Nike Basketball News

The Collection: Steph Curry Away Player Edition Hyperdunk 2010

tonyhellberg1 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:37:44 GMT

Responsive cushioning for every launch and landing doesn’t just apply to high-flyers.

See: the baseline-to-baseline mini-marathon Steph Curry runs each and every night.

Lightweight, explosive speed teams with full lateral support - for lead guards forever in search of the next crease between the trees.

Flex grooves in the forefoot were engineered with scorers like Steph in mind, assisting flexible versatility from tear drops to well beyond the three-point line.

This is the Steph Curry Away Player Edition Hyperdunk 2010.

The Collection: Jermaine O’Neal Away Player Edition Closer IV

tonyhellberg1 — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:03:29 GMT

High school. Feet wet. Most Improved. All-Star.

Jermaine O’Neal became an MVP candidate through hard work, honing a skill set that would make him a perennial 20-and-10 type - capable of dominating the glass, protecting the rim and getting buckets on any given night.

All that success - when paired with a pro basketball odometer than began running when he was 18 - now demands optimal protection and durability. Lateral sidewalls, lightweight Phylon midsoles and forefoot toe caps.

Enter: the Jermaine O’Neal Away Player Edition Closer IV.

The shoe he’ll rock when Boston goes out on tour, looking to grab hold of the one thing that’s eluded him all these years: a championship ring.

Nike Air: Brandon Roy

TheLetterJ — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:00:55 GMT

You probably know that three-time NBA All-Star Brandon Roy is busy helping the Portland Trail Blazers fight for a higher seed for the Western Conference playoffs.

But did you also know about the other work he is doing?

MVPuppets: Mystery of the Missing VII, Part 2

TheLetterJ — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:29:45 GMT

The Mystery of the Missing VII has been solved.

Although Puppet Kobe seems to believe there is a new mystery to be solved.

MVPuppets: Mystery of the Missing VII

TheLetterJ — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:42:17 GMT

LeBron is missing his Air Max LeBron VII. Where is it? Who took it?

There's only one thing he can do. Call a detective, and put him on...the Mystery of the Missing VII.

MVPuppets: We're Back

TheLetterJ — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:38 GMT

Looks like Puppet LeBron and Puppet Kobe are back again this season.

Last season ended with Puppet Kobe celebrating his fourth cookie while Puppet LeBron spent time at home with Lil' Dez.

This season begins with the MVPuppets arguing over the age-old question: who would win in a fight between a lion and a black mamba?

Dream Season: 23 & 24 - LeBron James 2009 MVP

GoodN81 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:37:12 GMT

In this extended piece to the Dream Season: 23 & 24 series, relive the crowning of the League’s 2009 MVP. Fittingly, LeBron accepts the award where it all began St. Vincent-St. Mary’s HS in Akron, OH. It was there, in the gym where LeBron lit up the scoreboard with teammates Romeo, Willie, Sian, and Dru. LeBron shows us the town, the school, and even the lockers where he and the Fab 5 prepared for gametime.

Be sure to follow LeBron as he continues the More Than A Game Tour back in the US.
More Than A Game Tour

NBA 360 Spinback: LeBron James

GoodN81 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:33:37 GMT

Take a look back at some of the greatest highlights of LeBron James’ inspiring career. We take a trip down memory lane, starting with LeBron’s very first appearance in an NBA jersey. And from the moment he stepped on the court as a pro his intensity has never let up. It’s full-court, all-position basketball.

Be sure to follow LeBron as he continues the More Than A Game Tour back in the US.
More Than A Game Tour

More Than A Game: The Tour

GoodN81 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:24:36 GMT

The More Than A Game Tour is kicking off. Follow all the action from the road as LeBron and his teammates from Saint Vincent - Saint Mary travel the world.

Unstoppable Drive

nikebasketball_emea — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:01:36 GMT

To perform at the Final Four, you need drive - an unstoppable drive. Go behind-the-scenes and find out how Josh Childress, coach Messina, MVP Spanoulis and others prepared for the showdown in Berlin.

LeBron James: 2009 NBA MVP

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:56:13 GMT

What separates a great player from a Most Valuable Player? After breaking countless individual scoring records and winning gold in Beijing, this season, LeBron found the answer.

His stats speak for themselves-28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. Now, had LeBron put up those numbers on an average team, he would be in the discussion, but it wouldn't be a lock. Not without the team he's built bonds with out there in Cleveland.

Lebron's name topped every list even before the midseason break because he stuffed the stat sheet within the team concept. Everything he's done this season-- on both ends of the court-has been totally within the framework of the Cavs, exactly as it's been discussed in the locker room and on the practice court. His level of devotion to his squad is unrivaled in the league right now. His unique ability to inspire and lift his teammates perform better has also moved legions of fans around the world to do the same.

There are a several good players in Cleveland, and they're all better because of LeBron. Not just because his presence occupies so much of the opponent's attention, creating opportunities for them to shine. From the moment the bus leaves for the airport to the moment the final buzzer sounds, something of LeBron is rubbing off on each of those players-advice on a subtle way to defend the pick-and-roll, working on the best angle to cut so that LeBron can get them the rock, or working on a pre-game routine that helps break up a long and sometimes exhausting season.

That's what a leader does, that's what a great teammate does. He changes the game with a clutch shot, an impossible pass, a cheer from the sidelines, or a cloud of chalk. It's why he's considered one of the greatest of all time. It's why in 2008-2009, he's the most valuable.

It all comes down to details.

nikebasketball_emea — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:40:23 GMT

The moment has come. Four massive teams. A world-beating battle. But this time, more than ever, it’s the little things that will make the difference.

Little things, like being that nano-second faster to the rim, gaining that one extra inch of air, earning the psychological edge by analysing your opponent’s offensive plays.

These are the details we’ve all been working on for weeks – preparing our players for every possible scenario; thoroughly outlining our opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

It’s a tough time for the players. They want to perform in the national league but they don’t want to risk getting injured right before the greatest moment of their season.

That’s why I need them to focus on the game only, so I have to find that delicate balance they need to be confident, but not too relaxed. And to be excited, but not nervous.

The team most capable of eliminating even the tiniest of distractions will have the greatest chance of winning. I can give my players all I can - but once they’re on the court, it's up to them.

I don’t know what will happen, how we will play, or even if we will win. But this I do know: I won’t miss a single detail that can help make us first in Europe.

Ettore Messina

Playing the big games

nikebasketball_emea — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:22:35 GMT

Here we go – the final four. The stakes are higher. The game is different. But the objective is still the same: winning.

We’re always the team everyone wants to beat, so we’ve learned to take every game seriously - no matter who we’re playing against. At the final four we’ll meet the best teams in Europe. And we’ll meet them on a night they’re most eager to crush us. But we’re used to that, our opponents are always coming at us armed to the teeth.

You can’t worry about high stakes or rivalry during the game. Once you allow these thoughts to takeover your mind, you’ll lose focus of what the team’s supposed to do. You lose focus of your defensive assignment or that cut you’re supposed to make on offence. You should always focus on winning; let the fans worry about rivalry.

At the final four, we’ll take the teams as they come. It’s not about who we’re playing - all the teams are tough and experienced. It’s about what you want to achieve. If you want to be the best, you have to play the best - and beat them.

NO PRESSURE

nikebasketball_emea — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:04 GMT

This is it - the final chapter of the season, the Final Four. The pressure’s breathing down your neck - but you can’t let it take control. Any distractions will only damage your game.

I’ve been in this situation for the last seven years, so it’s easy for me to say. But it’s true; it’s not about the pressure. It’s about the team that performs best - the team that manages to stick to their play, because that’s what brought them to the finals in the first place.

There’s only one way to do this: work even harder, get into the best possible shape and prepare your team for any situation. Make sure you know how to react when you’re down ten points in the final, or whether to shoot or to pass with just seconds left on the shot clock.

Finals will always bring high expectations. There will always be that immense pressure, but in the end results aren’t decided by outside pressure - they’re decided by the team.

Theo

NBA, HERE WE COME.

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:15:53 GMT

Recently we played a Euroleague game in Belgrade in front of 22,000 frantic fans. European basketball is getting big. And not just big – it’s getting better every year, with major talents rising in every team.

European players have become top athletes; they’re quicker, jump higher, run faster and yet they’ve maintained their typical European team style. They can still open up a game with smart passes, and they still look for the open man.

So what has caused this giant leap in quality? Well, first of all, the simple fact that the European fan base has massively grown over the years and games are now televised all over the continent. This has made European Basketball more professional – allowing players and teams to evolve.

This increased level of professionalism can also be seen in the high standard of referees. The European game is one of the toughest games to ref because of the high level of contact. Just ten years ago it was very hard to win away games, especially in some hot spots. But our refs just kept getting better and better. Nowadays, if you play hard and smart, you have a fair chance of winning abroad - no matter how hot the crowd.

And finally, THE GAME IS GETTING GLOBAL. Twenty years ago, European teams only had two foreigners and most of the time, they were unknown Americans. Today, we see American stars in the Euroleague and an increasing number of European top players in the NBA. Although the greatest superstars are still from the US, there’s new talent from all over the world waiting to take over.

The European fans, still love the great NBA stars but they also get more and more excited by the intensity and the drama involved in most of our games. The distance between us and the magic world of the NBA is still there but, believe me, we're closing in - fast.

Ettore Messina