There have always been big men of whom it might’ve been said, “He couldn’t get 20 and 10 if he were alone in the gym.” Not only wasn’t Wilt Chamberlain aloe on the night in Hershey, Pa., when he scored 100 points (and grabbed 25 rebounds) in an NBA game, but he was surrounded—harassed, even, albeit pathetically—by an assortment of New York Knicks.
If his opponents had been complicit in a two-bit marketing scheme to get the Philadelphia Warriors superstar such a gaudy record, that would be another matter entirely. But Chamberlain shot 32 free throws—making 28, for him an uncommon display of marksmanship—indicative not of a transparent fix but of a gaggle of frustrated Knicks. Oh, there were shenanigans: After Wilt hit 80, then 90, the Warriors fouled in order to increase their own possessions. But the Knicks were fouling, too—Warriors other than Chamberlain, who’d been in the 70s before, but 100? Not if they could stop it. Which, of course, they couldn’t.
PEER PERSPECTIVE
Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who had 64 points in a 1974 game, says: “That’s certainly one you can put down that will never be broken. There’s no way in the world that anybody will score 100 points in an NBA game again. First, I don’t know if anybody is really capable of it. Second, I don’t think any coach would allow it. You’d put four guys on him. Kobe got 81, and that was amazing. But he still had to get 19 more. That’s a lot of points. Not many people get 19 points in one half very often. … I would have had to score 36 more points; most players never get 36 points in one game in their whole career.”
FOR THE RECORD
The NBA lists 72 records held by Chamberlain. (Yes, that’s all.) Four of them he shares, so we won’t bother with those here. Tell you what: Let’s just go with a half-dozen that’ll knock your striped tube socks right off.
37.6: Points per game in 1959-60, his rookie season—now that’s how you make an entrance.
55: Rebounds in one game—against Bill Russell’s Celtics in 1960.
48.5: Minutes per game in 1961-61, when he also happened to average …
50.4 points per game. (But who’s counting?)
59 Points scored in a half. What, you think 100 happens by accident?
22.9 Rebounds per game, career. Yes, career.
0 Disqualifications, in 1,045 games. OK, so there are many others who never fouled out, but come on.
3.02.2012
Through the shroud, Wilt Chamberlain's record stands above
That Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game is the single most unbreakable record in major American sports, shouldn’t even be up for debate.
There are more than enough reasons for this, starting with Friday being the 50th anniversary of his feat—March 2, 1962—and continuing with the utter inability of the legions of great players since then to come anywhere close.
— Sporting News' 10 greatest records: See where Wilt clocks in
— Wilt by the numbers: A look at the game and his other records
Sadly, there are also plenty of reasons why there is a debate. The biggest? Hardly anybody saw it happen then, and literally, there is no way to look back at it now.
There is plenty of video that has survived the last seven decades to show the world that Joe DiMaggio indeed hit in 56 straight games. There is filmed proof that Don Larsen actually pitched a perfect game in the World Series. There’s video of Jack Johnson winning the heavyweight championship, for goodness’ sake, and that was more than 100 years ago.
But for the only 100-point game ever produced in the league representing the highest level of basketball on the planet, turned in by the greatest scoring machine, biggest stats-generator—biggest anything-you-want-to-name, for that matter—virtually nothing.
The NBA has produced a documentary about the game, “Wilt 100,’’ to air on NBA-TV Friday, and at its core is that exact point: Few moments of this magnitude in sports were documented less than this one.
As much as the NBA propelled the whole sports world into the next century, and itself into the mainstream, with its mastery of video in the Magic-Bird-Michael years, that’s how far behind the curve the league was in the Chamberlain-Russell era. Its own network is terribly limited in which of its classic moments and players it can show. It was sketchy even in the 1970s, when Jabbar and Dr. J and Willis Reed ruled, so the '60s are a black hole. Oscar, Elgin, West, Cousy—forget it.
No wonder records like DiMaggio’s, Babe Ruth’s and the like stick in the mind so well, and these NBA greats don’t.
What sticks in the mind from the 100-point game? The photo of Wilt sitting in the locker room holding a sheet of paper with “100” scribbled on it. Unforgettable, but even one clip or photo of him scoring, maybe, one basket would’ve been better.
The game wasn’t televised, of course; hard to believe in a world where you can now see summer-league games live—and, last summer, lockout games. The radio broadcast did survive; it’s basically the stone tablet from the mountain for this game, but chances are hardly anyone tuned in that night.
A news story or column? Neither New York or Philadelphia papers sent a reporter. No radio or TV reporter, either.
Nope, no cell-phone cameras, either, for you kids. Imagine telling someone in 1962 that what they knew as a camera and a telephone would one day be one device and fit into your pocket. It would have been easier for them to believe … well, that someone would score 100 points in an NBA game. Which, at the time, was still beyond the realm of imagination, if only because as overwhelming as Chamberlain was, his previous best was 78 points.
If there was just something more tangible for people in past and future generations to grasp from that game, then this record might get the respect it truly deserves.
Not that it’s disrespected. Over the years, we have had chances to put what Wilt did into perspective.
This era got to see Michael Jordan do things on a basketball court we’d only imagined before, and he never got within 30 of a 100-point game. We also saw Kobe Bryant score 81, saw it in real time, and were able to alert anyone we knew that it was happening right now. That’s still not even in the ballpark, and that was with the three-point shot available.
It’s the kind of record that no one really ever expects to be broken.
A baseball player gets past 30 games in a hit streak once a decade or so, and the anticipation builds. In the 1970s, Pete Rose got into the 40s. That’s a lot closer to DiMaggio than anyone has gotten to Wilt in half a century.
Plenty of other iconic records have gone down lately, or at least been threatened. There now has been a postseason no-hitter pitched. Ruth no long owns the big home-run marks, nor is Lou Gehrig’s games-played streak the record anymore. Wayne Gretzky blew away the major records in hockey. NFL records fall seemingly every year.
Even Chamberlain’s career NBA scoring total is long gone; he’s fourth all-time, and is one healthy Kobe season away from falling to fifth.
But that 100-point game … no one has even gotten a sniff of it in 50 years. There’s no reason to believe anyone will get a sniff in the next 50.
That’s how great, and unbreakable, that record is.
You want details of how great, though? You’ll have to see and hear the handful who were there, and take their word for it.
There are more than enough reasons for this, starting with Friday being the 50th anniversary of his feat—March 2, 1962—and continuing with the utter inability of the legions of great players since then to come anywhere close.
— Sporting News' 10 greatest records: See where Wilt clocks in
— Wilt by the numbers: A look at the game and his other records
Sadly, there are also plenty of reasons why there is a debate. The biggest? Hardly anybody saw it happen then, and literally, there is no way to look back at it now.
There is plenty of video that has survived the last seven decades to show the world that Joe DiMaggio indeed hit in 56 straight games. There is filmed proof that Don Larsen actually pitched a perfect game in the World Series. There’s video of Jack Johnson winning the heavyweight championship, for goodness’ sake, and that was more than 100 years ago.
But for the only 100-point game ever produced in the league representing the highest level of basketball on the planet, turned in by the greatest scoring machine, biggest stats-generator—biggest anything-you-want-to-name, for that matter—virtually nothing.
The NBA has produced a documentary about the game, “Wilt 100,’’ to air on NBA-TV Friday, and at its core is that exact point: Few moments of this magnitude in sports were documented less than this one.
As much as the NBA propelled the whole sports world into the next century, and itself into the mainstream, with its mastery of video in the Magic-Bird-Michael years, that’s how far behind the curve the league was in the Chamberlain-Russell era. Its own network is terribly limited in which of its classic moments and players it can show. It was sketchy even in the 1970s, when Jabbar and Dr. J and Willis Reed ruled, so the '60s are a black hole. Oscar, Elgin, West, Cousy—forget it.
No wonder records like DiMaggio’s, Babe Ruth’s and the like stick in the mind so well, and these NBA greats don’t.
What sticks in the mind from the 100-point game? The photo of Wilt sitting in the locker room holding a sheet of paper with “100” scribbled on it. Unforgettable, but even one clip or photo of him scoring, maybe, one basket would’ve been better.
The game wasn’t televised, of course; hard to believe in a world where you can now see summer-league games live—and, last summer, lockout games. The radio broadcast did survive; it’s basically the stone tablet from the mountain for this game, but chances are hardly anyone tuned in that night.
A news story or column? Neither New York or Philadelphia papers sent a reporter. No radio or TV reporter, either.
Nope, no cell-phone cameras, either, for you kids. Imagine telling someone in 1962 that what they knew as a camera and a telephone would one day be one device and fit into your pocket. It would have been easier for them to believe … well, that someone would score 100 points in an NBA game. Which, at the time, was still beyond the realm of imagination, if only because as overwhelming as Chamberlain was, his previous best was 78 points.
If there was just something more tangible for people in past and future generations to grasp from that game, then this record might get the respect it truly deserves.
Not that it’s disrespected. Over the years, we have had chances to put what Wilt did into perspective.
This era got to see Michael Jordan do things on a basketball court we’d only imagined before, and he never got within 30 of a 100-point game. We also saw Kobe Bryant score 81, saw it in real time, and were able to alert anyone we knew that it was happening right now. That’s still not even in the ballpark, and that was with the three-point shot available.
It’s the kind of record that no one really ever expects to be broken.
A baseball player gets past 30 games in a hit streak once a decade or so, and the anticipation builds. In the 1970s, Pete Rose got into the 40s. That’s a lot closer to DiMaggio than anyone has gotten to Wilt in half a century.
Plenty of other iconic records have gone down lately, or at least been threatened. There now has been a postseason no-hitter pitched. Ruth no long owns the big home-run marks, nor is Lou Gehrig’s games-played streak the record anymore. Wayne Gretzky blew away the major records in hockey. NFL records fall seemingly every year.
Even Chamberlain’s career NBA scoring total is long gone; he’s fourth all-time, and is one healthy Kobe season away from falling to fifth.
But that 100-point game … no one has even gotten a sniff of it in 50 years. There’s no reason to believe anyone will get a sniff in the next 50.
That’s how great, and unbreakable, that record is.
You want details of how great, though? You’ll have to see and hear the handful who were there, and take their word for it.
Weekend lookahead: Is Kobe Bryant out for revenge on Dwyane Wade?
Games to watch: Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, Friday; Miami at L.A. Lakers, Sunday
This could be a good weekend for vengeance in L.A.
First up is Sacramento, the team that delivered the Lakers a 100-91 loss in the second game of the season, pretty thoroughly exposing the Lakers’ ongoing problems with guard play—Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans combined for 47 points to lead the Kings. The Lakers have dominated Sacramento in recent years, winning nine of their last 10 before this season, and they’ll try to return to form on that front Friday.
But the game everyone will be watching comes on Sunday, when masked man Kobe Bryant faces the player who knocked his nose out of whack and gave him a concussion to boot, Miami’s Dwyane Wade. During last Sunday’s All-Star Game, Wade swiped at a rebound and caught Bryant in the face. Bryant finished the game and went through the league’s concussion protocol, but had to be fitted for a mask he will wear until the nose heals.
There has been much talk of whether Wade’s foul was intentional and how the Lakers will repay Wade, but Bryant tried to defuse such chatter on Wednesday.
“It was very simple, he didn’t mean to do it,” Bryant told reporters. “He’s not that kind of person. ... He’s a nicer guy than I am, to be honest with you. He’s just not the type of person who would do something like that.”
Player to watch: Brook Lopez, Nets
Lopez has been the subject of much attention this season, but not for the best of reasons. When the Nets emerged as the prime suitors for Magic center Dwight Howard, it was Lopez who was the key piece in a potential deal. But then Lopez injured his foot and derailed the team’s pursuit of Howard. He returned on February 19, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that he reminded us just how good an offensive big man he can be, when he dropped in 38 points on 17-for-28 shooting against the Mavericks.
“We kind of took the handcuffs off him,” coach Avery Johnson said. “We weren’t putting him on a minute restriction. We’ve got a pretty good schedule right now and he got a pretty good rest over the All-Star break, so we just kept feeding him.” Lopez has good matchups this weekend against the Celtics and Bobcats.
Matchup to watch: Arron Afflalo vs. Danny Green, Nuggets at Spurs, Sunday
Yes, on a team that includes Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, it is Danny Green who should most concern the Nuggets. That’s because Green has put up 16 or more points only four times in his career, and two of those came in high-scoring wins over Denver this year.
Back on Jan. 7, Green posted a career-high 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting to lead the Spurs to a 121-117 win. Then, on Feb. 23, Green went for 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Green has scored 277 points this season—14.4 percent of them came in those two games against Denver.
On a roll: Indiana
One thing that has been consistent about the Pacers all year is that they rarely lose to teams they should beat— they have just three losses to teams that are currently below .500.
So give them a stretch in which they play four of five at home against the Bobcats twice, plus the Nets, Hornets and Warriors, and you’re probably going to wind up with a five-game winning streak. Which is exactly what the Pacers have going, with a Saturday game in New Orleans up next. Things will toughen up starting on Monday when the Pacers go to Chicago, the first of nine straight playoff teams Indiana will face.
Getting desperate: Philadelphia
The Sixers have lost six of seven, and Wednesday’s loss to the Thunder was particularly troubling.
Early in the year, Philadelphia was young and confident, but that confidence has dried up; against Oklahoma City, the Sixers had 11 straight misses that turned a seven-point lead into a loss. For a team that doesn't rebound well (the Sixers are 24th in rebound rate, at 48.7 percent) and doesn't get to the foul line much (last in percentage of points from free throws, at 14.3), scoring in transition is key. But when teams slowed the Sixers into a halfcourt team, the results haven’t been pretty. The Sixers get the Warriors Friday and the Bulls on Sunday.
This could be a good weekend for vengeance in L.A.
First up is Sacramento, the team that delivered the Lakers a 100-91 loss in the second game of the season, pretty thoroughly exposing the Lakers’ ongoing problems with guard play—Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans combined for 47 points to lead the Kings. The Lakers have dominated Sacramento in recent years, winning nine of their last 10 before this season, and they’ll try to return to form on that front Friday.
But the game everyone will be watching comes on Sunday, when masked man Kobe Bryant faces the player who knocked his nose out of whack and gave him a concussion to boot, Miami’s Dwyane Wade. During last Sunday’s All-Star Game, Wade swiped at a rebound and caught Bryant in the face. Bryant finished the game and went through the league’s concussion protocol, but had to be fitted for a mask he will wear until the nose heals.
There has been much talk of whether Wade’s foul was intentional and how the Lakers will repay Wade, but Bryant tried to defuse such chatter on Wednesday.
“It was very simple, he didn’t mean to do it,” Bryant told reporters. “He’s not that kind of person. ... He’s a nicer guy than I am, to be honest with you. He’s just not the type of person who would do something like that.”
Player to watch: Brook Lopez, Nets
Lopez has been the subject of much attention this season, but not for the best of reasons. When the Nets emerged as the prime suitors for Magic center Dwight Howard, it was Lopez who was the key piece in a potential deal. But then Lopez injured his foot and derailed the team’s pursuit of Howard. He returned on February 19, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that he reminded us just how good an offensive big man he can be, when he dropped in 38 points on 17-for-28 shooting against the Mavericks.
“We kind of took the handcuffs off him,” coach Avery Johnson said. “We weren’t putting him on a minute restriction. We’ve got a pretty good schedule right now and he got a pretty good rest over the All-Star break, so we just kept feeding him.” Lopez has good matchups this weekend against the Celtics and Bobcats.
Matchup to watch: Arron Afflalo vs. Danny Green, Nuggets at Spurs, Sunday
Yes, on a team that includes Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, it is Danny Green who should most concern the Nuggets. That’s because Green has put up 16 or more points only four times in his career, and two of those came in high-scoring wins over Denver this year.
Back on Jan. 7, Green posted a career-high 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting to lead the Spurs to a 121-117 win. Then, on Feb. 23, Green went for 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Green has scored 277 points this season—14.4 percent of them came in those two games against Denver.
On a roll: Indiana
One thing that has been consistent about the Pacers all year is that they rarely lose to teams they should beat— they have just three losses to teams that are currently below .500.
So give them a stretch in which they play four of five at home against the Bobcats twice, plus the Nets, Hornets and Warriors, and you’re probably going to wind up with a five-game winning streak. Which is exactly what the Pacers have going, with a Saturday game in New Orleans up next. Things will toughen up starting on Monday when the Pacers go to Chicago, the first of nine straight playoff teams Indiana will face.
Getting desperate: Philadelphia
The Sixers have lost six of seven, and Wednesday’s loss to the Thunder was particularly troubling.
Early in the year, Philadelphia was young and confident, but that confidence has dried up; against Oklahoma City, the Sixers had 11 straight misses that turned a seven-point lead into a loss. For a team that doesn't rebound well (the Sixers are 24th in rebound rate, at 48.7 percent) and doesn't get to the foul line much (last in percentage of points from free throws, at 14.3), scoring in transition is key. But when teams slowed the Sixers into a halfcourt team, the results haven’t been pretty. The Sixers get the Warriors Friday and the Bulls on Sunday.
Former Redskins coordinator Gregg Williams reportedly ran bounty system in Washington
The Washington Redskins reportedly rewarded players for big hits through a bounty system under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, similar to the one unearthed in an NFL investigation into the New Orleans Saints.
Four players, three of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, informed The Washington Post of details behind a bounty system under Williams. Three of the players said Williams gave out thousands for hits and paid premium dollars for “kill shots” that knocked a star player on the opposing team out of the game, the newspaper reported.
“You got compensated more for a kill shot than you did other hits,” said a former player, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Phillip Daniels, a former defensive lineman, was the only player who spoke to The Washington Post on the record. Now the team’s director of player development, Daniels spoke on the record and defended Williams’ coaching.
“I think it is wrong the way they’re trying to paint [Williams],” Daniels said. “He never told us to go out there and break a guy’s neck or break a guy’s leg. It was all in the context of good, hard football.”
More Sporting News
Warner not surprised by bounty system
NFL investigates ex-Satints coordinator for bounty system
Players revealed compensation for hits were between “hundreds and thousands of dollars,” with the highest bounty paid out believed to be $8,000.
Daniels told The Washington Post he believed Williams started the bounty program with money collected from fines for players who were late to meetings or practice. He told the newspaper the most he received was $1,500 for a four-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2005. Daniels said Williams gave out more money for what he deemed as “physical plays.”
However, other players said Williams was a “coach who just took it a little too far.”
“He actually had a saying, ‘If you cut the snake’s head off, the body will die,’ that was his motto,” said the player. “It was made clear that he was talking about not just running backs who turned their heads the opposite way and how they would go down, but also about other stars on offense that were the best players on that team.”
The NFL announced Friday that the Saints had an improper bounty system that paid players up to $1,500 for a “knockout” hit and $1,000 if opponents were carted off the field between the 2009-2011 seasons.
The Redskins declined to speak with The Washington Post through team spokesman Tony Wyllie.
Four players, three of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, informed The Washington Post of details behind a bounty system under Williams. Three of the players said Williams gave out thousands for hits and paid premium dollars for “kill shots” that knocked a star player on the opposing team out of the game, the newspaper reported.
“You got compensated more for a kill shot than you did other hits,” said a former player, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Phillip Daniels, a former defensive lineman, was the only player who spoke to The Washington Post on the record. Now the team’s director of player development, Daniels spoke on the record and defended Williams’ coaching.
“I think it is wrong the way they’re trying to paint [Williams],” Daniels said. “He never told us to go out there and break a guy’s neck or break a guy’s leg. It was all in the context of good, hard football.”
More Sporting News
Warner not surprised by bounty system
NFL investigates ex-Satints coordinator for bounty system
Players revealed compensation for hits were between “hundreds and thousands of dollars,” with the highest bounty paid out believed to be $8,000.
Daniels told The Washington Post he believed Williams started the bounty program with money collected from fines for players who were late to meetings or practice. He told the newspaper the most he received was $1,500 for a four-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2005. Daniels said Williams gave out more money for what he deemed as “physical plays.”
However, other players said Williams was a “coach who just took it a little too far.”
“He actually had a saying, ‘If you cut the snake’s head off, the body will die,’ that was his motto,” said the player. “It was made clear that he was talking about not just running backs who turned their heads the opposite way and how they would go down, but also about other stars on offense that were the best players on that team.”
The NFL announced Friday that the Saints had an improper bounty system that paid players up to $1,500 for a “knockout” hit and $1,000 if opponents were carted off the field between the 2009-2011 seasons.
The Redskins declined to speak with The Washington Post through team spokesman Tony Wyllie.
Kurt Warner not surprised by Saints' bounty system
Former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner said he wasn’t surprised by the NFL investigation that claims the Saints had a bounty system for defensive players from 2009-11.
“It’s definitely disappointing, but I won’t say that I’m completely surprised,” Warner told KTAR Radio in Phoenix via ProFootballTalk.com. “And, again, not necessarily the Saints, but I’m not surprised that there were teams out there doing those kinds of things behind closed doors.”
The Saints’ system, administered by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and funded primarily by defensive players, rewarded players for knocking offensive opponents out of a game. According to the investigation, the Saints targeted Warner and Brett Favre.
In Warner’s final game in the NFL—the Cardinals were defeated by the Saints in the 2009 playoffs—he took a big hit from defensive end Bobby McCray. As it turns out, the Saints had a bounty system at the time.
Warner said the hit against the Saints didn’t end his career. “No, absolutely not,” he said. “It was a nice exclamation point on it.”
Warner added, “It was a violent hit, no question. But I also believe it was a legal hit.”
Warner said he wasn’t aware of bounty systems during his career, but he said it would be naïve to think players don’t try to knock opponents out of games. According to the NFL investigation, Saints players were paid $1,500 for a "knockout" hit and $1,000 for a “cart-off.” Payments increased in playoffs.
“I think that’s part of the game, and I think that’s part of the mindset,” Warner said. “And I’m not going to tell you that I haven’t believed that there was probably defensive players that got together and said, ‘Hey, you know, a thousand bucks for the first guy to knock Kurt out of a football game.’ I’m sure that’s been a part of our league for a long time.”
“It’s definitely disappointing, but I won’t say that I’m completely surprised,” Warner told KTAR Radio in Phoenix via ProFootballTalk.com. “And, again, not necessarily the Saints, but I’m not surprised that there were teams out there doing those kinds of things behind closed doors.”
The Saints’ system, administered by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and funded primarily by defensive players, rewarded players for knocking offensive opponents out of a game. According to the investigation, the Saints targeted Warner and Brett Favre.
In Warner’s final game in the NFL—the Cardinals were defeated by the Saints in the 2009 playoffs—he took a big hit from defensive end Bobby McCray. As it turns out, the Saints had a bounty system at the time.
Warner said the hit against the Saints didn’t end his career. “No, absolutely not,” he said. “It was a nice exclamation point on it.”
Warner added, “It was a violent hit, no question. But I also believe it was a legal hit.”
Warner said he wasn’t aware of bounty systems during his career, but he said it would be naïve to think players don’t try to knock opponents out of games. According to the NFL investigation, Saints players were paid $1,500 for a "knockout" hit and $1,000 for a “cart-off.” Payments increased in playoffs.
“I think that’s part of the game, and I think that’s part of the mindset,” Warner said. “And I’m not going to tell you that I haven’t believed that there was probably defensive players that got together and said, ‘Hey, you know, a thousand bucks for the first guy to knock Kurt out of a football game.’ I’m sure that’s been a part of our league for a long time.”
3.01.2012
NBA Report: Lamar Odom close to return
The Dallas Mavericks hope to have Lamar Odom, who has been out for personal reasons, back in
a few days, but he may make an NBDL stop first.
Odom is likely to play at least one game with the Mavericks' D-League affiliate in nearby
Frisco to, as one source told ESPN, "get his legs back under him."
Odom missed last Wednesday’s game against the Lakers, his former team, to be with his sick
father in L.A., and also did not play Tuesday at home against the Nets or Wednesday in
Memphis.
Owner Mark Cuban earlier this week shot down talk of a pending buyout. "We haven't discussed
a buyout and we wouldn't do a buyout,” Cuban wrote in an email to ESPN Dallas. “No chance
that happens at all. We want to help Lamar work through any personal issues and expect him
to be a valuable contributor to the Mavs this season. Players go through challenges from
time to time and we try to be (an) organization that fully supports our players when things
are challenging for them. We will do the same for Lamar."
It’s been a tough year for Odom. He considered retiring during the offseason after his
younger cousin died. Then, before the season, he was traded from L.A. to Dallas, where he
has underperformed, averaging 21.4 minutes, 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists, all,
by far, career lows.
a few days, but he may make an NBDL stop first.
Odom is likely to play at least one game with the Mavericks' D-League affiliate in nearby
Frisco to, as one source told ESPN, "get his legs back under him."
Odom missed last Wednesday’s game against the Lakers, his former team, to be with his sick
father in L.A., and also did not play Tuesday at home against the Nets or Wednesday in
Memphis.
Owner Mark Cuban earlier this week shot down talk of a pending buyout. "We haven't discussed
a buyout and we wouldn't do a buyout,” Cuban wrote in an email to ESPN Dallas. “No chance
that happens at all. We want to help Lamar work through any personal issues and expect him
to be a valuable contributor to the Mavs this season. Players go through challenges from
time to time and we try to be (an) organization that fully supports our players when things
are challenging for them. We will do the same for Lamar."
It’s been a tough year for Odom. He considered retiring during the offseason after his
younger cousin died. Then, before the season, he was traded from L.A. to Dallas, where he
has underperformed, averaging 21.4 minutes, 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists, all,
by far, career lows.
Scott Skiles brushes off Stephen Jackson outburst
Things have not gone quite as planned for Stephen Jackson in Milwaukee this year. After the
Charlotte Bobcats traded him to the Bucks before the lockout, he showed up for camp out of
shape, struggled badly on the floor, took a suspension from the team for missing a bus and
from the league for arguing with a referee. He was knocked out of the starting lineup and
then out of the rotation, to boot.
He raised some eyebrows two weeks ago when he told Hoopsworld.com that his relationship with
coach Scott Skiles was irreparable.
MORE NBA TRADE RUMORS
— Report: Boston Celtics put Rajon Rondo on block
— Report: Dwight Howard would not sign extension with Los Angeles Lakers
“To not be playing, and not have any reasons behind it, it’s kind of disrespectful,”
Jackson said. “At the end of the day, I’m 33 years old. I’m not a 22-year-old guy that
you’re coaching. I’m a grown man who’s probably done more than a lot of people in this
locker room in this league, including coaches.”
The Bucks, obviously, would be very willing to deal Jackson before the March 15 NBA trade
deadline. But he’s a guy who is shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from
the 3-point line, and is owed $10.6 million next year. He also carries a reputation as a
royal pain in the neck, as he has shown with his Milwaukee experience. The logical next
step, assuming no trade can be made, would be the Bucks buying Jackson out or waiving him
outright.
Despite the rocky first two months of their relationship, Skiles said he still thinks that
the team can get something out of Jackson, currently out with a hamstring injury, this year.
Skiles said Jackson talked with team trainer Marc Boff, and that he could return in a week
or two. From there? Well, who knows.
“I am hopeful we can turn the whole thing around and he can be part of that,” Skiles said.
“We’ll see. When he can get cleared to go, hopefully, it’s not—with the way the schedule
is, dealing with these injuries, typically a guy will get kind of cleared, you’ll work him
in with a practice day and the play in a game. With not much practice time, sometimes guys
will get cleared and you’re putting them out there in a game. We’ll have to see what
happens.”
But, I reminded Skiles, Jackson said their relationship was broken beyond repair. He had
also said that the Bucks had not spoken to him about changing his role, though, and that was
simply not true, Skiles pointed out. “Look, I am not going to get in a (expletive) contest
about it,” Skiles said. “We’ve had many conversations. I also read that he hadn’t been
talked to and, you know, I’ll let other people judge that.”
Either way, Jackson’s remarks have not done much for his trade value. “You’d never say
never, of course, but it is hard to imagine anyone taking him on,” one general manager
said. “He still thinks he can play like he is 28. He can’t. That might be news to him, but
I don’t think it is news to the rest of us.”
The Bucks had hoped that Jackson could do for the team what John Salmons and Corey Maggette
before him had failed to do—provide a consistent scoring outlet for point guard Brandon
Jennings. While it may be that Jackson has already played his last games for the Bucks,
Jennings joins Skiles in his belief that Jackson can still come back and contribute.
“He has been positive in the locker room and in practice,” Jennings said. “That hasn’t
been a problem. He goes hard in practice, he goes hard every day. He is waiting to get
another chance and when he does, he is going to do his thing.”
What Jackson’s “thing” is these days is difficult to determine—he did average 18.5
points last year, so theoretically he can still score. But he dropped off this season, even
before his attitude problems surfaced. Skiles might think he can still draw something out of
Jackson, but there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of that.
Charlotte Bobcats traded him to the Bucks before the lockout, he showed up for camp out of
shape, struggled badly on the floor, took a suspension from the team for missing a bus and
from the league for arguing with a referee. He was knocked out of the starting lineup and
then out of the rotation, to boot.
He raised some eyebrows two weeks ago when he told Hoopsworld.com that his relationship with
coach Scott Skiles was irreparable.
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“To not be playing, and not have any reasons behind it, it’s kind of disrespectful,”
Jackson said. “At the end of the day, I’m 33 years old. I’m not a 22-year-old guy that
you’re coaching. I’m a grown man who’s probably done more than a lot of people in this
locker room in this league, including coaches.”
The Bucks, obviously, would be very willing to deal Jackson before the March 15 NBA trade
deadline. But he’s a guy who is shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from
the 3-point line, and is owed $10.6 million next year. He also carries a reputation as a
royal pain in the neck, as he has shown with his Milwaukee experience. The logical next
step, assuming no trade can be made, would be the Bucks buying Jackson out or waiving him
outright.
Despite the rocky first two months of their relationship, Skiles said he still thinks that
the team can get something out of Jackson, currently out with a hamstring injury, this year.
Skiles said Jackson talked with team trainer Marc Boff, and that he could return in a week
or two. From there? Well, who knows.
“I am hopeful we can turn the whole thing around and he can be part of that,” Skiles said.
“We’ll see. When he can get cleared to go, hopefully, it’s not—with the way the schedule
is, dealing with these injuries, typically a guy will get kind of cleared, you’ll work him
in with a practice day and the play in a game. With not much practice time, sometimes guys
will get cleared and you’re putting them out there in a game. We’ll have to see what
happens.”
But, I reminded Skiles, Jackson said their relationship was broken beyond repair. He had
also said that the Bucks had not spoken to him about changing his role, though, and that was
simply not true, Skiles pointed out. “Look, I am not going to get in a (expletive) contest
about it,” Skiles said. “We’ve had many conversations. I also read that he hadn’t been
talked to and, you know, I’ll let other people judge that.”
Either way, Jackson’s remarks have not done much for his trade value. “You’d never say
never, of course, but it is hard to imagine anyone taking him on,” one general manager
said. “He still thinks he can play like he is 28. He can’t. That might be news to him, but
I don’t think it is news to the rest of us.”
The Bucks had hoped that Jackson could do for the team what John Salmons and Corey Maggette
before him had failed to do—provide a consistent scoring outlet for point guard Brandon
Jennings. While it may be that Jackson has already played his last games for the Bucks,
Jennings joins Skiles in his belief that Jackson can still come back and contribute.
“He has been positive in the locker room and in practice,” Jennings said. “That hasn’t
been a problem. He goes hard in practice, he goes hard every day. He is waiting to get
another chance and when he does, he is going to do his thing.”
What Jackson’s “thing” is these days is difficult to determine—he did average 18.5
points last year, so theoretically he can still score. But he dropped off this season, even
before his attitude problems surfaced. Skiles might think he can still draw something out of
Jackson, but there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of that.
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