J.R. Smith knocked down a tough 3-pointer, then another. Turning toward the fans, their heckling transformed to groans, he blew off his right index finger and motioned toward his side, like he was holstering his pistol.
Yep, Smith was that hot.
While LeBron James led Cleveland with 31 points, it was Smith who ignited the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. He made eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points in a 97-89 victory over the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
At Complex Sports, we’re aware of the problems that Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debates can cause. Whenever you walk up on one, whether it’s on your timeline or the locker room, the arguments are always scattered, and the conversation disparate. It never amounts to anything more than a contest between two men finding out who can yell NBA facts and stats the fastest and loudest.
But apparently, those knobs who argue for LeBron>>>>>MJ are making an impact in the American sports fan’s psyche
Craig Ehlo has told LeBron James, “Michael will always be the better player.”
The Bulls’ Michael Jordan taking The Shot, as it has come to be known, over the Cavaliers’ Craig Ehlo to clinch their 1989 first-round playoff series. (Credit: Carl Skalak/Sports Illustrated, via Getty Images)
Eras apart, we have a renewal of the rivalry between the franchises of Jordan and James.
A bridge between them is named Craig Ehlo.
More than a quarter-century ago, Ehlo took on the challenge of stopping Micha
Stephen Curry was the overall leading NBA All-Star Game vote-getter, finishing ahead of LeBron James.
My dad may have been playing in the NBA at the time, but the best basketball games I remember from my childhood were the ones between my little brother, Seth, and me on our backyard basketball court in Charlotte, North Carolina. We’d play for hours and hours, oftentimes well into the night with the use of a bright stage light shining on the court, until our mom would yell out the window for u
Stephen Curry carried the Golden State Warriors to a huge lead, waving his arms and flexing his muscles with one acrobatic shot after another.
Every time the New Orleans Pelicans pulled closer, Curry came back even better.
Curry scored 34 points with an MVP-worthy performance, and the Warriors went up big before holding off the Pelicans 106-99 in their playoff opener Saturday.
“I was locked in and focused the whole night,” Curry said. “In those situations, you want to get the crowd back into
Has Shaquille O’Neal or Kobe Bryant enjoyed the better career? Would you take Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter or Pau Gasol, since all three dominated during the 2000s but played different positions?
Is LeBron James already a top-10 player in NBA history?
Those are three of the many questions we’ll answer while looking at the Association’s top 100 players of all time.
This is about more than those few standouts who still suit up in the Association, though studs like Bryant, James and Tim Dunca
THE NBA HAS A CONFERENCE PROBLEM, AND IT HAS AFFECTED THE PLAYOFFS IN A MAJOR WAY IN RECENT YEARS. USA TODAY SPORTS SPOKE WITH EVERYONE FROM ADAM SILVER TO JERRY WEST ABOUT A BASIC IDEA: IGNORE CONFERENCES AND LET THE 16 BEST TEAMS PLAY.
A better way?
A SIMPLE, LOGICAL CHANGE COULD MAKE PLAYOFFS MORE INTERESTING
Enticing cross-conference NBA playoff matchups capture the imagination, presenting the idea of a fair and just basketball world in which only the best of the best are welcome.
Dare t
Christian NBA player Jeremy Lin admitted he struggles with humility. (nba.com)
Jeremy Lin has admitted that he has had one of the toughest seasons of his basketball career but now vows to find joy in God despite his circumstances.
Lin, the 26-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard, took to his personal website www.jlin7.com to admit that he was disappointed in his season. Still, the Christian athlete acknowledged that God was present during his trials.
“At times, it has felt like the barriers we
LeBron James might not feel the need to publicly thank Heat fans for the four years he spent playing for their team, but that didn’t stop the fans for thanking him with a standing ovation before Thursday’s 101-91 loss at Miami.
James was the first Cleveland Cavaliers player introduced by the Miami P.A. announcer and the majority of the crowd cheered for the four-time MVP.
James called the game “very” emotional.
“It’s tough to play under these circumstances, man,” James said afterward. “You’r
The NBA has decided to pull advertising from new VH1 show Sorority Sisters after numerous people online protested the show.
The NBA has pulled all advertising from VH-1 Sorority Sisters.
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2014
The show follows the lives of several black women who used to belong to sororities. Critics of the show say it reinforces stereotypes and ignores the historical importance of sororities and fraternities in the civil rights movement.
An online petition calling for the canceling
LeBron James had some business to take care of before rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers for training camp.
He was at Nike’s corporate headquarters Tuesday for the unveiling of his new shoe, the LeBron 12. It is his first new shoe with Nike since he returned this summer to the Cavs.
The rollout comes less than two weeks before the four-time league MVP reports to training camp. The Cavs open the season on Oct. 30 at home against the New York Knicks.
The shoe, his 12th since signing with Nike
Christian NBA player Jeremy Lin admitted he struggles with humility. (nba.com)
Christian NBA player Jeremy Lin recently opened up about the sins he struggles with.
The 25-year-old Lakers guard admitted he is not as humble as some people may believe in a question-and-answer session on Facebook during what he called Fan Appreciation Week.
“I’m not humble. Pride is [the] greatest sin I struggle with,” Lin wrote. “But I’d say as I get older, go through more experiences in life and face tougher
WNBA star Becky Hammon takes questions from the media at the San Antonio Spurs practice facility after being introduced as an assistant coach with the team.
In what many sports fans view as a historic move, the reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs announced the hiring of Becky Hammon as assistant coach. Terms of Hammon’s contract were not disclosed.
“I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. “Having observed her working wi
The Lakers finally got the point guard who intrigued them over the years.
They initially tried to sign Jeremy Lin as an undrafted rookie in 2010 but he chose Golden State for the same amount of money. (It was closer to home.)
In a less-publicized action, the Lakers put in a waiver claim for Lin when Golden State dropped him in 2011. Houston had a worse record than the Lakers and was awarded him.
But the Lakers acquired him in a trade with the Rockets this month.
“This time, we got Jeremy Lin
Following Lebron James’ announcement on Friday that he would be taking his talents from South Beach back to Cleveland, “the biggest Miami Heat fan in the world among pastors” expressed his surprise, grief — and admiration.
Tullian Tchividjian, who pastors at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, never dreamed that his team’s best player would be leaving the squad following their defeat in the NBA finals last month.
“I was devastated. Literally. I’m a grown 41-year-old m
Layne Murdoch/Getty Images
The Oklahoma City Thunder, with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook acting as lead recruiters, have unexpectedly emerged as a leading contender for the services of Los Angeles Lakers free-agent center Pau Gasol, according to sources close to the process.
Sources told ESPN.com that Durant and Westbrook made a face-to-face pitch Wednesday to Gasol in Los Angeles to join them in Oklahoma City despite the financial limitations the Thunder would face in signing him.
Thun
 Isaiah Austin was moved to tears by the gesture the NBA gave him Thursday. (USATSI) The most memorable image of the 2014 NBA Draft went to the player who wasn’t chosen by any team, but instead was selected by the entire league. Baylor’s Isaiah Austin was the best pick of the night and subject to one of the most memorable, sentimental draft events ever. Commissioner Adam Silver ushered an emotional, earned moment Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn when, between the 15th and 16th pick |
James was among the Heat players who met with the coaching staff for season exit interviews Tuesday, two days after a demoralizing loss in five games to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. James said he was still largely dealing with the disappointment and sting from one of the most lopsided series in NBA |
San Antonio Spurs players hold up the the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy after Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals against the Miami Heat, June 15, 2014, in San Antonio. Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo
The Spurs have secured yet another title, adding further lore to the dynasty led by Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
While it has taken different forms, this Spurs group won its fifth title in 16 years on Sunday. It is the first title for the franchise, which lost in t
Miami would like to see Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony in the same uniform again — a Heat uniform.
Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images
The Miami Heat’s immediate focus remains overcoming a 2-1 NBA Finals deficit to the San Antonio Spurs, but discussions have begun within the organization about trying to grow their so-called Big Three into a Big Four, according to sources close to the situation.
Sources told ESPN.com that Heat officials and the team’s leading players
