John Wall Last Night Blew the Roof off Melo Center

July 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

John Wall last night did his thing in B-More at the Melo Center. And in case you weren’t aware, ‘his thing’, means blocking shots, breaking ankles, and pretty much everything in between. Damn, this is nice for the future of the Wiz:

The Hoop Doctors Podcast: Episode 60

July 28, 2011 – THD Podcast

This week on THD Podcast Kevin Burke discusses the latest around the league…

If you often find yourself too busy to watch The Hoop Doctors Podcasts, get them on the go for your iPhone or iPod! Subscribe to our Podcasts in the iTunes Directory, free of charge. Also, if you have any questions you’d like answered by Kevin or any other member of The Hoop Doctors team, feel free to email them to admin@thehoopdoctors.com and we will be sure to select the best of the best to have answered by Kevin On-Air next week or in a future episode.

Toni Kukoc Linked to Prostitution Ring

July 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

To say this story comes out of left field would be an understatement. Despite what you’re about to read below, it’s worth noting that Kukoc has denied these allegations…

Ex-NBA player Toni Kukoc was one of the clients of the elite prostitution ring headed by physiotherapist Nebojsa Perunovic Pance, arrested earlier this week.

Pance is suspected of pimping young starlets, wanna-be-models and other beautiful girls to Austrian businessmen, rich Russians, and it appears, sports stars.

Croatian daily Jutarnji List writes that one young woman was told to offer sexual services to ex-NBA player Toni Kukoc.

“I went there, I can’t remember the name of the hotel. In the hotel I had sexual relations with [Toni] Kukoc who paid me 500 Euros,” she said.

More details about Kukoc’s alleged involvement in this situation can be found at CroationTimes.com.

LSU Freshman Johnny O’Bryant Says He’s One-and-Done

July 28, 2011 – Allen Moll

While it’s not unusual for an elite level HS hoops prospect to have his sites set on the NBA even at an early age, it is highly unusual for a player to predict that they are a one-and-done type player before they even suit up for their very first collegiate game.

That’s precisely the curious case of LSU incoming freshman big man Johnny O’Bryant who when asked by a local Louisiana newspaper if he plans on heading straight to the NBA after his rookie NCAA season, the promising 6’9 power forward promptly replied “Of Course.”

O’Bryant is the jewel of LSU Tigers coach Trent Johnson’s incoming recruiting class featuring Kentucky’s reigning Mr Basketball Anthony Hickey and John Isaac. The 6’9 and 260lb O’Bryant figures to help provide the Tigers with an imposing low post presence in a much improved SEC Conference that may again get multiple NCAA Tourney bids with teams like Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi St, and Alabama all in the mix.

The Tigers are coming off of two straight 11 win seasons and were surely hoping that the 5 star PF would stick around the bayou for a few seasons to help the program be on par once again with the Kentucky’s and Florida’s of the conference. He’ll face some stiff competition from day one as the SEC is loaded with prime time big men like Patric Young (Florida), Anthony Davis (Kentucky), and Festus Ezili (Vandy).

Johnny proved to be one of the very best big men in the country last season by averaging 19.7ppg, 14.7 rebounds, and an amazing 6.2 blocks as a senior at Eastside HS in Cleveland, Mississippi. His stellar play was rewarded by being selected for both the 2011 McDonald’s All American Game and this year’s Jordan Brand Classic, in addition to starring on the U17 USA Basketball squad.

He did finish ranked among the Top 50 players in the nation by ESPN but was considered only the 7th best PF in the class. He has tremendous low post skills with his back to the basket and loves to shoot the jump hook and turn-around jumper from within 10-12 feet but must work on expanding his range to excel in the pick-and-roll heavy NBA. He has tremendously soft hands enabling him to corral rebounds and maneuver in tight spots with ease.

O’Bryant was courted heavily by Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Maryland, and Mississippi before choosing on LSU prior to his senior season.

Coach Johnson surely hopes that with losing 10 lbs and getting acclimated to the college game in a timely fashion will make O’Bryant the game-changing player that the freshman already thinks he is. O’Bryant might want to chose his words more carefully in the future since Mississippi State forward Reynardo Sydney is still stuck in the college ranks after making similar comments 2 seasons ago.

Check out O’Bryant in action during his senior season:

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

Nets Move to Brooklyn Still on Track for 2012

July 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

If you said you doubted that the Nets would move to Brooklyn, you probably weren’t alone. It seems like a lifetime ago that we first heard news of the potential relocation. But looks like things are still going according to plan. I guess the only thing still left to figure out is their name.

“It’s coming,” Nets general manager Billy King said Wednesday of the Barclays Center, his team’s billion-dollar arena under construction in downtown Brooklyn. “You know it now. I think all the negative people not believe it’s going to happen — we don’t have to show pictures anymore.”

King was standing in what will be the main concourse of the building, addressing reporters about the structure, which is about 60 percent complete and on schedule for its anticipated opening in the fall of 2012.

Read more about the progress of the Nets’ move at NJ.com.

THD’s 25 Best Dunks of All-Time: #14 MJ Climbs Mt. Mutombo

July 28, 2011 – Joshua Sexton

Our countdown of the ’25 Best Dunks of All-time’ Sponsored by NBA.com/Dunk continues. Read more

Rodman was the Original NBA Planker

July 28, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

Sorry Gil, but ‘The Worm’ was the original NBA player planking. I guess Rodman was just ahead of his time. Photo evidence after the jump:

Draft Packs Presents: ’96 Bulls – Greatest Team Ever

July 28, 2011 – Allen Moll

If you haven’t yet had the chance to check out our friends over at DraftPacks.com, you should since they make some pretty sweet NBA themed clothing along with some awesomely entertaining videos based on all time basketball great moments and teams.

Recently they came out with a video and accompanying t-shirt commemorating the 15 year anniversary of the ‘95-’96 Chicago Bulls record setting run at the record books and the franchise’s 4th NBA Title in 6 seasons.

The 1996 version of the Bulls featured a retooled line-up with names like Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, and Ron Harper surrounding the all world duo of Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, who was fresh off of his first retirement, which included “His Airness” attempting to play pro baseball.

During the regular season, Da Bulls steam-rolled through the regular season, setting a still standing NBA mark for wins, posting a 72-10 overall record. They blasted through the Eastern Conference Playoffs with an equally impressive 11-1 mark in besting the Heat, Knicks, and Magic before heading into a marquee match-up against the Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton led Seattle Sonics.

Despite the Sonics stealing 2 games at home in games 4 and 5, MJ, Scottie and Co held Seattle to an average of 88 points per game in finishing off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. In fact some even rank the ’96 Bulls as the Greatest NBA Champions in the modern era. I guess DraftPacks concurs….

Check out DraftPacks Greatest Team Ever:

Draft Packs presents: The Greatest Team Ever from Draft Packs on Vimeo.

Dwight Howard: I’d “Never” Play for the Heat

July 27, 2011 – The Hoop Doctors

Dwight Howard recently made a public appearance where he had a bunch of questions thrown at him by fans…

Until then, however, there’s plenty of basketball to be played and questions to be answered, such as:

• What about the Lakers? “That’s everybody’s question,” he told the “Kick” audience. “I am wearing purple … but that’s Rock’s outfit.”

• The Heat? “Never.”

• Stay with the Magic or leave for free agency? “At this point, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m just enjoying life and taking advantage of being young and being able to travel and do the things that I’ve always wanted to do.”

• Will he consider playing overseas if the NBA lockout drags on? “Yeah, I don’t want to just sit around and do nothing. That’s just a waste. There’s no telling when the NBA season’s going to start, so if I’m just sitting at home and one day it decides to pop back up and I’m not ready, I’m going to look bad.”

Check out the full details what Dwight had to say at ESPN.com.