Posts by Ed Odeven
Trump committee could play role in ending NBA shutdown
The NBA shutdown is on this week’s presidential agenda. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the formation of a new advisory committee, which includes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, to hold discussions about how and when the nation should start holding sports events again. Other key members include MLB…
Read MoreHORSE fills void during NBA shutdown
Nobody could have predicted that HORSE, the playground game, would be a hot topic and the most-hyped hoops competition on Easter Sunday. Strange days, indeed. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown or postponement of nearly every basketball league around the world, the made-for-TV relaunch of HORSE, featuring eight current and past NBA…
Read MoreAdam Silver says no decision on season until at least May 1
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver admitted this week that the league won’t relaunch its COVID-19-interrupted season in April. “The short answer is no,” Silver said in a 29-minute interview with TNT Sports’ Ernie Johnson on Monday. “Essentially what I’ve told my folks over the last week is that we should just accept that, at least for…
Read More2020 Basketball Hall of Fame class announced
Nine individuals will comprise the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class, it was announced over the weekend. All-time greats Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan headline the list along with fellow NBA standout Kevin Garnett, with two-time NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, WNBA star Tamika Catchings, and college coaching giant Eddie Sutton receiving significant…
Read MoreChinese Basketball Association preparing for relaunch
What challenges exist for the Chinese Basketball Association to relaunch its season during the global COVID-19 pandemic? Plenty, but CBA officials are hoping to get the current campaign started again. Court Side Newspaper’s interview with a China-based NBA talent evaluator on Monday outlined many of the logistical challenges and concerns that exist. First, a brief…
Read MoreStephon Marbury working to secure 10 million masks for NYC
Stephon Marbury experienced plenty of ups and downs during his 13-season NBA career before becoming a basketball legend in China. In nearly a decade as a star attraction in the Asian nation, the New York City native became a fan favorite and cultural icon. This put him in a unique position to leverage his fame…
Read MoreTokyo Olympics no sure thing for 2020
The question isn’t if basketball will be played at the Tokyo Olympics. The question is this: When will the Tokyo Olympics take place? There are growing doubts that this will be an Olympic year. Growing sentiment points to 2021, or later. The original plan, which called for the Tokyo Olympics to start on July 24,…
Read MoreSalary cap will be reduced due to NBA’s projected losses of $1 billion
The economic landscape of the NBA, including the salary cap, will change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 30-team league, annual revenue now exceeds more than $8 billion. But some prognosticators now project a loss of more than $1 billion if the rest of the 2019-20 NBA season and playoffs don’t happen due to…
Read MoreBest-case scenario: 2019-20 NBA season resumes in June
There’s no guarantee that the 2019-20 NBA season can resume or be completed due to the coronavirus outbreak. It looks like the worst-case scenario is a real possibility. Last Wednesday, World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The NBA suspended its season on the same day. On Sunday, The Centers for Disease Control and…
Read MoreLeBron James: I won’t play in arenas without fans
The global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak could lead to one of the most unusual mandates in NBA history: games without fans in the stands. If that happens, LeBron James says he won’t play. Speaking to the media after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, James dished out his opinion on…
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