Why Do NBA Fans Love to Hate LeBron?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Frank_L_William]Frank L William 

 To some people he's a basketball demi-god, while to others he is the most hated man in NBA today, but whatever you want to think or say about him LeBron James is hard to ignore.

 The kid from Akron, Ohio first attracted attention when he was in high school and when, in 2002 he won the Gatorade National Player of the Year his now famous nickname was first coined - King James. And ever since then the name LeBron James has become not only a household name in the US but across the world as well.

 But it was not until 2010 and King James was about to become a free agent for the first time that he really began to attract the kind of negative reactions from some fans that he does today. On any given day if you check LeBron James' Twitter the negative comments directed his way often outnumber the positive - especially true after the Miami Heat lost Game 7 of the 2011 NBA Finals - and the crown they had promised to bring to South Beach - to the upstart Dallas Mavericks.

 Why all the hate for a player who some feel may be better than the great Michael Jordan? Partly because of his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, essentially his hometown team, for the glamor of the Miami Heat and partly because of the way he made that choice. In the summer of 2010 Lebron James told the world that he would announce his choice of team on a live ESPN TV special "The Decision".

 His intentions were probably good, the money raised would got to the Boys and Girls Club of America, a cause close to his heart. It was just the flashy, maybe arrogant, way he did it that evoked all the ire of these who were not even Cleveland fans.

 "The Decision" was a bad idea from the beginning but apparently no one warned LeBron about that. Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks called the show "the big gets public humiliation in history" and ex NBA superstar turned analyst Charles Barkley a 'punk move" claiming "That was torture. I want that hour back in my life". The entire city of Cleveland seemed to turn against their former favorite son overnight, not so much for the fact he was leaving them to head to the beach but for the way he announced his intentions to the world.

 The failure of the Big Three - James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh - to beat the veteran Mavs did little to make things better. But Lebron does not seem to care too much. He is still the biggest star in the NBA today, Lebron James' Twitter has 2.4 million followers and counting, his talent is nothing anyone questions and his best years are certainly yet to come. Despite all of the haters, it is still good to be King James.

 Frank Williams is a die-hard basketball fan and a social networking freak who believes [http://www.courtsidetweets.com/]LeBron James Twitter account will help every fan of his to develop an interaction and collect fresh information straight from LeBron's.

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NBA Free Agent Power Rankings 2011-2012

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_W_Murphy]David W Murphy

These are the Power Rankings for the NBA's best free agents available for the upcoming season. Teams are officially allowed to sign free agents on December 9th, while the NBA season will begin on December 25th.

1. Marc Gasol - Many expect the Grizzlies to match any offer that Gasol gets, however he is clearly the top player on the market and should have no problems finding teams who want to invest in a young and talented center.

2. Nene - He was undervalued during his time in Denver. He will now get the chance to see that many teams value talented big men which will make it hard for the Nuggets to keep the offensively gifted Brazilian.

3. David West - He was the Robin to Chris Paul's Batman. CP3 looked to him often as West can shoot from anywhere on the floor and will make a solid addition to any team.

4. Jamal Crawford - He was playing behind Joe Johnson during his time in Atlanta, but has shown the ability to score points in bunches and should provide a boost to any squad looking for some outside shooting.

5. Tyson Chandler - It was no coincidence that Dallas was finally able to break through and win the NBA Championship once they found a true center. His skills came out in the Lakers series and made life very difficult for Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

6. Tayshaun Prince - Prince may have become a forgotten man with the Piston's struggles over the last few years, but the athletic lefty can still guard the opponent's best player while providing his usual slashing/outside shooting skills.

7. Carl Landry - The former Purdue Boilermaker has worked his way into becoming a solid low post presence for NBA teams looking to add some offensive punch. He has been traded 3 times over the last 2 years, but is finally looking to cash in and become a stable force for the right team.

8. Wilson Chandler - While he is still under contract to play in China, the versatile swingman proved his worth after getting traded from New York to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony deal. He has provided constant energy on both offense and defense ever since he was drafted into the league.

9. J.J. Barea - Say what you want about the undersized guard, but the guy can score and played a key role in helping the Dallas Mavericks win their first ever NBA Championship.

10. Jason Richardson - While he is not the same player he once was in Golden State, J-Rich can still shoot the 3 and provide scoring to teams looking for a shooting guard.

11. Chuck Hayes - Never known as a flashy player, Hayes can rebound and play defense with the best of them. He was a tremendous asset for the Houston Rockets last year and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

12. Thaddeus Young - Another lefty swingman who can play both offense and defense at a high energy level. He is looking for the opportunity to become a full-time player and there are sure to be some teams willing to give him that chance.

13. Kris Humphries - Known more for his failed marriage with Kim Kardashian than his basketball skills, the former University of Minnesota product was a double-double machine down the stretch for New Jersey last season. He provides size and strength to teams looking to upgrade their front court.

14. Tracy McGrady - T-Mac showed last season that he still has something left in the tank. He is likely looking to join a championship contender and the Chicago Bulls come to mind as a potential suitor to pair with Derrick Rose in the backcourt.

15. Samuel Dalembert - Dalembert has already been linked to joining the Miami Heat as they can use a lengthy center to control the glass and block shots. He should have other suitors as well as the talented Haitian can control the paint with his defense.

16. Vince Carter - Also not the player he once was, Vince is still capable of scoring 30 points a game on any given night. He needs to find the right situation where his offensive skills will overshadow his tendency to force contested shots.

17. Shannon Brown - The former Proviso East star and Michigan State Spartan has never been known for his lack of potential. He will likely look for a chance to start, while finally escaping the shadow of Kobe Bryant. Brown has really developed his game over the last few years and should find teams willing to give him that chance.

18. Caron Butler - He was starting to find his groove again before going down with an injury last year for Dallas. Rumor is he is hoping to resign with the Mavs and should land a one year deal to help regain his value.

19. Grant Hill - The suddenly durable forward showed that he can still provide a steady presence as he did for Phoenix last year. His veteran presence is something teams will look for when handing out contracts in the next few weeks.

20. Chase Budinger - The former volleyball star really came into his own last season with the Houston Rockets. His outside shooting and athleticism will have plenty of teams looking to add him to their roster.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?NBA-Free-Agent-Power-Rankings-2011-2012&id=6722042] NBA Free Agent Power Rankings 2011-2012

The History of Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heats Jerseys

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Andreas_Niklasson]Andreas Niklasson

Memphis Grizzlies

 The Memphis Grizzlies team was established in 1995 in Vancouver, British Columbia along with the Toronto Raptors as part of the NBA's expansion to Canada. It was relocated to Memphis in 2001. Nickname Grizzlies was chosen after the original name Mounties was abandoned following objections by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the name was kept upon moving to Memphis.

 The team logo is a snarling Grizzly's face in two shades of blue with yellow eyes. One of its stars is Spanish Paul Gasol who was originally drafted by the Atlanta hawks in 2001 but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies where he played 7 seasons and won the Rookie of the Year award in his first season with the Grizzlies. He now plays for the Lakers.

The team colors are dark blue, powder blue and yellow. The Grizzlies sport a jersey in white for home games and blue for road games, both with light blue linings on the side.

Miami Heat


 Miami once played home to an ABA team known as the Floridians, and got its first NBA team in 1988 as part of a two-phase expansion that also included Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Charlotte Hornets. It got its name after a contest where Flamingos was in close second. It made a major step in acquiring superstar center Shaquille O'Neal on July 4, 2004. Another important team player is Alonzo Mourning, who is simply known as "Zo". Zo has earned NBA Defensive Player of The Year Award twice and is always placed on the NBA All-defensive team. He made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant. The franchise won its first NBA title in the 2005-2006 NBA season against the Dallas Mavericks.

 The Heats home uniform is in white and the road uniform is in black. The team also sports an alternate red jersey, which was introduced during the 2001-2002 season, and is the unofficial Heat road uniform during the NBA Playoffs. They are also the only NBA team to place the NBA logo on the right shoulder instead of having it on the left.

 Andreas Niklasson is the associated editor to the website NBA jerseys [http://www.nbajerseys.net] - a website dedicated to NBA jerseys. Filled with interesting facts about your favorite NBA team jerseys, find rare photos and great deals on popular NBA jerseys.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-History-of-Memphis-Grizzlies-and-Miami-Heats-Jerseys&id=1360448] The History of Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heats Jerseys