Lebron James Buys a Purse? [PIC]

A lot of people have questioned Lebron James’ toughness over the years. On the court of course. But none of his detractors thought he would go this far. Lebron, why you be buying yourself a purse fool? Yeah, yeah, we know it was a gift for your girl…..ahem.

[H/T to YBF for the Pics]

Yao Ming Says He’s Not Ready For Hall of Fame

Following his retirement, we told you that Yao Ming might be inducted in the Hall of Fame next year. But, does he want that?

A representative of former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming informed the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Wednesday that Yao feels it is premature for him to be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame in 2012.

“Yao believes it is inappropriate for him to be considered for induction to the Hall of Fame at this time,” said John Huizinga, Yao’s agent, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

Yao, who retired last month because of injuries, was nominated for the Hall of Fame as a contributor by a member of the Chinese media.

Anyone who is nominated as a contributor is immediately eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Souce: MyFoxHouston.com.

Crittenton Was Robbed in April, Causing Him to Retaliate

Details are becoming clearer as to why Crittenton put himself in this situation…

A former NBA player who is accused of shooting an Atlanta woman to death appeared to be retaliating for being robbed of $55,000 worth of jewelry, police said.

Javaris Crittenton, who was suspended from the NBA along with his ex-teammate Gilbert Arenas for having guns in a locker room, was arrested late Monday at a Southern California airport. He has been charged with murder in the Aug. 19 shooting death of Jullian Jones outside her house in Atlanta, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

Crittenton’s attorneys have said he will exonerated.

Crittenton told police he and a friend were leaving a barbershop around 10:50 p.m. April 21 when two teenagers surprised them as they returned to their car, according to a police report released to The Associated Press.

One teenager held Crittenton at gunpoint and ordered him to “give me what you got,” he told police. He said he handed over a $25,000 black diamond necklace, a $30,000 black diamond watch, an iPhone and $25 cash, according to the report.

—

Jones, a 23-year-old mother of four, was outside her house with 18-year-old Trontavious Stephens when a black Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid pulled up and opened fire. Authorities have said they don’t believe Jones was the intended target, but they haven’t said who they think the gunman was after.

Source: AP on ESPN.com.

NBA Card of the Week: Mike Miller is…the Predator

Let’s start this off with one of the weirder facts ever seen in this segment. From Miller’s Basketball-Reference page:

“June 30, 1993: Traded by the Golden State Warriors (as a 2000 1st round draft pick) with Anfernee Hardaway, a 1996 1st round draft pick (Todd Fuller) and a 1998 1st round draft pick (Vince Carter) to the Orlando Magic for Chris Webber.”

Yes, it’s true. Mike Miller was traded by an NBA team when he was just 13 years old. Sort of. Miller came into the league as one of the best college players and was drafted 5th overall out of Florida in 2000. After winning Rookie of the Year in Orlando, Miller continued to thrive as a shooter averaging double digit points and never shooting worse than 36% from 3.

In the 2008-09 NBA season Miller had just been traded to his third team, a particularly bad one at that, in Minnesota. The T-Wolves ended the year 24-58 after Kevin McHale parachuted in as coach after just 19 games with Randy Wittman at the helm. His worst year statistically in nine NBA seasons, Miller put up just 9.9 PPG and started just 46 times. His best game came on Sunday, March 29th, 2009 when he put up 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (3-4 from beyond the arc) in 38 minutes of work during a 108-99 Minnesota win against the New Jersey Nets.

Miller’s career has gone downhill but he’s no doubt been a serviceable SG/SF during his time in the league. He’s probably a bit underrated, suffering from having “good” player talents while playing a superstar position. Here, in this card, Miller’s hair looks to be a bit outlandish and you’re not sure whether he’s going to shoot a layup or if he’s merely trying to destroy Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer.

The newest edition to The Hoop Doctors writing staff, Dane Carbaugh is the editor and lead writer of the popular new basketball blog A Young Sabonis. Dane is a published research author and also writes for Dime Magazine and the ESPN TrueHoop Affiliate Portland Roundball Society. He can be found on Twitter at @DaneCarbaugh

Durant Scores 59 in Defeat as Melo League Tops Goodman League

On Monday we gave you the heads up that Washington DC based Goodman League would be taking a trip up I-95 to square off against Baltimore based Melo League at Morgan State University. Read more

Euroleague Players to be Featured in NBA Jam

Looks like the upcoming version of the video game NBA Jam: On Fire Edition will feature European players for the first time. Maybe if this is a success they will start bringing in the Euro legends like Arvydas Sabonis? That would be awesome. Here is what Euroleague.net had to say on the deal between EA Sports and Euroleague Basketball:

Electronic Arts and Euroleague Basketball are pleased to announce their licensing partnership that makes the leading global interactive entertainment software company an official partner under the video gaming category. Under this agreement EA SPORTS will include Turkish Airlines Euroleague players in the upcoming release of the mythical arcade game NBA Jam: On Fire Edition.

This is the first time that European clubs will be officially represented in the NBA JAM franchise, one of the most successful video games in sports history. All fans will be able to choose any of the four participating teams in the last Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. Dimitris Diamantidis and Mike Batiste of Panathinaikos Athens, Lior Eliyahu and Sofoklis Schortsanitis of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, Bo McCalebb and Ksistof Lavrinovic of Montepaschi Siena, Sergio Llull and Carlos Suarez of Real Madrid will be amongst the players representing the four Euroleague teams in the 2–on–2 basketball games.

[Via Euroleague.net]

Nike Air Foamposite Pro ‘Dark Pine’ Release Info

 

“Pine green foams they may never see the store” are words spoken earlier this year by Wale on Maybach Music Group’s Self Made Vol. 1. The quote was in reference to the newest Foamposite Pro colorway of 2011. Dark Pine is used on the polyurethane upper and also on the branding along the eyestay. A first for Foamposites is on the sole with Nike going with the new blue-tinted translucent compound which has been seen on every clear soled Air Jordans this year. It has been said to prevent the inevitable yellowing that occurs when soles get old and when exposed to moisture.

Though the song quote implies these might not be released at all, don’t worry because we’ve gotten word they drop on Saturday September 2nd, and judging by the last few Foamposite releases the real question is how long they will last on store shelves.

Cuban: Mavs Beat “Evil Empire” in Finals

Here’s the gool ol’ Mark Cuban that we’ve come to know and love (or hate) over the years. He was so quiet during the playoffs that we almost forgot about him. He is silent no longer.

“The playoffs run 57 days,” Cuban said. “For me, it was 56 days, 23 hours and lots of minutes of pure anxiety. I really didn’t start to enjoy it until there were about 30 seconds left in the game _ and it finally dawned on me that we had finally beaten the Evil Empire and all those doubts.

 

Source: dallasnews.com

Wilson Chandler Signs With Chinese Team Without NBA-out Clause

The Chinese Basketball Association made it very clear that they were not going to allow NBAers to come over and have an NBA-out clause built it. They want them there for an entire year. Wilson Chandler decided that was in the best interest of his financial future…

Wilson Chandler said he has signed a contract with the Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association, a move that would essentially preclude him from participating in the 2011-12 NBA season if the lockout ends and the games begin.

The Chinese Basketball Association will not allow players with existing contracts to sign with its teams, so playing in China is only an option for free agents such as Chandler, a restricted free agent who finished the 2010-11 season with the Denver Nuggets.

In addition, the CBA will not allow escape clauses that would allow players to leave the Chinese league in the event the NBA resumes operations. So Chandler would not be a part of the NBA if the season begins on time or even with an abbreviated schedule starting in January or February.

“Maybe I’ll lose out,” Chandler said. “But I think it can be a great experience. I haven’t been in any [labor negotiation] meetings. I can’t call it. I’m just taking a risk, at the end of the day.”

Source: ESPN.com.

Jimmer Fredette Got Engaged

Just in case there wasn’t enough life changing events happening at once to NBA draftee Jimmer Fredette, he’s decided to get engaged. Jimmer announced yesterday on twitter that he popped the question to his girlfriend, and BYU Cheerleader, Whitney Wonnacott and she accepted. Photo of the engagement after the jump:

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