NBA: News From Around The League

The NBA season is well under way. With what is going on around the league, we will cover the notable news.

The 2014 NBA season is well under way. Some teams are in mid-season form, while others are still stuck in neutral.

As the season progresses, news goes back and forth in a flash. We will go over some of the notable news around the NBA this past week.

Dirk Nowitzki breaks the record for most points scored by an international player. 

With the 17 points scored against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, Dirk Nowitzki passed Hakeem Olajuwon for first place all-time in scoring by an international player. Nowitzki now has 26,947 career points to Olajuwon’s 26,946. That total also places Dirk ninth in the overall career scoring record book.

With the points scored, and his shooting as a big man, Nowitzki has certainly had a huge impact on European players coming over to the United States and playing in the NBA. He has helped make the sport the global phenomenon it is today.

After the game, Nowitzki reflected on getting the mark and surpassing Olajuwon.

“It’s an honor,” said Nowitzki. “To do it at home, it was even more special. Getting a standing ovation, it was great.

“Hakeem, to me, was one of the greatest. I grew up watching him in the 90s. His footwork, his touch, was next to no other. I’m really humbled to keep climbing the ladder, blessed to stay healthy, and play at a semi-high level, I guess.”

Kobe Bryant also broke a record, but he’d rather not talk about it.

Kobe is not one to be outdone in anything, so since Nowitzki broke a record, Kobe decided he had to break one as well on Tuesday. I don’t think he wants any pomp and circumstance around it, though.

In the fourth quarter of yet another loss for the Los Angeles Lakers, this time to the Memohis Grizzlies, Kobe tried a fadeaway jumper that clanked off the left side of the rim. That was his 13,418th miss, moving him past John Havlicek for the top spot in career field goal misses.

This is a dubious record to say the least, but it also shows the greatness of Kobe Bryant. Not just anyone can last in the league and miss over 13,000 shots. You have to last a long time in the league and make a hell of a lot more shots in order to get there.

It’s been a tough season so far for Kobe and the Lakers, and this record does not help. He will have plenty of pleasant marks that he will reach, such as passing Michael Jordan for third in the all-time career scoring list. He is taking enough shots that he should do it by next week.

The signing of Lance Stephenson has not exactly worked wonders for the Charlotte Hornets. 

When the Hornets signed Stephenson, some thought he would fit in perfectly with the young, talented team. After playing in the playoffs for the first time in Michael Jordan’s era as owner, they were looking to take the next step and advance further than the first round.

Well, the season is young, but Stephenson has not been what Charlotte expected. The Hornets are struggling at 3-5, and Stephenson is averaging about 8 points a game and shooting about 30 percent.

An NBA scout explained to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix why Stephenson has struggled. He said that Stephenson is trying too hard, and that he is out of shape.

"I think he is overcompensating. He is trying to make too many plays. He’s not shooting well. The rest of his offensive game isn’t bad. He is passing and rebounding. But his defense is terrible because he is out of shape. He looks like all he did was hang out this summer. I’m not seeing the same intensity. [Hornets coach] Steve Clifford wants him to defend, and he isn’t doing it."

Jordan and the Hornets are hoping Stephenson gets out of his funk, because if he doesn’t this will be a long season for Charlotte.

LeBron James had a triple double in helping the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday…or did he?

The Cavs beat the Pelicans on Monday, and LeBron led the way, registering his first triple double since he came back to Cleveland by scoring 32 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists.

Well, on Tuesday, the NBA announced that there would be some changes from that game. No, the result was not going to change, but LeBron did not actually register that triple double.

At the 3:27 mark of the third quarter, James was incorrectly credited with an assist when he tipped a missed shot to Tristan Thompson, who passed the ball to Kyrie Irving for a layup. That took away James’ triple double.

The league also took away one of his rebounds when he tipped a blocked shot to teammate Mike Miller.

At least those fans who have tickets to the Cavs next home game still have a chance to say they saw LeBron’s first triple double.

Speaking of LeBron James, Eminem took a shot at him in his new song.

In a song on his latest release, “Shady XV”, Eminem touched the subjects of Ray Rice

and his domestic violence issue, Tony Stewart and his accident that cost the life of another driver, and LeBron’s change of address this season. The part on LeBron goes as follows:

“I need a towel, sweat leaks from my brow, it’s burning my eyes, my cerebral is foul cuz … I’m thinking about should be illegal. I need my headband like the guy who left Cleveland Ohio and went to South Beach with his talents, screamed [expletive] you on the way out and winked with a smile.”

When you hear what Eminem had to say about the others, James certainly got off the easiest of the three. You can see the NSFW video here.

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