The Wade Era?

In a recent conversation on ESPN's 1st & 10, analysts Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless named their top NBA players and agreed that Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade is the best player in the NBA. 

For a long time, the "black mamba" Kobe Bryant was named the best player in the NBA.  He was the new Michael Jordan and the face of NBA superstars.  Times have changed and Dwyane Wade's Commendable skills have taken him out of the shadows.  I always believed that he was one of the most underrated players in the game and probably still is. As an undersized shooting guard, he dominates the game in a way Michael Jordan did, with acrobatic finishes and clutch performances. Call Smith and Bayless crazy, but I agree with their assertions.

ESPN and The True Hoops Network had LeBron James on the top of the list.

"It's pathetic that LeBron is No.1," said Smith. 

Just by the number, Wade qualifies to be called the best player. In eight years, he has career averages of 25 points, 2 steals, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds a game. He has also been titled the best blocking guard by multiple analysts.  He will probably go down as the best player to never win a regular season MVP. 

Wade has never won a regular season MVP but did lead the Miami Heat to a championship in 2006 against the Dallas Mavericks and was awarded with the playoffs MVP.  

Smith and Bayless both included Kobe Bryant and scoring champ Kevin Durant in the top five, but left out LeBron James because of his habit to become invisible in late-game situations. 

NBA Lockout Hero: George Cohen ??

The Associated Press reported that George Cohen, who was also the mediator of the NFL lockout will try to mediate the NBA dispute.

His position as the Director of Federal Mediation and Concilation Service has not even given me the slightest bit of hope for this lockout to end. Cohen does have a nice resume though, helping out in dispute with the Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, every sport and the individuals within these sports are different.

The players don't need another rich official telling them what they need to do. Let us be real. A lot of these players come from broke down homes and communities and have people to feed. They are also the ones putting those ticket buyers in the seats. No one goes to watch owners eat popcorn in the presedential seating. The players and owners are asking for 53 percent of the revenue. It is reasonable for the players to get that that 53 percent because they out number the owners by a billion.

According to Derrick Fisher and Dywane Wade, the players aren't to blame. The owners probably feel the same way. This dispute isn't going anywhere, but i feel one of the sides have to show that this game is not for the money. This is for the fans and the love of the game and it is time to give up the money.

Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman believes the players should just give up. He thinks most players don't even care for the game, just the money. I can help but think that "money makes the world go round."

Baller Turn Rapper: Brandon Bass

I have yet again found another NBA player that is pursuing a rap career during this lockout.  Orlando Magic Power Forward Brandon Bass is telling the people about his "Billion Dollar Dreams".  At this point in his career, he is no where near a billion dollars because he already lost his pay check for the first two weeks of the season.

Brandon Bass averaged a career high of 11 points and 6 rebounds a game for the Magic last season.  He is undersized but his athleticism makes up for what he lacks in height.  He has a nice mid-range jumper and a great build.  I can say his NBA game is better than his rhythmic poetry.

Kobe Bryant Doesn't Think Kwame Brown Can Play Basketball

At a recent interview at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Kobe Bryant told a story about Kwame Brown, claiming that it was a tough start to the 2007-08 season because playing with guys like Kwame Brown. They later traded Brown for Pau Gasol who helped the Lakers win two championships.    

Kwame Brown, like Kobe Bryant was a number one overall draft pick out of high school, but they have no relation when actually talking about their NBA games.  Kwame Brown is known as the biggest "bust" in NBA history.  For his career he averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds a game.  That isn't horrible, but it also isn't worthy of a number one overall draft pick. 

If Kobe wants to talk about a horrible player, can we not remember players like Sean Bradley, the 7 foot 6 inch tall center whose greatest defensive attribute was getting dunked on. I could talk about Mark Madsen, who was a teammate of Kobe Bryant for several years and had a stronger bench presents than his actual play on the court.  Let us not forget the second overall pick in 2003, Darko Milicic, who has been on more teams than his rebound average. 

Kwame Brown may not be the best or worst basketball player, but he sure is bigger than Kobe Bryant.  If I was Kobe, I'd watch what i say.  Here is what Kobe had to say:

NBA Season?......Not Even Close......

Could we see another 1999 NBA season.  We could or maybe not even see an NBA season because according to ESPN's NBA insider Chris Broussard says both sides think they have leverage.  Rumors say NBA players want more money and owners are saying they are losing money. At this point, i really don't care who is lying. We need an NBA season.   

"It's not even close," said Broussard. 

The NBA has already canceled the first two weeks of the season.  According to Broussard, the commissioner David Stern feels if he canceled some games the players would give in and feel threatened, but Derrick Fisher encourages players to stay strong. It seems like that is the strategy for both sides and nobody will win if there is no deal because everybody is losing paychecks. The only player whose probably going to be making money during this lockout is Metta World Peace, formerly  known as Ron Artest. His Jersey will sell out to NBA fans like the game Call of Duty to video game fanatics.

All jokes aside, the NBA is a big business and fans aren't the only people who benefit from it.  People have jobs in arenas and jobs around the arenas that receive business from NBA games.  Sports bars will lose revenue from no NBA season.  I believe some unfortunate kids will start getting into trouble without having these NBA players to admire at night. 

Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns doesn't believe that NBA owners and teams are losing money and is apologetic to the people. 

"Genuinely sorry to all the employees in and around NBA arenas losing work," said Nash on Twitter.  "Thanks for the overwhelming support today guys. You know we want to play & you understand the propaganda/misinformation from the owners."

Nothing Short of Impressive : Kiwi Gardner

Providence University basketball Signee Kiwi Gardner, is below average in height for a basketball player, but rises above the rim.  Everyday, i try to find the next big basketball superstar on Youtube.  This guy has the potential to be an NBA star.  He stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall and averaged 24 points and 4 assists for Manteca High in California.  What makes him special is his handling abilities and Nate Robinson like athletic ability.  Nate Robinson of the Oklahoma City Thunder is a perfect comparison to Gardner who stands around the same height.  Nate Robinson is also a three-time slam dunk champion in the NBA. 
Gardner, or should i say Yayareasfinest has compilated highlight videos that received almost a million views.  The guy is impressive and can't wait to see him play in college. It is really surprising though, that there were only two colleges that had interest in him.  Im gonna say it now, he's a "sleeper".  Here is a highlight mix of the guy at work. 

From the hardwood to .....other things

During this NBA Lockout, players have taken up new hobbies or maybe even new careers. Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Baron Davis of the Clevland Cavaliers have both been learning more about film. J.R Smith, Wilson Chandler and Kenyon Martin have sailed away to China for a year and Delonte West and Stephen Jackson are making it rain in the hip hop world.




They arent the first players to transform from baller to rapper. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers displayed his rapping skills on stage several years ago. Former Timberwolves' guard Troy Hudson and retired NBA center Shaquille O'neal came out with rap albums back in their day, so i can say i saw it coming. According to his twitter, Delonte West also picked up a job at a furniture store. I'm just waiting for another autotuned Charles Barkley commercial. That would definitely make up for my entertainment lost during this lockout.