Comparing players across eras

“The Last Dance” documentary about Michael Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls has raised debates about where MJ and other top players rank all-time.

ESPN’s masterful documentary series “The Last Dance” has concluded, leaving many with a hard stance that Michael Jordan is in fact, the G.O.A.T. Naturally, that has also led to many to also rise up in opposition, laying claim that LeBron James or someone else is actually the greatest. Once these debates start, other names wind up stirring into the mix - Russell, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, and so on.

More now than before his passing, Kobe Bryant is making his way into top-3 debates as well. Bryant clearly modeled his game after Jordan and had the ability, determination, and competitive tenacity to pull it off. The two were similar but found themselves in many different circumstances throughout their careers. How can we accurately compare individuals in a team sport that were in varied circumstances, let alone different eras of the sport of basketball?

LeBron James is a competitor, hard worker, and basketball savant. His combination of size, strength, and skill is unprecedented. However, it is known that Jordan and Bryant were MORE competitive than James. Winning matters and LeBron is not on pace to win as Jordan won. So, does winning in the ’90s outweigh being a dominant force in the 2000s?

There are clearly many questions inside these debates. The variables are immense across the history of basketball. Wilt Chamberlain was incredibly gifted and built for the sport of basketball. Wilt averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds in a season. However, the level of competition was undeniably low. Bill Russell was a great defender and teammate and he amassed 11 championships, but his Celtics only played seven other teams and owned a talent monopoly over the league for years. Also, neither Wilt nor Russell had the aid of the three-point line.

Did teams of the past, such as those in Jordan’s championship years really value defense much more than teams of today, or do the teams today just place so much more emphasis on offense than teams of the past?

The game has been evolving over time and each step has been special in its own way. It was fun to watch the Bad Boy Pistons bludgeon opponents. It was fun to watch the recent championship Warriors teams swing the ball and drop impossible long-range bombs.

Comparing players and discussing where the greats rank makes for a fun debate that you can have with almost any basketball fan. That said, it is worth acknowledging that it is actually an impossible task. We will never know how prime Oscar Robinson would perform in 2020. We will never see Jordan and LeBron go head-to-head. We can’t stick Giannis Antetokounmpo in the ’60s.

Debates will rage on, but remember that you are lucky to have seen the basketball players of the past. You are lucky to see today’s players in their primes. You will be lucky to see the next generation of players rise up. We are all witnesses to unique and exciting eras of hoops - that we can all hopefully agree on.

Around the NBA: Snapshot of where things left off

When the NBA came to a sudden halt amidst coronavirus scares, we were already about three-quarters through the season.

It has been a little over a month since the NBA came to a screeching halt before the tipoff of a Jazz vs. Thunder game once it was discovered that Rudy Gobert had coronavirus - now more specifically called covid-19. All teams had played at least 64 games of the 82 scheduled and the playoff picture was coming into focus.

It is unknown at this time if or when the Association will return to action. It has already been a lengthy hiatus, greatly disrupting the flow of the season. The players have been working in home gyms, playing NBA2K, and even had an ESPN televised game of horse, with current, former, and WNBA players participating (below).

Discussions have suggested that the season may be over. Others suggest a return as soon as early May. We don’t know for sure, but until then, we take a look at where we left off.

James Harden unsurprisingly leads in points per game, even after slowing from his early, ridiculous pace at 34.4. Bradley Beal, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Trae Young are all averaging right around 30 with Lillard and Doncic not far behind. Andre Drummond leads all rebounders with 15.2 per game. Hassan Whiteside is next with 14.2 and Antetokounmpo and Gobert are tied at 13.7 apiece.

LeBron James is on pace to lead the NBA in assists for the first time in his career, averaging 10.6 per contest. Trae Young is the only other player averaging at least nine at 9.3.

Only two players are averaging at least two steals per game - Ben Simmons (2.1) and Kris Dunn (2.0). Whiteside is the blocks leader at 3.1 with Brook Lopez and Anthony Davis tied for second at 2.4 swats.

Current Standings

The Milwaukee Bucks were well on their way to having a historic season, though they did begin resting players, going on a three-game losing steak before the hiatus. They still have a comfortable lead despite the strong play of the reigning champion Raptors.

In the West, LA reigns as the Lakers sit in first with the Clippers in second. The battle towards the bottom of the playoff picture interesting as well. Rookie of the Year hopeful, Ja Morant has Memphis in a surprising position, but Lillard has been scorching earth and New Orleans has Zion Williamson back. This race is one of the most interesting parts of how the NBA will choose to return (if it does).

The Current standings are below from basketballreference.com:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely the MVP favorite with his team on top and his numbers and defense as elite as it comes. LeBron and Davis both make strong cases, as does Harden, though the Rockets are believed to be underachieving a bit. Leaders on a pair of surprising teams, Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler are in the conversation as well.

Whether we dive right into the playoffs, resume the season, or miss it altogether, this will be a memorable time for the league. We are excited for basketball to return, but above all, hope for the safety of all. Stick around as we monitor the rapidly changing developments and how the sport of basketball will be impacted. Stay safe!

Note: The 2020 WNBA Draft is still on! Tune into ESPN at 8:00 pm central!

All statistics used from basketballreference.com

March Madness cancelled, NBA season on hiatus

It has been a wild few days for hoops, with the threat of coronavirus impacting every level of the sport.

What started as a breakout virus far from home has turned into a national pandemic with coronavirus working its way across the globe. The Basketball Movement does not have anyone on hand that is an expert on infectious disease, but we do know that it appears to be contagious and potentially quite harmful to elderly individuals or those with weakened defenses against such sickness.

So, even though most players would not likely feel the full effects of the virus, many fans are susceptible. This week, an OKC Thunder game was put on hold moments before tipoff after it was discovered that Rudy Gobert of the visiting Utah Jazz tested positive for the illness. It was later discovered that teammate Donovan Mitchell was positive as well.

The NBA acted quickly, not only canceling the remainder of the games that evening but placing the league on a “hiatus” for at least 30 days as they determine the threat of the virus as well as the next steps.

Action of this magnitude by the NBA triggered responses from all other major American sports leagues. The NCAA has not postponed but canceled their national tournaments for both men and women. That’s right - no March Madness for fans in 2020 and no big endings for the many athletes involved.

We have since seen statements of action from the WNBA, NFL, and state high school sporting programs about the next steps. Major League Baseball’s regular season has been pushed back and the NHL, MLS, and XFL have all gone on hiatus as well.

Again, this is largely for the safety of fans and the personnel involved. Large gatherings of people produce a dangerous situation regarding the airborne virus.

Two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert was the first notable athlete in the USA to bring attention to the threat of coronavirus. Ironically, he also brought a difficult lesson as well. Gobert had been jokingly touching microphones during interviews and players/belongings in the locker room ahead of his diagnosis, making light of the virus and potentially contracting/spreading it.

Gobert has since apologized for this, but it does serve as a reminder for us all to be careful. If nothing else, his diagnosis prompted the NBA to take notice, which in turn prompted other sports leagues, theme parks, churches, and more in a country that had been taking the threat lightly. Hopefully, we have all learned our lesson early.

It will be tough without basketball for a little while, but safety and health are paramount. Stay informed and safe, everybody.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 recap

The 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend was one of the most competitive in recent memory.

A perennial knock on the NBA All-Star game is that the players do not try hard enough. Big men jack threes, no one plays defense, and those jerks all have too much fun. This year there was plenty of fun, but also underlying competitiveness that we have not seen in almost all of the major events. Maybe it was the Mamba Mentality coming out.

Things kicked off on Friday night with the Rising Stars Challenge. Rookie and sophomore players were pitted against each other in the USA vs. The World format again, with both rosters looking pretty stacked. This is about the only event that did not come down to the wire, with Team USA comfortably ahead to end the fourth quarter.

A comeback was necessary though, with the energy of team USA led by Miles Bridges powering a third-quarter push to seize control. Bridges, a second-year player from the Charlotte Hornets would be named MVP for his efforts.

All-Star Saturday night is when things really began to heat up. The Skills Challenge, a mini obstacle course designed to show ball-handling, speed, passing, and shooting prowess was up first. Some favorites to win, including former winners Spencer Dinwiddie and Jayson Tatum, were knocked out immediately, with big men standing out from start to finish.

The final round featured two first-time All-Stars in Pacers forward Domantis Sabonis and Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo. It came down to who could make the final three-point shot. After a few attempts apiece, Bam drained his shot to take home the trophy.

In the second event of All-Star Saturday night, the Three-Point Contest would also come down to a photo finish. From top-to-bottom, all eight competitors shot the ball well, which does not always happen. Despite strong shooting all around, three players stood out and moved on: Devin Booker, Buddy Hield, and Davis Bertans.

The Wizards sweet-shooting big man, Bertans continued his impressive display, but it was not enough to hang with Booker or Hield. Booker surpassed Bertans score by going on multiple streaks and hitting money balls when he needed them most. Even with the intimidating score though, the Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield would not be denied. Down to the wire, Hield needed his very last shot to pass Booker and… splash. Buddy is the first King to win since Peja Stojakovic in 2002.

Always fun if also a bit hit-or-miss, the Slam Dunk Competition was perhaps the most memorable we have had since the 2016 showdown between Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon. Despite his arguably superior creativity in 2016, the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon was runner up. This year, he had an unfortunate bit of déjà vu.

After a decade away, Dwight Howard made his fourth appearance in the dunk contest. His hops may be a bit diminished, but he put on a nice display with a nice nod to Kobe Bryant and his own superman dunk all in one. Pat Connaughton of the Bucks had a nice showing also, going full White Men can’t Jump with his outfit and dunking over teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The stars of the show were Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat and Aaron Gordon. Gordon’s creativity was on display again this year with varied dunks that pushed Jones Jr. into a dunk-off to finish. Gordon amassed a staggering five 50 point jams, including a crazy one-handed alley-oop 360 windmill off the side of the glass.

Jones Jr. impressed throughout as well, mostly relying on variations of between-the-legs jams. The judges could not give out 50s forever, so they eventually knocked a couple of points off what would be Jones Jr’s final dunk. That allowed them to make a final decision based on Gordon’s following dunk. Air Gordon brought out the 7’5” center of the Boston Celtics, Tacko Fall, dunked over him and was awarded one less point than Jones Jr., falling shy of the trophy once again in an epic battle.

A Saturday night filled with close, competitive action set the stage nicely for the big game on Sunday.

The format of the game was loaded with unique twists. Essentially, whichever team scored the most in a quarter got $100K towards the captain’s chosen Chicago charity. Both charities were for the education and betterment of kids, so one baseline area was loaded with the kids that would benefit, adding a fun element. There was no game clock in the fourth quarter. The high score was taken and had 24 points added to it (to honor Kobe Bryant) to create a goal score. The team that reached the goal score first won the game.

Team LeBron won the first quarter, Team Giannis the second, and the third was a tie, pushing that $100K prize into the winning pool.

The new format was entertaining and certainly seemed to add to the competitiveness of the game. There were still plenty of alley-oops and long bombs flying around, especially early. Chris Paul even dropped in a two-handed alley-oop slam for Team LeBron.

By the end, James Harden was jawing at the referees, Kyle Lowry was taking charges, and the preferred lineups were not exiting the game. What does this mean? The game was competitive and everyone was loving it.

Giannis was dunking essentially the entire game and Trae Young casually closed the half with a halfcourt bucket. Chris Paul led a second-half charge for Team LeBron, who eventually won the game 157-155 with Chicago native, Anthony Davis dropping in a clutch free throw to reach the goal.

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points including eight three-pointers to take the newly named Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy home.

It was a weekend of fun, competitive hoops, and remembrance of David Stern and Kobe Bryant. For more coverage of the NBA as well as the basketball world as a whole, remember to keep it locked to The Basketball Movement!

Monte Morris helps power Nuggets comeback victory

Down 23 points in the second half, Monte Morris and his Denver Nuggets teammates defeated the San Antonio Spurs 127-120 on Monday.

Any players that come to The Basketball Movement looking to get better are special. Monte Morris of the Denver Nuggets may just be about as special a player as we have had. The young guard is a tenacious defender and is more than capable as a scorer and distributor. Perhaps even more impressive is his possession of the clutch gene.

In an exclusive interview with The Basketball Movement, Morris describes a particularly big moment in Monday night’s game: “My adrenaline was pumping,” says Morris. “I saw (LaMarcus) Aldridge closing, but I let it fly. I knew it was in.” The shot Morris is describing was an extra deep three that acted as an exclamation point to the furious comeback the Nuggets mounted to close out the third.

“I glanced at the scoreboard and knew I had three or four dribbles,” Morris recalls. “It was deep, but that’s a shot we practice all the time. I knew how much I had to get under it and let it fly.” The Nugs had been clawing their way back and had the home crowd whipped into a frenzy. Morris’ deep bomb came at the final buzzer of the third quarter and cut the game to four. The crowd exploded.

The video below starts at four and a half minutes to give a feel of momentum and crowd excitement. Morris’ big moment comes at 4:48:

Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray also had big second-half performances en route to the Nugget victory with Nikola Jokic also excellent as usual. Monte Morris did his damage in only 22 minutes, totaling 16 points and four assists, finishing with the best +/- on the team.

Morris has been rolling of late, averaging 14 points and four assists per just 0.5 turnovers over his last six games. He has been shooting 54 percent from the field including 40 percent from deep.

We asked him what his mindset will be after the upcoming All-Star break: “I just need to continue playing at a high level,” Morris tells The Basketball Movement. “I’m going to be well-rested and ready to go.”

Denver plays tonight on ESPN (9:00 pm CST) against the LA Lakers and NBA All-Star captain, LeBron James. Then, Morris and company will get a much-deserved rest over the weekend before continuing their push to be a top team in the Western Conference heading into the Playoffs.

We would wish Monte luck, but he seems to make his own just fine. Hard work is paying off for Monte Morris and we will all be watching as his story continues to unfold.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 preview

One of the most entertaining weekends in basketball is upon us once again as NBA All-Star Weekend comes to Chicago.

In the NBA this year, there have been plenty of ups and downs. The stars have shown brightly, we have now had some interesting mid-season trades, and the weekly lineups of games have been fire. Unfortunately, the basketball world was also dealt a severe loss in the form of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death as well as his daughter Gianna and all others involved.

NBA All-Star Weekend is an annual celebration of not only the current league but those who have come before. We see legends of the sport compete or coach in the celebrity game, judge the dunk contest (or be used as a prop), participate in the Legends Brunch, and be a part of the Hall of Fame Class announcements. The NBA truly does a fantastic job of remembering those that have come before.

For this reason, it is an important weekend for all players that felt the effects of the loss of Bryant. He will be remembered, honored, and poured over in various ways all weekend long. The gathering of basketball’s most elite, coming together for various competitions is just what everyone needs to help get through this tough time.

Friday, Feb. 14th kicks things off. NBA TV has the start of the Valentine’s event lineup, with the Rising Stars Practice at 11:00 am Central followed by the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 announcement. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game takes place at 6:00 pm on ESPN.

The highlight of the evening is the NBA Rising Stars game on TNT starting at 8:00 pm Central and will once again feature a U.S.A. vs. The World format. Below are the rosters, highlighted by All-Star starters, Trae Young and Luka Doncic as well as Zion Williamson, though he has only played a handful of games. (Also, Collin Sexton will replace the injured Tyler Herro)

Saturday, Feb. 15th brings some fan-favorite competitions. NBA TV has coverage of the beginning of the day again, with the All-Star practice and media availability at 9:30 am Central. 6:00 pm will be Commissioner Adam Silver’s media availability, and then 7:00 pm Central officially tips off All-Star Saturday Night on TNT.

The Skills Challenge is up first, where players demonstrate combinations of ball-handling, passing, shooting, and speed. Below are the participants, including defending champ, Jayson Tatum:

Note: Derrick Rose has since dropped out and has been replaced by OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Next up is the 3-Point Contest, which seems to always boast a legitimate sampling of the league’s best shooters (while the dunk contest, unfortunately, does not). The reigning champ, Joe Harris is back to defend his title after beating Steph Curry last year. Unfortunately, Curry is still out of commission this season. Below are the participants:

Last but not least is the Slam Dunk Contest. While the contest does not usually showcase the dunkers that fans would most enjoy, this year’s lineup should prove interesting. Dwight Howard is participating for the first time in 11 years, which has to be a record. Derrick Jones Jr. is an electrifying dunker that has been a runner-up in the contest before.

Pat Connaughton of the Bucks will be relatively unknown, but his vertical will definitely turn some heads. Another runner-up, Aaron Gordon lost to Zach Lavine in 2016 despite a barrage of perfect scoring slams. The ‘16 contest has been lauded as one of the best ever. Zach Lavine will be a Saturday night participant, though fans would undoubtedly prefer a rematch with Gordon instead of his three-point display.

Sunday, Feb. 16th wraps up the weekend with the main event. The NBA Legends Brunch will be on NBA TV at 12:30 pm Central. At 7:00 pm, the 69th Annual NBA All-Star game will tip-off, featuring a new format (coverage begins at 5:00 pm).

Once again top vote-getters, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo selected their teams one by one, first from the starters and then reserves. The results are below, interestingly featuring only a few conference variations:

The new format will promote competition throughout the game. Whichever team scores the most points in each quarter will get a monetary bonus that is awarded to the captain’s chosen Chicago charity. So no matter the total, if Team LeBron scores more in the second, they win that one. If Team Giannis scores more in Q3, they win that one.

By the fourth quarter, the game clock is off. Whichever team has the highest score, 24 points will be added in honor of Kobe Bryant, and that becomes the goal score for each team. So, if it is 140 to 130, the first to 164 wins the game.

It may seem a bit complicated, but it is still simple at its core and should promote competitive play in an interesting way while honoring a lost legend.

That wraps up the preview! The Association brings plenty to the table year-round, but their All-Star festivities may be the best in professional sports. Tune in and follow along with The Basketball Movement through the weekend to stay up to date!

Striving for the Mamba Mentality

As the basketball world continues to mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant, we remind players to carry on the Mamba Mentality.

The world knew Kobe Bryant by the basketball player we saw on the floor. Only his close family and friends truly knew him as a person. We saw how hard he worked, what he was able to achieve, and for the most part, what it took to get there. There are still countless unseen hours, not just that he put towards the game of basketball, but into his other passions, hobbies, and relationships.

For that reason it is not fair of us, the public, to pretend we knew everything about Kobe Bean Bryant. Media figures and players say ”He would want this,” or “he would have wanted that.” All we know is that he loved his family, loved his occupation, and gave us a hell of a spectacle on the court.

The loss of a family man is an indescribable blow. So, let’s just focus on what we can wrap our heads around: Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality.

We knew Kobe primarily by what he was on the court - a true superstar. Bryant was as feared an opponent as anyone could ever imagine. His offensive repertoire made him a killer, a basketball assassin. He could rip your heart out and crush your dreams in so many ways that he earned the respect of nearly every hooper on the planet.

Since the NBA has been naming first or second-team all-defense, Kobe earned the nod 12 times (nine first-team), the most ever by a guard. So despite being an offensive juggernaut, he was able to still exert enough energy and focus on defense that he was deemed one of the league’s best defenders multiple years. Impressive resume, but what does it mean?

The Mamba Mentality

Kobe Bryant was nicknamed the Black Mamba. He could and would strike on offense or defense at any moment, and it was always deadly. Players special enough to go so hard on both ends of the floor are rare, but they all possess something in common - a term coined by Bryant himself: Mamba Mentality.

Players do not need Kobe-level skills to harness the Mamba Mentality because it is just that - a state of mind.

The focus of the Mamba Mentality isn’t attacking the opponent like Bryant made it seem. Instead, the focus is internal; promises to yourself to get every loose ball, the drive to play every defensive possession like it is meant to be played, the willingness to let the offense come to you, but also the readiness to take over a game if that is your role.

Mamba Mentality will look different depending on your role. Kobe was asked to shoulder the load on offense and be a defensive stopper. For some players, it may be focusing on snatching every rebound or making sure teammates are involved. Players on the bench, coaches, anyone… the Mamba Mentality can be applied no matter what.

Perhaps the best way we can remember Kobe Bryant the basketball player is to all try our best to approach life with the Mamba Mentality. Fiercely protect family and friends, keep your foot on the gas while you chase dreams, and give your all in everything you do.

Enjoy the processes - even the little moments and the tough times. Keep loved ones close and let them know how much they mean to you. Bryant and the other individuals we lost were taken from the world too soon, but we can make their loss count for something big. Embody the Mamba Mentality and you will be surprised by the doors that open for you. Reach out to us if that means getting in the gym. Reach out even if it doesn’t and we will be a shoulder for you.

RIP Kobe Bryant - thank you for everything.

Around the NBA: Zion set to debut, All-Star selections

It is a big week for the NBA with Zion Williamson making his first appearance and the announcement of the All-Star starters.

Monday marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is always a notable holiday around the NBA. In addition to a full slate of televised games, the league did a great job as always of putting things in perspective with tributes, interviews that highlight Dr. King’s impact, and addressing that the NBA could not be what it is today without the civil rights movement.

Skip ahead to tonight, and the big week continues as rookie Zion Williamson makes his much-anticipated debut at 8:30 pm (CST) on ESPN. Tonight is a double-header with the Sixers visiting the Raptors at 6:00 pm (CST) in another good game.

Williamson’s debut comes after speculation that the New Orleans Pelicans may shut him down for the season to preserve their prized rookie in a season that is not going well in the win column. We have also seen Zion throwing down some impressive dunks in shootarounds before taking the bench for games, so whether or not he was healthy enough to give it a go was not an issue.

Below is a reminder of what the 19-year-old is capable of from the preseason:

Brandon Ingram has valiantly filled the void of the go-to guy for the Pelicans this year. He appears to have made enough of a leap that he is unlikely to take a backseat to Zion upon his return. The two will form a one-two punch that will be difficult for opposing teams to handle. Mix in the savvy of Jrue Holiday, JJ Redick, and Derrick Favors with the emerging talent of Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Jaxson Hayes, and there is a solid team here.

We likely won’t fully see things come together until next season for these young Pelicans. Until then, we can still count on one hell of a show, and that starts tonight.

All-Star starters to be announced

Another exciting event around the NBA is the announcement of the 2020 All-Star starters. Fans have been voting for over a month and the top five vote-getters from both the Eastern and Western Conference will be announced during the usual Thursday double-header on TNT tomorrow night.

The “third fan returns” came out on January 16th and voting ended on January 20th. So, the below image (taken from the official NBA.com website) should provide a decent idea of who is in. Keep in mind also that fan voting is 50 percent of the equation, media is 25 percent, and players make up the other 25 percent.

Screenshot 2020-01-22 at 12.45.53 PM.png

In both Conferences, three frontcourt players and two backcourt players will be selected as starters. So, four days of voting likely did not impact most of these players on the fan side. The ones that appear to be borderline are the East guards, with Kemba Walker close behind Kyrie Irving. The media and player voting is likely to sway things as well.

The validity of fan voting is always questioned, but the above does not appear to be terribly skewed as it relates to season performance. Some fan favorites are sitting a bit high relative to games played - Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, and Carmelo Anthony have all missed substantial time this year. Tacko Fall and Alex “Bald Mamba” Caruso are on this list as a collective joke between fans.

The remainder of the All-Star rosters will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, the rest of the week includes some really nice matchups. The national TV schedule is decently loaded, but there is a free preview of NBA League Pass running from now through the 26th for good measure. Also, for those that will be available to watch, there is an afternoon game Friday with the Bucks and Hornets facing off in Paris.

For more on what is going on around the NBA, stay tuned to The Basketball Movement here and on our Twitter.

Around the NBA: Too early MVP rankings

Not far into December, we have plenty of NBA basketball left, but we examine the MVP candidates in the early going.

It may be too early to crown an MVP, but it is far enough into the season to talk about the standout players for their teams. Some of the early MVP candidates have been here before, but some are new to the scene as well.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the league’s reigning MVP. He is also likely the front-runner in the race to claim the award again this year. Antetokounmpo is scoring and rebounding at elite levels, but that isn’t what sets him apart. He is a two-way star, meaning he gets it done on the defensive end as well. The icing on the cake is that his Milwaukee Bucks are tied for the NBA’s best record, 20-3.

Perhaps next in line for the prize is a player that was not in the discussion last year. Luka Doncic just missed an All-Star bid last season, his rookie year. This year, he is accelerating what was supposed to be a Dallas Mavericks rebuild, propelling his squad to 16-6, the second-best record in the Western Conference. He is nearly averaging a 30 point triple-double and has become one of the most electric players in all of basketball.

Not surprisingly, James Harden is in the MVP mix once again. He had a good argument to take the honor last year and is doing his best to contend again. His squad is a good, if slightly underachieving, 15-7 so far as they continue to bring Russell Westbrook up to speed.

Harden is averaging an absurd 39 points per contest, on the back of his also absurd 14.6 free throw attempts per game (per basketballreference.com). The fact that this historic scoring alone doesn’t vault him to the top of the MVP ladder speaks the wealth of individual brilliance on display in today’s NBA game.

We mentioned the Bucks being tied for the NBA’s best record; they are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers out west, who have looked strong all season (short as it may be to this point). The Lakers have two stars, but so far, LeBron James has shone the brightest.

In his 17th NBA season, James is leading the NBA in assists (10.7 per basketballreference.com) and still scoring efficiently while being the on-and-off-court leader for one of the league’s most visible markets.

Another new name in the MVP race is the league’s reigning Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors. The Raps are the reigning champions from last season, but that was undeniably Kawhi Leonard’s team. This year, Toronto is back in contention in the Eastern Conference after Siakam taking another giant step forward, with career-high numbers across the board.

Joining Siakam in the top-heavy Eastern Conference are players with similar success, if not quite as eye-popping numbers. Jimmy Butler has turned Miami into an ECF contender again, along with Joel Embiid for the Sixers, Kemba Walker of the Celtics, and Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers. Look up Sabonis if you aren’t familiar. Dude can ball.

In the Western Conference, you can’t talk about LeBron and the Lakers without mentioning Anthony Davis. While LeBron leads in many ways, the offense still runs through Davis, who remains as dominant as anyone when healthy.

The Nuggets team success propels Nikola Jokic into the conversation, even though he is having a relatively down year to this point. Karl-Anthony Towns’ individual brilliance is shining as always, though Minnesota’s win total will exclude him from serious MVP talks, same with Devin Booker of the surprising-but-still-not-good Phoenix Suns. Paul George has been brilliant in his small sample size. The Clippers are good and will likely only get better, but games played will likely hamper any shot at the MVP award for him or the restful Kawhi Leonard.

That is quite a few names to mention, but it is so early in the season that the MVP award is still anyone’s to claim. These are your leaders so far, but things are certainly subject to change. For more coverage Around the NBA as well as the whole world of basketball, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.

Around the NBA: Injuries marring early going

The 2019-20 NBA season is in full swing, but injuries to star and role players alike temper excitement somewhat.

Steph Curry unleashed, Zion Williamson taking the league by storm, the bounce-back of Gordan Hayward, Paul George and the Clippers owning the West… these are a few of the things that the NBA regular season is missing right now due to unfortunate injuries.

Despite already taking multiple “rest” days, Kawhi Leonard and his Clippers still look solid, though we have not gotten to see their potential as a juggernaut on both ends due to Paul George’s shoulder injury ahead of this season. At least PG13 is expected back tomorrow, though we will still have to wait a bit longer for another preseason injury to heal…

Zion Williamson has been a threat to his own knees for years already. Being 280lbs or so is one thing, but when you are propelling that weight higher than a human can typically go and falling just as far back to Earth each time, damage can be done. That’s what happened during the preseason, causing the exciting rookie to be sidelined until approximately December 9th. Zion should start watching the tape of the evolution of Blake Griffin now.

Many other injuries came further out even, with Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Victor Oladipo, Rajon Rondo, Andre Iguodala, and Andre Roberson still having yet to make a return. Rondo and Roberson are expected back soon (though OKC fans have been given no reason for optimism in the past) and Iguodala and Oladipo will still be out until December. The others may not make the regular season.

The mid-season injuries are the most jarring, as they are unexpected and we already got to see flashes of potential from many of those affected. In his Boston Celtics debut two seasons ago, Gordan Hayward broke his leg badly on the nationally televised NBA tipoff. He missed that season before returning last year only to look fearful to jump and make explosive motions.

This year, Hayward seemed to have returned to his All-Star form, scoring, rebounding, and defending at an elite level. The NBA world was saddened when he broke his hand last week, though he is only expected to miss six weeks. Hopefully, he can pick right back up where he left off.

One of the only bright spots in the Warriors’ young season was a broken hand of their own, only because it was the non-shooting hand of future hall-of-famer, Steph Curry. Curry’s hand was flattened beneath a crashing seven-footer and his injury is expected to need three months to heal. Curry is hopeful to beat that timeline, but Golden State is nowhere near contention with their stars hurt and depth exposed.

We did finally see Blake Griffin return last night from the injury he fought through in last year’s playoffs. He had a nice line, though he did appear winded. Unfortunately, the Pistons have since lost Reggie Jackson to injury, though Derrick Rose is scorching earth in his place. The Blazers’ bigs have been hit hard with lengthy absences expected following injuries to both Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins.

Nagging injuries abound as they always do, but unfortunately, the big ones do not stop with the above. The Milwaukee Bucks second-fiddle, All-Star Kris Middleton suffered a quad injury that is expected to sideline him through at least early December.

De’Aaron Fox of the Kings recently suffered an ankle injury expected to sideline him until mid-December. Sacramento already had Marvin Bagley III sitting for a month with a fractured finger. The defending champion Raptors will have to go a week or two without Kyle Lowry (thumb) and Serge Ibaka (ankle).

You’ve read this far!? That means you now fully grasp how bad the injuries have been to start the 2019-20 season. There have been other great storylines as well, with the Raptors’ Pascal Siakam angling towards a second consecutive Most Improved Player award, the battle for LA in full swing, and the Westbrook/Harden tandem actually working.

Hopefully, the injuries clear up a bit soon and we can see the greatest teams in the world back at full strength. Keep checking back here for more updates from Around the NBA!

Around the NBA: 2019 season tipoff tonight

The 2019 NBA season tipoff is tonight - get your fantasy lineups set, get comfortable, and enjoy the show.

Though tonight is the official start of the 2019 NBA season, the fun really continues all week long with an impressive slate of games each day. A TNT double-header kicks things off at 7:00 PM Central starting with the defending champion Toronto Raptors taking on the young New Orleans Pelicans.

Without Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, the Raps will be a much different, but still entertaining team. Unfortunately, their opponents the Pelicans will be without star rookie Zion Williamson, who is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks after successful arthroscopic knee surgery. The Pelicans are to be featured again Friday in a matchup with Dallas, so it is a shame they are missing their biggest draw.

If nothing else, grab a coffee during the opening game so you can stay up for a premier matchup to follow at 9:30 PM Central. This one does feature Kawhi Leonard, in his new Los Angeles Clippers home, though he won’t be playing alongside fellow newcomer, Paul George. PG13 is expected to miss 10 to 20 games with a shoulder injury. Injuries suck.

Facing the Clippers is their Staples Center rival, the LA Lakers. LeBron James was a Laker last season, but expectations weren’t near as high as they are now that he is playing alongside Anthony Davis. With more specialists in place this year instead of a bizarre mix of Magic Johnson’s “playmakers,” Davis and James should be primed to push the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference standings.

Tomorrow night, we get a great game out of the East, with the Celtics traveling to Philly to face Joel Embiid, former teammate Al Horford, and Ben Simmons, who is projected to hit a few triples this season. Wild. The late game to come after features the stacked Nuggets and consistent firepower of the Portland Trailblazers. Look for our friends Monte Morris and Anthony Tolliver in that one!

Another TNT double-header is in store per usual on Thursday, highlighted by the reigning NBA MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks will get a strong challenge early against the Houston Rockets. Finally, we will get a true glimpse of what the James Harden and Russell Westbrook tandem looks like. Only one thing is certain there, it’s going to be entertaining.

Following the Buck and Rockets, we get the Clippers again, who face another big test in the Golden State Warriors. No Durant, no Thompson (likely out for the regular season), no lofty expectations. However, it isn’t a stretch to think that Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and new acquisition D’Angelo Russell can’t still hang with the very best. It will be another highly intriguing game.

Lakers again Friday taking on the Jazz, a three-game slate Saturday that will bring first looks at Jimmy Butler’s Heat and RJ Barrett’s Knicks, and then Sunday to catch your breath. This is a good week.

The Basketball Movement loves… well you know. Basketball. The NBA is the highest level of the sport in the world. We are lucky to have worked with many of these guys and love working with others interested in taking the sport all the way to this level. It is a great opportunity for athletes of all ages to watch and learn what it takes to be the best. Also, it’s a helluva lot of fun.

We hope you tune in too! Drop by anytime to talk basketball, because you know we’ll be watching. Stay tuned here as well for coverage and be sure you’re following along on Twitter. Enjoy the season!

Around the NBA: 2019-20 Preview

Already less than a month away, it is time to start the annual tradition of not-so-patiently waiting for the NBA season.

As per the new norm, it has been a wild offseason for the NBA. Somehow, the 2019-20 regular season is already less than a month out, with tipoff taking place October 22nd. Now that your calendar is marked, it is time to start the speculation as to how the season ahead will shake out for each of the 30 NBA teams and their endlessly entertaining casts of characters.

The Basketball Movement already broke down the major offseason moves for you, so we don’t need to go over every detail of which player went to which new team. That said, the player movement is the most interesting piece of the NBA landscape for the upcoming 2019-20 season, so it is woven throughout this preview. We’ll start with the Western Conference and reigning NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard.

Western Conference

Kawhi was ninth in MVP voting for the regular season, but let the world know he is one of the greatest in the Playoffs. As Toronto feared, they lost him in the offseason, but not to a loaded roster as we have seen with so many stars recently. Leonard joined a solid if unspectacular Los Angeles Clippers team, instantly propelling them to contender status. Pushing them over the edge though, was a trade that sent Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and picks away for OKC Thunder forward, Paul George.

The Clips became instant favorites for a top-two finish in the West and will have an elite defense to complement a solid offensive attack. They will be a force in the West, but won’t have to look far for stiff competition, as the LA Lakers made some moves of their own.

Retaining Kyle Kuzma and a guy named LeBron James for their core, the Lakers shipped the rest of their young cast to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis. If James continues to hold up and Davis stays healthy, they have the potential to be an all-time-great tandem.

Those young players headed to the Pelicans (Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart) will join more than just former All-Star Jrue Holiday, but this year’s number one draft pick. Zion Williamson enters the league as perhaps the most touted prospect since King James. The expectations are monumental, but if he can stay in shape and his knees can withstand a year of constant ferocious dunks, he may very well meet them.

After trading away Paul George, Oklahoma City knew it was time to shift into a rebuilding phase. Russell Westbrook, after being drafted by Seattle and spending his whole career in OKC, was traded to Houston, reuniting him with former Thunder buddy and MVP hopeful, James Harden. The deal included Chris Paul, who is still currently in Oklahoma City, though the fit is curious for OKC’s new direction. It will be interesting to see if Paul and Gallinari are still in Thunder blue by the start of 2020.

Though a shakeup in standings may be coming, we have no reason to doubt the Western Conference will still feature a fantastic Golden State Warriors squad. Though they traded away an incredible player in Kevin Durant, they did receive an Eastern Conference All-Star in return in D’Angelo Russell, who will look to fill big shoes as Klay Thompson recovers from his Finals injury. Aside from Russell and Thompson, the Warriors still have two more All-Stars in Draymond Green and Steph Curry, who will likely be looking at an MVP-caliber season as the top dog once again. Do not count out these Warriors.

No strangers to the NBA Playoffs, but coming in with even more firepower this season, look for the Utah Jazz to make plenty of noise during their quest for a title. Subtle offseason additions of Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdonović should act as fantastic complements to their core of 2x DPOY Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and Joe Ingles.

A few teams with quiet offseasons in the West that should nevertheless return strong years are the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trailblazers, and ever-present San Antonio Spurs. The West is as deep as it has been in a while and should have plenty of wins floating around the bottom of the bracket as well between the Kings, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, and Mavericks, which now have Kristaps Porzingis back to pair with Luca Doncic. Phoenix will not be a good basketball team. Sorry, Phoenix.

Eastern Conference

Much as Kawhi Leonard changes the landscape of the Western Conference, so does he change the East. The reigning NBA Champion Toronto Raptors will be a much different team without their Finals MVP and two-way superstar. With the rest of their core intact (Lowry, Gasol, Siakam, Ibaka, VanVleet) and solid additions in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson (if he finally takes a step forward), they will be a playoff team. Whether or not they can be a contender again hinges on the continued development of last year’s Most improved Player, Pascal Siakam, who is now “the guy.”

Speaking of “the guy,” the Eastern Conference does still boast the reigning league MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks also retained All-Star Kris Middleton and former All-Star Brook Lopez, though they did have to see Malcolm Brogdon walk. Offseason acquisitions, Robin Lopez and Thanasis Antetokounmpo mean the Bucks will sport two sets of brothers on their roster. That probably won’t have much on-court relevance, but it will be an interesting tidbit to tell your spouse while you try to keep them interested.

We already mentioned the trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors, so Kevin Durant is now officially in the Eastern Conference for the first time with the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, Durant is injured and likely to miss this full season. He signed in Brooklyn not long after Kyrie Irving, who left a gaping, but short-lived hole in the roster of the Boston Celtics.

Clearly having planned ahead, the Celtics were quick to swoop up a free agent point guard of their own in Kemba Walker. Statistically, Walker is not much of a downgrade and they can still operate under a scoring point guard in their system. Kemba’s so-so defense can be compensated for by Marcus Smart and athletic wings, lessening the blow of losing the NBA Champion Irving.

More difficult to replace for the Celtics will be the post play of Al Horford, who departed for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. Horford will take pressure off the oft-injured Joel Embiid to stay on the floor, and give them another solid presence on both ends of the floor. The player movement doesn’t stop there, as the Sixers’ closer, Jimmy Butler left to be the top dog in Miami for the Heat.

Dwyane Wade is retired, but there have been hints that the door back is not completely closed. Whether he returns or not, this will be Jimmy Butler’s team. Butler, who had previously stated all he cares about is winning, will be looking at many fewer victories this season with his new, less talented squad.

The only team not mentioned so far that will look to take a notable step forward as a playoff contender is the Indiana Pacers with the return of Victor Oladipo, who was injured last season. There will be other improved organizations, though they will have plenty to prove before we can confidently look at them as legit playoff teams. One is the Atlanta Hawks with young guys like Trae Young, John Collins, and rookie Cam Reddish.

The Magic may be just good enough to manage another first-round exit; same with the Pistons. John Wall is not expected to be back this season for the Wizards, meaning they will remain a Bradley Beal show, likely right outside of the playoff race. The Bulls and Knicks enter the season with improved rosters (mostly a healthy Lauri Markkanen for Chicago and RJ Barrett for NY), but probably not enough to make a splash of any kind. The Cavaliers enter the season with a solid trade chip, Kevin Love, but not much else. Top-to-bottom, the Western Conference is back to being the powerhouse.

So many storylines unfold over the course of an NBA season. Will Westbrook and Harden gel? Will Durant or Klay make a surprise playoff return? What is the real reason behind Carmelo Anthony not being able to crack a 12 man roster? Jimmy Butler left Karl-Anthony Towns for being lazy and is now paired with Hassan Whiteside… what? Will LeBron and AD rule Los Angeles or will it be the Klaw and PG13?

We are excited for the action to begin and we can’t believe it is so close. The NBA hosts the most elite basketball in the world and if you can’t tell, The Basketball Movement is all about it. Good luck also to our good friends that are suiting up this season looking to make a splash on their teams or in the league as a whole. Show ‘em what you can do. We will be watching!

Team USA falters in FIBA World Cup

Already seen as one of the weakest international rosters in almost 20 years, team USA will be playing in the 7th place game of the FIBA World Cup.

Dropping an exhibition game to Spain was not shocking for the men of Team USA ahead of the FIBA World Cup. What the United States is certainly not used to, was losing in the tournament, which it did against France… and then Serbia as well.

Even including Jayson Tatum, who has missed the last four contests with an ankle sprain, Team USA’s roster was much lighter on star-power than usual for international showings. It is still a potent team, featuring explosive guards and solid young talent. However, their lack of cohesion and stagnant offensive stretches caught up with them as they fell in the first non-exhibition match in years against France. The USA had a 58 game win-streak prior to the loss.

Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert put on a clinic against the USA in the quarterfinals with 21 points, 16 boards, and three blocks, which came in clutch moments. The world has certainly caught up with the USA, especially when they don’t show up with their “A” team.

France features just two other NBA players in addition to Gobert in Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum. Then, adding insult to injury, Team USA turned around and lost again, this time to Nikola Jokic and Serbia. They fell far behind early and never recovered. They are now set to play Poland in the 7th place game. Team USA will be heavy favorites in that one, but that apparently doesn’t mean much. This will be the worst-ever finish for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup, win or lose.

France lost their following game, surprised by Argentina, which is doing well to remain relevant despite the retirement of star, Manu Ginobili. Argentina will face perennial contender Spain in the Final.

One interesting note is how the Utah Jazz have been represented in this tournament. Donovan Mitchell has been the scoring leader for Team USA, Rudy Gobert France’s driving force, Joe Ingles for a surprising Australia squad, and Ricky Rubio for Spain, though Ricky is now off to the Phoenix Suns.

It should be a good Final, but most fans are accustomed to seeing Team USA in contention. Perhaps Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics will produce a more competitive USA Men’s squad. We will see!

USA Men's Basketball Team rounding into shape

The watered-down USA Basketball Men's FIBA World Cup Team is trimmed to 13 players vying for the 12-man squad.

About to head to Australia for continued training, Team USA nearly has its final roster, though it may not be as impressive as usual. The men’s teams for the FIBA World Cup are typically not as stacked as the teams that represent the USA at the Olympics. Still, this squad boasts few All-Stars and is considerably thinner than many we have seen.

With the recent withdrawal of D’Aaron Fox, the 13 players striving to make this final cut are (per NBA.com): Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings); Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics); Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets); Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers); Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks); Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks); Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz); Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics); Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics); Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers); Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics); and Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs).

The only All-Star names on the roster are Walker, Lopez, and Middleton, which may be considered by many to be “lesser” All-Stars at that. They even dropped a scrimmage to a squad made up primarily of G-League players.

Don’t get us wrong, this squad (minus one player TBD) is likely still going to enter the tournament in China as the favorites to win. Much of the team is made up of the Boston Celtics young core. Wing athleticism alone will give this group an edge over their competition in the form of Tatum, Kuzma, Mitchell, and Brown. Floor-stretchers Lopez, Harris, Walker, and Middleton will keep plenty of open lanes for them.

A few dedicated defenders will also help make up for weak points in the form of Smart outside and Turner inside. It will be a fun team to watch, if not who you may have been hoping for.

Some big names were thrown in the hat for this squad early such as James Harden, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, and quite a few more. Why more household-name players have opted out is a bit perplexing. Fatigue from a long NBA season is likely a big cause - especially since many of the top players also experience lengthy playoff runs.

This will be a tremendous opportunity for the players involved (especially for the Celtics, since their starting lineup is essentially on the squad). They will get to practice against great caliber talent, travel, and have many unique and memorable experiences in China.

The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup will begin on Saturday, August 31

We will be tracking this team through the FIBA World Cup, so keep checking back here as always for updates!

One-on-One: Indiana Pacers Alize Johnson

Having Alize Johnson in the building for his camp, we got the chance to sit down and chat with the rising NBA talent.

Originally from Williamsport, PA, we are fortunate that Alize Johnson has multiple communities that feel like home. One of the most decorated players in school history, Johnson was a force playing basketball at Missouri State during his college career. Springfield, MO must have made a positive impression on Alize as well, as he said it is very nice to be back for his camp.

“There was so much support while I was here,” says Johnson. “I love coming back here because this is a place where I feel so much support and I can surround myself with people that truly want to see me succeed.”

The Basketball Movement-hosted basketball camp put on by Alize was a big success. Johnson put on a similar camp in his hometown in Pennsylvania just a few days prior. When asked about his favorite part about putting on these camps, he had plenty to say.

“These camps elate me. I like to see the kids grow - see them smile. In return, it pushes me to go harder because I feel like I have them looking up to me. It gives me a voice. NBA players love doing things like this because it is building off of what we have been able to accomplish.”
— Alize Johnson

Not a stranger to The Basketball Movement or working with its Founder, Rob Yanders, we were honored to play host to Alize’s camp this summer. The facility and coaches are designed around the high-intensity style that is needed for the older kids as well as fundamentals and fun-oriented feel for the younger ones.

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Johnson commented on how far the facility had come since he first started coming here and how proud he is of his friend and mentor, Rob Yanders. “Pretty much the only thing left he could add is like, hotel rooms for the players that come out here,” Alize joked. “To see where this place is right now - it’s amazing.” (Note/Plug: The Basketball Movement does offer shuttle service for those interested in extended pro workouts!! End plug)

“Rob’s a great guy. He genuinely knows what he’s doing and exactly what he’s talking about. He has been a great mentor for me because of his experience and that he doesn’t sugar coat anything; he tells it like it is. I’m really proud of what he’s doing with these kids too.”
— Alize on Robert Yanders

While putting on the camp here, Alize seemed to form a bond also with Rob’s nephew and The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law standout, Anton Brookshire. Anton isn’t one to boast, so Johnson lent a hand in giving the young player some props on social media. Alize said how humble he was is part of why he was so impressed by Brookshire.

“He’s humble - not trying to be big time. He already knows who he is and operates within himself. Honestly, he reminds me of myself in some ways… He has what it takes to be a pro,” Alize said of Brookshire.

Upcoming season

With a newly guaranteed contract, Alize Johnson is primed for another exciting pro season. The contract is now guaranteed because of what he was able to show the Indiana Pacers organization recently at the NBA Summer League. His scoring, and possibly more importantly, tenacious rebounding made him one of the Pacers’ most valuable summer players.

“(Rebounding) comes naturally to me - I love to do it. I still have the will for it too, of course, it helps me keep playing and making a living,” said Johnson.

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Whether he spends the majority of his time with the Pacers or their G-League affiliate this season is still naturally a bit up in the air, though his summer showing is a great start. He says that all he can do is keep preparing as much as possible and be ready when his number is called. “I’ll just handle all the little things and everything should fall into place,” he said.

Now with these camps under his belt, Johnson will just be working out and hanging with friends until it’s time to get back at it. He says that he will report back on August 8th. We of course wish him the very best this upcoming season and want to thank him once again for teaming up with The Basketball Movement this summer to stay involved with the community in Southwest Missouri.

Good luck, Alize and see you soon!

Around the NBA: Where is everybody?

It seems the dust has finally settled on another wild NBA free agency season, so let’s make sure you know where everyone is.

The happenings around the NBA have been coming in hot since the Finals ended - the draft, trades, free agency, and so on. If we posted an “Around the NBA” article every time something happened, this would essentially just turn into an NBA page and nothing else. Now that the biggest pieces are in place, we are going to catch you up on where players will be suiting up next season.

We’ll start with NBA All-Stars; there have been a bunch on the move this summer. Kyrie Irving left the Boston Celtics to go to the Brooklyn Nets via free agency. The Celtics did not have a point guard vacancy for long though, because they signed another All-Star, Kemba Walker, formerly of the Charlotte Hornets.

Irving will be joined in Brooklyn by Kevin Durant. KD will likely miss at least the majority of the upcoming season with his achilles injury from the Finals. Making the opposite move of Durant, DeAngelo Russell is departing the Nets to join the Golden State Warriors. Russell will be a nice way to fill the scoring void left by the departed Durant and injured Klay Thompson.

The OKC Thunder loaded up on future draft picks this summer by trading Paul George to the LA Clippers and Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. Oklahoma City received former All-Star Chris Paul in the deal as well, though they are officially in rebuilding mode. Joining George on the Clippers is reigning Finals MVP, free agent, Kawhi Leonard.

Anthony Davis is finally moving on from the Pelicans by joining LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers did have to trade away much of their young core to New Orleans, making an interesting crew around their prized number one draft pick, Zion Williamson.

A few former All-Stars: Jimmy Butler was traded by the 76ers to the Miami Heat. Free-agent, Al Horford left the Boston Celtics to go to Philly, where he will likely take Butler’s old starting role. DeMarcus Cousins didn’t get his ring in Golden State, so he is headed to the Lakers on his quest; he will look to have a bounce-back season after an injury-plagued year. Goran Dragic is leaving the Heat to join fellow Slovenian, Luka Doncic in Dallas.

There are many free agents still out there waiting, but the big names are off the board. Many of these moves bring parity to the league, loosening Golden State’s previous stranglehold on the odds of winning it all. It will be an exciting season with many old faces in new places.

To continue keeping up with what is happening around the NBA, make sure you are following us on Twitter and keep checking back here!

Rob Yanders Better Vibin Session - Alize Johnson

The Basketball Movement’s second Rob Yanders Better Vibin Session is in the books, featuring Alize Johnson.

The Founder of The Basketball, but also its lead Trainer, Coach, and driving force, Robert Yanders is on a mission to not only step up the games of those around him but his own as well. To help him do that, he created the Rob Yanders Better Vibin Sessions.

Already with one session under his belt, Rob recently sat with Yanders Law, Kickapoo, and The Basketball Movement gym rat, Anton Brookshire. Aside from being his uncle, Rob coaches Anton as well. That session was all about connecting not only as a player and coach but as family. The second vibin session is all about reconnecting with a longtime friend in more of a mentor-style relationship.

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Alize Johnson is best known around Southwest, Missouri as one of the most decorated Missouri State Basketball players of all time. The basketball world now knows him best as a second-round NBA draft pick, playing with both the Indiana Pacers and their G-League affiliate.

Johnson flashed his upside in the G-League last season, averaging a double-double as a small forward. His tenacious rebounding and efficient scoring during this recent NBA Summer League earned him a guaranteed contract with the Pacers.

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Yanders got to know Johnson during his time at MSU, working him out here at The Basketball Movement and giving him advice as he approached his pro career. In this Better Vibin Session, Alize and Rob reminisce about those times and talk about loyalty to those that aid you in your journey.

The Basketball Movement was proud to host the Alize Johnson Camp recently, which was the reason he was back in town. Giving back is big for both Alize and Rob, so they hold mutual respect and admiration for each other, which shines through in this session.

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In the Vibin Session, they discuss where Alize comes from and where he’s going, loyalty, family, and more. This is two professionals at opposite ends of their careers - Alize is starting out and learning the ropes and Rob is done playing for a paycheck, but now using basketball as a tool to fuel the passions of others.

You have to check out this Rob Yanders Better Vibin Session! Below is the full video, but make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you catch the next one too!

Around the NBA: Wild free agency weekend

Yesterday marked the beginning of official NBA free agency, and it didn’t take long until madness ensued.

Player movement in the NBA has become increasingly common over the past decade or so. Players are taking their careers into their own hands and deciding where they want to play. Conversely, owners see this and have no qualms about shipping players suddenly and often with little explanation. The result is what we experienced yesterday - madness on day one of NBA free agency with players moving around like wild.

The below tweet by SLAM Newswire is about as condensed a way for us to show you all player movement as is possible. The information is solid as of midnight or so, though there are now rumblings that something is holding up the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade with Miami, though that will likely be cleared up soon.

To highlight some moves from the already long list - Kevin Durant has made a decision and Kawhi Leonard has not. Those are undeniably the top names on the list, though Durant’s achilles injury in game 5 of the Finals means he will miss next season and may not be 100% the same when he does return. Kawhi is showing interest in the two LA teams, though a return to Toronto is still a strong possibility.

Kevin Durant is heading to the Brooklyn Nets with another big free agent as his running mate. Kyrie Irving was expected to leave the Boston Celtics, but that became abundantly clear when it came out Saturday that Boston intended to sign Hornets All-Star Kemba Walker to a lucrative 4-year deal. The Irving-to-Brooklyn news was fairly simultaneous with the KD news this past weekend. We also learned later that both took less money so that DeAndre Jordan could come across town from the Knicks for a cool $10M/year for four seasons.

Jimmy Butler is another big one in the aforementioned sign-and-trade with the Heat that would send the less talented, but more versatile, Josh Richardson to Philly. The move is an interesting one for Butler, who came to the Sixers because he “only care(d) about winning.” He was fed up with a lackadaisical Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, but now is heading to the so-so Heat and known lazy center, Hassan Whiteside. Alright, Jimmy.

Though the Celtics found a nice shoot-first point guard replacement for Irving in Kemba Walker, they will be hard-pressed to replace big man, Al Horford, who is now a Philadelphia 76er.

Perhaps the most underrated move this free agency is the Utah Jazz signing Bojan Bogdanovic, formerly an Indian Pacer. After a trade the prior week to acquire Mike Conely, the Utah Jazz are looking like a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.

A few other noteworthy deals: First-time All-Star, DeAngelo Russel is headed from Brooklyn to Golden State as the Warriors seek post-Durant scoring while Klay Thompson heals up. The Bucks had to watch Malcolm Brogdon depart, but retained Kris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and George Hill - they have also signed Brook’s twin brother, Robin Lopez. Harrison Barnes resigned for plenty of money with Sacramento. Kristaps Porzingis is locked in with the Mavericks long-term, who also acquired Goran Dragic to create a full Slovenian backcourt with ROY, Luke Doncic. Nik Vucevic and Terrance Ross resigned with Orlando. Rudy Gay is staying in San Antonio and Ricky Rubio is going from Utah to Phoenix.

The Player movement is not over, especially with Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard still yet to make a decision. Follow us on Twitter and keep checking in on this blog as we strive to continue to bring you the top news from the NBA as well as the rest of the basketball world!

So you didn't get drafted

The 2019 NBA Draft has come and gone with only 60 names being called. What now?

Only a limited number of individuals in the world can be a part of the NBA or WNBA. There are professional teams all over the globe, but the top of the basketball world is known to be here in the good ol’ U.S.A. With spots at the top being so limited, what are you to do if you don’t make it in?

If being in the NBA or WNBA is your dream, if basketball is your passion, and if you are willing to work, nothing should stop you.

Here is what you do: Get in the gym. Come to The Basketball Movement. Meet with a trainer that is dedicated to helping take your game as far as it can possibly go. We saw the snippets of the NBA Draft’s top pick, Zion Williamson - when he was four, he wanted to be the top player in the nation. By nine, he was getting up hundreds of jumpers every day.

Being at the top of the basketball world doesn’t just happen; not even for freak athletes like Zion. It takes WORK. Hundreds of hours in the gym, peak physical condition and then some, and being married to the game.

If you don’t love basketball, the NBA and WNBA aren’t for you. These leagues are not for the faint of heart. The unseen hours that are required to make it to, and stay in these leagues is a barrier to entry that not many can hurdle.

So you didn’t get drafted? You aren’t working hard enough. You must have a fire to make it to the Association and there is nothing The Basketball Movement does better than stoke that fire. If you have the work ethic, we have the work. Strength and conditioning, skill development/maintenance, film study and more await you within the doors of the basketball mecca of the Midwest.

Our own Rob Yanders’ first-hand experience at multiple levels of the pro circuit mixed with the passion all our staff possesses is a recipe for elevating you to reach your potential. Reach out to us and we will make sure you won’t regret it. You may find out this road is too hard for you, or you may just let us help you all the way down the road to your ultimate destination. We’re excited to find out with you.

Tonight: The 2019 NBA Draft

The millionth-ish annual NBA Draft begins tonight - Here is what you need to know about the 2019 edition.

Even with the recent conclusion of the 2019 NBA Finals, the Association has remained abuzz with trades, rumors, and talk of the upcoming NBA Draft. For many of us, basketball has been a 365 day-per-year focus for a while now. More and more, the NBA alone is a year-round event.

With trades continuing to roll in, (recently Mike Conely Jr. from Memphis to Utah for Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen, Jae Crowder, this year’s 23rd pick, and another future first-rounder) focus is firmly on the draft. The biggest trade after the season ended sent superstar Anthony Davis to the Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and three first-round picks, including number four overall tonight. This trade is noteworthy as it greatly affects tonight’s draft.

Lakerland is focused on winning now, as any team boasting LeBron James should be. The New Orleans Pelicans now have young talent to build around, which they will be able to do right away.

New Orleans will likely select consensus top-talent, Zion Williamson of Duke first overall. Now, they get to select another impressive talent to pair with him since they appear to have control of the number four pick technically still owned by the Lakers. The pick is expected to be Jarrett Culver or De’Andre Hunter to pair with Williamson. Darius Garland will be in the mix as well.

The Grizzlies and Knicks pick number two and three, respectively. Those picks are expected to be Ja Morant of Murray State or RJ Barrett out of Duke.

Below is a mock draft example taken directly from ESPN (that was before the AD to LA deal):

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These player rankings are speculation and it is wild how close to the moment these teams often change their minds. There is plenty of reason to believe there will be picks traded throughout the night as well, starting with that new number four overall pick.

It will be interesting to see how everything shakes out as so many young men see their dreams come true. 60 players will be selected - not all will go straight to the association, as many will wind up in the G-League, etc. Either way, they are all moving one step closer to the ultimate basketball dream and we wish them the best!