No teamwork in NBA lockout talks

NBA commissioner David Stern

The expiration of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement comes in the wake of an absurd postseason that scored some of the NBA’s highest TV ratings since Michael Jordan took on John Stockton and Karl “the Mailman” Malone in 1997-98.

I mean, remember with me: Brandon Roy dropped 18 in the fourth on the Mavs when he should‘ve been in a wheelchair, the street-fight that was the Grizzlies-Thunder series, the Lakers were swept, LeBron reminded everyone how much their lives suck compared to his and — oh yeah — the Lakers were swept.

Well, prepare for the polar opposite, a greed-a-palooza called the 2011 lockout.

“It worries me that we’re not closer. We have a huge philosophical divide,” NBA commissioner David Stern said.

NBA preseason game come to Civic Center

When the Golden State Warriors bought the Dakota Wizards in late June, they said they wanted to bring a bit of the NBA experience.

They may bring that experience on Oct. 25, as the Warriors have scheduled a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at the Bismarck Civic Center, although that game is threatened by the NBA lockout.

They will bring that experience on Oct. 6, when the Warriors are planning a special event in Bismarck that will include an appearance by Jerry West. West, who is a member of the Warriors' executive board, was one of the best players and one of the best general managers in league history. His silhouette was even used for the NBA's logo.

Lockout or not, Jeremy Pargo is NBA-bound

Jeremy Pargo

Jeremy Pargo

Jeremy Pargo

Jeremy Pargo

Jeremy Pargo

Jeremy Pargo rode his speed and athleticism to a breakout season in 2010-11, fueling Maccabi's drive to the Euroleague finals as a hard-to-harness scoring point guard. But the success and resulting interest from the NBA prompted Pargo to opt out of his Maccabi contract earlier this month, meaning that the younger brother of NBA veteran Jannero Pargo must be convinced he'll be offered a good job in the States if he was willing to walk away from a sure thing to wait out the unknown.

2011 Basketball Hall Of Fame: Could Chris Mullin Succeed In Today's NBA?

Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin

In recent weeks leading up to his enshrinement, media has honored Chris Mullin glowingly when tracing his archive of hoops stardom. Work-ethic, not athleticism, are what media, quoting his teammates and former coaches, set Mullin aside from his contemporaries. In some ways, these comments could be construed as an indirect slap in the face to the current state of the NBA where potential, defined by out-of-this-world athleticism, continues to matter more than solid fundamentals (this is not an apologia for Mike Dunleavy Jr.).

To Danny Savitzky, contributor to Grantland, Mullin is an "endangered species," a kind of player that has been wiped out by the evolution of hoops athleticism. We often say there will never be another Michael Jordan or a Magic Johnson. But is it possible to say there will never be another Chris Mullin?

Houston lands 2013 NBA All Star Game

It would mark the third time Houston will host the NBA All-Star Game. The last time the city hosted the exhibition match between the top players of the NBA was in 2006 at Toyota Center. The NBA All-Star festivities will kick off two days earlier

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90056909?Houston%20lands%202013%20NBA%20All%20Star%20Game#ixzz1Uo7Jva94

Houston is expected to gear up for the arrival of NBA superstars and hundreds of basketball fans after it was reported Thursday that city will host the 2013 NBA All-Star game.

According to reports by KRIV-TV and KHOU 11 Sports, the game will played at the Toyota Center on February 17.

The NBA All-Star festivities will kick off two days earlier.

It would mark the third time that the largest city of the state of Texas will host the NBA All-Star Game.

The last time Houston hosted a match pitting the best players voted to the Eastern Conference squad against their counterparts in the Western Conference was in 2006 at Toyota Center.

Houston also was the site of the 1989 All-Star Game at the Astrodome.

Meanwhile, NBA officials nor the Rockets would issue a comment on the report.

The 61st edition of the All-Star Game is slated be played on February 26, 2012 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, home of the Orlando Magic.

LeBron James hopeful about NBA resolution

TAIPEI (Taiwan): Miami Heat star LeBron Jamesremains confident the 2011-2012 NBA season will go ahead, despite the growing pessimism of the players' union. Speaking Friday to reporters in Taiwan, James said "right now I am working toward the NBA season, I believe there will be a season, and hopefully both sides can come together." Players have been locked out of team facilities since July 1 as negotiations continue on a new agreement on pay and conditions. The two sides are split over issues including distribution of revenues and the imposition of a salary cap. Last week, players' union chief Billy Hunter said he was doubtful about the 2011-12 season going ahead. James is on a two-day promotional tour of Taiwan

Flamboyant Rodman set to enter NBA Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — Dennis Rodman, who once wore a wedding dress to one of his book signings, is set to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Rodman was known more for his antics off the court but he did find time to win several National Basketball Association championships on Michael Jordan-led teams.

Rodman and two-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Mullin headline the class of 2011 which will be honored at a lavish ceremony at Symphony Hall.

"My job was to go out there and win ballgames, have a good time and take care of my family. As long as the people had a good time, that was my main objective," Rodman said.

Mullin becomes the 11th member of the famed 1992 US Olympic Team to be enshrined as an individual. The list also includes big men Artis Gilmore and Arvydas Sabonis; eight-time NBA champion Tom "Satch" Sanders of the Boston Celtics; coaching great Tex Winter and late Reece "Goose" Tatum of the Harlem Globetrotters. Women's star Teresa Edwards is also going in.

But the spotlight at Friday's news conference was on Rodman, who enjoyed the added attention.

"I shine every damn day," Rodman said. "This is for other people here that don't get to see these famous people that's going to come in this building tomorrow."

Said Winter's son Chris, "I don't know what's more shocking, that they didn't put Tex in 30 years ago, or they didn't make Dennis wait another 30 years."

While he likes to joke around, Rodman was also one of the top defensive players in the league for many seasons. He won an NBA record seven consecutive rebounding titles.

He said others, like Lakers current forward Ron Artest, have tried to follow in his footsteps but they can't pull it off.

"It's hard to be an entertainer and an athlete and try to be a smart basketball player all at the same time. As you can see, some guys try to do it but they don't know how to actually put the game of basketball first," Rodman said.

Last year Mullin was enshrined along with his teammates from the 1992 American Olympic squad. Now he becomes the 11th player from that team to also go in as an individual. Mullin played in five NBA all-star games and scored more than 17,000 points in his career.

The Naismith Hall of Fame is dominated by American players and the only other team to be enshrined is the 1960 US Olympic team.

Sabonis played in his native Lithuania before moving to the USA to play for Portland.

The Hall of Fame is named after James Naismith, a Canadian who is credited with inventing the sport in 1891.