LA Lakers' Owner Jerry Buss pictured above with Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant

The LA Lakers are the most valuable franchise in the NBA. According to Forbes: “Blockbuster television deals and a new collective bargaining agreement have lifted the value of the average NBA team to a record $393 million, up 6.5% over last year. No team has benefited more from the explosion in TV money than the Los Angeles Lakers, who have unseated the New York Knicks as the league’s most valuable franchise. The Lakers struck gold last year with a new 20-year television deal with Time Warner Cable worth an average of $200 million annually beginning with the 2012–13 season. The agreement drives the value of the Lakers up an NBA-high 40% to $900 million. Read More

Top 10 Highest Paid NBA Players

By GWOP

December 22, 2011

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There are 57 NBA Players whose contracts pay $10 million or more this season- more than double the number of All Stars in a given year. Each player will miss 19.5% of their salary due to the 35 game lockout this year. Checkout the full list of Highest paid NBA players and salaries for the 2011-2012 season after the jump. Read More

Dan Gilbert’s E-Mail to David Stern concerning Chris Paul trade to LA

By GWOP

December 9, 2011

dan gilbert, david stern

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Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert called the New Orleans Hornets’ proposed trade of Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers a “travesty,” and urged NBA commissioner David Stern to put the deal to a vote of the league’s 29 owners in an email obtained by Yahoo! Sports.
Check the letter after the jump… Read More

NBA Back for Christmas

By GWOP

November 26, 2011

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NBA Commissioner David Stern and Former Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association Billy Hunter speak to members of the press to announce a tentative labor agreement to end the 149-day lockout.

NBA owners and players have reached a tentative deal to end the 149 day lockout and open a 66 game season on Christmas Day.

NBA commissioner David Stern emerged from a 15-hour meeting between the parties last night to say they had reached a ”tentative understanding that is subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations. We’re optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin December 25.”

Any agreement must still be ratified by both NBA owners and players, with a majority needed on each side. The ratification process for the players is complicated by the fact that they disbanded their union on November 14 and launched an anti-trust lawsuit against the league in Minnesota. They must drop the lawsuit and reform the union in order to vote on the deal.

Christmas Game Schedule (tentative):

Mavericks vs. Heat

Knicks vs. Celtics

Bulls vs. Lakers

NBA Ballers making millions without Basketball

By GWOP

November 21, 2011

dwayne wade, kobe bryant, lebron james

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While your average NBA player relies on a league check, super-ballers like LeBron James and about 10 other players will be earning at least that much in off-court endorsements, whether they play or not.
According to Forbes, James is at the top of that list — he’ll receive around $33 million in endorsements for the season — roughly twice his NBA salary.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will also bring in the massive endorsement ~~bucks~~ GWOP earning about $28 million in off-court endorsements.
James’ teammate D-Wade will also receive about $12 million in endorsements.
Endorsements come from phone companies, energy drinks, sneakers and more.

President set to hold “Obama Classic” Basketball Game

By GWOP

November 19, 2011

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President Obama set to hold an exhibition basketball game featuring some of the NBA’s top stars on Dec. 12th 2011.

Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin and Wizards guard John Wall are among the players who have committed to play, according to the Obama campaign Web site. Tickets for the first “Obama Classic” start at $100 and courtside seats can be purchased for $5,000.

Proceeds from the game will go to the Obama Victory Fund to support the president’s 2012 reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Checkout the Point Guard of the United States of America’s highlight reel below: