Have you ever seen them in the same room at the same time? Bill Belichick is Gregg Popovich, Gregg Popovich is Bill Belichick. They are the exact same human being. Here is why.

Based on their respective styles in dealing with the media, we hear a lot of comparisons between New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. What we don’t hear anything about is how similar their careers have been in terms of development, duration, style, and success.

Let’s start with this statistical comparison of their head coaching careers. Then we will compare their personal lives. I’m throwing out Belichick’s time in Cleveland because one of the enduring parts of this comparison is longevity with each coach’s current franchise. The numbers are insane and almost identical.

Sure, Belichick has Tom Brady and Popovich had Tim Duncan, but outside of those core players, it’s a revolving cast that fills roles as needed without spending money. And they never deviate. Ever. Ask Deion Branch or Dennis Rodman about how that works.

The systems that both coaches have established for each franchise is greater than any individual player. Systems they learned while under the tutelage of some of the greatest coaches in both NFL and NBA history.

Belichick’s first coaching job was given to him by Ted Marchibroda in 1975, whose coaching tree includes Marvin Lewis, Eric Mangini, Jim Schwartz, Lindy Infante and Ken Whisenhunt. From there he joined the New York Giants and worked under head coach Ray Perkins, while working alongside fellow assistants Romeo Crennel and Bill Parcells.

When Perkins was fired, Parcells became head coach of the Giants and Belichick was promoted to defensive coordinator. New York won two Super Bowls in five years.

After four years in Cleveland, Belichick again worked under Parcells, this time in New England, and they would eventually lose to the Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. Belichick followed Parcells to the Jets as an assistant before eventually being hired by the Patriots.

Popovich’s journey from assistant coach to head coach is equally star-laden. After striking up a friendship with then University of Kansas head coach Larry Brown, Popovich joined Brown’s staff when he was named head coach of the Spurs in 1987 and stayed until 1992. He coached alongside notable coaches like Alvin Gentry and Ed Manning, father of stud NBA player Danny Manning.

In 1992 he joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant under NBA Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson during the height of the “Run TMC” era. In 1994, “Pop” returned to the Spurs as the team’s GM.

15 games into the 1996-97 season, he fired head coach Bob Hill and hired himself as head coach. The Spurs went 20-62 that season (Popovich’s only sub-.500 season), secured the number one pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, drafted Tim Duncan and the rest is history.

Belichick was hired by New England in 2000. Since then, the other 31 NFL teams have used 140+ coaches. Popovich is the longest tenured coach amongst all four major professional sports.

Belichick’s Patriots have won 10+ games in 15 consecutive seasons and made the playoffs in 15 of 18 seasons, missing them only in 2000 (his first season), 2002, and 2008. Popovich’s Spurs’ teams have won at least 50 games for an NBA record 18 straight seasons and have made the playoffs 21 straight seasons.

Are they the same person? Well, we’ve never seen them in the same room at the same time, a la La Toya and Michael. The similarities are striking, both personal and professional.

Which leads to this:

Belichick and Popovich are three years apart in age. Both are of Croatian descent. Both have military education in their backgrounds, with Popovich actually serving time in the U.S. Air Force. Both played their chosen sport in college.

On the inside, they are true old-schoolers that emphasize team performance over individual achievements, even down to the way they sidestep acclaim heaped on themselves.

What kind of conversations does Belichick have with Parcells at this stage of his career? What does Popovich talk to Larry Brown about? Both Parcells and Brown experienced uncommon success in their coaching careers, but they have been eclipsed by their former pupils. What are those exchanges like?

Invariably, a new successful coach, and potentially coaches, will emerge from the coaching tree of both Belichick and Popovich. But will they ever beat the master? Have they set the bar so high that it’s beyond reach?

Is Bill Belichick the greatest coach in NFL history? Is Gregg Popovich the greatest coach in NBA history?

Finkle is Einhorn and Einhorn is Finkle. Bill Belichick is Gregg Popovich, Gregg Popovich is Bill Belichick.

More Patriots And Spurs Content For You: 

• Matt Bonner Haircut: Why Is Vincent Van Gogh Holding A Basketball?
• The Hall at Patriot Place Is The Place To Be
• 2007 Patriots: DE Jarvis Green Recounts How Manning, Perfect Season, Slipped Thru His Fingers
• Patriots Jerod Mayo Trying To End “Overspraying Epidemic”
• Let’s Reflect: “The Admiral” David Robinson’s 71 Point Game

The post Bill Belichick IS Gregg Popovich, Finkle IS Einhorn! appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Russell Westbrook, aka Westbrick, makes FAR too much money and isn’t worth a fraction of his salary or per game check.

Westbrook was subbed out of Tuesday night’s 131-116 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks with just over two minutes left in the third quarter and never returned.

And he WHINED about it like only he can, with that stupid face mole he should’ve had removed 10 years ago (like the principal in Uncle Buck), along for the ride.

“I shouldn’t have to hit any benchmark, to be honest,” Westbrook told reporters. “I’ve put a lot of work and I’ve got a lot of respect in this game. I don’t got to hit a benchmark, or I shouldn’t have to. I’ve earned a right to be in closing lineups.”

“EARNED” is in an interesting word choice.

Might be right depending on how you define it.

Russell Westbrook will make $41,358,814 in salary during the 2021-22 NBA season.

Just for funsies, divide that by 82:

and Russell Westbrook aka Westcock makes $504,375.78 PER GAME.

Via 48 minutes per game, he makes $10,508 dollars per minute.

BUT WAIT – It gets worse if you’e a Lakers fan, better if you love this dork.

Russell Westbrook will make $47,063,478 in salary during the 2022-23 NBA season.

My main point of contention with Westbrook is either:

1. How arrogant he is
2. How completely self UNAWARE he is

Like this quote after getting thrashed by the Bucks, benched:

“Westbrook, when asked what has ailed the Lakers this season, said the “No. 1 thing” to correct would be “creating some consistency within our team, which we don’t have at the moment.”

LMFAO! Before getting benched because he SUCKS, Westbrook was three of 11 from the field and turned the ball over four times in 26 minutes during Tuesday’s loss to the Bucks – before getting benched.

So who can we blame for Westbrook’s ridiculous contract that the Lakers can’t trade away because they have ZERO draft picks and ZERO cap space?

LeGM aka LeBron James. Aka Chairman LeBron.

He did it to Cleveland, and now he’s doing it to the Lakers. And people keep letting him get away with it, just like his steroid cycle.

But this isn’t a LeBron SLAM PIECE – this is a Westbrook SLAM PIECE.

There has never been a bigger stat-padder in history. Russell Westbrook is the black Kevin Love in Minnesota.

What has Russell Westbrook done to expand his game? NOTHING.

If you’re going to suck at all other phases, an athletic freak like you should be a killer defender.

NOPE.

Rebound, anyone can rebound – except Russ.

His 7 rpg this szn is lowest since 2014.

Make free throws? Un, nerp a dirp!

66% is 3rd lowest of his 14 NBA season. 

Here’s a novel idea – develop a mid-range game like Kevin Garnett did to extend his career 5+ more years. Expand your bag of tricks.

But to do that, he’d have to actually care. And he doesn’t because of his ridiculous contract.

In his last four games he’s 14 of 51 from the field for a cool .27%. And this ship is not getting righted any time soon.

Russell Westbrook sucks, is a cancer, dresses horribly, and only cares about himself.

The post How Much Does Russell Westbrook Make – Per Game, Per Season, Per Minute? appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Nowadays, the 1990 NBA Finals inspire neither awe nor reverence (outside of the two finalist hometowns). It is not considered a “classic” as it didn’t go 7 or even beyond 5 games.

It should not be overlooked for three reasons.

For one, it produced 4 close games, a thrilling comeback, an overtime game, and a waved-off buzzer tying game.

Two, it would cement the legacy of one team and player (Detroit and Isiah Thomas), while eternally marking another as a perennial, unappreciated bridesmaid (Portland, Clyde Drexler).

Third, the series would bridge the NBA from the dominance of the Magic-Bird era (as neither man-made even the conference Final in 1990), while keeping Michael Jordan on the cusp of ruling the NBA. Strangely enough, as of 1990, Jordan had yet to taste an NBA Final, yet he would be a hidden figure in this matchup between two underappreciated teams.

For Detroit, their greatness would become magnified over time for beating Jordan’s Bulls. For Portland, they would be forever regarded as disappointing for not winning like the Bulls later did. But that lay in the future.

For the two teams that comprised the 1990 NBA Finals, the way both teams built for the moment (drafts, trades) had been both similar and different.

Both teams would be led by two exceptional men (Isiah, Drexler). But while one was an unprecedented franchise player, the other had been an unwanted one.

Trader Jack and the Unprecedented Superstar

The irony about the 199o NBA Finals Champion Detroit Pistons was that its architect, John William McCloskey, had in fact spent 3 years as coach of the expansion Portland Trailblazers.

Portland was an absolute wreck; Much of it was because of the historically awful drafting of LaRue Martin in 1972. McCloskey would be released before Portland corrected this by drafting Bill Walton, but it taught him some building lessons. At the time, the correct thing to do to build a team was to draft a talented big and worry later about his skill or commitment to excellence.

Martin had neither, and so when McCloskey took over the equally bad Detroit Pistons in 1979 as GM, he looked for both traits in his ideal franchise leader. It would take a few years, but he found his guy in a University of Indiana player Isiah Thomas.

There were two problems with this. McCloskey wanted to build a champion, and Thomas was “generously” listed as 6-1 (likely more 5-10). This defied the conventional wisdom that a man that small could be the franchise foundation.

But Thomas was a rare player. He was exceptionally fast, fearless, a ball-handling savant, and would literally do anything to win a basketball game (this would eventually make him both the eras most unpopular but authentic superstar).

Also, he had a near maniacal rage about winning, and he was unafraid of looking foolish in pursuit of that.

For instance, he already insulted the Dallas Maverick organization, referring to them as “cowshit kickers.” This was by design; The Chicago raised Thomas had no intention of playing anywhere in the deep south, thus his comments.

He also didn’t want to play for Detroit, as they were a team with no established identity or tradition; He told McCloskey “What would you do if I said I didn’t want to play for the Pistons”? McCloskey replied, “Well, we will draft you anyways” and promised to surround him with the requisite talent to succeed.

McCloskey was supposed to be offended; instead, he knew he had his man. Now, he had to build a nucleus around him.

Weeks into Thomas’s career, he found the perfect soul mate for his new star. It was in the form of a tall, awkward player he scouted at the aborted 1980 Olympic Trials. His name was Bill Laimbeer, and McCloskey thought of him as something of a joke, a second-tier player not cut for the NBA.

Now, 16 months later, he studied Laimbeer the man as well as the player. He came with a different perspective. On the surface, Thomas could not have been more different than Laimbeer.

Thomas was short, while Laimbeer was tall. Thomas was temperamental and wore his feelings on the surface. Laimbeer was excitable but also a very closed individual. Thomas was a devout Catholic, a Democrat who would behave like, well a Chicago Alderman (good and bad). Laimbeer was like the wrestler who was an embarrassment to the country club jet-set crowd. Thomas was hood, while Laimbeer it was said actually made less as a player than his executive father.

But, under the surface, the two had plenty in common. Both men were the kind of players that you would want on your team if you were drawing sides.

Both men were very intelligent, with high basketball IQs. Both men got the best of their abilities, as Thomas would become the best ever at shooting over 7-foot men. Meanwhile, Laimbeer became one of the early students of the arc of the basketball, and in turn, became an exceptional rebounder.

The two became both roommates and soul mates, and the foundational blocks to the Piston turnaround.

Shortly thereafter, they would add the third piece; He was a Brooklyn-raised volume shooter named Vinnie Johnson.

Detroit, who won 21 games, now had a young nucleus that improved by 18 games. And Thomas was a revolutionary, the first unquestionable franchise piece at his size.

McCloskey still had plenty of work, but the start was great. All three men would play a key role in the 1990 Finals.

The Unwanted Franchise Player

It is almost a shame that Clyde Austin Drexler never was totally appreciated. He today is largely remembered as the reason Jordan didn’t become a Portland Trailblazer and even in that franchise isn’t considered its best player ever.

Part of this is because Drexler wasn’t wanted by his inaugural coach, who held to the traditionalist view that a team should build around a center.

Also, because drafting the supposed franchise savior in Sam Bowie turned into disaster ignores the awesome job Portland did drafting and trading their way to the 1990 NBA Finals (turning Bowie into Buck Williams, a player coveted by Jordan).

Drexler’s problem was really a conflict between Coach and management. General Manager Stu Inman and scout Morris “Bucky” Buckwalter had fallen in love with Drexler, seeing him as a new Julius Erving. The problem? The coach, the iconic John Travilla Ramsay didn’t agree.

Ramsay, known as Dr. Jack, didn’t feel Portland needed a guard or small forward, Drexler’s positions; he felt the position secure with All-Star Jim Paxson. Ramsay had made his name winning with undersized great centers, Bob McAdoo in Buffalo and especially his prize Bill Walton. He saw Drexler’s athleticism while also believing he was basically a dunker who would get exposed in a half-court game (he was right in this regard).

Drexler was extra space, not the way forward as far as he was concerned. This contributed to the disastrous Bowie drafting; In effect, Portland went traditional in 1984 NBA Draft after defying the odds in drafting Drexler the year before.

Drexler would never forgive Ramsay for this, and in the three years, they worked together clashed mightily. This obscured the fact that (Bowie notwithstanding), the Blazers had done a magnificent job drafting other need positions.

They were: Jerome Kersey in 1984, Terry Porter in 1985. Porter would team with Drexler to arguably give Portland the best backcourt in the Western Conference by 1990 and with Kersey (a great transition player), Portland had the makings of a very exciting team.

The problem? They would have to find a way to beat the best team of the era, the Los Angeles Lakers. This was easier said than done.

They Laughed: Building From Within

When Isiah held his first pro press conference, he said he wanted to build a team with tradition like the Lakers and Boston Celtics. This drew raucous laughter from the assembled press, but Thomas was determined.

After his rookie year, he attended every single Laker final. This was made easier by the fact that his best buddy Magic Johnson was on the Lakers. Thomas wanted to know the Laker secret; the formula required for success. Johnson, though told him he would have to find out on his own.

Rebuffed, Thomas would find his source within another sport. He was smart enough to realize that his Pistons would never be loved like the Lakers, Celtics, or Jordan’s emerging Bulls. He basically took the football model by seeing the Lakers as the Dallas Cowboys, and the Celtics as the rugged Pittsburgh Steelers. Jordan’s Bulls would be the basketball version of the San Francisco 49ers.

What about the Pistons? Well, suddenly Thomas became very enthused with the Oakland Raiders and Al Davis. The Raiders were popular because they were infamous. Nobody, however, denied their success. Moreover, the Raiders had success against all three of the other franchises.

Thomas had his answer and blueprint. His Pistons would thrive in their unpopularity; They would become the “Detroit Raiders” and finally the “Bad Boys.”

Davis, who lived for attention, loved the idea. Whenever the Pistons were in LA (where the Raiders were then based) Davis would generously allow the Pistons to use the Raiders training facility and staff (which helped them in the 1988 and 1989 NBA Finals).

The Pistons had their identity.

Showtime Without Kareem

The Trailblazers also looked to the Lakers for inspiration. After all, “Showtime” had been a modified version of the system Ramsay ran in Portland, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar excelling (and exceeding) in Walton’s role.

The problem for Portland is that after Walton’s feet fell apart, the Trailblazers never found a real replacement for him. The first attempt had been by Mychael Thompson (father of Splash brother Klay Thompson). Thompson had been a gifted but goofy player, and he seemed uninterested in dominating unless he was playing his old college buddy Kevin McHale. He was, in NBA speak, “soft”.

Bowie was a disaster, and his replacement Steve Johnson was solid but hardly an anchor at center. As a result, Portland had a great running team but one that would crumble in crunch time.

This flaw would overshadow the great drafting management did. Portland would finally find a more desirable center in Kevin Duckworth; Duckworth, though, was a 300-pound center who loved to shoot 18-20 jumpers in an era where a man that large was expected to bang inside. He was a very good addition to the nucleus but did not solve their main issue.

So, Portland, instead of greatness, jumped to very good and then fell again (to 39-43) in 1989, only to be swept in round one by the 2-time champion Lakers.

Finally, Portland found a sucker for Bowie and traded him on June 24th, 1989 for Buck Williams. Williams was a tough player and a magnificent rebounder and defender. The team would be complete for a 1990 NBA Finals run.

1990 NBA Finals: Pistons Go Back-To-Back

This was the first NBA Finals since 1979 not to involve either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics, and one of two NBA championships of the 1990s won by a team other than the Chicago Bulls or the Houston Rockets (the other was won by the San Antonio Spurs in 1999).

The Pistons became just the third franchise in NBA history to win back-to-back championships, after the Lakers and Celtics.

The Bad Boys won in 5 games.

Game 1: 105-99, Detroit
Game 2: 106-105 (OT), Portland
Game 3: 121-106, Detroit
Game 4: 112-109, Detroit
Game 5: 92-90, Detroit

Game 5 created the indelible, most memorable, moment and defining image of the series Vinnie Johnson’s game winner.

With 10 minutes to play in the game, the Blazers led 76–68. Then The Microwave Vinnie Johnson heated up.

Johnson scored seven points in Detroit’s 9–0 run to close the game and the series. His last shot was a 15-footer from the right sideline with Jerome Kersey draped all over him and 0:00.7 showing on the clock.

The post 1990 NBA Finals: The End of an Era, Bridge to a New One appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

In my mind’s eye, I imagine Norman Powell has a business card that says “Professional Scorer” on it.

It’s color looks white but isn’t – it’s actually Bone.

The font is Copperplate Gothic, loaded with flare serifs that accentuate his on-court flair and the way his hand hangs on the follow through of yet another successful field goal attempt.

There are no superfluous design elements because that would detract from its, and his, effectiveness.

Note the Hotmail email address. If it doesn’t have anything to do with scoring efficiently, Norman Powell wants nothing to do with it. That extends to his choice of a personal email client.

As I was combing the Creative Commons image licenses to find an image I could use for this post, with open usage rights so I won’t get sued, I inadvertently stumbled into the absolute perfect image.

Even though it is a picture of Normal Powell, he plays second fiddle to Kawhi Leonard.

Even though the focus is supposed to be on Norman Powell, Norman Powell recedes to the background and let’s someone else get the shine.

Meanwhile, he probably scored 25 points that night, on 10/12 shooting including 3/4 from deep.

Let’s look at scoring efficiency.

Of the 46 NBA players using over 20 possessions per game this season, only ONE player ranks higher in scoring efficiency:

Nikola Jokic

Professional Scorer Norman Powell is tied for second with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Karl-Anthony Towns.

If the tie-breaker was two names to form your name instead of three, he’d be second.

So in my mind, he is second. Second. Behind the greatest basketball player on earth.

It’s literally Norman Powell and The Joker and everyone else on earth.

So who TF is Norman Powell? How did we get here?

Currently, he’s the leading scorer on the Los Angeles Clippers. Ahead of guys like James Harden (annual salary: $33,653,846) and the aforementioned Leonard ($49,205,800).

THAT’s how much of a professional scorer he is.

He’s like a local plumber that doesn’t advertise, just gets the job done ($20,482,758). And you’re always pleased with his work.

Amongst his PPG average of 23.8, NP converts 82% of his free throws and 42% of his three point attempts. But what I appreciate the most is his .554% conversion percentage on two-point shots.

Comparison: Harden converts just .448% from two and .341% from three, Leonard .502% and .365%.

And what does he get for his efforts? He finished fourth in balloting for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in each of the last two seasons.

It’s like you know of him, but you don’t know him.

And that’s the way (I presume) he likes it.

““Just get me the G-D rock once I find some open space and I operate, with professionalism.”

– Norman Powell to himself (presumably) on every possession.

No matter how sparsely he was utilized, NP has always scored with efficiency.

Powell was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, a place most draft picks go to die. The second round I mean. But back then, even Toronto was an NBA nothingburger.

He played 14 minutes per game and scored just under 6 PPG on 4.7 shots per game.

Fast forward to the Raptors championship season of 2019. He played a career high 18.8 minutes and scored a career high 8.6 PPG. No coincidence.

For the next three seasons between two teams (Raptors and Trailblazers) his per game scoring increased each season to a career high of 19.6.

For the subsequent two seasons mostly in Portland, he averaged 17 and 19 PPG in his seventh NBA season, while playing about 30 minutes per game.

In 2021-22 season and his first year in La La Land, Powell shot a career high .419% on threes, the highest of his career. And connected on .461% of his overall field goals and .811% of his free throws while playing a career high 32.4 minutes per game.

The following season, Norman Powell stumbled upon his Peter Parker, Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent moment and he (presumably) didn’t even realize it – the three ball.

He became the team’s sixth man starting just 8 of the 60 games he played and (someone) realized his points per possession efficiency skyrocketed. In just 26 minutes per game he scored 17 PPG and hoisted the second-most threes in his career.

But at .397% conversions, which would be sufficient for most, Powell went into the lab and mixed up some chemicals and stuff and drank it, while getting bit by a spider (presumably), as his parents were being murdered, while remembering his home planet of Krypton and the reckless scientific experimentation that caused him to flee.

From there, he was all business. A professional, if you will.

Last season, he took and made more threes than ever, connecting at a career-high .435 clip.

He hit 83% of his free throws and the Clippers exceeded expectations by winning a shocking 51 games and securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

The Clippers had seen enough. They re-inserted him as a starter this year and he’s having a career year.

While shooting a career high 7.7 threes a game and connecting on .424%, making a career high 3.3 per game, he’s making .554% of his twos, and averaging a career high 23.8 points per game.

Did I mention in 33 minutes per game (career high) he is only averaging 2.0 turnovers per game, and for his career he averages just 1.3? Completely professional.

Assists? Who cares.

Rebounds? What is that aside from a fat chick you hook up with?

Steals? Doesn’t matter but since you asked career high 1.3.

Points Per Possession? Second in the entire NBA.

That’s why Norman Powell is a Professional Scorer.

That’s why his business card says that.

And this is why you should pay your respects.

The post Norman Powell: Professional Scorer appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Believe it or not, there WAS a time when “James Harden with beard” was “James Harden without beard.”

One look at James Harden without beard reveals why he grew the beard.

What in the world did we ever do prior to the existence of GIFs? Harden’s beard looks so life-like, you’d swear it was a living entity.

Check out this James Harden Beard GIF that details the growth of the most famous facial hair in the NBA and potentially in the world of sports.

And yes, I’m including former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brian Wilson in that statement, even though you probably forgot about him.

Actually the weirdest beard in all of sports probably belongs to Ohio State football coach Ryan Day. It looks like a glued a muskrat to his chin and dyed it in motor oil.

Harden’s beard has gotten progressively weirder, (detailed nicely by Yahoo here) to the point where it is now, akin to an overgrown jungle canopy.

RELATED – How Much Does Russell Westbrook Make – Per Game, Per Season, Per Minute?

Meanwhile, Harden’s beard is 100% natural a devoid of beard PED’s, something his MLB counterparts would have a hard time claiming.

At the same time his beard has taken shape, Harden’s faux-hawk has also progressed nicely, giving him a head shape that most of us would be proud to call our own.

There is a “Samson” joke in here somewhere, because the longer Harden has grown the beard, the more success he has enjoyed in his NBA career.

EXCEPT, in the playoffs when James Harden annually converts to his alter ego, James Soften:

Harden set a new standard of style with his beard. And he’s followed that up in ensuing years with fashion-forward/weird clothes and outfits that only Cam Newton can really appreciate.

What’s interesting though is the domain of the beard really belongs to Harden. Name another NBA player with a well-known beard? Or even facial hair.

Probably have to lump the Lakers’ Anthony Davis into this mix and his unibrow that he literally trademarked.

The Birdman Chris Anderson had a beard for a while. As did Dirk Nowitzki. But that’s really it.

But do you know what ISN’T over? James Harden’s career.

Since he forced his way out of Philadelphia via a trade to the Clippers, the former little brother of NBA basketball teams, the Clippers are currently a game out of the #1 seed in the Western Conference.

Harden discussed his fit with the Clippers back in November, which was a hot-button topic following the trade, infamously stating, “I’m not a system player, I am a system.”

Harden is playing 34 mpg which is the lowest since his OKC Thunder days.

But, he is contributing across the board with 17/8/5/1 and shooting a career-high 40% from three.

And most importantly, and surprisingly, teaming up (rather than ‘teeming’) with Russell Westbrook has exceeded anyone’s expectations other than their own.

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The post James Harden Without Beard (GIF) appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

To find the dirtiest NBA team and players we looked at personal foul data for the last 5 seasons. And it turns out the Detroit Pistons are the most foul/dirty team in the NBA.  #BadBoys

The average NBA player commits a foul every 13 minutes and five seconds, which means 11 fouls are committed each game.

We analyzed NBA teams’ performance over the past five years to identify who committed the most personal fouls, and divided this against playing time to reveal the dirtiest of the dirty.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Detroit Pistons committed the most violations, with a foul recorded once every 11 minutes and 19 seconds.

This is significantly higher than the league average offense frequency (one every 12 minutes) and is a far more disruptive performance when compared to the Pistons’ rivals the Chicago Bulls, who committed a foul once every 12 minutes and 17 seconds.

A personal foul is caused when a player makes illegal contact with another player on the court to block their movement, such as charging and blocking.

According to the NBA, infractions of the rules are taken very seriously and can lead to a loss of ball possession or free throws. If a player accumulates six personal fouls in a game, he will be disqualified from the game.

It’s also interesting to see which team is likely to be most affected by the NBA’s recent attempts to cut down on ‘flopping’, which sees players try to draw a charging violation on an opposing team. Those suspected of flopping will be penalized and fined up to “,000.

The Phoenix Suns come in as the second most badly-behaved team with a personal foul every 11 minutes 24 seconds. The team have never won a championship, but with the removal of Deandre Ayton, who commits a foul on average every 10 minutes, they may have a shot.

Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves will be disappointed to learn that after averaging a personal foul every 11 minutes 25 seconds they’re the third most disruptive team.

Interestingly, the Golden State Warriors – who won the 2022-23 NBA title- are in the top five teams for the unruliest players, reporting an offense every 11 minutes and 27 seconds.

The Top Ten Dirtiest Teams in the NBA

On the other end of the scale, the NBA’s best-behaved team is the Milwaukee Bucks, with a personal foul committed once every 12 minutes 59 seconds.

Following closely behind the Bucks is Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs as the second and third most not dirty teams, with a foul committed once every 12 minutes 58 seconds and every 12 minutes 57 seconds.

Who is the Dirtiest Player in The NBA?

We used the same methodology as we did for the dirtiest NBA team; the total personal fouls committed by each player divided by their playing time.

The worst-behaved NBA player is Dewayne Dedmon causing the most disruption over the last five seasons.

The former Philadelphia 76ers center committed a foul every 6 minutes and 27 seconds – compared to the NBA average of every 13 minutes

This is significantly higher than the average offense frequency committed across the NBA (once every 13 minutes and 5 seconds) and is more disruptive than the 76ers’ average offense rate of once every 11 minutes and 49 seconds.

The second most badly-behaved player is JaVale McGee who plays for the Sacramento Kings with a foul once every six minutes and 55 seconds.

The third-worst came out as Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid, with a foul every 7 minutes and 3 seconds.

Surprisingly, notorious bad boy Dillion Brooks only ranked as the 20th dirtiest player in the NBA.

The Top Ten Dirtiest Players in the NBA

Who Is The “Nicest” NBA Player?

The NBA’s best-behaved player is Tyus Jones, who plays for the Washington Wizards who reports 81% fewer personal fouls than NBA bad boy Dewayne Dedmon.

Following closely is Harrison Barnes who plays for the Sacramento Kings, while the third-least troublesome player is Derrick Rose of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Top 10 Cleanest NBA Players

The post The Dirtiest NBA Team And Player appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Here’s how dominant Michael Jordan was in every playoff series he was in and one statistical grouping why he is the GOAT:

– 45.2 PPG | 1988 R1 (W 3-0)
– 45.0 PPG | 1992 R1 (W 3-0)
– 43.7 PPG | 1986 R1 (L 0-3)
– 43.0 PPG | 1990 SF (W 4-1)
– 41.0 PPG | 1993 Finals (W 4-2)
– 39.8 PPG | 1989 R1 (W 3-2)
– 37.3 PPG | 1997 R1 (W 3-0)
– 36.8 PPG | 1990 R1 (W 3-0)
– 36.3 PPG | 1998 R1 (W 3-0)
– 36.0 PPG | 1996 SF (W 4-1)
– 35.8 PPG | 1992 Finals (4-2)
– 35.7 PPG | 1987 R1 (L 0-3)
– 35.7 PPG | 1989 SF (W 4-2)
– 34.3 PPG | 1993 R1 (W 3-0)
– 33.5 PPG | 1998 Finals (W 4-2)
– 33.4 PPG | 1991 SF (W 4-1)
– 32.3 PPG | 1995 R1 (W 3-1)
– 32.3 PPG | 1997 Finals (W 4-2)
– 32.2 PPG | 1993 CF (W 4-2)
– 32.1 PPG | 1990 CF (L 3-4)
– 31.7 PPG | 1992 CF (W 4-2)
– 31.7 PPG | 1998 CF (W 4-3)
– 31.3 PPG | 1992 SF (W 4-3)
– 31.2 PPG | 1991 Finals (W 4-1)
– 31.0 PPG | 1993 SF (W 4-0)
– 30.2 PPG | 1995 SF (L 2-4)
– 30.0 PPG | 1997 CF (W 4-1)
– 29.8 PPG | 1996 R1 (W 3-0)
– 29.8 PPG | 1991 CF (W 4-0)
– 29.7 PPG | 1989 CF (L 2-4)
– 29.6 PPG | 1998 SF (W 4-1)
– 29.5 PPG | 1996 CF (W 4-0)
– 29.3 PPG | 1985 R1 (L 1-3)
– 29.0 PPG | 1991 R1 (W 3-0)
– 27.4 PPG | 1988 SF (L 1-4)
– 27.3 PPG | 1996 Finals (W 4-2)
– 26.6 PPG | 1997 SF (W 4-1)

• Playoff series record: 30-7
• Finals record: 6-0
• Career average: 33.4 PPG

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time for several reasons.

He was an incredibly skilled and talented athlete who possessed a rare combination of speed, agility, strength, and precision. He had an unmatched ability to score, defend, rebound, and pass, and he played the game with a fierce competitive spirit and an unwavering drive to win.

Jordan’s career statistics are impressive, to say the least. He won six NBA championships, five MVP awards, ten scoring titles, and was a fourteen-time NBA All-Star. He holds the record for the highest career scoring average in NBA history, with an average of 30.1 points per game, and he was a ten-time NBA scoring champion.

Jordan’s impact on the game of basketball goes far beyond his individual statistics, however. He revolutionized the sport with his style of play, which combined athleticism, skill, and showmanship in a way that had never been seen before. He brought a level of excitement and energy to the game that helped to make basketball one of the most popular sports in the world.

Finally, Jordan’s success on the court was matched by his off-court accomplishments, as he became one of the most recognizable and influential athletes of all time. He used his fame and fortune to support a variety of charitable causes, and his personal brand remains one of the most powerful in the world of sports and beyond.

All of these factors contribute to Michael Jordan’s status as the GOAT or greatest of all time in the world of basketball. While there may be other players who have put up impressive statistics or accomplished great things on the court, Jordan’s combination of skill, style, success, and influence make him a truly iconic figure in the history of sports.

LeBron Vs. Jordan

Michael Jordan had an outstanding career in the NBA playoffs and NBA finals. Here are his career records in each:

NBA Playoffs:

Total games played: 179
Total points scored: 5,987
Career scoring average: 33.4 points per game
Total rebounds: 1,152
Total assists: 1,022
Total steals: 376
Total blocks: 158

NBA Finals:

Total games played: 35
Wins: 24
Losses: 11
Total points scored: 1,176
Career scoring average: 33.6 points per game
Total rebounds: 382
Total assists: 197
Total steals: 62
Total blocks: 42

Michael Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, never lost, and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in all six of those championship series.

LeBron James’ career record in the NBA playoffs and NBA Finals are as follows:

NBA Playoffs:

Total Playoff Appearances: 16
Total Playoff Games Played: 266
Total Playoff Wins: 174
Total Playoff Losses: 92
Playoff Winning Percentage: 65.4%
Total Points Scored: 7,491
Total Rebounds: 2,337
Total Assists: 1,934
Total Steals: 445
Total Blocks: 246

NBA Finals:

Total Finals Appearances: 10
Total Finals Games Played: 51
Total Finals Wins: 28
Total Finals Losses: 23
Finals Winning Percentage: 54.9%
Total Points Scored: 1,717
Total Rebounds: 510
Total Assists: 523
Total Steals: 123
Total Blocks: 49
Total Finals Wins: 4
Total Finals Losses: 6

In closing. Michael Jordan = GOAT

The post LeBron vs Jordan = Who’s The GOAT? MJ and Here’s Why appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Being the cheapest NBA franchise to attend a game can be good for a few reasons. First, it can increase attendance at games as more people will be able to afford to attend. This can lead to a more lively and exciting atmosphere at the games, which can be beneficial for both the players and the fans.

Additionally, being the cheapest can also attract more casual fans who may not have been able to afford to attend games in the past.

However, there are also downsides to being the cheapest NBA franchise to attend a game. Firstly, it can be seen as a sign that the team is not performing well or is not as popular as other teams.

This can lead to a lack of excitement and enthusiasm among fans, which can be detrimental to the team. Additionally, being the cheapest can also lead to a lack of revenue for the team, which can be used to improve the team and make it more competitive.

The study by sports media company OhBets analyzed data from every NBA team, including the average cost of resale tickets, cost per oz of beer, the price of food, and the cost of parking per game.

The Indiana Pacers are the cheapest NBA team to follow this season, with a single game costing $165.17 in total at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Tickets cost $138 on average on resale, combined with $5.50 for a hot dog, $14.47 for parking, and $7.20 for 16 ounces of beer, making the Pacers the least expensive to follow this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder come in a close second place on the list, with an average cost of $169.58 per game. Splitting this cost down means average resale tickets cost around $148, $6.08 for 16 ounces of beer, $5.50 for a hot dog, and $10 on average for parking at the Paycom Center. The team also has the cheapest beer in the top ten at $0.38 per ounce.

Coming in third place is the Detroit Pistons, with a total average cost of $173.62 per game at the Little Caesars Arena. Resale tickets cost, on average, $153, followed by $6.72 for a beer, $5.00 for a hot dog, and $8.90 on average for parking. According to the findings, the stadium has the joint cheapest parking on the list.

The San Antonio Spurs come in fourth place on the list, with a game at the AT&T Center costing $182.75 on average. This is broken down into $157 on average for a resale ticket, $8 for a beer, $2.75 for a hot dog, and $15.90 for parking at the stadium.

Rounding out the top five is the Houston Rockets. On average, it costs roughly $185.21 to watch the team play at the Toyota Center. This is due to resale tickets costing $159 on average, 16-ounce beers costing $10.56, hot dogs costing $6.75 on average, and parking priced at an average of $8.90.

• The Golden State Warriors are the most expensive NBA team to follow, with costs potentially adding up to $681.92 a game
• The Lakers and the Knicks take second and third, respectively

On the other hand, being the most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game can be seen as a sign of prestige and success. It can be viewed as a status symbol for fans to be able to afford to attend games, and it can also lead to higher revenues for the team.

Additionally, it can also lead to a more exclusive and upscale atmosphere at games, which can be appealing to certain fans.

However, being the most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game also has its downsides. First, it can make it difficult for some fans to afford to attend games, which can lead to a lack of attendance and a less lively atmosphere at games.

It can also lead to a perception that the team is only interested in making money and not in providing a good experience for fans. This can be detrimental to the team’s reputation and can lead to a lack of support from fans.

The study found that the Golden State Warriors were the most expensive team to follow, with a single game for the team costing around $681.92 in total at the Chase Center.

$611 is the average cost of a ticket for the team on resale, and this, combined with an $8.50 cost for hotdogs, $45.14 average on parking, and roughly $17.28 for 16 oz of beer, makes Golden State the most expensive team to follow this season. The team also had the most expensive cost per ounce of beer at $1.08.

The LA Lakers come in second place on the list, with an average cost of $551.89 per game at the Crypto.com Arena. This is split down into an average resale ticket cost of $518, $11.04 for a 16 oz beer, $6.75 for a hot dog, and $16.10 on average for parking per game for the California-based team.

Coming in third place is the New York Knicks, with a total average of $407.06 per game at Madison Square Garden. Resale tickets cost, on average, $346, followed by $13.76 for a beer at $0.86 an ounce, $9.00 for a hot dog, and $38.30 on average for parking.

The Boston Celtics come in fourth place on the list, with a game at the TD Garden Arena costing an average total of $351.76. This is made up of an average resale ticket cost of $303, $17.28 for a beer at $1.08 an ounce, $6.75 for a hot dog, and $24.73 for parking on average.

Rounding out the top five is the Brooklyn Nets, with an average total per game of $337.61 at the Barclays Center. Tickets on resale cost, on average, $283, followed by $12.96 for a 16 oz beer at $0.81 an ounce, $7.25 for a hot dog, and $34.40 for parking.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from OhBets said: “With the price of resale tickets increasing year on year, and some costs doubling each season for certain teams, the NBA could become a very expensive league to follow. Without a season ticket, fans could have to miss out on big games in person, and staying home might become the first option for superfans of the sport.”

In conclusion, being the cheapest or most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game each has its pros and cons.

While being the cheapest can increase attendance and make it more accessible for fans, it can also lead to a lack of revenue and a perception that the team is not doing well.

On the other hand, being the most expensive can lead to higher revenues and a more exclusive atmosphere, but it can also make it difficult for some fans to afford to attend games and can lead to a perception that the team is only interested in making money.

That decision is made by the executives that make up the brands of each team – what do we value and what are we about? Whether you are the cheapest or most expensive NBA team, as long as what you are offering is in line with your brand promise, either way can work.

The post The Cheapest & Most Expensive NBA Teams to Watch in 2022-23 appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

When I found out that the 4th ranked Purdue basketball team was headed just down the street from me to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, my first thought was “I’ve got to go and check out that big dude.”

My second thought was, “Man I wish Gene Keady was still the coach so I could see him BLOW HIS STACK!”

My third thought was, “His last name is pronounced the way people always pronounce mine – we must be related!”

That “big dude” has a name and it is Zach Edey.

How tall is Zach Edey? Edey is listed as 7-4 and 290 lbs. He wears a size 20 shoe.

He isn’t just extremely tall, but he is legit BIG. Thick. You can’t push him around. No bean pole Shawn Bradley type.

I’ve always been enamored with the tallest basketball players in NBA history, as you can read here.

So was Zach Edey a Chuck Nevitt type? A large, space eating big man that alters shots, and occasionally blocks some, but doesn’t contribute offensively.

Was he a Manute Bol who exhibited the aforementioned defensive abilities and led the NBA in blocked shots multiple times, while sprinkling in some occasional offensive ability from behind the arc (before big guys EVER did that)?

A Gheorghe Mursean-esque big, that accumulates stats just by being literally head and shoulders above opposing defenders and offensive players?

Or was he a Rik Smits type of 7-4 big man that had robust offensive skills? A factor on both ends of the floor.

Seeing him in person made me realize he has elements of all the aforementioned players.

And is at an advanced stage of basketball IQ at this point in his development.

Because this generation of basketball is more wide open, run and gun, with a greater emphasis on getting into transition faster, his athleticism “dwarfs” the previously mentioned bigs.

Zach Edey was born on May 14th, 2002. If he would’ve been born in 20 years earlier, a player of his height and size would have been castigated every time he drifted outside the free throw line, or anywhere near it, on offense or defense.

At seven feet, 4 inches (and still growing) he is the tallest basketball player in Big Ten history.

The “biggest” thing I noticed about him was his impact on defense.

On the defensive side of the floor, his presence alone alters shots and offensive gameplans.

Every time a Nebraska player dribbled inside the three-point line, you could see them consciously think about where they were on the floor in relation to Zach Edey.

Not only is he long, but he is also extremely agile and athletic. That combined with his 7-foot-7 wingspan, he can cover a lot of ground quickly.

In the game I witnessed first-hand versus Nebraska, he had 7 blocked shots, a season high. And it wasn’t because he was trying to block everything. He really did a great job of playing within himself.

While I was watching, I kept thinking about about how even though he is an absolute beast on defense, you have to attack him like he’s 6-10.

Because if you don’t, it makes every other defender immediately better. It forces opposing teams to settle for three-point shots and shots from long range that they really don’t want and aren’t used to taking.

It took Nebraska’s offense most of the first half to decide to consciously attack him near the rim.

The first person that did was 6-9 inch center Derrick Walker.

One on one about 7 feet from the basket, Walker attempted a quick flip of a hook shot that was promptly swatted and led to a transition basket for Purdue.

Edey’s presence makes their team defense better by at least 40%. The only way you can see Purdue losing is by him getting in foul trouble.

Based on watching him in this game, he doesn’t get sucked into trying to “swat” shots. Or over commit on head fakes.

He literally doesn’t even have to jump to block shots. And if he isn’t leaving his feet, he isn’t going to accumulate stupid fouls.

Offensively, I was impressed by his ability to let the game come to him.

Facing constant double and triple teams, his vision and passing in the half court set created endless open shot opportunities for teammates. As soon as he received a pass, he was quick to send a skip pass and force the compromised defense to rotate.

His interior passing to other bigs on his team was also adept. Purdue runs everything on offense through him and you can see why.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but Edey’s 11 points versus Nebraska was a season low and the first time in 8 games he hadn’t scored 20+.

Big men also are traditionally not great free throw shooters. Now in his junior season, Edey is shooting 74% from the charity stripe.

His average for his career is 68% so you can’t employ the “Hack A Shaq” method that NBA teams used versus a physically dominant Shaquille O’Neal to neutralize him.

In 30 minutes per game, Edey is averaging 23 points per game, 13 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks.

So, how did Zach Edey get so tall? How tall are his parents?

Zach Edey’s mom, Julia, is 6 feet tall and was 5-9 by the time she hit ninth grade. Zach Edey’s dad, is listed at 6 feet 2 inches.

By comparison, Gheorge Muresan, the tallest player in NBA history, his dad is 5’9,” and his mom is 5’7″. Chuck Nevitt’s dad was 6-7 and his mom was a 6-footer.

Manute Bol’s mom was 6-10 and his dad was 6-8.

Rik Smits son is a 7-footer. Muresan’s son is a 7-footer.

So there is no rhyme or reason to how a person’s height is dictated by their parents. But it certainly doesn’t hurt to have tall ones.

But the unique thing about Edey is not just his height, but his diverse skillset. He impacts games on both ends of the floor.

Seeing him play in person, it is easy to see why you are watching a future #1 pick in the NBA Draft.

The post How Big Is Zach Edey? BIG AF! But Also “Highly” Skilled appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

A Trae Young jersey has many variations. One of the reasons his net worth is so high. Not only is he a great player, but fans love him.

As evidenced by his ranking on the 2022 Top Selling NBA jerseys. A Trae Young Jersey is the 8th most popular jersey sold out of all NBA players.

The Trae Young jersey has even outsold players like Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Lamelo Ball.

The only 6 players that have sold more jerseys than Trae Young are LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum.

Possessing limitless range, there isn’t a shot Trae Young can’t hit on or off the floor. His ascension since blossoming into a star in college at Oklahoma has only continued in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.

Young burst onto the scene at Norman North High School. He averaged 42.6 points per game as a senior and led the team to the state title game. He later signed with Oklahoma and led the NCAA in scoring and assists during his freshman season.

Young returned home to Oklahoma for his jersey retirement at Norman North High School.

Young celebrated the moment in style. He was joined by former teammates as his No. 11 jersey was officially raised to the rafters. The Hawks superstar told local reporters that he always dreamed of the special moment.

“It’s crazy as I was here not too long ago,” Young told reporters, via KFOR 4 sports anchor Dylan Buckingham. “I’m still playing and still in my career obviously. … For me to do this early is unbelievable, but I know I got a long way to go, and I am going to keep going.”

“I was working for this moment, but I never believed that it would come true like it is now,” Young said. “It came so quick, and I want to keep going and keep working.”

Whether you want some threads of his from college or a Trae Young NBA jersey, you can’t go wrong representing Ice Trae.

Trae Young’s rank as the 8th most popular, highest selling jersey, is the highest of his career.

Young is averaging 27.9 points, 9.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 45.6 from the floor and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc this season.

The assists and efficiency are career-highs along with his 90.7 percent mark at the free-throw line and 52.3 percent effective field goal percentage.

Much has been made of Young’s defense in his career and still as the team has struggled on this end this season. But his impact on offense is undeniable.

Trae Young Jersey sales have spiked this year.

The Hawks told Atlanta Business Chronicle that rookie-year Trae Young (who ranked No. 36 in jersey sales overall) helped lift the team’s total retail sales by 26% from 2018 to 2019, with the jersey sales bump “driving significant growth.” Jersey sales accounted for 19% of the teams total sales in 2020, compared to 10% in 2019, the Hawks said.

Trae Young Jersey Number is #11

How did Young get the number eleven? From an interview with NBA.com:

“My freshman year in high school I was #3 all the way up until then. I started getting my first offers from colleges. That next Summer I changed my number to 11 on my AAU team. And it just felt like everything was going great since I put on that number 11. And it has been going great ever since.”

These are my personal favorite Trae Young Jerseys:

Trae Young Peachtree Jersey/Peachtree Trae Young Jersey:

Trae Young MLK Jersey:

White Trae Young Jersey:

Trae Young Black Jersey:

Trae Young’s Net Worth 2022

In 2018, Trae Young signed a 4 year / $26,527,711 contract with the Atlanta Hawks, including $26,527,711 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $6,631,928.

For the 2021-22 NBA season, Young will earn a base salary of $8,326,471, while carrying a cap hit of $8,326,471 and a dead cap value of $8,326,471.

At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Young’s net worth from his playing career will be $26,135,649. He will be a restricted free agent. That will be the end of his Entry Level/Rookie contract.

On 8/3/21, Young signed a contract extension for 5-years and $207 million dollars, the rookie maximum extension. Technically the base contract level is $172 million, but it includes a 30% escalator clause that boosts the value to $207 million if Trae makes one of the three All-NBA teams.

Just before being drafted in the NBA, Trae landed a brand deal with Adidas. The multi-year deal reportedly earns him a massive $1.8 million annually.

Young also signed endorsement deals with Old Spice, Bodyarmor, Tissot, Chipotle, eBay, Fortnite, and NBA2K. With all of his endorsements combined, Trae earns over $2 million annually.

Trae Young has a house in his home state of Oklahoma. Trae Young’s house is worth “.5 million and features a living space of 8100 square feet.

Trae Young Knicks – Trae As The Ultimate VILLIAN

Trae Young has averaged 27.9 points, 9.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 14 games against the Knicks in his career. But those numbers do not reflect the agony he has inflicted on the souls of both Knicks players and fans. 

The hate goes back to the first round of the 2021 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Thanks to Ice Trae having a ridiculously good and hot-shooting series, the Hawks eliminated the Knicks after a brusining and hotly-contested five-game series.

Trae Young joined Michael Jordan as the only visiting players with 3 straight 30-point games at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs. Young averaged 29 points and almost 10 assists in the series vs the Knickerbockers.

In the elimination game, Young had 18 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and ended what had been the Knicks’ best season in several years. 

In December of 2022, Adidas gifted Trae with some special edition shoes to really piss off Ne Yorkers. 

Young wore the adidas Trae Young 2 in a blue and orange colorway. The cherry on top was the slogan “King of Broadway,” printed on the heel of the shoe. As luck would have it, New York destroyed Atlanta, and Young did not play well.

But rest assured, Trae will be back in New York soon, splashing threes from just a step over midcourt.

The post Trae Young Jersey and Net Worth appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

You don’t go to an NBA game to save money. But, what’s it gonna cost me to see a game and catch a buzz?

Looking at that data below, two things determine average ticket resale price – recent success and strength of brand.

For example, the Warriors are in full-fledged super team in dynasty mode. Which is why their tickets are the most expensive. And actually more than twice as expensive as the 4th place Boston Celtics.

The Lakers have sucked since their bubble championship. But, they are the Lakers, one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world. Which is why they are the second most expensive ticket to get. That plus seeing LeBron James in person, the best player in the world right now.

Another factor is population density of a specific NBA city. The smaller markets are cheaper.

The Indiana Pacers offer the cheapest priced tickets in the entire league at $138. The Oklahoma City Thunder are just above them at $148.

But what about beer prices? What team has the most expensive beers and what team has the cheapest?

The Warriors capitalize on having the most-expensive tickets by also charging the most for a beer – $17.28 for a 16 oz. That’s literally more than one dollar an ounce.

Cleveland is always thought of as a working-class city and their beer prices reflect this. At just $5.28 per 16 ounces, the Cavs have the cheapest beer in the NBA. Here’s to you, Cleveland.

Everyone looks better with a hot dog in their mouth.

Which team has the cheapest, and which team most expensive hot dog?

The San Antonio Spurs are the cheapest, charging a reasonable $2.75. The New York Knicks charge $9.00 for a hot dog. How is the sausage made, Mr. Dolan? Actually I would not be surprised to learn that James Dolan uses the profits from hot dog sales to fund his band, JD & The Straight Shot.

I need a parking spot and don’t want to get robbed. What’s it gonna cost me?

The Warriors have the most expensive parking rate, clocking in at just over $45. The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets are the cheapest in the NBA for parking, charging just $8.90.

So, what are the most expensive and cheapest cities to see an NBA game when you factor in the price of tickets, beer, a hot dog, and parking?

The Warriors are far and away the most expensive. You can plan on spending almost $700 to see a game and parking/imbibe on beer and hot dogs.

The Indiana Pacers are the cheapest. Checking in at “just” $138 dollars for the full experience.

Just like with having a kid, you don’t have a kid/ go to an NBA game to save money.

Check out the data below and have fun at the game!

The post Beer, Hot Dog, and Ticket Prices For Every NBA Team appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

New research shows that some of the most famous NBA stars could be earning big from their social media posts. 

The study, conducted by odds comparison experts Sidelines.io, analyzed the Instagram follower counts and engagement rates of the biggest NBA stars to see who could be earning the most per sponsored post. The engagement rate refers to the percentage of a person’s followers that actively interact with their social media posts.  

Lebron James was the biggest earner on the list due to his huge 117 million followers on Instagram, which, combined with his 1.4% engagement rate, means that he could be earning around $310,673 for every sponsored post on the platform.

Lebron’s follower count is more than double anyone else on the list, highlighting his global influence, as well as each one of his posts on the platform averaging more than two million likes. 

Next on the list is Steph Curry, with 41,214,879 followers and an engagement rate of 1.42%, meaning he could earn around $109,212 per sponsored Instagram post.

Curry’s brand partnership page with Under Armour has also seen some influence on the social media platform, with the Curry Brand page amassing more than 318,000 followers since its introduction in late 2020. 

Russell Westbrook comes in third place on the list, with a follower count of 19,340,800 and an engagement rate of 0.93%, meaning he could receive around $51,251 for every sponsored Instagram post. His page also amasses an average of 180,000 likes per post. 

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant also makes the top ten, placing in sixth. His 12,536,481 followers and 5.04% engagement rate mean he could be earning around $33,967 for every sponsored Instagram post. KD also has the highest engagement rate on the list with 5.04% and is known for his frequent social media use among other NBA stars. 

Sitting just behind in seventh place is Giannis Antetokounmpo, with 11,147,494 followers and a 3.01% engagement rate meaning the Greek star could see earnings of around $32,807 for every sponsored Instagram post. 

Chris Paul makes the top ten, coming in tenth place. With a follower count of 10,776,325 and despite having the lowest engagement rate in the top ten with 0.32%, he could still be earning around $29,432 for every sponsored post on his Instagram. 

In the top ten, the Lakers have two entries with Westbrook and Lebron, the Golden State Warriors have two with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry and the Nets have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. 

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Sidelines.io said: “It’s fascinating to see the appeal and influence of some of the league’s top players, and the fact they could be making big bucks off the court as well as on it.

With Lebron becoming the first NBA player to reach 100 million followers late last year, it highlights the potential for further global outreach of the NBA with many of his followers being across the globe.” 

The post What NBA Player Makes The Most On Instagram? appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.