"As of right now I don't plan on being in it," Griffin said Thursday night. "Those dunk contests aren't my thing, I said that last year. There's a lot of guys that can put on a great show and do some good stuff."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t Blake Griffin’s thing.

Right now, the NBA needs Griffin. He, and Lob City, are appointment television, which brings back the casual fans, who has tuned out the league -especially after the lockout.

So Griffin needs to take part in the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest. He needs to defend his title, and put the greater good of the NBA first.

One of the more powerful and enjoyable images of the 2011 season was Griffin leaping a KIA and announcing to the world that he’s basketball’s newest superstar.

Fans, and those who hate the NBA, will tune in just to see him take part in the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest. That’s how powerful he is, and it could be another iconic moment.

Precedence isn’t on Griffin’s side, either. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player of all time, gladly took part twice in the Slam Dunk Contest.

So should Griffin. Targeted

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

LeBron on final seconds of All-Star game: "(Kobe) was telling me to shoot it. I seen my teammate open for a split second. I seen him open the first time and I didn't release the ball. When I tried to throw it late, that's what usually happens and it results in a turnover. Definitely wish I could have that one back."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: LeBron James should forget his last second turnover in Sunday's All-Star game and focus on one thing: helping his Miami Heat win a championship.

After all, the mid-season classic is meaningless; it’s an event for Commissioner Stern, ESPN/ABC, and the league’s sponsors to sell the NBA.

The Heat don’t move up or down in the standings. And there’s no impact on home court advantage. So, why is James taking the blame? Why is he worrying?

Instead of dwelling on the outcome, the game’s greatest player should be arrogant enough to shrug off the result, remind everyone the All-Star game is for fans, and then drop forty in his next regular season game.

Michael Jordan wouldn’t have thought twice about ‘blowing’ the All-Star game. Neither would Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. Their confidence - what the kid’s call swagger - was too great.

James is talking about the All-Star game to reporters. It’s becoming a ‘thing’. It’s sticking in his mind. Just like his inability to finish down the stretch.

And the whispers will follow him when the game is close and the Heat have the ball late in the fourth quarter.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I knew he recorded everything we worked on," Olajuwon said. "I know he's practiced it. I can see that. But the comfort level, when you get into the competition, you start playing to your strengths, which is more of (an) outside (game). I see him post up. But I still see a lot of opportunities there. He's not capitalizing as much as he should. He needs more of a refresher course where he can become more comfortable. I see him (improving his post game), but he needs more time."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The best always get better. That's why they are the best.

After all, Michael Jordan developed an amazing post game; Magic Johnson added his ‘baby hook’ and three-point shot; Kobe Bryant has extended his range over the years.

So, there’s no doubt LeBron James, who will surely win his third MVP award this spring, can get better. According to his tutor Olajuwon, it starts in the post, where the 6-8 man-child has only scratched the surface.

James’ can also take his one-on-one defense, outside range, and conditioning to another level. When he does fans will be watching an all-time great.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has always been lauded for his self-motivation and drive to be the best. It's a good thing he has that internal ambition, because according to Bryant, he's gone through his 16-year career without a true rival on the exterior to push him to succeed. "I didn't have one," Bryant said after scoring 38 points in the Lakers' 115-107 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Gee, Kobe Bryant, tell us how you feel?

Bryant has every right to say he measures himself against Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, and not LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Bryant, like Jordan and Johnson, won many championships, while James and Wade combined have one championship.

And Bryant played seven seasons in the NBA before James and Wade were drafted as part of the highly touted 2003 class.

This wasn’t about hoisting the Larry O’Brien championship trophy, though. This was about an edge -as Bryant’s Lakers faced James and Wade’s Heat in a much-hyped nationally televised game.

Fans were especially curious to see how Bryant would respond to Wade’s hard foul during the 2012 All-Star game in Orlando.

Bryant, in typical Black Mamba fashion, took no offense to the foul, which broke his nose and gave him a concussion. He simply proved his point by leading the Lakers to a 93-83 win over the Heat.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

By agreeing to a buyout now, Diaw can be waived in time to potentially sign with a contender and be eligible for a playoff roster. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, Diaw’s close friend and French national-team teammate, recently said on a French radio program that Diaw would be welcome with the Spurs.

“He’s in shape,’’ Parker reportedly said. “I’m the first to make fun of him when he gains too much weight, but right now it’s not the case. We’re very interested to get him.’’

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Veterans can be a blessing or curse for rebuilding teams.

Boris Diaw was likely the latter for Michael Jordan, Paul Silas, and the Charlotte Bobcats, which has resulted in the NBA’s worst team buying out the finesse forward.

Diaw is known for his passing, basketball IQ, and versatility. And such attributes helped him win the Sixth Man of the Year award with the Phoenix Suns.

He's also known for poor conditioning, apathy, and arrogance. And such attributes led to strained relations with the Hawks, Suns, and Bobcats.

Diaw, who fell out of Silas’ rotation in early March, was probably moping and serving as a poor influence for the Bobcats’ many young pieces.

Now he’ll have the chance to catch on with a contender, while the thrifty Bobcats save some money on his $9 million contract.

Perhaps Diaw hooks up with Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs. The two are friends from their days with the French national team and Parker recently told a European radio station that the Spurs ‘were very interested to get him’ (Diaw).

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Nearing the end of another lost season as Bobcats owner, Jordan recently told his GM, Rich Cho, to start planning for a rebuilding campaign. He also dropped a bombshell, telling Cho and other deputies that if this one doesn’t produce a winner and he continues to lose millions over the next “three to four years,” then he intends to sell the team.

“I told Rich to make us better,” Jordan told one associate recently. “If that doesn’t work and I can’t make a profit in the next three to four years, then I’m selling.”

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Listen closely and you’ll hear the clock ticking on the NBA’s second go-around in Charlotte.

After all, Michael Jordan is threatening to sell the Bobcats if things don’t improve. This won’t inspire the causual fan to get behind the team.

In fact, it will do the opposite.

Remember, the people of Charlotte have dealt with George Shinn destroying their Hornets and moving the club to New Orleans.

Then there was Bob Johnson, the first owner of the expansion Bobcats. The former 106 & Park Tsar had such alligator arms he made Suns’ owner Robert Sarver look generous and extravagant.

Johnson ran the team into the ground before Jordan, a minority owner and executive, bought him out a couple of years ago.

Initially, Jordan had success adding veterans. Now ‘His Airness’ is in full make-over mode, selling established assets for picks, cap space, and young talent.

Starting over was probably the right move; however, Charlotte fans have been through a lot and may not have the patience for a project.

Threatening to sell the team won’t help, either. A local owner will be hard to find, especially with Kansas City, Orange County, and Seattle hungry for an NBA team.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

He viewed the no-call as a continuation of the preferential treatment that Griffin has received from the NBA during his two seasons. ‘He’s babied,’ Cousins said. ‘He’s the poster child of the league. He sells tickets, but he’s babied. Bottom line.’ Babied by whom, Cousins was asked. ‘The refs, the league — period,’ he continued.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s how the NBA does business.

Right or wrong, fair or not, David Stern’s league has always protected their superstars, nudging referees to give the benefit of the doubt to top players.

More often than not, Magic Johnson got the whistle. Same with Michael Jordan during the eighties and nineties. And conspiracy theorists would argue the Los Angeles Lakers often had the zebras on their side.

So Sacramento Kings' post DeMarcus Cousins can’t be shocked, surprised, or upset that Los Angeles Clippers superstar Blake Griffin, the new face of the league, gets protection from the referees. In a way, Cousins benefits from this, too. After all, Griffin playing well improves fan interest, which increases revenues and drives salaries.

Of course, Cousins is competing against Griffin and is understandably frustrated. Sadly, there’s nothing he can do about it -as Blake-Zilla will continue getting favourable treatment from referees.

-Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Blake is 6-10 and what, 240 or something? He’s a big boy. He should know how to defend himself out there,’ Evans said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The NBA has an unwritten rule called ‘Know Your Place’.

This rule is simple: a scrub like Reggie Evans can’t publicly call out a superstar like Blake Griffin.

Did Mike Smrek ever bust Magic Johnson’s chops to the L.A. Times? Did Stacey King ever tell the world that Michael Jordan should stand up to Rick Mahorn, Bill Laimbeer, and the Detroit Pistons? Mark Madsen replied ‘yes sir’ to every request from Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. 

Evans should consider precedence before going on the record with his criticism of Blake-Zilla. Of course, the journeyman is right. Griffin should defend himself. Just like Evans and every other Clipper should defend him, too.

Such a conversation should happen behind closed doors in the the locker room. Instead, it’s gone viral, which is the worst scenario for all involved.

Media and fans will be watching every time an opponent raises a hand to Griffin. And the only thing these young Clipper needs to be worrying about is the playoffs.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“These things” include critics ranging from NBA television commentator and Jordan friend Charles Barkley, to a columnist in the Chicago Sun-Times who asked why Jordan was at hockey playoff games instead of home tending to his Bobcats, to frustrated fans. The harshest comments to date came Wednesday morning from ex-Bobcats coach (and Hall of Famer) Larry Brown. Brown said on Dan Patrick’s nationally syndicated radio show that Jordan’s top advisers didn’t challenge his opinions and “don’t have a clue.” Brown even suggested Jordan placed “spies” in the basketball operation to check up on him and his assistants.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Playing the game was easy. Managing and owning a team has been difficult.

Larry Brown, the nomad coach, thinks Michael Jordan’s lack of success as manager/owner of the Charlotte Bobcats is because he surrounds himself with yes-men.

Brown, of course, would know. He was the former coach of the Bobcats before quitting mid-season a couple of years ago. Like Jordan, he’s part of the North Carolina mafia, so these two go way back.

Brown believes Jordan’s enablers won’t challenge him or his philosophies, allowing him to, say, party during Super Bowl Week instead of punching the clock and putting in work on turning around the lowly Bobcats.

Jordan’s lack of success is hardly a surprise. But not because he has the middle-aged equivalent of Turtle, Drama, and ‘E’ in the Bobcats’ front office. Star players usually struggle as coaches, executives, or owners because they don’t understand the commitment necessary to have success in an off-court position.

For instance, players practice and/or play for at most four-to-five hours per day. Then they go home. While coaches, executives, and owners practically live, sleep, eat, and breath their team. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week.

A former star, like Jordan, doesn’t get what he must put-in as manager/owner. After all, playing the game came naturally to him, but the personnel and business side of things is different.

Sadly, Jordan and his Bobcats are learning this lesson the hard way.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

While Michael Jordan is being called out by some as the worst front office executive of all time, Jordan and the Bobcats are not making a rash decision when it comes to hiring the next head coach.

“Jordan Vs. Bird” was one of my most cherished Nintendo cartridges ever and it got played to the death.  But if it was “Jordan Vs. Bird- Front Office Executive Edition”, Larry would win every time.

Scottie Pippen celebrates his 15 year wedding anniversary. 

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Best NBA Husband EVER!! 

A lot of people are less than fond of Shaq as a halftime host on TNT. And while breaking down X's and O's may not be his forte, Shaq's best work in front of the camera comes when he is allowed to be his silly self.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: It can't be worse than the Aaron Carter video for "That's How I Beat Shaq".

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since the original Dream Team dominated the 1992 Summer Olympics? It must've been that long if Kobe thinks this year's incarnation would have ANY SHOT against them.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: There will never be another Dream Team, in any sport.

Kobe claims he didn't know who Michael Jordan was until he was 13-years old.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: How do you say b*ll Sh*t in Italian?

Former Pistons "Bad Boy" and sworn Michael Jordan hater John Salley claimed this week Jordan wasn't even one of the top five players he ever played against and that LeBron was better.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: All these recent anti-Jordan comments by NBA personalities really speaks to the phenomenal year of basketball LeBron just completed.

Now that LeBron has actually won an NBA title (combined with his freak athletic ability and loaded Heat squad) will he someday be regarded as the best NBA player EVER?

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: James is closer to MJ's level than the haters want to admit.

Over the first two articles (which you can read here and here) we assembled a list of ten players to decide who is the second best NBA player ever, behind Michael Jordan.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: It’s hard enough to pick one player off this list.

Tracy McGrady has had multiple workouts with the Charlotte Bobcats recently.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Does T-Mac have anything left?

The definitive Top 10 shooting guards of all time.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Some things are debatable, but these top 3 are a lock.

Off-guard, 2-guard, shooting-guard, no matter how you say it this is the position that has produced some of the most exciting players in NBA history. HoopsVibe sizes up the best of the best and put together this list of Top 10 shooting guards of all-time.

It's the offseason- lets talk about how great Michael Jordan was. 

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Even in his final season on a bad team on bad knees, Jordan never fell off.

Did you know Michael Jordan once had his own BBQ sauce?

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: I had no idea.

17 years ago today, the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls suffered their second loss in the season's first 12 games, before eventually winning an NBA record 72 games.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: They would go on to win 13 in a row and an amazing 31 of 32.

On November 26th 1995, the Bulls lost 97-92 to their eventual opponent in that year's NBA Finals, the Seattle Supersonics, in Seattle's Key Arena. The loss ran the Bulls mark to 10-2 after 12 games and put them on pace to lose a total of 14 games. It was a great start, one of the best to that point in NBA history, but surpassing the 1971-72 Lakers all-time best 69-13 record seemed improbable.

The Bulls finished the month of November with a 12-2 record but improved in each of the next two months, going 13-1 in December and 14-0 in January, running their record to 39-3 after three months. In February, the Bulls ran their record to 41-3 and became the fastest NBA team to 41 wins, again besting the '71-72 Lakers previous record.

In February, March and April the Bulls stayed just as hot going 11-3, 12-2 and 10-2 respectively, before ending the season with a combined 72-10 record.

Against Seattle on this day, the Bulls were without Dennis Rodman, while Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen combined to go just 13 of 35 from the floor and scored 40 points. By comparison, Gary "The Glove" Payton and Shawn "Reign Man" Kemp went 20 of 29 from the field for a total of 51 points as Seattle out-shot the Bulls .602% to .453%. Even with the loss, the Bulls would set an NBA record that season for road wins going 33-8.

After the incredible regular season, the Bulls didn't cool off, going 15-3 in the playoffs for a combined total record of 87-13. The Supersonics won three of those 13 games, while the Indiana Pacers were the only other team to beat them more than once that season winning two games in the regular season by a total of five points.

Prior to the start of the current NBA season, Metta World Peace proclaimed that this season the Lakers would beat the Bulls single season win record by going 73-9. Currently the Lakers are sporting a 7-7 record. To put that into perspective, the Bulls didn't lose their seventh game until March 10th; isn't that insane?

The 1995-96 NBA season was a great one for the Bulls, but also for the Supersonics; they just picked the wrong year to be good.

He may have been the best baller to of all time, but it's no secret Michael Jordan has never been the most fashionable.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  You don't have to be the best dressed to ball the hardest.

On the Lakers' 9th win of the season, Kobe Bryant surpassed 30,000 points in his career.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Kobe hitting 30,000 is an amazing milestone, but I bet the entire organization is just happy to get a win.

XX8's push the limits of balling fashion.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: I kind of want to make fun of them and get myself a pair at the same time. Is that hypocritical?

On 1/13/99, Michael Jordan retired from the NBA for a second time.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: He just kept "playing with our emotions", like Smokey from the movie Friday.

MJ's first retirement took place on on 10/6/93 and was a complete shock. No one could believe that Jordan, at the top of his game (leading the NBA the previous season in both scoring and steals), was serious. But after the murder of his father, he decided to make the move to professional baseball. Jordan famously came back a year later and won the NBA title in three straight seasons for the second time.

Jordan's retirement in 1999 was again surprising considering the level his game was at (leading the league in scoring with 28.7 ppg), but not surprising considering the state the Bulls were in at the time. Jerry Krause was hell bent on tearing apart the team and rebuilding. Phil Jackson's contract was up and everyone knew he wouldn't be renewed, as was the same for Dennis Rodman, while Scottie Pippen forced his way out via trade demand.

But perhaps as impactful as any other factor, the NBA was mired in a lockout, which would limit the upcoming season to just 50 games. So MJ would've had to come back and play without Pippen, Rodman, or Phil Jackson, while also missing several other key components of the championship squad who were either dealt or released. In a lot of ways, Jordan's back was against the wall; it was time for him to do something else.

Eventually, Jordan would return to the NBA almost three years later for his final act and what is potentially his most impressive feat; During the 2002-03 season, Michael Jordan turned  40 years old.

It wasn’t like MJ was only playing 20 minutes a game, hanging on even though his physical skills had disappeared. That season he played 37 mpg, second on the team only to Jerry Stackhouse. He was also second in points to Stackhouse (20.0 ppg), second in rebounding (6.1rpg), fourth in assists (3.8 apg) and first in steals (1.5 spg). He was even fourth on the team in blocks, of all things with 0.5 bpg. He was also the only Wizards player to appear in all 82 games, starting 67 of them.

That season he averaged 18.6 shots per game which was the second lowest of his career and a full four shots less per game than his career average of 22.9. Jordan scored 20 or more points 42 times, 30 or more points nine times, and 40 or more points three times. Though it wasn’t rare for us to see MJ score 40+ throughout his career, the three games of 40+ represent the only times in NBA history a player over 40 years old has ever  scored that many points.

Regardless of how you feel about his time as a Wizard, Jordan's second retirement marked the end of an era for the league because it was a symbolic ending to those great Bulls teams of the 90's.

Kobe wants to remind you that you can "Count On Kobe", like the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: He also wants you to know he can beat your favorite player one on one.

59 years ago today, the NBA All-Star game had the first overtime game in its history.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Bob Cousy stepped up and delivered.

The legendary Boston Celtics guard poured in 10 points during the overtime period and gave the East a 98-93 victory, also garnering All-Star MVP honors in the process.

This game was so long ago that George Mikan, the original "big man", played in it, going just six of 18 from the field and nearly fouling out. Dolph Schayes is the only other name I could recognize besides the aforementioned Cousy and Mikan. But what's interesting about that is that even the average NBA fan knows those names, which shows you the kind of impact they made on the game and the league. 

In hindsight though, it's pretty sad that in an All-Star game with an extra period, the teams combined for just 191 points. 26 years later, the second OT All-Star game occurred with the West pulling out an eight point victory and the two teams combined for 280 points. The game had changed.

Aside from those two OT games, there have been four others, occurring in 1984, 1987, 1993 and 2003.

In '84, Isiah Thomas took home MVP honors after a 21 point, 15 assist, five rebound game. In '87, Seattle's Tom Chambers won the award while he was playing for the Supersonics, accumulating 34 points as the games leading scorer.

In '93, with the game held in Utah, John Stockton and Karl Malone were named co-MVP's of the game, which was as absurd and partial as it sounds.

In '03, the first double OT game in history occurred. Kevin Garnett was named the MVP after scoring a game high 37, making three straight baskets in the second OT. Interestingly, this was Michael Jordan's last All-Star game.

As the years have gone on, the games have become more and more competitive, with the last three games being decided by a total of 10 points. But it all began back in 1954.

The dunk contest needs a shot in the arm and "King James" would be a godsend. 

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: It would be so much easier to stop hating LeBron if he did the fans a solid.

So Allen Iverson's problems are continuing; and now his mansion has officially been foreclosed on.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Iverson never seemed to have any of the right "answers" off the court.

What images leap to your mind when you hear the phrase, "Greatest dunk contest ever?"

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: There have certainly been some epic match-ups that made this even the centerpiece of the NBA's All-Star Weekend.

Top 5 Ways Michael Jordan earns more today than when he played in the NBA.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: With ballers going broke left, right, and center, MJ shows us all how branding is king for long term success.

Some ballers go broke soon after retirement, but Michael Jordan actually earns more today than while he was in the NBA. Jordan brought in an estimated $80 million last year and has a net worth close to $650 million. Some are already speculating that he could be the first former NBA player to become a billionare. Here's the breakdown of the Top 5 revenue channels for MJ.

1. The Jordan Brand. This is the golden egg. It is a division of Nike that remains hugely profitable and massively influential. In 1984 MJ originally signed a 5-year $500,000 contract with Nike, plus royalties. Last year this was worth an estimated $60 million. Yikes, that's some serious return. The Jordan brand deserves it though dominating 71 percent of the basketball shoe market in 2012.

2. Earnings from play for Bulls: This is a relatively small part of the MJ empire. If you total up all the money Jordan made for actually playing basketball it totals $93.7 million of his roughly $650 million in net worth.

3. Charlotte Bobcats: This investment has actually lost MJ money, but he double downed on it last year and upped his ownership to 80 percent of the Bobcats. Now that he is the majority owner, if MJ can turn this team around this could be a hugely profitable portion of his portfolio. It Charlotte do become a relatively successful team it would likely make Jordan a billionaire. 

4. Hanes, Gatorade, Upper Deck Endorsements: These round up to just under $20 million. MJ remains the most identifiable athlete in the world and uses that status to his advantage as Mr. Endorsement. His long-standing relationships with these companies continue to garner top dollar in the market. 

5. Restaurants: You're hardly a celebrity unless you own at least a couple restaurants. Michael Jordan Steakhouses are in New York, Connecticut, and Chicago. These are a relatively small drop in the MJ portfolio, but just go to show the diversification in the many channels of his income.

For more info, updates, and dirty filthy NBA gossip follow @HoopsVibe.

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Before tonight's latest installment of the Three-Point Shootout, let's reflect on the five best contests in history.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: If there is anything we've learned, anybody can win, regardless of reputation entering the contest.

Before we get to the list, a quick factoid. Do you know who has the lowest score in contest history? Amazingly, Michael Jordan with five points in 1990. Wowza.

1986- Larry Bird

The first contest ever was basically the beginning of Bird asserting himself as the most successful and entertaining of any three-point contestant ever. Bird made a then-competition record of 11 straight shots. When he won the contest and received his over-sized check, Bird quipped, "That check has had my name on it for a week now." He dominated eventual three time champion Craig Hodges in the final round 22-12 and set the standard for what was expected in ensuing competitions.

1991- Craig Hodges

This contest was arguably the deepest ever, right there with the 1995 version. The field consisted of champ Hodges, Drazen Petrovic (RIP), Dell Curry, Jeff Hornacek, Mitch Richmond, John Stockton, Craig Ehlo and Jim Les. In this contest, Hodges set the all time record for consecutive shots made with nineteen, and looked like a completely unstoppable robot, IE like the T-1000 in the original Terminator.

1988- Larry Bird

Bird only had seven pints with 25 seconds left with two racks remaining but would rebound to win making the final shot and generating the signature image of him extending his index finger as the final, event winning ball went through the net.  Bird beat Dale Ellis 17-15 in the final round and created an indelible image in the process. Poor Dale Ellis. He competed in each of the first three contests and could never beat Bird, who won all three of them.But don't feel too bad for Dale, he eventually won the contest in 1989.

2002/2003- Peja Stojakovic

Peja's two wins were in back to back years, both ending in overtime. both times victorious over Wesley Person, younger bro of "The Rifelman" and fellow three-point alum Chuck Person. In 2002, Peja and Person outlasted Steve Nash in the Finals, tying at 20 before Person lost in the finals en route to Stojakovic's first title. The following year, they tied again in the finals after beating Brent Berry. Stojakovic  would win that math-up as well, winning his second consecutive title. And the fans won by getting to watch an entire extra round of shots being hoisted up.

2007- Jason Kapono

Kapono gets no respect for his back to back titles, because his shot wasn't particularly pleasing to the eye and he was a journeyman as a player. But in 2007 he locked horns with Jason Terry for one of the most exciting competitions in history. Terry fought his way into the finals by winning a shootout with Mike Miller, then tied with Kapono in the Finals to earn an extra session. Both players were hot from start to finish and it was fun to watch. The tiebreaker didn't disappoint either, with Kapono besting Terry 24-19.

For more news, info and updates, follow us on Twitter @hoopsvibe

According to Kobe Bryant, whether or not the Lakers make the playoffs isn't even a concern.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Kobe has often lacked a supporting cast, but he's never lacked confidence.  On or off the court.

I hate spreading gossip about any NBA baller, especially Michael Jordan, because he's my favorite athlete of all time, but the fact of the matter is...

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  The Airman could be facing a paternity suit.

When you're on top like Michael Jordan, everybody wants a piece of you.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: When Pamela Y. Smith decided to go after MJ, MJ's lawyers went to work and immediately began tabulating their next invoice.

17 years ago today, MJ became just the tenth player in NBA history to eclipse the 24,000 point plateau.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Another day at the office, another milestone for Michael Jordan at that point in his career.

Who'd have thought at the time, that 17 years later to the day, he'd have a bogus paternity suit against him dropped?

Against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center, Jordan poured in 38 points on 15 of 32 shooting as the Bulls won 98-94. The victory pushed the Chicago's record to 58-7. The Jordan led Bulls would ultimately set an NBA precedent for greatness that year, setting the all-time single season mark for victories in a season with 72.

Prior to Jordan, only nine players in the history of the league had scored at least 24,000 points- Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Moses Malone, Jerry West, Elvin Hayes, Oscar Robertson, George Gervin and Alex English.

Before it was all said and done, Jordan scored 32,292 points and retired having scored the third most points in NBA history. In 15 professional seasons, he led the NBA in scoring 10 times, including seven years in a row and 10 times in 11 seasons (!). 

Kobe Bean Bryant is just 995 points away from tying MJ and wresting third place from his trophy case- as if Jordan even cares.

Since MJ got his 24,000th point in 1996, the accomplishment has become more commonplace. Currently, a total of 19 players (nine post-Jordan) have scored 24,000+ points, including Allen Iverson, Kobe, Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing and Kevin Garnett.

Boston's Paul Pierce is just 223 points short, and former Celtic/current Heat guard Ray Allen is right behind him, just 145 points less than Pierce.

While all the other players on this list are great scorers, no one was more electrifying than Michael Jordan.

Basketball is a team sport, but when two studs lock horns, the other players on the court recede from view.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: So many great rivalries, so little time!

Today, Gatorade released an ad for it's new product "Fixation",which features Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade squaring off, each player dreaming of a different outcome when they meet one and each other on the floor.

So it got me thinking: Who are the best one on one match-ups in NBA history? 

Here are the first batlles that came to mind. 

Shaquille O'Neal vs. Hakeem Olajuwon

Their match-up in the 1995 NBA Finals has been washed asunder by the tides of history, but at the time, this may have been the best duel I have ever witness. Hakeem was paying the best basketball of his career this season (in the playoffs particularly)and maybe the best stretch for any center in NBA history. Shaq led the NBA in scoring this season (29.3 ppg) and was in the midst of establishing himself as the most physically dominant center ever. In the Finals, Hakeem averaged 32.8 ppg and Shaq scored 28.0 ppg.

Wilt Chamberlain vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

In the conversation about the best center of all-time, these two names are really the only two at the top of the list- it's really just a question of who is 1a and who is 1b.This excellent article breaks it down, blow by blow, and concludes that Wilt is the victor.

They played against each other 27 times, including 11 games in the playoffs of 1971 and 1972. In their first 11 meetings, Chamberlain was still able to (i.e. inclined to) score with Jabbar. In those first 11 games, Wilt averaged 22.8 ppg and 17.6 rebounds, while Kareem averaged 26.0 ppg and 15.6 rebounds.

50 ppg, 30.1 ppg over his career, 23 rebounds/game over his career, the only non-guard ever to lead the league in assists, 100 points in one game, the list goes on...Wilt was simply more dominating.

Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

This is absolutely the most exciting match-up in the current NBA, with both players battling every night for supremacy. In five playoff games (last year's NBA Finals), KD outscored LBJ 30.6 ppg to 28.6 ppg. But James dominated in every other statistical category and also won the title, by a margin of 4-1. In 11 regular season match-ups it's the same story; Durant averages 29.0 to LBJ's 28.1, "Bron Bron" has the edge in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks and has won nine of the 11 games. "Durantula" has some work to do, potentially in this years NBA Finals. 

Dominique Wilkins vs. Michael Jordan

Of their era, these were the two most athletically gifted, electrifying players. WIlkins at times, looked like he almost had too much energy for his body, while MJ was always smooooooth. In 45 career games against each other, Jordan won 27 while "Nique" won 18. MJ averaged 31.6, while Wilkins poured in 29.8 as both players had almost identical stat lines. In one playoff series that the Bulls swept, Jordan averaged 34.3, 6.7 rpg, 4.3 apg to Nique's 30.0, 5.3 rpg and 3.0 apg.

Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan

The significance of this rivalry isn't as much about the head to head play, though that was extremely entertaining, but about what it meant to the league- was it not old MJ versus a young version of himself? Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan played each other 8 times, four when Jordan was with the Chicago Bulls and 4 when he was with the Washington Wizards. The Lakers won 5 of those games. Across these games, Bryant scored an average of 22.8 points, while Jordan scored 24.5 points.

Oh,old man Jordan still has it.

What's your top five?

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Kobey Bryant moves to 4th on the all-time points list topping Chamberlain. Where on the list will he finish?

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: He won't finish first, but really records always appear less important when you're struggling to make the playoffs.

Each year, the NBA playoffs produce memorable moments.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: When the stakes were highest, "Zeke" and "MJ" answered the bell- who was better?

The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were arguably the best team in NBA history, led by arguably the greatest player in NBA history.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The accomplishments of the 1995-96 Bulls only get more amazing as time passes.

17 years ago tonight, the Bulls defeated the Bullets 103-93 to finish the season with a 72-10 record and .878 winning percentage, which eclipsed the NBA record set by 1972 Lakers, who went 69-13 for an .841 percentage. The victory over Washington earned Chicago their 33rd road victory, the most ever in a season by an NBA team.

Chicago was ridiculously hot all year and consistent throughout. The Bulls finished the month of November with a 12-2 record but improved in each of the next two months, going 13-1 in December and 14-0 in January, running their record to 39-3 after three months. In February, the Bulls ran their record to 41-3 and became the fastest NBA team to 41 wins, again besting the '71-72 Lakers previous record.

After the incredible regular season, CHI didn't cool off, going 15-3 in the playoffs for a combined total record of 87-13. The Supersonics won three of those 13 games, while the Indiana Pacers were the only other team to beat them more than once that season, winning two games in the regular season by a total of five points.

During the same victory over Washington 17 years ago, Michael Jordan set an NBA record by winning his eighth NBA scoring title (breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record of seven) after accumulating 2,491 points in 82 games for a 30.4 ppg average. The 30+ ppg average was the last time Jordan would score 30+ points per game. And of the eight seasons he did score 30+, 30.4 was the second lowest- how many guys would KILL for a season like that? 

Another interesting piece of statistical information for you about MJ. Entering '95-'96, Jordan had made 303 of 987 attempts from beyond the arc in 10 seasons, hitting them .306% of the time.

In his 11th season, MJ hit 111 of 260, hitting treys at a clip of .427%, tied with Hubert Davis for 10th best percentage in the league.

It goes to show you why Jordan was great- even though he was the best ever, even already at that point, he worked on his weak areas until they were strengths.

With that kind of leadership and talent, it's no wonder why that Bulls had the success they did.

The NBA playoffs are when we separate the good from the great.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: When the pressure is on, who stepped up and scored the most for his team, when it mattered the most?

Michael Jordan accused of stealing Bow Wow's Iverson kicks and we believe it's true.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Knowing MJ's intense competitive spirit Bow Wow's story of theft makes sense.

Recently, I noticed that fans are questioning if Michael Jordan played in a watered down era. The question has been posed time and time again. I do not understand why it gets brought up in the first place. Seriously? WTF? Dude. Stop it. I bet the question came up as a statement when Jordan was dominating the NBA. I would not be surprised if it came from an old timer during Bill Russell’s era. I am shaking my head at this garbage. Today, the question became a meme. Are you trying to discredit Michael with the question? 

Who said that Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls were one player away from winning the title? Anyone saying this over and over again is wrong. What makes you think this? What makes you feel this? The Bulls lack a quality shooting guard. That is true, but that does not make them just one player away. When was the last time this was said about another team? Did LeBron in Cleveland need one more player? What about Dirk’s team or Kobe when the Lakers got Pau?

Oh, to be the G.O.A.T. With enough money in the bank that his son can burn through $50K in one day in Vegas without flinching, it's not particularly surprising to see Mike drop a huge wad of cash on property. This time, it's being reported that Michael Jordan has spent some $12,400,000 on a new house situated in a super-exclusive golf development owned by Jack Nicklaus.

Even with waterfront homes still available for sale, Money opted for something a little more secluded, copping what is believed to be the most expensive spot in the development without direct access to the water. The property also includes a guard house, a guest house and a pool house, all of which is spread over a sprawling 28,000 square feet in sunny Jupiter, Florida. While Jordan's initial financial commitment totals $12.4 million ($4.8 million for the land and a further $7.6 million for the construction), it's expected that he'll have ploughed a cool $20 million into the home when all is said and done.

If Mike's looking for some competition on the links, he may ring the doorbell of neighbor and friend Tiger Woods, who snapped up three adjacent properties on the development to create his own megahome.

Kobe's ultimate competition is MJ. That's why MJ watches him. MJ made people think what he was doing wasn't human. Ditto the Kobester.I never said Kobe was better than MJ. MJ just told me Kobe's the only one to have done the work, to deserve comparison.

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Michael Jordan thinks Kobe Bryant is worthy. Well, sort of.

Jordan, 'The Greatest of All-Time', thinks Bryant, a legendary scorer, can challenge his legacy because of his work ethic.

This is fair. Bryant is already one of the greatest players in NBA history, but he's not better than Jordan.

Jordan has six championships to Bryant's five. Jordan never lost an NBA Finals, while Bryant lost twice. And Jordan would never have chased Shaquille O'Neal out of town like Bryant did.

Of course, Jordan didn't call Bryant his equal. He said he can be compared -and that's it.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

While the tweet disappeared fairly quickly, it was online long enough for us to get a little insight to the life of Michael Jordan's son. Marcus Jordan, a 6'3" guard for the University of Central Florida, may not have inherited his father's otherworldly talents, but the ability to burn through stacks of cash in Sin City certainly seems to be genetic. A tweet recently posted by the twenty-year-old Son of G.O.A.T. revealed that he dropped a cool $35K in a Vegas nightclub called Haze, and a total $50K over the course of the day. Here's a screenshot of the tweet:

The NFL lockout is over. If you’re an NBA fan, sucks to be one right now. If you’re also an NFL fan, it’s a great time. Right now, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant are hamming it up in the Phillippines. The highlights of their All Star game are up on Youtube. The quality is bad since the broadcast was on a stream, but you get the gist of it. Did Kobe travel on that lob pass to Rose? Yep, he sure did. Who cares though. I didn’t.