The Best Kicks to Sport This Year

Best Kicks

With the New Year finally here, it’s time to upgrade up those old basketball shoes! Having a sturdy and reliable pair of basketball shoes can help avert injuries and help you keep your head in the game. Many people don’t realize how important it is to pick out the right pair of shoes for the court, however the wrong pair of shoes could be what’s causing you to play off in the game. Picking out a pair of shoes may sound easy, however there are so many options out there. Here are the top five kicks you should sport this year!

 

Lebron 13

Known as one of the most durable shoes for all in one performance, comfort and cushioning, the Lebron 13 is one of the best options to get you on the court. The A-list sneaker provides you for reliability while being flexible on the court for quick and smooth movements.

 

Air Jordan 1 All Star

There’s a reason for this shoe being one of the most original models on the court. First, it is one of the oldest models for basketball players from back in the day. Second, it’s reliable and supportive comfort, allows players to focus on the court, rather than their shoes. This is the brand’s most classic shoe in the game, offering you the opportunity to win big like past all stars.

 

Under Armour Curry Two

If you’re looking for a shoe with the latest performance technology, the UA Curry Two is a must try. This shoe is technologically enhanced for high-tech speed performance, while offering a lightweight shoe. The sneaker also contributes to balance and stability through the heel and arch.

 

Adidas D Rose 7

If you’re a guard, the D Rose 7 is your latest go to shoe. The sneaker offers energy boosting solutions as you get out whatever you put in. The higher and faster force you put into the shoe, the better boost you’ll get. This shoe is alo durable in the simple fact that you won’t be slipping and sliding all over the place. It’ll keep you comfortable, while relying on the balance and support it’ll give off on the court.

 

Nike Kyrie 2

Basketball is all constant movement, therefore you need a shoe that knows how to flow and move with your foot to make the ultimate impact on the court. The hyperfuse technology will allow to keep your feet cool and dry while the air in the heel will give you stability and extra boost with movement. The new technology allows for endless movement and extreme cushioning on the court.

 

In his non-professional life, Adam is an avid fan of New York sports, especially basketball, and he’s always ready to jump into a game with friends, family, and clients alike. Adam has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since he was a young child, and managing the disease forms an important part of his life. While it certainly presents some challenges, Adam works hard to make that diabetes does not stop him from reaching any of his goals. He is committed to living a healthy lifestyle, and enjoys staying active and exercising regularly. Adam Tau is always excited to share what he’s learned and swap tips and tricks for fitness and diabetes management with friends both new and old.

Top NBA Stadiums You Need to Visit

Top NBA Stadiums

Some of the greatest dates in the history of basketball have been made in these basketball stadiums. Each national stadium has its own community culture, history, and contribution that makes up who the NBA teams are today. Here’s a look at the must see NBA stadiums to visit in your lifetime.

 

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

The staples center is known for one of the best stadiums in the nation. Even if you’re not into basketball, this is a tourist must For one, you’re bound to see at least one famous celebrity on the sidelines at a Lakers  home game. Second, the spontaneous atmosphere and cheering of fans, will remind you that you’re in the hollywood neighborhood.

 

United Center, Chicago, IL

The United Center is known for its basketball hype from back in the day. The 90’s basketball stadium is known for having some of the best seats in the battle of stadiums. The stadium is also known for holding a statue of Michael Jordan, as a retirement gift. It also offers great wine, beer, spirits and food for you can enjoy the game to the max.

 

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Madison Square Garden is known as one of the best stadiums in the country. Settled in the heart of New York, the stadium is only steps away from Pennsylvania Station. The stadium opened in the late 1960’s and is home to hundreds of events such as basketball games and concerts. The Garden is a must see for tourists and basketball lovers alike, as the stadium is known for its clean and newly renovated attractions.

 

The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI

Known as the biggest NBA stadium in the nation, this is a must see to experience the history of the Midwest’s industrial city. The stadium is also known for the three titles won by the Detroit Pistons. And let’s not forget about the 2004 Pacers vs. Pistons fight, which resulted in the suspension of 9 players.

 

Bankers Life FieldHouse, Indianapolis, IN

Bankers LIfe Fieldhouse is only one of the two sporting Venues in the Windy City. Indianapolis is already known as one of the most sportiest cities in the Nation, and the Fieldhouse stadium is one of the reasons. It’s great for locals and tourists alike as almost everything in the City is of walking distance and there is not one bad seat in the house! Don’t forget to stock up on your food and beverage as the Windy City offers plenty of food and drinks within one of the cleanest stadiums in the midwest.

How Basketball Will Help You Succeed in Business

Basketball Businessman

Basketball is a sport that’s loved by many. Watching the game establishes a culture community, while playing the game allows you to establish simple life skills that you’ll be able to use throughout your life. Basketball is also a great sport to learn to play if you’re looking to manage a team or start your own business. Basketball can change your worldwide view of teamwork and strategy concepts. Here’s a look at how basketball skills can allow you to manage your own business.

Leadership

Some of the greatest skills you will learn in basketball is leadership skills. Leadership skills are essential to those looking to manage their own business as well as others. The game of basketball teaches every team member how to manage their own position while coming together to quickly make team decisions. Being on the court teachers you how to work with others and establish relationships (with your teammates) to win over your competition. A workplace is at risk of failure if leadership skills are not exercised. For an even better leadership experience you can practice in basketball is being a team captain. This will allow you to set up strategies and goals for your basketball team to overcome competitors. You can then take these skills back to your office and establish a game plan that applies to your team and customer engagement.

Risk Taking

Another important skill that applies to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners is taking risks. In basketball, team and individual risks are taken all the time. When it comes to making decisions, such as who to pass the ball to or when to shoot hoops, you’re making tough and quick decisions. When you’re on the court, there is always a high risk of loss. Basketball will help you take risks within your business as well. This is an important skill to have in life, but also in the office when it comes to making choices. Although there is a slightly smaller level of risks taken within a business, there’s still a chance of failure. Basketball allows you to relieve the stress of risk failure and boosts your confidence in the decisions you make.

Versatility

Playing basketball also allows you the flexibility and adaptability of problems and challenges. In basketball, if the team needs a player to step in and switch positions, typically they would for the sake of the business. In an office, if a position is missing or needs to be quickly replaced, you’re able to step in and take over. For many people, change isn’t easy, but the game of basketball allows you to learn versatile skills so that you can easily adapt to challenges and change positions.

Life Lessons From Basketball

Ryan C Heffernan: Life Lessons from Basketball

Many people I talk to always wonder, “Why basketball?” For some people, basketball (or sports in general) is very hard to understand. For others, like myself, the game brings critical life values off the court. Basketball is a sport that is revolved around determination, teamwork, and personal development that leads to overall success. These are the reasons why I chose to compare the game of basketball to success.

 

  • Personal Development

 

Basketball is a great sport for personal and professional development. In the game, you learn how to determine your goals and the strategies you will use to reach them. Hard work and long hours of practice are crucial to learning to play well on the court. There will be obstacles that you and your team will have to hurdle over. Basketball teaches you that it’s okay to lose a game, as long as you put hard work and determination into it. This will push you to get back on your feet and try again. These skills are important to apply in life challenges and will push you towards your goals. Basketball allows you to learn and apply the skills of discipline and determination not just on the court, but in real life as well.

 

  • Team Work

 

Playing basketball requires combined effort through multiple people. In a team, everyone has their own role that they must practice in order to contribute to the team. This creates value to the whole team, while learning how to manage your role within a team. In the real world, jobs and organizations require some type of team work. The team-work skills that are learned in the game can effectively be applied to team-work in the workplace.  Everyone has their own role and must manage it in order to reach the overall end goal of the team. Working together creates respect for everyone on the team. Respect is a critical aspect of teamwork so that everyone can reach the same end goal. A game can’t be won without everyone working together.

 

  • Strategize for Success

 

Basketball isn’t just a game, it’s an art. The game requires players to determine the team’s goal, but also planning strategies that will help reach that goal. Players must be organized and understand their roles within the team. They must also learn to plan and prepare for their goal through individual and team practice. Basketball allows players to become leaders and solve problems within the game. Through these skills, the game teaches players the planning process of reaching goals, which can then be applied outside of the court.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” As a basketball player, it is easy to apprehend this quote and apply it to our personal lives. This quote reminds us, that no matter whether or not we play basketball, if you don’t try something you’ve always wanted to do, you’ll never know if you could have succeeded. In basketball, if you miss a shot, you always have an opportunity to try again. The same goes for real-life instances.

Kevin Garnett Retires from Basketball

Ryan C Heffernan: Kevin Garnett Retires from Basketball

Kevin Garnett is unfortunately retiring from basketball. This star player is certainly a contestant for the Hall of Fame, after being the NBA all-star 15 times, receiving an Olympic gold medal, and the NBA champion in 2008. He was scouted immediately out of high school and drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995. He then went on to play with the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets, and finished his career with the Timberwolves once again.

While Garnett was with the Timberwolves, the team saw their greatest period of success ever, winning various titles and championships. The same thing happened when he played for the Celtics. Success followed him throughout his entire career, particularly when he joined the ranks of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jason Kidd as the fifth player in the league to play more than 50,000 minutes, due to his amazing talent.

Watch the video below to relive some of the top plays from his career!

 

Where does the Basketball Get its Distinctive Color?

Ryan C Heffernan: Why is the Basketball Orange

Why is the Basketball Orange

Ever wondered where the distinctive orange basketball comes from? The sport is still quite young, originally invented a little over 100 years ago in 1891. Now one of the most popular sports in the USA, basketball was invented by a Canadian YMCA instructor who was looking for a way to get his students active during the freezing cold winters. He used a soccer ball and invented 13 rules of his own, most of which are still used in the game today.

He played with peach baskets, which meant the ball was caught and had to be retrieved every time someone made a basket. First they invented baskets with a hole in the bottom so that the ball could be pushed out with a long metal pole, and these were subsequently switched out for the first metal hoops in 1906.

The first balls made specifically for basketball instead of soccer were simply brown. It was not until the late 1950s that the orange ball was developed, in response to the need for a ball that would be more immediately visible for players and audience members.

Basketball has come a long way in just a few years, and there’s no telling the next developments to come! To read more about the history of basketball, visit the Olympics page.

USA Basketball Unveils the 2016 Olympic Team

2016 US Olympic Men's Basketball Team Finalists

2016 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team Finalists

The USA has a lot to be proud of when it comes to our history with Olympic Medals for basketball. In 17 Olympics, the American men have never come home without a medal, including 17 gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals. With a truly impressive 130-5 (.963 winning percentage), the USA men hold an all-time record in Olympic action. Today, June 27, USA Basketball finally released the 12 man roster for the official 2016 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team.

Top players like Lebron James and Stephen Curry dropped out following injuries and a lot of minutes played in the NBA playoffs, leaving fans worried for our prospects in Rio De Janeiro this summer. The release of the final roster comes as a relief, and fans everywhere will be excited to see that even without James and Curry, this formidable team is jam-packed with talent and well positioned to defend its title following America’s 2012 gold medal victory in London. If they bring home another gold, it will be the USA’s third consecutive Olympic title. This exciting roster is currently pending final approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

At long last, here’s the official team that will be representing us this summer:

Carmelo Anthony, F, New York Knicks
Harrison Barnes, F, Golden Warriors
Jimmy Butler, G, Chicago Bulls
DeMarcus Cousins, F, Sacramento Kings
DeMar DeRozan, G, Toronto Raptors
Kevin Durant, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
Paul George, F, Indiana Pacers
Draymond Green, F, Golden State Warriors
Kyrie Irving, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
DeAndre Jordan, F, Los Angeles Clippers
Kyle Lowry, G, Toronto Raptors
Klay Thompson, G, Golden State Warriors

Perhaps the team’s greatest strength is it’s immediately evident balance and depth. USA is in a strong position with an impressive mix of some of the best scorers and shooters, a daunting defence, big men, past gold medal winners, and promising youth.

For those who can’t wait, the U.S. team will be playing five exhibition games, the first two versus China, the 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ in July 2016 in California. Continuing the tour, you can watch the U.S. play 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela in Chicago and 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria in Houston. To get your tickets for the USA Basketball Showcase exhibition now, visit usab.com/showcase.

You can also read the official NBA press release here.

Under Armour Snatches Draft Title Sponsorhip

Thanks to a new partnership deal, signed sealed and delivered, the new NBA

Steph Curry

draft Title sponsorship will be held by sports apparel brand: Under Armour. Under Armour has not only sponsored Steph Curry the NBA 2015 Most Valuable Player, but also PGA’s Jordan Spieth, and it seems that the brand is reaching to include larger brands and athletes as it moves forward with more sponsorship deals. What does this sponsorship deal mean for the NBA. To detail this partnership with Under Armour, the Baltimore based company will not only be the NBA draft title sponsor, but will also sponsor the league’s youth basketball program. This deal is one that represents an extended partnership between the two companies. With hopes of expanding its youth league to include five million boys and girls in the 6-11 age group in the next two years, the NBA is looking to move beyond the original “draft” narrative, and will be expanding to clinics which will train youth in the 6-11 age demographic. Business is booming!

According to IEG , brand sponsorships for bands will be worth $40B worldwide, There is, it seems a unique way to emotionally engage with fans, the NBA has most likely caught up with that. Under Armour, still a newcomer in the apparel market, now seats  beside Nike, Reebok and Adidas in the game of basketball sponsorship. Brand sponsorship has numerous benefits for both brand and partner . According to Brandwatch, sponsorship benefits brands because they can preempt and think ahead of consumers needs through research and analysis. In the sports world, leagues like the Barclays Premier League have been actively using brand analysis, social media campaigns and brand insight to under consumers needs. Brands can also measure their international impact, a factor I am sure will be helpful for the NBA as they increase their international branding efforts.

 

Kobe and Lakers to Part Ways

Remember this guy?

Remember this guy?

Kobe Bryant is arguably the greatest player of all-time. Yes, even a lifelong Laker fan has to put that “arguably” qualifier before that statement. The end of next season will make it 20 years that Bryant has been loyally wearing the purple and gold. It will also be his last year with the team.

Mitch Kupchak is one of the worst general managers in basketball and probably shouldn’t have given him and Steve Nash so much money in the first place. But it sounds like he has finally come to his senses and mutually decided to part ways with the former superstar. Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA radio that the two haven’t had any discussions about a working relationship going forward.

Kobe Bryant is still one of the youngest players to play in the league. He came into the league at 17 in the late 90’s and never had any problem taking his share of shots. When those shots started going in at a high percentage and we started getting rings again, Lakers fans embraced Kobe and even defended him against bogus rape allegations in Denver.

As a Laker fan there is something to say about keeping Kobe these last few years. He will be the first player to play for the same team 20 years. Twice he lead the league in scoring and for 17 years Kobe made the all-star team. However, paying him $48 mil for two years after a torn Achilles is questionable judgement on behalf of Kupchak.

At the beginning of the 2013-2014 season, Kobe suffered a devastating knee injury and had to miss the entire season. His ability and resilience to play through injury is commendable but when your team suffers as a result its no longer endearing to fans. Kobe has been playing through back problems, shoulder injuries and thats just what we know about. We thank Kobe for what he has done but we will not be said to see him released.

Steph Curry vs LeBron James

LeBron James may be the best player of all-time as much as it pains me to say it. Steph Curry may prove to be even better if at nothing else but shooting fade away three pointers with six hands in his face. This is LeBron James’ fifth trip to the finals in as many years.

Stephen Curry

If you told me when I was growing up that we’d see the Cavaliers and the Warriors in the NBA Finals I’d tell you you were crazy. But these historically terrible teams now have there time in the sun. The Cavaliers haven’t won a championship ever and the Warriors haven’t won since 1975.

But what a difference unbelievably great basketball players can have.

LeBron who was raised in Cleveland went back this season after a mildly successful few years in Miami. The team already had a worthy all-star in Kyrie Irving, but another team leader in Kevin Love decided to join the team.

The Steph Curry led Warriors have a had a more gradual run to the finals after a few years mastering their high-flying brand of team basketball and of course, three pointers. As a Lakers fan it’s difficult to root for the Warriors but one cannot be a fan of basketball without a sincere appreciation for the diminutive point guard who pulls off miraculous shot after miraculous shot with the ease of a fast-break layup.

This finals matchup is actually the best case scenario for agnostic basketball fans. Both teams like to play small ball. The Splash Brothers of the Warriors spread out the floor allowing for more effective offensive plays, and LeBron James requires a double team which opens up the lanes for other players.

Either of these two teams can get on a roll and sweep the other team, or maybe, just maybe we’ll see an epic game seven. Anything can happen but only one thing is for sure, a rookie coach will win a title this year.