LeBron James Wins Fourth MVP Award, Joining Elite Company

LeBron James won his fourth NBA MVP award in five years. (nydailynews.com)

The hype started in high school. The criticism started once he reached the NBA and has followed him every year since, because that's what hype from a young age brings.

But LeBron James built up more firepower to fight the critics Sunday when he was named the 2012-13 NBA MVP, the fourth of his nine-year career. James received 120 out of 121 first-place votes.

Only James and a handful of players, four others to be exact, have won four MVP awards. That's impressive. But James has won those four awards in the past five years, which is unheard of.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who leads everyone with six MVP awards, Michael Jordan, five, Bill Russell, five, and Wilt Chamberlain, four, are the only other players on the exclusive list to win the award four or more times. While every player above is known for their scoring ability, you must be a complete player to win this honor. Sure, if LeBron wants to score, very few can stop him, but his game has evolved into so much more.

James finished fourth in the scoring race at 26.8 points per game, trailing Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant, but he was the most efficient, joining Chris Mullin as the only players to shoot 55 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range in a season. James also tallied eight rebounds,  7.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, showing he could dominate a game through all facets. This isn't new. He has averaged at least 26 points, six rebounds and six assists every year since his first season in the league.

At the rate James is playing, it's hard to imagine him not winning two more MVP awards to tie Kareem, especially if, at the age of 28, he is able to play another six or seven seasons mostly injury free.

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Michael Jordan Gets Hitched

Michael Jordan and his wife Yvette Prieto dancing at their wedding reception Saturday. (nypost.com)

While his former team, the Chicago Bulls, was battling in a three overtime playoff game against Brooklyn and the team he currently owns, the Charlotte Bobcats, being very firmly in the offseason, Michael Jordan was getting married in Florida.

The bride is Yvette Prieto, 15 years Jordan's junior, and Jordan's second wife. The two got married in a very large tent in Jupiter, Florida, with 300 guests in attendance, including Patrick Ewing and Tiger Woods. Usher was among the artists who performed at the reception, but not present was Justin Bieber, who Jordan seemed pretty excited to meet in Charlotte earlier this year.

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The Best Scoring Performances Inside Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden (via Wiki Commons)

On Wednesday night Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors set his career high at 54 points. This latest high scoring performance is just the latest in a long string of scoring outbursts inside Madison Square Garden.

There is nothing like it in the basketball world. Playing in the biggest city in America in front of a hostile crowd and knowing what type of players had been there before you. Since 1947, there have been 24 games where 50 or more points have been scored in MSG. “You know, I just enjoy playing here...it’s an electrifying place,” Kobe Bryant said after a game in the historic arena.

• Of those 24 games, Wilt Chamberlain had six of them. The most remarkable having been on November 16th, 1962. Chamberlain scored 73 points while hitting 15 of 19 free throws. That game set a record for most points scored in a game until Chamberlain broke it a few months later on March 2, 1962 with 100 points.

• The second highest scoring output by an individual at Madison Square Garden was done by Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers when he scored 71 points on November 15th, 1960. Baylor would go on to average 35 points that season along with 20 rebounds and four assists.

• Kobe Bryant scored 61 points on February 2, 2009. His efficient game included 61% shooting, 20-20 on free throws, and 3-3 shooting on 3-pointers.

• Bernard King went for 50 points three times in the same season. The first game on November 24th, 1984. King scored 52 points, grabbed seven boards, and dished seven assists. On Christmas Day, he set the record for points scored by a Knick inside MSG with 60. He went 19-30 from the field and 22-26 from the free throw line in a loss to the Nets. His last came on February 16th, 1985 with a 55-point explosion.

• Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors scored 57 points in a loss to the Knicks on December 14th, 1965. Barry shot 18-29 and had 15 rebounds. He got to the line 22 times and only missed once. The high scoring game ended at 144-137.

• Richie Guerin was the first player in the NBA to break 50 inside the arena. On December 11th, 1959 Guerin scored 57 points on extremely efficient 18 for 21 shooting. He took 26 free throws and made 21 of them. Just three years later, Guerin scored 51 points in a win against Boston.

• Michael Jordan scored 50 on November 1st, 1986. He made 15 of 31 shots and 20 of 22 free throws. On March 28th, 1995 he scored 55 points on 21 for 37 shooting. He shot 11 free throws and made 10. He also made three of his four attempts from the 3-point line.

• Stephen Curry, the newest member of this elite group, scored 54 points on February 27th, 2013. He also notched six rebounds and seven assists while shooting 18 for 28 overall and 11 for 13 from beyond the arc.

Stephen Curry shot chart (via NBA.com/Stats)

• LeBron James has scored 50 points or more in MSG twice in his career. The first on March 5th, 2008. His 50 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists led to a 119-105 over the Knicks. The second on February 9th, 2009. His well-rounded game ended with 52 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists.

• Jamal Crawford had 52 points on January 26th, 2007. He only shot four free throws but hit eight of 10 from 3-point range.

• During a triple overtime game, Richard Hamilton scored 51 on 19 for 37 shooting.

• On March 24th, 1990 Patrick Ewing had a legendary game with 51 points and 18 rebounds on 20 for 29 shooting. The Knicks lost to the Celtics 115-110. His second 50 point game at the garden was on December 1st, 1990. He scored 50 on 22 for 31 shooting and grabbed 15 rebounds. The Knicks beat Charlotte 113-96.

• Allan Houston scored 50 on March 16th, 2003. He went 15 for 25 and hit 18 of his 18 free throws.

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Michael Jordan Plus Justin Bieber Equals Heart

"LeBron really does look older than his age" - Biebs (via the Bobcats' Instragram)

Whether it's his timeless style or never-aging game, Michael Jordan is always on-target. Not that he needs consolation, but criticism was almost certainly the last thing on his mind when the beaming Charlotte Bobcats owner met Justin Bieber earlier this week.

Based on circumstantial evidence (namely, the caption offered by Bobcats digital media services), Biebs did not deem the Fightin' Charlotte Jordans worthy enough for him to attend a game. Though he probably wasn't bragging about going to any recent Lakers games, he found time in his schedule to meet Jordan before performing at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Perhaps the most important thing to repeat is that this happened before Bieber's concert, meaning there's a strong chance that Jordan took in the show. I wouldn't put it past him. He looks way more excited to meet the pop star/2011 All-Star Celebrity Game MVP than Biebs looks about the encounter. My guess is the only reason we don't see some swooped hair peeking out from under that hat is because Jordan knows that's soooooo 2010.

(H/t to Dan Devine at Ball Don't Lie and Seth Rosenthal at SB Nation)


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Video: Kobe Bryant is Michael Jordan, Kind Of

This video contains exactly what one might expect:  lots of off-the-dribble shooting and turnaround jumpers, and even a little tongue-wagging.

The basketball community's chosen viral video of the week is a reel of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant highlights. What differentiates it from other clips of this nature is that the editor has tracked down film of Bryant's paint-by-numbers imitation of moves that Jordan executed to perfection in his heyday. Voiceovers provide context to the endless "Will Kobe Ever Be as Good as Michael?" argument, and, to a much lesser extent, the question of "Who is the best shooting guard of all-time?"

The music is dramatic, but the court presence of two of the most dominant basketball players ever seen is not something opponents ever took lightly. Neither player has either.

Bryant admittedly modeled his game after Jordan's, so the similarities should be no surprise, even if they are to-the-step.

In the basketball world, being compared to Jordan is never a bad thing. Fortunately for Lakers fans, Kobe's legacy will forever be intertwined with Michael's.


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The Top 5 All-Time Greatest Nicknames in the NBA

It seems like a right of passage for NBA players. When a player has proven himself in the league, he is granted a nickname, a "knighting" of sorts by his peers and fans. Some are more creative and catchy than others. 

Some players earn a nickname from their style of play, or from appearance or a quirk, and for others we just shorten the name or use initials. Maybe it's because attention spans have shrunk so much that we can't wait long enough to call players by their full names. Regardless, most elite players have nicknames that are used so often we sometimes forget what their actual names are. "King" James, D-Wade, Melo, CP3, Durantula, The Black Mamba, "Big Baby" Davis, Superman, and so on.

In honor of yesterday (Aug. 14) being the birthday of Ervin "Magic" Johnson, we are counting down the top 5 greatest nicknames in the NBA. If you agree, thank you. Think someone was snubbed? Let us know who you would make your top 5.We have a comments section and Twitter feed just for that.

Dr. J (NBA.com)

No. 5 "Dr. J" - Julius Erving

Dr. J played with a certain elegance and ease about his game. Watching him, you would think he just knew what was going on a little sooner and better than his opponents. The story goes that a friend in high school gave him the nickname, after Erving dubbed the friend "Professor." The nickname suits him well - not to mention opening doors for a Dr. Pepper endorsement after retirement - because Dr. J made the difficult plays look easy. You can trust him on the court, he's a doctor.

Karl Malone (slcdunk.com)

No. 4 "The Mailman" - Karl Malone

Where else is the term mailman held in such a high regard? There lies the true greatness of the name. It epitomizes Malone's ability to make plays and has a gritty toughness about it. No matter what the circumstances, the Mailman delivered, or at least that was the idea. And thankfully for both Malone and the post office, the shorts grew longer with time.

Pete Maravich (signis.net)

No. 3 "Pistol Pete" Maravich

Alliteration? Check. Longevity? Check. A headline writer's dream? Check. In a sport that involves "shooting" a ball, Pistol Pete is the perfect nickname for an unbelievable scorer, who didn't have the luxury of a 3-point line. You can imagine the fear of opponents when seeing "Pistol Pete" walk onto the court, much like if he would be entering an old-west saloon. You'd better watch out if ol' Pistol Pete is around. 

Michael Jordan (midwestsportsfans.com)

No. 2 Michael "Air" Jordan

So maybe "Air Jordan" isn't the most creative nickname in the world. But when it's namesake sparks a global marketing boom, can you really leave it out? Jordan did a lot well on the court, but his best trick was hanging in the air for what seemed like an eternity; switching hands on the ball, splitting defenders, ordering room service for after the game. The most exciting play in basketball is the slam dunk and the world sat up in it's seat when Air Jordan got ready for takeoff.

Magic Johnson (interbasketball.net)

No. 1 Ervin "Magic" Johnson

Magic. In sports circles that's all you need to say and everyone will understand. This wasn't just a nickname those who followed the team knew. He will always be Magic Johnson, with lesser references to Ervin sounding more like the nickname. Just think about the person. Johnson was a 6-foot-8 point guard who could do it all: pass, dribble in traffic, and of course, score. And he legitimately played the position, unlike a LeBron or Durant, who will occasionally walk the ball up the court. How many 6-foot-8 players do you see wanting to run the point and you have to look away and cringe, knowing it can't end well? Johnson was magical on the court, and how he's been able to overcome an HIV-positive diagnosis for 20 years is pretty magical in itself.

Honorable mention: "The Admiral" David Robinson, "The Worm" Dennis Rodman, "The Big Aristotle" Shaq, "The Truth" Paul Pierce and "The Answer" Allen Iverson, "Spud" Webb and "Larry Legend" Bird


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LeBron James - Good or Bad, The King has his Ring

By: Kyle Davis

Sports media personalities are salivating this morning.
  

LeBron James won his first NBA title last night, and whether you love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion of him and everyone wants to share it. I thought this event might shut down Twitter as fans, observers and "experts" rushed to let the world hear their thoughts. It was the biggest story of the night and will continue to give those in the business ample ammunition for some time. 

AP Photo

   
So I suppose if everyone else is chipping in two cents, two more in the jar isn’t going to hurt. I believe I’m in a rare group of feelings when it comes to the all-encompassing whirlwind that is LeBron James. I don’t love him or hate him; constantly view his character through a magnifying glass; or shun/praise every move he makes. I appreciate his ability and what it means to the game of basketball. And isn’t that really what matters most?

   

I don’t care if he went out after the game or what book he is reading -- although I’m guessing ‘how to succeed’ books are now off the list. “The Decision” was a PR nightmare and the Heat introduction that gave us such memorable quotes as “not five, not six …” was probably not the best way to handle the situation. LeBron and the rest of the team put a mountain of weight on their shoulders before the ball was even tipped that first season, and that was a consequence they had to live with.

   
It’s a magically dangerous, technologically savvy world we live in. Every second of a superstar athlete’s life is critiqued, and the actions in the previous paragraph were enough for some people to write him off as an arrogant jerk who had yet to achieve the only prize that truly mattered in the eyes of the public. If you want to get through the rest of LeBron’s career, don’t compare him to Michael Jordan. Just don’t. Jordan’s career is over, and we’ve had years now to reflect and analyze (not like we really need to). Plus he played in a different era, one that didn’t have the power of the Internet and social networking. But you know what, ignore what you just read, because we’re not even comparing them. 

LeBron is polarizing -- he broke the heart of a city, and although I’ve never seen his agent and PR team, I’m sure at least one of this is balding from the aftermath of June 2010 -- but do you know what else he is? He’s really good at basketball. Watching him play, the thought keeps popping into your mind that he is on a level where if he doesn’t want to be stopped, he won’t be. He shouldn’t be so fast for as strong and big as he is, and he shouldn’t be able to make some of the ridiculous, in-traffic, circus-style shots he makes.

There’s no one in the league that has the combined ability to create a shot, score, rebound, pass and block more than LeBron James. And whether you love or hate him, you watch him every night to see what he’s going to do.

As someone who appreciates the sport and art of basketball, all that really matters is what LeBron does on the court, and I can appreciate that.


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