NBA FanHouse

Talking With Rookie Stephen Curry

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, NBA Videos, Interviews

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Warriors' rookie Stephen Curry is just starting in the NBA -- and at least for now, it seems like more fans know his name than his face. In this FanHouse video, we talk to Stephen about making it to the NBA, what he'd be if he weren't a professional basketball player and what's it like to have teammates who once played against his dad.

Check out the video after the jump.

Talking With Rookie Stephen Curry originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Shakes Things Up for Fans

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

When it come to high-profile professional athletes, Ron Artest is one of a kind. He's setting the bar in the way stars reach out to interact with their fans, and it's very refreshing.

In this FanHouse video, we were on hand as Ron-Ron was dishing out milkshakes to fans, who absolutely enjoyed every moment around the Lakers star.

Check out the video after the jump.

Ron Artest Shakes Things Up for Fans originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Jones, Celtics Great and 10-Time Champion, Speaks His Mind

Tim Povtak — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Sam Jones won 10 NBA championships, more than anyone in history except for Bill Russell. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. He scored more than 15,000 points in his 12 seasons with the Boston Celtics (1957-69), carving a reputation as one of the greatest clutch shooters -- and winners -- that the league has ever seen.

Yet despite his legendary career, he can walk through a shopping mall or a downtown hotel lobby today without being recognized, arguably the most under-exposed great in basketball history.

Jones, 76, sat down with FanHouse earlier this week to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his strange disconnect with the franchise he represented so well, to the racism that drove him out of coaching in the early '70s, to his sometimes unflattering view of today's NBA stars.

His opinions might surprise you.

FanHouse: Can anyone ever again do what your Celtics did, win 10 NBA titles in a 12-year span?

Sam Jones: "No. I don't want to say there's too much money, but today's players just aren't as hungry. In our day, winning games, winning in the playoffs, meant extra money for our families. We had kids to send to college. We needed the money. Winning really meant something. When these players today are making $12-15 million a year, they don't have the incentive. They aren't as hungry. They don't need to be.

FanHouse: Does the money today make your head spin?

Sam Jones: "It boggles my mind to think any player today is worth over $10 million a year, regardless of how good he is -- unless he can win a championship every year. Then they certainly would deserve it. But when you have 3-4 guys on a team making $10 million each, my gosh. ... They hurt a little finger and they have to sit out 4-5 days. It's awful. A lot of players are jealous of each other (because of the money), and that's not a way to have a really good team.''

FanHouse: What kind of team chemistry did your Celtics have?

Sam Jones: "We've always said we had the best team ever to play basketball, including the Michael Jordan teams in Chicago, the David Robinson teams in San Antonio, the Isiah Thomas teams in Detroit. I always felt no one had a better coach than Red Auerbach. We believed in what he was trying to teach us. Evidently it worked. We won year after year after year. Even when we got older, we won. We had a closeness that teams today don't have.

"It's a new regime, new owners, new management. People ask me why I never go back. I tell them, 'I don't go places where I'm not invited to go.' "
- Sam Jones, on not maintaining Celtics ties FanHouse: Do you like today's Celtics?

Sam Jones: "I love 'em. The addition of Rasheed Wallace is going to help. If they stay healthy, they'll win another world championship. I thought they would have won last season if Kevin Garnett had not been hurt.''

FanHouse: Who else do you like to watch play?

Sam Jones: "I like the teams that play like teams. I like watching San Antonio. They play great team ball. Detroit used to do that before they broke up that group. Certain teams I like because they're not about individuals. It's about everyone who contributes to that team.''

FanHouse: How much money did you make in the NBA?

Sam Jones: "That's personal. Look it up, if you want, but I made $7,500 that first season (1959-60) with a $1,500 bonus. That was a lot of money back then."

FanHouse: Have you stayed in touch with the Boston franchise?

Sam Jones: "I've stayed in touch with a few people I played with."

FanHouse: You ever go to see the Celtics play?

Sam Jones: "No. It's a new regime, new owners, new management. People ask me why I never go back. I tell them, `I don't go places where I'm not invited to go.' I won't push myself on anyone. It doesn't bother me at all. You work for someone, and when you're finished, you're finished.''

FanHouse: What about when they retired your jersey? You were there then, weren't you?

Sam Jones: "That's different. Red was still involved. I came because Red asked me. Red could get anyone to come back."

FanHouse: When I saw you last spring in Orlando, you came to watch the Celtics play the Magic. Why?

Sam Jones: "I live close by. That was first time I saw them play live since Robert Parish played for them. I had not met a single person on that team until the night of the playoff game, including (coach) Doc Rivers. That was when he invited me to play in his (charity) golf tournament."

FanHouse: It's hard for me to fathom this disconnect between the Celtics and guys like you who made the franchise what it is today. Explain.

Sam Jones: "We don't have reunions, so there is no connection between the old and the new. There is no follow up on history. If you don't want to be bothered, then I don't want to be bothered, either. I have my peace of mind."

FanHouse: You coached only one season in the NBA, as an assistant with the New Orleans Jazz in 1974-75. What happened there?

Sam Jones: "There were some things I didn't like. It was a first-year expansion team. They had a chance to chose players from other teams. There was a black kid who we really liked, a good player, a top-15 rebounder, but ownership said we couldn't take him because he was married to a white lady. I thought that was a travesty. It just wasn't in my mode of thinking. We did take a guy from California, Stu Lantz, and he was married to a white girl, too, but the team didn't realize it until it was too late."

FanHouse: What else?

Sam Jones: "They hired a tremendous coach, Scotty Robertson who had some good ideas. One of them reminded me of Red, who used to say if you want to be champions, you had to dress like champions, look professional. Scotty fined some guys for not dressing well, and management wouldn't back him up. After [15] games, they told me they wanted to fire Scotty. I told them, `He should be Coach of the Year if he wins 20 games with this team.' I asked who would be the next coach, because Elgin Baylor and I were the only assistants, and was told that `New Orleans wasn't ready for a black head coach.' They brought in someone else (Butch van Breda Kolff), who wasn't real professional about some things. So one year of that was enough for me.''

FanHouse: Who's the greatest player you've ever seen?

Sam Jones: "I can't do that. Everyone has their own opinion. Michael Jordan won six NBA titles. Bill Russell won 11, so you tell me who is the greatest? When it comes to getting the job done, Bill Russell got it done. I always say `Russell was the greatest to ever play the game, then and now.' ''

FanHouse: What was it like playing alongside him your whole career? What made him so great?

Sam Jones: "He never, ever wanted to lose. He had so much pride. You'd never believe how tough he was on the court, not only on the other team, but on us, too. You had to bring it every night. If he saw you were not playing the way you were supposed to be playing, he'd have words for you.''

FanHouse: Go back to the racism you saw. What was it like with the Celtics?

Sam Jones: "Red (Auerbach) was so far ahead of his time. People didn't realize how far ahead he was. He hired the first black coach (Russell). He was the first in the league to start five black players. He drafted the first black player (Chuck Cooper). Boston did a lot of things to advance integration into the NBA, even though people say Boston is a racist city. At least the Celtics did something different. I think Walter Brown (the owner) had something to do with it. He wanted the best players, and he didn't care if they was blue, black, brown, white or yellow. He went against the rules of the NBA.''

FanHouse: Now that you're retired, living in Florida, what do you do with your time?

Sam Jones: "Play golf three, four times a week, some of the nicest courses in the country. But I'm still lousy.''

FanHouse: Is that a true story that you almost didn't play in the NBA and nearly turned down the Celtics after they drafted you in the first round (out of North Carolina Central)?

Sam Jones: "I always liked the idea of being an educator, a teacher. And back then, neither profession paid very well. If I could have gotten another $500 from the school system where I wanted to teach, I never would have played professional basketball. And I would have been happy, being a teacher and a high school coach.''

FanHouse: Who else from your Celtic teams do you stay in contact with?

Sam Jones: "K.C. Jones. Well, I really just talk to his wife. She runs that house. K.C. and I always joke we should do a book together about our years, our struggles with the NBA and everything else back in the '50s. They put us in places they never should have put us. We should have sued the league for some of the things that happened to the black players.''

FanHouse: You think today's players appreciate what you went through?

Sam Jones: "What do you think?''

FanHouse: What do you think of LeBron James?

Sam Jones: "He's going to be great. Guys like him, Dwight Howard, they come into the league so young. They have so much to learn. One of the things LeBron has to learn is that every single night, he should be at the free throw line 20 times. With his body, his height, jumping ability, size, he doesn't need to be shooting three's to get back into the game. He should be taking the ball to the basket every time and looking for the open man. Once he learns that, he'll take a lot of the load off his shoulders. He'll learn.

FanHouse: Are players today better than they were in your day?

Sam Jones: "I think they're in better condition. I don't know if their intelligence is better.''

Sam Jones, Celtics Great and 10-Time Champion, Speaks His Mind originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Ron Artest Used to Be 'Ronnie'

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Long before Ron Artest was the NBA star he is today, he caught the attention of college scouts. In this FanHouse exclusive, we hear how he was described as a high school player.

Check out the video after the jump.

When Ron Artest Used to Be 'Ronnie' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caron Butler Q&A: Saunders Is 'An Offensive Genius'

Matt Watson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Wizards, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Everyone knows preseason games don't count -- but considering the Wizards won a mere 19 games last season, it's hard not to be encouraged by their 4-3 record heading into Friday's finale.

In fact, Washington's record seems to confirm what many have suggested all summer: The Wizards should be one of the most improved teams in the league.

But before the Wizards turn the page, they re-visited their past, facing former coach Eddie Jordan, now with the 76ers, in a hard-fought win in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Washington forward Caron Butler spoke to FanHouse on Wednesday about facing his friend and former coach, as well as his relief in seeing the locked-out referees return, his expectations for the season, the senseless tragedy at his alma mater and more.

More coverage: FanHouse Preview: Wizards | Player to Watch: Butler

FanHouse: Facing your old coach [on Tuesday] -- I know that you've vacationed with him during the summertime so it wasn't the first time you've seen him - but what was it like going up against him? I know players don't get excited for most preseason games, but did you and your teammates give a little extra for this game?

Caron Butler: It was fun being out there, and it was kind of awkward being on the other side just seeing him on the other end of the bench. But, we understand the nature of the beast, this is how the business works. A lot of guys are still fond of Coach Jordan -- I love him to death and miss him, but that's how things go. Guys really got up for the challenge to go out there and perform at a high level, and I thought they did a great job.

FanHouse: It was a pretty close game with a somewhat controversial ending -- depending on what side you're on - which maybe could be blamed on the replacement refs. I won't make you comment on that -- I'm not trying to take money out of your pocket -- but it sounds like the regular refs have reached a deal, and they're going to be coming back by the regular season. What's your thoughts on that as a player, was that something that you were paying attention to the whole time?

Butler: It's good. Yeah, we were paying attention. Obviously having the refs back is great for the game, it really is. You look at our tradition and our fraternity and they're great for the game. When you see Steve Javie out there, that's when you know you've really arrived. When you got guys like Dick Bavetta calling the game, that's when you know, "Man, I'm here. I made it. They're calling the game, the same guys that were calling the game when Magic and Michael and all those guys were playing. Now they're calling the game while I'm out here." That's special.

FanHouse: A lot of guys were sick [Tuesday] night -- Gilbert Arenas and Mike Miller. It was just the [regular] flu, but there's been a lot of hype and hysteria in the media with swine flu. Is there anything that you guys are doing different this year to avoid that?

Butler: Some of the things that the NBA has advised -- no handshakes, trying to do more of the fist pounds and stuff like that to prevent the spread of flu and germs. ... But for the most part, continuing to wash hands a lot, sanitize, cover your mouth when you sneeze (laughing) -- the basic things. There's only so much you can actually do.

FanHouse: Earlier in the preseason, Gilbert wasn't talking to the media, which goes completely against his personality, at least what we've seen in the past. What was the team's reaction to that? Were you guys surprised by it?

Butler: I was surprised by it. [But] I mean, he just wants to play basketball. I just think he wants to play basketball, he's happy to be back out there and he doesn't want to be bothered right now. He just wants to play basketball. He's been removed from the game which he loves dearly and he hasn't been able to play it over the last couple of years, and now that he is back healthy, that's all he wants to do is play basketball. So I don't think he wants to talk about anything, he just wants to go out there and show improvement.

FanHouse: Have you actually noticed a definite difference about him this year?

Butler: Outside of not talking to the media? That was a huge difference. But as far as just preparation and being who he is on the court, he still looks the same. He's just a great player.

FanHouse: Another common theme that has been unfortunately associated with the Wizards is that it seems like a lot of you guys can't seem to stay healthy at the same time. And just recently, there's Antawn Jamison's injury. Is that really frustrating to think, "Man, if we could all get healthy at the same time ..."

Butler: I just feel like if we can all remain healthy, by the grace of God, we can have an unbelievable year and compete for a title. And that's the goal. And that has always been the goal, to get healthy and compete for something special and be riding down Constitution [Avenue] with the [trophy]. That's a realistic goal with all of our core guys healthy and with the development of the young guys.

FanHouse: The NBA record for improvement in one year is 36 games; that would be a 55-win season for you guys. Is that something that you think is attainable?

Butler: Anything is attainable with this group that we have. We're just trying to go out there and perform at a high level and obviously redeem ourselves from last year, bring a lot of consistency - just prove to people that Wizards basketball is hear to stay. We're back.

FanHouse: Changing topics to a much more serious note: the recent tragedy at UConn. I know that you had a tough upbringing and it seems like college was a place that you really had a chance to get away from that. It just seems like college, that's not the place that you're supposed to have this type of tragic event. What was your reaction to that, and have you reached out to anyone at UConn?

Butler: I've talked to a lot of people in the basketball organization and that's something that hits home and affected everybody: UConn fans, all people were saddened by the news of the death. It's just something that's completely ironic and crazy to happen; I saw it on the news and I was just sitting there in shock, just sad and just hurt for the mother and the family and grieving with them and just wished them the best and hoped the team can balance everything out and be able to go out there and still perform at a high level for him and do the right thing in his memory. And hopefully justice is done and hopefully they get the suspect, because that's sad for something like that to happen on campus for a kid that's a college kid doing the right thing, going to school and being a great student-athlete.

FanHouse: Getting back to something a little more light-hearted - Twitter has invaded professional sports and the NBA was definitely at the forefront of that. But unless I'm mistaken, I haven't found a Twitter account for you yet.

Butler: I'm not on Twitter.

FanHouse: Is that something you plan on trying out?

Butler: I'm cool. (Laughing)

FanHouse: People don't need to know that much about you?

Butler: No, I'm fine, man. (Laughing)

FanHouse: I was thinking of things that would have blown up on Twitter in the past, two years ago when you went to that kid's birthday party - maybe you do that all the time, maybe this was just the time it got in the news. But have you been to any birthday parties lately for your fans?

Butler: Not lately, not lately. (Laughing) I actually moved out of that neighborhood - I'm kind of in the boonies now by myself - but I was staying in a cul-de-sac close to a lot of people and a lot of residents knew that I was in the neighborhood and I used to get invites to things all the time. And I always went, I always did the right thing, I went and had a great time with people, so it was just funny coincidence that [it made news] - I was at a birthday party just having a good time, watching basketball, eating pizza. (Laughing) It was crazy.

FanHouse: Last thing, I was wondering what your thoughts were about Flip Saunders coming in. He obviously had a lot of success with the Pistons and it seems like the team has clicked a little bit with him. What are your impressions of him so far?

Butler: He's great. He's an offensive genius. He's a great coach to play for and I love him for numerous reasons but the one that really stuck out was him coming in the summer and reaching out to me. I've never had a coach do that. You know, you get the phone calls saying, "welcome to our team, great having you, look forward to coaching you," but he actually was a guy that came out with me on numerous occasions and told me expectations that he placed upon me and what he expected and I look forward to the challenge.

FanHouse: I was reading that he said that he learned a bit from his time in Detroit in going and making sure that he did all that and meeting all the players. Did you have any expectations about him coming in or was it a blank slate, you didn't know what to expect.

Butler: It was blank. I heard so many things from KG and Sam Cassell about he's a great guy to play for, but everybody has to experience everything on their own, and I was just waiting for the opportunity to meet him and feel him out, and it's been great. So far, so good, it's been unbelievable.

FanHouse: For a guy who can do what he can do with offense, it's got to be pretty exciting to pair him with the talent on your team.

Butler: We've got a very versatile team, and to have somebody with an offensive mindset like him who knows what to do with it, I think it's going to be great. I'm looking forward to the season.

Caron Butler Q&A: Saunders Is 'An Offensive Genius' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clippers' Most Meaningful Game Is Taking Place in Preseason

Elie Seckbach — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:42:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Euroleague, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

For the most part, NBA preseason games don't carry much weight, but on Oct. 20, the Los Angeles Clippers will take the Staples Center court to face one of the best teams in Europe when they meet Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

It will be the game of the year for thousands of children as the Clippers are donating all the money generated from that night to the world's largest orphanage, Migdal Ohr. Based in Northern Israel, Migdal Ohr takes care of more than 7,000 orphans. But the Clippers are not the only ones doing amazing things for the orphanage. Two days prior to the Clippers' game, the New York Knicks will host a similar event to benefit Migdal Ohr.

Check out the video after the jump.

Clippers' Most Meaningful Game Is Taking Place in Preseason originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rick Fox on Hoops and Hollywood

Elie Seckbach — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

As a former Lakers star, three-time NBA champ and part-time actor, Rick Fox is very familiar with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. In this video, Rick tells us he's excited to see Ron Artest on the Lakers, gives Artest advice on how not to get caught up in the Hollywood lifestyle, opines on Shaquille O'Neal's reality show and fills us in on his acting and producing career.

Check out the video after the jump.

Rick Fox on Hoops and Hollywood originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael 'Sinbad' Fey Hopes to Find a Place with L.A.

Elie Seckbach — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, D-League, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Basketball has taken former UCLA center Michael Fey across the globe. From China to Poland to the United Arab Emirates, Fey has run the journeyman's version of the Four Corners of the globe. But these days, Fey has been putting in the work at the Lakers training camp as the NBA champions are getting ready for another title defense.

In this video we talk to Michael about how his workouts are going, what type of nicknames Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom have dished out to the Lakers newcomers, whether he'd play for the D-Fenders and more.

Check out the video after the jump.

Michael 'Sinbad' Fey Hopes to Find a Place with L.A. originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kobe Bryant Gets Friends, Teammates Together for a Good Cause

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Kobe Bryant is the national spokesperson for After School All Stars, a nation-wide, one-of-a-kind, after-school activity for students living in rough areas. From sports to music to arts, After School All Stars is free. In this FanHouse Exclusive we visit the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo, where we catch up with Kobe, his teammates Sasha Vujacic and Derek Fisher, and two of Kobe's friends from the Clippers -- Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman. The stars were there as 2K Sports handed ASAS a check for $25,000 and set up video games for the students and basketball stars.

Check out the video after the jump.

Kobe Bryant Gets Friends, Teammates Together for a Good Cause originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Danilo Gallinari: Our Time Is Now

Ariel Helwani — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

It's safe to say that Danilo Gallinari would like to put his rookie year behind him. The Italian forward played only 28 games for the New York Knicks because of health issues and is looking forward to proving to everyone that the organization made the right choice when they drafted him sixth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.

FanHouse spoke to Gallinari at the NBA Live 10 launch event on Tuesday about his health status and dealing with playing under the bright lights of the Big Apple. The video interview is below.

FanHouse's Knicks Preview | Player to Watch: Gallinari
More FanHouse Video: David Lee

Danilo Gallinari: Our Time Is Now originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fun-Loving Dwight Howard Talks About Faith and Nudity

Matt Moore — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

You always wonder if the personas that you see from athletes in the media are anything like they are in real life. So when FanHouse was offered a chance to talk to Dwight Howard on Tuesday, I wondered if he would actually be as fun-loving as he seems. Even if it was a brief phone interview to promote, well, himself as the cover athlete for NBA Live 10, Howard's personality shines through.

When the Magic patched me through to him, he wasn't aware I was on the line, and he was still messing with whatever other media engagement he was in the middle of. And messing with the phone. I waited, assuming he was talking to someone about something serious.

"Luuuke! I am your faaaaather."

And that's Dwight Howard.

Howard's busy promoting several things which have his mug all over it, not the least of which is the new ESPN "Body" issue, where he appears (ahem) as God intended. I asked Howard if it was weird having that much attention being paid to him, even though people usually marvel at his upper body, considering he was "nekkid." Howard, as usual, chose to have fun with it. "No, actually it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the shoot and I hope the pictures are interesting for people." I asked him if, after his talk about how the Magic are overlooked in the media if attention like this made him feel any better about it. "Well, the attention is certainly a blessing," says Howard, "but my focus right now is with my teammates and trying to compete for a championship. I just want to try and bring some joy back to the people in Orlando."

Howard's also been made the cover-man in digital form, as he's promoting NBA Live 10. Since the rest of the time he's experiencing the game first-hand, I asked him if it was weird seeing himself on screen and noting how much bigger he is than everybody else. "Mostly I just really like the game. I played the demo a few months ago and loved it and now all my friends and I play. They're always telling me 'Man, you're the Real Superman in the game, man! It's not fair!' The game is hot."

I also wanted to know who had more post moves, the video game version of him or the real-life version. "Oh, the video game version, definitely," Howard deadpanned. Good news is that the video game version won't have to face scrutiny from digital Brett Pollakoff about his post-moves.

This season the Magic will try to improve upon last year's highly successful run that saw them advance to the NBA Finals. Each year since Howard has entered the league, he's markedly improved on one area of his game over the summer, usually whatever his critics would point to. In the beginning it was his aggressiveness, until he started dominating inside. Then it was rebounding, until he took the rebounding title. Then last season, people questioned his defensive acumen. That resulted in nothing less than Defensive Player of the Year. So what has Howard been working on this summer? "Free throws, actually. I committed to trying to work on being consistent from the free throw line. I spent a lot of time in the gym this summer with the coaching staff. I'd spend about two hours a day doing nothing but working on free throws. I'd have to hit at least 200 makes a day, but even when I hit that, I usually stayed after to keep shooting. Sometimes I'd shoot 600 free throws a day."

With the All-Star Game being in Dallas this year in the spectacle that is the Jerry Dome, I wanted to ask the former Dunk Champ some questions about the contest which will be at American Airlines. Howard's been foiled in the past when league restrictions kept him from being able to raise the rim, and other restrictions on props. Does a guy who brought back the gimmick successfully using his cape and other gadgetry have any frustrations with those restrictions? "Well, the Dunk Contest is all about entertainment and the fans. Part of it is that by now, almost all the good dunks have been done. So it's really hard to come up with something new. So me and Nate (Robinson), we're always sitting around trying to come up with new stuff. I think as long as the rules are there to keep you from doing too many attempts, there shouldn't be that many rules."

Naturally, I had to ask Howard if he was competing in the big event this year, expecting a simple answer. "I don't know, man. I'm getting kind of old."

Pause.

Moore: Yeah, you're 23. You're ancient.
Howard: I know! I'm getting too old! (Haha) No, only if the fans vote me in again.

On top of all of his on-court accolades and off-the-court celebrity, Howard has also made a significant commitment to philanthropy and helping others. Did his strong religious background influence his charity work?

"Oh, absolutely. My faith is very important to me. For me, it's a great way to show God how thankful I am for all the blessings he's given me."

There's been a lot of changes in Orlando, with the arrival of Vince Carter and the departure of Hedo Turkoglu. I asked Howard how the team was adjusting to the new chemistry. "You know, we're just excited. There's different people around, but mostly it's a new season, it's a time for new beginnings, and we're just excited and ready to go out there and compete."

No doubt Howard will be doing it with a smile on his face.

Fun-Loving Dwight Howard Talks About Faith and Nudity originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Takes His Fans Bowling

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Fans, NBA Videos, Interviews, NBA Twitter, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

There are many basketball stars in the NBA, but few have a connection to fans like Lakers forward Ron Artest. He goes above and beyond to give back. In this FanHouse video, we catch up with Ron-Ron and 50 lucky fans who won a Twitter contest and got to bowl with Ron.

Check out the video after the jump.

Ron Artest Takes His Fans Bowling originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James Takes Over Hollywood

Elie Seckbach — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Fans, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Earlier this week, NBA superstar LeBron James took over Hollywood in a big way -- along with two dozen celebrities including Chris Tucker and Chris Brown, hundreds of school children, a marching band, fans, giveaways and basketball courts galore.

The LA visit was the last stop in a 10-city tour promoting LeBron's new film "More Than A Game," in addition to the release of his seventh shoe from Nike. In this video, we talk to James, some of his fans and rappers Common and Omarion.

Check out the video after the jump.

LeBron James Takes Over Hollywood originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight Night With Ron Artest

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, NBA Twitter, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

NBA star Ron Artest was among the 16,000 fans who came out to the Staples Center to watch the Vitali Klitschko vs. Cris Arreola fight on Saturday night. In this video we talk to Ron before and after the fight to get his take; we also ask him about Lebron James, Lamar Odom's wedding and Kobe Bryant.

Check out the video after the jump.

Fight Night With Ron Artest originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Did Kobe Tell Manny Pacquiao?

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Moments after Saturday's Cris Arreola / Vitali Klitschko fight, we caught up with NBA superstar Kobe Bryant to get his take. We also asked Kobe about his friendship with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Check out the video after the jump.

Also: Ron Artest at Arreola/Klitschko

What Did Kobe Tell Manny Pacquiao? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warriors GM Larry Riley Talks About Jackson, Randolph, Being Nellie's Guy

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, Interviews

Warriors general manager Larry Riley cleared his late morning and early afternoon schedule on Tuesday and sat down to do a series of one-on-one interviews with Bay Area beat writers and columnists.

He addressed all sorts of issues, ranging from Stephen Jackson's trade request to which position Anthony Randolph is going to play this year to the general direction of the team.

And, of course, he answered several questions about the perception that he is little more than Don Nelson's surrogate.

Here are some highlights from interviews with the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Contra Costa Times and San Francisco Chronicle.

Riley on whether he thinks Stephen Jackson will be on the Warriors this season: "I do. I do. We made a comment in response to the fact that he requested a trade. I didn't want to be involved in a knee-jerk reaction. I didn't respond immediately. ... I made the comment that I expect him to be just as he's been, be a Golden State Warrior. We also gave him the benefit of the doubt by saying he's not the first guy who ever wanted to play for a championship. ... I didn't feel I could say something I didn't believe just to quiet things down. I understand his desire to want to play for a championship. I'm not too offended by that. Here's what I say in regards to that. Was it a bad time for this to come up? Sure it was. Would it have been better if it never came up? Sure."

Riley on whether Jackson is reconciled to being a Warrior this year: "At this stage that's my feeling and I've had some conversations with him. I also will probably have one more conversation at some point this week. My expectation is he will report to camp and go to work and be the same player he's always been for us. Nellie's also come out and said, 'Stephen Jackson is still our captain.' Nellie and I have the same expectation where he's concerned, that he's going to come to camp and go play. He's going to get some hard questions on Media Day (Monday). I haven't told him what to say. I'm not going to try to influence that. About the only thing I can say to him is, 'Stephen, we're going to have you in camp. We expect you to play well. And you're going to get some tough questions."

Riley on Randolph playing power forward: "That would be a correct assumption in my discussions with Nellie."

Riley on competing for the playoffs: "Our objective is to be in the playoff hunt. If we can get there by the All-Star break then maybe you make a push to make your team better at that time. We want to be in the hunt for a playoff spot."

Riley on the perception that he is Don Nelson's "yes-man": It's more relevant to you than me. I'm an older guy who has my own system in place for how I want to live and how I do my job. It isn't based on Don Nelson. What is between Nellie and I is a great friendship and ability to work with each other. Obviously, it's almost a sarcastic remark."

Riley on what's going on with Monta Ellis: "We've said that we want Monta to take on a greater leadership role. I don't think that necessarily leads to us wanting Jack to take on a lesser role, but we do think we have options about how we play that we want to exercise. But that's going to be Nellie's call."

Riley on why the Warriors didn't fine Jackson for his comments but the league did: "That wasn't us, that was the league. I think you can draw any conclusion you want beyond that, but we didn't fine him."

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Warriors GM Larry Riley Talks About Jackson, Randolph, Being Nellie's Guy originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Is the New King of L.A.

Elie Seckbach — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Fans, NBA Videos, Interviews, NBA Twitter, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

This has been an amazing summer for NBA star Ron Artest, who in a relatively short time has taken over Los Angeles. Ron-Ron has caused many Lakers fans to fall in love with the defensive specialist by being himself -- chatting with fans, handing out his phone number and getting involved in the community. In this FanHouse exclusive, we catch up with Ron at a press conference for boxing stars Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, where we talk to him about basketball, boxing, charity work and even making a mean sandwich.

Check out the video after the jump.

Ron Artest Is the New King of L.A. originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jordan Farmar's Hoop Farm

Elie Seckbach — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Jordan Farmar has been working hard this offseason, going from the basketball court, to the community, and back to the basketball court. In this exclusive FanHouse video we visit Hoop Farm, Jordan Farmar's basketball camp where Jordan tells us what it was like to win a championship with the Lakers and where is he going with the NBA this summer. We also hear from UCLA star Josh Shipp, Justin Holiday (Jrue Holiday's Brother) and, of course, the kids.

Check out the video after the jump.

Jordan Farmar's Hoop Farm originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paul Pierce and John Wooden Honored

Elie Seckbach — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Lakers, Nuggets, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

NBA All-Star Paul Pierce and legendary basketball coach John Wooden are two names every basketball fan knows -- each have made their mark on the game in their own way. The two greats recently received high honors from the HAX Gym in Hawthorne during a fund-raising dinner, which helped generate much needed funds for programs that help inner-city kids with academic and athletic scholarships.

In this video we talk to the Pierce, the 2008 Finals MVP, as well as Arron Afflalo about his recent trade to the Nuggets, Lamond Murray on what it takes to make the NBA, and Leila Ali on the state of boxing.

Check out the video after the jump.

Paul Pierce and John Wooden Honored originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gary Payton Hopes to Help Bring the NBA Back to Seattle

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, SuperSonics, NBA Fans, NBA Videos, Thunder, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Former NBA All-Star Gary Payton became "The Glove" when he starred for the Seattle Suppersonics alongside Shawn 'The Rainman' Kemp and many other great players. But this coming NBA season will be the second year in a row that Seattle won't have an NBA team, leaving many fans disappointed.

In this exclusive FanHouse video, Payton tells us what he's doing to bring back an NBA team to the city he loves so much. We also ask Gary about his intensity as a player, which is rarely seen in today's NBA.

Check out the video after the jump.

Gary Payton Hopes to Help Bring the NBA Back to Seattle originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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