Miami Heat star LeBron James says he isn’t fazed by Michael Jordan’s recent comments

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
LeBron James, who led the Miami Heat to their second NBA title last year, said during Friday's All-Star Media Day he isn't fazed by Michael Jordan's recent comments in which he said Kobe Bryant is more successful than James, given Bryant's multiple championships. (Photo by Chris Evans)

LeBron James, who led the Miami Heat to their second NBA title last year, said during Friday’s All-Star Media Day he isn’t fazed by Michael Jordan’s recent comments in which he said Kobe Bryant is more successful than James, given Bryant’s multiple championships. (Photo by Chris Evans)

HOUSTON — LeBron James on Friday said he is aware of Michael Jordan’s recent comments in which the NBA Hall of Famer and six-time world champion said he deems Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as a more successful player, in large part because Bryant has won more NBA titles than the Miami Heat star.

However, James, in addressing reporters during the Media Day sessions in preparation for Sunday’s All-Star Game in the Toyota Center, contends he isn’t fazed by Jordan’s comments and that winning championships doesn’t necessarily supersede a player’s body of work during the course of his career.

Jordan, the Charlotte Bobcats’ majority owner and chairman who played 16 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper recently that, “If you had to pick between the two, that would be a tough choice, but five beats one every time I look at it.”

Jordan was referring to the five world championships Bryant has won during his 17-year career with the Lakers. James, now with his second team in ten seasons, won his first NBA title in three tries last year when the Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games of their NBA Finals best-of-7 series.

“Yeah, I heard them,” James said of Jordan’s comments. “I heard them. You know, I don’t have a take on them. He said he’d take Kobe over me because five rings are better than one and the last time he checked, five is better than one. But that’s his opinion. At the end of the day, rings don’t always define someone’s career. If that’s the case, I would sit up and here and say (Bill) Russell over Jordan. But I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t take Russell over Jordan. Russell has 11 rings and Jordan has six. Or I would take, I don’t know, Robert Horry (seven-time NBA champion) over Kobe. I wouldn’t do that. But it’s your own opinion.

“Jud Buechler (three-time NBA champion with the Bulls from 1996-1998) has multiple rings. Charles Barkley doesn’t have one ring. He’s not better than Charles Barkley. Rings don’t define a person’s career. Rings don’t define a person’s career. Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest of all time. Reggie Miller is one of the greatest of all time. You know, sometimes, it’s the situation that you’re in and the team that you’re in, but it’s also about timing as well.”

While Bryant, who will be making his 14th consecutive All-Star appearance (15th overall), said the conversations surrounding Jordan’s comments involving him and James are mostly media-driven, he said he understands why Jordan had drawn such a comparison.

Bryant (right) said Friday he doesn't believe Jordan's recent remarks regarding James has inspired his inspired his record-setting play of late. "I think he just goes out and plays his game and plays to his strengths," Bryant said of James. (Photo by Chris Evans)

Bryant (right) said Friday he doesn’t believe Jordan’s recent remarks regarding James has inspired his record-setting play of late. “I think he just goes out and plays his game and plays to his strengths,” Bryant said of James. (Photo by Chris Evans)

“I think the message is winning is above everything else,” said Bryant, when asked to assess Jordan’s statements. “I think we all know that. LeBron knows that, and that’s what drives him, to win as many championships as possible…same thing that drives me and the same thing that drives me now, to win as many as you can, and it’s that simple.”

Whether Jordan’s comparisons of James and Bryant have fueled James’ record-setting play of late is up for debate. That’s because the three-time league MVP has manufactured the best offensive efficiency in NBA history during a seven-game stretch (at least 30 points and 60 percent shooting) for a Heat team that has won a league-best seven straight and boasts the league’s third-best record (36-14) following Thursday night’s decisive 110-100 win at the Thunder.

“I don’t think it inspired him over the last seven games,” Bryant said of James, last year’s reining NBA Finals MVP. “I think he just goes out and plays his game and plays to his strengths. I mean, you hit one of those patterns where the hard work and the physical talent all kind of come together and you just hit one of those hot streaks. Some of us have been there before. It’s just no feeling like it.”

Chris Bosh, James’ teammate for the past three seasons, believes all of the talk this week surrounding the Bryant-James comparisons is being blown out of proportion.

“You know, everybody has an opinion,” said Bosh, who will be making his eighth All-Star appearance. “You know, (Jordan) takes (Bryant) and that’s fine. I don’t think it really means that much to LeBron. I mean, there’s inspiration all around us. I think, of course, he can use that specifically as inspiration any way he wants to.”

Asked if Jordan’s recent remarks will serve as bulletin board material, James said, “What I need bulletin board material for? My inspiration is the game I love. I don’t play the game to try to define who I am over what guys say or how they feel about me. I go out and I play for my family. I play for my teammates. I play for my coaching staff and I play for my fans.”

Andre Johnson covers the NBA for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.com.  Follow him @AJ_Journalist.

SEE ALSO: Veteran Tayshaun Prince exercising faith on and off the court for Grizzlies

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Lakers star Pau Gasol remains optimistic despite losing starting position

January 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Moments after Wednesday’s morning shootaround, Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol emerged from the visitors’ locker room,

Former Grizzlies center Pau Gasol (left) was traded in 2008 to the Lakers for his younger brother, Marc Gasol. This year has been arguably the worse for Pau, who's averaging a career-low 12.7 points a game and was benched earlier this week for the first time in his career. (Photo by Chris Evans)

Former Grizzlies star Pau Gasol (left) was traded in 2008 to the Lakers for his younger brother, Marc Gasol. This year has been arguably the worst for Pau, who’s averaging a career-low 12.7 points a game and was benched earlier this week for the first time in his career. (Photo by Chris Evans)

then greeted several Memphis-area media members, many of whom covered the 7-foot Spaniard during his seven-year stint with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2001-2008.

Gazing into the FedExForum rafters, Gasol, displaying a slight grin, paused briefly to reminiscence about his days in Memphis, a tenure that was comprised of a number of accolades, most notably NBA Rookie of the Year.

Even after being traded prior to the February 2008 deadline to the Lakers in favor of his younger brother, Grizzlies star Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol embarked upon what seemingly was a more harmonious situation in L. A., given his stellar career ultimately was upgraded with consecutive world titles in 2009-2010.

“He’s one of the best centers in the league,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said of Pau Gasol.

That hardly hasn’t been the case of late for the four-time All-Star who, given his poor offensive production coupled with the Lakers’ continuous free fall, was demoted to the bench following Monday’s loss at Chicago and replaced by Earl Clark. The sudden lineup change, which was implemented by Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, came as a rare occurrence for the 32-year-old Pau Gasol who, despite averaging a career-low 12.7 points per game, had never been benched since he entered the NBA after playing three seasons with FC Barcelona.

Hired by the Lakers five games into the season November 12 following the firing of Mike Brown, D’Antoni said among the reasons for the necessary lineup change is that he felt the Lakers could exemplify more speed and athleticism after spending a majority of the season playing with what essentially was two centers. The unlikely change, D’Antoni said, will provide the Pau Gasol with the golden opportunity of being the team’s primary or secondary scoring option off the bench, a move he contends would also benefit the Lakers, particularly when opposing teams go with smaller lineups.

While Pau Gasol has publicly expressed his displeasure in having been reduced to a reserve role, he said it is imperative that he suppress his ill feelings and do whatever is necessary to help the underachieving Lakers escape what has been a disastrous campaign.

Having dropped their fourth straight in a 106-93 loss at Memphis on Wednesday, the Lakers (17-25) currently are tied with Orlando for the NBA’s second-longest losing streak. What’s even worse for a team that acquired Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the offseason is that it has gone from being a legitimate title contender to one that is almost certain to be fighting for its playoff lives after the All-Star break. The Lakers currently are four games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Despite a closed-door meeting that reportedly took place before Wednesday’s shootaround in which players voiced their grievances, Gasol and Co. are convinced that time has yet to run out on Lakers to salvage their season.

The Lakers play Utah Friday night in the Staple’s Center, the first of a three-game homestand.

“The meeting was a team thing,” Gasol said. “It was intended to stay that way. So I’m not going to talk about what was said and what wasn’t said. I think it’s enough for us to talk about it for us not to get into it. I don’t how that got out, but when we have meetings, we should deal with our stuff as a family, as a group, and our family should be tight. And if it’s not tight and it cracks and the situation keeps getting worse, at some point it will explode.”

Though Gasol said he was only being forthright when he said he didn’t thoroughly buy into D’Antoni’s decision to bench him, Bryant appeared pleased at how Gasol handled the situation.

“He’s honest about it,” Bryant said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “He said he doesn’t agree with it. But you don’t see him (expletive) and complaining about it and moping about it. I mean, he went to Chicago and played his (expletive) off. That’s the kind of spirit we need to have. The identity we have is going out there and playing for each other. There is a sense of urgency. There was a sense of urgency last month. We just haven’t been winning. I mean, if we continue to lose, everybody’s going to look like (expletive).”

SEE ALSO: Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace: ‘We’re very happy with Rudy here’

Andre Johnson covers the NBA for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.com. Follow him @AJ_Journalist.

 

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Despite Friday’s loss, Dwight Howard says he and former Grizz star Pau Gasol can co-exist

November 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard was the last player to address reporters following Friday night’s 106-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies before a sold out FedExForum.

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (right) charges Memphis Grizzlies power forward Marreese Speights, knocking him to the floor during the second half of Friday’s game at FedExForum. Though the Lakers were dealt a 106-98 loss, Howard cautioned that they must not lose their chemistry. (Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE)

Among the questions Howard fielded was to assess the Lakers’ constant struggles after the organization replaced former coach Mike Brown with Mike D’Antoni six games into the season.

Friday’s loss was the Lakers’ second straight and dropped them to 0-4 on the road. What’s even worse for a team that acquired the 27-year-old Howard from Orlando in a three-team blockbuster trade on August 10 and is expected to challenge for the NBA title is that Howard and power forward Pau Gasol have found it virtually difficult to co-exist of late.

Friday was no exception against a Memphis team that boasts the NBA’s second-best record. Despite having played a significant amount of minutes, Howard and Gasol combined for just 13 points and eight rebounds against the Grizzlies as the Lakers (6-7) plummeted below the .500 mark for the second time this season.

Among the major concerns for the Lakers, who finished a three-game road trip at Dallas Saturday night, is when point guard Steve Nash will return to the lineup. Nash, a 16-year veteran who was signed by the Lakers in July after an eight-year stint with the Phoenix Suns, has been hampered by a non-displaced fracture to his left leg he sustained at Portland Oct. 31.

Nash, 38, traveled with the team to Memphis and dressed out for the morning shoot around Friday, although it is unclear when he will return. Kobe Bryant, who scored 30 points to pace all scorers against the Grizzlies, spent a better part of Friday’s game assuming point guard duties, in part because veteran Steve Blake is listed as day-to-day with an abdominal strain.

That the Lakers only had two other players besides Bryant to score in double figures (starter Metta World Peace and veteran reserve Antawn Jamison’s 16 point each) essentially resulted in some frustration for Gasol, who told reporters he needed “more touches” in order for the Lakers to be more efficient as a unit.

When asked about Gasol’s comments, Bryant said, “If he wants more touches, we’ve got to find ways to get him more touches, to get him more involved.”

Howard, meanwhile, was quick refute the notion that he and Gasol, who played for the Grizzlies from 2001-2008, can’t co-exist although, like D’Antoni, the nine-year veteran stressed that the Lakers must devise ways to establish chemistry before Nash returns. During Friday’s early shoot around, D’Antoni said the possibility exists that Nash could return sometime early next week.

“We’ve got to stay positive and we can’t get down on each other,” Howard said after tying a season-low of seven points in 39-plus minutes Friday. “We can’t lose our chemistry. We can’t lose our focus. We’ve got to stay unified. Everybody’s going to have something to say. Everything is not going to be on the upside all the time. It’s an 82-game season. It’s tough. I’m not going to say it’ an easy road. But we’ll be fine. We’ll get it.”

Andre Johnson covers the NBA for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.

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New Grizzlies minority owner Justin Timberlake makes surprise appearance at team’s shoot around

November 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

Renowned singer, actor, and businessman Justin Timberlake recently joined new Grizzlies majority owner Robert Pera’s minority owner group. Timberlake, a Memphis native, made a surprise appearance at the Grizzlies’ shoot around Friday morning as they prepared to host the Lakers.

Memphis Grizzlies reserve shooting guard Wayne Ellington is accustomed to hearing trash talk while out on the court.

Just not from his boss.

Such was the case Friday morning during the team’s shoot around in FedExForum. As the Grizzlies (8-2) were wrapping up their one-hour light practice in preparation for Friday night’s Western Conference showdown versus the Los Angeles Lakers (6-6), Ellington and fellow teammates Quincy Pondexter and Josh Selby had the luxury of working out briefly with renown singer and actor Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake, 31, a Memphis native, in September agreed to join new Grizzlies billionaire majority owner Robert Pera’s ownership group, joining rapper Jay-Z (Brooklyn Nets) and actor Will Smith (Philadelphia 76ers) as the NBA’s only famous minority owners.

During the Grizzlies’ shoot around Friday, Timberlake strolled out on the court wearing sweat pants, a T-shirt, and winter hat, then immediately went after a loose ball and began talking jump shots just inside of the free throw line.

For a while, Ellington sensed his famous boss was sending hints that he was up for a game of H-O-R-S-E.

“He was talking a little trash,” Ellington jokingly said of Timberlake, who headed toward the Grizzlies’ locker room after his brief impromptu workout. “He was asking us can we shoot and did we have a little money with us.”

Timberlake, who did not speak to reporters Friday, has built a good reputation as a businessman in recent years, something that, along with his strong ties to the area, were appealing to Pera. Pera, a former Apple engineer, left the company in 2005 to start Ubiquiti Networks, a San Jose, Calif.-based communications technology company that makes WiFi networking equipment. He agreed in June to purchase the Grizzlies from ex-owner Michael Heisley in June for a reported $350 million.

(Click here to read ‘Does Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s marriage move the Grizzlies to the top of celebrity owned sports franchises?‘)

That Timberlake has become a minority owner for the Grizzlies has added more star power to a franchise whose ownership team also includes current Denver Broncos quarterback and Super Bowl 41 MVP Peyton Manning and former four-time NBA All-Star and fellow Memphian Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.

Timberlake’s brief appearance Friday at the Grizzlies’ shoot around even prompted players such as Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and Marc Gasol to return to the arena after the team’s walk-through to get a glimpse of arguably the most prominent personality within the Grizzlies organization.

“I think he’s pretty cool,” Ellington said of Timberlake. “That was my first time meeting him. For me to see him in movies and stuff like that then out on the court as one of our owners, that’s pretty cool. It’s great for our team. It’s great for our organization. It’s great for our city.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.

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The Center of the Court

March 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

This article originally appeared in the March 2012 issue of MemphiSport.

Since being drafted with the 48th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft, Marc Gasol has been on ascent to becoming one of the best and well-rounded centers in the league.

When his older brother Pau was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, Marc and his family moved to the Memphis suburb of Germantown, Tenn. Marc would play prep basketball at Lausanne Collegiate School, earning Division II “Mr. Basketball” honors after a senior season in which he averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks.

After graduating high school, Gasol chose to return to his native Spain, where he spent four seasons with FC Barcelona (2004–2006) and Akasvayu Girona (2006–2008) before being drafted into the NBA.

On February 1, 2008, his draft rights were traded to Memphis by the Lakers as part of a trade package that sent Marc’s older brother Pau to Los Angeles. It was the only deal in the history of the NBA that featured two brothers being dealt by opposing teams.

The deal was widely scrutinized as being a scenario in which Memphis was giving up Pau Gasol, an all-star, for virtually nothing in return. Despite the criticism, Marc would sign a contract with the Grizzlies on June 23, 2008.

The younger Gasol defied critics and produced immediately in the NBA, averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign while shooting 53 percent from the floor—a franchise record. He upped his numbers the following season, averaging just under 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Since then, he has continued to outgrow Pau’s shadow and forge a unique identity for himself both on and off the court. While Marc very much loves and respects his brother, he’s the first to tell you that their games are not similar and that he doesn’t have much of a desire to play alongside his brother.

Throughout his maturation process and the improvement of his game, Gasol has built a passionate following in Memphis. When his brother was traded away just four years ago, many thought it may the downfall of the Grizzlies. Instead, Memphis has thrived.

In Marc’s first year in Memphis, the Grizzlies turned in a 24-58 record. The next season showed marked improvement with a record of 40-42, but the team still missed the playoffs and the city of Memphis remained largely uninterested and unimpressed.

However, the Grizzlies brought in Zach Randolph from free agency prior to the beginning of the 2010-11 season, and everything changed. After adding Randolph to the mix, Gasol’s number fell slightly during the 2010-11 regular season, but he turned it up to an all-star level in the playoffs. The Spaniard averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the postseason as the Grizzlies won their first ever playoff series.

Picking up where he left off last year in the playoffs, Gasol has averaged a regular season career-best of 15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game so far this season—numbers that earned him an All-Star nod. Through all of it, Marc is emerging as his own unique personality.

MemphiSport How do you expect the return of Zach Randolph to impact your game?

GASOL He’s going to help us. We’re going to have to be a little patient. Like I said before, it’s going to be an adjustment for everyone—for him and for the team. We’re going to try to get him acclimated and try to do it as smoothly as possible.

MemphiSport What are you trying to work to improve for the rest of the season?

GASOL We just have to be better. We can be better at a lot of things. We just have to improve. We are okay now, but I still think we have a lot of room to improve. So, it’s going to take a little time and a lot of work, but I think we can make it.

MemphiSport Do you feel as though you get more respect now that you are an All-Star?

GASOL I don’t look at it that way. The only respect I care about is the respect of my teammates and coaching staff. And then respect from the city. But, that’s the only thing I really care about.

MemphiSport Since you have deep Memphis roots, do you see yourself as a tour guide of sorts for the team?

GASOL Oh yea. We were talking about that earlier actually because we are going to practice at Rhodes College and the guys were asking me where that is and everything. It’s unique and nice to be from here and to have grown up here. It’s very nice actually.

MemphiSport Do your parents still live in Memphis?

GASOL No, they actually just moved back (to Spain). But, they were here for 10-and-a-half years.

MemphiSport Is Memphis home to you or is Spain still where you say you’re from?

GASOL It’s just different places, you know what I mean? I’ve been (in Memphis) now for six years of my life. I’ve been in Spain for the rest—for 21 years. But, I consider Memphis one of my homes for sure. I grew up here and spent a lot of time in this town. I became who I am here, too.

MemphiSport What’s different now that you’re back in Memphis compared to during high school?

GASOL Well, it’s a big difference. When I came for the first time, I barely spoke English. I didn’t know anything. I was a young kid. I didn’t have any plans or know what I was going to be in life. I was just a young kid doing young kid kinds of things.

MemphiSport When did you first realize you might have a chance to be in the NBA?

GASOL  It was probably in my last season in Spain before I came over (to the United States). My team was going bankrupt, so I was actually going to have to go to another team. And, then the Grizzlies got my rights in the trade with the Lakers for Pau (Gasol). So, it was a good opportunity to go back to a place that I was really familiar with and a franchise that my family was attached to. It was a good chance for me to start a career in the NBA.

MemphiSport Was it an odd family dynamic knowing you were, in a sense, replacing your brother in Memphis?

GASOL Definitely not. I always said that I would love to play for Memphis if Pau wasn’t here. So, that was kind of a neat thing to happen. I was happy.

MemphiSport What’s your favorite thing about Memphis?

GASOL The small stuff. There are places here downtown that I love. There is so much soul here—so much history. You may overlook things sometimes because you don’t even know. But, once you sit down with people and Memphians and you listen to stories about who has been there, you have a respect for it. Just that and the history and music—I just love it.

MemphiSport Would you say the Grizzlies team work ethic is an embodiment of the city’s spirit?

GASOL Yeah. A blue collar city and a blue collar team. We believe that. You know, especially with the times we are going through right now. Last season, it was a unique moment for us to peak at that time in the playoffs at the same time as there was so much trouble in the city. It was neat. It’s not just that, though. You look at stuff like St. Jude—there are so many things that happen here in Memphis that people don’t realize you can be a part of.

MemphiSport How often do you still talk to your brother?

GASOL Pretty often. Not every day but pretty often.

MemphiSport Do you talk about basketball with Pau?

GASOL Not at all. The closest thing to basketball that we talk about is just asking ‘How is your body’ and that type of thing.

MemphiSport What’s been your favorite memory so far in the NBA?

GASOL Last year in the playoffs for sure. It was special.

MemphiSport What was your favorite thing during the All-Star weekend?

GASOL I couldn’t pick one. So many things went on that I couldn’t really pick one.

 

Preston McClellan covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport.  Follow him on Twitter @p_mcclellan.

-Photos by Justin Ford

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Twitter Fancap: Lakers Outlast Grizzlies 116-111 in Double OT

March 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment



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