HOOP November/December 2014

Steph Curry Giannis Antetokounmpo

Holiday Gift Guide

NOV/DEC 2014

Royal C ourt LeBron James, Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love have their eyes on the throne .

WARM UPS

Don’t tell Kobe Bryant that it’s just a preseason game. After missing 76 games last season, Bryant was missing even the dangers of diving into the seats for a loose ball.

NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

WARM UPS

The preseason games in Europe during the 2014 Global Games are exhibition friendlies promoting the NBA overseas, but don’t tell Alba Berlin that.

When Jamel McLean’s (#33) runner fell in after an improbable last-seconds inbounds steal, Alba celebrated like they were world champs. Oh wait, they did take down the San Antonio Spurs.

JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

WARM UPS

Becky Hammon, just the second female assistant coach in the NBA (Lisa Boyer served on Cleveland’s staff in 2001-02), seems to have already perfected the stance and stare of boss Gregg Popovich.

JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Driving to get her daily DQ ® fx, though you’re lactose intolerant.

Hearing her giggle when you say: Play episode “Natural Hair for Newbies.”

Having all your daughter’s radio stations programmed.

Loving your baby girl’s music and hating yourself for it.

It might be your Fusion, but it’s on your daughter’s schedule.

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WARM UPS

Rebounding in theory is simple: Track the missed shot and corral it. But factor in the other nine guys on the court in tight conďŹ nements vying for it and it becomes an arduous task. As this photo and his career 20.7 total rebound percentage (second alltime behind Dennis Rodman) demonstrate, Dwight Howard is pretty good at it.

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THE GAMEPLAN

NOV/DEC 2014

FEATURES

68 5…4…3…2…Gone The shooting guard position used to rule the NBA landscape, dominating the scoring leaders and capturing the attention of fans and scouts alike. As the game evolved and emphasis was placed on shooting, the shooting guard became obsolete. There are still a few out there, but they are quickly becoming an endangered breed.

48 The King Holds Court LeBron James has returned to his castle after four years of bringing glory to a different kingdom. There will be a lot of expectations in Cleveland as he unites with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to form a new power trio to vie for the throne. LeBron comes back home wiser, more mature and ready to bring Cleveland its frst championship.

36 Self Awareness Rookies are not supposed to be seen or heard, unless it involves their rookie duties.

Not the class of 2014. These come-ups are ready for their (selfe) close-ups and more than up to the task of telling you about themselves.

76 Lucky 13 Count to 35. In that short span of time Tracy McGrady once summoned enough skill, will and luck to score 13 points, magically overcoming an insurmountable lead to one of the most improbable victories ever seen on an NBA court. We take a look back at that legendary performance through the eyes and memories of those that bore witness to T-Mac’s miraculous half-minute.

60 The Low End Theory Whether you watched his game or pored over his stats, the potential for Kyle Lowry has always been apparent. It took a few teams and years, but Lowry has proven—with a fne season and a new long-term contract with the Toronto Raptors—that it was always part of the plan.

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Poster The reigning MVP gets the poster treatment; Chris Webber backs him up.

Cover photographed by Gregory Shamus/ NBAE/Getty Images

THE GAME PLAN NOV/DEC 2014 DEPARTMENTS

2 Warm Ups 14 The Point 16 Jumpball Starting Five: Andre Miller cheats a bit with his favorite fve to run with; Transition Game: Amar’e Stoudemire through the years; First Five: Super sophs Victor Oladipo, Tim Hardaway Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steven Adams, Otto Porter; Numerology: The 123s of the NBA; Peripheral Vision: Justin Zormelo combined analytics and coaching to improve players’ games; Head2Head: Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry play 1-on-1. Who wins?; Dance Life: New Orleans Pelicans Dancer Brianna; First Ride: Paul Millsap tries to forget his frst car, but can’t; Brack-it: Greatest comeback player of all time; Celeb Row: The awkwardly funny Aubrey Plaza.

34 24 Seconds with Gerald Green A quick chat with the Four-Fingered Assassin.

102 Stepback A short look at the time Muggsy Bogues took on his fellow Monstar, Patrick Ewing.

104 Call Out A shout-out to NBA do-gooders.

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83 Check-It Spin Moves: Utah’s Derrick Favors goes through his checklist of favorite media; Game On: Reviewing the two NBA titles this season, NBA 2K15 and NBA Live 15; Gear: We test drive the Crazy Light Boost, CP3.VIII, Air Jordan XX9, KD7, Hyperdunk 2014 and Under Armour ClutchFit; Holiday Gift Guide: Our annual recommendations for gifting and receiving.

Live Scores, League Video, Latest News and more

OfďŹ cial App of the NBA

THE POINT The King is back in Cleveland, so the crown must not be far behind.

Stop it right there.1 Last I checked he wasn’t even wearing it.2 Unfair as it may be, along with the best player in the game comes infated expectations, many times followed by disappointment and scrutiny.

Still, you can’t argue against the compelling and feel-good story. LeBron James comes back home to Cleveland to join the current star3 and brings along with him the top power forward in the game4 to Northern Ohio, while attracting5 hungry veterans to join a roster laden with young talent.6 Curses7 will be lifted and mistakes8 will be rectifed. All of it makes for good copy and magazine covers.9 I learned from four years ago. When the Heat triumvirate came together, I was quick to think that it would be manifest destiny10 that Miami would be throwing up banners at the AAA rafters.11 They did make good on things eventually, winning a pair while being the runner-up twice.12 The moral of the story: Championships take time to percolate and even more effort to sustain.

But is this Cleveland team better than the Miami Heat team in 2010-11? Kevin Love and Chris Bosh are pretty much a statistical push.13 Kyrie Irving and Dwyane Wade? Not so much. People forget, but pre-LeBron Wade14 was debatably just as good as LeBron.15 Irving is a terrifc 22-year-old point guard, and by all indications, the alpha that will carry LeBron to a few post-primeyears titles.16 But at this juncture in his nascent career, he’s nowhere near the caliber of Wade.17 The rest of the roster is flled with questions. The veterans are dependable, but will they stay healthy and have enough left come May? The youth is flled with potential, but will they reach it?

The 2014-15 prognosis? Cleveland gets a nice turnaround season.18 They’ll compete for the Central Division.19 The Cavs make the playoffs. LeBron leads them to their frst playoff series win since, well, he did. Depending on the health of their Eastern counterparts,20 the Cavs might even fnd themselves playing in June.

A title to Cleveland?

It’ll come. Just not this year.

Ming Wong #2

Volume 43, No. 1

Editor in Chief Ming Wong #2 Design Director Kengyong Shao #31 Online Editor Darryl Howerton #21 Editor-at-Large Jeramie McPeek #4 Copy Editor Trevor Kearney #8 WNBA Editor Lois Elfman #40 Senior Writer Michael Bradley #53 Contributing Writers Seth Berkman #93, Alex Bracetti #44, Frank Capa #28, Jon Cooper #10, Jim Eichenhofer #12, Brian A. Giuffra #17, Jarrel Harris #3, Melody Hoffman #34, Steve Hunt #29, Andy Jasner #27, Holly MacKenzie #32, Brett Mauser #25, Duane Watson #7, Terrence Watson #24 Illustrator Matt Candela #52 Retired Numbers #6, #11, #13, #30, #99

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BONUS POINTS 1. I was about to launch into a hyperbolic ft.

2. The Spurs foiled LeBron for the second time.

3. In many ways, LeBron brought Kyrie Irving to Cleveland since it was his 2010 departure that left a void in the team, which led to a Lottery-bound season, which turned into the fortune of the top pick in 2011.

4. Others in the running: Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffn.

5. Suddenly Northeast winters doesn’t seem that bad.

6. Even after trading away the past two No. 1 picks in Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to acquire Love, the Cavs are still left with three top-four picks (Irving, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters) on the roster.

7. Cleveland hasn’t had a victory parade since the preSuper-Bowl Browns won it all in 1964.

8. The “Mistake on the Lake” moniker is just terrible.

9. Guilty.

10. I didn’t want to see it happen, but knew it would be inevitable.

11. I was even thinking the Heat might have to un-retire Michael Jordan’s #23 to make room for the title banners.

12. Four straight Finals runs is nothing to scoff at.

13. For real, compare Chris Bosh’s Toronto numbers with Love’s Minnesota ones. They were both equally beasts.

14. In 2008-09 and 2009-10, Wade’s PER was 30.36 and 28.02, respectively. That was just a few ticks behind James’ 31.67 and 31.11.

15. Not to mention Wade had two things LeBron had yet to secure: a ring and Finals MVP trophy.

16. Think of Magic helping Kareem pad his ring count.

17. Irving’s three-year PER average of 20.96 lags behind.

18. I’m guessing 52 wins.

19. Chicago should take it.

20. A few teams in the East have a puncher’s chance.

Executive VP Operations Jeff Botwinick Executive VP, Business Development Martin Lewis Executive VP, Sales Steve Farkas Executive VP, Sales Mitch Gibbs Executive VP, Team Relations Dave Gerschwer Executive Administrative Director Julie Wong Manager, Marketing Services Aron Sawyer Production Manager Jaime Ziegler

NBA Publishing/NBA Photos President and Executive Producer, Content Danny Meiseles Senior VP Content, Production Paul Hirschheimer Senior VP, Entertainment & Player Marketing Charlie Rosenzweig Executive VP, Communications Mike Bass VP, Editorial & Daily Content John Hareas President, Global Operations and Merchandising Sal LaRocca Senior Director, Global Merchandising Group Matt Holt Senior Coordinator, Global Merchandising Group Brandon Eddy Senior Coordinator, Global Merchandising Group Greg Brownstein Coordinator, Global Merchandising Group Wonnie Song Manager, Global Media Programs Felecia Groomster Senior Directors & Senior Offcial NBAE Photographers Andrew D. Bernstein, Nathaniel S. Butler Vice President, NBA Photos Joe Amati Director, Photos Imaging David Bonilla Offcial NBAE Photographer Jesse Garrabrant Senior Photo Editor Brian Choi Senior Photo Coordinator Kevin Wright

All NBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBA Entertainment. All WNBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of WNBA Enterprises. All NBDL photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBDL Enterprises. HOOP is published bimonthly, December through June, by PSP. © 2014 Professional Sports Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of publisher is prohibited. To subscribe to HOOP, call (800) 829-3347.

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The arrival of the fittest.

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2015 GLA 250 4MATIC® shown in Mountain Grey metallic paint with optional equipment. Vehicle available September 2014. *COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS system provides 60% braking power up to a certain speed. ©2014 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC For more information, call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES, or visit MBUSA.com.

AS TOLD TO JON COOPER #10

JUMPBALL STARTING 5

ANDRE MILLER

WASHINGTON WIZARDS Andre Miller personifes underrated.

How else do you describe a 15-year veteran who has averaged 13.3 points and 6.9 assists per game (vs. 2.5 turnovers per game), has played in at least 80 games 13 seasons, all 82 games nine times (he played all 66 in 2011-12)—including a pair of three-year stretches in which he played every game, starting every one of those years—and has ranked in the top 10 in assists nine times (leading the League in 2001-02) and in assists per game eight times, yet has NEVER made an All-Star Team?

Miller wasn’t always an unknown quantity. He was quite heralded coming out of the University of Utah after leading Rick Majerus’ Utes to a pair of Sweet 16s, as well as the 1998 Championship game as a senior. That fnal tournament, he put the team on his back, recording only the fourth triple-double in NCAA Tournament history to beat Arizona and get to the Final Four.

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Miller with the eighth pick in the 1999 Draft after a pretty accomplished collegiate career at Utah. Miller averaged 11.1 points and 5.8 assists in 82 games (36 starts) to earn NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. Over the next two years in Cleveland he would set a franchise single-season assists mark, and would be the only player in the NBA to average a double-double (points and assists) during the 2001-02 season.

Miller would make the rounds over the next decade and maintain his consistency at every stop. He’d play with the L.A. Clippers for a year, Denver for two-plus seasons, Philadelphia for two-plus years, Portland for two years, back to Denver for two-plus seasons and fnally Washington, where he played the fnal 28 games last season.

The 38-year-old native of Los Angeles begins the 2014-15 campaign with the Wizards, where he’ll mentor John Wall. He’s fully embraced the role and is looking forward to it.

“My job is to challenge him a little bit and help him out in any way possible,” Miller says.

Miller enjoyed the opportunity to choose his starting lineup and sixth man from among his past teammates. There is one commonality.

“All of them are hard-workers. All of them enjoy playing basketball,” he says. “I think all of them, if there was no money involved they would still love playing basketball.”

SMALL FORWARD: CARMELO ANTHONY Teammates in Denver from 2003-06 “I had him early in my career. He’s just a guy that can put points on the board and understands how to play basketball. He’ll show you different things that he can do.

He can shoot the ball from the outside. He can draw double teams and pass out of double teams. He’s aggressive to the basket. He has a good midrange game. He pretty much brings everything to the table.”

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POWER FORWARD: NENE/LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE Nene: Teammates in Denver from 2003-06 and currently in Washington Aldridge: Teammates in Portland from 2009-11 “I’d put LaMarcus Aldridge and Nene right alongside one another. Nene’s strong. He plays both ends of the court, he can score the ball inside and out, and he’s a physical presence. He’s somebody that you know is very strong on the inside. We just play well off each other. LaMarcus can shoot the ball from the outside, he can post up, he’s a runner and he likes to get up and down the court. He’s a guy that takes on challenges.

I defnitely enjoyed playing with him.”

NED DISHMAN (2); GARRETT ELLWOOD; NOSH GRAHAM; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; BRIAN BABINEAU; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; STEVE DYKES/GETTY IMAGES SPORT

CENTER: MARCUS CAMBY Teammates in Denver from 2003-06 “He was the only center that I can think of that’s a natural center. He blocks shots. He understood when to make a person drive, when the defender needed help. We just played well off each other.

If a guy was quicker than me I knew he always had my back to come block shots and if he wanted the ball I’d throw him up a lob to the basket. He was talkative. He was a communicator. He knew how to play. He was an athlete. He was long.”

TRANSITION GAME

AMAR’E

STOUDEMIRE 2002

POINT GUARD: JOHN WALL Current teammate in Washington “My favorite point guard to play with probably was Earl Boykins. We were good together in Denver, but I’d keep John Wall. He’s a born leader.

He steps up. He’s a big guard but you can play him at both positions. He brings intensity to the game. He comes to work. He’s outspoken. Early in your career you’re going to take a lot of shots as far as your leadership, but to me, he’s outspoken and he speaks up.”

SHOOTING GUARD: ANDRE IGUODALA Teammates in Philadelphia from 2006-09 and Denver in 2012-13

2003

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2007

2008

2009

2010

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2014

“He’s one of my favorite wing players. He plays both ends of the court. He’s a defender. He knows how to play. He can play multiple positions.

I think everybody pretty much has an idea of what type of player he is. He brings it.”

WILD CARD: WESLEY MATTHEWS/ NICOLAS BATUM Matthews: Teammates in Portland in 2010-11 Batum: Teammates in Portland from 2009-11 “They’re both hard-nosed guys. They come to work. They’re prepared. They know how to play.

They’re just fun guys to be around. Wesley is kind of like a little bigger version of me. He’s tough. He’s hard-nosed. Nicolas is one of those guys that’s kind of like Iguodala. He can do pretty much everything on the court. He’s athletic, a runner. He just brings a lot to the table.”

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (3); JENNIFER POTTHEISER; ROCKY WIDNER; GARY DINEEN; BARRY GOSSAGE (2); LAYNE MURDOCH; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; MADDIE MEYER; JARED WICKERHAM; CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES

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JUMP BALL

BY JON COOPER #10

VICTOR

OLADIPO

GUARD - ORLANDO MAGIC

FIRST FIVE

Victor Oladipo is getting used to being the new face of the Orlando Magic and one of the bright young faces of the NBA. He’s also getting used to not being able to walk around anonymously.

“I keep getting more and more people recognizing me, everywhere I go,” says the 6-4 guard out of Indiana,1 the second overall pick in the 2013 Draft,2 and runner-up in Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie First Team. “It’s starting to get a little crazy and I’m sure it will get crazier when we start winning.”

Oladipo believes people will soon start recognizing the youthful Magic,3 especially within the now LeBron-less Southeast. He plans on taking a lead role to that end.4 “The biggest thing for me is improving my leadership. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he says. “It’ll be fun to see. I think a lot of people are counting us out, which is fine. I’m just working,5 getting ready.”

Oladipo learned a lot about leadership over the summer, participating in workouts with USA Basketball, then meeting former Lakers star forward James Worthy while in L.A. “To hear NBA stories and a lot of stuff he has to bring to the table was definitely good for my ears and good for my mind,” Oladipo says. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to do that.”

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5

BONUS POINTS 1. After leading Indiana to back-to-back Sweet 16s and the 2013 Big Ten regular season championship, the school’s first outright title in 20 years, Oladipo became the fifth IU player to top 1,000 points in his NBA rookie season, joining Walt Bellamy (1961-62), Scott May (1976-77), Isiah Thomas (1981-82) and Eric Gordon (2008-09). “They’re some of the best ever to come out of Indiana so to be in that category is humbling. I’m trying to be better than they were. So I’m just going to continue to work hard to reach that goal.”

2. The first No. 2 overall pick in Orlando history and the fourth-highest player ever selected by the Magic (behind No. 1 picks Shaquille O’Neal in 1992, Chris Webber in 1993, and Dwight Howard in 2004), Oladipo was twice named Rookie of the Month. The only previous Magic rookies to earn the honor multiple times were O’Neal and Penny Hardaway.

3. Orlando finished with the fourth-youngest roster in the League (25 years, 181 days), with eight players born after the Magic franchise’s inaugural game on 11/6/89.

4. Oladipo led the Magic in scoring 13 times, in assists 18 times and recorded the team’s only triple-double last season on 12/3/13, at Philadelphia (26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists). He also became only the second Magic rookie to record at least 900 points (1,106), 200 assists (327) and 100 steals (129), joining Hardaway (1,313, 544, 190 in 1993-94).

5. Oladipo put his work in on 1/15/14, playing 57 minutes in a triple-overtime game vs.

Chicago. He became the first rookie to play 57-plus minutes in a game since 2/22/54, when Ray Felix and Bob Houbregs of the Baltimore Bullets played 63, and was one minute shy of tying the Magic franchise record, set by Horace Grant on 2/27/98, also a triple-OT affair, against Toronto. His 35 points that night matched the Orlando rookie-single-game record set by Shaq on 4/6/93 against Philadelphia.

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

234

JUMP BALL

The number of playoff games that Tim Duncan has played in. He’s the leader among active players (followed by Kobe Bryant, 220; and teammates Tony Parker, 196, and Manu Ginobili, 180). Duncan is 4th all-time, trailing Derek Fisher (259), Robert Horry (244) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237).

50K

If Kevin Garnett logs 1,090 minutes this season (KG played 1,109 minutes in 2013-14) he’ll become just the 5th player to cross the 50,000-minute club, which currently includes: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (57,446), Karl Malone (54,852), Jason Kidd (50,111) and Elvin Hayes (50,000).

2

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2); ANDY HAYT; BARRY GOSSAGE (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES

NUMEROLOGY

47,270 The number of miles racked up by the Spurs’ Larry O’Brien Trophy this summer as every member of the team got an opportunity to have it for 3 days.

24>23 With another 593 points, Kobe Bryant will overtake Michael Jordan’s 32,292 career points for 3rd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring ledger.

The Phoenix Suns became the first NBA team to have a pair of siblings on the same roster:Twins Markieff and Marcus Morris and brothers Goran and Zoran Dragic.

23

While it might be safe to assume that Giannis Antetokounmpo has the longest name in the NBA with 20 characters, it would be incorrect. His brother, Thanasis, has him beat by a single letter.

But Martynas Andriuskevicius, a Lithuanian center who played for the Cavaliers for 6 games in 200506, has the Antetokounmpo bros. beat with 23 characters, making him the longest NBA name of all time.

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JUMP BALL PERIPHERAL VISION

JUSTIN ZORMELO

FOUNDER, BEST BALL ANALYTICS Justin Zormelo navigated his way through the high school prep and AAU scene before ankle injuries derailed his basketball career. You can still catch him around the court regularly, but instead of a crew of weekend warriors, his cohorts include the likes of Rajon Rondo, Paul George and Kevin Durant. So how did a “retired” basketball player with a degree in fnance bond with some of the greatest athletes on the planet? The details lie in the numbers and that’s where Zormelo reigns supreme. In an age when advanced statistics have transferred over from the baseball diamond to the hardwood, Zormelo is at the cutting edge of analyzing the game of basketball.

Metrics are his bread and butter, and Zormelo creates rich formulas, which he then translates to his clients through charts or graphs, all in an effort to get maximum effciency. That could mean getting to the rim a split second faster or disposing of a hitch Zormelo fnds in a jump shot. He’s part psychologist, part statistician, part coach—well, we’ll just let him explain it.

Tell us about your basketball history. You were a student manager at Georgetown on Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert’s teams?

I played basketball from the age of 5 and up. I did high school basketball and camps. My junior and senior year I broke one ankle and then the other one and that kind of ended my basketball playing career.

When I played, I was kind of like a team captain, a team leader, a point guard, and a spot shooter. At Georgetown, it was invaluable learning from the coaching staff and players and doing all the duties of a manager, from planning to refereeing games to being on the sideline every single game. I learned a lot about the game and helped players and helped coaches. It was just a humbling experience, picking up towels to doing people’s laundry to wiping up the foor, being the frst one to practice and last one to leave every day. A lot of character is involved in that.

I did that for four years, they gave me a basketball scholarship for that.

Now you work at home? What’s your offce look like?

I work at home and travel a bit. I’ve got computers and books and anything I can use to get better. I don’t really use cones, I just teach the game and fgure out ways to get my people better.

How have metrics changed basketball?

It’s defnitely growing at a rapid pace. You’re starting to see basketball from a broader standpoint instead of just guys playing. Now they start to see it as a real game. We’re fnally using different metrics to manipulate the game, fnd the best way to change the game and have it work in their favor. I do the same 020

thing. My job is how to best relate that to the players I’m working with. Every player is different and I use different metrics and data for them.

Who were your infuences?

I try to learn from everybody I come across.

People in every walk of life from Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, John Thompson, Del Harris. I can also learn from Gregg Popovich when I study him. My parents drive me and my Zormelo, with one one of his NBA clients, Kevin Durant. faith drives me.

How do you watch a game that’s different from the way a regular viewer does?

It’s different than dealing with the business side I know things that are going to happen prior to them of a corporation. happening. I see patterns. I see trends. I can feel Paul George, Rajon Rondo, John Wall are some the pulse of the game. I just see different things, of the guys you’ve worked with. How do you from movement to when somebody says one or two tailor for each one? words, I can read that and tell you what that means.

It defnitely depends on the player. They all have I can assess problems and positives. Every game, different wants and needs and I have my own for every play I see something different. I can watch the them. You have to fgure out their balance. They’re same thing twice and see two different things. It’s all demanding. They want to do the best they can. I’m mental. I do get to a point where I have to write these just as competitive as they are. There’s some bumping things down. But I collect a database in my head. heads. But they’re growing relationships. All the guys Do things like “clutch” exist? that come to me are really serious about their game Yes, I do think those terms are pretty accurate. and accepting of criticism.

There is an innate ability for players that you cannot How many clients have you had in total? quantify. [For example,] data—there’s no data for Thirty-fve or more in the last four years.

I guess, Michael Jordan’s assists that led to a pass What’s an average day like for you? that led to a pass that led to a game winner or what I don’t want to say as demanding as a doctor or he did throughout the whole game. He’s so clutch in anything like that. Sometimes I might work for 15 a big game that they had to double him and that led hours, sometimes I might work for 6 hours, but my day to someone else scoring 10 to 15 points. I think the is centered around basketball, that’s for sure. Since I way writers are using it, they don’t see everything was 18, I’ve never left the country, had no vacations. else that makes up terms that they use. They’ll look at Would you like to expand your business and teach somebody and say he isn’t clutch because he didn’t people what you do? score so many points or do this or that. That isn’t the I defnitely have thought of that. I get a lot of requests defnition of clutch. Clutch is winning. We’re starting from other coaches, high school, college and pro. I to judge MVPs off statistics when that shouldn’t be the get calls from general managers wanting to talk. I barometer. Nothing against any writer, but you have defnitely think I could teach it. I gotta fgure that out. I to really study what you’re doing before you can write think I have a lot of growing to do. It’d have to be under and come to a conclusion and use a statistic. the right circumstances and the right price.

Ben Gordon was your frst professional client?

Describe what you do. Is it coaching, is it being a I had worked with him with the Chicago Bulls. He’s his statistician, a psychologist, a trainer? own person. I had to fgure out the time and space I kind of try to make it up a bit as I go along. I’m trying he needs. Separate the business from the friendship. to do something that hasn’t been done yet. For sure, I It’s kind of diffcult, but it was the frst time I learned do every single one of those things. That’s why I can’t the business side of dealing with an NBA player. put a name to it. SETH BERKMAN #91

JUMP BALL

BY BRIAN A. GIUFFRA #17 FIRST FIVE

When Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. was picked No. 24 overall in the 2013 draft, he got a simple yet valuable lesson from his father Tim Hardaway, the former All-Star player1 and current Detroit Pistons assistant coach.

To thine own self be true.2 “He just said play your game,” Hardaway explains.

“That’s what got you here, that’s what got you to the next level so keep on playing the way you play.”

Prophetic advice from a sage veteran.

Playing with the same athletic flair around the net and deadly shot beyond the arc that made him a star at Michigan,3 Hardaway Jr. flashed the potential to be a big-time scorer in the NBA, much like his father.

He averaged 10.2 points per game as a rookie,4 shot 36 percent from three-point range and recorded 10 20-point games, earning first-team All-Rookie First Team honors for his performance.

His defense needs some work. His assist (0.8) and rebounding (1.5) numbers as a rookie leave room for improvement.

But Hardaway Jr. is expected to play a key role in the Knicks’ new triangle offense5 and his defense should progress as he puts more muscle on his lanky 6-6 frame.

It’s still way too early to say if Hardaway Jr. is going to be as good as his father. Pops did, after all, score over 15,000 points and dole out 7,095 dimes in his career.

But while those kinds of gaudy accomplishments may have seemed unreachable for Hardaway Jr. when he was drafted, they don’t anymore.

Got any more advice, dad?

BONUS POINTS 1. In addition to being a five-time NBA All-Star, Hardaway was also a First Team All-NBA pick in 1997, won Olympic gold in 2000 and has his #10 jersey retired by the Miami Heat.

2. Polonius says, “To thine own self be true” to his son Laertes in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.

3. Hardaway Jr. helped lead the Wolverines to the NCAA National Championship game in 2013, where they lost to Louisville. He was a first-team All-Big-Ten pick that year.

4. His points per game average was the fourth highest among rookies in 2014.

5. The triangle offense is predicated on ball movement and teamwork, which should help Hardaway Jr. get more open looks from the outside. New Knicks president Phil Jackson made the triangle famous with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. New Knicks coach Derek Fisher played under Jackson and will run the triangle.

5 TIM

HARDAWAY JR. GUARD - NEW YORK KNICKS

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

021

JUMP BALL HEAD 2 HEAD

Stephen Curry vs. Kyrie Irving Not only were they the starting guards for USA Basketball at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, but Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving have also become the young faces of the point guard position in the NBA’s Western and Eastern Conferences. In the 26-year-old Curry, you have arguably the best shooter in the game. In the 22-year-old Irving, you have an attack-the-rim PG who is just in the teething and teasing stages of his NBA potential. Who’s the one?

01 SCORING: Nobody dots an NBA three-point shot chart like Curry, who has made 905 three-pointers in his fve-year NBA career at a 44.0 percent clip. The Golden State point guard is not only the most accurate active marksman from treyland, but he also rates third alltime in the category (.4397), trailing only his Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (.4540) and Hubert Davis (.4409). According to Basketball-Reference.com, 45 percent of Curry’s shots in 2013-14 came from behind the three-point arc, while 25 percent came on long twos (16-plus feet), which he made at a .466 clip. He has a lot of room to grow, even as a 24 points-pergame scorer, since he is averse to taking the ball to the hoop to draw more free-throws (only 14 percent of Curry’s shots came within three feet of the rim and he averaged just 4.5 free throw attempts per game).

Irving is the opposite, taking as many shots at the rim (23 percent, which he makes at a .576 clip) as long twos (23 percent, which he nets only .389 of the time), while mixing in a nice assortment of threes (28 percent of his attempts, which he makes at an effcient-enough .358 clip).

Irving is no Curry, yet keep in mind, he did have comparable numbers at a similar age (Irving averaged 20.8 points with a .533 true shooting percentage at age 21; Curry tallied 17.5 and .568 at age 21).

Advantage: Curry.

02 FLOOR GAME: Curry and Irving will never be regarded as prototypical point guards. They don’t survey the foor in constant quest of locating shooters, slashers and scorers as do Ricky Rubio, Rajon Rondo or Chris Paul. Rather, Curry and Irving both run similar attacks in that their greatest weapon is their own ability to score, with both just beginning to realize their potential as set-up men for some of the best teammates in the League today. Irving, who was the USA Basketball starting point guard, now has fellow All-Stars LeBron James and Kevin Love to work off of in Cleveland, which only enhances his gift to create plays while limiting turnovers in 2014-15. Don’t be surprised if the Cavs improve from a 33-win squad to a 53-win team overnight, with Irving’s own foor generalship shining brighter than past statistics (6.0 assists and 2.7 turnovers per game). Meanwhile, Curry, who was the USA Basketball starting shooting guard, experienced a similar jump in his point-guard game last season (from 6.5 to 8.4 assists per 36 minutes), when he was able to play with the best set of starting teammates he’s ever had (Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, David Lee and Andrew Bogut round out the NBA’s best fve-man unit that logged 300-plus minutes, with a +16.0 points per 100 possessions score).

Advantage: Irving.

Kyrie Irving Guard, 6-3, 193 pounds Cleveland Cavaliers

G

MPG

PPG

APG

RPG

SPG

2FG%

3FG%

FT%

ORPM

DRPM

RPM

Curry

78

36.5

24.0

8.5

4.3

1.6

.509

.424

.885

+6.62

-0.38

+6.24

Irving

71

35.2

20.8

6.1

3.6

1.5

.458

.358

.861

+1.98

-3.38

-1.40

2013-14 stats Key: G games; MPG minutes per game; PPG points per game; APG assists per game; RPG rebounds per game; SPG steals per game; 2FG% two-point feld goal percentage; 3FG% three-point percentage; FT% free throw percentage; ORPM offensive real plus-minus; DRPM defensive real plus-minus; RPM real plus-minus.

022

Stephen Curry

BY DARRYL HOWERTON #21

Guard, 6-3, 185 pounds Golden State Warriors 03 DEFENSE: Curry’s former head coach Mark Jackson stunned the basketball world two years ago when he called his point guard an “elite defender.” Too often, Warriors basketball had been associated with lackluster defense, ranking as a bottom fve NBA team in defensive effciency for four straight seasons with its various small-ball lineups stopping no one. However, thanks to the addition of shotblocking center Andrew Bogut in 2012, the Warriors eventually became a top three defense while Curry himself became a better defender—backed by his -0.38 defensive real plus-minus score—by contesting shots, trailing passing lanes when beat off the dribble and making the multipleeffort plays point guards need to make on D. To watch Irving play his matador defense (defensive RPM of -3.38) in 2013-14 was to see what happens when a young PG founders with little assistance for three years. Thankfully, summer school with Tom Thibodeau (USA Basketball assistant) and year-long tutelage from All-Defense forward LeBron James will give Irving the guidance he has lacked thus far in his three-year NBA career.

Advantage: Curry.

04 LEADERSHIP: By his own admission this summer, Irving says he doesn’t know how to lead, admitting he’s just been a kid, trying to fgure things out. Now teaming with ring-toting vets like LeBron, Shawn Marion and Mike Miller, Irving cannot wait to learn what he does not know. Curry, on the other hand, has as much birthright to the throne as any Warrior, leading the team as well as any ffth-year vet could, taking the young squad to the NBA Playoffs two years in a row. His most telling stat of maturity: his +6.24 RPM, which shows how he makes teammates better.

Advantage: Curry.

05 INTANGIBLES: Both organizations have put their starting point guards in great situations for years to come. Curry, who already had the pedigree of NBA royalty (thanks to having NBA shooting great Dell Curry as his father), now happens to play for head coach, Steve Kerr, who has a better three-point shooting percentage than anyone else, not to mention Warriors assistant Ron Adams, who is regarded as one of the great defensive minds of the game. Irving, meanwhile, fnally has an offensive-minded coach who thinks outside the box in Euro icon David Blatt. He also plays alongside some nice defensive anchors in Varejão, Love and James—three large men who know how to challenge shots, play the pick-and-roll and rebound.

Advantage: Even.

The Verdict In 2014-15, you have to give the game to the 26-year-old Warrior, who has a four-year head start on the 22-year-old Cav. But that’s not to say Irving cannot catch Curry in a year or two. It’s possible. Irving already appears to be on the same learning curve: 20-ish points-per-game scorer, ball-control playmaker, struggling defender who just needed some more help and time to become a winner. But as for now, Curry is just too-too good a shooter, defender and leader for Irving to take at age two-two.

MIKE LAWRIE; ROCKY WIDNER; DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

023

JUMP BALL

BY MELODY HOFFMAN #34

34

GIANNIS

ANTETOKOUNMPO FORWARD - MILWAUKEE BUCKS

FIRST FIVE

If you want to be properly introduced to Milwaukee Bucks1 young stunner Giannis Antetokounmpo, just Google “The Greek Freak.”

One of the ways the 6-11 Antetokounmpo, who is of Nigerian descent2 and was born and raised in Greece, earned his nickname is the way he can play above the rim, yet has the speed and skill to handle the rock. The 19-year-old3 sophomore forward became a sensation in Milwaukee4 and around the League last year as a rookie after throwing down some sick dunks and disrespectful blocks. Online, among his animated YouTube videos, you can find the Greek Freak going the length of the court in two dribbles.

Nice to meet you, Giannis.

Gearing up for his second NBA season, Antetokounmpo competed this summer for his country’s national team in the FIBA World Cup,5 where he also had fans’ jaws dropping with open threes and transition slams.

“He’s just a tremendous young athlete right now. He’s got such amazing length but he’s also got the ability to handle the basketball, so it was exciting to watch him go get a defensive rebound, put it on the floor and lead the break with the Greek team,” remembers Bucks general manager John Hammond, who was in Spain to see Antetokounmpo play. “He does things that are so enticing.”

The Bucks certainly hope Antetokounmpo keeps freaking.

024

BONUS POINTS 1. The Bucks drafted Antetokounmpo 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. The teenager was playing with Filathlitikos, a professional club in Greece. Last year, his rookie season, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 77 games (including 23 game starts).

2. Born in Athens, his parents immigrated to Greece from Nigeria.

Antetokounmpo’s parents and brothers moved from Greece and now live in the Milwaukee area. Antetokounmpo’s older brother Thanasis was drafted by the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

3. The young Buck turns 20 years old 12/6. Last year, he was the youngest player in the NBA. 4. Antetokounmpo was selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge as part of All-Star 2014.

5. With his 7-3 wingspan, the small foward finished the FIBA tournament averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and in just 15.7 minutes per game. He was at least five years younger than any of his teammates.

GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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9/10/14 1:03 PM

JUMP BALL DANCE LIFE

BRIANNA

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS DANCER What was your frst game like?

It was surreal. We had spent so much time preparing for the frst game and stepping out onto the court with thousands of fans all around, it was awesome. I felt the energy form the crowd and it just came out in my dancing and it made me feel so much more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I’ve performed in so many venues, but being out in our arena and dancing for our team, you just feel that good New Orleans spirit and energy and it just takes over you. It was great.

What do you fnd is the biggest difference from your frst year with the Honeybees to your sixth year, now with the Pelicans Dance Team?

A lot of great changes in general, just because we’ve had a new rebranding. We have all new uniforms, the Smoothie King Center has just been completely renovated, so there have been a lot of great upgrades. I think there have been a lot of great improvements along with the new team that’s being constructed by our GM. As captain, what’s the most valuable advice you pass on to new dancers?

The best advice I can give anybody is to really live in the moment and soak in any opportunity that you get.

We are presented with so many great opportunities that a lot of people never get to experience, whether it’s dancing in front of thousands of people or traveling to dance in front of our troops overseas, doing radio appearances or interviews. Just a lot of amazing experiences that you really have to take a step back

and realize how grateful you are for having this opportunity.

What’s your highlight so far as a member of the Pelicans Dance Team?

By far, dancing in the All-Star Game this past year. It was in New Orleans and we got to perform during the All-Star Jam and a couple of events going on throughout the week. But the actual All-Star Game was awesome, Pharrell was there and we got to perform for pregame and throw T-shirts. It was nice to see a mix of all the players in our city and our arena supporting the city of New Orleans as a whole. It was a nice change and the crowd and the energy was even crazier than what we could have ever imagined.

You’re really good at Pop-A-Shot. What’s the key to your success?

Practice makes perfect for one, but it’s all about your timing and your accuracy. If you take fve seconds to aim your shot, yeah it will go in, but you’ve just wasted fve seconds. You’ve just got to stay accurate, but just keep fring them off. As soon as you get a ball, release!

If you had to make a Pop-A-Shot team with two of the Pelicans, whom would you choose?

I’d defnitely pick Ryan Anderson, cause he always makes great buzzer-beaters and he’s really great with his accuracy on threepointers. I’d draft him to be on my team.

I’d pick Eric Gordon, too. He has a lot of dedication and heart and you need that on a good team, so I would take Eric Gordon as well and we’d win.

What would people be surprised to know is the toughest thing about your job?

Defnitely how much time we put into dancing.

We don’t just go to the game and prance around and that’s it. A lot of people have full time jobs and we’re practicing about nine hours a week at minimum, and then we have games on top of that. We put a lot of effort into it, we work out with personal trainers, it’s just very time consuming. We put a lot into it so that we can get a lot of out of it, and it pays off.

You’re never one to back down from challenges. Will the Pelicans make the playoffs this year?

Our team has been carefully selected for a reason and they’ve got a plan in store for this season. Last year was just the beginning and this year we’re defnitely going to go far.

DUANE WATSON #7

FIRST RIDE

PAUL MILLSAP’S FIRST RIDE My frst car? I don’t really like to bring that up [laughs]. I don’t want any memories of my frst car. I completely wiped those memories away and I don’t want to bring back those memories [laughs]. It was a car one of my cousins had that was given to me.

There’s just bad memories, just painful memories. Painful. It was a stick shift. I don’t know what [make or model or] year it was, but it was peach. I had to take it to school. I was 6-8, it was a two-seater. I had it about a year, two years although it seemed a lot longer.

Being a stick shift, it was tough on me. I was learning how to drive a stick, I actually learned how to drive a stick on that car. It’s painful when you’re learning how to drive a stick and you’re at the stoplight with a bunch of cars behind you and you’re kicking. It was tough but I got through it. It wasn’t my car of choice but it got me where I needed to go, plain and simple. I believe at some point it broke down or I gave it to somebody.

I don’t even remember. I was so happy to get rid of it, it didn’t even matter. The frst car that I bought was an Escalade, 2006. It was a great vehicle. Plenty of leg room [laughs]. I had it for a few years. I still have an Escalade, and a Porsche. I haven’t gotten a new one in about fve years. I like to hold on to cars that I have.

If it’s broke I fx it then don’t get rid of it. PAUL MILLSAP, AS TOLD TO JON COOPER #10

026

COURTESY NEW ORLEANS PELICANS; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

JUMP BALL

BY STEVE HUNT #29

STEVEN

ADAMS

CENTER - OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FIRST FIVE

Even after being named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team1 in 2014, Steven Adams isn’t complacent, which explains why the New Zealand native played in the NBA Summer League again in 2014.

“It was cool,” Adams says. “The more basketball I play, the better off I am.”

He’s only the second New Zealander to play in the Association,2 but the easygoing Thunder big man sees the sport growing there.3 “It’s getting really big. There’s a lot of interest4 in basketball and I’m doing all I can to make sure that it continues to gain interest,” he says.

Adams might have just one year of NBA experience, but he already speaks like a veteran.5 “I think it went quite well,” he says of his rookie season. “I didn’t really have any expectations other than what my coach gave me. I have more to work on and that’s the main focus. There’s still a long way to go.”

And after taking a liking to Oklahoma, he feels there’s no better place to continue developing.

“It’s really good for basketball because the whole community’s behind us,” says Adams. “There are no distractions, so it’s just pretty much straight basketball the whole time. It’s helped me develop7 really fast.”

JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES SPORT

12

BONUS POINTS 1. In 81 games (20 starts), Adams averaged 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 points for the Thunder.

2. Adams averaged 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in his three games for the OKC entry in the 2014 Orlando Summer League.

3. Adams is the second New Zealand-born player to play in the NBA. Sean Marks, who played for six different teams between 1998 and 2011 and is a current Spurs assistant, was the first.

4. The NBA isn’t the first pro league Adams has played in. In 2011, he was the NBL Rookie of the Year and part of a championship team with the Wellington Saints in his native New Zealand.

5. Rugby remains the most popular sport in New Zealand by a mile.

6. Adams certainly did not kowtow to the veterans of the League. He was not scared to get physical inside even against the All-Stars of the League.

7. One thing that didn’t require much work for Adams was his shotblocking. Per 36 minutes, Adams averaged 1.7 rejections per game.

027

JUMP BALL BRACK-IT

EIGHT THINGS. ONE UNDISPUTED CHAMP.

GREATEST NBA COMEBACK PLAYER BERNARD KING VS. ADRIAN DANTLEY After two consecutive seasons of more than 2,450 points, Dantley tore ligaments in his wrist—on his shooting hand—ending his 1982-83 season after 22 games. There were plenty of doubts about Dantley’s shooting touch, but he picked up where he left off the following season, posting a League-leading 2,418 points.

King notched 12,780 points in his frst seven and a half seasons in the NBA, thanks to an explosive game that featured one of the best turnaround jumpers ever seen. King suffered a torn ACL on Christmas Day in 1984 as he was leading the NBA in scoring with 32.9 ppg. King missed 185 games over three seasons, but rehabbed all the way back to play six games in 1986-87. Thinking he was done, the Knicks let him go and King signed with Washington to play another fve seasons of 20.9 ppg basketball. King him.

AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE VS. GRANT HILL Hill’s frst six years were a display in basketball versatility, collecting triple-doubles on the regular. Then an innocuous ankle injury during the 2000 Playoffs happened.

The next seven years saw Hill miss 78 games, followed by 68, 53, 82, 15, 61 and 17.

He was never the same player after the injury, but Hill managed to become a durable contributor in his fve seasons in Phoenix, playing at least 80 games in three of them.

Before microfracture surgery on his knee in 2005, Stoudemire was a bullish power forward, who only needed a crease of daylight on the pick-and-roll to punctuate it with a dunk. The surgery cast a shade of doubt to Stoudemire’s future, but he proved all the naysayers wrong (he also overcame a detached retina in 2009) with four seasons of 22.5 ppg. Still, Hill persevered seven years of rehab to come back.

028

SHAUN LIVINGSTON VS. BILL WALTON Livingston suffered one of the most grotesque injuries, tearing his ACL, PCL, MCL, meniscus and dislocating his patella on a freak landing. Livingston lost the entire 2007-08 season and played in just 48 games in the subsequent two seasons.

Livingston spent four seasons bouncing around fve teams, proving his worth as a versatile guard at each stop before securing a long term deal with the Warriors.

After a 1977 Finals MVP and League MVP in ’78, Walton was well on his way to a storied career. Then foot injuries felled Walton, reducing him to 14 games over the next four seasons. Less determined men would have quit, but Walton stuck with it.

He played 33 games in 1982-83, graduated to 55 games the following year, then 67, before reaching a career-best 80 games with the Celtics in 1986, when he netted the Sixth Man award, his second title and some semblance of redemption.

MICHAEL JORDAN VS. ALONZO MOURNING Mourning, after being diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 2000, refused to quit, toughing through the kidney condition that caused him to miss almost half the games in two seasons, and all of 2002-03 as he underwent a kidney transplant. Mourning’s production dropped when he returned, but his warrior mentality never waned, helping the Heat win the title in 2006.

Jordan’s second comeback, after a three-year lay-off that saw him return to the hardwood as a 38-year-old shooting guard, was nothing short of Jordanesque. The game was a bit changed, the fights shorter and the wins harder to come by, but name another 38-year-old who is able to pull off what Jordan did: Average 20-plus points on a nightly basis. Once again, Jordan advances to the next round.

BY MING WONG #2

KING VS. WALTON In 1984, a torn ACL was a death blow to all pro athletes, especially a player like King who relied on his frst step. The Knicks certainly believed so, electing to let King walk even after he returned for six games in 1986-87. New York would rue the day as he would continue be an effective scorer, peaking with 28.4 ppg in 1990-91 as the Knicks struggled to fnd a capable second scoring option to pair with Patrick Ewing.

The beauty of Walton’s game was that he was never the type of player who needed to put up monster stat lines to dominate. He was the teammate who helped bind all the parts together which led to winning. Just ask the 1986 Celtics, with whom Walton elevated a great team into one of the NBA’s greatest teams en route to a championship. A ftting reward for Walton, who never threw in the towel despite the pain and rehab that he later admitted caused him to contemplate suicide.

GREATEST NBA COMEBACK PLAYER:

BILL WALTON

WALTON VS. JORDAN

HILL VS. JORDAN Playing shooting guard in the NBA means having to face one of the most athletic spots the League has to offer. Add in the constant road travel, back-to-backs, the common aches and pains—it’s not easy, even when you’re young. Now imagine a three-years-retired, 38-year-old jumping back into that grind. As impressive as his pair of threepeats and endless list of accolades have been, this should rank up there.

During Hill’s arduous return to the court, he would have surgery, diligently go through grueling rehab, only to suffer a setback. This happened six times during his nightmarish seven-year stint as a proud pro who, prior to injury, was regarded as the most complete player in the NBA. Lesser mortals would’ve given up climbing that hill, but not Grant. We still think Jordan ekes through.

After two threepeats, Jordan basically took a threepeat of living the high life of post-glory retirement, spending days jetting to tee times, card games and power business meetings flled with cigars, fne food and drink. On a whim, Jordan decides to come back. Wizards MJ was nowhere close to the Bulls version, but it was still better than many players who were young enough to lust after Air Jordans as a teen.

While it was deemed a failure by some, Jordan managed to prove that his love of the game defed age.

A recurring theme with comeback players is the injury that robs him of the path to glory followed by the determined and almost stubborn return. Few embody that more than Walton. Had injuries not shortened Walton’s career (he missed 598 games out of a possible 1,066 games) the debate of greatest center would include Big Red’s name in it. As it is, Walton is still a Hall of Famer (some of it bolstered by his legendary collegiate career). While Walton’s career could have fnished as a tale of what could’ve been, in spite of what happened, it still turned out pretty good.

DICK RAPHAEL (4); BRIAN DRAKE; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (2); ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; MITCHELL LAYTON; TERRENCE VACCARO; ISSAC BALDIZON; BILL BAPTIST; NED DISHMAN; RON KOCH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES

029

JUMP BALL

BY BRETT MAUSER #25

FIRST FIVE

In was not the rookie year Otto Porter envisioned: He started the season sidelined with injury and then struggled for minues as he adjusted to the NBA game.

A star at nearby Georgetown, he averaged just over two points a game for his debut year in the pros. The pessimists in the nation’s capital wondered: Is Porter, the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, a bust?1 Already?

He didn’t have the impact he was hoping for, but Porter learned a lot about expectations and what he will need to do to meet those expectations. Now he’s out to prove he’s worthy of the hype in his sophomore season.

“Last year, mentally I was all over the place at first,” says Porter. “Talking to my family and my parents really helped me get through it. I was staying on the court, staying after hours, getting shots up and doing whatever I could to get better.”

Porter provided a glimpse of his night-in, night-out potential in the 2014 Samsung NBA Summer League, averaging 19 points a game over a six-game stretch, good for seventh-best in the league.2 He looked like the player the Wizards drafted.

“My main focus was to play in all the games, to stay healthy,3 and to get into game shape,” says Porter.

“I wanted to do the things that my coaches want me to do, like pushing the ball and being more aggressive both offensively and defensively.”

With Trevor Ariza signing in Houston and Martell Webster still recovering from offseason back injury,the window is open for Porter to seize major minutes on a Wizards team that is on the cusp of the Eastern Conference’s elite.4 “It’s a great opportunity,5 and I plan to take full advantage,” Porter said. “I want to show everybody why I was taken third overall.”

BONUS POINTS 1. Last year’s rookie class drew its share of ire. The top pick, Anthony Bennett, averaged just four points per game for Cleveland and was shipped to Minnesota this offseason in the Kevin Love deal. Of those taken in the top 10, only Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and Utah’s Trey Burke averaged double-digit points.

2. Porter was upstaged by his teammate and good friend Glen Rice Jr., who led the 2014 Summer League at 25 points a night. Of Porter and Rice, Wizards summer league head coach Sam Cassell told CBS Sports, “You can see [their swagger] miles away. They feel like they’re the best two ballplayers on the court.”

3. Porter missed the 2013 Summer League with a hamstring injury, and then suffered a right hip flexor injury that sidelined him until December. “I had never been injured before so it was definitely frustrating, but I had good coaches and good teammates who pushed me through it.”

4. The Wizards finished above .500 for the first time since the 200708 season. They stunned Chicago in the first round of the playoffs— their first playoff series triumph since beating the Bulls in 2005— before bowing to Indiana in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

5. Porter gets an opportunity to learn from Paul Pierce, the 10-time NBA All-Star who was signed as a free agent by the Wizards in July.

“He knows the ins and outs of the game, and I’m looking forward to picking his brain.”

22 OTTO

PORTER

FORWARD - WASHINGTON WIZARDS

030

NED DISHMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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JUMP BALL

When you started telling the story on The Tonight Show at first it seemed like a joke, but as you progressed it became very real. Do you actually play basketball in a rec league?

Yes, I do. I play in an organized women’s league in Los Angeles.

How did you get into it?

I always loved playing basketball in pickup games, but it was annoying because it was always with guys. One time, I heard from my friend Allan that a girls’ league was forming and I begged him to get me in there. So I showed up at practice one day and they let me join.

Did you really play or was it just as a joke?

Not a joke!

Male celebrities have had the Entertainment League, where they played against other celebrities and pretended they were Michael Jordan. Do you and the other players on your team pretend you’re renowned basketball players?

Hmmm, not really. I mean, sometimes I try and channel Dwyane Wade. But otherwise, no.

Why basketball?

I have always loved basketball. I played in middle school on a team for my church league. We were called the Warriors. In high school, I played casually and continued to do so as an adult.

You’re known for your deadpan comedy style. Does this ever work for you on the basketball court—besides when you force a turnover with a photo op?

It’s always good to have something in your back pocket if stuff gets hectic. So, I don’t shy away from talking to the other team or trying to make them laugh—it distracts them!

Does scoring a basket rival scoring a laugh?

I’d say they are pretty equal!

There’s an amazing player in the WNBA, Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky, who is from your hometown of Wilmington, Del. and a graduate of the University of Delaware. Seriously hoping you’ve heard of her and can show some hometown appreciation.

Yes! I know Elena. We went to the same high school, Ursuline Academy. Our school is known for always having a killer b-ball team. We have won many championships, etc. Elena was years younger than me, but I know her and her family. UA pride!

CELEB ROW

AUBREY PLAZA

Which NBA players do you enjoy watching?

Chris Bosh is my favorite!

When Aubrey Plaza, known for her comedic talents and deadpan style, started telling Jimmy Fallon a story about forcing a turnover in a basketball game by promising to pose for a photo with a player from the opposing team, you had to wonder if she was spinning an elaborate tale. Turns out, the actress, now in her final season on TV’s Parks and Recreation, was talking from real life ball handling experience. While promoting her delicious comedic take on a zombie movie, Life After Beth, Plaza shared personal tales from the hardwood. With four films completed and a release coming up soon—including Mortdecai with Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor—it’s time to treat this diehard baller to courtside seats, particularly when the Miami Heat come to Los Angeles.

Does your knowledge about basketball help you appreciate the court action?

Definitely. It’s always more fun to watch a game when you know the rules and can follow the rhythm of it.

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Courtside or box and why?

I would love to be courtside, but I never have been. Maybe someday.

A TV show is a team. Forget the court. What position do you play on Parks and Recreation?

Definitely shooting guard. LOIS ELFMAN #40 CARLOS PIMENTEL/WIREIMAGE

PASSION

CHANGES THE WORLD

For more information visit NBACares.com

@nbacares

#NBACARES

JUMP BALL 24 SECONDS

with GERALD GREEN

HOOP: You had a career year3 last season. What was the biggest difference for you?

GREEN: Last year was the first year that I actually got to play consistent minutes. But I also have to give a lot of credit to Jeff [Hornacek] for making me feel comfortable. He put me in situations to succeed. All I had to do was knock down shots.

HOOP: Does he give you the green light to shoot?

GREEN: I wouldn’t say all the way green. Maybe more yellow [laughs].

But he does tend to let me go out there and play freely.

HOOP: What does that mean to a player?

GREEN: It’s all about confidence. If a player has a coach that’s confident in him, he’s going to feel like that basket is so much bigger, because he’s not going to the bench if he misses.

HOOP: You worked on your ballhandling this offseason. Why? GREEN: That means you can run more plays, have more options. If my ballhandling is better, I become a better player and that makes the team better.

HOOP: What part of your game are you proudest of?

GREEN: My defense is so much better than it was three or four years ago. I’m most proud of that. [Assistant coach] Mike Longabardi does a great job of preparing me. Yesterday he cussed me out because I wasn’t doing something right, but I need that. I need a coach that’s going to push me.

HOOP: A lot of fans think of you as a dunker. But you hate4 that, right?

GREEN: Absolutely, because I don’t really dunk a lot. I’m not a dunker.

HOOP: Does your brother play basketball?

GREEN: Absolutely. He plays in Japan right now.

HOOP: So are the Suns going to sign him next?

GREEN: [laughs] That would be my dream.

HOOP: How crazy is it to have two pairs of brothers1 on one team?

GREEN: It’s unique, but all four of those guys deserve to be in the NBA. HOOP: Do you ever get the brothers mixed up?

GREEN: Never. The twins look a little different in the face. And Gogi and Zogi, as I call them, I can tell them apart, too.

HOOP: Speaking of Goran, is there a better collection of guards than the Suns’?

GREEN: Absolutely not. We have the best backcourt in the NBA. We have three premiere point guards,2 and Dragic and E [Eric Bledsoe] can also play the two. So those three put us at a whole ’nother level.

HOOP: You’ve got to put yourself in that mix, too.

GREEN: Yeah, but I’ve still got a lot to learn and a lot to prove.

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HOOP: But you enjoy dunking in games, don’t you? You’re always screaming and flexing.

GREEN: I scream when I hit a three, too. Dunks come natural to me, but I don’t go into the offseason and work on dunks.

HOOP: Fair enough. Do you enjoy a big dunk or a big three better?

GREEN: A three-pointer all day. What would you rather have, $3 million or $2 million?

HOOP: Who wins a three-point contest between you and Coach Hornacek?5 GREEN: Coach can shoot the ball still, but I think if I got hot, he’s in trouble. If I get hot, anybody’s in trouble.

HOOP: You recently called yourself the Four-Fingered Assassin.

GREEN: That’s me! You don’t have a lot of guys with four fingers that can shoot the ball. That was just a name that popped into my head. I hope it sticks.

HOOP: We’ll ask our editor6 to use that as the headline: 24 Seconds with the Four-Fingered Assassin.

GREEN: That’s what’s up!

BY JERAMIE MCPEEK #4

HOOP: For fans who don’t know, how did you lose your finger?

GREEN: There was a nail stuck in the top of a wall at my house. I was teasing my little brother, “You can’t jump this high.” I had my momma’s class ring on my right hand, and I go to try to touch above the nail, but when I came down the ring got caught on the nail and it just ripped everything off but the bone.7 HOOP: How did that affect you as a teenager?

GREEN: I got into so many fights, because I was insecure. But at the end of the day, I had to embrace that, because it’s me. Now I’m trying to set up a foundation where I can help kids with missing limbs and kids who are bullied.

HOOP: What or who changed your outlook?

GREEN: The first person who started to turn my thinking around was Avery Johnson when I got to New Jersey. He knew my story and he said, “You’re really special. You can do things with this and really touch a lot of kids.”

HOOP: It wasn’t long ago you were bouncing around in Russia, China and the D-League. Are you ever surprised at how far you’ve come?

GREEN: I was just talking to our strength coach about that, how I’ve transitioned from a skinny kid8 in China to now I’m pretty solid. Everything I’ve been through makes me want to work harder. How good can I get? That’s a question I ask myself.

HOOP: Was there a point when you were in China or Russia...

GREEN: I know what you’re going to say: Was there a point where you were going to give up?

HOOP: Or a point that maybe you doubted whether or not you would really make it?

GREEN: Yeah, man. When I got cut from China, I thought it was over with. Then I went to the D-League, and I was thinking, “I started at the very top...” A lot of people, they kind of fold and crack, but I was made to play basketball. So I was going to live or die trying to make it back.

HOOP: What’s next for Gerald Green?

GREEN: I don’t care if I play five minutes or if I play 35 minutes. For me it’s about me doing whatever I have to help this team win. But when I do play, I want to be consistent and just embrace the moment.

BONUS POINTS 1. The Suns became the first team in NBA history to feature two sets of brothers on the same roster when they signed Zoran Dragic, the younger brother of Goran Dragic, joining Marcus and Markieff Morris in purple and orange.

2. Goran Dragic wears jersey No. 1, while Eric Bledsoe wears No. 2 and free-agent signee Isaiah Thomas wears No. 3. Oh, and yes, rookie point guard Tyler Ennis wears No. 4.

3. Green averaged a career-best 15.8 points a game in 2013-14, and shot a personal best 40 percent from three-point range and started 48 games at off-guard.

4. The 6-8 swingman won the NBA’s Slam Dunk crown during the 2007 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, but does not like being labeled “just a dunker.”

5. Green wears #14, the same number his head coach wore while playing for the Suns from 1986-92.

6. Ed Note: Sorry, we went with the name on his jersey.

7. Green had to have the rest of the finger amputated, but returned to the court shooting with a bandaged hand on his first day back at school.

8. Boston selected Green with the 18th pick of the 2005 NBA Draft, right out of high school. Since then, he has played for seven NBA teams, three teams in the D-League, two teams in Russia and a team in China.

BARRY GOSSAGE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; STEPHEN DUNN/GETTY IMAGES

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SELF AWARENESS THE ROOKIE CLASS OF 2014 KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROJECTING A GOOD IMAGE OF THEMSELVES.

Selfes by (L-R) Aaron Gordon, T.J. Warren, Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Tyler Ennis, Adreian Payne, Elfrid Payton, Rodney Hood, Noah Vonleh, Marcus Smart, Kyle Anderson, Bruno Caboclo, Julius Randle, Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary, Jordan Adams, Jabari Parker, James Young, Doug McDermott, P.J. Hairston, Gary Harris, Shabazz Napier, C.J. Wilcox 036

BY BRIAN A. GIUFFRA #17

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Andrew Wiggins

Minnesota Timberwolves Favorite social media: Instagram (@22wiggins)

Why we should follow: Follow me to follow my life. I’ve got a lot of pictures of what I’m up to on there.

Who were the most influential people in your life growing up? My father, my brother, my mother, basically my entire family.

How did they influence you? They influenced me in every way possible—on the court, off the court. They just helped me get to this point in my life.

If you weren’t playing basketball, what would you be doing? Probably running track, doing track and field. People that know me know I’m good at it. I did it in elementary school and I was pretty good at it.

What’s your fastest time? In eighth grade I ran an 11.8 something in the 100 [meters].

Joel Embiid

Jabari Parker

Favorite social media: Twitter (@ joelembiid)

Favorite social media: Facebook (JabariParker)

Philadelphia 76ers

Why we should follow: I’m funny, goofy. People think I’m funny. That’s a plus.

I post anything.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? I would say probably my mom and my family. My dad used to be a professional handball player and he was really good. I used to watch him all the time. And my mom, she took care of us. But I would say since I started playing basketball three years ago, my biggest influence was Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, another Cameronian NBA player. He has really helped me since I got to the States.

When Mbah A Moute made it to the NBA, did you aspire to be like him?

Embiid: The thing that made me want to play in the NBA was when I first watched a game back in 2009, when the Lakers won against Boston.

Kobe, all those guys, just seeing them, all the joy, and I was like maybe I want to do this. Then, eventually, my dad let me do it in 2011.

If you weren’t playing basketball, what would you do? Probably would play soccer or probably try to be a businessman.

What kind of business would you want to own? I don’t know. At Kansas I was trying to major in business. But I don’t really know what kind I would own.

Do you have any plans on opening a business while you’re in the NBA? We’ll see. Right now I have to focus on basketball.

What’s been the biggest adjustment since you were drafted?

I wouldn’t say anything because I haven’t been doing anything because I’m injured.

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Milwaukee Bucks

Why we should follow: It’s a little bit more personal.

A lot of my direct friends are on there. I like the upfront approach to it. I like being hands on.

Who was your biggest role model growing up?

Will Bynum. He went to Crane High School and I used to go watch his games a lot. He gave me a lot of motivation and a lot of attention when I was young and I needed that.

What was life like for you growing up in Chicago? It was tough at times. But it was overall good because I was able to play against some good competition. It was kind of tough getting my name out there because there were so many good people playing basketball. But that’s helped me get to where I am now.

Did you play more streetball or organized ball growing up? I grew up playing all the time outside in the playground. As far as streetball, I didn’t do all the fancy stuff. But playground ball is where I originated. I still play basketball anywhere. Wherever there’s a basket and wherever there’s a ball, I’ll play.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I really like going to the movies. I checked out a lot of shows when I was in college. I really like relaxing in my down time.

What’s your favorite movie genre? Mystery, a lot of suspense. I like thinking through my films.

What’s your favorite movie? The Place Beyond the Pines. That was a pretty good movie.

What’s been the biggest adjustment since you were drafted?

There’s just a lot more responsibilities. Being in the adult world, doing things on time, doing things on my own. It’s not like somebody is supervising me anymore.

DAVID SHERMAN; BRIAN BABINEAU; STEVE FREEMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Aaron Gordon Orlando Magic

Favorite social media: Twitter. (@IamAaronGordon)

Why we should follow: It’s so entertaining. I hate it and love it at the same time because there’s so much going on. I like to see what people think. But at the same time it doesn’t really matter. It’s just a fun way to interact with fans.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My brother, Drew Gordon. He played with the Philadelphia summer league. He showed me the ropes and laid out a pathway for me.

How competitive are you two? We’re competitive to this day. I know I’m going to see him when I go back home and we’re going to be playing.

What were those backyard battles like growing up? He used to beat me up all the time. I used to get injured all the time playing with him. I’ve got a bunch of scars. But that’s what happens.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I like to golf, play videogames, hang out with friends, just kind of lay low.

How good of a golfer are you? I’m like low 90s, high 80s. But I’m so competitive in everything I do I’m trying to get better. It doesn’t matter what game it is—golf, ping-pong, darts—anything you want to do, I’m competitive and I’ll learn how to beat you in it.

What’s your best skill or attribute for the Magic? I’ve got a big motor, I’m athletic, I can do a lot out there on the court. If I’m not scoring, I can rebound and play good defense. When I am scoring it’s another luxury to have.

What are your goals for your rookie year? Not get down on myself. It’s going to be a roller coaster of emotions and I just have to keep a level head.

Marcus Smart Boston Celtics

Favorite social media: Instagram (@youngamechanger)

Why we should follow: The pictures I post, when I post. I don’t post a lot, but when I post they mean something. It’s not just out there posting 100 pictures a day. I won't blow up your TL [timeline] with unnecessary pictures.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My brother, Todd Westbrook. He was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15 and he dealt with it for 18 years. He lost his battle at the age of 33. But as he was living, you could never tell he was sick. He taught me a lot of things that I use today, just how to talk to people, and to get respect you have to earn it and you have to give respect.

How do you carry on his legacy? Everyday he’s the first person to come to mind when I step on the court.

Everything I do reverts back to him.

If you weren’t playing basketball, what would you do? I’d probably be a skydiving instructor. The adrenaline, it looks fun.

Have you ever gone skydiving? No, but it looks fun. Obviously I would never do it while I was playing.

Are you an adrenaline junkie? Not really. But every time I do something that gets my adrenaline going I like it.

What’s the craziest adrenaline-generating thing you’ve done? I used to do back flips off roofs.

What’s going to be your best skill during your rookie year? I’m physical, I play defense very well and I can play either guard spot.

What are your goals for your rookie year? Just to be the best I can be every time I step on the court, plain and simple.

NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES; JENNIFER POTTHEISER; BRIAN BABINEAU/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Julius Randle

Los Angeles Lakers Favorite social media: Instagram (@J30_Randle) and Twitter (@juliusrandle30)

Why we should follow: I had a class [on social media]. Some people make mistakes on social media. That class really helped me avoid those mistakes.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My mother, Carolyn Kyles. Seeing how she worked hard and took care of me and my sister by herself, it definitely was a big influence. I definitely want to be a father for my kids. Seeing her work ethic and the way she was able to provide for us, I definitely use that as motivation and it’s definitely motivation to give back to her.

How have you given back so far? I paid her bills off and got her new car. It felt good. She provided for me for so long and to be able to give back to her, you can’t put a price tag on it.

Who are your favorite musical artists?

Jay Z, Drake, Lil Wayne.

What’s been the biggest adjustment since you were drafted? It’s been a whirlwind. There’s a lot of traveling. It’s probably like this more your rookie year.

Just trying to learn how to move on the fly. You don’t have a set schedule. You’re trying to move on the fly and try to find time for yourself. It’s hard.

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Nik Stauskas

Sacramento Kings Who was your biggest influence growing up? LeBron, I always looked up to him.

What about him did you admire most? The thing I always respected was he was 18 and had all these expectations coming into the League and [Nike] gave him $90 million right off the bat. But that never got to him and he always strived to be great. He could have easily settled. But he always strived to become the best he could ever become.

Are you looking forward to meeting or playing against him more? It will be cool to play against him. Obviously he’s the best player in our game and it will be cool to be on the court with him and see how great he is in person.

What was life like for you growing up in Canada? It was cool. Toronto is pretty much the same as any other North American city like Chicago or New York. I feel like I had an American lifestyle growing up.

What did you do as a kid? Basketball was always big for me and that was the only thing on my mind growing up.

No hockey? No. None of my friends I hung out with ever played hockey either. We only cared about basketball.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I like watching movies.

Favorite genre? Definitely comedy.

Favorite movie? My all-time favorite is Dumb and Dumber. That kind of humor, the dumb kind of humor, is what makes me laugh.

What’s been the biggest adjustment since you were drafted? We’ve been really busy. Traveling, summer league, adjusting to the physicality of the game. Guys are a lot stronger. So there’s a lot going on at the same time.

How will your skills translate to the NBA? Shooting is my best ability, but I can put the ball on the floor and distribute the ball to others. My biggest adjustment is going to be getting stronger and getting better defensively and I think that’s going to take some time.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve bought since being drafted? Mostly clothes. No cars. No houses. I’m thinking of getting my mom a pair of really nice designer shoes like Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choos. I know my clothing.

Noah Vonleh

Charlotte Hornets Who was your biggest influence growing up? Probably my parents and my favorite players, Tracy McGrady and Amar’e Stoudemire. I liked Amar’e from like fifth grade to eighth grade.

Amar’e was my favorite player.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I like to relax, play videogames, hang out with friends, go to the movies. Just normal stuff.

Favorite video game? NBA 2K. Favorite type of movie? Comedy probably.

Any favorite come to mind? I like watching Kevin Hart and Katt Williams. Those guys are hilarious.

If you weren’t playing basketball, what would you do? I’d probably try to play football or be like a businessman, a CEO of a company.

Did you play football growing up? I played like messing around. But I never played organized, like Pop Warner or anything. I didn’t want to get hurt playing football and get hurt for basketball so I didn’t want to mess around with it.

How has your life changed since the draft? It’s just a blessing. Sometimes I’m just sitting down and am like, wow, I’m in the NBA right now. This is a dream come true.

What will you bring during your rookie year? I’m able to rebound the ball at a high rate and I know it’s just going to get better because I’m going to work hard.

Any goals for your rookie year? Have my team get to the playoffs again. I’m probably the only lottery pick that got picked by a team that made it to the playoffs so that’s the biggest thing. I’m going to be playing with a lot of great players: Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson. Hopefully I can win Rookie of the Year.

Every rookie wants to win that.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve bought since being drafted? I just bought a Mac computer and I think I might buy a Louis V backpack soon. It’s good just being in the League and you can buy all the things you couldn’t buy before. But I’m not trying to go too crazy. It’s too early to go crazy now.

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NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES; JENNIFER POTTHEISER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Doug McDermott Chicago Bulls

Favorite social media: Instagram (@DougmcD35)

Elfrid Payton Orlando Magic

Favorite social media: Instagram (@e_payton)

Why we should follow: Because I’ve got some nice pictures. I’ve got a mix of everything. I’ve got me. I’ve got my friends. I’ve got everything, so check it out.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My parents. My grandparents. My grandpa, Alfred. He took me to workouts when I was young and instilled hard work in me.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I watch a lot of movies.

Which genre? Comedy.

Who are your favorite comedic actors?

Will Ferrell has some classics. Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, Marlon Wayans, Seth Rogan. I like a variety.

What’s your best skill going into your first year? I think my defense and getting up and down in transition. That’s something I do really well right now. And getting the ball to open people. That’s what I’m trying to do right now so I can be the best player I can be.

What are your goals for your rookie year?

I’d like to be on the All-Rookie Team and be Rookie of the Year and help my team make it to the playoffs. I want to win championships and hopefully one day be a Hall of Famer.

Do you feel like you are overlooked? I think a little bit. I think it’s because I came from a small school [Louisiana Lafayette]. But it’s all good. I’m here now. We’re all on the same level so we’ll see how it plays out.

How did playing for a small school influence you? I always like to play hard but I play even harder because I have something to prove.

STEVE FREEMAN; DAVID DOW/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES

Why we should follow: It’s just great photos.

I travel a lot so I get to see a lot of cool stuff so that’s why I think I’m a great follow.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? It was probably my dad [Creighton basketball coach Greg McDermott] just because my family moved around a lot because of him being a coach. He’s the one who introduced me to basketball so I always kind of looked up to him.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I like to golf. I play a lot of golf and videogames.

What’s your handicap? I’m about a 10.

OK, so you’re shooting what? In the low 80s.

Ever gotten a hole-in-one? Never got one. I’ve witnessed a couple. But I’m still waiting on that.

How has your life changed since the draft?

I’m a little more easily recognizable.

Have you been recognized in Chicago much?

In Chicago, yeah. But people on the West Coast don’t recognize me. They don’t know me yet.

What do fans think of you in Chicago? Are you getting a lot of positive feedback?

Yeah, so far. We haven’t played a game yet, so everything’s positive. But I’m sure they’re great. So far I’ve noticed how much they care about their teams.

How will your skills translate to the NBA? I think they translate well. Just my ability to shoot, I’ve got really good touch, a good IQ for the game. I know I’m going to have to guard some pretty tough guys. But I think I’m ready to do it and I’m ready for the challenge.

What are you looking forward to most?

Playing for a whole new team, playing in the NBA, playing on TV. It’s everyone’s dream so it will be pretty sweet. I’m really looking forward to it.

Who are you looking forward to playing against the most in the NBA? Probably Kevin Durant.

How would you guard him? I guarded him at the USAB [camp] in Vegas. I contested his first shot and he missed. But then he got me back a bunch of times. But that was really cool.

What’s that challenge like? You just have to pray. Pray a lot.

Zach LaVine

Minnesota Timberwolves Favorite social media: Instagram (@zachlavine8)

Why we should follow: It’s personal. It’s like branding myself, so it’s cool.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My dad [Paul LaVine]. He was a professional football player so he’s been through everything. He definitely taught me the dos and the don’ts. One of my idols growing up was Kobe Bryant, so him too.

How did your dad help you coming into the League? He really gave me insight on everything. The hard work, the things he did wrong, he taught me to do right. It’s like second nature for him so I already had practice for it.

What was the best advice he give you? Time to get to work.

You’ve become very popular on the Internet for your dunking ability. Were you always known as a dunker? Growing up I was never known as a dunker. In high school I was known as a scorer. Now people see me as much more of an athlete so it just changes your perspective on how people view you.

What’s it like being so popular for dunking?

It’s cool. Dunking is something that excites people. I like getting people out of their seats.

Who are your favorite musical artists right now? A little bit Chief Keef. I love YG, Kendrick Lamar and Speaker Knockerz.

How will your game transition to the NBA? I feel like I’m transitioning really well. There’s a lot more open space, which allows me to get in there and create for others with my jump shot and I can spread the floor.

What are your goals for your rookie year? I want to be one of the best players ever. That’s what drives me. I know that’s a bold statement for a rookie but that’s what it is. I’m trying to be the best rookie out here. That’s my main goal. Whenever I’m on the court, I want to be the best player.

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How does your game translate to the NBA? Me getting out in transition, the Suns are just my style of play so it’s a perfect fit.

What are your goals for your rookie year?

Definitely winning Rookie of the Year. That’s what everyone wants. I want to play my best basketball I can my first year in the League.

It’s going to be a tough transition. But with the coaching staff and veteran players, it should be easy.

Adreian Payne Atlanta Hawks

Favorite social media: Instagram and Twitter (both @adreian_payne)

T.J. Warren

Phoenix Suns Favorite social media: Twitter (@tonywarrenjr)

Why we should follow: I’m a motivational tweeter. I believe in hard work so that’s pretty much what my tweets are based on.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My biggest influence was David West.

I played for his brother's AAU team. He was always around. He gave me great advice. He helped me stay on the right direction and helped me along to this point.

What is David West like away from the court? David West is a tremendous guy. I know he gets the image on the floor of a bully and tough guy. But once you get to know him, he’s really a motivational guy, just a hard worker. A lot of kids could learn from him.

Who are your favorite artists right now?

Dom Kennedy, the whole OpM label, J. Cole.

What was the best part about growing up in North Carolina? The diversity. Growing up in Raleigh, going to N.C. State, you meet a lot of different people. I love North Carolina.

How has life changed since being drafted? I knew things were going to change as soon as I got drafted. It’s really been me staying more to myself. I’ve always been to myself since the beginning. But once I got drafted, I can’t do the same things I used to do, going places.

People know who I am. You have to watch your surroundings more.

What do you mean by that? You have to keep your eyes open off the court. You have to realize who really cares about you and who just wants to be around you because you’re in the NBA. It’s cliché, but it’s the truth.

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Why we should follow: I’m a down to earth guy. I like to have fun. I care about others.

And I love basketball. I don’t really reply that much. I just like to let people know what I’m up to. And some inspirational tweets sometimes.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My grandmother [Mary Louis] was the

with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.], I had to focus in more at school, stay at school longer and pin my mind to it.

Do you plan to give back to kids who suffer from a disability like you? I always try to give back and talk to kids and inspire them.

I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do now [that he’s in the NBA]. But I’m going to talk to my agent and figure out what specific things I can do.

How does your game translate to the NBA? As a 4, I’ll be able to stretch the floor. I play good defense and block shots and rebound. I think I’ll be able to transition very well.

Any goals for your rookie year? I want to make it back to the playoffs like we have in the past and just continue to help my team in the way that they need me.

James Young Boston Celtics

Favorite social media: Instagram (@realjamesyoung)

Why we should follow: It’s just a better way for fans to see me and what I’m doing and I can reach out to all my fans. So it’s just a better way to communicate.

How have you been adjusting to the city of Boston? Just to get to know the city, because I’m not familiar with it. When I have the time I’ll drive around Boston, just to get familiar with the city and interact with the fans a little bit.

What stands out about Boston so far?

The fans love the sports there and the food is really great.

most influential part of my life.

How did your grandmother influence you?

My grandmother, she cared about everybody.

She was always open to help somebody and she just showed me how things should be, how life should be. She fought through a lot of things in life. She raised my brothers and me when my mom passed and she was always around and she taught me what a family was supposed to be like.

What was your toughest obstacle growing up? Getting to college from high school. It was a hard challenge for me to get to college, and once I got in college it was hard to do the things I needed to do to stay and graduate.

That was the biggest accomplishment of my life, getting from high school to college and then graduating college. Growing up having a disability [Ed note: Payne was diagnosed NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Who are your favorite musical artists?

Jay Z, Drake, Lil Wayne, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick [Lamar].

Is there a goal for your rookie year? Win Rookie of the Year. That’s something I look forward to every day, every time I work out. It’s just something to motivate me. I think everybody’s goal is to win a national championship. I haven’t won one yet. I came close last year [with Kentucky] so I think it’s about time for me to win one.

Tyler Ennis

Phoenix Suns

was. But it’s a little bit different now. You walk around and people know who you are and ask for pictures and things like that. It’s different in terms of spending money. There are certain things you would never think about buying before but now you consider it.

How does your game translate to the NBA? From what I did in college, I think I can do similar things at the NBA level, in terms of passing and making people better, not turning the ball over and just making plays down the stretch. I think I can keep doing that. I can also shoot the ball better than people think. In the NBA I think you get a lot more open shots than you do in college so knocking down open shots from the point guard position in the NBA. What are your goals for your rookie year? I definitely want to make the playoffs. I’m lucky to go to a team that barely missed the playoffs and has a lot of young talent. Definitely want to play in the Rookie-Sophomore game.

Anything above that is all a plus.

Did you treat yourself to anything since being drafted? Nothing too crazy. I’m most interested in buying a house. I grew up in a big family so I never had too much space to myself. Just being able to buy a big house and car, it’s something everybody dreams about. And to be able to do that at 19 years old, not everybody can do that.

Favorite social media: Twitter (@tdot_ennis)

Gary Harris

Why we should follow: Actually, I don’t tweet too much but when I do it usually means something. I follow a lot of people so I know what’s going on. Most of it is what I’m doing. Usually retweet stuff from today so you get to see a little bit of the inside. When I was younger, I always liked to see what the NBA players were doing, what city they were in. So as much as I can, I try to keep them informed about things like that.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I listen to a lot of music, I watch a lot of movies and I’m into fashion as well, sneakers and stuff like that.

Do you have a favorite fashion line? I like Pink Dolphin. A couple of people know about it. I wear a lot of different brands though. I don’t stick to one brand.

Who’s your favorite musical artist? Favorite artist, I would have to go with Drake.

What’s it like being an NBA player? Very similar to college. I went to Syracuse so the fans are diehard there. They knew who I

Favorite social media: Vine (@thats_G_)

NICK LAHAM (2)/GETTY IMAGES; BRIAN BABINEAU/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

everything that I think is funny. That way you can get to know what I think is funny.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My parents, Gary Harris and Joi Harris.

They’ve always kept me going in the right direction. They held me accountable. I couldn’t take the easy way out of anything.

What’s been your biggest adjustment since being drafted? Flying everywhere.

Having to fly to summer league, I’m always on the move.

Do you enjoy flying? I love airplanes so I’ll be just fine.

What are you listening to these days? Right now Drake, Meek, Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.

How does your game translate to the NBA? I got to a team that likes to get up and down and they need some guys to play defense.

I think I’m a guy who can get up and down and play defense so I think I should fit in well. I have to get adjusted to the NBA level.

It’s going to be a huge change.

Any goals for your rookie year? I want to be at All-Star Weekend, the Rookie-Sophomore game. I think my goal just like everybody else’s goal is to be Rookie of the Year.

Denver Nuggets Why we should follow: I would normally say Twitter or Instagram, but I have to go with Vine right now. Vine is hilarious. I could watch videos on there all day. I find

Bruno Caboclo Toronto Raptors

Favorite social media: Twitter (@bruno_caboclo)

Why we should follow: I don’t know. I post good pictures.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My sisters were big [into] sports. They played volleyball. My mother wanted to push me in volleyball. But my sisters said, ’’Put him in basketball.’’

043

Jordan Adams

Memphis Grizzlies Who was your biggest influence growing up? My parents, John and Sabrina. They laid the foundation for what I need to know and what I needed to do to be successful. They’ve always been my backbone.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I play a lot of videogames, listen to music, normal stuff.

Who’s your favorite musical artist? Lil Wayne and Chief Keef.

How good are you at videogames?

I think I’m the best 2K player. I think I can beat anybody.

What’s your Xbox Live handle? We’ll get you some tough competition.

Guwop3. Bring it on.

Has the game of basketball changed now that you’re a pro? This is your job now. It’s not something you do for fun. It’s your job.

It changes. Something you love has turned into your job.

Does that worry you that your love of the game might change? No. This is what you want growing up so I’m just trying to get acclimated to it.

me out of trouble and made sure I was in the gym with him.

Where did he play in college? He played college ball at UT Chattanooga. He was always that hardworking guy, tough-nosed.

But I was a little bit better.

When was the first time you beat him? I was like 13. I finally got him outside our house. It was great. No more picking on Rodney.

Did he pick on you before that? He would push me around. He was just trying to make me tough, so it was cool.

Growing up, what kind of things were you into? I would go to the Boys and Girls Club a lot. That’s where I grew up. It’s a big part of me. I went there since I was 3-4 years old.

That’s where I learned to play ball.

It must hold a special place for you? It means a lot. I’m doing a lot of stuff with the Boys and Girls Club right now and in the future. It will always be a part of my heart.

What’s changed since you were drafted?

There’s a lot of new people trying to get in

Miami Heat

Favorite social media: Instagram (@shabassnap13r)

P.J. Hairston

Charlotte Hornets

Utah Jazz

Favorite social media: Vine

Favorite social media: Instagram (@hoodie5)

044

Shabazz Napier

Why we should follow: I don’t know.

I don’t post a lot of pictures, but I post enough I guess.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My mother and my family definitely. We didn’t have much but we always pushed each other to be better.

What’s been the biggest adjustment since being drafted? It’s been off the court. I’m still in the same mode, but I can’t go to certain places. Like I try to go certain places with my family but it’s tough because people want to get your autograph and pictures and they don’t understand you just want to enjoy yourself. It’s kind of hard. You don’t want them to think it’s something negative.

Rodney Hood

Why we should follow: You can connect with all the fans. Twitter is a little bit messier.

Instagram is just fun. You get to look at a lot more pictures and just have fun with the fans. I take pictures of random things that I do in my life and I try to give fans an inside look at my life.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My big brother Ricky. Watching him grow up in high school and then college, I just wanted to be like him and he kept

What are your goals for your rookie year?

First get on the floor. Hopefully one day I want to be an All-Star. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. But I’m committed to it. I have a lot of great people working with me that believe in me, so we’ll see what happens.

your life. But I’m just staying close to my family and staying in the gym. I always had a tight-knit group, so when new people try to come, we already know why.

What will you bring to the Utah Jazz? Me being able to shoot the ball from beyond the arc, playing with guys like Trey Burke and Dante Exum who can get in the lane real well. I think I can be an outside assassin.

Eventually I’ll evolve my game to include other things as well. But right now I can knock down shots.

Why we should follow: I have a lot of friends on Vine. FamousLos32, he’s one of the funniest guys on Vine and he’s one of those Vine-famous kind of guys, so he got me on the Vine thing and now I watch them and I’m laughing on everyone I see.

I’m more of a watcher. I could post funny videos. I just don’t.

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My mom, Wendy, of course. She did everything for me. She put a basketball in my STEVE FREEMAN; BRIAN BABINEAU/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES

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Having it now, I feel I have a sense of what to do and how to handle it.

How would you compare the D-League to the NBA? It was different. That wasn’t the path I wanted to take. But when I got to the D-League I used it as a learning experience and learned from the guys who played in the League. I feel like that was the biggest thing for me, learning from those guys, and it got me to where I am now.

C.J. Wilcox

Los Angeles Clippers

hands. Without her I wouldn’t be here.

When did she put the ball in your hands?

When I was 4 I started playing basketball.

I played football when I was younger, too.

But once I started taking basketball serious, I realized I could be pretty good.

Did you play more streetball or organized ball growing up? A little bit of both. All the kids went to the park and played basketball. I was one of the few kids that was on the Y team in a league. I was one of the few kids who played organized ball in my neighborhood.

What was your biggest obstacle growing up? In the neighborhood I grew up in, you never knew what you were going to get.

My house has been broken into a few times; you would hear gunshots at night every now and then. It was something I had to ignore.

I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house because my mom didn’t feel I was safe [at home].

How did that influence you? Looking back, it’s where I grew up. I can’t change the fact of where I grew up. Looking back now I’m able to say I’m an NBA player. Knowing where I grew up and looking at me now, you would have never thought I grew up in that area.

What do you like doing away from basketball? Play NBA 2K. Any other obsessions? All I really do is play videogames. If I’m not in the gym I’m at home playing videogames or hanging out with my family or my girlfriend.

How have things changed since entering the NBA? Just trying to get used to this lifestyle. I had a glimpse of it in the D-League but it wasn’t the same. [Ed note: Hairston was in the D-League with the Texas Legends in 2013-14 before getting drafted in June.]

046

Who was your biggest influence growing up? My dad [Craig]. He’s the one who taught me about hard work and what it takes to be successful. I credit everything to him.

just something you like doing. You have to be a professional. Once you get to the NBA you start to have fun again. You’re stressed out before then. Now you can let loose and soak it all in.

What was the most stressful part? Draft day. I hung out with friends, then came back to the house. I tried to time it where I didn’t watch the whole thing but only came back for when I thought I was going to go.

What will be your best asset as a rookie?

Shooting the ball is what I do. That translates no matter what. The speed, obviously, is faster. But I think I’m learning the ropes pretty well.

What are your goals for your rookie year?

Be a part of All-Star Weekend.

Any career goals? Just to play as long as possible. I think being able to shoot the ball keeps you in the League longer than other guys. I think I’m banking on that and preparing to play for a lot of years.

What was the biggest purchase since getting drafted? I haven’t bought anything yet, but I have a car on deck, a nicer MacBook on deck and then get my place in LA.

Kyle Anderson

San Antonio Spurs

What kind of advice did he give you after being drafted? Not to get complacent.

Continue to work hard. Attack, whether it’s the veteran or whoever, just attack everything and try to make a name for yourself.

What do you like doing away from basketball? I’m really into music, I play the guitar. I like to watch movies, TV shows.

How long have you played the guitar? I’ve been playing seriously for three years. My friend growing up played guitar so that’s something that caught my eye and I like music so I wanted to learn how to play an instrument.

Who are some of your favorite musical artists? I listen to a lot of Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Lil Wayne and Drake.

Anyone people are sleeping on? The Weeknd.

How has life changed since you were drafted? It got a little more busy. You have more things to do. You have to treat basketball like a job now as opposed to

Who was your biggest influence growing up? Probably my father, Kyle. I went to school where he was a teacher and I was a student.

We would go straight to his gym every day.

He put the ball in my hands so he really influenced me. He’s always there for me when I need it and he’s tough on me, too.

What kind of music are you into? I like to listen to some of the classic stuff like Jay Z or Kanye West or Nas or J. Cole, old rappers that I grew up on, that I really understand now.

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T he

048

Kin

CHRIS COVATTA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

BY MICHAEL BRADLEY #53

ng

Holds Cou rt LeBron James has returned to his tightful kingdom.

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“THE MORE EXPERIENCED YOU ARE, THE MORE YOU REALIZE THAT THE MOST FULFILLING THINGS IN LIFE COME WHEN YOU CAN HELP OTHERS DO SOMETHING ON THE BASKETBALL COURT OR IN OTHER WALKS OF LIFE. LEBRON IS GOING TO FIND [LEADING CLEVELAND] ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES. IT WILL MOTIVATE HIM GREATLY.”—RICK CARLISLE

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CHRIS COVATTA; DAVID LIAM KYLE (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

A

t frst, Kyrie Irving was not going to do it. No way. There he was, with his two new, celebrated teammates, smiling for the cameras. It was the usual collection of posed shots on media day.1 Hold the basketball. Stand right here. Look this way. But when they brought out a box—and then another—for him to stand upon, the better to tower2 over LeBron James and Kevin Love, that was too much.

The assembled reporters and TV types—all 300 of them—laughed at Irving’s refusal. But the photographer prevailed, and Irving climbed up, rested his elbows on the big guys’ shoulders and beamed.

It wasn’t too hard to catch the metaphor. After three years of letting the Cavaliers franchise lean on him,3 Irving would be able to rely on James and Love, not to mention Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, James Jones and Brendan Haywood. It was a happy day for the Cleveland franchise, which just four years earlier had been laid low by James’ departure. The King was back in town and had lured some experienced princes with him. That meant Irving, who had fought valiantly to help the Cavs move forward during his time with the team, fnally had some experienced help.

More than that, Irving has the opportunity to grow and develop while surrounded by proven winners and veteran leaders. In an odd NBA twist, Irving is almost a rookie again, albeit one who logged the most minutes on the USA Basketball team that won the FIBA World Cup title over the summer. He won’t be the hunted Cav every night. Cleveland has somebody to handle that now.

“For me, I had the consistency of having a target on my back every day,” Irving says. “Over the past three years, there has been a lot of pressure. Now, we have a different situation.”

Nobody knows pressure like James, who has ended his residence in South Beach with a return to the ancestral home, delighting Clevelanders who have crawled, parched and seared by disappointment, through the championship desert for 50 years. His arrival has electrifed the city and made the hysteria surrounding Johnny Manziel’s4 arrival in town seem like a yawn from a bored teenager. James’ status as the World’s Best Player, coupled with his two championship rings from his “college days”5 in Miami, have provided Cavs fans with the hope that an NBA title is a certainty.

James has also assured Cleveland’s younger players—like Irving, forward Tristan Thompson and guard Dion Waiters— that they can act their ages. For the past three years, they have been pretending to be all grown up. The results were hard lessons learned and plenty of losses.6 The nascent trio—the oldest of whom is 23 (Thompson)—can now provide support to James while learning what is necessary to be champions.

“This is good for myself and for the other young guys on the team,” Thompson says. “We need someone to look up to.”

There is no one standing taller in the basketball world than James, whose celebrated return to his home state has created an NBA storyline that will dominate the 2014-15 season. Last year, about 20 media members showed up at the Cavaliers’ Cleveland Clinic Courts the day before training camp to meet the team and discuss the quest for respectability. In late September, there was so much attention, the team had to arrange for automotive overfow at a nearby steak house, and new head coach David Blatt remarked that he “couldn’t fnd a parking place” when he showed up for work that day.

Throughout the afternoon, everybody talked about the expectations that have arisen now that James has returned and brought Love et al with him. There is no guarantee

Cleveland will win a title this season, just as the Heat failed in its quest during James’ frst year there. That bunch in San Antonio is still pretty formidable, as are the Thunder and Clippers. And don’t think Chicago can’t give Cleveland trouble, as well as the re-tooled Heat.7 “Expectation is a good thing,” Blatt says. “It keeps us on our toes and motivated to do what we can.”

Since the NBA is about winning, the concepts of growth and development can get lost amidst the clamor for championships. Thanks to the rest of the veteran roster GM David Griffn has assembled, which includes the 36-year old Marion, Haywood, who will turn 35 in November, and Miller and Jones, both of whom will celebrate their 34th birthdays this season, it appears Cleveland is sacrifcing the future for a win-now mentality. But a closer look reveals that those vets will team with James to provide a new culture for the franchise. Their professionalism and experience will provide guidance for the young holdovers and even Love, who despite his six years of NBA service has never reached the playoffs or had someone capable of demonstrating the championship lifestyle.8 Marion, Miller, Jones and Haywood can do that. So can James.

Can he ever.

“It’s every team’s goal and every coach’s dream to have your best player be your best example for the other players on the team and for the organization,” says Blatt.

“IT’S GREAT FOR ME, HAVING AROUND A GUY LIKE THAT. HE’S A PROVEN WINNER, A CHAMPION, AND SOMEBODY I CAN TALK TO.” —DION WAITERS OOOOO Four years ago, a smiling James sat on a smoke and pyrotechnic-flled stage in Miami next to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and told an adoring throng of Heat fans just how many championships the team was going to win. There was no such frivolity during his early days in Cleveland. In fact, the only time James came close to cracking an “offcial” smile during this media day was when someone asked him about his children’s reaction to the idea of his playing for the Cavs again.

“I didn’t explain it to them; they explained it to me,” says James.

They were excited about living in their old house, attending their old school and their father playing with Irving. (Even the greatest can be humbled by the kids.) Once that was established, James was allowed to go home.

But he returns without the levity that accompanied his move to Florida.

James is now an NBA veteran, an NBA champion and a businessman who understands that greatness and reward come to those who win. Last year’s Finals loss to the Spurs showed that there are no certainties, and that winning big requires tremendous commitment and plenty of help.

When James signed on with the Heat, he did so as one of three, and he even deferred to Wade his frst season with the team, a behavior that was cited by some as a reason Miami lost the 2011 Finals to Dallas.

There is no risk of James’ doing anything like that in Cleveland. Although people will try to create a “Big Three” style aura around the team, this is clearly a case of the Big One. Irving and Love are rising stars, but neither 051

“I HAD THE CONSISTENCY OF HAVING A TARGET ON MY BACK EVERY DAY. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE. NOW, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SITUATION.” —KYRIE IRVING has the championship pedigree of James. Nor can they command the kind of attention from opponents that James will this year. Because of that, James sees himself clearly as the Cavs’ front man, and that is just fne with him.

“I believe I bring leadership qualities that a lot of guys don’t want to or don’t know how to do,” says LeBron. “I can lead by example, by voice, by command and by my presence. I am most excited about leading the guys every day in practice and games.”

A lot of players will describe their ability to lead in terms of exhorting their teammates or rallying them with their hard play. Few—if any—will mention that they can command the team. James’ résumé9 demands respect, and he has matured into a player that is comfortable in a position that allows him to direct fellow players, even if that means being more aggressive in his methods. Although he reminded everybody present that he was only 29 years old10 when asked whether he lost weight during the offseason to make himself quicker or jump better—“I can still fy above the rim,” was his answer—James is much older in NBA years. He has 12 seasons of experience, fve Finals appearances, two rings and more scrutiny than any other player has ever received.

Michael Jordan may have been a phenomenon, but his career fnished at the beginning of the 24-hour news cycle, before the dawn of social media, and no national media outlet ever dispatched a reporter to cover him exclusively. James’ body is 29. His basketball soul is 40.11 Because of that, he is more qualifed to lead than anyone else in the League.

“The opportunity to mentor the younger guys and bring the Cavaliers back to the cusp of where they were a few years ago provides a high level of motivation for him,” Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle says. “I respect him for doing it in Miami. It was a great opportunity for him, and he made it a great opportunity for Miami.

“But my view is that the more experienced you are, the more you realize that the most fulflling things in life come when you can help others do something on the basketball court or in other walks of 052

life. LeBron is going to fnd [leading Cleveland] one of the great challenges. It will motivate him greatly.”

James’ leadership skills have blossomed, but one thing hasn’t changed since his high school days: Guys want to play with him.

He will expect a lot from his teammates, but he won’t berate them, embarrass them or try to lay them low. He is the best, and he prefers to motivate through positive means, rather than by demeaning or berating.

“LeBron is such an incredible presence around our league, and nobody wants to [misbehave] around him,” an NBA GM says. “He’s one of those guys you modify your behavior around, because you don’t want to look bad in front of him.

“He’s a guy you want to play with. People respect his game and who he is and what he’s accomplished, so they don’t want to do poorly around him. Also, LeBron is a willing passer.”

That’s a huge thing and completely true. When James was with the Cavaliers the frst time, he was criticized for passing too often, especially in one celebrated postseason instance.12 He took some fak from the media for giving up the ball to Chris Bosh last year against

COACHING DREAM

the Pacers during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.13 But who wouldn’t want to play with a star who has faith in his teammates in clutch situations?

It’s one thing to dish in insignifcant February games and quite another to set someone up for success when it really matters. Blatt can’t wait to integrate that part of James’ game into the Cavs’ offense.

“LeBron has always had an orientation toward passing the basketball,” he says. “Through the years, he has played at a high level, and his basketball IQ has been developed and refned, and he has come to recognize the importance of making other guys better and empowering them to make the team better and promote the ethic of teamwork.”

James has averaged fewer than six assists per game only once in his 12 years—his rookie season.14 James won two titles in big part thanks to people like Miller, Jones, Udonis Haslem, Ray Allen and Shane Battier, who played key supporting roles and whose contributions were never minimized by the Heat’s star.

In Cleveland, no one doubts who is in charge of the Cavs, and that means beyond the court. Griffn is the GM. Blatt is the coach. But James is clearly the organization’s most important part. He recruited the veterans to join the team, and they came to play with him. Marion is blunt that he wouldn’t have considered Cleveland had James not returned.

"It wasn't a sell," Marion says, “[James] told me what it was. He said, ‘I know what you’re capable of, and we need you here to be a part of it.’ It was that simple.”

GREGORY SHAMUS; DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

At Cavaliers media day in late September, David Blatt did his best not to look like a man who had won back-to-back Powerball drawings and had a good line on where that leprechaun hid the pot-o-gold.

He dressed conservatively, spoke without too much emotion and didn’t do a lot of smiling. It’s not hard to imagine that inside, he wanted to highfve everybody in the place, even those puppets with which the players had to interact throughout the afternoon. A couple months ago, Blatt had signed on to help the Cavs fght their way into the playoffs. Now, he is presiding over the most watched basketball team in the world.

“It’s been a very, very special summer for the Cleveland Cavaliers,” says Blatt, in what could amount to be the understatement of the season.

You think? Had LeBron James not returned to his home state and brought a bunch of friends with him, Blatt would be putting together a system for one of the NBA’s youngest squads, one likely to spend a ffth year away from the postseason.

Instead, the 2014 Euroleague Coach of the Year, who led Maccabi Tel Aviv to last year’s Euro title, is implementing a system designed to maximize James’ many skills and create a unit capable of complementing him in pursuit of the NBA championship.

“I have to run a system that enhances that kind of team concept,” Blatt says.

The early days of training camp brought praise for Blatt, who is known for his tremendous preparation and ability to work with a variety of personality types, which he has refned in his 21 years of coaching overseas. What Blatt doesn’t have a lot of is NBA experience.

Zero, to be exact. His success, however, will be judged entirely by how strong a bond he can form with James.

Then again, forging ties with inexperienced young coaches is nothing new for James. Outside of Paul Silas, who coached James for a little less than two seasons (assistant Brendan Malone took over for 18 games on an interim basis after Silas was let go), James has been taking direction from a relative newb at coach. James’ third-year coach was rookie head coach Mike Brown, and when James headed south for four years, Erik Spoelstra was just starting his third season at the helm of the Heat.

Unlike some players who need an established coach who commands respect in order to take direction, James has fared well with coaches who are still learning on the job. It’s been said many times that what makes LeBron great is that he shares the ball, makes everyone around him better and bonds everyone together; he’s also a very coachable player and a coach’s dream because he takes direction, has a keen understanding of the game and sets an example for everyone else on the team to follow.

“We have a new group coming together, with a new coaching staff and a new system,” James says. “It’s not going to be easy at all. But if we’re patient, and everybody buys into the system, it will help us a lot.”

Which should help make Blatt’s rookie year easy.—#53 053

ALL THE KING’S MEN He is bacon, butter, salt and pepper.

He is a choir. He is an orchestra. He is more cowbell.

He is LeBron James.

He makes everything better.

He makes everyone better.

On his frst stay in Cleveland, LeBron remade the fedgling Cavaliers into perennial championship contenders, peaking four years after his arrival with a Finals appearance.

More recently—the last four years to be precise—LeBron recreated the Heat into perpetual Finalists, twice transforming Miami into LOB Trophy holders.

Now, in his 12th NBA season, the fve-time NBA MVP has returned to Cleveland to make everything and everyone better once again in this 2014-15 NBA season.

The names have changed (exception: Anderson Varejao), but the recipe remains the same, whether made in Miami or Cleveland: Add LeBron to the mix. Set it and forget it.

KYRIE IRVING Playing this summer at the FIBA World Cup for his college coach Mike Krzyzewski and defensive guru Tom Thibodeau, USA Basketball starting point guard Kyrie Irving probably learned more about NBA defense than he previously had in 11 games at Duke and 181 games as a Cavalier. Expect Irving’s D, which registered PRE-LEBRON a miserable -3.38 Kyrie Irving DRPM 2012 2013 2014 Defensive Real Plus-2.0 -3.4 Minus score in 2013-14, -2.4 Mario Chalmers DRPM to improve annually in 2009 2010 similar fashion to Mario -0.1 -0.1 Chalmers, who suffered POST-LEBRON Mario Chalmers DRPM LeBron’s coaching 2012 2013 2014 wrath time and time +0.4 +0.4 +0.8 again on the defensive SOURCE: ESPN.COM end. Today, Chalmers is a good defender; one day, we may say the same about Irving.

DION WAITERS In Miami, LeBron had the luxury of playing alongside some of the most effcient shooters in the game, with James Jones (.604 true shooting percentage in his time with LeBron and the Heat), Ray Allen (.595), Mario Chalmers (.566), Mike Miller (.562) and Shane Battier (.556). Battier, an advanced-metrics geek, was instrumental in LeBron’s development into an effcient shooter (it’s part of the reason why LeBron had a .622 true shooting percentage in four seasons there). Expect LeBron, in turn, to drop that wisdom on Waiters once they get on the foor this season. Waiters, who had a .368 three-point percentage in 2013-14 (translates to .552 effective feld goal percentage), ended up shooting more long twos (29 percent of his shots were 16-plus footers) than effcient threes (only 23 PLAYER SHOT DISTANCE percent of his 0-3 3-10 10-16 16+ 3s EFG Dion Waiters 2013-14 .525 .288 .449 .431 .552* total shots), % of feld goal attempts 28% 7% 10% 29% 25% even though he LeBron James in 2013-14 .796 .554 .404 .366 .569* only made 43.1 % of feld goal attempts 40% 12% 8% 17% 23% percent of his * WAITERS’ AND JAMES’ ACTUAL THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE WERE .368 AND .379, RESPECTIVELY, WHICH TRANSLATES TO .552 AND .569 EFFECTIVE FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE. long twos. LeBron SOURCE: BASKETBALL-REFERENCE.COM won’t stand for that. Take a step back or take it to the hole, Dion. That’s LeBron’s credo.

MIKE MILLER

MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA Many people have linked LeBron James to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan because they all are big-time scoring MVP wings that have won multiple rings. They all seemed to follow a similar formula, handling the ball at a high rate in their team’s offense while their team’s point guard was relegated to a spot-up shooting point guard. Well, now that LeBron is teaming up with a perennial All-Star point guard in the aforementioned Kyrie Irving, we may start to see a divergence in their careers. But don’t be surprised if Cavs head coach David Blatt uses the old formula when Irving is resting on the bench, likely bringing in second-year Cav Matthew Dellavedova to be the spot-up shooting point guard for LeBron when the second string is in the game. It’s similar to the game plan MJ and Kobe used when John Paxson, Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher were the spot-up three-point-shooting point guards used to space the foor, as were Mario Chalmers 2013-14 ROOKIE THREE-POINT SHOOTING 3% 1. Hollis Thompson (PHI) .401 2. Matthew Dellavedova (CLE) .368 3. Tim Hardaway (NYK) .363 4. Kelly Olynyk (BOS) .351 5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) .347

and Mo Williams in LeBron’s previous stints in Miami and Cleveland. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if LeBron spends a lot of time playing with Dellavedova, who assumes the backup point guard role from Irving after spending most of his rookie 2013-14 season as Dion Waiters’ backup shooting guard (65 percent of Dellavedova’s 17.7 minutes per game came at the 2 spot). In that limited time, Matty D.’s special talents shone through, as he made .368 of his 3s on an offensively-challenged team (23rd in offensive effciency), yet still made his mediocre teammates better with his +1.57 offensive RPM.

3s 67 57 130 40 41 MINIMUM: 40 MADE THREE-POINTERS. SOURCE: BASKETBALL-REFERENCE.COM

There is a reason why LeBron handpicked 34-year-old forward Mike Miller as his foor-spacing wingman when he frst went to Miami, why he was disappointed when the Heat amnestied Miller in 2013-14 and why LeBron again recruited Miller to join him in Cleveland for 2014-15 in his latest adventure. It is because Miller is a high-volume shooting long marksman, something that gives fellow forward LeBron a natural outlet on drives, not to mention the actual foor space to drive at will for numerous attacks/assists at the basket. Did you realize that 64 percent of Miller’s 642 shots were three-pointers from 2010-11 through 2012-13 during Miller’s three seasons with LeBron in Miami? Miller, better than anyone, sets the tone on what LeBron really needs to succeed: outlet shooters who are totally focused on their role. James Jones knows too (see chart below). It’s no surprise they’re both in wine and gold.

LEBRON’S HEAT TEAMMATES 3FGA Mike Bibby 88 Carlos Arroyo 64 James Jones 508 Mike Miller 410 Ray Allen 641 Michael Beasley 54 Eddie House 175 Mario Chalmers 1018 Shane Battier 709 Rashard Lewis 265

FGA 126 238 625 642 1194 355 321 1975 929 485

3RATIO 69% 27% 81% 64% 54% 15% 55% 52% 76% 55%

3PT% .455 .438 .419 .412 .398 .389 .389 .387 .382 .366

SOURCE: BASKETBALL-REFERENCE.COM

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DAVID LIAM KYLE (3); CHRIS COVATTA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

SHAWN MARION

ANDERSON VAREJAO

In Dallas, the Mavericks coaches paid special homage to their veterans, calling Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Marion “our three Hall of Famers” any chance they got.

The coaches would talk of Marion’s penchant for defense, even at age 36, and how the 6-7, 226-pound forward still took on the toughest defensive assignment and set the tone for the playoff-bound Mavs (Marion had a +0.76 defensive RPM last season). LeBron expects this underrated forward to do the same for these Cavs, taking the toughest defensive assignment from LeBron at times, allowing King James to have more gas left in the tank for when he plays MVPs and Finals MVPs like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. It’s a role James shared with Shane Battier during Miami’s two championship seasons. Coincidence? By playing THE 35-YEAR-OLD, 2,000 MINUTE CLUB 1,499 and 1,786 minutes those Last season, only four men played 2,000-plus minutes at two seasons, the then 34- and age 35 or older. Vince Carter (1976) and Ray Allen (1936) 35-year-old Battier certainly gave came close, but it was the following four vets who reached younger LeBron much relief on the this monumental task also achieved by 115 players aged 34 and younger. defensive side of the foor. That’s PLAYER TEAM AGE MINUTES something the Heat got away from Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks 36 2628 during last year’s playoffs (Battier Shawn Marion Mavericks 37 2409 played only 202 minutes in the Tim Duncan Spurs 38 2158 Paul Pierce Wizards 37 2098 Heat’s 19 postseason games).

Once at Cavaliers practice years ago, young center Anderson Varejao improvised a Sharpie tattoo on himself, getting someone to write “Chosen Two” on his back, poking fun at friend LeBron and his big “Chosen One” back tattoo. LeBron laughed it off because he knows the 6-11, 267-pound Varejao always has his back, as one of the top defending pick-and-roll centers in this league, even at age 32 (Varejao’s +3.59 defensive RPM still shines). Yet Varejao is still not the rim protector a title contender needs (0.6 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game), nor is Kevin Love (0.5 blocks in 36.3 minutes per game), backup big Tristan Thompson (0.4 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game) or recovering 34-year-old center Brendan Haywood, for the moment (0.8 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game in 2012-13; he missed last season with a broken foot). Who knows?

LeBron might have to revert back to Cavalier James on D, back when he blocked 1.0 shots per game in his last season in Cleveland, as opposed to Heat James, who averaged 0.3 swats in his last season in Miami. In the meantime, the Cavs can still become a swarming defensive unit with defenders like LeBron, Varejao and Marion in place. That is what Blatt is counting on. The last time LeBron and Varejao teamed up as a forward-and-center tandem in Cleveland, they were among the League’s most dynamic defensive duos in 2009-10, posting a .538 rebound percentage, second highest in the League (for any duos who logged 500-plus minutes together) and a 98.9 defensive effciency rating together (points allowed per 100 possessions), ranking 22nd among NBA duos at any position. Combine that with their 115.6 offensive effciency together, which rated ffth in the NBA, and you have the duo that posted the second-best net rating overall in their last year together, during the 2009-10 season (see chart below).

AGE AS OF START OF 2014-15 SEASON

KEVIN LOVE Kevin Love will be as important—if not more so—to LeBron and Cleveland’s success as Chris Bosh was to LeBron and Miami. Love can play stretch 4 (shot 38.0 percent on his 2.5 three-pointers per game) or stretch 5 (played 39 percent of his 2797 minutes as the Minnesota center last season) while keeping the defense honest everywhere, scoring both inside and out (averaged 26.1 points in 36.0 minutes per game, while shooting 49 percent of his shots from 16-feet out). Love’s good team defense (+1.54 defensive RPM), not to mention renowned rebounding ability (12.5 rebounds per game, which ranked third in the NBA) shows why LeBron singled the 6-10, 243-pound power forward-center out as the consummate teammate (+5.06 RPM). Love indeed is the rare player who can improve a team’s offense, defense and rebounding—perhaps helping Cleveland become top 10 in all of these categories this season. When you look back at The Big 3 Miami union, that’s exactly what IN AND OUT OF LOVE OFFENSE DEFENSE REBOUND % happened when LeBron and TEAM/SEASON Heat in 2010-11 109.3 (3rd) 100.7 (5th) .518 (3rd) Bosh joined Dwyane Wade Heat in 2009-10 104.5 (18th) 100.9 (3rd) .507 (11th) and the Heat in 2010-11.

LeBron James in 2009-10 112.3 101.5 .112 Look at the chart at right Chris Bosh in 2009-10 110.1 109.7 .176 and you see Miami already Cavs in 2014-15 ? ? ? was a top 10 defense Cavs in 2013-14 101.3 (23rd) 104.8 .509 (11th) before LeBron and Bosh (18th) got there, but it needed LeBron James in 2013-14 111.4 103.5 .117 the All-Star newcomers to Kevin Love in 2013-14 108.5 104.1 .189 SOURCE: STATS.NBA.COM help take the offense from OFFENSE OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY (POINTS PER 100 POSSESSIONS); DEFENSE DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY (POINTS PER 100 POSSESSIONS); REBOUND % REBOUND PERCENTAGE (PERCENTAGE OF REBOUNDS TALLIED BY TEAM 18th to third (note LeBron’s OR PLAYER); NUMBER IN PARENTHESES IS TEAM RANKING IN NBA 112.3 offensive rating with the 2009-10 Cavs) and the rebounding from 11th to third in 2010-11 (note Bosh's retrieving 17.6 percent of all rebounds for the 2009-10 Raptors). So now when you look at LeBron and Love’s offensive effciency, defensive effciency and rebound percentage numbers from 2013-14 (see above), you also fnd the reason why the Cavs’ offense and rebounding likely will crack the NBA’s top 10 in 2014-15, while their team defense should improve as well.

THE DYNAMIC DUOS 2009-10 1. Matt Barnes/Vince Carter (ORL) 2. LeBron James/Anderson Varejao (CLE) 3. Matt Barnes/Dwight Howard (ORL) 4. Matt Barnes/Jameer Nelson (ORL) 5. Vince Carter/Jameer Nelson (ORL)

G 72 70 80 63 58

MIN 1240 1525 1620 1278 1363

OFF 112.7 115.6 113.5 112.4 110.1

DEF 95.5 98.9 98.5 98.4 96.4

NET +17.2 +16.7 +15.0 +14.0 +13.7

G GAMES; MIN MINUTES; OFF OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY; DEF DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY; NET NET RATING.

TRISTAN THOMPSON You quickly forget that Thompson was a pretty well regarded prospect, going three picks after Irving in 2011. Kind of a forgotten man, Thompson has quietly put up almost double-double numbers (11.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg) while playing every game the past two seasons. Thompson provides decent defense and good rebounding, his two main objectives. The knock on Thompson has been his shooting struggles. Although a double-digit scorer, Thompson shot just 48 percent from 16 feet and in last season, a low number for a player who primarily plays inside. Part of the reason is Thompson’s transition from shooting with his left-hand to right last season. Other factors are his undersized height (he’s just 6-8), small hands and still developing offensive game. It stands to reason that LeBron’s presence and playmaking will afford Thompson a few more uncontested shots. The added attention from James and Love should also allow some easy putbacks THOMPSON SHOOTING FG% Inside 8-ft FG% for the aggressive-on-the-boards 2011-12 .439 .465 Thompson. An improving midrange game will give Thompson more variety 2012-13 .488 .514 2013-14 .477 .509 around the basket. All of which could add up to Thompson’s frst 50-percent shooting season.

Inside 16-ft FG% .268 .406 .387

By Darryl Howerton #21 055

DAVID LIAM KYLE (2); CHRIS COVATTA; DAVID SHERMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

OOOOO It took all of fve days for James to exert his leadership publicly. On Sept. 30, Waiters countered Washington guard Bradley Beal’s assertion that the Wizards had the best young backcourt (Beal and John Wall) in the NBA by saying he and Irving were, in fact, the best of the youngsters. He said that despite the fact that last year Waiters and Irving clashed at times, and a players-only meeting was needed to defuse tension. We’ll have to wait to see whether Waiters is correct. But there wasn’t any delay in how James handled the situation.

When asked if the two guards can coexist, he was clear and defnitive.

“Yeah, why not? You got two guys that love to play the game of basketball. They’re gym rats, and they want to win and compete. So, it’s not hard for them to mesh.”

From the moment James started showing up at the Cavs’ facility in September for individual workouts and pickup games, Waiters has worked to connect with his celebrated teammate. Thompson worked out with James in Los Angeles during the offseason. Both understand that James has plenty to teach them and also know that it’s important to play their roles on a team that doesn’t need more drama than is already swirling around it.

“It’s great for me, having around a guy like that,” says Waiters about James’ arrival. “He’s a proven winner, a champion, and somebody I can talk to.”

Waiters has said that he wants James to “take me under his wing.” James is willing to do that. But while the youngsters learn, there is the matter of expectations. Cleveland fans aren’t euphoric over James’ return, just so they can have some exciting basketball to watch.

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“A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, ‘CHAMPIONSHIP OR BUST,’ AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.”—KEVIN LOVE DAVID LIAM KYLE (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

“IT WASN’T A SELL. [LEBRON] SAID, ‘I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF, AND WE NEED YOU HERE TO BE A PART OF IT.’ IT WAS THAT SIMPLE.” —SHAWN MARION Much has been made of the city’s 50-year championship drought,15 the longest of any major market. When a team adds the world’s best player, not to mention Love and a passel of proven veteran winners, to talent like Irving, Waiters, Thompson and veteran Anderson Varejao, one of the James’ favorite teammates ever, people want big success. A mere trip to the Finals and a loss to, say, the Spurs or Thunder will be added to the litany of Cleveland disappointments. The Cavs have to win, and to do that, everybody must follow James’ lead.

“It’s going to be a process,” Love says. “Nothing will be given to us. A lot of people say, ‘Championship or bust,’ and we want people to look at it that way.

“This is a different culture than what I’m used to. I’m looking forward to it.”

Even Love, a three-time All-Star, has a lot to learn. He says he wants to be “a sponge” and appreciates that he won’t be looked at as the primary hope in Cleveland. James is the “alpha dog,” and Love expects plenty of opportunities for open shots. That seems to be a common refrain. Waiters worked during the offseason on catch-and-shoot drills.

When Irving was asked what he’ll do when James is on the ball, he replied, “I’ll be ready to shoot every time.”

The biggest thing James can bring is the ability to build a culture of winning, backed up by Marion, Haywood, Miller and Jones, who can fash championship rings around the locker room. There will be a lot of shots for everyone, and the Cavs are going to look like an unbeatable team on some nights. But there are many long nights between now and June, and just because Griffn and his staff have accumulated an impressive roster, led by James, doesn’t mean a trophy will follow.

When asked what he learned in Miami, James says, “patience.”

He understands that building a team that can win it all requires a commitment to improving every day. That may be trite, but it’s true.

“I learned to be very patient with the process,” he says. “I understand that everyone always wants to see the end result and what’s at the end of the tunnel, and they don’t quite understand what goes on in between that.”

James does, and he’s more than willing to handle the responsibility of lifting the Cavaliers to the top. This is new territory for him and the NBA. A star has returned to his previous team with the clear directive of winning it all. James has brought together his people and has let the team’s youth know what needs to be done. Now, it’s time to do it.

“I still have a lot to prove because of the expectations I have for myself,” James says. “I ask more of myself than anyone could ask of me.”

That must be a lot, because everybody else wants it all.

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BONUS POINTS 1. The annual rite of media day is the launch of training camp where the players participate in photo shoots and media availability.

2. Irving is 6-3 to the 6-8 LeBron and 6-10 Love.

3. Irving has been the leading points-per-game scorer on the Cavs since his rookie year in 2011-12.

4. “Johnny Football” and LeBron are good friends.

5. The prep-to-pros LeBron has likened his four years in Miami as his “college experience.”

6. Cleveland lost 152 games in the past three seasons.

7. Don’t forget the Heat represented the Eastern Conference in the Finals the past four years.

8. Marion and Haywood won a title with Dallas in 2011 while Miller and Jones have both won a pair with James in Miami.

9. Besides the pair of titles, James has been League MVP four times, and Finals MVP twice, named to the All-NBA Team 10 times (First Team eight times), and is a six-time All-Defensive First Teamer.

10. James turns 30 on 12/30.

11. Entering the 2014-15 season, including playoffs, LeBron has logged 39,993 minutes. To compare, Michael Jordan’s career (including postseason) totaled 48,485.

12. It was Game 1 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit where LeBron passed up a shot attempt in the paint, instead kicking it out to a wide open Donyell Marshall in the corner for a three that didn’t fall.

13. In both instances James' teams eventually went on to win the series to advance to the Finals.

14. Then again, not sure if that counts as James averaged 5.9 dimes.

15. It was 1964 when the Cleveland Browns won the pre-Super Bowl NFL Championship.

@NBAONTNT

TM & © 2014 Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. © 2014 NBA Entertainment. Photo by Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.

H

BY HOLLY MACKENZIE #32

TH E

L

E W O

060

D N

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R Y O E

For Kyle Lowry, the path to the NBA career he envisioned has been long and arduous.

Except his journey is just getting started.

MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES

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T

he image is still fresh in the minds of Toronto Raptors fans.

Kyle Lowry sprawled over the Air Canada Centre court as time expired in a one-point Game 71 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

DeMar DeRozan kneeling by his side. The crowd,2 despite its agony over the loss, cheering the team off of the foor, unsure if they will see Lowry in a Raptors uniform again. Fast-forward past the summer3 and, despite the start of a new season that will indeed feature Lowry leading the charge, Raptors fans still feel the sting of Game 7.

Toronto has become used to disappointment. It’s not used to resigning coveted should-be All-Stars in free agency.

On July 2, Lowry helped to change this narrative. Agreeing to a fouryear, $48 million contract,4 Lowry might as well have been etching his name into the hearts of the Raptors' faithful. For people who had been waiting to shake off still-lingering memories of Vince Carter and Chris Bosh leaving for greener pastures, this felt like a new beginning. For Lowry, it was an opportunity to shed baggage from previous stops in Memphis and Houston.5 “It’s always about team,” says Lowry. “That’s maturing. That’s growing up. You get to that point where you understand at some point you’ve got to grow up, you’ve got to mature and take full responsibility for everything you’ve done. Every single night last year, me and DeMar had to bring it. Everyone was depending on us to go. We had nights where we weren’t going, we might have a bad game. It just made me realize people are going to count on you sometimes to get things done.”

Lowry didn’t always see himself sticking around in Toronto. During a tough frst year with the Raptors, he battled Jose Calderon for the starting spot, played through injuries that limited his game and had 062

trouble adapting to head coach Dwane Casey’s system. It was hardly a smooth transition.

“I think my expectation when I frst arrived was to be where I am now,” says Lowry. “When I frst arrived, it was very exciting for me, but unfortunately that frst season, the season didn’t go the way it was supposed to go. It’s OK because it was a learning process for me, it’s a learning curve. I know my frst year in Toronto, people were disappointed in me, but I promised myself I would make amends. I feel like I did the work to make sure I did the things they trusted in and believed in me for. I think I did prove that they made the right decision by bringing me there.”

RON TURENNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES

“It’s always about team.

That’s maturing. That’s growing up. You get to that point where you understand at some point you’ve got to grow up, you’ve got to mature and take full responsibility for everything you’ve done.”

After the team started Lowry’s second year in Toronto with a 7-17 record, general manager Masai Ujiri pulled the trigger on a trade that sent Rudy Gay,6 Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson and John Salmons. Aware that management was considering more moves, the new Raptors roster came together immediately. With Lowry and DeRozan free to operate offensively and a bench that fnally had some depth, Toronto found the identity it needed. It also discovered that Lowry was the leader it had been desperate to fnd.

063

“Getting married and having a kid really changed my perspective for life because you’re not just providing for yourself, you’re providing for your family, for another human being. It changes the way you look at life, it changes the way you think about situations.”

“We knew if we lost it was going to get blown up,” Lowry said during his exit interview. “That’s just a fact. Once we made the trade, if we would have lost a little more I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today, just being honest. I think we all knew that as a team we had a chance to do something even when we were 6-12…we went from 6-12 to the No. 3 seed and winning 48 games.”

While it was DeRozan who earned a frst-time All-Star nod in 2014, there wasn’t a player more important to Toronto’s surprising success than Lowry. Putting in the best year of his career, Lowry averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 assists per game. He played with the same tenacity7 as before, but this time he was more patient and encouraging with his teammates.

Toronto’s reward for fnishing third was a frst-round matchup with the Nets. Although the team’s return to the postseason after a fveyear drought lasted only seven games, basketball hysteria swept the city. Fans packed the Air Canada Centre as well as Maple Leaf Square.

Rain or shine, home and away, thousands of fans gathered outside 064

the arena to watch on a big screen. It was a beautiful sight in a city aching to see its team succeed.

Months later, the usually reserved Lowry could only express amazement when refecting back on the crowd support during the playoffs.8 “It was awesome,” recalls Lowry. “I’ve had guys come up to me in the summer time and say, ‘Maaan, that crowd was crazy. It made me want to watch y’all's series just because of that crowd.’ When you get that, it means the crowd is doing something right.”

Lowry and DeRozan grew closer as the season went on. Hanging out at each other’s houses and watching NBA League Pass,9 the two bonded over becoming frst-time fathers. The depth of their relationship was on display during that frozen moment in time after Lowry’s fnal feld goal attempt against the Nets was blocked by Paul Pierce. As the buzzer sounded and Lowry’s body fell to the foor, the point guard remained there, lying on his back, both hands covering his face in disbelief. DeRozan beelined to his side.

DAVE SANDFORD; RON TURENNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

NORTHERN BROTHERS On July 2, DeMar DeRozan was on a plane, getting ready to fy to Manila for NBA 3X Philippines, an NBA 3-on-3 exhibition. With NBA free agency underway, he scrolled through his phone for updates. Shortly before the rest of the world would see Kyle Lowry post a photo to Instagram of him wearing a retro Raptors jersey as he announced his return to the team, DeRozan’s phone rang.

“I spent $45 talking to him,” says DeRozan. “He called me, he told me frst before he was going to tell anybody. I was like, ‘All right.’ I remember him calling me, saying, ‘Yeah, I’m coming back, [don’t say anything yet], I’m about to call.’”

That Lowry’s frst Raptors call was to DeRozan is hardly a surprise. During DeRozan’s year-end interview, he said he wasn’t worried about Lowry’s free agent uncertainty. He reiterated that during the team’s annual media day session.

“I never gave him a sales pitch because I was just trying to be there for him as a friend,” says DeRozan. “I was just going to support him, honestly. I knew he had enough pressure on him. My whole sales pitch was all last season, the things me and him did together spoke for itself.”

The Lowry/DeRozan backcourt averaged 40.6 points and 14.4 assists per game last season. (Which—ahem—tops the John Wall/Bradley Beal backcourt of 36.9 and 12.1 and 36.7 and 9.1 of the Kyrie Irving/Dion Waiters tandem.)

While Lowry is as headstrong as DeRozan is laid-back, the two quickly bonded. Lowry’s presence and unwavering support seemed to give DeRozan the confdence he needed as he became a frst-time All-Star. With lockers situated next to each other, the pair can usually be found in conversation.

“It’s weird that we’re really similar,” says Lowry. “You wouldn’t think a guy from Compton and [a guy from] Philadelphia would be...but we both grew up in a tough neighborhood and we both fell in love with the game of basketball, and we both knew it could take us to new heights in our lives and help our families.” —#32

RON TURENNE; ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

“That’s my man,” Lowry said after the game. “He was just giving me words of encouragement. He said, ‘If anybody’s going to take that shot, I’m living and dying with you taking that shot, or trying to attempt to get that shot off.’ It was just one of those things where it was a great brotherly moment.”

Everyone in the locker room felt the same about Lowry having the ball with the season on the line. Winning teammates and the coaching staff over with his undeniable competitive spirit, Lowry had emerged as a leader. After eight years, trades and trust issues, Toronto began to feel like a place that could become his NBA home.

“Kyle’s a different man [than he was when he got here],” says Casey, “as far as his approach to life, to the game. When you frst meet somebody, you’re just not all at once going to jump in and say, ‘Here’s the keys to the kingdom,’ and Kyle is not going to jump and say, ‘Hey coach, I’ll do whatever you say.’ That’s just not how it works in the NBA. You’ve got to earn that trust.

“Hopefully I've earned that from him and the rest of his teammates.

That’s what you have to do as a coach. I trust him, his instincts with our team. He’s earned it. I would say Kyle is one of the most intelligent point guards10 in the NBA.” Going into the summer, Ujiri made it clear that re-signing Lowry was the team’s top priority. After taking care of Lowry, the Raptors brought back Patterson and Vasquez, keeping the team’s core intact. With the same pieces in place, Lowry is eager to see how much the team can improve from a season ago.

“The continuity of the team is very important,” says Lowry. “We’re young, but we kept the same pieces. Masai did a great job re-signing the pieces that we needed to re-sign and making moves that we needed to make to make our team better. What makes the transition [into a winning team] smoother is when everyone comes in, knows their role, they understand the situation they’re going to be in. That helps a lot.”

Lowry didn’t waste any time over the summer, working hard and showing up to training camp looking ftter than ever. Aware that expectations come with signing a large contract, Lowry is happy to accept them. As he learns to deal with greater responsibility, he is appreciative of the people in his corner who have helped him mature into a leader.

There is a shadow that follows Lowry wherever he goes. Courtside when he is playing and often at his locker after the game, 3-yearold son Karter cannot get enough of his father’s attention. It was Karter who brought Lowry solace after that Game 7 loss, drawing pictures on the team’s whiteboard in the locker room, unaware of the disappointment around him.

“Getting married and having a kid really changed my perspective for life because you’re not just providing for yourself, you’re providing for your family, for another human being,” says Lowry. “It changes the way 065

"I don't think that’s in Kyle’s DNA, to be satisfied with anything. I look for him to take another step this year.”— Dwane Casey you look at life, it changes the way you think about situations.”

Outside of Karter and wife Ayahna,11 Lowry also benefited immensely from his friendship with Chauncey Billups. A headstrong point guard who bounced around the League12 before winning a championship and Finals MVP in Detroit, Billups could relate to Lowry.

Sharing an agent with the Raptors’ guard, he has Lowry’s ear when it comes to advice.

“Just taking responsibility for your own actions,” says Lowry of what he has learned from Billups. “Taking responsibility for others’ actions because you’re a leader. Sometimes the move is taking responsibility for someone else’s actions. You always hold yourself accountable and be a man. Never back down from anything. Through a good game,13 bad game,14 okay game—always keep moving forward. Keep your demeanor the same.”

Casey is looking forward to continuing to coach the fearless floor general and proud of the strides he has taken.

“I think it’s a good thing for the organization and for Kyle as far as his next step to be an elite point guard in the League and an AllStar,”15 Casey said. “He put himself in the conversation now of one of the elite point guards. It wasn’t anything I did or anybody else did.

Kyle did it himself. He’s the one who put the work in, the sweat in. He did the work.”

As reporters reminded Lowry of the responsibility he has signed up for during Toronto’s annual media day, the 28-year-old calmly let their words drift in one ear and out the other. Knowing he has signed on to play basketball with the same group of guys he called the closest locker room he’d ever been part of, he’s just excited to get things going.

“It’s a hell of a grind,” says Lowry. “It really is tough, but we have 066

BONUS POINTS 1.Neither franchise had ever won a playoff Game 7 entering the game.

2. #WeTheNorth was the Raptors’ playoff mantra and is now the cultural anthem that represents Canadian/ Toronto basketball.

3. Lowry is an avid golfer during the offseason.

4. During the summer, Lowry inked an endorsement deal with adidas.

5. In both stops, Lowry struggled to earn the starting point guard spot despite putting up solid numbers (15.3 ppg, 7.2 apg and 1.5 spg per 36 minutes) with the Grizzlies and Rockets.

6. Rudy Gay is one of Lowry’s closest friends and also the godfather of his son.

7. Growing up in Philadelphia, Allen Iverson was his favorite player.

8. Lowry attended one of the semifinal playoff games between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers in 2001.

9. Lowry has two TVs in his living room so he can watch more than one NBA game at a time and keeps Raptors assistant coach Jesse Mermuys busy requesting tape of his opponents.

10. Lowry studies point guards around the League: “I love watching Russell [Westbrook] play. I love watching CP3 play. I still keep up with Mike Conley. I love the way he’s grown so much. I think the way he plays is so crazy. I really like watching the point guards play.”

11.Kyle and Ayahna attended the same high school, Cardinal Dougherty, where she set the all-time scoring record. She went on to score 1,600 points at St. Joseph’s.

12. One of Billups stops as an NBA vagabond was Toronto for 29 games after getting traded from Boston during his rookie year.

13. In Games 4 and 5 of the 2014 first-round series against the Nets, Lowry played magnificently, respectively scoring 22 and 36 points while posting a plus/minus of +14 and +15.

14. In Game 6, Lowry shot just 4 of 16 for 11 points and a plus/minus of -24.

15. Along with New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Lowry was the biggest snub from All-Star 2014.

fun with it. It’s what we get to do for a living. We have to enjoy it.”

For Casey, this year's challenge is figuring out how to shift from coaching a team thought to be in the middle of a rebuild to one with pressures of not only reaching the postseason, but advancing beyond the first round. After watching Lowry lay everything on the court last season, he’s glad he’ll be embarking on the challenge with Lowry at his side.

“Someone asked if he was going to be satisfied [with the contract] and I don't think that’s in Kyle’s DNA, to be satisfied with anything,” says Casey. “I look for him to take another step this year.”

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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068

BY SETH BERKMAN #91

GONE

In an ironic twist, while the NBA is in an era where shooting is most valued, the shooting guard has become a disappearing breed.

BRUCE BENNETT (5)/GETTY IMAGES

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I

n Malcolm Gladwell’s 2008 book Outliers, the author frequently alludes to the “10,000-hour rule,”1 a maxim that essentially claims that said number of time practicing a certain skill will lead to its mastery.

In theory, that meant if you had a young child who had a penchant for basketball and put them in the driveway shooting, say, two hours every day, by high school your child should be a scoring machine capable of putting up 30 points a night.

We’ve heard plenty of these stories. The kid who was at the local gymnasium so often they had a set of keys. The playground student that would be swishing shots through chain-link nets before the sun rose and after mom’s dinner calls.

For years, the concept of practicing the game to be able to put up as many points as possible was the bona fde formula that led toward a path of scholarships, sneaker deals2 and guaranteed contracts.

As Bob Dylan3 once sang, “The times they are a-changin’.”

It used to be the shooting guard’s duty to procure the lion’s share of the points. Remember preDuring the '80s and '90s, Michael Jordan was the prototypical ring Michael Jordan? The ball would fnd itself in shooting guard that the rest of the League tried to mimic.

MJ’s big hands and the other four guys did their best at staying involved while staying out of his way. The shooting guard was there to—as Ricky Davis made famous—get But unlike Miller or Allen, Curry is ever-increasingly known for his buckets. Plain and simple. Taking it to the cup, drawing a foul, pull-up, 360 handle, his defense, his passing. Just as impressive as watching him shoot reverses, over the backboard while fading away. Any means necessary. was the way he navigated through cones or the vision he displayed on Ineffcient 22-foot jumpers or 40 percent shooting percentages be damned. precise passes during his workouts.

In today’s League, a player whose only skill is his ability to score “The 6-3 and under club has got to be versatile,” says Curry, who is has diminishing value on rosters commonly being built around multilisted as just that in his offcial League bio. “Especially if you’re more prone dimensional athletes whose end game is to score effciently. In a world to be a two-guard, you’ve gotta be able to do both—handle the ball, be a where you increasingly must adapt or perish, the shooting guards of playmaker, but also shoot the ball and score. There are traditional twos still the game, once depended on for 20-plus a night and little else, are in the League, like Klay Thompson,4 but for the guys that aren’t blessed transforming into indistinguishable hybrids. with those extra four inches of height, you gotta be versatile.”

Gym rats still exist, but it’s not just about putting the ball in the basket.

Curry was in town taking a quick reprieve before fying out to Chicago It’s about practicing vertical movement, rope exercises, core training, to train with USA Basketball5 for the FIBA World Cup,6 where he would be videotape sessions, advanced statistics and more. Perhaps that’s why the depended on by USAB head coach Mike Krzyzewski to perform a multitude name “shooting guard” is now commonly referred to as the two-guard. of roles in the backcourt. There, he would be joined by Thompson, his Though once interchangeable, the meaning holds a stark difference today.

Golden State running mate, who agrees in the assessment that his game represented more of a “classic shooting guard.”

In early August, Stephen Curry was inside a gym in lower Manhattan, But Thompson was hoping to use the summer to also diversify his breaking down the basics of shooting to the uninformed—guys who have skill set beyond looking for openings coming off screens and moving chucked up thousands of jumpers in their life, but whose strokes were as without the ball. refned as preschoolers drawing paint-by-numbers pics.

“I was like a junior in high school when I fgured out I could really shoot “If you watch most great shooters, from the waist up everybody’s form the ball,” Thompson says. “I was a late bloomer so I still gotta work on looks a little different,” said Curry, who went on to mimic the motions of other aspects of my game, whether it’s tightening up my handle a bit, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, and himself, each one as unique as a batting working on fnishing around the rim and drawing fouls.” stance in baseball.

One of Thompson’s teammates during USAB’s training camp was South of the waist, however, you can start seeing the DNA of a good Chandler Parsons, a 6-9 forward who shoots like a two-guard. Despite shooter: getting low and using your legs to “shoot” the ball, the crisp giving up two inches on him, Thompson hoped to integrate some of footwork, the squaring of the feet.

Parson’s repertoire into his ever-expanding game.

Each form looked textbook, a fne blueprint for any aspiring shooter.

“I watched Chandler play and he’s not the quickest guy, but he’s got such Curry is recognized as perhaps the closest thing to Miller or Allen these a good pump fake that he gets me in the lane every time,” Thompson says. days, with a jumper so picturesque it would make Picasso jealous.

“I’m just picking up new stuff like that from each guy.”

070

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN.NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

One of the best backcourts in the League, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson represented USA Basketball in the 2014 FIBA World Cup and now represent the rare traditional backcourt in the NBA. In fact, Krzyzewski has molded his national teams to refect the advancements in the game over the last four years. In 2010, Tyson Chandler was the only true center on the roster, fanked by multipronged players like Curry, Kevin Durant, Eric Gordon, Andre Iguodala, Lamar Odom and Russell Westbrook. Two years later, USAB brought back Chandler and the only other center was the seldom-used Anthony Davis. Kobe Bryant was the one true shooting guard on the roster, as the rest of the team was flled out with hybrid players, mostly 6-8 or under.

Scottie Pippen, a member of the frst USA Basketball team7 to feld pros, thought the roster composition refected an excellent strategy to adapt to a game that is changing worldwide.

“I think they can contribute as well as any other international players,” Pippen says. “This is their frst time, but they’re great athletes, they’re very intelligent players and I think they’ll feel their way through the international game. It won’t take them long to make the adjustments.”

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the game was trending toward agile big men, infuenced by the infux of Europeans and Duncans and Garnetts coming through the ranks. Perhaps, as a result, as forwards and centers became more scouted, sought after and effcient scorers, two-guards needed to differentiate.

There was a time not too long ago when shooting guards were the premier players, essential to a team’s success. Reggie Miller became synonymous with Indiana basketball, Mitch Richmond8 built a Hall of Fame career in Northern California, and in Chicago, there was Michael Jordan.

But even in the naming now used to acknowledge League honors and All-Star bids, you’ve seen the traditional notion of fve distinct positions slowly being eliminated. And the pros are taking note.

Some guards are getting bigger. Last summer, Gordon Hayward added 10 pounds of muscle to his frame, preparing to be used as a small forward GARRETT ELLWOOD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

or even a stretch-four. “I think it’s just kind of how the game has evolved,” Hayward says about transforming out of the mold of a traditional twoguard. “There’s not as many guys that are just specialists. You kind of have to be able to do it all. If you don’t, there’s somebody else who does, who shoots the ball just as well as you, but also handles it or rebounds or defends.

“Teams don’t want guys who can do just one thing.”

Point guards, or should we say “ballhandlers,” are also getting taller.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said the old-school concept of a two-guard is almost extinct. “I think we have a few, but you won’t see 6-6, 6-7, two-guards like Kobe anymore,” he says. “Six-three, 6-4, 6-5, on that range you’ll see a lot of two-guards. James [Harden] is only like 6-4, 6-5, and he’s like [the prototypical] two-guard in the NBA. I think it’s changed a lot where you can have a lot of guys at the point guard position like myself, Russ [Westbrook], Steph [Curry]—a lot of us, we play off the ball also at the two-guard position.”

A comprehensive, multifaceted game isn’t inherited at birth. Many players, able to get by on natural ability through their youth league days and even high school, don’t begin to develop the rest of their tools until college.

Rudy Gay, a 6-8, 230-pound forward for the Sacramento Kings who scores like a traditional two-guard, began to switch his style upon arriving at the University of Connecticut in 2004. During his two collegiate seasons, Gay became the Huskies’ top option, leading them to 30 wins as a sophomore.

“In high school, you pretty much do whatever you want,” says Gay, a former McDonald’s All-American. “When I got to college I realized what I needed to do to get to that next level.”

Though he honed his skills on the courts of the Bay Area that made legends out of fellow point guards Gary Payton and Jason Kidd, Lillard’s 071

prep career involved him often playing out of position. The 2013 Rookie of the Year became such a lethal scorer in part because even though he was always working on a point guard’s skill set and he was better equipped to handle the role than his teammates, he adapted to where he was needed most, an ethos he still carries on in Portland.

“I played with a lot of smaller players so I was the guy that had to be off the ball some until the game got tight and they’d let me bring it up and play,” Lillard Shooting forwards like says of his time at St. Joseph Kyle Korver have replaced Notre Dame9 in Alameda. “In some two guards. college, I did the same thing.

We had guys that played my position that were good enough to be on the foor so I had to play off the ball sometimes.”

Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver, entering his 12th season in the League, says, “I think it’s all dictated by the style of the NBA. It’s changing. It’s going more toward playing with the pass and playing with space and big guys that can shoot.

There’s nothing that frees up a shooter more than more shooting on the court.

“When you got two, when you got three, when you got four [shooters], then it’s a different story. I think teams are playing to that, I think teams are Scoring point guards like understanding the importance of Damian Lillard and Derrick shooting. I think the two-guard’s Rose have lessened the most defnitely evolved.” need for a shooting guard.

Gay sees an effort by every player, whether they are under six-feet tall or over seven-feet, to become more agile.

“You got James [Harden] who you can put over to point guard, you got guys like LeBron that can move over to the point guard,” says Gay. “Power forwards are more small and mobile. The game is changing. It’s turned into an up and down game.

“That’s good for people like me.”

It’s not just the All-Stars or elite players at the national team level who have tailored their style for success in recent years.

One player who has constantly evolved throughout his career is J.J. Redick. Coming out of Duke, where he lit up the record books, Redick10 was pegged as being solely a shooter, a guy who would fare better in the All-Star Three-Point Contests 072

ENDANGERED SPECIES Be it the dinosaur or the voice-only fip phone, the march toward extinction isn’t a sudden thing, but a slow gradual change in the landscape, unnoticeable until you look up from your iPhone 6 and see mammals dominating the terrain.

In the ’80s and ’90s, the shooting guard position was the glamour position of the NBA. It certainly helped that a certain tongue-wagging, high-scoring, championship-collecting alpha manned the position, sending every opposing GM and scout to counterfeit "Money" or fnd a “Jordan Stopper” (we’ve since learned that both endeavors are an exercise in futility). But look past Mike and there was plenty of talent at the 2. Clyde Drexler was seen as an MJ peer for a brief minute until the 1990 Finals rolled around. Joe Dumars was credited by Jordan himself as his toughest opponent. Mitch Richmond was one of the most underrated stars in the ’90s. Reggie Miller once shoved off Mike to bury a game-winner in Game 4 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Latrell Sprewell was arguably the best at the position when Jordan took his baseball sabbatical. Steve Smith was a productive player when healthy. Beyond that there were plenty of solid All-Star-caliber shooting guards dotting every roster: Hersey Hawkins, Jeff Hornacek, Allan Houston, Dan Majerle, John Starks, Jim Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, Kendall Gill, Jeff Malone. It was the golden era of the position.

The ’00s saw the rise of the multitalented forward (think Kevin Garnett) which morphed into the recent trend of the stretch 4 (Kevin Love).

The 2001 Eastern All-Star With point guards and squad was flled with depth centers being regular at the two guard spot. staples like blue jeans and Chuck Taylors, it meant the shooting guard would be facing its ice age.

The last blip on the radar would be in 2005-06. That season, the NBA's top 10 in scoring would be dominated by players who played a majority of their minutes in the two spot. Kobe Bryant led the NBA in scoring with the seventh-highest total in history (2,832), 81 of those points coming in one game that season. LeBron James (who at the time played mostly shooting guard) notched his biggest scoring season with 2,478 points. Allen Iverson, who was really an undersized 2, was still getting buckets with 2,377 points. It was still the height of Agent Zero as Gilbert Arenas netted his highest scoring season with 2,346 points. Spots 7-10 were Paul Pierce (primarily a two-guard), the eventual Finals MVP (Dwyane Wade), a sweet-slinging 2,000-point lefty (Michael Redd) and Ray Allen, who just missed the 2K club by 15 three-pointers. And this doesn’t even include a pair of cousins who were known as premier players at the 2: Vince Carter (who just missed the top 10) and Tracy McGrady (who missed half the season with injuries).

Since that year, shooting guards have not made good on the “shooting” part of their name.

Sure, Bryant and Wade stayed relevant among the top 10 scorers. It’s not much of a debate that James Harden is currently the cream of the crop at the position (best player in the game according to the Beard). But for the most part, the scorers became the versatile forwards (Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony) and the scoring point guards (Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook).

Is the classic shooting guard destined to be swallowed up by basketball evolution, whose skills are morphed into a point guard and forward? Or will he one day be revived by some trapped DNA inside a mosquito or curious counter-culture hipster?—Ming Wong #2

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as opposed to being an integral part of a winning team. In fact, he was the archetypal shooter specialist.

In Redick’s frst three seasons with the Orlando Magic, his playing time was limited, as was his arsenal. He was able to put up a few points a night, but the rest of his skills were absent. As Redick improved his midrange game, his ballhandling, his passing, and defense, his minute totals began to double.

While he’s becoming a more complete player, his scoring hasn’t suffered, as Redick’s points per game average James Harden has taken the mantle of has increased every season top shooting guard from Kobe Bryant. since 2008-09. That season, Redick had a career-low 9.9 player effciency rating, which skyrocketed to a career-best 16.6 PER last season.

Teams around the League took notice. Before the 2013-14 season, the Los Angeles Clippers awarded Redick with a contract for four years and nearly $27 million. Last season, when Paul Pierce was rumored to be in trade discussions between the Brooklyn Nets and Clippers, reports said no deal would be considered unless Redick was part of the bounty in return.

Walter Davis,11 one of the all-time greats12 in Phoenix Suns franchise history, recently implied in The Sporting News that recent changes to League rules that banished hand-checking and created more space for shooters helped spur the changes in two-guards.

“With the changes to the rules, you don’t need a guy out on the perimeter who can create his own shot, a guy who needs to be strong enough to fght through all the physical play and the way the defense could, basically, manhandle you at that time,” Davis says in the article.

Davis’s point has merit. You can’t sit through 48 minutes of a game and not hear someone in the vicinity complain about the whistles and pining for the hard-nosed defenses of yore.

Even with the change of rules and move toward roster fexibility, some will argue that the shooting guard isn’t dead yet. It’s not like 40 percent shooters from downtown grow on trees.

“I always love talking to other shooters and just try to pick their brains on different things,” Korver says. “I ask the guys what’s the one thing when your shot’s not going in that you kinda go back to. I love hearing it because everyone’s got a different answer. I heard some stuff last week and was like, ‘Really? That’s so interesting.’ You kinda play around with it with your own shot.

“Sometimes I’m borderline [obsessive]...with my own shot and understanding my own mechanics and thinking about stuff too much.

I really care. So a lot of times I’ll pick up something watching someone who’s not a good shooter. It’s just watching people shoot. Sometimes you see something like ‘Oh, you know what, I like how he’s pausing at the top of his shot, I like how he’s using his legs,’ just different things that you kind of pick up.”

Hayward, a player who drew comparisons to Korver when he entered the League but has morphed into a more complete guard, says though waning, shooters still have value. “You can always become a better shooter,

BONUS POINTS 1. Another example of the “10,000-hour rule” leading to success: The Beatles’ time spent rehearsing before making it big in the U.S. 2. Defenders just don’t sell shoes. Ask Ben Wallace or Metta World Peace.

3. Dylan also was inspired by the career of “Pistol” Pete Maravich—whom he sang about in his 1991 song “Dignity.”

4. The other half of the “Splash Brothers,” like Curry, Thompson also had an NBA dad. Thompson’s father, Mychal, played 12 seasons in the League. A 6-10 center/power forward, Mychal was a career 1-for-12 from three-point range.

5. USAB had an abundance of guards and forwards able to handle a multitude of backcourt duties. If there was one position that lacked depth on paper, it was the center spot, obviously strategizing for a more hybrid style of play internationally.

6. USA won handily, beating opponents by an average of 33 points per game en route to gold.

7. The 1992 Dream Team could be analyzed as being prescient in the creation of hybrid guards. Aside from infuencing European play, the roster, aside from Patrick Ewing and David Robinson, was comprised of versatile players like Pippen, Jordan and Clyde Drexler, who could thrive in a diverse, small ball lineup.

8. Richmond, who played 10 of his 14 seasons with the Warriors and Kings, averaged 21 ppg over his career.

He may be one of the last true shooting guards to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame—that is, until Kobe Bryant enters Springfeld.

9. The same high school attended by Kidd and Mark Curry, who played a former NBA player on the ’90s sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.

10. Redick graduated college as the NCAA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.

11. Davis was a six-time All-Star and 1978 Rookie of the Year. He’s one of nine Suns to have had their numbers retired by the team.

12. A 6-6 swingman, Davis played 11 years in Phoenix and fnished his 15-year NBA career with 19,521 points on .511 feld-goal shooting.

unless you’re hitting 100 percent of your shots,” he says. “The best shooters in the League shoot 40 to 50 percent from three and that means you’re missing half the shots. You can always get better. Being in the gym every single day is the way to do it.”

There was perhaps no greater breadth of two guards present in a game than in last year’s Finals. Allen of the Heat represented the mold from which all quintessential shooting guards should be formed. His teammate, Wade, though hobbled by injuries, built his foundation on driving to the basket, and, B.C.—before championships—running the offense as a point guard.

For San Antonio, you had guys like Marco Belinelli, a player who before his arrival in Texas was known mostly for his threes, and Manu Ginobili, perhaps the godfather of the modern two-guard.

During the series, Allen told The Wall Street Journal, "There defnitely aren't that many of us left. It's become a pretty short list over the last few years. The game has changed."

Allen has yet to decide if and where he will play next season, It wasn't until shooting specialist J.J. Redick but with the Bulls, Cavs diversifed his game that he saw more minutes. and other contenders hot on his trail, it proves his skill set is still in demand. When he hangs up his Jordans, we may never see a player like him again.

Instead, the player with the best jump shot form may be a point guard or a power forward, who likely can defend anyone on the foor and drive past defenders at will.

Cry not for the glory days of shooting guards, though. As Darwin would tell you, it’s just the evolution of the game.

074 SCOTT HALLERAN/GETTY IMAGES; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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076

BY ANDY JASNER #27

An oral history of one of the most unbelievable finishes in an NBA game: Tracy McGrady’s 13 points in 35 seconds to steal a win.

BILL BAPTIST (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

077

McGrady, to the Houston Chronicle: “The way I was feeling those last couple seconds, I felt like anything I would throw up, would go in. The rim felt really big to me out there. To come back and pull out the game, all my teammates jumping on me, I swear I've never been a part of anything like that. That was the best feeling to me, to have my teammates embrace me, jumping on me like that. That was a great feeling.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, to the Associated Press: “It was unbelievable. End of story. Guys get hot.”2

S

imply looking at the boxscore from 10 years ago showed nothing out of the ordinary.

On December 9, 2004, Tracy McGrady scored 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to an 81-80 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center.

McGrady led the Rockets to a lot of close victories. Many times scoring 33 or more points.

But on this particular night, McGrady etched his name into NBA lore.

In the fnal 35 seconds—yes, 35 seconds—McGrady scored 13 points. His three-pointer, the ffth of the night, with 1.7 seconds remaining gave the Rockets a miraculous one-point win.

The defending champion Spurs held a comfortable 74-64 lead with 1:02 left and looked to be on their way to an eighth straight victory over their intrastate rival.

Until McGrady took over.

Spurs guard Tony Parker: “It was one of those wild nights that you see in the NBA. To his credit, he came through with an incredible fnish. He made it happen. He had that type of explosiveness and ability to do that on any given night.1 This one night, it happened. We were a bit frustrated after the game. But sometimes, you just have to tip your cap and congratulate the opponent.”

078

Spurs forward Manu Ginobili: “He made play after play. I felt like our defense was good. We forced him to take tough shots. He kept making them. He didn’t have the greatest shooting night,3 but he was able to score. He’s such a great scorer. It seemed like he was willing the ball in the basket. Sometimes, as a defender, you throw your hands up in the air and say, ‘What can you do?’ We’ve lost some tough games through the years. That one was hard. When you look back and refect on what happened, you realize how amazing it was. Tracy earned that one for his team. Could we have done some things different? Sure. He made the plays and earned it.”

BILL BAPTIST (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

McGrady, to the Houston Chronicle: “I knew we were down two. The only thing I was thinking about was a three. I didn't want to get the ball and try to tie the ballgame up. I was going to take my chances going for the three and go for the win.”

think, `Are we going to make it close?’ That’s probably what a lot of people thought. `At least we're going to make it look good.’ But Tracy had other intentions—to win that thing for us. It was pretty amazing.”

McGrady, on TNT postgame interview: “I don’t know how I got them Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo: “I was fortunate to play with so many great players and teammates in my career. Tracy McGrady … he was incredible. He had a way of playing big. We kind of just gave him the ball and got out of the way. He made big play after big play. He was phenomenal. I mean … seeing my teammates through the years win games like Allen Iverson with Philadelphia … Tracy was also amazing. He took the game over. It looked like one of those games where we leave with a loss. Down 10 with barely over a minute to go, Tracy said, ‘Give me the ball.’ He delivered. He wouldn’t be denied. To make it all the way through with that last-second three-pointer clinched it. We were all excited. The funny thing is that none of us were surprised. We were more excited. We knew he was always capable of a stretch like that one. I’ll never forget it.”

Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, to the Associated Press: "We got

off because Bruce Bowen is the best on the defensive end. My will just took over and was knocking down shots for me.”

Mutombo: “I think there are certain nights when a player just takes it on himself to do whatever is necessary. The Spurs were one of the best defensive teams in the League. They made you take diffcult shots. They forced you out of your comfort zone. They made it hard on you. They did that to Tracy and he still found ways to make shots. For whatever reason, it happened at the end. We needed it then. Seeing it take place was something special. The great players in the history of the League had ways of doing that and pushing their team to a win. It was like a blur because it was 35 seconds of game clock. You play a whole game and see that little sample in the fourth quarter and you’re in the locker room, almost not believing what you just saw.”

a miracle. You need miracles over the course of a season.”

McGrady, to the Houston Chronicle: “I knew [Duncan] thought I was going to pull up when I came off that screen.

I knew I could bait him on the pump fake. He went for it.

I don't know how I got the ball off. After that, every time I came up the court, I felt whatever I shot would go in.”

Spurs forward Tim Duncan, to SportsTicker, on McGrady’s four-point play over him, cutting the lead to 78-75 with 24 seconds left: “It was a pump play by Tracy and I got up in the air and fouled him. He just made tough shots.”

McGrady, during TNT postgame interview with Craig Sager: “That’s what gave me confdence, when I knocked down that four-point play. He gave me confdence to just do it again. Anytime I got the ball in my hands, anytime I had room for a shot, I was gonna let it go.”

Atlanta Hawks forward Elton Brand: “I was playing with the Clippers [at the time] so we saw the Rockets a lot. Tracy had that kind of talent to score points in bunches. He was able to hit tough shots and rise up and make diffcult shots that would be hard to duplicate in a game of HORSE. I don’t remember all the plays in that game, but I do remember that game. Thirteen points in 35 seconds? Wow. That’s not easy to do. It’s not something you see every night. It’s one of those games you watch the flm later and just shake your head in amazement.”

Rockets guard Bob Sura, to the Houston Chronicle: “We got a chance to see frsthand why he is one of the greatest players in the world. To pull something like that out, amazing. It was unbelievable.”

Rockets forward Ryan Bowen, to the Houston Chronicle: “It was wild. Just watching Tracy make all those shots was pretty amazing. He hit a couple and you BILL BAPTIST/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Orlando Magic senior vice president Pat Williams: “I’ve seen great performances through the years from the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, among many others. They were dominant at times, especially Shaq. He was so strong and tough-minded mentally and physically. Tracy McGrady had his share of moments. To score 13 points in 35 seconds is really saying something. When you do that and make shots over great defenders like Tim Duncan, you have to be impressed. I don’t think many players in the NBA have scored 13 points in a 35-second span when your team needed it at crunch time in the fourth quarter.”

McGrady, to NBATV: “The crowd is just going crazy. My teammates are trying to chase me. Cause I’m running and I’m trying to get away from them.”

Brown, on the collapse, to the AP: Parker: “Devin Brown was making all his free throws.4 We thought the game was ours. McGrady kept coming and kept coming. He wouldn’t stop.

He was almost like a mack truck who wouldn’t be denied. He made shots he was missing earlier in the game. He made them at just the right time. Once he got a full steam, he wouldn’t be stopped. We tried. He made the shots.”

"On a normal team, you might expect that to happen. But in San Antonio, we know what we have to do and for whatever reason it just didn't happen. It's very frustrating.”

Duncan, to the AP: “They played a great8 last 50 seconds ... Tracy did.

They found a way to win and it was a tough loss for us.”

McGrady, on TNT postgame interview: “We were supposed to just trap.

Van Gundy, to SportsTicker, on the Rockets’ offensive struggles, despite

Fortunate enough, [Brown] slipped. The ball came right to me. The only thing I was thinking about—I didn’t want to tie the game—I was thinking about getting up a three. I got it up. Ball game.”

McGrady’s incredible fnish: “We're going to struggle to score right now.

We can't shoot. We're not tricking anybody. There's two around Yao [Ming] and two around Tracy.”9

McGrady, on NBATV: “It’s down to two seconds, I made my move. I

remember being mad and angry, but I also remember using it as motivation.

We went on a big winning streak after that loss, going 9-1, I believe.5 We channeled our frustration and took it out on our opponents after that. We were in a little bit of shock after the loss.6 How could you not be? It was one of those crazy nights. It was an All-Star-type of performance.”7

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jason Richardson: “Watching it on YouTube … it’s just as amazing now as it probably was live. He wouldn’t be denied. His confdence was probably at an all-time high in that one little span. I know as a shooter, when you get in a zone, you feel like you’re going to knock down every shot. You get in a great rhythm and you just feel it. He was hitting crazy shots falling out of bounds and with guys’ hands in his face. He was in a scoring zone. These are the greatest players in the NBA. Sometimes, they can make incredibly diffcult things look easy. We all know it’s not easy at all. It’s something to marvel at when you see things like McGrady’s scoring or Iverson’s 60-point night or all the other great players like Shaq, Reggie Miller, [Dirk] Nowitzki, and so on and so on.”

Van Gundy, to SportsTicker: “He's gifted. He misses makeable ones and

Mutombo: “You can play hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of

makes unmakeable ones.”

games and forget most of them. There will always be some which you’ll remember forever. This had to be one of them. The fact that it’s being talked about a decade later proves that point. You can see a whole 82game season and playoffs and not see a game where someone scores 13 points in 35 seconds. It was a regular season game early in the season. It

shook him, I created space and I went up for the shot.”

Rockets guard Andre Barrett, to the AP: “I noticed people leaving. We played the game for ourselves.”

Ginobili: “Usually, we’d be very disappointed and upset after a loss. I

McGrady, to the AP: “I swear, I've never been a part of anything like that. That was like the best feeling to me, just to have my teammates embrace me and just jumping on me like that. That was a great feeling.”

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BONUS POINTS 1. McGrady was actually in a mini slump entering the game, for a 25.7-ppg scorer anyway. In his previous six games, McGrady failed to top 18 points in fve of them.

2. Which was really a Popovich-like answer.

3. Before his 13-point barrage, McGrady was shooting 8 for 25 from the feld and 1 for 8 from three-point.

4. The Rockets were fouling San Antonio on every possession during that span and the Spurs made all their free throws.

5. Ginobili has the memory of an elephant. The Spurs sandwiched a loss between a four and fve game winning streak.

6. The win snapped San Antonio’s seven-game win streak against the Rockets.

7. The Rockets, on the other hand, went 4-4 in their next eight games.

8. Tim Duncan also had a pretty great night: 26 points, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks.

9. The star duo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady combined for 60 points. The rest of the Rocket starters: 9.

10. The Spurs got sloppy and allowed back-to-back dunks by Yao and Scott Padgett, setting the table up for T-Mac’s heroics.

11. After the game-winning shot, McGrady celebrated with a big air punch.

12. The Rockets entered the game 8-9 and reached .500 thanks to McGrady.

13. McGrady led the NBA in minutes played in 2004-05 with 3,182.

turned out to be one for the history books. We had problems scoring that season because Tracy was being double- and triple-teamed along with Yao. In that stretch, it didn’t matter who the Spurs put on Tracy. He made the plays. Incredible performance. One that I’ll always remember.”

McGrady, who scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, to the AP: “For all

McGrady, to the Houston Chronicle: “I understand what I did last night, but I don't get overexcited about things like that. I just move on. It was great. It was a great individual performance. But at the same time, we are still below .500.12 When you're below .500 like that, it kind of takes away from what happened last night. But I also think something positive can come out of it, and it can be the start of a new beginning for this team.”

those fans who left the game early ... y’all missed a great game.”

McGrady, to NBATV: “Leading13 my team to a victory, that’s what I’m Parker: “How many shots did he miss? I think it was 17. Yep. We played very good defense throughout the game. If a player misses 17 shots, you’re pretty happy. He happened to make them and we had some breakdowns and it all took place in a little instance.”

thinking regardless of what I have to do to get it. I’m never ever thinking about missing the last-second shot.”

We think Devin Brown's face at the end says it all.”

Ginobili: “Pop has always preached defense and we played good defense for 47 minutes. It was the one minute10 we let up that hurt us.

Even in that last minute, Tracy made All-Star-type plays. Bruce [Bowen] and Timmy [Duncan] were right in his face and he still made plays. He fnished what he started.”

Williams: “Tracy had some tough luck in the playoffs. His talent was scary great. He could do everything. He could score, rebound, run the court, pass, come up with steals, block shots. He wasn’t what I would call a pure three-point shooter. He was an incredible scorer. When he got hot, he did it in bunches. He had that swagger and confdence when he was able to get it going. He was a fun player to watch live because of all he could do on a nightly basis.”

McGrady, to SportsTicker: “This really hasn't hit11 me. I don't know how we won. I don't realize what I did. I can't tell you how many [threepointers] I hit.”

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CHECKIT 84 SPIN MOVES 86 GAME ON 88 GEAR 92 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Basketball shoes are getting lighter with each iteration, to the point where it’s not exactly proposterous to hang them off the Christmas tree as decorations. While the possibility of yuletide trimmings exists, they still work best on the court (see these shoes reviewed on page 88) or as a gift (see page 92 for more gift ideas) to the basketball player on your list.

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AS TOLD TO JARREL HARRIS #3

Derrick Favors

It’s been a gradual ascent, but Favors is now showing why he was highly coveted coming into the League.

After a promising season playing in his home state at Georgia Tech, which was preceded by a McDonald’s All-American selection, the Nets made Favors the third pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Along with Devin Harris, Favors was the promising young player shipped off to Utah in exchange for Deron Williams. After waiting two and a half seasons for an opportunity, Favors came through last season as a full-time starter, averaging 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds with 1.5 blocks per game. When it’s time to chill, Favors keeps it simple and likes to go back to his hometown of Atlanta for a meal at Walter’s (“I go there to get my soul food. It’s a hole in the wall type of place but once you get in they serve you well. They switch up the menu every day so whatever they have I am going to eat.”). Just don’t expect him to announce it on social media.

VIDEOGAMES

I play a lot of Madden and Grand Theft Auto. It doesn’t really matter the console, I have all of them.

TECH

MOVIES

[My favorite movies are] Scarface and Juice. [Asked which actor would play him in a movie: “Will Smith.”]

I have an Android [phone] but I am not really into apps and stuff like that. I go on social media from time to time and don’t use it very often. You can follow me @DFavors14 on Twitter.

TV SHOWS

I watch a lot of TV. Some of the shows I like are The Walking Dead even though I haven’t had the opportunity to see the new trailer for the next season, and I also just finished watching Breaking Bad.

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ILLUSTRATION: MATT CANDELA

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CHECK IT GAME ON

NBA 2K15

2K Games/Visual Concepts Since its rookie outing on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999, the NBA 2K series has played trailblazer to the sports gaming genre—spawning classic basketball entries across every major platform for the past decade and a half. From graphics to gameplay, creator Visual Concepts led the fastbreak by introducing game-changing features, modes and mechanics that till this day remain the closest simulation of a real-life NBA game.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, 2K Sports extends its reign at the top with the latest installment in the universally acclaimed series.

New year, new upgrades, and a new cover athlete in League MVP Kevin Durant, 2K15 was developed with one intention in mind: accuracy. The studio makes this clear by limiting the number of elite players with 90-plus ratings. Last year’s version saw close to 10 players boasting similar rankings. These accolades are now reserved for four current players at the moment, Durant included, of course. This leads to most All-Star regulars scoring in the high 80s, all still incredibly effcient, but not top tier. Pretty much like the 2014 FIBA team.

The centerpiece to every sports game is Franchise Mode. Unfortunately, many feel the traditional mode has lost steam as of late. So in response, the developers implemented numerous changes in the form of the MyGM mode, which was instituted in 2K14 and incorporated RPG elements such as communicating with coaches and players. 2K15 offers a refned version that is incredibly dynamic and broadens the experience vastly.

Conversations require extra strategies to encourage positive responses from players and the media. A leveling system is integrated into the GM tools—players earn XP for every action—making procurement of vital skills the backbone for MyGM. The absence of Association Mode was not lost in vain, as the heavily customizable MyLeague mode replaces it. 2K15 has made it possible to play over 80 seasons with up to 30 teams, allowing us to switch up the draft classes, salary cap and more.

Scouting gets a complete makeover as mock drafts, social media rumors, and reports heavily impact the way your team is run. One of the cooler aspects is the new engine Visual Concepts devised to simulate a college season for the sake of recruiting draft prospects. Player progression is now split between in- and offseason training, though athletes will require high maintenance as the new Injuries 2.0 system stresses the amount of wear and tear put on them. An injury tab with color reference guide will indicate a player’s critical body parts.

Presentation remains a signature facet in 2K15. The game apparently features 5,000 more animations than its predecessor. Needless to say it shows throughout four-quarter play, as the adjustments, dribbling, and shooting are smoother in execution. Controls are tighter and team ball progresses thanks to the Practice Mode where teammates feed the ball more often to each other. As jaw dropping as the next-gen visuals look on Sony and Microsoft’s consoles, the PC version supersedes both platforms. The graphical fdelity is fawless to the point where you can examine the sweat dripping from James Harden’s beard.

The announcing team welcomes Starting Five of 2K two new faces in popular on-screen talent Ernie Johnson and Shaquille Innovations O’Neal, both providing insightful After 15 years and iterations of the NBA pregame commentary. A newly curated franchise, 2K has come up with plenty of soundtrack by Grammy-winning features that have evolved the game. Here are producer Pharrell Williams brings the top fve things that changed the game. diversity to the the game as well, which in itself is a complement to the wellThanks to the Dreamcast’s innovative balanced improvements made across the hardware achievements, 2K1 became the frst board. Switching from Depeche Mode’s basketball game to be played online.

“Personal Jesus” to A Tribe Called Quest’s The inclusion of Signature Style in 2K7 “Scenario” is a pretty sweet transition. captured each player’s trademark play style Knowing the value of user-generated in simulation, adding to the game’s on-court content, 2K launched its own live realism. highlight and interview show dubbed NBA2K TV that delivers the latest Path to Greatness Mode not only allowed news and updates from the NBA 2K players in 2K14 to relive LeBron James’ community. It even includes other greatest moments, but also determine and notable segments such as behind-theplay his future through different career arcs. scenes looks, exclusive interviews and 2K14 went international, striking an player cameos—all streamed into the offcial deal to feature Euroleague teams and game once a week. We haven’t played players in a game. a 2K game this rich in content and gameplay in years. That being said, 2K15 2K Games let gamers “scan” their faces is a sure shot once again for sports into 2K15 using the Kinect or PS4 camera, game of the year. which can be placed on their in-game avatar both in career and multiplayer modes.

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NBA Live 15

BY ALEX BRACETTI #44

Electronic Arts When it comes to trials and tribulations, no other sports gaming property has endured its share more than the NBA Live series. A pivotal staple during the 16-bit era that garnered mass appeal heading into the 32-bit generation, EA Sports’ basketball property somehow lost its legs heading into the PlayStation and Xbox era, as the NBA 2K franchise emerged as a top contender for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, never once looking back at the competition. That’s not to say EA didn’t have noteworthy seasons under its belt throughout the past decade. But with its last few efforts considered disappointments—a rebranding of the franchise (NBA Elite) cancelled a week before its offcial launch that resulted in a three-year layoff, and a weak 2014 installment, NBA Live 14—redemption is simply a quality EA could only wish for at this point heading into the next-gen front. And if there was every the opportunity to earn it, then NBA Live 15 could very well be that channel.

Doubling down on the gameplay and visuals this time out, EA has put in Derrick Rose-like offseason work to reestablish its brand amongst those diehard basketball fans. The physics engine receives a major facelift as post moves and paint collisions infuence offensive play sets. Like 2K15, it won’t be easy driving to the hole against the likes of a Dwight Howard or crossing up a Chris Paul to pop a jumper from the corner. Every basket is earned. The new shot feedback system takes several key elements into account to help gamers create the best shots on the court, and the enhanced bounceTek technology makes cutting to the basket more fuid.

Freestyle Passing gains some fair in the form of no looks, behind the backs, and more intuitive dishes in the lane.

The AI system is impressively dynamic as all 10 players on the hardwood gain a sense of off-ball awareness that increases the game’s diffculty level. This goes on throughout 48-minute play. While this obviously encourages gamers to adapt to the advanced gameplay mechanics, it also helps to learn a few tips from the pros, and EA makes it possible to gain some insight from the likes of cover athlete Damian Lillard.

Adding some NBA fodder to the mix, the Portland Trail Blazers superstar offers drills and tutorials based on his path to the big leagues that will serve as a foundation for your ball skills. It’s a unique experience well worth investing in.

It’s in the minor details that Live 15 earns its All-Star votes, as the scanning technology used on the players brings to life everything from the facial expressions to the footwear. In fact, the sneakers present in the game are enough to capture the interest of the most avid hypebeasts.

From adidas and Nike, to Jordan and Under Armour, every major sneaker release, including signature joints, is mostly accounted for, colorways and all. Adding to the customizable experience of Live 15 is the Hot Spot Challenges feature, which lets players “replicate game-changing moments within an hour of them happening in the real NBA.” As monthly events transpire, you’ll have the opportunity to replicate the actual end results of an offcial NBA game to earn bonus points. Fantasy Challenges bring more excitement to the online mode, where winning earns you more currency to purchase packs of players, uniforms and more.

EA Tiburon integrated over 100-plus animations into this year’s game, scanning over 70 percent of the NBA players and on-court actions to bring forth the most realistic NBA Live game ever. Players are now executing authentic movements and signature play styles with ease. All this makes NBA Live 15 a huge improvement on its predecessors. The game certainly shows potential on next-gen systems—Live 15 plays well with fuid motions on the PS4 and Xbox One. While it might lag behind 2K15 visually, it is obvious EA wants to win gamers over with its user-friendly gameplay.

As noteworthy as these upgrades sound, the lack of game modes and presentation really hurt Live 15. We get it. The road to recovery is a long one considering its history, but EA’s been fashing potential, but never fnishing a season all the way through. The competition on the other side is ferce and sports gamers can be loyal, but NBA Live 15 is a gradual step up and worthy of a shot for curious basketball gamers.

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adidas

GEAR

OUR TAKE: The Crazy Light series is going on four years and now gets a boost with adidas’ new-to-the-basketballmarketplace cushioning tech. Funnily enough, the CL Boost is the heaviest Crazy Light ever. While not “insanely” light, it’s still crazy light at 11.7 ounces, and still feel like running shoes on the feet.

The big deal about the Crazy Light Boost is the cushioning that it sits on. As its promotional videos show, the Boost foam returns more energy vs. traditional foams, giving the wearer more spring-back with each step. And you definitely feel the bounce in the heel where the Boost is located, but here’s the caveat: there’s no Boost in the forefoot. Boost in the heel is great on landings where the rear takes the brunt of the shock, but on sprints downcourt, having it in the forefoot would really be beneficial. Perhaps placing a thinner or denser Boost in the forefoot would be something adidas should be working on for the next version.

The fit on the CL Boost is excellent. The SprintWeb combined with ShockWeb serves as a good second skin while the StableFrame cups the foot into the shoe (more shoe companies should do this). The upper doesn’t do a great job at ventilation, but the mesh tongue somewhat makes up for it. Traction could be better as the unidirectional pattern, while good during lateral cuts, doesn’t offer too much grip with stop-and-gos.

Ever since adidas launched Boost in its running category, we’ve waited with bated breath for it to find its way onto the basketball court. While the CL Boost showed some potential, the addition of Boost in the forefoot would’ve really completed an otherwise excellent shoe.—Ming Wong #2

Price: $140 Weight: 11.7 oz.

07

GeoFit in the tongue for comfort when the shoe is laced tightly.

The shoe’s upper is reinforced with ShockWeb, which serves as a flexible cage to give the upper more integrity.

02 05

New four-layer SprintWeb upper with no-sew construction eliminates extra material and weight.

Dynamic Fit Technology/Flight Web System beneath the PWU is a series of web tunnels (imagine a skeleton) that wrap the foot and integrate with the laces, offering lockdown that moves with the athlete.

03 04

The shoe sits atop StableFrame, the lightweight chassis that cups the foot in the shoe and frames the Boost in the heel.

01

With its new weaving process, each stitch can be compared to a pixel on a screen. The 23 million “pixels” and 11,000 weaves make it possible for any design to be on the shoe.

Air Jordan XX9 Price: $225 Weight: 12.75 oz 05

The Performance Woven Upper (PWU) provides protection and durability by incorporating a denser weave in places that need it more.

02

04

The performance pattern offers a combination of textures that provide durability and traction on many different surfaces.

088

03

TPU heel counter to keep your heel from shifting.

06

06

Jordan

01

Crazy Light Boost

The Performance Woven Upper conforms to the foot, making the XX9 fit like a pair of socks.

The re-engineered Flight Plate provides lift-off as the forefoot and the heel are connected by a tendril—a small link of outsole—providing a smoother heel-to-toe-transition than the previous Flight Plate in the XX8.

X-bar in the midfoot provides heel to forefoot transition.

Boost, adidas’ cushioning foam that promises more energy return, makes its basketball debut.

OUR TAKE: After strong innovative efforts with the XX8 last year, Jordan Brand has followed up with its most advanced shoe to date. The Air Jordan XX9 features advancements that no signature Jordan sneaker has seen before. With an upper that is crafted in Italy (the shoe is assembled in Asia) using advanced weaving machines, the end result is the combination of luxury and performance that Jordan Brand is about.

The two innovations of the XX9 are the re-engineered Flight Plate and the first Performance-Woven Upper. The former is used to displace the Nike Zoom Air Cushioning first debuted in the Air Jordan XX8, and provides a coiled-spring-like first step and helps recovery on second jumps. The aforementioned PWU, besides serving as a high-resolution canvas, delivers performance benefits, too—it offers a customized fit since it molds to your feet and the carefully mapped out weave offers protection through a denser weave where it’s needed most.

The integrated Flight Web beneath the upper gives the shoe added support, structure and lockdown.

The new woven upper makes the XX9 the lightest Air Jordan ever. Compared to the XX8 SE that was 13.6 ounces, the XX9 is just 12.75 ounces. It gives you an elusive feel on the court as you can maneuver easily through transition and make great cuts. No surprise since Russell Westbrook will be the primary Jordan athlete wearing the shoe.

From a fit standpoint JB wanted the sneakers to be “tailored” for the player. The XX9 feels broken in from the first time you slip it on. On landings, the cushioning is superior as the Flight Plate gives you a constant feeling of propulsion. Once locked in, the XX9 cradles your foot, and it becomes one with the shoe.

Like with all Air Jordans, the price is steep. At $225, it’s a solid choice for the serious baller or anyone who prioritizes performance and craftsmanship.— Jarrel Harris #3

OUR TAKE: Under Armour has not been shy about taking chances with its footwear. These chances—along with its apparel backbone—has recently propelled them to No. 2 sports brand status, behind Nike. With a DNA in compression and fit, it is no surprise that UA’s latest basketball offering focuses on the body’s largest organ: skin. ClutchFit is the technology used across UA’s footwear lineups. It’s billed as a second skin, naturally flexing and durable like real skin.

The other tech story is the constant and reliable Micro G cushioning found in UA’s shoes.

The ClutchFit upper is indeed very pliable. When properly laced, it conforms to the foot very well for a tight, yet not too restrictive fit. The only negatives are that it doesn’t ventilate well (the mesh tongue does make up for it) and the stiff midand outsole negates any foot freedom gained with ClutchFit. Shock absorption is adequate. Despite being kind of no-frills as cushioning goes, Micro G foam performs very well, deflecting impact on landings. Compared to last year’s prime basketball offering, the Anatomix Spawn, the ClutchFit feels like the Micro G was lessened as the Spawn felt just a tad more springy.

Traction, accomplished by run-of-the-mill herringbone, is a strong area (a reminder to all shoe companies that while dull, herringbone is still very effective). Combined with the sticky rubber that UA employs, the outsole serves well under most conditions, including the outdoor court we tested the shoe on.

We did wish the chassis offered as much flex as the upper, the cut was a little lower and it had a little extra padding on the tongue, but those are all minor complaints to an otherwise solid basketball shoe.—Frank Capa #28

Under Armour

01

Molded Micro G sockliner for additional cushioning.

ClutchFit Drive Price: $124.99 Weight: 13.5 oz.

07

ClutchFit upper mimics “second skin” on foot for fit and comfort.

06

Interior mesh liner and tongue for breathability.

1

02

External heel counter for foot stability.

05

The ClutchFit pattern offers plenty of flex throughout pivot points on the shoe.

03

Full-length Micro G midsole for cushioning and energy return.

04

Single piece outsole with zoned multi-directional herringbone pattern for traction.

01 06

Jordan

CP3.VIII

A new tradition in the Jordan Brand family, the Flight Web Fit System utilizes webbed straps that wrap the foot and integrate with the laces for superior lockdown through the midfoot.

Dual density cushioning combines a soft Lunarlon puddle under the heel that is surrounded by a firmer injection phylon carrier. This combination delivers a soft yet responsive feel.

Price: $130 Weight: 14.1 oz.

05

Engineered textile upper provides lightweight support.

02

TPU chassis provides lateral stability when cutting from side to side.

03 04

Nike Zoom Unit under the forefoot provides low-profile responsive cushioning.

Durable synthetic overlays on the heel and toe are fused to the textile using no-sew construction.

OUR TAKE: Chris Paul’s eighth signature sneaker remains true to the ethos of the previous seven iterations: speed and performance. With the VIII, Jordan definitely took the initiative to make the sneaker a lower cut than its predecessor. As a player who laces up a new pair every game, Paul wanted the shoe to feel as broken-in as possible. With the engineered textile upper and Podulite cushioning, the CP3.VIII is designed to be a lightweight shoe for an attacking point guard.

CP3 mentioned that he had a lot of creative input on many of the features that will be included in the sneaker. From a design standpoint the shoe purposely kept the look minimal, instead focusing on the performance of it. Like with all CP3 shoes, the personal family-oriented elements remain. On the inside of the tongue is a family tree of the Paul family. With every CP3 shoe is a hidden Chevron logo (an homage to his late grandfather who used to own a Chevron station that Paul worked at) and it can be found on the sole.

Don’t let the bland exterior fool you: The CP3.VIII scored high on the court. The TPU chassis provides great lateral movement when doing quick changes-of-direction. The dual density cushioning (Lunarlon paired with a denser phylon) provides a responsive ride, while the Podulite works like “cleats” gripping the floor. The Flight Web Fit System straps the foot into the shoe, making for a seamless foot-to-floor transition.—#3

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GEAR

07

Nike

Hyperdunk 2014

The Dynamic foam collar is soft to the touch but helps provide sturdy stability while in play.

The heel cup on the Hyperdunk 2014 acts as an anchor for everything up to the midfoot.

Price: $140 Weight: 12.75 oz.

06

The mesh on the upper provides ventilation.

05

Excellent flexibility in the toebox allows for natural movement of the foot with no awkward resistance from the shoe.

02

Dynamic Flywire secures the upper to foot without being restrictive.

04

Like on other models that use the Fuse, your foot is secure and locked down in the comfortable fit.

OUR TAKE: Coming on the heels of an MVP season, the seventh edition of Kevin Durant’s signature line was met with great anticipation. It was almost the last one, too, as Durant flirted with the prospects of going to home state-based (Maryland) Under Armour before Nike retained the MVP with a long-term deal, ensuring many more KDs in the future.

A Frankenstein-shoe of sorts, Nike packed a lot of technology into the KD7. Hyperposite, dual-Zoom Air, a HyperRev-like mesh upper, Flywire—it’s all found on the shoe, and it all comes together.

Foamposite is practically gospel to folks from the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia, where Nike sells more Foams than anywhere else in the country) and makes its debut in KDs in the form of Hyperposite (basically updated Foamposite) in the rear for strength and support. The flexible mesh in the front of the shoe was for Durant’s guard-like game. Combined the two integrate nicely, giving the shoe mobility in the front and power in the rear. The internal heel counter did let the foot move around, but if properly sized, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Nike has been cooking up cushioning systems that mix and match their various technologies. The KD7 uses just Zoom Air, but masterfully combines a Max Zoom unit in the rear with a thinner, denser 8mm unit in the front for a nice responsive package.

The midfoot strap lends plenty of style to the shoe and serves as a nice canvas for a personal touch (the names of Durant’s family members can be found underneath) but it just doesn’t do much for performance, especially if you have wide feet.

The KD7 emerges as one of the strongest in the line to date.

For those who like a lot of bells and whistles, it’s also packed with a lot of Nike technology, hence the higher pricetag, a far cry from the sub-$90 days of early KDs. We champion low-cut shoes (the KD7 is slightly higher than a low) and the KD7 is the best one of the bunch so far this season.—#28

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Multi-directional herringbone patterns on the outsole cover all your movements and allow you to make cuts, starts, stops and pivots.

OUR TAKE: What’s so special about the Nike Hyperdunk 2014?

Well, a few things. Outside of the signature shoes for Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, it’s Nike Basketball’s premier basketball model. In many ways it is the best overall basketball shoe by Nike since it’s not tailored for a specific player, but for a wide range of ballers.

The Hyperdunk 2014 has something for every baller. Are comfort and support high on your ball kicks checklist? Cool, you’ll love that the support of the Flywire isn’t compromised simply because the one-piece upper is so lightweight. Do your legs and feet often hurt after hooping because of the constant running and pounding? It’s all good—the Lunarlon cushioning, heavily noticeable in the forefoot and the midsole, is built to handle heavy on-court lifting. And if we’re talking about traction, the Hyperdunk 2014 puts a new-age spin on the traditional herringbone pattern, utilizing different directional patterns along the outsole to add stability from all angles.

One big difference from the Hyperdunk’s previous pairs is the added room in the forefoot. For our wide, flat-footed readers: You finally have a shoe for all your needs. The struggle is real for those who can’t quite fit a sneaker they love comfortably on the court. So often, concerns over lockdown and even aesthetic lead to narrower designs.

There’s way more room to work with this go around. On the flip side, don’t be discouraged from buying the model if you don’t have Frankenstein feet or don’t play like a traditional big.

A simple lace adjustment (i.e. just pull them a little tighter) and you lucky ballers with high arcs and streamline feet are good to go, too.

Since its debut six years ago, the Hyperdunk has remained a top performer. They haven’t messed with the formula too much and the 2014 remains a solid choice for basketball. — Terrence Watson #24

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Nike KD7

Price: $150 Weight: 12.5 oz.

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The rubber midfoot strap finds its way back to the KD line after being a big design element in the II and IV.

The rear of the upper is Hyperposite, an updated version of Foamposite (which is a favorite with Kevin Durant) and a very strong material that provides support to the rear of the shoe where it is needed.

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The front part of the upper is mesh, making it very flexible and breathable.

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Internal heel counter is molded into the rear Foamposite for foot lockdown.

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Exposed Max Zoom unit in the heel for rear shock absorption.

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Thinner 8mm Zoom unit in the forefoot for cushioning and propulsion.

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Dynamic Flywire is practically a staple in all Nike Basketball offerings as it’s used to cradle the foot in place once cinched in.

CHECK IT GOODS

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

The North Face Brigandine Jacket

The Brigandine is a bit like a coat of mail as its name means, but instead of warding off swords, arrows and axes in Game of Thrones fashion, The North Face version will repel nature’s blows. The FuseForm construction seals out water and offers up armor against abrasion in targeted areas. An embedded RECCO transponder activates for search and rescue if you ever come across an avalanche and a multitude of thoughtful pockets stows away all your necessities.

$499

Cole Haan ZeroGrand Tall Boot

The originators of the “Round” thermostat in 1953, Honeywell fast-forwards to today’s smart devices with the Lyric. The Lyric uses the location of your smartphone to determine energy usage. The geofencing on the Lyric senses when you (your smartphone) are outside the range of your home and knows to properly heat or cool the home (also factoring in the local temperature, humidity and weather). It’s also accompanied by an app (iOS and Android) that gives manual control along with monthly performance reports.

The ZeroGrand outsole that sits on this casual boot doesn’t have the same juxtaposition as it does on Cole Haan’s line of oxfords, but it does have the same lightweight and fexible comfort.

$298

$279

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

LEGO Ghostbusters

$799 (starting price) Surface Pro Type Cover: $129

$49.99

As its ambiguous name suggests, the Surface is a bit of everything bundled into one. At its heart, it’s a standalone Windows 8.1 Pro tablet. Pair it with the optional Surface Pro Type Cover and mouse and it’s a mid-level laptop capable of most everyday computer tasks. Flip it vertically and use it with the Surface Pen and it’s a note-taking pad or creative canvas. Drop the kickstand in the back and it becomes a 12-inch HD personal entertainment screen.

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Honeywell Lyric

There isn’t a kid who grew up in the ’80s who hasn’t ever spewed the catchphrase: “Who you gonna call?” (Even Google knows what’s up based on its search returns.) The clever designers at LEGO capture Venkman, Stantz, Spengler and Zeddemore in minifg form (complete with proton packs and ghost trap), but the real star is the Ecto-1. The 1959 Cadillac ambulance/hearseturned-Ghostbuster mobile is rendered into brick form in gorgeous detail. Only thing missing: Slimer or Stay Puft.

Nike LeBron 11 “What The” Boast Lobsterman Pullover Hoodie adidas Originals Blue Overhead Down Parka

Devoid of newfangled synthetic materials, this parka keeps you warm with tried-andtrue down insulation.

With a heavy emphasis on tennis and the good life represented by the company’s Japanese maple leaf logo, Boast’s company cannot be better represented than by the lobsterman graphic on this soft cotton French terry hoodie.

You can try to buy all of the LeBron releases that Nike offers (good luck with that) or you can save a bunch of time, money and closet space with the purchase of the “What The” LeBron 11 which incorporates eight design elements from previous LeBron shoes along with 20 graphics and colors from prior iterations.

$250

$118

$250

LG G3 adidas Originals Rod Laver Prez

The Rod Laver is one of the most iconic and minimalist shoes ever created, but adidas put a digital tonal tiger camoufage print on these and swapped in a vulcanized outsole.

$110

The G series by LG has been consistently one of the most slept-on smartphones on the market. It hits all the right notes on the key features of any high-end device—stunning picture on 5.5-inch quad HD (2,560 x 1440) display, high quality 13 MP camera that captures moments with the Laser Auto Focus, and one of the fastest performing processors (Snapdragon 801 quad-core). The intuitive rear controls (on/off button and volume switches) set the G3 apart from the pack, as new users might need some time adapting, but in time, it becomes natural.

$598.80 (or $24.95 per month for 24 months via T-Mobile)

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CHECK IT

Nike Hero Confdence (LeBron) Full-Zip Nike LeBron Beast The King might’ve gone home to Akron, but these shorts still have their heart in Miami with a bright mango accent hue made with Dri-Fit UV fabric that wicks away sweat and repels harmful sun rays.

$50

This hoodie keeps the outdoor basketball enthusiast warm and comfortable during the autumn and winter months with the Therm-FIT fabric and raglan sleeves and panels on the sides.

An adjustable scuba hood zips up to the chin for added warmth.

$90

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star City Hiker

Reebok Question Mid Pump

Chucks gets some cold weather upgrades— boot treads and shearling lining—for winter without being a total departure from the classic silhouette.

Reebok took its two most iconic basketball silhouettes—the Pump and the Question—into one with the Question Mid Pump. Most hybrids don’t work out, but this is an exception since it’s essentially a Question with Pump bladder in the tongue.

$65

$175

Samsung Galaxy Tab S If your tablet’s screen is your main priority, you cannot do any better than the Galaxy Tab S. The Super AMOLED display brings to life photos, video and magazines (but still—ahem—lacks from an actual print mag). The gold wrap around the Android tablet gives it an air of sophistication while the golden nubs in the back serve as welcome grip during extended sessions. The 10.5inch version is ideal for a personal movie screen or Internet device while the compact 8.4-inch makes a good e-reader and picture viewer.

8.4 inch (16 GB): $399.99 10.5 inch (16 GB): $499.99 094

Dyson DC59 Animal Whether you walk on solid or carpeted foors, vacuums are a necessary component to life’s messes. What isn’t necessary is a full sized upright with the cumbersome weight, limited mobility and tethered electrical cord range. The DC59 Animal sucks as powerfully as an average upright but operates with one hand while cutting the cord. The extension neck gives you Giannis Antetokounmpo reach, the included multitude of heads make it as versatile as Boris Diaw, and the head glides around your home court like Kyrie Irving. The one drawback is the 26-minute runtime on the lithium-ion battery pack, but if you’re cleaning longer than that, you need a housekeeper, not a vacuum.

$499.99

Xbox One Special Edition Sunset Overdrive Bundle When Xbox One dropped last year, select Microsoft employees were gifted special white versions of the typical black consoles, causing plenty of gamer envy.

Now’s your chance to get a hold of the cirrus white XB1 with matching white controller. No Kinect is bundled, but you do get a copy of Sunset Overdrive, natch.

$399

Roots of Fight IATG Tee If you didn’t already fgure it out, the IATG in the T-shirt’s name stands for “I Am The Greatest,” the quote often associated with Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay). It’s also printed on the back of the tee.

Timberland Earthkeepers Stormbuck Duck Boots With classic wingtip details, the front of these Stormbucks Duck Boots project a business vibe, but the front screams rugged adventure. Regardless of which side you want to project, these boots will keep your feet dry as they’re completely waterproof.

Kohler Touchless While touchscreens might be all the rage with most devices, when it comes to the bathroom experience, not touching is the way to go. Kohler fushes the handle away with its Touchless, a simple to install kit that converts most toilets so a simple wave of the hand sends the mess down the drain.

$99.97

$37.50

$195

Jordan Dominate Compression Stay Warm Tight Winter training requires a base layer to keep the legs from stalling in the cold.

The thicker Dri-Fit material of this tight keeps things toasty while keeping you dry when the workout hits overdrive, and the front/rear gusset offers full range of motion.

$60

Porter-Cable 20V MAX Lithium Ion 4-Tool Combo Kit This excellent starter kit packs all the requisite power tools for any beginner DIYer—power drill (drilling/driving), reciprocating saw (versatile cutting/demolition), circular saw (wood cuts)—all powered by a beefy and long-lasting 20V lithium ion battery that interchanges between the tools. Also included is a rapid charger and a handy fashlight.

$199

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CHECK IT

Apple MacBook Air Timberland Thompson Lake Selvage Denim Pant The dark indigo hue of these jeans and the modern slim and tapered cut gives an upgrade to this utilitarian staple.

$128

When it comes to laptops, there are endless Windowsbased options. While Apple might not offer up a buffet of choices for a Mac, they do make sure that every detail is right. Unless you’re a power user, the MacBook Air is a nice trade-off for a featherweight (2.3 pounds) and thin (0.68 inches) package that features a 11.6-inch display (13-inch available), 128 GB of fash storage (option up to 256 GB) and 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor. Just as impressive as the thin form factor is the long battery life, 9 hours of continuous use on a full charge.

$899

$299.95

Jordan Flight Flex Trainer In order to dominate on the court or feld, you need to frst dominate the training ground. The single-piece upper coupled with Dynamic Flywire (pro tip: size up on these) molds to your foot like a pair of socks and the triangular Flight Flex outsole offers up lightweight cushioning and foot mobility.

$100

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This AJ Future Premium will break necks—whether it be for its sticker shock or looks. The price of entry is high, but you cannot deny the buttery leather woven upper coupled with the AJXI tooling and gum outsole (which is more a translucent gold) make for a striking shoe. Other fne touches include wax laces, gold lace tips and leather details on the tongue and pull tab.

$375

Philips Airfryer Fried-food fans rejoice. The Airfryer takes the fried favor of food like chicken and fries without the guilt and clean-up mess associated with grease. The Airfryer takes your favorite fried food (and even non-fried fare) and acts like a super convection oven, blasting it with hot air to mimic a “deep-fried” crust.

We’re believers, as the “airfried” tasted just as good. Now if they can only get the basket bigger to ft an entire chicken.

Jordan Brand Air Jordan Future Premium

adidas Originals Reversible Track Jacket Spire

Jordan Pinnacle Sweats They might be called sweats, but JB made sure to attach “Pinnacle” to it, which means the luxurious hand (blend of cotton and silk) of these “sweats” can be a pampering part of the postgame workout.

$150

Where most companies focus on activity and rewarding constant motion to their wearable ftness trackers, the Spire is more Zen, choosing instead to focus on personal well-being and a healthy state of mind. While the Spire can track traditional things like steps and distance, the core of it is to monitor your breathing, stress and focus levels. When deadlines and other stressors have you taking in shallower breaths, Spire will send you a reminder to take a break or engage in a stress-reducing activity. The minimal design (imagine a river stone with a belt clip) doesn’t feature any screen reminding you how little you’ve moved, but the Spire easily disappears onto your waistband to improve your daily mood.

$130

$149

Epson Home Cinema 3600e We watched a few basketball games with the Home Cinema 3600e thrown onto a 100-inch screen (as reference, that is four times the surface screen size of a 50-inch TV) and it almost felt like we were sitting next to Spike at the Garden. The 3LCD, 3-chip, 2D/3D projector produces a bright picture even with some ambient light, but fick the lights off and the HC3600 really shines. The 70,000:1 contrast ratio means black levels look deep and the 2,500 lumens of color brightness deliver a stunning 1080p picture. Two built-in 10W stereo speakers means the projector can be taken on the go (but we recommend dedicated speakers) and the built-in WirelessHD transmitter makes for an easy and neat installation of video sources.

$1999

This reversible track jacket gives you options. An all-over tiger print with the iconic 3-Stripes in white when you feeling wild.

Solid black with tiger-striped 3-Stripes when you’re feeling tame.

Cole Haan ZeroGrand Reverse Full-Grain Suede Cole Haan pioneered the sneaker/shoe hybrid with the LunarGrands a few years back and went in for seconds, this time with a Nike Free-like sole (Cole Haan was a subsidiary of Nike from 1998 to 2012), making for a suede wingtip oxford that weighs and fexes unlike any other in the market.

Warning: the laser cut holes will expose socks, so be discriminate in your choice of hosiery.

$268

booq Taipan shock The Taipan shock is the perfect bag for the tech enthusiast with OCD tendencies. Every compartment is designed to house a specifc tech essential—the padded rear sleeve holds up to a 15-inch laptop; the main hold the perfect spot for documents; the various mesh stowaways can stash away headphones, camera and other assorted associated cables; the side pockets are perfect for loading up energy drinks; and the quick-access front zippered pocket is ideal for an e-reader or tablet.

Refective patches on the rear and shoulder offer up nighttime safety while the unique Terralinq tag helps you recover the bag when lost.

$95 097

CHECK IT

Herschel Parcel Luggage

Airlines might be slapping surcharges for check-in luggage with impunity these days, so if you’re going to pay for the privilege (just make sure it doesn’t exceed the weight limits), make sure you do it proper. The Parcel Luggage is solidly built to withstand the rigors of air travel (while airlines might be charging you bags, they’re not any more gentle) and the interior features two voluminous compartments and an exterior pocket for smaller items.

Alternative Organic Heavy French Terry Hoodie

Crafted of 100 percent organic French terry, this hoodie is so soft and light that we can co-sign it as proper pajama wear.

$120

adidas Pure Boost

Don’t take our word for it. Your feet will agree that the Pure Boost is one of the most comfortable shoes you have ever worn. The Boost foam works great as energy-return tech during runs and pillowy insoles when you’re not expending energy.

$239.99

$120

Lemur BlueDriver

With the BlueDriver, the days of getting a mechanic to service that check engine light is over (you might still need his help on coming up with a fx though). Like any OBD2 (on-board diagnostics, found on every car after 1996) tool, it can help pinpoint the problem on the car. Unlike most OBD2 tools with controls and screens that resemble a Star Trek tricorder, the BlueDriver utilizes the hi-res color screen of your smartphone to display the info. An accompanying app (iOS and Android) communicates with the BlueDriver via Bluetooth (after you plug it into the car’s OBD2 port), giving you an answer and even giving you a detailed report of the car’s vitals.

$99.95

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Conway Electric Exto Mint

Living in a time where the most utilitarian household item gets a designer makeover, the Exto redefnes what an extension cord should look like. Coming in a variety of favors, the pictured Mint one (inspired by the logo of Conway Electric’s frst retail partner CORD in PDX) features a powder-coated baby blue box with rubber feet for grip that houses the two tamper resistant outlets. The modern industrial vibe is rounded out with a cork inlet and the red 12-foot, 16-gauge power cord.

$70

BY ALEX BRACETTI #44

GAMES TO GIVE (Or Get) You can’t go wrong with one of these titles for the gamer in your life.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Activision, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360) Exoskeletal technology, hover bikes, prototype weaponry—this futuristic installment to the popular FPS series drops you into an ultra-modern battlefeld to stop a nuclear terrorist threat.

Super Smash Bros. 4 (Nintendo, Wii U/3DS) Nintendo’s fghter goes multiplatform bringing four-player brawls to its home and portable consoles, while boasting online play and the largest roster of playable characters ever.

Assassin’s Creed: Unity (Ubsioft, PS4/Xbox One) Introducing co-op multiplayer, purchaseable skills, and updated fnishers, Unity bands together the assassins from previous titles to experience the French Revolution like never before.

Halo: Master Chief Collection (Microsoft, Xbox One) Zipbuds Pro Mic We’ve all been there: Playing cat’s cradle with your tangled mess of ear buds every time you pull them out of the pocket or bag. Zipbuds cleverly found a solution with zippered wires that join the left and right cables together into one, reducing the spaghetti of wires. The buds also include in-line noise-cancelling mic/remote.

New Era NBA HWC Biggest Fan Pom Knits This knit beanie sports team colors and Hardwood Classics logo on the cuff and the classic pom pom on top.

$24.99

$39.99

Bodum Breakfast Start breakfast with form and function of some morning essentials. The Bistro electric coffee grinder can churn out the perfect grind—from espresso to French press—with its stainless steel conical burrs. The Ibis electric water kettle can quickly bring to boil a pot of hot water for the coffee (57 ounces to be exact) with a press of a switch. The Bistro Toaster chars up two slices of bread, bagels, Eggos and other fat baked goods as you wait for the brew to percolate.

Bistro coffee grinder: $143 Ibis eletric water kettle: $79 Bistro Toaster: $72

Relive the epic Master Chief saga by playing through the frst four games, plus experience the remastered version of Halo 2: Anniversary, which features updated visuals and new maps.

Destiny (Activision, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360) Bungie’s “shared-world shooter” welcomes gamers to jump online and engage in intergalactic wars with tons of customizations, special abilities, and weapons at their disposal.

099

CHECK IT

Alternative Larchmont Pants This slim-ftting sweatpant is made with organic cotton, making it a plush postgame treat for your legs.

$80

WHERE TO BUY: adidas Originals Rod Laver Prez, Overhead Down Parka, Reversible TT, adidas.com; Alternative Organic Heavy French Cotton Hoodie, Larchmont Pants, alternativeapparel.com; Apple Macbook Air, store.apple.com; Boast Lobsterman Pullover Hoodie, boastusa. com; Bodum breakfast kit, bodum. com; booq Taipan shock, booqbags. com; Cole Haan ZeroGrand Reverse Full Grain Suede, ZeroGrand Tall Boot, colehaan.com; Converse Chuck Taylor All Star City Hiker, converse.com; Conway Electric Exto, conwaygoods.com; Dyson DC59 Animal, dyson.com; Epson Home Cinema 3600e, eposn.com; Herschel Parcel Luggage, herschelsupply.com; Honeywell Lyric, honeywell.com; Jordan Brand Air Jordan Future Premium, Flight Flex Trainer, Pinnacle Sweats, Dominate Compression Stay Warm Tight, jordan. com; Kohler Touchless, kohler.com; LEGO Ghostbuster Ecto-1, shop.lego.com; Lemur BlueDriver, lemurmonitors.com; LG G3, t-mobile.com; Microsoft Surface Pro 3, microsoftstore.com; Netfix Giftcard, netfix.com; New Era NBA HWC Biggest Fan Pom Knit, neweracap. com; Nike LeBron 11 “What The,� Hero Confdence (LeBron) Full-Zip, LeBron Beast, nikestore.com; Philips Airfryer, williamsonoma.com; Porter-Cable 20V MAX Lithium Ion Combo Kit, lowes.com; Reebok Question Mid Pump, reebok.com; Roots of Fight IATG Tee, rootsoffght. com; Samsung Galaxy Tab S, Level samsung.com; Spire, spire.io;The North Face Brigandine Jacket, Reversible Illuminated Jacket, thenorthface.com; Timberland Earthkeepers Stormbuck Duck Boots, Thompson Lake Selvage Denim Pant, timberland.com; True Temper SnoBoss, homedepot.com; Xbox Special Edition Sunset Overdrive Bundle, xbox.com; Zipbuds, zipbuds.com

Netfix Giftcard Give the gift of entertainment choice with a giftcard to the leader in video content streaming.

Available in $30 and $60 denominations

Samsung Level Samsung gets plenty of consumer attention for its line of Galaxy devices, but lost in the mix is the Level line of premium audio gear. Level Over is the over-the-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones for maximum comfort and noise-cancellation. The touch controls are on the side of the headphone, allowing you to answer calls, switch tracks and adjust the volume with a fnger swipe. The Level On offer smaller headphones that give you the same rich audio experience in a more compact form factor. The Level Box is a Bluetooth portable speaker that can easily fll a room with sound. Lastly, the Level In (not pictured) in-ear buds can make marathon sessions tolerable thanks to the memory foam gels.

Level Level Level Level 100

Over: $349.99 On: $179.99 Box: $169.99 In: $149.99

True Temper SnoBoss Northerners know the importance of a good shovel. A good one makes light work out of the white stuff; a bad one means a slow go and an achy back.

The SnoBoss makes good on its name, pushing aside snow with its wide (26 inch) plow and ergonomic grips.

The North Face Reversible Illuminated Jacket

$36

$200

The North Face goes two-face with this jacket as it changes from neon with hits of refective lines and panels for ultimate safety during night runs to a more refned heather grey with a quick fip.

STEP BACK

1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 5, May 18, 1993 Madison Square Garden

The Charlotte Hornets made their playoff debut in dramatic fashion in 1993, upsetting the fourth-seeded Celtics in the First Round on Alonzo Mourning’s almost buzzer-beating shot (after the top of the key jumper, the officials put 0.4 seconds on the clock).

Charlotte went back to the Hornets team name and purple and teal color scheme this year.

Three of the Monstars from Space Jam—Muggsy Bogues, Ewing and Larry Johnson—were part of this series.

Patrick Ewing now serves as the top assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets. He made his head coaching debut last season when he filled in for head coach Steve Clifford during his heart surgery in a November 8, 2014 game against the New York Knicks (who won 101-81).

Up until Game 5, Ewing was having a monster series against Charlotte, averaging 30.3 ppg and 11.3 rpg. In the series clincher, Ewing put up just 9 points and 8 rebounds while fouling out.

Ewing was the Knicks’ lone All-Star in 1993.

David Wingate (#55) was a teammate of Ewing’s at Georgetown where they won the 1984 NCAA National Championship.

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NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Bogues averaged 10 points, 8.8 assists and 2 steals during the 1992-93 season.

Bogues played on one of the greatest prep squads, the 1981-82 Dunbar High School that featured four future NBA players. The East Baltimore school went undefeated and boasted: Reggie Williams, Reggie Lewis, David Wingate and Bogues.

Bogues is still the shortest player to ever play in the NBA. At 5-3, Bogues is a more than two feet shorter than the tallest NBA player on record, 7-7 Gheorghe Muresan.

Bogues’ diminutive height did not dissuade Washington from tabbing him with the 12th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft.

The trio of Anthony Mason, John Starks and Charles Oakley helped pick up the slack of Ewing’s uncharacteristically bad Game 5: Mason chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds; Starks poured in 20 points, 9 assists and 5 boards; Oakley put up a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.

After being a third-round pick in the 1988 NBA Draft, playing overseas and bouncing around three NBA teams, Mason emerged as one of the top reserves on the Knicks bench, averaging 10.3 ppg and 7.9 rpg.

The following season, Starks made the only All-Star team of his career and in 1997, he was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Starks was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team in 1993.

Mason would win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1995.

On July 14, 1996, the Knicks would trade Mason (along with Brad Lohaus) to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Larry Johnson.

Oakley went eight picks after Ewing in the 1985 NBA Draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers tabbed the Virginia Union forward with the ninth pick before trading him to Chicago along with Calvin Duncan for Keith Lee and Ennis Whatley.

Mason earned his only AllStar appearance in 2001 as a 16.1-ppg and 9.6-rpg starter for the Miami Heat.

Oakley played 19 NBA seasons with five teams (Chicago, New York, Toronto, Washington and Houston). His longest stint was with the Knicks, where he averaged a double-double of 10.4 points and 10 rebounds in 10 seasons and earned his lone AllStar appearance in 1994.

Bogues played 14 NBA seasons with career averages of 7.7 points and 7.6 assists.

The Reebok Vertical 1 featured the signature Pump in the tongue and Hexalite cushioning in the midsole.

Starks currently works for the Knicks as alumni relations and fan development advisor.

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CALL OUT

Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (center) and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (left with blue tie) speak with Boston youth at the Mildred Avenue Community Center.

CHRIS MARION/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

It seems like everyone in Northern Ohio is glad to see LeBron James return to Cleveland, especially Jackie Custer, a 16-yearold battling leukemia who recently received a jersey and a hug from the King during the Cavs’ Wine and Gold scrimmage.

Tweeted Custer: “literally shaking right now @KingJames @cavs thank you so much” DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Not sure what sandwich Knicks legend Larry Johnson was making to beneft children of local shelters during the NBA Cares Day of Service, but we like to think it was a PB&LJ.

The Knicks young trio of (left to right) Cleanthony Early, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Shane Larkin hand out stocked backpacks at the NBA Cares Day of Service in partnership with the Garden of Dreams and Children’s Aid Society.

MIKE LEBRECHT /NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

MIKE LEBRECHT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Brooklyn’s Andrei Kirilenko can do many things on the court well; passing is just one of them. Here he displays proper form to a group of young players during the NBA Cares Day of Service for a court and playground dedication at Staten Island, NY. DAVID DOW/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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*Rates valid until December 22, 2013. **Rates valid from January 1, 2014 through April 30, 2014.

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