Under the current rules, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James would have played at least one season of college basketball before they joined the NBA.

Those two went straight to the pros. Potential had to be evaluated at the high school level.

But when the NBA changed the rules to require at least a year before entry into the NBA, the college game changed.

Suddenly, there were a rash of “one-and-done” players, guys who came into college as highly-recruited prospects and the intention of staying only one year.

Read all about how draft rules changed the game!

It’s not a Kobe/Lebron matchup as many fans (and NBA commissioner David Stern) may have pined for, but tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic square off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While the Lakers may be the favorite to win the series, they did come up short against the Magic during the regular season–dropping both meetings. So who will get their first NBA title…Adam Morrison or J.J. Redick? Let’s find out as we preview the 2009 NBA Finals. (more…)

For a man who is obsessed with having the last word, there is no possible worst-case scenario for Shaquille O’Neal than watching either Kobe Bryant or Stan Van Gundy hoist up the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the champion of the 2008-09 season.

For years, Shaq has claimed that the only reason Kobe won three titles was because he had The Diesel stationed in the paint.  It looked like his sentiments were true when Shaq was traded to Miami, and wasted no time by bringing the first-ever championship to South Beach with the help of Dwyane Wade.  Since O’Neal’s departure from LA, Kobe was found middling in mediocrity until Pau Gasol was hijacked from Memphis – and The Big Fella couldn’t have been happier. (more…)

• Really Bobby Jenks? Really?

• Kobe Bryant Sued By Maid

• Baseball Fantasy Draft Inner Monologue

• Blake Lively’s Legs Make Me Say Damn!

• Sexiest Maxim Hometown Hottie Videos

• Check Out Younger, Hotter Britney Spears

Don’t look now, but the New York Knicks are winners of eight of their past 11 games, including five straight at home.  They have surged up the standings to a 21-25 record, one-half game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, and are already only two wins behind last season’s disgraceful total.  But is their recent success a mirage?

If ever there was a test to determine whether Mike D’Antoni’s crew is legit, this week is it. (more…)

This morning the United States men’s basketball team returned back to its rightful place atop the basketball world for the first time since 2000.  After poor showings in the 2002 and 2006 World Championships and a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Games, the USA set out on a 3-year commitment to build chemistry and camaraderie on and off the court, earning it the nickname The Redeem Team heading into this year’s world tournament.

But how much is this Redeem Team worth?

With a team assembled of the NBA’s elite, it was surprising that only 3 of the league’s top 25 highest-paid players were on the USA roster – Jason Kidd $21.4M, Kobe Bryant $21.3M, and Michael Redd $15.8M.  The 12 players on The Redeem Team will combine to earn $160.6M in 2008-09 NBA estimated salaries, an average of $13.4M each.  However, that figure includes Deron Williams ($5M) and Chris Paul ($4.6M), who are both entering the final year of their rookie contract – both of whom recently signed contract extensions of nearly $70M over 4 years – an average of roughly $17M per season.  Take those two salaries out and it cost $151M for 10 guys, an average of $15.1M per. (more…)

We’ve come a long way since the Dream Team of 1992. Bird and Jordan have been replaced by Bryant and James. And just because they play in the NBA doesn’t mean they’re the best. But at the Summer Games in Beijing this year, we stand a good shot at taking gold. And what better way to celebrate our chances than with super hot chicks? (Hint: There is no better way.) The game doesn’t air until 2:30am Sunday morning (Saturday night, for most of you), so we suggest you check out the cheerleaders from all the starter’s home teams and call it a day.

Check out the Cheerleaders of the US Olympic Redeem Team Players after the break! (more…)

Vanessa Bryant (#14 on COED Presents: Sexiest Athlete Wives of 2007) needs to get a clue.

It’s been reported in The Dirty that her husband, NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant has been cheating on her with 18 year-old LA Laker’s dancer Vanessa Curry. Didn’t see that one coming.

To make matters worse for Vanessa (Bryant), she recently cursed out ESPN reporter Laura Lane who criticized Bryant for the flamboyant outfit she wore the night Kobe was awarded his NBA MVP Award. Bryant’s profanity laced bitch-out session took place right in front of her two daughters ages, five and two.

Not a great week for Vanessa Bryant but at least Kobe’s new squeeze is nice to look at.

Which Vanessa is Hotter?

Star athletes are rich & famous physical specimens that can have the hottest women in the world with the snap of a finger.. and they take advantage of this. Look at Chipper Jones, who has three illegitimate kids with several different groupies or Wilt Chamberlain, who claims to have banged over 10,000 women in his life.

Getting with good looking nympho groupies night after night is a college guys dream but after years of this even the biggest studs get the urge to settle down.

Today we celebrate not the athlete stalking ho’s like Carmen Electra and Madonna but the top 3 most beautiful/refined/classy women to have married star athletes.
(more…)