basketball stream live Josh Smith Responds To People Who Think He's 'Greedy'

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Josh Smith took to The Players' Tribune on Thursday to clarify comments he made about his salary last week -- comments that garnered a few eye rolls.

Smith, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in early July and is currently owed $5.4 million by the Detroit Pistons, caught a wave of criticism after calling his move to Los Angeles "a little harder on me this year."

Some people were less than sympathetic toward the basketball player, who in The Players' Tribune wrote that it's not just money, but the challenges of heading to a new city yet again, that's tough. 

"This is my third team in less than a year. I was talking about how moving affects my family. But the headline about greed was the one everyone ran with," Smith wrote, adding, "Let’s just look at what I actually said so we don’t get it twisted."

His "harder" comments were interpreted as if he was complaining about making significantly less money than he had in previous contracts, which sent Twitter, and even HuffPost, into a rich-guy shaming-spree:

What a sad person this guy is. I feel sorry for him, not because of his lack of money but his lack of gratefulness. http://t.co/wZm016BsL4?

— jess⚓️renae (@jessxrenae) July 25, 2015

Josh smith is so greedy... $6 million isn't enough for him to support his family... Smh

— Cole Ruckman (@cole04_37) July 25, 2015

Josh Smith said making $6.9 million next season will be "hard on his family". What a pathetic and greedy thing to say. Wow.

— NBA Quick Report™ (@NBAquickreport) July 25, 2015

Someone tell Josh Smith he's stupid. https://t.co/THo1SR6aLm

— Brother Darkness (@TonyDarkMusic) July 24, 2015

Josh Smith--and anyone who has his greedy mindset--is a joke.

— Victor Hensley IV☻ (@Frezeal33) July 24, 2015

just read about #JoshSmith and ONLY earning 6.9 per year how it'll be "hard" on his family. greedy ass fucks.

— g (@cafewithlait) July 25, 2015

But Smith wrote that the challenges he faces with work are the same as any other family that's relocated for a job.

"Like any parent, you think about how your work affects your kids. You want consistency for your kids -- consistent teachers, consistent friends, a consistent home. You want some normalcy for them," Smith continued.

To Smith's credit, he didn't take offense to anything that was written or said about him. He took the high road in his rebuttal, which is what one would expect out of an 11-year NBA vet. Smith knows the ropes. 

"Every athlete has had articles about them that aren’t 100 percent true. Most of the time, it’s not anyone’s fault -- it’s just the reality," he wrote.

 

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basketball stream live Athletes' Wives Team Up To Ease The Difficulties After Getting Traded

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“You’re joking,” an exasperated Lory Ankiel said into the phone.

Nothing about Rick Ankiel’s July 31, 2010, trade to the Atlanta Braves was amusing to his wife Lory, who thought the news was another one of his phone pranks. Rick had spent his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals since the team drafted him in 1997. Pregnant and home alone with two dogs, Lory was anticipating Rick to cut his prank and tell her that that he'd be back after that night's home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

No punchline followed. Instead, duty called: Rick immediately flew out to join his new Braves teammates in time to start an afternoon game the next day in Cincinnati. It was just another trade in Major League Baseball. To Lory, however, it was a problem.

“I was newly pregnant and so sick that I immediately felt like I was very overwhelmed,” Lory told The Huffington Post. 

In an instant, the Ankiels had to uproot their settled lives in St. Louis and move to Atlanta. While Rick continued to live out his MLB dream, Lory was left to pack up the house and move the family halfway across the country to a city she’d never lived in before. Her anxiety pulsated with questions that didn’t have immediate answers: How am I going to get a moving company at a fair quote so quickly? Where should we live? Which doctor should I see about my baby?

Lory found there was no guide to help her. The Braves helped where they could, but “their main focus is getting the guy on the field, not necessarily finding me a new doctor,” she explained.

Throughout the relocation, Rick kept thinking, there’s got to be a better way than this. For years, a hectic email listserv involving hundreds of players’ wives provided the only centralized landing space for information about different cities. Digging through an inbox to find a trusted babysitter contact, however, is hardly an efficient means of finding and sharing.

Little did Rick know, his own wife was going to make a better way for on-the-move athletes and their families. Later that year, Lory, who had previously worked as a Miami Dolphins cheerleader and for an Internet technology company (“Google is my best friend,” she said) created OurBaseballLife, a website and accompanying mobile app that serves as the exact kind of all-encompassing guide she could’ve used on Trade Deadline Day in 2010. 

“There are a lot of times that can be difficult on families because the players are gone so much. A lot of the responsibilities for running the house fall on the wife,” Lory told The Huffington Post. “OurBaseballLife wants to alleviate some of those responsibilities and make the transition smoother.” 

 Available exclusively to professional baseball players and their families, OurBaseballLife is akin to the pro baseball version of Angie’s List. Once players and spouses have been vetted and approved, they can access a database full of recommendations for local businesses in each Major League city written by players’ families. There’s even a forum that wives and players use to ask questions and seek advice. All one has to do is open the app and click on a city to find the resources available.

“Within 30 seconds, I have a pediatrician, know where to find a realtor, where to live -- and it’s all recommended … It’s not like seeing recommendations from people you don’t know.” said Joanie Ludwick, wife of free agent MLB player Ryan Ludwick. (Ludwick has played for six different teams.)

"At least you feel like you know the person who's telling you a recommendation that you know will work well," said Dallas Latos, wife of Mat Latos, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Although Dallas is native to California, she said she still planned on using OurBaseballLife to help setup her family in LA. 

"It’s always good when you get into a new city to get information from someone who has similar interests to you," she added. 

Having members-only recommendations populate OurBaseballLife is highly important to players’ wives. Given the public knowledge that athlete salaries can scale into the hundreds of millions of dollars, players want to make sure that a potentially opportunistic contractor or plumber “won’t go into your house and be starstruck or charge you an arm and a leg,” as Marcia Wooden, the wife of former NFL player Shawn Wooden, put it. 

 “Although we’re lucky to have the opportunity to have baseball players follow their dreams, it’s not always cupcakes and rainbows and butterflies,” Lory added, noting that not all professional athletes are overnight millionaires.  

Transitioning to a new city can be especially difficult for Minor League baseball players. In many cases, Minor Leaguers earn less than minimum wage and many more pro athletes -- realizing that their window of earning large salaries is finite in the grand scheme of life -- are watching their wallets more carefully in a post-"Broke” world. 

Holly Lucas, wife of career Minor Leaguer and one-time Miami Marlin Ed Lucas, uses OurBaseballLife to help her find businesses and services that are not only affordable, but also respective of athletes who are part of their own industry's "99 percent." 

“For every Giancarlo Stanton-type contract, there are hundreds of Minor League families who don’t have that kind of money," she explained. "It’s an extreme difference. Lory’s done beautifully to create this resource."  

The community Lory has helped cultivate from within specifically guards against opportunism. Everyone has each other's backs. To players’ wives, the people on OurBaseballLife aren’t just fellow members, but in many cases, trusted friends. Lory met Joanie when their husbands played Minor League baseball together in Memphis and became even closer when Rick and Ryan played for the Cardinals from 2007-2009. 

“You definitely form bonds with them because they understand the lifestyle and they understand that you’re by yourself when the guys are on the road,” said Lory. “And God forbid if there’s an emergency, those are the people you’re going to reach out to to help you. You create great, lasting relationships.” 

“You have to have that community in order to survive and stay sane,” agreed Joanie.

Through OurBaseballLife, the women of MLB have banded together to share information that’ll make their lives easier. This symbiosis, along with the experience of enduring a difficult move, is what keeps Lory motivated to expand the website to cover all six major professional U.S. sports -- baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer and golf. Since Rick retired in 2013, she’s been ramping up operations to meet this goal.

Lory’s already recruited her friend Marcia, who she met when the two were Dolphins cheerleaders, to run OurFootballLife. On the soccer front, she’s picked up Krista Torrington, wife of MLS Players’ Union rep John Thorrington, to run OurSoccerLife.

Krista had already seen the aforementioned baseball wives listserv through a friend whose husband played MLB and thought that MLS wives should have something similar. When Lory approached the MLS Players’ Union looking for help starting OurSoccerLife, Krista jumped at the chance to build a real digital service. 

“It’s what keeps driving me -- knowing that there’s so much of a need,” Lory said of her expansion plans. Eventually, she’d like to see an entire network of “OurLife” sites sharing and discussing the same resources and information. 

With OurFootballLife and OurSoccerLife currently in “soft launch” stages and OurBaseballLife approaching 600 members (by comparison, there are over 800 active MLB players), Lory is hoping to secure outside investment to boost growth after five years of bankrolling everything with her own money.

Lory also wants to make sure that single professional athletes -- not just the guys who have the companionship of a significant other -- are getting online and helping themselves.

“It’s geared towards everybody, not just to spouses. I want to make sure it’s available for anybody who plays professionally," she said, adding that the unpredictability of the Internet may open up unseen avenues for her fledging business. "Who knows what things will evolve into down the road?" 

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basketball stream live For Our Children's Health, Keep Sports Fun

basketball stream live Parents proudly watching their aspiring major leaguers hit a home run, serve an ace in tennis, or lunge to stop a goal might find it hard to imagine that their child's success in sports could harm his or her health. But today, games like sandlot baseball often are not kid stuff anymore.

Many youth leagues, particularly those for "elite," "travel," or "select" teams, have become hypercompetitive for many reasons, including organizations that make money from running tournaments, coaches who emphasize winning at all costs, and parents who hope that their children can earn scholarships by specializing in their chosen sport at an early age to advance their talent as rapidly as possible and gain an edge over their peers. Their intentions may be good, but the results are not.

I know because I see the injuries that result across a wide range of sports: Elementary-school-age baseball players with labral tears in the shoulder; young basketball players with tendonitis around the kneecap; junior tennis players with stress fractures in their shoulders; and soccer players who have had a sliver of cartilage and bone separate from the remainder of the joint, a condition called osteochondritis dissecans. These are serious injuries, not normal for any child. But when a developing body is subjected to the repetitive motions required by intensive training and athletic competition, bones, tendons and ligaments become susceptible to damage.

Physical activity is very important to children's health, but all children, no matter how athletic, have strength and endurance limitations which should be understood and respected. Many sports governing bodies respect these limitations and have different rules for youth games as well as child-sized equipment. As an example, Little League Baseball recommends baseball players ages 9-10 throw no more than 75 pitches per game and requires rest days depending on age and how many pitches are thrown. But playing on multiple teams -- town, school, travel -- can easily lead young pitchers to exceed such guidelines.

Repeated injuries not only sideline young athletes, they can also cause them to drop out of a sport. Another, less-discussed consequence of the extreme competitiveness of today's youth leagues is the impact on children who are not naturally athletic. The high premium placed on superior performance can turn off kids who face persistent indignity on the playing field.

In fact, participation in organized youth baseball, football, basketball and soccer is dropping. In 2008, nearly 45 percent of children played team sports, but by 2013, the participation rate had dropped to 40 percent, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Not only is organized participation less popular, but even casual play is down. As sports league participation sinks, inactivity levels are rising for both children and adolescents. The federal government's Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends at least 60 minutes of activity for children ages 6-17 each day. But one of every five children between the ages of six and seventeen is sedentary, according to the Physical Activity Council, a coalition of sports industry associations. Meanwhile, more and more children are spending their free time engrossed in social media, video games and television while consuming sugary drinks and junk food. This lapse into a sedentary lifestyle is contributing to another growing health problem: the rising incidence of overweight and obese children and teens.

Recent genomic research by my colleague Ruth Loos, PhD, Director of the Genetics of Obesity and Related Metabolic Traits Program in the Charles Bronfman Institute of Personalized Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and others indicates just how important physical activity is to retaining an appropriate body weight. One study uncovered 97 sites across the human genome that are associated with obesity, triple the number previously known. These genes are related not only to metabolic factors, but neurological ones as well. A second study found an additional 49 sites on the genome that influence body fat distribution. In Dr. Loos' earlier work she showed that the genetic susceptibility to gain weight was reduced by 30 to 40 percent in individuals who were physically active as compared to those who were inactive. Thus, even individuals who are prone to put on weight will benefit from being physically active. Millions of us have this genetic predisposition to gain weight, and so need an active lifestyle to keep it off.

Most parents will do best to encourage their young children to engage in a broad range of physical activity rather than pushing performance in a specific sport. This doesn't mean having your child play on several different teams, which can be time-consuming and financially impossible for many. Rather, choose a sport that your child doesn't participate in in an organized manner and just play. And your child still has plenty of time to achieve success later, because athletic capability in most sports does not peak until one is well into the 20s. The few exceptions are gymnastics, figure skating and diving, where top performance does come at a young age. Otherwise, early specialization is counterproductive to ultimate athletic achievement.

Besides, surveys of children show they don't care all that much about winning. Kids would rather participate and have fun.

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basketball stream live Striking Photos Of The Life-Changing Special Olympics Clinic

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- They arrived in Los Angeles by the thousands to run, jump and swim and to play such team sports as soccer and softball.

This week, however, Special Olympics athletes from around the world also are taking part in what could be called the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat events.

Tucked into a corner of the University of Southern California's sprawling campus is a makeshift medical clinic that seemingly sprouted overnight. There, hundreds of doctors, dentists and other health care providers are working to ensure thousands of athletes go home with clean bills of health - or the closest thing to them that can be produced in a week. A few athletes will even leave with the ability to hear for the first time.

Contrary to popular belief, people with intellectual disabilities, including those who compete in the Special Olympics, do not get better medical care than others, said Zabi Mansooky, director of the Healthy Athletes program. Many get worse care. Some get no care at all.

"About 24 percent wear shoes that are too small - and they compete in those shoes," said Mansooky as he showed visitors through the warren of tents and vans where Special Olympics athletes are being examined.

 As he spoke, a steady stream of yellow school buses, each adorned with the Special Olympics logo, continually jammed a small campus street as they disgorged athletes by the hundreds.

"About one out of every five or six athletes is coming in with dental pain," Mansooky said as he entered the dental clinic tent.

 Like all the other tents, it was filled shoulder-to-shoulder with athletes and their coaches, many chatting happily and loudly in a cacophony of languages as they waited to see their health care providers.

As the athletes progressed from one tent to the next, an army of volunteer doctors, dentists, optometrists, audiologists and other professionals worked feverishly, performing eye exams, ear exams, foot exams and other checkups.

With the help of translators, optometrists asked, "Which is better, Number 1 or Number 2?" Dentists kept busy cleaning, filling and sometimes yanking teeth. On-the-spot root canals were performed when needed.

"You have oral pain, and you can't eat, you can't sleep, it takes over your whole life," said Dr. Richard Mungo, the dental clinic's cheerful director.

Nearby, at the ear clinic, athletes had their ears cleaned, then waited to enter soundproof booths to have their hearing tested.

"On Sunday, 21 athletes received hearing aids for the first time in their lives, including three who couldn't hear at all until they got the hearing aids," said John Ohanesian, director of medical services for the 2015 Special Olympics.

One of the first was a young basketball player from India who was born without ear canals.

"She could hear right away," audiologist Dennis Van Vliet said with a smile as he described fitting her head with a device that allows the inner ear to pick up vibrations and transmit them as sound to the brain.

 At a patio table just outside the clinic, Icelandic soccer player Thor Haklidason and about a dozen of his teammates reviewed the printed-out information they were given by physical therapists who had just tested their strength, endurance, flexibility and other physical skills.

"We need to stretch a little bit more," the muscular, 25-year-old team captain said with a sheepish smile.

 Otherwise, said Haklidason, he and his teammates were passing each checkup with flying colors. That's save for the sunburns several were sporting on a sunny, 85-degree Los Angeles day.

"It's a little hotter here than we're used to, yes," the Reykjavik resident said with a laugh.

Although organizers hoped to examine all 6,500 athletes before the Special Olympics end Aug. 2, they weren't sure how many would show up when they opened the clinic Sunday.

The first day, they treated 977, the next day 1,247. Those numbers had them scrambling Tuesday to order more hearing aids, eyeglass frames and other items that are being donated by health care companies.

"At the Special Olympics in Korea four years ago, they treated 1,600 athletes," Ohanesian said. "We've already blown past that in two days."

By the end of the day, each athlete would leave with a goody bag filled with such items as an electric toothbrush, one or more pairs of glasses, and a new pair of sports shoes.

"This has been really good for our athletes. Getting glasses are a big problem for our people, and now they have them," said Akani Brou, who coaches the Ivory Coast swim team. "And after this, when we leave, we know they'll be really healthy."

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basketball stream live LeBron James Doesn't Totally Deny The Possibility Of Starring In 'Space Jam 2'

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LeBron James of "Trainwreck" fame and other occasional professional pursuits blessed Twitter with his presence for a few minutes on Tuesday evening. The reason was a few minutes of the Q&A format of our time: the "Ask Me Anything And I'll Answer The Questions I Like."

My fans today is the day, I'll be doing "ask me anything" Q&A at 7pmEst for 15-30 mins. I've missed y'all. Talk soon #StriveForGreatness

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 28, 2015

Lots of questions were asked. Tristan Thompson this. NFL that. Basketball, basketball, basketball, etc. Then one fine genius asked the only question that really mattered.

@KingJames are you doing Space Jam 2??

— Yung JRob (@KingJRob21) July 28, 2015

And, well, wait for it ...

 

 

Wait for it ...

 

 

Wait for it ...

 

 

WAIT FOR IT ...

 

@KingJRob21 Maybe.......Guess we'll just have to wait and see. #LooneyToonsRock

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 28, 2015

WAIT AND SEE! THAT'S WHAT I CALL A NON-DENIAL. OR NON-COMMITTAL INTEREST? OR A PURPOSEFULLY VAGUE BUT OBVIOUSLY LEADING RUMOR-GENERATOR? OR SOMETHING ELSE? WHATEVER IT WAS, IT WAS NOT A "NO," AND THAT'S ENOUGH. 

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basketball stream live ESPN Could Be Sold On Its Own Like HBO, Bob Iger Admits

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Warning: There could come a day in which you are forced to pay for episodes of ESPN's "SportsNation" just like you fork over money for "Game of Thrones" today.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said Tuesday that people may one day have to buy ESPN content directly from the network or cable company, similar to how HBO fans purchase that programming now. 

“I think eventually ESPN becomes a business that is sold directly to the consumers,” Iger told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday.   

In recent months, Disney has forced serious cost-cutting moves on ESPN. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney ordered ESPN to cut $100 million from next year's budget and $250 million in 2017. High-priced talents like Bill Simmons, Keith Olbermann and Colin Cowherd have also been pushed out in recent months. 

Within the past year alone, ESPN has lost 3.2 million subscribers. Iger cited the rise of these "cord-cutters," as they're known, as well as the decline of bundled television packages, as part of the reasons he sees ESPN pursuing a direct-to-consumer business model in the future. 

Disney CEO Bob Iger foresees big changes in how ESPN is sold to viewers.  

But don't freak out quite yet. Iger says he doesn't expect such a change to happen within the next five years. "If we end up seeing more erosion in the so-called multichannel [cable and satellite TV] bundle, quality will win out," he said. 

Disney, which owns ABC and ESPN, currently has cable companies pay the "worldwide leader in sports" a $6.10 fee per subscriber, which makes it the most expensive network on television by a significant margin. 

As such, analysts have suggested that if ESPN began to sell its content directly to customers, it would have to charge over $30 a month per customer to make the same money it does from the current television distribution model. 

But that exact price would depend on how many current subscribers ESPN could retain in an "a la carte" television pricing environment.  So if only 20 percent of its current customers subscribe, ESPN would have to charge $33 monthly to maintain current revenues, according to Nomura Securities analyst Anthony DiClemente. But if 40 percent did, that price falls to $16. 

Either might be a hard sell to the network's current base. The perceived value of ESPN to viewers is only $1.45 a month, according to Beta Research.

Convincing consumers to pay over 12 times that amount would take a shift in attitude, but given the legions of sports fans who watch ESPN products like Monday Night Football, NBA, MLB, NCAA basketball and the college football playoffs, Iger is confident that conversion won't be a major issue. 

"While the business model may face challenges over the next few years, long-term for ESPN ... they'll be fine," he said. 

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basketball stream live Cory Joseph Picked The Perfect Jersey Number After Drake Shoutout On 'Charged Up'

basketball stream live Donald Trump Earns All-Important Dennis Rodman Endorsement

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Donald Trump has picked up one of the 2016 election's earliest celebrity endorsements ... from NBA Hall of Famer and publicity stunt expert Dennis Rodman.

Rodman tweeted his support for The Donald's sideshow presidential campaign Friday, not long after he defended pro wrestler Hulk Hogan -- who, like Trump, has been embroiled in controversy over racist remarks.

@realDonaldTrump has been a great friend for many years. We don't need another politician, we need a businessman like Mr. Trump! Trump 2016

— Dennis Rodman (@dennisrodman) July 24, 2015

Rodman, who aspires to a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, undertook his most prominent political activity in 2013 and 2014, when he embarked on a series of "basketball diplomacy" missions to North Korea. During those trips, he sang "Happy Birthday" to his "best friend" Kim Jong Un and drew criticism for insinuating that an American missionary was at fault for his own imprisonment in the country. 

The Obama administration denounced Rodman's actions in North Korea. Trump, however, called the trips "smart" and suggested that "maybe Dennis is a lot better than what we have" in the White House.

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basketball stream live Dominique Wilkins On How The NBA Can Fix The Dunk Contest

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At 55 years old, Dominique Wilkins is an elder statesman in the NBA. The nine-time All-Star and 2006 Hall of Fame inductee is decades removed from his days as "The Human Highlight Film," but he's as active as ever.

Wilkins, the vice president of basketball for the Atlanta Hawks, recently partnered with Allstate to announce their "Champions for Good" award recipients at the Books for Africa warehouse in Georgia. The NBA legend also helped volunteers sort and pack books for donation both overseas in Atlanta as part of the partnership.

Before heading out to serve his community, Wilkins spoke on the phone with The Huffington Post about the Hawks' offseason, Danny Ferry's departure from the organization, whether we'll ever see a female head coach and how he'd fix the Dunk Contest. 

NBA free agency was chaotic this year to say the least, capped off by DeAndre Jordan’s indecision. Did you ever experience wavering moments like that during your career, when you feel stuck between two teams?

No, but that’s because I spent most of my career in Atlanta. People change their minds for whatever reason. You’ve got to be comfortable about wherever you go. You’ve got to feel good about the organization and he’s been in LA, so for him to change his mind, it’s not surprising. Until there’s ink, you don’t have a deal. Maybe it was his teammates convincing him to come back.

Do you think the NBA should change its free agent moratorium at all to prevent these situations from happening?

The NBA does a great job in really creating opportunities for the guys. They do what’s necessary for the betterment of the league. Adam Silver’s done a great job with that, and he’ll make changes that he sees fit that are going to benefit the NBA and the players will support him.

Dominique Wilkins embraces Julius Erving at a dedication ceremony for a statue of Wilkins in March.  

You’ve held an executive role with the Atlanta Hawks for over 10 years and now you’re vice president of basketball. How have you seen the organization change this past decade?

Organizations are ever-changing. We are no different. I think when you put the right pieces in place -- the right management along with players -- and you start to win, wins help change. That’s what happened here.

Building off that winning culture, how would you grade the Hawks’ offseason so far?

It was a great season. We want to build on what we did last year. Of course, there are some moving parts that you have to get acclimated to and build up chemistry and I think we will do that. I think we’re in a great situation.

[We don’t have] major voids to fill. I thought we did very good [this offseason]. We’re gonna miss DeMare -- there’s no question about that. He brought some stability to the team, especially defensively, so we’ll miss that. But we also helped ourselves. We got bigger and we got some good young players that can come in and help.

Former general manager Danny Ferry, who was caught up in a racial incident last year, left the Hawks this offseason too. How do you feel about what happened with Ferry?

I don’t get involved in those sort of issues. I’ve always been a person who looks at the positive side of things. I really don’t care to talk about that whole issue. It is what it is.

Have you spoken to Ferry within the past few months at all?

No.

San Antonio Spurs coach Becky Hammond made waves earlier this week by becoming the first female coach to win the Las Vegas Summer League title. Given her impact, why don’t you think we see more women NBA coaches?

This is a hard league to break into. San Antonio was brave enough to start what could be a trend. It’s an ever-changing sport, but it’s a very difficult sport for men to break into, let alone women. Coaching involves someone wanting to coach and to coach at this level.

It’s a road you have to go down: Paying your dues and really understanding what this league is about, how NBA players learn the game, and more important, how they play the game. This is a high-octane game. You gotta be willing to educate yourself to keep up with it.

Could you see a female coach walking down the sidelines one day for the Atlanta Hawks?

For the Hawks, I don’t know. This is a tough sport to break into. I try and take it one year at a time and not look too far down the road.

Looking ahead at the rest of this year, your son Isaiah is headed back to the University of Virginia to play basketball this fall. How have you helped guide him during his playing career?

He’s created his own name. I look for him to have a great year and I think he’s going to be fine. My younger son is coming right behind him. It’s about teaching them how to play the game the right way, making them more fundamentally sound.

How has he made his own name for himself to escape your shadow?

I don’t look at it as a situation with shadows. I look at it as following in the footsteps of someone who paves the path, and if that path can help you get to that level -- by being in that “shadow” as people call it -- then so be it. You have to emulate someone to play on this level. As a parent, you want to give your kids the best opportunity they can to achieve their goals. Isaiah is no different.

The NBPA Awards took place this week and James Harden was voted MVP by the players ahead of official league MVP Steph Curry, which raised a few eyebrows. Was there ever a time when you thought that the media got the awards wrong?

No, not really. The only thing they didn’t get right, for me personally, was the 50 Greatest. They didn’t get that right. 

[Editor's Note:  The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list, which was voted on by media, players, coaches and executives in 1996, did not include Dominique Wilkins.]

What was your objection to that?

They left one off. [Laughs.] Actually, you look at Bob McAdoo, two-time MVP -- how is he not one of the 50 greatest players ever? Are you kidding me?

In your prime, you were one of the best dunkers the NBA has ever seen. Is there anything you would do to change the annual All-Star weekend Dunk Contest?

It’s two things for me: One, go back to the old format when we did it. And two, get all the great athletes and the great players in today’s game to compete. That’s the only way you fix it.

By “great athletes” in today’s game, do you also mean the inclusion of amateurs, street ballers and professional dunkers as well?

No, no. Real street ball teaches you respect and how to play the game. It’s not the AND1s and all that stuff where guys are putting the ball up their shirt and all that garbage. Real street ball teaches respect. That’s what builds reputation, builds your game coming into high school, college and the pros, so when those great players get to this level, they’re able to display it on a national and international scale. If you get all the great players who are great athletes and high-fliers to do the Dunk Contest, it will come back with flying colors.

Did you learn about respecting the game while playing street ball?

I played street ball my whole young life. That’s where it starts. I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and playing in the basketball summer leagues in Baltimore taught me how to play the game of basketball. You had to be able to play to stay on the court in playground basketball. If you weren’t good enough, you never got on the court.

I didn’t play organized basketball until I got to the 10th grade. I never played AAU and all these other basketball leagues. We played street basketball in the parks.

How do you feel about the AAU game now? The culture of AAU basketball seems to focus on winning more so than developing the skills of youth players.

I don’t like AAU. That’s probably a little harsh to say, but I think it teaches individualism, not team concepts. You gotta cater to all those players. You just can’t cater to the best player and I think a lot of times other players get lost in the shuffle. Now there are some AAU teams that have good coaches that are interested in developing players, but there are very few.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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basketball stream live Being An Athlete Isn't Just About Playing Sports, And It Shouldn't Be

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After Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones began tweeting about #BlackLivesMatter on Thursday, someone responded by telling the college athlete on Twitter to just "worry about getting us fans another championship..... Stay out of this bullshit." 

Jones quickly issued his own take, and the debate shifted from the issue of African Americans and police aggression to whether, as an athlete, Jones should or should not be able to weigh in on a social issue. 

@DanGustafson1 Sorry Mr master, I aints allow to tweet nothing but foolsball stuff I donts want you think I more than a foots ball playa sir

— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) July 23, 2015

Jones, a young black man, has every right to speak out on #BlackLivesMatter. He can speak on the 2016 election, he can speak on domestic violence, he can speak on the economy, he can speak on ISIS or the Iran nuclear deal. 

Because the fact is, the moment Jones successfully throws a pass for a touchdown is not the moment he sacrifices his voice.

And yet, so many times, athletes like Jones are told to "stick to sports" or "stay out of politics." 

Running a route, draining threes, serving an ace, winning the World Cup or a NBA championship does not mean that is only thing they should do. If they feel compelled to speak out on societal issues, it should be something that is encouraged and not scrutinized. These athletes are human and are just as affected -- sometimes even moreso -- by many of these topics. Such as Jones, for instance, and many other black athletes who are often subjected to violence and injustice before they reach professional sports leagues.

We should be welcoming the platform athletes have, their own experiences and their ability to connect with people -- using their appeal from their careers -- on a broader scale than many of our own politicians or representatives can. 

Or, alternatively, athletes can connect with a community they've shared similar hardships with, and provide a voice that isn't often seen in the national conversation. Such as Jones, who from Cleveland, Ohio, attended high school just 20 minutes from the elementary school attended by Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old who was fatally shot by a police officer last November.

Or New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who joined protestors in April following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, where the player grew up. 

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, center, marches to Baltimore City Hall to protest the death of Freddie Gray on April 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

 

Or Washington Wizards point guard Bradley Beal, who grew up ten minutes from Ferguson, Missouri and knew Michael Brown, the 18-year-old who was also fatally shot by police last August.

All of these athletes have weighed in on the deaths of unarmed black men and women at the hands of police. They should continue to and more should join them, as NBA and NFL players did when they donned "I Can't Breathe" shirts following a grand jury decision last December to not indict a police officer in the death of New Yorker Eric Garner. Or when the St. Louis Rams held up their hands in solidarity with Ferguson.

For many of these athletes, these aren't just headlines, they're something they've seen and experienced firsthand.

St. Louis Rams players raise their arms in awareness of the events in Ferguson, Missouri, as they walk onto the field before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in St. Louis on Nov.30, 2014. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)

But it isn't just the issue of police brutality -- it's racism, it's domestic violence, it's equal pay, it's same-sex marriage, it's gun violence in the inner cities.

It's Khris Middleton taking on the the issue of domestic terrorism and the still very apparent racism in the United States that struck his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina with a massacre at the Emanuel AME Church.

It's Hope Solo, Alex Morgan and Venus Williams speaking on the issue of equal pay for women to their male counterparts, whether in the World Cup, Wimbledon or other professions outside of sports.

It's former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko leading protestors during Euromaidan against Ukrainian leadership -- a cause that led him to vacate his title and pursue politics in his country. 

Vitali Klitschko, center, addresses protesters near the burning barricades between police and protesters in central Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday Jan. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)

It's Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah talking to his teammates Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson about how they both lost friends to gun violence in Chicago and New York, respectively.

It's Ronda Rousey candidly sharing her take on the unrealistic expectations of women and body image after she posed for ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue and Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue. Or taking on Floyd Mayweather and the issue of domestic violence. 

Ronda Rousey celebrates after defeating Cat Zingano in a UFC 184 mixed martial arts bantamweight title bout in Los Angeles. Rousey on Feb. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) 

It's Jason Collins stepping out as the first openly gay man to play in the NBA and then advocating for same-sex marriage and gay rights. 

Or Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay, whose own mother was shot and killed when he was a child by his stepfather, discussing Ray Rice and domestic violence in the NFL.

These athletes push the conversation and inform many people, who otherwise may not know that the U.S. Women's National Team received $2 million for a World Cup title to Germany's $35 million for winning the men's tournament. 

They also serve to hopefully sway public opinion or raise awareness, as Magic Johnson did when many people, prior to the basketball legend talking about his own HIV diagnosis in 1991, simply saw it as a taboo epidemic that only the affected the gay community. 

"There was no better way to demonstrate that HIV is a virus that can attack anyone than for one of America’s most electrifying athletes to acknowledge that he was infected," Michael Specter wrote of Johnson's announcement in the New Yorker last year.

In this Nov. 7, 1991 file photo, Magic Johnson reveals his HIV diagnosis during a news conference in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii, File)

Whether you agree with their positions or not, the voice of an athlete can be an unrivaled platform and perspective, and therefore a valuable one to encourage. It's time to stop thinking athletes' worth are or should be limited to their talents on the field. 

Because believe it or not, someone can knock down a fadeaway jumper and speak up on societal issues. 

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basketball stream live A Backstory of Black Men and Basketball

basketball stream live The beautiful, kinetic brilliance demonstrated by the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers was a dream for those of us who fiend for the creative on-court athletic prowess of what is known as basketball. To have the opportunity to witness the unselfish team style of play crafted by the Golden State Warriors and the lunch bucket, working class grit amplified by the Cleveland Cavaliers was a sight to behold.

I must, in full disclosure, admit that I was raised in northeast Ohio and I am a child of the forgotten city by the lake, Cleveland. I say this not because I am writing with an exaggerated sportscaster's righteous indignation, but my hometown heartbreak, love for the game, and interest in leadership gave my eyes a new lens to witness this Promethean event. Two teams locked in battle; two American cities -- Oakland and Cleveland -- rocked by economic neglect, and both pinning their hopes and dreams upon the backs of Black men to relieve them, however brief, of the psychic despair citizens of once-thriving cities must endure.

The backstory to this event is wrapped in the counter images and backroom moves out of sight from pedestrian fans. Stephen Curry, the 2009 seventh round draft pick from Davidson, became the centerpiece for a team built around a simple leadership lesson, sacrifice and serve. The Golden State Warriors are not a team of superstars, but a team of men committed to sacrifice. The organization embodied an ethic of "strength in numbers" and "the bench can do it" attitude.

What pulled at my spirit was not the numbers or analytics on the court, but the backstory off the court. Stephen Curry sitting at a press conference with sports writers looking to create a story, a little girl named Riley took center stage forcing typically jaded male sports writers to rewrite and re-think their stories. Stephen Curry, the MVP and NBA all-star, was daring the national media to create a new narrative of Black manhood. Yes, I am gifted. Yes, I am a star. Yes, I am brilliant on the court, but my heart and humanity are on display. I am a father, a husband, a son, and a man of faith who recognizes basketball is a gift; but my daughter Riley is the true blessing. There was nothing staged about these moments. We were able to witness this young gifted Black man change the athletic narrative and myth of Black responsibility. Yes, I am a ball player for a season, but I am a father forever. This picture was magnified by his mother and father every night, cheering their boy on. I cannot imagine the joy they must have felt watching the once little baby Stephen command the respect of a city, and now a nation. It was a beautiful thing to see.

The backstory does not stop here. As I mentioned, Golden State crafted a team of sacrifice and service, but the missing element was how they got to this point. I must give major props to Coach Steve Kerr, a brilliant tactician of the hardwood. However, there is another who should be recognized for creating the foundation for Golden State's win. His name is Mark Jackson.

As I watched the former coach of Golden State on the sidelines commentate on the team he helped build, and was ultimately fired from a year ago, I witnessed another narrative spring forth: class. The dominant narrative imagined and mythologized in sports, is that Black star power must be connected to non-Black intellectual power in order to reshape the raw, untapped talent of Black athletic skill. Sports stories tend to find the "White Shadow" or "Great White Hope" to create a palatable or crossover appeal when presenting a story. These stories are just that -- constructed stories designed to play well with casual fans worldwide. I suggest this need is changing because millennials are not inclined to need an Atticus Finch to champion the cause of the oppressed, or a Nick Nolte to manage the behavior of a crafty, but unfocused Eddie Murphy as in the film, 48 Hours.

Mark Jackson's class and intelligence put Golden State in a position to be NBA champions. He laid the foundation of sacrifice and serve and Coach Steve Kerr built on the system and created a powerhouse. To witness Mark Jackson, the man who set the ball in motion, commentate with depth, excellence, grace and class, gave a new depiction of Black men.

Those of us who are of African descent are not unfamiliar with these images, but many who only encounter people of color from the very few corporate media sources are deprived of this diversity. I challenge writers to highlight the beauty of the Curry, Thompson, Jackson and Iguodala families, and not just their athletic gifts, for it is the character of these men that created champions.

I cannot close out this article without acknowledging the magnificent defeat and powerful gutsy play of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those who are lovers of the hardwood know we witnessed one of the greatest athletic performances in history by an athlete in the person of LeBron James. LeBron James did it all -- defense, offense, points, assists, rebounds, blocks and controlled the tempo of the game; and, at times, even coached. What was so significant about this performance is LeBron's greatness is not just in his athletic skill set, but his greatness is siphoned from the intangible area of charisma, plus talent, plus leadership and will. He has a style of play and spirit where he seeks to make people around him better. Who would have thought an undrafted Australian by the name of Matthew Dellavedova would become a hero. Who would have thought, after Kyrie Irving, arguably one of the best point guards in the NBA, and forward, Kevin Love, were sidelined as a result of injury, that a seven-foot Russian named Mozgov and a bench role player, Tristan Thompson, would become the key to winning and staying in the series. LeBron James demonstrated the lesson of we must rise together.

Average to above average professional players on paper realized they had the grit and grace to pull off an upset. This was not created by the owner, Dan Gilbert, the front office, or even Coach David Blatt, but by a man who grew up in a household where his father decided to step out of his life at a young age, and a coach who made the decision to step in and be a part of his extended family. This moment was created by a young man who was vilified (mostly on the West side of Cleveland) and talked about by Dan Gilbert when he decided to leave Cleveland to go to the Miami Heat like he was a runaway slave. This is a young man who does not have a college degree, but became a student of the game, and a master of all positions on the floor.

We witnessed the birth of LeBron James, the greatest basketball player on the planet, who does not have a game like Michael Jordan, but has more in common with Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Oscar Robertson. He is not just a player with a gift, but a leader who desires to create better players. His leadership does not end at the edge of the hardwood. He has extended his leadership to being a man committed to broader concerns of the community. His leadership led the Miami Heat, as an organization, to show solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin and be a quiet voice of solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter. He serves in a position of leadership with the NBA Players Union and will be pushing to create better contracts, not just for superstars, but also for the undrafted Matthew Dellavedova's of the world.

I am fascinated with his crew of young men who support his vision. King James bucked conventional wisdom and tapped his classmate and friend, Rich Paul, to be his agent. This move was panned by writers who thought this young Black kid from Ohio could not manage the business of the NBA's hottest commodity. This move expanded the exclusive boy's club of agents and created a new player on the scene. Rich Paul is now viewed as one of the best, toughest, and most trustworthy businessman in the game. An entire new crop of interns, working for Rich Paul, who look like the clients they represent, will enter the business world in the future because they had the opportunity to work during the summer for an agency owned and operated by a person of color. This is no small feat.

When entrepreneurs of color succeed, they are more likely to hire interns and subcontract with people who not only look like them, but come from zip codes shut out by the traditional bid process.

As I sit back and share lessons one can learn from sports with my son and daughter, I will share the backstory of Stephen Curry being a great player and a committed father. I will share the backstory of Mark Jackson creating the foundation for the Golden State Warriors. I will also tell them of the magnificent, gritty, Cleveland Cavaliers who lost magnificently. I will tell them I know my team lost, but LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Mark Jackson, and Rich Paul are creating a world where hopefully, one day, we can all win.

OM3

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basketball stream live NBA Hall Of Famer Dominique Wilkins Opens Up About His Personal Struggle With Diabetes

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Just one year after nine-time NBA all-star Dominique Wilkins retired from a successful basketball career, the Hall-of-Famer received devastating news. Despite his undeniable physical fitness and commitment to staying in shape, Wilkins was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. 

This week, the 55-year-old former Atlanta Hawks player launched the Diabetes Dream Team initiative to empower and educate people about diabetes management. He sat down with HuffPost Live on Tuesday and discussed his personal struggle with the illness. After losing both his grandfather and father to diabetes, Wilkins said he has made his health a priority. He told host Marc Lamont Hill: 

I really didn't take it that serious until I was affected by it. But once I was affected by it, I decided to do something that wasn't going to devastate my family, like it devastated my father and grandfather's families. I wasn't going to let my kids see me go through that. So I decided to be proactive and change my lifestyle with diet, exercise and medication. It's that simple. Three components working together -- that basically keeps you healthy.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 9.3 percent of the U.S. population have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. When broken down by race or ethnicity, the data shows serious discrepancies in diagnosis: 13.2 percent of African Americans age 20 or older have been diagnosed with diabetes, while just 7.6 percent of whites have received a diagnosis.

There are various risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. If diabetes runs in your family, your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes rise. Your health and general level of physical activity also factor into your chances for getting the disease. Those who are overweight, especially around their waist, have heart disease or high blood pressure are also at risk. The disease is more prevalent among those of Hispanic, African American, Native American, or Asian American descent.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that patients above the age of 45 get screened every three years. Those with risk factors should be screened at a much earlier age and more often. For those looking to get screened for Type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has a risk assessment homepage and test to help you to take control of your health.

Watch the full HuffPost live interview with Dominique Wilkins here.

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basketball stream live Reignite Your Crazy Hopes For LeBron James Starring In 'Space Jam 2'

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So the major deal between Bill Simmons and HBO may have made a splash, but there's yet another sports media partnership announced Wednesday that everyone should actually be freaking out about.

LeBron James, the greatest active basketball player, and Warner Bros. Entertainment revealed that the studio and the player's own company, SpringHill Entertainment, are partnering in content creation, which will span "television, film and original digital content."

Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What we all really want to know is: COULD THIS MEAN "SPACE JAM 2" STARRING JAMES HAS NEW LIFE?

Rumors and chatter and speculation have existed for years that James, one of the greatest of all time, could pick up where, Michael Jordan, the actual G.O.A.T., left off in the Warner Bros.'s classic (and biggest Oscar snub of of 1997), "Space Jam."

Most recently, reports from February 2014 said a sequel for the 1996 movie was in the works, but James had not been in discussions for the role. Others reported that the NBA star was indeed involved. And others still said James would not be taking his chance, doing his dance or welcomed into the Space Jam.

Well it was fun while it lasted. LeBron sources refute Deadline report, there's no Space Jam 2 or Warner Bros. project in works

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 22, 2014

And yet, we children of the '90s hold out hope. The project has a IMDb page, with a writer attached, yet no plot. But even LeBron himself, who called the film (yes, film) "one of my favorite movies growing  up," has previously expressed enthusiasm for the role.  

RT @Parletoo: @KingJames do you love space Jam ?(I love that movie. Wish I could do Space Jam 2!)

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 26, 2012

Based on positive reviews and reactions to James' performance in Judd Apatow's recently released "Trainwreck," there's no doubt the NBA player has the acting chops necessary to resurrect "Space Jam." He is a worthy disciple for the cause. 

Furthermore, Capital's Alex Weprin discovered another possible hint that this could actually happen.

Warner Bros. filed new trademarks for "Space Jam" last month. Today announced deal with LeBron James. http://pic.twitter.com/WaZ33sXCsY

— Alex Weprin (@alexweprin) July 22, 2015

James tweeted about the announcement, although sadly there was no reference to Space Jam.

So proud of today’s announcement!! Can’t wait to bring you guys some amazing stories. #WarnerBrosXSpringHillEnt https://t.co/YnLXoH8L6U

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 22, 2015

If one of those "amazing stories" is how James played the basketball game of his life to save planet Earth and the Looney Tunes from a life of indentured servitude, then yes, please. 

That said, this could all actually be a red herring to what this partnership REALLY MEANS: LeBron James as ... Batman.

Gametime is approaching at Quicken Loans Arena #NBAFinals http://pic.twitter.com/VVYYpAEX01

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) June 9, 2015

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basketball stream live NBA Players Don't Think Stephen Curry Should've Won MVP

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Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, but in the minds of fellow NBA players, he's not the real MVP. That distinction goes to Houston Rockets guard James Harden, who was revealed as the 2015 MVP by the National Basketball Players Association in a BET broadcast on Tuesday night.  

 James Harden or Steph Curry: Who's the real MVP?

The first annual NBPA Awards were handed out on Sunday in Las Vegas, and the results were revealed last night. While the NBA's official awards are determined by the ballots of league media at the end of the regular season, the NBPA Awards, which include categories like "Hardest to Guard" and "Player You Secretly Wish Was on Your Team," are voted on exclusively by the players, giving them an opportunity to reward their peers after the season.

In the NBA's official awards announcement, Curry was named as 2014-15 MVP in a runaway vote: He won 100 out of 130 possible first place votes, while Harden won 87 of the 130 second-place votes. The NBPA's MVP voting figures weren't disclosed, but it's clear players saw Harden carrying the heavily-injured and maligned Rockets last season as more valuable than Curry pushing the deeply talented Warriors to the league's best record.

There wasn't only a difference of opinion between the media and the players on who the league's MVP was, but who its best defender was, as well. San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was named Defensive Player of the Year by league media in April, but during Tuesday's broadcast, Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan won "Best Defender." 

NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts glowingly spoke of the players' enthusiasm and participation in the voting process back in April. Given Kevin Durant's "you guys really don't know shit" comment directed at NBA media in February, it's clear that players have seized the opportunity to formally voice their opinions and recognize teammates and opponents. 

Here's a full list of the NBPA Award winners: 

Most Valuable Player: James Harden, Houston Rockets

Best Defender: DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers

Man of the Year: Ray Allen

Hardest to Guard: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors 

Clutch Performer: Stephen Curry

Coach You Most Want to Play For: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs 

Game-Changer Honor: Allen Iverson

Oscar Robertson Visionary Award: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Best Homecourt Advantage: Oracle Arena, Golden State Warriors

Player You Secretly Wish Was on Your Team: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers 

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basketball stream live Here's What Happens When You Try To Take A Pic With Shaq

basketball stream live Khloe Kardashian And Lamar Odom Finally Sign Divorce Papers Almost Two Years After Split

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Estranged couple Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have finally signed their divorce papers, reports TMZ. 

Proceedings stalled for more than a year and half after Kardashian filed for divorce in December 2013 and the NBA player never responded. While the reality star could have sought out a default divorce judgment, she chose not to and in April, a judge threatened to dismiss the case. 

Now, a judge just needs to sign the documents and the pair will officially be divorced, Gossip Cop also reported. 

Kardashian and Odom married in 2009 after dating for just one month. Marital problems became clear after Odom was reported missing in August 2013 and reports of the basketball player's alleged substance abuse and infidelity persisted. 

Since Kardashian filed for divorce, she's dated rapper French Montana and is reportedly now dating Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden. 

 

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basketball stream live The Secret To Unlocking J.R. Smith's Best Work Is A New Lil Wayne Album, According To Math

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Known as one of the NBA's streakiest and most confounding players, J.R. Smith has one thing in this world that can truly bring out his absolute best. It's not the leadership of Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James or the friendship of former New York Knicks teammate Carmelo Anthony. No, no.

It's the music of his good friend Lil Wayne. Thanks to new data collected by Kenny Ducey of Hashtag Important, we now know that the classic Beatles line, "I get by with a little help from my friends," applies to J.R. and Weezy in a previously unforeseen light. 

J.R., whose career scoring average through 11 seasons is 13.2 PPG on 42 percent shooting, sees those numbers increase to 19.5 PPG on 49 percent shooting on the day following a Lil Wayne album or mixtape release, the bulletproof analysis discovered.

 J.R. Smith's stats are much better following a Lil Wayne album release.

The trend goes back to 2005, when J.R. was a second-year player for the New Orleans Hornets. Lil Wayne is, of course, a New Orleans native and the pair have been friends since J.R. was drafted by the Hornets out of high school in 2004. 

Lil Wayne has gone on to win four Grammy's and J.R. won Sixth Man of the Year in 2013. Their careers have grown since their early New Orleans days, but their friendship has remained tight, statistically speaking.

In November 2009, J.R., in a show of permanent loyalty, got the logo for Lil Wayne's record label tattooed across his neck. A month later, before "We Are Young Money" was released, J.R. popped up for a split-second in Lil Wayne's video for "Bed Rock." 

J.R. Smith flashes his Young Money chain in the "Bed Rock" video.  

The day after "We Are Young Money" dropped, J.R. went off for 41 points and 10 three-pointers against the Atlanta Hawks. Through thick and thin, they've remained close, working off each other in the pursuit of greatness in all things basketball and hip-hop. More importantly: They've got each other's backs.  

The night before Lil Wayne began his prison sentence in February 2010 for gun charges, J.R., an unofficial "Young Money Athlete," called to make sure he was OK. Lil Wayne followed-up by lovingly shouting out J.R. on his Dedication 5 song appropriately titled, "Luv." These two will be friends forever. 

#Wayne RT @JimmerFLoww: @TheRealJRSmith whose ur favorite rapper?

— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) December 11, 2012

 If J.R.'s next head coach (he's currently a free agent after declining the player option on his contract with the Cavaliers) wants to get the best out of his mercurial shooter, he should be pounding on Lil Wayne's door to get the rapper's shelved album, "Tha Carter V," released during the 2016 playoffs. The confluence of hearty friendship and good music is the only way to trigger J.R. Smith's best work. 

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basketball stream live Opening Doors, Hammon Sets The Bar High

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NBA photo

Las Vegas, CA - Last season she was the first woman to be named a full-time assistant coach to sit on a bench in the NBA. Yesterday she became the first woman to ever coach the NBA Summer League, leading her team to win the Summer League Championship. The San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Phoenix Suns 93-90. While it's an impressive win for Becky Hammon, it's a historical mark for women.

The Spurs maintained a 6-1 record in Summer League at the helm of Hammon who proved her brilliant mind is good enough to become a head coach sometime in the future. Having played 15 years with the WNBA as a point guard, Hammon got her big break last year with the Spurs. Head Coach Greg Popovich gave the former player a chance without hesitation. This act alone leaves an open door for many other women in sports.

Throughout the season, Popovich repeatedly said, 'She's a firecracker. She's got a great personality, know's her stuff and is competitive. Becky wants to learn and is not afraid to ask questions while jumping right in. I didn't think twice when I hired her."

It's a huge stepping stone for Hammon whose basketball IQ is higher than most veterans in the NBA. She looks to continue to get better. But in the meantime she's soaking it all in before the NBA season kicks off in October.


NBA Photo

Hammon showed poise and grace while standing on the sidelines coaching her players to victory over a two-week period. The one thing she accomplished early was her players buying into her system. That's not something that's always an easy task for a new coach, but Hammon nailed it.

"They listened and played hard for me," Hammon said. "It was a grind, they've been together for 17 days. They really started to jell the last two or three games. I just really appreciate their attentiveness and alertness. They were tired but they fought through."

"I'm just thankful that Popovich trusted me with the guys in that locker room and those guys trusted me," she said.

"We don't look at it as female or anything," Spurs forward Jarrell Eddie said. "She's the coach and we just listen."

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basketball stream live It's All About Acceptance

basketball stream live Tears streamed down both sides of my face last evening. On the way down, one tear shouted, "hell yes!" before it leapt from my chin, onto the rug. The next tear, sighed a reserved, "it's about time." The third tear solely streamed quietly with sadness, thinking of all of the lives that we have already lost.

Since it was announced, I have read all of the back and forth commentary on whether or not Caitlyn Jenner is worthy of winning the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS. Most of the dialogue focuses around the fact that Caitlyn is "competing" with other more deserving candidates. When in reality, it is not a competition. There are no nominees, finalists, or votes. It has not been the case in past ESPYS, nor is it now. Social media has created the tension, the memes and the controversy. It became the "saints and heroes" versus the "freak."

People made the case for Lauren Hill. She won our hearts over as the charismatic freshman basketball player at Mount St. Joseph University in Cinncinatti, Ohio. Despite suffering from terminal brain cancer, she inspired a nation with her sheer grit and determination. She lost her battle with cancer at the all too young age of 19, but managed to raise over a million dollars for pediatric brain cancer research in the process. She reminded us of what sports and coaching are all about. She reminded us of innocence and our own mortality. Is Lauren Hill a hero? An emphatic "yes."

Most of the controversy surrounded Noah Galloway, a former U.S. Army Sergeant who was injured by an IED in the Iraq War, leading to the partial loss of his left arm and leg, amongst other injuries. After leaving the Army, Noah has fearlessly competed in road races, Tough Mudders, and CrossFit competitions. He's a motivational speaker and is the definition of resilience. Is Noah a hero? Unabashedly, yes.

On the subject of why Jenner was selected for the Ashe Award, Sports Illustrated said, "I think Caitlyn's decision to publicly come out as a transgender woman and live as Caitlyn Jenner displayed enormous courage and self-acceptance. Bruce Jenner could have easily gone off into the sunset as this American hero and never have dealt with this publicly. Doing so took enormous courage. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time. That is what the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is about, somebody from the athletic community who has done something that transcends sport. One of the biggest platforms the Arthur Ashe Foundation has is educational, and I think in this choice we have the opportunity to educate people about this issue and hopefully change and possibly save some lives. I think that is why it was the right choice."

There are no runner-ups for this award -- it's explicitly stated as a matter of policy. Lauren, Noah, and Caitlyn, they are all heroes in different ways. They all appeal to different parts of our patriotism, our humanity, and our values. But as we step back and realize their impact collectively -- they have all transcended their sport. They have made millions of lives better. Inspired millions. Saved millions. But, this isn't an award measured in statistics and the ultimate recipient does not, by any means, diminish the courage of others. Which then leads me to ask why we feel the need to diminish others so that we can validate our own personal preference, choice, or cause?

I want inclusiveness. I want compassion.

To validate one hero by diminishing another is ultimately the result of insecurity and ignorance. Let's celebrate all of our heroes. Jenner unified a nation in 1976 and may be the best athlete of our time. But more importantly, is the bravery and courage of Caitlyn Jenner. Let's celebrate the fact that her transition means that a transgender individual will go to sleep tonight feeling a little less alone. Let's sleep tighter knowing that Caitlyn Jenner's struggle and triumph has provided hope to those who are suicidal at this very moment.

Caitlyn remarked, "It's been eye-opening, inspiring, but also frightening. All across this country, right now, all across the world, at this very moment, there are young people coming to terms with being transgender. They're learning that they are different and they are trying to figure out how to handle that, on top of every other problem that a teenager has...they're getting bullied, they're getting beaten up, they're getting murdered and they're committing suicide.

My plea to you tonight is to join me in making these issues your issues as well. How do we start? We start with education. I was fortunate to meet Arthur Ashe a few times and I know how important education was to him. Learn as much as you can about another person to understand them better.

"It's about what happens from here. It's not just about one person, it's about thousands of people. It's not just about me, it's about all of us accepting one another. We are all different. That's not a bad thing, that's a good thing and while it may not be easy to get past the things you do not understand, I want to prove that it is absolutely possible if we only do it together... trans people deserve something vital. They deserve your respect. And from that respect comes a more compassionate community, a more empathetic society, and a better world for all of us."

It's time for a more inclusive and compassionate society where we lift others up rather than diminish them. Even one suicide is too many and we can and should all be a part of the solution.

_______________
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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