Nick Van Exel

Its been a good month or so of stories for "my boys". First there was the "where are they now" story of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, then Tim Hardaway gets his number retired by the Miami Heat and now there is a story about Nick Van Exel.

Dime has it in the "where are they now" section but its more just a story about him and the player he was. He never really disappeared but click on the story below and you'll see that he's now coaching. There's also a good highlight package but Nick was in the days before YouTube so the quality of it isn't great.

I fell in love with Nick's game from his days in college at Cincinnati when the NCAA used to be shown late at night on the ABC. Even tho I'm a Celtics fan and Nick played for the Lakers, I just loved his swagger, ball handling and his clutch, no-conscience shooting.

Where Are They Now: Nick Van Exel | Dime Magazine (www.dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers:

“Soprano the rock, handle like Van Exel” – Jay-Z

There was a reason why Hova would name drop Nick Van Exel’s name in a verse. Nick the Quick was everything you wanted out of a small guard: a smooth south paw stroke, crafty dribble moves, great court vision and money in the clutch. And best of all, everything he did, he did it with style.

Van Exel had swagger, played with flash and loved to talk trash on the court. You either loved him or hated him. Like Tim Hardaway and Isiah Thomas, he could fill out highlight tapes without going above the rim.

A second round pick out of Cincinnati in 1993, it wasn’t long until Van Exel was a starting guard in the NBA. In his first five seasons with the Lakers, Van Exel and Eddie Jones brought back “Showtime” to the L.A. by forming one of the most exciting young backcourts in the NBA at the time. Van Exel was also on the Lakers during the early part of the Shaq and Kobe era. He made the All-Star team in 1998.

So instead of a highlight package, here's a good story about Nick I hadn't seen before:

Tim Hardaway honoured by the Heat

It may have been the second night of the new NBA season but for me the night was about one thing only ... Tim Hardaway getting his jersey retired by the Miami Heat. He may have got in trouble over recent years for "those comments" but he has been and always will be one of my favourite players.

I was heart broken when I was first in the US (almost 15 years ago) and saw a couple of Golden State Warriors' games and Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin were coming off the bench under Rick Adelman. When he was traded to Miami I hoped it would give his career a second win and indeed it. Timmy was back to his best and teaming up with Alonzo Mourning they wreaked havoc in the east, especially the New York Knicks. Fittingly his jersey was retired tonight before the Heat played the Knicks.

Here's the official report about the ceremony from NBA.com. Click on the title to read the whole story and see an interview with Tim himself from after the event (for some reason it wouldn't embed on the blog).

NBA.com: Hardaway's No. 10 retired by Heat
MIAMI (AP) -- Saying he was 'overwhelmed,' Tim Hardaway beamed Wednesday night as he watched his No. 10 jersey raised to the rafters by the Miami Heat, never to be worn again. With about 50 family and friends looking on, including the other two parts of the famed 'Run TMC' trio -- Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin -- that he first captured NBA acclaim with, Hardaway's oversized jersey was hoisted skyward before Miami opened its season against the New York Knicks. 'Tonight, I stand before you truly humble and grateful,' Hardaway said. Hardaway had hugs for everybody -- players, coaches, even referee Joe Crawford, no small feat considering how much the player loved to clash with officials during his playing days. Before he came to Miami, only three other players had worn No. 10: Kelvin Upshaw, Clinton Wheeler and Manute Bol. No one had since Hardaway left the Heat in 2001.


Here's a good story about Tim from the Miami Herald. Click on the title below to read the full story.

Former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway's honor arrives - Miami Heat - MiamiHerald.com

Tim Hardaway's career wasn't defined here, but it was completed here. His signature move wasn't developed here, but it was shown off a few times here. His courage wasn't discovered here, but he was at his most courageous here. The legacy of Tim Hardaway was a cross-country creation that started on the South Side of Chicago, continued south in Texas, moved west to California and settled here in Miami. This wasn't Hardaway's last stop, just his most significant. So it's here that the legacy was fortunate enough to be celebrated with Wednesday's jersey retirement ceremony. Fortunate because Hardaway is simply one of the most unique, special players in the history of basketball.

Sound of music ... what the??

"... Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things"

Now, to clarify (before my manhood comes in to question), I've never actually watched The Sound of Music ... sure I've seen parts but thankfully never the whole thing. It just seemed appropriate to use it today since there's a number of news articles and stories about a few of my all-time favourite players.

We'll start with my #1 player, Tim Hardaway. Thanks to the guys at NBA Mate for bringing it to my attention, the Miami Heat are going to retire Timmy's jersey just before their opening game against the New York Knicks. This is kind of fitting as the memories I have of Hardaway in Miami are him leading the Heat to victories in the playoffs against the Knicks.

Next up is my boy Steve Nash. I've mentioned previously that he leads a pretty good life and has had a colourful/entertaining off-season. Thanks to the crew at Ball Don't Lie, firstly here is his latest vitaminwater commercial and a few days ago they had pictures of Nash getting in to a pick-up game in China.

Finally, despite being almost 50, here's footage of Dominique Wilkins showing he can still dunk (just). Yes, you'll also see Tim Hardaway in action there as well.

Most popular NBA jerseys

Thanks to the crew at Dime for this story. It seems that Kobe Bryant has reclaimed his # 1 spot at the top of the most popular NBA jerseys.

I haven't bought an NBA jersey in many years, in fact the most recent addition was a Steve Nash Maverick's Jersey, but I still have a few that I regularly wear.

Here's my NBA wardrobe:

1. Mahmoud Abdul Rauf - Nuggets
2. Tim Hardaway - Warriors (personally autographed)
3. Steve Nash - Mavericks
4. Reggie Miller - Pacers
5. Stephon Marbury - Timberwolves
6. Dominique Wilkins - Hawks
7. Allen Iverson - Georgetown (college singlet)

I also had a Kevin Garnett Timberwolves singlet but a friend lost it ... groan

Kobe Reclaims His Title as No. 1 | Dime Magazine (www.dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers

This morning the NBA released the results for the most popular NBA jersey - Kobe Bryant is back at No. 1 after being overtaken by Kevin Garnett last year.

The rankings for the Top 15 most popular NBA jerseys and the 10 most popular teams, based on sales at the NBA Store on 5th Avenue and on NBA.com look like this:

Top 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys:

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
4. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
5. Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons
6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
7. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
8. Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
9. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
10. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
11. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
12. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
13. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
14. Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix Suns
15. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

Warriors vs Lakers 1991 Western Conference Semi-Finals Game 2

After yesterday's journey back in to time with the '92 NBA All-Star game there was yet another classic game on the DVD. I finished watching the All-Star game and was about to jump in to the shower when another game started. The sound wasn't good so I almost didn't realise, and the game itself was a CLASSIC!

It turns out my friend (thanks Tux) had also recorded game 2 of the 1991 Western Conference Semi-Finals between the Lakers and the Warriors. Being that my favourite player is Tim Hardaway, the shower was put on hold and I was glued to the TV again. This was the break-out year for Run TMC (Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond & Chris Mullin) and it was against Magic Johnson and the Lakers so you knew it was going to be a high-scoring, no defence, run & gun feast!

The game didn't fail to deliver everything I had hoped. Maybe it was because Mully (Chris Mullin) was "guarding" him, but Magic was unstoppable, at the other end Mully was putting on one of the greatest ever basketball shooting displays and Timmy was just plain killing them!

The Lakers led for most of the game and were up by double figures at one point. Mullin's rained in jumper after jumper (I literally was in awe) and the Warriors fought their back. Despite being down by 4 inside the final minute, the Warriors pulled out the upset win for the first time in LA for 20 odd years.

Here are some of the numbers from the game:

Chris Mullin 41 points, 16 of 21 shooting, 4 of 4 from downtown, 5 assists, 4 boards, 2 steals
Tim Hardaway 28 points, 14 assists, 8 steals
Magic Johnson 44 points, 12 boards, 9 assists
Sam Perkins 24 points, 9 of 12 shooting, 4 boards
James Worthy 23 points, 8 boards, 5 assists
Mitch Richmond 22 points, 3 assists

If you haven't heard of Run TMC is, its time to go to school ...

NBA All Star Game 1992

One of my friends gave me a DVD a while ago with some basketball games on it. One of them was one I played in a few years ago but he didn't tell me that on there was also the NBA All Star game from 1992. That's almost 17 years ago now but if you were a fan of the NBA in the 90's the starting line-ups were as good as it gets:

EAST

Isiah Thomas
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Charles Barkley
Patrick Ewing

WEST

Magic Johnson
Clyde Drexler
Chris Mullin
Karl Malone
David Robinson

The game itself ended up being a blowout with the West shooting the lights out and dominating the game 153 - 113. Still, it was still great to see some of the best players ever putting on a show. Having seen the end of their careers, I had almost forgotten just how good many of these players were. How athletic and dangerous players like Drexler, Pippen and Barkley were ... and Mutumbo as a rookie (he's now 42)!

Here are some of the numbers from the game:

Magic (was MVP) 25 points, 9 assists, 5 boards
Drexler 22 points, 9 boards, 6 assists
Tim Hardaway 14 points, 7 assists
Jordan 18 points, 5 assists
Barkley 12 points, 9 boards
Rodman 13 boards

Here are the top 10 plays from the game ... and there were some good ones!

Follow the player or the team??

JR, On Fire: "Since Reggie has given it away (He teased me last offseason.) I still watch just as much NBA as ever, just ask my wife, but I have not attached myself to anyone like I did with Moses and Reggie.

Kobe is probably the closest I have come to replacing these legends but I'm certainly not on the same level with him as a fan. I have no Kobe merchandise to speak of.

Is there any other fans out there that follow players more so then teams?"


I was reading the above on John Rillie's blog this morning and couldn't agree more. Originally I was a "team" follower ... first the Celtics (with Larry Bird, McHale, Parish, etcc) but like JR said in his article, I like to be different so became a fan of the Atlanta Hawks. Why? Because of players they had ... not how the team itself was doing. This was back in the days of Dominique Wilkins and Spudd Webb ... but I stayed with the team as they brought on Mookie Blaylock and Stacey Augmon. I probably stopped following the team when they traded 'Nique and made Kevin Willis their focal point ... uggghhh

None of the aforementioned were really my favourite players ... that honour went to Tim Hardaway. Back in his Golden State early years he was a FORCE ... long before injuries slowed him down and his short-lived commentating gig (we won't speak about that). In the days of TMC, the Warriors were the 90's version of the recent Phoenix Suns teams ... run'n gun, no defence required. I loved his game because he was the under-dog, the little man in a big man's sport. He did what I wished I could ... kill players off the dribble and had no fear in putting up shots (over and over again). I went to the US in '96 and unfortunately Rick Adelman was then in charge of the Warriors and had benched Hardaway (and Mullins) ... in favour of BJ Armstrong?!! I remember sitting in the crowd begging for them to sub Timmy in. Thankfully he was later traded to Miami and after more injuries he fought back to show the sort of player he was and how much heart he had. I enjoyed nothing more than seeing him KILL the Knicks in the playoffs time and time again.

When Timmy's career was ending (think of his time in Denver, Indiana and Dallas) it was time to find a new favourite player ... that came in the form of Steve Nash. No, not when he got to Dallas ... before that ... even before he was sitting on the bench behind KJ and Kidd at the Suns in his early years. I was on the Nash bandwagon from his days at Santa Clara and when he met his idol Magic Johnson and was nicknamed "Little Magic".

Back to JR's article tho and the question about following a team or a player. With so many trades in the NBA, its hard to stay loyal to a team unless you actually live in that city. Also ... being a fantasy NBA player, the game teaches you to follow a player's numbers and has nothing to do with their team's wins and losses.

Who's your favourite player? Let me know