I don't have any reservations or concerns about NBA players (stars or role players otherwise) heading over seas to play in International Professional leagues, I applaud it and champion the effort. Kobe, LeBron and others if your thinking about it, keep considering it and if the vote was up to me I would vote YES and Kobe, Lebron and whoever else is considered a NBA elite player would be on the next plane to Italy, Greece and Eastern Europe to spread the basketball wealth

To think the best players and basketball is being played here in America and the NBA is ludicrous. Even with the U.S.A. winning the gold in Beijing, its no longer a foregone conclusion that the best 'ball' is in North America because ITS NOT. International players have better Skill sets and there team discipline is far superior to anything that is being put out in the States. Yes, there are a good 8 to 10 teams in the NBA that play at a high level and have great team chemistry but the rest of the league is pedestrian, arrogant and consist of overplayed spoiled players

I'm wishful this small influx of NBA players overseas continues to grow and maybe within the next 10 to 12 years the quality of basketball being played here in America will improve because hopefully these current defected NBA players will come back home and spread the good word and skill level of international ball to the young kids who are being introduced to basketball for the first time. And when these young kids become of age and are considering playing in the NBA, they will do so with a re-freshed sense of Pride and Skill which wil in-turn make the league better to watch, overall. Long live the NBA in 2018!

I just looked at the final roster for the USA Mens basketball team and I'm shocked to see that Dwight Howard will be our tallest player on the court once we start official competition August 10th (Tyson Chandler is taller but he's out with an injury and unlikely to play in the Olympics after injuring himself last week) Now I know they formally asked other players in the NBA to be on the team that could of filled that taller than 6'10 requirement, the Garnett's and Duncan's of the NBA world, but they respectfully declined, (and who can blame them, after playing a full NBA season plus the ridiculously long playoff season, why would a player want to pro-long his season even longer by playing overseas in a tournament games that no longer has the integrity or honor) so now I wonder did they try and find some of other American-born TALL talent?

I know Lebron, Melo, Wade and Kobe will carry this team through the early rounds of the tournament and should have no problem getting to the final four but at some point the lack of tall bodies and rebound potential will hurt this American team against the more experienced European squads and once again we could see the good ole USA hoisting the Bronze medal instead of the Gold that the whole nation expects we should win. Two and four years ago we didn't have enough jump shooters on the team, this year we have a lot of jump shooters but no interior presense...when will the USA Basketball mgt. get it right?

It's no coincidence that Kobe Bryant received the MVP honor during a year he put together his most complete all-around season ever. He definitely deserved it for how he played this year and if your a 'Laker Apologist', like I know many of you are, then u can say that his receiving the award makes up for the many he should of had during past seasons (I don't agree with the latter)

The shame comes in the fact it took him 12 NBA seasons to do it when in fact it should of only took him 4 to 5 years to get his first most valuable player award if not earlier. But once Kobe decided to skip college and go straight into the NBA he instantly retarded his maturity process (on and off the court) therefore u had a player go through a lengthy growing pain process in the Pros that was not only painful for Bryant but for his fans and coaches alike. This year Kobe finally put all the pieces together when it comes to playing team ball, and Yes the Pau Gasol trade was important and it that definitely helped turn the team around, but ultimately it still came down to Kobe leading this team with care while believing and trusting his teammates. That's why there on an incredible playoff winning streak now and have a bright future in front of them

There's a good chance this will be Kobe's first and last MVP seasonal award, with the likes of Chris Paul and Lebron James breathing down his neck as the best all around player in the league. But when its all said and done if Kobe can raise a few more championship banners those MVP's won't mean all that much but I can't help but wonder what could of been if an already super-talented High School senior from Philadelphia would of taken that Duke scholarship and played 2 years under Coach K; at this point and time in Kobe's career Michael Jordan comparisons would of been valid without an inch of doubt because Jordan would of have personally passed the torch to Kobe Bryant instead of passing it to the league in general 

Wow, what a difference 8 months makes for a star athlete like Mr. Kobe 'Bean' Bryant. He's enjoying another All-Star season, a potential MVP of the league season, his team is arguably the best the NBA has to offer-as I write-and most importantly Kobe seems to be smiling and having fun while playing the game he grew up loving. That's great to see but it's a stark contrast to what Kobe was feeling and saying during the summer of '07, when he was crying and ####ing about 'not wanting to be a Laker'

Nobody wants to hold Kobe accountable but I will

If Kobe would of just shut his mouth, kept things internal and played out the string of his contract then at least he would of shown more maturity and team leadership as oppose to going on every radio station in America crying the 'blues' about being misled and lied to by Laker mgt. I'm sure there was truth to some of what Kobe was saying but in my opinion if u feel as though your team is not following through on their promises then exercise the 'opt-out' clause that all Stars have specifically written into your contract (Players like Tim Duncan, with D. Wade and L. James next in line, have used that leverage wisely by letting his team know that 'yes' I'll sign a Max deal but I'm going to put my opt out at 3 or 4 years just in case u decide to NOT give me help in trying to win a championship )

Kobe will have the option to be a free agent after the '08-'09 season where he would be free to sign with any other team willing to pay him big bucks (and lets be honest there would of been plenty of teams reaching for her services) so last summer, during the heat of his frustration, all he had to do was keep cool, do what he's been doing, play out the last 2 years then opt out at the age of 31 and be done with the Laker organization. And you know who would of looked like the fools in the whole ordeal, the Lakers, not Kobe. But instead Kobe at this point and time is playing the 'Fair-Whether' player; happy and gleeful because the Lakers are winning but with that he's already proven he can pout, moan and refuse to shoot the ball for an entire 2nd half with the best of 'em when the team isn't doing what he thinks it should be doing

Super-star players are built with the strong mindset that they know they can endure the bad and good of an organization with extreme poise. Decision making is high on their list, that's what made Magic, Jordan, Russell and Bird great...On and Off the court. Fans are ready to anoint Kobe in that category but I'm not sure he should be, he hasn't earned it

p.s.

I really hope Kobe Bryant gets his much deserved MVP trophy this year because starting next year ('08-'09 season) Mr. Lebron 'King' James is going to start a string of MVP seasons that might not ever be matched (can u say 4 or 5 in a row). Lebron, is starting to show the skilled dominance that I predicted he would have once he mastered the superior focus on the defensive and offensive ends of the court. I'm not sure how many championship rings he's going to win but I know barring any major injury, starting next year Lebron will clearly be the best the NBA has to offer in terms of individual effort