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Clippers associate head coach Alvin Gentry remembers the time he met Buzz Aldrin at a party.

Brett Koremenos suggests Hakeem Olajuwon's offseason workouts might not be all they're cracked up to be.

 

As #NBArank rolls on, David Thorpe says any player's value depends mightily on context.

The players in the middle of #NBArank have clear NBA skills -- but not a lot of them. Ethan Sherwood Strauss and Henry Abbott discuss.

David Thorpe tackles the idea, which is somewhat evident in #NBArank voting (today revealing players 301-325), that NBA players who aren't superstars are all roughly the same.

 

CEO Jason Levien (who was on TrueHoop TV the other day enjoying his franchise's place atop ESPN the Magazine's Ultimate Standings list) talks about tweaks to the Grizzlies' roster, the team's style of play this season, coaching, finances and prospects.

Also ... some pointers on pickup ball with Grizzlies staffers.

 

Economist Tyler Cowen (He's "America's hottest economist," who was on TrueHoop TV recently talking about the end of the NBA's middle class), foresees a world in which NBA coaches work very closely with incredibly intelligent computers.

In fact, he says, it's happening already.

Tyler Cowen is one of America's foremost economists, the author of a new book called "Average is Over," and a blogger at Marginal Revolution.

Cowen is also a big NBA fan, which he proves by regularly purchasing Wizards tickets.

Here's the shocker: Cowen says advanced analytics are on track to help eliminate the middle class -- in the NBA, and in society. Fascinating and a little scary.



If you're interested in more, here's an interesting NPR conversation with Cowen.

Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien is delighted the Memphis Grizzlies topped ESPN the Magazine's Ultimate Standings list. And a tiny bit surprised.

 

Ethan Sherwood Strauss discusses why you should ignore NBA Rank at your peril.

 

What is Dennis Rodman up to these days?

"I've been doing nothing for the last 13 years, man, and having a blast doing it baby!"

This he says from the TV set where he was shooting, of all things, a Wonderful Pistachios "Get Crackin'" commercial.

The NBA Legend tells us about his remarkable life, saying that in fact "I don't get it either," why people still find him so fascinating.

 

Damian Lillard says he could play better. The reigning rookie of the year says shorter minutes would help.

In the second part of a conversation (here's part one, rapid fire) he also discusses scams ("it's more common than people think"), egos ("it's something you get tired of"), and more.

David Thorpe stops by and chooses the player he'd most want to add something to his game this offseason. He also reveals what NBA athletes are eating these days.