Top 14 Most Popular NBA Players

Top 14 NBA Jersey Sellers for the 2009-2010 season, my main man Nate Robinson comes in at number 11 (check here to see if he made my top 6 players under 6 feet tall) and the falling star injured star Kobe Bean Bryant tops the list for the 2nd straight year.

Rank	Player	Team
1.	Kobe Bryant	Lakers
2.	LeBron James	Cavs
3.	Kevin Garnett	Celtics
4.	Derrick Rose	Bulls
5.	Dwight Howard	Magic
6.	Dwyane Wade	Heat
7.	Chris Paul	Hornets
8.	Paul Pierce	Celtics
9.	Kevin Durant	Thunder
10.	Carmelo Anthony	Nuggets
11.	Nate Robinson	Celtics
12.	David Lee	Knicks
13.	Brandon Roy	Trail Blazers
14.	Pau Gasol	Lakers

Crab Dribble Revisted

A crab dribble is when the dribbler has their back to a defender and dribbles the ball between their feet with step-slide footwork, it's used by perimeter players to protect the ball and by post players to back down their defender.

Lebron ironically called a move where he decided to maneuver his way around Wizard defenders like Barry Sanders while opting to not take any dribbles at all, his Crab Dribble.  It has since been used interchangeably with traveling.

Dwayne at His Worst

In Last nights loss Dwayne Wade led all scorers with 34 points but in the final seconds he turned into Mr. Softy again (see below video of Dwayne Wade's who couldn't walk after injuring his shoulder).  He missed the potential game winning shot (a 3-pointer with the game tied) and on his descent his foot landed on Ray Allen's foot and he caught a cramp (not a twisted ankle?).  He had to be carried off the court and sat out on the final defensive possession where Paul Pierce drained the game winning jumper.  Now Sunday's loss could be Dwayne Wade's last game as a Heat player.

Yet Another Former NBA Player is Broke

Former NBA player Derrick Coleman one of the biggest draft bust of all-time according to Sports Illustrated recently filed for bankruptcy.  Coleman's balance sheet has lost equilibrium, his assets which include a Bentley, and five fur coats are listed at $1 million but he has $4.6 million in debt.

Sadly his business deals in his hometown Detroit haven't been successful. Coleman owes between 50 and 99 creditors, including Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, American Express, Comerica, Sprint, Verizon, Hungry Howie's Pizza and Nike (source).

Other Former Athletes that Financially Fell from Grace Here and Here.

Kenny and Charles Style Critiques

Kenny and Charles gives the thumbs up or thumbs down on Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade and Amare Stoudemire's fashion choices. 

NBA Look Alikes

Today April 20th is National Look Alike, in honor of the day here are some of my separated at birth observations and long with a few others.

See more here.

Road to the NBA - The Only One of His Kind

The only current NBA coach with no college or pro-ball on his resume (fired New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank didn't even make his high school team) New Orleans Hornets coach Jeff Bower.

How He Made It

-Assistant coaching positions in the 80's at Penn State University then Marist -College (maybe his degree in Education made him qualified for the assistant job)

-Became the head coach at Marist for 5 years

-Started with the Hornets in 1995 as a scout and climbed the ladder

-Named General manager in 2002

-As an executive in a position of power he fired Byron Scott in November 2009 and became the head coach

*Stan Van Gundy played at The College at Brockport-State University of New York but his father Bill was the head coach at the time.

Brandon Jennings Lookbook

Just watched Brandon Jennings playoff debut where he dropped 34 in defeat.  Today he had the serious man Even-Steven normal look which is a break from Jennings' norm.  An obviously historian although he was barely born in the eighties ('89) he has really embraced styles from the eighties and early nineties. Below via A Stern Warning is a look at the best of Jennings dome styles from "The Low Left-High Right" to the "Flat-top" of the possible rookie year and definitely the coolest rookie this year. 

Skip Bayless Most Brilliant Nicknames

Shock-Jock Skip Bayless Top 5  Nickname Disses

5. Prince James

4. A-Fraud

3. Kevin Gar-nott

2. Team Obliterater

5 Most Stylish Goggle-Wearers in the NBA

5. Ben Wallace - With Winter Games Inspired Goggles.

4. Kareem, Buck Williams, and James Worthy - Seth Brundle or The Fly Googles, apparently one of the few available models back then.

3. Amare Stoudemire - More of a Streamlined cyclist look with these Oakley Goggles.

2. Horace Grant - The most loyal goggle wearer, color coded with each of his teams jerseys.

1. Kurt Rambis - By far the most stylish he opted for the sleek wayfarer glasses instead of the bulky goggles.

 He later wore the same glasses (and 'Stache) on his other job.

Jackie Robinson Tribute

Pictures from Yesterday's League-wide Jackson Robinson Tribute, where every player wore Jackie's number 42.

No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson

The documentary on the bowling alley brawl which resulted in a 5-year prison sentence for 17 year old Allen Iverson.  It was directed by Steve James (Director of the acclaimed documentary Hoop Dreams).

It Premiers Tonight at 8pm EST on ESPN and at 11pm EST on ESPN2.

Too Small to Succeed

Top Six NBA players under 6

6. Spud Webb - 5'7''

 He beat Nique...and at just 133 lbs he averaged 10 ppg over 12 seasons.

5. Muggsy Bogues - 5'3''

Shortest Player Ever, Career Averages of 7.7 points and 7.6 assist, 1.5 steals a game. Number 16 on all-time dimes list.  Hornets franchise leader in assist and steals.

4. Damon Stoudamire - 5'10''

Rookie of the Year, 19ppg and 9apg first 3 seasons, 11,763 total points, 50 point club, more assist and points than Mark Price.

3. Terrell Brandon - 5'11''

16ppg, 8apg, 1.6spg as a full time starter(95-02), 2 Time All-star

2. Michael Adams - 5'10''

Started slow but from 87-94 averaged 17ppg, 7apg and 2spg, All Star and member of the 50 point club.

1. Calvin Murphy - 5'9''

18ppg over 13 years, 50 point club, 6-time All Star, Hall of Famer

Honarable Mention: Avery Johnson (NBA Champion, Number Retired by Spurs)

Too Tall - Six listed at 6: Allen Iverson, Tim Hardaway, Chris Paul, Kenny Anderson, Mark Price, Mookie Blaylock

Ali Frazier IV

Why Golf is a Game and Not a Real Sport

Tom Watson atop the leader board after day 1 of the Masters at 60 years old.  What other sport can a 60 year old man thrive (playing not coaching)! 

Golf where being an athlete is optional, and the only opposition is the actual course and the weather.

Successful Sloppy Golfers Angel Cabrera and John Daly.

Up Next Racecar Driving!

Nike, Tiger Woods, and Earl - Moving On

Tiger Woods makes his return to commercials in a non-speaking role as he listens to his late father.

Charles and Kenny Spoof

Oldschool, For the SneakerHeads

Raekwon dropping names of many popular sneakers makers and models in the 90's, Lottos, Diadoras, Ponys...classic material.

Some of the old-school player sneakers he name-dropped:

Mutombos

Ewings

Barkleys

Bo Jacksons

 Jordans

The Next Bird?

Will Gordon Hayward be the next Bird or just a Baby Bird (a la Harold Miner)?  He can begin his legend tomorrow night after Butler takes down the Dukies.  Read more here.

Loyola Marymount University and Hank Gathers Doc.

In case you missed it here are the future airings for the ESPN Films 30 for 30 Documentary Guru of Go, which chronicles Paul Westhead's Usain Bolt-paced system at LMU and the tragic passing of Hank Gathers.

  

Guru of Go

Directed by Bill Couturie

Sunday Apr 4 - 10pm ESPN U 

Tuesday Apr 6 - 11pm ESPN 2

Saturday May 1 - 8pm ESPN 2

Tuesday May 4  - 9pm ESPN

Wednesday May 5 - 1pm ESPN U

 

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

New Revealing Nike Commerical: The Secret Behind Nike Air

New Nike Commercial featuring everybody from Carl Lewis to P-Rod.