Top Destinations For Lebron James

With the breaking news that LeBron James has decided to opt out of his Cavaliers contract to become a free agent next season, all the speculations on James’ eventual departure from Cleveland have more or less been proven true. Of course, James can still decide to stay put and sign a new contract. But this option is becoming more unlikely by the minute, especially with many analysts insisting that James is at odds with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

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LeBron has been quoted as saying that his decision will depend mainly on his talks with his family. But if King James does leave, the prime destination team is the Los Angeles Lakers. This is because the Lakers have the best salary cap space to accommodate LeBron. Also, the possibility of teaming up with his friend Paul George is there, also bolstered by the existing cap space. The Lakers are likewise very keen on trading for Kawhi Leonard to better woo James.

The Philadelphia 76ers is the next best destination option, as aside from also having the salary space to grant LeBron a multi-million-dollar contract, the Sixers boasts of the dynamic tandem of Embiid and Simmons to help James get another championship ring soonest.

Boston is likewise a sound choice if LeBron is out to add another title to his resume quickly. However, an Irving-James reunion might prove difficult since Kyrie has explicitly stated that he left Cleveland to be the leader of his own team. But don’t count out Danny Ainge from pulling off a hat trick, as he could work a trade for Kyrie and the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard.

Other plausible options are Houston and, well, Golden State. But the chances of James leaving for these teams are slim and won’t really look good as far as James’ legacy is concerned. No one wants existing superteams to be even more overpowered.

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Bob Mims CPA is a former basketball coach and now a sports and fitness aficionado. He values the importance of maintaining health through constant physical activity. A few of his favorite fitness routines include yoga, swimming, and the P90X. Know more about Bob on this website.

The Best Basketball Players In Ole Miss History

Over the course of the history of Ole Miss’s basketball program, many players had taken their talents to Oxford, MI. Some of the most notable ones are discussed below:

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Johnny Neumann

The player affectionately called “Johnny Reb” played just two seasons for the Rebels. He became known as the first player in basketball history to take advantage of a hardship clause, a now-defunct rule that allowed a professional team to sign a college player even before the expiration of his college eligibility due to financial difficulties.

Neumann, though, made a mark in Ole Miss history during his short-lived collegiate career. He is the only Rebel to lead the nation in scoring during a season when he posted an average of 40.1 points per game in 1971.

Elston Turner

Ole Miss has rarely reached the NCAA Tournament – just eight time to be exact. The first time it ever did so was back in 1981 when Elston Turner led the team in scoring and rebounding. His great feel for the game has resulted in him being a sought-after assistant coach in the National Basketball Association since 1996.

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Rahim Lockhart

The Rebels have reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament only once – in 2001. The exciting run during that season, which included 27 wins and a final national ranking of number 9 (both school records), was led by All-American Rahim Lockhart.

Bob Mims, CPA, is a huge fan of the Ole Miss sports teams, which are discussed more on this blog.

What Coaches Can Learn From Watching “Coach Carter”

Ask most basketball coaches and even leadership experts, and they will all agree that “Coach Carter” is among their introductory or opening-day motivational films. There are great lessons not just about the sport, but in life in general that can be picked up from this much-loved flick. Here are some of them.

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One is the importance of showing players respect. Players will reciprocate respect if the coach is willing to give it. In the movie, coach Carter insisted on having every player in the team call one another “sir.” The players were initially uneasy with this, but they eventually came around and saw that this meant treating everyone on equal footing.

Secondly, being punctual is a key aspect of practice. Arriving on time for practice sessions is an important manifestation of passion for the game, discipline, and respect for both the coach and the team.

Another lesson is that teamwork means working as a unit. The struggle of one player is the struggle of all. In the film, a remorseful player desperately wanted to come back to the team and was instructed by coach Carter to do an impossible number of push-ups. His teammates stepped up to help him finish the task. A great team is one where the members can count on each other.

Finally, “Coach Carter” showed the value of education. Carter understood that his players were student-athletes and that the word “student” comes first. The film played up the importance of learning throughout the film, more than it did basketball and winning. Carter even initiated a lockdown of the school gym when he found out that his players weren’t meeting their grade requirements.

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Bob Mims, CPA, is a golfer, sports fan, and fitness enthusiast. A former basketball coach, he has been a sports enthusiast for most of his life. More sports and fitness reads here.