The NY Post (Marc Berman) reports: Nate Robinson, who this week revealed he has an alter ego known as “KryptoNate,” will try to sap the powers of “Superman” tonight in the All-Star Weekend’s Slam Dunk competition. The 5-foot-7½ former Slam Dunk champ has been in hiding in Phoenix for most of the past two days, practicing a mysterious Kryptonite dunk he feels will take down Dwight Howard. The Magic’s 6-foot-11 “Man of Steel” is the reigning dunk champ who captured the world’s imagination by flying through the air like a bird, like a plane, jamming home a superhuman slam that overpowered his enemies… “It’s something new I just thought up,” said the popular Knicks guard, who already has put forth a superhero effort in winning the 2006 dunk title. “I did my homework. You have to see. I’m not giving out no secrets. I’m not telling nobody nothing. I just have a kryptonite dunk. That’s all I’ll say.”
Category: NBA All-Star blog
NBA All-Star blog
Chauncey Billups remembers All-Star snub
The Rocky Mountain News (Chris Tomasson) reports (via blog) on the Nuggets point guard remembering not making the All-Star team in 2005, when the weekend was held in his hometown of Denver: The point guard the previous season had led Detroit to the NBA title was named Finals MVP. And Billups was in the midst of a season in which he would lead the Pistons back to the Finals. Nevertheless, he wasn’t chosen for the game at the Pepsi Center. “I came home and everything and I wasn’t going to go to the All-Star Game, man. ‘I can’t believe I’m not in it,”’ Billups said. “My wife (Piper) was like, ‘Don’t be like that. Still go.’ So I went and I sat there the whole time. I don’t think I said one word the whole time. I was sitting there like, ‘I can’t believe I’m not in this.’ That’s just another one of the pains that fuels my fire. Try to get in next year.”
Julius Erving dislikes props in dunk contests
The Indianapolis Star (Jeff Rabjohns) reports on what Julius “Dr. J” Erving said: “The more the slam dunk resembles the actions of the mascots, it seems the more the crowd loves it,” Erving said during All-Star weekend. “It seems about playing to the crowd. I guess if I was 26 and I were in it, I would do something that would play to the crowd. “I think that’s unfair that the slam dunkers, as talented as they are, have to resort to that to get favor from the judges or the crowd. “I’d rather see no props allowed; maybe a teammate because I think playing against opposition brings out the best dunks. I think my best dunks were when somebody was trying to block my shot. If you want props as far as resistance, OK. But chairs and ladders and trampolines? That’s turning it too much into a sideshow.”
LeBron James gifts his All-Star teammates
The Salt Lake Tribune (Steve Luhm) reports: LeBron James showed up at Friday’s All-Star media availability session with a Steuben Glass crystal for each of his Eastern Conference teammates. I went on the company website and, by comparing what I saw at the media availability to some of the items for sale on-line, I’m guessing LeBron spent at least $10,000 for the gifts. Boston’s Paul Pierce seemed genuinely pleased about getting a present from the best player on the team that has the best chance of derailing the Celtics’ bid for a second straight title. “That’s what the All-Star break is all about,” Pierce said. “We’re all friends here. Then, we we break, we’re enemies again.”
Top stars not entering dunk contest
The New Orleans Times-Picayune (John Reid) reports (via blog): As impressive as the dunk contest was in New Orleans, the league’s biggest stars continue to not participate. For the sixth consecutive year, Cleveland’s LeBron James will be a spectator instead of a participant. James said he has no interest in competing, which is the same response other stars such as Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Boston’s Kevin Garnett have given. Lakers star Kobe Bryant has not entered since winning in 1997. “It would take more hops,” said Wade, when asked Friday what it would take for him to enter. “That has to be first, along with more creativity. I can’t jump as high as those guys to do what they do. I’m a game dunker.” Hornets point guard Chris Paul said he would enter but only under one condition. “If they lowered the goal to about 8 feet,” Paul said.
Tim Duncan talks about David Robinson
Here’s what San Antonio Spurs superstars Tim Duncan said Friday in Phoenix at NBA All-Star Weekend about former teammate David Robinson.
Question: First of all, David Robinson. One of the 16 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame, how do you feel about that?
Tim Duncan: Easy decision. I’m happy for him. What he has been through over the years, his career, how he has touched people on and off the basketball courts, what he has done, just a great guy and glad that it’s done for on his first try.
Question: What has he meant to you in your career?
Tim Duncan: Well, he has always been like a big brother to me, ever since day one walking in there, he has always been my big brother on the court, showing me how things are done off the court, just being there for me. So, as I said, just really excited for him.
Question: How about as far as him helping you develop your games, perhaps?
Tim Duncan: I think more than anything he helped me develop my game by being there, by being next to me, taking the pressure off of me, allowing me to mature and become the player I could be on my own time instead of being forced in there in a situation where I’m the number one pick and have to be the man right off the back. It was a great situation for me.
Quick talk with Kobe
Here’s a bit of what Kobe Bryant had to say in Phoenix Friday at NBA All-Star weekend:
Question: Do you remember the time when people started telling you were good enough to be in the NBA?
Kobe Bryant: Nobody ever told me that.
Question: When did you start to believe it?
Kobe Bryant: When I first got drafted.
Question: That’s when you believed you could make it in the NBA?
Kobe Bryant: Yep.
Question: What was your first game like, when you scored your first points?
Kobe Bryant: It was a pass from Eddie Jones.
Question: What’s going on with the Lakers?
Kobe Bryant: We want to win another championship. We have a good team, have the team to do it. That’s our goal.
Question: Why has it been so relatively easy ‑‑ not easy, but going without Andrew, you still seem to be going on a roll.
Kobe Bryant: Our team is used to playing with guys coming in on the lineup because we had to do it last season. It was tough but we had to figure it out.
I think because of that, having that experience, we kind of come back.
Question: Can you talk about Lamar, he seems to have stepped up his game?
Kobe Bryant: He has locked in. I think what you are seeing now, you are seeing Lamar at an All‑Star level.
Question: When Andrew went out, have you changed in terms of your attitude, more leadership?
Kobe Bryant: A little bit more aggressive, obviously. We got to command more double‑teams.
Greg Oden not playing in Rookie Game
Portland Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden will not play in the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam this evening after experiencing discomfort in his left (non operative) knee.
Oden underwent a precautionary MRI today, which revealed some swelling and a chip fracture of the patella.
Oden, who practiced with the Rookie Team today, felt some discomfort after bumping knees with the Warriors’ Corey Maggette in the fourth quarter of last night’s game at Golden State.
He is listed as day-to-day and will be reevaluated upon return to Portland.
Chris Bosh hitting All-Star tech summit
Chris Bosh reports from AOL Fanhouse: It’s All-Star Weekend and this is the first time I won’t be playing in anything. I really wanted to play in the game Sunday, but I have to be smart and let my knee heal properly. I’m still looking forward to hanging out with my family and enjoying everything the weekend has to offer, though. One thing I’m really looking forward to is being on the panel at the Technology Summit Friday morning. This year the panel I’m involved with is on Global Wireless Evolution.Here’s the list of the people joining me on the panel: Mark Cuban (Chairman, Landmark Theaters & Co-Founder HDNet Films & 2929 Entertainment), Eddy Cue (Vice President, iTunes, Apple), David Eun (Vice President, Content Partnerships, Google), Susan G. Nokes (Chief Customer & Operations Officer, T-Mobile USA), Javier Pérez Dolset (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Zed Group), Baron Davis (Guard, Los Angeles Clippers), Ken Yeung (Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, TOM Group).
Famous spottings at All-Star
New York Daily News (Frank Isola) reports (via blog): You never know who you’ll into at the All-Star Game. On my flight from Los Angeles I traveled with Cedric The Entertainer as well as ESPN’s Bill Simmons, who used to be a writer but now that he’s flying First Class you can’t call him that anymore. At the hotel I spotted Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald as well as Shaquille O’Neal walking with his four kids. No sign of Rihanna and Chris Brown however.