NBDL: Jamaal Tinsley To Enter D-League Draft

Jamaal Tinsley is 33 years old. He last played in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies off the bench in the 09-10 season. His NBA days are probably over, but Tinsley has applied for the D-League Draft in a possible comeback attempt.

I'm not instantly going to assume that Tinsley is striving for an NBA comeback because there are no quotes by him that state his motives for wanting to play in the D-League, but he probably wouldn't mind another chance in the league.

Personally, I think that Tinsley is making a good decision. It seems that once a player like him goes overseas (think Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Rafer Alston, etc.), they don't come back. Antonio Daniels played with the Texas Legends of the D-League last season and ended up being signed by the 76ers late in the season. Of course, players like Salim Stoudamire, Antoine Walker, Sean Williams, and Rashad McCants haven't made it back, but it's worth a shot.

Good luck, Jamaal! I wish you the best.

Have any thoughts on Jamaal Tinsley or the D-League? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #19: NBA - Bad Boys (Shao099)

This week's mix is a compilation of NBA fights and scuffles (mostly from the 90's and early 2000's).

This mix was uploaded by Shao099 on YouTube and the song is "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle.



There were a few fights in this mix that I hadn't seen before.

Have any thoughts on any of the fights or any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #18: Ruben Patterson Mix "HEART" (magnata187)

Ruben Patterson was one of my favorite players back when he played with the Jail Blazers in the mid 2000's. I loved that crew....Sheed, Bonzi, Qyntel, Z-Bo, D-Miles, etc.

This mix was made by magnata187 on YouTube and I don't know what the song is.



Have any thoughts on Ruben Patterson, the Jail Blazers, or any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #17: Adam Morrison Crvena zvezda

Adam Morrison has not played in the NBA since he win his second championship with the Lakers in 2010. He has most recently signed with a Serbian team, KK Crvena zvezda, last month. Here is a highlight reel of Ammo showing the Serbs how to ball.

I don't know what the song is (it's probably just some random Serbian song) and this video was uploaded by MrRedStarBelgrade on YouTube.



I'm glad that Adam is seeing success overseas, but I hope he makes it back to the NBA. The Lakers need him. Think about it, they won two championships in a row with him, and then got swept in the Semi-Finals without him. Coincidence? I don't think so!

Also, there was a rumor a couple months ago that the Bulls were considering signing him. I hope they do after the lockout. Say what you want about Morrison, but he is definitely better than Brian Scalabrine.

Have any thoughts on Adam Morrison or any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #16: Kemba Walker Rookie of the Year 2012 MIX by LONGER

This week's mix is of 2011 NCAA Tournament Champion and upcoming NBA rookie Kemba Walker.

The song is "Written In The Stars" by Tinie Tempah featuring Eric Turner and this mix was made by LONGER01 on YouTube.



That ankle-breaker on McGee in the beginning was sick! If there's a season this year, I think he could be Rookie of the Year.

To see more mixes, visit LONGER01's channel on YouTube.

Have any thoughts on Kemba Walker, the Charlotte Bobcats, or UConn? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

NBA: Top 10 Players Who Only Played in 1 Season (Since 2000)

There are many talented basketball players that never made an impression in the NBA. Some didn't get a fair chance, got injured, had legal troubles, decided to play in another country, or anything else that prevented them from excelling in the league.

Here are (in my opinion) the top 10 players who only played in one NBA season (since 2000). Also, I didn't include players who played in less than 10 games. Enjoy!

10. Sean Colson - Atlanta Hawks/Houston Rockets (2000-2001)

Sean Colson started getting noticed in college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 90's. In his last season with the 49ers, he averaged 15.6 points and 8 assists a game.

In 2001, Colson caught a big break and was signed to a 10-day contract by the Atlanta Hawks on January 18th. However, his stint with the Hawks was short as he was waived by the team on 25th of that same month. In only 3 games with the Hawks, he scored 0 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists.

A month later, in February of 2001, he was given another chance in the league as the Houston Rockets signed him on the the 28th. Colson played in more games with the Rockets and his stats improved. On March 30th, 2001, he put up career-highs in points and assists (6 points, 6 assists) in a loss to the Sacramento Kings.

If you look at Colson statistics per 36 minutes, you'll see that his assists average is 8.2, which is very good for a rookie. Despite that, he was not re-signed by the Rockets after the season ended and hasn't played in the NBA again. He has since played in the USBL, CBA, and overseas.

9. Uros Slokar - Toronto Raptors (2006-2007)Uros Slokar was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the 58th pick of the 2005 NBA Draft, but decided to stay playing in Europe. A year later, in 2006, he signed a contract with the Raptors and made his league debut on December 8th of that same year. Slokar only played in 20 games for the Raptors with totals of 38 points and 14 rebounds, but statistics per 36 minutes were 19 points and 7 rebounds, which is great for a rookie.

Slokar scored 18 points in his last game of the season on April 17, 2007 and signed a contract overseas in August of that same year and hasn't played in the NBA again since.

8. Joe Crispin - Los Angeles Lakers/Phoenix Suns (2001-2002)
Joe Crispin gained exposure while playing college ball at Penn State University. He played 4 seasons there with averages of 15.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over the course of 126 games.

Crispin signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in August before the 2001-2002 season started and ended up playing in 6 games for the Lakers before being waived on November 24, 2001.

He got a second chance with the Phoenix Suns as he signed with them in January of 2002. Crispin played in more games and was given more minutes in Phoenix. As a result, most of his averages improved. He finished the season with combined averages of 3.8 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.2 steals a game, which isn't very impressive. But when you look at his stats per 36 minutes, they are significantly better (18.2 points, 6 assists, and 1.2 steals). If stats don't sway your opinion of Crispin's talent, watch this highlight reel of him (he had a sweet stroke from 3-point range and looked like a good playmaker).

The Lakers won a championship without him and he was not re-signed by the Suns during the offseason. Since then, he has played in the ABA (where he was named an All-Star and the league's MVP in 2004) and in a bunch of other leagues and countries.

7. Nick Fazekas - Dallas Mavericks/Los Angeles Clippers (2007-2008)Nick Fazekas starting building up his basketball resume in high school as he was named Mr. Basketball in Colorado for the 2002-2003 season while playing for Ralston Valley High School. That season, his senior year, he led his high school team, the Mustangs to a 25-2 record and the state championship.

Fazekas then went on to play college basketball at Nevada where he helped lead the Wolf Pack to the NCAA Tournament in all of his 4 years there. He averaged 20 points or over in his last three years at Nevada and a double-double his last two years.

The Dallas Mavericks selected Fazekas with the 34th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. He only played in 4 games (with totals of 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) before being waived in February of 2008. He bounced back 12 days later as he was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers. He saw more minutes and played in more games with the Clippers, and his highlights included a sweet spin move and dunk against his old team. He ended up finishing the season with a total of 26 games played, but with averages of 14.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per 36 minutes, not bad for a rookie.

The Clips opted not to resign Fazekas after the season ended and he has since played in France, Belgium, and the D-League. However, Fazekas is only 26 years old and could possibly make it back to the NBA. You never know.

6. Kasib Powell - Miami Heat (2007-2008) Kasib Powell played 2 solid seasons at Texas Tech after transferring from Butler Community College. He applied for the 2003 NBA Draft, but went undrafted. From there he played preseason games with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004, the Chicago Bulls in 2005, the Orlando Magic in 2006, and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007, but was never able to make any of their final rosters for the regular season.

Sensing his closeness to the NBA, Powell signed with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League. He played in 40 games with the Skyforce, averaging 22.2 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. He also made over 41 percent of his three's and over 50 percent of his field goals.

In the midst of what would be an MVP season for Powell, he was signed to a 10-day contract by the Miami Heat on March 22, 2008. He ended up playing in 11 games for the Heat, starting 4 of them, and put up averages of 7.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. He scored a career-high 18 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers and dished out another career-high 10 assists in a loss to the Raptors.

However, Powell wasn't resigned by the Heat and played another season in the D-League with the Skyforce. Since then, he was played overseas in Greece and Israel.


5. Vincent Yarbrough - Denver Nuggets (2002-2003)Vincent Yarbrough was a bright young prospect as he was named a McDonald's All-American in 1998 and played 4 productive seasons at Tennessee. In his senior season, he averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, set a school record in career steals, was named the team's Most Valuable Player, and was a John R. Wooden Award candidate.

Yarbrough was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 32nd pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and made his debut on December 3, 2002. He played in 59 games for the Nuggets (starting 39 of them) and put up averages of 6.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 23.4 minutes a game. However, the Nuggets tied for the worst record in the league that season and Yarbrough was waived before the next season started.

Since his one season in the NBA, he has played overseas in Greece, Italy, Belgium, and Germany.


4. Khalid El-Amin - Chicago Bulls (2000-2001) Khalid El-Amin started wowing scouts in high school as he led his team to the state title three years in a row, was named the Minnesota State Player of the Year three times, was named a McDonald's All-American, and was named Mr. Basketball in 1997 for Minnesota. He then went on to become a star at UConn where he was named the Big East Rookie of the Year in 1998 and won a national title in 1999.

El-Amin applied for the 2000 NBA Draft and was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 34th pick. He played in 50 games for the Bulls his rookie season and averaged 6.3 points and 2.9 assists in only 18.7 minutes per game. He also played in Rookie Challenge and scored 18 points. On the post-Jordan era Bulls, management didn't seem to see him in their future and he was waived in March before the season ended. Since his time in the league, he has played on many different teams in many different countries including Turkey, Lithuania, Ukraine, France, and Israel.

3. Chris Porter - Golden State Warriors (2000-2001) Chris Porter was a star in college before he played in the NBA. At Auborn, he was named the SEC Player of the Year in 1999 as the Tigers made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The next season he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Auborn was a favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. However, he was suspended for the final 8 games of his senior season for accepting money from an agent. Porter was picked late in the 2nd round of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and signed a contract with the team. He played in 51 games for the Warriors and put up averages of 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in only 22 minutes per game.

His career then went downhill when he got arrested on drug charges during the offseason and showed up three days late for training camp. The Warriors then traded Porter to the Hornets where he was waived the day after the trade. Since then, Porter has played in numerous minor leagues and overseas.....and has gotten arrested multiple times.


2. Jay Williams - Chicago Bulls (2002-2003)Jay Williams had a promising career ahead of him. In high school, he was named a McDonald's All-American and won the 1999 Morgan Wooten Award. He then played three seasons at Duke where he helped lead the Blue Devils to victory in the 2001 NCAA Championship. He also was named the winner of the John R. Wooden Award, the Naismith College Player of the Year award, and the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 2002.

The Chicago Bulls selected Williams with the second pick of the 2002 NBA Draft. In his 7th game in the league, he put up career highs in points, assists, and rebounds (16 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists). He started 54 games out of 74 for the Bulls, and finished the season with averages of 9.5 points, 4.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Also, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of Month for December of 2002 and to the 2002-2003 All-Rookie Second Team.

Tragedy then struck Williams during the offseason when he crashed his motorcycle in Chicago while not wearing a helmet and not being licensed to drive a motorcycle in Illinois. He was seriously injured and needed physical therapy to regain use of his leg. The Bulls waived him in 2004 and he hasn't played in the league since.


1. Juan Carlos Navarro - Memphis Grizzlies (2007-2008)
Navarro was originally drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 4oth pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, but decided to stay with with FC Barcelona, his team at the time. On August 3, 2007, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a future first-round draft pick.

Navarro, reunited with former teammate Pau Gasol, played in his first ever NBA game at age 27 and ended up having a very solid rookie season. On November 27th, 2007, he had his first and only triple double (16 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) in a win against the New Jersey Nets. He put up season averages of 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game and was named to the 2007-2008 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

However, in June of 2008, he signed a five-year deal with his old Spanish team, FC Barcelona. The Grizzlies eventually rescinded their qualifying offer to Navarro in 2009 and he has played in Spain with Barcelona ever since.
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Have any thoughts on any of the players listed or do you think I left anyone off the list that should have been on it? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #15: Marcus Williams Grizzlies Mix [Patrys15]

This week's mix is of Marcus Williams during the 2009-2010 season the he played in with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The song is "What They Do" by The Roots and this mix was made by BigPatrys15 on YouTube. Enjoy!



Williams is a serviceable point guard and I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it back to the NBA.

Have any thoughts on Marcus Williams, the Grizzlies, or have any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Video: Jamario Moon Raps in "Money Behind Me"

The lockout is still looming on. It will reach 90 days tomorrow. Basketball fans like myself have been bored and will be for as long as this lockout lasts. So when I read that Jamario Moon was in a new rap video, I was excited.

I hereby present to you, "Money Behind Me" by Ka$h Kommission...



For an NBA player, I'd say Moon rapped pretty good.

Have any thoughts on Jamario Moon or anything else? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Who Wore It Before Them #2: Miami Heat

This is the second edition of "Who Wore It Before Them". This entry will feature the Miami Heat. Enjoy!

Mike Bibby - #0 (2011-present)
Apparently, no one else has ever worn the number zero on the Heat except for Bibby.


Chris Bosh - #1 (2010-present)Dorell Wright (2004-2010), Loren Woods (2003-2004), Travis Best (not pictured, 2002-2003), Rod Strickland (2001-2002)


Dwyane Wade - #3 (2003-present)LaPhonso Ellis (2001-2003), Jamie Watson (not pictured, 1999), Charles Smith (not pictured, 1997-1998), Bruce Bowen (not pictured, 1997), Khalid Reeves (1994-1995), Steve Smith (1991-1994), Scott Haffner (not pictured, 1989-1990), Anthony Taylor (not pictured, 1988)


Juwan Howard - #5 (2010-present)Quentin Richardson (2009-2010), Marcus Banks (2008-2009), Derek Anderson (2006), Keyon Dooling (2004-2005), Eddie House (2000-2003), Mark Strickand (not pictured, 1998-2000), Eric Murdock (not pictured, 1997-1998), Sasha Danilovic (1995-1997)


LeBron James - #6 (2010-present)Mario Chalmers (2008-2010), Blake Ahearn (2008), Luke Jackson (2007-2008), Eddie Jones (2000-2005, 2007), Harold Jamison (not pictured, 1999-2000), Terry Mills (not pictured, 1997-1999)


Zydrunas Ilgauskas - #11 (2010-present)Rafer Alston (2010), Chris Quinn (2006-2010), Rafer Alston (2003-2004), Todd Day (not pictured, 1997), John Crotty (1997), Sherman Douglas (1989-1992), Craig Neal (not pictured, 1989)


Mike Miller - #13 (2010-present)Luther Head (2009), Alexander Johnson (2007-2008), Kendall Gill (not pictured, 2001-2002), Jamal Robinson (not pictured, 2000)


Mario Chalmers - #15 (2010-present)
Mark Blount (2007-2009), Wang Zhizhi (2003-2005), Chris Gatling (1996, 2001-2002), Terrence Rencher (not pictured, 1995-1996)

Jamaal Magloire - #21 (2008-present)
Bobby Jones (not pictured, 2008), Smush Parker (2007-2008), Sean Lampley (not pictured, 2001-2003), Ricky Davis (not pictured, 2000-2001), Voshon Lenard (1996-2000), Stacey King (not pictured, 1995-1996), Ledell Eackles (1994-1995), Morlon Wiley (not pictured, 1994), Kevin Edwards (1988-1993)


James Jones -#22 (2008-present) Robert Hite (not pictured, 2006-2007), John Wallace (not pictured, 2002-2004), Sean Marks (2001-2003), Antonio Lang (not pictured, 1998), Voshon Lenard (1995-1996), John Salley (1992-1995), Brian Shaw (not pictured, 1992)

Erick Dampier - #25 (2010-present)Wayne Simien (2005-2007), Anthony Carter (1999-2003), Jeff Malone (not pictured, 1996), Milt Wagner (not pictured, 1990)


Udonis Haslem - #40 (2003-present)Tim James (1999-2000), Marty Conlon (not pictured, 1998), Kurt Thomas (1995-1997), Sylvester Gray (not pictured, 1988-1989)


Dexter Pittman - #45 (2010-present) Stephane Lasme (2008), Rasual Butler (2002-2005), A.C. Green (not pictured, 2000-2001), John Shasky (not pictured, 1988-1989)

Joel Anthony - #50 (2007-present)
Vladimir Stepania (2001-2003), Jim Rowinski (not pictured, 1990)


Eddie House - #55 (2010-present)
Jason Williams (2005-2008), Billy Thompson (1988-1991)

Sources: Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, Wikipedia

Have any thoughts on the Heat or any suggestions for what team I should do next? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #15: Iman Shumpert Will Electrify Madison Square Garden... (Ballislifedotcom)

Iman Shumpert is going to be featured in this week's mix. When the Knicks drafted him in the first round of this year's draft, I hadn't heard of him and assumed that he was gonna suck. This mix and other clips that I've seen of him during the lockout have proved me wrong.

The song is "Breathe" by Anno Domini Beats and this mix was made by Ballislifedotcom on YouTube. Enjoy!



It looks like he'll fit in well with the Knicks, although I still think that Scotty Hopson is better.

Have any comments on Iman Shumpert, the Knicks, or have any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

BBall Book Review: Bad As I Wanna Be by Dennis Rodman

I recently finished Dennis Rodman's first book, Bad As I Wanna Be. It was published in 1996 and was written with Tim Keown.

I liked this book. It consisted of 323 pages of Rodman's uncut and uncensored thoughts, feelings, and experiences. He does not hold back anything.

He goes into great detail when talking about his relationship with Madonna. He writes about the circumstances of their first hook-up and reveals some things that she probably wouldn't want in print.

He also has a whole chapter called, "Man on Man." The majority of the article consists of him talking about his sexuality. Here are some memorable quotes from that chapter:
-"I've decided I really want to be gay"
-"I can't say I haven't experimented with other men"
-"Mentally, I probably am bisexual"
-"I fantasize about being with another man"

He also doesn't hold back his opinions of other players. Here are some highlights:
-"Is Glenn Robinson worth $9 million a year? I DON'T THINK SO"
-"Chris Webber? 68 million? I DON'T THINK SO"
-"I see Chris Dudley, Derrick Coleman, Dale Davis, and Anthony Mason making huge money, and I see injustice. Who buys a ticket to see those guys play?"
-"Grant Hill: the next god of basketball? Pathetic."

Rodman also portrays the Spurs harshly:
-"I'll ask Chuck Person: Did you show up? Could you hit a shot in the playoffs? No, you didn't show up, and you couldn't hit a shot. So shut up."
-"Those guys in San Antonio can kiss my ass, especially (Greg) Popovich"

This book is 100 percent real. He doesn't feed the reader anything fake, which is a plus. Though sometimes, he rambles on a little too much about how David Stern has a bias against him, his complex thoughts on his sexuality, and other stuff.

But after finishing Bad As I Wanna Be, I felt like I'd been inside the mind of Rodman and had gotten to know him better as a player and as a person.

I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

Have any thoughts on Dennis Rodman or his book? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #13: Dwyane Wade Mix - " Time to Stop " [HD] (gsingh96)

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is the subject of this week's mix. Though this mix is a bit outdated (it was uploaded in 2009), it is very well made and entertaining.

I don't know what the song is and this video was uploaded by gsingh96 on YouTube.



D-Wade is like a one man highlight reel. I think he's underrated becuase he's on the same team as LeBron.

Have any thoughts on Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat, or any ideas for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #12: Born To Be Wild - Dennis Rodman Mix (antzheng)

To end my month-long hiatus, I present you with the first Mix of the Week since July.

In honor of Dennis Rodman being voted into the Hall of Fame this year, I chose him for this week's mix.

The song is "Do the Evolution," by Pearl Jam and this mix was uploaded by antzheng on YouTube. Enjoy!



This is one of my favorite mixes on YouTube, and it has over 3 million views.

Have any thoughts on Dennis Rodman or any ideas for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Old-School Vid: Latrell Sprewell cusses at fan

I don't really need to say anything about this video. Just watch it.



Have any thoughts on Latrell Sprewell or any ideas for an old-school video that you think I should cover? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

NBA: Top 10 Funniest Kwame Brown Videos

I think that Kwame Brown is a solid center and deserves credit for his contributions as a player. However, there are a lot of funny videos of him on YouTube. Here are, in my opinion, the top ten funniest Kwame Brown videos:

10. Neil Funk and Stacey King Assess Kwame Brown (magnsunews)



The title explains it all. My favorite parts: "Well you don't even half to guard him." and "He's got real small hands.....kinda like a T-Rex."


9. Kwame Brown Layup FAIL (LilPharmacist11)



Now, this one looks like it could have been a foul, but it still looked funny.


8. Professor Wallace Teaches Kwame Brown (TheHoopDoctors)



"Class is in session, Professor Wallace is in the house"


7. Shaq Cuddles with Kwame Brown (ESPNWorldwide)



Nothing to see here, just two former number one draft picks snuggling up together.


6. Kwame Brown Mix (kobejay)



I know that I featured this as a "Mix of the Week" a while back, but it is still funny in an odd way and worth watching.


5. Kwame Brown is the best whoooo! (ewock423)



Ronny Turiaf interrupts Kwame's post-game interview to speak the truth.


4. Kwame Brown misses the open dunk and the ball flies out to halfcourt (kakalama12345678)



Leave it to Kwame to miss a dunk like that.


3. NBA 2K10 Kwame Brown Mix (LenzyDAGreat)



I like the creativity of this video and the song choice.


2. Stephen A. Smith rips Kwame Brown (wepost)



This one's a classic. The Lakers have thrown two parades because of that trade. (Unintentional rhyme)


1. James Worthy Clowns Kwame Brown (LTV) {GoldLakerLion}



I'm listing this video as number one because of it's simplicity. Kudos to James Worthy for the humor.

Have any comments on Kwame Brown or anything else? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Old-School Vid: Miracle Minute - Portland Trail Blazers (ehizzy3)

Welcome to the second edition of "Old-School Vid". In it, the Blazers go on an 8-0 run against the Dallas Mavericks that features multiple steals, dunks, and alley-oops. It's pretty cool.



Have any thoughts on the Jail Blazers or any ideas for next week's Old-School Vid? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Who Wore It Before Them #1: New York Knicks

This is an odd little new thing that I'm doing. In it, I will show what players wore the same numbers on the same teams that the current players on those teams wear. If you don't get it now, you'll understand it once you look at the pictures.

This first entry will feature the New York Knicks. Here it goes:

Amar'e Stoudemire - #1 (2010-present)Chris Duhon (2008-2010), Steve Francis (2006-2007), Anfernee Hardaway (not pictured, 2004-2006), Chris Childs (1996-2001)

Derrick Brown - #2 (2011-present)Raymond Felton (2010-2011), Nate Robinson (not pictured, 2009-2010), Tim Thomas (2008-2009), Fred Jones (2007-2008)

Shawne Williams - #3 (2010-present)Tracy McGrady (2010), Stephon Marbury (2004-2008), Dennis Scott (not pictured, 1999), John Starks (1990-1999)

Chauncey Billups - #4 (2011-present)Anthony Randolph (2010-2011), J.R. Giddens (2010), Nate Robinson (2005-2009) DerMarr Johnson (not pictured, 2004)

Bill Walker - #5 (2010-present)Joe Crawford (not pictured, 2009), Anthony Roberson (2008-2009), Randolph Morris (2007-2008), Jalen Rose (2006)

Landry Fields - #6 (2010-present)
Qyntel Woods (2005-2006), Mirsad Turkcan (not pictured, 1999-2000), Matt Fish (not pictured, 1996), Charles Smith (not pictured, 1995-1996)

Carmelo Anthony - #7 (2011-present)Kelenna Azibuike (not pictured, 2010-2011), Al Harrington (2008-2010), Channing Frye (2005-2007), Lavor Postell (2000-2003)

Jared Jeffries - #9 (2011-present)
Jonathan Bender (2009-2010), Chris Wilcox (2009), Matt Barnes (not pictured, 2005), Rick Brunson (1999-2000, 2000-2001)

Andy Rautins - #11 (2010-present)
Marcus Landry (2009-2010), Jamal Crawford (2004-2008), Rick Brunson (not pictured, 1999), Derek Harper (1994-1996)

Shelden Williams - #13 (2011-present)Sergio Rodriguez (2010), Jerome James (2006-2009), Malik Rose (2005-2006), Nazr Mohammed (not pictured, 2004-2005)

Ronny Turiaf - #14 (2010-present)
Bruno Sundov (2004-2005), Cezary Trybanski (not pictured, 2004), Chris Dudley (1997-2000), Anthony Mason (1991-1996)

Roger Mason Jr. - #18 (2010-present)
Mouhamed Sene (not pictured, 2009), Ray Tolbert (not pictured, 1987), Ernie Grunfeld (1982-1986), Phil Jackson (1967-1978)

Toney Douglas - #23 (2009-present)Quentin Richardson (2005-2009), Marcus Camby (1998-2002), Gary Grant (1995-1996), Brian Quinnett (not pictured, 1989-1992)

Anthony Carter - #25 (2011-present)Timofey Mozgov (2010-2011), Cheikh Samb (not pictured, 2009), Mardy Collins (2006-2008), Moochie Norris (2003-2005)

Renaldo Balkman - #32 (2006-2008, 2011-present) Antonio Davis (2005-2006), Othella Harrington (2001-2004), Herb Williams (1992-1999), Xavier McDaniel (not pictured, 1991-1992)

References: Google Images and Basketball-Reference.com

Have any thoughts on the Knicks or any of the players listed above? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Baller Bio: Jamario Moon

You may have heard of 6-8 forward Jamario Moon. He's played 4 seasons in the NBA, but played professionally for years before he entered the league.

Jamario Raman Moon was born on June 13, 1980 in Goodwater, Alabama. He played ball at Coosa Central High School and originally signed with Missisippi State, but didn't end up playing there because of academic reasons. Instead, he attended Meridian Community College and played basketball there. In the 1999-2000 season, he averaged 20.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in 12 games with the Eagles before being suspended from the team.

Moon went undrafted in the 2001 NBA Draft after entering as an early entry candidate. Despite playing for the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers summer league teams in July 2002, he roamed the minor leagues of basketball for years.

Between 2001 and 2004, he played with two different D-League teams. He played 55 games with the Mobile Revelers and 1 game with the Huntsville Flight. In the summer of 2002, he averaged 10 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in 3 games with the Dodge City Legend of the USBL.

Moon played for the Harlem Globetrotters in 2004 and played in 7 games for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA during the 2004-2005 season. While with the Colonels, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. In that same season, he played in the WBA with the Rome Gladiators and averaged 13.4 points and 6.3 rebounds over the course of 21 games with the team. He helped lead the Gladiators to the 2005 WBA Championship and led the team in blocked shots.

Moon ended up playing for the Marietta Storm of the WBA in 2006 and then the Albany Patroons during the 2006-2007 USBL season.

Moon's big break came on July 10, 2007, when he signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. As a 27 year-old rookie, he averaged 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 78 games. He was a fan favorite in Toronto and was nicknamed "Apollo 33". He was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January 2008, participated it the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Midway through the 2008-2009 season, Moon was traded to the Miami Heat along with Jermaine O'Neal and a 2010 2nd round draft pick for Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks, and cash. He averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds during 80 games with the Raptors and the Heat that season.

During the 2009 offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Moon to an offer sheet that the Heat did not match and he ended up playing in 61 games for the Cavs during the 2009-2010 season. The Cavs finished the season with the best record in the Eastern Conference and he played in 11 playoff games with the team before they lost to the Boston Celtics in the Semi-Finals.

Moon stayed with the Cavs for the 2010-2011 season, while LeBron James and Zydrunas Illgauskas left to play with the Heat and Shaquille O'Neal and Delonte West signed with the Celtics. He played in 40 games with the struggling Cavs before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers along with Mo Williams for Baron Davis and a 2011 first round draft pick (which the Cavs used on Kyrie Irving). Moon averaged career lows in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in 19 games with the Clippers and for the first time in his NBA career, didn't finish the season on a playoff team.

Moon is currently an unrestricted free agent and is hoping to sign with an NBA team after the lockout ends.

Have any thoughts on Jamario Moon or any ideas for who I should do a Baller Bio on next? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Baller Bio: Leon Smith

Leon Smith played only 15 games over the course of 2 seasons in the NBA. For a first-round draft pick out of high school, he never lived up to the expectations. Let's take a look at the 6-10 power forward's life and basketball career:

Leon Smith was born on November 2, 1980 in Chicago, Illinois. He had a troubled childhood and was raised in Lydia's Children's Home, a foster home in Chicago, because of alleged neglect from his parents. Later, in his teenage years, he moved to the Sullivan House.

Smith blossomed into a young star at Martin Luther King High School and averaged 25.5 points and 14.5 rebounds as a senior. He applied for the 1999 NBA Draft and was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th pick. He was then traded to the Dallas Mavericks shortly after he was selected in exchange for the draft rights for Gordan Giricek and a 2000 second-round draft pick.

After forcing the team to sign him to a three-year 1.447 million dollar contract because of league rules and his refusal to play in a developmental league or overseas, his career quickly went downhill because of a series of negative incidents. In his first practice with the Mavs, Smith refused to run a set of sprints and started to build up a reputation of being immature and having problems with authority.

Before ever playing in an NBA game, Smith was placed in a psychiatric ward in November 1999 after reportedly throwing a rock through a car window and then swallowing around 250 aspirin tablets in an admitted suicide attempt.

After returning to Chicago in December, he allegedly threatened an ex-girlfriend with a gun. Then, a few hours after the incident, he was accused of ramming a car that belonged to the ex-girlfriend's mother and smashing out the windows. He was then charged with two counts of criminal damage. The Mavericks suspended Smith indefinitely because of the off-court troubles.

Smith was eventually released by the Mavs in January 2000 and went on to play for a series of minor-league teams. He joined the St. Louis Swarm of the IBL in 2000 but was released in December of the same year. He then signed with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the CBA in 2001 and was traded to the Gary Steelheads later that season.

Smith was given a chance for a comeback when the Atlanta Hawks signed him to a 10-day contract in January 2002. He made his NBA debut on January 17 and was released in February before returning to the team in March. He saw his first ever NBA action with the Hawks that season and ended up averaging 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds over the course of 14 games.

On August 2, 2002, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with Toni Kukoc and a 2003 1st round pick for Glenn Robinson and was waived by the team in October.

In that same month, he returned to the Gary Steelheads of the CBA and ended up joining a team in Puerto Rico (Criollos de Caguas) in April 2003. His stint overseas ended in that same month when the team released him.

In May 2003, he signed with the Texas Rim Rockers of the USBL before returning to the Gary Steelheads of the CBA for the second time. In February 2004, the team traded him to the Great Lakes Storm.

In April of 2004, the Seattle SuperSonics gave Smith another chance in the NBA and signed him to a contract. However, he ended up only playing in one game with the team. In that game, a loss to the Spurs, he scored 2 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in 4 minutes. The Sonics waived him in October and he never played in the league again.

His NBA career lasted only 15 games with averages of 2.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.3 steals, 0.2 assists, and 0.1 blocks per game along with a modest 39.3% field goal percentage. His CBA honors included being selected to the All-Star Game and the All-Defensive Team and leading the league in rebounds and blocked shots in 2004.

Since then, Smith has played professionally in Chile, Argentina, and Mexico.

References:
-Ready to play: Leon Smith forces Dallas to offer him NBA contract
November 2, 1999 - CNN/Sports Illustrated
-Worst of times: Mavericks' Smith has survived hard knocks by Josie Karp
November 4, 1999 - CNN/Sports Illustrated
-Smith lands in mental institution: Dallas rookie found by police wearing war paint
November 16, 1999 - CNN/Sports Illustrated
-First step: Leon Smith checks out of hospital, looks to future
January 7, 2000 - CNN/Sports Illustrated
-'I want to play' - Smith ready to return to NBA but not with Mavs
January 21, 2000 - CNN/Sports Illustrated
-Parting ways: Mavericks release rookie Leon Smith
February 2, 2000 - CNN/Sports Illustrated
-Leon Smith -HoopsHype.com
-Leon Smith - Basketball-Reference.com
-Where Are The Smiths - ShamSports.com
-Leon Smith Game-by-Game Stats - ESPN NBA

Have any thoughts or news on Leon Smith? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #7: Mike James MIX by LONGER

A couple weeks ago, I covered Mike James' book, Fight For Your Dreams. Now I'm featuring him in this week's "Mix of the Week." This mix shows highlights of him during his time with the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, and New Orleans Hornets.

This mix was made by LONGER01 on YouTube and I don't know what the song is. Enjoy!

I thought this was a nice mix and I hope you liked it.

To see more of LONGER01's mixes, go to youtube.com/longer01.

Have any comments on Mike James or any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

NBA: Knicks Might Sign Kwame Brown

Multiple sources have reported that the New York Knicks have displayed interest in signing veteran center Kwame Brown.

Brown has been the laughing stock of the NBA for years ever since he never lived up to the expectations of being drafted number one overall to the Wizards in 2001.

Since coming into the league, he has played for the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, and Charlotte Bobcats.

Last season, Brown averaged 7.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in 26 minutes a game in his first year with the Bobcats. He also made 51.7 percent of his field goal attempts and started 50 out of the 66 games he played in with the team.

Personally, I think that signing Kwame Brown would be a good move for the Knicks. The only other center on the Knicks that isn't a free agent right now is Ronny Turiaf (Amar'e Stoudemire plays better at the power forward position) and Brown is arguably better than Turiaf.

Brown could also be considered the best center among Knicks free agents Shelden Williams and Jared Jeffries and unsigned second round draft-pick Josh Harrellson.

I think that Brown is better than fans generally view him because of his persona as a draft bust. Most YouTube videos of him are of bloopers and people rarely view him as a serious player.

Consider this: Kwame Brown's Player Effeciency Rating is 12.89, which is better than Shelden Williams (12.33) and Jared Jeffries (8.05). Brown's PER is also better than many respected centers around the league such as Channing Fyre (12.87), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (12.84), Ben Wallace (12.29), and Kendrick Perkins (9.60).

To sum up this entry, I would just like to say that Kwame Brown is a talented center and I hope that the Knicks sign him.

Have any thoughts on Kwame Brown possibly going to the Knicks? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Baller Bio: Bryant Reeves

Bryant "Big Country" Reeves played basketball at Oklahoma State University and in the NBA for the Grizzlies. He was a star center in the mid-90's, until injuries ended his career early.

Reeves was born on June 8, 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas and grew up in the small town of Gans, Oklahoma.

He played four seasons of college ball at Oklahoma State where he scored more than 2,000 points and grabbed over 1,000 rebounds. In his senior year, he averaged 21.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while leading the Cowboys to the 1995 Final Four.

Reeves applied for the 1995 NBA Draft and was drafted 6th overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He was their first ever draft choice. Big Country had a solid rookie season in Canada and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

He improved in his next season and put up averages 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds and after the season, he signed six-year, 61.8 million-dollar contract to stay with the team.

The 1997-1998 season was arguably Reeves' best season as he averaged 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. Also, his field goal percentage (52.3%) ranked tenth in the league, but the Grizzlies still weren't performing well and won less than 20 games in each of their first three seasons.

His next season was the start of the decline of his career. He only played in 25 games while his production and minutes decreased.

Reeves was paid more than 8 and a half million dollars during the 1999-2000 season while putting up averages of only 8.9 points and 5.7 rebounds.

The next season, the Grizzlies beat their record for wins in a season with 23, but still didn't make the playoffs, while Reeves averaged career-lows in points, assists, and minutes.

Reeves never played in the NBA again and retired halfway through the 2001-2002 season due to chronic back pain.

Reeves finished with career averages of 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds over the course of six seasons and a total of 395 games played. He is currently the fifth all-time leading scorer for the Grizzlies behind Pau Gasol, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Rudy Gay, and Mike Miller.

Reeves instantly fell off the radar after his playing career ended and hasn't made much news since besides people reminiscing on his days with the Grizzlies in Vancouver. According to ShamSports.com, he bought 300 acres of land, built a 15,000 square-foot house on it, and started a cattle ranch with his dad.

Have any thoughts on Bryant Reeves, the Grizzlies, cattle ranches, or any ideas for who I should do a Baller Bio on next? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Mix of the Week #6: Scotty Hopson Highlight 10-11 (JPC6263)

Scotty Hopson, a junior out of Tennessee, went undrafted on Thursday and this mix definitely shows teams what they missed out on.

This mix was made by JPC6263 on YouTube and the song is "Power" by Kanye West.



I hope he gets a chance to play in the league. He definitely has the talent to make it in the NBA. If you are an NBA general manager, sign Scotty Hopson, you won't regret it!

Have any comments on Scotty Hopson or any suggestions for next week's mix? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

NBA: 2011 Draft Recap

Last night, the 2011 NBA Draft occurred. I think it was an interesting draft and I will recap the key points of the night.

The Cavs and the T'Wolves picked Kyrie Irving and then Derrick Williams. Then five international players in a row were drafted (3. Jazz - Enes Kanter from Turkey, 4. Cavs - Tristan Thompson from Canada, 5. Raptors - Jonas Valanciunas from Lithuania, 6. Wizards - Jan Vessely from the Czech Republic, then 7. Kings - Bismack Biyombo from the Congo). Six out of the first seven draft picks were not born in the United States because Irving was born in Australia.

With the ninth pick, the Bobcats selected Kemba Walker out of UConn. Walker won the NCAA Tournament with the Huskies last season and was named MVP of the tournament.

Jimmer Fredette was selected with the tenth pick in the draft. He was technically picked by the Bucks, but due to a trade he will be playing for the Kings.

The Morris brothers were picked in a row with the 13th and 14th picks by the Suns and the Rockets.

The Celtics selected Marshon Brooks with the 25th pick and traded him to the Nets. Brooks was the 2nd leading scorer in the NCAA last season behind Fredette with 24.6 points per game.

The Wizards selected Shelvin Mack with the 34th pick in the draft. Mack played in the last 2 NCAA Tournament final games with Butler.

Josh Harrellson was selected by the Hornets with the 45th pick and was traded to the Knicks. Harrellson, a center from Kentucky, should fit in well with the Knicks and end up being a solid player in the NBA.

With the 6oth and final pick in the draft, the Kings selected Isiah Thomas out of Washington. I think Thomas is a similar to Nate Robinson in his playing style and could be as good as him or better in the league.

There were 3 undrafted players that I think should have been drafted: Talor Battle, Scotty Hopson, and Jacob Pullen.

Battle played four seasons at Penn State and averaged 20.2 points a game his senior year. I think that he could be a solid 3rd-string point guard in the league.

Hopson played three seasons at Tennessee, but it looks like he should have stayed for one more because no team picked him. That doesn't mean Hopson didn't deserve to be selected though. He averaged 17 points last season, more than his Tennessee teammate Tobias Harris who was drafted in he first round.

Pullen averaged the same amount of points last season as Battle (20.2), but averaged more assists (3.2). He also averaged 1.2 steals per game last season. As a guard out of Kansas State where he played with NBA star Michael Beasley a few years back, he could be a star in the NBA.

I would look for these 3 players to end up making it in the league despite being undrafted. For Talor Battle, think Mike Wilks. For Scotty Hopson, think Wesley Matthews. For Jacob Pullen, think Mike James.

Have any thoughts on this year's draft? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.