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Monday, February 21, 2022
NBA TV Celebrates Julius Erving's 72nd Birthday by Airing "Sir Charles and The Doctor"
Julius Erving turns 72 tomorrow, and NBA TV provided a birthday gift for basketball fans by airing "Basketball Stories: Sir Charles and The Doctor," featuring a conversation that Erving had with Charles Barkley (Barkley celebrated his 59th birthday on February 20). Erving and Barkley were Philadelphia 76ers teammates from 1984-87, Erving's final three NBA seasons and Barkley's first three NBA seasons.
Barkley remembered that before he joined the 76ers he was nervous about meeting Erving for the first time. Barkley asked his college teammates how he should address Erving, and they told him they were not sure. Erving took all of the pressure off by approaching Barkley, and introducing himself.
Thinking back to his first meeting with Barkley, Erving said that he did not follow college basketball very closely, but his philosophy was always to "extend a hand of friendship" to rookies who joined the 76ers. Erving recalled that there were questions about how Barkley would fit in with the 76ers, and that the 76ers had drafted Barkley hoping that Barkley could provide rebounding.
Barkley said that every NBA team needs helpful veterans like Julius Erving and Moses Malone, who were Barkley's mentors early in his pro career. Erving agreed that veterans should help young players, but he pointed out that not all young players will listen to advice from veterans.
Barkley told Erving that Moses Malone provided a very blunt reply when Barkley asked Malone why he was not getting more playing time. Malone said, "Young fella, you're fat and you're lazy." Malone offered to help Barkley improve his conditioning. Erving said that as a professional athlete it is important to be in good enough condition to deal with the physicality of the game and to avoid injuries. Erving noted that Barkley, Wes Unseld, and Shaquille O'Neal are among the few players who could carry a lot of weight but still be mobile and avoid serious ankle or knee injuries.
Barkley soon got into better shape, and established himself as a threat to take a defensive rebound and go coast to coast for a dunk. Barkley's direct approach did not fit in with Coach Billy Cunningham's concept of how to play the game. Erving said that Cunningham's philosophy was "Get the rebound, make the outlet pass, and fill the lane," but Barkley's philosophy was the shortest distance between two points was a straight line--so Barkley just grabbed the rebound and dribbled down court without making the outlet pass. Erving said that Cunningham told him that he was going to retire because Barkley was driving him crazy. Cunningham retired from coaching after Barkley's rookie season, and Cunningham never coached again in the NBA, though he was part of the Miami Heat's ownership group for a while. Cunningham has the second highest regular season winning percentage in NBA history (.698, just behind Phil Jackson's .704), and he led the 76ers to one championship and three NBA Finals appearances in eight seasons.
Barkley said that he would have scored 2000 more points if Maurice Cheeks would have passed to him more often on the fast break. Erving laughed, and he said that Darryl Dawkins also thought that Cheeks had a "Dr. J eye," but Erving added that Cheeks loved getting assists and Cheeks knew that if he passed to Erving then the ball was going in the basket with no nonsense.
Barkley remembered that the intensity of the Philadelphia-Boston rivalry surprised him as a rookie. Barkley asked Erving to talk about what that rivalry meant to him. Julius Erving versus Larry Bird was the NBA's best rivalry in the early 1980s, but Erving is too modest to say that. Instead, Erving replied, "Respect is more important than popularity." Erving remembered how the Boston fans chanted "Beat L.A." in the waning moments of game seven of the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals after it became clear that the 76ers were going to beat the Celtics and move on to face the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Erving finished with 29 points and was the CBS Player of the Game for game seven, though it must be noted that Andrew Toney (game-high 34 points) was also sensational. Erving said that Boston hated Philadelphia and Philadelphia hated Boston, but "When I say 'hate' I don't really mean hate. We all survived it. Everybody got their trophies, and their stats, and life goes on." Erving's approach to life and basketball is different from the Michael Jordan "I took that personally" meme.
The conversation shifted to the beginning of Erving's pro career. Erving described how he signed with the ABA's Virginia Squires after his junior year at the University of Massachusetts (UMASS). In typical Erving style, he said that Charlie Scott was the best player on the team, even though it is obvious that Erving quickly established himself as a better all-around player than Scott. Erving said that he became the team's best player after Scott jumped to the NBA's Phoenix Suns.
Erving said of going to the ABA, "It was absolutely the right move. I have no regrets about it." Erving won three regular season MVPs (1974-76) and led the New York Nets to two championships (1974, 1976) before the ABA merged with the NBA prior to the 1976-77 season. Erving noted with pride that when he retired he was just the third player in pro basketball history to score at least 30,000 regular season points, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Erving expressed frustration that ABA statistics are disregarded by the NBA and by media outlets, resulting in him erroneously not being listed as a member of the elite 30,000 point club. Erving declared, "The ABA takes a slap to the face, big time...Maybe they'll wait until I die (to count the ABA numbers)."
I have said it for over 20 years, and I will say it again: ABA Numbers Should Also Count. The NFL counts AFL statistics, awards, and championships, and it makes no sense that the NBA ignores ABA statistics, awards, and championships.
Barkley asked Erving about navigating the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, when Erving was a young adult and Barkley was still a child. Erving said that Arthur Ashe, Reggie Jackson, and Bill Russell provided good guidance. "You don't get through it by yourself," Erving concluded.
Barkley and Erving talked about mortality. Erving's brother was just 16 when he died from lupus, and Erving's sister died at 34. Erving's son Cory died at 19. Those losses have shaped Erving's thoughts and perspective about mortality. "All of this is gravy," said. "You think about mortality based on what happens in your life. How you react to what happens in your life determines if you are happy."
Erving is proud of how his 1982-83 76ers won the NBA title in dominating fashion with a 4-0 sweep of the L.A. Lakers in the NBA Finals, but he pointedly notes, "Nobody wants to count the ABA. I won two championships in the ABA...If you are going to make me a rookie, then maybe I should have won Rookie of the Year." That latter sentiment is a thought that I have expressed before: if the NBA is not counting ABA experience and ABA statistics, then Erving should have been the Rookie of the Year for the 1976-77 season.
Barkley asked Erving how and when he knew that it was time to retire. Erving recalled the exact moment in the 1985-86 season: "The year before I retired we were in Cleveland. It was a blizzard. The arena was cold. My knees hurt so bad I could not even sleep in the hotel bed. That's when I knew."
Erving mentioned that now players are sticking around to play 20 seasons or more (he played 16 seasons) and he said, "If I wanted to stay out there, there was a way. But I wanted to go out
the front door. I left college early and came in through the side door.
That Farewell Tour was second to none."
Barkley said that being a member of the 76ers during Erving's 1986-87 Farewell Tour was a career highlight, and he said that he learned a lot about leadership by watching how Erving conducted himself. Barkley recalled one piece of advice that Erving gave to him at that time: "When you are the leader of the team, you are an amateur psychiatrist."
Barkley said that he was a great player, but he did not earn a Farewell Tour the way that Erving did. Barkley knew it was time to retire when guys who could not play were outplaying him. Erving said that he had a story along those lines, recalling when rookie Ron Harper dunked on him. Erving was a shot blocker who was not used to players staying in the air longer than he did.
Barkley gave Erving several rapid-fire questions. Erving tapped Kevin Loughery as his best coach, recalling that when he played for Loughery with the Nets, "I had the green light. I had the freedom to express my gifts. That was the greatest feeling." Erving made a similar point years ago in an NBA TV show titled "The Last Night of the ABA": "That was the time when I had the most fun playing basketball. Between
age 21 and age 26, I genuinely was empowered with this ability to do
anything that I wanted to do on a basketball court and anything that I
had ever dreamed of doing."
Erving said that Moses Malone was the best player he ever played with, and that the teammate he was closest with was Steve Mix, who remains a close friend to this day. Erving's biggest basketball regret is "Not being a little bit more selfish." After Erving joined the 76ers, General Manager Pat Williams instructed Erving that the team wanted Erving, George McGinnis, and Doug Collins to each score around 20 ppg instead of Erving scoring 28-30 ppg like he did in the ABA. Erving went along with this, and the 76ers advanced to the 1977 NBA Finals before losing to Portland, but I agree with Erving that the best player should not have been sacrificing the most.
Erving said that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best player that he ever played against: "If I'm starting a team tomorrow, I'm starting with Kareem."
Barkley and Erving ended their conversation by talking again about mortality, and also about legacy. Erving said that he does not focus on what he accomplished or where he ranks all-time: "I don't want to live in the past. I want the carrot out in front of me." Erving hopes that his accomplishments and honors are "inspirational" to his family.
NBA Formally Honors the 75th Anniversary Team, Stephen Curry Wins the All-Star Game MVP
Team LeBron's Stephen Curry scored 50 points and he made an All-Star Game record 16 three pointers en route to claiming the beautifully redesigned Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP trophy. LeBron James delivered the game-winning basket, hitting a turnaround jumper as Team LeBron defeated Team Durant, 163-160. Team Durant led 139-138 entering the fourth quarter, so by rule the winner would be the first team to score 163 points (139 plus 24, with the 24 serving as a tribute to one of Bryant's jersey numbers). James' team is now 5-0 in the
All-Star Game format that scrapped the traditional East versus West battle in favor of
the two All-Stars who receive the most votes conducting a draft among
the remaining All-Stars to select each roster. James finished with 24 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the few All-Stars who played any defense, led Team LeBron with 12 rebounds in addition to scoring 30 points and dishing for six assists. Joel Embiid led Team Durant in both scoring (36 points) and rebounds (10).
After Curry reached the 50 point mark he kept firing away in an attempt to break Anthony Davis' All-Star Game scoring record (52 points in 2017), but Curry admitted after the game that his legs grew weary once Team Durant began playing defense. It is interesting that Curry mentioned his record-chasing being cut short by defense, because--other than Antetokounmpo--very little defense was played until the fourth quarter, which diminishes the value and meaning of the individual statistics compiled by Curry and the other players.
Curry put on an incredible display by making so many open three point shots--but that kind of display is supposed to take place in the Three Point Shootout, not the All-Star Game. Similarly, many players converted a host of uncontested dunks--but that kind of display is supposed to take place in the Slam Dunk Contest, not the All-Star Game.
How much has the All-Star Game devolved from an actual competition featuring the league's best players to an exhibition of players demonstrating individual skills devoid of competition or team play? Free throws are a quick way to gauge physicality/defense. The 2022 All-Star Game included eight fouls, four of which were called in the fourth quarter, and Team LeBron shot 2-2 from the free throw line while Team Durant shot 7-7 from the free throw line. This season, NBA teams average a little over 21 free throw attempts per game, so it is obvious that the All-Star Game featured few fouls, few free throws, very little physicality, and token defense compared to a normal NBA game.
All-Star Games used to be played much differently. In the first NBA All-Star Game, the East beat the West 98-93 in overtime in 1954 with the East shooting 36 of 44 from the free throw line and the West shooting 17-26 from the free throw line. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set an All-Star single game scoring record (42 points) that stood for 55 years. Chamberlain shot 8-16 from the free throw line, and his East squad shot 24-43 from the free throw line. The West, which won 150-130, shot 36-51 from the free throw line. Chamberlain's scoring record took place during a competitive game, and the record stood until long after NBA All-Star Games ceased to be competitive; his record is so exceptional that even in an era during which it is much easier to score in All-Star Games only two players have surpassed the standard that he set--and Curry did so by making a bunch of uncontested three pointers.
For most of All-Star Game history, players from both sides played hard, played defense, and committed a normal amount of fouls. Things began to change in 2007, when the victorious West only attempted nine free throws and the East only attempted 13 free throws, a big decline from 24 and 28 respectively in the 2006 All-Star Game. The 2008 All-Star Game was more of the same. Matters improved a bit during the next several All-Star Games, but in 2014 the East attempted nine free throws and the West attempted 12 free throws. Since 2014, single digit free throw attempts per team have been the norm rather than the exception--and on the rare occasion that a team has attempted more than 10 free throws most of those free throw attempts have happened in the fourth quarter, when the new scoring rules inspire (or shame) the All-Stars into playing some defense.
Around the time that the All-Star Games began to degenerate into defense-optional showcases of individual skills, Julius Erving told me
that he is disappointed with the way that All-Star Games are played in
the current era: "Today's game, some of these All-Star Games, players
have figured out a way to allow guys to dunk the ball and not have it
perceived as the guy dunking on somebody. When I was coming up, you
rarely could dunk on people and people did not want to get dunked on, it
was almost like being 'posterized' if somebody dunked on you. Guys
tried their best not to let anybody dunk on them. Sometimes they would
just grab you rather than let you dunk. That seems to be lost somewhere
in what I see with a lot of the high wire act performances. It is almost
like, 'I'm going to let the guy dunk. And I'm going to get far enough
out of the picture so nobody is perceiving this as me being dunked on or
being posterized.' I don't understand the mentality of just letting a
guy go in there and throw it down and applauding it, if he's wearing a
different colored uniform. It's just playing to the crowd but I think
that the crowd would respect and appreciate a play being made when
somebody is trying to contest it. I think it makes for a great photo-op
and a great poster if somebody is there. I remember being in Madison
Square Garden and going up for a dunk and Lonnie Shelton was there and
my knees were up on his shoulders. He was trying to draw a charge, I
guess. Looking at that shot, when somebody is there, it is poetry in
motion. Just throwing the ball up and going through the motions, I guess
guys don't want to get hurt. I like watching the dunk contests—but I
don't like a game to turn into a dunk contest with no defense. That does
nothing for me."
The crowd reaction--or, lack of crowd reaction--during most of the 2022 All-Star Game proves Erving's point about what fans want to see. In general, the crowd was not loud and not into the game, except for a few plays made by Cavalier All-Stars Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland and a couple of Curry's three pointers from far behind the arc. Fans want to see competition, not empty displays of skill. It was also a mistake to get rid of the East-West rivalry; instead of rooting for a team, fans are being encouraged to just root for--or, as was the case during the 2022 All-Star Game, passively consume--displays of individual skill.
During a weekend dedicated to honoring the NBA's greatest players, the current All-Stars disrespected the spirit of competition that is an essential component of greatness. All-Stars who want to shoot open three point shots and convert open dunks should participate in All-Star Saturday Night. All-Stars who want to play in a competitive game should participate in the All-Star Game.
No one is suggesting that the All-Star Game should feature full-court pressing or the intensity of game seven of the NBA Finals--but there is no reason that the All-Star Game cannot at least passably resemble a regular season NBA game. For fans who are too young to remember and/or not informed enough to know, check out the 1987 NBA All-Star Game and compare it to the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. The 1987 NBA All-Star Game featured Julius Erving in his final season, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in their primes, Michael Jordan in his third season, and a host of All-Stars who younger fans may not have heard of but who had better fundamentals than many current All-Stars--and, more importantly, who played harder than the current All-Stars:
The highlight of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game was the halftime ceremony honoring the members of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. It was poignant to see 89 year old Bob Pettit, one of the greatest power forwards in pro basketball history, attending in person and walking with a cane. It was great to see several legends from the 1960s, including 83 year old Oscar Robertson, 83 year old Jerry West, and 81 year old Jerry Lucas. Throughout the All-Star Weekend, Robertson and West were often next to each other, laughing and talking; they share a bond forged over more than 60 years of basketball history. I am always happy to see the elite players from the 1970s, because that is the earliest era that I remember watching live; Julius Erving is my favorite player of all-time, but it was also a treat to watch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, and several other legends during their primes, and it was great to see Erving, Abdul-Jabbar, Gervin, and many other 1970s greats appear in person at the ceremony. The 1980s were well-represented by, among others, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, and James Worthy. Most of the honorees from the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s showed up in person, and the interactions among the stars from the various eras evinced mutual respect and love.
Kevin Durant was unable to attend the ceremony because of his grandmother's death. I can understand why 93 year old Bob Cousy and 88 year old Bill Russell were not able to attend. However, the absences of several other honorees are puzzling. During the post-game show, Isiah Thomas chastised several absentees by mentioning that they had missed out on a unique experience and opportunity. It hurts my heart that the late, great Kobe Bryant was not there, and it baffles me that anyone who is alive and healthy enough to attend would choose to not be there.
Kenny Smith often speaks of All-Star Weekend being a time when trading cards come to life, and that is a very apt description of what it was like to see so many of the NBA's greatest players gathered together in the same place at the same time. I look forward to seeing the 100th Anniversary Team in 25 years; I just hope that it does not take 25 years for the All-Star Game to return to its former glory.
"Giannis Antetokounmpo did not have the first perfect shooting
performance in NBA All-Star Game history--Hal Greer shot 8-8 from the
field en route to scoring 21 points and winning the 1968 NBA All-Star
Game MVP--but he set the NBA All-Star Game record for most field goals
without a miss (16), and he captured his first All-Star Game MVP by
scoring a game-high 35 points as his Team LeBron routed Team Durant,
170-150. Antetokounmpo played just 19 minutes, so he scored nearly two
points per minute. Most of Antetokounmpo's shots were lightly
contested--if not uncontested--dunks, but he also shot 3-3 from three
point range. Each team shot 3-5 from the free throw line as both teams
spent most of the game not even pretending to care about defense.
Perhaps the league and/or the players think that the fans want to see
uncontested dunks and wide open three pointers, but I think/hope that
true basketball fans want to see competition. A contested dunk is a
great play; an uncontested dunk is just performance art."
"After
three quarters, it seemed that the new NBA All-Star Game format had not
inspired many players from either team to even pretend to play at a
fraction of their full capabilities. Fortunately, the fourth quarter--a
race to 157 points based on adding 24 points (in honor of Kobe Bryant)
to the 133-124 lead enjoyed by Team Giannis over Team LeBron at the end
of the third quarter--featured high level play as both teams looked
fully engaged: Team Giannis' Kyle Lowry seemed to try to take a charge
on every defensive possession, players from both teams contested almost
every shot, and the level of physicality ramped up to top notch regular
season levels, if not even first round playoff levels.
It is mystifying that most NBA players seem to need external motivation
to play their best in the All-Star Game, but with a substantial portion
of the weekend's festivities dedicated to the memory of
Bryant--including naming the All-Star MVP award for him--it would have
been a travesty for the players to just sleepwalk through the entire
proceedings. Kawhi Leonard is a pioneer of the less than commendable
load management scourge, but at least he always plays hard when he is on
the court. Leonard scored a game-high 30 points on 11-18 field goal
shooting (including 8-14 from three point range), grabbed seven
rebounds, dished for four assists, and received the first Kobe Bryant
All-Star Game MVP Award as his Team LeBron won, 157-155."
"The All-Star Game sunk to such depths a few years ago that there were
even whispers that it might be discontinued. Instead, the league changed
the format from East versus West to a format in which the top two
vote-getters conduct a draft consisting of a pool of other All-Stars
selected by fans, coaches and media members. LeBron James faced off
against Giannis Antetokounmpo in this year's All-Star draft. Popular
consensus was that James, whose draft strategy seemed to be focused on
acquiring every major player who will be a free agent soon, got the
better of Antetokounmpo--but it did not look like that initially, as
Team Giannis led 53-37 after the first quarter and 95-82 at halftime.
Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 38 points on 17-23 field
goal shooting, including 10 dunks. He also had 11 rebounds and five
assists. He set the tone in the first quarter with 16 points.
Antetokounmpo's
Milwaukee teammate/All-Star teammate Khris Middleton added 20 points on
7-13 field goal
shooting, including 6-10 from three point range. Middleton scored 12
first quarter points.
To coin--or repeat--a phrase, it seemed like Team LeBron was in 'chill
mode' during the first half, but in the second half they exerted at
least some defensive effort and they rained down a barrage of three
pointers. Team LeBron outscored Team Giannis 96-69 in the second half
while shooting 22-49 from three point range. The teams combined to
attempt 167 three pointers during the game, compared to 108 two pointers
attempted.
Kevin Durant earned MVP honors by scoring 31 points on 10-15 field goal
shooting (including 6-9 from three point range) while also contributing
seven rebounds. He had 11 points on 4-4 field goal shooting in the
fourth quarter. Durant's Golden State teammate Klay Thompson finished
second on Team LeBron with 20 points on 7-16 field goal shooting (6-12
from three point range) and he had eight rebounds and four assists as
well."
"LeBron James scored a game-high 29 points on 12-17 field goal shooting,
grabbed a game-high tying 10 rebounds and dished eight assists as Team
LeBron defeated Team Stephen 148-145 in the first year of the NBA's new All-Star selection format;
instead of the traditional matchup featuring the Eastern Conference
facing the Western Conference, a team of All-Stars picked by LeBron
James faced a team of All-Stars picked by Stephen Curry. The NBA tweaked
the All-Star Game in the wake of several subpar All-Star Games,
culminating in last year's farce.
Before the 2018 All-Star Game, James already held the NBA All-Star Game
career scoring record (314 points) and yesterday he surpassed Julius
Erving (321 points) to set the record for most points scored in ABA and
NBA All-Star Games combined. Bob Pettit (1956, 58, 59, 62) and Kobe
Bryant (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011) share the record with four All-Star Game
MVPs each, while James joined Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and
Shaquille O'Neal as three-time winners; James previously earned the
All-Star Game MVP in 2006 and 2008."
"The Western Conference's 192-182 victory over the Eastern Conference is
without question the worst NBA All-Star Game that I have ever watched.
Other than the MLB All-Star Game that ended in a tie (and many NFL Pro
Bowls of recent vintage) it may be the worst major professional league
All-Star Game ever. When the reigning two-time regular season MVP
literally lies down on the court instead of attempting to play defense,
you know that the event has jumped the shark."
Jerry West Gives Powerful Speech After Being Honored as NBA Legend of the Year
At this year's NBA Legends Awards (formerly known as the NBA Legends Brunch), Jerry West received the Legend of the Year award. West gave a wide-ranging, powerful, and deeply felt speech. West said that he wants to use this occasion as an opportunity to thank people who he has not previously thanked, and who he feels have not received the praise that they deserve, including both teammates and opponents.
West referenced the writer Joan Didion, who recently passed away. West mentioned that Didion wrote about a topic that he wished he had been able to articulate many years ago: we tell ourselves stories to survive. West said that very few people know about the struggles of his childhood, but that since it has become "in vogue" to speak about mental health he wants to share his story. West explained that he grew up in a house without a lot of love, and that he was often the focus of unwanted, negative attention. Basketball became his refuge and his sanctuary. As a nine year old, he went to the basketball court by himself and created stories. In his stories, he was a player, referee, scorekeeper, coach, and announcer. He could barely heave the ball to the hoop, but he kept putting one second back on the clock until he made the last second shot.
West noted that he had never played with a minority player until college. He said that he learned so much from Oscar Robertson while they were teammates on the 1960 gold-medal winning Olympic team, and West added that Robertson was always the measuring stick for him. West considers it fitting that they entered the NBA at the same time, they left the NBA at the same time, and they each won one hard-earned NBA title. West noted how much Robertson accomplished in his post-playing career, and concluded, "Every player should thank him."
West also acknowledged Elgin Baylor and Ray Felix as L.A. Laker teammates who taught him a lot, and West mentioned gatherings with his Lakers teammates when he was the only white player present.
It is obvious that mortality is very much on the mind of the 83 year old West. He talked about Baylor passing away last year, and he noted the dwindling number of players from his era who are still alive. West also spoke about the death of Kobe Bryant, who West drafted in 1996.
West said that he is not good at receiving awards or accepting praise from others, and he added that not everyone likes that he speaks the truth, but "it is only my opinion." That provided a fitting segue into his thoughts about various NBA owners who he has worked for over the years. West did not have anything positive to say about the owners for whom he played, noting that in those days the players did not have agents to protect them. Reflecting on his long and successful career as an NBA front office executive, West praised former Lakers owner Jerry Buss, former Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, the Golden State Warriors' ownership group, and especially Steve Ballmer, the Clippers' owner for whom West currently works. West said that if he could have played for any owner he would love to have played for Ballmer. It should be noted that West recently expressed tremendous disenchantment with the way that the Lakers have treated him, and he has said that a rift has been created that he does not think can ever be mended, strong words from one of the franchise's greatest players who is also the most accomplished front office executive in the franchise's history.
Sometimes, people talk about replacing Jerry West as the silhouette of the NBA's logo. West himself has at times expressed self-consciousness about his image being the inspiration for the NBA's logo--but anyone who heard him speak today understands that West represents the very best of the league and is, as NBA Legends Awards master of ceremonies Ernie Johnson said, "a national treasure."
"A work of art contains its verification in itself: artificial, strained concepts do not withstand the test of being turned into images; they fall to pieces, turn out to be sickly and pale, convince no one. Works which draw on truth and present it to us in live and concentrated form grip us, compellingly involve us, and no one ever, not even ages hence, will come forth to refute them."--Alexander Solzhenitsyn (Nobel Lecture)
"The most 'popular,' the most 'successful' writers among us (for a brief period, at least) are, 99 times out of a hundred, persons of mere effrontery--in a word, busy-bodies, toadies, quacks."--Edgar Allan Poe
"In chess what counts is what you know, not whom you know. It's the way life is supposed to be, democratic and just."--Grandmaster Larry Evans
"It's not nuclear physics. You always remember that. But if you write about sports long enough, you're constantly coming back to the point that something buoys people; something makes you feel better for having been there. Something of value is at work there...Something is hallowed here. I think that something is excellence."--Tom Callahan
