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Basketball: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Team USA 2012
USA Basketball brought a squad mostly comprised of second-tier players -- with the obvious exception of Kevin Durant -- to the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey, and brought home the gold medal. How many players from this year's roster will be on the squad Mike Krzyzewski brings to London in 2012?
2012 NBA Draft - Key Dates
Important Dates relating to the 2012 NBA Draft
Team USA Preliminary Roster
USA Basketball's preliminary roster for the 2012 Olympic Men's Basketball team, and some educated guesses as to what the final twelve-man roster will look like.
Bird Rights
: The NBA's salary cap is not carved in stone -- teams are allowed to exceed the payroll maximums for
Amnesty Clause
: The NBA's next collective bargaining agreement may include some form of "amnesty clause," allowing
2012 NBA Mock Draft
Projecting all 60 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft
Coaching Salaries
How much to college basketball coaches make? Quite a bit. John Calipari's new deal at Kentucky will be worth approximately $4 million a year -- and that's before you factor in incentives, summer camps, and a fat endorsement deal from a shoe company. Here's a look at the salaries of some of college basketball's highest-paid coaches.
2013 NCAA Sites and Venues
Want to attend the 2013 NCAA Tournament? The Final Four will be the Georgia Dome, home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.
NBA vs. NCAA
They hang the hoops at the same height... but that might be the only thing the NBA and NCAA do exactly the same way. Here's a brief rundown of the key differences between pro and college ball.
Final Four Sites: 2010-16
College basketball's biggest game demands the biggest stage... like a 100,000-seat NFL stadium. The venues are set for the Final Four through 2016, a list that reads includes most of the new or newly-renovated home fields of the National Football League.
The NBA's Worst Player Contracts
The NBA's latest CBA proposal reportedly includes an "amnesty clause" - a one-time opportunity for teams
NBA MVP
About the NBA's Most Valuable Player award
NBA Playoffs: First Round
Previews, schedules and recaps of every first-round series in the 2012 NBA Playoffs
2012 Olympics: Men's Basketball Teams
A look at the twelve teams that will compete for men's basketball gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Winningest Coaches of All Time
The giants of the game -- Division I college basketball's all-time winningest coaches.
Winningest NBA Coaches of All Time
Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens and Pat Riley top the list of the NBA's all-time winningest coaches.
Beyonce and Jay-Z
Singers Beyonce and Jay-Z sit courtside during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 7, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union
Signing Dates
Players can verbally commit to a school at any time. In fact, in rare cases, players have selected a
What is a One and Done?
: "One and Done" is a slang term used to describe a player who stays in college for a single year before
Back-to-Back
: In NBA terms, "back-to-back" is a term used to describe a stretch of schedule when a team plays two
2012 NBA All-Star Weekend Recap
MVP Kevin Durant scored 36 points and grabbed seven rebounds, leading the Western Conference all-stars to a 152-149 win in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.
2013 Final Four Tickets
Want to attend the 2013 Final Four at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta? The 2012 Final Four online ticket lottery is accepting applications through May 31, 2012.
2012 NCAA Sites and Venues
Want to attend the 2012 NCAA Tournament? The Final Four will be at Louisiana Superdome -- home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints. Start planning your trip now.
NBA Sexcapades
The NBA: Where tawdry happens. Looking at some of the league's legendary off-court affairs -- from Tony
About the NBA Playoffs
How the NBA Playoffs work: playoff seeding, home court advantage, series formats and home-court advantage and more
Rucker Park
Profile of New York's Holcombe Rucker Basketball Courts -- also known as Rucker Park -- a playground that has hosted most of basketball's biggest names of the last 40 years including Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant.
What is AAU Ball?
: "AAU" stands for "Amateur Athletic Union" -- a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting
2011 NBA Draft
2012 NBA Draft information: location, date, time, television and more.
2012 NBA Postseason Awards
A look at the NBA's top honors for the 2011-12 season: the MVP, Rookie of the Year, 6th Man awards and more.
Mike Krzyzewski
Name: Mike Krzyzewski Position: Head Coach Team: Duke Blue Devils, U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Key Influences:
Point Shaving
Point Shaving is the (highly illegal) act of purposefully holding down the score of a sporting event, in order to impact who will win bets against a point spread.
Dead Period
A Dead Period, as the name implies, is a date range on the official NCAA recruiting calendar in which little-to-no recruiting activity is permitted.
Nate Robinson's Short Game
We’ve all been there. The shortest guy on the court. Or at least too short to snatch rebounds from the
What is a double-double?
: When a basketball player reaches ten or more in two statistical categories, that is, reached double
Converse DEFCON
Review of Converse's latest performance basketball shoe, the Converse DEFCON.
The Coaches of Team USA
From the amateur teams of the 30s, 40s and 50s to the Dream Team and Redeem Team -- the men who have coached America's Olympic men's basketball teams, from 1936 through today.
Revenue Sharing in the NFL, MLB, and NHL
The NFL has the most complete revenue-sharing system in American pro sports, which is a big reason that small-market teams (like the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers) continue to succeed.
Recruiting Calendar
The NCAA's official calendar, with details on when recruits can and cannot be contacted by college recruiters.
NBA Age Limit
The NBA's most recent collective bargaining agreement prevents players from entering the draft right out of high school.
Injuries and Team USA
Injuries to Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose and others will have a big impact on USA Basketball's roster for the 2012 London Olympics.
Olympic Basketball History and Team USA
The history of basketball at the Olympic Games, from its humble start at the Berlin Games to the preparations for London 2012.
What is a Letter of Intent?
A letter of intent is a formal agreement that binds a given player to a given school.
WNBA vs. NBA
An open letter to WNBA player Olympia Scott, in response to her post about unfair comparisons between the WNBA and NBA
What is a Walk-On?
: In college basketball "walk-on" refers to a player who is on the team, but does not get one of the
Winningest Programs
The winningest division I programs in college basketball -- the University of Kentucky tops the list.
How to Dunk
Every basketball player -- from the most casual weekend warrior on up -- wants to be able to dunk. For most of us, it's a pipe dream, right up there with winning Mega Millions. You can't do much to improve your lottery odds, but you can improve your vertical leap with these simple exercises and drills.
NBA Lockout
At its heart, this dispute is about money. (Shocking, right? Hope you were sitting down for that revelation.)
Most Valuable NBA Franchises
The New York Knicks topped Forbes Magazine's annual list of the most valuable franchises in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers - last year's most valuable franchise and the defending NBA champions - fell to second place.
2012 Free Agents
The 2012 Free Agent class could rival the 2010 "Summer of LeBron" crew in terms of sheer talent, as superstar
Michael Jordan - The Final Frontier
Michael Jordan slam-dunks the moon in this classic poster from the Costacos Brothers
What is an Assist?
: Simply put, an assist is a pass that sets up a basket. For example, a point guard that passes to a
Team USA 2010
Team USA's first opponent at the World Championships in Turkey will be Croatia. But their biggest opponent could be free agency.
NCAA Champions
A complete list of NCAA Champions and Final Four teams, from the 1985 Villanova Wildcats to the 2011 Connecticut Huskies.
Two-Sport Stars
For some incredibly gifted ballplayers, an NCAA basketball season just isn't enough of an athletic outlet. Here's a look at some players who have played basketball and at least one other sport at the highest collegiate level.
Dwyane Wade at Marquette
Dwyane Wade celebrates the win over Kentucky that put his Marquette Golden Eagles in the 2003 Final Four.
NBA Rookie of the Year
About the NBA's Rookie of the Year award
Quiet Period
A quiet period is a date range on the NCAA's official college basketball recruiting calendar during which coaches can only make in-person recruiting contacts on their program's campus.
Kobe Bryant defends Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant over Kobe Bryant
Basketball at the 1972 Olympics
The gold-medal game of the 1972 basketball tournament stands as the most controversial in Olympic history - and quite possibly, the worst display of end-game officiating ever.
2010 NBA Draft Recap
Recap and analysis of the 2010 NBA Draft, headlined by top overall selection John Wall, the newest Washington Wizard.
David Stern and Jeanie Buss
David Stern and Jeanie Buss
Basketball Related Income (BRI)
Basketball Related Income (BRI) is a term that covers most of the income generated by NBA games. The NBA's salary cap is based on a percentage of BRI generated by all NBA teams in a given year.
Karl Malone - Special Delivery
Karl Malone was known as "The Mailman" throughout his career. That nickname became a mixed blessing.
How To Form Your Own Summer Basketball League
Here are the key steps in forming a basketball league on your neighborhood court.
Spurs vs. Clippers
The top-seed San Antonio Spurs face the five seed Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the 2012 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.
Big Ten
An introduction to the teams and history of the Big Ten Conference, home of Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State.
NBA Wives and Girlfriends
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Eva Longoria Parker, Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks
Decertification
Decertification of a union means that union loses the power to collectively bargain. Such a move has some potential benefits - the NFL Players Association decertified in an attempt to avoid a lockout - and a number of risks attached.
LeBron Giving Up #23
LeBron James announced he'll give up his uniform number to honor Michael Jordan, and he wants other NBA players who wear MJ's 23 to do the same.
Fantasy Basketball 101
An introduction to fantasy basketball - league setup information, rosters and positions, trades and free agents and fantasy basketball statistics
How to Become a Good Foul Shooter
How to use good technique to make foul shots
Worst Losing Streaks in NBA History
The 2010-11 season has been tough on Cleveland Cavaliers fans -- first they watched LeBron James take his talents to South Beach... then the Cavs set a new NBA mark for futility, losing 24 consecutive games - and counting.
What is a Brick?
Brick -- basketball slang for a particularly grace-less jump shot.
Team Name Glossary
Wildcat, Bulldog... those are easy. But what, exactly, is a Tar Heel? A Hoosier? A Hoya? The origins of some college basketball team names have been lost to history -- but others are explained here.
Adriana Lima
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Eva Longoria Parker, Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks
The NBA in Las Vegas?
David Stern's relationship with the city of Las Vegas has all the characteristics of one of those "will
The NBA Draft Lottery
Ever wonder how exactly the NBA Draft Lottery works? What are the chances of each NBA team to win the first pick of the NBA Draft? Find the answer right here!
NBA Defensive Player
About the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award
NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
Previews, schedules and recaps of every second-round series in the 2012 NBA Playoffs
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Soft Cap
: The NBA's salary cap is described as a "soft" cap; that is, there are a variety of methods teams can
How To Improve Your Basketball Game - Work at Your Game
This article addresses how the everyday player can improve his/her basketball game and be their best.
Common Basketball Injuries
It's easy to jam your finger when playing basketball. And a jammed finger can be more serious than you'd think.
Thunder vs. Lakers
The second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder face the three seed Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2012 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.
Tyra Banks
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Eva Longoria Parker, Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks
What is Standing Reach?
: One of the "measureables" associated with basketball players is "standing reach" -- the measure of
Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss
Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss
Fantasy Cheat Sheet - Overall
Fantasy basketball cheat sheet - ranking the top 100 fantasy values for standard format fantasy NBA leagues.
How to Become an Expert Dribbler
Basketball dribbling drills and practice strategies designed to improve your team's ball-handling skills.
2012 Final Four Tickets
Want to attend the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans? The 2012 Final Four online ticket lottery is accepting applications through May 31, 2011.
Ektio Wraptor
Ankle injuries are unavoidable in basketball... but Ektio is trying to change that.
What is a Bruin?
: "Bruin" is an archaic term for bear. At one point it referred specifically to the brown bear -- Ursos
Coaches with Multiple Titles
With North Carolina's win over Michigan State, Roy Williams ties his mentor, Dean Smith, with two national championships... and joins a select list of coaches with multiple titles.
Hard Cap
: The NBA has an official cap on salaries... but that "cap" is more like a suggestion. There are a wide
Chuck Person - The Rifleman
The fourth-overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, Chuck Person was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1987.
Single Game Records
Some of the greatest individual performances in NCAA basketball history, captured in the record book, and on this very page.
NBA Draft 2009 - James Harden
James Harden on the drive during ASU's first-round win in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
How Basketball Teams Qualify for the Olympics
Twelve teams will compete for gold in Men's and Women's basketball at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. How are those teams selected? The process takes years.
Sports Nutrition at Kansas
How proper nutrition helps Jayhawk athletes perform at peak levels.
Miami's Big Three
Miami Heat Introduce LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade
What is FIBA?
FIBA is the federation that governs international basketball competition -- from the Olympics on down.
NBA Postseason Awards
A look at the NBA's post-season honors: the MVP, Rookie of the Year, 6th Man awards and more, including this year's winners and honorees from seasons past.
Patrick Ewing - Madison Square Guardian
NBA fans probably remember Patrick Ewing best as one of the best jump-shooting big men in league history.
James Worthy - LA Law
James Worthy lays down the law in a classic NBA poster by the Costacos Brothers
Career Scoring Leaders
The most prolific scorers in the history of Division I NCAA basketball. 1. "Pistol" Pete Maravich - 3,667
Point Spread
Given that a matchup of real equals in any sporting event is exceedingly rare, sports books create a point spread to handicap the superior team.
Eva Longoria Parker
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Eva Longoria Parker, Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks
Flex Cap
: One of the biggest issues to resolve in NBA labor negotiations is, "what type of salary cap will the
Individual Dribbling Drills That Teach Ball Control
How to Practice on Your Own to Improve Dribbling Control
Winningest Women's Coaches
The giants of the game -- Division I women's college basketball's all-time winningest coaches.
John Wall
John Wall - Point Guard, Kentucky Wildcats
Dominique Wilkins - The Highlight Zone
Dominique Wilkins put up some incredibly impressive numbers during his NBA career. And no one was prouder
2012 All-Star Voting
Like so many other aspects of the 2011-12 NBA Season, the All-Star voting process will be compressed into a much shorter window. Voting began on January 4 and will conclude on the 31st. The All-Star Game will be played in Orlando on February 26th.
Winningest Coaches
The Top 20 Winningest Active NCAA Head Coaches
What is Midnight Madness?
: "Midnight Madness" refers to a massive pep rally that many schools hold on the first day of basketball
Grizzlies vs. Clippers
The fourth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies face the five seed Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2012 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.
Maria Sharapova
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Eva Longoria Parker, Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks
LaLa Vazquez
LaLa Vazquez and Carmelo Anthony
What is an Airball?
An airball is a shot that misses... everything. The hoop, the rim, the backboard... the shot clock.
NBA All-Time Leaders
The NBA's all-time career leaders in scoring, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, three-pointers and turnovers.
Can a Sneaker Improve Your Vertical Leap?
Anyone that's ever read a basketball magazine has seen ads for contraptions designed to help build up
Lakers vs. Nuggets
The third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers face the six seed Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2012 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.
Celtics vs. 76ers
The eight seed Philadelphia 76ers knocked off the injury-riddled Chicago Bulls, advancing to face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
What is a Transfer?
Like all college students, college basketball players have the option of transferring from one school to another. But because the NCAA is involved, transferring is far more complicated than simply making sure credits will be accepted at the new school.
How to Learn to Shoot, Dribble, and Pass with Both Hands
Learn to use both your right and left hand in basketball. Here are some simple ways to learn to take what the defense gives you.
Jared Jeffries
Jared Jeffries (New York Knicks) and his date approximate a prom photo.
2011 Free Agents
The free agent class won't get one-tenth the hype of last year's model, and don't expect anyone to hold a one-hour TV special announcing his decision. In fact, with the NBA's collective bargaining agreement set to expire, there's no telling when 2011 free agents will even have the opportunity to sign -- or what rules will govern their contracts. Following, is a list of restricted and unrestricted NBA free agents for the summer of 2011.
Monica
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Eva Longoria Parker, Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks
Kansas State University
Kansas State Wildcats
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
About the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant arrive at the wedding of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian
The Jump Hook Shot
How to Learn the Jump Hook Shot-Unstoppable!
Hope Dworaczyk
A look at some of the most famous wives and girlfriends of NBA players, including Playboy 3-d Playmate Hope Dworaczyk
What is "Show Cause"?
: The "Show Cause" penalty is perhaps the harshest in the NCAA's arsenal, as it essentially prevents
Evaluation Period
An evaluation period is a date range on the NCAA's official college basketball recruiting calendar during which coaches and athletic department staff can assess prospects' abilities and academic qualifications, but cannot make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts.
Paul Pierce at Kansas
A baby-faced Paul Pierce and the Kansas Jayhawks beat UCLA at Pauley Pavillion in December of '96.
Career Rebounding Leaders
No need to worry about missing shots with these guys cleaning up after you... Kenneth Faried takes over the top spot on the post-1973 career rebounding list from future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and an impressive cast of characters.
Team Dribbling Games for Basketball Skills
Group and team dribbling games that build skills and are fun. Learn to improve your confidence and become a better basketball player.
Assists: John Stockton
John Stockton looks for the open man
What is an Official Visit?
An official visit is a formal visit by a potential recruit to a college or university. Student-athletes are limited to five official visits.
Danny Granger at New Mexico
Danny Granger starred at New Mexico, but he couldn't lift the Lobos over Villanova in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
Jim Valvano
Name: Jim Valvano Position: Head Coach, Broadcaster Team: North Carolina State Wolfpack Career Record:
Mid Level Exception
The mid level exception is a tool that teams with payrolls over the NBA salary cap can use to sign players.
March Madness Pools Legal?
According to FBI estimates, over $2.4 billion dollars changes hands annually - mostly in tens and twenties - in NCAA Tournament pools. Is any of this legal?
What is a Redshirt?
A redshirt is a player who sits out an entire season of his or her sport in order to preserve a year's worth of eligibility.
Roster Depreciation Allowance
: Invented by then-Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck, the "roster depreciation allowance" is an obscure
Jim Boeheim
Jim Boeheim Profile - Career history, accomplishments and biography of legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim

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