NBA FanHouse

Clippers Broadcast Team Suspended for Comments About Hamed Haddadi

Brett Pollakoff — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:09:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Grizzlies, NBA Media Watch

The Clippers got what was by far their best win of the season on Friday, but unfortunately, the team's longtime play-by-play man Ralph Lawler wasn't in his usual courtside spot to see it.

Lawler and color commentator Michael Smith were suspended for Friday's game, for what the team deemed to be inappropriate remarks the two made during the Clippers' telecast on Wednesday, when the team faced the Memphis Grizzlies.

The comments in question were regarding Hamed Haddadi, who is a rookie and the first Iranian player to appear in the NBA.

FOX Sports Prime Ticket is the network that televises the Clippers' home games, so they're the ones that issued the suspension, and this statement to go along with it:

"We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday's telecast. While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate. We extend our apologies to Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies and to anyone who was offended. We have addressed the situation with Michael and Ralph and have taken appropriate action."

Now at this point -- besides questioning the size of the audience of a mid-week game between the Clippers and Grizzlies -- you're probably wondering just exactly what the "inappropriate" comments were that caused the suspension. Thankfully, Diane Pucin of the L.A. Times has the transcription of the exchange.

We won't reprint the entire thing here, but suffice it to say that the comments included a repeated and intentional mispronunciation of the word "Iranian," along with a Borat reference, topped off by a "I guess those Iranians can pass the ball" statement that came after Haddadi made a nice play inside.

Lawler and Smith likely meant no harm, and were probably just doing some late-game shtick to try to keep the audience entertained, considering there were under two minutes left when Haddadi checked in and the Clippers were trailing by 17 points at the time. But it's never a good idea to start riffing on another player's ethnic background, so the suspension, while it may seem severe to some, is completely understandable.

Oh, and about the size of that audience? FOX Sports wasn't exactly flooded with letters and phone calls requesting the heads of the announcing team. Apparently, all it took was one complaint from a single viewer to get the network to apologize and hand down the suspension.

Clippers Broadcast Team Suspended for Comments About Hamed Haddadi originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Questions Surround ESPN's NBA Latino Power Rankings

Tom Ziller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: FIBA, NBA Media Watch

ESPN has assigned its Spanish-speaking correspondent Alfred R. Berrios to keep up a weekly ranking of the NBA's Latinos for its ESPN Deportes property. Celebrating the game's Central and Southern American tentacles is a positive thing, and the NBA has long sought to integrate the multitudes of Spanish-speaking sports fans in the United States and abroad into its fold.

But ESPN's list is just weird in terms of inclusion and exclusion.

The rankings include Spaniards like Marc Gasol and Jose Calderon -- players with no connection to Latin America, whose only basis for inclusion would be that they speak Spanish. Certainly you wouldn't place Picasso on top of a list of top Latino painters, right?

At the same time, the list excludes players legitimately born and bred in Latin America, like Guadeloupe's Mickael Pietrus and Rodrigue Beaubois. The only apparent justification for the exclusion is that their homeland speaks a language other than Spanish. (Guadeloupe is a French territory in the Caribbean. I would argue that in terms of global identity, Pietrus has as much in common with Carlos Arroyo than Boris Diaw.) Heck, Haitian-born Samuel Dalembert was born on the same island as the included Al Horford and Francisco Garcia, but didn't make the cut as he came up on the French side.

If it's a Spanish language issue -- which it appears to be, considering the inclusion of the Gasols and Calderon -- why are Brazilians included? Obviously, a "top Latino" list without Leandro Barbosa and Nene would draw guffaws, but the weird, unexplained definition used by ESPN forces these sorts of questions. If Portugal ever produces an NBA player, will he make the cut?

As such, for a more robust Latin American list, make sure to add Pietrus, Beaubois, Dalembert, Jamaican-born Ronny Turiaf and Adonal Foyle (born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) to ESPN's power rankings.

The most bothersome mystery in all this, though, is the exclusion of American-born Latinos like Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza. Queens-born Charlie Villanueva leads the power rankings this week, with his inclusion based on being a first-generation American born to Dominican parents. (And also, assumedly, based on the fact that Villanueva played for the D.R. last summer in FIBA action.)

Anthony, also born in NYC, has a Puerto Rican father. The Miami-born Ariza considered playing for the Dominican team last summer on the basis that his mother is Dominican and Venezuelan. (Ariza's grandfather, in fact, lives in the D.R.) If Villanueva makes a list of Latinos in the NBA, there's no excuse to exclude 'Melo and Ariza. Further, where do you draw a line? Gilbert Arenas has a Cuban last name and Cuban lineage, and even put out sneakers with a nod to his Cubano roots. Isn't he Latino too?

I know that ESPN means well in expanding its coverage of the NBA, tailored to a population subset that has too long been ignored in sports fandom. But it missed the mark here, and really should better define its criteria before purporting to offer up comprehensive ethnicity-based player rankings.

Questions Surround ESPN's NBA Latino Power Rankings originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Art of a Beautiful Game' Explored by Sports Illustrated Scribe

Tom Ziller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Media Watch

Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard probably couldn't have happened into a worse time to release a book about the NBA. The economy is bad. ESPN's Bill Simmons released a tome on the league last month which reached the New York Times' non-fiction best-seller list. The fawning NBA fan has already possibly purchased the LeBron James quasi-autobiog, and the statheads have likely buried themselves in the Pro Basketball Prospectus 2009-10 or Wayne Winston's Mathletics. There are a lot of options, and typically little interest in basketball books.

But fans who whistled by Ballard's effort -- The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan's Tour of the NBA, published by Simon & Schuster -- are missing a great view into the league we love. With a certain mix of comfort and curiosity, Ballard has put together a wonderful collection of NBA insights straight from the horses' mouths.

Jack McCallum: Rich Season for Basketball Books

The idea is that Ballard visits with various league personalities in order to fully investigate the major tenets of the game: the dunk, the pass, the rebound, defense. And it is a bit heavy on the stars, the ones you can hear from every Thursday night on TNT, the ones who scores of beat writers quote over the course of a season. LeBron, in fact, graces the cover. (Who's the last star to make two book covers in one summer?) Ballard talks to Steve Nash, who is always insightful but hardly tells us anything new in this book. He talks to Kobe Bryant, and to other people about Kobe Bryant. Much of this we have heard before.

But it almost seems like those are concessions to the casual fan, the gateways into which Ballard pulls the reader into the real "art" and "thinking" in the game. Take the chapter on Shane Battier's defense, for example. Ballard goes in deep with Battier, offering a blow-by-blow from the undersung Rocket's personal manual. If the Secret of Battier was spilled by the infamous Michael Lewis story last All-Star Break (a story which is discussed briefly in the book -- Battier reveals that no NBA player ever mentioned having seen the piece), the Secrets of Battier are unleashed by Ballard. The way in which Battier defends by neither blocking nor stealing the ball. The level to which Battier knows what his opponents will do before they do it. How he uses his hands in proximity to the opponent's face in order to freak them out. How he felt about Ron Artest. What he thinks of Tracy McGrady. (For the proper T-Mac critic, there is a load of material in this chapter. One particularly bemusing line, in a discussion of how Artest would switch himself onto Battier's man in a fit of confidence: "It's better than Tracy McGrady. I'd be on one side of the court and he'd be pointing, 'Pick him up! Pick him up!' So I'd have to run all the way across the court to guard a guy like Kobe. It's gone from one extreme to another.")

In similar fashion, Ballard digs into the vagaries of the rebound, discussing with Ben Wallace the importance of lateral leaping. (It's a bit reminiscent of Bill Russell's autobiography Second Wind, where Russell recounts discussing the lateral geometry of the rebound with teammate Sam Jones.) Ballard gets various elite rebounders to share their tricks -- tipping a contested ball back into the air, knowing where baseline jumpers will come off. There's also some Dwight Howard material (he's goofy! he could do more!) in this chapter which simultaneously feels behind and ahead of the curve. And that's really a challenge in sports literature these days: with the media explosion facilitated by the internet and 24-hour sports news on television, so many anecdotes that would previously have been reserved for the long-form -- in magazines or books -- are already well-known within days of their happening. That's what helps make Ballard's investigation and nuance so comfortable a read: he never settles for a straight rehash, instead looking for perspective and depth. This isn't completely absent on the internet, but the practice is waning. It's presence here in Ballard's book is refreshing. (A great example: the reasoing behind Damon Jones's decision to nickname former teammate Michael Redd "Bombs Over Baghdad." Does it have to do with civilian casualties? You bet!)

Perhaps the best factor in Ballard's favor, especially in comparison with the other notable basketball books currently in prominent position at Barnes & Noble and Borders, is that he's a major character without being the focus. Not to disparage the wonderful Simmons, but Ballard has not written something that is part autobiography, part basketball book. The only cult of personality here revolves around the players, current and former. The closest Ballard gets to personal journal is during his visit to trainer David Thorpe at IMG Academy, and even then Pain is really the central character. While there's a place for author as character, time will look kindly on author as documenter, especially in this case, as Ballard has done a lovely job documenting some timeless NBA stories. This is a book NBA fans will appreciate today and in 20 years.

'Art of a Beautiful Game' Explored by Sports Illustrated Scribe originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reveals He Has Rare Form of Leukemia

Will Brinson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Media Watch, NBA Rumors

During an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar revealed that he is being treated for a rare form of leukemia.

Kareem apparently learned of the diagnosis nearly a year ago, but held off on making the news public until now.

"The word 'leukemia' is a very frightening word," he said in a phone interview from New York. "In many instances, it's a killer and it's something that you have to deal with in a very serious and determined way if you're going to beat it."

However, as terrifying as that statement sounds -- and Abdul-Jabbar acknowledged that he has been frightened while dealing with the diagnosis -- the Laker legend has a long-term prognosis that is considered positive, and has apparently responded well to treatment.

Additionally, Jabbar pointed out that he was going public with the diagnosis in order to affect the treatment of the blood cancer, citing the manner in which Magic Johnson assisted public awareness.

"I've never been a person to share my private life. But I can help save lives," he said at a midtown Manhattan conference room. "It's incumbent on someone like me to talk about this."

Jabbar, who is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, learned of the disease when he began having hot flashes last year and was told to have blood work done after expressing concern to his doctor. Jabbar also pointed to his excellent health -- he was one of the first pro athletes to pick up yoga -- as a reason for not only finding the disease but having a shot at beating it.

And that may be the biggest public service he provides throughout this entire health issue -- Jabbar can not only help everyday people (and athletes) learn leukemia awareness, but also how to best deal with leukemia and raise awareness about the disease.

Also on FanHouse: Lakers Top NBA Power Rankings | Where Will S-Jax Land?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reveals He Has Rare Form of Leukemia originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizes

Tom Ziller — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Media Watch

In his NBA.com video recap of last Friday's Magic-Nets game, NBA TV analyst Rick Kamla made the unfortunate mistake of referring to New Jersey forward Yi Jianlian as a "Chinaman." After FanHouse contacted Turner Sports about the remark, the video was pulled from NBA.com. It ran on NBA TV Friday and has been available on NBA.com since Friday night.

Turner Sports spokesman Jeff Pomeroy relayed to FanHouse an apology to anyone offended by the remark from Kamla and the network, which manages NBA TV and NBA.com. Pomeroy said Kamla was not aware of the connotations of the word, and meant nothing malicious or offensive by it.

Kamla's ignorant slip is far less troubling than the fact this video was broadcast on NBA TV and had been available on NBA.com for five days. The NBA has made serious strides to reach out to all corners of America and to expand the league's presence worldwide, with particular emphasis on Asia. Given the league's emphasis on marketing product to Chinese Americans, for this to go unnoticed within the NBA's digital arm for so long is disheartening.

Kamla isn't the first to make this mistake: AsianWeek took Steve Kerr to task in 2004 for referring to Yao Ming as a "Chinaman." Kerr apologized after being educated as to the history of the term and its continuing offensiveness to Chinese Americans. At the 2008 Masters tournament, CBS broadcaster Bobby Clampett called Chinese golfer Liang Wen-Chong "the Chinaman." He later apologized.

"Chinaman" is a term first used in a derogatory fashion in the American West beginning in the late 19th century. Anti-Chinese activists in California and throughout the West used the term to classify Chinese immigrants as subhuman.

Anti-Chinese sentiment is a sad legacy of the industrial boom of California in the post-Gold Rush era. European American-dominated unions led a fight to deny Chinese families the right to emigrate to the United States, culminating in President Chester Arthur's signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. The law not only restricted entry for Chinese families, but prevented Chinese men and women already in the United States from leaving and returning at a future date. The act was not repealed until 1943, and unlimited Chinese immigration was not allowed under federal law until 1965.

Note: An earlier version of this post stated that the clip ran several times on NBA TV Friday and Saturday. Pomeroy clarifies that the clip only ran on NBA TV once -- during the live broadcast of Kamla's highlights Friday evening. The clip was available on NBA.com until this morning, however.

NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizes originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That's Horrible! Injuries Force Bill Walton To Retire From Broadcasting

Rob Peterson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Media Watch

Some people won't think it's so horrible. As a matter of fact, some will cheer the announcement that because of back injury that was so bad he couldn't sit for long stretches, Bill Walton has announced he will give up announcing.

Walton, in a statement today: "As I return after a grueling multi-year, life-threatening, life-changing ordeal with back problems, it is time to dedicate the rest of my life to service. ... Thanks everybody -- for everything."

For many, Walton was a polarizing play-by-play man. Never one to withhold an opinion, you thought Walton either delivered verbal bon mots filled with liquid genius or that he was "theeeeeeeee worst announcer in the history of the NBA. No, not the NBA, the worrrrrrrrrrrld."

That's where the love-him or hate-him divide came. Because Walton delivered what seemed to be his most profound statements with a combination of hyerpbolic bombast and deadpan seriousness, you couldn't tell if he actually meant what he said or was just saying it to have a blast.

Love him or hate him, you can admire Walton's rise to the top of the broadcast profession. Painfully shy and hampered by a severe stutter when he was growing up, it was quite the testament to his hard work and perseverance that he was forthright and clear enough for people to enjoy ... or to loathe ... as a broadcaster.

Ironically, Walton's second-career comes to a close for the same reason his first career as one of the game's great centers -- and one of the best passing centers in history -- did not reach its potential: injuries.

Strangely enough, the intertubes don't have a lot of quality Walton-esque broadcast clips available. Here are a couple of the better ones.

Um, On Second Thought

"Pau Gasol is the anti-Kwame Brown"

Bill Walton is Appalled

That's Horrible! Injuries Force Bill Walton To Retire From Broadcasting originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don Nelson Channels His Inner Belichick

Matt Steinmetz — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, NBA Media Watch, NBA Coaches

Don Nelson insisted again on Thursday, like he's been insisting since the start of training camp, that he's excited by his young Warriors team and that he is having fun coaching it.

But that's not the way it looks. Nelson has grown increasingly short with the media in the past year or so and his pregame press conferences are littered with one-word answers and uncomfortable silences.

One day after the Warriors lost to the Rockets 108-107, a radio host on the team's flagship station opened his program by saying it sure seemed like Nelson's heart wasn't in it anymore.

The long and short of it was that coaching just wasn't doing it for Nellie, now 69 years old.

"You know, we have some issues we're dealing with, but yeah, coaching a kid like (Stephen) Curry is a lot of fun for me," Nelson countered. "And to watch him develop and get better and better. (Anthony) Randolph, the same thing. ... Yeah, I'm very excited about our young guys. I'm having fun. Yes, I'm having fun.

"I've never looked like I'm enjoying myself during a game, if that's what you mean?"

Actually, it isn't. What we're really talking about here is the parts about being an NBA coach that don't necessarily involve coaching - the travel, the grind, the dealing with the media, etc.

"No, I don't care much for this anymore," Nelson said, referring to dealing with the media. "I've been beat up so bad by being honest with the press, I'm going to be the (Patriots coach Bill) Belichick of the NBA. I'd rather talk on the radio where people can actually hear my words than get it misconstrued somehow. It looks different in print sometimes when you say something. The way you say it sometimes you can't identify it in print. I'm more careful. Yes, I'm more careful."

Once upon a time, and even at the beginning of his second stint with the Warriors a few years back, one of Nelson's strengths was dealing with writers, etc. He would engage in banter, share a personal anecdote or two and even go off the record to better explain some of the things he was doing.

Those days seem gone.

"It's really sad," said Nelson. "I don't like doing it but I've been forced to do it, so what can I tell you?"

How about: Why? What happened? What changed? Are people writing untruths or have there been inaccuracies when it comes to Nelson and the Warriors?

"Slanted ... slanted," Nelson said. "It's not that it's not true or inaccurate, it's slanted or taken out of context sometimes, so it looks worse in print or different in print than it was actually meant to be."

So all you can do is believe Nelson when he says he's having fun. Even though it looks like he isn't.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Don Nelson Channels His Inner Belichick originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charles Barkley Wants to Be a GM

Matt Watson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Media Watch

TNT's Inside the NBA may be the best studio show in sports, and Charles Barkley is a huge (both literally and figuratively) reason why.

Unfortunately for viewers at home, though, Barkley hopes to leave the show sometime soon, saying that he'd walk away from his career as a television pundit should the right opportunity in an NBA front office present itself.

"It's time for me to be a general manager," he told the Boston Globe. "I think everybody around me knows it's time for me to take a different challenge. ... I need to grow as a person and it's time for me. And certainly I can do a better job than some of these guys have been doing."

Barkley's desire to get back into the game (and his presumption that he can't do any worse) is hardly unique, but is he worth the risk? Even setting aside the whole public relations angle -- Barkley creates controversy everywhere he goes, whether it's because of his complete lack of filter when there's a microphone present or his gambling and drinking indiscretions -- I can't imagine a team ever putting Barkley into a position of power.

While Barkley's glib nature and willingness to poke fun at himself, his co-workers and the entire NBA makes for good TV, no one will ever accuse him of being the most prepared analyst on TV. In fact, his lack of knowledge about the league's non-marquee teams is often a running joke on the show, and stands in stark contrast to the sharp analysis from Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, his Inside cohorts.

For what it's worth, Barkley seems to know he's an underdog. "I want my chance to fail, just like everybody else," he said. But with so many former jocks having failed in front offices around the league, perhaps it's time for teams to learn from their mistakes.

There's so much more to being a successful general manager than simply talent evaluation (which Michael Jordan can tell you is harder than it looks), and a GM who fails to navigate the salary cap can set a franchise back for years (see: Thomas, Isiah).

In this day and age of arcane cap constraints and advanced playing statistics, it's time for more teams to realize that hiring a stat-head with a computer science degree and an MBA like Daryl Morey will likely offer a greater competitive advantage than a yet another former jock turned pundit.

Charles Barkley Wants to Be a GM originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA TV Hires Kevin McHale, Ruins Best Studio Show Ever

Brett Pollakoff — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Media Watch, NBA Videos

Tuesday night's NBA TV show, hosted by Ahmad Rashad and featuring Chris Webber and Gary Payton, wasn't as good as the TNT version with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley in terms of pure basketball analysis. But in terms of pure comedy, that Tuesday show was solid gold.

And now, it's over.

Kevin McHale has been hired to replace Gary Payton in the studio, and while I think McHale will do just fine as an analyst, there's no way he'll have the same chemistry with Webber that Payton did. With the show obviously looking to get a little more serious, here's a reminder of some of the antics that made it so much fun to watch.

NBA TV Hires Kevin McHale, Ruins Best Studio Show Ever originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Will Respond to Your E-Mail, Which May or May Not Be a Good Thing

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:11:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Media Watch, NBA Twitter

Ron Artest has never been afraid to tell it like he sees it, especially while being one of the athletes who chooses to interact with his fans through the use of social media. He's taken it places it didn't even need to go, really: like giving out his cell phone number, or ripping his former team over a contract issue that didn't even make any sense.

For a lot of fans, the unfiltered access is awesome; a way to truly see into the lives of one of their favorite players. But the direct contact might not be all it's cracked up to be -- especially in the case of one blogger, who unintentionally found himself on the wrong side of Artest's outgoing personality.

TrueHoop has been on the case since last week: basically, The Second Coming blog posted an open letter to Artest, asking him to not screw things up for the Lakers this season. (It was far more intricate, of course, but that was the gist.)

The person who wrote it, Kyle Slavin, dropped a friendly line to Artest, letting him know about the piece. Artest's quick, direct, and not-so-friendly response?

No law when it comes to me.
I let you type critics write and I just keep it hood.
That will never change.
I am not kissing no ones ass because I'm in LA. Suck a c***.

I'm not here to debate whether the initial post might have come across as antagonistic, or even simply overly-critical of Artest's past, and how he may or may not fit into a team that's trying to defend a championship. It honestly doesn't matter. The fact is, a lot of things are written, both positive and negative, about anyone in the league who has even an ounce of All-Star talent.

Artest's response was unacceptable.

Look, I get that he didn't like what he read, so he told the person who wrote it to basically get bent. But it's bad for the league, the team, and Artest personally to cuss people out in an e-mail or via Twitter.

Can you imagine if every athlete chose to respond to fans like this?

The league is a business, and it doesn't make any sense to have a player on its most marketable franchise (or really anywhere, for that matter) spouting off to fans, and using profanities in written form to do so.

The NBA released its social media guidelines recently, and so far, they really aren't all that restrictive. Players are prohibited from posting things online, or using cell phones from 45 minutes before tip-off, until the team's responsibilities with the media are completed after the game.

If we continue to see more outbursts like this one, you can bet that the league won't stand for it, and will enact a whole bunch more policies and restrictions on players communicating like this. It could get to a point where, if the poor judgment continues, the players' use of social media could get shut down completely.

For guys like Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard, who have figured out how to use these technologies to connect with fans in a meaningful and positive way, that would be a real shame.

Ron Artest Will Respond to Your E-Mail, Which May or May Not Be a Good Thing originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Fast Grizzlies, Slow Tweeting and Injury Updates

Matt Watson — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Media Watch, NBA Twitter

NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day.

After adding notoriously shot-happy veterans like Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson to a young core that includes Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley, how will Lionel Hollins keep everybody happy at the same time? Apparently by telling them it's every man for himself.

"Every team I played on averaged more than 100 points," Hollins told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "I know the league was different then but it's more fun to play that way. Players love to get up and down the court. And when you move the ball, and not rely on one or two guys, everybody has to step up and play to their maximum ability every night."

Someone who won't be moving anytime soon is Courtney Lee, sidelined with soreness in his left foot, an ailment that could put him behind Chris Douglas-Roberts in the bid to join Devin Harris in the Nets' starting backcourt. Someone who never moved much in the first place is Eddy Curry, who may have lost 40 pounds this summer (he's all the way down to 317!) but is still sidelined with a strained calf. Shocking, right?

In Detroit, Charlie Villanueva is nursing a hamstring injury that will likely keep him in street clothes for the Pistons' preseason opener Monday night, where he'll have to avoid temptation to stand, let alone tweet from the bench, lest he be fined. No one disputes that the NBA's new social media policy is quite sensible (and far less draconian than the NFL's), but are we to believe that Charlie V.'s "groundbreaking tweet" last season truly sparked "numerous complaints" from grumpy, Web 2.0-hating fans last year? That's what the NBA claims, but Jon Bois of MOUTHPIECE Sports (and FanHouse!) is having trouble believing it.

Speaking of trust issues, Mike Jones of the Washington Times wonders if we should believe the Wizards when they say Gilbert Arenas' is missing time with a dislocated finger and not because of his gimpy knee. Even if Gil is taking his return to relevance slowly, at least he can rest assured he's still big in Europe: Agent Zero has one of the most popular jerseys in Europe despite appearing in all of 15 games the past two seasons combined.

But Zero will start the season with a clean slate -- much like the Celtics raised a clean banner -- as in, a completely blank banner -- before media day. What's the story? As Doc Rivers explained, it's an old idea of Red Aurebach's, apparently to remind the team everyday what's expected at the end of the season.

Both Darko Milicic and Allen Iverson have dumped on Detroit lately, but it could be worse ... much, much worse: Chris Ballard of Sports Illustrated puts things in perspective with his epic tale of playing hoops with inmates in San Quentin State Prison, a tale that makes you remember how nice it is to have your freedom -- something a lot of people are taking advantage of right about ... now. The work week is over, folks; enjoy the weekend.

NBA Essentials: Fast Grizzlies, Slow Tweeting and Injury Updates originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Barkley Made It Fun to Watch No. 34

Tim Povtak — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Suns, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 34 days remaining.

He wasn't the best No. 34 who ever played the game -- that probably belongs to Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille O'Neal -- but he was the most controversial. And maybe the most contradictory.

Charles Barkley, who wore his 34 with both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns, stood alone when it came to polarizing basketball fans.

Through his 16-year playing career, he had fans who absolutely adored him and the way he played the game. He had fans who absolutely hated him, for the way he played, the way he acted, and for the things he said.

It's the same path he travels today as a television analyst. For every fan who thinks he's hilarious, there is one who finds him tasteless. Some find him compelling to watch. Others can't stand the sight of him.

He can be insulting, yet comical, happy to make fun of himself, yet arrogant in his stance. He is confrontational yet compassionate. He would give you the shirt off his back, then knock you down to take it away when he changes his mind.

He did it as a player, and he does it today as an analyst. It's not easy to top a Hall of Fame playing career that included two Olympic Gold Medals and an NBA Most Valuable Player Award. But he has done it in television, becoming the biggest attraction on an Emmy Award-winning basketball show. He is unrefined, yet clearly defined in his style.

He was unique from the day he arrived in the NBA. He looked too short and too overweight to be the No. 5 pick in the 1984 Draft out of Auburn University. He didn't have the body for the things he could do, proving to be one of the most versatile players in basketball history, always too big for the little guys to guard and too quick for the big guys who tried to guard him.

He led the league in personal fouls, but he also led it in rebounding. He told jokes on the court, then got into fights, undeterred when it came to battling bigger guys like Shaquille O'Neal and Bill Laimbeer. He was praised for his honesty, often generous with his time to a fault, yet criticized for being so outspoken.

He loved to entertain the fans with his play, but he bristled at those who wanted him to be a role model for their kids. He loved mingling with fans who adored him, yet he often got out of hand. The fan who threw a cup of ice at him in Orlando once found himself being thrown through a plate-glass window.

He would smile and kiss babies in the stands, yet he was suspended by the league when he tried to spit on a heckler but hit a little girl instead.

There were those who still think of him as a racist, yet others who believed he helped break down racial barriers in society with his often humorous comments on the issues. His conversation is usually peppered with political incorrectness, yet he expects soon to be involved in politics, eventually running for governor of Alabama.

He was once criticized for a tasteless remark when Magic Johnson retired because of contracting the AIDS virus, yet it was Barkley who changed his number in Philadelphia to 32 for one season to honor Johnson.

As a player he never won a championship, yet he won the hearts and the attention of many along the way, and he continues to leave an indelible impression on the game.

Tip-Off Timer: Barkley Made It Fun to Watch No. 34 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James Appears on the Daily Show, Gets Recruited by Jon Stewart

Will Brinson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Knicks, NBA Last Night, NBA Media Watch, NBA Videos

Jon Stewart returned from hiatus for the first Daily Show in three weeks, and he came back with a pretty large bang. Not only did he thrash Joe Wilson and Glenn Beck (par for the course), but he also welcomed on this fella named LeBron James.

James, as you may know, is fairly decent at basketball. Stewart, in case you didn't know, is a huge Knicks fan. What would amount to "recruiting violations" in college ensues. Watch the video after the jump.

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LeBron James Appears on the Daily Show, Gets Recruited by Jon Stewart originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New NBA Writer Can't Guarantee Safety While Reading in Bathtub

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Nuggets, NBA Media Watch

I'm not sure if I ever said, "We'll go out of business before the Denver Nuggets ever win another playoff series.''

If I did, I was right.

I covered the Nuggets for 6 1/2 years for the Rocky Mountain News, a stretch that included Denver going 4-20 in five straight first-round series and never coming close to advancing. Then the Rocky fouled out at the end of February, and what did the Nuggets soon do? Win two playoff series and come close to forcing Kobe Bryant to again hibernate during the summer.

But I have resurfaced at FanHouse to cover the NBA. I'm looking forward to the experience, and hearing from readers at tomasson@fanhouse.com. But you can't write "Cancel my subscription!'' since it's free to read me here.

Maybe Ron Artest will drop a line. He wrote to me once, saying, "I cannot play in Denver because they question my drive to finish my career off strong and not embarrass my family. Any player wants to win a championship is low risk. Family 1st.'' I still have no clue what he was talking about.

At FanHouse, I will provide an NBA perspective cultivated from nearly a quarter century of closely following pro basketball. My first job around the pro game was serving as P.R. director of Continental Basketball Association in 1985-86. I still remember Phil Jackson, then coach of the Albany Patroons, calling me to lodge complaints about the league.

As if there was a lot I could do. The CBA wouldn't even listen to my suggestion of having a laminated media guide so it could be read in the bathtub.

Let me stop to offer a warning: I cannot guarantee safety in reading my articles in the bathtub, especially if the computer has not been unplugged.

Before taking on the Nuggets, I had two stints covering the Cleveland Cavaliers and one covering the Charlotte Hornets. Let it be known I chronicled the pre-LeBron James days in Cleveland, my second Cavaliers stint being 1998-2002 with the Akron Beacon Journal.

But I did see James plenty at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. I recently dug up an article from February 2001, when I had assembled a panel that included former NBA players Bingo Smith and Jerome Lane and yours truly to watch a game during James' sophomore season and critique his performance (Hey, don't laugh about me being on the panel. My recreation league free-throw percentage was much better than the 37.9 Lane managed in five NBA seasons.).

Smith and Lane, who was the best player in St. Vincent-St. Mary history until James showed up, both liked James a lot. But here's what each said:

Smith: "I wouldn't like it if anybody told him he should go right from high school to the NBA.''

Lane: "He needs to play two years, or at least one year, in college.''

Oh, well. I once projected in a mock draft that Maciej Lampe would be taken with the No. 5 pick.

He went 30th in 2003, the first pick in the second round.

But I'm thinking the statute of limitations has passed on that one. Even your insurance company forgets about car accidents after three years.

So FanHouse here I come. I won't be afraid to step on the accelerator in order to bring readers NBA coverage in the fast lane. And I guarantee more accuracy than a Jerome Lane free throw.

New NBA Writer Can't Guarantee Safety While Reading in Bathtub originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James' New Shoes Are Good Enough to Make Bloggers Not Horrible

Will Brinson — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Media Watch, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson kicked it in Akron with Nike and LeBron James for the release of LBJ's new shoe and documentary. We're referring it as 'Ballin' With LeBron.'

One thing should be abundantly clear before moving any further along in this review of the LeBron VII's from Nike: I am horrible -- I mean, just flat out horrible -- at basketball. (I blame my JV coach who tried to "fix" my gunslinger, from-the-hip jumper, but that's neither her nor there.)

However, instead of taking this review with a grain of salt, you should probably understand that if I think a basketball shoe is superb, then it is really, really good; I wear low-cut shoes almost exclusively and can't stand any sort of shoe, outside an occasional cowboy boot, that gets near my ankle.

Except, of course, the brand spankin' new LeBron VII's that I got to test last weekend while -- and I mess you not -- while playing basketball with LeBron.

For starters, the shoes are phenomenally light; devotees may recall that I tested some of the newest Nike crosstrainers, which check in at 11.5 ounces and these felt even lighter, although I'm not positive if that's accurate.

But lightweight material is nothing new for the LeBron line, seeing as Nike's designers have always made a concerted effort to keep their number one branding guy equipped with the best material available.

What does define the shoe are two innovations from the Nike team (and Jason Petrie specifically): Flywire, new to Bron's line of shoes, is a non-perforated, "higher tensile strength cable" that beefs up the shoe's structure while providing increased flexibility and reducing the weight of the shoe.

(It should also be noted that LBJ has a "semi-patent" on the "diamond pattern" created from the Flywire's "crisscross lineage.")

And, most importantly, a full airbag. If that sounds like something more appropriate for a car, well, yeah, then your shoe knowledge is on par with mine. But what you have to realize is that the majority of shoes - and specifically the Air Maxes that LeBron and the rest of us 90's teens wore while growing up - have a tiny air bag in the heel, or some individual spot, of the foot.

There's never been a shoe that contained a full airbag. Ever. Which is precisely what makes this shoe not only unique but innovative and especially -- for lack of a better word -- bouncy.

As far as the style goes, well, it rocks, even if it's a little over the top/flashy for my personal tastes (I wear Clark's Wallabees and Brooks' Chariots religiously and those aren't, ahem, very fancy in terms of colors)

But Nike doesn't mess up shoe design often and you can see a lot of LeBron in the basic style. And no, I'm not talking about the fact that every time I looked down I literally saw the words "LeBron" (left) and "James" (right) or the fact that while I was trying not to collapse from running up and down the floor I could see various L's and J's on the heels of my faster competitors -- the shoe has an innovative and original feel to it.

And actually, that was the goal, as cliché as it sounds, of Petrie and Bron when creating the shoe: "A perfect combination of superior performance and luxurious style, embodying LeBron himself."

Lest you actually believe me, there actually is a bunch of LeBron in the shoe: five flex grooves on the outsole represent the notion of "team" while "23 stripes in the midsection represent LeBron's number." Oh yeah, and apparently if you rotate the shoe -- I missed this while staring down and panting -- there's a 3D decoder key which displays "LeBron's credos -- Passion, Fearless, Tradition, Community, Family, Loyalty," etc.

Look, I wouldn't blame you for chalking this rave review up to corporate shilling (Lord knows I did get to play ball with LeBron James), but at the same time, you've got to understand: I haven't hooped it up in several years, and I walked away from that game with three steals, a few points, plenty of boards and one charge taken against King James.

And that, folks, regardless of what real players tell you, is a glowing endorsement.

LeBron James' New Shoes Are Good Enough to Make Bloggers Not Horrible originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James' New Documentary Is Both Fascinating and Disturbing

Will Brinson — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson kicked it in Akron with Nike and LeBron James for the release of LBJ's new shoe and documentary. We're referring it as 'Ballin' With LeBron.'

LeBron's documentary, "More Than a Game," debuts in October. I recommend seeing it, especially if you care to learn more about the guy who might arguably go down as the greatest player in NBA history.

Sports documentaries are hard-pressed to be successful. Two problems usually arise: either we already know plenty about the subject at hand or we just don't care. In the case of LeBron James' documentary, "More Than a Game", that's somehow not the case.

More: Brinson Test Drives LBJ's New Shoes

This is a bizarre fact, of course, because the media and the basketball-watching world has been following LBJ since he entered high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary's in Akron, Ohio. Ergo, in theory, henceforth, etc., we should already know far too much about King James' life.

But that fact is also why the documentary about Bron's high school basketball career comes off so well -- there is an absolutely insane amount of footage relating to James and his friends as well as their SVSM seasons.

Which, honestly, is a little disturbing. I mean, right -- it has to be, I think; and it's okay, I'm just as morally conflicted about this as it sounds. This is a film that, because it chronicles Bron's years in high school, could have easily been released four or five years ago, if you want to really give a wide berth for editing.

Obviously the notion of releasing a documentary about yourself as a second or third-year player in the NBA is beyond absurd, but then again, isn't the whole notion of planning the same documentary?

(Rhetorical answer: Yes. Yes it is, regardless of how awesome you are.)

That being said though, the story's still enjoyable. Why? Because as much as I watch sports and have watched sports over the past decade, I didn't see every single play in LeBron's high school career.

Sure, I remember when he briefly lost his eligibility -- for one game, which, frankly was WAY over-dramatized in the doc -- after his mother secured a loan for a Hummer. And I remember when he got his eligibility back and SVSM won the state and national titles.

I didn't know, at least until spending the weekend in Akron, that Dru III was the son of "Coach Dru." Of course, that's probably because I didn't know who Coach Dru was -- his attitude throughout the course of the weekend really explains a lot as to why he's been successful; the guy has a tremendously positive outlook on life, he gets along with nearly everyone and has a fantastic notion of core moral values.

And that was something fascinating to see within the documentary -- how he played the role of father figure for someone like LeBron, who grew up in a single parent (his mother was 16 when he was born) home and could have struggled without some direction in his life.

Maybe that -- the idea that the world somehow might not have ever gotten to see LeBron James play basketball, a shudder-worthy prospect indeed -- was the core principle of the film. Because without that, regardless of the entertainment level (high, despite graphic cheesiness), the idea of an entire movie dedicated to a "global icon" before he was ever supposed to be famous and set in a time when the entire world was asking, "Is this too much/too early?" seems perilously dangerous, at least for the prospect of this continuing with every "could-be-great" player.

I'm not knocking the film -- I'd absolutely watch it again on cable and if I hadn't been privileged enough to catch a sneak preview, I'd probably pay $6.75 (or whatever movie theaters are charging these days) -- to watch it. Just the game footage, featuring a lanky LeBron James, diced and spliced for effect is completely worth it.

But as noted above, unless we're supposed to think of life without LeBron or to really jump onto the idea of friendships being born out of successful high school athletics, there's always going to be something disturbing about posed pictures and videos of high school athletes, especially when it was blatantly being setup for a movie later.

Of course, I watched his games then. And I watched the movie now. So don't let me keep you from watching it -- I'm as guilty as anyone else.

LeBron James' New Documentary Is Both Fascinating and Disturbing originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Lee Could Skip Camp ... Because He Is Not Under Contract

Tom Ziller — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, NBA Media Watch

Marc Berman of the New York Post pumped up the shrill in today's reset of Situation David Lee. Berman reported that Lee could be a "hold-out" when Knicks camp ends this month, and primes the pump by noting that "it is almost unheard-of for players of Lee's stature to be camp holdouts."

Well, yeah. But I can guarantee it is far more unheard-of for players who are not under contract with a team to show up for training camp. Lee has no contract with the Knicks. As such, he has no obligation to show up for camp. Similarly, I am not employed by my local Applebee's, so I don't believe I am expected to show up in non-slip shoes and black Dickies for the lunch shift.

To imply Lee is playing hardball by not committing to show up for a camp he won't be paid for is absurd. NBA players don't work for free. This isn't like the NFL, where players seeking an adjustment to their extant contracts skip camp as a form of protest. Lee is planning on skipping camp because he has no obligation -- contractual or moral -- to be there.

David Lee Could Skip Camp ... Because He Is Not Under Contract originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kenny 'The Jet' Smith Open to Next Step

Matt Moore — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Media Watch, NBA Coaches

Through his time on Inside The NBA, Kenny "The Jet" Smith has become one of the most respected media voices in the NBA. Prior to that, he was a championship point guard with two rings. Prior to that, he was a four year starter at UNC. So the guy's kind of got a history of success. And judging by, yes, his Twitter, he's open to trying to succeed at the next level.

RealGM.com picked up on a tweet from Smith last Friday saying "Yes coaching or management is next... Will be super difficult to leave TNT when that happens!!"

So it's pretty clear Jet is looking to make that jump to the next level. He clearly values his time with TNT on the best sports studio show in television (hands-down), but the drive to compete as either a coach or a GM is obviously there. Smith did qualify his statement later, indicating that there are no offers on the table as of now: "Guys there's nothing there now however I get knocks at my door if I'm interested. One day I'm gonna have to answer..."

Depending on your interpretation (we really need Tweet-interpretation to become some sort of science), you could gather that Smith's already been in discussions for gigs, which would be no shocker. So often we look at media entities and shudder at the prospect of them joining teams (cough... Mark Jackson... cough), so what makes Smith such an attractive candidate?

Smith has a rare combination of media savvy, player experience, wisdom, and a history of success. As I mentioned earlier, Kenny's been successful at every step of his career. He's won championships, so he can speak to the players with knowledge of what it takes to get there. He's worked in media, constantly watching the game evolve, so he's got a pretty clear view of who can be successful on the floor and who can't. He's friendly with players all across the league and is a coach that could speak with authority while maintaining a close relationship with personnel. He would make a GM who knows how to handle media scrutiny and would know how to spin what he needs to.

Losing Smith from Inside the NBA would be a huge loss for the average fan. Next to Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson (and yes, Chris Webber here and there), Smith has helped create a dynamic that is at once consistently entertaining and yet informative and intelligent. They manage to appeal to the lay basketball fan and the addict at once. Breaking up that team would mean losing the best basketball analysis show on the planet, and the end of an era. At the same time, everything has to end at one point or another, and when compared with how many unvetted personalities get their shot, it only makes sense that Smith, who has the credentials to back it up, should be the next in line.

But man, who's going to do 'Gone Fishin?'

Kenny 'The Jet' Smith Open to Next Step originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shaq Might Have Stolen 'Shaq Vs.' Idea From Steve Nash

Will Brinson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Suns, NBA Media Watch, NBA Rumors

Shaquille O'Neal's reality television show, Shaq Vs., debuted on Tuesday. I did not watch it, but that's only because there was a rerun of the Fresh Prince rolling on another channel. Still, I heard good things. Like, for instance, "Ben Roethlisberger looks fat!" and "This certainly doesn't suck as bad as Terrell Owens' show!"

High praise indeed; but what might have gone unnoticed by many an eye -- although not the Arizona Republic's Paola Bolvin -- was a familiar name in the credits: executive producer Steve Nash.

Now, before you get all cute and cuddly with some version of, "Wow, Nash does love his old teammate despite what I thought previously about him hating Shaq for being the symbol of the full decline of the Mike D'Antoni era and then forcing the Diesel out by screaming at ownership," you should probably hear this rumor: Shaq stole the idea for the show from Nash.

Bolvin recounts that when Shaq joined Phoenix back in 2008, Nash told him about an idea for a show in which he would play other athletes in various sports (Nash is, as many know, quite adept at playing soccer). Sound familiar? Yeah, exactly. Bolvin goes on to state that Shaq allegedly boarded a team bus, told his teammates about "his idea" and got called out by Nash: "You mean the idea you stole from me?"

Nash then even went so far, supposedly, as to hire an entertainment lawyer, which, according to Bolvin, is how he landed his name in the credits. However, Nash wouldn't confirm the details of the situation yesterday, stating only that, "We collaborated on parts of the show. I support him 100 percent. I thought the first episode was a fantastic episode, and I can't wait for the next one."

Of course, that's easy to say now with Shaq gone and the television show rolling, but the most important part about the whole supposed debacle is this: when someone stabs you in the back, you stop trusting them. If that person is your teammate on a basketball team and the guy who is supposed to help your squad get back on track, well, that's a big problem, especially as it pertains to team chemistry.

Now, if this went down how Bolvin says it did, there's a good reason to think that part of the Suns' failures with Shaq last year weren't entirely due to the stupid rebuilding philosophy of Steve Kerr and actually caused (to a degree at least) by the rift created between Shaq and Nash over a reality television show.

And to think, Shaq once said it was wrong for Dwight Howard to hijack an already trademarked cartoon logo from his plethora of nicknames.

Update: As Bog devotees may recall, Dan Steinz did an interview with Shaq earlier this year and pointed out that Todd Gallagher had a very similar idea. Now, as to whether Nash ripped Gallagher off ... well, that's total speculation. But it sure seems like Shaq -- based on the notion that Gallagher was considering a lawsuit against O'Neal and his agents -- may have not, ahem, properly cited his sources when "creating" this reality show.

Shaq Might Have Stolen 'Shaq Vs.' Idea From Steve Nash originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James Discusses His New Shoe

Will Brinson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Media Watch, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson kicked it in Akron with Nike and LeBron James for the release of LBJ's new shoe and documentary. We're referring it as 'Ballin' With LeBron.'

Previously, you may have read LeBron's comments on his future in basketball and entertainment. But that wasn't all he talked about during the global media summit in Akron -- oh no! He also discussed shoes. Mainly, his new VII's, which are beyond sick and innovative and aren't going to be released until October. But thanks to our presence in Ohio, you can get an early look at them as well as find out exactly what LeBron thinks about his new kicks.

On debuting the shoe in Akron:

It's big, it's huge for me. Being home, no matter where it is, no matter what community center it is, being home is a highlight for me. So the fact that we had the launch here and had the shoe ... I think it's great.

On the new VII's and how they compare to previous shoes:

"It's not simple, but it is simple. It's not simple for us, but for the guys who make it it is simple. The flywire all around and it makes the shoe, lighter and hold up for better wear and tear over the course of the season and the lighter the shoe the better. The full airbag gives it that comfort throughout the whole foot, not just the back of the foot or the heel or the front or the middle, so that technology - that technology that we have at Nike has given us options, has given us a way to create a shoe that we're going to see a lot of shoes follow it.

On how the VII differs on the court:

Well, I haven't - I've wear tested the shoes, and they feel great, they feel great and they feel like I can definitely get out there on the NBA court and get it done. But I haven't played a game yet, so I don't know compared to the six, five, four, three on down the line. So, but the wear testing I've had has worked out in them, they feel unbelievable. The airbag, the flywire stability that it has in the shoe, it feels great. So I'm looking forward to getting out on the NBA court and playing in it.

On form v. function for the new shoe for his age and 82 games:

It doesn't affect the design I don't think - the new technology that comes on every year we try and exploit it and see if we can use it in my shoe and we had an opportunity to put the air bag in my shoe and I was like, "wow, let's do it." Because I grew up with the Air Max 95 and the Air Maxes with just a small air bubble in the back and was like wow this is the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. It doesn't affect it, but it really helps it.

On whether he went to Jason or Jason came to him about changing the shoe:

First of all, we can't leave without ... Jason being the new guy came and said he was looking forward to the challenge and try to make your shoes just as good as you are. And I said, "Make my shoes better than I am." I said, "Use your inspiration and whatever's going on in your mind and make the best shoe." And he came with some early mockups and some early drawings and said he thought we could use a full airbag and I was like, the Air Maxes just have the small airbag and I'm comfortable, but let's try it. And as the drawings continued to evolve.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=608916&pid=608915&uts=1249956857

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LeBron James

FILE -- This is a June 28, 2009 file photo showing LeBron James at the 9th Annual BET Awards, in Los Angeles. In "Shooting Stars," written by James and co-author Buzz Bissinger, James said the SI cover and the media attention he and his high school teammates received was difficult to handle. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

LeBron James Photos

The new Nike Air Max LeBron VII shoes is displayed during an event at Ed Davis Community Center in Akron, Ohio on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jason Miller)

Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson, left, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, center, and footwear designer Jason Petrie, right, reveal the new Nike Air Max LeBron VII shoes during an event at Ed Davis Community Center in Akron, Ohio on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jason Miller)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, center, talks with Rich Paul, left, and former high school teammate Brandon Weems, right, before an event where James revealed his new Nike Air Max LeBron VII shoes during an event at Ed Davis Community Center in Akron, Ohio on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jason Miller)

Cleveland Cavalier forward LeBron James answers questions from the media after revealing his new Nike Air Max LeBron VII shoes during an event at Ed Davis Community Center in Akron, Ohio on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jason Miller)

Cleveland Cavalier forward LeBron James reveals his new Nike Air Max LeBron VII shoes during an event at Ed Davis Community Center in Akron, Ohio on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jason Miller)

Cleveland Cavalier forward LeBron James talks with friends before an event where he revealed his new Nike Air Max LeBron VII shoes at Ed Davis Community Center in Akron, Ohio on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jason Miller)

(C)BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Basketball player LeBron James (aka King James) is escorted by security as he leaves club MyHouse. NON-EXCLUSIVE July 21, 2009 Job: 90722W8 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

GWOOD/bauergriffinonline.com

LeBron James Discusses His New Shoe originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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