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NBA Swag: Who Has It, Who Doesn't? | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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Luke Petkac@@LukePetkacTwitter LogoFeatured ColumnistFebruary 22, 2013
NBA Swag: Who Has It, Who Doesn't?
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The word "swag" gets tossed around a lot when it comes to professional athletes, particularly NBA players.
The word means something a little different to everybody, but swagger is confidence, almost arrogance, when it comes to one's abilities. It's sheer bravado.
Again, it's a little different for everyone, but I've always looked at it like this: If you threw any NBA player into a random street ball game anywhere in the country, would he belong? Some players don't have the flash or the bravado to fit in. That's not a bad thing; it's just the way it is. They don't carry themselves in that way.![]()
The question is, who does? Who in the league has swagger, and who doesn't? Let's find out.
Most Swag, No. 5: Kobe Bryant
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When you have multiple YouTube videos titled things like “Epic Kobe Bryant Swag” and “Epic Kobe Bryant Swag #2,” it's easy to find a way onto this list.
This choice comes as no surprise to most NBA fans. Kobe Bryant has been one of the cockiest players in the league since his rookie year, but he's also been one of the best. He's always going to inspire some strong opinions one way or another, but no one would question his confidence.
The very thought of anyone else on the Los Angeles Lakers taking a last-second shot has become heresy, in large part because of Kobe himself. No one in the league trusts himself more.
He might be getting a bit long in the tooth, but that confidence will always remain.
Most Swag, No. 4: Kyrie Irving
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If the whole “Uncle Drew” thing didn't seal Kyrie Irving's placement on this list, then his fourth-quarter heroics this year definitely did.
Irving has basically become automatic at the end of games. Just check out this game-winner against the Toronto Raptors. He genuinely looks bored out there. There's no stress, no anxiety.
He just dribbles up and takes the three because he knows that he's going to make it. It's like he thinks finishing the game is pointless because he'll always hit that shot. That's how it seems, anyway.
And that's called swagger.
Most Swag, No. 3: Paul Pierce
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Boston Celtics fans have seen it countless times at this point.
The score is tied, or maybe Boston's down one or two with seconds left. Paul Pierce gets the ball and squares up against his man. He slowly dribbles down the clock and then fires a three with a hand in his face.
Swish. Game over.
And every time, Pierce finishes the sequence by jogging down the court laughing and shaking his head. It's like he's saying, “You knew it was coming. I knew it was coming. And there was no way you were going to stop it.
”
Every single time.
The best example is from Game 5 of last year's Eastern Conference finals, when Pierce did that exact move to LeBron James and then jogged down the court saying, “I'm cold-blooded.”
Pure swagger.
Most Swag, No. 2: J.R. Smith
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J.R. Smith would be the clear-cut No. 1 if not for a certain someone.
Smith has spent his entire career playing like he's in a street game, so the earlier street ball analogy fits pretty well. Smith has never seen a shot that he doesn't like. I picture his inner monologue during games to be something like this:
All right, J.R., you've got the ball. Good. You should always have the ball. Now I know you're double-teamed right now, but I really think that your best option would be to take a stepback fadeaway three with a hand in your face. You'll make it. Of course you will. You're J.R. Smith. Hmm, I wonder why Steve Novak is standing alone in the corner with his hands up.
Does he want the ball or something? I'll have to ask him after the game. Right now, it's J.R. time.
The crazy thing is, Smith genuinely seems to think that every one of those shots will go in. It's confidence on a whole new level.
And when it works out, it's pretty spectacular.
Most Swag, No. 1: Jason Terry
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The undisputed king. No one else comes close.
We could spend hours talking about how Jason Terry irrationally thinks that he'll make every big shot or how opposing teams' fans absolutely hate him strictly because of how cocky he is.
Or we could just talk about the fact that Terry got the Larry O'Brien Trophy (given to the winner of the NBA championship) tattooed on his arm before the start of the 2010-11 season.
It's one thing to predict a championship. It's another thing entirely to get that prediction tattooed on your body.
The fact that the Dallas Mavericks actually won the championship that year only serves to make things better.-Step-11.jpg/aid43486-v4-728px-Play-21-(Basketball)-Step-11.jpg)
Congrats, Jason, you're one of the all-time greats.
Honorable Mentions
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Brandon Jennings/Nick "Swaggy P" Young
The two toughest omissions. Both Jennings and Young are full of swag, no doubt. But both players are, like J.R. Smith, irrational confidence guys—they assume that every one of their (usually questionable) shots will fall.
Because Smith is, and probably always will be, the king of that category, Jennings and Young were passed over for other worthy candidates. It's no knock on them. Though the fact that Young takes his nickname so seriously is hilarious.
Michael Beasley
Almost made the cut until I realized that he's not so much full of swagger as he is crazy.
Least Swag, No. 5: Jeremy Lin/Landry Fields (tie)
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Exactly what Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields are trying to do here may forever be a mystery.
But it's very, very uncool and definitely enough to make the list.
Least Swag, No. 4: Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan is a phenomenal player, and no doubt he's confident in his abilities. He's a two-time MVP, and he has four rings.
That'll do it.
But at the same time, Duncan might be the least cocky player in the league. Only one player in the league—Kobe Bryant—can match Duncan's career resume at the moment. LeBron James is closing in, but there's no one else.
Yet if you didn't know basketball, you'd never, ever guess that from the way that Duncan carries himself. You'd think he was just another role player. Humility obviously plays a part, but it goes beyond that.
Whether he's working on a triple-double or having one of the worst performances of his career, Duncan just wears a blank face.
Throw in the fact that he loves Dungeons & Dragons and has a tattoo of Merlin on his arm (per ESPN), and you're looking at a man with little swagger.
Least Swag, No. 3: Shane Battier/Mike Dunleavy (tie)
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Mike Dunleavy and Shane Battier are fantastic role players and two of the more cerebral guys in the league.
But they both recently forfeited any claim to swag that they may have had.
In early November, Battier told ESPN's Tom Haberstroh:
I’m undersized every night, but I like to think I’m quicker in the mind. If we’re playing Jeopardy, I like my chances against any power forward in the league. Print that.
Dunleavy soon rebutted Battier's claim, saying (via Fox Sports' Chris Tomasson):
I don’t know if he could beat Duke players. He probably could beat everybody else. I don’t think he could beat me. … I think what he meant to say is (Battier) can beat any player in the NBA besides any who went to Duke. I think Grant (Hill, also a Duke alum) could give him a run for his money.
The two traded a few more shots, all of which were Jeopardy!-related.
Fascinating stuff.
I have no idea who would win between Battier and Dunleavy, but I do know that Jeopardy! and swag are not at all related.
Least Swag, No.
2: Andrew Bogut
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Andrew Bogut is one of the most entertaining players in the league, but his actions aren't exactly brimming with swagger.
It all boils down to one particular incident—the infamous air fives Bogut gave out when his teammates ignored him after a free throw.
Though it was one of the funniest things to happen on an NBA court in the last 10 years, it's also a surefire way to end up on this list. Nothing quite like giving yourself high fives at the free-throw line.
(Side note: Hopefully, Bogut has made better friends in the Golden State than in Milwaukee. By the looks of it, though, he hasn't.)
Least Swag, No. 1: Cole Aldrich
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Generally, it would be tough to make this list without playing many NBA minutes, but doggone it, Cole Aldrich found a way.
When Aldrich was riding pine for the Oklahoma City Thunder last year, he made it a habit to do a high leg kick after every big Thunder bucket. It's one of the goofiest things you'll ever see a professional basketball player do.
Here's some video evidence, just in case the picture alone doesn't do it justice.
Just a remarkable performance from a remarkable player—and something that firmly lands you at the No. 1 position on the “no swag” portion of this list.
Dishonorable Mentions
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Steve Novak
Steve Novak's championship belt celebration is delightful, but I think even he'd have to admit that it's super nerdy.
Darko Milicic
If only because Darko Milicic belongs on all dishonorable mention lists.
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How NBA Players Became Obsessed with 'Swag' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Much is made about what players wear in today's NBA, whether it be what they're wearing at the podium during postgame press conferences in the playoffs, or just what they wear to the stadium. It's a society of "swag" that seems to have taken over the league.
Compared to the other three major sports in the country, the NBA is in a league of its own when it comes to people caring about what players do and look like when they're not on the court.
Football players are generally caked in layers of protective equipment, so even having a recognizable face in the NFL is rare.
Every once in a while there will be a player, generally a quarterback, who transcends the usual statistical game-to-game analysis and becomes a part of pop culture.
Tom Brady has lived in that spotlight for some years now, but the go-to example of a "pop star" football player is Joe Namath.
Baseball is even rarer. Sure you'll get people talking about Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter getting looks out on the town, but that's more of the cult of personality surrounding the New York Yankees' most recognizable players, as opposed to the league's best players.
It seems that throughout the annals of baseball history, the majority of the players who evolve past the status of being a baseball "icon" are Yankees players, from Babe Ruth and Lou Gherig to Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and to Jeter and A-Rod today.
The rare off-shoot star from other teams around the league will reach that level from time-to-time, but it's rare in the league's history, and the Yankees generally go out and get him anyway (see: Reggie Jackson).
Hockey players live in a market that is too large to be considered a niche, but too small for the general populous to latch onto and care about beyond a few key teams and players.
However, the obsession with off-court appearance is not a new thing as far as the NBA is concerned.
Flash and the NBA have gone hand-in-hand for decades now, going way back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Frazier and Julius Erving (among others), all of whom complimented on-court dominance with off-court pizzazz.
Even players who were less skilled on the court were able to get some recognition, so long as they showed off a personality.
Darryl Dawkins, when not breaking backboards, would say outlandish things and wear outlandish clothes. Slick Watts was a marginal player who lasted only six seasons, but is still remembered because he popularized the headband to go with his shaved head (Al Harrington thanks him).
Everything from clothes, hairstyles, beards and mustaches were part of the persona, and it hasn't changed through the generations.
Kurt Rambis wore his goofy eyeglasses, the Fab Five and Michael Jordan helped to introduce more of a hip-hop style to the league, while Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal took it over the top.
Move on a few years to the introduction of David Stern's dress code and players switched over from gear to tailored suits, championed by guys like Derek Fisher, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Sometime in the past few seasons, the tailored suits have shared airtime with the nerd and hipster chic, giving us plenty to laugh at and decipher, but above all, something to talk about.
Of course, there's also the draft-day suits, which continue to vacillate between outlandish, suave and completely ridiculous.
Not only does the league allow for an extremely high level of self-expression, through both clothing style and on-court style, but it's one of the few sports where flash can conquer substance in certain cases.
For example, a guy like Iverson was entirely inefficient, had a terrible attitude, and played with wanton disregard to shot selection, but he'll be remembered as one of the greatest of his generation because he played with a unique style, and matched it off the court.
Perhaps the same will end up being said about a guy like James Harden, Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings; only time will reveal the answer to that question.
It's the style of the NBA, not necessarily a few individuals who have taken it upon themselves to stand out.
What the league is, and has been for decades now, is the ultimate "look at me" league, and in the best way possible.
You can leave a game remembering what a single player did, and that's the way you can look back on them and remember what happened. A single performance from a single player can stamp an impression on the fans for a good chunk of time, and that does seem to translate over a bit to off-court style.
Players are generally encouraged to express their particular style of play while on the court, which seems to have the same empowering effect when the balls are put away.
When you start to hear complaints about the amount of time NBA players spend on fashion, just remember that James Harden's beard is no different from Dr. J's afro, or that Russell Westbrook's leather shirt is just a modern-day version of Clyde Frazier's wide lapels.
Plus, it's too much fun to make fun of Westbrook's wardrobe to spend any time complaining about it.
Basketball coaching hacks: how to score goals for beginners
Even if you are a novice basketball player, we will not give you a training plan, but we will tell you why the ball flies anywhere but into the ring and into your hands. It's all about technique: even with regular training and perseverance, novice adults and children often make simple mistakes. It's a shame, let's fix it. Below are 11 life hacks on how to hone your technique to increase the likelihood of a goal for your team.
Basketball Shot Rules for Beginners
1. Hands up
In pursuit of the attacker, raise your hands, even if you are standing with your back to the pass, and even more so if the ring is in front of you.
Your raised hands will increase the chance of intercepting the ball from the opponent by 2 times. Don't overlook this little thing!
2. Make shield rolls
Even Tim Duncan did not neglect them! A square is drawn on the basketball backboard. If you are standing opposite the ring, then aim at the middle of the upper part of the square, if you are standing on the side, then at the corner. If you hit this square, then the ball is at 90% of cases will fall into the ring. The law of physics and no cheating!
3. Look at the ring, not at the ball
Practice driving the ball with your hand, not your eyes, develop tactile control. Your eyes should be on the hoop while dribbling and be aware of the position of your body in relation to the hoop. Then you will be able to take the correct posture, and the throw will be effective.
4. Dribble with the balls of your fingers only
The palm should not touch the ball, only the pads of the fingers.
Dribbling should become familiar to you, like an extension of your hand. Then you can change its trajectory at any time and you will have more chances to score goals. Practice with the ball constantly.
5. Throw with one hand
If you throw the ball with two hands, you reduce the chance of hitting the basket. All the efforts of the throw are in one hand (in the right for right-handers, in the left for left-handers). The other hand only holds the ball, the leading one holds it with the fingers, not the palm.
6. Do not jump when protecting the ring
Jumping is the main mistake of rookie defenders. To intercept the ball and block the shot, simply stick out your hands. When you are in a jump, the attacker will easily bypass you.
7. Don't look back
When you dribble, don't look back, but dribble and aim for the ring, focus on shooting (or passing to another player on your team).
8. Bring the throw to automatism
Incorporate the most basic basketball techniques into your training plan and bring the shot to automatism.
Throw first from a distance of half a meter from the ring, gradually increasing it. Learn to throw the ball so that it hits the hoop without touching the edge.
Throw the ball with all fives and jump
Throwing Rules:
- Head in the center of the body - if tilted, accuracy is lost.
- Look at the ring: mentally build a trajectory. If you are far away, the ball flies in a curved curve with a maximum height of 2 meters above the hoop.
- A strong hand is in front and throws, a weak hand is on the side and directs, only holding the ball. The elbow of the throwing hand must be in line with the ring.
- The ball must rest on the fingers without touching the palm. The fingers are as far apart as possible and grab the ball.
- Throwing arm bent 90 degrees, forearm perpendicular to the floor. If you bend less, then you get not a throw, but a throwing of the ball horizontally.
The main thing in the throw is the position of the body and its balance.
Place your feet apart and parallel to each other: it is important to orient them in the middle of the basket. Then the direction of the body during the jump will coincide with the direction of the throw, and the ball will fly straight into the ring. When the feet are uneven, the ball flies in the wrong direction or does not reach (although the throw was normal).
Take a deep breath and release as you exhale.
How to hold the ball and shoot in basketball
How to throw correctly: straighten your arm, point your wrist up, and with your hand set the ball to rotate in the opposite direction from the flight. The ball should seem to "roll" off your fingers.
9. Copy masters and play as a team
Watch professional basketball games and try to copy the movements of your favorite players in training. And be sure to conduct game sparring - this will allow you to develop more techniques.
10. Do not throw in a straight line
The higher the arc of the ball, the greater the chance of a goal and the less chance of blocking by the opponent.
11. Do not throw the ball from a full height stand
This is the biggest newbie mistake!
Before the throw, bend your knees slightly and at the moment of the throw, straighten your body, making a jump. You need to straighten up and push off the ground at the same time. When squatting, keep the elbow of the throwing arm close to the body and towards the ring.
The jump will give momentum to the ball and will allow you not to make sudden movements with the brush.
***
And to be a long-term player, do not forget about your health: take care of your joints and muscles, use tapes, do a warm-up. And be sure to strengthen your arms, legs and shoulder girdle, develop coordination. Regular exercises on uneven bars and horizontal bars will help you with this.
Rules of the game of basketball - Sportmaster Media Internet portal
This is a material about the basic rules of the game of basketball.
We also have a text about the risks of injury in sports.
Basketball is a team game with a ball. The goal of each team is to attack the opponent's ring and score the most points during the match. We tell you how not to break the rules in a tough fight for the ball and become a winner.
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Each basketball team consists of 12 players who substitute for each other during the match.
At the same time, five people from each team are on the site.
According to the rules of basketball, the entire team must have the same uniform and even socks of the same color. Jerseys of team members must be numbered.
For safety, remove jewelry and any accessories that could injure other players.
The game consists of four periods of 10 minutes. Breaks between the first and second quarters, as well as between the third and fourth, are 2 minutes. The longest break is 15 minutes, it is taken in the middle of the game, after the second quarter. At this moment, the teams change rings.
If the score is tied by the end of the match, the referee adds 5 minutes of overtime. Overtime is appointed as many times as necessary until the winner is revealed.
A team coach may take a time-out during a game. This break lasts for a minute. Most often, a time-out is taken to adjust tactics.
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Basketball court measures 28 meters long and 15 meters wide.
Each site should have markings. It is applied along the perimeter and marks the zones:
- center circle
- free throw line
- three-point hit zone
- face-off lines
- restricted area
- semi-circle without fouls and collisions
An obligatory element of a basketball court is a hoop. It is hung at a height of 3.05 m.
In basketball, the ball is played only with the hands, it can be hit on the floor, passed, thrown and hit. You can’t run without a lead or kick the ball with him.
With the ball in hand, you can take two steps, but only to stop, pass or shoot into the ring.
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- 1 point - counts behind the penalty throw
- 2 points - for a ball abandoned from the zone of biases
- 3 points - for the ball abandoned from the three -point hits
of the basketball disorders, let's take a recess.
basic.
A run is the movement of a player with the ball in his hands without dribbling. For this, the referee appoints a throw-in by the opposing team.
Three second rule - a player of the attacking team cannot be in the allocated area under the ring for more than three seconds. For such a violation, the ball is transferred to the opponent.
Foul is a touch on the opponent that limits his freedom of movement. In some cases, a free throw is awarded for a foul - this is decided by the referee. A throw from the penalty line is performed by a member of the opposing team, for a professional this is an almost guaranteed hit.
You can also get a foul without contact - technical. It is given for unsportsmanlike behavior, disrespect for the referee or other participants in the game.
