Celtics and Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett seem to be jumping into the NBA podcasting arena. Pierce posted a tease for the new venture via Twitter on Monday morning....
Can Westbrook thrive as a third option with Lakers?
The Russell Westbrook era is underway in Los Angeles, and after his first couple of games in a Lakers uniform, Mr. Triple-double accounted for 14 turnovers in 39 minutes. He had 9 in one game alone. Sure, it is only the preseason, and the games and turnovers don’t count, as the future Hall of Famer ...
J.R. Smith makes competitive golf debut for North Carolina A&T
Former NBA Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith has officially embarked on his journey into the world of collegiate sports. On Monday, Smith debuted for the North Carolina A&T men’s golf team. But the first round of his college athletic career wasn’t as productive as he’d indeed hoped....
Hear me out: The Warriors are ready to contend again out West
Call me crazy, but the Golden State Warriors will be a force in the Western Conference this season. Yes, you heard me correctly. Golden State will be a thorn in the side of every team in the West this year, because everyone is sleeping on them, apparently....
The Brooklyn Nets’ massive star power may be their saving grace due to Kyrie Irving’s vaccination dilemma
Kyrie Irving ain’t walking through that door…tonight....
Does longevity plus consistency really equal Hall of Fame worthiness?
One of the more popular and most intensely argued sports debates that happen every couple of weeks, it seems, is the debate over who’s a Hall of Famer and who isn’t. No matter the sport, this is a conversation that can go on for hours, whether it’s happening on TV, radio, or in the barbershop....
At last, Chicago has its own hometown hero to bring title back to that same old place
As big of a sports town as Chicago is, we’ve never really had the hometown kid lead a team to glory. Dick Butkus was about as close as we got, and that was 60 years ago. Isiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade ended up being rivals of Chicago, even though they’re from here. By the time Wade became a Bull, he w...
Indiana wants Ben Simmons, but they should be careful what they wish for
If you tuned out for a day or two and were wondering where in the world Ben Simmons is…...
On a scale of 1-10, how goofy is Lakers' new nickname: 360
Now that NBA media day is officially in the books, it’s time for training camps, which means the 2021-22 season is just around the corner. The Los Angeles Lakers had day two all to themselves and even treated us to plenty of photos and a few funny moments as well. Captain of the ship, LeBron James w...
Hear me out: Ben Simmons for Kyrie, straight up
Ben Simmons has attempted 34 three-pointers in his four-year NBA career, which is about how many shots from downtown Kyrie Irving attempts in five games. As point guards go, the two former No. 1 overall picks could hardly have more different games....
Didn’t see LeBron James on the Manningcast? Here’s what you missed
Lebron James (King James to his minion) took a detour on his way to Lakers training camp to make an appearance on Peyton’s and Eli’s Manningcast. In about five minutes, the trio covered everything from James considering an NFL career to him breaking down a Cowboys scoring play. Lebron even carved ou...
Sue Bird shouldn’t retire, but WNBA would survive — and thrive — after she's gone
The Phoenix Mercury had just beaten Seattle 85-80 OT in the WNBA playoffs late Sunday afternoon when ESPN’s Holly Rowe brought Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi together on the court for the post-game interview. These two have been teammates and rivals for more than 20 years, and Bird quipped to Rowe that ...
The narcissism of Kyrie Irving and NBA anti-vaxxers is inhumane
This wasn’t supposed to happen. Quite frankly, it’s mind-boggling that we’re even here. And by here, I mean this moment in which the beginning of the world’s most popular sports league’s 75th season is being sabotaged by anti-vaxxers — after some of those very same men proved that safely playing bas...
The NBA is NOT with stupid
The NBA, not being run by complete morons, rightly denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine, and the former No. 1 pick (and recently inaugurated mayor of Stupid Town) won’t be able to play in any home games until he gets the jab....
Stupid is as stupid doesn’t do
Andrew Wiggins’ refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine — as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, and backed by ESPN’s reporting — is a near-perfect intersection of inanity....