What’s up guy’s the basketball season is on and poppin’ and in honor of the Christmas season we have , The Nike Air Foamposite One “Metallic Red” These lil’ pieces are hot, hot, hot!!!!  Merry Christmas Ya’ll.

@Boemoney1

Photos courtesy of KICKZ-LAB

With the NBA  lockout over and the Christmas season in full swing,  things are starting to seem regular again.  The die-hard NBA fan can get it’s fix starting on Christmas day, what a present huh?  Can’t wait, can’t wait(Bart Scott voice).  The Christmas Day schedule is looking like it’s going to be something special.   Right now the frantic fast paced free agent signing period has many fans on edge wondering what moves their teams are gonna make, and critiquing the moves already made.  The New York Knicks, with the addition of  Tyson Chandler, have formed a pretty formidable front line.  The Dallas Mavericks will try to defend their crown with the addition of the reigning sixth man of the year Lamar Odom. [..]

Another letter from Dan Gilbert. Honestly, it seems as if the Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner is still reeling from LeBron James’ public exit last season and would like to force feed another franchise his thoughts on how basketball business should be handled. The only problem is that now instead of the New Orleans Hornets receiving something for Chris Paul’s departure, they would likely have to wait until he walks out on his own free will during next year’s free agency. Smart move Gilbert! Smart move. [..]

Recently iamnba.com’s Justine Brown was given the wonderful opportunity of hopping in the car and grabbing an interview with Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Durant is a two-time NBA scoring champion and one of the best young players in the league today.  He most recently lead his team to the Western Conference Finals only to lose to the eventual NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks.  Also just this year, Durant signed a five-year extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder worth $86 million.  We’d like to give a very sincere thanks to KD for being the humble and down-to-earth guy that he is, answering our questions and providing a great interview while riding to day two of his Nike Skills Academy in Chicago.

Checkout the video or written version of the interview below as he discusses all topics including the NBA lockout, the Thunder team, his skills academy, draft pick Reggie Jackson, why he loves Oklahoma City, his backpack line and more.

(Vid may be a bit shaky as we were riding in the car but shout out to Chuck who did as best he could as our camera guy!)

-What do you like most about being able to work with some of the best young talent in the country?

I really like how hands on it is.  Those guys really hang on every word. They really want to be taught. They really want to get to theNBA level.  I think me, going through that same process, it’s easy for me to tell them what it takes.  We’ve been working hard. Those guys have been getting after it, being very competitive and it’s been easier for me.  I’ve been having a lot of fun.

-We heard you get really involved with all of the drills and interact a lot with the campers. You’re known for being so humble.  Do you do this because you feel you owe it to them or because it’s an opportunity to get better for you?

You know, I just want to get better.  Those guys can push me to my limits and make me get better as well, and vice versa.  I’ve beenhaving a lot of fun this past two years, it’s been great.  Nike did a great job of just letting me do my thing instead of putting limitations on things and I’m just trying to grow from there.

-What do you want to work on personally in your own game this offseason?

Just everything.  I always want to be a well-rounded player, you know, posting up, ball handling, shooting jumpers, and shooting different types of shots.  I just want to be a well-rounded player and continue to grow like that.

-What do you think of OKC’s 24th pick in the draft, Reggie Jackson, a guard out of Boston College?

I was very excited.  He’s another guy that we can add to our deep group already.  He’s similar to Russell (Westbrook).  He’s 6’3”, long arms, very athletic and can make basketball plays at the one and the two.  We were very excited about picking him up and we were very fortunate that he slipped a few picks down to our team.  He should be very good for us next year.

-Do you think with that transaction OKC may shop some of other guards that are on the current roster?

Man, that’s tough.  You never know in this league and it’s such a business in this league, but I hope we stick together for as long as possible.  I think we have something good going on in Oklahoma City.  But I think Reggie (Jackson) just adds another person to our team that makes us deeper.  Practices are going to be better, shoot arounds are going to be better, training camp is going to be better, so if you do all of those things pretty well you’re going to have a successful season.

-Do you think you guys have all of the components you need in order to take that next step and go to the finals next year?

I think we do.  You know, we were right there.  We lost two games that we were up late in the game and we kind of slipped away there, but I think we have what it takes.  We have to continue to keep going and know that it’s not going to be guaranteed to us next year.  We gotta come out and work every day and I think we have the right guys to do that.

-Having been there, do you think the team has a personal focus on what they really need to do? Or what needs to be tweaked or worked on in the off-season?

Yeah, guys know that they have to come and work on their individual games and you know, I think we do a great job of bringing that together at the start of every season.  We have guys that like to work out together in the summers and I think with the lockout, that’s going to add a little bit more to that.  We’re going to have more guys working out with each other this summer and that’s only going

to help us during the season.

-Speaking of the lockout, do you think there will be a next season?  What are the players vying for in this lockout and what do you think the time table is?

I’m very optimistic about it.  I think that we may miss a few weeks I think, I hope, we miss a few weeks and get right back to playing.  But it’s been tough, the talks have been going slow I think as of late, but I think we’re going to get it back going and you know, have a season.  I don’t want to see us locked out for a long time because that’s not going to hurt just us, but also the fans as well.  So, I really want to have a season for them.

OFF THE COURT

-People ridiculed you lately when they thought you threw Oklahoma City under the bus in an interview, but anyone who follows you

knows you love Oklahoma City. You just signed a 5 year contract with them.  What do you love best about being in Oklahoma?

I just love the people more than anything.  Just how nice and humble they are.  They do a great job of making me feel at home and making everyone feel at home. I just love the atmosphere, especially when we’re playing basketball, just the college feel it has.  I build relationships with the fans that come to every game, season ticket holders, and I just feel like it’s a place that fits me.  It’s a town.  Of course it’s nothing like the L.A.’s or Chicago’s, but it’s nice in the fact that it’s quiet, and you can get places quicker with no traffic.  So, it’s cool for me.

-How soon until we can pick up a bag from the KD backpack line?

Aw man, I wish I could tell you the exact date on that, but it’s going to be out soon.  People are really kind of attracted to the backpack thing and I didn’t know it’d be such a hit, but hopefully you see more kids with backpacks on at school with the KD logo. So, it should be fun.

-One of your hobbies is producing beats and you’ve actually produced tracks for some major artist, any chance we’ll hear one of your beats on an album.

Uhh I doubt it, my beats aren’t that good to be on an album, but I just do it for fun.  It’s something that I always had a passion for, I’ve always loved music.  You know music and basketball kind of parallel I think.  It would be cool to have one of my beats on a big time album, but I have to get better first.

Interview by:  Justine Brown (@justine_brown)

Photos Courtesy of:

Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Image

kevindurant35.com

Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Getty Images

Congrats to our winner Tj Swason, who wins this handsome Detroit Pistons snapback courtesy of, The Snapback King Of The DMV.

Snapback King Of The DMV’s Bio:

Hello world,

 

It all started on December 20, 2010 when i came up with the idea to sell snapbacks and to this day i am still going with over 200 sold and still going.  My name is Jonathan Houston Jr. I am from North Carolina but Moved to the DMV area when my dad retired from the military.  I have lived in the DMV area for years.  I always wanted to be successful and have my own business and i found something I have a passion for Hats i never leave home without one on it completes my outfit and it also describes a lot about your personality thats why i named my company WhatsOn UrMind online Boutique.

WhatsOn UrMind specializes in Vintage rare snapbacks all NBA, NCAA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. I run my company with no website only off twitter and i have a facebook fan page my twitter pages are @SBN_DMvsSBK i guess i can break down my twitter name the i have a team i run with called SBN which stand for snapback nation it more than just about snapback its a real movement and the DMV is the are and the SBK stands for Snapback king my other twitter page is my business page @WhatsOn_UrMind.

Whenever i get snapacks i always mention my business in my tweets make sure you follow. I have been working hard and staying humble i do this with no website so i have been to every mall in the DMV area i have even been put out of malls and stores but i still dont let that stop me i am all over the DMV and i also deliver my snapbacks personally but i do ship also. On February 27, 2011 i had my first major client Teyana Taylor thats was the day i new that i could never give up that was a big day for the SBN and WhatsOn UrMind Online Boutique. So all i can say if follow me on twitter @SBN_DMVsSBK and @WhatsOn_UrMind and also go like the facebook fan page the link is  http://www.facebook.com/pages/WatsOn-UrMind-Online-Boutique/180455771967186 or just type in the search bar on facebook WhatsOn UrMind Online Boutique

Yours Truely

The Snapback King Of The DMV

Mid to late 90′s hoop fans and sneakerheads should be thrilled that Nike,  is reaching back  to one it’s most sucessful partnerships.  Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway and his party hardy sidekick Lil Penny had a huge campaign in the 90′s that was very successful, and Penny’s game was on deck as the Air apparent.  With his size 6’7 , and his ball-handling ability, to go along with excellent court vision.  We were witnessing a new age Magic Johnson. [..]

Congratulations are in order for The Dallas Mavericks winners of The 2010-11 NBA Chip.  Dirk Nowitzki showed mega heart and tough metal in earning his first Larry O’ Brien Trophy.  Also gaining Finals M.V.P honors.  Time after time in seemingly close game after close game, The 7′ foot German made Nerf hoop clutch shot, after Nerf hoop clutch shot.  I used to be money like that in my room on a bent hanger on the top of my closet door, so i can envision what mister Nowitzki sees when he’s draining that J, anybody out there remember that. [..]

There will be plenty of moves made in this year’s offseason in the NBA. With the exception of the absence of a CBA, teams’ main focus will be restructuring their teams to combat some new and old league superstars that are rising in the wake of a new age in basketball. The Western Conference will see more retooling than the Eastern Conference. [..]

If you did not know that Donnie Walsh would be out as the New York Knicks’ General Manager, shame on you. Of course the entrance of Amare Stoudemire assisted the smokescreen and then the arrival of Carmelo Anthony helped paint a pretty picture. But, when you look past the bedazzled outside and look at the beleaguered inside, there was trouble amidst the [..]

Two games to none would have been too much for The Dirkster and his Mavericks to overcome.  With a furious rally after trailing by 15-pts to The Heat in the fourth quarter. [..]