Mike Conley, Jr. should be the first point guard taken next week, and scouts are saying he could be the next Chris Paul. Very, very soon, his life be changed forever, and he'll start down a path most athletes only dream of.
On his Yardbarker blog, Conley tells us that one of those life-changing moments has happened already:
I was listening to this song called "Joke's on You" which is on the new cd by "Fabolous," when out of no where it sounded like he said my name. I sat there for a minute and thought to myself that i didn't just hear what I thought I heard. . . I never thought that my name would ever be used in a song, especially not one by Fabolous.
He then promptly called Oden to brag--since presumably, this is the one honor that hasn't already been handed to Big Greg. Henry at True Hoop was kind of enough to track down audio of "Joke's on You", which is definitely NSFW. Oh, and if anyone cares, that's Pusha T of Clipse with the putative Conley namedrop.
Kevin Durant has been in the news a lot this year because of his unbelievable basketball talents. As a freshman at Texas, Durant practically took over the college basketball world, winning every possible individual award out there last season. Due to his accomplishments, he's expected to be drafted as either the first or second pick in this year's draft. As well, top sneaker companies are now clamoring to sign him, as they feel his on court abilities will allow him to become a great endorser of basketball sneakers.
The two companies vying for Durant to endorse their products are Nike and Adidas. Traditionally, players of Durant's caliber that sign with Nike or Adidas usually have shoes that sell in the $100-$150 range. The irony of this is that most NBA players come from backgrounds where they couldn't really afford to purchase shoes at that price point, yet they continually don't use their influence to push shoe prices down to a more affordable level.
Currently, Stephon Marbury is the only prominent NBA player to step up and make something happen, marketing a $15 basketball shoe made by Steve and Berrys (Ben Wallace has also signed on to endorse Starbury's $15 shoes). The reaction to Steph's shoe revolution has been tremendous. However, he's not selling shoes with the brand equity and consumer loyalty that Nike and Adidas currently have. As well, he's not as big of a name as guy like Kevin Durant is (at least not currently).
Today on his Oregon Live blog, John Canzano reported that one of the sticking points for Durant in his negotiations with Nike and Adidas is a commitment to make a shoe that is at a price point that most individuals could afford. That price point is rumored to be between $39 and $69. If Kevin Durant (a player that is going to be on the marketing level of a Dwyane Wade or a LeBron James) can get Nike or Adidas (the two most powerful sneaker companies in the world) to brand a Kevin Durant signature shoe for $39, he'll have done more toward making sneakers more affordable than anyone before him. I mean, if Nike or Adidas start making affordable shoes with Durant's name on them, it automatically becomes that much more acceptable for kids to purchase cheaper shoes.
Obviously, Durant hasn't forgotten where he comes from. The kid hasn't even been drafted yet, and he's already using his influence to implement positive change. See LeBron, you can influence positive change while still making a lot of money. Maybe you should call up KD and Steph and ask them how it's done.
Earlier today, I posted an interview future NBA lottery pick, Nick Young. The thing I enjoyed about Nick the most was the fact that he was a very positive person. While interviewing him, I thought to myself: Why can't more athlete's be as positive and happy as this guy?
Yesterday, my colleague sent me this trailer for a Nick Young documentary. After watching it, I've become even more impressed with Young, as it is obvious that he's had some adversity to overcome. It would have been easy for him to fall off and not achieve his goals. As well, it would be easy for him not to be the positive person that he currently is. In this new media world, where an athlete's every move is often over scrutinized in a negative light, I'm proud to shed a positive light on a guy that has overcome tragedy and adversity and is on his way to achieving all of his goals. Anyhow, here's the trailer:
Recently I had the opportunity to attend an NBA pre-draft workout and watch a few top prospects prepare for their upcoming team workouts. Following the workout I conducted interviews with a couple of the prospects. I've already posted an interview with former Cal-State Fullerton stud Bobby Brown (be sure to check that out and spread love for Bobby around the blogosphere). The next player I had the opportunity to interview was none other than former USC star Nick Young.
When I think about Nick Young, one word comes to mind: smooth. Nick Young's game is so smooth that even when he dunks with aggression it looks effortless. Corey Brewer is touted as the best swing man in the draft (and I can see why). But if Nick isn't the best, he certainly has to be the second best.
On the offensive side of the ball, Nick's game is completely flawless. He has a mid-range jump shot, a back to the basket fall away, a long range jumper, and the ability to penetrate and finish with the best of them. With his athletic 6'7" body and positive attitude (the guy is always smiling...why can't more ball players be like that?), it's easy to see why his stock is steadily rising. In my eyes there is no way he's not a lottery pick.
Anyhow, without any further delay, here's the interview I conducted with Nick just before he left L.A. for the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando:
Go figure: the media guide for your favorite college basketball team is probably rigged.
Okay, maybe not. Let's be generous and say that many players have been, ah, liberally measured.
The list:
Player
Height w/o Shoes
Height w/shoes
Weight
Wingspan
Standing Reach
Body Fat %
Corey Brewer
6-6¾
6-7¾
185
6-8¾
8-7
4.2
Mike Conley
5-11¾
6-0¾
175
6-5¾
7-10½
4.2
Daequan Cook
6-3¾
6-5¾
203
6-8¼
8-5½
7
Javaris Crittenton
6-3
6-4¾
194
6-5½
8-2
4.5
Kevin Durant
6-9
6-10¼
215
7-4¾
9-2
6.6
Jeff Green
6-7¾
6-9½
228
7-1¼
8-7
3.7
Spencer Hawes
6-10½
7-0¾
244
7-0½
9-2
13
Al Horford
6-8¾
6-9¾
244
7-0¾
8-11
9.1
Acie Law
6-2
6-3½
186
6-6½
8-2
5.6
Josh McRoberts
6-8¾
6-10
240
7-1
8-10½
13.7
Greg Oden
6-11
7-0
257
7-4¼
9-4
7.8
Joakim Noah
6-10½
7-0
223
7-1¾
8-10½
4.8
Jason Smith
6-10¾
6-11½
233
6-10¾
8-10
7.5
Rodney Stuckey
6-3¾
6-4½
207
6-7½
8-4½
6.1
Al Thornton
6-5¾
6-7
221
7-1
8-8
5.8
Brandan Wright
6-8¾
6-10
200
7-3¾
9-0
5.8
Julian Wright
6-6½
6-8½
211
7-2¼
9-0
6.1
Nick Young
6-5
6-6¾
206
7-0
8-4½
6.8
Thaddeus Young
6-5¾
6-7½
210
6-11½
8-10
4.9
Mohamed Abukar
6-8¾
6-9¾
210
6-9
8-7
8.9
Mario Boggan
6-5½
6-7
240
7-2
8-11
9.2
True 7-footers: there are only three of them here. Greg Oden and Joakim Noah both come in at 7-0 with their kicks strapped on, and Spencer Hawes actually measured in at 7-0¾. Without shoes (shouldn't that be the standard way players are measured?) no one gets to claim lucky number seven.
Honey, I shrunk the Lottery Picks: Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Mike Conley all suffered the effects of a shrink-ray gun prior to their measurements. Brewer is listed at 6-9, Horford at 6-10, and Conley at 6-1 in their team's rosters.
Thick shoes: Daequan Cook, at 2 inches of padding, you have have the softest feet around.
Wicked Wingspans: Kevin Durant can spread his wings 7-4¾, which is a full 7¾ inches longer than his height. That's sick.
Reach for the Sky: Yet another reason why Greg Oden will go first in the draft. Check out his standing reach -- 9 feet four inches! He's only half and inch taller than Joakim Noah, but he gets a full 5 and a half extra inches over Noah when he waves his hands in the air like he just don't care. (There's no way you can tell me it's even close between Oden and Durant for the first round draft pick. Don't even bother trying!)
Cut the Twinkies: If I'd had to guess prior to seeing this list, I'd have said that Mario Boggan would likely be the kid with the highest body fat percentage. Wrong! Duke's Josh McRoberts comes in with a dubious first place finish at 13.7%. (And 13% for Hawes? Damn, you just never know.)
Nothing is more important to the sports blogosphere than breasts and draft speculation, so posting this was a no-brainer. Her picks aren't so off, even if they were probably written by someone else. Only being concerned with the Gators' destinations? That just shows her devotion to her school, and is nothing new for college basketball.
Incidentally, while I know that Southern California is the porn capital of the universe, it sure seems like Florida has the farm system on lock.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend an NBA pre-draft workout and watch a few top prospects prepare for their upcoming team workouts. Following the workout I conducted interviews with a couple of the prospects. The first interview I conducted was with former Cal-State Fullerton guard Bobby Brown (no not that Bobby Brown).
Although relatively unknown, Bobby is a spectacular basketball player. He's a quick, explosive 6'1" guard with the ability to shoot from long range as well as slam it home with power. During the workout I attended he routinely nailed shots from behind the three-point arc and easily slammed home highlight reel dunks in the drills. Fans of Monta Ellis will love watching this guy play (see: Bobby's 47-point outburst from this past season).
I've seen tons of pro prospects work out before, and after seeing Bobby work out it's obvious that he should be able to find a place in the league. Last year he tested the waters and attended the Orlando pre-draft camp. After failing to have a good showing at the draft camp last year, Bobby went into the camp this year hoping to make a splash. Initial reviews of Bobby's performance have been mixed. But as others have mentioned recently, it's obvious that the draft camp isn't really the best tool for evaluating talent (I mean, some are trying to knock Kevin Durant for not testing well in some silly drills there).
Bobby's main issue with scouts right now is his lack of size and his perceived lack of playmaking ability. Although he is more than capable of scoring, scouts doubt that he has the ability to set up others. But with the guys like Monta Ellis and Leandro Barbosa (shooting guards in point guard bodies) flourishing in up-tempo styles of play, it shouldn't be that difficult for Bobby to find a home in the league.
Walk into the weight room of any high school with a decent sports program, and you'll see a few beefy offensive lineman/shot putter types who can bench press 315 pounds and a lot of tight end/power forward/catcher types who can bench press 225 pounds. You'll also see a lot of skinny teenagers who can't bench press anything close to that. But most of those skinny teenagers aren't about to become superstar pro athletes.
Kevin Durant is about to become a superstar pro athlete, but he turned in a performance typical of a skinny teenager at the Orlando pre-draft camp. Jason Quick reports that Durant was the only prospect in Orlando who couldn't bench 185 pounds even once. That means at almost any gym in the country, the average accountant or lawyer or computer programmer who lifts weights a few times a week after work is stronger than the likely No. 2 pick in the NBA draft.
Combine Durant's poor showing with the phenomenal athleticism of Greg Oden, and it's easy to see why Oden is the clear choice of the NBA scouts even though Durant was the college Player of the Year. But Durant also has a ridiculous wingspan of just under 7-foot-5, which is Shawn Bradley territory. Guys with long arms always have more functional strength than bench press strength. Durant's meager bench press is more a curiosity than an indictment.
There's an old maxim in public relations and politics that you release bad news on a Friday afternoon. Ideally, it will also be a holiday weekend. The theory is, obvious. No one is paying attention, and the likelihood of being able to reach anyone for comment is slim.
So it seemed a little curious that the Kansas Jayhawks would release seemingly good news on the Friday afternoon before a Memorial Day weekend. Brandon Rush, the sophomore guard and the team's leading scorer the last two years, announced his withdrawal from the NBA Draft and return for his junior year. You would think this would be the sort of things that Kansas would want to trumpet and make a bigger deal rather than slip a late press release. Well, maybe there was a reason.
Rush, who suffered a knee injury recently, said that incident had little bearing on his decision.
"People will think the reason I am returning is because I injured my knee playing in a pickup game," Rush said. "That is not true, but it did re-enforce to me that the time was not right to go to the NBA."
As a matter of fact, the injury is exactly the reason. At the very least, it decided the issue now.
It turns out that Rush didn't just have a little tweak to his knee. According to Brandon's older brother, JaRon, the young Rush tore the ACL in his right knee, and that was precisely why he withdrew from the NBA Draft.
"He tore his ACL. He wouldn't have decided to pull out of the draft if it wasn't that," JaRon said, referring to Friday's announcement that Brandon had withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft and elected to return for his junior season. "You always want to get a second opinion (in this case from a Colorado specialist), but it's a torn ACL."
Ah, siblings. I'm sure Brandon was thrilled that his brother explicitly contradicted his own comments from Friday.
Brandon Rush will get surgery this week, and the recovery time is expected to be at least 4-6 months. Rush may be back with the team by the start of the season, but it will take a while after that before he gets closer to his old form. Hopefully he will get all the way back.
Georgia Tech point guard Javaris Crittenton has decided to stay in the 2007 NBA Draft and is currently interviewing agents. Crittenton wants to be the next in a long like of NBA calibar point guards from Tech ... following Mark Price, Kenny Anderson, Travis Best, Stephon Marbury and Jarrett Jack.
Crittenton is a 6-5 point guard who is very athletic and shows that he's willing to helm a team. However, there were times where he seemed too passive and uninvolved ... especially against really quick guards. In this draft he is either the 2nd or 3rd best PG prospect [trailing Mike Conley and maybe Acie Law] which is a good spot to be ... especially since next draft could see a ton of point guards flowing in.
This is big news for the Atlanta Hawks, who may decide to pass on Conley with the #3 pick in the draft and opt for Brandan Wright, Julian Wright or Yi Jianlian ... then take Crittenton with their #11 pick. Also, the Clippers [at #14] could be looking at Crittenton since Sam Cassell is 90 years old and who knows what shape Shaun Livingston's knee is in. The Pistons [at #15] may need to find a replacement for Chauncey Billups; the Lakers [#19] need anyone there; Miami [#20] will need to replace the aging Jason Williams and Gary Payton.
Mike Conley, Jr. should be the first point guard taken next week, and scouts are saying he could be the next Chris Paul. Very, very soon, his life be changed forever, and he'll start down a path most athletes only dream of. 
Kevin Durant
Recently I had the opportunity to attend an NBA pre-draft workout and watch a few top prospects prepare for their upcoming team workouts. Following the workout I conducted interviews with a couple of the prospects. I've already posted an interview with former 
Recently I had the opportunity to attend an NBA pre-draft workout and watch a few top prospects prepare for their upcoming team workouts. Following the workout I conducted interviews with a couple of the prospects. The first interview I conducted was with former Cal-State Fullerton guard Bobby Brown (no 
Walk into the weight room of any high school with a decent sports program, and you'll see a few beefy offensive lineman/shot putter types who can bench press 315 pounds and a lot of tight end/power forward/catcher types who can bench press 225 pounds. 
There's an old maxim in public relations and politics that you release bad news on a Friday afternoon. Ideally, it will also be a holiday weekend. The theory is, obvious. No one is paying attention, and the likelihood of being able to reach anyone for comment is slim.
Georgia Tech point guard Javaris Crittenton has decided to 
