Pretty much every 2017 NBA free agent you care about has signed a contract—except, for some reason, JaMychal Green and Nerlens Noel. But those are topics for a different day, in a different place. Because right here, right now, in the world of Hardwood Knocks,
Fans of the NBA have become numb to LeBron James’ greatness. We no longer see his historic accomplishments for what they truly are. We overlook him at every turn. Last year, for instance, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to average more
About 24 feet from the hoop, the upward trajectory of the orange sphere germinates with a simple flick of the wrist, during which it rotates laces over laces until reaching its zenith and falling gracefully toward the intended target. Mere seconds later, it produces that
It turns out Sam Hinkie wasn’t so crazy after all. The former Philadelphia 76ers general manager was chastised—and eventually resigned—for intentionally losing games and tanking for higher draft picks. But four years after “The Process” began, things are definitely trending towards sunny in Philadelphia. Despite
Comparing point guards to point guards and power forwards to power forwards is fun, but that’s not how the NBA landscape ultimately works. Since the start of the modern Association, plenty of legends have lined up on the hardwood. The 1970s and ’80s produced myriad
The NBA in the late 1970s and early ’80s hit a bit of a rough patch. A lack of attendance and all-around viewership plagued the league, which also suffered from far darker problems, including one story we’ll cover in just a bit. As late as
For most NBA teams, one or two players possess the ability to initiate offense or create in a way that crucially threatens the defense from the wing. Think John Wall and Bradley Beal on the Washington Wizards. However, the number of individuals who can consistently
Remember when centers ruled the NBA? The position has produced so many awe-inspiring talents, ranging from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the Association moved into the modern era to the David Robinson/Hakeem Olajuwon battles of the early-1990s to Shaquille O’Neal’s unrelenting combination of physicality and finesse as