The first few days of the week have been eventful. It began with news in the midwest that the Milwaukee Bucks had fired their head coach and future Hall of Famer, Jason Kidd.  

Kidd went 139-152 during his 3 ½ year tenure as coach of the Bucks. During his tenure in Milwaukee, Kidd guided the team to two NBA Playoff appearances.

But that wasn’t enough to keep Bucks brass happy. Upon his firing, the Bucks were an eighth seed with a 23-22 record despite the pretty consistent play from their All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and recent trade with the Phoenix Suns which shipped speedy guard Eric Bledsoe to Fear The Deer nation.

Speaking of Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s Ramon Shelburne reported that the Greek Freak offered to take his grievances to Bucks management and fight Kidd’s firing. Giannis loves his coach and didn’t want to see him go.

But, business is business, right?

Jason Kidd tells ESPN that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo called him about 15 minutes before Kidd was officially notified he’d been fired by the Bucks and offered to help save his job.

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2018

Joe Prunty took over as the Bucks’ interim head coach. He and the Bucks got a win Monday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Prunty is no stranger to hoops, comes highly recommended and is another disciple from San Antonio Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich’s coaching tree. Prunty began as a video coordinator with San Antonio before becoming an advance scout and assistant coach for nine seasons, beginning in 1996.

Speaking of San Antonio, they’ve made headlines in the last 48 hours. A multitude of NBA league sources indicate that Spurs forward, Kawhi Leonard and his reps are disconnected from the Spurs organization.

Last Wednesday, the Spurs announced that Kawhi Leonard would be out of action for an “indefinite period of time” as he’s been dealing with a lingering quad injury that has burdened him since the NBA Playoffs last year.

Leonard’s right quadriceps tendinopathy recovery has carried over into this season, causing the one time NBA Finals MVP to miss the first 27 games of the season.

Retired NBA vet and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose told ESPN’s First Take yesterday that Leonard doesn’t want to be in San Antonio.

According to Rose, Leonard wants out because the Spurs have been ‘unable to attract elite-level, all-NBA-caliber free agents to come play with him.’

Added Rose:

“Players talk about wanting to win and wanting to be a champion, but ultimately they want to do it on their own terms,” Rose said. “And when you go to San Antonio, guess who is the CEO of that organization? Gregg Popovich. It’s going to be his way.”

Before the Spurs’ 114-102  home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, Popovich rebuffed confusion or the Spurs being a soap opera. “Some people wrote some articles. I understand it, but soap opera? It’s a soap opera if we talk about it every day, I guess,” Popovich said.

“I don’t get it. We won’t talk about it. There’s nothing to talk about other than what we’ve already said.”

As for the Cavs, the Oklahoma City Thunder scored 148 points on them on Saturday without Kevin Love who called out sick.

That got folks talking. Was Love really sick? Some of Love’s teammates reportedly called Love out in a team meeting.

Cleveland is 3-7 in their last 10 games. During their last 10, Isaiah Thomas has returned from injury, J.R. Smith has struggled, the talk of LeBron James leaving at seasons end has resurfaced along with the debates on whether Cavs head coach Ty Lue should lose his job.

Mind you, the Cavs currently hold a 27-19 record and are sitting in third place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

Ashley Nevel says it best

The Cavs will get it together. Don’t push the panic button just yet!

Kemba Walker is apparently on the trading block. A Bronx, New York native, a return home as a member of the New York Knicks is what anybody from the 5-boroughs would want.

The Milwaukee Bucks were reportedly in preliminary talks before the Kidd firing and the usual suspects, teams in the NBA Finals hunt like the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers have made calls.

“Kemba Walker is a player that can come to a team and score you points. If he came off the bench he could be a Lou Williams Jr. He can help a team win.” @ScoopB has high praise for the @hornets point guard. Which team should go out there and make a trade for the UConn alum?

— Bud and the Manchild (@Budandmanchild) January 23, 2018

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says that Charlotte has been encouraging teams to make offers and appears eager to discuss attaching Walker to a larger trade in which another team would take on one of the Hornets’ several less desirable contracts.

Not so fast; Hornets majority owner, Michael Jordan is not trading him unless he’s shipped out for something really good.

“It’s not like we are shopping him,” said Jordan.

“We would not just give him up. I love Kemba Walker. I would not trade him for anything but an All-Star player.”

Walker would be a nice addition to any team. He can score in volume and will be a scorer for hire like the Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jamal Crawford.

Be on the lookout for where he goes next!

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson checking out Bangkok, Thailand’s Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho . Photo Credit: @Scoop_B Instagram.

Check out all of my commentary on the going ons of the NBA on Syracuse, NY’s Bud and the Manchild by pressing play at the top!

While on Bud & the Manchild, I also discussed my recent 15-day vacation to Thailand where I visited the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

If you’re a Street Fighter 2 fan, Sagat’s battle stage is in front of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, which is located at Wat Pho.

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The post Scoop B: Milwaukee Bucks, Jason Kidd part ways, Cavs, Spurs & Kawhi Leonard drama & a trip to Thailand appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Sports and entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio

RESPECT Magazine columnist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatted about the NBA on the Bud and The Manchild Show on Syracuse, New York’s The Score 1260 AM. Press Play Below To Listen!

Happy early-Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for during the early parts of the NBA season.

Despite losing Gordon Heyward to a season ending injury, the Boston Celtics are living their best life under the scoring machine of the masked man, Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics ditched his protective mask in the second half and led his team to a win over the Golden State Warriors. Credit Maddie Meyer/Getty Imageshe Boston Celtics living their best life under the scoring machine that is Kyrie Irving and winning 15 straight games.

The Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are playing inspired basketball in the NBA’s Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are going through growing pains in their respective conferences.

They’re all just  trusting the process!

Check Out Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson disuss the Philadelphia 76ers on CNN.

Did you know that LeBron James is the King of New York?

You’re welcome.. ?of NY #myfavoriteplayground #striveforgreatness?

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Nov 14, 2017 at 7:26am PST

For those tardy to the party, LeBron James and the Cavaliers’ train ride coupled with James’ declaration was inspired by a scene in the King of New York movie.

Hip hop artists have often used this movie as a muse in their music videos. Add Fat Joe’s “So Much More” and Fabolous “Lituation”to that list.

While on the show the crew and I also discussed Carmelo Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as his former New York Knicks team.

Check out the recap of the chat from Inside The Loudhouse’s Paul A. Esden. 

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The post Scoop B: Kyrie’s Celtics & the Cavs’ LeBron James being the King of NY has given us a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon. Photo Credit: Darren Abate/AP

Last week, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach chatted with the Players’ Tribune about being a trailblazer in the NBA.

Hammon is the NBA’s first full-time assistant coach. Also a former WNBA player, she chats with Jerry Stackhouse about her desire to break down gender barriers.

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson discusses Becky Hammon on Arise TV

“My hope would be eventually it’s just “coach,” she told Stackhouse.

“Recognized for my skills and my talents and my mind and my work ethic just like the next person.”

While discussing barriers, Hammon also visited Girls Inc., an organization that works to inspire the next generation of strong, smart, bold women.

You can read Becky Hammon’s Players’ Tribune article in its entirety here. 

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Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin. Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin chats with Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin about small ball on Scoop B Radio. Press play below to listen.

On Friday, Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin was an unlikely hero in helping the Boston Celtics win their first game of their young season.

Larkin arose from the bench and scored 10 points, eight which came in the fourth quarter of Boston’s eventual 102-92 win at Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The last time that we heard from Larkin, he was in the U.S. playing for the struggling Brooklyn Nets. Now? He’s on a Celtics team that is giving him steady minutes alongside Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving.

Two point guards shooting at will? Say it ain’t so! “I do believe small ball is here to stay for a while,” Shane Larkin told me on Scoop B Radio.

Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin shooting a jumper over Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports

But why?

“Because the game always evolves,” Shane Larkin told me on Scoop B Radio.

“If it was 15 years ago you would see everybody throw the ball into the post, mid-post isos, cutting off the post and a lot of stuff like that. But over the last couple of years it’s turned into a lot of ball screens and dribble drives and things like that.”

Larkin believes that there’s a science behind it all. “So I think small ball is the new ‘wave’ in the league since the Spurs won the championship when they had Boris Diaw running the four,” he said.

Larkin added:

“Or even when Dallas won the championship in 2011. So the last few years, all the champions have had bigs who can stretch the floor and versatile wings who can guard multiple positions.”

Facts only. Respect the shooter named Shane Larkin!

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Becky Hammon and Nancy Lieberman. Photo Courtesy of NBC Sports

Nancy Lieberman is a trendsetter in basketball. Lieberman has worked hard amongst both men and women in basketball on the court and in coaching for over 20 years.

Check out Sacramento Kings assistant coach Nancy Lieberman’s discussion with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below to listen!

Currently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, she’s always defied odds. While in high school as a junior, Lieberman represented the U.S. at the Pan American Games in 1975.

She’d make history afterward when she made the Olympic team and earned a silver medal. History was made then when she became the youngest basketball medal winner in the history of the Olympics.

In between then and now, Coach Lieberman played on the U.S. Women’s National Team, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, was named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and was the president of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Like Lieberman, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, Becky Hammon is also a trendsetter in sports.  A sixteen year WNBA vet, Hammon signed with the New York Liberty as an undrafted free agent in 1999 and played for New York until 2006.

“My journey as a basketball player and how the fans have always embraced me even when I was the last person on the bench; I have had to work my way up each year with the Liberty,” Becky Hammon told me.

“Nothing came easy to me.”

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During her stint with the Liberty, the 5’6 guard helped lead the franchise to three WNBA Finals appearances. She retired from basketball in 2014 as a member of the San Antonio Stars. In the summer of 2015, Hammon coached the San Antonio Spurs’ summer league team to a championship in Las Vegas.

“I think that her story herself is very inspiring for not only women but it’s that underdog story,” retired WNBA player Swin Cash told me.

“She came into a situation where she had to fight her way to get everything she has.”

Lieberman is elated that both she and Lieberman bore over the years as it relates to equality. “It’s what we do,” Nancy Lieberman told me on Scoop B Radio,

“I mean I’ve been coaching for 22 years now and everything I’ve done in my life I’ve been around guys whether it was playing for Pat Riley and the Lakers in their summer league or playing for the Jazz in ’86. I was head coach of the Dallas Mavericks D-League team five years ago, the Texas Legends. So this is just normal for me. However, the more people see Becky and myself the more it becomes normal to everybody else this is just what we do and we’re comfortable doing it.”

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The post Nancy Lieberman Says The More People See Herself & Becky Hammon As Assistant Coaches In The NBA, ‘the more it becomes normal to everybody else’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

OAKLAND, CA – 2000: Tracy McGrady of the Toronto Raptors competes in the Slam Dunk competition at the Oakland Arena on February 2000 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2000 (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Tracy McGrady was one of the most successful swingmen to play in the NBA. At a slim and lanky 6’8, McGrady had a quick first step, a smooth glide to the basket, a jab step with counter moves and a crossover dribble that makes you think Kevin Durant and George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin all-in-one.

To quote the late Notorious B.I.G., the Washington Wizards, Shawn Bradley and the New Jersey Nets ‘have a story to tell’ after the nightmares McGrady gave them with his scoring assaults that he unleashed in his prime.  

Step-backs and fall-aways, creativity in mid-air that seemed effortless, Tracy McGrady was the real deal in his NBA career.

This weekend, McGrady a 14-year retired NBA veteran, who in 938 games averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Historically, many remember McGrady’s Houston Rocket days when he heroically scored 13 points in 35 seconds.

That December 9, 2004 rescue and 81-80 win over the San Antonio Spurs was no easy feat. For posterity’s sake, that was no easy feat. In 33 seconds, it took four buckets from beyond the arc, a made free throw to complete a four-point play and a steal to win by one point!

The only remotely exciting comparison to that game was the Indiana Pacers’ Reggie Miller’s eight points in nine seconds performance against the New York Knicks. With the Pacers down eight points with in nine seconds remaining in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals, Reggie Miller pulled off a comeback like no other.

I’ll tread lightly though; Knicks fans are still healing from that disappointment.

McGrady’s journey is memorable and worth recounting. Tracy McGrady was drafted ninth by the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA Draft. That draft class was laden with talent with two future Hall of Famers standing out from that list: Detroit Pistons hero Chauncey Billups and old reliable San Antonio Spurs big, Tim Duncan.

McGrady was special; so special the biggest rumor in 1997 was that the Bulls were looking to trade Scottie Pippen to acquire him.

In Jonathan Abrams’ book “Boys Among Men,”  (H/T CBS Sports’ Matt Moore)  it was revealed that Tracy McGrady was nearly traded to the Chicago Bulls for Scottie Pippen on draft night in 1997, but Michael Jordan vetoed it. McGrady confirmed that on an episode of ESPN’s The Jump with Rachel Nichols.

As Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Toronto Raptors, NBA Hall of Famer and two-time champ Isiah Thomas drafted McGrady in ‘97.

In Toronto, Thomas built a promising young roster when he drafted Damon Stoudamire, McGrady and Marcus Camby. What was significant about that budding roster was a). They played what is known in today’s game as small ball. b). McGrady would leave Toronto and flourish in Orlando.

**Expect Kyrie Irving’s move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics to have a similar impact.

In a recent interview on Scoop B Radio, Isiah Thomas, now President of Basketball Operations for the WNBA’s New York Liberty broke down his thought process while housing McGrady in the 6. “When I put together the Toronto Raptors, if you remember the power forward position at that time was a position of strength, dominance, and you had to be physically strong to play that position,” Thomas told me.

“The shooting guard would be coming off of the power forward and the center would be your offense. During that time, what I talked about with my scouting staff and also our ownership group at that time was that we have to find a way to change the game and really affect things out on the floor. We came up with what we called the Raptor Two. And Raptor Two basically had to be a power forward that could also have guard skills, he had to be able to switch the power forward and the shooting guard and not lose ground.”

Added Thomas:

“One of the first trades that I made was for Doug Christie. The game was getting smaller, we had eliminated the power forward position and made it a very skilled position, so I’ll fast forward then I”ll take you back to McGrady. The thing that I left Toronto with was Stoudamire, Camby, Christie, McGrady, and they drafted [Vince]Carter, that was the blueprint.”

For two seasons (1998-2000), McGrady, Vince Carter, Doug Christie and company would lead the Raptors to a 68-64 record. Those feats included the Raptors first-ever winning season where they went 45-37 in 2000.

Toronto also made their first NBA playoff appearance, where they’d be swept 3-0 by the New York Knicks. Despite being swept, McGrady earned his big payday in the NBA Playoff. In game one, T-Mac registered 25 points and hauled in 10 rebounds.

“With T-Mac, a lot of people don’t know or would know that T-Mac was a decent player when he left Toronto and he got the opportunity with that one playoff game where they played New York,” McGrady’s Orlando Magic teammate, Darrell Armstrong told me on Scoop B Radio.

That offseason, McGrady bolted Toronto and signed a six-year, $67.5 million contract with the Orlando Magic. “Vince was being covered so much by all the guys on New York that T-Mac started to get off,” said Armstrong.

“And people started to see T-Mac’s talent during the playoffs that year. That is when we went and got him and that is when he came to the Magic that next year and what he did from there was just amazing because that is what he was supposed to be doing when he got to Toronto.”

Tracy McGrady guarded by Michael Jordan. Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports

A chance to play in his home state of Florida and team up with Grant Hill? Who could blame T-Mac?

“He put in the work and he dedicated himself everyday when he got into the game,” said Armstrong.

“He [knew he] was going to be one of the top players in the league and he did it. It was fun to see him and Kobe Bryant go at each other, Michael Jordan go at each other.  I was just amazed by it, the things that he could do. But he was something special.”

Although McGrady struggled to get out of the second round of the NBA Playoffs, we can never forget the 2003 NBA Playoffs when the league’s scoring champion shot over 51 percent from the field against the Detroit Pistons in their round one series.

The Magic had a 3-1 lead in the series with McGrady scoring 43, 46, 29 and 27 points, respectively against Detroit; but Orlando couldn’t seal the deal. They were eliminated.

If you’re keeping score at home, other exciting Tracy McGrady moments include:

• Landing an off-the-backboard alley-oop, thrown to himself during the 2002 NBA All Star Game.
• McGrady’s Adidas sneaker commercials were also enjoyable. 
• McGrady’s global reach in China substantiated after teaming with Yao Ming in Houston.
• Most importantly: McGrady’s duels with Kobe Bryant were legendary.

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The post Scoop B: Tracy McGrady’s Hall of Fame Career Is A Master Class In Knowing Self-Worth appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Hofstra University alums: Pynk Magazine publisher/Basketball Wives star Meeka Claxton, RESPECT Magazine managing editor Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson & Love & Hip Hop/former G-Unit member Olivia Longott at a gathering in Miami. Photo Credit: DJ Manny El

Meeka Claxton is the real deal. An entrepreneur, mother of two and a go-getter, she  made a name for herself as the star of VH1’s hit show “Basketball Wives.” Through that, she used her platform to create lucrative opportunities far beyond what she could have ever imagine through sports, fashion and lifestyle with the launch of her two publications, Pynk and ELITE, with her partner, Mecca Moore.

At 5’4″ the Belizean-American firecracker, Queens, NY native and Hofstra University alum has had experience in real estate, event planning and party hosting.

In today’s pop culture, many young ladies are enamored with the ability to be married to a professional athlete. Although there are perks like travel, wine, food and jewelry, it takes hard work to maintain it.

Appearing on a recent episode of Scoop B Radio, I chatted with  Meeka Claxton on what advice she’d give young women who have that idea in their head.Meeka at one time was married to former San Antonio Spurs champion Speedy Claxton. “I think that they’re just imagining the glamorous part of it,” Meeka Claxton told me on Scoop B Radio.

Check Out Meeka Claxton and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson via Scoop B Radio

“It’s the young end of it, the bags, the shoes, you just uh the furs and things like that if you’re in colder cities but at the end of the day its more than that.”

Meeka added: 

“Being a wife of an athlete you know its more than that its really a support system, you know I was very blessed not to have an athlete that was so consumed by the game, that you know, they would come home angry. There were some players that they couldn’t even; the wives couldn’t even talk to them after. They’re calling me, I’m like: ‘look I’m hanging out with my husband and my kids chill out leave me alone.’ And they’re like: ‘I can’t talk to him we just lost’ you know whatever so it’s a lot, it’s a lot of coddling it’s a lot of just like nurturing.”

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The post Scoop B: Talking Basketball Wives & More With Meeka Claxton appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.