From the conclusion of the 2010-2011 NBA Finals, it seems as if everyone is 100% of the opinion that the basketball season will be lost – if not in it’s entirety, then perhaps 50% or more. Based upon what’s coming out of the league offices, rumors from player representatives, etc., losing the season doesn’t seem like a far-fetched reality. The only problem, is that a lot of NBA writers and bloggers are already acting as if “the NBA is already gone”.
News flash… it’s only August & pre-season NBA schedules don’t even start-up …

The 2010 Team USA basketball jerseys were showcased this week and will debut at the World Basketball Festival in August (in NYC). The jerseys are supremely designed by Nike and have some advanced techno features that will make them very comfortable for the NBA players expected to suit up in August.
Uniform Details/Features
The Team USA jerseys will once again feature the “aerographics” on the back, which is just a clever way of saying “a pattern”.  This feature does more than look cool, they actually keep the player cooler via small perforations/air …

The All-NBA Awards for the 2009-2010 season were announced today and I doubt many of you will be surprised w/ the selections.  The first team includes guys who excel on both sides of the ball, but generally appears to reward the league’s top scorers this season.
1st Team All-NBA

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

2nd Team All-NBA

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

3rd Team All-NBA

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Pau Gasol, Los …

The NBA awarded its 2009-2010 MVP Award to Cleveland Cavaliers‘ forward LeBron James on Sunday. This marks the 2nd consecutive year that LeBron has won the Most Valuable Player award.  James continues to add to his legacy this season and push towards a season sweep of the MVP awards – he previously won the All-Star Game MVP in February. All that remains now is the MVP of the NBA Finals, but first he’ll have to get the Cavs there.
In a landslide, James proves that he is once again the NBA’s …

Four-time NBA Champion and 2008-09 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant has retained his status as the top-selling NBA jersey in Europe, a title he also held for the 2007-08 season.
For the second straight year, the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is the best-selling jersey in Europe, according to a list released by the NBA and gathered by surveying retail locations in Europe for the 2008-09 season.  >> CNBC’s Sports Biz w/ Darren Rovell
Considering Bryant’s enormous popularity in China during the 2008 Summer Olympics, it’s not really a …

Really good mix video for Kobe Bryant/Terminator Salvation.  Voiceover of Christian Bale, featuring highlights of the LA Lakers‘ Kobe Bryant. Sweet vid. Shout to @SLAMonline for posting about it 1st.

Baseball News from L.A. Times
They improve to 25-16 in Manny Ramirez‘s absence, having beaten the Phillies, Rangers and Angels recently in road series.
Kobe Bryant took his front-row seat behind the Dodgers dugout before the first pitch, and to his credit he stayed until the ninth inning. The sellout crowd at Angel Stadium serenaded him with “M-V-P” chants, and his team beat the home team.   Continue reading on L.A. Times

After a strong victory on Tuesday in Florida (108-104), the Orlando Magic look to even their NBA Finals series w/ the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
The Magic have a couple tricks up their sleeve, including a special weapon, but they may not need them if the Lakers don’t show up and give it their all. In addition, it appears that guard Rafer Alston is over his reduced playing time and Stan Van Gundy has realized that inserting Jameer Nelson so early & heavily in the series was a mistake.
The …

Anchored by the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, and runner-up Lebron James, the All-NBA First Team was announced on Wednesday.
The NBA didn’t go all defense, however, as the top 4 scorers in the league all made the first team squad:

Dwyane Wade – 30.2 ppg
Lebron James – 28.4
Kobe Bryant – 26.8
Dirk Nowitzki – 25.9

Wade was voted into the first team for the 1st time, while Bryant and Nowitzki were both selected their 4th times, respectively.  For James, who was listed on every first team ballot, it is his …

At only 24 yrs old, Lebron James has already accomplished more than some basketball players could hope for in a lifetime.  NBA Finals appearance – check, best record in the NBA – check, USA gold medal – check, etc.  On Monday, Lebron added to his already impressive basketball legacy by winning the 2008-2009 NBA MVP Award, given to the league’s most valuable player.
James has been the favorite to win the MVP since March, despite strong efforts from Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant  (2007-08 NBA MVP) and Dwyane Wade.  Those four players …

This year’s Los Angeles Lakers team is on a mission to get back to the NBA Finals, after they were beaten handily by the Boston Celtics last June.  With a strong attitude towards winning and getting back to the Finals, the Lakers have reeled off 7 straight wins, including a tough match-up against the Western Conference’s other (potential) powerhouse, the New Orleans Hornets.
Kobe Bryant is again the star for the Lakers, but he’s got a lot of help this year.  Even after cementing his legacy with his 1st MVP trophy …

Love him or hate him, Kobe Bryant has dominated the NBA scene the past few years as an L.A. Laker.  If you don’t live in Los Angeles or if you’re a huge Shaq fan, chances are you hate him – those of you in Denver also.  But the people in L.A…. you can bet they love him.
At this point, I think Kobe is cool w/ all the hate too…. Why?  Because the league’s voters just showed their love by voting Kobe Bryant the league’s MVP for the 2007-2008 NBA season.
Bryant …