Nike Basketball News

The Collection: Mehmet Okur Away Player Edition Shox Pro

tonyhellberg1 — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:36:06 GMT

The effort required to come back from a torn Achilles tendon: insane.

To do so in just 8 months time? A testament to the player’s love for the game. But really: what would you expect from a sweet-shooting European big man who carved out a championship, All-Star career path in The Association.

Effort in, energy out.

That’s what happens with the Shox columns and Zoom units featured in the Nike Shox Pro: responsive cushioning for 6’11” studs who defy the laws of physics by checking in from the three-point strip at a near-.400 clip.

The slower rate of impact loading reduces impact down on the block; the energy-efficient materials enhance glass-cleaning spring.

Welcome back, Memo.

This is your Away Player Edition Shox Pro.

The Collection: Deron Williams Away Player Edition Hyperfuse

tonyhellberg1 — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:19:19 GMT

Strong. Breathable. Lightweight.

So he can remain sturdy while bearing the brunt of abuse in the wake of another suffocating crossover into the paint.

Explosive on-court performance revolutionized by “fusing” the distinct layers of the shoe.

Just like Deron engineers the potent Utah offense, uniting traditional pick-and-roll precision with open-court demolitions.

This is the Deron Williams Away Player Edition Hyperfuse.

The Collection: Deron Williams Player Edition Hyperfuse

tonyhellberg1 — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:19:36 GMT

The rugged Utah offense is constructed for abuse. Pick. Roll. Screen. Move.

Stable and strong - with a subtle ballet of explosiveness built by the dribble.

Enter: Deron Williams.

Durable. Distinct. Abrupt in his deconstruction of opposing defenses.

Just like the Deron Williams Player Edition Hyperfuse.

WBF Blog: 1 on 1 Karl Malone vs Carlos Boozer

tonyhellberg1 — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:58:16 GMT

The shadow of the year-round, snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

The modern history of a no-nonsense franchise built of the broad shoulders of its home-grown power forwards.

The next generation of one of the greatest of all-time.

Karl Malone seemed to be carved out of those mountainous shadows - his feathery jumper belying the raw power that could’ve forged its valleys on a ravenous path to the rim.

Carlos Boozer fits the mold Malone broke - his affinity for using the soft touch of his off-hand around the rim wrapping a steam engine’s biceps capable of squeezing the air out of every rebound.

Malone overpowered small town roots to become one of the biggest stars the NBA has ever seen; Boozer created a crafty all-around game to negate the perceived height disadvantage he faces nightly.

1-on-1:

Energy Solutions Arena. Empty stands. Nothing but pride on the line.

Could Boozer take Malone?

The Collection 3.0: Hypermax Carlos Boozer

TheLetterJ — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:17:01 GMT

Carlos Boozer finished up the 2009-2010 season sixth in field goal percentage (.562), third in defensive rebounds (693), and fourth in total rebounds (874). Carlos' performance is one of the reasons the Utah Jazz finished with a 53-29 record, and won the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.

Take a look at this Hypermax designed for C-Booz.

The Collection 3.0: Air Max Hyperize Carlos Boozer

TheLetterJ — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:25:49 GMT

Tonight, the Utah Jazz have a chance to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals with a win over the Denver Nuggets.

A big reason for Utah's three victories has been the play of Carlos Boozer. After averaging 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds during the regular season, Carlos has stepped it up in the playoffs, averaging 22.6 points and 12.0 rebounds.

Take a look at the Air Max Hyperize that Carlos has been wearing in the post-season.

The Collection 3.0: Shox Vision Andrei Kirilenko

TheLetterJ — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:39:15 GMT

The top two teams of today's Western Conference will play tonight, as the Utah Jazz are in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. The Lakers have dropped two straight, while the Jazz have won eight of the last 10, including the last three.

The Jazz have been without Andrei Kirilenko for nine of the past 11 games, as he works through a left calf injury. On the year, AK47 is averaging 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.

Check out the Shox Vision that Andrei has been wearing this season.

Combat Players of the Week: December 7 to November 13

TheLetterJ — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:28:19 GMT

Basketball is combat. You have to attack your man on both ends of the floor. That means pushing the ball on offense, taking it to the hole, being willing to draw contact and then fight through it to finish. It means attacking on defense. Getting position and maintaining that position. Taking the ball away and altering shots. And owning the glass – being relentless on both the offensive and defensive side.

Every Monday, a guard, a wing, and a big will be nominated as the Combat Players of the Week. The team that exemplifies what Combat is all about will be recognized, as well. Here are the players who were Prepared For Combat last week.

Guard: Deron Williams (Utah Jazz)
D Will dropped 21 points and 11 assists, leading the Jazz to a big win over the Lakers, ending their 11-game winning streak. And he has been leading the Jazz’s attack, getting to the line 25 times while dropping 26 assists over the past two games.

Wing: Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies)
Gay dropped a career high 41 points, hitting 15 of 28 from the field in a big win at Miami. On the season, he's pulling down 6.6 boards/game and locking down 1.7 steals/game – both well above his career averages.

Big: Kenyon Martin (Denver Nuggets)
Martin battled back from a dislocated left pinkie and his tough play led the Nuggets to a big win against Phoenix. His presence on both ends of the floor made the difference - with tough D in limiting the Suns’ pick-and-roll game, plus 12 points and 9 boards.

NBA Team: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs won 3 tough games this week, Phoenix, Miami, and Charlotte – running their record to 17-7. On the season, Dallas is locking down the opposition, holding them to 44% shooting and 96.8 points per game, both among the league leaders.

NCAA Team: Kentucky Wildcats
In one week they've taken out North Carolina, Connecticut, and Indiana — the Hoosiers by 17 points on the road in a game they got to the line 21 times and more than doubled the Hoosiers on the glass (49-24). UK is now 10-0, riding a wave of momentum.

Who should be the Combat Player of the Week? Williams, Gay, or Martin?

The Collection 3.0: Zoom Sharkalaid Deron Williams

TheLetterJ — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:33:49 GMT

In his fifth season, Deron Williams is unquestionably one of Utah's leaders, and he hopes the team will make The Leap from playoff team to Western Conference Champion to NBA Champion.

After 12 games, Deron is second in the NBA in assists per game (9.8) and minutes played (39.8).

And during all those minutes, he's been getting an assist from the Zoom Sharkalaid.

Take a look at the wallpaper, and let us know what you think.

Play With Heart Moments: November 18, 2009

TheLetterJ — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:04:05 GMT

A near triple-double and a rookie stepping up highlight Wednesday night's Play With Heart Moments.

Rashard Lewis made his on-court season debut for the Orlando Magic, and was one assist away from his first triple-double in the NBA. The Magic beat the Thunder 108-94, as Lewis rang up 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists - without playing the fourth quarter.

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Eric Maynor chipped in 11 fourth-quarter points in a 104-91 Utah Jazz victory over the Toronto Raptors. With Ronnie Price inactive due to injury, Maynor logged 23 minutes, often as part of a backcourt with Deron Williams, with Maynor running the point, and Williams sliding to shooting guard. Maynor finished wih 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. Stepping up when your team needs you? That's Playing With Heart.

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Don't just play. Play With Heart. See what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

Play With Heart Moments: November 5, 2009

TheLetterJ — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:04:40 GMT

Two stars in Utah scored 27 points each, as the Jazz beat the Spurs for the first time since April 2008, 113-99.

Along with his 27 points, Carlos Boozer had 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. One of those assists came on a pretty pass to rookie Wes Matthews in the second half. He also made two key hustle plays in the first quarter, causing two jump balls on the defensive end. That's Playing With Heart.

Deron Williams had 9 assists - with only two turnovers - and 7 rebounds to with his 27 points. His steady play running the offense led the Jazz to 53% shooting for the game.

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Don't just play. Play With Heart. Check out what Playing With Heart means to LeBron James, and pledge your heart to the game.

School Days: Paul Millsap

TheLetterJ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:19:42 GMT

Four brothers born in Monroe, Louisiana.

"I think it made me who I am. Growing up was really competitive and I think that helped us out a lot."

One basketball.

"We always had one-on-one games with each other - and that brought us real close."

It's no wonder hooping became a family affair for Paul Millsap - it's actually a right of passage.

"I started playing organized basketball kind of late - so they would actually beat (up on) me. And that was really tough. I was kind of soft back then - and they knew that. So they were always picking on me, trying to take advantage of me and usually, they got the best of me."

But getting the best of him then started Paul on the path that brings the best out of him now.

"It just got really frustrating. Back then I just felt like everybody was just out to pick on me. But it made me grow up - I had to learn how to be tougher. So it turned out to be for my own good."

In part because they were the only basketball role models Paul even knew about.

"You know, I wasn't really into basketball when I was a kid - I didn't really have posters on my walls or anything like that. And because I was really just getting started, I didn't really understand the game. So basically, looking up to my brothers and the way that they played brought me closer to the game."

As the second-oldest, Paul followed in his big brother's footsteps, becoming a double-double machine in college.

"I didn't really feel like I had to live up to him. John has always been good. And he started playing really early so he knew everything about the game. Watching him, watching the things he did to progress in basketball - I learned a lot from that."

Paul's message to today's "little brothers and sisters"?

"Take their (older siblings') advice. These are the people who've been there - who paved the way for us. So anything that they say can help you - try to take it and run with it."

Before he stepped firmly into The Mailman's shadow at Louisiana Tech - becoming the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounding for three consecutive years - Paul muscled up at Grambling High School.

"Basketball was really big there - so I knew that night-in, night-out, I had to show up ready to play. Otherwise people around town were going to be saying something (bad) about my game. It was a lot of pressure, but through it all I had my family there supporting me. To look up in the stands and know that they were there to see me play, that meant a lot to me and helped keep me going."

After surviving his first high school season, Paul felt like he might just be alright.

"It got tough. The running was tough. Practices were tough. But I felt that if I survived all the things that we did, I could really play this game. And from then on, I just always tried to get better every day."

And take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself.

"It's always going to get tougher to get better - things are not going to always go your way. But it's how you bounce back from it. How you handle that tough situations. Most of us don't get too many opportunities, so when you do, you going to take advantage of them."

Displaying the toughness that would eventually lead to NBA All-Rookie honors, Paul led the Kittens to a 30-0 record. His hard-nosed play landed him on the Top 100 McDonald's All-American team and a fourth-team membership on the Parade All-American roster.

Hitting the boards seemed to become part of his every-second thinking.

"My thing was rebounding - it got me a long way. Rebounding was the thing that got me noticed and put me on the map. It's what got me in the door to start getting some opportunities to show that I could really play."

And when it came time to head off to college, Paul relished that chance.

"It didn't really bother me that some of the bigger schools didn't come after me. At the end of the day, maybe you look and try to compare yourself and see what you could've maybe done on another team. But my stats were always there. The work was always there. And getting it done at that level got me where I'm at today."

Even today in the NBA, Paul has never said much about those who've doubted his game.

"I just get on the court and play - I speak through how I play. And what I do on the court speaks for itself. After you get done doing the things that you know you can do, people start to see and realize how good you are. And when you play well, when the production speaks for itself, what can they say then?"

And when you do things that no one else has ever done before, nothing else needs to be said.

"Leading the country in rebounding for three straight years, it meant a lot. It means a lot. I accomplished something that nobody has ever done before and I'm proud of that. It's something I can take with me for the rest of my life."

It's something - that knowing what he's capable of - that helped him stay patient early in his pro career.

"Playing behind Carlos (Boozer) helped me out - I didn't jump into the fire too early. Instead of fighting with him, I watched the things that he did and learned from him. So if you're stuck behind an older kid on your high school team, the first thing you have to understand is that eventually, you're going to have a chance to step into that position. So learn as much as you can until you get there."

But that doesn't mean you sit around hoping and wishing for that time to come.

"I didn't wait for Carlos to get hurt (last year) to become a better player. You have to be ready at all times. And it starts the first day of training camp. It starts the first day of practice, getting yourself mentally and physically prepared for anything. You never know what can happen - so you've got to be ready at all times."

School Days: Ronnie Brewer

TheLetterJ — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:09:47 GMT

His father, Ron, set the bar pretty high, teaming up with a couple other college all-stars to form the fabled "Triplets" - and they led Arkansas to the 1978 Final Four. So Ronnie Brewer was staring history directly in the mirror when he signed to play college ball for the Razorbacks.

"My dad didn’t push me too hard - he didn't want to burn me out on basketball. And it really just made me grow to love it. He saw that I was passionate about the game and to this day he still gives me advice about things on the court - and off the court, too. Not everybody's fortunate enough to have a mom and a dad that’s still in their life and I was blessed to be in that situation."

But blessings didn't stop the comparisons.

"Fayetteville's a small town, so you're always going to get compared to somebody. I was compared to my sister Candice - a two-time all-state basketball player - first, and then once I improved my game I was compared to my dad. Then I went off to the same college where he had an extraordinary career, and I think I was just OK. It was tough, but I think it made me mature a lot faster and deal with stuff a lot better."

Ronnie even wore his father’s uniform number: 10.

"He didn't put any extra pressure on me. And the newspapers or the media didn't really get to me, either. When they compared us, I just thought it was awkward. I mean, I was playing in the 2000s - he played in the 70s. That's 30 years ago. So every time I stepped on the court at Arkansas - even though we wore the same number - I just played my game."

And Ronnie was more than up to the task, earning 1st Team All-SEC (the first Razorback to do so in more than a decade) and Honorable Mention All-America honors while leading Arkansas back to the NCAA Tournament.

"In high school, I was just thinking about maintaining and improving my game to take it to the college level. So around my freshman and sophomore year in college, I realized that if I really put in the work and focused on school, gave that 110 percent and gave athletics that same amount, I might be able to play basketball for a living."

Putting in the work resulted in a lot of extra hours.

"I was in the gym lifting weights, getting shots up, doing extra conditioning work. And I continue to do that today back at Arkansas, because I feel like that pretty much put me over the hump to put me where I'm at today."

For Ronnie, this was really nothing new. He's been living up to his family name for as long as he can remember. And it all started at Fayetteville High School.

"We don’t have professional sports in Arkansas, so high school and college athletics are huge. Fayetteville High School is right down the street from the University of Arkansas. We played right on the hill and had sellout crowds every night. It was a blast. My sister went there and she was a great player, had all the scoring records. I enjoyed it a lot - if I could do it again, I would.”

Before Ronnie became a Fayetteville Bulldog, he was looking directly uphill at a basketball career that didn't seem likely to happen.

"I'm a product of not coming from a (nationally-known) basketball hotbed type of place. Fayetteville, Arkansas didn’t produce any NBA players until I came. So I knew I had to put in the work and do something every single day. Ball-handling, shooting, defense, one-on-ones, if you can work on something every day it's going to make you better in the long run. A lot of hard work will pay off in the end.”

But even with that hard-working mindset, the odds were still really long.

"I would never have thought when I was in junior high or high school that one day I would be playing in the NBA."

And short.

"I was 5'7 1/2" all the way up to the 9th grade. And I grew to a whopping 5'9" and thought maybe I could start at point guard. I didn't hit my growth spurt until my sophomore year, and then my body started developing. But at the same time, when I was small I was already working on my jump shot, working on my ball-handling, working on my defense, just trying to get myself ready and prepare myself to be a better basketball player."

As a senior, Ronnie busted out for 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Fayetteville finished 24-5 and reached the Class 5A semifinals. For his efforts, Ronnie was named the Arkansas Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Parade put him on their All-America team.

"My motto is - and always was - you can't really determine how many shots you're going to make in a game. Or if you're going to have a beautiful (shooting) stroke like some of the best guys in the NBA. Or if you can play the best defense or dish out the most assists. The only thing you can control is playing hard all the time. And that's what I try to do. So if you're not gifted to be able to jump and dunk or dribble and shoot better than somebody else, if you go out there and play as hard as you possibly can, well, that’s something you can control every night."

And three years later - after leading the Razorbacks to the front of the SEC pack - Ronnie was a first-round draft pick of the Utah Jazz.

"I always just tried to go out there and relax and remember that it's just a game. Just play hard and have fun. You're not out there to really impress anybody or force anything. Bottom line: however many years you've been playing the game, if a college coach or an NBA scout is coming to watch you, the ball's going to bounce the same way it always has and the rim is always going to be 10-feet high."

The Family: B-Roy Goes Big

Hotnix — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:16:32 GMT

The NBA has a long history of prolific point guards with ESP, magic hands, and unstoppable pickpocket skills. After his 42 point playoff performance, Portland’s Brandon Roy helping lead the renaissance of the floor general.

As veterans like Steve Nash begin to pass the torch to the next generation of point men, the big story of the past two seasons is worthy of a reality show like America’s Next Top Point Guard.

B-Roy stole the spotlight Tuesday night in Portland's face off against the Rockets. He took over the game from the jump, racking up ten points in the first 12 minutes alone. And after they traded hard earned baskets with Houston all night it was his 42 points that carried them to victory. But Brandon wasn’t alone in his attack.

The Blazer front court always has a way of controlling the paint. LaMarcus Aldridge showed his ever-expanding arsenal, contributing 27 points. Though he only put up four points, Greg Oden’s massive presence and shutdown defense kept the Rockets in check. Meanwhile, Rudy Fernandez continued to prove why he belongs in the league with dynamic dunks, two big steals and 11 crucial points. And with Brandon feeding them the rock, the dimes kept dropping, leading them to a 107-103 victory.

As we all know, people are quick to put Utah’s Deron Williams and New Orleans point man at the top of the point guard list. But based on last Tuesday’s performance and a season average of 22.6 points, 5.1 assists, 2.2 steals and 4.6 rebounds, Roy has led his team to a good postseason start and is keeping himself on the radar as the next big thing.

Brandon Roy and the Portland Trailblazers face the Houston Rockets for game three of their series Friday, April 24th at 7:00pm EST.

The Family: Playoff Preview

Hotnix — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:15:10 GMT

If a team has a true floor general at point guard, it has a chance in any game, any series, any season. Utah's Deron Williams is a straight balla at PG, so any team that takes them lightly in the postseason is headed for disappointment.

Deron Williams is the piston that fires all cylinders. The burly, sweet-shooting point guard is certainly in the conversation for best at his position in the league. Deron is cranking up his game down the stretch, with such gems as 34 points and 11 assists against Minnesota, 21 and 11 against New Orleans and that other point guard, and 18 and 12 against Dallas. His season averages are up to 19.8 points and 10.6 assists, killer numbers in both columns.

The recipients of many of those assists are Andrei Kirilenko slashing to the hoop and Ronnie Brewer popping from deep. AK-47 has been battling injuries, but the Russian swingman posted some of his best performances down the stretch, including 17 points and 6 rebounds against the Clippers and 16 and 7 against New Orleans. If Utah has any shot at some upsets, AK-47 needs to be at his shot-blocking, baseline-jumper-draining best.

Brewer is Utah’s best jump shooter, and when he’s open he’s deadly. His game plays off of Williams—when the D-Will is driving and creating, Brewer is often the beneficiary. If Brewer can make something happen off the dribble, Utah would really be tough to corral.

Utah has had more than its share of bumps and bruises this year, but Williams is capable of leading them into the second round and even beyond, if he is at his best and his mates bring their A games.