At least that’s what Shaq thinks. According to ESPN, Mr. O’Neal is so impressed with LeBron James‘ basketball IQ, that he believes King James could coach in the NBA rather easily. “His basketball IQ is phenomenal,” O’Neal said on ESPN.com. “He could coach in the NBA right now.” It’s obvious that James has been quick study of the game. After all, he entered the league at the tender age of 18, yet he played and acted at least 10 years beyond his age.  James considers himself a “student of the game,” which means he continues to study every aspect of basketball, including offense, defense, strategy, passing, shooting, positioning and more. Raw talent will only get you so far. It’s... [Read more]

In my professional opinion, NBA players should stay away from Twitter. It doesn’t serve them well. In fact, it doesn’t serve any professional athlete well. While some athletes may use Twitter to connect with fans and offer up a bit of humor now and again, others use it to complain about their team, their limited playing time, and their gripes with head coaches. Larry Johnson pretty much lost his job with the Kansas City Chiefs because of what he wrote on his Twitter account page. According to his Twitter page, Terrence Williams wishes Mr. Stern had called his name sooner. Here’s a little advice for those “Twittering” athletes: Don’t use Twitter to complain, it’s going to get  back to the powers-that-be.... [Read more]

While this summer is shaping up to be the biggest free agency market in NBA history, there’s one veteran player who plans to stay put. Yao Ming isn’t going to test the water of the free agency pool, he’s going to stay with the Houston Rockets instead. According to SI.com, Houston general manager Daryl Morey said that there is no doubt in his mind that the 7-foot-6 center isn’t going to opt out of his contract in order to become a free agent. Yao Ming may be riding the pine this season, but he'll be back with the Rockets in 2010. “He’s very loyal, and he’s going to opt in,” Morey said in an interview Monday night with FanHouse. “He’s definitely coming back.” Yao is currently... [Read more]

Is Greg Oden just unlucky or is he just injury prone? I’d have to say both statements are true. Oden fell and broke his left kneecap on Saturday night, playing against the Houston Rockets. Since he was drafted in 2007 by the Portland Trailblazers, the 7-foot center has suffered more injuries than some 10-year veterans. Greg Oden suffered another injury on Saturday, and will be out for the season. Many have compared Oden to the infamous Sam Bowie,  who was selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft. Bowie, a big man himself, suffered numerous injuries while at Portland and never developed into the great player many expected him to be. According to ESPN.com, Brandon Roy said that Oden apologized and bowed his head as he was... [Read more]

Matt Harpring has played in the NBA for 11 seasons. The 33-year-old forward has certainly seen his fair share of injuries throughout his career. According to ESPN, Harpring has never completely recovered from an infection that developed after ankle surgery in the summer of 2008. “After consultations with the doctors and based on their recommendations, I have reluctantly come to the realization that my body can simply no longer withstand the rigors of NBA games and practices,” he said. Matt Harping may be sidelined indefinitely. Harpring joined the Utah Jazz as a free agent in 2002. He found success and a home with the Jazz, and thrived as a prolific shooter. Unfortunately, Harpring’s playing time has dropped consistently over... [Read more]