Tag: LAKERS

Jeanie Buss on Lonzo: ‘I can’t remember anybody with more hype going into the draft except for Magic Johnson’

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There is a lot of hype surrounding Lakers G Lonzo Ball. It seems like Ball was talked about everyday leading up to the 2017 NBA Draft.

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has not seen this type of hype since Magic Johnson.

“I can’t remember anybody with more hype going into the draft except for Magic Johnson,” Buss said last night at the espnW Women + Sports Summit. “Now we have a kid, born and raised in Los Angeles, and that’s exciting for our fans, and for us, to know that we have someone that really represents the city. It seemed like I was watching a movie. It was really special and a great opportunity for him and us.”

The next question is will Ball live up to the hype? That answer will come in the next few years.

Lamar Odom: ‘You want to be strong, defend your spot and your territory when you play with Kobe’

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Kobe Bryant was a fierce competitor. He was never satisfied. His drive and greatness helped him win five NBA titles.

Former Laker Lamar Odom, who won two NBA titles with Bryant, discussed Kobe’s competitive spirit with The Vertical:

“No one was close to Kobe for me, his competitive spirit. I mean, D-Wade and Chris Paul … Chris Paul is second with his competitive drive, but Kobe Bryant, man, in the morning, man,” Odom told The Vertical. “He taught me to really finish off. To finish. Finish everything. I already had the Heat mantra instilled in me, lifting weights every day, which I started that season in Miami. I was cool with that, being around Kobe. You want to be strong, defend your spot and your territory when you play with Kobe.”

According to The Vertical, plans are being discussed for Odom to sign a contract to retire as a Laker in training camp.

Odom, 37, is reportedly sober and working on a few projects.

 

Shaqtin’ a Fool? Shaq thinks Wizards’ Otto Porter plays for Kings

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Hall of Famer and minority owner of the Sacramento Kings Shaquille O’Neal just had a “Shaqtin’ a Fool” moment. O’Neal, who is a NBA analyst for TNT, thought that Wizards F Otto Porter played for the Kings. 

You see, Porter had offer from the Sacramento Kings this summer, but he did not sign. Ultimately, Porter would sign an offer sheet from the Nets, which was matched by the Wizards. 

Listen to what Shaq had to say courtesy of CSN Mid-Atlantic:

It sounds like Shaq is in vacation mode. Maybe he needs some icy hot for his brain!

Charles Oakley on Lamar Odom to the BIG3: ‘I don’t want him on my team’

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Former NBA star Lamar Odom might be returning to basketball. Not the NBA, but the BIG3. Odom is said to be interested in the 3-on-3 league. The founder of the BIG3 Ice Cube is interested in Odom, but would like for him to be in “shape.”  Odom, 37, last played in the NBA in 2013. 

Former NBA great Charles Oakley is not very interested in Odom to the BIG3.

Oakley, who is a player/coach for the Killer 3’s, was asked by TMZ Sports if he would want Odom on his team.

Here was Oak’s response:

“No, I don’t like him like that,” Oakley said. “In life, sometimes you only get but one chance. He had three or four chances. I mean he can play; he’s a talented guy. I don’t want him on my team.”

Oakley talked about his issue with Odom in this interview on The Dan Le Batard Show back in 2014:

Here is Oakley’s interview with TMZ Sports:

 

James Worthy on Lonzo Ball: ‘We haven’t had someone with that type of talent really since Magic came’

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Lakers G Lonzo Ball has gained another fan. Hall of Famer and former Lakers great James Worthy is a big fan of Ball.

The 19-year-old rookie was named Summer League MVP.

Here is what “Big Game James” told TMZ Sports:

“I really like him as a player. He’s extremely unselfish, he’s a team player; he enhances everybody on the court. We haven’t had someone with that type of talent really since Magic came,” Worthy said.

Is Worthy saying Ball is more talented than Kobe Bryant? If so, he’s wrong, but the kid does have talent. 

Time will tell if Lonzo Ball can live up to the hype! If he is anything close to Magic, the Lakers have done well. 

 

Ice Cube interested in Kobe Bryant for BIG3

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The BIG3 is off to a great start. The league is getting some decent crowds at all of their stops this summer. One of the founders of the BIG3, rap legend Ice Cube, has done a great job of creating a buzz for 3-on-3 basketball. In order to keep the buzz, the league needs star power. Having guys like Allen Iverson, DR. J, and Gary Payton helps, but having the “Black Mamba” would help even more.

Ice Cube told KTLA this morning that the BIG3 is interested in former Lakers star Kobe Bryant:

“I hope his competitive juices get to itching him, and he wants to come in the league and score 50, and win the game,” Ice Cube said. “We hope he’ll play one day, but if not, we still got some great players, still competitive guys that want to play. We have a lot of guys that’s looking at us, so we expect to have big names next year, and hopefully Kobe will be one of them.”

Bryant to the BIG3 would be a huge lift for the league. Let’s hope it happens!

Michael Jordan ranks Kobe over LeBron

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Michael Jordan values winning. He has done a lot of it during his career. Six NBA titles for MJ, including 6-0 in NBA Finals play, all without having to play a seventh game. 

Jordan is hosting his Flight School camp in Santa Barbara, CA, and on Monday, he had this to say about the LeBron vs. Kobe debate:

“Would I rank LeBron over Kobe in terms of best of all time? No. There’s something about five that beats three. Now he may be better than that, but Kobe won five championships. LeBron won three,” said Jordan.

Using Jordan’s logic, is Bill Russell (11 rings) better than Jordan? Is Robert Horry better than Jordan (7 rings)? I don’t think it’s that simple, but Kobe and LeBron are pretty close. LeBron’s seven straight NBA Finals appearances are amazing, but Kobe has five rings! It’s too close to call.

You agree with Jordan?

 

LaVar Ball on Lonzo’s shot: ‘Ain’t nobody tinkering with his shot’

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Lonzo Ball’s NBA career is off to a great start. Ball has recorded two triple-doubles in summer league, and is averaging 16.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 9.3 apg in six games.

While those numbers look good, Ball shooting percentage does not. Ball is shooting 38% from field, including 23% from three-point range. Many believe that Ball will struggle with his shot in the NBA, but his dad LaVar believes his shot is fine.

“Ain’t nobody tinkering with his shot. He gonna shoot the same way, comfortable. Like I said, who cares about his shot,” LaVar Ball told ESPN LA Morning Show with Keyshawn, Jorge, and LZ today. “Here’s the thing, he missed a lot of shots in the first few games. They act like the percentage is gonna stay there. He’ll go about four, five games where he will go 4 for 5, 6 for 8. It will catch up with him, so it’s not a big deal. And it will come out to a percentage where he has always been in the high 40s.”

The form on Ball’s shot is different, and you wonder how he will fare against NBA caliber talent, not guys in summer league. Jason Kidd, who Ball has been compared to by some, improved his shot over time. However, his form was more conventional.  Ball’s form is not very conventional. While I’m not a “shot doctor,” I do think they may need to tinker with his shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lonzo Ball wears Under Armour sneakers against Nets in summer league tonight

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Lonzo Ball has now worn all the major sneaker brands during summer league. Ball wore Nike and Adidas in his last two summer league games. Tonight against the Nets, he decided to wear Under Armour. The 19-year-old rookie has recorded two triple-doubles during summer league, and is averaging 17 ppg & 9.8 apg in four games. 

When asked if a big shoe brand can still sign Lonzo Ball, LaVar Ball told ESPN’s Darren Rovell the following: 

“If the price is right. Quite frankly we are officially in the shoe game, and are a billion dollar brand either way.”

The Ball family is reportedly looking for a $1 billion shoe deal. If Lonzo Ball plays big time basketball in the regular season, the sneaker companies will definitely take notice. 

Maybe after summer league ends, the sneaker companies will show Lonzo Ball the money!