“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

According to SI.com, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan purposely lobbied to keep Isiah Thomas off of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team for personal reasons.

Magic Johnson said that his relationship with Isiah Thomas is "cordial" at best.

The admission was made by Magic himself, in a book that he co-wrote with Larry Bird.

When The Game Was Ours features a section in which Magic accuses Isiah of spreading a rumor that he was gay. As a result, Magic played a key role in keeping Isiah from participating in the Olympics.

The book itself chronicles the parallel careers of Magic and Bird.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Magic Kept Isiah Off The 92′ Olympic Team

*Note: Substitute ”wicked” here if you’re envisioning a Boston-based gossiper. 

Yesterday, Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury wasn’t having fun anymore. So, he did what all kids do: He picked up his toys and went home. From Phoenix. To New York. On game day.

The reason for mounting his Huffy Bike? Coach Isiah Thomas told him he wouldn’t be playing the game against the Phoenix Suns.

Marbury said, “Yuh-huh!”

To which Thomas shot back, “Nuh-uh!”

OK, so we paraphrased a little. But that’s the essence of it.

According to the New York Daily News, the hair-pulling didn’t end there, with a source repeating Marbury’s supposed words:

“Isiah has to start me . . . I’ve got so much [stuff] on Isiah and he knows it. He thinks he can [get] me. But I’ll [get] him first. You have no idea what I know.”

Ooooooh, blackmail! Does Isiah have cooties? Does he like someone, we mean like them like them, and Marbury knows it? Did Coach Thomas reveal a secret and make Marbury cross his heart and hope to die if the word gets out? Maybe they even pricked their fingers and swore to be blood brothers, but now Marbury’s changed his mind!

This calls for a detention, perhaps even in addition to the $180K fine Marbury faces for skipping the game.  

Meanwhile, we’re going to sit back and see if the Celtics can’t make it 7-0. Ah, Schadenfreude, how bloggers (and readers like Prospero) love thee.

Post from: EveryJoe

Junior High Antics in the NBA