His agent, Aaron Goodwin, requested a trade on Saturday. Yet on Sunday, Robinson was still hopeful that something could be worked out with the Knicks.

D’Antoni maintains that “it’s not personal” but it’s obvious that things are less than “bunnies and flowers” between player and coach. ESPN.com reported that sources close to Robinson say he wants out and would prefer to resume his career with the Boston Celtics.

There are many key factors that are going to come into play in order to get a trade or a buyout worked out. In the meantime, we all know what Nate Robinson really wants for Christmas:

To play for a new NBA team.

For those of you who have forgotten how skilled Robinson is (minus the ego), here’s a reminder courtesy of YouTube:

Post from: EveryJoe

Nate Robinson Has No Future With The Knicks

“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 raw talent that got James into the NBA, but it’s his willingness to continue to learn and grow that makes him one of the top players in the league consistently, year after year. It doesn’t take a genius to see that.

Just ask Shaq.

Here’s a throwback to James in his early NBA days.  The talent was always there, but his game has certainly evolved since then.

Post from: EveryJoe

Lebron James: NBA Coach?

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 wheeled off the court. Apparently he felt as though he had let them down.

The injuries that Oden has sustained since he had first entered the league are not his fault. Though he  missed his rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee, and sat out numerous games last season due to minor injuries, Oden was performing really well this season. He had finally found his game after losing weight and regaining confidence. Then, he was stopped short yet again because of another injury.

Greg Oden is one of the most genuine players in the NBA. He’s not arrogant or self-serving. He’s a team player, and works hard on and off the court. It would be great to see him finish a season intact, because his numbers would be outstanding.

Unfortunately for Portland, injuries have gotten in the way — and not just for Oden. The team is so shorthanded this season that coach Nate McMillan has had to participate in practice.

It’s a sad story, really. And my heart goes out to Oden.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Oden Is Done For The Season

I posed a simple question in my post. I asked, who would want to coach the Nets now? Well, according to SI.com, Patrick Ewing is interested. The former NBA All-Star has been an assistant coach for the past seven seasons. Apparently, he’s ready for a new challenge.

Patrick Ewing has been an assistant coach for seven seasons. He's ready to take the next step.

Taking over as head coach for the Nets would certainly be a challenge. Maybe Ewing wants a chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a head coach in the NBA. If he can turn this team around, he’ll definitely earn his stripes.

Nets general manager, Kiki Vandeweghe will take over as head coach for the time being. According to ESPN.com, Vandeweghe played 13 seasons in the NBA with four teams and was a two-time All-Star. His only coaching experience came in Dallas, under Don Nelson. Despite his lack of experience, Vandeweghe has one thing going for him — if he can win at least one game then he’s one up on Frank.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Ewing Wants To Coach The New Jersey Nets

“I was a free agent and it was natural to explore my options,” Nash said, according to ESPN.com. “Some people said I was a little crazy going back to Phoenix because I wouldn’t have as good a chance to win. I liked the team and coaches and I was comfortable.”

Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns are on the rise after going 4-1 during a five-game road trip.

From the outset, it looks like Nash made the right decision. The Suns are on the rise in the West, wrapping up a five-game road trip with a 4-1 record. Last night, in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Nash registered the first 20-20 in points and assists in the NBA since  Jan. 2, 2006, at New York (where he totaled 22 assists — the highest in his career).

Life with out Shaq on the court seems much brighter as well, as the Suns are back to their high-flying, quick-scoring ways.

The college basketball season also got underway last night. Here are some quick highlights:

• Jim Boeheim reached his 800th win at Syracuse.
• North Carolina is ranked #4 in the nation, even though they lost four starters to the NBA.
• Isiah Thomas lost his first game as head coach for FIU against the defending champs, UNC.

Post from: EveryJoe

Looks Like Nash Made The Right Decision

“I don’t expect anything else,” Phoenix’s Cappie Pondexter said, according to ESPN.com. Pondexter and teammate Diana Taurasi are ready to air it all out and leave everything on the floor.

“At this point, if you don’t want to do that, you shouldn’t be on the court,” Taurasi added.

Diana Taurasi knows that in order to win another WNBA Championship, she's going to have to leave it all on the floor tonight.

That sentiment is echoing through both locker rooms. Tonight’s game on ESPN 2 (at 9:00 Eastern) promises to be as exciting as the previous four games. Only there’s a lot more at stake because after tonight, there are no more games to play. This is it, folks. Game five. It’s the end all be all to the 2009 WNBA Finals. Whoever wins tonight will walk away WNBA Champions.

And whoever loses will just walk away.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 WNBA Finals: Game Five

You can ask for much better coaching than that.

That is exactly why Marynell Meadors received the 2009 WNBA Coach of the Year Award. She already had a wealth of coaching experience under her belt (35 years worth) when she was named head coach of the Atlanta Dream for their inaugural season. One year (and a complete roster overhaul) later, it’s clear that the Dream have a bright future in Atlanta.

2009 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Angel McCoughtry was influtential in the Atlanta Dream's amazing turnaround this season.

“This season was just awesome. I loved coaching this team,” Meadors said, according to ESPN.com. “They came in from day one and played as hard as they could play, and I thought `Wow, this is going to be something special,’ and it certainly was.”

Dream starter and standout, Angel McCoughtry was also named 2009 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The 14-win turnaround is the second-best in WNBA history.

Post from: EveryJoe

WNBA Coach Of The Year Is Not A Surprise

The award came as no surprise to players, coaches, fans and certainly, Taurasi herself. She is the league’s leading scorer and the best all-around talent. I’d go as far to say that she is the world’s best women’s basketball player.

According to ESPN.com, Taurasi received 27 first-place votes and 323 points overall in ballots cast by representatives of every WNBA team as well as nationally-respected reporters.

When she found out that she won the award, Taurasi’s response was simply, “I felt like a little kid again.”

As if accolades weren’t enough, Taurasi was handed another reason to smile after the Mercury shut down the Fever in overtime to win the first game of the series. The game was fast-paced and full of aggressive play by both teams. But the Mercury held on to take a 1-0 lead in the Finals.

Shine on, “D” …  shine on.

Tune in for Game 2 tonight on ESPN 2.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tuesday Was Diana Taurasi’s Day To Shine

Bobby Knight will be inducted into Indiana's Hall of Fame on November 6.

According to ESPN.com, Indiana made the announcement on Saturday.

“I am honored to have been a part of selecting this outstanding class of tremendous coaches and student-athletes,” new athletic director Fred Glass said in a statement. “For my first Hall of Fame class to include heroes from my childhood as well as my student days is a dream come true.”

The induction ceremony is planned for November 6. Knight has yet to confirm if he will attend the ceremony. (I don’t know about you, but I personally cannot wait to hear the induction speech!)

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Bobby Knight To Be Reunited With Indiana

Anne Donovan has a proven track record as an WNBA coach.

“We’ve been a very up-and-down team,” Donovan said, according to ESPN.com. “Not just from game to game, but from quarter to quarter, minute to minute. We all know we have to be more consistent with that.”

After making a pretty good run in the playoffs last season, the Liberty are now 7½ games behind first-place Indiana and two behind Atlanta and Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East.

If anyone can help get the Liberty back to playoff contention, it’s Donovan. She led the U.S. women to a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics last year, and has a winning record of 138-128 as a WNBA coach with Indiana, Charlotte and Seattle.

Donovan was also  inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1995, and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. She was the first female coach in the WNBA to win 100 games, setting that standard back in 2005.

Basically put, this is a woman who knows how to coach.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Donovan Takes Over For The Liberty