The Next SLAM Cover?

A tribute to Mr. Odenized and his latest amazing achievement as the new Online Editor for SLAM online. Congrats Ryne!

The NBA Store by Le Basketbawl

Welcome to the new and easy to use NBA store from Le Basketbawl! Easy access to your favorite jerseys, shoes, and apparel straight from Amazon without actually have to go over to Amazon.

If the small frame is annoying you, feel free to use the link to our external site on the sidebar.

Let me know if you have any specific product requests. Enjoy!

Las Vegas Sues the NBA! Barkley Gambles!

Hey NBA, Pay your Bills!

Yessir! The Wynn in Las Vegas has filed suit against the NBA claiming it still owes them $50,000 from the All-Star weekend they held back in 2007. According to reports, the NBA owes for unpaid bills stemming from meetings and convention spaces used by the NBA, NBA Entertainment and Alonzo Mourning Charities.

Wasn't the big argument last year that the NBA should have a team located in Vegas? Rubbing the Wynn the wrong way is probably not the best way to take on this task. And what the hell is Alonzo thinking? Maybe he should stop playing pool and drinking Tiger Gatorade and focus on his charities' bills. It never looks good when a charity run by a ga-gillionaire isn't paying its bills on time.

*UPDATE* and *CORRECTION*

The Wynn has just come out and removed the NBA from the lawsuit claiming that the only money owed is actually from Alonzo and his charity. "Wow" is all I can say at this point. Nice work Zo! At first I thought the $50,000 was split up between all parties and instead that was just your cheap ass not paying the bills.


Barkley, you Liar!

In a related note, Charles Barkley is also back on the gambling trail! He anted up for a charity poker event just a month or so after claiming his was done for "the next year or two." The NBA is killin' it on the strip! At least Barkley is doing it for charity purposes, but who knows where that could lead or what he's doing away from this charity tourney while in Vegas.

NBA Season Over, What Now?

The season has wrapped, the draft is just around the corner, and we are entering our first off season as NBA bloggers! This should be interesting enough but I'm hoping we'll have more fun with our writing like we did in the early stages that gave us the motivation to want to keep doing this.

Our goal is to get back to do some fun lists, possibly pushing some people's buttons, and bringing as much breaking news as possible.

In case some of you weren't aware, we have brought on a new writer named Olivier Gibbons who is our east coast voice that has a very nice take on the NBA and some of its inter-workings. You can check out his first 2 posts here and here.

So to finish off our first regular season, we'd like to put up the list of our top posts and some statistics to go with them. These are the types of things you should be expecting from us in the near future!

• Top 7 NBA Pretty Boys - 22,852 pageviews
• Top 6 Worst Hairstyles in the NBA - 15,319 pageviews
• 60% of NBA Players Broke within 5 Years - 9736 pageviews
  
• 2008 NBA Oscars - 6375 pageviews
• Shaq's New Phoenix Uniform - 4950 pageviews
• 11 Year Old Sports Phenom: Jashuan Agosto - 2008 pageviews
• "Michelle you look great tonight girl!" - 1496 pageviews
• NBA Draft History: White Boy Busts - 1022 pageviews
  

Thanks to everyone who has helped this blog succeed in its first year! Don't forget to subscribe to our feed to get those instant updates on the latest from Le Basketbawl!

Lakers make it 2-2! Wow, Premature again?

Just because the NBA is under fire for this Donaghy thing, I expect this series to be evened up so the annoying basement dwellers can continue with the "rigged" chatter! I'm also going to expect Kobe to put up another monstrous game; possibly even bigger than the last.

Boston has had some time to relax and take in the sunny rays which they never see in stuffy ol' bean town, so KG and Pierce should come ready to play. The Lakers however, have also had this rest and are at home, sleeping with Vanessa. Ummm. Nevermind.

This will definitely be the game of the series and we may finally get a little extra physical play. I'm talking to you Farmar! I wanted that damn tackle on PJ the other night (Go Yahoo Answers!)and you completely disappointed me. Charlie Ward thinks you're pathetic.

Really though, you should all be ready for the best basketball we've seen yet from either team with all the stars on their top level game. The really sad thing, is that with a game as good as this one should be, it'll probably come down to a couple of last minute calls which I'm sure is the last thing any of the suits in the NBA can handle. Will David Stern be in attendance? Is Bavetta calling this game?

This would be a great time for Kobe to do something remarkable and take everyone's mind off of the scandals. Give us 65 tonight Mr. Bryant and we'll all have a great night.

Tim Donaghy just Ruined it all

Sure, Tim Donaghy (Don-ah-gee?) (Don-ah-hee?) may be a gambling baboon and he may also be heading to jail, but did he really have to spout off about the rest of the NBA being rigged? And did he really have to bring up the Kings vs. Lakers series? Why Donaghy? Why!

You know what my life is going to be like for the next, oh, 6 months? It will be filled with ESPN, sports talk radio, newspapers, blogs, and fans of the NHL telling me how "horrible" the NBA is and how many "thugs" there are and how "rigged" it has always been. Somebody save me! Please!

I think we all would have to be just a little naive to think that the NBA or any sports league is absolutely flawless and clean, but why does this jerk-off have to try and bring everyone else down with him? Please, just go to jail. Where's the mafia hit when you need one Tony Soprano?

If I have to hear another baseball purist or football jockey tell me how great their sport is compared to the NBA, I think I'm going to jab this mouse in my eye. If I can anyway. We don't really need to bring up the steroids do we? (And I'm not just talking baseball here, Shawne Merriman/Carolina Panthers fan!)

And I really didn't need the conspiracy theorist guy to come out of his basement either, but sure enough, he was wide awake this morning! "I knew it," says Scott Pollard. Dude, when was the last time you racked up more than 5 minutes in a game? Does your opinion matter? No. Was it obvious that you would say you "knew it"? Yes. Is every questionable call from the last 5 years going to be brought up by every single honk of a fan out there? Yes.

And David Stern, just shut up man. You are not helping this situation by personally attacking radio hosts. You are supposed to be speaking on change and providing information as to why this wouldn't be possible; not berating people with that pompous-ness that's made you so unlikeable.

I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo over it already. The sun is supposed to shine today, so maybe it's time to finally jump all over my new in-ground adjustable basketball goal. Peace...for a while NBA.

Insider Trading in the NBA, A Not So Dirty Little Secret

Guest post written by Olivier Gibbons, an NBA guru and fan of Le Basketbawl.


None other than Los Angles Lakers Legend Jerry West presented his beloved organization the Western Conference Finals Trophy, following its hard fought victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

It could not have been more appropriate. West, more recently the Memphis Grizzlies GM, served as a paid consultant for the Grizzlies when it shipped Pau Gasol to the Lakers in a widely criticized trade that failed to net the Grizzlies a single player in the Lakers rotation.

The warm embrace at the trophy presentation last week shared by West and his former apprentice, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, reflects the cozy relationship between former colleagues and executives that has shifted the balance of power in the NBA.

"It's real special moment to present this trophy to one of the most incredible people I've ever been associated with in my life, Mitch Kupchak" said West, before imploring the Lakers to win it all.

To the league's glee, the Lakers' Finals opponent is none other than the Boston Celtics, a foundering team that went from Lottery-bound to Eastern Conference Champions following the trade for Ray Allen and franchise Center Kevin Garnett.

Celtics boss Danny Ainge orchestrated the Garnett deal with former teammate and Celtics' great Kevin McHale, the longtime embattled Minnesota Timberwolves GM. McHale's decision to trade Garnett to Boston just might be his greatest assist ever. In the process, he also may have saved the job of down-on-his lucky Danny, whose tenure as Celtics president could best be described as sketchy, before last summer's blockbuster moves.

For his troubles, McHale received All-star caliber Center Al Jefferson, the expiring contract of Theo Ratliff, a first-round pick, and little else: Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and Ryan Gomes. A year earlier, Minnesota could've gotten a much better package from the Golden State Warriors, revolving around highly sought after Latvian Center Andris Biedrins and Monta Ellis, potentially, a future hall of fame guard.

A year ago, the Lakers were in no better position. With seemingly little prospect for improvement, Kobe Bryant went on a summer tirade -- criticizing the front office for not bringing in an impact player -- even going so far as demanding a trade.

But the Lakers got off to a fast start in the 2007-08 season, paced by an unselfish Bryant, along with the emergence of Lakers Center Andrew Bynum. But the Lakers' newfound championship aspirations took a hit as Bynum injured his left knee and never recovered.

Ironically, Bynum's last game of the season was Jan. 13 against Gasol and the Grizzlies. Three weeks later, the Lakers addressed its gaping hole in the middle created by the absence of its 20-year-old center, by trading for another 7-footer.

For the Spanish sensation, once viewed by the Grizzlies as its untradeable franchise player, the Lakers dealt the rights to Gasol's brother, Marc, described as Europe's best center, along with talented but unproven rookie Javaris Crittendon, Kwame Brown, the former first pick and ultimate bust of the 2001 draft. The Grizzlies are also getting two future (and likely, low) first-round picks.

At the time of the trade, Grizzlies' players reportedly said they believed West orchestrated the deal, and thought the Grizzlies could've gotten a lot more for Gasol. Rival Western Conference executives were furious that the Lakers received such a good player without breaking up its nucleus. That the Lakers won 14 of its first 16 games with Gasol in the lineup further infuriated matters, prompting Spurs' Coach Gregg Popovich to half-jokingly suggest that the NBA form a committee to review trades.

But Poppovich's team also benefitted from a little inside trading. Confronted with the Lakers' acquisition of Gasol, coupled with the mid-season trade that brought the Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal, the Spurs needed to get big in a hurry. So they turned to an old friend: Seattle Sonics General Manager Sam Presti.

Presti, once a mainstay in the Spurs organization, rose from intern to second-in-command behind honcho R.C .Buford. He has Buford to thank for his ascent from Spurs intern to Sonics GM. So when the Spurs came calling in February for veteran Forward/Center Kurt Thomas, the youngest GM in the league handed his former employer the playoff tested Thomas.

What did the Sonics get in return? Journeyman big man Francisco Elson, Brent Barry and a first-round pick (the Spurs annually pick near last in the draft). The only problem for the Spurs was that the sweet-shooting Barry is a core reserve, who wound up averaging almost 18 minutes a game this season.

But to the Spurs' delight, the Sonics almost immediately bought out Barry's contract, leaving him free to sign on with any team. After feigning interest in the Suns, Rockets and Celtics, Barry re-signed with San Antonio, where his family had remained following his trade.

Ultimately, three of the four conference finalists -- Los Angles, San Antionio and Boston -- all benefited, albeit to varying degrees, from cozy relationships and sweetheart deals. One wonders if the fourth team, the Detroit Pistons, would've made the Finals had Isiah Thomas hooked up his former Bad Boys' backcourt teammate and current Detroit GM Joe Dumars.

Maybe had Isiah known the Knicks were going to dismiss him as President and Coach, he'd have donated the Pistons skilled shooter Jamal Crawford and whatever else it would've taken for the Pistons to beat Garnett's Celtics on the way to a showdown with Gasol and the purple and gold.

Top 25 NBA Basketball Blogs: June 2008

The June 2008 results are in...

Hardwood Paroxysm cracks the top 3! Congrats to them as I think we can all give a nod to the amazing work they've put out in recent months. Odenized made the jump into the top 10 which I'm sure comes as no surprise. (Keep it up Ryne!) Without a ton of post activity, we managed to come in 27th and with the NBA Finals coverage coming up, we better be in that top 25 group next month. (I can rig it you know? Hah.)

Here are the March, April, and May results if you would like to compare any of the previous results or big jumps some of these blogs have made.

*Remember that tie-breakers are decided based upon a blog's Technorati authority.

*We are still considering what to do about a particular Alexa issue.

Enjoy!


Top 25 NBA Basketball Blog Rankings: June 2008

#1	FreeDarko.com	6	9	9	10	34
#2	Celtic's Blog	4	10	8	10	32
#3	Hardwood Paroxysm	5	9	10	8	32
#4	Need4Sheed	4	10	9	8	31
#5	Basketbawful	5	9	9	8	31
#6	Detroit Bad Boys	6	9	9	7	31
#7	TrueHoop	6	10	10	3	29
#8	Odenized	4	9	10	5	28
#9	Blog A Bull	4	8	8	6	26
#10	Forum Blue and Gold	5	9	5	6	25
#11	Basketball Jones	3	9	8	5	25
#12	Hoops Addict	5	8	7	5	25
#13	Sactown Royalty	3	9	6	6	24
#14	Cavalier Attitude	3	10	4	6	23
#15	Bullets Forever	3	7	7	6	23
#16	Hornets247	3	8	8	4	23
#17	Pounding the Rock	4	8	8	3	23
#18	Golden State of Mind	3	10	2	7	22
#19	Lakers Blog	5	10	4	3	22
#20	Brew Hoop	3	5	6	6	20
#21	Blazers Edge	3	8	4	5	20
#22	Bright Side of the Sun	3	8	5	4	20
#23	And One	5	10	4	1	20
#24	3 Shades of Blue	3	6	6	4	19
#25	KnickerBlogger	6	7	2	3	18

FreeDarko's Book! Pre-order it!

I may not be the hugest FreeDarko fan on the planet, but it is always cool to see a fellow sports blog become successful enough to actually take a book to print.

FreeDarko is definitely known for writing some of the more creative and thought provoking (hilarious too) material in the NBA world and it has obviously been good enough to take it to that next step.

Their first book is titled FreeDarko presents: The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac and looks to contain tons of their signature art along with some amazing material on their favorite ballers. You can pre-order this now in it's hard cover form.

Make sure to always support your fellow sports bloggers!

Introducing: The Sports Dollar Job Board

Just wanted to let everyone know that our partner site, The Sports Dollar has just gone forward with a new idea in a sports blogging related job board! This job board's basic premise is to allow sports sites to post jobs that their site or blog may need and to also give bloggers, freelance writers, graphic designers or whatever else you can think of, a chance to find work in this wonderful world of sports blogging.

Please stop by The Sports Dollar to check it out if you are looking for work! For you needy sports sites out there, you should be able to find promotions going on all over the place to allow cheap postings to get the ball really rolling with this thing. If you head over to our partner, you will find a 75% off coupon code that will allow you to post a job for a whoppin' $2.50 which is quite the deal.

Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions about this new venture. This is just another step in the growth of the online sports world and we are taking what we think are the correct measures to make everyone realize this.

What's Awesome in the NBA: Episode 1

• The Jay-z & LeBron talk is everywhere! Jigga/Hova/Sean Carter was even at the NBA Draft Lottery tonight in New York. How awesome is that?

• The Chicago Bulls and their 2% chance of winning the #1 pick in the draft...actually did it! (Blog A Bull too!) You go Bennie the Bull and beat up another cop! Flat out awesome.

• Maurice Cheeks of the Sixers is campaigning for Zach "Z-bo" Randolph? Hah! So awesome. Wait, is this true Dannie?

• Did Charles Barkley actually say that he would quit gambling? Yes he did! Do we believe him? No! Just imagine he and Jordan on the golf course or in a casino. Do you really think MJ is going to let off of Sir Charles? Hah...awesome. Another link. And again. One more.

• Refs that cheat, gamble and get arrested! So awesome that...nevermind. Go away already story.
  

Sorry...

I'm apologizing for the lack of activity here at Le Basketbawl over the last few weeks. We've really been struggling with the playoffs for whatever reason. This being our first year in the basketball blog world, we've found a lack of topics now that the playoffs have started.

That may sound a little crazy since the playoffs have been so damn good this year, but we also don't find it all that meaningful to write the same recap post that everyone else has written after each game. Also with there being just 1 to 2 games per night, it really becomes difficult to not beat that damn horse over and over.

Our goal has always been to dig up the unheard of story or basketball blurb, and right now there just aren't many of those. We definitely aren't leaving or shutting down the site as we have enjoyed the hell out of our first year in the biz, so please bare with us!

Quote of the Year: NBA on the Billups Shot

"We determined that the play that concluded with Chauncey Billups' three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter took approximately 5.7 seconds. Because there were only 5.1 seconds remaining in the quarter when the play began, the shot would not have counted had the clock continued to run."

"But under NBA rules, the referees had to make their own decision as to whether or not the shot was launched in time due to the clock malfunction without using video review or another timing device to aid a split-second call. The referees followed proper procedure in addressing the clock malfunction by estimating the elapsed time and using their judgement as to whether the shot was taken in time."

-Joel Litvin, President of Basketball Operations for the NBA

My response: Estimating elapsed time using judgement? Umm...what? They estimated that the play took place in 4.8 seconds or something when in actuality the play was 5.7 seconds long? Very nice estimation guys.

Referees aren't paid to tell time. That is why we have a clock and a replay. Change the damn rules NBA.

Quick Rant: The Pistons are just better.

Can we stop complaining about Chauncey’s 3rd quarter buzzer beater? If you really think this shot was the reason the Magic lost then you are an absolute fool. Games aren’t won or lost on 3rd quarter controversial buzzer beaters people.

Yeah, yeah…argue that it changed the momentum or something weak like that. Well if that’s your argument, then explain to me how the refs and announcers and everyone else in the world, discussing the situation for 10+ minutes during the game, builds on that momentum. Everyone in the place knew that the call was botched and realizing you just got a freebie doesn’t necessarily mean, “Weehee! It’s momentum time!”

I keep hearing that the Magic were “screwed” and with the “technology the league has, they should have been able to get it right.” Well first off, the Magic lost that game plain and simple. “Live and die by the 3” sound familiar to anyone? Secondly, the league may have the technology but the RULES do not allow them to replay the call. What they should have done was re-do the entire play and I’m actually still wondering why they didn’t.

I guess if that would have happened the Magic would have won though, right? You know, because the team that has been to 5-6 straight Eastern Conference Championships is just a push-over.

Wade starts working that damn knee!

According to the Miami Herald, Dwyane Wade will start his off season rehab program in Chicago with Michael Jordan’s former trainer, Tim Grover. It sounds like the goal is for Wade to be ready enough to convince Team USA to allow him to play in this summer’s Olympic Games. Wait…what?

The guy has missed almost 2 seasons with an ailing knee and shoulder and just checked out the final 15 or so games of the regular season to prepare for the next. So how does taking time off for a few months and then crash coursing it during the summer for the Olympics make any sense to the Heat? The guy hasn’t finished a season for 2 straight years and you are going to let him tear his body up right before the NBA season starts? Oh, and new coach Erik Spoelstra wants to play an uptempo, slashing, dunking offense? How on Earth does this make sense to anyone?

I’m afraid we’ve seen the best D-Wade will ever be unless Grover works some miracle or unless Wade really does adapt his game like MJ did to prolong his career.

Billups wins NBA's Citizenship Award

Don’t ask me why, but I was surprised to hear that Chauncey had won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. When I think of him, his on court play doesn’t scream “Hey, I do all kinds of crazy stuff for charity!” However, after reading this article I feel like an idiot, plain and simple.

The past winners like KG, Nash, Reggie Miller, Dikembe, and David Robinson all seemed like obvious choices during the years they had won. When you read this article, it brings to light a whole other side of Billups that you wish you had known beforehand. The article lists at least 4 different organizations he deals with and each organization is different and is not strictly focused on basketball. Many of them involve bringing kids to games as part of the program, but the focus is not on athletics. Many of the organizations focus on academics, rather than making the next NBA superstar which I greatly admire.

Another interesting highlight from the article was the acknowledgement of Ron Artest as one of the five finalists for the award. We all know of the trouble Ron gets into on and sometimes even off the court, so to see his name as a finalist is a pretty big deal. He may lead a whacko personal life, but he still manages to find time to give back to his communities and to children. (Maybe he’s so busy with charities that he forgot to feed those dogs? Cheap shot! Not necessary I know!)

The point is that articles like these should happen more often. I think many of us get caught up in the game itself and the personalities we see from players on the court, when off the court they are completely different people. Obviously, you’d be a fool not to realize that, but I just feel at times we get so caught up in a hard foul or ejection that switches our mind completely into “He’s a horrible guy!” mode.

Congrats Chauncey!

How are the Hornets "Feeling" to You?

I think it’s pretty clear that we operate on the “feel” test here at Le Basketbawl, so we’re wondering how everyone is “feeling” about the Hornets at this point?

They have definitely put on quite the show this year and even though I wasn’t sure if they were for real, they continue to prove me wrong. I’m still not getting the “feeling” that they can win it all though.

They almost “feel” a little bit like the Mavericks of 2 years ago. You know, the team that surprisingly rolled to the Finals to face the big dog Miami Heat only to fall short somehow with the series in hand. They have this young core group of players that have gotten really hot lately and everything is flowing so nicely, but in the East we have those cagey veteran Celtics that would love to abuse their lack of experience in an NBA Finals setting.

Now, in no way am I comparing Chris Paul to Dirk because I would expect a fat double slap to the face from every one of you, but I do “feel” like something is missing. I think it has to be experience…oh and they’ll have to go through a certain Laker player.

Let me have your thoughts!

Sick of "1 Year in College" Whining yet?

I sure as hell am.

How many articles can one write about college basketball now being a “minor league” program? ZZZZZZZZZZ…and put me to bed.

I’m not sure I really care if a player is forced to go to a college of choice for one year and then run off to the NBA. To me the rule is genius, so let’s break it down.

The situation: High school basketball prospects are forced to play one year of college basketball or be 19 years of age before they can become eligible to enter the NBA draft or sign with an NBA team.

• The college benefits by having a superstar NBA prospect for one year…

• The NBA benefits by not having an 18 year old flop…

• The college benefits by having a chance to run straight to an NCAA Chip just like Ohio State almost did with Greg Oden…

• The NBA just saved itself $3+ million by not drafting Jonathan Bender…

• The college just created more buzz for next year’s recruits…

• The NBA just landed itself a more mature and well rounded basketball player…

• The college just landed on TV more and made itself a ton more revenue…

• The NBA now had a chance to evaluate a kid they were looking at for a full year…

• College now has 51* more superstar matchups…

• The NBA is no longer a pre-school…

• College kids that stay for 4 years** have never proven to be better NBA players…

Wow, that is quite a few benefits to both the NBA and NCAA. Here is one negative just to make the NCAA whiners happy:

• There are now, way to many hungry scouts looking to make a buck, so we are stuck with morons from UTEP thinking they are legitimate NBA first rounders.

*51 = the number of underclassmen that entered this year’s draft.
**See Mark Madsen, Ed O’Bannon, and Tyler Hansbrough..

What's the deal with the Wizards?

Someone explain to me why the Washington Wizards decided it was OK to talk trash and bully up LeBron? And when are they going to quit this nonsense?

First of all, as a #5 seed, you have no right to talk trash on anyone. Wait, wait…as a #5 seed in the EAST, you have even less credibility and should never be allowed to open your mouth on ANYTHING. “ToolBox” Stevenson (Yes I coined that.) and Haywood seem to feel the need to open their mouth after every single game or every single lone bucket made during game. We get hand waves and shimmies from “ToolBox” and “Stop Whining!” comments from that big sloppy Haywood character.

Haywood insists that LeBron just “shut up and play” but yet he keeps opening his mouth about LeBron every chance he gets. Is this some secret man-crush or love affair? A little jealousy? When are you going to figure out that talking trash to one of the top players in the entire world is not a good thing? Especially when you are a NOBODY.

And enough with this hacking, pushing, thugging bullsh!t that you tools keep forcing in each of these games. This is basketball not f-ing football. That old excuse of “We are just playing tough ball because it’s the Playoffs” is the most absurd BS I think I’ve ever heard. When the game turns into an almost brawl at every foul, it is no longer considered basketball.

At least Caron Butler finally shut these two morons up and is trying to focus them on actually playing ball the rest of the series. And finally the NBA realized the Wizards pathetic tactic against LeBron and suspended Songalia for his cheap shot. Haywood should have been suspended games ago after the countless shots he took at LeBron and “ToolBox” should have been kicked just for inviting Soulja Boy and giving him 5 more minutes in the spotlight. That tells you all you need to know about “ToolBox” Stevenson; anyone that is actually a fan of a YouTube star and invites him to sit courtside is a complete waste of breath.

GG Jay-Z.

More Testicular Cancer in Basketball?

ESPN.com just reported that senior guard for the Tennessee Volunteers, Chris Lofton, had testicular cancer in 2007. The cancer was found when Lofton was randomly picked for a drug test following a Sweet 16 loss to Ohio State. Talk about the only time you've heard a random drug test being a positive thing, huh?

This is the second time this year we've heard of basketball players coming up with testicular cancer at such an early age. Nene of the Nuggets was diagnosed with the same thing and had a tumor removed just this past season. Fortunately the surgery went fine and he even returned to play some minutes down the stretch as the Nuggets made their late season push into the playoffs.

Should we start to worry about this as a recurring issue with young basketball players? I really hope that isn't the case but if this trend keeps up, someone may want to start doing some research.